United States Agency for International Development Essay -- AIDS HIV F

United States Agency for International Development When the Department of Defense awarded Halliburton subsidiaries billions of dollars to rebuild Iraq in an uncompetitive bidding process, taxpayers and members of Congress alike cried foul. Liberals at Swarthmore College bemoaned the mixture of domestic business interests with foreign policy and reconstruction efforts. Initially, foreign companies were formally barred from the lucrative reconstruction projects. This spring, Halliburton delayed billing the DOD over $140 million under allegations of overcharging for military meals and energy supplies. Where the DOD controls reconstruction in Iraq, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) controls foreign development aid. While the bloated and uncompetitive contracts to Halliburton attracted a hail of criticism, USAID emerges largely unscathed from criticism despite a legacy of brazenly self-interested and inefficient foreign aid policy. USAID balances two mandates: protecting American interests and promoting inter national development. Tied aid-- grants or loans which require consumption of the donor country’s goods and services-- is an obvious and insidious manifestation of this dual mandate. An examination of American aid policy, a colonial precedent to tied aid, and the experience of Egypt from 1974-1989 reveals how tied aid poisons and adulterates the practice of development. Tied aid: â€Å"Seductive† but â€Å"seriously wrong† (Hancock 61) Tied aid is not a win-win situation. A balance between domestic interests and foreign development restricts the full potential of foreign aid. Michael Maren’s The Road to Hell offers a scathing indictment of foreign aid infused with self-interest and laments how â€Å"the hum... ... Philip Publishers Ltd: United States, 2002. Campbell, Catherine. ‘Letting Them Die’: Why HIV/AIDS Intervention Programmes Fail. Indiana University Press: United States, 2000. Hancock, Graham. Lords of Poverty. First Atlantic Monthly Press: Great Britain, 1989. Maren, Michael. The Road to Hell: The Ravaging Effects of Foreign Aid and International Charity. The Free Press: New York, NY, 1997. Mitchell, Timothy. Rule of Experts: Egypt, Techno-Politics, Modernity. University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, 2002. Radelet, Steven. Challenging Foreign Aid: A Policymarker’s Guide to the Millennium Challenge Account. Kirby Lithographing Company: United States, 2003. Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) website. http://www.fightglobalaids.org/files/phatfile/appropriationskit.doc USAID website. http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid.

Paraguay Tourism

His extensive sales experience, general business acumen and a partnership with local Paraguayan entrepreneur Roman Gonzalez provided the easiness with the solid foundation required for growth. Largely unknown to many, Paraguay Is In the heart of South America, bordering fellow South American countries such as Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina. It has had a colorful history riddled by corrupt governments, political instability and is known as one of the poorest countries in South America. While political instability, corruption and poverty are still issues requiring attention, the overall situation is showing many signs of improvement.The economy performed well in 2003-2008 with growth averaging around 5% per year. In 2010, Paraguayan economy rebounded impressively with real growth at 15% and unemployment fell to 6. 9%. Furthermore, in 2011 it was expected to drop even further (2). Brazil, on the other hand, Is the world's fifth largest economy and is expected to remain In this position b y the end of 2012 (1). Brazil has moderately free markets and an Inward-oriented economy. Its economy Is the largest In Latin American nations and the second largest in the Western Hemisphere (3).Additionally, Brazil is growth rate of over 5 percent and in Brazilian Real, its GAP was estimated at R$ 3. 143 trillion in 2009. The Brazilian economy has been predicted to become one of the five largest economies in the world in the decades to come. Paraguay has began tackling one of the main barriers to developing its tourism industry, infrastructure, investment and as such an overall focus has been placed on their main attractions such as the 11 national parks, which are being developed by the government into costumers centers. Paraguayans are very friendly, kind and relaxed creatures.You will find yourself sharing a teeter ‘ (iced herbal tea) with the locals while soaking up the peaceful ambiance that surrounds this magnificent part f the world. A country filled with fascinating culture, tradition and customs, but above all an ethos that life is there to be