Shadow Kiss Chapter 29

Twenty-nine NEARLY A WEEK LATER, I showed up at Adrian's door. We hadn't had classes since the attack, but our normal curfew hours were still in effect, and it was almost bedtime. Adrian's face registered complete and total shock when he saw me. It was the first time I'd ever sought him out, rather than vice versa. â€Å"Little dhampir,† he said, stepping aside. â€Å"Come in.† I did, and was nearly overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol as I passed him. The Academy's guest housing was nice, but he clearly hadn't done much to keep his suite clean. I had a feeling he'd probably been drinking nonstop since the attack. The TV was on, and a small table by the couch held a half-empty bottle of vodka. I picked it up and read the label. It was in Russian. â€Å"Bad time?† I asked, setting it back down. â€Å"Never a bad time for you,† he told me gallantly. His face looked haggard. He was still as good-looking as ever, but there were dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't been sleeping well. He waved me toward an armchair and sat down on the couch. â€Å"Haven't seen much of you.† I leaned back. â€Å"I haven't wanted to be seen,† I admitted. I'd hardly spoken to anyone since the attack. I'd spent a lot of time by myself or with Lissa. I took comfort from being around her, but we hadn't said much. She understood that I needed to process things and had simply been there for me, not pushing me on things I didn't want to talk about – even though there were a dozen things she wanted to ask. The Academy's dead had been honored in one group memorial service, although their families had made arrangements for each person's respective funeral. I'd gone to the larger service. The chapel had been packed, with standing room only. Father Andrew had read the names of the dead, listing Dimitri and Molly among them. No one was talking about what had really happened to them. There was too much other grief anyway. We were drowning in it. No one even knew how the Academy would pick up the pieces and start running again. â€Å"You look worse than I do,† I told Adrian. â€Å"I didn't think that was possible.† He brought the bottle to his lips and took a long drink. â€Å"Nah, you always look good. As for me †¦ well, it's hard to explain. The auras are getting to me. There's so much sorrow around here. You can't even begin to understand. It radiates from everyone on a spiritual level. It's overwhelming. It makes your dark aura downright cheerful.† â€Å"Is that why you're drinking?† â€Å"Yup. It's shut my aura-vision right off, thankfully, so I can't give you a report today.† He offered me the bottle, and I shook my head. He shrugged and took another drink. â€Å"So what can I do for you, Rose? I have a feeling you aren't here to check on me.† He was right, and I only felt a little bad about what I was here for. I'd done a lot of thinking this last week. Processing my grief for Mason had been hard. In fact, I hadn't even really quite resolved it when the ghost business had started. Now I had to mourn all over again. After all, more than Dimitri had been lost. Teachers had died, guardians and Moroi alike. None of my close friends had died, but people I knew from classes had. They'd been students at the Academy as long as I had, and it was weird to think I'd never see them again. That was a lot of loss to deal with, a lot of people to say goodbye to. But†¦ Dimitri. He was a different case. After all, how did you say goodbye to someone who wasn't exactly gone? That was the problem. â€Å"I need money,† I told Adrian, not bothering with pretense. He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Unexpected. From you, at least. I get that kind of request a lot from others. Pray tell, what would I be funding?† I glanced away from him, focusing on the television. It was a commercial for some kind of deodorant. â€Å"I'm leaving the Academy,† I said finally. â€Å"Also unexpected. You're only a few months out from graduation.† I met his eyes. â€Å"It doesn't matter. I have things to do now.† â€Å"I never figured you'd be one of the dropout guardians. You going to join the blood whores?† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"Of course not.† â€Å"Don't act so offended. That's not an unreasonable assumption. If you're not going to be a guardian, what else are you going to do?† â€Å"I told you. I have things I have to take care of.† He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Things that are going to get you into trouble?† I shrugged. He laughed. â€Å"Stupid question, huh? Everything you do gets you in trouble.† He propped his elbow up on the couch's arm and rested his chin in his hand. â€Å"Why'd you come to me for money?† â€Å"Because you have it.† This also made him laugh. â€Å"And why do you think I'll give it to you?† I didn't say anything. I just looked at him, forcing as much womanly charm as I could into my expression. His smile went away, and his green eyes narrowed in frustration. He jerked his gaze away. â€Å"Damn it, Rose. Don't do that. Not now. You're playing on how I feel about you. That's not fair.† He gulped more vodka. He was right. I'd come to him because I thought I could use his crush to get what I wanted. It was low, but I had no choice. Getting up, I moved over and sat beside him. I held his hand. â€Å"Please, Adrian,† I said. â€Å"Please help me. You're the only one I can go to.† â€Å"That's not fair,† he repeated, slurring his words a little. â€Å"You're using those come-hither eyes on me, but it's not me you want. It's never been me. It's always been Belikov, and God only knows what you'll do now that he's gone.† He was right about that too. â€Å"Will you help me?† I asked, still playing up the charisma. â€Å"You're the only one I could talk to †¦ the only one who really understands me†¦.† â€Å"Are you coming back?† he countered. â€Å"Eventually.† Tipping his head back, he exhaled a heavy breath. His hair, which I'd always thought looked stylishly messy, simply looked messy today. â€Å"Maybe it's for the best if you leave. Maybe you'll get over him faster if you go away for a while. Wouldn't hurt to be away from Lissa's aura either. It might slow yours from darkening – stop this rage you always seem to be in. You need to be happier. And stop seeing ghosts.† My seduction faltered for a moment. â€Å"Lissa isn't why I'm seeing ghosts. Well, she is, but not in the way you think. I see the ghosts because I'm shadow-kissed. I'm tied to the world of the dead, and the more I kill, the stronger that connection becomes. It's why I see the dead and why I feel weird when Strigoi are near. I can sense them now. They're tied to that world too.† He frowned. â€Å"You're saying the auras mean nothing? That you aren't taking away the effects of spirit?† â€Å"No. That's happening too. That's why this has all been so confusing. I thought there was just one thing going on, but there've been two. I see the ghosts because of being shadow-kissed. I'm getting†¦ upset and angry†¦ bad, even†¦ because I'm taking away Lissa's dark side. That's why my aura's darkening, why I'm getting so enraged lately. Right now, it just sort of plays out as a really bad temper†¦.† I frowned, thinking of the night Dimitri had stopped me from going after Jesse. â€Å"But I don't know what it'll turn into next.† Adrian sighed. â€Å"Why is everything so complicated with you?† â€Å"Will you help me? Please, Adrian?† I ran my fingers along his hand. â€Å"Please help me.† Low, low. This was so low of me, but it didn't matter. Only Dimitri did. Finally, Adrian looked back at me. For the first time ever, he looked vulnerable. â€Å"When you come back, will you give me a fair shot?† I hid my surprise. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"It's like I said. You've never wanted me, never even considered me. The flowers, the flirting †¦ it rolled right off you. You were so gone for him, and nobody noticed. If you go do your thing, will you take me seriously? Will you give me a chance when you return?† I stared. I definitely hadn't expected this. My initial instinct was to say no, that I could never love anybody again, that my heart had been shattered along with that piece of my soul that Dimitri held. But Adrian was looking at me so earnestly, and there was none of his joking nature. He meant what he said, and I realized all the affection for me he'd always teased about hadn't been a joke either. Lissa had been right about his feelings. â€Å"Will you?† he repeated. God only knows what you'll do now that he's gone. â€Å"Of course.† Not an honest answer, but a necessary one. Adrian looked away and drank more vodka. There wasn't much left. â€Å"When are you leaving?† â€Å"Tomorrow.† Setting the bottle down, he stood up and walked off into the bedroom. He returned with a large stack of cash. I wondered if he kept it under his bed or something. He handed it to me wordlessly and then picked up the phone and made some calls. The sun was up, and the human world, which handled most Moroi money, was also up and awake. I tried to watch TV while he talked, but I couldn't concentrate. I kept wanting to scratch the back of my neck. Because there was no way of knowing exactly how many Strigoi I and the others had killed, we'd all been given a different kind of tattoo instead of the usual set of molnija marks. I'd forgotten its name, but this tattoo looked like a little star. It meant that the bearer had been in a battle and killed many Strigoi. When he finally finished his calls, Adrian handed me a piece of paper. It had the name and address of a bank in Missoula. â€Å"Go there,† he said. â€Å"I'm guessing you have to go to Missoula first anyway if you're actually going on to anywhere civilized. There's an account set up for you with †¦ a lot of money in it. Talk to them, and they'll finish the paperwork with you.† I stood up and stuffed the bills in my jacket. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. Without hesitating, I reached out and hugged him. The scent of vodka was overpowering, but I felt I owed him. I was taking advantage of his feelings for me in order to further my own devices. He put his arms around me and held me for several seconds before letting go. I brushed my lips against his cheek as we broke apart, and I thought he might stop breathing. â€Å"I won't forget this,† I murmured in his ear. â€Å"I don't suppose you'll tell me where you're going?† he asked. â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"Just keep your promise and come back.† â€Å"I didn't actually use the word promise,† I pointed out. He smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. â€Å"You're right. I'm going to miss you, little dhampir. Be careful. If you ever need anything, let me know. I'll be waiting for you.† I thanked him again and left, not bothering to tell him he might be waiting a long time. There was a very real possibility that I might not be coming back. The next day, I got up early, long before most of campus was awake. I'd hardly slept. I slung a bag over my shoulder and walked over to the main office in the administrative building. The office wasn't open yet either, so I sat down on the floor in the hallway outside of it. Studying my hands as I waited, I noticed two tiny flecks of gold on my thumbnail. They were the only remnants of my manicure. About twenty minutes later, the secretary showed up with the keys and let me in. â€Å"What can I do for you?† she asked, once she was seated at her desk. I handed her a stack of papers I'd been holding. â€Å"I'm withdrawing.† Her eyes widened to impossible size. â€Å"But†¦what†¦you can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I tapped the stack. â€Å"I can. It's all filled out.† Still gaping, she muttered something to me about waiting, and then scurried out of the room. A few minutes later, she returned with Headmistress Kirova. Kirova had apparently been briefed and was looking at me very disapprovingly down her beaklike nose. â€Å"Miss Hathaway, what's the meaning of this?† â€Å"I'm leaving,† I said. â€Å"Quitting. Dropping out. Whatever.† â€Å"You can't do that,† she said. â€Å"Well, obviously I can, since you guys keep withdrawal paperwork in the library. It's all filled out the way it needs to be.