Religious studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Religious studies - Essay Example A religion is a set of beliefs and practices of a community that holds them in the obedience of codified beliefs, believed to be the orders from God, and rituals. It refers to both the personal practices and the rituals carried out by a group to reflect conformity of beliefs and obedience to the Supreme Controller. Various definitions for religion have evolved and many materialistic individuals have tried to push the religion to a separate sector of life only restricting it to the compulsory acts of worship and rituals but, religion is in no way different from one’s actions outside his/her place of worship. A number of religions and its followers, especially Islam, teach their disciples to spend their entire life whether in Masjid (Muslims place of worship) or outside according to the commands of God and stress on the fact that religion is at the heart of life. Whichever religion a person belongs to is evident from his daily routine, doctrines of a particular religion are revealed by the rituals and the actions one performs in his daily life. A Christian would go to a church every Sunday, a Muslim would visit his Masjid five times a day and similarly a Hindu would visit his Temple at prescribed times. Islam has been the most controversial religion in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks on the twin towers, but ironically enough since then it has been the fastest spreading religion throughout the world and especially in the West. Due to this astounding fact Islamic doctrines have been used in the context of the following discussion. Belief in the religious context is the faith in the existence of something supernatural, unseen and unexplainable for an ordinary mind. Conviction is thus the first step and the most basic requirement of any religion. To strongly believe the truth of the existence of God, the fundamental principles of a religion, the Holy Book and the honesty of the Religious Leader who brought the divine message is the doorway towards

The implications of the European monetary union Essay Example for Free

The implications of the European monetary union Essay In this report, I will be addressing the implications of the European monetary union and the problems Zeus will have in developing their market in Europe. The UK and EMU When the UK decided not to join the European monetary union (EMU) in 1999, it affected UK businesses, especially those who trade within the EU. Does it matter whether sterling is in or out? For many UK Businesses, trading within the EU has become more competitive. After the introduction of the Euro, an Italian company for example, competing for a German companies business could cut 3% of costs due to their common currency, making it harder for UK business to compete. Currently UK businesses are paying à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½3bn per year in exchange rates, which hit small firms like Zeus the hardest. Advantages By joining the single currency, British businesses will benefit from a fixed exchange rate allowing businesses to plan and budget for future activities more accurately. Fixed exchange rates will deliver stability and increase confidence that will lead to more investment and jobs. By staying out of the Euro Britain will be at a disadvantage to competitors in the Eurozone who already trade with each other using the same currency. The development of free trade has contributed enormously to the economic prosperity across the EU, with the strong position of the wealthier nations and helping to bring the poorer nations more stability and economic success. The introduction of a single currency removes one of the final barriers to free trade i.e. the transaction costs and the uncertainty involved in currency conversion. The removal of national currencies will encourage cross-border investment since the traditional reluctance of many investors to move their money into a currency other than their own will no longer be a factor. Businesses across the Eurozone will therefore be able to attract more investors from other Eurozone countries, and investment will be based on the competitiveness of a business rather than its nationality. This will increase the pressure on uncompetitive businesses to improve their efficiency. An increase in cross-border mergers and acquisitions will also lead to more streamlined and efficient businesses across the Eurozone. Disadvantages Most of Britain international trade is carried out in US dollars, a currency against which the pound has enjoyed far more stability than has the Euro. The fact that the pound has risen so much against the Euro since the Euros launch is a sign of the Euros weakness. Changeover to the Euro would be endured by all businesses in the UK, whether or not they trade with Eurozone countries. Most British companies, sell to local markets. These firms would still incur the costs of conversion and not see any benefit from the removal of currency transaction costs. While there would be a saving from the absence of currency transactions for exporters, these would be offset by the costs of the changeover. There have been fears that inward investment in British based industry would suffer as a result of staying out of the Euro, the reality has been very different. In 2001 the Office of National Statistics reported that inward investment in Britain for the 2000/2001 financial year was à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½341 billion, an increase of 36% over the previous year. The theory that a single currency will lead to the harmonisation and lowering of prices across Europe seems hard to support. Regional differences in prices are a result of differences in levels of taxation as well as variations in labour, property and transportation costs. The cost of living in different parts of the UK varies considerably, even though all regions share the same currency. Less scrupulous