An Introduction to Loving Kindness Essays - Meditation, Self

An Introduction to Loving Kindness Essays - Meditation, Self An Introduction to Loving Kindness from Guided Meditation, Explorations and Healings Outline for a reflection - one that advances the empathy of the heart. AN EXPLORATION OF THE HEART The act of investigating the psyche and that which lies past, starts and finishes with the heart. The initial phase in our freedom is the development of the heart's characteristic sympathy. Contemplation starts with the act of non-injury, a profound ability to end the enduring on the planet and in ourselves. In truth it might be difficult to be alive in a body without making torment different creatures and species, yet our aim can be to make as meager agony as could be expected under the circumstances and to utilize this life to serve others. Non-injury is an expectation, a rule for the brain from the idea of the heart. We eat. We love in confounded habits. We excursion and fall over perspectives. Furthermore, we get familiar with the specialty of equalization. [To bolster the changes, the heart proposes without getting forceful toward the mind.] We are figuring out how to live in a consecrated way. What is called for is neither power nor quiet submission, however a functioning interest at the time. It is an opening to allow in recuperating. At the point when Mahatma Gandhi was gotten some information about the detached obstruction he was showing all over India, he answered, There is nothing uninvolved in my opposition. It is simply peaceful. Gandhi's peacefulness is a capable methods toward a tranquil brain and world. Viciousness begins from the psyche. Recuperating from the heart. So the heart its still little voice inside is taken as educator on the way of freedom. What's more, non-injury is its most clear quality. Non-injury ranges from self-pardoning to the furthest limit of world craving. At the point when we start to rehearse non-injury, the making a decision about psyche, which gets so exasperated with our attempting, isn't permitted its harshness without a profound reaction from a forgiving mindfulness. Non-injury intends to treat othersand ourselvesas the subject of our heart rather than an article in our psyche. This isn't the judgment-actuating proclamation of the Ten Commandments. This is a pledge to recuperating and refinement a will toward clear activity. Similarly as with Buddhist statutes, for example, non-executing, non-taking, non-lying, non-sexual misconductnon-injury and sympathy are not divine guidelines cut in stone, yet basically appearance in the brain of the idea of the heart used to strengthen steadiness and parity on the way. They are delicate updates, showing guides, along the sparkling way between what appear now and again glaring alternate extremes. This isn't oneself despising profound quality which turns the torment to my torment. It is fairly a feeling of the proper which rises normally from levels of mindfulness more profound than our veils and posturings, more profound than the character, or even the gained self. Entering legitimately our basic being the core of the issue our common goodness is show continuously. Clear activity makes room for more clear activities. Generosity quiets the psyche. An Introduction to Loving Kindness ...By developing cherishing consideration in that part of brain that normally lives as an untimely idea, we change the setting of our reality. We start to live straightforwardly. We stir. The reflection that follows utilizes the applied, word-situated mindscape in maybe its most able way. It transforms an obstruction into a partner. The distinction between accepting idea in a kind mindfulness and being lost in believing is the contrast among freedom and subjugation. Cherishing consideration extends the responsive while mellowing the receptive. Cherishing generosity isn't novel in its capacity to be developed. We can develop any psychological quality. A large portion of us have heightened our dread and outrage by holding so frequently to the substance of the brain as being all we seem to be. Practice without a doubt idealizes, and we have culminated our dread to a startling degree. Rehearsing jealousy or outrage develops the re-emerging of irateness and hatred. Working on adoring consideration supports the repeat of kindness and mindfulness and the relinquishing the deterrents to the heart the personal circumstance, the dread, the rebellion, the judgment, which limit our immediate interest in the secret. In the gained mind there coasts an idea bubble called me and an idea bubble called you, yet as a general rule there is

Employee Engagement Perspectives - Issues - Research and Practice

Question: Examine about the contextual investigation Employee Engagement for Perspectives, Issues, Research and Practice. Answer: Advantages of representative commitment A drew in worker is unmistakably conspicuous in the horde of the absolute representative quality of any association essentially by his degree of intrigue and inclusion in the redemption of his assigned obligations (Albrech 2011). The subject of representative commitment in the course of the most recent few decades has produced a lot of intrigue, among the worldwide companies as well as among the little and medium measured organizations and even government part undertakings over the globe (Evans,2010). From the point of view of a business association, the noteworthiness of representative commitment is multifaceted (Albrech 2011).According to Brodie et al, (2011), in the cutting edge market of high rivalry, associations must form worker commitment which can be accomplished through legitimate techniques of authority and an associations promise to the reason for expanded worker duty. Representative responsibility implies engaged workers who will endeavor hard for their self-awareness, just as that of the organization ( Lockwood., 2007).This kind of duty helps in the improvement of a solid and positive hierarchical culture that gives adaptability of work and development of workers with no inclination towards sexual orientation (Coronel et al., 2010).Employees - both male and female - are fundamental to an association, and a positive work culture which gives fairness to the two sexes prompts more prominent flourishing for the association when contrasted with different contenders (Alfes et al., 2010). The association gains perpetually from a lot of connected workers in different manners; efficiency, representative maintenance, advancement, worker fulfillment and gainfulness which have been examined under the accompanying heads: Profitability As has been called attention to by Dromey and Broadbelt, (2012), the factor of profitability is very critical since it includes the exhibition of the workers towards the accomplishment of a specific undertaking. Efficiency will undoubtedly take a droop after some time in a work unit where the staff participation is low or there is a raising pace of truancy among the workforce (Avery et al., 2007) The presentation of the workforce has consistently remained the way to achievement in any association; subsequently, the business must show its duty towards its representatives by keeping them submitted and spurred nonstop and separating the ideal yield from them (Gagn and Bhave, 2011). As per Purcell (2010), a drew in representative isn't just proficient but on the other hand is achievement driven in nature and along these lines sustains a mood of inspiration among the workforce. This outcomes in higher profitability after some time, along these lines keeping the association on the track of accomplishment. Worker Retention The factor of significant levels of representative commitment decreases the pace of worker turnover impressively in any business venture (Avery et al., 2007). The workers who remain put resources into accomplishing the shared objective of the association will in general adhere to their occupations instead of move around in the segment (Lee and Kwak, 2012). This marvel brings down the pace of moving for better alternatives and in the long haul, the organization winds up having numerous dependable representatives directing it towards progress (Gruman and Sachs., 2011). The workforce that remaining parts connected with will in general draw in increasingly new representatives to the association. Development Each business needs consistent advancement and changes in their items and products to stay in rivalry, making the procedure of change practically basic in any sort of business activities (Kular et al., 2008). The organization which has significant levels of worker commitment brags of a workforce that is energetic and submitted towards their work, causing them to endeavor hard to track down more up to date approaches to make achievement in their organizations (Avery et al., 2007). Subsequently this will result into elevated levels of contribution that connected with workers feels words towards the association. Representative Satisfaction Research examines have uncovered that fulfilled workers are locked in representatives in any endeavor. At the point when the organization executes appropriate activities for representative fulfillment, the workforce feels its significance and starts seeing itself as a partner of the venture (Kular et al.,2008). At the point when the degree of fulfillment in an association has expanded, worker commitment turns out to be better. As indicated by Rayton (2012), it is fulfilled workers who play a urgent rolein spreading the organization to outcasts and who help in acknowledgment of the mission, vision and point of the brand. Productivity As a rule organizations with a connected with workforce have more elevated levels of operational effectiveness that outcomes into better efficiency, along these lines expanding gainfulness after some time (Lee and Kwak., 2012). An examination by Alfeset al. (2010) uncovered that the representatives who are locked in produce practically over 30% more income for the organization. The beneficial workers have been seen to cut down the operational expenses extensively, which reflects in an elevated edge of benefit (Lockwood., 2007). Drivers of commitment With the investigation of authoritative achievement, the idea of worker commitment has risen. A report by McLeod and Clarke (2009), features the drivers of commitment. They notice four classifications, specifically; vital account, representative voice, connecting with chiefs and trustworthiness. These are further beneath: Key Narrative As expressed by McLeod and Clarke (2009), report key story has been characterized as a reasonable, straightforward and exact perspective on the way of life of the association which is centered around the away from of a technique through which each degree of the chain of command stays very much educated about the bigger objective of the endeavor. It gives the representative a methodology or line of activity that connects their duty with that of the authoritative points and vision McLeod and Clarke (2009). The pioneers job is focused on additional in advancing the account with the goal that the representatives can interpret their degree of commitments towards it. It is significant, in any case, as indicated by the Clarke report that the tasks and culture of the association be intelligent of this sort of story. Drawing in Managers The commitment of directors requires a methodology from both line supervisors and the remainder of the representatives of an association which centers around compelling and effective liberation of the work, which is ensured from the workers by causing them to feel significant and thought about through valuing their endeavors and esteeming their commitment. As indicated by Bolton et al (2013), commitment of the chiefs needs not be for making limitations; rather commitment through reasonable and individualistic treatment will engage administrators and encourage the staff individuals in carrying out their responsibilities. Henceforth, the conduct approach and activity of the chiefs must be fundamentally coordinated towards the help and prosperity of the representatives (McLeod and Clarke 2009). Representative Voice This is one of the open drivers of drawing in the representatives through which the conclusions and the perspectives on the workforce are mulled over (Macey and Schneider, B.,2008). These assessments and perspectives are reacted to so that through the act of a collective or participative administration approach, the business is driven towards development and achievement (Shashi, 2010). It isn't to be viewed as only a mechanism of communicating a perspective; rather, the businesses must make it a propensity for soliciting the supposition from the workforce and giving it due thought (Macey and Schneider, 2008). This will result into representatives effectively taking an interest in a procedure of commitment to the future possibilities of the undertaking. Uprightness This is viewed as the last driver of commitment which penetrates all through the association in the impression of adherence and due consistence with the way of life, qualities and standards of the association (Markos and Sridevi, 2010). The void between the expressed and rehearsed values is invalidated, bringing about a place of respectability and trust in the conduct of the association (Shashi., 2010). The hole between the rehearsed qualities and the proclaimed ones mirrors a poor picture about the uprightness of the undertaking according to the representatives bringing about worker separation (Gruman and Saks, 2011). It is along these lines significant that an arrangement between the two is available consistently to advance and atmosphere of trust and trustworthiness, therefore bringing about commitment inside the workforce ( Lockwood., 2007). Representative Voice and Strategic Narrative The report of McLeod and Clarke (2009), shows that empowering influences utilizing key account and worker voice have a solid relationship with the inward correspondence procedures of the association. As a piece of the procedure of correspondence inside the endeavor, it is most significant that data is shared between the senior level supervisors and the representatives all the time (Welch and Jackson, 2007). Lockwood (2007), stresses that the workforce is anxious to know the points, plans, accomplishments and vision of the venture just in light of the fact that the security of their business has an immediate connection with the advancement of the endeavor. It is urgent for the venture to build up a culture of direct correspondence between the workers and the ranking directors, and not just the delegates of the previous (Welch and Jackson, 2007). As expressed by Markos and Sridevi (2010), the job of an unmistakable and consistent procedure of correspondence has been underscored by a few specialists and scholars in the advancement of the worldview of worker commitment inside the undertaking. Conflicting and equivocal correspondence brings about misconception as well as makes pointless disarray among the workforce (Aral et al., 2013). One of the most significant parts of inward corporate correspondence is the substance

