Coca Colas Business Policy in Zambia and El Salvador

Coca Colas Business Policy in Zambia and El Salvador Introduction According to the Word Bank, about 1.35 billion people in the world today live below the international poverty line, which is set at $1.25 per day. In addition, it is estimated that the recent global financial and economic recession increased this number by 64 million people.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Coca Cola’s Business Policy in Zambia and El Salvador specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What this means is that a significant number of people in the world today live under extreme poverty (Raman 103). As a result of this, it is important to encourage investment in the private sector. Investment in the private sector is important considering the fact that the ability of governments to foster development and provide aid is limited. Right now, the government is under a lot of pressure to provide the citizens with basic infrastructure using the meager resources. The resources are overstretc hed, meaning that the government needs help from the private sector. Investors in the private sector will provide the citizens with, among others, employment and infrastructure. For more than three decades, private corporations around the world have emerged as essential pillars as far as economic development is concerned. The private corporations have created job opportunities and other benefits in the society, contributing significantly to the reduction of poverty in the world (Walsh and Dowding 106). There are debates revolving around the impact of private investors on the global economy. Analysts are especially concerned with the impacts of these organizations on the economy of the developing countries. The debates notwithstanding, it is important to note that private corporations have significantly improved the economy as far as the developing nations are concerned.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The organizations have improved the business environment in these countries, in addition to providing the citizens with employment and other social amenities. Private organizations are aware of their impacts on the economy of the developing nations. They are aware of the fact that their operations affect the life of individuals in the community within which they are operating. As a result of this, the organizations recognize that their success or failure impacts on the community they are operating from. It is as a result of this realization that such companies have taken the initiative to transfer skills and knowledge from the developed world to the third world economies (Stanford 54). The current paper is written against this backdrop. In this paper, the author focuses on the operations of a multinational company with significant impacts on the regional and global economy. The companies selected for this analysis are Coca Cola and SABM iller. In this report, the author focuses on the business policy adopted by the Coca Cola Company and SABMiller. In addition, the author critically analyzes how the two companies have assisted the government in reducing levels of poverty in the country. The report is a case study of the operation of the two companies in two developing countries. The two countries are El Salvador and Zambia. The impacts of the two companies on these two economies are critically analyzed. Coca Cola’s Business Policy in Zambia and El Salvador Zambia: Background Information In spite of the fact that Zambia has recorded a positive economic growth in the past five years, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The country attained independence in 1964. Immediately after independence, the country had the potential to emerge as one of the leading economies in Africa.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Coca Cola’s Business Policy in Zambia and El Sa lvador specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the economy of the country declined sharply in the 1990s. Analysts blame the economic decline in the country on corruption. Corruption increased immediately after independence, and it persisted into the 1990s. The country’s economy started to recover in 2003. For the next five years, the country recorded an average of 5% in economic growth. The positive growth is largely attributed to the establishment of a favorable environment, which was conducive to investment. The country attracted investments from other nations, both within and outside Africa. The boom in copper mining is another reason why the country recorded a positive economic growth. Other factors leading to this growth post- 2003 include low inflation rates and improved political stability. In 2005, the country was relieved of most of its foreign debt. To this end, the country received a 4 billion USD debt relief. In 2008, th e price of copper in the international market plummeted, which affected the economy of this country negatively. The decline in the price of copper on the global market was brought about by the recent economic recession. The economy of the country revived in 2009 when the effects of the economic recession on the global economy tapered off. Since then, the country’s economy has continued to grow at an average rate of 6.3 percent per annum. However, in spite of this impressive economic growth, about 64% of the population in the country lived below the poverty line by the end of 2006. The current macroeconomic outlook in Zambia is positive. However, there are various factors that continue to negatively affect economic development. For example, more than 80% of the nation’s working population is involved in agriculture (Sherelle 38).