Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Great Recession Of 2008 Was A Worldwide Economic Downturn

The Great Recession of 2008 was a worldwide economic downturn that impacted the global economy. Economists consider the economic decline as one of the most damaging recessions that occurred since the Great Depression of 1930’s. Several documentations and research regarding the recession have been made to make a better understanding of the economic downturn in 2008 as well as the global economy as a whole. The book used as reference in this essay, the Diary Of A Very Bad Year: Confessions of an Anonymous Hedge Fund Manager, captured the events corresponding to the length of the Great Recession through separate interviews of an anonymous hedge fund manager (HFM). The interviews contain information shared by HFM that describes the Great†¦show more content†¦HFM’s experience as a hedge fund manager gives value into this information and the authority to describe what started the crisis. The advantage that follows from the source regarding this idea is that it record ed information that described the creation of the mortgage bubble in the financial market, and the damage dealt to the financial system when the mortgage market crashed from a finance expert. The disadvantage is that the subprime market might not be the only reason of the misallocation of resources, given the fact that HFM’s hedge fund was involved in the subprime market which might have formed a biased opinion on that matter (18-19). The nature of the source does not complicate the idea of the cause of the crisis, although concluding that the subprime market was the main cause could complicate the subject. This clearly shows that the idea of the misallocation of resources within the book had negatively impacted the financial system that built the momentum of the economic decline. Another main idea in the book is the linkages of the financial system to the real economy during the recession. In the duration of the financial crisis, unemployment as well as job loss increased, w age eroded, and companies and businesses closing were in significant numbers (66; 83). In a more specific example, the Reserve PrimaryShow MoreRelatedThe Courage Of Act Memoir Is Essential Reading For People Who Wants You Know What Happened At Federal Open844 Words   |  4 PagesThe Courage to Act memoir is essential reading for people who wants to know what happened at Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Aug. 5, 2008. It invokes comparisons to the Great Depression and at the same time suggests that Shucks, it was not all that great, was not a depression or anything (Bernanke). But Bernanke is persuasive in arguing that it was pretty damned high i.e. terrible and he and his members at the Fed deserve credit for the fact that it wasn t a heck of a lot greater. 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The stock market crash of â€Å"Black Thursday† on the 24th of October 1929 marked the end of the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†, temporary period of prosperity and endless hope in the United States. B utRead MoreUnderstanding the Economic Recession in America Essay1165 Words   |  5 PagesThe economic recession of the late 2000s has been called the greatest economic downturn our country has faced since the Great Depression. American businesses and banks are failing, foreclosures are spreading like wildfire, and unemployment numbers have reached double digits. Under our current president, many are optimistic, but many others are fearful for the future. Economists have different speculations regarding the causes of the â€Å"Great Recession†. Some blame it on higher prices for necessitiesRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 2007-20081419 Words   |  6 PagesAn excess of regulation, rather than an insufficiency of it, was the principal cause of the recent credit crunch. 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The term Celtic Tiger was first coined by an Irish economist Morgan Stanley and derives from East Asian Tigers: South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan which experienced a similar economic boom to that of Ireland in the lateRead MoreGlo bal Financial Crisis : Its Causes And The Global Responses Essay1592 Words   |  7 Pageshave begun in July 2007 with credit crunch, when a loss of confidence by the US investors in the value of sub-prime mortgages caused a liquidity crisis. On the other hand, due to the big changes that took place over the last 20 to 30 years in the worldwide economy and the influence of 2007 financial crisis, it has re-emerged as one of the hottest topics on the agenda of accounting standards setters both under United States of America (USA). Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and internationalRead MoreCollapse Of The Us Mortgage Crisis1709 Words   |  7 PagesDuring 2008, a series of economic disasters led to a worldwide debt crisis. All over the world, interest rates were at a record low. These low rates â€Å"fuelled domestic spending and spurred inflation in wages and goods† which encouraged people to take out loans and spend money they did not have (The Causes: A Very Short History of the Crisis). These easy credit conditions led to a debt bubble that inevitably burst with worldwide consequences. Following the collapse of the US mortgage market, LehmanRead MoreThe Great Recession of 20082062 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract A recession is full-proof sign of declined activity within the economic environment. Many economists generally define the attributes of a recession are two consecutive quarters with declining GDP. Many factors contribute to an economys fall into a recession, but the major cause argued is inflation. 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Monday, December 23, 2019

The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights - 892 Words

Human rigths is an essential component of a tolerant and individually satisfied society. They are created to defend people’s dignity, equality and liberty. However, for thousands of years people lived with no garanteed rights, until 1948, when United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But is the Universal Declaration of Human Rigths really universal to all states and humans living in them? I am going to argue if Human Rights should or should not be unically adapted to different cultures, religions and beliefs. There are two main concepts, which distinct the requirement of globally spread universality of Human Rights. First of all, both theories should be presented: relativism and universalism. They are two borderline doctrines, differing on the basic approach to universal truth. Universalism claims that it is impossible to preserve and fight for human rights without defending universalism itself, as it is the foundation for the expansion of liberty and equality in all cultures. The basic and most substancial statement in universalism is that Human Rights are acquired by all individuals, everywhere in the world, regardless of everything: religion, culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or their economical situation. Relativism, in contrast to universalism, states that human rights should be adjusted to different cultures, civilizations and religions. It implies that there are no universal human rights and people receive their rightsShow MoreRelatedThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1728 Words   |  7 Pagespeople. Culture can impede progress and leave women, minorities and other sub-sects of a society without the basic human rights that they deserve. Clinging too close to culture can be dangerous. The Foundations of a Universal Declaration The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was drafted shortly after the United Nations was established in 1945. The aim of the Declaration was to ensure that an atrocity such as the mass killings of Jews and other minorities in Nazi Germany would never happenRead MoreThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights1131 Words   |  5 PagesHuman rights are moral principles that set out specific standards of human behavior, and are normally ensured as lawful rights in both national and global law. They are acknowledged to be inalienable, since anybody is characteristically qualified for it essentially on the grounds that they are individuals. Whatever our nationality, sex, shade, religion, dialect, or ethnic source is, we are all just as qualified for our rights without separation or discrimination. All human rights are resolute andRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pages The Universal Declaration of Human rights was adopted in the UN gene ral assembly by the 10th December 1948. This is the first time that the world recognized that everyone had the right to enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom from fear and want, and many other rights. International human rights come along way; before there was no rights. The idea of having rights that led to the development of international human rights takes time. There are benchmarks developments in internationalRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesA human right is an ethical choice and moral belief belonging to all humans regardless of traits, status, location, color, gender, or belief system. Making the connection to a universal law, the United Nations Rights High Commissioner explains these rights are, â€Å"guaranteed by law† and protected as â€Å"fundamental freedoms† (OHCHR, 2016). The Cambridge Dictionary defines privilege as â€Å"an advantage that only one person or group of people has† listing examples such as having a high social position or wealthRead MoreUniversal Declaration Of Human Rights1263 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a doctrine created to ensure a mutual standard of treatment amongst all humans, every person deserves an equal set of life standards. According to Article 18 of this 30 Article document, â€Å"everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teachingRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1417 Words   |  6 PagesImplemented in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) delineates the basic rights and freedoms entitled to all humans. The freedom of speech and the right to express beliefs freely is a universal human right protected by Article 19 of the UDHR. It declares that â€Å"everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression† and can â€Å"hold opinions without interference†. The regional agreements of Iran, China and Bahrain are in accordance with the Universal Declaration and are fully dedicatedRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights875 Words   |  4 PagesI feel that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) does have a western bias. Many people look to US for guidance, but not many other nations copy our way of life. States can sign treaties, but they cannot be reassured that the other nation will keep its word. The US and the UN should maybe not be engaging in promoting western society, but they should be engaging in promoting the protection of human rights. The UN UDHR fought for minimal rights in 1948 by identifying three types of generationsRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1485 Words   |  6 Pages1003236982 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states â€Å"that human rights are held by all persons equally and universally forever† –hence, they are universal held. This is due to them being the exact same for all human beings anywhere in the world. One cannot acquire human rights because of where they come from, but because they are a member of the human race. Nobody can lose those human rights, nor can they be taken away for whatever the reason may be. Together, we have the right to express ourselvesRead MoreThe Declaration Of Universal Human Rights869 Words   |  4 PagesGeneral Assembly (UNGA) set forth a declaration of universal human rights. The goal was to set a common standard of rights based on â€Å"recognition of the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.† It was meant to become the perfect social contract but unfortunately was not upheld even by the signatory nations themselves. Many critics now looking b ack have cited the overreaching ideals as the downfall of the declaration but yet many have responded saying itRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights3323 Words   |  14 Pagesthe Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the concept of human rights has gradually become one of the most commonly accepted universal norms, referred to in United Nations resolutions, national constitutions and regional and international treaties. Even so, human rights violations occur on an almost daily basis in countries around the world. The term seems to be at the forefront of contemporary political discourses, with its meaning at most times remaining unclear. In theory, human rights

