Monday, September 30, 2019

Is totemism a religion? Essay

Defining what constitutes a religion is a difficult, if not an impossible quest. However, before determining whether or not certain belief-systems and/or ritualized practices can be considered a religion, a definition is imperative. For our purposes, I am going to use the extremely elementary definition from Webster’s New Dictionary , â€Å"A system of faith and worship.† In The Elementary Forms of Religion, Emile Durkheim, a French Sociologist from the 19th Century, examines totemism in an effort to draw universals between all religions. Durkheim sets his focus on Australian totemism, because it is the most â€Å"primitive culture† with the most resources available. From Durkheim’s perspective, the basis of totemism is to create lasting societal bonds. Totemic tribes are assorted into clans whose unity results not from kinship, but from the religious relationship between the members. From Durkheim’s perspective, the totemism in this culture is based on the sacred relationships developed by the clan’s members in addition to some totemic unit, which is usually a plant or animals species common to the area. If an entire society is based around its sacred ritualized practices, it is only fair to consider those ritualized beliefs and practices as constituting a religion. Thus, the real question is, can a society whose spirituality is based on kinship, and whose idea of sacred lies only in the ties within the clan and not on a god or gods of some sort be considered a religion? The answer to this question is yes. Although totemic practices may not be familiar to many Westerners, when real speculation is given to various totemic religions, it is easy to see the complexity that underlies many forms of totemism. In addition, when looking at the religions that are common to us Westerners, can we really argue that our common religions are more logical than theirs? Through the totemic principles of the universe, and the worshiping of idols, even if these idols do not represent G-ds, it proves that totemism is most certainly a religion. Durkeim uses totemism as a basis from which answers to our lingering questions about modern religions can be drawn. â€Å"In our eyes, the question whether totemism has been more or less universal or not, is quite secondary. If it interests us, it does so before all because in studying it we hope to discover relations of a nature to make us understand better what religion is( Durkheim, 176).† Durkheim is using totemism as the platform from which  all other religions shall be compared to derive new and provoking ideas about religion. Durkheim believes totemism contains obvious religious qualities, even with the lack of a god or gods. † Finally, that which we propose to study in this work is the most primitive and simple religion which it is possible to find ( Durkheim 176).† Durkheim clearly considers totemism a valid although â€Å"simple† religion. Of course, this is only the opinion of one, we must delve into totemic rituals and beliefs before it can be proven that totemism is just as much of a religion as any other. Before arguing the attributes of totemism that allow it to be classified as a religion, a more thorough understanding of various totemic practices and the principle’s and beliefs behind those practices is necessary. The first and most prominent example that will be used to describe totemism, will be from the various Australian tribes described by Durkheim. The critical belief in Australian totemism, is the notion that the totemic entity, whatever it may be, is sacred. The entity is thought to bestow sacredness on whatever carries its mark. The totemic entity is used to mark various objects such as stones, sticks, wood, etc. in various rituals. â€Å"The totem is in fact a design which corresponds to the heraldic emblems of civilized nations, and each person is authorized to bear it as proof of the identity of the family to which it belongs ( Durkheim 180).† It is true that we have symbols and emblems that represent our society, which we deem sacred. Is that notion really so outlandish? Many patriotic Americans would be offended by the burning of the American flag, which is only an inanimate object to which we grant sacredness. This, however, is a nation and not a religion, but it is additionally quite common in many religions to revere objects. In Judeo-Christian religions, sacredness is assigned to a book, the Bible, among many other symbols from the Jewish Star to the Christian Cross. If the Bible is dropped or thrown down in many religions, it is seen as a direct offense to G-d, and one must kiss the book to compensate. Notice, also the dropping of the â€Å"o† in G-d. To many religious Jews even writing the name God is considered highly offensive. Assigning value to an object is a common trait across many religions, the difference is that the symbols used in totemism are not a representation for an actual god. Although the totemic emblem is not representative of a god that bears human-like qualities, it is deemed sacred and thus must be some sort of a representation of higher forces as opposed to higher beings. Totemic emblems are not only found on trees, in houses, on wood, etc, but also on the bodies of humans ( Durkheim 181). Whether they are marked on a body through mutilation, scarring, and tattooing, or whether the totems is represented on jewelry and on clothing, the adornment of totems on humans is yet another indication of its sacred value. â€Å"These totemic decorations enable us to see that the totem is not merely a name and an emblem. It is in the course of the religious ceremonies that they are employed; they are part of the liturgy; so while the totem is a collective label, it also has a religious character. In fact, it is in connection with it, that things are classified as sacred or profane. It is the very type of sacred thing (Durkheim 183).† â€Å"Sacred† is used to mean the things that are unworldly which cause humans to revere while â€Å"profane† is simply worldly matter. Once again, the assignment of so much value that one deems it sacred is evidence of religious qualities. Aside from the actual totemic emblem, there are other objects used in worship which are also considered sacred. The Arunta in particular, a tribe in Central Australia, uses an object called a churinga which is literally pieces of wood or polished stone, with the totemic entity marked upon it. Each group has a number of various churinga’s which sometimes bare a whole at one end where a thread made of human or opossum hair goes through. The thread allows the churinga to, when suspended, whirl into the air producing a humming noise which Durkheim compares to the toys of children ( Durkheim, 183, 119). These objects accompany rituals of any importance but also have a direct effect on the â€Å"sacred† and â€Å"profane.† The actual word churinga translates to mean sacred, and women, children, and young men who have not yet been initiated are not granted access to these instruments of piety. Having access to these instruments could be considered positive and negative. Certain churinga’s could not to be handled or viewed at by profane persons when not in use. Sometimes they were placed in secret hiding locations where the † sacred character of the churinga [was] so great that it communicates itself to the locality where they are stored ( Durkheim 184, 120).† Additionally they had powers such as they could create courage and  vigor in combat, heal sickness, and ensure fertility of the totemic animal or plant etc ( Durkheim 184, 120). In all, the sacredness the clan placed on these object is more than apparent and indicates the religious qualities of totemism. It is crucial to remember that the objects chosen to represent totemic symbols are in no way related to the actual symbol itself. The totem itself is not creating the religious feeling, but is solely a means to make tangible the spirituality that bonds a clan. In other words, totemism really has nothing to do with the totem. Instead it is the accumulated experiences of the various social units that creates those intense feelings of awe and reverence that has caused religion to last throughout the ages. Durkheim rationalizes this by saying that most individuals are vulnerable to authoritative figures in societies. In other words, people are inclined to follow individuals who have earned some sort of respect. Durkheim believes that in group environments, the authoritative individual has the capacity to make other individuals feel as though they are experiencing something that can not be experienced alone. People usually are incapable of distinguishing the cause of the intense feelings they are undergoing. Thus, the individuals in such a setting assume that it is some otherworldly force that is the cause of their newfound spiritual experience. The source of whatever is causing those feelings of intensity is what is deemed sacred. The sacred comes in different forms in all religions. In most religions sacredness is assigned to a god or gods. In totemism, it happens to be a totem which symbolizes the sacredness of the kinship in a clan. An interesting perspective that Durkheim holds is that in practice totemic religion in particular arose out of tribal life style. Individuals in tribal societies lived in groups too small to create the type of religious forces recognized by Durkheim. They usually lived spread across vast landscapes. On various occasions social meetings would be held that may be considered large enough to be called a mass of people. In Durkheim’s opinion, gatherings of this sort would effervesce, meaning that the spirituality that lies in the bonds of the group would build creating an even larger sense of religious awe. The group environment would cause the essential production of excited  behaviors and heightened emotions that propel belief in the sacred. A continuation off the previous belief, is Durkheim’s notion that sacredness is contagious. Through these group gatherings, Durkheim argues that the sacred is passed on by means of physical contact. This is proven through rituals that deem new things sacred when touched by previous instruments considered sacred. This is also common in Judaism where the Torah, the first five books in the Bible considered very sacred to the Jews, is touched by all those worshipping in the temple as a way of passing on the sacredness of the Torah to the members of the congregation. Catholics feel drinking wine that is blessed is equivalent to drinking the blood of Christ and thus feel they have attained a degree of sacredness through this ritual. Totemism is most certainly a religion, and bears all the qualities that many consider necessary before labeling something a religion. Durkheim used totemism to analyze the origins of religion in addition to the role religion plays in aiding people in understanding present society. It has been made evident that Durkheim considered religion essentially social viewing it from the eyes of a sociologist. In Durkheim’s mind, primal societies are where religion originated. He believed that although religion is only felt by individuals, it is an episode caused by a few factors. Due to the fact that religion is passed from generation to generation, the perspective that it is larger than any one person is created. The notion that it is larger than an individual allows individuals to become awe stricken by its seemingly evident power. In addition, in closed societies such as the ones which employ totemism, religion is universal, meaning that everyone has the same belief system. The collectiveness ensued through the belief system creates a unity and spiritual bonds among the members of the clans. Lastly, Durkheim believed that individuals in closed societies really have no other options but to believe in the religion taught to or experienced by them from an early age. Durkheim also touched on the fact that the forbidden and the unknown play considerable roles in understanding the essence of religion. Because totemism possesses and even exemplifies Durkheim’s opinions of religion, in addition to standard definitions of religion, it is only fair to label it as being one.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Coal Industrys Ethical Analysis Environmental Sciences Essay

