Bacillus Badius - 1212 Words

The Identification of Bacillus Badius [pic] Hannah Melanchuk Dr. Robert Suran May 1 2013 Microbiology Abstract Over a three week time span I was able to successfully identify an unknown microorganism by combining the results of several tests. The first test was the Gram stain test which showed the microorganism was Gram positive and rod shaped. Using an Unknown Identification Flowchart, I proceeded to inoculate a Starch plate. In week 2, I analyzed the Starch plate and was able to determine that the results for Starch Hydrolysis were negative due to the dark color. Next, I inoculated Simmons Citrate Agar slants. By week 3 I was able to analyze the Citrate Agar, which tested negative†¦show more content†¦The decolorized Gram negative cells are stained pink. With the results from the Gram stain I was able to follow the â€Å"Unknown Identification Flowchart† to the next step, which was to prepare for the Starch Hydrolysis Test by inoculating a starch plate. Starch is a polysaccharide made up of glucose molecules. Some bacteria have an enzyme called amylase which breaks starch down into glucose subunits. The Starch Hydrolysis test is used to determine the production of amylase. Iodine, which is the mordant used in Gram staining, is used in this test to detect the presence of starch. In order to do the Starch Hydrolysis Test I first inoculated a starch plate by using aseptic technique. I streaked the middle of the starch plate with the bacteria into a single line. Then, I let it incubate overnight at 37 °C. In week 2, after I added several drops of Gram’s iodine to the starch plate it was ready to be analyzed for starch hydrolysis. The iodine complexes with starch to form a blue-black color in the culture. Clear halos surrounding colonies is the result of their ability to digest the starch due to the presence of amylase. With the results of the Starch Hydrolysis Test I preceded to the final test which is the Citrate Test. Using aseptic technique, I streaked the organism onto the surface of the Simmons’ citrate slant and let it incub ate overnight at 37 °C. The Citrate Test determines if the organism is able to

The Effects Of Alcoholism On Underage Drinkers - 998 Words

â€Å"Teens who drink don’t just drink. They drink to excess. More than 7 percent of eighth graders, 16 percent of sophomores, and 23 percent of seniors report recent binge drinking† (Karen Bellenir 65). Alcoholism continues to ruin the lives of underage drinkers; alcoholics in general are walking billboards to major companies that advertise their products, especially underage drinkers that in the process they mess up their lives, and make alcohol companies wealthier. Crimes, violence, and homicides are a result of alcoholism side effects taking over the lives of those who fall under the spell. Giving underage drinkers a false sense of security, self confidence, and maturity. At one point or another hitting rock bottom, walking up to a world they once belonged to, and cannot find a way to reincorporate in to it, leading them to commit suicide, vanishing one at a time without anyone noticing them. Alcoholics that trapped so deep in the spell of alcoholism are leaving a l egacy behind for those who continue to make alcohol companies millions of dollars by ruining their lives, making the wrong investment every time they purchase a bottle of alcohol; to them an â€Å"alternative route† to mask any issues they might be encountering at a particular time in their lives, and to those alcohol-making companies they are walking fortune—a walking billboard. Advertisement ads for these products continue targeting not only the already alcoholics, but also targeting underage drinkers. TheseShow MoreRelatedEssay on Underage Drinkers Face Repercussion1369 Words   |  6 PagesToday there seems to be an increasing number of underage drinkers. Teens seem to be drinking their way through high school and college because it’s the trend of the century. They go out to party and there is no party, if there is no alcohol. They begin to believe there is no fun in partying without the use of alcohol. According to, the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, â⠂¬Å"40% of high school students drank some amount of alcohol, 24% binge drank, and 10% drove after drinking and 28% rode with a driverRead MoreUnderage Drinking And The Central Nervous System1446 Words   |  6 PagesThere are so many people who have drank underage. Norah Piehl quotes, â€Å"According to a 1991 University of Michigan study 81% of students had had at least one alcoholic drink in their lives (13 Piehl).† Wow, that is scary. Imagine, 81 percent of students; that is to many people. What is alcohol anyway? Rob Nagel states, â€Å"Alcohol is a depressant that acts as a numbing agent on the central nervous system.† So drinking alcohol can slow down the central nervous system and can impair a person’s judgementRead MoreWork Hard, Party Harder: Alcoholism and College Campuses Essay785 Words   |  4 Pagesmuch fun can a college student do without being deviant? Underage drinking on college campus, one can say is the most abused juvenile matter next to drug use. Alcoholic beverages have been known for many centuries, but it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the substance alcohol was discovered. Someone –possibly a scientist—collected a colorless, flammable liquid, was once called burning water then was named alcohol in the 1500s. Alcoholism is a disease in which drinking alcoholic beverages interferersRead MoreEssay about Unbderage Drinking934 Words   |  4 Pages Is Underage Drinking a Big Issue in the United States? Teenagers rarely think before they do many things. Many times teenagers go to big blowouts or little get together with their friends. Their first thought is not about death, their grades, or alcoholism; their main purpose is to get drunk fast and sober up before going home by their set curfews. Each year most teen deaths have been caused from underage drinking in the United States, which is a big topic that the government is trying to preventRead MoreEssay on Alcohol and Teens: The Effects of Teenage Drinking1520 Words   |  7 Pageswine coolers, eight ounces of malt liquors, five ounces of wine, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (vodka, rum, etc.). There are two main types associated with the consumption of alcohol; including, alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Alcoholism is defined as the human body’s signs of physical addiction to alcohol and causes the individual to continue to drink despite the health risks alcohol has on the body. Someone who is classified as an alcoholic may show symptoms suchRead MoreEffects of Underage Alcohol Drinking1923 Words   |  8 PagesUnderage alcohol drinking can have devastating effects on teenagers. It can affect teens grades, health and many other things as well. The reasons why teenagers consume alcohol are pretty clear. What aren’t clear are the solutions to eliminating, or at least reducing the number of underage drinkers. It is vital that we do something to at least suppress this problem. By taking action, we can greatly reduce the number of underage drinkers and it could also save not only their lives, but also someoneRead MoreEssay Alcohol626 Words   |  3 PagesAlcohol Alcohol has been around for ages, but only relatively recently has become a recognized problem in society. Its negative effects on the body and its impact on the mind has caused the drug to be associated with such crimes as rape, murder, and other violence. Concerns with alcoholism and drunk driving are on the rise, and underage drinking rates are soaring. Whether for the better or for the worse, alcohol is a driving factor in Americas economy and society, which makes it very importantRead MoreThe Plague Of Underage Drinking1356 Words   |  6 PagesThe Plague of Underage Drinking â€Å"Every year in the U.S., roughly 5,000 people under the age of 21 die from an alcohol-related incident including car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning and other related injuries† ( â€Å"11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse†). That is 5,000 more teens or young adults that could be saved from this plague in this society (11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse). 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Alcohol doesn’t stop there it negatively effects our youth. Alcohol is the worst drug problem in the U.S. We’ve all heard the phrase don’t drink and drive but how many people listen to this common sense. According to a statistic taken by the Century Council, 31 percent of car fatalities involved

