Friday, November 29, 2019

Bse, Nse and Sebi free essay sample

Equity brokerage industry in India is experiencing rapid growth and diversity. Following the wide range of stock market reforms in the early 2000’s, brokerage industry underwent major transformations from being engaged in only brokerage business to offering a wide range of financial services. A modern broking house in India may well be a corporate entity that offers a wide range of products, relies on research for advice, uses modern technology, has large distribution network connecting the country, provides investor education and awareness and is compliance focused. These developments have resulted in a huge spurt in business as also growing market share of the large sized brokerage houses that led to surge in enterprise value, thus becoming objects of interest for global investing. With the stock market momentum likely to continue, broking firms could look forward to scaling up their resource mobilization to fund growing operations and expansion. Brokerages mopping up huge resources from the market are not unusual even in the emerging markets. We will write a custom essay sample on Bse, Nse and Sebi or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page | Â  | | | | | Indian broking houses could look forward to a period of growth and consolidation. India’s economic growth and deepening of the financial system will present the broking firms with numerous opportunities for growth and expansion. Integration of the financial markets will enhance the scope of their business and scalability. Access to public equity markets will enable them to raise resources to fund expansion and growths as also pursue useful business acquisitions. Growing international investor interest in India will add newer opportunities to scale up the business as also harmonsing with global standard and practices. Introduction of new products such as mini contracts in the derivatives and other futures and options products will add new opportunities for creating new business segments. | Â  | While opportunities abound, there is a great need for reform and restructuring of the equity broking industry. There are about 9,000 brokers registered with SEBI but 80 percent of the turnover in NSE and BSE is accounted for by about 100 brokers. Consolidation thus becomes relevant to forge a stronger industry. Similarly, capital levels too need to be strengthened. The 45 odd listed broking firms in India together have a meager Rs 3. bn of capital, which is far less than what one top broking firm in China could raise from the capital markets. Better performance and practices will enable broking firms to increase capital levels that will be essential for funding expansion. | Â  | Skill sets and compliance norms are the key to the sustainable growth of the industry. The Securities and Exchange Board of Indi a promoted National Institute of Securities Management, which is mandated to launch extensive certifications and examinations to the broking industry professionals to equip them with required skill sets and expertise. It becomes important for the broking industry to actively support such national endeavors that would enhance the quality of the markets. | Â  | Investor education and awareness is another aspect broking industry should promote in the long term interest of the market. As the product mix and risk matrix in financial markets is continuously changing, it becomes imperative for the intermediaries to educate and create awareness in the clients that would be mutually beneficial. Better understanding of the financial products and associated risks by the investors will be in the interest of the growth and stability of the markets. Â  | The Indian broking industry is coming of age. It has enormous opportunities for growth and diversity. As markets expand and get globalised, these firms will have increased opportunity to cater to a large and diverse range of clientele with a wide mix of products and services. Expanding markets offer enhanced opportunities. Those who are well prepared will be in a better position to garner the benefits. | Â  | BOMBAY STOCK EXCHANGE A Share market/stock markets is an open market for fiscal operations such as trading of a firms share and derivatives at a fixed cost. These securities are further listed on a stock exchange. A Share market does not offer any corporeal service and is not a separately owned business entity. | It was in 1875 that the Indian Share Market first started functioning. The first share trading association in India was known as the Native Share and Stock Brokers Association, only to become the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) later on. This trading association started off its operations with around 318 members. Main components of Indian Share Market Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Bombay Stock Exchange is known to be the oldest stock exchange in the entire Asian region. If someone wants to know about the history of the India share market, it becomes synonymous with the history of the Bombay Stock Exchange. It started functioning in 1875 with the name The Native Share and Stock Brokers Association. Under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, the association got its recognition as a stock exchange in 1956. When it started, it was just an association of persons but with the recognition it got transferred to a corporate and demutualised entity. * Trading items in Bombay Stock Exchange * Equity or Shares Derivatives (Futures and Options) * Debt Instruments | The main index of BSE is known as the BSE SENSEX or simply SENSEX (Sensitivity Index). It is an index which comprises of 30 financially sound company scrips, with an option to be reviewed and modified from time-to-time. The index calculation is based on the Free-float Market Capitalization methodology. Leading bourses like the Dow-Jones also follow this methodology. Currently the Sensex i s hovering around the 17,000 mark, all expected to touch 20K by 2010. But then volatility has its important role to spoil the entire game. NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE (NSE) National Stock Exchange (NSE) is considered to be the leader in the stock exchange scenario in terms of the total volume traded. The market capitalization the National Stock Exchange touched about $921. 31 billion at the end of May 2009. The National Stock Exchange received the recognition of a stock exchange in July 1993 under Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. The products that are traded in the National Stock Exchange are:- * Equity or Share * Futures (both index and stock) * Options (Call and Put) * Wholesale Debt Market Retail Debt Market NSE has a fully automated screen based trading system which is known as the NEAT system. The transactions are carried on with speed, efficiency, and are all transparent. The risk management system of the National Stock Exchange is world class and can be considered as the benchmark for other bourses. The leading index of NSE is known as Nifty 50 or just Nifty. It comprises of 50 diversified benchmark India n company scrip and is constructed on the basis of weighted average market capitalization method .Regulatory Authority of Indian Share Market SEBI or Securities and Exchange Board of India is the market watchdog and has the responsibility of protecting the investors interests, develops regulatory norms and helps in the development of the securities market in India. SEBI is the regulator for the securities market in India. It was formed officially by the Government of India in 1992 with SEBI Act 1992 being passed by the Indian Parliament. Chaired by C B Bhave, SEBI is headquartered in the popular business district of Bandra-Kurla complex in Mumbai, and has Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western regional offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmadabad. EMERGING TRENDS OF EQUITY MARKET ONLINE TRADING The advent of online securities trading has raised doubts about the survival of market making and brokerage industry. However despite the decrease in spreads, the trading values have been improved with global boom in securities trading. There is yet another view that touts that technology would actually save the business . the firms, gain considerable profits. Technology is revolutionizing all the aspects of trading from back-office clearing and settlement to front order trading and also gives a better understanding of their customer base. The economies of scale present in the industry require very large volumes to break even. With cross border trading gaining popularity, only a few players who can reap the economies of scale will be winners in the global trading industry. Online trading has transformed the way trading takes place in India. With a number of websites offering loads of information and financial data on score of companies, the stock trading has become very easy. The commission per transaction is lesser than the traditional form of trading. Spotting the likely change in investors’ preferences and the potential in the business, many stock broking companies have started their own trading sites and established links with banks. BSE: THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL some serious scams have brought serious reforms, like rolling settlement, ban of badla, etc, in the indian capital market. the biggest impact of recent developments is more on the 125-year old bombay stock exchange. with the lack of interest among retail investors in trading. * growth with badla * speedy recovery * dawn of new era * head on with nse * advantage at nse

Monday, November 25, 2019

Essay Service

Essay Service Essay Service Essay Service If you are looking for some extra help online to give your writing skills a boost in the form of an essay service - then here is what you should be on the look out for. Make sure that you have accessed a premier academic writing service that offers the finest essay service for coursework and other written assignments.You need to zero in on a credible site that ensures that their essay service guarantees 100% original and well-researched papers. Essay Service Checklist Before entrusting your essay to just any site online-you need to check on their credentials. Ask yourself: Does the essay service meet the required standards of academic writing by checking on their track record? Does the essay service consists of a dedicated team of capable academic writers? How many years of experience do they have to back up their essay service? What do past customers feel about the essay service you are planning to tap? Will the essay service tailor your essay to your exact specifications-including the reading sources, the length as well as the required format? Are they backed by experience in different kinds of essays at the Bachelor, Masters and PhD levels? Glance at the Company's Features Does the essay service consist of a competent team of dedicated professionals that can write your essay from scratch? Do they have a track record for academic excellence? How has their reach expanded over the years? Are their writers qualified with a Masters or PHD under their belt or do they use the services of college students trying to make some extra pocket money? Can the essay service offer you essays that are written in fluent English with zero errors and proper grammar? How are their formatting skills? Are they equally adept at papers in MLA, APA, Chicago and other required formats? Further Points to Crosscheck On Can they teach you the ropes of creative writing and how to develop an argument to write winning essays? Is there a proper linkage between cause with effect? In other words does the essay have a logical flow? Are they equally adept at essays in the arts as well as the sciences? Are they punctual? You could just land yourself in a soup if you do not ensure that you are tapping in to the services of credible essay services to make sure you do your homework before entrusting an essay service with your assignment: Read also: Writing Editing Paper Editing Tips Help Editing Essay Editing Essay Company

Friday, November 22, 2019

Construction Legislation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Construction Legislation - Essay Example The firm is also responsible for drawing up contracts bids. The company should also draws tender documents in relation to construction and development of this project. Part one 1.1 Consultancy Legal Documentation This part involves presenting all the legal documents necessary in project management. This will protect the project manager or the consultancy firm that is the playing the role of project management. The first document is a contract document between the company offering project management and the client. This is a show of evidence that these parties are in a contractual agreement to work together. They will protect the project manager or the firm when the client fails to meet the firm’s requirement in the course of the project. Another important document is the budget. This ensures that the project is within the set limits. This document empowers the project manager to know when to add funds or reduce them in any phase of the project. The budget provides the project manager with knowledge about every phase of the project. This helps the project manager to know the amount to be spent in a given phase of the project. It also notifies him or her, the room available for adjustments. The budget also helps the project manager to know the amount of time to spend in a given task so as to ensure the project completes before the given threshold (Ritz, 1994). Another important document to protect project management firm is the bid documents. The bid process should be competitive this is evidence that the firm advertised and carried out the bidding process in a competitive and a fair manner. This will protect and promote the company’s reputation towards the public and other stakeholders in the construction industry. This shows the client the company is of high integrity and is open in its dealings. This will protect the firm against any company or individual who challenges the bidding process of the project. Certificate of registration is another do cument that the consultancy firm can use to protect itself. The certification is a clear demonstration that the company is approved by the necessary departments to carry out activities such project management amongst other. This will avoid problems with local authorities. The certification also shows the company’s experience in handling such matters. The project manager should also be in possession of contract documents between the client and subcontractors. This will help the project manager to know the position to take in making crucial decisions that affect the project. It will also help him to advice the client in a situation when the sub contractors do not deliver the desired results as the contract agreements. They should also possess the insurance certificates. This is to ensure that the main contractor and other sub contractors insure their workers. This will help to solve cases of injury and medical bills. The project manager should ensure the client has insured the whole construction process to avoid delaying of the project (Kerzner, 2009). 1.2 Procurement options This part presents the methods of use during the construction of the project. The option depends on the dimension, nature and complication of the project. The first procurement option is the traditional or construct only. The method entails that both design and construction be procured separately to different companies. This is done as per the project specifications. The services are outsourced. The advantages that come with this