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The World Wide Web Free Essays

string(64) " stream between LDAP client and the server \(Sheresh B, 2001\)\." Introduction The World Wide Web makes available so much information; only unfortunate is the fact that there were no tools to query such information to its fullest extent. The world needed an acceptable method for searching for and using resources over computer networks. Resources may take the form of computers, businesses, schools and users hence a Directory Access protocol. We will write a custom essay sample on The World Wide Web or any similar topic only for you Order Now A directory is a huge collection of well organized and indexed records or specialized databases that are optimized for a direct lookups (Barber B., et al. 2009). Some directories that can be accessed by LDAP server include the Active Directory (AD) and the Domain Name Service (DNS). The Directory services are categorized into two distinct groups; the local service and the global service group The local service has its service on a single machine while the Global service however has its data spread across many machines and provides its service on a bigger and broader scale that is to the World Wide Web. All these directories on the global directory services cooperate to provide the directory service. A typical example of this global service group is the Domain Name Systems. LDAP as an acronym for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol is a series of interconnected databases located in different locations on the internet and is an open standard lightweight version of a Directory Access Protocol. It is a protocol that runs over TCP/IP protocol and its data is optimized more for reading than for updating. The way of getting out this structured information from diverse sources in an efficient manner is what LDAP concerns itself about. LDAP is based largely on Directory Access Protocol. The Directory Access Protocol is designed for communication between directory servers and client’s complaint to the x.500 standard. The X.500 standard defines a protocol for a client application to access the X.500 directory. The X.500 directory service is an LDAP-enabled directory service that provides the capability to look up and search for information almost like the yellow pages services (Nancy, C., 2003). DAP is one of the X.500’s directory client access protocols that supports the search and lookup feature of the X.500 but DAP had some performance problems. Some problems of the DAP includes the size. The DAP was very large, complex and difficult to implement (Howes, T., et al, 2003). The LDAP was then introduced as it is faster and simpler without the performance problems DAP posed. The LDAP is based on a client-server model. In this system, there are LDAP servers that host public directory service and the clients that connect to the LDAP servers to search for results. LDAP clients are inbuilt into many address book applications today including some email clients like the Microsoft outlook. The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol employs the following operations. 1. Binding to server 2. Searching for an entry 3. Comparing entries 4. Adding an entry 5. Modifying existing entries 6. Removing an entry Of all the operations LDAP deploys, the binding process is the one that involves authentication and it is here that LDAP security becomes of much value. An LDAP client initiates a connection with the LDAP server by sending a bind operation. This bind request may contain the user authentication information. 1. LDAP SECURITY FEATURES This bind feature is captured under the security model of the LDAP models and it provides a mechanism for clients to authenticate themselves before they can access data from the LDAP server (Howes T., Smith, M. 1997). It is commonly done with the use of userID and password logons. The knowledge of these authentication credentials guarantees that the user is indeed genuine since LDAP is a connection-oriented, message based protocol (Carter, D. 2003). The number of times a login attempt can be made is totally configurable. The diagram shown below shows the process of binding to the server in much clearer view. Figure i (Adopted from: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee690469.aspx) The process whereby an LDAP client is authenticated by the LDAP server is known as BINDING(David, N., et al 2001). When a client is successfully authenticated, he is allowed access to the server based on his authentication privileges. T he different kinds of authentication includes Anonymous Authentication Basic Authentication Authentication over Transport Layer Security. Authentication via Secured Socket Layer Simple Authentication and Security Layer Access control List 1.1 ANONYMOUS AUTHENTICATION It is noteworthy to say that the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol supports anonymous access. This means anyone can have access to information provided by the LDAP server for some applications without the need to provide a DN and password. A DN is a unique name for an entry in the LDAP directory services. An LDAP server authenticates a user as anonymous if a bind operation is not sent with an initial bind operation. So, for security reasons, the ldap anonymous authentication should be disabled. An anonymous authentication feature can be disabled with the â€Å"disallow bind_anon† parameter (Carter, G. 2003). Figure ii. Screenshot of an openldap anonymous authentication. 1.2 BASIC/SIMPLE AUTHENTICATION The basic authentication is sometimes referred to as simple authentication method and it is a kind of authentication system used by web browsers like the internet explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape web-browser and some client based application programs to connect to the server. This kind of authentication sends authentication credentials across to the LDAP server in clear text. These credentials usually take the form of a user authentication like the username and password. This type of authentication system is vulnerable to potential exploiters as the unencrypted authentication data is sent in the clear. Figure iii : Screenshot of a basic simple authentication. Obviously, an authentication method that will not permit eavesdropping is required. The developers then chose to incorporate an authentication framework called Simple Authentication and Security Layer – SASL (Howes T. et al, 2003). 1.3 SIMPLE AUTHENTICATION AND SECURITY LAYER The SASL is a powerful means of providing secure communications using Kerberos and a variety of other methods in LDAP v.3 by encrypting the entire data stream between LDAP client and the server (Sheresh B, 2001). You read "The World Wide Web" in category "Essay examples" The SASL option is needed when a The LDAP server provides a set of supported authentication mechanism and the client decides which of them to use. It is the mechanism that describes the flow of information that needs to occur to support a particular authentication method. (Howes T et al, 2003). Some of the mechanisms includes the Challenge-Response Authentication Mechanism Message Digest 5 (CRAM-MD5) – This is an algorithm which uses MD5 hash for client authentication, GSSAPI – This supports Kerberos authentication, SKEY – This employs a Message Digest (MD4) algorithm. Kerberous_v4 – which involves a Kerberos encryption algorithm (Anderson R. et al. 2002). With this more secured basic authentication, the message transfer is encrypted all through the server-client data exchange. Microsoft Windows NT LAN Manager (NTLM) – The NTLM is simply an authentication protocol like the Kerberos that improves authentication, integrity and confidentiality to users by hardening protocol against many spoofing attack. It is a challenge-response authentication protocol (Lefkovitz W., Wade W., 2001) that ensures that a user is indeed who he says he is by answering correctly the challenge that the LDAP server generates in three steps. * Negotiate_Message * Challenge_Message * Authenticate_Message. 1.4 AUTHENTICATION OVER TRANSPORT LAYER SECURITY This mode of encryption and authentication is closely related to the SSL, a Secure Socket Layer encrypts the data connection over which a simple password is transmitted. This protects data from packet sniffing by anyone with physical access to the network. SSL uses a certificate-based method for an SSL security to work. Like SSL, TLS also uses a certificate-based method of authenticating users. TLS provides proof of a server identity and protection of data in transit. The Access Control list is also a security feature supported by LDAP and this prevents data from being seen and modified by unwanted people. Figure iii showing TLS 1.5SECURED SOCKET LAYER SECURITY FEATURE This is an LDAP Administration and security tool developed by Netscape for creating secured connection between a client and server over the internet using port 636. According to Bialaski T et al,(2001), a secured LDAP connection is accomplished from client-side SSL. This mode of authentication is based on issuance of signed digital certificates from trusted authorities. In accordance to Bialaski T.,(2002), the mechanism for identity using SSL is the digital certificate. Figure iv LDAP client – server binding using SSL (Adopted from: http://sqltech.cl/doc/oas10gR3/core.1013/b25209/ssl_intro.htm). The two aspects of security using SSL are the identification and the encryption 1. Identification. – It checks to make sure that the client is indeed genuine by checking the digital certificates. 2. Encryption. – Encrypts data sent from one the client computer to the server and it is a security tool uses a secured TCP/IP port 636. 2. ACCESS CONTROL SECURITY FEATURE OF LDAP. An Access Control List is simply a list of permissions attached to an object (Reisman, B. and Ruebush, M., 2004). As the directory gets populated with data of varying importance, controlling the kinds of access to the directory and records in the directory becomes more vital. Permission as to who has a read, write or no access at all is used to grant or refuse a user or group of users (OU) a specific action (Reisman, B. and Ruebush, M. 2004). Each entry in a LDAP directory contains a special set of attributes which describes who is allowed access information within that entry denoted by DN. Distinguished names. The type of access granted a user determines the operations that can be performed. Most LDAP servers provide a set of access levels operations such as: – Add an entry – Delete and entry – Access an entry – Read an attribute – Modify an attribute – Search an attribute. An LDIF (Lightweight Directory Interchange Format) is a plain text data interchange format for representing LDAP directory content. It used mostly to construct a directory information tree, add an entry into the ldap directory, Delete an entry, export a directory and edit a directory (Zytrax, 2008). According to Carter G. (2003), The slapd.conf file is the central source of configuration information for the OpenLDAP standalone server (Slapd) The slapd,conf is the configuration file for slapd which is a stand-alone LDAP daemon that handles the connection management, access control and protocol interpretation. The configuration file is found in the /etc/openldap/slapd.conf. It is screenshot and displayed below. Figure v: Screenshot of anonymous user authentication in slapd.conf file Figure V above allows authenticated users to change their own passwords. Allows un-authenticated users to authenticate and prevents all other access to the user Password and it permits read access to everything else. 2.1SECURITY AUDITING FEATURES FOR LDAP As a network grows, it experiences a huge flow of user logons and even huge security problems. As an administrator, it is important to monitor the LDAP server activity The directory server comes with three types of log files. Access logs, Error logs and audit logs. ldap logging option in slapd.conf logs to a slapd-log file when configured. The type of information we require slapd-log to store is defined in the level option in slapd.conf file and it represented by a number which is shown in table 3.1 below. -1 Log all information 0No logging 1Trace function calls 2Packet-handling debugging 4Heavy trace debugging 8Connection management 16Packets sent and received 32search filter processing 64Configuration file processing 256Statistics of connections 512Print entry debugging Table 3.1 OpenLDAP logging levels Analysing the /var/log/slapd-log file gives a good idea on what kind of entries are being searched as well as the frequency of access on the ldap server. The downside to this is that the logfiles get very bulky with time. 2.2BRUTE-FORCING IN LDAP According to Radhamani, G. and Radha K. (2007), a brute force attack is a method of defeating an authentication scheme by trying very many possible combinations. The syslog is an essential tool in logging system events. When a user attempts an invalid logon attempt, the event is logged. Bruteforce attack login attempts are no different as they are conspicuous on the syslog file because multiple unsuccessful login attempts will be made.. To decrease the chances of a successful brute force login attack, the following steps should be taken. Length of authentication characters should be increased. : The user authentication credentials should be made more complex. The higher the number of characters in The I.P address from which the brute forcing is done be locked out after a certain period of attempts. Delay timing is implemented in between failed authentication attempts. CONCLUSION A directory, being a collection of well organized and indexed records optimized for direct lookups (Barber, B. et al. 2009) are very essential to our everyday information sourcing. It therefore requires that the records in this directory be secured. The following options list methods that can be employed for these records to be secured. Ensuring a secured communication between the LDAP client and server to checkmate sniffing. Access control listing must be configured properly and double checked for complexities in its setup that may lead to a loophole in ldap security. Login activities must be logged. Once these security features are put in place, the world of a more structured information sourcing would be a better place. REFERENCES Ambro D., Tittel E (2003); Solaris 9 system administrator certification. Anderson, R. and Johnston, A. (2002); UNIX unleashed Sams publishing Barber, B., Happel, C., Terrence, V. and Speake, G. (2009) CompTia Linux+ Certification study guide: Exam XK0-003.UK: Elsevier Inc. Bialaski, T. and Haines, M. (2001); Solaris and LDAP naming services: Deploying LDAP in the enterprise. USA: Carter, G. (2003) LDAP System Administration. O’Reilly Media, Inc., USA. David N. Blank-Edelman (2009) Automating system administration with perl. USA: O’Reilly Media, Inc., Howes, T., Smith, M. and Gordon S.(2003) Understanding and deploying LDAP directory services Addison-Wesley Howers, T. and Smith, M.; (1997) LDAP: Programming directory-enabled applications with lightweight directory access protocol; Sams Publishing. Lefkovitz, W. and Wade, W. (2001) Configuring Exchange 2000 server. USA: Syngress publishing. Inc, Nancy, C. (2003). Directory services: design, implementation, and management. USA: Butterworth-Heinemann. Radhamani, G. and Rao. R.K.(2007); Web services security and e-business. USA: Idea Group Inc. Reisman, B. and Ruebush, M. (2004) MCSE: windows sever 2003 network security design, USA: John Wiley and Sons, Sheresh B, Sheresh D.(2001); Understanding directory services Sams Publishing, Zytrax (2008); Chapter 8. LDAP LDIF and DSML, (Online)Accessed:23rd March 2011 How to cite The World Wide Web, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Profit Maximization Is the Only Realistic Criterion by Which Business Organizational Effectiveness Should Be Reasonably Judged free essay sample

