Facing Our Fears in Science Fiction Essay -- Science Fiction Films Bo

Facing Our Fears in Science Fiction The dead are walking. They lumber and limp, feet scraping against the asphalt. Suddenly, they lunge and tear down into soft, warm, vulnerable flesh with startling speed. Not far behind, oozing inside-out hellhounds growl around razor fangs, stalking with murderous intent. All because of an innocent little airborne chemical weapon†¦This can’t be happening, this would never happen, right? It may sound far fetched, and it is. These horrifying creatures grace the screen of current blockbuster hit, Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse. So you’re safe. For now. But why are these images on screen so terrifying to us? Why do we cringe and gasp and sigh with giddy relief when it’s all over? Because we’ve just been given a brush with death. One of our greatest common fears came to life, and we stared it straight in the face and lived to tell about it. And that’s why we’ll keep coming back. After all, that is how science fiction films ha ve maintained their popularity and appeal for over fifty years now – they take whatever common fears our current society possesses and reflect them back at us. Fifty years ago, computers were as yet unheard of, and the world was still a very large place. Society was not so much concerned with trouble within itself, but with assault from outside forces. According to film critic John Brosnan in Future Tense, the end of World War II sparked the beginning of the â€Å"Golden Age† of science fiction (73). The war was over, but the Communist threat was still out there, and with the unleashing of the atomic bomb fear of a full scale nuclear war bordered on paranoia. Families built bomb shelters in their backyards and schools held air raid drills for their c... ...he dead walking. We love to ask ourselves, â€Å"This can’t be happening! This would never happen! Right?† Wrong. Works Cited Brosnan, John . Future Tense. New York: St. Martin's P, Inc., 1978. Dirks, Tim. Science Fiction Films. May 1996. 02 Oct. 2004 . Glass, Fred. "Sign of the Times." Film Quarterly 38 (1984): 16-27. Menville, Douglas . A Historical and Critical survey of the Science Fiction Film. Diss. U of Southern California, 1959. New York: Arno P Inc., 1974. Senior, W.A.. "Blade Runner and Cyberpunk Visions of Humanity." Film Criticism 21 (1996): 1-12. Telotte, J.P.. "The Problem of the Real and THX 1138." Film Criticism 34 (2000): 45-57. Warwick, Kevin. "The Matrix - Our Future?" The Philosophy of the Matrix. 20 Nov.2002: 14 Oct. 2004

Schools, Teachers, Students, and the Community Must Work Together :: Teaching Philosophy Education

Schools, Teachers, Students, and the Community Must Work Together Two weeks into my junior professional experience at County Middle School, I had what Dr. Bill has coined an "Aha!" moment. I was writing examples of regional dialects on the board, and pronouncing the sound variations between the dialects when I turned around and noticed my students’ expressions. They were completely engaged in the lesson. They were practicing the pronunciation of the dialects and giggling about how we all sounded. The scene was surreal. I was so overcome with the dynamic, that I stopped the lesson for a moment, took a deep breath, and thought to myself, "This is it. This is the moment that I have been thinking about since the first day I decided to become a teacher." I exhaled deeply, quietly smiled to myself, and proceeded with the lesson. That experience has taught me critical information about my teaching platform and what I believe the role of a school is in a community. Schools are a vital feature of communities. My vision of the school that I am most drawn to is a school that seeks to educate students beyond local knowledge and basic skills. By merging cultural and academic studies, schools have a tremendous opportunity to empower and enrich the lives of young people. With current emerging technological advances and a world economy, schools have a responsibility to prepare students to thrive in their local communities, but also in a global community. In order for schools to achieve these goals, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community share the responsibility of providing leadership and guidance to the students. Schools are the catalyst for learning, but teachers are the vehicles that have the challenging job of transporting and imparting the information. Teachers have a responsibility to impart academic information that is culturally relevant and age-appropriate. A successful teacher knows that teaching is a full-time job, which requires a personal commitment to continuous, professional development and research of teaching strategies. In other words, teachers have to continue to be students of the profession, seeking to implement current research and diversity into the curriculum whenever possible. Schools, Teachers, Students, and the Community Must Work Together :: Teaching Philosophy Education Schools, Teachers, Students, and the Community Must Work Together Two weeks into my junior professional experience at County Middle School, I had what Dr. Bill has coined an "Aha!" moment. I was writing examples of regional dialects on the board, and pronouncing the sound variations between the dialects when I turned around and noticed my students’ expressions. They were completely engaged in the lesson. They were practicing the pronunciation of the dialects and giggling about how we all sounded. The