Destination Report & Presentation Research Paper

Destination Report & Presentation - Research Paper Example Leading on from here, the number of tourist sites and services that a person may have at disposal upon visiting a single country is so much. In some cases, the planning of tourism trips has become a problem for travelers when it comes to destination and services selection. It is from this point that the need for the use of information and community technology in making the situation easier becomes necessary. This paper therefore looks at the designing of a location based information delivery system that makes it possible for tourists to access information from various tourism locations and also exchange information to such locations to make the reception of tourism services easier. The researcher opines that this location based information delivery in tourism will serve a two-tier purpose of benefiting both the tourist as a service user and the tourism operators as service providers. More specifically, the destination to be used in this location based information delivery is Ottawa i n Canada, which is one of Canada’s four largest tourism metropolitan areas (O’Grady and O’Hare, 2002). ... In the first place, there is an element of client device that is built to host a web browser. A typical example of such a client device could be a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a laptop (Berger et al, 2007). There is also an element of customized web application server that makes it possible for users to receive and input web contents that meet the context of users. The essence of this element of the system architecture is to ensure that tourists visiting Ottawa have the freedom and will to make choices of selection based on user pre-defined preferences and options (Kjeldskov and Paay, 2005). What is more, it is expected that the system architecture for the location based information delivery system would encompass the presence of a universal description, discovery and integration (UDDI) service directory that focuses on the provision of tourist information services such as hotel accommodation finder services. Such UDDI services would ensure that the search for locations is siev ed and made much easier. More to the above, the presence of a context manager is also very important for the system architecture. This is because with such context manager, data that is input into the system can easier be stored for future retrieval and usage. Such data will be treated by the system as user dynamic context so that for all future searches these options will show up as user preferences, making it easier for future choices to be made. It is expected that some of the user dynamic contexts that will be considered by the system would include but not limited to location, wireless device features, identities, password, and data usage (Schernthanner and

Western Civilization. Changing Attitudes from the Ancient World to the Essay

Western Civilization. Changing Attitudes from the Ancient World to the Early Modern Period - Essay Example The departure from the classical period into the middle ages was heralded by Christianity. Religion played a great deal in the events that led to the changes in both the medieval world and the renaissance. This paper will endeavor to point out the major factors of change from each era leading up to the 'rebirth' of a nation and the evolution of a continent. In order to accomplish this, we will start with a brief look of the transition from the classical era to the medieval period. The first focus of the paper will look at how the medieval time period was seen by those wanting change, and by examining key factors that contributed to the changes that led to the renaissance. Second the paper will examine at what point changes occurred and how these contributed to the revolution that was the renaissance. The paper will conclude with a look at the effects of those changes and how they affected the world at large. Religion throughout time has played a great role in the evolution of nations. Men have killed and been killed for their faith. The period after the classical know as the 'early middle ages' was fraught with religious overtures. The rule of law was based in god and the might of the king was based in his faith and in the power of the clergy who backed his rule. It was a time of the 'divine right of kings'. A good example of this is the story of Charlemagne who was crowned king due to his faith and devoutness by Pope Leo III.1 The rules of justice were also simplified and meted out by the king, the clergy and the aristocracy. This idea of divine right and the power of a certain body of individuals led to the suppression of the individual and his rights as a freeman. They were subjugated in favor of faith and authority. Religion and issues of eternal life took to the forefront and all things individualistic, such as art, were relegated to positions of least importance. This is the first glimpse of the 'backward' nature of the medieval era. The second factor that led to the belief of the middle ages as a backward time was the notion that this period was culturally stagnant. It was a time believed to have a "lack of secular Latin literature' as well as 'corruption within the Church such as Popes who ruled as kings, pagan superstitions with saints relics, celibate priesthood, and institutionalized moral hypocrisy."2 This view probably came from the fact that learning was mainly in the hands of the clergy. Most written works were of a religious nature done by scribes who slowly and meticulously copied and recorded only what was given to them by the church. There was not much written about the arts or science all secular beliefs banished from the light. There was no balance of society and the individual, and only the worldview of serving your faith (God) and serving your lord through obedience and following life according to the will of the church. It was an age of the supernatural versus reason with no options for choice. The third factor in the middle ages 'backward' theory stems from the economic sector. This was also stagnant due to the power being held in the hands of the aristocracy and the guilds. The wealth of the society was in the hands of a few and no one individual could do business without the approval or backing of the guilds or the aristocracy. An emerging middle class at the end of the Crusades was also to become apart of this factor for change. At the end of the Crusades, many people sought out life in the cities and created a need for goods and services. They also developed an interest in the many cultures they had come in contact and wanted to experience and change

