Insurance Industry Antitrust Exemption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Insurance Industry Antitrust Exemption - Essay Example The United States Supreme Court has made clear that the scope of the general exemption is broad, while the scope of the antitrust exemption is more limited. According to this Act, the states are given the authority to regulate the "insurance business." The regulation of the insurance business will be without the interference of the federal regulation. Unless the federal law specifically provides any regulation, there will be no interference of the federal regulation. The act provides that the "business of insurance, and every person engaged therein, shall be subject to the laws of the several States which relate to the regulation or taxation of such business." The McCarran Ferguson Act was passed by the congress which was in response to the case at the Supreme Court. The case at the court was of United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters Ass'n, 322 U.S. 533, 64 S. Ct. 1162, 88 L. Ed. 1440 (1944). Prior to this case, the issuance of an insurance policy was not considered as a commercial transaction, which according to the federal regulation would fall under the COMMERCIAL CLAUSE. It was held by the court that an insurance company that conducted substantial business across state lines was engaged in interstate commerce and thus was subject to federal antitrust regulations. Within a span of one year from the Southeas... Within a span of one year from the Southeastern Underwriters, the McCarran Ferguson Act was enacted by the Congress. The Congress also stated that, no longer would the insurance industry would be regulated by them within their boundaries. The McCarran-Ferguson Act provides that state law shall govern the regulation of insurance and that no act of Congress shall invalidate any state law unless the federal law specifically relates to insurance. The act thus mandates that a federal law that does not specifically regulate the business of insurance will not PREEMPT a state law enacted for that purpose. A state law has the purpose of regulating the insurance industry if it has the "end, intention or aim of adjusting, managing, or controlling the business of insurance" Limited Antitrust Exemption under the McCarran Ferguson Act The limited antitrust exemption under McCarran-Ferguson allows insurers to pool historic loss information so that they are better able to project future losses and charge an actuarially based price for their products. It also allows for joint development of policy forms. The act does not exempt insurers from state antitrust laws, which explicitly prohibit insurers (and all businesses), from conspiring to fix prices or otherwise restrict competition. The McCarran-Ferguson Act in no way results in any kind of restraint on competition. Under the act, insurers remain subject to rate and form regulation in every state. The home-owners policies cover all sorts of perils and hence are believed to be a federal regulator. The act's exemption applies only if three conditions are met: 1. The insurer's action pertains to the business of insurance. 2. The action must be regulated by state law. 3. The action must not be designed to boycott, coerce or

Service Quality of Bank Essay Example for Free

Service Quality of Bank Essay Good and Bad banking service that I’ve ever experienced before†¦ It was really great to have banking service especially internet banking. It has a lot of advantage for me, for instance helping me out to pay my tuition fee, pay my bill, and buy a prepaid reload. Transfer money also getting easy as my parents from Indonesia send me money just thru ATM to ATM. Despite all of the good thing of the banking service. I’ve experience the worse one. If I’m not mistaken, on Thursday, August 23, 2007 around 15:46 pm, I make cash withdrawals at ATMs BNI (Bank Negara Indonesia or Indonesian Bank) branch Klampis Surabaya Rp1,000,000, but it was came out only Rp950. 000, though my bank account already count 1,000,000 as withdrawal. I report directly to the customer service BNI branch Klampis and asked to complete written reports. On Monday, August 27, 2007, when I have some savings on print book teller BNI, listed 50,000 refund on August 24, 2007. But, August 28, 2007 when I re-requested printed, 50,000 of money, it has taken / credited back. According to customer service BNI, it happened because it was considered there was no difference in the ATM transaction otherwise altered so successful and did not return my money. Although there were not many, but nevertheless I still impaired by ATM BNI. Previously, I have also experienced a similar ugly incident at the ATM BCA (Bank Central Asia) with a lack of money is greater. Around May 15, 2009, I withdraw cash at BCA ATM in Jakarta about Rp1,000,000 but in fact, money that comes out just Rp250,000 or less Rp750,000 whereas the contents of my bank account has been reduced Rp1. 000. 0000. I immediately make a report by phone to the BCA Access Center. Furthermore, I also suggested make repeated telephone and written report on the BCA branch, the exact location while I withdraw the money. However, after months of waiting, my money is eaten in BCA ATM did not come back, because by the Bank Central Asia, the transaction is considered successful. Given the frequent cases of money out of the ATM is not in accordance with the nominal transaction as my experience as well as many other customers that was published in various print media, its time ATM owned banks in the country to be examined or audited periodically by an independent body to customers not always the fault of the injured party machine, that what I suggest.

Buddhist and Hindu Temples Essay -- Religion, Cultures, Art

Hindu and Buddhist cultures are both rich in religion and expressing their faith through art. The Buddhist culture was formed by Buddha who went out to discover the causes of pain and suffering. Once Buddha realized what the cause was, he provided a set of four guiding principles know as the â€Å"Four Noble Truths† that are exercised in Buddhism (Kleiner, p. 13). The Four Noble truths are â€Å"Life is suffering, the cause of suffering is desire, one can overcome and extinguish desire, the way to conquer desire and end suffering is to follow Buddha’s Eightfold Path†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 13). These truths are expressed in the following of Buddhism and commonly carried out through art. Buddhism is practiced throughout Southeast Asia and southern India where there is a strong presence of Buddhist artwork. This includes art in the form of statues, temples, paintings, and architecture. The two dominant forms or art are the stupas and the chaitya halls that often house t he stupas. The Stupa is a round burial mound that is essential to the Buddhist religion. The stupa itself is not a tomb for the dead, but a housing of Buddha. These means of burial came into existence when Buddha died and was cremated. His remains were then dispusred throughout the burial housing that solid and round. These stupas could not be entered. Stupas can come in many different sizes. There are handheld stupas, and there are giant structure stupas that represent a map of the universe. The most famous of the giant stupas is the Great Stupa of Sanchi. There are different parts of the structural stupas that represent different points in Buddhism. The main parts of the stopas are: the domes shape itself, toranas, the harmika, the yasti, the three chatras, and a stone fenc... ...o Vishvanatha because as you progress towards the main tower, there are a series of towers that ascend in size. With Vishnu being the â€Å"Preserver of the Universe,† the five main towers at Angor Wat represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, which is the mountain at the center of the universe. When Suryavarman II died it is believed the temple absorbed him so he is worshiped as a god. Images and sculptures of Suryavarman II and Vishnu are represented throughout the galleries of the tall towers of Angor Wat. Temples and structures represent religious ideals through the elaborate architecture. Hinduism and Buddhism share similarities because of the depiction of gods in art forms. The buildings of temples are important elements in expressing faiths in the deities because of the preservation and worshipping that takes place in them.

