Female representation in computer games Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Female representation in computer games - Essay Example The essay "Female representation in computer games" discovers the Images of Women in Computer Based Gaming. The game World of Warcraft allows the player to create their own representation, but most of the females and males have sexualized representations that engage the user in very real objectification of the human form. In a discussion of the theories proposed by John Berger, the nature of the consumer to art can be seen through the examination of the art and imagery that has been developed in the gaming world. The nature of gaming is such that it creates an alternative space in which female and male objectification is engaged so that not only is the concept of the human shifted into a different space, the actions that are taken as representations of heroic are placed within the sexual fantasy space. Images that are used for gaming are representations of contemporary art, created through different mediums used for different purposes. Most of it is created through computer generatio n, but there is a great deal of art that is done through the traditional medium of canvas and brush with either oils or acrylics. These pieces are used for promotional value, although computer generation of images has advanced to the point where artistically rendered work is very similar to that which used to require canvas and paint. As an example, Fig.1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are a female and male characters from World of Warcraft, rendered artistically as an emotive piece which is intended. to engage the consumer by creating envy. Berger discusses the role of envy in glamour, the nature of plying the consumer with attributes of a representational figure that can never be achieved, thus maintaining an envious connection which is never transferred to the consumer. La Grange paraphrases Berger and states that â€Å"The imagine themselves transformed by buying the product and envy this transformed self. In effect, the publicity image has lowered the spectators’ self-esteem and of fers it back if they buy the product† (8). Gaming literally offers the experience of becoming the enviable figure, the consumer able to manipulate the actions of the character, achieving goals and setting a course through that image. Berger discusses the way in which the identity and the self are interlaced with the concept of ownership and envy. In owning a thing, the desired effect is to have become the representation of how that thing creates the identity of the self. In owning something, there is never a pay-off of real happiness, but a movement towards acquiring the next thing. La Grange states that Berger proposed that â€Å"The individual is trapped between what he is and what he would like to be† (9). In choosing what to buy, the individual seeks to find happiness, but because happiness cannot be achieved by the acquisition, the individual is essentially powerless. In some ways, gaming fills this gap as the manipulation of the image that has been chosen becomes an extension of the self, the individual placed within the space of the game as that image and acquiring through the choices that are made about the actions of the image. La Grange explains the relationships of the ownership of art as it is relevant to the identity. She states that through Berger, it can be seen that â€Å"oil painting celebrated private property; it expressed the idea that you are what you have†

Negative advertisement when it works Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Negative advertisement when it works - Essay Example Propaganda, in this sense, serves as a corollary to censorship in which the same purpose is achieved, not by filling people's minds with approved information, but by preventing people from being confronted with opposing points of view. What sets propaganda apart from other forms of advocacy is the willingness of the propagandist to change people's understanding through deception and confusion rather than persuasion and understanding. The leaders of an organization know the information to be one sided or untrue, but this may not be true for the regular members who help to disseminate the propaganda. Importantly propaganda is a powerful weapon in war; it is used to dehumanize and create hatred toward a supposed enemy, either internal or external, by creating a false image in the mind. This can be done by using derogatory or racist terms, avoiding some words or by making allegations of enemy atrocities. Most propaganda wars require the home population to feel the enemy has inflicted an injustice, which may be fictitious. The home population must also decide that the cause of their nation is just. Politicians take the advantage of such policy through political advertisement to grab power. EVIDENCES ON HOW PROPAGANDA WORKS AROUND THE GLOBE According to Naom Chomsky, the 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy. Privatization being one of such corporate tactics, propaganda politics began to flourish amongst the democratic nations. In the early 2000s, the United States government developed and freely... This "Negative advertisement when it works" essay describes different cases of the negative ad and its effect. According to Naom Chomsky, the 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy. Privatization being one of such corporate tactics, propaganda politics began to flourish amongst the democratic nations. In the early 2000s, the United States government developed and freely distributed a video game known as America's Army with an intention to encourage players to become interested in joining the U.S. Army. Research proved that 30% of young people who had a positive view of the military said that they had developed that view by playing the game. Politically Soviet propaganda meant dissemination of revolutionary ideas, teachings of Marxism, and theoretical and practical knowledge of Marxis t economics, while agitation meant forming favorable public opinion and stirring up political unrest. The Nazis believed in propaganda as a vital tool in achieving their goals. Adolph Hitler, Germany's Fuehrer, was impressed by the power of Allied propaganda during World War I and believed that it had been a primary cause of the collapse of morale and revolts in the German home front and Navy in 1918. Broadcasters and journalists required prior approval before their works were disseminated. The Nazis produced a number of films and books to spread their beliefs.

Is China Facing a Financial Crisis?

Is China Facing a Financial Crisis? In a first for Chinese Banks and its Big Four, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) unseated Exxon Mobil last year to take the top spot on the Forbes Global 2000[i] as the world’s largest company. China Construction Bank moved up 11 spots to No. 2 on the list.  Agricultural Bank of China stood at No. 8 and Bank of China with its double digit growth in sales and profits; improved its ranking by 10 places to No. 11[ii]. However what is more interesting is that ICBC, world’s largest and most profitable bank itself was on the verge of defaulting until a last minute decision to bail it out earlier in January this year. A 3 Billion Yuan (around $500 million) product issued by China Credit Trust Co., a shadow bank and marketed through ICBC was underpinned by a loan to a mining operation of Shanxi Zhenfu Energy Group that later collapsed as the price of coal plummeted. Investors were promised a hefty 10% annual return over three years, but were told in January n ot to expect payment. Some of the investors, who reportedly put as much as $500,000 each into the fund, said ICBC should reimburse them since it had marketed the product. ICBC insisted that it had never guaranteed the product, and had no legal responsibility to pay investors. The banks chairman even went so far as to describe the episode as a learning opportunity for investors, shadow banks and ICBC. However the learning opportunity was missed, thanks to a bailout by an unnamed third party that ensured investors will recover their initial investment, though interest will not be paid[iii]. Shadow Banking in China comprises of a web of non-banks that includes pawn shops, underground banks, various wealth management products, trust companies, and guarantors – many of which don’t take deposits to insure against risky lending activities and operate completely beyond the eye of regulators and authorities.These firms offer loans to companies or individuals that may have trouble securing traditional bank financing. Often, the loans are then packaged and sold to investors looking for higher returns. In China, the sectors exact reach is unknown, but some estimates put its size at roughly 60% of Chinas GDP[iv]. The China Banking Regulating Commission (CBRC) caps the value of loans that banks can extend relative to the value of deposits at 75%. Because of this cap, banks prefer to issue off-balance sheet loans in order to maintain lower loan-to-deposit ratios (LDRs).While the latest estimates for lending from China’s biggest banks put February 14’s new loans at 800 Billion Yuan, the highest February figure since the 4 Trillion Yuan stimulus in 2009, reports are emerging that the strength in new loans is not driven by real demand, but rather by banks moving off-balance sheet loans on to the balance sheet as part of the government’s broader crackdown on shadow banking[v]. It is one of the many indicators that signify the slowdown of Chinese economy. In 2012, there were two trust defaults, one for a product distributed by Huaxia BankLtd. and one sold by CITIC Trust. While it was learned thatZhongfa Industrial Groupin the end guaranteed the first, the solution to the second was never made public[vi]. Beijing knows that a default could prompt investors to pull theirmoneyfrom other trust products and stop providing the deposits needed to supply credit and fuel economic growth. A default would likely lead to a loss of confidence in Chinas trust and other shadow credit markets and a shrinkage of liquidity in those markets, and hence, a credit crunch. Some analysts however argue that a default is needed to demonstrate Beijings commitment to allow market forces to play a larger role in the economy, and to send a message to investors that high-yield investments carry significant risk. The China Banking Regulatory Commission said non-performing loans (NPLs) made by Chinese lenders reached 592 Billion Yuan in the final three months of last year. The last NPLs were at the same level was September 2008, the month when US investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed. Loans by Chinese lenders have grown at an unprecedented rate in the past five years, with banks increasing the size of their balance sheets by 89 Trillion Yuan, an amount roughly equivalent to the size of the entire US banking industry[vii]. Chinese non-financial companies held total outstanding bank borrowing and bond debt of about $12 trillion at the end of last year equal to over 120 percent of GDP according to Standard Poors estimates[viii]. Trust companies along with other non-bank financial institutions such as securities brokerages have become a vital source of credit, allowing banks to arrange off-balance-sheet refinancing for maturing loans that risky borrowers such as the local government financing vehicles (LGFV) cannot repay from their internal cash flow. By law, China’s local governments are not allowed to borrow. After the 2008 global financial crisis, Beijing conceded some relaxations and local governments created LGFV (Local Government Financing Vehicles), also known as UDICs (Urban Development and Investment Companies), which though separate from but owned or controlled by the local government, were permitted to borrow. The LGFV generally borrowed funds predominantly from banks (as much as 80% or more), with the remainder raised by issuing bonds or equity-like instruments to insurance companies, institutional investors and individuals. Recently, with pressure on banks to curtail loans, these financing vehicles have borrowed from China’s shadow banking system. Audits released for the first time show that Chinas wealthiest eastern provinces are the most indebted, though repayment burdens are more onerous in poorer areas such as the southwestern provinces. Tibet was the only region that did not release an audit report[ix]. According to statistics from the National Audit Office, as of June 2013 government debt at all levels totaled about 20.7 Trillion Yuan (US$3.4 trillion), of which domestic government debt accounted for around 10.9 Trillion Yuan (US$1.8 trillion). Of this amount, 2.39 Trillion Yuan (US$390 billion), or 22%, is due in spring of this year[x]. We can add that including the local government debt that matures this year, there is an estimated 5 Trillion Yuan of trust products that are maturing, including as much as 1 Trillion Yuan in May[xi]. If the China Credit Trust product was allowed to default, China’s financial system might have been sitting on hundreds of billions, if not trillions of Yuan worth of non-performing loans in just a few months time. Chinacan rarely allow corporate failures, particularly of state-backed companies, partly out of fear that widespread layoffs could lead to social unrest. All this makes things all the tougher for the People’s Bank of China espec ially when interbank rates are at an all time high to control the local debt. Further the rising Chinese Yuan, which has gained around 33% since 2005 against the U.S. currency, increases their returns has led to asurge in loans to Chinese companies from outside the country has contributed to big inflows of cash into the mainland (mainly short-term and speculative in nature), trying to profit from the mainlands relatively highinterest rates[xii]. Hence when the more the PBOC pumps into the system, the more it encourages risky lending, pushing the country closer to a debt crisis. But when the central bank has declined to add cash to the system—notably in June  and  December of 2013—liquidity has seized up. The scale of trust assets however still pales in comparison to total banking sector assets of more than 100 TrillionYuanas of the end of June. But without trusts, the banking systems non-performing loans (NPL) ratio might be much higher, although accurate estimates are not possible[xiii]. China bears argue that a vast majority of the trust loans cannot be repaid, which will eventually require substantial bailouts and lead to a collapse in the banking system and a larger economic crisis. Even if this is exaggerated and the assets are good, huge liquidity risks exist given the known mismatch between the duration of trust loans and their underlying investments. [i] The Forbes Global 2000 are public companies with the top composite scores based on their rankings for sales, profits, assets and market value. [ii] Forbes: The World’s Biggest Companies at http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottdecarlo/2013/04/17/the-worlds-biggest-companies-2/ [iii] Charles Riley, â€Å"Chinas $500 million shadow bank rescue†, January 28, 2014 at http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/28/investing/china-icbc-default/ [iv] ibid [v] Oliver Barron, â€Å"Latest Developments for Chinas Shadow Banking and its Implications for RMB†, February 26, 2014 at http://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverbarron/2014/02/26/latest-developments-for-chinas-shadow-banking-and-its-implications-for-rmb/ [vi] Oliver Barron, â€Å"China Trust Default Avoided†¦ What Comes Next?†, January 27, 2014 at http://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverbarron/2014/01/27/china-trust-default-avoided-what-comes-next/ [vii] Harry Wilson, â€Å"Chinese bank bad debts hit crisis level high†, February 14, 2014 at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10638811/Chinese-bank-bad-debts-hit-crisis-level-high.html [viii] Matthew Miller and Umesh Desai, â€Å"Chinas $12 trillion corporate debt pushes up refunding costs, drives mergers†, February 25, 2014 at http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-china-debt-companies-idUSBREA1P06420140226 [ix] â€Å"China details $3-trillion local public debt risk†, January 27, 2014 at http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/27/us-china-economy-debt-idUSBREA0Q0LA20140127 [x] â€Å"RMB350bn in local government debt up for repayment†, February 27, 2014 at http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140227000050cid=1202 [xi] Oliver Barron, â€Å"China Trust Default Avoided†¦ What Comes Next?†, January 27, 2014 at http://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverbarron/2014/01/27/china-trust-default-avoided-what-comes-next/ [xii] Enda Curran and Prudence Ho, â€Å"Concern Over Hong Kong Banks Growing Lending into China†, February 27, 2014 at http://www.marketwatch.com/story/concern-over-hong-kong-lending-to-china-2014-02-27-124492221 [xiii] Gabriel Wildau and Lu Jianxin, â€Å"Growth in China trust assets slows as shadow banking crackdown bites†, August 6, 2013 at http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/08/06/us-china-economy-trust-idUSBRE97504Q20130806