How Are Variables Used in Psychology Research

How Are Variables Used in Psychology Research Student Resources Study Guides and Tips Print How Are Variables Used in Psychology Research? By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on September 17, 2019 Monty Rakusen / Getty Images More in Student Resources Study Guides and Tips APA Style and Writing Careers A variable is something that can be changed or varied, such as a characteristic or value. Variables are generally used in psychology experiments to determine if changes to one thing result in changes to another. Variables play a critical role in the psychological research process. By systematically varying some variables and measuring the effects on other variables, researchers can determine if changes to one thing result in changes in something else. The Dependent and Independent Variables In a psychology experiment: The independent variable is the variable that is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter. For example, in an experiment on the impact of sleep deprivation on test performance, sleep deprivation would be the independent variable.The dependent variable is the variable that is measured by the experimenter. In our previous example, the scores on the test performance measure would be the dependent variable. Extraneous and Confounding Variables It is important to note that the independent and dependent variables are not the only variables present in many experiments. In some cases, extraneous variables may also play a role. This type of variable is one that may have an impact on the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. For example, in our previous description of an experiment on the effects of sleep deprivation on test performance, other factors such as age, gender, and academic background may have an impact on the results. In such cases, the experimenter will note the values of these extraneous variables so this impact on the results can be controlled for. There are two basic types of extraneous variables: Participant Variables: These extraneous variables are related to individual characteristics of each participant that may impact how he or she responds. These factors can include background differences, mood, anxiety, intelligence, awareness and other characteristics that are unique to each person.Situational Variables: These extraneous variables are related to things in the environment that may impact how each participant responds. For example, if a participant is taking a test in a chilly room, the temperature would be considered an extraneous variable. Some participants may not be affected by the cold, but others might be distracted or annoyed by the temperature of the room. In many cases, extraneous variables are controlled for by the experimenter. In the case of participant variables, the experiment might select participants that are the same in background and temperament to ensure that these factors do not interfere with the results. Confounding Variables If a variable cannot be controlled for, it becomes what is known as a confounding variable. This type of variable can have an impact on the dependent variable, which can make it difficult to determine if the results are due to the influence of the independent variable, the confounding variable or an interaction of the two. Operationally Defining a Variable Before conducting a psychology experiment, it is essential to create firm operational definitions for both the independent variable and dependent variable. An operational definition describes how the variables are measured and defined in the study. For example, in our imaginary experiment on the effects of sleep deprivation on test performance, we would need to create very specific operational definitions for our two variables. If our hypothesis is Students who are sleep deprived will score significantly lower on a test, then we would have a few different concepts to define. First, what do we mean by students? In our example, let’s define students as participants enrolled in an introductory university-level psychology course. Next, we need to operationally define the sleep deprivation variable. In our example, let’s say that sleep deprivation refers to those participants who have had less than five hours of sleep the night before the test. Finally, we need to create an operational definition for the test variable. For this example, the test variable will be defined as a student’s score on a chapter exam in the introductory psychology course. Students often report problems with identifying the independent and dependent variables in an experiment. While the task can become more difficult as the complexity of an experiment increases, there are a few questions you can ask when trying to identify a variable. What is the experimenter manipulating? The things that change, either naturally or through direct manipulation from the experimenter, are generally the independent variables. What is being measured? The dependent variable is the one that the experimenter is measuring.

The Ku Klux Klan And The Civil Rights Movement - 1411 Words

Founded in 1866, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican party’s reconstruction-era polices aimed at establishing political and economic equality for blacks. Its members waged an unseen war of intimidation and violence directed at white and black republican leaders. Through congress passed legislation designed to stop and contain Klan terrorism, the organization saw its primary goal fulfilled through democratic victories in state legislatures across the south in the 1870s. After a period of decline, white protestant nativist group’s revived the Klan in the early 20th century, burning crosses and staging rallies, parades and marches†¦show more content†¦Shortly after the formation of the KKK, Nathan Bedford Forrest, a former slave trader and confederate general, assumed control of the organization and turned it into a militaristic, hierarchical entity. In 1868, Forrest formally disbanded the group after he became appalled by its growing violence. Despite his disbandment the KKK continued to grow, and its atrocities worsened. Drawing the core of its membership from ex-confederate soldiers, the KKK may have numbered several hundred thousand at its height during reconstruction. In1871, the federal government took several steps to counter the KKK and its violence. Congress organized a joint select committee made up of seven senators and 14 representatives of the house to look into the Klan and its activities. It then passed the civil rights act of 1871, frequently referred to as the Ku Klux Klan act, which made night riding a crime and empowered the president to order the use of federal troops to put down conspirators by force. The law also provided criminal and civil penalties for people convicted of privet conspiracies (such as those perpetrated by the KKK) intended to deny others their civil rights. Some distinguished members of congress and the Supreme Court were also involved in the KKK. Hugo L. Black was a prominent member of the U.S. Supreme Court and a former senator was a suspected KKK member. Black was a member of the KuShow MoreRelatedThe Ku Klux Klan And The Civil Rights Movement1237 Words   |  5 Pagesother groups during the World War II and the Civil Rights Movement periods. This hatred and cruelty was brought upon those who did not believe in causes that these white supremacists wanted them to believe in. The creation of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was a major contributing factor to racism and prejudice in America for over 100 years. Many opposed the KKK, but there was a slight few that supported the Klan, glorifying them and their cause. The Ku Klux Klan is known as a racial hate group, who forcedRead MoreThe Klan s Organized Terrorism1114 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan had three eras, an era ends when the Ku Klux Klan movement dies out or they loss the need for it. Each era may have its own intentions or what their main goal is, but white supremacy is still their goal just trying to accomplish it in different ways, while also opposing thing that may go against their moral code, like gay marriage. The Ku Klux Klan is an origination focused on having white supremacy, it has existed for many years and has had three eras, it is most known for its actRead MoreTaking a Look at the Ku Klux Klan892 Words   |  4 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan was known as the biggest hate group in American History, and they are responsible for thousands of innocent blacks’ deaths. The Ku Klux Klan made it very hard for the blacks, Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and homosexuals to live a normal life. The Klan made them live in fear. The Ku Klux Klan was a racial hate group in the south that made sure blacks did not get any civil rights. Members in the Ku Klux Klan believed whites were superior to other races. The KKK hated the blacks becauseRead MoreThe Resurgence Of The Kkk944 Words   |  4 PagesThe Resurgence of the KKK Racism has been deep-rooted in American history. Racism that arose in the 1920s involved infamous race riots, lynching, the Sweet Case, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. However, out of all these other factors, the Ku Klux Klan has left a huge impact on American history. To begin, there were many ways to show racism but, race riots were most common. One of the most famous race riots happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On the thirty first of May till the first of June in 1921Read MoreThe Ku Klux Klan And The Klan820 Words   |  4 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan has massively reduced by 1927. While it peaked from having over 3 million members in 1925, it had no more than several hundred thousand in 1927. Night riding of the Klan led to at least 50 people getting flogged during a two year period. Outcries of the populace of Georgia and the Carolinas brought arrests and convictions of the Klan. Therefore, the Klan was forced to retreat. The Klan endured other handicap when local Klan in the North chapters began to develop ties with AmericanRead MoreThe Role of the Ku Klux Klan in U.S. Society Essay1162 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of the Ku Klux Klan in U.S. Society Originally, the Ku Klux Klan was founded immediately after the Civil war and lasted until the 1870’s, after which it collapsed. The Klan was then reformed in 1915 and is still conducting till the present day. The Activists had set up for many different reasons, the foremost ones being, to create a business or rather as a ‘social club’, invite members who were anti-Civil war and of course to restore white supremacy after theirRead MoreThe Black Klux Klan And The New Black Panther Party857 Words   |  4 PagesEverybody Love Everybody Many people are aware of the largest hate groups found in the United States. Two of them being the Ku Klux Klan and the New Black Panther Party. They threaten or harm a specific population, and both cause diversity in the United States. The Black Lives Matter movement is a hate group because they threaten and harm a specific population using physical abuse and speech while causing diversity in the United States. Mark Twain once said, â€Å"Actions speak louder than words†Read MoreThe Ku Klux Klan And American History1042 Words   |  5 PagesMartin World History Section 4 4-29-16 The Ku Klux Klan For much of American history, ethnic groups other than caucasian have struggled greatly. One of the groups that has struggled a lot is African Americans. This group has had to suffer through slavery and segregation for the purpose of much of American history. Their struggle became more difficult in the occasion of the Ku Klux Klan (Ku Klux Klan) was founded. The formation of the Ku Klux Klan was one of the main factors of the bloody struggleRead MoreThe Ku Klux Klan ( Kkk )1554 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ku Klux Klan (KKK) came into being in 1865 and was widespread in the southern states of the USA. It was founded by former Confederate veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee. It was a movement, formed after the civil war of America, to oppress the Republican Party’s policies of reconstruction. Few years after its formation, the movement engaged in war, fear and hatred in the war-ravaged south. The group’s activities during this period have had adverse effects on the American society that still haunt themRead MoreFederal Government s Intervention Into The Ku Klux Klan s Activities2284 Words   |  10 Pagesthe Ku Klux Klan’s Activities In the late 1800’s, during the period of Reconstruction, there was fear and hate of African Americans by white southerners. This fear and hate rooted from the fact that African American’s now had the same rights and freedoms as white people. This caused an uproar. Because of this, people were coming together and sharing their feelings and ideas about the newly freed African Americans. This is how the KKK, also known as the Ku Klux Klan, came about. The Ku Klux Klan

