Saturday, August 31, 2019

Knowledge of ADR regulations, policies, theories

As a NTEU Union Representative, a significant amount of training time was spent learning and developing core skills in the ADR process. In addition to theoretical and classroom learning, a great deal of emphasis was placed on the practical application of such skills as these skills were utilized in the facilitation of the formal and informal grievance process applied through the traditional union/employee and labor management relationship process of dispute resolution. A great deal of skill regarding the ability to understand and implement ADR policies center on an understanding of personnel policies and cultures, an aspect Union Reps are well versed. Furthermore, I have developed a highly specialized working knowledge of ADR policies through my exposure to management and organizational practices on a daily basis. Knowledge of EEO and personnel laws, regulations, policies, and methods as they relate to the Federal sector. In my current position as a federal employee, I have received a significant amount of training in areas related to the understanding and facilitation of EEO processes and procedures. Furthermore, as a Union Representative, I was awarded the opportunity to serve as a representative for bargaining unit employees who were directly involved in the EEO complaint/grievance process. Specifically, training received in the avenue of EEO policies included items related to specific state and federal laws as well as policies directly related to the application of EEO laws in the federal sector of employment. From both training and practical experience, I have developed a solid familiarity with the need to stay current in terms of having a working knowledge of applicable EEO laws and regulations. A great deal of the EEO concepts that I have been exposed to include the conceptsrelated to the proper planning, development and implementation Equal Opportunity  related goals and objectives. In doing this, standards and ethics in the work place were  provided with recommendations regards to modifying administration policies in order to  create a more cohesive work environment for all individuals.  Skill and experience in a wide range of conflict management and dispute resolution  processes, such as facilitation and mediation. From the significant experience I have developed as both a bargaining unit employee and as a union representative, I have developed skills and experience in the three prime areas of conflict management: examination, response and negotiation. Examination refers to being exposed to conflict management/dispute resolution procedures; response refers to the multitude of different approaches that can be undertaken in order to facilitate ADR conflicts such as mediation; and can also include adjudicative aspects such as litigation as well; and negotiation refers to the fundamental talent required for all successful ADR ventures as the art and science of strategizing the successful negotiation of a resolution is the true epicenter of success in the ADR process. Skill and experience in ADR training, marketing, and evaluation of ADR programs. From my tenure in federal service, I have developed solid, fundamental working knowledge in the method and means in which federal and private agencies develop and implement dispute resolution procedures in the workplace. Much of this working knowledge derives from day to day practical, experience in conjunction with theoretical study of ADR concepts and ideologies. A high-level of written and oral communication skills in order to present complex and interrelated concepts and information and to secure the participation of others in the ADR process. My knowledge of business communications and ADR related oral and written communication is on a highly professional level. As such, my ability to present clear and concise information is impeccable and this statement is backed up by many years of on the job related experience that included a great deal of communication with colleagues and supervisors. Experience in these areas of communication were developed through a variety of professional duties including the creation and development of written (corrective) action plans as well as all duties related to the   monitoring of the grantees’ implementation of such plans. Also, providing reports and â€Å"ad hoc† guidance to contractors associated with the federal agency remained a significant daily duty and aided in the development of communicative skills. Skill in organizing, prioritizing, and managing workload and other assignments. Without having developed strong organization skills, the ability to perform the duties and functions of my federal service position would be impossible. As such, I have developed skill in organizing, prioritizing, and managing workload as evidenced by the highly specialized duties I performed when serving on a team that’s primary function involved preparing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance packages. Additional areas of experience that demonstrate a commitment to organizational skills include duties involving sharing programmatic information regarding state-supported systems of care for person with substance use disorders; as well as my tenure as a Public Health Advisor Trainee, where my responsibilities included providing assistance to initiate and monitor the status and execution of how State technical assistance request are carried out as well as the requisite interfacing with other members of staff in order to properly facilitate such assistance.                                                                                                                                       

Friday, August 30, 2019

M1a3 livoria sandwiches, inc. Essay

This report examines strategic alternatives that would help owners of Livoria Sandwiches Inc. gain competitive advantage in a growing market, achieve its profitability target and maintain its strong reputation of having a high quality and unique product in the industry. This report provides an analysis of the company’s current situation, identify strategic issues and analyze strategic alternatives. These also provide recommendations as to courses of actions the brothers should adopt to reach their goal, and proposed implementation plan. CURRENT SITUATION Stakeholders Preferences: * Go franchising (Paul) * Enhance vegetarian menu (Sam) * Preserve quality and control (Sam) * Realize $1.1M net income by 2015 (both Paul and Sam) *Avoid using line of credit (both Paul and Sam) Constraints: * Cash * One supplier of all store requirements/ingredients * Bank requires $20,000 minimum cash balance at any given time * Number of hours work * Working space Environmental Scan : SWOT Analysis Exhibit 1 Current Financial Assessment – Lowest profit of .29% compared to industry wide due to $500,000 contingent liability booked in 2012. Removing this extraordinary item would result to 24% operating income which is higher than Dawkins industry benchmark – 52.93% highest Contribution margin than industry average – High growth % versus set by the industry – Available line of credit -Impressive performance among competitors whether franchising or non-franchising -Debt free Key Success Factors: * High-quality traditional custom-made sandwiches developed through generations *Loyal client base and recognition * Effective obsolescence plan * Zero Debt Key Risks: Losing market share and competitive advantage Limited experience how to compete and to grow the business Just one supplier to sustain store operation/production MAJOR ISSUES 1. Increase profitability 2. Growing market STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES 1. Expanding without franchising 2. Open Franchise Agreement ANALYSIS OF STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES I. EXPANDING WITHOUT FRANCHISING PROS CONS Develop product lines by introducing vegetable sandwiches (Appendix 4) shows an increase in cash inflow from 155% in 2013 to 319% in 2015 May cannibalized existing/old product lines which the company is being known for Attracts customers with other preferences and may compete broadly in the industry by branching out in new locations Requires additional training cost, space, business strategy and building customers recognition, hire professional help which may cause additional fund or used available line of credit Established and maintained more suppliers that would provide more options and huge discounts in large orders May affect existing quality standard of the custom-made sandwiches Discover more hidden opportunities from existing operations, by adding value to the product, and improve training the staff Financial Assessment if expansion without franchising: a.Total CM% increase from 2012 52.93% to 60.50% in 2015 (Appendix 3) b. Total profit show a positive increase from 18% in 2013 to 31% in 2015, far reaching the brothers’ preference of $1.1 M in 2015, Appendix 3 showed $1.4 M net profit c.Return on investment assuming initial cash balance net of the minimal requirement ($20,000) was use to introduce new line of menus showed a remarkable result of 21% ROI in 2013 to 249% return in 2015, Appendix 3 d.Cash budget projections with new line of products showed increase cash inflows from $556K (2013),$869K (2014) and tremendous increase of $2.3 M by the end of 2015 – Appendix 2 e. Appendix 4 showing Statement of Cash Flow present a positive economic growth, from $423K cash inflow generated in 2013 155% increase in cash to $1.9M in 2015. Calculating IRR for the next 3 years showed 478% return. II. OPEN FOR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT PROS CONS 1. opportunity to grow faster than would be the case of training employees create internal marketing strategy, sales and distribution 1. significant disadvantage is loss of control, though substantial restrictions may apply because of franchise agreement, franchise is still considered a 3 rd party who would seek to maximize return of investment at your expense 2. use of franchising fee/capital will expedite growth/network of the company than finding one for the business 2. part of your profit is use to utilized to promote your franchise/s 3. franchising motivates franchisee to excel and go beyond to succeed due to incentive scheme and growth is dependent upon the success of your business 3. substantial product knowledge and expertise has to be shared concerning your business although restrictions may apply but control over it is difficult to enforce and monitor 4. will increase purchasing power as franchising network grows and that eventually reduced cost to operate, gain profitability from small units 4. skills required to monitor, manage and support franchise/s are far different than handling your own employees 5. may thrive from downturn like recession compared to non-franchise business 5. standard sets in doing franchise may alter your consumer taste. RECOMMENDATION Both alternatives if done in a well thought out plan may manage company’s growth strategically. Since it can be done drastically and uncontrolled way major casualties of which could be customer dissatisfaction and will adversely affect cash flow. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN So it is necessary therefore to manage the growth process so we can obtain benefits in a medium and long term. The following may be executed: 1.Plan your expansion, not just by reacting to the circumstances but creating a solid plan, Ansoff Matrix (Exh 2) can be a helpful tool in creating this roadmap. 2.Don’t over expand, which is one of the biggest danger in growth phase. A 3 to 5 year projections plan capacity is doable and allow additional 10% capacity over and above that for challenging times. 3.Get professional financial advice because expansion entails monetary implications, with expert help we can reduce the risk and address issues right away. 4.Shop around, look for the target-location where marketing the product may established the same acceptance by the customers. 5.Develop a project management for the expansion in a formal way to uncover other possibilities 6. Keep customers informed about expansion plan and what to expect, when disruption may take up and how will the company will deal with it. 7.Announce the completion of the expansion. Inform target customers about the increase capacity, new menu and additional services to be offered. A good marketing device will help the company introduce this expansion in a high note.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Catholic Sacraments

