Characterisation Essay

Main character: The character that plays the biggest role in the plot of the story. Major character: Characters that play a big role in the story. Minor character: Characters that play a minor role in the story. Round characters: Round characters are like real people. They have complex, multi-dimensional personalities. They are capable of growing and changing. They are often, but not always, major characters. Flat characters: They have one-dimensional personalities. They represent or portray one particular characteristic. They are a type, e.g. the jealous lover, the fool or the grumpy, old man. They are often, but not always, minor characters. Dynamic characters: They change as a result of their experiences. Static characters: They do not learn from their experiences, and, thus, remain unchanged. How does the author convey character? 1. Telling: The narrator tells how the character is, feels, thinks, etc. 2. Showing: The character reveals his or her personality through what the character says and does. 3. Setting: The author might use the setting (time and place) to say something about the character, e.g. about the character’s emotions or feelings. 4. Comparison to other characters: It might be useful to analyse how the character relate to the other characters in the story, e.g. if there are characters that are in opposition to, or different from, the character in question. 5. Appearance: The character’s clothes, looks and general appearance can often tell us something about the character’s personality. Questions to ask when analysing characters: 1. Is the character a main, major or minor character? 2. Is it a round or a flat character? 3. Is it a dynamic or a static character? 4. Does the author reveal the character through showing or telling, or both? 5. What does the way the character speaks reveal about his character? 6. What does his behaviour reveal about his character?  7. Is she similar or different from other characters in the story? How does she relate to the other characters? 8. Has the setting shaped the character’s personality? 9. Does the setting reflect the character’s mood or emotional state?

Qantas Airlines Market Segmentation

The purpose of the task is to develop an understanding of market segmentation and explain how it can assist organizations in the allocation of their resources more effectively and efficiently. The marketing segmentation process is a strategy adopted by organizations with an aim of preparing the organizations sales and marketing for the target clients (Steenkamp & Ter Hofstede, 2002). The target clients are the clients who are known to traditionally consume the products or services of the particular organization. The discussion below focuses on Qantas Airlines and discuses the advantages the organization has gained from the strategy as well as associated benefits. Further the discussion aims at analyzing how the organization has been able to maximize profits as a result of the market segmentation strategy. Lastly the discussion shall in a general perspective focus on the applicability and suitability of the strategy as well as the challenges involved. Definition of consumer needs at Qantas Airlines. The airline has in an effort of market segmentation, categorized the needs for its customers into 3 distinct levels based on the perceived needs of the particular customers in the respective departments. To this end the airline has come up with the following categories or levels. Business. Qantas Airlines has come up with a strategy of dealing with hotels which meet the standards of their customers. As a policy the airline only boos its passengers to certain hotels only where the company enjoys some interests and discounts as a laid out in a memorandum of understanding. Secondly the Airline has reorganized its operations in line with the policies and procedures which the top board meets and reviews yearly. An example was the recent improved communication system which was aimed at improving communication with flight crew any were in the world. As a sales strategy it can be said to have resulted into improved profits due to high customer turn out as well as the elimination of slug- in time which would result from poor communication earlier (McKenna, 1988p. 275-80). Qantas Airlines has also utilized its marketing strategy to mange its inventories which are in different locations al over the world, by the use of IT the farm has been able to overcome challenges related to the task of inventory and has come out successfully to minimize loss and wastage of company assets. Consumer needs. The company has taken into consideration in the process of its product design the fact that there exists a class of consumers for its services who won’t just use a flight for the sake of it. They have to be treated and made to feel special and comfortable. To this end the company had come up with first class a prestigious class who are basically consumers whose major concern is not the much they are charged for the flight but the comfort that comes with it. This satisfies the company’s clients emotionally and therefore leaves a permanent or at least long last memory on the customers mind that is hard to erode and it makes the company to have what is termed as regular customers who no matter what, they value and like the services of Qantas Airlines. Functional needs. Functionally the market segment is likely to utilize the services and even propose the same to new customers who would trust the word of mouth from accomplice than the usually costly and expensive advertisements. This is an effective marketing strategy (Steenkamp & Hofstede, 2002p. 101-120). Considering that different people require different purpose s to meet their demands and needs, Qantas Airlines has invested in flat beds for the flights especially long distance ones by investing in new fleet of Boeings which are ideal for long distances since passengers are likely to get sleep during the flight. Segmentation needs for Qantas Airlines Since Qantas Airlines has already been in the market for over a decade and therefore can be termed as market leaders in the flight industry, they have concentrated in a process of reducing expenses, the company carried out a retrenchment of its employees aimed at reducing the number of employees deemed not very core to the organizations needs and therefore not key staff. The other key cause of market segmentation for the airliner is the need for a consistent and more cash flow (Day, 1980p. 345). Before it undertook the market segmentation exercise, Qantas was facing liquidity problems and for several years that, registered minimal profits. The need for a more efficient service delivery caused the company to seriously consider segmenting the market hence the reason for aiming at market segmentation. The airliner has segmented the market further into: The different seasons as determined by different times. Accessibility of the different customers has also influenced how the market is segmented to favor customers who are easily reachable and those who are hard to reach such as those who live in areas where the airliner does not have offices and at the same time can not book for services online. As a marketing strategy, Qantas Airways has scheduled direct flights to vacation and holidays all over in the world. Market segmentation, for Qantas Airlines has involved dividing the market into the following segments: Key strategies in the marketing campaign includes categorizing such into how similar they are, similar in needs, expectations and are likely to respond similarly to the market segmentations in place (McKenna, 1988p. 57-89). For instance, when Qantas hiked fares for the prestige class and minimized fares for the business class, it was easy for the market to react; this led to improved sales and more bookings. The company has come up with niche markets, such as Africa, Asia and Far East. This led to Qantas Airways to categorize the market into business and private, segments which then fitted the needs of specific customers such as those who take business trips. Advantages. By providing for the segmentation the company customers, the company has achieved efficiency. Efficiency has been achieved in the way the company tapped opportunities in the leisure and summer holiday takers. This led to the introduction of special fare rights as well as introduction of chartered flights aimed at taking the customers to their destinations. The markets were to be exploited exhaustively and the only way of doing it was through the segmentation of the market. By deducing customers needs’ the company was also aiming at maximizing its profits. This significantly improved the markets and led to the improvement of flight bookings. On the other hand the company improved the introduction of cargo flight aimed at tacking the growing demand for air lifting of cargo. To the advantage of the company the segmentation led to the company achieving a marketing edge and becoming one of the most competitive airlines’ both in terms of activity and customer preference. Therefore the company was able to effectively look into the market and attain maximum profits. Another key thing is that, the company was able to maximize on the needs of the company while at the same time satisfying the needs of the customer. The key advantages of the organizations segmentation process. †¢ All target markets by Qantas are accessible. †¢ All the segments by the organization have been curved out to ensure that they are large enough to offer big enough customer subscription. †¢ The reduction of flights to and from the New York route was aimed at concentrating the flight to other markets with loyal clientele. †¢ The reduction of lights which was also seen as rationalization plan affected the Manila, Rome, Bangkok, Taipei, Johannesburg, India, was an direct result of the market segmentation and it has proved worthy while. Qantas market Segmentation was largely necessitated by the collapse of Ansett a major competitor in the Australian domestic flight market. In terms of inventory the segmentation has led to the disposal of 2 B747SP aircraft in 2002 which for the company translated to minimization of cost of repairs. The introduction of an all economy-class aircraft targeted the segment of domestic market as well as off season flights which happen when not so many people are traveling. A segment consisting of flights from Sydney to Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane and back was introduced since that was deemed ideal for business travel. City Flyer was also introduced to serve the domestic market which is flourishing and its operational costs very low. Market segmentation is a winning strategy as is evident with Qantas, there is a need for other business to borrow from the Qantas example and therefore cash in the strategy which although it involves drastic measures is nevertheless key to organizational marketing and sales strategic plans.

A Character Analysis of Elizabeth Bennet

Elderabeth Bennett's personal character analysis through Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice refers to the rare personality of Elizabeth Bennett; many people have mentioned that while she was considered an atypical woman . Witness, courage, self-reliance, and feminist's views all explain the most special pattern of women. Pride and prejudice is a humorous novel about the trial of marriage in the early 18th century. It focuses on the behavior of two couples - Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. At Jane Austen 's Pride and Prejudice there are many important people and readers in touch with Mr. Elizabeth, Mr. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Charlie Greeley, but there are also some small people in this story. It is very important. Through pride and prejudice, Jane Austin plays an important role in these hero's life in these small characters, and uses it to act as a symbol of a certain theme. - In 1969, Elizabeth Cubreros began a discussion dialogue on death and death. Jane Austen depi cts Elizabeth Bennett as a wise, independent, strong character, soft and feminine. Cruel and dominant personality is left to someone like Mrs. Catherine. In Jane Austen's novel pride and prejudice, Mrs. Catherine and Elizabeth Bennett are the opposite. Elizabeth is a real and splendid character that strengthens all her strength and independence and creates ideal stability between her emotions and reality. Her passion and overwhelming ability to stick to her abilities is to introduce her ability to supervise weak, innocent and dominant people. Elizabeth proved her bold ability at the meeting with Mrs. Catherine, which led to a struggle between respect and independence. Essay.com/Pride and Prejudice - Explains the difference between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth Bennet Elizabeth's personality in Pride and Prejudice In her novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen depicted Elizabeth Bennett as fascinating in a powerful, intelligent but completely feminine manner There. Elizabeth has these attributes: character and moral integrity, power of wonderful wisdom and charming personality, making her a fine person. But Elizabeth has faults, which makes her more human. - Elizabeth's character in arrogance and prejudice Among her novels pride and prejudice Jane Austen embodies the harmonious balance of women's reason and emotion using Elizabeth Bennett's role and makes her real I have to. A praised and charming character. The strength of Elizabeth's personality is in stark contrast to Jane's weakness, innocence tolerance, instability of Mrs Bennett's instability and excessive emphasis, and believers of Kitty's blind weakness.

