Financial Institutions Lending Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Money related Institutions Lending - Essay Example It is determined by partitioning absolute obligations by all out resources. An obligation proportion of more noteworthy than1 shows that an organization has more obligation than resources - an obligation proportion of under 1 demonstrates thata organization has a greater number of advantages than obligation. Utilized related to different proportions of monetary wellbeing, the obligation proportion can assist speculators with deciding an organization's degree of hazard. A loaning hazard evaluation proportion that money related foundations and others moneylenders analyze before favoring a mortgage.Typically,assessments with high LTV proportions are for the most part observed as higher hazard and, accordingly, if themortgage is accepted,the loanwill for the most part cost the borrower more to get or the person in question should buy contract protection. An obligation administration measure that money related banks use asa rule of thumbtogivea preliminaryassessment about whether a potentialborrower is as of now in too muchdebt.Receiving aratio ofless than30%means that the expected borrowerhas a satisfactory degree of obligation. A general termdescribinga financialratio that looks at some type of proprietor's value (or cash-flow) to obtained reserves. Equipping is a proportion of money related influence, showing how much a company's exercises are financed by proprietor's assets versus loan boss' assets. The higher a company'sdegree of influence, the more thecompany is viewed as dangerous. With respect to most proportions, a worthy levelis dictated by its comparisonto proportions ofcompanies in the equivalent industry.The most popular instances of outfitting proportions incorporate the obligation to-value proportion (complete obligation/absolute value), times premium earned (EBIT/all out premium), value proportion (value/resources), and obligation proportion (all out obligation/all out resources). 5. Dissolvability Ratio One of numerous proportions utilized tomeasure an organization's capacity to meet long haul commitments. The dissolvability proportion measuresthe size ofa organization's after-charge salary, barring non-money deterioration costs, when contrasted with the company's all out obligation commitments. It gives an estimation of how likely an organization will be to keep meeting its obligation commitments. Hence, credit quality can best be assessed by breaking down the likelihood of an organization coming up short on both money and benefits at some random second. To assess the chance of an organization coming up short on money, loan specialists for the most part take a gander at a money spending plan for the firm. They assess different situations and attempt to decide how likely the consummation money parity will be negative, inferring a requirement for outside assets that may not be inevitable if the organization isn't beneficial. The degree of the credit misfortunes that at that point emerge if a firm comes up short on money is an element of the insurance or rank status of every obligation, just as the estimation of the all out resources of the organization in liquidation. Basically, credit investigation can be just led by looking at the organization's normal Times Interest Earned (TIE) proportion in the course of recent years to that of the cross-sectional normal TIE of gatherings of firms with a similar open FICO score, for example, a similar Moody's or S&P letter rating for which open information are accessible. At that point set the organization's beginning FICO score equivalent to that which most intently coordinates the TIE of the organizations with a given letter FICO assessment. Next, the pattern in

How the Disciplines of Computer Science and Business intertwine Essay

How the Disciplines of Computer Science and Business entwine - Essay Example eople who have considered the control of software engineering and data innovation becomes fundamental organizations to advance quickly in the market and stay serious. Today, the opposition between organizations is expanding as time passes in light of the headways in innovation. In such conditions, an organization that doesn't utilize PCs and related advances deserts in the race of rivalry as well. The author has composed the paper in a cognizant way wherein he/she has portrays all parts of the utilization of web in organizations obviously. The paper depends absolutely on the impacts of utilizing PCs in the business world and the need or significance of the web in the accomplishment of today’s business. The conversation uncovers that the utilization of web and other IT advances assist little organizations contending on a worldwide level. The essayist as given numerous instances of how web has profited independent ventures and what potential is has for enormous organizations. A portion of the fundamental advantages that the essayist has examined incorporate redistributing, off shoring, quick advancement, web based promoting, long range informal communication, and globalization. In addition, the author has additionally uncovered some negative results for independent company utilizing web. In any case, perusing the paper it can't be said that those negative results can ecli pse the advantages of data innovation for business. These advantages and negative impacts show that the investigation of software engineering and data innovation has become a vital piece of the investigation of business the board. This is likewise apparent on the off chance that we break down the course substance and subjects remembered for the educational plan of the field of business the executives. Today, pretty much every college encourages some fundamental PC programming over the span of business the board, just as gives web and PC information to understudies to make them ready to prevail in their expert lives. I don't think the regions of software engineering and business

Adderall Side Effects in Men

Adderall Side Effects in Men October 14, 2019 ADHD Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Living With In Children Verywell / Cindy Chung Adderall is a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD. However, it can have side effects, including erectile dysfunction in some men.?? Adderall acts on the central nervous system and increases the amount of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, in the brain. This results in increased attention and focus and a reduction in hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Adderall contains dextroamphetamine and amphetamine and is available in a short-acting formula, which lasts approximately four hours, and in an extended release formula (Adderall XR), which lasts between 10 to 12 hours.?? It was approved to treat ADHD in 1996 by the FDA and can be prescribed to people who are 6 years and older.?? Side Effects in Men Erectile dysfunction  (ED) is a  potential side effect for men taking Adderall.  Some men report a decreased interest in sex and difficulty getting and keeping an erection. This change in sex drive or sexual performance can cause distress and embarrassment. While some men report that Adderall  negatively affects their sex life, other men experience the opposite.?? They find it increases their sex drive and do not experience ED. This varies from person to person. In fact stimulants like Adderall are sometimes used to treat the sexual side effects that may accompany certain antidepressant medications. Other side effects of Adderall can include nervousness, dizziness, headaches, problems with sleep, dry mouth, vision problems, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and an increase in both blood pressure and heart rate.?? Why Adderall May  Cause ED One of the effects of Adderall is constriction of certain blood vessels in the body, and these changes may impact the penis. Typically, once the effects of the medication have worn away, sexual desire and performance return to what is normal for you. Speak to Your Doctor Although you might feel shy or embarrassed to speak to your doctor, it is important to tell them about any erectile dysfunction you are experiencing.  Doctors understand that it is a potential side effect of Adderall  and will want to help you to resolve the problem. Your doctor may suggest one of the following solutions: Plan Ahead: Some men do not take their usual dose of Adderall  if they know they are going to be having sex. Or they can wait until the medication is out of their system before having sex. Lower Dose: Taking a lower dosage of Adderall  might still be helpful in reducing ADHD symptoms while not resulting in erectile dysfunction. Medication Change: As with all medications, there is a balance between treating a condition and managing the side effects. There are two types of stimulant medication available to treat ADHD, the amphetamine family (Adderall) and  methylphenidate (e.g. Ritalin). If one stimulant family causes side effects that cannot be tolerated, the prescribing physician will often suggest trying the other type. Each group of drugs affects an individual differently. The only way to know how you will respond to a medication is through trial and error. There are also non-stimulant medication options too. Let Your Body Adjust: Some men experience ED when they first start taking Adderall, then as their body adjusts to the new medication over the course of several weeks the problems subside. Because each human body responds to medication slightly differently, it is not possible to know how the medication will affect you. A Prescription of Viagra: ED can be a result of many factors, including psychological factors like  stress  and anxiety. If a person tried to have sex while Adderall  was still in effect and experienced ED, the memory of this can cause performance anxiety in the future. Taking a sidenafil (Viagra)  tablet helps to get and maintain an erection, which helps to counteract the side effects of Adderall. You might feel that Viagra  or a similar medication is for ‘older’ people. However, many young males take it to help with ED. Even at times when Adderall is not in their body,  having a prescription of Viagra has a psychological advantage as well as a physical one. Knowing that you have Viagra in your medicine cabinet just in case you need it, gives you a psychological boost. With time you will feel more confident as you get to know your body and how it responds to Adderall. Do Not Stop Adderall Abruptly If you are experiencing ED and think it is due to Adderall,  you might be tempted to stop taking your medication.  However, it is advisable to discuss this with your physician first, as there might be some unpleasant physical and psychiatric symptoms that may accompany stimulant withdrawal. Contributing Causes of ED Even if you think Adderall  is the cause of ED,  it is still important to tell your doctor as it could be a sign of an underlying health problem such as diabetes or heart disease, hormone problems including testosterone, a neurological disease, or may reflect other psychiatric issues such as depression. Medications It could be that ED is caused by another medication you are taking. There are many  medications  that are known to cause ED. Medications used to treat conditions that frequently  coexist  with ADHD can also result in ED.  For example, SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Paxil (Paroxetine), used to treat depression and anxiety and certain antihypertensive drugs sometimes use to treat aspects of ADHD can also contribute to erectile issues. Lifestyle Factors Consuming high levels of alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, and cocaine can also result in ED. Lack of exercise, sleep, and stress could be contributing factors. This is good news because these are factors that you are in control of. By making changes to your lifestyle, you can become physically healthier and improve ED problems. Can Natural Treatments Help? There are some natural treatments that might help for ED. While natural products such as supplements and vitamins can sound like a great solution, be cautious. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Natural options can interact with prescription medication you are taking. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking natural products. A Word From Verywell Having problems with ED can be stressful and cause anxiousness, depression, and affect your self-esteem. Remember, ED is not a reflection on your character, it just means there is a problem that needs to be solved.