The Minimum Wage Should be Raised Essay -- Increase Minimum Wage Essays

Minimum wages go all the way back to 1938, during the great depression, when the stock market crash and bank loan were failing. Families need income of some type, were they wanted to make it fair were individual could get pay the same without a college degree. I am going to start off with a little about minimum wages history and how this could help our Economic. In 1892 Federal Government adopt an 8 hour workday and other wages standard for employee. In 1903 Congress create the U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor. In 1933 Congress passes the National Industrial Recovery Act covering private sector wage hour (Congressional Digest). â€Å"On Saturday, June 25, 1938, to avoid pocket vetoes 9 days after Congress had adjourned, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed 121 bills. Among these bills was a landmark law in the Nation’s social and economic development- Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938† (Jonathan Grossman, Dol.gov). Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 becomes basic federal statute governing minimum wage, working hour, equal pay, and child labor. Minimum wages was set at .25 cents an hour (Congressional Digest). Congress could raise minimum wages if our economic growth was better. Congress just cannot change minimum wage overnight. This take time and also studies to make sure the United State business can afford to pay more. But also now that minimum wages is only $7.25. Now, somehow the President and Congress think that a low-income family can live off less than $15,080 a year in 2012, according to David and Doug. Minimum wages did not fall pass the poverty line till about 1980. But also the value of a dollar was worth way more back then. During are economic growth has expanded, in which it means more people, and not enough job... ... in better shape today we would be making more than $7.25. But the value of a dollar is not worth what it once was. I believe that today minimum wage should be raised because everyone will need to have health insurance because it became a law in 2014. Works Cited Cooper, David, and Doug Hall. "Raising the Federal Minimum Wage to $10.10 Would Give Working Families, and the Overall Economy, a Much Needed Boost." N.p., 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. "Fair Labor Standard Timeline Evolution of Fedral Minimum Wage Law." Congressional Digest. N.p., Mar. 2007. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. "Home - Wage and Hour Division (WHD) - U.S. Department of Labor." Home - Wage and Hour Division (WHD) - U.S. Department of Labor. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. "Rebuilding an Economy That Works for All of Us." Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

How to Lose an Account

1. Things had gone well with this account overall. What, though, were the critical issues in determining the customer’s satisfaction that led to the loss of the customer? Was the problem simply a lack of satisfaction with the product? Using concepts from the chapter, describe how the customer’s value equation was influenced by the experiences both before the call and during the call. Companies in all industries and of all sizes understand that customers are perhaps their most valuable assets. Improving the overall customer experience is vital for continued success and survival, and always has been.In the words of many industry professionals, losing a customer is the absolute worst thing that could happen to our company. This mantra has always stood true, but when we're fighting with competitors for every dollar, customer retention is key. In our case we have a functional type of relationship between the customer and the company. â€Å"Functional relationships are long- term market exchanges characterized by behavioral loyalty – the buyer purchases the same product out of habit or routine. â€Å" (J. Tanner, p. 354) As we can see from our case the relationship between Mobile Connection and Health Resources of Texas (HRT) is continuing for 3 years.In the functional relationship customer satisfaction is very important because without it, behavioral loyalty cannot develop. Customer satisfaction is the degree to which a buyer is satisfied with a product, service or company. Companies are very interested in ensuring that customers are happy with the performance of a product or the quality of service because it will affect future purchase decisions. In fact, quality may be the most important of the customer satisfaction objectives because the consequences of a bad product or poorly performed service are virtually impossible to overcome.In our case the problem is not exactly with the product but with the service. The service is poor because Tony L agera, the service director, made promises that he had never fulfilled. He even didn’t pay too much attention to the customer’s request but the worst thing is that Tony was dishonest. In order to have a successful long-term relationship the most important thing is to have mutual trust. Because without trust ( partners can trust and depend on each other, resolve problems as they arise and settle differences between them when it necessary) unhappy customers will not stay loyal to the company nd will go out to our competitors. According to J. Tanner â€Å"trust is a belief by one party that the other party will fulfill its obligations in a relationship† (p. 362). When we earned the trust of the other party, our relationship is strong and we do not need to constantly monitor each other’s actions because both believe that other parties will act in a way that is best for both parties. But trust only is not enough, which is why it is a combination of five factor s: dependability, competence, customer orientation, honesty and likability.As we can see, Tony did not possess the honesty factor. When Sharon Collins raise the problems about the copiers, Tony was also aware of the problem but hadn’t processed the request to replace the copiers yet and he was told to say that the company was reviewing the problem and the problem would be solved in one way or another. The problem occurs when Sharon called the service director to explain the problem, Tony hemmed and hawed and avoided answering the question, and as a result he was being dishonest.Honesty is both truthfulness and sincerity and honesty is related to dependability and competence about the product and services that the company, in which the salesperson is working, provides. Here is the problem, Tony did not admit that he didn’t know what to answer and just avoided to answer to Sharon’s question directly. Customers can very easily determine when they are being laid and as a result dissolution occurs. The worst thing is that Tony didn’t realize that he performed poorly, he thought everything went well and he did great job.That is why he has to improve his skills and knowledge but unfortunately it is too late because the company had been rejected to be part of the bid. All of the things I said so far led to the loss of the customer based on his/her dissatisfaction. As far as it goes to the Customer Value Equation, I may say that it is influenced in a negative way especially after the call, I mean it has decreased. As we already know Value = Benefits minus Cost. Customer Value is equal to benefits (it includes functional and emotional benefit) minus the cost (the price of the product, time and effort needed to for purchase and psychic costs).Our CVL decreased because of the following reasons: first, the benefit decreased because the customer is dissatisfied with the services, therefor the emotional benefits went down; second, the cost (not th e price of the product) increased because it took more time and effort for Sharon to explain what the problem was and to wait for a proper answer for her request (when and how would the problem be fixed). Hence, the customer value decreased based on the things I have explained above. 2.Was there anything the sales rep or his boss, Robert Lawrence, could have done after the sales call to save the business? Everyone must be involved in customer satisfaction. All personnel have the capability, at some level, to influence customer satisfaction. Top management must communicate exactly how personnel will be expected to contribute because it's often not intuitively obvious how this is possible. Therefore, Robert should have not sat in a silence. He as a manager of Mobile Connection should act as a role model for all of other employees at the company.He should have intervened in the relationship between Sharon and Tony and should have done something to keep Sharon as a customer. Robert migh t have met with the customer face to face and have an open communication – discuss the problems and find the proper solution that will satisfy the needs and wants of the customer. As we know in the relational partnership all the communication between customer and the company goes through the salesperson (Tony), but when this doesn’t lead to the wanted results, the manager must insist on direct communication.It is better for the both parties and it is easier to keep the good partnership for longer period of time. 3. Not only were there no other problems during the previous three-year contract, but Mobile had originally won the business away from a competitors and significantly improve HRT’s situation. Why didn’t that enter into the picture? Sometimes one little thing may terminates the long-lasting relationship. In our case buyer’s dissatisfaction was the main reason to put an end to the existing relationship.The problem was that the Sharon’s expectation was not fulfilled and the reason was the bad services which led to customer dissatisfaction. The good customer service is essential for the success of the company and to its survival in this competitive market. Bad customer service occurs when a customer is not satisfied with his services. The customer will not feel like he has been treated fairly, listened to or that his concerns have been addressed by employees of a company as in our case. When customers are dissatisfied with a company’s customer service, it can have negative effects on the business.As such, business owners must identify and resolve bad customer service but this did not happen in our case because the manager just stayed silent and did nothing to fix the service director’s bad performance. Therefore, dissolution of this partnership occurred because of bed services. This could have been avoided if the company had provided better training and motivation for its employees in order to have a better performance and escape customer’s dissatisfaction. CITATION: 1. Tanner, John F. â€Å"Building Partnering Relationship. † Selling: Building Partnerships. 8th  ed. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin,  2007. 350-365. Print.

