Gender and Aging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gender and Aging - Essay Example For instance, Ms. Beatrice engages in volunteering work in order to find time to share with her daughter and grandchildren (Anno. 2014). This helps her to feel better because of the company and the chance to interact with others. The aging services can help widows like Ms. Beatrice Newman cope with such challenges and age successfully by providing social occasions where they can interact with others. This is essential since it will make them feel appreciated and forget about their problems back at home. It would also be appropriate to encourage them to participate in volunteering activities where they can keep busy and socialize with other members of the society (Anno. 2014). This arises because the main challenge to them is loneliness and loss of touch of the family members. As a result, aging services can support caregivers by providing suitable facilities and conditions for taking care of the

Pest Analysis of Sainsburys in a 3rd World Country Essay Example for Free

Pest Analysis of Sainsburys in a 3rd World Country Essay Interest rate, economic growth, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation and the exchange rates are the important economic factors. These factors play a vital role in a firm’s business strategy and decision making. Every country has it’s own culture and the nation has a strong impact on their living. The social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. Social  factors include the cultural aspects and include health consciousness, language, population growth rate, age distribution, career attitudes. Trends in social factors affect the demand for a companys products and how that company operates. For example, the roles of men and women in the society. Furthermore, companies may change various management strategies to adapt to these social trends Technological  factors have vital place in PEST analysis. Some markets are labour intensive and some are capital intensive. Technological factors determine  barriers to entry, minimum efficient production level and influence  outsourcing  decisions. It is one of the major drivers of globalization and is the base for competitive advantage. Innovation is offered to the customers or consumers through technology for example internet banking, smart phones etc. It also enables the firm to produce a product cheaply and to a better quality in standard. Pakistan is the sixth most populated country in the world with over 180 million people. It is estimated that the 25% of the population belongs to the middle income class. It is also estimated that 55% of the Pakistani population is in the 10-40 years age bracket. The upper middle-income class is estimated at 17 million with relatively high per capita income which favours more consumer spending. The average Pakistani consumer spends 42% of his income on food related products. The upcoming changes in demographic will create opportunities and challenges for businesses in Pakistan. Pakistan’s food retail sector is unorganised and highly dominated by independent small stores. Over the past few years, some large European food retailers have opened stores in all major Pakistani metropolitan cities like Makro, Metro and Carrefour (Hyper star). Pakistani families are attracted towards these stores due to their strategic location, multiple product range and imported processed food. Studies also show that there has been a significant shift to organized format of shopping from traditional format, in urban areas. This provides a challenging and profitable opportunity to other food retailers to enter the market. Sainsburys provides convenient shopping under one roof, has wide range of products, consumer friendly environment, large storage and discounted prices. These factors give Sainsburys an advantage over other food retailers currently present in Pakistan. If Sainsburys decides to enter in food retail sector then it has to perform a PEST analysis. PEST Analysis of Sainsburys in Pakistan : Political Factors : The political factors revolve around the current government in a country. Currently, in Pakistan, the ruling party is Pakistan People’s Party which was democratically elected in 2008. Though it is backed by western powers but still is considered to be a weak government. The basic questions arise such as how stable is the political or is there any government intervention in the economic policy making or laws and legislation protecting the businesses. Unfortunately, due to weak governments in the past, the security and corruption has been the key issues Pakistan has been facing over the the last decade. Which certainly is not a good sign for any foreign investors. However, giants in food-retail sectors like Metro and Carrefour ( hyper star) have set an example with an increasing growth in profit and expansion even in such circumstances. Sainsburys may enter in the Pakistani market with it’s variety of products which are available under one roof, as the increasing trend in urban areas shows, there will be high demand for it. Political factors may also include the goods and services which the governments want to provide or be provided. Sainsburys collects much of it’s revenue by selling it’s wide range of wines and spirits. Pakistani law prohibits the sale or consumption of any type of wines and spirits within its geographical boundaries, Sainsburys will not be allowed to sell it in their stores which may negatively affect their sales. Government of Pakistan ensures that there is foreign investment in Pakistan and it has signed a few trade agreements too. It also provides foreign investors the incentives to invest here. Partial ownership by the Pakistan government usually serves as an insurance policy for the share holders and the investors. Economic Factors: Extremely volatile oil prices are the root cause of global financial crisis in Pakistan which has also worsened the energy crisis. These two factors increase the cost of production. High inflation is a key resultant of it As Sainsburys produce much of it’s products in stores so they may go beyond their feasible region in producing a product. Interest rates are at their peak, economic growth is quite slow and this is due to the low level of lending and purchasing power of the consumer is weak. Though it is a labour intensive country and labour supply is quite high and also available at low cost than most other countries but unemployment is rising regardless of the above mentioned fact. The gap between rich and poor continues to expand and the percentage of poor is increasing everyday. However relatively quite cheaper labour may do a significant impact in Sainsburys production. It will also bring employment opportunities for young and skilled labour. Heavy loans from financial institutions like IMF and world bank has made the government in debt upto neck and there are no significant changes in sight. However financial aid packages in the name of war on terror and from the friends of Pakistan has kept the economy from collapsing. Pakistan has integrated with global economy and has brought positive impact on economy with increase in GDP. Despite of the worse conditions, Investing in such a country where cheap labour is available and more than half of the country’s population lies in the labour force, targeting middle-income class-keeping the fact in mind that government provides support to private investors would not be a bad decision. Social Factors : The culture and religion are very close to each other in Pakistan. As mentioned above this will affect the sales of wines and spirits of Sainsburys as it is not only prohibited by the dominant religion and prohibited by law but the targeted class does not accept it too. Health and Education are the two important sectors for any developing nations and Pakistan lack both of them and government of Pakistan fails to allocate the required budget in both the sectors. However, people like to shop and come with families to the big retail stores. There has been a significant shift from traditional to organized format. The studies show that 11% of the population tend to buy long life food related products in advance for a month. Sainsburys provides a healthy and safe environment to work with,which for a change would attract the people to work and shop here. In comparison to the past, women have also started to contribute in the labor force. Language will be a barrier for the citizens of Pakistan as english is not the first language in Pakistan. Buying imported products is considered a status symbol in Pakistan so there is a high demand for foreign products in Pakistan and is appreciated in the local market. According to studies people spend 42% of their income on food related products. So there will be high demand for a food related products provided by Sainsburys. Technological Factors : Technological expertise is overflowed in Pakistan as the labour supply and demand for IT professionals is high. There has been an improvement in the industrial sector but still the country’s imports are higher than exports. Since it is a labour intensive area and not capital intensive so use of technology higher the cost of production but shift to focus more on labour may help Sainsburys to produce it’s products relatively cheaper. There is also a trend of buying products online seen. Sainsburys already provides the service of buying it’s products online which saves much time so the typical â€Å"9-5† workforce can also be targeted.

