Qualitative Research and Respondents Essay

1.1. Introduction Leptospirosis is one of the deadliest bacterial infection that I commonly acquired in tropical countries. you can get the disease when you were exposed to soils and waters that is contaminated by leptospira bacteria. Rodents such as rats are the primary carriers of the leptospirosis bacteria. It is important to identify the signs of rodent infestation at home. If you regularly see rodent droppings around food packages, in drawers, cupboards, under the sink, then your house is infested. Whenever you see such droppings or boxes of food, or wirings that has rodent bites, you must take an action. Symptoms can take 2 – 26 days (average 10 days) to develop this may include: dry cough, fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, shaking chills, less common symptoms include: abdominal pain, abnormal lung sounds, bone pain, conjunctivitis, enlarged lymph glands, enlarged spleen or liver, joint aches, muscle rigidity, muscle tenderness, skin rash and sore throat. (Dugdale III, 2010) Test to be done to find if you contract leptospirosis are the following: CBC (Complete blood count), creatine kinase, urinalysis. Medications are given to the patient but complicated cases however are life-threatening if not treated promptly. The fatality rate of the disease is 5-40. (Dugdale III, 2010) Here in the Philippines one of the most common cause of leptospirosis is flood water. Leptospirosis cases goes up in the rainy period. In Metro Manila, improper disposal of our wastes such as plastics, domestic wastes, and others blocks the water pass on the sink or to the drainage system. This causes floods even in just a small amount of rain. And garbage attracts rodents that carry a letpospira bacteria and it contaminates the flood water that leads to acquiring the leptospirosis. 1.2. Background of the study Flash floods are common throughout the Philippine archipelago during the monsoon seasons, which runs from the June to December. They are particularly common in Manila, the country’s sprawling capital and home of 14 million Filipino’s. The awareness of the people is very much important especially when flash floods or typhoons occur. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease which could be contracted by humans when exposed to flood waters containing urine infected animals like rats, dog, and pigs. The leptospirosis cases was caused by the widespread flooding caused by the typhoons that affected the Luzon areas. In Quezon City one barangay, barangay Gulod, has encountered many cases of leptospirosis. Barangay Gulod is located near the Tullahan River and Kaybuktot Creek. The barangay itself is along the Quirino Highway. The barangay is big but because of poor urban development program the drainage system is still a problem during the rainy seasons they have the most number of incidents of leptospirosis cases in the past 3 years. In 2009 the disease, according to the record of Department of Health (DOH) has afflicted more people in Metro Manila, attributing the â€Å"Outbreak† to large numbers of people wading in flood waters carrying the bacteria. The DOH had recorded 1,027 leptospirosis patients, wherein 89 died. There were 122 cases in Quezon City alone with 14 cases in Barangay Gulod. (Quezon City Health Department [QCHD], 2011) In 2010, leptospirosis was noted as the fourth on the list of the top disease outbreaks in the Philippines. The DOH has recorded over 400 leptospirosis cases in the first half of the year (Department of Health [DOH], 2010), which includes 26 deaths with 1 case in Barangay Gulod. (QCHD, 2010) Recently, the Department of Health released an announcement that casualties from leptospirosis has increased 247% in 10 months (January-October) in Metro Manila with number of 131 cases of Leptospirosis in Quezon City with 5 cases in barangay Gulod. It usually takes two weeks after the infection to manifest flu-like symptoms. If not diagnosed early enough, it can lead to more severe symptom and may cause death. Mild infections can be treated by antibiotics like doxycyline, but for severe infections generally, they require Intravenous Penicillin which is still dangerous because the patient might encounter the Jarisch-Hexheimer reaction. This disease needs prompt medication upon its contraction. (Uy, 2011) 1.3. Theoretical Framework Systems design approach is interconnected, interdependent and interacting problems that seeks to create an action to take the entity as a whole. It implies that we take the responsibility of the whole thing to be able to create future better by understanding the nature and saving the environment by fulfilling its requirement on saving it. (Laszlo & Krippner, 1998). Living in this planet, there are things we need to maintain. The Systems Design is said that it is interconnected and interacting problems. Meaning every problem we do, creates another one and relates to another, everything is a chain from small to the biggest. Just like what is happening here in the Philippines right now the people who throws their trash everywhere creates a bigger problem. Systems Design is participatory by nature (Bethany, 1996), meaning everyone from the society can make a change on how the problem will be solved by making small steps on providing a remedy on their problems. They can engage themselves by becoming an active participant on change and they can be more resourceful. Bela Bethany (1996), a Systems Theorist characterized the systems design focusing the humanities to be, experience oriented, rational, neutral, and it has concerns on future generations . (Banathy, 1996, pp. 34-35.) Here in the Philippines we believe that systems design by being participatory makes people move on their own on the time of calamities. Disasters are made by simple forms of action. Nowadays when it rained a little it floods the city and that would make people alarmed and take actions. And by that they will learn from their mistakes and try to solve their problem as a â€Å"system† and functioning as one. Because being in a societal systems human beings actively apply their skills to the analysis of the design of socially and ecologically sustainable systems by becoming active participants of their community on shaping their future. (Laszlo & Krippner, 1998) 1.4. Conceptual Framework This part of the paper will serve as a guide to study systems approach of the input-process-output devised by Stoner, Freeman and Gilbert Jr. (1995). The system has flows of information, materials and energy, including human energy that enter as an inputs then transform the processes on the system and exit as an output. A feedback is considered as a key to systems controls . Leptospirosis prevention on barangays are being followed in the subject matter. The following protocols followed by the local government is preventing leptospirosis: â€Å"Policy-Making† it refers to the concept of operation and the tasks for execution of the organization’s programs by the respective staffs and officers, ths directs the functions and responsibilities of the personnel to strict guidance and compliance. (Leveriza, 1983) â€Å"Access† it is the portal of each citizen to the city government on the services of the city government. On every projects and information about the services they need. This would let them have the power to know and accumulate certain information. (Dr. Cruz, Personal Communication, 2011) â€Å"Social Participation† is the extent of the participation of the people in both formal or informal group activities. (Leveriza, 1983) These inputs undergo the process of assessment to determine whether the existing policy and procedures being implemented by each of the subject government institutions are sufficient to protect the network resources from any unlawful acts, as well as identify problems in relation the said review of the prevention of leptospirosis cases on the barangays. (Stoner et al., 1995) The dynamic process in the framework shall contribute, as output, to a significant improvement of the review of leptospirosis cases, including the measures that should be adopted by each respondent government agency. Given the foregoing system’s model, the research paradigm of the study id presented in Figure below for a clearer understanding and appreciation.   Selected Government Institutions.City Health Government-Policy procedures-Access-Society Awareness| | Analysis of-Leptospirosis cases in Barangay Gulod, Quezon City. | | A significant review of Leptospirosis prevention on the barangays.| FEEDBACK Research paradigm As shown in paradigm, the input variables include the profile of the network of subject government institution. It is the city health department of the Quezon city is the department of the city from which the programs and developments are made while encountering this leptospirosis cases. 1.5. Scope and Limitations This study would focus more of Leptospirosis cases in Barangay Gulod, Quezon City from the year 2009 – 2011 who had recorded the most of the cases of the said disease for the past 3 years. This would include the citizens of the barangay in all age groups. We would also investigate the programs (if any) implemented to prevent the Leptospirosis cases in the Barangay before, during and after the floods, and the projects aimed at eliminating the floods and rats that caused the disease. 1.6. Statement of the Problem This study would like to the answer the following problems about the strategies of the City Government towards the leptospirosis cases encountered in Barangay Gulod Q.C.: 1. What are the efforts made by the City Government before, during and after the typhoon? 2. Are the efforts effective enough? 3. What are the programs and projects implemented on the said Barangay? Does the programs and projects help the citizens of the Barangay? 4. What are the steps of the City Government to empower its people on the time of floods and rains? This study would like to help the barangays and the Quezon City on preventing the leptospirosis cases during the time of typhoons and floods. 1.7. Importance of the Study This study is important to the following: Quezon City Government – to help them on implementing: rules, programs and projects to prevent Leptospirosis on the barangays that is said to have a large scale of Leptospirosis cases. This hopefully would help them on the ideas of the other barangays and cities to prevent and hopefully stop the spread of the disease. Barangay officials – to give them knowledge on the status of the leptospirosis on their barangay. Barangay Citizens – to help them and their families on contracting the disease. 1.8. Definition of Terms 1. Afflicted – being troubled with pains. 2. Ceftriaxone Injection- injection used to treat certain infections caused by gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease) and infections of lungs, ears, skin, urinary tract, blood, bones joints and abdomen. It is also given to some types of surgery to prevent the development of another disease after the operation. 3. Chemoprohylaxis – use of a chemical agent to prevent a development of disease. 4. Creatine Kinase – The mitochondrial creatine kinase (CKm) is present in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, where it produces phosphocreatine (PCr) from mitochondrially-generated ATP and creatine (Cr) imported from the cytosol. 5. Disease – disturbed or abnormal structure or physiological action in the living organism as awhole or in any of its parts. 6. Dopamine – an important neurotransmitter in the brain. 7. Doxycyline – this is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections or to treat the trave ler’s diarrhea. It acts by inhibiting the growth of bacteria 8. Fatality – a state of how bad the disease is 9. Flashflood – an event caused by heavy rain   10. Furosemide- this is used to treat high blood pressure. Furosemide reduces fluid accumulation by increasing the elimination of sodium and water through the kidneys. 11. IgM ELISA – is a fast test for a qualitative detection of IgM anti Bodies. 12. IgM leptospira Dipstickâ„ ¢ – is a fast test for a qualitative detection of IgM anti Bodies against Leptospirosis. It is used to determine the leptospirosis cases in Yucatan, Mexico. 13. Input – something put into a system or device as energy into a machine, food into the body, data into a computer, etc. 14. Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction – reaction caused by organisms (bacteria) dying off and releasing toxins into the body faster than the body may comfortably handle it. 15. Meningitis – an inflammation of the meninge, the membranes that covers the brain and spinal cord. 16. Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) – a test to determine if you are infected by leptospirosis. 17. Outbreak – a sudden and violent breaking forth; said of passion or of disease affecting large numbers of people. 18. Output – the quantity put out or produced in a specified time 19. Sanitation – making something sterile or clean. 20. Seropositivity – showing positive reaction to a serological or test on blood serum for a disease. 21. Serovars Manilae – sample Vaccines used for Leptospirosis 22. Spirochetes – any of a genus of typically saprophytic bacteria commonly found in water and sewage and characterized by spiral flexible filaments with apparently rotary movements. 23. Thrombocytopenic – relative decrease of platelets in blood. 24. Urinalysis – also known as Routine and Microscopy (R&M), is an array of tests performed on urine, and one of the most common methods of medical diagnosis. 25. Vasodilatation – dilation of blood vessel, as by the action of a nerve drug. 26. Vax-SPIRAL ® – Trivalent AntiLeptospirosis Vaccine for Human use. 27. Zoonotic – a developed individual of a compound animal or of a simple egg CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES This portion of the research gives some additional information that have been made both local and foreign researchers which are in one way of the other related in the research under taken in this study. 2.1. FOREIGN LITERATURES According to www.Leptospirosis.org (2010) a reference archive on the internet for Leptospirosis information, the Leptospirosis bacteria can’t live on saltwater. We cannot get Leptospirosis by taking a bath on a beach. Contaminated fresh waters and flood waters are usually the bacteria carrier. They also said that you can get Leptospirosis by swallowing, swimming with open wounds on contaminated water. It is never air borne. It also said that the bacteria can’t survived by acid, heat, disinfectants, and alkali’s. Thus cooked foods are safe. Everything in your house should be clean most especially if your house is infested by rodents. Doxycycline offers some protection against severe illness and is the best and normal medication to be given in these situations, but it cannot guarantee protection and a mild illness may still occur. Therefore, protection is all we need. We should be aware that the disease is existing and might cause death. According to an Indian heath portal www.aarogya.com gave some guidelines on how to prevent the Leptospirosis infection. The first step is sanitation, of course cleanliness is the first step. Then protect your self with gloves, masks, boots, when going to a water area that might be contaminated by the Leptospirosis. (S. Pallavi, 2008) You should also keep your open wounds from the contaminated water, and also wash your hands after touching an animal. Do not touch rats. Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, we should educate people from the disease, do not let them swim on a possible contaminated fresh water. Get rid of rats and throw your waste properly. Waste management repels rats. The Medicenet.com states some implications or symptoms of the Leptospirosis, he said that at the first phase the patient would experience some flu like symptoms like fever, headaches, muscle pains, cough and colds. Then the redness of the eye would develop on the ninth day. Then it will develop some aching with stiffness of the nerves then some inflammations. This disease is somewhat connected to liver and kidney disease. That would take the disease to another implications. (Cunha, 2009) That is why whenever you experience the first types of symptoms then you should do something about it right away before it’s too late. Vaccines are developed already which are given to some explorers but it is not that advisable for some research are not yet done about the vaccine. According to www.nlm.nih.gov there the procedures to cure Leptospirosis, this would include the intakes of medicine, such as Ampicillin, Ceftriaxone, Doxycyclne, and Penicillin. He said that complicated cases need to be taken care in ICU (intensive care unit). Leptospirosis is curable, but serious and complicated cases maybe life-threatening. There are also other complications that the patient can get in Leptospirosis. There is the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is a reaction of the body when the is an intake of Penicillin, there is also Meningitis, and severe bleeding. Therefore, although the Leptospirosis is life threatening there are still hopes that is coming out, there is a vaccine developed in Europe and in Asia that might not stop but at least freeze the Leptospirosis spread. Still prevention is better than the cure. We must manage our surroundings to stop the infestation of the rodents on on our households. And we should learn to clean our environment to stop the flooding. (Dugd ale III, 2010) 2.2. LOCAL LITERATURES Sison, (2009) said that â€Å"the Philippines is facing a serious problem of Leptospirosis. Poor sanitation and the increase of the urban slums along with frequent typhoons and expansion of flooding areas in the country have exacerbated the risk of infection. Leptospires are said the cause of the Weil’s disease in Japan, where it was common in coal miners. Leptospirosis can affect many species of of wild and domestic animals, including marine mammals. Prompt scientific treatment is essential, and aggressive support care with strict attention to fluid and electrolyte is a must. Some severely ill patients may require dialysis.† So with a clean surroundings, and a better prevention of the disease is a Leptospirosis free community even those people in the slum area, if know how to clean and sanitize their belongings they can’t get leptospirosis. So whenever there are contaminations in the place they should be alert. Cause prevention is better than cure. (Sison, 2009) (Medenilla et al., 2009) Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a bacterial infection when humans get contact in flood waters contaminated by animal urines from dogs, cats, pigs and specially rats. It takes 5 days t o 2 weeks before you can see the symptoms. During that time the leptospirosis cases hits a large amount of cases in Luzon with 1,027 cases with 89 fatalities. Sec. Duque said that the widespread cases were caused by the two tropical storms that hit the country. The Government warned the public to avoid flood water to prevent getting infected by the bacteria. The government that time prepared P 4-million pesos for the leptospirosis victims. Phrophylaxis, a drug which cures leptospirosis. This medicine is given immediately to those admitted cases of Leptospirosis. However, Prophylaxis is not suitable for children and pregnant women. The PCP (Philippine College of Physicians) and PMA (Philippine Medical Center) released a guidelines on an antibiotic â€Å"Prophylaxis† to people in leptospirosis-affected communities. They said that Prophylaxis is not recommended to those individuals unless they confirmed that they have visited a leptospirosis contaminated area. Ii is said that to prevent this disease, sanitation and protection is the best. Flood water is one of the risk factors that would infect you a leptospirosis. By just wearing boots, goggles, overalls, gloves and others. 2 capsules of Doxycycline is given once weekly for those who were exposed and should be continued through out the end of the exposure period. Then, the use of Prophylaxis is not 100% effective. It is said that it would depend on the quality of the drug and the timing of the intake. (Manongdo, 2009) If the rat’s urine was mixed in the flood waters, what comes next is the Leptospirosis. There lots of rats in metro manila, Rats are the largest group of mammal in the world. Their population is even greater than humans. The dirtier the place the more they would get in to your households. (Editorial: Pilipino Star Ngayon; 2009) For the past epidemiological research the Leptospirosis cases in the Metro manila especially in the Quezon City, were reported to have a high case of Leptospirosis. One of the reasons of this disease is the improper waste management. Many of Filipinos are not disciplined enough to throw their waste properly, some were just throwing their garbage on the river. And some doesn’t separate the biodegradable and the non biodegradable. So by keeping the discipline everywhere and not just throwing waste every where we can at least refrain the floods that brings the Leptospirosis.

