Inside Job Is A Documentary That Covers The 2008 Financial...

Inside Job is a documentary that covers the 2008 financial crisis. The first part of the documentary focuses on what led to the financial meltdown. In the 1980 s the finance industry exploded after investment banks went public, leading these firms to have an excess of stockholder s money. Then the president at the time, Ronald Reagan, began a 30 year period of financial deregulation. Reagan deregulated savings and loan companies which allowed them to make risky investments with depositor s money, which led to taxpayers paying $124 billion dollars when they inevitably failed. Executives in these companies were also stealing money from their depositors. Another problem was that many of the executives from these investment banks ended up being put into powerful positions in the government where they pushed for even more deregulation. In the late 90 s the internet bubble burst after investment banks knowingly promoted internet companies they knew would fail. A financial innovation known as derivatives became a $50 trillion business yet they were completely unregulated. When there was an attempt to regulate this market, it was almost immediately shut down and a law was put in place banning all regulation of derivatives. Under these new rules it created a new securitization food chain. Investment banks were creating complex derivatives called collateralized debt obligation and selling these debts to investors. Then these CDO s were rated by rating agencies, with most of themShow MoreRelatedEconomic Systems: Capitalism Essay1400 Words   |  6 Pagescharacterized by the private ownership of the means of production, and where production is guided and income distributed largely through the operation of markets. The objective of a capitalist society is to gain profit. Some of its strengths of living inside a Capitalistic economy are the incentive for innovation, efficiency, and economic growth. Unlike socialism, there are opportunities to invent new products for areas of demand, to raise quality, and to gain assets. One of the most recognized CapitalistRead MoreThe Inside Job - Review2210 Words   |  9 PagesMOVIE – INSIDE JOB Rohan Rambhia | PGP-10-155 Inside Job is an exemplary recount of how administrator’s role when exploited to form risky administrative strategies by means of faulty processes lead to a crisis of the stature of the recession of 2008. It is a comprehensive documentary which narrates the history of the collapse, not only going into great, informative depth about the risk-based strategies that put the global economy on the line, but looks back to the rise of the financial industryRead MoreThe Inside Job - Review2226 Words   |  9 PagesMOVIE – INSIDE JOB Rohan Rambhia | PGP-10-155 Inside Job is an exemplary recount of how administrator’s role when exploited to form risky administrative strategies by means of faulty processes lead to a crisis of the stature of the recession of 2008. It is a comprehensive documentary which narrates the history of the collapse, not only going into great, informative depth about the risk-based strategies that put the global economy on the line, but looks back to the rise of the financial industryRead MoreThe Collapse Of The Financial Crisis1766 Words   |  8 PagesIt’s been eight years since the 2008 global financial crisis, and the effects of it are still being felt. 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The Importance Of Love In Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy

In Dante Alighieri’s poem, The Divine Comedy, Dante’s quest to find Beatrice symbolizes the importance of allowing love to be ones guide to divine understanding, for this is the only action which is completely controlled by God. Dante argues that although we have desires for sinful actions, humans have the ability to control these desires and decide our own fate. Furthermore, he argues that even if humans commit sin in life, if they will redemption before being sent to hell, they have the opportunity to purify themselves of purgatory. Thus, for Dante, choice is an ever present and vital part of life, and therefore, fate does not exist. But love for Dante is different. Dante argues that love cannot be controlled or chosen. There is no†¦show more content†¦Dante, the pilgrim, meets a man in Purgatory named Marco Lombardo, and he explains to Dante how everyone has free will, and that, â€Å"intellect† (Dante, Purgatorio XVI. 80) is what frees him â€Å"fro m the heavens’ influence† (Dante, Purgatorio XVI. 81). Lombardo is telling Dante that the more intellectual knowledge one has, the more control one has over their own fate. Lombardo goes on to tell Dante that, â€Å"The spheres [are what] start your impulses along† (Purgatorio XVI. 73) and that the soul â€Å"turns eagerly to all that gives it pleasure† (Purgatorio XVI. 90). Thus, our souls are drawn towards beautiful and pleasurable things first, and in order to make sure that these beautiful things aren’t coming from a â€Å"simple soul† (Purgatorio XVI. 87), which will deceive, one must â€Å"guide its love to higher things† (Purgatorio XVI.93). But thankfully Lombardo reassures Dante that he is â€Å"headed the right way to reach the stair that leads above† (Purgatorio XVI. 49). By following his desire for Beatrice, he is on his way to the divine. The idea that love is what is leading Dante in the direction of heaven is evid ent in Lombardo’s words. Virgil, human reason, does not only lead Dante physically through Purgatory, but he also leads him with his words as Lombardo does. Vigil tells Dante that he must â€Å"give [his] entire attention to [his] words†Show MoreRelatedThe Divine Comedy1705 Words   |  7 PagesItaly, brought about a literary revival. One of the writers that influenced this revival is Dante Alighieri, a 13th century poet from Florence, Italy. His world famous epic, La Commedia, or more commonly known as The Divine Comedy remains a poetic masterpiece depicting truth and sin. The Divine Comedy, through the journey into the three hells, expresses a universal truth of good versus evil. Alighieri’s life of heartbreak with the influences of other famous poets like Homer and Virgil has affectedRead MoreAnalysis Of Dante s Divine Comedy 1362 Words   |  6 PagesMrs. Bauerle English 12 22 December 2016 Purgatory Purgatory is part number two in Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’. This was written in 1300. Although the story is rather ancient and rare, when looking at the spiritual story with a logical mindset it has the ability to connect with today. The connection I was able to find behind Dante’s work of art was the psychological and geographical impact. ‘The Divine Comedy’ contains real life morals; Dante’s work is far more than just a spiritual afterlife poem seriesRead MoreTaking a Look at the European Renaissance Essays1385 Words   |  6 Pagespractices of the church and promoted secular principles, many humanists were pious Christians. 