American History-Civil Rights

During the years 1939 to 1953 the United States armed forces changed a policy of restricting and segregating the Negro into one that had equal opportunity and integration. This revolution took a great deal of time and struggle. Throughout American history the blacks in America considered their military service in the nation's conflicts as proof of their loyalty and as a brief for their claim to full citizenship. At the same time white Americans appear to have realized this, and they always sought to restrict or reduce the black soldier's military service.The national armed forces always were the most integrated major segment of American life. Therefore, the desegregation of the United States Armed Forces has become truly a social revolution in American history. The extent of the desegregation of the United States Armed Forces was discussed several years ago and remains actual among historians to this day. The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate the debate among historia ns concerning the desegregation of the United States Armed Forces and the Negro's reaction to this policy. In reaching this goal, the paper will also shed some light on American race relations during these years.With the World War II crisis of 1939-1945, the questions of restriction, discrimination, and segregation in the United States armed forces became one of two major problems for black Americans. Employment discrimination was also important, and this subject has been examined by historians. Although employment discrimination was the chief everyday issue for Negroes in World War II, discrimination and segregation in the United States armed forces was the more emotionally charged issue. Most historians claim that a black â€Å"revolution† or â€Å"revolt† occurred in 1954, 1955, 1960, or 1963.Silberman (1964) writes that segregation was necessary to stop bloody racial conflict and a reduction of the armed services' potency. Silberman is one of the spiciest critics o f American race relations. In his book Crisis in Black and White, he reminded Americans that the United States â€Å"is a racist society in a sense and to a degree that we have refused so far to admit, much less face† (9-10). In 1950, members of the Court obtained evidence from the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services prior to some important decisions that pointed toward a reversal of the separate but equal position.In 1954, before the important decision on desegregation, members of the Court read in manuscript form journalist Lee Nichols' Breakthrough on the Color Front (1954), the first book-length account of military integration. Usually North Carolinians – at least most white North Carolinians – tend to look back at the years 1939 to 1953 and their adjustment to changing times with pride. But historians reporting progress in the South seldom give North Carolina high marks.Writer Roland (1984) in his book on the South since World War II writes with considerable disappointment because the southern state with the best race relations prior to the Brown decision failed to lead the region in the integration of blacks into society after 1954. In his study of southern governors and desegregation, Horton (1960) expresses a similar disappointment. The writer observes that North Carolina escaped much of the demagoguery characteristic of several neighboring states because Tar Heel governors tried to keep the peace and found local solutions to racial problems.On a contradictory note, however, Silberman (1964) calls the Patriots of North Carolina as a â€Å"sedate version† of the Citizens Council and attributes to the Patriots and their successors, the North Carolina Defenders of States' Rights, the names of some of the â€Å"most respected men of North Carolina† (14). From the beginning of a military tradition in America, black manpower has been used for military aims. Most of historians (Benjamin Quarles, The Negro in the American Revolution; Dudley Taylor Cornish , The Sable Arm: Negro Troops in the Union Army, 1861-1865; Robert J.Dwyer, † The Negro in the United States Army: His Changing Role and Status,† Sociology and Social Research; L. D. Reddick, † The Negro Policy of the United States Army, 1775-1945,† Journal of Negro History) who have investigated the problem have noticed a desire on the part of white Americans to limit the participation of the blacks in military affairs until an emergency or crisis develops. Then black manpower was utilized as a military necessity. Quarles notices that this pattern was established in the colonial militia.Each colony followed this policy that excluded Negroes as soldiers. Dwyer writes when emergencies such as Indian threats emerged and there was urgent need for manpower, however, most colonies saw fit to overlook these exclusion laws and volunteered Negroes (19). When the Continental Army was creat ed at the beginning of the American Revolution, the black soldiers were excluded. Once more, when white volunteers became harder to find, this policy was changed, and about five thousand Negroes served with the American revolutionary arms.In The New York Times, Hinton observes that there occurred important changes by the end of World War II that made it more difficult to maintain the racial status quo in America. The ballots of American Negroes had become a powerful political force. The belligerent spirit that matured during the war made Negroes shure to fight segregation wherever it stood in the way of full citizenship. The United States became the leader of the non-Communist world. The race problem was a weakness in its Cold War attempts to influence the emerging nations.A new President took office in the centre of the changing situation. He realized that the status quo in American society relations had to give way to a new race order. Unlike his forerunner, this President would h ave found it difficult to take a passive stand on Negro rights even if he had wanted to do so. The race problems in civilian life reached a new peak with the end of war. This was especially true in the South where there was fear that the status quo in race relations would be further upset by the many returning Negro veterans.In Freedom and Equality: Addresses by Harry S Truman Horton (1960) writes about racial violence and revival of riots in this period. Many people believed that a wave of race riots would begin with a new force in the country as they had after World War I. Among those people who remembered the riots after World War I and who was afraid that they would be repeated was President Harry Truman. Two particularly violent attacks induced President Truman to some significant action in order to protect civil rights. Horton (1960) gives examples of cruelty.For instance, in February, 1946, Isaac Woodard, a newly discharged veteran still in uniform, was blinded when South Car olina policemen pulled him off a bus and jabbed their night sticks into his eyes. In July, 1946, two Negro veterans and their wives were taken from a car near Monroe, Georgia, by a mob of white men. The four Negroes were lined up and killed by approximately sixty shots pumped into their bodies (12). To stop this kind of violence President Truman created the President's Committee on Civil Rights on December 6, 1946.The purpose was to examine the nebulous authority of the Federal Government in the civil rights area and to recommend appropriate legislation. Horton (1960) considers the beliefs on civil rights of this man from Missouri with a Southern heritage. He quotes Truman, â€Å"I was raised amidst some violently prejudiced Southerners myself†. Perhaps Truman reflected his own transformation on this matter when he stated his belief that â€Å"the vast majority of good southerners understand that the blind prejudices of past generations cannot continue in a free republic.â⠂¬  Horton says that it is clear that Truman had support from Negro voters as early as 1926. He inherited black support from the Pendergast machine of Kansas City, and he managed to maintain this support throughout his career as a senator (34). At President Truman's first news conference a Negro one reporter asked him a question – what stand he would take on civil rights matters. Truman replied: â€Å"I will give you some advice. All you need to do is to read the Senate record of one Harry S Truman† (Public Papers of the Presidents).As a candidate for the Vice-Presidency in 1944 Truman had also directed interested persons to his Senate record. Surely he was proud of his position on civil rights. â€Å"Without exception,† one student of Truman's Senate record has concluded, :Senator Truman acted to provide greater protection for minorities and to afford equal treatment under the law† (Horton 14). Truman continually supported antilynching bills. He also sig ned petitions for cloture and voted for the amendments to the Selective Service Act of 1940 intended to stop discrimination.

Criminal Sentencing Essay

A basic question in criminal sentencing is â€Å"What are the purposes of criminal sentencing?†Ã‚   Scholars, too, reflect on the purposes of punishment. There are commonly four identified purposes: Retribution. The oldest but considered the most important purpose for sentencing is retribution, that is, inflicting on an offender suffering comparable to that caused by the offense. An act of social vengeance, retribution is grounded in a view of society as a system of moral balance.   When criminality upsets this balance, punishment exacted in comparable measure restores the moral order, as suggested in the biblical dictum â€Å"An eye for an eye.† While contemporary critics of retribution sometimes charge that this policy lacks the force to reform the offender, it still remains a strong justification for punishment. A second purpose for sentencing, deterrence amounts to the attempt to discourage criminality through punishment.   Initially, deterrence arose as the banner of reformers seeking to end what they saw as excessive punishments based on retribution.   Critics asked, â€Å"Why put someone to death for stealing if that crime could be discouraged with a prison sentence?†Ã‚   As the concept of deterrence in sentencing gained widespread acceptance, execution and physical mutilation of criminals were gradually replaced by milder forms of punishment such as imprisonment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are two types of deterrence, specific deterrence demonstrates to the   individual offender that crime does not pay while in general deterrence, the  punishment of one person serves as an example to others. Rehabilitation. The third purpose for sentencing, rehabilitation, involves reforming the offender to preclude subsequent offenses.   It resembles deterrence by motivating the offender to conform.   But rehabilitation emphasizes constructive improvement while deterrence and retribution make the offender suffer.   In addition, while retribution demands that the punishment fit the crime, rehabilitation focuses on the distinctive problems of each offender.   Thus identical offenses would call for similar acts of retribution but different programs of rehabilitation. Social protection. A final purpose for sentencing is social protection, or rendering an offender incapable of further offenses either temporarily through incarceration or permanently by execution. Like deterrence, social protection is a rational approach to punishment and seeks to protect society from crime.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The different forms of sentencing used in different jurisdictions include institutional sanctions—time to be served in prison or jail; and noninstitutional sanctions—fines and forfeiture of the proceeds of crime, and service of the sentence in the community in the form of probation or parole. Recently the arsenal of punishments has been considerably enlarged by the creation of mixed sanctions and alternatives to either institutional or noninstitutional sanctions. The following are the variety of options for sentencing: Death penalty. In thirty-six states (as well as the federal courts), courts may impose a sentence of death for any offense designated a capital crime, for example, first-degree murder. Incarceration. The defendant may be sentenced to serve a term in a local jail, state prison, or federal prison. Probation. The defendant may be sentenced to a period of probationary supervision   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   within the community. Split sentence. A judge may split the sentence between a period of incarceration and a period of probation. Restitution. An offender may be required to provide financial reimbursement to cover the cost of a victim’s losses. Community service. An offender may be required to spend a period of time performing public service work. Fine. An offender may be required to pay a certain sum of money as a penalty and/or as an alternative to or in conjunction with incarceration. This leads us to the next question, â€Å"What are some reforms that have been proposed? A recent reform growing out of the victims’ rights movement in the sentencing process is the consideration of statements by the victim, known as â€Å"victim impact statements† (VIS). Twenty-six states have mandated the use of VIS in criminal cases, while another twenty-two states have adopted so-called â€Å"victim bills of rights† that include recognition of the right of a victim to present a VIS. In the VIS, the victim provides a statement about the extent of economic, physical, or psychological harm suffered as a result of the victimization. The victim also can make a recommendation about the type of sentence an offender should receive. Usually the VIS is incorporated into the pre-sentence investigation report written by the probation officer. Research has revealed that a judge’s choice of a sentence is influenced much more by legal considerations than by victim preferences in cases where VIS has been presented (McGarrell, 1999). The third reform proposal is â€Å"restorative justice.† Restorative justice has been a feature of justice systems for a long time, though it was little used until a group of criminologists in the United States and the Commonwealth countries brought the idea back to life. The term restorative justice was virtually unknown a decade ago, and it is still in search of a commonly accepted meaning. Yet, the literature related to this subject has grown rapidly, so that we venture to define it in terms offered by Howard Zehr, published in a symposium of The Justice Professional, entitled â€Å"Criminology as Peacemaking.† Zehr provides contrasting paradigms between the traditional, retributive sense of justice and the newly emerging (or reemerging) restorative sense of justice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If the proposed reform of restorative justice were adopted, where would that leave us with respect to the traditional â€Å"aims† or â€Å"justifications† of criminal justice? As to retribution (or just desserts), we would still be limited to never imposing an obligation (sanction) that outweighs the harm done. As to incapacitation, even the staunchest advocates of restorative justice recognize that some offenders are far too dangerous to be returned to the community and that their separation from the community is necessary. But the prison population could be vastly reduced. As to resocialization or rehabilitation, the very idea is built into restorative justice, which aims at   Ã‚  restoring the community. Some of the current issues in federal sentencing according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission at https://www.ussc.gov. are the following: The issue on the amendment pertaining to offenses involving cocaine base (â€Å"crack†) and the amendment pertaining to certain criminal history rules, see 72 FR 28558 (May   21, 2007); 72 FR 51882 (September 11, 2007), should be applied retroactively to previously sentenced defendants. The issue of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the and the United States Sentencing Commission has decided to establish a standing victim’s advisory group pursuant to   28 U.S.C.  § 995 and Rule 5.4 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. It was stated that the purpose of the advisory group is (1) to assist the Commission in carrying out its statutory responsibilities under 28 U.S.C.  § 994(o); (2) to provide the Commission its views on the Commission’s activities as they relate to victims of crime; (3) to   disseminate information regarding sentencing issues to organizations represented by the   Ã‚  advisory group and to other victims of crime and victims advocacy groups, as appropriate; and (4) to perform any other functions related to victims of crime as the Commission requests. The victims’ advisory group will consist of not more than 9 members, each of whom may serve not more than two consecutive 3-year terms. The issue on New York’s Rockefeller laws to curb the drug trade – which directly contributed to a dramatic increase in the state’s prison population costing the state millions of dollars, but failing to impact drug trafficking. According to a New York   Times editorial, â€Å"New York has made incremental changes to the Rockefeller laws in recent years, but has stopped short of restoring judicial discretion.† A governor-appointed commission charged with studying state sentencing practices, however, has produced a report calling for the end of â€Å"indeterminate sentencing† – the process by which a judge imposes a minimum and a maximum sentence and the Parole Board decides when to release an offender. It further suggests that nonviolent offenders be considered for community-based treatment instead of prison. Finally, Gov. Elliot Spitzer’s commission recommends restoring prison-based educational and training programs as a means of helping to lower recidivism rates. The website of the Sentencing Project at http://www.sentencingproject.org. mission is to promote reforms in sentencing law and practice, and alternatives to incarceration through their advocacy and research. Moreover, the Sentencing Project provides defense lawyers with sentencing advocacy training and to reduce the reliance on incarceration. Hence, the Sentencing Project has become the leader in the effort to bring national attention to disturbing trends and inequities in the criminal justice system with a successful formula that includes the publication of groundbreaking research, aggressive media campaigns and strategic advocacy for policy reform. As a result of The Sentencing Project’s research, publications and advocacy, many people know that this country is the world’s leader in incarceration, that one in three young black men is under control of the criminal justice system, that five million Americans can’t vote because of felony convictions, and that thousands of women and children have lost welfare, education and housing benefits as the result of convictions for minor drug offenses.   Thus, the Sentencing Project is dedicated to changing the way Americans think about crime and punishment which coincide with the interests of the National Association of Sentencing Advocates. References   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   McGarrell, E.F. Restorative Justice Conferences.   Indianapolis, IN: Hudson Institute, 1999; Edmund F. McGarrell, â€Å"Cutting Crime through Police-Citizen Cooperation,† American Outlook, Spring 1998, pp. 65–67. The Sentencing Project at http://www.sentencingproject.org. U.S. Sentencing Commission Available at https://www.ussc.gov. Zehr, H.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Justice as Restoration, Justice as Respect,†The Justice Professional 11,   Ã‚  Ã‚   nos. 1–2 (1998), pp. 71–87.