One side consists of purely economic view where management’s only social responsibility is to maximize profit while the other side is all about socio-economic position holding values and ethical rules that managers and non- managerial employees are expected to follow. General Overview Business ethics Definition: These are moral principles that guide the way a business runs / is conducted. Approaches to business ethics * Deriving Business Ethics from the Profit Motive * Deriving Business Ethics from General Moral Obligations * Business Ethics restricted to following the Law Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Definition: Understanding your business’ impact on the wider world and considering how you can use this impact in a position way. Dimensions of CSR * Ethical dimension * Economic dimension * Philanthropic dimension * Legal Dimension * Civil law * Criminal law CSR Perspective * Efficiency perspective * Managers as Agents * Manager as Owners * Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Perspective * Inside Out Approach * Outside In Approach * Outside Out Approach * Social Responsibility Perspective In depth Discussion Business Ethics When business ethics is spoken of it usually means one of three things, i. . i. Avoid breaking the criminal law in one’s work related activities. ii. Avoid actions that may result in civil law suits against the company and iii. Avoid actions that are bad for the company’s image. Behaving ethically means distinguishing between right and wrong and making the best logical decision. It is not hard to identify unethical business practices; examples of such practices include; * Use of child labor * Use of unlawfully copy righted materials * Engaging in bribery * Unfair treatment of the employees * Discrimination and violation of human rights. Approaches to business ethics Deriving Business Ethics from the profit motive There has been an argument that there is symbiotic relation between ethics and business in which ethics naturally emerges from a profit oriented business. This approach has two versions; the weak and strong version. Weak Version This version suggests â€Å"good ethics result in good business† meaning moral business practices e quals profit. Example, it is profitable to make safe products which will result in low product liability lawsuits. F. Hartley’s book, â€Å"Business Ethics† argues that long term interests of a business are served best by seeking a trusting relation with the public. Hartley 1993) However this version has a number of problems. Criticism of the weak version * Moral business practices will have an economic benefit in a long run hence it provides less incentive for businesses designed to seek short term profits. * Some of these practices are not economically viable even in a long run. Example the act of keeping older workers who are no longer efficient as opposed to replacing them with younger more efficient workers * Importantly these moral business practices depend on what â€Å"at that time† will produce a profit. The same practices might not be viable economically in a different market. Strong version It suggests the reverse strategy that in a competitive and free market profit motive will bring about proper moral environment. I. e. when customers demand safe products and workers demand privacy then they will work for and buy from those companies that meet these demands. In simpler terms â€Å"good business results in good ethics† Milton Friedman argues that this will only happen if at all the governments allows a truly free and competitive market. Criticism of the strong version This approach assumes that consumers and workers will demand the morally proper thing. A consumer may opt for a lesser safe product if they know it will save money similar to workers, they might forego demands of privacy if compensated with higher wages. * Business ethics restricted to following the law Moral obligations in business are restricted to the law requirements. Moral principles beyond law requirement / supra-legal principles appear optional since there is a dispute of their validity from philosophers and a wavering society on their acceptance. Without a widely recognized system of ethics outside the law it is unreasonable to demand business people to be obligated to principles that are optional. We live in a cultural pluralistic society where the business related moral obligations are those already contained in the law such as product safety, safe working conditions, fair hiring and firing practices, honest advertisement etc * Deriving business ethics from general moral obligations This approach suggests that morality must be introduced as a factor outside both the law and the profit motive. Gene Lacznick, â€Å"Business Ethics: A Manager’s Primer† 1983 says â€Å"proper ethical behavior exists on a plane above the law. Law merely specifies the lowest common denominator of acceptable behavior. † Philosophers offer five fairly general moral principles as suggestions Harm principle: there should be fairness in all of the business’ practices Human right principle: Human rights should be respected by all businesses Autonomy principle: Businesses cannot infringe on the rationally reflective choices of people Veracity principle: Deceptive practices should not exist. Criticism * The principles are too general; they do not specify what counts as unfairness, human right violation or harm. * They are abstract in nature * They do not give clear guidance when dealing with complex situations * They are difficult to apply to concrete situations. CSR is a balance between law and ethics. It is a about taking a responsible attitude going beyond the minimum legal requirements and following straight forward principles that apply whatever the size of your business. Law Rules establishes by a government under which businesses operate. Going against law leads to punishment, usually paying a fine or jailed or sometimes both at once. Ethics Branch of philosophy dealing with right and wrong, moral principles or values governing a particular culture, group or individual. Dimensions of CSR Social responsibility is the organizations obligation to maximize its positive impact on stake holders and reducing the negative impacts. It includes legal, economic, philanthropy and ethical dimensions. * Legal Dimension It concerns obeying the government’s laws and regulations. Civil law duties and rights of individuals and organization * Criminal law laws that prohibit certain actions and violation will result to being imprisoned or fined or both * Economic Dimension It is all about how resources for the production of goods and services are distributed within the social system. As the manager you need to ask yourself do consumer favor companies that are socially responsible or those that are only concerned with making profit . * Ethical Dimension This refers to the behaviors and activities that are expected or prohibited by the organizational members, society or community * Philanthropy Dimension The organization’s contribution to the society CSR is mostly being linked to philanthropy, that is they mean the same thing and that it is just a corporate term used in today’s business world, but the two are very different, where one is just a selfless act as a human to give back to the community where no one is going to hold it against you if you do not do it and the other one is not because it is a direct connection to people and the environment. Difference between CSR and philanthropy. * CSR is behavior by business over and above legal requirements voluntary adopted. CSR is linked to the concept of sustainable development businesses need to integrate the economic, social and environmental impact in their operations * CSR is not an optional â€Å"add on† to business core activities but about the way in which business is managed. CSR cannot be related/ pinned to philanthropy. It’s a decision strategy aiming to ensure long term viability of the business b y assuming an active role in the development of the community, economy and environment. CSR Perspective There are three Corporate Social Responsibility perspectives, namely 1. Efficiency Perspective This is where the manager’s major focus is to maximize profit for the owners of the business; the needs of the other constituencies do not pose as important. Under this perspective two types of managers are looked at; a) Managers as Agents The managers have no obligation what so ever to act on behalf of the society especially if this act does not maximize profit for the share holders. The decision to serve society is made by the share holders. b) Manager as Owners He/she decides if acting on behalf of the society will achieve the self interests and interests of the whole company. . Social Responsibility Perspective Under this perspective the organization/ firms are required to fulfill certain obligations and responsibilities towards the society as a whole and not concentrate only on reaching the share holders demands. The firm is requires to find a balance so that they cab cater all their major stake holders’ needs. These major stake holders are: * Society * Employees * Financiers * Shareholders * Communities * Suppliers Advantages Undertaking this perspective will mean having good relationship with the stake holders. For employees: giving them what they require like better pay, good working conditions, employee benefits etc will mean they are motivated and hence increase productivity and reduce employee turnover. For suppliers: paying them on time, loyalty and ordering for products without glitches and cancellations will mean they will supply good quality products, discounts and on time delivery. For community amp; Society: providing employment opportunities, encouraging education, being environmentally friendly, not going against culture will mean acceptance, good reputation and of course good attraction for future investors. For financiers: like banks, government, donators etc if the firm has a good financial record and they are putting their funds into good use, the financiers will become long term supporters and this will also build trust between the two parties. For share holders: as long as supporting all the above stake holders does not interfere with getting a higher return at the end of the day, they should be happy and provide what is needed for the company’s general growth. Disadvantage The biggest problem with this perspective is that as manager it is impossible to cater for all the stake holders’ needs and expectations being we are humans and we have different needs and ideas, so you cannot give in to one without interfering with other. 3. Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Perspective The above perspectives have been combined to form this one and three criteria are introduced to guide managers to acting responsible; a) Outside out approach The manger takes the time to look at social issues that are posing a problem in general and find ways his/her firm can contribute to help solve those problems. ) Inside out approach Manager’s only take the time to look at the internal issues that are important to the firm. The problems that are happening outside the surrounding environment do not impact on their decisions nor do they concern them with solving them. c) Outside in approach The manager will look at the issues surrounding the company outside an d pick out specific areas in which the company has an impact on or concern them in anyway. Corporate Social Responsibility works when†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ There is trust and communication between the management and the employees * Owners look at and accept long term views * There is a holistically made decision from the management. Corporate Social Responsibility does not work when†¦.. * Owners want to get rich quick. It is a process that shows benefits after long term implantation. * There is poor treatment of employees * Management works with the thought that resources are unlimited * CSR is viewed as corporate philanthropy * CSR is viewed as a public relation strategy Arguments for the assumption of social responsibilities * Long run profits: Businesses that are SR tend to attain more and secure long run profits, as a result of better community relations and enhanced business image * Superiority of prevention over cure: To avoid incurring more costs to correct the social problems and loss of energy and concentration away from future accomplishment of its goals they should deal with them before they are too serious. * Possession of resources: Business will have the proper resources such as managerial talents, financial resources and technical experts to provide assistance to public and charitable projects that need support * Stockholder interest: The stock market will award business which are SR with higher price earnings ratio because they are viewed as less risky and open to public attack and eventually improve the price of a business stock in a long run * Balance of responsibility and power: If power is greater than responsibility there is an imbalance which brings about irresponsible behaviors that is not good for the public. There should be an equal large amount of responsibility to balance out the large amount of power businesses have in the society * Public image: The public considers social goals important, firms can build a favorable public image by pursuing those goals to gain access to better markets, employees, customers and other benefits. * Better environment Involvement of businesses lands a helping hand in solving difficulty social problems creating a better quality of life and desirable community to attract to hold skilled employees. * Discouragement of further government regulations: Becoming SR businesses are faced with less government regulations since they add costs and hinder flexible decision making of the management. Arguments against the assumptions of social responsibilities * Too much power Enough power has already been given to business by the society; undertaking social responsibilities will mean giving it even more power as it already a powerful institution in the society * Lack of broad public support Since there is a divide public on the issue of being socially responsible there hasn’t been a mandate from the society for businesses to involved in social issues. * Lack of skills Business leaders’ skills and abilities are highly linked / associated with economics; they are under qualified to deal with social issues * Costs Businesses end up absorbing costs or pass them over to the consumers at a higher price since many of these responsibilities don’t pay their own way * Violation of profit maximization In business social responsibility is measured when it strictly tends to its economic interests and leaves the rest to other institutions * Lack of accountability There is no direct accountability from business sectors to the public like with political representatives that pursue the social goals and are held accountable Conclusion and Recommendation It is very clear that in one way or the other businesses today have to think of their external environment because it impacts their decision and it will help make more profit in a the long run. If a business will choose to ignore this and concentrate on making profits alone, they must be sure they are only going to be around for a short term, chances are they will not get the biggest return for their shareholders, simply because if the society, community, government as well as suppliers do not get any support from this company then it is not worth their support and eeing how these stakeholders are important, business should totally rethink their business strategy. There is more positive impact involved in judging business’ effectiveness through business ethics and CSR, since these are the most realistic options available other than profit maximization. With this I make a stand to say profit maximization is not the only realistic criteria in which business effectiveness can be judged. I would recommend business get training and development on how to operate more responsible and ethically and still make profits. Reference: * www. scribd. om/doc/3934672/impotance-of-CSR-to-business * www. businesslink. gov. uk * www. citeman. com * http://www. utm. edu/staff/jfieser/vita/research/Busbook. htm * Business Ethics and Values Colin Fisher amp; Adam Lovell, Prentice Hall, 3rd edition 2003 * www. malwarwick. com/assest/presenatation/the-five-dimension-of-csr-slide. pdf * G F Cavanaugh, D. J Moberg and M Velasquez, â€Å"The Ethics of Organizational politics† Academy of Management Journal (June 1981) pg 363-374. * Crane A (2010) Business Ethics 2nd Edition Chapter 2 pg 45-50. Oxford University, Press London.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Social Media Networks