The Implementation Of Performance Management

The Implementation Of Performance Management Performance management is one of the tools human resource managers can employ to engage employees and teams to achieve their goals and motivate them to achieve high levels of organizational performance. Nowadays, HR managers are faced with a variety of competition and business environments that are constantly changing individuals values and lifestyles. Hence, the HR mangers need to understand the processes that can help employees achieve the goals set by their organizations. Aim The purpose of this report is to evaluate human resource management, in particular, performance management by focusing on three general purposes namely, strategic, development, and administrative. Arguments are made outlining the advantages and disadvantages of implementing performance management systems. Furthermore, sources of performance information used to evaluate the sales assistance of ANZ Bank are examined. Finally, an evaluation of the fairness of performance management is provided. Relevant literatures will be reviewed and discussed to support the ideas presented within this document. Scope This report discusses, evaluates and in some cases, criticizes existing researches dealing with performance management and also shows the relationship between different researches toward performance management, including the advantages and disadvantages of implementing this system. Also, evaluations of the performance information that can adequately measure the performance of ANZs sales assistance along with the fairness of performance management systems are provided. The General Purposes of Performance Management Commonly, the purpose of Performance Management is to achieve an organizations goals or objectives. For instance, Walters (1995) states performance management is the process of improving the quality and quantity of work finished and aligning all the activities involved with an organizations objectives. Similarly, Armstrong (1998) recommenced performance management as the strategic and integrated approaches to deliver the successful to organization by improve the performance of employees by developing the capabilities of teams and individual contributors. Moreover, William (2002) states that performance management targets individuals within an organization and aims to direct and improve their performance and ultimately enhancing the organizations objectives. Schuler, Fulkerson and Dowling (1991) claimed that Performance management is an essential business driver to help businesses achieved desired results. Generally, Performance Management is an ongoing process that needs to be monito red throughout the year. The Performance Management purposes, which mainly includes areas such as, strategic, developmental, and administrative. Thus, the overall expectations and performance objectives are reviewed as following: 2.1 Strategic Purposes: Armstrong (1999) pointed out that the important features of PM are goal setting and feedback coupled with the development of individual characteristics as well as the development of organizations strategies. Utilizing the ideas presented within several literature reviews, the major roles of Strategic Performance Management can be classified as follows: (i.e. Atkinson, 1998; Dumond, 1994; Sink, 1991; Martinsons et al, 1999; and Neely, 1998) Overlooking the process of strategy implementation by assessing if the strategy is being put into practice as planned. Managers and higher-level personnel issue objectives and goals and not only ensure that these strategies are implemented but also that the contents of the strategy are up to date. The position check and selection employees by looking at whether the result of performance expectation is achieved University of California, Berkeley introduced the communication process that includes clarifying expectations, setting objectives, identifying goals, providing feedback, and evaluating results. Consequently, to help employees understand and meet the company goal provided the clearly of direct communication by pass the information to employees about the expectation of individual to be achieved, and also provides the feedback including benchmarks performance in difference department, teams, individual by report as the whole regarding their performance with respect to expected goal have been consider. Documentation process that enable line manager and employees to see the performance management as a part of daily workplace behavior. 2.2 Development Purposes: Performance management is an ongoing process. After a set of work objectives and organizational goals are agreed upon, the HR start with a clear agreement based on the strategy, goal, measure, and performance goal to be implemented. Organization coaching and developing process by evaluation of employees attention to these strategies and point out employees strength and weakness when the employees not perform well as they should. Therefore, the performance management seeks to improve these employees performance. Moreover, organization has to ensure the employees achieved the measurement results through the feedback so employees know where they stand. De Cieri et al. 2008 suggested that to build a performance culture by establish the process to encourage performance management feedback each day rather than the process that occurs throughout the year. As the result, the reviewed of performance annually more likely distorted and forgotten in order that organization should progress monito r regular and provide employee feedback after each particular event finished. At the end of performance period, assessment is made against objectives, means or behaviours demonstrated. Plus, new objectives for the next performance period maybe established (The University of California, Berkeley). Furthermore, Kaplan and Norton (2001) argued that employees at level need to learn the principles of the system, its measures, tools and procedures. Thus, the organization encourage improvement and learning by provided valuable information to help identify individual training need to improved employee performance and build up the potential of employee for further advancement. Moreover, Performance management system focuses on the skills that are required to perform a particular job and training will help employees to achieve that skill employee will get training that are required and have better positions and compensation offers within the organization. 2.3 Administrative Purposes: De Cieri et al. 2008 described the studied of PM can help the organization in particular to administrative decision making such as salary, promotion, retention, and termination and recognition of individual performance. The organization can define employee salary toward their performance, the person who greater performance will get the greater salary. The successful of performance management process (well-conceived and well-implemented) can motivate employee through financial with the compensation and also can motivate by non-financial reward such as positive feedback and opportunities to development (Armstrong, 1999). Thus, the reward can motivate employee via their efforts that rewards can be financial and non-financial by basically rewards provide base on the organization ability to pay and legal regulation as the company take the action by use the performance measure to calculate the rewards. As the result, it can say the reward can motivate and encourage building short term and long term incentives of engage performance. As the result, compensation can motivate the person to perform well by the good compensation package will increase the employees productivity and satisfaction level of the employees. In additional, some organizations award the salary and bonus base on their performance. Armstrong and Baron (1998) demonstrate that performance can be affected by several of factors, all of that should be taken into account when managing, measuring and rewarding performance. 3.0 Arguments For and Against the Implementation of Performance Management Argument For: Increasing Productivities A key aspect of performance management is training and developing new techniques that can help organizations improve individual, team and organizational performance. For example, ANZ develop their employees to be successful in their roles, by hosting training programs in a wide range of areas such as developing inspiring leadership qualities, providing learning and development opportunities and by developing and retaining talented employees who want to undertake challenging assignments. As a result of all these programs, trained sales assistance units are able to market new products online to increase customer convenience and satisfaction (Corporate Responsibility Review, 2008). As online functionality improves with time and effort, customers are provided with concise and timely information such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and so on, resulting in an increased number of customers utilizing these services and higher s productivities. Produce Meaningful Measurement of Employee Performance Performance management can help ensure that employees receive a fair appraisal based on their performance, by using various methods to evaluate employees. Organizations then inform employees of the results, in the form of constructive feedbacks. Organizations also take efforts to improve aspects of employees productivity by providing clear information of what is expected of them and align these expectations with the overall company goals and targets and also by hosting quality training and development programs. Consequence, the measurements are useful for organization setting standards for comparison with similar organizations or previous years (Hyndman and Anderson, 1997) Increased Retention Rate Performance management systems are implemented not only to evaluate employee performance but also to understand the basic needs of employees. It helps senior mangers to understand what employees are looking for, in terms of job satisfaction or how he/she is performing in their respective jobs. It helps to increases retention rates in organizations. Employees are aware of what is required of them and focus their output according to these specifics. For instance, ANZs business strategy of recruiting and retaining employees has resulted in an increase in the number of employees from 8,810 to 9,245 between 2008 and 2009 (ANZ, 2010). Performance management also can help ensure that employees receive equitable treatment because performance management appraisals are based on results. Analysing these results can lead to enhanced job satisfaction, increased productivities and so on. Additionally, performance management can facilitate ongoing, constructive communication between supervisors and employees, all the while focusing on achieving organizational goals and targets. Armstrong and Baron (2003) also suggest that the successful implementation of performance management systems can result in desirable culture changes and avoid problems such as, lack of understanding and enthusiasm. Against: High Cost Recently, organizations have been forced to cut down cost due to the global economic crisis. The decision of whether or not to train employees has been a consequence of this phenomenon. Even though training is the best way to retain and maintain employees, the effects of economic recession have led to organizations cutting down on training programs. During periods of economic recession, organizations are faced with a higher than normal rate in employee turnover. (Glance, Hogg and Huberman, 1997). External Factors Performance management frameworks and systems do not directly take into consideration external factors such as, global recessions or natural calamities. As such, when such a scenario does arise, performance management system may have to undergo heavy modifications to compensate. Unrealistic Performance Targets Sometimes organizations are desperate to achieve organizational goals and as a result, unrealistic performance levels may be set for employees. These targets are often difficult and unattainable, and as a result, dissatisfied employees may decide to leave their jobs. Actual Performance versus Target Performance Failing to effectively implement performance management systems may give rise to a lapse between actual and target performances. A managers inability to conform to procedures such as conducting regular meetings to discuss employees performance and providing them with necessary training may lead to a breakdown in the entire system. Therefore, an employees lack of understanding of what is precisely required of them can greatly impact an organizations performance as a whole. 4.0 An Evaluation of the Performance of ANZs Sales Assistance Like any successful organization, ANZ bank takes its corporate responsibilities very seriously by adopting responsible business practices and by reporting and updating their Corporate Responsibility (CR) Performance. ANZs CR Reporting follows the guidelines set by the global best practice standards. In 2008, ANZ Bank implemented a new, streamlined approach, known as the Global Performance Management Framework, to facilitate enhanced monitoring of their employees performance and to utilize their personnels full potential. As such, the simplified and globally homogenous approach they adopted utilizes a concept known as balanced scorecard, which measures and evaluates the performances of their employees across four main company objectives, namely, Financial, Customer, People and Process, and also the benchmarks of behaviour and risk/compliance that are exhibited throughout the year. The Performance Management at ANZ is divided into three stages: Performance Planning, Performance Coaching and Performance Assessment. Performance Planning: This stage involves setting clear and measurable objectives and targets at lower levels of the organization. Strong emphasis is placed on the impact that achieving these goals have on the organizations broader business goals and priorities. Employees and managers are unified under a common set of highly ambitious, yet realistic and achievable goals from the beginning so that each individual understands the importance of his/her role and how he/she can contribute to the overall success of the organization. One of the key focuses of this stage is ensuring that employees have a clear understanding of the behaviour and risk/compliance standards expected of them. Performance Coaching: At this stage of Performance Management, managers conduct regular meetings with employees to coach and develop them. Managers are required to evaluate employees performance and appraise their current status in respect to the performance levels expected of them by conducting mid-year performance discussions. A key aspect of this stage is to ensure that managers provide employees with sufficient support and learning opportunities that can enable them to succeed at their roles. Performance Assessment: At this stage, higher level personnel provide lower level employees with an evaluation of their performance at the end of the year. The outcomes of this stage are linked directly with the companys remuneration and rewards schemes. (Corporate responsibility review, 2008) Following these guidelines, the Performance Management Framework provides each individual within the organization with a clearly defined set of objectives and goals and ensures that they understand precisely what is expected of them. Sales assistance involves handling routine client enquiries in all segments of the companys objectives. Therefore, the tools and instruments employed in maintaining the organizations new Performance Management Framework, can effectively evaluate the performance of sales assistance in ANZ Bank, especially when coupled with detailed and informative annual CR Reports. In addition to providing annual performance reports, ANZ also maintains a Corporate Responsibility website and issues annual CR Interim reports and monthly Corporate Responsibility updates to stakeholders. The information contained within all these reports and updates can adequately evaluate the performance of personnel, and more importantly, provide detailed information on specific branches of the companys departments, like sales assistance. ANZ has been reporting on its CR Performance since 2004. Each year, the organizations goals and work programs include high-priority issues involving their industry, customers, employees and the community. According to the 2008 CR Report, by September 2008, ANZ had witnessed the first rise in customer satisfaction statistics in over six months. The organization had set six customer-oriented goals: Implement a new Personal Division policy and processes to assist retail customers facing financial difficulty Maintain their position as the number 1 Lead Bank for major Corporate and Institutional clients Achieve Equator Principles reporting for 100% of ANZs Project Finance transactions Continue to improve their retail customer satisfaction and match the performance of community and regional banks Meet or exceed the performance standards set out in their Customer Charter and conduct a review of its commitments Implement Institutional social and environmental lending policies for forests, mining, energy and water. The first three goals in the above list were successfully achieved, while the latter three goals were partially satisfied. There were five employee-oriented goals set by the organization for the year 2008, and only one of these goals placing women in managerial positions in Australia and New Zealand was unattained, although, the actual statistics only marginally trailed the target figures. The goal of employing 100 Indigenous Australians, as part of the Indigenous Employment Strategy was successfully accomplished, as 106 Indigenous trainees were employed by ANZ in 2008. The three other set goals that were partially achieved are: Closing the gap on pay differential between men and women at all levels of the organization, Reducing their Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate by a further 20% in Australia and New Zealand and report performance globally, and improve their performance in the ANZ Engagement and Culture Census. Of the four community-oriented goals that were set, all four were successfully accomplished. The goals included: Release ANZs bi-annual financial literacy research, Meet their financial literacy and inclusion program targets, Achieve 70,000 hours of staff volunteering across the Groups and 15% participation in payroll giving, Achieve the commitments in our Reconciliation Action Plan including staff training, financial literacy and assisting to build the capacity of Indigenous organizations. The figures and outcomes in these reports provide adequate information towards evaluating the performance of various branches in various departments. 5.0 Evaluation of the fairness of performance management One of the most important functions of human resource management is Staff Performance Management. As discussed earlier, ANZ Bank employs a management tool known as the Global Performance Management Framework to monitor, evaluate and enhance the performance of its employees. One of the key aspects of Performance Management is to formulate a set of goals and priorities that serve as targets and guidelines for employees to better understand their respective roles and how each individuals performance impacts the organization as a whole. The employee performance management system encompasses the following basic aims: Direct employees in order to achieve the objectives in the various departments and branches present within an organization. Appraise, evaluate and monitor the performance of employees and enhance communication between employees and management personnel. To provide pathways and formulate schemes for developing employees. Throughout this report, various research materials are sited supporting the fact that performance management, if implemented properly, can ensure an organizations success. This section of the report attempts to link performance management with other Human Resource Management functions to ascertain and evaluate the fairness of performance management. Figure 1: The link between Performance Management and other HR Functions For a performance management system to be effective and functional, certain elements are normally incorporated into the system: Open and fair Oriented towards the competency of employees An ongoing process (HRM civil service bureau, 1999) Open and Fair This element of the performance management system seeks to achieve fairness in performance appraisal by encouraging employees to be outspoken and constructive in their feedbacks. Additionally, managers are also encouraged to be open and objective in their appraisals of the employees. The following methods can be instrumental in accomplishing this: Formulating comprehensive and detailed objectives and targets. Encouraging higher-level employees to conduct discussions with employees pertaining to their performances and providing counselling and training when necessary. Making equal opportunities available to all staff members, in terms of promotions, remuneration and rewards packages and training and development. Forming a panel, whenever possible, to facilitate fairness in performance appraisals. Oriented Towards the Competency of Employees The competency of employees can be broadly classified into two sub-categories; core competencies and functional competencies. Competency relates to the knowledge, attributes, attitude and skills that are required for an employee to succeed in his/her role. Core competencies include a set of skills necessary for an employee to satisfactorily perform his/her duties in their respective departments. Functional competencies include specific sets of skills required by an individual to perform his specific role in the organization. Making use of a system that is competency-oriented greatly enhances the beginning stages of performance management, where goals and objectives are formulated. Employees at different levels of the organization are able to understand what is required of them due to the well-structured job requirements that align each individuals role in the organizations chain of command. An Ongoing Process Performance management systems are an ongoing endeavour that requires constant attention and monitoring. Failing to maintain set standards on a regular basis may lead to a decline in the quality of the companys performance and output. This process involves: Performance planning: This stage involves the appraiser and the appraised, in that, the former informs the latter of the responsibilities and objectives they are required to satisfy, by setting realistic, precise and quantitative targets as comprehensive guidelines for them to follow. Coaching and development: Here, particular emphasis is placed on giving recognition to good performance and providing helpful feedback and guidance to employees. Recognizing noteworthy performances can be a good way of boosting morale and encouraging employees to strive for excellence. Providing continuous counselling and advice can ensure that employees are up to date in the organizations ongoing quest for success and retaining the level of success, once it is achieved. Interim review: An interim review aims to evaluate employee performance. It is a formal interview or discussion where the evaluating personnel identifies performance results and undertakes appropriate actions, assesses development and training programs, identify any shortcomings or barriers that prevents employees from reaching their full potential and make modifications to the objectives required of the employee. Human Resources personnel bridge the gap between employers, managers and employees. Therefore, in addition to their other tasks, HR personnel can ensure the fairness of the employee performance appraisal procedures by understanding the employees concept of fairness and encouraging helpful feedback from employees, thus facilitating better communication between higher-level personnel and lower-level employees.. A fair and transparent system promotes and encourages employees to perform at their best, as the possibilities of achieving promotions and benefit packages are ever present and realistic. Conclusion Obviously, PM is one of the most important functions of HRM which links individuals objectives and organization goals. Thus, PM can be a very effective and efficient management tool if applied properly. An organization should provided its employees with the clear information of the organizations aims, job expectations and motivate employees to perform better by focusing on the desired results, improving communication, and developing the skills and attitudes of employees to better enable them to achieve organizational goals. Moreover, the implementation of performance management frameworks can be both advantageous and disadvantageous for an organization. Analyzing ANZ banks sources of performance information shows that the implementation of a solid PM framework, coupled with their globally recognized reporting methods enables the organization to adequately evaluate the performance of ANZs various departments and sectors, including the sales assistance unit. Finally, fairness in evalua ting and appraising employees performance within an organization can motivate employees to enhance their performance. Organizations can achieve this by providing equal opportunities for their employees towards promotion options, access to remuneration and rewards schemes, training/counselling/mentoring/advising, providing clear, concise information and specifying job tasks and so on. 7.0 Recommendations Organizations should continue to review their strategies regularly by focusing on performance management. Organizations should strive to take actions that can facilitate improvements and employee training and also focus on the development of strategies to justify any gaps, if present, between the organizations actual performance and target goals. Fairness plays an important role in motivating and guiding employees. Although, the concept of fairness may vary from one individual to another, there are certain ideologies, however, that remain constant. For example, it is commonly understood in a workplace that an employee should be rewarded based on his/her performance within the organization. The aspects of fairness that may vary from one individual to another are feelings of how one was treated by his/her employer or manager in regards to a particular scenario. Therefore, it is important for managers and employers to ascertain how their employees perceive fairness. This can be accomplished by providing employees with questionnaires that will enable them to express their take on fairness. This will help higher level personnel to understand their employees more intimately and tailor their remuneration and rewards packages and training opportunities accordingly. In performance management, the employees are subject to be reviewed by their managers. Employees will directly receive feedback from the members of their team. The team members will observe each other and then report to managers when performance problems occur. Subsequently, the managers should combine the feedback gained from their team members and then undertake the necessary corrective measures.

