Disposable Society: Capitalism and Consumerism Combined?

It was an interesting day of picking up otherwise â€Å"unimportant things,† noting my own urges to just dispose of varied materials, and observing my precious â€Å"living environment. † At the end of the day, it was time for sorting out other people’s â€Å"thrash† and noting my own habits plus reflecting on these various disposable items that I am supposed to learn from. These are what I have seen and what I have realized. Food items and their packaging materials come at the top of the list. Second in line, I found office and school materials – paper clips, ballpen caps, paper, etc.Then there were the miscellaneous home and personal items, various odds and ends including Styrofoam pieces from certain packaging materials, plastic containers bolts and nuts and various unidentified metal pieces, pieces of colored cloth, cigarette butts, an old plastic toy top, a CD, and a torn magazine. There are other small items not include in the list here but ba sically these are my categorizations of the disposable or â€Å"disposed† items collected in a day of walking and observing around.From one angle, it is a most convenient, socially constructed environment that we have—the so-called modern society with all its technology and other trappings. Part of the convenience lies in the disposability of many, if not all the items, that we see around us and which we utilize for meaningful survival on the planet. For example, how would we be able to store and therefore distribute food across great distances without the modern techniques of food packaging?The sanitary handling of food through these technologies however have an implication after the packaged food has been consumed: where goes the inedible packaging? There is a need for food manufacturers to factor in this question in their development of packing and packaging technology. Everyday, everyone eats, and the more we consume, the more we throw away. In 2004, a University o f Arizona study indicates that forty to fifty percent of all edible food never gets eaten. Every year $43 billion worth of edible food is estimated to be thrown away.(â€Å"US wastes half its food,† 2007) What can be done about this? To eat less? Joking aside, we have to be more responsible consumers. There’s a hungry world out there. Moreover, developing biodegradable packaging and eating utensils could be the simple long-term solution perhaps so that environmental pollution is lessened. Or how about edible utensils for a species that is constantly on the go? Perhaps someday. Ours is a society that does not sleep. 24-7 we say. Society moves every second, every day and the more we move, the more be create garbage, the more we develop disposables.Ours has become a disposable society. Even many relationships today seem disposable — fleeting and cold. In the coldness of many offices and supposed institutions of learning, many items are disposable. Containers, small items that make work less tedious like those yellow sticker-like notepads, pens, and computer printer ink cartridges, among others. In the relative warmth of some homes, still we see the signs of disposability: the Christmas tree, the decorations from the last party, the old TV guides.How would life be if we had disposable parents? Frightening thought? Indeed, but perhaps not for some who may have had the unfortunate experience of having dysfunctional parents or adults in their life. Work and family, 24-7, in modern societies, live off disposables. They make life easy and they spur more productivity and innovation. On the large downside, we are using off precious scarce resources, which can be depleted in the long run, and dirtying up the whole planet against the interest of future generations.At the heart of all this is a peculiar system that is consumerist in orientation. Consumerism is a lifestyle fanned by the current economic system, an orientation that appears negatively util itarian, unduly pleasure-oriented, and has no regard for long-term negative consequences of degrading the planet’s natural environment. As things are consumed and disposed, more production and profit is created to replace the old disposed material. What would the world be if things were not as disposable? Production could grind to a halt, as there could be less needs to fulfill.If cars, for instance, were not too disposable and new models are not made to be so appealing (as if they were needed and not simply desired), where would the car industry be now? We see this even in the use of computer technologies. As Smith (2008) notes: Creating products that aren't meant to last is a very viable business strategy as this means that consumers will need to buy replacement products†¦ In a more modern context, consider videogames. Old games, like Pong, could be played over and over again. Today's games, like the popular Grand Theft Auto series, have a beginning and an end.Once you â€Å"beat the game† you need to buy the next installment in the series. The same concept applies to computer software. If you call Microsoft and try to get support for Windows 98, a once expensive product that still works just fine on many computers, you'll be told that it is no longer supported. It's not that the product doesn't work, it's that the company wants you to buy the latest and greatest version of whatever they're selling. Is not consumerism and capitalism complementary with the reality of a disposable society? The profit seekers are only too glad we throw their products away—the sooner, the better. References http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/08/30/60minutes/rooney/main308969.shtml â€Å"US wastes half its food.† http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=56376-us-wastes-half. Retrieved on 2007-10-01. Smith, L. (2008). The Disposable Society: An Expensive Place To Live. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/disposablesociety.asp. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.

Bachelor in British Law Essay

I am a passionate, persistent individual who wills to become a bachelor in British Law, in order to, further on, exert the profession of a lawyer. I am and have always been deeply interested in the principles of justice, which I try to put into action in my everyday life. My intention on entering a Law School is acquiring a deeper knowledge on the subject which has always been my main interest, both in my social and in my personal life. One might perhaps marvel that a Brazilian would rather join an British law school rather than one in his home country; the main reason why I am convinced that studying law in the United Kingdom, more precisely in England, is the absolute passion and interest I have always had for this country throughout my whole life, also extending to the field of law. My interest in Law and Rights first blossomed at the age of seven, when problems like alimony and share of goods showed up after my parents’ divorce, raising my interest to the mutual dissatisfaction of each with different matters concerning law, which made me wonder to what extent Divorce Law in Brazil was fair to both sides of the divorce. Moreover, I also have been told the basics of the profession by uncles – who are bachelors in Brazil – and about how time-demanding and complex it can be. My uncle also told me, though, that as long as it is exerted for passion, and not for other reasons, the high charge of work and responsibility are not a burden, but a pleasure. So high was my interest in analyzing processes and things alike that I got to spend hours with these uncles, asking questions about their procedures and their opinion about processes. I believe that my differential contribution to the university is based on the cultural interchange interchanged I have been through between the years 2011 and 2013, during which I have been living in Germany in a boarding school, understanding the functionality of a community in the sense that, unlike day schools, offers an intense interaction with other students and teacher, and the constant presence of academic pressure. Together with my coming to Europe in 2011 came the interest of studying in an International Baccalaureate school in order to, later on, fulfill my dream of studying Law in the UK.

Nursing and Computers

Use of Computers in the Nursing Profession? Nikkia Jones CIT-100-Research Paper Instructor- Dr. Nancy Grant Outline I. Introduction II. Advantages of computer use III. Disadvantages of computer use IV. Conclusion V. Works Cited The medical field comprises a vast base of knowledge. Computer storage serves as the best way to house all this information. There are many types of computers that can help with diagnosing illnesses, doing procedures to treat illnesses, and even helping to reduce the degree of invasive procedures during testing. Many facilities are also switching from handwriting patient information logs to computerized patient logs. Including computers in each patient’s room to have their entire file readily available and easily accessible to retrieve and record new patient information. There are more computers than I can name that are used for medical purposes. With many of these we are able to provide many types of tests that can save lives and help in early detection of illnesses. Some include: Ultrasound, MRI and CT, Mammograms, and EKG. Computers in the medical field have made such advancement, particularly in nursing. With such a shortage of nurses, hospitals are trying to find a way to improve the efficiency of their nurses. More and more hospitals across the country are now using mobile computers. These mobile computers are also know as COWS (computers on wheels). Hospitals are using these mobile computers as the nurses station. By using the computers, nurses have access to all their patients information, medical records, diagnostic equipment, barcode scanners, etc. This cuts down on time they would otherwise use to run around gathering this information. Nurses have begun using computers to assess patients on point of admission in the privacy of the patients room. While the patients is being assessed, the nurse is able to see previous admissions, pertinent medical information, medication, and doctors’ notes. Using the computer also gives the nurse more time to spend with her patient. After the initial assessment, nurses can also use the computer to begin writing a plan of care, record interventions and outcomes, and communicate the information to other departments. Another great aspect of using the computer, is the elimination of trying to read illegible handwriting. Once a doctors orders is in the computer the nurse is able to clearly read them and dictate to the patient. This cuts down on time spent paging the doctor and waiting for a call back simply to clarify an order. This also helps to get medication doses correct. Medication errors are also being reduced due to the use of computers. Most hospitals are now using bar code scanners while administering medication. The nurse scans the patients armband, then scans the barcode on the medication. If the medication is not for that patient, an alert will come across the computer screen. Or sometime a patient is prescribed a new medication that cannot be taken with another. Most of the computer systems have this information so another alert will come up of this is the case. There are a few disadvantages of using a computer. If there is a problem with the computer system that causes it to go offline then it delays the nurse in all she needs to do, give medication, chart, etc. In conclusion, computers have made so many improvements in the medical field. There is more time spent with the patient instead of charting. The computer can flag unsafe medications, providing medication safeguards. Quick return of lab results is another advantage because all the results will be stored in the computer. Using the computer for e-mail, consults, etc, will shorten wasted time and improve communication between departments. Discharge instructions can be given to the patient as an easy to read list tailored to their diagnosis and needs instead of the old-fashioned paper with notes scribbled across the bottom. Most importantly, the use of computers improves the quality of patient care. The are not really any disadvantages to using computers, but one has to remember, the computer is only as good as the person entering information into it. WORKS CITED Eggland, Ellen Thomas â€Å"Using Computers to Document. † Nursing 27. 1 (2007) MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO Lippencott, Williams & Williams â€Å"Using Computers to speed up the nursing process. † Nursing 32. 8 (2008): 70. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO â€Å"Medicine Meets the Computer† Wilson Quarterly; Summer 2009, Vol. 33 Issue 3, p 83-84