English essay one page Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

English one page - Essay Example I avoided using emotion since I perceived it as unprofessional and unacademic. Learning how to arouse the audience’s emotion is among the most valuable attainments in this course. Secondly, the course has transformed my idea of the working process. Once the audience and tone have been chosen, comes the time for planning the assignment; now I always spend a few hours on thinking through the essay and building a working thesis. When the general idea of the paper is clear, I produce an outline. Afterward, it is time for a profound research. In the class, I markedly honed my research skills, having utilized numerous articles, books, newspapers, and magazines. Only after having planned and examined the topic thoroughly I begin to write.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another aspect of my writing that has been significantly improved is working with sources and referencing them. After having completed so many assignments, finding and summarizing the sources has become much easier. As a result, I back up my opinions and views more efficiently. Moreover, I learned to cite and quote properly; what seemed to be an obstacle in the beginning is now being performed automatically. To conclude, English class has given me an explicit comprehension of language, research, and analysis and taught me the fundamentals of persuasion. Because I have gained so much knowledge, it is difficult to define the obvious drawbacks of the course. Despite some troubles with the argumentative essays, English 101 has been an ultimately enjoyable

MBA - Marketing Strategy report on General Motors Research Proposal

MBA - Marketing Strategy report on General Motors - Research Proposal Example With every organization wanting to expand their reach and make an imprint in various markets, there will be enough opportunities for it, to initiate that expansion drive. So, when the organization has enough opportunities, it can set targets and formulate various strategies to achieve those targets and thereby beat off the competitors. Every organization’s survival and success in the light of stiff competition hinges on the success of its main or flagship product. It is the ‘key’ that opens the door of success or profit. So, for an organization to survive in a competitive market, and to increase its profits in an optimum manner, its products have to be marketed optimally. Toeing that line, this report will determine the current marketing strategy of General Motors. Then, the report will evaluate the strategies in view of its existing business environment, recommended improvements that would enable them to compete more effectively. General Motors Corporation (GM), a multinational corporation, was founded in 1908 as a holding company for a firm called Buick, then controlled by William C. Durant. Now, it functions as a conglomerate manufacturing and selling, cars and trucks under the brands of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. Each of these brands has a number of cars and trucks under its division or arm. Even though, they are manufactured in one unit, vehicles coming under each brand are most times marketed differentially and some times in unison. Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan (USA), GM manufactures automobiles in 35 countries, capturing a sizeable portion of the world market share. GM was thus acknowledged as the worlds largest automaker, based on global industry sales. GM was able to hold on to this top position for the last 77 calendar years. But, its reign as the top automaker was threatened in the last few years. Apart from the intens e competition put

Survivor-Like Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Survivor-Like Program - Essay Example The families will have to support their own subsistence during free time. During activities, subsequent rewards and punishments per activity will be programmed. As the game progresses, challenges will be more physically demanding, mentally difficult, and psychologically stressful. This means, the basic necessities they will have to fend for themselves, to get rewards, they will have to strategize with their members, and they will have to harbor strength from the team for the psychological challenges – all as a family. The twist in the program lies farther during the game where families will be eliminated until only three will remain. As these families struggle to compete for the top spot, members will also be eliminated thus weakening the team set-up. Temptations of luxury will be introduced while rewards will be greater and challenges will vary from easy but tricky to hard but fun. The program is classified as suitable for general viewing. It is geared to be entertaining as well as educational. The content will go through major screening and evaluation for values it will instigate and amusement it will provide. The existing trend of television viewers highly rates reality shows as the most entertaining and educational. The various realism provides the public a kind of connection for the different situations that are universal among humans – pain, shame, competition, happiness, etc. Because these are the facets of social beings that appeal greatly towards the general public viewer, my reality show, called Survivor Family, can be quantified to hit big among various audiences and become successful. The Survivor Family series will be hosted by top personalities who have established themselves as a well-balanced persona. By appealing to the audience with the grand and remote setting, it will highly attract their attention as they are interested and almost always on the lookout for what is new, what is strange, what is â€Å"exotic†, what is on the other part of the world, what is left to be explored, etc.

International Business Law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

International Business Law - Coursework Example ..he stands in any legal or equitable relation to the adventure or to any insurable property at risk therein, in consequence of which he may benefit by the safety or due arrival of insurable property, or may be prejudiced by its loss, or by damage thereto, or by the detention thereof, or may incur liability in respect thereof.6 Pursuant to Section 6(1) of the Marine Insurance Act, interest will attach when the insured has an interest in the â€Å"subject-matter insured at the time of the loss†.7 The interest need now exist at the time the insurance contract is formed.8 Therefore as long as the insured has an interest in the subject-matter at the time of the marine adventure, the insured is entitled to claim damages. It therefore follows that Linda has an insurable interest since the insurance contract was specifically underwritten to protect her against damages to her cargo. Since Linda’s insurance policy applies the Institute Cargo Clause A, â€Å"all risks of loss or damage to the subject-matter† is insured.9 All risks is a potentially broad phrase and can include any loss that the insured can prove was a result of an accident of an event without having to proves the particular of the accident of event resulting in the loss.10 It is sufficient for the insured to demonstrate on a balance of probabilities that the damages were a result of perils at sea that are not ordinarily experienced.11 This is important because all Cargo Clauses contain an exclusionary clause which prohibits recovery of damages in circumstances where damages are caused by ordinary perils at sea.12 Another feature of the Cargo Clause A as well as Cargo Clauses B and C is the transit clause. The transit clause covers all damages surrounding the voyage at sea which includes transfer from the warehouse, loading and all interim transport of the goods until they reach their final destination.13 Thus far, it would appear that Linda has full coverage since she adopted the Carg o Institute Clause A. However, there is one problem that might undermine, Linda’s ability to enforce the insurance contract. Clause A, like Clauses B and C contains a War Exclusion Clause and unless removed, Linda is bound by the War Exclusion Clause.14 When war clauses provide coverage in a marine insurance contract damages can be recovered for: War, civil war, insurrections, revolutions, rebellions, civil strife related to any of these situations, hostile episodes relative to a hostile authority. Capture, arrest, restraint, seizure, detention (relative to risks associated with war or categories of war) or attempts to commit any of these acts. Torpedoes, mines, bombs or other military weapons.15 Based on the facts for discussion it is uncertain whether or not Linda’s marine insurance policy specifically covers war and the incidents typically included when an exclusionary War Clause is deleted from the Institute Car

Financial Accounting assignment Speech or Presentation

Financial Accounting assignment - Speech or Presentation Example payment of dividend to the preference shareholders is under the discretion of the board of directors of a company, whereas the interest payment for debentures is not under their control. Interests on debentures are tax deductible whereas dividend payments are not. In the case of a company going insolvent, debentures get preference over the preference shares (Harvard, 2009). A stock exchange placing will enable the company to raise the additional funds very rapidly. However the company has to also satisfy the demands of the common shareholders and a number of changes have to be brought in terms of the management and policies. There is also a possibility of another company placing a bid to acquire the company through the stock exchange. A stock exchange placing can also act an effective marketing for the company, as the more people will become aware of the business (Hobson, 2007). A rights issue is offered to all exiting shareholders, as opposed to stock exchange placing where the stocks are open to common public. The shares are issued based on a ratio, for instance, every share qualifies to buy another four shares, for a specified period of time. The shareholders can either accept or reject the offering. There is a possibility that the required capital may not be raised, as the shareholders may not accept the offering. However, the company does not run the risk of adding more shareholders and also taking the risk of mergers and acquisitions (Hobson, 2007 and Keef, 1992). The additional capital required can also be raised by not paying the dividends to the shareholders for the financial year. The main advantage of this method is that there are no additional costs involved in raising capital. However, it is to be noted that the shareholders may not be happy with this decision and it might have a negative effect on the potential investors (Frankfurter, Wood and Wansley, 2003). The net present value is computed by discounting the future savings to present values at

Necessity be the mother of invention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Necessity be the mother of invention - Essay Example Also any decline in the gross domestic production for more than two successive quarters is referred to as recession. When recession falls on a society, it is applicable on the producers, consumers, business organizations, industrialists, in short the whole society. In times of recession, the society affected, should aim on producing innovating and sustainable methods to provide means of reduction in the recession instead of reducing number of businesses, firing employees, reduction in usage of technologies developed from before. Innovation can play its role in the society by pushing recession backwards, and if that is not possible than it can at least stop recession from growing and bringing the economy further down. This can be achieved by long-term strategies and public investments in different fields especially growth sectors to provide better technologies so that recession does not overtake the society and the economic demands of the people of that society. Recession leading to i nnovation and prosperity As recession progresses, a decrease in the trading and industrial activities is witnessed. This is a negative respond by the business organizations and industrialists. ... When these business organizations decrease their work out put, they have less work load which is why they fire their employees; increasing the rate of unemployment and making the society feel that real recession has approached. This is a negative response to recession by the business organizations which leads the economy towards a downfall. A more positive approach would be to increase work load by increasing work out put with the help of more employees. This way the employees will not feel the burden of recession and they will work with devotion for their company or firm. These are some of the main reasons of progression of recession. One major cause is inflation. It is referred to as a rise in the price of goods and services. When recession occurs, the customers spend less and save more money on goods especially with their inflated prices. Therefore, fewer amounts of goods can be purchased, reducing sales. Inflation can be caused by different factors such as increase in the product ion costs, increased energy costs and national debt. When a company faces severe consequences of recession, it tends to decrease the quality by cutting production costs hence cost of the product is lowered. The change of quality of products neglects the requirements and needs of the customer. Instead of compromising on quality of product, the organizations along with their researchers should work on reprocessing the methods of making the products and by taking the risk of introducing new products. Innovating new products will earn the organization confidence of the customer, and when the period of recession ends, the customers will continue to look up to that organization that took care of their needs in times of crisis. This way the company which allows innovations will run