enjoyed with friends and family, sets Paraguay apart. The business will begin its trial catering to international tourism to Paraguay and neighboring Brazil. Two separate business units will cater to two different markets, firstly Fiesta Tours: Catering to 18 to 39 year old adventure party travelers or â€Å"Experience Seekers†.In order to cement its position as the carnival leader, Fiesta Tours (translated to Party Tours) will launch with its signature tour, Carnival in Brazil and Paraguay Incarnation. Carnival season runs between December and February each year. During summer months (peak season) Fiesta Tours will focus on showcasing the best â€Å"fun filled† events and local â€Å"must see† sights in Brazil (ROI De Jeanine) and Paraguay. Studies set out to discover how travelers think and feel to determine personal factors that ultimately influence their travel decisions.The key wants of the Fiesta Tours target market are: Authentic cultural experiences Social interactions Meeting and interacting with the locals Experiencing something â€Å"different† from their normal day-to-day life Understanding ND learning about different lifestyles and cultures Participating in the lifestyle and experiencing it rather than observing it Challenging themselves physically, emotionally and/or mentally Visiting authentic destinations that are not necessarily part of the tourist route Exposure to unique and compelling experiences Fiesta Tours will safely introduce travelers to the night-life and daytime wonders available in Brazil and Paraguay, essentially the experiences these â€Å"seekers† set out to enjoy. Already growing in popularity with young Australian tourists, Brazil (well now for its carnival and beaches) will receive extra attention when the eyes of the world are fixed to two major sporting events, the 2014 FIFE World Cup and in 2016 for the Olympi c Games. The state government of ROI De Jeanine estimates that investments from 2010 through to 2016 will reach IIS$50 billion for construction of sports and transportation infrastructure, public security, education and training, etc.The projected focus on Brazil and neighboring countries present an opportunity to capitalist on the increased tourist numbers from Australia and abroad. However, sots importantly, it offers Paraguay, as the previously â€Å"undiscovered†, must see activities, the â€Å"cultural† aspect will be fulfilled through â€Å"Fair Trade† tourism. Fair Trade tourism as a special kind of responsible tourism in which it is the traveler who gets near the culture and people of the place and tries to get in touch with them, instead of doing it the other way round: having every person involved in tourism conform to western uses (27) Supporting these endeavors provide depth and a level of â€Å"real† fulfillment, the chance to â€Å"give som ething back† Paraguayans & BrazilianParaguayans and Brazilian will cater to the semi mature age market. These population changes have created the pleasure travel market for the elderly. This mature age market is, on average; better educated, more affluent and has greater expectations than the generation before them and forms a large and influential market sector. According to Economist Intelligence Unit (XIII) Research Report, the relative importance of senior citizens and the increasing incidence of travel by this age category is partially a result of increasing spending power, which is often higher Han other age categories. Improved financial position and spending power arise from a variety of factors.These include: (11) -most likely to inherit from parents or relatives; -children will have left home relieving financial strains; -relatively small or no outstanding mortgages; -their capital in property can be released; and -they may have considerable savings, maturing endowme nt policies Seniors will be the demographic discovery of this decade for two reasons. First, they are abundant in number. Secondly, their lifestyles are remarkably different from those of previous generations. With no models to guide them, the independent elderly are making new choices about how they want to live during a prolonged retirement (12). Events to cater to this target market to include: Shopping events & local food Visiting historical places or museums Attending cultural events or festivals Outdoor activities & relaxation Market analysis: Paraguay: Population: As of July 2011, 6. 459 Million Birth Rate: 2011, 23. 5 Growth rate: 2011, 1. 84% Paraguayan population is distributed unevenly through the country. About 56% of Paraguayans live in urban areas Age structure 15-64 years: 65. % (male 2,121 ,632/female 65 years and over: 6. 1% (male 183,440/female 211,663) (2011 est.. ) (3) Gender splits: Sex ratio: at birth: 1. 05 male(s)/female Under 15 years: 1. 03 male(s)/female 1 5-64 years: 1. 