The Cells homw work - genral Biology I class Assignment

The Cells homw work - genral Biology I class - Assignment Example on of that protein contains the following  sequence of  amino acids: Histidine-Lysine-Lysine-Arginine-Serine-Threonine.   This pattern repeats and varies randomly, but that section of the polypeptide only contains the amino acids listed above.   Where  would this section of amino acids in  the protein most likely be located? Animal cells are permeable to water and urea but NOT to sucrose. Initially, the inside of a cell contains 1 M sucrose and 1 M urea and the outside 1 M sucrose and 2 M urea. After the system reaches equilibrium, what changes are observed?  Ã‚   Sodium concentrations are higher outside and glucose concentrations are higher inside the cell. Using the same membrane protein for Na+ and glucose transport, what is it called when a Na+ electrochemical gradient is used to drive glucose transport into the cell against its concentration gradient?  Ã‚   The type of transport described in the question above on Na+ and glucose first requires that  an electrochemical gradient be created.   This is accomplished by pumps which must use energy to move the sodium ions across the bilayer.   Links to Test Questions and Answers Read question 1 Read answers for question 1 Read question 2 Read answers for question 2 Read question 3 Read answers for question 3 Read question 4 Read answers for question 4 Read question 5 Read answers for question 5 Read question 6 Read answers for question 6 Read question 7 Read answers for question 7 Read question 8 Read answers for question 8 Read question 9 Read answers for question 9 Read question 10 Read answers for question 10 Read question 11 Read answers for question 11 Read question 12 Read answers for question 12 Read question 13 Read answers for question 13 Read question 14 Read answers for question 14 Read question 15 Read answers for question 15 Read question 16 Read answers for question 16 Read question 17 Read answers for question

Discussions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussions - Essay Example The author should have added more information on his exceptional qualifications. Although the letter is not arrogant and boastful, one thinks that it lacks depth. The author did not mention any outstanding accomplishments which will make him stand out among the applicants. It was however written in a concise, professional and confident manner. The letter did not specify what specific contribution the author can give to Big Four. The author failed to detail what value he will add to Big Four and why it will be advantageous for the company to hire him instead of the others. The author did not give his available time for an interview. He just mentioned when he will call to request for an interview. It would have been better if the author already attached references to his resume instead of stating that the company is free to contact his former employers. This could have given an impression that he is open and confident that his former managers will give him a good

12 angry men film analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

12 angry men film analysis - Essay Example The movie â€Å"12 Angry Men† (1957) by Brian Rathjen, deals with a case of capital murder involving a youth of Spanish- American dissent. The chief premise of this movie is to prove his guilt or innocence in front of a deliberating jury. This mini drama comprises of the prejudices and misconceptions of the jury in trying to arrive at the proper solution in the trial of first degree murder. The accused is a Hispanic - Latino, 18 years of age and the crime is the killing of his father by stabbing. During the trial, many of the incidents pointed towards the Latino being guilty. For example, the lost knife is found at the scene of the crime, the running away of the youth from the murder spot, while some witnesses heard screaming or saw the killing. In lieu of all this evidence, eleven members of the jury vote the boy guilty, except for Mr. Davis, one of the jury members who calls for a detailed discussion before granting his vote. This deliberation by the jury becomes a sort of study of the complex personalities of the jury members. It ranges from empathetic to merciless and from prejudiced to sheer arrogance. The leadership of this group can be best explained by the ‘Situational Theory’ ... o details of the facts involved, forming their own opinions in the judgment of others, some of the group showed a lack of interest and just wanted to conform to a particular situation. The group resolved these problems by a wider participation by the entire group in the decision making process, leading to better solutions to the problem. For example, all the eleven jury members join together in finding the accused guilty, but one juror Mr. Davis opposes this decision and calls for further investigation in order to arrive at the correct decision. 3. Climate: Describe the communication climate throughout most of the jury’s deliberations. What specific verbal and nonverbal behaviors contributed to this climate? The Climate during the jury’s deliberations was mixed. While some of them were more vocal about their opinions, there were others who were laid back during conversations and preferred to conform to a particular side. Since each member of the jury come from different backgrounds, they have their own frustrations and prejudices 3 which may prevent them from making the right decisions due to irrational thinking. Both verbal and non- verbal group behavior contributed towards the climate of communication of the jury. For example, juror number 7 displays a lack of interest in trying to reason out and find the right solution, while a few of the members felt that jurors five and eleven did not communicate much because of the backgrounds from which they came. 4. Conflict: Provide examples of substantive, procedural, and affective conflict. What were some of the conflict styles of group members? How successfully were conflicts resolved in the group? The first primary conflict in the case was disagreement on the verdict of guilt or innocence. While 11 jurors join together

Choose a good topic for me Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Choose a good topic for me - Research Paper Example He argues that the long summer holidays can be compared to the extra tuition that other children get in other countries and this keeps our children lacking behind in a global race. In the article by Judith Burns, she has mentioned that Gove says, â€Å"If you look at the length of the school day in England, the length of the summer holiday, and we compare it to the extra tuition and support that children are receiving elsewhere, then we are fighting or actually running in this global race in a way that ensures that we start with a significant handicap†. I disagree with the proposition put forward by Michael Gove. Although school hours are a significant part of the child’s learning and cognitive development but time spent with family and at home is also equally important. Children nowadays are faced with a lot of peer pressure, academic challenges and burdensome school assignments. Starting from school they are working really hard to get into good colleges to secure their futures. I strongly feel that although it is of importance to keep up with the global changes and prepare for the challenges put forward by the world, children need time to relax and enjoy things in life other than arithmetic and English literature. Summer holidays prove as a good opportunity for the children to have some time away from the daily burdensome routines and relax their minds. This is of great significance for the normal and healthy development of the

Impacts of Screens and Television on children Research Paper

Impacts of Screens and Television on children - Research Paper Example And though many parents do not feel disturbed regarding this issue, pedestrians claim that the impact of screens can be really damaging for children`s psyche. Generally, children`s behaviour, sleeping patterns, academic performance, the level of aggression, and physical health are affected by enormous time over the screen. However in this paper I am going to prove that the time spent by children in front of screens and the quality of the media products consumed play a decisive role for the overall effect. One of the major negative consequences of the time spent in front of screens is the influence on brain development. Despite the fact that scientists learn more and more how exactly child`s brain is changing there is still no clear picture of the impact of external factors on its work. The plasticity, flexibility, and weak connections between neurons make it possible to influence and reshape child`s brain. Neuroscientists claim that long and repetitive stimulation influence emotional and cognitive development of kids in different ways. First it is possible to speak of establishing of certain â€Å"habits of mind† by recurrent activities. Second, lack of certain stimuli also results in the mode of brain work. Children from the early age need directed communication with close people, diverse and intensive linguistic environment, stimulating physical interaction, and relevant to their age academic opportunities to develop normally. At the same time lack of these stimuli and passi vity deprive children of valuable resources (Healy, 2011). As a result children will further feel difficulties with engaging into normal social activities, playing, and using their cognitive abilities on the full capacity. However, if parents can keep balance between these activities and control children`s time spent with screen media it is possible to keep balance. Many experts claim that excess of Television and other screen media influence negatively imagination of children because of

Debate Topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Debate Topic - Research Paper Example Many developing countries had not covered medicines and pharmaceutical products, because of its disadvantages to generic drug research and production. Multinational Corporations (MNCs) should manufacture cheap generic life saving drugs for poor countries or give up their patents to others who want to make generic drugs, because it will save millions of lives, allow development of generic and patent-less drugs, and breed innovation. The poor have the right to free or cheaper generic drugs and MNCs should not hinder them from getting the pharmaceutical products they need. The pros of cheap generic life saving drugs or giving up drug patents are: 1) Millions of lives are saved, 2) Other drug companies can develop cheaper drugs or patent-less drugs that will benefit the public, and 3) Large companies will benefit from innovation, because they will no longer have to depend on their blockbuster products for revenues, and instead, they will be pushed to develop generic life saving drugs. Bo seley reports about Glaxo which stopped Africans from buying a cheaper version of its AIDS Drugs. It is an inhumane act, because South Africa only wants to do something right- to help its own people, which large drug MNCs are not looking after.