Introduction Social networking is the interaction among people who come together through a medium in order to share their experiences with one another. Such media where people meet to socially interact are commonly referred to as social media. The term social media networks therefore refers to the media that connect individuals who intend to interactively communicate with other people in a social aspect that involves sharing of opinion and experience in life.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media Networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Examples of such media that are popularly known in the current times include Facebook, twitter and YouTube among others which are available online in the internet. This paper seeks to conduct an argumentative writing on whether social media networks should stay neutral or not. The paper will look into the nature of media networks as well as their essence and possible impac ts on the society. Social media networks Social media networks are free media in which any individual can air personal opinions. As interactive sites, they offer opportunities for people to collectively discuss and share on different issues that affect their lives. One of such networks that have been recently used by people to discuss and organize their thoughts to a collective voice of defense has been Facebook. An example of such usage was the recent global connection of Palestinian citizens who collectively voiced their concern over their country through a web page in the Facebook social network. The page which is reported to have attracted more than fifty thousand Palestinian citizens provided the people with a chance to express what they considered as oppression of Palestine by Israel. They thus were using the web page as a means of searching for freedom for their country. The Palestinian citizens who linked to the web page also used the social network to call for a demonstrati on against the Israeli oppressive nature towards Palestine (Press 1). The usage of internet social network has in the recent past been commonly used by citizens to react to authoritative governance of their territories. Issues of oppressions by regimes on their own people have, for example, led to uprisings that are traced to social media networks. Cases such as those that were reported in Egypt where civilians were reported to have used these networks to communicate over the government’s oppression also saw a twist in what was seen as a move to regulate the nature and information that people could pass through these networks (Preston 1).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the wake of the antigovernment uprising that was experienced in Egypt, there were reports of forms of control of what was to be posted in these social media. Though the uprising was attributed to the existence of such networks as reports indicated that they were used by citizens to mobilize themselves for the protests, it was later realized that the media were moving in to control the communications that were made by people through them. Flickr, one of the social networks that were used in Egypt was, for example, reported to have removed pictures of government security officers that were posted by a user of that medium. Though the company provided an excuse for removing the photos, it was evident that the company was in a move to control what people posted on the media network pages. Flickr and YouTube have been reported to significantly control the content of information passed on its pages. Most of the regulations have been affected following the usage of the networks by activists in their campaigns for democratic processes and civil rights in which they use the networks to expose negative acts of governments. Facebook which has limited its control over its users has on th e other hand been reported to receive directives and requests for it to regulate the contents of its users. A minister in the Israeli government, for example, made an application to Facebook asking for a withdrawal of a page that had been posted to by Palestinians calling for protest over Israeli oppression (Preston 1). Even though Facebook restrained itself from regulating its users in terms of the contents posted on its website, it yielded to the Israeli’s request and removed the page that was created by Palestinian citizens to mobilize a protest against Israel. A sense of force is therefore seen to influence social network companies into controlling contents that are posted on their web pages. This can be derived from the cases in which articles that were viewed to be unfriendly to some governments, the Egyptian and Israeli governments were removed by the social network companies (Fox 1). It is therefore very logical to argue that the network companies have yielded to the control of external forces to undermine the interest of its users in sharing opinion and information. Freedom of the media The question as to whether or not the social media networks should be regulated or remain neutral should depend on the responsibility of the social media networks as well as the efforts that the networks have been making to undertake the responsibility to the general public. Just like the general media, the social media networks have responsibilities to fulfill to the society that it serves.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media Networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is these responsibilities that the media should be gauged upon and conclusions or recommendations be drawn on whether or not an action of regulation should be taken against the social networks or whether the networks should at times take sides on some issues. Responsibilities of these media are also essential in the sense that as democracies are established and the media gains more freedom, more responsibility is laid on the shoulders of the media companies in order to ensure that their rights and freedom do not pose threats to the wellbeing of individuals, people or a nation. The ideal operations of the media is, for example, expected to be undertaken in a free atmosphere in which no absolute external force is felt by the media fraternity. One of the fundamental features of a reliable media is its absolute independence from interferences such as censorship. For reliability of the information that is supplied to the society, the media should be allowed to present information in its original contents in order to express the exact information being passed across. Governments should thus keep their hands off the operations of the media especially in cases where the government is itself the subject of media criticism or scrutiny (Fourie 193). The functionality of the media should at the same time ensure that all its target population is able to access its services. Regulations by authorities to restrict the use of a social media network should therefore be considered unlawful. The media should also not be coerced or punished for representations that are not favorable to governments (Fourie 193). Responsibility of the media The media fraternity is supposed to develop democracy in a society by creating room for divergent opinions to be expressed. With respect to this, any institution that is charged with media regulation is to be independent of any governmental influence. In its responsibilities, the media is supposed to undertake measures to ensure information provided are on the basis of â€Å"truth, accuracy, objectivity and balance† (Fourie 193). The media should have the capacity to be self-regulatory as well as refrain from delivering information that can incite or offend specified groups (Larking 351).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Social media networks are therefore supposed to remain independent from influence from any authority in order to achieve its responsibility of promoting democracy in societies. Instances like the uprisings that were witnessed in Tunisia and Egypt, for example, were effects of repressive regimes that could also oppress the media in order to undermine democracy. It is similarly the responsibility of the media to refrain from delivering information that could be identified as inciting or offensive to a group of a society. Taking sides in a topic that is hotly contested can, for example, be offensive to a part of a population thus calling upon the social media networks to be neutral so as to foster harmony between groups with conflicting opinions (Larking 351). Conclusion The establishment of social media networks created forums for people to freely air their views and opinions. The responsibility of the media to control itself as well as foster peaceful coexistence requires these media companies to act with restraint in neutrality to achieve its responsibility. The media should therefore remain neutral in handling information in the society so as to avoid responsibilities over crimes and uprisings. Works Cited Fourie, Pieter. Media Studies: Media History, Media and Society. Cape town, South Africa: Juta and Company Ltd, 2008. Print. Fox. Facebook removes page that demanded â€Å"third intifada† against Israel. Fox News, 2011. Web. Larking, Paul. Politics, society, and the media. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2007. Print. Press. Palestinians call for ‘third intifada’. Press, 2011. Web. Preston, Jeniffer. Ethical quandary for social sites. New York Times, 2011. Web. This essay on Social Media Networks was written and submitted by user Reid Bridges to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Political Representation of Females in National Legislatures

