Global Water Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Global Water Crisis - Essay Example In a global perspective, only a small proportion of water can be regarded as fresh. It is worth noting that much of the fresh water is not physically accessible by human beings. In fact, UNEP estimates that two-thirds of fresh water is tucked in frozen glaciers, meaning, it is not readily available for human and animals consumption, as well as for agriculture. In terms of accessibility, UNEP (2010) posits that approximately 1.1 billion people lack access to water, and a further 2.7 billion experience water scarcity at least a month annually. The World Bank estimates that 80 countries experience water shortages, translating to 2 billion people lacking access to clean water. One of the factors that has contributed to the global water crisis include population expansion. Figures from the World Health Organization (2012) points that population has undeniably doubled over the recent past. Consequently, this has led to transformation of water ecosystems, coupled with loss of biodiversity. Rapid population growth has contributed to overpopulation in many parts of the world and thus many people have been forced to inhabit or encroach on water basins and other water catchment areas. Consequently, increased human population, which increased from 1.7 billion to 6.6 billion people in the last century according, has also been linked with unsustainable use of water. Population growth has been accompanied by economic development in the last fifty years, and has also been supported by subterranean water resources which are non-renewable.

Coca Cola product life cycle Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Coca Cola product life cycle - Case Study Example This concept holds that the life of any product can be divided into four distinct periods. The first one is the introduction phase, in which the initial sales are made to customers that like trying out new products, although sales in this phase are inadequate to recuperate costs of the product’s development (GecÃŒÅ'Evska et al, 2010: p209). The second phase is the growth stage, in which the sales rapidly increase with increasing product popularity and profits begin to be generated. The third stage is referred to as the maturity stage, which generates most of the product’s profits and sales and is the longest phase. Most companies seek to prolong this phase to increase profits by implementing extension strategies. The last stage is decline, in which the product sales begin to fall and being profitable. Marketing strategies should be adapted to external dynamics within the marketplace for every stage (Matsokis & Kiritsis, 2010: p789), which Coca-Cola has done to make it t he most consumed global soft drink company. Coca-Cola was founded in mid-1886 by John Pemberton and was first introduced in form of a soda fountain drink (Coca-Cola Company.com, 2012: p1). During this stage, it was sold at 5 US cents for each glass. Because John Pemberton’s partner and accountant Frank Robinson believed that C’s would be attractive in advertising, they settled on the name Coca-Cola. The objective of Coca-Cola during this phase was to generate initial awareness about the product and put it in the market for trial by the public, which exceeded Dr. Pemberton’s initial targets (Allen, 2012: p13). In addition, they only launched a basic product that was not even sold in bottles. Rather, they sold the product from soda fountains located strategically at Dr. Pemberton’s businesses. In addition, the company used a cost plus pricing strategy during this phase and it has been suggested it is most likely they used price skimming in order to