scene was surreal. I was so overcome with the dynamic, that I stopped the lesson for a moment, took a deep breath, and thought to myself, "This is it. This is the moment that I have been thinking about since the first day I decided to become a teacher." I exhaled deeply, quietly smiled to myself, and proceeded with the lesson. That experience has taught me critical information about my teaching platform and what I believe the role of a school is in a community. Schools are a vital feature of communities. My vision of the school that I am most drawn to is a school that seeks to educate students beyond local knowledge and basic skills. By merging cultural and academic studies, schools have a tremendous opportunity to empower and enrich the lives of young people. With current emerging technological advances and a world economy, schools have a responsibility to prepare students to thrive in their local communities, but also in a global community. In order for schools to achieve these goals, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community share the responsibility of providing leadership and guidance to the students. Schools are the catalyst for learning, but teachers are the vehicles that have the challenging job of transporting and imparting the information. Teachers have a responsibility to impart academic information that is culturally relevant and age-appropriate. A successful teacher knows that teaching is a full-time job, which requires a personal commitment to continuous, professional development and research of teaching strategies. In other words, teachers have to continue to be students of the profession, seeking to implement current research and diversity into the curriculum whenever possible.

Platos Apology Of Socrates Essay

INTRODUCTION Plato makes it clear, especially in his Apology of Socrates, that he was one of Socrates’ devoted young followers. In that dialogue, Socrates is presented as mentioning Plato by name as one of those youths close enough to him to have been corrupted, if he were in fact guilty of corrupting the youth,[1] and questioning why their fathers and brothers did not step forward to testify against him if he was indeed guilty of such a crime. The relationship between Plato and Socrates is not unproblematic. The charges against Socrates says that he has two sets of accusations: the old, longstanding charges that he is a criminal, a busybody, and a curious person who makes inquiries into the earth and sky, and the recent legal charges that he is guilty of corrupting the young, and of believing in supernatural things of his own invention instead of the gods recognized by the State.[2] Which he terms as charges stemmed from years of gossip and prejudice against him and hence was unanswerable. The trial of Socrates is the central, unifying event of the great Platonic dialogues.   The causes that occasioned this Apology were as follow: – Aristophanes, at the instigation of Mellitus, undertook, in his comedy of the clouds, to ridicule the venerable character of Socrates, on the stage; and the way being once open to calumny and defamation, the fickle and licentious populace paid no reverence to the philosopher, whom they had before regarded as a being of a superior order.[3] When this had succeeded, Melitus stood forth to criminate him, together with Anytus and Lycon; and the philosopher was summoned before the tribunal of the Five Hundred. He was accused of making innovations in the religion of his country, and corrupting the youth. However, as both these accusations must have been obviously false to an unprejudiced tribunal, the accusers relied for the success of their cause on perjured witnesses, and the envy of the judges, whose ignorance would readily yield to misrepresentation, and be influenced and guided by false eloquence and fraudulent arts. In the Apology, Socrates tries to dismiss rumors that he is a sophist and defends himself against charges of disbelief in the gods and corruption of the young. Socrates insists that long-standing slander will be the real cause of his demise, and says the legal charges are essentially false. Socrates famously denies being wise, and explains how his life as a philosopher was launched by the oracle at Delphi. He says that his quest to resolve the riddle of the oracle put him at odds with his fellow man, and that this is the reason he has been mistaken for a menace to the city-state of Athens. THE APOLOGY of SOCRATES Socrates begins by saying he does not know if the men of Athens (his jury) translation often says â€Å"gentlemen,† have been persuaded by his accusers.[4] Plato often begins his Socratic dialogues with words that indicate the overall idea of the dialogue; in this case, â€Å"I do not know†. Indeed, in the Apology Socrates will suggest that philosophy consists entirely of a sincere admission of ignorance, and that whatever wisdom he has, comes from his knowledge that he knows nothing. Socrates asks the jury to judge him not by his oratorical skills, but by the truth. Socrates says he will not use ornate words and phrases that are carefully arranged, but will speak the chance thoughts that come into his head. I know not, O Athenians, how my accusers may affect you: I indeed have through them almost forgotten myself, so persuasively have they spoken; though, as I may say, they have not asserted any thing, which is true. However, among the multitude of their false assertions I am most surprised at this, in which they say that you ought