Research Proposal on Trading in Gum Arabic The WritePass Journal

Research Proposal on Trading in Gum Arabic Research Proposal on Trading in Gum Arabic BACKGROUND Before the discovery of oil in 1956, the Nigerian economy was primarily agrarian with 97% of exports consisting of agricultural produce like cocoa, rubber, cotton just to mention a few, but sad to say that a shift in focus to oil has led to a decline in the production and exports of these produce which presently constitutes just 26.8% of GDP. With the growing need for a sustainable development of the Nigerian economy, there has arisen a need to shift spotlight away from oil and concentrate on other income generating sectors of the economy that can help the foreign exchange position of the country. From 1981, there was a policy shift towards export promotion and a move to intensify the use of local raw material in industrial production. However the increase in the value of imports led to a worsening of the balance of payments (with, in addition, the backdrop of the collapse in world oil prices), which forced the government to promulgate the economic stabilization (Temporary Provisions ) act in April 1982[Inye, 2007]. However, some   incentives have been put together to encourage investment in agriculture, some of which are; Finance credit Tax Holdings, Reduced Customs Charges on Imported Inputs, Technical Support through Research Institutions, Export Financing and Guarantee, Agricultural Insurance Scheme, as Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Export Processing factories (EPFs), Export Processing villages (EPVs) and Extension Services. But most diversification initiatives had not made much headway until recently; they were mainly hampered by poor administration and ineffective trade policy strategy while some are still in their early stages so their impact is yet to be significant. In 2003, a lot of funds was injected into the presidential initiatives on cassava which was introduced to mobilize Nigerians to fully and profitably tap the potentials of cassava which hitherto had remained largely unharnessed, its strategy was to boost the production of cassava for both domestic consumption and for expo rt, this development led to an increase in the production and export of ethanol. Presently,Nigeriaranks as the largest cassava producer in the world with estimated annual production of about 40million metric tons, of which about 90% is consumed as food [Yisa 2009] In Nigeria, agriculture engages majority of the poor so the improvements in the sector is paramount to income generation, welfare enhancement, poverty alleviation, food stabilization and industrialization.   With so many resources left unharnessed like; bitumen, cocoa, cassava cocoa, palm oil, yams, cassava, sorghum, millet, corn, rice, livestock, groundnuts, cotton, Gum Arabic.   A boost in the supply side of these agricultural produce will invariably increase the country’s foreign exchange position, create employment opportunities and reduce overdependence on oil. This paper focuses on one of these unharnessed resources that have the potential of serving as a good source of foreign exchange, Gum Arabic. Gum Arabic is an organic adhesive produced from a tree called Acacia Senegal it is a natural gum that exudes from the exterior of Acacia trees in the form of dry, hard nodules, with over 1,100 Acacia species worldwide, it produces a natural gum made of hardened sap mostly taken from three species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal (Grade 1) which is the highest grade, Acacia seyal (Grade 2) and Combretum. In Nigeria, the major Acacia utilized for commercial Gum Arabic production are Acacia Senegal and Acacia seyal. The produce is used as a thickener, suspender, emulsifier, stabilizer, flavor carrier, binder and encapsulating material, so it is therefore needed in industries such as the textile, food, beverage, dairy and ice cream, cosmetic, confectionary   and pharmaceutical,   thereby making the market for it quite robust. The gum has binding or adhesive properties and as such is used as a good emulsifying agent.   In food products, it serves as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and b inding agent for chewing gums, ice cream and jams. In pharmaceuticals, the gum is a binder in lozenges, tablets, pills, throat pastilles and cough drops. In textile industry, it is used for fabric stiffening and as a binder for textile printing gums. In miscellaneous industries it is used in producing ink, water colors, paints, carbon papers, pottery glace; it is also used in the plastic industry. In confectionery industry it is used for, hard gums, soft gum and gum pastilles. The Gum Arabic tree is usually ready for tapping 4-7 years after its establishment, tapping can then continue every year for at least ten to twelve years then they are finally coppiced for fire-wood and charcoal when the trees are about 15 years old. The tree’s extensive rooting system protects the land and has high potentials of improving soil fertility through inter-cropping with arable crops and its pods are valuable sources of livestock feeds.   Due to the ability of the tree to withstand adverse environmental conditions, is now seen as a potent weapon in the continued fight against desertification and environmental degradation in the Sahelian belt of the country, Edward (1992) stated that   it can be planted as a windbrake or shelterbelt to reduce soil erosion and desertification, as the tree can exist under extreme climatic conditions, it is easily tolerant of an annual average rainfall of less than 300mm and of substantial rainfall and temperature variations over wi de stretching of the northern sudanian – sahelian zone the presence of a Gum Arabic ‘belt’ helps to ‘hold back’ desertification. Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) is grown in the Sahelian zone of the country, covering 14 States of the Federation namely Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Nasarawa and Niger with an estimated population of 4 million Nigerians engaged in its cultivation and trade. From available data Africa produces about 98% of the world requirement of gum Arabic,Nigeria is the 2nd largest producer of the crop in the world afterSudan with an average production of 20,000 metric tonnes of all grades of Gum Arabic.   In the year 2004, world production of Gum Arabic was put at 70,000 metric tonnes while Nigerias production amounted to 18,935 metric tonnes with export earnings of US$88.08 million selling the raw form of the product, In 2008 alone Nigeria exported a total of 20,000 metric tons of Gum Arabic estimated at US$43.55m (N6.5325 bill) [commodity network, 2008, cited in, Aghughu and Mokwunye 2010], buyers included USA, Portugal, Holland, India, Japan, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Italy, and China.   In Anaekwe’s (2010) opinion, the country’s current production of about 20,000 MT is low compared to its potential and it stands to gain US$5.00 for every one kilogramme of processed Gum Arabic. While the Gum Arabic provides a good source of foreign exchange for the nation because of its high international demand, it is generally believe that Nigeria is not fully taking advantage of the large land available for the cultivation of the product, having little from the producing trees and at such, perhaps the most neglected area is in the area of processing, most of the product are harvested and sold as a raw instead of adding value to the product before sale. Industries are frustrated because of inadequacies in infrastructure (notably roads, transport logistics and the ports system) have consistently raised the cost of doing business. Critical among them is the serious deficiency in the supply of electricity which persistently defies solutions. A study on the cost of infrastructure failure inNigeriahas indicated that responders had ranked power outages and voltage fluctuations as among the major obstacles to their operations. The huge cost of production means thatNigeriaâ€℠¢s manufactured goods do not have the desired competitive edge in the international markets [Inye 2007]. According to [Xinshe, Paul, 2007] Low productivity, high transportation, marketing costs, various formal and informal trade barriers (both physical and institutional) and inconsistencies in trade and agriculture policies all contribute to the lack of market competitiveness. In other to resolve some of these challenges, the Gum Arabic Sector Development Program was initiated with the main objectives of, ensuring a reliable and sustained supply of quality gum arabic fromNigeria to theU.S., strengthen the ability of Nigerian stakeholders to produce and market quality gum arabic, and plant more trees in order to control environmental degradation. Presently only little has been achieved. Apart from these national problems, farmers are also faced with certain challenges. In the early 1970s the supply of Gum Arabic was threatened by the following fact; frequent clashes between farmers during gum collection in Acacia field due to lack of ownership of the wild grooves and rapid depletion of the natural forest due to activities of the natives who cut down the Acacia Senegal and Acacia Seyal tries for fuel wood , tool handles and agric implements as well as fodder and browse for livestock [Mokwunye and Aghughu 2010], presently, the   few   farmers involved in production, face greater   problem as regards   finance. The limited access to finance available is known to be hindered by high interest rates and collateral requirements. Long term access to finance is scant and so it is only the large multinational firms that are likely to receive loans, while the small-scale entrepreneurs are marginalized [Inye 2007]. Hence, because of these constraints, the total perceive d benefits from A Senegal are therefore carefully weighed by the farmer against the expected returning and benefits from cash cropping, food cropping and often from livestock raising and off-form employment, farmers expect that the relative profitability of gum to other crops should ensure sufficient incentives for them to include gum in their farming systems where it is appropriate [Edward 1992]. It is anticipated presently that the use of intercropping of immature Gum Arabic plantation with Arabic crops is recommended for effective utilization of land resources and it’s expected to motivate farmers to adopt Gum Arabic innovations [Dengle et al   2008] At this stage of development, formal training by trained trainers has not been conducted, but an impressive amount of informal training has been done. Newly established National Association of Gum Arabic Producers, Processors and Exporters of Nigeria (NAGAPPEN) chapters in each state have been the vehicle through which informal training has been conducted. Encouraging farmers to plant Gum Arabic in organized plantations and educating them would enhance the efficiency of farmers [Dengle et al 2008]. The stage is now set for the healthy growth of Nigeria’s gum Arabic sector but the deserved attention is still yet to be given by the government in terms of huge financial support and incentives to boost the supply side and there is need for promotion and awareness, as most stakeholders and potential investors are still oblivious of the huge potentials in the product.   