Alice s Journey Through Wonderland - 958 Words

Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is fundamentally about the growth of the character of Alice. In the Victorian period 1837- 1901, there was a changes in children education and reflexively development of children literature. Therefore when writing Lewis Carroll attempts to put forth a form of education within the text. The story follows Alice who is a seven year old well-mannered victorian girl that stumbles through a rabbit hole into the magical world of Wonderland. Alice takes on the role of the audience viewing Wonderland and its strange inhabitants. It is through language in both conversations with herself and with the characters of wonderland that we see Alice’s journey through wonderland is representative of a child’s education into adulthood. Through Alice’s conversation with herself it becomes apparent that tension between Alice’s previous understanding of the world and the illogical wor ld of Wonderland. Alice upon chasing a white rabbit down the rabbit hole finds herself in a hall which only has a small door in which she can not enter. Frustrated Alice looks upon a table on the hall, a bottle suddenly appears which tag reads, â€Å"Drink Me† (Carroll 13). Since Alice has learned that, â€Å"if you drink from a bottle marked ‘poison’ it will almost certainly disagree with you sooner or later† and she looks before drinking. (Carroll 14) Alice has come from a world that has a consistent rules and features, that contrasts with theShow MoreRelatedFacing Adolescence in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Essays1485 Words   |  6 Pageschildren face when they enter the adult world in his novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by taking readers on a compelling journey through the adolescence of a young girl who struggles to find her identity in a realm she cannot comprehend. Carroll personifies this trying journey through the prot agonist, Alice. Alice is a seven year old girl, growing up in the Victorian Age, a time of rapid change and development. â€Å"Alice is engaged in a romance quest for her own identity and growth, for some understandingRead MoreLewis Carroll s Alice s Adventures1432 Words   |  6 Pages Lewis Carroll s â€Å"Alice s Adventures in Wonderland and Though the Looking-Glass are classics of the English language, Vying with the Bible and William Shakespeare as source of quotation(Blake, Kathleen 112).† Lewis Carroll s Alice s Adventures in Wonderland has always been a favorite for many children since it came out. It also has been interesting for any adult that has read it. Lewis Carroll is a literary genius even though he wrote plenty of nonsense. Born on Janurry 27, 1832, Lewis CarrolRead MoreDifferences Between The Stories Bat And The Color Of Earth 874 Words   |  4 PagesAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and The Color of Earth by Dong Hwa Kim. Each of these books are mainly for girl readers and it shows female characters facing changes as they are maturing from young children to young adults. On the surface there are a lot of similarities between the stories Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Weetzie Bat and The Color of Earth. The main characters Alice, Weetzie and Ehwa have a journey or an adventure they are going through that will help their characterRead MoreLewis CarrollS Novel â€Å"Alice’S Adventures In Wonderland†1072 Words   |  5 PagesLewis Carroll s novel â€Å"Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland† creates a world that is enforced by extremely foreign and unusual principles and rules that are ordinary to the characters in Wonderland. Alice appears to be odd and unusual compared to the rest of Wonderland’s characters. Her sense of self is tested throughout this novel. When the reader is first introduced to Alice there is not much that we know about her. She is first seen reading a book with her older sister underneath a tree.ThisRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Alices Adventures In Wonderland1318 Words   |  6 Pagesblond girl named Alice from C. S. Lewis’ â€Å"Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland†. This story works as an agent of socialization because Alices adventures parallel the journey from childhood to adulthood as she comes into new situations in which adaptability is absolutely necessary for success. In the beginning of the story, she can barely maintain enough composure to keep herself from crying. By the end, she is self-possessed and able to hold her own against the most perplexing Wonderland logic. SymbolsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Alice Adventures 1055 Words   |  5 PagesReport 1. Alice Adventures in Wonderland 2. Lewis Carroll was the author of Alice Adventures in Wonderland. Written in 1862- 1863 during a journey with Reverent Robinson Duckworth and his three young daughters. 3. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson better known as his pen name, Lewis Carroll, was an English author was born January 27, 1832. He was a writer, mathematician, logician, Anglican cleric, and artist. 4. Characters: Major: Alice: Alice is a seven-year-old girl who stumbles upon the Wonderland after followingRead MoreLewis Carroll s Wonderland : A Magical Underworld Named Wonderland871 Words   |  4 Pages Lewis Carroll s novel Alice in Wonderland, tells the story of a young girl named Alice who adventures through a magical underworld named Wonderland. This young girl s adventures in Wonderland can be seen as a metaphor for the experience of growing up, both in terms of physically growing up and physiologically maturing as she gets to understand the adult world through her autonomy and experiences. She physically grows and shrinks again and again in the story up to a total of 12 times. Her constantRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Alice s Adventures 1882 Words   |  8 Pages Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland outline Introduction In the year 1865, Lewis. C. Carroll published a Novel titled, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This novel tells the story of a girl named Alice who enters a bizarre world called Wonderland, which she initially cannot comprehend because she lacks knowledge of this world and her place in it, Thus, Alice takes a journey through this world to understand both it and herself. SomeRead MoreJohn Charles Lutwidge Dodgson s The Looking Glass 1366 Words   |  6 Pagesstories in his lifetime but his most famous for his children s ?nonsense? novels: Alice s Adventures in Wonderland and the sequel Through the Looking Glass. His works, especially the two mentioned, have influenced countless readers over the years, and references to his writings can be found in every type of media from the song ?White Rabbit? by Jefferson Airplane to the the Matrix trilogy. While both books are intended for a child s entertainment, they are full of symbolism and hidden critiqueRead MoreLewis Carroll s Al ice s Adventures1292 Words   |  6 Pagesconcealed beneath the surface of the text. Lewis Carroll, however, is an exception to this rule. Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is widely known as an amusing and lighthearted children’s story, yet beneath its surface lies many hidden truths. Unlike most authors, Carroll incorporates a great deal of nonsense into his work. Putting readers through many loops in order to decode his skewed logic, is what allows Carroll to stand apart from other authors. Hamidreza Hossein Mikhchi, author

Mergers and Acquisitions in Australia Free Essays

string(41) " the country that are performing better\." A merger is one of the forms of business combination. A merger is the joining together of two or more companies for a common goal (Schencke, 2007). It can be in the form of vertical integration, Horizontal integration or diversification. We will write a custom essay sample on Mergers and Acquisitions in Australia or any similar topic only for you Order Now Consider the case of manufactured food (bread) company: we have the flour  Ã‚   company, the bakery and a butter company. If the bread company acquires the flour company that would be vertical integration; this may be more comprehensive and risky . The management is highly involved because of the procedures involved and consequences too. This is a backward integration because it will be merging with the supply source. It might lead to restricted supply of raw materials hence inflexibility. If the bread company starts producing cakes that would be horizontal integration; this might be considered necessary in order to have a more product line whereby their consumers will now be able to enjoy more quality products from the same company. This will enable a particular bread company deal with its competitors because a variety of commodities will be available to them. The company will also command a more market share because most of its products will dominate the market. High market share determines profitability because the Total sales figure has a factor of units and sales are directly proportional to the profit margin. The particular bread company therefore becomes a market leader and enjoys all the economies of scale. High volumes can be produced at low costs and therefore the company becomes a market leader in the industry. The company can now have efficient pricing policies for the different commodities that it is offering in the market. If the bread company starts producing butter to match with its quality of bread then that would be market diversification; This results in increased market capitalization which is very healthy for a company in the industry. This kind of expanded production line may be risky and uncertain because very little is known about that particular product line. This may call for comprehensive research, which might be costly for the holding company. Demand and supply factors of that particular company need to be understood and analyzed keenly to determine the future of such an operation and how relevant it might because this is a complimentary commodity. Merger or an acquisition leads to lack of competitiveness and would have a high Herfindahl index. Industry concentration is also affected. In the case study above, one has reduced players in the industry due to mergers. Therefore we find that there’s no competition due to acquiring of a supply chain, producing related commodities or even engaging in the production of complementary goods. Market diversification results to company being able to control its prices for the different products it has with changing the profit. This shows that market forces do not determine prices and completion is at different levels. Some companies also become market leaders and may decide to lower its prices in the market at the expense of other companies. The fact that a company can acquire a supply chain is harmful because this may limit resources/raw materials to other companies with in the industry or supply at inflated cost. A prices control board should therefore establish to deal with this. Some companies may be forced to quit production and this may lead to monopolies in the industry, which may not be healthy. Motives for mergers include: Synergy; The expected synergy determines the purchase price for the acquiree. Synergy is the combined power of a group of companies when they are working together which is greater than the total power achieved by each working separately. Synergy can be operating synergy or financial synergy. Operating synergy includes economies of scale and economies of scope, by merging firms are able to receive huge discounts due to high volumes of production and this results in high profits, this means high price of shares and high market capitalization. Owning of supply channels means constant supply of raw materials without delays and control over the prices. This indicates low cost of production and increased profits. Being a market leader may result into a monopoly and this means enormous profits. Discounts can be offered to customers and result in high sales due to high volumes. All these work to the advantage of the acquirer. More shareholders due to improved earnings per share lead to more funding and adequate cash flows are available. Synergy can’t be compared to international expansion, which is slow. Merging is with firms already operating and with the required recourses so no lag periods experienced which might hinder the growth and development of a company, which negates the image to the shareholders and other interested parties. There might be need to expand to another geographical location. The acquiring firm will look for firms in operation at that location to merge with in order to fasten the catch period which normally due to lack of knowledge of business operations at that particular area and business smartness required. Horizontal integration in this case will be necessary. This might be after researching and identifying a possible business location. Suppliers will also be considered in this case. Financial synergy is however more questionable due to the uncertainty of business operations. Merging may be for the need to grow and develop. This can be internal or external.. Internal growth can be slow and uncertain because the company doesn’t have past business experience on a particular field. Outside expansion leads to diversification and market capitalization is improved. Growth of a company in the industry tracts more shareholders to the company and therefore funds for financing business operations are adequate. This leads to market leading and high volumes are sold bringing about high profit margin. Merging may be due to the pride of the management team of the bidder company. The management may want to associated with all players in the country that are performing better. You read "Mergers and Acquisitions in Australia" in category "Essay examples" This will be a way for the management to market itself and therefore the same directors can be restored at the next annual general meeting. The management might have been watching the firm to be acquired and may have an idea of corrections to be made in order to increase perfection. They may w ant to acquire a firm that is just about due to liquidity issues, restore its operations and hence cash flows. They therefore be associated with the recovery of the dieing company and hence improve their employment opportunities with other companies. They may also look for promotions and being part of the recovery team may a good ground for such. They management may also want to part of the management of a market leader in the company and this calls for all necessary strategies possible including mergers and acquisitions(Schlossberg, 2007). Horizontal integration whereby a company starts producing related products leads to increased market share due to increased sales out of the high volumes of sales. This may result in very radical transactions, which might be risky. In business yield comes together with risk taking. Vertical integration in this case is considered most because its more risky but the gains might be more than the costs. Diversification into another line of production may be a motivating factor. The company may have identified another variety of related products, which might be profitable and may want to be part of that industry. Therefore the best way to go may be the merger in order to pump in capital into the other company, which is facing liquidity issues, and hence have a major share of the profits. Horizontal integration is always considered best because it involves dealing with the same kind of business, which has a better track record (Schlossberg, 2007). In Australia the following steps are necessary in merging: Research should be first done to determine possible candidate. This needs the help of experts in the research work so that all necessary data and information is available to the management of the acquiring firm The motive to merge should be first understood and the angle to be taken determined. Synergy should be well understood and illustrated. Evaluation should be done on the acquiring firm. The firms’ business strategy should be understood in order to determine the degree of compatibility and the other aspects of business mergers. This also helps in justifying the acquisition. Immediately after the merger, Profits go down first due to the expenses incurred in research and implementation costs. Diversifications are normally expensive and gains can’t be realized immediately. Profits are normally derived at by; Sales-cost of goods sold –expenses. The cost of goods sold=opening stock + purchases-closing stock. High cost of goods immediately after the merger can be due to high opening stock, high purchases and low closing stock. This will therefore result in low profits. In the long run profits are supposed to increase due to; Economies of scale and scope, due to merging with supply and distribution channels, discounts will be given to the entity and this results to low operational costs. Large volume sales enable customers to get discounts and volume of sales is increased. This other unnecessary costs are avoided leading to maximization of profits. Diversification to another line of business; this means exploring of virgin grounds and operation benefits are taken advantage of. This means that sources of gained are increased and the total volume of profits is increased. Increase in market value; High market value is due to being a market leader and commands a greater share of the demand in the market. High volumes are sold and the sales figure is high. Sales are considered to be directly related to the profit volumes. The risk taken at first yields benefits; Diversification may be risky therefore benefits may not be realized fast. Benefits can only after recovery and it will be to the enforceable future. Geographical advantages are realized. The merged entity need time to get used to the business environment and therefore gains take time to be realized (Bruner, 2007). Merging is better than internal expansion. Merging may be a little bit fast to pick up because acquired firms have existing resources and personnel. This reduces time spend in staff professional development and growth. A troubled company needs to merge as near bankruptcy workout situation. This helps in maximizing the value of the company where such companies are considered to be damaged goods. Shareholders, Board of Directors and the managers leave for firms specializing in a workout that is salvaging the value that was assumed to be left in them. Liquidations can’t be left behind. The use of highly leveraged transactions (HLT) expanded the profile of financially troubled companies (Schlossberg, 2007). Financially troubled companies are businesses that were leveraged and unable meet their debt service burden but still separate acceptable or even optimal operating cash flows given their internal resources and market opportunities. Publicity A demerger is expected when competitors start taking advantage of slow growth and development and they may take advantage of opportunities created by merged entity. This is because the competitors have been having existing offices, management and resources supply. Diseconomies of scale and scope start occurring and therefore the operations may not be profitable and a demerger may be considered. The company may at times consider internal expansion to be worth while and may start investing in such hence the merger becomes irrelevant (Bruner, 2007). The expansion to another geographical areas may prove to be unprofitable and thus the firm may consider demerging and concentrating in its primary business operations. The external growth may start being costly and the acquiring company decides to sale its share of the acquired company. The pride of management may be at some cost to the company and the shareholders may decide to demerge. The diversification to another line of production may prove to be extremely costly to the company and a demerger may be asked for so that focus can be on the basic profit gaining activity/business. Both the acquirer and acquiree benefit. The acquiree is funded and its liquidity position is revised and merging is normally a workout for near bankruptcy situations (Gaughan, 2004). The acquirer is also in a position to enjoy; economies of scale and production, advantage of geographical expansion, this is an external growth that cant be compared to the slow internal growth with uncertainties, management pride is improved, market share is improved and they move into a business that they have clear track record. ACCC is an independent authority of the Government of Australia established in 1995 with the amalgamation of the Australian Trade practices Commission and the Prices Surveillance authority to administer the trade practices Act 1974 (Cth) It’s meant to protect Consumer rights, business rights and obligations, perform Industry regulation and price monitoring and prevent illegal anti Competitive behavior (Schencke, 2007). The more of the following criteria a troubled company meets the more marketable it will be to the acquiring company: Is it a manufacturing rather than a distribution operation. Acquiring a manufacturing company will be horizontal integration and will be more profitable to the entity (Robinson, Tranter, Loughran 2007). This kind of synergy results to taking advantages of economies of scale, diversifying into other lines of production, increased market value, expanding to another geographical location and this will be better than internal expansion. Merging with a distribution company will be a vertical forward integration and may be very risky with uncertainties due to lack of a clean track record. Fills a unique product niche rather than produces a commodity item. Has a well-known brand or trademark that is undamaged by its current situation. Sustains a strong defensible market share. A company with a strong market share means that its quite stable and will be profitable to merge with. This will also improve the whole entity’s image and then the share price improves in the stock market. Has a well-maintained machinery and equipment. These are tools of production and this indicates indefinite operation of the company into the future. Such a company is not risky to deal with and may result into huge future losses. Hence the idea of merging may not be necessary. Ernest Young (2006) pg20 In conclusion, mergers and acquisitions should be considered in the company’s research and development. It involves a lot of research that collects data and information in order to evaluate worth candidates for merging. The long-term objectives should be increasing the company’s market share within the industry, making use of economies of scale available and being a market leader. Mergers resulting in long term losses should be avoided because this won’t lead to growth and development of the company. Mergers also determine the structure of an industry because they lead to a decreased number of market players in the industry. This leads to high concentration and competition is reduced. Monopolies may be formed and this may not be healthy to the industry as a whole. Price control bodies need to be in place to control the dominance of the market by a particular holding company. References: Ernest Young, Ernest Young LLP. (2007). Back to Basic Techniques on Mergers Acquisitions (Pg 19-23). Wiley Publications Guy M. Robinson, Pal. J. Tranter, Robert Loughran. (2007). Economy Society Environment. Oxford University Press Hans Schencke. (2007). Accounting for Mergers Acquisitions in Europe. IBFD Michael A. Hit, Jeffrey J. Harrison. R Duane. (2007). A Guide to creating value for Stakeholders. Oxford University Press Patrick A. Gaughan. (2004). Merger, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring. Wiley Publications Robert F.Bruner. (2007). Applied Mergers and Acquisitions. Wiley Publications Robert S. Schlossberg. (2007). Understanding the Antitrust Issues. American Bar Association. How to cite Mergers and Acquisitions in Australia, Essay examples