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Forces of Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Forces of Globalization - Essay Example One such force is the dependency of some nations on others, as a result of the increased inequality between such countries. It is clear that some of the countries have developed to world economic powers as a result of their expertise, resources, and technology. On the other hand, most of the countries around the globe are still underdeveloped, with lack of proper technologies and expertise to exploit their resources. From the past, the relationship between these developed and underdeveloped countries has remained one of dependence, with the latter depending on the former for economic and political. In his book, Wright suggested that the Niumi people were dependent on the British during the colonial times and at a point, they remained without basic resources such as healthcare facilities, until they were built by the British. Such is still the case in the current world as the gap between the developed and developing countries has continuously increased, forcing the developing countrie s to develop in the developed countries for financial and humanitarian aid. International politics has also been an interestingly significant determinant of international interactions. Nations from various parts of the world have different political ambitions, some of which are taken into the international environment, leading to either formation of political alliances or conflict. Defined by different political boundaries, different nations are faced with the mandate to protect the interests and sovereignty of their people.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Compare themes and make connections in 3 stories Essay

Compare themes and make connections in 3 stories - Essay Example In Updike’s story, Sammy is an immature and romantic daredevil who can recklessly decides to quit his job in order to draw the attention of Quinee the leader of the girls in weird dress. Again though Steinbeck’s protagonist Elisa Allen is intelligent, enthusiastic and business-minded, she shows the signs of immature perception of the world through her romantic fascination for a hobo life. In a similar manner, Alice’s protagonist Dee’s self contradictory immaturity lies in the fact that though she shows significant awareness of her community culture and heritage, the way how she wants to preserve it will ultimately eradicate it. Therefore, it can be assumed that though all of the protagonists apparently seem to brilliant, smart and intelligent, they are romantically immature. In Updike’s story, because of his sarcastic remarks for the coworkers and his masterful narration, Sammy seems to be quite smart and intelligent. The ways how he behaves with th e girls and how he reacts to the manager’s pragmatic advice to them necessarily reveal that he is romantically immature. Being a teenager, Sammy can do anything to attract the girls in bikinis who come to his store. Indeed, a romantic and heroic attitude towards the opposite sex drives his behavior. When in response to the manager’s warning, Quinee says that her mother asks her â€Å"to pick up a jar of herring snacks† (Updike), Sammy can easily â€Å"slid right down her voice into her living room† (Updike). He conjures up an imaginary aristocratic world wheret her parents and others in â€Å"ice-cream coats and bow ties† are â€Å"picking up herring snacks on toothpicks off a big plate† and drinking the â€Å"color of water with olives and sprigs of mint in them† (Updike). Sammy’s rich and figurative narration necessarily shows that he is quite intelligent. But it also reveals that he is hungry for such luxury. But Sammy canno t perceive the stern reality which lies beneath this luxurious facade of life. As a result, He, hungry for this luxurious life, loudly declares to quit his job in protest against the manager’s decision. So he hopes that Quinee will notice his heroism. But in contradiction to his expectations, they do not stop and â€Å"watch†¦.their unsuspected hero† (Updike). His limited experience fails him to perceive the reality that lies beyond romantic appearance of the world. Like Sammy’s hollow smartness, Dee Johnson seems to be quite smart. She has changed her name to â€Å"Wangaro† in order to protest against the culture and people who once oppressed her ancestors, as she says, â€Å"I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.† (Walker) Obviously, it is a wise decision on her part. It shows that she is aware of her ‘self’ and of her culture. Indeed, Mama also pursues the same of having a respectable identi ty in the white dominated which once has enslaved her ancestors mercilessly. She dreams of talking with the white man looking in his eye. This dream of Mama to look in the eye of a white man necessarily propounds that she is also aware of her African American cultural identity, as she says, â€Å"Who can even imagine me looking a strange white man in the eye?† (Walker) Even though both Mama’s and Dee’s goals are same, Dee vehemently opposes Mama. The way she wants to keep her cultural identity will eradicate the culture itself in the long run. She does not want to use the quilts in her

