Middle East

This narrative proved to be overblown and ultimately the clash of civilizations thesis has been discarded. However, a decade on, the fast-paced events of the Arab Spring have once again revived the question as to whether we are witnessing a clash of collocations Does the Arab Spring reflect a clash of civilizations On the face of it, the Arab Spring appeared to be heading into clash of civilizations territory as Western-backed dictators fell like nine pins, and the revolts appeared to be pre)-lilacs, anti-Western and anti-liberal.Recently, a violent string of protests across the middle east against a us-made film, which was held to denigrate the prophet Mohamed, culminated in a deadly arson attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya. Once again, some commentators have framed these events as a clash of cultures and a pivotal moment in Western and Islamic relations. However, the evidence suggests that the clash of civilizations thesis is exaggerated.So in relation to the Arab Spring , it is more helpful to see it as a clash between people and governments within the Arab world, caused in large part by incompetent governance and an inability to listen to what the people want. Contrary to the clash argument, the Arab Spring is not a clash between Islamic radicalism and the west. Looking closely at the region reveals that each upheaval has Its specific characteristics, each country its own history and ethnic mix. In Bahrain, for example, the Arab Spring has manifested itself in an explosion of long-held tensions between Sunnis and Shih Muslims.There Is some interesting polling that popular concerns about democracy In Bahrain have decreased since the start of the troubles, while encores about Iran have increased. In Egypt, people simply wanted a change Embark was self-evidently time-expired and the longer the military try to hold on to power (prompted in part by their large stake in the economy), the lower their popular support becomes. Similar, although more extrem e, concerns apply In Libya, exacerbated by the tribal nature of Libyan society (a really big determinant).Its also instructive to note what is happening in Tunisia, which seems to be providing a very Arab/North African take on democracy but which seems to be working nonetheless. So In essence, the Arab Spring Is not really clash of civilizations territory at all. The role of Islam in the Arab Spring Jane Simonton, Chatham Houses middle east expert, comments in relation to Tunisia and Egypt that The vague, catch-all term Salamis belies the diversity of movements that seek to draw inspiration, values and legitimacy from Islam. There are enormous differences In thinking both between different Salamis groups, and wealth them.Crucially, this diversity Is likely to Increase as a result of the new-found political opening in the Arab world. Salamis movements OFF uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia succeeded precisely because they avoided the divisions of ideology, class and, in Egypt, religion t hat have traditionally fractured and weakened opposition movements in the Arab world. Certainly Salamis movements were more successful than any other parties in the recent parliamentary elections in Egypt and Tunisia, prompting some observers to accuse them of stealing the revolutions.The protests that drove political changes in 2011 hoisted slogans with universal appeal calling for freedom, dignity, social Justice more than they referred specifically Islamic slogans. They were not Salamis, anti-legalist or non- Salamis protests Psalmists participated alongside secularists, liberals and leftists and there were striking images of Muslims and Christians guarding each others prayers in Their Square. Neither Salamis movements nor other existing political parties can claim credit for these youth-led, spontaneously swelling street movements.Thus, what we are seeing is far from the rise of a monolithic civilizations identity, but rather an intra-civilizations splintering over political and economic ideas. Conclusion clash within the Arab world The Arab Spring is not so much to be seen as a clash of civilizations but rather a power struggle motivated by pollarded sectarian differences within Arab countries. TTY McCormick in the Huffing Post argues It is clear that a clash within civilizations helps to explain the Arab Spring more than a clash between them.William Misacts writing in the Journal, Foreign Affair, also questions the clash of civilizations thesis On 9/1 1, the global Jihads movement burst into the worlds consciousness, but a decade later, thanks in part to the Arab Spring and the killing of Osama bin Laden, it is in crisis. With Western-backed dictators falling, al Qaeda might seem closer than ever to its goal of building Islamic states. But the revolutions have empowered the groups chief rivals instead Salamis parliamentarians, who are willing to use ballots, not bombs.Activities (1) Follow on discussion To what extent is does the Arab Spring constitute a clash of civilizations Given that this topic is in many ways Just a footnote to the wider debate over the clash of civilizations thesis, it might be worth asking groups to draw up precise lists of points both for and against this action. (2) Arab Spring mint-presentations allocate members of the class to one of the Arab Spring countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria etc. ) and ask them to do a one-slide presentation outlining key events etc.