Racism in the Tuskegee Experiment Essay Example for Free

Racism in the Tuskegee Experiment Essay The Tuskegee experiment, begun in 1932 by the United States Public Health Service in Macon County, Alabama, used 400 black men who suffered from advanced stages of syphilis.   This study was not a means of finding a cure; the patients offered no preventative measures to prolong or better life.   Although the history and nature of syphilis was well understood, certain scientists believed that more research could certainly be done. In terms of whom to study, the doctors developing the format discovered a â€Å"ready-made situation† (Jones 94). Macon County Alabama was impoverished, like much of the country in 1932.   The selection process began during the depression, a time of separation and intolerance.   In the rural South, where we find Tuskegee, the men chosen were not seen, at the time, as equal in any sense of the word. Jones refers to prominent doctors of the region who, in the late 1800s, scientifically defined diseases that were peculiar to the race.   One such disease, Cachexia Africana, caused the subject to eat dirt.   The public did not question such obviously ridiculous claims at the time.   In fact, the public heralded these doctors and requested a manual for treating blacks in order to save slave-owners and the like money in paying for doctors (17).   Given the distaste for the ethnicity of the subjects, could their ethnicity have been a factor in the selection process? At the time, the medical profession had already made some false assumptions about the African American race in general.   Jones reiterated the white-held theory that black men had larger penises and little constraints when it came to sexual intercourse (23).   It was also believed that they were harder to treat for syphilis because African Americans were stupid. In examining this mindset, it becomes clear why the government erringly felt it should go to the poorer black communities in rural Alabama conduct a syphilis study.   Believed to be an immoral sex-centered culture placed at the level of animals, the government would put them in league with mice and rats.   As disgusting as the premise is, the doctors needed lab animals and set out to find them. If this were true – how could the government get away with it?   Blatant disregard for humanity and life could not go unnoticed.   However, the geographical area in question had just been the last state of the union to discontinue chain gang use in its penitentiaries in 1928.   The South had not yet begun to consider African-Americans as people not in the slightest meaning of the word. Jones reiterates the sentiment of the doctors at the time and place with, â€Å"short of a ‘quick-fix’ by science requiring no behavior changes by blacks, there was no hope for the race† (26). The Health service claimed they informed the subjects of their disease, although an internship at the time the experiments began, Dr. J.W. Williams, stated the men received no such information.   He also claims the internships registered the data collected without understanding the nature of the experiment either (Jones 5). The term ‘racist’ as defined in the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary reads, †a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior† (1072).   Given this definition, it is clear that the Tuskegee experiments were racist.   To withhold the nature of the experiments from the subjects, the name of the disease, the treatment of its symptoms and to feel no remorse in inflicting this sort of medical indictment on fellow human beings is not just racist, but also immoral and unjust. Jones points out the Health Services did investigate the treatment of these patients in an Ad Hoc committee.   The resulting medical treatments for the wives and children of the male subjects was offered with no cash restitution allowed (214).   In the end, the government did agree to $10 million dollars in payments to the â€Å"living syphiltics†, the next of kin for those already dead, â€Å"living controls† and the next of kin for the dead controls.   If you had been living with the disease and never treated, you would get a grand total of $37, 500; a paltry amount for the pain and suffering from neglect and racist bigotry (217). Works Cited Jones, James H. Bad Blood: The scandalous story of the Tuskegee experiment – when government doctors played God and science went mad. New York, NY: The Free Press, 1981. Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 2nd Ed.   New York, NY: Random House, 1997.

