Public Bank Group : strategy and analysis

Executive SummaryThe rubric of this assignment is Public Bank Group and it consists of a sum of three subdivisions in this assignment. The first subdivision explains about the scheme and mission statement that practiced by Public Bank, and the linkage between scheme and mission statement of Public Bank. The 2nd subdivision of the assignment explains about the organisation construction design of Public Bank and what is the importance and forte of the construction that applied by Public Bank. The last subdivision of the assignment contains of the competition arise between Public Bank, Maybank, and CIMB Bank. Besides that, I would take SWOT analysis to analyse the competition arise between its rivals in order to cognize whose is better. Assorted methods have been used to research for findings such as interview, e-brary, cyberspace, and books.Table of ContentssExecutive Summary Table of Contentss 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Mission Statement and Strategy of Public Bank 2.1 Mission of Public Bank Group 2.2 The linkage between Mission of and Strategy of the Public Bank Group 2.3 Drumhead 3.0 Organization Structure Design of the Public Bank Group 3.1 Interviewee Statement 3.2 Divisional Structure of Public Bank Jalan Yang Kalsom 3.3 Drumhead 4.0 Competition Arise between Public Bank, Maybank and CIMB Bank 4.1 Identify the Public Bank Group’s Rivals 4.2 SWOT Analysis 4.3 Drumhead 5.0 Conclusion and Recommendations 6.0 Mentions 7.0 Appendix1.0 IntroductionStrategic direction is a set of managerial determinations and actions that determine the long tally public presentation of a corporation as stated in Strategic direction and concern policy ( Wheelen and Hunger, 2012 ) . The assignment rubric is about Public Bank Group in Malaysia. Public Bank Group is the 3rd largest banking group in Malaysia by plus size with entire assets of RM305.73 billion as at the terminal of 2013, and is ranked 2nd among all the public listed companies on Bursa Malaysia Securities in footings of market capitalisation. There are entire of three subdivisions in the assignment. Section one will be covering the scheme and mission statement that practiced by Public Bank Group. Furthermore, subdivision two will be covering the organisation construction design that applied by Public Bank Group while subdivision three will be covering the competition arise between Public Bank Group and its rivals which is CIMB Bank and Maybank.2.0 Mission Statement and Strategy of Public BankBased on the Idaho National Laboratory ( Inlportal.inl.gov, 2014 ) , Mission Definition consists of those actions taken to specify the mission for a system and the environment that affects its executing. The mission statement must specify the bing status that justifies the plan or undertaking demand, the coveted terminal province or merchandise ( s ) , and the public presentation outlook.2.1 Mission of Public Bank GroupHarmonizing to the one-year study of Public Bank Group ( Public Bank Berhad, 2013 ) , the corporate mission of Public Bank Group is to prolong the place of being the most efficient, profitable and respected premier fiscal establishment in Malaysia. To accomplish the corporate mission, Public Bank Group will hold a corporate scheme that sets out what its long-run aims are in footings of what concern it plans to be involved and concern scheme that sets out how the organisation plans to win in a given concern country.2.2 The linkage between Mission of and Strategy of the Public Bank GroupAs we mentioned earlier, Public Bank Group adopts corporate scheme that focused on consistent growing scheme, which is to prosecute organic growing in the retail banking concern concentrating on the broad-based retail consumers and small-and moderate-sized endeavors ( â€Å" SMEs † ) , and strives to farther increase its leading in the retail banking market as stated in official web site of Public Bank Group ( Pbebank.com, n.d. ) . A recent article ( Nickols, 2011 ) , stated that a scheme or general program of action might be formulated for wide, long-run, corporate ends and aims, for more specific concern unit ends and aims, or for a functional unit, even one every bit little as a cost centre. There are different degrees of scheme within an organisation which is corporate scheme, concern scheme and functional scheme. Corporate scheme ( Yunizal Arief, 2014 ) , is a scheme of corporate that requires the company’s top directors and determination addressed to the satisfaction of the stakeholders of the company. The directors at the corporate degree by and large make up one's mind what sort of concern to be conducted to bring forth long-run net income maximization and better the company’s gross stockholders. Furthermore, corporate scheme can take for growing, stableness or reclamation. The Unlocking the concern environment ( Brinkman, 2010 ) , published that a growing scheme aims to increase the sum of concern undertaken by spread outing the scope of merchandises or services, and the markets it serves. As defined in Strategic direction ( Dess and Miller, 1993 ) , concern scheme is all about how houses compete, and in concern, competition is all about value: making it and capturing it. From the information above, we can reason that the schemes that practiced by Public Bank Group are able to accomplish their mission statement because the schemes and mission statement are interrelated. Therefore, to accomplish the place of being the most profitable, Public Bank Group adopts corporate scheme that focused on consistent growing scheme. Harmonizing to Ivey Business Journal ( Liabotis, 2007 ) , far excessively many companies fail to accomplish their growing marks in gross and profitableness. However, the chance of accomplishing profitable growing is heightened whenever an organisation has a clear growing scheme and strong executing substructure. One without the other impairs the chance of success. Furthermore, to prolong the place of being the most efficient, Public Bank Group adopts concern scheme that focused on the Group ‘s retail banking concern continues to aim retail consumer and commercial loans and funding, sedimentations and fee-based concerns. Besides that, to drive concern growing and increase its market portion in retail banking, the Public Bank Group leverages on its well-established client service substructure, procedures and patterns to present prompt and consistent service to run into the demands of its clients. As stated by The Boston Group ( Leichtfuss et al. , 2010 ) , Banks should take stairss to ingrain cost efficiency by industrialising procedures, set uping cardinal or regional processing centres, and developing IT and operations platforms. Therefore, all Bankss will be forced to better their procedure efficiency in the coming old ages, non merely to cut down costs but besides better client service.2.3 DrumheadBy analysing the Public Bank Groupâ₠¬â„¢s scheme through the one-year study 2013, we could reason that Public Bank Group able to accomplish the mission statement as mentioned above.3.0 Organization Structure Design of the Public Bank GroupBased on Unlocking the concern environment ( Brinkman, 2010 ) , the manner an organisation organizes itself in footings of who does desire, and who reports to whom, is fundamentally what organisational construction is concerned with. The construction of an organisation needs to guarantee that it is able to accomplish its mission and aims in an effectual and efficient mode. In other words, an organisation needs to be structured in an appropriate manner to acquire things done, while besides enabling a grade of flexibleness that will enable it to run into what can frequently be fast paced alterations in the external concern environment. Sometimes, direction may make up one's mind that the construction of an organisation needs to alter, and this is referred to as organisational design.3.1 Interviewee StatementName: Sarah Choong Suet Yee Position: Senior Financial ExecutiveWhat is the organisational construction of this subdivision?One subdivision directorOne Business Managers ( loan and mortgage )Assistant subdivision director ( operation )Departments:SOO- Senior Operation OfficerOO- Operation OfficerOIC- Officer in ChargeWhat are the classs of section in this subdivision?Investing – insurance & A ; unit trustCredit Card – recognition card & A ; safety boxCustomer Service – Customer service representatives ( CSR )Operationss ( Teller, under control of OO )3.2 Divisional Structure of Public Bank Jalan Yang KalsomAs stated by Strategic Management ( Miller and Dess, 1998 ) , a divisional or strategic concern unit ( SBU ) is a construction covers a set of comparatively independent entities governed by a cardinal disposal. Harmonizing to Miss Choong the Senior Financial Executive of Public Bank Group in Ipoh Jalan Yang Kalsom Branch, the organisation construction that applied by Public Bank is one subdivision director, one concern troughs ( loan and mortgage ) and adjunct subdivision director ( operation ) . Hence, I assumed that the organisation construction that applied by Public Bank Group is divisional construction. Figure 1: Organization construction of Public Bank Branch at Jalan Yang Kalsom ( Own Adaptation, 2014 ) As the figure above, subdivision director is ranked highest place in the Public Bank Branch Jalan Yang Kalsom. The subdivision director of Public Bank Jalan Yang Kalsom will make up one's mind the concluding determination of all the planning and waies. After that, the concern trough and the helper subdivision director will be in-charge on the loan and mortgage unit. Furthermore, the helper subdivision director will be in-charge on the client service unit, investing unit, operation unit and recognition card unit. For illustration, a client is confronting history jobs so