Thesis Statement

University of Phoenix Material Thesis Statement and Informal Outline Worksheet In this course, you will write a 1,050- to 1,750-word Personal Responsibility Essay, due in Week Five, which includes the following: †¢ Define what personal responsibility means to you. †¢ Explain the relationship between personal responsibility and college success. †¢ Include a preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education.This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide the thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment, due in Week Five. Thesis Statement: Even though when I do not take personal responsibility I am more likely to blame others, personal responsibility means to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions because the actions you take in life, affect your college success and by setting goals in the beginning you can stay focus throughout your college ed ucation.Informal Outline: †¢ Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions. Is important to acknowledge personal responsibility to be successful in life. †¢ The actions you take in life affect your college success.  §Ã‚   Procrastination can become a habit  §Ã‚  Learning to prioritize †¢ Setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education.  §Ã‚   Goals keep you motivated  §Ã‚   You stay focus in the reward of achieving your goal   Ã‚   I plan to practice personal responsibility in my academic career by being more responsible.  §Ã‚   Practice time management.  §Ã‚   Identifying my educational goals. o  Ã‚   Conclusion  §Ã‚   Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions for two main reasons. First, setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education. But most importantly, the actions you take in life affect your college success. Thesis Statement My thesis is based on the colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan, Afghanistan, which were destroyed by Taliban in March 2001. The Buddha statues at Bamiyan were of historical significance and were considered both as national and international heritage. I will provide in-depth information on those statues and their historical and cultural importance. There will be an introduction part in the thesis. I will then discuss step by step how these statues gained prominence on the global arena and the events leading to their destruction.The origin, history and other related events surrounding the Buddha statues at Bamiyan will be discussed in this paper. The main focus will be to find out why these statues were so historic and the qualities they had to gain such significance. In the end, I will provide a well-observed conclusion on the significance of these statues to the world community. Introduction Preservation of historic monuments with cultural significance is not only the responsibility of the state, but also it is the responsibility of the world community.However, the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan clearly indicated that the historical monuments are vulnerable to such attacks and are in real danger. The giant Buddhas of Bamiyan were considered as wonder monuments by people across the globe. They were carved into a mountainside at Bamiyan in the heart of the Hindu Kush Mountains. The Buddhas were among Asia's great archaeological treasures. A Brief Background â€Å"During the medieval period, modern-day Afghanistan was a breeding place for Buddhist culture and art. It was strategically placed from the Silk route that saw flourished trade between the Roman Empire, China and India.Bamiyan was a cultural center both in ancient and medieval period† (Rowland, 1960: 56). It made the region central to Buddhist history. Buddhism came into Afghanistan in the third century BC during the reign of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The religion flourished further under the pa tronage of Kushans. â€Å"According to Huan-Tsang, the Chinese traveler, Bamiyan was a flourishing Buddhist center with many hundreds of monks living in the caves built around the Buddha statues† (Rowland, 1960: 61). The rulers of Kushan dynasty expanded their empire from China to India and Afghanistan.They were responsible for bringing Buddhism to the soil of Afghanistan. They carved these beautiful wonders of the ancient world. Colossal Buddhas The Buddhas of Bamiyan were located in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan. They were believed to be built in the fourth or fifth centuries. They represented the classic style of Greco-Buddhist art. There were two giant statues. â€Å"The larger one stood at 53 meters (125 feet). It was considered as one of the most wonderful representations of the Buddha in the world. The other statue stood at 38 meters. Both the statues were painted in gold and were decorated with glittering ornaments.The entire structure of Buddhas of Bamiy an was a mixture of Greek, Persian and Central and South Asian art† (Rowland, 1960: 81). The architecture of the two grand statues was unique, as it differed from the sculptural traditions. The cliffs that housed the two main Buddha statues were 1300 meters long and 150 meters high. The taller statue was located at the far west of the cliff and the other one was located at the far east. Historians are still clueless on why such colossal statues were built. â€Å"Some believe that they were built by the Kushan rulers to attract attention and to gain supremacy over other countries in the world.It was also argued by some historians that the main reason could be to propagate Buddhism in other parts of the world by attracting people to witness the beauty of these giant statues† (Flood, 2002: 56). Description about the Statues â€Å"The smaller Buddha was sheltered in a forte. It was carved out of the mass of the rock on three sides and stood with the right hand in the gestu re of protection and the left in the gesture of charity† (Rowland, 1960: 83). The statue was built in such a way that voyagers considered the gestures shown by the statue as an assurance of protection from the dangers of travel.â€Å"Both the statues were made with mud-plaster over a coating of lime plaster. They used to give a sense of naturalism and realism. The attributes found in the statues belonged to the style of ancient Gandhara art. The heads and the bodies of the statues were carved out of the sandstone cliffs. Due to lack of proper care and maintenance, the portions of the faces of the statues were destroyed. The hands of the statues were mutilated by some religious bigots who invaded Afghanistan several times† (Rowland, 1960: 84).â€Å"According to Huan-Tsang, the taller Buddha was adored with bright gold dye and precious ornaments. Although both the statues had same style, the larger one was much younger than the smaller one. There were several slots with well decorated walls and ceilings within the shrines of the statues† (Rowland, 1960: 61). External Influence The paintings were executed in a unique manner. â€Å"The walls and ceilings were covered with mud mixed with straw and lime plaster. In the forte of the smaller Buddha, the ceiling had the image of the Sun-God on a chariot with the Buddha located below him.The inclusion of the image of the Sun-God was indicated that Bamiyan was a cross-cultural region that was located on a road that was leading to different directions† (Rowland, 1960: 84). The painting at Bamiyan represented three different styles of art: Greco-Roman, Indian and Central Asian. â€Å"The portrayal of deities clearly indicated the use of these styles of art. The ceiling of the forte that carried the larger Buddha carried damaged human and divine figures. Indian influence could be easily detected in the divine figures engaged in religious conversation† (Rowland, 1960: 84).The convergence of people from different regions was the main reason behind the emergence of Bamiyan as a center for art and culture. The rock-cut paintings around the statues at Bamiyan exhibit recurring themes of the Buddha and scenes of his life. â€Å"A Bodhisattva image appeared in the northern part of the forte that carried the larger Buddha. The Boddhisattva sat with crossed ankles on his throne that was adorned with jewelry and embroidered clothing† (Rowland, 1960: 85). Many paintings around the Buddha statues were vandalized by fundamentalist forces, as they considered Buddhism an alien religion.Despite the damage made to the place, the beauty of the art continued to attract visitors and scholars to Bamiyan. Some of the beautiful sculptures found around the statues were domes, garlands, lotuses, trees and musicians. Preservation of the Statues The Afghanistan government was aware of the significance of these statues to its culture and heritage. Hence, it took several measures to protec t these monuments. â€Å"Between 1969 and 1978, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) worked closely with the Afghanistan government to conserve the site of Bamiyan.Efforts were made towards preserving and repairing the small Buddha and its forte and shrines. A tubular scaffold was constructed to support the statue's structure. A missing portion of the dome roof of a shrine was restored. Chemical treatment was applied to preserve the paintings around the statues† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 61). Destruction of the Statues Although the Buddhas of Bamiyan were spared during the conquest of Mahmud of Ghazni in the 12th century, invaders like Aurangzeb, Genghis Khan and Nadir Shah used heavy artillery and cannon fire to destroy the statues.However, they could not succeed in inflicting heavy damage on the statues. â€Å"Between 1999 and 2001, there have been much debate and discussions on the protection of the colossal statues. Afghanistan's Islamic clerics began a campaign to crac k down on non-Islamic structures, music, imagery and sports. In March 2001, a decree was passed to destroy all the statues in and around Afghanistan, which symbolized idol worship† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 69). The issue was given a political color when Afghanistan's foreign minister stated that the destruction was retaliation against the international community for economic sanctions.â€Å"According to some reports, then Taliban rulers of Afghanistan were outraged after a foreign delegation offered money to preserve the Buddha statues at Bamiyan while a million Afghans faced starvation† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 69). The Islamic government of Afghanistan took a serious note of this offer. That could be the immediate provocation behind the decision to destroy the statues. It was not easy to destroy the statues, as they were strongly built and were firmly attached to the mountain. â€Å"The Taliban forces used dynamite and tank barrages to demolish the monuments.The intense bombing of the Budhhas at Bamiyan lasted for almost a month until the statues were completely destroyed† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 70). Conclusion There is no doubt that the colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan were international treasures that should have been preserved at any cost. However, that did not happen. The destruction of such a world heritage illustrates the need for international laws for the maintenance of sites and strict punishment of violators. The world community must take a vow that they will never allow such destructions to occur again.The significance of the statues can be realized from the fact that despite the destruction caused by missiles, tankers and bombs, Bamiyan still remains as a unique example of the cross-cultural nature of Buddhist art. Bibliography: Rowland Jr, Benjamin. Gandhara Sculpture from Pakistan Museums. New York: Asia Society, 1960. Buckley, Mary & Rick Fawn. Global Responses to Terrorism 9/11, Afghanistan and Beyond. New York: Routledge, 2 003. Flood, Finbarr Barry. Between Cult and Culture: Bamiyan, Islamic Iconoclasm, and the Museum. The Art Bulletin. Volume: 84. Issue: 4, 2002. Thesis Statement 1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements: There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement. This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague. Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers. This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statement s: My family is an extended family.This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading. While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family. This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example: Companies need to exploit the marketi ng potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support. This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear.One way to revise the thesis would be to write: Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support. This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because, since, so, although, unless, and however.4. A strong thesis statement is specific.A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say: Wo rld hunger has many causes and effects.This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this: Hunger persists in  Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable. This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger. Thesis Statement University of Phoenix Material Thesis Statement and Informal Outline Worksheet In this course, you will write a 1,050- to 1,750-word Personal Responsibility Essay, due in Week Five, which includes the following: †¢ Define what personal responsibility means to you. †¢ Explain the relationship between personal responsibility and college success. †¢ Include a preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education.This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide the thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment, due in Week Five. Thesis Statement: Even though when I do not take personal responsibility I am more likely to blame others, personal responsibility means to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions because the actions you take in life, affect your college success and by setting goals in the beginning you can stay focus throughout your college ed ucation.Informal Outline: †¢ Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions. Is important to acknowledge personal responsibility to be successful in life. †¢ The actions you take in life affect your college success.  §Ã‚   Procrastination can become a habit  §Ã‚  Learning to prioritize †¢ Setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education.  §Ã‚   Goals keep you motivated  §Ã‚   You stay focus in the reward of achieving your goal   Ã‚   I plan to practice personal responsibility in my academic career by being more responsible.  §Ã‚   Practice time management.  §Ã‚   Identifying my educational goals. o  Ã‚   Conclusion  §Ã‚   Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions for two main reasons. First, setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education. But most importantly, the actions you take in life affect your college success.