Lowry’s The Giver

Character isolationism and the struggles surrounding solitude are recurring themes in many great pieces of literature. Lowry’s The Giver is an excellent work of contemporary fiction whose main character, Jonas, struggles with such a burden. In order to properly identify character relationships of isolation, I will compare and contrast The Giver with two other well-known pieces of adolescent literature: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Jonas, in The Giver, views his hometown as the perfect place, a utopia that is self-contained and free of ruinous element such as conflict, illness, divorce, and inequality. He comes from a loving, demonstrative family unit: father, mother, one brother, one sister. Everyone in his hometown fits this perfectly balanced poster-family mold. It’s a gift-wrapped location to raise a family, or so we are led to believe. His family, as are all families in this utopia-like society, has good communication methods and are supportive of one another. Lowry creates such a background to impact his theme of a protagonist teetering into the realm of isolationism. The author uses the omniscient point of view of Jonas throughout the story. As the reader envisions the story solely through Jonas, we see his family is supposed shares their feelings and emotions when issues arise. It’s almost too perfect. Yet perfection diminishes when we discover, through foreshadowing, that a certain pilot who was in a plane crash was to be â€Å"released from the community. † The speaker’s voice takes the situation lightly, even with a hint of humor—a marker that something is amiss. One of the main themes in The Giver is individuality verses conformity. This parallels Jonas’s struggles with isolationism. Lowry leads us to believe in this utopia. Yet, as Jonas and other children freely choose jobs to increase their own knowledge base, it becomes apparent that the Elders have another purpose for them. The Elder will be choosing what direction their future will go once they are twelve years-old. Later, Jonas shares a provocative dream he had about Fiona. Jonas is pleased with the pleasure his dream brings to him. Lowry wrote, And the nakedness, too. It was against the rules for children or adults to look at another’s nakedness; but the rule did not apply to newchildren or the Old. (p. 30) This statement speaks volumes about the sexual racism and tensions that were prevalent in the society of The Giver which can be compared to the pressures that revolved around the status of wealth in The Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye. The Giver’s protagonist accepts this rule as Lowry responds to the rule against seeing other people naked. Jonas was glad. It was a nuisance to keep oneself covered while changing for games, and the required apology if one had by mistake glimpsed another’s body was always awkward. (p. 30) The author gives us subtle hints of Jonas’s isolation that is to come. He liked the safety here in this warm and quiet room (p 30) According to the Elders ‘touching’ other people outside of one’s immediate family was deemed rude and inappropriate behavior. His mother informs him that he’ll be taking a pill to help him. This is one more way for the Elders to control their youth. In event, this leads to Jonas into isolationism. Jonas begins to feel sad. When Gabe is actually allowed to live with Jonas’s family, the community sets boundaries. Gabe can stay but they are not allowed to become emotionally attached to him. The communities’ means of controlling its people sinks Jonas further into isolation. Jonas speaks with the Chief Elder in chapter eight, bringing to light the impact of his isolation. The Chief Elder says, â€Å"But you will be faced now,† she explained gently, â€Å"with pain of a magnitude that none of us here can comprehend because it’s beyond our experience†¦. So, because the Elders, hid their true motive, children are torn emotionally from what was to be a perfect life. When we consider the novel, The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton we find many parallels with The Giver. Both have themes centered on isolationism and what sort of grave effects it can have on an individual, a family, or a town. There are also contrasting differences in these two novels. Both of w hich will be discussed in detail. The Outsiders is a story of two teenage gangs: the socs and the greasers. This novel is a classic East versus West scenario in a small Oklahoma town in the 1960’s. The soc’s—which is an abbreviation for socials—is a gang of affluent teenage hoodlums that drive fast cars, get the pretty girls, and have the social markings of upper class due to their family’s economic status. The greasers are the gang of teenage boys that come from the lower class, most being raised in broken homes where mom or dad—or sometimes neither parent—is around to provide guidance. One contrasting difference here is the fact that The Giver opens with families living in a utopia-like geographic area where every single family fits the perfect family unit of a father, mother, and two siblings. This family unit is structured with communication skills as well where issues are discussed on a daily basis. There are no racial tension or inequality issues to speak of in The Giver, either. S. E. Hinton, on the other hand, creates a real-life scenario that parallel’s lifestyles in Oklahoma in the 1960’s—which is when the book was written by an actual teenager. Thus, The Outsiders displays how dysfunctional families operate. There is constant conflict among siblings and taunting between the greasers and the socs. Being in a gang instantly offers the teenage-societies an extended family. They trust one another and wound die for each other. The families within the gang understand one another because they can relate to one another’s pain and suffering. Even when they are faced with such constant emotional struggles, physical