Associated Systems Computer Program Product -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Associated Systems Computer Program Product? Answer: Introducation From the situation provided it can be said that Berowra Accountants are providing a guarantee of the tax refund to their clients via special advertising ways. In this case, it is worthwhile to know the basic concept of tax refund. To explain tax refund, it can be said that it is the difference between the paid tax and the owed tax. To determine whether a business organization will receive a tax refund or not is totally dependent on the factors like the profit, income and the expenses regarding tax of the concerned business operations. It will not be possible for the auditors to ensure a tax refund (Galit and Metaban 2012). Apart from that the major responsibility of the auditors are to scrutinize the financial accounting of the business organizations to identify the material misstatement and also to check the compliances. Thus it can be said that it would be definitely a non-audit service in case of tax refund. Due to this reason as per APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accoun tants, Section 130, the act of Berowra Accountants has broke the principle of Professional Competence and Due Care (Han Fan, Woodbine and Cheng 2013). According to this act, an auditor can retain their clients by getting to know the limitations of the professions and in this case the accountants of Berowra have not been able to do so. As per the case study provided, Jamie Harvey, who is an auditor of a charter accounting firm is been asked to take up the role of the treasurer of a local club and Harvey only does audit of large public organizations. it should be mentioned that the athletic clubs are considered to be non-profit-organizations. As per APES 110 Professional Appointment, Section 210, while accepting an appointment of a new client, the auditors should determine whether the acceptance of the appointment would affect the compliance of the basic ethical principles of audit. In this case, if the proposal of becoming the treasurer gets accepted by the auditor, there would not be any breach of principles due to some reasons (Ottaway 2014). The reasons are Harvey is the auditor of a large public concern and there is no relation between the operations of a large business organization and local clubs. Another reason is that no basic ethical principle will be affected in case of appointment in the organizations wh ich are of non-profit category (Kuan 2014). These are the reasons that ensure that there will be no issues which are ethical. In the case provided, there is a situation mentioned where the payment of the auditor, which is payable Accountants is immensely dependent audit opinion that should be appropriate to the audit client Monlec Ltd. It explains that Monlec Ltd is asking for a favorable audit report from the auditors. In this regard, it is worthwhile to mention that the auditors are the representatives of investors and the stakeholders; not the organizations. As per APES 110 Principle of Objectivity, Section 120, the auditors should not conciliate their professional and business judgment for any type of biasness, influence or any conflict of interest (Athanasiou 2014). It explains that the judgment of the auditors must not be manipulated by any types of biasness or influence. As per the situation provided, if the audit report provided by the auditor is favorable for Monlec Ltd, there will be a breach of objectivity principle of auditing. There shall not be any violation of ethical principles of auditing i f the auditors does not provide an opinion that is biased (Trung 2015). In the case provided, it is evident that Winton Accountants has provided all the papers and reports of Motoring services to the Chadwick Chartered Accountants. Chadwick Chartered accountants have the job of reviewing the quality o audit if the Winton Accountants. This situation shows that the Chadwick Chartered Accountants have to carry out various processes and tests to check the Winton accountants quality of auditing. As per APES 110 Principles of Confidentiality, Section 140, the auditors have professional obligations to sustain the confidentiality of the acquired information regarding the auditing clients. It shows that the auditor should not disclose the information previously acquired regarding the audit clients to any third party. According to the situation provided, it is seen that Winton Accountants have unveiled all important data and information regarding Motoring Services to Chadwick Chartered Accountants by providing them with all the audit papers (Carey, Monroe and Shai ler 2014). Thus in this particular case, Winton Accountants have violated the principles of the confidentiality regarding auditing with their specified actions. From the case study provided, it can be seen that the Thornleigh Accountants have sent Jane Davis to replace Leona Ng in order to complete the audit work of Jenkins Ltd because of the illness of Leona. The situation is that the management of Thornleigh Accountants are inclined to take Jane Davis in the audit team of the organization in order to conduct the audit works of Jenkins Ltd from the middle of July. This situation enhances the threat of interdependence of audit for Thornleigh Accountants. As per APES 110, Self-review Threat, Section 100.12, a member of an audit team should not possess the right to use the outcomes of the judgment of previous audit made by any other members of the same audit team. Apart from that, it also explains that the outcomes of previous judgments of audit by any member of the same team cannot be used. A same principle is also applicable for the Thornleigh Accountants because the organization is making plans to use the judgment of audit done by Jane Davi s as she has been the accounts manager of Jenkins Ltd and possesses the knowledge regarding the accounts of the business organization (DeFond and Zhang 2014). Hence, it can be said that the self-review threat of the independence of the auditors shall be raised in the case Thornleigh Accountants involving Jane Davis in the audit team. According to the situation provided, it can be said that John Darrow is accountable to conduct the operations of audit of Winmalee Ltd. Winmalee Ltd has provided all the accounting papers including computer files and accounting standards to John to support their intangible assets valuation. In this regard it is necessary to mention that that it should be the responsibility of the auditors to attain conclusive evidences by scrutinizing various types of financial accounts of the audit clients and the auditors should not consider any papers provided to them by the audit client. According to the situation provided, the auditors can feel pressurized by the audit client to agree with the audit clients judgment. Apart from that, by providing the papers Winmalee Ltd can definitely indirectly pressurize John to give favorable audit report to them. Therefore, according to APES 110, Section 200.8, the specified situation can definitely create Intimidation Threat to the independence of the audit ors (Ojo 2013). In accordance to the case study provided, it can be said that the chocolate company has invited the auditors to stop over the second chocolate show and also the organization invited the auditors to the social club of the business organization. In this context, it sould be mentioned that the auditors should not involve any types of entertaining activities with the audit clients. As per APES 110, Self-interest Threat, Section 100.12, there should be a threat to the independence of the auditors in case of any types of nonfinancial or financial interest of the influence of the auditors regarding their opinion on the audit. In the case study, it can be noticed that the chocolate company might be trying to manipulate the auditors by inviting them in entertaining activities with a strong motive of manipulating the outcomes of the audit (Deumes et al. 2012). Therefore it can be said that if the auditors choose to accept the invitation of the management of the chocolate company, they shall fa ll under the self-interest threat of the independence of the auditor. The chief responsibility of the auditors are to scrutinize th financial statements of the business organizations to make sure that the financial statements of the organizations are free from all types of material misstatements and they are prepared by complying with all major regulations. Apart from that, the auditors should not make comments on the financial position of any organization without seeing any fraudulent activities. In the case of Connor organization, it is seen that the organization is dependent on the bank overdraft to pay off their debts. Subsequently the bank wants the repayment of the sum within 1 month. It explains the weak financial condition of the organization and the auditor has not faced any types of material misstatement regarding the financial statement of Connor Company. This explains that the organization did not edit their financial statements to hide their financial condition. Hence the auditor should issue Unqualified Audit Opinion for Connor Company (T sipouridou and Spathis 2014) It should be the responsibility of the organizations to present their financial statements depending on the accounting principle standards. Apart from that, they should comply with the regulations of accounting of the country where they are operating. In the case study that is provided, it is seen that the organization should follow FIFO method for the valuation of inventory, but currently they are using LIFO method because their parent company back in United States use that method. Thus the differential effect between FIFO and LIFO has majorly affected the valuation of inventory making a material misstatement. Thus, in this case, the auditor has the rights to issue adverse opinion. As apart there are no discrepancies in any financial statement, there should not be any compliance issues. In this case, the auditor can issue Qualified Audit Option, where the auditor can add a paragraph highlighting the reason behind the report being unqualified (Rahimian, Tavakolnia and Karamlou 2014). The business organizations should do valuation of the fixed assets like machinery, building, plant and others on a regular basis because of the changing market price. For Victorian Manufacturing Company, it can be seen that they have not done the valuation of their Melbourne factory for the last five years as the directors of the organization thought that there are no changes in the market valuation. This can create major material misstatement. Thus while auditing the auditors will not be able to give accurate audit opinions and can issue Disclaimer of Opinion (Kachelmeier, Schmidt and Valentine 2016). References Athanasiou, A., 2014. Avoiding client persuasion.Taxation in Australia,48(10), p.601. Athanasiou, A., 2014. Boy, you're gonna carry that weight a long time!.Taxation in Australia,49(2), p.106. Carey, P.J., Monroe, G.S. and Shailer, G., 2014. Review of Post?CLERP 9 Australian Auditor Independence Research.Australian Accounting Review,24(4), pp.370-380. DeFond, M. and Zhang, J., 2014. A review of archival auditing research.Journal of Accounting and Economics,58(2), pp.275-326. Deumes, R., Schelleman, C., Vander Bauwhede, H. and Vanstraelen, A., 2012. Audit firm governance: Do transparency reports reveal audit quality?.Auditing: A Journal of Practice Theory,31(4), pp.193-214. Galit, S.H. and Sorbe, T., Metabank, 2012.Computerized extension of credit to existing demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards and lines of credit based on expected tax refund proceeds, associated systems and computer program products. U.S. Patent 8,090,649. Han Fan, Y., Woodbine, G. and Cheng, W., 2013. A study of Australian and Chinese accountants attitudes towards independence issues and the impact on ethical judgements.Asian Review of Accounting,21(3), pp.205-222. Kachelmeier, S.J., Schmidt, J.J. and Valentine, K., 2016. The disclaimer effect of disclosing critical audit matters in the auditors report. Kuan, K.T.C., 2014.Auditor independence: an analysis of the adequacy of selected provisions in CLERP 9(Doctoral dissertation, Queensland University of Technology). Ojo, M., 2013. Audits, audit quality and signalling mechanisms: concentrated ownership structures. Ottaway, J., 2014. IMPROVING AUDITOR INDEPENDENCE IN AUSTRALIA: IS MANDATORY AUDIT FIRM ROTATIONTHE BEST OPTION?. RAHIMIAN, N., TAVAKOLNIA, E. and KARAMLOU, M., 2014. Qualified Audit Opinion and Debt Maturity Structure. Trung, N.K., 2015. Ethics Education In The University.International Journal of Scientific Technology Research,4(8), pp.5-10. Tsipouridou, M. and Spathis, C., 2014, March. Audit opinion and earnings management: Evidence from Greece. In Accounting Forum(Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 38-54). Elsevier.

The strategy of international business

Summary The strategy of international business refers to arrangements that facilitate execution of commercial activities between businesses and firms that are located in two or more countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The strategy of international business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They are profit maximization programs that are executed by businesses in order to sell their services and products internationally. Basically, the strategies boost global business competition. Determining the ideal time to expand globally should not bother any business because there are no parameters that can be used to measure when a business should go global. Factors like size of business, the capital structure and duration spent in business are not enough to establish the exact time to go global. In this regard, any businessperson who is ambitious and enthusiastic about going global should do so as soon as possible. Bu siness operators are only required to understand simple things when formulating the international business strategies. These factors include: Determining the target customers. Establishing how such customers will define the value in the products supplied by the business. Laying down the strategies on how to keep up with the prevailing market trends in the country of choice. Determining the ways of increasing the product’s market share. Traditionally, no business that operates in a country can exist independently. It has to partner with a foreign country in one way or the other. The supply chain clarifies that businesses expand as a result of their trade with other global businesses. The need for companies to go multinational did not occur recently. It is a topic that commenced in the 1960s. Since then, various business analysts have confirmed that the key to turn an economy into a modern one is creating multinational companies. In order to ensure that the strategy of intern ational business is encouraged, various international strategies have been formulated. Lessons Learnt from the Strategy of International Business The strategy of international business is very helpful. This mechanism is sure way of gaining competitive advantage over others. For instance, if a business operates in a domestic environment that is saturated, going global will ensure that it diversifies its operations and in this way it will be able to earn profit regardless of the economic situations in the home country. The most commonly used international strategies that a company can use are:Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The global standardization strategy. This strategy aims to ensure that a growth in profits is achieved. The strategy advocates for cost reduction by promoting economies of scale. Localization strategy. A businessperson who applies this strategy should ens ure that customized products are provided. It is the best strategy to use if a businessperson operates in an environment where customers honor their tastes and preferences. Customers from various countries have different tastes and preferences. As a result of this, a business should supply goods and services that match with the requirements of the buyers. Generally, the strategy of international business is a must-have tool that should be embraced by any company that aims to expand and excel. It is a mechanism that enabled several companies to excel. For example, Toyota has managed to expand to several parts of the world due to its adoption of the strategies. The company’s application of the transnational strategy has enabled it to become a notable business in the globe (Ellis Williams, 1995). Every business that aspires to excel in international trade should consider these strategies as part of doing work. The strategies teach us that regardless of the size of business, in ternational business strategies should be set. Reference Ellis, J., Williams, D. (1995). International Business Strategy. London: Pitman Publishers. This essay on The strategy of international business was written and submitted by user Mustafa Rivers to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