Essay on Unbearable Lightness of being - 1044 Words

A touching and sad novel, at once a compelling love story, philosophical text, and dialogue with Frederich Nietzsche -- The Unbearable Lightness of Being is all of these and more, perhaps most importantly a manifesto of embracing nihilism. Milan Kundera opens the novel with a discourse on Nietzsches doctrine of the eternal recurrence. He rejects any view of the recurrence as being real or metaphysical. It is metaphorical he assures us. In a world of objective meaninglessness one must fall into nihilism unless one acts as if ones acts recur eternally, thus giving our acts quot;weight,quot; the weight of those choices we make, as though recurring eternally, living forever. Kundera rejects Nietzsches optimism and in compelling detail†¦show more content†¦Tomas follows in a few days, knowing that somehow this is crazy and he is condemning himself to misery, but he must go, it is his fate and he returns. In a second incident he had published a letter to the editor in a newspaper which explored the notion of being responsible for acts whether or not one KNEW the outcome. His model case was Oedipus who had no idea he was violating so many social and moral rules of his society. Tomas is speaking about those in Czechos lovakia who acted in a similar manner toward the Russians. Later on this is taken as a socially subversive point of view and he is asked to retract. For reasons he himself hardly understands he refuses and his refusal causes him to be banned as a physician and condemned to low-level manual labor, first in Prague and later on a collective farm in a rural area. But even these choice are more his fate than a choice of meaning. The notion of fate, or what Nietzsche refers to as quot;amor fatiquot; (love of fate) is the notion that nature somehow presents us with situations which we cannot escape and we simply have to bear them. Tomas must accept and bear his love for Tereza no matter how painful and hopeless. He must accept his Oedipus letter no matter the consequences. Yet, even this acceptance cannot escape the ultimate quot;unbearable lightness of being,quot; the meaninglessness of all our acts in a world in which our acts simply dont live forever. Kundera says in the last pages ofShow MoreRelated the unbearable lightness of being Essay629 Words   |  3 Pages The Unheard Voice of Commitment nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What the reader understands of the infidelity of Milan Kundera’s characters in The Unbearable Lightness of Being is a mere distraction from the real substance of the story and of the character’s real purpose. Kundera offers the reader a red herring and only through close examination can one dissect and abstract the true essence of each character’s thread that links them to one another in this story. For it is not clearly seen: in factRead MoreThe Unbearable Lightness Of Being By Milan Kundera1603 Words   |  7 Pageswithin every human is a battle between the two sides - these two sides are lightness and weight. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera depicts this feud in the lives of 4 tragic protagonists: Tomas, Tereza, Franz, and Sabina. These four are in a constant feud between lightness and weight, and only removing the veil of these human abstractions can lead towards a path for contentment. The Unbearable Lightness of B eing depicts this battle existing in every individual, with every person leaningRead MoreCommentary on The Unbearable Lightness of Being Essay1439 Words   |  6 PagesThis commentary will explore the use of vocabulary, punctuation and imagery by Milan Kundera in an extract of the novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being . The passage to be analysed is located in the fourth part of the book named â€Å"Soul and Body†. It portrays a scene where one of the main characters, Tereza, is in front of a mirror and finds herself dealing with the conflict between identity and image. Her disconformities with her body act as a trigger for this questioning to arise and bring backRead MoreTranslation Of Han Shaogongs Unbearable Lightness Of Being?1084 Words   |  5 Pagesfrequently discussed among scholars. By analyzing Han Shaogong’s the translation of Milan Kundera’s Unbearable Lightness of Being, Liu (2010) raises the opinion of rewriting is a necessity because the ideologies in two different language cultures are different. The influence of ideology is presented during the process of the selection of literature works to translate (Liu, 2010). Unbearable Lightness of Being was introduced to China and translated because its author Milan Kundera’s country has experiencedRead MoreThe Role of Animals in the Unbearable Lightness of Being and Poems New and Collected1458 Words   |  6 Pagesanimals, usually pets, are sometimes an essential part of ones life, it is not surprising that we find frequent references to its role in works of social realism, such as Wislawa Szymborskas Poems New and Collected and Milan Kunderas Unbearable Lightness of Being. Animals in literature could be used to symbolize all sorts of things, but in particular, animals may represent the pers onality of a character. This is because as humans and animals co-exist in the same atmosphere, certain aspects of aRead More The Unbearable Lightness of Being - It is Better to Carry a Heavy Load2124 Words   |  9 PagesThe Unbearable Lightness of Being - It is Better to Carry a Heavy Load Is it better to carry a heavy load on your shoulders, or cope with the unbearable lightness of being? Phillip Kaufman coupled brilliant film techniques with wonderful acting to put together the film The Unbearable Lightness of Being based off of Milan Kunderas novel of the same title. The film is set in Prague during the spring of 1968. At this time the Russians are still trying to exercise their communist controlRead More Heavy Versus Light Reading: The Decipherment of Literary and Non-Literary Texts1750 Words   |  7 PagesLiterary and Non-Literary Texts In attempting to discriminate between the nature of a literary text and a non-literary text, a metaphor from Milan Kunderas The Unbearable Lightness of Being comes to mind. Especially in considering this same novel in contrast with a novel such as Danielle Steeles Vanished, the idea of lightness versus heaviness presents itself, and with it, a new way of approaching the decipherment of any high/low dichotomy of literariness. When the literary text is imaginedRead MoreAlternatives in Life in A Summons to New Orleans by Barbara Hall743 Words   |  3 PagesThe Unbearable lightness of choosing â€Å"Because you are in control of your life. Dont ever forget that. You are what you are because of the conscious and subconscious choices you have made.† -Barbara Hall, A Summons to New Orleans, 2000 I personally agree with the writer Jon Spayde on all the aspects he has mentioned in this paper. The writer has discoursed various facets regarding the importance of alternatives in oneâ €™s life. But, a very significant point mentioned in this article is, that whenRead MoreAnalysis of Richard Kenneys Aubade Essay459 Words   |  2 Pagesfragility or ephemerality to the poem. The prevalence of cold imagery is also remarkable. The cold setting seems to freeze not only the grass, but the moment in time at which the speaker is in. The icebox full of lightness of air could be an allusion to the book, The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera/translated by Michael Hein. The arc has to do with the books idea of eternal return, Nietzsches ideas of the eternal recurrence of time. However, although Kundera is a South-Asian writerRead MoreEssay about Nietzsche, Kundera, and Shit2923 Words   |  12 PagesNietzsche lived in a dead world. Milan Kundera lives in the world today. His world is dead much like Nietzsches. Denial is the focal point of society. Society assimilates difference and denies what cannot be assimilated. In his novel, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Kundera relies on the word kitsch to describe the force of denial. Kitsch is a absolute denial of shit (Kundera 248). Kitsch is an inescapable part of the human condition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though Nietzsche was not aware of the word, much

Should Esports Be Considered A Sport - 1550 Words

Should eSports Be Considered a Sport? A sport is defined as an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature. Competitive. Competition is a rivalry between two or more persons or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser. Something to argue would be if a competition could legitimately be considered a sport. The word ‘compete’ is in the definition of sport after all. So, should eSports, or Electronic Sports, be considered a sport? eSports are a form of a sport that deals with video games and their competitions between professionals. eSports has risen over the years, with 2016 allowing the peak of the popularity. â€Å"Consider this year’s The International 2016 DOTA (Defense Of The Ancients) 2 Tournament,† Chris Wood says to The State Press [eSports deserve their place in the world]. â€Å"The total prize pool available to the winning teams of this tournament (August, 2016) wa s around $20 million dollars. In comparison, the prize money pool for the 2014 Rose Bowl was $22 million.† With winnings like this, I believe it is beyond safe to say that eSports are on the rise, and they mean business. Many other competitive games have been considered eSports in the past few years as well. CS:GO, or Counter Strike: Global Offensive, is the number one eSport to date. CS:GO is a first-person shooter developed by Valve which pits 10 players against each other on teams to fight for a common objective. CS:GO is soShow MoreRelatedPlaying Video Games Is Not Only For Kids Anymore1720 Words   |  7 Pageschance to join one of the professional teams. Does not sound like an especially rare scenario, but what if I told you I was talking about video game players? That is right. Playing video games is not only for kids anymore. During the last decade eSports (professional online gaming) have grown to an unexpected extent. Professional players go through intense non-stop training every week to keep up with other teams. Call of Duty, Dota2, League of Legends, these are only a few examples of the most popularRead MoreeSports: Professional Video Gaming802 Words   |  4 Pagesmore formally called eSports has become in such a small time. However, the important question is whether or not eSports should be considered an actual sport like Football, Soccer, or Basketball. According to a ruling by the Olympic Committee, League of Legends already is, and will be taking a place in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with other games being considered for the 2020 Olympics. Although there are those out that would like to dispute this ruling and say that eSports don’t meet the requirementsRead MoreDiscussions Between The Controversial Dichotomy Between1464 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween the controversial dichotomy between sports and eSports could be found in the article, â€Å"The Controversial Dichotomy Between Sports and eSports† by Jesse Aaron. Within his article he converses on the topic of eSports, it’s growth compared to regular sports such as American Football and the topic of how the traditional definition of the term â€Å"sport† and â€Å"athlete † compares to the modern day â€Å"cyber athlete† and if eSports can in fact compare to regular sports. Aaron demystifies the thought processRead MoreAre We Playing Video Games Is Not A Sport?1356 Words   |  6 PagesSiemers English 1301 28 April 2015 eSports Aren t Sports When you say eSports should be broadcasted on television like any other sport, the response is inevitably: You do know playing video games is not a sport, right? I am totally okay honestly with that response. Some people may argue that eSports is more of a sport than some sports that get mainstream coverage and are widely considered sports, sports like Nascar, golf, cheerleading, bowling, and fishing. eSports feature live competitions betweenRead MoreThe League Of Legends World Championship1976 Words   |  8 Pagesbeing illustrated is the finals for numerous Esports competitions such as the League of Legends World Championship or the StarCraft World Championship Series. Ever since the first invention of video games, there has always been a stigma that came with being a gamer. Gamers have always been labeled as geeky, nerdy, immature, and even fat and lazy. Some of the public’s perception of Esports as well as their desire to not have it labeled as a real sport in Esportsâ⠂¬â„¢ brief history exemplifies the stigma andRead MoreCompetitive Gaming Should Be Consider A Sport975 Words   |  4 PagesCompetitive Gaming Should Be Consider a Sport Video games have been around for many years and so has competitive gaming. The first video game was created around 1970 and was Pong. Pong required one or two players to play. The players would play next to each other and the game required both players to move the courser to the ball and knock in to the other player’s side. Pong was the first competitive video game because you could play with another person. The video game industry now is a very bigRead MoreEssay1381 Words   |  6 Pagestheoretical framework of brand identity co-creation and stakeholder paradigms, by exploring what makes up a human brand, consumer-fans and business entities. A human brand can be applied to celebrities, who are well-known and in and of themselves considered â€Å"brands.† By having a human brand, a person can use this interpersonal relationship between their own â€Å"brand†, and for example, the brand of a company, to promote their product etc. successfully, to the benefit of the person and entity. The relationshipRead MoreThe Should Not Be An Official Sport1872 Words   |  8 Pagesthe popularity of video games rising, the world was introduced to eSports, a global phenomenon which took the entertainment world by storm. Major controversy regarding whether or not eSports is considered an official sport has erupted through global communities. Many debates that it shouldn’t be since players are playing video games, others state it should be because it requires what many other sports require. Although eSports requires little to no physical labor, players require extremely wellRead MoreEsports: Next Generation of Athlete Culture 2000 Words   |  8 Pages Throughout the course of history, individuals have enjoyed playing sports. Whether it would be throwing a football, sprinting around the track, or kicking a soccer ball; sports have been a popular activity worldwide. The determination and expertise needed to play sports at the highest level has made it a challenging yet enjoyable activity. However in the recent years, sports have slowly drifted off from it’s traditional roots of physical prowess and into competitions of mental proficiencies. WithRead MoreShould Gaming Be A Sport?1409 Words   |  6 PagesShould gaming be a sport? Domanick Gilman April/08/2016 Do you think gaming should be a sport? Well it s up to you to decide. I say yes and here is why. So say if you play Football on a team for school and when your done your games, or practices, you go home and relax in your room and then you decide to play video games. Not just any game, but NCAA Football 12. So you play it and play it till you have to get off to bed, And you lay in bed and thought to yourself is there a way to preserve how great

