Influence to Hong Kong as an International Logistics Hub

[pic] Influence to Hong Kong as an international logistics hub – under the â€Å"Framework Agreement on Hong Kong and Guangdong Co-operation† | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Influence to Hong Kong as an international logistics hub – under the â€Å"Framework Agreement on Hong Kong nd Guangdong Co-operation† cvnru1ulicenen6. iewst4d)0/su18. 4h06k244-055322175 (on ABSTRACT On 7 April 2010, The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Huahua, signed the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong and Guangdong Co-operation. The Framework Agreement builds on years of closely co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong. This report reviews the development of Co-operation Agreement between Guangdong and Hong Kong and the implementation of Hong Kong’s logistics industry based on the agreement.To fully understand this Framework Agreement, we explore the challenges confronting Hong Kong as an international logistic hub and event ually acquire some benefits through the co-operation of Hong Kong and Guangdong. REVIEW THE DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN PEARL RIVER DELTA AND HONG KONG The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement – CEPA (signed on June 2003) CEPA introduced liberalization measures for various â€Å"Hong Kong service suppliers†.Logistics industry is one of the â€Å"Hong Kong service suppliers† and recognized to set up wholly-owned enterprises in mainland to provide logistics, international freight forwarding, storage, warehousing, road transport and shipping services. This arrangement not only provided opportunities to Hong Kong logistics companies to access mainland market but also liberated trade in goods and trade in services between mainland and Hong Kong.Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation Framework Agreement (signed on June 2004) The Pearl River Delta region(PRD), as known as â€Å"9+2†, which includes Guangdong, Fuji an, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hong Kong and Macau. Under this agreement, the Pearl River Delta region cooperated closely and intensively in infrastructure, trade, industry, investment and other areas. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau have entered a new stage of economic integration. Pan-Pearl River Delta Logistics Development Co-operation Agreement (signed on July 2005) Logistics industry acts as an important role in economic development.This agreement aimed to strengthen the coordination on logistics planning; logistics and transport system; logistics information system and human resources development and technological innovation. It was a remarkable stage of model logistics development in PRD. Framework Agreement on Hong Kong and Guangdong Co-operation (signed on July 2010) To continue the implementation of CEPA, the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong and Guangdong Co-operation clearly defined the social economic development between Hong Kong and Guang dong.It enhanced Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre and expedited the development of financial services industries in Guangdong; it also facilitated the flow of key factors such as people, goods, information and capital across the boundary to build an international aviation, shipping and logistics hub and a world-class modern economic circulation sphere. A series of environmental protection plans have been carried out to create a high quality living area among the PRD.CO-OPERATION INITIATIVES ON CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OF GOODS The Framework Agreement on Hong Kong and Guangdong Co-operation has included infrastructure projects to enhance logistics development and communication and cross-boundary development. To achieve the facilitation of the flow of goods across the boundary, Hong Kong and Guangdong have put forward a number of specific policies and measures. Hong Kong Government advocated the standardization of the information and data required by the custo ms of the mainland.Hong Kong first launched the electronic Road Cargo System (ROCARS) in May 2010 to enable seamless clearance of road cargoes. With this new electronic information platform and building on the foundation of mutual co-operation and benefit, Hong Kong and Mainland Customs are able to make further contribution to enhance customs clearance efficiency and facilitate cross-boundary movement of goods. Road Cargo System (ROCARS) The present customs clearance arrangement at land boundary control points (LBCP), a truck driver has to stop first at an Immigration kiosk and then a Customs kiosk.He delivers a paper manifest which contains relevant cargo information at the latter to a Customs officer who determines on the spot whether physical inspection is necessary. It needs to wait for a moment until it is approved by the Customs. ROCARS allows Customs Officers to perform risk profiling before a truck arrives at LBCP. A shipper or agent needs to provide cargo data in eight fiel ds to the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) electronically before the cargo enters or exits Hong Kong by truck. Meanwhile, the shipper or agent receives a customs reference number for his consignment.The driver of a laden truck needs to report to C&ED within 30 minutes before his truck arriving LBCP, together with the customs reference number of the consignment concerned received from the shipper and his vehicle registration number. If it is not selected by the Customs, no physical inspection is required. Benefits of ROCARS ROCARS allows the Customs officers conduct risk profiling on every cargo consignment in advance and determine whether a truck needs to be inspected. All cross-boundary trucks, except those are selected for inspection, they enjoy seamless customs clearance at the land boundary.It increases the efficiency and shortens the time for customs clearance of road cargoes; it also ensures a smooth flow of land boundary traffic. For the transportation and logistics indus try, many truck drivers deliver a loaded container from China factory via Hong Kong and the goods are to be transshipped overseas by liner vessel. ROCARS can enhance speedy and secure movement of cargoes between Hong Kong and China. As a result, cargoes can be delivered on time to liner vessel stably and reliable. It encourages the development of Hong Kong as an international logistics hub.COLLABORATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY To facilitate information flow and service integration towards Hong Kong and Mainland, Hong Kong started to develop and operate the Digital Trade and Transportation Network (DTTN) on 2005. The aim of DTTN is to lower the barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enjoy e-commerce; it provides Hong Kong and the PRD with an e-infrastructure to secure the region’s place as a leading international logistics hub. Digital Trade and Transportation Network (DTTN)DTTN is an e-platform to connect the organizations in trading , logistics and financial industries and to enable them to exchange business documents electronically with their trading partners. It supports the whole supply chains, including Sellers and Buyers, Carriers, Freight Forwarders, Terminals, Government and Agencies, Inspection Agencies, Insurance Institutions and Banking Institutions; it provides a wide range of services on message routing and transformation, data inheritance, statistical and analytical reporting.Over 80 major documents such as Purchase or Sales order, Packing list, Shipping order, House waybill, Customs clearance or Letter of Credit†¦etc can be supported by DTTN service which facilitates the information flow and service integration on trading, logistics, finance, import and export businesses. Benefits of DTTN DTTN enables new business opportunities for logistic service providers to provide value-add services; Hong Kong logistics industry can compete as premium service leader on high quality value-added services r ather than merely competing on cost.Logistics information flow is one of the key factors for the companies to achieve success. DTTN help to maximize the benefits of e-logistics by utilizing a cost effective infrastructure. It is a neutral, secure and reliable e-platform for trading and logistics communities which can smooth the whole international logistics operation and improve our competitiveness. It further promotes regional integration and enhances the supply-chain efficiency. IMPLEMENTATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTSWith an excellent infrastructure and telecommunications facilities, a well established financial and legal system, a good international connections and a free market for trading. Hong Kong enjoys a number of competitive advantages in developing logistic industry. Facing the rapid growth of logistics development in Guangdong province, to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international logistic hub, HKSAR Government is urged to develop a closer corporation between Hong Kong and PRD.The Framework Agreement on Hong Kong and Guangdong Co-operation which specified several policies on expediting the construction of cross-boundary highway, rail links and ancillary works; building a high class navigation network in PRD; improving the mechanism of the five major airports in the PDR; proactively seeking national support for enlarging the air space in the PDR; supporting the aviation status of each airport, building a network of short-haul helicopter services in the PRD. Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB)The HMZB project connects Hong Kong, Macau and the major cities in PRD, there will be a loop of high speed linkage among Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Guangxi, Hainan and other south western part of mainland. (Figure 1. ) [pic] Figure 1: Retrieved from Highway Department http://www. nzcchk. com/IBC%202009%2014%20-%20Hong%20Kong%20Zuhai%20Macau%20Bridge%20Project. pdf It consists of three sections (Figure 2). The western section is a link road within Zhuhai and the Zhuhai-Macao Boundary Crossing Facilities (ZMBCF). TheZhuhai Link Road will connect ZMBCF to the inland area of Zhuhai. The middle section is the HZMB Main Bridge. [pic] Figure 2: Retrieved from Highway Department http://www. nzcchk. com/IBC%202009%2014%20-%20Hong%20Kong%20Zuhai%20Macau%20Bridge%20Project. pdf The eastern section is within Hong Kong, there will be a Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR) to connect the HZMB Main Bridge to the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF). Meanwhile, the tunnel of HKLR will also connect Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to the HKBCF.HKBCF will serve as a strategic multi-model transportation hub, HKBCF will include construction cargo and passenger related facilities, public transport interchange, open road tolling system and some Government buildings will be set up in there. It is believed that the HMZB will bring more road haulage service between Hong Kong and mainland, in connection with the bridge, a highway is to b e built to connect Tuen Mun and Chek Lap Lok( TMCLK Link and the Tuen Mun Western Bypass) in order to meet the traffic demand between Northwest New Territories (NWNT) and North Lantau via HKBCF. (Figure 3) [pic]Figure 3: Retrieved from Highway Department http://www. nzcchk. com/IBC%202009%2014%20-%20Hong%20Kong%20Zuhai%20Macau%20Bridge%20Project. pdf Impacts of the HZMB The journey between Hong Kong and the Western PRD can be shortened to within three hours, it will take around 30mins from Zhuhai to Hong Kong International Airport which will significantly reduce the cost and time for passenger and good flow between Hong Kong and the Western PRD. In addition, the HZMB will bring tremendous benefit to Hong Kong, the Mainland and Macao in the areas of economic development, tourism, finance, logistics and ultural exchange. Hong Kong’s logistics industry will not only be able to get more business in the PRD but also extend their services into the inland area of the Mainland includ ing the resource-rich Sichuan Province. Hence, it further enhances Hong Kong’s status as an international transportation and aviation hub. Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Express Line (WEL) To promote the development of Qianhai and NWNT and enhance the co-operation between the two airports in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, there will be a cross boundary railway, WEL, to connect the western part of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, including the two airports.From now the mainland destinations of HKIA mainly are the mainland cities far away from Hong Kong such as Shanghai and Beijing. Facing the rapid economic development in Mainland, the demand for domestic flights will continue to increase; there will be the same demand of international flights of international transit flight via Hong Kong. It is believed that WEL helps to connect the two airports between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, it will help the two cities in achieving a win-win situation by complementing each other and enhancing competitiveness. Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL)To expedite the construction of various cross-boundary transport infrastructures between Hong Kong and Mainland, XRL will connect Hong Kong with the Mainland’s national high-speed railway network which will significantly reduce the journey time. XRL is an express rail to link up Hong Kong with Guangzhou via Futian and Longhua in Shenzhen and Humen in Dongguan. The terminus in Guangzhou will be located at Shibi, which is the centre of the Guangzhou-Foshan metropolitan area. The Mainland section of XRL will start from Shibi and enter Hong Kong via Huanggang. (figure 4) [pic] Figure 4: Retrieved from Legislative Council brief http://legco. gov. k/yr09-10/english/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp1022-thb200910a-e. pdf The Hong Kong Section is started from Huangguan, there will be an underground railway running from Huanggang to West Kowloon Terminus at the West Kowloon District, and between the Airport Express Kowloon Station and t he West Rail Austin Station. [pic] Figure 5: Retrieved from Legislative Council brief http://legco. gov. hk/yr07-08/english/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp-thbtcr11658199-e. pdf Impacts of the XRL XRL is vitally important to Hong Kong. It will connect Hong Kong with the Mainland's national high-speed railway network and significantly reduce the journey time.A trip between Hong Kong and Shibi on the XRL will only take 48 minutes, to Wuhan in five hours, and to Shanghai and Beijing in about eight and 10 hours respectively. The XRL will terminate at the New Guangzhou Passenger Terminus at Shibi in Guangzhou. Shibi, together with the stations at Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan, are designated as the four major national railway passenger hubs of the Mainland. The Terminus is planned to become a mega transport hub. Hence, XRL will help reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a transport, financial and commercial hub of China.It will support the sustained growth of our four traditional economic pillars – Financial services, tourism, logistics, business support and professional services. CONSOLIDATING HONG KONG’S DEVELOPMENT AS AN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS CENTRE Positioning of Hong Kong International Airport(HKIA) HKIA is the word’s busiest cargo airport, it has handled a record high of 4. 