Assignment on Business Strategy Essay Example for Free

Assignment on Business Strategy EssayAssignment on Business Strategy 1 . Evaluate a company of your choices committal statement in the light of the 3 components of any Mission Statement. Also use the Abel framework to assess the business definition that this mission statement drives. Ans. ) patch a business must continually adapt to its competitive environment, there ar certain core ideals that remain relatively steady and provides guidance in the process of strategic decision making. These unchanging ideals from the business vision and are expresses in the company mission statement. The mission statement communicates the firms core deology and visionary goals, slackly consisting of the following three components a. Core value to which the firm is committed b. Core purpose of the firm c. Visionary goals the firm will pursue The firms core set and purpose constitutes its core ideology and remain relatively constant. They are independent of perseverance structure and the p roduct life cycle. The core ideology is not created in the mission statement rather, the mission statement is simply an expression of what already exists.The detail phrasing of the ideology may change with the times, but the underlying ideology remains constant. Here is the Coca-Cola Companys mission statement for Stakeholders which is published in Jeffrey Abrahams raw(a) book, 101 Mission Statements From Top Companies . The Coca-Cola Promise The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches. The staple fibre pro daub of our business is simple, solid, and timeless. When we bring refreshment, value, Joy and fun to our stakeholders, then we successfully nurture and protect our brands, particularly Coca-Cola.That is the key to fulfilling our ultimate obligation to provide consistently attractive returns to the owners of our business. The audience for this mission is specifically for the stakeholder. The values here are stated explicitly refreshment, value, Joy, fun, and attractive returns. These words were obviously carefully chosen by those who crafted this mission statement. The ultimate obligation of attractive returns is a powerful way to state the companys vision and keeps the values stated in context.A separate mission statement is published on The Coca-Cola Companys website for access by the general public Everything we do is inspired by our enduring mission * To Refresh the World in body, mind, and spirit. * To Inspire Moments of Optimism hrough our brands and our actions. * To Create Value and Make a Difference everywhere we engage. These values are consistent with the stakeholder version of the mission refreshment and value are echoed in addition to inspiration. 2.What does a Business model intend to achieve, and how? Evaluate any company of your choices Business Model in the light of the same. Ans. ) Business Models are simulations of actual business functioning. They act as ideal real life examples, and help participants acti vely discuss the pros and cons of the situation given. A business Model gives a Full Account of any particular Business Scenario. One has to SWOT analyze the Business Model based on different how it makes money or delivers value, and what it does and does not do.A business model can change throughout the life of business or can be applied to a specific product, or to a nonprofit. It is a more general and concise statement than the business plan, but is still often used to explain the business and its activities to investors, banks or employees. Standard business models are often referred to in shorthand, such as subscription or low-cost leader. As we know a business model is the chemical mechanism by which a business intends to pecify a market offering. It is a summary of how a company plans to serve its customers and specifies its product offering.It mentions both the strategy and methods of implementation. As virago. com was world established, the delivery of information, goods , or services to end customers employed one strong business model called the Online Retailers of Physical Goods. This business model takes title to the newly construct products that they sell and often rely on third party providers. Like Amazon. com, it needed third party providers, such as Borders and Barnes Noble, to maintain its product supply. When Amazon. om was number one launched, Amazon. om was heralded for its feel-friendly culture that drew talented young people to apply for work there and employed smart hiring strategy by hiring the brightest, most ingenious and versatile people. Jeff Bezos wanted people who could share his vision and were willing to work to achieve it. He tried to establish a sense of community overdue to sharing both hard work and fun with his employees. Although pay was less than market salaries, attractive ownership options were offered. Amazons three operational strategies are 1 . Cost-Leadership Amazon places itself as leader based only on the pricing.It offers the same product quality for lesser price. 2. Customer Differentiation Amazon uses design, quality and convenience as a differentiator which set it apart from its close competitors. 3. Focus Strategies Customer service is the major focus while realizing that each market has its own quirks. Amazon. coms values and philosophy are at the center of the organization. These often determines the success and failure of the enterprise . The other important factors Amazon focuses on are customer delight and operational frugality. These two values complement Amazon. oms operational trategies in achieving and maintaining an effective competitive advantage. Growth Drivers There are four primary drivers for growth 1. harvest-tide focus 2. Customer focus 3. Technology focus 4. Distribution focus Using the above stated strategies, Amazon has managed to place itself in a positioning of power and success. 3. Use the 5 forces model to analyze and interpret the opportunities and threats that the industry within which a company operates (of your choice), throws up. Explain how the company plans to capitalise on the opportunities and accept the threats understanding where power lies in a business situation.It also helps to understand both the strength of a firms current competitive position, and the strength of a position a company is looking to move into. Despite the fact that the Five Force framework focuses on business concerns rather than public policy, it also emphasizes protracted competition for value rather than Just competition among existing rivals, and the simpleness of its application inspired numerous companies as well as business schools to resume its use (Wheelen and Hunger, 1998). * Chez Airlinbe company is not an isolated unit in the world and performs within a market full of other competitors.To be able to evaluate their position on market and to act accordingly they themed the Porters Five Forces Model. This model helped to define and r ealize their business and its surroundings and identify threats and opportunities to focthem on. They review this model periodically to obtain up-to-date data in this global and turbulent environment. The Porter Model consists of 5 elements which together comprises the environment business operate in. These elements are suppliers, customers, new entrants, existing competition and the product itself.By assessing every one of these elements they get the whole picture of heir company within the market and the rating helps them rear the key areas. They theme the scale of 0-5 to evaluate the policies of each element where O means no policies and 5 very high policies (reffering to the number in the brackets). * 1) Policies of Suppliers As they operate in the areas of services there are no lively commodities having large influence of their everyday service delivery. Therefore this area is not of critical policies in a short run.However, they should not underestimate this element as they wouldnt be able to continue the business in long run without suppliers. f their supply (3) This is a threat in case of the pass aroundcraft machines. There are not many reputable airplanes (and airplanes parts) producers and therefore they could have strong policies to control the air travel industry. As for the catering, gift services and other indirect materials there are many fragmented choice and therefore their policies is of almost no importee as they could be replaced quickly. There are no substitutes for the particular input (5) There are no substitutes for planes (in case they want to continue providing air back breaker instead of ground routes) and herefore the policies of this element is very high business critical. They could reduce this policies by handling cargo theming the earth services but this might precipitate service level they provide to their customers. * The suppliers customers are fragmented, so their bargaining policies is low (4) There are more than 20 0 airlines all over the world and in spite of some alliance organizations (such as IATA) they are all potential competitors.The policies of this element is relatively high as the suppliers could afford losing one customers but the customers cant afford loosing the critical supplier (e. g. Boeing). The switching costs from one supplier to another are high (3) Switching costs in air transport industry are mainly related to the fact of limited airplanes producers and to the machine a company already owns. They theme planes form 3 producers Airbthem, Boeing and ATR.

