Coming home Essay

12 November 2009, 7:40 am. The sky was clear, the mighty sun replaced the morning dew with its radiant illuminating rays. Daud woke to the routine call to prayer, he rubbed his blurry eyes and looked around him, exhaled and rubbed his eyes again as if trying to wake up to the smell of his mother’s cooking instead he is still haunted by his Kalashnikov in front of him. He jumped out of his hammock and strapped on his weapon on his shoulders and walked to location he was instructed last night. He climbed hills and disfigured rocks with his torn, worn out sandal effortlessly even the weight of his enormous weapon did not burden him. Daud came across a small tea stall where a group of old bearded ‘holy’ men sat counting beads on a line of string with their fingers and sipping tea. One man looked at Daud, grinned and proudly said â€Å"Asalam wa’aliekum†. Asalam wa’aliekum? Peace be upon you? What peace did they speak of? These men were clearly brainwashed and blind toward humanity. Daud bit his tongue and nodded reluctantly. He finally climbed the last hill for the rendezvous and saw his fellow young ‘mujahedeens’ loading their guns and filling a number of pickup trucks with ammunition and explosives. It looked like their going for yet another killing rampage. Just another day; kill or be killed. Daud Karzai’s parents and home was snatched from him at the young age of 11 when the Taliban stormed the northern region of Banu near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The Taliban took control and scavenged Dauds village, they captured all those who opposed them and burned down the houses leaving nothing but ashes and memory behind. They, one-by-one, executed the men who did not share their fanatic mission of spreading strict sharia law. Daud’s mother was left a widow that day. His father had collapsed lifelessly on the hard ground soaked in his own blood. His mother left to stare motionlessly at his body is if it were an abyss. Daud was tied and placed on one of the Taliban pick-up trucks in such a position that he could see the traumatizing expression of his mother. Completely petrified, Daud could not even utter simple words rather move. The Taliban satisfied their amusement and drove off with Daud on the trunk seeing his life change in a matter minutes. His eyes consistently staring at the aftermath and especially his mother who lifted her eyes towards Daud with the utmost effort, as if life had been sucked out of her. They both look into each other’s eyes trying to make sense of what just happened, millions of questions buzzing in their minds ‘what now? ’, ‘will we ever see each other again? ’ ‘Why us? ’, ‘is God punishing us? ’ And just like that Dauds life changed. The trucks at the rendezvous point were almost ready it was just a matter of time before they leave. Daud saw one of his fellow soldier, Jeddah, sit next to a small lake away from the group and went to sit with him. â€Å"Salaam, are you alright? † Daud asked. Jeddah turned his head, looked at him dead in the eye and regarded him with frustration. â€Å"Sorry† realising how stupid his question was. They sat there for a while gazing the clear water. Jeddah sighed and finally broke the silence â€Å"If†¦if you had a chance, what would you wanna be when you grow up? † He asked, looking straight as if talking to himself. â€Å"Umm†¦well I never thought about it but a pilot I guess †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. What about you? † â€Å".. I loved my family especially my grandfather, he was my everything†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦he suffered a stroke a few years ago and passed away†¦.. they all passed away†¦. , they said he could survive if we could afford a doctor†¦ †¦.. I vowed to be a doctor after that day so I can try to stop people from dying †¦ I wanted to lessen grieving and bring happiness to people†¦.. Hahaha ironic isn’t it? I’m sitting here saying I want to be a life saver yet I kill innocent woman and children for no good reason† He forced a smile on his face and looked at the lake vaguely. As he did a tear sparkled down his cheek, trying to restrain from himself from breaking down he exhaled with the relief of expressing his emotions. No one wanted this life, they were forced to take the lives of innocent men and woman every day for no good reason. They could have been kicking a footballs instead they held guns for the same men who killed their families. Our group leader gave a loud roar, signalling us to gather at the rendezvous point and depart for their â€Å"holy† mission. The leader of Dauds group was known as â€Å"mullah†, a man who has learned and preaches Islamic law, he was a broad, tall man with a dark beard reaching his collarbone. He wore typical Afghani attire but with an armed vest, which handled grenades, a machete and a pistol, not to mention he had an ak-47 strapped on his shoulder as well. His turban was black and covered his ears , dangling from the back of his turban was a green torn scarf which he occasionally covered his nose and mouth with to conceal his identity. His voice was deep and demanding, perfect for a man with authority. He commanded us to be seated and the drivers to drive. There were three pick-ups, seven men sat in each pick-up, five in the car itself and two on the trunk armed and ready. We were heading for a commercial area known as ‘Zamaza’ where we were hinted that U. S troops made camp. Everyone in the pick-ups was aware that this day could be their last including Daud and Jeddah yet everyone was calm and ready to face death as if they were destined to. But could death be the destiny of an 11 year old boy who was been hide away from the world and surrounded by only acts of violence and turmoil. Which raises the question in Dauds mind â€Å"what is my purpose in life? † â€Å"Is this what I was born to do? â€Å". The camp was not far now. Zamaza was home to many businesses which revolved around international affairs including aid and funds from U. S and the Pakistani government. It was surrounded by trade routes stretching to Pakistan and Kabul. Daud and Jeddah sat on the trunk and watched out for any signs of ambush or potential assaults. The elder mujahedeen’s sat in the back seat and talked to each other along the way, unaware that Daud and Jeddah could easily hear them. One of the men sparked the conversation regarding a rescue camp near the border where homeless woman and children were cared for and protected by the Pakistani government. Daud senses heightened, he could not resist eavesdropping on their conversation. â€Å"Could my mother be there? He whispered to himself. His thoughts were sharply interrupted with a thunderous blast. The truck behind Dauds was completely obliterated any remains was enveloped in flames. The battle had started. The Americans had launched a missile from one of the Zamaza buildings. Mullah ordered us to engage back and fire at the buildings not considering any innocent men and woman there. Rapid cross-firing continued till our trucks had reached the mouth of the area. The Taliban’s firing had pushed back the Americans allowing the mujahedeen’s to rush and take cover behind the buildings. The opposition had placed barracks and snipers throughout the main road. Only a fool would expose himself openly. The area layout was very simple, the main road divided the area in half, the east wing was were the Taliban had taken cover while the west wing was the oppositions. Mullah’s plan and orders were as senseless as his mind, kill everyone and take control of this land. Daud and Jeddah firmly held on to their guns and took cover behind a bank. Bullets pierced through the walls, rumble flew everywhere, and innocent cries echoed within the alleys. Mullah and the others moved from building to building in order to get as close to the Americans as possible. Daud and Jeddah sat still till the building next to them was blasted with grenades the aftermath blocked all directions except one the west wing. They had to move. Duad and Jeddah run through the alleys in effort to find a way out of the area. They crawled under large destroyed concrete surfaces to catch their breaths. The bullets flew in all direction and they knew the concrete cannot hold them for long. Daud peeked from a gap created from the bullets, a U.S soldier was crouched beside a building and aiming in the direction opposite of them. Daud watched as the soldier calmly inhaled and exhaled enhancing his accuracy. Dauds eyes followed where he pointed his rifle, in the distance Mullah sat reloading his gun behind a wall. The soldier fired and in an instant Mullahs blood splashed across the wall. Watching someone Die was a traumatising experience but Mullahs death gave Daud liberation, a feeling which was snatched from him. Jeddah heard the gunshot and instantly reacted he pointed his gun at the soldier, he hesitated but eventually he pulled the trigger. His gun gave a loud click. He had no ammo. The soldier reacted to the click and instantly turned back and pointed his gun at Jeddah, who lay their petrified, impetuously Daud pointed his gun at the soldier and fired in effort to kill him before he kills Jeddah. Daud was too late. The bullet pierced through Jeddah’s head spilling out blood and exposing his skull. Daud had seen death before but not inches away from him he saw how instantly life is taken away in a matter of seconds. Jeddah’s eyes were wide open and stared motionlessly at the sky. Daud gently pushed his eye lids down and glared at his blood stained weapon and realised death would be his inevitable fate if he continued to stay here. Hardly audible, Daud hears a loud siren, he focuses on the sound. It was a steam train. Determined to escape, Daud follows the sound of the train. Dashing through small rumbles and alleys, the volume of the siren increases. He reaches a dead end wall but behind it he was certain he would find the tracks. He had to react quickly the train was approaching nearer and nearer. He looked around him and found one of the mujahedeen’s body crashed under the rumble. He crawled under the large debris and reached in his vest and retrieved a grenade. Daud pulled the pin and threw the grenade at the wall. The blast created a large hole from which Daud climbed out off. The train was about to cross Zamaza, Daud sprinted to the tracks and stood a position from which he could jump in the cargo coach. Daud looked behind him, the smoke from the numerous grenades covered the Zamaza, cracks of rapid gunfire continued in the distance. The train finally came, Daud jumped successfully onto the cargo coach. He finally escaped. The train was going to Pakistan from a popular trade route which was controlled by the Pakistani army. The journey took several hours but Daud was grateful. He remembered the conversation he had overheard about the relief camp in Pakistan and was certain was mother was there. He reached Pakistan on 13th November. Daud searched the relief camps tirelessly, and there among thousands of separated families he found her. The U. N supplied funds, aids and a home. Daud lived with his mother at the camps for two years. Today he works with UNICEF to rescue and bring hope to child soldiers around the world.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Essay

