Global Warming Essay

It is sometimes unbelievable that science discoveries are being disproved despite scientific evidences. This action is a manifestation of political influence over a matter of â€Å"facts† about climate science according to some analysts. However, disbelieving will result in too much danger because truth is truth; it will exist and will manifest itself regardless of human efforts. In the case of Galileo who made a theory that the sun stands still while the earth and other planet revolve around the sun had caused his liberty and life. This is because his theory was against Catholic belief. Politicizing then would mean full intervention and manipulation of people in authority to dispute or reject something as a means of protecting their interest or institutions. Galileo had many discoveries during his time but none of them were recognized. If Galileo’s early discoveries were acknowledged perhaps the science today was even more advanced compared today. However, the danger of refuting science and what it holds as truth is currently done on climate science known as global warming. Many scientists gave warning about the possible consequences of greenhouse effects in the society but some view it as unrealistic that brings disaster causing irregularities and hazards in the economy. For instance, Coleman (2009) stated that people are already enduring the â€Å"CO2 silliness in many ways† in which he pointed to prohibition of new refineries to operate, and the conversion of sources of energy is very costly. Some even claim that climate change brings positive effect in the environment. Oreskes noted that scientific community has â€Å"substantive disagreement †¦ about the reality of anthropogenic climate change† and that the claim of IPCC regarding global warming was not totally recognized by politicians, economists, and journalists for confusion. A senator named Gore, a coauthor of Revelle in an article about the global warming, turned his back to recognize that everything about global warming was just â€Å"too uncertain to justify drastic action†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sheppard, 2006). Politicizing the global warming issue is also evident in the libel suit filed against Lancaster for pressuring Singer to drop the name of Revelle as co-author in a global warming anthology. This case revealed a secret agreement between Lancaster and Gore who wanted to politicize what could be resolved by science (Sheppard, 2006). The CFAT report stated also that around 18,000 scientists claimed that â€Å"they see no scientific evidence that human is altering our climate. † These scientists discredit the predictions of previously claimed effects of global warming by 2025 or 2050. What role do â€Å"facts† play in the modern global warming drama? It is definite that what science refers to as facts are proven true based on scientific investigation and studies. Likewise, these facts have special role to play in the modern global warming drama in such a way that predictions made in the past are now prevalent causing changes in the climate. This environment condition has moved many government and international leaders to act to prevent the rapid effects of global warming. As a consequence, many suggested the replacement for fuel fossil and other sources of energy. Instead, many scientists recommend corn and biochemical for fuel; solar and wind energy for electricity. The facts pertaining to what causes global warming, its effects in the environment, the human activity, etc. only prove that global warming is true and it poses danger not only in the environment but most importantly in the human body. However, opposition to this make counterattack against global warming; but, to their dismay still majority believe the facts about global warming and climate change because of reliable scientific explanations; that is if there will be no manipulation from political group. At what point does science lose its independence and ability to rely on critical thinking, and is this dangerous? Science loses its independence when its discovery is refuted and manipulated by known and respected people in the society like government official. In the case of Galileo, his opponents to his view were religious leaders who used their authority to denounce him from Catholic faith. Galileo renounced his first statement and bound to obey the Catholic law. Politicizing of sciences issues loses its credibility because political intervention and manipulation is being allowed to control its content and its publication. Because of this, science lost its savor and credibility; and most importantly it loses its function as knowledge provider necessary for people to enjoy his environment. The claim that climate change is a natural occurrence, while global warming does not post danger, which is not facts, only limits the function of science to society in some aspects alone. Because of this, many scientists will no longer rely on their critical analysis for fear of manipulation. Primarily, politicizing is done to serve the interest of a few but will not generate benefits to all, which is very dangerous because no one could escape when there is extreme weather condition or natural disaster due to changes in climate brought by too much heat on the atmosphere. Reference Coleman, J. (2009). The Amazing Story Behind the Global Warming Scam. Kusi News San Diego. http://www. kusi. com/weather/colemanscorner/38574742. html CFACT (2004). Scientific Questions, Ethical Concerns Missing in Today’s Debate over Climate Change. http://www. cfact. org/site/view_article. asp? idCategory=4&idarticle=436 Halsall, P. (1999). Modern History Sourcebook: The Crime of Galileo: Indictment and Abjuration of 1633. http://www. fordham. edu/halsall/mod/1630galileo. html Oreskes, N. (2009). The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change. Essay Beyond the Ivory Tower. http://www. sciencemag. org/cgi/reprint/306/5702/1686. pdf Sheppard, M. (2006). Gore’s Grave New World. American Thinker. http://www. americanthinker. com/printpage/? url=http://www. americanthinker. com/2006/06/gores_grave_new_world. html http://www. americanthinker. com/printpage/? url=http://www. americanthinker. com/2006/06/gores_grave_new_world. html

The Island of Damar

I looked down at the tiny island in the distance. The island that was about to turn my life completely upside down. It's name, Damar. It is a small island in Indonesia. It has a population of 23 people, everyone of these people archaeological diggers. My dad, Jay, was flying out to join them. There was some kind of dig on the go and my dad was called for. Me, being Rhia, had to go with him. Most kids of my age would stay at home with a relative. Unfortunately, I have none. My mum died about four years ago in a tragic car accident. She drove her car into a ditch and no one found her until the next morning. I don't know of any other relatives that i have. The only other family member I have is my twerp of a brother. He is 9 years old and is extremely annoying. His hair is like barbed wire, it is impossible to brush using any comb. My dad must have bought about 20 different sized combs to try and brush it and about 50 different shampoos. It is blondish-brown in colour and is kind of centre parted. He doesn't care in the slightest about his appearance and most of the time he just wears a pair of tracky bottoms and a pole shirt. His name is Pete. Any way, less of that twerp, back to me. I am 19 years old and currently do not have a boyfriend. I have blondish-brown permed hair just past my shoulders in length and have big, blue, dazzling eyes. Unlike my brother I care ALOT about my appearance. Everything has to be colour co-ordinated. My dad is always fussing at me, he says I have loads of clothes and hardly any of them are worn. It had been a long, tiring journey and a boring one at that. If I had been able to bring my friend Chazza, it would've been a right laugh. I was suffering from toothache because the cheesecake that we had for lunch hadn't been properly defrosted and I really hurt my tooth. Damar was getting bigger and bigger so I knew we were soon to land. From what I could see from above, it just looked like a floating rain forest. There were huge trees but I could not spot any houses or apartments for us to stay in. It was hammering it down with rain. I knew this because I could hear the rain drops bouncing of the roof of the plane. Touchdown. We had landed. We floated along the surface for some time before we came to a complete stop. I looked out of the cabin window and stared amazingly at a huge cliff that towered above the left hand side of the sea plane, I could not see the top of it. There was nothing else to be seen. My dad rose from his seat and turned round o face us, â€Å"Well then, we're here,† he said as if we were to be really excited. Me and my brother both looked at him as if to say ‘woopey-doo! ‘ My dad turned back round and headed towards the door and begun to open it. Once this was done he grabbed his binoculars which he had been looking through most of the journey whilst making notes, he looked into the distance. It was sometime before he shouted, â€Å"I can see them, they're coming straight for us! † Meanwhile Pete was taking all the cases from the overhead lockers and was placing them in a pile at the front of the plane. I looked out of the plane window once more nd spotted a small, yellow, rubber boat fighting against the treacherous waves to make its way to the plane. In it was a man dressed in a orange kagool. After some fighting, the boat reached the entrance to the plane. â€Å"You must be Doctor Shaw? † asked my dad loudly, competing against the noise of the waves. â€Å"Yes, that's right. Climb aboard,† shouted the strange looking man. My dad jumped aboard and almost lost his balance as a huge monstrous wave came from behind the boat. Pete tossed all our luggage to my dad who was piling them up in one corner. Once this had been done, Pete himself jumped aboard. I walked esitantly towards the door and stood for a moment watching the rain hammering into the sea. I turned round and faced Sam, the pilot, who I had become quite friendly with. â€Å"Good bye then†, he said, trying not to laugh, â€Å"and good luck! † I smiled at him, turned round and daintily made my way on board the boat. That was it, there was no way of turning back now. I turned and looked at the plane, taxiing into the dull fog which had fallen. â€Å"What? † I bawled at the top of my v oice. â€Å"This is your home for the next 10 weeks. † I looked down at a pile of raw materials: wood, palm leaves and a huge sheet of tarpaulin. You and your dad will have to build a shelter. † That was it, I'd had enough. Not only did I discover that there was no TV, computer or telephone on Damar, but now I have to build my own shelter. My dad had lied. He told me the complete opposite. I decided enough was enough i needed to get away from my dad before all hell broke out. I walked over to the shore and looked out at the waves smashing against the rocks. I was dripping wet and freezing cold. I made a huge X out of pebbles in the sand and walked to the left of me. As long as I kept to the shore line, I could turn round at any time and walk back o the X and then I'd know I was back at camp. It felt as if I'd been walking for miles. The shore line was rocky and in some places sandy. After some time I came to a stop and sat down on what looked to be a makeshift bench at the top of the cliff that I first saw when I had landed. I was there for a long while. The rain had got worse and it had begun to hail, they were not huge hail stones but big enough. â€Å"Hi there, I'm Jak! † called a voice from behind. I jumped up, scared stiff. I didn't know whether to turn around or not. Before I could, the person named Jak appeared at the side of me. He held his hand out as if aiting for me to shake it. I pulled my hand out of my jeans pocket and held his hand. I couldn't move it, it was as if they were frozen solid. â€Å"They're freezing,† he shrieked, â€Å"here, take my gloves. † I took the gloves from his held out hand and struggled to put them on. â€Å"I'm Doctor Shaw's son. You? † asked Jak. â€Å"I'm Rhia. Rhia Langton,† replied Rhia politely. â€Å"Oh, your new here aren't you? † â€Å"Yep, I just arrived today. † The conversation seized while we looked each other up and down. He was gorgeous. He had short black hair and had huge, dark brown eyes with long eyelashes. He looked about early 20's and had a well tanned body. I've been here 6 months now,† he said. â€Å"Really. † â€Å"Yeah. How long are you planning to stay? † â€Å"I think my dad said about 10 weeks. † â€Å"Cool, I'll have to get to know you more then. † â€Å"Likewise. † â€Å"I think I'll start by telling you about me then,† said Jak, â€Å"I'm 22 and i'm a dentist. Well at least I will be, when I get back to England. I've been offered a job. † â€Å"Oh really, lucky you,† said Rhia, shocked, † Well I'm 19 and currently have a job at McDonald's. Slightly different to you eh? † Jak trying not to laugh replied, â€Å"yeah! well it's better than nothing? † â€Å"I suppose so, it's only until I find another job. † We spoke for some time and we had got to know each other extremely well before Rhia decided to make her way back to camp whilst holding Jak's hand. When i arrived back at camp, my dad and brother had built their hut and were both sitting round a red hot fire at the foot of the hut. Jak however had already made his way back to his hut after a kiss at the edge of the shore. â€Å"You're back then? Finally over your little tiff? † asked Jay. I walked slowly towards the logs that surrounded the fire which had been used for benches and sat down. â€Å"So, do you want the guided tour? † asked Pete. â€Å"Sure! † replied Rhia. I couldn't sleep that night. Not only was it because of the rain gushing down on the tarpaulin but my tooth was still hurting from the frozen cheese cake on the plane. I had never felt so much pain in my life. After a long wait, I finally drifted into a restless slumber. Two weeks have gone now. The weather is at its hottest and my tan is coming along great. The island wasn't as bad as I though it was when I first arrived. In fact, I love it. I'm getting on really well with Jak now and we're going out. The only problem is he has spoken about taking our relationship a little further. I don't know if I'm ready for it just yet. I haven't as yet been down to the dig, my dad oesn't want anyone going down until he's given it the all clear (safety wise. ) Well, today's the day. I can finally go down and see what all the fuss about Damar is all about, I'm going down to the dig. â€Å"Come on then! † shouted my dad. I knelt down and picked up my bag and some of my dads digging equipment and followed him into the dark wilderness. My tooth was at its worst today. I wasn't really in the mood to go into a cramped, humid cave full of archaeological diggers and have to dig all day. My dad and Pete were some amount of metres ahead of me but didn't know how far I was walking behind. I stopped, and ropped my bags on the floor. Jak wasn't going down to the dig today so I wasn't really that bothered about going. He was spending the day on Karachi beach. I've decided that I am ready to take our relationship a little further but it has to be at the right time in the right place. I decided to make my way to the beach to see if I could see him. â€Å"Hi, how are you? † asked Jak â€Å"I'm fine now I'm here with you. My dad wanted to take me down to the dig today but I'm not really that bothered. I'd rather be sun- bathing on a beach with the one I love! † replied Rhia. I looked out at the sparkling blue water. I could see the fish swimming around legantly below the surface. It was perfect. â€Å"How's your t ooth? † â€Å"It's even worse today! it's really beginning to bug me! † â€Å"Give it time, it'll drop out soon, trust me, I'm a dentist! † He sat looking at me for some time as if he thinking before he said, â€Å"Wait here, I'll be back in a bit. † I knew what was about to happen, after all we were in the perfect place for it. I tried to calm myself but it wasn't working. Some time later he returned with a smug look on his face. He sat next to me and wrapped his arms around my body. â€Å"Lay back and close your eyes† he whispered softly into my ear. I did as he said and waited for him to say omething. He did the obvious. Before I let him go any further I asked him, â€Å"will it hurt? † â€Å"Of course not,† he replied, â€Å"it's just a simple process† â€Å"I'm rather frightened, I've never done this before. † He urged to continue, â€Å"It won't hurt much more, just relax. † I was in a great deal of pain but dared not show it. I felt tears come to my eyes. It's hurting something awful. â€Å"Calm yourself Rhia, open a little wider so I can fit more in! † Suddenly with a jerk I gave a screeching shout. â€Å"Now that's it, all over with,† he slowly pulled it out. â€Å"Well what a relief, I think I'll enjoy my holiday even more now that rotten tooth's out! â€Å"