Tragedy Designed by Fate

Tragedy Designed by Fate book report on Jude the Obscure †a book Written by Thomas Hardy in the 19th century, Jude the Obscure is a masterpiece known by the world. It tells a story of Jude Fawley, the hero, and Sue, the heroine. Jude Fawley, a village stonemason, was always dreaming of going to the Christminster, a city modeled after Oxford. He spared no efforts to study Latin and Greek by himself. Although he was looked down upon by many people, he was still full of passion and confidence and eager to become a scholar. But his two-year- arriage with Arabella, a superficial woman who abandoned him later was terrible.Then he left for Christminster to pursue his goal and met his cousin Sue, his true love in the meanwhile. However, Jude failed in career and love, which I think were both fate-designed cases. No matter how diligent he was, Jude was impossible to get higher education because of his working-class Identity. university was only available for the upper-class. And this un fair fact couldnt be changed. In the first chapter, Jude's teacher Phillotson told him that he could choose his future by hard-working nd attending the university. But on the contrast, it adds to the tragic feature.Compared with Arabella, Sue was a free-spirited and well-educated woman. Before she and Jude lived together, Sue also experienced an unsatisfying marriage with Phillotson. So they were both afraid of getting married because they thought that marriage might ruin their love. They raised three kids including Jude's elder son delivered by Arabella. However. at the same time. they were at the mercy of social bias for their illegal relationship. They constantly suffered unemployment and had to ove from town to town, seeking employment and housing.Happy life no longer existed when Jude's elder son killed the other children and hung himself. The son left behind a note which simply read, â€Å"Done because we are too many. † I was astonished when I read this plot. The socia l pressure and their miserable experience even turned an Innocent boy to blame himself. That was cruel. After that, Sue suffered miscarriage, changed sharply and turned to church. She regarded their Illegal marriage as the sin of their children's deaths. At last, Sue remarried Phillotson as a alvation and Jude was lured by Arabella again.Jude drowned himself in the alcohol and after one desperate visit to Sue in freezing weather, Jude became seriously ill, ending his life miserably. I think their tragic life was victim of the age when Christianity was of great power. With the strict social rules, they could hardly fight back. What they could do In difficulties was to listen to the god and walt to see what would happen. Those invisible forces were even able to transform a person who used to be intelligent, open-minded and passionate into a numb and dead-alive person. port on Jude the Obscure By shirley_zy68 —-a book report on Jude the Obscure †-a book higher education be cause of his working-class identity. University was only available for the upper-class. And this unfair fact couldn't be changed. In the first chapter, delivered by Arabella. However, at the same time, they were at the mercy of social turned an innocent boy to blame himself. That was cruel. After that, Sue suffered miscarriage, changed sharply and turned to church. She regarded their illegal back. What they could do in difficulties was to listen to the god and wait to see what

Contenporary Management Issues1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Contenporary Management Issues1 - Essay Example ng effective steps in performing social activities to enhance their brand image and to conduct operations with better social initiatives for the development of a community as a whole (Hohnen & Potts, 2007). In the year 1996, Oman Oil Company (OOC) was established and it is owned by ‘Government of the Sultanate’. The company deals with petroleum products and natural gases. Contextually, OOC is regarded as the main base of the Omani economy. The company is also considered as an important source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which is accountable for the development of the economy as a whole. In addition, the company has participated in CSR activities in national as well as international level. The company has adopted CSR policy as an integral part of business strategy with the aim of ascertaining that business operations are performed for the development of communities as a whole. Every year OOC contributes millions of funds for local community development. Moreover, it is worthy to state that OOC has achieved awards for its CSR activities in national levels. As a part of the CSR activity, OOC developed a partnership with â€Å"Oman Society for Petroleum Service (OPAL) † to provide technical and vocational training to local youths and its present employees (Oman Oil Company, 2012). In this regard, the objective of the essay is to highlight Four-Part of Model of Corporate Social Responsibility activity. The four-part model of CSR comprises economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic, which are described on the basis of CSR policies adopted by OOC. . Moreover, the essay describes the challenges faced by the company in the areas of business ethics and CSR activities. Globalization has transformed the picture of organisations. In modern scenario, organisations have used varied kind of activities to enhance their growth level. Notably, CSR is an activity, which makes a particular organisation different from others. Moreover, CSR is regarded as a new form of

Research paper about the play A streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Essay

Research paper about the play A streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams - Essay Example She is a weak character, with no clear opinion of her own. She is forever vacillating between taking sides with her husband and her sister - whoever happens to be more convincing at the moment. She takes the easy way out in a situation that she alone has the power to put a stop to. And because of her lack of decision things get completely out of hand and reach the point of no return. She eventually betrays her sister, lets her husband get away with rape, and in the process ends up living a lie. Let's take the main players: Stanley Kowalski and Blanche Dubois are both strong characters, but they are the antitheses of each other. Blanche finds it difficult to face reality. She prefers to hide behind illusions and pretenses. As she tells Mitch (Scene 9) "I don't want realism. I want magic!" Whereas Stanley is as real as the piece of raw meat he handles at the beginning of the play. Blanche relies on the "kindness of strangers" (Scene 11), while Stanley is clearly a self-made man with his destiny firmly within his control - or at least till Blanche turns up to disturb the balance. He is honest to the point of brutality, unlike Blanche for whom 'life is too full of evasions and ambiguities', so she not only deceives others, but herself too. Blanche describes Stanley as a "survivor of the Stone Age". While this is too extreme, Stanley is clearly a male chauvinist and has a rather primitive streak when it comes to women. He treats Stella quite roughly and demonstrates his power over women with his demands and aggressiveness, whereas Blanche swoons and uses weaknesses to get her own way. However they behave, throughout the play, it will be noticed that Stanley and Blanche are true to their selves, but the same cannot be said of Stella. Stella comes from the same genteel background as Blanche, but she has chosen a more earthy and coarse lifestyle. Unlike Blanche who despite her checkered lifestyle is more of a romantic, Stella follows her basic animal instincts more than any intellectual or romantic call. Before Blanche comes on the scene, she is happy enough with her husband. To his credit, Stanley welcomes Blanche with an open mind. He puts up with her fancy ideas about the dcor, the way she hogs the tub with her predilection for hot water baths, drinks up all his liquor (without contributing in the least towards the house) and flirts with his poker pals. It is only when she starts putting him down, and turning his wife against him that he feels threatened and strikes out - in an instinctive animalistic way, and then he goes straight for the jugular. Stella should have been more sensitive to the needs of her husband, who clearly loves and cares for her. She has made a commitment to love, honor and obey him, therefore he should have been her priority, but she not only invites Blanche to stay, she encourages Blanche's disparaging comments about her husband. Stella should also have realized that any houseguest is bound to upset the natural rhythm of a household. But with a dangerously disturbed and destructive guest like Blanche there's no way there can be any peace in the house. Especially when her husband and sister practically strike sparks off each other every time they interact. Stella should have made her choice a long time back, and ended

The Spaces between Stars by Geeta Kothari Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Spaces between Stars by Geeta Kothari - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of Hinduism as one of the oldest religions of the world. It evolved in the Indian subcontinent over 5000 years ago and has a rich body of literature. Unlike monotheistic religions such as Christianity or Islam, Hinduism is polytheistic, with thousands of deities and gods being worshipped. Even in terms of ethnography and culture, there is a rich diversity of Hindu expression. The sacred rituals and beliefs related to Hinduism vary across ethnic communities in India. The Hindu scriptures explain morality in the form of legends and myths. More than a religion per se, Hinduism can be looked at as a philosophical system. The key themes of this system are that of the interconnectedness of life, repercussions of good and bad deeds (karma), the temporariness of earthly existence and the aspiration toward liberation from it (moksha). Texts such as the Upanishads and epics such as Ramayana and Mahabaratha serve as mediums of this philosophic discou rse. While the Hindu idea of karma is deterministic, it does not promote fatalistic attitude. While the circumstances we find ourselves in are somewhat arbitrary, there is much we can alter our future through the exercise of free will.   Towards the end of the story, Maya seems to realize this truth.   She is seen to slowly make a resolution that she will henceforth be more faithful to her feelings and no more live in denial.

Compare and contrast 2 stories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compare and contrast 2 stories - Essay Example Miss Brill and Good Country People expose their characters in a descriptive manner, for the former, the introduction was done by describing the setting, talking about the atmosphere while the latter described one of the main characters, Mrs. Freeman, then going to the other characters. The internal conflict in Miss Brill was shown more pronouncedly in the main character while external conflicts were exhibited by secondary characters. For instance, the thoughts of Miss Brill is revealed which exposes her feelings about another character in the story when she was listening to an old man and woman who have been talking about her glasses, showing how enraged she had been about the woman’s complaints probably reflecting herself, with the statement â€Å" Miss Brill had wanted to shake her†. The other story involved most of the characters in showing the internal and external conflicts, with the passionate characterizations and portrayal of their roles in the story. Mrs. Freem an struggled with her family and their problems laid before her, affecting both her mental, emotional as well as physical beings. Mrs. Hopewell on the other hand faced emotional struggles with her own daughter and Mrs. Freeman while Hulga had her own internal conflicts as the effects of her external conflict that is, her disability. Both stories show a narrator of which both are omniscient, knowing the feelings and thoughts of all the characters. However, Miss Brill is more of a limited omniscient narrator who sees through the mind of the main character in contrast to Good Country People which exposes not only the thoughts and feelings of the main character but of other characters as well. This manner of telling the story brings the reader to picture all the characters in a more detailed fashion which helps to understand the events of the story more clearly. Complications in Miss Brill are shown with the introduction of other characters as viewed in the eyes of the main character as she sits to observe or to the author’s words, ‘watch the play on the stage’. The other story on the contrary becomes complicated with the introduction of the antagonist, the Bible salesman who then takes interest in Hulga. Both stories have not exposed any foreshadowing or clue to how the story would end but plainly presented the events as they happened especially with the story of Miss Brill. Good Country People on the other hand ingeniously saved the conclusion of the story by leaving the exposition of the true character of the antagonist towards the end of the story. Both also have an open plot wherein the conflicts were not resolved at the end of the story but were left for the reader to finish or think of what might be the conclusion of the story. Such method is said to be clever, leaving the reader thinking about the story and not forgetting it in a moment. Miss Brill is about reflections, dreams and lust with the first one shown through the character of M iss Brill who usually spends her Sunday afternoons watching the people at Jardins Publiques, listening to the conversations of those who usually sit at her ‘special seat’ where she observes couples, usually lovers taking their seats there. The reason for her going there was not mentioned in the story but her ‘special seat’ represents her dreams of having a partner, and her sexual desires. Good Country Peop