Saturday, November 16, 2019

A Political Economic Social Technology Analysis Of Malaysia Tourism Essay

A Political Economic Social Technology Analysis Of Malaysia Tourism Essay 0.0 Introduction Nowadays international business is a vital aim for every firm despite small firm or large firm and they are moving toward to international business for the sake of foreseeable future of their business. Besides, international business is known to be business dealings crossing national borders at any stage of the transaction which included trading such as import and export activities that carry out by the small and large firm from domestic to international market across the world (King, 2008; Aneff, 2010). Moreover, at present, international business can be acknowledged as global business whereby the firms have to adapt their businesses to the outside world in different markets that the firms seek and approach to and deal with many different cultures that concern in every country (Nakate, 2010; King, 2008). With the changing liberalization strategy in the whole world, a lot of firms are gaining benefits from international trade and investments. On top of that, an agreement of GATT (Gen eral Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) was introduced to get control over the rate charges of the tariff and trade barriers (Geneva, 1986). In contrast, after the formation of GATT, in year 1995 followed by the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Besides, there are 2 important forces that drive a business to international business which are the technological development and the disappearance of a substantial part of the communist world (Lausanne, n.d.). Shangri-la Asia Limited is a company with the principle activity of investment holding which focusing on the business and operation of hotels as one with associated real estate properties with providing hotel management or related services (Bloomberg, 2009; Shangri-La Asia Limited, 2009). The company mainly focuses in operating hotels and leasing spaces for commercial and residential. Shangri-la was incorporated in Bermuda and its main headquarters is located in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Furthermore, Shangri-la Asia Limited was founded in year 1971 and until now, Shangri-la has been in operating in the industry for 39 years and operates its hotels in the company of Shangri-La, Rasa, Trader, Summer Palace, and Shang Palace. Moreover, the group managed 65 hotels at the end of 2009 with 47 hotels invested as the equity which managed by its subsidiaries. Besides, as of year 2009, Shangri-La hotel employs approximately 260,000 employees in the Asia countries (Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, 2 010). 1.0 Macro Environment 1.1 Political Environment In China, the government attaches great importance to the tertiary industry in their country and there was positive government policies advance tourism in order to build tertiary industry to be one of their pillar industries (Lew, Yu, Ap, Zhang, 2003). Besides, the hotel and tourism industry in China had rapidity raise after the entry of World Trade Organization (WTO) to the domestic market in China. As according to the announcement from China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), with the entry of WTO in China, it brings the foreign international hotel industry to invest and set up hotel in China and the government of China approved the application of setting up wholly foreign-owned travel agencies in China thus, demand for hotel industry boosted up (Xinhua, 2004). Moreover, base on the Chinese governments policy of long term goal, the inbound tourist arrivals to China will achieve 210 million by the year of 2020 in which this would benefit the hotel and tourism industry in China to gain more profit on the tourist visit. For instance, base on the information published by the Shanghai Tourism Commission (STC) in China, the entry of foreign travel companies would help to stimulate and rise of the business of the local tourism industry in the case of SARS that happened seriously in China in 2003 (China Daily, 2004). On the other hand, the political issue would be on political tension between Taiwan and Mainland China and these threats would be considered as the unforeseen event that the hotel developer and investor will take into account (Guo, et.al., 2004). 1.2 Economical Environment In 1992, China expanded its economic reform along with the open door policy, consequently bring benefits to the business activities and international tourist arrivals to China continued to increase and thus hotel investment is stimulated. In contrary, China government also ensured that overseas hotel do not dominate the market in which the action taken is to prevent the rise of competitiveness between local companies and foreign companies in the benefit of their professionalism, experience and resource advantages. Thus, to avoid economic leakage, Chinese government had implemented the policy of encouraging Chinese Hotels to establish in the country itself and also in foreign countries for Chinese to use with the association between Chinese Airlines and Hotels industry in order to retain the money from outflow to other countries (Zhang, Pine and Lam, 2005). Moreover, Chinas sound economic growth stimulates the Hotel and tourism industry. As mentioned above about the openness to outsid e world had helped economy grow rapidly. The GDP of China in 2009 was RMB 33, 535.3 billion where RMB 14, 291.8 billion contributed by the tertiary industries with the growth rate of 8.9 compares with the previous year (Chinability, 2009). An impressive economy growth will generate enhancement in infrastructure for hotel development, however, the sustainability of the economic boom are concern in the problem of bad-loan that commonly faced by state-owned banks. To overcome this problem, government needs to counter a soft landing for the rapid growing economy otherwise an unexpected of potential economic slowdown would occur and certainly bring some negative effects to the hotel industries in the country (Yu and Gu, 2005). 1.3 Social Environment Social environment concern is an important issue for the business developer and investor in China as Chinese used to practice the relationship and network of Guan Xi in their daily life which including during the business dealing process. In fact, Guan xi can be an influential practice compare with the Western-based business practice which westerners or foreign investors are not eligible to gain interest on this practice as such practice would be commonly focus on the motive of profit. Thus, foreign companies need to corporate with the local Chinese companies as partner in order to enjoy the privilege with the support of Chinese partner to avoid some existing and future legal control and international trade rules. For instance, the foreign owner of the properties must depend on the local labor and partner in turn to get the reliable power supply and water supply (Zhang, Pine and Lam, 2005). On the other hand, hotel industries benefit from holiday and vacation when residents take holi days and this would lead to higher demand on the tourism and hotel industry in which the people shifting their lifestyle and get off from work with take effect on the domestic consumption. For example, in China, the government had intentionally increased the public holidays where made 3 weeks long holiday per year such as each during the Spring Festival, May Day Festival and the National Day holiday (Lew, Yu, Ap and Zhang, 2003). 1.4 Technology Environmental Generally, a good quality service to customer is the most important factor that makes the hotel to be more outstanding than others and to get more attraction from customer therefore this would influence the guests to make decision on the selection of which hotel is the most worthy and preferable to consume with the most satisfaction among those entire hotels that available in the area. Besides, with the acknowledgement of gaining better profit margins and financial returns, the hotel industries in China emphasis on the implementation of IT facilities in order to improve with efficiency daily operation and meanwhile to obtain benefits such as operational cost reduction and enhancement of service quality deliver to customer (Law, Giri and Michigan, 2005). In fact, in Hong Kong, China, the use of IT to conduct daily operation is generally practicing by the hotel industries in country since year 1997 (Law and Au, 1998). Besides, in China, the adoption of Computer Reservation System (CRS) and hotel Property Management System (PMS) which utilize by hotel that ranked 3 stars and above was introduced to bring the companies into the market and to improve the interconnectivity by promoting about destination, information about their company and additionally assist on the efficiency and accuracy of internal information transmission and effectiveness of management. Meanwhile, the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) within the hotel industries in China which focused on the front office functions such as reception, reservation, catering, marketing, customer relationship management and others had brought benefit to the operation of the industry (Ma, Buhalis and Song, 2003). 2.0 The International Consideration 2.1 Operation Shangri-La Hotel and Resort operated almost in all over the place in the world where headquarter is in Hong Kong. Shangri-La Hotel and Resort is a well known brand which the brand name is so recognizable and respected by the people around the world. Besides, the groups main activities are emphasis on the ownership, operation and management of the hotels. At present, the group holds and operates 68 hotels under the trademark of Shangri-La, Trader brands, Rasa, Summer Palace, and Shang Palace in different countries with a room inventory of over 30, 000 in which operation carry out among Asia in current year which included of China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Republic of Maldives, Philippines and Myanmar. Furthermore, the company had expanded their company to Middle East countries such as Sultanate of Oman and United Arab Emirates; Europe country in France; North America country in Canada; Oceana countries in Austria and Fuji Island. In addition, in year ended 2009 the company had equity interests in 49 operating hotels containing 24,432 of guest rooms (Golden Circle, 2010) Moreover, the company will develop and build up 29 more hotels in various countries in which project development of 1 hotel in Paris in 2010, 11 hotels will be establish in China, India, Singapore, Macau, Qatar, Austria in 2011, 9 hotels in China, India, Mongolia, United Kingdom, Turkey and Canada in 2012 and nevertheless 7 hotels in China and Russia in 2013 and 1 hotel in Philippine in 2014 (Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, 2010) 2.2 The PEST in Malaysia 2.2.1 Social and Culture Environmental Commonly, Malaysia is known as an Islamic country therefore certainly Malaysia is involving in the Halal food industry and Malaysia is the major exporter of halal product to Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) countries such as AEAN and Middle Eastern markets in 2008. Malaysia has made an integrated long term plan to develop the halal industry which including the goods and services related sectors namely, meat and meat-based product, processed food, cosmetic and personal care products and pharmaceutical products (Sadek, 2010). Thus, the halal certification would be the main requirement for the tertiary industries in Malaysia that needed conforming to it especially on the food and beverage which play an important role in overall satisfaction level such as halal dining is a necessity for Muslims. In fact, according to Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the statistic shows that out of 991 hotels in Malaysia, there are only 10.19% of the hotels which amount to 101 h otels that certified with Halal logo (Zailani, Fernando and Mohamed, 2010). Besides, to set up businesses in Malaysia require some general needs of its local market segment included religious and cultural practices such as to being halal conscious through implementation of crescent rating which this system is require under the traditional Muslim rules to the examine the halal friendliness of facilities and services in hotel industries in Muslim country (Fazal, 2009) For instance, Awana Spa Island Resort in Langkawi crescent rated at category 5 which indicate that the hotel accommodate some specific Muslim needs and Shangri-Las Rasa Sayang Resort Spa in Penang rated at category 3 (Crescent Rating, 2010). Moreover, regarding the culture in Malaysia, the main facilities of prayer room or Surau is important for Muslims as they required praying 5 times daily due to the ease of travel from current location to mosque. Besides, the culture in the aspect of employee working hour, there are slightly different if compare with oversea working time as for Muslims every Friday afternoon is the weekly prayer time thus Muslim employee need to leave their work place at this time (Usama, 2007). Moreover, festival holiday is a main issue that need to concern in Malaysia as Malaysia has much festival to celebrate such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year and others therefore public holiday would interrupt the operation performance of the company where by employee off from work on the particular day. (Zailani, Omoar and Kopong, 2010) 2.2.2 Political and Legal Environment in Malaysia According to the A.M. Best country risk report, Malaysia has a moderate level of political risk which categorized as CRT-3 which indicate that Malaysia is a developing country that having a developing legal environment, legal system and business environment (A.M. Best, 2010). Generally, political risk comprises the stability of the government and society in a country and here the political environment would be first concentrate on the change of government and key leader in Malaysia. Up to date in 2010 political position in Malaysia involves two separate downside risks which happened 2 years back in 2008; the political power was changed due to the general election and the result was the National Front which had ruled Malaysia for 52 years had lose control and defeated by opposition (Marshall, 2009; Stamer, 2010). Then again, according to the executive summary by Political Economic Risk Consultancy, the political issue that foreign investors concern is about the hesitation on how good the opposition parties perform after they gained the political authority as a Malaysia government in handling some problem such as poor policies and others. Additionally, as a result of some political accusation, the case of Anwar on sodomy gave a flashpoint on the political stability condition. Due to the changes in the government authority, the political stability in Malaysia is affected much over these years and would bring further damage to investment in the country if the trend maintains (Marshall, 2009; Political Economic Risk Consultancy, 2010). 