Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 6

James moved fast. He picked up the plastic tumbler on the bedside table and handed it to Poppy. She understood. Feeling giddy and uncoordinated, she took a healthy swig of water and licked her lips to wash any traces of blood away. â€Å"What are you doing?† Phillip repeated, striding into the room. His eyes were fixed on James, which was good, because Poppy was trying to position herself to hide the side of her neck that James had bitten. â€Å"None of your business,† she said, and in the same instant she knew it was a mistake. Phillip, whose middle name was Stability, was looking distinctly unstable tonight. Mom told him, Poppy thought.†I mean, we aren't doing anything, † she amended. It didn't help. Phil was clearly in a mood to see everything in the world as a threat to his sister. And Poppy couldn't really blame him-he'd walked in on the two of them in a strange embrace on a rumpled hospital bed. â€Å"James was comforting me because I was scared,† she said. She didn't even try to explain why James had been cradling her head to his arm. But she glanced at James's arm surreptitiously and saw that the wound there was already closed, the mark fading. â€Å"Everything's all right, you know,† James said, standing to fix a mesmerizing silver gaze on Phillip. But Phil hardly gave him a glance. He was staring at Poppy. It's not working, Poppy thought. Maybe Phil's too mad to be hypnotized. Or too stubborn. She looked a question at James, which he answered with a barely discernable shake of his head. He didn't know what the problem was, either. They both knew what it meant. James was going to have to leave. Poppy felt cheated and frustrated. All she wanted was to talk with James, to revel in their new discovery of each other-and she couldn't. Not with Phil here. â€Å"I drove Mom here. You know she doesn't like driving at night. And I brought this.† He swung her boom box up onto the bedside table. â€Å"And these.† He put a black CD case beside it. â€Å"All your favorite music.† Poppy felt her anger draining away. â€Å"That was sweet,† she said. She was touched, especially since Phil hadn't said â€Å"All your favorite weird music,† which was usually how he referred to it. â€Å"Thank you.† Phil shrugged, shooting a glare at James. Poor Phil, Poppy thought. Her brother actually looked disheveled. And his eyes were swollen. â€Å"Where's Mom?† she was starting to say, when her mother walked in. â€Å"I'm back, sweetie,† her mother said, with a very creditable cheery smile. Then she looked surprised. â€Å"James-it was nice of you to come.† â€Å"Yeah, but he was just leaving,† Phil said significantly. â€Å"I'll show him the way out.† James didn't waste energy on a fight he couldn't win. He turned to Poppy and said, â€Å"I'll see you tomorrow.† There was a look in his gray eyes-gray, not silver now-that was just for her. A look that had never been there before in all the years she'd known him. â€Å"Goodbye, James,† she said softly. â€Å"And-thank you.† She knew he understood what she meant. It wasn't until he was out the door, with Phillip on his heels like a bouncer after a rowdy customer, that a thought occurred to her. James had said that she would be in danger if she didn't get enough of his blood. But they'd gotten interrupted almost immediately after that. Had Poppy gotten enough? And what would happen if she hadn't? She herself had no idea, and there was no way to ask James. Phil stayed right behind James all the way out of the hospital. Not tonight, James thought. He just couldn't deal with Phillip North tonight. His patience was gone, and his mind was occupied in calculating whether Poppy had taken enough of his blood to be safe. He thought she had-but the sooner she got more, the better. â€Å"You'll ‘see her tomorrow'-well, you're not going to see her tomorrow,† Phil said abruptly as they walked into the garage. â€Å"Phil, give me a break.† Instead, Phillip stepped in front of him and stopped dead, forcing James to stop, too. Phillip was breathing quickly, his green eyes burning. â€Å"Okay, bud, † he said. â€Å"I don't know what you think you're doing with Poppy-but it's all over now. From now on you stay away from her. Understand?† Visions of breaking Phillip's neck like a new pencil danced in James's head. But Phil was Poppy's brother, and his green eyes were surprisingly like hers. â€Å"I would never hurt Poppy,† he said wearily. â€Å"Give me a break. Are you going to stand there and tell me you don't want to move in on her?