Dear Stella

Dear Stella, I hope this letter finds you well. I am sorry about leaving so abruptly, but I was called away on urgent work. I have been sent to Crythin Gifford by Mr. Bentley to attend the funeral of Mrs. Alice Drablow, I also need to sort though all of her legal documents. Mrs. Drablow lived in a strange little house called Eel Marsh House. To get out to the house you must cross the Nine Lives Causeway, it is only accessible during low tide, otherwise it is covered by water, and impassable. The house is very strange, all on it's own on a small island separated from the rest of the main land. At first I thought it to be quite beautiful but it has a scary if not dark side to it. Even Mrs. Drablow was a bit strange, she lives alone and no one from the village will speak of her. When I arrived Mr. Daily, the local landowner, took me to the Gifford Arms where I have been staying. I went to the funeral of Mrs. Drablow, on the way there I saw some school children and they had strange white pasty faces. When I arrived I noticed that there were very few people there. There was a woman in black clothes with a pasty white face, which I saw on the way back to the village and again on Eel Marsh Island. After the funeral of I went to Eel Marsh house, to start work. Mr. Keckwick took me across the causeway on a horse and trap. When we arrived at Eel Marsh House Keckwick left me and said he would return at five to collect me. I looked around the island; there is an old graveyard with some ruins of a small abbey. The names on the gravestones were all undecipherable because they were covered with various fungi's. While looking around the graveyard I saw the mysterious Woman in Black, a cold feeling came over me like nothing I had ever felt before, but before I could approach her she ducked away under a headstone and disappeared. I don't think you should worry about me I'm fine and I'm not worried about her. She was probably a figment of my imagination; the marsh mist was quite dense. After that went in to the house and I started work opening all the windows, to get some light. I searched thought the rooms to see what was in side the house. It has an old musty smell, all the furniture is old, and made of strong wood. It was about four, so I decided I would walk back to Crythin Gifford, Keckwick wouldn't be back until five and the exercise would be good for me. As I started to walk along the causeway I noticed that it was getting darker and darker and the mist was drawing in, the sea mist was thick and salty. The further I got from the house the better I felt, but soon I couldn't see it any more because of the mist. I thought about turning back but I would soon meet Keckwick and he could take me the rest of the way. The mist was soon playing tricks on my sight and hearing, I could hear a pony and trap coming a long the road to the causeway, and it went silent. I then heard noises of screaming like someone was drowning, I thought this was my imagination, I didn't know how far it was to the other side of the causeway and the water was rising fast so I decided to turn back and head for the house. When I got back I was very worried and I was shaking. I sat down in one of the old musty chairs and had a drink, I must have fallen asleep because when I awoke someone was knocking on the door, when I opened it I saw Keckwick and the pony and trap. They were normal, still alive; it must have been my imagination about him drowning. He apologized for not coming to pick me up but he was unable to because of the sea mist, I was unlucky. I hope that everything in London is fine. There is no need for you to come down to Crythin Gifford, because I should be returning soon, I will go back to Eel Marsh House today and stay for a couple of days to finish all the work and send anything important back to Mr. Bentley. Hope to see you very soon. Yours Lovingly, Arthur