The wind made in the tree’s branches the music olian harps. † Ambrose Bierce uses allusions and imagery to create a sense of wonderment and mysteriousness for first-time readers of his historical fiction story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Within this short story, a man named Peyton Farquhar is being hung from Owl Creek Bridge for trespassing into Union territory during the civil war. As he is dropped the rope breaks and he makes his escape after dropping into the river below. After swimming through gunfire and a vortex, traversing through an endless forest, and suffering thirst and weariness, Farquhar finally reaches his home. Just as he is greeted by his wife, Farquhar’s world ends as his neck breaks and his body is hanging from the bridge. The sudden conclusion reveals the past events, starting from the rope breaking, was all a hallucination. While the ending shocks many first-time readers, second-time readers may recognize numerous instances of foreshadowing implemented into the figurative language used to create emotion. In order to embed this foreshadowing, Bierce creates certain events in the hallucination that correspond with events outside of the hallucination. Furthermore, he adds conspicuous allusions to Greek mythology. Lastly, Bierce formulates a very unnatural and vague setting around Peyton Farquhar as he is hallucinating. Veteran readers will notice these three key components of foreshadowing. â€Å"Suddenly he felt himself†¦ spinning like a top† is an example of foreshadowing found in hallucination events. In the hallucination, Farquhar is spinning around in the vortex of water. In the actual events, he is spinning as he is dropping from the plank. Other examples of this style of foreshadowing exist in the story. â€Å"†¦ e could no longer close them [his eyes]† Conscious of the ending, veteran readers will view this quote as a sign that his neck is being constricted in real life due to the rope around his neck. Lastly, â€Å"He could no longer feel the roadway beneath his feet. † shows that Farquhar is in midair, and close to his death. Readers of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge may at first conside r these texts as an emphasis on the weariness of the doomed man. However, these double as premonition for the sudden conclusion. Allusions to a largely known fundament of Greek mythology, Hades, is tilized to further foreshadow the closure of the story. â€Å"The road was as wide and straight as a city street. No fields bordered it, no dwelling anywhere. † this quote is a metaphorical reference comparing the scene in the Farquhar’s mind to the River Styx in Hades. The small instance of the word â€Å"fields† may refer to the Fields of Asphodel, also found in Hades of Greek myth. â€Å"Not so much as the barking of a dog suggested human habitation. † This quote from the story is an allusion to Cerberus, the three-headed dog of the Underworld. These particular citations all refer to Hades, which is broadly used as a symbol for death. Lastly, Bierce makes use of a strange and vague setting to give readers a feeling of mysteriousness and apprehension. This setting, found towards the concluding paragraphs of the story, also heralding Farquhar’s death. â€Å"He distinctly heard whispers in an unknown tongue†¦ † suggests paranormal entities envisioned around him. In this same setting, the â€Å"black† trees on both sides of the road formed â€Å"a straight wall†, creating a dark and morbid mood with the black trees and the â€Å"formal† configuration of the trees. This bleak setting foreshadows death and instigates a feeling of eeriness. Rereading An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge with familiarity on the story can yield and uncover a myriad of clever and subtle foreshadowing the astounding denouement. Much of the foreshadowing is combined with plot elements, such as setting, suspenseful climax, and figurative language. Ambrose Bierce used the described techniques to contribute to the inconspicuous foreshadowing of the ending, and thus, recreated the meanings of his written words.

President of the National Honor Society Essay

As I review the past several years, there are many accomplishments that I can be proud of. I have been able to maintain a 3. 95 grade point average while in high school. At the same time, I have had the good fortune to act as President of the National Honor Society at Keller High School. I have also been able to lead the drum line battery of the school marching band as the Captain. I have also dedicated much of my spare time to working with youth at Gateway Church as a Youth Group Leader. Finally, I was given the chance to be nominated as Keller High School’s Homecoming King in 2008. All of these accomplishments have helped shape the person I have become. However, the most significant experience that has impacted my life was the time I spent at the Dream Center in one of the many slum neighborhoods of Los Angeles. â€Å"No red or blue clothing,† is what caught my attention as I embarked on the journey to Los Angeles. Simply wearing the trademark colors of the famous Bloods and Crips gangs was something to be avoided. This rule stuck with me more than any other rule or guideline that I had been presented with. Suddenly, the task I was about to undertake became real and I was honestly frightened about what I was going to see. I had been given vivid illustrations about the poverty and death that I was about to witness. However, growing up in an upper middle class neighborhood didn’t prepare me for the reality that many people face each day. I asked myself how do I pray for people whose best days are not even comparable to my worst days. Soon I was able to see firsthand where I would be staying for the next two weeks as I tried to find an answer. The building was called the Dream Center. The fact that I grew up in an affluent neighborhood didn’t prepare me for the horrid accommodations I would be living with. Before settling in I was given a nametag that identified me as a member of the Gateway Church. Although needed for identification, my badge was as irrelevant as a Christmas tree on Halloween. For two weeks I would not be known by the affluent suburb of my origin, but I would be known as a fifteen year old, six foot two, African American male who was a temporary guest of a fifteen story homeless shelter. I accepted my nametag and proceeded to my room. I quickly took in my surroundings and came to the conclusion that my temporary living quarters could certainly be compared to a prison. The room was stark and devoid of any emotion or color. The white walls made the room appear harsh and unfriendly. My roommates and I had only three bunk beds, a nightstand, a closet, a toilet, a sink and six towels, which made for uncomfortable conditions. However, this simplicity allowed us to step outside our comfort zone and prepare ourselves for the work ahead. The white-stained walls, questionable mattress stains, unfamiliar smells, and random bed linens left our young imaginations to do their work, but there wasn’t time to dwell on it – there was work to do! This work was rewarding. There were many opportunities to serve, both individually and as part of a larger group. Some of these missions were optional and some were mandatory. However, this didn’t matter. What truly mattered was the work I was able to engage in so that I could make a small attempt to improve the lives of others. I was able to feed the homeless, work with the children’s ministry and work with the food truck ministry. After a very short time, I realized the dedication of the permanent staff at the Dream Center. I only had the night to rest and I was constantly busy with one task or another during the day. I began to look up to the people who did this job each and every day. During my free time, I engaged in Bible study, prayer groups and devotions in order to prepare for the most challenging and demanding event that was to come. It was an event that would change my life forever. On July 19, 2007 at 5:00pm I began to prepare for a journey that would impact the course of my future. The Skid Row Missions leader gave a short thirty minute preparation speech about the mission I was about to embark upon. â€Å"You are about to embark on one of the most rewarding, frightening, and most dangerous events of your life,† are the words that I will never forget. He led a prayer, gave instructions and also gave caution about the danger of the job I was about to do. I looked around at the others in my group and saw similar emotions on their faces – I was excited and I was scared but the most intense emotion I was feeling was eagerness to go out and do something for someone in need. â€Å"Be smart, be alert, be careful, and trust in God†, our church leader warned as we boarded the fifteen-passenger Ford vans that would take us from relative safety to the harsh and dangerous street known as Skid Row. The van weaved in and out of the notorious Los Angeles traffic making me feel as if I were riding a rollercoaster. I took in my surroundings as they turned grim and dark. The skyscrapers were shot into the darkening sky like a bullet fired to start the Kentucky Derby. New technology and infrastructure meshed with old landmarks to create eye candy for everyone who paid any degree of attention. My excitement began to fade as I saw the sign. The massive green sign that said â€Å"SKID ROW-NEXT EXIT†, reminded me that it was time to become alienated in the new world I was venturing into. I immediately began to sense darkness and death even though it was daylight and everyone around me was alive. My fear soon faded and was replaced with an inner peace from God that told me that I was right where I needed to be. One member of our group voiced what we were all thinking, â€Å"Is this safe? † It didn’t matter anymore – what mattered was that we had arrived and we had a job to do. We couldn’t have known that this simple question would come up again and again as we did our ministry work. We began our ministry by passing out Ozarka water and Famous Amos cookies. We were immediately tested by a large African American male in tattered clothing. He asked for two waters but we had been specifically instructed to only give out one water and one snack to each person. After five minutes of listening to escalating expletives as unpredictable as an F-5 tornado in Texas, we finally gave him a second water. We feared enough for our safety that we felt we had no choice. We continued our work under a thinly disguised veil of complete terror. As we proceeded down the dark streets, I had to constantly remind myself that I was not watching a movie. The people I saw were real and were suffering from very real afflictions. I was able to look past this reality by praying for the people I came into contact with. I prayed for healing, strength, jobs, addictions and sickness and many other things that were on the hearts of these poverty-stricken people. As I prayed, I also began to ponder the images I was seeing. The images began to way heavy on my heart and I wondered how people could live this way. The most important question I asked myself was, â€Å"Why isn’t anyone doing something about this? † I received my answer when I realized that I was doing something. It was something small but it was something. As the trip to the Dream Center came to an end, I was left with a heavy heart and a deep passion to help the poverty-stricken people living in Los Angeles. The Gateway Church youth group was able to break apart my arrogant, spoiled mentality so that I could move toward the mentality of someone who is in survival mode. I stepped into someone else’s everyday life, and had to survive based on the little that I knew. I learned that the world is very different than the small corner of the world where I live. It is my job as someone who has experienced the troubled world to tell other people what the real world is like, so that we can work together to be the voice of the people who struggle to simply survive. I will no longer consider perfect grades and being crowned Homecoming King as my most important accomplishments. Instead, I now know that the events of this trip did more to help me develop into the man I am today and they also set the precedent for the man I will be in the future.