retailers would use the introduction of the Euro to round-up prices, just as they did during decimalization 30 years ago. How This Effects Zeus Being part of the EMU will benefit a small company like Zeus, (see advantages above) however, there are some other factors that Zeus need to be aware of. Promotion and packaging will also have to change. The language and content on the wrapping and will have to that of the country it is being sold in. Health and safety requirements of products would have to meet one standard rather then having to adapt products for different countries, however since Zeus currently trade mainly in the USA they would need to adapt their product to EU standards in order to trade within the community, which might be costly but beneficial. Cost of the Benefit If the UK were to join the EMU, cost increases and reductions will occur. Change of Equipment The costs for UK businesses of abolishing the pound and substituting the euro would be massive notes and coins would need to be replaced, along with cash registers, cash dispensing machines, accounting systems etc. The retail sector would have to undergo a complete renovation of cash systems. The costs of this changeover would affect all businesses in the UK, whether or not they trade with Europe and whether or not they will benefit. Consumers and businesses would have to pay for these costs through higher prices and taxes. It would take years before the trivial day-to-day savings on European transactions outweighed the costs of the changeover. More Competitive Markets The Euro ensures companies will face a more integrated European market. Cross-border trade and investment will be stimulated and competition strengthened in many markets. Businesses who see foreign exchange risk and transaction costs as barriers to cross-border trade are likely to move into new markets once these barriers are removed. New business start-ups may also be encouraged. Transparent Price Differences It will be possible to directly compare prices for the same goods and services in different EU countries and spot the best prices. Despite the SEM, price disparities persist as a result of differential pricing policies, tax rates, transportation costs, national market structures, and perceived product values. The ability for consumers to compare prices will move prices towards the lowest market level and businesses will find it hard to maintain pricing policies by country and currency. Treasury and Finance For many European businesses the Euro will present opportunities for long-term savings altering balance sheets, cash flow management, currency management, and corporate finance. Businesses with units operating in different currencies will be able to record and compare all accounting values, margins, costs, expenditures etc. in one currency. Such transparency may greatly assist in processes of internal planning, accounting, and benchmarking. Foreign Exchange Eurozone firms avoid the risk of exchange rate changes. Exchange rate movements dont impose a penalty but volatility in exchange markets and the unpredictability of rates can be costly. Many firms have opted to hedge exchange risks for long-dated transactions or included a margin in their prices to cover exchange rate movements. Under the single-currency, foreign exchange transaction costs are eliminated on internal dealings with benefits as much as 8% on the total price of industrial goods. Wage Transparency Employees will find it easier to calculate and compare wages between workers in different countries within the same company. Transparency of wages will bring salary convergence closer to reality and increase labour mobility. Variations in salary and remuneration exist today and workers always ask why are they paid that much over there when Im paid this much here?, firms can usually demonstrate difference in taxation, benefits, purchasing power etc. by country and currency. Organisations need to consider how to set fair and competitive remuneration packages in a Euro-denominated environment. Lower Borrowing Costs Its axiomatic with a single currency and single central bank that there will be a single interest rate. Banks will lend in Euros and enterprises will be able to borrow from outside their countries without incurring the risk of exchange rates, reducing borrowings costs. Cost savings may be greatest in countries where Euro interest rates fall below previous rates. The introduction of the Euro should favour the development of new financing methods. Overall, firms should have more choice and flexibility in raising finance and, in many cases, will face lower costs. How This Effects Zeus All these costs are going to affect Zeus and it might be a good idea for Zeus to look into these costs now, if they want to stay trading in years to come. Moving Production Many multi-national companies have expressed misgivings of Britain staying out of the Euro and state it could affect investments in British jobs. Companies want to know the value of the goods they sell from the UK will not decrease due to fluctuations in the exchange rate between Britain and the European countries and the cost of British labour will not rise significantly due to a strengthening pound. However, American, Asian and other foreign companies favour the UK as a base for their European operations because of factors such as culture, language, a de-regulated, business friendly environment, and low levels of taxation and corruption. EMU entry could reduce the cost of capital for UK firms if long-term interest rates fell within the EU and if membership of a larger financial market reduced the cost of finance. These costs could fall for SMEs in particular if joining EMU lowers the barriers which prevent SMEs accessing EU financial markets and lowers the cost of bank lending. Over time, EMU is likely to boost cross-border investment flows and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Eurozone. The UKs share of total EU FDI flows has fallen, coinciding