01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0. 86 male(s)/female Total population: 1. 01 male(s)/female (2011 est.. ) (5) Ethnicity/race: messiest 95%, Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, other Protestant 10% Brazil: population: July 1, 2011 Birth rate: 17. 79 births/1,OHO population (2011 est.. ) (6) Population growth rate: 1 . 134% (2011 est.. Population distribution in Brazil is very uneven. The majority of Brazilian live within 300 kilometers of the coast, while the interior in the Amazon Basin is almost empty. Therefore, the densely populated areas are on the coast and the sparsely populated areas are in the interior. 0-14 years: 26. 7% (male 15-64 years: 66. 8% (male 65 years and over: 6. 4% (male 7;58,082) (2009 est.. ) Ethnic groups The minority ethnic groups in Brazil are various non-assimilated indigenous tribes comprising less than 1% of the population, who live in officially delimited reservations and either avoid contact with other peoples, or constitute s eparate social and political communities.The rest of the population can be considered a single â€Å"Brazilian† ethnic group, with highly varied racial types and backgrounds, but without clear ethnic sub-divisions. By â€Å"skin color†, or â€Å"race†, the 2008 PANDA gives 48. 43% White, 43. 80% Multiracial, 6. 84% Black, 0. 58% Stan, 0. 28% Meridian, 0. 07% undeclared (7) 2011 was a year of dramatic and unforeseen events that impacted on world travel and tourism. The protests, conflicts and revolutions in Arab countries at the start of the year, the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, the rezone debt crisis, and lattice and economic drama in Greece and then Italy, were Just the most prominent in a long series of disruptive events around the world.In response, more than eight million travelers switched destinations, preferring to visit â€Å"safer† countries, and could not be enticed back with dumping prices, Freight told Pisa participants (13) Despite this difficult political and economic environment, the worldwide travel industry succeeded in growing well in 2011. According to Pip's World Travel Monitor, the total number of trips will increase by 3% to 6. 6 billion this year, based on figures or the year to date and PICK estimates. Outbound (international) trips will increase by 5% to 980 million (14) Europeans traveled strongly in 2011 despite crises and catastrophes in destinations around the world. Outbound trips increased by 4% and thus exceeded expectations of only 1-2% growth this year.More moderate growth of 2-3% is forecast for 2012 due to the uncertain outlook (15) Amid the economic uncertainty in Europe and the USA, Asia continues to be one of the key drivers of the world economy. The outlook for Asian travel next year is also very positive, according to the Asian Travel Monitor. Asked about their travel intentions for 2012, a high 32% of survey respondents said they would travel more in 2012 than in 2011, while 37% p lan similar levels and only 19% want to reduce their travel (16) Travel trends in the Americas in 2011 have been a story of two halves and this is likely to continue in 2012, experts said at the 19th World Travel Monitor Forum in Pisa.South America is showing strong double-digit growth for both outbound and inbound travel. Consumers from the region are continuing to travel strongly as local economies remain on the growth path, and the region is also welcoming more international suitors this year (17) Outbound travel from the USA showed zero growth over the first eight months of this year and the outlook for 2012 is also weak, according to the American Travel Monitor trend survey. Only 23% of Americans plan more international travel next year, 26% about the same, 28% plan to travel less and a high 23% do not plan any international travel in 2012 As a result, the PICK Travel Confidence Indicator for the USA next year is only at 98 points.At the same time, the relative price of outboun d travel has declined through an appreciating Australian dollar (against many destinations) and changes in aviation business models, resulting in increased supply through lower cost air capacity (23) Financial Analysis: One quarter of the population lives in poverty. Most of the country's land is concentrated in the hands of Just a few. Corruption is believed to be rampant. Unemployment fell to 6. 