Political Representation of Females in National Legislatures Introduction The issue of womens political representation has taken center stage in many countries all over the world which have in recent years sought ways to improve female representation. This is because the world has come to recognize that the representation of women in national legislatures is a necessary condition for women’s empowerment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Political Representation of Females in National Legislatures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Both developed and developing nations have recognized the need to increase women representation in their parliaments. In Canada, significant progress has been made over the past decade towards improving womens representation in elected political office. The major political party in Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, has a caucus of female parliamentarians. Following the 2006 elections, only 20.8% of the members of the Canadian House of Commons were women. The year 2011 was especially marked by great political achievement by women. In spite of these positive steps, the number of women in parliament is still significantly low which highlights the need for strategies to offset this condition. This paper will set out to identify and defend two strategies that can be used by Canada to improve the political representation of females in national legislatures. The merits of the advanced strategies will be articulated with reference to other countries where these strategies have achieved favorable results. Why Strategies are needed While women have been involved in Canadian political parties for the most part of the twentieth century, their role tended to be predominantly supportive. This trend changed in the late 1960s when female activism began to challenge the character of their involvement in party affairs and women began to call for more representation in political parties1. The last two decades have undoubtedly witnessed a p henomenal increase in women representation in the political sphere in Canada and also other countries all over the world.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Matland articulates that while the increase in parliamentary representation of women has been the result of many factors, most of the positive change has been as a result of activists pushing for institutions that maximize womens chances of representation2. However, the increase has not yet reached a level that would be desirable in an ideal democracy where equal representation is practiced. Research indicates that a number of Canadian voters are concerned about the under-representation of women in parliament and this has led to some moderate public support for strategies that will result in higher women representation in parliament. Countries which have little democratic virtues such as Cuba and Rwanda boast of greater nu mbers of women parliamentarians than Canada which considers itself a model democracy. It is important to note that a nations level of development does not promote womens political representation and studies have shown that poor countries demonstrate better records of electing women than do rich countries. Canada should seek to emulate strategies for increasing womens participation in parliament that have been adapted in other parts of the world with great success. Strategies for Improving Political Representation Electoral Quotas Many democracies have acknowledged that women will not be able to equal men in political representation without measures being put in place to give them an advantage. One strategy that can be used is electoral quotas which make the use of positive discrimination so as to shift the balance of legislative chambers in favor of females3. Tripp and Alice assert that Quotas have become an important mechanism through which women today are entering legislatures w orldwide.4 A vast majority of the top 25 countries in the world in terms of women’s representation make use of some form of quotas demonstrating just how effective this strategy is in enhancing women participation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Political Representation of Females in National Legislatures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The goal of electoral sex quotas is to ensure that women â€Å"make up a certain predetermined portion of the member of a political body; be it a partys candidate list or a parliamentary assembly†5. The Nordic countries stand out for their success in promoting womens representation. The strategy that has been implemented by these countries has predominantly been electoral quotas, specifically the slow track approach6. This approach relies on the use of voluntary party quotas which require a certain mandatory minimum number of women nominees. In the use of quotas, poli tical parties are a key component. The popular assumption in democratic systems is that it is the electorate that controls the composition of parliament. However, a closer look reveals that it is the parties that control the selection process of candidates and therefore by extension the composition of parliaments. Research indicates that the use of political parties as the launching pad from which womens representation can be expanded is the most viable strategy7. This is because political parties play an important role in the legislative recruitment process. They are the entities that identify possible candidates, choose them as their official candidates and after this; the candidate is put forward for public election. The party choosing of a candidate is a crucial stage for women who aspire to get into political office. In Canada, the nomination process provides opportunities for people to participate in a decentralized context. Incorporation of rules that guarantee womens represe ntation, for example quotas, can have a distinct advantage for women. Research indicates that in the quota system adopted in many Nordic countries that guarantee that between 40 and 50 percent of the party nominees will be women, has a positive effect on women’s representation in these countries8. It has not been easily to adopt positive affirmative measures and quotas in Canada due to the decentralized nature of the selection process of candidates in the country. All parties seek to nominate candidates who are likely to maximize the votes for the party9.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As such, candidates who have high visibility in the community or hold public office or leadership positions in civil society organizations are considered highly desirable. As it turns out, in the Canadian society, this category of people is predominantly male which presents a major disadvantage to female candidates. Even so, quotas can be effectively employed in the Canadian scene since there is a presence of robust political parties and only a marginal number of independent candidates enter parliament. For quotas to be effective, women have to be well-prepared to take up political office. This can only be achieved by a strengthening of womens organization or political engagement which will make it possible for the women to take advantage of this strategy which are used to give them a favorable advantage. Changing the Electoral System Another strategy that can be used in Canada is a change from the current electoral system. A change in the electoral system adopted by Canada can al so result in a marked increase in the political representation of females in national legislatures. As it currently stands, Canada makes use of a single member plurality (SMP) electoral system which has been showcased to be less favorable for women candidates. In a PR voting system, women can organize and actively engage in the electoral process with visible results. The merits that PM systems possess for females is best articulated by MacIvor who states that parliaments elected by proportional representation show higher percentages of women than parliaments constituted by plurality/majority systems.10 Research indicates that women have historically had a better advantage under PR systems. This is because the people who choose candidates for the party have different concerns and incentives in the PR system compared to the SMP system. In SMP electoral systems, the party is forced to only nominate one person per district which makes it impossible to balance the party ticket by nominat ing a male and female candidate11. The SMP system forces parties to pit the male candidates against the male in the nomination process. Women are often disadvantaged when they have to compete against powerful male politicians in the same district. PR systems make it possible for party gatekeepers to nominate diverse candidates in an attempt to attract more votes. Since the party is in a position to nominate more than one candidate, the party can put forward different candidates who will attract varying classes of voters. Women candidates are therefore more likely to be nominated in a PR system since the party is not forced to sacrifice its powerful male politicians for the sake of the women as would be the case in a majority system. A party which nominates men in a PR system and therefore fails to provide some balance will suffer from reduced votes. The PR system therefore offers an incentive for the party to nominate women candidates and therefore increase their chances of gaining entry into parliament. In spite of the obvious advantages that a PR system could bring about for women, Canada continues to use the SMP system. Referendums held in Canadian provinces seeking to abolish SMDP have repeatedly failed to obtain a majority and this system continues to be implemented in Canada. Activists should therefore take up steps to encourage people to vote for the adoption of a PR system so as to give women an advantage in the electoral process and therefore increase their representation in parliament. Challenge with Women Representation Empirical studies on the political representation of women demonstrate that female politicians see themselves as having a responsibility to represent women. Female politicians therefore consider women as an important constituency group with specific concerns12. This tendency is to some extent brought about by the notion by female members that if they do not address women issues, they will go unnoticed. This idea of having a certain m andate in representing women may have a detrimental effect since it may end up sidelining the male population or issues that affect the entire society. Female legislators tend to set legislative agenda and propose new bills that address issues of concern to women at the expense of other agendas13. While this may be true, many scholars document that party affiliations and ideology have a neutralizing effect on this trend since they instill discipline on women concerning what agendas to pursue once they are elected14. Female legislators are therefore deterred from focusing only on feminist policy concerns. Discussion The adoption of strategies to increase chances of women taking up political office demonstrates that there is popular believe in the opinion that women should have greater political representation. Both male and female voters view the legislature as been more legitimate when there are more women since there is an inherent belief that gender balance is a more just arrangem ent15. This paper has highlighted two strategies that can be utilized to achieve this goal in Canada. Practicing of some degree of positive action is necessary by Canadian parties to ensure that women have a chance at achieving equal political representation with men. If political parties adopt gender-neutral nominating policies, the number of candidates will be predominantly men and this will hurt the chances of women to take up political office. Women need to become more active and effective voices within the society and also in their respective parties are they are to take advantage of the strategies outlined in this paper. From the strategies advocated in this paper, it is clear that the key to increasing female representation is to convince parties to choose women as their candidates and adopt an electoral system that is favorable for women. The two strategies advocated in this paper will be most effective if they are implemented concurrently. While each strategy will result to positive changes independently, the scale of positive impact will be higher if both strategies are adopted. This is because research indicates that quotas are more effective in PR and MMP systems than single-member-based systems. While the PR system is beneficial to women, it should be adopted with some form of mandatory quotas for womens representation. Without a mandatory quota, the number of women elected will be dependent on the drive of the particular political party to increase its womens representation. In addition to this, studies show that while quotas have had a desirable effect in increasing women membership in parliament, the design of the electoral institution can result in an even more substantial increase in female numbers in parliament. In addition to the proposed strategies, the issue of womens representation should be given high priority by the media so as to pressure political parties and the government to keep taking positive steps to increase women representati on. This is because the prevailing gender attitudes in a nation influence the chances of women getting elected into the legislature. Conclusion This paper set out to highlight strategies that can be used to achieve the goal of increased female political representation in Canada’s national legislatures. The paper has recognized that there has been a significant rise in womens representation in national legislatures in Canada in recent decades. Even so, the paper has documented that female politicians still have a numerical minority in the Canadian parliament. It has been demonstrated that the electoral sex quotas can be advantageous to women. The paper has also demonstrated that the electoral system employed by a country effects female legislative representative since it dictates the strategies that are adopted by a party in the nomination phase. A PR system will therefore result in increased women representation in the legislative process. It can therefore be surmised that by adopting the two strategies proposed in this paper, Canada will achieve the goal of higher female representative in the legislature. Bibliography Caul, Miki. Women’s Representation in Parliament. Party Politics 5, no.1 (1999): 79-89. Crowley, Jocelyn. â€Å"When Tokens Matter.† Legislative Studies Quarterly 29 no.1 (2004): 109–36. Fraenkel, Jon. The Impact of Electoral Systems on Women’s Representation in Pacific Parliaments. Impact of Electoral Systems. Impact of Electoral Systems, 23, no.2 (2005): 58-106. Karp, Jeffrey and Susan Banducci. â€Å"When Politics Is Not Just a Man’s Game: Women’s Representation and Political Engagement.† Electoral Studies 27 no.1 (2008): 105–15. Krook, Mona. â€Å"Studying Political Representation: A Comparative-Gendered Approach.† Perspectives on Politics 8, no.1 (2010): 233-240. MacIvor, Heather. â€Å"Women and the Canadian Electoral System.† In Manon Tremblay and Linda Trimble ( eds) Women and Electoral Politics in Canada, Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2003. Matland, Richard. Enhancing Womens Political Participation: Legislative Recruitment and Electoral Systems. Stockholm: International IDEA, 1998. Reingold, Beth. Representing Women: Sex, Gender and Legislative Behavior in Arizona and California. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2000. Tremblay, Manon. Women’s Representational Role in Australia and Canada: The Impact of Political Context. Australian Journal of Political Science 38, no. 2 (2003): 215–238. Tripp, Aili and Alice, Kang. â€Å"The Global Impact of Quotas: On the Fast Track to Increased Female Legislative Representation.† Comparative Political Studies 41, no.3 (2008): 338–361. Footnotes 1 Jeffrey Karp and Susan Banducci, â€Å"When Politics Is Not Just A Man’s Game: Women’s Representation and Political Engagement,† Electoral Studies 27 no.1 (2008): 109. 2 Richard Matland, Enha ncing Womens Political Participation: Legislative Recruitment and Electoral Systems (Stockholm: International IDEA, 2005), 108. 3 Fraenkel, Jon. The Impact of Electoral Systems on Women’s Representation in Pacific Parliaments. Impact of Electoral Systems 23, no.2 (2005): 81. 4 Aili Tripp and Alice Kang, The Global Impact of Quotas: On the Fast Track to Increased Female Legislative Representation, Comparative Political Studies 41, no.3 (2008), 357. 5 Aili and Alice, 357. 6 Crowley Jocelyn, â€Å"When Tokens Matter,† Legislative Studies Quarterly 29 no.1 (2004): 129. 7 Miki Caul, â€Å"Women’s Representation in Parliament,† Party Politics 5, no1, (1999): 82. 8 Richard, 95 9 Richard, 97 10 Heather MacIvor, â€Å"Women and the Canadian Electoral System†, in Manon Tremblay and Linda Trimble (eds), Women and Electoral Politics in Canada (Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2003), 35. 11 Richard, 101. 12 Manon, 215. 13 Mona Krook, â€Å"Studying Politica l Representation: A Comparative-Gendered Approach,† Perspectives on Politics 8, no.1 (2010): 236. 14 Beth Reingold, Representing Women: Sex, Gender and Legislative Behavior in Arizona and California (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2000), 34. 15 Krook, 237.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Why there may be greater potential for FDI activity in China rether Essay