Leisure Dimensions Essay Example for Free

Leisure Dimensions Essay Thesis Statement: The relationship between leisure and the impacts is has on mental health, exhibits strong correlations. This subject of interest has been studied for many years and there is significant evidence to support the idea that leisure, whether it be through the use of work, play, self-care or rest (Crist, Davis Coffin, 2000) does impact positively, on ones mental health. The continued importance of leisure, as an important domain of life has been widely researched and investigated to assist in providing many concluding statements as to how individuals of today can benefit from such activities. I have focused primarily on the effects which leisure has on ones mental health, and how through the use of such leisure activities, they can restore their mental capacity and function, and partake in the same activities they used to with the same belief and confidence in themselves. The under-lying, and most essential belief in the development of occupational therapy, is maintaining the balance of work, play/leisure, self-care and rest, as these are the foundations for a healthy lifestyle Crist et al (2000). In 1977, Kielhofner termed the healthy balance of activities as â€Å"temporal adaptation†. He hypothesized that the temporal adaptation is achieved through the interrelationship among the (i) amount of time engaged in particular types of activities, (ii) participants view of the importance of the activities (iii) participants perception of competence in performing the activities and (iv) how much satisfaction they derive from their chosen activities. When studying cases of what is considered to be a healthy adaptation, the activities are assumed to provide a sense of productivity and accomplishment, which are essentially derived from the individual’s perception, Crist et al (2000). Kielhofner’s Model of Human Occupation examines how the motivation, performance and organization of occupational behaviour are exhibited in daily life. This model contains a habituation subsystem, which is made up of two components; roles and habits, which serve to maintain occupational behaviour, Crist et al (2000). According to Kielhofner (1997) habits act to organize occupational behaviour by a) regulating how time is typically used, b) influencing how one performs routines, and c) generating styles of behaviour. He goes on to explain that roles not only influence the manner and content of the interactions but also require routine tasks and dividing daily and weekly cycles into times, Crist et al (2000). The interweaving of the habits and roles in daily life consequently form routine behaviour. Opposing this, occupational dysfunction occurs when an individual has a limited capacity to choose or perform occupations. Kleiber, Larson Csikszentmihalyi (1986) observed during a study of US adults how they spend their time. It was concluded that on average, 30% of the day was spent sleeping, 10% in self-care, and 10% in instrumental activities. From those who were gainfully employed, work took up 25% of their day. The remaining 30% remains as discretionary time. While this study provides insight into occupational patterns, the perceived meaning and significance of engaging these patterns is not evident, Crist et al (2000). Crist et al (2000) stated that the work role is an occupational factor that strongly influences the balance and organization of occupational behaviour. Christiansen Baum (1997) defined work as a skill or performance in participating in socially purposeful, and productive activities, whether or not the individual receives economic compensation. These activities can take place at home, in an employment setting, school or a community. According to Kielhofner (1977), work roles, both gainful and non-gainful, create a need for the organisation of daily activities. Work activities offer the opportunity to gain a sense of satisfaction, competence and involvement and in our society; the most visible and highly valued work roles are those, which are categorized as gainful employment, Crist et al (2000). Mental health status is another factor that can influence temporal adaptation (Larson, 1990). Those individuals, who are considered to be within a healthy range regarding their mental health, are able to successfully meet the demands of their lifestyle and perform these activities. An individual, who presents a mental illness, may still be able to perform their work role, however they may display difficulty in performing a variety of tasks, which will in turn effect their competence and consequently effect the enjoyment they would usually get out of the assigned tasks, Crist et al (2000). Employment and mental health status may be related to each other when analyzing their effects on temporal adaptation; however, the types of employment and severity of the mental health problems will ultimately determine the scope of the results. Leisure benefits health by buffering people against personal stress produced by life circumstances. There are two important mediators, which determine the influence of leisure on the stress-health relationship, leisure based social support and leisure generated self-determination (Coleman and Iso-Ahola, 1993) There has been extensive evidence to suggest that stressful life circumstances induce physical and mental illness; however, this impact has been shown to be moderated by various processes including leisure participation. According to Caldwell Smith (1988), leisure is believed to have beneficial consequences for psychological well-being and health. They have also suggested that leisure activities influence health by promoting positive moods. Therefore, it can be said that leisure may help overcome loneliness and result in influencing individuals well being, (Coleman et al, 1993). Differing life events, and more so those of negative connotations such as losing a job, have been shown to lead to a higher incidence of illness such as depression (Thoits, 1983). In saying this, the social and psychological factors impacting on health is being increasingly investigated in terms of the concept of â€Å"life stress†. According to Sarason Sarason (1981), life stress can be considered a psychological state involving the cognitive appraisal of life events and of one’s inability to deal with them. An example of this is that if there was a death of an immediate family member and this could consequently cause varying levels of stress. It must however be remembered that it is due to the individuals perception of life events which have been the most vital piece of information when predicting the illness outcomes, (Coleman et al, 1993). When life problems such as the one addressed above occur, it is the natural instinct to seek support to alleviate the stress. This can occur through the use of avoidance, obtaining support and problem solving, (Coleman et al, 1993). These coping strategies are believed to moderate the impact of life problems on health in two main ways. Coleman et al, (1993) state that initially, the individual’s beliefs and dispositions may lead to an appraisal of life problems as non-threatening. And secondly, by enhancing the individuals efforts can contribute to alleviating stress that flows from these life problems before it affects health. Those who are suffering from life problems would seek help through these coping mechanisms; however, those who lives are relatively â€Å"stress free† would not benefit. In diagnostic terms this coping is referred to as an â€Å"interaction† between the life stress and the coping factor, (Coleman et al, 1993). This process can be associated with an overall effect, which is represented by â€Å"main effect† and shows that social factors do in fact influence health, regardless of the level of stress. According to Coleman et al, (1993) these coping mechanisms are therefore said to provide a buffer against severe life crises, rather than having an overall influence on health. This finding provides the conclusion that leisure impacts health by providing buffering mechanisms that come into play when life presents significant problems, (Caldwell et al, 1988). Conversely to this, the impact of leisure when life stress is low is less beneficial in the short term. However, in the long run, leisure is hypothesized to contribute to health by building health-promoting dispositions such as self-determination (Coleman et al, 1993). When analyzing the relationships between leisure participation and health, Caltabino’s study shows fascinating findings. Caltabino focused on the interactions between life stress and the participation in social, cultural and sporting activities and he concluded that they were all associated with illness symptomatology (Caldwell, 1988). From the many studies conducted surrounding the participation levels and the direct effect they have on health, it can be concluded that people participate in leisure activities to gain a sense of camaraderie which in turn leads to an ideology that they will gain social support if more severe cases of life crises should present themselves (Coleman, 1993). Furthermore, Coleman et al, (1993) states that this leisure may buffer the life stress because continual engagement in some types of leisure experiences may foster personal dispositions incorporating self-determination, including a sense of control and mastery. Caldwell (2005) addresses and interesting theory that leisure is therapeutic and contributes significantly to ones health. There is existing literature on this notion, which can further be organised into three classes of research: prevention of, coping with, and transcending negative life events. It is from here that leisure can become beneficial and help people move forward in terms of their health. Based on the work of Antonovsky (1979), the view taken here is that health is a multifaceted concept and includes not only physical well-being and psychological well-being, but also performance, self- realization and a sense of meaningfulness. When looking at the primary prevention role that leisure plays in response to one’s mental health it has been said that leisure activities may ward off poor health and behaviors before they occur (Caldwell, 2005). Ponde and Santata examined this in a study, which concluded that participation in leisure activities is a protective factor for women’s health, particularly those living in poorer conditions. In this study, the leisure activities were positively correlated with low levels of anxiety and depression among women reporting no job satisfaction and low family income (Caldwell, 2005). When looking at leisure from an occupational therapy viewpoint, this leisure promotes heath because â€Å"meaningful activity can influence social inclusiveness and encourage self-expression, therefore promoting human potential† (Passmore, 2003). From the study she completed, Passmore found that social leisure and the achievement associated with the leisure positively influenced mental health, and that mental health was most strongly predicted by leisure-related competency, self-efficacy, and self-worth (Caldwell, 2005). In addition, some work by Szabo suggests that music appreciation; watching scenery through video and humor gained through leisure, equally help by improving mood and decreasing anxiety (Caldwell, 2005). As stated by Coleman et al, (1993), the role of leisure in the stress-coping process has received considerable attention over the last decade, and Iwaksi (2001) has concluded that, â€Å"leisure can be an important buffer against stress to maintain good health†. Coleman et al, (1993), found that social support derived from leisure activity participation contributes to the reduction of stress and in doing so, promotes physical and mental health, but only for those who experience high levels of stress. Iwasaki and Mannell (2000) came up with three coping strategies; leisure palliative coping, leisure mood enhancement and leisure companionship. And more recently Iwaski (2001) compared the effects of leisure-related coping on immediate coping outcomes, mental health outcomes and psychological well being with general coping strategies (Caldwell, 2005). From his research, he found that â€Å"leisure coping, significantly predicted positive coping outcomes, mental health, and psychological well-being beyond the effects of general coping† (Caldwell, 2005). The final way in which leisure can be therapeutic is when dealing with negative life events, however this does depend on the individual and may not occur when someone has experienced a traumatic event (Caldwell, 2005). In Kleiber’s case, the participants used leisure to find new meaning to life and become reborn in a way that allows for a â€Å"fuller realization of one’s potential† (Caldwell, 2005).

