Bible 105 Discussion Board

Leayotta Karley Bibl 105 9/24/12 Discussion Board Forum Thread 1 From the reading of Courageous Faith: ch. 1-6, I have identified myself with the life of Moses. He portrayed a life with failures as well as received a second chance to overcome his past circumstances in his life. The parallels of Moses’s life to mine is similar in some ways due to the fact that I had to start over again with the help of God. Moses didn’t know what his purpose in life was as myself at present.Do the actions and decisions that I make really make God happy and will everyone agree with me? Several years ago I graduated from high school and entered community college to start my studies for pre-med, but as I grew closer to graduation I saw the challenges in this career path. Then, I decided to change the major to Nursing in order for my credits to transfer from premed and make years spent in college less than in the Premed program. Both careers are highly competitive and honored in all countrie s of this world.My main goal is to join a profession that will help me interact with people and show people Christ’s love for all humankind through myself. It’s a blessing to help people with their problems and be by their side when they need it as God does in our lives. So, now I having difficulties with standing with my decisions and believing that I will overcome these failures. I want my purpose in life to follow with what God wants me to do and not feel pressured by family or society.There are times in my life when I feel hopeless and abandoned by everyone. I want to stay strong, but my emotions take over me and cause me emotional distress. This allows me to lose faith and trust in God when nothing seems to be going the way I want in life. From Moses’s life he didn’t understand that God does no abandon his children even if we make wrong decisions in our past. God knows that humans will sin and choose the wrong path, but if they make God their friend and have complete faith in him everything will turn good.We need God by our side due to our chances of falling again are more likely if we leave his presence and take matters into our hands. We should not belittle God’s power and ask for wisdom in everything we do. As in the same way God helped Moses he will help us and make us great leaders in any field of study that we choose. We must glorify God and he knows our heart’s weakness, but he will help us overcome our failures and succeed in life.

Holy The Firm by Annie Dillard Essay

​â€Å"Death of a Moth† is a short essay from the author, Annie Dillard, called Holy the Firm, and also one of her most personal essay that she’s ever written. It is about the burning moths, her belief in God, and acceptance of her faith to being a writer. She uses the death of the moths to tell us nature’s cycle of life. Everything is the same, human and animal, life and death. In the end, they will all end up like the moth being burned up by candle light. ​In the essay of Annie Dillard, Death of a Moth, she writes about a woman who lives alone on Northern Puget South in Washington State, with one enormous window, one cat, and one spider(2). She has a flashback about two summers ago when she tried to run away from society to read and write her book, To Mountain. She tries to find herself to becoming a writer. She wants to leave the world behind and enjoy herself alongside animal and nature. She sees a moth landing on her candle light and gets burnt. She, then, describes the moth in such realistic ways which remind the readers about nature’s cycle of life. As she looks at the moth, she falls asleep. ​In the essay, the author has mentioned in her class about â€Å"you must go at your life with a broadax† (10). In theory, a broadax is a weapon or a tool used to chop down trees. At this point, Annie wants to explain to her class if you want to be something or get something in your life, you have to be willing to overcome anything to be able to get what you want. Your life is like a battle. When in battle, you need to equip yourself with a broadax, and be prepared to fight and struggle. In addition, it also shows you are willing to hack down at anything standing in your way. In practice, students also face the same situation. They try their best to overcome obstacles teachers give them to be able to pass their classes. ​In â€Å"Death of a Moth† essay, Annie Dillard tells us about nature’s cycle of life. Everything will have the same ending, being born, living for a certain period of time, and then dying. The same as the moths or ephemera stabs by fire. George has mentioned about significance of butterfly to her moths essay by posting his post on bookcritics.org(5). I would say that butterfly is the most beautiful insect I have even known. To be obtaining this beauty, it also has suffered so many miseries. It has to endured ninety months to a year in a cocoon, then it breaks pupa without any help, and transforms to a beautiful butterfly. The pity is it only lives for 3 days or a month, depending on what type it is. From the butterfly example, effort is what we can’t lack in our life. If we live without any obstacles, we will never learn or become stronger like a butterfly’s ability to break cocoon and fly up high. ​It can be seen that Annie Dillard is focusing more about the nature’s cycle life and also, expressing her effort to being a writer. She uses the moths as an example to describe her idea about nature to the readers, which is accept faith and move on with your life. In my own opinion, I would recommend or love to hear the significance of butterfly in her moth essay than reading about the moth being burned by the candle light. It was not a waste of time to write an essay about a moth, but replacing the moth to a more gracious creature like a butterfl y would better capture the audience.

Becton Dickinsonproposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Becton Dickinsonproposal - Essay Example The primary concern of all these people at HMC is reducing the budget deficit through price reduction and Joanne is charged with a specific task. She will make all efforts to reduce prices without considering other factors. The other divisions report rapport with end-users but the key persons at HMC are obviously Stan Delaney and Judy Koski who have the authority and capacity to look beyond mere prices and weigh the value of services offered by BD. Ted Barber, of City Surgical, has worked at HMC and is today has a 'strong lock' on supplies to HMC, supplying 80% of their requirements of medical supplies. Though he is out of the organization he wields considerable influence on HMC. His concern, naturally, is the good of his own distribution company. Becton Dickinson (BD) is faced with the threat of global competition and must change to meet it. Ed Haire was wrong; the competitor is no fly-by-night organization. Terumo products were being used earlier and the needles and syringes have also been approved. Terumo has a product portfolio of more than 1000 products and has 28% share of the overall world market and 33 % share of the market in syringes and needles. They have recently begun production in the US any misgivings the customers have will be allayed through a product manufactured in the US. BD shall also have to compete in the international market, especially once the Singapore plant commences production. Driving this change has to be the CEO, Raymond Gilmartin. The chief of Supply Chain Management, Alfred Battaglia, is one of the few people in BD who has hands-on experience of the advantages of consolidation of marketing, sales and distribution and will be vital for forming new policy and help to convince other personnel of the advantages of multidivisional marketing. Any change in marketing structure has to involve Mark Thordahl who is charged corporate planning. Noah Gresham and his team of Deelo and Gormally who handle national and key customers will be the key players in change implementation. Bette Weber, Corporate Marketing Manager and Naz Bhimji shall also have important roles to play since they head the 'largest opportunity' areas. The primary concern of this guiding team has to be the challenge BD faces in adapting to the changing market scenario. Smaller players will continue to emerge and compete against individual divisions through price reductions and other marketing efforts. The divisions will find these situations difficult to handle by themselves. HMC is just one case that reminds the management of the urgency of the situation. Giving a price reduction to HMC is an exercise in fire fighting; BD must strategize its options to stay ahead of the competition. BD has correctly identified the path - multidivisional marketing. However, BD needs to retain HMC in its customer portfolio. BD must prepare an overall plan based on its range of products and advantages accruing from multi-division marketing where HMC has to be demonstrated the advantages of buying BD products. Given HMC's financial position the advantage has to be measurable in money terms and must be shown to be much more than the 15% discount offered by Terumo. Expertise for making such a presentation exists in the company and 10 days is adequate. Question 3 A tremendous marketing opportunity presents itself to BD. It can use this chance to improve its market share and profitability.

ESSAY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Essay Example to their customers by pursuing a cost leadership strategy; this strategy seeks to reduce production and transportation costs as much possible to offer a competitive product (Jaquier 2010). These savings can then be passed onto the customer, who then receives a cheap product. This type of organizational can be used as a short-term measure to increase sales and attract customers, but there is little profit to be made over the long term. Another organizational approach that retailers can use to add value to their customers is a differentiation strategy. In this approach, an organization seeks to make products that are of superior value to competitors’ products. The focus is not so much on price but on offering products that are hard to find and of high quality. Customers who are attracted to this strategy prefer products that are high quality even though the price may be a little more than market average. These types of customers are often loyal to one brand because they place so much emphasis on brand quality. The last approach used by retailers to add value to their customers is a focus approach, which is a combination of the first two strategies. In this approach, retailers attempt to offer quality products at low prices. This approach is one that is very hard to implement during the initial stages of an organization’s entry to the market because of the level of expertise required. Retailers that are already established in the market more often than not have the tools required to implement such an approach. This generally comes about through a well-developed supply chain that can reduce unnecessary costs. One retailer that provides a lot of value to its customers is Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is an established retailer in the American market that pursues a focus strategy; no other retailer can match Wal-Mart’s low prices with the same amount of quality. Wal-Mart’s motto of â€Å"Low Prices. Every Day. On Everything† (DInnocenzio 2011) is one that is attractive to

