Medtronic, Inc. Marketing Plan

Background and Goals Medtronic Inc is the leading medical technology company in the world, controlling more than half of the world’s annual revenue on the heart-pacing market (Anonymous, 2010). Its headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota and it operates in over 120 countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Medtronic, Inc. Marketing Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, around sixty-six percent of its revenue is generated locally, twenty percent in Europe, ten percent in the pacific Asia and the remaining percentage in the rest of the world. As it expanded, the firm employed Picker International Corporation of White Plains, New York to assist in running the business internationally. The founder of Medtronic Inc was an electrical engineer a profession that boosted his knowledge on specializing in medical devices. He established the company by specializing in pace making which has taken Medtr onic to very high heights (Anonymous, 2010). Medtronic is a manufacturer of diversified and exclusive medical equipment, which are capable of handling any medical complication. It continues to develop better and advanced equipment in order to maintain its top position. Moreover, the firm has recently developed Combo Insulin Pump and Glucose Monitor for Diabetes, which is the best device for managing diabetes in the world. Since Medtronic is a world-class company, it aims at coming up with a marketing plan that will enable it do extensive sales in the whole world. The first step is to identify a country whereby its sales can pick significantly. Medtronic objective To ensure that every person on this earth has an opportunity to live as healthy, innovative, creative, and successful lives as they can. Combo Insulin Pump and Glucose Monitor for Diabetes For a long time, patients with diabetes have been facing acute challenges in treating and managing their insulin levels due to lack of p roper devices. The devices Medtronic made would help the patients but were not as effective.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Diabetic patients would have their live revolve around treating the disease which involved boiling of the syringes, sharpening needles, injecting animal-based insulin formulations, checking on the diet and doing exercise. Maintaining unpredictable glucose levels has been challenging and no single and portable device was available in the market. Patients had to carry a combination of devices for checking glucose levels and injecting insulin (Fowler, 2009). Minneapolis-based medical technology company Medtronic, Inc. has however developed an Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System which, integrates a glucose meter and an insulin pump with a dose calculator into one device. The device combines an insulin pump with a glucose monitor, facilita tes data interchange between the two and FDA has cleared and approved the product. The device operates day and night and in case glucose levels gets dangerously low or high, it sounds or vibrates an alarm thus giving the patients confidence of leading a healthy life (Dave, 2010). The device is meant to enable people to manage their diabetes more conveniently and give them confidence of day to day healthy living. This is because the patient is aware of what is exactly happening in his body instead of doing guesswork with only a couple of finger sticks. The new device is around as three times as effective as standard therapy (David, 2010). The integrated device can be used in hospitals, clinical and medical research laboratories, blood and plasma collection centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and by patients at home under physician supervision. Medtronic, Inc. Marketing Plan Having come up with a diabetic device that will ease the daily lives of the patients, Medtronic, Inc has a full opportunity in the USA and outside the country. Apart from the local market, which assures Medtronic more than sixty percent of its annual revenue, the best foreign country for Medtronic to establish extensive market for its new device would be the United Kingdom.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Medtronic, Inc. Marketing Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More United Kingdom is located in Europe and Statistics show that the second best market for Medtronic, Inc devices lies in Europe. This is because sixty-six percent of Medtronic’s annual revenue is generated locally and the next twenty percent is generated from Europe. Coupled with the fact that UK is ranked position three in the list of obese population, then it will be a potential market for Combo Insulin Pump and Glucose Monitor (Anonymous, 2010). Let us compare the UK and the US market with some potential markets i n the world.    Country Comparison      Mexico The level of poverty in Mexico does not allow it to make a good market for Medtronic diabetic devices. The US-Mexico borders mark the highest population with diabetes in Mexico. By 1997, diabetes was the leading cause of death among the Mexican community at the border whereby the mortality rate was 50% higher than the rest of the country. However, the living environment in Mexico makes it hard for the population to obtain medical attention. This is characterized by rapidly growing population, poor infrastructure, high uninformed and armed patrols instilling fear to the people, over concentration by the government on control of drug cartels, which sums up to poverty (Zazworsky Gaubeca, 2005).      