The Sacraments of the Catholic Church are, the Church teaches, efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions. † Though not every individual has to receive every sacrament[->0], the Church affirms that, for believers as a whole, the sacraments are necessary for salvation, as the modes of grace divinely instituted by Christ[->1] Himself.Through each of them Christ bestows that sacrament's particular grace, such as incorporation into Christ and the Church, forgiveness of sins, or consecration for a particular service. The Church teaches that the effect of a sacrament comes by the very fact of being administered, regardless of the personal holiness of the minister administering it. However, a recipient's own lack of prope r disposition to receive the grace conveyed can block the effectiveness of the sacrament in that person.The sacraments presuppose faith and through their words and ritual elements, nourish, strengthen and give expression to faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church[->2] lists the sacraments as follows: â€Å"The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism[->3], Confirmation[->4], Eucharist[->5], Penance[->6], Anointing of the Sick[->7], Holy Orders[->8], and Matrimony[->9]. † Baptism[->10] is the first and basic sacrament of Christian initiation.Baptism is usually conferred today by pouring water three times on the recipient's head, while reciting the baptismal formula: â€Å"I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit[->11]. † The ordinary minister of the sacrament is a bishop or priest, or a deacon. In case of necessity[->12], an yone intending to do what the Church does, even if that person is not a Christian, can baptize. The sacrament frees from original sin[->13] and all personal sins, and from the punishment ue to them. Baptism makes the person share in the Trinitarian life of God through â€Å"sanctifying grace[-;14]†, the grace of justification that incorporates the person into the body of Christ and his Church, also making the person a sharer in the priesthood of Christ. It imparts the theological virtues[->15]: faith[->16], hope[->17], and charity[->18] and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and marks the baptized person with a spiritual seal or character that indicates permanent belonging to Christ.Baptism is the foundation of communion between all Christians. The many symbols of baptism include a white garment, symbolizing innocence and purity, a candle, symbolizing the Light of Christ, the Oil of Chrism, which is used to anoint the baby or candidate being baptized, and the water, which symboliz es cleansing and the washing away of sin. Confirmation is the second sacrament of Christian initiation. It is called Confirmation because it confirms and strengthens baptismal grace.It is conferred by â€Å"the anointing[-;19] with Sacred Chrism[-;20], which is oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop, which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. These words refer to a gift of the Holy Spirit[-;21] that marks the recipient as with a seal. Through the sacrament the grace given in baptism is strengthened and deepened.Like baptism, confirmation may be received only once, and the recipient must be in a state of grace meaning free from any known unconfessed mortal sin[-;22] in order to receive its effects. The originating minister of the sacrament is a validly consecrated bishop[-;23]; if a priest confers the sacrament and in special cases, the link with the higher order is indicated by the use of oil bles sed[-;24] by the bishop on Holy Thursday[-;25] itself or on a day close to it. In the East, which retains the ancient practice, the sacrament is administered by the parish priest immediately after baptism.In the West, where administration is normally reserved for those who can understand its significance, it came to be postponed until the recipient's early adulthood; but in view of the earlier age at which children are now admitted to reception of the Eucharist, it is more and more restored to the traditional order and administered before giving the third sacrament of Christian initiation. The Eucharist is the sacrament, the third of Christian initiation, completes Christian initiation by which Catholics partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus[->26] Christ and participate in his one sacrifice.The first of these two aspects of the sacrament is also called Holy Communion. The bread which must be wheaten and wine which must be from grapes used in the Eucharistic rite are, in Catholic fa ith, transformed in all but appearance into the Body and Blood of Christ, a change that is called transubstantiation[->27]. That is, Catholics believe they are sacramentally, though not physically, eating and drinking the human flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. Only a bishop[->28] or priest[->29] is enabled to be a minister of the Eucharist, acting in the person of Christ himself.Deacons[->30] as well as priests are ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and lay people may be authorized in limited circumstances to act as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The Eucharist is seen as â€Å"the source and summit† of Christian living, the high point of God's sanctifying action on the faithful and of their worship of God, the point of contact between them and the liturgy of heaven. So important is it that participation in the Eucharistic celebration is seen as obligatory on every Sunday and holy day of obligation[-;31] and is recommended on other days.Also recommended for thos e who participate in the Mass is reception, with the proper dispositions, of Holy Communion. This is seen as obligatory at least once a year, during Eastertide. The Sacrament of Penance is the first of two sacraments of healing. The Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions in the following orders different names of the sacrament, calling it the sacrament of conversion, Penance, confession, forgiveness and Reconciliation. It is the sacrament of spiritual healing for a baptized person from the distancing from God resulting from sins committed.If a man sins after baptism, he cannot have baptism as a remedy; Baptism, which is a spiritual regeneration, cannot be given a second time. Reconciliation involves four elements: Contrition the Penitent's sincere remorse for wrongdoing or sin, repentance, without which the rite has no effect; Confession to a Priest with the faculty to hear confessions while it may be spiritually helpful to confess to another, only a Priest has the power to admin ister the sacrament, Absolution by the Priest, and, Satisfaction or Penance.Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm. Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must make satisfaction for or expiate his sins. This satisfaction is also called penance.In early Christian centuries, this element of satisfaction was quite onerous and generally preceded absolution, but now it usually involves a simple task for the penitent to perform, to make some reparation and as a medicinal means of strengthening against further temptation. The priest is bound by the seal of confession[->32], which is inviolable. Accordingly, it is absolutely wrong for a confessor in any way to betray the penitent, for any reason whatsoever, whether by word or in any other fashion.A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal incurs an automatic excommunication whose lifting is reserved to the Holy See[->33]. In some dioceses, certain sins are reserved which means only certain confessors can absolve them. Some sins, such as violation of the sacramental seal, consecration of bishops without authorization by the Holy See, direct physical attacks on the Pope[->34], and intentional desecration of the Eucharist are reserved to the Holy See.A special case-by-case faculty from the Sacred Penitentiary[->35] is normally required to absolve these sins. Anointing of the Sick[->36] is the second sacrament of healing. In this sacrament a priest anoints the sick with oil blessed specifically for that purpose. The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reas on of illness or old age. A new illness or a worsening of health enables a person to receive the sacrament a further time.When, in the Western Church, the sacrament was conferred only on those in immediate danger of death, it came to be known as Extreme Unction[->37], Final Anointing, administered as one of the Last Rites. The other Last Rites are Confession if the dying person is physically unable to confess, at least absolution, conditional on the existence of contrition, is given, and the Eucharist, which when administered to the dying is known as Viaticum[->38], a word whose original meaning in Latin[->39] was provision for a journey.Holy Orders[->40] is the sacrament by which a man is made a bishop[->41], a priest[->42], or a deacon[->43], and thus dedicated to be an image of Christ[->44]. A bishop is the minister of this sacrament. Ordination as a bishop confers the fullness of the sacrament, making the bishop a member of the body of successors of the Apostles, and giving him the mission to teach, sanctify, and govern, along with the care of all the Churches.Ordination as a priest configures the priest to Christ the Head of the Church and the one essential High Priest, and conferring on him the power, as the bishops' assistant, to celebrate the sacraments and other liturgical acts, especially the Eucharist. Ordination as a deacon configures the deacon to Christ the Servant of All, placing him at the service of the bishop, especially in the Church's exercising of Christian charity towards the poor and preaching of the word of God.Aspirants to the priesthood are required by canon law[->45] to go through a seminary[->46] program that includes, as well as graduate level philosophical and theological studies, a formation program that includes spiritual direction[->47], retreats[->48], apostolate experience, etc. The course of studies in preparation for ordination as a permanent deacon is decided by the Episcopal conference[->49] concerned. Matrimony[->50], or Marriage, like Holy Orders, is a sacrament that consecrates for a particular mission in building up the Church, and that provides grace for accomplishing that mission.This sacrament, seen as a sign of the love uniting Christ and the Church, establishes between the spouses a permanent and exclusive bond, sealed by God. Accordingly, a marriage between baptized[->51] people, validly entered into and consummated, cannot be dissolved. The sacrament confers on them the grace they need for attaining holiness in their married life and for responsible acceptance and upbringing of their children.As a condition for validity, the sacrament is celebrated in the presence of the local Ordinary[->52] or Parish Priest[->53] or of a cleric delegated by them or in certain limited circumstances a lay person delegated by the diocesan Bishop with the approval of the Episcopal Conference[->54] and the permission of the Holy See[->55] and at least two other witnesses, though in the theological tradition o f the Latin Church the ministers of the sacrament are the couple themselves.For a valid marriage, a man and a woman must express their conscious and free consent to a definitive self-giving to the other, excluding none of the essential properties and aims of marriage. If one of the two is a non-Catholic Christian, their marriage is licit only if the permission of the competent authority of the Catholic Church is obtained. If one of the two is not a Christian, the competent authority's dispensation is necessary for validity.

International Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Economics - Essay Example Social and cultural characteristics also impact the production techniques since the stock of trust among Indians facilitates the maintenance of socially held knowledge that, in turn, allows the social organization of the economic activity of carpet making. In India, values, ideas, human relationships and knowledge of carpet making are transmitted from one generation to another as part of the robust Indian culture. Conversely, the carpet production process in the US is characterized by mechanization of most processes. 2This allows for large-scale production as a single carpet producer uses massive amounts of fiber each day. Resource endowment, in the US, includes massive amounts of financial and intellectual capital, high entrepreneurship and robust technologies. Additionally, income levels are relatively large, enabling entrepreneurship and the establishment of huge companies that churn out massive quantities of carpets throughout the year. Essentially, resource endowment, in the US, including land, capital, labor and entrepreneurship, is quite prosperous. Social and cultural characteristics of the US that impact carpet production include an appreciation for formal training and education, which results in highly skilled and specialized human capital essential for the production process. Question 2 Carpet production is one of India’s oldest industries, dating back to the Mughal Dynasty. However, carpet production centers on the individualistic skills and knowledge of a weaver rather than collective appreciation of carpet making acquired through formal education and training. Due to immediacy to furnishing product, several carpet manufacturing centers have developed across the country. Carpets produced in India are mostly exported since the Indian market for carpets is quite small as a result of the low purchasing capacity of local players. Presently, India’s carpet export is worth Rs.2600 crores while the local market size is approximately Rs.200 c rores. 3The industry has high growth potential as exports increased by 42.23% between 2004 and 2007. 4However, the industry is marred by challenges such as poor market channels, resulting in ignorance within the Indian market. 5On the other hand, the carpet industry in the US is highly developed. The industry shipped 1.969 billion square yards of carpet, in 2003; this was worth approximately $12 billion. Carpet shipments increased to 2.3 billion yards in 2004, demonstrating the massive potential inherent in the US carpet production industry. Presently, the US meets at least 45% of the world’s carpet needs. 6The US carpet industry is characterized by innovations and technological advances that allow for large-scale production of highly-priced goods. Technological progress is one of the primary reasons behind massive growth in the US carpet industry. The US carpet industry is highly organized, allowing for sufficient knowledge in the domestic market. 7 As a consequence, the US effectively meets at least 90% of its domestic carpet needs. Question 3 Latent demand for carpets in the USA pushes the country to become a primary importer of carpet despite being an efficient carpet producer. This is because carpet production, in the US, has been unable to offer complete satisfaction to all domestic needs and wants, resulting in a gap between what is available and desirable. The local US market has a high desirability for hand woven, Indian carpets, which are considered stylish and sophisticated. Conversely,

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Role of Creative Management in the Improvement of Entrepreneurial Essay

Role of Creative Management in the Improvement of Entrepreneurial Activities - Essay Example Current research focuses – as already explained above – on creative management and its role in the improvement of entrepreneurial activities around the world. However, in order for the above issue to be appropriately explored it is necessary to examine a series of supplementary (or else secondary) issues like the following ones: a) is there a specific mode of creative management applied internationally? b) which is the role of innovation in the whole effort? c) which are the strategies adopted by the firms regarding the other entrepreneurial sectors (e.g. the HR department) when creative management is applied in all organizational activities? and d) are there specific methods for the measurement of the effectiveness of the creative management mode chosen by a particular firm? All these issues should be addressed appropriately in order to formulate a complete assumption regarding the role of creative management in the development of entrepreneurial performance and its in teraction with innovation. Current study can face certain obstacles especially regarding the measurement of effectiveness of creative management in firms around the world. More specifically, because creative management belongs in the firm’s strategic decisions, it is rather difficult to retrieve accurate info for its effectiveness when applied in a particular organization – severe weaknesses of the above strategy are very likely not to be published trying to protect the firm’s position in its market. Towards this direction, all data and views presented regarding the particular issue have to be carefully chosen in order to represent the actual position of creative management and its effectiveness in the international market (at least as estimated by the majority of firms globally). The research method used in current paper will be a combination of qualitative and quantitative one.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Neymar Case (F.C. Barcelona) Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Neymar Case (F.C. Barcelona) - Coursework Example An effective response to crises includes leadership involvement, application of human resources initiatives, and restructuring the organizational structure. To elaborate on this effective response and mitigation process, this text will be developed adhering to the defined outline of the need to effective response, and will apply the recent FC Barcelona crisis which went viral with the globe pointing fingers at the club accusing it of fraud in signing Neymar. The text will address the issue and suggest on what was the best way to deal with the matter in terms of handling the arising issues and restoring trust and calm to all involved stakeholders. Neymar, a promising Brazilian soccer star has been a treasure many clubs have been aiming at netting and when FC Barcelona succeeded in signing him, it was expected to be the start of big things. However, it was unknown that the move was indeed suicidal for the club after claims of fraud during the signing of the star emerged. As Minder (2014, n.p.) reveals, the issue was that the club’s management had misappropriated funds during the process, stating that 57 Million Euros were spent on the signing whereas the actual sum known to have been spent was 86 Million Euros. To make matters worse, it is said that about 40 million of the said amount was paid to an organization affiliated to Neymar’s father, raising eyebrows as to the transparency of the entire process. Events following the dark turn of events were the Spanish court giving a green light for the case to proceed against the club’s tax defrauding accusations, and the club’s then manager, Sandro Rosell resigning in early 2014. What went wrong and which are best measures to prevent recurrence and restore FC Barcelona’s flawed glory? In a business context, the management of FC Barcelona had failed in its mandates thus contributing to the said outcome. The

Monday, August 26, 2019

Juvenile Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Juvenile Justice - Essay Example Provision of intensive services directly occupying a large part of the juvenile’s time further reduces the ability of the individual juvenile to re-offend. Matching offender’s personality and learning styles with the program that will most effectively address their delinquent behaviors. Including relapse prevention is essential to the reduction of offense by juvenile offenders. This includes practicing alternative responses and the use of risk reward styled approaches, additionally by teaching the family unit how to avoid certain behaviors and rewarding positive behavior the further reduction of offense is realized. Integration of community based services allows the individual juvenile offenders to both positively affect their local community as well as instilling a sense of need within the juveniles. Lastly, reinforcing integrity of the services provided helps to ensure that each program in use is effective and is approaching the situation properly. Evaluation of each program for functionality is essential for the continued effectiveness of each program. I firmly believe that these are attainable principles and that the use of each approach is important.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Obamas budget plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Obamas budget plan - Essay Example Obama’s budget indicates that the country’s deficit will increase this year to its highest post-World War II level, and then gradually decrease over the decade. The article indicates, however, that it will remain at ‘troublesome levels’. Obama argues that his budget will save over $1 trillion by ending the previous administration’s tax cuts and by enacting a three year spending freeze. (the spending freeze won’t include spending on health programs, national security, and veteran’s programs) However, the article indicates that the savings are only, â€Å"one-fifth of the size of the debt that will pile up from now to 2020.† Major areas of change will occur in tax cuts. Large budget spending on military equipment will be supplanted by spending on education and civilian research. Taxes among oil companies and affluent citizens will rise. Small businesses, however, will see large amounts of tax reductions over the next decade. Spending will continue on the proposed health care system and energy infrastructure.. Food and drug research and biomedical technology will also receive increased funding. While NASA’s budget will be further reduced, spending on science will rise as the National Science Foundation will receive, â€Å"$7.4 billion, a nearly 8 percent increase from the budget last year.† While Republicans criticize Obama for the rising levels of debt, he argues that his administration will still maintain its goal of reducing the deficit in half before the end of his term in office. The article indicates that spending will necessarily rise as towards the end of the decade with large amounts of retiring baby boomers. Increasing health costs are greatly centered around the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institute of Health, both of which are receiving multi-billion dollar increases in funding. The article contends that a number of Obama’s proposed spending cuts may be difficult to enact in

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Critically Review the Marketing And Corporate Communications Essay

Critically Review the Marketing And Corporate Communications Approaches Used By a Company Of Your Choice To Transmit Information - Essay Example Let us look at marketing and corporate communication approaches taken by Kenya Power Company to promote its image and to realize profit maximization. Kenya Power is a public utility company charged with the responsibility of retailing, supplying and transmitting electricity within Kenya. Marketing entails presenting, selling and advertising a product in the best way possible. The ultimate goal of the same is to build a good name and use the same to enhance improved and sustainable profits. On the other hand, corporate communication refers to a management function that controls and coordinates both internal and external communication with the core objective of maintaining a good reputation with stakeholders and all those the organization depends on (Cornelisen 2010, p.4.). From the definition, it is clear that marketing is closely related to corporate communications and are both meant to create and sustain a good image of an organization. The paper will critically review the marketing and corporate communication approaches that are used by the Kenya Power. To critically review is to carefully examine, express and explain disapprovals of something with the view of changing it if necessary. According to Cornelisen (2010, p.7), one of the approaches of corporate communications is the enhancement of corporate identity. Corporate identity is often coined in the mission and vision statements of an organization. ... This mission is designed to please the customers who are the consumers of the precious commodity, energy, from the Kenya power. This is a very good mission on papers but the question is, do the customers really have better lives, the answer is no since the Kenyan population still witness numerous power interruptions, electric faults causing fire outbreaks, and high prices that keep on escalating. This phenomenon is detrimental to the economic growth of the country and the company. The Kenya Power should have a mission that they live up to. The vision of this company is, â€Å"to provide a world class power that delights our customers.† This is a good desire but a lot still needs to be done to realize this vision and in so doing, customer satisfaction and quality service should be the core concern. Claywood ( 1997, p.8) states that â€Å"it is far less costly to keep a customer than to find a new one.† To find a new customer, an organization has to invest enormously in a dvertisement as an approach in marketing. Advertisement involves relaying persuasive information with the aim of luring customers to use a product. Advertisement is very critical in the expansion, sustainability and fair competition of any company. It involves the use of media outlets like television, radio, print media and billboards among others. To be able to compete fairly with other businesses, good strategies and far reaching advertisement is core. Kenya Power is a public utility company that enjoys monopoly of transmitting and distributing electricity in Kenya. This is why it has not been very aggressive in advertisement, for example, a serious issue like power