Marketing - Case Study on Harly Davidson Motor Campany

Marketing - on Harly Davidson Motor Campany - Case Study Example The basic contention in creating a matrix is to evaluate available options in a quantitative manner. The provider with the greatest score in the rating matrix should automatically â€Å"win† unless there would be little point in creating a rating matrix. Rejection of results from the scoring matrix indicate that the team creating the matrix still has underlying reservations that are not being expressed positively for resolution. The composition of the rating matrix provided above encompasses all major concerns that Harley Davidson has to face in selecting an appropriate ERP provider. Furthermore, all major facets of the Harley Davidson team are included in the assessment team such as purchasing, finance, training etc. so there is little room for unaddressed concerns. Analysis of Harley Davidson’s original rating matrix in terms of provider scores shows that there is little difference introduced by using the additional weight criteria to the overall score of each provide r. The table below shows the comparison of the score percentage of each provider with and without the additional weight factor. Method Provider 1 Provider 2 Provider 3 Without Weight Factor 74 / 80 = 92.5% 69 / 80 = 86.25% 57 / 80 = 71.25% With Weight Factor 268 / 285 = 94% 244 / 285 = 85.6% 200 / 285 = 70.2% Based on the table presented above it can be seen that the rating matrix provides little difference with and without the weight factor. Hence, it could be conclusively argued that the rating matrix is a stable and representative method of choosing an ERP provider that reflects the aspirations of all participants from the Harley Davidson family. If asked to summarize my reasons for selecting an ERP provider for Harley Davidson, I would choose to clarify my choice based on the major selection factors outlined in the rating matrix. I would tell the senior executives that the provider was chosen to ensure sustainability of the ERP platform along with a high degree of flexibility fo r present as well as future operations. The primary concern in choosing the provider was seeing if the provider and Harley Davidson could accomplish a long-term working relationship. Additionally it had to be ensured that the ERP provider could understand the peculiar requirements of the Harley Davidson work environment that demanded a high degree of flexibility along with little interruption in operations as the implementation was undertaken. Another major focus in choosing the ERP provider was the method in which the provider dealt with implementation, education and change management methodology because Harley Davidson is about to undergo a major SMS change. Lessons learnt by the provider from prior experience would ensure that Harley Davidson’s transition from one set of business ideals and the supporting IT framework would be as smooth as possible. This in turn would ensure that Harley Davidson would lose as little value addition and money as possible during, after and in the longer run of the transition. Among other things, the secondary focus in choosing

Critique a professional nursing organization Assignment

Critique a professional nursing organization - Assignment Example For the association to succeed in the current internet driven market the organization is imperative to have a dynamic website aimed at efficient and quick service of the members. The website for this association is designed to meet the client partners’ requirements and works continuously, thus optimizing the sites for the new trends and the emerging technologies like the responsive design. Such a website ensures the consistency with the mobile-focused approach to the technology. The entire team of the professionals has experience in the web site cycle where the department collaborates with the partners to create, maintain as well as market the site. Both members and the customers’ empowerment is done through a strong self-service opportunity, which connects to the database of the association in an attempt to offer real-time updates, and the pricing information. It also ensures the members remain engaged in the advanced social networking. The department in charge makes use of the advanced content management system, which mainly separates the content from the design that simplifies the process of adding new content and incorporates additional ele ments into the

Evidence of Wage Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evidence of Wage Discrimination - Essay Example Classical economists, such as Lewis 1954, widened the aspect of wage to state that, wage determines the overall level of employment. 2. What will happen to the differential between wages of men and women of equal qualifications if multinational companies keep moving to South Korea and the process of "gender arbitrage" described in the article continues? Why? Sexism affects productivity adversely. Economists have established that gender arbitrage in fields of economic advancement reduces the pace of development. South Korea is very advanced technologically, however, its economy is not level with Japan’s economy. An insight into OECD policies reveals that Japan and South Korea possess equal factors of production and economic growth capacities. Even so, South Korea still lags behind. According to Solidarity (2012), records indicate that a woman in South Korea earns 27% less than what a man in the same position would earn. Women make up less than 1 % of the managerial positions. This a very small percentage compared with the fact that, women in the UK and America account for 10% of executive positions. Modern economics recognizes the potential women possess and, the implications of wage discrimination. South Korea’s economic stagnation according to IMF statistics is evidence enough that human capital goes to waste. Wage discrimination in South Korea is deeply rooted in the cultural beliefs and practices. In the Korean culture, the woman’s role focuses on running domestic chores. Globalization has led the belief that relegation of women is an outdated practice. It is important to note that, outdated cultural practices form the basis for lack of economic growth. Statistics indicate that only 60% of female graduates from South Korea between the ages of 24-65 years have employment. Therefore, the labor market in South Korea has a surplus. Firms hire men even though some women might have better qualifications than the men they hire.  

Tegan elects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tegan elects - Essay Example The most important part of determining whether to outsource or not was cost. But in this case, a better solution points to Hrad because Tegan has worked with them in the past. There are many tradeoffs that would be involved if Tegan elects to have the requirements analysis done by one of the first that was involved in bidding. They would have to start over with a new company and this would mean they would probably pay more. Also, because they did not know the newer company, the bidders would probably inflate their original bids to cover what they did not know about Tegan. Tegan needs the project completed by December and it would take more time for a new company to come up with the information. The beginning of Hrad’s work with Tegan was in 2004 when they were looking for new partners and new business. Tegan was impressed with Hrad and decided to give them a small project that both the companies could use. For Tegan it was a way to understand how Hrad worked and for Hrad it wa s a way to get their foot in the door with this company. This project also allowed them to build a rapport with the sponsor/coach (Upton Staats â€Å"Hrad† 2). Hrad was able to give Tegan what they needed on this pilot project and they were able to move forward and do more work with Tegan. The good news was that the project was able to pass all of the â€Å"customer acceptance tests† (Upton Staats â€Å"Hrad† 2) and the functionality was excellent. Unfortunately the bad news was that the performance speed was a problem. They fixed this problem by having the Hrad technicians work with a Tegan architect so they could better learn the process. Hrad also sent to Tegan’s offices one architect who could help them fix the problem; the performance problems were resolved. One of the challenges for the next part in the development was that the Tegan architect who had worked so closely with Hrad and who had been a bridge between the two companies, decided to leave T egan and this meant that information that was understood between two companies was lost. Several projects were given to Tegan after the first one and they were finally given the project to re-vamp the A/P system. The program was to be finished by December of 2008 (Upton Staats â€Å"Hrad† 2) and Hrad received a fixed price contract. However, Hrad would have to bid on the project as all the other bidders. Tegan awarded the contract to Hrad after they presented a ?900,000 bid and Hrad began work in December of 2007. Hrad worked with Dunnock and with Hrad to develop the project. There were other problems that happened along the way as they developed this project and many challenges began to unravel the project. As an example, after two and a half months, Hrad insisted that Tegan had more than one person review LLDs because there were too many problems with only one person reading them. There was good communication between the two companies and they seemed to iron out the problem s as they came about during the development. Unfortunately as they continued into the project, Hrad found that it would cost another ?400,000 to do the work they needed to do to meet the December deadline; Tegan’s CIO, Winston Smith was not happy with this development because Tegan was on a fixed price contract. At this juncture, there had to be negotiations between the two companies for the extra cost. Once the project commenced, Hrad Technika had

Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Legalizing Marijuana - Research Paper Example It is also believed that India was one of the few countries which pioneered the consumption of this plant as a tool for recreation and relaxation. The Sadhus and the Gurus who practiced the art of spiritual elevation found this plant to be extremely useful for their purpose. They gained a lot from its usage whereby it was considered to be a holy drug. Earlier texts of Hinduism dictate that Marijuana was used by the Hindu Gods to evolve and to relax at the same time. (ElSohly, Mahmoud) Ancient Hindu text Soma Veda refers to Marijuana as the â€Å"food of the thinking mind.† Indians call it Ganja. It has served millions of people over a period of time and has been acclaimed as a life saving drug. However, there are side effects of this plant and if consumed by the innocent it may drive one to an extremely negative frame of mind. Marijuana comes from the plant known as Cannabis Sativa. The major psychoactive compound in the plant is known as THC, and this is the element which is responsible for the psychoactive effects in the human mind. The female plant of Cannabis Sativa is consumed by people as it is said to be more potent with THC than the male plant. (Rudgley, Richard) Marijuana has been used for medicinal as well as recreational purposes. Marijuana influences the human body and mind in many different ways. It has the power of changing the mood to the perception of the human mind for a particular object. It enhances hunger when consumed and can lead to weight loss among those who consume it. It relaxes the muscles and also helps the mind calm down after the THC molecules hit the ‘cannabinoid’ receptors which are present in the human mind. The situation for the usage of Marijuana remains static as most of the countries have banned the recreational use of this drug, however, it is allowed in those countries to be used for medicinal purposes. (Gettman, Jon) For those who have tried and are not prejudiced towards it, it is

Jacob's Creek in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Jacob's Creek in Australia - Essay Example This resulted in many branches of its name, for instance, Jacob’s Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz in Barossa, Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon in Coonawarra, and Jacob’s Creek Steingarten in Eden Valley.   Jacob’s Creek is Australia’s most known creek and it is mainly in the United Kingdom and other many countries where Jacob’s Creek wine brand is sold. Some of the international drinkers imagine Jacob’s Creek is an entire region though it’s the biggest selling label and almost one million of wine glasses are drunk each day. It is only some kilometers long via the Barossa Range near its peak, Kaiser Stuhl and gurgling down the â€Å"river red gum lined† bed into North Para River. The creek is extremely dry during the vintage time in autumn though Jacob’s Creek name conjures Amazonian of Australian the â€Å"sunshine in a bottle†. Jacob’s Creek has advertising Strategies which mainly involve unique selling proposition, brand image, resonance, emotional, generic and pre-emptive. The unique selling proposition is a strategy which ensures your offering is unique and more valuable from your competitors’ offerings and putting your idea in the minds of target groups to reach customers. Positioning attracts customers by forming a unique and positive identity in the company and its offerings. Jacob’s creek thus utilizes positioning to distinguish its products from others. The world consists of products similar to that of Jacob’s creek but the company makes its products get into advertising overload all through to gain the customer’s attention.