the client will be served by the officer at client service unit. The divisional construction is of import to the Public Bank Group because it helps organisation to avoid many jobs typically found in organisations structured by map. Furthermore, directors can more dressed ore on their ain peculiar merchandise lines and markets, and they have entree to resources and staff functional specializers. Delegating determination devising to take down managerial degrees moves determinations closer to merchandises and markets, which facilitates faster determinations from those who are more specialised and knowing in the merchandise country. This allows a high grade of accent to be placed on merchandises and markets. Besides that, it besides improves a firm’s ability to accommodate during rapid environmental alteration.3.3 DrumheadIn short, the organisation construction design is really of import to all the organisations particularly Public Bank Group. The divisional construction helps Public Bank Group to avoid many jobs typically found in organisation structured by map.4.0 Competition Arise between Public Bank, Maybank and CIMB BankWhen there is competition arise between Public Bank, Maybank, and CIMB Bank, Public Bank needs to happen out about its rivals. The first measure is rival analysis which is the procedure of placing cardinal rivals ; measuring their aims, schemes, strengths, and failings. In this manner, the company would be able to happen countries of possible competitory advantages and disadvantages as stated in the Principles of Marketing ( Kotler and Armstrong, 1991 ) .4.2 SWOT AnalysisIn this subdivision, I will utilize SWOT analysis to analyse the competition arise between Public Bank, Maybank, and CIMB Bank. Based on The Principles of Marketing ( Kotler and Armstrong, 1991 ) , SWOT analysis is an overall rating of the company’s strengths, failings, chances, and menaces. Strengths include internal capablenesss, resources, and positive stuational factors that may assist the company to function its clients an d accomplish its aims. Failings include internal restrictions and negative stituational factors that may interfere with the company’s public presentation. Opportunities are favourable factors or tendencies in the external environment that the company may be able to work to its advantage. And menaces are unfavourable external factors or tendencies that may show challenges to public presentation.4.3 DrumheadAs the illustrated on Table 1, I’m assume that the scheme used by Public Bank is better than Maybank and CIMB Bank because Public Bank has the nucleus competences with the higher one-year returns increasing yearly and unbroken net income path record of their group. Harmonizing to the Pubic Bank Investor Presentation Citi ASEAN Investor Conference 2014 Singapore ( Public Bank Berhad, 2014 ) , Public Bank has 47 old ages of unbroken profitableness and healthy net income growing in the past 5 old ages.5.0 Conclusion and RecommendationsStrategic direction is a set of mana gerial determinations and actions that determine the long-term public presentation of a corporation as stated in Strategic direction and concern policy ( Wheelen and Hunger, 2012 ) . In subdivision 1, Public Bank Group has adopts the growing scheme and concern scheme in order to accomplish the corporate mission â€Å"To sustain the place of being the most efficient, profitable and respected premier fiscal establishment in Malaysia† . In subdivision 2, the divisional construction has brings a batch of benefit to all the organisation particularly Public Bank Group where it helps the organisation to avoid many jobs typically found in organisations structured by map. In subdivision 3, Public Bank is much better after compared with its rivals which is Maybank and CIMB Bank through the SWOT analysis. Last but non least, the recommendation for the Public Bank Group is to maintain set more attempts on their development in order to accomplish and prolong the place of being the most efficient, profitable and respected premier fiscal establishment in Malaysia.

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Gap Marketing Strategy Essay Example for Free

Gap Marketing Strategy Essay The Gap is a clothing company that specializes in contemporary, urban clothing with a mid-range pricing scheme. They have stores located all over the globe in countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. Gap was founded in 1969 by a real estate developer who was in search of a well-organized and well-stocked jeans store. The store was named after the generation gap and originally sold Levis jeans. In 1974, they developed their own private clothing label and by 1991 began selling only their private label brand. Gap introduced its website in 1997. The following year, in 1998, Gaps stock increased 138.4%. In 2000, though, their stock fell 44 %. (http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/funds/gutcheck/1335261.html) Clothing is a basic and necessary need, but the companies in Gaps market segment produce items that satisfy more than this basic need. Their customers are looking for style and quality at a reasonable price. In this specific market segment, major brand forces dominate the retail clothing industry: brand recognition is incredibly important. Some major players in this industry who are specific competitors of the Gap are J Crew, Abercrombie Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Structure, and The Limited. These companies target the same markets as the Gap and produce similar styles. The strengths and weaknesses of each player in this industry are largely indistinguishable. J Crew stands out with a strong catalog channel. However, their bricks and mortar presence is weak, which is a problem when bricks and mortar retail reels in nine out of ten dollars spent by the average consumer as noted at www.retailindustry.com. But within their young urban microcosm, the Gap stands out with an innovative and changing product line: Abercrombie Fitch, American Eagle, Structure, and the Limited have very specific styles that remain con stant year after year. The competitive forces, as explained in Porters framework, apply to the retail industry in all the five areas of rivalry, supplier power, substitutes, buyer power, and entry barriers. In regards to rivalry, there exist no exit barriers, causing more compeitition. Product differences are few which leads to low switching costs for consumers who can easily shop around. With these low switching costs, substitutes play powerful roles. If consumers can find similar products elsewhere from other competitors, price  becomes a strong determinant in the final purchase. Supplier power is high. For example, suppliers can exert strong influences on the producing industry by selling raw materials for clothing manufacturing at a high price. While suppliers yield substantial power, the buyers role is weak because of fragmentation. Finally, barriers to entry include: economies of scale, high capital requirements for stores, raw materials, and production requirements, and strong brand equity due to consumer brand consciousness and loyalty. Value is created and delivered in the fashion industry through an intricate structure of channel distribution. A visual description of a typical fashion companys value web is attached as Exhibit 1. Although the value web as an entity is influential to customers, several facets tend to have the most impact. Designers are obviously one of the core aspects that affect a customer, as people want clothing that appeals to their particular tastes. This leads to the display and availability of clothing in the actual fashion stores such as Gap. Displays need to incorporate attraction to the products as well as show off the trends of the moment. Also, manufacturers greatly influence the final quality and price of a product, which are often a core concerns for consumers. In todays economy, efficient and quality manufacturing are essential to the success of a fashion retailer. Another key node on the value web is the logistics supplier. In the Internet e-tailer environment, having a strong relationship with efficient and trustworthy suppliers is extremely important for success. Fashion retailers should strengthen these key players in the value web in addition to using their core value concepts in order to utilize the Internet to its full potential. For Gap, there are two value concepts that are especially vulnerable in an Internet economy. First, the fashion industry has low switching costs and decreased loyalty online. Whereas many Gap customers were loyal simply because they had few other choices, now those same customers have more opportunities to shop around. Gap stores are located all around the country in almost any mall. A typical consumer may only have access to the stores that are located nearby. Now the Internet has made every e-tailor available to anyone, anywhere, from low-end to high-end. Second, the Internet has changed service, credence and experience. One of the advantages of going to a Gap store is the level of service that you receive and the experience that you get. This level of service can never be replicated online. In addition, another problem with online fashion retailers is that the customer cannot try on the articles of clothing. While this may be a problem with new customers, it is not an issue with previously established customers. Otherwise, the Gaps value concepts can only be enhanced online. Clothes can easily be delivered directly to the consumer from Internet sales. Also, transaction costs can be reduced: for every sale online, Gap does not have to maintain bricks-and-mortar stores, hire personnel, or bear shipping costs. While these costs may be minimal right now, as online sales grow, this may have a serious impact on Gaps bottom line. An additional