Strategic marketing planning

Strategic marketing planning The proper application and implementation of a strategic marketing plan is essential to the success of any business. A company can have a perfect product, but without proper placement, identifying an audience and a marketing plan appropriate activity would not be able to market its products to consumers. Watawala Plantations PLC was able to convert an activity performed in the home of commercial success through the implementation and respect of its strategic intentions. The company was able to convince consumers that the store offers more than just tea, but rather a rich experience they should have on a recurring basis. The company was able to translate this consumer experience of its products for an extremely lucrative. This strategic marketing plan will discuss the marketing strategy implemented by Watawala Plantations PLC, and evaluate the plan of the company in the current marketing strategies including market segmentation, targeting strategies, positioning, the competitive environment, and various other factors that affect its marketing strategy including external macro environmental forces. Table of contents Title Page. 1.0 Introduction 04 2.0 Watawala Plantations An Overview 05 2.1 Company Background 05 2.2 Mission, Vision Corporate Values 06 2.2.1 Mission 06 2.2.2 Vision 07 2.2.3 Corporate Values 07 3.0 Product Description Oolong Tea 08 4.0 Construction of SWOT A Situational Analysis 08 5.0 Marketing Objectives 10 6.0 Market Segmentation, Target Market and Positioning 10 6.1 Market Segmentation 10 6.2 Target Market 11 6.3 Positioning 11 7.0 Macro Environmental Analysis PEST Factors 12 8.0 The Marketing Mix 4Ps 14 8.1 Product 14 8.2 Price 15 8.3 Place (distribution) 16 8.4 Promotion 16 9.0 Proposed Marketing Budget 17 10.0 Evaluation and Control 18 11.0 Bibliography 19 1.0 Introduction Today in the rapidly changing corporate arena one of the frequently spoken subject is becoming the Strategic Market Planning and many expensive reference materials can be commonly seen in bookstores, libraries and via online sources. But what exactly is Strategic Marketing Plan, how to assess the external macro environment? What are the impacts of political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors have on developing Strategic Marketing Plan? These are some of the common questions to be answered. Without a clear strategy the organization is like a ship without a rudder, going around in circles. This strategic marketing plan prepared to Watawala Plantations PLC is essential for the newcomer Oolong tea to the market. Oolong Tea is an innovative product that is close to the tea and black tea, and this product can be a cleaner body. This strategic marketing plan will discuss the marketing strategy implemented by Watawala Plantations PLC. It is very much evident, that the strategic marketing plan for Watawala Plantations PLC has been successfully completed after gaining a substantial understanding from the various reliable sources where the information have been gathered. I strongly feel that the information that I have provided in this strategic marketing plan will definitely satisfy the assessment criteria. Last but not the least I wish to mention that, at the best of my knowledge, Ive acknowledged all the sources which I did refer to complete this strategic marketing plan. 2.0 Watawala Plantations An Overview 2.1 Company Background Watawala Plantations PLC is a pioneer tea plantation and marketing company in Sri Lanka. This is a listed company is a joint venture with the legendary Tata Group, which owns the No. 1 tea brand in Britain Tetley. Today Watawala plantations PLC has undertaken the management of selected 18 prime tea estates in all elevations of low-rise, medium-and high-grown along with a pair of rubber plantations, and the Sri Lankas only palm oil factory and employs over 15,000 people. With the joint venture in Tata Tea India, Watawala Plantations PLC has accepted the challenge of converting trade and productivity in to competition. The unique advantage of three diversified namely crops, tea, rubber and Palm has made the company to move in different directions in terms of involvement with the daily life of people in Sri Lanka. Total area of plantations is divided region 12,442.13 hectares, of which 41% is the tea, rubber is 18% and 8% less for the cultivation of oil palm. About 7% is separate for firewood and the rest is uncultivated and remains as the areas of conservation, forestry, spices, vegetable cultivation, jungle, buildings, roads, etc. 2.2 Mission, Vision Corporate Values 2.2.1Mission Statement According to David (1995, p.88) a business mission can be classified as the foundation for priorities, strategies, plans, and work assignment. In other words it can be said as the starting point for the design of managerial jobs and, above all, for the design of managerial structures. A mission statement which focuses on a businesss current activities reveals the long-term vision of an organization in terms of what it wants to be and whom it wants to serve. The Mission Statement of Watawala Plantations PLCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ By the year 2015 we will get closer to our end user locally and internationally by: Adding value to our products (tea, rubber, palm oil) Being committed to producing quality products Using our own brand Fully utilize the technological advancements and land resources in an eco-friendly manner To respect and understand the community in which we do business Celebrate the diversity and the power of our people While continuing toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, Be the preferred supplier in tea, rubber, palm oil globally Enhance return to our shareholders 2.2.2 Vision A strategic vision concerns a firms future business path that is where we are going. Companys vision defines the desired or intended future state of an organization or company in respect of its basic objectives. Vision is a long-term; sometimes describing how the organization wants the world must stay where it operates. The primary role of a companys vision is to establish a dream to all its employees and stake holders to achieve the companys corporate goals. The Vision Statement of Watawala Plantations PLCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ We will take a path no one has walked before and many will want to follow 2.2.3 Core Values Watawala Plantations willà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Ensure that our business is always customer focused and that we continuously strive to meet their demands with the highest level of service. Be committed to offering the highest quality products at all times to our customers globally. Recognize and motivate our employees who are the live wire of the organization, to achieve their fullest potential and provide equal opportunities regardless of gender, religion, race or colour to excel in their work. Value transparency and honesty in everything we do. Contribute positively to the long term sustainability and development of the external community and the environment we operate in. Be innovative and strive for continuous improvement in whatever we do. Recognize that our shareholders are of utmost importance to us and ensure the best possible returns to them. 3.0 Product Description Oolong Tea There are hundreds of different varieties of tea made from tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, but almost all of them is divided into three broader categories which are respectively black teas, which are fully oxidized before drying a careful fermentation process, green tea is dried quickly, while non-oxidized oolong, which is somewhere in the middle and combine the best features of both. Oolong is partially fermented (semi-fermented) tea, which is known for its rich taste and pleasant lasting aftertaste. Oolong is classified as black or dark green tea which is baked longer than Green Oolongs. Green Oolong is usually smells stronger as Dark Oolong is usually has a stronger aftertaste. Special oven baked Oolong is only an intermediate dark green. 4.0 Construction of SWOT A Situational Analysis According to David (2004, pp.156-158) no organization is equally strong or weak in all its functional areas. Objectives and strategies are established with the intention of capitalizing upon internal strengths and overcoming weaknesses. The overall evaluation of a companys strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are called as the SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis is used as a framework to help the firm to develop its overall corporate, marketing, or product strategies. Strengths and Weaknesses are internal factors, which are controllable by the company. Whereas, Opportunities threats are external factors tend to be uncontrollable by the organization. The SWOT analysis of the Watawala Plantations PLC can be illustrated as follows: Strengths Uniqueness of the product Benefits of product are outstanding and not offered by any other product/company. Brand awareness High quality tea High quality service Expertise on the tea business Entrepreneurial spirit and commitment Complete and broad trained staff Opportunities Can open new lines of business Mass market tea prices will stabilize Consumers are living a more healthy lifestyle Consumers prefer quality products that offer true value Modern technology in the tea industry will be able to increase productivity Growth in tea market due to promotional efforts of healthy attributes of tea Threats Seasonal demand Misperception of tea consumption Competition from coffee shops Limited number of raw materials Unstable tea supply of high quality tea High quality tea prices will increase moderately Tea market is very competitive and relative elastic where strong local competitors such as Lipton, Bogawanthalaweà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. SWOT ANALYSIS Weaknesses Budget deficits Less access to modern technologies with to Oolong tea manufacturing process 5.0 Marketing Objectives All businesses, as a rule, need to set objectives on their own, for the products or services they intend to launch. Setting objectives are important; because they focus on specific aims over a period of time and can motivate the staff additionally to meet the set objectives. The marketing intention Watawala Plantations PLC is to grab a 10% market share and to achieve a sales volume worth of SLR 2,500,000 during the current year 2011. 6.0 Market Segmentation, Target Market and Positioning 6.1 Market Segmentation An organization cannot satisfy the needs and wants of all consumers. To do so, may result in a massive drain in company resources. Segmentation is simply the process of dividing a particular market for a good or service into sections, which display similar characteristics or behavior. There are a number of segmentation variables that allow an organization to divide their market into homogenous groups. There is no single way to segment a market. A good marketer has to try different segmentation methods, either alone or in combination, in order to view the market structure clearly. Segmentation can be categorized in to four major variables. They are geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioral variables. It has to be clearly understood that Watawala Plantations PLC has utilized the demographic segmentation variable to divide the market. In demographic segmentation, the market can be divided in to groups such as age, gender, income, family size, family life cycle, occupation, education, race, religion, generation, nationality and social class. But here Watawala Plantations PLC going to consider only the first three groups from the demographic variables as described above. It is very much evident that in particular, the demographic segmentation variables have been chosen because of two reasons. One is that, customer wants, preferences, and usage rates are often associated with demographic variables and the other is that the demographic variables are easier to measure. 6.2 Target Market Target Market is the specific group of customers that a company aims to capture. They have been identified as the people with needs or wants that can be met with the products or services from the company. When evaluating the market segments, Watawala Plantations PLC must look at three major factors. They are segment size growth, segment structural attractiveness, and companys growth. Considering these aspects Watawala Plantations PLC has decided its target group as anybody who is interested in good quality tea. Mass market is the strategy of the company aiming to sell their product to broad market in Spain. 6.3 Positioning After an organization has selected its target market, the next stage is to decide how it wants to position itself within that chosen segment. A products position is the complex set of perceptions, impressions, and feelings that consumers hold for the particular product compared with the competing products in the market. As marketers, Watawala Plantations PLC not only plan positions that gives our products the greatest advantage in selected target markets, but also we design marketing mixes to create these planned positions. Therefore Watawala Plantations PLC is going market its Oolong Tea under its renowned positioning theme THE ART OF TEA 7.0 Macro Environmental Analysis PEST Factors According to David (2004, p.114) the purpose of an external audit is to develop a predetermined list of opportunities that could benefit the firm and threats that should be avoided. The Relationship between Key External Forces and an organization can be illustrated as follows: Therefore while formulating business strategies, Watawala Plantations PLC should be able to respond towards the external macro environmental factors in order to take the maximum advantage of external opportunities or that minimize the impact of potential threats. PEST analysis is a framework used to scan the external macro-environment, in which a firm operates. It is an important aspect to a company, in order to begin the marketing process. The following gird represents the analysis of the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors Watawala Plantations PLC has to consider before deciding either Germany or Australia would be potential market to expand the fruity malt loaf product. The grid below examines the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors with regard to the potential impact and its relative importance towards Watawala Plantations PLC. PEST Analysis Factors Potential Impact Relative Importance Political Factors Strict trading policies Medium Important Funding grants Medium Unimportant Local pressure groups High Unimportant Government policies High Important Political influence High Important Economic Factors Economic structure Command Economy prices are determined by the government Important Taxation issues Total tax rate is 64% on Profit Critical Interest rates 3.0% Important Inflation rates 9.4% Important Socio-cultural Factors Consumer attitudes High Critical Consumer opinions High Critical Media views High Important Brand image High Important Buying access and trends High Critical Health consciousness High Critical Religious factors Medium Important Technological Factors Technology development High Important Research funding Medium Important Recycling systems Medium Important 8.0 The Marketing Mix 4Ps To achieve the marketing objectives, the company has to use the marketing controllable elements (4Ps) effectively. A company might adopt one or more marketing strategies when introducing a product newly. It can set a high or low-level trend for each of its marketing variables, such as price, promotion, distribution, and product quality. Therefore, the key elements of the marketing mix namely product, price, place (distribution) and promotion have to be utilized Watawala Plantations PLC as follows: 8.1 Product A good Oolong tea is refreshing and delicious; the Oolong spectrum has a range of aromas and tastes quite different from what you get with green or black tea. It is difficult to obtain reliable figures on the caffeine content, but its probably not entirely wrong to say that the cup of Oolong average, well mixed, has about half as much caffeine as a cup of black tea and about half again as much as a cup of green tea. The difference mainly comes from the brewing temperature, not the composition of the tea itself. Although Oolong has the characteristics of black and green tea, the taste has little in common. If not overcooked, most Oolong seems almost no trace of bitterness, and generally a stronger aroma than any black or green tea. Like other tea, Oolong is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. These help prevent cancer, keep your heart healthy and aid general well-being. 8.2 Price Price can be simply defined as the amount of money charged for a product or a service provided. A companys pricing decisions are affected either by internal factors relating to the company or external environmental factors or both. The major external environmental factor, which is going to affect the pricing decision, of Watawala Plantations PLC depends on the competitors costs, prices and their possible reactions in relation to the price fixing modes of Watawala Plantations PLC. A consumer when deciding to purchase our Watawala Plantations PLCs Oolong Tea, at the first instance evaluate the price and value of other products, which compete with Watawala Plantations PLCs products. Considering these pricing factors Watawala Plantations PLC should to apply the market penetration pricing strategy, meaning, to fix a low initial price at the introduction stage, in order to penetrate the market successfully at the outset. This is due to the fact that, it is an ideal pricing strategy which can be applied with success at the introductory stage itself, to attract a large number of buyers quickly and effectively so as to win a large market share, in a short period of time. Upon successful launch of Oolong tea, Watawala Plantations PLC can adapt skimming strategy. 8.3 Place (distribution) The distribution modes will cover all areas and all consumers coming under the target group. This is certain as the popularity grows with the demand. A competent distribution strategy will enhance the chances of attaining the goal with easy reach. Through maintaining proper contacts and application of the experience and specialization in the trade and through insuring a steady supply of goods without shortages the reach is assured with satisfactory results. Over the appointment of distributors and agents for the purpose of popularizing the product, requirements and competence in promotion, experience, market familiarity in relation to the productsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. In addition to the distributors, a careful consideration will be given towards selecting the distribution strategy. In this case an intensive distribution strategy will be utilized where it is expected to bring in quick and satisfactory results. 8.4 Promotion Promotion is one of the key elements in the marketing mix. The intention now is to inform, persuade and to familiarize Oolong tea to the market and to popularize it. In this regard sales promotion and pre publicity are two areas, which are related to public relations. To target the group, pre publicity is essential via the media namely the electronic and the print. It is through proper and efficient advertising methods, the target group mainly the consumers would be reached easily which we intend to employ. The channels, which we hope to utilize both in TV and Radio in addition to the press, will be chosen based on their popularity and result-oriented methods adopted. In this regard a careful consideration would be given to economize the expenditure for the promotion purpose. In addition to the above method e-marketing strategy will also be utilized via social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook. YouTubeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. 9.0 Proposed Marketing Budget A financial plan will be carried out since the initiation of the strategic marketing plan in order to determine the total amount of capital needed for each marketing related activity and to be completed within stipulated investment limit, which allows the marketing manager to measure the past with the forecasts actually spent during the project. Figure A illustrates the proposed marketing budget for Watawala Plantations PLC. Figure A Description Amount (SLR) Amount (SLR) Estimated Sales 10,000,000 (-) Estimated Expenses Raw Materials 500,000 Sales Distribution 400,000 Financial Expenses 200,000 HR Administrative Expenses 150,000 Production Cost 1,450,000 Promotional Expenses (posters, banners, advertisementsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc.) 4,500,000 Transportation 300,000 Estimated total expenses (7,500,000) Estimated profit 2,500,000 10.0 Evaluation and Control When involving in introducing a new product into the market, it becomes necessary to plan the overall operation in advance, in addition to budgetary provision to carry forward the objective. The controlling and monitoring aspects are two areas, which need constant attention. Any deviation will tend to upset a proper implementation of this strategic marketing plan. Therefore the following action plan can be utilized by Watawala Plantations PLC in order to evaluate and control the strategic marketing activities. Marketing Strategy Action Responsibility Control and Evaluation Methodology Marketing Communication Campaign Advertisement on TV, internet, radio, newspapers, ad campaigns on the streets Marketing Managers, Marketing Executives Monthly Sales Figures Marketing Promotion Campaign Set Up Special Stand for Personal Selling Marketing Managers, Sales managers, Counter staff Supervisors Count Customers and Monitor Sales per Month Organize Promotional Event Major Cities Marketing Managers, Supervisors, Hostesses Count Participants Promotional offers e.g. free gifts with purchase Marketing Managers, Production Managers Produced Output Figures Distribution of Free Samples to Customers At cash point Marketing Managers, Cashiers, Supervisors Count Customers