with the start of EMU, and a corresponding increase in the share of the Eurozone. But against the backdrop of many other influences on FDI flows, its difficult to say EMU has boosted FDI within the Eurozone. Successfully operating EMU and UK membership of it on the right basis, would boost FDI over the longer-term. The longer membership of the euro is delayed, gains of increased inward investment are postponed. If sustainable and durable convergence is achieved, then the quantity and quality of investment would increase. How This Effects Zeus If Zeus was to relocate to Europe, there would be decreased production, transport and currency costs however the initial outlay moving into Europe will be costly but allow Zeus to be in the market they wish to operate in. The skills and expertise of the workforce of that county may not have what Zeus require and may cost more money training employees to the standard required. Moving production into a different country may benefit the company as all countries have differing resources, like labour. Zeus will need to evaluate all the factors involved in moving production and decided wheather it would be beneficial for them. Expansion in Europe With more than half the UKs trade with the EU and increasing integration of product, labour and capital markets, the UKs economic interest is best pursued through a deepening cooperation with other European countries as part of the Governments commitment to a strong EU and a successful EMU. As the Prime Minister said in November 2002: We should have more self-confidence because we are a leading European power, always have been and always will be. However, there are implications to expanding a businesses share in the European market. The Governments objectives These global and European trends are mirrored in the Governments central economic objective for the UK to build a stronger, more enterprising economy and a fairer society, extending economic opportunity and supporting those most in need to ensure that rising national prosperity is shared by all. and strategy Stability, productivity and employment opportunity are the foundations of the Governments economic strategy. Since 1997, the Government has taken tough decisions and introduced wide-ranging reforms to establish a platform of economic stability and to promote work and enterprise, tackle poverty and deliver sustained investment to modernise public services. The Governments decision on UK membership of the single currency must contribute to these objectives. The benefits from adoption to the euro depend on trade integration between the UK and the Eurozone through the elimination of currency fluctuations and transaction costs. The UK has increased trade within the EU since joining. Chart 5.3 shows how UK trade with the EU has risen by 5%. The impact of EMU on UK trade, competition, productivity and growth thorugh substantial possible gains EMU membership could enhance productivity in the medium-term by increasing trade and investment and stimulating competition, also helping to promote economic reform in the EU and encourage specialisation in the longer-term. Therefore, EMU could effect the five key drivers of productivity. Based on broad-based evidence on the impact of trade, it seems reasonable to assume that each 1% increase of trade to GDP increases real GDP per head by at least 1/3 % in the long run and perhaps as much as 2/3 %. In a best case scenario, with stability through sustainable and durable convergence, a long-term increase in trade with the Eurozone at the top of the 5% to 50% range and increased investment spurring competition, UK output could be around 9% higher over 30 years within a successful EMU than outside. This could add around 1/4% a year to GDP growth. but not without sustainable and durable convergence Conditional on the achievement of sustainable and durable convergence between the UK and the euro area. Where it is not assured, the trade benefits from EMU would be likely to be at the lower end of the range, meaning gains to trade and competition from membership could be negligible. Estimates suggest a lack of flexibility and convergence in some EU countries. However, EMU has increased trade within the EU by 3% and 20% since 1999. Volatility and uncertainty resulting from EMU membership in the absence of sustainable and durable convergence could have a negative impact on the actual level of UK output in the long-term. The Governments strategy to tackle the barriers to productivity growth and close the productivity gap, involves continued microeconomic reforms in the UK to target the five key drivers of productivity combined with support at the European level for policies to strengthen competition and the Single Market. How This Effects Zeus Expanding into the European market place has two major implications that Zeus will need to consider. Firstly that since EMU, theres increased competitiveness within the EU and Zeus may find it hard to compete if their strategy and overall business is not strong. And when the 10 new countries enter the EU and join the EMU, it could decrease sales and profits even production as their economies are weaker then the rest of the EU and would affect Zeus expansion into Europe. Political Implications There are as expected, political implications to expansion into the European marketplace. In the UK, taxation on businesses is not as high as other EU countries, as the UK government want to promote economic growth. If the EU were to set the level of interest and taxation for all Eurozone countries it may not be beneficial for all countries or their goals. It could be seen as too much involvement and lack of sovereignty power and could cause bureaucracy and federalism. It could be argued that by joining the EMU the UK would lose its economic and political sovereignty; something the UK is not currently ready to give up for the euro and its benefits. To protect their own interests, countries can restrict imports by putting limitations, subsidies, quota