Recently there has been a call for new investors to invest in the technology transforming gum Arabic into powder , According to Business world (2010) the project operating at the estimated installed capacity is capable of producing 3000 tons of gum Arabic powder per annum, assuming conservative export price of $10,000per ton and the local sales prices of N150,000 per ton, annual turnover of N2.8billion can be recorded with export volume of 2000 metric tons of refined Gum Arabic powder. A Strong positive profit figure after tax can be generated and a high internal rate of return due to the foreign exchange rate component of the export product is achievable. A three year estimated payback period for the project is guaranteed. To sustain the supply of Gum Arabic to both local and international markets, efforts are being made to establish a Gum Arabic Security Stock in the three leading producing countries (Sudan,NigeriaandChad) with the support of the GAO, Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA) and Association of International Producers of Gum Arabic (AIPG). This will lead to rapid development of natural gum as a national resource for fighting poverty, desertification and environmental degradation. The National strategy for Gum Arabic is to encourage local value addition through increased local processing in order to attract better returns on investments. Thus, apart from providing more income, local processing creates job opportunities thereby empowering our people, Usman [2009] suggests that for greater benefit to enhance export there is need for Public- private partnership, he says that strategies such as establishment of an effective trade facilitation system, organization of regular cap acity programmes, establishment of skills acquisition centers, storage facilities and agricultural trade support infrastructure, are key. Ongoing policy reform and substantial investment in production agriculture and supporting infrastructure are shifting the location of production and exports of agricultural commodities, particularly for bulk agriculture products, away from the developed countries and towards the developing world. As a consequence strong competition is expected to be a feature of international agriculture markets not only from traditional exports but also from the developing and transition country exporters that are exploiting their comparative advantage in agricultural production [OECD-FAO 2006].Nigeriatherefore needs to take advantage of its abundant natural resource cum market availability and prepare for the buoyant production of Gum Arabic.    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES In view of diversifying the Nigerian economy and reducing the high rate of unemployment, this research intends to provide comprehensive information that will guide investment decisions in the Gum Arabic sub sector by taking a thorough look into the potential of investing in Gum Arabic, the opportunities and profitability both in raw and refined form. It also intends to suggest strategies to help boost the supply and demand side of the sector, ensure market efficiency and effectiveness by looking at both the domestic and international market for gum Arabic. The specific objectives are grouped under several headings namely: production, processing and equipments, transportation, products and products development, and export. The specific objectives are as follows: Identify the technical, institutional, socio-economic and policy opportunities and constraints for promoting the Gum   Arabic sub sector Assess the domestic market opportunity for Gum Arabic by-products inNigeriaand suggest how this potential could be realized. Evaluate the economics of Gum Arabic production and processing costs structures (and profitability) of value adding Gum Arabic enterprises and suggest reduction strategy Determine optimal locations of processing plants based on identical markets for various Gum Arabic products. Provide information on marketing cost structure from rural to urban areas for Gum Arabic and its products and determine the break-even distance and volume for Gum Arabic transportation Make recommendations on how to make Gum Arabic and its products competitive within the domestic and export markets To provide insight into the employment opportunities in the Gum Arabic sub-sector. Evaluate Gum Arabic’s contribution to the growth of non-oil exports. The analysis will be in two parts the first part will follow a vertical agribusiness perspective in which we assume that the Gum Arabic sub sector is segmented into four categories where Gum Arabic is produced at the farm level by farmers, processed, and used by agro industries to produce other products and used by other industrial markets. Secondly we look at the export potentials, opportunities and it importance to the diversification of the Nigerian economy. FIRST PART OF THE ANALYSIS Production:   Provide information on the unit production cost for Gum Arabic   in the producing states inNigeria and ascertain the Gum Arabic varieties available and their actual and potential yield Processing and Equipments:   Evaluate the economics of existing Gum Arabic processing equipments and new equipments. This is in view to ascertaining the current status of processing technology and local maintenance capacity. Transportation:   Provide information on transportation costs from rural to urban areas for the movement of Gum Arabic produce. Products and Products Market: Provide information on price trends for Gum Arabic and its products.   Identify and assess the status of existing and potential industries that use or can potentially use Gum Arabic products. And also ascertain the market share and size of use of Gum Arabic as raw material in these identified industries inNigeria. Finally to identify existing and potential volumes, prices, quality standards, and delivery schedules for Gum Arabic based products used by the various industries inNigeria and overseas. SECOND PART OF THE ANALYSIS   Export: Provide information on export quality requirements, delivery schedule, shipping costs and requirements, international prices for Gum Arabic and its products.   Establish Gum Arabic’s contribution to non-oil export growth and as a means of diversifying the economy form Oil.   Finally predict and forecast potentials of the export contribution of Gum Arabic as a stable source of foreign exchange    METHODOLOGY In looking at the causes of technical inefficiencies in Gum Arabic based   cropping patterns among farmers, Dengel   et al ( 2008)   collected primary data using multi-stage, purpose and random sampling techniques, the empirical stochastic frontier production model was used and estimated using the Maximum Likelihood estimation. Edward (1992) carried out a crop profitability, financial, economic and environmental analysis to find the benefits of six representative gum Arabic production systems. This study will build on existing documents, surveys and researches, but it will focus on Gum Arabic producers, processors and traders as well as banks, input dealers and extension institutions. The study will cover all the major sectors where Gum Arabic and its products are (potentially) utilised. For the first part of the analysis, data will be collected in three stages: first wherever available, published data would be used to establish the structure, conduct and performance of Gum-Arabic sub-sector. Secondly, a rapid appraisal survey will be conducted using focused group interviews and key informants to obtain information on trading patterns, transportation facilities, processing costs and marketing systems. The third stage of the study will focus on the captains of industry that use or are potential users of Gum Arabic. This industrial survey will among other things focus on the size and volume of different Gum Arabic commodities required in the domestic market. The Heckscher-ohlin theory of international trade will be applied for the second part of the analysis by applying theOrdinary Least Squareestimation, in view to looking at the Gum Arabic and it contribution or potential contribution to non-exports. Expected Result To find out: the production cost for Gum Arabic in producing states inNigeria The availability of Gum Arabic varieties and their actual and potential yield provided. The economics of existing Gum Arabic processing equipments and new equipment evaluated.   the current status of processing technology, and local maintenance capacity inNigeria The transportation costs from rural to urban areas. The supply chain requirements and preliminary logistic framework.   Price trends for Gum Arabic and its products. The availability and current use of Gum Arabic products together with the key users as well as their supply chain structure (e.g. farmer groups, processor groups, industries etc). The existing and potential volumes, prices, quality standards, and delivery schedules for Gum Arabic-based products used by various industries inNigeriaprovided   Exports quality requirements, delivery schedule, international prices for Gum Arabic -based products, and niche markets forNigeria.   Expected rate of return on investment for investors   Predictions and   forecast on the long term viability on exporting Gum Arabic in terms of foreign exchange earnings to the country. Its potential in terms of contribution to non-oil exports Employment opportunities through development of the sub-sector. Suggest policies for the development of the sub-sector. The study will interest a wide range of readers including Gum Arabic producers, policy-makers, donors and banks, scientists and technicians, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. SOME ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES Differences in state pricing and techniques may require adjustment of data. Inability of get documented information on some requirements might lead to reliance on word of mouth. REFERENCES Abdulsalam Usman K., 2009. Evaluation ofNigeria’s benefits from the African growth and opportunity act (AGOA) Adebiyi D., Ehui S., Ukeje E. and Mclntire J. Agricultural export potentials inNigeria. Adel Beshai A., 1984. The economics of a primary commodity: Gum Arabic. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and statistics, 46(4), pp.371-81, Aghughu O.and Mokwunye M.U.B 2010. Restoring Nigeria’s lead in Gum Arabic production: Prospects and challenges. Report and opinion 2(4) 7-13 Anaekwe Everistus N., 2010.   Processing gum arabic for huge profit in Nigeria.   http://farriconsultingng.blogspot.com/2010/09/processing-gum-arabic-for-huge-profit.html Business World, 2010. Earn foreign exchange processing Gum Arabic. Dengle Y.G, Wuranti V., Abubakar M. and Ogwuche P. 2008. Analysis of the technical inefficiency of gum Arabic based cropping patterns among farmers in the gum Arabic belt of Nigeria. Journal of agriculture and social science Edordu C.C, Oramah B.O and Osuntogun A. 1997.   Potentials for diversifying Nigeria’s non-oil exports to non-traditional markets. AERC Research Paper 68 Edward Barbier 1992. Rehabilitating Gum Arabic systems in Sudan: economic and environmental implications. Environmental and resources economics 2: 341-58 Inye Nathan Briggs 2007.Nigeria: mainstreaming trade policy into national development strategies Lelom, J. et al., 2010.   Assessment of physical properties of gum Arabic from acaciaSenegalvarieties in Baringo district,Kenya. Kolawole O. and Henry O. Foreign direct investment, non-oil exports and economic growth inNigeria, a causality analysis. Yisa A. A. 2009.   Cassava markets: option for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria. Ozean Journal of applied science 2(2) OECD-FAO, 2006.   Agricultural outlook 2006-2015. Production of gum Arabic, extension bulletin number 78 forestry series no 11 Market News service (MNS) quarterly edition Sep 2008 Gum Arabic Rosemary O. Nigeria’s non-oil export product mix and the competitive global market place. Sonja V. and Lorenzo C. 2010. Making the most of agricultural investment: a survey of business models that provide opportunities for small holders. Truman P., Daphne S., Lateef S. and Malachy O. 2004. A cassava industrial revolution in Nigeria. IFAD. Xinshen D., Dorosh P., Sheikh M.R 2007. Market opportunities for African agriculture: General equilibrium examination of demand-side constraints on agricultural growth in east and southernAfrica.