The Economic Transformation Programme Economics Essay

The Economic Transformation Programme Economics Essay By year 2020,the government had planned that Malaysia will become a high income economy by having the Economic Transformation Program. An agency to only supervised these programmes is under the Prime Minister Department of Malaysia which are Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU). September 21, 2010 is the launching date for this programme, it is anextensive economic transformation plan to bring Malaysias economy into high income economy. 11 Economic Transformation Program-me projects and nine under three Economic Corridors with investments totalling RM26.09bil had been announced by our beloved Prime Minister, Datuk Seri NajibTunRazak. It is expected to lift Malaysias Gross National Income (GNI) to US$523 billion by 2020, from US$6,700 to at least US$15,000 in raise per capita income, in order to be the World Banks doorstep for high income country. It is predicted that Malaysia will be able to be inline with the plan if GNI arises by 6% per annum. The 60% of the blueprints investment had been set to revitalize Malaysias private sector would, besides, from these 60 percent, 32% is from government linked companies and left with 28% more is from the government.National Key Economic Areas(NKEA) are called for various sectors for development. Figure 1.0 shows the 11 ETP projects are in seven areas which focused on oil, gas and energy, Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley, communications content and infrastructure, business services, healthcare, tourism and education. The location for the economic corridor projects are Sabah Development Corridor, Northern Corridor Economic Region as well as Iskandar Malaysia. The biggest in terms of investment is the to regenerate and revitaliseFurthermore,in the investment field,Malaysia had planned for a Greater Kuala Lumpur by remake the old township of Petaling Jaya. The plan in details are that the 40 acres (16ha) of PJ Sentral Garden City development will be a brand new green central business district of Selangor, supporting Kuala Lumpur and also cover the business hubs near by the city and state. A project also had been planned with Nusa Gapurna Development SdnBhd that is expected to produce 36,828 jobs with a GNI (gross national income) impact of RM522.97mil. Another company is GPS Tech Solutions SdnBhd which is public transportation companies and authorities will work with to roll out a web and smartphone application to provide real-time tracking of public transportation. Moreover, buses with wireless connectivity will be provided through MyPUTRAS (Malaysian Public Transportation System).It costs about RM16.29mil project. MyPUTRAS (is) a free online smart portal and smartphone application which will cater real-time tracking of buses, include time of arrival and departure which make it more convenient to all public transport users. The liberalisation of six sub-sectors under the Competition, Standards and Liberalisation strategic reform initiative. These sub-sectors are the legal services, medical specialist services, dental specialist services, international schools, private universities and telecommunications (Network Facilities Providers (NFP) and Network Services Providers (NSP) sector. Thus,it brings a total of 15 from 17 sub-sectors that were announced during the Budget 2012. Another field, engineering and architectural services, as well as quantity surveying (a new sub-sector), will be the amended legislation giving effect to the liberalisation is passed. This ETP are expected to RM10.1b boost gross national Income, in addition to 64,282 jobs created by 2020. Investment is also one of the main attraction of Malaysia due to the global uncertainty.The strong economic growth had attract many foreign investors and had seen Malaysia as a developing country. Our economists had forecasted that Malaysia will have a strong domestic consumption that keeps expanding especially on our structural changes and also the projects that had been in Economic Transformation Programe. The Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) also believe that we also have to monitor the plan to be followed accordingly. They make a laboratory in order to know the progress of the ETP. In 2010, 131 entry point projects (EPPs) and 60 business opportunities have been identified in this laboratory in a period of 2 months by 425 people that involve in it between government and private sector .211 organizationshad taken place, which are Shell, Exxon-Mobil, MYDIN, Sime Darby, Genting Plantations, Petronas, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Celcom, Ericsson, Maybank, Tesco, Sunway Medical Centre, Masterskill University College, The Body Shop, AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, RapidKL and Digi Telecommunications. It is approximated that these initiatives will generate RM500 billion of national income per year and create up to 2.2 million jobs by 2020. The private sector had contributed 92% ot the jobs opportunities. National Key Economic Areas Since 92% of the total investments will originate from private sector, the sector is much involved in the planning of this transformation blueprint. A workshop had been organised by Performance and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) to identify the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEA). The NKEA is the key driver to the success of this program as such activities have the potential to contribute significantly to the growth of the economy of Malaysia. Besides that, there are 131 entry point projects (EPP) identified under the NKEA, which includes a high speed railway connecting Penang to Singapore and MRT in Kuala Lumpur. Economic activities that are categorized as NKRA will be prioritized in government planning and funds allocation. Policies will be amended to facilitate fast track implementation of such activities, including liberalizing the market and removal of bottlenecks. With this policy, private companies are invited to get involved, with PEMANDU pushing for the implementation to speed up the implementation. Among the companies that are involved in the transformation programme are YTL, Shell Malaysia, Airasia, HovidInc, Select-TV, Exxon-Mobil, Dialog Group, TenagaNasional, Cisco. As an example, in oil, gas, and energy sector, that is the strength of Malaysias economic growth. As of 2010 the energy sector has been an essential part of Malaysias economic growth and it contributes 20 percent of GDP. Another strength is the palm oil industry.As of 2010 ,the fourth largest component of the national economy is belong to Malaysia and contribute to RM53 billion of gross national income. The industry cater the value chain from plantations to processing. The development of this industry is largely for private and remains heavily oriented towards plantations. With the contraints in land available to continue the evolution of plantations, the government craving to boostcompetency in production and focus on adapting great value through downstream activities. The Palm Oil NKEA is purposely forgiving high impact in total contributions to national income from the palm oil industry by RM125 billion to forecasted RM178 billion by 2020. The government aims that 41,000 new jobs will be created in this field. Palm oil related EPPs which focused more on upstream productivity and downstream expansion. These EPPs will focus on replanting of aging oil palms, mechanising plantations, stringently enforcing best practices to enhance yields, implementing strict quality control to enhance oil extraction, and developing biogas facilities at palm mills to capture the methane released during milling. Downstream expansion and sustainability will be achieved by capturing the lucrative market segments that focus more on refined products such as oleo-derivatives, food, health products, and bio-fules. These projects are believed will require funding of RM124 billion over the next 10 years with 98 percent of the funding coming from the private sector as being said by the government. The government has given renewed focus to Malaysias international economic relations, including liberalization and increasing interaction with the global economy. This approach is understandable for a small, open economy that is particularly  dependent on export-driven growth, and faces considerable pressure to attract FDI and increase its exports. Malaysia no longer takes a rigid, narrow stance in choosing its economic partners having decided not to confine itself to one particular global orientation, be it east or west and is signatory to several FTAs through ASEAN. These include FTAs that ASEAN concluded with China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea. Beyond this, Malaysia has also entered into bilateral agreements with Japan, India, New Zealand and Pakistan. Reform in other areas will be equally essential. Government procurement, intellectual property rights and the opening of the domestic financial market (as well as other services) will each have to be addressed. Hopefully, the government will also be nudged into fulfilling the states traditional role of providing citizens with greater access to education, health care, housing and a good public transportation system. First, the attempt to forge links with economies as diverse as China, Pakistan and Chile can be criticised for lacking focus. A slower rate of global engagement might have been preferable, but the international race to conclude FTAs would have excluded Malaysia, had this strategy not been pursued. The government wanted to seize the opportunity to cast its net wider for overseas markets, and the 2008 crisis pushed Malaysia to explore such opportunities. In effect, Malaysia may be seeking membership in a multiplicity of arrangements without any overarching strategy. But to define the objective of entering into an FTA as solely to secure more markets is naÃÆ' ¯ve. Second, the government has given a special priority to developing links with Islamic economies. The Developing 8 Preferential Agreement (with eight developing Islamic countries) and the Trade Preferential System among the Organisation of the Islamic Conference countries are two particularly relevant agreements that Malaysia has ratified in this regard. Sidelining economic relations with Islamic economies, even when the rationale is questionable, can evoke sensitivities among certain quarters of the policy community, but Najib has deftly sidestepped these issues and has forged ties as much with Pakistan  as with China. It would, of course, be hugely myopic to ignore China or India in Malaysias international economic relations. The government strategy for global economic engagement has been criticised on several grounds, and as negotiations for the TPP and the EU-Malaysia FTA progress, opposition could mount. Nevertheless, early successes will put Malaysia in good stead to pursue a dual approach of increasing interactions with the global economy while implementing strong domestic reforms. Fiscal Policy in Malaysia Malaysia follows an explicit fiscal policy rule that disallows an operating deficit in any given year. This aims at making a credible commitment to long term fiscal sustainability by applying discipline to annual budgets. As mentioned before in this report, the implementation of Economic Transformation Plan to move towards high income has proven to be vertically taken off with most targets has been achieved and exceeded within the span of more than 2 years. Based on the executive report by bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Malaysia is moving from a resource based economy into more service centric economy as most of high-income nations globally. Fiscal policy can be further explained as the use of government spending and taxation to further influenced the economy. It is typically to promote a sustainable growth of economy in the long run as well as stabilizing the macroeconomic post crisis such as expanding spending, tax cutting to further stimulate a recovering economy. In the longer term, the government can foster a sustainable economy by improving infrastructures, providing better education and scholarship to boost the professional participation among the public, encourage public participation in corporate as well as academic. In the short term the fall in exports was offset by an unprecedented fiscal stimulus programme launched over two rounds started in 2008. In the total governments countercyclical measures amounted to an estimated RM67, 000,000,000, which were allocated to support private enterprise. The second package which was announced on March 2009, set aside RM 5,000,000,000 to support firms that need access to working capital, with specific involvement in tourism, aviation and auto industries. As such, Malaysia is sought to speed up the implementation of existing infrastructure projects such as the extended rail of Light Railway Transit (LRT), Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), targeting in particular the expansion of high speed broadband network, and also airport upgrades. Although Malaysia has relatively low debt to GDP ratio of around 50%, the global issue of sovereign debt with Greece in early 2010 is likely to put pressure on Malaysia to introduce fiscal tightening measures to prevent increased lending cost. The fiscal deficit target for 2010 has been revised to 5.3% taking into consideration RM12,000,000,000 supplementary budget and the revised 2010 GDP. The 2009 budget gap reached 7% of GDP, largely due to fiscal stimulus plan. The level of government expenditure is forecasted to decline faster with the government promising to introduce an efficiency drive and reduce the subsidies on fuel, food and education. This measure would help to reduce the structural and fiscal deficit, ensuring the governments consolidation efforts have a permanent impact. The spending target set for 2010 is RM 201,700,000,000 in 2010 and the fiscal deficit is expected to decline to 5.3%. Formulation of Fiscal Rules Basically there are 3 major types of fiscal policy rules. First is the balanced-budget or deficit rules comprises of 3 balance between the overall revenue and expenditure; or limit on government deficit as proportion of GDP. Another one is balance between structural and expenditure, and balance between current revenue and current expenditure. The second type of fiscal policy rules is the borrowing rules which prohibits on government borrowing from domestic sources as well as prohibits government borrowing from central bank; or limit on such borrowing as a proportion of past government revenue or expenditure. The third and last fiscal rule is debt or reserve rules which limits on stock of gross government liabilities as a proportion of GDP and target stock of reserves of extrabudgetay contingency funds (such as social security fund) a a proportion of annual benefit payments. In achieving a strong commitment to fiscal sustainability as well as in ensuring the sustainable long term growth, Malaysia is facing implementation constraint; however there is need to adjust the existing procedure to result in enhancing its efficiency. Flexibility can be incorporated into fiscal rules by expanding the horizon for budget formulation including the application of fiscal rules; to cover the course of a business cycle would provide the economy with improved shock-absorptive capacity. For instance, the rule on the annual operating budget for Malaysia could be modified from one year to allow an operating deficit during an economic downturn while observing the balance over the course of a business cycle. It often takes awhile to implement the spending measures, and may be in effect even longer than needed. This would require a medium-term fiscal framework for planning and forecasting. Second, the government can introduce contingency measures during the budget process. It can be either to add stimulus or withdraw as it required. This could include the elimination of a surtax and introduction of a stabilization fund. Although a cut increase in capital spending is effective, but it should be used only as a last resort. This can be triggered during budget execution if actual budge performance deviates significantly from the planned path. Similarly, the scope of stabilizers can be improvised by a more progressive tax system. For instance, tax on high-income household at a higher rate than off the lower income household. There are two types of taxes that can be imposed which are levied to transfer fund from private to public use namely direct taxes levied from income, profit and wealth as well as indirect taxes such as excise duty, sales taxes, quit rent and so on.

