Persuasive Email Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Enticing Email - Essay Example At present, they are working with one on one programs’ to help grown-ups in preparing and are giving essential courses to the two kids and grown-ups that need to figure out how to peruse. The usage of the few activities by the Read for Life organize has developed sought after so much that it now doesn’t have enough coaches for those that are uneducated in the network. As you may know, El Paso, Texas has the most noteworthy lack of education rate in the country, and three different Texas urban areas are in the main 10 with the most noteworthy absence of education rate. You may likewise realize that the proficiency places in the territory are not accessible to the individuals who have demanding occupations, one parent families, odd working hours or to the individuals who are in need financially1. By joining this endeavor, you will be giving in one of the most required territories of the network, while helping a non †benefit association that is becoming popular. In the event that you are keen on chipping in for Read forever, kindly talk with me or contact Read for Life through the library, where they hold mentoring classes every day. I will allow volunteers 2 hours of paid time from work to chip in and help two grown-ups every week. You will have the option to take this time from work to assist ignorant grown-ups with one on one communication while helping a constant need in the network. In the event that you are keen on chipping in during hours that are outside of work, you can likewise talk with me about finding a delegate for Read for

Out of Africa Theory Essay

The Out of Africa Theory is a broadly fame hypothesis depicting the beginning of humankind and their initial dispersal all through the world. As indicated by this hypothesis, people have a monogensis, or a solitary and normal cause; Africa. The idea was first presented in 1871 by Charles Darwin yet was thought for quite a long time until further investigations of mitochondrial DNA and proof †based on physical human sciences of ancient specimens† was included. During the mid nineteenth century, researchers, excavator and different researchers, guessed, considered and differ about the improvement of people and our inceptions. A few specialists guessed that people are monogenism and formed into different assortments of species. Others contend that we are a polygenism warm blooded animal and that we either had separate advancement of different human species or created as discrete species through †transmutation† of primates. It was until the year 1871 when one of the primary speculations had been proposed straightforwardly. During that year, Charles Darwin distributed the book †Descent of Man†, in which he proposed that all people were relative from early people who lived in Africa dependent on his investigations of the conduct of African gorillas. In his book, Charles Darwin finished up, †In every incredible locale of the world the living warm blooded creatures are firmly identified with the wiped out types of a similar district. It is, thusly, likely that Africa was in the past possessed by wiped out primates firmly united to the gorilla and chimpanzee; and as these two species are currently man’s closest partners, it is to some degree progressively plausible that our initial begetters lived on the African mainland than somewhere else. Yet, it is futile to guess regarding this matter, for a gorilla almost as extensive as a man, to be specific the Drypithecus of Lartet, which was firmly partnered to the anthropomorphous Hylobates, existed in Europe during the Upper Miocene time frame; and since so remote a period the earth has unquestionably experienced numerous incredible insurgencies, and there possesses been sufficient energy for movement on the biggest scale. † Unfortunately, it wasn’t until 50 years after the fact when different researchers started to help Charles Darwin’s hypothesis when an adequate number of fossils of early people in a few territories of Africa was found. During the 1980s, three authorities, Allan Wilson, Rebecca Cann and Mark Stoneking, cooperated on another hypothesis that bolsters Charles Darwin’s theory, the â€Å"Mitochondrial Eve† speculation. In these tests, the researchers seriously centered around mitochondrial DNA, human qualities that lay inside the cell and are passed from mother to youngster. These qualities permit transformation, as they transform rapidly for adjustment, consequently permitting those concentrating to discover and follow changes during brief timeframe periods. By concentrating on these qualities and looking at their disparities, the three researchers had the option to make a theory about the time and spot when current people started to develop. As indicated by their discoveries, they accept that cutting edge people are decentants from a solitary populace, while prior people e. g. Neandertals and Homo erectus, had gotten wiped out. Moreover, the group looked at the DNA of various individuals of differerent ethnic foundations and reasoned that all people did without a doubt advance from ‘one mother’ in Africa around 150,000 years prior. As indicated by physical proof, and speculations, researchers have closed upon an entire theory. In light of their insight and conviction, present day people separated from Homo sapiens somewhere in the range of 200,000 and 150,000 years prior explicitly in Africa, that somewhere in the range of 125,000 and 60,000 years back individuals from Homo sapiens left Africa, and that these people species step by step supplanted before human populaces. East Africa has been the single and explicit orgin of humankind that most researchers have conluded on. There are still theories and discussions on whether there had been one single disintegration or a few. Because of hereditary, linguisitc and archeological discoveries, the Southern Dispersal hypothesis, a hypothesis where incorporated a few mass migration, has become the most great hypothesis, anyway numerous scientists are progressively considering the first and unique sanctuary was Northern Africa. Researchers accept the number of inhabitants in early people had been around 2,000 to 5,000 while they continued in Africa, and just little gatherings of persumably 150 to 1,000 moved out towards the Red Sea. These couple of people went out to extend and in the long run populate the remainder of the world. For instance, one hypothesis recommends that the individuals who went along the southern coastline of Asia eventually crossed the ocean and colonized in Australia around 50,000 years prior. Different analysts accept and have proposed to a various dispersal hypothesis wherein states that there had been two significant movements out of Africa. As indicated by this theory, one gathering crossed the Red Sea and went along the coastline until arriving at India. The other, in the interim, moved north, after the Nile River, and crossed into Asia through the Sinai. From that point, a few individuals scattered in different ways, some headed towards Europe while other went east into Asia. It is hazy, in any case, if Homo sapiens moved to North America 30,000 years back, or later around 14,000 years prior. From that point on, Homo sapiens bit by bit and continiously relocated and chose to each mainland, aside from Antartica, and step by step started to increment and populate the world.

Essay Sample Taking a stand

Essay Sample Taking a stand What is worse beating or bullying with the words? A lot of the children suffer a lot from the both things. Most of the people can state that beating is a more serious thing than bullies attacks with words. However, the reason why they think so is because it is quite easy to notice such situations, and do everything possible to help. Even if the beaten person suffers not only outside, but also inside, it is possible to provide him/her with the necessary help. Unfortunately, the situation with the words attacks is also very problematic, because it can be very complicated to understand that there are any issues among children. It is impossible to find bruises and broken bones after bullying with the words. Yet, every person who experienced this, know how it hurts. Verbal bullies can lead to very serious consequents that can ruin the life of the victim. It doesn’t matter what age children are. They can start bullying someone for a reason that seems reasonable for them at that period of time. If it happens only a couple of time, it, probably, won’t have any dramatic consequences. However, if it continues, the life of the victim will be horrible. It is even possible that the aggressors will regret in the future, but it will be very complicated to change anything. The worst thing in such situations that almost never there is someone, who can help. In my high school years, I saw what bullying is with my own eyes. I wasn’t a victim, and I wasn’t an aggressor. Yet, I was a person, who was watching how other teens teased Emily, my classmate, and I did nothing. The reason why she was teased is that she was quite fat and had a funny haircut. At first, the jokes about here were not very offensive, and it was even funny sometimes to hear them. Yet, every next time was worse and worse. I had noticed a few times, how Emily cried after such word attacks. The problem is that any teacher didn’t notice or didn’t want to notice that this problem exists. A few times, I wanted to protect her, but I also was quite afraid that I will become the next victim. After all, I decided to inform the teacher about the situation with Emily. Fortunately, he listens to my words and decided to talk to her and to her parents. When the truth was disclosed, everyone was shocked because Emily suffered from the depression and even had suicidal thoughts. I’m afraid to think of what could happen. Yet, even after all this, not all of the people understood the seriousness of the situation. Not all of the aggressors felt guilty about their behavior. Some of the teens even thought that Emily was the one who was guilty of the bullying. Unfortunately, such situations aren’t something rare in schools and even colleges. It is very good when there is someone to stand for a victim, but very often people are aloof. Verbal bullying is something that ruins the person from the inside, especially if it is just a child or teenager, who doesn’t know how to protect him/herself or whom to ask for help. It is essential for teachers to be more attentive and help such people. Apart from this, children or teens, who see such situations, also should be brave and do something when it is not too late. It is not necessary to protect a victim by yourself, if you are afraid of becoming a victim too, but is crucial to do at least something, like telling the teacher or parents about the problem. It is always possible to find a decision if just to try enough to do this.

The Feeling Brain The Biology And Psychology Of Emotions...