SWOT Analysis of Danone UK

SWOT Analysis of Danone UK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Activia and Actimel are the two probiotic yoghurt brands that are currently being marketed by Danone in the UK. The current market strategy for these products is that they are healthy food and part of a healthy lifestyle. Some modifications were made in the currents marketing strategy, which include modifying the current target market for both brands. These brands have the potential to make Danone UK Limited the market leader in the United Kingdom. 1. DANONE: THE PROBIOTIC BRANDS; THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. Danone UK limited, is a UK based subsidiary of the French company group Danone, which has its organizational headquarters situated in France. Danone UK is into the production and marketing of dairy products and water. Most of group Danone brands are household names in the United Kingdom and internationally, and they include the probiotic dairy brands; Activia and Actimel (DATAMONITOR, 2009). The dairy division of the Danone group, is a leader in the production of dairy products worldwide, and presently holds about 22% of the dairy products global market share (DATAMONITOR, 2009). Group Danone has different subsidiaries in varying countries and each brand has a unique attribute and name that appeals to the region or country where they are marketed. 1.1. SWOT ANALYSIS The strength, weakness, opportunities and threats that are currently influencing Danone UK are highlighted in the table below. Table: 1 STRENGTHS Health conscious company Innovative Products and marketing Customer oriented Research focused WEAKNESSES Lack of long term planning uncorroborated claims OPPORTUNITIES Health consciousness among populace Growth in awareness on digestive health Probiotic bacteria awareness THREATS New entrants Increased competition Stores own brand Increase in cost of milk and production Consumer unawareness on benefits of good bacteria Government regulation on health claim of probiotic brands 1.2. PEST ANALYSIS GRID The grid below highlights some of the factors that affect the market presently and therefore gives an idea on the way forward in the present market environment. Table 2: POLITICAL ECONOMIC SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY Government debt Recession Unemployment Trends in Research Government policy Research sponsorship Advert withdrawal E-commerce Cold weather New technology Migration 2. MARKET ANALYSIS: UK YOGHURT MARKET The UK yoghurt market comprises of the spoonable yoghurts (pots), drinkable yoghurt (drinks) and tube yoghurts. (Mintel Oxygen, 2009) The market share value of the drinking yoghurt has seen a decrease in recent years as more people turn to more healthy option of yoghurt products that more often come in pots and tubes; the tube yoghurt is more attractive for children as parents can pack it into lunch boxes for them, thus this area has also seen a significant growth in recent years. The pots yoghurt market saw an increase in sales as they offer fewer calories and some come with health claims that lead to an increase in sales, the most active category in recent time has been the probiotic or healthy yoghurt category (spoonable) (Euromonitor,2009). Development of new products and increase in sales in some categories of the yoghurt market have mostly been due to health issues, as the behaviour of consumers suggest that they prefer a healthy lifestyle and also love to indulge, thus the development of new products that offer both a healthy and indulgence option. This trend has lead to the improvement in performance of the yoghurt market generally, in comparison to other desert options. The yogurt and Fromage Frais (pots and tubes) currently hold about 15.60% of the dairy market share in the UK (Data Monitor, 2009). The pots and tubes are the best performers in the market, and they hold about 85% of the market share, while the drinking yoghurt has been largely affected by competition from other markets that offer or claim to offer a more healthy option in form of drinks e.g. smoothies and fruits juices (or soft drinks). 2.1. MARKET SEGMENTATION Majority of the market share for 2008 as seen above was held by top manufacturers which include Muller, Danone and Yoplait. Supermarkets own brands are gradually gaining a large percent of the market share, with other brands constituting about 27% of the total market share. The probiotic yoghurt brands of Danone UK are doing well in the market currently, and account for about 19% of the UK yoghurt market share. 2.2 COMPETITOR ANALYSIS Muller dairy UK is Danone UK main competitor and the current market leader. Muller has being the market leader for a while and they function across the entire yoghurt category. Some of the Muller brands are not doing so well in the market, with some consumers perceiving it as too sweet and unhealthy, but with recent brand repositioning, re-launches and new products introduced in the market they are able to continually hold onto the number one spot. Weakness: The major weakness of the Muller brands is that consumers still perceive them as unhealthy, as they usually have high sugar content (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). 2.3 COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: Danone Has exclusive patent on the friendly bacteria (Lactobacilli casei Imunitass) used in addition with other bacteria in Actimel. All probiotic brands by Danone are considered healthy, hence the first choice for consumers who prefer a healthy way of life. 3. BRAND POSITIONING Probiotic yoghurts contain live bacteria that positively aid the consumers digestive system by improving microbial balance in the intestine. The probiotic brands Actimel and Activia are in the spoonable (Activia), drinking (Actimel) and the healthy option categories. In comparison, some major competing brands are perceived as unhealthy with great taste and very sweet e.g. Muller brands are perceived as unhealthy due to the sweet taste and the fact that the brands are positioned as all day snacks (Euromonitor , 2009). PERCEPTUAL MAP Healthy Actimel Activia Muller Vitality Poor taste Great taste Muller Light Unhealthy 3.1 ACTIVIA Activia is in the class of spoonable yoghurt (pots), and is in the healthy brand category. It contains the probiotic bacterium (friendly bacteria) that helps in improving the functions of the digestive system. Activia comes in fat free and low calorie flavours that consumers see as a great benefit; thus Activia has seen a rapid increase in market share since its launch in 2002, and it is one of the best performers in its category due to innovation which comprises health benefit and indulgence (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). It has a wide range of flavour in packs of four and eight pots and recently it has been proposed to introduce single pots for people with a busy lifestyle or people on the go. 3.2 ACTIMEL This is in the drinking yoghurt category, and contains the probiotic bacteria L.casei Imunitass; its main function is boosting and providing support for the immune system. Actimel has 13 different varieties, and 4 have zero percent fat content. Actimel aids the bodys immune system by fighting off germs when consumed on a daily or regular basis (Danone, 2009). 3.3 BRAND PERSONALITY GRID The consumer perception of Activia and Actimel are highlighted in the personality grid below (Table 3 and 4). ACTIVIA PERSONALITY VALUE BENEFIT ATTRIBUTE Physically fit Quintessential Indulging Wide variety range Healthy Innovative Convenient Handy Delightful Trustworthy Rich taste Relieves bloating Reliable Variety ACTIMEL PERSONALITY VALUE BENEFIT ATTRIBUTE Healthy Nutritious Boost immunity Wide product range Tasty Trusted Rejuvenation Different flavours Immunity Reliable 4. TARGET MARKET AND STRATEGY: THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE Target Market Activia Women ACTIMEL Senior citizens Adults Rest of population 4.1 MARKETING STRATEGY (PRESENT SITUATION): The Probiotic brands are currently marketed as health beneficial products, with the emphasis on â€Å"good bacteria†, and the need to see the brands as part of a healthy way of life and not just as a snack. 4.2 ACTIVIA The current marketing strategy for Activia focuses solely on women and it was put in place in response to consumer demand for healthy products. Activia is positioned as an indulgent healthy food that helps women in reducing the feeling of being bloated especially after meals, and also aids in regulating the function of the digestive system. In a recent advert a woman is seen feeling more physically fit and flexible after having a pot of Activia. An interactive website has also been set up for Activia and the content is specifically for women as it gives them health tips and encourages them to share their story on the benefits of Activia. The website has a health based outlook that further reinforces the fact that Activia is a healthy brand. (Danone , 2009) Adults on the go are gradually being included in the current strategy, with the plan to introduce single pots of Activia (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). 4.2.1 DRAWBACK This strategy targets only the women in the population, and in some ways most women in a particular age demographic i.e. 25 and above. Although this strategy has been successful so far; what steps can be taken to prevent the present segment of consumers from shifting loyalty to a brand that is healthy, of good quality and is priced lower. What can be done to increase the present target market, as large segments of the population which include children, active adults and the elderly have not been included in this strategy. 4.2.2 MODIFICATION As manager of the probiotic brands of Danone UK Ltd, I will increase the target market to include families and the elderly. The family market will include children and men, while the elderly include men and women from age 55 and upwards. This segment of the population (55+) is going to see a rapid increase in sales and market share in the future as the population ages, and with the right marketing mix of price, distribution and place, this target segment offers great potential of growth for the future of the market (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). The family segment will come with a rebranding option that will target the women who have families. As women do most of the household shopping, when they buy Activia for themselves, they will have no option but to buy for their families. More flavours and packaging should be introduced to appeal to children and their parents. The current marketing strategy for the women consumers also have to be continued and improved to make the customers remain even when offered cheaper varieties, and to do this, loyalty programmes have to be introduced i.e. where consumers gain points for each pack of Activia bought. Although this might seem expensive for the company at the start of the program, as it has to be in conjunction with supermarkets, but in the long run it will be advantageous as we would have gained a loyal customer base. The present website also has to be improved to include healthy recipes tips as women love to cook healthy for their families. An interactive educational website should be introduced for children; activities on the website can include opportunity for children to pick their favourite Activia flavours, competitions that will include one where kids get the opportunity to mix different fruity flavours and submit their entries online, with opportunities to win prices. When children are loyal to their favourite brand (Activia) parents will have no choice but to also become loyal, in that way we also get families to be consumers of the Activia brand. Thus our market share will see an increase that will come from this segment of the population. 4.5 ACTIMEL The current marketing strategy for Actimel is capitalising on the immune system boosting characteristic of the probiotic bacteria in the drink and also the claim that it improves the body capacity to combat stress for people with busy lifestyles, through the action of the bacteria in the gut. In recent times, the company has also aimed to encourage the use of Actimel by patients in the hospital as a recent study shows that Actimel has the capacity to aid patients fight off infections. Advertising and promotional activities by Danone on Actimel has helped to boost the image of this brand by placing it as a brand that supports active lifestyles and is also healthy. 4.5.1 DRAWBACK An advert for Actimel was recently banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), that the claims made by Danone on Actimel (that it boosts the natural defence of children) were not supported by sound scientific evidence (BBC, 2009); a few consumers will brand Actimel as untrustworthy. To restore the image of Actimel, scientific evidence that proves that it helps boost the natural defence of children has to be peer reviewed before publishing. Although some health professionals have said it improves immunity, this has to be reinforced so the customers can have trust in the brand. The target population for Actimel has to re-defined, as it is currently vague (covers the whole segment of the population). 4.5.2 MODIFICATION The target market for Actimel has to be clearly defined, as it seems to target all the members of the population at the moment. The population has to be segmented, and each segment given a definite strategy and marketing plan that is specific for it. The proposed target market will be segmented as shown in fig 4. There is a lot of potential in targeting the elderly and hospital patients, as they need things to help boost their immunity, and Actimel can perform that function, hence there is an opportunity of growth here. The current market strategy of positioning Actimel as a healthy lifestyle choice is great, and will work well with all segments of the population especially the adults with an active way of life. The brand should be repositioned in the children segment, as the problem with the advert can affect sales that are generated. Thus positioning it as a healthy option for children, that offers the benefit of friendly bacteria, with proven scientific studies will enable Actimel regain the trust of consumers from this segment of the population. 5. CONCLUSION Actimel and Activia have been doing well so far in the UK market, and have the potential to do better in the future. The current marketing strategies for these two brands need to be improved on. The segmenting of the target population for Actimel will give a clearer view of the market strategy put in place to enable it gain more market shares from competitors like yakult and Muller vitality. The target market for Activia will need to be expanded in order to enable Activia gain market shares in the mainstream yoghurt market. It is perceived as a healthy brand, thus it has the potential to get more market share if the target population is increased. In the future the customer base of Activia and Actimel will remain loyal as loyalty schemes will be introduced to enable them stay faithful to the brand as long as the option of indulgence and healthy living at the right price is offered. New flavours that will keep consumers interested and innovative products will definitely make and keep Danone as a leader in the UK yoghurt market. References BBC. (2009, October). Healthy yoghurt advert banned. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from News Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8305918.stm Danone . (2009). Danone Activia. Retrieved December 29, 2009, from Your digestive health matters website: http://www.danoneactivia.co.uk/ Danone. (2009). Actimel L.casei Imunitass. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from How Actimel Can Help You: http://www.actimel.co.uk/Benefits/Default.aspx Danone UK Ltd. (2008). Danone. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from About Danone Mission Website: http://www.danone.co.uk/mission.htm DATAMONITOR. (2009). GROUPE DANONE. London: Datamonitor. Euromonitor . (2009). Yoghurt United Kingdom. London: Euromonitor International. Mintel Oxygen. (2009, May). Yogurt UK May 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009, from Market Share and Product Positioning website: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=393957/display/id=460332#hit1 Mintel Oxygen. (2009, May). Yogurt UK May 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009, from Segment performance website: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=393957/display/id=460332?select_section=460331 Mintel Oxygen. (2009, May). Yogurt UK May 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2009, from Table of content website: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=393957/display/id=460331?select_section=460345