Mohsin Hamid Essay

Mohsin Hamid is the author of three novels: Moth Smoke (published in 2000), a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award; The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007), a million-copy international bestseller that was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, made into a feature film, and named one of the books that defined the decade by the Guardian; and, most recently, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (2013). His fiction has appeared in the New Yorker, Granta, and the Paris Review and been translated into over 30 languages. The recipient of numerous awards, he has been called â€Å"one of his generation’s most inventive and gifted writers† by the New York Times, â€Å"one of the most talented and formally audacious writers of his generation† by the Daily Telegraph, and â€Å"one of the most important writers working today† by the Daily Beast. He also regularly writes essays on themes ranging from literature to politics and is a contributor to publications around the world, including the New York Times, the Guardian, the New York Review of Books, Dawn, and La Repubblica. A self-described mongrel, he was born in 1971 in Lahore, Pakistan, and has lived about half his life there. The rest he has spent drifting between places such as London, New York, California, the Philippines, and Italy. â€Å"Moth Smoke† Moth Smoke is a steamy (in both senses) and often darkly amusing book about sex, drugs, and class warfare in postcolonial Asia. Hamid struc- tures Moth Smoke somewhat like a murder trial. On the stand is Daru, a cynical, hash-loving 28-year-old bank drone and onetime boxer now accused of running over a child. Daru relates his decline and fall after being fired from the bank (a moment he compares to a â€Å"quick sidestep in un- reality, like meeting your mother when you’re tripping†) in chapters that alternate with self-justifying monologues by the witnesses against him. Moth Smoke foregrounds Daru’s slacker predisposition and resentment toward the aristocrats (with whom he associates but cannot join) against an apocalyptic background of nuclear testing reminiscent ofRobert Aldrich’s 1955 film-version take onMickey Spillane’s Kiss Me Deadly. An underdog redress occurs when Daru steals his rich best friend Ozi’s wife, Mumtaz, a iscontented young mother who has become a clandestine investigative reporter since moving back to Lahore, Pakistan, from New York. Their romance generates big heat and smoke and Hamid leaves no nook or cranny of the fire metaphor unexplored, reinvigorating its archetypal metaforce with everything from the titular play of moth and flame to the apocalyptic burnout of nuclear war. When Daru and Mumtaz meet for the first time, she leaves a smoldering cigarette butt in an ashtray bed. â€Å"I crush mine into it,† relates Daru, â€Å"grinding until both stop burning. Daru’s meager resources wane as the couple’s passion intensifies, and their relationship—not unlike that binding India to Pakistan—threatens to destroy everyone around them. Halfway through the book, to cool things off, Hamid tosses in an only slightly ironic chapter titled â€Å"what lovely weather we’re having (or the importance of air-conditioning),† in which Daru’s former economics professor discusses how Pakistan’s elite â€Å"have managed to re-create for themselves the living conditions of say, Sweden, without leaving the dusty plains of the subcontinent. Although the novel is woozy with alcohol, hash, Ecstasy, and heroin, they serve less as pleasure vehicles than as tokens of societal decadence. Daru’s social status plummets even further when he becomes a part-time dealer to the rich kids who overpay for his wares. Maneuvering in the background are the hardcore Islamic â€Å"fundos,† whose one-size-fits-all fanaticism, Hamid suggests, possesses seductive qualities no less compelling than Ozi’s self-righteous aria justifying his own corruption (he’s not a bad guy, he argues; he just makes people jealous). As for Daru, Hamid leaves unclear whether it’s class rancor that drives him over the brink, or the displaced nurture he derives from bad-mother Mumtaz. The Falstaffian figure of Murad Badshah, the rickshaw driver and dealer who enlists Daru in a wack scheme to knock over upscale boutiques, offers comedy relief. â€Å"Armed robbery is like public speaking,† says Murad. â€Å"Both offer a brief period in the limelight, the risk of public humiliation, the opportunity for crowd control. † Daru’s moment in the spotlight goes awry during a suspenseful scene whose panicky, botched outcome is pure Tarantino mishegaas. By novel’s end, the morally and financially impoverished Daru—all thirst, no quenching, and recently introduced to the joys of heroin smoke—amuses himself by playing desultory games of â€Å"moth badminton† with the insects that have overtaken his barren home. The atmosphere is vacant and corrupt, the sense of loss reminiscent of the empty, overgrown swimming pools that populate J. G. Ballard’s Empire of the Sun, the sort of slipstream masterpiece Hamid obviously admires. But Moth Smoke reads more like a tough and sinewy B movie, the kind whose dark complexities expand the more you ponder it. â€Å"The Reluctant Fundamentalist† Some books are acts of courage, maybe because the author tries out an unproven style, addresses an unpopular theme or allows characters to say things that no one wants to hear. Mohsin Hamid’s novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, does all those things. Told in the form of an extended monologue, the novel reflects on a young Pakistani’s almost five years in America. After excelling at Princeton, Changez had become a highly regarded employee at a prestigious financial firm. He seemed to have achieved the perfect American life. We know from the beginning, however, that it will not last long. Changez narrates his story from a cafe in Lahore, his birthplace, while speaking to an American man whose role is unclear. Changez tells him, â€Å"Yes, I was happy in that moment. I felt bathed in a warm sense of accomplishment. Nothing troubled me; I was a young New Yorker with the city at my feet. † (Tellingly, while he didn’t see himself as a foreigner during this time, the two colleagues closest to him were also outsiders: one â€Å"non-white,† the other a gay man who grew up poor. ) In the aftermath of Sept. 11, as the tone of the country becomes more hostile, Changez’s corporate cloak lifts, and his life in America no longer seems so perfect. Paralleling the narrative of Changez’s work life is the tale of his romantic involvement with Erica, an elegant and well-to-do New Yorker who has emotional baggage that eventually leads to a breakdown. The impossible love story softens the book, allowing Changez to tell the same story from a different perspective. Both of his potential conquests (America, Erica) have deep appeal, yet both have been damaged, making it impossible for them to be part of Changez’s life. Hamid’s writing is strongest when Changez is analyzing the finer points of being a foreigner, â€Å"well-liked as an exotic acquaintance. When he goes out with Erica, he takes â€Å"advantage of the ethnic exception clause that is written into every code of etiquette† and wears a kurta and jeans because his blazer looks shabby. Later, when he is back in Pakistan and his parents ask for details of his American life, he says, â€Å"It was odd to speak of that world here, as it would be odd to s ing in a mosque; what is natural in one place can seem unnatural in another, and some concepts travel poorly, if at all. † Perhaps as a result of speaking Urdu and English, Hamid’s style is delightfully distinct. His clever tale lingers in the mind, partly because of the nature and originality of the troubled love story and partly because of Changez himself, who is not always likable. Or noble. The courage of The Reluctant Fundamentalist is in the telling of a story about a Pakistani man who makes it and then throws it away because he doesn’t want it anymore, because he realizes that making it in America is not what he thought it was or what it used to be. The monologue form allows for an intimate conversation, as the reader and the American listener become one. Are we sitting across from Changez at a table in Lahore, joining him in a sumptuous dinner? Do his comments cause us to bristle, making us more and more uncomfortable? Extreme times call for extreme reactions, extreme writing. Hamid has done something extraordinary with this novel, and for those who want a different voice, a different view of the aftermath of 9/11, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is well worth reading. â€Å"How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia† The city of â€Å"Rising Asia† remains nameless, but through the lens of Hamid’s critical eye, we understand it to be a metropolis closely resembling Lahore, Pakistan. Drones fly overhead. Corruption, terrorism, and violence are everyday occurrences. Written in a fast-paced, second-person narration a la Jay McInerney’s â€Å"Bright Lights, Big City,† we track our nameless hero, known simply as â€Å"you,† through his journey from poor rural boy to successful tycoon of a bottled-water empire. Similarly, â€Å"Filthy Rich’’ ends up being both a personal saga of love and ambition and a pointed satiric commentary on the head-turning changes in parts of the developing world. We first meet our hero as a child, â€Å"huddled, shivering, on the packed earth under [his] mother’s cot one cold dewy morning. † He’s sickly, infected with hepatitis E, living with his family of five in a cramped, one-room shanty. There’s nothing desirable about village life. Sex between his parents is a ritual undertaken entirely clothed and right next to the children pretending to be asleep. But better things lie ahead once the family migrates to the city, a place where â€Å"wealthy neighborhoods are often divided by a single boulevard from factories and markets and graveyards . . separated from the homes of the impoverished only by an open sewer, railroad track, or narrow alley. † It’s the bleak disparity between the rich and the poor that our hero is determined to cross in order to get filthy rich in rising Asia. Lest we forget, we’re still in the land of self-help, and in proper prescriptive fashion, each chapter homes in on a goal to improving one’s station (â€Å"Get an Education,† â€Å"Befriend a Bureaucrat,† â€Å"Dance with Debt†) and each is a glimpse into our protagonist’s career at a different stage of life, from childhood to old age. He enters the workforce as a teenager, working the night shift as a delivery boy of pirated DVDs. As a result, he meets his soulmate, known only as â€Å"the pretty girl. † She works at a beauty salon but is destined for bigger things. And he’s a poor boy still wet behind the ears searching his â€Å"inner salmon† for the proper motivation. Their relationship develops into a mutual crush, and she deflowers him, but this is a love that could never be, and she finds a better mate to run off with, a marketing manager in advertising. Love, we are told, only â€Å"dampens the fire in the steam furnace of ambition, robbing of essential propulsion an already fraught upriver journey to the heart of financial success. † Hamid’s ear for replicating infomercial mumbo-jumbo is fine-tuned, producing some hilarious moments of dramatic irony. As the novel progresses through our narrator’s life’s work, from street salesman of â€Å"non-expired-labeled expired-goods† to his true calling, the bottled-water trade — a business so dirty that he must lie, cheat, cook his books, make bribes, and sometimes murder — it reveals a rather moving portrait of a life lived in regret and denial. He marries the wrong woman, fails as a father to his only son, and once his bottled-water business becomes an empire, he loses it, and the rise toward staggering wealth becomes a quick plummet to the bottom. There’s an unfortunate side effect to a novel of such admirable ambition. Hamid attempts to find the universal in the non-specific. And it’s an experiment that’s not completely successful. With his intentional generality and the many nameless players— â€Å"you,† â€Å"your mother,† â€Å"your father,† â€Å"your wife,† â€Å"your brother-in-law† — Hamid has created a set of characters we begin to love but are unable to clearly see. But it’s the lifelong affair the narrator has with the pretty girl that helps us regain our focus time and again. Their lives parallel over the course of several decades. As he rises in business, his infatuation grows, and he tracks her career as a model on billboards, then as a TV personality on his wife’s favorite cooking show, then as a small-business owner in her own right. When the two come together, Hamid allows these scenes to linger pleasantly on, and in turn, his two characters appear at their most human. Hamid has admitted that the genesis of â€Å"How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia† springs from the idea that reading novels can at times feel like a form of self-help. We empathize with a novel’s characters, seek their wisdom, experience their faults, find solace in their lives. Hamid’s novel embodies this concept in a tremendously profound and entertaining way, bringing to the page, front and center, why we read fiction at all. And the answer may very well be what his novel proposes: to get someone who isn’t yourself to help you.

Teamsters Union Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teamsters Union - Research Paper Example Teamsters are several; reference can be made, as examples, to the following: a) Accounting and Budget; it covers the need of the organization in regard to the gathering, process and supply of financial data; b) Political Action; it deals with the arrangement of collective action against strategies and decisions that violate employees’ rights; c); Human Rights; it focuses on the development of plans for the limitation of discrimination in the workplace and d) Campaigns; it focuses on the planning and development of the organization’s campaigns around the world. The structure of the organization, as reflecting its administration, is presented in Graph 1 (Appendix). At top level, the administration of the organization is developed by its, two, ‘executive officers, i.e. the General President and the General Secretary’ (Teamsters, Structure); at the next level, the General Executive Board has the power to control all critical strategic decisions. At the community level, Teamsters is represented by Local Unions the activities of which are monitored by the organization’s Joint Councils. Further, officers are appointed in the Union’s various units for responding to the needs of members and affiliates (Teamsters, Structure). Also, the representatives of the organization ensure that the needs of members are covered at local level; in this way, time is saved in responding to emergent inquiries of members and affiliates (Teamsters, Structure). In order to become a member of the Union an individual has to sign a contract, which can cover the individual either locally, only in regard to one employer, or internationally, in all locations where the business operates. The amount that needs to be paid, for the membership to be completed, is estimated as a percentage of ‘2.5 times the hour – wage of the individual’ (Teamsters, Frequently Asked Questions). Existing members have the chance to enhance their powers within the Union by becoming a steward, with

Analysis of investment and management of portfolio Assignment

Analysis of investment and management of portfolio - Assignment Example The following part of the paper presents a detailed SWOT analysis and Porter’s five forces analysis of the Keppel Land Limited. SWOT analysis is used to analyze a company’s internal and external environments. By evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an organization, one can assess the organization’s internal management efficiencies. In contrast, opportunities and threats assessment enables the marketer to get a clear view of the firm’s external environment. Diversified property business is one of the major strengths of Keppel Land. Since the company focuses on different areas of property business, it can take advantages of economies of scale and thus spread risk factors effectively. It is obvious that many areas of property business have seasonal demand variations, and this situation adversely affects firms that deal with limited number of property business segments. Therefore, diversified property business assists Keppel to keep its market position stable regardless of seasonal market fluctuations. Substantial asset portfolio is another notable strength of the organization. This strength adds to the firm’s market reputation and aids Keppel to easily capture investor attention. In addition, an improved asset portfolio benefits the organization to easily raise funds in times of needs. Finally, Keppel’s strong operational performance can also be considered as its potential strength. On the strength of better operational per formance, the firm can trim down its operating expenses to some extent. Furthermore, strong operational performance contributes to the organization’s good will. Increasing debt appears to be the major weakness of Keppel Land. The company largely uses debt financing approach to promote its expansion operations and this method adds to the firm’s net debts. Although debt financing is a potential approach to enhance an organization’s growth, over debt levels may threaten the firm’s long term sustainability.