to beware of being deceived by me, as if I were an eloquent speaker. For that, they should not be ashamed of asserting that which I will immediately confute in reality, since in the present instance I shall appear to you to be by no means eloquent, this seems to me to be the consummation of impudence; unless they call him eloquent who speaks the truth. The three men who brought the charges against Socrates were Anytus, son of a prominent Athenian, Anthemion. Anytus makes an important cameo appearance in Meno. Anytus appears unexpectedly while Socrates and Meno are discussing the acquisition of virtue. Having taken the position that virtue cannot be taught, Socrates adduces as evidence for this that many prominent Athenians have produced son’s inferior to themselves. Socrates says this, and then proceeds to name names, including Pericles and Thucydides. Anytus becomes very offended, and warns Socrates that running people down could get him into trouble someday. Meletus, the only accuser to speak during Socrates’ defense. He is mentioned in another dialog, Euthyphro, but does not appear in person. Socrates says there that Meletus is a young unknown with hooknose. In the Apology, Meletus allows himself to be cross-examined by Socrates and stumbles into a trap. Apparently not paying attention to the very charges he is bringing, he accuses Socrates of atheism and apparently, of believing in demi-gods. Lycon, about whom little is known; he was, according to Socrates, a representative of the orators. O Athenian, I should answer the first false accusations of me, and my first accusers, Socrates claims to never have been a teacher, in the sense of imparting knowledge to others. He cannot therefore be held responsible if any citizen turns bad. If he has corrupted anyone, why have they not come forward to be witnesses? Alternatively, if they do not realize that they have been corrupted, why have their relatives not stepped forward on their behalf? Many relatives of the young men associated with him, Socrates points out, are presently in the courtroom to support him.[5] For many have been accusers of me to you for many years, and who have asserted nothing true, of whom I am more afraid than of Anytus and his accomplices, though these indeed are powerful in persuading; but those are still more so, who having been conversant with many of you from infancy, have persuaded you, and accused me falsely.[6] For they have said, that there is one Socrates, a wise man, studious of things on high, and exploring every thing under the earth, and of believing in supernatural things of his own invention instead of the gods recognized by the State. These men, O Athenians, who spread this report, are my dire accusers. For those who hear it think that such as investigate these things do not believe that there are gods.[7] In the next place, these accusers are numerous, and have accused me for a long time. They also said these things to you in that age in which you would most readily believe them, some of you being boys and lads; and they accused me quietly, no one speaking in my defence. Such however, as have persuaded you by employing envy and calumny, together with those who being persuaded themselves have persuaded others. Consider, therefore, as I have said, that my accusers are twofold, some having accused me lately, and others formerly; and think that it is necessary I should answer the latter of these first; for you also have heard these my accusers, and much more than you have those by whom I have been recently accused. Be it so. I must defend myself then, O Athenians, and endeavor in this so short a space of time to remove from you the calumny that you have so long entertained. I wish, therefore, that this defence may effect something better both for you and me, and that it may contribute to some more important end. I think however that it will be attended with difficulty, and I am not entirely ignorant what the difficulty is. At the same time let this terminate as Divinity pleases. It is my business to obey the law, and to make my apology.[8] Conclusion Socrates concludes this part of the Apology by reminding the jurors that he will not resort to the usual emotive tricks and arguments. He will not break down in tears, nor will he produce his three sons in the hope of swaying the jurors. He does not fear death; nor will he act in a way contrary to his religious duty. He will rely solely on sound argument and the truth to present his case.[9]Socrates punishment speech angered the jurors. 360 of them voted for the death penalty; only 141 voted for a fine of 3,000 drachmae. Now Socrates has to respond to the verdict. He first addresses those who voted for death. He claims that it is not a lack of arguments that has resulted in his condemnation, but rather his unwillingness to stoop to the usual emotive appeals expected of any defendant facing death. Again, he insists that the prospect of death does not absolve one from following the path of goodness and truth. To those who voted for his acquittal, Socrates gives them encouragement: He says that his daimon did not stop him from conducting his defence in the way that he did as a sign that it was the right thing to do. Therefore, death must be a blessing. It is either an annihilation (thus bringing eternal peace from all worries, and therefore not something to be truly afraid of) or a migration to another place to meet souls of famous people such as Hesiod and Homer and heroes like Odysseus. With these, Socrates can continue his task of questioning. Bibliography Leo Strauss. Socrates and Aristophanic. New York, 1966. [1] Pp 82-2 [2] Pp83- 2 [3] Pp 84-1 [4] Pp 82-2 [5]pp143-1 [6] Pp 138-2 [7] Pp 84-2 [8] Pp 180-2 [9] Pp163-4