Subverting the Processes of Peer Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Subverting the Processes of Peer Review - Essay Example Hwang was indeed a brainy researcher. He had efficiently kept his collaborators, manipulating them with their own personal motives. With that, he had managed to maintain his established credibility within the span of his research and prominence. Hwang was a national hero in South Korea and was rose to fame after claiming a series of remarkable breakthroughs in the field of stem cell research. Despite the notable absence of any of the scientific data needed to probe the validity of his research, Hwang's several claims were well received by the South Korean media and public. They have been so attracted with his claim of immeasurable economic prospect that his research was said to be promising (Wikipedia, 2008). With such renowned standing, he maintained and expands his research team. Building it in a rigid hierarchical structure had made him extremely dominant among his researchers regardless of their titles. His collaborators worked for his fraud and some had even so consistent with their support despite the arousal of controversies. With their firm determination to back him up, he had managed to publicize his said noble study. Dr. Roh head of Seoul fertility clinic had agreed to collaborate with Hwang despite the anomalous way of obtaining the egg cell from paid donors and two of their junior researchers. When the controversy was exposed he even publicly admits the deed claiming that he was solely responsible and Hwang was unaware of the said anomaly. This was to cover up despite the fact that Hwang himself had distributed egg donation consent forms to his researchers and even personally escorted one to the MizMedi Hospital to take the egg extraction procedure. All these fabrication were for the assured credit on what had been thought as a promising research. In Hwang's laboratory, every order must be followed having him as a supervisor. Two of his junior researcher had even donated their eggs despite the inconvenience of the procedure. At a point, one of the researcher/donor in her attempt to disclose the fact had retracted her statement due to alleged coercion. Moreover, his team obediently follows when Hwang told them to make it look as if there were 11 stem cells when not even half that number was there. These were with the knowledge that they would have credit on the published discovery. On the contrary, all their efforts in the research would be wasted if they would disclose the fact. After having acquired a celebrity status in South Korea, Hwang actively sought to establish every possible tie to political and

Human Resource Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Human Resource - Essay Example It is important for all organisations to ensure that proper strategic human resource planning is implemented in their firm. Proper job descriptions need to be developed so that the right type of employees can be hired and all work operations take place smoothly. If Twinkle Toe proper makes investments of time on the recruitment and selection policies, then the right staff can be hired and the day care may face success. Training and career planning for employees is a very important element for remaining a competitive firm. Twinkle Toe has been suggested to implement training programs so that employee performance can improve. Career progression is important for employees as they look forward for achieving growth and success in their career life, therefore Twinkle Toe needs to provide the career progression opportunities for its employees so that they remain interested in working with the day care centre. The industry of the day care centre is booming due to the increase in the number of women who are willing to walk through their career paths without it being distracted by their personal family lives. The industry includes a number of day care centres, each with their own idea of how the children should be brought up or the importance of having children to develop their skills around other children. A major concern for the parents is to find the right day care that they can afford. All day care centres are not that affordable for every parent and hence, they do consider other alternatives such as hiring help within their own home, which has its own risks as well. The risks of hiring a babysitter at home and actually having the child admitted at a day care centre must be evaluated before a final decision is made. Another concern for the parents is the minds of their children. The minds of the children at the age of five tend to be like a sponge where they can absorb absolutely all facts and figures that they are

The increasing trend of childhood obesity Essay

The increasing trend of childhood obesity - Essay Example This essay "The increasing trend of childhood obesity" outlines the danger of the obesity and its impact on the health. The increased prevalence of overweight along obesity leads to serious health issues. In other words, it can be stated that overweight along with obesity are the independent risk factors for the upsurge in morbidity as well as mortality throughout the life cycle of an individual. Childhood obesity is linked with various health related complications which upsurges the premature illness risks and even death. The issue of obesity among the children is showing a growing trend and raising the concern of the public health as noted by Ebbeling et al. (2002). The issue of childhood obesity is gaining its importance in the public health care. In order to ensure healthy life style and to create awareness among the general public widespread awareness programs through televisions, internet, and schools newsletters along with magazines of parenting are being executed. Various pol icies were and are being incorporated in the national priority lists. However the people are not sure regarding the effectiveness of the policies in order to combat the problem of childhood obesity. According to The Trustees of Princeton University childhood obesity is deciphered as societal issue due to the influence of several factors including the environmental, biological along with behavioral. With the increasing trend of childhood obesity this is becoming one of the severe health challenges in the 21st century (Future of Children, 2006).

Selection of Web Server Software for Client Essay

Selection of Web Server Software for Client - Essay Example The client would also want a customised Content Management System to be coded so that they can easily change the content on site and add new pages, thus, making it flexible for accommodating changes. The current Information Technology Infrastructure is not very advanced and includes basic users with little knowledge of web technologies. The client is also not willing to spend a hefty amount but do requires a robust, agile and flexible system. 2) - Comparison of available technologies After going through the detailed requirements document from the client and understanding his needs, two sets of technologies can be recommended to the client. Let us compare and contrast between these two sets to see which set can be more viable for the client in the future. The two sets of technologies are: 1) - Internet Information Services, Active Server Pages and SQL Server (Microsoft Products) 2) – Apache, PHP and MySQL It is to be noted here that that both sets have a web server, a web progr amming language and a database. We should now just compare these technologies individually in detail and then in the subsequent sections, we will relate our results with the available IT infrastructure of the client. 2.1 - Web Servers The function of web server is to deliver services (web content) to the users who are requesting access via Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. The HTTP protocol is normally set by web browsers and doesn’t really require manual intervention or settings by the user. Web content here actually means all the media that is available on the web page. (WDN, 2012) The following table actually shows the differences between two available web servers: Apache and Internet Information Services. APACHE IIS Current market share at 65% Current market share at 15% Designed to work with most Operating Systems IIS designed to work only with Windows Operating Systems Co-operation is limited with the host system and there are no specific utilities available in every OS to monitor web service Greater co-operation with the host system and control through various Windows utilities Independent Request handler is limited Independent Request handler is not limited .Net languages aren’t integrated Support for most programming languages Open source software Comes with Windows OS More secure Less secure because of multiple system calls 2.2 - Web Programming Languages A web programming language or a server side scripting language is a language designed for developing web pages of dynamic nature. The following table shows the comparison between two leading server side scripting languages: PHP and ASP.Net PHP ASP.Net Microsoft Technology. Ships free with IIS on Windows OS. Open source language Runs on most OS Support windows only Slower compilation time Quick compilation and response time Hardware required to run PHP applications is expensive Windows licensing cost Not supported by any specific framework but has custom CMS such as Drupal and Magento Suppo rted by .Net framework which is very reliable Simple to code Complex to code Recommended for small applications Recommended for large applications Lesser data security Enhanced data security (Lerdorf & Tatroe, 2002) 2.3 - Database Management Systems A database management system (DBMS) is a software application that allows for the creation and management of a database. It also allows the users to make changes to the