The Most Abundant Types of Insect Fossils

The Most Abundant Types of Insect Fossils Since insects lack bones, they didnt leave behind skeletons for paleontologists to unearth millions of years later. How do scientists learn about ancient insects without fossilized bones to study? They examine the abundant evidence found in the different types of insect fossils described below. For the purpose of this article, weve defined a fossil as any preserved physical evidence of insect life from a time period prior to recorded human history. Preserved in Amber Much of what we know about prehistoric insects is derived from evidence trapped in amber, or ancient tree resin. Because tree resin is a sticky substance – think of a time when youve touched pine bark and come away with sap on your hands – insects, mites, or other tiny invertebrates would quickly become trapped upon landing on the weeping resin. As the resin continued to ooze, it would soon encase the insect, preserving its body. Amber inclusions date as far back as the Carboniferous period. Scientists can also find preserved insects in resin dated just a few hundred years old; these resins are called copal, not amber. Because amber inclusions form only where trees or other resinous plants grew, the insect evidence recorded in amber documents the relationship between ancient insects and forests. Put simply, insects trapped in amber lived in or near wooded areas. Studying Impressions If youve ever pressed your hand into a freshly poured bed of cement, youve created the modern equivalent of an impression fossil. An impression fossil is a mold of an ancient insect, or more often, a part of an ancient insect. The most durable parts of the insect, the hard sclerites, and wings, comprise the majority of impression fossils. Because impressions are just a mold of an object that was once pressed in the mud, and not the object itself, these fossils assume the color of the minerals in which they are formed. Typically, insect impressions include only a mold of the wing, frequently with sufficiently detailed wing venation to identify the organism to order or even family. Birds and other predators that might have eaten the insect would find the wings unpalatable, or perhaps even indigestible, and leave them behind. Long after the wing or cuticle has decayed, a copy of it remains etched in stone. Impression fossils date back to the Carboniferous period, providing scientists with snapshots of insect life from up to 299 million years ago. Compressions Some fossil evidence formed when the insect (or part of the insect) was physically compressed in sedimentary rock. In a compression, the fossil contains organic matter from the insect. These organic residues in the rock retain their color, so the fossilized organism is conspicuous. Depending on how coarse or fine the mineral comprising the fossil is, an insect preserved by compression may appear in extraordinary detail. Chitin, which makes up part of the insects cuticle, is a very durable substance. When the rest of the insect body decays, the chitinous components often remain. These structures, such as the hard wing covers of beetles, comprise most of the fossil record of insects found as compressions. Like impressions, compression fossils date back as far as the Carboniferous period. Trace Fossils Paleontologists describe dinosaur behavior based on their study of fossilized footprints, tail tracks, and coprolites – trace evidence of dinosaur life. Similarly, scientists studying prehistoric insects can learn a great deal about insect behavior through the study of trace fossils. Trace fossils capture clues to how insects lived in different geologic time periods. Just as hardened minerals can preserve a wing or cuticle, such fossilization can preserve burrows, frass, larval cases, and galls. Trace fossils provide some of the richest information about the co-evolution of plants and insects. Leaves and stems with obvious insect feeding damage comprise some of the most abundant fossil evidence. The trails of leaf miners, too, are captured in stone. Sediment Traps Younger fossils – if one can call 1.7 million-year-old fossils young – are recovered from sediment traps representing the Quaternary period. Insects and other arthropods immobilized in peat, paraffin, or even asphalt were entombed as layers of sediment accumulated over their bodies. Excavations of such fossiliferous sites often yield tens of thousands of beetles, flies, and other invertebrates. The La Brea tar pits, located in Los Angeles, is a famous sediment trap. Scientists there have excavated well over 100,000 arthropods, many of them carrion feeders that were preserved along with the large vertebrate carcasses on which they fed. Sediment traps provide scientists with more than a catalog of species from a certain geological time frame. Quite often, such sites also offer evidence of climate change. Many, if not most, of the invertebrate species found in sediment traps, are extant. Paleontologists can compare their fossil finds with the current known distributions of living species, and extrapolate information about the climate at the time those insects were entombed. Fossils recovered from the La Brea tar pits, for example, represent terrestrial species that inhabit higher elevations today. This evidence suggests the area was once cooler and moister than it is now. Mineral Replications In some fossil beds, paleontologists find perfect mineralized copies of insects. As the insects body decayed, dissolved minerals precipitated out of solution, filling the void left as the body disintegrated. A mineral replication is an accurate and often detailed 3-dimensional replica of the organism, in part or whole. Such fossils typically form in places where water is rich with minerals, so animals represented by mineral replications are often marine species. Mineral replications give paleontologists an advantage when excavating fossils. Because the fossil is usually formed of a different mineral than the surrounding rock, they can often dissolve the outer rock bed to remove the embedded fossil. For example, silicate replications can be extracted from limestone using an acid. The acid will dissolve the calcareous limestone, leaving the silicate fossil unscathed.