The Evolutional View of the Types of Identity Thefts Research Paper

The Evolutional View of the Types of Identity Thefts - Research Paper Example The study concluded with brief statements on the implications of the correlations between identity theft and the fast-growing Internet. Suggestions were given to improve the means of protection from online fraud and identity theft. Operational Definitions In general, Wang and Huang (2011) stated that fraud refers to the act of taking advantage of others, largely motivated by economic reasons, via varied deceptive means. Intuitively, online fraud is said to refer to those conducted and/or facilitated using the Internet. Although identity theft is the inception of many fraudulent and criminal activities, it does not necessarily mean that it is the start of all online frauds. Online fraudulent acts committed by methods of stolen identification, phishing, advanced-fee schemes, or other electronic transactions fall largely within the arena of computer-assisted crimes (McQuade (2006) and Wall (2007), as cited by Wang and Huang, 2011). Wang and Huang (2011) wrote that the term identity refe rs to the unique and stable characteristics associated with an individual, and the aspect of self is based upon the interior state of awareness. However, it is argued that the culture shaped by the modern information media alleviates the term from consciousness and associates with the body (Poster (2006) as cited by Wang and Huang, 2011). furthermore, it has been assumed that a shift in the perspective of identifying individuals may discard the psychological portion of identity, thereby reflecting an emerging culture in the digital era. There are three general principles of identity verification to protect users‘ access to their personal belongings in the virtual space (Crume (2000) and Foster (2005), as cited by Wang and Huang, 2011). The first principle requires that a specific user knows some information to access the system. A pair of username and password is the most visible example of such information. The second principle of identity verification is to have something in physical form. These objects may include such material things as a key, a document, or a smart card. The third principle depends on what users must be biologically. Biological characteristics, such as the individual's fingerprints, voiceprint, iris, odor, and hand geometry may be used to verify one's identity. Identity theft is said to occur when an individual obtains a piece of personal identifying information which belongs to another individual, and uses that information without the owner‘s knowledge or approval; "Identity fraud" occurs when that stolen information is used to benefit the thief in some way (Wang and Huang, 2011; Identity Hawk, 2012). The legal definitions of identity theft are usually more precise, but this varies from state to state. A well-recognized legal definition is the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (TADA) of October 30, 1998, making identity theft a federal crime. Under TADA, anyone who knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful author ity, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law commits a federal offense.  

Conclusion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Conclusion - Assignment Example Chatter helps employees in collaborating, and sharing ideas to make them productive. Lastly, topic 3 talked about the benefits of BPM such as accelerating time to market, helping organization achieve goals, delivering improvements, improving customers satisfaction among other benefits. Additionally, the course focused on three important points, namely, BPM and philosophy, BPM technology and demonstration, to determine in case BPM are for business or information technology. BPM and philosophy are management initiative aims at aligning the business with the goals. They include measuring, monitoring and managing processes. BPM technology is software that handles business process management. They include desktop-based software for electronic processing. The demonstration revealed that a good BPM solution requires that business and information system work together since BPM has no system boundary. Lastly, the paper talks about BPM risks and rewards. BPM enables or rewards the organization to respond to business functions by identifying the needs of the clients and developing better strategies to fulfill them. Hence, it helps in improving productivity, reducing cost and errors. Similarly, BPM has risk when employees fail to embrace the

Differences in ethnic experiences of criminal justice system Essay Example for Free

Differences in ethnic experiences of criminal justice system Essay Ethnic minorities, afro-Caribbeans and, to a lesser extent, Asians, are vastly over represented in official statistics for criminal offending, and convictions, but these statistics are not necessarily representative of what is real. An example of these statistics is that black people make up 2. 7% of the British population, and Asians 4. 7%, but black people make up 11% of the prison population, and Asians 6%. Experiences amongst different ethnic groups who interact with the criminal justice system are still very diverse. Whilst self-report studies show that whites are more likely to offend than blacks and Asians even less likely (Indians 30%, Pakistanis 28% and Bangladeshis 13% according to Graham and Bowling) this does not represent the experiences of said ethnic groups. The criminal justice system consists of a number of steps which include policing, stop and search, arrests/cautions, prosecutions, trials, convictions, sentencing and prison and at each stage it appears that blacks, and more recently Asians, are much more likely to face injustice, abuse or negativity within the criminal justice system. Phillips and Bowling note that since the 1970s many allegations of oppressive policing towards ethnic minorities have been put forward with mass stop and search operations excessive surveillance, armed raids, police violence. With policies such as the Stop and Search and the Terrorism Act (2000), police officers may stop at any time or place, any vehicle or person and search them for any or no reasons, but the patterns of how these policies put to use are disproportionate towards ethnic minorities; black people are 7 times likely to be stopped than whites, and Asians 3 times as likely. Police disproportionately using stop and search techniques against minority ethnic groups may be the result of police racism, which the Macpherson report of 1999 highlights. Institutional racism within the police force and its individual members may make officers more suspicious, weary and paranoid about ethnic minorities. This could also be the result of demography, ethnic minorities are over-represented in the social groupings most likely to be stopped and search, such as young, unemployed, working-class males. However this could simply reflect the differences in offending between ethnic groups. But more evidence for institutional racism towards certain ethnic groups appears when we investigate more, white people are given cautions for crimes much more often than blacks or Asians, arrest rates for blacks are 3. 6 times higher than for whites. This again indicates some kind of unfair or racist treatment; however it could be the result of blacks or Asians being more likely to deny an offence and look for legal advice out of mistrust for the police, leading to an eventual arrest, as we have already noted that these minorities are more likely to be unfairly policed by officers. The mistrust of the system may also result in ethnic minorities who go on trial opting for a jury. Although in contrast, 60% of white defendants found guilty as compared with only 52% of blacks and 44% of Asians, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) more likely to drop cases against ethnic minorities. This suggests that police are bringing weak cases against ethnic minorities to court, thus being abandoned. Although this suggests a more fair treatment in regards to prosecution and conviction, it indicates police racism in forcing ethnic minorities into court for frivolous crimes. Ethnic groups such as blacks and Asians possibly have a much harder and more negatively perceived experience of the criminal justice system because they are subject to a lot of discrimination, for instance in self-report studies when asked for the perpetrators ethnicity, many people would often guess black even if they arent sure, reinforcing the negative ethnic stereotype. Since the 9/11 attacks suspicions about Muslims have risen greatly, even though they cannot be justified on the large scale discrimination and prejudice they experience, this prejudice can often lead to over policing in ethnic minority areas, thus adding to the disparity in the criminal statistics, it may not be that these ethnic groups are committing more crime, it could just be that there are more police acting in a vigilant way around and towards these groups, so they are punished more harshly. It could be argued that if the same amount of vigilance and over-policing was applied to white communities equally, the statistics may equalize. Whilst it is clear that Blacks and Asians are overrepresented in criminal statistics, the extent of this remains to be seen, it is possible that the reality is that those ethnic groups, on average, do commit more crimes than others, it is also possible this is false.

