What is jurisprudence all about Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

What is jurisprudence all about - Essay Example He is a legal positivist because he considers laws to be disconnected from morality itself and more in line with a system of social guidelines which come with punishments for violations. Thus the viewpoint taken of jurisprudence by him is one of the analytical side where jurisprudence is taken as the philosophy which guides rules in a society that are in turn made into the laws of the society. In effect, Jurisprudence is based on primary rules which actually define acceptable and unacceptable conduct in a social system and secondary rules which tell law officials how to use the primary rules. There are further subdivisions of secondary rules which include the rules of adjudication, the rules of change, and the rules of recognition. In these, the rules of adjudication show ways in which the jurisprudence governs the resolution of legal disputes. The rules of change govern how laws can be altered while the rules of recognition allow rules to be considered valid or invalid. In terms of jurisprudence as it connects with the rules that form the laws in society, it can be debated if morality should be made a part of the equation and there are those who suggest that morality is an important element when it comes to making or altering laws. However, considering that Hart takes morality out of the equation, it could make jurisprudence more dynamic as the norms of society may change much faster than the moral standards of a given social order. Ronald Dworkin is perhaps more important of these two legal thinkers since his contributions to the field of law extend far beyond jurisprudence alone. He also works with the philosophy of law and political ideology debates where his opinions have been widely accepted and opposed as well (Burgess-Jackson, 1998). With regard to jurisprudence, his leading theory is the theory of integrity as it applies to the philosophy of law and the participants in the legal system. An understanding of this

Global Context of Modern Business Essay Example for Free

Global Context of Modern Business Essay China is believed to have the oldest continuous civilisation. China has over 4,000 years of provable history. Beijing is the capital of China and is the most important point for the country. The official language is standard Chinese, which is derived from the Mandarin language however most business people speak English. There are many dialects in China however there is only one written language. A communist form of government rules China. The Chinese government promotes atheism although the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The Chinese practice a variety of religions however Confucianism; despite not being a formal religion is practiced widely throughout the country. China is the most densely populated county in the world with approximately 1. 3 billion people as of mid- 2008. Almost 100 percent of the population are ethnic or Han Chinese. There are strict rules regarding childbirth and each couple is limited to only one child. Opportunities There are lot of trade and investment opportunities for exporters in the China market. Some of the major sectors currently experiencing rapid growth are: processed food and beverages, gambling, transport, IT and telecommunications, minerals and energy, environment protection, building construction products and services. Three of the major growth industries though are the exporting of education, processed food and wine products. Education The foreign education sector in China is split in two students studying abroad and foreign education service providers establishing a presence in Shanghai. The type of students interested in Australia includes those who desire pure language study and those who wish to study university degrees right through to post-graduate/MBA studies etc. As the cost of overseas study remains high, pursuing qualifications through foreign accredited institutions in China has become more practical and more popular. Course delivery can take two forms. One is the foreign school catering exclusively to expatriates, which can be wholly foreign owned and the investor need not be an education entity. The other is a co-operative arrangement or twinning with a Chinese institution where local students are the target markets. These schools are encouraged to provide vocational education. Foreign investors must have a Chinese partner who can lodge an application with the local education authorities for approval. Processed Food As Chinese become more prosperous, demand for more sophisticated products, with a greater emphasis on quality, convenience and freshness continues to grow. This means that significant unsatisfied demand for richly processed foods exists. There has always been a stable market for imported foods in China, especially in respect to hotels, bars and western style restaurants. Increasingly, Chinese consumers themselves are becoming to lay great stress on brand and brand loyalty than before. This means that companies with a strong international brand and aggressive marketing strategies continue to hold large market shares. Foreign companies that have been given permission by the Chinese government to set up supermarket chains include Yaohan, Wellcome, Parkson, Park N Shop, Careful, Pricemart and CHC. These companies are setting up supermarkets in a limited number of locations. Wine Wine is especially popular in the large cities of China (Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou) and has great potential given the increasing disposable income of local people, the health benefits of drinking wine and the government campaign against grain-based alcoholic drinks. However, many Chinese have little knowledge of table wine, and few people can differentiate quality and appreciate the taste. With this in mind, and excellent promotional tool could be wine appreciation and information courses to