End of Cold War and Collapse of Soviet Union Essay

End of Cold War and Collapse of Soviet Union - Essay Example e 1980s in order to determine why the Soviet Union left Eastern Europe and the extent to which Gorbachev can be held responsible for the subsequent collapse of communism. Though the reasons for the collapse of communism in the CEE countries are numerous, Gorbachev is at the heart of the said event. Historians have examined the dramatic end of the Cold War almost since the day the Berlin Wall came crashing down. Some, most notably Karen Dawisha, predicted the event earlier. She released her book Eastern Europe, Gorbachev, and Reform in 1988, and understood that Gorbachev knew the regimes in Eastern Europe were illegitimate, placed in power by the Soviet Union on the coattails of the Red Army's entrance into the area during the closing days of World War II.2 However, she argued that if Gorbachev was serious in his intentions concerning noninterference in the affairs of sovereign states, then Eastern Europe would likely soon break away from the Soviet grasp and attempt to move west.3 Charles Gati theorized in his important work The Bloc that Failed: Soviet-East European Relations in Transition, that the Soviet Union lost control of Eastern Europe due to an extraordinary domestic crisis which consumed their attention and resources.4 Moreover, The Warsaw Pact was an ineffective mec hanism for collective security, according to Gati, since its member states each had different perceived enemies, oftentimes another member of the Warsaw Pact.5 Joseph Rothschild stated that the stability of Eastern Europe depended directly on the economic performance of the country in question.6 By the time Gorbachev came to power, he realized that a serious overhaul of the system was necessary due to the flagging economies of the Eastern Europe satellite states, in crisis before but never this severely. Like Charles Gati, Rothschild stated that by the 1980s, Eastern Europe had broken out of the conformist mold placed on it after World War II by Joseph Stalin, and each country began to pursue its own different interests.7 Thus the "Soviet bloc" was a collection of different states each moving in its own direction; Gorbachev had very limited choices, and ultimately let them Return to Diversity. These views hold to the tenet that the breakup of the Soviet bloc was due to internal fact ors in the countries of Eastern Europe.8 Other authors have studied the internal demise of the Soviet Union, placing the emphasis on themes ranging from the nationalities problem to incorrect decisions by the General Secretary. Helene Carrere d' Encausse examined the former in her work The End of the Soviet Empire, in which she chronicled the difficulty of governing an empire

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

Divorce - Essay Example Similarly, the aggregate percentage of born again Christians who commit divorce, evangelical and non-evangelical alike, is statistically close to the figure of non-born again adults who have had divorce case with one-third of either population. Evangelicals do not necessarily attend the church though most are said to have had profound conviction in Christ and the doctrine of salvation by grace and if their count is combined with the number of believers who are basically parishioners, roughly about 33% enter into divorce whereas among the atheists and agnostics, 30% are reported to have gone through the similar situation. While the 3% difference may be attributed to the sampling error, the almost identical statistics is typically due to the lower rates of marriage experienced by the non-believers who prefer cohabitation. According to George Barna, â€Å"Americans have grown comfortable with divorce as a natural part of life† that is why such an act or decision of stepping out o f marriage has become prevalent. There apparently exists no huge deal in having divorce as American social structure has absorbed and become accustomed to the idea as if to acknowledge it being an ordinary norm or convention. The increase in cohabitation which correspondingly augments the likelihood of divorce may be claimed to generate a continuing trend especially since U.S.

Scholastic Corporation Essay Example for Free

Scholastic Corporation Essay Hi! I would like to welcome you and your child to Third Grade! I am excited to have an opportunity to be an important part of your child’s education. Third grade is an important step in your child’s education. It consists of many new tasks and skills for your child. They are required to think more critically and work more independently. My goal is to guide and instruct your child so that he/she will be fully prepared for fourth grade. In order to accomplish this, teamwork is critical. My role as teacher for your child is to provide daily instruction, meaningful class work and homework assignments, and to provide a stimulating environment and opportunities for success. To ensure that the opening of school goes smoothly, we would like to bring your attention to activities and procedures that are important to the third grade level. All toys are to stay AT HOME unless specifically requested by teachers. Any materials (including clothing) should be clearly marked with your childs name. Organization and Homework To assist your child in developing good organizational skills, the following routines are necessary: 1. Review and sign all homework and planner nightly. 2. Work is to be completed in pencil only unless otherwise stated. 3. Homework is written, by your child daily, in their agenda. Check off work completed and initial planner nightly. 4. Homework is an opportunity to practice material learned in the classroom to the level of mastery. In order for us to maintain daily contact, we ask that you check your childs homework daily for accuracy and understanding. Do not sign homework or planner unless you have checked over homework and are sure it has been completed. 5. Take Home Folder: Your child will be bringing home a folder every night. The homework folder should be cleaned out nightly and only papers that need to be returned to school should be left in the folder. 6. I will try to make homework free weekends. There may be times when this isn’t possible, but I will do my best to make this happen. 7. All homework assignments are due on the following day. If your child forgets their homework or planner, they will have to miss noon recess to complete assignments. If your child forgets to get homework or planner signed they will have to miss 10 minutes of recess. (1/2 recess). Your child will not be allowed to call home for forgotten homework. Reading/Spelling Reading will be a part of daily homework. Your child needs to read at least 20 minutes each night. A portion of this time may be spent reading aloud to a parent and discussing content. Vocabulary Lists and Spelling Lists will be sent home for your child to study for that week’s story. Please review them nightly. Math Math will also be a part of daily homework. Your child will complete side B of the fact practice and written practice nightly. Scholastic Book Orders Make checks payable to: Scholastic Books. More than one book order may be sent home at one time, return a slip for each catalog that you want to order from however, one check may be written for all. Book Donations If you have books that your child has outgrown or no longer reads, send them to school and I will get them to the appropriate classrooms. Parent Teacher Communication Please feel free to call me at school or home at any reasonable time. You can also email me at school or â€Å"friend† me on facebook and send private messages. School 886-2251 Available times: 8:00 a.m., School email [emailprotected] Home – 822-3272 Cell – 886-4077