History and Demographics of Myanmar

History and Demographics of Myanmar Introduction Myanmar (Burma renamed Myanmar in 1989) has never seen sustained conflict-free periods since its independence in 1948. The military has ruled the country since 1962. In 1988, pro-democracy protests were crushed. In 1990, free and fair national elections were held in Myanmar for the first time in 30 years. The National League for Democracy, the main political movement led by Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi (1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate), won 62% of the votes and 82% of the seats in elections.[1] While the purpose of these elections was never made fully clear (either to create a Constituent Assembly or a legislative Parliament), the military regime refused to honour the result. Since then, the senior political leaders and the army have remained the beneficiaries of the countrys self and externally imposed isolation. The population continues to live under political oppression, aggravated by economic difficulties. Detentions, intimidation and political oppression of activists are common place. In 2003, the military government presented a seven-step ‘roadmap for constitutional and political reform towards a ‘disciplined democracy. The first face of this roadmap was launched in 2004, with the reconvening of the National Convention to deliberate on basic principles for a new Constitution. Then in December 2007, the process of drafting a Constitution, based on those basic principles, began.[2] Unlike other political groups invited, the NLD refused to take part in the process. Although these first steps might indicate progress, the roadmap has come under criticism for being non-inclusive and lacking credibility. The economic situation stays highly problematic and potentially de-stabilising. The poor data quality and dubious governments statistics, which point to double-digit economic growth, are highly misleading to outside observers and attempt to obscure the countrys dire humanitarian situation. Because of political constraints, donor assistance levels to Myanmar remain grossly insufficient to cover the needs of the general population. In mid-August 2007, as a result of the dismal economic situation, street demonstrations were sparked over a sudden increase in fuel prices. The demonstrations grew into a nation-wide protest against the regimes policies. The Myanmar Sangha an influential institution in society showed overwhelming support for the protests. The government responded with a violent crackdown on the peaceful protests. This crackdown was condemned by the international community, which consequently renewed its pressure on the regime for political reform. As a result the European Union extended their existing sanctions on Myanmar in November 2007. Thus far, European sanctions do not seem to have pushed the government in the desired direction, and they may even have produced counterproductive effects. These include a hardened stance by the government, negative impact on Myanmar civil society and an undermining of the economy at large. Its often said that sanctions are, in and of themselves, a form of violence, employed as a political tool used for rhetoric rather that to create meaningful change. Nevertheless, it is questionable whether Myanmars progress towards a functional democracy would be accelerated by the absence of economic sanctions. The military government adheres to its Roadmap to ‘disciplined democracy, which can best be described as a fully controlled, slow transition to semi-civilian rule. This proceeds at the pace conducive to the generals in charge, protecting their interests and largely disregarding external criticism or pressure. In the governments point of view, Western sanctions are a hostile reaction towards its declared intention for a (controlled) transition. Since the SPDC can rely on sources of income outside the purview of sanctions (energy, commodities, etc.) it is hard to imagine that the regime will deviate from its declared goals as a reaction to sanctions or Western pressure. While experts often argue that economic sanctions have no impact on a targeted country, this report seeks to provide evidence of sanctions applied against Myanmar that have an economic, social and the political impact. For supporting this thesis the focus will be on the restrictive measures imposed by the European Union. It reviews the European Unions existing policies ‘supporting Myanmar to become a peaceful, democratic and prosperous country. Moreover, it will show that it is not enough to wait for a political breakthrough. Evidence suggests all sides, including the international community should have the courage to move away from these entrenched positions and try a different approach. After having given the necessary background and having shown why restrictive measures are applied by western communities, this report will provide recommendations for a different approach towards democracy in Myanmar. 1. Background In June 1989, the ruling military junta changed its name from Union of Burma to Myanmar, one year after the brutally suppressing of pro-democracy protests, where thousands were killed. The military junta claimed this name would be more neutral for a state of a huge ethnic diversity. Thus it would lead to greater harmony among the countrys desperate people and provide them a feeling of release from their British colonial past. The capitals name was also changed from Rangoon to Yangon.[3] The new name was accepted by most countries, including the United Nations, as a privilege of the Burmese government in power, but was not accepted by the United States.[4] Both terms are commonly used, with some people referring to the country as Burma and others referring to it as Myanmar. The same is also true for Rangoon; most people are more familiar with this name than Yangon. Myanmar is the largest country in Southeast Asia and in many ways a country defined by its geography, isolated and yet with a wealth of opportunities to work with its neighbouring countries. The country borders China, India, Bangladesh, Laos and Thailand. Much of the country is the valley of the Irrawaddy River, which runs north to south, from the icy eastern curve of the Himalayas down over a thousand miles to the brackish tidal waters of the Andaman Sea.[5] To better understand modern Myanmar and the reasons behind its self-imposed isolation, their needs to be a greater focus on historical context. The inherent complexity of the issues involved is easier to understand if the various historical forces are analysed separately. The different strands of history, described below, will finally come together and shape the present and show that current issues which today concern the state are mainly rooted in the countrys complex and often dubious institutions and history. Indeed, it can be argued that the countrys current situation is a result of often well-meaning but definitely foolhardy attempts to apply popular political measures to a fragile system of social imperative. â€Å"Nationalism†, â€Å"socialism†, and â€Å"autarky†, as well as â€Å"federalism†, â€Å"autonomy† and â€Å"centralisation†, are systems that have been used by political rulers in post-colonial Myanmar.[6] 1.1 Colonial Past Myanmar was relatively distinct, coherent, and autonomous for almost 1,000 years before the British annexed the country in the 19th century.[7] The first Burmese empire was founded in the 11th century. Many communities which lived in remote places were rarely brought under central domination, but remained relatively distinct from each other in matters such as language, culture, patterns of production, and political traditions.[8] Burman kings built glorious capitals like Pagan and Mandalay and ruled over a rich and thriving civilisation. Moreover, they benefited from an increasing population and revenues, providing significant military and economic advantages over neighbouring polities. Several wars in the eighteenth century led to territorial expansion, which further strengthened the Burmese state and created a distinctive Burmese cultural identity. At the same time, the growth of external trade, both with China and the western world provided further revenues. But the era of Burman kingdoms could not last forever and ended in 1885 when the British deposed the last King Thibaw in Mandalay and made Burma a province of British India. With the invasion of the British, new powerful political concepts and models for later leaders were introduced.[9] The British annexed Burma in 1886 and divided the country into two main administrative areas: Ministerial Burma, which was mainly populated by the Burman majority, and the Frontier area.[10] The British wanted to establish law and order through a low cost central administration. They secured their economic interest by rationalisation and commercialisation of agriculture. The British occupation did provide certain stability, by unifying diverse indigenous ethnic groups under colonial rule. Nevertheless, the British colonial system significantly changed and damaged the Burmese social structure. The precolonial social organisation largely rested on the authority of local chieftains and Buddhists monks. Buddhism as the common faith shared among the Burman majority, the Arakanese and most Shan and Karen people, was the main source of social stability as this faith emphasises self-reliance and righteous behaviour. Moreover, education was offered by monks to all.[11] With the British occupation, authority of local chieftains was replaced by weak influence of salaried officials, who were more responsible to local government rather than to the local communities.[12] The influence of the monks was weakened and they were soon deprived of their main social function. In order to protect the interests of minorities, the British assigned them some key functions which the Burmans, the dominant ethnic group, could not participate. For example, the British mainly recruited Karens, Kachins and Chins in the colonial army and administration, whereas the Burman were kept out of such activities. According to Josef Silverstein, minority groups living on the frontiers were administered directly by the central British administration. They were separated from the rest of the country, and those living in Ministerial Burma were granted seats in the legislature.[13] Thus, ethnic minority groups were divided along occupational lines.[14] Moreover, the British displaced indigenous and non-indigenous to the South in the fertile delta region. Deprived of their traditional social structure, those newly established cultivators fully adopted the imported rule of law, tenan cy rights and money lending practices. These British policies made the Burmese people conscious of their ethnic and cultural differences for the first time. This led to social division that had not existed in the pre-colonial period.[15] With the British annexation of Burma the structures of foreign trade changed, as well. The Burmese economy under the informal empire had become dangerously dependent on the export of view primary commodities -cotton and teak in particular. At the same time, rice was being imported in ever larger quantities, and soon Burma became the worlds largest rice exporter. However, as a consequence, an exodus of landless farmers in 1930 led to competition between ethnic groups and violent intra-communal riots. The world depressions of the 1870s led to a dramatic decline in the relative prices of nearly all primary commodities, including all of Burmas main exports. But nevertheless, international rice prices stayed the same or even rose. Thus, at this time of attempted reform, in contrast to Siam (Thailand) which enjoyed the profits of growing international trade, Burma was plunged into increasing economic hardship and fiscal collapse.[16] Efforts to promote economic development failed as the state lost its autonomy to colonial powers and the economy became more fully integrated into global markets. Local reactions to European expansion lead to crisis and intervention. The failure of British rule in Burma, instability and state insolvency were caused largely due to underpayment by Western countries for goods and services. The rise and fall of cotton prices and, more generally, dependence on western markets, weakened the Burmese government, desperate to find the funds with which to finance reform.[17] This demonstrates that these conditions created an opportunity for Western nations to dominate the country, eventually leading to British colonial rule. Following the British withdrawal, the Japanese occupied Burma in summer 1942. But throughout their four years of control over Burma during the Pacific war, the Japanese did not succeed in bringing the Burmese population under their rule, nor could they manage to lessen the external menace of allied forces. To secure their position they promised to bring independence to Burma and support an indigenous army. By not following through on their promises, the Japanese precipitated the emergence Burmese nationalists, who consequently allied with the British. In March 1945, the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League was formed. Aung San, Chief of this Burmese army, became the head of the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League. The AFPFL was first a resistance movement founded on Buddhist philosophy and open to all Burmese regardless their ethnic background, their political or religious beliefs. It later became a leading political party calling for national unity and federalism. During this transitional period to democracy, a Burmese government was created to handle administrative matters.[18] After the Japanese occupation ended in August 1945, the Burmese feared a regression to the British colonial economic order. Strikes and negotiations led in January 1947 to a meeting in London. There it was decided that a constituent assembly should be elected in April, and those living in Frontier Areas would have to decide whether or not to join Ministerial Burma. In a second meeting in Panlong on the 12th February 1947, the Chin, Kachin and Shan agreed to join the future federal union as autonomous communities. However, the Karen, Karenni, Rakhine (or Arakanese) and the Mon did not sign the Panglong agreement, which seriously challenged its credibility. To this day, dialogue between the Burman majority and ethnic minority groups is a rare and difficult proposition. As expected, the AFPFL won the elections, and Aung San was put in charge of writing the constitution, which espoused â€Å"unity in diversity† that could only be achieved by a federal system. His assassination in July 1947, as well as the deaths of other officials, left Burma without the means to pursue the democratisation process. And so, the declaration of Burmas independence from the Commonwealth on the 4th January 1948 did not prevent the hope of national unity to fall apart. After the Japanese occupation during World War II, the country gained independence from the British in 1948.[19] 1.2 Myanmar and its Ethnic Diversity With its estimated population of 50 million, Burma is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Due its central location, settlers from many different backgrounds have migrated to Burma. Today about two thirds of the population is Burman (Bamar) and the remaining one-thirds are ethnic minorities. This ethnically diversity is more than ever a critical issue and thus the ground of most of the countrys problems. Largely due to the fact that throughout history, Burma has experienced a great deal of inter-ethnic mingling.