A Case Study of Woolworths Samples for Students â€Myassignmenthelp

Woolworths is the biggest retail supermarket in Australia. It operates efficiently in the retail industry to achieve its principal goal of providing customers with high-quality goods at affordable prices, (Pod.com, 2008). Its effective strategies have seen it compete favorably with other companies in the Australian retail industry such as Coles. However, it is apparent that this company does not operate in isolation. It interacts with both internal and external environmental variables. It is, therefore, prudent to analyze its inner and external environment so as to identify its key stakeholders and their influence on the success of the company. In 1878, Frank W. Woolworth established the first Woolworths store in New York. This store later failed and forced him to change location and establish another store in Lancaster, (Woolworths Holdings, 2016). In 1879. This is how Woolworths emerged. It later expanded its stores throughout the United States, Australia Mexico, and Germany, among other countries, (Pod.com, 2008). This supermarket mainly deals in retail products. It conducts proper strategic planning that has ensured its remainder in the retail industry. These are units within an organization that perform independently to contribute to the profitability of the whole entity. Some strategic units in Woolworths include Woolworth’s general merchandise and clothing unit, financial services unit and Woolworth’s foods, division. These units can be evaluated regarding profitability, (Woolworths Holdings, 2016). The BCG model can be used to analyze these units, whereby, the underperforming units can be retrenched, and profitable units advanced further Woolworths mainly deals in general merchandise, clothes food and financial services. Its primary objective is to enhance customer satisfaction, by making its clients to derive a value of their purchases, (Woolworths Holdings, 2016). Its main market is derived from clothes market, consumables and general merchandise. It has stores in several countries including Australia, US, UK, Germany, and Mexico among other states. The analysis of the external environment of this supermarket can better be done using strategic tools of analysis like PESTEL analysis and Porter’s five forces. This analytical tool assesses the present position of the entire industry where the firm operates. This tool can, therefore, be used to analyze the Australian Industry as follows: Bargaining power of buyers: The negotiation capability of consumers in the retail industry in Australia is relatively higher. This is because several supermarkets are dealing in similar items, making the consumers have a large variety of goods to choose from, (Arli, Dylke, Burgess, Campus & Soldo, 2013). Bargaining Power of Suppliers: The Australian retail market consists of many players such as Tesco, Coles, and Aldi. It is therefore highly concentrated, and some particular big players have dominated the market share, (Humerston, 2013). This increases the level of bargaining power of suppliers to a certain threshold, and as such, it may be concluded that the bargaining power of suppliers is moderate. Threats of new entry: when the market is not very concentrated, there is always a threat to new players entering the market. They then create a stiff competition with already established firms, (Hubbard, Rice & Galvin, 2014) In Australia, larger companies have made it difficult for the new players to quickly enter into the industry, (Hummerston, 2013). This reduces the overall threat of new entry into the retail industry.   Rivalry among existing firms: The current companies always tend to pose threats to each other by devising better ways of approaching competition. These may include innovation, creativity and utilizing unique technology, (Hubbard, Rice & Galvin, 2014). In the Australian retail industry, there are few existing competitors like Coles, Wesfarmers, Asda and Woolworths among others. These supermarkets are competing against each other to achieve larger market shares, (Moscardo, Lamberton, Wells, Fallon, Lawn, Rowe & Renouf, 2013). Therefore, the threat of rivalry among the existing firms is relatively higher. The threat of substitutes: Substitutes refer to products that can be used alternatively, (Hubbard, Rice & Galvin, 2014). The supermarkets in the Australian industry deal in similar retail products, (Hummerston, 2013). Therefore, the consumers have no substitutes rather than consuming the retail products. The threats of substitutes in the industry are therefore relatively small. This is another essential analytical tool that can be used to evaluate Woolworths’ external environment. The application of this tool in assessing the external environment can be made as follows: Political: Political factors refer to government policies and regulations which affect proper operations of an enterprise, (Dockalikova & Klozikova, 2014). The political conditions affect the operations of retail stores in Australia including Woolworths. For instance, the Australian federal government launched a competition policy which bars established free players like Woolworths and Asda in eliminating competition, (Keith. 2012). The increasing dominance of these traditional supermarkets has resulted in developing retailers struggling to succeed in the industry. Economic: Economic factors refers to the market variables that affect the performance of a firm, (Mialon, Swinburn, Allender & Sacks, 2016). The decline in the economic conditions in Australia has hit the performance of Woolworths. Apart from the decline, some economic indicators- fluctuations in the value of currency, and the decline in value of the Australian dollar have negatively influenced Woolworth’s’ international operations, (Ulle, 2014) Social: For a company to operate efficiently, it must be compliant with the social expectations of the community on which it operates, (Hubbard, Rice & Galvin, 2014). The present trend in the Australian market indicates that there are high expectations of the community on social responsibility, (Hummerston, 2013). The companies operating in this country must, therefore, ensure they are socially sensitive. Woolworths must, therefore, take social initiatives that would ensure it is viewed as socially responsible. Technological: With the growth of technology and internet marketing, companies must ensure that they devise technologically updated ways of marketing and distributing their products, (Docklikova & Klozikova, 2014). Woolworths, in particular, has considered the utilization of green refrigeration technology so that it can store the perishable products for longer time durations. Environmental: Firms must always examine the impacts of their operations to the environment. This enables them to avoid environmental pollution, (Hubbard, Rice & Galvin, 2014). Woolworths is particularly affected by environmental factors in that its petrol and wine making businesses are executing adverse effects to the environment, (Keith, 2012). This has adversely impacted on the profitability of this company. Legal: Legal factors include rules and regulations imposed by the government that businesses have to comply with, (Mcguire, 2014). In Australia, the imposition of the carbon tax has affected Woolworths and the retail industry in general, (Hummerston, 2013). Taxes reduce the profitability of businesses as they have to pay a certain percentage of their income to the government. Woolworths interacts with both external and internal stakeholders. The evaluation of the impacts of internal stakeholders on the success of Woolworths can be conducted through internal analysis. This can be done by utilizing SWOT analysis model. This is a tool that can be used to examine the threats, opportunities, strengths, threats and weaknesses a firm may be exposed. The analysis of Woolworths using this tool can be conducted as follows: Strengths: Strengths refers to the unique capabilities of a company. The power of Woolworths lies on the fact that it is a market leader in the retail industry in Australia, (Mcguire, 2014). It also has reliable sources of capital and secure resources. The utilization of technology such as green refrigeration also acts as a strength of this enterprise, (Ulle, 2014). The company has also developed an excellent market position, making the customers acutely aware of its presence. Weaknesses: Weaknesses are the aspects of the business that are not entirely established. Competitors may usually take advantage of these shortcomings so as to gain a competitive advantage, (Helms & Nixon, 2010). In the case of Woolworths, some of its weaknesses may include failure of its brand to attain competitive advantage and negligible presence in the global market, when compared with other enterprises like Tesco. It also entered the online market at a later time as compared to other companies, (Keith, 2012). These weaknesses have led to the development of a stiff competition between Woolworths and other companies. Opportunities: Opportunities are gaps in the market that accompany can fill so as to gain a competitive advantage against its rivals, (Helms & Nixon, 2010). The Australian retail industry shows an excellent growth capability. Factors such as advancement in the supply chain, computerization, and consumer lifestyle changes have influenced the ability of retailers and provided a chance for growth, (Ulle, 2014). Woolworths have also tried to adopt multi-option marketing approach so as to keep up with the diverse customer needs. Technology is a major determinant of competition. Although this company has tried to embrace technology through such aspects as virtual marketing and Woolworths’ app, the Woolworths app has not been customized to address all the customers’ requirements. One of the growth opportunities available for this company is that it should customize the Woolworths app so that the clients can be able to locate the exact shelf in the store where a product is located. The company has enough resources and qualified technical staff. It should, therefore, grow in this line so as to gain a competitive advantage against its rivals such as Coles. Threats: Threats refer to the factors that may necessitate a company to be quickly thrown out of the market. Threats mainly sprout from competition, (Mcguire, 2014). In the Australian retail market, there exists a high level of competition posed by other companies such as Coles and ASDA. These companies represent a lot of threat to the development of Woolworths, as Woolworths has to administer strategies that would ensure it remains competitive. Apart from this, government intervention in the market significantly affects the growth of Woolworths within the Australian retail market, (Hummerston, 2013) The success of Woolworths in Australia critically depends on three factors; the emergence of real online businesses such as Amazon, the rise of companies that conduct marketing traditionally and online, and growth of real traditional firms. The key success factors of this entity are based on its strengths. These may include: Strong brand: Woolworths has established a strong brand name in Australia. It, therefore, has a pool of loyal customers who purchase its products, (Powell, 2016). Customer loyalty is the primary determinant of the success of any business as it ensures that the clients develop a preference to the products of a particular company. It’s a well-established company: Woolworths is well-established and known in Australia as a big retailer, (Feigin, 2016). This makes its products known to the customers. Many customers have therefore developed trust to its products making it able to sell its goods quickly in the market. It has also produced a steady customer based and a significant market share, which enhances its profitability through the sale of a large volume of retail products, (Keith, 2012). Excellent Reputation: Reputation refers to the respect a company develops among its clients. This can be accomplished by providing high-quality products that are accepted by the customers, (Hubbard, Rice & Galvin, 2014). Woolworths has developed a strong reputation among its clients in the retail market, (Ulle, 2014). This has made it more successful as compared to its competitors as customers develop trust and preference to its products. In conclusion, it is apparent that Woolworths is an open organization that interacts with both internal and external environmental factors. Its internal environment can be analyzed using SWOT model, while its external environment can be evaluated using Porter’s five forces and PESTEL analysis. The company has critical success factors such as brand reputation and market reputation. It is also old-established in the market making it have a strong customer base in the market Arli, V., Dylke, S., Burgess, R., Campus, R., & Soldo, E. (2013). Woolworths Australia and Walmart US: Best Practices in Supply Chain Collaboration.  Journal of Economics, Business & Accountancy Ventura,  16(1). Dockalikova, I., & Klozikova, J. (2014). MCDM Methods in Practice: Determining the The significance of PESTEL Analysis Criteria. Proceedings of the European Conference On Management, Leadership & Governance, 418-427   Feigin, L. M. (2016).  The Effects of Protests and Boycotts on a Brand and its Reputation: a Case Study on Woolworths and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)  (Doctoral dissertation,The IIE). Helms, M. M., & Nixon, J. (2010). Exploring SWOT Analysis–where are we Now? A Review of Academic Research from the Last Decade. Journal of Strategy and Management, 3(3),15-251  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hubbard, G., Rice, J., & Galvin, P. (2014). Strategic Management. Pearson Australia.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hummerston, J. (2013). Options and Directions for the Continuous Improvement of the AustralianMeat Retail Qualifications  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Keith, S. (2012). Coles, Woolworths and the Local. Locale: The Australasian-Pacific Journal ofRegional Food Studies, 2, 47-81. Mcguire, K. (2014). SWOT Analysis 34 Success Secrets-34 Most Asked Questions on SWOT Analysis-What You Need To Know. Emereo Publishing.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mialon, M., Swinburn, B., Allender, S., & Sacks, G. (2016). Systematic Examination of Publicly-Available Information Reveals the Diverse and Extensive Corporate Political Activity of The Food Industry in Australia. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 1-13. Doi: 10.1186/s12889- 016-2955-7 Moscardo, G., Lamberton, G., Wells, G., Fallon, W., Lawn, P., Rowe, A. & Renouf, M. (2013). Sustainability in Australian Business: Principles and Practice. Wiley-Blackwell.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Poid.com. (2008, February 4). Woolworths Supermarkets. Retrieved January 4, 2017, from Poid.com website: https://www.poidb.com/groups/group.asp?GroupID=153 Powell, S. M. (2016). Journal of Brand Management–Yearend Review 2016.  Journal ofBrandManagement,  23(6), 601-611.   Ulle, J. (2014). Microenterprise; Marketing B2b from a Manufacturers Point of View Thesis 2014. Woolworths Holdings. (2016). Woolworths Holdings Ltd 2016 Strategic report. Woolworths Holdings. Retrieved 2017, from https://www.woolworthsholdings.co.za/downloads/2016/WHL-Integrated-Report-2016.pd