The Feeling Brain: The Biology and Psychology of Emotions Book Review Summary: Chapter 1 explains the work of a Harvard psychologist named William James. William published the article â€Å"What is an Emotion?† in a philosophical journal entitled Mind in 1884. His paper is an argument for the primacy and necessity of bodily systems in producing emotional feelings. James-Lange theory states that physiological arousal instigates the experience of emotion. A Harvard physiologist, Walter Cannon, roundly criticized James’ theory, claiming that, according to the Cannon Bard theory, physiological changes follow emotional expression. Chapter 2 is centered on the early attempts to identify the brain’s components of emotions. Key researchers that are discussed are a Cornell neuroanatomist, James Papez, and aforementioned physician and neuroscientist Paul MacLean, who worked at Yale and the National Institutes of Mental Health. Together, this pair of researchers conducted seminal medial temporal lobe lesion experiments. The resulting idea was that the emotional brain is composed of a set of interconnected structures in the core of the brain. MacLean dubbed these structures as the â€Å"limbic system†. The function of the limbic system and it relationship to emotion was widely debated by many researchers. Chapter 3 explores the concept of universally shared basic emotions, an idea that was first advanced as a theory by Charles Darwin. Paul Ekman and Jakk Panksepp studied the concept ofShow MoreRelatedHuman Behavior And Inner Emotion1329 Words   |  6 Pagesapproaches helps psychologists and individuals further their understanding of social behavior and inner emotion. In psychology, a biological perspective is imperative to understanding the brain and behavior. Biological psychology refers to the biological study of animals and humans, as well as the function of their immune system and brain chemistry. This is closely related to neuroscience and biology as a fundamental role in determining our behavior and how it corresponds with inherited genetics. TheRead MoreBiological Psychology839 Words   |  4 PagesBiological Psychology Melissa Thompson University of Phoenix Biological Psychology When most hear the words biological/psychology, many tend to have trouble rapping their mind around it. Psychology is the study of behavior, so how does biology fit into this equation? Well we have to assume that our brain has influence or somehow effects are behavior. In order to prove or disprove this theory, we have to research the biology and psychology of both the brain and our behavior. So how doRead MoreEssay On Romantic Love1571 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction Love is a virtue. Especially in the context of romantic love. It is a mutual deep affection that instills both partners with the feeling of happiness, a sense of safety, and unity. These feelings however, originate as neurotransmitters. Chemical substances traveling between synapses providing us the feeling we know as - love. Similarly, the way we feel about love has just as much to do with understanding it’s biological origins. Understanding its purpose, form, andRead MoreWe All Seem To Know It When We Feel It Essay1478 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is love? Not just the emotion and the feelings that a person feels, but what it is exactly. Is it just a feeling that is in a humans heart? Does love even come from the heart or is it a chemical reaction in the brain that makes a lover think that? When it comes to love there are so many questions that can be asked, but why does love even matter? With a better understanding of love, a partaker of love is better equipped to handle ev erything that goes with it. With this better understanding aRead MoreFoundations of Psychology771 Words   |  4 PagesFoundations of Psychology Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. There is some tension between scientific psychology (with its program of empirical research) and applied psychology (dealing with a number of areas). Psychologists attempt to explain the mind and brain in the context of real life. In contrast neurologists utilize a physiological approach. Psychologists study such phenomena as perception, cognition, emotion, personalityRead MoreThe Controller of Humans: The Brain Essay758 Words   |  4 Pageshuman brain is composed of many important parts of everyday life. The exterior part of the brain has 9 part in which include are divided into different sections, lobes, cortex, and areas. Within the lobes, it includes frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes. In cortexes, it has the motor cortex, and the sensory cortex. Within the areas section it includes Broca’s Area. The cerebellum is a small version of the brain, and the cerebrum is the like the whole brain. Although the brain is aboutRead MoreFoundations of Psychology Paper785 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY PAPER Foundations of Psychology Paper PSY/300 November 7, 2011 Betsy Ferronato Foundations of Psychology Paper * This paper will discuss the major schools of thought in psychology and examine their major underlying assumptions. The paper will also identify the primary biological foundations of psychology linked to behavior. According to our reading in psychology is the scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior. Mental processesRead MoreMale Female Psychological Differences838 Words   |  4 Pagesthe left side of their brain. Women on the other hand, have a higher percentage of body fat, and a wider pelvis. Women also have four times as many brain cells connecting the right and left side of their brain. This provides physical evidence that supports the observation that men rely easily and more heavily on their left brain to solve one problem one step at a time. Women have more efficient access to both sides of their brain and therefore greater use of their right brain. Females can also focusRead MoreExplain How Neurons Transmit Information Our Knowledge of the Nuerons Helps Us to Understand Human Behaviour1109 Words   |  5 Pageshuman behaviour.’ Discuss. The relationship between biology and psychology is a ‘give-and-take’, shared relationship where one can be used to explain and provide insight into the other, as both are related to the physical body and the mind. For that reason biology holds a much significant and important role in the study of psychology. One of the main areas of psychological studies is the mind therefore this essay aims to explain the biology of how neurons transmit information, this essay also aimsRead MoreRestructuring Emotion Theory : Contributions Of William James1242 Words   |  5 PagesRestructuring Emotion Theory: Contributions of William James to Emotional Psychology The complexities of human emotion and psychology are an age-old discussion, dating as far back as the musings of Plato in 400 BC. Much of psychology pivoted around philosophical concepts until the mid-1800s, when the field was advanced by the works of Darwin, Wundt, and Pavlov. It was during this era that the writings of an American psychologist by the name of William James became prominent, catalyzing the transition

The Picture Of The Pictures Essay - 2290 Words

The aim of the pictures is to have low contrast to smooth the skins of the people in the pictures out. We eventually decided to use the spots and individually light each artwork. The rest of the room will be darkened to enable the eye to perceive some forms that are hidden in the background as we can see with the woman sitting in the back of Figure 2. We would hang the photographs simply on the wall like a painting and the disposition of the pictures will help the dialogue between the pieces. Since the room is vaulted, it makes a perfect transition between one photo to the other if the viewer follows the pattern indicated above. Each picture would be framed with a white frame to emphasize the contrast between the black and white picture, but also the contrast with the wall so it can get more attention and focus. In terms of labels, the exhibition team decided to provide captions that might be controversial, while being true to the reality of who took these pictures. We decided not to use the usual captions found in textbooks and exhibitions up to this day since we considered the issue of authorship in Mali during this period. According to Candace Keller, who is an African art historian, Malick Sidibà © didn’t take any pictures after his marriage in 1961 and his work should be credited to his apprentices Sidiki Sidibà © and Amadou Fanà © (Keller 39). As a group, we thought that the best solution would be to replace the name of Malick Sidibà © completely, but this action would bringShow MoreRelatedThe Picture Of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words891 Words   |  4 PagesA picture is worth a thousand words, but if the picture itself is of words, it can be worth so much more. When it comes to issues of culture, in order for others to understand, sometimes it is necessary to be equipped with both. It can be hard for white people to grasp the feeling of being different or sticking out purely because of skin color since they are the majority in America. In a society still full of subconscious stereotyping, it becomes difficult for some to understand the problem becauseRead MoreThe Picture On The Right1457 Words   |  6 PagesIf you look at the advertisements in the pictures above, both are from the same company, but they are from a 30 years difference. Both of these pictures do advertise a beautiful women in their Calvin Klein clothing, but the ads say something completely different. If you look at the first picture on the left, and compare it to the second picture on the right you will see the difference immediately. The picture on the left is from 30 years ago and women were not viewed as strong of members of societyRead MoreWhat Is A Pictu re?761 Words   |  4 Pagesall that work for a lunch box?† I questioned while dusting off dirt from the top of it. I start to unlatch the latches being careful not to break them. Pulling the lid open, the first item I see is a picture. Its old with creases like it’s been carried around in someones pocket for years. In the picture a man and a woman stand in front of the cabin in black and white. They look fairly young when the photo was taken, possibly early twenties and pretty happy looking. I place that photo face down on theRead MoreRich Picture2276 Words   |  10 Pagesstock will not be required which will save time and increase efficiency. 5 The picture itself: Rich Picture To summarise the above problem a Rich Picture is illustrated below that will look into the problem areas and assist JTS to confirm the consultant’s understanding of the problem and illustrate fundamentals of the situation and clarify their thinking and decision making. An analysis of the rich picture will help the process of from â€Å"thinking about the problem situation† to â€Å"thinking aboutRead MoreIf a Picture Paints...1025 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"If a Picture Paints...† Before the written word, art played the singular role of portraying history. Whether in the form of cave drawings or sculptures, this art was a tangible representation of the culture, history, and perspectives of the artist and his resulting personal interpretations. As language and writing developed, art never weakened, and illustrations continued to serve as unique perspectives throughout history. In many cases, these illustrations serve as valid representations ofRead MorePicture Of The Holocaust Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pages Picture​ ​the​ ​Holocaust.​ ​Hitler’s​ ​Nazi​ ​Germany​ ​exterminated​ ​around​ ​six million​ ​innocent​ ​Jews​ ​in​ ​what​ ​they​ ​entitled:​ ​â€Å"The​ ​Final​ ​Solution.†Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ ​It​ ​may​ ​appear​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​horrific event​ ​to​ ​us,​ ​but​ ​isn’t​ ​it​ ​completely​ ​justifiable?​ ​It​ ​was​ ​100%​ ​legal,​ ​and​ ​besides,​ ​Jews​ ​were​ ​deemed â€Å"subhuman​ ​parasites.†Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ ​ The​ ​Holocaust​ ​was​ ​merely​ ​just​ ​an​ ​â€Å"evacuation†Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ ​which​ ​bettered​ ​medical research.​ ​Do​ ​all​ ​of​ ​these ​​points​Read MorePen Picture1723 Words   |  7 PagesPEN PICTURES 1 A smart, well turned out, soft spoken officer____________ exhibits an exemplary demeanour and conduct in any group or situation. He is mature, decisive and accomplishes desired results without supervision. The officer is persevering and shows exceptional resourcefulness in tackling unforeseen events effectively. Is absolutely honest and utterly loyal to the organisation. Has well developed and ripened mental faculties and provides whole hearted co-operation for his colleaguesRead MoreThe Picture Of The Prison887 Words   |  4 PagesThe picture of the prison for as long as I could remember was the place that looked like a medieval castle. The environment depicting the dark and gloomy hallways leading to the multi-level tiers of cells, which housing hundreds of convicted felonies that would never see the light of day. The description is pretty much accurate. The prisons of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s were design that way to allow for unobstructed view of the c ell block and galleries of inmates housed there, using a limitedRead MoreA Picture Of The Shadows1579 Words   |  7 PagesA Picture of the Shadows: A Discussion of How Chiaroscuro Illustrates Remembering and Forgetting in In the Skin of a Lion In the novel, In the Skin of a Lion, Michael Ondaatje uses the motif of chiaroscuro, or the relationship between light and shadow, to illustrate the themes of remembering and forgetting. A motif is a narrative element that reoccurs throughout a narrative, an idea that has a symbolic meaning. As described by H. Porter Abbott, it is not abstract but a concrete idea, which mouldsRead MorePen Picture1715 Words   |  7 PagesPEN PICTURES 1 A smart, well turned out, soft spoken officer____________ exhibits an exemplary demeanour and conduct in any group or situation. He is mature, decisive and accomplishes desired results without supervision. The officer is persevering and shows exceptional resourcefulness in tackling unforeseen events effectively. Is absolutely honest and utterly loyal to the organisation. Has well developed and ripened mental faculties and provides whole hearted co-operation for his colleagues