13 million tonnes of cargo in 2010. To meet the anticipated growth in demand, a new air cargo terminal is being constructed and is expected to commence operation in early 2013; the cargo-handling capacity will be increased.In long term, building a third runway is necessary to meet the forecast growth of passenger and cargo handling up to 2030. It will maintain the competitive edge of Hong Kong as an international and regional aviation centre. In view of increasing aircraft movements in PRD region, air routes and airspace open for civil aviation are insufficient, flights on many air routes have to make an additional detour or fly to a certain flight level t o ensure safety, it increased the flight time and flight delay in Mainland is always happened from time to time.To meet the aviation development needs and strengthen the economies between Hong Kong and Mainland, HKSAR government has to formulate a development plan for future air spaces capacity of the HKIA as well as the positioning of HKIA in accordance with its function as mentioned in the Framework Agreement to avoid the traffic congestion in the airspace over the PRD region. Measures to enhance the maritime port’s competitiveness To reinforce Hong Kong's position as a renowned international maritime centre and it is believed that a well established international business and maritime network is necessary.With regard to port expansion, HKSAR Government is looking for the right location for Container Terminal 10, which may be required as early as 2015. It will be other local transportation projects to shorten the travelling time of goods and commuters within the territory. The Hong Kong Shipping Register is the first-rate service offered by the Hong Kong maritime cluster. To maintain the reputation of the Hong Kong Shipping Register, the Hong Kong Marine Department will work closely with the industry to enhance the standards of Hong Kong ships and increase the competitiveness of the Register.Such as providing e-services for expanding one-stop shop services for ship registration, strengthening pre-registration quality control and enhancing coordination with the relevant Mainland authorities to offer better protection for Hong Kong ships. Hong Kong can also provide higher value-added services like maritime insurance, ship financing, international arbitration and logistic management to form a stronger industrial cluster.POSITIONING HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG AS A MODERN ECONIMIC CIRCULATION SPHERE To reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a logistics and maritime centre, Hong Kong needs to have first-class infrastructure facilities in parallel with hard i nfrastructure development. Banking and Bond Business The Framework Agreement deepens the Hong Kong’s RMB trade settlement and finance businesses at local level. It provides a best platform for Mainland authorities and Hong Kong Monetary Authority to jointly discuss and investigate how to expedite the application of RMB outside the China and continuously improve the RMB trade settlement services.It also facilitates the bond services, the qualified Guangdong financial organizations and companies can issue RMB bonds in Hong Kong. This approach creates many different financial channels to both sides and supports the development of Hong Kong’s RMB bond services simultaneously. Securities Services For securities business, the Framework Agreement pushes forward connection and mutual co-operation in respect of talents, knowledge, products, and institutions between both sides.In addition, more Guangdong financial organizations and companies are encouraged to raise funds in Hong Kong and to be Hong Kong listed companies. In order to strengthen the collaboration of securities services between Hong Kong and Guangdong, the supplement VI of Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was signed in 2009 which permitted securities organizations in Mainland and Hong Kong to establish securities investment consultancies in joint venture mode. Insurance ServicesWith the support of Framework Agreement, the qualified Hong Kong financial organizations can set up legal institutions with insurance services in Guangdong and this facilitates Hong Kong insurance organizations to develop business in Mainland by lowering the entry requirements of Mainland insurance market. The supplement IV of CEPA helps Hong Kong insurance agents to set up wholly-owned companies in Mainland. The collaboration of China Insurance Regulatory Commission and Office of the Commissioner of Insurance in Hong Kong can continuously be increased.Developing international logis tics hub in Hong Kong and PRD region The Framework Agreement helps the development of financial logistics service in Hong Kong by integrating supply, production and sales and formed the financial supply chain system. It was the revolution of third-party logistics services in Hong Kong. Financial logistics service has became gradually popular that combined with logistics and financial products. The ability of third-party logistics services and operating profit has been improved; logistic companies can expand financing channels, reduce financing costs and improve capital management efficiency.The new third-party logistics service definitely drives toward the goal of win-win supply chain. Logistics companies can activate occupied costs of idle raw materials and finished products for optimizing companies’ resources. The provision of financial logistics service can enhance companies’ integrated logistics services and competitiveness; it further increases the business scale as well as the value-added services. The enhanced financial costing and broad financing channels reduce the capital utilization of raw materials and semi-finished products.Moreover, the optimal capital allocation can reduce the procurement costs, expand sales volume and increase the companies’ sales profits. For further support, financial logistics services help companies to expand the size of loans for smoothing the cash flow, reduce credit risk and support the disposal of bad assets. The combination of logistics services and financial services which provides an integrated supply chain financial plan, it also increases the competitive advantage and profits.Through the financial logistic services, the warehouse logistic companies can achieve multilateral success; enhance customers’ capital capability and responsiveness to market risk. It encourages customers to deal with the warehouse goods processing and facilitates the interactive information sharing of goods, large amount of goods storage and high goods turnover rate. The diversified payment methods can maximize customers’ capital settlement. Therefore, customers’ pressure on accounts receivable can be reduced.With the connection of logistics and insurance industries, it provides a comprehensive logistics insurance service for all supply chain activities and items. It includes equipment damage, goods delivery, property and facilities, operation safety of trucks and other means of transport, and employee insurance, etc. Through the enhanced financial services, increased financial channels and the supports of Mainland banks and insurance companies, the logistics industry in Hong Kong obtains abundant resources to develop the financial logistics services, logistics routes and business in Mainland.Foreign enterprises also can take Hong Kong and Guangdong as a platform to invest in mainland market, in returns, Hong Kong acts as a bridgehead for Mainland enterprises to â€Å"go global † and establishes their head office in Hong Kong and promotes their business to global markets. CONCLUSION Hong Kong is the gateway of China and positioned in the heart of Asia; we can reach all major Asian countries within four hours and half of the world's population within five hours by plane.However, facing the changes of global economic structure and the worldwide trend of forming a regional economic co-operation and competition, it is difficult for an individual city to compete at its own. As such Hong Kong has to strengthen itself by co-operating with Mainland, particularly PRD region in Guangdong, to search for larger market hinterland so as to maintain its long term competitiveness. Under the outline of the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong Guangdong Co-operation, Hong Kong has to work towards betterment by consolidating innovation into its existing pillar industries, including finance, trading, shipping and logistics.To enhance our competitiveness, Hong Kong has conti nued investing in key infrastructure projects to maintain an efficient multi-modal transport network which covering air, land and sea to meet the different needs. Major infrastructure projects like HZMB, XRL and WEL, which materialize the â€Å"one-hour intercity circle† for people in PRD region and enforce a sound regional system of marine, land and air transport integration within this region. To facilitate the logistic flow and customs procedures, ROCARS has been introduced on the customs clearance.Some other recommendations on customs procedures can be considered in future, for instance, a mutual recognition of the examination results of cross-boundary vehicles, relaxation of the restrictions on Hong Kong trucks with valid licenses to travel in Mainland, as well as a centralized electronic communication platform on other control points to shorten the customs clearance time. In parallel with hard infrastructure development, Hong Kong should continue to develop the required software, particularly in the expansion of our aviation network, nurturing fresh talent and IT development.Hong Kong should make use the advantage of legal system and professional service, an extensive shipping and aviation network so as to provide a high value-added logistic services like pick-and pack and inventory management services. We believe that maintaining a closely correlation between Hong Kong’s hard and soft infrastructure is one of the factors to sustain our economic growth and prosperity. To further reinforce Hong Kong’s position as an international logistic hub and a gateway for Asia to access global markets, we have to tie with the co-operation and development of mainland.Last but not lease, we do believe we shall always empower ourselves to meet the great challenges and proactively identify new engines of economic growth of Hong Kong. References Trade and Industry Department â€Å"Supplement to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership A rrangement† Retrieved 27 Sept, 2011 from http://www. tid. gov. hk/english/cepa/legaltext/cepa2. html Trade and Industry Department â€Å"The CEPA benefits Hong Kong economy, January 5, 2006† Retrieved 27 Sept, 2011 from http://www. tid. gov. hk/english/aboutus/presspeech/press/2006/20060105. htmlCustoms and Excise Department – Road Cargo System (ROCARS) https://www. rocars. gov. hk/en/landing_page. html Digital Trade and Transportation Network http://www. hk-dttn. com/home/english/home. html Digital Trade and Transportation Network (2005) †Tradelink announces agreements with the HKSAR Government on the Digital Trade & Transportation Network (DTTN)† Retrieved 26 Sept, 2011 from http://www. hk-dttn. com/events/english/050901_Agreements_DTTN_E. pdf Digital Trade and Transportation Network (2006) â€Å"Microsoft and DTTNCo Join Hands to Enhance Supply Chain Efficiency in Hong Kong† Retrieved 26 Sept 2011 from http://www. k-dttn. com/events/english/ Microsoft-DTTNCo%20Press%20Release_Eng. pdf Digital Trade and Transportation Network (Nov 2004) â€Å"Approach for Digital Trade and Transportation Network (DTTN) Document Structure Development† Retrieved on 26 Sept 2011 from http://www. hk-dttn. com/advisory/english/doc_dev_v0. 2. pdf Hong Kong's Information Service Department (April 2010), Press Release of â€Å"Signing ceremony of Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation held in Beijing† Retrieved on 27 Sept 2011 from http://www. info. gov. hk/gia/general/201004/07/P201004070113. tm Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York(2010) â€Å"Hong Kong, Guangdong sign cooperation pact† Retrieved on 27 Sept 2011 from http://www. hketony. gov. hk/ny/e-newsletter/10mar/CoopPact. htm Transport and Housing Bureau of HKSAR http://www. thb. gov. hk/eng/policy/transport/issues/cbt_3. htm Transport and Housing Bureau (2011), Hon Jeffrey Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng at the Legislative Council meeting, â€Å"Logistic industry in Hong Kongâ€Å" Retrieved on 28 Sept 2011 from http://www. hb. gov. hk/eng/psp/pressreleases/transport/logistics/2011/201102161. pdf Highways Department (Oct 2009) International Business Committee â€Å"Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge† Retrieved on 28 Sept 2011 from http://www. nzcchk. com/IBC%202009%2014%20-%20Hong%20Kong%20Zuhai%20Macau%20Bridge%20Project. pdf Legislative council brief (2010) â€Å"Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong Express Rail Link ( XRL )† Retrieved on 1 Oct 2011 from http://www. legco. gov. hk/yr09-10/chinese/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp1022cb1-166-1-ec. pdfLegislative council brief (Oct 2009), â€Å"Hong Kong section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express rail link funding arrangement and Special rehousing package† Retrieved on 1 Oct 2011 from http://legco. gov. hk/yr09-10/english/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp10 22-thb200910a-e. pdf Legislative council brief (April 2008) â€Å"Hong Kong section of Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong Express rail link† Retrieved on 1 Oct 2011 from http://legco. gov. hk/yr07-08/english/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp-thbtcr11658199-e. pdf Transport and Housing Bureau of HKSAR – XRL ttp://www. thb. gov. hk/eng/policy/transport/issues/cbt_4. htm MTR Corporation Limited http://www. expressraillink. hk/en/database/xrl-in-hk. html Transport and Housing Bureau (May 2011) Speech of the Secretary for Transport and Housing at a shipping community luncheon in Korea. Retrieved on 1 Oct 2011 from http://www. thb. gov. hk/eng/psp/speeches/transport/maritime/2011/201105311. pdf Transport and Housing Bureau (Mar 2011) Secretary for Transport and Housing's opening remarks (transport policy areas) at LegCo Special Finance Committee Meeting.Retrieved on 1 Oct 2011 from http://www. thb. gov. hk/eng/psp/speeches/transport/land/2011/201103221. pdf Constitu tional and Mainland Affairs Bureau http://www. cmab. gov. hk/en/issues/council. htm Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (2010) â€Å"Highlights of the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation† Retrieved on 6 October 2011 from http://www. hkecic. com/compass/eng/201006/Compass201006_2_RoadtoChina3. pdf Kee, P. & Yoshimatsu, H. (2010), Global movements in the Asia Pacific, 1st edn. World Scientific Publishing Company, US. Luo, Z. (2010), Service Science and Logistics Informatics: Innovative Perspectives, 1st edn. , IGI Global snippet, US. Waters, D. (2010), Global Logistics: New Directions in Supply Chain Management, 6th edn. , Kogan Page Publishers, UK. Legislative Council (2010) †Legislative Council Panel on Commerce and Industry Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Cooperation† Retrieved on 6 October 2011 from http://www. legco. gov. hk/yr09-10/english/panels/ci/papers/cicb1-1559-1-e. pdf