The energy industry is more relevant today than of all time before. A As modern engineering evolves, we have become an energy dependent society triping increased demand that we ne'er anticipated or could hold predicted. Energy has become a necessity in virtually every country of life from agribusiness, transit, waste aggregation, information engineering and communications ; all of which are critical constituents for most functional societies. The energy industry is made up of many different subsets, which include crude oil, natural gas, coal, atomic, and renewable energy. Harmonizing to the United States Energy Information Administration, the oil and gas industry histories for most of the market, providing more than 60 % of the entire energy consumed. The coal industry follows, claiming 20 % of the industry ‘s market portion ( United States Energy Information Administration ) . These industries face uninterrupted argument sing their production and gross revenues, particularly h ere in the United States. â€Å" The United States is one of the universe ‘s biggest consumers of energy and the energy industry is the 3rd largest industry within our state † ( Select USA ) . This contention has generated a batch of promotion for this industry, due to the increased usage and demand for energy as a whole. With more accent being placed on energy efficiency and the environment, the media has heightened involvement and visibleness by concentrating more on the negative facets and sensationalizing the issues that surround this industry. In this subdivision we are traveling to take a closer expression at the coal industry, look intoing some of the ethical issues associated with coal.Coal Industry A AThroughout history coal has been an abundant and indispensable resource, particularly for us in the United States. We most normally use it to bring forth electricity and heat. Coal generates more than 42 % of our electricity, with about 600 coal-fueled power works s countrywide every bit good as straight and indirectly using over 550,000 persons in the United States entirely. ( America ‘s Power ) . We can non ignore the fact that coal is a major subscriber to our society and about everyone benefits from its usage ; nevertheless, unlike most other industries, coal faces a battalion of ethical issues. These issues can be broken down into three classs, environmental, societal, and sustainability. Coal creates many challenges for the environment. The most noteworthy 1 has to make with air pollution and specifically carbon emanations. When burned, coal emits high degrees of C dioxide, the chief nursery gas that causes planetary heating. It besides emits other toxic pollutants to the air when burned which include sulfur dioxide, N oxides, particulate affair, and quicksilver ( Union of Concerned Scientists ) . In add-on to fouling the air, coal can besides foul H2O beginnings, chiefly during the waste direction procedure. Coal besides creates immense sums of solid waste, which include fly ash and coal sludge. This waste contains arsenic, quicksilver, Cr, Cd, and other metals that are all harmful to the environment ( Union of Concerned Scientists ) . These are merely a few of the many illustrations of the negative environmental impacts related to coal. A The coal industry besides faces many societal challenges ; nevertheless, at this clip we are merely traveling to concentrate on the wellness jeopardies related to coal and employee safety. Working in the coal industry environment for an drawn-out period of clip can do legion wellness jobs, such as respiratory issues ( bronchitis, asthma onslaughts, etc. ) , black lung, congestive bosom failure, and some signifiers of malignant neoplastic disease. Typically workers get these diseases through the extraction, readying, burning, waste storage, and transit of coal ( SourceWatch ) . In add-on, the general populace can besides be affected by emanations from coal-fueled power workss. Employee safety is another societal concern that surrounds the coal industry and justifiably so. This type of industry involves the usage of heavy equipment in unsafe environments, which creates several safety jeopardies. Fire, detonation, the release of gas and structural failure are some of the other safety ha zards associated with coal. Overall, excavation is a really unsafe occupation necessitating workers to be good trained, extremely watchful and cognizant of their work environment at all times. Finally allow ‘s discuss sustainability. There are recent figures that show the coal industry is in diminution. This is the consequence of new authorities ordinances and regulations, which are seeking to diminish C emanations ( Plumer ) . The industry is seeking to turn to these concerns. â€Å" Continuous betterments in engineering have dramatically reduced or eliminated many of the environmental impacts traditionally associated with the usage of coal † ( World Coal Association ) . Another ground for the recent diminution is the â€Å" recent inflow of inexpensive natural gas to the United States † ( Plumer ) . A With the issues and challenges confronting the coal industry today, it appears the hereafter of coal expressions reasonably inexorable.Pressures Confronting Coal IndustryDue to pollution and other dangers caused by the coal industry, environmental groups and authorities ordinances are conveying force per unit area. Both environmental groups and authoriti es ordinances are forcing the coal industry to be â€Å" cleaner † by bring forthing energy that creates small injury for the environment. As a consequence of these force per unit areas, the coal industry may happen itself losing net incomes or may even happen itself being replaced by beginnings of cleaner energy. A The most popular environmental group forcing the coal industry is the Greenpeace group, as they are the â€Å" largest independent direct-action environmental organisation in the universe † ( â€Å" Greenpeace.org † ) . Some actions by Greenpeace include the start of an Energy Revolution which includes a â€Å" Quit Coal Campaign † . Harmonizing to the Greenpeace web site, this run encourages renewable energy and battles to extinguish the usage of coal because, â€Å" a 3rd of all C dioxide emissions come from firing coal † ( â€Å" Greenpeace.org † ) . Along with Greenpeace, there are many other environmental groups that have been prosecuting the coal industry for many old ages and harmonizing to recent articles in The New York Times, these activist groups â€Å" have moved in for the putting to death † ( â€Å" Coal † ) . Militant groups in resistance to the coal industry can even be found on the Virginia Tech campus. Greenpeace at Virginia Tech and VT Beyond Coal are two major groups on campus that are contending for a better environment. Harmonizing to the web site of VT Beyond Coal, the campus power works burns 46,000 dozenss of coal ( â€Å" VT Beyond Coal † ) . VT Beyond Coal has started a request that is committed to transitioning VT ‘s coal works to 100 % clean and renewable energy by 2020. A This request to â€Å" Invent a clean hereafter † is portion of a motion that involves over 60 universities in the United States and the motion has ends to change over campuses to clean energy ( â€Å" VT Beyond Coal † ) . Along with force per unit areas from militant groups, ordinances imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency are going stricter and progressively complex. A recent article from Yahoo Finance studies that the Environmental Protection Agency is presently working with President Obama to increase ordinances on coal ( â€Å" Coal Stocks Fall Sharply as More Regulations Feared † ) . A Yahoo Finance besides states that the EPA â€Å" has imposed bounds on pollutants such as C dioxide, quicksilver and S dioxide, which have made it more expensive for public-service corporation companies to fire coal for energy coevals. † As a consequence of the ordinances, some coal workss have experienced closings due to increased operating costs. Along with doing coal works retirement, the expectancy of increased ordinance besides led Yahoo Finance to describe that â€Å" coal stocks across the board fell aggressively † ( â€Å" Coal Stocks Fall Sharply as More Regulations Feared â €  ) . Although coal has seen a diminution in popularity, studies from The New York Times have revealed that â€Å" the planetary demand for coal is expected to turn to 8.9 billion dozenss by 2016 † ( â€Å" Coal † ) . Even though there is still demand for coal, The New York Times reports that coal is on the diminution and â€Å" provides about a 3rd of the state ‘s power, merely four old ages ago it was supplying about half † ( â€Å" Coal † ) . Activist organisations every bit good as ordinances have contributed to the diminution in coal ‘s laterality and the coal industry may happen its companies losing net incomes or even happen itself being replaced by cleaner beginnings of energy if coal can non be more environmentally friendly. ACorporate Social Responsibility ActivitiesBecause there are a figure of ethical issues confronting the coal industry, coal companies have been working to better the societal and environmental impact of their activities. Peabody Energy and Arch Coal are good known in the industry for their impressive corporate societal activities. Peabody Energy is one of the largest private sector coal companies worldwide. It is Peabody Energy ‘s mission to be â€Å" a prima worldwide manufacturer and provider of sustainable energy solutions that enable economic prosperity and a better quality of life ( â€Å" Peabody Energy: Corporate Responsibility † ) . As portion of their corporate duty, they have been turn toing issues in employee, economic, public, and environmental duties. Peabody stresses its â€Å" Safety Vision † of forestalling incidents, occupational unwellnesss, and belongings harm. Because of the importance the company places on safety, attempts have been made in Peabody ‘s planetary workss to increase safety in the workplace by using studies and appraisals to have feedback from their employees. Peabody initiated the installment of an belowground communications system to ease communicating between mineworkers belowground and mineworkers stationed above land in 2011. This betterment gave the belowground mineworkers faster entree to deliver squads in the event of an incident. Peabody has