† Her anger changed into something sadder and more anxious. â€Å"I know a lot has gone on lately – we're all having trouble adjusting – but that's no reason to make a hasty decision. If anything, we need you more than ever.† She was almost pleading. Hard to believe she'd wanted to expel me six months ago. â€Å"This wasn't hasty,† I said. â€Å"I thought a lot about it.† â€Å"Let me at least get your mother so we can talk this out.† â€Å"She left for Europe three days ago. Not that it matters anyway.† I pointed to the line on the top form that said date of birth. â€Å"I'm eighteen today. She can't do anything anymore. This is my choice. Now, will you stamp the form, or are you actually going to try to restrain me? Pretty sure I could take you in a fight, Kirova.† They stamped my packet, not happily. The secretary made a copy of the official paper that declared I was no longer a student at St. Vladimir's Academy. I'd need it to get out the main gate. It was a long walk to the front of the school, and the western sky was red as the sun slipped over the horizon. The weather had warmed up, even at night. Spring had finally come. It made for good walking weather since I had a ways to go before I made it to the highway. From there, I'd hitchhike to Missoula. Hitchhiking wasn't safe, but the silver stake in my coat pocket made me feel pretty secure about anything I'd face. No one had taken it away from me after the raid, and it would work just as well against creepy humans as it did with Strigoi. I could just make out the gates when I sensed her. Lissa. I stopped walking and turned toward a cluster of bud-covered trees. She'd been standing in them, perfectly still, and had managed to hide her thoughts so well that I hadn't realized she was practically right next to me. Her hair and eyes glowed in the sunset, and she seemed too beautiful and too ethereal to be part of this dreary landscape. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Hey.† She wrapped her arms around herself, cold even in her coat. Moroi didn't have the same resistance to temperature changes that dhampirs did. What I found warm and springlike was still chilly to her. â€Å"I knew it,† she said. â€Å"Ever since that day they said his body was gone. Something told me you'd do this. I was just waiting.† â€Å"Can you read my mind now?† I asked ruefully. â€Å"No, I can just read you. Finally. I can't believe how blind I was. I can't believe I never noticed. Victor's comment†¦ he was right.† She glanced off at the sunset, then turned her gaze back on me. A flash of anger, both in her feelings and her eyes, hit me. â€Å"Why didn't you tell me?† she cried. â€Å"Why didn't you tell me you loved Dimitri?† I stared. I couldn't remember the last time Lissa had yelled at anyone. Maybe last fall, when all the Victor insanity had gone down. Loud outbursts were my thing, not hers. Even when torturing Jesse, her voice had been deadly quiet. â€Å"I couldn't tell anyone,† I said. â€Å"I'm your best friend, Rose. We've been through everything together. Do you really think I would have told? I would have kept it secret.† I looked at the ground. â€Å"I know you would have. I just†¦ I don't know. I couldn't talk about it. Not even to you. I can't explain it.† â€Å"How†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She groped for the question her mind had already formed. â€Å"How serious was it? Was it just you or – ?† â€Å"It was both of us,† I told her. â€Å"He felt the same. But we knew we couldn't be together, not with our age†¦and, well, not when we were supposed to be protecting you.† Lissa frowned. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"Dimitri always said that if we were involved, we'd worry more about protecting each other than you. We couldn't do that.† Guilt coursed through her at the thought that she'd been responsible for keeping us apart. â€Å"It's not your fault,† I said quickly. â€Å"Surely†¦there must have been a way. †¦ It wouldn't have been a problem†¦.† I shrugged, unwilling to think about or mention our last kiss in the forest, back when Dimitri and I had thought we'd figured out a solution to all of our problems. â€Å"I don't know,† I said. â€Å"We just tried to stay apart. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't.† Her mind was a tumble of emotions. She felt sorry for me, but at the same time, she was mad. â€Å"You should have told me,† she repeated. â€Å"I feel like you don't trust me.† â€Å"Of course I trust you.† â€Å"Is that why you're sneaking off?† â€Å"That has nothing to do with trust,† I admitted. â€Å"It's me†¦well, I didn't want to tell you. I couldn't bear to tell you I was leaving or explain why.† â€Å"I already know,† she said. â€Å"I figured it out.† â€Å"How?† I asked. Lissa was full of surprises today. â€Å"I was there. Last fall when we took that van into Missoula. The shopping trip? You and Dimitri were talking about Strigoi, about how becoming one makes you something twisted and evil†¦how it destroys the person you used to be and makes you do horrible things. And I heard †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She had trouble saying it. I had trouble hearing it, and my eyes grew wet. The memory was too harsh, thinking of sitting with him that day, back when we were first falling in love. Lissa swallowed and continued. â€Å"I heard you both say you'd rather die than become a monster like that.† Silence fell between us. The wind picked up and blew our hair around, dark and light. â€Å"I have to do this, Liss. I have to do it for him.† â€Å"No,† she said firmly. â€Å"You don't have to. You didn't promise him anything.† â€Å"Not in words, no. But you †¦ you don't understand.† â€Å"I understand that you're trying to cope and that this is as good a way as any. You need to find another way to let him go.† I shook my head. â€Å"I have to do this.† â€Å"Even if it means leaving me?† The way she said it, the way she looked at me †¦ oh God. A flood of memories flitted through my mind. We'd been together since childhood. Inseparable. Bound. And yet†¦Dimitri and I had been connected too. Damn it. I'd never wanted to have to choose between them. â€Å"I have to do this,† I said yet again. â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"You're supposed to be my guardian and go with me to college,† she argued. â€Å"You're shadow-kissed. We're supposed to be together. If you leave me †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The ugly coil of darkness was starting to raise its head in my chest. My voice was tight when I spoke. â€Å"If I leave you, they'll get you another guardian. Two of them. You're the last Dragomir. They'll keep you safe.† â€Å"But they won't be you, Rose,† she said. Those luminous green eyes held mine, and the anger in me cooled. She was so beautiful, so sweet†¦ and she seemed so reasonable. She was right. I owed it to her. I needed to – â€Å"Stop it!† I yelled, turning away. She'd been using her magic. â€Å"Do not use compulsion on me. You're my friend. Friends don't use their powers on each other.† â€Å"Friends don't abandon each other,† she snapped back. â€Å"If you were my friend, you wouldn't do it.† I spun back toward her, careful not to look too closely into her eyes, in case she tried compulsion on me again. The rage in me exploded. â€Å"It's not about you, okay? This time, it's about me. Not you. All my life, Lissa †¦ all my life, it's been the same. They come first. I've lived my life for you. I've trained to be your shadow, but you know what? I want to come first. I need to take care of myself for once. I'm tired of looking out for everyone else and having to put aside what I want. Dimitri and I did that, and look what happened. He's gone. I will never hold him again. Now I owe it to him to do this. I'm sorry if it hurts you, but it's my choice!† I'd shouted the words, not even pausing for a breath, and I hoped my voice hadn't carried to the guardians on duty at the gate. Lissa was staring at me, shocked and hurt. Tears ran down her cheeks, and part of me shriveled up at hurting the person I'd sworn to protect. â€Å"You love him more than me,† she said in a small voice, sounding very young. â€Å"He needs me right now.† â€Å"I need you. He's gone, Rose.† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"But he will be soon.† I reached up my sleeve and took off the chotki she'd given me for Christmas. I held it out to her. She hesitated and then took it. â€Å"What's this for?† she asked. â€Å"I can't wear it. It's for a Dragomir guardian. I'll take it again when I †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I had almost said if, not when. I think she knew that. â€Å"When I get back.† Her hands closed around the beads. â€Å"Please, Rose. Please don't leave me.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said. There were no other words to offer up. â€Å"I'm sorry.† I left her there crying as I walked toward the gate. A piece of my soul had died when Dimitri had fallen. Turning my back on her now, I felt another piece die as well. Soon there wouldn't be anything left inside of me. The guardians at the gate were as shocked as the secretary and Kirova had been, but there was nothing they could do. Happy birthday to me, I thought bitterly. Eighteen at last. It was nothing like I had expected. They opened the gates and I stepped through, outside of the school's grounds and over the wards. The lines were invisible, but I felt strangely vulnerable and exposed, as if I'd leapt a great chasm. And yet, at the same time, I felt free and in control. I started walking down the narrow road. The sun was nearly gone; I'd have to rely on moonlight soon. When I was out of earshot of the guardians, I stopped and spoke. â€Å"Mason.† I had to wait a long time. When he appeared, I could barely see him at all. He was almost completely transparent. â€Å"It's time, isn't it? You're going†¦you're finally moving on to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Well, I had no clue where he was moving on to. I didn't know anymore what lay beyond, whether it was the realms Father Andrew believed in or some entirely different world that I'd visited. Nonetheless, Mason understood and nodded. â€Å"It's been more than forty days,† I mused. â€Å"So I guess you're overdue. I'm glad †¦ I mean, I hope you find peace. Although I kind of hoped you'd be able to lead me to him.† Mason shook his head, and he didn't need to say a word for me to understand what he wanted to tell me. You're on your own now, Rose. â€Å"It's okay. You deserve your rest. Besides, I think I know where to start looking.† I'd thought about this constantly over the last week. If Dimitri was where I believed he was, I had a lot of work ahead of me. Mason's help would have been nice, but I didn't want to keep bothering him. It seemed like he had enough to deal with. â€Å"Goodbye,† I told him. â€Å"Thanks for your help I †¦ I'll miss you.† His form grew fainter and fainter, and just before it went altogether, I saw the hint of a smile, that laughing and mischievous smile I'd loved so much. For the first time since his death, thinking about Mason no longer devastated me. I was sad and I really would miss him, but I knew he'd moved on to something good – something really good. I no longer felt guilty. Turning away, I stared at the long road winding off ahead of me. I sighed. This trip might take awhile. â€Å"Then start walking, Rose,† I muttered to myself. I set off, off to kill the man I loved. As always, I can never express enough gratitude to the friends and family who hang with me through the ups and downs that go along with writing a book – let alone one as powerful as this. Many thanks to David and Christina for their speedy beta reading; to LA. Gordon and Sherry Kirk for their help with Russian; to Synde Korman for her help with Romanian; to my agent Jim McCarthy who is wise and does all the hard stuff for me; to editors Jessica Rothenberg and Ben Schrank for all of their guidance; to the Team Seattle authors for their distraction and good cheer; and to Jay for being infinitely patient†¦and even making a good joke once in a while.