History of Deforestation

History of Deforestation Introduction Deforestation was largely driven by the need to meet man’s needs. In the beginning, these were subsistence-based and individualistic; therefore, the level of destruction was not as enormous.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on History of Deforestation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ancient populations highly depended on wood for fuel, and needed access to land for agriculture. The rise of industrialisation deflated pressures on forests for fuel, but technological developments caused commercialisation of tree-cutting. Patterns of deforestation since early modern times 1600s In the 1600s, deforestation was employed in order to provide man with land for agricultural use. Fire was the preferred method of forest balding among native populations. However, because the population was small, the effects of their activities were not as substantial at the time.1 Later on, European settlers started moving into areas that were previously dominated by natives. They regarded forests as features that needed to be removed. In fact, most farmers in those early times spent most of their time clearing forests, making fences and establishing a new system of agriculture. Implements were few and far between, thus making the methods of deforestation less dependent on technology. However the pioneer farmer was still well aware of the importance of his forests in his life. He did not plan on eliminating all forests because they were crucial resource points. They provided him with food for fuel and house fencing. Forests were also a rich source of nuts, berries and other products. Axmen did most of the clearing through direct cutting. Alternatively, they would cut vital elements of the tree in order to cause the upper part of the tree to fall off gradually.2Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More 1700s In the 1700s shipbuilding became a common activity. The birth of the naval store affected the pattern of deforestation in Britain. A naval store encompassed all those products that were needed in order to run ships. Sails, ropes and planks in the ships required products derived from trees. In the previous century, pioneer farmers had discovered the commercial value of certain tree products. Alongside the products, timber itself was sold to various households through community markets. The products that were derived from trees included tar, turpentine, pitch and potash; they could all be used for various purposes. A critical shift in the eighteenth century occurred when farmers in North America stopped relying on their own citizens to provide a market for their timber-derived products. These were exported to distant locations in Europe; exporting towns were all areas that firmly depended upon the existence of wood to operate. At that time, much of the economy revolved ar ound timber. In the 1600s, most naval supplies for the British navy did not come from North America; they emanated from the Scandinavian countries. However, this dramatically changed when the US was discovered as a source for the products.3 Hemp was obtained from the barks of trees after the trees had been cut off. Individuals would make incisions in certain parts of trees so as to facilitate the collection of the sap, which was later collected in barrels, distilled and sold. Actual use of wood for construction also contributed to massive deforestation in the US. Some of the planks would be employed in the creation of ships. These vessels were small but much in number. Constructors wanted to incorporate the risk of returning empty vessels. Alongside the ship industry, construction of log cabins or houses also contributed towards greater deforestation. Certain individuals built sawmills that would guarantee an ample supply of wood to their townsmen as well as to other external market s. In fact after 1720, numerous sawmills began flourishing.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on History of Deforestation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most of them were based on contracts between local administrators and apprentices. They were supposed to engage in the deforestation of local trees for the local population first before they could use them for commercial purposes. After several of these sawmills came up, a thriving commercial wood industry emerged. Most of these mills were found very near the forest for convenience. A number of them were primitive in nature because they employed manual labour or simple fulcrums for movement.4 The latter types were powered using water sources and were more efficient than the former type. An export industry started to emerge around the felling of tress. The US began exporting planks and boards to various markets through its coastal towns. This was especially prevalent af ter 1775. Wood was a critical source of energy for most communities in the eighteenth century, and that contributed towards massive deforestation. At the time, most settlers relied upon the use of charcoal for their personal energy use. Iron smelters were one of the most vital consumers of wood in the late 1700s. Iron consumption was common in Britain as far back as the seventeenth century. However, production was low-cost in England because they had discovered coke as a source of energy.5 The same did not occur in the US. Most iron smelters relied upon wood for energy. Furnaces were constructed in a manner that necessitated the use of charcoal. In another part of the world i.e. Japan, forests were also used for a myriad of purposes. Some supplies would be utilised by the army while others were employed domestically for heating and cooking.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, a rapid rise in population meant that forests were inadequate to meet man’s needs. Leaders realized that they needed to alter their patterns of deforestation in order to make it sustainable. This country started a community forest management project that would spearhead the plantation of several tree species. Therefore this part of the earth was one of the initial countries to start reforestation projects. Environmentalism in Japan began in 1660 but intensified in the eighteenth century. Successes were reported years later, i.e. in the twentieth century. 1800s Fuel consumption levels were so high in iron-smelting furnaces thus making it imperative to fell massive acres of trees. In fact, pig iron led to forest recession and shortages in several parts of North America. A number of entrepreneurs had to abandon their furnaces because they lacked ample sources of coal. Usually, most furnace owners either leased or bought forested areas in order to cover their fuel needs. However, such activities contributed to the detriment of forests in approximately ten to fifteen years. Therefore, charcoal burners were responsible for this tragedy in the forests. Unlike their British counterparts, the Americans preferred to use this environmentally unfriendly method because the type of iron that coal made was in demand. Additionally, there was an abundance of wood in the US compared to Britain, which had already started experiencing shortages from as early as the 1600s. In the US, charcoal burning was done through creation of pits in forests. This had a sterilising effect on soil and prevented re-growth of trees in the future. Charcoal burning also ruined tree stands and changed their composition if the tree grew back. Land clearing for farming still continued in the US. However, farmers were sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of pasture land that they created after deforestation. They needed woodland for fuel and pasture for their livestock. Therefore, farmers needed to strike a balance between crop land and land to be used for pasture or woodlands. This continued into the 1800s. After 1860, some stakeholders realized that forests in the US were in danger and they began talking about it. Such individuals were especially concerned about the use of slash and burn techniques. 1900s Energy use in the 1900s changed dramatically, after the discovery petroleumbased products; a lot of pressure was taken off trees. Deforestation was done in order to obtain wood for construction rather than energy use. Additionally, the industrial era depended more on iron than on wood. Colonising countries wanted to preserve their own wood resources so they started tapping their colons’ resources. Deforestation in West Africa was commonplace. Other European countries also secured their own supplies of timber from countries such as Malaysia. The US started getting its resources from Brazil and the Philippines while Japan banked its own trees. It depended on Indonesia and other South Eastern countries.6 Therefore, one may assert that there was a global spread of deforestation. In less-developed parts of the world, tree cutting continued for farming purposes but also for commercial use. In developed nations, creation of paper, construction and other wood-derived products continued to perpetuate the needs for destruction of forests. After the 1960s, some improvements emerged because of the growth of environmentalists and other tree lovers. This caused a decrease in forest destruction and the use of wood alternatives.7 Differences between old and new patterns of use of forests Tree cutting in the old era was done in order to meet immediate needs. Commercial uses of timber were not a priority for those communities. Most wanted to access farmland and provide pasture for their livestock. Since there was plenty of wood supply, most ancient communities did not give much thought to their tree- cutting activities. Therefore, one might add that d eforestation was done on a subsistence level. Individuals lacked the machines and technology needed to engage in massive deforestation. Additionally, because populations were still low in number, forest use was minimal in nature.8 However, current patterns reveal that most deforestation is commercially-based. It is driven by enterprises and can thus prove to be more detrimental than the old approach. Even if deforestation is done for agricultural purposes, one may find that these attempts are often state sponsored and are done in order to facilitate large-s scale agricultural production. Cases such as Indonesia and Brazil are ideal examples of this new pattern of forest use. Their governments actively promoted rural development through construction of roads and commercial agriculture. This is quite different from the kind of forest destruction that was done by European settlers in the US. Their major concern was to meet their immediate needs. Globalisation is also another theme that can be found in new patterns of forest use but not in old ones. Although some wood-derived products were transported to Britain from the US, it was evident that in the seventeenth century, most forests were to be used by locals. Furthermore, it was the locals who did most of the deforestation; they only exported the derivatives of those products to other nations. In new patterns of forest use, distant countries initiated deforestation in different states. Therefore, the process took on an international dimension. For instance, the United States sourced its products from Brazil while Japan sourced its products from Indonesia. This reflects the globalization of deforestation and the need for self preservation. Most developed nations wanted to bank their forests while still enjoying the benefits of wood products. The spread of deforestation may have been caused by international stakeholders just as much as it was caused by locals.9 New patterns of forest use are also different from ol d patterns because current endeavours reflect conservation policies. Many environmentalists have spearheaded efforts in various sectors that directly or indirectly depend on deforestation for survival. These individuals have contributed towards the minimisation of unwarranted forest destruction. Such environmentalists did not exist in the ancient times. Developments in energy sources and technology have minimised the use of trees as sources of fuel in developed nations. This was not true in the past since coal was a vital cause of deforestation. Logging was often done in order to meet energy needs domestically and commercially. Smelting of iron and other industrial related needs took place through wood- derived fuels. Currently, forests are useful for the creation of certain products. However, these products cannot be created from certain parts of trees; they must come from the large scale elimination of trees. Therefore, while new patterns of forest use may have been propelled by o ther needs, they still present a serious threat to forests.10 Conclusion Man has always seen forests as a means to an end; trees enable him to meet his needs. However, changing technological advancements and needs altered the patterns of forest use. Some of the objectives that motivated man to cut trees were eliminated in subsequent times while new ones came into existence. This explains the prevalence of globalisation (international sourcing of wood) and large scale deforestation as trends in forest use today. Bibliography Braudel, F, The Structures of Everyday Life, Harper and Row, New York, 1979. Brimblecombe, P and Pfister, C, The Silent Countdown, Springer, New York, 1990. Cronon, W, Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England, Hill and Wang, NY, 1983. Dargavel, J, Fashioning Australia‘s Forests, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1995 Goudie, A, The Human Impact on the Environment, 2d ed, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1986 Radkau, J, Nature and Power: A Global History of the Environment, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2008. Schama, S, Landscape and Memory, Alfred Knopf, New York, 1995. Thirgood, J, Man and the Mediterranean Forest: A History of Resource Depletion, Academic Press, New York, 1981. Williams, M, Americans and their Forests: A Historical Geography, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,1989. Williams, M, Deforesting the Earth: From prehistory to global crisis, University of Chicago press, Chicago, 2003. Footnotes 1W Cronon, Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England, Hill and Wang, NY, 1983. 2 S Schama, Landscape and Memory, Alfred Knopf, New York, 1995. 3 M Williams, Deforesting the Earth: From prehistory to global crisis, University of Chicago press, Chicago, 2003. 4M Williams, Americans and their Forests: A Historical Geography, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,1989. 5 P Brimblecombe and C Pfister, The Silent Countdown, Springer, New York, 1990. 6 J Radkau, Natur e and Power: A Global History of the Environment, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2008. 7 A Goudie, The Human Impact on the Environment, 2d ed, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1986. 8 J Dargavel, Fashioning Australia‘s Forests, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1995. 9 F Braudel, The Structures of Everyday Life, Harper and Row, New York, 1979. 10 J Thirgood, Man and the Mediterranean Forest: A History of Resource Depletion, Academic Press, New York, 1981.