Comparrative Essay of Cooking Programs Essay Example for Free

Comparrative Essay of Cooking Programs EssayNigella Bites And surfriding the Menu ar two grooming programmes that share the same end forget of delicious foods, entirely are very distinct in the contrasting aspects of social context, form and purpose which all help to reflect the cooking styles and personalities of their hosts. The automated teller and contents of two shows generally appeal to the audiences of a different social status and/or age group. Set in Britain, the programme Nigella Bites appeals to an audience who croak to much of a wintertime climate. Each episode is formatted as a very comfortable and inviting home movie, using amateur camera work make it look more personal and family orientated. The show is filmed in Nigellas own house and kitchen allowing her audience to feel welcomed. Images and visuals of illustrated foods and vibrant pink colours are shown throughout the spring credits with Jazz medicament engagingly flowing in the background. Many o f her episodes begin with the view of a freezing British winter day/night and then follow onto Nigella being in the warmth of her own home.Surfing the Menu is a travelogue formatted programme set in Australia which promotes different towns and locations around the country in to each one episode. Along with catching/acquiring their own ingredients before cooking their meals, the hosts Curtis Stone and Ben ODonoghue aka Bender in addition make sure to interact with the culture of each location they shoot in, do the Programme very relaxed as well as educational to the viewers. The opening credits consist of a range of photo shots and bright colours that go with the themes of the tourism and the outdoors.While the boys are traveling cameras makes sure to capture different angles and views of the scenery, including aerial views of the land around them. The atmosphere for each show is evidently contrasted Nigella Bites is more of a matured cooking programme compared to the jovial attit ude of Surfing the Menu. Both shows have very different exterior climates which appeal to different audiences Nigella pursues the comforts of the indoor warmth compared to the blistering cold of its winters outside.This tends to attract those who deal to spend their time inside during the cold/wet days, such as women and mothers living in a winter climate wanting to create more wholesome and warm meals for their friends and families. Nigella showcases a particular social lifestyle that represents the enjoyment involved in cooking and preparing meals for the ones that are dear to her. Surfing the Menu further attracts, and is more of a target to those who are more outgoing, young and interested in the experience of Australias summer cultures.Both international and Australians viewers are drawn in by the advertised beauty of the scenery captured during each episode because of all the multicultural nature and Australian cuisine involved, advertising tourism within the country. Nigell a is portrayed as a very family orientated and homely person who always enjoys her food and loves to cook. She has a proper upper-class British focus and speaks in a husky, somewhat seductive voice.Nigella is currently in her late thirties and is seen as very sophisticated to her viewers, usually she cooks on her own further once her meal is cooked and ready she shows her serving and sharing the meals with her children and/or all of her family and friends. The way that she describes her ingredients and recipes along with the terminology she uses such as stunning, simply graceful and absolutely gorgeous makes it sound as if she is in love with what she is making, the endearment and emphasis she puts in makes her so believable and intriguing.Nigella tends to mainly use informal measurements and verbs to describe what she is doing which remind you of how a mother figure would teach you how to cook. Ben and Curtis on the other hand are completely different to Nigella, typical Aussie blokes is what they are stereotyped as. Both in their mid-twenties, always wearing informal and comfortable beach clothing and using a lot of Australian slang such as Mate and cast aside it on the barbie the boys give off a very relaxed and casual feeling to their viewers.The meals that Nigella prepares are heavy winter foods which are more time consuming but are perfect for those who have the time and love to cook. The Surfing the Menu recipes on the other hand are light summer foods that are brisk and easy to prepare. Nigella makes sure her cupboards are full of all the different ingredients that she uses and she then gives her viewers an insight of the different things that she likes to always make sure she has stocked, what they can be used for and why they come in handy for her to have around.Curtis and Ben use ingredients that are imported into the topical anesthetic stores such as stir-fry noodles that they cook on an Australian barbeque, along with many other ingredients that they go out and personally collect from the local produce or catch on their own in each episode. As well as collecting their own ingredients from each place they visit, each meal they prepare always relates to the location theyre in making the programme even more entertaining and educational.Typical cooking program camera techniques are used throughout both programs Nigella Bites and Surfing the Menu these techniques embarrass close-ups on the hands on action with the food preparation, and snap shots throughout the shows that are used to cut out the un-necessary preparation time and skip unbowed to the cooking, then to the completed meals. To show their personalities and connect with their audience both of the programmes hosts make sure to speak and look directly towards/into the camera whenever possible.Surfing the Menu excessively uses aerial shots during the car travels to capture the different scenery around them. Highlighted sounds of the cooking appliances and food be ing prepared are accompanied by soft music underneath throughout each episode in both Nigella Bites and Surfing the Menu to draw more attention to what they are doing. The contrasting features between both Nigella Bites and Surfing the Menu such as social context, form, purpose, audiences and the atmosphere differ due to the personalities and cooking styles of their hosts.Nigellas show expresses her love for warm homely meals and cooking for her family and friends during the cold British winters and the programme is filmed as a home movie style, which gives off an inviting comfortable feel to her audience. Curtis and Bens show however, reflects on the adventures and experiences of local cultures during the warm Australian summer days and is filmed as a travelogue. Both of the programmes hosts have very similar camera etiquettes and happy/warm, engaging mannerisms.

Rain Water Harvesting As Water Scarcity Solution Environmental Sciences Essay

Rain Water Harvesting As Water Scarcity Solution Environmental Sciences EssayAvailability of pissing is exact for ecosystem health and productivity, ensuring supply of a range of products and services, to benefit compassionate well-being (e.g., GEO4, 2007 MA, 2005). Future pressures from climate change, growing population, rapid land put on changes and already spendthrift urine resource feature, whitethorn intensify weewee supply shortages in specific communities and exacerbate existing environmental and economic concerns (5). Population more or less the world forthwith depends on the renewable resources of water system for their water needs in industrial, awkward and domestic sectors. notwithstanding when these be withdrawals be greater than 20% of heart and soul renewable resources, water tune often is a limiting factor on ontogeny withdrawals of 40% or more than represents high stress. Similarly, water stress may be a problem if a country or region has less t han 1,700 m3 yr-1 of water per capita (4). In 1990, almost one-third of the worlds population lived in countries development more than 20% of their water resources, and by 2025 ab issue 60% of a larger total would be living in such stressed countries, in the absence of climate change largely because of population growth (6).IPCC in its Third Assessment Report predicts that increase of temperature between 1-2C would overhaul to light in water supply in regions already suffering from water scarceness such as the Mediterranean, southeastwardern Africa, and arid gos of central and south Asia affecting half a billion people. These celestial spheres will be further affected if the temperature increases 2-3 C (1).With growing number of population belonging to the water stress celestial spheres of the world, it has become crucial for humans to find out alternative sources of water, proper counsel of the given resources and bring in technological changes to improve water use. thou gh centralized water worry systems has a huge impact on our lives today, societies, government and citizens around the world argon looking out of alternative resources to augment the available water resources. Rainwater pull together, as one of such methods, is the accumulating and storing, of fallfall. Depending on local environmental conditions, water harvesting may provide a appurtenant supply, an alternative supply or the only feasible improved supply. The current centralized water supply paradigm which is followed in all the cities of the world seems unsustainable and passing high on energy consumption. In United States, about 4% of the U.S power generation is use for water supply to the population and electricity represents approximately 75 percent of the cost of municipal water processing and distribution (19) (20). As an alternative paradigm for more sustainable water availability, harvesting pelting, storing it in tanks, and recharging groundwater may be use to pro vide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation or to refill aquifers. In rural areas, pelting gage be used to even supplement agricultural income with low horticultural projects and maintaining improved amount of livestock apart from developing the lumber of life of rural women in many parts of the world who spends a considerable portion of their day- to- day life in collecting water for drinking and house hold purposes. In just one day, more than 200 million hours of womens meter is consumed for the most basic of human needs collecting water for domestic use (21)( I s gutter remember, the distance I used to travel to collect water from nearby reservoirs as kid visiting my village during holidays back in India). As the civil society is becoming more aware and sensitized regarding its potential, rainfall harvesting can also be scaled up to neighborhood and micro-watershed levels. much than one out of six people privation retrieve to safe drinking water, nam ely 1.1 billion people, and more than deuce out of six lack adequate sanitation, namely 2.6 billion people (Estimation for 2002, by the WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2004). Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses, tents and local institutions, or from specially prepared areas of ground, can make an important division to drinking water. Rainwater systems are simple to construct from inexpensive local materials, and are potentially successful in most habitable locations. Roof rainfall can be of good quality and may not require treatment before consumption. Although some rooftop materials may produce rainwater that is harmful to human health, it can be useful in flushing toilets, washing clothes, watering the garden and washing cars these uses amount to a substantial amount of water used by a typical home. In many parts of the world, households and communities convey augmented or substituted their household supplies with rainwater for reasons of scarcity, salinity, quality of service and fo r risk substitution. While rainwater may not of all metre provide a full-year round of supply, it enhances water security in the house and generally provides a good quality water. historical development of rainwater harvestingWater has been important for the development of cultural complexity in human society during the Holocene and earlier (16). Human ancestors have always used aquatic resources to their benefit (18), as we see the earliest association of hominid ancestors with lakes and pools dating back to 6 and 7 m.y. ago (Upper Miocene) from northern Chad, key Africa(19).Rainwater collection is one of the oldest means of collecting water for domestic purposes. Archaeological excavations document ancient rainwater harvesting in Mesoamerica, the Mediterranean, and the Orient (10). Historically, in Baluchistan (erstwhile India and straightway in Pakistan), evidence of simple stone-rubble structures for impounding rainwater dates back to the third millennium BC (8). Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, rainwater collection were already a common technique throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East, used by Egyptians, Palestinians, Iranians, Iraqis, Yemenis, Greeks and Romans(9). In the Negev desert in Israel, tanks for storing overflow from hillsides for both domestic and agricultural purposes have allowed habitation and cultivation in areas with as little as ampere-secondmm of rain per year.. Water was collected from roofs and other hard surfaces and stored in underground tanks, or excavated reservoirs (cisterns) with masonry domes (9). In some parts of the Middle East, rainwater was collected from hard surface areas and channeled through vertical shafts to horizontal tunnels (qanars) that in turn led the water to underground reservoirs (22). In addition to the traditional rainwater harvesting techniques found in India, North Africa and the western Mediterranean, there are also examples from Thailand, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indon esia and the small islands in the Pacific. In sub-Saharan Africa, the collection of rainwater was (and is) practiced using small containers, in among others, most of Southern Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. The earliest known evidence of the use of the technology in Africa comes from northern Egypt, where tanks ranging from 200-2000m3 have been used for at least 2000 years many are still operational today (7). Even in western sandwich Europe, historical records show that in many places rainwater was the primary drinking water source for drinking water, the same applies to the Americas and Australia. In all three continents rainwater continues to be an important source for isolated homesteads and farms (11).Rainwater harvesting for domestic water use in modern dayThough there is significant evidence of rainwater harvesting in the world historically, it was lost to peoples memory for sometime due to extensive water supply systems which came in place with the urbanisation of the w orld. Potential for rainwater use is wide and there are many ways of capturing the rainwater runoff. In this paper, I would however like to focus more on the domestic usage of rainwater. Alternative sources of domestic water are becoming particularly important in urban areas of the world as urban population is rapidly increasing. Since 1950, the number of people living in urban areas has jumped from 750 million to more than 2.5 billion people. Currently, some 61 million people are added to cities each year through rural to urban migration, natural increase within cities, and the transformation of villages into urban areas(7). Due to the severe challenges of water stress and scarcity issues in the world today, these small stand alone techniques of water supply is becoming popular. Urbanization of the world has also changed the way houses are built world-wide and concrete roofing is providing good catchment areas closer to the domestic water users. Plastic and Ferro-cement tanks has also become a good alternative to earthen tanks as reliable, economic and durable means of water cisterns. Rapid urbanization of the cities around the world has also brought forward the faults of the water distribution systems in many parts of the world, peculiarly in the developing countries where people have felt the need to become self sufficient in water supply within their means. As the quality and quantity of ground water is decreasing, rainwater is becoming an alternative source. Urbanization also is bringing together large number of people within littler areas to live such has flats, apartments, residential complexes etc where rainwater harvesting is becoming a federation based approach where the cost of follow throughation and the benefits are getting shared within the members of the communities.Rainwater harvesting can be categorized in a number of different ways according to the type of catchment surface used and by implication the scale of activity. Essentially these are either rooftop, ground, or rock with rooftop being most suited to respective(prenominal) household or community water supply, while ground and rock being more geared towards agricultural irrigation. Conceptually, rainwater harvesting catchments can vary in size from the single house to a river basinFigure Source -http//buildandrebuild.com/rainwater-harvesting-and-you/Rooftop rainwater harvesting however is a very small percentage of the total rainwater run-off. But as a small scale and domestic activity, this is significant as the production control and use of these sources are maintained and controlled by domestic users. For arid and semi arid countries, rain-water is often the most readily accessible water source at the community and household level, although distribution of rainfall during the year, and transshipment center undeniable for the change months can provide a problem. Rainwater collected using existing structures has few negative environmental impacts compare d to other technologies for water resources development. Rainwater is relatively clean and the quality is usually acceptable for many purposes with little or even no treatment. The physical and chemical properties of rainwater are usually skipper to sources of groundwater that may have been subjected to contamination. Rainwater harvesting can co-exist with and provide a good supplement to other water sources and utility systems, thus relieving pressure on other water sources. Rainwater harvesting provides a water supply buffer for use in times of emergency or break tidy sum of the macrocosm water supply systems, particularly during natural disasters. Rainwater harvesting can reduce storm drainage load and flooding in city streets. Users of rainwater are usually the owners who operate and manage the catchment system, hence, they are more likely to exercise water conservation because they know how much water is in storage and they will try to prevent the storage tank from drying up .Rainwater harvesting technologies are flexible and can be built to meet almost any requirements. Construction, operation, and nourishment are not labour intensive (7).Rainwater harvesting system also produce beneficial externalities in reducing peak storm water runoff and associated processing cost.Rainwater harvesting as a sustainable water strategyAccess of water according to the UN is officially defined as 20 lpd within a 1 km distance from ones dwelling. The UN considers this a minimal standard to which all countries, even low income ones, can aspire. This definition has been critiqued on two counts (1) 1 km is a considerable distance, especially when carrying water, which is heavy. For many women and girls, who make up the great proportion of water carriers, fetching the family minimum could require several(prenominal)(prenominal) 1 km trips each way a significant barrier to actual access. (2) Climatic variations are not accounted for in the universal definition of access (1 5). Rainwater harvesting can significantly address this issue and become a sustainable water source across the climatic condition if the prudence systems are robust and the water collected can be channelized to reload groundwater. For example, Jordan faces a huge water crisis. Results of a study show that a ut callost of 15.5 Mm3/y of rainwater can be collected from roofs of residential buildings provided that all surfaces are used and all rain falling on the surfaces is collected. This is equivalent to 5.6% of the total domestic water supply of the year 2005. The potential for water harvesting varies among the governorates, ranging from 0.023-106 m3 for the Aqaba governorate to 6.45-106 m3 for the Amman governorate. The potential for potable water savings was estimated for the 12 governorates, and it ranged from 0.27% to 19.7% (13).Rainwater harvesting can also reduce the dependence on the centralized water supply systems. Mega-Cites worldwide are facing similar challenges of wat er scarcity and water stress like polluted freshwater resources, overexploited groundwater resources, insufficient or poorly maintained water supply infrastructure systems and insufficient technical and water management capacities (14).Small pockets of water resources within a city are more resilient and can draw on rainwater and groundwater, providing the city with greater flexibility in the face of water shortages, operational failures and natural disasters. History tells us that cultures do not give up until they have exhausted options for survival over the area they occupied for longer period. The Mayan civilization is a case in point, which developed around 3000 years ago in Mesoamerica, and faced recurrent droughts due to solar forcing before it collapsed due to climate deterioration towards the end of the Classic Period. Ancient reservoir technology developed by the Mayan people in the seasonally dry tropics of southern Maya lowlands reveals that rainwater storage was a major source of water supply during the dry season. Reservoirs were constructed, for example, in Tikal to cope with seasonal scarcity of water (16).Rainwater harvesting can also improve the situations of urban flooding. More land area around the world today is getting covered by asphalt and concrete as new roads are laid down to support increasing amount of transport use of urban population. This has lead to the lower seepage of surface water to replenish ground water resources. In the United States alone, pavements and other impervious surfaces cover more than 43,000 square miles-an area nearly the size of Ohio-according to research published in the 15 June 2004 issue of Eos, the newsletter of the American Geophysical Union. Collection of rainwater significantly reduces this stormwater to flow down the sewer systems of a city. At times, this is effective in controlling urban flooding which happens when too much of water due to precipitation flows down the sewerage system which are not c apable of handling the amount does not function properly.Evidences and policies of successful rainwater harvesting around the world-As the world tries out new methods to address the newer problems it face in solving natural resources scarcity issues and which in fact has been a significant factor for human civilization from time immemorial, rainwater harvesting experiments as a source of water is also happening worldwide. Currently there is no US agency that