Explain the Responsibility of the Human Resources Department :: Business and Management Studies

Explain the Responsibility of the Human Resources Department Within any business the Human Resources department is a vital functional area. The department’s main role is to ensure the welfare of employees and make sure any problems are resolved quickly and efficiently whether internal or external. Although this is the main function of the department there are also a number of other roles the Human Resource department handles within a business: Ø Development and monitoring employee appraisal system Ø Overseeing industrial relations Ø Dealing with disciplinary Ø Paying Salaries Ø Redundancy Ø Training and development Ø Recruitment and selection All the above are typical functions carried out by the human resources department, as they are clearly linked to employees and problems they may have. Although the above are typical functions carried out by the human resources department there are sometimes other functions that are specific to certain businesses that have to be dealt with when they arise. HSBC I will be studying a part of HSBC that was formally known as Merrill Lynch. Merrill Lynch was set up in 2001 and aimed to revolutionise the way in which investors banked. In July 2002 HSBC took over 100% of the ownership of Merrill Lynch and it was now part of the HSBC group. The telephone call centre that was opened near Leamington Spa’s ‘Spa Park’ created hundreds of jobs for people in the surrounding areas. Throughout this project I will be studying the functions of the human resources department at HSBC in Leamington Spa. HSBC have many internal departments, which mean that communication within the company is vital. Each of these departments depend heavily upon one anther in the day-to-day running of the business. When recruiting HSBC must ensure that they have a clear strategy that they follow throughout the recruitment and selection process. As they employ a large number of people it is important that they select the right people first time due to the costs associated with recruitment and selection. When HSBC needs to recruit a large number of people they use agencies to help reduce the administration work for the human resources department and generally get the job done more efficiently. Unemployment within Leamington Spa is at record lows, and for that reason HSBC need to make sure they offer appealing positions with attractive salaries to recruit successfully. This can be done through newspaper advertisements and HSBC need to ensure that in these advertisements they portray the company image in a positive light. As the human resources department covers a large amount of tasks and functions I have decided to cover the main activities that are most important to the organisation. Ø The Working Environment

Free Epic of Gilgamesh Essays: Underlying Meaning :: free essay writer

The Epic of Gilgamesh:   Underlying Meaning  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Last time, we introduced the ancient mythical tale, The Epic of Gilgamesh. You read a brief account of the tale and learned a little of its origins and discovery. Now we are going to get into the tale itself and have a deeper look in an effort to decode some of its hidden or underlying meaning. We will explore the notion of "The Double" and the quest for immortality in our search for the meaning of life. We remember from the epic tale that Enkidu, the wildman, was Gilgamesh's beloved friend. So what can Enkidu's injection into the story reveal to us then? Let's look more closely at this figure. Enkidu is an innocent savage, a wildman, content to live among the beasts. After an encounter with a trapper he undergoes a kind of culture shock and is tamed by a harlot or sacred prostitute. Here, sex is sacred; it is a civilizing force that separates humans from Nature for the animals now reject Enkidu. Paired with Gilgamesh, the two figures represent the Double. Enkidu embodies the instincts while Gilgamesh represents the intellect. Both of these aspects make up humankind. Through his friendship with Enkidu, Gilgamesh learns much about what it is to be human. He learns love and compassion, as well as death and loss as Enkidu dies. But Enkidu rages against his death! It is human instinct to fight death, to fight to live! Enkidu is soon appeased though by the sun god Shamash who gives death meaning in remembrance of those who have passed on, of Enkidu who will pass on. So we find in this story a meaning for death - meaning in being remembered. Gilgamesh, however, is not so easily appeased in Enkidu's death. He grieves heavily over the loss of his dear friend and vows to find the key to everlasting life. So he sets out on his journey, his journey through the underworld, through the otherworld. Is Gilgamesh now just intellectual man without instinct, without Enkidu? Death, loss, mortality are too much for Gilgamesh to bear. Why toil on earth to end up in a terrible afterlife? Gilgamesh will have none of it. He seeks to become immortal like the gods, after all, he himself is 2/3 god. He does find answers to the questions of life and death on his journey.

Loss and Bereavement Essay -- essays research papers fc

Loss and Bereavement The loss of someone close can be a very painful experience. When someone passes over to the other side, the people they leave behind are left grief-stricken. The process they go through is called bereavement or another word, people may use is called in mourning. This all depends on what beliefs the bereaved may have on dying. Different religions cope with mortality in different ways. The Buddhist religion believes in recoronation (life after death) so when a person dies the Buddhists believe that the dearly departed will come back in another life form. So what is the meaning of bereavement? Bereavement is the emotion, which everybody goes through one time or another in their life time. When someone dies the bereaved will experience the stages of bereavement, whether it is a death of a pet, someone in their family or someone who is close. A death of a son or daughter is very heartbreaking, its one of the worst pain, a parent could ever go through in his or her entire life. Parents believe that they should out live their sons or daughters and when the child passes away before they do it comes as a big shock. When a child dies, the parents are forever picking up the pieces for a long time after the death. As the years go by other people have less pain and appear to accept the death of the child where a parent will still feel the same hurt for the rest of their lives. There is always a place missing in their hearts and it cannot be fulfilled by anyone. These questions are still asked by the parents who have been bereaved through a child. Did I really have the child I lost or was I dreaming? Will all my memories start to deteriorate as time passes by? Am I going to wake up from this nightmare? When certain times of the year come round, e.g. birthdays of the deceased, mother’s day, father’s day, Christmas and the anniversary of the day the deceased departed from this existence. At any of these times of the year it can be very agonizing for the parent of the deceased. It does not matter how long ago the child has been deceased for, the memories will always be there and the agony they went through at that particular time when their child passed over to the other side. Time is supposed to be a great healer in situations like this. This is not always the case. The parent learns to live with the pain of losing a child. Some days are b... ...s, the person feels very dizzy. In the more severe panic attacks the persons’ limbs go all stiff, they can pass out, then they could be rushed to a hospital. After a few years the panic attacks ware off.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography Davies, R, Houghton, P, (1995) Mastering Psychology 2nd edition Macmillan Press Ltd London  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Donnellan, C, Bereavement. Vol 41, Independence Education Publisher Dunn, M, (2000) The Good Grief Guide Pathways/ How To Books Oxford Gross, r, Mcileen,R, Coolican, H, Clamp, A, Russel, J, (2000) Psychology 2nd edition Hodder & Stoughton Kubler-Ross, E, (1983) On Children and Death Macmillan Publishing Company Levine,S, (1998) Who Dies Catways Books. Bath   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   web pages http://avoca.vicnet.au/-griefedu/projects.htm http://hed2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/mosby_factsheets/bereavement.html http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/psych/subject/nur1401/week12.html http://www.season.org/panic.html http://familydoctor.org/handouts/137.html