Barbie 2 Essay Example For Students

Barbie 2 Essay Barbie has recently had her 40th birthday. It all started in the 1950s when Ruth Handler saw her daughter, Barbara, and her friends playing with paper dolls. They liked to imagin the dolls beeing different persons who were working, swiming, playing with friends etc. Ruth, who owned the company Mattel with her husband, understood that pretending how the future would be was part of growing up for kids. She did some research and found that there was room on the market for a doll like Barbie. Mattel had been making lots of toys before Barbie but when Ruth said that she wanted them to make a small doll for kids all the men in the staff had their doubts. Many different designs were done before the first Barbie was introduced on the 9th of march 1959. Barbie was named after Ruths daughter. Barbie was then a teen-age fashion model who was very different to the dolls the kids played with at that time. The buyers were at first skeptical to the doll but when Mattel started to make tv-commercial s to reach out to the buyers it was an instant hit. Barbie is still the most popular fashion doll ever created. That is because she is always changing when the fashion and trends change. She wears everything from the Paris fashion to the more youthful look. For example the creaters changed her when the Beatles were popular and they made a copy of Jackie Kennedy when she was popular. In the 1970s Barbie wore very different clothes just to be trendy. She for example wore glittery disco outfits and got a suntan. Her face was redone. She now got an open-mouth smile. In the 1980s Barbie kept changing. This year she was everything from an aerobics instructor to a sophisticated working women. And now in the 1990s Barbie has had 75 careers since 1959. Barbie has given lots of kids better self-esteem by showing them that you can be what you want. Barbie has been a surgeon, a president candidate, an aeroplane pilot and a dentist etc. The kids nearly have her as a rolemodel. They think if she can do it, so can they! Barbie is actually many kids best friend. Barbie was later given family and friends. Her boyfriend was Ken who was named after Ruths son. She also had a little sister whose name was Skipper and her friends were from all over the world. Her group of friends keep growing. Barbie isnt only liked by kids. There are today thousands of adult collectors. They dont always play with them. They just collect them. But it isnt only women who collect, men do too. There are clubs, magazines etc for adults who love Barbie. Now that everything has a lot to do with the new technology, such as computers, Barbie is going high tech too. There are programs and discs to buy to the computer where Barbie is the main character. It is also a way to guide the kids in the high tech world that they live in. So Barbie isnt just anyone she is the most famous doll of all times. Here is some useless information about Barbie:Barbies full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts. She is from Willows in Wisconsin and went to Willows High School. Right now about 120 new dresses and clothes are designed every year and more than 105 million yards of fabric has been used to create them. After stamp collecting Barbie collecting is the most popular hobby in America. The best selling Barbie was the totally hair Barbie which I have here. Barbie has more than one billion pairs of shoes and she has totally had 500 makeovers. Barbie is now sold in more than 140 countries around the world.

Hypocrisy, Bigotry and Ignorance free essay sample

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, there are many examples of how hypocrisy, bigotry and ignorance are evident in David’s society. People in Waknuk, including the main character, David, are ignorant to the world around them. Through the first few chapters of the novel, David is a prime example of ignorance, being so young and having a lack of knowledge on what Deviations are actually like. Bigotry is also evident in the Waknuk society, and Joseph Strorm is a prime example of that. Finally, in chapter four, we see an example of hypocrisy through David’s uncle. At the beginning of the novel, the best example of ignorance is the main character, David Strorm. David is just a kid at this point in the book. All his life he has heard how terrible deviations are, and has had it drilled into his head countless times on how any creature who is not formed exactly how it is written in their version of the bible is not human and is hateful in the sight of god. We will write a custom essay sample on Hypocrisy, Bigotry and Ignorance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page David even grew up with his parents telling scary tales of people in the Fringes (the place where Blasphemies are sent), threatening to send people like Hairy Jack if they didn’t behave. On page 21 it says â€Å"Be good now, or I’ll fetch Old Maggie from the Fringes to you. She’s got four eyes to watch you with, and four ears to hear you with, and four arms to smack you with. So you be careful. † Because of these stories, kids such as David in Waknuk believe that all deviations are atrocious creatures, even though many deviations are actually barely noticeable. When he meets Sophie and sees her sixth toe, he is puzzled. On page 14, David says â€Å"A blasphemy was, as had been impressed upon me often enough, a frightful thing. Yet there was nothing wrong about Sophie. She was just an ordinary little girl † David is ignorant because he goes for years believing these creatures are horrifying, having a lack of knowledge on what people with Deviations are really like until he ultimately meets Sophie. The best example of a bigot in this book would be Joseph Strorm, a man who is extremely faithful and strict about his bible teachings, and believes that anything different from the norm is wrong. This is shown on page 26 where David only wished for a third hand and Joseph replied You my own son were calling upon the Devil to give you another hand! Joseph behaves as if every person should think and be the same; and if you dont, people believe you are sent from the devil. He also tells David on the same page â€Å"You do know and yet, knowing this, you deliberately wished yourself a Mutant. That is a terrible thing, an outrageous thing. † Joseph wont handle or deal with anyone who seems to be, or wants to be, abnormal. With Joseph, his way is right and he is completely intolerant of any other opinion or way of thinking. An example of hypocrisy in The Chrysalids would be the incident with the great horses in chapter four. In this chapter, Angus Morton, David’s uncle, acquires a pair of great horses standing twenty-six hands high. From the moment he saw them, David’s father, Joseph Strorm, was positive they were deviations and demanded that the horses be destroyed as Offences, even though they were sanctioned by the government. Angus Morton showed a clear example of Hypocrisy in this chapter because although he is supposedly against all deviations, he bought the horses anyways because they could get double, maybe even triple, the amount of work done that an average horse could do. Theres a good profit there, a good incentive to get them passed but that doesnt mean that theyre right. † The government are also hypocrites in this chapter because even though they do not allow any other type of deviations, they allowed the horses because they were so profitable. This shows that in their society, deviations that make the government a profit, or help the people of Waknuk are allowed to slip by, where as people like Sophie are exiled immediately.