Genetic Engineering and Developing Countries Essays -- Biotechnology S

The genetic engineering of foods has been the subject of much controversy since its first appearance in the mid 1980’s. As scientists began to learn more about genetically engineered foods and the benefits of such foods, their potential also began to be realized. Developing countries, because of poor nutrition, would benefit the most from modified foods. Millions of people in developing countries die each year form lack of nutrition and hundreds of thousands go blind. Overpopulation is another problem facing developing countries and without food and nutrients survival will be tough. Alternately, there exist genetically modified foods, which can supply these poor nations with the proper nutrients and agricultural knowledge to prevent any nutritional and overpopulation problems from occurring. Many benefits can come from genetically engineered foods on top of aiding developing countries. Humans need to get over the fear f genetically engineered foods and start to utilize biot echnology in everyday life. One suggested use of genetically engineered foods would be to aid developing countries that are struggling because of a lack of proper nutrients in their diets and overpopulation. A shocking statistic is that over 13% of the worlds population does not receive enough nutrients to prevent malnutrition and vitamin A deficiencies. Another horrifying statistic is that by the year 2020 the world population will exceed 7.5 billion people with 98% of the increase coming from less developed countries (Mary Arends-Kuenning and Flora Makundi â€Å"Agricultural biotechnology†). Supplying enough food to not only feed the growing number of people but to also provide tem with enough nutrients might seem impossible, but with the use of genetic en... ...esistant genes, scientists can enable farmers to flourish on land considered to be not farmable. Humans need to embrace biotechnology in order to secure their future. By implementing this policy an effort will be made to ensure that all future food and nutrition needs will be met. Also, healthier, faster growing foods will benefit, not only less developed countries, but also the developed world. This technology has not yet been introduced to most crops but hundreds of millions of people need this technology now and can no longer wait for regulations and speculations. As Neal C. Stewart et. al. state, â€Å"the key is to determine the importance of the risks as weighed against the benefits†(836). Undeniably, the benefits certainly outweigh the risks. Humans must not fear genetics and must also embrace this technology, which is the future of all food production.