“Having a Mind to Change the World” By Howard Nemerov Essay

The poem is about daylight saving time. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is an age-old practice where people would advance time by one hour to extend daylight time into the night. In effect, they would sacrifice sunrise time, also by one hour. People in the regions affected would adjust their clocks around the start of spring. They would change them back to normal time when summer ends. This practice has its root in early societies before the invention of the modern clock. Because most societies were agrarian at the time, and farm work was majorly dependent on daylight, people would plan their day and adjust their time according the length of daylight. Where daylight extended into the night, people would adjust their clocks to accommodate the new timeline, which, in this case, will also continue well into the night. The poem focused on the controversy surrounding daylight saving. Winston Churchill sparked the debate on daylight saving time by sensationally claiming that daylight saving time gave the American people more opportunities to pursue happiness and good health. Most farmers and entertainment spot owners opposed DST vehemently and called for its immediate abolition. After 1919, most cities in the United States rejected the DST. New York was among the few cities that continued using DST. The poem â€Å"having a mind to save the world† explores the â€Å"impossibility† that was saving a few more hours from the regular day hours but which the world achieved by introducing the Daylight Saving Time. The poem states that it is only in Indianapolis that the people refused to agree to the use of Daylight Saving Time. The city was dependent on agriculture and DST would discourage normal working hours in the farms affecting productivity. In the poem, Howard likens the phenomenon to the biblical story of Joshua. Joshua asked God to extend daylight so that he could subdue the enemy. God responded to  this request by causing the sun to stand still for a few more hours until the war was over, and Israelites emerged victorious. The poem heaps praises on the ingenuity of Daylight Saving Time, saying that nothing like it existed since it is God who extended daylight during the time of Joshua. The speaker in the poem is an omniscient narrator who experiences the events captured in the poem. We see him associate himself directly with the events in the poem by referring to himself as â€Å"we† when he says â€Å"we the Indian-givers.† From the story, we deduce that the speaker associate himself with a particular period in history. He says, â€Å"The Republic finds itself unanimously Agreed except for Indianapolis†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The events the narrator is talking about occurred at a time in history when most states needed to adopt the Daylight Saving Time†. This period was probably when the agrarian revolution was at its peak in America. It is also a time when the southern states such as Indiana fiercely opposed the daylight saving time phenomenon. They thought it undermined agriculture and labor in general. With a grasp of the historical context of the poem, one can share the speaker’s point of view. The speaker appears excited that daylight saving time is gaining popularity but is at the same time sad that Indianapolis, his home city, has refused to join the other states in embracing it. He adopts an indifferent tone at the beginning of the poem, an indication that he cannot do much to change the situation as it is. The poet develops an internal conflict in the poem through the words of the speaker. The poet says, â€Å"Taking Daylight hour from dawn, and giving it to evening, even if we Indian-givers later take it back.† This statement shows clearly that the poet feels there is a conflict between the rest of the republic and the inhabitants of Indianapolis. The poem revolves around many political issues associated with the use of DST in the United States in the early nineteenth century. During this period, a proposal by Willet to have the DST retained in the US system suffered a narrow defeat in parliament. Similar bills that Willet’s supporters and opponents later introduced in parliament also failed. This poem has a unique form that departs from the conventional poetry styles common in literature. First the whole poem comprises only one stanza. The verse consists of 15 lines each of which is of different lengths. The poem also does not flow in a particular rhyme scheme since the poet does not use any rhyming words and phrases. In the poem, the poet makes careful syntactical  choices that suit the message of the poem. He breaks his words before their logical conclusion. The speaker uses present tense, and sometimes present participle. The lack of clear pattern in the poem creates a mood of excitement that the poet intends.