Race Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Race - Essay Example Beliefs surrounding this concept maintained that this chain was created by God and was very close to God in terms of perfection. This paper will seek to bring out issues regarding race which range from its history to current views. It will also give an insight as to whether there is need to replace the term â€Å"race† with something else like â€Å"ethnicity†. The etymology of the word â€Å"race† indicates that the term means common descent. Intellectual analysis on the book opines that the Europeans sought to define the term race at the Age of Enlightenment as a biological concept. However, as time went by, scholars tried to define and classify race into types, origins, and correlations (Spiller 45). Concerted efforts by Ember, Peregrine, and Ember show that biomedical researchers, as well as forensic anthropologists, collected and analyzed information on populations and individuals and established that race denotes distinctions which are scientifically practi cal (Ember, Ember, & Peregrine 97). In view of Hippocrates and many other thinkers, factors like climate and geography held a very significant place in shaping the physical appearance of different people. Ideally, the 19th century naturalists made attempts that changed race from taxonomy into a biological concept using anthropometrics. ... time, social conservatives exacerbated their belief and maintained that certain races portrayed innate inferiority after examining their shortcomings. A number of scientists claimed that they could determine the race of certain population or an individual by evaluating the subject’s DNA or genes. On the other end, the largest number of scientists understood that race was a social construct. These scientists believed that certain phonotypical expressions of individuals were useful in determining their race (Napolitano 128). Language, culture, and environment also played a primary role in shaping the behavioral characteristics of an individual and they were of great importance in determining the race of that individual (Ember, Ember, & Peregrine 112). The current views expressed by different people regarding race are different and overwhelming. The authors of this book mention that publications based on race as the subject receive uncomfortable facts, especially with reference t o race differences and intelligence. Academic research point out that, as of today, many people including intellectuals and mainstream journalists become highly emotional when they come across race related debates (Todorova 26). This means that many historic events revolving around race are always rather disappointing. Other archival resources reveal that different authors, co-authors, and liberals, as well as conservatives, admit that the subject of intelligence and race should hedge out, disqualified, and rendered meaningless. Black multiculturalists describe white people as mean and cold by ascertaining that they like manipulating things. On the other side, the same multiculturalists paint black people as empathetic because they entertain love. This difference in IQ colors the existing views

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire - Research Paper Example 146 garment workers lost their lives and 71 people injured due to this disaster in which 23 were men employees and the rest 123 were the female employees. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was located in Asch Building. This factory occupied the entire eighth, ninth and tenth floor of the Asch building. The fire took place due to burn of the garbage and wastages. Poor administration and management caused the death of several priceless lives. The employees in the ninth floor did not get any kind of notification or fire alarm right after the breakout of fire. However, the legacy of this disaster still continues as the citizens of United States of America still share their sadness in the memory of the victims. This particular disaster forced the government regulatory bodies to develop several legislations and policies for the organizations in order to ensure workplace health and safety of the employees. This essay will determine the impact of The Triangle Shirtwaist factory Fire on the emp loyers, employees, community, and industry and labor movement. Effect on Labor Movement It is true that this accident is considered as the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the United States of America. Several immigrants from Italy including both men and women were the major victims of this disaster. This accident had a strong legacy. One week after the disaster, the workers in the state planned to host a meeting regarding the inadequate workplace environment and lack of safety aspect in the factories and workplace. The citizens of United States of America and immigrants from different countries participated in the meeting to reform a labor movement in order to raise the voice against inadequate workplace health and safety aspect. People of all religious and cultural background started to host a merge or procession in the memory of victims to raise the voice against the business owners who do not think about the good health and safety of the workers. Few days, after t he meeting, near about 3, 50, 000 people participated in the funeral march for the victims who lost their lives due to the particular industrial disaster (English 1). It is true that employees or the labors are the major business growth drivers of an organization. It is the responsibility of the business owners tom ensure healthy and safe workplace environment. However, immigrants from other countries started to leave their jobs due to immense fear from the particular incident. In addition to this, the social environment in United States of America was not favorable for the immigrants and the citizens of lower income group. The economic environment of United States of America was not that much prosperous and developed. People of lower or lower-middle class income group had to face difficulty to lead a healthy and standard life style. These issues were developing for several years in the United States of America. But, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire ignited the flame among the p eople. They tried to oppose the inadequate industrial standards and organizational policies through protest merge. However, it was highly important and essential for these immigrants and deprived citizens to get united and oppose the developed policies. A strong labor movement took place across the States in protest of the brutal disaster which forced the government regulatory bodies, industrial regulatory bodies

Bullying Behavior in Middle School Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bullying Behavior in Middle School Review - Essay Example The theory is used to demonstrate that individuals have a huge impact of their surroundings and activities done by or with their associates. They perceive things (e.g. victimization or bullying) from the interacted people and their experiences. The third premise reveals that even if individuals do not go through bullying or victimization, they presume and get an adverse effect on their acts and thoughts. These negative activities harm them as much as the victims. The theory is successfully implemented and employed throughout the paper and has helped in drawing the conclusions. This research is very helpful in understanding the behavioral factors of bullying and victimization among younger generation. This research adds a new and incredible piece in this subject. However, there are some limitations related to this research paper. The research conducted by Mongold cannot be taken as a research producing conclusions that fit-to-all. In simple words, the research paper is conducted on the basis of a single middle school’s setting which cannot be estimated as true for the whole city, state or world. The conclusions drawn have effect of a number of factors including the thoughts, views, values, behaviors, cultures and backgrounds of individuals. Individuals that are a part of a single organization may be influenced by the aims, rules and objectives of it. In addition, the views about bullying and victimization can also be affected by continuous imposition of these matters on children by lectures, conduct or education. Since the guidance counselors conduc t ‘bully-proof’ lessons annually, it is more probable that the views and conduct of individuals are affected by it. Another question that can be raised on the credibility of the conclusions drawn can be the accuracy of data collected through questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of a number of questions and it is probable that the participants may

How has marriage reflected the changing status of women in Australian Essay

How has marriage reflected the changing status of women in Australian culture in the past century - Essay Example This is where the current state of woman is, and it has resulted in a high failure rate for marriages. This paper will examine how the roles of women have changed in Australian society, both in and outside of marriage, and how these roles have affected marriage and divorces in the last century. Discussion The largest change for women, in the realm of marriage, is the fact that patriarchy has shifted. For instance, one may view the movie The Piano for an example of how things used to be for women in Australia and New Zealand. In The Piano, the woman in the marriage was in the marriage because it was arranged, and, although it was evident that the main character, Ada, had a husband who wanted a â€Å"real† marriage, this never manifested. It was quite simply obvious that Alistair, the husband in this scenario, saw Ada as a way to bolster his social standing and really nothing more (The Piano). The Piano reflects a time in Australian history, indeed, in the history of the world, where women were regarded as property, and, because of this, fathers were able to force their daughters into loveless marriages. This reflects the standing of women in general during the 1850s. While The Piano reflects a time during the 19th Century, this paper will deal with the changing status of women during the 20th Century, but it is a helpful touchstone nonetheless. From the patriarchy in the 1850s, as evident in The Piano, a wave of reforms hit Australian society in the late 1800s, in a first wave of feminism in which women demanded to be counted as an equal in society, as well as within her own family. This was a wave of reform in which women were able to divorce their husbands, instead of divorce being the sole province of the man, which is what the case was before these reforms. This actually showed that the feminist movement gave more rights to women then did England, as women were not granted the right to divorce her husband on the grounds of adultery until 1923 in Engla nd, yet this right was granted in New South Wales in 1881 (James, 2005). This all leads to the rights of women at the turn of the century. The irony is that, according to Folbre (1991), while women were beginning to have parity with men in divorce court, their rights as within the marriage were actually being rolled back a bit. Folbre states that, in 1800, the work that a woman performs within the marriage was considered productive work for the purpose of labor force participation. In other words, the work that women did in 1800 was considered a part of the overall economic structure, and this work was considered to be a source of wealth. By 1900, however, this work was no longer considered productive, and women were considered to be â€Å"dependent,† along with senior citizens, children and disabled persons (Folbre, 1991). In other words, at the beginning of the 19th Century, the women’s contributions to the household were considered a driver of economic growth; by th e beginning of the 20th Century, this was no longer true. This shows that, at a time when women were getting some parity when it comes to divorce court, she was simultaneously being oppressed within the marriage itself, as she was considered to be the same as a child or a disabled person within the

Strategic Management at Mercedes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Management at Mercedes - Assignment Example From this discussion it is clear that Mercedes has been a promising company, the occurrence of such an event was not a good thing to it. It was a very unfortunate event that if not properly handled, could become disastrous and dangerous for the success of the company. Rather than damaging the reputation of the flourishing company, it would bring financial losses that might be hard to bear. This is because a lot of resources will have to be used for compensation and reparations.   At the same time, the event would end up affecting the larger automobile industry which has been rocked with such recalls in the recent past. For this reason, it is incumbent upon the management to come up with practical and relevant strategies to deal with it.As the report highlights  Most importantly, the company, through its spokesman Donna Boland engaged in a serious strategic communication exercise. As a professional, Donna used his skills to appeal to the public to bear with the company because the problem was not intended, but had occurred as a result of unavoidable oversights in the technical department.  Just like Mercedes, all companies need to be cautious and be ready to know what happens to them failure to which, they might suffer a great deal.  Environmental analysis should always be considered as an important activity for all business organizations. These are important lessons that make these articles to be invaluable for anyone who wants to have an insight on strategic management.