Boucheron Luxury Brand’s Market Research

HISTORY The House of Boucheron is French family dynasty founded by Frederic Boucheron in 1858. Four generations of the Boucheron family helped the brand to become a worldwide leader in Haute-Couture Jewelry market, expanding the brand to the four corners of the globe. Frederic Boucheron was the first jeweler to move to Place Vendome which he did in 1983. Legend has it that he chose 26 Place Vendome, where Boucheron remains to our days, because it was sunniest corner of this square. He believed that the diamonds in the windows will sparkle all brilliantly. Czar Alexander III was a client, as was his son, the doomed Nicholas II.Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was especially fond of Boucheron tiara which she inherited from Lady Greville, who originally purchased it from the House. Her grand son Prince Charles passed the tiara onto his wife Camille, Duchess of Cornwall as a wedding gift. Queen Elizabeth of England also has a collection of Boucheron jewels as did Wallis Simp son the Duchess of Windsor. American royalty are also collectors of Boucheron creations. Household names like Astors, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers have returned again and again to this jeweler for exceptional pieces of High Jewelry.Actors and artisits have also been fans of Boucheron since it opened its doors 150 years ago. Caroline otero, the temptress known as La Belle Otero, when she was a cabaret dancer at the return of the 19th century was a Boucheron enthusiast as was the famed theater actress Sarah Bernhardt and the writers Oscar Wilde and Marcel Proust. Why film stars including Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rachel Weisz and Diane Kruger have all come under the Boucheron spell of spectacular creations. TIMELINE: 858- Frederic Boucheron opens his first store in the Galerie de Valois at Palais Royal, during the heyday of the Second Empire. 1866- Boucheron creates its atelier. 1867- Paris Universal Exhibition: Frederic Boucheron w ins his first Gold Medal only 9 years after opening his firs boutique. 1878 – Paris Universal Exhibition: The Foliage necklace, a sapphire and diamond set with a central sapphire of 159 carats, created for Mrs. H. Mackay, wins the Grand Prize. 1883- The Russian Prince Felix Yousoupoff purchases a corsage decorated with 6 detachable diamond bows during one of his visits to Paris. 893- Frederic Boucheron moves to 26 Place Vendome in the residence of the Countess of Castiglione. He opens the largest boutique on the square. 1898- Boucheron opens a store in Moscow, later transferred to St. Petersburg in 1911. 1902- Frederic Boucheron dies, his son Louis cucceeds him. 1921- Boucheron is commissioned to make tiara for Lady Greville; it was later given to England`s Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. 1928- Louis Boucheron is asked by the Maharajah of Patiala to Set the stones of his treasure, which are brought to the Place Vendome boutique by the private guards of the Prince. 930- The Shah of Iran asks Louis Boucheron to assess the Imperial Treasure of Persia and issues a decree naming him Official Curator and Guardian of the Treasure. 1959- Louis Boucheron dies, leaving his sons Fred and Gerard in charge of the business. Edith Piaf, the most popular French Singer of her time, purchases a Boucheron watch for the love of her life, Marcel Cerdan. 1962- Fred Boucheron retires, leaving his brother Gerard as head of the establishment. 1970- In the 1970s the best selling snake line was created. 1973- Boucheron`s first boutique opens in Japan. 980- Gerard Boucheron retires and Alain Boucheron becomes a president and General Director. 1988- Boucheron launches its first women`s fragrance in a ring shaped bottle. 1994- Boucheron takes of a new development in the sector of fashion accessories: The Boucheron Eyewear Collection. Boucheron sells to Schweizerhall. 2000- Gucci Group acquires the House of Boucheron. 2002- Boucheron launches the â€Å"Beaute geois† collect ion. 2003- Boucheron launches the â€Å"Not Bourgeois† collection 2004- Gucci Group is fully acquired by PPR. Jean-Christophe Bedois is appointed CEO.The â€Å"Jaipur† High Jewelry line and the â€Å"Dechainee† collections are launched. 2005- Launch of four new jewelry lines: Trouble, Quatre, Diablotine, Vingt-Six. Boucheron opens its firs boutique in Shanghai and its first flagship in Dubai. The start of the â€Å"Trouble Desir† High Jewelry Collection. 2006- Boucheron and Alexander McQueen collaborates together to create a limited edition Novak bag that incorporates the snake motif of Boucheron`s Trouble line. Boucheron opens its first boutique in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Launch of the â€Å" Exquises Confinces† line. 008- Boucheron marks its 150th anniversary with a yearlong celebration. CONCEPT AND UNIQUENESS The concept of Boucheron is to appeal to high-end customers who look for something unique in their jewelry. Through meeting target cus tomers standards about design, materials, price and brand Boucheron has created a market for luxury haute couture jewelry. Customers also appreciate the fact that all collections are manufactured in small quantities and that stones of the highest quality are used; in addition to diamonds, also sapphires, amethysts, emeralds, coral, onyx, and jade. We wanted to develop innovative and creative way to introduce our rich heritage and approach to fine jewelry in way that enchants, amazes and amuses. We have a rich history that is beautifully brought alive. † Jean Christophe-Bedos, President, Boucheron The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has announced in 2011 that Boucheron has achieved certification by meeting the ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards as established by the RJC's Member Certification System. â€Å"RJC warmly congratulates Boucheron on its certification.The successful verification assessment of Boucheron was conducted by Philippe Arnaud from KPMG France, one of the independent third-party auditing firms accredited to the RJC's Member Certification System† Michael Rae, RJC's Chief Executive Officer. â€Å"Since 1858, Boucheron has adhered to the highest standards not only in the spectacular designs of its creations but also in upholding its strong ethical code. The RJC certification corresponds to the House's continued endeavor to embody excellence and responsible business practices both internally and externally; a commitment we share across the PPR Group† Pierre Bouissou, Boucheron's CEOBUSINESS STRATEGY With the understanding that the conservative way was not an option, Boucheron plays on its long history of rousing the passions of sensual desire. This attitude has driven Boucheron's design and delicate craftsmanship and resulted in a heritage of enthusiastic stories and myths. Today it could motivate an entirely new approach to the market. The House’s individual legacy sharped a way to connect th e new luxury consumer on a essentially more personal, more passionate and less superficial level.Boucheron has formed a marketplace approach that brings many industry innovations – a new service that redefines how the HNWI can experience and enjoy luxury jewelry; an exclusive retail concept that can voyage to the client rather than sit and wait for them; and product idea that raises the craft of the brand to the peak levels of art and business When Boucheron has entered the US market the first element of the strategy was a â€Å"Desir†, a collaboration with the creators of Spiegelworld, that brings alive the rich history of Boucheron in an personal and inspirational 100 year old hall of mirrors.It was launched in New York in August 2008 and was set to benefit from a sellout three-month run at the South Seaport before opening two-year tour of US’s most significant Luxury markets. â€Å"Set in a turn of the fin-de-siecle nightclub, Desir is meeting place for show girls and soldiers, bejeweled courtesans and maharajahs, a carnival world devoted to the pursuit of beauty, clever seductions and breathtaking displays of acrobatic wonder. It is a sparkling merry-go-round where the last love affair is merely an entree to the next encounter.More than any show in New York I can think of, Desir, with its cavalcade of professional beauties, does inspire thoughts of a time when well-dressed admirers queued up at dressing-room doors bearing gifts of flowers and jewelry. As for me, I'm thinking of coming back with a bouquet of catnip for that charming, fluffy-haired Persian who stopped the show when it walked a tightrope. † Ben Brantley, New York Times. Additionally to the show there was the Boutique Desir, a traveling boutique where, guests can find out Boucheron’s universe and its creations; can touch, try and familiarize themselves with the pieces in a private ambiance.Clients were then invited to the exclusive Bar Vendome, a VIP lounge wh ere they could get pleasure from an memorable evening under the stars. Boucheron chose to launch their products in the BRIC countries as well, which consists of some of the most emerging markets in the world today. Additionally, the Middle East and India are also two extremely important markets for Boucheron, partly due to the strong responsiveness for jewelry. The sales in these countries are larger than in the western countries and the luxury company is exploiting the new wealth of the generations with high luxury awareness and taste.MARKETING MIX Product: Boucheron sells hand-made haute-couture luxury jewelry made from fine materials like gold, platinum, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. Along with every purchase the buyer receives superior service and is entitled to service which assists users with exclusive services like delivery and customization. One of the Boucheron`s specialties is color. Clients easily can distinguish  Boucheron’s line of jewelry  by its designs . Its signature is visible in the form of motifs like floral, peacock feathers and snakes. Boucheron produces: * Necklaces * Pendants Bracelets * Brooches * Cufflinks * Earrings * Rings * Wedding Jewelry * Watches * Perfumes (18 editions) * Sunglasses Price: Boucheron prices range: Rings from 2. 000 eur up to 30. 000 eur Earrings from 4. 000 eur to 41. 800 eur Necklaces from 12. 000 eur to 1. 000. 000 eur Brooches from 5. 000eur to 10. 400 eur The prices vary with the different collections and the materials that are used in them. Place: Boucheron jewelry is very selectively distributed. It is available at company-owned boutiques and flagship stores like London Jewelers, Goldsmiths, and Colette.They recent store was opened in Doha`s West Bay community in Middle East. In keeping with its global design concept, the space is decorated using its signature aubergine and gold colour palette and affluent wooden decor. The Doha boutique domiciled Boucheron’s iconic most collections, a long with a range of exquisite high jeweler’s creations. Boucheron locates its stores in luxury shopping districts, famous â€Å"Golden Triangles† of large metropolitan areas and opens relatively few stores.Today, Boucheron operates more than 50 boutiques and over 100 certified retailers worldwide in addition to an online sales website. The boutiques are, intimate and have a luxury feeling. All sale locations can be found on www. boucheron. fr . Promotion: Boucheron acquires much publicity from sales to celebrities like: * Chanel Iman * Diane Kruger * Natalia Vodianova * Kira Knightley * Julianne Moore * Raquel Zimmermann * Anne Hathaway * Mary-Kate Olsen * Natsha Poly * Lily Donaldson * Salma Hayek * And many others As well Boucheron has collaborated with Vertu.Boucheron launches diverse collections at different times and only makes a certain number of some jewels in order to keep a prestigious image and be a focus for HNWI. Boucheron has an own website for publicity which features product descriptions and prices. Mostly promotion is running in Fashion Magazines like Vogue. POSITIONING Seeking to embody the opulence and grandeur of Parisienne life, Boucheron draws often upon iconic French women, each epitomizing a facet of the golden age, to act as muses in the creation of distinct sets of jewelry.Each woman has its own distinctive way of wearing jewelry, which is the privilege of a woman, but she can vary own excitement strategy. Blink of an eye, the center will become a decorative pattern of brooches, pendants into earrings, necklace, or a deduction into a multifaceted hairpin. Boucheron blends the art of seduction and a charm with a woman`s desire to wear jewelry. Boucheron has positioned itself as the top-of-the-line targeting HNWI. Boucheron achieving this by using only the finest materials to create their products which are all handcrafted ensuring that every product is of perfect quality.Boucheron will launch different collections each fe aturing different materials and designs which make the collections unique and prestigious; their most expensive line ever was a necklace Julia which cost 800,000eur and Boucheron snake necklace for Maison du Chocolat which costs 900. 000 eur. Boucheron collaborated with VERU luxury mobile phone maker, to extend their success and increase awareness in the luxury product world. Boucheron offers superior and personalized service to its clients, guaranteeing customer satisfaction and loyalty. They also position hemselves by showcasing the celebrities who own their products as an indication that their products are for the rich and famous. Boucheron has flagship stores all over the world in 50 countries however they open relatively few boutiques solely in luxury shopping districts of large cities and thus are considered selectively distributed. Boucheron boutiques are decadent, small, intimate venues which offer personalized service to clients wishing to make a purchase. Boucheron house v ery successfully preserves a prominent image with its ultra-luxurious products and superior service through its positioning.TARGET CONSUMER The Boucheron jewelry is a highly luxurious product, which doubtlessly is made to fit the extremely wealthy population of this world. The main customers are rich and found in the urban areas, who are constantly searching for the extraordinary products. Furthermore, their flagship stores are situated in the finest areas, in order to attract the highly rich international shoppers. CONSUMER-BASED BRAND EQUITY PYRAMID Brand Salience For Boucheron achieving right brand identity involves brand salience. Only richest people are aware of Boucheron because promotion is quite narrow.However their target consumer for sure can recall and recognize this brand. So conclusion here is that Brand salience is more depth than breadth. This basically means that even thou there are not yet many people knowing Boucheron, but those who do, they know all insights of it , can easily remember it and realize what this brand is about. Brand Performance The product itself is at the heart of brand equity, as it is the primary influence of what consumers experience with a brand, what they hear about the brand from others, and what the brand can tell customers about the brand in their communication.Brand Performance relates to the ways in which the product or service attempts to meet customers` functional needs. This is on top level for Boucheron brand. It is crucial to contribute to customers` desires, wants and needs. Boucheron brand highly represents all what their HNWI customers want to have for paying a high price. The product is highly durable; it has distinctive logo, premium pricing and quality handcraft. All customer services provided for clients by Boucheron also attributes to brand`s performance. Brand ImageryAnother variable CBBE Pyramid is second type of brand meaning which involves brand imagery. Imagery deals with such a properties of a pro duct, which meets customers` psychological needs. It is more about what people think of it, how they see it. Boucheron imagery is extremely individualistic and stylish. When customer is buying Boucheron cell he/she buys a beauty of it. As of Boucheron customer has a strong judgment of a brand as high quality luxury product. Credibility is high and customer see Boucheron as superior, advantageous brand. Brand JudgmentsBrand judgments focus upon customers` personal opinions and evaluation with regard to brand. This involves how consumer put together all from performance and imagery association to make kind of an evaluation. Boucheron clients evaluate this brand as a high quality luxury brand. Brand Feelings This variable shows emotional response with respect to Boucheron brand. It shows what feelings are evoked by the marketing strategy for the Boucheron and how does it affect feelings about themselves and relationships with others. Customer of Boucheron is for sure status-conscious p erson.Customers of Boucheron have a unique and warmth feeling about the brand. It can be exciting due to special relationship of beauty and handcraft in brand`s products. Customer feels it is trendy and relates to special status and therefore social approval. Customer feels high security within this brand due to all advantages provided. As Boucheron makes consumer feel better self-respect, pride, fulfillment and accomplishment also occurs. Brand Resonance Final variable of pyramid shows brand relationships with a customer based on Salience, Performance, Imagery, Judgments and Feelings.As for Boucheron even if general awareness is low the behavioral loyalty is very high, customer want to get back to this brand, consequently repeat purchase is possible. Brand loyalty is necessary but not sufficient for resonance to occur. Within Boucheron brand customer is not returning to this brand again due to, for example, scarce of substitutes. Boucheron attained their main goal- strong personal attachment to brand. SWOT ANALISYS FOR BOUCHERON STRENGTH * Masterpiece of design and craftsmanship * Innovative brand Strong reputation (Products have established strong reputation in their field) * Global expansion (Includes significant growth over last 10 years) * Customer service * Control of Quality WEAKNESSES * Extremely high production price (which leads to high product price) * Limited access as distribution is exclusive and limited * Not enough practical promotion and advertising OPPORTUNITIES * Emerging markets * Mix Boucheron styling with some big Fashion Brand like Gucci * Change of consumer lifestyle (growing demand from young and senior people) THREATS Increasing Quality of Competing Products and Number of those * Importance of counterfeiting COMPETITORS * GRAFF * VAN CLEEF ; ARPELS * PIAGET REFERENCES http://luxurysociety. com/articles/2012/01/the-latest-boutiques-burberry-bally-boucheron http://www. luxury-insider. com/luxury-news/2010/03/boucheron-jewellery-show-at- mandarin-oriental-hk http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Boucheron http://www. verybest. com/cat/49/jewelry/235/2/ http://jewelhistory. com/2010/10/27/in-and-around-town/ http://www. mycompanion. cz/en/list/boucheron-paris-boutique