Nigerian Economy, Gdp and Production.

NIGERIAN ECONOMY/GDP AND PRODUCTION Nigeria recorded a Current Account surplus of 11. 60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2011. Current Account to GDP in Nigeria is reported by the African Economic Outlook. Historically, from 1980 until 2011, Nigeria Current Account to GDP averaged 1. 2 Percent reaching an all time high of 37. 9 Percent in December of 2008 and a record low of -18. 7 Percent in December of 1986. The Current account balance as a percent of GDP provides an indication on the level of international competitiveness of a country.Usually, countries recording a strong current account surplus have an economy heavily dependent on exports revenues, with high savings ratings but weak domestic demand. On the other hand, countries recording a current account deficit have strong imports, a low saving rates and high personal consumption rates as a percentage of disposable incomes. Nigeria recorded a Current Account surplus of 5035. 99 USD Million in the third quarte r of 2012. Current Account in Nigeria is reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria.Historically, from 2005 until 2012, Nigeria Current Account averaged 2373. 87 USD Million reaching an all time high of 9455. 37 USD Million in December of 2009 and a record low of -4410 USD Million in September of 2010. Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid). INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION. In 2011 and 2012, Nigeria’s industrial production increased by 0. 10% as reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria.Historically, from 2007 until 2012, Nigeria Industrial Production averaged 3. 15 Percent reaching an all time high of 14. 90 Percent in December of 2011 and a record low of 0. 10 Percent in June of 2007. In Nigeria, industrial production measures the output of businesses integrated in industrial sector of the economy such as manufacturing, mining, and u tilities. This page includes a chart with historical data for Nigeria Industrial Production. The data given on this page shows a year over year change in a seasonally adjusted Industrial Production Index.Industrial Production Index is an economic indicator that measures changes in output for the manufacturing, mining, and utilities. Although these sectors contribute only a small portion of GDP, they are highly sensitive to interest rates and consumer demand. This makes Industrial Production an important tool for forecasting future GDP and economic performance. Industrial Production figures are also used by central banks to measure inflation, as high levels of industrial production can lead to uncontrolled levels of consumption and rapid inflation. Nigerian Economy, Gdp and Production. NIGERIAN ECONOMY/GDP AND PRODUCTION Nigeria recorded a Current Account surplus of 11. 60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2011. Current Account to GDP in Nigeria is reported by the African Economic Outlook. Historically, from 1980 until 2011, Nigeria Current Account to GDP averaged 1. 2 Percent reaching an all time high of 37. 9 Percent in December of 2008 and a record low of -18. 7 Percent in December of 1986. The Current account balance as a percent of GDP provides an indication on the level of international competitiveness of a country.Usually, countries recording a strong current account surplus have an economy heavily dependent on exports revenues, with high savings ratings but weak domestic demand. On the other hand, countries recording a current account deficit have strong imports, a low saving rates and high personal consumption rates as a percentage of disposable incomes. Nigeria recorded a Current Account surplus of 5035. 99 USD Million in the third quarte r of 2012. Current Account in Nigeria is reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria.Historically, from 2005 until 2012, Nigeria Current Account averaged 2373. 87 USD Million reaching an all time high of 9455. 37 USD Million in December of 2009 and a record low of -4410 USD Million in September of 2010. Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid). INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION. In 2011 and 2012, Nigeria’s industrial production increased by 0. 10% as reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria.Historically, from 2007 until 2012, Nigeria Industrial Production averaged 3. 15 Percent reaching an all time high of 14. 90 Percent in December of 2011 and a record low of 0. 10 Percent in June of 2007. In Nigeria, industrial production measures the output of businesses integrated in industrial sector of the economy such as manufacturing, mining, and u tilities. This page includes a chart with historical data for Nigeria Industrial Production. The data given on this page shows a year over year change in a seasonally adjusted Industrial Production Index.Industrial Production Index is an economic indicator that measures changes in output for the manufacturing, mining, and utilities. Although these sectors contribute only a small portion of GDP, they are highly sensitive to interest rates and consumer demand. This makes Industrial Production an important tool for forecasting future GDP and economic performance. Industrial Production figures are also used by central banks to measure inflation, as high levels of industrial production can lead to uncontrolled levels of consumption and rapid inflation.