Identities of Cardiff, Wales, UK by quantitative evidence Essay

Identities of Cardiff, Wales, UK by quantitative evidence - Essay Example Of that total population two-thirds (210,000) are of working age and one-third (110,400) are dependents - children under fifteen, women over the age of 60 and men over the age of 65. In contrast, in Wales outside of Cardiff, a lower percentage of the population is still in the workforce. A mere 1,586,000 or 60% of the population is in the workforce, while 40% are classified as dependents. These means that there are more dependents per thousand workers in Wales than there are in Cardiff. Moreover, in Cardiff dependent children outnumber dependent adults while in the remainder of Wales dependent adults outnumber dependent children. Overall, therefor the population of Cardiff is younger than the population of Wales as a whole. In Cardiff a greater percentage of the population is still in the workforce and dependents about to enter the workforce outnumber dependents who have left the workforce. The general fertility rate in Cardiff is slightly lower than that in the remainder of Wales. The figure per thousand women in Cardiff is 57.2: Slightly less than the Welsh national figure which is 59.4. In the aggregate there are only limited differences between the two areas. However, if birthrate is analyzed by age distinct differences emerge. Simply put, women in Cardiff have children later than women in Wales as a whole. In Wales as a whole the birth rate exceeds that of Cardiff for all women under the age of 30. In Cardiff the opposite is true, the birth rate for women over the age of 29 is greater than the national average.. In terms of population movement and migration the city of Cardiff and Wales as a whole demonstrate similarities. Between 2003 and 2007 the population of Wales increased by 10,320 with 57,200 new arrivals and the departure of only 46,890. Similarly, in-migration increased the population of Cardiff during the same period by 820. While both study areas increased in

Health Promotion Program Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Promotion Program - Assignment Example Health promotion programs in the workplace are focused on reducing, preventing and also eliminating any health hazard that can lead to poor health of the employees and also enhances the work capabilities of the employees. Not only physical but also mental, social health also has to be maintained to produce maximum results at the work place. According to the article, the studies showed that health promotion programs at workplaces were offered by most of the organizations and emphasized on health risk screening, healthy diet programs, and exercise counselling and improving relations with co-workers. According to evidence, wellness health programs can positively affect presenteeism and also highlight the risk factors for the workers (Cancelliere, Cassidy, Ammendolia, & Cote, 2011). The increased numbers of health related problems in our society are a warning sign to improve our health associated habits and ask for a more health conscious state of mind. Helath promotion programs are a very effective way of improving the public health habits by spreading awareness of risk factors, teaching how to prevent them and at the same time making plans for the members so that they can imporve their daily life habits. Workplace diseases are also soaring which not only affect the employees but also lower the economy, productivity of the company and its financial growth. According to studies, an approximate of $3.27 decline in medical costs is observed with the induction of wellness programs and the fall in the health related leaves by the employees leads to increased savings (Baicker, Cutler, & Song, 2010). This supports the evidence in the main article that wellness programs are an effective way of increasing financial growth, increased savings and enhanced productivity. Cancelliere, C., Cassidy, J. D., Ammendolia, C., & Cote, P. (2011). Are workplace health promotion programs

Women in Military in Europe and Asian Research Paper

Women in Military in Europe and Asian - Research Paper Example It is said that most of them starting accepting women as clerks, then it evolved to drivers, and after some years, they started to be involved in large artillery operators. Presently almost all the European countries accept their women to take part in fulltime active duty, barely with any restrictions at all. This paper looks into a few countries in Europe who accepts women in their military. Denmark While other delayed to employee their women in military force, Denmark employed women in the Danish armed forces as early as 1934 with the Women’s Army Corps, Ground Observer Corps, and Danish and Naval Corps in the year 1946 and the Women’s Air Force as at 1953. During the early1962, Danish parliament enacted a laws allowing female gender to volunteer in the basis Danish armed forces only if they failed to serve in departments requiring direct combat. However1971 saw most women enlistment as un-commissioned officers, with most military academies in the country accepting fe males in 1974(Holm 83). Based on the research findings in 1978, women were accepted in virtually all sectors of the Danish armed forces, alongside combat trials during the 1980s making use of the ability of female in combat. It however become clear in 1998, from the government who passed a law allowing women to trial military life similar to the enrolled men, though devoid of being entirely open to recruitment. Female in the Danish military were under the command of Chief Defense (Bello 136). As t the year 2009 July, the highest rank ever attained by a female gender in the Danish armed forces was Colonel, Susanne Bach Bager, Telegrafregimentet, having with it at least 5.3% (842) females serving: 503 privates; 154 officers, and 186 NCOs, exclusive of women serving as conscripts (Solaro 43). Compared to other European nations accepting female gender in their armed forces, with Denmark the basis of evaluation of females as fit for the military job is very different, that is the basic p hysical necessities for women and their male counterparts in their military forces, nonetheless the necessities are a little bit more physically demanding than just the sex of the person in service. Finland According to Commemorative Coin Program, (78) the Finnish Defense Forces, did not conscript women. but, during the 199os, women aged between 18 and 30 years, were accepted as volunteers to undertake the military service both in the Defense Forces and in the Border Guard. Women were however not given any special treatment instead they served under the same physical conditions as their men counterparts, the only expectation was that, as for the women, They were given an option to leave the forces within the first 45 without any consequences. Failure of which, they had to finish the service that took at least 6 months to one year. Thereafter the women would face the same military duty as their male counterparts. Should a woman in service at the national service experiences any metic ulous catastrophe, preventing her from competently doing her military reserve obligations, the women would be reshuffled to another civilian service, which lasted for at least one year 12(Shin 167). It was clear that virtual all the units and services both Finnish Border Guard and the country’s defense accepted females. However while in the garrison environment, women had separate rooms supplied with separate bath facilities and toilet. While in aboard ships and exercises, females were lodged with men. As an incentive, the females in the military serv

Business Research for Decision Making, Red Tomatoe Company Essay

Business Research for Decision Making, Red Tomatoe Company - Essay Example bout the company is that the top management came from the ranks of the JRT and this could be identified as one of its strengths because these people are familiar with the â€Å"ins and outs† of the company. Unfortunately, the company is on the rocks because key personnel started leaving last year because they realized that they have â€Å"no future with JRT†. This backlash could be detrimental to the company because it had previous plans of expanding in the future. With this, this paper would thresh out the problems associated with the human resources (HR) planning of JRT and seek out the viable solutions to these problems. The previous HR consultant conducted preliminary interviews within the organization, undergone research of the produce industry and consulted other business cases with similar challenges. It has been found out that â€Å"Juicy Red Tomato Company needs to invest in retention not only of its managerial personnel, but also front-line production employees. In addition, JRT needs to improve communication between production and operations, possibly by enhancing technology used by the company as a whole†. With regards to organizational structure, it has been observed that the JRT has the traditional structure. According to Grinnell and Apple (1975), there are five general indications that the traditional structure may not be adequate for managing projects: Our observations agree with what Green and Apple (1975) identified as the problems that arise with the traditional organizational structure. In fact, many companies do not realize the necessity for organizational structure to change until it is too late. Management looks externally (i.e., to the environment) rather than internally for solutions to problems. A typical example would be that new product costs are rising while the product life cycle may be decreasing. Should emphasis be placed on lowering costs or developing new products? If JRT assumes that an organizational system is composed of both

Nanotechnology holds huge promise in a wide range of applications but Essay

Nanotechnology holds huge promise in a wide range of applications but there are potential risks. Discuss - Essay Example Nanotechnology has a wide range of use and application and its multi-disciplinary utilities encompass applied physics, device physics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, supra-molecular chemistry, reactivity, electrical conductivity, cleaner energy production, energy efficiency, light weighting of materials, and environmental improvements, besides a vast array of applications hitherto unexplored. [1] Sales of produce manufactured by the use of nanotechnology has crossed US$ 30 billion and is expected to touch US$ 1 trillion within the next decade. However, despite its phenomenal capabilities and benefits, there are disturbing indications about its side effects and capacity to hurt. As of now, what is known is there are both positive and negative effects to nanotechnology. While its protagonists are busy exploiting its various uses, not enough is being done to meticulously research its potential to harm immediately or over a period of time. As has been mentioned, the potential for its positive use is tremendous and is poised to usher in yet another dynamic era of worldwide usage after the electronic age.