educate food and beverage managers, restaurant owners and waiters. This would also attract high-income earners and may ultimately stimulate the consumption of quality wine. The Chinese wine market is price sensitive and consequently locally manufactured wine holds the largest market share. French companies are active in setting up joint venture either growing grapes and manufacturing wine or bottling bulk-imported wine. Better quality wine is limited to hotels and restaurants and consumed mostly by Western diners. To successfully sell wine in China, local bottling of bulk-imported wine is considered the most economical and practical way to supply the local market with a competitively priced product. The opportunities arise from rapid economic growth in the worlds largest market and the availability of a cheap manufacturing base from which to sell to China and the world. From a manufacturing perspective, China in the long run will be distinguished by its overall business strength and structure, including the huge investments made to ensure China has a modern competitive manufacturing sector. All businesses need to be clear about whether they want to sell or manufacture in China. Long-term, China business strategies should not be based on the availability of cheap labour this is disappearing as China becomes wealthier. The number of high net-worth individuals on the Chinese mainland has hit a record high and they are continuing to spend, according to the Hurun 2009 Wealth Report. The study found 825,000 mainland Chinese – or one in 1,700 – with a personal wealth of at least US$1 million. And now the rich are more likely to be found in second- and third-tier mainland cities. A new generation of consumers is emerging in China they are young, well educated and familiar with non-Chinese cultures. This Y generation of 240 million, born between 1980 and 1990, is now the highest earning age group in the country and is looking for a new way of life. They typically live in the major cities on the Eastern seaboard of China and in particular in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou where GDP per person is now over US$5,000 but corresponds in Purchasing Power Parity terms to four times that amount. Challenges Starting to do business in China is likely to be more costly and time consuming than in other markets. Challenges arise because of Chinas size, its gold rush style growth and the fact China has a very different business culture and environment from what businesses in other countries are used to. China is different in size, culture, politics, geography, history and economic structure. These issues can present challenges for companies looking to sell or invest in China which can only be overcome by thorough research, spending a lot of time in-market and following a focused business plan. Language and culture barriers The main challenges of doing business in China would be language and culture barriers. Before you visit China, it will be a definitely good idea to prepare yourself by studying aspects of Chinese language, culture, history, and geography. Your hosts will appreciate your initiative. If you speak Chinese, they will really appreciate your efforts and take your initiative of doing business in China more seriously than if you do not speak any of their language. Moreover, your ability of being able to understand Chinese language will help you to establish a successful business. It is essential for the foreign-funded enterprises to understand the China’s culture, especially regarding the culture of Guangxi (relationship), so as to be able to gain the popularity and trust of China population. With a good relationship, business can become smoother and probability of failure will be greatly reduced. Stronger bonds can also be built with the customers, suppliers and partners. In China, Guangxi is a complicated field. A special feature of doing business in China will be that Guangxi will have to include relationship with the government body, investors, partners and even relationship with your own staff, so when doing business in China, it is important for foreign investors to learn to coordinate with the China government, especially establishing good relationship with government bodies dealing with foreign trade and economic cooperation. Government procedures Governmental procedures for foreign investors in establishing investments in China is extremely complicated, thus if one is unfamiliar of the procedures, one will delay his business opportunities. Therefore it is important for one to be familiar with the investment procedures before carrying out his investment in China. A safer and more appropriate way will be to seek help from local organisations familiar in the same field of business or consultant firms who are able to provide professional advice and assistance. Determination and patience may be essential for an investor to be successful, however it is necessary for one to require help from professional bodies to ensure that success will be achieved. Conclusion China’s labour market very much appeals to many foreign investors. This is because on one hand, labour cost is low, and on the other hand China’s workforce has become matured and their skills have been constantly upgraded, especially in the coastal cities. Educational development is undergoing at a wonderful pace in China, thus it is no longer difficult to hire high quality labour force in China today. Many successful foreign investors have even credited their success in China to their China’s local staff. One big problem that is causing headache to foreign investors is how to maintain good relationship (Guangxi) with the local staff. First of all, top management should cultivate the company’s vision and values into the employees because what the local people are taught under China’s educational system may crash with the foreign management system. Thus only by letting the employees understand the company better can allow the company to function better.