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More El Salvador: Background Information Currently, El Salvador is recovering from the effects of ten years of civil war. It is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. A series of natural disasters, coupled with the plummeting prices of coffee in the world market, have worsened the situation. The economy of the country recorded a steady positive growth between 1996 and 2006. The economic growth was especially significant after dollarization in 2001. According to Mexico Food (71), dollarization has increased the cost of living. In addition, dollarization has reduced interest rates in the country. In spite of these positive impacts, dollarization has not significantly reduced poverty levels in the country. The country has experienced labor shortages in the recent past as a result of migrations. Most of the citizens have migrated into the United States of America and into other western nations. The effects of poverty in the country vary from one group to the other. For example, and a ccording to Mexico Food (72), poverty levels are disproportionately higher among women and farm workers compared to the rest of the population. After the civil war, the country was faced with additional challenges, including violence and crime. Rate of crime has increased as a result of increased economic inequalities and pervasive poverty. Other factors attributed to the rise in crime include increased access to illicit firearms, underemployment, and unemployment. All these factors have negatively affected economic development in the country (Mexico Food 71). The success of efforts made by the government and other stakeholders to revive the economy is hindered by these factors. Coca Cola- SABMiller Value Chain: Background Information Coca Cola is one of the most popular multinational corporations in the world. It has established local operations in various countries around the world. The bottling of Coca Cola products is carried out by local companies, which are usually under the m anagement of local investors. Since the company was started in 1852, it has developed more than 500 still and sparkling brands of soft drinks. In addition to this, the company has operations in more than 200 countries around the world. In these countries, the country works in collaboration with more than three hundred bottling partners. Coca Cola manufactures various products. The products include, among others, syrups, beverage bases, and concentrates. The manufactured products are then sold to the bottling companies (DATAMONITOR 2). The company has operations in El Salvador and Zambia. The bottling operations in El Salvador and Zambia are carried out by SABMiller. In both countries, Coca cola has very few employees. Majority of employees are drawn from the local population. The few employees shipped in by the company are mainly tasked with the responsibility of providing technical and marketing advice to the local operators (Market Watch 22). In spite of the fact that El Salvador is geographically small, it is an important market for Coca Cola products in the region. On the other hand, Zambia medium sized as far as physical boundaries are concerned. As a result of this, Zambia is one of the top twenty markets for Coca Cola products in Africa (Sherelle 39). It is a fact beyond doubt that competition is stiff in the two markets. However, Coca Cola has countered this by developing an elaborate business policy. Coca Cola Company’s business policy is aimed at promoting continual growth in El Salvador and Zambia. Coca Cola Company controls the largest market share in both countries compared to the competitors. For instance, in the category of sparkling beverages, Coca Cola accounts for 51% of the market share in El Salvador and 73% in Zambia (Dibadj and Powers 111). In 2009, the profits of Coca Cola in Zambia declined significantly. The decline was attributed to the company’s heavy investment in manufacturing glass bottles. The cost of manufacturing the bottles was very high as a result of decreased supply. The revenues generated by the company from its operations in El Salvador have recorded a consistent positive growth in the past five years. It is a fact that the prices of the company’s products in El Salvador are significantly lower compared to those in Zambia. However, the company has managed to increase the revenues in this country by increasing the sales volumes (Madhavan 35). Coca Cola’s Business Policy in Zambia and El Salvador: Macroeconomics Job Creation As already indicated earlier in this paper, the number of individuals employed directly by Coca cola and SABMiller in these countries is very small. However, the value chain resulting from the operations of the two companies in the two countries employs a large number of people. For example, it is estimated that more than 3,810 jobs are created by the value chain in Zambia. The implication here is that one direct job from the Coca Cola-SABMiller value s ystem generates 10 other jobs in the Zambian economy. The value chain is responsible for more than 4,300 formal jobs in El Salvador, which translates to more than 1% of all formal jobs in the country. The implication here is that for every direct job created by the Coca Cola- SABMiller value system, there are three formal jobs created in the El Salvador economy. Most of the formal jobs linked to the Coca Cola- SABMiller value chain in the two countries are created in sales, distribution, bottling, and non- farm supplies’ sectors. In addition to the formal jobs, the value chain in the two countries has created a significant number of informal jobs. The informal jobs are found in the retailing of products and harvesting of sugar cane sectors. The value chain system has created more than 65,000 retail outlets in El Salvador and more than 26,000 retail outlets in Zambia (Nevin 44). Revenue Distribution The revenue generated from the sale of products manufactured by this company i s shared among all the partners in the value chain. In El Salvador, each 12 ounce bottle is sold at 4.25 USD. In 2010, the cost of a bottle was 62% of the selling price. The recommended price of the same bottle in Zambia is 5.04 USD. In 2010, the cost of one bottle was 76% of the selling price. Each value chain partner receives a profit that is pegged on sales volume and the cost structure. In 2009, the sugar farmer in El Salvador received 2.2% of the profits. The retailer and the distributor in the country received 35.5% and 56% of the profits respectively. There are variations in cost structures and the types of business conducted by the company in the two countries. As a result of this, revenue distribution in the two countries is significantly different (Sellers 141). Tax Contributions The revenue realized by the government in the two countries as a result of taxes imposed on the two companies varies. The revenue largely depends on the taxation systems adopted by specific countr ies. The total revenue in terms of taxes collected by the government in El Salvador from the operations of the two companies is significant. In the past five years, the government has collected approximately 51 million USD from the two companies in terms of taxes. In Zambia, the system’s tax contribution in the past five years is approximately 53.5 USD (Walsh and Dowding 109). Sourcing suppliers The Coca Cola-SABMiller value chain extends beyond the borders of the two countries. In 2010, the total amount that was spent on procurement in Zambia was 26 million USD. Seventy five percent of the amount was used in purchasing inputs from the region or from other countries in the world. In El Salvador, 73 million