9% in 2010 and will continue to drop in 2011. A drawback is that nearly two-thirds of all workers have only a primary education or less. Almost 20% of all households live in extreme poverty (8) Paraguay has a small tourism industry. Total tourism receipts declined annually from 2000 through 2002. In 2003 Paraguayan hotel occupancy rate was 38 percent. It increased by 15 percent in 2004. Small gains in tourism have come from business rather than leisure travelers.For many years, Paraguay served as a central market for traceable, duty-free goods. However, crackdowns by the governments of Bra zil and Argentina have stemmed the flow of shoppers traveling to Paraguay looking for traceable items (10). The most important component of the Paraguayan economy is the farming sector, which contributed 27% to GAP in 2006. Paraguay relies almost solely on hydroelectric power to meet its energy needs; its mobile network is advanced with roaming agreements present with neighboring countries. Brazier's economic growth has led to an overall increase in living standards. However, approximately 16 million people still live in extreme poverty, defined as having 70 eels ($44, EYE) or less a month.Average monthly salaries have risen to 1. 2% in February to a record high 1,699. 70 Brazilian real ($932. 67), up from 1,679. 93 real in January and 1,627. 51 real in February 2011, the BEG said. Unemployment climbed to 5. 7% in February compared with 5. 5% in January, the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics, or BEG (9) The size of Brazier's workforce was estimated to be around 102 mi llion in 2008. Principal industries include Automobile, petrochemicals, machinery, electronics, cement and construction, aircraft, textiles, DOD and beverages, mining, consumer durables and tourism. ROI De Jeanine and SГo Paulo are the two main airports in Brazil.They also service domestic flights from major South American cities. The two Brazilian national airlines – Varian and TAM – rail services link Brazil with Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, distances are long and the trains are not particularly pleasant. Bus services are plentiful with many services taking you to neighboring South American countries. Mobile phone networks are stable and good reception is found throughout Brazil. Brazil has a good g data cellular network. Channel Analysis: The travel distribution system covers all the channels through which an international traveler can buy our services. Other than approaching our business directly, international travelers may book our products as follows.Austra lian travel agent or online retail agent Direct to our website Wholesaler/online wholesaler/LTO The travel distribution system has traditionally been very structured with clearly defined functions for each role in the supply chain. However, online technology and company mergers have transformed the tourism industry with an increasing amount f crossover in the roles and functions of various sectors of the distribution system. Businesses are engaging a mix of distribution partners to ensure the most effective way of reaching their target consumers. Paraguayans and Brazilian with its demographic of baby boomers are generally less internet save. â€Å"y' as Gene or Gene, as such, distribution, while still maintaining an online presence, will focus on partnerships with traditional retail travel agents.The benefit here is the added layer of trust, security and ease with the face to face transaction, something which online purchases often lack. Distribution structure includes: Inbound Tou r Operators (TO) Inbound tour operators are an important channel partner providing itinerary planning and product selection, coordinating the reservation, confirmation and payment of travel arrangements on behalf of overseas (non Australian) clients. Located in Australia, international retail travel agents (are the link to the international consumer) and wholesalers based overseas. As the traditional distribution system evolves it is important to understand the structure of the companies that one works with and their relationships with other organizations.Advantages of working with an TIT include the following: Regular business from a number of markets Extensive knowledge of international consumer needs Access to international travel partners Payment in Australian currency Online Travel Agents: Online travel agents deal directly with the consumer, there are no intermediaries. Escape Travel. Paraguayans, Brazilian & Officiators Company website: Full secure site ready for online payme nts, live chat facilities, youth testimonial videos etc. Cultural Analysis: Paraguay people largely follow Catholic Christianity, although there are certain sections that practice Protestantism and Mennonite belief systems. The migration rate is low, and the rate of literacy is quite high. The people in Paraguay maintain a healthy sex ratio, and the health index is encouraging. Spanish is the official language of Paraguay, although Guarani continues to be spoken in certain quarters.The people of Paraguay rigorously maintain their indigenous cultural and social structures despite an overarching influence of Christianity. Known for their hospitality and commitment towards their freedom and racial