Bitter Love Quotes

Bitter Love Quotes Love is like dark chocolate. Although it can leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth, you will still be tempted to take a bite the next time around. Many writers have tried to put the bitter experiences of love into words and some have done an exceptional job of it. Here are 21 bitter love quotes that bring out the bleakness of love. Bitter Quotes From Famous People Mother TeresaLoneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible.Ben HechtLove is a hole in the heart. Pearl Bailey  The sweetest joy, the wildest woe is love. James BaldwinThe face of a lover is an unknown, precisely because it is invested with so much of oneself. It is a mystery, containing, like all mysteries, the possibility of torment. W. H. AudenHe was my North, my South, my East and  West,My working week and Sunday rest,My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;I thought that love would last forever:I was wrong. Maureen Duffy  The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound. William M. Thackeray  To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.Johann Wolfgang von GoetheIf  I love you, what business is it of yours?ConfuciusCan there be a love which does not make demands on its object?Henry Wadsworth LongfellowIf I am not worth the wooing, I am surely not worth the winning.S. JohnsonLove is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise. Kahlil Gibran Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. Margaret MitchellI was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken, and Id rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as I lived.   Anais NinLove never dies a natural death. It dies because we dont know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing.Samuel Butler  It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all. Anonymous Bitter Love Quotes AnonymousTo fall in love is awfully simple; to fall out of love is simply awful. Anonymous  Love is like heaven, but it can hurt like hell.Anonymous  Love is like war: easy to begin but hard to end.AnonymousI never felt true love until I was with you, and I never felt true sadness until you left me.AnonymousLove begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.AnonymousNo matter how badly your heart is broken, the world does not stop for your grief.

Policy brief for globalization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Policy brief for globalization - Research Paper Example changes triggered the increment of business transformation and IT investments.2 Irrespective of the fact that the entry of IT into the field of business operations was disruptive to workers and also businesses, it had a major influence on the two areas, and the impacts contributed to the growth of productivity, income, employment levels and a reduction in inflation levels. The institution of a more in-depth diffusion of IT in the economy of the US is likely to trigger another wave of production increment. Towards the realization of that, the producers based in the US should increase the production of hardware, as well as services and software, which will trigger a reduction in the prices of services and software.3 The outcome will be the reduction in the overall cost of accessing and employing IT systems for more businesses, which will trigger the incidence of a second productivity boom.4 Apart from increasing the production of the software, hardware and the services produced in the US, the services and the software that are imported at expensive rates can be produced locally, which will reduce the costs of the packages, taking into account that the production facilities will be closer to the customers; the products and services can also be produced with the specific specifications of businesses in American. The globalization of IT services and software will imply that some of the IT employment offered by the facilities will be transferred to overseas production centers. However, with the increasing uptake of IT services and software packages within the borders of the US, high-skill capacity for the development of IT services and software packages will be increased within the American IT sector, and the employment positions requiring the usage of these skills will become abundant throughout the American society. The conclusion of this policy brief is that the globalization of the production of IT hardware will offer the model required for the evolution of

Case studies and letter to the Editor Assignment - 1

Case studies and letter to the Editor - Assignment Example I will let them be aware that their misunderstanding is also affecting their work and eventually will affect our section’s productivity. I will ask them if they can commit to work with each other without fighting. I will tell them that I will observe them and see if there is any improvement. I have to tell them what the consequences will be if the disagreement persists. I will impose a policy of zero tolerance for office fighting. Emphasizing to them the importance of team work will also help. If after doing all these, the fighting continues, I will already refer it to higher management to assist me in resolving the problem. I will also suggest the possibility of assigning one of them to another section with the least communication with my section. But if this is done, it must be made clear to the employees that if they still ignore the office policy on fighting, it may already be a ground for their termination. Yes there is something George can do about Charlie’s behavior and for the company’s sake, he should. The change in his attitude towards staff meetings is a concern and a sign of demoralization. This justifies the need for him to take action on this matter. First, he should consult with the other old-time supervisors about how they feel about going to the meetings ever since Charlie came in. This is to verify if his sentiments are shared by the others or is it just him. If it is just him, then he should learn to change his attitude towards Charlie. However, if the others feel the same way, I think they have a valid reason to bring up their concerns over the behavior of Charlie to their manager. Tell their boss Charlie’s negative effects on morale and how the atmosphere during meetings has changed from positive collaboration to negative criticisms. After going to the boss, then George together with the others should invite Charlie in an informal get together, mayb e over a cup of coffee, and let him know how his