or import duties to imports to protect industries. But this does nothing to protract free trade within the EU. Free trade was developed to increase political and economic stability within the EU. How This Effects Zeus Businesses like Zeus will need to consider political implications. Zeus will benefit from the movement of free trade within the EU, and the low taxation within the UK for businesses, however there are other political issues that Zeus will need to consider whether they stay in the UK or move into Europe. These are; o Social policies ~ health and safety standards, holiday/sick pay, working time directive, working conditions etc. o Environmental requirements ~ such as noise and pollution levels, safety fittings etc. o Technological ~ does the technology meet business requirements? do the workforce know how to use the equipment? etc. Recommendation I would recommend that Zeus stay in the UK. When the 10 new countries join the EU, EMU will be affected and it would be well advised to consider in the future expanding into Poland as they are in the centre of the EU and have a highly skilled and are inexpensive workforce to employ. Currently it would beneficial for Zeus to stay in the UK due to the governments objective to build a stronger economy. I would recommend that Zeus seriously look into moving or expansion into Europe and see how this mirrors with current and demand. Bibliography Books Palmer A, The Business Environment, 2002 Mercado S, European Business, Pitman, 2001 Piggott J, International Business Economics, 1999 Davison Purple, The European Competitive Environment, 1995 Websites www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/business www.gov.org.uk www.offical-documents.co.uk HND UNIT 29: European Business

The World Heritage List In Africa Tourism Essay

The World Heritage List In Africa Tourism Essay 1. Introduction The following part of the report will give a general introduction to the site which has been chosen to be added to the list of World Heritage Sites, namely being The Maasai Mara National Reserve. Furthermore the country and the region will be described followed by arguments why particularly this site was chosen and further on naming all the criteria of the World Heritage Committee which the site meets. In addition a concise analysis will be carried out using the Fermata method. This method will help to record all the resources the site has to offer in order to develop a strategy on how to develop tourism within this area. At the end the outcome of this chapters research will be summarized in a short conclusion. General Information on The Maasai Mara National Reserve The Maasai Mara National Reserve is also known as the Mara. Historically, Maasai Mara obtained its name from the native people of Kenya the Maasai tribe who lived along the Mara River. However, the reserve is only a portion of the Greater Mara Ecosystem, which includes a group ranches for example koiyaki, lemeki ,Ol chorro Saina Maji moto Naakara Ol derkesi and Kiminet. The reserve is topography of open savannah grassland in the midst of clusters and acacia trees along the south-eastern area of the park. The reserve covers an area of 1,510 square kilometres in the south-western Kenya. In the northern part, the reserve is mainly covered with Mara-Serengeti ecosystem this covers 25,000 square kilometres between Tanzania and Kenya and in the south It is bounded by the Serengeti Park. Climate The Maasai Mara reserve is located at an altitude between 4,875 and 7,052 feet above sea level giving it a humid climate with moderate temperature. Daytime temperatures run at 85Â °F (30Â °C) and night temperatures drop to around 60Â °F (15Â °C). The rain falls between March and May and shortly in November and December. Between July and October the weather is dry hence the vegetation is in abundant thus tourism get more active in July and October to see the parks wildlife. Tourism According to www.maasaimara.com, The Maasai Mara type of tourism is ecotourism. The ecosystem holds one of the highest lion densities in world with over two million Wildebeest, Zebra and Thomsons Gazelle that migrate annually. This action is known as Natures passion play It occurs between the month of July and august. Additionally the Mara reserve is also home to the largest concentration of wildlife. These include the Big Five (Leopards elephants lions rhinos and buffalo) zebras, antelope, gnus, Oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, hartebeests, hippos, crocodiles to mention a few. The Maasai culture is yet another major attraction, because of their authentic culture thats why it is recognised as one of the best-known tribes in world for their bright colored clothes and traditional dances, souvenirs, art and collectibles that explain their unique tradition. Moreover Bird watching is yet another source of tourism. The Maasai Mara boasts over 400 different birds species. Therefore it attracts bird lover. Arguments for the site In the following, the choice of the Maasai Mara Natural Reserve as a potential future World Heritage Site will be justified with the help of UNESCO criteria. The Maasai Mara Reserve is most famous for its unique wildebeest migration which cannot be found anywhere else on planet earth. The occurrence of the big five as well as the wintering spot for many endangered species makes the reserve an important area that has to be protected in the future. Below three criteria will be mentioned which can be referred to the Maasai Mara Reserve Criteria V: to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. This criterion can be related to the Maasai community living in peace and harmony with the wildlife since a long time. The Maasai community used the land for many years while they kept in mind to conserve the predominant wildlife in a responsible way. Criteria VII: To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. With its annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara Reserve the