Multiculturalism In America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Multiculturalism In America - Essay Example Multiculturalism is not merely about the demographic composition of the American population, but how political systems frame the cultural diversity especially in participation in national matters (Alonso 24). The United States has witnessed high influx of immigrants from all parts of the world. Multiculturalism is closely related with identity politics, but requires the different religions, ethnic diversity and cultural diversities to be accommodated in the national issues such as representation. Government multiculturalism policies that promote multiculturalism include the federal support of newspapers and television that broadcast in the minority languages, support for minority festivals, encouragement of minority representation in education and politics (Donovan 99). Other public policies that encourage multiculturalism include acceptance of traditional dress codes in schools (Alonso 68). Multiculturalism is problematic since it reinforces the oppression of minorities in the socie ty. Critics of multiculturalism argue that it leads to segregated communities. This is because cultural differences such as traditions, values and shared beliefs are recognized in the nation-level thus denying opportunities for social cohesion (Alonso 63). Although protection of the minorities in the society will reduce the inequalities, racial or cultural based protections of the minorities will exacerbate the inequalities since powerful members of a particular minority group will undermine the opportunities and liberties of the vulnerable members of the particular group (Donovan 123). Feminists argue that multiculturalism will lead to entrenchment of the cultural practices that deny women equality and undermine the protection of women rights in the society. Accordingly, cultural practices like customary law on polygamy and religious laws will undermine the dominant legal system thus perpetrating the inequality of women in the society (Alonso 128). The duty of the government is to safeguard the individual rights, but not group rights. Granting cultural groups specific rights and protections undermines the individual rights to liberty and right of association in the society (Donovan 45). Accordingly, the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution is framed on the ideals of liberty, respect for universal human rights and right to pursue happiness. In addition, American ethos is based on individualism, equality in opportunities and egalitarianism thus all different cultures must internalize in order to ensure societal stability. In this regard, government policies that promote multiculturalism will create social instability and distinct cultural ideas other than those that have governed Americans since independence (Alonso 234). Multiculturalism undermines the struggles for justice and redistribution in the US. The politics of cultural recognition seeks to remedy the status inequality, but redistribution challenges the inequality in distribution of resource s and seeks economic restructuring in order to attain economic justice. For instance, Jim Crow laws of the southern states perpetuated political disenfranchisement thus providing opportunities for economic isolation of the Black Americans (Donovan 110). Multiculturalism entrenches cultural distinction thus leading to power differentials that hinder economic justice to the traditionally isolated minority groups like Black Americans (Alonso 178). Critics of multiculturalism argue that cultures should not be preserved since they are influenced by immigration, imperialism and international trade. Advancement in technology, influence of the mass media

IS Project Implementation Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IS Project Implementation Plan - Research Paper Example In citing an example of virtual organization, the case of an engineering company, John Brown Engineers and Construction concern comes into question. The company fulfills the globalization attribute of a virtual organization in operating through a network of 30 countries having a total employee base of around 21,000 people. Moreover, the company operates based on its own privately designed information systems linking the different offices of the concern. Through such developed and interlinked information technology network the employees of the company can effectively retrieve, share and implement information gained from large databases stored in the system. Thus, the people with information technology can effectively use the large pool of technological and other knowledge resources that would be required for the proper functioning of the organization. Moreover, the management of the company through the existence of information technology sources has also taken resort of developing a v ideo conferencing facility through which the directors and managers sitting at head office can learn the activities pursued in different units round the globe. Again, such use of technology also helps the management to get effective feedback from the employees in regards to operation and customers and thereby can design strategies differently to enhance business competitiveness (Igbaria and Tan, 1998, p.48). The business managers at John Brown Engineers and Construction concern worked to enhance and implement specific business strategies focused on globalization in the light of the information technology resources and opportunities gained. The Chief Executive Officer of the company identified the need for strategic alliances both within the internal and external policy framework to gain a competitive business position in the climate of globalization. Thus to gain the opportunity of strategic alliances the

The Use of Databases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Use of Databases - Essay Example While selecting a database for a small organization like real estate business, Microsoft Access is the best. It gives an easy layout to design a database of our own, with wizard facility. In a small real estate business, tens of customers visit everyday and tell us about their requirements. Some needs to have house on rent and some wants to buy a house. Even few comes here to sell their house. So in order to keep a record of all these, we need to have a Database. So that whenever a customer comes here to seek a house on rent, we can show him/her a list that contains all the houses that we got. It can only be done with the help of a Database. A Database can not only store the information but it can give us the printable form of the data as well in Reports. The first thing while develop a Database is that we created tables, as they actually store the data in them. But the interface is provided with the help of forms. And we can access the data in our Database with the help of Queries that works simply as question been asked. This Database contains a table of permanent customers that includes their names, with a unique ID, contact number and address as well. The other table contains the list of houses that are available on rent. This table contains all the information about these houses, their size, location, number of rooms and the rent money as well. The other table contains the list of houses that are there to be sold. It also contains all information about them, like size, location, number of rooms and their prices. Another table contains the list of customers that are willing to rent a house. This table contains their demands as well, that what kind of house they need and the location, size and number of rooms in it. The other table contains the customer's details that want to buy a house. And also their demands. The above mentioned both tables contains the contact number of customers as well, so that they can be contacted when needed. Another table deals with the employees of the firm. The firm has 10 employees working at present. Two employees are for office work and eight are the salesmen. The table contains their details, like their names with a unique ID, their addresses, contact numbers, date of joining the firm, starting salary, current salary, and also their account numbers. The computer operator in the firm uses Forms to enter data in the database. Forms are the interface provided by the database so that data can be entered more conveniently. There is a main form, which gives the main menu, ask the operator whether he wants to enter employee information or customer information. In employee section he can enter the information for new employee or he can update the record of existing employee as well. In Customers section, he can enter the information about the customers who are looking for a house to rent and also those who are willing to give their houses on rent. And also the customers who want to buy a house and their demands as well and also the customer's information who are looking for the buyer. Queries are used, so that we can quickly have the information for our required house. Suppose a customer is looking for a house with three rooms in downtown, we can simply put the number of rooms a

Summary and response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Summary and response - Essay Example These actions are connected with the terroristic acts, which has become very frequent and are mostly committed by the residents of Arabic countries. However, the author does not consider these actions as a racism. His further arguments show that he contradicts with his own statements. Firstly, he writes, â€Å"When thugs menace someone because he looks Arabic, that’s racism† (Rottenberg, Annette T, 2012, 19). The procedure of check-in, if someone is under suspicion, is quite rude as well as the attitude to this person. We do not need to forget, that these suspicions usually bear the subjective character. The choice of the â€Å"victim† depends upon the ordinary person. The only difference is that police acts on the legislative basis and has all legal rights to hold the procedures in case of necessity. The conclusion states that the only difference between the determination of â€Å"racism† and â€Å"no racism† is the legalization of rights of those people, who check others. It is correct from the judiciary point of view, but what about the ethical side of this issue. Does one person has a right to break the personal space of another only because he belongs to a certain nationality? In the second paragraph, the author pays attention to the rights of â€Å"black† and â€Å"white† people and the prejudice about them in the society. Again, Kinsley gives the examples, when people confuse the notion of â€Å"racism† and â€Å"stereotype†. The situation clarifies due to the example about the education of â€Å"black† and â€Å"white†. Kinsley writes â€Å"Universities could base their admissions policies on the valid assumption that whites, on average, are better-prepared for college† (Rottenberg, Annette T., 2012, 19). However, the article does not contain any statistics. There is no information in the book or scientific journal that African-Americans are worse students than other nationalities. My personal experience

Critical review on THE ECONOMIST-a bigger world Assignment

Critical review on THE ECONOMIST-a bigger world - Assignment Example The author(s) of the article bring into account the nature of some of the expanding companies, especially from the developing regions, and explains their impact in markets that can be considered established. In order to come up with the information that is presented in the article, the author(s) had to involve some quantitative data so as to come up with conclusive results. The author has dissected internal and external facts presented by all the companies that are mentioned in the article. The use of secondary sources of information made it possible for the article to bring out some of the unknown facts about certain companies, regions, and even emerging markets, for example; Brazil, Russia, India, and China. All these are attained from secondary sources of information, and they have been used to argue the author’s claim about globalization and the trends in countless regions/markets. It is this information that shows of the interest the author has placed on the growing trends in emerging markets. In a certain section of the article, the author talks of a new champion company known as Safaricom. The mobile-phone company is particularly famous in Kenya, and in its initial public offering, the company raised over $800 million (The Economist 3). The surprise brought forth by the author(s) shows of the disbelief that many more regions may experience when they hear about the emerging world phenomena. China’s Lenovo Computer Company is another that is making waves in the world economy, having made it to the Fortune 500 in 2005 (The Economist 2). The article’s easy-to-understand language makes it easier for even the not-so-economic mind to comprehend the intended message. Readers may have an easy task at interpreting the message and grasping the magnitude of what is happening in the economic world, now and in the future. The article works toward improving the relations that most

Project Managment Scheduling queastion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Project Managment Scheduling queastion - Essay Example The expected time for an activity represents the average time it would take if the activity is performed over and over again. It is known empirically that the probability density function of activity duration closely follows a Beta distribution, which defines the following relationship (Heldman & Baca, 267) Standard Deviation is used for calculating the variability associated with the high degree of uncertainty in estimated time durations. The standard deviation is represented by sigma symbol ‘ÏÆ'’ and is calculated as The time analysis elements such as the forward pass (Early Start time ES and Early Finish time EF) and the Backward Pass (Late Start time LS and Late Finish time LF) are used to find the Critical Path. These times are calculated using the Expected Time (te) for the respective activity relative to the zero date (date when the project clock starts ticking) of the project. The Backward Pass Late Start (LS) and Late Finish (LF) values are calculated considering that the earliest completion time of the project for the last activity and then working backwards towards the predecessors. For all the last activities, the LF will be equal to the respective EF value. Therefore, values of LF for the activities O, N, M, I and C are equal to the respective values of EF. The Critical Path can be determined by finding the Total Slack for each activity. Total Slack for any activity is the maximum time by which the start of an activity can be delayed without affecting the critical path. The path with the longest Expected time duration is the critical path. Activities on the critical path have slack as 0, since these activities cannot be delayed at all. Each path from the Start to the Finish node is defined along with the respective time duration. The Expected Completion Time (Et) for each path is equal to the expected duration of the constituent activities. For Example, A-E-H-K-I is calculated