Critically analyze Brandom and Haugeland’s views regarding Cartesianism

The concept of Cartesianism is that every and/or any thing that can be doubted must be discarded, and ideally formulated anew in order to be cemented in truthfulness. Doubting is the first way of determining whether something is useful, and if it isn’t, you discard what you know and basically reinvent it in such a way that is useful. We apply this Cartesianism in a social context when we look at society, politics and the interactions of people on any communicative grounds.This would include linguistics, thinking and any other forms of interaction that form any kind of groundwork for social and societal interaction. Using Cartesianism, we can draw distinctions between such things. We will look at the notions of language, reasoning and thinking, in terms of the works of two philosophers, Robert Brandom and John Haugeland, with the emphasis on comparing and contrasting their unique views. Brandom: Freedom, Norms, Reason and ThoughtRobert Brandom’s views on personal freedom were rooted in the difference between how he perceived his forerunners on the subject matter; he compared and contrasted Kant and Hegel in his work ‘Freedom and Constraint by Norms’. In this work, he critically observes the foundation from which Kant and Hegel analyzed the ideas of personal freedom, as expressed – or refuted – by norms. In order to set out these principles – freedom and norms – we must first define them. Brandom had this to say about Kant’s viewpoint:One of the most suggestive responses to the first set of concerns has been developed by the Kantian tradition: the doctrine that freedom consists precisely in being constrained by norms rather than merely by causes, answering to what ought to be as well as what is. (1979, p. 187). We assume the fact here that norms are things which become established over time by society/community, and that they determine and decide how things should be done, by the individual and by the community.Where Kant pragmatically argued that society used norms to determine the individual’s actions, Brandom also included how Hegel proposed a different approach, from a different angle: The central feature determining the character of any vision of human freedom is the account offered of positive freedom (freedom to) – those respects in which our activity should be distinguished from the mere lack of external causal constraint (freedom from) †¦ (1979, p. 187). Brandom furthers his argument by taking his proposed solution into the domain of the linguistic.He argues that the basis of norms, with regards to their use in regulating society and the individual’s role therein, requires creative expression from individuals in order to promote the Hegelian concept of idealistic, ‘positive’ freedom. Ultimately, Brandom proposes a post-Hegelian solution, one which builds on Hegel’s initial statements and ideally assists the advancement of ind ividuals within a communal setting. In ‘A Social Route from Reasoning to Representing’, Brandom further explores the generally held principles that individual beings are capable of reasoning and reasonable thought processes.Because of this inherent trait, fostered in the upbringing of each individual, truth by inference or deductive reasoning becomes a cornerstone of the thoughts and actions of every individual. The exploration of the difference between actually thinking and thinking about something is established and represented by the accepted standard that individuals move in social circles, and so influence each other’s ideas and notions of reason. Common ground is found in these motions, or as Brandom qualifies, â€Å"the representational dimension †¦ reflects the social structure †¦ in the game of giving and asking for reason.† (2000, p. 183). Haugeland: Truth, Rules and Social Cartesianism John Haugeland approaches the idea behind the soci al establishments in much the same way as Brandom. He explores the same set of topics in his work ‘Truth and Rule-following’, where he mentions the idea of norms as being bound to rules and how the social circle comprised of unique individuals see such institutes. These rules are divided into factual and governing, with factual being held as understood and upheld by all and governing as normative; â€Å"how they ought to be† (Haugeland, 1998, p. 306).Haugeland also argues that these norms are upheld by a communal motion to associate and create similarities between individuals: conformity. He further proposes that social normativity can be grounded in biological normativity – the same principles and arguments can be applied, but only insofar as human beings are capable of reason, and that a biological body by contrast follows certain predetermined, preprogrammed sets or rules, while a reasoning mind can necessarily adapt around or expand on conditions and w ork beyond them, as a biological preset cannot.This supports the idea of governing norms being changeable, separate from objective truth. Also, social norms are enacted through the input of others, in a sense promoting a system where one member of the community checks up on the others, and vice versa. Haugeland’s case is concluded with an emphatic argument for the similarity and union between norms of reason (governing norms) and objective truth (factual norms) boiling down to being the same thing: both are in fact changeable, if in different, subjective ways.With ‘Social Cartesianism’, Haugeland explores the work of three other philosophers, objectifying the reason for his assumptions based on the use of philosophy in language, which all three works – the works of Goodman, Quine and Wittgenstein/Kripke – explore in some form. The reason for this analysis is Cartesian in origin. The first work, by Goodman, is an argument based on defining predicates – accepted rules – and testing the limits of their acceptability, in true, doubtful, Cartesian style.The work of Quine focuses on the elements of translation, of taking personally accepted norms and placing them over a culture with differing norms, thereby defining that culture according to our own way of doing things. Lastly, the debate ventured by Wittgenstein/Kripke is one of skepticism that proposes that all norms are social, not private: â€Å"In sum: if meanings must be normative, but individuals can’t impose norms on themselves, then private, individual meanings are impossible† (Haugeland, p. 219).Haugeland extrapolates that each one of these arguments is fundamentally flawed, based on the conclusion he draws regarding each of the three works’ shortcomings: they all fail to account for the real world, the world that everyone lives in and is affected by. Brandom versus Haugeland Perhaps the most obvious similarity between Brandom and Haugela nd’s individual accounts and reasoning is the fact that they approach the same kinds of topics: social situation, individuality, freedom, language and thought.Despite various approaches and held viewpoints, both are compelled to a certain Cartesian way of doing things, of discarding everything or anything that is not beyond doubt and recreating these things anew by using sound reasoning. Brandom is fond of referencing Kant and Hegel and placing them in opposition against each other, most notably in stating their viewpoints from necessity and polarity: Kant held the view that norms dictated freedom and individuality, whereas Hegel was more positive in expressing his views on freedom ultimately determining norms.In a similar fashion, Haugeland approached the subject of norms and normativity, and how they affected individuals, both linguistically and thoughtfully. We will look at the comparison of norms and normativity first, and then spread outward into linguistics and thought. The view of normativity being a deciding factor, most notably on a linguistic basis, for representing the two polarities of norms and facts, is upheld by both philosophers.Brandom sees norms as something which is instituted based on reason, on the idea that they are something that is held by a communal mindset and imposed on the individual. Facts in turn are things which are accepted as a given by not only individuals but also by the community. Focusing on linguistics, Brandom draws on translation, on the action of placing or transposing one set of accepted norms – from, say, one community’s point of view – onto another community’s point of view. Note here that Haugeland also referenced the idea of translation in his critique of Quine’s work.This poses the first real contrast between Brandom and Haugeland’s points of view: Brandom poses the idea that translation promotes assimilation: By translating, rather than causally explaining some per formance, we extend our community (the one which engages in the social practices into which we translate the stranger’s behavior) so as to include the stranger, and treat his performances as variants of our own. (1979, p. 191). The act of making something your own, drawing something or someone in from outside your boundaries, speaks of a shift of norms.Logically it can be argued that assimilating something new forces your way of thinking about something to be altered to accommodate what is new, even if what has been absorbed becomes a representation of something completely new and different. In this we see Brandom’s shift to the Hegelian idea of the novel, the new, being created in a positive sense in order to advance and enhance the communal whole. Haugeland contrasts by referencing Quine: â€Å"†¦ although the translations are different, there is no fact as to which of them is the ‘right’ one, because there is no ‘objective matter to be right or wrong about’.† (cited from Haugeland, ). Haugeland would seemingly disagree with Brandom’s use of translation as a means of successfully integrating norms, of taking norm and transforming it into fact. Translation still argues for something similar, not new: it presupposes a universal component that stretches through all languages. Judgment is another key concept, one bound to reason and thought. Brandom cites Kant once more in bringing to the fore the sense that one must act from thought, and that judging and acting requires a commitment, â€Å"staking a claim – undertaking a commitment† (1979, p. 164).Brandom repeats the basis of linguistics, of the game played between people, based on inference and the inherent ability to deduce and conclude. An individual can naturally deduce something spoken or gestured from another individual by making a commitment to do so. This commitment relies heavily on the shared understanding between individuals, th e factual norms that are referenced again and again as a means of achieving the communal awareness of similarity. Haugeland agrees here; linguistically, words must have a normal, generic meaning in order for the speaking individual to be understood.There must be common ground. He continues by saying that â€Å"meanings, by their very nature, are normative rules,† and emphasizes this dilemma by citing this example: And the essential problem is that individuals cannot impose norms on themselves. For that would be like taking a dictator, with absolute legal authority, to be bound by her own law. But she can’t really be bound by her own law since, given her authority, if she changes her mind and does something different, that just changes the law – which is equivalent to saying that the law did not bind her in the first place.Similarly †¦ an individual cannot, on his own authority, bind himself by his private norm. (Haugeland, , p. 219). The crux of this compar ison between Haugeland and Brandom is that both agree on the fact that law, in a sense, and rules, must be used to bind a norm, albeit a governing one – a norm based on reason. A person cannot be subject to his/her own norms, therefore the norms must be implemented from outside the individual; from the communal.Coming back to the linguistic component again, we can logically assume that language as a means of communication forms a regulating basis here. The words, actions and judgment of others forces a certain conformity, a means whereby an individual can operate and coexist within a community. Thought has always been at the core of the human need to define him/herself. The adage cogito ergo sum (I think therefore I am) has been advanced to more complex statements. Rene Descartes advanced dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum (Latin for I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am) (Persaud, p. 259).Cartesian philosophy dwells deeply on thought processes, so it should be unsurprising t hat both Brandom and Haugeland spent some thought on the dynamics of applying Cartesian methods on the thought process. Haugeland praised Descartes’ input, going further than the original assumptions made by Descartes and stating that â€Å"The determinacy that matters here concerns not the formal reality of those ideas †¦ but rather their objective reality (roughly their intentional content as representations. ) (Haugeland, , p. 224). In other words, Haugeland implies that human individuals in isolation, as subjectively separate, is fairly unimportant.What matters ultimately is the collective, the union of all individuals in an objective community, not necessarily defined by the community but by their place in it, and their unique contributions to it. Brandom seems to agree by stating: The social dimension of inference [deduction] involved in the communication to others of claims that must be available as reasons [common ground] both to the speaker [individual] and to the audience [collective, community], in spite of differences in collateral commitments, is what underlies the representational dimension of discourse [communication]. (2000, p. 183).Summed up, the previous statement can be matched to Haugeland’s assumptions: the community is not the only important thing, but in order for norms, rules and laws to make sense regarding thought, language and freedom, the community or collective needs to operate on a standard of shared understanding, so that each unique individual can still function and interact with others despite the individuality. Conclusion Through using Cartesian principles regarding the discovery of usefulness, we have come to the conclusion that, with regards to using doubt as a means of determining an outcome or a reality, pragmatism is in fact a necessary element.Reality, as Haugeland would have us believe, is not simply determined by the individuals, communities and their norms only, but rather arises from the world we live in first, before casting a shadow of effects over the individual and the rest. We have argued that Brandom and Haugeland, though often different in their modes of expression and discourse, are nevertheless in agreement on many of the key aspects regarding norms, whether factual or governing, subjective or objective.At the end, Cartesian doubt influences thought, and thought influences language and interaction between people, yielding a collected sense of understanding and finally yielding a system of laws, rules and judgments that govern and regulate society and community. However, in conclusion it is perhaps better to emphasize Hegel’s idealism – as opposed to Kant’s pragmatism: that freedom be positive, to allow for creativity within the system and to not be bound by external causes such as rules and laws only. References Brandom, R. B. (2000). A Social Route from Reasoning to Representing.Articulating Reasons: an Introduction to Inferentialism. Cambridge , Harvard University Press. Brandom, R. B. (1979). Freedom and Constraint by Norms. American Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 16, 13, 87-196. Haugeland, J. (). Social Cartesianism. 213-225. Haugeland, J. (1998). Truth and Rule-following. Having Thought: Essays in the metaphysics of mind. Cambridge, Harvard University Press. Persaud, R. (2002) Ten Books. The British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 181, 258-261, Retrieved May 17, 2008, from http://bjp. rcpsych. org/cgi/content/full/181/3/258.