pride, Paraguayans have interested the researches and the visitors for over the ages (24) Brazilian people SГo Paulo is a melting pot. There is no better definition for it. There is a large Japanese community in the state in addition to a little of everything else also: Italians, Arabs, S panish, Portuguese and Jews to name Just a few. Walking on the streets of SГo Paulo is an amazing exercise in guessing people's ethnic heritage. This highly mixed people created a rich diverse culture.From the Caperer, a kind of martial art created by the African slaves and very popular in northeast Brazil, to the Brazilian version of the German Octobers in Blumenthal, in the state of Santa Catalina. The variety is in the architecture, music, cuisine and even dress codes (25) Digital advertising: Search Engine optimization – increase likelihood that the target market searching for key words associated with their holiday information gathering phase find our website. Online advertising – Through the use of banner ads Social networking and user generated content – Increase the likelihood of viral advertising. Focus highly on the backbone phenomenon. Generating as many â€Å"fans† as possible, â€Å"likes† and drive traffic to the website.Videos an d podiatrist – â€Å"Painting picture† for those interested in participating in our programs, Youth etc Mobile phone – optimizing our site for phone and android Email database Take advantage of the the tourism e-kit designed by tourism Australia to assist tourism operators to make the most of opportunities the internet provides. They have developed a series of simple tutorials to quickly give operators the skills and knowledge to be internet ready. Www. Data. Com. AU/tourism_e_kit. Asp Brochure: Distributed to trade shows and travel agencies Public Relations and the Media: Generating positive publicity is a vital component in establishing and maintaining

Scope Situational Analysis

Have a different color – scope went with green b. Actual taste of product was supposed to be the best c. Packaging Of the product E. Channel a. Be convenient, available in everyday stores a. Indirect strategy b. Make sure customers are aware of your product c. Have good availability – be in many outlets where customers able to purchase Scope scope d. Be in other countries will be a. Scope uses intermediaries. Scope was provided to retailers and then the retailers would sell Scope to customers at their stores. They were available in places like supermarkets and drugstores. D. Price a. Scope wants to gain market share a.Penetration Strategy in the market a. The use of penetration pricing in drugstores specifically E. Promotion a. Have Scope gain awareness about their benefits compared their competitors b. Increase Sales a. Scope uses a push strategy by working with middle men and to retailers to stock their stores with their product. A. Slotting fees b. Have point of purc hase displays c. In-store promotions and advertisements saying why the needs Scope F. Budget 1. Advertising a. In 1 990 Scope spent $1. 7 million on advertising b. P & G is a large company so they do have the money to certain products G. Financial Performance 1.Market Trends a. Since 1986 the data suggests that mouthwash sales have Increasing 2.. Market Share consumer finance been a. In Canada Scope has usually had somewhere between 32%- 33% of the mouthwash market b. The 1990 average for scope was that the had 42% of the market share in food stores and 27 % of the market share in drugstores. II. External Analysis A. Regulatory 1. Laws a. Certain laws that may impact the mouthwash industry. Laws that require labels to say what is in the product or ingredients that they decide cannot be use in mouthwashes may greatly impact companies and how they can n the industry. Compete 2.Dental Association seals a. Whether or not a mouthwash obtains the seal from the Dental Association may impac t consumers decision to by products that do not have the seal. B. Economic 1. Poor Economy a. If the economy was in poor conditions many customers may not think mouthwash is a top priority. It may become a luxury item not an everyday item. This could greatly decrease sales of overall mouthwash products. 