site fulfills the criterion of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance since there is no comparable natural phenomenon worldwide. Further on, the Maasai Mara National Reserve is equipped with beautiful savanna grasslands and plenty different herbivores and bird species. Moreover, the big 5 can be found within the reserve what is also very unique. Criteria X: to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. Since the reserve is an important wintering spot for many different species the criterion of significant in-situ conservation is warranted definitely. Also the occurrence of carnivores such as the lions or the cheetahs are very important for the reserve because they are listed as threatened. Furthermore, they keep the balance of prey numbers what is crucial for the ecosystem. Analysis using the Fermata method In order to come up with a good strategy on how to develop tourism within the Mara region, it is of great importance to know what resources are already available at this moment. Therefore the FERMATA method has been chosen, providing four different tables, namely intrinsic and extrinsic values, modifiers and waypoints. These tables categorize everything that can be found in and around the site and can serve tourism purposes. Intrinsic values Describing a world heritage site means defining intrinsic and extrinsic values of the site. Intrinsic values are those which originate at the resource itself. Hence, intrinsic values are of natural character. These intrinsic values are for instance: Scale, integrity and aesthetic of the landscape as well as diversity, specialty, conspicuousness, appeal, scope and dynamics of resources. In terms of the description of the landscape, the Massai Mara Reserve is characterized by the Mara-River which divides the Reserve into two parts. Further on, the variety in altitudinal range between 200 and 1000 meter makes the Massai Mara a diverse area for all different kinds of birds and flora. With a total scope of 1,510 square kilometers the reserve provides habitat for 1,300,000 wildebeest, 360,000 gazelles and 191,000 zebras. Additionally, many carnivores as well as more than 600 bird species can be found in and around the reserve. In terms of human intervention, the reserve is managed by the Narok County Council and the Transmara County Council who set up several rules and regulations concerning behavior within the Massai Mara Reserve. Moreover, the Massai Community lost much of their land because it became a protected area of the reserve. Furthermore, many farms developed in the northern part of the reserve due to its fertile land. Referred to tourism some 45 tented camps a re distributed all over the reserve which arouses a lot of damaging actions such as high water consumption or dry-season grass fires caused by tourists. (Appendix: Table 1) Going further, it is important to take the resources into consideration. Due to its river, the grassland and the evergreen Amazonian forests the Massai Mara Reserve offers a diverse landscape. However, the landscape itself cannot be considered as very special but the migration of the herbivores that grants the reserve a general impression of outstanding beauty. As already mentioned before, the wildebeest migration can be seen as the pull factor of the site since tourists travel around the world to see this unique natural phenomenon. Although this spectacle can be seen as the main attraction of the reserve many tourists come as well to observe the more than 600 different bird species whereof plenty are listed as endangered. Finally, the Mara River is the only dynamic resource which can be found at the reserve since the rest mainly consists of grasslands and savannah. Situated in Kenya, the climate can be defined as tropical with long rainfalls from April to June. (Appendix: Table 2) Extrinsic values Generally said extrinsic values can be seen as additional features in the natural site, which also make people come to visit the place apart from the fact that they want to enjoy the outstanding natural resource. These features are made by humans and according to FERMATA Inc. (2002) they can be divided up into the following categories: Social, Cultural, Historical, Recreational and Economic. For a brief description see the appendix XYZ I To apply this analysis of the extrinsic values to the Maasai Mara Reserve, it can be said that the reserve gives home to the Maasai people. It is estimated that around 500,000 Maasai live in that area, but due to their fear of governmental intervention into their lifestyle, miscounts often occur. The Maasai belong to those tribes that have not changed a lot in their original culture, rituals and practices regardless of the modern worlds influences they are exposed to. Additionally it should be mentioned that they are mainly in possession of the land and deal with its management, however, lately they have lost a lot of land to parks and reserves, which prohibit them from accessing important sources of water, pastureland and spots where salt can be found. (Masaai Association, 2010) From a cultural point of view the villages of the previously mentioned Maasai tribe can be seen as an attracting attribute, for example due to their houses solemnly built from natural resources or their very simple lifestyle which is perfectly adjusted to their natural environment. Regarding the historical values one will have difficulties finding any in the Maasai Mara reserve, because the Maasai tribes live a nomadic life moving within the reserve depending on the season and therefore certain monuments or special places are not part of their culture. All their requirements for ceremonies and rituals are based on what they can find in nature. (Maasai Association, 2010) Concerning recreational values one can find three different lodges and around thirty campsites to spend the night there. Moreover these lodges or camps offer a number of safaris including jeeped safaris, balloon safaris, horse riding safaris and