Cultural and environmental Issues in Pakistan Essay

Corruption is the prime reason behind the economical unstableness. Corruption has spread into the world and has ruined the economy. Pakistan has been ranked at 42nd number among the most corrupt nations of the world. Unemployment: Unemployment is a major social problem caused by poor economical system. Causes of unemployment are: Lack of funds followed by unorganized system and lack of new projects are causing unemployment worldwide. There are many reasons of unemployment like influx of machinery that has replaced manpower. Health problems: Health is another social problem caused by poor economical conditions. The cost of living is ever increasing and shortage of funds is a usual problem worldwide. There are less hospitals and medical centers and if there are any, the people are unable to afford their and their children health  expenses So the health problems grow unchecked. Child labor: Children who deserve to be educated are forced to do work.  The circulation of money is restrained to rich people only causing the poor to become more poor. In past, some countries refused to import those goods from Pakistan in whose making children were employed. Due to growing inflation (rise) and poverty, parents are bound to send their children to work to light their stoves. Economical problems: 1. Power crises 2. War on terrorism 3. Declining export 4. Tumbling stock-market 5. Lack of tourism 6. Loss in business Power crises are affecting the economy of the world very badly. The power crisis is followed by decline in production and at the end the economy of the countries is affected badly. We are running short of fuel worldwide. All the countries are affected by power crises. War against terrorism is another very important reason behind the economical problem.ï‚ § War is affecting the world’s economy and is causing problems like shortage of fuel, lack of funds, increase in health problem etc. War benefits none, someone is hurt badly and someone is destroyed completely. Lack of power followed by decline in production is the main cause of declining export which is a major economical problem worldwide. In Pakistan, core inflation soared to 18.85% in first quarter of year 2009. The production cannot even fulfill the demands and hue to decline in export and lack of trouble, the world economy is suffering great problems. The stock-market is suffering a decline worldwide. Lack of investment and poor economical condition of the people and government is another cause of decline in stock-market worldwide. In 2009, many times Karachi Stock Exchange has plunged to its lowest point in the history of Pakistan. Lack of tourism is also a cause of the declining in economy. Local as well as foreign media has projected Pakistan as a dangerous and unsafe country. Its poor law and order situation has alarmed the tourist and thus Northern areas no more receive many tourists. The poor  economical system affects the business very badly. Foreign investors are not ready to setup their businesses in Pakistan. More than 70 Multinational Companies have already packed up their business from Pakistan. Government as well as every single citizen has to play its own specific role to b ring about a positive change. Cultural crisis in Pakistan A SUFI saint has defined culture as the fragrance left behind when the incense stick of life has burnt out. And, heritage is valued as the highly prized family silver — a loan from our ancestors to be passed on to future generations. No department of life – be it economic, cultural, religious or recreational – has been free from the effect of this great transformation in progress. The old system of classification and stratification of society as a whole is changing gradually and slowly but surely and certainly. We may go for some little changes. For instance, we may change clothing style. We may change our room setting. We may change our eating stuff. We may do whatever makes us happy. Movement is the stuff and essence of life, both for individual and the society. From the independence day of August 14, 1947 up to date, Pakistan’s has been a society in transition. The society of Pakistan is dynamic and therefore ever-changing, and its patterns are changing transforming from time to time. The national society has been responding to the challenges of environment, natural and man-made. The factors and circumstances responsible for these changes can be enumerated as below; partition of sub-continent, technological and scientific inventions, growth of urbanization and industrialization, expansion of commercial activities and international trade, changes in the economic structure of the country initiating the industrialization of its economy, the spread of literacy resulting in the rise of a secular intelligentsia, the effect of the spread of different ideologies of different political parties in the country, the impact of the highly developed countries of the world on our society, the working and influence of the trade union and co-operative movement, the expansion of the area reached by the mass media of communication like radio, press, cinema, television etc. migration and finally cultural diffusion. Changes are the spice of life. Is it true? Of course YES! It is true because everybody needs a change in whatever he/she is doing. We want changes around us. Monotonous life just makes us feel  bored. It is good to have a change. It is not important that we should go for big changes everyday. We may go for little changes that should be pretty affordable. If we are seeking for a healthy and entertaining life then changes are very important. Changes must be positive. If we will go for negative ones then they will obviously have a negative impact upon our lives. Negative impacts are accountable for some more negative changes so we need to be assiduous in this regard. Pakistan today is undergoing an identity crisis a crisis which the author feels arises from culture conflict. One of the causes of this conflict is that the Pakistani society possesses imported cultures along with its own; varying with the diverse regions. The numerous cultures tend to conflict with one another. This crisis is clearly manifest in the actions of the Pakistani you th –rebellions, and indecisiveness. The struggle for Pakistan was a unique historical experience with few parallels in the annals of history. It transcended ethnic ,linguistic, cultural and regional differences and coalesced into a powerful movement culminating in the creation of an independent homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent. It even defied the geographic compulsions. In essence, it was an experience of a deep Muslim consciousness which both inspiring and invigorating. However ,Pakistan after its creation was, indeed ,and ethnically plural society. Pakistan, these days is passing through a crucial era of multifarious ethnic problems; multi-lingual and regional; problems etc. The province of the Punjabi has three distinct ethno-linguistic groups i.e. Punjabi ,Potohari and Saraiki speaking .Of late ,there has been a nascent rise of Saraiki consciousness with a demand for a separate Saraiki Province comprising of Saraiki speaking areas . In Baluchistan the Baluch , Brohi and Pakhtoons are dominated ethnoligual groups. The wide spread nationalist consciousness of Balchusitan has cut across the tribal divisions. In the North-Western Province of Pakistan ,apart from Pushtu,Hindku and Saraiki are also spoken in some parts of this province .The Pustoons as an ethnic group are integrating with the economic life of the rest of the country .The issue of Kalabagh Dam has arisen out of the same ethnic issue and provincial disharmony of Pakistan in the province. Though the proposed dam may play the role of key factor in the prosperity of the country and may breath a new life in the agricultural and industrial life of Pakistan .Moreover the  ethnic groups of the province also demand regional and to rename the province as Pakhtoonistan. Similarly the problem of ethnicity in Sindh is very complex. It is a web of discards, clash of interest and the resultant sense deprivation between the different ethnic groups. Overawed bewildered conditions, the inhabitants themselves ,sometime become bewildered and the frequent out –burst of violence creates hysteria among the people which consequences which are damaging for the peace and harmony of the province and also for the nation as a whole. All cultural activities can be perpetuated through private-sector support by providing incentives and tax breaks. Let there be encouragement by the government for partnerships of commerce and culture, for promoting a positive, cultural image of Pakistan. The government needs to do a lot, but it needn’t do it alone — through a strategic plan each Pakistani can be encouraged to become a cultural worker. Pakistan is today at a crossroads due to challenges posed in the post 9/11 world — the world of so-called clash of civilizations — with an increasing polarization between the Muslims and the Western world. The affect of negative images flashed around the world can only be counter-acted through a cultural offensive. To achieve our objective of becoming a favored country for investment, culture will need to be placed at the core of our development policies and propagated with every possible means. It is not only political and diplomatic strategies that will create a better image for our country, but equally the propagation of our cultural agenda that is likely to pay dividends. Let us promote our vision of a cultural Pakistan, Saqafati Pakistan, to provide another window to our country, a world removed from violence and negativism, promoting instead an image of a pluralistic Muslim country, a depository of rare cultural assets, along with historical memories and spiritual orientation of its people. Each public sector organization and private sector, too, can be engaged in promoting our cultural resources, through even simple means of films, posters, images and leaflets: PIA within aeroplanes and national and international offices, Pakistan Railways by utilizing its countrywide stations, Pakistan Post Office through its innumerable outlets, the technological gateways and countless websites, to name a few. Let us not fritter away our family silver and the fragrance of the incense stick, but safeguard them and utilize them for creation of a cultural Pakistan, for not only development and well being  of our people, but also for social and economic advancement of our nation. Environmental issues: Water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification. Little attention was paid to pollution .Some are these Related concerns, such as sanitation and potable water, received earlier scrutiny. In 1987 only about 6 percent of rural residents and 51 percent of urban residents had access to sanitary facilities; a Greater success has been achieved in bringing potable water within reach of the people; nearly half the population enjoyed such access by 1990. However, researchers at the Pakistan Medical Research Council, recognizing that a large proportion of diseases in Pakistan are caused by the consumption of polluted water, have been questioning the â€Å"safe† classification in use in the 1990s. Even the 38 percent of the population that receives its water through pipelines runs the risk of consuming seriously contaminated water, although the problem varies by area. In Punjab, for example, as much as 90 percent of drinking water comes from groundwater, as compared with only 9 percent in Sindh. The central government’s Perspective Plan (1988–2003) and previous five-year plans do not mention sustainable development strategies. Further, there have been no overarching policies focused on sustainable development and conservation. The state has focused on achieving self-sufficiency in food production, meeting energy demands, and containing the high rate of population growth, not on curtailing pollution or other environmental hazards. In 1992 Pakistan’s National Conservation Strategy Report attempted to redress the previous inattention to the nation’s mounting environmental problem. Drawing on the expertise of more than 3,000 people from a wide array of political affiliations, the government produced a document outlining the current state of environmental health, its sustainable goals, and viable program options for the future. Of special concern to environmentalists is the diminishing forest cover in watershed regions of the northern highlands, which has only recently come under close scrutiny.