Viewpoints of Judaism by Abraham Geiger and Samuel Raphael Hirsch Essay

Viewpoints of Judaism by Abraham Geiger and Samuel Raphael Hirsch - Essay Example Abraham was terrified by tremendous loss of European Jewry embarrassing secular nationalism. He saw the solution to this was to modernize Judaism. He looked at Judaism as more of a religion than a culture. Samson Raphael Hirsch was born on June 20, 1808 in Hamburg, Germany. He schooled in public schools and was influenced strongly by Schiller and Hegel. He acquired his Jewish education at home. He grew up in a strong Jew foundation, his father who was Staunch Jew and his grandfather founded Talmud Torah in Hamburg. He grew to become a Rabbi in Oldenburg, Emden who had an enormous influence on Orthodox Judaism. In his studies, he went to Bonn University, and coincidentally Abraham was one of his classmates. He was an author of several prominent books and published Jeschurun, a monthly journal. He viewed Judaism as a teaching or lore and not as a law. A teaching expressed in ceremonies that are symbolic and change with development in history Orthodox Judaism is extremely strict in it b elief in torahs, bible, and concept of messiah (coming of a savior). They believe the torah is verbal communication between Moses and God on Mount Sinai, in 1312 BC. Orthodox Judaism was then formed on this basis, communication (Falcon & Blatner, 3). Orthodox customs and traditions are founded on torahs. These traditions have been passed down successive generations as God’s own sacred word. However, Reform Judaism does not believe in Torah divinity. They view the â€Å"oral law† as a Judaism historic development reflection, and God’s encounter with each successive generation. They believe in God working through agents (human). In addition, that each successive generation has brought up a competent and religiously motivated teachers. In addition, that some individuals of a certain generation may succeed those in the past. Reformists do not believe sacred texts to be revered and devalued them. In addition, Mesorah is rejected in Reform Judaism. It views Torah divi nity as infallible (Neusner, 5) Function and status of women differs in both branches of Judaism. In Orthodox Judaism, Both women and men are separated in worship. Women segregation in worship differs in two ways. Men and women during Reformed service are not separated. However, instead of isolating women who are currently experiencing their menstrual period, they segregate all women from men. In the orthodox sitting is strongly interlinked with the belief that women are ritually impure/ unclean during menstruation. Another reason for segregation is that women can be a disruption to men in time of worship. Reform Judaism does not acknowledge this kind of belief. They view them as shallow reasons for separation during worship. For them, they all worship together despite neither gender nor female biological condition (Berlin& Grossman, 527). Another difference in both branches involves status functions of women and their functions in the community. Reformists have been open-minded to having women as cantors, rabbis and as educators for a long time. They treasury and value highly existence of these women in their congregation. They also see it as enrichment of their worship experience by having these women play these central functions. In orthodox tradition, having women in this position is seen as an act of disrespect/ insult to

Economic Concept and Its Implications in Our Life Research Paper

Economic Concept and Its Implications in Our Life - Research Paper Example Economics is useful in each and every aspect of life. Economics mainly deals with choice and decision making. Understanding of economics concepts is helpful for our lives and existence in today’s world and to understand the functions of the business world. Here we will discuss the economic concept and its implications in our life. The law of demand defines that when the price of product rises and every other thing remains constant then the quantity demand of the product will fall. It means when the price rises then the quantity demanded declines. Every other remains constant is known as â€Å"Ceteris Paribus† assumption. It means that wealth; income, population, preferences and price of other goods are constant and remain the same. Shifts in Demand or change in demand happens at the time when any one of the components of demand changes other than the price. It can also be said as a shift in demand occurs when the situation is not ceteris paribus. The Law of Supply defin es that when the price of the product rises and every other thing is constant (Ceteris Paribas situation) then the quantity of product supplied will also increase. It means that when the price of the product is increasing then the quantity of supply of the product is also increasing. Shifts in Supply or changes in supply happen when any one of the components of the supply changes other than the price. It means when ceteris paribus doesn’t occur. The concept of demand and supply is also applicable to our daily life. For example- Rice is the staple food in most of the Asian countries.

Writing a letter to somebody Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writing a letter to somebody - Assignment Example As we would be dealing with different kinds of people in the future, your presentation taught us the relevance of correct tone usage, and how important word choice can be in influencing others. Second, your presentation dealt with basic problems that people normally commit when communicating with others, such as: being too formal, too casual, or too subjective when communicating, orally or in writing, with others. Your examples made your point easier to understand. Lastly, you provided us with very helpful tips on how to appropriately compose a professional email. Clearly, all your reminders will prove to be very significant and beneficial for us in the future, when we start engaging ourselves in business activities and professional interviews. I very much appreciate the time that you have taken from your busy schedule in coming over for you to educate us with what you have expertly presented. I would be looking forward to more lectures and highly informative presentations that you may have in the

MIS computer assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MIS computer - Assignment Example On the other hand, the following hardwares were purchased: a computer desktop PC whose feature is described as precision T7910; input devices such as mouse inclusive of a mouse pad and keyboard; output devices such as monitor and external speakers; secondary hard devices such as hard disks and optical storage device; a sound card; and Ethernet network card. The above preferred operating system-OS (window 7 64 bit) is ideal since it does not experience issues related to compatibility that was a thorn in the flesh for the earlier versions such widow XP and Vista. Moreover, its drivers are readily available except the Ethernet drivers which are usually available through the internet platforms (Emdadekh, 2010). The other required softwares such as word processor, spreadsheets, publisher, PowerPoint can be easily installed into the above specified OS as a package inform of office software. The latest version of office (office 2013) is of preference due to the fact that it is not only easier to use but also facilitates easier input techniques and analysis especially when using the spreadsheets. On the other hand, the program for creating PDF files is also easily installed from the internet inclusive of the PDF converter that enables one to convert the PDF script into other forms contained in the office 2013 especially when editing is required. It is prudent to comprehend that the data base management program is part of the office package and once installed one can easily create a data base. For the e-mail program, the provisions such internet browsers such as the Mozilla Firefox, the Google Chrome, and the internet explorer among others enable one to manipulate the e-mailing components of th e program (Emdadekh, 2010). Furthermore, Window 7 readily accepts installation of the latest versions of these browsers. In addition, the computer security system can be enhanced by installing internet security softwares

As We Are Now by Sarton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

As We Are Now by Sarton - Essay Example Analysis In the novel ‘As We Are Now’, M. Sarton designates the reader to acquire her thoughts and sentiments regarding a critical issue with nursing homes in reference to how old people are deprived of respect and austerely shown inappropriate treatment through the mean approach of their keepers within an institutionalized setting. Equivalently, as Sarton exhibits this truth via the role of her protagonist Caro Spencer, the author’s creation in the form of journal entries by Spencer reflects at depth a character whose struggles are quite alarming to a reader who has stayed and observed matters at the surface. Little does everyone know that beneath the ideal perception toward social workers lies a huge mystery on the essential humanitarian traits for which only subjects like Caro, in coping with her sanity, can reveal what the real encounter with them is made of. As a retired educator who never married and lived without a single offspring, Spencer appears to deser ve opulently having the latter brief years of her life under fulfilled circumstances of living.

Pregnancy, Labor and Birthday Practices of Asia (India) Essay

Pregnancy, Labor and Birthday Practices of Asia (India) - Essay Example All societies have their unique labor and birthing practices and India as a society is no different. This paper will be a discussion on laboring practices of Asia, India, focusing on the role of the family and taboos before, during and after birth. With over 375 million children, India accounts for the highest population of children in the world. A majority of these are Hindus but there are other minorities such as Sikh and Muslims. According to Info Change, a non-profit organization that concentrates on sustainable development and social justice in South East Asia, about 36 percent of the population lives below poverty line. Of this percentage, women and children account for 73 percent. These may be attributed to the socio-economic conditions and Hindu beliefs that greatly influence child rearing practices in India. Along with strict rearing practices of children in India come a number of practices that are associated with its coming into the world. First of all, eating patterns of a woman are restricted (NCBI 533). This ranges from the kinds of food that she can eat to the amount that is to be taken. It is believed that when a pregnant woman eats too much, the fetus will not have room to move. This is argued by the fact that the abdomen is supposed to contain both the food and the fetus, however, in this case, the latter’s space should be given more priority. Since women from poor backgrounds are still expected to work in the farm and around the house during early months of her pregnancy, it is believed that eating a lot would make them gain excess weight that would interfere with their productivity while working. There were some directions regarding taking hot or cold foods. In Asia, pregnancy is believed to be a hot condition; therefore foods that are considered hot are restricted. The body is believed to be already out of balance and hot foods would only make the condition worse (Greene 34). Another practice that is prevalent all over India is calle d the shrimata. When a woman is in the seventh month of her pregnancy, there are special rituals that are performed and special types of sweet are given to the parents to be. This is to encourage the woman for having reached near full term with the pregnancy as well as to give her moral support. This shows the connection that the community has. They all participate in welcoming a child. During this time, the family is especially helpful. They treat the expectant woman with a lot of care and assist her with anything that she may require, ensuring that she is completely comfortable. In the Asian Indian community, the actual birth process is mostly carried out by a traditional birth attendant or other close family members. Most women prefer their mothers’ to attend to attend to them when they are giving birth (Greene 33). However, a certain percentage of Indians go to the government hospital to give birth with an even smaller percentage opting for private hospitals. Men were not allowed to get in the room where the birth was taking place or if it had occurred in the open, they were not allowed to see the birth process. After the birth, there are some rituals conducted on the child. Mothers ceremoniously plunged the infant into the river, this was meant to strengthen the child and rid them of any deforms that