† James couldn't come up with an answer immediately. Yesterday he could have truthfully said no, he didn't want to move in on Poppy. Because it would have meant a death sentence for him and Poppy both. It was only when Poppy had received a death sentence of her own that he'd allowed himself to look at his feelings. And now †¦ now he'd been close to Poppy. He'd touched her mind, and had found that she was even braver and more gallant than he'd thought; even more compassionate-and more vulnerable. He wanted to be that close to Poppy again. He cared about her in a way that made his throat ache. He belonged with Poppy. He also realized that that might not be enough. Sharing blood forged a powerful bond between two people. It would be wrong of him to take advantage of that bond-or of Poppy's gratitude to him. Until he was sure that Poppy's mind was clear and her decisions were her own, he should keep a little distance. It was the only honorable thing to do. â€Å"The last thing I want to do is hurt her,† he repeated. â€Å"Why can't you believe that?† He made a half-hearted attempt to capture Phil's gaze as he said it. It failed, just as it had in the hospital. Phillip seemed to be one of those rare humans who couldn't be influenced by mind control. â€Å"Why can't I believe it? Because I know you. You and your-girlfriends.† Phil managed to make the word sound like a curse. â€Å"You go through six or seven a year-and when you're through with them, you dump them like trash.† James was distracted briefly by amusement, because Phil was dead on. He needed six girlfriends a year. After two months the bond between them became dangerously strong. â€Å"Poppy's not my girlfriend and I'm not going to dump her,† he said, pleased at his own cleverness. He'd avoided an outright lie-Poppy wasn't his girl friend in any normal sense. They'd merged their souls, that was all-they hadn't talked about dating or anything. â€Å"So you are telling me you're not gonna try to put the moves on her. Is that it? Because you'd better be sure.† As he spoke, Phil did what was probably the most dangerous thing he'd ever done in his life. He grabbed James by the front of the shirt. You stupid human, James thought. He briefly co sidered breaking every bone in Phil's hand. Or picking Phil up and throwing him across the garage into somebody's windshield. Or †¦ â€Å"You're Poppy's brother,† he said through histeeth. â€Å"So I'm going to give you a chance to let go.† Phil stared into his face a moment, then let go,looking slightly shaken. But not shaken enough to keep quiet. â€Å"You have to leave her alone,† he said. â€Å"You don'tunderstand. This disease she's got it's serious. She doesn't need anything messing up her life right now.She just needs . . .† He stopped and swallowed. Suddenly James felt very tired. He couldn't blame Phil for being upset-Phil's mind was full of crystal clear pictures of Poppy dying. Usually James got only general images about what humans were thinking, but Phillip was broadcasting so loud it nearly deafened him. Half-truths and evasions hadn't worked. It was time for Outright Lies. Anything to satisfy Phil and get James away from this. â€Å"I know that what Poppy has is serious,† he said. â€Å"I found an article about it on the Net. That's why I was here, okay? I feel sorry for her. I'm not interested in Poppy except as a friend, but it makes her feel better if I pretend that I like her.† Phillip hesitated, looking at him hard and suspiciously. Then he shook his head slowly. â€Å"Being friends is one thing, but it's wrong to mix her up. In the end, pretending isn't going to do her any good. I don't even think it makes her feel better now-she looked pretty bad in there.† â€Å"Bad?† â€Å"Pale and shaky. You know Poppy; you know how she gets overexcited about things. You shouldn't be fooling around with her emotions.† He narrowed his eyes and said, â€Å"So maybe you'd better stay away from her for a while. Just to make sure she hasn't got the wrong idea.† â€Å"Whatever,† James said. He wasn't really listening. â€Å"Okay,† Phillip said. â€Å"We have a deal. But I'm warning you, if you break it, you're in trouble.† James wasn't listening to that, either. Which wasa mistake. In the darkened hospital room Poppy lay and listened to her mother's breathing. You're not asleep, she thought, and I'm not asleep. And you know I'm not, and I know you're not†¦ But they couldn't talk. Poppy wanted desperately to let her mother know that everything was going to be all right-but how? She couldn't betray James's secret. And even if she could, her mother wouldn't believe her. I have to find a way, Poppy thought. I have to. And then a great wave of drowsiness overtook her. It had been the longest day in her life, and she was full of alien blood already working its strange magic in her. She couldn't †¦ she just couldn't †¦ keep her eyes open. Several times during the night a nurse came in to take her vital signs, but Poppy never really woke up. For the first time in weeks, no pain interrupted her dreams. She opened her eyes the next morning feeling con fused and weak. Black dots swarmed through her vision when she sat up. â€Å"Hungry?