E&P overview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

E&P overview - Essay Example The Liquefied Natural Gas is slated to deliver in two phases, Train 1 and Train 2 to be completed in 2007 and 2009. The former will supply LNG to America and the latter to Asia for next 25 years. Apart from making Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil major producers of LNG, The project will also strengthen the position of Qatar State in the LNG market. By the decade’s end Qatar’s LNG exports will exceed 77 Mta. The offshore development of construction and installation of two wellhead platforms and two offshore pipelines for the required gas feedstock is being carried out by J. Ray McDermott Middle East. A Joint Venture between Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil, Barzan Project will yield will yield about 1.5 billion cubic feet per day of domestic gas to be supplied for infrastructural and industrial projects of the State of Qatar. The project for Appraisal, Development and Production Sharing Agreement (ADPSA) signed between Qatar and ONGC Videsh Ltd, with latter as the operator of Najwat Najwat Oil Structure. ADPSA ranges for a period of 20 years with initial two years dedicated to Appraisal and rest for development. Appraisal phase includes reprocessing of 200 sq km of seismic data, and drilling of two appraisal wells, which started in 2007. According to a latest news report ONGC Videsh Ltd has found oil in the Najwat Najem block. According to Kurdish Regional Government that the oil reserves if northern Iraq are exploited, it can lead to increase in oil production of Iraq from 2 million barrels per day to 8 million barrels a day. A Joint Venture between company with an investment of US $2 Billion gas exports to Oman and includes setting up of 500 Km of gas pipeline. The pipeline will transfer one billion cubic feet of gas per day to Oman. Oilex is recommending to Joint Venture participants and the Omani regulatory authorities that 7 inch casing be run and a production testing program carried out over the primary and secondary objectives

Solving problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Solving problems - Essay Example This article will also, among others, cover an action plan for the implementation and communication of the solution. In the recent past decades, the steel industry has morphed through copious changes and steel producers have had to adjust themselves to cope with the heightened competition within the industry as all players seek ways of achieving the much desired competitive advantage over rivals (Crandall, 1981). On its part, despite the massive investments in Information Technology, the competitiveness of USS has not changed much. A major concern lies in the USS’ high production cost that keeps it lagging behind its South Korean and English counterparts in terms of efficiency. This clearly came in the 1990s when the company’s inefficiency in its tracking system prompted the Ford Motor Company, one of its major clients, to threaten pulling out and to seek the services of other steel makers, citing USS’ production inconsistency as the major cause of this. The investment in IT seems to have helped but the company still faces major inventory and forecasting challenges. Prior to the major investments in IT, USS’ information flow between the company’s individual plants, factories and major clients could be summarized as inaccurate, inflexible and unmanageable (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2007). The company’s current challenge of high production costs is the main cause for the inventory and forecasting vicious cycle. Its deficiency in a competent tracking system has prompted increased inventories which in turn has lead to lots of wastage and translated to huge costs of containing the enormous amounts of steel within its inventory. Having lagged behind the major industry players, USS has to reinvent itself if it is to make any possible contributions to its already damaged reputation. The warning from Ford Motor Company should have served as a warning enough to trigger a major

History music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History music - Essay Example None of the audience expressed concern or disgust over this sudden technical catastrophe as within that deemed darkness â€Å"Brother† and â€Å"Albannach† two of the much celebrated bands started blazing their acoustic guitars to keep the crowed entertained and that worked at its optimum level. Soon the light came back and the Seven Nations by that time started to set the stage on fire. In its earlier days when Kirk McLeod and Neil Anderson initiated the band, Seven Nations gained substantial popularity and interest among its audience. However it seemed that they have lost their way afterwards, though in this concert the band seemed rejuvenated with the inclusion of Victor Gagnon who gave an inspired performance with his fiddle. The performance that came out of the Seven Nations was a mix of old and new scores. When Seven Nations was refreshing my memories, I was missing Neil Anderson who was the co founder of the band, yet no longer associated with it. However he was not far away, his new band Rathkeltair was performing on the immediate second stage. Neil as all know is an immensely talented music performer who steals all the attention when he is on the stage. However, his performance in his new band Rathkeltair marked the re birth of a new Neil who knows how to blend with his associate musicians. Again the maestro gave his master stroke when he used his pipes to insert his whistles at the right places that only he is capable of. Those whistles gave a strange essence to the entire musical ambience and rescued the band from being reckoned as any other band of our genre. Through out the performance Neil was like a musician who believes in team work yet who knows when to lead. Again the visual impact that Neil left on the audience by playing two instruments simultaneously was a joy for ears as well as eyes. After a brief pause Albannach occupied the main stage and that for good reason and outcome. This is a pure rock band and comprised of pipe and drums. Jamesie and Jacquie at bass drums, Colin at snare and drum kit, Aya at bodhran and tambourine and Donnie with his bagpiper gave us a musical treat. The wild and erratic energy that the band filled the room with goes well with their tattoos. Sometimes it seemed that some of them might fall of the stage as they were shaking vigorously while playing their drums. The occasional long and lone snares that Colin was leaving through his hands mesmerized the audience and make them question themselves that whether his drum sticks are really attached with his fingers. Albannach all over kept the hall rocking and dancing and the entrapped energy of the audience occasionally came out with gigantic roars that might risk ones ear drums or even might led to cardiac arrest for the faint hearted. The two stages side by side and challenging each other in every step almost turned the audience into a tennis ball. After finishing with Albannach, the crowed headed to the second stage to witness the performance of Annalivia. The four performers of the group with the absence of Stuart Kenney who plays bass and banjo were bit quite comparing the previous performances yet even they reflected substantial talent through their music. Vocalist and Guitarist Liz Simmons, Brendan Carey and Emerald Rae on fiddle and the later one also on vocal and vocalist and guitarist Flynn Cohen presented a polished performance with folk flavour. Before the audience can finish with the band they have to rush back to the main stage to witness Paul McKenna band

Meaning of Education Essay Example for Free

Meaning of Education Essay Recently, a university professor wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. He commented that people shouldnt put too much weight on the recently released trends in SRA scores of the states high school students. The professor went on to describe some of the unanswered questions about the nature and value of assessment. He mentioned that one of the problems with assessment was the ongoing disagreement on the very purpose of education. A few days later, a scathing response was printed from a community member who questioned whether the University really wanted someone on their staff who didnt even know the purpose of education. Clearly, this person assumed that his definition of education was shared by all. What is the meaning of education? Webster defines education as the process of educating or teaching (now thats really useful, isnt it? ) Educate is further defined as to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of Thus, from these definitions, we might assume that the purpose of education is to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of students. Unfortunately, this definition offers little unless we further define words such as develop, knowledge, and character. What is meant by knowledge? Is it a body of information that exists out there—apart from the human thought processes that developed it? If we look at the standards and benchmarks that have been developed by many states—or at E. D. Hirschs list of information needed for Cultural Literacy (1), we might assume this to be the definition of knowledge. However, there is considerable research leading others to believe that knowledge arises in the mind of an individual when that person interacts with an idea or experience. This is hardly a new argument. In ancient Greece, Socrates argued that education was about drawing out what was already within the student. (As many of you know, the word education comes from the Latin e-ducere meaning to lead out. ) At the same time, the Sophists, a group of itinerant teachers, promised to give students the necessary knowledge and skills to gain positions with the city-state. There is a dangerous tendency to assume that when people use the same words, they perceive a situation in the same way. This is rarely the case. Once one gets beyond a dictionary definition—a meaning that is often of little practical value—the meaning we assign to a word is a belief, not an absolute fact. Here are a couple of examples. â€Å"The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. The truly human society is a learning society, where grandparents, parents, and children are students together. † ~Eric Hoffer â€Å"No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure. † ~Emma Goldman â€Å"The only purpose of education is to teach a student how to live his life-by developing his mind and equipping him to deal with reality. The training he needs is theoretical, i. e. , conceptual. He has to be taught to think, to understand, to integrate, to prove. He has to be taught the essentials of the knowledge discovered in the past-and he has to be equipped to acquire further knowledge by his own effort. † ~Ayn Rand â€Å"The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men. † ~Bill Beattie â€Å"The one real object of education is to leave a man in the condition of continually asking questions. † ~Bishop Creighton â€Å"The central job of schools is to maximize the capacity of each student. † ~Carol Ann Tomlinson These quotations demonstrate the diversity of beliefs about the purpose of education. How would you complete the statement, The purpose of education is ? If you ask five of your fellow teachers to complete that sentence, it is likely that youll have five different statements. Some will place the focus on knowledge, some on the teacher, and others on the student. Yet peoples beliefs in the purpose of education lie at the heart of their teaching behaviors. Despite what the letter writer might have wished, there is no definition of education that is agreed upon by all, or even most, educators. The meanings they attach to the word are complex beliefs arising from their own values and experiences. To the extent that those beliefs differ, the experience of students in todays classrooms can never be the same. Worse, many educators have never been asked to state their beliefs—or even to reflect on what they believe. At the very least, teachers owe it to their students to bring their definitions into consciousness and examine them for validity. Purposes and Functions. To make matters more complicated, theorists have made a distinction between the purpose of education and the functions of education. (2) A purpose is the fundamental goal of the process—an end to be achieved. Functions are other outcomes that may occur as a natural result of the process— byproducts or consequences of schooling. For example, some teachers believe that the transmission of knowledge is the primary purpose of education, while the transfer of knowledge from school to the real world is something that happens naturally as a consequence of possessing that knowledge—a function of education. Because a purpose is an expressed goal, more effort is put into attaining it. Functions are assumed to occur without directed effort. For this reason its valuable to figure out which outcomes you consider a fundamental purpose of education. Which of the following do you actually include in your planning? Acquisition of information about the past and present: includes traditional disciplines such as literature, history, science, mathematics Formation of healthy social and/or formal relationships among and between students, teachers, others Capacity/ability to evaluate information and to predict future outcomes (decision-making) Capacity/ability to seek out alternative solutions and evaluate them (problem solving) Development of mental and physical skills: motor, thinking, communication, social, aesthetic Knowledge of moral practices and ethical standards acceptable by society/culture Capacity/ability to recognize and evaluate different points of view Respect: giving and receiving recognition as human beings Indoctrination into the culture Capacity/ability to live a fulfilling life Capacity/ability to earn a living: career education Sense of well-being: mental and physical health. Capacity/ability to be a good citizen Capacity/ability to think creatively Cultural appreciation: art, music, humanities Understanding of human relations and motivations Acquisition/clarification of values related to the physical environment Acquisition/clarification of personal values Self-realization/self-reflection: awareness of one’s abilities and goals Self-esteem/self-efficacy As Tom Peters reminds us, What gets measured, gets done. Regardless of the high sounding rhetoric about the development of the total child, it is the content of assessments that largely drives education. How is the capacity/ability to think creatively assessed in todays schools? To what extent is the typical student recognized and given respect? How often are students given the opportunity to recognize and evaluate different points of view when multiple choice tests require a single correct answer? Teachers who hold a more humanistic view of the purpose of education often experience stress because the meaning they assign to education differs greatly from the meaning assigned by society or their institution. It is clear in listening to the language of education that its primary focus is on knowledge and teaching rather than on the learner. Students are expected to conform to schools rather than schools serving the needs of students. Stopping to identify and agree upon a fundamental purpose or purposes of education is rare. One sees nebulous statements in school mission statements, but they are often of the â€Å"Mom, baseball, and apple pie† variety that offer little substance on which to build a school culture. Creating meaningful and lasting change in education is unlikely without revisiting this basic definition. At the very least, educators must be challenged to identify and reexamine their beliefs in the light of present knowledge. It is time for the focus of education to shift from whats out there—the curriculum, assessments, classroom arrangement, books, computers—to the fundamental assumptions about and definitions of education held by educators and policymakers. NASA did not send men to the moon by building on the chassis of a model T. In the same way, education cannot hope to move beyond its present state on the chassis of 18th century education.

