Brand Management Article Review

Introduction: Review: Teresa da Silva Lopes & Mark Casson (Winter, 2007). Entrepreneurship and the Development of Global Brands: Business History Review 81 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College (Extract from page 651-680) World’s economy in early 1980s leaded to the merger wave in business industries. Only few independent brands have survived during that period. In the article, the authors addressed the question of why so few independent brands survived and they also aim to address about the contribution of entrepreneurs to the successful and growth of the companies.The authors also of demonstrated some well-known brands and their related case of how did the change in ownership affect the brand name. Summary: Entrepreneurship and innovation is a competitive asset for each organization. In the past time, entrepreneur refers to the founder of the business, but the definition was expanded overtime. In the article, authors define entrepreneur as â€Å"someone who specia lizes in taking judgmental decisions about the coordination of scarce resources with an economic aim and under conditions of uncertainty. This means that the entrepreneur is not necessarily a capitalist or the founder of a business, but is someone who is not afraid of risk and who â€Å"gets things done† and has an economic aim. Because of the changing in business environment, today entrepreneur has more skills, business related knowledge and capabilities in expanding their brand into different geography or internationally or rejuvenate it in order to keep the popularity and still make a profit. Brand is a powerful strategic tool to distinguish company from its competitors, communicate to customer and attract customer loyalty.A brand can have a rise, and then fall out of favor, to be out of date by the arrival of new brand. Trajectory of brands or the life of each brand is surely depends on the company’s performance and strategies they decide to take in action so as to create brand personalities for their products or services. Without careful management, brands can follow the general pattern of a product lifecycle: moving through introduction, growth, maturity, and decline stages in a relatively rapid fashion. Authors indicate that the change in brand ownership or management team may take into account when discussing about trajectory of brands.Thus to keep the brand forever young is necessary mission that each company need to achieve. Some brands become successful immediately after introduced into the market and it remains successful until now under the single ownership and management team but some become successful after their previous ownership or management team was changed. Various strategies are suggested by the author as they are implemented by several successful brands such as the extension of an existing brand (Asahi Super Dry), or by the creation of a new brand, or by forging a compromise between the two (Nescafe).The firm may also hire new managers and consultants in order to boost temporarily the creative resources at the firm’s disposal (as happened in the case of KitKat). Another strategy suggested is to change the firm’s recruitment policies and hiring new managers with stronger entrepreneurial capabilities to obtain a permanent solution. Furthermore, using merger and acquisition strategy to change the brand ownership enable some multi-firm brands especially the companies in food, drink, and cosmetics industries become successful and stay young.Brand rejuvenation in the article refers to â€Å"tweaking the brand image to appeal to a new generation of consumers†. Rejuvenation of the brand should be take into action when customer in the market lose their concentration on the existing one or the traditional market for a brand may stagnate, unacceptable to an emerging market for the brand or there is an increase in demand for products or services, because in order to be well suited to the cult ure, demand, preference of different group of customer and to create availability of the products they want wherever they are.Based on the study, the authors conclude that successful global brand usually originate in developed countries. It takes very long time to build their brand personalities and recognition. Strategies of brand extensions that we often see are merger and acquisition, franchising, licensing and some brands are trades as pieces of intellectual property. Critic Negative: Brand rejuvenation is a strategic tool for the company to recapture market share and to keep the brands up to date for consumers, but not all brand should be rejuvenated since due to two main reasons.Firstly, some brand is very harmful to people health and society. For example, tobacco and alcohol products have many harmful effects are not limited to only health-related issues but as well as a whole society will suffer from its effects. Smoking cigarettes opens the possibility to the people that ar e around you to breathe second-hand smoke. This increases the risk of cancer in others around you. Also, smoke is bad for the environment and the ozone layer whereby people who drink and drive may cause many road accident and they tend to commit violence in the family more that people who do not.Secondly, the negative point of brand rejuvenation is the decrease in physical communication due to the growth in technology related branding. In the past, people spend more time to talk to their friends, colleges and family but presently, digital form of communication decrease social interaction. Because the development of technology, many company try to rejuvenate their brand by introducing high- tech product to the market. Most people believe that technology such as cell phones and e-mail has made their lives easier. From e-mails, to Facebook, to television, people are becoming dependent on technology; we cannot live without our iPhones.As a real example that happen to myself, sometimes I spend a whole day in bedroom just to tweet, facebook and surfing internet; I do not interact with people around at all within whole day. People are distancing themselves from life off- line. This create distant of people interaction from day to day. Positive: We totally agree with the authors who state that entrepreneurs contribute to the growth of a firm and brand succeeds and innovation, intelligence and skills are the required factors to build a successful brand. Brand building is an important issue in strategic marketing and driving force for shareholder’s value.Good brand image and brand recognition in the market is what all entrepreneurs and managements intend to get. The growth and development of a firm mostly depends on the motivation and ambition of the owner itself. Among the important features of an entrepreneur that effects the firm growth involves general background of the owner involving age and education of the owner along with his growth motivation and manage ment know how organizational practices on the behalf of entrepreneurs. Innovative idea and technological capabilities of entrepreneur also the contribution factors that each entrepreneur should care about.We also agree with the authors that brand rejuvenation is a great tool to make more money. Brand rejuvenation is the effort to bring a brand which could not make money into the one that can generate money for company by using new positioning or communication strategy. Normally, companies decide to rejuvenate their brand in order to respond to internal and external changes. For example when new competitors come into the market, they may have taken over the category and the company is struggling to generate revenues from the current product, thus company need to rejuvenate their brand or new option has to be launched.Another reason is when the existing product or service is in declining stage of product life cycle, it is an appropriate time to rejuvenate the brand in order to recaptu re the market share. Some other reason why company should rejuvenate their brand is to shed the negative image of the existing brand, to incorporate in new mission or develop a new brand when repositioning. Moreover, the target market for the brand has aged so the brand has to renew its positioning in the minds of the next generation of consumers. Because brand may no longer meet the consumers’ needs or desires, where in the consumer has shifted to a different platform.Conclusion After reading and reviewing this article, we got more ideas on how branding is very important for each company in generate the profit in long term, how entrepreneur contribute to the firm growth and success. The authors provide enough reasons to support their article by indicated real example of some major brand how they are developed to become the global one. The authors indicate two main strategies for brand development which are entrepreneurship and brand rejuvenation. Brand rejuvenation can lead the company to capture market share as well as to compete in the market effectively in the long run.

Role of British Rule in Rise of Communalism in India

The Indian society has never been homogeneous in nature. It has always been a diversified, multicultural, and multireligious society. But through out its history the Indian masses what ever their religion, cast and race was lived without any hostility and enmity. Communalism emerged only during the British rule, so one can very easily assume Communalism as modern phenomenon not an ancient or a medieval one. Communalism emerged during the British rule due to the three main reasons. The divide and rule policies of the British.The emerging competitiveness in the political and social structure of the society and also the conservativeness of the society of that time which slowed economic growth. The war of independence of 1857 in which the Muslims and the Hindus fought side by side against the foreign intruders compelled the British to devise a plan to widen the communal difference between the the Indian masses. The British intimated the Hindus because they find them less hostile than the Muslims which were the former rulers of the subcontinent.This widened the gap between the communities and the Muslims felt cornered. This was the basic reason why the Muslim elite considered to found a separate country for their fellow Muslims. (Sociology of Communalism) Was Partition Inevitable? The Indian Muslims and Hindus have been living side by side for centuries. Despite their cultural and religious differences both the communities have prevailed side by side without any notable hostility between them.The rise of Communalism in the late 19th Century further accelerated by the British rulers and lack of generosity shown by the Indian nationalists made the Muslim population feel vulnerable. This feeling of vulnerability further led to the demand of separate state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah the strongest voice in the favor of the partition was himself a leader of Indian National Congress. But the Congress leadership failed to guarantee the Muslims their representation in the post-ind ependence political and social system. This compelled the Muslim leadership to seek for alternatives i.e. partition. Thus one can conclude that partition was not inevitable if the Muslims have given sound guarantees regarding their social, political and economical future. (How a Continent divided? ) Works Cited Asghar Ali Engineer, Sociology of Communalism; Retreived from World Wide Web on March 23rd 2007, http://www. countercurrents. org/comm-engineer190503. htm Eqbal Ahmad, How a Continent Divided? ; Retrieved from World Wide Web on March 23rd 2007, http://www. geocities. com/CollegePark/Library/9803/eqbal_ahmad/continent. html

Browning Peal Essay

Browning PEAL Essay Robert Browning uses many techniques one such example being his continuous reference to women being similar to roses. Browning uses the imagery of roses throughout the poem to represent women and femininity. It is a common practice in literature for poets to refer to women as flowers, in particular roses; such as Browning has done in ‘Women and Roses’. This is because they represent natural beauty that has been created by God, which compliments the woman Browning is talking about because it shows his feelings on how he believes they don’t have to try to be beautiful.Roses also represent love and passion, the colour red is an intimate colour that represents seduction and sometimes danger as seen in ‘Of Mice and Men’ where Curley’s wife is referred to as having â€Å"full rouged lips† and â€Å"red fingernails†. The thorns on roses continues this theme of potential risk, because the simple idea of men picking ros es for women could injure the man due to the thorns on the stem, this could represent how men have to fight past the hard things in love to get to the beauty or the woman.In ‘Women and Roses’, Browning also uses roses as a representation of the stages through a woman’s life going into womanhood and how she grows from a young shoot full of promise to something incredibly beautiful and natural and eventually to an old and wilted flower, â€Å"bees pass it unimpeached†. The poem is about finding perfect love with a woman, which is represented as finding a rose with no thorns, thorns being the trouble in a relationship or a woman.Browning wrote ‘Prospice’ after his beloved wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, died in 1861. The poem shows Browning’s beliefs on death and how he feels that he will once again be reunited with his love in the afterlife. The title ‘Prospice' can be translated as ‘look forward’, and in this poem, p ublished in 1864, Browning is most likely looking forward to death, when he expects ‘I will clasp thee again’, meaning he will be with Elizabeth once more.Such optimism seems to contrast noticeably with the religious doubt or searching of many Victorian writers. But Browning does not claim that there is anything easy about facing death, instead he shows one way of coping. He gives the ‘Arch Fear’, death, a ‘visible form’ so that he can imagine taking him on in one last fight to show that he will not be taken easily, ‘Barriers’ and ‘guerdon’ suggest a tournament took place. In ‘A Woman’s Last Word’ Browning uses Roman numerals to show the breaking down of a omplex subject such as a woman’s feelings after an argument. By doing this it makes it easier for the reader to follow and distinguish the different stages of feelings the character goes through and also shows the changes in direction of he r attitude until she reaches submission towards her love. This is a good technique used as he wrote the poem from a woman’s point of view and has gone into a lot of detail on how she feels and reacts to the argument.