The History And Background Of Rickets Health Essay

The History And Background Of Rickets Health Essay Rickets is a disease that is lack of vitamin D. It is mostly happening in winter and spring, and children are easy to get the disease when they from 2 to 6 age group. If the children lack of vitamin D, their bones will become soft. (1. Unknown, 2003) C:UsersDELLAppDataRoamingTencentUsers752503580QQWinTempRichOleBFU4MUDQ]H268WAGFZ_)}M.jpg Keywords: bones, children, cod liver oil, disabled children, diseases, girls, Glasgow Corporation, infants, medicine, orange juice, public health, rickets, sunlight, Vitamin D deficiency History 1st and 2nd century AD Soranus, a Roman physician, is the person who first described bony deformities in the 1st and 2nd century AD. He pointed out that bony deformities more appeared in the young children because Roman mothers often lack of nurture and hygiene. 1645 Daniel Whistler, an English physician, is credited with the earliest person who described rickets. In 1645, he published a monograph titled Inaugural medical that provided a description of the signs and symptoms of rickets. An alternate term called Paedosteocaces was used to describe the clinical symptoms of rickets. The signs and symptoms of rickets included bone pain or tenderness, dental deformities delayed formation of teeth, short stature, impaired growth, decreased muscle strength, and a number of skeletal deformities, including abnormally shaped skull (craniotabes), rib-cage abnormalities (rachitic rosary), bowlegs, and breastbone, pelvic, and spinal deformities. (2. William C. Shiel Jr., 2012) 1650 Francis Glisson, a Cambridge physician published in Latin a treatise on rickets titled De Rachitide. in 1650. Glissons work remains a classic among medical texts. Unlike Whistler, Glissons sound and elegant observation of rickets is based on clinical and postmortem experience. 1909 Nearly 2 centuries after the Glissonian era, there were no new developments in the study of rickets. At the turn of the 20th century, rickets was heavy among the underprivileged infants living in industrialized cities of North in the United States and several polluted cities in Europe. In 1909, among infants 18 months or less who had died, Schmorl found histopathological evidence of rickets in 96% (214 of 221) at autopsy, highlighting the pervasive nature of rickets during that era. Although it often happened, the exact cause of rickets still unclear. Deficient diet, faulty environment (poor hygiene, lack of fresh air and sunshine), and lack of exercise were all implicated in its etiology. (3. Kumaravel Rajakumar, 2003) Geography Rickets mainly happen in anywhere. It is primary cause of lack of vitamin D. the rickets mostly happen in the young children. Firstly, the sunlight is an important factor of cure rickets because sunlight can facilitate the synthesis of vitamin D when human body exposure to sunlight. Sniadecki, a physicians observed that children living in Warsaw had a high incidence of rickets, whereas children living in rural areas outside Warsaw did not Based on this observation, he advocated exposure to sunlight as a means of curing this disease. (4. Unknown, 2012) Secondly, according to Sniadeckis collections of opinions that indicated the appearance of rickets does not associated with the economy but the locations of the people. The opinions were from some physicians in the British Empire and the Orient showed that rickets was rare in children living in poor cities in China, Japan, and India where people received poor nutrition and lived in squalor, whereas the children of middle class and poor who lived in industrialized cities in the British Isles had a high incidence of rickets. (5. Jan 25, 2011) Culture Group Mostly young children are easy to get rickets, especially dark skin people. Young children need to eat food that includes vitamin D and they need to under the sunlight more than 15 minute every day. Symptoms The signs and symptoms of rickets included bone pain or tenderness, dental deformities delayed formation of teeth, short stature, impaired growth, decreased muscle strength, and a number of skeletal deformities, including abnormally shaped skull (craniotabes), rib-cage abnormalities (rachitic rosary), bowlegs, and breastbone, pelvic, and spinal deformities. (6. William C. Shiel Jr., 89[0d2012) Diagnosed If we found children have tetany or seizures, X-rays of long bones (radius, ulna, and femur) and ribs, they will get the rickets. (7. William C. Shiel Jr., 2012) Environmental influence Pollution from factories can affect the rickets, because the environmental pollution will block the suns ultraviolet ray. The suns ultraviolet ray is good for our body. It can make our body production of vitamin D to reduce the rickets. (8. Steven M Schwarz, 2011) Ethical issues Nowadays people who with darkly pigmented skin or live in industrialized northern cities and the children in certain Arab countries who often cover clothing and stay indoors still at risk of rickets. Besides, in tropical with sunny climates, rickets still a problem in the cities like Calcutta, Johannesburg, and in mostly African-American children in the United States, because children usually consume vegetarian or vegan diets and infants often have low levels of vitamin D as a result of the lactating mothers have low levels of vitamin D. Although rare, diets directly deficient in calcium and phosphorus may also lead to rickets. (9. Unknown, 2012) Social influence Rickets can be found much more easily in the developing countries or regions which without clean food and water. Rickets is a kind of bone structure softening disease, and it can finally lead to breakage, fractures and deformity of the limbs and spine. Rickets usually is due to malnutrition, especially when vitamin D and