Slovakia Slovakia can make a good market for the diabetes devices manufactured by Medtronics, Inc since it is located in one of the companies’ best market. It also has a large population suffering from diabet es thus the demand can be high. However, the population is slightly lower than that of the UK making UK a better market.      Greece Greece is ranked position five in percentage of people suffering from obesity. It has a potential market for obesity devices due to the high population suffering from the disease but the biggest challenge is the public administration system. This problem has been outstanding for a long time and has adverse effects on health care system. There is no tradition of preparing public health reports and this may hinder effective marketing of Combo Insulin Pump and Glucose Monitor in the country (Ritsatakis, WHO Maka, 2009, pg 106). Marketing Plan Budget Proposal We have met with our accounting department and have been the approval of budgeting 2.5 million dollars towards this new plan. Our advertising and research teams have come up with a time limit of one year to implement all of the areas we will communicate this to our distributors and to t he customers. The budget is mainly meant to create awareness of the new product in the market through advertisement. Due to the availability of technology and the benefits of globalization, advertisement will be done through Billboards, Online, Newspaper, website, Brochures, CD’s, Trade Shows, and Conventions Events Money Budget Newspaper costs ($1,200,000) Trade Shows/Conventions/Events ($250,000) Direct e-mail costs ($250,000) Brochures/CD’s ($300,000) Billboards ($450,000) Hidden Costs ($100,000) Time budget January through April- Begin sending literature and doing extensive advertisement in the United Kingdom along with a calendar of events for upcoming trade shows, events and conventions. May- Largest trade show will be set up for both presentations and workshops in the US. All distributors and any team leaders that can will be available.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More June- The trade fair will now take place in UK July through September- Extensive marketing in the UK October through December- Constant monitoring by departments will also be done. Final Evaluation At the end of six months, we will evaluate how well our plan is doing by looking at sales and expenditures. At this time, we will also look at how smoothly the shipping is being done and how effective the shows are. We will also have our team leaders meet with the distributors at a gathered meeting evaluate how sales are moving. SWOT analysis Strength- The new device has combined all the important aspects in to one unit making it portable and suitable to the patients. Weakness- It can be hard to convince people to drop their old ways of managing diabetes and apply the new device Opportunity- The rates of diabetes population in the world is very high thus there is a ready market for the new device Threats – New culture, shipping to a new country, makes product known and used. Maki ng sure, we communicate the product to a new country in a way that will make it desirable. Conclusion After doing enough evaluation and reconnaissance, we have decided to begin our marketing in the UK since due to the bigger market and few marketing challenges. UK has been a good market for the rest of our products and it will probably be for the new diabetic product. By the end of the year, we will have established the product at home, in the UK and we will be ready to venture the rest of the world. However, the local market remains the leading consumer since the local people have more confidence with Medtronic and competition is not as high as in foreign countries. References Anonymous. (2010). Medtronic, Inc. – Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Medtronic, Inc. Web. Dave, G. (2010). FDA Approves World’s First Combo Insulin Pump And Glucose Monitor For Diabetes; Device Alerts Users When Glucose Gets Too High Or Low. Web. David, O. (2010). Medtronic Device Beats Finger Stick in Diabetes Study. Web. Fowler, M. (2009). Diabetes Devices. Web. Ritsatakis, A., WHO Maka, P. (2009). Gaining Health. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office Europe. Web. Zazworsky, D. Gaubeca, V. (2005). Handbook of diabetes management. Moscow: Birkhà ¤user. Web. This essay on Medtronic, Inc. Marketing Plan was written and submitted by user Asia Lott to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Journey of asylum seekers and their rights to education, employment, welfare benefits, housing, health and social services in the UK The WritePass Journal

The Journey of asylum seekers and their rights to education, employment, welfare benefits, housing, health and social services in the UK Introduction The Journey of asylum seekers and their rights to education, employment, welfare benefits, housing, health and social services in the UK IntroductionReferencesRelated Introduction In the essay, I will be focusing on the asylum seekers in the UK. The focus of this essay is to see how their rights to education, employment, welfare benefits, housing, health and social services are exercised in the British society. I will start by defining what an asylum seeker is. The journey will consist of different stages which are first of all seeking asylum and the rights that they get with the status. The second stage will be to see how the rights change when they are granted refugee status. And the last stage will be to examine what they need to achieve in order to become British citizen.       