Babies Killing Babies essays

Babies Killing Babies essays National Institute of Mental Health: Thinking About Violence in Our Schools Office of The Surgeon General: Youth Violence Two teenagers entered a high school in Colorado and opened fire on their classmates. The young gunmen end their lives, but not before taking the lives of fifteen students, and injuring twenty, finalizing the tragedy. In recent years we have experienced a rampage of violence in our schools. Researchers have yet to pinpoint the answer to this plague of violent disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health, and The Office of the Surgeon General have focused their research to the areas of stages of violence development, prevention and intervention, and methods of identifying the most effective treatments. Studies by the Office of the Surgeon General have concluded that there are two paths for the materialization of youth violence. One is identified at an early age of puberty, the other in the adolescent stage. The research shows that if there is violence demonstrated in the early childhood stage of a child, the degree of violence in the child rises, as the child grows older, concluding in severe violent behavior. The group that is said to be in the early-onset group, or before puberty, is said to have a greater and more serious number of violence incidents during the adolescent years. This also leads to a determining factor for violent behavior during their adulthood, (see research by Stattin and Magnusson, 1996; and Tolan and Gorman-Smith, 1998). Research has shown that violence offenses committed by young men, between the ages of sixteen or seventeen, can be traced back to their puberty stage (DUnger et al., 1998; Elliot et al., 1996; Huzinga et al., 1995; Nagin and Tr! emblay, 1999; Patterson and Yoerger, 1997; Stattin and Magnusson, 1996). This is proof that the majority of offenders began their violent behavior during the younger years. However, the study also shows that those who be...

Mumbaki Essays

Mumbaki Essays Mumbaki Paper Mumbaki Paper Essay Topic: Film Every individual has its own culture, belief and different practices but we should respect each everyone about this matter even though sometimes it is very difficult to understand their practices. The word Mumbaki has its own meaning. It is about an Ifugao religious specialist meaning sayer of prayers in the Christian world they called them Intercessors. Almost every adult in the region is a Mumbaki who practices the tenets of the religion which they are associated with. These Mumbakis offers prayers during wedding, thanksgiving, funeral and other occasions. They have memorized almost every oral traditions, stories and lineages which are passed on from generation to generations which they perform as rituals. The story is about the son of an Ifugao Chieftain named Joseph who returns to his tribe after the death of his father (an Ifugao Chieftain who was killed in a tribal dispute with the Alimit tribe. He was about to live the Philippine to US with his fiancee, however was obliged to return to the Lidum tribe where he was chosen to lead the battle againts the Alimit tribe. Joseph is a young doctor who return to bury his father. While there, he discovers his rich heritage and acquire pride in his being an Ifugao. He is unable to resist the urge to help his village, which has resisted modern medicine and is in the midst of pneumonia epedemic and civil war. It covers the adaptation new way of curing illness of people but it will disobey their beliefs where they believe that their Baki or Gods may perish them in any curse. The story begins with the conflict between the unsettled marriage. And also they argued about the boundaries of their territories, where who should own the old tree between the two tribe. Each them ask explanation that ends up the leader of Lidum tribes death and those start of the beginning of war for revenge and justice. The Lidum tribe believes that once they cannot have the justice of death of the leader they will suffer like experiencing different illness and wars that may cause to death of other people too. And all the tribe in Ifugao does not believe the medicine that given to them by their doctor. They believe that only their Mumbaki can help and save them with help of their Baki because he is the one sent by Baki to save them. But the epedemic disease become worst which lead to death of many people. Nowadays, scientist, doctors, engineers, etc†¦ discover many things that could help our society to become more progressive to cure many diseases and illness and in terms of communication and transportation we are now more advance. But sometimes because of our culture, all belief and practices hinder our minds to accept those things and also the tradition of different people there are instances because of hatred it will only caused a never ending war but we have one country, one government to maintain the peace and settled every problems we have through peace talk and court trials, we should respect the value of life of every individual. When youre trying to use new changes it doesn’t mean you betrayed your traditions. You are only open minded that could help for a certain circumstances.