Finance Report for Huffman Trucking

Finance Report for Huffman Trucking Finance Report for Huffman TruckingBy: Jaime SmithFIN/486Mary OrcuttJuly 22, 2013Huffman Trucking is like any other company. They are looking to grow and develop for the convenience of their customers. Huffman Trucking has already purchased more building to expand their business. The company is steadily growing and looking to expand more in the future. The company needs to know if this is the right move for the company as a whole and if they are financially stable enough to withstand another big purchase. The current balance sheets and statement of income will show the numbers to make the decision.Huffman Trucking Balance Sheet2006 2005(In Thousands)Current AssetsCash and Cash Equivalents51,93338,893Accounts Receivable56,29257,441Prepaid Expenses and Supplies3,4433,343Total Current Assets111,72899,677Carrier Operating Property73,02470,957Less: Allowance for Depreciation(57,536)(55,477)Net Carrier Operating Property15,48815,480Assets of Discontinued Operations16,19218,891Goodwill (net )57,76753,977Other Assets26,61324,194Total Assets227,788212,219Liabilities and Shareholders' EquityCurrent LiabilitiesAccounts Payable47,12439,936Salaries and Wages29,75327,048Current Portion of Long-Term Debt2,2042,514Freight and Casualty Claims Payable9,7468,941Total Current Liabilities88,82778,439Long-Term LiabilitiesAccrued Pension and Post-Retirement Health Care58,36252,721Long-Term Debt13,43115,318Total Long-Term Liabilities71,79368,039Shareholders' EquityCommon Stock3.8823.882Treasury Shares(1.952)(1.952)Retained Earnings67,16665,739Total Shareholders' Equity67,16865,741Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity227,788212,219Huffman Trucking Income Statement2006 2005Revenue879,944807,288Salaries Wages and Benefits353,739330,597Fuel Expense217,363192,357Operating Supplies and Expenses152,318136,319Purchased Transportation89,95782,529Operating Taxes and Licenses18,61317,989Insurance and Claims13,52613,006Provision for Depreciation2,7262,738Total Operating Expenses848,242775,535 Operating Income...English: Liabilities of the United States as a fra...

National Nursing shortage and Patient Advocacy Act Essay

National Nursing shortage and Patient Advocacy Act - Essay Example o in the hospitals as currently there is a severe shortage in the nursing professionals and some hospitals had nurses which were attending to numerous patients (Buerhaus, 191-198). This paper will assess and document the pros and con that are accompanied with this act. It will mainly focus on the impact in the patients, hospital as well as financial burden that is incurred by the health care institution. Firstly there are obvious financial implications that are accompanied with this act as hospitals are required to hire extra staff members. The financial burden in this instance is incurred by Medicare which is required to adjust its payments to hospitals in order to facilitate for this staff increment. Hospitals however also have some increased financial responsibility as the staff members will be in the hospital facility and incur other expenses besides the wages. In addition, the Secretary only implemented that the hospitals will be compensate only for expenses that are incurred when care is provided to Medicare users. Hence it will remain uncompensated for the other patients and will have to devise new plans to cover these extra costs. This may include a reduction in salaries which will obviously have a negative effect financially on the nursing staff. Another approach which the hospital could take is an increment in the service costs which will affect the patients as healthcare is expensive. The United States Census Bureau documented that approximately 50 million individuals were uninsured which is approximately 15% of the population (Buerhaus, 191-198). There are also advantages that are derived from this act and these include the improvement in the quality of healthcare. Reducing the ratio of patients that are attended by one nurse will result in better services and detection of certain issues that might have been missed due to the nurse’s busy schedule. This also improves the nurse-patient relationship which is essential in the prognosis of the patient

Hamilton's Role as the Secretary of Treasury Research Paper

Hamilton's Role as the Secretary of Treasury - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates that â€Å"The most practical nation builder of the Founding Fathers, Hamilton (1755-1804) fought tirelessly for ratification of the Constitution, played a pivotal role in creating a centralized and powerful nation-state, and argued persuasively for a strong presidency and an independent judiciary. It was Hamilton, at the beginning of the nation's history, who provided a prophetic vision of the United States as a global power stabilized by capitalism and with a military second to none.† While Hamilton contributed to all aspects of government formulation, he is best remembered for his role in designing the young nations economic system. During and after his lifetime Hamilton was overshadowed by his more popular adversary Thomas Jefferson. While Jefferson's dominant image persists today, â€Å"the irony is that Hamilton's concept of the federal government, not Jeffersons, is what has evolved and endures†. This is particularly valid with respect to t he country's economic system and the organization of its constituent agencies such as the U.S. Treasury. Hamilton could rightly be considered a visionary, who saw the importance of economic growth and technological innovation. His state papers on the subject of the economy are considered by modern scholars to be a monumental effort â€Å"toward establishing a rational basis for planning and legislation; his Report on Manufacturers and his advocacy of federal public works are remarkably modern descriptions of the relationship between government and technology†. As the first Secretary of the Treasury and the unofficial aide to George Washington, Hamilton was instrumental in designing the American bureaucracy, which prevails even to this day. In this unofficial capacity as the confidante and aide of the first President, Hamilton also wrote many of the Presidential addresses, most notable of which is the Farewell Address delivered by Washington at the end of his second term.  