Belonging Speech Essay Example for Free

Belonging Speech Essay To me belonging is a sense of enlightenment felt when an individual gains an understanding of themselves in relation to others and the wider world. To actually feel as if we belong, we must first accept ourselves and be accepted by others. A real sense of belonging can be determined by self-acceptance and acceptance by a group. However, when difficult situations are experienced, an individual may gain a sense of belonging through self-acceptance alone. This is clearly represented in the novel, ‘The Passage’, written by Justin Cronin, the poem, ‘St. Patricks College’, composed by Peter Skrzynecki and the film, ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ directed by Stephen Chbosky. These three texts clearly reflect how one would belong through self-acceptance. ‘The Passage’ is a post-apocalyptic thriller about an ancient vampiric disease that destroys society and leaves only a handful of people alive including Amy, the protagonist, who incidentally holds the key to the survival of the human race. The main protagonist, Amy, with specific reference to chapter 23, is travelling the apocalyptic landscape of America where she gains a certain self-acceptance due to the difficult situation that she is dealing with. The difficult situation being that Amy is scientifically immortal and has kept to living on her own and ultimately, surviving on her own. Cronin reveals â€Å"It was summer again and she was alone. Alone with no one but the voices she heard, everywhere and all around. † To us, it reveals how alone Amy really is and ultimately how she has come to accept herself for what she is. This revelation of Amy’s has come from the situation she has had to deal with and in a way, grown up with. The situation being that the world has ended, she is immortal and she has no one to belong with. Due to the difficult situation that Amy is in she has had to draw her own sense of belonging from herself as opposed to feeling as if she belongs with other people. For Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ he has had to accept himself, like Amy, though a difficult situation is faced he has still been able to feel a sense of belonging with himself. Skrzynecki feels â€Å"Like a foreign tourist,† whenever he attends St. Patricks College or whenever he is among others who attend St. Patricks College. This highlights the feelings of Skrzynecki and how he as an individual feels as though he does not belong with them. Skrzynecki even reveals that he is â€Å"Uncertain of† his â€Å"destination†. This yet again implies how much Skrzynecki does not belong at St. Patricks College or in that case with any other student who attends St. Patricks College. Obviously, this situation has forced Skrzynecki to adapt to his surroundings of the College and learn to accept himself to feel the sense of belonging that isn’t really expressed within the text. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ is a film set in the early 1990’s and addresses the problems that Charlie, the main character, faces while attending high school after his best friend from middle school had committed suicide only months before hand. For anybody, being a semi-depressed teenager is a difficult situation to be in; Char lie faces this during the entire film all the way up to the very last moments. At the beginning of the film while we hear Charlie’s voice over of him writing his first letter to his â€Å"friend† he talks of alienation from his ex-middle school friends such as Susan. Charlie writes â€Å"I thought maybe my old friend Susan would want to have lunch with me† but because of Charlie’s extremely difficult situation that he is dealing with Susan â€Å"doesn’t like to say hi† to Charlie anymore. The use of voice over in this scene creates a connection between the audience and Charlie and provides sufficient evidence of how alienated Charlie is among his peers. Charlie even admits â€Å"If my English teacher is the only friend I make today, that would be sort of depressing. † This emphasises how alienated Charlie is and how much he doesn’t fit in. Due to this being a difficult circumstance for Charlie he has learnt to belong with himself even though he feels he does not belong with anyone else. In ‘The Passage’, Amy faces her situation head on which in Chapter 23 reveals that, in a way, Amy has been forced to see belonging as an unimportant aspect of her life. This has pushed Amy to accept herself and disregard the need for others. We learn this when Amy is thinking to herself when she thinks â€Å"Are we the all? For I have seen no one, no man or woman, in all the years and years. Is there no I but I? During this moment Amy is feeling a negative connection with the Virals, the vampires, she concludes her thoughts where Cronin writes â€Å"Go now, she thought, and closed her eyes; and when she opened them again she found she was alone. † Cronin pieces together Chapter 23 with finesse and understanding of Amy. He was able to show us two things: the first is that Amy did not want to belong with anyone as she feared for their safety and the second was that even though we must be accepted by others to belong, we are able to belong if we are to accept ourselves if we are involved with a difficult situation. For Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ he also finds belonging an unimportant aspect of his life while he attends the College. This might not be as bad as Amy’s situation but to Skrzynecki it is still daunting. Skrzynecki â€Å"†¦ stuck pine needles Into the motto On my breast. † This shows the lack of caring for the motto and in turn the College. As Skrzynecki doesn’t really care for the College belonging obviously does not matter as much as Charlie from ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ wants to belong. For Skrzynecki saying, â€Å"The Lord’s Prayer In Latin, all in one breath† was a feat clearly showing his disregard for the significance of The Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is clearly connected to the College for religious reasons and because Skrzynecki misses the significance of the prayer it proves that Skrzynecki didn’t want to necessarily belong. Due to Skrzynecki being alone and feeling excluded from the college he has had to rely on his own self-acceptance to feel his own sense of belonging. ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ is a film where the main theme is belonging. Charlie reflects just that and begins to accept the fact that he is a â€Å"wallflower† and feels a sense of belonging with himself. Aside from this, Charlie wants to feel included, he wants to belong and eventually he feels that with Sam and Patrick. At Charlie’s first party Patrick makes a toast to Charlie of which Charlie questions with â€Å"what did I do? † where Patrick responds â€Å"you didn’t do anything, we just wanted to toast our new friend† this conveys a sense of belonging among the audience as well as Charlie and the other characters. This is different from Amy in ‘The Passage’ and Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ because they do not want to belong or don’t feel the need to whereas Charlie wants to belong and wants to fit in. Accompanying this is the use of camera angles. When the camera is facing Charlie it is in a high angle position showing Charlies vulnerability and when it points at Patrick it’s a low angle position demonstrating the importance of Patrick. This is a clear representation of how one would feel a sense of belonging when they are accepted by others as well as how one would feel a sense of belonging when they accept themselves. To feel as if you belong, you must accept yourself and be accepted by others but when dealing with difficult situations you can rely on self-acceptance to feel as if you belong. This is without a doubt clearly represented in ‘The Passage’, ‘St. Patricks College’ and ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’. These three very similar texts all show how a sense of belonging can be determined by self-acceptance and acceptance by a group. However, when difficult situations are experienced, an individual may gain a sense of belonging through self-acceptance alone.