The Watergate Scandal :: President Richard Nixon

Watergate Burglary Thesis: Governor Willie Starkie surrounded himself with people that were crooked, just like President Richard Nixon. The people who were in charge of getting Nixon elected did what was necessary to get Nixon elected. I. Watergate first break in occurred on May 28, 1972. A. The burglars made and attempt to unscrew a lock. B. The burglars were after trash. II. Watergate's second break in occurred on June 7, 1972. A. The burglars came back and broke into a safe, stealing cash and checks. III. Watergate's third break in occurred on June 18, 1972. A. The burglar’s last visit to the Watergate was to place the bugging devices. B. The burglar’s last visit results in exposure. Watergate Burglary Governor Willie Starkie surrounded himself with people that were crooked, just like President Richard Nixon. The people who were in charge of getting Nixon elected did what was necessary to get Nixon elected. The Watergate is home of the National Democratic Committee. This is where the scandal occurred that would eventually lead to Nixon’s resigning of the Presidency. During the first break in, we do not really know what the burglar’s full intentions were. What we do know is that between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. on May 28, 1972, the burglars had attempted to unscrew a lock on a door that would allow access to the National Democratic Committee office. The burglars never gained access because they got nervous regarding the presence of the security officers. There is some thought that the burglars were after negative information that could be used against Nixon’s opponent (â€Å"5 held in Plot to Bug Democrats’ office† par. 28). On June 7, 1972, the Watergate was broken into for the second time. The break in occurred about 9 p.m. The burglars had reportedly broken into and stolen money and checks out of a safe. The money and checks were supposed to go to the election campaign for the Democratic presidency race (â€Å"5 held in Plot to Bug Democrats’ office† par. 31). Sunday, June 18, 1972, five burglars broke into the Watergate for the third time. Their main mission this time was to bug the office complex. This mission would end in failure because of the tape. A twenty-four year old guard noticed that a door connecting a stairwell with the hotel’s basement garage had been taped so it would not lock. The guard removed the tape from the door. Ten minutes later, the guard came back and found a new piece had been put on the door, and he immediately called the police.

German Expressionism and Its Roots :: essays papers

German Expressionism and Its Roots Personal freedom and alternative thinking -- these were the conditions in Weimar Republic Germany during the heyday of the Expressionist movement in film. Spanning the years 1909-1924, theirs was a time of revolution (in Russia and Germany), war (World War I), and reaction (the rise of National Socialism in Germany). Anxious about the disintegration of their culture, filmmakers such as F.W. Murnau, Robert Wiene, and Ernst Lubitsch used cinema to create new forms of visual representation, exploring the possibility of reversing power relations through the look. The cinematic Expressionist movement in Germany is generally considered to be the classic period of German cinema; many Expressionist works are included in the canon of the world’s greatest films. From Lubitsch’s masterpieces â€Å"Passion† (1919) and â€Å"Deception† (1920), through Wiene’s famous â€Å"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari† (1919), to Murnau’s brilliant â€Å"The Last Laugh† (1924) and â€Å"Nosferatu† (1922), there has rarely been a movement of such consistent inspiration and achievement. Expressionism in cinema, as in the other arts, attempts to â€Å"reappropriate an alienated universe by transforming it into a private, personal vision.† With that in mind, Expressionist cinema tried to deepen the audience’s interaction with the film, combining technology and imaginative filming techniques in order to intensify the illusion of reality. The Expressionists practically reinvented the look of film with innovative and unusual editing rhythms, perspectivally distorted sets, exaggerated gestures, and the famous â€Å"camera unchained† -- a new technique that allowed the camera to move within the scene, vastly increasing the accessibility of the character’s subjective point of view. The Expressionists developed new habits of seeing,