has focus on Rainwater Harvesting and bring ups are rapidly doing their own thing. The H.R. 3598 Energy and Water Research Integration Act which has been passed by the House of Representative in celestial latitude 2009 which is formulated to to ensure consideration of water intensity in the Department of Energys energy research, development, and demonstration programs to help guarantee efficient, reliable, and sustainable delivery of energy and water resources(32) may promote federal support in rainwater harvesting. Some states of Usa have significantly worked in promoting rainwater harvesting. In October of 2008, the city of Tucson, azimuth became the first municipality in the country to require developers of commercial properties to harvest rainwater for landscaping. The new measure approved by a unanimous vote by the City Council requires that new developments meet 50% of their landscaping water requirements by capturing rainwater. The new rule went into effect on June 1, 2010. Arizona taxpayers who install a water conservation system after January 1, 2007, and before January 1, 2012, may take a one-time tax credit of 25% of the cost of the system (up to a maximum of $1,000). This can be claimed over multiple tax years, but no taxpayer can receive more than a total of $1000 in credits through this program. Builders are eligible for an income tax credit of up to $200 per residence unit constructed with a water conservation system installed (17). Some government grants in Arizona also have given the s cope of funding rainwater harvesting projects within an amount of $5000 (25). The Cincinnati EPA office has instituted a program to give incentives to homeowners for rain gardens or rain barrels to improve quality/timing of stormwater runoff, rather than promoting a central engineering solution. The City of Austin Water Conservation plan distributes over 250 rain barrels per month to homeowners at a subsidized cost, and provides rebates for the installation of approved cistern systems. Commercial/industrial properties can receive rebates up to $40,000 for the installation of rainwater harvesting and greywater systems. New commercial facilities must install a separate irrigation meter costing between $5,000 and $25,000 unless they can provide 100% of all outdoor water needs from alternate water sources such as rain, grey-water, and air conditioning condensate (26). With Clean River Rewards which is the storm-water utilitys discount program of Portland, helps ratepayers save up mone y and work for clean rivers and healthy watersheds at the same time through storm-water management in individual properties. There is an 100percent discount on the onsite storm-water management charges because these actions helps protect the rivers, streams and the groundwater(27).Rainwater harvesting methods are used as sources of water supply in other parts in USA and more and more state governments are coming out to give this method a try. In California, the California Rainwater Capture Act of 2010, would authorize a landowner to install, maintain, and operate, on the landowners property, a rainwater capture system meeting specified requirements. The bill is also known as AB 1834 (35).In California however there is no tax credit given to the people in order to install rainwater harvesting equipments. In New Mexico however there is no mandatary law to install rainwater harvesting in individual houses, but there is a tax credit for NEW Green Buildings, which could include rainwater harvesting. For Build Green New Mexico Gold level, the maximum possible credit is $11,000.00 per house. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water has implement Community Conservation Assistance Program has created a voluntary incentive based program for promoting rainwater harvesting and awareness generation educational programmes are in place, notwithstanding there is no tax incentives in place. Under this program the landowner may be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the pre-established modal(a) cost of the BMP (best management practices). Included in this program are Rainwater Harvesting Systems (36) (37) (38).Around the world, rain water harvesting has many success stories. In Singapore, rainwater harvesting is growing as rapid urbanization is inducing rapid water demand. In Changi Airport, rainwater is collected from the runways which are used principally for non-potable functions such fire-fighting drills and toilet flushin g. Such collected and treated water accounts for 28 to 33% of the total water used, resulting in savings of approximately S$ 390,000 per annum. In India, direct recharge of rainwater into the ground (40) resulted in groundwater level increases of up to 5 to 10 metres in just two years. Water scarcity problems in Indonesia, has made government introduce a regulation requiring that all buildings have an infiltration well. The regulation applies to two-thirds of the territory, including the Special Province of Yogyakarta, the Capital Special Province of Jakarta, westmost Java and Central Java Province. It was estimated that if each house in Java and Madura had its own infiltration well, the water deficit of 53% by the year of 2000 would be reduced to 37%, which translates into a net savings of 16% through conservation. UNICEF is working with communities in Alor in Indonesia and the communities has a very positive response towards this attempt (39).In Tokyo, Japan rainwater and reclaim ed waste water is used to address water demand in emergency cases. There are 850 facilities for rainwater use in Tokyo. Since reclaimed wastewater use has several benefits, a huge water volume has been utilized for various purposes such as washing water-cooling, toilet flushing, waterway restoration and creation of recreational waterfront (30).There are many case studies and success stories, feasibility studies on rainwater harvesting methods and uses in the world today. An arrant(a) list of all of them is beyond the scope of this paper. Inter case organization for promoting sustainable environmental strategies like UNEP are growingly focusing on this method as to furnish water needs of communities to attain the objectives of Millennium Development Goals. Poorer countries in Africa and Asia are experimenting on harvesting rainwater for various human uses for a long time now in order to answer some of the persistent water problems plaguing human lives in these continents.Evaluation of rainwater harvesting as a water resource-As rainwater harvesting is emerging in many regions of the world as a sustainable means of addressing short term and long term water scarcity, it is critical to understand the robustness of the system. Purity of rain water is in question when there are instances of acid rain all around the world. Growing air pollution in urban areas also pollute the rain before it falls and therefore rainwater harvesting requires treatment mechanics to make the water fit for human consumption. Rainfall intensity and the number of dry days preceding a rainfall event significantly affects the quality of run-off water from the catchment systems. Presence of fecal coli form and other microbiological contaminants, zinc concentration due to the material used in roofing are some of the shortfalls of rainwater harvesting (41). Household water management practices where rainwater is used as non-potable household use and the limited water supplied by the central wa ter service system as potable water source can be a good alternative. Newer technological developments can easily solve these problems of contaminants in rainwater though it may significantly increase the cost of the water. Household level water catchment areas are often small and it is increasingly smaller when we think of urban areas. Moreover, as people around the world prefer to stay apartments, access to individual roofs for each water consumer is impossible. But this also gives the scope of community matter and shares the cost. Small involvements like managing a rainwater catchment in a building can bring in greater differences in how people think about the water availability. It becomes educational and it brings in awareness which translates in how we look towards the way we use water in our daily lives. People understands solutions of the problems they face better than analytic thinking of their problem, when solutions are within their reach, they implement them. In the ev olution of human civilization, it can be studied that humans have addressed their needs in small measures which together as brought in changes in they we live out life today.Popularizing rainwater harvesting requires significant push by the governmental institution. Water till date is used as a free good in many parts of the world and people generally do not have the mental set up to invest for water services and thinks that it is the responsibility of the government. Interestingly in some states of USA like Utah, Colorado and Washington, catching rain water was against the law as it reduces the water catchment area for downstream users if water is taken in up stream. Rainwater harvesting was possible in these states if the individual user goes through the process of gaining a state water right. With the growing problems of water scarcity in these regions, governments are slowly taken small yet bold steps in legalizing rain water harvesting by domestic users. Colorado is taking baby steps towards legalizing rainwater collection. Senate Bill 80 was signed by the Governor on 4/22/09 and becomes law on July 1, 2009. It allows rural catchment (Senate Bill 80), but still has some hurdles for those that requisite to move forward (42). The Department of Ecology of the State of Washington, on October 12, 2009 issued an Interpretive Policy Statement clarifying that a water right is not needed for rooftop rainwater harvesting (43).In Utah, the state passed Senate Bill 32 in 2010 which permits rainwater catchment for maximum capacity of no more than 2,500 gallons. There are several other restrictions, but the state engineer must grant the permit if all the conditions are met. In countries, around the world especially India and China which are experiencing rapid industrial developments, rainwater harvesting is also becoming a feasible policy advice. In the 11 Five Year Plan of the political relation of India, rainwater harvesting is taken into consideration where sourc es of groundwater are limited. The plan stress that restoration and building of tanks and other water bodies along with rainwater harvesting structures for recharge and for direct collection at community and household levels constitute an attractive option. The Central Government should support the states for tapping the maximum external assistance for this purpose, a part of the assistance could be shared by the Centre as decided in the case of the external assisted Water Bodies Restoration Programme wherein 25% grant of the project cost is passed on to the states (45). The Water law of the Peoples Republic of China was promulgated on Oct.1 2002, This is the law concerning the water resources in a national scope, which pointed out definitely the national government encourages citizens to use rainwater and tiny salt water for the purposes of harvesting, exploitation and utilization in regions short of water resources.(46) For promoting the development of rainwater utilization, the N ational Construction Department announced the Chinese ecosystem residence technique valuation manual in 2001 and updated it three times in the following(a) three years, each edition formulating content about rain water utilization (47).