Cathedral Short Story Written By Raymond Carver English Literature Essay

Cathedral Short Story Written By Raymond Carver English Literature Essay Cathedral is a short story written by Raymond Carver. The story unfolds as a first person narrative of a main character named Bub. The story is short and slow paced. . In fact, the whole conversations and drama in the story is an event that took place in one day. The story beautifully depicts the process of an individual who transforms from this unknowledgeable, ignorant being into a knowledgeable soul. The story was written more than three decades ago and still is relevant today. The story is fashioned in such a way that this timeless beauty will continue to awe and inspire people generations onwards. The cathedral, in this story is a mere subject brought up at the end of this story which becomes the object of Bubs enlightment. All in all this short story Cathedral tells a tale of Bub who through a blind man receives an eye opening experience. The beginning of the story describes Bubs feeling as a blind person is visiting his home for the first time. This blind man was a good friend of Bubs wife. Bub The blind man is visiting the trite emotions and thoughts going inside Bubs head as a Blind person is visiting his house for the first time. Through this mundane example of a cathedral through The story starts narrative story Cathedral he sheds light on the motif of ignorance through the first person narrator. The narrator starts as being intolerable but towards the end of the story, he gets an eye opening experience, ironically with the assistance of a blind man that makes him open minded. The author has chosen the right theme of physical and psychological blindness to beautifully achieve the goal of his exploration of the baseness and rawness of the narrator Bubs condition. Carvers treatment of this issue is proficient and he has the ability to stir up psychological dilemmas within the reader. Like other readers would consen t it is the narrator who is actually blind but not Robert the visually disabled. Appearance as it would seem is deceptive, the narrator could see externally and the blind man was the one without sight. However, the narrator was the one blinded by his own ignorance. This first instance of his ignorance is passing judgment on Robert before even meeting him despite knowing very little about him. And his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed (202). Apparently it is evident he is unknowledgeable about Robert when he says, Id always thought dark glasses were a must for the blind or I remembered reading somewhere that the blind didnt smoke (206). He foolishly looked for any reason to detest the man, whether it was because he had married a colored woman named Beulah or because he had a beard on his face. Another example that shows the husband is blind in the beginning of the story is refering to Robert as This blind man (203) when Bub talks to his wife and never uses Roberts name or ass igns any human attributes to him. This shows that the husband does not really see Robert as a person, but just as a blind man who is different because he has a handicap. The blind man however antagonizes the narrator. He keeps an open mind to new experiences and states that he is always learning something because learning never ends, thus emphasizing his lack of ignorance. Roberts arrival at the couples house further brings out the narrators ignorance; the husband does not know what to say to him. He therefore begins to ask stupid questions about the view from the train: Which side of the train did you sit on? (205). The husband knows that Robert cannot see the view, but he asks him these questions anyway. Also, the husband thinks to himself, I didnt know what else to say (205), which is a clear indication that he is unable to establish a relationship with Robert. Both of these quotations show that the husband does not know what to talk about with Robert because he only sees Roberts handicap, instead of seeing him as a complete human being who has emotions, thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. Not only does the husband not know how to communicate with Rober t, but also he does not know how to act around him either. A good example of this, shown after dinner, is when all three of them go into the living room. This is how the husband portrays what happens when they first enter the room: Robert and my wife sat on the sofa. I took the big chair. We had us two or three more drinks while they talked about the major things that had come to pass for them in the past ten years. For the most part, I just listened. Now and then I joined in (206). The husbands discomfort is revealed through his actions when the wife went upstairs to put on her robe. I didnt want to be left alone with a blind man. I asked him if he wanted another drink and he said sure. Then I asked if he wanted to smoke some dope with me. I said Id just rolled a number. I hadnt, but I planned to do so in about two shakes (207). He shows that he does not know how to act around Robert because again he does not see Robert as a person, but only as a blind man. The narrator is asked to describe a cathedral later in the story by Robert. There is a need in the blind man to see, but there is nothing that will ever be able to fulfill that need. The narrator struggles to find the right words, the signifier that will provide a bridge to the thought in the blind mans head of the actual cathedral, the signified. When his language failed him, he relied on symbolism by drawing while holding the old mans hand to communicate to the blind man what he couldnt say with words. At this point he is introduced into the blind mans world and begins to see what it is like for him to have no sight. This allows the narrator to step outside of his own boundaries and give himself freedom from the ignorant world he used to live in. In the last few sentences of the story, he realizes for himself that he is free. My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didnt feel like I was inside anything (211). Bub was not only blind to his own ignorance but also blind to his wife and her feelings and needs. On the contrary, the blind man held a close relationship with the narrators wife, allowing himself to be an outlet for her to vent her feelings on the tapes she sent him. Her husband seemed insensitive to her feelings when he brushed off the poem she had written about the experience of the blind man touching her face. As a result of his insensitivity, the wife is easily angered by the narrator on a couple different occasions and sometimes shouts at her husband. Goddamn it, his wifes just died! Dont you understand that? The mans lost his wife.(203) In addition to his indifferent attitude towards her wifes feelings, the narrator appears to be jealous of the relationship between his wife and Robert. The jealous narrator expresses his envy when the three sit down after dinner to talk. I waited in vain to hear my name on my wifes sweet lipsBut I heard nothing of the sort. More talk of Robert (206). His jealousy even bleeds on Roberts relationship with his former wife. He contemplates and decides that it is beyond his comprehension that Robert could marry a woman and love a woman he has never seen (205). But the narrator himself, who can see his wife clearly with his own eyes, cannot see the depth of her feelings the way Robert is able to. His blindness to his wifes feelings isolates him from her and seems to drive him to use mind-altering substances in attempt to escape reality. He says that he smoked dope and stayed up as long as I couldMy wife and I hardly went to bed at the same time (209). Bubs conversation with Robert became clumsy but instead of dealing with them, he asks Robert if he would like to smoke dope. The narrator uses the drugs to achieve a sense of satisfaction. When people are starved of real love or a sense of satisfaction in their lives, they will repeatedly use material things in an attempt to fill this empty void which never becomes full. While th e narrator gets his self satisfaction from drugs and alcohol, Robert finds his from being with his former wife. The narrators wife called Robert and his former wife inseparable and recalls that she died in a Seattle hospital room, the blind man sitting beside the bed and holding her hand (204). The blind man seems to understand that time invested in people is much more worthwhile than any high one can get from a drug. Raymond Carvers choice of theme of blindness makes his goal of offering a deeper understanding of the nature of human a success. He is able to tell readers that there is physical blindness and psychological blindness. Those with the physical disability could see well than those who are not. This motif is accentuated by these examples from the storythe first is the demeanor of Bub which shows signs of disapproval of the imminent visit of his wifes blind friend, the second is his contemplating the basis of his wifes friendship with Robert, and the third is his verbal and sensory interaction with the blind man when he draws a cathedral on a paper bag.