Mexican Culture Essay Example for Free

Mexican Culture Essay Food if one of the aesthetic identification of culture and tradition as it marks its progress from generation to generation, and history to history. Mexican cooking began with the arrival of humans in Mexico and as various cultures influence their cuisine, the tradition and cultural background of their menu have began to evolve. Mexican food, as we know it today, has had its primary origin in the 16th century from the introduction of European plants and food products by Spanish conquerors. This traditional mix-up has provided modification in their cuisine, which is currently evident in the Mexican food tradition. Aside from its exquisite delicacy and characteristics, Mexican food provides therapeutic function and use commonly in homemade treatment proceedings. The herbs and ingredients in the Mexican food are the key points for the provision of therapeutic action. Mexican herbs are unique in their own way. The characteristic of these herbs are the essential contributing factor for this therapy to be possible. In the course of our discussion, the Mexican culture, evidently in terms of food- wine and restaurants, shall be the primary focus of the study. The involvements of wine and food, in the sense of therapeutic action, as the primary traditional influence shall be elaborated and defined in the study. The influence of food and herbs in Mexican traditional therapy shall be also tackled in the course of discussion. Lastly, we shall explore the San Francisco California Bay and the Mexican celebration of Cinco de Mayo. The Mexican culture possesses a heritage in every unique aspect that greatly denounces its aesthetic value. Home or Traditional Therapies – Food and Herbs The Mexican traditions are composed of exquisite herbs and ingredients that provide therapeutic effects. The traditional home of Mexicans possesses no or less frequently refrigerating facility, supplies designed for classical lifestyle, and tradition rich in practical home-therapies; hence, they are more accustomed in their traditional therapeutic intervention utilizing their natural sources. In fact, Mexican possesses evident indulgence in their traditions that they prefer to have their food, and other home condiments in natural estate or made from nature-oriented proceeding. This greatly improves their health conditions, and provides them with practical source of therapeutic interventions. The basic feature of Mexican foods is its unique way of expressing its spiciness and traditional aroma. One of the spices that provide therapeutic effects in the body is the Capsaicin, which is a primary constituent of peppers such as the jalapeno and the habanero. Capsaicin has several uses, including use in personal defense sprays and as to relieve arthritis pain. When first applied to skin, capsaicin causes local heating and irritation. However, after repeated use, the area becomes desensitized to pain without loss of the sense of touch (Fox Whitesell, 1997 p. 550). Capsaicin pepper has been found to work as an anticoagulant, thus possibly helping to prevent heart attacks or strokes caused by the formation of clots in blood vessels. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, which is the body’s natural painkillers, and kills the stomach bacterium known to cause ulcers. Another pepper is the Cayene, which is an important constituent of Mexican hot sauce. Cayene adds the spicy zip to many ethnic foods, such as Thai and Mexican food, and can be used in marinades and barbecue sauces. This pepper is rich in vitamin C, A, B-complex, E and other minerals (Balch, p. 147 2003). Another food ingredient of Mexican foods that possesses therapeutic aid is the pumpkin seeds. The seeds from the pumpkin, also known as pepitas, are popular ingredient in Mexican dishes, and are available with or without their shells. This pepitas provide essential means of treating constipation due to its fiber content. Moreover, it is blended with Mexican traditional recipes such as burittos or Nachos, not only to provide exquisite taste but also to institute unique flavoring. These pepitas are high in calories and insoluble fibers, which help primarily in inducing in digestive tract thereby facilitating decrease of occurrence of constipation (Gilbert, 2000 p. 178). In terms of Mexican wine, it provides unique blends of tradition served in stemmed glasses. Wine is the usual pair of Mexican foods in order to suit the spiciness of the dishes. Mexican wine classifications possess the usual red and white wine, which are primarily obtained from fruits mixed with spices. The northern end of Baja California is one of the places in Mexico that is known to brew wine at its best (Dumois, n. d). Citizens of Mazahua and Otoml living in Central Mexico drink pulque from childhood, because of both its nutritional properties and scarcity of water. Pulque is an alcoholic beverage obtained from maguey, which composes primarily of complex fruit sugars (Peele Grant, 1999 p. 93). Wine quickens the pulse, raises the spirits, and prophylactic against disease and as a dietetic aid. It is also used as medicine in acute and chronic diseases. Wine is proven good for cardiovascular system, especially in reducing risks of arteriosclerosis or other cardiovascular-degenerative disorders. Food Herbs Mexican Traditions Mexican diet of today is rich in a variety of foods and dishes that represent a blend of pre-Columbian, Spanish, French, and more recently, American culture. The typical Mexican diet is rich in complex carbohydrates, provided mainly by corn and corn products, beans, rice, and breads, The typical Mexican diet contains an adequate amount of protein in the forms of beans, eggs, fish and shellfish, and a variety of meats, including beef, pork, poultry, and goat. Because of the extensive use of frying as a cooking method, the Mexican diet is also high in fat. The nutrients most likely to be inadequately provided are calcium, iron, vitamin A, folic acid and vitamin C (Spark, 2007 p. 258). In many cultures, food has symbolic meanings related to family traditions, social status, and even health. Indeed, many folk remedies rely on food. Some of these have gained wide acceptance, such as the use of spices and herbal teas for purposes ranging from allaying anxiety to preventing cancer and heart disease. Mexicans use these herbal teas as dietary or reducing drinks to induce further or hasten metabolism as well as digestive functions. In fact, herbal teas are healthy enough that the old Mexican traditions practice its drinking almost everyday. This tea is composed of basic Mexican herbs, such as cinnamon, parsely, etc. , and blended with intrinsic Mexican spices; hence, some of their teas are blended with mild spiciness (Insel etal, 2004 p. 9). The traditional Mexican diet is rich in fresh vegetables, which are generally used only when in season. The spices used in Mexican cooking are common to many cuisines, and yet, there are a number of seasonings that are unique to Mexican food. Chile peppers are used as a dry spice as well as a fresh ingredient. There are many types, with the most common being ancho, habenero, jalapeno, New Mexican green, New Mexican Red, poblano and Serrano. These peppers range from mild, like poblano, to the extremely hot habanero. Other herbs and spices that flavor Mexican cuisine are anise, cilantro, cinnamon, clove, cumin, garlic, marjoram, Mexican oregano and thyme. The herbs and spices, particularly the Mexican oregano and chilli peppers, are used in various ceremonies and traditional celebrations. The chilli peppers are given to tests the spice tolerance of participants during fiestas. Oregano, on the other hand, is believed by locals to alleviate various diseases and administered via its boiled leaves. Oregano is another traditional Mexican her that cures fever, cough and colds, sore throat problems and sometimes used to treat bruises, insect bites and mild pruritic or fungal infection when used in topical preparation (Koeller La France, 2005 p. 222). Another Mexican herb that provides utmost therapeutic effects is Ginger, which is technically a rhizome or underground stem. This is used in variety of meals ranging from simple porridge to complex traditional meal. Mexican ginger is good at alleviating gastrointestinal tract symptoms, such as motion sickness, gastric musculature or tachygastria and gastric immobility. It is usually prescribed by the locals for treating hyperacidity, and abdominal pains related to acidic conditions. Moreover, ginger is also used to treat conditions involving throat spasms by functioning as a throat relaxant and relieving throat irritation (Koeller La France, 2005 p. 222). Mexican culture and tradition involves variety of herbs that are, basically, the ingredients of most of their traditional meal such as the ever-famous burritos and nachos, and the wines and teas provide therapeutic benefits as well. San Francisco California Bay The Mexican American population is evidently present in the San Francisco California Bay area. From the San Franciscos Mission District to San Jose, Chicanos possesses the highest population index, ranging from 65% to 80% of the residents, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mexican immigrants feel at home in these areas already even if they are living with American citizens. However, population project is one major problem occurring at this point. Demographic studies predict that the greatest population growth rates of Mexican immigrants will be from the influx of undocumented individuals. Mexican immigrants are also expected to have high fertility rates, creating a younger generation of American-born children whose immigrant parents make an â€Å"at risk† population (Gilbert, 2000 p. 178). Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Restaurants Talking now about the famous Mexican restaurants found in the area, Cinco de Mayo Taqueria is the starting point of discussion. The name of Cinco de Mayo meand 5th day of May in Spanish, and denotes a regional celebration or holiday. Although this is not an obligatory holiday, there are lots of individual going and participating in this one time per year celebration. Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, commemorates the Mexican victory over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is not, as many people think, Mexicos Independence Day, which is actually Sept. 16. During this Cinco de Mayo, many people are turning to tequila and cerveza, Spanish for beer, to celebrate another holiday that for some means nothing more than another excuse to drink exorbitant amounts of alcohol. Commonly misinterpreted as Mexicos Independence Day, Cinco de Mayos meaning has been clouded by partying. In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated throughout the country, especially in the state of Puebla and in Mexico City. Military parades complete with marching bands and traditional music, pay tribute to all the soldiers, civilians and heroes who gave their lives for their country. The celebration lasts all day, with food, dancing, mariachi bands, laughter and fellowship (McClenahan, 2005). Ironically, celebrations of Cinco de Mayo are more widespread and elaborate in the United States. Mexican American communities in states such as Texas, California, and Arizona celebrate this occasion with parades, fairs, marchias, folkloric dance, and the best of all is the Mexican cuisines (McClenahan, 2005). Moreover, Cinco de Mayo of 1989 illustrates how women worked to bridge ethnic and racial groups in a public way while expressing their own identities. Cinco de Mayo is an ethnic festival, which is the same as St. Patrick’s Day, that has transcended ethnic barriers. The Mexican community and even other ethnic diversion from different places and culture gather in this party. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a major cultural festival, wherever significant numbers of people boast Mexican descent. Throughout the Southwest, people of all ethnicities gather to eat Mexican food and drink Mexican beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages (McClenahan, 2005). People from other ethnic origins join this huge festivity every year and celebrate the Mexican culture. The basic interest of other ethnic groups in joining this celebration is rarely due to historical reasons, but most of the time, to celebrate the exquisite characteristics and features of Mexican culture. Reference Balch, P. A. (2003). Prescription for Dietary Wellness. Avery. Dumois, L. (n.d. ). INSIDE MEXICO THE SERIES: THE SPIRIT OF WINE.Retrieved November 11, 2007, from http://www. mexconnect. com/mex_/travel/ldumois/ldcwine1. html Fox, M. , Whitesell, J. K. (1997). Organic Chemistry. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Gilbert, M. N. (2000). Virtues of Soy: A Practical Health Guide and Cookbook. Upublish. com. Insel et. al, P. M. (2004). Nutrition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Koeller, K. , La France, R. (2005). Lets Eat Out! : Your Passport to Living Gluten and Allergy Free. R R Publishing. McClenahan, B. (2005, May 5). Oregon students celebrate Cinco de Mayo. University Wire, (n. d. ). Central Mexican Culture. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from Colibri: http://www. colibrimexicanbistro. com/ (n. d. ). Mamacita. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from Mamacita: http://www. mamacitasf. com/ (n. d. ). Tres Agaves. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from Tres Agaves: http://www. tresagaves. com/about. html Peele, S. , Grant, M. (1999). Alcohol and Pleasure: A Health Perspective. Psychology Press. Spark, A. (2007). Nutrition in Public Health: Principles, Policies, and Practice. CRC Press.