Janis Groupthink Free Essays

Have you ever thought about speaking up in a meeting and then decided against it because you did not want to appear unsupportive of the group’s efforts? If so, you have probably been a victim of â€Å"Groupthink†. Irving Lester Janis (26 May 1918 – 15 November 1990) was a research psychologist at Yale University and most famous for his theory of â€Å"groupthink† which described the systematic errors made by groups when taking collective decisions(Wikipedia). Janis described â€Å"groupthink† as â€Å"a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group. We will write a custom essay sample on Janis Groupthink or any similar topic only for you Order Now When the members’ striving for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action†(Janis,1972,p. 8). Janis identified eight symptoms(features) of groupthink. They were- 1)Illusion of Invulnerability-This leads the group to excessive optimism, over confidence leading them to take extraordinary risks. It may also lead them to ignore clear signs of risks. 2)Collective Rationalization-Victims of groupthink construct rationalizations and discount and discredit negative feedback and advice from the oppositions. )Illusion of morality-Group members often tend to ignore the ethical and moral consequences of their decisions. 4)Stereotyped views of others-Victims of Groupthink have a stereotyped view towards opponents who give different opinions. They consider them to be too stupid or weak to handle the problem. 5)Pressure on Dissent-Group members apply direct pressure on anyone who opposes the idea or validity supporting a decision or opini on favored by the majority. Example-Body language,Voice tone. 6)Self-censorship-They tend to censor themselves when they have opinions opposing the majority of the group. This minimizes the members doubts and opinions to themselves and not to the group. They withhold dissenting views and counter arguments. Example-Keeping quiet and not giving an opinion due to opposing views. 7)Illusion of unanimity-Victims of groupthink have an illusion that the whole group is in unanimity. This symptom is caused by the preceding symptom. This is due to the false assumption that anybody who doesn’t give an opinion is in unanimity with the group’s decision. Silence is taken as consent. )Mindguarding-A few group members take up the role of mind-guards so as to protect the other members of the group from excessive information and facts that might destroy the majority decision. They stand up to prove the information wrong and label them stupid(stereotyped). This type of dysfunctional operation of an organization has many opportunities for failure. The basic fundamentals of this process are the beginnings of failure as groups seeks conformity and unity as th ey sacrifice everything in order to maintain peace within the group. These eight symptoms of groupthink identified by Janis leads to defective decision making. Victims of grouthink never consider all the alternatives,they do not re-examine the alternatives,they reject negative information and have no contingency plans. The above are due to the stereotyped view of the victims and they act in this way to not disrupt the idea of the majority. This is what the organizations should be careful of. A real life example of â€Å"groupthink† leading to a defective decision making is Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. This occurred on January 28,1986 launched from John F. Kennedy space centre. It was considered to be the most tragic event after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The presidential commission that investigated the accident showed that defective decision making was the main cause. MTI engineers presented that the mission would fail as the shuttle would not succeed in such cold temperatures. But,the flight officials put forward technical rationalizations faulting MTI’s analysis. One of these rationalizations was that the data was incohensive showing their stereotyped view. The officials also forced Thiokol officials to change their recommendation from avoiding delay to the launch. This shows pressure on dissent. Hence,as expected the mission failed after 73 seconds of the launch killing 7 astronauts aboard. This example shows us how the officials had symptoms of groupthink and how it lead them to a defective decision making process. The challenge for any team or group leader is to create a working environment in which Groupthink is unlikely to happen. Hence we could avoid groupthink by exploring objectives,exploring alternatives,encouraging ideas to be challenged without reprisal,examining the risks if the preferred choice is chosen,testing assumptions,gathering relevant information from outside sources,processing this information objectively,have at least one contingency plan. References: 1)Moorhead,Gregory,Ference,Richard and Neck,Chris P. 1991 ‘Group decision fiascos continue:Shuttle challenger and a revised groupthink framework’. Human Relations 44/6: 539-550. 2)Wikipedia. How to cite Janis Groupthink, Papers

Essentials Emotional of Intentional Interviewing †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Essentials Emotional of Intentional Interviewing. Answer: Introduction: Counseling is the process in which the client parties are helped, supported and most importantly guided in their disagreements by a third party psychologist or a counselor. This report outlines the fact to consider an emotional intelligence assignment from a reflective perspective. A discussion of the meaning of the concepts of emotional intelligence and empathy and the relationship between them, the relationship between intentional helping interviewing process and empathy and an emotional intelligence survey has been attempted in this report in order to highlight the subject matter of the topic. According to the psychologists, empathy is the significant process of feeling and understanding a persons condition by putting oneself in that concerned persons shoes. Empathy assists in actual understanding of peoples problems and grievances. Empathy helps people to connect deeply and improve society positive attitudes and conducts (Goldman, 2013). The concept of emotional intelligence is a new one and has recently come to the forefront in the middle of the 1990s. It is the process of quantifying a persons ability to accept and control their emotions and the emotional qualities of other individuals or individuals involved in groups or teams (Seiner, Matthews Roberts, 2012). I think that empathy and emotional intelligence shares a very intimate relationship. Empathy is widely believed to be the bedrock of emotional intelligence. Maximum number of people possesses emotional intelligence. They know how to take care of theirs as well as other peoples emotions. When an emotionally intelligent person further develops empathy skills, then he or she can have more sincere attachments, can achieve professional success and lead a satisfying life. Overall, I believe that the skills of empathy and emotional intelligence help people to become considerate human beings (Goleman, Boyatzis McKee, 2013). Intentional helping interviewing process utilizes micro skills in its activity. Micro skills help in understanding, sympathizing and managing problems, which have turned out to be tangled and complicated. Examples can be psychology, psychiatry, social work and others. On the other hand, empathy is the process of empathizing with other peoples feelings by imagining themselves to be in other persons shoes (Ivey et al., 2012).I believe that both the intentional helping interviewing process and empathy have strong foundations in psychological counseling. Both the concepts help in perceiving and sensitizing with peoples grievances and help to provide consequential solutions. Empathy helps in enriching the intentional helping interviewing process. Many skills of empathy can be used in intentional helping interviewing process. Such as if, I was the interviewer I could use the skill of understanding to comprehend the interviewees standpoints and take an effectual interest in their disquietud e. In addition, I could also use the skill of supporting diversity to create a customized manner of interaction with the interviewees in accordance with their requirements and feelings. After completing the emotional intelligence survey, I have found out that my emotional intelligence quotient falls in the level of moderate to high. I think my emotional intelligence capability contributes massively in my ability to be empathetic. By being emotionally intelligent, I can feel empathy for other people. This is because having the ability to, somehow, gauge peoples emotions can also enable me simultaneously to sense their problems and help them to cope with it easily. Resultantly, it would help me to form perdurable relationships. Further, I think that I have to work on my emotions of indignation and trust. I should take professional help such as counseling services and should work smarter to minimize the feeling of indignation. Gradually, I should also learn to place trust on others because trust is everything. Trust helps to connect human beings on a profound level. Conclusion Thereby, in the light of the above report, it can be concluded that emotional intelligence as well as empathy constitute an important part in the study of psychology and counseling. Though empathy is regarded as the foundation of emotional intelligence, it is also understood that empathy and emotional intelligence supplement and complement each other. A person should have the proficiency of emotional intelligence along with empathy in order to become successful and prosperous in his or her personal sphere as well as in the professional sphere. References Goldman, A. I. (2013). Empathy, mind, and morals.The American Philosophical Association Centennial Series, 79-103. Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. E., McKee, A. (2013).Primal leadership: Unleashing the power of emotional intelligence. Harvard Business Press. Ivey, A. E., Ivey, M. B., Zalaquett, C. P., Quirk, K. (2012).Essentials of intentional interviewing: Counseling in a multicultural world. Cengage Learning. Zeidner, M., Matthews, G., Roberts, R. D. (2012).What we know about emotional intelligence: How it affects learning, work, relationships, and our mental health. MIT press.