2.3 Internationalization Method The internationalization process is a very important process for a company that plan to expand their business outside their domestic base market by adopting several internationalization methods. In Shangri-La, the internationalization method that the group adopting is more on equity based method on foreign direct investment. The Group is using its equity assets in the expansion of their company throughout the world and for another purpose of project development in new countries. Moreover, investment into a company is the competitive advantage of this company. Additionally, the Group is adopting 2 main internalization methods on its subsidiaries which through merger, acquisition and alliances. According to the financial report of Shangri-La in Malaysia, the subsidiaries are consolidated by using the purchase method of accounting in which the Group has the ability to exercise the power in the subsidiaries in order to manage the financial and operating policies of an entity as to attain benefits from their daily activities (Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, 2010). Alternatively, some subsidiaries are consolidating by adopting merger method for example, UBN holding Sdn Bhd which happened on 1st of January 2006. As for the associate methodology, the Group has major influence but not control over the financial and operating policies. The hotel properties located in Malaysia at 31 December 2009 included Rasa Sayang Resort Spa, Traders Hotel, Golden Sands Resort, Palm Beach Resort in Penang, Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur and Rasa Ria Resort in Sabah. (Shangri-La Malaysia, 2008) 2.4 Problem and Solution The problem that the company confronts would be on the aspect of the culture differences between the origin country and the other country for example Malaysia. Cultural differences of international hotel groups would influence the operation of the company and also the efficiency of their human resource in the company. Besides, condition of cultural differences dilemma would also harm the company from gaining better return in either investment nor operating profit which due to the competition among the hotel industries in the specific country. Thus, to overcome these cultural dilemmas, some solution on these problems needed to be implementing in order to resolve the problem to prevent any operation failure. The solution proposed would be through adoption of cross cultural strategies. According to Master and Prideaux, culture can be distinguished into 2 views that represent an ideological perspective including beliefs, norm, value and customs. Next, would represent the material element which including of the dining etiquette, where to buy and where to travel. (Prideaux, Moscardo and Laws, 2006) As mentioned above, the main cultural problems that face in Malaysia is about the Halal certification and also the employee culture problem. Therefore, from the cross cultural management approaches, it must emphasis on the staff inspiration and motivation method and improvement on product and service quality in order to satisfy customers demands. Firstly, company should implement the strategy of cross cultural empathy through training and education that enables the staffs in the group from origin country to let them to be more considerate to accept other people cultures in Malaysia as well as the staffs in the company itself. This would help to solve any conflict rises conc erning to the culture misunderstanding among three major races employees of Malaysian and between the headquarter staffs rather than behave stubbornly on their own local culture perspective. Besides, in order to solve the cultural diversity problem in the case of halal certification, the company needs to employ the strategy of cross cultural through special design and marketing of hotel products and services. There are a lot of customers come from different religions and backgrounds, thus customers have different needs on the services and products. By using this strategy, the company is able to improve the degree of customers satisfaction whereby the products and services is specially designed for the purpose of tailor-made to adapt to different need of the customers. For instance, Muslims in Malaysia require some halal facilities and also on the foodstuff, as a result the hotel must pay close attention on serving the proper food at the table and also the facilities of prayer room in their hotel to allow Muslim to conduct prayer during the time that they are in the hotel area. 3.0 The Growth of Business Shangri-la has a well operational performance which its operations contribute the main source of revenue and operating profit for the Group. Besides, the concentration of the growth in the luxury hotel market in Asia would particularly focus on China. Thus, the group is continued to plan out the strategies of setting up new hotel across the world. According to the financial report in 2009, a total of 7 hotels opened for business during the year and 4 hotel being subsidiaries of the group. During these years, Shangri la is adopting the market development strategies which the group is targeting new markets or new areas in different countries. For example, in 2011, the group will conduct foreign direct investment of 29 hotels in other countries such Qatar, Austria and others. Besides, the implementation of product development strategy in the group develops their services and quality to gain higher level satisfaction from customers through training of employees to deliver better services to customer. For instance, the networking of the Shangri-la throughout the international subsidiaries had improved through communication and result in the integration with its international counterparts by applying uniform standards for inbound and outbound logistics and this give rise to higher level of efficiency in the operation, sales and marketing. Consequently, Shangri-La had gained positive reviews and reputation from regulatory bodies and this benefit the company to connect into all revenue-generating marketing channels (Shangri-La Asia Limited, 2009; Chitika 2009). As for the future direction of growth, according to Ansoffs Product-Market Matrix, the product development strategy should highlight in the company. The reason is that it is important to have possession of distinctive advantage over its competitor by reason of keen competition existed among the local and other international hotel industries in the market. Besides, hotel industry is leisure and tourism destination places, customers are the main earnings sources from the hotel operations, it seem to be not enough to have similar existing facilities promoted in the hotel to attract customers. Thus, an innovation technique is required to improve the product and services in the hotel in order to maintain an advantage over competitors meanwhile to attract more customers. By examining through proactive development strategy to develop the product base on the anticipation of the evolution of customers needs; or through the adaption of reactive development strategy whereby the product is devel op in order to deal with the customer needs. Besides, as a result of adapting product development matrix, the company is able to develop and launch new product or services where the products or services are presently not being offered by any other competitors however it able to keep the existing market and nevertheless attract more new customers. For instance, product development strategy including offering high-level service to the customers through providing some specialty facilities such as promotion on the discount offer to their customer base on an alliance with the air companies and provide free shuttle for the customer to take them from airport to the hotel. Thus, Shangri-La hotel must provide services that other competitors do not offer and the most importantly, making the customer feel at home and even better than that. 4.0 New Venture The new venture of Shangri-la hotel would using the foreign direct investment method which the company will expand and build up hotel under equity base method in the chosen country, Kingdom of Heaven, Bhutan. While Shangri-La investing in Bhutan, the group will suggested to conduct joint venture with the local partner such as the tourism agencies to increase the inflow of the tourist to the hotel and other share value-added joint venture, for instance, merge with the local hotel industry where the hotel contribute the same function and this will reduce the competition among the similar industry and nevertheless increase economies of scale. As Shangri-La is moving into the new market and segment, it is necessary to understand what strength determines the profit of their industry. Thus, Porters Five Forces analysis would be taken to identify all the threat in hotel industries in Bhutan. Firstly, the threat of supplier power in the market will take into concern. The supplier power in ho tel industry would be the availability of skill of the employees that provide services to customers due to tertiary industry is totally focused in services. Thus, Shangri-La need to provide a high level of training program to ensure the employees are able to carry out best service to their customers. This is because employees can influence the profitability and the attractiveness of the hotel itself. Besides, supplier power can be the organization that control and provide the food and beverage to the hotel industry in the country. In this case, there are plenty of suppliers in Bhutan which mainly working on supplying of the food for local distribution whereby they import all the food stuff items, such as the company of Dollay Food Product, Sharyang Enterprise, Sonam Choki Enterprise and many others suppliers (Cheaponsale, 2010). So supplier power force is considered weak to the company. Secondly, would be the buyer power. This force reflects the strength of bargaining power from the customers which concerning the level of quality served and price rate of the hotel. Commonly, from the behavior of the customers, customers seek for best quality with lesser price of hotel, solution for this problem would be the hotel management should make some adjustment to its strategies in order to meet the demand of the customers to avoid switching among the hotels in the market, if the switching problem happen then the buyer power is high which will bring disadvantage to the company. Thirdly, competitive rivalry is also a serious force that the company has to concern on it. This force would focus on the number of the competitors in the same industry in Bhutan. In Bhutan, there are hotels that available in the specific geographic areas. For instance, According to The Hotel Association of Bhutan (HAB), Bhutan is divided in 20 administrative districts and there are 121 hotels in the country and exactly with 34 hotels with 3 stars and above are available in the certain districts in Bumthang, Trongsa, Punakha, Thimphu, Wangdue Phodrang and Paro; the rest are ranked as 2 stars and below (Tourism Council of Bhutan, 2010; Cabinet Secretariat, 2010). Thus, competitive rivalry in hotel industry is quite high due to the number of competitors offering in the market and the company should adapt specific strategy to overcome the problem such as create differentiation on the product and services in order to differentiate themselves from the competitors. Due to the problem faced by the competitive rivalry, the threat of substitution which examine on the similar product and services is high in the hotel industry because there are a 121 hotels accessible in the Bhutan and enable the customers to have alternative choices on what hotel that they prefer to select. Thus, better marketing strategy is needed for the company to deal with the substitution problem such as changes in technology and services in the hotel could bring some advantage like good reputation for the hotel to compete with its rivals. Lastly, threat of new entry is high in the hotel industry in Bhutan as Hotel Association of Bhutan (HAB) reported that there 46 new hotels will open up in the country. However, the Bhutan government had approved 100 percent of foreign direct investment to build 5-star hotels and 70percent of foreign direct investment for 4-stars hotels in Bhutan in early 2010 (Dawa, 2010; Dahal, 2009). In this case, Shangri-La has the total advantage of investing and setting up hotel in Bhutan as Shangri-La is ranked as 5-star hotel. Besides, the structural expansion of the hotel in Bhutan would be difficult because most hotels was in debt due to the financial institution had stopped giving loan for hotel construction. This is because of governments policy on the existing hotels that they are required to upgrade their hotels within 2 years time in order to provide better service to customers with the help of government by providing incentives of tax breaks for up to 10 years to make the upgrading pos sible (Cabinet Secretariat, 2010; Dawa, 2010). Hence, with good reputation and its 5-Stars ranked hotel, Shangri-La has gained the advantage to compete with the hotels in Bhutan. Thus, Shangri-La needs to come out with some new plan to sustain its market position. 5.0 Conclusion In summary, various analyses needed to be considered and examined in the progress of business expansion to the international market. Going international not only mean to explore the new market abroad but it also enable the company to have better understanding on the expansion strategies that needed to adopt in turn to deal with the dilemma that occurred in the international market. Besides, international business can promote faster growth in the country economy due to the entry of foreign direct investment in the country which stimulate the domestic competition in the market and in effect would encourage improvement in the service and product of the company, besides it would help the employment rate of the country as well. Moreover, in order to go for international business, the particular companies need to ensure that the correct strategies are adopted. With the assist of PEST in the expansion of macro environment in a market, the company, and here would be Shangri-La can easily gai n the information of the specific market and taking the next step to invest into the market. Besides, by examining the international consideration, it gives clearer picture on what the company doing in the existing market and how the company give solution against the problem that they faced and yet understand how they enter an international market such as foreign direct investment which adopted by Shangri-La hotel into various countries. Other than that, by using the Ansoffs product-market matrix, it enables the company to make good use of the strategies in order to have a better strategic planning in the expansion of the businesses such as to study on the direction of growth of Shangri-La Company. Lastly, with the analysis of Porters Five Forces, it helps the company to understand the strength and the threat of the market when the foreign company planning to invest into the country. By having all these strategies, the company can have the advantage to globalize and to compete again st the competitors that existed in the market in order to offer better products and services nevertheless gain more profit and attract more customers. In conclusion, all these strategies would benefit and success the companies in doing international business.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Blaise Pascal Essay -- Essays Papers