A Man with a Vision :: essays research papers

My search began with personal interest about a man by the name of Howard Coffin. I knew him as the founder of Pirates of the Spanish Main, a local organization that he established in 1931. His purpose in founding the club was to welcome dignitaries, promote the Golden Isles, and aid the community. As a member of the club today, I thought it might be interesting to trace the roots back to the founder. Little did I know, Mr. Coffin was much more than just the founder of a club. He was also a man with a vision, who made huge strides in developing much of the Golden Isles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mr. Coffin was born in 1873 and grew up on an Ohio farm, and in Ann Harbor, Michigan. He first discovered one of his visions while attending the University of Michigan. His vision was somehow to produce a low cost car, which would sell for less than a thousand dollars and that would attract a mass market. In 1902, Howard Coffin went to work for the Old Motor Works of Detroit, where he began his phenomenal career as an automobile builder. After the Olds Company decided to stay with their expensive car, he worked at other companies until he was finally able to achieve his dream. With the financial support of the Hudson Department Stores of Detroit, he invented the Hudson Car. The car was the first model of a four-cylinder roadster that sold for about $900.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first visit that Mr. Coffin made to the coast of Georgia was in 1910 to attend the Savannah Road Race. Early automobile manufacturers liked to watch their cars perform, but also they made it a vacation trip. While attending the races and enjoying their vacation, Mr. and Mrs. Coffin fell in love with the beauty and history of the Golden Isles of the Georgia coast. Since Mr. Coffin was well able to afford just about anything he wanted, he and his wife decided to purchase the 20,000 acres that made up Sapelo Island. They would have a place to vacation, a wonderful place to entertain, and a reason to return to the Georgia coast.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Howard Coffin’s real importance to Golden Isles history was in the vision that he had for development with the ongoing process of automobile roads. After the end of World War I, the sales of automobiles far surpassed the condition of roads for their travel.