[20] Discussions about ethnicity are related to terms, such as â€Å"nationalities† and â€Å"national races†, referring back to the course which was introduced into Myanmar during the colonial era and became concretised with the countrys independence in 1948 when various constitutional models for multi-ethnic states were being discussed. The examples of Yugoslavia, Stalinist Russia, and the United Kingdom were considered as alternatives for Myanmar. It started in the 1930s when ideas of socialist and Marxist concepts had been introduced into Myanmar which took power in 1948 as the essence of the critique of British imperialism and colonial rule. The disproportionate wealth that European and Asian foreigners had gained during the colonial period, creating a situation where the Burmese were poor people in their own rich land, meant that the removal of alien economic domination became a key goal of nationalist policy.[21] The 1974 constitution, which is now being revised, divided Burma into seven ethnic states- the Rakhine, Shan, Mon, Chin, Kayin, Kayah (formerly Karenni) and Kachin and seven divisions, where ethnic Burman people held the majority.[22] Furthermore, the military junta distinguishes 135 sub-ethnic groups among the seven major ones. According to Analysist and social scientists the s can be distributed as following: Bamah 65%, Karen 9%, Shan 7% , Chin 2%, smaller groups like the Mon, Kachin and Wa at 1% each, and Indian 7% at least.[23] Due this huge ethnic diversity, locked into this small geographic zone, over hundreds of different dialects and languages have been identified. Most of the people would not be aware of such classification, if the countries military junta would not use this nomenclature for discriminative purposes. Ethnic minority groups are not excluded in cities populated by Burmans, but with the juntas assimilation into the Burmese Buddhist system, called â€Å"Burmanization†, they are faced severe discriminations, such as the deny of social, cultural and religious rights of ethnic minorities.[24] Moreover, with its xenophobia and oppressions against minorities, the military rule is responsible for the eclipse of huge parts of the peoples history. Minorities culturally and racially different from the dominating Burmans have been uprooted from their localities under the pretext of being â€Å"Kula†, â€Å"non- natives†, or even outright â€Å"foreigners†. In a multiethnic country like Myanmar, instead of following the democratic policy of unity and diversity, the military junta uses Burmanization as a guide and prosecutes the minorities, renames places, destroys minority places and replaces them with their ethnic names. The discrimination of minorities is reinforced by religious consideration, especially Christians, Hindus and above all Muslims communities are often target of many human rights abuses. Christianity is often associated with the Chin, Kachin and Karen, Hinduism with Indians, and the Islam, accounting for about 13% of the population, is mainly represented in Arakanese, Indian and Pakistanis communities. They often have no access to certain jobs, mainly in administration and in the army. Those who live in the remote zones are subjected to atrocities committed by unleashed military groups. The juntas propaganda portrayed ethnic minorities as trouble makers, and ordinary Burmans, besides the Tatmadaw, progressively share this view. Most popular targets of discrimination are the Royhingas, who are Muslims in religion and live in the Mon-State, bordering to Bangladesh.[25] ‘One party, one blood, one voice and one command was already the slogan of the Dobama movement, a motto which still lives on in the Burmese armed forces, the Tatmadaw.[26] Nevertheless, given the fact that Burma is struggling with ethnically and political problems it may be impossible to build unity with such a slogan, especially when 40% of the population is not seen as part of the Burmese society. 1.3 Post Colonial Era The country has been ruled by military dictatorship since 1962, when General Ne Win seized power from the Prime Minister U Nu. Only between 1974 and 1988 there is the exception of a period of one party rule. Ne Win introduced the â€Å"Burmese Way to Socialism†, which systematically referred to the decent of a country which had a 90 percent literacy rate and was rich in natural resources. Together with its regime, he dismantled the independent judiciary, the legislature, the multiparty system and finally cut Burma off from the outside world. This regime has been engaged in military operations against the Communist Party of Burma and various ethnic minorities fighting for autonomy or independence from the central government, which has traditionally been dominated by ethnic Burmans.[27] The current executive body, the State Peace and Development Council is a group of a dozen high-ranking soldiers. On state and division level, military Regional Commanders enjoy a limited autonomy granted by the regime. On township and village level, local Peace and Development Councils exist. In the cease-fire areas, ethnic leaders determine and implement policies, depending on the degree of their autonomy vis-à  -vis the Regional Commanders and SPDC. Although the system of government seems centralised, from the outside world, in reality, it is highly fragmented, with opaque decision making procedures and means of governance.[28] The military is entrenched in every instant and institution of the state, including the Union Presidency, the Union Government, the Union Assembly and the Regional or State Assemblies. The constitution is fleshed out with repetitions and irrelevant provisions. In many respects the constitution is vague and confusing and open to conflicting interpretations. The military is above the constitution and above the law. The Chief of staff of the Defence Forces is the most powerful person under the constitution. His appointment and removal are not referred to the constitution. It is anticipated that he will be beyond the control of a civilian government. The Chief of staff of the Defence Forces and the military are regulated by the militarys own regulations, which enables them to override the constitution and serves as a justification for the military regime to stay in power. The President appoints the Chief Minister for each state and region. A partially elected Legislative Assembly is also established in each state and region.[29] The military regime, then under the name of State Law and Order Restoration Council, seized power in 1988. In August, widespread popular riots against the military regime, which were initiated by university students in Rangoon, were brutally suppressed and thousands were killed. People took to the streets and demanded an end to decades of military dictatorship and international isolation. The protests have been rumbling on for months, starting with students at the select Rangoon Institute for Technology, spreading through the sprawling capital and then upcountry. The price of food skyrocketed, and a mood of opportunity and imminent upheaval fused with long-pent-up anger and resentment against the authorities. In 1990 the SLORC held elections for a multiparty parliament. The NLD as the main political movement under the leadership of Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi won 82% of the seats in the National Assembly. However, the results of the elections were never recognised by the military regime whi ch maintained power. The military refused to step down and since then have kept tight control of the country. Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest most of the time and only the leadership and the army have benefited from self-imposed and external isolation.[30] In October 1992 the SLORC formed the Commission for National Convention in order to draft fundamental principles of constitution. These principles underscoring six major points: Solidarity of the Union for Myanmar Solidarity of the national unity Perpetuation of national sovereignty Development of parliamentary democracy Development of justice, freedom and equality in the political arena The participation of Tatmadaw in the future states national politics. To determine these basic principles above, the SLORC convoked National Convention for Myanmars new constitution in August 1993.[31] The convention assembled less than 15% of the representatives elected in 1990 and the principles which were discussed had to conform to the objectives of the convention, pre-defined by the SLORC. Western States have passed many resolutions to encourage the junta to give a timetable for the convention. But so far, there is no clear sign of its near conclusion, and the NLD, which has left the Convention in 1995 due to undemocratic procedures, has been banned permanently from the convention by the SLORC. The SLORC was officially dissolved on 15 November 1997, reformulating itself as the State Peace and Development Council.[32] 2. Recent Development During the last four decades the regime has been effectively functioned under self-imposed isolation in an attempt to revitalise the ailing economy and avert popular pressure for political reform. To do so the regime operates without any respect of humans basic freedoms and rights. It is in particular the absence of an effective judicial system, and with that the fact that rule of law is not guaranteed by any means, which makes a transition to democracy incessant. The military junta keeps all media under tight control and limits the development of civil society. Torture and extra-judicial executions as well as forced labour also remain widespread measures in the regimes fight against political opponents and certain ethnic groups. By that, forced village relocations and armed resistance of especially Karen and Shan populations continue to cause internal displacement and a refugee influx in particular into Thailand.[33] The lack of good economic governance has led to widespread poverty among Myanmars population, structural un- and underemployment as well as under-funded health and education systems. Engagement of the international donor community remains limited due to the countrys political situation. It is also worrying that the junta spends high percentage of its budget for military hardware; as opposed to the few resources spend for public health and education. Concerns by the international community are aggravated by the widespread corruption inside the country as well as the uneven distribution of opportunities in urban and rural areas. So far, military rulers have been resisted external demands to turn over power to a democratic government and it seems that pressure from the international community has been mainly failed. Obviously it could not prevent the junta to seek almost total autonomy, although it seems that the present regime has opened up the country to some extent. However, the regi me remains suspicious of and resistant to external criticism and interference. This chapter seeks to present the countrys recent development on the economic and political front. It shows Myanmar from the perspective of the international community. Moreover, it will provide a deeper understanding in Myanmars economic structure and thus gives a basic background to understand how EU measures affect the country. 2.1 Myanmars Recent Economic Development-An Analysis With a real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 4.0 per cent in 2008, Myanmar is one of the poorest nations in the world.[34] Today, Myanmars economy is based on agriculture, gems, timber and oil. Although, the country is rich in natural resources, it has only weak linkages to the global economy. Over the past four decades, deep structural problems caused by the military-inspired policies and the absence of any rational economic and developmental strategies have led to diminishing living standards and widespread poverty among the general population in Myanmar. Political repression and impoverishment have drastically reduced the ability of communities to handle political or social change.[35] To give an economic overview and analysis of Myanmar, the focus in this section will be on macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP growth, exports and imports, inflation, investment and interest rates. Economic data, including s on foreign debt and investment are scarce. Data from the states Research Centre are mostly inaccurate or distorted. This can be explained partly through the fact that the SPDC are noted to be using older methods of calculating some key indicators, which are therefore difficult to compare to data used by most other nations today. For instance, the IMF suggests that official s used are significantly overestimated.[36] GDP Growth: According to the IMF, over the period 1997/98-2007/08, GDP growth has remained at an annual average of around 5 per cent, with the exception of 2003/04 when the banking system belatedly to fall out of the Asian Markets Crisis of 1997. The annual growth of 5 per cent would be considered quite healthy in comparison to regional GDP growth, were it not for the rampant inflation in the country, which dramatically undermines any gains made. To clarify, any additional GDP revenues would be swallowed up by the even higher rising costs. The EIU suggests that there has been solid growth in the energy and mining sector as well as significant growth in the service sectors over the last decade.[37] This would be somewhat encouraging, were those gains not negated by inflation. Evidence supporting this can be found by looking at the continued poor social development indicators and widespread poverty in the country.[38] A household survey conducted by UNDP shows that union-wide 32 per cent of the population lie below the poverty line and 10 per cent below the food poverty (i.e. cannot afford to buy food for basic nutritional requirements). This is also well illustrated by the fact that across the union 34.4 per cent of children under 5 years of age suffer from moderate malnutrition.[39] GDP by Sector: About 70 per cent of enterprises and firms (small and middle sized businesses) are in private poverty, the remaining 30 per cent (in particular large scaled enterprises) are still owned by the state, which work more often in deficit. The private sector is dominated by business people who are trusted by the government and often employ relatives of senior SPDC members. It has a share more than 90 per cent of the economic performance. However, Myanmars economy is predominantly shaped by agriculture.[40] Therefore the agricultural sector gains approximately 50 per cent of the countrys GDP. An estimated two thirds of all citizens are working as farmers or labourers. Contrary, the industrial sector including natural gas export segment contributes only 20 per cent of GDP and trade and services 36 per cent.[41] Myanmars economy was fully regulated by the state, but obviously the government is taking approaching steps to liberalize agriculture. Though it has ended some production controls and mandatory procedures as well as allowing to grow rice as a dry-season crop in irrigated areas. Some of the state owned enterprises which are contributing to the processing and supplying inputs of agriculture have been privatized. Myanmar has been one of the major rice exporters in the world until the government banned exports of rice and some other agricultural products to held domestic prices down. Only in 2006, the export ban could relax a bit and eased further in 2007.[42] GDP by Capita and Purchasing Power: As the chart below clearly shows, Myanmars GDP per capita in 2006 was, by some significant margin, the lowest in the region. This is partly down to the low levels of annual GDP gained by the economy. This could be attributed to numerous factors, such as poor productivity levels, significant trade restrictions and consequent low levels of trade, poor foreign direct investment and poor taxation collection system. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and IMF estimates, Myanmar has the lowest GDP per capita at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of all neighbouring countries (as shown below). To clarify, PPP is an indicator designed to negate the relative costs of living in the country data and show a comparable income level per person on an equitable basis. Needless to say, the low relative GDP per capita, even at PPP rates shows how low general income levels a