Blaise Pascal "We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart"(1) said Blaise Pascal, one of the greatest minds of the 17th Century. The 17th Century was the time of the scientific revolution. During this period the main idea for everyone, was to question everything not to just listen to what is told. This caused a transformation in thought in both religious and scientific areas. Science allowed the questioning of the teachings of the old church. Scientists battled with ideas in math and physics, while philosophers battled with ideas of God. It was an intellectual revolution concerning the methods for determining humanity's place in the universe. Blaise Pascal was a physicist, a mathematician, and a man of God. He was a Renaissance man of the scientific revolution. On June 19, 1623, Pascal was born in the small town of Clermont-Ferrand, France, to Antoinette and Etienne Pascal. When Pascal was just three his mother passed away. After this, Etienne Pascal moved Blaise and his two sisters to Paris, France. Here his son would be able to learn. Etienne Pascal was very concerned about his son becoming an educated man. This is why he decided to teach his son on his own. He brought a young Blaise to lectures and other gatherings. He decided Blaise would not study math until age 15. When he made this decision he took all the math books out of the family home; however, this did not stop a curious Pascal. At age twelve, he started to work on geometry by himself. Blaise’s father finally started to take him to mathematical gatherings at "Academic Parisienne." At the age of 16, Pascal began to play an active role in "Academic Parisienne," as the principal disciple of Girard Desargues, one of the heads of "Academic Par... ... Pascal was such a brilliant man because he could do both of these. Pascal was one of the only men that wrote about his beliefs in God and was an accredited scientist and mathematician too. He was a true man of the scientific revolution. Endnotes: - Pascal, Blaise. 1910. Pascal's Pensà ©es. Translated by W. F. Trotter. New York: The Modern Library, 1941. - Rose, N. Mathematical Maxims and Minims. Raleigh NC: 1988. - Same as 1. - Gillispie, Charles Coulston. Dictionary of scientific biography. New York: Scribner, [1970-1990]. - Auden, W. H. and Kronenberger, Louis. The Viking Book of Aphorisms. New York: Viking Press, 1966. Work Cited Hazelton, Roger. Blaise Pascal The Genius of Thought. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1974. Eliot, Charles W. The Harvard Classics (Pascal). New York: P. F. Collier & Son Corporation, 1938. Blaise Pascal Essay -- Essays Papers Blaise Pascal "We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart"(1) said Blaise Pascal, one of the greatest minds of the 17th Century. The 17th Century was the time of the scientific revolution. During this period the main idea for everyone, was to question everything not to just listen to what is told. This caused a transformation in thought in both religious and scientific areas. Science allowed the questioning of the teachings of the old church. Scientists battled with ideas in math and physics, while philosophers battled with ideas of God. It was an intellectual revolution concerning the methods for determining humanity's place in the universe. Blaise Pascal was a physicist, a mathematician, and a man of God. He was a Renaissance man of the scientific revolution. On June 19, 1623, Pascal was born in the small town of Clermont-Ferrand, France, to Antoinette and Etienne Pascal. When Pascal was just three his mother passed away. After this, Etienne Pascal moved Blaise and his two sisters to Paris, France. Here his son would be able to learn. Etienne Pascal was very concerned about his son becoming an educated man. This is why he decided to teach his son on his own. He brought a young Blaise to lectures and other gatherings. He decided Blaise would not study math until age 15. When he made this decision he took all the math books out of the family home; however, this did not stop a curious Pascal. At age twelve, he started to work on geometry by himself. Blaise’s father finally started to take him to mathematical gatherings at "Academic Parisienne." At the age of 16, Pascal began to play an active role in "Academic Parisienne," as the principal disciple of Girard Desargues, one of the heads of "Academic Par... ... Pascal was such a brilliant man because he could do both of these. Pascal was one of the only men that wrote about his beliefs in God and was an accredited scientist and mathematician too. He was a true man of the scientific revolution. Endnotes: - Pascal, Blaise. 1910. Pascal's Pensà ©es. Translated by W. F. Trotter. New York: The Modern Library, 1941. - Rose, N. Mathematical Maxims and Minims. Raleigh NC: 1988. - Same as 1. - Gillispie, Charles Coulston. Dictionary of scientific biography. New York: Scribner, [1970-1990]. - Auden, W. H. and Kronenberger, Louis. The Viking Book of Aphorisms. New York: Viking Press, 1966. Work Cited Hazelton, Roger. Blaise Pascal The Genius of Thought. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1974. Eliot, Charles W. The Harvard Classics (Pascal). New York: P. F. Collier & Son Corporation, 1938.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Global Business Cultural Analysis