Abortion Pill Essay -- essays papers

Abortion Pill 1.Problem Statement Approval of the abortion pill RU-486, also recognized as mifepristone, has put abortion back into the spotlight. This has stirred up controversial issues of reproductive rights in America, and a growing concern for the potential impact of RU-486 on the well being of our society's morals and values. 2.Facts and Analysis A Brief History Mifepristone, formerly known as RU-486, provides women with a medical alternative to surgical abortion. Mifepristone is an antiprogesterone drug that blocks receptors of progesterone, a key hormone in the establishment and maintenance of human pregnancy. Mifepristone induces spontaneous abortion when administered in early pregnancy and followed by a dose of misoprostol, a prostaglandin. Researchers have discovered many potential uses for mifepristone beyond pregnancy termination. Uses include treatment of breast cancer, Cushing's syndrome, endometriosis, glaucoma, meningioma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, uterine fibroids, and the induction of labor. In very low doses, mifepristone may even be used to prevent pregnancy as a method of emergency contraception within. In higher doses, of course, it can be used to terminate pregnancy. Other existing emergency contraception cannot be used to terminate pregnancy because they are not abortifacients. Mifepristone offers women another choice for abortion. It causes a miscarriage and can be used earlier than surgical abortion. Medical abortion is totally non invasive, meaning there's no surgery, and no anesthesia is necessary. Like everything in life, there are some down sides to the use of RU-486. One can assume that it will make abortion easier and more available for a lot of women. However, mifepristone doesn't get rid of all of the discomfort that can go along with an abortion. Similar to a miscarriage, it can cause side effects including nausea, vomiting, bleeding, and heavy cramping. If the pills don't work, a surgical abortion will be necessary. Unintentional pregnancies statistically bring a host of economic, emotional, and physical ills to mother and baby. About half of the unintended pregnancies in Washington State are aborted, according to the state Department of Health. That rate is consistent with the rest of the US. Even though there is a demand for abortion providers, man... ...hese questions. The number of abortions that result in the approval of RU-486 shouldn't be our main concern. If there is a reason to be concerned, it should be on the ethical and moral issues that stem from the reproductive rights of women in America. Without question, abortion is an extremely controversial issue in today's society. However, the different attitudes of abortion activists are more important factors than that which involve the actual abortion procedure. The focal issue of this paper is not to evaluate whether or not abortion should be legal, but rather the question of RU-486 being legal - and readily available. If women have been granted the choice to terminate a pregnancy, then RU-486 simply provides them with a choice on the procedure they prefer to use. The approval of RU-486 will not vastly impact the landscape of abortion in America. Though nearly every individual in America has a personal opinion on abortion rights, abortion remains an issue between a woman, her creator and her physician. As long as abortion is legal, women will now have RU-486 as an option when making the choice that is best for them. Bibliography: www.findit.com

Short Story Sonny Blues

In James Baldwin’s, Sonny’s Blues, he uses many different symbols throughout his short story to present the overall theme of suffering to the reader. He uses symbols such as music, characters facial expressions and the presence of ice, light and darkness. In the very beginning of the story when the narrator is reading the paper and he comes across the news of his brother, Sonny, he says, â€Å"A great block of ice got settled in my belly and kept melting there slowly all day long†. (Baldwin 600) He also says â€Å"†¦it was a special kind of ice.It kept melting, sending trickles of ice water all up and down my veins, but it never got less. † (Baldwin 600) This is not the only time that the ice presents itself. It reappears when the narrator meets one of Sonny’s friends who is also a drug addict, and again later when Sonny is over for dinner with the narrator’s family. The ice that appears whenever the narrator feels an uncomfortable or pa inful situation represents how the narrator is incapable of dealing with his own emotions well. The ice also allows the reader to empathize with how the narrator feels about how his brother is leading his life.Another symbol Baldwin uses throughout Sonny’s Blues is light and darkness. Throughout the story there is a contrast of light and darkness. For example, in the first paragraph of the story, Sonny’s Blues Baldwin writes, â€Å"I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces and bodies of the people, and in my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared outside. † (Baldwin 599) This contrasts the lightness and the darkness. It demonstrates the contrast between his own suffering and the world around him and the suffering of the world.Another example of lightness and darkness Baldwin uses in the short story is when the narrator’s mother is recalling the story of the narrator’s father and his brother she says â€Å"th ere was a moon that night, it was bright like day. † (Baldwin 607) This is when the narrator’s father and his brother are having a good time and walking home. This brightness of the moon is used to represent the light, which represents all the hope and good things in life. The narrator’s mother later recalls, â€Å"he says he never in his life seen anything as dark as that road after the lights of that car had gone away. (Baldwin 608) Referring to after the narrator’s father’s brother had been hit and killed. The color of the men’s skin also represents the contrast between light and darkness. The men that killed the narrator’s father’s brother were all white and the other two men were dark skinned. This is also an example of the contrasting of light and dark. This shows how the difference of something in the same situation can both have two different results. Meaning that both the light men and the dark men were drunk. They wer e each also having fun. The situations were both similar, but the end results of each situation were very different.One of the dark men lost their life to the light men. The darkness is used to represent the tormenting and dark moments in the characters lives. The darkness however is always stabilized with lightness. Just like the dark road was stabilized with the lightness of the car lights. This light is used to signify safety and comfort, while the darkness represents the turmoil also looking to destroy that safety and comfort. Another way Baldwin symbolizes the overall theme of suffering is through the character’s facial expressions and interactions.Baldwin writes â€Å"And I watched her face as she laughingly responded to something someone said to her, still keeping time to the music. When she smiled one saw the little girl, one sensed the doomed, still struggling women beneath the battered face of the semi-whore. † (Baldwin 602) This shows that even under her â⠂¬Å"battered face† there was still a glimpse of when she was young. The narrator can see her as a young innocent little girl. This shows the reader that there is hope even in suffering. Baldwin is also trying to get his point across that even though one may suffer, the suffering will not change the past and whom you are or have become.Another example of how Baldwin incorporates the facial expressions of his characters to help promote the overall theme of suffering is when the narrator is on the subway in the first few sentences of the short story. He writes, â€Å"I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces of the bodies of the people, and in my own face, trapped in the darkness. † (Baldwin 600) This illustrates that not only does the narrator feel and see suffering inside himself and his own face, but he also sees it inside the faces of others and the surroundings around him.This also proves that the overall effect of suffering is visible to one who is suffering themselves, like that of the narrators. Baldwin also promotes the theme of Sonny’s Blues by using the presence of music. The entire short story is loaded with occasions of music. The overall title of the story even contains music. â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†, promotes the tone and theme of suffering throughout the entire story. It provides the reader with information that there will be suffering in the story. Giving them an idea of what is to come before even being read. Another example of music is Sonny’s growing love for playing the piano.The narrator states â€Å"†¦Sonny was so serious about his music and how, as soon as he came in from school, †¦he went straight to that piano and stayed there until suppertime. †, â€Å"He was at the piano all day Saturday and all day Sunday. † (Baldwin 612) This tells the reader of Sonny’s love for music. It illustrates how the music is Sonny’s safety and allows h im to not suffer. When Baldwin makes it clear to the reader that Isabel and her mother grow tired of the music, â€Å"it wasn’t like living with a person at all, it was like living with sound. And the sound didn’t make any sense to her, didn’t make any sense to any of them – naturally. (Baldwin 612) This proves that music can both heal suffering but also create it. The music for Sonny was a safety. To Sonny the music made him feel at ease and helped to subside his suffering. It wasn’t until after Sonny stopped playing the piano and his records that he began to truly feel the power of his suffering. Although the music was a medicine to Sonny’s suffering, it was the cause of suffering for Isabel and her mother. This suffering caused Isabel’s mother to snap and yell at Sonny. This caused Sonny to stop playing the piano and thus the true suffering began.Another example of suffering and music is when the narrator witnesses the meeting on the corner. He watches the battered people play their music and notices their suffering. He says, â€Å"As the singing filled the air the watching, listening faces underwent a change, the eyes focusing on something within; the music seemed to soothe a poison out of them; and time seemed, nearly, to fall away from the sullen, belligerent, battered faces, as though they were fleeing back to their first condition, while dreaming of their last. † (Baldwin 615) Showing again how music can be a safety and a rescuer to not only Sonny but others as well.By the narrator stating this it shows that it is noticeable of the change in expression music brings as it lessens the sufferings of those who play. â€Å"Sonny’s fingers filled the air with life, his life. † (Baldwin 620) Near the end of Baldwin’s story Sonny plays his music once again. To most, the music Sonny plays is merely for entertainment. But to some it is a story, Sonny’s story. As Sonny plays, the narrator notices the things his brother has been through and felt. While Sonny plays the narrator notices both his brother’s suffering as well as his own.

Using Mooc to Improve Rural Education

* Using MOOC to upgrade Education in Rural Areas UNISA has made distance learning a common practise in South Africa. It's position is entrenched more so after the 2004 merger with Technikon RSA. The next evolution in distance learning beyond e-learning or computer-based training is Massive Open Online Courses or MOOC. This is made possible with the pervasiveness of broadband Internet.MOOC is a virtual delivery model that allows participation in learning activities at convenient places and times,rather than forcing students into set time frames; blended learning, which can facilitate widespread, often global collaboration with other students and teams of specialized instructors (Bujak,K,R, et al, 2012). Recently we enrolled for three modules on Coursera. org. The initial appeal to using this platform was the flexible time schedules and immediate access via the Internet. We've already opted out of one and there was no real downside because there was no financial commitment in contrast to traditional universities. Benefits for Teaching E-learning has been around since the earliest stages of the Internet. It is well know the origins of this global inter-connected network began in the military and expanded quickly into academic research facilities in the US before becoming available to the general public in the 1990s. Expanding access to and the availability of e-learning programmes for students, teachers and government is an important step in furthering continental development and growth (Rupp, 2012).Even though Rupp (2012) points out the availability of e-learning technologies provides expanded opportunities for countries in Africa to make education available to their whole population. Clearly these same information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow students from the rural or remote areas to access opportunities for scholarships to academic institutions they may not otherwise have identified. * Benefits for Learning MOOC introduces students to a new type of experience called â€Å"Blended Learning† by Bujak,K,R, et al. (2012). It combines face-to-face interactions with communication enabled by ICTs.A key consideration is that ICTs compliment not replace traditional pedagogy. Whereas e-learning was online only experience, more blending the online and offline experience takes shape in self organised groups meeting similar to traditional self organised groups of students who attend the same campus, except this takes place even easier in the virtual world. Initial research suggests that students are not only accepting blended learning approaches, but also they are improving learning outcomes. * Conclusion Two challenges reduce the adoption of MOOC.Firstly they do not lead to a widely recognized credentials and workable revenue models are not available at present (King, J. W. & Nanfito, M. 2012). Until both are addressed by institutions and investors in the platforms, MOOC, may be a blip on the radar and future of online learning solutions. Even though MOOC have caused well established institutions from UCT in South Africa and MIT in United States to invest resources, clear impact in Africa continent remain limited. One segment that stands the most to gain, are people who do not gain entry to traditional universities for reasons financial or otherwise.Internet literacy will delay the adoption further among the rest of the population in Africa irrespective of the availability of broadband Internet. As with all technological innovations MOOC will take a number a few years before we know whether it is viable platform or not. * Reference Bujak,K,R, Baker, P. , & DeMillo, R. (2012) The University: Disruptive Change and Institutional Innovation Centre for 21st Century Universities. Paper number 22012. Available online: http://c21u. gatech. edu/sites/default/files/u21/C21U_22012__University. pdf [03 December 2012] Rupp, S. 2012) Technology, e-learning and education in Africa. In Consultancy Africa Intelligence. Av ailable online http://tinyurl. com/9dul5he [04 December 2012] King, J. W. & Nanfito, M. (2012) To MOOC or Not to MOOC? Available online: http://www. insidehighered. com/views/2012/11/29/essay-challenges-posed-moocs-liberal-arts-colleges [05 December 2012] Koutropoulos, A. & Hogue, R. J. (2012). How to Succeed in a MOOC. Available online: http://www. cedma-europe. org/newsletter%20articles/eLearning%20Guild/How%20to%20Succeed%20in%20a%20MOOC%20-%20Massive%20Online%20Open%20Course%20(Oct%2012). pdf [05 December 2012]