5 Cases of Faulty Parallelism

5 Cases of Faulty Parallelism 5 Cases of Faulty Parallelism 5 Cases of Faulty Parallelism By Mark Nichol Sentence construction is often compromised by simple errors involving a gratuitous comma or a missing conjunction, and often both. Here are five faultily constructed sentences shored up by correcting minor problems such as these. 1. â€Å"As a consequence, he said, he lost his job, his family, and has scraped by from one low-wage job to the next to make ends meet.† In this sentence, the listed results of a previously referenced misfortune are not parallel in construction, as you can see by attaching he to each item: â€Å"he lost his job,† â€Å"he his family,† and â€Å"he has scraped by . . . .† The simple solution is to provide a verb for the second item, but better yet, merge the closely related first two items so that they share a verb: â€Å"As a consequence, he said, he lost his job and his family and has scraped by from one low-wage job to the next to make ends meet.† 2. â€Å"During the peak of the grove’s early popularity, presidents Benjamin Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, and many other prominent people had visited it.† Here, presidents is intended to be shared between â€Å"Benjamin Harrison† and â€Å"Theodore Roosevelt,† but the comma after the first name cuts the term off from the second name. As with the previous example, delete the comma and add and to enable sharing of the word: â€Å"During the peak of the grove’s early popularity, presidents Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt and many other prominent people had visited it.† 3. â€Å"Females must produce an egg, carry, and nourish the embryo.† Once again, an obstructive comma (in this case, two such commas, actually) prevents the sharing of a part of speech. Carry must be allowed access to embryo, but using the previous solution renders the sentence â€Å"Females must produce an egg, carry and nourish the embryo.† To smooth the sentence out, the remaining comma must also be replaced with and: â€Å"Females must produce an egg and carry and nourish the embryo.† 4. â€Å"It enables individuals and groups to meet online to collaborate, share presentations, applications, or their entire desktop while increasing reliability and security, and reducing costs.† In this example, there are two levels of organization: First, individuals and groups collaborate and share, and second, they share in one of three ways. This hierarchy should be represented by distinguishing the simple element of collaboration and the more complex counterpart of sharing by preceding each with its own infinitive (to): â€Å"It enables individuals and groups to meet online to collaborate, and to share presentations, applications, or their entire desktop, while increasing reliability and security and reducing costs.† The commas framing â€Å"and to share . . . their entire desktop,† rendering that phrase parenthetical, are essential to clarify that while refers to additional benefits, rather than simultaneous ones. Also, the comma that precedes â€Å"and reducing costs† in the original sentence exemplifies the case of punctuation problematically used as a â€Å"breath here† marker, confusing the issue; I’ve deleted it from the revised version. 5. â€Å"They stretch across our cities by the dozens, those drooping threads that connect houses to power plants, telephone, cable television, and broadband companies.† Here, again, there are two categories: power plants and companies (of which three types are mentioned). To distinguish them, â€Å"power plants† must be set off from the list of types of companies by and: â€Å"They stretch across our cities by the dozens, those drooping threads that connect houses to power plants and to telephone, cable television, and broadband companies.† I’ve also inserted to before the list of types of companies to discourage the implication of a close relationship between â€Å"power plants† and telephone. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 "Home" Idioms and ExpressionsHomonyms, Homophones, Homographs and HeteronymsRite, Write, Right, Wright

Gun Control Saves Kids Lives

Gun Control Saves Kids Lives There was a day and time when kids at a young pre-school age could play with toy handguns and itdidn't present a problem. The world we live intoday doesn't allow for such recreation, becausein this environment today one doesn't relatehandguns to shooting pop-up duck targets, butrelates it to deaths. The kids today are relating the useof handguns to self-defence, agression, or revenge.It's not like it was in the 50's, kids today live in a liveammunition world.Kids shouldn't have access to handguns through any means especially legal ones. "Parents, professionals and many others are concerned about the increasing numbers of children and adolescents killed by firearms. This was in a fact sheet (July 1999) on the internet titled "Children and firearms." This statement lets the reader know that there is a problem with kids possessing firearms.I was looking at a 30 minute pro-gun program (July, 25 1999) sponsored bythe (NRA) National Rifle Association on CBS, and the pro-gun people didn'tbe lieve that a ban on handguns would make society safer, but they never gave any statistic; Banning of handguns save kids lives.English: A wide shot of the muskets and handguns t...Where is Britains crime rate after they ban handguns compared to where it was, it is down according to the book Gun Control, it state on (pg 5)...When gun crime rates in the United States are compared with those in foreign countries, the comparison shows that most industrially developed Western nations experience lower rates than America. All the crime that's accoring in my community led me to look up these statistics in this book by Franklin E. Zimring and Gordon Hawkins. Before I could get into the book where it states that America has such a high rate of crime by guns than any other country, I...

The wife of Bath from Canterbury Tales Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The wife of Bath from Canterbury Tales - Essay Example The Wife discusses how she has been frequently criticized in all these years. The Wife makes references to the history of religion in order to satisfy the concerns of people because she knows that nobody would object to the religious reference. She considers the fifth marriage justifiable for the reason that figures of the great Old Testament such as Solomon, Abraham and Jacob each had several wives simultaneously. She confesses that virginity has conventionally been defined as a very important and sacred thing, though she says that even by marrying, she is doing her bit to promote this ideology about virginity in her own way since virginity only has significance as long as there are procreators. The Wife of Bath believes that virginity is too sacred a thing to be endorsed by ordinary people like her. Her sexual power plays the role of an instrument with which The Wife of Bath controls her husbands. The Wife of Bath tells that three of her five husbands have proven â€Å"good† while the rest have been â€Å"bad† husbands. What primarily made the first three husbands good were their submissiveness, wealth and seniority. She giggles while recalling the agony she caused to them and a typical conversation with them. She used to accuse her good husbands of having multiple affairs and get favors from them when they drank. The Wife of Bath says to the pilgrims that she had been lying to her good husbands and that she blamed them to put them into grief. She went to the extent that she would not satisfy her husbands in the bed until they paid her for that. She is proud that she has been able to make full use of her oratory and sexual power to make her husbands submissive. The Prologue is different from The Wife of Bath’s Tale in that in the former, she justified her own fifth marriage while in the latter, she discusses the story of a knight who was supposed to bring the answer of what women want the most in the whole world to the

Ecofeminism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ecofeminism - Essay Example From the case, eco-feminism is displayed from the protests of the women who pushed the government into reconsidering their lagging policies. Ecofeminism, generally, uses similarities between the oppression of women and that of the natural world in analyzing ecological issues. Ecofeminism advocates for a fundamental shift, from the constructions of the dominant groupings within the society, in the regard of how they think and interpret the relationship between the natural world and humans. It seeks to establish the specific roots of the destruction of the ecology and the environment. It explains the control over the environment as based on the general patterns of control and...... ists greatly, the attempts to create a universal environmental philosophy – as many of the related problems are assigned abstract, universal answers – which form part of the problem in question. Further, this perspective is in its early stages of development, thus, the theorists urge that the approach to environmental problems get their basis on new ways of thinking. Lastly, it points to the significance of the dualism of connections, for example male/female, mind/body, reason/emotion and objectivity/subjectivity in shaping an understanding of the world. This kind of understanding will be significant in establishing a less destructive interrelation between the natural world and humans (Warren, 1997, p. 47). An identifiable strength of this theory is that it calls for open-mindedness in adopting new ways of thinking – when addressing the matters surrounding the domination of women and the natural world. Also, the strength is that it gives significance to the dynam ics of the natural world, which cannot be applied to the dynamic nature of the world – as it reduces it into an abstractive form. The model also places importance on the adoption of new models of thinking among both women and men – as a way of arriving at constructive meanings. However, the theory does not succinctly create a linkage between the oppression of women and that with the natural world. Here it would address the aspects of – one being the cause of the other, and an account of the domination to be accorded more ethical priority. From the account of the author, the model is capable of portraying the natural world in its dynamic manner – through its provision on the need to adjust to the dynamic nature of humans, the natural world, and the linkages thereof (Warren, 1997, p. 23). This model