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This essay explores Dante’s perception of the universeRead MoreQuiz on Dantes Inferno464 Words   |  2 PagesQuestion 1. Dante Alighieris Inferno is the first part of the Divine Comedy poem he wrote during the fourteenth century. The text describes Dantes travels through hell as Virgil, the Roman poet, guides him and provides him with information concerning each segment of hell. Virgil proceeds with emphasizing the importance of being familiar with the circles of hell in order to be able to successfully advance through it. He informs Dante concerning the souls in the first circle of hell: TheyRead MoreThe Inferno : Depiction And Representation Of Women2519 Words   |  11 Pagesthe context of the poem than what they say alone. Dante lived in an era when women did not occupy influential roles in the public realm, and were actually discouraged from engaging in intellectual or philosophical debate. Women were not allowed to take part in political discourse nor communicate through the medium of poetry. For the exclusion of women from the historical and literary western canon, Dante’s perception of women in The Divine Comedy can be seen as an underlying framework for furtherRead MoreThe Power Of Knowledge Is A Fundamental Component Of Being Human1994 Words   |  8 Pageshave understood this for thousands of years and have documented as such in their works. The Biblical Genesis, which purportedly describes the first humans, shows how knowledge was first obtained, showing from an early age that man understood its importance. Aesop’s fables from ancient times use the acquisition and application of knowledge as a cornerstone for their construction. Homer’s Odyssey and Dante’s Inferno, both great recognized works, demonstrate protagonists with prudent minds, and the

Commitment and Empowerment of Employees †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Commitment and Empowerment of Employees. Answer: Introduction Total quality management is a business approach which has been referred to the process of maintaining and balancing a safe amount of quality in the products and services for offering the consumers with the maximum level of satisfaction. This is a customer-oriented approach which aids the business entity in attaining the goals and targets (Ariffin, 2014). The concept is all concerned about the assumption that the entire efforts of the employees within the organization should be focused towards offering the best set of services to the consumers and at the end, the efforts applied by the employees will be reflected in the satisfaction level of the customers. The mechanism is totally engaged in bringing regular advancements and improvements so as to enhance the quality of products which in-turn leads to increased level of satisfaction. Total quality management is the factor for attaining operational excellence. Operational excellence has been considered as the key requirement for any of the business organization for succeeding in the competitive environment. Quality products and services play a vital role in establishing a strong brand image of Business Corporation (Calabrese and Corb, 2015). The tools of TQM can be tracked during 1920s when the first application of the statistical theory was done to the quality of the products. The history of TQM has been segmented in some of the main sections such as monitoring, auditing, control over quality and statistical approaches, quality in Japan, awards for quality and excellence models (Fonseca, 2015). Moreover, the base of the concept of Total Quality Management has been observed to be emerged from early 1920s, which has been termed as the principles of scientific management. The developments in the concept were later made in Japan in 40's led by Americans such as Deming, Juran and Feigenbaum.In 1930s (asq.org 2017), introduction of mechanisms for quality control and statistical analysis was done by Walter Shewhart. Various opinions and theories have been presented by different authors on the concept of quality management. For instance, W. Edwards Deming has given the 14 points on Total Quality Management and he was known as father of quality control. More, advancements in the concept were made by some Japanese researchers such as Dr. Ishikawa and Dr. Taguchi. On the basis of the research executed by Ishikawa, a development of a fishbone was done and it was also termed as cause effect diagram for solving the issues and also establishment of seven basic tools of quality and philosophy of total quality was done. Whereas, theory of Taguchi, on making a less sensitive design for developing variation in production process (asq.org 2017). The below-executed analysis has been made focused on the concept of total quality management of the Seven events which is an event management organization in the UK. Total Quality Management Key Principles The concept of continuous improvements means the development of new mechanisms and methods for advancements of the business activities and the operations. The below mentioned are the two methods or the tools which can be adopted by Seven Events for bringing continuous improvements in the processes and operations. Further, the author has also critically analyzed Kaizen which is one of the integral tools of the concept of TQM (Jones, 2014). Kaizen is a Japanese word which means continuous improvement. The term Kaizen has been made up of the combinations of the two different terms .i.e. Koi that means change and Zen that means good. Kaizen is the mechanism which can be adopted by Seven Events for bringing enhancements and advancements in the outcomes and this approach can also be proven beneficial in the personal life an individual. The concept of a quality circle has been introduced by the Japanese firms in a systematic manner and this attempt was made so as to make the involvement of the workforce at each and every organizational level (Cassia et al., 2015). This has been done for driving quality. On the basis of the research executed by Quality circles handbook, it has been observed that a quality circle is a concept which consists of a small group of individuals of 3 and 12 who are working on the same task. Purposely coming along, reliably for approximately 1 hour in a week in paid time, most of the part under the inventiveness of their own boss, and equipped to differentiate, dissect and take care of a part of the conflicts in their task. It has also been observed that there are two prime tasks which are assigned to the quality circles within an organization and that are the identification of the issues and problems and resolving the same issues and conflicts. Seven events is a multinational corporation and is also one of the leading brand names in the UK for organizing and planning events. The business corporation is acting as one body and develops motivation and improvements for finding best ways for planning events. The organization seeks the vision of the customers and makes a blend with the high standards and experiences for adding