Why You Shouldnt Trust US News College Rankings

Why You Shouldn't Trust US News College Rankings SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips US News is probably the most popular source out there for college rankings. While US News rankings of colleges purport to be highly accurate, they can be misleading in certain important respects. If you make decisions based purely on the US News college rankings, you might end up being miserable. In this article, I’ll go over why you shouldn’t make judgments about colleges solely based on their rankings in US News. What Types of Rankings Does US News Provide? US News divides its college rankings into four different categories.The categories are based on the 2010 Basic Classification system developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.This system has 12 categories of schools, but US News condenses them into four.These include: National Universities These are schools that offer master's and doctoral degrees along with a full range of undergraduate majors.This category contains â€Å"research universities†, where there is a strong emphasis on research and government subsidies are often provided for research endeavors.There are 280 universities that fall into this category, including 173 public schools, 100 private schools, and 7 for-profit schools. National Liberal Arts Colleges These are colleges that emphasize undergraduate education and give out at least half of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines including languages and literature, biology and life sciences, philosophy, cultural studies, and psychology.There are 227 of these colleges, 221 private, 27 public, and one for profit. Regional Universities These colleges are similar to National Universities in that they offer both a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs.However, they offer limited or nonexistent doctoral programs.There are 620 Regional Universities, including 262 public, 346 private, and 12 for profit. Regional Colleges These are colleges that focus on undergraduate education but have less of a liberal arts emphasis (award less than half of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines).There are 364 regional colleges that include 94 public schools, 253 private schools, and 17 for-profit schools. It’s important to consider these categories because they should affect how you view the rankings.US News specifically states that you shouldn’t compare the rankings of two colleges across two different categories; the schools are so different that making a direct comparison is not logical.You can compare the actual statistics (such as admissions rate, student retention, and average class size), but in terms of rank itself, a school that’s ranked 40th in the National Universities category is not objectively â€Å"worse† than a school that’s ranked 32nd in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category. Very liberal art How Does US News Rank Colleges? There is a strong methodology behind the ranking system that US News uses for colleges, and it changes often to adapt to changing conditions in higher education.Many factors are considered, and percentage weights are given to each component of the assessment. A total weight of 30% is given to factors related to student retention and graduation rates (meaning this is the most highly considered single factor in the ranking process) Graduation and retention measures are given a weight of 22.5% A 7.5% weight is devoted to a measure of whether a school is over or underperforming based on the number of students that graduate (comparing the expected vs. actual graduation rate) US News gives a 22.5% percentage weight to a school’s academic reputation scores For National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges, this is based on a peer survey of academics (weighted 15%) and a survey of high school counselors (weighted 7.5%) For Regional Universities and Regional Colleges, it is based solely on a survey of the academic peer group for the full 22.5% The remaining weight of 47.5% is devoted to hard statistics about the school including measures of academic quality such as selectivity, faculty information, financial resources, and alumni giving. To create school scores, US News gathers statistics in 16 areas related to the academic quality of the school. Each is assigned a percentage based on US News’ â€Å"judgments about which measures of quality matter most†. US News publishes the numerical rank of the top 75% of schools in each of the four categories. Remaining schools are placed in the â€Å"second tier† of rankings where specific numerical ranking is not listed (they’re just put in alphabetical order). The gold star that US News gives to colleges in the second tier. What’s Not to Trust? When I say you shouldn’t trust the rankings, I don’t mean that US News is deliberately misleading students.What I mean is that you shouldn’t put ALL your trust in these rankings and disregard your other preferences about college.You should also be aware of some shortcomings that may cause the rankings to exclude certain schools or rank colleges lower than they would be ranked on a list of â€Å"Best Colleges for You, Student Reading This Article†.Here are some things you should know before consulting the US News rankings in your college search: Some schools won’t be ranked if they don't meet the criteria In fact, there are 148 colleges that are â€Å"unranked† within the four categories listed above.These schools may be unranked for a variety of reasons - these include: Lack of regional accreditation Fewer than 200 students enrolled Do not use the SAT or ACT in admissions decisions Not enough responses on the US News peer assessment survey US News lists unranked schools, but they are put in alphabetical order at the end of each college category without any value judgment.This means that if you’re interested in very small colleges or colleges that don’t use the SAT or ACT in admissions decisions, the rankings may not help you much. The most common reason for a school to be unranked is that it doesn’t use standardized tests.US News argues that there isn’t enough data to compare the school to other institutions in the category without test scores, so it has to remain unranked.This may be a valid point, but it means that schools that may otherwise have solid academics are excluded from rankings, leaving you with a slightly less complete picture of the college landscape. There is an emphasis on ultimate results and academic rigor over quality of student life On the website for US News, it states, â€Å"over time, the ranking model has put less emphasis on input measures of quality – which look at characteristics of the students, faculty and other resources going into the educational process – and more emphasis on output measures, which look at the results of the educational process, such as graduation and freshman retention rates.†There is no doubt that graduation rates are important, and they do say a lot about the quality of a college.However, they will tell you very little about whether a school is a nice place to spend four years, especially if the school is very academically rigorous and prestigious. Most students will graduate because they’re very driven, but that doesn't tell you whether or not they enjoyed their time there. The US News rankings are based on hard statistics and information gleaned from academic peer reviews about the quality of the school.While this is very useful in determining how favorably the school is viewed from the heights of the academic Ivory Tower, it isn’t always the best metric for conducting your search process.Even though focusing on outcome does make sense to a certain degree, it also fails to fully evaluate the quality of the student experience.This can contribute to a somewhat harmful â€Å"ends justify the means† mindset that leads students to spend years in places where they are outwardly successful but inwardly unhappy. The official motto of both US News and your one friend who won't shut up about CrossFit Prestige plays an important role For many students, prestige remains an important factor in deciding whether to attend a college.It’s hard to resist the allure of a school that will impress other people and potentially get you good jobs down the road based on its name recognition. This is the reason why prestige is considered so strongly by US News in its rankings (in the form of ratings from academic peer groups and guidance counselors).Of course, prestige correlates with selectivity in admissions and respect from the higher education community at large, so it does indicate some measure of academic quality. However, measuring schools based on prestige can have the unfortunate consequence of discounting some up and coming colleges or colleges that may have a unique focus and be less well-known.Make sure youuse other resources to research schools that have the criteria you’re looking for - even if they’re not ranked especially high, they may be a much better fit for your goals. Private schools always rank higher In the US News rankings, private schools are always more highly ranked than public schools.This can be misleading, and shouldn’t dissuade you from attending a public school!The reason this happens is because the ranking model US News uses is naturally kinder to private schools: they usually score higher on measures of selectivity, student retention rates, and small class sizes.Since public schools tend to be larger and less selective, they end up with lower rankings, but that means very little for high achieving students who choose to attend public schools. Though the statistics are often less impressive than those of private schools, the public college experience may allow many students to thrive.For students who are willing to seek out resources, public schools are often good choices because of the amount of different programs and high-level research facilities they offer.Rankings also don’t consider the diversity of social life at schools and the opportunities in the form ofextracurricular activities. Hi! I'm Chase, your new roommate. I like sailing and refusing to look at the world from anyone else's perspective. The rankings won’t help you to find an affordable school If you’re trying to avoid debt in college, you’ll need to look at other lists to figure out which schools are the most affordable.Rankings in US News have nothing to do with the cost of schools, so they won’t give you the perspective you’re looking for if cost is a major issue. I Feel So Adrift in the Sea of Colleges without My US News Ranking Water Wings - What Do I Do? You don’t have to ignore the US News rankings just because they’re not totally well-rounded in terms of their assessment metrics and inclusivity.What you should do is make sure that you are aware of what they can and can’t tell you about a college.It’s important that you supplement your views on schools with other resources that will give you a more complete picture of what student life is like and how you might fare at the college. To their credit, US News fully acknowledges this fact:â€Å"the editors of U.S. News believe rankings are only one of many criteria students should consider in choosing a college. Simply because a school is top in its category does not mean it is the top choice for everyone. The rankings should not be used as the sole basis to choose one school over another.†Academics are very important, but your life at college will be so much more than just the quality of your classes and how impressive your degree looks in a frame.You should make sure that you like the location of the school, the housing options, the food, the campus life, and the price tag before you make a decision. And in case you don't like the food, bring a bottle of sriracha. You could put sriracha on woodchips and I would probably eat them. Use the rankings as a rough guide to the quality of schools. The top five schools are the most reputable, then the next set of ten, then the next set of ten, and so on. A school that's in the top 20 is going to provide a more intellectual community and more opportunities in general than a school that's ranked in the 40s. However, within each group of ten there won't be much variability in terms of academic quality and reputation.This might help you to make a decision about where to apply after doing some outside research. However, even if you're trying to decide between two schools that are ranked very differently, you shouldn't just go by rankings. If the lower ranked school is a great fit for you, and the higher ranked school is a poor fit, you should choose the better fit regardless of ranking! As US News also says on its website: â€Å"A prospective student's academic and professional ambitions, personal preferences, financial resources and scholastic record, as well as a school's size, cost, programs, atmosphere and location, should play major roles in determining a college choice.†Once you’ve considered the other factors the are most important to you, you can move on to potentially comparing schools based on the academic rankings presented in US News. What's Next? When you apply to college, it's important to have both reach and safety schools so that you don't sell yourself short or end up without any options. Learn more about how to choose reach schools and safety schools. If you're planning on consulting the US News rankings, you should figure out whether you're more interested in public or private colleges first. Find out the differences between the two. Size and location are also very important factors to consider before looking at rankings. These articles will tell you about the pros and cons of going to college close to home and the main differences between large and small colleges. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Higher Education and a Knowledge Based Economy Essay

Higher Education and a Knowledge Based Economy - Essay Example Of course all this would have implications for the area of higher education and this area has been discussed in depth by many academics like Nonaka, 1991 and Wiig, 1993.Knowledge is "power" and a key business asset and this will no doubt lead to an increased demand for education and training of the modern individuals .For the purposes of this paper I would present knowledge to be not only a member of the "steadily increasing" corporate assets (which amongst others are patients ,goodwill and brand identity etc) but also as "meaningful information; or the understanding, awareness, familiarity acquired through study, investigation, observation or experience over the course of time (citing Zelner , 2000)".(Psarras 2006).Basically then in the context of higher education it becomes an " individual's interpretation of information based on personal experiences, skills and competencies" (Psarras 2006). The impact on higher education of the knowledge based economy thus requires the need for instilling the culture of effective Knowledge management into the learning and education as a whole. ... The Educational criteria thus has to match the firm's knowledge needs and this has led to a growing appreciation for occupationally acquired knowledge to mere academic qualifications devoid of any practical experience. Thus Higher education will have to be focused upon developing this specific knowledge as required by the modern corporate firms competing for survival in the economy. Thus the aim is no longer knowledge delivery and there is a heightened focus upon strategic information and knowledge management by the labour force to achieve business goals efficiently through proper utilisation of the knowledge.This trend has been prevalent since the decade of the eighties where as according to Cooke and Cooke (1998) there has been growth of what is called "learner centred knowledge and action learning, a growing significance of work-related learning and the recognition of work and work experience as a key source of learning" (Psarras 2006 citing Cooke and Cooke 1998).Finally the adven t of information technology has made the need to revolutionise teaching and learning methodologies more than ever. In conclusion the future belongs to those who can understand the need to make continuous learning and modern education and training for the modern work force. Thus it is a challenging time for universities to be aware of the transitions in their roles as knowledge providers and provide flexible, innovative and research intensive learning. Further more there is a need for Curricula that reflects the reestablishment of the link of learning with experience with a more environmentally responsive curriculum which addresses the real issues that happen in a real world.