Repair you credit yourself Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Repair you credit yourself - Article Example For repairing credit, it is important that one has credit cards which shall take care of the same. Also this will ensure that the credit rating is repaired for the long term and the credit becomes repaired itself as and when there is a problem with the credit worthiness issues (Kempson, 2005). The aspect of credit repair is all the more important because it touches upon significant areas of credit worthiness which are discussed at length by the people who write credit repair reviews in newspapers and magazines (Devaney, 2001). I believe my credit repair needs to be done in such a way that there is success only and nothing else because credit worthiness means a great deal to me. Works Cited Calder, Lendol. Financing the American Dream: A Cultural History of Consumer Credit. Princeton University Press, 1999 Devaney, Sharon A. The Effects of Credit Attitude and Socioeconomic Factors on Credit Card and Installment Debt. Journal of Consumer Affairs, Vol. 35, 2001 Kempson, Elaine. Affordab le Credit: The Way Forward. Policy Press, 2005 Staten, Michael E. The Impact of Credit Counseling on Subsequent Borrower Behavior. Journal of Consumer Affairs, Vol. 41, 2007

Tramatic Brain Injury Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Tramatic Brain Injury - Research Paper Example TBI is also associated with closed head injuries as oppose to penetrating injuries of the skull and brain stem, although not always exclusively since there can be multiple characteristics of initial injuries with both penetrating and non-penetrating effects.. (Papanicolaou) There are an estimated 20 to 50 million people [worldwide]are injured or disabled in road traffic accidents every year with those between ages 18 and 25 experiencing the greatest incidence. According to the Centers for Disease Control, individuals over age 75 are at high risk for TBI due to falls. By 2020, the World Health Organization projects that road traffic injuries will be the third leading cause of global disease or injury. Motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of TBI in less developed countries and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality (Bay, Kreulen, Shavers, and Currier 141) TBI severity is grouped into three general classifications: mild, moderate, or severe. The diagnosis is dependent upon seve ral factors, the depth and length any coma that was induced by the TBI, the duration of any posttraumatic amnesia, the overall time to respond consistently to stimuli, as well as the neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies, and measures of brainstem function. â€Å"As severity levels increase, the range and extent of possible long-term physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments increases.† (Degeneffe 257) These classifications have been further codified by the introduction of the Glasgow Coma Scale, which was originally developed to help practitioners diagnose the level of consciousness of a patient after a head injury. It has now been adapted to rate TBI survivors in the mild, moderate or severe classification. The scale is reproduced in Appendix I. There is certainly a general lack of understanding regarding individual how have suffered a TBI and the resultant issues arising from it. This results in many TBI sufferers receiving treatment by medical, psycho-soci al or other personnel who do not have experience with TBI. This is especially true in cases of Mild TBI where the patient is presented with headache, vomiting, dizziness; work-related difficulties, forgetfulness, or mood disorders without mention any current head trauma thus impairing a proper diagnosis and treatment. By informing medical practitioners about the general symptoms of TBI, there would be a better chance of asking if the patient had suffered a recent head injury. (Bay, Kreulen, Shavers, and Currier) Once a TBI has been diagnosed often the first medical professional to be alerted is the neuropsychologist. Neuropsychology is a complex field of psychology for it incorporates a variety of other sciences such as psychiatry, neuroscience, neurology as well as cognitive psychology. The general theory of Clinical Neuropsychology will provide the basic tools and techniques necessary to assist individuals with TBI in developing the appropriate coping skills and strategies needed to reclaim their lives. This will allow them to return to a life of greater independence in order to live successfully in the community. The conducted research and readings surrounding Clinical Neuropsychology has an in depth understanding of the organic component of brain damage in those with TBI, giving a keener insight into the treatment and therapies that

American Revolutionary War Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Revolutionary War - Research Paper Example The American colonists had a different way of undertaking their activities even though they emigrated from Great Britain. In the American region, individuals carried on their activities even without seeking permission from Great Britain, which was considered to control the region as a colony. The British argued that colonies were formed, in order to, be utilized for the success of the colonialists, therefore, had to contain a crown, as well as a parliament. Consequently, the British administration showed no support for the issues of having a crown as well as the legislature. Colonists experienced many unlawful and unconstitutional acts from King George who was at that time the leader within the entire Great Britain (DOI 1). In response, the colonists were angered by the actions undertaken by the king leading to the emergence of the Revolutionary War. The war commenced as a result of the urge to embrace freedom for the populaces around America. The populace rejected the control of the region by Great Britain leading to the war. At that time, Britain had little supplies for war since it has previously engaged in warfare with the French and other nations. England has resolved to create terror for the populaces after the rejection of control although they persisted throughout the war. The populaces wanted the eradication of rules concerning various issues such as intolerable acts as well as eradication of unfair duties (DOI 1). In addition, they demanded a representation inside the governing body in order to make Great Britain conscious of their needs. Upon the refusal of these demands by Great Britain, the populaces in America affirmed their sovereignty. Therefore, they had the drive to attained sovereignty thus the ability to conduct their activities without scrutiny from Great Britain. In Boston, the urge to be sovereign had already arisen ascribed to the massacre that had transpired in 1770. In the massacre, numerous Ameri cans without arms were shot at and instantly murdered by the army that was from the British origin. The anger in the populace from the Boston acted as the driving force for seeking independence for the people within that region of America. Similarly, other people had their individuals drives towards the strive for independence or sovereignty with other having multiple drives such as the acts that were considered exploitive and the numerous duties imposed on the populace. Additionally, the undertakings that the British government had carried out in American soils had been the foremost contributors towards the war. Prologue of the Intolerable acts that emerged from holding the Tea Party by the Boston populace in 1774 served as a way of castigating the populace for involving in such activities. Therefore, the instance of the prologue of the intolerable acts served as the principal rationale for involving in the rebellion that occurred within America and in opposition to Great Britain. The acts that had been undertaken by Great Britain represented rules that were carried out by Lord North. They infringed the liberties of the American populace and restricted their lives within their country. Some acts insisted on the transfer of trails to Britain, as well as, other regions in case the feeling was that justice would not prevail within the places that the trails were initially conducted. Other acts were the Quartering acts that allowed the army, to dwell in houses, as well as, other

Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 31

Homework - Essay Example To start with, I have found incorporation of technology in my studies to be very useful because of the readily available information in the internet. According to Educause, technology provides access to vast amount of information trough use of tools such as internet and online data bases (n.d). This is true because personally I do not encounter unsolvable academic problems considering the fact that I have easy access to internet tools at home and at the school library. For instance, whenever I need clarification on certain topics during my personal revision, I look up in the internet where there is virtually an answer to every kind of question. Secondly, incorporation of technology in training by our lectures has helped to grasp the ideas put forward easily. This is because technological presentations enable the lecturers to point out the key information easily and at ease. According to Nacada, use of good presentations can impact the success of students in their studies (2011). Considering how technological presentations are made, students are attracted to the method of presentation hence making them to pay full attention to the tutors. This is arguably true because presentations made through incorporation of technology, for instance PowerPoint presentation, appeal greatly to learners. Lastly, incorporation of technology in education has helped me to improve my academic performance by enabling my lecturers to have individual based supervision. The use of computers by students facilitates flexible training by lecturers because every student can submit their own work at their convenient time. Further, use of computers enables the lecturers to identify students with weakness on particular topics and attend to them individually as opposed to training the whole class at once. This is the reason for my improved academic performance because I have received

Taoism Religion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Taoism Religion - Research Paper Example Taoism is a religion that was first practiced in China. Taoism originates from the word Tao, a Chinese word for ‘The way’. Hence, many Chinese citizens believe that by practicing Taoism their lives will not only be peaceful but they will also have lives that are effective and harmonious. The Taoism religion claims that people who resist following ‘the way’ normally live lifestyles that are full of chaos and disaster. The Taoism religion has been in existence for a long period to the extent that it is no longer easy to trace the exact period that this religion was initiated. The reason it is difficult to trace the period Taoism came into existence is because of the religion’s varied and complex roots. According to Fowler, Taoism is a religion that is multi-faced, that is, just like any other religion it has its unique as well as blurred sectarian characteristics. What makes the Taoism religion different from the rest is the numerous beliefs that this religion practices and adheres. For example, the people practicing Taoism believe in the existence of immortality, that is spiritual immortality exists and hence can be attained. In the religion of Taoism, although there are different ways of achieving immortality, the most common are through prayers and observing one’s deities (Lebron 439). The main reason Taoists observe their deities is usually in a move to nourish their bodies; by nourishing the body Taoists believe that this reduces old age as well as diseases and death. Similarly, Taoists also believe that everything on earth is not only transient but also temporary, that is, they are prone to decay.