Women Rights in Islam – Modernizing or Outdated?

Women Rights in Islam – Modernizing or Outdated? Definition According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘Women’s Rights are the rights that promote a position of social and legal equality, of women to men. According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘they are the rights, claimed for the women, equal to those of men, as regards to suffrage that right to vote, as regards to property, etc. ‘Modernizing according to the Oxford dictionary means, ‘to make modern, to adapt to modern needs or habits And according to the Webster’s dictionary it means ‘to make modern, or to give a new character or appearance – e. . , to modernize ones ideas In short, modernizing is a process of updating or opting for the betterment of the present status itself – It is not the present modern status itself. Can we modernize ourselves, to master our problems, and to realize a new way of life, for the whole human race? I am not concerned about the modern ideas, the conclusions and the categorical statements made by scientists and inexperienced armchair experts, as how a life should be lived by a woman. I am going to base my conclusions and considerations on truth, which can be proved by experience. Experience and unbiased factual holistic analysis, are the sure test, between the gold of truth, and the glitter of theory. We have to check our thinking against reality, otherwise many a times, our mental process will go astray – Indeed the great brains of one time, believed that the world was flat. Women Rights in the West If we agree with the ‘Women’s rights in Islam as portrayed by the Western media, you have no option, but to agree that the ‘Women’s rights in Islam are outdated. The Western talk of women’s liberation is actually a disguised form of exploitation of her body, deprivation of her honor and degradation of her soul. The Western society which speaks of upgrading the status of women in Islam, have actually reduced her status to concubines, to mistresses, to society butterflies, which are mere tools in the hands of sex marketers and pleasure seekers, which are disguised behind the colorful screen of art and culture. Women Rights in Islam Islam’s radical revolutionary support, gave women their due right and status n the days of ignorance 1,400 years ago. Islam’s objective was and continues to be, to modernize our thinking, our living, our seeing, our hearing, our feeling and striving for the women’s upliftment and emancipation in the society. Before I dwell further with the topic, I would like you to make note of a few points. †¢Approximately one fifth of the world’s population consists of Muslims. There are dif ferent Muslim societies – Some may be close to Islam, some may be far away from Islam. The ‘Women’s rights in Islam should judge according to the authentic sources, and not what individual Muslims do, or what the Muslim society does. †¢The authentic sources of Islam are the Qur’an, which is the word of God, and the authentic Sunnah, and the traditions of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). †¢Qur’an will never contradict itself, nor will the authentic Hadith contradict itself neither will these two authentic sources, contradict each other. †¢Sometimes the scholars differ, and many a times, these differences can be removed by analyzing the Qur’an as a whole, and not just by quoting one particular Verse. Because if one particular verse of the Qur’an is ambiguous many a times the answer is given somewhere else in the Qur’an – Some people quote one source and neglect all the other sources. †¢It is the duty of every Muslim, male or female, to seek the pleasure of God, and to act as His trustee on this world, and not to try and gain fame or satisfy one’s own ego. Islam believes in equality of men and women Equality does not mean ‘identicality In Islam, the role of a man and woman is complimentary, it is not conflicting. It is that of a partnership, it is not contradictory, so as to strive for supremacy. Where ‘Women’s rights in Islam is concerned, I have divided it into 6 broad categories. Six Categories of Women Rights in Islam The first are ‘the Spiritual rights second are ‘the Economical rights third are ‘the Social rights fourth are ‘the Educational rights fifth are ‘the Legal rights and last are ‘the Political rights. Sex is Not the Criteria to Enter Paradise: The greatest misconception that the West has about Islam, is that they think ‘Paradise in Islam, is only meant for the male – it is not meant for the female This misconception can be removed by quoting from Surah Nisa, Ch. No. , Verse No 124, which says, ‘If any of you do deeds of righteousness, whether it be male or a female and has faith, they shall surely enter Paradise and not the least injustice shall be done to them. A similar thing is repeated in Surah Nahl, Ch. 16, Verse No. 97 which says ‘If any of you perform good deeds, be it a man or a w oman and is a believer, We shall give you good life and We should reward you for all your good works. Just because in Islam, sex is not the criteria to enter Paradise, will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated? A. Spiritual Rights of Women in Islam Another misconception is that, which the Western media has, that, ‘The woman has no soul. In fact, it was in the seventeenth century, when the Council of wise men, when they gathered at Rome, and they unanimously agreed that the woman had no soul. In Islam, man and woman have the same spiritual nature. It is mentioned in Quran, Ch. 4, Verse No. 1, which says that, ‘O humankind reverence your Guardian Lord, who has created you from a single person and created like nature his mate. A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Nahl, Ch. 16, Verse No. 72, which says that, ‘We have made for you companions and mates of your own nature. In Surah Al-Shura, Ch. 42, Verse No. 11, it says, ‘He is the one who has created the heavens and the earth and has made for you pairs from among yourselves. Just because the spiritual nature of a man and woman is the same in Islam, will you call such rights in Islam, as modernizing or outdated? The Qur’an clearly mentions that, ‘God has breathed somewhat of His spirit into the human beings. If you read Surah Hijr, Ch. 15, Verse No. 29, it says, ‘When I have fashioned you in due proportion and have breathed into you something of my spirit, fall you down in obeisance. A similar thing is repeated in the Qur’an, in Surah Sajdah, Ch. 2, Verse No. 9, which says, ‘Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His Spirit†¦ Here, when God refers to as ‘Something of My Spirit, is breathed into the human beings? E- it does not mean, a sort of incarnation or a pantheistic form. It means that Allah has given to every human being something of His s piritual Nature, and the Knowledge of God Almighty, and coming closer towards Him. Here it refers to both Adam and Eve (may peace be upon them) – Both were breathed something of God's Spirit. Again we read in the Qur’an, that Allah has appointed the human being as His vicegerent, s His trustee, as is mentioned in Surah Isra, Ch. 17, Verse No. 70, which says, ‘We have honoured the children of Adam and bestowed on them special favours? E Note, here all the children of Adam have been honoured, male as well as female. There are some Religious scriptures, for example the Bible, which puts the blame on Eve for the downfall of humanity. In fact if you read the Qur’an in Surah Araf, Ch. 7, Verse No. 19 to 27, Adam and Eve (may peace be upon them both) are addressed, more than a dozen of times. Both disobeyed God, both asked for forgiveness, both repented, and both were forgiven. In the Bible, if you read Genesis, Ch. 3, only Eve is held responsible (May peace be upon her) for the downfall of humanity. And according to the doctrine of ‘Original Sin? E because of Eve (may peace be upon her) the whole of humanity is born in sin. Does Pregnancy Uplift the Women or Degrade? If you read the Bible in Genesis, Ch. 3, Verse No. 16, it says that, ‘To the woman He (God) said, â€Å"I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. ‘ That means, pregnancy and child birth has been said in the Bible to degrade the women and the labor pain is a sort of punishment. In fact if you read the Qur’an, pregnancy and child birth have uplifted the women. If you read Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No. 1, it says, ‘Respect the womb that bore you Its mentioned in Surah Luqman, Ch. 31, Verse No. 14, it says, ‘We have enjoined on the human being to be kind to the parents, in travail upon travail did their mother bore them and in years twain was their weaning. A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Ahqaf, Ch. 46, Verse No. 5, it again repeats, which says, ‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents. To be kind to the parents – in pain did their mother bore them, and in pain did she give them birth – Pregnancy in the Qur’an has uplifted the women not degraded her. Just because pregnancy has uplifted the women in Islam will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated? Criteria in the Sight of God to Judge Male and Female: The only criteria for judgment in the sight of Allah is ‘Taqwa ‘God consciousness or ‘righteousness It is mentioned in Surah Hujurat, Ch. 49, Verse No. 3 ‘O humankind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female and have divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognize each other not that you desp ise each other and the most honored in the sight of God, is the one who is the most righteous. Sex, color, caste, wealth has got no criteria in Islam – The only criteria in the sight of God is ‘righteousness neither is sex the criteria for God to reward or to punish a person. If you read Surah Imran Ch. 3 Verse No. 195 it says ‘I will never suffer the loss of any of you, be it male or female, you are companions unto each other. Equal Moral Duties for Men and Women: I had started my talk by quoting a verse from the Qur’an from Surah Al Ahzab, Ch. 33, Verse No. 35, which says, ‘For Muslim men and Muslim women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast and deny themselves, for men and women who guard their chastity, for men and women who engage much in God's praise, God has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. This verse indicates that the spiritual duties, the moral duties, for the men and women in Islam are the same – Both have to believe, both have to pray, both have to fast, both have to give in charity, etc, etc. But the women has been given certain concession in Islam. If she is undergoing her menstrual period or pregnancy, she does not have to fast – She can keep those fasts later on, when she is more healthy. During the menstrual period and during the postnatal period, she needs not pray also – she has been given the concession, and neither does she have to compensate it later on. Just because the moral duties of the men and women are equal in Islam will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated? B. Economical Rights to the Women Islam gave economical rights to the women 1,300 years before the West. An adult Muslim woman can own, she can dispose or disown any of her property without consulting any one, irrespective whether she is married or she is single. In 1870, it was the first time in England, that the West recognized the rights of the married woman, where she was allowed to own or dispose any of her property without consultation. I do agree that the women were given their economical rights 1300 years ago – these are ancient rights – but the question is ? E‘are they modernizing or outdated Enbsp; Women on Job: A women in Islam, if she wishes to work she can work – There is no text in the Qur’an or the authentic Hadith which prevents or makes it prohibited for a woman to do any work, as long as it is not unlawful, as long as it is within the preview of the Islamic Shariah, as long as she maintains her Islamic dress code. But natural, she cannot take up jobs, which exhibit her beauty and body – Like for example, modeling and film acting, and such kind of jobs. Many of the professions and jobs which are prohibited for the woman are also prohibited for the man, for example serving alcohol, working in gambling dens, doing any unethical or dishonest business. All these jobs are prohibited for both men and women. A true Islamic society requires women to take up profession such as doctors. We do require female Gynecologists, we do require female nurses, we do require female teachers. But, a woman in Islam has got no financial obligations – The financial obligation is laid on the shoulders of the man in the family – Therefore