â€Å" about 65 safety Chamberss installed at Peabody ‘s belowground operations with supplies such as O, nutrient, and H2O, in the event of an exigency † ( â€Å" Peabody Energy: CSR Report † 24 ) . Keeping safety as the company ‘s extreme precedence, Peabody offers a preparation plan, â€Å" Safety a Way of Life † whi ch is directed towards employees to easy transition into Peabody ‘s safety systems and procedures. A A A A A A A In add-on to employee duty, Peabody Energy believes in the importance of continuing the environment and utilizing sustainable patterns. The cardinal rule of their mission is to â€Å" go forth the land in a status equal to or better than we found it † ( â€Å" Peabody Energy: CSR Report † 34 ) . A Peabody has been happening better patterns to reconstruct lands, wildlife home grounds, hardwood woods, and wetlands. â€Å" In 2011 Peabody restored more than 5,100 estates of land and planted more than 360,000 trees ( â€Å" Peabody Energy: CSR Report † 36 ) . Presently, Peabody has a recycling and waste direction plan intended for the reuse of the waste produced from coal excavation activities. The company was able to increase â€Å" the volume of recycled lubricating oil by more than 100 per centum † ( â€Å" Peabody Energy: CSR Report 38 ) . As a planetary leader in clean coal excavation solutions, Peabody has been researching and puting in b etter patterns related to clean coal engineerings in the countries of nursery gas strength, emanations strength, and C policy. An illustration of their undertaking is with the U.S Geological Survey in 2006. A Peabody and the U.S Geological Survey combined attempts â€Å" to mensurate methane content and desorption testing in big surface mines † ( â€Å" Peabody Energy: CSR Report † 39 ) . A A A A A A A Like Peabody Energy, Arch Coal has been concentrating on the same countries of duties in safety and environmental conditions. Like the attempts of Peabody, safety is a precedence to Arch Coal therefore the company has been working to happen betterments of doing the working environment safer for employees. The company promotes the â€Å" Perfect Zero † rule of nothing hurts and zero environmental misdemeanors. Harmonizing to Arch Coal ‘s CSR Report, the company has invested $ 14 million in a bipartisan communicating and tracking system to forestall accidents in belowground mines ( Arch Coal, Inc. ) . Arch Coal has been doing attempts to happen more advanced coal engineerings solutions that target planetary nursery emanations and the decrease of airborne emanations. Coal companies are more active in their corporate societal duties than of all time earlier. Because the industry itself is so unsafe for both employees. Coal companies have been working hard to supply the right environment and resources for employees. Furthermore, because the environment is harmfully affected by the activities of coal companies, companies are taking more inaugural to concentrate and take duty for their actions.Investing Policy RecommendationsVirginia Tech needs to take corporate societal duty and ethical issues of the coal industry into history when finding its investing determinations. Energy from coal is under a batch of examination in the populace oculus since it is perceived as â€Å" dirty † and outdated engineering. With the hereafter of energy indicating towards clean engineering such as solar and weave energy, Virginia Tech needs to be on the head. They need to put themselves as a taking academic establishment that is traveling off from coal and into c lean engineering. The motto for the establishment is â€Å" Invent the Future † ( www.vt.edu ) , hence taking the enterprise to be in front of the curve. A A A A A A A When puting the schools endowment financess, it is of import to take ethical issues into history but at the same clip non take a fiscal loss. The great thing about non puting in coal but other engineering is that Virginia Tech is taking ethical issues into history but are besides concentrating the financess into an country that is turning at an exponential rate and will take to fiscal additions instead than losingss. A A A A A A A As a public establishment there is a changeless oculus on Virginia Tech ‘s every move, whether it be policy with pupils, academic rankings, but most significantly where the gift fund decides to put their money. With that being said, it is acceptable to take a fiscal loss because you have to take the social force per unit areas into history. Virginia Tech is closely related to the coal industry, with a coal power works on campus and being located in SouthWest Virginia where the environing countries are heavy in coal and employees many local citizens, so it is a tough pick to non put in coal. Therefore both sides will be showing their sides in the argument over the investing in coal. Virginia Tech will hold the local coal countries experiencing as though the University is non looking out for them and so there will be the group that is in favour of clean engineering and has been seeking to acquire the school to happen a new beginning for power. By puting in other eng ineering, they will be seting money into companies that are developing new engineerings that Virginia Tech will be able to utilize to tackle their ain energy for usage on campus and in the environing countries in the hereafter. As they focus their investings into cleaner energy and taking ethical grounds over fiscal engineering, the public oculus will alter and they will see Virginia Tech as a leader in the hereafter of energy.Investing RecommendationsWhen looking back at our province it is impossible to bury our love matter with fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, and more specifically coal, have been some of the biggest employers and gross bring forthing industries in the province. â€Å" In 2006, the entire value of fossil fuels mined in Virginia was about $ 2.4 billion. A Coal accounted for about 72 per centum ( $ 1.7 billion ) of this entire value, while natural gas accounted for about 28 per centum ( $ 660.3 million ) , and oil less than 1 per centum ( $ 1.1 million ) † ( Virgi nia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy ) . In recent old ages, harmonizing to Virginia Center for Coal and Research or VEPT, the â€Å" entire sum of coal produced in the state has been a little more than one billion dozenss † , still a immense figure despite the push for new green energy ( VEPT ) . In Virginia, production has been around â€Å" 30 to forty million dozenss, † largely in the southwesterly coalfields ( VEPT ) . A However, coal production has decreased in the province to around 30 million systematically. Our group would propose Virginia Tech to non put in fossil fuels and specifically coal excavation as coal monetary values have decreased while the costs for obtaining and runing mines have increased. This is due to a figure of factors, one of the most of import is the tendency of coal excavation traveling westward to provinces like Wyoming where excavation is cheaper and easier due to the geological conditions. One major job is that about all coal mi nes in the Appalachian country are belowground mines in contrast to their western opposite numbers which tend to be surface mines leting for easier and cheaper extraction. Virginia besides has had a long history of coal excavation which has led to the depletion of easy gettable reservoirs coercing excavation houses to look for untapped militias in potentially more dearly-won and hard locations ( VEPT ) . There are many effects attributed to the usage of fossil fuels, from wellness concerns such as higher rates of asthma in countries with heavy pollution, but besides the potentially annihilating effects of planetary heating ( M.A. Palmer 148 ) . These are merely a few of the ethical concerns confronting an industry every bit controversial as the coal industry. Specifically, the coal industry creates many issues for the environments that contain coal mines. Coal mines generate big sums of solid waste particularly when sing that several coal excavation companies engage in the pattern of mountaintop remotion. Mountaintop excavation uses explosives to expose the coal seams and transform what would hold been belowground excavation to a signifier of surface excavation. This is a common method of excavation in the Appalachian Mountains. Surveies have shown that mountaintop excavation has had really serious effects for the environment. One of the biggest impacts of this signifier of excavatio n is the taint of local water partings. This is caused by puting the unsought stuffs created by exposing the coal seam in vales or â€Å" filler holes † which necessarily ends up polluting watercourses that finally flow into the watershed. Exposure to these watercourses have been shown to take to hospitalization for a assortment of wellness concerns including ; â€Å" Ratess of mortality, lung malignant neoplastic disease, every bit good as chronic bosom, lung and kidney disease are besides increased † ( M.A. Palmer 148 ) . A A A A A A A A A A Alternatively of puting in more untapped militias our group would alternatively look towards more renewable resources to cover our energy demands. The energy produced in Virginia histories for less than half the entire energy consumed in the province taking to the obvious decision that the province relies on other beginnings to supply energy. A Based on estimations by The U.S. Energy Information Administration, Virginia Energy ingestion was estimated to be 2,558 trillion BTU while the energy produced as fossil fuels mined in Virginia energy consumed as about 28 % of entire ingestion ; including all energy signifiers non merely. In Virginia Coal-fired power workss remains the largest ball of electrical power coevals in the province with 45 % ( Virginia Department of Mines and Minerals and Energy ) .DecisionAfter reexamining the ethical issues, force per unit areas, and societal duty activities we have concluded that although the coal industry is profitable, it woul d be unethical for Virginia Tech ‘s gift to put in the industry. By traveling off of the slogan â€Å" Invent the Future, † we recommend that Virginia Tech take into history the ethical picks in cleaner engineering, hence puting in a cleaner hereafter for both the school and environing countries.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Question