Population Pressure And Living Environment Within Slums Sociology Essay

Population Pressure And Living Environment Within Slums Sociology Essay In this context the present paper tries to analyse the variation in composition and distribution of slum population as well as the population pressure and living environment therein. Utilising data from census of India and NSSO 49th, 58th and 65th rounds, the variations in composition and distribution of slum population along with the living environment therein has been analysed. The study shows that the increase in number of urban poor has led to increase in number of slums and this has very adversely affected the living conditions in slums and has resulted in the further deterioration of many essential facilities. In major developed states there has been further deterioration of living conditions in the slums and the most basic necessities have become scarcer. At the district level, higher concentration of slums can be found in northern, north-eastern and western states while dispersed slums can be seen in central and southern states. The problem of slums has turned to be more gig antic than earlier and thus requires immediate actions for checking the further growth of slums and improvement in the living conditions as well. Keywords Slums, population composition, infrastructure, Spatio-temporal pattern. Introduction The mountain of trash seemed to stretch very far, then gradually without perceptible demarcation of boundary it became something else. But what? A jumbled and pathless collection of structures, cardboard cartoons, plywood and rotting bottles, the rusting and glassless shells of cars, had been thrown together to form habitation. Michael Thelwell (Adapted from Mike Davis, 2004) The earth has urbanized even faster than originally predicted by the club of Rome in its popular report limits to growth and this has resulted in the rise of gigantic hyper cities. The megacities have come up as the brightest stars in the urban firmament, but at the same time three quarters of the burden of population growth is borne by faintly visible second tier-cities and smaller urban areas where there is little or no planning to accommodate these people or provide them with services. Urbanization, thus, must be conceptualized as structural transformation along, and intensified interaction between every point of an urban-rural continuum. But the price of new urban order has been increasing inequality within and between cities of different sizes of specializations. Urbanization at many places has been radically decoupled from industrialization, even from development per se. More sinister has been the urbanization-without-growth. The urban population growth in spite of stagnant or negative urban economic growth is the extreme face of what researchers have labelled as over-urbanization. It is just one of the several unexpected tracks down which a neo-liberal world order has shunted millennial urbanization. In spite of the drastically weakened pull of the city by debt and depression, the rapid urban growth in the context of structural adjustment has been an inevitable recipe for the mass production of slums (Davis, 2004). The UN-Habitat report in 2003, titled The Challenge of the Slums stands out to be the first truly global audit of urban poverty. It has established that the primary direction of both national and international interventions during the last twenty years has actually increased urban poverty and slums, increased exclusion and inequality and weakened urban elites in their efforts to use cities as engines of growth. But all other things remaining aside, slums remain an invaluable expose that amplifies urgent research findings with the institutional authority of the United Nations. If the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change represent an unprecedented scientific consensus on the dangers of global warming, then slums sounds an equally authoritative warning about the global catastrophe of the urban poverty. In fact slums are basically the urbanization of poverty. When human beings were able to produce more than they consumed and had found ways of storing the surplus to provide for a large number of people, living away from the field, they settled on such areas which provided good environment, climate and soil favourable to plant and animal life, an adequate water supply, ready materials for providing shelter and easy access to other peoples. Concentration of population grew at the intersections of trade routes, at harbours and at the mouths of rivers with easy access to the sea. Athens, Rome was located near the sea. Mecca, Damascus and Samarkand were island cities located on caravan routes. In India all big cities were located near the banks of rivers, ports, etc. Varanasi is one of the ancient and famous cities located on the bank of river Ganges. The officials and priests lived in the main hub whereas lower classes craft persons, artisans and labourers lived around the city republics. Gradually people from fields and small settlements sta rted moving to city republics because of lack of farm work all time of the year and safety in cities. These city republics became powerful and tapped the surpluses and other resources. In 1800 only 2% of world population lived in towns of more than 5000 inhabitants. No more than 45 cities had population over 100,000. The 19th and 20th Century saw enormous growth of urban population. In fact the 20th century was a time of great change, and the greatest of those changes was in the numbers of people on the globe and where they lived. Since 1950, mankind has endured its most rapid expansion, from 2.5 billion to 6 billion people. As a result of this rapid increase of population, the cities were not able to sustain the pressure of increased population and could not provide good environment and basic services to new entrants as they were unable to afford reasonable shelter within their means. They were therefore forced to live in slums. Sixty per cent of this gain has been in urban areas, particularly in the urban areas of the developing world, where the urban population has increased more than six fold in only 50 years. Humanity is only about half way through this great transformation to urban living. During the next 30 years, the global urban population will increase by more than 2 billion while rural populations will be almost static. The greatest impact will be felt in the developing world and nowhere more so than throughout South and South-eastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. During the next 15 years, many large cities in Asia and Africa will nearly double their population. The huge increase in urban populations amounts to a crisis of unprecedented magnitude in urban shelter provision. Every year, the worlds urban population is increasing by about 70 million, equivalent to seven new megacities. These people all need to be provided with shelter, with employment and with urban services. The stretched capacity of most urban economies in developing countries is unable to meet more than a fraction of these needs, so that the informal sector is providing most of the new employment and housing in environments that have come to be known as informal settlements or slums, where more than half of the population in many cities and towns of developing countries are currently living and working. The evolution of the new urban poverty has been a non- linear historical process. The slow accretion of shanty towns to the shell of the city is punctuated by storms of poverty and sudden explosions of slum building. In this context the present paper tries to analyse the variation in composition and distribution of slum population as well as the population pressure and living environment therein. Utilising data from census of India and NSSO 49th, 58th and 65th rounds, the variations in composition and distribution of slum population along with the living environment therein has been analysed. Apart from this some secondary data published in different books and articles have also formed a part of the analysis. Under the methodological section, firstly on the basis of the literature review, two objectives have been determined for this paper. For the fulfillment of these objectives statistical tools have been widely used to analyse the raw data. Graphical presentation and cartographical tools (maps and diagrams) too have been utilized to extend the level of analysis and explanation. Needs and Approaches to the Study of Slums Slums are consolidated and compact physical, social, cultural and economic units with distinct neighbourhood system within the greater environment of cities. These are patronised by the local political organizations which strengthen their existence on those very locations. The growth and development of slums have never become phenomena of few days or months; a sufficient number of years have been passed to reach the full growth and vigour when it has come to the notice of urban planners, administrators and municipal authorities that slums have become problems and threats to health city life. The growth of slums is a manifestation of urban poverty as the majority of urban poor lives in slums. On one hand the government documents tries to establish a fall in the levels of poverty but on the other hand the consistent rise in slums population and deteriorating living conditions depicts some different story. The provision of lifeline infrastructure lags far behind the pace of urbanization and peri-urban slum areas often have no formal utilities or sanitation provision whatsoever. The urban poor are forced to settle on hazardous and otherwise unbuildable terrains over-steep hill slopes, river banks and flood plains. Likewise they squat in the deadly shadows of refineries, chemical factories, and toxic dumps or in the margins of railroads and highways. Poverty has created an urban disaster problem of unprecedented frequency and scope. The interest and need for the study of slums has stemmed from two basic causes a) An urge to bring about social reform and b) An effort to reach an understanding of the process of urbanization. The studies which have an element of reform interest are preoccupied with poverty and related problems and focus extensively on the working class standards of living. However they have little to speak upon the social life of the slum dwellers. On the other side of the coin lie the urbanization studies that provide a closer approach to the analysis of social behaviour in this area (Whyte, 1943). However off the two reasons the latter claims more attention and validity than the former. Even the global report on slums published by the United Nations Habitat more or less recognises slums as the face of urban poverty in the new millennium. The Slums of the World Report has appeared at a time of growing awareness of the red flags raised by the urbanization process, particularly because of an increasing number and proportion of city residents who live in poverty in precarious settlements in the core historic part of cities and in the peri-urban areas. For the first time in history, rapid population growth and its concentration in cities around the world constitute a crucial element affecting the long-term outlook for humanity. Despite standing out as centres of civilization and economic activity for eight millennia, cities never attracted more than ten per cent of the global population until the second half of the 19th century. Now, systems of cities have become the worlds social , economic, cultural and political matrix. One-third of the worlds urban population lives in slums, and four out of ten inhabitants in the developing world are informal settlers. The report accepts that the number of issues relevant to urban poverty and slums is practically infinite and it requires an in-depth analysis and comprehensive effort to deal with the worsening situations. Understanding the notion of slums The first step in solving a problem is to define it correctly. Therefore a clear understanding of the notion of slums is indispensible. Since its first appearance in Veuxs Flash Dictionary during the 1820s as part of the London cant, the term slum was used to identify the poorest quality housing and the most unsanitary conditions; a refuge for marginal activities including crime, vice and drug abuse; and a likely source for many epidemics that ravaged urban areas a place apart from all that was decent and wholesome. The word slum was derived from slumber which means a sleepy unknown back alley. Slum meant `wet mire where working class housing was built during British Industrial revolution in order to be near the factories. These were uncontrolled settlements and lacked basic services and only poor people lived there. During the major part of the 19th century, the word appeared in the written language in quotation marks mostly as back-slum(s). At the end of the 19th century, slum mea nt a street, alley, court, situated in a crowded district of a town or city and inhabited by people of a low class or by the very poor; a number of these streets or courts forming a thickly populated neighbourhood or district where the houses and the conditions of life are of a squalid and wretched character (oxford dictionary)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. a foul back street of a city, especially one filled with a poor, dirty, degraded and often vicious population; any low neighbourhood or dark retreat usually in the plural, as Westminster slums are haunts for thieves (The Challenge of Slums: Global Report on Human Settlements, 2003) The housing reform movement in England during the 1880s changed a popular word that once described an awkward phenomenon to a general operational concept as a house materially unfit for human habitation, and made possible the delimitation of slum areas on city maps for planning purposes. It became a common word in the Anglophone world, used, for example, in India in order to designate without distinction the bustees, chawls or cheris of Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai. The 20th century made the word obsolete in contexts requiring more precise and rigorous terms, such as tenement house, tenement district and deteriorated neighbourhood, because of legislation from the 1890s and 1930s authorizing the eradication of the so-called slums, and imposing technical and legal definitions and standards for such actions. At the same time, the social movement generated new words, such as neighbourhoods or communities, to qualify the designated slums in order to rename the socially stigmatized slum areas. As with most euphemisms, alternative terms were eventually subsumed into the argot and served to maintain rather than counteract the negative prejudices against slum dwellers. The polite neighbourhood has become shortened to hood, a badge of youthful attitude in Los Angeles. Today, the catch-all term slum is loose and deprecatory. It has many connotations and meanings and is banned from many of the more sensitive, politically correct and academically rigorous lexicons. It can also vary considerably in what it describes in different parts of the world, or even in different parts of the same city. In developing countries, the term slum, if it is used, mostly lacks the pejorative and divisive original connotation, and simply refers to lower-quality or informal housing. Large, visible tracts of squatter or informal housing have become intimately connected with perceptions of poverty, lack of access to basic services and insecurity. Terms such as slum, shanty, squatter settlement, informal housing and low-income community are used somewhat interchangeably by agencies and authorities. The coverage of settlement types is even more complex when one considers the variety of equivalent words in other languages and geographical regions. Slums are today known by dif ferent names throughout the world: Barrio or tugurio (Latin America), Basti (Bangladesh), Bidonville (France/Africa), Favela (Brazil), Ghetto, Kampung (Indonesia), Katchi abadi (Pakistan), Masseque (Angola), Shantytown, Skid row, Squatter cities . However at this point a note on the current distinction between slums and shanties is essential. While slums describe old residential buildings which have deteriorated and lack essential services (but in most cases do not lack security in terms of tenure), shanties refer to spontaneous settlements which have developed in outskirts and unbuilt areas of the city. At the FirstWorld Urban Forum, a position paper elaborated by UN-HABITAT on Cities Without Slums used the term slum to describe, a wide range of low-income settlements and/or poor human living conditions and note that these inadequate housing conditions exemplify the variety of manifestations of poverty as defined in the Programme of Action adopted at the World Summit for Social Development. The term slum includes the traditional meaning that is, housing areas that were once respectable or even desirable, but which have since deteriorated, as the original dwellers have moved to new and better areas of cities. The condition of the old houses has then declined, and the units have been progressively subdivided and rented out to lower-income groups. A typical example is the innercity slums of many historical towns and cities in both the industrial and the developing countries. The term slum has, however, come to include also the vast informal settlements that are quickly becoming the most visual expression of urban poverty. The quality of dwellings in such settlements varies from the simplest shack to permanent st ructures, while access to water, electricity, sanitation and other basic services and infrastructure tends to be limited. Such settlements are referred to by a wide range of names and include a variety of tenurial arrangements. Slums: a point of discord The entire scholar community has failed to converge on a single definition of slum. As a result the buzzword has been defined differently for different regions and contexts. The difference in the definitions is primarily the result of discrepancies in the parameters adopted for the purposed of identifying the slums. Even amidst the web of definitions, the basic features rather the elements of the slums remain similar. Slum, at its simplest, is a heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor. This definition encapsulates the essential characteristics of slums: high densities and low standards of housing (structure and services), and squalor. The first two criteria are physical and spatial, while the third is social and behavioural. This spread of associations is typical, not just for the definition of slums but also of our perceptions of them. Dwellings in such settlements vary from simple shacks to more permanent structures, and access to basic service s and infrastructure tends to be limited or badly deteriorated. Slums and urban poverty are not just a manifestation of a population explosion and demographic change, or even of the vast impersonal forces of globalization. Slums must be seen as the result of a failure of housing policies, laws and delivery systems, as well as of national and urban policies. The definition of the term slum includes the traditional meaning that is, housing areas that were once respectable or even desirable, but which have since deteriorated as the original dwellers have moved to new and better areas of the cities. The condition of the old houses has then declined, and the units have been progressively subdivided and rented out to lower-income groups. Typical examples are the inner-city slums of many towns and cities in both the developed and the developing regions. Slums have, however, also come to include the vast informal settlements that are quickly becoming the most visible expression of urban poverty in developing regions cities, including squatter settlement s and illegal subdivisions. The quality of dwellings in such settlements varies from the simplest shack to permanent structures, while access to water, electricity, sanitation and other basic services and infrastructure is usually limited. Such settlements are referred to by a wide range of names and include a variety of tenure arrangements. The problem with measuring slums starts with the lack of an agreed definition. As a result, enumeration of slums has not yet been incorporated within mainstream monitoring instruments, such as national population censuses, demographic and health surveys, and global surveys. Some surveys provide proxies or related variables, such as proportion of unauthorized housing or proportion of squatters. Participatory poverty assessments in many least developed countries (LDCs) generally provide only qualitative information on urban poverty. The generic definition suggests that a slum is a contiguous settlement where the inhabitants are characterized as having inadequate housing and basic services. A slum is often not recognized and addressed by the public authorities as an integral or equal part of the city. According to another definition given by the Cities Alliance Action Plan: Slums are neglected parts of cities where housing and living conditions are appallingly poor. Slums range from high-density, squalid central city tenements to spontaneous squatter settlements without legal recognition or rights, sprawling at the edge of cities. Slums have various names, favelas, kampungs, bidonvilles, tugurios, yet share the same miserable living conditions. The Encyclopaedia Britannica on the other hand defines slums as: residential areas that are physically and socially deteriorated and in which satisfactory family life is impossible. Bad housing is a major index of slum conditions. By bad housing is meant dwellings that have inadequate light, air, toilet and bathing facilities; that are in bad repair, dump and improperly heated; that do not afford opportunity for family privacy; that are subject to fire hazard and that overcrowd the land, leaving no space for recreational use. In India also there is no agreed upon definition of slums and there is no unanimity in the identification criteria used at the various level of governance as well as research. In the year 1993 attempts were made to define the slums on the basis of housing conditions and availability of facilities. However the most accepted definition of slums in the country has been given by the Registrar General of India for the purpose of Census of India. It defines the slums as: All specified areas in a town or city notified as Slum by State/Local Government and UT Administration under any Act including a Slum Act. All areas recognized as Slum by State/Local Government and UT Administration. Housing and Slum Boards, which may have not been formally notified as slum under any act. A compact area of at least 300 populations or above 60-70 households of poorly built congested tenements, in unhygienic environment usually with inadequate infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking water facilities. The level of disagreement upon this matter has gone beyond the national level and in an entirely surprising scenario the different states too have set up different landmarks for the identification of slums for their respective territories. The definition of slum area adopted by the Stare Governments is based on slum Acts of the respective States i.e. based on legal stipulations unlike the definitions adopted by RGI and NSSO. The concept, Perception and definition of slums vary across the states, depending on their socio-economic conditions bur their physical characteristics are almost similar. There are discrepancies between the Parameters adopted by State Governments, RGI and NSSO. Thus there exits divergent opinions at the different levels in the country as to what constitutes the key determinants of slums. In fact Slums are too complex to define according to one single parameter. They are a relative concept and what is considered as a slum in one city will be regarded as adequate in another city. Local variations among slums are too wide to define universally applicable criteria and this has been the prominent cause for existence of different definitions of slums. Slums change too fast to render any criterion valid for a reasonably long period of time. The spatial nature of slums means that the size of particular slum areas is vulnerable to changes in jurisdiction or spatial aggregation posing further difficulties in providing any stable definitional criteria for them. Thus what is agreed is that slums, like poverty and secures tenure, is multidimensional in nature. Some of the characteristics of slums, such as access to physical services or density, can be clearly defined, and others, such as social capital, cannot. Even with well-defined indicators, measurement can be very problematic, and acceptable benchmarks are not easy to establish. Even though the identification and differentiation of slums is a difficult nut to crack, Slums has been divided into two broad classes (Davis, 2004): 1. Slums of hope: These are progressing settlements, which are characterized by new, normally self built structures, usually illegal (e.g. squatters) that are in, or have recently been through, a process of development, consolidation and improvement; and 2. Slums of despair: These are declining neighbourhoods, in which environmental conditions and domestic services are undergoing a process of degeneration. Slums of hope may all too easily yield to despair. Thus a review of the definitions used by national and local governments, statistical offices, institutions involved in slum issues and public perceptions reveals the following attributes of slums in the country: lack of basic services, substandard housing or illegal and inadequate building structures, overcrowding and high density, unhealthy living conditions and hazardous locations, insecure tenure; irregular or informal settlements, poverty and social exclusion, and minimum settlement size. Distribution and compositions of slums in India: The Variations The most important characteristics of a population in addition to its size and the rate at which it is expanding or contracting are the ways in which its members are distributed according to age, sex, ethnic or racial category, and residential status. The analysis of distributional and compositional characteristics of slums is requisite for the effective management of problems related with them. In fact the lack of information regarding the dynamism of extent of distribution of the urban poor is one of the main factors which prohibit the extension of vital facilities to them. The figures available till date shows a highest concentration of slum population in two southern states of India Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh respectively. But the district level analysis shows a clearer picture of the concentration of slum population and its alignment with the urban centres. One of the peculiar aspects which emerges out of the distribution of slums is that in states of north, east and north east India, the slums are concentrated in few districts such as in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa etc. while in states of western and Southern India, the slum population is spread in almost all the districts which is an indicator of the level and process of urbanization in the different states. The sex ratio among the slum populations shows very interesting trends. The major proportion of urban poor is considered to be composed of the male population that migrates from rural areas to cities primarily for work. But contrary to this, both the state and district level analysis shows high sex ratio for the four major states of South India Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. More surprisingly the distribution of child population in slums shows just the opposite scenario. In this case, parts of central India, Rajasthan, U.P and Bihar are the leading areas both at state and district level. In Southern India, the population in the 0-6 age group is relatively less which indicates towards the changing population dynamics of the slums. The distribution of scheduled caste population shows some other drastic changes with respect to the slum population. In the hierarchy of status in Indian society the scheduled castes have been regarded at the bottom line and thus are associated with the relatively unclean jobs. The analysis here shows some surprising trends where the proportion of scheduled caste population in the total slum dwellers is less and very few districts shows relatively a higher presence of scheduled caste population. In North, West and North East India their presence is further low. Population pressure and living conditions in slums The increasing pace of urbanization and resultant increase in slum population is a matter of deep concern for sustainable living. A continuous rise in the slum population in India and their increasing concentration in fewer cities is posing a threat to urban healthy life and management of city affairs. Any further deterioration in the quality of life in slums directly affects the environment and is dangerous for the ecological sustainability. The assessment of living conditions with respect to population pressure in slums has been one of the most contested issues. Some of the robust indicators of living conditions can be taken as Structure of housing, Electricity Connection, Roads, Water logging conditions, Status of Latrine facility and type of drainage. The household density among slums shows a higher density in parts of Rajasthan and U.P which indicates that even though the slum population is highest in Maharashtra, the congestion is higher in slums of U.P and Rajasthan. The same is true for the slums in Jammu and Kashmir where the slum population is mainly concentrated in two districts. While for the other parts of the country an average density can be seen. There has been a noticeable change in respect to the type of structure of houses in the slums during the period between 2002 and 2008-09. All the three different categories of housing structure i.e. Pucca; Semi-kutcha and kutcha have undergone considerable change over the quin-quinnial period. The most drastic change has been the increase semi-kutcha and kutcha housing structures under both notified and non-notified category of slums. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Delhi, Karnataka are the states experiencing major changes under the two above mentioned categories. Also there has been decrease in the percentage of pucca slums under both notified and non-notified category of slums. The downfall under this category has been high mainly for Delhi, U.P, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. All such changes signifies the rapid increase in the population of urban poor as well as the deterioration in the quality of living conditions in the slums. The condition of electricity in slums is also not satisfactory among the slums. U.P, Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are among the major victims where the percentage of slums having no electricity is highest mainly for the non-notified slums. Also there has been a decrease in the number of slums under notified category where electricity is being provided for both households and streets. The condition of street lighting is very poor throughout the slums in the entire northern Indian belt. However none of the slums exists with any electricity under the notified category of slums which is an indication that the major hindrance in the extension of infrastructural facilities to the slums is lack of notification. One of the most drastic deterioration in the electricity facility to the slums have occurred in Karnataka state where almost 100% slums under non-notified category received electricity for both households and streets in 2002; but in 2008-09 this percentage reduced to almost 50%. Another very important infrastruc