she need not work for her livelihood. But in genuine cases, where there are financial crisis in which both the ends do not meet, she has the option of working. Here too, no one can force her to work – She works out of her own, absolute free will. Financial Security for Women: A woman in Islam has been given more financial security, as compared to the man. As I told you earlier, the financial obligation is not put on her shoulder – It is put on the shoulder of the man in the family. It is the duty of the father or the brother, before she is married and the duty of the husband or the son, after she is married to look after her lodging, boarding, clothing and financial aspects of her. Compulsory Marital Gift for a Woman: When she gets married, she is on the receiving end. She receives a gift – she receives a dower or a marital gift, which is called as ‘Meher? E And it is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4 Verse No. 4 which says, ‘Give to the woman in dower, a marital gift? E For a marriage to solemnize in Islam, ‘Meher? Eis compulsory. But unfortunately in our Muslim society here, we just keep a nominal ‘Meher? Eto satisfy the Qur’an, say 151 Rupees, or some people give 786 Rupees and they spend lakhs and lakhs of Rupees on the reception, on the decoration, on the flowers, on the lunch parties, on the dinner parties. In Islam, there is no lower-limit, nor is there an upper limit for ‘Meher? E- But when a person can spend lakhs of Rupees on the reception, surely the ‘Meher ? Eshould be much more. There are various cultures which have crept into the Muslim societies, specially in the Indo-Pak area. They give a small amount of ‘Meher? Eand they expect the wife to give a fridge, to give a T. V set, they expect the wife to give an apartment, to give a car, etc. , and a large sum of dowry, depending upon the status of the husband. If he is a graduate, they may expect 1 lakh – If he is an engineer they may expect 3 lakhs – If he is a doctor they may expect 5 lakhs. Demanding dowry from the wife, directly or indirectly is prohibited in Islam. If the parents of the girl give the girl something out of their own free will, it is accepted – But demanding or forcing directly or indirectly, it is prohibited in Islam. No Financial Liabilities: If a Woman works, which she does not have to – whatever earning she gets, it is absolutely her property. She need not spend on the household – if she wants to spend it is her free will. Irrespective how rich the wife is, it is the duty of the husband to give lodging, boarding, clothing and look after the financial aspects of the wife. In case of divorce or if a wife gets widowed, she is given financial support for the period of ‘Iddah? E- and if she has children, she is also given child support. Right to Inherit: Islam gave the right to the women to inherit, centuries ago. If you read the Qur’an – in several verses, in Surah Nisa, in Surah Baqarah and in Surah Maidah, it is mentioned that a woman, irrespective she is a wife or she is a mother, or a sister, or a daughter, she has a right to inherit. And it has been fixed by God Almighty in the Qur’an. C. Social Rights of Women in Islam Broadly it can be categorized into four sub-headings. Social rights given to a daughter, to a wife, to a mother and to a sister. Social Rights to a Daughter: Islam prohibits, female infanticide. The killing of female children is forbidden in Islam. It is mentioned in Surah Taqveem, Ch. 81, Verse No. 8 and 9, ‘when the female child is buried alive and when she questions you, for what crime was she killed? E Not only female infanticide has been prohibited, all sorts of infanticides has been prohibited in Islam, whether it be a male child or a female child. It is mention in the Qur’an in Surah A’nam Ch. 6, Verse No. 151 that, ‘Kill not your children for want of sustenance for it is God that will provide sustenance for you and for children? E A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Isra, Ch. 17 Verse No. 31 which says? E‘Kill not your children for want of sustenance, for it is God that will provide sustenance to you and your children, for killing of children is a major sin? E In the pre-Islamic Arabia, whenever a female child was born mostly she was buried alive. Alhamdullillah, after the spread of Islam this evil practice has been discontinued. But unfortunately it still continues in India – According to a BBC report, in the programe assignment the title of which was ‘Let Her Die? E there was a British reporter by the name of Emily Beckenen, who came all the way from Britain to India to give us the statistics of the female infanticide. In that programe, it gives the statistics, that every day more than 3,000 fetuses are being aborted on being identified that they are females. If you multiply this figure by the number of days, that is multiplied by 365, you get a figure of more than one million female fetuses are being aborted every year in our country. And there are big hoarding and posters in states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, which says spend 500 Rupees and save 5 lakh Rupees. What does it mean? – That spend Rupees 500 on medical examination like Aminocententus or Ultra Sonography, and identify the gender of child. If it is a female you can abort it and you’ll save 5 lakh Rupees – How? The couple of lakhs you spend on upbringing her and the remaining lakhs of Rupees you spend on giving dowry to the man who will marry her (a custom in India). According to the report of the Government Hospital of Tamil Nadu ? E‘out of every 10 female children that are born, four are put to death? E- No wonder the female population in India is less than the male population. Female infanticide was continuing in India since centuries – If you analyze the statistics of the 1901 census, for every 1000 males there were 972 females. According to the 1981 statistics and census, it tells you for every 1000 males you have 934 females. And the latest statistics of 1991 tells you that for every 1000 males you have 927 females. You can analyze that the female ratio is dropping every year – And since science and medicine has advanced, it has helped in this evil practice. Just because Islam tells you that you should not kill any children whether it be male or female will you call these rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated? Qur’an not only prohibits female infanticide, it rebukes at the thought of you rejoicing at the birth of a male child and getting saddened at the birth of a female child. In Islam, a daughter should be brought up correctly. In Islam, there should be no partiality in upbringing of the daughter or the son. According to a Hadith, ‘In the presence of the Prophet Muhammad, once a man kissed his son and placed him on his lap but did not do the same to his daughter. The Prophet immediately objected and said that you are unjust – You should have even kissed your daughter and placed her on the other lap? E Social Rights to Wife: All the previous civilizations, they have considered the women to be an ‘instrument of the devil? E The Qur’an refers to the women as ‘Mohsana? E that is a ‘fortress against the devil? E And if a woman, who’s good, marries a man, she prevents him from going on the wrong path. There’s a Hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) he said that, ‘there is no monasticism in Islam? E. And again according to Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 7, Ch. No. Hadith No 4 it says that ‘the Prophet Muhammad ordained the young men, all those who have the means to marry, they should marry – For it will help them to guard their gaze and guard their modesty. The Qur’an say’s that, ‘We have put love into the hearts of the husband and wife? E If you read Sura h Rum, Ch. 30, Verse No. 21 it says that, ‘And amongst our signs We have created for you mates or companions, so that you may dwell in them in tranquillity and we have put love and mercy between your hearts? E According to Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No. 21, marriage is considered as a strong agreement, a strong contract. According to Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No. 19, it says, ‘You are prohibited to inherit women against their will? E- Means, to marry the permission of both the parties are required. It is compulsory that the man and women both should agree to marry. No one – not even the father can force their daughter to marry against her wishes. There’s a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 69, which says ‘that a lady she was forced by her father to marry against her wishes? E- And she went to the Prophet and the Prophet invalidated the marriage? E Another Hadith in Ibn-e-Humbal, Hadith No. 469, it says ‘that a daughter was forced by her father to get married – And when the daughter approached the Prophet, the Prophet said you can either continue, or if you wish you can invalidate the marriage. That means, the consent of both the male and the female is required. In Islam, a women is considered as a homemaker – She is not considered as a hou sewife, because she is not married to the house. Many people use terminology, without understanding what it means ? E‘Housewife? Emeans ‘you are the wife of the house? E So I believe, from now onwards the sisters would prefer calling themselves ‘homemakers? E than ‘house wives? E if they are occupied more in the home. In Islam, a woman, she is not married to a master that she should be treated like a slave – She is married to it is equal. And there is a Hadith which says in Ibn-Hambal – Hadith No 736, 7396. It says that, ‘the most perfect of the believers are those that are best in character and behavior, and those that are best to their family and their wives? E Islam gives equal rights to the man and woman. Qur’an clearly mentions that men and women, husband and wife have equal rights in all aspects, except leadership in the family. It is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah Ch. 2, Verse No. 228. It says that, ? E.. the women have been given rights similar against them (men) on equitable terms but the men have a degree higher†¦? E Most of the Muslims have misunderstood this verse, when it says ‘a men have a degree higher? E- As I said we should analyze the Qur’an as a whole. And its mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No. 34 which says, ‘The men are the protectors and maintainers of the women, for God has given one of them more strength than the other and they give them their means? E People say the word ‘Kawwam? E means, ‘one degree higher in superiority? E- But actually the word ‘Kawwam? Ecomes from the root word ‘Ikamah? E ‘Ikamah? Emeans for example ‘when you give the Ikamah before prayers – You stand up? E So ‘Ikamah? Emeans to standup – so the word ‘Kawwam? Emeans one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority. Even if you read the commentary of ‘Ibne-Kathir? E- He says that the word ‘Kawwam? Emeans one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority. And this responsibility, should be carried out by mutual consent of both husband and wife. It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, Verse No. 187, which says, Which means? E‘Your wives are your garments, and you are their garments? E What’s the objective of garments – It is used to conceal and to beautify. The husband and wife, should conceal each others faults, and they should beautify each other – Its a relationship of hands and gloves. The Qur’an mentions that, ‘even if you do not like your wife, you should treat her kindly? E It is mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No. 19, that, ? E.. consort with them (your wives) in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing wherein God has placed much good. Even if you dislike your wife you have to treat her kindly and with equity Just because the rights of a wife are equal to those of the husband in Islam, will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated? Social Rights to a Mother: The only thing above respect to Mother, is the worship of God – It is mentioned in: Ch. 17, Verse No. 28-29, It says that? E‘God has ordained for you, that you worship none but Him, and to be kind to your parents. And if any one or both of them reach old age do not say a word of contempt or repel them but address them with honour, and speak to them with kindness, and lower your wing of humility and pray to God – ‘My Lord! bless them as they have cherished me in childhood? E Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 1 says, ‘Respect the womb that bore you? E Surah A’nam, Ch. 6, Verse No. 151, says that, ‘You have to be kind to your parents? E Surah Luqman Ch. 31, Verse No. 14, says that, ‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents. In travail upon travail, did their mother bore them and in years twain was their weaning? E A similar thing is repeated again in Surah Ahqaf, Ch. 46, Verse No. 15, that? E‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents. In pain did their mother bore them and in pain did she give them birth? E Another Hadith related in Sahih Bukhari in Volume 8, Ch. No. 2 Hadith No. 2, as well as in Sahih-Muslim – It says that a man asked the Prophet Muhammad? E‘Who requires the maximum love and respect and my companionship in this world? The Prophet replied ? E‘your mother? Ebr> ‘Who is next? E ? E‘your mother? Enbsp; ‘Who is next E? E‘your mother? Enbsp; The man asked for the fourth time, – ‘Who is next? Enbsp; The Prophet replied ‘your father? E So 75% of the love and respect goes to the mother and 25% of the love and respect goes to the father. Three fourth of the better part of the love and respect goes to the mother ? EOne fourth of the remaining part of the love and respect goes to the father. Social Rights to a Sister: According to Surah Tawbah, Ch. 9, Verse No. 71, it says that, ‘The men and the women they are friends of each other? E Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) he said, ‘The women are the ‘Shakat? E-‘Shakat? Emeans sister? E D. Educational Rights to a Woman The first 5 verses which were revealed in the Qur’an were from Surah Alaq, or Surah Iqra, Verse No. 1 to 5 which says: ‘Read, recite or proclaim in the name of your Lord, Who has created the human beings from a congealed clot of blood (a leech like substance). Read, your Lord is most bountiful. Who has taught the use of the pen. Who has taught the human beings that which he knew-not? E The first guidance given in the Qur’an to the humankind was not to pray, was not to fast, was not to give charity – It was read – Islam pays utmost importance to education. Education is Compulsory in Islam: According to Quran: †¢God will exalt those of you who believe and those who are given knowledge to high degrees. (58:11) †¢And say, O my Lord! increase me in knowledge. (20:114) †¢And whoever is is given knowledge is given indeed abundant wealth. (2:269) According to a saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) â€Å"It is obligatory for every Muslim, male or female, to acquire knowledge (Al-Bayhaqi). Imagine, 1400 years ago, when the women were ill treated and were only used as property, Islam asked the women to be educated. Because Islam tells that every woman should be educated, – Will you call such women’s right’s in Islam as modernizing or outdated? E. Legal Rights to a Woman According to the Islamic law, men and women are equal – The Islamic Law protects the life and property of a man and woman both. If a man murders a woman he too will receive the capital punishment of ‘Kisaas? E According to the Islamic law of ‘Kisaas? E men and women – irrespective the injury be of the eye, of the nose, of the ear, of the body – both receive equal punishment. And if the guardian of the murderer, even it be a woman – If she says, that forgive the murderer and she accepts ‘Dia? E that is compensation – her opinion cannot be rejected – they have to accept it. And if there’s difference of opinion between the relatives of the person whose murdered – And some say that the murderer should be killed and some say that he should be forgiven and ‘Dia? Enbsp; should be accepted – people should prevent the relatives from killing that murderer. And irrespective whether the witness or the opinion is given by a man or woman, it has same weight. According to Surah Maida, Ch. , Verse No. 30 – It says? E‘As to the thief, whether he be man or a woman, cut off his or her hand as a punishment for his crime, an example from God? E Means, if a person robs, irrespective whether he is a man or a woman his or her hands should be chopped – The punishment is the same. According to Surah Nur, Ch . 24, Verse No. 2, it says ‘If any commits fornication, be it a man or a woman, flog them with 100 stripes? E The punishment for fornication in Islam irrespective whether it is a man or a woman, it is the same – Flogging with 100 stripes. The punishment for men and women, is the same in Islam. In Islam a woman is allowed to give witness Imagine, Islam gave right to a woman to be a witness, 14 centuries ago. Even now in as late as 1980, the Jewish Rabai, they were considering that whether the women should be given a right to act as a witness or not – And Islam gave that right 1400 years ago. Accord ¬ing to Surah Nur, Ch. 24, Verse No. 4, it is said ‘If any of you put a charge against the chastity of a woman, produce 4 witnesses, and if they falter, flog them with 80 stripes? E In Islam for a small crime, you require 2 witness – for a big crime you require 4 witnesses. Accusing a woman falsely is a big crime in Islam, therefore you require 4 witnesses. Now a days you see in the modern society, you find men abusing women and calling them all sorts of name. They call them prostitutes etc, and nothing is done. In an Islamic state, if a man calls her a ‘prostitute? Ein public or anywhere else, and if she takes that man to court – And if that man cannot produce 4 witnesses or even if he produces 4 witnesses and any one of them falter, all of them will receive 80 lashes each, and in future all their evidence will be rejected. Islam gives utmost importance to the chastity of the woman. When a lady marries, she normally adopts the name of her husband. In Islam she has the option of either keeping her husband’s name, either adopting the name of the husband, or maintaining her maiden name. And maintaining the maiden name is recommended in Islam – And we find in several Muslim societies that women, even after they get married they maintain their maiden name, because according to the Islamic law men and women are equal. Will you call such rights in Islam modernizing or outdated? F. Political Rights of a Woman According to Surah Tawba, Ch. 9, Verse No. 71, ‘The men and the women they are friends (supporters) of each other? E Supporters not only Socially – even Politically ? EPolitically, men and women should support each other. Women can even take part in law making. And according to the famous Hadith in which Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he was discussing with the Sahabas, and considering putting an upper limit on the ‘Meher ? E since young men were discouraged from getting married – a lady from the back seat she objected and said When the Qur’an says in Surah Nisa Ch. , Verse No. 20 that? E ‘you can even give a heap of treasure, a heap of gold in ‘Meher? E when Qur’an puts no limit on ‘Meher? E who is Umar to put a limit (may Allah be pleased with him). And immediately Hazrat Umar (peace be upon him) said? E‘Umar is wrong and the lady is right? E Imagine, she was a common lady – If it would have been a famous lady, the name of the lady would be mentioned in the Hadith. Since the Hadith does not mention the name of the lady, we can understand that the lady was a common lady. Means, even a common lady can object to the ‘Khalifa? E the head of the state. And in technical terms it would be called that ? E‘she is objecting to the breach of the constitution? E- because Qur’an is the constitution of the Muslims – That means a woman can even take part in law making. Women have even taken part in the battle fields There is a full chapter in the Sahih Bukhari mentioning women in the battle field – Women gave water – they give first aid to the soldiers. Because the Qur’an says ‘Man is the protector of the ‘Woman? E Under normal circumstances, the women should not go to the battle field. It is the duty of the man. Only when required, under necessity are women allowed – and they should go to the battle field if they want. Otherwise you’ll have the same position as you are having in the USA. Women in USA are Not Safe In USA women were allowed to join the battle since 1901 but they were not allowed to take active part – They only played the part of a nurse. Later on after the ‘Feminist Movement? Ehad started in 1973, the ‘Feminist movement? Edemand ¬ed ? E‘Why aren’t women allowed to take active part in the battle field E/font> So the American government allowed women to take active part in the battle field. And according to a report of the Defense Department of America, which was released on the 23rd of April, 1993 it said that, ? E0 people were sexually assaulted in a convention, out of which 83 were women and 117 officers were charged with in disciplinary action? E Imagine in one convention only, 83 women sexually assaulted. What was the crime of those 117 officers? They made the women run and they snatched at their clothes. They made them parade absolutely nude without even covering the genital parts. They were made to have sex in public. Is this what you call ‘Women’s rights? E If you think that this is what is ‘Women’s right? E then you can keep your rights to yourselves. We do not want our sisters, our daughters our mothers to be sexually assaulted. And there was a uproar in the parliament and the President, Bill Clinton – he himself had to apologize publicly and he said, ‘Necessary action will be taken? E And you know when politicians say ‘necessary action will be taken, what happens. So Islam allows women to take part in the battle field only when required. But there also they should maintain their Islamic dress and the Islamic ethics, and their modesty. USA Has One of the Highest Rates of Rape United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U. S. A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder? Ein the following years. Islamic Law Let's Women Breathe Easily Consider a scenario where the Islamic law is implemented in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic dress as mentioned in Quran. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease? If Islamic law is implemented in any part of the world, women will breathe easier. Conclusion Before I conclude, I’d like to give an example. As I said in the beginning of my talk, Islam believes in equality between men and women – Equality does not mean identicality. Suppose in a classroom 2 students, student ‘A? Eand ‘B? E during an examination both come out first – Both secure 80% marks – 80 out of 100. When you analyze the question paper, the question paper has 10 differ ¬ent questions, each carrying 10 marks. In question 1 student ‘A? Egot 9 out of 10, and student ‘B? Egot 7 out of 10 – So in question 1 student ‘A? Ewas higher than student ‘B? E In question 2, student ‘A? Egot 7 out of 10 and student ‘B? Egot 9 out of 10 – Student ‘B? Ewas higher than student ‘A? Ein question number 2. In question 3 both of them got 8 out of 10, both were equal. So when we add up the marks of all the ten questions, both student ‘A? Eand ‘B? Egot 80 out of 100. So in short, student ‘A? Eand student ‘B? Eare over all equal. In some questions ‘A? Eis higher than ‘B? E in some questions ‘B? Eis higher than ‘A? E in others both are equal. In the same fashion, taking the example that since God has given man more strength – Suppose a thief enters the house will you tell, ‘I believe in women’s rights – I believe in women’s rights? E – will you tell your mother, your sister and your daughter, to go and fight the thief E No, but natural you’ll fight him – If required they may interfere – Under normal circumstances since God has given you more physical strength, you have to go and tackle the thief. So here, in physical strength, man is one degree higher than the woman Let us take another example where it comes to respecting the parents – The children are supposed to respect the mother 3 times more than the father (as mentioned earlier). Here the women have one degree higher than the men – Over all both equal So Islam believes in equality, not identically – Men and women are over all equal in Islam. This was in brief, the highlights, of ‘the Women’s Rights in Islam? E After this what the Muslim society did is different – Many of the Muslim societies did not give the women their rights and they deviated away from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The Western society is largely responsible for this – because of the Western societies, many Muslim societies have become over protective, over precautions and have gone to one extreme and deviated away from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. On the other extreme, some of the Muslim societies turned to the Western culture, and followed their culture. I want to tell the Western society that if you analyze the women’s rights in Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah – you will realize it is modernizing and not outdated.