Global Business Communication Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global Business Communication Issues - Essay Example To effectively market the products in every export territory, business enterprises must communicate in the local languages. The implications of such a requirement are that the business enterprises should translate their product information, business communications, and marketing collateral. To create communications that are relevant to the local market needs a translation that exceeds the domestic content is required. Therefore, companies must make their advertising copies incorporate the benefits that specifically meet the needs of the local buyers and product descriptions to comply with the local practices and regulations. Solving this communication challenge requires that international companies should have localization agencies in different countries. Another critical issue in the global business communication is that of using consistent product terminologies. There is a significant challenge for every manufacturer to ensure that the names of the components, products, and spare p arts are consistently used in every export territory. Lack of consistent product terminologies creates a problem in supplying the right spare parts or products. To address this problem, the international companies must develop databases of technical terms and products and provide the translations of these technical terms to the local distribution and marketing agencies. The global business enterprises should undertake a global terminology management to ensure the consistency of communication and avoid costly errors.

London millennium bridge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

London millennium bridge - Essay Example London Millennium Bridge London Millennium Bridge links the city of London with the Bankside. It’s 330m steel bridge over the river Thames and is 330m long. It’s the first bridge that was built across the Thames River in London since the opening of the Tower Bridge (1894). Another special feature about the bridge is that is the first pedestrian only bridge. The city is linked near the St Paul's Cathedral with the Tate Modern art gallery on the Bankside. The bridge officially opened on 10th June 2000 and was immediately closed after being open for 2 days as it swayed alarmingly. The movement was not expected to be so great and this led to a lot of criticism of the project. The extensive research took place on the design and the bridge was reopened again after modifications to the original design on 22 February 2002. Since, then it has not had any troubles and today is one of the major attractions of London attracting thousands of pedestrians and tourists every day. The M illennium Bridge is a simple concept which has been given shape via an extensive and complex design. Findings of the Review The review views the Bridge in 2 phases. First phase is before the reopening of the bridge in 2002 (after numerous modifications were made) and the second is after the reopening immediately after the opening and the 2 years that it was closed. The review terms the first phase as a complete failure due to the following reasons: It did not meet the criteria of a successful project It was not completed on time It overshot the initial budget The final product was not of the best quality and had to be redesigned Extra funds had to be raised in order to do the modifications The review terms the second phase as a success due to the following reasons: There is no wobbling and meets all the technical requirements It leaved up to the expectations It has contributed and generated revenue through tourism It has created jobs as it has opened up new business opportunities in the surrounding area Response to the Review Even though the findings of the review are accurate and based on quality research, it does not take into consideration all the factors into consideration before terming it as an initial failure. Yes the fact that the engineers failed to come up with a design that could have predicted the wobbling and make necessary modification cannot be ignored. But this kind pedestrian effect on the bridge was unpredictable. As there hadn’t been any previous recordings that had caused such major effects (Zasky, 2011). Also there are numerous other factors that need to be considered. Prior to this, there hadn’t been much literature on the lateral vibration of a bridge. Even though there were numerous instances where lateral vibration was observed, it was not given much attention and hence was not incorporated into bridge building codes (Newland, n.d.). Examples of other bridges that have registered lateral vibration are Auckland Harbour Roa d Bridge, Groves Suspension Bridge and Birmingham NEC Link Bridge. The research that has gone into finding a solution for the problem has lead to new literature on the topic and this will be used as benchmark for all the future projects. As mentioned above numerous other bridges, which are different in design and technology to that of London Millennium Bridge, that have vibrated due to the load of the crowd have come to light (Newland, 2003). Project manager of the Bridge said, â€Å"

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay Every piece of literature created is influenced by the time in which it was written. A particular text is a reflection of the era or period in which it was born. An author is contained within a specific time in history, and his writing becomes the result of the social, economic or political milieu of that time. This is the reason why it is extremely important for a reader to determine the context of the story in order to fully understand a piece of literature. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a great example of how a text reflects a particular era. It is a novel written in the 1930s and revealed what was happening during that time in California. Hence, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a reflection of California during the 1930s. Of Mice and Men is a story about the friendship between George Milton and Lennie Small. The two men are remarkably different from each other. Steinbeck (1994) described George as â€Å"small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features† (p. 4). He depicted Lennie as the opposite of his companion; he was â€Å"a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 4). However, their differences were not limited to physical appearances. George is intelligent, but his friend Lennie is mentally challenged (Steinbeck, 1994). The mental condition of the latter forced him to depend solely on the former. While George often expressed displeasure about the burden of being Lennie’s companion, he proved to be a dedicated friend. He served as Lennie’s guardian. Unfortunately, Lennie’s disability caused him to be involved in great trouble. He was unable to discern his own strength, accidentally harming and killing others in the process. In the end, George continues to fulfill his role as Lennie’s protector; he killed Lennie himself to spare him from death in the hands of Curley (Steinbeck, 1994). While the friendship between George and Lenny is the main focus of the story, the history of California plays a bigger and more significant role in the novel. Of Mice and Men is also a story about California and the problems which plagued it during the 1930s. John Steinbeck wrote three books which delved into the situation in California in 1930s; Of Mice and Men is the second book in the trilogy. The other two novels were In Dubious Battle and The Grapes of Wrath. In On Mice and Men, the relationship between George and Lennie is set against the backdrop of 1930s California. Both men are migrant workers with a single dream: they wanted to own a piece of land and farm it themselves. George said, â€Å"Someday—we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs† (Steinbeck, 1994). This dream was influenced, if not completely defined, by the problems of the state at that particular time. In the Introduction of the On Mice and Men, Shillinglaw (1994) described California in the 1930s. During the 1930s, the main problem in California was agricultural labor. Since the 1900s, most of the agriculturally abundant valleys were located in California. Produce such as broccoli, lettuce, sugar beets and strawberries were only some of those harvested in plenitude. The vast farms in California required many laborers for its harvest. Meanwhile, the Southwest region of America suffered from drought. Due to the drought, the once bountiful lands became similar to deserts. As a result, laborers left what was known as the Dust Bowl to try their luck in California. Since 1935, an estimated 350,000 people from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas stormed the Golden State in hopes of finding jobs in the farms. While it was true that California had enormous agricultural fields which supplied most of the country’s produce, the employment of workers were still a problem. There were too many people to accommodate for jobs in these farms. Workers from the Dust Bowl wandered throughout the state in search of crops to farm, as they were desperate for work. By 1936, California was faced with a major problem: the constant flow of poor and hungry migrants from the Southwest. The situation of wandering farm workers was illustrated in Of Mice and Men. The novel began with the arrival of George and Lennie in the Salinas River. George was upset that the bus driver did not drop them off at the proper location. He said, â€Å"Didn’t wanta stop at the ranch gate, that’s what† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 6). The two men exemplified the situation of all the other migrant workers in California during the 1930s. Agricultural laborers such as George and Lennie were directed from one ranch to another, in search for work. George asked Lennie, â€Å"You remember about us goin’ into Murray and Ready’s, and they give us work cards and bus tickets? † (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 7). Murray and Ready had provided both men with the cards and tickets, then sent them to the next ranch. According to the novel, the last ranch they worked for was called Weed. The plight of the itinerant laborers was best expressed by George’s words: â€Å"They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15). The novel also portrayed the difficult life of male migrant workers and their need for human company. It was said that majority of the migrant agricultural workers in California were single men. Since the 1870s until 1930, the fruit and wheat crops of the Golden State were harvested by single men. These men were modern day nomads, for they constantly moved from one place to another. They carried bindles whenever they went. George confirmed the situation of male farm workers in California: â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15). The solitude of the farm workers resulted in the constant need for companionship. In the absence of wives and families, the male itinerant laborers develop friendships instead. The friendship between George and Lennie was the kind of relationship created due to the circumstances of the migrant workers. Despite his complaints about having Lennie around, it was apparent that George was just as dependent on Lennie as Lennie was dependent on him. Whenever Lennie threatened to leave, George told him that he wanted his friend to stay. Their bond was so strong that they did not consider themselves as similar to the aforementioned lonely guys. George said: â€Å"With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15). The novel revealed how agricultural laborers were marginalized in California society. All of them were misplaced and lived on dire conditions. Despite the unfortunate circumstances which befell them, there are those who remained optimistic and ambitious. However, even the ambitious laborers also fail. They would simply leave the ranch and proceed to another place. In the novel, George and Lennie went to the bunk house of the next ranch they were supposed to work for. When George asked Candy why the former occupant of his new bed quit, this was the response: â€Å"He†¦just quit, the way a guy will. Says it was the food. Just wanted to move† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 20). George and Lennie were also ambitious. They have grown weary of working from one ranch to another, and working for people like Curley. They dreamt of having a piece of land they can personally attend to. The dream was revealed early on in the novel, and was continuously mentioned throughout the story. Candy overheard the two taking about their desire for their own (Steinbeck, 1994). He responded positively, and even offered his savings to both men so that he could also live on their land. Crooks also learned about the plan to buy land. During one night, Lennie spoke to Crooks about his plan to own land with George. Unlike Candy, Crooks had a different response to the plan. He discouraged Lennie by insinuating that his dream will never come true. Crooks said: â€Å"I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads†¦every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 75). The character of Crooks was right; in 1930s California, many workers did not achieve the success they originally hoped to find there. By the end of the novel, George and Lennie proved to be unsuccessful as well. The dream of George and Lennie to obtain their own land did not come true. Lennie has a fondness for petting things which are soft; it was this fondness which guaranteed his demise (Steinbeck, 1994). Lennie and George were forced to leave the ranch in Weed because Lennie’s petting had gotten them in trouble. In the ranch in Soledad, Lennie accidentally killed a puppy because he was too strong. By accident, he pulled the hair of Curley’s wife and also broke her neck, causing her to die. When Curley and the rest of the men in the ranch found out that Lennie killed the wife, they form a mob and went to search for Lennie. Before they arrived at the ranch, George told Lennie to return to the Salinas River in case he got in trouble. George told his friend, â€Å"Lennie—if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 17). After he killed Curley’s wife, Lennie proceed to the brush and George met him there. George began to speak of the land they would own together and the rabbits that Lennie would take care of. Afterwards, he shot Lennie on the back of his head (Steinbeck, 1994). The farm was a representation of every migrant worker’s dream: to own a piece of land and be in control of their own lives. The farm served as a symbol of freedom and independence. For George, the death of his friend was also the end of their dream. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was truly a representation of California during the 1930s. Through the story of George, Lennie and the other characters, Steinbeck was able to illustrate the agricultural labor problem that existed in the Golden State during that decade. The novel revealed the displacement of workers, the harsh realities of living as a nomad in California, their isolation and need for companionship and the broken dreams that come with the journey. By reading this novel, one is given a glimpse of California in the 1930s. Reference Steinbeck, J. (1994). Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Classics.