Why there may be greater potential for FDI activity in China rether than India under the present economic climate - Essay Example However, when it comes to economic development both India and China have lot of similarities. These two countries are the most rapidly developing nations in the world at present. It is often said that global wealth is currently shifting from less heavily populated regions to the most heavily populated regions because of the developments in these two countries. India and China have shown the world that how the big curse (Population growth) can be turned to big blessing with the help of suitable economic policies. While most of the other developing nations such as America and European countries are struggling to find enough manpower, India and China have surplus manpower which they are utilizing cleverly for economic development. Even though a developing country may have many other sources of external finance, FDI seems to be the largest among all those sources. According to Malik et al.( 2012), â€Å"FDI is not only considered as a healthy sign for the overall national economy but al so a positive indication for the local industry considering its positive spill over effects† (p.230). FDI is bringing dividends in the progress of India and China in recent times. Majority of the prominent companies have invested heavily in India and China in recent times to capitalise the cheap manpower and other resources. . It should be noted that America and European region are not much promising for the multinational companies at present because of the ongoing recession problems and the ill-health of the economies there. On the other hand, India and China offer fertile soil for such companies and they work on their expansion plans based on the prospects in these two emerging economies. Some people believe that the investment climate in China is better than that in India. On the other hand, many others are of the view that India provides better climate than China for FDI. However, considering the recent performances of India and China in economic development, once can defi nitely say that China has slight edge over India in attracting FDI. This paper analyses why there may be greater potential for FDI activity in China rather than India under the present economic climate. What is FDI? According to Dicken (2007), Direct investment is a kind of investment intended to gain control over the activities of another firm. Moreover, FDI is the investment across nations (p.36). Ietto-Giles (2002) pointed out that â€Å"The flow of FDI and portfolio investments across countries generates a very large amount of investment incomes going in the opposite direction† (p.27). In short, the economic progress of a country in the modern era heavily depends on its ability to attract FDI. It should be noted that foreign direct investment is the investment of foreign capital in domestic goods and services. Since the internal resources of a country are limited, the ability to attract FDI determines which way the country is progressing. Adina (2011) mentioned about the training effect of FDI. In her opinion, FDI may help a country to modernize techniques and technologies, increase production and supply of goods, improve quality and competitiveness, create new jobs and grow the quality of life (p. 148). There is a limit for many countries to invest in infrastructure development projects because of various reasons such as budgetary constraints. FDI helps such countries to develop infrastructure with the help of foreign capital even though foreign companies, which bring capital, may exploit some internal resources. While balancing the profit and loss of FDI, profit will exceed the loss and hence most countries try to attract as much as FDI possible. In fact, competition for attracting FDI is huge among