Analyzing the legalization of drugs

The need to reexamine the existing methods of managing and handling these drug cases proportionally rose with the persistence of illegal drugs amidst existing legal sanctions. This had led to the processing of drug cases not only in court but even outside the court. This is to cope with the great number of drug offenders of varying levels getting apprehended everyday. There were several judicial strategies conceived in order to deal with the massive amount of drug cases. These judicial strategies include the creation of specialized divisions of a drug court in some trial courts, sped-up case processing procedures, deferred prosecution programs requiring court-supervised treatment and counseling and more. There are also combinations of these strategies, all to speed-up the processing of these cases. These cases are screened beforehand in order to know what degree and what level of judicial supervisions would be applicable for the case. This is also essential for early treatment intervention and rehabilitation of the offenders, so as to stop the continued drug abuse and the likelihood of crimes. On the other hand, arguments for the legalization of drugs are constantly being hurled forward in order to finally resolve the existing contentions against the ill-effects of drugs as well as for the perceived benefits both the government and the individuals can actually obtain from legalizing these substances. Arguments for the legalization of drugs One of the most common drugs in the society today is Marijuana. It is known scientifically as the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, where the leaves are being dried up, rolled into sheets of paper and be smoked just like cigarette or tobacco. It is the most often used illegal drug in the world, known in various names all over, like â€Å"pot,† â€Å"herb,† and â€Å"Mary Jane.† Some users can make use of marijuana by mixing it into food substances or drink it by brewing it with tea. The addictive element of marijuana is its Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC content. The effect of marijuana would depend on how strong or how potent is its Tetrahydrocannabinol content, thus also giving various effects on the marijuana users (Dell and Snyder 630). One of the reasons for finally legalizing drugs, especially marijuana, is founded on the historical context of the â€Å"illegal† substance. In America, for instance, those who lived in the area of Jamestown back in 1611 raised marijuana under the order of King James I for the purpose of crafting rope for the naval force of the British. The â€Å"herb†, as it has been called, also served as a medicinal substance specifically for George Washington who planted marijuana within the premises of Mount Vernon and that the plant was categorized as a prescription medicine until 1937 (Smith 101). Marijuana also has positive sides which can be used as an argument for its eventual legalization. One of the beneficial effects of the use of marijuana rests on its utility for the control of symptoms, especially in chemotherapy procedures, as an â€Å"effective antiemetic† among patients with health profiles such as cancer and â€Å"AIDS patients with wasting syndrome† which led to â€Å"a greater ability to cope emotionally with disabling or life-threatening illness (Gorman 23). Moreover, under the rule of Emperor Chen Nung of ancient China five centuries ago, marijuana has been declared as well as a plant that has medicinal value in terms of curing malaria, rheumatism, constipation, â€Å"absentmindedness† as well as the claims for mental and bodily disorders suffered by women (Grinspoon and Bakalar 3). There is also the contention for the prospect of establishing a regulated drug market which can be a profitable source of government tax. This idea illustrates the observation that the widespread use of illegal drugs and its potential to be a market commodity can overcome the legal restrictions ascribed unto it.   A controlled degree of the regulation of marijuana, for example, creates, instead, an increase in government revenues that may outweigh or, at least, come close to the actual government payments on law enforcement against the production, distribution and consumption of marijuana (Caputo and Ostrom 475). Refutations Drug Abuse is one of the most common criminal cases in the society today. It is a form of substance abuse, just like alcoholism, since these illicit drugs are actually addictive in nature. Because of this, many people who are hooked on drugs cannot easily let go of the addiction, and would often lead to drug-related crimes like robbery, physical assault, or even murder. Not only does these drugs dangerous to others, but it is also harmful in the drug users’ body, causing the body to take into negative turns, like deterioration and organ failures. When a person smokes or inhales marijuana smoke, he would usually feel rapid heart beats, loss of coordination and decreased sense of balance, slow reaction rate and a dry mouth. These are already signs of marijuana intoxication, along with the expansion of blood vessels in the eye, that’s why marijuana users usually have red eyes. The effects of marijuana would usually last two to three hours, where the marijuana user would usually tend to be sleepy. The negative effects of using marijuana would be hindering the user’s short term memory, wherein it would be difficult for him to remember recent events. This would usually lead to car crashes and other accidents, since their sense of coordination is greatly affected. Another dangerous drug would be cocaine. This drug’s effect on the body is really damaging, where addiction to cocaine could bring about permanent damages in one’s body or even death. Cocaine has both short term and long term effects. The short term effects are immediately noticeable, but not that damaging as compared to the long term ones. The common short term effects are a feeling of boosted energy, a decrease in a person’s appetite, and a rather hyped heart rate and blood pressure. There are still many other types of illegal drugs and similar forms of substances that create ill-effects to the overall health of individuals, oftentimes resulting for them to commit crimes that they could not have possibly committed had they not taken these illegal substances. Conclusion Although several illegal substances can actually bring forth benefits for individuals, the negative consequences outweigh these positive sides. Further, not all of these substances have positive effects when used, and that the negative consequences of illegal drug use oftentimes lead to crimes and violence. For these reasons along with the refutations against the legalization of drugs, it can be asserted that the legalization of drugs should not be taken as the ultimate measure for solving illegal drug issues. Rather, the reasons behind the legalization of drugs should be taken as a means in finding the deeper refutations against it. References Caputo, M. R., and B. J. Ostrom. â€Å"Potential Tax Revenue from a Regulated Marijuana Market: A Meaningful Revenue Source.† American Journal of Economics and Sociology 53.4 (1994): 475-90. Cocaine-Effects.com. â€Å"Cocaine Effects.† 2001. Dell, D. D., and J. A. Snyder. â€Å"Marijuana: Pro and Con.† The American Journal of Nursing 77.4 (1977): 630. Gorman, M. â€Å"Substance Abuse.† The American Journal of Nursing 97.11 (1997): 23. Grinspoon, L., and J. B. Bakalar. â€Å"The History of Cannabis.†Ã‚   Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine. London: Yale University Press, 1997. 3. Smith, G. R. W. â€Å"Possession of Marijuana in San Mateo County: Some Social Costs of Criminalization.† Stanford Law Review 22.1 (1969): 101. Analyzing the legalization of drugs The need to reexamine the existing methods of managing and handling these drug cases proportionally rose with the persistence of illegal drugs amidst existing legal sanctions. This had led to the processing of drug cases not only in court but even outside the court. This is to cope with the great number of drug offenders of varying levels getting apprehended everyday. There were several judicial strategies conceived in order to deal with the massive amount of drug cases. These judicial strategies include the creation of specialized divisions of a drug court in some trial courts, sped-up case processing procedures, deferred prosecution programs requiring court-supervised treatment and counseling and more. There are also combinations of these strategies, all to speed-up the processing of these cases. These cases are screened beforehand in order to know what degree and what level of judicial supervisions would be applicable for the case. This is also essential for early treatment intervention and rehabilitation of the offenders, so as to stop the continued drug abuse and the likelihood of crimes. On the other hand, arguments for the legalization of drugs are constantly being hurled forward in order to finally resolve the existing contentions against the ill-effects of drugs as well as for the perceived benefits both the government and the individuals can actually obtain from legalizing these substances. Arguments for the legalization of drugs One of the most common drugs in the society today is Marijuana. It is known scientifically as the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, where the leaves are being dried up, rolled into sheets of paper and be smoked just like cigarette or tobacco. It is the most often used illegal drug in the world, known in various names all over, like â€Å"pot,† â€Å"herb,† and â€Å"Mary Jane.† Some users can make use of marijuana by mixing it into food substances or drink it by brewing it with tea. The addictive element of marijuana is its Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC content. The effect of marijuana would depend on how strong or how potent is its Tetrahydrocannabinol content, thus also giving various effects on the marijuana users (Dell and Snyder 630). One of the reasons for finally legalizing drugs, especially marijuana, is founded on the historical context of the â€Å"illegal† substance. In America, for instance, those who lived in the area of Jamestown back in 1611 raised marijuana under the order of King James I for the purpose of crafting rope for the naval force of the British. The â€Å"herb†, as it has been called, also served as a medicinal substance specifically for George Washington who planted marijuana within the premises of Mount Vernon and that the plant was categorized as a prescription medicine until 1937 (Smith 101). Marijuana also has positive sides which can be used as an argument for its eventual legalization. One of the beneficial effects of the use of marijuana rests on its utility for the control of symptoms, especially in chemotherapy procedures, as an â€Å"effective antiemetic† among patients with health profiles such as cancer and â€Å"AIDS patients with wasting syndrome† which led to â€Å"a greater ability to cope emotionally with disabling or life-threatening illness (Gorman 23). Moreover, under the rule of Emperor Chen Nung of ancient China five centuries ago, marijuana has been declared as well as a plant that has medicinal value in terms of curing malaria, rheumatism, constipation, â€Å"absentmindedness† as well as the claims for mental and bodily disorders suffered by women (Grinspoon and Bakalar 3). There is also the contention for the prospect of establishing a regulated drug market which can be a profitable source of government tax. This idea illustrates the observation that the widespread use of illegal drugs and its potential to be a market commodity can overcome the legal restrictions ascribed unto it.   A controlled degree of the regulation of marijuana, for example, creates, instead, an increase in government revenues that may outweigh or, at least, come close to the actual government payments on law enforcement against the production, distribution and consumption of marijuana (Caputo and Ostrom 475). Refutations Drug Abuse is one of the most common criminal cases in the society today. It is a form of substance abuse, just like alcoholism, since these illicit drugs are actually addictive in nature. Because of this, many people who are hooked on drugs cannot easily let go of the addiction, and would often lead to drug-related crimes like robbery, physical assault, or even murder. Not only does these drugs dangerous to others, but it is also harmful in the drug users’ body, causing the body to take into negative turns, like deterioration and organ failures. When a person smokes or inhales marijuana smoke, he would usually feel rapid heart beats, loss of coordination and decreased sense of balance, slow reaction rate and a dry mouth. These are already signs of marijuana intoxication, along with the expansion of blood vessels in the eye, that’s why marijuana users usually have red eyes. The effects of marijuana would usually last two to three hours, where the marijuana user would usually tend to be sleepy. The negative effects of using marijuana would be hindering the user’s short term memory, wherein it would be difficult for him to remember recent events. This would usually lead to car crashes and other accidents, since their sense of coordination is greatly affected. Another dangerous drug would be cocaine. This drug’s effect on the body is really damaging, where addiction to cocaine could bring about permanent damages in one’s body or even death. Cocaine has both short term and long term effects. The short term effects are immediately noticeable, but not that damaging as compared to the long term ones. The common short term effects are a feeling of boosted energy, a decrease in a person’s appetite, and a rather hyped heart rate and blood pressure. There are still many other types of illegal drugs and similar forms of substances that create ill-effects to the overall health of individuals, oftentimes resulting for them to commit crimes that they could not have possibly committed had they not taken these illegal substances. Conclusion Although several illegal substances can actually bring forth benefits for individuals, the negative consequences outweigh these positive sides. Further, not all of these substances have positive effects when used, and that the negative consequences of illegal drug use oftentimes lead to crimes and violence. For these reasons along with the refutations against the legalization of drugs, it can be asserted that the legalization of drugs should not be taken as the ultimate measure for solving illegal drug issues. Rather, the reasons behind the legalization of drugs should be taken as a means in finding the deeper refutations against it. References Caputo, M. R., and B. J. Ostrom. â€Å"Potential Tax Revenue from a Regulated Marijuana Market: A Meaningful Revenue Source.† American Journal of Economics and Sociology 53.4 (1994): 475-90. Cocaine-Effects.com. â€Å"Cocaine Effects.† 2001. Dell, D. D., and J. A. Snyder. â€Å"Marijuana: Pro and Con.† The American Journal of Nursing 77.4 (1977): 630. Gorman, M. â€Å"Substance Abuse.† The American Journal of Nursing 97.11 (1997): 23. Grinspoon, L., and J. B. Bakalar. â€Å"The History of Cannabis.†Ã‚   Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine. London: Yale University Press, 1997. 3. Smith, G. R. W. â€Å"Possession of Marijuana in San Mateo County: Some Social Costs of Criminalization.† Stanford Law Review 22.1 (1969): 101.

Eli Wiesel's Night Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Eli Wiesel's Night - Essay Example Having faced myriad hardships during the tender age, Elie Wiesel wondered the kind of problems that he had to undergo. Weisel believed in God during his studies about the Jewish mysticism; to determine a mentor while studying at Kabbalah1. The perception that God would be found everywhere changed after being taken to Birkenau and forced to believe in a different faith. Wiesel was a committed believer who was interested in reviewing the Talmud and the Cabbala. This is depicted by his inquisitive minds when he asks his father to get him an appropriate tutor. However his father holds reservations that his son is still young to enroll for superior studies. His father’s refusal does not deter him because he approaches Moshe the Beadle for assistance over the same issue. The narrator further states that the (chariot) cattle car in which the Jews are forced to travel in is extremely congested and wretched. It is portrayed for having no room since he cannot lie down; nonetheless, they are forced to take turns so as to get place and s a short time rest. In CITATION 2: the author cleverly introduces external conflict that the Jews are facing. For instance, in the statement â€Å"From this moment on, you are under the authority of the German Army† (23-24). Wiesel illustrates conflict with the German officer and Hungarian lieutenant who confiscate all of their goods and belonging. Throughout the holocaust as reflected in the narration, there was conflict between the Jews and the Nazis. Another instance of such conflict is portrayed through Mrs. Schà ¤chter (p. 24-28). She is an example of external conflict since she keeps shouting that what her eyesight can see is fire and flames that the Jews who are with her on the train cannot. In the story this is also symbolizes foreshadowing of the future. Besides, external conflict continues to show the degree of deplorable conduct through external Eliezer’s family is split ‘Men to the