Student investment properties

Student investment properties 2.0 Introduction Property assets such as land and buildings are key resources for all types of organizations. Since there are a lots of demand in the property market, it caused investors started investing in property assets. Residential property is one of the target sectors to invest from investors speculation. However, investing in student property market (student investment properties) has become a new type of investing trend in residential property. There is an increase in the demand of student properties vicinity to any campus. Student properties are popular because of its location and accessibility. Hence, there is high demand towards the properties nearby to the area. It caused many investors involved in investing in this sector nowadays. Furniture and facilities that provided in student properties is one of the factors that will took into consideration when students renting the unit. Thus, it can be one of the factors that investors will have to think of when investing in student property market. Furthermore, this chapter will discuss about the definition of investment, characteristic of real estate, parties involved in property investment, definition of rate of return / return on investment, capitalization rate, factors and reasons that should be considered when investing in student property market (student investment properties). 2.1 Definition of Investment Investing is defined in several ways, such as placing money for profitable purposes, or extending capital in return of perceived profits. Another definition for investing, favored by many economists, which is known as â€Å"Investing is defined as giving up present consumption in exchange for future benefit†. Business Dictionary defined that investment is money committed or property acquired for future income. In addition, it is also known as trading between risk and reward while aiming for incremental gain and preservation of the invested amount (principal). Two main classes of investment are: Fixed income investment such as bonds, fixed deposits, preference shares Variable income investment such as business ownership (equities) and property ownership. Investment means the purchase of any incoming yielding asset, such as securities (stocks and bonds), or real estate. The assets themselves are also referred to as investments due to financial theory. In economic theory, investment means expenditures for additions to capital. Capital is usually defined as man-made goods used in production, such as machines and other productive equipments (Anatol Murad, 1962). 2.2 Characteristics of Real Estate There are two types of characteristics which are known as physical and economic. (Real Estate Decision, 2002) 2.2.1 Physical Characteristic Physical characteristic of land are its immobility, indestructibility, and nonhomogenity. Once the size and shape of a parcel of land are established, the legal nature of the land is also established with respect to mineral and air rights. Knowledge of the legal concept of land is important for making an analysis of its physical characteristics. Land in its legal sense is immobile because it cannot be moved from one place to another. Moreover, The location of the mineral rights and the air rights cannot be moved even if the surface is moved. Land is indestructible in the sense that movement of the surface does not destroy the full package of rights. Even though there are many types of human act that may destroy the land but they are not capable to destroy land in its legal sense. Land cannot be destroyed because its location cannot be destroyed. Land is non-homogeneous because each parcel of land can be distinguished from all other parcels of land on the basis of several physical characteristics. The size and shape, geological features of elevation, slope, drainage capacity, mineral composition, soil fertility, and bedrock characteristics can be different from each of parcel of land. However, even if all of these characteristics are perfectly identical, each parcel of land is unique because of its location. No two parcels of land occupy the same space on the earths surface. 2.2.2 Economic Characteristic The first economic characteristic of real estate is high price. Real estate is the only commodity that the typical consumer buys that is measured in multiples of that individuals or households income. Second characteristic of real estate is shared with many other commodities that the consumer buys. It is because purchasing a real estate is generally undertaken with borrowed funds. The third economic characteristic of real estate arises from its physical characteristics of immobility, nonhomogenity, and location. The search costs, or information gathering costs, associated with comparison shopping are greater for real estate than for any other product. Purchaser must expend money and time to examine the many different units that are being considered for possible purchase or rental. The fourth economic characteristic of real estate is scarcity. Because of total amount of land available is limited, real estate in both its components of land and improvements is not available in sufficient quantities to meet the desires that all individuals have for it. The fifth economic characteristic is the concept of situs, the economic location of a parcel of real estate. Each parcel is affected by changes in economic and demographic factors in the surrounding area because each parcel is immobile. Sixth economic characteristic is the influence that the quantity and the quality of surrounding structures and other off-site improvements to the land have on the property in question. For an example, the value of subject property increase when the quantity of desirable improvements increased, or when their physical quality improves. Finally, concept of fixity is the final economic characteristic. Real estate has a long physical and economic life because it cannot be moved or easily altered once the investment is fixed. 2.3 Investing in Real Estate According to Micheal C. Thomsett, ( 2009), there are several reasons of investing in real estate which are: It is one of the few finite investments. Land is limited resources in the world. Hence, prices will rise when it is used up. Type of development such as development of housing, office, commercial, industrial, recreational, government, and lodging purposes is also limited due to limited amount of space can be used. There is some land which is used for reserve purposes, some cannot developed due to zoning restriction and topographical problem. It shows that land which is suitable for developing has become less followed by time passing and it shall be one of the sectors to invest. Real estate is a safe investment compared with stock market. The historical record for real estate, like all markets, has had ups and down. But over time, real estate has kept pace with inflation and has usually exceed the Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate. The real estate cycle is highly predictable, following patterns based on normal supply and demand and varying regionally but in the same manner for each cycle. With a growing population caused by both natural increases and immigration, demand pressure on housing stock has continued. In addition, real estate is considered one of the basic needs to human. People need shelter and housing provides them with that. Hence, there are always demand in real estate. Real estate investors can have opportunities for tax shelter which given by the local government. Real estate investors in United States enjoy exceptional federal income tax benefits. The benefits are unlike those available for any other investment. The 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act dramatically improved the tax benefits of owning your own home by eliminating the tax on profits for the first $500,000 when primary residences are sold. Investors are allowed to deduct all of the necessary expenses connected with owning rental property, such as for repairs, cleaning, accounting, interest, property taxes and others. In addition, cost of improvements on the buildings over a period of years can be claim by real estate investors. Besides that, capital allowance, exemption of foreign investment tax and reduction of real property gain tax is an exceptional tax from Malaysia government to real estate investors. Fourth, real estate is a visible investment. There is something satisfying and reassuring about owning an intrinsic property. Property is an tangible object and it is a fixed. It is visible and touchable. In comparison, investing in stocks market directly or through mutual funds is an intangible investment because investors own the companys real assets indirectly. ( Micheal C. Thomsett, 2009) 2.4 Investors involve in Real Estate According to Jack Harvey , (1996), investing in real estate is usually involve private persons, private trusts and the institutions such as insurance companies, pension funds, charities, property companies, property bond funds and property unit trusts. Each of the parties involved in have different objectives and their preferences. 2.4.1 Private persons Private person can be anybody who purchases a property rather than renting it. The return received from rented the property should at least equal to what could be obtained from the return invested in elsewhere. For example, a person may rent rather than buy a shop either through lack of capital or because it is considered that the money can be more profitably employed in carrying stock, and so on. Owner-occupiers, for example, shop owners, farmers and households, are holding wealth in the form of real property. They enjoy a full equity interest income or satisfaction from the use of their property, and normally a hedge against inflation. Other private persons investing in this property sector usually have only limited funds. Thus their direct investment tends to be restricted to dwellings and secondary shops. Indirectly, however, they can invest in prime shops and offices by buying property bonds or shares in property companies. 2.4.2 Insurance companies Insurance companies try to match assets to future liabilities, and this largely determines the spread of their portfolios as between short term and long term fixed-interest investments and equity holdings. Due to short term and long term fixed interest investments, insurance companies find the advantageous to own properties directly rather than through shares in property companies because: Direct investment in property gives the company more control than an investment in property company shares A substantial holding of the shares of a property company (necessary to exercise some control) may be more difficult to dispose of than a first-class building. The prices of buildings have tended to be less volatile than the prices of property company shares. The high gearing of a property company is of little advantage to an insurance company, which always holds part of its assets in fixed money terms. Holding shares in a property company represents an inefficient way invest in property, since corporation tax is deducted from profits attributable to dividend, whereas the insurance company pays a lower tax rate on life income. Insurance companies still hold a part of their assets in mortgages as an alternative to fixed interest bearing stock. 