entanglements, and trouble with law enforcement, the gang members are on the same wave-length and follow one another. In The Giver, the families live in an apparent pristine environment that directly opposes this. The parents and children form proper communication channels by discussing issues at dinnertime. Some of the characters in the Outsiders are lucky if they get dinner every night. Yet, the path of isolationism for Jonas is the genesis for the character’s circumstances. He cannot free himself of this downward spiral, even when he’s placed in such a positive environment. S. E. Hinton, on the other hand, displays characters coming together in the worst of times. Another parallel, in The Outsiders, ties into the issue of separation from family. Here, teens are often led to see things as only right or wrong. But, as we know, circumstances in life are rarely black and white. Too many intricacies are involved when teens are struggling to survive and discover their way to be viewed as simply all-right or all-wrong. The protagonists in both Hinton’s and Lowry’s novel have underlying subplots of youths trying to discover their place in life. Another comparison is the fact that both authors play into the common-knowledge ideal that says, life isn’t fair. Whether life is fair to the soc’s or the greasers is seen differently. The soc’s desire the glamour and status that goes along with their affluent upbringing. The greasers, on the other hand, desire a different image. They don’t want to be associated with the upper crust of society. According to a greaser, the money, clothes, and cars, are the last thing they’d ever view as a priority in life. In fact, they despise them, mainly for how society treats the lower class. However, both gangs are products of a lifestyle where parental upbringing doesn’t show respect to their children because parents are unwilling to listen to the youth’s ideas, desires, and needs. These are the precise components that led to Jonas’s separation from the family unit. In the novel, Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, we find similar connections in the background of each story. Both novels depict a protagonist coming from an affluent upbringing. Salinger’s novel is set in a post World War II time when the nation was trying to make a financial recovery. Holden goes to a private school and money is of no concern to him, his family, or his immediate peer group. The breadwinner in Catcher in the Rye, Holden’s father, is a corporate attorney that is only interested in money, golf, and fancy toys such as classy cars. Freedom from financial concerns is a comparative attribute for Holden and Jonas. Holden and his father don’t understand one another which can be compared to Jonas and a discussion he has with the Elders in Chapter 20. â€Å"What about you? Do you lie to me, too? † Jonas almost spat the question at The Giver. â€Å"I am empowered to lie. † This grave scene in The Giver brings to light how painful an entire childhood can be. It’s the parents and Elders were not true to their children and thus impacts the life of our protagonist. Holden’s father is also blinded by money and his status as a corporate lawyer. This puts barriers up between him and his son. These barriers are like lying to Holden, causing him harm as he tries to find his place in society. Just as Jonas is the protagonist and narrator, Holden is also the narrator and protagonist of Catcher in the Rye. The impact of the stories theme and character relationships in both stories can be felt on a deeper level when we experience the story solely through the protagonist’s eye. Another contrasting element between the protagonists for S. E. Hinton and J. D. Salinger is how the characters are introduced to the story. It is very clear that Holden is struggling with life. He is 16 years-old with partially gray hair, thin, and out of shape. He smokes cigarettes as well. Jonas, on the other hand, is raised in this Eden-like village where everyone moves through life free of stress and ailments. Furthermore, Holden is an angry teen who is very confused and depressed. He also displays characteristics of bigotry which contrasts Jonas’s lifestyle of equality. Holton, however, is an evil person but he can be kind and even thoughtful which matches the characteristic expectations of the children in The Giver. In fact, almost every person had similar physical features as can be seen in the following citation: Almost every citizen in the community had dark eyes. His parents did, and Lily did, and so did all of his group members and friends (p. 20). Yet a distinction is drawn in Jonas as the author followed the above citation with this: But there are a few exceptions: Jonas, himself, and a female Five who he had noticed the different, lighter eyes. Thus, we are given hints of Jonas’s differences. This contrasts the obvious struggles that are in Holton’s persona. As I looked collectively at the comparisons and contrasting differences between The Giver and the two other novels, I found the likenesses to be more apparent than the differences. Each of the novels under study all had a theme of isolationism. On top of this, the protagonists and most of the minor characters in all the novels were children and young adults who struggled with loss, depression, conflict, and illness. Each story brought the reality of separation and isolationism to light as the youth banded together to overcome obstacles. The stories display how great an impact deceit, control, and lack of compassion can have on individuals growing into adulthood. People can shut down and sink into isolation. The burden of all this can either lead people away from following their dreams—sometimes destroying themselves into a pit of isolation. The strong-willed, however, find a way to learn from these challenging situations and discover ways to help themselves so that they, in turn, can help friends and loved ones.