values. Application of Kaizen continuous improvement The concept has been used for describing the organizational culture in which the employees from top level to the lower level work and think for the ways to bring improvement (Oakland, 2014). The mechanism consists of the small steps which are used on regular basis by the firm and brings large improvements in long run (Rao and Thejaswini, 2014). The author observed that the tool has been considered as a slow process of improvement not a blitz or set of changes which can be quickly implemented (Kerzner, 2013). The recommended improvements are suggested by the teammates who are performing the task, no other or outsider s involved or permitted. For instance, if an individual of Seven Events is facing issues in addressing or is confused with whether a change will make sense or not. Then that individual is expected to drag the other teammates and have a discussion or can also have a brainstorming session and after that decision can be taken (Mahal and Hossain, 2015). The author also analyzed that the philosophy of Kaizen can be unimaginably helpful to Seven events, since it can support the progression of teamwork and self-independent meetings; ultimately prompting enhanced participation in the work environment (McNeil, Frey and Embrechts, 2015). Moreover, the concept will also be proven beneficial on the off chance that the business entity anticipates unraveling sectional interferences, and the way to change is centered on the necessities of the client (Sallis, 2014). By embracing kaizen, the employees will be roused to attain more raised amounts of value and advancement they simply need to trust that change and change are conceivable. Apart from all the benefits the business entity can also face some issues due to the limitations observed in the philosophy (Oak John, 2010). Application of Quality circle The quality circles are also secondary involved in boosting the morale of the teams through maintaining the presence at the meetings and also offering formal opportunities for discussing the work-related issues (Evans, 2010). Meetings are held in an organized manner. Seven events will have a need to select a chairman on a pivoting premise and a prepared plan. Minutes are likewise taken. They fill in as helpful methods for following up the proposition and their execution. The accomplishment of value circles has been found to depend critically on the measure of help they get from senior administration and on the measure of preparing that the members are given in the ways and points of the circles (Dale, 2015). Moreover, the author also emphasized the significance of training the workforce regarding the problem solving and failure analysis and also offering the members the set of appropriate tools of quality assurance for solving a problem. But in reality, the team members are lacking with the training sessions of formal problem solving (Goetsch and Davis, 2014). For instance, brainstorming sessions or technical training sessions are not provided. And this will lead to using the data in a wrong manner and incorrect implementation of the quality assurance process. It has been made voluntary to participate and working in the problem-solving processes of quality circles. In some cases, the workforce of Seven events may show reluctant behavior as not all the time the people like changes. And hence this has been proven as a disadvantage for the business corporation (Homburg, Schwemmle and Kuehnl, 2015). If the business entity is facing the problems of miss-management then due to the programs of a quality circle the practices and the activities of poor management will automatically get highlighted. For making implementation of Kaizen within Seven events, the business entity is required to make determination of future plans and goals. The goals are considered as the initial requirement for any of the business entity, for instance if the firm desires to stay competitive a well-defined goal should be set. The further process consists of reviewing the plan. This will bring improvements and advancements in the business organization. After this improvement test can be executed and implementation of the required advancements should be done. This process will assists in minimization of waste and will aid in attaining competitive advantage. Evaluation of Seven events implementation of TQM with Quality circle process Getting aware of the quality issues is the main concern of the concept and this can be adopted by Seven events for attaining competitive advantage. The below presentation is done for the same: The first part for the process consists of the identification of the issues. The second segment consists of prioritizing the issues. Which issues should be considered as more important? The last part is about generating alternative solutions and provision for the issues faced by Seven events. This will provide different ways to tackle the issues and identification of best ways and solutions to problems. Conclusion In the limelight of the above-executed analysis, it has been inferred that the concept of total quality management is one of the business approaches which has to be adopted by the business corporation for maintaining a balance between the quality of the products and the services. The above-presented report has been majorly focused on the concept of TQM for Seven Events which is an event management and planning company in the UK. A critical analysis has been executed over the concepts of quality circle theory and Kaizen which is a Japanese philosophy in the further report. Both the terms form a significant part of the approach of total quality management. The author observed that the concept of the quality circle is all about making and enhancing the involvement of the workforce at each and every organizational level. And Kaizen is a Japanese word which means continuous improvement and the same can be adopted by the business entity for bringing enhancements and advancements in the outcomes. The author has also presented some of the limitations of both the concepts. Apart from all the limitations, both the approaches of management will be proven beneficial for the business organization. Recommendations As it has been observed in the concept of the quality circle, the membership is voluntary, the entry and exit depend on the wish of the members and which come-up as an issue. So for solving this problem, some criteria should be set for entry and exit for the members. Moreover, Seven events should also focus on offering training sessions to the workforce or some of the brainstorming programs should be organized and the individuals within the organization should be made well-versed with the tools and techniques of problem-solving and decision making. In case of implementation of Kaizen, the business corporation should develop a friendly environment with the organization so as the workforce should start feeling free for sharing their ideas and beliefs which will enhance their performance and productivity. References