Iran-Contra affair Essay Example for Free

Iran-Contra affair Essay The Iran-Contra affair was a US scandal that occurred in the mid 1980s under the leadership of President Ronald Reagan and vice president George bush. The scandal majorly involved two events. First, there was the sale of US arms to one of its main enemies, Iran and then the millions of dollars in profits derived from the arms deal were used to finance a clandestine operation rejected by congress, the financing of Nicaraguan guerrillas named the Contra. The Contra guerillas were opponents of the Nicaraguan’s Sandinista rebels who came to power after overthrowing Anastasio Somoza, the then leader of Nicaragua in the year 1979. The idea was to secure the release of American hostages held by the Hezbollah terrorists. This scandal prompted numerous investigations that led the indictment of US government officials. Indeed, many questions still linger on the minds of many concerning the role played by top US White House officials including President Reagan and the then vice president George Bush (TheFreeDictionary, 2009). This paper will discuss some of the dealings in the arms trade, stating their historical background, reasons behind the trade, the parties involved and its eventual outcome. The Contra Affair first received public attention in November 1986 after al-sharia, a Lebanese publication reported that the American government was involved in arms trade with Iran. Worse still, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) supply plane was shot down by the Nicaraguan forces. The only survivor was the pilot and he was captured. The plane was carrying, over 50 000 rounds of ammunition, Russian rifles and boots (Tristam, 2009). The confession of the pilot shocked the public indicating that the US government was involved in arming the contra rebels and also confirmed the earlier reports in the Lebanese publication. The irony was that President Ronald Reagan was on record as having numerously associated the Iran government with terrorism (TheFreeDictionary, 2009). Why Reagan supported the Sandinistas To Reagan, the victory of the Sandinista in Nicaragua was a major US security threat since he thought that it had the potential of sparking off a revolution in Central America (BBC News Channel, 2004). The fear could be traced back to 1954 when Jacobo Arbenz won the elections to become president of Guatemala. What alarmed the US government was his oratory which indicated that the US government was on the verge of losing its control in Central America. In 1979, the Sandinistas overthrew the Arbenz government and initiated communist reforms. This was in spite of the fact that in actual sense they never really defined themselves as communists but as pluralists. They began to reallocate estates and to redistribute wealth and this was enough to alarm the United States which became uncomfortable with having a communist state right in its backyard. Violence also erupted spreading to other countries and this was seen as an indication that communism could end up spreading to other countries in Central America (BBC News Channel, 2004). Reagan was alarmed by these developments and felt that he had to do whatever it took to stop this. Fortunately for him, other groups within Nicaragua began arming themselves against the policies initiated by the Sandinistas. Reagan’s hope then lay in equipping the rebels in an attempt to overthrow the Sandinistas government. At first he allocated the funds openly and even gave additional funds to the CIA to carry out his mission. However, the allocation of funds to the contras was opposed within the United States throwing his plans to the gutter. Ronald Reagan involvement with Iran Ronald Reagan was known to have publicly referred to Iran as one of the nations that both supported and financed terrorism in the world. It therefore seemed to be a stab in the back for US citizens when the world heard reports that the US was trading arms with its worst enemy. The entire situation could be traced back to the 1980 US presidential elections. These pitted the then president Jimmy Carter against the implicated Ronald Reagan. The period between the 1970s and 1980 was one characterized by numerous incidences of hostage taking. In the year 1979, fifty two workers of the US embassy in Iran were captured by Iranian students and held hostage. The US at the time proclaimed a ‘no- negotiation’ policy when dealing with terrorists. The then president Jimmy Carter failed to secure the release of these hostages (Absolute astronomy, 2009). During the elections, Jimmy Carter was slightly taking the lead and if only the US hostages held by the Hezbollah group had been released, it could have been a sure win for Carter. The release of the hostages then became the decisive factor on who would win the elections. This prompted the Reagan team to negotiate a release deal with Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran. This team met with the then prime minister of Iran Bani-sadr in Paris. The agreement reached was that the US hostages would remain captives until after the election and in extension of this favor, Iran would be supplied with weapons. At that time, Iran was at war with Iraq and the supply of weapons was absolutely welcomed. It therefore came to be that immediately after Reagan won the elections, the hostages were released (Angel Force, n. d). Arms transactions The US received special assistance from Israel to carry out the sale of arms to moderate Iranians opposed to Ayatollah Khomeni. Michael Ledeen and Robert McFarlane the then National Security Adviser managed to convince the Israeli government to ship arms to these politically influential Iranians in return for the same kind of weapons along with monetary benefits. Israel agreed but in the mean time Reagan was hospitalized for a colon cancer surgery. Later on, Israel tried to convince the United States to allow Israel to sell a few antitank missiles as an indication that the Iranian group had strong US ties. This offer was initially rejected but eventually Israel managed to convince Reagan that the group was an antiterrorist group. The group in return had promised to talk to the captor to release seven hostages, a proposal that Reagan readily consented to. The plan was later readjusted such that the arms were now to be sold directly to the Iranians at a marked up price of about 715 million dollars as suggested by North. This price was rejected but eventually over one thousand anti-tank missiles were shipped. The adjustments also included the financing of the contras contrary to the Boland Amendments that restricted the US administration and the CIA from financing the contras. (Absolute astronomy, 2009). The scandal blew up after Mehdi Hashemi a cleric with the Islamic revolutionary guards leaked information concerning the trade to Ash-Shiraa, a renowned Lebanese magazine. This together with the crashing of a CIA plane led to Reagan’s confession in the national television that the arms deal transactions had indeed taken place. His argument was that the trade had taken place in an attempt to forge better ties with Iran and to also to make Iran reconsider a negotiation for the release of held hostages (Absolute astronomy, 2009). Conclusion The Iran-Contra Scandal led to the sacking of numerous government officials including Oliver North who was sacked and also tried for the shredding of evidence (some say that the evidence was bulky enough to jam the government’s shredding machine. In his defense, North tried to link the case with the Vietnam War by arguing that the main issue in the affair was the actual financing of the contras (Isaacs, (1997). He also attempted to justify his action by saying that it fell within his powers. The president’s popularity ratings also dropped from a high of 67% to a low of 46%. Internationally, the scandal sent harmful signal to terror indicating that hostage taking could be used as a powerful means of coaxing political influence with the west (Absolute astronomy, 2009). References Absolute astronomy. (2009). Iran-Contra Affair. Retrieved on 28th March, 2009, from: http://www. absoluteastronomy. com/topics/Iran-Contra_Affair BBC News Channel. (2004). Reagan and the Iran-Contra affair. Retrieved on 30th March, 2009, from: http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/world/americas/269619. stm Isaacs, A. (1997) Vietnam Shadows. Baltimore London: John Hopkins University Press. TheFreeDictionary. (2009). Iran-Contra Affair . Retrieved on 30th March, 2009, from: http://www. acc. af. mil/news/story. asp? id=123080422 Tristam, P. (2009). What Was the Arms-for-Hostages Iran-Contra Affair? Retrieved on 30th March, 2009, from: http://middleeast. about. com/od/usmideastpolicy/f/me081109f. htm Angel Force. (n. d). Iran-Contra. Retrieved on 30th March, 2009, from: http://www. angelfire. com/ca3/jphuck/BOOK3Ch7. html