Analysis of the Public and Private Sports Industry

Analysis of the Public and Private Sports Industry Public, private and voluntary sectors in the sports industry, advantages and disadvantages of the leisure centre being in the public sector, how the local leisure centre can meet the aim of getting more local clubs to use its facilities. Introduction â€Å"Since the opportunity to participate in sport or recreation requires facilities, the central task of organisations, and associated individuals, is to provide a service which focuses on people and which satisfies that need.†[1] The sports industry has changed beyond all recognition since the beginning of the 1990’s in each of the public, private and voluntary sectors. The impetus has come from top level government policy with the creation of the UK Sports Council and the formation of the chief sporting bodies such as Sport England offering both funding and structure to the previously ad hoc nature of leisure and recreation in modern Britain. Moreover, the lure of professional sport has also irrevocably changed in tandem with the structural changes in amateur sport with the result that there is, at the dawn of the twenty first century, more people are taking an active part in sport, which has further increased the pressure on local services such as leisure centres. There are though vast differences between the way that the public and private sector sports providers are run and funded as shall now become apparent. The Private Sector With regards to the sports industry, the private sector refers to those leisure services that are funded by private capital and open only to private membership. This can mean anything from specialist professional sports clubs to health and fitness clubs to local sports teams that have been established and sponsored by local and national businesses alike. The advantages of this kind of sporting industry are predominantly economic with the funding of private sports clubs historically far outstripping the economic resources available to equivalent public sector sports services. Certainly in the 1970’s and 1980’s, private sector sports industries were far more popular and productive than their public sector counterparts mirrored in the elevated sporting achievements of private school sporting institutions as opposed to the relative failings of the same public (comprehensive) school sports bodies. There are, however, inherent disadvantages to sports and leisure services that rely exclusively on the private sector for funding. First and foremost, there are no guarantees that the source of that funding will remain constant for any fixed length of time. Benefactors are subject to the ups and downs of the free market economy, which can result in sharp reductions as well as rises in the level of funding provided. In addition, any leisure service that is inexorably tied to the private sector also inevitably suffers from the lack of community spirit that can only be adequately garnered through association with the local public authorities. Thus, while the advantages to sports services in the private sector appear on the surface to be all encompassing, the reality is that the lack of stability that characterises all facets of the private sector economy hampers the sustained growth and popularity. The Public Sector â€Å"We know that sport can make a positive contribution to national morale, health and the economy. We believe that it can enhance community spirit, equality of opportunity, personal development and social integration.†[2] As the above quotation from the UK Sports Council in 1992 attests, the government has radically altered the way in which it views sport and the national leisure industry. The leisure industry is no longer seen as a vehicle through which to achieve solely sporting success; rather, sport within the corridors of power in Westminster is now seen as a way of combating such issues as obesity, social exclusion and perceived self‑competence. â€Å"Sports are vehicles of identity, providing people with a sense of difference and a way of classifying themselves and others.†[3] As a direct result, funding within the public sector has seen a sharp, unprecedented rise since the early 1990’s with the government acting as the focal point behind this increase in official spending. An investment of  £1.5 billion over the next five years by way of state sponsored assistance has been promised by Westminster to further increase the organisational structures and performance levels of adult and child athletes who train and practice within the public sector. This money, bolstered by funding generated from institutions such as the National Lottery, is delegated to local sports authorities within Sport England, Sport Wales, Sport Scotland or Sport Northern Ireland and injected into the local community. Furthermore, local government spends approximately  £1 billion per year on sport and leisure, which is more than 50% of the total resources available to sport. This financial injection is far beyond any investment proposed by private capital; in fact, because of this large economic discrepancy, the private sector has increasingly sought to form a partnership with the public sector in order to be associated with the vast increase in interest in sport as witnessed in recent years. Moreover, public sector sports services also get to reap the rewards of the government’s efforts at placing the country on the international sporting map. The 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and, more significantly, the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London will prove to be long term sources of investment for all those with an active interest in public sector sporting services. Not only has funding vastly increased (with the cost to the government estimated to be in excess of  £1 billion for the 2012 Games), the facilities that have been and are being constructed are open to the public after the completion of the official competition. In Manchester this has served to open up a city centre swimming pool, an athletics track and a football stadium for use within the public sector. The results for London are likely to be much more wholesale than in Manchester. Moreover, as the new facilities and funding increase, so the burgeoning association between national identity, l ocal and central government and sport is further cemented. This has helped to push people into participating in public as opposed to private sports services, representing a significant turnaround from previous decades. Like private sector sporting institutions, public sector services are similarly riddled with pros and cons. The most obvious advantage at the present time is the aforementioned increase in public authority funding and facilities open to the public sector, exacerbated by a media that constantly underlines the partnership taking place between local government and sport. This is, however, a double edged sword as the major disadvantage to public sector sports services concerns the very nature of government. Ultimately, just because it has suited New Labour to promote participation in recreation and sport is not to state that the Tories would necessarily feel the same. Thus, public sector sports are subject to the same ups and down and insecurities that beset the private sector. The Voluntary Sector Voluntary organisations rely heavily upon both the community and private enterprises for funding; they therefore straddle the boundaries that have traditionally separated the public and private sectors. Once more, though, it is the unprecedented rise in government funding that has been the voluntary sector’s greatest asset. The revamped Department for Culture, Media and Sport set up the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) specifically to deal with the funding problems regarding the facilities and personnel required for the successful operation of volunteer sports clubs. The CCDP will provide  £100 million to National Sports Governing Bodies by March 2008 for the construction and continuation of community based sports clubs. Advantages to this kind of sporting authority centre upon the lack of reliance solely upon the public or the private sector, while conversely, at the same time, the lack of constant source of funding makes the voluntary sector the most vulnerable within the current social and political climate. Conclusion There are vast disparities between the public and private sectors with the local voluntary leisure centre enjoying the benefits of both worlds. For as long as the current climate favours the sports and recreation industry, the community leisure centre will continue to reap the rewards of a society renewing a relationship with exercise that had previously become stale. At present there is an excess of people interested in taking part in leisure and sport that is wholly to the benefit of local leisure centres that are able to charge admission fees that are significantly less than those on offer in the private sector. In addition, excessive government funding signals that the economic means at the public and voluntary sectors are currently vastly superior to those of the private sector. However, in the final analysis, one should not presume that the imbalance in favour of the public sector will remain as it is indefinitely. Should leisure and sport once again find themselves on the peri phery of popular culture, we would surely see a reversal of contemporary trends with the balance tipped heavily in the private sector’s favour as is the case with health and education services. Politics, like economics, is subject to sweeping changes in a very short space of time. References Biddle, S., Sallis, J. and Cavill, N. (Eds.) (1998), Young and Active? Young People and Health Enhancing Physical Activity: Evidence and Implications London: Health Education Authority Elvin, I.T. (1990), Sport and Physical Recreation London: Longman Horne, J., Tomlinson, A. and Whannel, G. (2000), Understanding Sport: An Introduction to the Sociological and Cultural Analysis of Sport London: E FN SPON Hylton, K. (Ed.) (2001) Sports Development: Policy, Process and Practice London: Routledge MacClancey, J. (1996) Sport, Identity and Ethnicity Oxford: Berg Sport in the Nineties – New Horizons: a Draft Consultation (1992) London: UK Sports Council Footnotes [1] Elvin, I.T. (1990), Sport and Physical Recreation London: Longman, p.6 [2] Sport in the Nineties – New Horizons: a Draft Consultation (1992) London: UK Sports Council, p.75 [3] MacClancey, J. (1996) Sport, Identity and Ethnicity, Oxford: Berg, p.2