17th Century Venetian Opera Free Essays

string(112) " said that the theaters were luxaria, and because of his account, the Jesuits destroyed the theaters in Venice\." Lauren Rader Music History I November 19, 2010 17th Century Opera in Venice Between 1637 and 1678, in nine different theaters, Venetian audiences saw more than 150 operas. The creation of public opera houses sparked the interest of the people of the time because of social and philosophical changes that were happening in the Republican state of Venice. Opera was not only interesting to the elite. We will write a custom essay sample on 17th Century Venetian Opera or any similar topic only for you Order Now It had now made its way to a public audience. The primary audience was the crowd of Venetians and tourists that came for the carnival season in Venice. Opera succeeded as a public art form for many reasons: because of its exquisite musicality, it was highly successful and it became a way to produce revenue. Ellen Rosand says that three conditions existed for opera to be a permanent establishment in the Venetian culture: there was regular demand during the carnival season, dependable financial backing, and a broad predictable audience. An important group involved with the financial backing and librettos written for the opera houses were the Accademia degli Incogniti, translating to â€Å"The Academy of Unknowns†. This was a secret society of noblemen, founded by Giovanni Francesco Loredano.One reason opera was such a success during this time was due to this libertine group. Even though their ideas were bold and they said heretical things, without their financial backing, their librettos may have never made it to the opera houses if they hadn’t been in Venice at that time. Also, women were expected to exhibit certain soc ial and moral standards during this time, and this was often the theme of many librettos written by the Accademia degli Incogniti from 1637-1678. The librettos were themed around virtues where a protagonist exemplified an act of goodness in her role.Another important factor about Venetian opera was that before the San Cassiano opera house, operas had been written for private courts of the wealthy aristocrats only. Public opera houses marked a new form of social event, entertainment, and source of revenue for musicians, writers/poets, and wealthy benefactors. Venice was a republican state and the government was considerably more open to new ideas and conventions than the rest of Italy, cities like Florence and Rome. Venice was a state with its own special position in the world and history that integrated freedom and stability. The great myth of Venice was that it was an undefeated state.The people claimed that the city was founded on the day of Annunciation on March 25, 421. Since that time no one had defeated Venice, and by the 17th Century it had lasted longer than ancient Rome. Scholars believe that this was because of its republican constitution allowing the noblemen to share the power and divide it among themselves. The wealthy were about 5% of the population, but the common people were pleased with this way of government and lived happily without too much complaint. [1] Venice’s government was more relaxed and open, and that had much to do with what was allowed and not allowed in the public opera houses of the time.Another fact that is important to note is that the ruling patricians (noblemen) were involved in commerce and the arts—eventually opera. According to Edward Muir, â€Å"At the end of the sixteenth century, the camerata theorists under Medici patronage invented the form of musical drama now called â€Å"opera† for performance in the courtly environment of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany† (Muir 331). The opening of the Teatro San Cassiano marked the first public opera house for a paying audience. There was a divided relationship between patrician youth and the elderly patrician office holders.While the youth were licentious, the older generation had an impulse for social control. [2] The old law passed by the Council of Ten prohibited theatrical performances that were for carnivals and weddings, especially banning comedies. The Accademia degli Incogniti probably retrieved some of their ideas from the Compagnie della Calza, a club of young nobles â€Å"known for their hedonism and pushing the limits of their elders† (Muir 334), created at the end of the 16th century. The Compangie protected their identity through a code of silence. They used surnames, much like the Accademia degli Incogniti would do a century and a half later.Nonetheless, secret organizations were a way to avoid public persecution and harassment, while still speaking out on controversial issues. A young playwright, Ruzante, played characters that made fun of and criticized the upper class. To this end, Ruzante wrote a play where one critic complained that he exceeded the boundaries of taste: â€Å"completely lascivious, with very dirty words, and God was blasphemed by all of them, and [the audience] shrieked at them†(Muir 334). This relationship between cutting edge and tradition continued to be a prevalent issue into the time of Venetian opera in the 1600s.A distinguishing feature of new theaters was â€Å"the inclusion of several floors of boxes that provided elevated, separated, and private spaces from with paying customers, apparently patricians and distinguished foreigners could watch performances† (Muir 335). From his book, â€Å"The Short, Lascivious Lives of Two Venetian Theaters†. Eugene Johnson, talks about box seats creating a feeling of premier social space that was private but at the same time public. Yet, Venetians soon started to use thes e box seats as modern day motel rooms; â€Å"the box itself became a stage for imagination and metaphor for the libertine style†(Muir 335). The box seats were called plachi. The Jesuits complained almost immediately that these â€Å"wicked acts†¦creating scandal† in the plachi were immoral and provided another reason to promote their anti-theater cause. There is no real evidence of these scandalous acts taking place, but accounts say that boxes read on the floor â€Å"per le donne†. During these obscene comedies, obscene acts were taking place at the same time on the other side of the thin wooden box seats; for Venetian theater was full of scandal.In 1606, Antonio Persis wrote in defense of the papal cause, criticizing the Venetians for their â€Å"addiction to avarice and luxuria† (Rosand 412). He said that the theaters were luxaria, and because of his account, the Jesuits destroyed the theaters in Venice. You read "17th Century Venetian Opera" in category "Papers" On the other hand, the Jesuits were then banned from Venice in late 1606 by the Interdict crisis, which opened up the opportunity a gain for seasonal comic theater. Even before opera, Venetians held a long standing tradition for carnivals, comedies, courtesans, and scandal. However, the politics in Venice â€Å"remained simply conservative and committed to republicanism† (Muir 337).Although, opera was comic and touched on social context of men and women, â€Å"[it] had the capacity to engage current political affairs and debates† (Romano 402). In Purciello’s thesis from Princeton University, he talks about opera standing in contrast with the religious and economic ambiguity â€Å"amidst the spectacle and festivities of the carnival season. Venice was a port center where â€Å"people from the four corners of the world convened. This mix of cultures produced a rather exotic atmosphere: a combination of Christian and pagan religious histories.All sorts of audiences, rich and poor, swarmed to public opera houses to experience spectacle, music, and drama. Venice was a city where commercial business was thriving, which resulted in mass productions of entertainment (Purciello 11). Opera houses repeated operas a season by altering the music of libretti, characters wearing new costumes, and reinforcing popular plot lines. Musicians and talent were not usually local Venetian musicians. They were traveling tour groups, who performed all over Italy and Europe. Yet, the musicians knew the unique character Venice required for its music, and how it differed in performance practice.Venetian opera was centered on spectacle: The use of stage machinery caused an increase in the number and elaborateness of scene change; but this is because there were whole stories told in the sets and the machinery, much of which is lost to the scholar today, who has little ability to reconstruct the stage scenery, and must rely on the libretti and the score† (Thornburn 183). Set design was crucial to the success of an opera. Part of the carnival atmosphere was seeing something extravagant and out of the ordinary. Venetian opera was the epitome of the kind of luxurious and complex entertainment.Theaters prided themselves and showed of how much money they had by buying costly machinery. One way to move the scenes, backdrops, and other stage devices was to cut holes in the floor and slide the set along the grooves for smooth scene transitions. Before this invention, the operas would use dances to distract the audience from a scene change (Thornburn). The man who invented this idea was stage director, Giacomo Torelli: â€Å"he cut grooves all the way through the stage from the floor, and wings were mounted on little carriages that ran along the tracks located in the sub-stage area.Wings, back scenes, and borders were then operated by means of a winch system with counter weights. Thus, with the turning of a central drum beneath the stage, the entire scene changed almost instantaneously† (Thornburn 175). There was a large contrast from the way scenes were changed before Torelli’s invention. In the Cambridge Guide to Theatre it says that the scene changes were like â€Å"cinema dissolves† and unnecessary shifts between scenes were made for the delight of seeing it happen.Besides the stage machinery’s functional use, â€Å"in the same way the contemporary action films may have thin plots because the visual technology is so powerful, so these works must have overwhelmed to beauty of line in either the music or the poetry† (Thornburn 176). Starting in 1637 opera houses began to open as large scale venues. The four major theaters open in Venice were the San Cassiano, San Moise, San Salvatore, and Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Most of these opera houses seated anywhere from four to five hundred spectators. The Teatro Novissimo was â€Å"the shortest-lived and most influential theatre in the early years of Venetian commercial opera, opened for the carnival season of 1641† (Thorburn). The Novissimo presented operas from 1641 to 1645. There has been some debate as to when the theater actually stopped presenting operas. Cristoforo Ivanovich claims that there were operas going on until 1646, up until the day the theater was completely demolished. â€Å"In spite of its brief life†¦ the theater was atypical of opera theaters in Venice because it was intended for an audience that was entirely Venetian†(Thornburn 136).In a dissertation by Hugh Thornburn, he says that audience members who regularly attended the Novissimo were academic and aware of their intelligence, and they prided themselves in participating in the opera culture. However, they were not able to pay for their interest, hence the reason for the Teatro Novissimo closing. The Jesuit-driven ban on public theater was removed in 1607, so theatrical activity was increasing by the 1620s. By the 1630s the movement for more opera houses as a form of public entertainment was in full swing. The Venetian carnival season was the most important time of the year in Venice.Opera served as carnival entertainment, â€Å"a form of ribald and often satirical comedy performed during the annual season of festive license† (Muir 333). Spectacle was one attraction the opera house brought to the carnival season. However, there were social issues, involving mixed views on gender and how women fit into the role of opera libretti during the seventeenth century. Once opera theater became accepted as a part the Venetian carnival season, Gianfrancesco Loredano founded the Accademia degli Incogniti in 1630. This association was made up of men who had liberal ideas, who were either rich aristocrats or scholars.The Accademia â€Å"on May 30, 1640 agreed to the concept of a communally owned theater created to express the aesthetics of the Accademia† (Thorburn 134). The Accademia was founded on the principles of a professor who taught at the University of Padua, Cesare Cremonini. Cremonini’s influence spread to his students who were in the Accademia degli Incogniti very powerfully. He taught in a way that adhered to Aristotle’s work and he paid little attention to â€Å"Christian theological precepts†, like the creation of the world and the immorality of the soul.He did not admit that he was a non-believer, but his â€Å"somewhat blasphemous views were well known to his Venetian admirers. The members of the Incogniti expressed themselves through novella, poems, letters, and plays. Paolo Fabbri lays claim that the Incognito legacy used â€Å"eroticism and trasvestism in the operas†. The Incogniti used opera libretti and their writings as propaganda. The opera audiences were large, so the propaganda could reach many people who came to the carnival season. The Incogniti had a duel identity. First of all they were patriotic, since they were noble men and leaders of the Republic. In contrast, they also â€Å"emphasized a kind of libertismo, a moral freedom that was particularly skeptical of religious authority† (Heller 69). The members of this group had a very keen interest in defining the social structures that supported the stability of Venice; â€Å"a critical aspect of this social structure depended on the†¦position of women†: their suppression through marriage, while at the same time the â€Å"tolerance of a vibrant sex and pleasure industry†. 3] Incogniti writings focused on women and their sexuality. They hypothesized â€Å"the female problem† which said that the fundamental problem of love and female morality was that it did not exist unless men were there to silence women and instruct them as how to love them. Cremonini taught that â€Å"friendship was something that could be shared by men of similar social and economic class; wi th women, the focus was on sexual relationships, and only rarely did male writers concern themselves with friendships between women† (Heller 75). The Incogniti wrote libretti that reflected these claims about women. For example, in Loredano’s play La forza d’amore it was clear that the general attitude towards women was negative and skeptical, much like the way the Incogniti viewed the Catholic Church. The Incogniti wrote about their admiration and physical desire for women, but also criticized the power women had to capture the hearts and souls of men. Conversely, there were women who spoke up against the Accademia. One of these women was Sister Arcangela Tarabotti. She wrote seven manuscripts defending female virtue and chastity, and exchanged letters with Loredano and other members of the Incogniti.She â€Å"exposed many complaints about the Venetian patriarchy and the social system whereby young women were forced to bury themselves in nunneries†(Heller 93). Consequently women were portrayed as venomous, unfaithful, and temptresses who couldn’t be trusted in the operas written by the Accademia degli Incogniti. During this time of Baroque opera, visual and aural spectacle were expected, and â€Å"emphasis on suspense and exaggeration was an ideal vehicle for the conveyance of cultural messages†(Heller 69). There was a demand for fresh works because the opera was the primary entertainment during the carnival season in Venice.Some common themes for these operas were: two pairs of lovers separated then united at the end; scenes of sleep, laments, nurses and pages who were comic roles; and a clear distinction between recitative and arias (Rosand 415). The genre of Venetian opera was successful because aristocrats in the Republican government were involved in the arts and put forth the money to run opera houses. How to cite 17th Century Venetian Opera, Papers