Corporate Social Responsibility in South Africa and Ghana: a Comparison of Successes, Failures and Futures in a “Developed” and an “Undeveloped” African Country

Corporate Social Responsibility in South Africa and Ghana: a comparison of successes, failures and futures in a â€Å"developed† and an â€Å"undeveloped† African country Few industries affect the social, economic and environmental sectors to the extent that the mining industry does. As minerals development expanded, so the international awareness of its impacts grew. Mining-related legislation, both internationally and nationally, has evolved significantly in the past two decades, actively aimed at ensuring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), where companies are held accountable for their actions. In developing countries like South Africa and Ghana that are heavily dependent on gold trade and the associated international investment, the challenge is to ensure that environmental and social impacts of mining are mitigated, that non-renewable resources are converted into national wealth and that mining-generated revenue is claimed and disbursed. In this paper the evolution of CSR in South Africa, a more developed African Nation, and Ghana, a less developed African nation, are compared. Recommendations are made as to potential avenues for CSR progression. The objectives of international mining policy reform have changed dramatically in the past few decades. During the 1970s the aim of mining policy was to increase government control. During the 1980s the aims of reform became to increase investment and to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of mining. This was attempted through the Growth Employment and Reconstruction plan in SA (Fig, 2005), and the Economic Recovery Plan in Ghana (Hilson, 2002). Both plans advocated more privatization, trade liberalization and deregulation. Although the general international trend was to redefine the role of the state, particularly in industrial areas, the adoption of this ambition by African countries has proven detrimental. Biersteker (1990) argues that the reduction of the state greatly reduced its function to govern, particularly undercutting its regulatory ability, its function as a mediator in civil disputes and its ability to regulate and collaborate with the private sector. Campbell (2005) poses that this is because the legislative and regulatory reform adopted by many developing mining-dependent African countries during the past few decades has undermined the role of the state and has proved incompatible with the challenges of the countries concerned. This has impaired the ability of these governments to exert CSR pressure on mining companies. CSR in Africa has grown parallel to these changes in the role of the state, and international mining legislation has had varying impacts on SA and Ghanaian regulations. Despite being based on a non-renewable resource, the main theme in changing international legislation is that of sustainable development, particularly in developing countries in which a large percentage of mining is done by foreign companies. It is, however, the sovereign right of a state to exploit its natural resources. This sovereignty was vehemently upheld by post-colonial developing nations that rely on mineral resources, two prominent examples of which being SA and Ghana. It has become apparent, however, that mining has far-reaching impacts that often have transboundary degrading effects, resulting in international attempts at regulation. CSR in South Africa The formal terms of CSR in SA were originally raised in 1972 and the view taken by many businesses was that they should not have to take responsibility for Apartheid, but should rather improve social standards within their respective businesses. These concepts were formalized in the Sullivan Principles, which were aimed at entrenching non-discrimination in the workplace into the core business activities, particularly in SA-based US companies (Visser, 2005). Although other CSR groups formed, like the Consultative Business Movement, the move away from philanthropy only really became evident after the first democratic elections in 1994, and when the Black Economic Empowerment Programme (BEE) was introduced. The aim of BEE is to promote equal racial ownership, education, training and local economic development. In 2002 the goal for black ownership in the mining sector was set at 26% within 10 years (Fig, 2005). BEE was particularly important in the mining sector, as in order to obtain mining rights, businesses had to meet the requirements of a BEE ‘scorecard’. A number of principles have been introduced to target human rights, a major CSR concern in SA. These include Voluntary Principles on Human Rights and Security and the OECD Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones (Hamann, 2009). Another important milestone was the Kings Report, released in 2002, which outlined the CSR requirements for companies, including â€Å"recogniz[ing] that stakeholders such as the community in which the company operates, its customers, its employees and its suppliers amongst others need to be considered when developing the strategy of a company† (Visser, 2005). It also requires that businesses report annually on their