India needs leadership Essay

India being a strong democratic country doesn’t really need a dictator. It may just lead to disruption. India is a big country. People live in harmony and are known for their unity. A dictator may not be able to maintain this. Few people may again misunderstand dictatorship and may think it defies the purpose of freedom. Dictatorship may bring very short term changes. A country needs a strong government. Dictatorship may introduce communal differences depending on the community of the dictator. Human rights can be certainly bypassed. It may lead to disorganization and malfunctioning of the law and order system of the country. For A dictator can easily help us get rid of the dirt in politics. A very small community of people actually understands the meaning of democracy and don’t make misuse of it. For over decades, India is trying to get rid of poverty, may be, a dictator can help in this aspect. A dictator can help the citizens realize the meaning of democracy and freedom. Whether a country has a dictator or not, freedom of speech and rights is what matters to any citizen. It is a myth that smaller countries usually need dictatorship. We cannot forget the smaller country has the same human species with the same human rights as in other countries. Discussion board though Dictatorship may banish dirty politics and corruption from india, I think that choosing is a dictator will end the right to speak ability which evrey indian has!! peole may lost democracy.. and ultimately dictatorship will give born to another hitlar or gaddafi or saddam where human right is was snatched. So india will be a heaven of silence. . India needs strong dictator India doesn’t need a dictator but, it certainly need a strong democratic alliance, which can take some tough decision on the problems which are rising in India. India need a group of people who are not afraid to take some strict actions and go against the law if necessary to bring some fruitful result. For example bihar , UP etc. are under lots of terrorism so if there is a good government which can take some measure to curb the corruption and terrorism then we don’t require a dictator. Democracy should be above all the law, for example they should pass the LOKPAL which is being supported by democracy then lots of things can be done, but the government and the people in the parliament are not strong enough to see the viewpoint and not ready to make changes. India needs a strong dictator There are various opinions of one but do we really want to go the middle east way? Do we really want another Gaddafi or Bashar amidst us? Democracy prevents wars from happening, promotes nThere are two kinds of reasons why India doesn’t need a dictator: strategic, and ethical. First strategic. Against- In a democratic country like India, divided into various layers and clusters based on caste, religion, gender, region, ethnic and other basis, democracy is a great leveler because of two reasons: each person’s value is one (as a vote) and secondly, most people feel that they have a stake in this system, particularly those who vote, and we have very high voting percentages across the world for democratic nations for our elections, particularThe only thing is whether they will justify it or like Thackeray, proudly say they did the wrong thing and ask others to challenge it if they dare to. When Indian people feel they have no stake in a system (they really won’t have a stake, because there is no MLA or MP they can go to in case the bureaucracy strikes at their rights), they will take to protest. A dictator will not allow non-violent protests most certainly, so they will take to violent protests someday. That will only mean violence and secession. India’s experience shows us that it is extension of democracy which solves our problems, be it in Mizoram or to an extent now in Assam, not dictatorship or army rule as seen in Kashmir. If India had a dictatorship earlier during the time of independence, states like Tamil Nadu and Assam as well as North-East would have done all to secede somehow. Thankfully, because democracy was there and Nehru believed strongly in it, we accommodated regional aspirations and that is why those issues were solved. And our issues can only be resolved in this way. Now ethical. I agree that a dictator can take decisions quickly, and democracy is always messy, not just in India but in general anywhere. But development is nothing without equity, because development is for whom? Human beings. And it should be for all. Those who have no stake in such development will engage in violence sooner or later.ly at local and provincial levels. Once you introduce dictatorship, let’s face it, the dictator will have a certain identity and do things as he/she likes. Indira Gandhi is a good example. It’s good in theory to think of benign dictators, but no dictator has ever been benign in the world, and no one can guarantee that someone will be a benign dictator. Even Manmohan Singh, the most soft-spoken of Indian politicians will not be a benign dictator, forget anyone else. Dictators will relish the power they have and soon use it to do wrongon aggression and freedom of expression. A country like India needs a democratic government which can work together as a unit to unite people around them which would in return help the country to develop. And it’s their right to have such stake, every human’s right. So democracy will be messy when it takes into consideration every human’s right in each and every development issue. But that equity in taking decisions is as much important as the decision itself. That is democracy. We have to accept it. It can’t be one man show or one party show. It has to be every person engaged in the decision. For- A resounding yes! As a common man i am ashamed to the stinking, shamelessly twisted ,grossly illogical and unimaginable twisting of democracy has taken this nation to. so called leaders who are better off cleaning ditches are rolling on the dirt of corruption, greed and power with their deaths no where in sight Ok lets VOTE for change! Hell no Its voting for ONE ‘dirty excuse of a human being’ or the Other filthy B–t-rd Fools (no†¦ fools are decent) â€Å"pathetic excuse for the word fool† who are barely biologically human & who cant even manage themselves are trying to manage(make it mismanage and loot) ministries and states What India needs a strong and well minded dictator (No Idi-amins) who will rebuild the nation execute/exile for ever(a hidden secret Guantanamo bay) the corrupted-septic-infected politicians ranging from Kerala to Kashmir and rule wisely till India matures to be democracy or till no descendants of filthy politicians remain. What will it take to overcome India of its worst-in-the-world-corruption , its antique and grossly inefficient government ,judiciary & worst of all politicians who still ravage the nation†¦.Any such movement i am ready to participate as a true patriot to the nation†¦.I CARE but i don’t know how i can make a difference†¦.we need a revolution and strong dictator (No maoists please)†¦..Will there be a way ..is there a leader who we can support †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦one among the clean poiticians who will have the guts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦help us pls Its a scream for help from a helpless citizen†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.looking for a way to liberate his fellow Indians from the satanical clutch India is in†¦.help us†¦help us help us patriots waiting to serve the nation For- It’s been more than sixty-five years since India achieved independence. The effort, toil, blood and passion of our respected freedom fighters gave us the India of today. It was their ultimate dream to craft a nation whose members were free and an integral part of the country’s decision making. The Indian democracy with its much detailed Constitution was a result of their dream. Sixty-five years on, India might be free and those running the nation might be the elected representatives of the masses, but India continues to be plagued by the same old problems of poverty, economic inequality, illiteracy, population, widespread corruption and the same old socio-economic issues. It is perhaps the time of an able, strong-minded, powerful dictator to take hold of the country and cleanse the entire system. Here is a look at 10 reasons why this might prove effective for the country:- †¢ Dictatorship will breed development though straightforward decision making: A dictator being the all powerful head of the state will face no opposition from other parties as in a democracy. He will thus have complete freedom to execute his decisions which might breed development. †¢ Better control the variables of human development: One of the biggest examples is China (a Communist country) where the population has been brought under control by the government, through the one-child norm policy which is virtually impossible in the Indian democracy. †¢ Dictatorship is a more economic institution: In a country like India where poverty is a lingering problem, it is but a luxury to spend lakhs on a single election. Dictatorship is thus a far more economic institution. †¢ Dictatorships regimes can be a path for countries to move on from civil wars and focus on development: China can be used as an example yet again, as the country has been almost absolutely insulated from wars and terrorist attacks. †¢ Dictatorships have flexibility in economic policy that breeds growth: Democracy can often stagnate economic development. An example is West Bengal where the Tata group could not establish their factory in Singur due to stiff resistance from the opposition party in the government. †¢ Dictatorship helps achieve social stability: Yes it does. †¢ The longer lasting and biggest economic miracles have occurred under dictatorships : An example is Hitler’s reign in Germany. â€Å"The Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, at a time when its economy was in total collapse, with ruinous war-reparation obligations and zero prospects for foreign investment or credit. Yet through an independent monetary policy of sovereign credit and a full-employment public-works program, the Third Reich was able to turn a bankrupt Germany, stripped of overseas colonies it could exploit, into the strongest economy in Europe within four years, even before armament spending began.† †¢ Dictatorship breeds order: In a country like India where law and order is disrupted time and again, dictatorship is definitely going to help out. Even in the 21st century Indian women are vulnerable and rape and molestation cases are reported throughout the country from upscale Delhi to the remote  villages of Burdwan. India needs a really strong leader who can make the country safe enough for our women to move around fearlessly, with their heads held high. †¢ Dictators have incentives to promote development and diminish social differences: A lot of readers might still be optimistic enough to feel that democracy will spell better days for India, but as a youth frustrated with the current situation of my country I feel that we really need a change and dictatorship may just be the way out for a better, brighter India.