Ariffin, J.M., 2014.JHR ventures: a case study of business challenge in event management industry(Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan). asq.org, 2017, history of total quality management, Assessed on 3rd December 2017, https://asq.org/learn-about-quality/total-quality-management/overview/tqm-history.html. Calabrese, A. and Corb, M., 2015. Design and blueprinting for total quality management implementation in service organisations.Total Quality Management Business Excellence,26(7-8), pp.719-732. Cassia, F., Ugolini, M.M., Cobelli, N. and Gill, L., 2015. Service-based vs. goods-based positioning of the product concept: effects on customer perceived value.The TQM Journal,27(2), pp.247-255. Dale, B., 2015.Total quality management. John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Evans J, 2010, Quality and Performance Excellence:Cengage Learning. Fonseca, L.M., 2015. From Quality Gurus and TQM to ISO 9001: 2015: a review of several quality paths. International Journal for Quality Research (IJQR), 9(1), pp.167-180. Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B., 2014.Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson. Homburg, C., Schwemmle, M. and Kuehnl, C., 2015. New product design: Concept, measurement, and consequences.Journal of Marketing,79(3), pp.41-56. Jones, M., 2014.Sustainable event management: A practical guide. Routledge. Kerzner, H., 2013.Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Mahal, I. and Hossain, M.A., 2015. Activity-Based Costing (ABC)An Effective Tool for Better Management.Research Journal of Finance and Accounting,6(4), pp.66-74. McNeil, A.J., Frey, R. and Embrechts, P., 2015.Quantitative risk management: Concepts, techniques and tools. Princeton university press. Njie, T. L., Fon, L. T. Awomodu, G., 2008. Top management commitment and Empowerment of employees in TQM implementation, Sweden: University college of Bors. Oak l. John S, 2010, Total Quality Management and Operational Excellence: text and cases Routledge 4th Ed. Oakland, J.S., 2014.Total quality management and operational excellence: text with cases. Routledge. Rao, H.R. and Thejaswini, M.L., 2014. Six sigma concept for food industry. Sallis, E., 2014.Total quality management in education. Routledge.

Commentary on Seamus Heaneys Twice Shy Essay Example For Students

Commentary on Seamus Heaneys Twice Shy Essay Twice Shy by Seamus Heaney is a poetic story about a presumably young couple that take a walk by a calm river one spring evening. The couple, having been taught to wait by their juvenilia, are highly excited and anxious as they spend time together on this romantic occasion. The poem consists of five stanzas, all of similar length with a regular rhyme scheme. The poet utilizes numerous poetic devices through the poem, such as similes, metaphors and his choice of words, in order to create a captivating tale from the poems beginning to middle to end. The title of the poem appears to be the second half of the old saying, Once bitten, twice shy, and hints that the boy and the girl in the poem are being particularly careful of their behaviour thanks to some mistakes they have made in the past which they do not want to repeat. The setting is establish and the characters are introduced early in the opening stanza, showing Heaneys precise structuring of the poem, wasting no time to tell his tale. The girl is said to be wearing a scarf and suede flats and this first sentence of the poem by itself offers a lot of information. Already, Heaney reveals that the air outside is cool and sheds light on what the girl is wearing in the space of just twelve words, which is a good example of the succinctness Heaney and perhaps all well-known poets have. The fact that she wants to appear fashionable, yet sensible at the same time is contrasting, which is reflected in her mixed emotions later on. The poem is told in the first-person, so that we are given the male figures perspective of the story. This is interesting as it puts the reader in the position of one of the characters and includes the reader in the story. In the first stanza, the word walk is used twice, perhaps to clarify using the males voice that all they will be doing this evening is walking and nothing else. However, it is ambiguous at this point with regard to where this walk will lead to, which brings us back to the paradoxical way the girl is dressed. This may be another implication of the uncertain intentions of both the girl and the boy, and it may also be Heaneys way of tempting the reader to continue reading in the hopes of finding out more. The fact that the girl came with him for friendly talk is endearing and this certain charm about both of them is yet another way of relating to the reader and attracting the reader to read more. Lines 7 to 12 elaborate on the basic information we are given in the first stanza. What Heaney does from this point onwards is educate the reader about the central idea of the poem, that is, the feelings of a young person in love. Traffic and the sky are personified as they both are tense and holding their breath. The objective of this is to create tension and let the reader relate these ideas to the couple holding back their emotions and almost cannot wait any longer to relase them. Traffic is a particularly distinctive simile as it relates to the boy and the girl waiting for a green light, some sort of sign indicating that they can proceed. Henaey then writes:  Dusk hung like a backcloth  That shook where a swan swam,  Tremulous as a hawk  Hanging deadly, calm  and here, the poet uses a backcloth, a swan and a hawk to further demonstrate the key sentiments the boy and the girl are feeling. The backcloth dramatizes the setting as it would on a stage, but also makes the characters more colourful in front of a shady background. .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe , .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .postImageUrl , .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe , .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe:hover , .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe:visited , .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe:active { border:0!important; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe:active , .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0ac6bcbb3271de74a19bc3e8d9ca9bbe:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Compare the Way Poets Present Relationships EssayThe swan and the hawk are personified skilfully by Heaney to denote the gentleness and the calmness that the couple are presenting in front of each other, but also the anxiety and the fear they have in their minds. Heaneys fast-changing diction paints a vivid picture as he alternates from cadence to tremulousness using the words, tense, then hung, then shook, then swan, then hawk, then hanging, then deadly, lastly followed by calm. The use of consonance and cacophony with the words, shook, swan and swam also is a sign of the couples worry.