2.4.3 Pension funds Pension funds compete strongly with insurance companies and property companies in investing in real estate. it helps to retain the real value of the accumulated pension funds. The smaller pension funds invest in property indirectly through pension fund property unit trusts, whose trust deeds limit membership to pension funds and charities enjoying tax exemption. Such trusts afford the advantages of property investment without management problems. They prefer to purchase and manage their own properties. 2.4.4 Charities and trusts Charities and trusts are concerned not only with income (from which periodic distributions are made) but also with retaining the real value of thrust funds. Consequently, although they pay no income tax, they cannot invest entirely in high yielding securities. Charities receive some investment each year. They are therefore constantly reviewing their existing portfolios. The function is to observe that possible adjustments could best serve their beneficiaries in present and future condition. 2.4.5 Property companies Property investment and development companies have grown considerably since 1945, largely reflecting the boom in urban redevelopment. Most tend to be highly geared, their capital consisting of a high proportion of loans to ordinary shares. Properties owned provide the security against borrowing, while interest charges are covered by regular rents. High gearing is beneficial to the few ordinary shareholders when profits are good, and it makes it easier to retain control. The larger companies tend to specialize in office blocks or prime shop properties, and a few (such as Slough Estates) in industrial property. Residential property investment is confined mainly to smaller companies, many of which engage in ‘break-up operations, selling houses and flats to fitting tenants or, when vacant possession is obtained, to owner-occupiers. 2.4.6 Foreign investors Overseas investment in UK property has increased considerably since the fall in property prices through the recession and the 1992 devaluation of sterling. Foreign banks have also been active in funding such purchasers. 2.4.7 Property bond funds The person wishing to invest in property is faced with the snag of having insufficient funds to buy prime property, the kind which has shown the greatest capital growth. The property bond fund, a comparatively recent innovation, partly succeeds in overcoming this difficulty. Subscribers buy a number of units in a fund which invests the money in first class property. These funds take an active interest in the management of their properties, revaluing them at fixed intervals. 2.4.8 Property unit trusts A similar principle operates with those unit trusts which specialize in property, nut in order to avoid management commitments, such unit trusts use their funds to buy shares in property companies such as hotels which are concerned with property. 2.5 Rate of Return / Return On Investment (ROI) From Wikipedia, Rate of Return (ROR), also known as Return on Investment (ROI), rate of profit or sometimes just return, is the ratio of money gained or lost (whether realized or unrealized) on an investment relative to the amount of money invested. The amount of money gained or lost may be referred to as interest, profit/loss, gain/loss, or net income/loss. The money invested may be referred to as the asset, capital, principal, or the cost basis of the investment. ROI is usually expressed as a percentage rather than a fraction. Return on Investment is the actual earnings from the investment. This is apart from any returns that represent repayment of the principal invested (called amortization). In real estate, it is sometimes difficult to determine how much of income is Return on Investment and how much is a Return of Investment. It depends on what types of properties are invested. For example, renting a property that depreciates in value, some of the rental income must go toward significant repairs or even, eventually, replacing the building when it become useless from age or obsolescence. It is vital because it makes a difference in evaluating the performance of the investment. The Return on Investment determines how well the money is invested. Return of Investment affects risk of capital. The sooner the investment is recovered, the less risk there is of losing it. Measures of Return on Investment include the equity dividend rate, based on a one year analysis, and the internal rate of return, based on a multi-year projection by using discounted cash flow techniques. There are few elements need to be included when considering rate of return. The elements are: A safe rate: the rate that could get if putting the money into a perfectly safe and liquid investment. A liquidity premium: compensates for the difficulty of and time required in selling the property. Stocks and bonds may be sold at market value within a moments notice, whereas selling real estate may take months or years. A management premium: for the burden of monitoring and making decision about the investment. A risk premium: accounts for the chance that may not get back the money invested or the return will be lower than expected. Formula for ROI = NOI Capital of the Investment 2.6 Capitalization rate Formula for Cap Rate = NOI Estimated Market Value = NOI Market Value Cap Rate From Real Estate Investment Analysis Software, it defines that Capitalization Rate (â€Å"Cap Rate†) is a ratio used to compare properties with different valuations, and to also place a value on a property based on the income it generates. The Cap Rate is computed by taking the rental net operating income (NOI) and dividing it by the propertys fair market value (FMV). The higher the Capitalization Rate is the better. Capitalization Rate or Cap Rate is also known as a ratio used to estimate the value of income producing properties. Put simply, the cap rate is the net operating income divided by the sales price or value of a property expressed as a percentage. Investors, lenders and appraisers use the cap rate to estimate the purchase price for different types of income producing properties. A market cap rate is determined by evaluating the financial data of similar properties which have recently sold in a specific market. It provides a more reliable estimate of value than a market Gross Rent Multiplier since the cap rate calculation utilizes more of a propertys financial detail. The GRM calculation only considers a propertys selling price and gross rents. The Cap Rate calculation incorporates a propertys selling price, gross rents, non rental income, vacancy amount and operating expenses thus providing a more reliable estimate of value. The Cap rate may vary in different areas of a city for many reasons such as desirability of location, level of crime and general condition of an area. In a real estate market where net operating incomes are increasing and cap rates are declining over time for a given type of investment property such as office buildings, values will be generally increasing. If net operating incomes are decreasing and capitalization rates are increasing over time in a given market place, property values will be declining. From Investopedia, capitalization rate is a method used to convert an estimate of a single years income expectancy into an indication of value in one direct step, by dividing the income estimate by an appropriate rate. 2.7 Reason that student property market is attractive to investors, Real Estate Research in United Kingdom, 2007 The student property market is attractive to investors for a number of reasons. Firstly, demographic trends support increasing demand, in terms of both the magnitude of population growth and matriculation rates. University-owned supply has failed to keep pace with demand growth, leaving a large and growing supply gap, as the private sector has been slow to fill the void. Moreover, much of the existing student housing stock is old and obsolete, and does not meet evolving industry standards or satisfy student preferences in terms of unit design and project amenities. Thus, the effective gap between the units preferred and those actually supplied is magnified. Per-unit rents for student housing generally exceed those for normal apartments, as units have more tenants paying rent. Recent rent growth also has been greater. Rents and occupancy tend to be less sensitive to economic cycles than normal apartments. It does not affect much by economic factor especially during economic recession period. Besides that, credit-loss at student complexes typically is below that of conventional apartments because they got parents as their guarantee. Parents are the person who responsible to the rental paying of the students. Thus, it makes the investors in this sector more secure. 2.8 Risk factor when investing in student property, Real Estate Research in United Kingdom, 2007 Student property presents a number of challenges and risks unique to this sector, which if not managed property, can affect the performance of the investment. They are: Short leasing cycle: Most student property is leased during a narrow window of time during the spring semester, and few students move during the academic year, so prospects for filling vacancies once this window has passed are limited. If management has misjudged rents or amenities, it could have long-term implications for the project. High reliance on a single source of demand: Demand for student property primarily comes from one nearby university (though student housing projects in urban markets sometimes can draw from more than school). Developers and investors must know the local student population and admission trends and gear their product toward their student base. High turnover: Unit turnover during the academic year is small, but only about one-third of students typically renew, creating high annual turnover that all occurs in a concentrated time. Reputation: Word of mouth is the key to marketing efforts for off-campus property. If a property is not well managed or maintain, students will quickly spread the word, which could affect future demand. Wear and tear: Maintenance costs can be higher for student property due to more intensive use by the students, and the short time to turn-around units ( though the perceived extent of student abuse is sometimes exaggerated relative to the reality). Economic cycles: The demand for student housing overall is less cyclical than that for other real estate categories. Student enrollments do not vacillate as dramatically as do, say, employment and consumer spending. Even so, students will seek for less expensive units during recessions. Weak market conditions for regular apartments can attract students seeking bargain rents. 2.9 Summary of Chapter This chapter on literature review has discussed the definition of investment, rate of return, capitalization rate, characteristic of real estate, investors investing in real estate, reason investing in real estate, reason investing in student property market (student investment property) and risk investing in student property market (student investment property). Rate of Return / Return on Investment is considered same as Capitalization Rate in this study. Capital of the investment is similar with market value of the property that would be investing in. In addition, research methodology used in gathering the information will be discussed in the following chapter. The process of data collection, analysis and determination on study area also will be explained in the following chapter.