Friday, August 23, 2019

Differential Reporting in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Differential Reporting in Australia - Essay Example There have been arguments and commentaries on the applicability of the proposed changes to the reporting requirements in Australia. The AASB is of the view that the differential accounting standards are required to ensure adequate financial reporting for not-for-profit and government entities. This paper analyses the cases for and against this statement in the light of the proposed changes to the reporting requirements as envisaged by the AASB. The Public Sector Accounting Standards Board of the Australian Accounting Research Foundation has issued the Statement of Accounting Concept (SAC) 1defining the 'reporting entity' concept. Accordingly the reporting entity concept covers the 'legal entity' enunciated by the legislation in the private sector and also a broader concept to cover the accountability of the elected representatives and appointed officials employed in the public sector. (Australian Accounting Research Foundation) The concept of the reporting entity is based on the information needs of the users of the financial statements and the nature and extent of the general purpose of the financial reports. "The concept requires that individual reporting entities be identified by reference to the existence of users who are dependent on general purpose financial reports for information for making and evaluating resource allocation decisions." (Australian Accounting Research Foundation) Hence the reporting entity is not d ependent on the sector classification whether private or public or the manner or legality on the basis of which the entity is created. The concept is purely based on the objective behind the general purpose reporting and the concept requires all the entities (with users dependent on the general purpose financial reports for information) to prepare the general purpose financial reports for the information of the users of such reports. The present situation is that almost all not - for - profit companies are having the option to choose the status of being 'non-reporting entities'. If such companies opt for not to be reporting entities they need to prepare only 'special purpose accounts'. (Chartered Secretaries Australia) The objective of the proposed change is to revise the differential reporting regime, so that the financial reporting by both the for-profit and not-for profit organizations are made more meaningful for the users. 2.1 Rationale behind Removal of Reporting Entity Concept: The Invitation to Comment on the proposed change in the reporting regime details the rationale behind attempting to the remove the reporting entity concept. Nowhere in the world except Australia, the concept 'reporting entity' is being used for the purpose of determination of the accounting standards and the disclosure requirements. Australia is the only country which uses the concept of reporting entity for the determination of the differential reporting purposes also. Since the concept is not being the one which has an international usage and recognition the AASB proposed to remove this concept from the application to determine the accounting st

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Multiple criteria decision analysis Math Problem

Multiple criteria decision analysis - Math Problem Example In connection to this he decided to visit the top three largest banks. He began with imperial bank, Imperial bank was offering the mortgage at 15% interest. However, the owner of the facility has to contribute 10 % of the amount he is requesting. However, the interest rate is not constant, it will be changing in accordance with the rates of the Central Bank. Barclays Bank was offering an interest rate of 10 %, this rate was constant, however, the owner of the facility has to contribute 10 % of the facility and then the bank will take the responsibility of purchasing the building materials for the owner. The final bank was, Finlay Bank, was offering 12 % interest rate loan, however in case the of permanent disability or death then the borrowed amount will be waivered. Bernard has a difficulty in deciding which bank to take the mortgage with, therefore he has decided to use multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to solve the problem. In connection to this he has listed the most important factors to consider: - 1) interest rate 2) Flexibility in payments 3) duration 4) Guarantees. CMDA is an important analytical tool that can be used to solve problems especially when someone is in a dilemma (Marie 2010, pg. 14). The tool has all the important qualities of a decisive tool. It is basically used to (Adams 2009, pg. 26); Data collection; He went to the internet and found out that the most important factors to consider when taking a mortgage are: Legal costs, Valuation, mortgage arrangement fees, mortgage rates, portability, and mortgage related insurance (Jones 2006, pg. 47). Now that the problem has been identified as interest rate, valuation fees, mortgage arrangement fees, and insurance fees. In this connection, the next step is Bernard to understand the relationship between these factors. From the diagram we see that the only bank that is offering alternatives to mortgage is Imperial bank. The alternatives that the

RTI Act Case Study Essay Example for Free

RTI Act Case Study Essay In spite of the fact that India has won its battle of independence in the year 1947 making democracy its weapon, unfortunately, the truth was something else. The power was handed over to the politicians and democrats, not to the common man then. There were multiple instances to question the right to information as it was in practice with the backdrop of the society we lived in. Some Information about Right to Information Act in India: On 12th October, 2005 the scenario had changed as through the right to information RTI act, common people got their right to raise question. It gives the power to throw question to the government directly and the concerned authority has to reply back within 30 days with proper explanation. RTI Act not only covers the executives rather the judiciary and legislature are also under its strict regulations. There is no gap in the process of formatting a corruption free and transparent government. It defines the term â€Å"public authority† as the government is answerable to the supreme authority of common people. Let’s know Right to Information Act: What is RTI act? Democracy makes a country answerable to the common people. People elect the power to lead not to rule over. Without any province to answer any power can be misused and common people can be victimised easily. Right to information Act makes the elected power answerable to common people. To answer what is rti act, one simple phrase can be used- â€Å"law of transparency†. It is the weapon of a citizen to question so that the answer can throw light into the matter. Government is bound to answer if any question arises on the functioning. The accountability of any government can be questioned. The act not only has empowered citizens to answer government authorities but also reduces corruption a lot. Citizens have the power to inspect and take notes on several tasks on the part of authorities so that they can analyze the performance. Even they can have copies of documents if they need to prove some unethical provisions. What Makes RTI Act Beneficial? Indian constitution permits its citizen to speak and express without any fear. How can a person speak against the government if he or she does not have enough information? A victimized citizen can feel but without information he or she is helpless to do anything. Right to information act in india is a recognition of democracy that requires informed citizenry and transparency of information just for a better functioning. How to use RTI ? This revolutionary act gives immense power to the hands of common people but still it’s been completely utilized. They stay away from utilizing this powerful tool just because of some wrong information regarding the process of implementation. But this is not so tough to know how to get information under right to information act. Just a single handwritten query is enough from your end to get your concerned. Information from the government authority. Even this act makes a common man so powerful that the person doe not need to show any reason why he or she needs such information.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

How Do We Measure Success In Society?