U.S. intervention in Iraq

U.S. intervention in Iraq Introduction There are people that are opposed to the U.S. intervention in Iraq, as they believe that it will not lead to stability and democracy. These people, find similarities to Americas Vietnam intervention. For them, America has once more involved in a prolonged and indecisive political and military struggle, from which it will extricate with human and economic loses. On the other had, there are people that are in favour of the Iraq War and they believe that there is no comparison to the Vietnam War. They claim that it is the annihilation of Nazi Germany and its transformation to a democratic ally, that should be used as an analogy.[1] But, the comparison to the Vietnam War and its consequences was unavoidable, as it still influences the publics attitude towards foreign military intervention and was an event that is still in memories of todays American leaders. The question is whether there are any lessons from the American disaster in the Vietnam War that could be applied in Iraqs case. The differences between the two wars are very important: First of all, Vietnam in 1960 was a country with a long national history and a distinct national identity that was created after centuries of fighting against foreign domination. On the contrary, Iraq is a young state with many ethnicities and religions, that make unity difficult. Moreover, in Vietnam the enemy was skilled and experience with important external aid and international legitimacy. In Iraq the enemy had no martial ability and was politically isolated. Besides that, in Vietnam at first the war had the form of an insurgency that changed into a conventional conflict , whereas in Iraq happened exactly the opposite. The nature of the insurgency in the two cases was different, too. In Vietnam there were peasants that were centrally directed by the Communists, that had a clear politico-economic and social agenda. In Iraq, the insurgents were members of small groups that their methods consisted partly of car bombings and sabotage against U.S. forces and the war objectives werent very clear. Moreover, the U.S. was more restricted in military action in Vietnam that in Iraq, by the Chinese and the Soviet threat and they only cared about protecting South Vietnam. Nowadays, the U.S. with its military primacy is aiming at a regime change in Iraq. In Vietnam, the U.S. reached the 500,000 men and left the country after 8 years of bloodshed. In Iraq, the cost in human lives was much smaller and 3 weeks were enough to succumb the military resistance.[2] The comparison is becoming valuable by a political perspective: the lessons and the warnings that may come out of the Vietnam War for policymakers in Iraq War, especially on legitimacy and sustainability. The U.S. that failed to create and sustain a government and political order in South Vietnam, is now trying to do the same in Iraq. The Republic of Vietnam was a Cold War creation of the U.S. and it depended totally for its viability on America. In the end, most of the South Vietnamese didnt have the willingness to fight and even die for its maintenance. The sustainability failed mostly because the Americans abandoned South Vietnam, mainly because of the fall of public support on this war, as time was passing by with increasing American human and economic loses and no remarkable progress. State-building in Iraq is still in progress, so a critic on U.S. policy on this matter would be unfounded. This essay tries to recognize and analyze the comparisons between the American intervention in Vietnam and in Iraq. I believe that the differences are equally important with the similarities for providing political insights. This essay tries to evaluate similarities and differences on: relative U.S. military power, war aims, nature, duration and scale of the war, U.S. manpower lose rates, the enemy, military operations, role of allies, challenges of state-building, and challenges of sustaining political support. It ends with conclusions and recommendations. Relative U.S. Military Power From a military perspective, the international and regional balances were different during the Vietnam and Iraq wars. During the Cold War, the United States relied on allied military support, so its military intervention that took place in Vietnam (1965) had restrains. On the other hand, United States intervention in Iraq (2003) was characterized by freedom of action, as the United States was the only superpower and its military supremacy was globally uncontested. During the Cold War, China and the Soviet Union had under their influence many communist areas in Europe and Asia, including Vietnam, so the U.S. had to be careful regarding its military action in the region. Americans were trying not to provoke directly the Chinese and the Soviet intervention, so they were using their military power with restrictions.[3] But even then, China and the Soviet Union were helping the Vietnamese Communists by providing them with weapons of technological advance. On Iraqs case, Saddam Husseins military strength had almost disappeared by 1991 and in 2003 he couldnt find military support by external actors. For the Iraqi soldiers, training was not a priority, that is why in 2003 the Americans didnt face great difficulties in crushing Iraqi military resistance, taking over Baghdad and overthrowing Saddam Hussein. War Aims The political objectives between the Iraq and Vietnam wars were different. In the 1960s the United States was trying to preserve the non-communist status quo in South Vietnam. In 2003, the United States expressed their intention to democratize Iraq in order to create a model for the rest of the countries in the Middle East. In South Vietnam, as long as the policies that were followed were in agreement with the U.S. interests in the Cold War, the absence of democracy was not an issue.[4] In the Vietnam War, the U.S. wanted to preserve the regime, by forcing North Vietnam to cease its military intervention in South Vietnam. For this purpose, a massive and well-organized military effort was necessary against a determined and skilled enemy. In contrast, in Iraq the U.S. wanted to change the regime and for doing so, less effort and time was needed, although the collapse of Saddam Husseins regime, gave the opportunity to anti-occupation groups to mount insurgent attacks on U.S. forces and reconstruction targets. Another difference was that one of the basic objectives in Iraq was the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, while in Vietnam there was not such an issue but a struggle over territory. Moreover, the war on Iraq was justified as a part of the war against terrorism, led by al-Qaeda, which attacked the U.S. in September 11, 2001. In Vietnam War, the Americans didnt feel threatened by some kind of terrorism back in their homeland, despite the fact that Vietnamese Communist forces conducted terrorist attacks against South Vietnamese officials and U.S. civilian personnel. But, these attacks were restricted in the region.[5] The main American war aim in Vietnam was to safeguard the credibility of U.S. defense commitments throughout the world. Dean Rusk, the Secretary of State had stated: We have a commitment to assist the South Vietnamese to resist aggression from North. If the U.S. commitment in peace becomes unreliable, the communists would draw conclusions that would lead to our ruin. Indeed, failure to defend South Vietnam would lead American allies to question their credibility and communist advances would be encouraged in the Third World. The credibility of U.S. defense commitments was not an issue in the Iraq war. The Communist threat did not exist anymore and the American operations were not a response to Iraqi aggression. On the contrary, it was a war in order to prevent Iraqis acquisition of nuclear weapons and to stop the expansion of their biological weapons capability. This war depicted the U.S. willingness to use force against states that were seeking nuclear weapons and that could threaten them in the future. Nature, and Scale of the War The American intervention in Vietnam began as a materially self-sustaining, peasant-based communist insurgency in the South, against the South Vietnamese security forces that were supported by the U.S., and it ended up as a conventional military war between the U.S. and the North Vietnamese regular forces.[6] In contrast, U.S. military operation in Iraq began as conventional and quickly crushed Iraqs regular forces and ended up as a counterinsurgent campaign against terrorists. In Vietnam the Communists motivated a centrally-directed, perfect strategically revolutionary war, with a detailed political and economic program in order to mobilize the support of the peasants. Moreover, the communists in Vietnam had external support. The insurgency in Iraq was nothing like it. The Iraqi insurgents were former Baathist regime operatives, Sunni Arabs, al-Qaeda and other Islamist suicide bombers, hired gunmen and anti-American Shiites. So, the insurgency was not centrally directed. Moreover, it has no declared agenda, though it seems that their goal is to get the U.S. out of the country and cause instability on behalf of the restoration of Sunni Arab rule. Until recently the Iraqi insurgency rested mainly on the Sunni Arab community that consisted the 20% of the population. Now the insurgency has expanded but it cannot be compared to Vietnams situation where the peasants (80% of the population) formed the communist insurgency forces. When it comes to scale, the differences are many. In terms of the forces committed the U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam they reached 543,000 in 1969. Allied forces coming from other countries were 65,000 in 1968 and the South Vietnamese armed forced reached 820,000 soldiers. Communist troops numbered 700,000 in 1966.[7] By comparison, insurgent Sunni Arab fighters were no more than 5,000.[8] Militant Shiites, associated with the Muqtada al-Sadr movement and his Mahdi Army, may on the other hand number up to at least a few thousand fighters. The Vietnam War, unlike the Iraq War, had a huge and protracted aerial bombing component. In terms of bomb tonnage dropped, it was the largest air war in history. During the 1962-73 period, 8,000,000 tons dropped through Indochina.[9] U.S. aircraft losses due to hostile action were also numerous, as North Vietnam was supported by the Soviets who supplied them with technologically advanced air defenses. During 1962-73 period the U.S. aircraft loses totalled 8,500, 2,700 airmen were killed and 1,800 were captured and became prisoners.[10] In Iraq, U.S. air power comprised a large component of major operations and had one advantages over U.S. operations in Vietnam: the enemy didnt have effective air defenses. However, as in Vietnam, the helicopters proved vulnerable to hand-held missiles and to machine guns. During March 20-May 1, the Iraqis downed 30 helicopters.[11] U.S. manpower loss rates During the 1965-1972 period in the Vietnam War, the U.S. numbered 55,700 dead and 290,000 wounded, which is translated as 19 dead and 100 wounded per day. These rates are well above than in the Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, which records 2 deaths per day. By April 2004, U.S. casualties had reached 685 dead and more than 3,000 wounded.[12] The Enemy The number of the enemys forces was impressive in the Vietnam War, but so was the number of the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces, which combined to third-country allied forces, outnumbered the communist forces. U.S. forces in both cases had a fire power advantage over the enemy. Despite that fact, in the end the U.S. left South Vietnam to the Communists. One explanation would be because of the anti-war movement back in America and the hostility of the media[13]. Another, would be the outstanding performance of the enemy, based on the asymmetry of stakes. The Vietnamese conflict was a limited war for the United States but a total war for the Vietnamese Communists. The Americans underestimated the enemys ability and most importantly their desire to win even if that meant that they had to die over trying. For the Vietnamese Communists this war was about national reunification, independence and taking over the power in Vietnam.[14] The Communist forces losses during the American period of the Vietnam War had reached 1,100,000 dead and 2,000,000 civilian dead. In the 20th century, it is the highest military death toll proportional to its population (5%).[15] The enemy in Iraq is smaller in number, less ideologically and organizationally cohesive and has no external assistance. During the first period of the Iraqi insurgency, the most dangerous enemy elements were Baathist regime remnants that were trying to restore the old Saddamist order. The characteristics of the enemy since then seem to be changing with the constant appearance of anti-American Islamic militants in the struggle.[16] Religious extremists and foreign fighters begun to supplant Baathist remnants as the primary members of the insurgency, using suicide as an insurgent method and other types of bombings..[17] Additionally, an unknown number of criminals and unemployed former soldiers have been hired by the Baathists to engage in attacks on coalition forces for pay. Saddam Husseins capture brought into Iraq a number of foreign terrorists that now had the kind of freedom of movement that previously didnt have.[18] While Saddam was in charge, an effective internal security prevented any kind of insurgent activity. Moreover, terrorism against his regime was something that Saddam was fighting against. Moreover, al Qaeda takes advantage of the vacuum in the political system that Saddams regime fall created. Members of al Qaeda are considered as leaders of the major suicide bombings that have been taken place in the country, such as the attacks at the UN headquarters, the Jordanian embassy and Kurdish political parties.[19] Another part of the insurgents is people who seek revenge against the Americans for previous actions against their families and friends.[20] But, it is clear that Iraqi soldiers are not as capable as the Vietnamese Communists were. The Communists were organized into divisional-size units, whereas Iraqi fighters operate in squads. The Vietnamese Communists had external access to technological advanced weapons, whereas the Iraqis did not. But the Iraqi insurgents are better armed today, than the Vietnamese Communists in 1960, who relied on stolen and home-made weapons.[21] Iraq starting from Saddam Husseins era, has been a heavily-armed society. Last but not least, the Iraqis have no common ideology, strategy or vision for Iraqs future, while the Vietnamese Communists had. Iraqi insurgents operations are uncoordinated, even though all of them agree on the objective of Americans being thrown out of the country, they have not agreed on a strategy for doing so. Maybe their thought is to kill as much U.S. troops as they can in order to undercut domestic American political support? Military Operations In Vietnam the U.S. got involved in two wars at the same time: one on the ground in the South and an air war in the North. Both of them failed. In the South, the U.S. military forces believed that they could cause huge casualties, because of their fire power, on the Communists and that they would have the initiative in the war field.[22] But, they ignored the Communists readiness to sacrifice and their substantial manpower. Moreover, in fact, the Communists started most of the fire fights, which meant that they could control their losses by refusing combat when it suited them to do so. The enemy managed to keep losses within his capacity to replace them.