International Business Case #3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Business Case #3 - Essay Example According to the video, there is a high demand for clothing. There are a good number of stores dealing with clothes. Hence, one has to establish whether there is demand for the company’s product in that market (â€Å"The Schildergasse in Cologne†). From the video, it is established that the rent for store within that area is high. This affects the returns of the business established. Analysis of the business environment will help to establish where it is viable to set up a business premises in the area. There are different kinds of consumer in that region. A section of the consumers take into consideration the price of the products. Another section does not put much interest into the price as they do to the product. Hence, a producer can be able to know which product to introduce and their pricing (â€Å"The Schildergasse in Cologne†). It can be established that a big section of the population prefer to buy popular brand and from stores with a popular name. Hence, it is important to analyze the competitors to see how to go into the market, and which is the best site to be located. For a company to be able to penetrate the international market, they have to be able to identify the opportunities or gaps and be able to fill them. From the video, several gaps can be identified. From the respondents, it can be seen that there is information asymmetry. An investor capitalizes on the opening and introduces the same product at a more appealing price. The investor will be able to tap the consumers who do not have full market information on the products. It can also be established that most of the clients choose to shop in stores with popular and established names and brands. This provides an opportunity for chain stores with an established name and brand to penetrate them market. It emerges that there is a section of the consumer who do not factor the cost of the product. This creates an opportunity for companies with high-end products to

How Management Teams Can Have a Good Fight Article

How Management Teams Can Have a Good Fight - Article Example In particular, they studied the interplay of conflict, politics, and pace of strategic decision making by top-management teams (273-274). According to Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois, top executives are aware that conflict over issues is natural and honest disagreement lead the company towards best decision. Team members who challenge each other's ideas have more understanding of the issue at hand; they have more alternatives that clear the path towards effective decision. On the other hand, an honest disagreement can turn to be unproductive or even more conflicting. Here, the challenge is to keep the conflict constructive. Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois studied 12 companies for their research project. Four of these companies were suffering due to top executives' intense animosity. Top management was failed to cooperate with each other, and they rarely had conversation with each other. They socialize in specific cliques rather than having good relation with most of the individuals. More over, they only displayed frustration and anger about their competing executive. These companies failed to avoid interpersonal conflicts. On the other hand, companies with minimal interpersonal conflict not only managed a healthy conflict but also kept it professional (274). Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois observed that these companies maintained constructive conflict by six tactics which include: focus on facts; multiple alternatives; common goals; enlightened environment by using humor; balance in power structure; and to seek consensus by qualification. First tactic, focus on fact refers to maximum data collection in order to make informed decision. When executives are equipped with more facts and figures, the decisions will be based on facts rather than opinions. Extensive knowledge of happenings in the corporation, such as, in Star Electronics, gives strong controls. It is evident that there is a direct relation between reliance on updated facts and lesser interpersonal conflicts. Facts let the management to reach the core issues rather than arguing and guessing the facts (Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois 275). Contrary to common belief, companies with less interpersonal conflicts deliberately generate multiple alternatives. Research evidence proves that multiple alternatives lower the probability of interpersonal conflict. It is because ambiguity of multiple options divides the conflict and its solution into more than just black and white. This approach provides people with varying options and avoids rival group formation. In the process of generating alternatives, managers involve in a shared and stimulating task. Managers don't stop on just one solution; rather they keep on finding more creative and original options. The benefit is twofold: the process creates an overall substantive instead of conflicting tone, and company gets the original solution (Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois 275-276). Third tactic is to create strategic alternatives in an environment th at fosters collaborative rather than competitive spirit in the team. It leads to the best possible solution for collective gain, rather than anyone's personal ambitions. Research on group decision making and intergroup conflict reveals that common goals foster coherence by emphasizing common interests. In the absence of common goals, executives didn't share a vision. They were

Competitive Strategies and Government Policies ECO 365 Essay

Competitive Strategies and Government Policies ECO 365 - Essay Example ype of merging in which two or more organizations, dealing in similar products, and operating in the same market combine to make a single organization. The reason why this type of merging has been affecting the industry is that it increases the competitiveness of organizations. According to Gerber (2010), changes in various aspects of the economy have great effects on the level of competition experienced in an industry. One of the changes that have greatly affected the motor vehicle manufacturing industry is the introduction of new government policies and regulations. Tax waives and regulations designed for encouraging global investments have resulted to emergence of new organizations in this industry. This has greatly affected the global competition in the industry. As a result, this industry has been facing an increased labor demand, reduced supply of resources, and lack of good relations with each other. Motor vehicle manufacturing could handle these identified points in various ways. This ways include improving service delivery and employing various types of merging. Organizations in this industry should employ horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate merging when expanding their operation. Another way is making organization’s policies to be in line with the government policies and regulations. The point of effects of global competition could be avoided through merging, acquisition, and

Human Male and Female Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Male and Female - Essay Example The pill or oral contraceptives are also common and effective if used the right way. These pills contain different combinations of synthetic estrogens and progestins to interfere with ovulation. They are effective if taken once a day and preferably at the same time each day, though they do not reduce risks of STDs. They can be ineffective for those who smoke, more than 35 years old, have histories of blood clots, high blood pressure or certain types of cancer such as liver, breast, or endometrial cancers (Ireland 518). Injectable birth control is another method. It involves the injection of a particular progestin, Depo-Provera (depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate) given to the arm or buttocks once in three months. One disadvantage is that it can temporarily lead to a loss of bone density especially if used by adolescents. Discontinuation of this method can stop the bone loss. Certain foods and diets are essential if a patient chooses this method, especially those rich in calcium and vitamin. It does not prevent STDs (Ireland 518). Implantable rods are the size of a matchstick surgically inserted in the upper arm of a woman. It releases progestin and can work for a period of five years. It does not reduce in any way the risks of STDs, and if the date lapses, it may take a while before a woman becomes pregnant (Ireland 519). Emergency contraceptive pills are hormonal pills taken as a single dosage or taking two doses twelve hours apart. These are commonly used after unprotected sexual intercourse.

Health Care And Increasing In Taxes On Cigarettes Term Paper

Health Care And Increasing In Taxes On Cigarettes - Term Paper Example An increase in price of a cigarette pack with 10% would result in a decrease, in demand, by about 4%. With regard to cigarette taxation, there have been increases in tax by various governments as a way of controlling the consumption of cigarettes and in essence reducing demand. In order to understand the effects of tax increases on cigarette use, there is a need to know two things; the magnitude of results that the tax change will cause and the link between the consumption changes and price change (Taylor & Akila 94). Economists and researchers have been using estimates of price elasticity of demand, which refers to the change in percentage of consumption, consequently from a 1% increase in price, to evaluate the effects of change in prices of cigarette on cigarette consumption. Overall, the price elasticity for a cigarette is within the range of -0.14 to -1.23, but mostly it falls within the narrower range of -0.3 to -0.5. This implies that a change in price of tobacco will result i n a slight decrease in demand. In spite of the fact that higher cigarette taxes reduce sales or consumption, cigarette tax income increases because the loss in income as a result of lower sales is more and could be offset by the increased taxes (Cordes 440). Policy makers in the tobacco control department and tax revenue docket will always agree that, provided the price elasticity of demand for cigarettes is not more than -1, then total revenue from sales increases when price increase.... In spite of the fact that higher cigarette taxes reduce sales or consumption, cigarette tax income increases because the loss in income as a result of lower sales is more and could be offset by the increased taxes (Cordes 440). Policy makers in the tobacco control department and tax revenue docket will always agree that, provided the price elasticity of demand for cigarettes is not more than -1, then total revenue from sales increases when price increase. As evidenced in this study, the price elasticity of demand for a cigarette is less than one, meaning that in as much as tax will have an effect on the demand for cigarette consumption, it will also yield additional tax revenues. The passing into law of tobacco control policy with the increasing prices will eventually have significant results in reducing tobacco consumption, making cigarettes expensive to juveniles (Besanko et al 151). Do increases in cigarette taxes have any other effects? In response to the increased taxes on cigar ettes, some problems can be seen to be rising. They include theft, interstate smuggling and channeling. Channeling primarily describes the changes in ways people obtain a product they seek. Making one by rolling it is a good example. The most serious one of the three above is smuggling. Smuggling can be related to moving goods across international borders to avoid paying tariffs or duties for the product. There are commonly five characteristics of a product that are likely to be smuggled somewhere for a profit. They include the product tax differential; transaction cost; transportation cost; the effort required to obtain the product and the possibility of police or authority intervention. Cigarette thus makes the perfect product for smuggling. The product is not heavy and has large tax

Human Male and Female Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Male and Female - Essay Example The pill or oral contraceptives are also common and effective if used the right way. These pills contain different combinations of synthetic estrogens and progestins to interfere with ovulation. They are effective if taken once a day and preferably at the same time each day, though they do not reduce risks of STDs. They can be ineffective for those who smoke, more than 35 years old, have histories of blood clots, high blood pressure or certain types of cancer such as liver, breast, or endometrial cancers (Ireland 518). Injectable birth control is another method. It involves the injection of a particular progestin, Depo-Provera (depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate) given to the arm or buttocks once in three months. One disadvantage is that it can temporarily lead to a loss of bone density especially if used by adolescents. Discontinuation of this method can stop the bone loss. Certain foods and diets are essential if a patient chooses this method, especially those rich in calcium and vitamin. It does not prevent STDs (Ireland 518). Implantable rods are the size of a matchstick surgically inserted in the upper arm of a woman. It releases progestin and can work for a period of five years. It does not reduce in any way the risks of STDs, and if the date lapses, it may take a while before a woman becomes pregnant (Ireland 519). Emergency contraceptive pills are hormonal pills taken as a single dosage or taking two doses twelve hours apart. These are commonly used after unprotected sexual intercourse.

Philosophy of business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philosophy of business law - Essay Example On the other hand, in contra of those arguments are that privacy isn't an issue where legal status is concerned. Searches are not unreasonable to the police if they turn up something illegal. Unwarranted searches can be legal with reasonable suspicion that something illegal is taking place. Profiling is just a way for the police to keep abreast of developing situations. Rights can be violated, however, to stop the law from being broken, which is what the argument might be. The Constitutional basis for objections filed by the state AG's would be that not everyone wants or needs health care. This violates a person's right to freedom as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Their liberty is in jeopardy as well. If the U.S. were to be represented, their best defense would be that every American needs health care because it is a Constitutionally guaranteed right. The Supreme Court should rule that health care is mandatory, and that without it, people would be in dire straights. The client in the case where he is selling wood does not have a sound basis for overturning the DNR regulation.