The employee caries out this specific job role Essay Example for Free

The employee caries out this specific job role Essay Job roles are appointed to each individual employee in McDonalds and it is important the employee caries out this specific job role to the best of his/her ability. It is also important to carry out these roles to ensure McDonalds run smoothly and efficiently. Working arrangements is the time and location and terms an individual employee must work. These working arrangements will vary to each individual as some employees may do part time work while others do full time work. Job roles vary to different employees. Some employees have more power than others and so have more responsibilities. This level of power in McDonalds can be shown in a hierarchal. McDonalds Pyramid Structure The pyramid structure of McDonalds is a diagram (pyramid) showing the different levels of power each employee has within McDonalds. McDonalds use a pyramid structure to show the powers of different members of staff. The pyramid shows the flow of information from top to bottom. The person with the highest power within McDonalds is placed at the top of the pyramid and the person with the lowest level of power is placed at the bottom of the pyramid. There are two types of pyramids these are tall and flat pyramids. A tall pyramid is used by larger organisations such as McDonalds. A tall pyramid consists of more levels and more power as you go higher up. A flat pyramid is used by smaller organisations, and consists of less levels and the amount of power the top person has is considerably less than the amount of power that the top person has in a tall pyramid. Important decisions are usually made by the person at the top of the pyramid. This information is passed down to the employees. It is also important to know that the level of authority increases as you go up the pyramid. The pyramid structure also shows that the higher you are in the pyramid the higher your wages are. The five key points to know about McDonalds pyramid structure are A pyramid structure shows the levels of power of an employee. A pyramid structure is either tall or flat. A pyramid structure can be used to show the flow of information from top to bottom. A pyramid structure can be used to represent the importance of a particular person within McDonalds. (The higher in the pyramid you are, the more important you are.) A pyramid increases in size as you go down because there are more people carrying out that particular job. This is why the structure is a pyramid shape. Organisation charts are charts that show the main people of McDonalds and their level of power. A normal organisation chart would show a high managers picture at the top with a description and name and below this person would be other employees who work just under the high manager. However McDonalds is far too big a business to have this so it is likely that McDonalds have an organisation chart which shows the more important departments. The role of the organisation chart is to show power structure and the line of communication within McDonalds. In an organisation charts you will be able to see. Chain of command Line manager Depth of control Span of control The chain of command shows a direct level of power from top to bottom. For example a managing director would be at the top and a crew member would be at the bottom. The chain also shows the path of communication within McDonalds. And also from a chain of command you can see where your instructions are coming from. A chain of command will change in lengths. This is dependant of the different types of employees and job roles within a department in McDonalds. This is what an organisation chart may look like for McDonalds. The line manager is the person who an employee will receive an immediate instruction from. From the diagram above you can see the levels of power and responsibility increase as you go up the chain. It is likely that a floor manager will receive his/her instructions from the manager. The depth of control can also be seen from the above chart. The depth of control is the number of levels a person controls or is higher than. For example a floor manager has a depth control of two were as the manager has a depth control of 3. A span of control has a different style of presentation as it shows how one person has immediate authority over another person or how someone is under the authority of another. For example there maybe seven crew members. One of these crew members may be manager of the other crew members so the manager has direct authority over the other crew members. This is what the chart would look like. Job Roles Managers Managers are mainly found in medium or large organisations. McDonalds is a large organisation and so has many managers. Each managing level will have different responsibilities. For example a floor manager will have different responsibilities to a supervising manager. The managers have a role to take care of a section of McDonalds and to perform duties given to them by the director. Their tasks may include helping with customer service, registering complaints, analyzing the profit and loss accounts, etc. Managers have a very good level of job security, as managers will always be needed and also there are fewer managers in a restaurant than crew members. And a manager has specific qualities and skills. The skills needed maybe the ability to calculate profits and loss, ability to analyse assets. It is likely that you would need a qualification maths. Managers of McDonalds are paid well for the work they do. Supervisors Supervisors work a level below the managers. Supervisors have a role to lead a group (crew members). They have day to day responsibilities these include monitoring progress of employees, Check profits are coming in, help in customer service, serve customers and so on. Supervisors also have good job security as there are less of them (almost always one in every group) and also it is likely that supervisors will be promoted to be a manager. They are usually looked on to solve small problems such as disputes between employees and to handle customers with complaints. People who have become supervisors have usually been working in McDonalds as a lower position for a period of time so a quality a supervisor would need is experience. Skills to be a supervisor could be to be able to calm customers down, know how to solve disputes, etc. Supervisors have a pay which is good for the job they do, however the pay is very little. Operatives Operatives are people who work on the shop floor of McDonalds. They carry out activities such as cleaning and serving. They have a responsibility to provide customers with a high standard of food along with a high standard of service. The job security for an operative can be low as there are so many and the jobs they carry out are tedious. Some of their duties can be replaced by machines witch means that they can loose their job at any time. An operative at McDonalds must have good communication skills, they must be quick and efficient at their job, and they must also be able to do different jobs within the team. The qualifications expected by an operative are minimal. The pay for an operative is quite low as the jobs carried out are simple. Crew Member A crew member has several responsibilities they must serve customers, provide excellent customer service, perform general kitchen duties and take part in annual stock take. The job description of an employee is one that is very simple. They must process customer orders for payment, collect and pack customer orders and provide customers with information and advice about products within McDonalds. There are two types of contracts these are permanent and temporary. The level of job security is dependant on the type of contract the employee has agreed to. A temporary job has a finishing date of work. So the amount of time the employee can work for is fixed. This offers minimum job security, however a permanent job offers a greater level of job security as the date that the employee finishes working is not fixed. The only way in which the employee can loose his or her job is by either getting sacked or by resigning. A crew member plays a minimum role in decision making as the only decision the crew member makes is how to pack a customers order. The skills and qualifications a crew member is expected to have is to have G.C.S.Es in English and maths. The crew member is also expected to have good customer service skills along with having commitment to hard work and being a team worker. Previous work experience is not necessary. A crew member can be expected to have an Hourly pay of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½3.45 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5.05 per hour. Good performance by employees are rewarded with bonuses. Annual paid leave is provided along with employee discounts in regards to McDonalds products. Restaurant Manager A restaurant manager has many responsibilities. The restaurant manager is responsible for the restaurants overall performance and profitability. The restaurant manager also has the duty of reporting performance to head office and area managers. The restaurant manager is also responsible for management of staff along with taking responsibility that the McDonalds restaurant food is cooked properly and that only in-date stock used in the food used to provide their customers. The restaurant manager must also make sure that health and safety regulations are followed carefully and to absolute precision. He/she must also monitor the training and development of their staff. The restaurant manager also has the responsibility of having to be able to deal with customer queries, complaints along with ensuring high level customer service. The job description of a restaurant manager would include the roles the restaurant manger must play. These are provision of standardised food and customer service, setting performance targets to monitor staff performance against targets, manage section managers, recruit staff, communicate regularly with staff and to keep restaurant costs within budget. The restaurant manager has a high level of job security as the contract he/she is employed on is a permanent contract. In order for the restaurant manager to keep his/her job security high he/she must complete the objectives told in his/her job description. Decisions made by the restaurant manager include the recruitment of section managers, store layout and range of goods kept in store. The qualifications expected of a restaurant manager is that he/she must have a degree, HND or work experience with NVQ. The restaurant manager is also expected to have good leadership skills along with good communication skills. Good organisational skills and excellent customer service skills. The salary of a restaurant manager usually increases over time, when a restaurant manger starts off he/she would be paid between à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½17,000 and à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½22,000 yearly. After time the restaurant managers yearly salary should increase to about à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½35,000-à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½55,000. Completion of achieving set aims of McDonalds is rewarded by performance bonuses. Franchising opportunities are given to the restaurant managers, and are paid annual leave of (5 weeks). The restaurant manager also gets staff discounts and stakeholder Pension scheme. Working arrangements at McDonalds An employment contract is a very important document as it states what is expected for the employee and what the employee can expect of the employer. Such expectations of the employee can be the time he/she reaches for work and leaves. The attitude taken towards customers, the jobs expected to do. If the employment contract is broken either by the employer or the employee their jobs will be at risk. Below are the key points of information shown on an employment contract. * Job title. * Hours of work * Place of work * Terms and conditions of employment * Pay and benefits * Date of commencement of employment * Name of employer * Employees name There are five types of working arrangements. This is to say five different ways of taking work. These are. *Permanent employment * Temporary employment *Full time workers *Part time workers *Flexible hours * Shift work * Flexitime workers * Overtime Permanent employment is when you are given set hours to work and you have no decided end to your job. The only way your job can end is if you retire or are sacked. The advantage of permanent employment is that you have high job security and that you can claim benefits such as having paid leave. A disadvantage of permanent employment is that you can be sacked. Temporary employment is when you work for a set number of hours however you have an end to the job. A disadvantage to this is that you cant claim benefits from McDonalds (such as paid leave). The advantage of temporary employment is that you dont have to work very long and that you get paid. Full time workers are permanent employees that work standard hours. Standard hours would cover the hours of between (9.00 am- 5.00 pm.) The disadvantage to this is that you have to work long hours for almost all work. The advantage to this however is that there is more pay in working full time. Part time workers are employees that work less hours through agreement. The advantage to this is that you can work hours that suit your schedule. The disadvantage to this is that you do not get paid as much as full time work. Shift work is when you work for a period of time over twenty four hours. The advantage to this is that you work shorter hours that suit your needs. The disadvantage to this is however you dont get as much pay as full time work. Flexitime workers are employees that decide when to start and finish work however by completing the standard working hours. The advantage to this is that you can take care of jobs you must do before you work such as (drop children off to school, etc). The disadvantage is that you would end up finishing work at a later time as you would still have to complete the working hours set. Overtime is a working arrangement where employees work for longer than the standard hours. The disadvantage is that you would have to work for a longer time, however the advantage is that you would get paid more. It is expected that an employee of McDonalds is expected to work seven hours a day (not including part time workers). These working hours are shown in the employment contract witch the employee has signed showing that he/she has agreed to complete those hours. Your place of work can sometimes vary depending on what you work as. An operative of McDonalds will almost always be located in the restaurant this is a fixed place of work. This is also included on your employment contract. Your payment is included in your employment contract. It will also state of the pay is annual or hourly. Holidays are given to employees and they can be taken at any time, however their holiday time is limited as when the employees are on holiday they are still getting paid. Any days taken off after your holiday will not be paid for. Different employees will have different benefits. If an employee works far away from their place of work they are given a company car. Medical and life insurance are very likely to be covered by McDonalds. Flexible hours are important to McDonalds. This is because it keeps there employees less stressed and so are more happy to work and that adds to a happier working environment. When an employee is able to come in at a later time and so get other jobs out of the way such as dropping off children to school they are a lot happier and so are able to get on with their jobs better. Family Flexi Working Family flexi working is when there are two or members of a family working in McDonalds, and the agreement allows them to cover each others shifts. The advantage to this is that family members can take time off when needed, however the disadvantage to this is that it does not always work as both family members may have to take time off work at the same time.

Essay --

In the United States there has been a big increase in obesity in the last 50 years. There has been much controversy on who is to blame for the increase of obesity people or fast food restaurants. Many think that it is the fast food companies fault but they are mistaking the only person to blame is people themselves not McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, etc. People take advantage of the privilege of fast food to the point that they can’t take responsibility for their own actions so they have to blame everyone else but themselves. If people would control themselves, stop being lazy, and have more responsible parents there would be much less obesity. People need to start taking responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming fast food for their obesity. People have free will; no one is forcing them to eat a big greasy burger from the fast foods restaurant with large fries and a large soda. People choose to eat that no one puts a gun to their head and forces them to make a purchase of an unhealthy meal. They buy it at their own risk knowing what can come from eating fast food all the...