Kenya lies to the east of the African continent and has a coast on the Indian Ocean. The country straddles two of the most famous lakes in Africa – Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria. At its heart is Mount Kenya from which the country takes its name. The Kenyan population is heterogeneous, comprising seven major ethnic groups as well as tens of smaller ones and non-Kenyan communities. There is a religious mix with a Christian majority and Muslim and indigenous religious minorities. Formerly a British colony, Kenya achieved independence in 1963. Understanding the various cultural norms and ethnic and religious groups is essential when doing business in Kenya. Kenyan Culture – Key Concepts and Values Group-relations – Kenyans have strong affiliations to their ethnic group or tribe and sometimes place them in front of the ‘nation’. The family is at the heart of Kenyan life and is given priority over everything else. Several generations will live together in one house with all family members taking care of one another. Absenteeism from work or delays in performing tasks due to family obligations is frequently experienced in Kenya and is viewed as perfectly acceptable. Religion – The majority of the population is Christian (Protestant and Catholic) but there is also a substantial Muslim (Sunni) minority. At the same time Animism and ancestor worship remain widespread. Both Christians and Muslims have managed to incorporate traditional practices into their respective religions creating unique blends to suit their particular needs. Time – In general, Kenyans have a more relaxed approach towards time and live at a slower pace. It is not unusual to wait half an hour for someone to arrive for an appointment and this is seen as perfectly acceptable. Taking care of personal affairs first is regarded as more important than arriving on time. This being said, today particularly in the private sector there is a growing trend of punctuality and observing deadlines. Doing Business in Kenya is the one of Africa’s more affluent nations and is seen a business hub for East Africa. The country’s economy has been hampered though by corruption and a reliance on certain goods whose prices have failed to rise sufficiently. Kenya has also been affected by the global economic downturn and in 2008 saw a 7% drop in its GDP growth from the previous year. Despite this, tourism, manufacturing and investment have predominated in the Kenyan economy over the last four decades giving Kenya a prized position within Africa. Understanding how Kenya’s economy and politics impact its business culture will help you when doing business in Kenya. Kenyan Business Part 1 – Working in Kenya o Working practices in Kenya †¢ Business hours in Kenya are from 9:00am to 4:00pm, with a one hour break for lunch between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Some businesses also operate on Saturday mornings. Kenyans have a flexible attitude towards time, so don’t be surprised if business meetings or social events begin late. Punctuality tends to be expected when dealing with foreigners though, so make sure to arrive on time. Kenyans do not tend to schedule a precise end to meetings. What matters is not adhering to a schedule but ensuring that everybody involved is satisfied with the outcome. Therefore make sure to leave enough time in your agenda when attending a meeting. English is widely spoken in Kenyan business environments and you can expect your counterparts to have good language skills so you can conduct your business in English. A little knowledge of basic Kiswahili phrases always leaves a good impression and can help to break the ice. Structure and hierarchy in Kenyan companies †¢ Business hierarchies are generally clearly defined, especially in family owned companies. Although employees are welcome to give suggestions and comments, the final decision is taken by senior members or managers. Education and experience are important qualities and main sources of credibility. A personable character can earn extra credit. Foreigners tend to be approached with high regard simply on the basis of their international expertise. Hierarchy plays an important role in the business structure of Kenya. Be mindful of a colleague’s title and their place in the organization. Decision making in Kenyan businesses tends to work on a top-down basis, with objectives set and decisions made by those in the highest positions. Respect and deference to one’s elders should be observed when in Kenya. First business meetings are often quite formal until the relationship is established. Relationships outside of the business environment can help build stronger ties too. The unofficial and informal nature of networking out of the office can help cement a stronger working relationship. This is often done by offering your colleague a drink or meal. Kenya Business Part 2 – Doing Business in Kenya o Business practices in Kenya †¢ Being a polychromic society, Kenyan business practice focuses on getting things done by order of priority rather than working to a set time schedule. In many businesses the working day will halt at specific times for Muslim members of staff to pray. Business attire is formal in Kenya. Men wear suits and ties while women wear long dresses or skirts which reach below the knee. Women do not usually wear trousers although this trend is slowly changing. Women should make sure their shoulders are covered and should not wear anything too revealing. Business cards are often used in Kenya and should be given and received with both hands. Marketing boards are state-controlled or state-sanctioned entities legally granted control over the purchase or sale of agricultural commodities. Since the mid-1980s they have declined in number under pressure from domestic liberalization and from international trade rules that increasingly cover agriculture. Where reforms have been widespread and successful, marketing boards have vanished or retreated to providing public goods, such as strategic grain reserves or insurance against extraordinary price fluctuations i. . the National cereals board, the Tea board of Kenya. Where reforms have been less successful, the weaknesses of private agricultural marketing channels have been revealed by the rollback of marketing boards, often leading to calls for reinstatement of powerful marketing boards. It is often suggested that an exporting country should set up a price stabilization fund to insulate farme rs from fluctuations in the world market price, by collecting a proportion of farmers’ revenue when prices are high and paying it out when prices are low. A typical price stabilization fund is set up for an export crop. In years when the world price is high, some of the returns are paid into the fund; in years when it is low, the accumulated revenues are used to bring up the price. There are many variations on this basic model. Some of the funds soon collapse, while others go on for years, surviving but not necessarily achieving their objectives. The objectives of the fund are usually obscure, sometimes deliberately so. For example, farmers press for stabilization without making it too obvious that to them stabilization means a lower limit to prices rather than an upper limit: in other words, they want a higher average price. Consumers think of price stabilization as imposing minimum prices rather than both maxima and minima. It is often assumed without discussion or evidence that price stabilization benefits the farmer and is beneficial to the economy. To provide price stability, marketing boards set the prices for farmers. During a season of high prices in the world market, they stash funds over and above the set local target, which they later use to cushion farmers whenever the global market prices plummet. The marketing boards possess the sole legal authority to purchase commodities from farmers and to engage in trade. Through the boards, governments typically fix official producer prices for all controlled commodities. Marketing boards provide a guaranteed market for the farmers, absorbing all marketed surplus at the official producer prices, and maintaining extensive buying networks and storage facilities throughout the production regions. Grain marketing boards commonly handle the strategic food reserves for emergency situations, and have the responsibility to import food in shortage seasons. They also stabilize prices, thus protecting farmers from sharp fluctuations. The boards also obtain funds for sales promotion, research and extension services. To raise farmers' bargaining power- especially to prevent over exploitation of farmers by middle men. The boards also improve quality regulation. In the last two decades, the production of primary exports in our country has been dwindling, and in some cases, almost ceased altogether. The crops in question are pyrethrum, sisal, cotton, coffee, and to a lesser extent, tea. The NCPB sells seeds and fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates and buys their produce at higher prices than the market price, as a way of offering incentives to farmers. To ensure food security, NCPB has silos all over the country that store grains in times of surplus production and sell them in times of food shortages at affordable prices. This helps improve the country’s food supply situation. The Kenya Meat commission which was recently revived, served an important role, during the droughts that ravaged the country, by buying cattle from owners, who would otherwise have suffered a very big loss as the animals would have perished in the drought. Now the farmers can replenish their herds when the drought passes. The Kenya Cooperative creameries is also another marketing board that buys milk from farmers at better prices than go between and hence offering a ready market to milk as a produce in the country. The Coffee board of Kenya and the Kenya Tea Development Authority also buys produce from farmers at good prices, so that farmers are ensured of a market for their produce and can be able to develop themselves from income earned. The boards then sell the produce through exports. This board deals with buying pyrethrum from farmers and finding a market for it. Boards established by the colonialists have, on the whole, been playing a major role in marketing most of these crops, but the majority is inefficient, corrupt, and unable to bring the necessary changes to the agricultural sector to meet the challenges of global competition. Measuring whether the above objectives have been achieved is difficult, since most of these boards offer minimal public information and data important for analysis. In the current global market, private firms, with the intent of maximizing returns, will always hunt for the best world prices. Their staff is likely to be more qualified than the bloated workforce littering our boards. Farmers would be better served by private entities. Since new farmers are always joining a given sector, the system of stabilization is disadvantageous to the old ones. Funds set aside earlier end up cushioning even the newcomers. Since the 1990s, the target prices set by the boards seem to have been out-paced by the rate of inflation. In real terms, it is the farmers who experience negative returns for their products. Most crops in our country come from specific regions where weather conditions are favorable. Centralization of the marketing boards dampens the enthusiasm of farmers. It is in the best interest of the country for income obtained in a certain region to remain there in the hands of farmers, save for the taxes raised by the State. Some senior employees at the head offices, who do not even come from the areas in which the crops are grown, sometimes earn more in a year than do farmers in their whole lives. Our marketing boards are government revenue collectors rather than price stabilizers. Farmers pay more taxes at the hands of these boards, than they would otherwise. The establishment of various agencies in the agricultural sector for various crops is wasteful in terms of overheads and inexperienced staff. The very objectives for which the boards were set up can be handled by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with co-operatives and private marketing enterprises. The subsidies embedded in grains pricing systems, coupled with heavy overhead costs associated with high administrative, transportation and storage costs, soon created huge tax burdens. The pan territorial pricing system meant higher transportation and handling costs in moving commodities from some remote areas, and the management of large volumes of commodities in storage was costly. In addition, the monitoring of private trade was not only costly but generally ineffective, especially for food commodities in shortage seasons. E. g. The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) of Kenya accumulated an estimated loss of about $300 million by 1993, in contrast with central government expenditure on agriculture of $33 million. Marketing boards also face organizational challenges. Their susceptibility to bureaucracy and corruption increased both the inefficiency in their operations and the transactions costs for farmers and consumers. In 2011 Kenya’s economy recorded moderate growth, driven primarily by financial intermediation, tourism, construction and agriculture. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is projected to expand modestly in 2012 and 2013. In 2011 it was held back by an unstable macroeconomic environment characterized by rising inflation, exchange rate depreciation and high energy costs. Limited rainfall in the first half of 2011 resulted in a decline in aggregate food production, a factor that contributed significantly to runaway inflation. The inflationary pressures experienced in 2011 and the depreciation of the Kenyan shilling (KES) can be traced back in part to the Central Bank of Kenya’s decision to cut its repo rate from 7% to 6% in December 2010 in a bid to revive lending and stimulate growth. However, increased consumer demand pushed up prices and put pressure on the Kenyan shilling as demand for imports increased substantially. Inflation is projected to fall to single figures in 2012 and 2013 thanks to improved food production and stability in fuel prices. The year 2011 was marked by the passing of legislation to put into effect the new constitution and the appearance of six Kenyan citizens at the International Criminal Court, while political parties began preparing for elections expected in 2012. Youth unemployment is a growing problem in Kenya as it makes up 70% of total unemployment. The Youth Enterprise Development Fund, operational over the last five years as the main intervention agency, has, among other actions, disbursed almost KES 6 billion to some 157 538 youth enterprises; organized youth trade fairs; built simple infrastructure for young people; and started pre-financing training for the young. The fund will be expanded in the coming years to ensure increased employment for the young.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Rationalism in Architecture