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport Association Essay

Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport Association - Essay Example The case is also about the appropriateness of Maine’s Tobacco Delivery Law. The Tobacco Delivery Law puts safety requirements on all transportation of tobacco products. The law requires that stores which carry these products must use a delivery system that does not give any tobacco products to unlicensed stores or let them fall into the hands of minors (those under 18 years old). Based on this law, The New Hampshire Motor Transport Association filed suit, noting that the Tobacco Delivery Law was counteracted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA). â€Å"The preemption provision of the FAAAA prohibits state from enacting laws "related to" the prices, routes, or services of air and motor carriers. The Association argued that the Tobacco Delivery Law placed such a burden on the delivery procedures of carriers that significantly affected their prices and services† (Brief, 2010). Faced with this argument, those working for the state countered that the FAAAA was originally at cross purposes with the Tobacco Delivery Law, a nd that the purposes of the Tobacco Delivery Law generally were focused on regulating based on a threat to the harm of society. In US District Court, the New Hampshire Motor Transport Association prevailed in its argument, and on appeal, this organization also prevailed in its argument again. â€Å"The First Circuit held that a police power exception to the general rule of preemption would be far too broad and was not intended by Congress. Maine could validly ban all unlicensed tobacco products within its borders, but the FAAAA prohibited the state from implementing this goal by imposing requirements on carriers that significantly alter their delivery procedures† (Rowe, 2010). Therefore, in the case, it was found that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 does not overshadow a state law that uses the

Monday, November 18, 2019

Resource Plan Public Service Announcement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Resource Plan Public Service Announcement - Essay Example Therefore, both the Commercial fishing (fish firms and fishermen) has significantly contributed to the decline of the sea fish where if the absence of proper and effective measures persist, it will accelerate declining fish stock. Effective sustainment plan will entail involving fishermen (both commercial and non commercial), communities, states’ regimes besides environmentalists. For the sustainable plan to be effective and every entity understands its significance, there will be a necessity of holding diverse meetings. These will be for negotiating with the key parties by making them understand the effects of their overfishing besides outlining the intended strategies meant to preserve global fish (Recharte, Bowler & Bodmer, 2008). Meeting all the involved parties besides negotiating with them will probably take 1 to 4 months approximately. The plan will entail advocating utilization of redesigned fishing equipments that will ensure no more catching of the already smaller fish to allow bleeding. Besides, fishing will be in intervals coupled with legalizing of commercial fishing firms where they will adhere to strict regulations and policies. This is to allow adequate fish breeding besides shunning sp ecific regions where overfishing is evident. The environmentalists owing to their urge and passion for nature and especially aquatic life, they will support the sustainable plan where some may be willing to contribute positively (Recharte, Bowler & Bodmer, 2008). Conversely, both the commercial and non-commercial parties may or not agree with the sustainable plan where it will call for prolonged persuading. Fishing techniques normally lead to the extinction of other aquatic species. This is because they become entangled in the nets or other fishing equipments where fishermen after getting their intended catch normally discard them on the shore. Hence, endanger various species that normally

Saturday, November 16, 2019

What are The Benefits of Process Writing

What are The Benefits of Process Writing The writing process is an amazingly productive, constructive, and effective method of writing. This method is undeniably the best method in order to help a writer reach their full potential. The writing process is undeniable because anybody who has used this process has realized the benefits. The process is simple and only requires patience, revision, and the willingness to better ones work. It involves prewriting, revising and rewriting your work if necessary in order to ultimately achieve the best writing you are capable of. We almost never write to the absolute best of our ability on the first draft; which is why the writing process proves to be so successful. Process writing utilizes careful revision and rewriting techniques to effectively help writers compose their ideas into clear, concise, and well thought out statements that represent their style and passion for the subject. Any modern day writer should be familiar with this process because it is necessary to achieve quality writing. Many theorists and writers have written books on writing as a process and almost anyone who has tried the process would agree that it does in fact work. Initially, the first thing a writer should do to completely prepare themselves for the task at hand is organize their ideas. They should take the time to formulate a main theme or point which they are trying to convey as well as possibly do some prewriting activities such as brainstorming, drafting an outline, or free writing. This step is referred to as prewriting in the writing process and can be extremely useful to a writer that is trying to figure out their main idea or focus of the paper. Prewriting can be as simple as just writing your ideas out onto paper; it is important to remember to just keep writing and not to over analyze anything at this step in the process. The idea is just to get all your thoughts out onto paper so the best possible ideas can be formulated into a well written cohesive document. After prewriting has been completed the writer can now comprise a first draft. This draft can then be revised and possibly critiqued by other people as well as yourself. Revisi on is an essential part of the writing process because it gives the writer the chance view their paper threw someone elses eyes. It allows for criticism and discussion which eventually make the writing more powerful and meaningful. Since the writing process allows for revision over time the writers work transforms into something that is very well thought out and written much better than their first draft. After revision, comes probably one of the most challenging steps in the writing process which is known as rewriting (Flower). Donald Murray once said writing is rewriting (Murray). This short statement is as true today as it ever was. In order to create something that is well written you must write and then re write your thoughts which ultimately makes them well thought out and meaningful. Rewriting is such an imperative part of the writing process which is why Murray feels rewriting is just as important as writing the initial draft (Murray). The rewriting step in the process helps the writer narrow down their initial statements into what they truly want to say. Good writing or good English as described by William Zinsser is often the outcome of this step in the writing process. Writers often further relate to the audience as a result of this step by fabricating their ideas into something that most people can relate to and understand. Using common words that everybody can relate to can really help your reader feel connected or associated with the content they are reading. Ordinary everyday sentences are oft en clear, concise, and brief. These ordinary sentences push the writing forward by making the reader ask more questions about what is going to happen next. In order to write good English a writer must cease the use of unnecessary language and keep their sentences short, simple, and to the point so the reader can truly understand and relate to the content (Zinsser). Even though this may seem like the end of the process you should really repeat the revision and rewriting steps a few times in order to achieve the best possible results. Many writers including myself have seen the writing process work over and over again. I have seen the benefits of the writing process in my own writings many times. Every time I write something and just hand it in without any type of revision I always notice I could have written it much better if I had simply read through it and revised it. Also, whenever I do have the chance to get a peer revision on my writing I always notice that the final product is undoubtedly much better than the first draft. Sometimes I only want to write a single draft because I procrastinate until the last minute and dont have time for the writing process. If this is the case my final draft usually suffers in quality. Often times my lack of revision isnt hard to miss because the final draft usually ends up littered with typos or incoherent run on statements. If I had simply revised my work once the quality would have greatly increased. The writing process is also very important for students learning to write because it gives them the chance to critique and discuss their own writings as well a s other students writings in the class. Ultimately, one of the real reasons most people write is because they can not only speak out and express themselves to the world but they may also influence others with their ideas. There are so many great things a person can do with the power of word. Whether it is to persuade, inform, narrate, or inspire, good writing is something that can be appreciated by all and is a very powerful tool. If you aspire to write well then using the writing process correctly is something that must be on your top priority. After all, a well thought out meaningful sentence is a weapon of great power in our literary world.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn Essay -- Literary Analysis, Mark Twa

â€Å"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became man, I put my childish ways behind me (NIC: 1Corinthians 13:11) In the life of every individual, there are various events and stages, such as death, crime, overcoming fear and undergoing moral growth, which transform immature individuals into serious and mature people. In Mark Twain’s novels, The Adventure of Tom Sawyer and The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, one sees this transformation and growth in the two main characters by facing conflicts and events, these being Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn In beginning of the novel The Adventure of Tom Sawyer, one sees Tom as a crafty, intelligent, and imaginative boy with excellent theatrical skills. â€Å"Twain invented the American archetype of the prankish, widely imaginative boy with a taste for adventure in The Adventure of Tom Sawyer†.(Gillespie1) Tom never takes anything seriously, and never seems to have a real problem, as he is a careless individual. â€Å"He expends his gift mainly on tricking [and] getting in and out of trouble. (Swan1). His carelessness is displayed, when his aunt forces him to whitewash the fence as punishment, as in The Adventure of Tom Sawyer: â€Å"Like it? Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Dose a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?†(Twain, The adventure of Tom Sawyer 13) Without even thinking of a reason for being punished, he manages to do no work by persuading Ben Rogers and others to whitewash fence.(13) Tom’s transformation begins when h e witness the murder of Dr. Robinson by an accident. Unlike any other ‘incident’ he had ever had to face, he faces this one with fears. However, feels wrong staying out of the situation. â€Å"Sho! It’s t... ...leberry to betray Jim, Huckleberry keeps his friendship by protecting Jim from trouble.†(Park 1) â€Å"Goodness sakes, would a runaway nigger run south?†(216) When the Duke and the Dauphin ask whether Jim is runaway slave, Huck stand up for Jim by asking them whether the runaway black will go down to south. Huck stands up for Jim and demonstrates his courage, showing his transformation from being selfish and careless to being loyal and caring person. In Mark Twain’s novel â€Å"Tom Sawyer† and â€Å"The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn† certain event and conflict helps growth and transformation of the two main characters. Tom, a careless individual who seems to have no problems, grows and transforms into a caring person by facing his problems and struggling. Huckleberry, also demonstrate his transformation in his adventures with runaway slave Jim and by living with Widow Douglas.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Blood Money Essay