Early Childhood Education and Childcare Essays

Early Childhood Education and Childcare Essays Early Childhood Education and Childcare Essay Early Childhood Education and Childcare Essay Drumhead Why Universal Childcare? is a great rubric for an article such as this 1. The inquiry enters the reader into a huge pool of possible replies to the inquiry. First off. what does cosmopolitan childcare average? For me. I believe that cosmopolitan child care means all around child care. non merely in a general sense. but all over the map child care. Most people don’t see a job with child care in Canada. but it seems as if there are some issues refering to the system of child care in Canada. In a state of close to five million kids of 0-12 old ages of age. Canada now has fewer than 900. 000 regulated child care infinites. The per centum of kids for whom a infinite is available increased merely to 17. 5 per centum about a 10 per centum addition over the past 15 years . ( Prentice. 2009. p. 1 ) . A frequent job most organizations/programs tally into is frequently funding the plans. Without support. the plans normally suffer and do non run into the maximal sum of attention and quality that it should be able to run into. Along with this. the childhood educators/childcare suppliers may be undertrained. The quality of the attention is often distressing: limited public funding forces plans to run as cheaply as possible. and demands for plans are low. The early childhood pedagogues who provide the attention are underpaid and frequently undertrained. Overall. Canada’s early childhood instruction and care state of affairs suffers from chronic disregard. ( Prentice. 2009. p. 1 ) . Another ground why this state of affairs may come across as flooring to most people. is because Canada is an highly affluent state. so you could anticipate Canada to hold a really strong child care plans. Childcare plans are ever altering. they have changed drastically in the last few old ages. most plans are now looking for ways to construe ways of acquisition and more societal support for kids. ECEC ( Early Childcare Education and Care ) is about an incorporate and consistent attack to policy. It is about supplying attention that includes all kids and all kids irrespective of employment or socio-economic position. ( Prentice. 2009. p. 4 ) . Integrating societal support and larning into these child care plans will spread out the cognition and adaptability of kids when come ining their ulterior childhood instructions. The history of child care helps explicate why today child care plans are ill put together. The beginnings of child care were in philanthropic gift and benevolence. From the mid- 19th century to the center of the 20th century. most of what we know today as child care plans were provided by educational. philanthropic. or spiritual organisations. frequently led by outstanding adult females. ( Prentice. 2009. p. 71 ) . Women were the 1s who usually ran the child care centres. but as we see today. adult females are come ining the paid work force. The authoritiess did non play a function back so. hence they did non play a portion in the duty. Today. we count on the authorities to assist fund and form these plans. which is still a underdeveloped undertaking. After World War II. the federal authorities stopped funding child care. This lead out into effusions which lead to: The Day of Nurseries Act. which became Canada’s foremost provincial statute law. This lead to the figure of childcare plans spread outing. We saw a prima alteration in child care happen in 2006. when the Harper Conservatives made childcare one of their five prima promises. In the 2006 election the Harper Conservatives made childcare one of their five taking promises . ( Prentice. 2009. p. 84. ) . Unfortunately. what was promised to parents neer happened. Childcare disappeared in importance. How were parents supposed to swear anyone with their childcare money’ ? Following the cancellation of the national child care program. childcare infinite enlargement showed the smallest addition in regulated kid attention in some old ages: an addition of merely 26. 661 infinites since 2006. ( Prentice. 2009. p. 86 ) . The writer is seeking to demo the reader the importance of history. and how the small things contribute to how child care as a whole has developed over the old ages. Besides. the importance of support plans for child care.

Synonyms for Petit, Small, and Short in French

Synonyms for Petit, Small, and Short in French If you want to learn to speak French more skillfully, start with vocabulary. In French classes, you tend to learn the most common, basic terms. The adjective petit is one example of a very common French word that can be replaced by any number of synonyms. Learn some different ways to say small and short, and note the different nuances. Click on each word to hear it pronounced. Small or Short in French Petit means small or short, depending on how its used and the words that are used with it. Jai besoin dun petit carton.I need a small box. Elle est assez petite.She is fairly short. Petit can also be modified by tout to emphasize the smallness: Il y a un tout petit problà ¨me.Theres a tiny problem. Synonyms for Petit Court means short or brief. Vous devriez à ©crire une introduction courte.You should write a short introduction. Il a la mà ©moire courte.He has a short memory. Étriquà © means narrow or tight. Cà ©tait une victoire à ©triquà ©e.It was a narrow victory. Ton pantalon a lair dà ªtre assez à ©triquà ©.Your pants look pretty tight. Faible means weak or small. Nous navons quune faible quantità © de rà ©serves.We have only a few supplies. Fin means fine or thin. Jaimerais une fine tranche de gà ¢teau.Id like a thin slice of cake. Infime means tiny or miniscule. Il a gagnà © dune majorità © infime.He won by a tiny majority. Là ©ger means light, slight, or minor. Cest une blessure là ©gà ¨re.Its a minor wound. Maigre means meager or slight. ï » ¿Son revenu maigre nest pas suffisant.His meager income is insufficient. Microscopique means microscopic. Les microbes sont microscopiques.Germs are microscopic. Mince means thin, meager, or slender. Nous avons une mince chance de succà ¨s.We have a slender chance of success. Minuscule means miniscule or tiny. Je dà ©teste ces minuscules fenà ªtres dans les salles de bains.I hate those minuscule windows in bathrooms. Modeste means small or modest. Cest un appartement modeste.Its a modest apartment. Nà ©gligeable means negligible or trivial. Jignore les dà ©tails nà ©gligeables.I dont know about the trivial details. Peu is an adverb that means little or not much. Elle parle peu.She speaks little (she doesnt talk very much). Rà ©duit means small. Un nombre rà ©duit de nos à ©tudiants.A small number of our students.