social, transformation (including BEE), ethical, safety, health and environmental management policies. A positive and innovative spinoff of the King’s Report was the introduction of a Kings Index on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Companies are required to meet the criteria of the King’s Report in order to list with the JSE, providing a fiscally competitive incentive to adopt CSR principles (Dale, 2005). This progressive legislation forms the beginnings of a seemingly sound CSR framework. But the SA government struggles to maintain the pressure needed to enforce all of its requirements. As in Ghana, SA’s dependence on the mining industry makes the government loathe to confront deviant companies for fear of disinvestment and job losses. Firms often run philanthropic programmes merely as an attempt to maintain â€Å"business as usual†, satisfying the bare minimum for CSR. The lack of government capacity is most prominent in environmental requirements. Many mining companies have introduced more stringent environmental management regulations and have increased CSR spending, but Fig (2005) shows that due to lack of governmental pressure and effective sustainable reporting, many of the claims of these companies do not match their actions. In recognition of its weaknesses, however, the SA government has adopted provision for voluntary conflict resolution within its environmental legislation (Fig, 2005). As an example of a developing country embracing CSR, SA has proven itself relatively forward-thinking and successful. SA is at the forefront of CSR legislation in Africa. It is in the inability to enforce these laws that the clearest CSR similarities, and failures, with Ghana, a less developed African nation, can be seen. CSR in Ghana For the past 1000 years Ghana has enjoyed a thriving gold trade. However, due to political turmoil and changing mining and economic policy, by the beginning of the 1980s the gold-mining industry was virtually stagnant, and became the focal point in the country’s Economic Recovery Programme in 1983 (Campbell, 2005). Ghana also received assistance from the World Bank, the conditions of which resulted in the elimination of most barriers to entry for foreign investors, including reducing corporate taxes, royalty payments, foreign exchange taxes and import duties. The company retention amounts negotiated by foreign investors were far above average and signify the extentto which the Ghanaian government was prepared to go to stimulate the industry (Campbell, 2005). This also indicates the extent to which the government was and is prepared to turn a blind eye to companies’ exploitation of the country. Liberalized legislation resulted in an approximate 800-fold growth of the predominantly foreign-controlled gold mining industry in the past 20 years. But this growth has been accompanied by very little change in the quality of life of the Ghanaian people. In 2006 the International Council on Mining and Metals claimed that gold mining has not only ‘kick-started† Ghana’s economy, but that many of the large-scale mining companies are â€Å"committed to [CSR]†. In contrast, Hilson (2007) argues locals’ lives have been worsened by the increased use of land, relocations and environmental dilapidation. Because of the lax policies adopted by the government, the nation’s share of the mineral development profits has been minimal. Despite the 40% contribution of total merchandise export earnings that gold-mining in Ghana represents, the contribution to GDP is only 2-3% (Hilson, 2002). Thus the government lacks fiscal control, and as such cannot redirect funds efficiently towards development projects. The most formal adoption of international policy in Ghana was that of the Global Mining Initiative (GMI) in 1998. Ghanaian mining companies claimed that â€Å"a series of dynamic and innovative community development projects†¦ empowering rural communities and improving quality of life† were to be initiated (Garvin, 2009). But others report that the mines are encroaching on indigenous land, resulting in cultural dislocation, poverty, displacement and environmental damage. Promises of jobs and adequate compensation have been broken. This is evident in the relatively small number of Ghanaians employed by mining companies, a mere 20 000, despite the immensesize of the industry (Garvin, 2009). An interesting response to growing unemployment is the intensification of small-scale, artisanal mining, nicknamed the galamsey. The galamseyhave become an important means for support for many subsistence farmers who have been displaced, but their illegal status has led to them being labelled â€Å"hazardous and environmentally damaging† by the Chamber of Mines (Bush, 2008). There is potential for both large and small scale miners to collaborate, as they have different methods and it is uneconomical for one to do what the other does. This has been proven by Goldfields, who have leased small portions of land to groups of galamsey. Most large-scale gold ines refuse to license their unused land for work, so the galamseyare forced to mine illegally in order to eke out a living. Hilson (2007) accuses the large mining companies of supporting a massive military sweep aimed at eradicating the galamsey, which resulted in human rights violations and many forced removals. Instead of taking advantage of collaborative opportunities major mine operators in Ghana have resorted to the most common CSR endeavours amongst extractive mine companies: the