IntroductionRationalism began as a seventeenth century political orientation that led to the Enlightenment, a period in history where ground was the primary instrument for warranting and understanding the aˆ?howsaˆ? and aˆ?whysaˆ? of things and fortunes. The Enlightenment was a clip where concrete grounds through scientific research flourished and Rationalism influenced all field of enterprises and even simple day-to-day undertakings. [ 1 ] In layperson footings, to be rational is to be apprehensible, mensurable or definite. Using this as premiss, Rationalism in architecture therefore pertains to accuracy in planing and constructing the tallness, comprehensiveness or deepness of a construction. Architectural Rationalism was a solid grounds of the Enlightenment influence in the field of architecture. It continues to prevail in the modern universe as an independent art motion though much of the modern Rationalist designs have small resemblance to Enlightenment architect ure. Henceforth, this essay attempts to contextualize Rationalism by distinguishing its two discrepancies: eighteenth century Rationalism and the recent twentieth century development. The similarities and differences of their several designs and, if possible, maps are noted to give us an thought on how Rationalism has evolved as an architectural political orientation. The essay besides includes treatments on sub-movements, their innovators and their hallmarks.eighteenth Century RationalismThe Enlightenment Architectural Rationalism was focused on being symmetrical, holding accurate measurings of authoritative forms, and functionality. It clearly reflected the spirit of the times where scientific discipline, mathematics and logic were at the extremum of their influence. Neoclassicism was a widespread motion under the Rationalist wing. It was established in reaction to the royal poinciana and apparently inordinate Baroque and Rococo manners. During the neoclassicist roar, many graphicss and structural designs of the classical Graeco-Roman epoch were recalled together with the architectural plants of Italian Andrea Palladio. [ 2 ] The motion was named aˆ?neoclassical, aˆ? as opposed to pure classicalism, as non every classical design was applied in this. Neoclassicists merely selected from the broad array of designs those executable to society. Neoclassicist designs were characterized as follows: symmetricalness, columns that functioned as support, minimalistic design composed of basic geometric forms, and an overlaid triangular gable normally known as pediment. The symmetricalness, functionality, and geometrical facets of the neoclassicist motion were specifying features of the Rationalist political orientation. [ 3 ]The Pediment [ 4 ] A Colu mn [ 5 ]Existing in the sixteenth century towards the apogee of the Renaissance period, Andrea Palladio was the first known designer to resuscitate and use the classical designs of Graeco-Roman society in many Villas, castles and basilicas. His architecture became an indispensable foundation of Enlightenment Architecture. As a dedicated follower of Vitruvius and his dateless rule of aˆ?firmitas, utilitas, venustas, aˆ? Palladio carefully ensured that his structural designs were lasting, utile, and attractive as stipulated by Vitruvius in his ten-volume chef-d'oeuvre aˆ?De Architectura.aˆ? Palladio was besides peculiar about proportions and seting a intent on every structural constituent. [ 6 ] For case, a portico or patio must be utilized in such a manner that the environing scenery was seen in its full glorification. He wanted geographical properties of the estate to fit with the house ‘s structural design. The palazzos, Villas and basilicas he designed displa yed the blending values of beauty and the societal environment and place of their several proprietors. An urban palazzo was different from a provincial palazzo ; similarly, an agricultural Villa was different from a residential Villa. Palladio designed constructions harmonizing to their context. [ 7 ] Palladio had contributed several design inventions in public edifices and churches. Most Palladian plants were made of low-cost stuffs, normally stucco, traditionally made with lime, sand and H2O, to cover and adhere bricks. His urban constructions for esteemed Venetian proprietors had high classical porticos with pediments that extended every bit far as the 2nd floor and were supported by elephantine colonnades. These porticos were raised above land degree and on the same degree as the remainder of the land floor. This raised floor called aˆ?piano nobile, aˆ? was reused in ulterior fluctuations of neoclassical architecture. Palazzo Chiericati in the metropolis of Vicenza was a all right illustration of this urban construction. [ 8 ]Palazzo Chiericati ( 1550-1557 ) [ 9 ]Rural Villas were instead different. Alternatively of the piano nobile, there was an elevated dais bordered by lower service wings, connected with an elegant curving flight of stepss. The proprietor maintained abode at the elevated part. Villa Foscari ( besides La Malcontenta ) was among the mid-16th century designs of Palladio that employed this celebrated edifice format.Villa Foscari ( 1559 ) [ 10 ]The 1570 publication of Palladio ‘s work aˆ?Quattro Libri dell'Architetturaaˆ? ( The Four Books of Architecture ) , stretched his influence far beyond his place state Italy. Palladio ‘s architectural drawings and treatments contained in the book set the phase for neoclassicist enlargement in the cardinal European states of France, Britain, Ireland, Spain and Germany. [ 11 ] Even more singular was his influence in colonial and post-colonial America, where his designs were replicated in the houses of well-known households, province edifices and even the private residence of Thomas Jefferson, the freedom President. [ 12 ] Along with Palladio ‘s treatise, the unearthing and find of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roman towns destroyed by volcanic eruption during the classical period, was thought to animate the interior designs of eighteenth century European houses and buildings. [ 13 ]The Ruins of Pompeii [ 14 ] Interior View of a Herculaneum House [ 15 ]In Europe, neoclassicist architecture developed at different gaits. Some beginnings estimated that the motion reached its extremum in France with A†°tienne-Louis BoullA ©e and Claude Nicolas Ledoux. The two designers followed rules of reason into their Classical divine designs. BoullA ©e was known for blending geometry with the standard classics. This original neoclassical divergence might hold been influenced by his work as an pedagogue and philosopher at aˆ?A†°cole Nationale des Ponts et ChaussA ©es.aˆ? Like most neoclassicists, his designs were minimalistic, devoid of ornamentation, bold plenty to reiterate certain structural constituents, particularly if they were functional ( i.e. columns ) , and sought to stress the intent of the construction and its parts. BoullA ©e besid es proposed a empty tomb, an about 500-foot sphere rooted on a unit of ammunition foundation, for the English scientist Isaac Newton. This was non executable to construct but as a professional engraving, the manner gained prominence. BoullA ©e ‘s plants were subsequently revived by twentieth century Positivists and more popularly by celebrated Modernist designer, Aldo Rossi. Contemporary designers found his designs alone and really imaginative – although some would see them aˆ?illusions of grandeur.aˆ? The HA?tel Alexandre in Paris, known for its flanking courtyard doors and Corinthian columns, was one of BoullA ©e ‘s lasting plants. [ 16 ] Cenotaph for Newton ( 1784 ) [ 17 ] HA?tel Alexandre ( 1763-66 ) [ 18 ]Like his compatriot, Ledoux was really idealistic in his architecture, ever desiring to aˆ?build with a purpose.aˆ? For this he and BoullA ©e were branded aˆ?Utopians.aˆ? [ 19 ] Ledoux designed many theaters, hotels, residential places, and edifices, supplied with rotundas, columns and domes from the Graeco-Roman period. His known architectural invention was the aˆ?architectonic order, aˆ? best exhibited through his design on the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans. He was appointed Royal Architect for the express intent of constructing a structural design for expeditiously pull outing salt. The Royal Saltworks became a important illustration of eighteenth century Architectural Rationalism for its extended usage of geometry and logical agreement of forms to ease the extraction and transit procedures. Another design was drawn after the first was disapproved. [ 20 ]Facade of the Royal Saltwork s, France [ 21 ]Aerial View of Ledoux ‘ Second Design ( 1804 ) [ 22 ]There were many other outstanding figures under the neoclassical motion but few were every bit Utopian as the plants of BoullA ©e and Ledoux. Gallic writer-teacher-architect Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand influenced several German Positivists by adding rules of economic system and convenience to the bing architectural Utopia. [ 23 ] The ulterior renderings of neoclassicism in Britain, America, and Spain disregarded the fond regard to symmetry and geometry that Palladio himself and the Gallic neoclassicists were really peculiar. However, they did retain much of the functionality facet. For illustration, neo-Palladian British designers William Kent and Indigo Jones invented the flanking wings to give more infinite in the house inside. [ 24 ] This concern for using infinite was still an original of eighteenth century Rationalism.twentieth Century Rationalismtwentieth century Rationalist architecture was interchange ably called Neo-Rationalist. Although the designs were different from eighteenth century rationalism, neo-Rationalists continued to pattern of import rules of Rationalist Architecture. The simplistic signifier and ornamentation was still retained ; the functionality facet became known as aˆ?theme.aˆ? In fact, as many historiographers claimed, neo-Rationalism was an development of eighteenth century Enlightenment Architecture. [ 25 ] The demand to warrant architectural plants remained strong as it had so. The Enlightenment brought about the Industrial Revolution around 18th-19th centuries. The effects lasted and were carried over to the twentieth century, where industrialisation became a craze. Economic promotion was no longer associated with brick and wood but with new elements like steel, Fe and glass. As industrialisation reached its extremum in the twentieth century, the turning importance of machinery led to the development of an aˆ?industrial architecture, aˆ? c omposed of those new elements. [ 26 ] Modernism was the dominant rationalist motion of the 1900s. It fundamentally aimed to use new stuffs suited to the spirit of industrialisation and free designers from the bondage of manners, which curtailed single touches. The plants of early Modernists Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius in Germany and Frenchman Le Corbusier were largely merchandises of socio-political revolutions. Following World War I, the German Modernist ventured into new constructions that aˆ?meet societal needs.aˆ? [ 27 ] The Bauhaus design school resulted from this venture. Bauhaus became identified as the aˆ?International Style, aˆ? adopted by many Modern structural designs in assorted states. [ 28 ] The following are celebrated illustrations of Bauhaus architecture:The UN New York Base by Le Corbusier [ 29 ] The Gropius Residence in Lincoln [ 30 ]The International Style was characterized by rational rules of minimal art and functional design and construction. Neoclassic pediments, co lumns and flanking wings were replaced by rectangular forms of concrete cement, steel, and other new elements. There were barely hints of peculiar civilizations or societal context and a impersonal architecture that was universally applicable prevailed. [ 31 ] Modernists like Frank Lloyd Wright tried to equilibrate nature and structural designs. [ 32 ] Later, Postmodernist motions emerged to deconstruct the catholicity of Bauhaus and inculcate aˆ?local identitiesaˆ? into modern architecture so it can link with people ‘s sentiments. [ 33 ] Aldo Rossi, Italian theorist-architect-designer-artist, was among the famed Postmodernists. His valuable part to urban architecture was constructing modern-day constructions without pretermiting the historical value of the metropolis or site where it would be built. He stressed the societal significance of memorials and graveyards and besides advocated that constructions be strong plenty for wining coevalss to witness. [ 34 ] San Cataldo Cemetery expanded by Rossi ( 1971 ) [ 35 ] Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht by Rossi ( 1990-1994 ) [ 36 ]Decision18th and twentieth century Architectural Rationalists are linked by the ancient rules of aˆ?utilitas, firmitas, venustas.aˆ? Their several motions were by and large non-ornamental and utile in construction, design and subject. In the country of symmetricalness, the usage of geometrical forms, and projecting cultural and single sentiments, the two Rationalist governments differ. eighteenth century Positivists were unified in recommending truth and beauty in architecture while neo-Rationalists had single contradictions. [ 37 ] Nevertheless, both strands justified Architecture ‘s major functions in society and in people ‘s lives. [ 1 ] Hackett Lewis. ( 1992 ) aˆ?The age if enlightenment, aˆ? History World International at hypertext transfer protocol: //history-world.org/age_of_enlightenment.htm [ 2 ] Steve Fallon & A ; Nicola Williams. ( 2008 ) Paris: metropolis usher, United Kingdom, Lonely Planet Publications, p. 48. [ 4 ] University of Pittsburgh at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary/pediment.htm [ 5 ] Old House Web at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.oldhouseweb.com/architecture-and-design/greek-revival-1820-1850.shtml [ 6 ] Bernd Evers, Christof Thoenes & A ; Kunstbibliothek. ( 2003 ) Architectural theory: from the Renaissance to the present, Germany, TASCHEN pp. 6-7. [ 7 ] Sam Smiles & A ; Stephanie Moser. ( 2005 ) Visualizing the yesteryear: archeology and the image, Maine, Blackwell Publishing pp. 98-114. [ 8 ] Douglas Lewis, Andrea Palladio & A ; International Exhibitions Foundation. ( 1981 ) The drawings of Andrea Palladio, Texas, The Foundation, pp. 158-163. [ 9 ] Essential Architecture at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/STY-E14.htm [ 11 ] Caroline Clifton-Mogg. ( 1991 ) The neoclassical beginning book, New York, Rizzoli, pp. 88-175. [ 12 ] David Watkin. ( 2005 ) A history of western architecture, London, Laurence King pp. 114-513. [ 13 ] H. Keethe Beebe. ( 1975 ) aˆ?Domestic Architecture and the New Testament, aˆ? The Biblical Archeologists, volume 38, figure 3/4, pp. 89-104. [ 14 ] Virtual Tourist at hypertext transfer protocol: //cache.virtualtourist.com/1898061-Pompeii-Pompeii.jpg [ 16 ] Helen Rosenau. ( 1976 ) BoullA ©e & A ; airy architecture, New York, Harmony Books pp. 1-27. [ 19 ] Barry Bergdoll. ( 2000 ) European architecture, 1750-1890, New York, Oxford University Press p. 97. [ 20 ] Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt. ( 1966 ) From the classicists to the impressionists: art and architecture in the 19th century, Connecticut, Yale University Press pp. 227-311. [ 21 ] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at hypertext transfer protocol: //whc.unesco.org/en/list/203 [ 23 ] Joy Monice Malnar & A ; Frank Vodvarka. ( 2004 ) Sensor design, Minneapolis, The University of Minnesota Press p. 8. [ 24 ] Inigo Jones, William Kent. ( 1727 ) The designs of Inigo Jones: consisting of programs and lifts for publick, England, W. Kent pp. 1-73. [ 25 ] Christopher Crouch. ( 2000 ) Modernism in Art Design and Architecture, New York, St. Martin ‘s Press pp. 1-10. [ 26 ] aˆ?Industrial architecture, aˆ? EncyclopA ¦dia Britannica Online at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/286910/industrial-architecture [ 27 ] Richard J. Evans. ( 2003 ) The coming of the 3rd Reich, New York, The Penguin Press, pp. 122-123. [ 28 ] Henry Russell Hitchcock & A ; Philip Johnson. ( 1997 ) The International Style, New York, W. W. Norton & A ; Company, pp. 1-5. [ 29 ] aˆ?International Styleaˆ? at hypertext transfer protocol: //architecture.about.com/od/20thcenturytrends/ig/Modern-Architecture/International-Style.htm [ 30 ] The Digital Archive of American Architecture at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/gropius.html [ 31 ] Hazel Conway & A ; Rowan Roenisch. ( 1994 ) Understanding architecture: an debut to architecture and architectural history, London, Routledge pp. 22-24. [ 32 ] Kathleen Karlsen. aˆ?Saving Civilization Through Architecture – Rationalism and the International Style, aˆ? at hypertext transfer protocol: //ezinearticles.com/ ? Saving-Civilization-Through-Architecture — -Rationalism-and-the-International-Style & A ; id=888138 [ 33 ] Hazel Conway & A ; Rowan Roenisch. ( 1994 ) Understanding architecture: an debut to architecture and architectural history, London, Routledge pp. 22. [ 34 ] Terry Kirk. ( 2005 ) The architecture of modern Italy, volume 2: visions of utopia 1900-present, New York, Princeton University Press pp. 208-214. [ 35 ] Cornell University Blog at hypertext transfer protocol: //blogs.cornell.edu/tim/2008/09/21/cities-sites/ [ 36 ] Brian Rose at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.brianrose.com/portfolio/bonnefanten/bonnefan.htm [ 37 ] Sarah Williams Goldhagen. aˆ?Ultraviolet: Alvar Aalto ‘s corporal Rationalism, aˆ? Harvard Design Magazine at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sarahwilliamsgoldhagen.com/articles/Ultraviolet.pdf