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion As our society progressed, people are placing more emphasis on education. This is because many feel that education is the key for higher standard of living. With such belief in mind, many dependent on school to give their children best education and expect children to be more rounded people.Thus, many blamed schools and our ducational system when a educated person turns to be harmful and destructive to society. Whereas, others hold the view that parents should be responsible for such cases. In my view, both family and schools are important in enforcing the right moral concept in children. There is no doubt that schools should be a place where to teach children moral concepts while naturing talents. Ideally, schools have the responsibility to guide children what is right and wrong.Thi s is because children are usually too young to understand the consequences of being wrong, they always go according to their curiosity. Hence, schools should play a role as guidance or supervisor to constantly remind them what to do and not to do. Moreover, the fundamental and original purpose of school is establishing a constitution to guide and teach youths not only to be more knowledgeable, but more importantly to be a better man who is useful and responsible to society. Therefore, schools have the responsibility to guide children and pull them back if they are on the wrong track.However, with increasing competitiveness among all the schools, more and more schools only emphasis on academic achievement of children in nowadays. This led to lack of moral education for children. Hence, schools should have the responsibility to instill moral senses in children, but it is increasingly neglected by our educators in nowadays. However, we should not fully blame schools for the responsibil ity of not teaching children the right moral senses, parents is equally important factor in developing one's character and moral.As a famous saying goes, parents are children's first teacher. It is true that parents' influences are much more powerful than schools. According to a report, two third of the criminals are from broken or brutal family. From psychological point of view, it is also more likely for a child to become a violent person if his parents are brutal. It is also possible for this child to hatred or resent towards society. Hence, it is clearly demonstrated that parents should hold the responsibility to teach children how to be good member of the society.Thus, it is undeniable that parents play a significant role in developing one's moral concept. Question: nowadays the way people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development? Wi th the invention of communication technology, our daily life has been greatly reshaped in many aspects. People seem to be more dependent on communication technology such as telephones, internet.Many was then questioned that technology has made us to be stranger to each other. However, the supporters of technology development defend that technology has benefited us in many ways. In my view, technology has enabled us to have a closer relationship than before. Critics often argue that technology has made us to be stranger to each other. It is observed there s less face to face interaction between people. This is because people see little needs for them to communicate face to face with the presence of communication technology.Communication technology allows us to send our messages instantaneously and conveniently. Thus, many people, especially the youths are afraid of communicate with strangers or speak up in public. Therefore, it seems that people become less friendly towards their nei ghbour. Hence, communication technology indeed changed our relationship among neighbors. The communication technology does not only changed our neighborhood relationship, but also our family elationship. It is not uncommon for one to heard complains that children are less engaging in family interaction from parents.Many parents complained that children always play computer game instead of spending time with them. Many youths like to express their feelings or tell their secrets to online strangers rather than their family members. Hence, it appears that the relationship between family members is weakening. This can be further supported by a new report which conveyed a Japanese mother left her 5 moths old child starve to death as she was so indulged in computer games. This clearly demonstrated how technology has indeed affect the relationship we have now.However, it is undeniable that communication technology does improve our social relationship in one way or another. Communication te chnology such as internet enables us to keep in touch with our family and friends even from far distant. Web camera enables us to meet with our friends oversea and which in turn strengthens our friendships. Moreover, with presence of social networks such as Facebook and Twitters, we are now able to find more new friends within our social groups like schoolmates. It also allows us to find old friends whom e have previously lost contact.Thus, technology provide a platform for us to make more friends and widen our social cycles. Therefore, communication technology strengths and provide new opportunity for our relationships. In conclusion, without and the friends we make. Technology is like a coin which has two sides. However, it is merely a tool for us communicate. Hence, we should not blamed technology for changing our social life, but , in fact, it is the way we use it which changes our lifestyle. Question In an essay I read titled â€Å"To What End Military Power?† by Robert J. Art he looks at how and when force should be used. He suggests that there are four purposes of using forces: defensive, deterrent, compellent, and swaggering. Considering their usefulness today. What do you think Art means by his final quote that `The best way to keep the peace is first to prepare for war`? Military power or military assistance is not relevant to America’s policy. Rather military action is secondary even third to military assistance policy. This is due to internal administrative problems such as demilitarization or the commercialization of the military, political subversion, and not direct military attack is not in the official agenda of American military after its experience during Korean War. Globalization, in turn, opens up the door for the American to become vulnerable toward attacks from the global nations. Hence, our defense must be powerful. America is being put into a containment policy and is elevated to its commitment to defend other countries. It is compelling the military use in foreign policy. This policy increases the defense budget because it requires, besides military or defense equipment and accessories, administrative strategic and alliances in the forms of military commitments and military intervention. Question#2 (145 words) What is redundancy and why is it necessary when looking at transformation of the military. Redundancy is to simulate the military administrative structure and functional concepts which was established early in the previous American warfare but with some modification. Some of the redundancies, with a transformation strategy, may include forcible entry of mounted forces, establishment and enhancement of battle command, enhancement of soldiers, platforms, and forces protection capabilities, enhancement of theatre support capabilities, deployment and support infrastructure. In addition, the key functional concepts of the military are the creation of modularity, tailored and multifunction forces that can be rapidly deployed; increasing special operation forces; enhancing explosive ordinance disposal capabilities; enhancing security and protection capabilities; enhancing comprehensive medical diagnostic, prevention and treatment capabilities to the soldiers; increasing effort of counter-terrorism; and deploying support infrastructure as just-in-time soldiers inventory. As part of joint functional concepts, the redundancies require inter-dependencies in terms such as joint battle command, joint fires and effects, joint air and missile defense, joint force projection, and joint containment. Question In an essay I read titled â€Å"To What End Military Power?† by Robert J. Art he looks at how and when force should be used. He suggests that there are four purposes of using forces: defensive, deterrent, compellent, and swaggering. Considering their usefulness today. What do you think Art means by his final quote that `The best way to keep the peace is first to prepare for war`? Military power or military assistance is not relevant to America’s policy. Rather military action is secondary even third to military assistance policy. This is due to internal administrative problems such as demilitarization or the commercialization of the military, political subversion, and not direct military attack is not in the official agenda of American military after its experience during Korean War. Globalization, in turn, opens up the door for the American to become vulnerable toward attacks from the global nations. Hence, our defense must be powerful. America is being put into a containment policy and is elevated to its commitment to defend other countries. It is compelling the military use in foreign policy. This policy increases the defense budget because it requires, besides military or defense equipment and accessories, administrative strategic and alliances in the forms of military commitments and military intervention. Question#2 (145 words) What is redundancy and why is it necessary when looking at transformation of the military. Redundancy is to simulate the military administrative structure and functional concepts which was established early in the previous American warfare but with some modification. Some of the redundancies, with a transformation strategy, may include forcible entry of mounted forces, establishment and enhancement of battle command, enhancement of soldiers, platforms, and forces protection capabilities, enhancement of theatre support capabilities, deployment and support infrastructure. In addition, the key functional concepts of the military are the creation of modularity, tailored and multifunction forces that can be rapidly deployed; increasing special operation forces; enhancing explosive ordinance disposal capabilities; enhancing security and protection capabilities; enhancing comprehensive medical diagnostic, prevention and treatment capabilities to the soldiers; increasing effort of counter-terrorism; and deploying support infrastructure as just-in-time soldiers inventory. As part of joint functional concepts, the redundancies require inter-dependencies in terms such as joint battle command, joint fires and effects, joint air and missile defense, joint force projection, and joint containment. Question Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion As our society progressed, people are placing more emphasis on education. This is because many feel that education is the key for higher standard of living. With such belief in mind, many dependent on school to give their children best education and expect children to be more rounded people.Thus, many blamed schools and our ducational system when a educated person turns to be harmful and destructive to society. Whereas, others hold the view that parents should be responsible for such cases. In my view, both family and schools are important in enforcing the right moral concept in children. There is no doubt that schools should be a place where to teach children moral concepts while naturing talents. Ideally, schools have the responsibility to guide children what is right and wrong.Thi s is because children are usually too young to understand the consequences of being wrong, they always go according to their curiosity. Hence, schools should play a role as guidance or supervisor to constantly remind them what to do and not to do. Moreover, the fundamental and original purpose of school is establishing a constitution to guide and teach youths not only to be more knowledgeable, but more importantly to be a better man who is useful and responsible to society. Therefore, schools have the responsibility to guide children and pull them back if they are on the wrong track.However, with increasing competitiveness among all the schools, more and more schools only emphasis on academic achievement of children in nowadays. This led to lack of moral education for children. Hence, schools should have the responsibility to instill moral senses in children, but it is increasingly neglected by our educators in nowadays. However, we should not fully blame schools for the responsibil ity of not teaching children the right moral senses, parents is equally important factor in developing one's character and