calcium cannot be got enough from the diet. If infants cannot get enough nutrients, they maybe get rickets much easier. Starvation, inadequate food intake or a poor diet also lead to rickets. In adults, an extreme deficiency in vitamin D can cause osteomalacia too. If malnutrition is the main cause, protruding bones and muscles may be visible. And if caught early on, rickets can be treated. The treatment for rickets caused by malnutrition should start by treating the malnutrition or malabsorption of foods. This means following a healthy diet that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy. Another recommendation is a high-calorie nutritional supplement to promote and encourage weight gain. Sometimes doctor may also recommend vitamin D and calcium supplements with the precise dosage, and along with frequent monitoring of calcium and vitamin D levels in the blood. (10. Julie Boehlke, 2011) Change agents Daniel Whistler Daniel Whistler is an English physician. He is credited with the earliest person who described rickets. In 1645, he published a monograph titled Inaugural medical that provided a description of the signs and symptoms of rickets. An alternate term called Paedosteocaces was used to describe the clinical symptoms of rickets. (11. Kumaravel Rajakumar, 2003) Harry Steenbock In 1924, University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemist Harry Steenbock discovered a method that exposure to ultraviolet irradiation can increase the vitamin D content of certain foods, virtually eliminating the debilitating condition of rickets. (12. The Guardian, 2010) K. Huldschinsky In 1919, the German researcher K. Huldschinsky carried out a remarkably innovative experiment and cured children of rickets using artificially-produced ultraviolet light. (13. Unknown, 2009) Alfred F. Hess and L. F. Unger In 1921, researchers Alfred F. Hess and L. F. Unger of Columbia University first showed that by simply exposing rachitic children to sunlight, they were able to cure them of the disease. (14. Unknown, 2009) Steenbock Recognizing that simply irradiating certain foods that were common in most peoples diets could spare large numbers of children from the bone disease, Steenbock patented the food irradiation process using ultraviolet light in 1924, donating all future proceeds to support research at the University of Wisconsin. (15. Unknown, 2009) Innovation The description of conditions with bony deformities in ancient medical writings dates back to the 1st and 2nd centuries. Despite rickets common occurrence, the exact etiology of rickets remained elusive. An English physician, Edward Mellanby made a series of experimental study and postulated, It therefore seems probable that the cause of rickets is a diminished intake of an antirachitic factor which is either fat-soluble A, or has a somewhat similar distribution to fat-soluble A. Even though his conclusion has soon been proved incorrect, His work still clearly established the role of diet in the cause of rickets. In 1861, Professor Armand Trousseau, a French internist state that rickets was caused by lack of sun exposure and a faulty diet, and cod-liver oil could effectively cure it. After many year further research and clinical trials, by the 1930s, the use of cod-liver oil in the treatment and prevention of rickets became common place. The eventual public health prevention initiative of fortification of milk with vitamin D led to eradication of rickets in the United States. (16. Kumaravel Rajakumar, 2003) When people get more information about rickets, they can think about how to prevent rickets. Contemporary uses and resources Rickets can be prevented by consumed balanced and nutrition diets. In order to prevent the rickets, foods that are high in calcium (such as milk, cheese, and salad greens) and vitamin-D (such as breakfast cereals and orange juice) should be provided (17). Evidence has showed that supplements of 400 IU of vitamin D each day can be effective in preventing the diseases (18) Vitamin D deficiency has become a serious problem throughout the world. In New Zealand, around 31% of children aged in 5-14 years suffer vitamin D deficiency (19). Foods: oily fish, liver, eggs, meat, oatmeal. Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Vitamin D in pregnancy diet The National Academy of Sciences recommended that pregnant women get 200 IUs (5 micrograms) of vitamin D each day if theyre not exposed to adequate sunlight (your body makes vitamin D when exposed to the sun). Many experts believe this amount isnt nearly enough. For example, Bruce Hollis, professor of pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina, who has researched vitamin D needs, recommended that pregnant women take a supplement of 4,000 IU of vitamin D a day. And lactating women take a supplement of 6,000 IU daily. And the National Academy of Sciences is reviewing its guidelines on vitamin D currently, so the data may change. Egg, fortified milk, fish liver oil, and fatty fish, and cereal products all contain vitamin D. Be sure to check food labels: Some cheeses, yogurts, eggs, and cereals are fortified while others arent. All milk is vitamin D fortified. Here are some of the best food sources of vitamin D: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢3 ounces catfish, cooked: 570 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢3.5 ounces salmon, cooked: 360 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢3.5 ounces mackerel, cooked: 345 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢3 ounces tuna fish, canned in oil: 200 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1.75 ounces sardines, canned in oil, drained: 250 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1 cup milk, fortified with 25% of daily value (DV) of vitamin D: 100 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1 cup orange juice, fortified with 25% of DV of vitamin D: 100 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1 cup fortified skim milk: 98 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1 tablespoon margarine, fortified: 60 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1 cup ready-to-eat cereal, fortified with 10% of DV of vitamin D: 40 IU à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1 egg yolk: 20 IU the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 1997. Vitamin D in your pregnancy diet Retrieved on 10th November 2012 from http://www.babycenter.com/0_vitamin-d-in-your-pregnancy-diet_661.bc?page=2 Future trends Application to an establishment