Human rights in yugoslavia (98 Essay Example For Students

Human rights in yugoslavia (98 Essay Yugoslavia became a Communist state in 1945 under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito, who ruled until his death in 1980. Under Tito, Yugoslavia developed its own form of Communism, independent of control by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was the most powerful Communist country in the world until 1991. The Communists in Yugoslavia banned all other political parties. However, they lifted the ban in 1990. That year, the first multiparty elections were held in all the republics. Non-Communist parties won control of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia. Communists renamed Socialists, continued to hold power in Serbia and Montenegro. National government. In theory, Yugoslavias government is democratic. It has an elected parliament and an appointed president and Prime Minister. In practice, however, power is in the hands of Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic. In May 1992, elections were held for parliament. However, opposition parties boycotted the elections, and Milosevics partythe Socialist Party of Serbiawon a majority of seats in the legislature. Milosevics control of the parliament allowed him to rule in a dictatorial manner. Local government. Both Serbia and Montenegro have a popularly elected president and parliament. Serbia includes the provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina. These provinces had many powers of self-government until 1990, when Serbia stripped them of their special status. History Yugoslavia is what remains of a much larger country, also called Yugoslavia that broke up into several independent nations in 1991 and 1992. The new Yugoslavia, like the former, lies on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. Belgrade is the nations capital and largest city. The name Yugoslavia means Land of the South Slavs. The name comes from the fact that the first Yugoslav state was formed in 1918 with the goal of uniting three groups of South Slavs: the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Yugoslavias mix of people gave the country a rich variety of cultures. However, differences in religion, language, and culture eventually contributed to Yugoslavias breakup. From 1946 to 1991, Yugoslavia was a federal state consisting of six republics. In 1991 and 1992, four of the republicsBosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Sloveniadeclared their independence. Fighting then broke out between Serbs and other ethnic groups in Croatia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a result of this fighting, Serbian forces occupied about 30 percent of Croatias territory and about two-thirds of Bosnia-Herzegovina. A cease-fire ended most of the fighting in Croatia in January 1992. But in May 1995, Croatian government forces began to take back the areas that were held by the Serbs. In April 1992, Serbia and Montenegro formed a new, smaller Yugoslavia. However, the United States and most other nations have refused to recognize the country. Economy After the Communists took control of Yugoslavia in 1945, they began working to develop Yugoslavia from an agricultural country into an industrial nation. The government introduced programs to encourage industrial growth and to raise living standards. At first, government agencies developed and carried out the programs. But in the 1950s, the government began a system of self-management. Under this system, workers in individual enterprises, such as factories and mines do economic planning. Workers council in each enterprise determines production goals, prices, and wagesall based on government guidelines. In the early 1990s, the new Yugoslav government announced plans to move gradually toward a free-enterprise system. Under such a system, business owners and managers would decide what to produce and how much to charge. Agriculture still employs a large number of Yugoslavs. Farmers in Serbia and Montenegro grow corn, potatoes, tobacco, and wheat. They also raise cattle, hogs, and sheep. Other important crops in Montenegro include cherries, figs, grapes, olives, peaches, pears, and plums. Farmland covers nearly half of Yugoslavia. .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 , .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .postImageUrl , .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 , .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075:hover , .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075:visited , .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075:active { border:0!important; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075:active , .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075 .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3d31491dee430d0c0eb7c3af38fbe075:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Unwanted Essay Forests, which cover about a fourth of the country, are an important natural resource. Yugoslavia also has mineral resources. Mines yield bauxite, coal, copper ore, lead, and zinc. Wells in the Pannonian Plains and in the Adriatic Sea produce petroleum and natural gas. Factories in Yugoslavia make aluminum, automobiles, cement, iron and steel, paper, plastics, textiles, and trucks. A good system of roads extends from Belgrade, the capital. Roads in the rest of the country, especially in Montenegro, are less developed. There are airports in Belgrade, Nis, Podgorica, Pristina, .