Spanish Harlem and Drug Economy Essay

Spanish Harlem and Drug Economy Essay Spanish Harlem and Drug Economy Essay In his book, In Search of Respect, Philippe Bourgois discussed his experiences living in El Barrio (East Harlem). An interesting new insight into the street culture found in New York was captured in this book. The amount of poverty in this portion of our country is much higher than that in most other areas. Bourgois argues that this neighborhood, which is well known for high rates of violence, does not have widespread violence occurring amongst all of it’s members. The higher crime rate, argues Bourgois, occurs for the most part within the factions of the underground economy. Some insight into this economy would explain the reasons for higher rates of violence. This book is a summary of the events that occurred during Bourgois’ stay in El Barrio. The original purpose of the book was to write a first-hand account of poverty and ethnic segregation in the heart of one of the world’s largest cities. Bourgois was swept into the area drug economy because of the abundance of information from the dealers and their families who all lived within the immediate area. The problem was so prevalent that the focus of the book was changed to deal exclusively with the underground drug economy. Most of the accounts given in the book come from a single crack house near Bourgois’ tenement. The group of crack dealers filtered through Bourgois present a compelling argument that reform within the economy needs to take place in order to reduce the amount of violence within the inner-cities of the United States. Bourgois states that there is a strong feeling of community among the people living in El Barrio. Those people not involved in the drug market rarely encounter violence themselves because the dealers have nothing to fear from them. Bourgois states that, during the day, children are safely left to play in the streets unattended by their parents. At night, when the legitimate working force of the community is eating dinner or asleep, is when the brunt of violence takes place. The amount of drug dealers or crack houses is an indirect result of the lost jobs in Harlem. Bourgois states that many of the unemployed in the inner-city are not successful in finding work because they lack the skills of working efficiently with people that they don’t already have an every day relationship with, something that factory jobs provided. Factory jobs that moved out of the inner-cities left the large minority groups without a collective workplace where everybody knew their task and how to complete it. The current availability of jobs within the inner-city is mostly within the service sector. These jobs are individualized jobs where independence is required rather than a group effort. The jobs pay little and aren’t generally respected. This tends to lead many people within this community to become involved in the drug economy. Within the drug market of East Harlem, the dealers use frequent displays of violence in order to scare off thieves, professional holdup artists, and other drug dealers. This violence is