USD was used to procure inputs. Sixty four percent of the money was used in buying inputs from other countries in the world. Supplies are mainly sourced from Central America in the case of El Salvador and from South Africa in the case of Zambia. In attempts to spur the grow th of the local economies, SABMiller and Coca Cola endeavor to source supplies locally in both countries. However, most countries in the developing world are not in a position to provide most of the inputs required for the smooth running of the two companies. One explanation for this is the limited capacity of industries in these economies. The main factors taken into consideration by the two companies when purchasing supplies are quality, availability, and price. In many cases, local suppliers lack the technical ability and capacity to meet the system’s demand. In addition, the business policies adopted by SABMiller and Coca Cola with regard to environmental and labor standards are quite stringent. As a result, most companies in the developing economies lose the opportunity to partner with Coca Cola (Madhavan 45). Livelihoods Informal and Formal Sectors Just like in most other developing nations, the jobs created by the Coca Cola- SABMiller value chain in El Salvador and Zam bia are mainly in the informal sector as opposed in the formal sector. In Zambia, the informal sector accounts for about 90% of the nation’s economy. In El Salvador, the informal sector is responsible for more than 60% of the economy. Informal workers toil in the sugarcane fields, as well as in distribution and retailing channels. Although the jobs in the two countries are not regulated, they are important for the survival of the poor in the two nations. The livelihood and job security of workers in the two nations depend on whether they are formally or informally employed. The individuals working in the formal sector are entitled to social welfare. In addition, they can effectively negotiate with the employer. In contrast, their counterparts in the informal sector lack such rights. The individuals engaged in the informal sector are forced to endure unpleasant working conditions. The lack social security and are disproportionately affected by fluctuations in the market. Most people lack the opportunity to engage in formal work. As a result, they have no option but to stick to the informal sector (Regassa and Corradino 107). Benefits, Living Wages, and Minimum Wages In El Salvador, the employees receiving the highest pay in the Coca Cola- SABMiller system are in formal employment. The employees include those engaged in the sugar mills, bottling company, and distribution outlets. The purchasing power of the formal employees is very high compared to that of the informal employees. In addition, those who own retail shops have a higher income than those working in the sugarcane fields. The income of the latter is slightly above the minimum wage. In Zambia, formal employees in the Coca Cola-SABMiller system receive salaries that are above the average wage set in the country. The employees of Zambia Breweries receive the very high salaries compared to the rest (Sherelle 39). Capacity Building and Training Both companies have invested heavily in efforts to impr ove the capacity, skills, and knowledge of business partners in the value chain. The efforts include, among others, providing sugar producers with credit programs and technical assistance. For instance, SABMiller, under Industrias La Constancia (ILC), invested 800,000 USD in the training of workers in 2011 alone. The objective of this investment was to improve the capacity of the employees, as well as help them to advance their careers. On the other hand, Zambia Breweries spends about 95,000 USD each year to train employees. Zambia Breweries’ sales representatives are encouraged to mentor retailers and assist them gain skills necessary for business development (Raman 112). Empowerment According to Nevin (47), it is hard to quantify empowerment. However, it is one of the most important aspects of corporations investing in developing and transitional economies. Nevin (47) notes that empowerment among employees is evaluated by the degree to which they are capable of coming toget her to make collective bargains. In addition, empowerment among employees is determined by their effectiveness in using channels of communication to receive audience. Empowering employees in the developing world is very important. It ensures that they benefit from economic growth brought about by increased investment. When people are empowered, they become assets to the company. They protect the business against potential conflicts and emerging tensions. In addition, they provide the company with insights that help in product innovation and in improving production processes (Dibadj and Powers 134). Workers in the Informal Sector The capacity of employees in the informal sector to come together and agitate for the changes they need in practices and policies is very limited. The limited capacity is observed among independent retailers, distributors, and sugarcane harvesters in the Coca Cola-SABMiller value chain. The individuals in these sectors are incapable of organizing themselves. In most cases, they are incapable of influencing business policies in the company or in the government. In Zambia, the National Association of Marketers is charged with the responsibility of communicating with the relevant stakeholders on such issues as marketplace amenities, local authorities’ fees, and licensing. However, the number of informal employees joining this organization is very small (Sherelle 41). Price Negotiations In most cases, sugar producers are incapable of determining the price of the commodity. Regulatory restrictions, such as quotas, make it very difficult to include farmers in price negotiations. The difficulty is observed in both El Salvador and Zambia. Despite the fact that the costs of inputs increase on a regular basis, the farmers are not in a position to negotiate with the millers. In both countries, there are organizations representing the interests of producers. However, small-scale producers remain unrepresented (Sellers 140). Stability and Se curity Sugarcane Harvesting Harvesting sugarcane is a very rigorous process. Laborers working in the fields have suffered from such injuries as poisoning and burns. Poor wages and lack of access to basic amenities and medical services are cited as some of the main factors exposing workers to such dangers (Walsh and Dowding 110). Crime The level of crime in El Salvador has remained very high since the civil war. Partners in the Coca Cola-SABMiller value chain, including distributors, suppliers, and