Problem Behavior Syndrome Essay

Problem Behavior Syndrome (PBS) are a number of antisocial behaviors that cluster together which may include family dysfunction, substance abuse, smoking, educational underachievement, suicidal thoughts/attempts, unemployment and even crime. (Siegel, 2011) There is one person that comes to mind that has a criminal record and also possesses numerous antisocial behaviors listed in the text. That person, sadly, is my ex boyfriend/ baby’s father, Jonathon. He is only 27 years old and already has two strikes against him. The antisocial behaviors that pertain to him are: family dysfunction, smoking, substance abuse, unemployment, and educational underachievement. I personally believe his mother is to blame for that. She’s a lazy, unemployed alcoholic and possibly bipolar. She picks fights with him whenever possible and has even gotten him arrested once or twice. She is and most likely never was a positive role model for Jon. Maybe it has to do with his father never being around. Who knows? He had gotten a chick pregnant while he was only 15 or so. I have met that kid and the mother; I feel she is already heading down the road he went. That is exactly why I will not let him be in my daughter’s life. I don’t want her to be like him in any way. I am not sure how or who introduced him to drugs but that is his biggest downfall. Drugs (crystal meth) are why he’s been arrested. That fact that he smoked it as well didn’t make things better. He has never harmed anyone or robbed anything either so thank god for that. Since he has a record, it’s very hard for him to find a decent job. But the fact that he is trying to turn his life around and make something of himself, is what makes me know for a fact that he won’t become another PBS statistic.

Blue Zuma Part 2

After further analysis and the additional resources made available by Mr. Martin to the Blue Zuma Project, we have determined the following recommendations be implemented immediately to ensure that our retailers have the product by February 1, as established by our Mr. Lane. The concern with the original project plan revolved around three activities not having enough resources to complete the project per the timeline identified above.Those three activities were: Detailed Product Design, Detailed Marketing Plan and Manufacturing Process. With the additional resources made available, we are confident we can improve the process within the three activities identified above. 1. Which additional personnel assignments would you choose to complete the project before the February 1st deadline? Explain your choices as well as the reasons for not choosing other options. It appears an additional marketing specialist would be best utilized for this job.The resource sheet depicts that the marketin g specialist is still overallocated; however the other resources appear to be allocated correctly when we added the additional resources provided by Mr. Lane. Cost would be an important factor in determining if any additional employees will/would be needed. However, we can approve overtime to address some concerns. 2. How have these changes affected the sensitivity of the network? Once the changes are in place, the duration of the project has been reduced from 290 days to 274 days.This improvement has reduced the overall length of the project, thus allowing the deadline set by the Mr. Lane (President). We are confident we can now complete the project by January 27. By allocating the additional and available resources, we were able to reduce the amount of critical paths to one. In doing so, we increase the slack in non-critical activities, thus reducing or decreasing the sensitivity of the network. One critical path is now identified in the project.

Teenage Conformity essays

Teenage Conformity essays Teenagers today face many issues. One of the most common but often overlooked is that of finding their own true identities. Although some teens will find themselves, most simply choose to conform. To conform means "to be or become of the same form". They become like everyone else is. In other words they become like sheep, following and never leading. Instead of being an entirely unique entity with their own mind and thoughts, they become a carbon copy of numerous others. Take clothes for example, teenagers will buy incredibly overpriced clothing. They are willing to pay any price for clothing made by Calvin Klein, Tommy Hillfiger and Gap. They are willing to spend all the money they make from their jobs on these clothes instead of doing something much wiser like saving for college. Some teenagers will even go as far as having more than one job in order to have enough to purchase those $120 jeans. Why? Is it that these clothes are of better quality? More durable? No, they purchase them simply because they don't want to be different or stand out. The people they conceive to be their friends or those they wish to be friends with are wearing these labels and so they feel compelled to wear them too. They see the ads in magazines, on television and hear them on the radio. We also can't forget the fact that the stars are wearing these labels, and if famous people are wearing them they must be cool, right? Teenagers need to step back and say to themselves, "Is it really that important that I dress like my friends? Would it be that big of a deal if I dressed the way I wanted to?". In the past the next issue has been primarily focused toward girls, although recently it is becoming an increasing concern for young men. Teenagers today open a magazine and see skinny models, so thin in fact that many of them are forced to maintain unhealthy habits to remain that way. They watch TV and again, on ...