Initial Marketing Plan Essay

Initial Marketing Plan Essay Initial Marketing Plan Essay Initial Marketing Plan MCS*1000 Gazelle Chike Inoma 0759596 Jack Battagalia 0888873 Marie Pineault 0876871 Lauren Murphy 0872759 February 13, 15 At Gazelle, we make computers that appeal to the average individual. Computers today can be expensive, and majority of the working population are unable to buy one. Our main objective is to deliver quality computers with an affordable price tag. By focusing our efforts primarily on the computer’s internal components, we guarantee that our computer’s potential can be fully maximized by our customers. For this vision to occur, we came up with different strategies for production. Firstly, we hired few employees to reduce costs and stationed our head office in Shanghai. This allows us to reach a large portion of our target market, while saving on costs. However, we’ve also made plans to expand our offices in order to reach out to a larger target market and increase demand of the â€Å"Gazelle One†. We will eventually branch off into the Chicago office in an attempt to capitalize on the greater demand that is associated with opening two sales offices. With the larger market, it is easier to produce our computers in bulk and reduce the major production costs. After completing this expansion into Chicago, we plan on training and hiring more employees to give our customers the best possible customer service. As this shift occurs, we’ll continuously come up with new ideas to improve our computers features. To do this, we will adjust how funds are allocated within the business. By allocating funds towards improving our computer’s design, it would give us the opportunity to service a different target market, while keeping our core market satisfied with functioning internal components. This leaves a lot of room f or growth and gives us a larger potential then we had in the past. Secondly, our main marketing strategy was to create an ad that highlighted the following mission statements; Gazelle Computers aims to fulfill the needs of the everyday employee. We want to provide these working consumers with an easy-to-use, user-friendly computer while still providing them with the best experience possible. We offer our customers efficient computers at a low cost. It is capable of running the best quality software programs while maintaining a large amount of data storage. We recognize that our working target market is not interested in a computer for leisure or luxury, but rather for getting the job done. As a result, affordable quality is crucial to our company. We firmly believe in offering the best quality products at the best prices possible. Gazelle Computers has focused its efforts on making the internal components of the computer the most valuable part. However, we did want our computer to look as good on the outside as it operates on the inside; therefore we designed our computer with a sleek and simple exterior, offering a unique and distinct look. At Gazelle Computers, our only operating brand is the Gazelle One. At this time we are solely focused on getting our worker oriented desktop computer into the market but hope to expand in the near future. We have priced our product at $2500, matching what the average consumer is willing to pay for their computer. Currently our office headquarters are located in Shanghai. We strategically chose this specific location as it contained the highest demand for worker-orientated computers. This location also offered us the lowest office expense costs allowing or our company to better invest the extra money further into our product. With this ad, we have been able to generate a large deal of recognition and business. We plan in the future to expand our marketing capabilities in order to showcase our product to more consumers. Showing the internal and external factors that could affect our company’s success can summarize our company’s competitive environment. The internal factors of our company, with emphasis on the strengths are our marketing

Compare 3 Stories essays

Compare 3 Stories essays The storeys that I will be righting about all have children in. The pieces I have decided to Wright about are The living, Through the tunnel, A message from the pig man. Through the tunnel is written by Doris lessing it is about a young boy of eleven how goes on holiday with his mum. This piece is also about the boy struggling to be accepted and grow up. The living is written by Mary Lavin it is about two boys how try to prove to each other how grown up they are by visiting a wake. The story is about boys trying to out do each other. A message from the pig man is written by Jhone Wain and it is about a young boy of age about six trying to come to terms with his mother and father braking up and how his imagination runs wild and how he learns to face all his fears. All three pieces are about young boys and how they face a problem and childhood. The boys in each piece seem to have loving parents and they also seem to love them a lot this is shown by each character. As in A message from a pig man you can see the boy loves his father as he says so long as it left the spare room free for dad to sleep in. He says this as he wants his dad to stay with him and his mum but his parents are getting divorced so his dad is moving out but Eric loves him and does not want him to leave. This shows us that Eric is to young to understand why his dad must move out. Erics father also loves him, as he wants to make him happy so hey bys him a train set. This is also shown in Through the tunnel as you can see that the mother loves her son as she tries to let him grow up by letting him go to a beach on his own. You can see that see worries by the way see thinks to her self and the questions she asks for example of course he is old enough to be safe with! out me and have I been keeping him to close. The boy also loves his mum as he checks on her regale to see that see is still there and that she is safe. The lo...