Digital Home Convergence Essay -- Technology Technological Essays

Digital Home Convergence Overview As technology and entertainment converge inside the home, major players in various industries are taking different strategies in planning for the future. The concept of the â€Å"digital home† will likely take one of two forms: a closed wired entertainment network (PVRs, OnDemand) or an open wireless data network (web, email, VOIP, IPTV). The closed model is already being offered in many homes across the country, but as technology advances, the open model will become the standard. It is important to understand how both technology and entertainment are companies are strategizing to control the â€Å"digital home†. Based on research in this report, it appears that four things are likely to occur. First, convergence of technology will create the need for standards in the digital home network. Much in the way it took some time before the Wintel model became standard, we will have to wait and see which model takes hold in home entertainment. Once a model is chosen as standard, there will be an explosion of products and services catering to that model in the market. Second, increasing competition will lead to alliances between companies in different industries. PC technology companies that have no presence in home entertainment might look to deal their way into the â€Å"digital home†. For example, Microsoft is currently striking deals with several major phone companies to provide the platform for IPTV. Many people also suspect that Apple might acquire TiVo in order to gain a presence in TV and create a service platform for video-on-demand. Third, the successful companies in the battle for t he digital home will be the ones who earn customer loyalty. Consumers are reluctant to change their behaviors, especially ones like TV watching that are so entrenched. Companies need to deliver products and services reliably in order to facilitate a consumer shift to the â€Å"digital home†. Finally, major content providers will hold up the process until they see digital distribution as a way to increase their long-term profits. Home video divisions of entertainment companies are extremely profitable. They do not want to jeopardize this profitability just to be at the front of the technology curve. The infrastructure behind the â€Å"digital home† will have to be in place before the major studios choose to participate. Hardware - PCs Companies in the ... ...cess is due to a combination of factors, including â€Å"pricing, infrastructure, demographics, geography, deregulation, and clear user benefits.† Conclusion In conclusion, we expect to observe significant convergence of technology and entertainment, which will either be in the form of a closed wired entertainment network (PVRs, OnDemand) or an open wireless data network (web, email, VOIP, IPTV). We predict that the open model will become a standard in the future. In support of our thesis, we would like to recapitulate four major trends that will likely happen in the near-term future. 1. A standard(s) will be created in the digital home network. Once a model is chosen as a standard, we can expect to see a proliferation of products and services that are compatible with that standard. 2. Increasing competition will lead to increased synergies and alliances amongst hardware, software and distribution companies. 3. The companies successful in the digital home entertainment space will be the ones who earn customer loyalty. 4. Major content providers (e.g. movie studios) will hold up the process until they see digital distribution as a way to increase their long-term profits.

“Is the technology accelerating to collapse the society?” Essay

I There was a time when people used to live a very miserable life and had to work hard in the fields to produce food for themselves. But for the last hundred years or so our quality of life has been gradually improving and today we have sophisticated machines that can do all that hard work for us and make our existence relatively easy and comfortable. Without a doubt, we owe this all to the fast development of our technology. However, the growth of technology has been made possible due to cheap energy which started to be available a little less than three hundred years ago when fossil fuels came into use. Thanks to this abundant and relatively cheap energy provided by fossil fuels humans have been able to exploit a rich variety of resources which created favorable conditions for the development of technology and improved their quality of life. Fossil-driven technology has particularly contributed to â€Å"the development of mechanized agriculture† which has allowed an insignificant number of farmers to â€Å"work vast tracts of land† and produce food in abundance. Sufficient amounts of food have led to â€Å"a wild growth of population†: around 1800 world population was one billion; by 1930 it reached two billion; by the beginning of the 1960s it was three billion; in 1975 – four billion; in 1986 – five billion; and the world’s present population is approaching six