2. Strong Economy a. In a flourishing economy, mouthwash sales may be able to increase. It would again become an item that people could afford more often which loud lead to higher sales for mouthwash companies. B.Technological 1. Emergence of Plan into mouthwash industry a. Plan was the first and only presses rinse so it stood out from all the other mouthwash Options. This hurt other mouthwash competitors. B. Focused on removing plaque, not being a breath freshener, which was different than the other mouthwash products C. Social/Couture 1. Environment a. With people wanting to become more environmentally friendly, they may look for more products that have earth friendly ingredients, or products that claim to be organic or all natural, and they may also want product whose snacking is recycled or has been made out of reused materials.D. Competitive 1. Macro level a. Listening is Scopes top competitor with Listening behind them. Another huge competitor to all privately owned brands is the store brands. They are usually cheaper but offer the same amenities as the top competitors so this makes them more attractive to people who are trying to save money but still want a mouthwash product. B. Line extensions to companies are possibilities but if they are not successful can end up costing the company a lot of money. C. Buyers of the products have a lot of power in the process because manufacturers depend on them to get their product on their shelf and sell it. . New products into the market are always a threat as we saw with Plan. If they offer enough of a differentiation and can compete at the top competitors level they may be able to take away from others market shar e. 2. Micro level a. Plan is a competitor because they offer such a different product than the rest. Their product has qualities that the others do no and that mat attract many consumers. They are also the only in that area of mouthwash which give them an advantage because everyone knows of them first so if another reduce were to come in they would have to try and take away from Flax's success of being first. . Listening is a top competitor because they make up most of the market share behind Scope and they were the first into the mouthwash franchise, which may have helped gain them brand-loyal customers. Ill. Market Analysis A. Market Segmentation 1 . The Mouthwash market is primarily segmented into mouthwashes that offer fresh breath and mouthwashes that can fight plaque. Those are the main components of what a mouthwash is designed to do. Well some claim to offer both, there is usually a brand that sticks out the most.One way the market could be more segmented is by more pre-brus h washes and after- brush washes. Right now there is really only one pre-brush wash so having more pre-brush washes would segment the market even more. B. Market- product grid 1 . Current Segmentation Product Pre-Rinses Taste Health Non-users Light users Plan Scope, Listening, Store Brands Listening,Store Brands, Copal Medium users Post Rinses Heavy users 2. Potential Segmentation Non-users 18 or younger Product Development potential Potential for Market Development Non-users 18 or older Light users 18 or youngerPlan, and potential for product development by others Listening, Store Brands, Copal, Colgate Light users 18 or older Medium users 18 or younger Medium 18 or Older Heavy users 18 or younger Heavy users 18 or older C Market Size 1. Size in Dollars a. In 1 990 the total retail sales for the Canadian mouthwash market was $68. 6 Million and the total factory' sales was $54. 4 million. 2. Size of segments – Based on Exhibit 4 on page 259 a. Scope was able to maintain an av erage of 33% of the market b. Listening carried around 16% of the market c. Listening had between 10% and 15% of the market d.Copal held 10-13% of the market e. Plan eventually gained around of the market f. Store brand made up between 15% and 16% of the market g. Other miscellaneous brands held around 3. 7%-4. 6% of the market 3. Future growth or decline a. Based on the available information given about market share sizes and sales I would forecast that sales will increase. The economy is doing well and people like to take care of themselves and their hygiene. Based on the year 1986 and 1990 there was an increase in retail sales of 58% so you could use this information and hypothesize that the market will continue growing at that rate.I arrive at this number by taking the retail sales of 1 990, subtracting that from the retail sales of 1 986, and the dividing that by the sales of 1986. D. Buyer Behavior 1 . People of lower income would probably be light or non-user mouth washers. T hey would probably buy the cheapest option or not buy at all. Store brands would potentially be very attractive due to the fact that the say they offer the same as the top competitors just at a cheaper price. If the store does not have what they are looking for they will not go out of their way to find it. 2. Light to medium users would probably by the middle option.Middle price and has some features that are attractive to them. Medium users would probably buy more mouthwash than light users and would be more Willing to pay a higher price for the product. Wiling to travel for product if necessary but not a top priority. 3. Heavy users would pay the most for the product and would buy the most. They would probably want the best product out there and would pay that asking price.