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Research Paper Example These x-rays are produced by neutron stars or extremely hot objects and a few radioactive sources. Moreover, in the medical field, x-rays are used to treat cancers, and that while soft x-rays are stopped by air, hard x-rays can penetrate deeply into the damaged tissue (â€Å"The Electromagnetic Spectrum†). Nevertheless, one distinguishing feature of x-rays in its use in geophysics is that through x-ray images of the sun, one can obtain important clues with regard to solar flares and other physical changes in the sun that can affect space weather and Earth weather. (De Lloyd) Ultraviolet Rays Aside from the practical uses of UV in detecting forged bank notes, hardening certain types of dental filling and sterilization of surgical equipment in hospitals (â€Å"Ultra Violet†), this kind of light is also placed on UV telescopes on satellites in order to measure the amount of UV coming from stars, galaxies and the Sun itself. Moreover, astronomers can study stars and galaxie s by virtue of the UV light that they give off (â€Å"Ultraviolet Waves,† NASA). ... In the portable spectrometer, UV light is used with all the visible light as well as Near Infrared light. (â€Å"Observing the Earth†) Visible Rays Aside from its most practical purpose, which is to allow the eyes to view the world, visible light, it is also used for communication, specifically in the â€Å"transport [of] huge volumes of information over very large distances† by means of internal reflection in optical fibers (Emery). Moreover, visible red, green and blue false color assignments are used to reflect radiant energy emitted by the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Specifically, visible blue light from 0.45 to 0.52  µm is used for mapping details of how deep water-covered areas are, considering that it is the most absorbed wavelength of water. Visible blue light is also utilized by the Landsat TM satellite sensor as spectral band 1 (â€Å"An Introduction to Remote Sensing,† Yale University). Landsat TM is a satellite sensor that detects changes in the biosphere such as wildfires, deforestation and natural calamities and such data on these changes will be provided to concerned institutions including the government, the education sector as well as commercial and industrial communities. (â€Å"Landsat Multispectral Scanner†) Visual green light, on the other hand, from 0.50 to 0.60  µm is also used to map out depth or the presence of sediment in bodies of water. Roads and buildings can also be detected by this particular bandwidth. In satellite sensors, visible green light is used as spectral band 1 in the Landsat MSS, as band 2 in Landsat TM, and as another band in Landsat ETM+. These Landsat satellite sensors aid in the detection of

VoIP software Technology For Bank Essay Example for Free

VoIP software Technology For Bank Essay Fifth Main bank could use a VoIP software suite such as Avaya to meet its phone and call center needs. The Avaya VoIP software would allow the bank to use their existing IP network to implement it and would help them get away from the old switch based network. The software would also allow them to see the status of the person they are trying to reach, as well as assist with call logging and warm transfers. A concern with implementing this would be bandwidth. Adding that many IP based devices could bog down the system if it has low bandwidth. Another would be making sure each location is connected to the same network to easily transfer the calls. Another concern would be making sure all employees are trained on how to use the new system to its full potential. These concerns can be overcome by upgrading their current network capacity to increase bandwidth and get everyone on the same network. The new devices can be made effective by supplying training and manuals to employees to ensure it is being used correctly. Adding this technology will mean the bank will need to increase their network security. They should already have pretty good security since they are a bank, but adding VoIP services will open new vulnerabilities that will need to be locked down.

A Dialog Axiata Plc Management Essay

A Dialog Axiata Plc Management Essay Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lankas largest communications service provider is a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad. Dialog being the 4th entrant to Sri Lankas cellular market launched its services in 1995. They were the first digital network in South Asia to launch HSPA + which is the latest upgrade in mobile broadband. In addition to communication service, the company also offers other services such as mobile, internet, international gateway, data and backbone, fixed wireless and media related services and has 200 value added services. The company is currently serving over 7.5 million local subscribers and is the 50% market leader in this industry. They have the widest coverage reaching 95% of the population and are the only operator to cover all the districts. They have 500 salesmen on the ground along with a strong service team of 1000 staff over 125 service centre and 50,000 retailer networks. They are also the highest FD Investor in Sri Lanka. 1.2- Why is Dialog selected Dialog is one of the most reputed companies in Sri Lanka with a highly diversified group of employees where they would definitely have cross cultural issues. In addition, they have been undergoing ongoing strategic as well as transformation changes which as a result would rise to conflicts at the different levels of the hierarchy. Therefore being a large and reputed company, Dialog stands as a challenging company in the competitive market. 2- Culture at Dialog Every organization has its own culture which refers to the beliefs, ideologies, principles and also the values that the individuals of the organization share. The culture plays a vital role in the success of the organization. When it comes to Dialog, the company has adopted a very open and transparent culture where they have embodied honesty and open communication. Transparency is maintained at all levels where superiors are easily available to the subordinates. The corporate culture of the company fits to Adaptability as well as achievement oriented which emphasize winning and achieving specific ambitious goals and the company values competitiveness and personal imitativeness. Dialog is a company that is also working for the benefits of the staff. The company has a dress code policy to make the office attire equal within the staff. Staff birth days are also celebrated at the company level where the relevant departments forward the staff birthday list to HR Department on the 1st week of the month where the staff will get a gift along with an e-card. And they have a policy like staff that comes up with innovative ideas a recognized on a quarterly basis where they are provided with a reward named BRAVO in a special meeting. Obviously the above actions on the company side will lead to high motivation and increase productivity level of the staff. 2.1- Hofstedes Model Diagram 1: Hofstedes cultural 4 dimension Model Power Distance Although Sri Lanka scores high on this dimension, Dialog is more towards the low power distance. They have a decentralized hierarchy where employees and subordinates do not show inequality much. The superiors or the Management team are willing and they trust the subordinates with important jobs. Individualism vs Collectivism Dialog falls towards the collectivism, because the people in the company have stronger bonds to their groups. Masculinity vs Feminity In Dialog its more like a combination of both as this would help them for a balanced approach. They value achievement and competitiveness as well as money and power. However, they also value people and maintain good relationship with them. Uncertainty Avoidance / structured situations At Dialog, the degree of uncertainty avoidance is low. The company always welcomes for new things and changes, and embrace unpredictable situations. The company is very flexible and open to new approaches or ideas. 3- Changes in Dialog During the past, Dialog Company has undergone several Strategic as well as Operational Changes. However, in this assignment only the following recent changes are being explained; Outsourced Call Centre to Firstsource Solutions (2011) During 2011, Dialog entered into a partnership with the BPO service provider Firstsource Solutions where Firstsouce acquired 76% shares of the Dialog Company. The new company was named as Firstsource Dialog Solutions. Acquired Suntel Ltd (2012) Dialog acquired Suntel Ltd, Sri Lankas second largest wireless fixed line operator during 2012. The main reason behind this change was to eliminate one of their main competitors from the market. As a result of the change, Suntels former customer base plus all the employees were transferred to Dialog. Outsourced SAP to Attune Lanka (2012) Business set-up Over the Top Service (2012) During 2012, Dialog opened its largest hi-tech Customer Service Centre in Colombo, where they brought in 150 customer service professions trained in multiple technologies. 3.1- Resistance to Change overcoming resistance Despite the potential positive outcomes, change is often resisted at both the individual and the organizational level (Mullins, 1999). When Dialog brought the above mentioned changes as mentioned in Clause 3 above, the company faced resistances from the employees. However they overcame the main problems and issues as mentioned below; Resistance to Change Overcoming Resistance Suntel employees adapting to Dialog culture Suntel Ltd and Dialog were having two different types of corporate culture. So when Suntel Ltd was brought under Dialog, employees who were working for Suntel had a very difficult time adjusting to Dialogs new culture. As such they were given briefings, training sessions, and were well educated. Employee ranking / salary structure issues When Suntels former employees were brought to Dialog, there were some problems relating to the rankings or position levels and even with the salary structure. Therefore Dialog mapped every staff to the level and was given a probation period of 3 months with given tasks and targets. So if the relevant employee was able to perform to the expected level they were given the same position they had in Suntel. Staff transfer (Dialog Brand loyalty) When Dialogs card centre staffs were transferred to SAP, some issues were raised because people who have been working for Dialog for a long time felt bad and also they didnt actually want to leave Dialog since they felt some kind of proudness working in Dialog. However, Dialog Management convinced the staff that they would not lose anything and will get all the benefits and additional opportunities for their career development. Staff de-motivation effective communication (peers to HR) Security in the past Obviously moving to a new company would feel confused and unsecured about the new environment. In the case of Suntel Staff, they felt that they might not be able to perform well or might even lose the job. Therefore Dialog offered a job guarantee letter confirming that their jobs are not at risk. But any how they were well informed that if anyone who cannot perform to the expected level would be withdrawn from the job. 3.2- John Kotters Change Process Diagram 1: John Kotters 8 steps theory model When we look at the John Kotters change model, Dialog also initially created a sense of urgency when they underwent changes. They convinced the employees the importance of acting immediately due to high competitiveness. Also they formed a powerful group to lead the change effort and encourage the group and created a vision where they communicated with the entire employees. In order to reach the vision, they tried to remove the obstacles that might undermine the vision and encourage risk taking ideas. 3.3- Human Resources Role Human Resource is the backbone of any company and it is their duty to minimize the resistance and make the change a successful one. In Dialogue HR was very certain in properly communicating the employees about the change and ensured that there would be no harm done to any staff and as per the labour law, all the right of the employees were delivered. Even when they took over Suntel, the former staffs service period was counted on a continuing basis. For example if an employee had served Suntel for a period of 6 years, then they had counted from the 7th year when the staff joined Dialog 3.4- Force Field Analysis Force field analysis is a technique by Kurt Lewin that can be applied in a team building program. When we look at the Dialog side, the listed driving forces help the company to achieve their targets or goals. On the other hand restricting forces make it difficult to reach their targets. Some of the major critical factors in the restraining forces that the company is not able control are the high energy cost. For example, the Sri Lankan market is yet to grow but cost is very high 4- Conflicts in Dialog Problems will obviously arise in an environment where diversified people are working and especially if two companies with two different cultures are merged. In Dialog case, most of the conflict arises at the individual levels mainly due to difference in their personal views since some might think the change as a positive thing while others might take it as a threat or risk for them. Also several issues rose because Suntel staff had the feeling that they might be treated unequally or they might not get all the rights what Dialog company staffs already had. 4.1- Sources of conflicts During the change process, several conflicts raised in Dialgue which was mainly due to the following reasons; Nature of work activities When we take company buys but the Company the sales staff do all the documentation promising to give the service within two days. But if they do not hear from the company and technical staff Information not passed properly Communication barriers as difficulties in communicating to all levels of the staff can cause misunderstanding and as a result may create problems especially at the very lower level staff. For example Messenger level staff would not be able to access to intra-net plus they might not be able to understand internal memos or notices written in foreign language). Differences in perception Also different peoples perception would be different. Some may feel that merging the two companies would be obviously an opportunity for their career improvement while other might take it as a huge threat. Uncertainty of Job Security conflicts occurred.. 4.1- Effects of conflicts Conflict situations sometimes can be taken as a positive thing depending on the situation. However, some of the main negative effects of conflicts are; Stress De-motivation Absenteeism (5%) Staff turnover (5%) 4.1- Resolving conflicts When it comes to conflict within the company, Dialog takes all the relevant actions at the right time to avoid unnecessary fights and disagreements. This is because they believe that it would hugely affect the productivity level of the employees. The company has a written code of conduct where every employee follows and is aware about the companies policies and procedures. When handling conflicts, the matter is first discussed at the supervisor or the relevant department level and thereafter then line Manager. If the matter is still not solved then the issue is raised to the HR Dept and further to Senior Management level. In worst cases, Arbitrators are invited to solve the problem if required. When it comes to the procedures, first the staff is negotiated verbally and if that does not help, written explanation as well as enquiries is done. However if all these actions do not work then written warnings are also given. 5- Change Management through organization learning 51- Single Loop Double Loop Learning model As per the model, Dialog uses the two ways to learn from their experience; Single Loop Learning The company takes corrective action to avoid or resolve a mistake but does not go deep into the matter. Double Loop Learning This is where the company looks into the root of the problem to find the underlying cause of the problem. 6- Conclusion Based on the above information and extensive research done, it may be concluded that the company has a very open and transparent culture. In addition, it is successful in managing culture, change and conflict. This is because Dialog Company has a set procedure for everything as per their Code of Conduct. Further when a new staff joins or is recruited, the staff will be provided with a clearly written job description so that everybody would know what is their role and what is expected from them. 7- Recommendations Although the company is successful in managing change and conflicts, the following recommendations would enable the company more Build an innovative platform to encourage creativity among staff Although staff is given the opportunity to come up with innovative ideas, at the moment the company does not have a special department When outsourcing give more choice to employees to choose their own way When outsourcing we feel that the staff should be given a chance to choose what is best for them. For example in case when card centre of Dialog was outsourced, they were not given any chance for their own views whether they want a transfer to another department within Dialog or want to join the new company. If they should have given the chance or at least got some feedback, then they might not have felt negative. Introduce job enrichment to motivate the staffs At the moment there is no job rotation or job enrichment programes within the company. However, if job enrichment programme is introduced, the staff would feel more motivated and responsible for their work. It would enable them to try new tasks and stretch their skills beyond what they have been doing all the time. Go GREEN In order to reduce the companys high energy cost, it can go to solar panels