A Look at the Different Opinions Concerning Abortion

A Look at the Different Opinions Concerning Abortion Being a subject that is never taken lightly in society, abortion is a wildly controversial issue. With a nation full of many diverse ethics and values, the issue of abortion has been divided into two opposite positions of pro-life or pro-choice. The pro-life stance is in opposition of legal abortion and against the termination of unborn fetuses. Overall, in the eyes of pro-life believers, life is a precious miracle and no matter how far along a fetus has developed, every aborted fetus has indeed been murdered. On the other hand, the stance of pro-choice supports the action of abortion and believes that women should have the legal right to terminate their pregnancy. No matter what position is taken on this crucial issue, abortion will always have lasting impact on people. For example, who can blame anyone who defends a pregnant mothers right to make a life and death decision by her own free will when assuming she completely understands all ramifications? By whatever way she arrives at her final heart- tearing decision to kill the fetus, should anyone have the right to force her to bear a child? Or, in contrast, who can fault someone who wishes to prevent the termination of a teen pregnancy in order to save the life of the innocent unborn child? Questions like these not only help conceive the importance and value of abortion but also raise much curiosity about this year’s election and the candidate’s beliefs. Although many of this years election policies are based on issues that encompass our devastating economy, the often neglected issue of abortion has become a ruthlessly exploited topic in this years presidential debates. The candidates, Governor Mitt Romney and President Barrack Obama, have very differentiating views of pro-life and pro-choice. Usually shown as an issue that favors pro-life candidates, this election has shown a historical change due to President Obama taking charge in a recent Gallup Poll (Dannefelser). Although there are some appealing arguments about the pro-life choice, I believe the policy of abortion should be terminated in our society, as it takes the lives of approximately 115,000 innocent and defenseless children daily. Of course, there is a population that doesn’t believe that the act of abortion is wrong and feels that women should have the right in whether they want to bear a child. Supporting this view, President Obama believes in the policy of pro-choice and holds the opinion that woman should bear the constitutional rights to their personal health and reproductive freedom. Within his campaign, Obama has shown his complete support of Planned Parenthood and given much funding to abortion and contraception advertising through his recent video known as â€Å"Yes We Can† (Yarrow). Through this tactic, Obama establishes the message that the women of America are capable of making their own choices. Disagreeing with parental notification, he states that he feels that abortion is an act that needs to have much thought and consideration and if â€Å"a young women becomes pregnant they should talk to their parents†. Moreover, he realizes that all girls do not have parental guidance a nd â€Å"in those instances, we should want these girls to seek the advice of a trusted source. Many feel this campaign tactic will be helpful in gathering support for abortion because â€Å"according to NARAL’s model and an extensive survey that shows there are over 5.1 million women pro-choice†(May). Claiming how Governor Romney â€Å"has gone to more extreme place†, by completely getting rid of funding for planned parenthood, President Obama claims that if he gets elected for a second term this crucial social issue will get resolved (May). Although President Obama makes some crucial arguments about this serious policy, there have been criticisms’ about his policy of abortion. President Obama constantly mentioned the topic of federal funding of planned parenthood numerous times and consistently made sure to bring up Romney’s vow to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider that also delivers an array of other productive services (Yarrow). Furthermore, Obama states in all three of his presidential debates that not only does his funding of planned parenthood help women in need, but it also can act like any other health care provider or OB/GYN by providing breast examinations and referring women to outside technicians (Viebeck). In reality though, Obama has recently been proven wrong, though, due to a recent fact check that verified that Planned Parenthood does not perform mammograms or even possess the necessary equipment to do so. The truth is actually revealed; â€Å"they do hundreds and thousa nds of abortions and not a single mammogram†(Dannenfeiser). According to the Washington Times â€Å"Planned Parenthood is even reportedly dropping what little prenatal care it offers† (Dannenfeiser). Moreover, the Congressional Research Service report stated that the federal government gives Planned Parenthood about $66 million to a unreliable service (Viebeck). In general, this shows the amount of money that is being taken out of the American’s pockets (Viebeck). Furthermore, pro-life candidate Mitt Romney claims that his opposing candidate, Barack Obama, needs to critically consider that abortion is a social issue and not an economical issue (Dannenfeiser). In general, Romney feels the most important thing should be fully trying to recover America from economic stress and this current devastating recession. Now completely behind the policy of pro-life, Romney’s policy of abortion has three exceptions of â€Å"cases of rape, incest, or pregnancy that endangers a women’s life† (Romney). His belief of pro-life advocates the legal protection of human embryos and fetuses and outlaws abortion. Throughout Romney’s debate he claims his first action he will take will be to defund Planned Parenthood in America. In addition, he he plans to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which states the legalization of abortion, due to over â€Å"fifty million abortions have been performed since 1973†. Through this plan, Romney claims that on ce overturned, abortion will be a matter of state decision and not a matter of federal decision. It will â€Å"finally allow the states to have authority† that they were initially intended to have (Blodget). In addition, Romney indicates that he will reverse the Mexico City position of the President and â€Å"reinstate the Mexico City policy which keeps us from using foreign aid for abortions overseas†(Weiner). Feeling that abortion is more of a social issue and not economic issue he plans to instead help the 17 million women that are currently living in poverty today (Weiner). Romney states I’m going to help women in America get good work by getting a stronger economy and by supporting women in the workforce.(Bennett). In general, much of this topic is subject to opinion and perspective and that is just the nature of this argument. Overall though, I find myself mostly behind Governor Romney and his choice of pro-life within America. Influenced by my morals and religious back ground, I believe that there are no exceptions for abortion. Living in a society that finds murder as a morally wrong act that deserves punishment, I believe the policy of abortion should be ended because I feel that there is no difference between murder and taking the life of an innocent and defenseless child. If a mother does not want a child or rape has occurred, adoption or other measures should be considered. Unfortunately, this is not a popular stance to many Americans due to the belief that woman should possess their constitutional rights. In reality, the act of abortion is legal before three months because the fetus is still in the embryo stage. In contrast, facts show that â€Å"More than 90% of the body structures found in a full-grown human are present after 9 weeks.† Overall I feel that today we live in a morally wrong and depraved society that is unwilling to accept their wrongs. We end up exonerating others for our mistakes. I understand that fear indeed is a powerful motivator, but as we accept these self-centered acts we underestimate both the intelligence and priorities of women. The women of America can use their brains, not solely rely on other parts of their body, to move ahead in society and achieve their goals.