benefit of Gaps online store is ease of searching for particular products. The apparel industry is constantly changing. Therefore, marketing strategies and diverse customer segments are also transforming. Key industry trends for the year 2001 include: moves to multi-channel retailing, importance of profitability on the Internet, and a continued interest in using technology to improve bottom line, as explained at www.retailindustry.about.com. Customers have particular needs and wants that are shaping the demand for higher quality at lower prices. And with the new Internet environment, consumers want easy access to price comparisons and demand the latest trends. Since the online world is fast-paced, consumers believe that trends should turn over quickly. Now that more people are shopping online, they demand and expect convenience as well as quick and timely delivery of apparel goods. Consumers are looking to the Internet for information on apparel more than they previously did. They search for price comparisons and shop around the web to look for sales. Many consumers search for clothes online and then go to try on the clothing offline. In some other cases, if consumers cannot find the desired article of clothing, they venture onto the Web. Finally, in the new Internet apparel environment, awareness of brands is enhanced for established companies. On the contrary, newer apparel  companies may struggle gaining awareness in a medium that constantly floods consumers with new products. The absence of brand equity creates difficulties for new companies in this industry. Few brands carry the clout Gap does to the online world. As evidenced at www.business.com, Gap, with only two other retailers, was considering one of the top 20 online Internet merchants. Intermediaries (i.e. manufacturers and retailers) in the apparel industry are transforming to become more customer conscious. By incorporating technology, companies are able to make the brand more accessible to the customer while creating a stronger image of the brand. This technology enables domestic and foreign manufacturers and inspectors to communicate more effectively, efficiently, and frequently. Previously, the telephone and fax machine were the primary means of communication among intermediaries, but now information can be exchanged in a cost-efficient and instantaneous manner through the Internet. As noted in the March 30, 2001 Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation review, the overall apparel industry trend appears that many teen and young adult retailers are heading towards the Gaps core territory . . . the casual preppy theme. For example many retailers have offered up colorful polo shirts since February, which stands to hurt Gap sales because they have only just begun offering the same polos. What has recently been happening is that Gap has come into fashion trends late and finds itself at the tail end of a hit. For years Gap has been the store to go to keep up to date on trends, but recent events point to its slipping from being the number one trend leader. Competitors such as Abercrombie and Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters have been able to tap into the fashion trends early and reaped a large share of the sales. A March 19, 2001 Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation analysis explains this phenomenon further: market intelligence is better than ever . . . Retailers attend fashion shows . . . interpreting what they see for their customers. Therefore, the newest strategy in the competition game is for a company to find the hottest trend the earliest and quickest, and market the trend heavily before any other store or brand can do the same. New and existing companies in the apparel industry are forced to adapt their marketing mix in response to the new Internet environment. Products must be developed faster in order to cater to the fast-paced demands of todays Internet consumer. Many big players in the fashion industry are recognizing the need to turn over the trends faster in todays technology-driven economy. This is because consumers demand new fashion trends faster than they did in the offline world. Also, the Internet allows consumers to price shop more than they would in the offline world. Therefore, fashion companies must realize that price competition is more prevalent online. Furthermore, channels must be structured online differently than they would be in the offline environment. In the new technological world, shipping and manufacturing have become bigger players in the value web than previously. Retailers must develop strong relationships with key shipping suppliers and increase efficiency in manufacturing facilities. Finally, fashion e-tailers must utilize the new Internet environment to improve customer service and transactions. It is the perfect medium to have efficient yet personalized customer service in addition to lower transactions costs. The new Internet setting causes companies in the fashion industry to rethink partnering and strategic alliances. In todays e-economy, companies can gain traffic and recognition through a few key alliances. Many companies, especially new players, can leverage partnerships to gain brand recognition and necessary traffic to their new site. Utilizing the key relationships with channel members and partnerships will help established fashion companies adapt to the new Internet economy. But, a benefit to the companies is the fact that basic core competencies still remain competitive advantages even in the new environment. Gaps core competencies center around their brand equity and highly developed processes. Its name alone can successfully launch new, trendy products. However, Gap also carries a standard, classic line of clothes that customers have come to expect during any season and within any Gap store. This is how Gap segments its customers: those who want a consistent look year-to-year, and those customers who want the latest trends. Gaps brand recognition  value is high with over 2,079 stores nationwide, and additional 530 stores globally. It is a standard brand name for the midrange fashion conscious consumer. Because Gap is a well-established bricks and mortars company, their processes are efficient and dynamic. For example, Gap stores are on detailed schedules for store displays, inventories, and new product launches. Every store receives an identical binder that explicitly details the display and product placements. Front window displays are changed weekly. They restock shelves with new products every six weeks, keeping the retail ahead of imitators in the fast-paced fashion industry. All the core competencies are positive for the company, but there are threats that can hurt the company. For instance, negative word of mouth can cause severe consequences to Gaps brand name. Since Gap outsources most of their manufacturing, theyre open up to attack because of their manufacturers actions. For example, a situation occurred to Nike concerning their use of sweatshops that caused a great deal of damage to the Nike name. Gap has taken steps to counteract the causes of bad publicity by requiring manufacturers to sign codes of conduct and strictly enforcing those rules. Their processes for inventory, however, are not as vulnerable to depreciation. Gap has invested a lot of thought and research in their resources and there is not too much that can be substantially threatened. Gaps inventory processes, in fact, are much stronger compared to others in the industry. Not only do they maintain a consistent style year to year, they also have new lines that come out very often. Those who wish to enter the retail clothing industry will find moderately high barriers to entry. It is extremely difficult to set up brand equity and image. Launching your own store and clothing line, like Gap, takes incredible capital and time investment. In the online world, it is much easier for new or small retailers to showcase their products; however, it is difficult to get online attention and recognition. The nature of online retailing sets up a playing field where smaller, lesser known retailers may  have set up functioning websites and folded without the public ever knowing. Even big name online retailers, like Pets.com, did not survive despite their brand recognition. As we have mentioned earlier, Gaps inventory processes are very defined and strong. These processes also give them an edge on competitors trying to copy Gaps styles or trends. Gap changes out their inventory every six weeks. Even if competitors are able to catch on to Gaps short turnaround, there is no way to avoid being behind the times. Gap, through their extensive market research and market persuasiveness, is so in tuned to their customer segments that they effectively set the trend. Gap has invested a lot of money to become one of the biggest trend-setting brands. Although the Gap has a successful position on the Web, there are definite strategies that can be implemented to improve their online business. Our proposed marketing eBusiness plan involves Customer Relationship Management, growth strategies, incentive offers online, improved web design, and increased market research. At this point in time, Gap is a product-focused company. Gap needs to capitalize on the available technology of the Internet and transform its marketing efforts to focus on the consumer. Therefore, the company should shift from a Product Management system to a Customer Relationship Management system. Customer Relationship Management allows a company to cater to the unique and evolving needs of the specific customer segments. Currently, the Gap does not have extensive customization available on its website. Gap needs to create more ways of catering to each individual consumer. A pyramid approach would be optimal for the Gap. Much like