The Impact of External Environment on Strategy

The Impact of External Environment on Strategy The External Environment and Strategy A business operates in an open system. It does not operate in a vacuum. The business has to consider all the dimensions of the external environment such as the regulatory/legal, economic and social environment. The company has to carry out a SWOT analysis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of External Environment on Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is where the company looks at all the threats and opportunities in the external environment. It also analyses its strengths and weaknesses so as to know whether it is equipped to face the threats and take advantage of the opportunities in the external environment1. A strategy refers to the action plan in the company operations. It relates to how the company will conduct its business in order to earn higher profits2. It entails the kind of products that the company will produce and the markets that it hopes to pen etrate. The external environment may adversely or favorably affect the business. The company however should ensure it is not caught unawares. It should be conversant with the trends in the legal/political, social and competitive markets. The strategic leader understands that the external environment is dynamic and highly turbulent3. He has to be flexible, having contingency plans dependent on what happens in the external environment. The Legal and Political environment This is an area that can be quite a threat to the company as it carries out its business activities. New laws can be enacted that can adversely or favorably affect the sales of the business. Research studies especially in the health sectors may reveal the dangers of certain components such as metal packaging for food. The companies may have to change its packaging and use glass packaging. Over time, the operations of a company may become unacceptable and the company may have to stop the operations. The country may als o change its laws on protectionist laws and tariffs in the country. The company may find itself faced with intense competition as the rate of globalization increases. The company will have to change its strategy and be innovative in order to survive4. It may work well for the company that had been trying to enter certain markets but there were great barriers.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Once the barriers are lifted the company finds it has great untapped market to sell their products. Companies that had ventured into certain countries through joint ventures had to leave when the governments decide to nationalize companies in different industries. The political environment also affects the strategic operations of the industry. Political unrest and instability in certain countries have caused companies to exit these markets and choose other markets to invest in. The Competitive environment One of the biggest factors in the environment that affects the business strategy is the competitive markets. Michael Porter identified five factors or aspects in the competitive markets. The first aspect is the barriers of entry into the market. The company assesses the barriers to entry such as capital requirements, technological aspect and the government tariffs and quotas. In a market where the capital requirements to start the business is high, the company may opt to form ventures in order to share costs5. A company may opt to have mergers and joint ventures to ensure easier penetration in the market6. When they are new entrants in the market, there may be shifts in market share of the company due to the new competition. The other factor to consider is the presence of substitute products in the market7. The company will have to be innovative in a markeet with many similar goods so that they can offer to the public a differentiated product. They will h ave offer something different to the customer that will make them stand out. They may offer excellent customer service, efficient services or cheaper products. Another factor to consider is the bargaining power of the buyers. If the company is a monopoly, then the business will not be threatened by customers as they cannot influence the product prices. There are markets where the customers can affect the prices of the goods. They may force the price down if they come together.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of External Environment on Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The customers may be very sensitive to cost differences and influence the market prices of the good. The fourth factor that the company should consider is the bargaining power of the suppliers. The price of the supplier goods affects the costs of production and further affects the prices at which the company will sell their product. The suppliers will have a great influence if they are few8. When they are many, an individual supplier will not have influence on the price of materials. Finally, the company considers the rivalry between the existing firms. As the company decides whether to invest in a certain market, it looks at the direct competition it would face if it entered into the market. In industries that have intense competition there are many companies of the same size that offer the same products. Such industries have high rates of market exits as the competitive environment is too tough for certain businesses. The companies in the industry will also experience low rates of growth. The company has to be aware of what the competitors are doing and offering in the market. The competitors pose a threat to the company and it has to work hard to stay ahead of the competition. The Technological Environment The technological advancements in the external environment will also affect the strategy of the organiz ation. There are great opportunities that the company can take advantage of in this aspect of the external environment9. If the company does not keep itself aware of what is happening on the technology front, they will find themselves with outdated and obsolete products. Customers will go to competitors to get the latest products. This is an area for the company to show the public that it is the best in the market.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With the use of technology, the company will be able to provide to the customers with differentiated products. Companies have become innovative to create a competitive advantage in the markets. Great innovations occurred when the computer companies linked with the telecommunication industries. Companies are merging their website and mobile communication to communicate effectively with their customers. The Social Environment There are four aspects of the social environment that will impact the company strategy. The first one is the customer’s preferences and wants. The customer’s desires are never static. A good example is the move by customers towards products that are herbal. Once companies realized that this is what the customers wanted, companies produced a product line for herbal products in order to address these specific customer needs. The impact of customer preferences has led to low fat milk products. Companies do not want to be in a position where they lose o ut on reaching a particular market segment. The customers keep on changing their wants therefore influencing the kind of products in the market. If the company wants to succeed in the market place, their strategic operations will move to fulfill the need in the customers. Companies pay a lot of money in market surveys and research on consumers to find out if their customers are pleased. Ignorance and assumption will cause the customer to seek competitors for substitute goods. In order to be the preferred brand in the market, the company management has to look out for the opportunities in the market to address the customer’s needs. The second dynamic in the social environment is the culture and societal expectations. In going to different markets especially in the global markets, the company has to put into consideration the people’s culture. In certain areas the standard product may not sell. There are companies that have experienced failure when they launched products in different countries. The products were not selling. Take a case of a toothpaste company that has the tag line â€Å"use of the toothpaste will whiten teeth†. The product sales may never pick up in certain Asian areas because in that region since having yellow teeth is considered prestigious. The third aspect in the social environment is the aspect of social responsibility. In the world today, companies have had to involve themselves in corporate responsibility initiatives. The customers and the community at large in the recent years have come to expect companies to take active steps in ensuring the least damage to the environments especially for manufacturing companies. They are expected to participate in sponsoring community projects like sports and charity walks. This is an opportunity for the company to foster great customer goodwill and reputation in the market place. The customers will tend to view the company positively. There are business ethics to be considered. T he business in pursuing its economic goals has to ensure it follows fair and honest market practices. The demography of the population will also influence the company’s strategy. In countries where the young population is being rapidly being replaced by the older generations due to reduced birth rates, companies have to employ different strategies. For companies looking to recruit the young people, they may be forced to recruit from other countries or outsource services. They may also choose to come up with a program for the recruitment of the older workforce. This may involve learning what are the dynamics involved in recruiting the older working force. The government may increase the retirement age of the working force causing the company to reconsider their recruitment plans for the next five years. For companies that sell goods and services to the young people, they will face a diminishing market for their products. They will opt to diversify their product range and produ ce goods that cater for the older generation. The Economic Environment The economic environment also affects the business strategy of the company. In times of economic depression, the company will not be able to sell the volumes of goods they had anticipated. They have to re-strategize on how they will survive in the harsh market environment. In times of economic boom, the company re-strategizes on how they will take advantage of the excess cash and deposits that the customers have. If a company provides goods that are purchased because the people have constraints in the level of income that they earn, an upward shift in the disposable income will lead to the company losing out on sales. Other factors in the economy are the monetary and fiscal policies. The government in controlling expenditure and inflation may change the fiscal and monetary policies. The rate of borrowing money may be so high causing the company to consider other sources of finances. The government’s issue of bonds may lead to the company changing its capital structure in order to take advantage of the investment opportunities. Economic conditions in dependent industries will also adversely or favorably affect the strategy of the organization. When the prices of goods in related industries rise t the costs of production rise. Conclusion In light of the above aspects of the external environment, it is evident that the external environment affects the strategy of the firm in several ways. The company has to consider all the aspects so as to take advantage of the opportunities in the external environment. The company has to identify its core strengths so as to create a competitive edge. The company should address the threats in the external environment adequately so as to survive in the market place10. The strategic leader will always be analyzing the trends in the external environment. He anticipates the future business environment and takes steps to ensure the company will be thriving in the future11. References V, Alina, B, Nicoleta, P, Denisa ,I, Carmen. The Impact Of External Environment on Organizational Development Strategy.2010. Retrieved from 8th May, 2011. http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/26303/ H. Ansoff. Implementing Strategic Management. New Jersey: Englewood Cliffs. 1985. A.Campbell, G. Michael A. Marcus Corporate strategy: The quest for parenting advantage Harvard business review ,1995. Retrieved from http://hbr.org/1995/03/corporate-strategy/ar/1 G. Cole. Strategic Management. London: Letts Educational. 1997. C. Dobbins (2010)Strategic Planning: External Environmental Scanning, 2010. agecon.purdue.edu/commercialag/resources/docs/exscan.pdf M. Guillot. Strategic Leadership, Defining the Challenge. Air and space  Journal, 2003. Retrieved from airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj03/win03/guillot.html J. D. Hunger and T.L. Wheelen, Essentials of Strategic Management, Prentice Hall, 2001 A. Miller, S.Mary L. Linda.Competitive advantages in new corp orate ventures: The impact of resource sharing and reporting level Journal of Business Venturing Volume 6, Issue 5, September 1991, Pages 335-350 Retrieved from sciencedirect.com/ M. E. Porter, Competitive Strategy, New York: Free Press, 1980 S. Skaik, Implementing strategic management in construction. Construction  management guide, 2009, Retrieved from http://cmguide.org/archives/1375 R. Whittington What is Strategy and Does it Matter? UK: Thompson Learning. 2002. Footnotes 1 R. Whittington. What is Strategy and Does it Matter? UK: Thompson Learning. 2002, p 5. 2 Cole, G. Strategic Management. London: Letts Educational. 1997, p 11. 3 M. Guillot. Strategic Leadership, Defining the Challenge. Air and space  Journal, 2003. Retrieved from airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj03/win03/guillot.html 4 J. D. Hunger and T.L. Wheelen. Essentials of Strategic Management, Prentice Hall, 2001, pg 33. 5 A. Miller, S. Mary L. Linda Competitive advantages in new corporate ventures: The impact of resource sharing and.reporting level Journal of Business Venturing Volume 6, Issue 5, September 1991, Pages 335-350 6 A.Campbell, G.Michael A. Marcus Corporate strategy: The quest for parenting advantage Harvard business review, 1995 Retrieved from http://hbr.org/1995/03/corporate-strategy/ar/1 7 M. E. Porter. Competitive Strategy, New York: Free Press, 1980, pg 3 8 C. Dobbins. Strategic Planning: External Environmental Scanning, 2010. Retrieved from agecon.purdue.edu/commercialag/resources/docs/exscan.pdf 9 V, Alina, B, Nicoleta, P, Denisa ,I, Carmen. The impact of external environment on organizational development strategy.2010.Retrieved from http://mpra.ub.uni muenchen.de/26303/ 10 S. Skaik, Implementing strategic management in construction. Construction  management guide, 2009 Retrieved from http://cmguide.org/archives/1375 11 H. Ansoff. Implementing Strategic Management. New Jersey: Englewood Cliffs. 1985. pg 87.