The Ultimate Guide to the AP US History Exam

The Ultimate Guide to the AP US History Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The AP US History exam involves reading, writing, and in-depth analysis. It's not just about memorizing names and dates; you'll be asked to interpret historical evidence quickly and accurately, recall outside information about the topic, and, on the essay questions, synthesize your ideas into a coherent argument. In this guide, I'll give you a rundown of the format and structure of the exam along with a brief content outline, sample questions, and some tips for a great score! How Is the AP US History Exam Structured? The AP US History testin 2016 will be administered on Friday, May 6th at 8 AM. It hasmultiple-choice, short answer, and free-response sections, and the total length is 3 hours and 15 minutes. The Multiple-Choice Section Is: 55 minutes long 55 questions 40 percent of your score Formatted in sets of two to five questions that are based on the provided pieces of historical evidence The Short-Answer Section Is: 50 minutes long Four questions 20 percent of your score Questions have multiple parts and will usually reference pieces of historical evidence The Free-Response Section Is: Comprised of two questions: Document-based question An essay based on a prompt that's accompanied by a series of relevant historical documents 55 minutes 25 percent of your score Long essay question Regular essay question where you get to choose between two different prompts 35 minutes for the long essay question 15 percent of your score On the free-response section, you will be told when 55 minutes are up and advised to move on to the second question, but you aren’t forced to do so. Time management is one of the major challenges of this test! Content Background for the AP US History Exam There are seven themes addressed inthe AP US History course, and all of them will show up in one form or another on the exam.Each represents a subset of learning objectives that students are expected to master.You can read more about the learning objectives in the course description;here I’ll just give a broad overview of the major themes: Theme 1: American and National Identity How and why definitions of American and national identity and values have developed. Related topics such as citizenship, constitutionalism, foreign policy, assimilation, and American exceptionalism. Theme 2: Politics and Power How different social and political groups have influenced society and government in the United States. How political beliefs and institutions have changed over time. Theme 3: Work, Exchange, and Technology Factors behind systems of economic exchange and development, including the role of technology, economic markets, and government. Theme 4: Culture and Society The roles that ideas, beliefs, social mores, and creative expression have played in shaping the United States. How various identities, cultures, and values have been preserved or changed at different stages in U.S. History. Theme 5: Migration and Settlement Why and how the various people who moved to and within the United States both adapted to and transformed their new environments. Theme 6: Geography and the Environment The role of geography and environments (natural and man-made) on social and political developments in the United States. Theme 7: America in the World Interactions between nations that affected North American history in the colonial period. The influence of the United States on world affairs. These themes are discussed across nine different historical periods, each of which corresponds to a certain percentage of questions on the AP exam: Sample AP US History Questions Now that you have a sense of the test content, I'll present you with sample questions to give you a better idea of what it actually looks like! Multiple-Choice Question For multiple choice, you’re given one or two pieces of historical evidence followed by a set of questions that ask you to do some analysis.The US History exam is less about knowing specific dates and names and more about being able to draw conclusions and connect themes based on materials provided by the test. First, let’s read the (disturbing) statement we’re considering for this question: Hammond refers to slaves as â€Å"fellow creatures whom God has entrusted to my charge† and goes on to say that it is â€Å"in the interest of all...to treat our slaves with proper kindness.†This is a statement typical of many southern slaveowners at the time.In his view, he has been entrusted by God to take care of his slaves because they are lower in the natural hierarchy.He talks about treating them with kindness to make it seem like slavery helps everyone. Southerners believed they were doing their slaves a favor by treating them well within the slave system because slaves weren’t capable of handling freedom. Now, we'll examine our choices: Choice (A) can be ruled out because there is nothing in the statement that indicates a reaction to the development of gradual emancipation laws. Hammond isdefending slavery in a broader moral sense. Choice (B) is incorrect because there is no relationship between the statement and development of stronger slave codes.Hammond talks about treating his slaves well and is clearly trying to ignore the increased unrest within the slave system. Choice (C) should be eliminated as well.Although Hammond is making a moral argument for slavery that could be considered a counter to activists’ moral arguments against it, there isn’t a direct enough connection between the quote and the trend described in this answer choice. Finally, let’s look at choice (D), which is the correct answer.This is the only choice that makes a DIRECT connection between the point of view expressed in the excerpt and the social/political trends of the time.Hammond’s statement is an individual piece of evidence that serves to demonstrate the larger movement of southerners touting slavery as a â€Å"positive good† benefitting both slaves and masters. Short-Answer Question Short answer questions are technically considered part of the multiple-choice section because they are so much less involved than the essay questions.Although they do have multiple parts, you don’t have to come up with a thesis (one sentence answers are ok). They're about succinctly connecting themes and reference materials to specific events or trends. Here’s an example: For part (A), you would need to provide a brief explanation of the aspects of the cartoon that express the artist’s point of view on a particular economic topic. For example:The artist expresses the view that industrial capitalism is an exploitative and unfair system in which underpaid laborers work hard to build the basis on which wealthy capitalists lounge around and enjoy lives of luxury. For part (B), you would need to describe a specific development between 1865 and 1910 that supports the artist’s viewpoint. For example:Newly rich businessmen such as Gould or Vanderbilt quickly rose to prominence and lived lavish lifestyles funded by huge corporate monopolies. For part (C), you would need to describe another specific development within the same time period that challenges the artist’s viewpoint. For example:A more industrialized economy brought benefits to many people in society through access to cheaper commodities, new technologies, and improvements in the standard of living. Document-Based Question These are the instructions you’ll see for the document-based question: The question itself is a short prompt that gives you a lens through which to view the sample documents.You’re given seven different documents to examine, and, to earn full credit, you have to use at least six of them as evidence for your thesis in your answer. Documents range from transcripts of folk songs to excerpts from letters and newspapers to demographic maps.I won’t list all the documents that were presented for this specific question, but here are a couple so you can get a sense of the variety you’ll see on the exam: There are several components of a solid response to this question: Thesis The thesis must clearly address patterns of continuity and change over time with regards to the social and economic experiences of African Americans who migrated North in the early 1900s.Don’t make it hard for the graders to find your thesis; the best place to put it is right at the end of your first paragraph. Here's an example:As many African Americans migrated North in the period from 1910 to 1930, they encountered both new and familiar challenges, including the hostility of white northerners, barriers to employment, and housing segregation. Evidence At least six out of seven documents (and preferably all seven!) should be used as evidence in your essay. Also, atleast one of the following should be examined in the essay for four or more of the documents: the author’s point of view, the author’s purpose, the intended audience, and the historical context. Analysis and Connections The essay must draw connections between documents or parts of documents to build an argument.You should also observe in your essay that documents reflect differences in point of view, audiences, formats, etc.Paying attention to the context is critical for an appropriate historical reading (for example, document 4 is written for a white audience by a white author, so that should inform the way its statements are viewed). Outside Knowledge Your essay should also include knowledge that extends beyond the documents themselves and strengthens your argument. Caution:DON’T start fact-vomiting all over this essay. Make sure what you’re saying is directly relevant to your argument.One historical trend you might mention specifically is the rise of legalized social segregation in the South (impact ofPlessy v. Ferguson).You could also note that the evidence in the documents provided does not reference the Harlem Renaissance, which was an important development in the experience of many African Americans in the urban North during the 1920s. Context Your essay shouldalsoconnect the issues raised by the documents to broader discussions of racism in U.S. history.You could talk about things like: The transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy Different motivations that have influenced migration within the U.S. Development of housing patterns in urban environments Long Essay Question For your long essay, you will be able to choose between two prompts.Here’s an example of a potential prompt: Your answer should include many of the same elements as your answer to the document-based question, but there are no documents to analyze and reference, so you have less time to write.This question also asks you to take a more solid argumentative stance for or against a certain claim. The first thing you should do is decide whether you support, partially support, or totally disagree with the argument presented in the question.Then, write a thesis that makes your point of view clear and briefly references examples you will use to support it in the body of your essay. If you chose to support the statement, your essay might include the following points: The New Deal was a conservative measure taken to preserve a capitalist economy in the US by lessening the negative effects of capitalism and mitigating weaknesses within the system. It represented a desire to change things as little as possible while maintaining the economic status quo. No programs in the New Deal led to fundamental redistribution of land and wealth, so most elements of the capitalist system were unchanged. If you instead decided to argue against the statement, your essay might include the following points: The New Deal was a dramatic departure from the role government had played in the US economy up to that point. Programs were revolutionary in that they provided relief to people who were struggling, curbed corporate abuses, and sought to protect the environment. Alternatively, you could say that the New Deal was revolutionary in a negative way; the government veered too far into socialism and worsened the effects of the depression for people like business owners. You could mention the more far-reaching benefits and drawbacks of the New Deal to provide additional evidence for your point (greater financial security for people in the long run as a result of New Deal programs). You could also modify the original statement by saying that the New Deal was a moderate measure that fell between conservatism and revolution (the partial agreement option).More extreme factions of conservative and progressive groups were either alarmed at the dramatic changes or dissatisfied with a policy that fell short of complete economic restructuring. Whatever your argument, you must include specific references to historical events or trends of the period for context (for example, you might mention conservative fiscal policies of presidents before Roosevelt and the causes of the Great Depression). One of FDR's quirks was that he always had to be painted completely green from head to toe before being seen in public. Using this strategy, he successfully prevented people from noticing his wheelchair for years. How Is the AP US History Exam Scored? On the multiple-choice section (55 raw points possible), you get a point added to your raw score for each question that you answer correctly. No points are taken off for incorrect answers!Each short-answer question is worth three points, so there are 12 raw points possible in the short-answer section. The document-based question is scored based on the following criteria (seven raw points possible): Thesis and argument: 2 points Document analysis: 2 points Using evidence beyond the documents: 2 points Synthesis: 1 point The long essay question is scored based on the following criteria (six raw points possible): Thesis: 1 point Argument development: using the targeted historical thinking skills: 2 points Argument development: using evidence: 2 points Synthesis: 1 point On essay questions, points are taken off for errors only if they detract from the quality of the argument being made (basically, don’t make up historical facts to support an argument).Grammatical errors are not a big deal as long as they don't inhibit the grader's ability to understand what your essay is saying. The total number of raw points you can earn on the test is 80: 55 on the multiple choice, 12 on the short answer, seven on the DBQ, and six on the long essay.Raw scores can be converted to scaled scores out of 150. Multiply your raw score (out of 55) on the multiple-choice section by 1.1 to get your scaled multiple choice score. Then, multiply your raw score (out of 12) on the short answer-section by 2.5 to get your scaled short answer score.Multiply your raw score (out of seven) on the document-based question by 5.4 to get your scaled DBQ score.Multiply your raw score (out of six) on the long essay question by 3.75 to get your scaled long essay question score. Then, add all of the scores together to get your final scaled score! Here’s a chart to show you approximately how the scaled scores translate to final AP scores: Scaled Score AP Score Percentage of Students in 2015 115 - 150 5 9.3% 90 - 114 4 17.8% 65 - 89 3 23.6% 44 - 64 2 25% 0 - 43 1 24.3% I made my best estimates based on other AP score conversion charts because there was no official scaled to AP score conversion chart online for the latest version of the exam.Your teacher or review book may have a more accurate score conversion system that you can use for official practice tests. Tips for the AP US History Exam AP US History is a grueling test that requires intense critical thinking and analytical skills.Here are some tips you should remember if you hope to do well: Tip #1: Accurate Facts Aren’t Always Correct Answers Many multiple-choice questions will list answers that are accurate representations of historical events or trends but don’t directly respond to the question being asked. Be wary of these answers on the test so that you don’t accidentally choose them over more relevant responses.In the multiple choice question I gave as an example, one incorrect choice was â€Å"The expanding use of moral arguments by Northern antislavery activists.†At the time referenced in the question, this was a real trend that occurred, but it doesn’t relate directly to the excerpt that was referenced. That means it’s still the wrong answer.Don’t let these types of choices confuse you; adhere to the particulars of the question and the evidence presented! Tip #2: Details Are Important: Read Excerpts Carefully! Most of this exam is based on historical reference materials.You won’t be able to answer questions correctly without reading carefully.Even if you know everything there is to know about US History, that knowledge will mostly just serve to contextualize the evidence presented on the test.The specific details found in the writings and images will ultimately reveal the best answer choice. Tip #3: Plan Before You Write It’s critical to write well-organized, focused essays on the AP US History test.A clear thesis is the first thing on the agenda.Then, you need to make sure the rest of your essay ties back into your thesis and provides relevant evidence throughout.If you jump into writing an essay without taking the time to organize your thoughts, you’re more likely to ramble or get off-topic from the main focus of the question. For the document-based question, you’re encouraged to spend 15 of the 55 minutes planning how to organize your thoughts and use the different documents as evidence.You have less time for the long essay question, but you should still spend five minutes or so writing a brief outline before you start your final draft. Tip #4: Use Outside Evidence Wisely It’s a smart idea to incorporate additional background knowledge into your responses on the test.It shows that you’ve mastered the material and can connect themes to what you learned in class and not just what was presented to you in the question.However, don’t include outside knowledge unless it bolsters your argument.If you’re just sticking it in there to prove how much you know, your essay will lack focus, and you may lose points.That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead; in the planning stage, you can think of examples that tie into your thesis and strategically place them throughout your essay in ways that contribute to your point. Be wise, like an owl. Not necessarily this one...it looks like it lost its grip on reality a long time ago. Conclusion The AP US History exam is one of the longer AP tests, and it has four different types of questions! You'll see multiple-choice, short answer, document-based, and long essay questions on this test. The main thread running through the entire exam is an emphasis on analyzing historical evidence and applying outside knowledge in context. In your studying, you will need to learn to connect the five themes of the course to events spanning 500 years of North American history. To recap, some study tips that I recommend include: Don't mistake accurate facts for correct answers Always read excerpts carefully Plan before writing your essays Use outside evidence strategically Make sure you practice all the different types of questions with official materials before you sit down to take the real test. If you get used to thinking about history in an analytical, evidence-based context, you should have no problem earning a high AP score! What's Next? Looking for more practice materials? Check out our article on the best online quizzes you can take to prepare for the AP US History test! Review books can be extremely helpful tools in preparing for AP tests. If you can't decide which one to get,take a look at this list of the best review books for the AP US History exam in 2016. Did you lose some of your notes? Head on over to this article for links to AP US History notes on every section of the course. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

8 keys Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

8 keys - Research Paper Example The arrow pointing upwards represents the market direction while the horizontal arrow is the product. The company needs to make development strategies by using the internet and targeting geographic markets and customer segments that are new. The company can enhance its service delivery by recruiting more skilled personnel and trying to work on reducing the process of their products slightly in order to ensure that it attracts more customers into their products. The management can also think about incentives that are attractive to loyal customers and make proper product promotion. The company can also decide to reduce or cut out some intermediaries in the chain of supply in order to ensure that the structure of their business is conducive and in line with the market place. However, they can also weigh and see if they can consider reintermediation to enhance the chain of supply of their products in some areas. I would suggest that the company decides on countermediation to have a position of enhancing their operation when it comes to e-business. The company has to come up with a mechanism of ensuring that knowledge sharing systems are installed in their appropriate positions and are functioning at all times. Internet connected computers, phones and bells must be installed at every desk and room where operation takes place. Employees must also work according to their qualifications and areas of expertise to ensure that there is free flow of relevant information and perfect instruction following. The management of the company plans for staff meetings three times in a week or any other time that need arises. It is significant to deduce a way of emphasizing the company’s strengths and ensuring that weaknesses are minimized in order to ensure that there is a future in the flow of the entire system. For instance, the company needs to maintain the quality of its products, keep on motivating its workers and staff for

Provide an insight into the relative strengths and weaknesses of Essay

Provide an insight into the relative strengths and weaknesses of internal and external recruitment - Essay Example sed to legally get hold of an adequate number of qualified individuals at the right place and time so that the people and the organization can select each other in their interests. This means that the recruitment process gives the organization a number of potentially qualified job candidates from which employers can make well judged selection to fill available jobs (Dessler, 2002). Recruitment might be carried out through internal or external sources. In instances when internal recruitment does not generate the number or quality of staff needed, the organization has to recruit from external sources (Community for human resource management, 2008). Internal recruitment is recruitment which takes place in the organization. It is the hunt for in-house personnel who have the skills and attitudes to accomplish the requirements needed and to facilitate the organization attain its goals.  Internal vacancies can be promoted within the business through staff notice boards, intranets (website whose viewing is limited to the organizations members), in-house magazines, newsletters and staff meetings. In case of internal recruitment, employees are transferred from one department to another based on their competence and knowledge. The can also be promoted from one department to another with additional benefits and greater responsibility according to his or her competence and skill. This can be done through job postings which is advertising a vacant position to employees and mentioning its requirements. Upgrading or demotions are another example of internal recruitment. Retired and retrenched employees may also be recruited once again if there is a scarcity of competent personnel or the work load increases. Recruitment of such individuals saves time and costs of the organization as they are previously conscious of the organizational set up and the regulations. The dependents and relatives of deceased employees and disabled employees are also employed by numerous organizations