moral.As a famous saying goes, parents are children's first teacher. It is true that parents' influences are much more powerful than schools. According to a report, two third of the criminals are from broken or brutal family. From psychological point of view, it is also more likely for a child to become a violent person if his parents are brutal. It is also possible for this child to hatred or resent towards society. Hence, it is clearly demonstrated that parents should hold the responsibility to teach children how to be good member of the society.Thus, it is undeniable that parents play a significant role in developing one's moral concept. Question: nowadays the way people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development? Wi th the invention of communication technology, our daily life has been greatly reshaped in many aspects. People seem to be more dependent on communication technology such as telephones, internet.Many was then questioned that technology has made us to be stranger to each other. However, the supporters of technology development defend that technology has benefited us in many ways. In my view, technology has enabled us to have a closer relationship than before. Critics often argue that technology has made us to be stranger to each other. It is observed there s less face to face interaction between people. This is because people see little needs for them to communicate face to face with the presence of communication technology.Communication technology allows us to send our messages instantaneously and conveniently. Thus, many people, especially the youths are afraid of communicate with strangers or speak up in public. Therefore, it seems that people become less friendly towards their nei ghbour. Hence, communication technology indeed changed our relationship among neighbors. The communication technology does not only changed our neighborhood relationship, but also our family elationship. It is not uncommon for one to heard complains that children are less engaging in family interaction from parents.Many parents complained that children always play computer game instead of spending time with them. Many youths like to express their feelings or tell their secrets to online strangers rather than their family members. Hence, it appears that the relationship between family members is weakening. This can be further supported by a new report which conveyed a Japanese mother left her 5 moths old child starve to death as she was so indulged in computer games. This clearly demonstrated how technology has indeed affect the relationship we have now.However, it is undeniable that communication technology does improve our social relationship in one way or another. Communication te chnology such as internet enables us to keep in touch with our family and friends even from far distant. Web camera enables us to meet with our friends oversea and which in turn strengthens our friendships. Moreover, with presence of social networks such as Facebook and Twitters, we are now able to find more new friends within our social groups like schoolmates. It also allows us to find old friends whom e have previously lost contact.Thus, technology provide a platform for us to make more friends and widen our social cycles. Therefore, communication technology strengths and provide new opportunity for our relationships. In conclusion, without and the friends we make. Technology is like a coin which has two sides. However, it is merely a tool for us communicate. Hence, we should not blamed technology for changing our social life, but , in fact, it is the way we use it which changes our lifestyle. Question Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion As our society progressed, people are placing more emphasis on education. This is because many feel that education is the key for higher standard of living. With such belief in mind, many dependent on school to give their children best education and expect children to be more rounded people.Thus, many blamed schools and our ducational system when a educated person turns to be harmful and destructive to society. Whereas, others hold the view that parents should be responsible for such cases. In my view, both family and schools are important in enforcing the right moral concept in children. There is no doubt that schools should be a place where to teach children moral concepts while naturing talents. Ideally, schools have the responsibility to guide children what is right and wrong.Thi s is because children are usually too young to understand the consequences of being wrong, they always go according to their curiosity. Hence, schools should play a role as guidance or supervisor to constantly remind them what to do and not to do. Moreover, the fundamental and original purpose of school is establishing a constitution to guide and teach youths not only to be more knowledgeable, but more importantly to be a better man who is useful and responsible to society. Therefore, schools have the responsibility to guide children and pull them back if they are on the wrong track.However, with increasing competitiveness among all the schools, more and more schools only emphasis on academic achievement of children in nowadays. This led to lack of moral education for children. Hence, schools should have the responsibility to instill moral senses in children, but it is increasingly neglected by our educators in nowadays. However, we should not fully blame schools for the responsibil ity of not teaching children the right moral senses, parents is equally important factor in developing one's character and moral.As a famous saying goes, parents are children's first teacher. It is true that parents' influences are much more powerful than schools. According to a report, two third of the criminals are from broken or brutal family. From psychological point of view, it is also more likely for a child to become a violent person if his parents are brutal. It is also possible for this child to hatred or resent towards society. Hence, it is clearly demonstrated that parents should hold the responsibility to teach children how to be good member of the society.Thus, it is undeniable that parents play a significant role in developing one's moral concept. Question: nowadays the way people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development? Wi th the invention of communication technology, our daily life has been greatly reshaped in many aspects. People seem to be more dependent on communication technology such as telephones, internet.Many was then questioned that technology has made us to be stranger to each other. However, the supporters of technology development defend that technology has benefited us in many ways. In my view, technology has enabled us to have a closer relationship than before. Critics often argue that technology has made us to be stranger to each other. It is observed there s less face to face interaction between people. This is because people see little needs for them to communicate face to face with the presence of communication technology.Communication technology allows us to send our messages instantaneously and conveniently. Thus, many people, especially the youths are afraid of communicate with strangers or speak up in public. Therefore, it seems that people become less friendly towards their nei ghbour. Hence, communication technology indeed changed our relationship among neighbors. The communication technology does not only changed our neighborhood relationship, but also our family elationship. It is not uncommon for one to heard complains that children are less engaging in family interaction from parents.Many parents complained that children always play computer game instead of spending time with them. Many youths like to express their feelings or tell their secrets to online strangers rather than their family members. Hence, it appears that the relationship between family members is weakening. This can be further supported by a new report which conveyed a Japanese mother left her 5 moths old child starve to death as she was so indulged in computer games. This clearly demonstrated how technology has indeed affect the relationship we have now.However, it is undeniable that communication technology does improve our social relationship in one way or another. Communication te chnology such as internet enables us to keep in touch with our family and friends even from far distant. Web camera enables us to meet with our friends oversea and which in turn strengthens our friendships. Moreover, with presence of social networks such as Facebook and Twitters, we are now able to find more new friends within our social groups like schoolmates. It also allows us to find old friends whom e have previously lost contact.Thus, technology provide a platform for us to make more friends and widen our social cycles. Therefore, communication technology strengths and provide new opportunity for our relationships. In conclusion, without and the friends we make. Technology is like a coin which has two sides. However, it is merely a tool for us communicate. Hence, we should not blamed technology for changing our social life, but , in fact, it is the way we use it which changes our lifestyle.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Inflation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Inflation - Essay Example There have been cases around the globe known as hyperinflation. Though there is no official definition for it, it is generally accepted as a 50% annual inflation rate. Ecuador suffered through a 96% inflation rate in 2000 ("Background Note: Ecuador"). This was caused by a weak economy, massive debt from El Nino in 1998, and a floating currency. The president was ousted in Jan. 2000 and caused a 75% spike in a one-month period. The new government restructured the debt, privatized state owned industries, and tied the currency to the US dollar. The following years saw lower rates and it had dropped to 1.9% in 2004 ("Background Note: Ecuador"). The war and economic hardships in the former Yugoslavia resulted in inflation rates in the period 1971-91 of 69 percent, with hyperinflation of more than 50 percent per month in 1989 (Hanke). According to experts, Slobodan Milosevic triggered the hyperinflation by granting $1.8 billion in unauthorized credits to Serbian-owned enterprises (Hanke). It was only brought under control when the war ended and a new government was installed. Though the UAE and Dubai have not seen these rates of inflation, it has been on the rise in recent years. It was 2.8% in 2002 and is estimated to hit 20% in 2006. That was up from 10.5% in 2005 ("United Arab Emirates"). The rate was 3.2% and 4.6% in 2003-2004.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Marketing research project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing research project - Essay Example ow to target markets or segment markets based on consumer’s preferences is a relatively tough job to do but it is crucial for the company of Graham Elliot, who has the required experience and knowledge about high risk sports and the location where he wants to introduce adventure holidays. However, he is unsure about how to segment markets in the region and is also relatively unaware of the consumer’s attitude towards the business. The segmentation of a market will allow the company to know the prospects of the business and to allow it to know the group of people who will be most interested in the business. This detail about the market will enable the company to work on gaining the highest return on its investment. The trends in purchasing, attitudes and behaviour of consumers also needs to be studied. The company also needs to know how the business of adventure holidays can be promoted once it is established. The research conducted in the North East Market will help the company to know which types of consumers prefer adventure holidays. It will help the company of Graham Elliot to target markets to maximize their profits. The research will state whether skiing and mountain biking in the Isere and Drome Valleys will be feasible and the responses of the consumers in Ardeche and Verdon Gorges of introducing canyoning and climbing in the region. It will help in segmentation of the market and target marketing for road biking in areas of Les Deux Alps and Mount Ventoux. The research will also give a general idea of the kinds of adventurous sports that can be also introduced in the later years to promote the growth of the business and to gain a competitive advantage over the rival companies. The research will also enable the company to know the pricing strategies to be used in comparison with the rival company’s. Exploratory research will be carried out to help with the investigation. Consumers will be interviewed one by one as to their opinions, preferences, the