An asylum seeker is person who has submitted an application for protection under the Geneva Convention and is waiting for the claim to be decided by the Home Office (2011). Asylum seekers should have the right to live in safety which is ultimately more important than the right to remain in one’s own community or country. When strategies have failed, and when people have developed a well-founded fear of being killed, injured or abused, they must have the option to escape from the danger which is threatening them. The UK has an obligation under international law to protect people fleeing persecution. The UK has committed itself to the principles of universal declaration of human rights (1948) which includes the rights to seek and enjoy asylum in other countries. As signatory to the convention, the UK is responsible for guarantying that those with refugee status enjoy equal rights to the UK citizens (UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, 1951). Each individual will have his own reasons of seeking asylum. It could be that they are facing persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. In too many cases and in too many countries, people who have succeeded in fleeing from violations of human rights in their own homeland are confronted with further threats in the country where they have sought asylum. While refugees are technically the beneficiaries of international protection, they may in practice be at constant risk of intimidation or assault, either from members of the host community or their own compatriots. Also refugee women and girls are confronted with specific protection problems, especially in the situations where established social structures and values have broken down, and where the local authorities lack the capacity to enforce law and order. Sexual violence and exploitations are some major issues, which have only recently started to attract systematic international attention (Helton, 1994).   I will also illustrate an example of sexual exclusion, two gay men who said they faced persecution in their home countries have the right to asylum in the UK, the Supreme Court has ruled. Homosexuals are as much entitled to freedom of association with others who are of the same sexual orientation as people who are straight (BBC, 2010). Asylum seekers don’t have many rights in the UK. The Reception Directive defines an asylum seeker as a non-EU national who has made an application for asylum in respect of which a final decision has not yet been taken. In the UK, eligibility for support under the Asylum Support Regulations and Interim Provisions Regulations starts when a claim for asylum under the Refugee Convention or a claim under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’) has been recorded by the Secretary of State but not determined.   In practice, therefore, asylum seekers who fulfil the eligibility criteria may be left without support due to delays in recording a claim or where it is disputed that a claim has been brought forward. The Home Office may in fact decide not to record an asylum claim if it is a second claim that does not disclose new evidence. Although, following a High Court judgment, the Home Office has extended section 4 (hard cases) support to such cases, it is arguable that the domestic requirement that a claim must be recorded to trigger entitlement to support is unlawful under the Directive (Justice, 2005). They have access to free health care from the NHS (National Health Service), if you receive asylum support from the UK Border Agency you may qualify for extra free healthcare such as NHS prescriptions, dental care, sight tests and vouchers to help you buy glasses. To get this you need to obtain an HC2 certificate, which is issued by the UK Border Agency on behalf of the Department of Health and is evidence that you cannot afford to pay for these things yourself. The certificate is for you and any dependants you have. It is valid for six months. They also have the right to support and accommodation if they meet the requirements for it. They will not be provided housing in London. Very limited housing may be available in the south-east of England. While they are providing their housing, they must stay at the address they are given unless if they are given permission to move. The UK Border Agency provides different housing at different stages of an application process. If an asylum seeker qualifies for housing when they first make an asylum application, the UK Border Agency will place them in what they call initial accommodation, which gives them somewhere to live for the first two or three weeks. After this they will usually move to a different housing facility. It will normally be in the same region of the country as the initial accommodation, and in the region where their case owner works. Asylum seekers will not be able to choose where they want to live if they are provided housing facilities by the UK Border Agency (Home Office 2011). Asylum seekers can practice their own religion, and are expected to show respect for people of other faiths. They are treated fairly and lawfully regardless of their race, age, religion, sexual orientation or any disability. The children of asylum seekers applicants have the same right to education as all other children (5-16) in the UK (Home office 2011). Schools commit much time, effort and resources to integrating the asylum-seeker pupils in a positive and supportive manner. Several schools have well-established and effective arrangements for the admission and induction of the newly arrived pupils and provide sound teaching support. Unfortunately, not all schools are well informed about basic procedures and guidance on the education of asylum-seeker pupils (Ofsted, Office for Standards in Education). Asylum seekers will not normally be allowed to work