walking safaris accompanied by a Maasai. (ORD Group, 2010) Finally the economic values of the Maasai Mara National Reserve are that it attracts a lot of tourists and as the number of inhabitants is constantly increasing, but the number of livestock is decreasing in the same time , people depend more and more on other sources for nourishment. Therefore in the northern part of the area they have started to erect extensive fields to grow e.g. soya beans, wheat or sorghum. (UNESCO, 2010) Modifiers, constraints, limits, qualifying factors Modifiers: These are constraints that hinder tourism development at the Maasai Mara ReserveEcological: The damage in term of ecology is high, this is due to fact that Maasai Mara is not a national park but rather a national reserve hence it is not managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. Its welfare is entrusted in the hands of Narok County Council and the Mara Conservancy who attain contract from the Trans Mara County Council. According to Dublin (1991) the lack of proper management leads to poaching, destruction of habitat by constant uncontrolled bush fires and exceptionally heavy influx of elephants hence to a decline in number of animals. Moreover over development of hotels, camps and loges outside the gate of the reserve is growing on a high rate. A summary of the ecological constrains according to Charles Ndegwa Mundia, Yuji Murayama ( 2009) can be found in the appendix XYZ-II. Physical: Tracks are established, balloon and helicopters in order to reach the natural and cultural heritages. Visiting the reserve is possible throughout the years. High season is from January to March this is when it is heavily overcrowded by people because it is dry and warm. Also in June and September it is overcrowded because this is the time when wild beasts migrate. Health and Safety: Masai Mara Reserve is fairly a safe place, however, it is recommended not to get out of track. Concerning the health issues, the Maasai Mara National Reserve lies in a malaria region which foresees to take anti malaria precautions, wearing long-sleeved clothing after dark and applying insect repellent. The water is safe and there is big hospital in Nairobi 100km east of the park in case of an emergency. Feeding animals is not allowed since it might induce danger of boldness and foster aberrant behaviour which might be harmful for the visitors. Regulatory: There are many rules and regulations mainly for conservation and visitors safety and faller to apply; there is a penalty in form of paying a certain amount of money. According to Matt J. Walpole (2003) In the Mara Triangle; not more than five vehicles is allowed around an animal because it disturb the harmony of animals. Secondly Human habitation is forbidden in the National Park only staffs are allowed. Thirdly driving off the road is not allowed. Also Visitors are only allowed on the roads from 06:00 to 19:00. Additionally people are urged to keep the environment clean putting trash at their accommodation not at site. Respect the culture of the local people and lastly no animal feeding by visitors because it dangerous. Economic: the fee to reach the reserve and cultural resources is moderate since the Kenyan currency value is low, except for the accommodation and guided tours depending on if you sleeping in camp or luxurious hotel. The transit to the park as well as entering the park certain fee is obligated. Adult inhabitant costs 500 Kshs; children inhabitant costs 200 Kshs, adult non local 30 US dollars and children non local 10 US dollars. Time: The reserve can be accessed from Nairobi airport, its about 270km that is six hours by car but it can shorter by helicopter. The more suitable time is in June and September when wildlife migration take place Moreover the high season is from January to March when it is warm and dry. In October December are rainy seasons however it doesnt hinder game viewing To conclude the above constrains, it can be said that Mara reserve is facing a lot of challenges mainly regarding the ecology. But they have implemented rules to protect both the animals and the people although the rules are not 100% acted upon because the government left the reserve in the hands of private ownership. However there is evidence that the site has abundant nature and culture sites, unique species and rear landscape hence these fit in UNESCO criteria. Waypoints: Gateways, Portals, Icons ME Conclusion Me

Differences In Animal Phyla Essay -- essays research papers

Because they are grouped in the same kingdom, the nine animal phyla share the same fundamental characteristics- they are multicellular, heterotrophic eukaryotes that obtain nutrients through ingestion, they lack cell walls, they have nervous tissue and muscle tissue, and they reproduce sexually and have a unique embryonic life cycle. However, the animal phyla have a great number of differences as well. Some are visible to the naked eye, while others are less obvious, and still more cannot even be seen after embryonic development. What are these differences, and how did they shape the development of the phylogenetic tree? In animals, the embryo becomes layered through the process of gastrulation, or the formation of the two layered, cup-shaped embryonic stage from a blastula. These layers are called germ layers. Most animals are triploblastic, meaning they have three germs layers. These are the ectoderm, the endoderm, and the mesoderm. The ectoderm is the outermost layers which forms the body’s covering and the central nervous system. The endoderm is the innermost germ layer. It forms the digestive tube and gives rise to most organs. The third layer, the mesoderm, exists between the endoderm and ectoderm. It forms the muscles and most other organs towards the upper layer of the animal. Diploblastic animals, or animals with only two germ layers, lack mesoderm. There are only two diploblastic phyla: Porifera, the sponges, and Cnidaria, the â€Å"bag animals.† All other animals are ...