William Buffalo Bill Cody Essay -- Biography Biographies Buffalo Bill

William Buffalo Bill Cody Buffalo Bill was one of the most interesting figures of the old west, and the best known spokesman of the new west. Buffalo Bill was born in 1846 and his real name was William Frederick Cody. Cody was many things. He was a trapper, bullwhacker, Colorado 'Fifty-Niner';, Pony Express rider, Civil War soldier, wagonmaster, stagecoach driver, and even a manager of a hotel. He changed his name to Buffalo Bill sometime in his early twenties for his skill while supplying railroad workers with buffalo meat. He would soon begin his career as one of the most famous prairie scouts of the Indian Wars.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Buffalo Bill worked the army from 1868-1872. Cody was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1872. He was considered good luck by the men of the Fifth Cavalry. Cody guided them to victory, kept them from ambush, and his own fame in turn reflected glory on the regiment. Buffalo Bill thought himself to be lucky too. Cody was very fortunate to be wounded in action only once, and that one time it was only a minor wound. Most of all, he was most gracious for always being in the right place at the right time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Buffalo Bill Cody appeared on stage for the first time in 1872. He played himself in a play titled 'Scouts of the Prairie';. Following this, he kept acting in the winter and he worked for the army in the summer. The Wild West show began in 1883 in Omaha. When this began, real cowboys and real Indians showing how life really was in the west....