A Semiotic Analysis of the Battle Fo Algiers

The Battle of Algiers, which was produced in 1966 and directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, is a film which explores the Algerian struggle for independence between 1954 and 1962. The film is constructed using a documentary style and was filmed on the actual locations where events unfolded. The Battle of Algiers is an example of neorealist filmmaking which purports to give an objective, realistic account of the battles waged between the FLN (National Liberation Front) rebels and the French military. The formal elements of style which create the narrative can be examined using semiotic theory in order to better understand how the viewer can be interpellated into particular ideological positions. Interestingly, the ideal viewing position is not easily recognisable, which is why the film works well in striking a balance in presenting the points of views of combating sides. Semiotics refers to the study of and meaning created by ‘signs’, which are composed of ‘signifiers’ and their ‘signifieds’. Semiotic systems are culturally contingent; they appeal to and are informed by ideology (O’sullivan, Hartley, Saunders, Montgomery & Fiske, 2004). Therefore, it may be significant to note that The Battle of Algiers is essentially a European production as the â€Å"key creative positions in the production of the film were occupied by Italians† (Wayne, 2001, p. 9). With this in mind, it would appear that the characterisations which are constructed through the combination of formal filmic conventions can be seen to position the viewer into considering the futility of continued political control over a colonised state, regardless of the viewer’s ideological point of view. Ostensibly, the characterisations of the combatants from the FLN and the French military are polarised opposites. The FLN rebels are less organised, poorly funded, less literate and rely on deception and terror to further their cause. Opposed to this, the French paratroopers are well organised, disciplined, calculating, brutal, and use torture and modern weaponry to counter the rebels. The character of Ali La-Pointe can be read as the embodiment of the FLN, whereas Colonel Philippe Mathieu can be read as the embodiment of the French military. La-Pointe is played by non-professional actor, Brahim Haggiag, â€Å"a real life petty criminal† (Odeh, 2004). On the other hand, Colonel Mathieu is played by the only professional in the cast, Jean Martin (Odeh, 2004). La-Pointe is presented as being poorly educated and disenfranchised. His poor education is signified in the scene where he asks the boy messenger, Petit Omar, to read him a communication from FLN leader, Jaffar. Other signifiers of his poor education and low socio-economic status are his tatty clothing, unkempt appearance and lack of paid employment. La-Pointe is characterised as being ill-disciplined and short-tempered. This is signified clearly by La-Pointe punching a young Frenchman after he is called a ‘dirty Arab’. His past crimes, albeit petty, are signified by voiceover. La-Pointe is also impulsive in his role as a rebel leader. He is impatient to fight the French military and does not see the sense in the more measured approach suggested by Jaffar. Whilst La-Pointe is not a model citizen and is not easy to sympathise with he is, however, characterised as being a strong leader, courageous and loyal to his cause. La-Pointe’s characterisation perhaps works to interpellate the viewer into a position which favours a bourgeois ideology, because La-Pointe’s rise to eminence within the FLN is seemingly more out of vengeance and revenge, rather than any political manoeuvring or prowess. Ironically, this lack of political power which results in violence and terror adds authenticity to La-Pointe’s character and in so doing, his character positions the viewer to understand that the French hegemonic ideology is the root cause of the Arabs’ disenfranchisement. In contrast to La-Pointe, Colonel Mathieu is characterised as being intelligent, charismatic and disciplined; he is the embodiment of the French military and by extension the French culture. Mathieu is the most developed character in the film and this can be read as being metaphoric of the French culture’s supposed sophistication. The mise-en-scene when Mathieu is parading down a large street along the seafront after being recruited to command the offensive against the FLN rebels is significant. Matheiu, a tall, sturdy, middle-aged man looks resplendent in full military uniform amidst cheering ‘French’ locals and is presented as the messiah like character. Tellingly though, it is the dark sunglasses, rolled up sleeves and unbuttoned shirt which give him an authentic and individual appearance; he appears to be a man of action and experience. The viewer is immediately positioned to sense that Mathieu’s arrival will coincide with a significant change in events in Algiers. As the viewers’ expectations are played out they are positioned to sympathise with Mathieu’s point-of-view. When Mathieu first arrives in Algiers, he sets about systematically dismantling the resistance, however, he points out to his colleagues that not all of the Arabs are terrorists and that most do not present a threat at all (Odeh, 2002). This is signified by Mathieu saying: There are four hundred thousand Arabs in Algeria; are they all enemies? We know they are not. But a small minority hold sway by means of terror and violence (Pontecorvo, 1966). He describes the organisational structure of the FLN, how they recruit members and why they are a considerable threat. This signifies Mathieu’s knowledge of military tactics and strategy, as well as his respect of the enemy. This respect for his enemy is also signified through the following quote: â€Å"It’s a dangerous enemy†¦ using tried-and-true revolutionary methods as well as original tactics† (Pontecorvo, 1966). Although Mathieu is presented as being respectful of his adversaries, he is, on the other hand, ruthless and actively condones the use of torture. His is an attitude of ‘win at all costs’ and the ‘end justifies the means’ approach. Mathieu euphemistically uses the word ‘interrogation’ for torture in order to gain intelligence to dismantle the FLN pyramid structure. As he emphatically puts it, the interrogation will be â€Å"conducted in such a way as to ensure we always get an answer† (Pontecorvo, 1966). When questioned about these tactics in a press conference, Mathieu justifies his tactics as being the lesser of two evils, and the only way to counter clandestine tactics such as setting off bombs in public places. He is fully aware of the creation of a vicious cycle of terrorism and counterterrorism which highlights the complexity of the situation and the necessity for decisive actions. The viewer is positioned to sympathise with Mathieu’s persuasive rhetoric not only through his words but also because of the camera angles in this scene. The use of a low camera angle from the journalists’ perspective reinforces Mathieu as the dominant figure in the room and adds weight to his profound rhetoric. Mathieu is also belligerent towards the hypocritical journalists who want the FLN defeated, but are critical of the methods employed. The mise-en-scene during the press conference shows the dominant figure Mathieu standing slightly in front of three military colleagues who are wearing stern expressions in a show of solidarity with their leader. They are flanked by a blackboard which shows a line graph with an upward trend. This could be read as signifying an upward trend in terrorist acts or bombings. Throughout the press conference, Mathieu is in the centre of frame and stands bolt upright in a dominant fashion with hands on hips. The positioning of Mathieu as a powerful figure with courage and vigour sets him up as being a metaphoric representation of French pride. Mathieu sits down in a more relaxed fashion as he appeals to the journalists’ sense of pride. He states, â€Å"We’re neither madmen nor sadists† and reminds them of the â€Å"role many of us played in the resistance† (referring to WWII; Pontecorvo, 1966). In this powerful scene Mathieu is juxtaposed with the captured FLN commander Benjamin M’hidi. M’hidi is questioned by a journalist about the use of terror tactics and is asked, â€Å"isn’t it cowardly to use your women’s baskets to carry bombs which have taken so many innocent lives? † (Pontecorvo, 1966). M’hidi replies by comparing these actions with the even more devastating effect from use of bomber planes and napalm, and suggests that he would swap the baskets for the bombers. This comment highlights the difference between the resources of the French and the FLN and by extension the difference between the wealth and infrastructure of the French Algerians compared with the much poorer and disenfranchised Algerian Natives. The camera angles are higher when M’hidi is in shot and the reader is positioned to view him as less powerful than Mathieu; what’s more most of the journalists are also standing, making the camera angle similar when they are in view which works to present them as being equally important as M’hidi. The journalists and photographers are also rowdier and jostle for position signifying less respect for him. However, M’hidi who is clearly surrounded by such adversity is defiant; when asked if he thinks the FLN can defeat the French army, he poignantly suggests that they have a better chance of victory than the French have of changing history. While M’hidi’s argument is compelling, it is Mathieu’s charisma which is most memorable in this scene as it is in most others in which he is involved. With this in mind, it could be argued that it is most likely that the viewer will be interpellated into the ideological position of bourgeois subject. The Battle of Algiers is very complex in its viewer positioning however, and while on the one hand it positions the viewer to respect Mathieu as an indomitable character with admirable intentions, this is somewhat countered by some negative racist traiting. Shortly after Mathieu’s arrival, it becomes clear that he has a racist attitude. This is signified by his description of the Arabs as being â€Å"like rabbits in a cage† and is reinforced by the smirk on his face. When asked by the General, what he is calling the operation, he whimsically looks through a pair of binoculars and sees a sign by the shipping dock which says â€Å"drink Champagne. † He then informs the general that he will call the operation ‘Champagne’. This use of the word ‘champagne’ is metaphoric of the hegemonic rise of the French culture being imparted upon the Algerians, especially given the fact that the sign is at a dock yard symbolising the foreign influence being transported from abroad. However, Mathieu’s racist attitude is somewhat tempered throughout the film. This is signified in the scene where FLN commander, Jaffar, is captured in a seemingly inevitable fashion as the FLN are being systematically destroyed by the French paratroopers; while Mathieu escorts Jaffar in a vehicle he admits that he’d â€Å"have hated to have blown you all up† (Pontecorvo, 1966). Mathieu explains that he has had Jaffar’s picture on his desk for months and he felt like he knew him a bit. He also signifies his admiration in a subtle manner by telling Jaffar: â€Å"You don’t strike me as the kind for empty gestures† (Pontecorvo, 1966). Mathieu does not demonstrate any animosity towards Jaffar and the only satisfaction he finds in his capture is through the achievement of his military objective. This complex traiting is significant, given that Mathieu works, in a broad sense, as a metonym of the French military and government; it shows that even the most admirable of characters is not truly existential in nature. He is still a subject of the French ideology, and therefore when surrounded by colleagues he assumes the racist persona. However, when he is interacting on a one-on-one basis with Jaffar, he is able to express empathy for his prisoner. What this highlights is the difficulty in effecting political change as a subject of the dominant ideology. It is significant that the film works to develop the character of Mathieu while neglecting the development of any other ‘French’ characters. In contrast to this, several Arab characters are at least partially developed, albeit not as well crafted or nuanced in their presentation. This can be seen as symbolic of the opposing ideologies at work. Mathieu who represents the force of the dominant ideology is an empowered character who is allowed to express himself and has the support of the educated, wealthy French colonialists. In contrast, the main Arab characters including FLN Leaders La-Pointe, Jaffar, M’hidi and boy messenger Petit Omar are less developed, but in so doing appear to be more ‘archetypal’ and representative of typical characters who inhabit the poverty-stricken Casbah. This sets up an ‘us versus them’ dichotomy in terms of ideological positions. The less-dominant Arabic ideology is becoming more powerful and is reflected in more characters performing a powerful role for change. In contrast, the dominant French ideology is lessening in strength as the French colonialists are seen to be more ambivalent towards change. This is understandable as they are wealthier and have more political power. The French military finally win the battle in 1957 by capturing or killing all the FLN leaders. Ultimately though, it is the native Algerians who win their independence. The film finishes by depicting the large scale demonstrations which occurred two years later, which (according to the French press) appeared unexpectedly and originated in the mountains. Many unarmed Arabs are killed by the French military during the demonstrations but the Arabs continue to demonstrate and march for ten days, chanting and waving flags. The flags are an obvious signifier of unity, pride and a hope for independence. The film ends with one of the more powerful images of the film; an Arab woman is holding a flag whilst dancing and yelling at the French military in obvious defiance. She has a determined, almost hypnotised expression on her face. This powerful mise-en-scene with the woman being backed by hundreds of demonstrators defiant in the face of powerful suppression foreshadows an inevitable change of politics after another two years of struggle. The words of Benjamin M’hidi seem even more profound by the end of the film: you cannot change the course of history (Pontecorvo, 1966). References http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/46/algiers.htm