Securities Exchange Board of India free essay sample

In 1988 the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was established by the Government of India through an executive resolution, and was subsequently upgraded as a fully autonomous body (a statutory Board) in the year 1992 with the passing of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act (SEBI Act) on 30th January 1992. In place of Government Control, a statutory and autonomous regulatory board with defined responsibilities, to cover both development regulation of the market, and independent powers have been set up. Paradoxically this is a positive outcome of the Securities Scam of 1990-91. The basic objectives of the Board were identified as: to protect the interests of investors in securities; to promote the development of Securities Market; to regulate the securities market and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Since its inception SEBI has been targetting the securities and is attending to the fulfillment of its objectives with commendable zeal and dexterity. We will write a custom essay sample on Securities Exchange Board of India or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The improvements in the securities markets like capitalization requirements, margining, establishment of clearing corporations etc. reduced the risk of credit and also reduced the market. SEBI has introduced the comprehensive regulatory measures, prescribed registration norms, the eligibility criteria, the code of obligations and the code of conduct for different intermediaries like, bankers to issue, merchant bankers, brokers and sub-brokers, registrars, portfolio managers, credit rating agencies, underwriters and others. It has framed bye-laws, risk identification and risk management systems for Clearing houses of stock exchanges, surveillance system etc. which has made dealing in securities both safe and transparent to the end investor. Another significant event is the approval of trading in stock indices (like SP CNX Nifty Sensex) in 2000. A market Index is a convenient and effective product because of the following reasons: It acts as a barometer for market behavior; It is used to benchmark portfolio performance; It is used in derivative instruments like index futures and index options; It can be used for passive fund management as in case of Index Funds. Two broad approaches of SEBI is to integrate the securities market at the national level, and also to diversify the trading products, so that there is an increase in number of traders including banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, mutual funds, primary dealers etc. to transact through the Exchanges. In this context the introduction of derivatives trading through Indian Stock Exchanges permitted by SEBI in 2000 AD is a real landmark. SEBI appointed the L. C. Gupta Committee in 1998 to recommend the regulatory framework for derivatives trading and suggest bye-laws for Regulation and Control of Trading and Settlement of Derivatives Contracts. The Board of SEBI in its meeting held on May 11, 1998 accepted the recommendations of the committee and approved the phased introduction of derivatives trading in India beginning with Stock Index Futures. The Board also approved the Suggestive Bye-laws as recommended by the Dr LC Gupta Committee for Regulation and Control of Trading and Settlement of Derivatives Contracts. SEBI then appointed the J. R. Verma Committee to recommend Risk Containment Measures (RCM) in the Indian Stock Index Futures Market. The report was submitted in november 1998. However the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (SCRA) required amendment to include derivatives in the definition of securities to enable SEBI to introduce trading in derivatives. The necessary amendment was then carried out by the Government in 1999. The Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 1999 was introduced. In December 1999 the new framework was approved. Derivatives have been accorded the status of `Securities. The ban imposed on trading in derivatives in 1969 under a notification issued by the Central Government was revoked. Thereafter SEBI formulated the necessary regulations/bye-laws and intimated the Stock Exchanges in the year 2000. The derivative trading started in India at NSE in 2000 and BSE started trading in the year 2001. Reasons for Establishment of SEBI: With the growth in the dealings of stock markets, lot of malpractices also started in stock markets such as price rigging, ‘unofficial premium on new issue, and delay in delivery of shares, violation of rules and regulations of stock exchange and listing requirements. Due to these malpractices the customers started losing confidence and faith in the stock exchange. So government of India decided to set up an agency or regulatory body known as Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) 2. Aims and objectives of SEBI The main objectives of SEBI are: (1) Regulation of Stock Exchanges: The first objective of SEBI is to regulate stock exchanges so that efficient services may be provided to all the parties operating there. (2) Protection to the Investors: The capital market is meaningless in the absence of the investors. Therefore, it is important to protect the interests of the investors. The protection of the interests of the investors means protecting them from the wrong information given by the companies in their prospectus, reducing the risk of delivery and payment, etc. Hence, the foremost objective of the SEBI is to provide security to the investors. 3. Checking the Insider Trading: Insider trading means the buying and selling of securities by those people’s directors Promoters, etc. who have some secret information about the company and who wish to take advantage of this secret information. This hurts the interests of the general investors. It was very essential to check this tendency. Many steps have been taken to check inside trading through the medium of the SEBI. 4. Control over Brokers: It is important to keep an eye on the activities of the brokers and other middlemen in order to control the capital market. To have a control over them, it was necessary to establish the SEBI. 5. To prevent fraudulent and malpractices by having balance between self regulation of business and its statutory regulations. 6. To regulate and develop a code of conduct for intermediaries such as brokers, underwriters, etc. 7 To perform and implement then power of capital issues act 1947 and securities contract act, 1956 which were given to SEBI by the government. 8. to regulate acquisition of shares and takeovers of companies 3. Services offered by SEBI Investors’ Services Fund The Exchange shall establish a separate fund called Investors’ Services Fund by setting aside twenty percent of the annual listing fees or such percentage of the listing fees, as may be stipulated by SEBI from time to time. This Fund shall be used for the purposes of providing different kinds of services to the investing public. The Exchange shall have at least one Investor Service Centre at the place where the Exchange is located for the benefit of the public/investors. The Investor Service Centre shall provide such number of newspapers and periodicals, as may be specified by SEBI / Exchange, with at least one in the regional language. The Investor Service Centre shall provide a facility for dissemination of information about companies, including annual reports, financial and other important information through electronic media by providing view terminals with restricted access and with a facility to take copies on payment of a reasonable fee. The Investor Service Centre shall provide a facility for receiving/recording investors’ complaints/claims and provide acknowledgement slips with distinct numbers generated through the electronic system put in place by the Exchange for this purpose, which shall be capable of maintaining and updating the status of such investors’ complaints/claims. The Investor Service Centre shall provide counselling service to the investors to assist the investors to know the steps they need to take before entering into any arrangement to buy and/or sell a security through a trading member or a sub-broker on the Exchange. The Investor Service Centre shall have reasonable infrastructure facilities of trained staff, telephone, sitting place, printing machine, Xerox machine, etc. The Investor Service Centre shall provide published materials of the Exchange as well as magazines for the reference by the investors. The Investor Service Centre shall provide view terminals displaying prices of the scrips on real-time basis for the benefit of the investors. The Investor Service Centre shall maintain books on relevant laws, financial analysis, market trend analysis, etc. for reference by the investors. The stock exchange, having a market share of more than twenty percent of the total turn over in the equity market across all stock exchanges as at the end of the latest financial year published by SEBI, shall provide the above facilities at at least at five Investor Service Centres and the stock exchange having a turn over upto twenty percent of the total turn over in the equity market across all stock exchanges, shall have at least one Investor Service Centre. A list of Investor Service Centres opened by the Exchange shall be published on the Website of the Exchange, communicated to SEBI from time to time and also published in a widely circulated national daily, at least once in every calendar quarter. 4. Role of the institution in our financial system The role or functions of SEBI are: To protect the interests of investors through proper education and guidance as regards their investment in securities. For this, SEBI has made rules and regulation to be followed by the financial intermediaries such as brokers, etc. SEBI looks after the complaints received from investors for fair settlement. It also issues booklets for the guidance and protection of small investors. To regulate and control the business on stock exchanges and other security markets. For this, SEBI keeps supervision on brokers. Registration of brokers and sub-brokers is made compulsory and they are expected to follow certain rules and regulations. Effective control is also maintained by SEBI on the working of stock exchanges. To make registration and to regulate the functioning of intermediaries such as stock brokers, sub-brokers, share transfer agents, merchant bankers and other intermediaries operating on the securities market. In addition, to provide suitable training to intermediaries. This function is useful for healthy atmosphere on the stock exchange and for the protection of small investors. To register and regulate the working of mutual funds including UTI (Unit Trust of India). SEBI has made rules and regulations to be followed by mutual funds. The purpose is to maintain effective supervision on their operations avoid their unfair and anti-investor activities. To promote self-regulatory organization of intermediaries. SEBI is given wide statutory powers. However, self-regulation is better than external regulation. Here, the function of SEBI is to encourage intermediaries to form their professional associations and control undesirable activities of their members. SEBI can also use its powers when required for protection of small investors. To regulate mergers, takeovers and acquisitions of companies in order to protect the interest of investors. For this, SEBI has issued suitable guidelines so that such mergers and takeovers will not be at the cost of small investors. To prohibit fraudulent and unfair practices of intermediaries operating on securities markets. SEBI is not for interfering in the normal working of these intermediaries. Its function is to regulate and control their objectional practices which may harm the investors and healthy growth of capital market. To issue guidelines to companies regarding capital issues. Separate guidelines are prepared for first public issue of new companies, for public issue by existing listed companies and for first public issue by existing private companies. SEBI is expected to conduct research and publish information useful to all market players (i. e. all buyers and sellers). To conduct inspection, inquiries audits of stock exchanges, intermediaries and self-regulating organizations and to take suitable remedial measures wherever necessary. This function is undertaken for orderly working of stock exchanges intermediaries. To restrict insider trading activity through suitable measures. This function is useful for avoiding undesirable activities of brokers and securities scams. 5. Functions of SEBI: The SEBI performs functions to meet its objectives. To meet three objectives SEBI has three important functions. These are: i. Protective functions ii. Developmental functions iii. Regulatory functions. 