Stakeholders and the regulatory authorities are considered to be Essay

Stakeholders and the regulatory authorities are considered to be significant mechanism for ensuring good corporate governence - Essay Example Corporate governance system of any region helps in protecting the organization before the occurrence of any huge disaster. Many mechanism can be found supporting the development and implementation of corporate governance system; however, regulatory and stakeholders are those significant mechanisms that act as backbone of the structure of CG system1. The reason behind such an important presence of corporate governance is its wide coverage of the areas that does not only include stakeholder interests and shareholder recognition but ethical behaviors of the organizations are also given much priority. Therefore, under the light of a statement â€Å"Stakeholders and the regulatory authorities are considered to be significant mechanism for ensuring good corporate governance†2 paper runs its aim to analyze situation. The global financial crises are also the main concern of the paper that is being diagnosed as a drastic consequence of corporate governance failure3. ... As adaptation of corporate governance is as important as initial business plan of a company; therefore, paper can also be found suggesting proper adaptation and implementation of corporate governance plans, as sit keeps the organizations to run within systematic and defined standards. The legal initiatives taken in the favor of corporate governance are also being investigated where role of some private sector organization is also studied. All the arguments are supported by the authentic evidences, where two major global economies of US and UK can be observed being dealt with special consideration. Role of stakeholder mechanism and role of regulatory mechanism in corporate governance are also analyzed along with locating the lacking elements in the system if any. After investigating through the issue, some of the recommendations are also presented that might be helpful for the betterment of CG structure in different regions4. 2. Corporate Governance Corporate governance is the broad p henomenon that represents a system, which serves in directing and controlling the companies. There are many mechanisms that have been serving in establishing good corporate governance. An appropriate implementation of corporate governance demands the market and regulatory mechanisms, along with the maintenance of the relationship between the management of the organization. By considering recent common scenario in business organizations, shareholders of an organization operate as a major external stakeholder groups. However, in these organizations internal stakeholders are their employees, board of directors and executives. The operations related to corporate governance include

Nature of Entrepreneurship course Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Nature of Entrepreneurship course - Coursework Example Everyone can become an entrepreneur as it is the easiest thing to do. Easy in the sense that, one doesn’t have to go to school or use a lot of many to become an entrepreneur. As Seth Godin says, one has to study for very many years to become a neurosurgeon (Seth, 2012). However, you doesn’t have to do such for you to become an entrepreneur. This qualifies the fact that entrepreneurs are born. It is also interesting to know that not everyone can become an entrepreneur, even though anyone is able to become one. The nature of entrepreneurship has some connections with other terms such as monopoly, market, entrepreneurial learning, opportunity and creativity. In this essay, we will discuss the nature of entrepreneurship course with relation to the above mentioned terms that are connected to it. Monopoly is a very important tool for entrepreneurs. For one to become a successful entrepreneur, as Seth Godin says, they must have the power of monopoly on various aspects. Monopoly sets in on the issue of space, product, customers and even idea. When an individual can command the market of a particular location, it means they have a monopoly of supply in that location. This is one of the things that keeps them in business and make them successful as entrepreneurs. Monopoly can also exist in the idea that an entrepreneur has. For instance, Apple is able to do what it does because it has a monopoly of idea of meeting the demands of its customers. It provides products that solve the customer’s problems, hence, making their products most likable in the market against their competitors (Nabi & Holden, 2008). Therefore, the idea of monopoly in entrepreneurship, refers to having control over the unique ways of doing business that makes you what you are in what you do. Entrepreneu rship is basically built by the creation of monopoly that becomes like a brand name in business. People can have great ideas that lead them to becoming great entrepreneurs. However,

Linear programing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Linear programing - Assignment Example The General Manager has also decided to produce 600 units for the current production period. Finally, an ongoing contract with the business distributors requires that at least 150 units have to be distributed through this distribution channel. The problem is to establish the distribution strategy for the radios that will maximize overall profitability of the new radio production. If a change in the marine distributors channel took place and the profit per unit fell to $80, the optimal solution changes and the total maximum profit is reduced. This can be attributed to the fact that $80 is an objective function and thus has an effect on the entire value of profit incurred. Producing two units for the mail order distribution channel results into an increase in the advertising, the sales effort also increases, the production units’ decreases and the business retail restriction increases. The non positive values will be eliminated and hence the scenario described above. If the marketing director changes the Business distributor’s restriction and increases it from 150 units to 300 units, this will increase the cost of advertisement and hence the cost of production but no major increases will result on the final sales. The resulting profits do not increase and in some scenarios losses may be incurred. g) There is a possibility about a new distribution channel. If it has the same personal sales effort and advertising cost of the Mail order, but a profit per unit of $110, would you recommend it? Would the optimal solution change? Why? It would not be recommended that a new distribution channel which has the same personal sales effort and advertising cost of the Mail order. The optimal solution would not change of the number of units’ personal sales per unit sold remains zero. The absence of any value on the personal sales per unit sold has an effect in the optimal solution

Research paper on drugstore retail management Essay

Research paper on drugstore retail management - Essay Example Rational for Investigating: As the drugstores increase in numbers across the country, its important to ensure that even those that are yet to come will have a scheme for success that will have been established earlier on. Teamwork in any organization is very important and it can see the company improve drastically as in the case of Walgreens, CVs and Albertsons. The increased number of drug stores is very much intriguing, which from previous research imply that the use of teamwork is very efficient in achieving greater sales. The Procedure: The research will be conducted via the library sources from which the mushrooming of drug stores and there strategic management will be explored by getting the answers to the following questions; - what determines the growth of drugstores; is teamwork a critical factor in growth of drugstores; how is the drugstore handling ethical issues. Some of the managers from successful drugstores will also be interviewed. In An interview, the then manager and founder of Walgreen, Charles R Walgreen Himself in 1925 claimed that then success of any organization was wholly dependent on the manager’s character. The same sentiments are again echoed almost 100 years down the line. Daniel L Jorndt 75 years after later reiterates that the success of the company was due to a very long history of work, positive interaction among workers, and work ethics. The success of any organization depends entirely on the management. From such words, it becomes clear that the success of this company is due to basically the efforts of the management and the workers combined. Working as a team towards common goal is very critical. The drugstore business in the US is lead by big stores that use teamwork as a stepping stone to success; Walgreen, Albertsons and CVS. Some people oppose that management is not fundamental claiming that Its very difficult to attribute the

Linear programing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Linear programing - Assignment Example The General Manager has also decided to produce 600 units for the current production period. Finally, an ongoing contract with the business distributors requires that at least 150 units have to be distributed through this distribution channel. The problem is to establish the distribution strategy for the radios that will maximize overall profitability of the new radio production. If a change in the marine distributors channel took place and the profit per unit fell to $80, the optimal solution changes and the total maximum profit is reduced. This can be attributed to the fact that $80 is an objective function and thus has an effect on the entire value of profit incurred. Producing two units for the mail order distribution channel results into an increase in the advertising, the sales effort also increases, the production units’ decreases and the business retail restriction increases. The non positive values will be eliminated and hence the scenario described above. If the marketing director changes the Business distributor’s restriction and increases it from 150 units to 300 units, this will increase the cost of advertisement and hence the cost of production but no major increases will result on the final sales. The resulting profits do not increase and in some scenarios losses may be incurred. g) There is a possibility about a new distribution channel. If it has the same personal sales effort and advertising cost of the Mail order, but a profit per unit of $110, would you recommend it? Would the optimal solution change? Why? It would not be recommended that a new distribution channel which has the same personal sales effort and advertising cost of the Mail order. The optimal solution would not change of the number of units’ personal sales per unit sold remains zero. The absence of any value on the personal sales per unit sold has an effect in the optimal solution

E-Business strategy Essay Example for Free

E-Business strategy Essay Grandmas Treats, a newly owned family business dedicated in selling bakery items and wishes to go online for achieving awareness and catering its services to a large group of consumers. The various reasons for which it would derive online benefits can be summarized as follows: †¢ Visibility is the largest accomplishment one aims in an online business. †¢ Its local brand can be promoted internationally to achieve a strategy for business continuity. †¢ Networking with several international brands and suppliers would create international links and would generate large scale opportunities for various upcoming suppliers and vendors. Consumers and customers would be able to access the store at their free will. †¢ Secure payment options would entail greater compliance on the part of the company to arrange online purchase options and security associated with it. †¢ Competitiveness with the online established brands would take them to reengineer their products better so that one is able to focus more on quality. †¢ The enhanced marketing for the website would make them sell to a large number of other businesses and consumers enabling their B2B and B2C models. The customers would be able to compare the products and services with others so that they are able to decide upon the choices provided. Technology: The technology required to get online and take care of the display of products and services would be focused on three aspects namely front end design, middle level architecture and database. The front end design would compose setting up the website and would require HTML and client side technology for getting the job done. The creation of the static pages would take HTML and JavaScript or VBScript must be used to validate the web site and its form entries and data storage requirements. The advanced technologies would make sure that data is represented well and connected for getting the usability right for the website. The usability features must be taken care so that one is able to acknowledge the look and feel, consistency of content, navigation patterns, anytime-anywhere traveling within the website and many more (Usability. gov, 2007). It also allows user to understand and reciprocate information, their current path and content for the website. The client side features enables the user to take the correct action and guide them all along. The middle level architecture takes into account the business logic that is driving the front end and all the operations that the user is supposed to perform to accomplish a certain amount of their job. The business processes are the payment modules, generating the online dynamic content, tracking one’s order, tracking the online cart or basket requirements, handling the database operations and making sure that they get everything they want. Several application severs like IBM Websphere, JBOSS can be used for the purpose. The database for the website is composed of several tables which record data and information from the users of the system which comprise of several individuals, institutions and several other businesses. The data is stored and fetched when required to view the information. Databases of RDBMS nature such as Oracle, DB2 and others can be used for widespread storage of data and information. Privacy and security measures: The privacy of the customer information and the transactions that are required to be made must be safe in all respects so as to prevent eavesdropping and tapping of the message. The use of TLS (Transport Layer Security) and SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocols can be used to facilitate transmission and transfer across a secured channel to prevent the misuse of customer’s personal and financial data for their wide applicability and to perform online purchases IETF (2007). It takes care of the privacy of the information and makes sure that all communication is completely safe and abides by the privacy laws of the organization. The use of security measures like firewalls and antivirus software’s can help a long way to facilitate preventing of websites from intruders and malicious content and programs. The firewalls would prevent the website from any malicious programs and take care of the safety of the website.