† her mother asked. â€Å"They left this breakfast tray for you.† The smell of hospital eggs made Poppy feel nauseated. But because her mother was watching her anxiously, she played with the food on the tray before she went to wash up. In the bathroom mirror she examined the side of her neck. Amazing-there was no trace of a mark. When she came out of the bathroom, her mother was crying. Not floods of tears, not sobbing. Just dabbing her eyes on a Kleenex. But Poppy couldn't stand it. â€Å"Mom, if you're worried about telling me †¦ I know.† The whole sentence was out before Poppy could even think about it. Her mother's head jerked up in horror. She stared at Poppy with more tears spilling. â€Å"Sweetheart-you know †¦ ?† â€Å"I know what I've got and I know how bad it is,† Poppy said. If this was the wrong strategy, it was too late now. â€Å"I listened when you and Cliff were talking to the doctors.† â€Å"Oh, my Lord.† What can I say? Poppy wondered. It's okay, Mom, because I'm not going to die; I'm going to become a vampire. I hope. I can't be sure, because sometimes you don't make it through the transformation. But with any luck, I should be sucking blood in a few weeks. Come to think of it, she hadn't asked James exactly how long it would take to change her. Her mother was taking deep, calming breaths. â€Å"Poppy, I want you to know how much I love you. Cliff and I will do anything-anything-we can to help you. Right now he's looking into some clinical protocols-those are experimental studies where they test new ways of treating people. If we can just .. . buy time †¦ until a cure . ‘ ..† Poppy couldn't stand it. She could feel her mother's pain. Literally. It carried in palpable waves that seemed to echo through her bloodstream, making her dizzy. It's that blood, she thought. It's doing something to me-changing me. Even as she thought it, she went to her mother. She wanted to hug her, and she needed help standing up. â€Å"Mom, I'm not scared,† she said, muffled against her mother's shoulder. â€Å"I can't explain, but I'm not scared. And I don't want you to be unhappy over me.† Her mother just held on fiercely, as if Death might try to snatch Poppy out of her arms that minute. She was crying. Poppy cried, too. Real tears, because even if she wasn't going to die truly, she was going to lose so much. Her old life, her family, everything familiar. It felt good to cry over it; it was something she needed to do. But when it was done, she tried again. â€Å"The one thing I don't want is for you to be unhappy or worry,† she said, and looked up at her mother. â€Å"So could you just try not to? For my sake?† Oh, God, I'm coming off like Beth in Little Women, she thought. Saint Poppy. And the truth is, if I were really dying, I'd go kicking and screaming all the way. Still, she'd managed to comfort her mother, who drew back looking tearstained but quietly proud. â€Å"You're really something, Poppet,† was all she said, but her lips trembled. Saint Poppy looked away, horribly embarrassed until another wave of dizziness saved her. She allowed her mother to help her back into bed. And it was then that she finally found a way to pose the question she needed to ask. â€Å"Mom,† she said slowly, â€Å"what if there was a cure for me somewhere-like in some other country or something-and I could go there and get better, but they wouldn't ever let me come back? I mean, you'd know I was okay, but you wouldn't ever be able to see me again.† She looked at her mother intently. â€Å"Would you want me to do it?† Her mother answered instantly. â€Å"Sweetheart, I'd want you cured if you had to go to the moon. As long as you were happy.† She had to pause a moment, then resumed steadily. â€Å"But, honey, there isn't such a place. I wish there were.† â€Å"I know.† Poppy patted her arm gently. â€Å"I was just asking. I love you, Mom.† Later that morning Dr. Franklin and Dr. Loftus came by. Facing them wasn't as horrible as Poppy expected, but she felt like a hypocrite when they marvelled over her â€Å"wonderful attitude.† They talked about quality time, and the fact that no two cases of cancer were the same, and about people they'd known who'd beaten the percentages. Saint Poppy squirmed inside, but she listened and nodded-until they began to talk about more tests. â€Å"We'd like to do an angiogram and a laparotomy,† Dr. Loftus said. â€Å"Now an angiogram is-â€Å" Everyone looked startled. Then Dr. Loftus gave a rueful smile. â€Å"Sounds like you've been reading up on it.† â€Å"No, I just-I guess I remember it from somewhere,† Poppy said. She knew where she was getting the images-from Dr. Loftus's head. And she probably should cover her tracks instead of talking any more, but she was too distressed. â€Å"And a laparotomy's an operation, right?