building of schools, clinics and libraries. These CSR projects are still predominantly philanthropic and unsustainable. Garvin (2009) determined, through a series of surveys, that although many locals perceived an increase in social welfare, they reported a decline in security, increased crime, cyanide-poisoned water, and other environmental hazards resulting in a lack of useful agricultural land. Notwithstanding the urgings from the World Bank Industries Review, Departments for International Development, the UN, and limited pressure from the Chamber of Mines, most CSR programmes that go beyond philanthropy emphasize the expansion of existing practices such as pig-rearing, livestock and activities. These give little opportunity for advancement, provide little more than subsistence wages and definitely do not contribute to sustainable economic growth (Hilson, 2007). One of the largest problems with CSR in Ghana, and similarly in SA, is the lack of communication between government, companies and public. Mining companies enter into agreements with the national government, paying royalties of 9%, of which 3% go towards community development (Hilson, 2007). These monies pass through many layers of government and administration, and often very little reach the locals they are meant to compensate. Inhabited land is often designated for mining with little or no consent from the inhabitants. Under the Minerals and Mining Act (2006) mining companies are required to compensate displaced people for their crops and use of land, but these payments are still woefully undervalued (Hilson, 2007). Locals value their land quite differently from the value placed on it by mine employees and the lack of communication only worsens these discrepancies. The regulatory and reporting systems in Ghana are very poor, effectively making the situation for many locals worse than that seen in SA. There have been few legal efforts made to legislate mining activities, thus the improvement of CSR practices is dependent on international legislation, NGOs and pressure groups. Changing the CSR Pyramid There are certain drivers of CSR that are significantly different in developing countries than in developed countries like Europe and the US. Existing models must be adapted to fit the individual needs of developing countries. One such model is Carroll's pyramid, consisting of 4 tiers; economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic responsibilities. draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} Figure 1: Pyramid models for CSR drivers (adapted from Visser, 2006) Visser advocates thatto adapt Carroll's pyramid to developing countries, economic responsibilities are given the highest priority, followed by philanthropic, legal and ethical. The economic tier represents the need for businesses to not only ensure that direct foreign investment increases, alleviating poverty and unemployment, but that fu rther investment is generated, goods and services produced and stable infrastructure built. Visser argues that the emphasis on philanthropy is necessary because of the dire situation and poor quality of life in many developing countries thathave become reliant on donor assistance. Philanthropy has become ingrained in developing country CSR. The legal responsibilities are of lower priority because the pressure to adhere to legislation in developing countries is less than in developed countries. In order to elicit response, both nationally and internationally, sustainable indicators must be developed allowing more accurate reporting of CSR successes and failures. Efficient and diverse indicators allow for better sustainable reporting and transparency. These indicators serve two main functions: providing guidelines for company policy and government policy (Danegard, 2005). Increasing the number of indicators increases the scope for surveys or investigations. Data collected from these is usually validated by companies and government, and is, as yet, not mandatory. Although these inquiries may provide useful data, Danegard (2005) suggests that the use of third party verification may be necessary where governments lack the capacity for collection and evaluation. References Biersteker, T. J. , 1990. Reducing the Role of the State in the Economy: A Conceptual Exploration of IMF and World Bank Prescriptions. International Studies Quarterly, 34(4), 477-492. Bush, R. , 2009. ‘Soon there will be no-one left to take the corpses to the morgue’: Accumulation and abjection in Ghana’s mining communities. Resources Policy, 34, 57-63. Campbell, B. , 2005. The Challenges of Development, Mining Codes in Africa and Corporate Responsibility. In International and Comparative Mineral Law and Policy . International Energy and Resources Law & Policy. The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International, pp. 801-822. Dale, M. , 2005. Comparative International and African Mineral Law as Applied in the Formation of the New South African Mineral Development Legislation. In International and Comparative Mineral Law and Policy . International Energy and Resources Law & Policy. The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International, pp. 823-852. Dalupan, M. , 2005. Mining and Sustainable Development: Insights from International Law. In International and Comparative Mineral Law and Policy . International Energy and Resources Law & Policy. The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International, pp. 149-168. Danegard, A. , 2005. Sustainable