The Role Of Gawad Kalinga As A Promotional Tourism Essay

The Role Of Gawad Kalinga As A Promotional Tourism Essay Besides the 7,107 beautiful islands, Philippines has so much to offer, from its pristine white sand beaches, splendid views, abundant greens,diverse populations of flora and fauna, unique natural resources and vibrant culture. To add to it is the warm Filipino hospitality, affordable vacation rates that they provide to tourists, enabling them to travel cheap and enjoy the tourism experience even more. Ironic as it may seem, this natural beauty is masked by the ugly face of poverty and despair. A majority of the Filipinos have been living in sub-human conditions in constant struggle to battle deprivation and loss of dignity. Non-Government Organizations such as Gawad Kalinga provide alternative solutions to the barefaced problem of poverty and despair in the Philippines. Gawad Kalinga (GK) has a vision of a slum-free, squatter-free nation a country where Filipinos are at peace and are given the dignity that they deserve. Together with its partners, the process of nation building and Filipino empowerment has transformed over 900 communities all over the Philippines. The Filipino people have the innate culture of giving and sharing, exemplified by the age-old concept of bayanihan. This unique Filipino spirit of being a hero to one another can be the desired push for voluntourism in the Philippines. Gawad Kalinga has, in its history of service, contributed to the domestic tourism scene. With community building and community development programs manifested mainly through its infrastructure and community empowerment activities across the nation, and an extensive number of communities which continue to increase, the organization encourages more volunteers to be involved in their efforts. This potentially relates to an increased movement of people across the country which may be associated with an increase in awareness of the destinations to which they are deployed, a potential increase in travel spending, and a prospective ensuring increase in tourism spending. II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE DOMESTIC TOURISM Many countries have a rich tradition of domestic travel and holiday which not only predates but exceeds mass international travel. This is particularly the case in Asia where recent economic prosperity and trends in globalization have not merely spurred, but continue to shape traditions in domestic tourism (Singh, 2009).  Tourism in the world is dominantly domestic not international (Cooper, Gilbert, Fletcher Wanhill, 1993). Travel is usually done within ones own country before one ventures out into travelling to destinations other than the country of residence. Domestic tourism involves residents of a country travelling only within that country but outside their usual environment. The main purpose of visit or travel is predominantly for leisure, business or other purposes (Cruz, 2000). TOURISM PROMOTION IN THE PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, the major agencies involved with tourism marketing and promotions are the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board (former Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation). Through the years, tourism agencies have used various slogans to sell the Philippines as a destination. To name a few, in the 1970s Where Asia wears a smile and An island to remember; in the 1980s Fiesta Islands, Theres a Fiesta for Everyone and Fiesta never ends in the Philippines; in the 1990s Islands Philippines, Our Islands Have It, Jeepney Islands (in Europe), and Musical Islands Philippines; in 1999 Rediscovery Philippines; and more recently, in the 2000s WOW Philippines (Cruz, 2000). The countrys new tourism campaign slogan is Pilipinas Kay Ganda under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III. The slogan aims to reinvigorate our countrys tourism campaign and double tourist arrivals within the next three years, said a Malacanang press statement reads. Promoting tourist destinations to potential vacationers is a difficult proposition. Most products and services use advertising to entice buyers and compete for the limited time and attention of the media-harried consumers. Likewise, current tourism advertising lacks the resources needed to prolong destination exposure in order to capture awareness and sustain the interest of potential consumers. In the domestic tourism scene, the local government units are tasked to promote their own destinations. These LGUs are given the liberty to formulate their own promotional strategies, according to the market niche that they are targeting realizing that different markets have different needs or motivations for travel. At present, the new administration is allocating budget for new media promotions, which includes launching a new website. This is due to the increasing trend of gathering information thru the World Wide Web. MOTIVATION FOR TRAVEL Throughout history, there have been different reasons why travellers set out on journeys or trips. The chief motivations noted in history were travel for escape, cultural curiosity, spirituality, education, and social status. People go on tours or trips to satisfy a range of needs from excitement and arousal to self-development and personal growth. The work of Stanley Plog, which is often critically accepted as the major approach to tourist motivation, stressed that travellers could be categorized on psychocentric (nonadventurous, inward-looking) to allocentric (adventurous, outward-looking) scale. In a more recent version of the approach, a second dimension, energy versus lethargy, was added to the psychocentric -allocentric dimension, thus developing a four-part categorization scheme. Nevertheless, the approach is still limited because of its North American bias, and it does not consider the issues of multimotive behaviour, nor does it provide measurement details or consider the dynamic nature of motives in the travellers life span (Goeldner Ritchie, 2006). Iso-Ahola (1988), in his work Toward a Social Psychological Theory of Tourism Motivation: A Rejoinder, argues that tourist and leisure behaviour takes place within a framework of optimal arousal and incongruity. That is, while individuals seek different levels of stimulation, they share the need to avoid either overstimulation (mental and physical exhaustion) or boredom (too little stimulation) (quoted by Goeldner Ritchie, 2006, p.262). The travel-needs model articulated by Pearce (1988) and co-workers is more explicitly concerned with tourists and their motives and argues that people have a career in their travel behaviour that reflects a hierarchy of their travel motives. People may start at different levels and are likely to change their levels during their life cycle. They may also be inhibited in their travel by money, health, and other people (quoted by Goeldner Ritchie, 2006, p. 263). The grades or levels on the Pearces Travel-needs or Career model were likened to a ladder and was built on Maslows hierarchy of needs. The earliest version of the travel-needs ladder retained Maslows ideas that lower levels on the ladder have to be satisfied before the individual moves to a higher level. Recent and ongoing revisions of this model place less emphasis on the strict hierarchy of needs and more on the changing patterns of motives. More importantly, the travel-needs ladder approach emphasizes that people have a range of motives for seeking out holiday experiences (Goeldner Ritchie, 2006). In the travel-needs model, destinations are seen as settings where vastly different holiday experiences are possible. Thus, travellers motives influence what they seek from a destination, and destinations will vary in their capacity to provide a range of holiday experiences (Goeldner Ritchie, 2006). Richards and Wilson proposes that the search for new travel experiences is primarily argued to reflect peoples increasing recognition and reaction to the homogenous nature of traditional tourism products as well as their increasing desire for altruism, self-change and an ability to confirm their identities and provide coherence within an uncertain and fragmented post-modern life (quoted by McIntosh Zahra, 2007, p. 542). VOLUNTOURISM (VOLUNTEER TOURISM) Volunteer tourism, or voluntourism, is an alternative type of tourism which applies to tourists who, for various reasons, volunteer in an organized way to undertake holidays that might involve aiding or alleviating the material poverty of some groups in society, the restoration of certain environments or research into aspects of society or environment (Wearing, 2001). Voluntourism is seen as utilizing ones discretionary time and income to go out of the regular sphere of activity to assist others in need (McGehee Santos, 2005). Voluntourism, is an alternative type of tourism which applies to tourists who volunteer in an organized way to undertake holidays that might involve aiding or alleviating the material poverty of some groups in society, the restoration of certain environments or research into aspects of society or environment. Munt suggests that volunteer tourism should be seen as an expression of what is recognized as the other dimension of postmodern tourism (quoted by Uriely, Reichel Ron, 2003, p. 58). It is, by default, mass tourism in its early pre-tourism development stage and can be viewed as a development strategy leading to sustainable development and centering to the convergence of natural resource qualities, locals and the visitor that all benefit from the tourism activity (Wearing, 2001). Voluntourism activities [volunteer vacations] involve participants paying to join organized projects (Broad, 2003). It is also described as donating ones time and manpower while on vacation, even if it is just part of their trips (Brown Morrison, 2003). Mead and Metraux describe volunteer vacations as giving time and energy for a good cause and paying for the privilege. It can be taken around the corner in ones home country, or around the world in a far off land. It may involve travel expenses only, or they may cost more than traditional trips (quoted by Brown Morrison, 2003, p. 73). Callanan and Thomas states that volunteer tourism fosters a reciprocal and mutually beneficial relationship between the host and the guest and is seen as offering an opportunity for sustainable alternative travel that is more rewarding and meaningful than other holidays. It focuses on the altruistic and self-development experiences