Interview Essay Essay

I conducted my interview with Mrs. Michelle G. Escala; a woman with simple dreams and hopes in life. I approached her with all the kindness, respect, and humility. I started my interview by introducing myself and my purpose for conducting the interview. I was quite nervous during my interview, but I was still able to deliver my prepared questions. Mrs. Escala showed kindness to me during my interview. I could sense her sincerity and confidence while answering all my questions. She is a teacher at Tarong Elementary School, who is willing to inspire pupils and students to learn and to live the value of their existence. Mrs. Escala received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Philippine Normal University, Cadiz City in 2003 and her Masteral in Elementary Education from University of Southern Philippines in 2011. She took the Licensure Examination for Teacher and she passed and now, she’s enjoying her profession. Mrs. Escala was never influenced by anyone to take up the course Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; it’s her own choice and will. She stated that taking up BEED is the first step in preparing for this profession. She also believes that grades and extracurricular activities are important. She was a consistent honor student since her younger years, she actively participate in their school paper and other organization in their school. In addition, she said, in order for you to finish your studies and to achieve your goal, you must strive hard, manage your time wisely, love what you do, and have faith in God. After finishing her studies, before she becomes a full time teacher, she started as a substitute teacher for about half a year. She also stressed the importance of Practice teaching because it will give you experience and you can meet what is truly the work of a teacher. She also said that attending to seminars either near or far is important because through these a ctivities you can learn more and it will help you to be more professional. Mrs. Escala stressed that teaching is not that easy. You have to be as patient as you can towards your pupils. You must be patient in teaching them their lesson, especially when difficult time comes in. She stated that the most difficult part in teaching is when you know you gave your best but still pupils fail to show what is expected from them. She also said that we must also accept the fact that everybody is not equal in all aspect; we must acknowledge the weaknesses of the pupils and then teach without expecting too much. Teaching has deadlines that must be met, which creates pressure  and the feeling of constantly being rushed. She also said that you must not be absent in your class because it’s not you that will be affected, but the students. Even though there is a reason for you to be absent, she added, you must give them some assignments or activities before the day you’re not there so that their day won’t be wasted, or maybe you must make it up to them on the day that your back. But not all the times it seems to be difficult, there are times it’s easy to handle and fulfilling especially when you achieve your goals for the pupils. She said that what she is trying to achieve with her students is for them to learn, to digest what she taught in class, and hopefully they will be inspired to live with the values she is instilling in them. She also added that it is a great achievement for a teacher to see their pupils progressing physically, intellectually, socially, and financially, that’s why she is aiming to produce pupils to become functionally upright, and useful as well as productive citizen of the society. Mrs. Escala said that her work is satisfying, not in a way that she is satisfied with the food but she is satisfied with her pupils because they are pretty comical. She even added that she would choose teaching all over again, because she loves her job and this is where her heart really belongs. I feel my interview is really beneficial. I learned a lot about her, as well as some about what it is like to be a professional. It was encouraging for me to speak with someone who loves her job so much. My interview with Mrs. Escala provided me information about being a professional and how to be a responsible student and soon to be a professional like her. She also provided me with â€Å"real world† information; information about life and how to handle the difficulties and not letting those difficulties to be a hindrance in pursuing and achieving your goal. Conducting an interviews with her prove to be a great learning experience because it help me a lot and now, I have more knowledge about responsibilities, career opportunities, and what it’s like to be a professional. Even though my interview is not related to my course, it is still challenging and worth remembering. Now, I have more and better idea and understanding of how to achieve my goal, and my goal is to become a Certified Public Accountant.