What is the relationship between personality traits and emplyee Essay

What is the relationship between personality traits and emplyee performanceHow do personality traits translate into individula's professional careers - Essay Example Moreover, the interrelationship between employee performance, personality traits and professional careers is further intertwined with various organisational theory models, which will be considered contextually. The learning organisation is an evolving notion which has become increasingly incorporated into the modern company and multinational philosophy. In its simplest form, Richard Karash propounds the ideology underlying the learning organisation: â€Å"A learning organisation is one which people at all levels, individuals and collectively are continually increasing their capacity to produce results they really care about† (Karash, R. 1995). The ideological underlying principle behind the learning organisation is that it produces a flexible workforce with a shared vision, which in turn ensures internal stability within an organisation. Mike Wills defines the learning organisation as a â€Å"group of people who work together† (Wills, M. 1998). He further defines it as a â€Å"company, corporation, firm, enterprise or institution, or part thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration. For organisations with more than one operating unit, a single operating unity may be defined as an organisation† (1998). Pedler, Burgoyne and Boydell define the learning organisation as â€Å"an organisation that facilitates the learning of all its members and continuously transforms itself to achieve superior competitive performance† (1991). The concept traces its origins to the early writings on management trends in the 1930s and Schumpeter’s creative destruction theory (Pedler, Burgoyne & Boydell, 1991). This was further developed by neo-human writers such as Chris Argyris with his proposition of the â€Å"double-loop learning†, which reacted to the studies of corporate excellence undertaken by Peters and Waterman, identifying organisational behavioural

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Gone With The Wind Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gone With The Wind - Research Paper Example As such, parody on its own or with the inclusion of satire does not attract infringement while a satire that stands alone attracts infringement of the copyright law. This brings the issue of fair use as demonstrated by several infringement battles such as in the case of Colting’s 60 Years Later novel and Suntrust Bank v Houghton Mifflin. Fair use sets a legal ground that permits commercial and creative decisions regarding rewrites. This leads to more cultural products making our culture richer, but also poses the big challenge of determining what qualifies as fair use and what does not. Thampapillai, Dilan. The Novel as a Social Satire: 60 Years Later, the Wind Done Gone and the Limitations of Fair Use. Deakin Law Review (2012): 427-452.Print. In The Novel as a Social Satire: 60 Years Later, The Wind Done Gone and the Limitations of Fair Use, the author, Dilan Thampapillai, evaluate the doctrine of fair use and its application in the society. He also explores the difference be tween fair use in Australian Copyright law and the American Copyright law in order to give an insight into the distinction between satire and parody. Furthermore, Dilan evaluates application of fair use with reference to the case of 60 Years Later and the rewrite of Gone With The Wind. Dilan Thampapillai currently works as a lecturer at the Deakin University School of Law. Prior to this, Dilan worked at the Australian Government Solicitor and Attorney-General’s Department as a lawyer. Evidently, he has a good background in the area of law giving credibility to his work. In addition, Dilan specializes in topics such as free speech, intellectual property, and public law. Dilan currently studies PhD at Melbourne University, holds a Master in Laws and a Bachelor of Laws from Cornell University and Australian National University respectively. Furthermore, the article is recent, published in 2012, thus, has up to date information about fair use. I will use the information in this a rticle to get an insight into the issue of fair use and infringement of Copyright issues. I will use the information from this article to evaluate the circumstances that a rewrite qualifies as fair use, and the circumstances under which it does not, that is, qualifies as infringement. Thus, this article will help me to understand better the concepts of parody and satire, and how they apply in Copyright issues. Dilan Thampapillai writes, â€Å"What must be accepted then is that both parody and satire are exercises in free speech and the fact that they warrant a free use exception in copyright law suggests that the statutory monopoly that is copyright needs to be reconciled with democratic values† (429). Beebe, Barton. An Empirical Study of US Copyright Fair Use Opinions, 1978-2005. University of Philadelphia Law Review (2008): 582-586. Print. In An Empirical Study of US Copyright Fair Use Opinions, the author, Beebe Barton discusses several opinions that argue for fair use. Ba rton refers to the four conditions in the US Copyright Act that fair use is dependent on. These are character and purpose of use, nature of the work copyrighted, sustainability and amount, and effect on the market. Beebe Barton is an intellectual law expert and a lecturer of the same at the New York University of Law. Beebe has J.D. from Yale school of Law attained in 2001, PhD from Princeton University and B.A. in Masters from the University of Chicago. In addition, Beebe is well vast in the topic of intellectual law, infringement, and