Business Analysis – International Strategy and Competitive Advantages

Introduction According to Iliev et al (2004, p. 133), Apple Inc. was selling its products exclusively in America, initially. Nowadays, Apple has expanded significantly beyond domestic market. Apple has so far succeeded to become a multinational organization, selling products and resourcing law materials globally. To minimize the impact of the existing rivalry in the PC industry at the global edge and to maintain competitive advantage, Apple applies non-competition strategies, (Yoffie, 2004).This section examines the strategies adopted Apple Inc to penetrate and to manage rivalry in the global market. Further, this part looks into the competitive advantages of Apple Inc, which enable it to maintain competitive edge In the PC industry globally. In addition, paper briefly highlights the benefits and shortcomings of the strategies adopted by Apple Inc, giving potential solutions and strategies based on the available data. International strategy According to Iliev et al (2004, p. 133), Ap ple Inc. ses a combination of product development and product proliferation strategies to achieve and maintain its international competitiveness. Iliev et al notes that, product proliferation strategy is similar to the approaches used in creating barriers to entry. In such an approach, if new niches develop, the leader in a given industry benefits most. For example, Apple got the first mover advantage in the digital music market where it was the first company to provide online music through iTunes and the iPod.The other companies in the industry started to move into the niche, competition was raised and rivalry decreased Product development on the other hand refers to the process of innovation of new or better products so as to replace the old ones. Apple has managed to lead in the PC industry in innovation and design hence, it has been able to exploit available opportunities and to gain significant market share in the international market. For example, in 2002 and 2003, iTunes and the iPod were made available by Apple at windows version.As a result, demand for the products skyrocketed and helped to propel revenues for Apple to record high. In fact, today, iTunes account for 70% for global market for digital music downloads, (Jones, 2011). The combination of product development and product proliferation strategies is beneficial to Apple since the perceived value of the products of Apple Inc. generated through innovation and superior design proves to be inimitable competency. Thus, as much as this advantage exists, Apple will continue to lead in the PC industry.However, the product proliferation strategy adopted by Apple Inc. a major shortcoming. According to Iliev et al (2004, p. 133), this tactic leads to high pressure for cost reduction and for local responsiveness. This makes this approach the most difficult to realize, but if a company succeeds, it can obtain a low cost structure and also considerable level of customer acceptance. According to Iliev et al (2004, p. 133), Apple applies this approach, but, it has not yet attained the optimal point.As a result, the majority of computer owners in the global market do not know much about Apple’s technology. For Apple to attain appropriately low cost situation, it has to come up with ways to persuade PC users in the global market from the very entry of their innovative and technological superiority. Competitive advantage Apple Inc faces great competition form other companies in the PC industry such as Dell, Compaq and Gateway. This forces Apple to come up with competitive strategies which best fits generic business level strategy in the industry life cycle (Lubeck et al, 2009, p. ). According Lubeck et al, Apple is keen to constantly watch the other players and tries to predict the step that each of them is likely to take in the future in order to be ahead of them. Further, Apple possesses competitive advantage in specific areas resulting from its distinctive competencies. First, Ap ple enhances the quality of its products through improved product design, (Iliev et al (2004, p. 135). According to Besanko et al, (2009, p. 362) this helps in creating value through functionality and better product quality, thus leading to more pricing options and differentiation.Moreover, the Human Resource Department of Apple Inc facilitates it to reach superior quality since it recruits high skilled workforce that ultimately leads to better product quality, thereby also leading to more pricing options and differentiation. Also, the Research and Development department of Apple Inc plays an important role as a source of superior innovation and comes up with new brands of products that create more value to the customers and enhances usability. As well, this factor results in more pricing options and to differentiation. Finally, the information systems in Apple Inc enhances internal communication and also, xternal coordination which in turn, optimizes business processes. This helps to reduce costs due to increased efficiency. According to Iliev et al (2004, p. p. 135). Apple adopts a model which acknowledges these distinctive competencies and sets a business model which facilitates it to enforce and to organize its competitive advantage. Therefore, all these above competencies enable Apple Inc to achieve superior level of innovation, enhance quality of its products and increase efficiency in production, hence provide Apple with a competitive advantage.Conclusion In conclusion, Apple uses product a both product development and product proliferation strategies to achieve and maintain competitiveness in the global market. This approach is beneficial since the perceived value of the products of Apple Inc. generated through innovation and superior design proves to be inimitable competency. However, this approach leads to high pressure for cost reduction and for local responsiveness and hence, it becomes the most difficult approach to realize. As demonstrated in thi s part, Apple Inc. eeds to come up with ways to persuade PC users in the global market from the very entry of their innovative and technological superiority so as to attain the benefits of the strategy of cost reduction. As noted in the essay, Apple Inc. possesses various competencies including; product design, branding, usability and internal communication and external coordination. These competencies enable Apple to attain a competitive advantage against the competitors. References Besanko, D. , Dranove, D. , Shanley, M. & Schaefer, S. (2009), Economics of Strategy, John Wiley and Sons, New York Iliev V. , Lindinger, A. & Poettler G. , (2004), â€Å"Apple Coputer Inc. Strategic audit,† Retrieved from, http://www. andreaslindinger. net/downloads/strategicmgmts-lindingeretal. pdf Jones D. , (2011), â€Å"Apple strives for global markets,† Retrieved from, http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052748703302604575294530119152528. html Lubeck, B. , Niltz J. , Danforth, J. & Brannon J. , (2009), Apple Inc. : creating and sustaining a competitive advantage, retrieved from,