A Critique of Tourism Policy and Planning in Brazil

Executive Summary This report traces its origin in the fact that the Brazilian tourism industry has evolved and witnessed significant changes in the formulation and implementation of tourism policies. Based on a periodic assessment of these policies, this report acknowledges that ineffective policies, lack of agency coordination, and authoritarian planning processes stifled the Brazilian tourism industry.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on A Critique of Tourism Policy and Planning in Brazil specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, evidence shows that this trend has changed. The Brazilian tourism industry is now flourishing from a decentralised planning structure that effectively addresses local tourism issues. Current policy frameworks are also more inclusive and consultative. This way, there is more stakeholder involvement in the planning process. This trend mirrors global dynamics in the tourism industry because many countries are democratising their policy development frameworks. Eco-tourism and value addition needs are some tenets that Brazil’s policy frameworks share with the rest of the world. The country’s improved tourism status and the expanding contribution of the sector to the South American economy therefore prompt this paper to affirm that Brazil’s tourism planning and policy intervention processes have addressed the problems faced by the sector. Introduction The Brazilian tourism sector is important to the economy of Brazil and other South American nations. The country receives more than 5,000,000 tourists annually (Blanke Chiesa 2011). The high tourist numbers have elevated Brazil to the status of a top tourist destination, not only in Latin America, but also in the wider South American region. Lohmann (2012) says Brazil is the second most desirable destination in South America and the third most visited destination in the wider Latin America tourism belt (only Argentina and Mexico surpass it in this regard). Based on these positive rankings, it is unsurprising for Lohmann (2012) to say the country receives more than US$5, 000,000 billion annually, from tourism. The 2011 travel and tourism competitiveness index ranked Brazil the 52nd most competitive tourist destination in the world (Blanke Chiesa 2011). This position elevated Brazil to be the third most competitive tourist destination in South America (only surpassed by Costa Rica and Mexico).Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Brazil has a strong competitive edge because of its abundant natural resources. Its rich cultural heritage also supports the tourism market, as it attracts millions of tourists every year (Blanke Chiesa 2011). The country is also home to different world heritage sites. As described above, many analysts have identified natural resources and cultural enrichment as the main drivers for Brazil’s tourism industry. However, an understanding of the policy background that supports Brazil’s tourism sector is one issue that has consistently eluded the attention of most analysts. This paper reviews Brazil’s tourism policy and planning processes by delving into the details surrounding the practices of inclusion, democratisation, and effectiveness of these plans. This paper also makes comparisons between the Brazilian tourism sector and other top tourist destinations around the world. This paper also emphasises on understanding how the policy and planning formulation process compares to other parts of the world. The central question that emerges in this study is therefore to understand if Brazil’s tourism planning and policy interventions address the problems faced by the country’s tourism sector. Distinctions between positive and negative appraisals of the existing policies form the background of this a nalysis. Positive Appraisals Emphasis on Tourism as a Social and Economic Development Tool Throughout most parts of Brazil’s history, there was no proper planning of tourism policies. Most of the activities that occurred in the tourism sector were therefore fragmented and disorganised. OECD (2010) says that this situation led to the underutilisation of Brazil’s tourism potential. Poor roads, airport facilities, and communication networks further worsened this problem because investors were displeased with Brazil’s unfavourable investment climate (OECD 2010). However, the Brazilian government started to play a proactive role, in the early nineties, to restore the sector by streamlining tourism policies.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on A Critique of Tourism Policy and Planning in Brazil specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This attempt birthed the Brazilian tourism ministry. Observers consider th e creation of this ministry as the first bold attempt by the Brazilian government to elevate tourism as an important sector in Brazil’s economic and social space (Blanke Chiesa 2011). Decentralisation of Policy Initiatives Brazil has witnessed significant changes in tourism policies. Most of these changes have occurred at a federal level. Some of the main achievements of these changes include increased innovation in the policy formulation process and increased growth in tourism development (Blanke Chiesa 2011). Before the onset of these changes, Brazil suffered from poor infrastructure, as the main impediment to the growth of the tourism industry (somewhat, this problem persists today). As a response to this challenge, the federal government created the program for tourism development of the Northeast (PRODETUR) (Araujo 2000). Initially, the government mandated this body to promote tourism development in the Northeast region of the country. Its primary task was to develop b asic infrastructure. PRODETUR aimed to do so by encouraging private-public partnerships. Increased coordination between federal, state, and municipal levels also outline auxiliary strategies that the government has pursued to achieve the same purpose (Araujo 2000). Besides infrastructure development, PRODETUR helped to create strong institutional bodies that supported and financed tourism activities in the region. Based on the successes of the agency, the Brazilian government expanded its mandate to other regions of Brazil (Blanke Chiesa 2011). The promotion of economic development was a key motivator for the Brazilian government to adopt a regional focus in tourism development because it wanted to reduce the country’s poverty levels through the creation of an economic buzz in the regional economies. So far, this initiative has been successful.Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Addressing Regional Development Needs through Consultation Although the introduction of regional-based tourism planning activities emerged from federal policies that promoted devolved policy governance structures, all beneficiaries of the regional programs were required to present concrete plans for tourism development, as a prerequisite for funding approvals. The Brazilian government introduced this measure to ensure the validity of tourism development plans and uphold accountability through the planning process (Araujo 2000). However, Araujo (2000) argues that the main advantage for the pursuance of this approach is the increased consultations that this method introduced to the Brazilian tourism sector. Moreover, this strategy ensured the holistic development of tourism policies. Before the development of this approach, Lohmann Dredge (2012) says the development of tourism policies and government plans of the same industry mainly contained the hallmarks of desktop exercises. Furt hermore, technocrats conducted the planning approach in a hierarchical manner (top-down). Municipal and state agencies therefore rarely had the opportunity to contribute in the process. To strengthen the consultative approach of policy development in Brazil, agencies governing this process often comprise of representatives from civil society groups, environmentalists, businesspersons, and governments. The creation of this conglomerate further strengthens the participative leadership strategy that characterises the policy formulation process in Brazil. Araujo (2000) also believes this leadership structure ensures a top-down governance structure is non-existent. Evolution of Brazilian Tourism Policies Globally, paradigm shifts in the tourism sector occur often. This trend denotes broader ideological shifts in social sciences. Drawing its inspiration from developments that have occurred in town planning, Lohmann Dredge (2012) say the Brazilian tourism industry has evolved through thre e phases – classical planning stage, rational planning stage, and post-1980s paradigm stage. The classical planning stage was characterised by many bureaucracies and blueprint plans. The rational planning stage eliminated this period and heralded a new stage where the Brazilian government identified pressing issues in the sector and looked for the best strategies to address them. This stage also saw the introduction of alternative policies to address the pressing issues, thereby elevating government departments as absolute authorities in policy development and implementation (Blanke Chiesa 2011). The post 1980s paradigm characterises most of the policy progresses highlighted in this paper because it marks a period of intense consultation and participation during the policy formulation process. This period also marks an increased emphasis on the concept of sustainability and the importance of including the private sector in the formulation of strategic plans. The above stages of policy changes in Brazil are similar to the increased dominance of neo-liberalism and globalisation in the 21st century. Lohmann Dredge (2012) group these changes into one category of modern public management practices. This category includes an â€Å"emphasis on cost efficiencies, outsourcing, and the adoption of market mechanisms† (Lohmann Dredge 2012, p. 19). The same trend denotes political modernization and the adoption of global political trends, including â€Å"increased public participation, social inclusion, and increased private-public partnerships† (Lohmann Dredge 2012, p. 20). The adoption of these global trends significantly changed how the Brazilian government (and governments in other developing nations) addressed tourism policies. Criticisms Poor Inter-Agency Coordination A study conducted by Christina Rodrigues de Melo Orpheo and Morrow Gaines Campbell (cited in Tourism Watch 2013) evaluated the main reasons for the poor performance of Brazilâ⠂¬â„¢s tourism industry from the late eighties to 2006. The paper highlighted three main issues as the main hindrances to the development of the country’s tourism sector – the lack of a clearly articulated national tourism policy, lack of skilled labour (poor service), and poor coordination among tourism agencies (Tourism Watch 2013). These issues largely reflected the policy issues surrounding the industry because for a large developing country like Brazil, the existence of such challenges significantly dented the economic prospects of its struggling tourism industry. Furthermore, the state, federal and municipal agencies, which were supposed to formulate policy remedies often worked against one another. Sometimes, by working independently, they competed against one another as well (Blanke Chiesa 2011). Failure to Include Local Communities While recent policy interventions have addressed most of the criticisms levelled against the Brazilian tourism industry, Christin a Rodrigues de Melo Orpheo and Morrow Gaines Campbell (cited in Tourism Watch 2013) say a review of its National Tourism Plan shows that current policies do not include measures for increased community participation. For example, the 2008 Brazilian national tourism policy largely favours the regionalisation of tourism policies, but lacks guidelines for community participation. Similarly, the National Tourism Council (which is an active body in the formulation of national policies) lacks any notable community representatives on its board (Tourism Watch 2013). This view departs from the belief that Brazil’s policy and planning processes are completely inclusive. A comparison of positive and negative appraisals regarding the inclusiveness of Brazil’s policy development and planning processes show that, while Brazil has achieved tremendous progress in this regard, it is yet to include community participation (fully) in the process. Comparison to Global Practices Globally, countries have strived to adopt best practices in the formulation of tourism policies. This trend especially manifests in the planning process because state and federal agencies have strived to