Low Birth Rate in Hong Kong

Low Birth Rate in Hong Kong Nowadays, the world population just over 6 billion and consistently estimate to increase to 9 billion in the next 50 years. The growth rate is mostly come from those developing countries, especially from Africa. Nevertheless, the birth rate which we would call it as population growth rate is decreasing in Hong Kong. The local birth rate reached the lowest level in the world. According to the report from the Census and Statistics Department, around 30,000 babies will be generated by mainland couples while 69,000 will be born in Hong Kong each year. In 2006, 984 babies were produced each 1000 expectant mothers. The estimation of the following 30 years, the birth rate will be lower than 900 babies would be born with each 1000 expectant mothers. We can use the graph from Census and Statistics Department to indicate the change by birth rate. In the fig. 1.1, the lines are representing the population in 1996 while bars are representing the 2006s. We would see that the population in Hong Kong is going to form a reverse triangle as fewer are born in the base. Moreover, we would see that the birth rate was continuing decrease from 1981 to 2006. Basically, the government has been put aware on the issue. In one of a meeting of legislative council, the councilors have put out this as one the items of agenda. The decrease in birth rate may help to save the sustainable resources in the world, but it would cause out many society problems as well. Actually, aging problem is a serious issue happening in the society. And, this would cause out many consequences to make the society become poor. Aging problem will lead the tax payer having a heavy tax. As the decreasing birth rate cause out, fewer tax payers will need to fall into the tax system. While the number of elderly would increase to form an unhealthy population, the Government would have a financial problem on subsiding them. The government need to bear heavy costs on medical services, elderly health care and retirement such as social security allowance. On the other hand, the education system may need a reform. The demand would decrease as fewer children entering the education system. Those schools will be terminated by a low birth rate, and employers like teachers will be being unemployed. This is already happened in the society in 2006. Many schools are warned to shut down by insufficient students. As a result, encouraging the birth rate is a must. Recently, the government noticed that the importance of having a good birth rate and formed a committee to put concern and finding out solutions in low birth rate issue. The effective way is the government encourage the citizens to improve the birth rate. 1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE In this study, we would like to help to find out the reason of causing low birth rate. Besides, we would not only want to know the causes but also want to find out solutions and the ways of government would able to give a hand. Therefore, our research objectives will be set as the followings: Understand the reason of low birth rate occur Evaluate the effectiveness of various methods to increase birth rate Understand the value of having baby (promotion purpose) Evaluate the impact of various media on the decision to have a child Obtain the demographic of response 1.3 CONTRIBUTION Through this marketing research, we would define clear why the low birth rate was caused out. Afterwards, we can find out the most effective solution to improve the birth rate, in order to prevent the next generation to pay the heavy tax to the government which is our generation and beyond. On the other hand, we would the report will be indicated out that the effective way of promotion by the government which he citizens would thinks it does work. It is beneficial to the government whether the aging problem is solved, the financial burden will reform. The government is able to put the subsidies on the other ways that make Hong Kong becoming a most successful city that people would like to live. 2.1 EXPLORARATY RESEARCH To begin our research, we may need to use exploratory research to provide the insights of the low birth rate problems. From the various types of exploratory research technique, we have used secondary data analysis and focus group when doing this project. Secondary data Low birth rate which is a big issue for the Hong Kong government, so there are plenty of data about this issue on the website of the Census and Statistics Department and also the newspaper. The reasons why we are using the secondary data are because they are low cost and useful as background information. Also, some of the data are realistic as those data are collected from the official department of Hong Kong Government. As the government highly concern about the low birth rate, there are policies and promotions about how to improve low birth rate, which helps us on creating the questions for our questionnaire. Focus Group Focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their attitude towards a product, service, concept, advertisement or idea. And there will be a moderator to introduce the topic of discussion and to encourage the group to discuss. Using focus group can allow the participants to discuss their true feeling and convictions, fast to collect data, easy to execute and flexible with low cost. Forming this focus group, our purpose is to understand the reason of low birth rate, evaluate the effectiveness of various methods to increase the birth rate, understand more the value of having a baby, evaluate the impact of various media on the decision to have a child, obtaining the demographic of response. After doing the focus group, we can combine the observations to understand the culture, the social group, sampling the sites to study, and creating news issues or topics we didnt think of. We would form 2 focus groups which consist of 6 respondents each. Besides, we need to hire a professional analyst to lead the focus group on the discussing track. Then, we need to book a one-way mirror room to observe the progress of the focus group. The most important is we should jot down the discussion by notes as an alternative way if the video recording devices does not work. The topic of discussion was focus on five main issues we focused on reasons affecting the birth rate, methods to improve birth rate, value on birth rate, ways to promote generation, demographic. To acquire the information we need, an analyst is needed to lead the focus group to discuss on the aspects. We did set the suggest questions: How do you think to generate a child? What are the costs to generate a child? What do you think the consequence to generate a child? Which ways do you suggest to encourage generation? How do you think the policies of government promotion? Summary of Findings Section We have been held focus groups in the March. After the focus group, we were given out some ideas of the low birth rate issue. In the focus groups people are all agree the late marriage is the trend in Hong Kong, many ladies are become focusing on their work. But they conclude that the cost of having a baby is the main cause of low birth rate. They need to quit their job, after the baby growth, their job opportunities will be probably lower as they disconnected with the society. They discussed that the birth rate from the middle class is important to improved. Later, they discuss that the method to improve the birth rate. Most of them thought that the government subsidies are the ways to help. Education allowance is the most effective as most of them agreed. It is because they think it is a long-term subsidy that their children need to study nearly 10 years. It is benefit if it would save their cost. However, no one concern on public housing because they thought that it is relate to the marry cost, not related to having a baby. They would think that the value of having a baby is to generate their breed. Most of them think that the TV commercial is the effective way to encouraged by government. It is because animation and sound would give them memorized. 2.2 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH To choose a suitable method to fit with our case, we would like to use the mall intercept personal interviews for collecting primary data. The process involves stopping the targets, screening them for appropriateness, and either administering the survey on the spot or inviting them to a research facility located in the mall to complete the interview. And, we decided to set up in Women Health Centre and the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong etc, therefore we are able to get the result that related to our expectation and purpose. The characteristic of the method is confined place to conduct the survey but speed of data collecting is fast, and conductors are easier to reach the assigned quantity with a specific time. It will have the highest degree of interviewer influence of answers. Although geographical flexibility is confined in a selection place, we can poll a large number of target respondents with a successful planning. There will have low anonymity of respondents however, the respondents may not actively to cooperate. It is difficult to follow up or call back but it is not an actual problem. Essentially, interviewers can provide clear explanations for the questions asked, respondents will be clearer to answer the questions through face-to-face interview. So, the possibility of respondent misunderstanding will be the lowest. On the other hand, if the respondent cooperation is not enough to meet the planned quantity, we may also use phone survey to back up mall intercept personal interview. The advantages of using phone survey is competitive reduce cost and the respondent cooperation are good. So, it is a good back-up proposal for anything goes wrong in the mall intercept personal interview. There are some measurements guiding us in design our questionnaire. We should concern that each questions should have a reason behind asking and the type of answers you would like to receive y open-ended or close-ended. Later, we should concern on the questionnaire wording. In designing our questionnaire, we have avoided long questions that will give people confusing by using short and clear wording. Secondly, we avoid emotional and socially desirability response by loaded and assumption questions. So, the validity will be increased. Be sure all answer choices are mutually exclusive, check for ambiguity in wording the question, and ensure if the respondents can interpret the meaning of words differently. We also put aware on the personal pronouns (gender references) never use only him (his) or her (her) unless you are referring to a specific gender. Be specific, rather than general questions and word them so that they communicate uniform meaning. Avoid using double negatives, especi ally possible when using Agree/Disagree. 2.3 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT Scale There are several scale in setting questionnaire, interval scale, nominal scale, ordinal scale and ratio scale. We used Interval Scale in Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 in our questionnaire. An interval scale is a measurement scale in which a certain distance along the scale means the same thing no matter where on the scale you are, but where 0 on the scale does not represent the absence of the thing being measured. The Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales are examples. It is uniquely classifies, in preserves order and equal intervals. We used Nominal Scale in Q.5B, Q.5C, Q.5D, Q.5E in our questionnaire. A nominal scale is really a list of categories to which objects can be classified. For example, asking the gender and give Male and Female, for asking status, given Single Married and Divorce. The data so classified are termed categorical data, which are reflecting the classification of objects into different categories. We used Ordinal Scale in Q.5A, Q.5F and Q.5G in our questionnaire. An ordinal scale is a measurement scale that assigns values to objects based on their ranking with respect to one another. For example, Q.5G, we are asking about the monthly income of each target ordinance, from [1] Less than $5000 to [5] above $30,000. While you know that [5] is having more income than [1], but there is no implication that [5] is twice times more than [1]. All we know is that there are 5 categories, with obviously that [2] are having more income than [1], [3] are having more income than [2], etc. The higher the value assigned, the higher the category. 2.3.2 Pretest Procedure It is very important for us to do the pretest before the questionnaire being publicized; the aim of pretesting questionnaire is to ensure that it can be clearly understood. Since the questionnaire may have a lot of mistakes, therefore, we need to conduct and find out the information on that issue. Correct all the mistakes in the questionnaire are necessary, if the survey did not properly set, the purpose will not be achieved to conduct the accurate information what we looking for. For our questionnaire, in order to achieve the effectiveness of pretest, we are going to read the questionnaire for at least 15 times after setting. Besides, we are also going to ask for 15 respondents to test our questionnaire. Finding correct and relevant respondents can help to increase the efficacy of pretest. The varieties respondents would be desire for our Low Birth Rate questionnaires are the professionals, such as English teachers; lecturers, schoolmates from universities, and also our parents. We chose them for the questionnaire pretest procedure, since some of them have sufficient knowledge to state out our problems, for example, English teachers can correct our grammar and spelling mistakes, rectify the question wording into more format type. Lecturers can check the flow of questions and give suggestions on the question, ensure that we are using the multiple-grid format and have been separated them into variety of groups before conducting. And, some of them are easy to re ach, like our schoolmates, their feedbacks help us to predict our target ordinance reaction to the questionnaire, they also may help to estimate the time-taking. After all, we can rearrange the follow up and one by one. Use our questionnaire as an example, after the pretest procedure; we rectify the question wording to make the questionnaire become more clarify. Such as, using Very Unimportant and Very Important to replace Most Important and Least Important. Use full sentence, Are you working now? (If yes, please continue to answer the following questions. Otherwise, jump to à ¯Ã‚ ¹Ã‚ Hà ¯Ã‚ ¹Ã… ¾) instead of a single word Occupation etc. (Appendix fig. 2.2, fig. 2.3) 2.4 SAMPLING Sampling is the simple way to reach out targets with a subset of the population instead of reaching the entire population. Compare with reaching the entire population, sampling will help to save time, cutting cost for budgeting and manpower. Firstly, we should figure the target group out. Our target group is men and women who have visited Women Health Centre and the Family Planning Association. It is because they will have a brief concern and knowledge on the birth rate issue. To reach our target group, we would use the convenience sampling indeed. There is no sampling frame while it is actually a non-probability sampling method. Those respondents are unknown member form our target group because of using the non-probability sampling. Our interviews will select the most available targets arbitrary. However, we would set the 200 respondents as our sample size. As the mall intercept personal interview is suitable to associate with our research, it has many advantages indeed. First, the mall intercept personal interview can be conducted faster and inexpensive. Also, the mall intercept can poll a large number of respondents and control the speed of the survey. As we want to poll a large number of respondents in target group, we decided to interview in Women Health Centre and the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong within 3 days. As the mall intercept is a face-to-face contact with the interviewees, it will lead us easier follow-up and make corrections of the unclear or misunderstanding answers. These advantages will encourage us to conduct a better survey. Unfortunately, there is no perfect method existing in the world. We would just choose the method which consist the least disadvantages. In the mall intercept, we would require a lot of labour force to conduct. This will lead the research cost climb higher by hiring cost for interviewers. Furthermore, low accuracy of the survey is also a disadvantage of this method. It is difficult to follow up if we find out any problem while analyzing the answers. Further, the result sampling may not represent the entire population in a place. Therefore, we would find out some solutions to fix them. We would not employ volunteers as our group members can be the volunteers in the research. Perhaps, cost of the employment will be relatively lower. In order to improve the accuracy, setting up more intercept places for interview can enhance the representative level of the results. Also, after conducting the survey, interviewees would politely to ask the respondents to leave their contact information if they are willing to do that. Hopefully, it may improve the disadvantages of the survey method. We would do the survey over 3 selected places within 3 day. On 28th April, we would conduct in the Family Planning Association at Wan Chai while conducting in the Women Association in Tuen Mun in the following day (29th April). Finally, we would reach the Family Planning Association at Wong Tai Sin in 30th April. These 3 locations will be assigned a team to play the role as interviewers. Each team will consist of 3 member do stay within the place in the operation hours. The selection of those 3 places is due to improving the accuracy of the sampling over territories. In addition, easy to reach who concern birth rate, prepare to have a child or even avoid having child as well.

Liberalism, Civic Reformism and Democracy Essay -- Argumentative Argum

Liberalism, Civic Reformism and Democracy This paper argues that liberalism provides democracy with the experience of civic reformism. Without it, democracy loses any tie-argumentative or practical-to a coherent design of public policy endeavoring to provide the resources for the realization of democratic citizenship. The case for liberalism rests on an argumentative reconstruction of the function it performs before the rise of a world economic order and, more specifically, in the creation of the welfare state after the Second World War. Accordingly, liberalism defines a reformist political program: it is an emancipatory political project by virtue of its struggle for an egalitarian and universalist extension of citizenship rights. This is but a formulation of the modern idea of citizenship, conceived of as a universalizable contract of rights. At the same time, liberalism embraces a socioeconomic emancipatory project that endeavors to provide the conditions, within the institutional framework of modern societies, for the ac complishment of citizenship rights. The origins of liberalism in the seventeenth century tell the story of the struggle for recognition of religious tolerance. This early form of pluralism provided the antecedent for the constitutional recognition of civil rights, interpreted in terms of universal adscription. A further step of constitution-building in liberal polities was taken when the universal principles of equality and liberty assumed the status of fundamental rights. That happened under the form of a constitutional program aimed at the improvement of the civil condition. Liberalism as a revolution of rights not only meant the conquest of civil rights by society, but also their extension by constitut... ... Studies, 1, pp. 73-86. Rawls, J. 1993: Political Liberalism. New York: Columbia University Press. Rosales, J. M. and J. Rubio-carracedo 1997: "To Govern Pluralism: towards a Concept of Complex Citizenship", in W. Krawietz, E. Pattaro and A. Erh-Soon Tay, eds., Rule of Law. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. Sen, A. 1992: Inequality Reexamined. Oxford: Clarendon. Turner, B. S. 1986: Citizenship and Capitalism. London: Allen & Unwin. ____ 1997: "Citizenship Studies: a General Theory", Citizenship Studies, 1, pp. 5-18. Van steenbergen, Bart 1994: "Global Modelling in the 1990s. A Critical Evaluation of a New Wave", Futures, 26, pp. 44-56. Vogel, U. 1991: "Is Citizenship Gender-Specific?", in U. Vogel and M. Moran, eds., The Frontiers of Citizenship. Houndmills and London: Macmillan, pp. 58-85. Walzer, M. 1983: Spheres of Justice. New York: Basic Books.