the Dell triangle, the Gap would segment consumers and provide the most customization for the top small percent of the pyramid. These are the repeat customers that have highest volume of purchases, which would be the best group to provide customization. We suggest that the Gap use the technology of the Internet to store information on each consumer and generate a unique site for the consumer every time that they log on. The site will greet the consumer by name upon log in and target the consumer for their preferences. For example, the Gap would keep a database of my buying patterns, such as the fact that I always look for sale items, and also note the size that I  normally buy. The Gap would be able to establish more relationships with consumers increase their loyal consumer base by providing customization that makes the site unique to the individuals. As retailers know, growth does not come from loyal customers. The Gap needs to focus some of their marketing efforts on acquiring new customers. They could do so by developing alliances with portal-type sites such as eGreetings.com. There, consumers can be asked to buy a gift certificate to Gap.com (not redeemable in offline stores) to be sent along with the greeting card. Online alliances are preferable to online banner ads and random advertising because a relationship with established online services and etailers is the best way to get a Gap ad seen. The click-through rates for banner ads are not convincing enough for us to suggest that the Gap increase online banner advertising. In addition to advertising online with trading partners, the Gap should advertise offline for the online store. Every media produced offline, including displays in the offline store, should have the web site listed, thus pointing consumers to the online store. The Gap may also consider putting a terminal in the offline stores that has a small computer with Gap.com constantly running. Sales associates can point consumers in the offline store to the terminal if they need a different size, or if they want to ship an item to a friend. Offering incentives online can also increase the customer base, persuading loyal and new consumers to utilize the Internet site. For example, every fifth purchase online could merit a certain percentage off the final purchase price or even free shipping. Also, the Gap should consider offering some products and product lines online only (for example, Gap currently offers their maternity line only online). This can entice consumers into shopping online in addition to their offline stores. Overall, anything that causes consumers to venture into the online world to check out the new items on Gap.com would be good for the growth of the online customer base. Another marketing tactic is to alter the design of the website to meet the needs of the constantly evolving Gap consumer. Currently, Gap.com allows consumers to see the various styles of clothing with color choices shown to  the side, but consumers cannot change the color of the item in the picture (for example, consumers could click on different colors and patterns for the same shirt and the shirt changes accordingly). See exhibit 2. Most buyers want to see what a certain article of clothing would look like in different colors, which is an option that Gap.coms competitor, JCrew.com, offers. Gap.com could also allow consumers to put clothes together on a model and view 360 degrees of the outfit, thus persuading people to make virtual outfits. Other design changes to Gap.com could be an addition of a search engine. This gives consumers a quick way to find specific articles of clothing. Another added design feature for the quick shopper could be a page with price listings by clothing category, or the ability to see the price on the first page instead of making consumers go through multiple pages to find the price. A final marketing strategy in our proposed plan is for Gap.com to increase market research to understand consumer-buying habits. Are they price conscious? What do they value in design of the website? The Gap would benefit immensely if they were able to understand their consumers behavior in depth. Therefore, information could enhance the quality of customization, which will benefit the company. If the Gap makes longer strides to understand their customer base, they can capitalize on areas where they are strong and change areas of weakness. Our proposed marketing plan encompasses many benefits with a few costs. The plan satisfies consumers because increased customization will mean more attention to specific customer needs. The proposed Customer Relationship Management tactic will create more of a one-to-one marketing structure that will in turn benefit the consumer. One cost to this change in management style is the capital needed to set up customization online and also the changes that must be made in the structure of management within the company. Employees will have to get used to a restructuring, which can cause a short period of dissatisfaction or frustration. But, the company as a whole will benefit from the restructuring because it will increase retention rates. The online incentives and improved web page design will benefit the consumers directly by giving them good deals and creating an easy-to-use web site. The  online incentives will benefit the company by increasing the loyal customer base and the improved web design may increase sales and retention. The trading partners with Gap will benefit by increasing traffic to their sites, and association with the Gap brand is positive for alliances. One of the most apparent and serious threats to Gap.com is the threat of cannibalization. If Gap.com becomes the standard, then their offline stores will be severely hurt. This is why Gap is facing a great deal of resistance within the organization. Store managers whose salaries and promotions depend on store sales will not want to promote or support Gap.com because that will steal from their revenues. Another issue is the technological needs to satisfy the in-depth customization and database requirements that are essential to our e-business plan. In order to take on this new strategy, Gap will have to make a large initial investment to improve their technological capabilities to accommodate the customization. Internet speed must also be taken into consideration. Only eight million out of 100 million Internet households have broadband. This can lead to customer frustrations, as the sites become more picture intensive. This, however, is actually a benefit for Gap.com as their primary customer base is concentrated in these households that do have broadband service

Study Human Rights And Biharis In Bangladesh Politics Essay

Study Human Rights And Biharis In Bangladesh Politics Essay Refugee problem is an uprising problem in the concurrent world. The Refugee can be made by many ways. The truth is that nobody wants to be a Refugee. But the circumstance made them to become Refugee. These circumstances are sometime created by human beings and sometime it happens by the act of NATURE. The Human Rights of Refugee people are violating in many ways. Sometimes it is seems that Refugee people are not more then a group of people without foods, shelter, clothing and many other necessary things. This make their life same as living in hell. Bangladesh achieved independence from Pakistan in 1971. After liberation war, a considerable number of non-Bengali citizens in Bangladesh, identified as the Biharis who opposed the liberation of Bangladesh, sought to go to Pakistan but could not do so due to complication in the repatriation process. These people are called Stranded Pakistanis or the Bihari Community.  [1]  According to one report, the community is comprised of over 300,000 yet it is not recognized with a clearly defined identity.  [2]  They have been living in 66 squalid camps with poor facilities scattered in several areas of Bangladesh for more than three decades.  [3]  Although they are residing in refugee camps, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) does not recognize them as refugees. Therefore, they are deprived of the benefits and opportunities extended to the refugees by the UNHCR. Therefore, the stranded Biharis in Bangladesh face multiple problems. The main object of this paper is to observe the status of the Bihari people in Bangladesh, highlight the socio-political impact of their statelessness. The central view of the paper is that the Bihari community in Bangladesh is an artificial minority and they are deprived of Human Rights because they are considered as they are not part of Bangladesh, but yet living there as unwanted refugees. The unresolved status of the Biharis is a result of intentional procrastination and political indecision on the part of both Bangladesh and Pakistan. The analysis of the Biharis Human Rights problem is divided into two following sections. The first section discusses the background to the Biharis problem and their political status in Bangladesh. The second section discusses the socio-political conditions of the Bihari community in Bangladesh. Ill focus three of Rights according to Martha C.Nussbaums CENTRAL HUMAN FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES, these three rights are 1. Rights of Bodily health,2. Affili ation, 3.Play. And here the present Human Rights situation of Biharis will be cleared in our eyes. 2.Meaning of the term Artificial Minority: The term artificial minority requires an explanation. The term minority is defined in a number of ways. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, a minority is an ethnic, religious, or other group having a distinctive presence with little power or representation relative to other groups within a society. Here is another meaning of Minority  [4]   1) a. The smaller in number of two groups forming a whole. b. A group or party having fewer than a controlling number of votes. 