Medical Marijuana California theunioncollective.org

Medical Marijuana California theunioncollective.org Medical Marijuana Program was established by the Medical Marijuana California to provide a voluntary medical identification card and register qualified patients and caregivers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Medical Marijuana California: theunioncollective.org specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The web based program allows the law enforcers to access and verify the validity of the patients possessing the registered card. These cards allow qualified patients and caretakers to be in possession of marijuana. They are also allowed to grow transport and use medical marijuana in California. Under the Senate Bill 420, the medical marijuana program is administered to patients only in their county of residence. According to California Department of Health (para 2) a physician is mandated with issuance of a recommendation to help the patient obtain marijuana for medication purposes. The patient is then given a card for identif ying him/herself as legally allowed to have medical marijuana. It is upon both the state and county to cater for the expenses involved in the program. On 5th November, 1996, the residents of California passed the proposition 215 and an initiative measure was added to the Health and Safety Code also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. The main purpose of the act was to improve the health of people who have serious ailments in California through giving them the right to use and possess marijuana for medical purposes where it is deemed appropriate by a physician. There should be reason to administer the marijuana if it would benefit the patient in the treatment of including chronic pain, AIDS, spasticity, arthritis, and many more ailments (ProCon.org para 3). Secondly, the act was formulated to ensure both the patient and the caregivers who obtain and use marijuana are not liable to criminal prosecution for being in possession of the drugs. Generally marijuana is an illegal dru g; both growers and users that do not have a license to grow and use marijuana are in violation of the law and serious consequences are imminent if one is found. The health and safety code provides protection for physicians who are participating in the implementation of the act.Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The provision states that no physician will be punished or be denied rights for prescribing medical marijuana, given that he does it within the legal framework (Medical Board of California para 4). Medical Board of California formulated the above statement due to the rising and emerging treatment modes using medical marijuana. The statement is a relief to physicians since it assures them that they will not be prosecuted or be subject to investigation by the Medical Board of California if they recommend medical marijuana as part of their regular practice of medi cine to their patients. A physician cannot be investigated without substantial information or additional information being produced against the physician for not complying with the accepted standards. For a physician to offer recommendation for the use of marijuana by his or her patients, the physician must first follow reasonable and prudent steps for approving the medication just like any medication. These accepted standards include the following: The physician should first check the history of the patient and the appropriate prior examination of the patient. The physician should also develop a treatment plan for the patient with medical objectives. They should also discuss the possible side effects of using medical marijuana and should probe for informed consent. The physicians should also do a periodic review of the treatment and how the patients respond to the medical marijuana. They should also ensure that the consultation is a necessity for prescriptions and lastly, physician s should keep proper records which support their decision for prescribing the use of medical marijuana. Union Collective is an organization that grows, tests, sells, and delivers medical marijuana to patients who have been recommended to use it by a physician. The patient and the caregiver must possess identification from the Medical Marijuana Program for one to qualify to use and even grow medical cannabis. The Union Collective strives to ensure availability of high quality organic medicinal cannabis to qualified patients only. They also aim to eliminate use of harsh chemicals and pesticides and to enhance a fine taste medicine. Furthermore, the union is a caregiver that provides services to ailing patients suffering from ailments such as terminal cancer, glaucoma, autoimmune diseases, sleeping disorders, nausea, and anorexia among others.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Medical Marijuana California: theunioncollective.org specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Union Collective medical marijuana is organically grown and is local and found in the hills of North California. The medical marijuana is only restricted to patients who are qualified and recommended by a physician for the medical marijuana program. The members of Union Collective have an advantage since the medical marijuana has been made readily available and consistently offer supply of quality organic medicine. Union Collective has grown sufficient medical marijuana to ensure that they meet the market needs. The number of patients has been increasing yearly, hence Union Collective keeps on expanding their growth and production services. Secondly, they have an unparalleled delivery services through conserving hygiene, attention, and good services to their patients. The delivery services come with several benefits and advantages. They offer very unique services that are very catchy to the caregivers and the patients. These advantages are as follows: One is that they offer free delivery throughout the purchase process; no additional costs are included and the patient or the caregivers who order them pay only the stated price. Second is that there is a short time span for delivery. Placing an order between 11am and 8:30 pm will enable a purchaser to get it within two hours from the time of ordering. The quick delivery is done so as to increase efficiency and to help in cases of emergency (Union Collective para 3). Thirdly, payment is only done after the order has been delivered and inspection has been done by the patient. Medical marijuana should be of great quality and should be carefully inspected by the patient to ensure it is of the right specification as the patient ordered. Fourthly, all their products are free of molds, fungus, and other contaminants. They guarantee quality through lab-tests and ensuring that they are untainted. Through the lab-tests, they ensure that the risks of health problems are reduce d or minimized by testing that the medical marijuana is fully fit for consumption by the patients. Fifthly, pre-sale viewing is allowed through inspection of products using UV light for moulds and fungus.Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This ensures that its users are certain of the quality of the products they are purchasing, hence avoiding health risks pertaining to medical marijuana that is contaminated or fungi infested. Sixthly, professional caregivers in the Union Collective are highly knowledgeable and they consistently offer good services to their patients. It is important that medical marijuana be used very well and for medicinal purposes only. Recreational use of the medical marijuana is not allowed and only qualified patients should use them. Therefore, a professional caregiver is important for advice or monitoring the use of the drug by qualified patients. Finally, Union Collective also deliver clones for patients to grow their own top-grade and untainted medical marijuana. They also provide advice on how to grow the clones safely and how to avoid cases of contamination and infestation by pests. The clones are also provided so that the patients and caregivers can efficiently avail medical marijuana for themselves (Union Collective para 3). Union Collective delivers their medical marijuana over a wide scope of area in California. The places that Union collective delivers in San Francisco includes Atherton, Belmont, Pacifica, Burlingame, San Carlos, Redwood City, San Francisco Bay, South San Francisco and many others. The supply of tested and quality medical marijuana has greatly benefitted the patients in the places they are supplied; they benefited from sufficient availability of the medical marijuana apart from its quality and safety. Union Collective has produced a variety of medical marijuana and their latest products include Jack Herer, Skywalker OG Wax, Sour Diesel, Head Band, L.A Confidential, Bubba Kush, Big Pete’s Treat, Durban Poison Wax and Pot of Gold. These varieties of medical marijuana are of different shapes sizes and purposes. The wide variety offers treatment for various illnesses as recommended by the organization (Union Collective para 1). Union Collectiv e has evaluated the arguments against the recreational use of marijuana. They have determined that most people are not aware of the dangers of using medical marijuana recreationally. In San Francisco, medical marijuana is commonly used and is readily available for patients. However, there is the tendency of people using the medical marijuana for recreation purposes rather than for medicinal purposes. The use of medical marijuana poses a great unseen risk to non prescribed users and also prescribed to a great extent. They warn that medical marijuana especially in the San Francisco bay area is of poor quality due to the use of chemicals to reduce insect infestation and microbial contaminants such as powdery mildew, fungi, and moulds. Use of chemicals such as the chloramine is used to treat powdery mildew, however, it is highly toxic when ingested by burning and affects patients suffering from cancer and who are undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy. Moreover, insects are a menace during flowering and development of the medical cannabis plant. In the event of insect infestation most grows will resort to use AvidTM to stop spider mites due to frustration and fear of losses. Spraying or watering with the chemicals to curb infestation leads to serious health effects when medical marijuana is used by patients from these growers (Union Collective para 4). Furthermore, medical cannabis users face a major problem because they access their majority of medical marijuana from dispensaries that do not test the medical marijuana since they are not required to do so. Cities such as San Jose and San Francisco have the majority of dispensaries in Northern California but have exposed the users to great health risks by not requiring them to do screen tests on the medical cannabis. In San Mateo County medical cannabis is more dangerous since it has no store front and relies only on delivery. Dispensaries in big cities have even offered to test the medical marijuana voluntarily to reduce the risk of intense effects of low quality medical marijuana. Union Collective has many dispensaries operating in San Jose and San Francisco. Statistically, 90 percent of the marijuana in California is not tested which is very worrying. Some other laboratories stated off the record that approximately 50 to 70 percent of the medical cannabis that is consumed is not of high quality and are contaminated in one way or another. Comparing to other states, California is far much better in regulation and screening of medical marijuana. There is also better control of the medical marijuana in terms of using and growing it (Union Collective para 2). In Colorado, medical marijuana requires screening in dispensaries hence improving the safety of the patients. However, the problem with Colorado is that there is no specific standard of the application of chemistry in testing standards. In conclusion, Union Collective recommends the importance of legal and illegal users to realize that medical grade cannabis is dangerous both in high quality and poor quality. The support of collectives such as Union Collective that test their medical marijuana should be supported until appropriate public health measures are taken into account by the relevant authorities (Union Collective 3). SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis of California has been done to provide information about the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and possible threats against marijuana. Union Collective has various strengths including its compliance with the required standards of administering the drugs to the patients. Firstly, drugs are only given to qualified patients who have a genuine identification card from the Medical Marijuana Program. This has reduced the number of cases where medical marijuana is abused in California; cases of recreational use of medical marijuana are very common in California. Secondly, the drugs are of high quality and they have a wide variety of medical marijua na. Their delivery services are quick and sufficient for all its customers. Furthermore, they are quiet cheap due to non-additional costs of transport and they are readily available for the market. Thirdly, they supply their products in many places especially San Francisco has largely benefitted from the extensiveness of the availability of medical marijuana. Fourthly, Union Collective has knowledgeable caregivers who enhance safety and advice to qualified users. Lastly, they have taken an initiative to ensure that health risks emanating from the use of contaminated medical marijuana. Contamination and fungus infestation of medical marijuana is a serious issue on health and it may lead to complications for patients. Through the safe measure for production of marijuana, its users can comfortably use the drugs without worrying about intoxication. Weaknesses that Union Collective has are that there is a large amount of medical marijuana that is still in the market that is not tested. T his poses a challenge to its users since they have not been able to convince the large number of users the importance of using tested medical marijuana. Secondly, the delivery of clones to caregivers and patients who want to grow them could easily commercialize the marijuana and sell them to recreational users. Union Collective has availed various opportunities that Union Collective has taken into account. Since they offer quality services for their patients, they should take advantage of various opportunities to expand their dispensaries throughout California. Due to the growing acknowledgement and recognition of medical marijuana they have an opportunity to further their services in the sector. Medical marijuana is a growing treatment modality, and Union Collective should use the media to attract and to advertise the existence of safe and high quality medical marijuana. Moreover, they should also increase the number of professional personnel to improve the services and assurance ( Legalize Medical Marijuana para 6). Lastly, an analysis of the threats that Union Collective face is that there is a huge number of proliferated medical marijuana in the market that are not of great quality. This untested medical marijuana might lead to health problems and hence lead to a negative view of the medication it leads to questions of the side effects of using medical marijuana. Recreational users also pose a threat to the medical marijuana; many use it without the recommendation of the physician or force the physician to administer the medical marijuana unnecessarily. There is also less support that is given by the government to address the intensity of the issues regarding health risks of using untested medical marijuana. The government also has not supported collectives that genuinely test the medication (Debatepedia para 4). Some people sell the medical marijuana illegally due to the influx of dispensaries and has lead to federal threats (Klare para 1). Social Media So cial media has been used by Union Collective to reach out to its customers; their website offers room for asking questions and online registration. Their website provides information about the existence of their medical marijuana products and their prices, quality, and their services in general. Moreover, providing information on who is allowed and who is not allowed the medical marijuana and the effects of its use (Stryker 307). Their web also contains reports covering issues concerning the safety and dangers of using medical marijuana for both recreational purposes and medicinal purposes (Union Collective para 6). California Department of Health. Medical Marijuana Program. n.d. Web. cdph.ca.gov/programs/mmp/Pages/Medical%20Marijuana%20Program.aspx Debatepedia. Debate: Medical marijuana dispensaries. n.d. Web. http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:_Medical_marijuana_dispensaries Klare, Joe. MPP and LEAP react to new federal threats to medical marijuana in CA. 2011, Oc tober 7. Web. http://the420times.com/2011/10/mpp-and-leap-react-to-new-federal-threats-to-medical-marijuana-in-ca/ Legalize Medical Marijuana. Use SWOT analysis business. n.d. Web. legalizemedicalmarijuana.info/use-swot-analysis-business/ Medical Board of California. Medical marijuana. n.d. Web. mbc.ca.gov/medical_marijuana.html ProCon.Org. Should marijuana be a medical option? n.d. Web. http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/ Stryker, Joe Ellen. Articles media and marijuana: a longitudinal analysis of news media effects on adolescents marijuana use and related outcomes, 1977-1999. Journal on Health Communication 8.4 (2003): 305-328. Union Collective. Medical marijuana delivery in San Francisco bay area. n.d. Web. http://theunioncollective.org/