Lockes Criterion Of Personal Identity

Lockes Criterion Of Personal Identity Who am I? What makes me, me? The theory of personal identity has been considered one of the most complicated questions that philosophy has taken a deeper look into. The theory of personal identity tries to deal with the questions about how an individual at one time and place is the same individual at another time and place. When we look at personal identity, we are trying to figure out what sets us apart from other pieces of matter, species and individuals. In this essay I will discuss John Lockes criterion of sameness of consciousness for the theory of personal identity and why he does not think that other physical or psychological criteria fit, a challenge to Lockes criterion posed by Thomas Reid using the logic of transitivity analogy, and lastly how the suggested idea of overlapping chains of memory that Derek Parfit poses to reform Lockes view so that it may meet the challenge posed by Thomas Reid is a good solution to the challenge because it keeps Lockes theory intact and also adds the transitivity property that Reid challenges Lockes theory on. When discussing personal identity, the criterion of identity will strongly depend on the object that you are talking about. There have been many viewpoints as to what the criterion of personal identity of the self or a person is. Some viewpoints suggest that the criterion for the self is organic; that our body is what identifies us over time. Locke states that this criterion is not applicable for personal identity of a person because of situations like body switch (Freaky Friday situation). If the consciousness of two people were to switch, everyone would think that you are the same person because you look like the same person. However, it is not actually you in your body and because there is a different consciousness in your body, and your body is no longer you; your body cannot define your personal identity. Other views describe the criterion as being substance that makes us the same over time. Substance includes both non-physical (soul) and physical substances. According to Locke, substance as a criterion is not applicable for personal identity of a person because of situations like death. When you die, you may be made of the same substance, but if you cease to think (thinking is connected to being a person) then you cease to exist and have no personal identity. Locke looks towards a psychological criterion to define personal identity of a person. According to Locke, a person or the self is different than just matter and just a living thing. A person is a thinking intelligent being that has reason and reflection and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing in different times and places; which it does only by that consciousness which is inseparable from thinking. This describes what is known as sameness of consciousness. We are the same person to the point where we are conscious of our past and future memory or mental state in the same way that we are conscious of our current memory or mental state. This criterion can also be broken down into an analogy said by Locke: person x is the same as person y if person y is consciously connected to x in the sense that person y can remember the thoughts and actions of person x. According to Locke, the necessary criterion of personal identity is sameness of consciousness. This sameness of consciousness comes directly from memory and experience. Locke believes that the sameness of consciousness is the ideal criterion of personal identity for a person because since consciousness is always connected to thinking, and being able to think is what makes a person a person and allows that person to distinguish its own thoughts from anothers, as far back as our consciousness can be extended to any past thought, so far back will our identity extend. As far back as the person can repeat or reflect on a past thought or action with its current consciousness, so far back is the personal identity of the person. Thomas Reid, as well as many other philosophers and critics who oppose the idea of sameness of consciousness criterion, otherwise known as memory theory, have a very hard time agreeing that sameness of consciousness is a necessary criterion for personal identity. They understand that the sufficient condition that the view of sameness of consciousness criterion is trying to state is achievable; if I remember eating a triple chocolate fudge bar, then I must have been the one that really ate the triple chocolate fudge bar. However, they dont understand how sameness of consciousness is a necessary condition for personal identity; that if I cannot remember eating the triple chocolate fudge bar, then it is impossible that I was the one who ate the triple chocolate fudge bar. The fact that it is impossible for you to have the same personal identity if you cannot remember that past thought or action is where Reids challenge arises. Reids challenge towards Lockes theory is presented in the form of the logic of transitivity analogy that states that if x is related to y, and y is related to z, then x is related to z. Using a modern example, Reids theory follows that the little girl who played in the sand(x) is the same person who was a student at the University of Toronto(y) and the person who was a student at the University of Toronto(y) is the same as the woman who is CEO of a banking firm(z), and therefore using the logic of transitivity, the little girl who played in the sand(x) is therefore the same person as the woman who is CEO of a banking firm(z). Reid successfully shows that transitivity allows the little girl who played in the sand and the woman who is CEO of a banking firm to have the same personal identity despite the fact that the woman who is CEO of a banking firm may not remember ever being the little girl who played in the sand. Due to the fact that Reids challenge is successful in showing that th e CEO and the little girl who played in the sand can be the same person and share the same personal identity, it shows that Lockes theory denies the fact that the CEO and the little girl who played in the sand are the same person which ignores the logic of transitivity and is therefore false. Lockes criterion does not take into consideration the transitivity property and Reids challenge points out this clear and big flaw. Reids challenge explains that Lockes criterion of personal identity completely ignores the logic of transitivity. His challenge proves that Lockes criterion, without any changes applied, fails because it cannot just ignore the transivity property. However, Derek Parfit, a British philosopher who also explored the topic of personal identity, suggested a possible solution to slightly change Lockes criterion to make it so that it meets this challenge. Parfits suggested solution is to make the criterion of personal identity overlapping chains of memory. Going back to the modern example of the little girl who played in the sand and the CEO, Parfits suggested solution would state that if the student at the University of Toronto could remember being the little girl who played in the sand, and the CEO remembered being the student at the University of Toronto, then this overlapping chain of memories would allow the CEO to be the same person as the little girl who played in the sand. This solution helps Lockes theory overcome Reids challenge while still defending the core parts of Lockes theory. Parfits overlapping memory theory allows for the CEO and the little girl to be the same person, which covers the transitivity property. It allows x to be the same person as z. It also still allows for sameness of consciousness or memory theory to be the necessary criterion of personal identity. It fulfills the sufficient condition of the criterion: if I remember eating a triple chocolate fudge bar, then I must have been the one that really ate the triple chocolate fudge bar, and fulfills the necessary condition of the criterion: If I dont remember eating a triple chocolate fudge bar, as long as I remember buying the chocolate fudge bar to eat than I am the same person who later ate the triple fudge chocolate bar because I have overlapping chains of memory that allow me to be the same person. The necessary condition is fulfilled because it shows that through the overlappin g chains of memory I may not remember everything but as long as I remember enough to continue the chain of memories, I will be the same person. Although this solution is a sound response to Reids challenge, it does not give a specific conclusion for what the criterion of identity truly is. It states that instead of the criterion being one specific definition, it is more like a group of experience, memories and thoughts that make us the same person at time one and time two. However, Parfits argument is a sound response to Reids challenge and therefore does successfully transform Lockes view so that it will meet the transitivity property as well as the necessary condition of consciousness. Overall, Lockes view on personal identity is just one of many and there will be many more to come on this complicated and deep topic.