that participants can gain and the assistance that can be delivered to communities in terms of community development, scientific research or ecological/heritage restoration (quoted by McIntosh Zahra, 2007, p. 543). With voluntourism, there is an intense rather than a superficial social interaction that occurs. The accounts between hosts and guests that is created are more engaging, genuine, creative and mutually beneficial. The nature of the experiences gained by tourists is more authentic, genuine, and reflexive, of contemporary cultural content and a meaningful impersonal experience (McIntosh Zahra, 2007). Cohen, Mittelberg, Uriely and Reichel all agree that with respect to tourism studies, the term working holidays was attached to individuals who combine volunteer activity with leisure/tourism pursuits while traveling (quoted by Limjoco Magtoto, 2006, p. 12). In certain aspects, the concept of a working holiday may be considered as a dubious form of relaxation because initially, tourists expect a vacation to be as effortless as possible. Nonetheless, comprising practically of altruistic aims, its palatable appeal gives it an edge in the tourist market. VOLUNTOURISM ACTIVITIES Voluntourism can take place in varied locations such as rainforests and cloudforests, biological reserves and conservation areas. Activities can vary across many areas, such as scientific research (wildlife, land and water), conservation projects, medical assistance, economic and social development (including agriculture, construction and education) and cultural restoration (Wearing, 2001). It may also include opportunities for teaching [conversational English], nurturing at-risk infants and children, renovating and painting community buildings, assisting with health care, and natural resource projects (Brown Morrison, 2003). In his book Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others, Bill McMillon categorizes potential volunteer activities into the following groups: accompaniment and amnesty work; agricultural and farm work; archaeology; community development; environmental protection; environmental research; executive and technical assistance; historical restoration; marine research; medical and dental; museums; outdoor and recreation; public health; railroads; religious organizations; scientific research; social action; state and national parks and forests; trail building and management; and work camps (quoted by Brown Morrison, 2003, p. 77). VOLUNTOURISTS Gazley deems that volunteer vacationers appear to have the same motivations as long-term volunteers but the relative value of various factors is different with self-actualization being very important for short-term volunteers. He further suggests that it may lead volunteers to look for opportunities not only for service but for learning and growth in volunteering which may be increasingly focused on education (quoted by Ellis, 2003, p. 46). The only essential skill required by volunteer organizations is the desire to help others (Brown Morrison, 2003). There is usually, however, the opportunity for volunteers to take part in local activities and interact further with the community. Hence, the volunteer tourist contribution is bilateral, in that the most important development that may occur in the volunteer tourist experience is that of a personal nature, that of a greater awareness of self. Volunteer tourists will almost always pay in some way to participate in these activities. Furthermore, the amount is usually more than an average tourist would expect to pay on a normal holiday to a similar location (Wearing, 2001). Bud Philbrook, president and CEO of Global Volunteers, sums up the excitement of doing volunteer work on a vacation, when someone adds a volunteer dimension to their vacation, they gain a unique perspective of the community theyre re-visiting. They have the opportunity to learn from and about the local people and make genuine friendships in the process. It is an exceptional experience and very often the highlight of any tripà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (quoted by Brown Morrison, 2003, p. 75). VOLUNTOURISM MOTIVATION Wearing states that in a global society that increasingly finds dogma and marketing used to instill values and exploit social relations, volunteer tourism represents both an opportunity and a means of value-adding in an industry that seems to represent consumer capitalism at its worse (quoted by Brown Morrison, 2003, p. 75). Resource mobilization theory argues that the networks an activist establishes, both within and outside of a particular movement, are vital to its success. Social psychological theories purport that, among other things, a consciousness-raising experience is a necessary precursor to social movement participation (McGehee Santos, 2005). The motives afforded by voluntourism would provide an outlet for those seeking unconventional travel experiences to pursue their own benevolent agendas. Furthermore, it can prove to be a far more satisfying experience than those offered by conventional tourism. Volunteer tourism would be a perfect venue wherein the travelers could satisfy their desires for a more in-depth understanding of the people within the tourist destination. It not only would have an impact on the tourists, but also on the locals themselves. Many travelers seek a chance to become immersed in a community or assist with projects when they travel rather than just passing through (Proceedings of Travel with a Purpose Symposium, 2000). MOTIVATIONS TO CONTINUE VOLUNTEERING Sherr (2003) classified the reasons that volunteers maintain their service through time into five factors. First, good communication within the organization is a very important factor to maintain the volunteers work in the long run. Good communication is a flow of quality information from the organization to its volunteers. Information flow consists of, for example, general news within the organization, the organizations 32 expectations of its volunteers, rules and regulations, recognition, and feedback given to the volunteers. There are a variety of forms of communication, such as face-to-face interactions, newsletters, bulletin boards, and more complicated forms such as public displays of recognition. It is reported that face-to-face conversation is the most effective factor to serve the satisfaction of the volunteers and increase their level of commitment. Providing informal recognition and appreciation early in the volunteer experience can affect the volunteers tenure of service at an organization (Stevens, 1991). If the volunteers are satisfied with the quality of the communication, they are likely to stay longer. Second, scheduling, work assignment, and work allocation are crucial factors to maintain the volunteers efforts. Volunteers tend to be satisfied with work if they can schedule their own volunteer hours and days, especially if the schedule is flexible. In addition, they are apt to continue volunteering if they are assigned to work on tasks that allow them to utilize their personal talent or specific skills. Next, if the volunteers can see that the outcome of their volunteering efforts really benefit somebody, they have a propensity to remain in the service. This factor will be reinforced if there is a connection, particularly direct contact, between the volunteers and the people benefiting from their services. In other words, if the volunteers feel that their efforts are worthwhile and important, they will be motivated to continue volunteering. On the contrary, if they feel useless or incapable, they tend to terminate their volunteer work sooner (Wharton, 1991). Fourth, volunteers expect good support from the organization they work for, such as training support and emotional support. Volunteers who participate in training report 33 higher levels of satisfaction than those who do not (Galindo-Kuhn Guzely, 2001). Organizations offering longer training sessions and a variety of training topics are also likely to have a larger number of volunteers who are satisfied and committed (Cyr Dowrick, 1991; Paradis Usui, 1989). Volunteers need emotional support not only from the organizations paid staff, but also among the volunteers themselves. Volunteers have a propensity to continue their service when they perceive that they are a part of the team and each member is willing to collaborate in problem solving, cooperate on projects, and encourage the volunteer initiative and activity (Cyr Dowrick, 1991). On the contrary, if they feel like they are being treated without respect, such as being told what to do and what not to do, they will lose their i nterest and motive for participating in that volunteer effort. Lastly, a strong sense of group integration is another important factor that keeps the volunteer in service. Group integration refers to the bonds that tie volunteers affectively to one another and the organization. Such relationships are independent of the work; instead, they provide a social aspect of the volunteer experience that is associated with satisfaction and commitment. The study by Field and Johnson (1993) indicated that volunteers are more satisfied when they have contact with other volunteers, not only in the work, but also at social events or casual socializing outside of the workplace, such as having an informal dinner with the paid staff and other volunteers, or being invited to join holiday parties (Sherr, 2008). VOLUNTOURISM AND SOCIAL AWARENESS Volunteer tourism presents a unique opportunity for exposure to social inequalities, as well as environmental and political issues, subsequently increasing social awareness, sympathy and/or support (McGehee Santos, 2005). McGehee and Santos explored how an increased social awareness through voluntourism can influence subsequent social activism. A voluntourism experience may provide an indirect or informal channel for an exchange of ideas regarding the issues and inequalities that exist. Though the observation of these social issues and inequalities and the exchange of ideas occur in the local community, it can be deemed apparent that the same occurs elsewhere. It has been proposed that volunteer tourism experiences have the potential to change voluntourists perceptions about society (at a global as well as local level). In the study conducted by McGehee and Santos, consciousness-raising occurred prior to, during, and after the volunteer tourism experiences. It has been found out that many volunteer tourism expeditions improve what is