sugarcane producers, report cases of vandalism, extortion, and muggings on a regular basis. For example, the area within which ILC is located is regarded as a crime zone. Consequently, the company has put in place round-the-clock security programs to enhance the safety of the members of staff. Additionally, ILC came up with a program to train young men who were involved in crime in the past. They are trained on how they can start small businesses to improve their life. Leaders in Nejapa, w here ILC is located, have pointed out that poverty is the main reason why rate of crime is very high in the town. Owners of distribution businesses are afraid of expanding their businesses because of the high levels of organized crime (Regassa and Corradino 109). Dangerous Roads The condition of the roads in Zambia is quite poor. The poor conditions of the roads are a threat to the safety of truck drivers, who work for long hours (Sherelle 42). Women Participation and Gender Diversity Coca Cola and SABMiller promote the participation of women and minorities in the labor market in both countries. In the developing world, women are disadvantaged, especially with respect to access to healthcare, employment, and education. They are denied basic rights because of culturally-determined gender roles in the community. Their opinion does not count in the decision making process, and they are especially prone to violence (Market Watch 23). Women and SABMiller In both countries, formal jobs ar e largely dominated by men compared to women. The company has a strong policy that discourages discrimination on the basis of gender. However, most of the work in the bottling company requires physical strength. As a result, it is considered as a man’s job. In addition, insecurity has contributed to the underrepresentation of women in the value chain. The entire Coca Cola-SABMiller value chain is dominated by male workers. There are various factors responsible for this underrepresentation, including insecurity (Mexico Food 73). Women in Distribution In most cases, women work together with their husbands in retail and distribution outlets. The number of female business owners in the two countries is very small. For instance, the two largest distribution outlets in Zambia are owned by couples. Stanford (54) notes that women in Zambia are concerned about gender discrimination with regard to access to business growth and career advancement opportunities. Distribution in both coun tries is characterized by insecurities, which discourage women from owning such businesses. In both countries, a significant number of women own and operate small retail outlets. Most outlets are close to their homes. As a result, they work and take care of their families at the same time. Seventy six percent of retail outlet owners in El Salvador are women. In Zambia, 35% of the outlets are either owned or managed by a woman. Zambia Breweries and ILC train small scale retailers. However, women retailers in Zambia face various challenges accessing credit services. As a result, their capacity to grow is very limited. In El Salvador, the situation is significantly different from Zambia. Most of the women interviewed in one study pointed out that they accessed credit facilities with the same ease as male retailers (Regassa and Corradino 107). Sustainability and the Environment Both companies have demonstrated their commitment to environmental and social sustainability. Both of them hav e elaborate corporate social responsibility (CSR) systems. They are independently evaluated each year (DATAMONITOR 8). Depending on their supply chain and business operations, multinationals determine access to quality water among members of the community. Companies operating in close proximity to local communities give back to the society by sponsoring clean water initiatives and ensuring that they treat their wastewater. In this regard, businesses should ensure that their operations do not interfere with the ability of the locals to access quality water. Coca Cola Company and SABMiller are registered members of CEO Water Mandate (CWM). According to the stipulations of CWM, member companies are committed to strengthening water sustainability practices and policies (Market Watch 25). In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly pointed out that human beings have a right to clean water. The Assembly encouraged countries and multinationals to transfer technology, build capacity, and provide necessary resources to third world countries to assist them provide affordable, safe, accessible, and clean drinking water to their populations. During the convention, The Assembly averred that 900 million people in the world lacked access to clean and safe water (Walsh and Dowding 113). Just like in the developed world, the agricultural sector consumes more water in third world countries compared to other sectors. Water is the major component of the products manufactured by Coca cola. In addition, water is used as a coolant for machines. Other areas where water is used include in washing facilities and in the manufacturing processes. The value chain significantly affects the farms in the third world. In Zambia, farmers use a lot of water to wash sugarcane after harvesting. However, the use of water during harvesting in El Salvador is less compared to Zambia. The major reason for this is that it is usually wet during harvesting in El Salvador (Dibadj and Powers 145). Coc a Cola is a registered member of Bonsucro, which was established to limit the negative impacts of sugarcane farming and processing. As a member of this organization, Coca Cola encourages sugarcane producers to use environment-friendly practices, such as drip irrigation. The reduction of negative effects on the environment effects is appraised by independent evaluators. Currently, Coca Cola is working with producers in Zambia and in El Salvador to design pilot projects that will benefit the environment and the producers (Nevin 45). In the two countries, the Coca Cola-SABMiller value chain system is located close to sources of water. The same water is used in other industrial, agricultural, and domestic processes. The main issue in Zambia is access to water. On the other hand, the main issue in El Salvador is availability of water. Managers in the bottling plants engage members of the community by showing them how to use water to benefit everyone. In addition, they train them on how t o use water with minimal negative effects on the environment. Zambia Breweries and ILC observe the requirements of the water stewardship committee in Coca cola (Raman 103). SABMiller ‘Water Dialogues’ One of the major plants operated