development indicators for the minerals industry: Who needs them? What stakes justify producing them? In International and Comparative Mineral Law and Policy . The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International, pp. 621-626. Fig, D. , 2005. Manufacturing amnesia: Corporate Social Responsibility in South Africa. International Affairs, 81(3), 599-617. Garvin, T. et al. , 2009. Community-company relations in gold mining in Ghana. Journa of Environmental Management, 90, 571-586. Hamann, R. 2004. Corporate social responsibility, partnerships, and institutional change: The case of mining companies in South Africa. Natural Resources Forum, 28, 278-290. Hamann, R. , 2003. Mining companies’ role in sustainable development: the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of corporate social responsibility from a business perspective. Development Southern Africa, 20(2), 237-254. Hamann, R. , 2009. South Africa: The Role of History, Government, and Local Context. In Global Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility. Berlin: Springer, pp. 435-462. Hamann, R. & Kapelus, P. , 2004. Corporate Social Responsibility in Mining in Southern Africa: Fair accountability or just greenwash? Development, 47(3), 85-92. Hilson, G. , 2007. Championing the Rhetoric? ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ in Ghana’s Mining Sector. GMI, 53. Hilson, G. , 2002. Harvesting mineral riches: 1000 years of gold mining in Ghana. Resources Policy, 28, 13-26. Littlewood, G. , 2000. The Global Mining Initiative – Address to Mining 2000. Visser, W. , 2005. Corporate Citizenship in South Africa – A Review of Progress since Democracy. JCC, 18, 28-38. Visser, W. , 2006. Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries. pp. 473-499.

The Rise And Fall Of The American Economy Coursework

The Rise And Fall Of The American Economy - Coursework Example In the US economy, there is a high level of unemployment and the interest rates in the economy are almost down to zero. The inflation is about 2% per year and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is increasing at less than 3% per year. It is necessary to raise the GDP growth to about 3% per year while keeping the rates of unemployment and inflation low in the economy. Economic depression in an economy can be controlled by the formulation of effective monetary and fiscal policies. While the Fiscal Policy is administered by the American Government, the Federal Reserve (the Central Bank of America) possesses the power to implement the monetary policies in the economy. These policies are based on a number of laws and theories; Okun’s Law and the Phillips Curve are two such important theories. The Okun’s law states that when actual output grows faster than potential output, unemployment rate in an economy, decreases and vice versa. The rate of output (GDP) growth corresponding to the stable rate of unemployment is then considered as the growth rate of the economy. Thus, it is the empirical relation between the output gap and the unemployment rate. (House of Representatives, USA, p.44) Phillips Curve shows the negative relationship between the unemployment rate and inflation rate in the economy. This implies that in order to reduce unemployment, some amount of inflation has to be tolerated or inflation can be reduced at the cost of rising inflation. (Tucker, 2011, p.453) Wages was not taken as a component of the Phillips curve as in the presence of unemployment, the bargaining power of labor is almost non-existent and thus, wages cannot be considered a key variable. However, Phillips Curve is a short-run phenomenon and there is no trade-off between inflation rate and unemployment rate in the long-run. (Mankiw, 2009, p.789) These two theories are indispensable to study monetary and fiscal policies because they show the relation between output, inflation and unemployment in an economy. A General Framework: The GDP of a country is the sum total of the values of all the goods and services produced within the geographical boundaries of a country in a particular year. Keynesian economics states that GDP can be expressed as the sum of the Consumption expenditure, the investment expenditure, the government expenditure plus exports minus imports. The equation can be expressed as: GDP = C + I + G + (X – M)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ (1) where C: Consumption expenditure of the households I: Investment expenditure G: Government expenditure X: value of exports M: value of imports Equation (1) represents the real side of the economy where the concerned variables are all real variables. Fiscal Policy: The Government can alter the level of output, consumption, emplo yment and aggregate demand in an economy, using the two main instruments of fiscal policy – taxation and government spending. Keynesian economists believe that fiscal policy has a more straightforward and immediate impact compared to monetary policy (Genovese, 2010, p.160), as it affects the real sector of the economy, rather than the monetary sector. Expansionary Fiscal Policy: Equation (1) can also be expressed in terms of personal disposable income of the household sector as: Thus, GDP = C (y – t.y) + I + G + (X – M) where y: income of the households t: income tax rate in the economy (y – t.y): disposable income of the households Therefore, GDP = C {y (1-t)} + I + G + (X – M)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ (2) When there is a high rate of unemployment in the economy, the Government can reduce the tax level in the economy i.e. the Government reduces â€Å"t† in the economy. When â€Å"t† is reduced, the consumers are required to pay less amount of t heir income as tax which increases their disposable income. The household’s consumption expenditure which is a function of their disposable income, naturally record a rise. In the equation (2), as a result of the decrease in