How Do We Measure Success In Society? Successful individual is found in many places now days. Many people say that they are a successful person. For them they are successful with their life and they make people see them being successful also, this makes others call them a successful individual. Someone who has no ambition or any goals can neither be said success nor failure. Life is not a contest therefore there is nothing to be judged. There are many reason or many qualities to justify a person as a successful individual. A successful individual maybe said as someone who is very happy in their life and very contented with their professional or even their career and also with their family or their personal life. A persons successfulness also can be said because of the money and the fame they have. There are many ways to say that a person is successful. There are many different qualities that make an individual to be said as a successful person. For me, there are a number of qualities that make me justified in calling a p erson successful. The very first quality that I feel justified in calling a person successful is their willingness in doing a work. A person who really wants to be successful is always willing to dig into things deeper and do all the work given to them correctly. A successful person is always willing to do whatever it takes to create the life they want. They are people who make their life successful, they create their own life, they are not the type of people who says that fate is everything, and let the fate do its work. For me, this is the first quality of a successful individual, their willingness. Secondly, I think that a person with open mind and open thinking is one of the qualities that a successful person should have. Successful people are always open to many new ideas. They always think differently, they always think a new way of doing things, and they never stop thinking what is best for their life, and things that makes their life even better. Successful people dont close themselves off from information that helps them in their life or career. They are always ready to hear and find out about new things that will be very helpful to their life or maybe it might help a lot for their work. Other than that, another quality that makes me justify a person is successful is their courageous. Successful person are often risk-takers, which can be said as courageous person. They are vey daring in the things they do. They tap the courage that lives deep into them and use that courage for their successfulness. They try out many new things that give them ideas for their lives. They always put themselves out in front of others to make other see their successfulness and learn for them but this doesnt mean that they are being proud but they are making others want to be successful also. Another quality that should be in a person called successful is being committed to their work or to the things they do in their life. A successful person should always be committed in what they are doing and in what they want. People who are committed will stay focused in their goal even if it takes months to achieve it. A successful person who is committed in their work will see the success in a big picture which will be the big gain in their life and that will help them stay focused and keep them motivated in everything. Being committed to something that will take a long time to see the success make a person to be patient and wait for their success. This is what I say a successful individual. Additionally, being persistent is another quality that makes a successful person. Persistent means being determined. There is no such thing as giving up for a successful person. They never give up on anything that they do. They make sure that they find ways to make a thing that they are doing a success. This is why they are called as a successful person. For a successful person, success is 98% and 2% is their talent. They always say to themselves that they can do it no matter what happens, they seldom give up, and they gather all the things or information they need to make their work a success. This is they quality that should be in a person who says themselves as a successful person. Furthermore, being adaptable and flexible is another quality that a successful person should have. A successful person should always go with the flow in order to get thing done. Being adaptable with the place we are or the people we are with is a way to success. Take things easy, learn to be with many type of people and learn from them is the smartest way to walk in the road of success for our lives. Other than that, a successful person also should also have the quality of being flexible. Being flexible with their boss or colleagues is another way to climb up the stairs of success. Therefore as for me, a very good quality of a successful person is being adaptable and flexible. Another quality that makes me feel justified calling a person successful is their creative mind. Having a creative mind is a good way to make work done fast. Successful people who have creative mind know how to solve their problem with creative and innovative thinking. When given a work to do and ask to do it with creative new ideas, a successful person with a good creative mind wouldnt have a problem doing the work. A lot of new ideas should be given, a successful person always thinks out of the box, look around for new things to be taken foe the work, scroll around there and here to get new things. A successful person should always be creative and does work without fail and submit in right at time. More than that, there are still a few more qualities that I feel a person should have in order to call them successful; being spiritual. Being spiritual is another good quality that a successful person should have in order to have a strong spirit. A successful person should have a deep commitment to their spiritual side of their life. Successful person understand their life is more than just a life but is it a deep feeling that come within their life. A successful person let their spirit guide them, but in the right way of course. They follow what is right and they know how much their life important is for them. Our soul is the powerful thing in any life form and it can do wonders. Another quality that should be in a successful person is patient. Patient is very important for everyone in this world but as a successful person, it is more important for them. That is because patients can even change a good person to a bad person in seconds. That is why a successful person should have a lot of patient. Success takes a lot of time to build. Successful people are people who are happy, but still they have to allow the things they want to come in their own timing. That is where they have to be patient. Other than that, they also have to be more patient when they are in work place, when there are with some personal problems or family problems. When they get to be to patient and solve the entire problem, which is when they really become a successful person. This is why I include patient as a quality to justify a person is successful or not. In life, we must take responsibility, 100% responsibility. No matter what happens, we must be responsible and think in way that because of us only that incident took place. It is the decision that we made yesterday that lead us to something in our life today. We shouldnt keep on blaming others for what we did, if we keep on doing that, we will never achieve anything in our life because we are giving away the power to control the situation and when this always happen we will be never called as a successful person. This is why responsibility is very important as a quality in a successful person. A successful person is a person of taking all responsibility because we are given a work with trust of responsibility that we will go it with our best creative ideas and hard work. In a nutshell, to be a successful person, we must always believe that we can achieve it. Most people dont believe that they can do it. They dont believe that they can be rich or successful in their life. This is why the negative thoughts in a human can downgrade them and never make them successful. We must always believe in what we achieve in, this thinking will automatically open our mind and bring a potential within us, everything becomes possible for us and there comes a successful us in our mind and ourselves. Those were all the qualities that make me feel justified in calling a person successful individual. I also want to be called as a successful person, therefore I guess I must make other say that I have all that qualities but then before that I must plant all that qualities in myself and make it grow with enough sunlight, air and water and never forgetting fertilizer to make the plant in me to be more greenish. I am also a successful person.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Functionalism Essay -- Philosophy, Psychofunctionalism

Functionalism is a materialist stance in the philosophy of mind that argues that mental states are purely functional, and thus categorized by their input and output associations and causes, rather than by the physical makeup that constitutes its parts. In this manner, functionalism argues that as long as something operates as a conscious entity, then it is conscious. Block describes functionalism, discusses its inherent dilemmas, and then discusses a more scientifically-driven counter solution called psychofunctionalism and its failings as well. Although Block’s assertions are cogent and well-presented, the psychofunctionalist is able to provide counterarguments to support his viewpoint against Block’s criticisms. I shall argue that though both concepts are not without issue, functionalism appears to satisfy a more acceptable description that philosophers can admit over psychofunctionalism’s chauvinistic disposition that attempts to limit consciousness only to th e human race. To commence, functionalists are preoccupied with making mental states distinct, partly on the basis of causal relations to other mental states. Functionalism involves the conviction that psychological or mental terms can be done away to a certain extent. Functionalists treat terms related to mental states as functional characterizations which differ from input and output terms. Therefore, when the theory is broken down, mental states are associated with the states of the Turing-machine, which on its own is defined as a machine table that mentions inputs and outputs that are not explored in the mind (Block, pg. 212). Additionally, functionalism empathizes that characterization of mental states ought to include descriptions of inputs and outputs in both it... ...e to claim that objects that were created by humans, including robots, wire and metal structures and series of computer networks could and do possess qualia. Once people have reached the highest nirvana in the limits of consciousness and can create a consciousness device to measure its depths among classes of humans and non-humans, then functionalism can be shelved and rejected if it is the case that a robot does not contain qualia. Until then, however, functionalism needs to be carefully considered and not disregarded for its merits in the problem of mental states. Though for many, psychofunctionalism may be the more favorable choice because it is easier for people to consider themselves as the most intelligent beings and rulers of the universe rather than every collection of objects that satisfy the functional role to have consciousness on the same level as them.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Character Summary: The Mice :: essays research papers

â€Å"Of Mice And Men†, being a story about two men and their struggles, however never really going into detail of the mice in which were unjustly murdered. The mice slaughtered by Lennie were never really at fault for their actions. When being harshly petted by Lennie, the mice would only try to protect themselves, thus Lennie resorted to killing the mice in his own defense. These mice, being killed constantly by Lennie, were innocent victims sent to their predator by Lennie’s Aunt Clara. Did Aunt Clara consider the consequences that would later effect the mice? These mice may have had families of their own in which they would never return to. A mother mouse may have gathered food for the next meal only to see the father of her children never return. Of course it is better that she never see what had fatally happened that day. These mice, once caught by Aunt Clara, never had a chance. After capturing this poor, innocent, little creature, it was then released into the hands of Lennie. Is it the mice’s fault that they are so soft, and touchable? If only mice were more repugnant, hideous or gruesome they would have a chance of surviving. Maybe if these minute creatures were more passive, and did not try to protect themselves they would still be alive. However, how can one be sure of that? Perhaps Lennie would have petted the creature to a more powerful extent thus killing it still while the innocent mice just took the suffering. Unknown to Lennie, the mice may have had a dream just like him. Though most mice probably would not have dreamt about owning their own land, a dream may have still existed. Maybe the mice would have wanted to live some place safe from people. Dreaming of a place in which a mouse could eat all the time not having to search for food, Lennie may have killed them. This harsh reality is exactly the same as what had happened to Lennie. It is unable to be disproved that what George had done to Lennie in his time of weakness was not the same as what Lennie had done to the mice in their time of helplessness. Possibly, that was how the mice wanted to die though, happy picturing their dreams in their heads. On the other hand, one is not to be sure that these mice did not die in excruciating pain, paralyzed by the touch of this enormous creature.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Was the Alliance System Responsible for the Outbreak of WWI? :: World War I History

Was the Alliance System Responsible for the Outbreak of WWI? The importance of the alliance system that developed in Europe in the decades before World War I as a cause for it is still an important topic of debate and argument between modern historians. Some argue that the alliance system was a direct cause of the outbreak of war between all major countries in Europe while other historians prefer to state that the alliance configuration we observe before the war started was simply a symptom of the conflicts and disagreements, fears and envies that had been accumulating since the Bismarck system of alliances collapsed, and even before then. This last opinion is becoming more accepted as the one that describes the true importance of the actual alliance system as a cause of the war. In order to determine the importance of the alliance system as a cause for the war we must first explore the origins of these alliances. We will take high-point of the Bismarck system in 1878 as our starting point as the Franco-Prussian war is a key factor for the dev elopment of this system. The alliance system ideated by the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck kept peace in Europe but its main aim was, however, to forestall the possibility that, in the event of war, Germany would have to fight it on two fronts (basically France and Russia). This was achieved by diplomatically isolating France so that its dream of recapturing its lost provinces of Alsace-Lorraine couldn't be fulfilled. This was done by, firstly, the creation of the League of the Three Emperors or Dreikaiserbund. It was first projected as a meeting of the monarchs of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia in 1872 and confirmed the following year, the 22nd of October 1873. Here, the very general and formless agreement was given a more solid form by military agreements promising to help any country attacked by a fourth party. And all this even though that there was mutual rivalry between Russia and Austria-Hungary in the Balkans. This proved to be a concrete way to isolate France for as E. Eyck mentions, "the League ensured that neither Austria-Hungary nor Russia was available as an ally for France". At this point, Bismarck didn't consider Britain as a potential French ally as they had a long history of rivalry. Secondly, in 1887 the Reinsurance Treaty was signed with Russia in which it promised to support Russia's claims to the strait and to remain neutral in the event of war unless it attacked Austria-Hungary, the same with Russia, who promised to remain neutral unless it attacked France.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Interesting Narrative Essay