Domestic Terrorism

Domestic Terrorism in the United States Thomas A. Salisbury HSM 305 Survey of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Professor Erick Stone January 22, 2012 Domestic Terrorism in the United States Domestic terrorism is a real threat to this country. This type of attack is nothing new to this country but until the threat of international terrorism became prominent, there was not a large focus on domestic terrorism. With a look at history, domestic terrorists are a greater threat to security than international terrorists. Some of these threats are easily preventable and others are more difficult to see coming.The Department of Homeland Security needs to focus on domestic terrorist threats with the same effort as they do for international threats. The official definition of terrorism according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation is â€Å"the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social goals†. (Smith, 1994 p6). This definition guides how the FBI takes defines possible terrorist organizations and takes action against them.Terrorists may be left or right wing, from any religious background or any race. This is what makes identifying these groups of people very difficult. While law enforcement would like to say that a typical terrorist is a young, affluent, white male, for example, it is impossible to make that distinction. There is no profile that would fit terrorists in their entirety. It is possible for a terrorist from a certain group to fit a certain profile. A white supremacist group would have a certain type of person as a member. A black militant group would have a totally different type of person.With this being the case, it is important to identify the group of people rather than the individual. Some groups focus on a single issue such as anti-nuclear power or anti-fur trade while others call for greater changes in politics or ideology. A single, lone terrorist or small cell is the most difficult to detect and stop. In the history of this country, there have been numerous cases of domestic terrorism. Most people were unfamiliar with domestic terrorism until the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995. This is because most cases of domestic terrorism do not involve such a large loss of life.In many cases, the loss was financial and casualties were low, if any at all. Animal-rights groups have targeted fur dealers by setting fires in vehicles and buildings to destroy these businesses. The Ku Klux Klan may have killed people but the tended to do so one at a time. This does not create as much of a media buzz as a bombing that kills dozens. By doing this, some of these groups may stay out of the spotlight but in reality, they are more deadly than a single bomber. When unions were forming early in the twentieth century, there were incidences of terrorism on both sides.Strikers were attacked and fac tories were sabotaged. Some of these incidents resulted in the loss of life and almost all involved financial losses. Sometimes, these conflicts are taking place today. Political change is the aim of some of these groups. Communist organizations wanted to make the United States a Marxist country. Organizations also united under a common cause such as in 1981 when the Weather Underground (WU), the Black Liberation Army (BLA) and the Black Panther party united to form the May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO). (Smith, 1994).This group robbed armored cars to fund operations that resulted in the deaths of security officers. A crime that is in the headlines may actually be a terrorist attack used to gain money. Law enforcement must investigate fully to find out why the crime took place. A look back in history may show that terrorists were active even during the Revolution. The Boston Tea Party was staged by colonists who were protesting taxes imposed by the English. (Les Benedict, 2006 ). This incident, along with others, like the burning of a revenue ship in Rhode Island, was done to effect a change in English policy towards the colonies.The English would have viewed these acts as terrorism by today’s standards. Terrorism has also taken place during the Atlanta Olympics and at an abortion clinic when Eric Rudolph planted bombs that killed and injured people. Only an alert security guard at the Olympics prevented a tragedy. A current threat of terrorism is through the use of gangs by international organizations. Al-Qaeda has been closely working with the gang Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13. MS-13 has many ways of passing security at the Mexican border and wants to make money.Al-Qaeda can use them to provide resources and people to use. (Starita, 2009). MS-13 also wishes to have an international presence and a cooperation would give them prestige. Gangs in general present a threat to homeland security and this gang is one of the largest. According to some sources , there are as many as 96,000 members and many sympathizers. (Starita, 2009). This presents a large threat with the potential of many operatives and resources in place already. As with other terrorist groups, these gangs can come together if there is a common cause that suits all of them.Responsibility for preventing terrorist incidents starts with the average citizen. Law enforcement agencies have many types of incidents to respond to and anti-terrorism is only one of them. If a person notices something suspicious such as a person buying many weapons and ammunition, looking for information on bomb-making and materials or becoming radical in their ideology, it would be extremely helpful to notify an agency for an investigation. Many times the first signs of an impending attack would be noticed by a civilian. This could be a friend, family member, coworker or a store clerk.A bystander may also notice an unattended package or suspicious person in an area. This may be just enough to wa rd off the attack if the police are notified promptly. A major difficulty facing law enforcement in the prevention of these incidents is working within the justice system of the United States. The police have to follow procedures and rule laid out in the Bill of Rights and subsequent laws. These laws restrict the rights of law enforcement and protect the rights of the citizens. The First Amendment gives the freedom of religion and speech and of the press.A person can go to a mosque or church that may be radical in their teachings. They may voice their radical opinions as long as it is not an outright threat. Even printed materials about their views are legal. According to the Second Amendment, a person can buy arms and ammunition legally. In order for police to obtain a search warrant, probable cause must be present. (Les Benedict, 2006). Just because a person goes to a radical mosque, a search for bomb-making materials cannot be obtained without probable cause that the materials ar e there. A person cannot be persecuted based on loose suspicions.Therefore, a tip has to be followed up by an investigation to see if the person is doing something illegally. Only if reliable information is present can the police obtain the warrant and execute it. The warrant can be very specific on what can be searched instead of being broad. This may hamper the police from finding evidence as well. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, President George Bush, along with Congress, passed the USA-PATRIOT Act. The Act is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. Del Carmen, 2009). While the act was passed as a reaction to an international terrorist incident, it applies to domestic terrorism as well. This act provided new rules for electronic surveillance such as wiretaps and using technology to gain evidence. These new rules relaxed the requirements for obtaining these types of surveillance. Access to personal information was gained by using fusion centers for intelligence on suspects. The use of these centers has been criticized as being a violation of civil rights by some people. (Del Carmen, 2009).Some provisions of the act have been declared invalid by some courts and the fight against the act will continue into the future. With the provisions of the act, law enforcement has broader authority in investigating individuals and organizations that are suspected of planning terrorist acts. This authority has to be used with good police work like investigations in order to prosecute the right people. Another difficulty law enforcement has is that the process of stopping domestic terrorists is not just intelligence work and conducting a military-style operation to eliminate the threat.Criminal procedure has to be followed. Evidence must be collected in order to prosecute the offenders at a later date. This means the rules of evidence must be followed to in clude chain of custody, proper collection techniques, and documentation. Care must be taken to protect evidence during operations and after the operation is conducted. Multiple agencies may be involved and coordination is necessary between those agencies. A simple incident of a white powder coming from an envelope in the mail involves many agencies. A Hazardous Materials Team would test the powder and most likely take evidence from the scene.Not only would local police be involved but possibly state police and definitely federal law enforcement such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Service Inspectors. Due to many state and federal laws being involved, there has to be coordination between these agencies as to who gets control of the evidence, suspects, and is the prosecuting agency. These difficulties have to be managed in order to prosecute properly. By prosecuting properly, this may deter future incidents. Without this determent, the terrorist may fee l that they can make future attacks without penalty.Response to an incident of domestic terrorism is a multifaceted operation. In most cases, many agencies will be involved. The type of incident that takes place and its location will determine what agencies become involved. All of these agencies have to be prepared to respond and also to cooperate with other agencies on the scene of the incident. Agencies not on the scene may also have a stake in the response and they have to be included as well. The National Incident Management System was created by a Homeland Security Presidential Directive in 2004 in order to provide for a national Incident Command System. Bullock, 2013). The ICS had been used by many agencies in the past but had not been used on a national scale. ICS was created to deal with California wildfires in the nineteen-seventies and was adopted by many fire departments to manage their incidents effectively. (Bullock, 2013). The system uses a single Incident Commander or Unified Command in a leadership position to manage the whole incident. The IC can call on other functions such as command, operations, logistics and finance as the management if the incident progresses. (Bullock, 2013). Use of this system is critical to a good response and recovery.The first agencies to respond will most likely be local fire and police departments. They are the agencies with the most resources close to the scene at the outset. The fire department and emergency medical services will primarily deal with life safety and mitigating hazards that are potentially life threatening. The local police will be the first to gather witnesses and evidence. It is important for these agencies to notify other agencies when the incident requires it. Arson may turn out to be a terrorist incident even though not readily apparent at the outset.A bombing will probably be more apparent. Recognizing an incident for what it is will help an agency bring in the appropriate resources quickly. Some other agencies that may need to be involved include the National Guard, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, FBI and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. If the incident involves radioactive material or biological hazards, the Department of Energy or the Center for Disease Control may be needed. Private companies may be needed for equipment or expertise. All of these entities have to be managed by an Incident Commander.Recognizing the hazards and the incident nature quickly is important. During the 1995 bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, first responders noticed the crater left by the bomb and immediately consulted the FBI. (Cook, 2009). Originally the incident was thought to be a natural gas explosion. By recognizing the incident as terrorism, the proper agencies were then brought in to protect and handle evidence as well as provide some protection to the first responders. In the case of a mass casualty incident, a critical incident stress team may be needed as well.It is important for first responders to protect themselves during a terrorist incident. A secondary device may be present to kill or injure them in order to hamper rescue and recovery efforts. Eric Rudolph planted a secondary device during a bombing at an abortion clinic. This device was planted where the incident command center would be set up. (Ostrow, 1998). Rudolph has observed first responders during multiple false alarms and noticed where command was set up. All Hazards Response was a system that came about after the attacks of 9/11.The Nation Response Plan was created to facilitate an efficient response to a major incident. (Bullock, 2013). This framework helps agencies responding to an incident to integrate with other agencies and pool resources to mitigate the incident. Many agencies may be responding to an incident and a plan to handle the response was necessary. By using NIMS, ICS and the National Response Plan, agencies are coordinated the same way acr oss the country. No matter where the incident takes place, agencies can know what to expect for a system in place before their arrival on the scene.Exercises like Vigilant Guard take agencies such as the National Guard, first responders, state and federal agencies and put them together to practice a response to an incident. In order to become better at responding, these exercises must be held, and agencies willing to take part, to be successful. Domestic terrorism is a real threat to the country. The history of this country shows that this is nothing new and it can be expected to be a threat in the future. Proper planning and the use of exercises are needed to practice the coordination of various agencies.Intelligence and prosecution of offenders has to be a priority to prevent future attacks. The public has to be vigilant and notify the authorities of any suspicions. Prevention of domestic terrorism is a real threat and it is the responsibility of the whole country to prevent attac ks as well as respond properly to them. References: Bullock, J. , Haddow, G. , & Coppola, D. (2013). Introduction to homeland security: Principles of all-hazards risk management (4th Ed. ). Waltham, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann. Starita, Cynthia. (2009).Mounting Threat of Domestic Terrorism: Al-Qaeda and the Salvadoran Gang MS-13. El Paso, TX: LFB Publishing. Retrieved from http://site. ebrary. com/lib/ashford Cook, Alethia. (2009). Emergency Response to Domestic Terrorism: How Bureaucracies Reacted to the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing. New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing. Retrieved from http://site. ebrary. com/lib/ashford Cordesman, A. H. (2002). Terrorism, Asymmetric Warfare, and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Defending the U. S. Homeland. Praeger. From: http://web. ebscohost. com Smith, B. L. (1994).Terrorism in America: Pipe Bombs and Pipe Dreams. State University of New York Press. From: http://web. ebscohost. com Kamien, D. (2010). The McGraw-Hill Homeland Security Handb ook. (1st Ed. ). USA: McGraw-Hill Les Benedict, M. (2006). The Blessings of Liberty. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning Del Carmen, R. (2009). Criminal Procedures. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning Ostrow, R. (1998, October 15). Survivalist Charged in Olympic, Other Atlanta Blasts. Los Angeles Times. p 20. Retrieved from: http://search. proquest. com. proxy/library. ashford. edu/docview/421436549? accountid=32521

The Most Influence Person In My Life

It is believed that in our own life destiny brings us opportunites to meet different kinds of people. Each person gives us a distant. Some may even play a role to help us change ourselves. without a doubt my mother is the most powerful person in my life. My mother is a strong hard working women that never gives up on her dream. Her life inspire me with confidence and great motivition to succed in life. Most of my mother life is hardships and dedication the way she faces with them resilenty and strongly makes a role model.Unfortunately, she continues to suffer from working long hours. there were days she worked up from 10 am and worked continuosly until 9 pm. the thing that i admire about my mother she always keep in mind the postive thoughts. in spite of the hard work that se does day by day. My mother's enthusiasm for learning is most apparent in travel. I was nine years old when my family visited Greece. Every night for three weeks before the trip, my older brother Peter and I sat with my mother on her bed reading Greek myths and taking notes on the Greek Gods.Despite the fact that we were traveling with fourteen-month-old twins, we managed to be at each ruin when the site opened at sunrise. I vividly remember standing in an empty ampitheatre pretending to be an ancient tragedian, picking out my favorite sculpture in the Acropolis museum, and inserting our family into modified tales of the battle at Troy. Eight years and half a dozen passport stamps later I have come to value what I have learned on these journeys about global history, politics and culture, as well as my family and myself.While I treasure the various worlds my mother has opened to me abroad, my life has been equally transformed by what she has shown me just two miles from my house. As a ten year old, I often accompanied my mother to (name deleted), a local soup kitchen and children's center. While she attended meetings, I helped with the Summer Program by chasing children around the building a nd performing magic tricks. Having finally perfected the â€Å"floating paintbrush† trick, I began work as a full time volunteer with the five and six year old children last June.It is here that I met Jane Doe, an exceptionally strong girl with a vigor that is contagious. At the end of the summer, I decided to continue my work at (name deleted) as Jane's tutor. Although the position is often difficult, the personal rewards are beyond articulation. In the seven years since I first walked through the doors of (name deleted), I have learned not only the idea of giving to others, but also of deriving from them a sense of spirit.