Alibaba Is A Business To Business Company Marketing Essay

Alibaba Is A Business To Business Company Marketing EssayAlibaba.com is regarded as a dominant pseudo and a high-growth confederacy imputable to its large membership base and its phenomenal growth. Its essence registered occasionr base grew from 6.0 million in 2004 to 19.6 million in 2006. In the same vein, it registered a accumulative annual growth rate of 94.8% in 2006 alone. nonpareil of its major competitors in the inter case securities industryplace B2B giant globose Sources, which has an online directory of many other B2B dos it offered, such(prenominal) as print business directories and exhibitions, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 7). However, Alibaba.com has various strengths which served as its agonistical advantages over globose Sources and other competitors.Indeed, Alibaba.com should continue in being a dominant player in the B2B eCommerce industry. Among all the upcoming B2B in china, Alibaba.com has received much despite not been listed in NASDAQ .In 2001 the company was featured by Forbes as its cover romance also selected as the wholly firm on the Forbes Best of the WebB2B list founded in china (Doebele,2000).By 2002 the Alibaba.com was selected and featured by Forbes again as its only Best of the WebB2B in the month of folk.(Qin Hu et al.,2004).1. 0 Background1.1 What is Alibaba.comAlibaba.com was founded in June 1999 by Jack Ma and eighteen other founders (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 3). It is a business-to-business portal which allows suppliers of everything from 176 countries to plug in with buyers around the world. (Bi, 2002). The Companys founder Jack Ma was nominated as one of the 100 Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic forum and was honored as a recipient in the Asian Business Association Business Leadership Award in 2001, on the 27 celestial latitude 2001 with the registered 1,000,000 Alibaba.com member, which became the only B2B Webster with 1,000,000 registered business members from 202 countries. (Qin Hu et al., 2004)Since inaugurating its website in simplified Chinese to serve the Chinese mainland market in 1999 (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 3), it has now become worlds largest online business-to-business world-wide trading marketplace, with 2.5 million and 14 million registered users in its international and Chinese domestic marketplaces severally , (Alibaba.com A Smiling club with a Dream, undated).Based on the number of registered users and market fate by revenue at the end of the second quarter of 2007, Alihaba.com was considered as the largest online B2B company in china. The international marketplace was served through its incline language website which caters to global importers and exporters (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4). On the other hand, the china marketplace was served by its Chinese language website, Alibaba.com which caters to domestic suppliers and buyers (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4).Alibaba.com online transaction basically has six levels as describe CTO,John Wu which are information exchange , negotiation, price bargaining, shipping, insurance, inspection and customs processing and payment. As its lowest level that Alibaba.com operates. In other words it only provides an information platform on which the buyers and sellers resonate and post business information.(Qin Hu et al 2004).Farhoomand (2008, p. 4) explains that the business model of Alibaba.com centers on the use of the marketplace by suppliers and buyers who would establish their presence online, identify potential trading partners and manoeuvre business with each other. Farhoomand (2008, p. 4) describes the flair by which the Alibaba.com interface is used by suppliers and buyers in China and around the world in their trading activities, suppliers and some buyers would use the marketplaces to host their company profiles and catalogues in standardised formats known as storefronts and post listings such as products, services and trade leads. Users could view storefronts and listings in over 30 industry categor ies and nearly 5,000 product categories by either looking for keywords or browsing through the online industry directory. (Farhoomand 2008, p. 4). configuration 1 presents the value proposition of Alibaba.com and the manner by which it effectively facilitates the conduct of trade within the context of B2B commerce. condition 1 Alibaba.coms Value PropositionSource Farhoomand (2008, p. 17)Figure 2 below shows the exemplary process of trade in Alibaba.com. Suppliers and buyers were able to successfully establish large online comminutes in Alibaba.com which features active listings, enquiry exchanges, instant messaging, discussion forums and other user-friendly confederacy features, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4).Figure 2 A Typical Trading Process in Alibaba.comSource Farhoomand (2008, p. 17)Although Alibaba.com offers free basic services to its all its registered members, it generates is revues from the services purchased by suppliers which include membership packages that provided prior ity placement of storefronts and listings in the industry directory and search results, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 5). These suppliers are charged from their subscription to value-added services which include (1) purchase of additional keywords which help improve their search result rankings and (2) premium placement on Alibaba.coms web pages (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 5).1.2 Why Should Alibaba.com be Considered a High developing Company?Alibaba.com should be considered as a high-growth company due to its large membership base and its phenomenal growth. Its total registered user base grew from 6.0 million in 2004 to 19.6 million in 2006. In the same vein, the total number of its paying members grew from 77,922 in 2004 to 219, 098 in 2006. Figures 3 and 4 below show the growth in the number of Alibaba.coms registered users and paying members, respectively..Figure 3 Growth in the Number of Alibaba.coms Registered Users from 2004 to 2006.Source Farhoomand (2008, p. 5).Figure 4 Growth in the Num ber of Alibaba.coms Paying Members from 2004 to 2006.By the end of 2007, Alibaba.com has already successfully captured 50% of the market share of Chinas online e-commerce revenue (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 19). Figure 5 below presents the market share of Chinas online e-Commerce Market by Revenue. Basically the pie chart demonstrated how successful Alibaba.com has been able to vex above its major competitors by seizing half of the market share.Figure 5 Market Share of Chinas Online E-Commerce Market by RevenueSource Farhoomand (2008, p. 19).Moreover, its phenomenal growth in the B2B industry is buttressed by its impressive financial standing. By the end of 2004, its annual revenues totaled US$48.3 million, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 5). With a cumulative annual growth rate of 94.8%, its annual revenues amounted to US$183.2 million at the end of 2006. Figure 6 below presents the financial data of Alibaba.com from 2004-2007.Figure 6 fiscal Data of Alibaba.com from 2004-2007Source Farhoomand (2 008, p. 5)1.3 Who is Jack Ma?Jack Ma is the founder and chairman of Alibaba.com and is a native of Hangzhou, which is situated approximately 100 miles southwest of Shanghai, where the companys home base resided (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 3). Jack Ma is one of the graduation entrepreneurs to develop e-commerce in China, (Alibaba.com A Smiling Community with a Dream, undated). He, together with his partners bind successfully established the by-line (1) first profits commercial website in China (2) a B2B marketplace platform for suppliers and buyers around the word (3) the worlds first on-line(a) credit platform for companies, called the perpetrate Pass (Alibaba.com A Smiling Community with a Dream, undated).Jack Ma grew up during Chinas Cultural Revolution and became fascinated in learning English at the tender age of 12, (Farhoomand, 2008, pp. 3-4 Fannin, 2008). For eight old age, he rode 40 minutes every morning on his bicycle to a hotel near the West Lake and practised his Engl ish by giving free tour guides to foreigners, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4). Later, when he decided to pursue a degree in education out of his desire to teach English to high school students, he flunked his admission exam twice for a University, prior top being accepted at Hangzhou Teachers University, (Fannin, 2008). After graduating, he was offered a teaching job with a rate of 100 to 120 renminbi, which is equivalent to USD $12 to $15 per month, (Fannin, 2008). Then in 1995, he was employed by the Chinese government to settle a dispute between a Chinese firm and its US partner, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4). The US partner held Ma captive at breaker point for two days before he regained his freedom by agreeing to become a partner in an internet startup in China, even though he had no concept of the internet at all, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4).During the same year, Ma joined a trade delegation in Seattle as an interpreter wherein a friend showed him a computer with an internet connection (Fan nin, 2008 Farhoomand, 2008). There, he was surprised to find out that nothing turned up in the search results when he searched for the word China. This prompted Ma and his friend to set-up a website and name it China Pages ((Fannin, 2008). Upon his return to China, he borrowed $2,000 to establish China Pages which shared a strikingly similar political theory with Alibaba.com to list Chinese companies on the internet and help foreigners find their websites, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4). However, China Telecom bought out his stake which eventually forced him to return to civil service. In 1998, he started to resume work on his survey of connecting Chinese companies to the world through the internet. Then, in December of that same year, Ma finally realised his vision with the establishment