Ascension of Jesus Essay Example for Free

Ascension of Jesus Essay The Poison Tree I was angry with my friend I told my wrath, my wrath did end I was angry with my foe I told it not, my wrath did grow and I watered it in fears Night and morning with my tears And I sunned it with smiles And with soft deceitful wiles And it grew both day and night Till it bore an apple bright And my foe beheld it shine And he knew that it was mine And into my garden stole When the night had veiled the pole In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree Rhyme scheme, metaphor, symbolism In this poem there are William Blake has used three different literary terms. One of them is a rhyme scheme, which is used in almost all of William Blake’s poems. The rhyme scheme of this poem is AA BB and continues this way in the other stanzas of them poem as well. In the second stanza he says â€Å"I watered it in fears †¦ and I sunned it with smiles†; here William Blake is using a metaphor to compare his anger to a plant or tree. He describes how he let his anger toward an enemy grow. Symbolism The third literary device William Blake used symbolism. The title of the poem, â€Å"the poison tree† itself is symbolism which represent the anger of the speaker. Mad Song The wild winds weep  and the night is a-cold Come hither, Sleep and my griefs infold But lo! The morning peeps over the eastern steeps and the rustling birds of dawn the earth do scorn Lo! to the vault Of paved heaven With sorrow fraught My notes are driven They strike the ear of night Make weep the eyes of day They make mad the roaring winds And with tempests play Like a fiend in a cloud With howling woe After night I do crowd And with night will go I turn my back to the east From whence comforts have increasd For light doth seize my brain With frantic pain There’s alliteration = wild winds weep Personification = wind is weeping. Rhyme scheme = AB AB CC DD In this poem there are a few literary devices. One of the first ones I identified was alliteration. In the first line of the first stanza the speaker says â€Å"Wild winds weep†, this is alliteration because all three words start with the letter W, and there is a repetition of the consonant sound. This is also personification because the wind is given human qualities’ the speaker says that the wind is weeping, so there therefore it’s and alliteration as well as personification. In this poem there is also a rhyme scheme, which is AB AB CC DD, which continues throughout the rest of the poem. London - I wander thro’ each charter’d street near where the charter’d Thames does flow And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe In every cry of every Man In every Infants cry of fear In every voice: in every ban The mind-forg’d manacles I hear How the Chimney-sweepers cry Every black’ning Church appalls And the hapless Soldiers sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls But most thro’ midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse. * Imagery, symbolism, repetition, rhyme scheme In this poem there are four literary devices. There is a rhyme scheme which is AB AB, which continues throughout in the rest of the poem. There is also repetition in this poem, William Blake repeats the word â€Å"every† in the second stanza to put an emphasis on the fact that everyone is suffering, and not just a small group of people. He also repeats the words â€Å"cry† and â€Å"chartered†. The first line of the third stanza â€Å"chimney- sweepers cry† symbolizes how just like the chimney sweepers, everyone is being forced to do hard labour. The second line of the third stanza â€Å"every blackening church appals† is also symbolism because the word blackening represents corruption in the society. Imagery While reading the first stanza an image of a person walking down a chartered street is created in the reader’s mind. The reader imagines a dark street with people doing hard labour and frightened expressions on their face. William Blake uses words such as, â€Å"cry†, â€Å"weaknesses†, â€Å"woe† and â€Å"blackening† to show the hostility and corruption in the society. This society is the kind of place where there is a lot of injustice, a place where the people are crying out and are forced to do very hard labour. Holy Thursday ’Twas on a Holy Thursday their innocent faces clean The children walking two two in red blue green Grey headed beadles walk’d before with wands as white as snow Till into the high dome of Paul’s they like Thames waters flow O what a multitude they seem’d these flowers of London town Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own The hum of multitudes was there but multitudes of lambs  Thousands of little boys girls raising their innocent hands. Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven among Beneath them sit the aged men wise guardians of the poor Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door -Allusion reference to religion â€Å"Holy Thursday† -Similes -Oxymoron In this poem there are four literary devices. The rhyme scheme of this poem is AABB in the first and the following stanzas. There is an allusion in this poem which makes a reference to Ascension Day. In this poem it is called Holy Thursday because Ascension Day is supposed to be the Thursday 40 days after Easter day. This day commemorates the ascension of Christ into heaven. Another literary device used in this poem is oxymoron, which is in the second line of the third stanza. It says â€Å"harmonious thunderings†, and this is an oxymoron because usually when I person talks about thunder they describe it as loud and fearful, but in the poem it is said to be harmonious. There’s also a simile in this and it is in the third line of the first stanza. â€Å"Wands as white as snow† is a simile because it’s comparing two unlike things using the word as. My Pretty Rose Tree A flower was offered to me Such a flower as May never bore But I said Ive a pretty rose tree And I passed the sweet flower oer Then I went to my pretty rose tree To tend her by day and by night But my rose turned away with jealousy And her thorns were my only delight Literary devices: * Rhyme scheme * -Symbolism * -Alliteration * -Allusion * Oxymoron * Metaphor * Personification * Repetition * -Similes Lyric- Robert Frost – Fire and ice Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what Ive tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. The theme of this poem is about the end, and more specifically, of this world. When the author says â€Å"Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice† he is telling the reader about the ways that they heard the world was going to end, which is either in fire or ice. The author favours fire over ice, but says that â€Å"if it had to perish twice† by the destruction of ice that, it would suffice for the author. Meaning, that would also do for him. Ballad- Allen Ginsberg-When I died When I died, love, when I died my heart was broken in your care; I never suffered love so fair as now I suffer and abide when I died, love, when I died. When I died, love, when I died I wearied in an endless maze that men have walked for centuries, as endless as the gate was wide when I died, love, when I died. When I died, love, when I died there was a war in the upper air: all that happens, happens there; there was an angel by my side when I died, love, when I died. The theme of this poem is of love and death. The speaker is talking to their loved ones about how when they died, they claimed to have seen things, such as, â€Å"an endless maze†, â€Å"a war in the upper air† and â€Å"an angel by their side†. When the speaker says that their heart was broken in their loved ones care and that they had never suffered love so fair, they are indirectly telling the reader that they did not regret their death because it was for the ones that they loved. Also, the reader is told directly that this poem is about love and death by the first line, itself, which is â€Å"when I died, love, when I died†.

Growth And Development Reflection English Language Essay

Growth And Development Reflection English Language Essay Through the video lectures in this course and the previous course, I have gained a great deal of new knowledge that will assist me in being a better teacher to my English language learners. The top five ideas that will stick with me throughout the rest of my teaching career include: Krashens Affective Filter, Cummins Common Underlying Language Proficiency theory (CULP), the importance of being a Culturally Responsive teacher, the Four Domains of Language, and how to Differentiate Instruction. I am not a fluent Spanish speaker, but after teaching at a school with a high ELL student population and taking many conversational Spanish classes Ive picked up enough of the language to help me get by. However, I still do not feel comfortable speaking Spanish in front of my peers, students, or their parents. The Affective Filter theory (Krashen, 1981) helped to explain the reasons why I was so uncomfortable in speaking the Spanish language around others. I finally understand why some of my students arent picking up the English language as fast as others. They may have the skills necessary to communicate in English, but they lack the self confidence and motivation needed to try something new such as learning a new language. It can be very intimidating to learn a new language. Not only are you trying to transfer your native language skills into a new langauge, but you also have to worry about your accent, grammar and correct pronunciation. The fear of making a mistake can hinder the process of acquiring a second language; therefore, I will try to lower my students affective filter by making my ELL students feel as comfortable as possible when speaking English. I will try to speak more Spanish around them so they can see that they arent the only ones trying to learn something new. We will go through the learning process together and they will know that it is okay to make a mistake. I truly belive in the Common Underlying Language Proficiency (CULP) theory developed by Cummins (1991). Ive seen first hand that when my students are proficient in their native language, it makes it easier for them to transfer those skills into the English language. Ive had some students come to me with little or no native (L-1) language skills. Its a very long and difficult process to help those students acquire the English language since they have virtually no knowledge base to work with. Its almost like teaching an infant a new language only more challanging since you cant spend all of your time working one-on-one with just that student. You cant give them all the attention they need in order to catch them up to the rest of their peers. Also, you have no control over what happens when they leave the classroom. Most of those students get no exposure to the English language once they go home. The course lectures have taught me how important it is to be a culturally responsive teacher (Gay, 2000). In the past, I have tried to incorporate a lot of my students culture into my lessons. However, I have not done a very good job of teaching them about cultures other than their own. I have a few non-Hispanic students in my classroom whose cultures Ive neglected this year. I put too much emphasis on my Hispanic students and did not do a very good job of making my students aware of all the other cultures throughout the world. Now that I am more aware of what it means to be culturally responsive I will do a better job with the students I have next school year. I plan on teaching them about the Italian culture since that is my heritige. I also would like my students to do a research project on themselves. They would get to interview their family members, bring in pictures about their life, and present their findings to the class. Not only would this activity give the students a chanc e to find out more about themselves, but it would also teach my students to appreciate the fact that we are all unique. The Four Domains of Language are listening, speaking, reading and writing. I learned that listening and reading are receptive while speaking and writing are expressive forms of language. I find that many of my ELL students have great receptive language, but are lacking when it comes to expressive language. I can attribute that to the fact that we spend so much time trying to teach our ELL students the rules of the English language such as phonological awareness, phonics and vocabulary. As a result, we dont put enough emphasis on fluency or writing. My ELL students are able to decode and can read in English if I were to put a grade level passage in front of them, but they are not fluent and would have a very difficult time writing a summary of the text they just read. In order to address the lack of expressive language, I conduct timed fluency checks will all of my students on a regular basis. My students chart the amount of words they read in a minute and are constantly trying to increase their fluency. I also have a fluency center in which my students can work on their rate and accuracy through the use of repeated readings. They enjoy working with a partner and list ening to each other read. We also do a lot of readers theatre, poetry and plays to work on making them more comfortable with speaking the English language. In the area of writing, we use graphic organizers in every core curriculum area. My students also have a journal in which they have five minutes of free writing each day. I want them to have as much practice as possible in the areas of reading, listening, speaking and writing so they will be proficient in all four domains of language. Finally, in the area of differentiated instruction I think Ive come the farthest. With the influx of Response to Intevention/Instruction (RTI), Ive made more of an effort to differentiate my instruction not just for my ELL students but for all my students. I not only take into account my students language codes when planning a lesson, but now I also look at their proficiency levels and background cultural factors. When I plan center activities I now try to have lessons that will fit the needs of all my students. I want to challenge my advanced learners as well as provide activities that will make my below grade level students feel successful. For whole group lessons, I make sure to tap into my students prior knowledge of a subject, set the stage for learning, place a large emphasis on vocabulary, incorporate graphic organizers, provide realia, and ask higher level thinking questions. These are great strategies not just for ELL students, but for all students.