Chinese Schools Essay

Chinese schools have come a long way since the colonial days. Over the years and with the evolution of the national education system, Chinese schools have had to face countless threats to their survival. Despite this, Chinese schools have gained popularity and have enjoyed high enrolments, even among non-Chinese students. It has been reported that at least 10 percent of students studying in Chinese schools come from non-Chinese backgrounds. A number of factors contribute to this growing phenomenon. First, Chinese schoolteachers are well known for their high level of commitment. For this and other reasons, students from Chinese schools often excel in public examinations especially in Science and Mathematics. The other attraction of Chinese schools is that students are required to learn an additional language, Mandarin, which is a highly marketable skill in the job market. Chinese Education: A Historical Perspective The beginnings of Chinese education in Malaysia can be traced to the early nineteenth century. It was recorded that by 1815, there were already three Chinese schools in Malacca. One was founded by the London Missionary Society. With regard to the other two, sociologist Yang Qinghuang suggests that â€Å"at least one would be a school founded by the Hokkien people. † Scholar Zheng Liangshu suggests that some old-type Chinese schools might have existed in the Straits Settlements since the end of the eighteenth century. For a long time, Chinese schools in the Straits Settlements received neither help from the British government nor assistance from the government in China. Despite this, they thrived —funded mainly by clan and dialect associations. When faced with political and financial difficulties at the turn of the twentieth century, the Ching government of China changed its attitude towards overseas Chinese and began to promote Chinese education outside of China. It implemented educational reforms based on a proposal by Zhang Zidong. Following the reforms, the curriculum was revised to include Chinese Classical Literature, History, Geography, Mathematics, Moral Education, Physical Education and other optional subjects like Commerce and Drawing. In Malaya, Chung Hwa Confucian School in Penang not only adopted this new curriculum (it was the first to do so), it went further to include English as a subject. Support from the Ching government, however, was short lived. It ended with the fall of the dynasty. Chinese schools that attempted to run modern educational programmes (with a modern curriculum and incorporating English as a subject) faced enormous challenges. On the one hand, they were constantly in need of more funds. On the other hand, they lacked competent teachers. Furthermore, they had to compete with the more established English schools. Even so, there were five hundred Chinese schools with modern educational programmes established in Malaya and Singapore in 1920. By this time, textbooks for these schools had departed from the classical into the vernacular Chinese language (baihuawen). Because of their impressive growth, the British government decided that it could no longer afford to ignore Chinese schools. On 29 October 1920, it introduced the Regist ration of School Ordinance to restrict the activities of Chinese schools in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States by way of registration and inspection. In 1935, control was further tightened: textbooks and teachers from China were prohibited. Only local materials and Malaysian-born teachers were allowed, and activities in Chinese schools came under strict scrutiny. Despite these challenges, Chinese education continued to thrive until it was suspended at the time of the Japanese Occupation of Malaya. After the war, Chinese schools resumed operation. By 1946, their number had ballooned to more than one thousand in Malaya. However, following the Barnes and Fenn-Wu Reports (June 1951) and the Education Ordinance 1952, Chinese education was exclude d from the national education system. The Chinese community rallied to form Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaya, UCSTAM) and Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaya, UCSCAN) to safeguard Chinese education. The Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) joined in. Its president then, Tun Tan Cheng Lock spoke these memorable lines, â€Å"†¦Chinese in Malaya †¦ should be given Chinese education †¦ The dialect or mother tongue can be likened to a person’s shadow, and is inseparable from the person himself/herself†¦ † (translated from Chinese). Efforts to safeguard Chinese education became even more difficult following the Razak Report in 1956 and the Education Ordinance in 1957. Thereafter, Chinese primary education was officially included in the national education system, classified as standard-type primary schools with Chinese language as the medium of instruction. However, Chinese secondary schools were excluded from the system when the Lower Certificate of Education examination (L. C. E) was introduced in English. This was not in accordance with the promise of fairness to other ethnic languages in the country as specified in the Razak Report. Furthermore, the Chinese community were horrified by the terms of reference in Paragraph 12 of the Razak Report: â€Å"†¦the ultimate objective of educational policy in this country must be to bring together the children of all races under a national education system in which the national language is the main medium of instruction. † Paragraph 12 was subsequently omitted following strong opposition from the Chinese community headed by Jiao Zong. Both the Rahman Talib Report (1961) and the Education Act (1961) reaffirmed the education policy as stated in the Education Ordinance 1957. Since government financial aid was vital to the survival of Chinese secondary schools, more than half of the 41 Chinese secondary schools then had little choice but to ‘convert’ itself into English medium national type secondary schools. On hindsight, many Chinese view this decision as a big mistake. The remaining 14 schools refused to give in, and have remained ‘independent’ to this day. The MCA facilitated this ‘conversion’ as it was satisfied with the verbal promises made by the Education Minister that â€Å"the government has no intention to exercise its authority granted under the Act to change Chinese primary schools to national schools† and that â€Å"Chinese schools are allowed to allocate one third of their curriculum for learning Mandarin and Chinese literature. † As a consequence of this concession made at the secondary  school level, development of Chinese education in Malaysia was restricted thereafter to the primary school level. The New Education Act 1996 posed an even bigger threat. It threw into question the status of national-type schools that were not established under Section 28 of the new Act. In fact, prior to this during the initial stage of implementing the ‘3R system’ (Reading, Writing & Arithmetic) in 1980, Chinese schools had already been challenged to forgo their medium of instruction. Materials for learning all subjects except Mandarin were available only in Bahasa Melayu. In response, Dong Jiao Zong and various Chinese guilds and associations submitted a memorandum to voice their opposition to the Ministry of Education in 1981. The schools were given the assurance that the government had no intention of changing the character of Chinese schools. However in the ensuing years, Chinese schools were asked to consider the concept of ‘integrated schools’ (1985) and Vision Schools (proposed in 1995, implemented in 2000), in addition to the latest â€Å"2-4-3† resolution that sought to introduce the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (proposed in 2002, implemented in 2003). Despite these challenges, Chinese schools seek to maintain emphasis on the â€Å"Five Aspects of Formal Education in Confucianism (Wuyu Jiaoyu)† namely, moral (de), intellectual (zhi), physical (ti), social (qun ) and aesthetic ( ei) education. Until today, Chinese schools m continue to value discipline, respect for the elderly, courtesy, personal character and morality, rather than marketable skills such as computer literacy, Mathematics and Science. Some Reflections How does the development of Chinese education affect the church community i Malaysia?  n Should we stake our claims to citizenry and defend our right to be educated in our own (mother tongue) language? What about racial integration? Is it possible to promote Chinese education without further polarising the different communities? First, we have a moral basis for defending Chinese education. Being given the choice and having the opportunity to be educated in one’s own language is a universal human right according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. Chinese education ha s existed in this country since the nineteenth century. As such, I believe we ought to defend the right of its existence in the same way as we would for the education of other ethnic communities in their own languages. Second, there is value in the Chinese school culture that is worth speaking up for. Even though outsiders might consider the Chinese community uncompromising in its stand with regard to educational issues, it must be pointed out that it is not just about safeguarding the Chinese language but it is also about retaining the ideals of holistic education. Furthermore, Chinese schools have a tradition of nurturing dedicated schoolteachers, and the Christian community should be at the forefront to encourage this culture of service and excellence. In the past, many of them have had to pay a high price for their conviction and dedication by becoming ‘martyrs’: Zhuang Xiquan, Chen Taomin and others were deported for opposing the Registration of School Ordinance 1920; Lim Lian Geok and Yen Yuan Chang were deprived of citizenship in 1961; Lim Huang Sheng and Sim Mow Yu were jailed under the Internal Security Act in 1987. Chinese education aids evangelistic work among the Chinese community. It provides students with a better understanding of the Chinese culture. Whereas in the past, the content of Chinese education was often influenced by traditional beliefs and practices, the Chinese education system today is more open to intellectual discourse on rethinking and repositioning the Chinese identity. The main grouse against Chinese schools is the lack of racial integration since students come from predominantly one ethnic background. The question we must ask is, is this acceptable or healthy in a multi-ethnic society like Malaysia? Most advocates for Chinese education would argue that it is less than ideal but what choice do they have? If national schools were to adopt a more holistic philosophy, and their teachers showed a more credible record in terms of commitment and disciplining of students, and if they provided students with the opportunity to study their own languages, racial integration would be less of an issue and Chinese students would be more  evenly distributed between national and Chinese schools. Despite this obvious shortcoming related to racial integration, I still advocate Chinese education for what it offers. Clearly, through its holistic philosophy and track record, it has produced many responsible citizens through the years. Chinese education continues to play a significant role in nation-building and church life in Malaysia. Florence Kuek lectures Mandarin at Universiti Teknologi Mara.