Drug Cartel Violence Along the Mexican Border Essay

In lines thirty-five through forty-five of Ian McEwan’s Black Dogs, June and Bernard stand upon the precipice of a cliff in the French countryside. The particular description in this section, when teamed with June’s observations as they near the cliff, provide a startling comparison to June’s inner turmoil and the changes inherent to the baby she carries within her womb. Like her own future prospects, the path’s trajectory is a â€Å"steep descent† that fills her with anxiety and place June and Bernard’s relationship and imminent future into the context of a fall. Like the â€Å"bright, empty space† of â€Å"baking rock dropping three hundred feet† , their future stretches out before them and represents the unknowable nature of human relationships. However, perhaps more important in relating to June’s anxiety is her own awareness that such a physical descent of the earth could as easily be seen in as the physical and mental transformation she will go through in becoming a parent. The danger she senses is not merely the physical danger of their present but the psychological and emotional danger inherent to their own relationship with one another and their future child. The couple’s relationship in particular is vulnerable to the chasm that opens up before them with the knowledge of this new life and responsibility. Like the earth at the bottom of this open space, they can guess what the future will bring when they return to England but they cannot truly understand the context of what such a journey entails. There is the sense that they will look back upon this moment for a significance that they can only partially understand. On July 16, 2009, James Bone’s article for the London Times reported a series of murders that had just taken place in Mexico. Michoacan, where the killings have taken occurred, is an area of Mexico along the Pacific coast. As the country’s primary source of opium and marijuana, Michoacan hosts a great deal of drug cartel activity and violence– the most recent being when a dozen federal agent bodies were found on a highway in the mountains. These anti-drug agents are among several who have been killed this year in a series of attacks. This killing spree is reported to have been sparked by the arrest of Arnoldo Rueda Medina, a commander of La Familia cartel, which took place in Morelia– Michoacan’s capital. Seven cities came under attack from La Familia shortly after Medina’s arrest, including the tourist sites of Patzcuaro and Zitacuaro. The twelve bodies that were found on the highway– one woman and eleven men– marks the most severe attack thus far. Found with the bodies were death threats from La Familia, saying â€Å"†¦Join its ranks or leave† and â€Å"Let’s see if you try to arrest another one†, alluding to Medina being arrested. La Familia’s killing spree is reported to be a turning point in the long-standing Mexican drug war, as they are now killing federal agents directly. Some believe this proves that the arrest of Medina was a serious setback for the cartel. According to Jorge Chabat, a drug expert, the cartel’s operations have been negatively affected and they are showing signs of weakness rather than strength. Putting an end to this cartel, however, is seemingly an endless task– and due to La Familia having penetrated the legal system and obtaining protection, it is difficult to speculate when this violence is going to end. Link: http://www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6715478. ece

Leadership and Management of the Company Case Study

Leadership and Management of the Company - Case Study Example The President of the company, Gaziano, is practically a one-man-army at the top, while the experienced founder and director of the company, Rev. Whipple has not involved himself at the corporate strategy level. The reverend is passionately engrossed in research and development, which is but one of the functions of business only. Great companies are created from great business models. Prelude Corporation must understand that it is not in the lobsters business, but in the foods business. Its business model must be at par with or excel that of other food giants in the world. The company must evaluate its export opportunities, as the product can be packaged and preserved for a long time. As the local competition is intense and profit margins are low, the company needs to find niche markets for its product all over the world, in order to achieve better price realizations. At the same time, the top management must be constantly engaged in the task of assessing and identifying new growth platforms that are consistent with the company's business model. Just by milking the existing cash cow, the company is limiting its future growth potential, and leaving the field open for other competitors to seize the initiative and competitive advantage over it. Prelude Corporation is involved in a capital-intensive business. ... Size and scale of operations is critical to long-term survival in the business that Prelude Corporation is engaged in. Therefore, the company needs to develop a strong business plan and proposal, and seek out substantive equity partners in the market who are willing to invest funds in the company for the long-term, against a shareholding in the company. Once the private equity funds are successfully employed and the company's financial condition improves, the company must gear up to expand its capital base further by approaching the public equity markets, with an aim to raise funds to reduce its debt financing burdens, and to invest for its future growth plans. Raising finances at a cheaper cost, and diluting the company's equity is not a task of a faint-hearted management. It requires tremendous patience, conviction and intense persuasiveness to achieve success with private equity financiers and make them partners in your future growth. In absence of such aggressive pursuit of its financial goals, the death-knell of a company is sure to be sounded sooner or later, owing to the over-burdening of expensive debts. Human Resource Strategy and Peoples Strategy Prelude Corporation needs to differentiate itself from the rest of the unorganized lobster industry and create innovative incentive schemes to motivate its employees. The human resource strategy often differentiates a good company from a great company. Each employee, including the lowest level fisherman, of the company must be made to feel that he is a part of the family, and his needs and grievances must be attended to with sincerity. Cheap employees in the end prove to be more costly in the long run. Therefore, considering the size, scope and ambition of Prelude Corporation, it