while the Home Office is considering their asylum application, except in very limited circumstances. In this paragraph, it will be noted what those circumstances are. The majority of asylum applicants are not permitted to work while the Home Office considers their application. This is because entering the country for economic reasons is not the same as seeking asylum, and it is important to maintain a distinction between the two. However, if an asylum seeker has waited longer than 12 months for a decision to be made on their asylum application; under strict circumstances, the Home Office may grant them with a temporary work permit. Currently, most new asylum applications receive a decision within 30 days. However, if an application has been rejected, the applicant may request permission to work if they have made asylum-based further submissions which have been outstanding for more than 12 months. This will primarily affect people who have already made further submissions. Anyone making further submissions now is unlikely to be become eligible to apply for permission to work (Home Office 2011). Since 1980, 6000-7000 asylum applications per annum, by people originating from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Poland, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka (Crisp and Nettleton,1984). In 2007, 19 of every 100 people who applied for asylum were recognised as refugees and given asylum. Another 9 of every 100 who applied for asylum did not qualify for refugee status but were given permission to stay for humanitarian or other reasons (when these figures were published, 17 of every 100 applications had not yet resulted in a final decision). In some cases, individuals are forced to remain in detention centres while the decisions are being made. Those removal centres are used for temporary detention, in situations where people have no legal right to be in the UK but have refused to leave voluntarily. Some of those detained in any of these centres can leave at any time to return to their home country. If the Home Office has refused to give a given asylum seeker the permission to stay in the UK and their appeals (if any) against the decision have failed, they must return to the country that they come from. If those asylum seekers do not return voluntarily, Home Office will enforce their removal and they may detain them until they return them to the homeland. If asylum seekers decide that they want to return to their home country, they can do so at any stage of their application for asylum. They must tell their case owner if they decide to go. Asylum seekers should also tell their legal representative, if they have one (Home Office, 2011). Asylum seekers also have the right to appeal which is usually called fresh claim. When a human rights or asylum claim has been refused or withdrawn or treated as withdrawn under paragraph 333C of these Rules and any appeals relating to that claim is no longer pending, the decision maker will consider any further submissions and, if rejected, they will then determine whether they can result to a fresh claim. The submissions will amount to a fresh claim if they are significantly different from the material that had previously been considered. The submissions will only be significantly different if the content had not already been considered; and taken together with the previously considered material, created a realistic prospect of success, notwithstanding its rejection (Home Office, 2011). A question that arises is whether the UK would have to change the practice of detention of asylum seekers in accommodation centres (such as Oakington and Harmondsworth) in the light of the Reception Directive. Article 7(2) allows Member States to ‘decide on the residence of the asylum seeker’ for reasons of public order, public interest or ‘where necessary, for the swift processing and effective monitoring of applications’. This provision seems to address the Oakington justification, but it does not seem to cover detention. The provision covering detention, on the other hand (Article 7(3) in combination with Article 2, allows for confinement to a particular place ‘when it proves necessary, for example for legal reasons or reasons of public order’. There is no specific reference to the swift processing of applications. However, the provision is deliberately open-ended and non-exhaustive. The UK Government argues that domestic practice is not affe cted, while JUSTICE, on the other hand, argues that the provision must be interpreted very restrictively. Those detainees can be family, single mothers, single person, foreign national prisoners who have completed prison terms for serious crime but who then refuse to comply with the law by leaving the UK (Home office 2011). There are at least 280,000 people living in poverty in Britain after having their leave to remain refused. Some of them are appealing those decisions. Some just go completely underground, taking their chances on the streets of the UK with no money or shelter (Independent news, 2007). The second stage will be to receive refugee status if the application is successful. From there, they will have the rights to work, to education (included university access), health, travel but they are not allowed to go their home countries until they are granted British citizen. A convention travel document issued to an adult will usually be valid for 10 years if they have permission to stay in the United Kingdom permanently (known as indefinite leave to remain). Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is an immigration status granted to a person who does not hold right of abode in the United Kingdom (UK), but who has been admitted to the UK without any time limit on his or her stay and who is free to take up employment or study, without restriction. When indefinite leave is granted to persons outside the United Kingdom it is known as indefinite leave to enter (ILE). If they have temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (known as limited leave to remain). Limited leave to remain (LLR) is an immigration status which will allow a person to stay in the United Kingdom for a period of two or five years according each individual’s case, their convention travel document will usually be valid for the same period as your permission to stay here, up to a maximum of five years ( Home Office, 2010). Under the terms of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, a state has the right to withdraw refugee status from any individual once it is safe for that person to return to their homeland ( Human Rights Watch,1995). There is a waiting period before applying for the citizenship which is normally five years. They also require evidence to cover the relevant five- year period, because they will to see if you were in the country. The document which they require can be P60 tax certificates; or; an employers letter confirming employment; or a benefits letter confirming job seekers allowance claimed; or a benefits letter confirming incapacity benefit claimed; or documentary evidence confirming pension received. If they commit an offence for example drink driving, being involved in any kind of criminal activities, the waiting period can increase to ten years. There is a fee which must be paid in full according to the status. If you are single person and want to apply for naturalisation the fee is  £836 and for couple, its  £1294 (Home Office 2011). There is a written test which is required before applying called evidence of knowledge of English and life in the United Kingdom and there is charge of  £35. The next step will be to attend the nationality checking service which cost  £60 for single and  £90 for couple, and can be different depending on which county council you decide to go to (Home Office, 2010). The nationality checking service is provided by local authorities (for example your county council or city council) A local authority can accept and forward your application to us.   They will ensure that your form is correctly completed, and they will copy your documents and return them to you.  They will ensure that your application is validly submitted and that the unavailable requirements for citizenship are met. However, they will not give you nationality advice. All applications for citizenship are subject to enquiries to ensure that the statutory requirements have been satisfied. Because of these enquires, we anticipate that applications may take up to six months to complete. Some applications may be dealt with more quickly and some may take longer, depending on the nature of the enquiries to be carried out. To conclude this essay, I would to say that my view on the asylum seekers has changed. First of all, the government should change some policies about the asylum seekers because the UK is a country which respects human rights. My main concern was the way detention operates in case of an asylum case being refused. Children should not be in the detention centre. Child asylum and the detention of children for immigration purposes has been the subject of widespread media attention, and Channel 4s Dispatches programme on Monday 29 November discussed 3 cases (Home Office, 2010). The government should make an end to the detention of children for immigration purposes, and should work with a number of charities representing children and asylum seekers to achieve this end. My other issue is that the government should let those people who want to work while they are waiting for decision on their immigration to be made because the state losses by having to support them financially. For example, by issuing a temporary work permit, because some of these asylum seekers are intellectuals and the fact they forced to rely on benefit might create a level of low self-esteem.   Citizenship’s fees should be revised as in my opinion, they are in elevation. There have undoubtedly been positives (as well as, presumably, negatives) from past patterns of immigration. Now, however, they must focus, without the left/right prisms, on agreeing future economic migration policy.   Politicians, in preparing the ground for debate, must put aside party politics. They need to assess how many people can live sustainably in the UK, and turn our conclusions into policy. They have a finite resource: land. It is about that, and about housing, infrastructure, public services, water, and the effects of climate change, communities and governments responsibilities to its citizens (Guardian, 2011). References BBC (2010) asylum seekers [online] available from http:// bbc.co.uk/news/10180564.stm [ 7 July 2010] Guardian(2010) immigration [online] available from guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/18/david-cameron-opening-door-immigration-debate   [18 April 2011] Helton, A, ‘ Refugees and human rights’, In Defense of the alien 1994, New York, 1994 Human Rights Watch, return to Tajikistan: Continued Regional and Ethnic Tensions, New York, 1995. Independent news (2007)   starving asylum seekers [online] available from http://independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/asylum seekers are-left-to starve -in-britain-397576.html [22 October 2007] J. Crisp and C. Nettleton, Refugee Report. British Refugee Council, 1994. Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, s 103(1). New appeal rights were introduced by the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 in two circumstances: (a) for failed asylum-seeking families refused support on the ground that they failed to leave the UK voluntarily (s 9); and (b) in relation to the withdrawal or refusal of section 4 (hard cases) support (s 10). OFSETD (2003) asylum education [online] available from http://ofsted.gov.uk [October 2003] Home Office( 2010) asylum and immigration [online] available from ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/asylum [ April 2010]