Analysis of Language, Rhetoric, and Politics in George Orwell’s 1984 Essay

This statement coming from the novel entitled Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell contains different meanings depending on its context and rationality. The phrase â€Å"war is peace† can be define as a prediction or conclusion that peace is always a result of war. When there is war, there would be peace, which is not always true depends on the situation. The phrase â€Å"freedom is slavery† can be said that even if you are free, there are influences, consequences, and contributors that would continue the act of slavery and people would still suffer from these cases. Because when we say freedom, there would be a form of governance and democracy but as long as authority exists, slavery would still become part of freedom. The phrase â€Å"ignorance is strength† can be true sometimes. If you are ignorant, you are more capable of acting without losing anything because you do not know something. Ignorance can be said as an escape to do everything without knowing anything – just to be free. However, why do these phrases were stated if they could actually say what is true and correct without any vague, ambiguous, and doublespeak words or languages. Use of languages can be vague and ambiguous depending on the person who used it, on the context he is relating with, the people he is talking to and the meaning of those words itself. Most often, we use words that are light but critical in order to make our audience or the person we are talking with will be less burdened by the whole situation. We use fuzzy, confusing and light words to exemplify the meaning of what we need to say in accordance to their feelings. One of the practical or simplest examples is the words or languages in business. A corporation needs to reduce its employees due to company problems, but rather than using honest words – they utilized technical words in order to make their employees understand the situations (not the real reason) with no hard feelings or at least minimal objection coming from the employees. One company denied it was laying off 500 people. â€Å"We don’t characterize it as a layoff,† said the corporate spin doctor. â€Å"We’re managing our staff resources. Sometimes you manage them up, and sometimes you manage them down. Firing workers is such big business that there are companies whose business is helping other companies fire workers by providing â€Å"termination and outplacement consulting† for corporations involved in â€Å"reduction activities. † But don’t worry, if you’re â€Å"managed down,† the â€Å"Outplacement Consultant† will help you with â€Å"re-employment engineering. † (Lutz, 1996) Because of these scenarios, people became clueless rather than being educated that are actually needed in every aspect of human life. In order to become productive, we need to be sophisticated by the fact that we need to understand things that are connected to our jobs, sociological interaction, or even personal maters. However, there are instances when these aspects of understanding and education could not be obtained because people behind those conflicts and problems are apprehended by their actions. Therefore, it is a form of stealing – stealing our learning, knowledge, and privilege to recognize sensitive matters. That is why people having these issues are playing-safe to acquire less refusal or conflicts in the future but the consequences will be more problematic. Then, a question will rise towards these issues as it become more active during these times. The question will be what are the grounds of these people to state ambiguous, vague, and doublespeak that are more conflicting rather than honest thoughts? I guess, the reason why these things happened is that people are inherently liar in different forms and grounds as also based on the article of Stephanie Ericsson entitled, The Ways We Lie. Why do they need to do these? It is because they need to compel people that there is no problem or everything is all right to extent of lying just to make things better. We lie. We all do. We minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people’s feelings, we conveniently forget, we keep secrets, we justify lying to the big- guy situations. (Ericsson, 1992) This statement shows that we all lie in different situations especially when it is needed or sometimes we used words that are less offensive to minimize the reaction of our audience or who we are talking with. In this case, as connected to the phrases above, use of doublespeak, vague, or ambiguous words are already part of our sociological interaction. We are doing this in order to make the people less objective to the whole situation. However, we cannot deny the fact that it will soon emerged into a conflicting issues that needs to be done in accordance to the law. Coming from the novel Nineteen Eighty-four by Orwell the statement â€Å"robbing its citizens of their capacity for critical thought and reasonable, authentic self-expression† is true not only from the past but also in the present and will still exists in the future. It is a fear we too, in our modern society, must share, or argue that his fear is exaggerated or even unfounded. Because of the cases that were explained above, people could not be able to express themselves because hey are becoming ignorant to what is true and right. I can say that it is better to recognize the truth despite of the failure that it may cause rather than doing some actions and hoping that there would be a brighter future but actually, there would be no solution to the