The Crucible Essay Example for Free

The Crucible Essay The Crucible is a story of the many wrongs that come from the town of Salem during 1692. The power that is brought fourth through revenge, deceit, paranoia, and sheer naive ness, is enough to turn the town of Salem, Massachusetts upside down. It results with the death of twenty innocent people and the jailing of hundreds more. The surge of power through the young women of Salem, who had never tasted power before complied with the struggle between good and evil are two main points in the play. Abigail Williams is the main instigator in all of the play. She is the ringleader of all the young women in Salem. The minute she feels or sees a â€Å"spirit† all the other girls miraculously see and feel them too. Abigail has her eyes set on John Proctor and uses the witch-hunt to take his wife out of play. She discovers that with her new found power all she has to do is accuse someone and they can be condemned. Her hatred for Goody Proctor is evident as in her quote to Rev. Parris, â€Å" She hates me, uncle for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman! (Act 1 PG 11) The power behind the girls accusations is amazingly large, through all their spectral evidence that was taken for by Danforth and Hathorne. â€Å"I tell you straight, Mister—I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them struck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. † (Act 3 PG 84) The power these girls got from the court is a monster that is ever present throughout this play. However along with power comes something much worse which is evil. During the correspondence of the Salem Witch Trials there is a presence of a struggle between good and evil the power of the Puritan Lord and the Devil. Some characters including Danforth and Hathorne who believe they are working on behalf of their lord are actually indeed considered two evils of this play, along with the main instigator, Abigail. â€Å"And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on their pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! † (Act 1 PG 19) Abigail is a true work of evil in this play. She decides to go after Goody Proctor who is a pure Christian woman. Even her husband John Proctor knows that his wrongful misleading with Abigail shouldn’t be brought down upon Elizabeth. â€Å"My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me! (Act 2 PG 76) Between John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Rev. Hale, and Mary Warren there is a force of good to go against the evil of this play. Even though Mary Warren had originally been accusing people and faking illness in the court, half way through she has a change of heart. She discovers the effect that the other girl’s accusations are having on her town and want to stop it before Goody P roctor is hanged an innocent woman. Just as Rev. Hale was all about witchcraft at the beginning but by the end he had denoused the trials and only stayed to try and save John. Which he wouldn’t succeed at. The struggle is one that is readily very unfair. By the end of the play it is evident that in a way Evil has conquered good. It was an unfair battle, with the high-ranking judges and power of Abby’s words against the farmers and uneducated townspeople of Salem. The Crucible is a teaching of how power gives people a sort of evil and how evil can easily conquer good. These are demonstrated throughout the play. As a message to us all of what power can do in the wrong hands.

Animal Farm | Chapter by Chapter Summary

Animal Farm | Chapter by Chapter Summary Animal Farm Chapter by Chapter Summary Chapter One: Mr. Jones lives on the Manor Farm, he is an alcoholic. The animals of the farm go to the barn to hear what old Major, the well respected prized Middle White Boar, has to say about a recent dream. Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher are the three farm dogs. Boxer, and Clover are the two cart-horses. Muriel is the white goat, and Benjamin is the donkey. old Major tells the animals that humans are enemies of animals, because humans force animals to do all the jobs they cannot do. He also says they must work to overthrow the human race. old Major teaches them a song, but while they sing it they wake up Mr. Jones, so they must go to sleep. Chapter Two: Three nights after the meeting, old Major dies in his sleep. The animals started to think about preparing for the future rebellion. They came up with a system of rebelling ideas which they called animalism. One night, Mr. Jones became so drunk at a bar he didn’t return to his farm till the next day. The animals were unfed, and became so hungry they broke into the store-shed and started to eat the food in the bins. When Mr. Jones returns and sees what the animals have done, he and four other men began beating the animals. The animals then began beating on the humans, who eventually run away for their life. The animals were thrilled not to be anybody’s slave anymore, they create â€Å"The Seven Commandments†. Chapter Three: The animals all worked hard in the field collectively, and were rewarded with a great harvest season. Boxer was the hardest worker of all the animals, his personal motto was, â€Å"I will work harder†. Some animals had trouble learning and memorizing â€Å"The Seven Commandments† so Snowball decided to simplify the Commandments to, â€Å"Four legs good, two legs bad.† Chapter Four: Snowball and Napoleon send pigeons to neighboring farms telling them of their rebellion and urging them to do the same. Mr. Jones sits at the Red Lion Pub, and drinks his problems away. In October, Mr. Jones and other farmers come to back to Manor Farm, to try to recapture it. The animals knew that Mr. Jones would come back, and were prepared for it. Snowball was in charge of defensive operations. The animals once again defeated Mr. Jones and his friends, Boxer accidentally kills a boy. Chapter Five: Clover confronts Mollie about her lacking work ethic, soon after that Mollie disappeared. Snowball and Napoleon had become bitter rivals with one another. Snowball wanted to build a windmill on the farm, but Napoleon wanted no part of it. Nine dogs chase Snowball off the farm. Napoleon announces that the windmill will be built, he claims the reason he wasn’t in favor of it was because it was his idea, but stolen by Snowball. Chapter Six: The animals work very hard, for the entirety of the year. The animals had enough food to last them through out the summer, but would have to work hard to have a surplus in the winter. Every Monday Mr. Whymper comes around to the farm and gets orders for food, or supplies. Mr. Jones as far away from the farm as he could, to the other side of the country. One morning in November, they awoke to find the almost finished windmill in ruins. Even though there had been a violent windstorm the night before, Napoleon blames in it on Snowball. Napoleon also says that they will begin the rebuilding immediately and will build every day until it is finished. Chapter Seven: In January food was very low on the farm. Napoleon made a deal with Mr. Whymper that he would give him four-hundred eggs in return for grain and food until summer came. The animals believe that Snowball snuck into the farm at night, and caused mischief on the farm. One night at a meeting the dogs attack the four pigs, and rip their throats out. They killed everybody who was affiliated with Snowball’s rebellion from Napolean including: the hens, three sheep, and others. Chapter Eight: The animals worked so hard, they sometimes thought that it would be better if Mr. Jones was still on the farm. Napoleon never came out of the house, or when he did it was a very rare occasion. If anything good happened to any of the animals they would thank Napoleon for their good fortune. During the summer, three hens confessed to plotting to kill Napoleon, as ordered by Snowball. They were immediately killed. They finish the windmill in autumn. Fredrick and two dozen more men attack Animal Farm, and destroy the windmill. This enrages the animals, and they push the men off the farm. The animals get drunk from whisky. Chapter Nine: During the winter they reduce the animal’s amount of food again, except for the dogs, and pigs. In April, the animals decided that they will declare Animal Farm a Republic. Napoleon is unanimously voted President. Boxer falls down, and tells that his lung is bothering him. A van came and they thought it was going to take Boxer to the hospital, but the side of the van read, â€Å"Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon.† Squealer said that Boxer died at the Wellington Hospital, the Hospital bought the van from the slaughterer, and hadn’t remarked the side. The animals are very sad about this, and buy more whisky. Chapter Ten: Many years went by on the farm, the only animals from the Rebellion still alive are Clover, Benjamin, Moses, and a lot of pigs. The farm was doing tremendous financially and with food. Pilkington and Napoleon become friends. Napoleon announces that Animal Farm will be called the Manor Farm again.

The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn Essay -- Literary Analysis, Mark Twa

â€Å"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became man, I put my childish ways behind me (NIC: 1Corinthians 13:11) In the life of every individual, there are various events and stages, such as death, crime, overcoming fear and undergoing moral growth, which transform immature individuals into serious and mature people. In Mark Twain’s novels, The Adventure of Tom Sawyer and The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, one sees this transformation and growth in the two main characters by facing conflicts and events, these being Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn In beginning of the novel The Adventure of Tom Sawyer, one sees Tom as a crafty, intelligent, and imaginative boy with excellent theatrical skills. â€Å"Twain invented the American archetype of the prankish, widely imaginative boy with a taste for adventure in The Adventure of Tom Sawyer†.(Gillespie1) Tom never takes anything seriously, and never seems to have a real problem, as he is a careless individual. â€Å"He expends his gift mainly on tricking [and] getting in and out of trouble. (Swan1). His carelessness is displayed, when his aunt forces him to whitewash the fence as punishment, as in The Adventure of Tom Sawyer: â€Å"Like it? Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Dose a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?†(Twain, The adventure of Tom Sawyer 13) Without even thinking of a reason for being punished, he manages to do no work by persuading Ben Rogers and others to whitewash fence.(13) Tom’s transformation begins when h e witness the murder of Dr. Robinson by an accident. Unlike any other ‘incident’ he had ever had to face, he faces this one with fears. However, feels wrong staying out of the situation. â€Å"Sho! It’s t... ...leberry to betray Jim, Huckleberry keeps his friendship by protecting Jim from trouble.†(Park 1) â€Å"Goodness sakes, would a runaway nigger run south?†(216) When the Duke and the Dauphin ask whether Jim is runaway slave, Huck stand up for Jim by asking them whether the runaway black will go down to south. Huck stands up for Jim and demonstrates his courage, showing his transformation from being selfish and careless to being loyal and caring person. In Mark Twain’s novel â€Å"Tom Sawyer† and â€Å"The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn† certain event and conflict helps growth and transformation of the two main characters. Tom, a careless individual who seems to have no problems, grows and transforms into a caring person by facing his problems and struggling. Huckleberry, also demonstrate his transformation in his adventures with runaway slave Jim and by living with Widow Douglas.