Celebrities That Are Good Role Models

The world through the eyes of some can be looked at as a mirror. From birth we are beings that are constantly watching. Babies and kids watch everything that is put in front of them; parents, siblings, television, and other kids that are around. This is especially true when it comes to celebrities. Every day in the modern world we as a society are exposed to the media, which tells us that celebrities can be viewed as good or bad role models. There are many celebrities that can do good things for the world and model behavior that is honorable; through this we as a society can mirror that behavior in our everyday lives. One celebrity who is an extremely talented model and talk show host, Tyra Banks, can be a model for women and minorities alike. She is host of the UPN/The CW reality television show and America's Next Top Model, as well as the co-creator of True Beauty. She also hosts her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. A few good things that Tyra has done for society to model includes forming the Tyra Banks Scholarship in 1994, which promotes greeting cards under Children + Families Organization to help abused and neglected children. Tyra took a journey to Costa Rica rainforest to arise the world's attention about endangered ecosystem. As a model, Tyra challenged weight discrimination by advertising her curves instead of hiding them. One is able to view examples of this in her book titled Tyra’s Beauty Inside and Out. This book does however share beauty secrets that she has learned from experts, she gives practical advice on skin care, cosmetics, hair, exercise, and fashion. What she also addresses in this book are serious subjects such as substance abuse, romantic relationships, sexual concerns, and being a complete person. She works hard to promote positive self-images for young women of all races and body types on her shows as well; â€Å"Why are we so obsessed with weight? † she said. When Tyra Banks went on her show in her bathing suit and said, â€Å"’Kiss my fat ass†¦ ‘ That's what I feel right now. I'm like, ‘Kiss my fat ass! ‘† she puts her middle finger to those who have to say anything bad about people who are bigger than a size 2. Another example from one of Tyras’ shows which exhibits women having a healthy body image, in episode Better Body Image, Tyra tries to help change three young women’s distorted perceptions of their bodies. Through this we as women and anybody who feels that they are different are able to look at Tyra and some of the same steps that she has in promoting acceptance throughout the world and we are able to apply this in our everyday lives. There are also many other celebrities that can help the public mirror good behavior. One major who is highly active in doing charitable things is the lead singer from U2, Bono. Bono writes most lyrics which uses political, social, and religious topics. In the song, â€Å"Sunday Bloody Sunday† ‘I can't believe the news today I can't close my eyes and make it go away How long, how long must we sing this song How long, how long Tonight we can be as one, tonight Broken bottles under children's feet Bodies strewn across a dead end street†¦.. ’ Bono addresses the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, in which 26 civil rights protesters were shot. In these lyrics we are able to visualize and feel what Bono is communicating, the sadness in the beginning, and the description of the massacre towards the end. One is able to have more awareness of the world by listening to lyrics as well as having an outlet in times of tragedy. There are hundreds of song lyrics by the Band U2 that highlight issues of the world today that is just one. He has become one of our best known philanthropic performers who has powerful diverse allies which vary from government leaders, religious leaders, popular media, and even global organizations. In examples through the organization DATA, aimed to eliminate poverty and AIDS/HIV in Africa, also aimed at American citizens to become proactive and voice their opinions regarding political and social issues by contacting senators and legislatures. Product Red is also something promoted by Bono which raises money for the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Product Red is partnered with major companies and when the companies sell things with Product Red logo on it, the funds go to the Global Fund. We as a society are able to look at Bono, and what he promotes to open our eyes to the current situation of the world and just be more aware. We as a society are also able to look at Bono in general and model/listen to his causes, support his causes by buying Product Red, and even become activists ourselves. With celebrities having the high salaries that they do, they are able to do a bit more with their money than the average person. A charity, being a vivid example in celebrities using money to help the world, is another way we can look up to celebrities and model their good efforts. One celeb importantly, includes the singer Pink. Pink is involved with many charities including Phoenix vert, Human Rights Campaign, ONE Campaign, Prince's Trust, New York Restoration Project, Run For The Cure Foundation, Save the Children, Take Back the Night, UNICEF and World Society for the Protection of Animals. Pink was recognized as an advocate for the RSPCA in Australia. Pink also announced she was donating $250,000 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal to aid the victims of the bushfires that swept through the Australian state of Victoria. A total of 173 people were confirmed to have died in the fires with around 500 injured, the death toll was estimated to be 210. Charities are not something that everyone in the world is able to contribute to however, rich or poor we as a society can volunteer at local charities in our neighborhoods and if we have the means we can even contribute to them. Thus proving that we are all able to look throughout the media and at celebrities and model their good doings. The world can be viewed as a harsh place; there is death, disease, famine, killers, and more. The most anybody can do is stay positive and appreciate the good things that occur. In almost every story there are good guys and bad guys, some very impressionable can follow the wrong path, they can also model the good guys. The good guys in our modern era, being celebrities that do a lot of good and we as a society, can follow their good actions and do good our selves. Some say it is inevitable, we are just constantly in a world of mirrors, just mimicking everything we see, hear, and read. As long as it always doesn't benefit ‘number one' then I think it's a good thing that we see great things being accomplished that way we can strive to do great ourselves.