1. Protective Functions: These functions are performed by SEBI to protect the interest of investor and provide safety of investment. As protective functions SEBI performs following functions: (i) It Checks Price Rigging: Price rigging refers to manipulating the prices of securities with the main objective of inflating or depressing the market price of securities. SEBI prohibits such practice because this can defraud and cheat the investors. (ii) It Prohibits Insider trading: Insider is any person connected with the company such as directors, promoters etc. These insiders have sensitive information which affects the prices of the securities. This information is not available to people at large but the insiders get this privileged information by working inside the company and if they use this information to make profit, then it is known as insider trading, e. g. , the directors of a company may know that company will issue Bonus shares to its shareholders at the end of year and they purchase shares from market to make profit with bonus issue. This is known as insider trading. SEBI keeps a strict check when insiders are buying securities of the company and takes strict action on insider trading. (iii) SEBI prohibits fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices: SEBI does not allow the companies to make misleading statements which are likely to induce the sale or purchase of securities by any other person. (iv) SEBI undertakes steps to educate investors so that they are able to evaluate the securities of various companies and select the most profitable securities. (v) SEBI promotes fair practices and code of conduct in security market by taking following steps: (a) SEBI has issued guidelines to protect the interest of debenture-holders wherein companies cannot change terms in midterm. (b) SEBI is empowered to investigate cases of insider trading and has provisions for stiff fine and imprisonment. (c) SEBI has stopped the practice of making preferential allotment of shares unrelated to market prices. 2. Developmental Functions: These functions are performed by the SEBI to promote and develop activities in stock exchange and increase the business in stock exchange. Under developmental categories following functions are performed by SEBI: (i) SEBI promotes training of intermediaries of the securities market. (ii) SEBI tries to promote activities of stock exchange by adopting flexible and adoptable approach in following way: (a) SEBI has permitted internet trading through registered stock brokers. (b) SEBI has made underwriting optional to reduce the cost of issue. (c) Even initial public offer of primary market is permitted through stock exchange. 3. Regulatory Functions: These functions are performed by SEBI to regulate the business in stock exchange. To regulate the activities of stock exchange following functions are performed: (i) SEBI has framed rules and regulations and a code of conduct to regulate the intermediaries such as merchant bankers, brokers, underwriters, etc. (ii) These intermediaries have been brought under the regulatory purview and private placement has been made more restrictive. (iii) SEBI registers and regulates the working of stock brokers, sub-brokers, share transfer agents, trustees, merchant bankers and all those who are associated with stock exchange in any manner. (iv) SEBI registers and regulates the working of mutual funds etc. (v) SEBI regulates takeover of the companies. (vi) SEBI conducts inquiries and audit of stock exchanges 6. Public awareness of the institute After getting sweeping powers to take on market manipulators and perpetrators of investment frauds, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is now working on ways to empower the small investors and to channelize a larger flow of household savings into capital markets. To reach this goal, the Sebi is considering a triple-A approach of spreading awareness among investors, promoting appropriate products and ensuring proper audit of the marketplace. This is one of the key suggestions made by an independent consultant for an overhaul of Sebis functions, role, structure and vision, a senior official said. The proposals, which have been made after extensive consultations with top officials from Sebi, finance ministry, RBI, IRDA and large market intermediaries, will take the final shape after incorporating the suggestions made by the board of capital markets regulator. After consulting the internal and external stakeholders, the global consultancy major, Oliver Wyman, has suggested eight key goals for Sebi over the next five years, the top-most being increasing mobilisation of household savings into capital markets. The other goals identified in this project are building a diversified and balanced investor base in the country, developing viable alternatives to bank credit, enhancing ability to prevent and respond to crises, empowerment o investors and ensuring full trust and confidence of investors in the securities market. Besides, it also wants Sebi to become a centre of excellence for conducting supervision functions and achieve best in class efficiency, knowledge institution and employer of choice status. An 15-point agenda has also been suggested for Sebi to achieve these eight goals. According to officials, some of the recommended measures are either already in place or are in the advanced stages of implementation, while others might be adopted in due course. It has been suggested that Sebi should pursue the government and other regulators to address the regulatory gaps in the existing setup with proposals like consolidated supervision of all types of investment schemes through a single body and creation of a separate regulator for auditors. Besides, Sebi has also been asked to strengthen the supervision of the exchanges oversight of listed companies by setting up a dedicated internal team to oversee the bourses functions and ensure adequate enforcement. It has also asked Sebi to enhance its crisis prevention and response capabilities through steps like an effective coordination with RBI and ongoing monitoring of systemically important institutions. The triple-A approach for mobilising household savings into productive capital market products include collaboration with other regulators to spread investor awareness, developing appropriate low-risk products for retail investors and proper audit of marketplace to safeguard investors interest. In wide-ranging changes to the way Sebi can act against market manipulators and fraudsters, the government last month gave it powers to regulate all kinds of investment schemes involving Rs 100 crore or more, conduct search and seizure activities, pass attachment orders and sell the attached properties to recover the ill-gotten money. Following these powers, Sebi is now setting its eyes on steps required to give the small investors confidence to put their hard-earned savings into the capital markets, rather than unproductive assets like gold, a top official said. Among other proposals, Sebi has asked to to build skills for non-equity and off-exchange markets such as corporate bonds and structured products. Besides, Sebi has also been asked to maintain a clear and consistent vision and communicate the same to market explicitly, while ensuring a consistency even across leadership changes. Sebi also needs to adopt principles-based approach in key policy areas like fraud, compliance, disclosures and institutional interface, while it also requires to maintain a regular and open communication with the industry, the proposals say. The consultant has also suggested Sebi to adopt a risk-based supervision approach and categorise different market entities regulated by it by their risk levels. Sebi has been asked to issue guidance for turnaround times of cases and to set year-end targets, while ensuring a smooth hand over of cases from investigation to enforcement stages. For enhancing its supervision capabilities, it has been recommended that Sebi develops omnibus licensing for market conglomerates, institutes a whistle blowing policy and builds a state-of-the-art research and analytics cell. Other suggestions include increase in headcount with larger workforce in supervision functions, re-aligning the support functions under a Chief Operating Officer role, enhancing delegation of powers at various levels, linking monetary and non-monetary rewards to performance, skill development through external exposure and re-defining IT strategy of the organisation. 7. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CAPITAL MARKETS DIVISION Securities Contracts (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2007 The Securities Contracts Regulation Act, 1956 has been amended to include securitisation instruments under the definition of securities and provide for disclosure based regulation for issue of the securitized instruments and the procedure thereof. This has been done keeping in view that there is considerable potential in the securities market for the certificates or instruments under securitisation transactions. The development of the securitised debt market is critical for meeting the humungous requirements of the infrastructure sector, particularly housing sector, in the country. Replication of the securities markets framework for these instruments would facilitate trading on stock exchanges and in turn help development of the market in terms of depth and liquidity. PAN as the sole identification number PAN has been made the sole identification number for all transactions in securities market. This is an investor friendly measure as he does not have to maintain different identification numbers for different kinds of transactions/different segments in financial markets. Further, identification through PAN would help the authorities in enforcement action. Equity Finance for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) In recognition of the need for making finance available to needy small and medium enterprises, SEBI Board in its meeting held on 25th October, 2007 had agreed to the creation of a separate Exchange for the SMEs. Accordingly, in May 2008 a discussion paper was brought out on the issue. Based on the feedback received, the SEBI Board in its meeting held on 6th October, 2008 decided to encourage promotion of either dedicated exchanges and/or dedicated platforms of the existing exchanges for listing and trading of securities issued by SMEs. On November 9, 2009 SEBI Board took a decision on the operational aspects of the exchanges/ platforms of stock exchanges for small and medium enterprises. Accordingly, SEBI has permitted setting up of a Stock exchange/ a trading platform for SMEs by a recognized stock exchange having nationwide trading terminals and also issued Guidelines for market making for the specified securities listed on the SME exchange. Further, necessary amendments to the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 SEBI (Merchant Bankers) Regulations, 1992, SEBI (Foreign Institutional Investors) Regulations, 1995, SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996, SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997 and SEBI (Stock Brokers and Sub-brokers) Regulations, 1992 have also been carried out, to enable the SMEs to access the capital market. Based on the finalized regulations, applications have been received by SEBI for setting up SME Platforms. IPO grading SEBI has made it compulsory for companies coming out with IPOs of equity shares to get their IPOs graded by at least one credit rating agencyregistered with SEBI from May 1, 2007. This measure is intended to provide the investor with an informed and objective opinion expressed by a professional rating agency after analyzing factors like business and financial prospects, management quality and corporate governance practices etc. Till January 2008 45 IPOs have been graded by credit rating agencies. Permitting Indian mutual funds to invest in overseas securities SEBI has fixed the aggregate ceiling for overseas investments at US $ 5 billion. Within the overall limit of US $ 5 billion, mutual funds can make overseas investments subject to a maximum of US $300 million per mutual fund. Further different regulations that allow individuals and Indian mutual funds to invest in overseas securities by permitting individuals to invest through Indian mutual funds has been converged. New derivative products Mini derivative contract on Index (Sensex and Nifty) having a minimum contract size of Rs. 1 lakh have been introduced. It has been found that globally overall market liquidity and participation generally increases with introduction of mini contracts. Since January 11, 2008 SEBI has also allowed trading on options contracts on indices and stocks with a longer life/tenure of upto five years. These contracts are expected to provide liquidity at the longer end of the market. Since January 15, 2008 SEBI has permitted introduction of volatility index on futures and options contracts. An openly available and quoted measure of market volatility in the form of an index will help market participants. Short selling In pursuance to budget announcement, SEBI has issued a circular on 20th December, 2007 to permit short selling by institutional investors and securities lending and borrowing to support settlement of short sales. The scheme is likely to be operationalised shortly. Investment options for Navaratna and Miniratna Public Sector Enterprises The Navaratna and Miniratna Public Sector Enterprises have been allowed to invest in public sector mutual funds subject to the condition that they would not invest more than 30% of the available surplus funds in equity mutual funds and the Boards of PSEs would decide the guidelines, procedures and management control systems for such investment in consultation with their administrative Ministries. Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF) SEBI has set up the Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF) with the purpose of investor education and related activities. SEBI has contributed a sum of Rs. 10 crore toward the initial corpus of the IPEF from the SEBI General Fund. In addition following amounts will also be credited to the IPEF namely: i. Grants and donations given to IPEF by the Central Government, State Governments or any institution approved by SEBI for the purpose of the IPEF; ii. Interest or other income received out of the investments made from the IPEF; and iii. Such other amount that SEBI may specify in the interests of the investors.