problem is more miserable. Our political, social, economic, and even personal aspects of living are full of doublespeak words and languages. This is because we are not always open to reality and truth for we do not want to be rejected, obligated, and failure. Most often, we keep on hiding from our blankets to escape from the certainty of everything. That is why, in order to minimize these cases, people are already doing lesser projections to reduce absurd feelings that may cause tension and despair. However, does political aspect needs these cases to magnify the burdens of the future. Logically, we know that political cases and aspects should be honest when it comes to its decision, preferences, and problems because its citizens are the primary affected from all of it. Nevertheless, this is not the situation today. There are some situations or maybe almost problematic situations that are hidden from the knowledge of the people for it will bring terrible conflict to the country. If the government could not control the situation and people knew about it, the president or the leader will explain but it will use doublespeak words or languages to make the people more comfortable and to lessen their fright, but up to what extent? Things like these happened after the September 11, 2001 attack in New York. The president claim that the country is already safe from terror attacks but he did not state any problem after the terror attack. He used doublespeak words to make its people less frightened from the whole situation but he did not say anything about the defenseless cases and problem within the white house that the terrorists already warned them but they did not pay attention to it. In this case, they did not want to be blamed so they made some segues and focused on the future having no further justifications of the past and the present. In our time, it is broadly true that political writing is bad writing. Where it is not true, it will generally be found that the writer is some kind of rebel, expressing his private opinions and not a â€Å"party line. † Orthodoxy, of whatever color, seems to demand a lifeless, imitative style. The political dialects to be found in pamphlets, leading articles, manifestoes, White papers and the speeches of undersecretaries do, of course, vary from party to party, but they are all alike in that one almost never finds in them a fresh, vivid, homemade turn of speech. As a whole, Orwell’s novel is a revelation of the past situations that still exists today. Language is not a problem but the people who used the language based on their intentions and desire. If they choose not to be obligated and responsible to the problem, they will use doublespeak words, but if we think of it, who will be responsible for all of those problems if no one is honest about everything? Is it the future generation, or our ancestors?

Business Email Salutations to a Group [Updated 2018]

Business Email Salutations to a Group [Updated 2018] I wrote about correct salutations for business letters and business email, prompting a few clients to ask about which salutations work well for a business email to a group. Small Group Salutations If the group is small enough – five or less – the very best salutation is to use recipients’ names. This also indicates the message is relevant for all of them. Dear Carmen, Anita, Sean, James, and Roland: Note: using Dear [title, last name] or [first name] followed by a colon is the preferred salutation for all business salutations in email for formal communication when communicating outside your company on first contact. If your subject is a more personal business issue, such as group congratulations, condolences or thanks, use Dear [title, last name] or [first name] followed by a comma. If you know your recipients very well, you are all in the same company, the subject is light, and your company culture informal, you can also use Hello or Hi [first name], followed by a comma. When in doubt about formality, opt for Dear [title, last name] or [first name] and a colon. Group Salutations to a Team If all your recipients belong to the same group, use the group name: Dear Sales Team: Dear Profile Committee: AcknowledgementGroup Salutations Sometimes, endearing or encouraging group salutations work well, but use discretion with this approach: Dear Marketing Mavens: (To a marketing group, in a message announcing a new contract, which compliments their ability and skills that earned the contract.) Dear Road Warriors: (To a sales group that had been traveling non-stop for the past month, with a message announcing the sales results. This salutation works because it sincerely acknowledges their hard work.) Dear Sales Dudes: (Be judicious using personalized group salutations. A sales rep shared this salutation with me recently, which his sales manager uses for all group messages to the sales team. He told me he â€Å"cringes† every time he sees this, which proves the importance of a good salutation. We really can lose a reader at hello.) Group Salutations for Positions If your recipients are in various positions or groups: Dear Colleagues: Dear Coworkers: Ladies: (if all the recipients are women) Gentlemen: (if all the recipients are men) Neutral, Classic Group Salutations Always Work â€Å"Greetings† as a group salutation is neutral, succinct and not too casual, so always a good choice: Greetings: Greetings All: Summer Greetings: (Suitable for a seasonal group announcement message.) For more informal business writing, these salutations are warm and engaging: Hello, everyone: Hi Team, Dear Friends: