Identify the Common Poplars in North America

Identify the Common Poplars in North America The genus Populus  most common North American natives include  one true poplar in the north, four primary species of cottonwoods and the quaking aspen. Most of the known 35 natural poplar species live in the Northern Hemisphere. The cottonwoods thrive in an ecosystem associated with riparian and wetland areas in eastern and western North America. The aspens are most comfortable in boreal environments dominated by conifers with aspen being a major broad-leaved species. Balsam poplar  (Populus balsamifera)  is the northernmost American hardwood and a major deciduous tree in Canada and Alaska. The Common North American Poplar Species Quaking aspenBalsam poplarEastern cottonwoodBlack cottonwood All have long reproductive catkins that appear just before the new leaves of spring and can help in identification. The resulting fruit is a capsule that opens into 2 tp 4 parts. The tufted seeds are shed in masses of white cotton which can cover the ground inches deep. The leaves of aspen and Eastern cottonwood are deltoids  where black cottonwood and balsam poplar are ovate. They occur on a branch alternately, are simple (single leaf) and mostly toothed. Interesting Facts The Eastern Cottonwood,  Populus deltoides, is one of the largest North American hardwood trees.  The aspen  has the widest range in the United States.  It occurs throughout the eastern United States and throughout Canada.Yellow poplar is not a true poplar and not listed here.

Diet Fabs

Diet Fabs In todays society people have started to become overweight at early stages, due to the foods that they eat. People try many diets, proper exercise and to manage food, but it seems that more and more people cant control there eating habits. There are many opinions when it comes to dieting and how it should be done. What one person might think is good for you the other person might say it is not.Americans suffer from what you call diet. It seems that everywhere you go; there are certain diets that are available in supermarkets, malls and pharmacies. There are all kinds of diet pills on store shelves that people will buy just to lose weight not knowing the effect that it will have on their inner body. Back in the day people were not really concern about their weight like they are today, it seems to be all about the image one must portray.English: Back cover of Barbie booklet about how to...Commercials on TV have so many celebrities sponsoring diet clubs just so you will join and to thin k well, if Marie Osmond can do it then I can to.Some food are ridiculously temping to eat even though you are not suppose to eat it because it is high in calories and full of food additives that are not good for you. With so many food shows on TV how can you lose weight if the shows are cooking good looking food?Millions of people today are fighting obesity than before because people lack going home and cooking a healthy meal instead they will stop and grab fast food and take it home to feed their kids. Fast food chains have become more convenient for most families just because both parents are working and do not have the time to cook. Obesity is wide spread...

Plato's Allegory of the Cave Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Plato's Allegory of the Cave - Essay Example He expresses a point unknown and less considered by many, that a philosopher could be zero in knowledge. Through the puzzle, the victim of such circumstances only discovers of such truths after a long time. Exposure, which happens to be less in the profession, uncovers such truths hence making it a puzzle that majority of the philosophers are ignorant and hide behind the veil of ignorance. The claim that Socrates makes to be the wisest of all and later declares his ignorance as every other philosopher therefore makes the riddle. Socrates happens to come out as one of the wisest philosophers. By denouncing the level at which philosophers are placed in the society, he tried to connect with what is considered as the real world. He comes out as one who is certain of the shortcomings in his world that other philosophers have not discovered. By saying ‘I know that I do not know’, he comes out as a wise philosopher who knows he does not know everything. He brings out an aspect of acceptance that one can never be self-sufficient. Regardless of how much one is perceived by others to be sufficient, a gap in everybody can only be discovered through exposure. This is the opposite of what the world thinks of philosophers. It is also the opposite of what philosophers think of themselves. To many of them, their small professional world gives them confidence as all knowing. Majority do not acknowledge their struggles as part of a problem emanating from ignorance. To them, the struggles are just part of the process. Allegory of the Cave is a dialogue between Plato’s teacher, Socrates and Plato’s brother. Socrates, who is the main narrator, brings out a dark, congested world inhabited by people in a particular class of wisdom. In that small world symbolized by a cave, there is commonality of knowledge since all are pinned to the same wall. They face the same issues and none of them feels free to explore the outside world even when freedom is declared. The Allegory is given in a setting of a prison where prisoners are put in an underground cave. The cave receives limited light that makes it hard for each one of them to see anything that happens behind them. All they know are their own shadows and those of people passing behind them. Their manner of communication and the things they talk to each other relates to what they share in common. Their discussions are tied around what is common to them and any attempt to release them will not be easy for them. Select one incident from Plato’s Allegory of the Cave that best serves to illustrate the meaning of this statement. According to the allegory, the prisoner disabused of his error and liberation to walk around represents Socrates. Due to the conditions he has been in before, the prisoner is likely to suffer so many things. Part of the problems will be facing the light that has been rare in the former state. Any exposure to the light will be so disturbing but a positive step tow ards discovering the reality outside the prison. The exposure will be the start of getting wisdom as he tries to define different things around him. For example in the Allegory, giving seasons and the years will be a demonstration of newly found wisdom that never existed in the former state. The incident brings out a realization of the real world where fantasies do not apply. Facing realities makes one realize how much they do not know even after being higher in knowledge as per fellow people. To Socrates, getting

Aeroflots global marketing approach in Russia & U.K Case Study

Aeroflots global marketing approach in Russia & U.K - Case Study Example No other industry is regulated such a degree on an international level. The aviation industry to still dominated by flag carriers, which have historically been molded by the political concerns of national governments but now are under threat from the low cost carriers. At a time of high competition, particularly on most profitable routes, the difficulties faced by airlines are compounded by the high exposure this industry from outside control. Volatility in fuel prices, war, international tourism, industrial action and the impact of illness such as SARS and Avian flu are some of the risks.The end of Soviet Union brought sweeping changes to the ownership and management of the industry with privatization and entry of new private businesses in the airline and airport sector. Presently only four commercial airlines -Aeroflot, Sibir, Pulkovo and UT Air - carry more than one million passengers a year. Aeroflot dominates the international market whilst in the domestic market it faces compet ition from the others (Sibir is the leading Russian domestic passenger carrier). Aeroflot provides 37.7% of the total seats supplied in the overall Russian-EU market with Lufthansa the next nearest carrier with 12.6%. As part of the privatization process, many of Aeroflot regional divisions became independent airlines and now compete with their former parent. Aeroflot is an open, joint stock company; with state owns 51% shares. Aeroflot flies to 126 destinations in 70 countries of the world. Russia has currently 215 registered airlines (267 in 2000), including 55 state-owned carriers, a number which is expected to decrease in the years to come with increased competition, more stringent governmental licensing procedures and the enforcement of higher safety requirements. Based on 2005 data, Aeroflot's share of the Russian airline market in terms of passengers carried would increase from 17% to about 35% on domestic routes and from 31% to 48% on international routes (i.e. from and to R ussia). In terms of total passengers carried on both domestic and international routes, Aeroflot will control a 41% market share vs. 23% on a stand-alone basis, with a huge gap between it and its nearest competitors - Sibir (12%), UTAir (5%) located in the oil-rich Khantimansiisk region, and VIM Avia (5%), a recently established charter carrier operating a fleet solely composed of foreign-made aircraft. Domestic expansion, in addition to bringing returns to scale, should have the effect of establishing domestic feeder routes that would ultimately provide a basis for renewed growth in Aeroflot's international business. 3. Standardization Vs. Adaptation: As a principal objective of the Russian government is to develop domestic air transport through major restructuring in order to increase efficiency and quality of services. The state would pay for the new shares with its stakes in the largest state-owned airlines: 100% state-owned Pulkovo, GTK Rossiya and Dalavia, Krasair (51%), Vladivostokavia (51%) and Sibir (25%). Aeroflot would hence end up with stakes in all of its major competitors, while the state would increase its ownership in Aeroflot. Aeroflot management and the state since late 2004 and was initially suggested as a way to increase the company's market capitalization. The larger free-float probably resulting in a higher market capitalization, the Russian flag carrier would also expand the scale of its operations on both international and domestic routes, which is important given

The Automotive Industry in Mexico and Brazil Essay Example for Free

The Automotive Industry in Mexico and Brazil Essay The automotive industry in Mexico and Brazil is one of the most dynamic business in Latin America, with both countries are disputing the 8th place as the highest car producers in the world [a}. While the production of cars in Mexico is directed to foreign consumption, the Brazilian one is mainly directed to its internal and regional markets. Both countries offer several advantages, such as low labor cost and high qualified personnel, however there are many challenges that must be considered such as pending political reforms and high crime rate in Mexico, and high inflation rate and economic deceleration in Brazil. Whereas, Mexico is better located geographically, Brazil’s potential internal market makes it the best option to invest currently, as long as it has best regulatory conditions and may offer better tax incentives. Whereas a weak local currency may affect the assembly of cars industry in both countries, Brazil’s infrastructure spending is entering a frenzied period [b] to meet its commitments to host the Olympics (2014) and the World Cup (2016), which may contribute to make it a popular destination for Foreign Direct Investment.

Cystic Fibrosis and Gene Therapy Essay -- Science Genetics Biology Pap

Cystic Fibrosis and Gene Therapy The average life span of a person with Cystic Fibrosis is 25-30 years of age. Although the more traditional treatments of this disease are adequate, is there something else that could be even better? Gene therapy is fast becoming one of the more studied aspects of genetics today. Let's take a look at some details of Cystic Fibrosis and gene therapy. Technical Aspects Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic disease in the United States today. CF is an autosomal recessive disease that occurs approximately one out of 3,300 live births (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 1998). Autosomal means that the gene for CF is not carried on the sex chromosomes and males and females are both afflicted by this disease. Recessive inheritance is when both parents "carry" the abnormal gene in their DNA but they themselves do not show evidence of the disease. The mother and father have one normal gene and one abnormal gene and don't show signs of disease because the normal gene dominates the abnormal gene. To have CF, a child must inherit two abnormal genes, one from each parent. Remember that chromosomes are made up of DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is made up of genes, and genes are made up of building blocks called base pairs. The specific gene responsible for CF was identified in 1989 on human chromosome 7 (Pseudomonas Genome Project, 1998). A mutatio n, or change in the genetic material, resulting in a substitution or loss of one of the base pairs causes the CF gene to be abnormal (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 1995). CF does not affect all people the same way. The basic problem for all patients however is an abnormality in glands, which produce mucus or sweat. The mucus produced by people... ...ctsabo.htm">http://www.cff.org/factsabo.htm Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, "Gene Therapy". Obtained from the WWW 10/31/98: http://www.cff.org/genether.htm Genentech Incorporated, "Gene Therapy-An Overview". Obtained from the WWW 10/31/98: http://www.gene.com/AE/AB/IWT/Gene_Therapy_Overview.html McClean, Phillip. "Variation in Chromosome Structure". Obtained from the WWW 10/15/98: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/mcclean/plsc431/chromstruct/chrmo2.htm Pseudomonas Genome Project, "Cystic Fibrosis". Obtained from the WWW 10/31/98: http://www.pseudomonas.com/cystic_fibrosis.html Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, "An Introduction to Cystic Fibrosis for Patients and Families" in Respiratory Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook". Health Reference Series, V. 6, 1995. Sect. 5.1, p. 240. WWWebster Dictionary. Obtained from the WWW 11/2/98: http://www.m-w.com/

Purchase Orders

ABC Instructor Assignments 1. Ken's Carpets sells carpet for both residential and business use. To better estimate costs, the company recently adopted an activity-based costing system. Last year, the company incurred $300,000 in overhead costs. Based on an intense study of their company, the following activities, allocation bases, and percentages of overhead costs were determined: Activity| Allocation Base| Proportion of Overhead Cost| Purchasing| Number of purchase orders| 25%| Materials processing| Number of square feet| 50%| Sales| Number of sales orders| 25%|The number of activities for residential and business is as follows: | Residential| | Business Total Total Overhead| Number of purchase orders| 700| | 500 1,200 75,000| Number of square feet| 4,000,000| | 2,000,000 6,000,000 150,000 | Number of sales orders| 400| | 100 500 75,000| Required: A. | Calculate the total overhead that should be allocated to each of the three activities. Number of Purchase $75,000, Number of square feet $150,000, Number of sales orders $75,000. | | B. | Calculate the overhead rates for each of the three activities. Number of purchase 62. 5, Number of square feet 0. 025, Number of sales orders 150| | | C. | If a particular residential job requires 4 purchase orders and 1 sales order for total of 1,500 square feet of carpet, how much overhead should be allocated to the job? 4*62. 5 + 0. 025*1,500+1*150 = $437. 50| 2. Mountaineer Tents manufactures and sells heavy and light duty tents to various outdoor retailers. To better estimate costs, the company recently adopted an activity-based costing system.Last year, the company incurred $900,000 in overhead costs. Based on an intense study of their company, the following activities, allocation bases, and percentages of overhead costs were determined: Activity| Allocation Base| Proportion of Overhead Cost| Purchasing| Number of purchase orders| 55%| Inspections| Number of inspections| 20%| Sales| Number of sales orders| 25%| The number of activities for heavy and light duty tents is as follows: | Heavy-duty| | Light-duty| Number of purchase orders| 5,000| | 4,000| Number of inspections| 3,000| | 1,000| Number of sales orders| 800| | 400| Required:A. | Calculate the total overhead that should be allocated to each of the three activities. Number of purchase 4,950, Number of inspection 800, Number of sales 300| | | B. | Calculate the overhead rates for each of the three activities. Number of purchase 1. 82, Number of inspection 5, Number of sales 4| | | C. | If a single sales order requires 10 purchase orders and 30 inspections to fill, how much overhead should be applied to the order? 1*4+10*1. 82+30*5 = 191. 82| 3. The following overhead cost information is available for Millennium Inc. for 2006: Activity| Allocation Base| Overhead Cost|Purchasing| Number of purchase orders| $300,000| Machine setups| Number of setups| 150,000| Quality control| Number of inspections| 50,000| During the year, 4,000 purchase orders w ere issued; 8,000 machine setups were performed; and 2,000 inspections were conducted. Required: A. | Calculate the overhead rates for each of the three activities. Purchasing 75. 00, Machine Setups 18. 75, Quality Control 25| | | B. | If a particular job requires 10 purchase orders, 6 setups, and 5 inspections to fill, how much overhead should be applied to the job? | 10*75+6*18. 75+25*5 = 987. 5

History of Biological Warfare Essay

Biological warfare, also called germ warfare is the use of bacteria, toxins, virus or harmful organism by the military as weapons of war against the enemy. This means that a small quantity of these microorganisms have the capability to kill millions of people if spread evenly and effectively. These biological weapons can also cause sickness to enemy soldiers and disrupt enemy’s logistics and supply lines. Although biological warfare as such has hitherto not taken place on a large scale, yet assuming and apprehending its probable occurrence, many nations have built their individual defensive strategies to be on the safe side. On the basis of this assumption and probability, much research for the purpose of defense against biological weapons has been conducted by the scientists, highly sensitive industries and the governments. But since carrying out germ-warfare against humanity or using harmful bacteria or organism against human beings was considered entirely inhumane, an international treaty banning biological weapons came into force in 1975. By virtue of this treaty, production, possession, and use of such weapons were completely prohibited. More than 150 nations signed this treaty. Deadly Forms of Warfare in History The origin of biological warfare is traced back in ancient times, when the Assyrians, in 6th century B. C poisoned enemy wells with poisonous herbs (eukaryotes or fungi) that cused the enemy lose sanity or consciousness. This was the starting point of biological warfare in human history. Thence onward this typical warfare was used by many in the past e. g. Solon of Athens poisoned the water supply of Phocaea with extremely poisonous herb Veratrum, during his city’s siege; the archers of Scythian, during 4th century B. C. poisoned the tips of arrows to cause infection into the wounds of enemy; the Spartans used sulfur during the Peloponnesian War in 400 B. C. In medieval times, soldiers used to throw dead bodies into the wells. During the Indian-French wars in1689 and 1763, blankets used by smallpox patients were given to Indians for carrying the disease to the latter. It was Germany, which, during World War I, used poisonous gas for the first time against Allied forces at Belgium and Ypres. The use of poisonous gas by Germany caused about 30 percent of casualties suffered by the US army. The use of poisonous gas proved so fatal and devastating in nature that many nations unanimously agreed to ban the use of gas and extremely harmful chemical substances in future wars. But again it was Iraq which breached the agreement and used chemical weapons against Iran in eight years long war (1980-1988). Iraq was also held responsible for using chemical weapons against the independence seeking Kurdish people. Relatively New Forms of Warfare Some of the new forms of warfare that have lately engaged nations in the design, technique and art of modern warfare include: 1. Chemical Warfare 2. Biological Warfare 3. Radiological Warfare 4. Mine Warfare 5. Guerrilla Warfare 6. Amphibious Warfare 7. Psychological warfare 8. Siege Warfare 9. Nuclear Warfare From the above forms of warfare, the chemical, radiological, and biological warfare are singled out as ones in which CBR weapons are used for mass killing; disabling millions of people instantly, transmitting fatal diseases into enemy rank and file; incapacitating the enemy physically, and destroying their food supplies. How do they Work? Chemical Warfare Chemical Warfare involves all those chemical substances which affect the nervous as well as the respiratory systems, besides affecting skin, eyes, and nose. The chemicals, which include gases, liquids, and powders, can be sprayed from airplanes, dropped as bombs, fired in the form of artillery shells, or spread over the area through land mines. But there are some colorless and odorless nerve agents which, if inhaled, can cause immediate death while some chemical agents can cause temporary blindness or confusion. The mustard gas also called ‘Blister Agent’ caused many casualties during World War I. But it is quite relieving to see the chemical agents not widely used in warfare since the end of World War I (1918). Radiological Warfare Radiological Warfare involves those substances that give off radiation, and which may damage the internal organs of a person and even cause death. Radiological warfare is extremely dangerous because the released radioactivity in the process renders the entire area unfit for human life. Mine Warfare Mine Warfare is the use of explosive devices called mines to kill enemy troops and destroy their ships, tanks, and other equipment. Some mines explode when a person steps on them or run over by a tank or jeep, while the naval mines are detonated by the passing of a ship. The two major kinds of mines are: 1. The Land Mines 2. The Naval Mines The main types of land mines are:1) antipersonnel mines, 2) antitank mines, 3) chemical mines, 4) controlled mines, and 5) nuclear mines. There chief four kinds of naval mines include: 1) acoustic mines, 2) contact mines, 3) magnetic mines, and 4) pressure mines Guerrilla warfare Guerrilla warfare is conducted by the fighter bands that employ the tactics of sudden raids, ambushes, and other attacks on small-scale. The term â€Å"Guerrilla† which means â€Å"Little War† in Spanish, was first used by the Portuguese and Spanish armies during the Peninsular War (1808-1814). Amphibious warfare Amphibious warfare is the mode of army operations by land air and sea forces with the objective of capturing a coastal area or a beach. Generally the amphibious operations are considered the most intricate form of modern warfare. During World War II (1939-1945), after Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor and destroyed US naval installations in the Pacific Ocean, a common objective of United States amphibious warfare was to seize islands in order to build their advance on. These air and naval bases were captured for their operations against Japan. Antidotes for Biological Weapons The antidote for biological agents is a complete kit which contains medicines and treatments for nerve gas. It also contains injectors to fight anthrax, and antibiotics and drugs to reduce the effects of radiation exposure. Normally the kits are kept locked in military vans by the army. It is worthwhile noting that according to the briefing documents prepared by the Army Medical Department for the senior medical command in Iraq â€Å"Millions of dollars’ worth of such kits are incinerated in Iraq each year†. Army spokesman, Foster, D. said that the service’s policy is â€Å"to issue the [kits] to each unit prior to deployment, and ensure all unused [kits are] turned in prior to the unit’s redeployment for destruction. † Also the vice president for strategic security programs at the Federation of American Scientists, Ivan Oelrich, said that sending the Antidote-kits is a rational policy just in case â€Å"some terrorist gets hold of 10 gallons of nerve as† (Bob, 2007) Gas Mask Among other protective coverings such as injections of antidotes, gas masks too are used as one of the defensive measures against chemical agents. Gas mask protects a person from breathing poisonous gases and vapors into the lungs. Only air is allowed to enter the mask through the filter pads, which purifies and filters the air. The charcoal which is padded within the cheeks of mask purifies the air by trapping harmful gases and particles. Particulate filters can remove particles of smoke, dust, and even some harmful biological agents. The purifying materials are in the cheeks of present-day masks, which are often part of an entire protective suit. In World War I (1914-1918), masks were used to protect troops against gas attacks. Gas was not used in World War II (1939-1945), but armies had masks in case gas warfare began. During the Persian Gulf War of 1991 and the Iraq War, which began in 2003, gas masks were issued to troops and civilians in areas where it was feared Iraq would attack. (Lussier and Frances M, 2007)

Econmic Sanctions Essay Example

Econmic Sanctions Essay Example Econmic Sanctions Essay Econmic Sanctions Essay There are many foreign policies that the United States of America follows by. There are many mechanisms of control In International relations that the U. S abides by to help ensure peace and equality. One of our actions to help ensure peace and unity is economic sanctions. Economic sanctions have been used for many years now in international relations. There has been countless number of times that the U. S has used this form of relations to deter a country away from its wrongful path of destruction. In recent news president Bark Obama has issued economic sanctions against Russia for their takeover of Crimea. The purpose of economic sanctions is to influence other countries in that their current behaviors or policies are wrongful to international law. The point of economic sanctions Is to punish the country that is acting out of norm. The country or countries enforcing these sanctions try to deprive the country being sanctioned of goods and trade that are essential for survival as a way of punishing them. The overall goal of these sanctions Is to try to Influence the country to change Its ways or o find a new source of trade or a different way of obtaining the goods that are being sanctioned. The host country that is applying the sanctions wants the target country to change its ways into what the host country feel is beneficial to all parties involved. We want to show the target country committing the act what will happen if they continue to keep up with their actions that are assumed morally wrong. This will show them if they continue to misbehave and going against the widely accepted international relations behavior it will be a very bleak future. In the example of most cent news involving Russia and the territory of Crimea president Obama is enforcing sanction on Russia because he believes it was wrongful of Russia to Invade Ukraine to take over the territory of Crimea. These actions dont follow the norm of international relations where one country Russia doesnt Just Invade another country Ukraine to take over the land Crimea. In the past the International laws were different and we would constantly see the boarders changing but in recent years this is a taboo act. There are many ways of using economic sanctions to get what the host nation believes is widely accepted rules. The different types of sanctions are quotas on imports and exports. Quotas on imports and exports is a limit on how much you are allowing yourself and ally countries to import and export goods with the target country. Another form of sanctions is restrictive import and export licensing. Embargos and boycotts Is a third and fourth form of sanctions. Embargos is a complete halt in trade and commerce with the target nation. Boycotts are a prevention method of doing business with the target country. When you boycott a good you dont Import that countries good. Tariffs are another form of economic inaction which Is basically a tax on goods or services that are Imported. Restrictions or canceling of trade agreements is another big example of sanctions. This is a big nation. It can prevent basic necessity of goods for the citizens and hider them from performing their daily routines. There are many opinions on whether or not economic sanctions really do work or do they harm both countries. One argument on the failure of sanctions is that when you impose sanctions against non-democratic nations because they are more difficult to punish (Allegiant). Against non-democracies, broad sanctions that impose significant costs on society allow undemocratic leaders to extract more rents, thereby strengthening their political position and making them less likely to yield (Allegiant). What this means is that it will be harder to influence a non-democratic nation that is currently under our sanctions to follow our ideology by imposing sanctions that will hurt the society. This will only make the non-democratic leader stronger and more powerful and in turn it will have the complete opposite effect of what we are trying to currently do. A second opinion on how sanctions fail is that it affects too many bystanders negatively. Successful sanctions must target the unfriendly within the target countries while shielding innocent bystanders from harm (Major). In order to have a successful sanction you need to be able to persuade and/or influence the country using coercion while you keep the innocent bystanders usually the citizens from too much harm. One danger of using sanctions as a punishment is that imposing heavy costs on the target nation, rather than achieving the desired policy change, often can be seen as a surrogate for success (Major). What this means is that if we put too much pressure on the target nation and hinder hem too much then our overall goal of persuading them into what we feel morally right might not happen. The opposite in fact can happen in a democratic nation if we make their lives much harder than before, they will feel that we are the ones who are ultimately wrong. Sanctions fail because non-democracies are difficult to punish (Allegiant). Overall sanctions are more likely to fail then they are to succeed. There are many good outcomes that can happen from economic sanctions. The overall goal of an economic sanction is to persuade or influence the target country onto complying with widely accepted international relation policies. Sanctions work by forcing the target countrys government to concede, or by leading a popular revolt that overthrows the government which can in result establish a government that will make the follow the principles that the host country is implying. Sanctions are most likely to be effective when they target the decision-makers responsible for any wrong doing and deny the assets and resources that are most valuable to these decision- making elites (Major). What this means is that for sanctions to work we need to deny he valuable assets to the target country. One example of when the U. S imposed sanctions in the past is during World War II. The U. S imposed an oil embargo against the nation of Japan. This hindered the Japanese greatly and it made them make an irrational decision on retaliation against the U. S at Pearl Harbor. This ended up working out because it caused the U. S to show its power and we ended up using the first atomic bomb against Japan. After we bombed Japan the Japanese realized that if it wanted to avoid any more destruction then it would have to succumb to the U. S and follow our sanctions. There has been a recent study that one of the best determinants of sanctions success has been the amount of damage done to the product (GNP) by somewhat over 2. 5 percent (Major). The target country that the sanction is being imposed on is going to take a hit in their economy. But this suffering is going to be the motivation for the countrys government that if it wants to hurt the economies any more than it is going to have make some drastic changes or to set up a new government that is willing to make the changes. The degree to which a group achieves its most favored policy on a particular issue is more a result of the reapportion of its resources that it devotes to that issue (Major). If we want the target country to conform to the sanction then we will need to put an adequate amount of resources to that issue. We will not persuade or force the country to make changes if we dont show them that this needs to happen. We need to be forceful and prove we are not messing around. Back to the example of Japan and WI, if we had not used the atomic bomb on Japan, the country would be totally different. We showed them that we meant business and it will have to listen to us or it would possibly face total extinction like their two major cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The less apparent costs of economic sanctions, as compared to those of armed force, may encourage a facile resort to economic sanctions that would have been intolerable in the case of military action (Mallory). This is a good reason why economic sanctions are able to succeed. A sanction is going to be less costly than going to war with that nation. We never know the outcome of what can happen in a war but we can control the outcome if we impose a sanction. The host country can always retract and remove sanctions imposed upon the target country. But once we go to war with a country it is very hard to back off from the war without hurting the countrys image. It will make them look weak if we decide to back off from a war that we started. In conclusion sanctions are a true form of international politics. You have to be careful on how you impose them because you will never know how the target country will react. Sanctions are more likely to fail then they are to succeed. How much will the host country puts into the sanction and how much resources it will allocate to get the target country to conform will be the ultimate factor if it will succeed to not. Sources Used

Battle of Churubusco - Mexican-American War - Winfield Scott

Battle of Churubusco - Mexican-American War - Winfield Scott Battle of Churubusco - Conflict Date: The Battle of Churubusco was fought August 20, 1847, during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Armies Commanders United States Major General Winfield ScottMajor General William J. Worth8,497 Mexico General Manuel RinconGeneral Pedro Anaya3,800 Battle of Churubusco - Background: With the beginning of the Mexican-American War in May 1946, Brigadier General Zachary Taylor won quick victories in Texas at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Pausing to reinforce, he later invaded northern Mexico and captured the city of Monterrey. Though pleased with Taylors success, President James K. Polk was increasingly concerned about the generals political aspirations. As a result of this, and reports that an advance on Mexico City from Monterrey would be difficult, he began stripping Taylors army of men to form a new command for Major General Winfield Scott. This new army was tasked with capturing the port of Veracruz before moving inland against the Mexican capital. Polks approach nearly brought disaster when a badly outnumbered Taylor was attacked at Buena Vista in February 1847. In desperate fighting, he was able to hold off the Mexicans. Landing at Veracruz in March 1847, Scott captured the city after a twenty-day siege. Concerned about yellow fever along the coast, he quickly began marching inland and was soon confronted by a Mexican army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Attacking the Mexicans at Cerro Gordo on April 18, he routed the enemy before advancing to capture Puebla. Resuming the campaign in early August, Scott elected to approach Mexico City from the south rather than force the enemy defenses at El Peà ±Ãƒ ³n. Rounding Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco his men arrived at San Augustin on August 18. Having anticipated an American advance from the east, Santa Anna began redeploying his army to the south and assumed a line along the Churubusco River (Map). Battle of Churubusco - Situation Before Contreras: To defend the southern approaches to the city, Santa Anna deployed troops under General Francisco Perez at Coyoacan with forces led by General Nicholas Bravo to the east at Churubusco. In the west, the Mexican right was held General Gabriel Valencias Army of the North at San Angel. Having established his new position, Santa Anna was separated from the Americans by a vast lava field known as the Pedregal. On August 18 Scott directed Major General William J. Worth to take his division along the direct road to Mexico City. Marching along the east edge of the Pedregal, the division and accompanying dragoons came under heavy fire at San Antonio, just south of Churubusco. Unable to flank the enemy due to the Pedregal to the west and water to the east, Worth elected to halt. In the west, Valencia, a political rival of Santa Anna, elected to advance his men five miles south to a position near the villages of Contreras and Padierna. Seeking to break the deadlock, Scott sent one of his engineers, Major Robert E. Lee, to find a path through the Pedregal to the west. Successful, Lee began leading American troops from Major Generals David Twiggs and Gideon Pillows divisions across the rough terrain on August 19. In the course of this movement, an artillery duel commenced with Valencia. As this continued, American troops moved unnoticed to the north and west and took positions around San Geronimo before nightfall. Battle of Churubusco - The Mexican Withdrawal: Attacking around dawn, American forces shattered Valencias command at the Battle of Contreras. Realizing that the triumph had unhinged the Mexican defenses in the area, Scott issued a series of orders following Valencias defeat. Among these were orders which countermanded earlier directives for Worths and Major General John Quitmans divisions to move west. Instead, these were ordered north towards San Antonio. Sending troops west into the Pedregal, Worth quickly outflanked the Mexican position and sent them reeling north. With his position south of the Churubusco River collapsing, Santa Anna made the decision to begin pulling back towards Mexico City. To do so, it was critical that his forces hold the bridge at Churubusco. Command of the Mexican forces at Churubusco fell to General Manuel Rincon who directed his troops to occupy fortifications near the bridge as well as the San Mateo Convent to the southwest. Among the defenders were members of the San Patricio Battalion which consisted of Irish deserters from the American army. With the two wings of his army converging on Churubusco, Scott immediately ordered Worth and Pillow to attack the bridge while Twiggs division assaulted the convent. In an uncharacteristic move, Scott had not scouted either of these positions and was unaware of their strength. While these attacks moved forward, the brigades of Brigadier Generals James Shields and Franklin Pierce were to move north over the bridge at Coyoacan before turning east for Portales. Had Scott reconnoitered Churubusco, he most likely would have sent the bulk of his men along Shields route. Battle of Churubusco - A Bloody Victory: Moving forward, the initial assaults against the bridge failed as Mexican forces held. They were aided by the timely arrival of militia reinforcements. Renewing the assault, the brigades of Brigadier Generals Newman S. Clarke and George Cadwalader finally carried the position after a determined attack. To the north, Shields successfully crossed the river before meeting a superior Mexican force at Portales. Under pressure, he was reinforced by the Mounted Rifles and a company of dragoons which were stripped from Twiggs division. With the bridge taken, American forces were able to reduce the convent. Charging forward, Captain Edmund B. Alexander led the 3rd Infantry in storming its walls. The convent quickly fell and many of the surviving San Patricios were captured. At Portales, Shields began to gain the upper hand and the enemy began to retreat as Worths division was seen advancing from bridge to the south. Battle of Churubusco - Aftermath: Uniting, the Americans mounted an ineffective pursuit of the Mexicans as they fled towards Mexico city. Their efforts were hampered by the narrow causeways which traversed swampy terrain. The fighting at Churubusco cost Scott 139 killed, 865 wounded, and 40 missing. Mexican losses numbered 263 killed, 460 wounded, 1,261 captured, and 20 missing. A disastrous day for Santa Anna, August 20 saw his forces defeated at Contreras and Churubusco and his entire defensive line south of the city shattered. In an effort to buy time to reorganize, Santa Anna requested short truce which Scott granted. It was Scotts hope that peace could be negotiated without his army having to storm the city. This truce quickly failed and Scott resumed operations in early September. These saw him win a costly victory at Molino del Rey before successfully taking Mexico City on September 13 after the Battle of Chapultepec. Selected Sources PBS: Battle of ChurubuscoSon of the South: Battle of Churubusco Aztec Club: Battle of Churubusco - Map

Forms of and Influencing Factors on Informal Entrepreneurship in China Dissertation

Forms of and Influencing Factors on Informal Entrepreneurship in China - Dissertation Example Since the end of Cultural Revolution in China, the informal entrepreneurs occurred before reform and through the 80’s, consisting of very small-scale activities in retail and services such as street vendors. Some of them achieved success beyond their expectations. But for most, business was a means of subsistence. However, with the development of economy in China so far, motivations for many informal entrepreneurs are not only subsistence-related; but also their informal activities are directed at maximizing their business’s profit. Allen (2002) claims that since China officially became a member of the WTO in 2001, and has agreed to undertake additional economic reforms, the market is freer, and the key to the country’s success lies in its fast-growing ‘informal’ sector. Therefore, there has been increasing interest in researching the types of informal entrepreneurship and the factors that have led the people to do it in China. 1.1 What is informal entrepreneurship in China? However, what is the informal entrepreneurship of China? Allen (2002) defines this sector as all firms or individuals not controlled by the government or publicly traded. Informal entrepreneurship is a vast term that includes self-employment, and private enterprises employing the unregistered migrant workers. unlike the formal entrepreneurship that is subject to the regulation and management by the government, and is encouraged, supported and managed by the government (Tsinghua University, 2006). ... What are the main types of informal entrepreneurship in China? 2. Why there are lots of people choosing to do this in China? Both of these questions will be researched by combining the unique contextual conditions of China, as well as the government policies and regulations. for instance, the largest population is one of the most important factors to be concerned as it increases the needs of people to be addressed by the government and encourages people to find alternate means of earning money since the number of jobs is limited.  Additionally, it is very interesting that almost all studying abroad Chinese students have always reflected on the same problem: they are complete strangers to the lifestyle of people in Europe because there are less and less ‘informal stores or street vendors’ in the European countries, especially at night, they miss China so much. Thus, it seems the demand of ‘informal business’ is quite large and sustainable in China since m any businesses are operated 24/7 thus providing the consumers with more flexibility in terms of approaching the informal entrepreneurs. The aim of this research project is to provide a theoretical base within Chinese context and special nation conditions of China in order to help foreign practitioners as well as local entrepreneurs to gain a deeper and more practical insight into Chinese informal entrepreneurship environment. 2.0 Literature Review This section reviews the literature to discuss what numerous authors, scholars and researchers in the past have said about informal entrepreneurship in general and that in China in particular. Topics discussed in this

The Slave Trade in Colonial America Research Paper

The Slave Trade in Colonial America - Research Paper Example Slave traders, nevertheless, justified slavery, using British common law, some Christian beliefs, and natural rights philosophy, where these sources promoted slavery through racism. These sources stressed the inferiority of other races and the supremacy of the white race and culture, as well as the authority of Catholicism.1 For centuries, slavery progressed in Colonial America, but not without resistance from abolitionists and slaves themselves2. This paper describes the history and important events during the slave trade in Colonial America. It no longer deals with the abolition of slavery, but focuses on the economic aspects of the slave trade. The Beginnings of Slavery The history of slavery does not begin in colonial America but centuries before that, and it is said to have started in Europe. Booker T. Washington said that slavery of Africans began in A.D.990.3 The Moors who did not have â€Å"curly hair† also actively traded slaves in various countries in Europe and the Middle East.4 The Arabs even brought their â€Å"black ivory† to Cyprus and distributed them across Europe.5 The Portuguese, however, were attributed to be the originators of slavery in Christian Europe.6 Prince Henry, the Navigator (1394-1460), third son of King John I of Portugal, established a navigation college at Sagres on Cape Saint Vincent in 1419, because he wanted to discover new lands and convert the heathens into Catholics.7 All non-Christians were then called as â€Å"heathens,† a pejorative word for people considered as uncivilized. During this time, the world was divided between the Portuguese and the Spaniards, the two Catholic powers with naval capabilities. The British wanted to emulate these old superpowers and explored North America as its colonial territory. From here, they brought and traded slaves, who sustained their new economy.8 The first group of English people sent to the Americas in 1590, the Roanoke, was not a success; they mysteriously dis appeared and were never found again.9 Still, this did not dent the English from pursuing the colonization of America. In 1606, a group of English investors had created the Virginia Company.10 They recruited people who were willing to be the new settlers in America. These new settlers did not originally conceive the need for slavery in their blueprint, because they focused on freedom and the opportunity to own land. Later on, it became clearer that in order to become rich, it was crucial to have the necessary labor to conduct economic activities competitively.11 This â€Å"peculiar institution† of slavery expanded as part of the plantation systems, first in sugar plantations, and then to tobacco and cotton plantations.12 The slaves are then called â€Å"black gold† because of trading profits and plantation profits. One scholar stressed that slavery is not based on color alone, but more for economic reasons: â€Å"The reason for Negro slavery is economic, not racialâ₠¬ ¦[it has more to do with] the cheapness of labor. As compared with Indian and white labor, Negro slavery was eminently superior†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 13 Slavery spread deeply and widely in South, where slave trading generally became predominant. Slave Trade in Colonial America The exact time and place of when and where the slave trade began in America is still debatable. One source