The ethical issue concerning the title of this paper Blood Money is that there is illegal kidney sales going on in the world and it has reached the USA. The most unethical procedure of all of this is that the kidneys are coming from incarcerated men in China. Without permission or disclosing to those on the death role in China, they are prepped beforehand and then they are shot and killed and immediately after their death they extract the kidney and the transplant occurs with the buyer or for whom it was intended for. Who can think this type of behavior is acceptable let alone ethical and morally right, unfortunately many do. Morally everyone is different, but when it comes down to all that are involved in this illegal business, from what it seems they have no morals. Their responsibility and the least they can do is let these human beings know the truth; let them know where their organs are going, let them decide. The person or groups with direct interest in this illegal activity have many moral failings, the simple fact that it is all about the money, they do not care if the prisoners deserved to die or not, all they want to do is make money. What many may think is not alarming to them; they do not care about the trauma they put the Chinese military through, because I am sure there was at least one that had morals. They had no respect for these human beings and no respect for their lives. The ideals in this operation are to make money and stay out of the spotlight, their obligations are to maintain a steady supply of kidneys, where do they conflict, and it is very simple. They need to keep convicting prisoners to the death sentence in order for them to execute them and get more kidneys, so they are convicting left and right, I am sure they are purposely doing this to keep up with the demand of illegal kidney sales. The only good outcome to all of this is that a lives are†¦

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Salient features of Martin Luther King Jr’s famous speech, “I have a dream”

This essay describes the salient features of Martin Luther King Jr’s famous speech, â€Å" I have a dream†. It concentrates on reasons which contributed to making it so famous. This speech had many salient features which have made it so famous and acceptable to the audience. These are : Structure : The speech is very well structured. King first builds a base for his arguments, by saying that the demands that follow in his speech were guaranteed to the black Negroes long back.He then alleges that the American government nd the white people have not complied with these rights given to blacks. He then injects courage into the minds of the black audience, by using a special force known as ‘ repetition’. He repeats, â€Å" It is my dream that †, many times, and actually succeeds in forcing the minds of black audience to ‘ see’ that dream with him. Force : One more effective element in this speech is the invisible force behind it. The words ar e very strong, and the style is direct. A very direct attack is launched on the American government.The miserable torture that the blacks were undergoing is reported in a very direct, face to fact style. Nothing is indirect or implied. This force is more evident when he paints the picture of his vision of life of the Negroes in future. There is no rhetoric, no sarcasm. This adds the necessary force in the speech, which captivates the audience. Continuity : This is the third impressive feature. The three main parts of the speech, namely, the violation of promise, present condition of Negroes and his uture dream for the Negroes, are interwoven without any pause in between. The switch-over from one part to another part is very natural and automatic. This helps in binding the audience to the speech, till the end.Good use of linguistic tools : This speech uses tools offered by English language in a wonderful way. Many aspects are presented in a metaphoric way, to make the meaning very cl ear and leave no doubt in the minds of audience. The most distinct metaphor is comparing the failure of American government to keep ts promise towards the black Negroes, to a check returned by a bank, citing insufficient funds as a reason. Another impressive metaphor is his comparing the present status of Mississippi as ‘ sweltering with the heat of injustice’, while his dream compares the same Mississippi to an ‘ Oasis of freedom and justice †. His linguistic style is very picturesque, and that is what impresses the audience.For example, â€Å" On the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together on the table of rotherhood †. He communicates too many things in sentences which draw a picture in the minds of the audience. The sentences of this speech are seldom long, and never, very long. It is full of short, meaningful sentences. This is another example of excellent use of languag e. Non violence : Martin Luther King has strongly advocated non violence means as a tool for the fight towards freedom. Memories of the brutalities of world war II ( world war II ) and the success of non violence ( Mahatma Gandhi ) as a tool to ring political changes in India, were still afresh in the minds of people.This concept was immediately embraced in America also. Inclusion of specific instruction to fight in a non violent way, made his speech more effective and more acceptable. National flavor : Martin Luther King talks of each and every corner of the nation, by naming it. This adds a national dimension to his speech. There is hardly any region which he has not included in his speech. This helps in making a very wide, national impact.The TV audience : The TV audience must have also been mesmerized by the huge number of people which had gathered at Lincoln Memorial grounds on that day. It compromised of whites also. Inclusion of white people must have made a positive impact i n favor of King’s demands, in the minds of TV audience. The erect posture of King, coupled with oozing self confidence must have boosted the spirits of all listeners and spectators. â€Å" I have a dream â€Å", is a great speech even for all times in future !!

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

trust in yourself Essay Example

trust in yourself Essay Example trust in yourself Essay trust in yourself Essay Posted by Akira Wong nearly killed myself in high school for getting a straight A1 in high school. I nearly committed suicide Just because of the stress and conflicts I had to go through to secure 16 A1 in SPM. Yeah, I got myself a 16A1 recognition. I was awarded a scholarship from JPA, and is currently studying in Intec and is going to further my study in US. However, it is because of this education experience and the people who I meet around in Intec that I gradually opened my eyes and have a clearer view on what I truly lost throughout the struggle to acquire straight 16A1 in SPM. I. I lost friends and familyln the end you will find that friends and family are things that you cant replaced with money and fame. The high school memories you spent with your family and friends are valuable cause these are memories that you created when you were still a teen, and you will never ever had a second chance to be a teen again. Much of my high school time were spent in studying and tuition. In the end, when I graduated from my high school, or even my current college, I was wondering: where are my memories? 2. Lack of sleep. This is really true. When people eep looking at you shining glamorous as the 16A1 , you yourself know the best that it was paid with real hard works. Unless you are a genius, a good result has to be achieved through hard work; its the absolute. During the SPM I had a serious sleep deprivation and I forced myself to revise my works starting from 3 a. m. I have an average 3 hours of tuition per day, and subtracting my school time which is 7 hours per day, I had only 14 hours to do all my other things. Homework is directly proportional to the number of subjects that you took, so does the time you need to pend for revision. With the extra curricular activities coming into the schedule, my average sleeping time per day is 3-5 hours. 3. When A1 becomes Just the average. You will have no idea how easy it is to achieve A1 in SPM. One of my friends who almost did not study his SeJarah yet can still get an A2 in his SPM. The number of students having straight A1 is overflowing throughout the Malaysia, and you might be thinking just like me: having more A1 will make you stand out among your peers more. I can tell you the truth that, YES, but TEMPORARILY. When you go to college you will find ut that there are more students who are BETTER than you even if their SPM has a Fail in Moral or C in Bahasa or D in Physics. They are very specialized in subjects that they truly love. They are very passionate in their own interested subject. Only when you are in the college, you will realize that, despite all the large numbers of A1 that you have in your hand, you are Just AVERAGE. 4. Mediocre talents. High school is supposed to be a place where you can try out new things in your life, discover what you are loving or passionate in, and nurture these discovered traits. It is a protected rea where you are allowed to explore, make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. It is the foundation for you to start discovering who you are and what you are good at. When I am at college, A LOT of my friends have their own talents. They play musical instruments; they take stunning pictures, they are good at socializing, things that you cant learn if you are Just confining yourself surrounded with books and books in your own room. 5. You forgot what you have learnt cant denied that it is a good way for me to expose to things that I might not have chance to study, for beyond your stream. But when I am in college I forgot almost most of the things that I have learnt in high school. If you calculate it you find that it isnt really a good deal compared to what you had lost. The reason is that SPM is so examination-based that you, in spite of how passionate you are in your subject, will subconsciously study for the exam. With this attitude you tend to forget what you have learnt the moment the exam is over. I am still passionate in business study, but how many OSKIC you can join when you need to focus on 16 subjects and promise to your teachers that you can get them all A1 ? 6. All and all, nobody really cares. Wake up! Nobody cares how many A1 you will have in your certs. JPA or Bank Nengara or Petronas might have a glimpse on it, but in the end, nobody will be amazed by your certs. Ask your future boss and he wont really care a shit about it. It will be a past. In the end it is what who you are that shines to the others: your characters, your personality, your experience! A1 is not worth the price if you lost all these. But wait! I need straight A1 to get scholarship! lt could be true. Some families are in dire needs to have a scholarship to provide their children a tertiary education. But trust me, JPA is not the only way to have the scholarship. Opportunities are everywhere. If you have the character, the personality, the experience and the courage to try things out and explore the possibilities that you can have beyond JPA and SPM, you will realize that, you can still success without a scholarship. I know friends who can get admitted to top university in US without a JPA scholarship (cause he doesnt have straight A1 in his SPM). So now, what should I do? Nothing is too late. As for me, I realized this very truth when I am exposed to more people around me. I began to pick up interests and nurture them. I became more extrovert and socialize more when I am in college. I am not afraid to try things new, even if it means things that are embarrassing. I read more as compared to my high school time. I am not saying that study is not important; I am Just saying that knowing that what you really want in your life and who you are eventually is so much more important than Just the numbers of A1 in your certs. (now they are having A+ instead of A1, but its still the same principle). Look further, my friends. My result is truly average now, but hey! The points and prides in my resume have tripled.