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Significance of Colonialism Essay Example

The Significance of Colonialism Essay Example The Significance of Colonialism Essay The Significance of Colonialism Essay Essay Topic: Burial Rites Whether it is all consuming character of Prospero, the vainglorious superiority of the Utopians or the savage greed of the first English Virginian colonists; there is a common will exercised in these three literary texts: conquer and take all. It is my aim in this essay to prove how an underlying theme of colonialism is being operated and advocated in these three texts, as a means of the progression and enrichment of a society specifically European and even more specifically white and English. To attempt to discuss the discourse of colonialism in these texts, it is important to locate them in the historical and political climate of the time. During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, England was experiencing a vast array of problems, both internally and externally. The foremost of these were a private-enterprise seaborne war against Spain (James 5), and a litany of potentially subversive Catholics resident within England itself and of course the newly acquired issue of overpopulation. An influential group of English courtiers and councillors, including the Earl of Leicester, Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Walter Raleigh, (James 5) saw the vision of an expansionist Empire across the sea in the New World as the solution to many of these difficulties. Many plays, pamphlets and images were circulated which accorded with these aspirations. In fact, accounts of the miraculous survival of members of the company of the Sea Adventure, wrecked off Bermuda in 1609, are said to have provided Shakespeare with an immediate source for The Tempest (Tmp) (Brown 48), and there is much evidence to suggest that Shakespeare had America in mind when writing this play as, the spirit, Ariels songs are seen to be based on Algonquian dances and intended Caliban to be representative Indian and Prospero a planter. (Wilson 333). Utopia is said to be inspired by accounts of the communistic way of life observed in some of these new found lands, although it is an imaginary world whose backbone is based upon slavery. Needless to say, Utopia seems to have inspired some of the ideology behind the concept of colonialism during this era, such as this portion from the play Eastwood Ho, which was written by George Chapman, Ben Jonson and John Marston and first performed in London during the summer of 1605. In this fragment, Captain Seagull describes th e wealth of the Virginian Indians: Why, man, all their dripping pans and their chamber pots are pure gold: and all the chains, with which they chain up their streets, are massy gold; all the prisoners they take are fettered in gold; and for rubies and diamonds, they go forth on holidays and gather em by the seashore, to hang on their childrens coats. (James 4) This description bears an uncanny resemblance to the Utopians treatment of gold, written by More almost a century earlier, and proves that Utopia contributed greatly to the adventurous beliefs associated with these new lands across the ocean. they make their chamber pots and close-stools of gold and silverof the same metals they likewise make chains and fetters for their slavesThey find pearls on their coast, and diamonds and carbuncles on their rocks; they do not look after them, but, if they find them by chance, they polish them, and with them they adorn their children (More 25) A Map of Virginia (Virginia) was written by John Smith as a promotional literary piece to encourage new settlers to the Virginia colony, for al is open for labor of a good and wise inhabitant (Smith 80). It is a historical, anthropological and geographical piece of literature which details the people and the commodities of the region and how those commodities may be used and made profitable. Consequently it is evident that a theme of colonialism is deep rooted in these texts, as Tmp and Virginia were written at the epicentre of the expansionist age, and Utopia written at the dawn of this era, when news of these new lands and peoples as just beginning to reach English shores and a dream of an empire was being pondered upon. It is interesting to note that the word colony comes from the Roman colonia which meant farm or settlement, and referred to Romans who settled in other lands but still retained their citizenship (Loomba Colonialism 7). In Tmp, Prospero is ousted from his dukedom of Milan and arrives on the island on which the play is set and sets up his own colonia on the isle, after expropriating it from its previous owner, the poisonous slave (Shakespeare 1.2.319), Caliban. This subjugation of Caliban, is justified by Prospero due to the tyranny of his mother, thy wicked dam (Shakespeare 1.2.320) Sycorax and to his innate savage behaviour, on whose nature / Nuture can never stick (Shakespeare 4.1.188-9). Although when Prospero first arrived on the isle, relations were quite cordial between the two, as Caliban recounts: When thou camst first, / Thou strokst me and made much of me ; wouldst give me / Water with berries int, and teach me how / To name the bigger light and how the less and then I loved thee, / And showed thee all the qualities othisleCursed be that I did so! (Shakespeare 1.2.332-339) Prospero masked his dependence on Caliban for information about the island with displays of physical affectionOnce petted, Caliban now remains penned like a pig, but on a rock barren of all food. Tales of initial native hospitality and sharing of fold and resources were stock-in-trade of English colonisers (Seed 203). Similarly, in Virginia, initial relations were positive, with regards to the relationship between that of John Smith and the Powhatan tribe of Amerindians. When the colonists first arrived in the Cheapeseake Bay area, the people in al parts kindly intreated them (Smith 31/32), and even after some disorder between the two groups, so moved are the Indians by the suffering that the starving colonists are enduring that they even share their corn with them: God the patron of all good indeavours in that desperate extreamity so cha~ged the harts of the Salvages, that they brought such plenty of their fruits, and provision as no man wanted. (Smith 35) After Smith is captured by the Powhatans, he manages to mesmerise them with his knowledge of science and geography, and in doing so is able to trick them into believing that he and his associates are of a superior power to them and come in friendship. This is reminiscent of the way that Prospero once loved and petted Caliban, teaching him how to name the bigger light and how the less burn by day and night. So he had incha~ted those poore soules (being their prisoner) in demonstrating vnto them the roundnesse of the world, the course of the moone and stares, the cause of day and night the largenes of the seas the qualities of our ships, shot and powder, The devision of the world, with the diversity of people, their complexions, customes and conditions. All which he fained to be vnder the command of Captaine Newport, whom he tearmed to them his father. (Smith 16-17 (38)) Prospero and John Smith use their knowledge to gain control over the dominions that they seek to conquer. Prospero has an aide in the spirit Ariel, who can subject the poor Caliban to endure tremendous pain and torments: Thou shalt have cramps,/ Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up. Urchins/ Shall, for that vast of night that they make thy work, / All excercise on thee. Thou shalt be pinched / As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging / Than bees that made em. (Shakespeare 1.2.325-330)) One of the ways that Prospero marks out Caliban as inferior is by his physical appearance. He is described as a freckled whelp, hag-born-not honoured with a human shape. (Shakespeare 1.2.283-284), and later in Act 2 Trinculo arrives on the island and encountering Caliban, gives a description of his appearance: What have we here-a man or a fish?A strange fish ! Were I in England now, as once I was, and / had but this fish painted, not a holiday-fool there but would give a piece of silver. There would this monster make a man-any strange beast there makes a man. / When they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian. Legged like a man, and his fins like arms! (Shakespeare 2.2.24-34). What Trinculo could possibly be making reference to here is to the possibility that Indians who died in England could have possibly been embalmed, clad in their indigenous attire and put on show for paying audiences, as no records attest to the departure or burial of more than a dozen Amerindians whose presence in England during Shakespeares lifetime is certain (Vaughan 58-59). Calibans subjugation is also justified because he is the spawn of a wicked dam (Shakespeare 1.2.320), the foul witch Sycorax (Shakespeare 1.2.257). There is no doubt that Sycorax was an African woman, as Prospero outlines her banishment from Algiers by the king of Tunis. Sycorax is branded as inferior due to her blackness, her female gender and then finally for the black arts that she practised and did harm with. The magical power that Prospero holds never comes into question for he is a white male and even though his sorcery too is evil and causes harm, he is protected by the colonial hegemony he has establis hed upon the island. Thus Prospero establishes a colonial power which is specifically white and male. He goes to great pains to enroot this belief by reminding the spirit Ariel of the cruel life enforced upon him by the islands old queen: This damned witch Sycorax, / For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible / To enter human hearing, from Algiers / Thou knowst was banished-for one thing she did / They would not take her lifeThou, my slave, / As thou reportst thyself, was then her servant,Refusing her grand hests, she did confine theeInto a cloven pine (Shakespeare 1.2.264-277). Prospero sees himself as superior and therefore reasonable in his enslavement of Caliban; because of Calibans assumed physical defects, his lineage from the corrupt witch Sycorax and his uncivilised behaviour. Prospero has confined Caliban on the hard rock (Shakespeare 1.2.343) because of an unsuccessful attempt to rape Miranda, but previous to this act, Prospero and Miranda had attempted to educate and civilise Caliban with disappointing results. Abhorred slave, / Which any print of goodness wilt not take, / Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee, / Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour but wouldst gabble like / A thing most brutish But thy vile race- / Though thou didst learn-had that int which good natures / Could not abide to be with ; therefore wast thou / Deservedly confined into this rock, / Who hadst deserved more than a prison. (Shakespeare 1.2.350-361). Caliban is a failure at learning properly the language that Miranda has gone to such great pains to teach him. Prospero once even once lodged thee/ In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate / The honour of my child (Shakespeare 1.2.346-348). Miranda teaches Caliban language with the intention of conscripting him within the project of moral renewal but his wicked deed culminates in him being dispossessed and driven from her presence (Gillies The Figure 194). Calibans fall is reminiscent of Aristotles theory of the natural slave; unable to learn a language succinctly and incapable of bridling his sexual desires, Calibans punishment is a lifetime of servitude and shame. Thus his failure at education and misdemeanour provides Prospero with rationale for the expropriation and enslavement of Caliban. Patriarchal colonial rule is established upon the isle with Prospero as supreme head of state; protecting his pure, virginal daughter (even though she is quite capable of uttering a pr ofanity herself) from the unchecked carnal desires of the deformed Caliban. This preoccupation with preventing sexual connections (or even the threat of such contact) between English women and native men (Seed 211), has proven itself to be an enduring characteristic of many British colonies, where it has often been used the reasoning behind many cruelties and displays of violence (Seed 211). Something that would have resonated with Shakespearean audiences who watched this play were the many images circulating during this time, depicting the Sceptred isle as full and the New World as empty (Seed 205) as English colonists wanted to begin peopling the excess English population into this new territory; a concept which resonates with The Tempest during Calibans speech upon his failed attempt of raping Miranda and therefore unable to realise his dream: Thou didst prevent me-I had peopled else/ This isle with Calibans. (Shakespeare 1.2.348-349) In Virginia, special attention is also paid to the physical appearance and habits of the native Indians. He describes their attire as being assembled in a rude manner and the natives are viewed in subhuman, animalistic terms. In describing the character of the Powhatan tribe, Smith writes: Some are of disposition fearefull, some bold, most cautelous, all SavageThey are soone moved to anger, and so malitious, that they seldom forget an injury (37). (A stark contrast to Smiths description of them as seeming of an honest simple disposition earlier in the text). Smith accuses the Indians of child sacrifice, and of executing a fellow colonist, George Cassen, of a most merciless and cruel method of death (de-jointing a victim, then disembowelling him, finally setting him alight while being bound to a tree throughout the entire ordeal). Although these situations could have possibly occurred, he has evidence to support neither of them. Both accounts are merely hearsay, are hardly objective and obviously entered with the desired effect of swaying the judgment of the reader to thinking of the engrained savage nature of these Indians. There are many other tirades launched against the Indians (despite them saving the colonists from starvation out of compassion) but the cornerstone of his argument for civilising them is their religion, as Smith outlines their Chiefe God they worship is the Diuell. Him they call Oke serve him more of feare then loue. Smith writing this during a period of extreme religious piety in England and the actuality that the majority of the first colonists were God fearing Puritans, highlights the point that Smith was trying to make that these Indians were heathens and to colonise and therefore civilise them was Gods will. And end to the high glory of God, to the erecting of true religion among Infidells, to the overthrow of superstition and idolatrie, to the winning of many thousands of wandering sheepe, vnto Christs foldhave strayed in unknowne paths of Paginisme, Idolatrie and superstition (Smith ?). These new aims that claimed by Smith and his followers are quite different from the aims that Smith acknowledged the Virginia Company had outlined for them as to discover the country, subdue the people, bring them to be tractable, civil and industrious, and teach them trades, that the fruits of their labours might make vs recompence, or plant such colonies of our own that must (Smith ?). The use of religion as a means of suppression advocated by Machiavelli years before hand; he himself having traced the idea back to the foundation of the Roman Empire, when Romuluss successor, Numa Pompilius, finding a very savage people, and wishing to reduce them to civil obedience by the arts of peace, had to recourse to religion as the most necessary and assured support of any civil society (Greenblatt 20). The Virginia colonists aspirations to introduce the Indians to Christianity seem to be very suspicious especially when one considers the occasion when Smith fooled the Indians into thinking he was of a status of a demigod; capable of raising the poor Indian boy from the dead once his brother swore never to steal again. Even though Smith portrayed himself as a staunch Christian and as outlined previously stated that he wanted to bring an end to Paginisme, Idolatrie and Superstition, he exploited the superstitions of the Indians. The Indian king, Powhatan, asked Smith, what will it availe you, to take that perforce, you may quietly have with loue, or to destroy them that provide you food? (Smith). Powhatan was completely aware of the Virginia Companys true intentions, and there was very little Christian compassion and love engrained in them. Like Prospero, once Smith had gotten the information that he needed in order for James Town to prosper, he required a valid reason to force the Indians into submission, for as he said, For we haue a rule to finde beyond your knowledge (Smith). The Utopians, on the other hand, have already mastered the art of subduing and colonising, for although they do not hasten to go into war; when they do, they totally vanquish the enemy. Firstly, they do not use their own men in the war but employ a mercenary army of a neighbouring tribe, the Zapolets, who are a rude, wild and fierce nation, who delight in the woods and rocks, among which they were born and bred up. They are hardened both against heat, cold and labour, and know nothing of the delicacies of life (More 39). Once the Utopians have struck down their enemies and entered into their lands, they never lay their enemies country waste nor burn their corn, and even in their marches they take all possible care that neither horse nor foot may tread it down, for they do not know but that they may have use for it themselves (More 41). The use that they make of these newly conquered lands is to establish somewhat a form of a colony, extracting taxes from the occupied country. When a war is ended, they do not oblige their friends to reimburse their expenses; but they obtain them of the conquered, either in moneyor in lands, out of which a constant revenue is to be paid themThey send some of their own people to receive these revenues, who have orders to live magnificently, and like princes, by which means they consume much of it upon the place; and either bring over the rest to Utopia, or lend it to that nation in which it lies. (More 41). In Utopia, the whole foundation of their civilisation has been founded upon conquest and colonisation. For as their history records: Utopus that conquered it (whose name it still carries, for Abraxa was its first name) brought the rude and uncivilized inhabitants into such a good government, and to that measure of politeness, that they now far excel all the rest of mankind (More 17). The Utopians regard slavery as a normal part of their culture, and similar to Prosperos chastisement of Caliban, use it as the punishment even of the greatest crimes; for as that is no less terrible to the criminals themselves than death, so they think the preserving them in a state of servitude is more for the interest of the commonwealth than killing them; since as their labour is a greater benefit to the public than their death could be, so the sight of their misery is a more lasting terror to other men than that which would be given by their death. If their slaves rebel, and will not bear their yoke and submit to the labour that is enjoined them, they are treated as wild beasts that cannot be kept in order, neither by a prison nor by their chains, and are at last put to death. (More 35). Another sort of slaves are the poor of the neighbouring countries, who offer of their own accord to come and serve them; they treat these better, and use them in all other respects as well as their own countrymen, except their imposing more labour upon them, which is no hard task to those that have been accustomed to it. (More 33). A form of communal living presides in the countryside, people living together in country families, which consist of no fewer than forty men and women in it, besides two slaves (More 17). All of the most menial and unpleasant tasks of Utopian life are performed by these slaves, such as the slaughter and butchering of animals, for they suffer none of their citizens to kill their cattle, because they think that pity and good natureare impaired by the butchering of animals. (More 23). The Utopians regard themselves as morally and intellectually superior to these slaves, but due to their love of education, take it upon themselves to redeem these slaves through knowledge and pestilence.