Proposal Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proposal Paper - Essay Example What is the expected outcome of the Patient Protection and Affordable Act? It is hypothesized that, the state government is set to implement all recommendations provided in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Jacobs & Theda 44). Currently, the basic strategies recommended for implementation of the Act has been put in place. In addition, citizens and corporates also are set to embrace the changes recommended in health care system. Patient Protection and Affordable Act (Obama Care): The Patient Protection and Affordable is a Federal Statute assented by President Obama on 23rd March, 2010 (McDonough 12). The statute recommended changes in the health care systems that are aimed at improving the condition at which citizens can fund for their medical services. In general, the act the act aimed at increasing the quality of medical services, increasing affordability of medical insurance, lowering the numbers of the uninsured by increasing corporate and employer responsibility and reducing the cost of medical care for both the government and individuals (Donald 34). An appropriate research plan would effectively understand the history of health reforms until the reforms created in 2010. This would enable the determination of the appropriateness of the reforms in regards to the continuity of the trend. In addition, learning on the history of the healthcare reforms would enable research to identify the significance of the reforms in changing the health care system. Apart from learning the history, the research plan would include survey from all the involved stakeholders. The government would be consulted on the objectives it has set to achieve by the creation of the affordable act. In addition, it would be consulted on plans created to make the reforms effective in the current healthcare system. Patients would also be consulted on how effective the reforms have been since their creation in 2010. The consumer’s opinion will be

Global Warming Melts from View Now That Economys on Ice Essay

Global Warming Melts from View Now That Economys on Ice - Essay Example This article was big on words and figures and speech but lack the hard proof to substantiate its claims. The author started his article with the sentence â€Å" GIVEN that we, at least everybody with a government-guaranteed bank account, are all socialists now, everybody understands how cruelly incompetent capitalism is.† Most words used in this sentence have depreciatory ring to them and the object of the criticism is capitalism. The author, in this first sentence, created these antithetical ideas of socialism and capitalism and instantly attributing to the latter dire qualities. He referred to it as â€Å"cruel† and â€Å"incompetent† while at the same time calling Australians socialists, which is of course, a hyperbole because having some people own a government-guaranteed bank account, do not constitute a country into a socialist one. The idea is perhaps, to picture capitalism and the Australian people as poles apart creating a nemesis effect.

The Banishment of Civilian Ownership of Assault Rifles Essay

The Banishment of Civilian Ownership of Assault Rifles - Essay Example To address this broader menace, American Administration has to chalk out a comprehensive plan / an effective strategy. There multi tasking approach is needed to handle firearms related issues inclusive of a) current laws of guns shall be implemented in its true spirit b) legal lacunas in the existing laws should be removed c) issuance of gun license should be linked with the mental health, age and track record of the applicant d) discourage such programs that ignites youngsters for misuse of guns e) back ground checks and gun tracking system should be improved / strengthened f) exemplary punishment should be given to gun laws violators g) awareness program should be launched to make the citizens realize the harm and disadvantages of possessing and misusing of guns and h) gun laws should effectively deal with the violators. Remedial Measures It would be in the best interest of things if the American Administration should recall the stringent version of federal laws, expired in the yea r 2004, to deal with misuse of assault weapons. This would be of great help in arresting the misuse of firearms. The arms at the use of armed forces should not be allowed to use by the general public (Duggan, 2000). If we take into account the public opinions and the statements of the political figures of repute in the United States of America, it seems that a consensus of all walks of life is built for a new law of assault weapons ban. This could be a right approach in the right direction. The law makers keeping in mind the danger of misusing firearms by the irresponsible gun holders should make an effective gun control law. If this issue is not seriously addressed by the Administration of the USA, there will be more such incidents in the days ahead (Thompson, 1989). Many Americans are in favor of Second Amendment that allows keeping arms