by Zambia Breweries is located near residential areas. The plant supplies clean water to the residents of two nearby towns. Residents of another town use water from an adjacent spring, which is also used by the plant. The plant has provided the community with several standpipes of clean water for free. In exchange, the community protects the plant’s pipes from vandals. One of the major plants operated by ILC, as well as residents of the surrounding community, uses water from the San Antonio River. ILC is treats all wastewater before it is discharging into the river, but other industries in the area do not. For some time, the community assumed that ILC was among the industries releasing untreated water into the river. ILC, together wi th the local authority, informed the community that wastewater from the plant was treated. The company entered into discussions with the community on what should be done to deal with the pollution caused by the other industries. The other industries have started treating their waste water. They are now working together with members of the community to conserve the environment (Raman 110). Packaging and Recycling Landfill waste is one of the most challenging waste management issues in the developing world. Contaminants from the landfills leak and contaminate groundwater, endangering the health of members of the surrounding communities. SABMiller has initiated a recycling program in both countries. 70% of all Coca Cola products in Zambia are sold in returnable bottles, with the rest sold either in plastic bottles or in aluminum cans. The use of returnable bottles is eco-friendly because they are returned to the company, washed, and reused. Coca Cola and SABMiller had proposed a progra m to recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles. However, due to the limitations of the Zambian recycling industries, the program has not taken off. In El Salvador, 52% of the products are sold in plastic bottles, 35% in returnable bottles, and 9% in cans. The recycling plants operated by ILC are very efficient, but they were adversely affected by the economic recession. As a result, some of them closed down (Sellers 144). Products and Marketing Beverage companies are tasked with the responsibility of making sure their products are safe for consumption. The companies should realize that some people in the society may be negatively affected by their products. In the developing world, these companies should ensure that their message is presented in a way understandable to consumers (DATAMONITOR 7). Product Portfolio The company’s product portfolio in the two countries is fairly limited. Most people in the countries consume sparkling beverages. Sales of juice in El Salvador have continued to rise in the past two years. The company has more than 500 brands and more than 3,300 products (Market Watch 25). Consumer Perceptions and Marketing Coca Cola has spent over 5 million USD in marketing its products in El Salvador. The brand is associated with success and inspiration in the two countries. The products are integral parts of family and cultural celebrations. Fanta is the most popular product among children in the two countries. The business policy adopted by Coca Cola includes a Global Responsible Marketing Policy (GRMP). The policy discourages the marketing of the company’s products to children aged less than twelve years (DATAMONITOR 9). Nutritional Labeling Under GRMP, Coca Cola committed to display nutritional labels on all its products by the end of 2010. The products sold in returnable bottles in both countries did not have the labels as of 2009. The company is reluctant to provide such information on returnable bottles because it will force it to replace all bottles that are currently in circulation. In 2011, the company established a telephone number that consumers could call and get such information. Consumers in both countries point out that they do not comprehend the information on the cans and plastic bottles. In addition, they do not think that the company should provide such information on returnable bottles (Madhavan 41). Under GRMP, the company commits to measure and monitor the degree to which the policy is adhered to. In addition, it has come up with a Review Process to make sure that the policy is fully implemented. The findings made are documented in the CSR report at the end of every year. The International Food and Beverage Alliance conducted an independent audit and found that Coca Cola had complied with the provisions of GRMP. The level of compliance was more than 96% for television adverts and 100% for print and online adverts (Company Spotlight, 24-26). Conclusion Coca Cola operates in more than 200 cou ntries in the world. In most of its operations in the developing nations, the company has streamlined its value chain to ensure it remains profitable. In addition, streamlining the value chain helps in protecting the environment, improving welfare of the employees, and improving the quality of products. The company has achieved this through a diverse business policy. The policy addresses the role of the company in the countries’ macroeconomics, livelihood of employees, worker empowerment, job security, participation of women in the labor market, marketing of products, and protection of environment. DATAMONITOR. â€Å"The Coca-Cola Company: Coca-Cola Company SWOT Analysis.† DATAMONITOR 20 June 2011: 1-9. Print. Dibadj, Ali, and Steve Powers. U.S. Beverages Snacks: Opportunity Outweighs Risk. Black Book 2.3 (2011): 13-24. Madhavan, Ananya. CSR at Coca-Cola. Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers 37.2 (2012): 34-51. Market Watch. Company Spotlight: The Coca-Cola Compa ny. Marketwatch Drinks 4.8 (2012): 22-28. Print. Mexico Food. Drink. Mexico Food Drink Report 1.1 (2012): 71-85. Print. Nevin, Tom. Coca-Cola: 125 Years of Making Friends. African Business 381 (2011): 44-45. Raman, Ravi. Community–Coca-Cola Interface: Political-Anthropological Concerns on Corporate Social Responsibility. Social Analysis 51.3 (2012): 103-120. Regassa, Hailu, and Laurie Corradino. Determining the Value of the Coca Cola Company A Case Analysis. Journal of The International Academy For Case Studies 17.7 (2011): 105-110. Sellers, Patricia. The New Coke. Fortune 165.7 (2012): 138-144. Sherelle, Jacobs. Major Brands in Africa. African Business 389 (2012): 38-42. Stanford, Duane. Cokes Last Round. Bloomberg Businessweek 4202 (2010): 54-61. Walsh, Heather, and Timothy Dowding. Sustainability and the Coca-Cola Company: The Global Water Crisis and Coca-Colas Business Case for Water Stewardship. International Journal Of Business Insights Transformation 4.5 (2012): 106 -118.