The World Needs a Little Courtesy Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Es

The World Needs a Little Courtesy Doesn't anyone show common courtesy anymore? When I was younger, I never knew what my parents meant when I heard them ask that question. I thought people were polite. I never had any problems with rude people. Now that I am older, and actually experience people outside of school, I understand what my parents meant. What happened to people saying "Excuse me" when they want to walk past you? Don't people know what it means when someone says this to them? When I say "Excuse me" to someone the individual stares at me as if I just spoke a foreign language or said something insulting. Then the individual still doesn't move. I don't know how many times I have been standing somewhere, and instead of someone saying "Excuse me" to get by, he or she just shoves past. How was I to know the person was standing behind me? I guess I should have used the eyes in the back of my head. I have also seen grown men push past pregnant women, elderly couples, and even handicapped people as if they weren't even there. When my boyfriend was on crutches and we went shopping, people would run into him with their carts. He had to stop and get out of their way and they would act as if it was an inconvenience to them that he was on crutches. I look out for pregnant women, the elderly, people on crutches or in wheelchairs, someone with his or her arms full, and people with children. I move out of their way. Am I just more aware of my surroundings than other people? What happened to holding doors open for other people? I don't mean for just women, the elderly, or the handicapped. (I am a twenty-five-year-old female,... ...ould be because parents do not have the support of the teachers and schools. Teachers are a big part of a child's life, but they are not allowed to correct a child's behavior because they could be reprimanded for doing so. If we do not teach our children to respect their elders, to help others, and to say please and thank you, then eventually common courtesy and politeness will be lost. Did you ever realize how a reaction you get from a stranger, or even someone you know, could affect the mood of your day? Or how polite or rude that person was? Did you ever feel a little happier after doing something nice for someone? For most of us, our days are filled with stress. Being courteous to someone or smiling or saying "Thank you" might just change both of your moods. Try it sometime. It might just change your whole day. Thank you!

The Kite Runner Essays -- Literary Analysis, Hosseini

â€Å"There is a way to be good again† (2). This is the line that rolls through Amir's mind over and over throughout Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner. This is the story of a mans struggle to find redemption. The author illustrates with the story of Amir that it is not possible to make wrongs completely right again because its too late to change past. In this novel Hosseini is telling us that redemption is obtainable, and by allowing us to see Amirs thought process throughout the novel, Hosseini shows us that it guilt is the primary motivation for someone who seeks redemption. Hosseini also uses not only the main character, but other secondary characters to show how big of a part that guilt plays in the desire for redemption. In this novel, redemption is not when things are justified, because the wrong has been done and you can't go back to the past and change things to make it right. Rather, as defined in a letter to Amir by an old family friend, Rahim Khan, redempt ion is when the guilt from something wrong leads to something good (302). Guilt is a strong incentive in a quest for redemption and it isn't easy to shake. â€Å"There is a way to be good again† Rahim Khan said to Amir in the beginning of the novel, insinuating that there was hope. That there was a way for Amir to have peace with himself and let go of his guilt. This phrase was something that echoed in Amirs mind throughout the novel and would be a reminder that there was a way to be rid of the guilt that plagued him, a way to be good again. We can see how heavy this guilt is even at the beginning of the novel when we don't even know the reason why he would be guilty. Amir begins his story by telling us â€Å"I became what I am today at the age of 12† (1). The first ... ...rching for redemption in this novel was Amir's wife Soraya. Before they get married confesses to him about the time she ran away with someone as a teenager and clears up her past which had also haunted her (164). Even after she confessed to Amir, people still talked down about her because of her past (178). Amir, like Baba, Rahim Khan and Soraya, had sinned by what he had done, or rather what he didn’t do. This caused guilt which he attempted to hide, but the memories and the past continued to haunt him, nag at him, and remind him of the person who had loved him so much. The person that he had turned around and betrayed them in their time of need. This guilt of betrayal weighs on Amir characters throughout the story, and pushes him to seek out redemption. He longs to â€Å"be good again† and get rid of the guilt that he has carried since he was just twelve years old.