2) a. A racial, religious, political, national, or other group thought to be different from the larger group of which it is part. b. A group having little power or representation relative to other groups within a society. c. A member of one of these groups. 3) Law. The state or period of being under legal age:  still in her minority. In municipal and international legal systems, minority denotes a particular meaning. The term minority was first legally defined by the Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1977 in Article 27 of International Covenant of Civil Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966. The article notes: Minorities are considered to be a group numerically inferior to the rest of the population of the state, in a non-dominant position, whose members being citizens of a state, possess ethnic beliefs or linguistic characteristics differing from the rest of the population and show if only implicitly, a sense of solidarity directly towards preserving their culture, traditions, religions or language. According to this definition, the shield of minorities is linked to the criteria of Citizenship/nationality, which is usually supported by legal definitions in charters and covenants. Scrutiny of these definitions shows that the term minority is a combination of five elements: (1) number, (2) subordinate status, (3) ethnic or religious or linguistic traits, (4) a will/wish to safeguard or preserve or strengthen the patterns of lifestyle, and (5) in some cases citizenship. The Bihari society in Bangladesh also has the minority distinctiveness outlined in the definitions provided earlier. They are ethnically different as they speak in different language. Internally they maintain Bihari cultural values in their social life. Due to these characteristics, they maintain a special ethnic identity despite practicing the religion of the Bengali majority. Yet, the Bihari community in Bangladesh is not considered a minority group. The Biharis have been given a peculiar status which is artificial, that makes them neither refugees nor minorities. It is artificial because it is a product of an historical legacy of 1947, and of a political context of 1971, which made them live in artificially designated areas (camps) under international agreement. Yet they are factually a minority because they are insignificant in number. This arrangement separated them from the rest of the society and gave them an artificial identity. 3. Theoretical Overview: *Definition of Refugee: Those who flee their own countries looking for of protection abroad do so specifically because their human rights are at risk in their own country. To decide that an individual has a well-founded fear of persecution is in effect to conclude that one or more of his or her basic human rights are not being respected.( It is hard to define that violation of which rights may led a man or a group of people to become Refugee. Sometime violation of Political rights, sometime social rights, sometime want of basic needs may make them Refugee). Similarly, to determine that groups of people fleeing conflict or serious disturbances of the public order are prima facie refugees is in most cases to acknowledge that they are victims of violations of human rights or humanitarian law. According to the general definition contained in the 1951 Convention, a refugee is a person who: As a result of events occurring before 1 January 1951 and owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted is outside his country of nationality (The 1951 dateline originated in the wish of Governments, at the time the Convention was adopted, to limit their obligations to refugee situations that were known to exist at that time, or to those which might subsequently arise from events that had already occurred) The   Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951 as amended by the 1966 Protocol, denoted the definition of Refugee as,-A person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it. According to the Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa,1969 the definition of Refugee isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. the term refugee  [5]  shall mean every person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country, or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. refugee  [6]  shall also apply to every person who, owing to external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order in either part or the whole of his country of origin or nationality, is compelled to leave his place of habitual residence in order to seek refuge in another place outside his country of origin or nationality. The Organization of American States, 1985 view A Refugee as- Persons who have fled their country because their lives, safety or freedom have been threatened by generalized violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive violations of human rights or other circumstances which have seriously disturbed public order. Many states give priority to refugees in the acceptance of applicants for immigration and on that basis, qualification as a refugee is essential. In  Ward v Canada, Canadas Supreme Court spoke of that: rationale underlying the international refugee protection regime, for this permeates the interpretation of the various terms requiring examination.   International refugee law was formulated to serve as a back up to the protection one expects from the state of which an individual is a national.   It was meant to come into play only in situations when that protection is unavailable, and then only in certain situations.   The international community intended that persecuted individuals be required to approach their home state for protection before the responsibility of other states becomes engaged. as surrogate or substitute protection, activated only upon failure of national protection. In that decision, the Court also clarified that the state from which refugee status was being sought, needed not to be complicit in the alleged persecution or the well-founded fear What exactly must a claimant do to establish fear of persecution? The test is bipartite: (1) the claimant must subjectively fear persecution; and (2) this fear must be well-founded in an objective sense. In summary, it is apparent that the refugee have to be outside his or her country of origin, and the fact of having fled, of having crossed an international frontier, is an basic part of the quality of refugee, understood in its ordinary sense. However, it is not necessary to have fled because of fear of persecution, or even actually to have been persecuted. The fear of persecution looks to the future, and can materialize during an individuals absence from their home country, for example, because of prime political change. * Human Rights; In view of Nussbaum: Martha C. Nussbaum  [7]  in her well renowned book, Women and human Development, The Capabilities Approach she has described some rights which are important for a human to live as a human in a society. The most important feature of her theory is the central human functional capabilities. These are as following: CENTRAL HUMAN FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES  [8]   1. Life. 2. Bodily Health. 3. Bodily Integrity. 4. Senses, Imagination, and Thought. 5. Emotions. 6. Practical Reason. 7.  Affiliation. 8. Other Species 9. Play. 10.  Control over ones environment.  (A)  Political: (B)  Material: To discuss the situation of Biharis well only focus on the three of these rights. These are 1. Life. 2. Bodily Health. 3. Affiliation. 4. Historical Back ground : During the Partition of British-India in 1947, around one million Urdu speaking Muslims from the present day Indian provinces of Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura ,Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan moved to East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh.  [9]  Their movement to East Pakistan was occurred in the wake of communal brutality during and in the consequences of the partition (for example, 30,000 Muslims were killed in the Great Bihar Killing in October-November 1947) and to preserve their Islamic way of life.  [10]  , About a million of them migrated to the eastern wing of Pakistan (East Pakistan)  [11]  . They also saw Hijrat (migration) as an escape from the possibility of living in a Hindu majority India.  [12]  To their disappointment, when they arrived in East Pakistan, leaving behind their possessions, their familiar environment and professions, they felt divided in the new society in terms of language, custo ms, traditions and culture. Although speakers of Pakistans official language, Urdu, they found themselves as a minority in the majority Bengali-speaking East Pakistan. These differences resulted in the Biharis identifying with West Pakistan whose dominance over the Pakistani state assured them of receiving greater privileges from the Central Government. While Bengalis were overwhelmingly employed in the agricultural sector, the Biharis, as full citizens of Pakistan, came to be occupied in the industrial sector, small business, trade and commerce. The Bihari community never assimilated with the local people and maintained alliance with the West Pakistani regime against the interest of the Bengali people. They supported the adoption of Urdu as the official language in East Pakistan, where the language of the majority was Bengali, and opposed the Bengalis language movement in 1952. They also supported the issues of United Pakistan in the national and provincial elections in 1970.  [13]  During 1971 Bangladeshi war of independence, the Biharis as Urdu-speaking people of non-Bengali origin, collaborated with the West Pakistani regime and opposed the Bangladeshi freedom movement. When Bangladesh finally achieved freedom, Bihari people wanted to go to West Pakistan, but could not do so at once due to complication in repatriation process. This situation left them abandoned in Bangladesh. They were promised of repatriation to Pakistan, but this promise was never fully materialized. 5. VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN VARIOUS SPHERE * Identity crisis of the Biharis in Bangladesh: The stranded Biharis in Bangladesh are suffering from identity crisis. In Bangladesh, they have three different statuses, according to their present stand. First, they are considered as foreign (Pakistanis) that are stranded. They have been temporarily accommodated in refugee camps, but they are not regarded as refugees in the conventional sense. According to the Article 6(A) (1) of the Statute of UNHCR and Article 1(A) (2) of the Refugee Convention 1951, a refugee is a person who belongs to the following three criteria: (a) The person is outside the country of his nationality, or in the case of Stateless persons, outside the country of habitual residence; (b) The person lacks natural protection; and (c) The person fears persecution. All these three criteria are apparently applicable to the Biharis in Bangladesh. However, According to the cessation clauses of the 1951 Convention and the UNHCR Statutes of 1950, a person shall stop being a refugee if, among others: (1) h/she has voluntarily re-established him/herself in the country which h/she left or outside which h/she remained owing to fear of persecution, The case of the Bihari Muslims is covered by this clause. Because, firstly, they voluntarily migrated to East Pakistan in 1947 from India; and secondly, in Pakistan they enjoyed protection by the state and were full-fledged citizens after 1951 according to Section 3(d) of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, which reads: At the commencement of this Act every person shall be deemed to be a citizen of Pakistan who before the commencement of this Act migrated to the territories now included in Pakistan from any territory in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent outside those territories with the intention of residing permanently in those territories. Many of the people of Biharis who are over 40 years old like to address themselves as a Pakistani. Because the voted for Pakistan (In the election held in 1970). They fought for Pakistan,( During the liberation war held in 1971).And they believe that they have more similarity between Pakistanis than Bangladesh. Therefore, the case of the Biharis was not viewed a refugee situation after the partition of 1947, as they were changed and naturalized in their newly demarcated territories. The question of the Biharis becoming refugees had arisen when Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan. All of a sudden, these people became stateless as they identified themselves as Pakistanis. On the one hand, they were not refugees as they were not displaced from their place of residence, and on the other hand, they were stranded outside of their country where their status remained unrecognized. Secondly, these complexities have given rendered the Biharis in Bangladesh a peculiar status, which can be called artificial minority, which gave them second type of identity. The term was discussed before. According to these definition, the protection of minorities is linked to the criteria of Citizenship/Nationality, which is usually supported by legal definitions in charters and covenants. According to the Council of European Commission for Democracy Through Law (CDL) a minority is: A group which is smaller in number than the rest of the population of a State, whose members have ethnic, religious or linguistic features different from those of the rest of the population, and are guided, if only implicitly, by the will to safeguard their culture, traditions, religion or language. Any group coming within the terms of this definition shall be treated as an ethnic, religious or linguistic minority.  [14]   In this definition, the requirement of citizenship has been omitted because citizenship should not be a requirement for basic human rights. The Bihari community in Bangladesh also has the minority characteristics outlined in the definitions provided earlier. They are ethnically different as they speak in different language. Internally they maintain Bihari cultural values in social life. Due to these characteristics, they maintain a different ethnic identity despite practicing the religion of the Bengali majority. Yet, the Bihari community in Bangladesh is not considered a minority group. The Biharis have been given a peculiar status, which is artificial, that makes them neither refugees nor minorities. Thirdly and Finally, The Biharis are considered as the citizen of Bangladesh. Because according to the existing citizen laws  [15]  of Bangladesh The people who are residing in Bangladesh from 26th March, 1971 will be considered as the citizen of Bangladesh. But before the election of 29th December,2008 no Biharis were considered as eligible for voting. Because the Biharis were thought as non-citizen in all the sphere of the government. After a historic judgment the High Court of Bangladesh has declare them as eligible for the voting.  [16]   As noted earlier, due to their crisis of identity, the Bihari people are deprived of both citizenship privileges as well as refugee benefits from the international community. The consequence is that they have to shoulder the impact of this unwanted and unresolved identity in their social, political and economic life. Here we can see that Bihari people have no socio-political identity except an ethnic recognition. The actual identity of these people should be as BANGLADESH As per the Nationality laws of Bangladesh. Martha Nussbaum said about this matter in her capabilities approach in number  [17]  7,  Affiliation.  . .Being able to live for and in relation to others, to recognize and show concern for other human beings, to engage in various forms of social interaction; being able to imagine the situation of another and to have compassion for that situation; having the capability for both justice and friendship. . . . Being able to be treated as a dignified being whose worth is equal to that of others. If we compare this term with the situation of These Biharis well find that here all of these are violated. So, it is necessary right now to define the political and social identity of these Bihari people. ** Population of Biharis: Over population and population density are two primary problems in the refugee camps. Since 1971 the community people has almost doubled in number due to high birth rate in the camps.  [18]  According to a survey report in 1992, the demographic figure of this community was 238,093 in 66 different camps throughout Bangladesh (Table 1). The number of residents has farther risen over time and that created extreme population density, as the number of camps remained unchanged since their construction in 1972.  [19]  Presently, it is reported that the demographic figure is approximately 300,000 people.  [20]  However, no proper survey has been done recently. The following map shows the geographical distribution of the Bihari camps in Bangladesh. The living conditions in these overcrowded camps are very squalid. Families of seven to ten members share a small eight by ten feet living space.  [21]  Being frustrated with the camp life, sometimes the Bihari people escape from th e camp and try to integrate themselves within the local community. Among them, very few are fortunate enough to survive and ultimately become able to give their children education. In most cases, they fail to survive by themselves and eventually return to the camps due to their inability to adjust to the social and economic conditions. Here we can see how these people are deprived from an important human functional capabilities mentioned by Nussbaum. The second human capability  [22]  is Bodily health . . .  Being able to have good health, including reproductive health; being adequately nourished . . . ; being able to have adequate shelter . . However, living in such densely cannot ensure these rights. Yes, it is true that Bangladesh is a over populated country. In addition, almost everywhere, the density is same, but at least the government can give them a chance to live as other people of Bangladesh. ***Health ,Sanitation and Medical Care The living atmosphere of the camps is very awful. It is unhealthy, dirty, damp and unhygienic. The camp authorities are neither able nor serious to maintain a healthy sanitation facility. The drainage system is tremendously poor, which causes water logging very easily. Therefore, contagious diseases especially diarrhea and dengue are very common. This condition exists in other camps throughout the country. The municipalities/City Corporation cleaners never enter the camps to clear the garbage. It is only when the camp-dwellers drop their garbage in the dustbins outside the camp, that the City Corporation cleaners will take them out. In addition, the entire camp people share a few common bathrooms and toilets, which are very few compared to the number of people .  [23]   Most of the time they need to queue to get their turn. Furthermore, both male and female alike share the same facility, which creates problems for the females. There is no privacy for the females either in toilet or shower facilities. At night, when young ladies need to visit toilet, they take their parents or someone else as their guard. Most of the toilets are without shade, and people need to stand in line for their turn. In the shower rooms, women sometimes have to wait for hours to take bath in groups of three or four. Moreover, there is an sensitive scarcity of safe drinking water in every camp. Deep tube well is the key source of water in camps, but there is also acute shortage of tube well in every camp. Therefore, water born diseases, like cholera, typhoid and skin disease are endemic. The medical assistance for the Refugee people is too poor.. There is only one medical clinic (Al-Falah Model Clinic) in the camp of Dhaka, which is poorly equipped. Moreover, in some cases, camps do not have a single medical clinic. As a result, infant mortality due to lack of medical care is quite common. Three out of every five newborns die before reaching the age five. Likewise, reserve to proper medical facilities make women vulnerable to unsafe delivery, chronic diseases like polio, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and other health problems. Many women die every year without getting proper medical care. As these people are very poor, they cannot afford to take medical facilities from other government and private institutions. Here we can see that the first condition of human capabilities  [24]  Life. . .   Being able to live to the end of a human life of normal length . . . ; not dying prematurely . . . is very not in work for these camp living people. 6. Some Proposal: From the overall study about vulnerable situation of Biharis and The Central Human Capabilities, I think that following steps should be taken and must be implemented as early as possible. The government of Bangladesh must give the recognition of Biharis. Moreover, at the same time government should take some initial that can ensure the social and political freedom of Biharis. Moreover, Beharis are the citizen of Bangladesh as per the citizen laws of Bangladesh and the historical background of Biharis reveals them as the citizen of Bangladesh. Therefore, the main thing is that they should be treated as same as a usual citizen of Bangladesh. The camps must be removed and the status of the Biharis as Refugee should be eliminate. They should given the same opportunities as a people of Bangladesh. In addition, as they are an underdeveloped community, they should given some priority in every sphere of life. The Biharis must be allowed to move freely and to settle anywhere of Bangladesh. Moreover, the person who wants to go to Pakistan for that they think that they are citizen of Pakistan, the movement must be also allowed and the proper diplomatic and political steps should be taken with honesty. The health and medical facilities should be increased and the people must be provided with the basic lessons of health and hygiene. And the education facilities also needed to be available for the Behari people.. The safe drinking facilities must be increased so that the safe water is available for every one in the camp. 7. Conclusion:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In  Women and Human Development, Martha Nussbaum attempts to move the theoretical terrain on which international development policy is currently situated. In doing so, she constructs a universalistic feminist philosophy based on central human capabilities that, if met, would provide the minimum threshold essential for the progress of all people. In place of cultural relativism and aggregated conceptions of the good put forward by utilitarian economics, Nussbaum proposes a set of interconnected and indivisible capabilities, conceived as human rights, which offer moral guidance for the development of political principles that can be translated into constitutional guarantees. The capabilities provide individuals with opportunities for functioning, for making self-defined choices possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nussbaums chief objective is to place these spheres of choice beyond the whim of majoritarian politics by translating them into constitutional guarantees. For her, the political goal of justice, of meeting the threshold for each capability, supersedes libertyoutweighing and morally constraining choices that conflict with the central principle of political liberalism: do no harm to others. Ensuring equal access to the central capabilities, she argues, should constrain all economic choices  [25]  Individual and collective choices that result in differential access to the capabilities, she argues, ineluctably violate this governing principle.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Because the exercise of certain types of functioning in childhood are an essential precondition to developing a mature adult capability, Nussbaum argues that the state has a compelling interest in any treatment of children that has a long-term impact on these capabilities  [26]  Thus, it is imperative that children be given genuine opportunities to exercise capabilities that are vital to their functioning as future citizens.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In addition to material prerequisites, actual functi

Globalization and the English language

Globalization and the English language Globalization is building bridges to connect people from all across the world and it plays an important role in understanding inter-cultural background of different countries. In todays rapidly growing world, globalization has changed a lot of things though there are many benefits to this, there are also disadvantages. On one hand English is helping people around the world to unite but on the other hand it is in a way influencing them to think in western cultural point of view, where their original culture is derailed. There will be a time when language will die out and we may not have translators who would translate which means an entire language can be wiped out. Each language has its own emotions and perspective attached to it, so when a language dies the emotion and perspective dies too. The use of language is more commercial and commodity based so it loses its significance in its cultural aspect. I believe in the diversity of cultures because the knowledge we get from different cultures and language adds on to our understanding of the world. Studying languages varied is like understanding different rivers of civilization as it merges to one ocean, the world. At the alarming rate by which languages are dying I took it upon myself to raise this issue to an official forum of the world which is the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization. The form I choose to write would be an official letter stating the problems and solutions of varied languages of the world dying. I choose this form as this issue can be solved in a forum which unifies the world. Languages are dying at an unprecedented rate. A language dies every 14 days. (Patricia Ryan)- Author of The sun and the moon. I am a student from India and I am driving your attention to the subject of endangered languages and cultures and its effect on the world. I sincerely hope you understand the problem and reflect on it. I am addressing this issue to you because as a head of UNO cultural department, this may help pave way to finding solutions for preserving the languages of the world. Without any dispute, English has become the most useful language in todays world. It is a major advantage to business and travel. In this process English also holds the responsibility to the extinction of other languages and hence their cultures. Just how far can this go on ? A language is not only a way of expression but it is connected to emotional aspect. Different cultures view the world differently and due to declination of language in todays society a vast amount of ancestry knowledge is being lost. For example: Ayurveda which is written in Sanskrit is a branch of Indian science is derived from ancestral knowledge, Ayurveda was passed on through generations and the knowledge kept on contracting as the days progress. As the world is getting more and more modernized the translators are on the decline. A reason where we lose out in the essence of a culture and knowledge as the language dies. Indian written texts is rich with knowledge as there are ancient studies on Economics (Arthashastra), Sciences (Vedas), Physical and mental empowerment (Patanjali), which were all written in Sanskrit. Once a language is lost it cannot be traced back. The amount of knowledge Ayurveda possesses is incredible, the way they look at the world is astonishing. They unders tand the core of the nature; they can predict winds with moist of the soil. Ayurveda is an alternative to medicine; some of the techniques of Ayurveda are tested at many research facilities. This information on Ayurveda will be best known by native person who observed the knowledge from his childhood not the person who tests under different trials to obtain temporary results. The modern generation is bereft of the knowledge acquired by their ancestors .The language of learning could have been oral and scripts written in palm leaves. The records were destroyed and some handed out to the family. I intend to imply that what knowledge humans are seeking for or inventing has been already done or half done by our ancestors who recorded it in their own language and as a consequence of language extinction there will be death of this pre accumulated knowledge. We have to trace back and reinvent what they have done and decode the languages. This can be done best by a native speaker not a translator. The manuscripts written in Ayurveda cannot be fully understood by the translator of this generation because a lot of words were lost in between and there was less importance placed on preservation of languages. It is culture which makes a community worth noticing. Language is the way of knowing, expressing their action . This is a prime reason why travelers go around the world looking for lost cultures. The knowledge is being passed on through generations. English has to exist as a global language which makes communication easier between different people from