Charles Dickens Essay Example for Free (#3)

Charles Dickens Essay Essay Topic: Literature , Charles Dickens In the first chapter he uses many cold, harsh adjectives to reinforce his description of Scrooge, â€Å"wrenching, grasping, clutching†, and this helps to give the reader a very negative attitude towards him. This way of writing, using words which associate to the mood Dickens wants to put across, is very unusual and I think that people reading the book find this stimulating and exciting. We can vividly see the blissful festivities of Fezziwig’s party because Dickens uses the idea that lots of people can enjoy themselves dancing together, â€Å"all the young men and women†. Readers are able to apply this to their own memories of gatherings with family or friends, which makes it a piquant read. The happiness and togetherness of this party also allows us to compare jovial Fezziwig with unpleasant Scrooge because there is such a big difference in their characters. Dickens uses very inventive language to allow the reader to understand exactly the ideas he is trying to portray, â€Å"Choked up with too much burying† and this enables the reader to almost feel the atmosphere written in the book. He uses a simile to describe the way in which the Cratchit children react to Tiny Tim’s death, â€Å"as still as statues† and we can fully sense their shocking grief. We can see this is very different behaviour compared with their usual happiness, such as their excitement at Christmas, â€Å"God bless us†. The way he writes that the children were all â€Å"in one corner† gives the image of contraction and trying to find security by closing in together, which helps us to see these saddening representations. A Christmas Carol is very emotive. We have compassion for the Cratchit family and we are upset about Tiny Tim’s illness, but fear is also evoked from the reader because the spirits are so unnatural and powerful. We become very angry with Scrooge for being so parsimonious with his money, but we then gain sympathetic affections towards Scrooge as we see how he was badly treated in the earlier parts of his life. Using these contrasts, Dickens creates different moods throughout the book and the reader feels happiness and companionship as well as distaste and anger. As more emotions are aroused, the reader becomes more involved and begins to enjoy the book with more fascination. As well as these many advantages of the book, giving it the popularity it has acquired, there are also aspects which could reduce the popularity of the book. To modern people, the language may seem bizarre because it is a Victorian style of writing when people had more time to read the book and analyse it properly, because they were not watching television etc. People may find the descriptions and language Dickens uses in the book too complex, â€Å"courses will foreshadow certain end†, which makes it difficult to read and sometimes confusing. It seems almost impossible that the Cratchits can be so happy just because of the closeness between the family, even though they have so many problems with money. Again it is infeasible that Scrooge’s character and attitude to life could change completely overnight, but we accept this because we want him to change for the benefit of others. Charles Dickens shows that Scrooge was once a genuine and moral person, as a young man, when the first spirit recalls Scrooge’s earlier life, â€Å"passion†. We also see the reasons in Scrooge’s adolescence that could have made him such a bitter old man. This is because he is so deprived of love and we know this because Dickens gives evidence that the Father used to be cruel, â€Å"kinder than he used to be†. This gives us reasons to sympathise with him, and helps to believe he could have a good inner heart. He also has a very kind and loving nephew, â€Å"Dine with us†, which shows that there could be righteousness in Scrooge’s blood. These reasons all help us to believe that Scrooge can become a good man again, and support our acceptance of the joy and warmth at the end. A Christmas Carol is a book which contains many hidden meanings and the more it is read, the more interesting ideas we see in it. This is why people continue to create plays and films on the book, so people will understand the whole story fully and the main universal message, that we should be more charitable. There is also a lot of dramatic suspense in the book, because we ask ourselves so many questions. We want to know which aspects the spirits are going to show and how this will influence Scrooge. We hope that Tiny Tim will be able to gain strength to stay alive and we also want to know who the person in the graveyard is. All these confusing questions make the reader anticipate the ending of the book and this gives another reason for it’s continuing popularity. I like the way that there are many subtle details, which highlight the main idea and further encourage me to want to change my way of life, â€Å"altered life†. I enjoy the way he uses symbols and his own ideas to create an impact on the reader. For example the deprived children are a symbol showing the reader what will happen if Scrooge does not change his actions, â€Å"Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked†. The â€Å"angel† and the â€Å"devil† are opposite symbols, which gives emphasis to the degraded children. I can also see that the book is very popular because Scrooge has now become a vernacular part of speech, when we say that someone may have a ‘Scrooge like character’. Charles Dickens. (2017, Sep 26). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

SESSION 2 BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS AND OSMOMETRY Lab Report

SESSION 2 BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS AND OSMOMETRY - Lab Report Example rescent molecule, it has to travel through an optical isolator( black coating) to prevent interference by unspecific light with the light detection system. Osmolality measures the total number of osmotically active particles in a solution and is equal to the sum of the molalities of all the solutes present in that solution. The four colligative properties are changed by the dissolving of the solute in solvent. Osmolarity refers to osmoles per litre, whilst osmolality refers to osmoles per kg water( There is a slight difference between plasma molality and molarity because of the non-acqueous components present such as proteins and lipids that make up about 60% of the total volume. Thus serum is only 94% water and the molality of a substance in serum is about 6% higher than its molarity. Molality is preferred because it is independent of temperature). The osmolality of physiological fluids is mainly determined by small molecules that are present in high concentrations. For example in serum, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea and glucose are the only components present in high enough concentrations to individually affect the osmolality. Together these make up over 95% of total osmolality of serum. Larger serum molecules contribute little to the overall osmolality. A useful estimate of the osmolality is calculated from: The difference between the measured and the calculated osmolality is known as the osmolar gap. If there are unmeasured osmotically active species present then these will increase the gap. The normal osmolar gap is up to 10mmol/L and values in excess of this usually indicate the presence of an exogenous agent. The most common is ethanol, but methanol, the ethylene glycol, acetone and isopropyl alcohol will also contribute if present. Different causes of hyponatraemia can be distinguished by serum osmolality measurement. It is increased in hyperosmolar hyronatraemia(eg: hyperglycaemia), normal in psuedohyponatraemia and decreased in