billion. In other words, the progress of our society has been based on the development of fossil-driven technology. But the exhaustion of fossil fuels is not far off and there is no other energy source which would be abundant and cheap enough to replace them. It means that our society as we know it today is likely to collapse. (Price, David. Energy and Human Evolution) â€Å"The Age of Exuberance is over, population has already overshot carrying capacity, and prodigal Homo sapiens has drawn down the world’s savings deposits. † (Catton, William. Industrialization: Prelude to Collapse) II Throughout human history many societies have prospered and collapsed; their collapses have direct relevance to the problems we face today. The ancient Maya, for example, were one of the most powerful and advanced societies of the past. Eighty percent of Maya society consisted of peasants who practised intensive slash and burn agriculture, growing mostly corn. (Heinberg, Richard. Meditations on Collapse) During the Classic period of Maya history which arose around A. D. 250 the Maya population â€Å"increased almost exponentially† and reached the highest numbers in â€Å"Page # 2† the eighth century A. D. (Diamond, Jared. The Last Americans. Environmental Collapse and the End of Civilization) One reason why the ancient Maya collapsed was population growth which outstripped available resources. While Maya population was steadily increasing, the area of farmland was decreasing as a result of â€Å"deforestation and hillside erosion†. Another reason was constant warfare which peaked before the collapse as more and more Maya people had to fight over fewer resources. These problems were also exacerbated by a series of droughts. And the final reason for the Classic Maya collapse was political. The coming crisis was not recognized and responded to by the kings and nobles. It can be explained by the fact that the Maya elite remained fixated â€Å"on the short-term concerns of enriching themselves, waging wars, erecting monuments, competing with one another, and extracting enough food from the peasants to support all those activities†, and did not focused on long-term problems. (Diamond, Jared) they did not â€Å"have the leisure to focus on long-term problems, insofar as they perceived them† Today there are many signs of the above-mentioned strands in the United States, the world’s leading power, which is also at the peak of its power and is suffering from numerous environmental problems. Many parts of the United States, for example, â€Å"face locally severe problems of water restriction† (southern California, Arizona, the Everglades, the Northeast), forest fires which result from â€Å"logging and forest-management practices† (intermontane West), losses of farmlands because of salinization, drought, and climate change (northern Great Plains). It is a fact that the environmental problems which exist nowadays in the United States are still modest compared with those of the rest of the world. But the problems of environmentally devastated and overpopulated distant countries are now American problems as well. (Diamond, Jared) Globalization means nothing more than improved worldwide communications and transport systems and at present America is tightly connected to many overseas countries. Intentionally or unintentionally, such things as terrorists, diseases (AIDS, SARS, cholera, West Nile fever), unstoppable numbers of legal and illegal immigrants can easily travel or be sent from the Third â€Å"Page # 3† World to the United States. Modern America depends considerably on the rest of the world and â€Å"political stability anywhere in the world† now affects the USA and its trade routes, overseas markets and suppliers. The ancient Maya were globalized only within the Yucata? n because of their transportation which was slow, short-distance and had low cargo capacity. We live today in a globalized world because our transport is much more rapid and â€Å"has much higher cargo capacity†. (Diamond, Jared) The reasons why past societies failed to anticipate and solve problems before they developed, â€Å"still can be seen operating today†. On the one hand, it is obvious that the possibility of collapse is not taken seriously by our political elite and society. And even when this problem is recognized, â€Å"those in power may not attempt to solve it because of a clash between their short-term interests and the interests of the rest of us†. Pumping oil, cutting down trees, and catching fish which is dying out bring the elite money and prestige but it is â€Å"bad for society as a whole† in the long run. On the other hand, when the problem is recognized and action is being taken it may be difficult for us â€Å"to acknowledge the wisdom of policies† that clash with some of our current benefits. (Diamond, Jared) III The scientific conclusion of many respected geologists, physicists, and investment bankers around the world as to the future of the present society is not encouraging at all: â€Å"civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon†. (Life After the Oil Crash) Our technology-driven economic system is characterized by a high consumption of renewable and non renewable resources – from food to forests, from fresh water to soil – which are disappearing quickly. (Ehrenfeld, David. The Coming Collapse of the Age of Technology) Modern societies depend on technological development and every part of our technology depends on the energy which comes from fossil fuels; and they supply nearly 75% of the world’s energy. At the rate of consumption that we have today known reserves of petroleum will be gone in about 35 years; natural gas in 52 years; and coal in some 200 years. And the demand for energy is â€Å"expected to grow at an ever-quickening pace†. (Price, David) Modern food production is