revolutionise their planning processes to mirror best practices on the global front. Lohmann Dredge (2012) believe Brazil is a classic example of the global push for the democratisation of tourism policies. Social, political, and economic reforms that have occurred since the early 2000s have especially championed this change. These reforms have altered different aspects of the country’s governance structure, including the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of public policies affecting the tourism sector. While this paper considers the creation of a specific tourism ministry as a bold attempt by the Brazilian government to elevate the tourism sector as a key pillar of social and economic development, it is also important to highlight that several countries around the world did the same. For example, Blanke Chiesa (2011) say most developing countries (including Brazil) introduced a new ministry of tourism â€Å"to develop the sector as a sustainable economic activity, focused on job creation, the generation of foreign exchange earnings, and the promotion of social inclusion† (p. 17). The response of Brazil’s tourism policies to adopt eco-tourism and diversify its tourist markets came from a global realisation of the need to grow tourism demand and supply at the same time. For example, top tourist destinations in the Middle East have also embraced sustainable tourism as the new policy development framework for charting future developments in the Middle East. Dubai is at the forefront of this push because it has cut out a niche for itself, in the Middle East, by adopting sustainable tourism practices. Most of its tourism policies and plans therefore have a strong emphasis on sustainability as a core tenet. Dubai is not the only destination th at has adopted this policy framework; South Africa, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Caribbean countries are other top tourist destinations (in the developing world) that have embraced this model as well (Sustainable Tourism 2013). Indeed, Blanke Chiesa (2011) say, most tourist destinations around the world have witnessed an expansion and diversification of markets around the world. The exponential growth in eco-tourism provides a classic example of the global push towards adopting more eco-friendly tourism policies. Particularly, this growth in eco-tourism numbers affirms the need for supply-based tourism policies, which hinge on the need for nurturing tourism markets in anticipation for a new breed of customers (eco-tourists). In this regard, public policies on tourism started to focus on how Brazil could improve the experiences of their tourists, including addressing issues, such as environmental quality and capacity limits. Through such initiatives, the Brazilian government introduced proactive measures for adding value to the country’s tourism products, including making provisions for the environmental management of tourism. The introduction of these provisions has helped to merge tourism and environmental policies. This association develops from the realisation that environmental policies support tourism growth and sustainability. Past policies never addressed the importance of environmental policies in tourism management. Conclusion After weighing the findings of this report, it is correct to say the onset of the 1990s marked the development of tourism policies and plans in Brazil. This period heralded a general shift in tourism policy paradigms in Brazil. A key paradigm shift that characterised this period was the creation of a new perception of tourism as a tool for social and economic development. This period also marked the departure from the top-down governance structure that characterised the formulation of tourism policies in Brazil. Recent years have therefore seen a move towards a more local and regional focused governance structure. Based on a comparison of Brazil’s policy planning process and the rest of the world, this change is part of a wider global push to adopt a bottom-up approach in policy development. Evidence of the adoption of the same policy framework in the Middle East, Africa, and other top tourist destinations in South America therefore shows that the planning and policy formulation process of Brazil mirrors similar processes around the world. Considering the milestones made by the reorientation of the policy framework, from a centralised approach to a decentralised one, it is fair to say current policies have largely addressed Brazil’s tourism needs. In fact, the decentralisation of the policy development process has largely contributed to the country’s stature as a top tourist destination in South America. This stature was nonexistent in the early nineties and previous years. In deta il, the new policy framework has helped to address local tourism needs and contributed to the overall development of regional economies. Current legislations are therefore responsive to local needs and are more inclusive of important stakeholders in the sector. Thus, Brazil’s tourism planning and policy interventions have largely addressed the problems faced by the country’s tourism sector. References Araujo, L 2000, Stakeholder Participation in Regional Tourism Planning, Sheffield Hallam University, London, UK. Blanke, J Chiesa, T 2011, Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011, World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland. Lohmann, G 2012, Tourism in Brazil: Environment, Management, and Segments, Routledge, London, UK. Lohmann, G Dredge, D 2012, Tourism in Brazil: Environment, Management and  Segments, Routledge, London, UK. OECD 2010, OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2010, OECD Publishing, New York, NY. Sustainable Tourism 2013, Sustaining Tourism: Case Studies, https://sustainabletourism.net/. Tourism Watch 2013, Brazil’s National Tourism Plan. Web. This report on A Critique of Tourism Policy and Planning in Brazil was written and submitted by user Renata Bridges to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Braving the Middle School Book Talk