by every citizen for his or her defense. However, the same numbers of American society are against of using lethal weapons by American Forces. Fu rther, the license issuing authority while issuing gun licenses should also take into account amongst other things, the purpose of using firearms by the applicant. There is no logic of issuing lethal weapons to a sportsman who uses it for hunting birds and animals (Thompson, 1989). Major Hindrance The key hindrance in introducing the new assault weapons ban law is the infamous National Rifle Association which has unprecedented power on capital hill. The reason being many members of NRA are hand picked members of Congress who had funded their election campaign and provided them desired political support to win the election (Thompson, 1989). Due to influence of NRA, the desired law deals effectively with the freedom of using insecure arms by naive users could not be renewed from the date of its expiration. Hence, the protestors, the other day, in the corridor of power, shouted against the shameful role of NRA (Duggan, 2000). Therefore, the NRA by using its influence intends to defer t he matter for some time. They do not even participate in the witness protection program. Restrictions The Supreme Court of America consistently impresses that holding a gun is a fundamental right of a citizen, but it also advocates imposition of reasonable restrictions. Keeping in view the spreading tentacles of cited epidemic in the American Society, the think tank of America felt it necessary to ban at least those weapons which are now in use

Television And Cinema In Todays Context

Television And Cinema In Todays Context Communication has evolved from aural means (such as the example of Persian king Darius I, whom used his men to serve as communication tools by shouting messages at positioned heights) to inscriptions (as used by the Romans and Persians amongst others) to print in the beginning of the sixteenth century. The rise of print has also allowed new languages to flourish especially Spanish, French, Portuguese and English. These languages became the predominant vehicle of communication for the European colonial powers in numerous parts of the globe. The transplantation of communications system around the globe created a new hierarchy of language and culture in conquered territories (Thussu 2006, pp. 2). According to Carey (1999) the growth of communications in the nineteenth century had the practical effect of diminishing space as a differentiating criterion in human affairs. The development of telegraph has enabled rapid transference of information that of which only requires minutes when it would have taken months should post come via sea. This evolution of communication has aided people in terms of business opportunities and times of war which were numerous in that era. Western countries were quick to grasp the implications of new technologies such as printing presses and radio communication following their introduction. And to this day, western countries are the communication mammoths of the world. Radio was a popular tool for propaganda in both the First World War and Second World War such was the same for news agencies. Western countries the information rich were in a position to dictate terms to the information poor, creating a structure of dependency with widespread economic, political and social ramifications for the poor societies (Thussu 2006, pp. 31). This situation has favourably turned for the best in recent years. But it is seen that messages are dispersed and received to the public using mediums of communication be it print, radio or even word of mouth. According to Williams (1974) though there is a fundamental assumption that television and cinema has altered the world there is a division of opinions. First opinion, also known as technological determinism, is that the technology is accidental. It is a view that new technologies are discovered by an essentially internal process of research and development which then sets the conditions for social change and progress (Williams 1974, pp. 7). Which means to say that should the television or cinema have not been thought off, warranted events (cultural or social) would not have eventuated. Second opinion is that even though technologies are discovered by accident as a medium in a process of change, its intendment lies in its use which are held to be symptomatic of some order of society or some qualities of human nature which are otherwise determined (Williams 1974, pp. 6). Should cinema or television have not been thought off and yielded; this opinion would still run as the public would be manipulated in some other way. But nevertheless, these opinions are deeply rooted in social thoughts that it is essentially profound to think beyond them as histories of technology are written, unconsciously or consciously, based on assumptions. Cinema and television has exponential influence in todays world though it should be noted that they are not the only mass media mediums with the ability to have leverage on public. Cinema and television have altered the way in which beauty is perceived and paved away stereotype images. Women seen on the screens are often extremely beautiful to be appreciated as beautiful. This could be reversed for men; actors are often macho and handsome. Less than attractive people are often given the smaller or side-kick roles. This stereotype has led to the issue of body-image. Bulimia and anorexia are eating disorders that are rampant in todays teenage and young adults world. Individuals who withhold food from their body or whom willingly vomit to keep their bodies svelte and