Nowruz and My Husbands Mother Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nowruz and My Husbands Mother - Essay Example The Nowruz holiday marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the New Year within Persian culture. The holiday itself is an ancient holiday, dating back nearly three thousand years. The holiday itself has many traditions, perhaps most notably a large-scale feast. Another specific traditional is the importance of entirely cleaning the home in a sort of ‘spring cleaning’ process. In addition to these traditions, it is important for family to visit and re-establish relationships and connections. It was in this context that my husband’s family first visited. While I had been married for over a year at the time, I had yet to meet my husband’s family. His parents lived in Iran and were not able to make it to the United States for our wedding ceremony. We had made plans to meet many times, but because of mutual complications they had been canceled time and time again. This resulted in a growing amount of anxiety over meeting my husband’s family. Whi le my husband and I had a strong relationship and were madly in love, I was not sure how his parents would respond to me. I was only slightly familiar with Persian culture, and added to this confusion was my husband’s stories about growing up in a strict household and frequently being punished for misbehaving. With these stories in mind I had developed a perception of his family as a dark and caustic group of individuals. My husband’s family was about to arrive. We had done a large-scale cleaning of our house and become prepared for the large Nowruz feast for the evening. As their rental car pulled into the driveway, followed by his sister’s car with her husband and children, deep dread grew in my stomach. The doorbell rang and suddenly they were inside and we were introducing ourselves to each other. While I had dreadful expectations I soon came to realize that my preconceptions were completely off-based. His family turned out to be as natural and understanding as any group of individuals I had encountered. It was not long before the group of individuals and I was sharing jokes and stories. They had arrived at noon, and at 5:00 PM we sat down to eat the traditional New Year’s meal of Sabzi Polo. While I had quickly grown fond of his family, the meal --- a collection of coriander, parsley, chives, and dill – left much to be desired. Still, the dinner was a memorable experie nce. Another reason my experience on this Nowruz was so memorable was because what occurred after the meal. When we finished putting the dishes away, my husband and his father settled into a television show, and his sisters’ family left for their hotel. My mother-in-law asked me to take her to the store so she could buy ice cream. On the way to the store we began to talk and I expressed to her the anxiety I had before meeting my husband’s family. I can’t recall her exact words, but she had a very welcoming way of receiving my fears. She then began to express to me how she felt before meeting her husband’s family over thirty-years earlier, and we recognized that we shared many of the same thoughts. As we pulled back into the driveway, she gave me a gift and told me to open it. Inside was a necklace that she had received from her mother-in-law – a family heirloom. She then expressed how she wanted me to have it, as she knew

Final persuasive memo prsentation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final persuasive memo prsentation - Assignment Example This is water that members of the aforementioned community needs for purposes of drinking, domestic use, and industrial use primarily. A recent test conducted on water sources from major water bodies such as beaches, rivers and residential areas in the area revealed a disturbing pattern. This is whereby water pollution scored up to 35.71% on the pollution index. (MDEP, 2012). The following is a pictorial representation of pollution statistics in the area. Figure 1: Pollution Statistics in Boston Area As is clear from the graph, noise pollution is the highest in the region, followed closely by the pollution of water. The memo explains that some of the waste products discovered in the tested water included chemical effluent, plastics and sewage water. The chemical effluent was highly concentrated with some of the waste product that is typically from breweries. Proposed CSR program This is where Boston Beers CSR comes in. Boston Beers needs to participate in ensuring clean and safe wate r for use in the community. This is because of a number of reasons. First, the water tested was high in effluent from breweries, characterized by nitrogen, carbohydrates and cleaning reagents (Natural Resources Defense Council, n.d.). These destroy plant and animal life in rivers and bring about many ailments. Secondly, Boston Beers ranks poorly on the scales rating measures taken to reduce on water pollution. Finally, the company needs water to stay in operation. This is impossible with rampant pollution. Implementation of the Program In order to ensure that water in the community is safe for use, the company should embark on treating waste water from production. One of the ways in which the company can protect the community is by treating water on-site for recycled use, as opposed to letting it flow into the primary water sources in the community. This project is considered to be of low cost to the company. First, various authorities on the subject have analyzed the treatment plan . It is not capital-intensive like other alternative treatment plans are. For example, the cost of equipment for this method is up to 50% less than that used in the CIP treatment (Fillaudeau ,Blanpainavet and Daufin, 2006). (CIP stands for Clean-In-Place. It is a method that focuses on cleaning the interior surfaces of brewery equipment, for example the filters and pipework. Using this method, water containing acid and caustic soda from the brewing process is flushed out and the enzymes broken down using a chemical process before being released into water bodies. The proposed treatment plan is, first, better and cheaper given that it entails recycling of water while CIP does not. Secondly, CIP treatment is more expensive (Hanovia, n.d.). In addition to this, a report produced by the National Resources Defense Council indicated that breweries using this system incurred minimal costs. Lastly, wastewater costs Boston Beers at least $200,000 annually. This can be reduced significantly b y treating water. Benefits to the Company The project holds endless potential for Boston Beers. First, the program reduces costs incurred due to pollution of water by way of taxation, because authorities tax the brewery based on units of pollution. Secondly, methane, which is by-product of the treatment, can be used to power generators used in production in the breweries, which could drastically lower the cost of powering the plant. Thirdly,