Management And Conservation Of Seaweed Culture Environmental Sciences Essay

Management And Conservation Of Seaweed Culture Environmental Sciences Essay Seaweeds have been used practically in Chinese Herbs since 2700 BC in Emperor of Shen Nung. Reports show that since 300BC, seaweeds have been a part of the Japanese diet and mainly eaten in the Oriental countries like Japan, China, Korea and recently, in USA and Europe. Korea shows highest seaweed consumption per capita in the world. The most valuable commercial use of seaweeds is as raw material for extraction of phycocolloids (agar, alginate and carrageenan), which are used in several industries. Seaweeds have been collected from natural stocks or wild populations. In fact, these resources were being depleted by over-harvesting and hence, the need for their cultivation. Today seaweed cultivation techniques are standardised, perfected and made economically favourable. Besides, industry prefers a greater stability through sustained supply of quantity and quality of raw materials. In order to prevent overexploitation of natural seaweed habitats and to meet the needs of industry in an uninterrupted manner, nearly all brown seaweeds, 63 per cent of red seaweeds and 68 per cent of green seaweeds are being cultivated. Top five cultivated seaweeds in the world are Laminaria, Porphyra, Undaria, Eucheuma and Gracilaria. These together account for 5.97 million metric tonnes of seaweed production. Top 10 countries producing seaweeds are China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Taiwan, Vietnam, Russia and Italy. The current phycocolloids (seaweed gels) industry stands at over US$ 6.2 billion. The world production of commercial seaweeds has grown by 119 per cent since 1984 and presently, 221 species of seaweeds are utilised commercially including 145 species for food and 110 species for phycocolloid production (Anonymous, 2003). Japan leads the world in the production of agar and consumption. The world most successful seaweed cultivation industries are in Asia. Large-scale seaweed mariculture is only carried out in Asia. Cultivating nori was started in the 1697 in Tokyo Bay and the species is mostly cultivated in Japan. There are many different ways to cultivate seaweed. Cultivating seaweed has been done for a long time and has been cultivated in different ways. Management and conservation of seaweed is needed as seaweed production mostly depending on wild stock. SEAWEED AND THEIR USES Macroscopic marine algae, popularly known as seaweeds, form one of the important living resources of the ocean. It is a source of raw material of alginate, agar and carrageenan, gelatinous substances collectively known as hydrocolloids or phycocolloids. It is widely used in both food and non-food industries. Hydrocolloids have attained commercial significance as food additives. The food industry exploits their gelling, water-retention, emulsifying and other physical properties. The applications of alginate find place in frozen foods, pastry fillings, syrups, bakery icings, dry mixes, meringues, frozen desserts, instant puddings, cooked puddings, chiffons, pie and pastry fillings, dessert gels, fabricated foods, salad dressings, meat and flavour sauces. Agar is used in foods such as confectionery, meat and poultry products, desserts and beverages and moulded foods. It is widely used in paper manufacturing, culture media, packaging material, photography, leather industry, plywood manufacturing, preservation of foodstuffs, cosmetics industry and pharmaceutical industry. Carrageenan is also employed in food industry. Its value in the manufacture of sausages, corned beef, meat balls, ham, preparations of poultry and fish, chocolates, dessert gels, ice creams, juice concentrates, marmalade, and sardine sauces. It is also used in the manufacturing of non-food items like beer, air fresheners, textiles, toothpastes, hair shampoos, sanitary napkins, tissues, culture media, and fungicides. Carrageenan is used in salad dressings and sauces, dietetic foods, and as a preservative in meat and fish products, dairy items and baked goods. Figure 1:Carrageenan seaweed It is an alternative to animal-based gelatin in food industries used as enhancer, emulsifier, gelling, thickening, binding and stabilizing agent and also in non- food application such as dentifrice, pharmacology and industrial products. For example, some seaweed polysaccharides are employed in the manufacture of toothpastes, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, milk, ice creams, meat, processed food, air fresheners and also animal feed, fertilizers for plants and source of various chemicals. In several oriental countries like Japan, China, Korea, etc., seaweeds are a staple part of the diet. In the recent past, seaweeds have also been gaining momentum as new experimental systems for biological research and integrated aquaculture systems. Seaweed products are used in our daily lives in one or the other way. PURPOSES OF SEAWEED MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION Management and conservation of seaweeds is needed as seaweed resources are depletion over-time. Seaweed production mostly depending on wild stock and natural stock. Seaweed pollution also a major concern to consider in determine successful of managing coastal environment of the country. Seaweed grows out of control and caused pollutant to birds and marine life and further, leads to death of human when they consume of dangerous marine product. SEAWEED AS USEFUL RESOURCES Figure 2: Application of seaweeds SEAWEED POLLUTION In the coast of Qingdao, East China, a huge blooms of seaweed covering some areas of sea. Local fishermen have been ordered to help clear the carpets of seaweed as it is believe would have to be treated as an obstruction to fishing vessels and other boats. It has resulted in increasing levels of pesticides and fertilizer entering the countrys waterways, providing a food source for the algae. Recent flooding caused by typhoons has also been causes (Anonymous, 2008). Fishing vessels attempt to clear the green algae Workers bag up the seaweeds Seaweed pollution in Qingdao Figure 3: Seaweed pollution 3.2.1 FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO SEAWEED POLLUTION Seaweed pollution is definition given when seaweeds grow excessively in coastal ocean which may contribute harmful condition on seawater. Seaweeds blooming as a result of industrial, fertilizer and other sources input which run-off into coastal environment. The build-up of seaweeds will increase the photosynthesis and respiration processes which then lead to decomposing of organic matter. The decaying of dead seaweeds will produce hydrogen sulphide, a rotten and toxic gas to marine life and human as well. Factors that may contribute to seaweed pollution in coastal ocean are stated as below: Nitrates as fertilizer sources washed down from local cattle, pig and poultry farms With increasing levels of pesticides and fertilizer entering the countrys waterways, it will providing a food source for the algae to bloom Dumping of industrial waste and heavy metals in run-off areas such as leads and copper Recent flooding caused by typhoons will increase the growth of algae in seawater column And also combined with sunny weather enabled seaweeds build-up 3.2.2 EFFECT OF UNCONTROLLED SEAWEED GROWTH Without proper management, seaweeds growth will cause many problems to environment especially marine lifes. Difficult for vessel and boat passage in ocean water Cut off access to food for local birds, fish and crustaceans Death of marine life with depleted oxygen in the water Further, hydrogen sulphide are produced by the decomposing seaweeds Rotten smell and toxic will leads to death of individual life 4.0 PROBLEMS TOWARDS CONSERVATION OF SEAWEED Unavailability of good quality seedlings Inconsistency of the quality due to adulteration with foreign materials to the seaweed Shortage of raw materials Pollution in conservation areas (industrial waste etc.) Lack of capital to venture into the industry False cultivation method Farmers are strongly urged to stop using raffia string for seaweed cultivation and replace them with nylon strings because using raffia string will affects the quality of carrageenan Diseases affecting seaweeds (ice-ice) Weather inconsistency (flooding, waves) Unavailability of good quality seedlings Lack of capital and RD programmes 5.0 SEAWEED CULTIVATION The cultivation of seaweed, principally for human consumption, is a traditional and still expanding industry in the east, especially in Japan, and increasing interest is being taken in the extension of these practices to other parts of the world for industrial as well as edible purposes. With supplies from certain naturally occurring resources failing to match rising demands and many of the worlds major untapped resources of seaweeds being remotely located, difficult of access or costly to harvest, cultivated raw materials almost certainly will become of increasing significance to processors of both edible and industrial products. Plastic bottles is a method that have been used in Sabah are used to keep seaweed called Euchema Kappaphychus Alverazii afloat. Figure 4: Plastic bottle methods Most seaweeds produce an enormous number of spores and they can be multiplied extensively if culture conditions are perfected. Such conditions depend upon attention to a number of factors. Care needs to be taken with the selection of protected habitats, free from pollution, and of suitable hydrographic environments; the algae need to be protected from predatory fish, sea urchins and other pests and parasites; transplanting of the germlings has to be undertaken with extreme care and harvesting carried out in such a way as to maintain peak productivity. In effect, a full knowledge of the plants biology and reproduction is a fundamental prerequisite to successful seaweed cultivation( Mathieson, 1973). Porphyra The most extensively cultured seaweed is Porphyra, the Japanese nori. Some 60 000 to 70 000 Japanese fisherman are now cultivating nori and producing the dried edible products which are very profitably marketed through a cooperative selling system. Porphyra culture in Japan dates back to the seventeenth century and the earliest cultural practices relied upon the positioning of tree (and later bamboo) twigs to capture the spores. Subsequently, nets became widely used as collecting agents instead of twigs and Conchooelis-phase of the Porphyra life-history. This is a minutely filamentous, shell-boring stage which grows throughout the summer and which can be collected on oyster shells. In the autumn, when the temperature and light levels drop, the conchospores are liberated from the shells and attach themselves to a suitable medium (i.e., the collecting net) to grow into leafy thalli. The nets can thus be artificially seeded in tanks and then transported to the growing areas where they are attached to bamboo poles; about two months after budding the plants grow to between 15 and 20 cm in length and are then harvested. Figure 5:Porphyra sp. These and improved techniques (including freeze-drying of the thalli buds for storage) have resulted in marked increases in yields, in total output of nori and in profitability. Bardach et al. (1972) reported that in some areas up to 750 kg of nori can be obtained per hectare during the six to eight months growing season; the average production value of nori has risen from approximately U.S.$ 870 per ton in 1970 and 1971 to over U.S.$ 1 400 per ton in 1973, suggesting the possibility of gross earnings exceeding U.S.$ 1 000 per hectare. According to Suto (1974) nori farmers earn a net income rate of 60 to 70 percent, making Porphyra cultivation the most profitable of all fisheries in Japan. Undaria The brown alga Undaria or wakame, is also extensively cultured in Japan. Two main systems are used rope cultivation and stone planting. In the former method, strings of synthetic fibre are immersed in seaweed tanks with fertile Undaria weeds in the spring; enormous numbers of spores are released which adhere to the fibre. The fibres are lashed to frames and stored in tanks until late autumn when the young plants, having reached about 1 mm in length, are transferred to rafts in the sea. The wakame grows quickly in the cold winter waters and is harvested when it has reached about 1 m in length. The amount of labour in wakame cultivation is much less than in nori farming; yields of about 10 kg of wet weed per 1 m of cultivating rope can be obtained in northern areas, about a half that yield in warmer districts (Suto, 1974). Where large quantities of Undaria are already growing wild, the planting of large stones or concrete blocks on the sea bottom has been found to help the attachment of the spores and the subsequent growth of the young plants. Figure 6:Undaria sp. Laminaria Increasing amounts of Laminaria, or kombu, are also being cultivated in Japan, using similar stone planting and rope-culture techniques (MacFarlane, 1968). Laminaria culture, however, differs from the other two by the use of dynamite to improve the substrata and control harmful weeds (Wildman, 1974). Propagation of Laminaria has also been long practised in China. Druehl (1972) notes a unique Chinese method of fertilizing Laminaria through the use of porous, elongated earthenware bottles filled with nutrients and seawater which are placed, with young vegetative Laminaria plants, inside a basket-like structure made of bamboo poles and the whole suspended about 1 m below the sea surface. Figure 7:Laminaria sp. Gelidium Some artificial propagation of Gelidium and other agarophytes is practised in Japan but it has not yet been possible to control the release of spores from these species as has been done with many other algae; moreover, the spores take two years to grow and reach harvestable size. Figure 8:Gelidium sp. Eucheuma A high valued species of Eucheuma have been introduced for cultivation or experimental purpose and where commercial quantities are currently being produced for the carrageenan industry such as Fiji, Philippines, USA (Hawaii, California, Florida), Kiribati (Christmas and Tarawa Islands), Tuvalu, Samoa, Malaysia, French Antilles, Tonga, Japan, Indonesia, Federal States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Guam, China, Maldives, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, India, Cuba, Vietnam, Brazil, Venezuela, Kenya and Madagascar. However, introduction of exotics should not be done indiscriminately as it carries the risk of pathogen invasion, parasites, epiphytes and undesirable changes in the ecosystem. Philippines is largely through the initiatives of one of the worlds largest phycocolloid manufacturers. The practical and economic feasibilities of culturing Eucheuma isiforme species in Florida have been illustrated by Dawes (1974) who considered