Changing Roles of Human Resource Management Essay -- Human Resource Ma

Human Resource profession has faced numerous challenges in the past, which has forced HR managers to try and implement various strategies in the work environment all in the aim of survival and prosperity of the business. The National Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM) in India recently organized the 37th annual conference of HRs to discuss the various challenges in the work place and ways of mitigating them. It was unanimously concluded that HR managers needed to revise its roles and create new roles for organizations. The new roles would help in repairing the structural foundation of a company by being proactive and innovative instead of following monotonous routine schedules. Despite the challenges and solutions to the problems that have been suggested, the question still remains, who shall take care of HR managers if they themselves are caretakers and contribute to strengthening the backbone of a company? Culcuttta et al, 2007, suggests that strategies to be implemented should be in tandem with the current trends in globalization, technology, diversity, e-business, and ethics. Furthermore, the need to take care of HR managers goes hand in hand with the saying that â€Å"No company is sick, nor the commodity, but the performing and non performing managers are the ones who matter the most in carrying forward a business successfully.† In the last twenty years there has been a gradual transition in style and substance from personnel management to HR management, and more recently to international HR management. Briscoe et al, (2008, p. 22) believe that the personnel management role lacked strategic relevance because it was mainly an administrative type role whereas the modern concept of HR is much more strategic in scope. Globali... ...alcutta IIM, Sridha, R., Pathak DD., Ganguly S. (Feb. 21, 2007). The statesman. A newspaper published on New Delhi. Retrieved on January 20th 2011 from: http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/pqdweb?did=1219601621&Fmt=3&clientId=13118&RQT=309&VName=PQD Holbenche L. (2009). Aligning Human Resources and Business Strategy (2nd ed.). Elsevier Limited. Burlington. Pp. 165-195 Soupata L. (November, 2004). Executive excellence: a case study of UPS. A Journal on Human Resource Management. United States. Vol. 21, Iss. 11; pg. 15, 2 pgs. Retrieved on January 19th, 2011 from: http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/pqdweb?did=750794951&Fmt=4&clientId=13118&RQT=309&VName=PQD Tsui P.Y. and Lai K.T. (2009). Professional Practices of Human Resource Management in Hong Kong: Linking HRM to organizational success. Hong Kong University Press. Pp. 85-89

Analysis Paper :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have read two particular articles that are about the topic I chose for my analysis. Both articles identify facts that support their beliefs. One true fact from one of the articles states â€Å"The basic is simple: Life begins not at birth, but at conception. It is a scientific and biological one†. Another fact about a different article states, â€Å"In order for it to be a human being it needs an internal organization, organs, and especially a human brain to be considered fully human†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As I read both articles to understand each perspective there were two opposites one pro one con. On the Pro side of the argument, I found that the person who wrote the article had a moralistic approach about the topic. The topic that I chose to analyze was Abortion. Abortion always has two sides of a story, which is a very interesting topic to discuss because as you discuss this topic with others you will find that everyone has a different approach to what their beliefs are. I for one am I believer of Pro-Life. The woman that wrote this article has a lot of pro side to her argument. She talked about how chromosomes and eggs come together to form an embryo. She talks about the risk factors when having an abortion that is voluntary. She believed that even though there may be life, or potential life, or however one wants to refer to the fetus, that by denying a woman the right to an abortion is denying her control of her body. Being a woman myself, I am obviously aga inst people trying to control women or their bodies. But the fetus is a completely separate life from the woman. She brought up great ideas to support her belief, which is why this particular topic is very, very intriguing. Now, the other side of the topic is Pro-choice. The ability to decide for yourself that you can have an abortion, the pro-choice philosophy maintains that the availability of good medical abortions protects the health and fertility of women and allows children to be born into homes where they can receive love, care, affection, and respect for their unique individuality, so that these children grow up to be joyful, loving, caring, responsible members of the community, able to enter into meaningful relationships with others. This article talks great opinions to support their debate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many unique tactics that each of the article uses to lure one into believing the way they do.

Effects of Television on Children: A Chain Indicating Their Behavior Es

Kate Moody, author of Growing Up On Television: The TV Effect, explains that a nine-year-old’s effort to slip his teacher a box of poisoned chocolates, a seven-year-old’s use of ground glass in the family stew, a seventeen-year-old’s re-enactment of a televised rape and murder by bludgeoning the victim’s head and slashing her throat, and a fifteen-year-old’s real-life rerun of a rape with a broomstick televised in the movie Born Innocent are all examples of crimes copied from TV (86). Many children are introduced to the world of television before they enter school and grow up committing crimes because they were under the influence of television. In Mary L. Gavin’s article, â€Å"How TV Affects Your Child,† found on KidsHealth.org, which is the most visited website for information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years, Mary reported that two-thirds of infants and toddlers watch television an a verage of two hours a day, kids under the age of six watch an average of about two hours of television a day, and children between the ages of eight and eighteen years old spend nearly four hours a day in front of a television screen (Gavin). The article found on the Media Awareness Network website, â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids,† reports that television is one of the most prevalent media influences in kids’ lives (Media Awareness Network). Lately, reality shows like Bad Girls’ Club and Jersey Shore are being aired because they are full of drama that catches the viewers’ attention. Children are more receptive of what they see on TV than adults are and are more likely to mimic those actions. The negative influence of television causes children to absorb and retaliate what they see on TV, which in part cause... ...use. And often, there's no discussion about the consequences of drinking alcohol, doing drugs, smoking cigarettes, and having premarital sex (Gavin). Children who view TV become involved in three processes: (1) they are exposed to new behaviors and characters, (2) they learn to do or acquire those behaviors, and (3) they eventually accept them as their own (Moody 86-87). Children are attracted to violence, and violence on TV is portrayed as tolerable. As a result, kids show aggressive behavior and learn to handle their problems with violence, which leads to an increase in crime. Also, children that watch shows that contain sexual content are more likely to become involved in sexual activities. Children assimilate everything they see on TV, and they assume behaviors like violence and sex are appropriate, which guides them to actually undertake in such activities.