† Dr. Loftus and Dr. Franklin exchanged glances. â€Å"An exploratory operation, yes,† Dr. Franklin said. â€Å"But I don't need those tests, do I? I mean, you already know what I've got. And the tests hurt.† â€Å"Poppy,† her mother said gently. But Dr. Loftus was answering slowly. â€Å"Well, sometimes we need the tests to confirm a diagnosis. But in your case †¦ no, Poppy. We don't really need them. We're already sure.† â€Å"Then I don't see why I have to have them,† Poppy said simply. â€Å"I'd rather go home.† The doctors looked at each. other, then at Poppy's mother. Then, without even trying to be subtle about it, the three adults went out into the corridor to deliberate. When they came back, Poppy knew she'd won. â€Å"You can go home, Poppy,† Dr. Franklin said quietly. â€Å"At least until you develop any further symptoms. The nurse will tell your mother what to look out for.† The first thing Poppy did was call James. He answered on the first ring and said, â€Å"How do you feel?† â€Å"Dizzy. But pretty good,† Poppy said, whispering because her mother was outside talking to a nurse. â€Å"I'm coming home.† â€Å"I'll come over this afternoon,† James said. â€Å"Call me when you think you'll have an hour or so alone. And, Poppy †¦ don't tell Phil I'm coming.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"I'll explain later.† When she actually got home, it was strange. Cliff and Phil were there. Everybody was unusually nice to her, while still trying to pretend that nothing unusual was going on. (Poppy had heard the nurse tell her mother that it was good to try and maintain a normal routine.) It's like my birthday, Poppy thought dazedly. Like some terribly important birthday and graduation rolled into one. Every few minutes the doorbell would ring as another flower arrangement arrived. Poppy's bedroom looked like a garden. She felt badly for Phil. He looked so stricken-and so brave. She wanted to comfort him the way she'd comforted her mother-but how? â€Å"Come here,† she ordered, opting for direct action. And when he obeyed, she hugged him tightly. â€Å"You'll beat this thing,† he whispered. â€Å"I know you will. Nobody's ever had as much will to live as you do. And nobody's ever, ever been as stubborn.† It was then that Poppy realized just how terribly she was going to miss him. When she let go, she felt light-headed. â€Å"Maybe you'd better lie down,† Cliff said gently. And Poppy's mother helped her to the bedroom. â€Å"Does Dad know?† she asked as her mother moved around the bedroom, straightening things. â€Å"I tried to get hold of him yesterday, but the people at the station said he'd moved to somewhere in Vermont. They don't know where.† Poppy nodded. It sounded like her dad always on the move. He was a DJ-when he wasn't being an artist or a stage magician. He'd split up with her mom because he wasn't very good at being any of those things-or at least not good enough to get paid much. Cliff was everything Poppy's father wasn't: responsible, disciplined, hardworking. He fit in perfectly with Poppy's mom and Phil. So perfectly that sometimes Poppy felt like the odd one out in her own family. â€Å"I miss Dad,† Poppy said softly. â€Å"I know. Sometimes I do, too,† her mother said, surprising her. Then she said firmly, â€Å"We'll find him, Poppy. As soon as he hears, he'll want to come.† Poppy hoped so. She didn't suppose she'd get a chance to see him-after. It wasn't until an hour or so before dinnertime, when Phil and Cliff were out doing errands, and her mother was taking a nap, that Poppy got the chance to call James. â€Å"I'll come right over,† he said. â€Å"I'll let myself in.† Ten minutes later he walked into Poppy's bedroom. Poppy felt strangely shy. Things had changed between her and James. They weren't simply best friends anymore. They didn't even say â€Å"Hi† to each other. As soon as he came in, their eyes caught and met. And then, for an endless moment, they just looked at each other. This time, when Poppy felt the quick pang in her chest that always came when she saw James, it was a throb of pure sweetness. He cared about her. She could see it in his eyes. Wait a minute, hang on, her mind whispered. Don't jump the gun here. He cares about you, yes, but he didn't say he was in love with you. There's a difference. Shut up, Poppy told her brain soberly. Aloud, she said, â€Å"How come you didn't want Phil to know you were here?†James threw his light windbreaker over a chair and sat down on Poppy's bed. â€Å"Well-I just' didn't want to be interrupted,† he said with a gesture of dismissal. â€Å"How's the pain?† â€Å"It's gone,† Poppy said. â€Å"Isn't that weird? It didn't wake me up at all last night. And there's something else. I think I'm starting to-well, read people's thoughts.