Automobile Industry Essay

* Detailed analysis of Automobile industry which is gearing towards international standards. * Analysis of the impact of qualitative factors on industry’s and company’s prospects. * Comparison of the Global automobile scene with its Indian counterpart. * Study of the challenges facing the Indian Automobile Industry * Analysis of the implementable strategies to counter the effects of the discussed challenges. PREFACE The Automotive industry in India is one of the largest in the world and one of the fastest growing globally. The Indian Automobile Industry embarked on a new journey since 1991 with delicensing of the sector and subsequent opening up for 100 per cent FDI through automatic route. Almost all the global majors have set up their facilities in India taking the next level of production of vehicles from 2 million in 1991 to 110+ million in 2011. The Auto Sector in India is set to continue in its growth trajectory for the next five years and India is an increasingly favourite destination for Global Majors looking at emerging market. This in turn, has fuelled a boom in the domestic auto market, with close to 10mn vehicles sold in India in 2009-10 The automotive industry is increasingly becoming the cynosure of the manufacturing sector across the globe. Due to its intense forward and backward linkages with several key segments of the economy, the automotive industry has a strong multiplier effect and acts as one ofthe key drivers of growth across the globe. The attention and importance to the automotive industry in the economic development and planning policies of Government and its agencies has also witnessed significant up rise. The industry has been evolving over the years, meeting up with challenges as diverse as transitions, consolidations and restructuring, and thereby adapting to the new market conditions. As of 2011, India is home to 40 million passenger vehicles. More than 3. 7 million automotive vehicles were produced in India in 2011 (an increase of 33. 9%), making the country the second fastest growing automobile market in the world. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, annual vehicle sales are projected to increase to 5 million by 2015 and more than 9 million by 2020. By 2050, the country is expected to top the world in car volumes with approximately 611 million vehicles on the nation’s roads. OVERVIEW The Indian Automobile Industry manufactures over 11 million vehicles and exports about 1. 5 million each year. The dominant products of the industry are two-wheelers with a market share of over 75% and passenger cars with a market share of about 16%. Commercial vehicles and three-wheelers share about 9% of the market between them. About 91% of the vehicles sold are used by households and only about 9% for commercial purposes. The industry has a turnover of more than USD $35 billion and provides direct and indirect employment to over 13 million people. The supply chain is similar to the supply chain of the automotive industry in Europe and America. Interestingly, the level of trade exports in this sector in India has been medium and imports have been low. However, this is rapidly changing and both exports and imports are increasing. The demand determinants of the industry are factors like affordability, product innovation, infrastructure and price of fuel. Also, the basis of competition in the sector is high and increasing, and its life cycle stage is growth. With a rapidly growing middle class, all the advantages of this sector in India are yet to be leveraged. With a high cost of developing production facilities, limited accessibility to new technology, and increasing competition, the barriers to enter the Indian Automotive sector are high. On the other hand, India has a well-developed tax structure. The power to levy taxes and duties is distributed among the three tiers of Government. The cost structure of the industry is fairly traditional, but the profitability of motor vehicle manufacturers has been rising over the past five years. Major players, like Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki have material cost of about 80% but are recording profits after tax of about 6% to 11%. The level of technology change in the Motor vehicle Industry has been high but, the rate of change in technology has been medium. Investment in the technology by the producers has been high. System-suppliers of integrated components and sub-systems have become the order of the day. However, further investment in new technologies will help the industry be more competitive. Over the past few years, the industry has been volatile. Currently, India’s increasing per capita disposable income which is expected to rise by 106% by 2015 and growth in exports is playing a major role in the rise and competitiveness of the industry. Tata Motors is leading the commercial vehicle segment with a market share of about 64%. Maruti Suzuki is leading the passenger vehicle segment with a market share of 46%. Hyundai Motor India Limited and Mahindra and Mahindra are focusing expanding their footprint in the overseas market. Hero MotoCorp is occupying over 41% and sharing 26% of the two-wheeler market in India with Bajaj Auto. Bajaj Auto in itself is occupying about 58% of the three-wheeler market. Consumers are very important of the survival of the Motor Vehicle manufacturing industry. In 2008-09, customer sentiment dropped, which burned on the augmentation in demand of cars. Steel is the major input used by manufacturers and the rise in price of steel is putting a cost pressure on manufacturers and cost is getting transferred to the end consumer. The price of oil and petrol affect the driving habits of consumers and the type of car they buy. The key to success in the industry is to improve labor productivity, labor flexibility, and capital efficiency. Having quality manpower, infrastructure improvements, and raw material availability also play a major role. Access to latest and most efficient technology and techniques will bring competitive advantage to the major players. Utilizing manufacturing plants to optimum level and understanding implications from the government policies are the essentials in the Automotive Industry of India. Both, Industry and Indian Government are obligated to intervene the Indian Automotive industry. The Indian government should facilitate infrastructure creation, create favorable and predictable business environment, attract investment and promote research and development. The role of Industry will primarily be in designing and manufacturing products of world-class quality establishing cost competitiveness and improving productivity in labor and in capital. With a combined effort, the Indian Automotive industry will emerge as the destination of choice in the world for design and manufacturing of automobiles. The Indian market offers endless possibilities for investors. HISTORY The first car which ran on Indian roads was in 1897. Until the 1930s, cars were imported directly, but in very small numbers. Embryonic automotive industry emerged in India in the 1940s. Mahindra & Mahindra was established by two brothers as a trading company in 1945, and began assembly of Jeep CJ-3A utility vehicles under license from Willys. The company soon branched out into the manufacture of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and agricultural tractors. Following the independence, in 1947, the Government of India and the private sector launched efforts to create an automotive component manufacturing industry to supply to the automobile industry. However, the growth was relatively slow in the 1950s and 1960s due to nationalization and the license raj which hampered the Indian private sector. After 1970, the automotive industry started to grow, but the growth was mainly driven by tractors, commercial vehicles and scooters. Cars were still a major luxury. Japanese manufacturers entered the Indian market ultimately leading to the establishment of Maruti Udyog. A number of foreign firms initiated joint ventures with Indian companies. In the 1980s, a number of Japanese manufacturers launched joint-ventures for building motorcycles and light commercial-vehicles. It was at this time that the Indian government chose Suzuki for its joint-venture to manufacture small cars. Following the economic liberalization in 1991 and the gradual weakening of the license raj, a number of Indian and multi-national car companies launched operations. Since then, automotive component and automobile manufacturing growth has accelerated to meet domestic and export demands. Following economic liberalization in India in 1991, the Indian automotive industry has demonstrated sustained growth as a result of increased competitiveness and relaxed restrictions. Several Indian automobile manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra and Mahindra, expanded their domestic and international operations. India’s robust economic growth led to the further expansion of its domestic automobile market which has attracted significant India-specific investment by multinational automobile manufacturers. In February 2009, a monthly sale of passenger cars in India exceeded 100,000 units and has since grown rapidly to a record monthly high of 182,992 units in October 2009. From 2003 to 2010, car sales in India have progressed at a CAGR of 13. 7%, and with only 10% of Indian households owning a car in 2009 (whereas this figure reaches 80% in Switzerland for example) this progression is unlikely to stop in the coming decade. Congestion of Indian roads, more than market demand, will likely be the limiting factor. SIAM is the apex industry body representing all the vehicle manufacturers, home-grown and international, in India. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW This class consists of units mainly engaged in manufacturing motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines. Products and Services The primary activities of this industry are: * Motor cars manufacturing. * Motor vehicle engine manufacturing The major products and services in this industry are: * Passenger motor vehicle manufacturing segment (Passenger Cars, Utility Vehicles &Multi Purpose Vehicles) * Commercial Vehicles (Medium & Heavy and Light Commercial Vehicles) * Two-Wheelers * Three-Wheelers Key Auto Segments – Growth Expected to moderate over the next 12 months Financial Year 2012 was a landmark year – both in a positive and negative manner. It paved way for many breakthrough launches – saw the launch of segment defining Fluidic Verna, excellent value for money XUV 500, Hyundai’s entry level offering Eon and many more. It also displayed its sudden love for MPV/MUVs in the Auto Expo – Maruti’s Ertiga, Chevrolet’s Enjoy and Nissan’s Evalia were the most sought after showcase at the expo. We were now exposed to the hard truth as well – that how labour intensive the auto industry is. A labor strike can strike at Maruti shook the entire Auto Industry. The aftermath took its toll on the overall numbers. This was further catalyzed by inflation, consistent fuel hikes and rising auto interest rates. The world’s fastest growing automobile market was now under analysts scanner for its sheer volatility. Demand for cars fell for the first time in three years last July and slumped by the most in over a decade in October. SIAM which had projected a growth of over 20% had to instantly lower its projections. The Industry’s lackluster performance reflected in the overall performance of the country. In a recent report, S&P cut its outlook on India’s BBB- rating to negative from stable. This is surely not a good news for the Indian Industry in overall. The low-end hatchbacks were the ones to take the beating in FY12. For perhaps the first time in many years, small cars reported a decline in growth in 2011-12 (FY12), largely on account of Maruti Alto’s decline. Now, SIAM has forecast 10-12 percent growth in overall passenger cars for this fiscal, but this number may be lower if small car growth is again hindered. SIAM data showed that the mini car segment – which comprises Maruti 800, Alto, A-Star, and WagonR, the Chevy Spark and Hyundai’s Santro and Eon – declined by about 7 percent to 6,42,009 units (6,90,812 units) last fiscal. Sales of the Alto, the single largest selling car in India, had fallen by about 11 percent between April and February 2012. Also, for the first-time ever, bigger diesel cars – the SUVs – are selling more and there is no slowdown in ‘dieselization’. India’s largest automaker, Maruti Suzuki, expects car sales to increase by 10 per cent in the fiscal year beginning in April led by diesel models. Diesel car sales are expected to rise by 150,000 in 2012-13 while sale of petrol cars fall by 50,000, said the company. OVERALL HIGHLIGHTS: * Car sales in India rose just 2. 2 percent in FY2012 * Sales of motorcycles rose 12 percent in the previous fiscal year to 10. 1 million vehicles (10,096,062 units). * Scooter sales shot up 24. 5 per cent, to 2,562,841 units. * Total two-wheeler sales were 13,435,769 units in 2011-12 against 11,768,910 units in 2010- 11, up 14. 2 per cent. * Commercial vehicles, Siam said total sales in FY12 were 809,532 units, up 18. 2 per cent. * Three-wheeler segment that saw a decline of 2. 4 per cent at 513,251 vehicles in FY12. PROJECTIONS FOR FY2013: * # SIAM has projected passenger car sales growth at 10-12 per cent in 2012-13. * # Sales of trucks and buses, a key indicator of economic activity, rose 18. 2 percent in 2011/12 and are seen growing 9 to 11 per cent in this fiscal year. * # SIAM has pegged the motorcycle segment to grow 10-12 per cent in FY13 and scooters by 15-17 percent. Two wheeler segment is expected to have a growth of around 14-15%. * # Commercial Vehicles is projected to grow by nine to 11 per cent in FY13. * # SIAM has also projected five to seven per cent growth for Three Wheelers. Domestic car sales – expecting growth to moderate next year SUPPLY CHAIN OF AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY: The supply chain of automotive industry in India is very similar to the supply chain of the automotive industry in Europe and America. The orders of the industry arise from the bottom of the supply chain.ie. From the consumers and goes through the automakers and climbs up until the third tier suppliers. However, the products, as channeled in every traditional automotive industry, flow from the top of the supply chain to reach the consumers. Automakers in India are the key to the supply chain and are responsible for the products and innovation in the industry. The description and the role of each of the contributors to the supply chain are discussed below. * Third Tier Suppliers: These companies provide basic products like rubber, glass, steel, plastic and aluminum to the second tier suppliers. * Second Tier Suppliers: These companies design vehicle systems or bodies for First Tier Suppliers and OEMs. They work on designs provided by the first tier suppliers or OEMs. They also provide engineering resources for detailed designs. Some of their services may include welding, fabrication, shearing, bending etc. * First Tier Suppliers: These companies provide major systems directly to assemblers. These companies have global coverage to follow their customers to various locations around the world. They design and innovate to provide â€Å"black-box† solutions for the requirements of their customers. Black-box solutions are solutions created by suppliers using their own technology to meet the performance and interface requirements set by assemblers. First tier suppliers are responsible not only for the assembly of parts into complete units like dashboard, brakes-axle-suspension, seats, or cockpit but also for the management of second-tier suppliers. * Automakers/Vehicle Manufacturers/Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs): After researching consumers’ wants and needs, automakers begin designing models which are tailored to consumers’ demands. The design process normally takes five years. These companies have manufacturing units where engines are manufactured and parts supplied by first tier suppliers and second tier suppliers are assembled. Automakers are the key to the supply chain of the automotive industry. Examples of these companies are Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, and Honda. Innovation, design capability and branding are the main focus of these companies. * Dealers: Once the vehicles are ready they are shipped to the regional branch and from there, to the authorized dealers of the companies. The dealers then sell the vehicles to the end customers. * Parts and Accessory: These companies provide products like tires, windshields, and air bags etc. to automakers and dealers or directly to customers. * Service Providers: Some of the services to the customers include servicing of vehicles, repairing parts, or financing of vehicles. Many dealers provide these services but, customers can also choose to go to independent service providers. EXPORTS: India’s automobile exports have grown consistently and reached $4. 