[23] In the air war against North Vietnam the Americans also underestimated the enemys will to win. North Vietnam was a pre-industrial totalitarian area, so it was difficult to be defeated through air power. Moreover, the Soviets provided them with military means that imposed significant loses on American aircrafts.[24] North Vietnam had a powerful air defense system and the capacity of bomb damage repair, whereas Iraq in 2003 had not. The U.S. air losses in North Vietnam were significant. Apart from the enemys capacity and political restrictions in the use of force, there were other factors that influenced Americas military performance. There was no joint warfare in Vietnam.[25] On the contrary, inter-service rivalry dominated, producing disunity of command and precluding the provision of timely and useful military advice to civilian authority.[26] On the ground things werent any better. Rotational tours of duty of 1 year for enlisted personnel and 3-6 months for officers lead to small unit cohesion under fire and compromised the ability of officers and men alike to accumulate and sustain knowledge and skill in fighting. As a result, only the 15% of the U.S. military personnel in Vietnam were available for sustained ground combat operations, by 1968.[27] Communist forces were leaner because they relied more on stealth and cunning than firepower, and because they recruited hundreds of thousands of peasants to perform logistical tasks. Moreover, they lived in the field, unlike Americans. Vietnamese revolutionary war, combined mass political mobilization and a reliance of guerrilla tactics that deprived a firepower superior conventional foe of decisive targets to shoot at.[28] They relied on camouflage and night operations, hit-and-run attacks and use of terrain and populations as means of concealment. The purpose of Communists military operations was to weaken enemys will through protraction of hostilities. It was the only way for them as a swift victory over the Americans was impossible.[29] Insurgents in Iraq have different targets: U.S. and coalition troops, American civilian contractors, Iraqis working with Americans, oil and electrical power infrastructure. Moreover, Iraqi politicians, police stations and officers and members of the New Iraqi Army.[30] Their methods have evolved through time as the various groups have engaged in trial. They mainly include rocket-propelled grenades and use of improvised explosive devises. Iraqi police officers and other security forces are targets because they are considered to take over the power as soon as the U.S. forces leave the country. In addition, they are more vulnerable because their weapons are not as lethal as U.S. forces and they receive limited training in force protection.[31] Role of Allies In 1965 the United States did not bother to seek U.N. authorization for intervention in Vietnam because of the certainty of a Soviet veto.[32] In 2003, the United States sought an authorizing resolution but failed to garner even a majority among the U.N. Security Councils membership.[33] Indeed, in both cases, much of the rest of the world, including key allies, regarded U.S. military intervention as illegitimate. Not a single NATO ally joined the United States in Vietnam; on the contrary, only five other states aside from South Vietnam itself (Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand) contributed combat troops.[34] If Americas allies in the Vietnam War were few, the opposite was true for the Vietnamese Communists. Unlike Saddam Husseins Iraq in 2003, the Communists in Vietnam had powerful and decisive allies. Behind the NLF in the South stood North Vietnam, and behind North Vietnam stood the Soviet Union and China. Deliveries included fighter aircraft, antiaircraft guns, tanks and helicopters. The Chinese, provided the Vietnamese Communists with huge quantities of weapons. Unlike the Russians, however, the Chinese provided over 300,000 antiaircraft and engineer troops who, in the face of escalating U.S. bombing, manned air defense systems and constructed, reconstructed, maintained, and defended North Vietnams transportation network, especially its railroad system.[35] In Iraq, as in Vietnam, the United States has sought international support both to reduce its military burden and to enhance the legitimacy of its policy, although it strongly resisted giving the United Nations a major voice in post-war Iraq policy. In Iraq, as in Vietnam, this effort produced disappointing results, although the number of countries contributing forces to Iraqs postwar stabilization is much more impressive than those that sent troops to Vietnam. In both cases, the United States bore the primary burden of the fighting, although in Vietnam, unlike Iraq, a large indigenous force performed important static defense and other military tasks. In Iraq, the most notable contribution came from the United Kingdom, which contributed 26,000 troops. Since the termination of major combat operations in May 1, 2003, a number of other countries, for a variety of motives, some of them having little to do with support for U.S. policy in Iraq, have committed limited force contingents to assist Iraqs post-war stabilization.[36] Additionally, the more Americanized the already heavily American foreign presence in Iraq becomes, the more likely it is that it will provoke Iraqi nationalist opposition. Some Iraqi nationalists may be drawn to the insurgent cause by what they view as a prolonged U.S. troop withdrawal and the continued absence of a new U.N. effort to take over the establishment of a new Iraq.[37] Challenges of State-Building The Vietnam War ended as a war between two states, the northern Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) and the southern Republic of Vietnam (RVN). The former established in 1945 and the latter in 1954. The U.S. supported the RVN against further Communist expansion. If it werent the U.S. political, military and economic support, the anti-communist regime could not have been created and sustained.[38] The U.S. helped with the state-building in South Vietnam for two decades. It founded governmental institutions, it armed and trained the RVN armed forces, it subsidized South Vietnams economy and it tried to direct the RVN toward democratization. Despite these efforts, state-building failed, first of all because of the RVNs military defeat in 1975. The RVN was defeated so quickly that made an impression even to Communists.[39] The U.S. were to blame for it partially. It reduced its principal goal from securing an independent, non-Communist Vietnam to looking for a withdrawal and when the final Communist offensive was launched in 1975, they couldnt re-enter the war or provide the RVN with materials.[40] The RVN was to blame for the failure, too. Their weaknesses were: professional military inferiority, corruption and lack of political legitimacy. Moral disintegration explains why their three times bigger in size army, with larger equipment was that rapidly defeated.[41] Important RVNAF units didnt go to combat because they were to protect the government from potential threats of a coup detat, and generals that were very skilful were considered as political threats. In addition, military promotions were given with no meritocratic methods.[42] Moreover, many South Vietnamese started stealing American military and economic aid in order to get profit. They didnt care about going to war as for them the Americans were responsible for this task. Black market operations were one of the major components of RVNAF corruption.[43] The Communists fighting power was superior as first of all their political program was very clear: kick out the Americans, give land to the peasants and unite the nation. In addition, they had a totalitarian political system that controlled and directed the society more effectively than in South Vietnam. On the contrary, the RVNAF lacked in discipline and patriotism that would lead soldiers to sacrifice their lives.[44] Unlike the RVN, the Communists succeeded in persuading the majority of Vietnamese in both South and North that it was the only legitimate political representative of national independence. The RVN failed to obtain the necessary legitimacy in order to survive without the American support.[45] In Iraq, as in South Vietnam, the political success will come after the creation of a government that will be legitimized by the majority of people and after the creation of security forces that will be in position to protect this new political order. South Vietnam had a corrupted government and large but incompetent security forces. Its enemy, however, was very capable. On the other hand, in Iraq there is no government and no worth-mentioned security forces. Moreover, any government that the U.S. will try to create must be likeable from the Iraqis and must be secured by U.S. military power.[46] The main threat to state-building in Iraq lies not in the insurgency in central Iraq, but in the potential for the recent uprising of Shiite militants to reignite, expand, and include large elements of that community or the development of the kind of sectarian civil war that plunged Lebanon into near anarchy for almost 2 decades.[47] The creation of a stable and democratic Iraq is difficult. The U.S. does not have the time with their side. Most of the Iraqis and their Arab neighbours look Americas presence there suspiciously and question its motives. So the Iraqi governmental institutions are erected under political pressure and under the objections of Iraqi sectarian leaders.[48] The U.S. with its military presence undermine the constructed governments legitimacy. U.S. withdrawal will reassure nationalists and provide governmental institutions with some space in order to develop.[49] One the other hand, a premature withdrawal a security vacuum may cause disorder that could lead to a civil war. Iraq has met in the past tyranny and authoritarian regimes, so a democracy in order to work needs institutions that can be trusted to deliver representative government, while protecting minorities. In addition, the development of a political society where groups will have the opportunity to be elected without provoking fears to the losers, is necessary. Otherwise, the losers may try to ensure their safety by resisting to national institutions.[50] The institutions need to be protected by security and gradually the U.S. intents to pass this responsibility on Iraqis. This action may lead to the legitimacy of the new Iraq government, provided that the new forces will not operate with visible support from the U.S. . [51] Challenges of Sustaining Domestic Political Support The American intervention in Vietnam failed because citizens back home stopped supporting it. Communists had more to loose from a bad ending of this war than the U.S, so their political will was much stronger. The majorities and opinions of liberal newspapers, such as the Washington Post and New York Times supported the Vietnam war in the first place, as long as it didnt last long, there werent many casualties and it didnt influence much their economy.[52] People trusted the U.S. Government and supported its decisions. But as war went on, this support started to decrease. By March 1969, 66% of the citizens were opposed to the continuation of this war. From April 1969 to December 1972 the U.S. military personnel dropped from 543,000 to 24,000. Public opinion made Nixon pullout the American soldiers even though he knew that this would favour the Communists.[53] In Iraqs case, public support may decreased because of the inability to find any relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda. Moreover, the costs of the Iraq War are extravagant and they are to blame partially for the cumulative national debt.[54] Operation IRAQI FREEDOM was a war of choice and as such, like Vietnam, publics tolerance in deaths was limited. Before the war started, .U.S. Government assured people that the hole world would consider them as liberators of Iraq. Effects on public opinion between expectations and realities needs to be seen. However, polls taken in March 2004 by CNN/USA Today showed a decline in public support. Only 49% was in favour of the Iraq War. Moreover, the 43% believed that their government mislead them about whether Iraq has nuclear weapons.[55] Conclusions These two historical situations are not identical. Operation IRAQI FREEDOM achieved its goal, that is eliminating a regime that could be a threat to the U.S. . Despite that fact, the U.S. had to face the costly results of state-building while insurgent violence is still on, that resembles the Vietnam situation. Many academics believe that establishing democracy in Iraq is beyond Americas power and that another regime type must be approached, such as a benign authoritarian regime type along the lines of Kemal Ataturks Turkey, as a transition to more representative governance.[56] However, the U.S. must not abandon Iraq as it did with South Vietnam in 1975. It is possible that such an action would lead to civil war. In my opinion the differences between the two cases are more than the similarities, especially in the military aspects. But underestimating the Iraqi insurgents would be a mistake that the U.S. did with the Vietnamese Communists in Vietnam. After all, even the appearance of the insurgency after U.S. operations surprised many. In addition, even though the appeal of the Iraqi insurgency cannot be compared to the Vietnamese Communists, the Iraqi insurgency has attacked key targets to Iraqs reconstruction. Policymakers need to be careful with the two aspects that are similar in both wars. The challenges of state-building and the need to maintain domestic political support. State-building in Iraq could fail for the same reasons that failed in Vietnam: inability to create a political order that gets legitimacy by the citizens. Moreover, the domestic political support cannot be taken for granted, especially now that people have in their memories the consequences of the Vietnam War. In addition, the absence of a North Vietnam in Iraq could change, with a hostile external state intervention. For instance, Iran, which has strong state interests in Iraq that have so far been served by the U.S. destruction of the Saddam Hussein regime may try to cause chaos in Iraq. Iran has no interest in the resurrection of a powerful Iraq, and certainly not a democratic Iraq, and it has the means to get thousands of Iraqi Shiites on the streets to protest the U.S. occupation. To conclude with, it is important to mention the greatest difference between the two wars. The Vietnam War is a finished event, whereas Iraq War is still in progress. We know what happened in Vietnam, but we do not know what Iraqs fate will be. Robert L. Bartley, Iraq: Another Vietnam? Wall Street Journal, November 3, 2003 Harry G. Summers, Jr., Vietnam War Almanac, New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985, p. 113. See John W, Garver, The Chinese Threat and the Vietnam War, Parameters, Spring 1992, pp. 73-85. Larry Berman, Planning a Tragedy: The Americanization of the War in Vietnam, New York: W. W. Norton, 1982, p. 92. Larry Berman, Planning a Tragedy: The Americanization of the War in Vietnam, New York: W. W. Norton, 1982, p. 94. Shelby Stanton, Vietnam Order of Battle, Washington, DC: U.S. News Books, 1981, p. 333 James J. Wirtz, The Tet Offensive: Intelligence Failure and War, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1991, pp. 247-251 David L. Anderson, The Columbia Guide to the Vietnam War, New York: Columbia University Press, 2002, pp. 286, 287, 288. Phillip S. Meilinger, Air Power: Myths and Facts, Maxwell AFB, AL; Air University Press, December 2003, p. 78. Anthony H. Cordes