â€Å"Who are we looking for, who are we looking for? It’s Equiano we’re looking for. † –those are the words from a chant about the disappearance of an African boy. The disappearance of Olaudah Equiano has become a subject for a national folklore. All along the sixteenth – nineteenth centuries thousands of Africans captured in West Africa had been shipped to be sold in slavery. Many of them wrote about their hard life’s experiences. Precisely in this way, by creating poems and autobiographies, the so-called slave narratives have been born. â€Å"The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Written by Himself† is one of them. That is a really an interesting narrative. But it is attractive not only because of its plot or author’s writing skills. This became the first memoir of a black slave whose autobiography has been recognized by the public and continued being interesting for millions of people far after its author’s death. â€Å"I had often seen my master and Dick employed in reading: and I had a great curiosity to talk to the books as I thought they did, and so to learn how all things had a beginning. For that purpose I have often taken up a book, and have talked to it, and then put my ears to it, when alone, in hopes it would answer me; and I have been very much concerned when I found it remained silent. † (Equiano 112). These words can be taken out as the main thesis of the research: Equiano showed with all his life that each person, even a slave, is able to reach many significant things in his life. The main aim is to have a great curiosity in â€Å"how all things had a beginning† and strong will. And it is very important for human hearts not to â€Å"remain silent† to other people’s sorrows. There exists a certain problem regarding the authenticity of author’s text. The readers who have bought the Equiano’s book under the Allison’s edition must be aware of that fact that Allison has gathered different parts of Equiano’s autobiography which hasn’t been published by the author. A great deal of text is submitted by Allison, not Equiano. For example, the place in narrative in which Equiano gives references to his marriage. But a few pages earlier Equiano says he is free. Equiano changed the earlier passage when having added the relation to his marriage in 1792 in order to preserve the right cronology. Allison hasn’t taken into consideration that fact. Therefore, it can be seen that the chronology hasn’t been observed in Allison’s edition. Within such a vision the Equiano’s book becomes even more mystical. It sounds like a far and vague voice perceived through another author’s interpretation. Nevertheless, despite of some discrepancies in Allison’s interpretation of Equiano’s narration, the latter remains a masterpiece of African literature. As it was already mentioned, the book in case became a sensation in the literature of that time as that was the first book written by a black man that has been edited. But there are many other points in favor of Equiano’s book. One of them is that this book became a sample of new literature genre – a kind of social protest expressed in a very original way. There are no direct appeals for stopping the slavery in Africa by Africans but at the same time Equiano’s book is a burning request for ending the enslavement of Africans by other nations’ representatives. â€Å"I believe there are few events in my life that have not happened to many† –you can find these words in Equiano’s autobiography as well. Those events are the kidnapping of l1-year-old Equiano and his serving to European slave traders. His book isn’t a result of imagination but proper author’s experiences. Equiano was a member of Ibo nation which resided in Nigeria. When Equiano was eleven he was kidnapped by slave traders together with his sister. He was brought to Virginia and was sold to Michael Pascal there. Pascal changed Equiano’s name to Gustavas Vassa (after a Swedish monarch from sixteenth century). Equiano has passed through many adventures before he bought his freedom in 1776. He continued traveling through American colonies after that but as he still was afraid to be recaptured he went to England where he had been working for Charles Irving – a scientist who was famous for his experiments with slat-water purification. Eqiano was traveling then over Italy, Turkey and even the Artic studying many sciences in the course of that. Equiano’s autobiography was first published in 1789. It was published in two volumes and was entitled â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself†. The narrative was declared to be one of the most prominent slave narratives of that time. In this narrative one can find Equiano’s experiences which he acquired being on the board of the slave ship, working as a gunpowder carrier in the Mediterranean or as a barber while going on as a sailor. Thanks to all of those great talents and skills got by himself in the course of his sated life, Equiano became a great intellectual of his age. His autobiography, besides being a brilliant pattern of autobiography, became a classic of the slave narrative genre. Equiano has described his adventures in a very vivacious manner. Besides, his book has been released very timely – that time much attention was paid to negro–slavery society. Equiano’s book became one point in favor of the general hatred that was rising against the West –India planters who had been noted to reveal horrible cruelties directed on their slaves. Speaking about ‘humanity’ in his book Equiano had several purposes in mind. First of all, he meant that the slavery is inhuman. Equiano represents it as a cruel business which results in a great deal of human misery. Of course, Equiano calls for the elimination of slavery in his autobiography. But he tries to reveal the most horrible thing that is the base of European slave traders’ attitude to the African nations. That is the anti-racist idea which was rather a wide-spread one in England of eighteen century. According to this idea African were not fully human beings. Equiano’s book is a great plea for the dissolving of this terrible myth in human’s minds. With a great talent he described a life of a man who had been a victim of that myth -his own life. Taking into consideration the anti-racist intentions of Equiano’s autobiography, there are no denying facts that his book is a considerable political writing as well. A slave wrote a politically considerable book –that is the main Equiano’s paradox of that time which made human’s hearts to pay more attention to the miserable situation of Africans. A black boy, kidnapped by European traders and grew up among them, taught everything he could and wrote a kind of black self-presentation with a strong political meaning. The writing that book was a real feat by Equiano. He was brave enough to create his autobiography after having lived all that through by himself. That was a real proof of that African people were not only â€Å"fully human† beings but they were a great nation whose aspiration for freedom was not less than of any other nation of the world. Olaudah Equiano’s life is a brilliant example of human’s will in its most prominent expression – willing to be free. By that time not too many of slavers’ narrations had appeared. Those were mostly oral narrations by a slave which were gathered by white scientists. Equiano’s narrative was different from those ones. It was different not only because of his writing skills but, first of all, because he has written it by himself and, moreover, he published it by himself. He published it by subscription and by that way he forced many people to pay for his book in advance. Among those people the Prince of Wales and a range of dukes were. Another strong act by Equiano was that he not only had published the book but went on promoting it. He carried out a range of lections in England, Scotland and Wales. By promoting his book he was promoting at the same time the abolition of slavery. He was present at the lections arranged by local abolition committees in many regions. Thus, Equiano managed not only to convert his autobiography in anti-slavery document but converted his whole life into anti-slavery movement. As one can see, the poor slave kidnapped and grown up in slavery resulted to be a wonderful author, publisher, producer and political figure. He showed how an ordinary autobiography of a slave may convert into a strong social and even political movement. Equiano‘s narrative was proclaimed by many critics to be the most remarkable among the books by black writers of the 18th century. Arna Bontemps in his introduction to â€Å"Great Slave Narratives† (1969) characterized Equiano’s narrative as â€Å"the first truly notable book in the genre of the salve narrative†. Equiano became an entire historical epoch regarding the African culture. It has become the base of all African studies. His book will remain an eternal testimony of slavery as a shameful act of humanity. Equiano wrote the autobiography but his main aim was not to make his life famous but to show all the consequences which the violence and aggressiveness may have. The autobiography by Equiano is worth of reading because of many reasons. First of all, the personal skills of the author made his description colorful and dynamic. He managed to quickly learn the language, religion, law and commerce of his enslavers. Thus, he found the possibility to buy his freedom, find employment, travel the world, and become a legitimate advocate for abolition. The horrors that Equiano was forced to face didn’t not break him. He was able to win thanks to a combination of luck, intelligence, and hard work in his character. His ironic sense of humor in narrating his numerous adventures and roles in life indicates that he perceived himself as a survivor. He was aware of all the difficulties that could wait for him and nevertheless was ready to cope with them. In the beginning of narrative the goal of freedom is established, and he then expends all of his energy on attaining it. Equiano wrote his narrative after he had been converted to Christianity. Christianity means spiritual rebirth and this formula certainly was a strong point while structuring his story. It also caused an efficient influence on the readers’ minds. So, the spiritual author’s rebirth also influenced on Equiano’s writing – he wrote his autobiography according to the personal religious, spiritual changes. Equiano is often compared to Robinson Crusoe. Like the famous hero of Daniel Defoe he got into the foreign environment and managed to survive there and carry his will to freedom and happiness through all the difficulties of his outstanding life. That’s why Olaudah Equiano will always remain in human’s hearts as a symbol of freedom and powerful human will. And having passed many years hundreds of people when reading the â€Å"â€Å"The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Written by Himself† will say: â€Å"â€Å"Who are we looking for, who are we looking for? It’s Equiano we’re looking for. † Bibliography 1. Olaudah, Equiano. (Edited with an introduction by Robert J. Allison). The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, written by himself. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press, 1995. READ EXCERPTS from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano . . . From Ch. 1: Description of Equiano’s Early Life and the Culture of his People Read online one of the first detailed descriptions ever published of a traditional African culture from the perspective of an African, which makes for interesting comparisons to Part I of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. The Life of Olaudah Equiano (British Library: African Collections) Extract from: The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African. Written by Himself. London: Printed for and sold by the author, No. 10, Union-Street, Middlesex Hospital, [1789]. Vol. 1, Chapter 1, pp. 4-38: http://www. bl. uk/collections/africanolaudah. html From Ch. 2: â€Å"THEY†¦ CARRY OFF AS MANY AS THEY CAN SEIZE† â€Å"My father, besides many slaves, had a numerous family, of which seven lived to grow up, including myself and a sister, who was the only daughter. As I was the youngest of the sons, I became, of course, the greatest favourite of my mother, and was always with her; and she used to take particular pains to form my mind. I was trained up from my earliest years in the arts of agriculture and war; and my mother adorned me with emblems, after the manner of our greatest warriors. In this way I grew up till I was turned the age of eleven, when an end was put to my happiness in the following manner:–Generally, when the grown people in the neighbourhood were gone far in the fields to labour, the children assembled together in some of the neighborhood’s premises to play; and commonly some of us used to get up a tree to look out for any assailant, or kidnapper, that might come upon us; for they sometimes took those opportunities of our parents’ absence, to attack and carry off as many as they could seize. One day, as I was watching at the top of a tree in our yard, I saw one of those people come into the yard of our next neighbour but one, to kidnap, there being many stout young people in it. Immediately, on this, I gave the alarm of the rogue, and he was surrounded by the stoutest of them, who entangled him with cords, so that he could not escape till some of the grown people came and secured him. â€Å"But alas! ere long, it was my fate to be thus attacked, and to be carried off, when none of the grown people were nigh. One day, when all our people were gone out to their works as usual, and only I and my dear sister were left to mind the house, two men and a woman got over our walls, and in a moment seized us both; and, without giving us time to cry out, or make resistance, they stopped our mouths, and ran off with us into the nearest wood. Here they tied our hands, and continued to carry us as far as they could, till night came on, when we reached a small house, where the robbers halted for refreshment, and spent the night. We were then unbound; but were unable to take any food; and, being quite overpowered by fatigue and grief, our only relief was some sleep, which allayed our misfortune for a short time. † –From Ch. II of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African (London, 1789). Rpt. Mintz, â€Å"A Son of Africa: Resources for Teachers†: http://www. newsreel. org/guides/equiano. htm [Corresponding to sections of 1814 ed. reprinted in Gates, The Classic Slave Narratives p. 25. ] From Ch. 2: â€Å"A MULTITUDE OF BLACK PEOPLE†¦ CHAINED TOGETHER† â€Å"Olaudah Equiano vividly recounts the shock and isolation that he felt during the Middle Passage to Barbados and his fear that the European slavers would eat him† (â€Å"A Son of Africa†). The European slavers’ â€Å"complexions, differing so much from ours, their long hair and the language they spoke, which was different from any I had ever heard, united to confirm me in this belief [that Equiano â€Å"had got into a world of bad spirits and that they were going to kill me†]. Indeed, such were the horrors of my views and fears at the moment, that if ten thousand worlds had been my own, I would have freely parted with them all to have exchanged my condition with that of the meanest slave of my own country. When I looked around the ship and saw a large furnace of copper boiling, and a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted my fate. Quite overpowered with horror and anguish, I fell motionless on the deck and fainted. When I recovered a little, I found some black people about me, and I believe some were those who had brought me on board and had been receiving their pay. They talked to me in order to cheer me up, but all in vain. I asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men with horrible looks, red faces and long hair. They told me I was not . . . . I took a little [wine] down my palate, which, instead of reviving me as they thought it would, threw me into the greatest consternation at the strange feeling it produced, having never tasted such liquor before. â€Å"Soon after this, the blacks who had brought me on board went off and left me abandoned to despair. I now saw myself deprived of all chance of returning to my native country or even the least glimpse of hope of gaining the shore, which I now considered as friendly. I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation, which was filled with horrors of every kind. . . .