5 billion in 2009, with United Kingdom being India’s largest export market followed by Italy, Germany, Netherlands and South Africa. India’s automobile exports are expected to cross $12 billion by 2014. According to New York Times, India’s strong engineering base and expertise in the manufacturing of low-cost, fuel-efficient cars has resulted in the expansion of manufacturing facilities of several automobile companies like Hyundai Motors, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen and Suzuki. In recent years, India has emerged as a leading center for the manufacture of small cars. Hyundai, the biggest exporter from the country, now ships more than 250,000 cars annually from India. Apart from shipments to its parent Suzuki, Maruti Suzuki also manufactures small cars for Nissan, which sells them in Europe. Nissan will also export small cars from its new Indian assembly line. Tata Motors exports its passenger vehicles to Asian and African markets, and is in preparation to launch electric vehicles in Europe. The firm is also planning to launch an electric version of its low-cost car Nano in Europe and the U. S. Mahindra & Mahindra is preparing to introduce its pickup trucks and small SUV models in the U. S. market. Bajaj Auto is designing a low-cost car for the Renault Nissan Automotive India, which will market the product worldwide. Renault Nissan may also join domestic commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland in another small car project. While the possibilities are impressive, there are challenges that could thwart future growth of the Indian automobile industry. Since the demand for automobiles in recent years is directly linked to overall economic expansion and rising personal incomes, industry growth will slow if the economy weakens. Passenger car exports from India increased 34. 16% in May, riding on the back of robust overseas sales by Hyundai Motor, Nissan Motor and Toyota Kirloskar in non-European countries. According to figures released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), India exported 45,036 cars in the last month compared to 33,570 units in the year-ago period. â€Å"Europe still continues to be a worry, but the growth that we have seen is mainly on account of new markets that the companies have developed,† SIAM Director General Vishnu Mathur said. In May, the country’s largest exported Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) witnessed a growth of 42. 16% at 23,659 units against 16,643 units in the same month last year. â€Å"On account of slackness in the domestic market in May, we took the opportunity to ramp up the back orders for the export market. We had higher sales of the Eon in Algeria, the i20 in South Africa and the i10 in South America, particularly in Mexico and Columbia,† a spokesperson of HMIL said. However, rival and domestic market leader Maruti Suzuki India’s overseas passenger car sales fell by 9. 42% to 9,363 units from 10,337 units in May 2011, SIAM said. Car maker Nissan Motor India saw its exports from the country going up by over two-fold to 8,157 units last month from 3,937 units in the corresponding month last year. Toyota Kirloskar Motor, which started exports from April this year, sold 1,693 units in May in South Africa, SIAM said. Ford India’s sales in overseas locations, however, dipped 15. 81% to 1,693 units from 2,011 units in May 2011. Homegrown auto major Tata Motors’ exports rose by 32. 38% to 372 units from 281 units in the year-ago period. Exports of all categories of vehicles from India during May 2012 increased by 4. 62% to 2,46,314 units from 2,35,429 units in the same month last year, SIAM said . The two-wheeler segment witnessed exports of 1,74,362 units in last month compared to 1,61,346 units in the year-ago month, up 8. 07%, it added. The motorcycle segment’s overseas sales went up by 5. 16% to 1,63,446 units from 1,55,419 units in May 2011. SIAM said exports of scooters from India increased by 87. 18% last month to 10,660 units from 5,695 units in the same month last year. However, exports of commercial vehicles decreased by 8. 72% to 7,861 units in May 2012 from 8,612 units in the corresponding month last year, it added. MARKET CHARACTERISTICS * MARKET SIZE: The Indian Automotive Industry after de-licensing in July 1991 has grown at a spectacular rate on an average of 17% for last few years. The industry has attained a turnover of USD $35. 8 billion, (INR 165,000 crores) and an investment of USD 10. 9 billion. The industry has provided direct and indirect employment to 13. 1 million people. Automobile industry is currently contributing about 5% of the total GDP of India. India’s current GDP is about $1. 4 trillion and is expected to grow to $3. 75 trillion by 2020. The projected size in 2016 of the Indian automotive industry varies between $122 billion and $159 billion including USD 35 billion in exports. This translates into a contribution of 10% to 11% towards India’s GDP by 2016, which is more than double the current contribution. * DEMAND DETERMINANTS: Interest rate (%) – cuts unlikely to spur demand Determinants of demand for this industry include vehicle prices (which are determined largely by wage, material and equipment costs) and exchange rates, preferences, the running cost of a vehicle (mainly determined by the price of petrol), income, interest rates, scrapping rates, and product innovation. Exchange Rate: Movement in the value of Rupee determines the attractiveness of Indian products overseas and the price of import for domestic consumption. Affordability: Movement in income determine the affordability of new motor vehicles. Allowing unrestricted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) led to increase in competition in the domestic market hence, making better vehicles available at affordable prices. Innovation: Product Innovation is an important determinant as it allows better models to be available each year and also encourages manufacturing of environmental friendly cars. Demographics: It is evident that high population of India has been one of the major reasons for large size of automobile industry in India. Factors that may be augment demand include rising population and an increasing proportion of young persons in the population that will be more inclined to use and replace cars. Also, increase in people with lesser dependency on traditional single family income structure is likely to add value to vehicle demand. Infrastructure: Longer-term determinants of demand include development in Indian’s infrastructure. India’s banking giant State Bank of India and Australia’s Macquarie Group has launched an infrastructure fund to rise up to USD 3 billion for infrastructure improvements. India needs about $500 billion to repair its infrastructure such as ports, roads, and power units. These investments have been made with an aim to generate long-term cash flow from automobile, power, and telecom industries. (Source: Silicon India) Price of Petrol: Movement in oil prices also have an impact on demand for large cars in India. During periods of high fuel cost as experienced from 2007, demand for large cars declined in favors of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The changing patterns in customer preferences for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles led to the launch of Tata Motor’s Nano – one of the world’s smallest and cheapest cars. Surprisingly, when overall passenger car sales have run into problems, the sales of luxury cars and SUVs, which are significantly more expensive in India than abroad due to high import taxes, have experienced encouraging growth. The Indian unit of BMW had to raise capacity at its factory four times during 2011, while sales of the high-end Jaguar Land Rover model owned by Tata Motors rose impressively during a period when more affordable passenger car sales were experiencing a downturn. * INTERNATIONAL MARKETS ANALYSIS: The Indian automotive industry embarked a new journey in 1991 with de-licensing of the sector and subsequent opening up for 100% foreign direct investment (FDI). Since then almost all global majors have set up their facilities in Indian taking the level of production from 2 million in 1991 to over 10 million in recent years. The exports in automotive sector have grown on an average compound annual growth rate of 30% per year for the last seven years. The export earnings from this sector are over USD 6 billion. Even with this rapid growth, the Indian automotive industry’s contribution in global terms is very low. This is evident from the fact that even though passenger and commercial vehicles have crossed the production figures of 2. 3 million in the year 2008, yet India’s share is about 3. 28% of world production of 70. 53 million passenger and commercial vehicles. India’s automotive exports constitute only about 0. 3% of global automotive trade. * LIFE CYCLE: The life cycle stage is growth. The market for manufacturing motor vehicles is consistently increasing. The products manufactured by this industry are profitable. Companies have been consistently opening new plats and employing over the past five years. Japanese and European manufacturers of motor vehicles have entered the market. Industry value added has been rising, along with the rise in GDP. Life Cycle Analysis General improvement in availability of trained manpower and good infrastructure is required for sustainable growth of the industry. Keeping this in view, the Indian Government has launched a unique initiative of National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) to provide specialised facilities for Testing, Certification and Homologation to the industry. A similar initiative is required for creating specialised institutions in automotive sector for education, training and development. The auto industry has grown in the clusters of interconnected companies which are linked by commonalities and complementarities. The major clusters are in and around Manesar in North, Pune in West, Chennai in South, Jamshedpur-Kolkata in East and Indore in Central India. The Government is planning to create a National Level Specialises Education and Training Institute for Automotive Sector and to enhance the transportation, communication and export infrastructure facilities. The contribution of automotive sector in the GDP of India is expected to double by 2016 through major spotlight on export of small cars, Multi-Utility Vehicles, Two- and Three-wheelers. * INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE: The automobile industry has a defined its target in the Automotive Mission Plan as â€Å"To emerge as the destination of choice in the world for design and manufacture of automobiles with output reaching a level of USD 145 billion accounting more than 10% of GDP and providing additional employment to 25 million people by 2016†. In order to achieve this plan interventions are required from both Industry and Indian Government. The Indian Government would play a key enabling role in facilitating infrastructure creation, promote the country’s capabilities, create a favorable and predictable business environment, attract investment and promote research & development. The role of Industry will primarily be in designing and manufacturing products of world-class quality standards, establishing cost competitiveness, improving productivity of both labor and capital, achieving scale and R&D enhancing capability and showcasing India’s products in potential markets. In order to achieve these goals the following key recommendations have been made in the Automotive Mission Plan to the Indian Government and Industry: Manufacturing and export of small cars, multi-utility vehicles, two- and three-wheelers, tractors, components to be promoted. Care to be taken of negative like and rules of the country with current negotiation of Free Trade Agreement and Regional Trade agreement with countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, Egypt, Gulf etc. Attractive Tariff Policy which may follow attractive investment. Specific measures will be taken for expansion of domestic market. Incremental investment of USD 35 to 40 billion to Automotive Industry during the next 10 years. National Road Safety Board to act as the coordinating body for promoting safety. Inspection and Certification system to be strengthened by encouraging public-private partnership. National level Automotive Institute for training on automobile at International Training Institutes (ITIs) and Automotive Training Institute (ATIs) to be set up. An Auto Design Centre to be established at National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad. National Automotive Testing and R&D Implementation Project (NATRIP) to act as Centre of Excellence for Technical Design Data. Integration of Information Technology in manufacturing to be promoted. R&D for product, process and technology to be incentivized. Road Map for Auto Fuel Policy beyond 2010 would be drawn. The profitability of motor vehicle manufacturers has been rising over the past five years, mainly due to rising demand and growth of Indian middle class. Major players of the industry, like Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Motors have been recording profits of 6% to 11% from the past five years. Whereas, earlier profit margins in the industry were only 1. 5% to 3%. Cost of material has reduced from over 85% in the year 2001-2002 to under 80% in the year2008-2009. Wages and salary as a percentage of revenue has been declining and with the increasing labor productivity this is expected to decline further in the coming years. * CAPITAL AND LABOR INTENSITY: The level of Capital Intensity is high. The level of labor intensity is medium. The motor vehicle manufacturing industry requires significant level of capital investment. Value is added through the automated manufacturing and assembly of costly components. Labor input is required in the manufacturing, assembly, and finishing processes. In order to achieve and retain competitiveness, vehicle manufacturing industry depends on its capacity and speed to innovate and upgrade. The most imperative indices for competitiveness in the industry are productivity in both labor and capital. * TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS: The level of technology change is high. The rate of change in technology is medium. Investment in technology by producers has been on the rise. The automobile industry in India has seen an enormous development in the engines which are being used. Carburetor engines have become obsolete and Multi Point Fuel Injection (MPFI) engines are the order of the days in patrol cars. The Diesel engines have also undergone a sea change from the time Rudolf Diesel invented it way back in the 1892. Today Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) is the order of the day. Multi Point Fuel injection (MPFI):The fuel injects were used to meet stricter emission norms as it keeps pollutants to bare minimum and drives the maximum performance out of a vehicle by squeezing out the maximum mileage even from the last drop of fuel that goes into the engine. MPFI system injects fuel into individual cylinders after receiving command from the on board engine management system computer or Engine Control Unit (ECU). This technology results in superior fuel combustion, better fuel management, engine performance and reduced pollution. To get the maximum out from these types of engine one should use Premium petrol like XTRA Premium, Speed, and Power. Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI): CRDI engine cars offer 25% more power than the normal direct injection engine with a superior pickup and torque, offering sometimes up to 70% more power than the conventional diesel engines. They are smooth, less strident, and immensely.