The essential nature of International marketing

The essential nature of International marketing International marketing is the performance of business activities designed to plan price, promote and directs the flow of the companys goods and services to consumer or user in more then one nation for profit. Cateora Graham International marketing is a broader concept and includes export marketing. Export marketing is concerned with the production of good in one country and marketing them in different countries of the world while international marketing is a boarder concept and includes globalization. International Marketing is essential for all countries-small big; developed developing and rich poor. This is because no country in the world is self sufficient as regard all the requirements and no country can live in complete economic and political isolation. Every country has to import something from other country and has to export whatever surplus available. The natural resources are not divided equally among the countries of the world. There is disparity among countries as regards geographical area, population, climate condition, availability of natural resources, economic growth, technology development, production activities and so on. Such disparity leads to inter dependent of countries. It is this situation which serves as base for the conduct of large scale international marketing activities. OBJECTIVES To bring countries closer for trading purpose and to encourage large scale free trade among the countries of the world. To bring integration of economies of different countries and there by to facilitate the process of globalization of trade. To establish trade relations among the nations and thereby to maintain cordial relations among nations for maintaining world peace. To facilitates and encourage social and cultural exchange among different countries of the world. To provide assistance to developing countries in their economic and industrial growth and thereby to remove gap between the developed and developing countries. To ensure optimum utilization of resources at global level. To encourage world export trade and to provide benefits of the same to all participating countries. To offer the benefits of comparative cost advantage to all countries participating in international marketing. To keep international trade free and fair to all countries by avoiding trade barriers FEATURES Large Scale operation International marketing transaction is always conducted in large quantity. This is necessary for securing the advantages of large scale operation as regards transportation, handling and warehousing. Domination of multinationals and developed countries Multinational Corporation dominates the international marketing scene. It has world wide contacts. They conduct business operation more efficiently and economically. They are in a better position to adopt global approach which is necessary in international marketing. International restrictions International marketing imposes various trade restriction (tariff non-tariff) because of productive policies followed by differences countries. Tariff barriers are adopted practically by all countries. Foreign exchange also imposes various restrictions on imports exports. The growth of international marketing is adversely affected due to such trade restrictions. Sensitive character International marketing is highly sensitive flexible in the character. A product may suddenly become unpopular or market may come down quickly due to political and economic reasons. Even the use of advanced technology by the competitors or the introduction of new product by the competitor may affect the sale at the global level. Need of international marketing research International marketing requires marketing research in the form of marketing surveys, product surveys and product testing as it is highly competitive. Government policies change, new substitutes enter in to the market and new restriction is imposed because of political, economic, social and cultural factors. Such challenges are common in international marketing and for this continues watch on international marketing environment is required. Marketing research, sale forecasting, etc. are useful techniques for this purpose. They bring adoptability in international marketing activities . Importance of Advance Technology Countries like the USA, Japan Germany have a dominating position in international marketing because of the use of advanced technology in production marketing of goods. They are able to promote export capture world market due to their ability to sell superior quality goods at competitive prices. At present, world markets are flooded with Japanese goods. this is the result of intensive use of automation advanced computer technology in Japan. Keen Acute Competition International marketing is highly competitive. Moreover, this competition is between developed developing countries which are unequal partners. Such competition is made severe due to special facilities incentives provided by the government to the exporter for export promotion. Need for specialized Institutions International marketing is risky complicated. It requires lengthy procedures formalities. Professional exports are necessary for dealing with various aspects of international marketing. Similarly, financial institution like indent houses, exchange bank export houses are established world over for effective participation in international marketing. Need for long term planning International marketing requires long term marketing planning. The marketing situation in different countries changes because of social, economic political factors. This stresses the need for long term planning in international marketing. A comprehensive dynamic marketing programmed can be prepared through such long term planning. Lengthy Time Consuming International marketing activity is lengthy, time-consuming complicated. This is due to long distances, restrictions imposed by different countries, payment difficulties due to the use of different currencies lengthy procedural formalities which need to be completed in an orderly manner. NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETING International interdependence of countries No countries in the world are self-sufficient in all respect. No countries can produce all its requirements due to geographical other factors. There is international inter-dependence because of which every country has to imports. This awareness of mutual dependence creates favorable situation for the growth of international marketing. International inter-dependence growing world population are two basic factors which suggest the need of large scale international marketing. Absence of uniform geographic climate conditions Geographic condition climatic factors are not uniform in all countries. No country is able to produce all goods required by it. A country can import the goods which it is not n a position to produce due to natural other economic factors. This suggests the need of international marketing in the case of all countries. Availability of comparative cost benefits International marketing is necessary as the cost of production is not uniform in all countries. Every countries can produce certain favorable factors. Exchange of commodities on the basis of comparative cost is always beneficial to all countries. Growing need of countries International marketing is necessary in order to meet the growing need of different countries also for providing better standard of living to people. This is the reason due to which countries following different political philosophies system maintain trade relation make the life of their citizens richer happier. Need of closer economic cultural cooperation International marketing is also needed for developing closer economic cultural relations between countries. This is the way by which the available global, natural other resources will be utilized fully at the international level. International marketing is needed for economic integration among the nation of the world. Problem of surplus/shortage of production in countries International marketing is needed due to surplus production in some countries supplemented by shortage of production in some other countries. It is also needed as some countries have huge unused production capacity while other have no capacity to meet even their domestic need. This situation can be corrected only through international marketing which facilities exchange of goods as per the need of different countries. Bridging gap between developed and developing countries International marketing is need in order to bridge the gap between the advance countries the developing countries. Such marketing not only brings exchange of goods services but also facilitates transfer of technical know-how skills. Such transfers are necessary for rapid growth of developing countries. Economic growth of developing countries world peace: International marketing is needed for rapid growth development in all countries-develop developing. It bring transfer of technologies facilitates rapid industrialization in developing countries. It provides a mechanism through which developed countries provides assistance to developing countries in there efforts towards economic growth. International marketing efforts benefits to all participating countries also develops co-operation among countries. In short, international marketing is needed as it is a key to world peace prosperity. PROBLEMS/DIFFICULTIES IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETING Payment difficulty: Payment is an important difficulty in international marketing because of different currency systems followed by different countries of the world. The buyer will like to make payment in one currency, while the seller desires to have payments in his home currency. In addition, strict foreign exchange is necessary. All these factors create complication in the payments for the goods sold or the services rendered. Such difficulties are absence in the case of domestic marketing due to the existence of uniform currency system Risk and Uncertainties in transportation: International marketing involves the transportation of goods over long distance covering thousand of kilometer. There is a risk of loss or damage of goods as exposed to uncertainties in transportation. High cost of transportation is one more problem in international marketing as this cost raises the market price considerably and affects sales. Government restrictions: International marketing is not free like domestic marketing. Export imports are restricted by the Govt in all countries. Due to such restriction, various problems are created before the exporters. Even the restriction in foreign countries create problem before the exporting community. Such trade restrictions are in the form of heavy tariffs, quotes, exchange control so on. Difficulties in communication: The operation of international marketing is between people of different language groups, traditions, customs, nationality, socio-system national laws. More over, direct contact between the parties is not possible. Hence, a special procedure in the form of letter of credit, bank guarantee, insurance, etc., is necessary for safety security of payments. Time difficulty: There is a wide gap between the time when the group are dispatched the time when the goods are received paid for. There is delay in receiving the delivery of goods due to complicated procedures long distance. Such delay is always troublesome to exporter as well as importer. Difficulty in the preparation of documents: A large number of documents are required to be prepared in international marketing transaction. The exporters, for example, have to prepare various documents for the benefit of the importers. This work is lengthy, complicated time-consuming. Severe competition in global market: International marketing is risky due to competition in global markets. This competition may be related to price, quality sales promotion techniques used. The competition is between countries with varied economy, social technological background. Such competition is always troublesome to poor developing countries. Exporters from such countries have to face various problems while dealing with severe market competition. Miscellaneous difficulties: These difficulties in international marketing include (a) difference in weights measures in different countries, (b) political affiliations of countries, (c) trade barriers trade blocs, (d) differences in the marketing practices followed in different countries and (e) war or international tensions. SCOPE OF INTERNATIONAL MARKETING Regulation on marketing activities: International marketing is not free like domestic marketing. Various countries impose tariff non-tariff restrictions on trading activities. Such restriction affects the volume of international trade. The study of such regulation their effects on trading activities is one aspect of study concerned with international marketing. Every country has to study such regulation imposed by other countries take suitable remedial measures. Formalities and procedures of marketing: International marketing is a complicated time-consuming activity due to different commercial laws practices followed in different countries. Exporter importer have to follow various formalities procedure relating to licensing, foreign exchange, customs duties clearing of goods. Such procedure formalities are not uniform in all countries hence the study of procedure formalities comes within the scope of international marketing. Exporter importer have to study such formalities procedure for orderly conduct of international marketing activities. Trade block and their impact: Trade block are established by different countries participating in international marketing activities. Such block includes EU, LAFTA, ASEAN, EFTA CACM. However, such trade blocks are harmful to the growth of free world trade. Commercial policies and their impact: Every country prepares its own commercial policies to suit its specific needs. The policies of different countries create international commercial environment under which all countries have to operate. Naturally, the study of commercial policies of different their impact on world trade needs special attention. Such study comes within the scope of international marketing. International marketing research: Marketing research is essential for large scale marketing in global markets. Information about marketing environment, needs of consumers, buying behavior, extend of market competition, etc. will be available through such research activities. Product planning development, introduction of scales promotion techniques, etc are possible only through such research of foreign markets. Miscellaneous aspects: Export financing. Exim policy and implication. Export pricing and export risk management. Product innovation, standardization and sales promotion. Study of special facilities, concession and incentives. BENEFITS OF INTERNATIONAL MARKETING TO A COUNTRY/NATION Provides higher standard of leaving: International marketing provides better life welfare to people in different countries. It provides goods which cannot be produced in the home country due to geographical limitations. This raises the standard of living of the people social welfare. International marketing facilities large scale production create employment opportunities in different countries. This provides purchasing power to the people ensures higher living standard to them. Ensures rational optimum utilization of resources: Rational allocation of resource the best use of the resources available at the international level is one major advantages of international marketing. It enables every country to export whatever is available as surplus. This may be raw material, oils, consumer goods even machinery services. Rapid industrial growth: International marketing creates new demand for goods. This facilitates industrial activities brings industrial development. International marketing leads to industrial development of the country, provides massive employment opportunities to the people full utilization of natural resources available. Benefits of comparative cost International marketing provides to participating countries, the benefits of comparatives costs. The benefits of division of labour specialization at the international level are available to participating countries through international marketing. International cooperation and world peace: International marketing bring countries closer due to trade relation. This leads to cooperation among the countries. Developed countries help developing countries in their development activities. This remove economic technological gap between the countries. Facilitates cultural exchange: Social cultural exchanges between different countries of the world are possible due to international marketing. This is possible as fashions move along with goods. Trade also develops social cultural relation among nations. This lead to cultural integration at global level. Better utilization of surplus production: Due to international marketing, surplus production of goods can be exported to other countries. This provides foreign exchange to exporting country also meets the needs of other countries. Effective use of surplus goods, service, raw material, etc. is possible due to international marketing. Thus effective utilization of surplus domestic production, introduction of new varieties of goods, improvement in the quality of production promotion of mutual co-operation among countries are the benefits of international marketing. Availability of foreign exchange: Easy availability of foreign exchange for import of capital goods, modern technology other essential requirements is possible due to international marketing. A country earn foreign exchange due to export can use it for essential imports. Expansion of tertiary sector: International marketing promotes exports. This lead to industrial development. Along with this, expansion takes place in the infrastructure facilities. International marketing indirectly promotes transport, banking, insurance shipping activities. This provides additional benefits to the national economy. Special benefits during emergency situation: International marketing offers special benefits during natural calamities such as floods famines. Emergency supply of goods is required to meet urgent needs. This is possible because of large scale imports. Even other country offers cooperation to county facing difficulties through supply of essential goods services. BENEFITS OF INTERNATIONAL MARKETING TO A COMPANY A company exporting abroad earns substantial profit out of its export operation. This is because export marketing is normally more profitable then domestic marketing. Even the loss in domestic marketing can be compensated from the profit earned out of export. A company exporting abroad earn foreign exchange out of its operation and the same can be used for the import of essential goods, new machinery, technology, etc. this facilitates large scale export in future. A company exporting goods abroad is in position to utilise its production capacity fully as it has capacity to use the entire production for domestic and export marketing. A company exporting goods abroad is normally a sound company with financial stability and good earning capacity. It can face problems of domestic marketing because of the support marketing. LIMITATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL MARKETING Unequal sharing of benefits: The benefits of international marketing are not shared in a fair manner among the participating countries. Rich and developed countries get more benefits at the cost of poor and developing countries. Restrictions on International Marketing: International marketing will offer all benefits only when free trade is allowed by all countries. However, the actual position is all together different. Trade restrictions (tariff and non-tariff) are imposed by all countries (developed and developing) on free movement of goods. This restricts the growth of international trade and actual benefits available to participating countries are limited. Efforts to remove various restrictions by WTO and other international trade organizations are not effective. Adverse effects of trade blocs on International Marketing: Along with trade barriers, trade blocs exist among the countries of the world. EU, LAFTA, ASEAN are some active trade blocs. They encourage trade among the members of the group but put artificial restrictions on the trading activities with non-members. As a result, the growth of international marketing is restricted. Similarly, free trade among nations is not allowed. In addition, countries which have not joined such trade blocs suffer in regards to their exports and imports. Domination of MNCs and developed countries on International Marketing: MNCs from rich and developed countries dominate international trade since long. Their operations are for profit maximizations. Poor and developing countries suffer due to virtual monopolistic position of MNCs in international marketing. These corporations sell their products in many developing countries as per the terms and condition which are profitable to them. This leads to exploitation of poor and developing countries also dominate international marketing. Existence of severe competition in international marketing: One limitation of present day international marketing is the existence of stiff competition among participating countries and companies. Unfortunately, this competition is between unequal competitors. It is between rich and poor or developed and developing countries. Developing countries lack advance technology, skilled labour, infrastructure facilities and so on. As a result, they have to sell their raw materials and other resources at a low price to rich countries.