Draft of Song of Solomon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Draft of Song of Solomon - Essay Example It is about enslavement and the people who tried to escape slavery and try to find their roots back in Africa. In this book the protagonist is Milkman, a young man brought up in a wealthy family but with parents who do not love each other anymore. This is shown when Milkman’s father hits Ruth. Milkman complains to his friend guitar that certain things are making him angry and getting to him. He says, â€Å"I don’t know, guitar. Things seem to be getting to me, you know?†(Morrison, 152).Macon loves money and he loves property. His money has made him oblivious to other people’s problems. He wants his son to be just like him and surely Milkman behaves just like his father. He’s wealthy background makes him oblivious of the black oppression. Furthermore, he has money to spend on women thus treats them with little disregard. This paper is going to discuss how Milkman overcame this lifestyle to become a fully transformed man. Milkman is flawed and this is enhanced by the amount of money his father has. As a matter of fact it is the wealthy background that gives milkman his attitude. Just like his father, milkman is obsessed with money and tends to reason like a white man.Milkman believes in the power of money to gain him freedom and power in life. This is because he uses money to get the things he needs like buying alcohol, women and having a good time, thus he only believes I the power of money. In line with this thinking, he becomes a rude, mean and a dangerous person. His dangerous personality is witnessed when he hits his father for hitting his mother. We see him complain to his friend Guitar ,â€Å"Your daddy slapped your mama, right?†, â€Å"Right.Right.† (Morrison,152).However, he is not dangerous in a bad way like in being violent and murderous. He is just a man who likes to have control of situations and want things to happen his way. Milkman is also a womanizer a trait he enjoyed with guitar his poor friend. He has money and money buys him

Bilbo Baggins, a True Hero Essay -- Literary Analysis, J.R.R Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins, a True Hero â€Å"I wish I could be a hero!† Many adults in today’s society hear small children wishing they could become heroes. Children wish to be more like heroes for the reason that heroes are the type of people who risk their lives to help others. Throughout history, children have had a positive connotation with the word â€Å"hero.† The heroes many small children talk about are the fictional ones who protect cities from villains: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and others. However, these are not the only types of heroes in today’s world. Firefighters and policemen are also considered heroes because they save the lives of those in danger. Many adults consider their inspirations to be heroes, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Michelle Obama. Heroes do not always have to be real; for instance, they can also be literary characters such as Atticus Finch, Jonas, and Odysseus. Heroes, fictional or not, only have one purpose, to help people in need. These motivating people are in the rare category of people who willingly spend their whole lives helping people achieve their dreams. Heroes are the people who unselfishly help people live their lives in a peaceful manner. Many children wish they could become heroes, such as Bilbo Baggins. In The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien explores how Bilbo Baggins matures and ultimately becomes a hero. A hero, as stated before, selflessly thinks about others’ well beings before his or her own. Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit who was enlisted to help the dwarves retrieve Thorin’s family treasure, does the same thing when he decides to take matters into his own hands, and end the fight between Thorin, the lake men, and the woodelves. Bilbo decides to give the Arkenstone, a p... ...s. Bilbo is the one that gives the precious Arkenstone to Bard to help stop a war from starting. If it was not for Bilbo’s courage, Thorin would still be fighting for the Arkenstone and might have also been hurt. Bilbo also helps the dwarves by being a good leader and helping them find a way out of Smaug’s lair. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not have the audacity to try finding a way out of Smaug’s cave. Bilbo, like a real hero, always makes sure that he finishes the task he sets out to do. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not be able to finish all the tasks that they want to finish. Bilbo is also the reason why the dwarves are still alive. Bilbo saves the dwarves from many different disasters. The disasters range from the spiders to Smaug. Through good or bad, Bilbo has been able to show the characteristics that a real hero should be able to show.

Instant Coffee Essay

Everyone will not believe that coffee is the second people income in the world. There are 30 millions people who gain their income from growing coffee. As the article which had been read by Bob told that coffee has been grown by a lot of farmers in different countries. The type of coffee are Robusta, Arabica, and labarica . Usually, Robusta coffee use to make instant coffee. The first country which grows robusta coffee is Uganda and Indonesia is the second producer of this coffee. Generally, Indonesia is the fourth country which grows coffee in the world. The height of robusta coffee is below 6 meters .The next type coffee is Arabica. That is the coffee which Bob was drunk. It usually uses to make premium coffee. The height is between 600-2000 meters and the largest producer is Brazil, followed by Columbia and Kenya. The last is Labarica coffee. This coffee grows in few areas which has below 2000 high meters. It uses to make blended coffee. Based on the article there are also 3 style of coffee that is instant coffee, espresso coffee and brewed coffee. Brewed coffee is usually drunk by the European country. But, it was strange that U.K mostly choose instant coffee. Britannia supposes to choose espresso coffee while American chooses instant coffee. In Asian, Japan drink more brewed coffee. There is also institution which maintains market price of coffee, is called ICO who was made up by United Nations in 1963. They act as mediator between producing countries and consuming countries.