Development Education Essay

Individuals in society, as they grow in their respective environments, in an endeavor to fulfill their needs, encounter many challenges: environmental, social, economic, political and cultural. In everyday life therefore, they have to participate voluntarily or otherwise to overcome them, otherwise they are bound to remain in the same state or dwindle even further. As such, there is need for individuals to participate actively in the development of their communities, their nations and the world as a whole with a special reference to social, economic and political awareness. Kenyans are not facing any different situations. For example, in the education sector, progress towards attaining universal primary education, which was initiated by the incumbent government in 2003, has had the effect of increasing the enrolment by two million children. Recent enrolment gains have benefited the girls, resulting in near gender parity. Despite these gains, regional inequalities are pronounced, particularly in the enrolment of girls in the arid and semi-arid regions (Child, 2006). This initiative has had positive impact whereby the economic ability of the parents is not an excuse for failure to access basic education for their children. As the government endeavors to make this a reality, glaring issues should not be ignored. For example, the student-teacher ratio has increased, hence hampering delivery of quality education. There is dire need therefore to employ more teachers. Resources in the schools; such as text books, laboratory materials, computers among others are limited. What lingers in the minds of many is whether the introduction of free primary education was timely. Were economic issues such as the ability of the government to meet its obligation considered? If yes, would the education budgetary allocation cripple other pillar sectors of the economy such as Roads and Transport or Agriculture? May be the government would have to resort to external funding to finance its budget deficit, but with what implications? My own experience is that, the growing numbers of students in the public schools have been unmanageable with the available resources being stretched to the limit. Mature students have joined primary schools causing social tensions within the school environment. Since adult education programme is in place, such students would have been encouraged to enroll in that programme. It is possible that this was a political move to show the whole world how our government is ‘committed’ to providing education to all. Cultural issues have been a major impediment to provision of education to all. Some communities in Kenya do not encourage girls to take up education opportunities. Or even if they do, women are to play a specific role in society: to do household chores, bring up the children and take care of their spouses. It is no wonder, therefore, that early marriages are still rampant in certain communities. Some young girls fail to complete primary or secondary education because of early pregnancies. With such situations, realizing development is almost futile. The question is whether the government or the communities themselves have been or are committed. If yes, to what extent, and if no, then why and what are the implications? A case in point is in my home village, among the Giriama tribe in Kilifi District, Coast Province. Early pregnancies and marriages for the girls are rampant with little being done to the culprits. Those responsible for these ills in most cases are male adults, who are of sound mind. Hence, the noble effort of free primary education is not appreciated. In my opinion, the effort of the government and the local leaders in designing and implementing educational programmes for the citizens should involve the whole community. The adults could act as good examples, but they have to be sensitized on the importance of education to all. If the adults embrace change, and they actively participate in implementing it, less or no young girls will fall victim to these unfortunate circumstances. Social development in Kenya has also been hampered by diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The current rate of infection for HIV/AIDS is 6. 1% of the adult population down from a prevalence rate of 16% in urban areas and 8% in rural areas in the late 1990’s. This is an encouraging situation with support from the government and its agencies, such as the national Aids Control Council and STDs Control Programme (NASCOP). (Child, 2006). What should not be ignored is about the victims themselves. How does the society engage them in economic, social and political growth of the country? There have been reported cases of stigma at the work place, in schools, religious circles and political arenas. With the availability of Antiretroviral drug therapy, infected individuals can almost live their full lives. It is therefore important for individuals to know their HIV status and be proactive in prevention of its spread. In Sub- Saharan Africa, Kenya has been placed 15th out of the 48 countries on good governance and economic management with an overall index of 59. 3. This index was pegged on the five pillars of good governance: safety and security, rule of law transparency and corruption, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development. (Otieno, 2001). This could be true; however, the index used the 2005 data as the baseline hence it is subject to a variety of opinions presently. As much as we would like to appreciate this growth, the ordinary citizen is still facing enormous challenges. 60% of the Kenyan population is still surviving on less than 2 dollars per day. The Kenyan government has defined the poverty line as 17 dollars per month in the rural areas and 36 dollars in the urban areas. The country lacks robust food production and is vulnerable to unstable rain patterns. (Child, 2006). With these statistics, the country cannot boast of excellent economic growth. It is not surprising therefore that the government’s domestic debt is growing twice as fast this year to seek more funds to finance social expenditure. At the community level, joblessness is still on the rise. As restructuring of government and private entities increases, more Kenyans are retrenched, rendering most of them poorer than they were before. Change is inevitable as companies struggle to stay afloat in the market. However,  alternative sources of income have to be provided or sought by the individuals themselves. For example, the government, through the Ministry of Local Government, has initiated the Rural Poverty Reduction and Local Government Support Programme (RPRLGSP) in providing clean drinking water, construction of schools, modern slaughter houses, solid waste management and rehabilitation (Ongwae, 2007). Some of these projects at the community level have provided a way of livelihood to the people. Citizens should not wait for government initiatives to participate in development. However, they need to be critically aware of the resources available within their environments and how to utilize them for their benefit. For example, instead of retired civil servants depending on their children for financial support, they can come together, identify joint projects and may access loans from financial institutions to start them off. Political structures on the other hand are a cornerstone to social and economic growth. Since independence in 1963, Kenya has had three heads of state. Political turbulences have been evident as the country struggles to embrace democracy. The state has witnessed a transition from a one party to a multi party system of government. Government officials have been associated with grand scale corruption malpractices taking the country to economic oblivion. A good example is the Anglo Leasing Scandal, where it was claimed that billions of shillings were paid to dubious companies within and abroad. The perpetrators of this vice have not been brought to book to date. It has been assumed that the law makers always enact laws to protect themselves. A bill was passed in parliament recently to stop the Kenya Anti –Corruption Authority from investigating and prosecuting the individuals with pending corruption cases before 2003, when the current government came into force. Evidently, the members of parliament may be protecting themselves. This therefore is a big challenge to the electorate as campaigns for elections due in December this year are in top gear. Politicians are shifting political alliances by the day and forming new ones. The current government was formed under a coalition of parties. As politicians are criss-crossing the country to secure civic and parliamentary seats, many more parties are finding common grounds to merge. This could be seen as a practice of demonstrating their democratic rights, though many questions linger about the seriousness of these individuals. Hence, should the electorate vote for the individuals by virtue of their political parties or the individuals’ ability to initiate development agendas? What of the politicians who give hand outs during campaign time? Do they realize that the citizens have problems only during the election year? Many promises have been made before by the same or other aspiring candidates. The performance of most of them has been dismal or at all. When they pass bills to reward themselves handsomely in salaries and allowances, who stands to benefit, them or the citizens? Is the economy stable enough to accommodate such hefty wage bill? The Kenyan politician in essence, has been known to be selfish to a larger extent. The electorate has to come to terms with this and cast a vote for a ‘new’ politician who is likely to initiate social, economic and political change. The citizen has to be critical in this political process and participate in the voting process wisely come the December elections. It is clear from this discussion therefore, that it is the citizen who has to participate actively to initiate social, economic and political change. This has to be done with a critical analysis of all the forces in place. It could take time, development could be gradual, but finally, every citizen will take responsibility for their actions and become agents of change for a better future for the generations to come. References: CHILD, K. (2006) The OneWorld Kenya Guide [Online] http://uk. oneworld. net/guides/Kenya/development? gclid=CIHot73j3o4CFRtAgQodkThZPQ [accessed on 18. 09. 07] ONGWAE, E. (2007) Initiative helps improve standards of life. Daily Nation 26 September 2007: p. 35 OTIENO, J. (2007) Kenya in League of 20 states, Daily Nation. [Online]. 26 September 2007. Available from: http://www. nationmedia. com/dailynation/printpage. asp? newsid=107244. [Accessed 29 September 2007] Isaac Oyugi Samwel.