Enron and Corporate Ethics Essay

On December 2, 2001, Enron Corporation, then the seventh largest publicly traded corporation in the United States, declared bankruptcy. That bankruptcy saw thousands of Enron employees and shareholders losing their jobs and their investments. Enron’s fall sent shockwaves to all corners of the business world. A Fortune 400 company with all the appearances of stability and corporate soundness, the company’s collapse was unthinkable. For here was a company who grew by leaps and bounds in so short a time – a company who came from obscurity to national prominence as the world’s largest in terms of revenue. But like anything else if it is too good to be true it probably is. Unlike most bankruptcies which are caused by poor management and stiff competition, Enron’s demise appears simple enough: individual and collective greed. It was shameless greed that motivated company officials to dupe thousands of honest individuals out of their hard earned money – money that ran up to billions (Nakayama, 2002). The scam was unearthed just like any other scam – when people start getting suspicious. Enron was generating a lot of revenues – it was a smokescreen that allowed the company to attract more investors. While revenue generation was at record highs, profit was scant and minimal – a fact many people overlooked until it was too late. Enron’s mirage was selling the same things over and over and over again. The illusion was the company was generating this much sales but the reality was there was barely any profit made. Like everything else in hindsight, it is now clear that tell tale signs were all over Enron’s 2000 Annual Report. Still questions remain as to how a company that paraded its own Code of Ethics be so shamelessly unethical, a corporation that prides itself as having a reputation for â€Å"fairness and honesty† be so downright ruthless, callous and arrogant. Beyond the dollars and cents, the Enron debacle offers a new textbook example of failed ethics in business (Berenbeim, 2002). ENRON’s 2000 Annual Report – Warning signs Most of the investigation on Enron’s finances has focused on its balance sheet—it reported an otherworldly increase in revenue: Between 1996 and 2000, Enron reported an increase in sales from $13. billion to $100. 8 billion – a 57% five-year sales growth rate. The company more than doubled its reported sales between 1999 and 2000. Looking back then, this was a sign that the company appeared too good to be true. Before it declared bankruptcy, Enron said it was on track to double revenue again the next year. Had it done so, it would have become the second-largest corporation in the world in terms of sales. According to Forbes. com, Enron’s reported revenue was based on its exploitation of a loophole in accounting rules – a tactic that may have been legal, but few investors understood it (Ackman, 2002). Forbes. com goes on to say that Enron earned more than 90% of its revenue from a business it calls â€Å"wholesale services,† Enron’s euphemism for trading. Here is how its 2000 annual report describes that activity: â€Å"Enron builds wholesale businesses through the creation of networks involving selective asset ownership, contractual access to third-party assets and market-making activities. † Yet again, another warning sign. Footnotes in the annual report for 2000, also show hints of the hidden debt that pushed the company into bankruptcy. According to Businessworld, a footnote on â€Å"preferred stock† indicates that if Enron’s share price were to fall below $48. 55–which first occurred on June 14–the company would be obliged to issue stock to a partnership called Whitewing Associates (Tergesen, A. 2002). Other footnotes reveal similar arrangements. True, Enron never put a dollar value on its potential obligations, and the footnotes did not divulge the extent of the partnerships. But enough was revealed to suggest that investors were not getting a full view of the company’s finances. Enron and its Code of Ethics Enron trumpeted its own Code of Ethics, but based upon investigation by the U. S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, it willfully and shamelessly violated the very code it promised to upheld (U. S Subcommittee on Investigations, 2002). In its decision, the Subcommittee cited, among others, the following: (1) Fiduciary Failure. The Enron Board of Directors failed to safeguard Enron shareholders and contributed to the collapse of the seventh largest