fossil fuel â€Å"Page # 4† and petrochemical powered; commercial fertilizers are made from ammonia, which in turn is made from natural gas; farming machines such as tractors and trailers are constructed and powered using oil. Goods are manufactured in oil-powered plants and factories and then distributed across oil-powered transportation networks. Apart from transportation and agriculture which are dependent on oil, â€Å"modern medicine, water distribution, and national defense are each entirely powered by oil and petroleum derived chemicals†. Oil is required for all plastics, all computers and all high-tech devices. Tin, iron, gold, silver, copper, platinum, etc are each â€Å"discovered, extracted, transported, and fashioned using oil-powered machinery†. We have no way of producing even alternative systems of energy without an abundant and reliable supply of oil as well as of scaling them to â€Å"the degree necessary to power the modern world†. (Life After the Oil Crash) As we can see from these examples, oil plays the most important part among other fossil fuels in modern technology. However, a rapid decline of oil production capacity can be observed in nearly two dozen countries and more than half of the world’s supply has already been used. The global oil peak is likely to occur before 2010 and it is expected to be â€Å"a trigger for global economic crisis†. (Heinberg, Richard) IV All this points out that our present society is indeed heading towards a certain form of collapse. Starvation, social strife, and disease are likely to be â€Å"operative mechanisms† in the collapse of the human society. They are all consequences of scarce resources and dense population and interact in complex ways. (Price, David) Starvation will be a direct result of the depletion of energy resources. Today’s dense population depends for its food supply â€Å"on mechanized agriculture and efficient transportation†. Energy is used in the production and operation of farm equipment and as well as in the transportation of food to market. With the decrease of efficient energy resources food will be bound to grow more expensive and â€Å"the circle of privileged consumers to whom an adequate supply is available will continue to shrink†. Social strife will be another important consequence of the rising â€Å"Page # 5† cost of commercial energy. When goods are plentiful and â€Å"per-capita access to goods is increasing†, social tensions are usually muted. But when goods become more and more scarce and â€Å"per-capita access to goods is decreasing†, ethnic tensions surface, governments often become authoritarian and goods are usually acquired by criminal means. (Price, David) Public health systems will be crippled by a shortage of resources, too. In the meantime, a dense population will encourage the spread of contagious diseases. Throughout human history there have been many examples of large and dense populations leading to the â€Å"appearance of contagious diseases that evolved to exploit them† (smallpox, measles, the Black death). Today, our population is extremely dense and all parts of the world are tightly linked by air travel. All of this facilitates for new diseases such as AIDS to spread rapidly throughout the world. Moreover, a virus as deadly as AIDS but â€Å"more easily transmissible could appear at any time†. (Price, David) We could go even further to state that environmental problems, depletion of energy resources and increased population growth prove that collapse has already begun and all we can do is to make the best of it. It can occur slowly or quickly, be complete or partial, and controlled or chaotic. What we still can and should do is to make a concerted effort to manage this collapse. It would require changes that must be implemented by political leaders and the whole society: large-scale national and international cooperation is necessary in order to allocate essential resources to prevent deadly competition for them as they become scarce. (Heinberg, Richard) These changes are â€Å"well within our human and technological capacity†. First and foremost, the rate at which resources are being consumed and waste is being generated must be gradually decreased. Our resource use and the rate we are polluting the environment can be considerably reduced if we shift to â€Å"proven more-efficient technologies†. It is crucial that our modern society start making these changes now while fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources still exist. They could be invested â€Å"into building a society and economy based on renewable energy, the careful recycling of materials, and the equitable economic institutions required for a sustainable society†. (Gilman, Robert. Reclaiming â€Å"Page # 6†.Politics) We should also give up striving for â€Å"continuous economic growth† and adopt â€Å"lifestyles of voluntary simplicity†. (Heinberg, Richard) BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. Diamond, Jared. The Last Americans. Environmental Collapse and the End of Civilization, http://www. mindfully. org/Heritage/2003/Civilization-Collapse-EndJun03. htm (November, 16 2005) 2. Ehrenfeld, David. The Coming Collapse of the Age of Technology, http://garnet. acns. fsu. edu/~jstallin/complex/readings/Ehrenfeld. htm (November, 17 2005) 3. Gilman, Robert. Reclaiming Politics, http://www. context. org/ICLIB/IC30/Gilman. htm (November, 30 2005) 4. Heinberg, Richard. Meditations on Collapse, http://www. museletter. com/archive/154. html (November, 16 2005) 5. Life After the Oil Crash, http://www. lifeaftertheoilcrash. net/ (November, 17 2005) 6. Price, David. Energy and Human Evolution, http://www. energybulletin. net/3917. html (November, 16 2005) 7. Catton, William. Industrialization: Prelude to Collapse, http://www. energybulletin. net/4632. html (November, 17 2005).