Islam and Feminism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Islam and Feminism - Essay Example Viewed as a Western ideology, feminism has both differences and similarities between Middle Eastern Muslim feminists and Western feminists, as well as third-wave feminism. Feminism is largely triggered by cultural and traditional factors and may not be fully compatible with Islam, and many groups are split as to whether Muslim feminists are trying to achieve human rights or their feminist rights like Western women. This paper will research and discuss these aspects of feminism by analyzing Duygu Asena, who was a Turkish Muslim feminist, hence the thesis: Feminism is a Western ideology and it is not compatible with Islam. Even though there is a group that understands and advocates the rights of Muslim women, there is another that hates feminism as an ideology of the Western world that is only concerned with female superiority. It is worth noting that feminism, in the sense of a Universalist faith, gained momentum in the 19th century, with the concept emerging from the Western world. I t has links with the French Revolution, during which women wanted to be considered as having the full status of citizens. In the Middle East and Muslim world in general, feminist movements appeared as women acquired literacy. Asena become an iconic as well as controversial figure in Turkey following her calls to women to escape from oppression, which she likened to a vicious circle. She urged women to fight for their equal rights with men and seek employment as a step towards freedom (Alemdar 1). In Turkey, being a predominantly Islamic nation, this was perceived by most, particularly the authorities, as a contradiction. Her role in feminism may generally have taken a diversion from what feminism in the Middle East has been focusing on. Feminism in the Middle East has basically had an emphasis on women’s role in Islam, targeting full equality in both private and public life for all Muslim faithful irrespective of gender. The rights they advocate for are founded on Islamic law , also known as Sharia. Feminist ideologies in the Middle East are inspired mainly by faith. Although Islamic feminists in the Middle East are fierce advocates for legislative interpretations and reforms that represent contemporary understanding of gender equality, they also embrace their Islamic faith strongly. However, more recently, Middle East Islamic feminists are also applying secular ideologies in their discourses, albeit strategically, having acknowledged the role played by Islamic feminism as an integral part of the feminist movement globally. This aspect creates the underlying similarity between the ideologies of the Middle East feminism and Western feminism movements. Feminism may be viewed as a global trend, but its uniqueness to every culture must also be appreciated. Western feminist’s ideologies are fundamentally different from those of the Middle East, and indeed most other parts of the world, because of the values on which the movements are formed. Being secu lar, most of the Western feminist ideologies stem from Western thoughts, principles and traditions. Western attitudes, which are mostly Christian and

Business Strategy Nokia Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Strategy Nokia Corporation - Case Study Example In addition, it provides recommendations and suggestions as how to employ the internal and external strengths, overcome the weakness, make use of the opportunities and identifying the potential threats in time and take preventive measures in time. Nokia Corporation is a Finland based company incorporated in the year 1966. The major breakthrough came when Nokia made an entry into the consumer electronics market. Through its remarkable internationalisation policies, Nokia over the years has evolved as the leading manufacturer of mobile devices and mobile networks across the globe. However from a humble start with paper, rubber and cable manufacturing, consumer electronics brought about a major reorientation of the company. It was towards the end of the twentieth century that Nokia aggressively started implementing expansionary policies in different electronic product areas. Over the next twenty - twenty five years, Nokia actively made acquisitions and divestments in an effort to internationalise and growth. In the year 1995, Nokia recorded revenue of a whooping FIM 36, 810 million of which 99 percent came from the electronics business: mobile phones, telecommunications and consumer electronics. (Lindell L. and Melin L., 1996) Today Nokia operat... It has a plethora of products and services to offer to consumers. Though its primary business area is manufacture and sell of mobile phone handsets, it also provides services to that help to protect a business from foreign intrusion, improve workforce communications and voice solutions. (About Nokia, 2009) The determining factor of Nokia's success in the consumer electronics industry is its timely identification and exploitation of business opportunities. Nokia's acquisition strategies played a major role in bringing about a remarkable corporate transformation. Between the period 1983 and 1992, Nokia made five well planned and strategised acquisitions of European companies. 1983 Salora (Finland), Luxor (Sweden) 1987 Oceanic (France) 1988 Standard Electric Lorenz (Germany) 1988 Main plants: Bochum (Germany) and Ibervisao (Portugal), with six other plants supporting the manufacturing of TV sets 1992 Finlux (Finland) In the 1970s when Nokia had just entered the computers manufacturing industry, another opportunity to expand in electronics appeared. There was a sudden creation of demand for a new type of portable radio telephone by the Finnish army. Eventually the three companies that got the order of manufacturing were Salora, Televa and Nokia. Salora was much ahead of its two counterparts in its Research and Development activities. In view of this, Nokia strategically approached Salora and for a joint venture initiative in the radio telephone business. (Lindell L. and Melin L., 1996) However in the 1970s Salora was forced to relinquish their ownership due to unethical business practices. After years of ill fate and business blunders, Nokia acquired 18 percent of the shares in Salora, however it

America's Involvement in WWII and Vietnam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

America's Involvement in WWII and Vietnam - Essay Example In the late 1938, Hitler continued with violent Nazi policies that discriminated against the Jews in Germany which led to several deaths of the Jewish people. Moreover, Hitler and his Nazi army attacked Poland and France who finally surrendered to Hitler. Consequently, the U.S president Roosevelt decided to circumvent the neutrality act and assist the British by sending them weapons secretly going against the public demands to stay out of the European war. Committees were formed in America which perpetuated the neutrality act and a larger population supported it until when Japan started bombing America’s Pearl harbour. Consequently, America declared war on Japan which led to Germany and Italy declaring war on America thus the beginning of America’s involvement in the world war two. The United States joined the Vietnam War to stop spread of communism in East Asia. Moreover, the North Vietnamese anticipated support of Americans and successfully fought back the South Vietnamese. However, the military situation began to lose ground in South Vietnam and it was blamed on Diem’s corruption. Consequently, the then U.S president J.F Kennedy’s government organised a coup d’etat which led to Diem’s death. The American government began establishing attacks secretly against the North Vietnam because of their communist government (Tucker). Moreover, U.S president Johnson who took over after Kennedy’s death, ordered for a surveillance mission at the coast of North Vietnam. Furthermore, the South Vietnam were supplied with weapons and trained by Americans. In addition American destroyers passed beyond the boundaries of Gulf of Tonkin which led to the North Vietnamese troops firing at them. Consequently, Johnson declared war on the North Vietnam and the American public supported the move of war on Vietnam. The war began in Vietnam which led to the Tet offensive committed by the North

Using The Communist Manifesto, explain how this argument could be true Essay

Using The Communist Manifesto, explain how this argument could be true - Essay Example It was in such a scenario that the Communist Manifesto evolved and took shape. The Communist Manifesto (1848) is one of the most read and debated piece of writing of the 20th century that portrays the struggle of the weaker classes against the backdrop of a sagging economy. Marx’ ideals are echoed in the Communist Manifesto encouraging realism to take the place of idealism preached by earlier socialists. Karl Marx greatly believed that ‘Capitalism’ in the right sense was absolutely necessary and would serve to bring about a revolutionary transformation of the world by providing a strong foundation for Communism. Marx believed that idealism that condoned various class structures was an illusion that had to be got rid of by society. Marx and Engels fully well understood that industrialization was the answer for the positive development of the country. Competition was an accepted fact among the individuals of a capitalistic society and Marx contributed towards these influential concepts that paved the way for an Industrial revolution. The chief goals that lay behind Marx’ concept of capitalism were that all citizens should enjoy equality, private production and ownership should be abolished and a changed market economy where people could get whatever they needed in exchange for their labor. Marx was of the opinion that if states and governments were done away with, then wars would come to an end. According to Marx, the world markets were a potent and important tool to remove the differences between nations and as they incorporated capitalism into their lives, they would not only improve international trade but also pave a new path where the world could be united in communism. Marx believed that that an Industrial Revolution was both necessary and inevitable if a capitalistic nation had to be achieved because without it, it was not possible. He was sure that differences between countries and nations

Advertising Signals Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Advertising Signals - Coursework Example There is a lot of information that is being provided to the viewers of the ad through one single advertisement. At first glance, the viewers might say that a very low amount of information is being provided through this advertisement. Those who are in favour of such adverts might defend advertisements and state that all advertisements have some kind of information and even the most poorly constructed advertisements have some information about the quality of the product being advertised. Advertisements are very important signals about the quality of the product, an advertisement that costs really high provides clear information to the consumers that the product being advertised is of very high quality and that is why so much money is being spend on advertising the product. Body An Example of how advertisement signals quality: Two companies, company A and company B, selling cereal has developed and launched their own cereals for breakfast and they plan to sell it for $5 per container o f cereal. Considering that the marginal cost incurred by both the cereal producers is $0, this means that each container of cereal sold by these companies will earn them $5 in profit.

Analysis of options and recommendations for action Assignment

Analysis of options and recommendations for action - Assignment Example This change in tourism trend could be attributed to uncertain economic conditions, stagnant salaries, rising inflation, and growing threat of terror attacks. Therefore many of the UK citizens think that it is better to visit domestic tourist destinations that are in close proximity to them so as to maintain a good balance between their income and expenses. Evidently, such an adverse trend change in the tourism sector would negatively affect the travel business. This report will examine how the travel agency could respond to this change and suggest specific strategies to boost sales in the context of the change. The declining trend of outbound tourism in UK poses great threats to travel and tourism businesses that increasingly rely on people visiting overseas countries (Travel Mole, 2014). The recent global financial crisis together with rising daily living expenses significantly contributed to this trend because people strongly believed that outbound tourism would cause them to incur huge costs. In addition, there has been a trend of decrease in the ownership of overseas holiday homes in UK over the last few years. The English people think that visiting domestic tourist destinations is a better way to cut down huge expenses associated with outbound tourism and save for the future. The growing threat of terror attacks across the world also discourages UK citizens to enjoy overseas holidays or to own overseas holiday homes (Page, 2011, p.75). A SWOT analysis is a better tool to analyse the internal and external environments of the travel and tourism sectors. While analysing the internal strengths of the UK travel industry, it seems that the country has a well developed infrastructure that support travel and tourism businesses. High cost of operations is a major weakness of these sectors as this issue negatively affects people’s overseas holiday