Essay on Mental Illness and Society - 1388 Words

This essay will focus completely on Mental illness in the UK. To gather my research I used various resources such as websites and books. I have also viewed YouTube videos in order to expand my knowledge. The statistics gathered may not be totally accurate in discussing mental health within the UK for the sources are secondary but it is reliable for giving a view of what the distribution is like amongst gender, age, class as well as ethnicity. When looking at the British society, mental health disorders are actually extremely common. When viewing the National Statistics, it stated that about one in six adults will have a mental health problem. Leading to an additional study, stating that around 30 individuals out of every 100 will†¦show more content†¦The spread of mental illness continues to be of concern especially in Britain. For statistic say that 70% of the prison population has a mental health disorder. As known, there are a high quantity of mental health disorders. As each 7 year period arrives, the English government do a survey in order to measure the various disorders which are common in our society today. This survey was done in 2009 and reported that for depression 2.6 in 100 people were diagnosed. As for anxiety, 4.7 in 100 people, phobias, 2.6 in 100 people, OCD, 1.3 in 100 people, eating disorders, 1.6 in 100 people. This survey also covered bipolar, schizophrenia and personality disorders. It enclo sed that as for personality disorders, 3 to 5 people in every 100 are suffering. Another concern is the distribution of mental illness across the UK. The graph below was taken from the Health Survey department of England March 2011. The main purpose of this graph is to show the proportion of people aged 16 to retirement who are seen as being at risk of mental illness. (Image 1) From looking at the graph it is clear to see that the risk of mental illness is high amongst each region. The region that is of highest is the west midlands which covers places such as Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, leister and other places. In addition, the region with lowest risk is Yorkshire and Humber, which covers places such as Sheffield, Doncaster, Leeds, Hull and other areas. In support of the statisticShow MoreRelatedMental Illness And Its Effects On Society1164 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough the terrain of life, people might struggle with keeping up with daily routines and the demands of day to day living; Although life seems tough from the outset, problems of mental health place more obstacles upon the individual and his or her family and friends. Without a doubt, there are many expectations that society or one may have. For instance, getting eight hours of sleep, having a social life, exercising at least an hour a day, working towards a good career, going to school, pursuing personalRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On Society985 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In the United States, there are many people who suffer from a mental illness. Mental illness is described as causing disruptions in one’s emotional state, thought processes, and behaviors. When analyzing this this concept, one can see that mental illness is a blanket term that encompasses a wide array of mental disorders that range from mild or to severe. No one completely understands the direct cause of mental illness. Some believe that it is attributed to a biological component which arguesRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On Society Essay1923 Words   |  8 Pagesindividuals, who live or know of someone who is living with some form of mental illness. These individuals have many barriers placed upon them by society and have fallen victim to negative social stigmas. Individuals who are experiencing a mental crisis whether it may be a result of a diagnosed mental illness or an erratic episode brought on by mental instability have had negative social stigmas placed on them from almost entire societies. These negative stigmas come from the lack of knowledge and negativeRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On Society1405 Words   |  6 Pagesonce stated, â€Å"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all.† Mental illness comes with multiple influences towards the daily life of an individual. On one hand, these individuals must try to manage the symptoms that arise with their disease. Mental health disorders can affect the way individuals perform at their jobs, their social life, and even being able to live alone (Corrigan Penn, 1997). On the other hand, the way society tends to view mental illnesses leadsRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effect On Society2346 Words   |  10 Pagesheart diseases, in the same context, mental illness is a general phrase used for a group of illnesses affecting cognition (Department of Health, 2015). People faced with mental illness are been stigmatized and assumed by the society to be dangerous, dirty, worthless, and unpredictable. This amongst other reasons is why most people refuse the introduction of a mental health clinic in the community (Meadows et al., 2012). Even though Patient with severe mental illness treated in the community have shownRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On The Society946 Words   |  4 PagesWhether someone is struggling on schoolwork or contemplating suicide, it is typical to feel pity for their situation. 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He d been released from the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre less than twoRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On Society1461 Words   |  6 Pages Mental illness affects millions of people in the United States and in other countries. Disabling mental illness is seen in and out of local hospitals and other skilled nursing facilities daily. Timby and Smith (2011) define schizophrenia as a thought disorder characterized by deterioration in mental functioning, disturbances in sensory perception, and changes in affect. Schizophrenia effects about one percent of the population and shows no regard to ethnicity, culture, or environmentRead MoreIs American Society Breed Mental Illness?1250 Words   |  5 PagesNation of Anxiety Does American Society Breed Mental Illness? Over the past couple decades, disabling mental illness has drastically increased in the United States. Among these, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association Of America, GAD is characterized by persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worry about everyday things. This disorder is often linked with other anxiety disorders, such as depression and panicRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On The Workplace And Society Of Peru874 Words   |  4 Pagesnot until my uncle’s physical condition was so severely impacted that he was taken to a private doctor for an evaluation. Mental illness is still very stigmatized in many parts of the world, and even anxiety disorders, of which many people suffer, are judged and condemned in the workplace and society of Peru. The continuous symptoms of my uncle were called a nervous or mental breakdown when he was admitted initially, and while episodes have happened in the past, the reason given to any person with