The Road To Success English Language Essay

The Road To Success English Language Essay The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, you will make it to a place called Success. (Bro. Emil Andrew dela Rosa) Success is the thing that is sought by all people and it is the completion of anything intended, in other words success is finishing what you planned to do (Watson, John) , people are asking, what is the road to success? There are no direct answers to this question; because success has many different factors determine how an individual will be up for success (colin turner, 2006). Laing Burns, Jr. said Success often comes to those who have the aptitude to see way down the road. (Laing Burns, Jr) In order to achieve success, there are some methods and skills to achieve success, first set your goal, second develop yourself and explore your abilities, third organize your time and self management. Everyone must have purpose for his life, so first of all a method and skill to achieve success is to setting your goal. In order to determine the goals that matter to you, and you will use in your plan, make a list of everything you wish or dream to achieve in various areas of your life thought this dream whatever small or large and type it on paper. Writing all your goals on paper at this stage will expand the horizon of your thinking, so do not try thinking and how you will achieve these goals; because thinking will reduce and limit your belief in your ability to achieve them. Also, when you write a list of your goals you will start to see new opportunities in life were not see before, and you will find yourself attracted to these opportunities. (colin turner, 2006) Its important to plan for each goal so focus on what you really want to accomplish and the reasons why you need to accomplish them and list your goals through prioritization, also, focus on the different areas of your l ife and do not allow fear to stand in your way. Do not focus on your goals at the same time and try to separate them and do each one alone .first, do the most important one and then do the next. (Ashley Ann Serafin, 2009) Moreover, determine your ability to achieve your goals and ask yourself if you are able to commitment to the goals you set for yourself no matter what kind of goals? So dont write goals and you cant do it or you dont have ability to do it. Sometimes you will notice that you will not achieve the goal the way that you planned. And at times youll find that your experience for some creative plans and the actual moment of taking some steps lead you in directions never imagined before, and are often greater and more successful than those that you put it in your plans. This is because the plans were based on the current ability and the ability change over time. (colin turner, 2006) Also, its important to do your best to follow your goals. Because whenever you see your goa l in front of you and you feel that it negotiable to achieve and be realistic, you will persevere to achieve and move away from the postponement. Experts say that the more you feel that your goal is real; it could increase the likelihood of success in achieving this goal. (Abdulla, 2010) In addition, also explore your abilities and develop yourself is one more method to achieve success. To discover your abilities, ask yourself I am strong in what? What is my strength and what are my skills? What I concentrate upon? How do I increase my abilities? Furthermore, you must read and learn and develop yourself always and never. Learn about yourself and your abilities and learn from life. Also, applied what you learned, so you will not bring new information only if you applied the old, and also you cannot be treated yourself, unless you learn from your attitude. (Kazem Ameli) Moreover, you should identify your weaknesses. Usually, no one really wants to admit weakness points but, you cant escape from your weaknesses; you must fight it. However, weaknesses too can be strengths if put correctly and your weakness should come out as a problem which is almost solved not a critical and hopeless trait that cannot be helped. (Identify your Strengths and Weaknesses CVTips.com)The pu rpose of the knowing the weaknesses are not to induce misery or frustration, but it opens the door for a great deal of awareness and improvement. So, dont shy away from weaknesses. Instead, look at things objectively, recognize and admit weaknesses and make conscious decisions on what to do about them. (Ben Yoskovitz, 2007) Besides, the more self confidence you have, the more likely it is youll succeed .So, you should have Self-confidence. Although many of the factors affecting self confidence are outside your control, there are a number of things you can do to build self confidence like focus on contribution, work out, speak up, compliment other people and sit in the front row and many other ways. (Erin. Editor, Pick The Brain) Accepting advice is not always easy. There is Proverb says, Listen to advice and accept correction, then in the end you will be wise. (Frà ©dà ©rick Jà ©zà ©gou, 2010) So, think about the advice that giving to you, Say thank you; someone has taken time t o share their thoughts with you and if its good advice, go and start implementing it. Moreover, you must learn from your mistakes, and recognize that you fall in it. And you should have the courage to admit it to yourself and others and must accept that mistake and not blame yourself when you fall in line. Also, challenge those obstacles that stand before you and keep away from your negative thoughts. If you fall, Arise, then try again and do not remain where you fell, and not duplicate the wrong. (Girls of Wisdom, 2010) No success comes without perseverance. Successful are not better or smarter or stronger from others, but they had their perseverance and their determination distinctive. (Abdullah Bin Bakhit, 2006) Persistence is the quality of never giving up when you face challenges, of holding on to your dream, of refusing to be discouraged no matter what the odds, no matter what happens. Therefore, you should be Persistent and ambitious as you want. (Royane Real, 2005) Renewal a nd creativity go hand in hand, which are essential to every person, like the daily routine boring absorbs the energy and enthusiasm of the person; therefore, you have to renew your life, you will find that successful are keen to develop yourself through several ways, and are keen to develop your methods to achieve what you want. (Abdullah Al Muhairi, 2006) Another method and skill to achieve success is organizing your time and self management. It is mean ways by which one had to make the most of his time in achieving its objectives and create a balance in his life between obligations and desires and goals. Therefore, we must develop a plan to become a time management easy and accessible. You should familiarize yourself with the comparison between the priorities, because the opportunities and obligations may at the same time brings, which one would you choose? In short, choose what it deems useful to you in your future at the same time is not harmful to others. (Eugene Jrisman Jeffrey Mayer, 2008) Furthermore, you can use of your leisure time by many ways such as reading magazine articles or some books, review your list of goals, break out your notebook and start develop list of ideas for what you want to do, get prepped for your next task and certainly do not forget to take some time for yourself to relax and make yourself ready to wo rk again. (Leo Babauta, 2010) Also, focus and do not confuse your mind in more than one direction, if you take this advice and applied it, youll find a lot of time to do other things more important and urgent. (Eugene Jrisman Jeffrey Mayer, 2008) Moreover, manage your time, by draw up a daily schedule, where you should write the things you plan doing that particular day. Try to pick realistic time plans for those things and live an extra error margin, just not too big. (Mike , 2010 ) Also, draw up a weekly schedule, and put the necessary targets first, as self-development objectives through courses or reading, or family goals like go out to trip. Besides, use modern techniques to seize opportunities and achieve success, as well as to organize and saves your time such as the Internet, computer and other. (Eugene Jrisman Jeffrey Mayer, 2008) To sum up, the above discussed methods and skills that will help you to achieve success by setting goal and achieving them effectively and efficiently, and staying focused by prioritizing your main aims. Also, help you exploring your capabilities and develop yourself through reading and learning and many other ways, and help to organize your time and self management. Thus, the road to success has many difficulties and bumps, but you are able to continue it with determination and resolve. And you can be a successful individual in life by following a systematic and simple lifestyle.

Comparing Beowulf and Gilgamesh :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of Beowulf and Gilgamesh       There are many differences and critical comparisons that can be drawn between the epics of Beowulf and Gilgamesh.   Both are historical poems which shape their respected culture and both have major social, cultural, and political impacts on the development of western civilization literature and writing.   Before any analysis is made, it is vital that some kind of a foundation be established so that a further, in-depth   exploration of the complex nature of both narratives can be accomplished.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The epic of Gilgamesh is an important Middle Eastern literary work, written in cuneiform on 12 clay tablets about 2000 BC. This heroic poem is named for its hero, Gilgamesh, a tyrannical Babylonian king who ruled the city of Uruk, known in the Bible as Erech (now Warka, Iraq). According to the myth, the gods respond to the prayers of the oppressed citizenry of Uruk and send a wild, brutish man, Enkidu, to challenge Gilgamesh to a wrestling match. When the contest ends with neither as a clear victor, Gilgamesh and Enkidu become close friends. They journey together and share many adventures. Accounts of their heroism and bravery in slaying dangerous beasts spread to many lands.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When the two travelers return to Uruk, Ishtar (guardian deity of the city) proclaims her love for the heroic Gilgamesh. When he rejects her, she sends the Bull of Heaven to destroy the city. Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the bull, and, as punishment for his participation, the gods doom Enkidu to die. After Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh seeks out the wise man Utnapishtim to learn the secret of immortality. The sage recounts to Gilgamesh a story of a great flood (the details of which are so remarkably similar to later biblical accounts of the flood that scholars have taken great interest in this story). After much hesitation, Utnapishtim reveals to Gilgamesh that a plant bestowing eternal youth is in the sea. Gilgamesh dives into the water and finds the plant but later loses it to a serpent and, disconsolate, returns to Uruk to end his days.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This saga was widely studied and translated in ancient times. Biblical writers appear to have modeled their account of the friendship of David and

red river valley :: essays research papers

Red River Valley   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The movie â€Å"Red River Valley,† is a B-western that really portrays the way life was in the early 1900s. The music in the movie really set the moods, and gives you a better understanding of what’s going on. The song that opens up the movie has a fast tempo that is played what sounds like a trumpet. Then we are introduced to Gene Autry and his partner, Frog Millhouse. The two were tending cattle and seemed to be pretty skilled at it. Then Gene and his partner set out to help build a dam to bring water into the dry land. They will take on the task of being ditch guards at the dam.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The cowboy music in the movie starts when Gene and Frog walk into the town’s saloon. There is a band up on stage that is playing a fast tempo song. They are playing with a guitar, piano, harmonica, and other exotic looking instruments, like a bottle that the band member blows into. The men at the saloon are dancing, drinking, playing checkers, and seem to be having a good time. Then Gene and Frog leave the saloon and go to the dam. In the beginning of the scene, a fast pace song that is played with trumpets starts to play, which made me think that the scene would have a lot of action in it. The two men go to work on the dam, but Gene realized that they were set up, and there was dynamite that was about to explode. But he uses his quick wit, and they escape with no harm. After that the two men go back to the saloon to perform on stage. Gene Autry sings and plays the guitar very well up on stage. His voice has a baritone/high pitch sound to it, but he sounds like he has skill. Then after Gene, his partner Frog gets up on stage to perform. Frog uses the whole band and their many different instruments while he sung about his trusty forty-five. The duo was a crowd pleaser, and they left the saloon immediately after performing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Then there is a scene with group of men walking and singing together with shovels. The men sing with a very deep, bass sounding tone. These men are the guys that are working to build the dam, and they are upset because they aren’t getting paid.

Within a Dolls House Essay example -- Literary Analysis, Henrik Ibsen

â€Å"A women’s place is in the kitchen† is believed by a majority of male Creekview students and most of the world’s male population. Within A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, Nora, the main character, saves her husband’s life by securing a loan to get the money to take a trip to Italy without his consent. In this time period, the1800s or later, it was unheard of to do something without the husband’s consent. This is similar to the views of the relationship between men and women in Antigone by Sophocles. Antigone is about the house Laius and its curse, with Antigone, the protagonist, burying her brother, Polynices, when it was forbidden by Creon; this crime is punishable by death. She defies man law; going against everything she ever learned, being a rare person to stand up against the man dominated society. Both of these authors, Sophocles and Ibsen, show glimpses into a world that still exists into today’s society but a world that is much different with women’s capabilities, relationship towards men, and individual rights. In both plays the main characters have different capabilities that are unique to each of them. For instance both show strong will that many women are afraid to show. In Antigone the characters show many different capabilities, Antigone included, with these certain characteristics giving her the ability to bury her brother. As she simply says â€Å"Antigone: Guilty. I did it, I deny it not† (Sophocles, pg 189-190). This shows how Antigone is proud of what she is doing, standing up to Creon and his ways with unmoving motivation. As well as showing her true commitment to burying Polynices and being proud of doing so. Plus, Antigone displays this strength of commitment more than anyone else in this play. As Ismene and Ant... ... over time, though in these two plays the hope for change shown bright, but generally women were considered weak and therefore had no such powerful rights. To sum it up both of these plays share the same broad message conveyed throughout the entire play. Which includes, women have the capabilities to do more than they show and are allowed to do. As well as the relationship men and women share is not constant, or the same, there are many different views on the relationship they share and many different variations that change as time progresses. Furthermore the rights of women also change with much time, and hard work by many women who have worked hard for their rights and future rights of all women. Some of this can lead to these two plays, giving new, bold ideas that were frightening for many during their times but helped for the push for a better tomorrow.