Mergers and Joint Mergers Essay Example for Free

Mergers and Joint Mergers Essay The following paragraphs will discuss week fours readings that covered vertical mergers, horizontal mergers, conglomerates, and joint ventures. Companies use mergers and joint ventures to increase profitability and efficiency. The following paper will go over the three alliances as well as a joint venture and how it differs from the mergers. Each business arrangement is used to attempt an improvement for the company, the important thing to remember is which will be most beneficial and why. A horizontal merger occurs when two competing companies in the same market joins together to become one firm or one identity. The two companies could have an influence on the competitive market if the companies have a large percentage of that market. The result of the two companies combine will be an increased advantage over their competitors. If the two groups are joining together are small businesses, they could have little to no advantage over their competitors in the market. For example, if two unknown mobile cellular companies merge to increase their services and products, the affect on the existing market could be minimal. If two well-known mobile providers such as Apple and Samsung combine in the market of mobile cellular phones and different accessories, it would give them an advantage over their competitors because of their popularity. The companies have a larger impact on the market at this time with the latest IPhone and Samsung Galaxy.  Therefore; a competitor has a large percentage in the market would decrease barriers of entry for new competitors. A vertical merger occurs when two companies that are next to each other on the supply-chain decide to become one entity and use it as a way to gain a competitive advantage within the marketplace. For instance, a manufacturer merging with a supplier of essential components or raw materials or with a distributor or retailer that sells its products. The goal of vertical mergers is to improve efficiency or reduce costs. Vertical mergers can help to secure access to critical supplies and help to reduce overall costs by eliminating the costs of finding suppliers, negotiating deals, and paying full market prices. It can improve efficiency by synchronizing production and supply between the two groups and ensuring that supplies are available when you need them. A vertical merger can help deal with competitors by making it difficult for competitors to obtain vital supplies, therefore, weakening existing competitors and increasing barriers to the entry of new competitors. Lets take a look at the technology advancement implemented for the creation of a new iPhone. Apple will merge with the suppliers and distributors for the benefit of having the production accessible for the company when manufacturing and distributing the product. In the world of business, there are times when companies can merge in order to expand their operations in other markets, and possibly lower the risk of the company by doing so. Combining activities, which in turn, will increase their efficiency, can eliminate redundancy between the two organizations. At times, this merger can involve corporations that offer entirely different services or products. These types of mergers are referred to as conglomerate mergers. A conglomerate is a corporation that is made up of a number of different, seemingly unrelated activities. In a conglomerate, one company owns a controlling stake in a number of smaller companies, which conduct business separately. Each of a conglomerates subsidiary companies runs independently of the other business divisions, but the subsidiaries management reports to senior management at the parent company. (investopedia.com). Some examples of conglomerate mergers viewed between Proctor Gamble and Gillette, Walt Disney and the American Broadcasting  Company, and ITT, Avis Rent-a-Car, Sheraton Hotels and Continental Baking. To the typical consumer, mergers like the ones listed above do not make sense, but it the world of business; there are positive benefits for all parties involved. Unlike a merger, a joint venture does not require dissolution of their original business or change the organizational structure, but rather two business entities join forces to undertake a single project or aspect of business. The only similarity between the two is that they both include two business entities joining together. A joint merger is a short-term partnership in which the persons jointly undertake a transaction for mutual profit as well as each person contributes assets and share risks. Joint ventures can also be used by companies to gain entrance into foreign markets. Microsoft entered into a joint venture with NBC to create MSNBC. The two companies ventured to bring business news to the television and online. While the two are joins as one for MSNBC, Microsoft and NBC have their companies. Microsoft has their business market in online products and technology. NBC has their television broadcasting network. The two businesses do not affect each other. The two companies maintain ownership of the entity. When two or more companies agree to combine into one entity, it will be referred to as a horizontal, vertical, or conglomerate merger. On the other hand, when two or more businesses enter into a joint venture for a specific object will not incorporate the companies as one. The companies will be able to work together for the new entity, but their overall concept of their business will remain the same. Meaning the companies can perform their business separately from the joint venture. References: Joint venture, (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/joint_venture Mergers vs. Joint Ventures: Whats the Difference? (2012). Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/office/entrepreneurs/articles/82448.aspx Kim, E. (2012), CNNMoney: Retrieved by http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/16/technology/microsoft-nbc-split/index.htm Scilly, M. (2014), Houston Chronicle: Difference between Mergers and Joint Ventures, Retrieved from:www.smallbusiness.chron.com

Organization Development Consultant Plan for the Red Cross Essay Example for Free

Organization Development Consultant Plan for the Red Cross Essay The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping people in need throughout the United States. Most of the country may not realize how much the Red Cross accomplishes this noble calling through the dependency on the generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public to support their lifesaving services and programs. The American Red Cross also partners with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world to help some of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. â€Å"Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D. C. on May 21, 1881† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Barton accomplished several overseas missions for the Red Cross but eventually came back to the United States and continued her domestic and global efforts for the next 23 years (Red Cross, 2013d). The Red Cross received their first congressional charter in 1900, and the second in 1905, which is still in effect today. The charter â€Å"†¦sets forth the purposes of the organization which includes giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Since 2006, the Red Cross and FEMA have partnered together to help various government agencies and communities plan and coordinate the provision of food and shelter for people affected by disasters (American Red Cross, 2013d, para. 8). Today, there are over a thousand local chapters throughout the United States (American Red Cross, 2013e, para. 3) that continue the mission of the American Red Cross, fueled by loyal volunteers and contributors. . Organizational Culture The culture of the American Red Cross is built on its dedication to a contemporary mission and vision statement which will guide it through the 21st century, along with seven fundamental principles. Stop  «Ã‚ »Mission Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 1). â€Å"The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. † Vision Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 2). The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope; our communities are ready and prepared for disasters; everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives. The seven fundamental principles of the Global Red Cross Network consist of the following: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality (American Red Cross, 2013c). These fundamental principles are used as a basic foundation in which to build from and guide all of the Red Cross communities across the globe; keeping everyone in tune with the core values and mission established by Clara Barton so long ago. The Board of Governors serves as the governing body of the American Red Cross, which has all powers overseeing and directing the leadership and management of the business and affairs of the organization. The corporate governance principles of the American Red Cross are found in the Congressional Charter and a series of documents that are reviewed periodically, by the Board of Governors, to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the organization and reflect best practices (Red Cross, 2013a, para. 1).  In 2007, the American Red Cross devised a comprehensive governance reform that was signed into law by the President of the United States. This reform was an effort to modernize the Board, and provide a more clear oversight and strategic role for the Board. Highlights of governance reforms include: ensuring that Governance procedures provide clear guidance about expectations and enhance Board and individual Board member performance (American Red Cross, 2013a, para. 2). Organizational Leadership over Time The Chairman of the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), like most executives, play a significant role in the stabilization and future growth of the American Red Cross. The Chairman leads the Board of Governors in the oversight of the organization while the President and CEO implements strategic organizational development and leads the operations of the Red Cross. Currently, two women hold the honor of Chairman and CEO of the American Red Cross; Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and Gail McGovern, respectively (Red Cross, 2013b). â€Å"Ms. McElveen-Hunter is the former U. S.  Ambassador to Finland (2001 – 2003) and the CEO and owner of Pace Communications, Inc. , the largest private custom publishing company in the United States† (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 2) and was appointed as Chairman of the American Red Cross on June 17, 2004. â€Å"Gail J. McGovern was named President and CEO of the American Red Cross on April 8, 2008. After previously holding top management positions at ATT Corporation and Fidelity Investments†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 3). McGovern has extensive experience running large organizations and a proven track record for improving performance (American Red Cross, 2013b). Current Organizational Development Phenomena Since the inception of the new CEO, Gail McGovern, in 2008, the American Red Cross has undergone several structural changes in an effort to maximize the organizations impact with its available resources. According to McGovern, these efforts to â€Å"†¦improve operational efficiency, cutting unnecessary expenses, modernizing our technological systems, or standardizing blood collection labeling† (Red Cross, 2012, pg. 1) are all directed towards the goal of providing optimal care for those in need. Just in the last year two years alone, the American Red Cross has assisted the tornado victims of Joplin Missouri, which claimed more than 150 lives in 2011; helped those afflicted by numerous wildfires burning in various parts of the West; supplied aid to victims of floods in Florida, due to Tropical Storm Debby; provided much needed help to those living near the Northeast coast who suffered from extensive power outages and damage from Hurricane Sandy, and many, many more vital services that go largely unmentioned throughout the country (Red Cross, 2012). The American Red Cross, clearly, will never run out of work; which requires a leader that is creative, resourceful, dynamic, fluid, and up for complex challenges in an ever changing landscape. Organizational Development Needs The first step in approaching a national giant such as the American Red Cross is to obtain a meeting with current president and CEO, Gail McGovern, for a meaningful dialogue and assessment of her vision for the future of American Red Cross the brand, and American Red Cross the organization (i. e. employees, volunteers, contributors). Clear expectations and limitation on what the organization development consultant’s role will be during the process, as well as future follow-up assessments, must be defined. A well established theory of organizational development, tailored to the American Red Cross, must be adhered to. In this case, I recommend the socio-technical systems theory first developed by Eric Trist. This theory incorporates the idea that organizations are comprised of, and interdependent of, two systems: social and technical; realizing that changes in one cause changes in the other. This approach is best utilized by organizations that directly rely on their material means for their output, and at the core of their existence lays an almost indecipherable difference between their human and non-human systems (Van de Ven Joyce, 1981). Together, the consultant and the CEO will determine how these two components (social and technical) interact within and around the American Red Cross organization, and assess feedback and synergy between the systems for optimal effectiveness. Secondly, a data gathering method must be decided upon to obtain the most relevant and accurate information for basing an organizational strategy upon. There are several methods available, each with inherent positive and negative considerations. However, the CEO must establish what types of information the consultant may and may not have access to; this will limit the choices of methods available. For a national organization that is also a part of a global organization, such as the American Red Cross, a survey/questionnaire is recommended, which focuses on the current climate of the cultural perceptions of the organization by the employees and volunteers. This method allows a consultant to quickly yield data, address a broad range of topics, compare the data across groups, maintain anonymity, and easily repeat the process for follow-up purposes for the next two years and beyond. Other data gathering methods such as observation and focus groups are also recommended but with full disclosure and acknowledgement that they are both time-consuming and limited for a national organization; consideration should be given to reserve these methods for upper-level management as needed (Anderson, 2012, pp. 119-150). Once the information desired is agreed upon with Gail McGovern, then the method and design of the data gathering tool can be implemented. Next, gathering and interpreting the data correctly to ensure maximum benefit for the proposed intervention(s) is critical. I suggest using a detailed system of deductive analysis that makes coding data easier, helps with data interpretation, and communicating it to the client. It would also be useful to also incorporate inductive analysis as well to pull out key themes that may be evident (Anderson, 2012, pp. 19-150). Once, this is done, a feedback meeting, with Gail McGovern, should be set up to discuss the results derived from the data, proposed intervention(s), and strategic planning. Keep in mind, however, the data should be reviewed at least one more time prior to the meeting to ensure that it accurate, and has not violated any established ethical considerations. This attention to detail cannot be emphasized enough as the interpretation of th e data unveils the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This, in turn, will directly affect the stability and future direction of the organization as it strives to grow and thrive in a vastly competitive environment over arguably shrinking economic resources. Organizational Development Recommendations Based on the results and interpretation of the data, intervention(s) may be suggested that are in line with Gail McGovern’s vision for American Red Cross; a vision for stability and increased revenue and partnerships (Red Cross, 2012). Therefore, I would turn your attention to the Kotter’s Model (Kotter International, 2012) as a step-by-step guide for a national organization, with a global reach, that embraces change and is ready to whole-heartedly commit to such a program that is proven to yield incredible performance benefits when followed long-term (see both Chart 1 and Chart 2-pg. 12). Implementing step one is vital, developing a sense of urgency (Kotter International, 2012). The CEO must develop a sense of urgency, regarding her vision for the future of the American Red Cross, amongst the employees, volunteers, and contributors. This is accomplished by first determining the current climate of the organization through the data gathering methods mentioned previously, which establishes a base-line from which to monitor progress, and then devising organization strategies (media, social-media, print-media, etc†¦) to disseminate the vision quickly and develop the sense of urgency necessary. The second step of Kotter’s Model involves putting together the right coalition of people to lead a change initiative which is critical to the success of McGovern’s vision for the future (Kotter International, 2012). The American Red Cross currently has a stellar mix of dedicated people at the highest levels. However, objective observation and analysis of upper-level team meetings is recommended in order to evaluate current synergy, or lack thereof, and add team building workshops as needed to address and facilitate trust, relationship building, communication and collaboration across various branches of the organization. In a rapidly changing world, complex organizations, such as the American Red Cross, are forced to make decisions more quickly and with less certainty than they would like. Effective leaders must make productive decisions under these ircumstances; therefore, it is paramount that all of the teams develop a level of trust in one another. The third step involves establishing a clear vision which serves three important purposes (Kotter International, 2012). A clear vision simplifies the complex, motivates people, and helps implement the actions efficiently. McGovern must be unmistakably clear in stating her vision for the American Red Cross, the path in which the organization must follow to be successful in accomplishing the vision, the expectations of each leader who reports directly to her, the benchmarks for measurement of progress, and a method for objective follow-up. The fourth step is gaining an understanding and commitment to a new direction (Kotter International, 2012). This step is imperative to core of the vision. In order to establish an understanding and commitment to the new vision for the American Red Cross from the current leaders, McGovern must commit herself to communication in all ways, and at every level of the organization possible. Multiple channels of communication must be used to enforce the message of the vision, and up-dates on the progress, frequently to keep everyone aware of the goal, and their importance to the overall success of the organization. This can be accomplished in various ways, such as: daily motivational huddles (15 minutes or less to focus on the days objectives), monthly meetings to maintain continuity, quarterly newsletter to monitor progress, yearly meetings with upper-management to communicate goals and celebrate achievements. The fifth step involves empowering broad-based action (Kotter International, 2012). Having a clear and realistic understanding that creating a new vision, and establishing new cultural norms, is not without its obstacles is essential to McGovern as she attempts to realign the American Red Cross with her vision. Implementing proven management problem-solving methods, as well as on-going training is crucial. Furthermore, all action plans must be analyzed in order to ensure that management has all of the necessary tools and up-to-date information for successful implementation of the change vision. Lastly, utilizing electronic surveys help to speed up feedback and provide information for people to do their jobs more efficiently.