Evaluation of Social Identity Theory Essay

Social categorization is the filing of the certain type of people, which is usually expressed to individuals that are the similar to you as ‘us’ or to individuals who you see are different from what you think of yourself as ‘them’. When you observe at other people, you see the differences of how other people look and behave compared to how you usually behave and act during your daily life. Furthermore, you will categorize them as being ‘them’ as a word to describe either the significant or insignificant differences between people that are similar to you and people who are not similar to how you look or behave. For e.g. some people often think that they are ‘cool’ based on their own opinion, but when someone else is different they might be considered as being ‘uncool’. Social identity looks mainly at the individual characteristics that determine who you actually are. It is solely based on what you do that defines you socially or in public, which makes people believe that this is your identity. Social Identity is not personal identity as there is no correspondence. Personal identity basically looks at what you do personally compared to social identity, which is solely about the individual characteristics that you represent in the eye of the public. You can be socially identified to be e.g. ‘a nerd’, because of your individual characteristics that seem to define you in resemblance to a nerd, for example, being knowledgeable or smart in terms of IQ or the way you dress or look. Or that someone is gay or a lesbian, because they act unusually strange resembling of how the opposite gender usually acts. Additionally, the way they dress that is unusual in the public’s eye, so they will be easily identified as being gay or a lesbian, e.g. a man wearing tight-fit shorty shorts and long boots with a handbag or a woman with short hair  wearing a hoodie with baggie trousers and casual Nike shoes. Social comparison is the comparison between individuals due to the differences from the determination of the characteristics of one person. Our conscience is socially aware to help us be able to understand these differences so that we are able to distinguish people that are alike and people that are different. Furthermore, we tend to help people due to their individual characteristics that are similar to ours and instead we are hesitant or not willing to help someone else that are considered to be different from ‘us’. In Tajfel’s theory, it is an experiment conducted with students that are sorted into small groups. Each group produced an artwork and they were then told to rate the painting work of other groups, including their own. At the end result, one group that is pre-dominantly male-based has given their own artwork very high ratings, while the ratings of others were low. This shows the differences between self-admiration and egotistical thinking, as they are putting themselves in best priority. Positive Distinctiveness are †¦. That is recognized as being special and different to what is already common†¦

The Effects of Credit Management on the Profitability of Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria (a Case Study of Guiness Nigeria Plc

Introduction The expansion of International Trade and the accessibility to foreign stock and debt market has given rise to an increase debate on whether or not there is need to be a global set of accounting standards. As companies compete globally for scarce resources, investors and creditors as well as multinational companies are required to bear the cost of reconciling financial statements that are prepared using national standards. It was argued that a common set of practices will provide a â€Å"level playing field† for all companies worldwide (Murphy, 2000).IFRS are standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). They include: International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Accounting Standards (IAS) and interpretation originated by the International Reporting Standards Interpretation Committee (IFRSIC) (Oyedele, 2011). IFRS represent a single set of high quality, globally accepted accounting standards that c an enhance comparability of financial reporting across the globe.This increased comparability of financial information could result in better investment decisions and ensure a more optimal allocation of resources across the global economy (Jacob and Madu, 2009). Cai and Wong (2010) posited that having a single set of internationally acceptable financial reporting standards will eliminate the need for restatement of financial statements, yet ensure accounting diversity among countries, thus facilitating cross-border movement of capital and greater integration of the global financial markets.History and Development of IFRS Globalization of capital markets is an irreversible process because of the development and growth in science and technology; there are many potential benefits to be gained from mutually recognized and respected international accounting standards. To bridge the gap between accounting standards among countries, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) w as founded in 1973 by a group of professional accounting practitioners.The IASC was to formulate uniform and global accounting standards aimed at reducing the discrepancies in international accounting principles and reporting practices. In this light, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) was established. Since its establishment the IASC has actively been championing the uniformity and standardization of accounting principles for over two decades (Carlson, 1997). In April 2001, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) took over the setting of International Accounting Standards from the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC).Thenceforth, the IASB updated the already existing International Accounting Standards and referred to them as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Many of the standards forming part of IFRS are known by the older name of International Accounting Standards (IAS). IASs were issued between 1973 and 2001 by the Board of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC). In Nigeria, adoption of IFRS was launched in September 2010, by the Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-kuye (OFR).The adoption was organized such that all stakeholders use the IFRS by January 2014. The adoption was scheduled to start with Public Listed Entities and Significant Public Interest Entities who are expected to adopt the IFRS by January 2012. All Other Public Interest Entities are expected to mandatorily adopt the IFRS for statutory purposes by January 2013, and Small and Medium-sized Entities shall mandatorily adopt IFRS by January 2014. The Importance of IFRSThe adoption of uniform standards cut the costs of doing business across borders by reducing the need for supplementary information. They make information more comparable, thereby enhancing evaluation and analysis by users of financial statements (Adekoye, 2011). Users become more confident of the inf ormation they are provided with and presumably, this reduces uncertainty, promotes an efficient allocation of resources and reduces capital costs (Ahmed, 2011).Esptein (2009), emphasized the fact that universal financial reporting standards will increase market liquidity, decrease transaction costs for investors, lower cost of capital and facilitate international capital formation and flows, various studies conducted on the adoption of IFRS at country level indicated that countries that adopted IFRS experienced huge increases in direct foreign investment (DFI) flows across countries (Irvine and Lucas, 2006). Cai & Wong (2010),in a study of global capital markets demonstrated that capital markets of countries that had adopted IFRS recorded high degree of ntegration among them after their IFRS adoption compared with the period before adoption. In a study on financial data of public listed companies in 15 member states of the European Union (EU) before and after full adoption of IFRS i n 2005, Chai at al (2010), found that majority of accounting quality indicators improved after IFRS adoption in the EU. The IFRS enhances comparability and transparency of reported results, easier cross-border stock exchange listings and foreign capital funding, additional and better quality financial information for shareholders and supervisory authorities, improved quality and efficiency of financial report.Impact of IFRS As a major change program, IFRS conversion affects many parts of our organization, including systems, processes and the wider business. Therefore ultimately, IFRS success depends heavily on how effectively accountants around the world are informed about the process and their willingness to adapt to or embrace change. IFRS could have a positive or negative impact on the financial statements. For example, recognition of interest income using effective interest method may negatively impact profitability as some of the credit related fees will form part of effective interest rate computation.However, the extent of the impact usually depends on the accounting policies adopted. The impact of IFRS transcends beyond accounting and financial reporting contrary to general misconception. Beyond finance, strategies, processes, people and systems will also be impacted by the conversion exercise. The following are some of the areas in which IFRS can affect our businesses: Systems and processes: IFRS will definitely change the overall presentation and contents of financial statements e. . more disclosures is required in the financial statements; consequently, there is a need to make amendments such as reconfiguration of existing systems, interface and mapping changes, changes to the chart of accounts etc. to generate IFRS compliant financial statements. Performance Management: Performance measures are going to be significantly affected as the effective interest calculation of income, impairment calculation and fair-valuation calculation will impact perfor mance results.Staff whose performance targets have previously been set using Nigerian GAAP calculations will need to be informed of the impact of IFRS on attaining these targets on their remuneration and the amount of effort that would be required to meet these targets under IFRS. Management reporting: Extensive impact on management reporting resulting in new forms of analysis and reporting. People and Communication: The conversion to IFRS will create a competency and knowledge especially financial control staff. However extensive training and communication plans will be in place to bridge those gaps.In addition to the aforementioned, the conversion exercise may have impacts on a large number of departments outside Finance including Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management, Business Development, Internal audit etc. For example, HR personnel will need to understand the impact of IFRS on staff loans. Some Key Risks Associated With Converting to IFRS Some of the key ris ks management should be aware of include: Lack of effective communication of the impacts of change to stakeholders the board, audit committees, investors and analyst, the impacts on internal controls and the related processes.Excessive costs and work levels resulting from ineffective planning and the inability by management to conclude and certify on the design or effectiveness of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting. Enforcement of Financial reporting Standards in Countries around the Globe and the Key Difficulties Faced in the Implementation of the Financial reporting Standards NIGERIA There are a number of institutions and agencies in Nigeria which provide guidelines that determine what information, and in what format such information, should be included in financial reports.Such institutions are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria n Accounting Standards Boards (NASB). Now the Financial Reporting Commercial (FRC), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). These institutions are ready to give up on Nigeria’s GAAP and adopt IFRS from 2012 (Hassab, Epps and Said, 2001; Iyoha and Jimoh, 2011). Mukthar, (2009) sserts that, there is no better time than now to contribute to the debate for the need and feasibility of adopting the IFRS as a financial reporting framework in Nigeria. This is due to the pronouncements by the banker’s committee (a committee of Managing Directors of banks and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to the effect that banks and all listed companies should prepare financial statements in accordance with the IFRS. Such pronouncements were made considering that complying with IFRS will facilitate transparency and lead to more disclosure in financial statements which will be useful to stakeholders, especially f oreign stakeholders.IFRS-based financial statements stand to have added advantage in their business relationships with their correspondent banks, multilateral institutions and international investors. Companies that prepare IFRS-based financial statements are also expected to get some boost in their rating. Adoption of the IFRS in Nigeria commenced in January, 2012. UNITED KINGDOM The enforcement of IFRS is under European Enforcement Coordination sessions (EECS) and Committee of European Securities Regulations (CESR). In the UK the body responsible for enforcement of the IFRS is the Financial Reporting Review Panel.Rolf (2010) suggests in through the CESR Annual Reports in 2010 that harmonization and the enforcement of the IFRS in Europe facilitate an efficient single capital market in Europe within the context of evolving EU legislation. UK’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has since pronounced that publicly traded companies in UK should apply the International Accoun ting Standard in their individual financial reporting and that all EU listed companies were required to prepare their consolidated Financial Statements under IFRS effective from January, 2005 (ICAEW, 2006’ AECA, 2010 and Rolf, 2010).PricewaterhouseCoopers (2009) has confirmed that the U. K has since complied with the requirement; also small companies (SMEs) were required to report under IFRS effective from January 1, 2012. TURKEY Sigma, (1995) and Sigma and Hosal, 2005) observed that in 1980, a series of economic decisions following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recommendations were taken to reduce the inflation rate, increase production, and support importing activities. In the reconstruction period starting in the early 1980s, Act No. 499 was put into effect in 1981 by the Parliament to prepare the grounds for establishing the Capital Markets Board (CMB). BRAZIL Brazil is incorporating its accounting standards with the IFRS. According to UNCTAD (2008), the main institutions leading the convergence process are the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM), the Brazilian Institute of Independent Auditors (IBRACON), and the Central Bank of Brazil. A number of developments have recently advanced the country’s progress towards IFRS.The Central Bank of Brazil announced that as from 2010 all financial institutions under its supervision will be required to prepare their consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. UNCTAD (2008) also reports that the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission has promoted efforts by companies listed in capital markets in Brazil to gradually adopt IFRS. For example, the CVM has been working more closely with IBRACON to accelerate convergence with IFRS and regulatory members.Companies listed on Sao Paulo Stock Exchange’s New Market are required to provide financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS or to the US-GAAP, in addition to those that are prepared under Brazilian accou nting standards. The Committee of Accounting Pronouncements was set up in Brazil, whose objective will be to achieve full adoption of IFRS in the country. INDIA Ravindra and Shrikhadi (2010) observed that there is a growing international consensus on the International Financial Reporting Standards as acceptable standards for assessment of the financial health of a company across the globe. Based on the recommendations of the core group set up to facilitate IFRS convergence in India, its Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) announced the approach and timelines for achieving convergence with IFRS. Also the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) commenced the process of issuing IFRS equivalent accounting standards. ICAI stated that for companies with exposure in European markets through equity or debt, transparency on IFRS is essential to cheap capital and hence, the proactive approach. ICAI set a time line of 2011 for compulsory switch over to the new standards.SOUTH AFRICA The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Accounting Practices Board (APB) of South Africa has recognized the need to be part of a global economy with respect to financial reporting. Local accounting standards in South Africa have been harmonized with international accounting standards since 1993. In February 2004, a decision was taken by the APB to issue the text of IFRS as South African statements of GAAP without any amendments (SIACA, 2006).The reasons for the ongoing harmonizing and the issuing of the text of IFRS as South African statements of GAAP were: for South African companies to attract foreign investment, to provide credibility to the financial statements of South African companies in the global market, and to do away with the need for dual listed entities to prepare financial statements in accordance with more than one set of accounting standards (Deloitte, 2006). ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe faces a challenge of h igh inflation that is affecting the wholesome application of the IFRS.The Institution of Chartered Accountants Zimbabwe (ICAZ, 2010) recommends that the IFRS should be in full application by end of 2010. Although Zimbabwe has economic challenges, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange it has said that IFRS compliance is mandatory to all listed companies in its Stock Exchange (Tom, 2010). Currently, a ZSE panel of experts is responsible for checking IFRS compliance. It encourages accurate and correct presentation of companies’ financial accounts including historical data and internationally comparable balance sheets and disclosure.This makes it easier for investors, including external investors. The ZSE (ZSE, 2010) added that IFRS for SME is compulsory which was expected to commence by January, 2011, also the local GAAP which was based on the 1998 version was expected to translate into IFRS. The local tax authority has yet to adopt or convergence plans of tax reporting to the IFRS. KENYA Kenya is one of the earliest countries to adopt the use of the IAS and IFRS in 1999. UNCTAD (2008) confirms that over the years, Kenya has developed a wealth of experience in the use of IFRS, which provide useful insights in he development of strategies by International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR) to aid other countries in the implementation of IFRS. There a lone stock market in Kenya, the Nairobi Stock Exchange, in which the shares of about 50 companies are traded. In addition to these listed companies, there is also a sizeable number of companies which are either multinationals or companies owned privately by the nationals, as well as a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In terms of financial reporting, all the companies are required to prepare financial statements based on IFRS.In most cases, however, SMEs would prepare financial statements for use by the tax authorities or by the banks for purposes of accessing credit. Other public inter est companies such as banks, insurance companies, cooperative societies and non-governmental organizations also prepare accounts in accordance with IFRS (Caroline, 2010). UGANDA The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU, 2009) stipulates that Uganda has adopted IASs, SIC IFRSs and IFRIC without amendment since 1998. All openly accountable bodies are obliged to present their financial statements in compliance with full IFRS.In additional, Uganda has instructed on the application of IFRS for SMEs at the beginning of 2010. Uganda Security Exchange (USE, 2010) directed that all foreign or national companies listed on the stock exchange to comply with IFRS when the time of reporting was due. TANZANIA According to Tanzania’s National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA, 2009), Tanzania shifted to IFRSs, IPSASs, and ISAs with effect from July, 2004. In that effect, compliance required all preparations of financial statements to be in accordance with the IFRS s no matter the size of the firm.Pacter (2010), observed that publicly accountable entities were required to use full IFRS including the entities that offer shares to the public, financial institutions such as banks, insurance, pension funds, mutual funds, security brokers or dealers. Also, entities that have essential public service such as utilities; and non-publicly accountable entities are permitted to use the IFRS for SMEs. In that case, all bodies using IFRS for SMEs should apply those pronouncements as issued by the IASB in full and without modification. CANADAIn January 2006, the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) adopted a strategic plan for embracing IFRSs across the whole country for all public companies and other profit-oriented enterprises that are responsible to large or diverse groups of shareholders in Canada. From that time, AcSB proposed on its section 1506 to house the approval of IFRSs (Peter, Michael, and Ken, 2008, Deloitte, 2011). Peter (2008) recommended that: â€Å"The AcSB has recently confirmed January 1, 2011 as the changeover date to which IFRSs was supposed to replace current Canadian Standards and interpretations as GAAP† UNITED STATES OF AMERICAAICPA (2011) asserts that as far as the USA is concerned; the enforcement of IFRS has taken the following forms. From 2001 to 2004 USA has made effort to implement IFRS. In 2005; The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a roadmap allowing IFRS filings without GAAP reconciliation for foreign firms by 2009. In 2006; The IASB and the FASB agree to work on a number of major projects. In 2007; The SEC announced that it will accept from foreign filers in the U. S. financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB, without reconciliation with U.S. GAAP. Also, the SEC issued a Concept Release asking if U. S. public companies should be given an option to follow IFRS instead of U. S. GAAP. In2008;The SEC was expected to vote on a proposal creating a tim eline for moving U. S. public companies to IFRS, also, the FASB and the IASB updated the Norwalk Agreement with the goal of accelerating convergence. In 2009; the IASB ended its moratorium, set in 2005, on the required application of new accounting standards and major amendments to existing standards. The board had frozen its rules while more countries adopted IFRS.In 2011; Canadian and Indian companies are slated to begin using the global standards, and Japan was slated to have eliminated all major differences between Japanese GAAP and IFRS. In the United States, questions concerning IFRS are expected to be included in the Uniform CPA examination. Year 2013 is the earliest year projected by accounting firms for mandating that large U. S. public companies convert their financials to IFRS, year that the updated Norwalk Agreement expects all major capital markets to operate from one set of accounting tandards (AICPA, 2011). The year 2015 is earliest year the SEC would allow public com panies to convert their financials to IFRS (AICPA, 2011). JAPAN Japan financial reporting is guided by both international and domestic factors which fall under the Accounting Standards Board of Japan (ASBJ). From 2004 to 2010, the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accounts (JICPA) along with ASBJ has made a tremendous move towards the harmonization between Japanese GAAP and IFRS. Some problems remained unsolved as they have to be worked on by 30 June, 2011 (Afaanz, 2011).According to ( Global Glimpses, 2009) and (Smart, 2012), Japan allowed a number of international companies the use of IFRS and some local companies to use them on their own choice for the year ending March 31, 2010. In 2012, the decision about the mandatory adoption of IFRS by 2016 is expected by the year 2013. HONG KONG Starting in 2005, Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (HKFRS) were made identical to the IFRS. While Hong Kong had adopted many of the earlier IAS as Hong Kong standards, some had not been adopted, including IAS 38 and IAS 39.All of the December, 2003 improvements and new and revised IFRS issued in 2004 and 2005 started taking effect in Hong Kong beginning from 2010. In 2005, implementing Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards, the challenge sets out a summary of each standard and interpretation. The key changes it makes to accounting in Hong Kong, the most significant implications of its adoption, and related anticipated future developments. There are some Hong Kong standards and several Hong Kong interpretations that do not have counterparts in IFRS.Also there were several minor wording differences between HKFRS and IFRS (Deloitte, 2008 Tyrone, 2010). CHINA Chinese government had conducted series of accounting standard reforms in 1992, 2001 and 2006 in which each replaced the previous. According to Gingham and Haitao (2010) the Chinese accounting standards were considered to be in great conformity with IFRS. This developments confirm response to the emerging stock market and the increasing demand of foreign investors in China.Karthik, Donavan and Nancy (2005) and Romanna (2010) have however remarked that although in 2005 China converged with IFRS, but not in full compliance with IFRS requirements. The Chinese Accounting Standards Committee (CASC) is the body charged with developing accounting standards in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance (Elmer, 2011). CASC had issued new standards regarding cash flow statement, lease and other standards in conformity with the IFRS. In February 2006, the Chinese Ministry of Finance promulgated the introduction of Chinese Accounting standards based on IFRS.In January, 2007, China was obliged to adopt the IFRS so as to get placed into the global capital market (Zhang, Andrew and Collier, 2007). China is considered being the fourth world economy with far reaching economic effect regarding the application of IFRS. Afaanz (2011) argues that although China is adopting the IFRS there are challenges converg ing domestic standards with the IFRS expected to have been concluded by December 2011, and the application of IFRS to all companies big, small and medium effective January 2012.