International Logistics Essay -- essays research papers

Logistics is the designing and managing of a system in order to control the flow of material throughout a corporation. This is a very important part of an international company because of geographical barriers. Logistics of an international company includes movement of raw materials, coordinating flows into and out of different countries, choices of transportation, cost of the transportation, packaging the product for shipment, storing the product, and managing the entire process. The concept of logistics is fairly new in the business world. The theoretical development was not used until 1966. Since then, many business practices have evolved and logistics currently costs between 10 and 25 percent of the total cost of an international purchase.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are two main phases that are important in the movement of materials: material management and physical distribution. Materials management is the timely movement of raw materials, parts, and supplies. The physical distribution is the movement of the firm’s finished products to the customers. Both phases involve every stage of the process including storage. The ultimate goal of logistics is to coordinate all efforts of the company to maintain a cost effective flow of goods.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are four logistics concepts: the systems concept, the total cost concept, the after-tax concept, and the trade-off concept. The systems concept is based on all functions of a organization working together in order to maximize benefits. This concept sometimes requires certain components of the organization to operate suboptimally in order to achieve maximum goals of the system. The total cost concept is based on the systems concept, however goal achievement is measured in terms of cost. A variation of the total cost concept is the after-tax concept. This goal of this concept is after-tax profit. This concept is becoming very popular because of the many different national tax policies. The trade-off concept links the system together in a way that is very efficient, but can have trade-offs that might be inefficient. The advantages of such high efficiency must be weighed against the risk involved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the largest obstacles of international logistics is geography. The distance and manner materials must be shipped is the most important step in inte... ...anagement is based on the fact that a company needs to have a division that helps control the local-adaptation needs. Dealing with different cultures requires input from the local branch. The managers that deal with the cultural differences on a daily basis normally know what works and what doesn’t.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Outsourcing is the final option for logistics management. When this happens, transportation firms concentrate on logistics, and the company can concentrate on it’s production. There are many cost savings using this type of program, however that lack of control can negatively effect many companies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  International logistics requires many different options and requirements to be met in order for a company to operate internationally. It’s like a big puzzle that must be put together, in order for all the goals to be met. As described above, there are many options to consider, and sometimes what appears to be an option really isn’t. It is not difficult to hit a road block, and you must start over with a new plan. Once the logistics plan is in place, you must constantly look for improvements in order to maximize profits and goals.

Claudio and Heros Relationship vs. Beatrice and Benedicks :: Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare Love Essays

Claudio and Hero's Relationship vs. Beatrice and Benedick's The main topic of discussion is based around the relationships of Claudio and Hero and how their relationship differs from Beatrice’s and Benedick’s. The idea of marriage is an important factor. In Shakespeares time marriage was seen as an obligation and your wife would be ‘chosen’ for you. The decision making was made by the men. It was a very patriarchal society. Beatrice is a prime example of one of Shakespeare’s strong characters. She refuses to marry because she has not found the perfect equal partner and is unwilling to eschew her liberty to the will of a controlling husband. In her frustration and rage about Hero’s mistreatment, Beatrice rebels against the unequal status of women in Renaissance society. â€Å"O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake!† she passionately exclaims. â€Å"I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving†. Beatrice relates to women in a modern society because of her attitude towards society’s norms at that time. Benedick is the wilful lord who vows never to marry. He engages with Beatrice in a competition to outwit and outsmart each other, but to his observant friends he seems to feel some deeper emotions below the surface. Beatrice and Benedick have a more modern idea of a relationship. In Shakespeare’s time the idea of marriage was very different from today. Women had no freedom to marry for love, whereas today women have a lot more freedom and power to make their own choices. Love and marriage are the two most striking ideas in Much Ado About Nothing. The play ends with the union between a fair young woman and a

Macbeth a Victim of Choice not Fate :: essays research papers

The three witches told Macbeth of his fate. Did the events in Macbeth?s life occur because of the witches? prophesy or was it because of the choices he made? Could there possibly be some of both? What caused Macbeth to fall? Was it his fate or his free will? To begin, we look at the first prediction of the witches. They call him by the names of ?Thane of Glamis?, which he already is, ?Thane of Cawdor? (a title he does not know he has been given), and "King hereafter." As a result, the first two things the witches tell him aren?t prophesies because they have already happened. Look at the third and most important prophecy. The witches tell Macbeth that he will become ?King Hereafter?, there?s knowledge that this actually happened. ?If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me.? (1 3) Did it happen because of fate or did Macbeth make it happen? The witches tempted Macbeth to kill the King, however, it was his own ambition that led him to do that terrible thing. Macbeth, even though he was uneasy, he chose to kill King Duncan and ascend to the throne of Scotland. ?Nothing is but what is not.? (1 3) Look at the second set of prophesies. The witches tell Macbeth to beware of Macduff. They tell him that "no one born of a woman shall harm Macbeth." The witches are being sneaky here to give Macbeth the illusion that he cannot be harmed. Macduff eventually kills Macduff. Does Macduff, who is not born of woman, (his mother passed before he was born) kill Macbeth because of fate? Maybe he does but why does Macduff want to kill Macbeth anyway? Macbeth killed the king and took the throne, so there is an apparent reason that it was Macbeth?s choice. Finally, the witches tell him that he will not fall until ?Birnam Woods meets Dunsinane Hill.? Well, Birnam Wood meets Dunsinane Hill and Macbeth is defeated. This again is partially Macbeth?s fault. If he hadn?t killed the King, Malcolm?s forces would never have attacked him and made the prophesy true.

Detailed CT

COST TABLES (CT): this is a cost management tool used to compare between different suppliers and their costs and an organization's production cost with that of an external organisation. (Yoshikaw, Innes and Mitchell, 1990) gave an analysis of the uses and diversity of CT. CT could be summarized or detailed. The detailed CT are done by advance Technology,' analysing' and comparing the' what if's'. The outcome of the analysis concludes a ‘make' or ‘buy' decision. This takes place within the VSC –(the powerhouse for decision making in the chain to enable it access cost of suppliers). COST SPLIT-UP – (CSU): This can also be referred to as cost analysis. Organizations making use of CSU build trust within themselves (the configurator and the partners). This model enables the supplier to make cost calculations based on the buyer's specification. The buyer gets insight into the breakdown of the cost at each stage of activity. In reference to (Bromwich, 1989), cost analysis is an essential component of SMA and IOMA. CSU is used more by organizations already implementing Porter's 1985 low cost strategy. STRATEGIC COSTING – (SC) AND VALUE CHAIN COSTING – (VCC): According to Shank and Govindarajan, (Guilding, Gravens and Tayles, 2000) is used to ascertain how strategically attractive an organization stands in the future. Strategic and market information are the main source of data to be analyzed. The use of Value Chain Costing is for the back- up activities – (design R&D, HRM) and core activities – (logistics, production, market and services) are attached a cost. STRATEGIC PRICING – (SP): Referencing (Guilding, Cravens and Tayles, 2000), the initiators of SP, determiners like opinions on competitors' prices and price elasticity, market growth economy of scale and experience are all appraised. This model is connected to markets and revenue. TARGET COST – (TC): according to (Ellram, 2002) in (Miguel, Martinez and Ramos, 2004), TC should include the production and procurement expenses incurred in a product or service. This cost can be broken down into cost of production, operating cost (marketing, sales R;D) and purchases cost. TC has three main points of focus: estimation of selling/service price based on the product attribute, calculation of TC based on targeted profit and establishing a previous TC. VALUE ANALYSIS – (VA): this has to do with the customer and customer value. This process describes the transformation of cost to revenue, reflecting what the customer is willing to pay for a value. According to (Ellram, 1996), organizations need not acquire cost for values a customer does not crave for. (CIMA, 1996, p.34) – An evaluation of determinants influencing the cost of a product with a mindset of creating valve at a minimum cost with focus on reliability and quality as features.