public company in the United States, by allowing Enron to engage in high risk accounting, inappropriate conflict f interest transactions, extensive undisclosed off-the-books activities, and excessive executive compensation. The Board witnessed numerous indications of questionable practices by Enron management over several years, but chose to ignore them to the detriment of Enron shareholders, employees and business associates. (2) High Risk Accounting. The Enron Board of Directors knowingly allowed Enron to engage in high risk accounting practices (Thomas, 2002). (3) Inappropriate Conflicts of Interest. Despite clear conflicts of interest, the Enron Board of Directors approved an unprecedented arrangement allowing Enron’s Chief Financial Officer to establish and operate the LJM private equity funds which transacted business with Enron and profited at Enron’s expense. The Board exercised inadequate oversight of LJM transaction and compensation controls and failed to protect Enron shareholders from unfair dealing. (4) Extensive Undisclosed Off-The-Books Activity. The Enron Board of Directors knowingly allowed Enron to conduct billions of dollars in off-the-books activity to make its financial condition appear better than it was and failed to ensure adequate public disclosure of material off-the-books liabilities that contributed to Enron’s collapse. 5) Excessive Compensation. The Enron Board of Directors approved excessive compensation for company executives, failed to monitor the cumulative cash drain caused by Enron’s 2000 annual bonus and performance unit plans, and failed to monitor or halt abuse by Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Lay of a company-financed, multi-million dollar, personal credit line. (6) Lack of Independence. The independence of the Enron Board of Directors was compromised by financial ties between the company and certain Board members. The Board lso failed to ensure the independence of the company’s auditor, allowing Andersen to provide internal audit and consulting services while serving as Enron’s outside auditor. Conclusion While Enron’s officials were caught and brought before the bars of justice, many wonder how widespread the lack of corporate ethics is in the business world. Greed they say is universal. Who knows what will be the next Enron. As long as there are CEOs, CFOs who disregard the simplest form of business decorum there will always be an Enron story. Let’s hope that people will not forget that story and profit from it.

The Tragedy of the Vietnam War essays

The Tragedy of the Vietnam War essays The Vietnam War is considered by most to be a mistake for many reasons. Many victims emerged from the war and especially for the soldiers who participated in it, it was simply wrong. Many of the soldiers who fought in Vietnam entered Vietnam with unclear directives and returned from Vietnam transformed and displaced. Many individuals have chosen to express how the Vietnam War was a tragedy from many angles. Through books, images, and movies, the memories of Vietnam are filled with pain and regret. These expressions are beneficial because they create within us a sense of understanding for what is often termed indescribable. One of the most powerful tools for expression is writing. Tim O'Brien, author of the book, The Things They Carried, vividly recounts what Vietnam did to him and those with whom he served. His stories about the transformations he witnessed offer proof that the war was indeed a mistake. For example, he tells us about how Norman Bowker was a gentle person, but as a soldier, he carried with him the thumb of a dead Vietcong boy. Another example of how the war changed individuals is when Rat Kiley shot the baby buffalo. We are told that Kiley stroked the buffalo's nose and then shot at it repeatedly. He shot it in the knee, its back and legs; he shot off an ear. "It wasn't to kill; it was to hurt," O'Brien tells us. (O'Brien 78) Kiley was reacting to losing his best friend, Curt, who stepped on a land mine and died. In the unknown land of Vietnam, Kiley found no other way to express his feelings. We can understand the extreme pressure the soldier was under when O'Brien tells us that "Rat Kiley was crying. He tried to say something, but then cradled his rifle and went off by himself" (79). O'Brien is able capture moments of emotional collapse that result from extreme conditions. O'Brien writes of what he saw, "We had witnessed something essential, som...