Strategic Management Analysis on B-777 Aircraft Term Paper

Strategic Management Analysis on B-777 Aircraft - Term Paper Example Boeing 777 business development under Philip Condit is a clear demonstration of a well thought strategic management analysis of the company that helped the Boeing 777 to be an industry leader through large market share. The company through its leadership identified key weaknesses that threatened to collapse the company that included production inefficiencies, high cost of production, delays in delivery among others. This discussion looks at the strategic management of the business in detail. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis involves strategic analysis of both internal and external business environment. Internal business environment is analyzed by looking at the strengths and weakness of a firm while external environment is analyzed through opportunities and threats brought about by forces without the organization. The strengths of the Boeing 777 Aircraft mentioned in the case study are discussed below as follows. One, the company’s decision to involve airline operators across the g lobe who operated earlier versions of Boeing airlines to generate ideas on the new design and customer preferences helped to develop an aircraft that met the needs of the target customers. Decision to outsource key services through subcontracting internationally and within US helped to spread risk reduce time taken to break even. This meant that the company would benefit from comparative advantage of each partner it was working with. In addition, working with various companies across the ground created an opportunity and easy market penetration (Hill and Jones 2009). Strong relationship developed between Philip Condit and the employees (engineers) helped to end the secretive management style. This allowed free flow of information and sharing of new ideas. Acquisition of McDonell Douglas Company in 1997 helped Boeing to become the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of military aircraft thus expanding this market segment as well as eliminating one of its competitors. In fact its main rival was now Airbus Industries which trailed it by sales. The acquisition helped the Boeing to ride on the skills and networks developed by the acquired company. Ability to develop flexible design from the Boeing 777 helped the company to meet orders for cargo, long, medium and short distance travel aircraft without necessarily incurring high design and development costs. Use of the Digital Designs helped to identify errors and overlaps thus improving on efficiency and reducing time taken to deliver an aircraft. In terms of weaknesses that characterized the company, huge development cost initially threatened the survival of the business. It made returns low and the company would take a long time to break even not to mention creation problem of cash flow. Rising costs, declining productivity and delays in delivers in the early 1990s when the Boeing 777 project was being developed was not a positive aspect towards the project. Highly structured management style just bef ore Philip Condit to the scenes would have easily affected idea generation, product development and production. Huge labor force and large capital outlay required to develop the aircraft almost exhausted the company’s income streams. Managing such a large workforce and imparting the necessary skills was going to be a big challenge especially with the then management structure. The fact that Boeing 777 projec

Mother Teresas Style of Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mother Teresas Style of Leadership - Essay Example According to the study  by the time Mother Teresa started her missionary work, she had little money in her hand, but she proved to the entire world that a person can achieve anything and flourish in  this world without money. Mother Teresa taught individuals that being wealthy does not necessarily mean everything. She proved to all that it is possible to prosper without money. Mother Teresa created a world full of love where the disadvantaged are cared for and showered with unconditional love. Mother Teresa was so caring to the extent that she used to beg others to give her food so that she can provide the orphan children dying of hunger with something to eat. Some of these individuals had no mercy on her and spit on her hand when begging but she would respond calmly that she would continue keeping the spit for herself and continue begging them to provide food for the poor and orphaned children. In addition, at the end, they realized her gentle character and donated something for the poor whenever she asked for. This shows her magnanimity, which is one of the best leadership qualities she possessed.From this paper it is clear that  Mother Teresa displayed a great mental strength by building homes for the destitute through fundraising and seeking support. Furthermore, Mother Teresa was a teacher and a caregiver who majorly focused on how to relieve suffering from the poor and the disadvantaged in the society