Should Society Act Now to Forestall Global Warming

Global warming is not a new concept; we attribute this to â€Å"greenhouse gas† emissions. We see the effects of greenhouse gases on the environment as each year passes. It is assumed that the Earth will continue to warm as time goes on. Do we need to do something about this now or should we do nothing? There are issues to be considered including, â€Å"If we do something about it, who will pay for the changes, and by changing things will we create more problems? † Some people are ready to address these issues now and others are arguing that it may be best to do nothing, according to how much cost will be incurred in finding solutions. We will look at opinions from experts in an attempt to reach a conclusion, although I personally feel the world will benefit by slowing down our use of fossil fuels, enacting an increase in reusing everything we can in order to eliminate waste and clean up our environment in response to so many years ignoring a potential problem. Global warming is a threat now and will continue to worsen. Scientists have known for more than a century that carbon dioxide and other â€Å"greenhouse gases† (including water vapor, methane and chlorofluorocarbons) prevent heat from escaping the Earth’s atmosphere. Since the industrial age, it has been concluded that fossil fuels have provided power for these operations, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Further calculations indicate that as the climate continues to warm, more carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere by human population and the use of fuel emissions released. (2) As a result, soil will become dry, more forest fires will occur, plant pests will increasingly multiply, and seabed’s methane will be released, creating a â€Å"runaway greenhouse effect. (2) As predicted by Jeremy Legget in â€Å"Global Warming: The Worst Case,† polar ice caps may melt, raising the sea level enough to allow further contamination of the Earth. The ongoing disruption of the Earth’s climate by man-made† greenhouse gases† is already well beyond dangerous. According to John Eades: Over the last several decades, data on temperature, etc. have been collected by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) from 17,000 identical land weather stations and 10 meteorological satellites, as well as from many research ships on data gathering cruises. Overall, the change in the 20th century is +0. 85K. There have been constant periods in 1910 and 1940-1970. According to Eades, this increase in such a short time frame, as compared to the 4. 5K peak-to-peak swings between ice ages and interglacial periods, warrants some sort of explanation. He works to calculate the difference in temperature change including anthropogenic effects as well as the constancy of temperature during the 1910’s and the period from 1940-1970, in order to make a reasonable estimate of future temperatures and other climatic features. He uses the Black Body concept to determine absorption and emission of radiation to explain the relationship of the Earth to the Sun. He states the Sun is the Black Body absorber and the Earth is a reflective power. He further calculates the mean equilibrium temperature of the Earth by using a formula to explain how anthropogenic properties affect the temperature change (in essence, non-natural â€Å"greenhouse gases emissions†). He states that, â€Å"Were there no GHG’s the atmosphere would be perfectly transparent, the surface would remain at the mean temperature and we would simultaneously freeze and starve to death. The purpose of the study shows a difference between the mean temperature of the Earth and what is calculated by adding the presence of GHG’s in the atmosphere since the Industrial Age. Mr. Eades hypothesizes that increased use of fossil fuels will lead to atmospheric demise. (2) After much calculation, he makes it apparent that a rebalance will affect change for benefit, yet we may already be too late. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that 2005 and 2010 are the warmest years in the temperature record. Under midrange projections for economic growth and technological change, the average urface temperature in 2050 will be about 2 degrees C higher than the preindustrial age value. It’s been determined that Earth was warm 130,000 years ago, and the sea level was 4 to 6 times higher than now. Al Gore has raised awareness of Global Warming through his documentary, â€Å"An Inconvenient Truth. † Within this documentary are the 2007 reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. With the U. S. moving forward in taking steps to eliminate most man-made CO2 levels, other countries are concerned about their own economic growth. China and India have created advisory and policy bodies at top governmental levels to deal with climate and energy issues. Brazil is also working to better enforce national deforestation laws. On November 15, President Barack Obama proposed rules requiring large industries to use the â€Å"best available control technology† to limit the U. S. â€Å"greenhouse gases† emission. (8) The International Panel on Climate Change, (the IPCC) meets every few years to review the latest scientific findings and write reports summarizing global warming finds. Most â€Å"greenhouse gases† emissions come from combustion of fossil fuels incinerations, factories and electricity production. (7) The gas responsible for the most warming is carbon dioxide (CO2). Other contributors include methane from landfills, agriculture, nitrous oxide, gases for refrigeration, and industrial processes, and loss of forests which would otherwise store CO2. Since 1990, yearly emissions have gone up by about 6 million metric tons of †carbon dioxide equivalent† worldwide, more than a 20% increase. The IPCC â€Å"predicts a global temperature rise of 1. 4 degrees and 5. degrees C by 2100. (3) Predictably mass amount of agriculturally productive land will be destroyed, entire regions will disappear under rapid sea-level rise, and entire regions in arid subtropics will be uninhabitable. † Through all of the expert’s findings and reports, the conclusion seems to be that â€Å"greenhouse gases† are the cause of increased CO2 in our atmosphere. The bigger concern seems to be the cost needed to lower the amount of non-natural emissions, and who will pay the cost for conversion. Additionally, will it be enough change to be effective after billions have been spent? Munich Re, the world’s largest reinsurer, calculates the cost to be more than $300 billion a year by 2050, while the IPCC estimates on the low end of $280 billion a year. (3) Bjorn Lomborg, a statistician from Denmark, suggests in his book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, â€Å"by crude and selective cost-benefit analysis the cheapest option is to maintain economic growth and adapt to the impacts. † Fred Singer argues that â€Å"the global warming issue is incorrect as the climate is not warming as it should according to the models† used to calculate such differences. He says the satellite information does not include cooling the climate by clouds in the atmosphere and that clouds cool the climate rather than warm it. (3) Since this factor is left out of the calculation, he seasons that we should do nothing to rectify global warming at this point. He also argues that situating satellites in space is a waste of money and that money could be better spent on the factors at hand and less on satellite installation. According to Singer, â€Å"$2 billion a year is spent on climate research†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦which allows more scientists to get on the bandwagon so they can get money from the research program. He suggests Kyoto Protocol is incorrect in attempting to sequester all CO2 as it is good for the atmosphere and makes plants grow abundantly faster. Several people insist on more research before anyone can begin to plan a proper response. Richard B. Stewart and Jonathan B. Wiener, in â€Å"Practical Climate Change Policy; Issues in Science and Technology (Winter, 2004) declare, â€Å"It’s time for a new pragmatic approach,† meaning a new approach with more emphasis on costs and benefits. Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense, in â€Å"Global Warming and the USA; Vital Speeches of the Day† (April 15, 2003) recommends a market-based method to finding and developing innovative approaches. (3) At this point, 126 countries have adopted the Kyoto Protocol. President George W. Bush refused to honor U. S. commitments claiming that, â€Å"reducing carbon emissions would be too costly for the U. S. economy. † He said, â€Å"We’re going to put the interests of our own country first and foremost. † If the U. S. continues to refuse to comply with the Kyoto Protocol, it will have serious ramifications of U.  S. Corporations engaged in international business. The bottom line would be loss of revenue and a deeper recession for the U. S. According to a Christian Science Monitor Article, the United Nations announced recently that it would finance an independent review of the IPCC, which faces accusations of scientific misinformation and potential conflicts of interest. On December 4, 2009, Peter N. Spotts reports that some E-mails of several climate researchers were hacked. This calls for greater transparency in the UN body that provides governments with scientific advice on global warming. Some have called this issue, â€Å"Climategate† and concerns around 1,000 E-mails and files leaked or hacked from computers at the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit in Britain. (6) Some of the E-mails depict a small, influential group of scientists – several of whom did work concerning global temperature trends over the past 1500 years in an effort to prevent skeptics of their r work from gaining access to raw data. Other E-mails suggest some researchers manipulated data and tried to block publication of papers that called their work into question. One E-mail urges colleagues to destroy E-mails related to work on the 2007 IPCC reports on global warming. In Washington, the Republican Party sent a letter to the U. S. EPA on December 2, 2010 requesting the agency back off of trying to regulate carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act until it can show that, â€Å"the data’s integrity underlying these regulatory decisions had not been compromised. † Each of the resources used seem to try and sway public opinion for or against working to find solutions and/or spending money to that end. While most all of the information appears to be exactly correct, some opinions are uneducated guesses. In light of the E-mail hackings, one has to question the accuracy of all reports, which started the controversy. While all can see an increase in â€Å"greenhouse gases† emissions, it seems there can be no agreement as to whether anyone should actually â€Å"do† anything about these occurrences and findings. Some opinions report an impending doom and a need to act immediately. Other opinions suggest not enough is known about how the gases themselves affect our environment. I personally feel that heading in the direction of finding different sources of energy will continue to be an effective measure. There are not nearly as many noxious odors present as here were around 40 years ago. I am equally aware of the need to stop polluting our highways and oceans with the mounting amount of trash scattered haphazardly. Cleaning up our individual acts seems to be a productive route to follow, and it seems very important for private organizations to do the same. In light of recent events concerning the covering up of information obtained on the subject of research into the effect of â€Å"greenhouse gases† emissions on the environment, I feel equally uneasy as others are to jump to any conclusions and feel inspection of previously mentioned reports is vital to uncover any discrepancies. As much as I agree or disagree with the United States government’s decisions to incorporate new laws, I feel confident that our political system is working toward everyone’s benefit in delaying aggressive action until further inspection has been performed. I remain undecided as to whether or not global warming is an issue of serious concern, and furthermore, if action should be enacted. References http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-causes/

Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) Essay

1. Introduction: To accelerate the progress of sanitation in rural areas, Government of India is implementing from 1.4.2012, the ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA)’, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme [earlier Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC)]. Similarly, to provide drinking water to rural population in adequate quantity, the Govt. of India is implementing a centrally sponsored Scheme called the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). New Delhi: The union cabinet Wednesday gave its approval for restructuring of â€Å"Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan†Ã¢â‚¬  into â€Å"Swachh Bharat Mission†. The programme is aimed at creating a clean India by 2019 with people’s participation. â€Å"The cabinet has approved the Swachh Bharat Mission,† union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prasad said the mission will be launched Oct 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The prime minister has been striving to make the mission a mass movement. The cabinet also approved a â€Å"Swachh Bharat Mission† for urban areas, which will be part of a joint â€Å"Swachh Bharat Mission† which has another component for rural areas. The drinking water and sanitation ministry will implement the programme in rural areas while the urban development ministry will do the same in urban areas. â€Å"The ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan’ will be restructured into the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ with two sub-missions – ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ (rural) and ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ (urban). Budgetary provisions for the two sub-missions will be provided separately in the demand for grant of the ministries of drinking water and sanitation (for rural) and ministry of urban development (for urban),† an official statement said. â€Å"I take this pledge that I will remain committed towards cleanliness and devote time for this. I will devote 100 hours per year — that is two hours per week — to voluntary work for cleanliness. I will neither litter nor let others litter. I will initiate the quest for cleanliness with myself, my  family, my locality, my village and my work place. I believe that the countries of the world that appear clean are so because their citizens don’t indulge in littering nor do they allow it to happen. With this firm belief, I will propagate the message of Swachh Bharat Mission in villages and towns. I will encourage 100 other persons to take this pledge which I am taking today. I will endeavour to make them devote their 100 hours for cleanliness. I am confident that every step I take towards cleanliness will help in making my country clean.† – Narendra Modi 2. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: The present goal under NBA is to achieve 100% access to sanitation for all rural households by 2022. Under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), the Goal is now pre-phoned to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2019 by construction of individual, cluster & community toilets; and villages will be kept clean, including through solid and liquid waste management through Gram Panchayats. Water pipelines have to be laid to all villages enabling tap connection into households on demand by 2019. In this matter, co-operation and convergence of all Ministries, Central & State schemes, CSR & bilateral/multilateral assistance may become necessary as well as new &innovative ways of funding such interventions. In a federal set-up like ours, where sanitation and water are state subjects, it is all the more important that states take the initiative to complete all activities to achieve Swachh Bharat by 2019 by dove-tailing all schemes – Central or State. Swachh Bharat Mission: Facts and Figures Project Cost: Rs. 1,96,009 crore Project Start Date: 2nd October 2014 Project Estimated End Date: 2nd October 2019 Ministries Involved in Project: Ministry of rural development, ministry of urban development, ministry of drinking water and sanitation, Public Sector Undertakings ( PSUs), corporations, NGOs, state governments etc. Purpose of Project: To make India a filth-free country in five years, to construct community and public toilets in rural and urban areas, to provide running water supply, to treat waste water, to keep roads, pavements and localities clean etc. 3. BACKGROUND: 3.1 Individual Health and hygiene is largely dependent on adequate availability of drinking water and Proper sanitation. There is, therefore, a direct relationship between water, sanitation and health. Consumption of unsafe drinking water, improper disposal of human excreta, improper environmental Sanitation and lack of personal and food hygiene have been major causes of many diseases in Developing countries. India is no exception to this. Government started the Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP) in 1986 primarily with the objective of improving the quality of life of the rural People and also to provide privacy and dignity to women. 3.2 The concept of sanitation was expanded to include personal hygiene, home sanitation, safe water, Garbage disposal, excreta disposal and waste water disposal. With this broader concept of sanitation, CRSP adopted a â€Å"demand driven† approach with the name â€Å"Total Sanitation Campaign† (TSC) with effect From 1999. The revised approach emphasized more on Information, Education and Communication (IEC), Human Resource Development, Capacity Development activities to increase awareness among the rural people and generation of demand for sanitary facilities. This enhanced people’s capacity to Choose appropriate options through alternate delivery mechanisms as per their economic condition. The Programme was implemented with focus on community-led and people centred initiatives. Financial incentives were provided to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households for construction and usage of Individual household latrines (IHHL) in recognition of their achievements. Assistance was also extended for construction of school toilet units, Anganwadi toilets and Community Sanitary Complexes (CSC) apart From undertaking activities under Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM). 3.3 To give a fillip to the TSC, Government of India also launched the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) that Sought to recognise the achievements and efforts made in ensuring full sanitation coverage. The award Gained immense  popularity and contributed effectively in bringing about a movement in the community for attaining the Nirmal Status thereby significantly adding to the achievements made for increasing the Sanitation coverage in the rural areas of the country. 3.4 Encouraged by the success of NGP, the TSC is being renamed as â€Å"Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan† (NBA). The Objective is to accelerate the sanitation coverage in the rural areas so as to comprehensively cover the rural community through renewed strategies and saturation approach. Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) envisages covering the entire community for saturated outcomes with a view to create Nirmal Gram Panchayats with following priorities: Provision of Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) of both Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Identified above Poverty Line (APL) households within a Gram Panchayat (GP). Gram Panchayats where all habitations have access to water to be taken up. Priority May be given to Gram Panchayats having functional piped water supply, Provision of sanitation facilities in Government Schools and Anganwadis in Government Buildings within these GPs Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) for proposed and existing Nirmal Grams Extensive capacity building of the stake holders like Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and field functionaries for Sustainable sanitation. Appropriate convergence with MNREGS with unskilled man-days and skilled man-days 4. OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of the NBA are as under: a) Bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas. b) Accelerate sanitation coverage in rural areas to achieve the vision of Nirmal Bharat by 2022 with all gram Panchayats in the country attaining Nirmal status. c) Motivate communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions promoting sustainable sanitation facilities through awareness creation and health education. d) To cover the remaining schools not covered under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Anganwadi Centres in the rural areas with proper sanitation facilities and undertake proactive promotion of Hygiene education and sanitary habits among students. e) Encourage cost  effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable Sanitation. f) Develop community managed environmental sanitation systems focusing on solid & liquid waste Management for overall cleanliness in the rural areas. 5. STRATEGY: The strategy is to transform rural India into ‘Nirmal Bharat’ by adopting the ‘community led’ and ‘People centred’ strategies and community saturation approach. A â€Å"demand driven approach† is to be continued with emphasis on awareness creation and demand generation for sanitary facilities in houses, Schools and for cleaner environment. Alternate delivery mechanisms would be adopted to meet the Community needs. The provision of incentives for individual household latrine units to the poorest of the poor households has been widened to cover the other needy households too so as to attain Community outcomes. Availability of water in the Gram Panchayat shall be an important factor for sustaining sanitation facilities created. Rural School Sanitation remains a major component and an entry Point for wider acceptance of sanitation by the rural people. Wider technology options are being provided to meet the customer preferences and location- specific needs. Intensive IEC Campaign is the Corner stone of the programme involving Panchayati Raj Institutions, Co-operatives, ASHA, Anganwadi Workers, Women Groups, Self Help Groups, and NGOs etc. A roadmap for engagement of corporate houses is being introduced. More transparent system involving social audit and active people’s participation in the implementation process of NBA is being introduced. Convergence with MNREGS shall also be Important to facilitate the rural households with fund availability for creating their own sanitation Facilities. 6. IMPLEMENTATION: The Guidelines of NBA and the provisions hereunder are applicable with effect from 01.04.2012. Implementation of NBA is proposed with ‘Gram Panchayat ‘as the base unit. A project proposal that Emanates from a district is scrutinized and consolidated by the State Government and transmitted to The Government of India (Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation) as a State Plan. NBA is to be Implemented in phases with start-up activities. Funds are  to be made available for preliminary IEC work. The physical implementation gets oriented towards satisfying the felt-needs, wherein individual Households choose from a menu of options for their household latrines. The built-in flexibility in the Menu of options gives the poor and the disadvantaged families opportunity for subsequent up gradation Depending upon their requirements and financial position. In the â€Å"campaign approach†, a synergistic Interaction between the Government agencies and other stakeholders is essential. To bring about the desired behavioural changes for relevant sanitary practices, intensive IEC and advocacy, with Participation of NGOs/ Panchayati Raj Institutions/resource organizations is envisaged. NBA will be implemented with a district as the project. The States/UTs are expected to Prepare/revise NBA Projects for all the districts, consolidate at State level as State Plan and submit Before the Government of India. 