Photography as Medium of Fact or Fiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Photography as Medium of Fact or Fiction - Essay Example Although photography has been seen with a veritable attachment to reality, the relationship of photography to art, notably painting and graphic media, has a long history. Changing concepts of art and practices of photography have drawn the urgency from earlier debates about their relative status, but the cultural issues concerning ways of viewing and constructing images remain of interest. The nature of the projected photographic image was known from early times, but the principles of the camera obscura, a term equally applicable to a darkened room or a small box, rendering the three-dimensional world in two, were explored in parallel with those of perspective during the 16th century. The developments of the next century in lens technology for telescopes and microscopes extended the experience of vision and produced improved and various versions of the camera. The demand for reproducible imagery of all kinds increased among the emerging professional and middle classes throughout the 18th century. The copper plate used for etching and engraving was not adequate for the long runs of impressions demanded and other means of picture production were sought. Modern photography shares its history with contemporary developments in graphic art, such as lithography, and the term 'plate' remains in use (Lewis, 2001). However, it may seem a further irony that, because of the c... For example, in 1933 this view had been expressed in a series of radio broadcasts by photographer August Sander, 'Even the most isolated Bushman could understand a photograph of the heavens-whether it showed the sun and moon or the constellations' (Sander 1978, p. 674). However, in the face of the rapid increase in global communications which has characterised the latter part of the twentieth century, we do need at least to ask to what extent the photographic image can penetrate through cultural differences in understanding. Or is photography as bound by cultural conventions as any other form of communication, such as language Yet despite such uncertainties we find that, 'Photography is nearly omnipresent, informing virtually every arena of human existence' (Ritchen 1990, p. 1). It is for this reason that we question: is it possible that our familiarity with the photographic image has bred our current contempt for the intricacies and subtle methods that characterise the medium's ability to transmit its vivid impressions of 'reality' Photography is regarded quite naturally as offering such convincing forms of pictorial evidence that this process of communication often seems to render the medium totally transparent, blurring the distinction between our perception of the environment and its photographic representations. However, we could not deny the fact that photography can also depict art. When photography is linked to art, does it mean it could also convey fictional aspect, which is quite far from reality. Thus, this article will seek to unravel the thin line of art and reality with regards to photography. Photography and Reality It is undeniable that the influence of photography through the years has been immense in influencing public opinion,

Social Networking and Enterprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social Networking and Enterprise - Essay Example According to the paper with the emergence of social network marketing, agents have been induced to embrace social media marketing to achieve a better understanding of customer needs and build a better relationship with customers. Social marketing pursues in an elaborate manner the online marketing strategy a business can adopt, the opportunities and challenges associated with social marketing. Review of Social Marketing Tools and Terms Two distinct terms emerge when discussing online marketing: interactive marketing and internet marketing. Interactive marketing is the adoption of conversational skills and settings in marketing where marketing is a transaction focused process. It involves addressing the customer in their own language or way of communication and promptly responding to their concerns. The Internet in this case acts as a tool for facilitating interactive marketing by recording customers or potential customers’ information and easing the communication process. Inte rnet marketing is basically marketing using the Internet. In this case, marketers exploit the fact that the Internet is inherently interactive in eliciting instant responses, and its omnipresence means that it attracts spontaneous responses. Internet marketing combines the innovative and technical sides of the Internet, which include design, development, advertisement and, eventually, making sales. According to the report affiliate marketing is where a website or online business is promoted through an affiliate or publisher who essentially through his/her site or other online service promotes the website or online business and is paid for every sale, visitor, subscriber, or customer provided via their system or effort. A web banner or a banner advert is a form of online advertising where an advert is embedded into a web page intended to attract traffic to a different website by linking them to the advertiser’s website. Banners are constructed from an image and are forms of gi f, jpeg, png, utilising the Java script program or derivatives of Java, Shockwave or Flash technologies. A banner can be made more conspicuous through animation or sound effects and a high aspect ratio. Blogs are websites where entries are written in chronological order, usually in reverse order. They provide commentary, debate or news on a particular subject and are interactive with a format that allows visitors to leave comments (Benni, 2001). They provide text, images or links to other blogs or websites. Contextual advertising is where adverts appear on websites or electronic devices like phones, which is served through an automated system and selects recipients through segmentation.