different backgrounds but should it be too compulsory to an extent where it drives out the knowledge? A person understanding is connected to their emotions and this is connected to their culture through language. Studies have shown that a person who uses his vernacular learns and understands concepts better than they do in foreign language. English should be taught a little later in life because it is helping people connect around the world but should it be taught to an extent where it acts as a barrier to knowledge? Languages are dying in an accelerating rate some languages such as Irish Gaelic, Welsh, and Maori are already extinct and so their wisdom on life. An article on New York Times has estimated that Ninety-five percent of the worlds languages are spoken by only five percent of the population In todays world bi-lingualism would be a best idea. It would be a benefiting future if children all across the globe are taught about their cultural background and their own mother tongue before they learn further on western languages and their culture. The best option for this is encouraging native speakers and respecting their cultures. This not only enriches human way of thinking but also makes world more colorful and a fun place to live in. If world forgets other cultures and speaks only single language. National Geographic have come with a program which helps reviving lost languages. Language preservation works best when the culture, language and identities of a certain community are respected by that countrys government. Its obvious that one cant speak a language if one is unaware of the right pronunciation. I think language should also be stored on internet with audio courses, so that in future people all around the world can access the megabytes data and enrich their own thinking style. I conclude by saying depressingly, many linguists accept that of the 6,000 or more languages that are in use today, anywhere from 50% to 90% of them could be extinct by the year 2050.With the spread of globalization. But this is not the end; The United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization still has an opportunity to preserve and save the dying colorful cultures all across the world which add to humanitys evolution. This generation holds the key responsibility to decide what lives on and what dies. So I would sincerely request you to please take a stand and address this issue. Page number: 3 Thank you, Success, Gowtham Reddy.  [2]  

Censorship in A Day No Pigs Would Die Essay -- essays research papers

Censorship in A Day No Pigs Would Die   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Robert Newton Peck was born in the late 1930’s in Vermont. Haven Peck, his father was a â€Å"quiet and gentle man whose work was killing pigs.† (dedication of novel). Peck grew up on a farm and worked as a lumberjack, in a paper mill, and in a slaughterhouse before he wrote his first book. He was first inspired to write by his first through sixth grade teacher, Miss Kelly, a well-loved lady who filled Peck with dreams about what he could do, if he wanted to. Peck was also inspired by an incident at a cocktail party. â€Å" I watched people ram goose liver into their maws and then announce how opposed they were to violence.† Peck went on to serve in World War II for two years, and afterwards, graduated from Rollins College and went to study at Cornell University.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Furthermore, Peck grew up during the aftermath of the great depression, WWI, and WWII, when times were tough and kids had to grow up quickly. Robert also grew up with a father who slaughtered animals for a living, and at times seemed cold and cruel. The Pecks grew up in a small town where the main industry was butchering animals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel, A Day No Pigs Would Die, is mostly about Peck, with a little bit of fiction. The book starts of with Robert Peck being made fun of because of the way that he dresses, and Robert imagined that the bully would â€Å"bleed like a stuck pig.† He then tried to save a fleei...

Land Destruction Essay -- Environmental Ecology Nature Essays

Land Destruction What is land destruction? Land destruction involves many different things. It can be logging of trees and rain forest. Nuclear waste is one that is very serious that is harmful to the land. As well, pollution, air, water and land all do damage of some kind. Land destruction is something that doesn’t need to be taking lightly. There are many other items such as building and dams that cause damage to the land as well. This is a topic that needs to be addressed and fixed. All of this items listed above are dreadful to the land. Land destruction needs to be stopped and taken care of before it goes to far to stop. Pollution is something that is everywhere. It is a subject that affects the way of life across the world. â€Å"The causes of pollution in the region include agricultural practices, mining, and household and industrial activities that generate waste streams into water, air, and land systems.† (Zurick, 1) Causes of pollution vary from what they are to what they do the land. Chemicals are one type of pollution that does serious harm to the land. â€Å"World sales in chemical products have multiplied nine times since 1970, increasing from 171 billion dollars to 1500 billions in 1998.† (Industrial, 1) This meaning that there are more chemicals out there to do more damage to the land. â€Å"Among the most polluting products are heavy metals - for example, mercury inside batteries, lead in gasoline - and pollutants made from oil (plastic†¦).† (Industrial, 1) There are many cars around the world that need gasoline to run as well as batteries to make the auto mobiles go where they need to go. â€Å"One battery containing mercury thrown into nature pollutes 400 liters of water and one third of land during 50 years.... ... keep down the waste. As well as replanting trees after logging takes place. We need to get land destruction under control before it become to much, and our land becomes overrun with dirt and pollution and it can not be used for anything. The land damage needs to be stopped now, and help keep the world in good shape so the future generations will have land to enjoy! Work Cited â€Å"Industrial Pollution†. Young Reporter for the Environment. http://www.ac-grenoble.fr/yre/article.php3?id_article=212. Joyce, S. Is It Worth a Dam?. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 105, Number 10, October 1997. â€Å"Land Destruction†. Saving Our Environment. http:// library.thinkquest.org/C0111401/land_pollution.htm Reisner, M. (2000). A Forest of Voices: Conversations in Ecology (2nd Ed.). Coming Undammed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.

Nostradamus :: essays research papers

Nostradamus   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Michel De Nostradame, otherwise known as Nostradamus was born December 14, 1503. His family was of Jewish ancestry. His grandfather, Pierre de Nostradame, had settled in Provence because by the mid-1400s, many Jews had come to live there. Nostradamus' father was Jacques de Nostradame. Jacques worked as a scholary, since most people didn't know how to write he wrote things for them, from love letters to formal documents. Jacques' income provided a good home at the time. Nostradamus' earliest recollection of his home was the following:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Typical of all provenà §al homes in the sixteenth century was the room where both domestic and social life was carried on. The center and symbol of the room's activity was the great fireplace, majestic, caver-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  nous, holding a banked fire that never went out since his mother and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  father moved in. Shining pots and pans of brass hung low from the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  mantle shelf. At either angle of the fireplace was an oak settle were his grandfathers liked to laze and talk when they came to visit. On the walls hung light cabinet shelves holding salt and spices.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nostradamus had one definite brother, Cà ¨sar who wrote Histoire de Provence, a book which sustains the myth of the Nostradamus royal line. Historians think Nostradamus had three other brothers, Bertrand, Hector, and Antoine, but they are not sure and almost nothing is known about them besides their names.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nostradamus was educated by his grandfathers. First Peyrot, who had been a great traveler, brought Nostradamus up in his home. He taught Nostradamus the basics of mathematics, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Astrology. After Peyrot de Nostradamus' death Nostradamus moved back in with his parents, Jacques and Reynià ¨re. It is thought that his other grandfather took over his education for a while, but the family decided to send Nostradamus to Avignon, which at that period was the center of Renaissance learning. At Avignon, Nostradamus spent many hours at University libraries. Nostradamus' biggest interest was astrology. His interest in astrology began to worry his parents, and by the advice of his grandfather he was sent to the University of Montpellier to study medicine. The University of Montpellier was regarded as second only to that of Paris in all of France. Nostradamus arrived there in 1522 at nineteen years of age. In three years he studied all the subjects needed for his bachelor's degree. He was tutored by some of the finest doctors in Europe. The process of getting a degree was far more arduous than in the present day, and lasted much longer. A successful candidate was given his license to practice by the bishop of Montpellier.