conform to todays definition of beautiful. A television show that is going against this norm is Ugly Betty which features a less than attractive female lead. The show ran for four seasons before ending in 2010. Other stereotypes that emerge from cinema and television are the perceptions that all Asians have small eyes, high school band members are nerdy, blondes are ditzy and dumb or men with shoulder length hair are surfer dudes. There is an increase openness towards sexuality: gay, bisexual or straight. Global giant and financial leader of television and cinema (Thussu 2006, pp. 121), Hollywood has made it possible for such characterisations to be made public in television shows such as The OC, Glee and Ugly Betty and movies such as Brokeback Mountain and Transamerica. It could not be said that the public is more tolerant of sexuality as this acceptance is based on individuals. The openness towards sexuality could also have a negative impact on the public as there are films and television shows that promote adultery and cheating. Television and cinema has minimized the issue of geographical distance. What people see on these two medium are relatable in their lives and could be applied to a situation that is similar to what an individual is going through no matter where they habit in. For example, if a Singaporean individual is confused about her sexuality, mediums that feature such a topic could easily be relatable to her and thus she could seek a sense of direction from them despite where they originated from be it America, United Kingdom or wherever else in the world . Television and cinema are exaggerated by nature to allow people to be more engaged. Thus what people see on these mediums are not the exact truths nor can they happen in real life. These mediums are developed yearly with increasing viewers appeal (more explosions, more sexually charged, more dramatic) to rake in more monetary profit for the distributors. Though at times hold truth such as the case of the movie Blood Diamond, a fictional story with real issues (the mining of diamonds in Africa) and real events. Though influences are not hard truth from reality of the world, majority of people could relate their reality to what they see on the medium. It is uncommon to hear comments in conversations that are tied to these mediums. For example: I had a Rachel Berry (reference to television show: Glee) moment. I literally word vomit (reference to movie: Mean Girls) my excuse to the lecturer. New social groups and communities are formed defined by their interest such as favourite movies and television shows. Television and cinemas are also influential not only in terms of characters but also in fashion and materialism product placement of brands that could be seen in the mediums. Lately, there is an increase in television shows and cinema that are adapted from books. Monetary appeal as distributors is able to franchise out into merchandises and sequels or prequels and soundtracks. Such as: Twilight, Harry Potter and Pretty Little Liars. In conclusion, television and cinemas has altered the way in which the public view the world. Though situations on screens are exaggerated, they are still influential and could leave a lasting impression on an individual. It should be noted that television and cinema are not the only mass mediums in the world. In todays times the synergy of mass mediums provides a bigger profit margin for distributors.

Effectiveness Of The Articles of Confederation :: Free Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Articles of Confederation were incapable of providing the United States with an effective form of government. The Articles of Confederation presided weakly over the government as it allowed little or no power to tax, control trade, and branches of government were missing. In addition to this, the thirteen states acted as separate nations and the national government had little control over them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As seen in Document C, Congress had so little money that it couldn’t afford to pay the army their bonuses. The army, of course, was discontented in this lack of action and thought they were being treated unjustly. The delay was so slow that the army did not think they were going to get paid. This, in itself, exhibits the great need for the national government to acquire the power to tax.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Document D openly shows the little power that the national government is in control of. In the document, the U.S. attempted to remove British troops off of U.S. soil and had quite a time trying to do so. The British had no respect for the U.S. government because of the little power it had, all of the power was in the hands of the states. The thirteen states acted like thirteen separate nations as they, for the most part, functioned as they pleased.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Document G reveals the discontent of the people in the ineffectiveness of their national government under the Articles of Confederation. John Jay (Secretary of Foreign Affairs and great international negotiator), expresses this discontent of the people through a letter of concern to George Washington. He foreshadowed some sort of revolt, crisis, or revolution and expressed his feeling of uneasiness and the need for change. Shay’s rebellion turned out to be a milestone because it set a need for a new national government, the revolt was against the government of Massachusetts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Articles of Confederation had both high and low points, but, the low greatly outweighed the high.