Tall Buildings

The aspiration to construct tall buildings is not something new. They have always been used to demonstrate control and wealth. In the world of tall buildings, the design and construction and life safety are the most important aspects of offering a fictional building. The life safety of the occupant of buildings is very essential as today most tenants are worried more and more about how safe the building is? Issues such as unplanned fire, earthquakes, floods and terrorist attacks are major concerns. Such disasters have proved to cost millions of economic, financial and human loss.These disasters tend to have enormous effect on the construction industry; and professionals such as architects, fire engineers, structural engineers, insurers and emergency workers from all over the world were called to discuss the issue and find solutions. Their have been several procedures derived in order to attain security against fire It is not possible to attain the required level of safety by followin g one procedure. Thus several procedures if performed together prove to be helpful in attaining certain results against fire.Most of the fascinating tall buildings and there integrated systems that have reached a level of safety during several events such as the world trade centre1 and 2, the emirates tower in Dubai and many others. â€Å"Understanding the role, limitations and interface between systems is fundamental to system selection. Complementing to systems side of building design is the operating feature or human interface that supplements these sophisticated systems† (Craighead, 2003). To sustain the level of safety and quality it is necessary that security systems are designed with exceptional attention at the time when the design of the building is designed.Then there is the maintenance to keep fire security up to date and in working conditions these systems are to be checked and tested from time to time on regular basis. This paper will offer a review and descripti on of all of these aspects linked to high rise buildings. This study has been researched and developed in order to find requirements concerning fire safety in tall buildings, along with determining the relation between good designs and improving safety of tall buildings and occupants.Aims and ObjectivesAims:The aim of this paper is to provide an understanding of how a better informed design of tall buildings can address fire safety requirements. In particular, it seeks to identify how fire can affect the safety of a tall building and its occupants, It also examine the existing and emerging design solutions and legislation to address the problems and threats of fire safety in tall buildings. According to The New Civil Engineer, â€Å"The WTC disaster has caused us all to think hard about the best actions to take to make tall buildings safer,† (Forest and Wainwright 2002).To improve the overall safety of tall buildings, this research will view a specific aspect of fire emergenc y in more depth. This aspect is related with the comparison of using stairs and elevators in case of an emergency.Objectives:The main objectives or topics of this paper that I have evaluated briefly and thoroughly as per requirement are as following:1. Introduce fire behaviour in tall buildings and how it spreads.2. Outline the consequences for human lives and physical resources.3. Discuss how poor design of tall buildings has caused fire.4. Examine how good design like a balanced approach in using stairs and elevators with respect to the number of floors is useful in minimizing losses during fires.5. Synthesise the main points and outline the recommendations for the design of tall buildings.Hence after evaluating and analysing the sub topics mentioned above in an organized manner it can be expected that we would achieve the desired aims. To thoroughly evaluate the every objective we need to conduct proper research and use appropriate methods to achieve the desired results.Research MethodologyA number of sources have been used to compile this paper. The lists of references are outlined at the end of this paper. In main approaches were selected for this study, which includes:1) Collection of secondary data about history, evolution, development of the design and safety issues in tall buildings and identify how they relate to each other. This included the analysis of books, journals, internet sources and other relevant publications. In addition, codes, standards and regulations which have impacted on fire safety in buildings were also reviewed.2) Analysis of a case study illustrating examples of high rise buildings relating to their success and failure during a fire. This also entailed the examination of design solutions to fire safety.Chapter #2: Literature ReviewThis chapter focuses on the analysis of existing literature on the good designs in relation to tall building. The chapter even revolves around fire behaviour and means of escape in case of fire from tal l buildings. This chapter begins with the importance of tall buildings and what kind of threats pose these magnificent structure, the chapter moves on further with the concepts of good and bad design.At the end of the chapter some legislations and laws are discussed. Tall Buildings Defining a building as being tall and magnificent can be done through the number of floors it has by general people. Then there are terms used that include ‘skyscraper’ and ‘high rise’ these terms are generally used to describe tall building therefore I researched to understand these terms and found meanings that were equally vague:â€Å"Very tall modern building, usually in a city† (Cambridge International Dictionary of English, 2003).â€Å"A very tall building with many storeys† (Word Net, 2003).â€Å"A tall modern building with a lot of floors† (Cambridge International Dictionary of English, 2003).After focusing on dictionaries I spend some time researchin g from books, Skyscrapers have fascinated mankind since the start of civilization.It is not possible to define them by using specific terms linked just to the height or to the number of floors. â€Å"The height of a building is a matter of a person’s or community’s circumstance and their consequent perception† as Stafford-Smith said. Therefore, no definition of tall building can be generally applied.However, the structural engineers define a tall building â€Å"as one that, because of its height, is affected by lateral forces due to wind or earthquake to the extent that the forces play an important role in their structural design† as Stafford-Smith said. (Tall Building Structures: Analysis and Design) Advantages of Tall Buildings Tall buildings are designed to supply the requirements of an intended occupancy such as residential, commercial or both together. They are not the only way to attain high density but they can in situations such as small areas of a city where land is limited.Moreover, tall buildings are usually situated or placed near the public transport nodes which reduce the necessity for car use. many people agree that they are advantageous . They can as well take part in a positive part in the design of the city centre by marking places of public, commercial or cultural importance. Also, Refurbishing and reusing the actual unoccupied space can allow the positive flow-on effects of regeneration to be spread more all over the city centre, and as long as they are well designed and located, they can be a positive way to develop in urban areas. (Construction Technology for Tall Buildings)In the early stages of planning a building, the whole design team has to agree on one form of structure to satisfy all the requirements considering the safety and fictional matters. Thus buildings not only help in developments and give accommodation to a huge number of people it gives employment opportunities during the construction of the b uilding. (Tall Building Structures: Analysis and Design) Disadvantages of Tall Buildings With advantages tall buildings have many disadvantages, the disadvantages include the existence of too many occupied floors on top of each other means a big concentration of occupants, personal and business property.Which result in a huge possible fuel weight of the building? The disadvantages that it has to face in case of accidental fire is the likelihood of a great uncontrolled fire rising presents danger in tall buildings as it is a vertical structure. There will be delays in reaching the area to provide assistance for example if there will be a fire in the upper floor of the tall building it will be difficult to reach that floor and provide help.In a case of fire, it is difficult for all the occupants to leave the building by using lifts, staircases and emergency exits at once. The access of the fire department can be limited from both outside and inside the building. High rise buildings ha ve natural forces that affect on the fire and smoke movements such as wind which increase the stack effect due to the height of the building, this stack effect can move a large amount of uncontrolled heat or smoke through the building.Problems Faced By Buildings under FireThe construction of tall buildings is much more important than before, as design safety is becoming paramount to avoid the unacceptable loss of lives and the collapse of buildings. Therefore, the construction of tall buildings needs a better approach, combining better design and technological solutions. These solutions should be designed to avoid the collapse of tall buildings, when the supports for one floor of the building fail, causing the failure of the lower floors.To address this issue, recent studies suggest that tall buildings should include a ‘collapse’ floor every 10 storeys, this floor will be able to carry the weight of the floors on top. Modern buildings are at risk to fire because of the steel structural material that looses half its strength at 6000C, which can be easily reached when a building burns. To prevent this, we need to design strong and non-brittle buildings in order to absorb the shock without fracturing the structure of the building. . (Construction Technology for Tall Buildings)Design Plan and Safety Precautions for Fire SafetyThere are many fire life safety systems and equipments that can be used in order to make sure that the building is safe to use and that occupants can be evacuated safely and quickly, and that the right measures are taking at the right time. In order to understand what is required for a typical high rise building it is advised to review the laws, codes and regulations. The construction of skyscrapers necessitates more detailed planning to prevent errors from occurring in the lifecycle of it.Since September 11th 2001 in New York, design teams are more conscious about the health and safety of the community. Buildings are growing tal ler to supply the demand for more space. It is evident that stairs provided in tall buildings as a means of escape are not sufficient. Consequently, there is a need for alternative means of escape from tall buildings in case of a fire. Architects and engineers must provide better solutions when designing tall buildings, as recent event such as 9/11 revealed that existing safety measures are inadequate.For instance, major consideration should be given to how long it takes to get everyone out of a building on case of a fire, taking in consideration that the public cannot, in general, use lifts. . (Construction Technology for Tall Buildings) The planning of tall buildings is an essential procedure, particularly where the environment has old historic buildings. The process become so difficult in this case, and its not just to do with height, it is more to do with the difficulty of integration between the two different types.Consequently, it is important to ensure that the building will have a nice effect on the environment and produce a relaxing surrounding. (Tall Building Structures: Analysis and Design) Tall buildings are difficult to build, not just for the safety issues, but also the required services such as elevators, plumbing, wiring, stairs, air-conditioning ducts. In addition to greater beams and columns, buildings require more elevators than short buildings. So, the construction of tall buildings makes business sense but necessitates huge architectural and engineering efforts.(Tall Building Structures: Analysis and Design) The design and construction of future high-rise towers requires wide knowledge of good architectural principles; strong floor plates; Complex structural life-safety and building systems that have to be followed correctly. Key to this is through a well planned and better informed design process. According to the Triz journal Toru Nakagawa Staircases must be designed and built not just to be suitable, comfortable, and securely guarded fo r daily use, but also secure as emergency escaping ways in situations such as fire.They should be designed in a way to prevent the chimney effects as well as flame, smoke, and toxic gases when fire occurs. Moreover, the staircase should be a kind of ‘Internal Staircase' and of a ‘Separated' type of ‘Internal Staircase’; to avoid the rising of fire and to keep it as an escaping. In addition, the windows of the staircase should be opened widely in case of fire; these windows can be used as the entrance for rescuing activities. These windows should open remotely at the control centre of the tall building.According to the Ingenta connect by J. Y. Richard Liew â€Å"Design codes for fire safety in buildings can be either a prescriptive type or performance-based type. It is recognized that performance-based codes provide greater advantages over the prescriptive codes which allow designers to use the fire engineering methods to assess the fire safety of the struct ure. However, as the assessment of the whole structure performance is not easy, most codes currently used are still prescriptive codes or a combination of prescriptive codes and performance-based codes.The key feature for implementing the performance-based fire design codes is the assessment of the fire resistance of the structure†. (Liew, 2004) According to Will Pank, Maunsell Ltd Herbert Girardet, Urban Futures Greg Cox, Oscar Faber Ltd in practice, The Corporation of London,† Individual tall buildings are analysed in relation to their design to develop a rationale for fire engineering. The proposed fire solutions or requirements of the intent of the regulations. The main consideration is:The adequacy of means to prevent fire.Early fire warning by an automatic detection and warning system.The standard of means of escape.Provision of smoke control.Control of the rate of growth of a fire.The adequacy of the structure to resist the effects of a fire.The degree of fire con tainment.Fire separation between buildings or parts of buildings.The standard of active measures for fire extinguishment or control.Facilities to assist the fire service.Availability of powers to require staff training in fire safety and fire routines such as registration or licensing procedures.Evacuation ProcessWhen the raising of a fire alarm is occurred, the main entrance should receive the elevators according to the European evacuation plans. During an emergency, only stairs should be allowed for the evacuation purpose. Furthermore, the stairs may not be an efficient way of evacuation, especially for elderly and disabled persons. In this regard, three phases can be created from the time of an emergency until an area of safety is reached by all the people. In this regard, recognition time, reaction time, and egress time are the abovementioned three phases of an emergency.When the building has not been egress by the people, the time has been referred as the pre-movement time. The signs of danger influence the length of this period. In addition, type of the building, as well as, alarms are some other factors that influence the pre-movement time of an emergency. For instance, long pre-movement time might be observed during the night time in an apartment building. Three times longer, as compared with the actual movement time has been considered for the determination of pre-movement time according to a number of studies.After the recognition time, awareness of the emergency is attained by the occupants. Before the giving of fire alarms, one of the most critical parts of the emergency has been considered the recognition time. Information about the situation, as well as, source of the emergency is required by the people during the reaction time. The reaction time is often affected by the training for emergencies. Until the area of safety has not been reached by everyone, people move out of the building during the actual movement phase of an emergency.Determinatio n of the egress time has been concentrated by the evacuation studies due to the availability of its theoretical estimates. In this regard, figure 2 has illustrated the building filling, as well as, evacuation times with relation to the different up-peak handling capacities. For instance, thirty-three minutes was the building filling time, as the up-peak handling capacity was fifteen percent. At this stage, nineteen to twenty-two minutes was the average egress time. (Siikonen and Hakonen, 2003)