The Affects of Alcohol on the Body essays

The Affects of Alcohol on the Body essays Almost everyone has had some form of alcohol in their lives. A lot of people drink alcohol on a reoccurring basis. However, most people that consume alcohol have no idea the short term and long term effect that it have on their body. The purpose of this paper is to inform everyone of the affects of alcohol, so that they make an educated decision about drinking. Once alcohol enters the body it is not digested like food. Once in the stomach, alcohol is absorbed directly into your blood stream through the tissue lining the stomach and small intestine. Food and water can slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, while carbonated beverage will speed the process up. Once alcohol is in ones blood stream, it is carried to all the organs of their body. A persons body composition, sex, the presence of food in the stomach, and the amount and type of alcohol consumed will determine exactly how alcohol will affect a person. Females, people with high percent body fat, and people with empty stomachs will feel the effects of alcohol the most. Ten percent of the alcohol is eliminated through sweat, breath, and urine. Your liver must detoxify the remaining alcohol. The liver breaks down alcohol at a rate of one half an ounce per hour. This also varies depending on the person; some people can break down more, some break down less. There is nothing that a person can do to speed up the rate your body breaks alcohol down. When the rate of alcohol consumed exceeds the livers detoxification rate, the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream continues to increase, further impairing the brain, causing intoxication, coma, or possibly death. Alcohol can alter a persons mood and can cause depression. Alcohol can cause a lot of damage to the body because none of the bodys cells are immune to alcohol. Alcohol moves quickly to the brain and passes the blood-brain barrier, which normally keeps harmful substances away from the brai...

ESL Lesson Plan Using Suggestopedia

ESL Lesson Plan Using Suggestopedia During a workshop held by Lori Ristevski concerning the practical application of Brain Friendly Learning (otherwise known as effective/affective learning), Lori stated that this method of teaching is based on the idea that effective learning is suggestive in nature, not direct. In other words, learning takes place through a combination of different types of right and left brain functions. She stated that long-term memory is semi-conscious and that we must sidetrack people with other things in order to allow them to receive information through peripheral perception. In order to  understand these concepts, Lori led us through a concert. A concert is basically a story read (or sung by some) out loud by the teacher. Students concentrate on understanding the story and not on learning new vocabulary, grammar etc. Following are the steps of this exercise and an example text for a concert. An important principle applied to this exercise (and, I imagine, all effective/affective materials) is the repeated exposure to new material. Music is also played in the background as a means of stimulating right brain participation. A Concert Step 1: Read (or sing in a quasi-recitative style - good luck ;-) the concert to students. Make sure to not introduce the new material before the concert.Step 2: Have students split up into teams. Read the concert back with pauses, the focus information being presented, for the students to fill in. Each correct answer gets a point. For example: You are working on introducing prepositions, you have read the concert and now read John went ____ the store ___ the corner. Students shout out into! and on! and the various teams get points.Step 3: Have students, in their respective teams, take cards (that you have prepared) with the new words/phrases on them. Students then place the cards in the correct order of usage or combine them with other cards to make sense. For example: Cards have been created with prepositions and nouns. Students need to then match up the correct preposition with the noun.Step 4: Have students make up sentences, in turn, using the paired up cards. For example: Stude nt A takes the pair into, store and says, He went into the store to buy some food. Now, heres the concert text. Thanks to another colleague, Judith Ruskin, for having created this text. The target language areas of this text are verb preposition, and adjective preposition combinations. Once upon a time, there was a young man who was addicted to chocolate. He ate it for breakfast in the morning, at lunch and dinner - it seemed that he was never tired of eating it. Chocolate with cornflakes, chocolate on toast, chocolate, and beer - he even boasted of eating chocolate and steak. He was married to a beautiful woman whom he had met when he was recovering from flu. She was a nurse, responsible for all the patients in the area and very content with her job. In fact, the only problem these two had was his dependence on chocolate. One day the young wife decided on a plan to make her husband allergic to chocolate forever. She confided in her best friend and asked her to cooperate with her in playing a trick on her husband. She was aware of the fact that her friend suffered from rats and she asked if she could borrow some of her rat poison. Her friend was a little surprised at the request but agreed to it and gave her the poison. The young wife hurried home and started work in the kitchen, very satisfied with herself. An hour later she emerged from the kitchen proudly carrying a large chocolate cake and the empty tin of rat poison. Darling - Ive made a lovely chocolate cake for you! she called fondly. Down the stairs, the greedy husband ran and in short time he had polished it off, right down to the last crumb. He was released from the hospital after only two weeks. He never accused his wife of poisoning him, but he was always slightly suspicious of her. Needless to say, he never again touched chocolate. Well, as you can tell my colleague is British and has that touch of famed British love of black humor... For further information on effective/affective learning: SEALSociety for Effective Affective Learning. UK based global association promoting effective/affective learning. SuggestopediaAn introduction to Suggestopedia through a look at documentation on the Net concerning its theory, practice,  and principles. BRAIN friendly English Learning Take a look at this exciting approach to learning/teaching English which focuses on using all areas of the brain while enjoying learning.

Cis 331 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cis 331 - Assignment Example The alternative method will be reasonable and less expensive. Towing of the ice will increase the amount of fresh water in the city. It will contribute to the development of the country since a lot of resources will be saved and hence used in other activities as discussed in Adams (2001). What information can be brought to bear? Adams (2001) states that we can bear in mind that since water expands upon freezing, 1 cubic meter of ice construct only 0.85 cubic meter of water. The volume of an iceberg ranges from about 500,000 cubic meters to more than 10 million cubic meters. Spherical icebergs shrink over a day at a given distance from the pole and at the given towing speed. The fuel cost used will depend on the size of the icebergs. Submerged portion of an iceberg melt slower than the visible part which changes its size. What can we ask the client? Is the method of any benefit to the city? How long will it take for the project to complete? By how much is the proposed method efficient over the current method? Are there similar questions? Yes; what are some of the factors that manipulate the economics of such scheme? What are the disadvantages of this method? Formulate one or more problem statements. Adams (2001) argues that spherical iceberg would lose about 0.2 meter of radius per day during transport, this amount increases with the rate of towing and the expanse from the pole. Fuel costs for tow boats depend on various factors; the size of the boat, the speed and the volume of the iceberg being towed. There are differences in rental costs and capacities of towing vessels. Large icebergs will provide more water, but they may take longer and cost more to transport. Small icebergs provide less water but may be more able to move. It is difficult to prove which size to work with; the ice could melt before it reaches its destination hence making to reach to a loss. What are the decisions,