7. COMPONENTS OF NBA The Programme components and activities for NBA implementation are as follows: (a) Start-Up Activities: The start-up activities include a. Conducting of preliminary survey to assess the status of sanitation and hygiene practices. b. Base line survey. c. Orientation of key personnel at the district/GP level. d. Preparation of State Plan. The cost of Start-up activities will be met from the IEC funds up to Rs. 10 Lakh. Additional fund. Requirement, if any, shall be met by the State. (b) IEC Activities: Information, Education and Communication (IEC) are important components of the Programme. These intend to trigger the demand for sanitary facilities in the rural areas for households, schools, Anganwadis and Community Sanitary Complexes through behavioural change. The activities carried out under these components should be area specific and should also involve all sections of the rural Population. IEC is not a one-time activity. IEC  strategy and plan to be drawn to include creation of Demand leading to construction and use in a sustained manner. IEC should be conducted at all tiers i.e. Districts, Blocks and Gram Panchayat. A national communication strategy framework has been developed by Government of India giving Emphasis on Inter Personal Communication (IPC) at the grassroots level. The states are to evolve their own strategy using folk media, mass media and also outdoor media like wall painting, hoarding etc. The IEC should also focus on health and hygiene practices and environmental sanitation aspects. Interpersonal communication and door to door to door contact are recognised as the most Significant tools for attaining the programme goals. In order to strengthen communication machinery at the village level with participatory social mobilization, guidelines for engagement of village level Motivators (Swachchhata Doot / Sanitation Messengers) have been issued separately. As part of this Strategy, in addition to Swachchhata Doots, field functionaries like Bharat Nirman Volunteers, ASHA, Anganwadi workers, School Teachers etc. can also be engaged at the village level for demand creation and taking up behaviour change communication. The motivator can be given suitable incentive from the Funds earmarked for IEC. The incentive will be performance based i.e. in terms of motivating the Number of households and schools/ Anganwadis to construct latrines and use them. Each project district should prepare a detailed IEC plan along with the Annual Action Plan with Defined strategies to reach all sections of the community. The aim of such a communication plan is to motivate rural people to adopt hygiene behaviour as a way of life and thereby develop and maintain all Facilities created under the programme. The Annual IEC Action Plan should be duly approved by the DWSC/DWSM. The Communication and Capacity Development Units (CCDUs) / Water and Sanitation Support Organisations (WSSOs) set up at the state level must support the districts in developing a good IEC plan and also in implementing it. Observance of Sanitation Day/ Sanitation Week / Sanitation Fortnight should be essential component of the Annual Action Plan. For effective dissemination of the IEC material, funds may also be provided under this component To blocks and gram Panchayats for execution of works. The development of such material executed by the Panchayats may be standardized by the district or the CCDU. The IEC funds should be broadly divided into pre Nirmal and Post- Nirmal phase so as to have Funds for sustaining the movement. The project districts, however, shall have the flexibility of deciding this division depending on the baseline survey reports and rate of acceleration of sanitation coverage. Funds available under IEC may be used for imparting hygiene education to the rural communities, General public, as well as children in schools. The IEC plan should include a component for rising Awareness among school going children, teachers and PTAs. IEC funding will be in the ratio of 80:20 between GOI and the State Governments and the total IEC Cost including start up grant will be limited to 15% of the total project cost. (c) Capacity Building: This component is for training of VWSC and PRI members, block and district functionaries and Grass root functionaries like ASHA and other health, education and related functionaries, Anganwadi Workers etc. SHGs can be trained in trades such as masonry work, brick-making, toilet pan making and Plumbing etc. as also for awareness raising activities. NGOs/CBOs of repute can be engaged for this Activity. State Resource Centres and Regional / District Resource Centres should be identified for Conducting such trainings. Capacity building funding will be in the ratio of 80:20 between GOI and the State Governments and will be limited to 2% of the IEC budget. (d) Construction of Individual Household Latrines: A duly completed household sanitary latrine shall comprise of a Toilet Unit  including a super Structure. The programme is aimed to cover all the rural families. Incentive as provided under the Scheme may be extended to all Below Poverty Line (BPL) Households and Above Poverty Line Households (APL) restricted to SCs/STs, small and marginal farmers, landless labourers with homestead, physically handicapped and women headed households. The construction of household toilets should be undertaken by the household itself and on completion and use of the toilet; the cash incentive can be given to the household in recognition of its achievement. The incentive amount to Below Poverty Line (BPL) household/identified APLs for construction of one unit of IHHL shall be Rs.4600.00n (Rs.5100.00 for difficult and hilly areas). The central share out of this shall be Rs.3200.00 (Rs.3700.00 in case of hilly and difficult areas) and State Government share shall Be Rs.1400.00. Minimum beneficiary share shall be Rs.900.00 in cash or labour. State Governments are allowed the flexibility to provide higher incentive for a household toilet, of the same or higher unit costs from their own funds. All houses constructed with the central or/and state assistance should invariably Have suitable sanitation facility as an integral part. However, all houses constructed by the beneficiaries Under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) or any other state rural housing scheme which did not have toilets shall also be eligible for the incentive as above for creation of sanitation facilities for the targeted groups Under NBA. APL families not covered by the above incentives will take up construction of the household Latrines on their own through motivation. The IEC activities will provide comprehensive coverage to all the families in the GP without exceptions. APL families facing cash crunch may access the revolving fund as outlined in the guidelines. Construction of bucket latrines is not permitted in the rural areas. The existing bucket latrines, if any, should be converted to sanitary latrines and the sharing pattern for incentive for the targeted Beneficiaries shall be identical to that of construction of individual house hold latrines. Ministry of Rural Development notification Number S.O.l022 (E) dated  04.05.2012 regarding Convergence of TSC with MNREGS will be mutatis mutandis applicable for convergence with NBA. (e) Rural Sanitary Marts and Production Centers: The Rural Sanitary Mart is an outlet dealing with the materials, hardware and designs required for The construction of sanitary latrines, soakage and compost pits, vermi-composting, washing platforms, Certified domestic water filters and other sanitation & hygiene accessories required. RSMs should Ensure that a variety of pans (ceramic, mosaic, HDP, fiberglass) are available for choice by the Beneficiaries. RSM should necessarily have those items, which are required as a part of the sanitation Package. It is a commercial venture with a social objective. The main aim of having a RSM is to provide Materials, services and guidance needed for constructing different types of latrines and other sanitary Facilities for a clean environment. Production Centers are the means to produce cost effective affordable Sanitary materials at the local level. They could be independent or part of the RSMs. The Production Centers/Rural Sanitary Marts could be opened and operated by SHGs / women Organizations/Panchayats/NGOs etc. Support of private entrepreneurs may also be taken for ensuring An effective supply chain. DWSM/DWSC should have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the RSMs/PCs along with A system of joint monitoring evolved to ensure that the RSMs & PCs are on track with production plans As per requirement. RSMs should have a method of quality certification of its products and a band of Trained masons and motivators. Quality standards (where notified by BIS or by MoDWS) for each of the items of purchase should Be strictly adhered to. An interest free loan up to Rs.3.5 lakh can be given for establishing RSM/PC out of revolving fund Available with the district. In case more RSMs are required, a maximum of up to Rs.35 Lakh from the Revolving Fund can be utilized for this purpose. Loans from the revolving fund for RSM/PC shall be Recovered in 12-18 instalments after one year from the date of receiving the  loan. (f) Provision of Revolving Fund in the District The revolving fund may be given to Cooperative Societies or Self Help Groups whose Creditworthiness is established, for providing cheap finance to their members. Loan from this fund Should be recovered in 12-18 instalments. NBA projects will have the flexibility to decide the other Terms and conditions for sanction of the revolving fund. This revolving fund can be accessed by APL Households not covered for incentives under the guidelines. Loan can also be given to the owner of the Household where Anganwadi centre is located for construction of baby friendly toilet provided the ICDS Authorities agree to refund the loan from the rent paid to the house owner. 5% of the District project Outlay subject to a sum of up to Rs.50 Lakh, can be used as revolving fund. The revolving fund is shared Between Centre and State on an 80:20 basis. (g) Community Sanitary Complex: Community Sanitary Complex is an integral component of the NBA. These Complexes, comprising An appropriate number of toilet seats, bathing cubicles, washing platforms, Wash basins etc., can be set Up in a place in the village acceptable and accessible to all. Ordinarily such complexes should be Constructed only when there is lack of space in the village for construction of household toilets and the Community owns up the responsibility of their operation and maintenance. The ultimate aim is to Ensure construction of maximum IHHLs and construction of community complexes will be restricted to Only when IHHLs cannot be constructed, for whatever reason, and also teach the community of â€Å"Hygiene practices†. The maintenance of such complexes is very essential for which Gram Panchayat Should own the ultimate responsibility. User families may be asked to contribute a reasonable monthly User charge for cleaning & maintenance. The proposal for putting up CSC will be approved by the National Scheme Sanctioning Committee (NSSC). Such complexes can also be made at public places, Markets, etc. where large scale congregation of people takes place. Suitable maintenance guidelines May be adopted by the community to ensure proper maintenance of the complex. Maximum unit cost prescribed for a community sanitary complex is up to Rs.2 lakh. Sharing Pattern amongst Central Government, State Government and the community is in the ratio of 60:30:10. The community contribution, however, can be made by the Panchayat out of its own resources, from Grants of the Thirteenth Finance Commission or from any other fund of the State duly permitted by it. (h) Institutional Toilets: Children could be a good channel to influence parents to adopt proper sanitary habits. Children are More receptive to new ideas. Schools/Anganwadis are appropriate institutions for changing the Behaviour, mind-set and habits of children from open defecation to the use of lavatory through Motivation and education. School Toilets: Toilets in all types of Government Schools should be constructed. Emphasis should be given to Toilets for Girls in Schools. Toilet should provide access opportunity to children with special needs. A Toilet unit consists of a toilet and minimum of two urinals. Separate toilet units for girls and boys should Be provided in all co-educational schools, which are to be treated as two separate units and each unit is Entitled to Central assistance. The number of toilet units to be constructed should be adequate to meet The requirements of the school as per the strength of the students attending the school. State/UT Governments, Parent-Teachers Association and Panchayats are free to contribute from their own Resources over and above the prescribed amount. In addition to creation of hardware in the schools, it is essential that hygiene education is imparted To the children on all aspects of hygiene. For this purpose, at least one teacher in each school must be Trained in hygiene education who in turn should train the children through interesting activities and Community projects that emphasize hygiene behaviour. The expenditure for this purpose can be met From the IEC fund earmarked for the project. The district and Panchayat implementing agencies should Ensure  good coordination with Department of Education and Health & other partners in order to fulfil The objective of SSHE i.e. to provide a safe, healthy learning environment to all children. The Central assistance per unit will be restricted to 70 percent for a unit cost of Rs.35,000 (Rs.38,500 in case of hilly and difficult areas). Funding for School Sanitation in a NBA Project is provided By the Central and State Government in the ratio of 70:30. Anganwadi Toilets: In order to in still the practice of using a toilet in children from very early stage in life, it is essential That Anganwadis are used as a platform of behaviour change for the children as well as the mothers. For This purpose, each Anganwadi should be provided with a baby friendly toilet. Since there are a large Number of Anganwadis operating from private premises, following strategy may be adopted: a) In all the Anganwadis, which are in Government buildings, baby friendly toilets should be Constructed from the NBA funds provided. b) In those Anganwadis, which are in private buildings, the owner must be asked to construct The toilet as per design, and, he/she may be allowed to charge enhanced rent for the Building to recover the cost of construction. c) Alternatively, the toilet may be constructed from revolving fund component under the NBA And, suitable deductions made from the monthly rental paid to the owner to recover the Cost over a period of time. Unit cost of a toilet shall be up to Rs.8,000 (Rs.10,000 in case of hilly and difficult areas) for each Anganwadi in the rural areas. Financial assistance to be given by Government of India will be restricted To Rs.5,600 (Rs.7,000 in case of hilly and difficult areas). Additional expenses can be met by the State Government, Panchayats or funds from Thirteenth Finance Commission, MPLADS, MLALADS, MNREGS Etc. Construction of Anganwadi toilets is to be prioritised in the 200 high focused districts to assist in Tackling the issue of malnutrition. All government buildings constructed with financial support of the Centre must have appropriate Sanitation facilities under the respective schemes as an integral component of the scheme. This is Considered essential to achieve the vision of ‘NIRMAL BHARAT’.