Thought Paper

Thought Paper The purpose of this thought paper is to synthesize theoretical discussions and provide critical analysis of selected reading assignments of the preceding weeks. The paper will specifically provide the authors reading and understanding of Stephanie Coontzs publication of the way we never were, Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever publication of Woman dont Ask, and Deborah Tannens work on the power of talk: who gets heard and why. The paper will also provide a synopsis of the movie â€Å"North Country†, and provide the writers personal assessment of the movie. The way we never were In Stephanie Coontzs publication of the way we never were, she outlined several stereotypes about American families. She counter acted perceptions of the past and provided different conceptions of the changes in the structures of American families overtime. She provided an examination of family life in American from 1900 to 1990 in which she dispelled the perceptions of the past which have predisposed the present state of affairs of American families. In chapter one, three, and seven of her publication of the way we never were, Coontz provided elaborate arguments which she termed as myths of the 1950s that tend to perpetuate the perception of how American families ought to be. Coontz in chapter one defined the crisis within American families which emanate from the perception that American families craves for the family value system of the early and middle 1900s. She argued that people are of the opinion problems in American families in present days emanates from the active determination and participation of women in changing the family structure. She continued to state that some believe families are in crisis as women work outside home at the cost of their families and children, thus putting the relationship and marriage in jeopardy. She further revealed that people reminiscing family values of the 1950s argued that the rate of domestic violence was lower than what it is today due to past traditional family values. She furthered, many are of the opinion that â€Å"parents spend less time with their children today than in 1965† (Coontz, 1992, p. 20). In addition, she continued that many believe the rise in teenage pregnancy and abortion rate has been attributed to the gender equality and role reversal in families overtime. In countering the perceptions of American families of the past, Coontz argued that families in America have been dominated by male for centuries. She maintained men were considered breadwinners, while the role of women was limited to the home (Coontz, 1992, p. 10). She asserted there was a notion that only men had the aptitude to handle the burden of the family by providing bacon and direction to the family, while women stay home and manage the affairs of the home and children. Coontz further argued that the perception about America 1950s are fallacies and â€Å"false optimisms about renewing family values† Carlson and Edgar (2010). She claimed the perceptions of American families of the 1950s are delusional in that people illusion themselves about the irreversible transformation family trend has taken. She disagreed with those harboring the misconception that if American families only recommitted themselves to marriage and children, American families could circumvent all of t he new impasses posed by the revolution in gender and economic role of the family. Women Dont Ask In Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever publication of women doesnt ask they provided empirical evidence to establish why women lack the aptitude to ask for what they want. Before establishing the hypothesis for why women dont ask, Linda observed a disparity among her male and female students in asking for whatever they needed. Linda â€Å"realized that her male graduate students asked for all sorts of things—travel money to go to conferences, exemptions from course requirements, opportunities to teach courses of their own—that the female students rarely asked for† (Babcock and Laschever, 2010). In Lindas quest to investigate why her female students didnt ask and her male students were more proactive in asking for what they wanted, she embarked upon a collaborative research project with Sara Laschever who surveyed 100 participants, both men and women from around the U.S. At the close of their research, Linda and Sara discovered their studies produced similar findings. Linda and Sara respective studies gathered that â€Å"women are much less likely than men to ask for what they want and to use negotiation as a tool to promote their own ambitions or desires, and men use negotiation to get ahead and get what they want between two and nine times as often as women do† (Babcock and Laschever, 2010). In their research, Linda and Sara outlined salient statistical findings. Considering selected results from their findings, Linda and Sara disclosed that â€Å"women dont like to negotiate† (Babcock and Laschever, 2010). They argued that 2.5 times more women than men said they feel a great deal of apprehension about negotiating, men initiate negotiations about four times as often as women, and 20% of adult women (22 million people) say they never negotiate at all, even though they often recognize negotiation as appropriate and even necessary. They further argued that â€Å"women have lower expectations and lack knowledge of their worth† (Babcock and Laschever, 2010). They claimed women are often not aware of their market value, as they report salary expectations between 3% and 32% lower than those of men for the same jobs. They also claimed in their findings that men expect to earn 13% more than women during their first year of full-time work and 32% more at their career peaks. In providing an explanation to the causes emanating from why women dont ask, Linda and Sara attributes their work to the wealth of psychological research that explains the diverse ways in which boys and girls interact. They argued by the kinds of toys that are considered boys and girls, the diverse types of chores typically assigned to girls and boys, and the un similar types of games that adults guide them toward playing, they can â€Å"show what these chores and toys teach girls about their appropriate role in society and what the games they play teach them about compliance versus independence† (Babcock and Laschever, 2010). They also claimed from their research, â€Å"society has a strong expectation that women will abide by their assigned roles and reacts very negatively when they dont† (Babcock and Laschever, 2010). Linda and Sara further argued behaviors exhibited by men that portrays them as a straight shooter or a no-nonsense guy can lead a woman to be seen as t oo â€Å"pushy and aggressive† (Babcock and Laschever, 2010). The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why In this segment of this thought paper, a review of Deborah Tannens publication entitled The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why was made. In her publication, she outlined several points affecting gender behaviors and role in the corporate world. In her work, she mentioned her effort in researching the power of linguistic style on human conversation and relationships. In her quest, she claimed to have extended her research to the workplace where she discovered that our â€Å"ways of speaking learned in childhood affect judgments of competence and confidence, as well as who gets heard, who gets credit, and what gets done† (Tannen, 1995, p. 323). She categorized linguistic styles into two cardinal factors: language communicates ideas which she claimed we all are familiar with and language also negotiate relationships which she claimed is mostly invisible, but plays an important role in communication. From the ideology of language also negotiates communications, Tannen asserts that during the early stages of live when a child plays he/she learn certain rituals that enhances their communicating and negotiating skills. She differentiates by stating â€Å"girls tend to learn conversational rituals that focus on the rapport dimension of relationships whereas boys tend to learn rituals that focus on the status dimension† (Tannen, 1995, p. 325). She argues it is those tendencies that boys and girls learn from childhood plays and interactions that we bring into our adult and professional lives. She continued by giving examples of how men and women use languages and how the use of those languages affects the way we hear one another with different interpretations. She gives an example by stating men and women use different pronouns to personify themselves. She claimed men uses the pronoun â€Å"I† and women are inclined to drift towards the pronoun â€Å"we†. She furth er continued her conversational rituals by arguing women tend to downplay their certainty in situations, whereas men in similar situations will avow his lack of accountability in case of fault, or claim accomplishments in situation where there is success. Tannen also provided several arguments on women and self confidence. She argued that unlike men, women lack self-confidence. They tend to avoid face-losing, not making known their opposition, and avoids asking questions. Tannen further argued that women do not attempt to be heard. They fail to be direct in telling subordinates what is expected of them and fail to draw attention to their ideas and accomplishments. She asserted that women prefer not to ask for what they need and deserve, rather they wait for someone to notice their needs. In closing arguments on the variances between men and women linguistic styles, Tannen provides some solutions in closing the communication gap between the genders and levels of communications. Even though she acknowledges there is no one best way, Tannen however declared that instead of managers using one mode of communication (meetings), managers must be â€Å"aware of the workings and power of linguistic styles, to make sure that people with something valuable to contribute get heard† (Tannen, 1995, p. 336). North Country In week five of the first phase of this course (CNR 630) a dramatized video entitled â€Å"North Country was viewed. The film is an emotionally charged Hollywood drama performed by Charlize Theron in which she starred as Josey