Problems For Multinational Cooperations In Host Country Economics Essay

Problems For Multinational Cooperations In Host Country Economics Essay Introduction The existence and the account of the transnational corporations are established and can be founded far early then globalization, which took place in the nineties, but has opened the doors for more distinguished, liberalized the free trade across the globe (Gray 1993). The transnational corporation plays an essential role that holds the main pillars in shaping the dynamics of world trade and the economy of the host country in this current globalized world (Hesketh 2010). Today a large number of crown organizations are the transnational enterprises. These corporations have a fundamental factor that influences trade, concerns with technology, finance and foreign direct investments in the host as well as the home country. These forces regulate frames and direct the economic growth and development of the states in which they operate. (Gray 1993) The transnational corporations are many a time described as the organization with dual face. One side where they are respected and cherished as an model of income to enlarge the local economy by the FDI, and on the other side they are blamed as selfish and hungry organization who aims for only the volume of their income rather than the gains to the economy where they operate. The impact of these factors affects the economy and social interests on the government, demographic factors, businesses as well as on the foreign-owned firms. The power and the influence of the transnational corporation on the government and the marketplace, make the monopolist businesses in an economy go behind them or form an alliance with the transnational corporation and leads to their success and progress in competence in the host countries. (Harrison 2000) Alan. M. (2009) and Andrew. H. (2000) defines transnational corporation or multinational corporation as an enterprise that has its headquarters in one country or home country, but manages production or operation of its services in one or more other countries or the host countries. The transnational corporations are the firm who structures its management, strategy, have ownership, directs geographical diversification and operations globally (John. H. 1993). They influence the economy with potential that are designed with numerous possibilities that are fundamental for developed as well as developing countries. This includes capital, competency or skills, technology or processes, exports, and infrastructure that are deliberate for developing their competitiveness (Worasinchai 2009). For example, Uniliver has its headquarters at Rotterdam in Netherlands the home country and today holds a larger portion of their business of numerous consumer product brands operating throughout the world or in host countries, in foods, beverages and personal care products (Hesketh 2010). They have their brand name also design their products and services according to the market and the trends in that economy. Scope of the activities of the transnational corporations Firms those acquire more than quarter of its revenue from their operations generated outside of its home country can be termed as transnational corporation (Makwana 2006). The transnational corporations are habitually dispersing firms. They have a powerful home country presence and a fine management and authority with a broad and centralized facilitate on their parent firms. They attain this by cost benefit throughout central production plant where cheaper resources are easily accessible; have technical expertise to improve the management system and the productivity. (Gray 1993) The transnational corporations expand and prosper exceptional in an economy with dynamic marketplace that determine the low-priced and superiority of goods with respect to production, price and supply of goods and services in a host country (Karl 2003). The strategies of the multinational corporation brings along the reality that they hide is they indirectly establish an outlook to the economy by dominating government, economists and domestic industrialists to attain their interests (Markusen 1995). The transnational corporation is threat to the sovereignty to the host country in many aspects. Following are some barriers that are currently faced by almost every host country. Transfer of technological or processes- The transnational corporation may be a threat to an economy, as they can bring along a low-grade or incompatible technology in the host country (Makwana 2006). For instance, the transnational corporations brings along with them technology, equipment, approach and expertise that are not required in that host country. The firms do this in order to get the best possible benefits from a host country even if there is no assistance of their operation to that economy. This is done by introducing production methods along with sophisticated machinery that is not of any interest to the host country and may need skillful labor and auxiliary industries that are not available in that country (Passani 2009). Further dilemma with the transfer of the technology will make the transnational corporation to dominate the domestic industry by the means of technological advantage or technological dependency, which may bring a fall in research and development if they are outsourced. This can be anticipated by the transnational corporation through introducing modern tools, knowledge and machinery for creating an obstacle to the local businesses that cannot create or purchase these facilities (Kevin 1998). This might result in eradication of some small businesses in the host country thereby leading to monopoly, which is not fruitful for any economy to thrive. Influence of the trade policy and trade agreements The multinational corporation plays a vital role in shaping the trade policies and trade agreements of the host country. Trade policies are the set of rules and regulations that are concerned to the entire states involved in international trade (Kumar 2008). Trade policy comprise of import and export taxes, inspection regulations, tariffs, and quotas. These policies are framework for a flexible coordination of trade activities to make trade in smooth flow, set clear principles and standards that can be understand by the businesses as well as its clients (Rugman.M. 2009). Although they are not practically always accomplished. The developed nations will always restrict the trade activities with the developing as well as underdeveloped nations to limit and dominate trade (Kumar 2008). The transnational corporations try to take advantage of the trade policies by industrial domination and using this distinctive rights advantage to frame concessions from the government of the host country. The traffic and duties barriers create a restriction and prohibit the trade activities by slowing the process of import or by establishing standards that will exclude the foreign goods (Rugman.M. 2009). Their pressure on the host government may influence the economic as well as the political policies to shape for the more interest of the multinational corporation. This may neglect the domestic industries and make them further more inflexible (Makwana 2006). The trade policies in support of Multinational Corporation may restrict the host country to produce goods only for domestic market and restrict the exports. These corporations may also For example- IN 2007, according to the Boston Globe report, South Korea had exported 700,000 cars to the United States. While U.S. carmakers sold around 6,000 crankshafts to South Korea. This resulted a trade deficit to U.S. of around 80 percent of $13 billion with South Korea. The free trade agreement under which the Balance of Trade to U.S. was deficit and made U.S. to restrict import of cars from South Korea in next year (Moor 2007). Cultural impact on the MNCS In the pursuit of the economies of scale and be a competent organization in every aspect, transnational corporation creates a diversity and clashes in different geographical and local cultures in dissimilar as well as same nations (Harrison. A. 2000). Today transnational corporations have to acknowledge with the reality of cultural diversity in different aspects. The companies bring along with them new technology, work practices and challenging the management beliefs and transmits them in host countries (Gray 1993). Rugman (2009 p. 47) Cultural dissimilarity often makes the multinational organization for merger and acquisitions. This may enforce the new style of management and operations on the economy or the economy may restrict the sovereignty and the independence of the cultural norms and organizational goals on the corporation with their traditional beliefs. (Rugman.A. 2009) For example- McDonalds is one of the leading fast food chains with a worldwide presence. They are operating around 118 countries worldwide. Different countries have a different outlook for the services provided by them (McDonalds 2010). In UK, MacDonald is blamed as an unhealthy food chain that is responsible for rise in obesity and employment without prospects. While in Muslim countries like Malaysia, the bacon is not served in McDonalds burgers as pork is not permitted under Islamic dietary law (McDonalds 1940). This shows the effect on the organization as well as on economy because of cultural crash. The culture diversity may influence on the face-to-face or on company-to-company operations, dealing in different clusters around the globe (Markusen 1995). Cost advantage (e.g. Low cost) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) agreement designed for liberated trade between the United States and Canada and Mexico made it potential for many U.S. manufacturers to shift their employment to lower-cost countries like Mexico in order to achieve competitive labor-cost advantage (NAFTA. 2010). This restricts the multinational corporation to expand more in their choice of environments where they can make substantial benefits and forcefully invest the resources abroad. Availability of quality goods and services in the host country Many- a-times, businesses in a host country may be chiefly designed for export market. Although in some places the organizations make investments in order to increase their access in the host country market in order to decrease the trade barriers (Gray 1993). For example- Honda, Japanese car manufacturers made investments in UK for their production of cars, has facilitated them to acquire a platform in the EU in order to avoid tariff barriers (Nag 2007). The availability of resources in foreign market has made access to high quality goods at low-prices and the rivalry created, has made the organization to improvements in working practices, prices and quality in other related industries and forced the industries to make huge investments to attain these resources (Karl 2003). Influence of Government regulations and bodies The international business along with it benefits, makes the countries involved to reveal on the rationale for the dreadful effect of the trade activities in their economy. The government does the monitoring of the activities by setting up bodies and agencies that control and monitor the trade activity and the flow of these resources (AFTA). World Trade Organization (1995) acts as a body to liberalize and encourage the world trade. However, there is no transparency of the decisions made by WTO, which has made it complex for the multinational corporation to operate in the nation, which is not a Most Favored Nation (MFN) (WTO. 2010). The free trade through negotiations has always forced the MNCs to face in almost every regional and international clash. The problem of exchange rate also has an essential part for the MNCs in the host countries. The exchange rate may affect the import surplus, inflation or deflation of currency rates and risking the organization many a times in debts (IMF, 2010). Role of Foreign direct investment The foreign direct investment (FDI) involves a long-term contract between the organization and the government and hence has a huge impact on an economy. The FDI bring about transformation and involvement in management, joint venture, modification of technology with expertise with the foreign assets or foreign investment (Markusen 1995). FDI are channels of technology spillover. These leaks may occur as; a firm may hire an employee from a rival firm that has acquaintance about the technology that is used and bond in fraudulent practices (Markusen 1995). For example- Flextronics is worlds leading contract electronics firm, took over C-Mac industries of Canada in order to acquire C-Mac expertise in assembling the components of their new products (WTO. 2010). Economic exploitation Role of freedom and peace plays an dominant role on the organization as well as on the host government. The exploitation of the foreign organization of the government of the host country may influence in terms of trade policies, labor, FDI and exploit the trade activities (Kevin 1998). Restriction but both by the MNCS and the host government bounds the circumstances and limitations to the trade operations and infringe the market principles by making the small firms to operate in that market of go for overseas trade (Kumar 2008). The exploitation has also affected the employment, where the new principles positioned for generating high profits have dominated the salary and the opportunities of the lowest to the highest profession in the number of the employees as well as on their wages. Item B GLOBALIZATION OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION (Johnson 2008) Introduction What is globalization of education Globalization of education is to pursue, instruct and build a qualified as well as skilled labor work force, while creating awareness to gain know-how and acquaintance from other education institutions around the globe along with global businesses demands (Hamilton 2009). Today globalization has posed a model pursued by diverse cultures to practice superior education; make awareness and expertise the inhabitants to seek for knowledge from other higher education intuitions (Raby 2009). Globalization of education is bring about the creation and alliance and interconnections between states education systems that usually understands the process and structure in which barriers separating different regions of the world education establishment are reduced or removed (Daun 2007). Globalization today is a complex issue for many community universities around the world and is at present observed as crucial to every nations competitiveness to raise their standard of living. These days universally, higher education structure, policies and establishment are being transformed by globalization. This is broadening along with growing and speeding up of global interlinks between the higher universities (Daniel 2010). University education is now more globally open other than most of the sectors because of its transparency and widespread arena immense knowledge along with massive market demand of educated personnel as well as global customers, which now shows significantly more respect between the juridical borders worldwide (Elaine 2010). Evolution of the university education since globalization has transformed and influenced largely on the intuitional schooling techniques as taking into action the challenges with the openings that are primary element of the present global world since they are regularly developing to supply new principle to the rapid changing internationalization and schooling the inhabitants (Hamilton 2009). The Globalization of the education brings about the changing customs in the university education and is concerned to shifting between universities. This brings the idea of how university education will anticipate the future opportunity and bring together in front a mixture of the finest philosopher and bright brains throughout the globe for one intention (Amaral 2009). Globalization of the education can be illustrated at present in the diverse world where the higher as well as the small institutions and universities apply to complex university systems to global online university for new opportunities, modernism forces and trends in higher education on the following aspects. Market globalization The globalization of market, which was earlier, unnoticed during early 1980s, is the foremost concerned subject of every economy worldwide. This has amplified the commerce of the gross world merchandise nearly double when compared in the 1990 of 15% to nearly 37% in the recent years (Daun 2007). The foreign direct investment funds have also increased significantly in the last 20 years (Knust 2009). The recent liberalization of the trade and policies has laid a structure for every economy to develop and react vitally to the volume and competitiveness of the businesses and trade from countries worldwide. In the rapidity globalization of the market, internet has played crucial role in shaping the business worldwide to construct a low cost establishment for communication and businesses activities to draw, persuade and engage the target consumers in a appropriate approach. Market driver Globalization has directed the economies, education and rituals followed by dissimilar states to internationalize and spread of market needs between diverse nations over the globe. This has facilitated the spread of knowledge along with understanding of different practices in the markets and assisted as a principal footstep for the development of the nations (Pamela 2010). The globalization of the market drivers can be categorized under- Similar customer needs and tastes Customer desires depend on how the corporation or institutes segment their markets and demands. In the course of selecting among the rival goods and services, consumers choose the preference that can facilitate and fulfill their requirements and are superior to competitors products (Raby 2009). In the marketing where the consumers search for distinct product or service that have different needs and segments in the same product chain, the trader tries to split the product according to the customers needs by splitting the identical products and requirements into personal preferences. This never-ending demand of dissimilar choices has made the companies to promote and spread their distinctive products worldwide. To capture and establish their presence the companies need trained and skillful workforce (John 2009). The different market demand and requisite make it obligatory for the universities education to gain more knowledge and awareness in their teaching around the world (Amaral 2009). Fresh and towering ideas and inclination of the nations trade and their close partnership between the education and industries makes the globalization of the higher education compulsory universally (Knust 2009). 7. Global customers Today every professor and superior administrators is awake and remain acknowledged about the movement of commerce and advertising into education as the trade activities and the reach of the global consumers is shaping the economy growth (Daniel 2010). The reach of the global teaching hence plays a crucial role in fulfilling the diverse customers needs and more over recognize the different aspiration in different states. The Multinational companies who play a key role in the globalization of trade, for their elastic operation globally involve managing their interactions with international customers in a worldwide-incorporated model where the different preferences in design, taste, color, shape and other dimensions to the product are designed to dissimilar target customers (Daun 2007). Transferable markets Nowadays the infinite market demand in terms of product or services or in the field of education is immense. To fulfill the market demand the trader and intuitions tries to be flexible and make it flexible to relocate from one market into other in order to sustain the market share and meet the rising competition (Daniel 2010). The activities of the 2002 where the enclosure of staff and students in decision-making, the governance deliberated the change toward concern of effectiveness and responsibility emphasized the introduction of New Public Management (NPM). This altered the structure and policy processes of public bodies in an effort to make them more efficient and effective to serve the high market requirements that aided the graduates and the business to interact directly for employment (Grant 1997). Dell recognized as devoted brand for its distinctive market share to supply technology at inexpensive and handy to its customers and intuitions around the world to take advantage of the vast economic and social benefits by, managing the customers demand by using customer direct model and bring low-price in the markets, expand the global employment to meet the diverse ideas and expertise and bring desirable employment worldwide economies. (Dell 2004) 8. Globalization of competition Globalization of the competition plays an important role in the modern education system that is depended on the interdependence between countries, Competitors global strategies, high import exports. Globalization has ultimately led to further Competition within the developed as well as the middle-income countries. This is chiefly in Asia, that has lead to growth and collaboration of the businesses as well as the educations institutes from the OECD countries has led to ease of policy formulation, seeking solutions to the most common problems, recognizing good practices with co-coordinating with domestic and international strategies (Elaine 2010). One evidence for the development of higher education institutions and the increasing competition can be found in the large range of institutional structures where dissimilar small as well as giant universities of applied science to multifaceted university systems to private colleges use internet to spread the prospect now use online and abroad teaching pattern. This has aided the universities to speedily react to the challenging and take advantage of the modern opportunities (Raby 2009). Higher education has now become central to the changes sweeping through the OECD and emerging nations, in which worldwide networking and exchange are reshaping social, economic and cultural life. But has also increased the level of competition (Pamela 2010). 9. Globalization of government policies In global acquainted economies, higher University education has a major significance than ever before as standards of wide range of cross-border relationships and continuous global flows of people, information, knowledge, technologies, products and financial capital is vastly depended on the government policies and regulations that govern the participants of the market (Daniel 2010). The government policies are framed and structured under trade policies, technical standards, host government policies. In practice, the principal objective of such reforms is to begin a process of privatizing education by starving public-sector schools in the name of forcing them to compete.  Ã‚  The Civil Society Network for Public Education in the Americas, a group that brings together South, Central and North American workers in education, notes that in developing countries that apply austerity measures, this system has generally led to the reduction of educational resources for the poorest regions (Knust 2009). Conclusion The MNCs has to face many tribulations in the host countries in the present era of globalised world trade. There are many causes and reasons for the failure of the many global economic programs and the corporations. In focal cause of this failure is the competition or rivalry, profit driven intends, self- interests, and the domination by economic powers. The multinational corporations are the modles of these traits, and they play a key role in sustaining their position through their economic and political influence. The role of MNC plays a significant on the economic formulation of policies and the overall development of the country. The development of the economies and the expansion of the trade has lead to globalization of the university education grow and develop over tall over the globe.