The Coca Cola Company and Its Myths

The Coca Cola Company and Its Myths Free Online Research Papers Research shows that The Coca Cola Company has become a prominent corporation, with branches in over two hundred countries. An analysis has been conducted to identify the elements that have made this company successful. The findings vary from the approach of its employees to the cultural issues, to the company’s marketing strategies. The myths that have surrounded Coca Cola through the decades will also be explored with the intention of finding the impact they have had in the company’s growth. The Coca-Cola Company and its Myths Introduction Coca Cola products can be found practically anywhere in the world, such as on the tables of people in Tanzania, one of the poorest countries, and on the tables of the wealthiest people in the United States, where the company was founded. The success of this worldwide organization can be attributed to more than just its flavorful beverages. The following elaborates on the company’s mission, product line, organizational structure, and its marketing strategies. A brief overview of some of the myths that have surrounded Coca Cola will also be helpful in finding out how a backyard operation evolved into a multi-million dollar business. Coca-Cola’s Background Coca Cola has been linked to American culture for many years. John Pemberton, who invented the formula in his own back yard, founded Coca Cola in 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first serving of Coca Cola was sold at a pharmacy in Georgia on May 8, 1886. This company has since grown into a multi-million dollar industry, in large part due to their mission and goals. One of the major strengths of Coca Cola is their capability to conduct business on an international scale while sustaining a local approach. To date, this company now produces nearly 400 brands, expanding to over 200 countries worldwide. Coca Cola’s vision involved adapting and evolving to the business conditions of each day. They also embodied employees who upheld strong ideals, commitment, and integrity. The Coca Cola Company believes that there are many experiences in the world and in life to rejoice, enliven, reinforce, and care for (Coca Cola, 2004). One of the missions of the Coca Cola Company is to dev elop a higher quality of life in communities. They are greatly involved in methods and programs, which promote improving individual opportunity through education. Programs that they support and contribute to include: scholarships for aspiring students, encouragement to young people of the importance of staying in schools, and the development of cultural understanding and appreciation (Coca Cola, 2004). Organizational Structure and Targeted Consumers The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches. The company is the worlds leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, used to produce nearly four hundred beverage brands. The corporate headquarters are in Atlanta, with local operations in over two hundred countries around the world. (www.2cocla-cola.com) The basic proposition of the business is solid and timeless. When bringing the refreshment, value, joy and fun to the stakeholders, then they successfully nurture and protect the brands, particularly Coca-Cola. That is the key to fulfilling the ultimate obligation to provide consistently attractive returns to the business owners. The company is committed to manage business with a consistent set of values that represent the highest standard of quality, integrity and excellence. Through actions as local citizens, they strive everyday to refresh the market place, enrich the work place, protect the environment, and strengthen the communities (www.2cocla-cola.com). The company’s target is to reach everyone’s home, from young children to the older public. It is the most recognized trademark in the world. The reputation of the Coca-Cola Company is built on trust. They seek to develop relationships with suppliers and share familiar values and conduct business in an ethic al manner (Leith, S. 2002). Marketing and Advertisement Strategies When it comes to marketing, â€Å"The objective of Coca-Cola’s advertisements is to strategically position their product in people’s minds in order to maximize its acceptance. This strategy would in some way or another have a correlation to the changing social values of the period. Trying to keep step with each generation and era has been an important factor in advertising for Coke.† (oppapers.com) The marketing view must penetrate all other views to make a firm successful in the marketplace. Marketing forecasts and plans are multi-factor calculations and predictions, where holistic approaches are needed. Coke uses careful marketing research to discover the trends and desires of target markets, creates products to meet those needs, and then plans ad campaigns to lure in the targeted market segments. It would be ideal if the information gleaned through this process was exclusive, but eventually other soft drink companies pick up on Coke’s trends and try to use it to their advantage as well, at which time Coca-Cola starts the process over. The format in which the information is delivered to decision makers is not as important as the way they then use the information in the effort to win or keep customers. An example of Coca-Cola’s use of marketing is evident in the new advertising campaign, which the company believes, â€Å"reflects genuine, authentic moments in life and the natural role the brand plays in them.† Chris Lowe, North America’s Coca-Cola chief marketing officer explained that, â€Å"consumers today are telling us they want brands that are genuine, authentic and real and these are values they associate more strongly with Coca-Cola than any other brand. Authenticity, originality and ‘real’ refreshment are part of our heritage, and what the brand has always stood for.† (Coca-Cola Website) â€Å"Coca-Cola’s goal is to make their costumers think of their product and this commercial whenever they are reminded of a sentimental and enjoyable event† (www.louisville.edu/~rljohn10/pepsi.html). Cocaine Myth It will be inevitable for The Coca Cola Company to reach a global market without having myths associated with its name. The most widely known myth about Coca Cola is that it contained extract of coca leaves. In fact in 1886, when it was introduced in the market, it did. Exactly how much cocaine was in the formula itself has not been determined, but Coca-Cola did contain some cocaine when it was first developed. What researches do know is that in 1902, 1/400 of a grain of cocaine per ounce of syrup was in the drink. Apparently in 1929, Coca-Cola became cocaine free. â€Å"By Heaths calculation, the amount of ecgonine [an alkaloid in the coca leaf that could be synthesized to create cocaine] was infinitesimal: no more than one part in 50 million. In an entire years supply of 25-odd million gallons of Coca-Cola syrup, Heath figured, there might be six-hundredths of an ounce of cocaine. So, yes, at one time there was cocaine in Coca-Cola.† (Mikkelson, B. snopes.com/cokelore/c ocaine.asp) Ethylene Glycol Myth Another myth basically states that Cola-Cola used ethylene glycol in their soft drinks. People have apparently confused ethylene glycol with polyethylene. Ethylene glycol is a compound that is used to make antifreeze and de-icing solutions for cars, airplanes, and boats; to make polyester compounds; and as solvents in the paint and plastics industries. Polyethylene glycol is non-toxic and is used in a variety of products. In fact, it is the basis of a number of laxatives (e.g. macrogol-containing products such as Movicol ®). As far as Coca-Cola is concerned, polyethylene glycol is not an added ingredient in soft drinks. However, polyethylene glycol is safe and suitable for use in foods and beverages, according to the U.S. FDA and other Regulatory authorities. (Coca-Cola Website. Source: http://www2.coca-cola.com/contactus/myths_rumors/ingredients_antifreeze.html) Risquà © Myth One of the myths that were discussed back in the 1980’s was the Coca Cola an advertising poster due to a risquà © image hidden within. The poster was released in the mid 80s and provoked a total argument because of the picture painted in ice-cubes, a woman performing a bad action. The graphic artist who designed the picture put this as a joke and it went unnoticed. This artist lost his job and was sued for a lot of money. All the posters and advertisement was destroyed and new ones and to be made. The poster shows a cartoon version of a coke bottle sitting on a bed of ice under the words â€Å"Feel the Curves†. The president of the Australian Marketing Rep, Coca-Cola South Pacific, Mr. Mike Bascle said the action of the artist was â€Å"quite irresponsible and not amusing†. The company had lost millions of dollars in revenue as a result of this careless pornographic advertisement, but later recreated new glossy posters (â€Å"The Adelaide Advertiser† ) snopes.com/cokelore/poster.aspp) Santa Claus Myth The likeness of Santa Claus has, for many years, been attributed to the image that Coca Cola embodies during their holiday advertisements. Myths have implied that Coca Cola created the representation of Santa Claus being in a red and white suit as a marketing ploy to promote sales. In actuality, the real history of Santa Claus predates Coca Cola’s introduction of him during the 1930’s. The earliest records of Santa Claus reflect that he was actually an evolutionary invention resulting from two religious people, St. Nichols and Christkindlein (Snopes, 2001). St. Nichols was a patron saint known for bearing gifts. Adults who clothed themselves in furry attire and visited children while they were awake to put on a scary performance represented Christkindlein. Once the children awoke, they found gifts and believed Christkindlein left them; hence the story behind Santa Claus involving his attire and gift giving beliefs. Coca Cola however, capitalized on the belief of Santa Claus. In 1930, the Coca Cola Company was looking for a way to encourage sales during the winter months, which was normally a slow sales period for the soft drink market. Haddon Sundblom, a cartoonist, was contacted to create a marketable image on behalf of the company (Snopes, 2001). After much deliberation, he invented a vision of Santa Claus wearing a red and white suit, drinking and enjoying coca cola. The success of this invention was enormous and his ingenious creation was just the marketing ploy Coca Cola needed to catapult their sales during this slow season. Conclusion The Coca Cola Company has come a long way from selling a few servings of carbonated beverages in a pharmacy, to an international scale business. The company has accomplished that objective thanks to dedicated people who have collaborated through the years with the mission to attain high quality standards. Their product line has grown with the approach of cultural appreciation and understanding, which has been a key factor in the introduction of the products in over 200 countries. Coca Cola’s commitment to remain at the forefront of the changing social values in developing their marketing strategy has proven to their advantage. The negative myths that have targeted Coca Cola might have had a harmful impact on the sales at the time of their circulation. On the other hand, the creative idea of dressing Santa Claus in the company’s red and white colors proves that some myths can be very beneficial to a corporation. Undoubtedly The Coca Cola Company has developed all th e elements necessary to run a multi-million, worldwide enterprise and refreshes all the people that come in contact with their products. References A Tale of Two Colas: The Cola Wars, Retrieved September 08, 2004 from: oppapers.com/print.php?id=41272idenc=GVZFVAx0QBK2o9e And the Cola Wars Continue, Retrieved September 08, 2004 from: louisville.edu/~rljohn10/pepsi.html Bellis, M. (2004) The History of Coca Cola, From About.com Website Retrieved September 09, 2004 from: www.inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcocacola.htm Coca-Cola Website. Retrieved September 08,2004 www.cocacola.com Inventors Website. Retrieved September 08, 2004. From www.inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcocacola.htm Leith, S. ( July, 2002)â€Å"Coke Website Debunks Myths† retrieved info from Apollo Library Infotrac Onefile/Knight Tribune Business News on September 8, 2004 Snopes Website. Retrieved September 08, 2004. From snopes.com/cokelore/ Research Papers on The Coca Cola Company and Its MythsMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaOpen Architechture a white paperNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceDefinition of Export QuotasTwilight of the UAWInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

PKG Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PKG - Assignment Example It is now apparent that the meaning of ethics is rather difficult to discern and quite many people may not know the meaning of the word. Many literatures define ethics as the set of rational standards of right and wrong, pertaining to what people ought to do, their rights, obligations, benefits, fairness, and virtues (Blackburn, 2001). For an illustration, ethics place reasonable obligations on people not to murder, assault, slander, fraud, rape, or steal. Additionally, ethics deal with honesty, compassion, loyalty, and rights to life, privacy, and the right to freedom for good health and life and right to freedom from injury among others (Blackburn, 2001). In this century, ethics could also refer to the study and development of ethical standards for the contemporary and future society. As the world changes, earlier established social norms, peoples’ feelings, and laws could deviate from what was considered ethical, making it necessary that ethical standards are constantly examined to ensure they are not only reasonable but also well-founded. Thus, in the 21st century, ethics entails the endless efforts at studying and exploring peoples’ moral norms, beliefs and conduct so that the concerned institutions help in shaping the solidly based and reasonable ethical standards to live by (Blackburn, 2001). This paper thus undertakes an in-depth analysis of the 21st century’s ethical status, more so with regards to the moral choices that people make in ethically challenging situations. The ethical or moral rules and standards governing peoples’ existence and actions in the contemporary world have changed greatly in the 21st century. Although barely into its second decade, the 21st century’s moral climate has been marked by hitherto unknown levels of dishonesty not only in the public spheres but also in peoples’ private lives (Bailey, 2004). Examples of the aspects of life that are faced

Positive and Negative Environmental effects of Genetically Modified Research Paper

Positive and Negative Environmental effects of Genetically Modified Crops - Research Paper Example Still, a number of objections have been raised. This essay examines the positive and negative environmental effects of genetically modified crops. While genetically modified crops have steadily gained support there exists a strong contingent of groups that object to these crops on environmental reasons. Within this contingent some of the strongest objections have been levied by groups concerned with environmental sustainability as well as religious groups that object to genetic modification on moral grounds. Still, it’s clear a growing body of research has pointed to substantial environmental concerns from implementing genetically modified crops. In this context of understanding, one of the predominant concerns is unintended harm to surrounding crops and organisms. For instance, a recent study indicated that, â€Å"pollen from B.t. corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars† (‘Transgenic Pollen’, pg. 214). While this study was not co nducted in natural conditions, other researchers have argued similar contentions. In these regards, it’s been noted that pollen and other genetically modified crop outgrowth holds a strong potential for spreading to surrounding areas and detrimentally affecting the life-cycle of a variety of organisms. Another prominent environmental concern related to the use of genetically modified crops is the reported potential of gene-transfer to non-target species. Essentially this concern indicates that crops that have been genetically modified for stringent resistance to weather conditions or other areas of detriment will transfer their crop resistance to less desirable outgrowth. For instance, â€Å"crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds will cross-breed, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the crops into the weeds. These "superweeds" would then be herbicide tolerant as well† (Whitman). These concerns have emerged in a number of r eal-world contexts, with lawsuits emerging in situations where adjacent genetically modified crop-land have reportedly infected non-modified crops. Another prominent concern in this area of understanding is the worry of the reduced effectiveness of pesticides. This concern takes a variety of forms as farmers of non-genetically modified crops worry that new species of insects might emerge in response to genetically modified crops that are then entirely resistant to traditional forms of pesticides. While there have been a variety of proposed solutions to the above mentioned environmental concerns, it’s clear that at least in the present technological environment they remain viable worries for farmers not directly involved in the production of genetically modified strains of crop. Even as substantial environmental objections exist to genetically modified crops, researchers note that there is considerable environmental support for this mode of agricultural production. One of the major noted environmental benefits for farmers is the increased pest resistance of genetically modified crops. One of the primary areas where such genetic modification has had a tremendous impact on farming is in developing regions. In these areas, â€Å"agricultural production does not merely function as a means of economic profit, but is oftentimes intimately linked to the population’