[Equiano was then â€Å"put down under the decks† and ] There I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life. With the loathesomeness of the stench and the crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste anything. I now wished for the last friend, Death, to relieve me. Soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables and on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands and laid me across the windlass and tied my feet while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced anything of this kind before. . . . If I could have gotten over the nettings, I would have jumped over the side, but I could not. The crew used to watch very closely those of us who were not chained down to the decks, lest we should leap into the water. I have seen some of these poor African prisoners most severely cut for attempting to do so, and hourly whipped for not eating. This indeed was often the case with myself . . . . [Meeting some of his countrymen among the chained Africans below decks,] I inquired of these what was to be done with us. They gave me to understand we were to be carried to these white people’s country to work for them. I then was a little revived, and thought if it were no worse than working, my situation was not so desperate. But still I feared that I should be put to death, the white people looked and acted in so savage a manner. I have never seen among my people such instances of brutal cruelty, and this not only shown towards us blacks, but also to some of the whites themselves. One white man in particular I saw, when we were permitted to be on deck, flogged so unmercifully with a large rope near the foremast that he died in consequence of it, and they tossed him over the side as they would have done a brute. This made me fear these people the more, and I expected nothing less than to be treated in the same manner. . . . I asked [my countrymen] if these people had no country, but lived in this hollow place [the ship]? They told me they did not but came from a distant land. ‘Then,’ said I, ‘how comes it that in all our country we never heard of them? ‘ They told me because they lived so far off. I then asked where were their women? Had they any like themselves? I was told they had. ‘And why do we not see them’ I asked. They answered, ‘Because they were left behind. ‘ I asked how the vessel could go? They told me they could not tell, but there was cloth put upon the masts by the help of the ropes I saw, and then vessels went on, and the white men had some spell or magic they put in the water when they liked in order to stop the vessel when they liked. I was exceedingly amazed at this account, and really thought they were spirits. I therefore wished much to be from amongst them, for I expected they would sacrifice me. But my wishes were in vain–for we were so quartered that it was impossible for us to make our escape. † â€Å". . . .At last, when the ship we were in had got in all her cargo, they made ready with many fearful noises, and we were all put under deck, so that we could not see how they managed the vessel. . . . The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time†¦ some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air. But now that the whole ship’s cargo were confined together, it became absolutely pestilential. The closeness of the place and the heat of the climate, added to the number of the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This produced copious perspirations so that the air became unfit for respiration from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died–thus falling victims of the improvident avarice, as I may call it, of their purchasers. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, which now became insupportable, and the filth of the necessary tubs [toilets] into which the children often fell and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women and the groans of the dying rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable. Happily perhaps for myself, I was soon reduced so low that it was necessary to keep me almost always on deck and from my extreme youth I was not put into fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon the deck at the point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. Often did I think many of the inhabitants of the deep much more happy than myself. I envied them the freedom they enjoyed, and as often wished I could change my condition for theirs. Every circumstance I met with, served only to render my state more painful and heightened my apprehensions and my opinion of the cruelty of the whites. . . .† â€Å"One day, when we had a smooth sea and moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (I was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the nettings and jumped into the sea. Immediately another quite dejected fellow, who on account of his illness was suffered to be out of irons, followed their example. I believe many more would very soon have done the same if they had not been prevented by the ship’s crew, who were instantly alarmed. Those of us that were the most active were in a moment put down under the deck, and there was such a noise and confusion among the people of the ship as I never heard before to stop her and get the boat out to go after the slaves. However, two of the wretches were drowned, but they got the other and afterwards flogged him unmercifully for thus attempting to prefer death to slavery. . . . I can now relate, hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade. Many a time we were near suffocation from the want of fresh air, which we were often without for whole days together. This, and the stench of the necessary tubs, carried off many. † –From Ch. II of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African (London, 1789). Rpt. Mintz, â€Å"A Son of Africa: Resources for Teachers†: http://www. newsreel. org/guides/equiano. htm [Corresponding to sections of 1814 ed. reprinted in Gates, The Classic Slave Narratives pp. 33-34; 35-36. ] Carey also reprints online Extracts from Equiano’s Narrative, Ch. 2: â€Å"Boarding a Slave-Ship†: http://www. brycchancarey. com/equiano/extract2. htm â€Å"The Middle Passage†: http://www. brycchancarey. com/equiano/extract3. htm From Ch. 2: â€Å"DREAD AND TREMBLING† Olaudah Equiano offers a first-hand account of his arrival in the West Indies in 1756 (â€Å"A Son of Africa†). [Arrival at â€Å"the island of Barbadoes† in the Caribbean:] â€Å"As the vessel drew nearer, we plainly saw the harbor and other ships of different kinds and sizes and we soon anchored amongst them off Bridgetown. Many merchants and planters came on board . . . . They put us in separate parcels and examined us attentively. They also made us jump, and pointed to the land, signifying we were to go there. We thought by this we should be eaten by these ugly men, as they appeared to us. When soon after we were all put down under the deck again, there was much dread and trembling among us and nothing but bitter cries to be heard all the night from the apprehensions. At last the white people got some old slaves from the land to pacify us. They told us we were not to be eaten, but to work, and were soon to go on land, where we should see many of our country people. This report eased us much, and sure enough, soon after we landed, there came to us Africans of all languages. â€Å"We were conducted immediately to the merchant’s yard, where we were all pent up together, like so many sheep in a fold, without regard to sex or age. As every object was new to me, everything I saw filled me with surprise. What struck me first was that the houses were built with bricks and stories, and in every respect different from those I had seen in Africa, but I was still more astonished to see people on horseback. I did not know what this could mean, and indeed I thought these people were full of nothing but magical arts. While I was in this astonishment, one of my fellow prisoners spoke to a countryman of his about the horses who said they were the same kind they had in their country. I understood them, though they were from a distant part of Africa and I thought it odd I had not seen any horses there; but afterwards when I came to converse with different Africans, I found they had many horses amongst them, and much larger than those I then saw. â€Å"We were not many days in the merchant’s custody, before we were sold after their usual manner . . . On a signal given, (as the beat of a drum), buyers rush at once into the yard where the slaves are confined, and make a choice of that parcel they like best. The noise and clamor with which this is attended, and the eagerness visible in the countenances of the buyers, serve not a little to increase the apprehension of terrified Africans . . . . In this manner, without scruple, are relations and friends separated, most of them never to see each other again. I remember in the vessel in which I was brought over†¦ there were several brothers who, in the sale, were sold in different lots; and it was very moving on this occasion, to see and hear their cries in parting. † –From Ch. II of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African (London, 1789). Rpt. Mintz, â€Å"A Son of Africa: Resources for Teachers†: http://www. newsreel. org/guides/equiano. htm [Corresponding to sections of 1814 ed. reprinted in Gates, The Classic Slave Narratives pp. 37-38. ] At this point in Ch. 2 of the Narrative, Equiano passionately addresses his European enslavers: â€Å"O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, ‘learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends, to toil for your luxury and lust of gain? Must every tender feeling be likewise sacrificed to your avarice? Are the dearest friends and relations now rendered more dear by their separation from the rest of their kindred, still to be parted from each other, and thus prevented from cheering the gloom of slavery, with the samll comfort of being together, and mingling their sufferings and sorrows? Why are parents to lose their children, brothers their sisters, or husbands their wives? Surely this is a new refinement in cruelty, which, while it has no advantage to atone for it, thus aggravates distress, and adds fresh horrors even to the wretchedness of slavery. † –From Ch. II of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African, 1814 ed. as reprinted in Gates, The Classic Slave Narratives p. 38. Read all of Chapter 2 of Equiano’s Autobiography online courtesy of Africans in America (WGBH/PBS Online): http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/aia/part1/1h320t. html â€Å"The Abuse of Slaves in the West Indies† Read Ch. 5 excerpt from â€Å"Olaudah Equiano: The Life of Gustavus Vassa† courtesy of World Civilizations (Washington State Univ. , 1996, 1999): http://www. wsu. edu:8000/~dee/Equiano. html More selections, also available on the Washington State Univ. web, courtesy of Reading About the World, Vol. 2; ed. Paul Brians and others, Harcourt Brace Custom Books: http://www. wsu. edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/equiano. html â€Å"Equiano Gains his Freedom† Read Ch. 7 excerpt, courtesy of Brycchan Carey: http://www. brycchancarey. com/equiano/extract4. htm â€Å". . . Equiano’s account of his own manumission in 1766. Equiano’s owner, the Philadelphia Quaker Robert King, had in 1765 promised Equiano that he could buy back his own freedom if he ever raised the sum of forty pounds, the price King had himself paid for Equiano. King, who conducted much of his business from the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean Leeward Islands, put Equiano to work on one of his ships. Fortunately for Equiano, this meant that he could earn the money by petty trading, an activity in which he received some encouragement from the ship’s ‘friendly captain’; Thomas Farmer† (Carey). â€Å"The Case Against the Slave Trade† Read Ch. 12 excerpt, courtesy of Brycchan Carey: http://www. brycchancarey. com/equiano/extract5. htm â€Å". . . Equiano’s arguments against the slave trade, in particular, his argument that the trade did not make sound economic sense† (Carey). A 1789 REVIEW of Equiano’s Narrative From the beginning, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African. Written by Himself was a bestseller, in such demand that it experienced some fifteen editions, and attracted reviews in the leading journals of the time. One favorable 1789 review that appeared in London’s The Monthly Review is reprinted here: â€Å"A Review of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African. † The Monthly Review [London] Vol. LXXX, 1789, p. 55152. Gale Literature Resource Center [Online Subscription Database]. The Gale Group, 2004. Central Oregon Community College Library, Bend, OR. 17 August 2004. [NOTE: Gale Literature Resource Center subscription database articles are available online to COCC students!! ] Among aspects of the above 1789 review to notice, is the fact that the anonymous reviewer addresses the question of the â€Å"authenticity† of Equiano’s â€Å"very intelligent† Narrative, suggesting â€Å"that some English writer† may have assisted Equiano in the â€Å"compilement, or, at least, the correction of his book: for it is sufficiently well written. † SIGNIFICANCE OF EQUIANO’S SLAVE NARRATIVE â€Å"The slave narrative is a polemical genre; it makes no bones about it. † –Anthony Appiah, quoted in Ferguson (249). Brycchan Carey outlines the political goals of Equiano’s slave narrative in â€Å"Olaudah Equiano: A Critical Biography†: http://www. brycchancarey. com/equiano/biog. htm According to Carey, to show that a black African had abilities equal to a white European is one implicit political goal encompassed by Equiano’s statement early in his autobiography: â€Å"‘If it affords any satisfaction to my numerous friends, at whose request it has been written, or in the smallest degree promotes the interest of humanity, the ends for which it was undertaken will be fully attained, and every wish of my heart gratified. ‘ When Equiano refers to ‘humanity’ he seems to have several things in mind. Firstly he of course means that slavery is inhumane in that it is a cruel business resulting in a great deal of human misery. He is calling for its abolition. But as well as the overt anti-slavery agenda there is a more subtle anti-racist project going on to dispel some of the racist myths current in eighteenth-century England. Amongst these was an increasingly widespread myth that Africans were either not fully human or were of a less developed branch of humanity. Part of Equiano’s project is to dispel this myth entirely by showing the world that he, in common with all human beings, is quite capable of writing a fine book describing a life which would be considered extraordinary and full of talent and seized opportu.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Nike – good or bad?