machiavelli Essay -- essays research papers

The Church accused Niccolo Machiavelli of being Satan for writing his book The Prince. Machiavelli completed The Prince in 1513. He wrote it as a gift to Lorenzo Medici, called the Magnificent, ruler of Florence. The political views Machiavelli expressed in his book went against the theology of the Church, specifically the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. Machiavelli wrote to gain control of a principality one must be brutal. (I)f you are a prince in possession of a newly acquired state and deem it necessary. . . to annihilate those who can or must attack you. . . . , you must do so to protect your principality. He gave the example of Duke Valentino's slaying of his nobles to maintain order, saying if Valentino had not killed his men, Valentino would have lost power. The Bible strongly forbids the killing of anyone. The Sixth Commandment states You shall not murder. In what is known as the Beatitudes, from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the Bible also says those who are meek shall inherit the earth. A meek person certainly does not kill others for standing in his or her way like Machiavelli is suggesting to be done. Another verse from the Beatitudes says those who are peacemakers will be called sons of God. Peacemakers do not kill either. For Machiavelli to say if killing a person is for the betterment of your principality, then to do so went against God's rule and the Church's. True followers of the Church abide by the Church beliefs, because if you are not for God, ...

Search for Perfection in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye Essay -- Blues

Search for a Perfection in The Bluest Eye    The concept of physical beauty and desire to conform to a prescribed definition of what is considered beautiful can destroy a person's life. In Toni Morrison's novel, The Bluest Eye, many characters are obsessed with attaining the idealist definition of what is considered beautiful. The characters of Geraldine, Pauline, and Pecola all believe that physical perfection leads to acceptance; however, it is the same belief that causes their personal downfalls and prevents them from recognizing their own inner beauty.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Geraldine's anxieties over wanting to comply with what others think is beautiful, damage her existence. For example, the character of Geraldine is so consumed with physical perfection that she prevents herself from accepting her black heritage. When the author illustrates how woman like Geraldine act, she asserts, "They hold their behind in for fear of sway too free; when they wear lipstick they never cover the entire mouth for fear of lips to thick, and they worry, worry, worry about the edges of their hair" (Morrison 83). Geraldine is so ashamed of her black characteristics that she tries to hide them. She thinks black people are ugly, and she wants to appear white because she equates having lighter skin with being a better person. Geraldine thinks she will be discriminated for being black, therefore, she refuses to accept and own any physical features of her culture. In addition, when the author illustrates how Geraldine is more concerned with her baby's physical appe arance than with his emotional needs, she writes, "He was always brushed, bathed, oiled, and shod. Geraldine did not talk to him,coo to him, or indulge him in kissing bouts, but she saw that every o... ...ining an ideal appearance in order to accommodate what others view as beautiful can ruin one's existence. The characters of Geraldine, Pauline, and Pecola all erroneously believe that obtaining a certain look will enhance their lives. However, as a result of their search for a perfect outward image they are never able to value their inner selves. Works Cited Bayles, Martha. "Special Effects, Special Pleading." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz. Michigan: Gale Research Inc., 194-213. Davis, Cynthia. "Self, Society, and Myth in Toni Morrison's Fiction." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Draper, James P., ed. Michigan: Gale Research Inc., 1994. 215-273. Morrison, Toni.   The Bluest Eye. New York, New York: Plume, 1994. Steiner, Wendy. "The Clearest Eye." Contemporary Authors. Trosky, Susan, M., ed. Michigan: Gale Research Inc., 1994. 239.