Environmental Influences on Happiness

Environmental Influences on Happiness Critical Evaluation: The Contagion Effect of Happiness The thought of happiness had sparked much interest among past psychologists. Dated back in the 20th century, happiness had been a rising area of concern. However, many studies have yet to converge on a universal definition of happiness. Despite so, several longstanding studies permit the definition of happiness to be a subjective well-being construct consisting of positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction (Bartels Boomsma, 2009; DeNeve Cooper, 1998; Diener, 2009). In recent years, the factors that predict happiness has caught great amount of attention in the realm of psychology. Specifically, the question lies in whether happiness can be contagious either through the social network or genetic influences. A recent paper by Matteson, McGue, and Lacono (2013) has offered insights to address the discrepancy between social network and genetic influences. The central tenet of the paper investigates the contagion hypothesis of happiness. Specifically, it seeks to find the impact of the well-being of family members on individual well-being. In an attempt to account for previous ethological findings by Fowler and Christakis (2008), the authors had adopted an adoption design as an alternative test of shared environment effects on happiness. A sample consisting of 284 adoptive, 208 non-adoptive and 123 mixed families were selected from the Sibling Interaction and Behaviour Study (SIBS; McGue, Keyes, Sharma, Elkins, Legrand, Johnson, 2007). Results revealed that family members have no similar levels of happiness when they are not genetically related. In fact, the authors have noted that the findings demonstrated the consistency with behavioural genetic literature among genetically related famil y. Hence, challenging the contagion hypothesis. In view of these findings, the current paper will review the findings of Matteson et al. (2013) to further justify and suggest drawbacks that may have been oblivious to the authors. In addition, this paper will employ various key works to provide auxiliary for the review of methodology, results and discussion sections of Mattesson et al. (2013). In Fowler and Christakis (2008) study, a social network analysis was employed to study the impact of happiness level of people in an individual’s social network. However, although Mattesson et al. (2013) had also focused on the contagion hypothesis of happiness, they have noted that both genes and environment could have played a role in the influence of happiness among people. Thus, a superior component of Matteson’s study was that they drew on the adoption design to include both genetic and environmental effects in the investigation of the contagion hypothesis. This had allowed them to examine if genetically unrelated family members in a shared environment would have similar levels of happiness (Matteson et al., 2013). However, an adoptive family environment may not be representative of the general family environment (Lemery Goldsmith, 1999). Rueter, Keyes ,Iacono, and McGue (2009) have noted that the interactions between families could have differed between adoptive and non-adoptive families. This suggests that interaction factors could have impacted child adjustments. In addition, McGue et al. (2007) found that there is an increased in parent-child conflict in adoptive as compared to non-adoptive families. Such factors could have influenced the well-being of adoptees. As a result, the inclusion of adoptees for the contagion hypothesis illustrates that the authors could have oversight the assumption of family environment. Also, it should be noted that instead of a shared environment in adoptive studies, siblings might experience a unique environment instead. A unique environment is an environment that is not shared by siblings or families (Neisser, Boodoo,Bouchard, Boykin, Brody, Ceci, Halpern, Loehlin, Perloff, Sternberg, Urbina, 1996). According to Braungart, Plomin, DeFries and Fulker (1992), siblings raised in the same family might experience a unique environment whereby both siblings may have diverse range of peers, attend different education systems and may experience different style of bonds with their parents. As a result, the authors failed to notice that a unique environment may be experienced by siblings in an adoption design. Future research in this area could include the use of family design (Lemery Goldsmith). Family design enables the assessment of siblings, parent versus off-springs. half-siblings, uncle versus nephew, auntie versus niece, grandparent versus grandchild and first cousin pairs (Pike, McGuire, Hetherington, Reiss, Plomin, 1996). This would allow more in-depth opportunity to investigate both shared and unique environments on the contagion hypothesis as it investigates a variety of relationships as compared to the limited parent-child and sibling relationships in an adoption design. Previous work by Fowler and Christakis (2008) utilized the items from the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977) as a measure of happiness. Although the CES-D was developed to examine depression, items pertaining to happiness were chosen to question about experiences and feelings on happiness in the past one week. In contrary, Matteson et al. (2013) had employed a Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire to examine happiness. The MPQ is a personality measure which assesses cognitive and affective components of life. Diener (2009) have noted that test-retest reliabilities have demonstrated that a correlation of .54 to .73 accounts for stability in well-being scales of MPQ. Thus, the use of MPQ could be a reliable measure for the well-being construct of the affective component on happiness. However, the authors could have overlooked the purpose of MPQ as a measure of trait instead of state happiness (Stones, Hadjistavopoulos, Tuuko, Kozma, 1995). As MPQ was mainly developed as a personality measure, the items were inclined towards trait-like properties of well-being and happiness. Thus, the results on happiness construct could have actually reflected the trait happiness instead of state-level happiness. Tellegen (1982) have noted that MPQ is a self report questionnaire to measure the disposition to feel good. Also, the utilization of this measure in other studies tends to yield genetic influences on happiness (Weiss, Bates, Luciano, 2008). In other words, MPQ was oriented towards the assessment of trait happiness instead of state-level happiness. Therefore, the use of MPQ by Matteson et al (2013) may have been an oversight as they failed to recognize that the use of MPQ could have skewed the data towards the findings of trait personality instead of happiness on the ba sis of situations. Hence, resulting in their findings of familial correlations among genetically related instead of unrelated family members. It is suggested that the authors could have employed the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) in conjunction with the MPQ to assess the subjective well-being of participants (Hills Argyle, 2002). The OHQ is a 29 item measure that taps on the self-esteem, sense of purpose, social interest and sense of humour. The combination of both OHQ and MPQ would serve as a better stringent methodology to elicit an equal amount of trait and state-level happiness. Extensive studies by McGue et al. (2007) have demonstrated that the Siblings Interaction and Behaviour Study (SIBS) provides a good basis for the selection of participants for adoption design. Participants from the SIBS consisted of adoptive, non-adoptive and mixed families. This allowed identifications of characteristics between biological and adoptive families. Matteson et al. (2013) employed participants from the SIBS which is fairly representative for an adoption design. However, McGue et al. (2007) have noted that in order to differentiate adoptive and non-adoptive families in SIBS, they recruited participants on the basis of selection effects of certain factors. Evidence by Stoolmiller (1999) has shown that selection effects in a research study could actually affect participants who do and do not participate in the study. As cited in Matteson et al. (2013), McGue et al. (2007) have noted that after interviewing non-participants in adoptive and non-adoptive families, non-participating but eligible families differed minimally from participating families. However, the authors failed to recognize that McGue et al. (2007) were unable to interview 27% of non-participating families and this 27% could have differed significantly from the interviewed participating and non-participating families. Ruggles, Sobek, Alexander, Fitch, Goeken, and Hall (2004) concluded that this difference could have resulted in minimal sampling bias. Therefore, the details concer ning recruitment of SIBS sample could have inadvertently influence the results obtained. Furthermore, there are issues regarding the generalizability of the results presented by Matteson et al. (2013). The author did not report in the paper that SIBS samples were recruited from Minnesota only and not internationally. McGue et al. (2007) noted that adoptive families were ascertained from infant placements made by Minnesota agencies and non-adoptive families were determined by Minnesota State birth records. This suggests that the average sample were from Minnesota and hence, the results can only be generalizable to families of Minnesota. Therefore, the sample chosen could have implicated the results. A further consideration influencing the generalizability of the results presented by Matteson et al. (2013) is the choice of participants. Despite the participants being from the SIBS study, the authors did acknowledge that eligibility is limited to siblings of five years apart and adopted siblings who were adopted before age of two years (McGue et al., 2007). However, this age criteria suggest the limitation of generalizing the results to siblings of more than five years apart or adopted after the age of two years. Thus, the age criteria could have been an oversight by the authors as it suggests the inability to further generalize the results to others in a shared environment. Another limitation noted within the research was the onetime assessment of parent’s personality within the three years interval of the study. An established body of knowledge on personality have shown that personality changes throughout the lifespan (Haan, 1981). Findings by Haan (1981) revealed that re-test intervals on personality yielded that it does not remain stable overtime. In addition, Moss and Susman (1980) converged on a conclusion that the increased in time interval between personality tests contributes to the evidence of decreasing stability in personality. Matteson et al. (2013) have taken the changes in personality into consideration. In their study, the authors assessed well-being twice across a three years interval; allowing change over time. However, they had only assessed parent’s personality once. As mentioned, personality stability decreases over time. Thus, neglecting a second assessment of parent’s personality over the three years interval m ay have accounted for important information being overlooked and distorted the results. It is suggested that parent’s personality should be assessed at least twice as it constantly changes across the lifespan (Haan, 1981). Other methodological constraints in Matteson et al. (2013) paper include the use of results after a large dropout rate. Out of the adolescents participating at intake, only 83% returned and completed the well-being measure at follow-up. In other words, 17% of the adolescent have failed to complete the well-being measure at follow-up. It is possible that this 17% of dropout could have found the procedure to be dull or mundane which in turn, inflated the results attained. In addition, the authors had included the scores of the dropouts who had previously completed the intake but not the follow-up. Although they noted that the intake well-being scores of those who did not complete the well-being measure did not differ significantly from the well-being scores of those who did return, it should be known clearly that those results should not be taken into account as it reflected only the intake and not the follow-up scores (Matteson et al., 2013). Thus, it is inappropriate for the authors to make an assumption that the similar results would be obtained for the follow-up. Hence, the comparison was not clear and fair. As a result, the inclusion of the 17% at the intake results could have affected the entire study’s results. In summary, the findings suggest that shared environmental influences on happiness may not reflect contagion effects. While shared environment is an important aspect in the adoption design, it should also be noted that siblings in both adoptive and non-adoptive families may experience unique environments (Neisser et al., 1996). 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