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

INTERNSHIP PORTFOLIO Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

INTERNSHIP PORTFOLIO - Thesis Example There is a high level of turnover for subordinate positions that is caused by the frustrations that come from a non-horizontal structure with more job autonomy. Academic learning provided insight into the psychological mechanisms that drive employee behaviour and needs related to the work environment. This formal learning helped me to understand why some people in the workplace are more motivated and why others tend to be less productive. Gambrel & Cianci (2003) identify that employees have a need for affiliation and recognition from peers and from supervisors. Once these have been satisfied and there is a more team-based environment, employees can build on their self-confidence, and feel as though they are having a useful impact on their job environment as an element of power and control (Gambrel & Cianci). Personal notations taken throughout the course of the internship at ATF Bank indicated that there was not a unified and harmonious culture of belonging at this organisation with no structured (formal) or informal policies about group working and creating a culture of quality and interpersonal communication development. ... Many of the managers at the organisation were expatriate leaders send from France, the United States, and also Egypt because of their specialized knowledge in human resources and overall global finance. Many people from Kazakhstan had difficulty working with these cultures due to their social and management principles. For example, academic learning provided knowledge on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions framework that gives a very basic breakdown of different cultural values across the world. Blodgett, Bakir & Rose (2008) offers that collectivists have a strong value for group welfare and expect group loyalty as part of a larger family unit. In opposite accord, individualists value self-expression and want to work independently from others (Blodgett, et al.). Because of these differences between the foreign managers and those in the host country, coupled with no organisational structure that allowed for innovation and recognition, developing team-based systems and gaining peer s upport was next to impossible. A self-assessment profile, the Myer-Briggs inventory, gave me a strong inclination toward extroversion above all other principles on the scoring instrument. Churchill & Bayne (1998) describe extroversion as the ability to work well with others and able to focus with comfort on the external social world; a more interactive person. This fits well with my self-report on personality as I have always been a person that takes a visible leadership position when in social and work groups. This is why the need to negotiate conflict and understand cultural principles for foreign workers was so critical, since these skills are necessary for success in business and in a leadership role and

Monday, September 23, 2019

Xi Chuan Earthquake Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Xi Chuan Earthquake - Essay Example However, there are instances wherein big, catastrophic earthquakes hit the region. An example of which happened on May 12, 2008, 06:28:04 (UTC) wherein according to official reports, seventy thousand people were killed, three hundred seventy four thousand people were injured, and about seventeen thousand more were reported missing. (Chen, Qiao, and Liu 809) Compared to other natural calamities, earthquakes are close to impossible to predict. The fault lines may have been identified and mapped out but no one can really tell when a big earthquake will happen. These events can only be studied after they have already happened and the damages to property and the loss of lives have been done. If a catastrophe is defined as an event causing great and often sudden damage and suffering (Miriam Webster dictionary of the English Language) that definition is especially true for the earthquakes that plague the Xi Chuan region in the heart of mainland China. Houses were turned to mere rubble while the very foundations of old castles crack and give way to the power of nature. Unfortunately, in these display of nature’s power, human lives are also lost. Preventing mortality and too much loss in infrastructure led the Chinese to develop ways to hopefully predict when big, catastrophic earthquakes would strike and where. Although they failed in making an early warning system for earthquakes at that time, the ancient Chinese built the 1st rudimentary seismograph to be able to detect where in the realm an earthquake occurred so as to direct help there immediately (Weiland). The quest for an effective means to predict where and when strong earthquakes will occur is still the goal in China and the rest of the world nowadays, but fortunately there are many instruments, equations and programs available as well as volumes of seismic data that can give clues to the time and place these big earthquakes would hit. It is not merely the geologists’ and geophysicists’ jo b to make sure of the safety of the people and the reduction of the destruction on infrastructure. Scientists, policy makers, as well as the private sector need to work hand-in-hand to prevent further devastation caused by these types of calamities. Dynamic planning and effective implementation of different measures assure the safety of people living in these earthquake-prone zones. This study focuses on recent techniques and breakthroughs that have been and will be used in predicting the occurrence of strong earthquakes in the Xi Chuan basin region and then we will evaluate each strategy’s impact on the disaster planning and response of the area. Improvements in the early warning system technology is the key to reducing mortality and destruction of infrastructure caused by large earthquakes and the efficient dissemination of information will be the determinant to each stratagem’s effectiveness. This paper will also touch on the improvements on the policies that favor earthquake readiness and the level of implementation of these laws since the eight magnitude earthquake in 2008. Literature Review A brief history of the study of seismic activity in the Xi Chuan basic region was detailed in the study of Han and Jiang (231). The Xi Chuan – Yunnan and Xi Chuan – Quinghai area has been plagued with earthquakes historically due to its location within active faults. Records of big and damaging earthquakes were passed down from dynasty to dynasty until this present age. Although China had been a nation for

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Standards and Procedures Essay Example for Free

Standards and Procedures Essay Behavior Always conduct yourself in a professional manner. (Inappropriate words or insinuations will not be tolerated) Act in best interests of our clients. (Always safeguard our client’s information that is not public knowledge.) Foster culture diversity; treat others with dignity and respect. (Refrain from criticizing and putting down fellow employees and customers.) Take ownership of own work and promote opportunity. Follow dress code – wear appropriate business casual attire. (Body tattoos and piercings will be covered at all times. Please see company dress code booklet for further description of dress code) Practice integrity and honesty in all areas of business. Avoid parting in any activity that could have a negative effect on company’s image. Participate in any mandated professional education courses. (Company courses will be assigned as needed and employees will be provided a deadline to complete courses.) Put Philanthropic mission above your personal gain. Disclose any possible conflicts of interest to management which may or may not result in reassignment or termination. (Refrain from partaking in employment in related companies, or engaging in interoffice dating) Encourage other employees to embrace code of ethics and report any knowledge of others not adhering to code of ethics. ( Any information provided to management will remain confidential , retaliation toward informant is prohibited) Accuracy and completeness Keep accurate records, files and books of activities. Maintain company standard of 99 percent quality accuracy of work. ( Monthly summary of quality will be provided based on review of employees work by their direct supervisor) Maintain company standard of required production. (Please see production requirements which are based on employees job description) Work scheduled time; refrain from partaking in unapproved overtime. (Regular tardiness and unexcused absences will not be tolerated under any circumstances and will be grounds for suspension or termination.) Following state laws and regulations Do not engage in any form of Price Fixing, Anti-Trust or Anti Competition. Acceptance of gifts and gratuities is prohibited. Adhere to all state required breaks and timekeeping requirements. Refrain from parting in any activities that might be considered discriminating towards any race gender or religious preferences. Adhere to state sexual harassment laws. Ethics Training Plan Design and Development Manuals will be created which display company’s ethical standards. (WBT) Web Based Training courses will be created to provide employees knowledge of the company’s ethical standards in a fun interactive way. Training program will include possible ethical situations an employee might find themselves in and how to react in an ethical manner. (WBE) Web Based Exams will be created to ensure employees grasp all concepts. PowerPoint presentations will be created and updated often to present possible ethical situations and what the proper way to react would be. Webinars will be created several times a year reminding employees how important it is to abide by companies ethical standards. Slogans, banners and flyers will be created, displaying company’s ethical standards. Monthly company articles will be created displaying the importance of following ethical guidelines. Implementation For employees that are initially hired they will undergo Ethics (WBT) Web Based Training Program. They will be provided an Ethics manual to go over and sign stating they read and understand all materiel and agree to abide by company’s code of ethics. They will be handed a pamphlet in which to revert back to if they should have any ethical questions on any ethical situations. Finally before beginning their on the job training they will need to pass a web based exam in which they will prove they have grasped the all of companies ethical concepts. For management – Because implementation of an ethics program begins with management, it is very important that managers be properly trained to provide our companies employees with proper ethical training. Therefore all managers will be required to also partake in a (WBT) Web Based Training program specifically created for managers of our company who need to understand how important it is that employees lead by example. Managers will be provided with their own ethics manual for which they may revert back to in if they should have any ethical questions on any ethical situations. Managers will be required to attend yearly in person training courses on how to encourage proper ethical behavior amongst their employees. Finally all Managers will be required to take yearly managers ethics training exam in which they will prove they have grasped all of company’s ethical concepts. For all employees All employees will required to undergo Yearly (WBT) Web Based Training programs in order to refresh themselves on the company’s ethical standards and to familiarize themselves with updated material. Ethics proficiency testing will always follow WBT’s in order to ensure all ethical concepts have been grasped. Management will hold monthly group meetings in which they will present power point presentations displaying possible ethical situations and how to respond in a proper ethical manner. Webinars will be released to all employees several times a year encouraging employees to follow proper ethical standards and reminding them where all information can be found on companies ethical standards. Company will advertise through slogans, banners and flyers reminding employees to follow company’s ethical standards. Evaluation Managers will be required to monitor each employee’s ethical behavior and take immediate action when unethical behavior is exhibited. Employees displaying any type of unethical behavior will be closely monitored and will be provided with first a verbal warning, then a written warning followed by termination of employment depending on severity of the situation. Employees exhibiting great Ethical behavior are to be recognized for doing so with a yearly compensation bonus if company should have a strong yearly profit. Monitoring System Monitor Appoint an ethics and compliance officer to do an overview of ethics program. Measure awareness and perceptions of ethics program, procedures and review company’s culture. Create and implement an employee satisfaction and recommendation survey for company’s ethics program. Observe employees behaviors. Review companies activities. Listening to or review recorded customer service intake calls Audit Secure commitment of upper management and board of directors. Establish a committee to oversee the ethics audit. Define what is being audited; include any areas that are important to an ethical audit. Have documentation with listed measurements of how company is complying with required ethical procedures. Do a yearly analysis of company’s measurements. Evaluate the company’s goals and objectives; outline the company’s ethical main concerns. Ensure audit processes include the outlooks of all the major stakeholders. Evaluate the compliance program design, arrangement and procedures. Examine whether current practices meet legal requirements and company policies and standards. Have all report results verified by an outside source. Provide a report of the final findings to the audit committee and after the report is accepted, it can then be distributed to managers and to the stakeholders. Reporting Misconduct Reassure employees that any reports of misconduct will be kept confidential and that no retaliation will occur. Provide employee with privacy by conducting conversations in a private area. Probe employee for a further explanation of the misconduct and ask if there are any others whom can collaborate their report. Reassure employee that you will follow-up on this report and provide them with a reasonable timeframe in which you will follow up with them. Review and Improve Plan Review Compare and examine all yearly audits to one another to see if the program is improving. Identify affective and ineffective ethical procedures. Verify the company has a code of ethics that is effective in preventing misconduct. Verify the company’s standards and procedures are being dispersed effectively to its employees. Ensure top management has a system in place to detect ethical issues. Ensure standards and procedures are realistically proficient in identifying and preventing misconduct. Compare and exam all employees for ethical and unethical behavior. Improve Perform an examination on how company can reduce the risks of misconduct and implement new strategies. Take action against any potential risks that were identified in audit process. If it is determined that that ethical performance is not acceptable, Restructure how certain choices within the company are made. Reward employees who comply with ethics program and punish employees who do not comply. Update codes and ethics yearly in order to ensure that the program is up to date with current laws and regulations. References Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., Ferrell, L. (2009). Business ethics, ethical decision making and cases. (7e, 2009 update ed.). Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning. Nick Ciancio (July 2007). The seven pillars of an effective ethics and compliance program. Retrieved from: http://www.globalcompliance.com/pdf/the-seven-pillars-of-an-effective-ethics-and compliance-program.pdf. Marsha Glick (July 17, 2000). Twelve steps for designing effective training programs. Retrieved from: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/twelve-steps-for-designing-effective-training-programs/5032124. Mark Lamendola (July 1, 1998). Ten Tips For An Effective Training Program. Retrieved from: http://ecmweb.com/content/ten-tips-effective-training-program.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Effects of Quotas on Importing and Exporting Countrys Trade