Cold War and Containment Essay

Dated from 1947-1991 the Cold War was an intense economic, political, ideological, and military tension between the powers of the Western world, led by the United States against the powers of the Eastern world led by the Soviet Union. Because of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) these two countries never came head to head like previous wars, however they would fight each other in proxy wars. This sustained a high level of hostility throughout the war and one point if not the highest point of the conflict was the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet Union placed nuclear weapons in Cuba which would be only 90 miles from the US; this would have been devastating to the United States with only Seattle outside the blast radius. The two Ideologies that were at conflict during the cold war were the United States Capitalism vs. the Soviet Union Communism. United States believed in a system where there is more than one political party, limited government interference in people’s lives and also the factors of production and freedom of speech. On the other hand the Soviet Union had the complete opposite with only one political party, Classless society, government controlled most aspects of people’s lives and all factors of production and there was no freedom of speech. Containment was strategies used by the United States to counter the spread of Communism. It was used to counter a series of moves by the Soviet Union after it tries to enlarge its communist influence in Europe and Asia. One way the United States implemented this strategy of containment was the Marshal Plan. Named after the then secretary of state George Marshal was a program of monetary support to help in the rebuilding of the European economy. The plan was in operation for four years from 1948 with an approximate spending of $13 billion. Another way they implemented the containment was the Truman Doctrine. This was put forward by the then US President Harry Truman. The doctrine, which had both economic and military elements, pledged support for countries attempting to hold back Soviet-style revolutionary Communism.

Shariah Issues in Islamic Banking : Bay Al-Inah, Tawarruq and Wa’d

Abstract The rising of the Islamic banking and finance industry is a direct response to the growing awareness amongst Muslim regarding the need of alternative financial products and services that is complied with the teaching of Islam. To be specifically, the demand is based on the avoidance of the element of Riba which is widely and fundamentally practiced in the conventional banking industry. The attempt by the Islamic banking and finance industry had so far been successful and it could be witnessed by the launching of wide range of Shariah compliant financial products and transaction.However, none of us can guarantee that the Shariah compliant products approved are fault-free absolutely. Among the practices of the industry, the practice of Bay al-Inah or the practice of sale and buy-back, Tawarruq which quite commonly used in Malaysia, have been criticized strongly especially the voices from the Middle East. The other issue that will be discussed briefly in this project paper is t he applicability of Wa’d , the unilateral promise. Key terms of the research 1 Bay al-Inah 2 Tawarruq 3 Wa’d 4 Al Ijarah al Muntahiya Bittamleek 5 Statutory DeclarationObjectives of the research: Identify the issues of the Bay al-Inah , Tawarruq and Wa’d encountered by the Islamic banking industry and proposal of an alternative solution to it. Table of content GENERAL INTRODUCTION SHARIAH ISSUE ONE: Bay al-Inah †¢The Concept †¢Current Practise of the Industry †¢Legitimacy of the Bay al-Inah †¢Alternative Solution SHARIAH ISSUE TWO: Tawarruq †¢The Concept †¢Current Practise of the Industry †¢Legitimacy of the Tawarruq †¢Alternative Solution SHARIAH ISSUE THREE: Wa’d †¢The Concept †¢Legitimacy of Wa’d †¢Solution CONCLUSION REFERENCES GENERAL INTRODUCTIONThe rising of the Islamic banking and finance industry is a direct response to the growing awareness amongst Muslim regarding the need of alterna tive financial products and services that is complied with the teaching of Islam. To be specifically, the demand is based on the avoidance of the element of Riba which is widely and fundamentally practiced in the conventional banking industry. The attempt by the Islamic banking and finance industry had so far been successful and it could be witnessed by the launching of wide range of Shariah compliant financial products and transaction.However, none of us can guarantee that the Shariah compliant products approved are fault-free absolutely. Among the practices of the industry, the practice of Bay al-Inah or the practice of sale and buy-back, Tawarruq which quite commonly used in Malaysia, have been criticized strongly especially the voices from the Middle East. The other issue that will be discussed briefly in this project paper is the applicability of Wa’d , the unilateral promise. SHARIAH ISSUE ONE: Bay al-Inah THE CONCEPTLinguistically, the term â€Å"Inah† carries t he meaning of salaf, or contracting a loan. It is used in this meaning to refer to purchasing on credit. It could also be a derivative of the term â€Å"ayn†, which also means present assets, that is cash. Thus, it denotes a situation whereby one purchases an asset for its subsequent sale on cash that is needed by him. Bay al-Inah is generally defined as an arrangement whereby a seller sells to the buyer some object for cash deferred payment; then, simultaneously, the seller mmediately buys back the same object for a lesser amount than the deferred price in cash. Thus, the transaction amounts to a loan whereby the difference between the two prices represents the interest . Modus Operandi: The above diagram shows the modus operandi of the Bay al-Inah that has been practiced by the Islamic banks in Malaysia so far. In this transaction, the bank sells its asset to the customer who is in need of liquidity on credit. The price under the sale includes the bank’s profit margi n charged on the customer.Subsequently, the bank buys back the asset from the customer for cash payment. Eventually, the customer gets the cash payment, and pay the bank the deferred price over a tenure by periodic instalments which constitutes the same effect and result of a loan . CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE INDUSTRY In Malaysia, the practice of Inah may take 2 names, depending on the original owner of the asset. If the asset to be used belongs to the customer, the contract is known as Bay Bithaman Ajil (BBA). If the asset belongs to the bank, then the contract will be named as Bay al-Inah. ven though the legal documents may differ from one financing to the another, but the common documentation will consist of Property Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Property Sale Agreement (PSA). Besides, the Master Facility Agreement will also be prepared to encapsulate and detail out all necessary ingredients of the facility granted. These documents reveals that though the two sale contracts are execu ted separately without making one of them conditional to the other, the master facility Agreement has clearly indicated the intention of the parties in entering into these two consecutive sale contracts.LEGITIMACY OF BAY AL-INAH The main proponents of Bay al-Inah is the Shafii school. The Shafii jurists have illustrate their permissibility in a situation whereby a person sells a commodity on cash or credit terms and hands over possession, and the parties separate with mutual pleasure about the contract, it is permissible for him to purchase it from the previous buyer for an amount equal to, higher, or lower than the former price, of the same currency as before or different, paying cash or oncredit, after receiving payment for the previous sale or before it.On this basis, according to the authoritative position upheld by the Shafii scholars, the two independent contracts, jointly referres to as â€Å"Inah† are held valid, but reprehensible. This principle even applied when one of the two parties is known for the practice of Inah, as according to the principle upheld by the Shafii school, the intention of the parties, even when it happens to be unacceptable, does not result in the invalidity of the contract, unless such intention is given expression in the contractual text.As a result, it will be the case whereby even the situation indicates the parties’ intention to carry out a second sale, this will not necessitate the invalidity of the contract. In a simple word, the Shafii school considered the intention of the parties only taken into account when the invalid intention is explicitly written in the contract . In the other side, the Maliki and Hanbali schools opined that the contract of Bay al-Inah is not valid.The Maliki jurists have categorized the process in question under buyu’ al-ajal, which concerns on the discussion of various form of two sale contract being taking place in sequence involving combination of different prices and peri ods. They have described 9 possible variations, the permissibility of two of which have been subjects of different opinions, while there is unanimity pertaining to the rest. It was said that when one sells a commodity on a deferred payment and thereafter purchases it again, the price in the second transaction could be deferred for a period equal to the first, shorter than the first, or longer.In each of these situations, the price of the second transaction could be equal to that of the first, lower than, or higher. The types where jurists have differed are: -where the price of the second transaction is lower than that of the first, and is on a cash basis; and -where the price of the second transaction is higher than that of the first and is deferred for a longer period. Imam Maliki and other jurists regard these formats invalid.They considered the second transaction along with the first, and regard the grounds viable enough to suspect that the purpose is to exchange an amount of mon ey with a higher amount that is deferred, which substantially constitutes the prohibited Riba. Hence, the transaction acts as a medium for attaining what is prohibited and it is invalid inherently. The Hanbali school agreed that the Bay al-Inah is not valid as the difference of the selling price of a commodity with profit margin and the lesser buying price transaction serve as an avenue leading to Riba.One could seek to legalise the sale of one thousand against one thousand five hundred by involving an asset in this manner. But, it was also mentioned that if the price of the second transaction is equal to that or higher than the first transaction, then it is permissible since no margin equal to the nature of Riba is involved. The above ruling applies where the commodity had not diminished in any manner after its sale. If it had diminished, it could be purchased at any price, as any decrease in the price could be against the loss of value in the asset, and not for the purpose of Riba .If the purchase is against another asset, or the first sale was against an asset and the commodity is then repurchased for cash, it is permissible due to the fact that Riba is not applicable between money and commodities. If the first sale is on cash, and the second sale takes place through another currency, it is permissible. Basically, the determination of validity in contract is based on the parties’ motive and validity in sale under consideration, the motive of the parties is illegal will put the sale invalid aas it constitutes a legal device to obtain a loan with interest which should be averted.Imam Hanifah from the Hanafi school opined that if the two prices are such that Riba could be applicable such as gold and silver, and are identical in type, for example: gold, it is not allowed to repurchase the sold commodity except at a price equal to the first, without any increase or decrease in price. If the price of the first sale was such that Riba is not applicable, such as commodities, he may repurchase the sold commodity for a price higher than the initial price or lower.If the two prices belong to different types where Riba is applicable such as gold and silver, disparity between them although analogically permissible, but is unlawful based on Istishsan. The majority objection to Bay al-Inah were supported by a number of Hadith attributed to the Prophet and his companions. One of the example was the Hadith that the Prophet warned those who practiced Bay al-Inah with calamity (bala’) or disparagement (dhill). Another example was a report on a Bay al-Inah transaction that had been brought to the knowledge of Aishah r. a. hich read: â€Å"Aliyah binti Ayfa said: I entered Aishah’s place with Umm Walad of Zaid bin Arqam and his wife. Then, Umm Walad of Zaid bin Arqam said: I had sold a slave to Zaid bin Arqam for 800 dirhams on deferred payment. Then I bought him back from Zaid for 600 dirhams cash. Aishah replied: Very bad is what yo u sold and bought. Convey to Zaid that he had nullified his struggle with the Prophet, unless he repented. † ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION Al Ijarah al Muntahiya Bittamleek Under this structure, the bank appoints customer to be its agent to make purchases from the seller.The customer then takes the purchased asset on lease from the bank, for rental payments. At the end of the lease period, the asset will be transferred to the customer via a sale (normally the price of the last rental payment) or as a gift. SHARIAH ISSUE TWO: Tawarruq THE CONCEPT Tawarruq has been generally used to refer to an arrangement whereby a person who was in need of cash bought some goods for deferred payment. Then he sold the goods to another party other than the original seller for payment of cash with a lower price . Tawarruq is considered an alteration based on the Bay al-Inah.The distinction between the Bay al-Inah and Tawarruq is that the person who requires liquidity purchases an asset from a seller on cr edit, thereafter sells it on cash basis at a price lower than the purchase price to the seller in the case of Bay al-Inah. However, Tawarruq involves a third party whereby the one who requires liquidity purchase an asset from someone on credit, and thereafter sells it, usually for a lower price, to a person other than the original seller. So, the structure does not give a direct indication of Hilah solely to undercover the Riba.Modus Operandi: CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE INDUSTRY The concept of Tawarruq contract is popular among the contemporary Islamic financial system. In fact, the short term financing which various adaptions of Murabaha was used as the standard mode by the majority of Islamic banks in the industry is in deed structurally designed based on this Tawarruq principle. However, there are some variation on the simple structure of Tawarruq due to the reason the Islamic banks encounter objections from the classical scholars with the similar stand and analogy as the way they e nounced the Bay al-Inah. One of the most popular variation is the Tawarruq Masrafiy. In this mode of Tawarruq Masrafiy, the Islamic bank is acting as a mere intermediary and does not possess the asset that could be readily brought into the Tawarruq financing process and therefore is in need of liaising with a trader/ broker, usually an external party, for the purpose of facilitating the Tawarruq contract. Similarly, the disposal of such asset by the customer of the facility needs to be further simplified by the mediation of an agent.Hence, this Tawarruq Masrafiy could be more complex in its structure . Modus Operandi: LEGITIMACY OF TAWARRUQ Most of the scholars make their conclusion on the validity of Tawarruq based on the same authorities and analogy of the validity of the Bay al-Inah. The scholars who have upheld the permissibility of Tawarruq have fundamentally relied on the general connotation of the verse permitting sale while prohibiting usury. Tawarruq as a type of sale, is i ncluded within this context of permissibility due to the absence of any Quranic verse or Hadith that rules it unlawful.The proponents somemore cited the Hadith reported by the Companion Abu Said al-Khudri which narrates that a man from the region of Khaybar who had been contracted the upkeep of a plantation came to the Prophet with some dates of good quality. When the Prophet asked him whether all dates of Khaybar were of similar quality, the man replied in the negative and added that they used to obtain a measure of better dates against two measures of ordinary dates, and two measures against three measures.The Prophet forbade him from doing so and directed him to sell the low quality dates against silver coins, and then purchase better dates against silver . This Hadith indicates the permissibility of using the described method for avoiding involvement in Riba overtly or covertly; the medium of a sale is employed, which fulfils all conditions and prerequisites of sales, free of fa ctors that result in its invalidity. The intention of procuring dates of better quality as the end result of the transaction has not been considered to invalidate the material structure.Hence, this shows that the legality og the sale transaction where different purposes are intended when the medium utilized is acceptable and free of Riba explicitly and implicitly. As a conclusion for the proponents, it is permissible to attain liquidity through a medium of sale such as the case of Tawarruq when there is a need for doing so. On the other hand, the denouncers of the Tawarruq have mainly concentrated on the aspect of intention.They argues that the intention here is to procure money, which could tentamount to the sale of money against a different amount of money, while the asset serves only as a medium, the acquisition of which is not primarily intended. Therefore the structure strongly connotes the p[ossibility of a legal stratagem adopted for this purpose. thus a major reason for the disapproval of tawarruq is that it appears to be a Hilah adopted for attainment of what could otherwise be Riba. It is money against money, with a piece of silk cloth pushed in between. † as the stand of Ibn Abbas when he was asked on the question regarding the permissibility issue. One of the frequent cited authorities by these denouncers is the Hadith which reported that The Prophet has said: A time is certainly coming to mankind when people will bite each other and a rich man will hold fast what he has in his possession though he has not commanded for that.Allah the Almighty said: (and do not forget liberty between yourselves), and then those who are forced to contract sales while the Prophet forbade forced contracts, one which involves some uncertainty and sales of fruits before they are ripe. In a simple word, the end result of the whole transaction is their main concern in determining the legality of a particular structure of transaction. Hence, the Tawarruq is deemed no thing but equally to the practice of Riba as the purpose of Tawarruq is to obtain instant cash for a higher consideration later.In the OIC Islamic Fiqh Academy in its 15th Meeting, it was decided that the Tawarruq is allowed. However, in its later meeting, ehich is the 17th Meeeting, the OIC Islamic Fiqh Academy clarified its stand on Tawarruq by stating that the Tawarruq Masrafiy that largely adopted by the Islamic financial institutions is disallowed. The reasoning behind the disapproval is that the Tawarruq Masrafiy practiced by the Islamic banks is in the form of organized Tawarruq or pre-planned Tawarruq rather than ad hoc Tawarruq which cuasing it almost synthetic and fictitious as Bay al-Inah in essence.ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION Since the problem of Tawarruq shares the similar features of the Bay al-Inah, the alternative solution could be the same as discussed in the former part. Hence the Al Ijarah al Muntahiya Bittamleek could be the substitution for both Bay al-Inah and Tawarru q as a solution for avoiding the Riba element concerned. SHARIAH ISSUE THREE: Wa’d THE CONCEPT The 3-letter root WA-A-D (wa’d), corresponding to the verb Wa’ada, indicates a promise but can also be used for a threat.The technical definition of Wa’d (promise) is based upon the linguistic definition, affirming the positive meaning and excluding the negative meaning (threat). A promise has to be for something Ma’ruf (recognized as good by the Shariah and sound intellect). If a promise is to do something evil or wrong, then it is not obligatory to fulfill it and the time in which a promise is to be fulfilled is the future, not the time at which the promise is made. The problem incurred in application of Wa’d is that some banks claim that their unilateral promise (Wa’d) is not binding.However if the customer breaks his/ her unilateral promise, then the bank charges the customer for the loss incurred as a result of not fulfilling his unilat eral promise . LEGITIMACY OF WA’D The resolution 1409H of the Islamic Fiqh Academy has decided that a unilateral promise (Wa’d) which is issued unilaterally by either orderer or the client, is by religion binding upon the promisor except where otherwise justified. It is also judicially binding if it is made contingent upon a reason and if the unilateral promise (Wa’d) entails a cost for the unilateral promise (Wa’d).Insuch cases, the consequences of the binding character of the unilateral promise (Wa’d) are determined by either the fulfillment of the unilateral promise (Wa’d) or by reparation for losses actually incurred as a result of the non-fulfillment of the unilateral promise (Wa’d) without justification. According to the resolution of the Islamic Fiqh Academy that prohibits the Wa’d to be binding on both parties but allowed it to be so on one of them, it is rather too arbitrarily and hardly acceptable. It should be the ot her way round whereby one should treat the Wa’d either binding on both parties or optional for both parties.Making it binding upon one to the exclusion of the other, is illogical and denotes a misinterpretation of jurisprudential principles. In a summary, it is admissible for Wa’d as an alternative to a invalid contract to be binding because Wa’d is analogous to a contract as well. Any suggestion for making it binding upon both or either parties explicitly or impliedly with any other Hilah is not founded on any legitimate basis. SOLUTION The Wa’d is at its best to be excluded in the practice of the Islamic banking legal documentation system due to the uncertainty and arbitrariness.However, the characteristic of the Wa’d might be implemented through a contemporary form of statutory declaration in declaring certain sub-condition for the contract between the bank and customer instead of the main terms and conditions of the contract. For example, if th e real estate was brought on the purpose for self-staying purpose instead of profit generation, then the statutory declaration may be made in declaring this. This might not be the main issue in the construction of the bank’s facility agreement which must be included within the terms but can be proclaimed in the way of declaration.For the consideration and/or performance that is much important which will affect both parties essentially, of course must be included in the facility documents entered by the parties and there is no point to make it in a rather uncertainty form of Wa’d. CONCLUSION The Al Ghazali once said that the very objective of the Shariah is to promote the welfare of the people and whatever ensures the safeguarding of people’s faith, life, intellect, posterity and wealth serves the public interest and is desirable.In the issue of Wa’d, it is certainly not the best form of contracting to the Islamic banking industry that put much demand on c ertainty, hence it would be rather fully utilize the bilateral contract on main consideration/performance or only using the statutory declaration on the least important issue such as the example given since the ambiguity part of the Wa’d is not serving the public interest for all. From the point of Shariah, the Bay al-Inah and Tawarruq is not really serving the welfare of people and it has similar oppressive character of Riba.The banks are still getting the pre-determined rate of return and the application of Bay al-Inah or in other name BBA and Tawarruq is mostly cosmetic. If the Islamic banks label their hamburger as a MECCA burger, as long as it still has the same ingredients as a McDonald’s burger, is it really any different in substance? It is also the case between the Bay al-Inah, Tawarruq with inherent Riba element and the conventional interest-based loan.References: A: Book Dr. Muhammad Saleem (2005), Islamic Banking- Observation and Arguments on Riba (interest or usury), Islamic Banking Practices, Venture Capital and Enlightenment, published by Xlibris Corporation, p26. Professor Rafic Yunus Al-Masri (2002), The Binding Unilateral Promise (Wa’d) in Islamic Banking Operations: Is it Permissible for a Unilateral Promise (Wa’d) to be Binding as an Alternative to a Proscribed Contract? , J.KAU: Islamic Econ, Vol 15: pg29-33 Dr. Mohamad Akram Laldin, The Concept of Promise and Bilateral Promise in Financial Contracts: A Fiqhi Perspective, The International Shariah Research Academy (ISRA), pg 3-30 Muhammad Abd al Ghaffar, al Tatbiqat al Masrafiyyah li al Tawarruq, pg 16 SH1003: Shariah Rules in Financial Transactions of CIFP Module 2012, published by the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), pg 97- 129Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar and Dr. Engku Rabiah Adawiah Engku Ali (2008), Essential Readings In Islamic Finance, CERT Publications Sdn Bhd: pg 133-165 http://www. isra. my/media-centre/downloads/finish/7-islamic-b anking/273-the-concept-of-promise-and-bilateral-promise-in-financial-contracts-a-fiqhi-perspective-english/0. html retrieved 17/11/2012 20. 00pm http://dahabshilbank. com/cms. php? id=ijarah_en& retrieved 16/11/2012 16. 00pm