Deere and Co. Swot Analysis

DeVry University Pomona, California Swot Analysis of John Deere Symbol on NYSE : DE By Eduardo Elizarraras 11307 Spy Glass Hill Road, Whittier, CA 90601 626-246-4747 [email  protected] com Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Course Requirements for Introduction to Business BUSN 115 Professor Tom Donini March 21, 2010 Company Profile John Deere (Deere & Company — NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing technologically advanced machinery for agriculture, forestry, construction, lawn and turf care, and all sorts of landscaping. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide.Deere & Company as it is known on the New York Stock Exchange manufactures and markets heavy machinery and engines used in heavy equipment. The company was founded by a blacksmith named John Deere. John Deere moved from Vermont to Illinois and immediately set up a blacksmith shop in 1837. John Deere developed a better plow for the tougher soil found in the Midwest and from there John Deere was es tablished. Today John Deere Construction & Forestry produces more than 120 machine models and distributes its construction, forestry and worksite products through a network of more than 1,300 dealer locations worldwide.The company employs more than 50,000 people worldwide. John Deere’s Mission Statement as listed on their homepage website. It is listed as a Strategy Statement. We aspire to distinctively serve customers — those linked to the land — through a great business, a business as great as our products. To achieve this aspiration, our strategy is:   * Exceptional operating performance * Disciplined SVA growth * Aligned high-performance teamwork   Execution of this strategy creates the distinctive John  Deere Experience that ultimately propels a great business and, for all with a stake in our success, delivers†¦Performance That Endures   SWOT Analysis of John Deere Strengths * Highly recognized and respected brand * Market dominance for heavy e quipment and machinery| Weaknesses * High prices * Less profit in non agricultural products| Opportunities * John Deere Credit * Wind Technology Portfolio| Threats * Caterpillar * Weaker economies worldwide * Seasonal Business of agriculture| Company Strengths Highly recognized and respected brand John Deere has established itself as the leader in agricultural products worldwide since the 1960s.John Deere green has become a color. Easy to recognize and distinguish itself from the competition. Marketing slogan on television commercials effectively ties in the logo with the company, â€Å"Nothing runs like a Deere†. According to Encyclopedia Brittanica Online there was a surge in tractor sales in Ireland in 2006 and the sales leader was John Deere. This leadership in sales demonstrates the market dominance of the John Deere brand. Company Weaknesses High Prices/Less profit in non agricultural products John Deere tractors and other equipment are generally priced higher than othe r quipment. John Deere brand pressure washers at Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse costs 30 to 50 percent more than Troy Built brand pressure washers.Lawn tractors and lawnmowers also command a price premium over the competition. The brand has become more expensive only because it is John Deere. Similar performance and similar specifications for products with only difference being price has caused a lot of buyers to opt for the lower cost brand. Products that are not related to agriculture and can be substituted with a lower cost rand has lead to lower sales in those areas. If a customer really needs something and it does not have to match his green tractor then they will probably buy the lower cost item. This has led to less profit in non agricultural products. Opportunities John Deere Credit/ Wind Technology Offering clients loans directly through John Deere Credit has increased revenue for the company. Financing of expensive farm equipment contributes extra income to John Deere Credit. The tractors and combines that farmers buy are very expensive, a new combine can cost in excess of $200,00. 00.Customers who buy the machinery don’t have to go to their bank. They can usually get better finance rates through John Deere Credit. This eliminates third party financing and increases the bottom line for John Deere. According to cnn. com/money John Deere has hired Goldman Sachs Group this past month, February 25, 2010, to conduct a review of the wind farms that the company owns. A possible sale of the wind farm portfolio could earn John Deere about 1 Billion dollars. Threats Caterpillar/Weaker Economy/Seasonal Business Caterpillar manufactures heavy construction equipment.They do not build agricultural tractors but they do build a lot of bulldozers and backhoes that are used in general construction. Some heavy equipment that both John Deere and Caterpillar build for construction is similar in specifications. Some forestry machinery is also very similar . This could be seen as a threat to compete for limited budgets that would purchase heavy construction equipment if Caterpillar has lowers prices and offers rebates. Weaker economies not just in America but worldwide have slowed the purchases of heavy machinery.This has led to some consolidation and less sales. Another threat to John Deere is the seasonal nature of the agricultural business. Combines are not harvesting daily. They only work when the crops are ready to be harvested. Tractors only plow and seed in the beginning of the growing season. Conclusion John Deere, Deer and Company is the world leader in tractor sales. They have expanded into a lot of different countries. I think that by offering rebates when buying some of their products or when buying more than one product, they can turn their high price eakness to be more of a strength because they will not only sell more but sell more to the same customers. I believe that given the opportunity I would enjoy working at John Deere. The company has been around for almost two hundred years. The products that they manufacture can be seen as soon as one drives south, east, west or north of our urban living area. In some parts of our urban area they can be seen working in strawberry fields and lettuce patches. I personally have always enjoyed watching how these marvelous machines work and provide food for our enjoyment and survival.Reference Attou, Marti â€Å"American Innovator,Agricultural Icon† http://www. americanprofile. com/article/4689. html http://www. deere. com/en_US/compinfo/history/johndeerestory. html â€Å"John Deere† March 2010 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/John_Deere Malone, Scott â€Å"Deere Considers sale of $1 bln wind portfolio† money. cnn. com February 25,2010 http://money. cnn. c om/news/newsfeeds/articles/reuters/MTFH66898_2010-02-25_16-12-43_N2598967. htm O’keefe, Matt â€Å"Irish Farmers Monthly† January 2007 http://www. britannica. com/bps/additi onalcontent/18/24655786/Best-year-ever-for-tractor-sales