Shadow Kiss Chapter 27

Twenty-seven NONE OF THE OTHERS appeared to have noticed our absence. More guardians, as promised, had shown up, and we now had almost fifty. It was a veritable army, and much as with the Strigoi, the numbers were unprecedented, aside from old European legends of great epic battles between our races. We had more guardians on campus, but some had to stay behind to protect the school. A lot of my classmates had been drafted for that duty, but about ten or so (including me) were accompanying the others to the cave. An hour before departure, we met again to go over the plan. There was a large chamber near the far side of the cave, and it made the most sense for the Strigoi to be there so they could head out right away once night came. We were going to attack from both ends. Fifteen guardians would go in from each side, accompanied by three Moroi each. Ten guardians would remain at each entrance to hold back any escaping Strigoi. I was assigned to watch the entrance on the far side. Dimitri and my mother were part of the groups actually going inside. I wished desperately that I could have been with them, but I knew I was lucky to be along at all. And on a mission like this, every job was important. Our little army set out, moving at a brisk pace to cover the five miles. We figured that it would take a little over an hour, and there would still be enough daylight for the fight and return trip. No Strigoi would be stationed outside on guard duty, so we could reach the caves undetected. Once our people were inside, however, it was almost a given that the Strigoi's superior hearing would immediately alert them to the attack. There was little conversation as we approached. No one felt like chatting, and most talk was of a logistical nature. I walked with the novices, but every once in a while, I'd glance over and meet Dimitri's eyes. I felt like there was an invisible bond between us now, so thick and intense that it was a wonder everyone couldn't see it. His face was battle-serious, but I saw the smile in his eyes. Our group split when we reached the closest entrance to the cave. Dimitri and my mother were going in here, and as I gave them one last glance, my feelings had little to do with my earlier romantic interlude. Everything I felt was worry, worry I'd never see them again. I had to remind myself that they were tough – two of the best guardians out there. If anyone would come out of this, it was them. I was the one who needed to be careful, and as we walked the half-mile around the mountain's base, I carefully placed my emotions in a small compartment in the back of my mind. They'd have to stay there until this was over. I was in battle mode now and couldn't let my feelings distract me. When we were almost to our entrance, I caught a silvery flash out of the corner of my eye. I'd been keeping the assorted ghostly images that lived outside of the wards away, but this was one I wanted to see. Glancing over, I saw Mason. He stood there, saying nothing, wearing his perpetually sad expression. He still seemed unusually pale to me. As our group passed by, he held up one hand, as a farewell or benediction, I didn't know. At the cave's entrance, our group split up. Alberta and Stan were leading the group in. They stood poised at the entrance, waiting for the exact time they'd agreed upon with the other group. Ms. Carmack, my magic teacher, was among the Moroi going in with them. She looked nervous but determined. The moment came, and the adults disappeared. The rest of us stood there, lined up in a ring around the cave. Gray clouds hung in the sky. The sun had begun its descent, but we still had awhile. â€Å"This is going to be easy,† murmured Meredith, one of three other girls in the senior class. She spoke uncertainly, more to herself than to me, I think. â€Å"A slam dunk. They'll take out the Strigoi before any of them realize it. We won't have to do anything.† I hoped she was right. I was ready to fight, but if I didn't have to, it'd mean everything had gone as planned. We waited. There was nothing else to do. Every minute felt like an eternity. Then we heard it: the sounds of fighting. Muffled cries and grunts. A few screams. All of us tensed, bodies so rigid we nearly snapped. Emil was our leader on this, and he stood closest to entrance, stake in hand and sweat forming on his brow as he peered into the darkness, ready for any sign of a Strigoi. A few minutes into it, we heard the sound of footsteps running toward us. Our stakes were ready. Emil and another guardian drew closer to the entrance, ready to jump in and kill the fleeing Strigoi. But it wasn't a Strigoi who came out. It was Abby Badica. She was scraped up and dirty, but otherwise, she was alive. Her face was frantic and streaked with tears. At first, she screamed when she saw all of us. Then she realized who we were and collapsed into the arms of the first person she could get to – Meredith. Meredith looked surprised, but she gave Abby a hug of reassurance. â€Å"It's okay,† Meredith said. â€Å"Everything's okay. You're in the sun.† Gently, Meredith unwrapped Abby and led her to a nearby tree. Abby sat at its base, burying her face in her hands. Meredith returned to her position. I wanted to comfort Abby. I think we all did, but it would have to wait. A minute later, another Moroi came out. It was Mr. Ellsworth, the teacher I'd had in fifth grade. He too looked worn, and his neck showed puncture marks. The Strigoi had used him for feeding but hadn't killed him yet. Nonetheless, despite what horrors he must have faced, Mr. Ellsworth was calm, his eyes alert and watchful. He recognized the situation and immediately stepped out of our circle. â€Å"What's going on in there?† asked Emil, his eyes on the cave. Some of the guardians had earpieces, but I imagined in the midst of battle, it was hard to report back. â€Å"It's a mess,† said Mr. Ellsworth. â€Å"But we're getting away – in both directions. It's hard to tell who's fighting who, but the Strigoi are distracted. And someone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He frowned. â€Å"I saw someone using fire on the Strigoi.† None of us answered. It was too complex to get into right now. He seemed to realize that and withdrew to sit near a still-sobbing Abby. Two more Moroi and a dhampir I didn't know soon joined Abby and Mr. Ellsworth. Each time someone came out, I prayed that it would be Eddie. We had five victims so far, and I had to assume that others were escaping at the entrance closest to the school. Several minutes passed, though, and no one else came out. My shirt was drenched, soaked through with sweat. I had to shift my hold on the stake every once in a while. My grip was so tight that my fingers were locking up. Suddenly, I saw Emil flinch. I realized he was getting a message through his earpiece. His face showed intense concentration, and then he murmured something back. Looking up at us, he pointed at three novices. â€Å"You – take them back to the school.† He gestured at the refugees, and then turned toward three of the adult guardians. â€Å"Go in. Most of the prisoners have gotten out, but our people are trapped. There's a stalemate.† The guardians moved in without hesitation, and a few moments later, the novices and their charges took off. That left four of us, two adults – Emil and Stephen – and two novices, me and Shane. The tension around us was so thick, we could barely breathe. No one else was coming out. No more reports were being made. Emil glanced up and looked alarmed. I followed his gaze. More time had passed than I realized. The sun was significantly lower. Emil suddenly flinched again as another message came through. He looked at all of us, his face troubled. â€Å"We need more in there to cover the escape on the other end. It doesn't sound like we've lost many. They're just still having trouble with the retreat.† Many, he'd said. Not any. That meant we'd lost at least one person. I felt cold all over. â€Å"Stephen, you go in,† said Emil. He hesitated, and I could read his dilemma like a book. He wanted to go in too, but as the leader for this side, he was supposed to stay stationed here until the last possible moment. He was on the verge of disobeying those orders, I realized. He was considering going in with Stephen and leaving Shane and me out here. Yet, at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to leave two novices here alone, should something unexpected happen. Emil exhaled, and he looked us over. â€Å"Rose, go with him.† I didn't waste a moment. Following Stephen, I slipped into the cave, and immediately, that nauseous feeling rolled over me. It had been cold outside, but it was colder still as we moved deeper. It was also darker. Our eyes could handle a fair amount of it, but it soon became too much. He flipped on a small light attached to his jacket. â€Å"I wish I could tell you what to do, but I don't know what we'll find,† he told me. â€Å"Be ready for anything.† The darkness in front of us began to fade. The sounds grew louder. We picked up the pace, glancing in all directions. Suddenly, we found ourselves in the large chamber shown on the map. A fire burned in one corner – one the Strigoi had made, not anything magical – that was providing the light. Looking around, I immediately saw what had happened. Part of the wall had fallen in, creating a pile of stones. No one had been crushed under it, but it had almost entirely blocked the opening to the other side of the cave. I didn't know if magic had caused it, or if the fighting had. Maybe it had been a coincidence. Whatever the reason, seven guardians – including Dimitri and Alberta – were trapped now by ten Strigoi. No Moroi fire users had been caught on this side, but the flashes of light coming through the opening in the cave-in showed me that they were still fighting on the other side. I saw bodies lying on the floor. Two were Strigoi, but I couldn't make out the others. The problem was obvious. Getting through the opening would require someone practically crawling. It would put the person in a vulnerable position. This meant these Strigoi needed to be taken out before the guardians could make their escape. Stephen and I were going to help even the odds. We came up from behind the Strigoi, but three of them sensed us somehow and turned toward us. Two jumped Stephen, and the other came at me. Instantly, I kicked into battle mode. All the rage and frustration poured out through me. The cave made for close fighting quarters, but I was still able to evade him. In fact, the close space was to my advantage because the Strigoi, with his larger size, had trouble ducking and dodging. I stayed out of his reach mostly, though he did grab hold of me long enough to slam me against the wall. I didn't even feel it. I just kept moving, going on the offensive. I eluded his next attack, got in some blows of my own, and, with my small size, managed to slip down and stake him before his next hit. I pulled out the blade in one smooth motion and went to help Stephen. He'd taken out one of his attackers, and between us, we finished the last one. That left seven Strigoi now. No, six. The trapped guardians – who were having difficulty in their pinned position – had killed another. Stephen and I jerked the Strigoi closest to us out of the circle. He was a strong one – very old, very powerful – and even with the two of us, he was hard to take down. At last, we did. With the Strigoi numbers reduced, the other guardians were having an easier time getting to the rest. They started freeing themselves from their trapped position, and their numbers alone were now an aid. When the Strigoi count was down to two, Alberta yelled at us to start escaping. Our alignment in the room had changed. We were now the ones surrounding the last two Strigoi. This left the path clear for three of the guardians to escape via the way I'd come in. Stephen, meanwhile, crawled through the hole to the other side. Dimitri staked one of the two Strigoi. One left. Stephen stuck his head back in and shouted something to Alberta that I couldn't quite make out. She yelled something back without looking at him. She, Dimitri, and two others were closing in on the last Strigoi. â€Å"Rose,† yelled Stephen, beckoning. Follow orders. That's what we did. I left the fray, scrambling through the hole more easily than he had, thanks to my smaller size. Another guardian immediately followed after me. No one was on this side of cave-in. The fight had either ended or moved on. Bodies showed that things had been intense, however. I saw more Strigoi, as well as a familiar face: Yuri. I hastily looked away toward Stephen, who was helping another guardian through. Alberta came next. â€Å"They're dead,† she called. â€Å"It sounds like there are a few more blocking the retreat down here. Let's finish this before the sun comes up.† Dimitri came last of all through the gap. He and I exchanged brief, relieved glances, and then we were on the move. This was the long part of the tunnel, and we hurried down it, anxious to get our remaining people out. At first, we encountered nothing, and then flashes of light indicated a fight up ahead. Ms. Carmack and my mother were fighting three Strigoi. My group closed in, and in seconds, the Strigoi were down. â€Å"That's it for this group,† my mother gasped out. I was grateful to see her alive too. â€Å"But I think there are more here than we thought. I think they left some behind when they went to attack the school. The rest of our people – that survived – have already made it out.† â€Å"There are other branches in the cave,† said Alberta. â€Å"Strigoi could be hiding in there.† My mother agreed. â€Å"They could be. Some know they're overwhelmed and are just going to wait us out and escape later. Others may come after us.† â€Å"What do we do?† asked Stephen. â€Å"Finish them off? Or retreat?† We turned to Alberta. She made a quick decision. â€Å"We retreat. We got as many as we could, and the sun is dropping. We need to get back behind the wards.† We took off, so close to victory, fueled by the disappearing light. Dimitri was beside me as we moved. â€Å"Did Eddie get out?† I hadn't seen his body, but I hadn't been paying much attention either. â€Å"Yes,† said Dimitri, breathing ragged. God only knew how many Strigoi he'd fought today. â€Å"We had to practically force him out. He wanted to fight.† That sounded like Eddie. â€Å"I remember this curve,† my mother said as we rounded a corner. â€Å"It's not much farther. We should see light soon.† Thus far, we were only guided by the jacket lights. I felt the nausea only a split second before they attacked. At a T intersection, seven Strigoi jumped us. They'd let the earlier party escape, but they'd been lying in wait for us, three on one side and four on the other. One guardian, Alan, never saw it coming. A Strigoi grabbed him and snapped Alan's neck so quickly that it looked effortless. It probably was. It was such a mirror to what had happened to Mason that I nearly came to a standstill. Instead, I doubled back, ready to get into the fray. But we were in a narrow part of the tunnel, and not all of us could get through to the Strigoi. I was stuck in the back. Ms. Carmack was beside me, and she had enough visibility to light up a couple of the Strigoi, making it easier for those guardians in the fight to stake them. Alberta caught a glimpse of me and a couple other guardians. â€Å"Start retreating!† she yelled. None of us wanted to leave, but there wasn't much we could do. I saw one guardian fall, and my heart lurched. I hadn't known him, but it didn't matter. In seconds my mother was on the Strigoi attacker, driving her stake through his heart. Then I lost sight of the fight as I rounded another corner with the three guardians with me. Farther down the corridor, I saw faint purplish light. The exit. Faces of other guardians peered in at us. We'd made it. But where were the others? We ran to the exit, emerging into the air. My group clustered by the opening, anxious to see what had happened. The sun, I was dismayed to see, was nearly gone. The nausea hadn't left me, which meant Strigoi were still alive. Moments later, my mother's party came tearing down the hall. By the numbers, one more had gone down. But they were so close. Everyone around me tensed up. So close. So, so close. But not close enough. Three Strigoi lay in wait in one of the alcoves. We'd passed them, but they'd let us go by. It all happened so fast; no one could have reacted in time. One of the Strigoi grabbed Celeste, his mouth and fangs going for her cheek. I heard a strangled scream and saw blood everywhere. One of the Strigoi went for Ms. Carmack, but my mother jerked her away and shoved her forward toward us. The third Strigoi grabbed Dimitri. In all the time I'd known him, I'd never seen Dimitri falter. He was always faster, always stronger than everyone else. Not this time. This Strigoi had caught him by surprise, and that slight edge was all it had taken. I stared. It was the blond Strigoi. The one who had spoken to me in the battle. He grabbed Dimitri and pulled him to the ground. They grappled, strength against strength, and then I saw those fangs sink into Dimitri's neck. The red eyes flicked up and made contact with my own. I heard another scream – this time, it was my own. My mother started to double back toward the fallen, but then five more Strigoi appeared. It was chaos. I couldn't see Dimitri anymore; I couldn't see what had happened to him. Indecision flashed over my mother's features as she tried to decide to flee or fight, and then, regret all over her face, she kept running toward us and the exit. Meanwhile, I was trying to run back inside, but someone was stopping me. It was Stan. â€Å"What are you doing, Rose? More are coming.† Didn't he understand? Dimitri was in there. I had to get Dimitri. My mother and Alberta burst out, dragging Ms. Carmack. A group of Strigoi were after them, skidding to a halt just on the edge of the waning light. I was still fighting Stan. He didn't need the help, but my mother grasped a hold of me and tugged me away. â€Å"Rose, we have to get out of here!† â€Å"He's in there!† I screamed, straining as hard as I could. How could I have killed Strigoi and not been able to break free from these two? â€Å"Dimitri's in there! We have to go back for him! We can't leave him!† I was rambling, hysterical, shouting at them all that we had to go rescue Dimitri. My mother shook me hard and leaned close so there were only a couple inches between us. â€Å"He is dead, Rose! We can't go back in there. The sun will be down in fifteen minutes, and they are waiting for us. We're going to be in the dark before we can get back to the wards. We need every second we can get – it still may not be enough.† I could see the Strigoi gathered at the entrance, their red eyes gleaming with anticipation. They completely filled the opening, ten I believed. Maybe more. My mother was right. With their speed, even our fifteen-minute lead might not be enough. And yet, I still couldn't take a step. I couldn't stop staring at the cave, back where Dimitri was, back where half of my soul was. He couldn't be dead. If he was, then surely I would be dead too. My mother slapped me, the pain snapping me out of my daze. â€Å"Run!† she yelled at me. â€Å"He is dead! You are not going to join him!† I saw the panic in her own face, panic over me – her daughter – getting killed. I remembered Dimitri saying he'd rather die than see me dead. And if I stood there stupidly, letting the Strigoi get me, I'd fail both of them. â€Å"Run!† she cried again. Tears streaming down my face, I ran.