Effects of Quotas on Importing and Exporting Countrys Trade LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter starts with a theoretical framework. It discusses what quotas are followed by the models showing the effects of quotas on importing and exporting countrys trade. A large body of literature attempts to predict the likely impact of removal of quotas on textiles and clothing. The results of these studies are included in this chapter. 3.1 Theoretical Framework There are many forms of protection in world trade. They include tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Tariffs, which are taxes on imports of products into a country or region, are amongst the oldest form of government intervention in economic activity. They are implemented because they provide revenue for the government and protect the domestic industry from foreign competition. Non-tariff barriers include voluntary export restraints, technical barriers to trade, and import quotas. The effects of all these tariff and non-tariff barriers on importing and exporting countries are almost identical. Quotas restrict the imports of specified products by setting a maximum quantity or value of goods authorized for import. Different types of quotas exist, such as global quotas, bilateral quotas, seasonal quotas, quotas linked to export performance, quotas linked to the purchase of local goods, quotas for sensitive product categories, and quotas for political reasons. In this context, quotas refer to the limits placed on the quantity of different categories of clothing (e.g. knitted T-shirts, sweaters, gloves) and textiles (e.g. knitted fabric, acrylic yarn, cotton fabric) that can be exported to the US, Canada and the European Union (EU). Under the ATC system, garment and textile-producing countries were assigned a maximum quantity that they could legally export to the US, Canada and the EU during a particular time frame. The quotas set by the ATC differed by country and per product. The allocation of quotas was generally based on historical export levels (Appelbaum, 2004). The quotas operated under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing were originally introduced under the MFA. The main purpose of these quotas was that they were imposed only by specific countries, on exports from specific countries. Another purpose was that the importing countries allowed exporting countries to allocate the quotas. Quotas effects are not easy to understand since they are very complex and require a global perspective to be taken. To a better understanding of the effects of quotas on both importing and exporting countries can be gained from the use of, diagrammatic models. The first diagram model used here shows the effects of quotas on importing countries. Importing countries imposed quotas as a device for restricting imports than tariffs. This is because they are more predictable. They ensure that imports cannot exceed a certain amount, whereas, with a tariff, the precise effect on the volume of imports is uncertain, depending on the slope of the demand and supply curves. When the quota imposed the price of the product became OP* from OP. Sd + quota is the domestic supply curve with the quota added. Demand of the product falls to OQ3 because of the high price and domestic supply increases to OQ2. Imports, also falls, because of the quota constrained at Q2Q3 = WV. In case of importing country profit goes to the person who imported the product at the price OP and sell it on OP*, not to the government (area C in Diagram). If government auctions the quotas than importers have to buy a licence of the quotas to import the products, than the profit will go to the government. The main advantage of the quota is that domestic production increases because the imports decrease, however, consumption of the product also decreases. However, in some respects quotas are more damaging than tariffs for the importing country. Like quotas allocated on the basis of share of the importer in the market and once allocated, it is difficult for more efficient importers to import more if their quota has been already used up. To understand their effects on exporting countries it is important to distinguish between the prices of restricted and unrestricted markets. A simple diagram model can be used to present the basic economic implications of the MFA quotas for exporters (Figure 3.2). As in Kathuria, Martin and Bhardwaj (2001), the diagram is kept simple by basing it on the Armington Assumption, which states that the products produced by this group of exporters are not the same as the products of other countries. This assumption allows well-defined import demand curves to be drawn for quota-restricted products in the restricted country (DR) and in the unrestricted country (DU). The point where these two demand curves meet horizontally gives the global demand (DT) for the products of the restricted countries. In the absence of any quotas, as in figure 3.2, the price will be the same in restricted and unrestricted countries. In the unrestricted equilibrium represented in figure 3.2 the same price applies in both the restricted and unrestricted countries, because the restriction comes in figure 3.3. When quotas are introduced in restricted markets the quantity exported to those markets declines as shown in figure 3.3. The price received for exports to restricted markets increases from (PW) to (PR), because of the restrictions and the price received for exports to unrestricted markets declines from (PW) to (PU). The overall demand curve of country (DT) becomes steeper and less elastic. Because the original price of the output falls, the volume of output automatically declines. Whether static welfare increases or decreases depends on whether the net gain from quota rents in restricted export markets compared with the situation in figure 3.2, represented by the crosshatched area in figure 3.3 outweighs the losses in the vertically shaded area in figure 3.3. However, the overall effect of the ATC quotas on a countrys economy cannot be determined simply by the economic effects shown in figure 3.3, although it does provide a basis for evaluating the partial effects of quotas on all restricted markets. This model is thus inadequate for evaluating the overall impact of the quotas on a country because it does not take into account the effect of restrictions on other exporting countries. When restrictions applied to competing countries clearly increase the demand for exports from the country of interest, whether these restrictions are beneficial or not for any given country depends upon the importing countries, and on the relative magnitude of exports from each country. To predict the reallocation of textile and clothing production among developing countries, a simple Ricardian analysis suggests that a country will produce and export goods in which it has a comparative advantage. A country has a comparative advantage in producing a good if the opportunity cost of producing that good relative to other goods is lower in that country than in other countries. This depends on the factor endowments of each country and factor requirement characteristics of the produced good. The textile and clothing industries are labour intensive, and the basic input is cotton. Thus, according to the Ricardian model, it is expected that countries with larger labour forces and higher production of cotton will benefit most from ATC expiration, as it will facilitate an increase in their production and exports of textiles and clothing. The abolition of quotas in January 2005 eliminated some, but not all of the distortions affecting global trade in textiles and clothing. While the quotas have been abolished, tariffs on textiles and clothing remain, frequently at very high levels. Furthermore, some of Pakistans competitors now benefit from preferential access to industrial country markets, either under preference schemes such as the EUs Everything But Arms (EBA), or through preferences provided under regional arrangements. Unlike tariffs or export taxes, export quotas are nontransparent in their effects on trade. An analysis of the trade competitiveness situation shows that the phasing out of quotas implies significant changes in the worldwide trade structure, leading to strong output and employment shifts in and between countries. 3.2 Impact of quota elimination on textiles Textile and clothing trade among World Trade Organization (WTO) members is governed by the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), which came into force with the WTO Agreement on 1 January 1995. This agreement means that alongside the progressive application of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) rules, there will be progressive phasing out of quotas in the EU, US and Canada. These quotas were inherited from the Multi-fibre Arrangements (MFA). On 1 January 2005, the ATC expired and all quotas were abolished. This means that all WTO members now have unrestricted access to the European, American and Canadian markets. This has obviously had an impact on major countries/regions concerned. This research addresses the possible impact of quota abolition on Pakistans textile industry. A considerable number of studies have aimed to quantify the economic and trade effects of the ATC phase-out as well as complete textiles and clothing market liberalisation. The majority of studies reviewed were undertaken by universities, economists and international organisations like the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), and in the case of Pakistan, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), government organizations, and some institutions. Most of them foresee increases in global welfare as a result of gradual liberalization of the sector with the implementation of the 10-year transitional programme of the WTOs ATC, at the end of which the system of import quotas that has dominated the trade since the early 1960s disappeared. Most of the research covers the global textile industry and the South Asian countries post ATC regime. There is not much research available specifically about Pakistans textile industry in the quota free-regime, the opportunities and challenges Pakistan will face, and whether Pakistan will benefit from this regime or not. This literature review summarises briefly some of the available studies on the impact of the ATC phase-out on the textile and clothing industry. A large body of literature attempts to predict or quantify the likely impact of the removal of quantitative restrictions. Different approaches have been used to address the issue; summary of these studies is given in table 3.1. Diao and Somwaru (2001) estimate that over the 25-year period following the ATC implementation, the annual growth of world textile and clothing trade will be more than 5 per cent than it would be in the absence of the ATC. According to their simulations, this acceleration translates into about $20 billion more trade in the short run (upon implementation) and as much as $200 billion in the long run (25 years). They also predict that, consistent with the trend in the historical data, the world clothing trade will increase twice as fast as the textile trade in the post-quota world. Similar results are reported by Avisse and Fouquin (2001), who found that, as a result of the ATC, the global trade in textiles and clothing will be about 10 per cent and 14 per cent h igher, respectively. Table 3.1 Results of Selected Analytical Studies related to ATC Authors Database Model Characteristics Policy Simulations General Results World Bank (2004) Data collected by authors General equilibrium analyses Quota Removal focus (Pakistan) Overall, the short-run impact of MFA abolition will be positive on the textile sector, negative on clothing. The analysis suggests that Pakistan will benefit substantially from abolition of its own quotas, with the benefits resulting from improved efficiency of resource allocation outweighing the loss of quota rents. Francois and Spinanger (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Quota prices for Hong Kong for 1998/99 Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal plus Uruguay Round trade liberalization in the context of Chinas WTO accession. (Focus: Hong Kong) Textile and clothing exports from Asia (especially south Asia) increase substantially. Preferential access to the United States and the EU would be reduced and there would be a shift in demand away from countries like Mexico and Turkey. Terra (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Standard Static GTAP model (i) Quota removal and (ii) Quota removal plus tariff reductions (Focus: Latin America) Developing countries subject to the biggest quantitative restrictions would expand their exports at the expense of the importing developed countries, but also of other developing countries which are less restricted (i.e., Latin American countries). Avisse and Fouquin (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal Output share of Asia increases from 12 percent to 18 percent. Chinas exports would increase by 87 percent, South and Southeast Asias would increase by 36 percent. Latin America and NAFTA would lose 39 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Authors Database Model Characteristics Policy Simulations General Results Diao and Somwaru (2001) GTAP 5 (Base year 1997); Counterfactual analysis using an intertemporal version of GTAP MFA phase-out simulated by improving the efficiency of textile and apparel exports from constrained Countries. Other trade barriers on textile and apparel imports are reduced by 30 to 40 percent in all countries. The annual growth of world textile and apparel trade would be more than 5 percent higher. Market share of developing countries as a whole would increase by 4 percentage points following the ATC. China would gain almost 3 percentage points of the world Textile and apparel market, while other Asian countries would capture more than 2 percent. Non-quota developing countries are predicted to lose about 20 percent of their markets. Matoo, Roy, and Subramanian (2002) Data collected by the authors. Partial Equilibrium. ETEs derived from Kathuria and Bharadwaj (2000). Leontief production. Export elasticities from 1 to 5. Interaction between the ATC and the AGOA rules of origin for Mauritius and Madagascar Under the current AGOA system, the apparel exports of Mauritius and Madagascar would be about 26 percent and 19 percent lower, respectively, following 2005. If AGOAs rules of origin requirement is eliminated, the decline in Mauritiuss exports would be only 18 percent, and Madagascars exports could increase. Lankes (2002) GTAP 5 (Base Year 1997) Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal Total export revenue loss attributed to the MFA quotas estimated to be $22 billion for developing countries and $33 billion for the world as a whole. Source: Commission of the European Communities, 2004 Although the elimination of ATC quotas is predicted to result in an increase in global trade, the impact is likely to differ among countries and regions. For each country, quota elimination represents both an opportunity and a threat. It is an opportunity because markets will no longer be restricted but it will also represent a threat as other suppliers will no longer be restrained and major markets will be open to intense competition. For instance, Lankes (2002) argues that the ATC may lead to a reallocation of production to the detriment of developing-country exporters that have been â€Å"effectively protected† from more competitive suppliers by the quota system. A World Bank (2004) study provides an analysis of potential gains and losses for Pakistan from abolishing the quota system. The study shows that whether Pakistan will be better or worse off depends on the extent to which exports from Pakistan are restricted relative to exports from other suppliers; the strength of the competitive relationship between suppliers; and the extent of complementarities associated with global production sharing, particularly the benefits from increased demand for textiles and clothing as inputs. The general results of the study are, overall, that the short-run impact of ATC abolition will be positive on the textile sector, and negative on clothing. The analysis suggests that Pakistan will benefit substantially from the abolition of its own quotas, with the benefits resulting from improved efficiency of resource allocation outweighing the loss of quota rents. The implications for the clothing sector could be serious, however if no action is taken to improve productivity, output could decline by over 15 per cent, and exports by a quarter. Overall, Pakistans real income may decline by perhaps 0.4 per cent, and real wages could decline slightly if no action is taken to improve productivity. The degree of a quotas restrictiveness can thus serve as a useful, if imprecise means of broadly predicting the likely impact of its removal. Being able to determine which countries are quota constrained and which are not is useful in understanding how particular countries will fare following quota elimination. In the existing literature, the degree of restrictiveness of an MFA quota is often measured in terms of its â€Å"export tax equivalent† (ETE). ATC quotas are administered by exporting countries and impose a cost on exporting firms that is exactly analogous to an export tax. In order to export, a firm in a quota-constrained country has to obtain or purchase a quota (or an export licence). The more restrictive a quotas is, the higher the tax will be. ETEs are obviously zero for non-restrained products or countries. Flanagan (2003) points out that although as many as 73 countries are included in the quota system, some do not fully utilize their quotas. Elimination of an unfilled or non-binding quota has little effect on a countrys ability to export because it could have continued to export to the quota limit in any case. Many estimates of ETEs exist, and they vary for different countries and time frames. Francois and Spinanger (1999) estimate that Hong Kong clothing exporters face an implicit export tax of up to 10 per cent for goods intended for the U.S. market and 5 per cent for the European Union (EU) market. Kathuria and Bhradwaj (1998) report that in 1996, Indian exporters to the United States paid an ETE of 39 per cent (cotton based) and 16 per cent (synthetics), versus 17 per cent (cotton based) and 23 per cent (synthetics) in the EU market. In USITC, the import-weighted ETEs for US imports were estimated to be about 21 per cent for clothing, and those for non-clothing, textile categories were around 1 per cent. In general, the literature reveals that Asian countries are relatively more constrained than other regions. Flanagan (2003) categorizes countries into groups depending on how â€Å"quota constrained† they are in terms of the number of product categories where quotas seriously limit demand. In the group of â€Å"Countries seriously held back, almost across the board, by quotas† were Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. At the other end of the spectrum, countries such as Nepal, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are categorized as â€Å"Countries whose quotas have been a valuable tool, now threatened†. According to Flanagan, China, India and Indonesia have shown the most consistent and widespread near-saturation of quotas for yarn, fabric and garments. Many analysts predict that the market shares of quota-constrained suppliers will increase markedly following 2005. Terra (2001) predicts that clothing production of the restrained exporters, as a whole, will increase by almost 20 per cent, and their textile production will increase by almost 6 per cent. Meanwhile, Terra estimates that the market shares of non-quota constrained suppliers (e.g. Mexico and African countries) will shrink. She predicts a fall in the exports of Latin American countries, which will be displaced by the big exporters subject to restrictions. Mercosur and Chile are predicted to reduce their exports of clothing significantly and their exports of textiles moderately. Avisse and Fouquin (2001) estimate that Asian clothing exports will rise by 54 per cent and their share of the world market will increase to 60 per cent, from 40 percent in 1995. Chinese clothing exports, in particular, will rise by 87 per cent, and their share of world clothing exports will rise by more than 10 percentage points. Both South Asias and Southeast Asias clothing exports will also experience substantial gains, increasing by 36 per cent, combined. On the other hand, Latin American clothing exports are predicted to decrease by 39 per cent. Avisse and Fouquin estimate that Chinese production will rise by 70 per cent, and that of other Asian countries, by 26 per cent. Within a broadly unchanged level of global output, Asias share will rise from 12 per cent to 18 per cent. North American production of clothing 14 will decline by 19 per cent and European production will drop by 11 per cent according to estimates. Diao and Somwaru (2001) provide similar estimates. According to their dynamic model, world market share of developing countries as a whole will increase by 4 percentage points following the ATC. China is predicted to gain almost 3 percentage points of the world textile and clothing market, and other Asian countries to capture more than 2 percentage points. Current non-quota holding developing countries are predicted to lose about 20 per cent of their markets (equivalent to 2.3 percentage points of total world textile and clothing markets) to the restrained ones. In addition to the costs of quotas themselves, the nature or quality of the quota administration system can also restrict an individual countrys exports, and lead to quota â€Å"underfill†. Whalley (1999) points out that many developing countries have built costly domestic administrative structures around the internal allocation of quotas. Krishna and Tan (1998) present empirical evidence that the costs of the export licence system within the restrained countries are significant and that both the licence cost and hidden administrative costs are added to the price of the product prior to entering the foreign market.