Solutions To Overcome HR Issues

Solutions To Overcome HR Issues Reliance telecommunications LTD is an Indian telecommunication company founded by Anil Ambani in 2004.The headquarters of the company is in Navi Mumbai India. Reliance telecommunication is the 15th largest telecommunication provider in the world with 150 million subscribers and the second largest telecommunication provider in India. The company has segments like wireless and broadband in telecommunication industry. The company achieved a high growth in telecommunication industry from the beginning stage itself. Customer satisfaction and good company policies made them to competitive with other companies. Reliance communications follows good human resource policies and procedures even though it has some draw backs. Vision of the company-Providing information, communication, entertainment services and being the benchmark in customer experience, employee centricity and innovation is the main vision of the company. Mission of the company-meeting beyond customer needs and wants with a segmented approach, relentless offering of services and products that are value for cash and stimulate customers, offer a network experience that is best in the communication industry, make reliance in to an international brand which is a iconic brand by others and lead industry in target to purchase and faithfulness. INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Human resource management refers to an assortment of policies used to systematize work in the employment relationship and centres on the management of work and the management of people who undertakes this work. Therefore HRM is concerned with recruitment, selection, learning and development, reward, communication, teamwork and routine management. While it is relatively easy to list activities that make up HRM, It is a subject that stimulates much debate and disagreement. The hr process is considered as important for the management of the consumer pleasure with human recourses. The clients find comfortable and will be satisfied when they understand the hr processes and how they are connected and the hr processes interact. Modern hr processes are measured and frequently analysed and identifies the irregularities in the activities and it brings the improvements for the benefits of the organisation. The success of Human Resources Management is in the connection of all HR processes as they provide the adequate supports to workers and the managers. So the main aim of Human Resource Management is to keep the human capital ready for action on the market and the rational grouping of HR Processes helps to interact and manage the individual processes. Every organisation has their own HR processes, but the main HR Processes are always same in all companies as it is the market HR Best Practices. Human Resource Management is considered as a comparatively new approach to Personnel Management. HRM emphasizes primarily on its strategic contributions and its closer alignment to business, HRM is a vital component of any organization, its involvement among other components of line management is notable (Paauwe. J, Jan 2009). Paauwe further suggests that HRM aims on its ultimate goals such as High job performance, low absence and high cost effectiveness through the efficient utilization of the man power of the company. Human resource is really the major component of any organization, the success or failure of an organization heavily relies on its Man power management. Maslows need Hierarchy theory is considered as guiding principle for HR Management across the globe. Maslow identified the very basics of human motivation factors. Following this principle it can be assumed that to motivate an employee HR manager should understand his level of expectations, potential of the employee, a nd should evaluate the performance before and after certain motivational measures implemented. KEY HUMAN RESOURCE ACTIVITIES OF RELIANCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANPOWER PLANNING Human Resource Planning is the integral part of Human Resource Management Human Resource Planning estimates the optimal level of Man power requirement on the basis of quality and quantity. Thus HRP can be considered as the foundation of Human Resource management. Although HR planning is very important it cannot be executed faultlessly in all cases, as HR is dependent on various factors such as employment situation of the country, influence of technological advancement, changes in the organization structures, Demographic factors such as age, population, composition of workforce, lack of skill, multicultural workforce etc. Certain pressure groups will also affect the precision of the HRP. Understanding of competencies of the Human resource is vital in forming a successful HR frame work. Lengnic-Hall, 1988, Milliman et al., 1991, describes the terms Internal and External fit, Internal fit refers to the extent to which the manpower constituents are linked in a logical way and how effecti vely they support themselves, on the other hand external fit primarily focus on the strategy of the organization, external fit reveals to what extent human resources systems are integrated. Manpower Planning or Human Resource Planning includes putting exact number of people, exact kind of people at the exact place, exact time at a low cost. Personnel Planning hold an important place in the world of industrialization. Personnel Planning has to be a systematic approach and is managed in a set of model operations. The procedure is as follows: Assessing the present manpower in the company Forecasting the future needs budding employment programmes Organising training programmes BENEFITS OF MAN POWER PLANNING Manpower planning is very important part of human resource management. A few importance of man power planning are. concentrated labour cost.-with the help of manpower planning there is most favourable operation of labour force in the organisation workers are given those jobs to implement for which they are skilled (right person for the right job).it leads to overall progress of the man power in the organisation. Optimum utilisation of manpower: it helps to utilise the labour force in the company which helps in the growth of manpower in the organisation. Develops business plan-Man power planning is an important part of overall business planning. No business can survive without having the right type and number of people doing the right work at the right time. Helps in career succession planning-with the help of better manpower planning it helps to produce a good career succession of employees which provides much lead time for internal succession of workers through higher position through encouragement. Development of the organisation- The man power planning helps in the expansion of an organisation. Growth in overall business planning-Manpower planning is a main part of overall business planning. Efficient manpower planning will help to improve the business. RECRUITEMENT AND STAFFING Recruitment and staffing is the process of selecting the right labours in to the organisation. The main aim of recruitment is to look for and be a magnet for persons with skilled to fill the vacancies. This process includes job analysis preparing personnel requirement sources of skilled employees. Job analysis Job analysis is a process of analysing the job in detail and providing the details of job needs to the HR planning department they present details as job specification and job analysis. Job analysis is important in the whole organisation. And they will provide the details of manpower requirements. The main sources of recruitment are Reliance communications have two main sources of recruitment internal and external internal external sources of recruitment(figure.2) Internal sources of recruitment are. Promotion-This is a normal source of recruitment, which means providing higher position, salary and responsibilities to the employee. So the position of the job vacancy is filled by promoting the suitable employee within the organisation. Transfers-It means transferring one employee to the other organisation without change in salary and position, so the vacancy can be filled by transfer. Advertising internally-Here the job vacancy is advertised within the organisation so the existing employees in the organisation can apply for the post. So the recruitment is take place inside the organisation. External sources of recruitment are. Selective recruitment through job boards-This is a major source of recruitment .To ensure most appropriate qualified candidates are being applied for the major position. The agency considers the following details for every positions junior, intermediate, senior, Level of education degree, diploma etc. Using these details the company determines which job boards, communication channels, and advertisement strategies are suitable for attract the right skilled candidates to apply for the job positions. Management consultants-For the vacancies in the higher positions in the company, management consultants are used to find the qualified and skilled employees. They act as a recruiter on the behalf of the company. Advertisement for public-The Company advertises the vacancy in internet, newspapers, Television etc. And this will provide the details of the company, job and the qualification required for the position. NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF STAFFING Keep space with new development-New developments are happening every day. A business will have to keep phase with new changes. This will be possible only if competent persons are employed who can adjust as per the new situation. Manpower Development-man power planning will have to be done in advance. The future requirements of personnel will be estimated quite in advance. The new staff will be recruited, people will be prepared for talking up higher responsibility jobs, and all this will be possible with a well planned staffing function. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPEMENT This function helps the employees to develop their skills and knowledge for increasing their output. This process is not only done for the freshers but also to the existing employees in the firm to develop their skills and responsibilities. Human resource development helps to increase the total knowledge, abilities, skills, talents, and aptitudes of an organisations work force. Human resource development includes function such as training, career development. Training-Training is providing to improve the knowledge and skills of the employees there are mainly two types of training they are on the job training and off the job training. On the job training is a process of giving training in normal working situations using actual materials or documents, equipment, actual tools trainees will make use when completely moulded. Off the job training is usually provided away from the usual working environment, it may include more general skills and knowledge which is useful for the job. This type of training is given by the specialised trainers or from an outside company who outsource the trainers. METHODS OF TRAINING A.Programmed learning- It is a step by step process of self learning method,providing questions, facts, and problems to the learner then allowing the person to respond and providing feed back on the accuracy of the answer. B. Apprentiship training- It is a method of process that the employees will become efficient workers through grouping of classroom coaching and also through on job training. C. Audio visual based training- This method of training includes tools like power point presentation, online video conferencing, audiotapes and video tapes. D. Computer based trining- This training method is widely used to provide good training to employees, it is time consuming and easy way to provide training. It is cost effective while comparing to other training methods. E. Simulated training- In this method trainess will learn from the actual or simulated equipement they will use on the job, but actually trained off the job. F. Lectures- When their is a large number of trainees, this method is used it is the immideate way to give instruction of job related activities within a specified period of time. H. Internet and distance Training Internet training includes video conferencing and web based training, distance training means traditional training paper and pencil correspondence course. 