Animal Testing Essays (2581 words) - Animal Welfare, Bioethics

Animal testing is a popular and controversial issue that has sparked numerous debates between each side throughout the years. Animal testing is a form of experimentation that involves testing different products on all kinds of animals to see if they produce any side effects. These products could be make up, drugs, perfume, cleaning products and various other things. In certain countries, the law specifies that a new drug should essentially be tested on at least two different species of live mammal, one of which must be a large non-rodent. (Retrieved from www.buzzle.com on July 30, 2010.) The Animal act states that animals should not be used for testing of drugs if there is a realistic alternative available. However this has not stopped it from being done. Animals have been the test subject for anesthetics to prevent any pain or suffering during surgery on humans. Some of the testing performed on these animals has caused tumors and the results of the testing were found not relevant fo r any human. It has been found that a lot of the substances used in animals metabolize differently than they do in the human body. Therefore the results cannot transfer safely to patients. Lemon juice is one example of this finding; while it is not harmful to humans it is a poison to some animals. These tests are being conducted and are costing billions of dollars to perform and only a handful of them are providing any real kind of result. If you refer back to the question in our week two discussion of ?Is it ok to do an evil deed if the outcome could benefit others you can clearly see that in the case of animal testing the answer is no. They are not only wasting their time but they are wasting money on something that isn?t beneficial at all. These animals are being put through torture on the hope that ?something big? will come out of it. The acts these people are performing are inhumane and unjust. Proctor and Gamble is a large well known company and is also one of the companies that participate in animal testing. In 1989 P&G received a lot of press for their use of dogs as test subjects. Since then the company claims to only use rats, mice, rabbits and other small animals for testing. Retrieved from idausa.org on July 30, 2010. The company has not released any facts that support this but they still claim to have reduced their animal usage by up to 90 percent. The company has stated that they continue to look for alternatives to animal testing and feel they are using good scientific, ethical, and business sense with their actions. However they fought a deal in 1987 that would have done away with animal testing by their company all together. They also tried to convince people that testing on animals is humane and necessary. Retrieved from www.idausa.org on July 30, 2010. Proctor and Gamble makes so many of the products in today?s market and it is hard to compete. However there are many companies that produce the same products and do not participate in animal testing. The bottom line is this company would rather spend billions on advertising and promotion then on alternatives to testing. Looking for alternatives to testing does not benefit them the way that promoting their product does. People are not going to respond to an alternative to testing like they would to a cool new shampoo commercial. None of the tests that they perform are required by law and very few of them actually produce any results. P&G is just one of the many companies that tests it?s product on animals. Cosmetics companies are another key player in the animal testing field. Eye shadows are tested on rabbits to find out how much damage or irritation they cause. Sunscreen is tested on guinea pigs to see how much of an allergic reaction it will provide. Many of these big companies will hire outside companies to avoid any bad publicity for their company. Another unethical decision made by a money hungry company. These companies claim to be protecting the health and safety of humans with their testing. They claim these tests will prove

Psychology research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Psychology research paper - Essay Example (Bruens 1998, 25) Charlotte Perkins Gilman is also believed to have described herself and her own psychopathic state in her story The yellow wallpaper. Many eminently creative individuals have been retrospectively diagnosed with mood disorders, suggesting relationships between creativity and affective disorders. Jamison (1989) described several research paradigms used to study relationships between mood disorders and creativity. A common approach uses historical and biographical studies to provide anecdotal evidence for high rates of affective illness in eminently creative individuals, suggesting artists and writers may have a 2-3-fold more psychosis, mood disorders and suicide compared to people in less creative professions. (Simeonova et. al 2005) Basing on the research conducted by Andreasen who studied for over fifteen years the members of the writing workshop at the Iowa University, K. Jamison who studied 47 British writers and artists, A. M. Ludwig who had done a biographical survey of 1,005 important 20th-century writers, artists and other creative people, etc. M. Ingram states that '[t]he writers had a substantially higher rate of mental illness, predominantly affective, with a tendency towards bipolar attacks'. (Ingram 2001) The study of Guastello et. al showed that cyclothymia is extremely highly represented among creative people. (2004) Different studies have demonstrated "relationships between creativity and bipolar disorder (BD) in individuals, and suggested familial transmission of both creativity and BD". (Simeonova et. al 2005) Hershman and Lieb researched "the often turbulent lives and careers" of talented people, linking their psychological state and manic depression they suffered from to their creativity, and demonstrating "how manic-depressive disorder often becomes the essential difference between talent and genius and offers insights into the obstacles and problems this illness posed for highly creative people in all fields". (Hershman & Lieb 1998) As it can be clearly seen, there are two basic approaches to investigating the psychic states of writers establishing the connection between their creativity and mood disorders, one being based predominantly upon their biographies and other records of their lives, and another - on assessing living creative people. Yet, we presume that one more approach might prove effective as far as researching the link between bipolar disorder and creativity is concerned, and namely - textual analysis of the works of writers. In our research we are planning to concentrate on the works of Virginia Woolf. Modern science being anthropocentric, literary text should be studied taking into account social and psychological peculiarities of its author. Thus, we presume that the evidence for the writer's state can be collected from her texts, above all novels and essays. Manic-depressive disorder is a disease that usually reveals itself in periodic changes of manic and depressive phases separated from each other by

Bacterial Culture Techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bacterial Culture Techniques - Essay Example Bacteria have been often termed as being the primitive beings and are said to help with the nitrogen cycle. In a wider view if looked at bacteria are all those unicellular organisms that belong to the category of Schizomycetes they may have a difference in their requirements for oxygen and nutrients and have difference in morphology as well as have varying motility and be free-living. Bacteria are also known as prokaryotes in general and these are known to be grouped together as they all do not have nuclear membranes. The growing of cells in a synthetic environment is known as cell culture. That could very well refer to either types of cells be those prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Culture can also be called the in vitro growing of cells of either plants or animals in a nutrient artificial medium. In the process of cell culture the cells used are no longer in an organized tissue form rather they are separate and grown in a simulated environment. The materials that are necessary for culturing bacteria cells are (a) culture tubes that are made of glass and that have their own labels and metal covers. (b) Media room or customized growth medium for simulation. (c) Para Film is also needed and (d) Pipette tubes that are also made of glass. Other necessary equipment includes Bunsen burners, motorized pipettes and micropipettes along with sterile tips. The first step in culturing bacteria cells is to streak an Agar plate and then incubate that until there begins a growth in colonies. Some bacteria have a temperature sensitive mutation rate and there fore would require the incubators to be set at 30C however in the case of E.coli the desired temperature for incubation is 37C. In order to be certain that the beginning of this culture has been from a single population of cells streaking of the plate is necessary. It is not necessary that you use an Agar plate as they are only

Moral Dilemmas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Moral Dilemmas - Essay Example In stating about this problem, Russ Shafer-Landau argues that various moral principles tend to be effectively independently to how an individual perceives them. Kant’s moral theory is slightly different especially how people perceive it. In defining moral dilemmas, the Kant moral theory is seen as deontological whereby a person’s actions are morally upright in terms of virtues of individual’s motives. In this case, they must derive from a certain duty than inclination (Timmons 27). The determination to act according to his/her duty mostly overcomes the self-interest evidence or the desire to do otherwise. Moreover, Kant argues the aspect of moral values of an individual’s actions with the fact that they only reside in maxim or formal principle. Alternatively, it explains about the general commitment of a person to engage in a certain act because it is his/her duty to do so (Timmons 35). This therefore means that, duty remains the necessity for a person to act out of vengeance for the law. Rigorous application of similar methods towards this reasoning would result in an equal success while dealing with moral philo sophy problems. This therefore means that the eventual principle of morality must always be a moral law that happens abstractly and has the ability of guiding an individual towards a right action. In as much as the Kant’s theory seems effective and applies to real life events, this theory of ethics has its own flaws and ineffectiveness when used literary (Timmons 32). Generally, the theory fails to tell people what they should do especially when their moral responsibilities are conflicting. Kant’s theory of ethics is entirely general especially on some of the common happening in terms of moral ethics and dilemmas. However, the theory is not detailed and effective enough to guide people on how to

Dell vs Hewlett Packard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Dell vs Hewlett Packard - Essay Example Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Inc. who owns 10% of the common stocks, customers, suppliers and the stockholders are the major stakeholders. The global recession brought tough conditions on loans in 2008 as banks became more cautious about lending. Investors are also hard to find as the people do not have liquid cash in hand. Therefore it is hard to find investments for expansion in such conditions. The dollar has sunk in comparison to Euro to a new low and oil prices have risen to above 100$ per barrel. A depreciated exchange rate means that the imports cost higher to the US. Consumers are shopping conservatively and are trying to avoid shopping because of shortfalls in income and higher unemployment. The unemployment rate has plunged to 10% which means that every 1 in 10 American in unemployed. The consumer expenditure was down by 4.3% in 2008 since the last year. Youngsters, who are the main target market of Dell, are facing difficulties in finding jobs. This is because the companies are hiring more experienced and trained personnel instead of youngsters. This means that the target market of Dell has reduced income. The instability of government policies could affect the business environment in the US. Policy changes such as corporate tax rate and interest rates changes by the Fed could affect all the firms present in the US. The demand of data storage was on high as the use of computers increased. The demand was huge from the industrial side as there was a trend of recording and storing data in data drives. The consumers wanted high-speed data storages which ensure data protection and recovery features. Almost all the nations were going through a financial crisis in 2008 which forces the businesses in the global arena to cut down their costs in order to survive. This was forcing the companies to shift to cheaper options in the market such