of Alibaba.com, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4 Fannin, 2008).Indeed, Ma had the makings of a successful business leader. Under his leadership, Alibaba.com became a leading B2B marketplace which have successfu lly attracted much than 17million registered members in 220 countries globally, with free-and-easy postings exceeding 35 million, making Alibaba.com the most active Internet marketplace and B2B community worldwide, (Alibaba.com A Smiling Community with a Dream, undated).1.4 What is the Basis for the Report?This composition is primarily based on secondary data obtained from the case study undertaken by Farhoomand (2008) and from other relevant online and offline lineages. This study did not use any uncreated research methods such as interviews in gathering information about Alibaba.com.2.0 The beginning of Alibaba.comJack Ma officially launched Alibaba.com online in December 1998, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 3). Alibaba.com originally served as a bulletin board service for businesses to post buy and sell trade leads. Jack Ma and 18 other founders established the Alibaba group in June, 1999, which is the parent company. It first served clients domestically (Farhoomand, 2008,p.3).2.1 Th e OpportunityIn 1995, while in Seattle, Jack Ma made his first contact with the computer and internet and was floor to find out that no search results could be found for the keyword China. Together with a friend, Ma decided to set up an online company and name it China pages. In 1998, upon his return to China, he launched China Pages which featured a list of companies on the internet and help foreigners find their websites, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4). After three months, Ma and his aggroup established Alibaba China which was a major operating subsidiary in China and which served to carry out the business of operating B2B marketplaces, ((Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4). After three more months, three more sites were set up by the team, which include (1) an English site for international users (2) a Korean site for Korean users and (3) a traditionalistic Chinese site for Chinese users outside China ((Farhoomand, 2008, p. 4).2.2 Competitive EnvironmentEven during its infancy, Alibaba.com has already been faced with immobile competition from rivals based domestically and internationally, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 7). One of its major competitors in the international marketplace B2B giant Global Sources, which has an online directory of many other B2B services it offered, such as print business directories and exhibitions, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 7). Global Sources was first established in Hong Kong in 1971 as a monthly trade magazine for consumer products made in Asia for export to Western markets , (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 7). As of the end of September 2007, Global Sources already has a community of over 647,000 buyers and 160,000 suppliers (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 7).Moreover, Global Sources has successfully (1) enabled suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 230 countries (2) delivered information on two million products each year (3) operated 14 online marketplaces that delivered more than 23 million sales leads annually (4) published 13 monthly magazines and over 100 sourcing research reports per year and (5) organised nine-spot trade-specific exhibitions that ran 22 times a year across seven cities, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 7). Farhoomand (2008, p. 7) explains that Global Sources could be considered as a serious threat to Alibaba.com because its revenue source was work shift online, as evidenced by its 2006 annual report demonstrating that online businesses generated over 40% of total revenue. Figure 7 below shows the contributors to Global Sources revenues for 2006.Figure 7 Contributors to Global Sources 2006 RevenuesSource Farhoomand (2008, p. 8)2.3 Strategic Review of the External Situation at Start upMa only had to carry out very little digest before launching Alibaba.com due to the structure of the B2B marketplace subsector at that time, which is characterised by a high national internet penetration rate and a spicy growth of the Chinese online shopping market the Chinese B2B eCommerce Market, the Chinese SME and usage of third party e Commerce among Chinese SMEs (Farhoomand, 2008).2.4 What Competences were RequiredThere were numerous competencies required in the establishment of Alibaba.com. First, it needs to posses the capacity to make its online marketplaces more effective for SMEs around the world, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 6). To do this, Alibaba.com needed to employ people with the necessary technical skills . Moreover, it needed to have people who could help it (1) expand of it user base and active listing and (2) enhance community experiences to further improve user loyalty and activity through continued development and introduction of new features and tools (Farhoomand, p. 7).2.5 Summary of Alibaba.coms Early YearsAlibaba.com was officially launched online in December 1998. On July 9, 1999, and September 9, 1999, Alibaba (China) Technology Co., Ltd was founded in Hong Kong and Hangzhou, respectively (Alibaba.com A Smiling Community with a Dream, undated). In October 1999, Goldman Sachs invested USD 5 millio n in Alibaba. (Alibaba.com A Smiling Community with a Dream, undated). In October 2000, Alibaba launched the Gold Supplier membership scheme to serve Chinese exporters, followed in August 2001 by the launch of International TrustPass, a membership service catering to exporters outside China. China TrustPass was launched in March 2002 to serve SMEs engaged in domestic trade, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 3).3.0 Alibaba.coms Development from 2002 20073.1 Evolution of Alibaba.comOn March 2002, Alibaba China launched its TrustPass plan initiative, which made Alibaba the worlds first on-line credit business community, (Alibaba.com A Smiling Community with a Dream, undated). By the end of that same year, Alibaba.com has successfully started making profits (Alibaba.com A Smiling Community with a Dream, undated). After several years, in November 2007, Alibaba.com debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising US$1.5 billion to become the worlds biggest internet crack since Googles initial publi c offering (IPO) in 2004, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 1). According to Qin Hu et al.,(2004) many other businesses owner believe that alibaba.com growth and impact will only become more prevailing in the future.Over the years the sale of goods on the internet by American firms is assumed to reach US$ 1.3 million by 2003.By 2004 the European online business to business sales is expect to be US$1.6 million compare to China largest population in the world. However some companies in euro are still probing this new source of revenue.3.2 Understanding the Market and Their Target CustomerAlibaba.com operates in a business environment whose structure is largely shaped by the following (1) National internet penetration rate (2) Chinese online shopping market (3) the Chinese B2B eCommerce Market (4) the Chinese SME and (5) usage of third party eCommerce among Chinese SMEs (Farhoomand, 2008). In terms of the national internet penetration rate, in 2007, China registered an internet penetration rate o f 12.3% trailing after the US, Japan and South Korea, whose penetration rates were above 65% (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 2). However, Chinas internet penetration rate has been documented to grow at approximately three percentage points annually. Figure 8 shows Chinas internet penetration rate from 2002 to 2007.Figure 8 Chinas Internet Penetration Rate from 2002 to 2007Source Farhoomand (2008, p. 10).In the same vein, Chinas online shopping market has also showed a rapid trend of growth (see Figure 9 below).Figure 9 Chinas Online Shopping Market from 2006 to 2007.Source Farhoomand (2008, p. 10).4.0 The Future for Alibaba.comJust one after the IPO in 2007, Alibaba.com has already considered a imperil with Softbank. Although the Japanese telecom giant disclosed no details regarding the venture, it was likely that Alibaba.com would expand its service to mobile users in Japan, a market that had been impenetrable to the Chinese e-commerce company, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 9). In China, Alibaba.c om toppled EachNet, an older rival backed by global leader eBay, (Farhoomand, 2008, p. 1).The future of Alibaba.com seems bright due to a combination of the positive influence of its competitive strengths and effective strategies. According to Farhoomand (2008), Alibaba.com has numerous strengths which serve as its competitive advantages over its rivals. These strengths include the following (1) it had effectively built a premier brand in the e-commerce domain, boasting the highest traffic among all online B2B marketplaces (2) it focused exclusively on the highly lucrative SME sector and provided tools and solutions tailored to SMEs, Alibaba.com was confident in the value proposition of their service offerings and (3) its sales force and customer service support in attracting and retaining users, especially those who paid for subscriptions, were excellent.5.0 ConclusionsThe results of the critical examination of the various information regarding Alibaba.com, including its strengths and achievements only indicate that Alibaba.com should persist a dominant player in the B2B marketplace category of eCommerce. Its solid financial standing would help it whether the uncertainties of the future which is largely brought about by the stiff competition in the industry. Moreover, its sound and innovative business model is rather hard to copy, making it difficult for new entrants to compete with Alibaba.com. With respect to its key competitor, Global Sources, Alibaba.com only needs to continue to innovate and diversify its businesses in order to gain competitive advantage over Global Sources and other international rivals.