1. Tele training where a trainer in a central location teaches groups of employees at remote locations via television hookups. 2. Videoconferencing Video conferencing will provide the opportunity to train the employees from one location and communicate live through video and audio visuals with people in different locations another country, city etc. 3. Training via the Internet the Internet based learning programs are very popular. Several companies simply let their employees to take online courses provided by online course providers while others use their intranets to facilitate computer-based training. CAREER DEVELOPEMENT Diagram demonstrating your personal development Carrer developement of employees is a crucial part of the organisation, It helps to identifies the overall acheivement of the employees .Career developement is becoming an essential part of HR departement due to todays everchanging organisaton enviornment and work place. Reliance communications helps the employees to attain a good carrer graph based on the company HR policies and procedures. First of all the company gather the strength and weakness of every individual, then they provide different opportunities to develop their carrer based on the strength and weakness. The basic formula for the career developement is self awareness every individual asses their own problems and issues and then the company will help to over come this issues .Now days people are changing their jobs to attain a good carrer success .Reliance communication identifies this problem and they had a good career sucession plan for every individual employee in the organisation. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Compensation and benefits is a basic motivational factor to the employees.Every employee will search for high paid jobs,benefits is also another important factor if the company provides good benifits the employees will get good attachment to the company. Benefits include bonus, medical insurance,retierment policies, life insurace, vacation etc.Reliance communicatons provide basic pay which is satisfiable for every employee to motivate the employees and to attract to qualified employees to the organisation. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPEMENT Leadership developement helps the organisation to achieve the goals, through the developement of good leadership in each employee reliance aims at the overall developement of the organisation as well as the growth in employees functioning.Every employee in the organisation is gaining a better leadership quality through the leadership developement function.Each emloyees in the company are closely monitored by the management and if they are weak in the work the company will encourage them.And the workers are councelled by the management to increase work efficiency.And their will be a structured plan to create a positive working enviornment.The main aim of leadership developement is to leading self,leading others and leading the organisation. MAJOR HR ISSUES FACED BY RELIANCE COMMUNICATION ISSUES IN RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS EMPLOYEE RETENTION POOR HR POLICIES CASH AND COMPENSATION ISSUES 1.CASH AND COMPENSATION ISSUES: Cash and compensation issues is a major problem faced by HR managers in reliance communications. There is more pressure on HR function to pay more incentives and basic pay for the employees.However reliance paying basic salary to each individual employees the company faces more pressure to meet the employee beniefits . 2.EMPLOYEE RETENTION ISSUES: Most of the companies face the same problem of employee lay-offs. So the organisation have to prevent the issue by retaining the employee by providing good working condition and benefits whichever the employees need. In reliance industries there are so many employees leave the company due to lack of co-ordination between workers. The organisation tries to check the issue but fails sometimes. 3. POOR HR POLICIES : The plocies and practices adopted by the HR managers regarding their networking sector is an important example. They brought some new plans in mobile networking sector like low call rate for mobile users, low internet browsing charge.etc., but the competitors like AIRTEL communications, BSNL network, VODAFONE facilitated some more exciting offers than the reliance. In that situation the Reliance communication hesitated to change their HR policies and techniques. From the graphical representation of reliances communications profit from 2007 to 2012, we can easily determine that the profit is coming down in last two years comparing to the past this is due to the poor HR issues as mentioned above.The company is earning a high growth in 2008 and 2009 which is around 55000 million and it is dramatically falling down in the upcoming years.That means the company is facing some major HR issues and also high competition from other companies, so the organisation must change their HR policies eventually. SUGGESTIONS TO OVERCOME THE HR ISSUES Nowdays telecommunication industry is facing high competition from other telecommunication companies, If the company has no good HR stratergies the company cannot exist in the high competative world.Reliance communication is facing some HR issues as mentioned above, to overcome this problems company must do some good HR restructuring process in the company .The first main issue is ; Cash and compensation issues- As it is a major problem the company must find a good solution to overcome this issue, the suggestion to solve this problem is to pay cash and compensation based on the experience of the employees.As mentioned above the company is paying a basic salary to each individual, first of all the company must change this basic payment method,and the compensation and benifits must be paid according to the experience and skills of each individual. So the company can reduce the cost of labour so the company can meet the compensation and benifits of each individual according to the profit earned by the company. Employee retention issues-Retention of employees is another HR issue faced by the company, nowadays a lot of employees are leaving the company due to high pressure of work and lack of co-ordination between employees are the main employee retention issues faced by reliance communication, to reduce this problems reliance must provide good working enviornment to reduce the pressure of work, communication is another way to over come this problem good communication between the management and staff will make a good understanding between the employees and management, this will increase employees confidents and reduce the work pressure.A high rate of employees resigning their job and going to another companies who offer better working enviornment. Better co-ordination is the another way to improve employee retention,co-ordination will improve better relationship between employees and management.And this will result increase employees confidence and work efficiency. Poor HR policies-Due to high competition in communication industry lots of companies introducing new HR techniques to improve their company goodwill .Reliance communication is following the traditional HR policies and plans so the company is facing high market competition from other companies, to exists in the competative market company must improve their HR stratergies and policies.Nowadays companies are providing good offers to the employees so the company must realise the problems and try to overcome such issues.

honda insight the next generation of cars :: essays research papers fc

honda insight the next generation of cars Grab some pavement with the Insight: the hybrid that paved the way. The Honda Insight was the very first petrol-electric hybrid sold in the United States, and it remains a benchmark the others strive to meet. In fact, the EPA named this remarkable car the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the two-seater class, and the Insight holds its title as the overall fuel efficiency leader in America. Those prestigious accolades translate into great gas mileage: just about 1072 kilometers on one tank of gas. And just to make things even easier on its loyal drivers, the Insight doesn't ever need to be plugged in. Fun to drive, with a sporty and stylish exterior and a comfortably well-equipped interior exterior The distinctive aerodynamic and functional form is built to allow the Insight to become one with the wind, while keeping the air cleaner. Sleek, elegant lines fold into an innovative design incorporating both aluminum and molded plastic-resin panels developed just for the Insight. This impressive silhouette shows the world you have places to go, while dropping little hints that you're also very much enjoying the journey. interior Power windows, mirrors and door locks respond to your commands, and an innovative Electronic Instrument Display (IMA Charge and Assist Module) gives you a bird's-eye view of every relevant detail. Meanwhile, convenient beverage holders keep you refreshed for your journey and the Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System keeps watch so that you (and only you) are in the driver's seat. braking By maintaining a constant speed, you will make the most efficient use of your fuel. Â ·Avoid abrupt stops - When you stop your car, the electric motor in the hybrid acts like a generator and takes some of the energy out of the car while slowing it down. If you give the electric motor more time to slow the vehicle, it can recover more of the energy. If you stop quickly, the brakes on the car will do most of the work of slowing the car down, and that energy will be wasted. engine the engine in this beast is a 3-cylinder vtec engine made from Aluminum-Alloy highly reduces wieght in this small pocket rocket aluminum alloys and exotic magnesium are the keys to keeping things light on the Insight. Even the slick-shifting 5-speed manual transmission is designed to be especially lightweight. Brilliant friction-reducing measures make both engine and transmission exceptionally efficient. And underscoring the sophistication of the Insight is the fact that the first full tune-up is scheduled at 168,000 kilometers