called as global citizenship. One of the many interesting topics in the field of tourism research is that of tourisms potential contribution to global peace and understanding. There are examples from around the globe, of tours that are seeking conflict resolution, greater understanding and even movements for global social justice. However, it remains a matter of some dispute among tourism analysts as to whether tourism can help foster peace and secure a more harmonious world (Higgins-Desbiolles, F., 2003). VOLUNTOURISM AND CULTURAL TOURISM It is unlikely that [other] cultural tourists will gain the same depth of interaction and experience as a volunteer tourist (McIntosh Zahra, 2007). Admittedly though, this conclusion still requires further empirical validation. In their paper, McIntosh and Zahra examined the nature of the volunteer experience in the search for alternative and sustainable experiences through cultural tourism, in the case of Australian visitors to a Maori community. The findings of the study showed that the main motivation for undertaking the volunteer project was not primarily related to sightseeing but to volunteering, to work; not just to be tourists, to give and to experience a service project. It was examined how open and responsive the host community were initially, and throughout the volunteering project, and what impact the volunteers left on the community. It was found out that the nature of the volunteer tourism experience was mutually beneficial to both the host and the voluntourist. The nature of the experiences gained by the voluntourists were seemingly different from those gained by cultural tourists experiencing the traditional cultural products, as the latters experience border on commodified cultural products. VOLUNTOURISM AND ECOTOURISM Wearing impresses that volunteering on nature conservation projects has become increasingly popular in the last two decades (quoted by Halpenny Caissie, 2003, p. 25). Non-government organizations and government agencies charged with managing biologically significant and recreation-oriented areas are expanding the use of volunteers in their programs designed to conserve biodiversity, foster healthy environments, and operate recreation and conservation programs. In a paper by Halpenny and Caissie, they explored the attitudes and values regarding nature, and the perceptions of nature by the volunteers who participated in the Volunteer for Nature program, a Canadian-based conservation volunteer project. A majority of the volunteers stressed the importance of nature and the environment as a context for self-centered activities such as recreation and therapeutic interaction. The importance of natures existence value, the satisfaction of knowing that nature exists and is being protected was also apparent. Many of the participants expressed concern and empathy for the wildlife and threatened environments. Wearing describes volunteer ecotourism as a bright alternative that promotes host self-determination, local control, sustainability, environmental stewardship and the privileging of local culture and values (quoted by Gray Campbell, 2007, p. 466). III. GAWAD KALINGA THE POWER OF AUDACIOUS GOALS 1. GK777 Meloto knows the importance of coming up with a compelling vision to inspire people. Thus, he came up with GK777. Launched in 2003, GK777 goal to construct 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years. The objective of the project is to help the poorest of the poor, regain their trust, build their confidence, make them think and act as a community and to share the joy of a country rising from poverty. 2. GK2024 A logical extension of GK777 is GK2024, which seeks to uplift five million Filipinos.The first phase of the journey (from the year 2003 to 2010) aims to achieve Social Justice, and is captured in GK777. The goal has been restated as: raising 700,000 home lots and starting up 7,000 communities by the end of 2010. The second phase (from 2011 to 2017) is the stewardship phase called Social Artistry, and aims to empower GK communities for self-governance, self-reliance, and self sufficiency through community-based programs for health, education, environment, and productivity. It also aims to build a village culture that honours Filipino values and heritage. The final phase (from 2018 to 2024) is envisioned as a time of Social Progress, and seeks to achieve scale and sustainability by developing the grassroots economy and expanding the reach and influence of GK to five million families with support from key sectors of society in the Philippines and partners abroad (Gawad Kalinga, 2009). During this phase, the Filipino will lift himself from poverty by unleashing his potential for productivity and hard work in the right environment. According to the Gawad Kalinga web site, the 21-year journey of Gawad Kalinga represents one generation of Filipinos who will journey from poverty to prosperity, fromneglect to same to honour, from third- world to first world, from second-class to first-class citizen of the world. 1. Companies (private sector) Gawad Kalinga has successfully propagated the idea that the participation of big business in GK is more than just exercising their corporate social responsibility (CSR). They are also involved in a bigger project that is nation-building. Because of GKs novel approach of actively engaging their corporate donors in implementing GK programs and activities on the ground (rather than simply raising funds), the partnership takes on some special meaning for the. 2. Government (public sector) In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo challenged GK to build 1,000 homes with P30 million from her presidential fund. In spite of its lack of experience in building at such a scale back then, GK succeeded in building the houses in 70 sites throughout the country within a year. President Arroyos highly-publicized initiative served as a major boost for GK, which began to attract leaders from both sides of the political fence, including opposition leader Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who provided P40 million from his Countryside Development Fund for schools, livelihood centers, sewage and path walks. Support also came from other senators. Hundreds of governors and mayors have since joined the bandwagon. SERVICE EXPANSION MODEL For several government agencies, partnership with Gawad Kalinga allows them to fulfill their public-service mandates more effectively. Worth noting are the partnerships of GK with the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Tourism (DOT). The partnership between GK and DA took the form of Bayan-Anihan, the food-sufficiency program of Gawad Kalinga. Bayan-Anihan aims to eradicate hunger by empowering families in GK communities to produce their own food. Under this program, GK families would each be given a 10-square meter lot where they could start a vegetable garden with okra, tomatoes, eggplants, and kangkong for their daily consumption. Launched in 2009, the program seeks to launch 2,500 farms in the next three years to feed at least 500,000 people for life. Another innovative program is GK Mabuhay, which promotes GK sites as tourist destinations. This is a result of the collaboration between GK and DOT. GK villages have become a cultural attraction in themselves, owing to the fact that they were built with the people working together as members of the community. Under this program, GK villagers welcome visitors with warmth and hospitality brought about by their renewed sense of hope. Both GK and the DOT call this campaign the new face of community tourism. Taking center stage are the Mabuhay Ladies, a group of women residents who were chosen to be tour guides in the GK communities that were opened as travel destinations. The DOT conducted workshops for the Mabuhay Ladies, giving them practical guiding tips and techniques on how to be effective tourist hosts and good communicators. The concept of community tourism, according to DOT Secretary Ace Durano, is fairly new. This has been a sought-after activity among the more adventurous travelers, who choose not just to travel but to take part in community concerns. This travel-for-a-cause stance has been supported by the DOT through its other partnerships with socio-civic groups, Durano said BUiLDING THE GK BRAND Contributing to the rapid growth of Gawad Kalinga is the reputation it has built over the years. Gawad Kalinga has succeeded in creating an image that appeals to donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. For example, GK is fashioned as a nation-building movement. It seeks to build a nation empowered by people with faith and patriotism and one that is made up of caring and sharing communities, dedicated to eradicate poverty and restore human dignity (GKBI, 2009). Since it was founded in 1995, Gawad Kalinga has managed to put a unique spin to its programs and activities. Because of this, GK has always looked fresh and dynamic to interested observers. For example, GK was originally known for building faith communities because of its values formation programs, and because of its association with the Couples for Christ. When it made inroads in building homes in war-torn Mindanao, GK communities were dubbed as peace zones where Muslims and Christians work together to address poverty. Recently, GK communities have become eco-friendly villages as well because they have begun to integrate environmentally-sound practices in their way of living. GK villages have likewise been transformed into tourist spots that showcase the inherent charm and uniqueness of each place. Aside from the colorful houses and beautifully landscaped surroundings, each GK community offers the warmth, hospitality, and inspiring stories of its residents, who represent the triumph of the Filipino people against poverty and oppression. IV. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The conceptual framework is presented by Figures 1 and 2, which are the Concept Map and Concept Table respectively. Figure 1. Concept Map of the Study GK cm3 Premise: Tourism promotions play a large role in encouraging people to engage in tourism ventures. The natural beauty or landscape of the destinations, the facilities and services of the tourism supplier, and the organizations government mandated and non-government mandated, stimulate tourism response. Domestic tourism is an amalgam of internal and inbound tourism. At present, traditional or conventional tourists dominate the domestic tourism markets