two proposals, cultivation in natural sites (as in the Central Pacific) and in outdoor tanks. Dawes investigations indicated that tank culture would yield a much higher crop per unit area than mariculture in natural embayments. In the case of field culture, yields in the Florida Keys might average about 20 tons (4 tons dried, clean) Eucheuma per hectare but problems could arise from herbivores, storm damage and admixtures of other weeds; conversely, operating costs should be low. With controlled harvesting in culture tanks, Dawes postulated a potential yield of the equivalent of 243 tons dried, washed material per hectare; net profits, of course, must be considered in the light of tank construction, water movement costs, temperature control expenses, etc. Figure 9:Eucheuma sp. 5.1 SEAWEED CULTIVATION IN MALAYSIA Seaweed cultivation is one of Malaysias fastest growing sectors and is strongly supported by the government. In the 9th Malaysians Development Plan, Sabah was mandated by the government to produce 250,000 metric ton seaweeds yearly by 2010. Currently, the state managed to produce 40,000 to 50,000 metric ton yearly only. Singularly a Sabah product, main commercial species culture is Eucheuma cottonii. Environmental conditions around the Sabah coastline are generally favorable for culture of the species. Many of the operator there are Fillipino ancestry. Seaweed is sold as dried item. It take approximately 9 kg of seaweed to produce a kg of its dried form. Seaweed culture is low capital investment and has a fast turn over. Figure 10:Seaweed Cultivation Project (Semporna) In general according to report by DoF seaweed production still profitable from steady production volume recorded of recent (DoF, 2004a). Seaweed from Sabah is mainly for export market mainly to Denmark . Its dried form is sold directly to exporter without using any middlemen. Usually the later assists farmers by providing its aquaculture facilities hence an obligation to sell the product back. The price for a kg of dried form is about RM1.50. Of late however not many people wanted to get involved in the culture of seaweed because of better opportunities in other sectors. Beside price incentive, commercial production of it is quiet risky as the price is generally fluctuates and harvest largely depend on good sundrying condition. In addition future expend need to take into consideration of conflict with trees passing of fishing boats and promotion of tourism industry. The international market is short of supply due to only up to 30% being produced for the world market. So far, South Korea, Mexico, Philippines, China and Japan are countries producing quality seaweed being ranked 15-30 pts for world market while seaweed produced in Sabah is ranked 30-45 pts. Numerous annual production cycle. From planting till harvesting will take 45 to 60 days only. Thus volume will be substantial. Figure 11:Seaweed cultivation in Malaysia According to Barliotti and Silverthorne (1971), best period to harvest is Aug. to Nov. where agar content of the weed is at its highest, reproduction has already occurred and regeneration is at its maximum value 5.2 REQUIREMENT OF SEAWEED CULTIVATION Choosing a site Find suitable site for cultivating seaweed. A water temperature ranging form 25 Â °C to 30 Â °C is best for growing Eucheuma. Minimum water salinity required is about 28 ppt (parts per thousand) or more. Figure 12: Seaweed should not be planted in front of a river mouth or in fresh water, as fresh water will kill the seaweed. Bottom type A white sandy bottom with the presence of a limited amount of natural seaweed, is probably the best place to cultivate Eucheuma. Eucheuma will not grow very well if the bottom is covered with seagrass because of food competition. A sea bottom with hard coral formations and coral heads also a muddy sea bottom is not a good site to establish farm. BAD GOOD BAD Too many corals Nice clean sandy bottom Too many seaweeds Water movement Moderate water movement is mostly preferred to strong water current. If the water current is too strong, it can damage plants and even wash away planted lines by pulling down the stakes. It will also slow down work as it is difficult work in areas with strong swift current. A constant exchange of ocean water with the changing of the tides and sufficient water movement as the one created by waves is needed. This will bring the necessary nutrients to the plants for a healthy growth. The direction that the water current flows is important for seaweed healthy. Figure 14: Bad water flow: Seaweed farm set against water current. Strong water current can bend or even break the lines. Figure 15:Good water flow: water current flows into the farm Sunlight Clear seawater allows sunlight to penetrate more easily to the plants. Seaweed planted close to the sea surface grows faster and healthier compared to that planted close to the sea bottom or in deep water. GOOD BAD Seaweed planted in shallow water near the surface (30 to 50 centimeters) receives plenty of sunlight and its growth will be good. Seaweed planted in deep water (more than 1 meter from the sea surface) does not get enough sunlight and its growth will be poor. Water depth It is important to consider the water depth while selecting the area of cultivation. At least knee deep water at spring low tide (0.5 meter) is the minimum water depth required to cultivate Eucheuma. In shallower waters seaweed can still grow, but it might be exposed to direct sunlight and wind. As soon as your seaweed is exposed to sun and wind, the tender tips of the plants are destroyed and if exposed for a long time (2 to 3 hours), the whitening of the branches can be seen. This will indicate that part of the seaweed has been killed. Eventually branches will break and drift away from the whitened area. BAD GOOD BAD Too deep at spring low tide Sufficient water depth at spring low tide Too shallow at spring low tide Water pollution Turbid water (muddy) will not sustain good seaweed growth. Chemical pollution will kill the seaweed as in the case of most marine plants and animals. Cultivation methods There are at least 3 methods can use to cultivate seaweed such as Off-bottom (Fixed bottom method), Raft or Floating method and Longline method. Off-bottom Method Wooden stakes are driven into the sea bottom 20 to 25 centimeters apart form each other in straight rows. The stakes should be 5 to 10 centimeter in diameter and 1 or 1.5 meter long. At least 0.5 meter of the stake should be driven into the sand to make them secure. Figure 18:Seaweed line is typically suspended in the Off-bottom Method. A 3 millimeter thick polypropylene rope 5 meters long is firmly stretched between two stakes. Attached to the 3 millimeter rope (line) are 30 pieces of raffia (polypropylene strings). Each of lanting material (seed), the size of the palm of your hand (150 grams), is tied to the raffia strings. The 3 millimeter rope, is suspended at least 20 to 30 centimeters from the sea bottom to prevent the growing seaweed from being tossed on the sand and 20 to 30 centimeters below the water surface at low tide to avoid the seaweeds from being exposed to direct sun light. Direct sun light will kill the exposed parts. The raffia strings, should be 20 centimeter in length with both ends knotted to prevent fraying as shown in the previous photo. The raffia strings are firmly tied to a 3 millimeter rope in such a way that it will not move along the rope as the seaweed grows bigger, or during rough weather. Prepare the lines as quickly as possible and place them in sea water. Seed will grow better if the time of seaweed kept out of the water is limited. Tie the raffia strings to lines on shore before tie seaweed seeds to them. The off-bottom method can be prepare the lines either on shore, in the shallow water at low tide, or in punt near the farm. Raft or Floating Method In the floating method, seaweed is attached to some device that keeps the seaweed floating; rising and falling, with the tidal changes. Seaweed is keep about 50 centimeters below the water surface. The floating devise can be a simple frame made of bamboos, mangrove wood, or bush timber durable in seawater. Tie together four 2.5 meter long bamboos into a square frame and stretch 3 millimeter ropes (lines) inside the frame. In a 2.5 meter square frame, stretch up to 15 lines, 10 to 15 centimeter apart. Each line will carry 15 pieces of seaweed tied to the 3 millimeter rope with raffia. In a frame like the one described, it can plant up to 225 pieces of seaweed. In this method seaweed can be tied on shore by placing the raft on a support (oil drums or wooden posts). Figure 19: Square floating frame built with mangrove wood. The square floating frame, should be anchored to the sea bottom as shown in the figure. As the seaweed starts to grow and become heavier, the frame will sink. To avoid this, be sure to attach to the frame extra bamboos or floaters. Floaters can be simply made of styrofoam or bags filled with unhusked coconuts. Figure 20: A floating frame with additional bamboo to assure sufficient buoyancy. Longline Method The longline method is similar to the raft or floating method in several ways. In fact, seaweed is hung to a rope which is suspended by floaters. In this method, however, the main rope is thicker; about 10 to 15 millimeters in diameter. This rope is tied to plastic floaters or bamboo set at 4 to 5 meters interval and anchored at each end. The pieces of raffia holding the seaweed, can be tied to the main rope in two ways. Figure 21: Simplest way. The raffia string are directly tied to the main rope. Additional pieces of rope, 0.5 to 1 meter long, can be tied to the main line and the raffia strings can be tied to them. Seaweed has to be hung near the water surface to receive sufficient sunlight and can suspend the main line about 0.5 meter below the water surface. As described in the first two methods, the lines can be prepared on shore. Tie seaweed seeds to the main line once the line is already stretched and suspended with floaters and prepare the lines from punt as shown in the drawing below. Figure 23:Drawing of a longline being shot from a punt. What are the advantages and disadvantages among these three culture methods? Advantages Disadvantages Off-bottom Method 1. Simple to construct 1. Difficult to locate a good area 2. Easy to manage 2. You might lose your crop during rough weather 3. You can prepare your lines on shore 3. You cannot move your farm if needed 4. Do not require much money to start 4. You might find more grazer fish around your seaweed 5. You can use local wood to prepare the stakes 5. You need to construct a drying rack 6. The farm is easy to reach at low tide Raft or Floating Method 1. Can be utilized in shallow or deep waters 1. You might have difficulty finding bamboo 2. You do not need a sandy sea bottom bed 2. You need to find float materials 3. You can move your floating rafts if you need to 3. The frame might break or sink during rough weather 4. Most of the planting can be done on shore 4. The frame can be damaged by motor-driven boats 5. You do not need to construct a drying rack 5. You might need somebody to help you to handle the frame 6. You can use local wood to construct your frame 7. The seaweed seems to grow faster Longline Method 1. You can set your longline almost anywhere 1. The ropes are costly 2. The seaweed seems to grow faster 2. Planting and harvesting cannot be easily done on shore 3. You can move the longline to another area 3. You need to buy expensive floaters 4. The longline can be damaged by motor-driven boats Handling seaweeds Cover seaweed with tarpaulin or coconut leaves. Use styrofoam boxes to transport your seaweed. In this case, make a few holes on the upper edges of the box to facilitate aeration. Remember to keep the seaweed moist. Do not fill the box with seawater as this will make the seaweed rot rapidly unless the sea water is constantly circulated. Seaweed farmers pouring seawater over a jute bag and a styrofoam box filled with seaweed. Keep the seeds covered to protect them from direct sunlight. Pour some seawater over them at regular intervals. Preparing the lines from your punt, might take several hours and if not covered and kept moist, the seaweed seeds will be spoiled. Disease and predators During December to April, seaweed is more susceptible to diseases and is readily harmed by grazers. Also during this period, the growth of Eucheuma slows down and cyclones and bad weather may cause some damage to your farm. Drying in this period can also be difficult, as it is the wet season in Fiji. As frequently observed, rabbit and puffer fish are the main seaweed grazers. In addition to these, sea urchins and sea turtles are also often seen damaging the seaweed plants. After the warmer months, the rabbit fish grazing becomes a minor problem. In fact, rabbit fish move away from the seaweed. It is always a good idea to set your farm far away from coral heads, since these fishes normally live around the corals and move out to graze on seaweed. Do not leave rubbish (tins, unused stakes, bits of wood, etc.) as these make a very good home for rabbit fish. Whitened areas are more exposed to fungal infection. Especially during the warmer months, fungal infection can spread quite rapidly and the seaweed plants show large portions of discolored branches commonly seen as white and pink areas. Ice Ice is the common term used to describe seaweed plants in this condition. Weather Apart from occasional bad weather (rough sea and heavy rain), the effect of cyclones occurring during the summer months can be devastating. If a cyclone season is expected, harvest as much seaweed as you can and keep it on shore protected from wind and rain. Put aside sufficient seaweed to allow you to re-start farming after the cyclone has passed by. Remember to keep this seaweed in bags moist with seawater at all times. That seaweed will be your re-planting material. If seaweed is kept small during this period, and not allowed to become over-mature, little damage is expected. Decide to harvest after 4 or 5 weeks of growth instead of waiting for 6 or 8 weeks. Experience after going through several cyclones suggest that this strategy could limit your damage. Also, be sure that stakes are firmly erected otherwise the strong water currents and swells during cyclones might wash away your effort. After the cyclone has gone through, tangled lines should be entangled and secured again. Badly damaged seaweed should be completely removed and replaced with new seeds. 6.0 MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF SEAWEEDS In the case of already heavily exploited resources, future potential has also to be considered in the light of the growing need, in some important cases, for management and protection. Some commentators (including Stanford, the discoverer of algin acid, as lo