Free Essays on Memory And Recollection Of The Soul

Memory is mentioned in quite a few philosophical books and dialogues. It is a main theme in both Meno and Confessions of St. Augustine. Meno starts off contemplating virtue and whether it can be taught. This leads the dialogue to the subjects of learning and memory. Memory is also the focus of Book X in Confessions. Socrates asserts that learning is really the soul’s process of remembering what it knew before birth. St. Augustine’s and Socrates’ theories are fairy similar to each others and Plato’s. Socrates believes in anamnesis; the idea that learning truth is really a matter of the soul recollecting what it has learned in previous lives. He often says that he knows he knows nothing, so this is a change because he seems to be very sure of this theory. He believes the soul is eternal and each time it is born it forgets everything it knows and must relearn it. When experiencing something, you are actually relearning what you already knew. He proves this is by asking a young servant of Meno’s geometrical questions. He draws a square and asks the boy if the lines are not equal and if a square can be any size. Socrates continues to ask the boy more complex questions. When he is satisfied, he presents this process to Meno as evidence that learning is in fact a recollection. If the boy was never taught this, how did he come to know the relationship between the diagonal of a square and a square double the area? Socrates concludes this point by adding â€Å"But if he has al ways possessed this knowledge he would always have known; or if he has acquired the knowledge he could not have acquired it in this life, unless he has been taught geometry and every other branch of knowledge. Now, as you say, he was born and bred in your house.† Meno admits that he is certain no one has ever taught the boy geometry. Meno is satisfied with Socrates explanation and even goes as far to call his worlds excellent. Like Socrates, Augustine's answ... Free Essays on Memory And Recollection Of The Soul Free Essays on Memory And Recollection Of The Soul Memory is mentioned in quite a few philosophical books and dialogues. It is a main theme in both Meno and Confessions of St. Augustine. Meno starts off contemplating virtue and whether it can be taught. This leads the dialogue to the subjects of learning and memory. Memory is also the focus of Book X in Confessions. Socrates asserts that learning is really the soul’s process of remembering what it knew before birth. St. Augustine’s and Socrates’ theories are fairy similar to each others and Plato’s. Socrates believes in anamnesis; the idea that learning truth is really a matter of the soul recollecting what it has learned in previous lives. He often says that he knows he knows nothing, so this is a change because he seems to be very sure of this theory. He believes the soul is eternal and each time it is born it forgets everything it knows and must relearn it. When experiencing something, you are actually relearning what you already knew. He proves this is by asking a young servant of Meno’s geometrical questions. He draws a square and asks the boy if the lines are not equal and if a square can be any size. Socrates continues to ask the boy more complex questions. When he is satisfied, he presents this process to Meno as evidence that learning is in fact a recollection. If the boy was never taught this, how did he come to know the relationship between the diagonal of a square and a square double the area? Socrates concludes this point by adding â€Å"But if he has al ways possessed this knowledge he would always have known; or if he has acquired the knowledge he could not have acquired it in this life, unless he has been taught geometry and every other branch of knowledge. Now, as you say, he was born and bred in your house.† Meno admits that he is certain no one has ever taught the boy geometry. Meno is satisfied with Socrates explanation and even goes as far to call his worlds excellent. Like Socrates, Augustine's answ...