Sex and the City :: Television Media TV

Sex and the City Sex and the City an outrageously funny comedy/drama, created and written by Darren Star, is about nothing else but sex in the big city of Manhattan. As a newspaper columnist, Carrie Bradshaw writes about love and sex in the big apple, through the experiences of all of her single best friends, including her own single love life. They encounter everyday dilemmas and exchange useful advice amongst their busy lives of self-evaluation. Sex and the City portrays women as power beings through their sexuality. Glamorous and sexy Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, writes a column, â€Å"Sex and the City† for a newspaper and loves expensive footwear. Her column highlights nightlife in the big city that never sleeps but always sleeps around. As she and her single friends are struggling to get through life and enjoy it to it’s fullest, she gets caught in a love battle with charismatic Mr. Big. One of Carrie’s best friends, confident and sexy Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall, enjoys great sex. As a Public Relations consultant, she only expects the best that life has to offer her, from gorgeous studs to yoga classes with sexual appeal. The type of woman that makes a lasting impression, Samantha is beautiful, a great friend, and never misses a beat. As a feminine romantic, Charlotte York, played by Kristin Davis, prides in being perfectly poised and polished. Another one of Carrie’s best friends, Charlotte is looking for a relationship that would lead her towards her ultimate happiness. She encounters many relationships and experiences guys who take Prozac and want threesomes. Charlotte is definitely a beautiful woman interested in art, with a lot of sex appeal, but she is always hunting for the perfect guy to be included in her perfect lifestyle and dreams. Attorney Miranda Hobbes, played by Cynthia Nixon is ambitious about her work and relationships, as well as wild and sexy. Another one of Carrie’s best friends, Miranda might be blunt, but prides in her success. She encounters relationships and sex with men, as well as a time when she appeared to be a lesbian. Through all of her insecurities, Miranda is able to endure it all, and be the strong woman in everything she attempts.