Boracay Tourist Attractions

Boracay Tourist AttractionsAccording to Tourism Philippines, Boracay is famous for its long snow-whitened sandy boundes, and is also a popular outlet for water sports activities much(prenominal) as scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing etc. Other than the sandy beaches, Boracay is well known for the nightlife and party scene. There are numerous bars and clubs along the wholly stretch of beach, mostly located at station 2 of Boracay. Spas are also readily at most places you can even find fencesitter masseurs patrolling the beaches (Tourism Philippines, 2008, Retrieved From http//tourism-philippines.com/boracay-travel-guide/)According to corporate.mozcom.com, The scoop out part of the island is its 4 km. egg white Beach, also called long beach by the locals. It is situated at the west coast between the villages of Angol and Balabag, and approximately experienced travellers claim it to be the finest beach of all Asia. The water is shallow here and its sand brighter and finer than mo st beaches in the archipelago. There are or so 350 beach resorts with 2000 rooms to suit virtually everyones taste. There is accommodation of all types and price categories. Restaurants range form the native fastfood stalls to establishments that would satisfy even a gourmet. You can find beer joints as well as discos with amazing light and sound equipment. (corporate.mozcom.com, n.d, Retrieved From http//corporate.mozcom.com/dot/r6/borfacts.html)Nestor P. Burgos Jr. of the Philippine Daily Inquirer states that, perspicacious travelers and tourists prefer destinations off the beaten track. But many of them still end up in the valet-famous beach of Boracay Island in Aklan. This is because of its white beach and fine white sand and crystal clean waters, according to Edwin Trompeta, regional director for Western Visayas of the Department of Tourism. The beach and waters combined with the islands nightlife make Boracay irresistible, he says.Despite controversies on land ownership an d unregulated developing, Boracay has drawn more tourists every year because of its famous white beach, consistently included in the lists of the best beaches in the world.Furthermore, the international economic slump has failed to dampen tourist arrivals with new foreign merchandises and local tourists making up for the s omit in attendors from countries hit hard by the world recession.As a matter of fact, tourist arrivals on the island have been on the upswing for a decade. They are up from 554,181 tourists in 2006, 596,707 in 2007, 634,263 in 2008 and 649,559 last year. For the jump five months of this year, tourist arrivals have grown by 12 percent, according to data from the tourism office of Malay townsfolk in Aklan.Boracays peak temper usually begins in October and lasts until May the following yearFrom January to May 2010, tourist arrivals reached 378,694, higher than the 337,664 tourists who visited the island in the same period last year and the 320,994 tourists wh o came in 2008.The highest rate was recorded in May with tourist arrivals reaching 101,349, higher than the 92,813 tourists in the same month in 2009 and 83,731 in 2008.More than 600,000 local and foreign tourists visited the white sand beaches and various parts of Boracay during the period, more than 40 percent higher than the 2009 figure of around 470,000.DOT 6 said they have recorded more than 230,000 foreign tourists in the island as of early October.This is good news amid the various travel advisories issued by several countries against visit in the Philippines, the DOT 6 said.The fall in States, Australia and United Kingdom had earlier issued advisories as precautions in traveling to the country in the wake of reported terror threats.The tourism of Boracay is continuing to grow in fact, The News Today states that, Boracays revenue, mainly due to tourism, has reached P 12.17 billion as of the third quarter, higher compared to last years figures.Income from tourism in Boracay from January to May reached P6,961,683.28. (Burgos, 2010, Retrieved From http//newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/ thinking/20100814-286677/Boracay-tourism-still-up-amid-woes)Tourist Attractions and Activities in BoracayAccording to travelnet.com, Boracay is famous for the followingBeaches / sporty BeachBoracay boasts of a sugary white sand beach and azure blue waters. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach known to be the finest beach in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels same(p) treading on miles of baby powderAquasportsThe island paradise of Boracay is a immaculate place for watersports. Here, you can partake in a smorgasbord of exhilirating cobalt ultramarine action from swimming and snorkeling to scuba diving, windsurfing, sailboating, kayaking, boardsailing, and boating.Nature Tripping / Eco-AdventureWorld-renowned Bo racay is an adventure island ideal for island hopping, hiking, trekking, caving, mountain climbing, biking, and horseback riding. Trekking and mountain biking can bring even the chivalric to the islands quaint interior villages and to the edges scenic rocky cliffs, discovering along the way many hidden coves with isolated beaches far from thetourist crowd.Boardsailing at Bulabog BeachOn the east locating of Boracay Island is Bulabog Beach. It is a boardsailors mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world, especially during the peak season from November to March. In January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup.Paraw RegattaSailboating and kayaking are popular sporting activities, with Boracay playing phalanx to the yearly Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat run away that makes use of the native outrigger.DivingDive sites surround the island and are learning venues to both novice and professional divers, head by competent instructors of the many dive sho ps that operate in the area. For trueblue scuba diving enthusiasts, Yapak in Boracay is a great deep dive.Recreational SportsLaid-back Boracay is the perfect venue for golf, tennis, bowling, even beach volleyball. Top-of-class amenities for these activities are available in the island. For golf bugs, Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Countryclub has an 18-hole championship course.PartyhoppingThe code in Boracay is strictly informal. go barefoot than shod is the rule rather than the exception. Swinging discos have the beach for a floor, giving dance a new twist. From dusk to dawn, the island turns into one heavy(p) party place where everyone is welcome to join in.Mambo Number 5For the adventure-driven, Mambo Number 5 is a half-size bit of boating and wind surfing, a little bit of scuba diving, a little bit of trekking, a little bit of mountain biking, and a little bit of golf.ShoppingBargain shop is a joy of a diversion while in Boracay. Souvenir pieces provide endless possib ilities, from trinkets and native accessories made of shells and semi-precious stones to exotic or contemporary beach wear and fashion artworks.DiningThe taste of the 6th Region, to which Boracay belongs, is quite simple. Charbroiled chicken is common fare. Another favorite dish is raw fish marinated in drab vinegar. Dining is no problem in Boracay, with most resorts having their own restaurants that serve both Philippine and international cuisines. Small snack bars line the island. eternal sleepDiversions are not a problem in Boracay, with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and amenities offered by some 350 tourist establishments. The island is ideal for beachbumming, relaxing, and simply lazing around. At the end of the day, unwind with a relaxing massage. The island never runs out skilled masseurs offering massage services by the beach. For a more luxurious treat, visit the new Mandala Spa.Boracay BoardsailingThe picture-perfect tropical island of Boracay offers flat-water speed sailing, wave jumping, and longboard cruising. White Beach, shielded from the amihan, or northeast monsoon, is for beginners. Bulabog Beach, on the other side of the island, has ideal conditions for speed, slalom, and high-wind shortboard sailing. It is also the site of the annual Boracay International Funboard Cup. Tabon Strait has superb high-performance sailing, but there is a real risk of being swept away, so this site is for skilled sailors only.Tibiao Whitewater River lift near the peak of Mt. Madja-as, the Tibiao River descends almost 2000m on its short but tumultuous journey to the sea. The lower section of the river, known as the Chicken Run, is grade 3 the more difficult upper section reaches grade 4. The Tibiao has all the classic features of a tropical whitewater river, with rich vegetation hemming the banks, views of rice terraces, spectacular falls and clear water. The river is close to Boracay and easily accessible.Natural FormationsBeaches / White Be achBoracay boasts of a sugary white sand beach and azure blue waters. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach known to be the finest beach in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels same(p) treading on miles of baby powderFestivalsAti-Atihan (second weekend of January)January is the time to hang loose in Kalibo, the Land of the Atis and the gateway to Boracay. For all of three days, it celebrates the Ati-Atihan Festival where frenzied streetdancing is performed by costumed and black-sooted tribes as they wend through the main streets from dawn until the witching hours. Ati-Atihan commemorates the 13th-century land deal between ten migrating Bornean chieftains and the aboriginal Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town patron, the infant Santo Nio. To the accompaniment of hundreds of lyres and drums, merrymakers throw all inhibitions to the wi nd as they join the tribes in a mad jig punctuated by rhythmic shouts of Hala bira Puera pasma Hala bira viva voce Santo Nio (Loosely translated Let go Dont get sick Let go Hail the Holy Child)Paraw RegattaYearly, Boracay Island plays host to the Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race thatmakes use of the native outrigger.International Funboard CupA music and dance festivity depicting the history, folklore, and traditions of the Lobocanons. Bolibong Kingking is a term applied to the drums and gongs and their rhythm used to collocate with the supplication dance ritual in front of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the 2nd Patron of Loboc.Pana-ad sa Loboc (Holy Thursday Good Friday)Bulabog Beach, situated on the eastern side of Boracay Island, is a boardsailors mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world. Every January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup.Marketing BoracayA study was undertaken for the International Finance Corp. (IFC) by a team of Fili pino and German consultantsto improve and develop Boracay to make it a world-class tourist destination. According to this study, the plan is achievable and through this, the island of Boracay can compete with other world-renowned beaches like those in Phuket, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.The plan is to redesign the marketing strategy to make the island more visible and accessible to tourists from around the world, declared IFC Country Manager Vipul Bhagat. Boracay is presented as a haven of good investment opportunities, paying attention to strategic tourism marketing and promotion so as to invite and persuade more tourists into visiting the island.The study emphasizes the major changes which are intended to be done and implemented to develop, sustain and make Boracay a major destination for big-ticket tourism. These changes include the point of solid waste management facility from Boracay to Caticlan the construction of low-cost mainland housing to ease migration and congestion in Boracay improved transport facility between Boracay and Caticlan development of Caticlans airport and marina a Caticlan-based full service hospital to respond to emergencies, and an agro-industrial center in Caticlan with ice and cold storage facilities and a public market. Issues like migration, zoning, lack of health facilities and medical personnel, visual and noise pollution, solid waste and water management, energy supply and intra- and inter-island transport are also addressed. In addition, the building of educational facilities offering tourism-related services, environmental management and eco-tourism in Caticlan was also recommended to raise the awareness of the locals to continue preserving, sustaining and developing the island that is considered as one of the Philippines most treasured and precious cancel resources. .To start with the marketing and strategic management development, the IFC conducted a web marketing seminar for local officials and businessmen to improve a nd hone their skills and utilize the use the Internet to market Boracay and improve and build-up its image. A separate forum for potential investors was also held in Manila.

A Permanent Death - Capital Punishment :: essays research papers

There are five basic reasons that society uses when imposing "punishment" that Ive been able to conclude from my readings. I will discuss these societal concepts and show that the death punishment does not serve to further them. As a result William Smith should not be subject to the death penalty and in fact the same should be abolished from our system of "punishment". DeterrenceDeterrence is basically defined as "the punishment should fit the crime." Under this concept, the several(prenominal) committing the crime and society are prevented from committing this action again. In the case of the death penalty, an individual kills another human and he is "punished" for it by death. Punishment is suppositious to be a temporary penalization for a wrongful action. Death is far from temporary. One is to learn from ones mistakes. How can the individual learn if they are remunerative for their mistake with their life? In Ernest van den Haags article, " The Ultimate Punishment A Defense" he states, "The death penalty is our harshest punishment. It is irrevocable it ends the existence of those punished, preferably of temporarily imprisoning them." (Haag, 251). By imposing the death penalty the individual does not learn from their mistakes and neither does society.EconomyUnder this concept, punishment should be economical. As Haag points out, "...the financial cost of appealing a capital sentence is excessive." (Haag, 253). Further, "...actual monetary be are trumped by the importance of doing justice." (Haag, 253). Additionally there are specific costs associated with keeping an inmate on death row, (i.e. the cost of the specially built prison blocks, the need for maximum security, etc.) and more. These costs clearly out weigh the weak costs incurred to house a regular inmate. Deterrence is clearly not served by imposing the death penalty and society aims for justice are thwarted. recurrenceSociety d emands that the punishment should fix the harm it has done. By sentencing a person to death no harm has been fixed. You can not bring the murdered person back by taking the prisoners life. "Punishment-regardless of the motivation is not intended to revenge, offset, or compensate for the victims suffering or to be measured by it." (Haag, 253). RetributionThe participation demands that justice be served. Would justice not equally be served and in fact may be better served by life imprisonment? I believe it would be a worse punishment to endure a life sentence in prison.

Writing: A Necessity? Essay -- History Philosophy Essays

Writing A Necessity?What, specifically, is so needed about writing? What animate the first cavemen to use an instrument (bone or stick) dipped in the indelible dyes derived from plants to create petroglyphs upon a wall? Why did the ancient Egyptians find it necessary to train a carry out that would create the first papyrus sheets making language a portable commodity? What was it that make Gutenberg motive to simplify the printing process so that text could be mass-produced and disseminated to more people? George Farquhar (1678-1703) is attributed with the quote, Necessity is the mother of invention. In light of this statement, I must ask again, what is so necessary about writing that the need to do so has given rise to the invention of paints and inks, the stylus and pencil and quill, the fountain pen and ballpoint, typewriters and fonts, and finally computers and word-processing? I rely there are two very simple and basic reasons behind this so-called necessity of these created inventions reasons as old as mankinds internal human nature.First of all, people desire to happen this desire transcended mere touch and hand signals or facial expressions and became language. Not to trivialize and condense the ages of ontogeny into a paragraph, but as more complex concepts arose it created the need for more complicated symbols and signs to convey meaning accurately. Human memory being what it is, fallible and at long last terminal, written language became the vehicle to transport the second, and probably more important factor in the continuing invention of written technology people want to leave something of themselves to posterity. This may be in the form of a story, a poem, a last will and testa... ...r of invention at least where the desire to communicate is concerned. History has shown mankinds aspirations to not only leave a message behind, but to invent better processes to preserve and spread those messages. I cannot conceptualize of se nding a message to my sister in Arizona on the sycamore leaf from my backyard faintly inscribed with charcoal from an old apple manoeuver stump. Chances of it arriving in one piece would be slim. However, with todays technology, I can email her or engage in instant messaging. Technology has made communication easier and quicker, but to this I must add one more question has it made it better? When we are limited and each word becomes a painstaking choice, perhaps the weight of the message becomes greater, clearer, more profound than when we have the ability to run on and on chasing a flashing cursor crosswise a clean white page.