Aimes. Synopsis of the Movie The movie is about a single mother who separated from her abusive husband and moved back to her hometown of Minnesota. In her quest to sustain herself and two kids Josey ventured into acquiring a job at a local mine to the displeasure of her father and male coworkers. Josey came to realize her male coworkers did not appreciate their jobs being occupied by women, and the men would do anything to keep them away. Stereotypically, the men felt that mining was a mans job and the women rather stay at home to perform domestic work, but Josey contended all she needed was to make her own money, feed her kids, and work like everyone else. However, after suffering numerous harassments and humiliations Josey decides to form partnership with the other women at the mine to expose the indignities minted out against the women. In frustration from the lack of cooperation from her family and female coworkers due to fear of reprisal or possible termination, Josey sought to singlehandedly pursue a class action suit against the mining company which even subjected her to more humiliating moments, as her past life involving a rape incident was unearthed. Assessment of North Country After viewing the film â€Å"North Country†, it was compelling to develop a personal opinion of the movie. One thing that came to my mind is the fascinating way in which Hollywood stars sought to depict social ills within our society, most especially the purported sexual harassment case at Eveleth Mines. Irrespective of timeline or how people felt about sexual harassment back in the days and now, I ‘m of the opinion that the movie had several short comings, despite its attempts to dramatize a class action suite saturated with gender intricacies. In identifying some of the shortcomings of the movie, it is important to draw on the perception driven by the movie that all the men at the mine were villains, and the women were victims of heinous indignities committed by their male coworkers. The movie duration of 126 minutes cannot in anyway depict the full length of what actually transpired at the mine. Despite claims of the film being inspired by a true story, it is feasible to argue that the actual length of the movie (126 minutes) of manufactured dramatization was presumably characterized by exaggeration, omission of facts, or choosing of selected events for commercialization by the film producer and actors. The film leaves one to wonder if the true intent of Josey taking the mining company to task was to champion the cause of bridging the gender divide, making sure the indignities perpetrated against the women at the mine was ceased, or if her antipathies with the mine operations were intended to dish out financial reparation . Despite all of the intricacies and skepticisms surrounding the movie, it is worth noting the importance of being sensitive to those issues that tend to raise eyebrows along gender lines. In particular, sexual harassment has sprung out to be one of the serious workplace issues that have led to many organizations formulating and instituting policies to guide the conduct of people in the workplace. However, a mere presence of a sexual harassment policy does not mean that a workplace will automatically be free of all potential sexual violations. Hence, whatever an employers responsibility may be cannot close its eyes when confronted with incidents of sexual harassment, like depicted in the movie North Country. Employers have the obligation to determine the scope of the problem and take necessary steps to curtail or alleviate it. After providing a review and synopsis of the gender issues contributed by Coontz, Babcock and Laschever, Tannen, and Theron, it is compelling to conclude that whatever the circumstances, the issues outlined by the authors on gender roles, behaviors, perceptions, and indignities will continued to be thought provoking in the quest for gender equality, economic empowerment, and tolerance. References Babcock, L. Laschever, S. (2010). Women Dont Ask- Negotiation and the gender Divide-Interesting Statistics. Retrieved from online on February 23, 2010- http://www.womendontask.com/stats.html Babcock, L. Laschever, S. (2010). Women Dont Ask- Negotiation and the gender Divide- A Conversation with Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever. Retrieved from online on February 23, 2010- http://www.womendontask.com/questions.html Carlson, J., Englar, A. J. (2010). A Conversation with Stephanie Coontz. The Family Journal. Retrieved from the UNCG database on February 23, 2010- http://libproxy.uncg.edu:3243/cgi/reprint/7/1/77 Tannen, D. (1995). The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why. Individual Differences: Negotiation- Reading, Exercises, and Cases 323-336). Retrieved from the UNCG e-Reserve database on February 22, 2010- https://blackboard.uncg.edu/bbcswebdav/library/eReserves/CNR-630-01DCMB-Spring2010/The_power_of_talk_who_gets_heard_and_why.pdf

Essay --

Ambiguity In his magnum opus The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne manufactures many ambiguous situations to parlay the multitude of situations that may arise through a narrator who never states what precisely occurred maintaining obscurity even though omniscient. Hawthorne especially maintains dubiety and duplicity when discussing the veneration of Dimmesdale which ramifies both liberty and restraint, the scarlet letter which is an omen and a gift, and the forest which represents both immunity and conviction. Hawthorne through his incertitude writing style reflected in his usage of paradox and irony, conveys his distaste for puritan society and implies that objects are defined by society. The scarlet letter an image of utmost importance to the novel, at first is considered an omen but the scarlet letter is a gift rather than a curse at the end of the novel.. Hester is abhorred by Puritans due to her violation of an ancient law. Puritans sought punishment for those who do not embrace their particular ideology, punishment ranges from public shaming to death. Hester is sought after by the Council due to her committing the sinful act of adultery. Her punishment is lesser than those who have previously committed acts of sin, a spectator in particular a woman, even claims that Hester has, â€Å"brought shame upon as all and ought to die†(46). Hawthorne’s representation of Puritan Women shown by a woman’s suggestion of marking Hester as a â€Å"Hussy†, an immoral person, with a hot iron, shows his disdain for their culture. His barbaric description of the women juxtaposed by Hester’s radiance shows once more his distaste of puritans. Hester is not distraught by these assertions or her sojourn at a prison, her elegance has even increased upon h... ... The forest removes the stigma created by society in town, allowing people to experience freedom. The two even plan to leave the New World for the Old World, ironic since most sought refuge in the New World which was known for its progressive views rather than the Old World which was known for its ancient values. Boston eradicates any chance of freedom by ruining their plans of seeking refuge in the Old World. The forest although is considered as penal institution, the forest actually allows freedom exhibited by the events that occur. Ambiguity is displayed throughout the novel in order to show duplicity and distaste. The scarlet letter, the forest and the veneration of Dimmesdale are utilised to show that the thoughts of society and the meaning of certain objects are dependent upon the person’s views. As one may think of Pearl as a â€Å"treasure†(80) or a â€Å"demon†(90). Essay -- Ambiguity In his magnum opus The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne manufactures many ambiguous situations to parlay the multitude of situations that may arise through a narrator who never states what precisely occurred maintaining obscurity even though omniscient. Hawthorne especially maintains dubiety and duplicity when discussing the veneration of Dimmesdale which ramifies both liberty and restraint, the scarlet letter which is an omen and a gift, and the forest which represents both immunity and conviction. Hawthorne through his incertitude writing style reflected in his usage of paradox and irony, conveys his distaste for puritan society and implies that objects are defined by society. The scarlet letter an image of utmost importance to the novel, at first is considered an omen but the scarlet letter is a gift rather than a curse at the end of the novel.. Hester is abhorred by Puritans due to her violation of an ancient law. Puritans sought punishment for those who do not embrace their particular ideology, punishment ranges from public shaming to death. Hester is sought after by the Council due to her committing the sinful act of adultery. Her punishment is lesser than those who have previously committed acts of sin, a spectator in particular a woman, even claims that Hester has, â€Å"brought shame upon as all and ought to die†(46). Hawthorne’s representation of Puritan Women shown by a woman’s suggestion of marking Hester as a â€Å"Hussy†, an immoral person, with a hot iron, shows his disdain for their culture. His barbaric description of the women juxtaposed by Hester’s radiance shows once more his distaste of puritans. Hester is not distraught by these assertions or her sojourn at a prison, her elegance has even increased upon h... ... The forest removes the stigma created by society in town, allowing people to experience freedom. The two even plan to leave the New World for the Old World, ironic since most sought refuge in the New World which was known for its progressive views rather than the Old World which was known for its ancient values. Boston eradicates any chance of freedom by ruining their plans of seeking refuge in the Old World. The forest although is considered as penal institution, the forest actually allows freedom exhibited by the events that occur. Ambiguity is displayed throughout the novel in order to show duplicity and distaste. The scarlet letter, the forest and the veneration of Dimmesdale are utilised to show that the thoughts of society and the meaning of certain objects are dependent upon the person’s views. As one may think of Pearl as a â€Å"treasure†(80) or a â€Å"demon†(90).