Nike is good: A factory called Samyang in Vietnam (a factory under Nike contract) seems to be keeping satisfactory working levels within the building. It employs 5,200 people, most of them being women. The factory is made up of six big buildings with well-kept surroundings. Inside, there are fans keeping the workers cool, fire extinguishers about in the case of an emergency, and workers can easily access goggles, masks and gloves if they need them. Workers get double the local average of $54 per month and an annual bonus of at least one month's salary. Other factories get a lot less – in rural areas, factories pay $35 per month, in suburbs they pay $40 per month, and in cities, $45 per month. In state-owned factories (factories owned by the government), workers get a surprisingly low $15 per month! All this money they are getting has allowed most of them (three quarters) to buy a television, many to have a motorbike, some to have phones, etc. Not only does this improve their life, but it also allows other businesses such as petrol stations, electronic repair shops, etc. to function properly and make money too. This is called the multiplier effect. Nike has made changes to improve health and safety. In 1998, it replaced the very hazardous petroleum-based solvents with less harmful water-based ones. In 1999, an expert in the field went to verify Nike had actually done this at the Tae Kwang Vina factory in Vietnam. The investigator found that Nike had indeed replaced the compound and had also installed local exhaust ventilation systems. They also discovered that Nike had trained certain staff personnel aspects of health and safety. Nike is bad: Nike does not own the factories their clothes are manufactured in. This means they can leave at any time, leaving thousands of workers unemployed and fighting for their life while they find another job. For example, on February 22nd 2008, the BJ&J factory in the Dominic Republic announced that it was going to slowly fire workers and close. The factory, owned by Korean company called Yupoong, was making Nike caps at the time. In the Tae Kwang Vina factory mentioned earlier, some health and safety issues remained. Some sections of the factory were still exposed to hazardous chemicals, and to high heat and noise levels. In 1997, it was found that workers in a different factory were being exposed to 100 times the legal limit of Toluene, a toxic gas. Nike gets its clothes made in countries with free trade zones where it is illegal or extremely difficult for workers to organise into trade unions. It is practically impossible for workers to get better conditions (such as better pay, improved health and safety, etc.) when they cannot get together and form a united group to approach their boss. However, this said, some factory workers have done it before and achieved what they were protesting for. The Ching Luh Nike factory has 21,000 employees, and in June 2008, after going on strike for 2 days, they managed to get Nike to increase their wages by $6 a month. Some people think that the minimum wage in countries is enough to survive because the cost of living in that particular country is lower too. The chart below proves this to be wrong with three primary countries that Nike manufactures in. Nike doesn't pay lots to its workers. In many countries, they live way under the predicted living wage. The table shows the average wage of all the factories in that country, and the living wage in each. The data presented is only an average. Some factory workers earn only $1.60 a day, where the price of three meals a day is $2.00.