Braving the Middle School Book Talk When we writers began our quest in the literary world, we held several fantasies.â€Å"My book will sell more than Harry Potter†, â€Å"Johnny Depp will call and beg me to let him produce my book into a movie†, â€Å"Stephen King and I will be on a first name basis† (come on, I can’t be the ONLY one thinking of this!). But then we write, and lo and behold, that status doesn’t come, the fame and money dont come but other things come. Maybe you receive local recognition, an invite to do a book talk at a local book club, or school, or library. After a local newspaper mentioend my locally-published middle grade book, I was approached This is my fourth year of doing book talks to middle grade students, and I have come across some interesting tidbits I thought might help my fellow literary artists out there. Public speaking is a common fear. I used to be the lead singer in a band, and I had to talk, and I was scared to death of it. That was years ago. Of course since then stage fright has multiplied – and then to think, â€Å"You have to talk to kids! They have the attention span of†¦ a gnat!† Well that’s what teachers kept telling me anyway, but†¦ I approached my very first book talk in pretty much the same way I approach my writing. â€Å"Don’t think about it, keep a short outline in your head, step up, do it ignore the outline.† Truly, some people are better off at winging it, but for those of you who aren’t, here’s some advice from someone who has had to stand in front of ‘tweens’ for three years running. 1. Don’t be afraid. These are kids, they don’t work for the I.R.S. 2. You are their entertainment. You being there means they don’t have to do class work. They want you there! 3. Exude the joy of writing to them. They need to see it, feel it, hear it in your presentation or you’re just another grown up, talking. 4. Be prepared. Have samples, teasers, book marks. They love taking that stuff. True it may never make it home, but some of it will. 5. Plan entertaining answers for common question like: a. Are you rich and/or famous? My challenge to this is to let them know that though we can eventually gain a mass of riches, we write for the love of writing. One question I always ask is â€Å"How many of you here like to write?† and it never fails, I get one or two hands go up in a classroom, and they aren’t excited to let their friends know this. So my response is â€Å"That’s great. How many love to read?† More hands go up. â€Å"Well there ya go, you can’t read unless someone is writing, so you couple of writers will be fueling their reading hunger, get started.† b. â€Å"Miss Jones says that when we write, we have to do re-writes. How many times do you have to re-write the same story?† Answer? â€Å"Do you have a favorite song? Do you know it c. â€Å"I can never get ideas, all my ideas come from books I already know.† Answer:   â€Å"Ideas are all around you, just look for them. Writing to me is like a puzzle. It comes in pieces then as you write it puts itself together.† An example I give in every class is this one : â€Å"You know when you go to the grocery store with your mom and the cashier has a name tag ‘My name is Brian, ask me about my dog’. What about Brian’s dog? Well Fluffy died two weeks ago, but Brian has it in his freezer because he loves that dog and just can’t let go – and yes that’s dead dog hair on your Lucky Charms.† It always gets a laugh. Ideas are everywhere, a good exercise is to ask someone what they did over the weekend, and expand from there – and even make it a quick game. â€Å"We went to the zoo.† â€Å"Ahh, ok, so suppose you were at the zoo, and as you walked Basically, the audience wants you to sway them. They need to see the fire to write in you, and you will inspire. I love to share the fact that when I was in middle school I spent almost all of my time drawing comic books – or graphic novels as they like to call them these days – and that I credit my high school English teacher in lighting the fire in me to write. She pulled me aside one day and said â€Å"Why don’t you try writing a short story, I think you could do it.† I did. She liked it, and the rest is history. If you are an author of YA or Middle Grade books, contact the media specialist or lead teacher at your local schools and ask for a chance to speak with the kids. A good time for this is either during the month of November which is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), or during your local schools National Literacy Week. Either way you can wow them with your literary artistic skill and craft. Make us proud.

Volcanoes and Tsunamis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Volcanoes and Tsunamis - Assignment Example Volcanic eruption creates various landforms such as plateaus, volcanic mountains and igneous rocks. The volcanic ash causes serious atmospheric challenges including acid rain and vision blockage affecting the flight industry. Plateaus, mountains, and volcanic ash are features that occur during eruption. Mountains and ash occur when lava is extruded at high pressure while plateaus occur when molten lava flows under low pressure and covers a wide area. The eruption of the Yellowstone Volcano creates a serious challenge for Tri-state especially because it will disrupt transport and may lead to loss of life because of the thrown up Lava. The state must be prepared for any eventuality because active volcanos may be triggered by slipping fault lines. Preparation for eventuality includes system monitoring for changes in the society. An earthquake in the sea causes massive water displacement which in turn accelerates towards the shores. The volume of water displaced causes serious challenge because as it travels it gains massive speeds which destroy everything along its path. The reduction of sea depth as the wave reaches the shore makes the water to gain more acceleration because it is forced to travel upwards. The restriction of sea depth and weight of the water increases the acceleration and thus increases t ability of the tsunami to destroy everything along its path. Coastal vegetation reduces the impact of tsunami by reducing velocity. Vegetation along the coastal shore will effectively reduce the destruction capacity of the tsunami. Sea depth is vital because it increases absorption of shocks. However, the declining depth increases the height of the water thus increasing destruction along the shores. The collapse of the protective walls of japan is as a result of the earth movements which affected the foundation of the walls by creating fault lines which in turn led to the collapse of the wall after impact. The result of the The aftershocks of the earthquake