† James smiled slightly, just one corner of his mouth up. â€Å"That's good. 1 was worried-† He broke off and went to turn Poppy's CD player on. Plaintive Bantu wailing's emerged. â€Å"I was worried you didn't get enough blood last night,† James said quietly, resuming his seat. â€Å"You'll have to take more this time-and so will I.† Poppy felt something tremble inside her. Her revulsion was gone. She was still afraid, but that was only because of the consequences of what they were going to do. It wasn't just a way to get closer or to feed James. They were doing it to change Poppy. â€Å"The only thing I don't understand is why you never bit me before.† Her tone was light, but as she spoke the words, she realized that there was a serious question behind them. â€Å"I mean,† she said slowly, â€Å"you did it with Michaela and Jacklyn, didn't you? And with other girls?† He looked away but answered steadily. â€Å"I didn't exchange blood with them. But I fed on them, yes.† But not me.† â€Å"No. How can I explain?† He looked up at her. â€Å"Poppy, taking blood can be a lot of different things-and the Elders don't want it to be anything but feeding. They say all you should feel is the joy of the hunt. And that's all I ever have felt before.† Poppy nodded, trying to feel satisfied with this. She didn't ask who the Elders were. â€Å"Besides, it can be dangerous, † James said. â€Å"It can be done with hatred, and it can kill. Kill permanently, I mean.† Poppy was almost amused by this. â€Å"You wouldn't kill.† James stared at her. Outside, it was cloudy and the light in Poppy's bedroom was pale. It made James's face look pale, too, and his eyes silver. â€Å"But I have,† James said. His voice was flat and bleak. â€Å"I've killed without exchanging enough blood, so the person didn't come back as a vampire.†

Laoban - Old Boss in Mandarin Chinese

Titles are important in Chinese culture, and they are used more frequently than in most Western countries. One good example of this is that titles can be used to address people, which you might be familiar with from your Mandarin class where you can call the teacher è€ Ã¥ ¸ « (lÇŽoshÄ «). While that can be done in English too, its usually reserved for younger kids and not as common as in Mandarin Chinese. è€ Ã¦  ¿/éâ€"† (lÇŽobÇŽn) - boss; shopkeeper The title for â€Å"shopkeeper† is lÇŽobÇŽn. This is used to refer to the owner or proprietor of a shop. LÇŽobÇŽn can be used when referring to or addressing the shopkeeper. LÇŽobÇŽn has two characters: è€ Ã¦  ¿/éâ€"†: The first one, lÇŽo, means â€Å"old,† and is a term of respect. It is the same character used in lÇŽoshÄ « (teacher). Even though it doesnt mean old in this context, it can be a useful memory aid to think of it like that.The second character éâ€"†, bÇŽn, means â€Å"boss,† so the literal translation of lÇŽobÇŽn â€Å"old boss.† Note that these are different in simplified and traditional Chinese (simplified: æ  ¿, traditional éâ€"†, but the simplified version is used in traditional too). The most common meaning of æ  ¿ is plank. To remember the word, create a vivid picture of a typical shopkeeper in China (whatever comes to mind when you think of the word), but picture the person with a face like an old, gnarled plank. Examples of LÇŽobÇŽn Click on the links to hear the audio. Nà ¨igà ¨ lÇŽobÇŽn yÇ’u mà  i hÄ›n hÇŽo de dÃ… ngxÄ «.é‚ £Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã¨â‚¬ Ã©â€"†æÅ"‰è ³ £Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã§Å¡â€žÃ¦  ±Ã¨ ¥ ¿Ã©â€š £Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ¨â‚¬ Ã¦  ¿Ã¦Å"‰å â€"Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã§Å¡â€žÃ¤ ¸Å"è ¥ ¿That shopkeeper has very good things.LÇŽobÇŽn hÇŽo. YÇ’u mà ©iyÇ’u mà  i pà ­ngguÇ’?è€ Ã©â€"†å ¥ ½. æÅ"‰æ ²â€™Ã¦Å"‰è ³ £Ã¨Ëœâ€¹Ã¦Å¾Å"?è€ Ã¦  ¿Ã¥ ¥ ½. æÅ"‰æ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰å â€"è‹ ¹Ã¦Å¾Å"?Hello. Do you sell apples? Edit: This article was significantly updated by Olle Linge on April 25th 2016.

Wall Street Crash of October 1929

In the 1920s, many people felt they could make a fortune from the stock market. Forgetting the volatility of the stock market, they  invested their entire life savings. Others bought stocks on credit (margin). When the stock market took a dive on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the country was unprepared. The economic devastation caused by the Stock Market Crash of 1929 was a key factor in beginning the Great Depression. A Time of Optimism The end of World War I in 1919 heralded a new era in the United States. It was an era of enthusiasm, confidence, and optimism, a time when inventions such as the airplane and the radio made anything seem possible. Morals from the nineteenth century were set aside. Flappers became the model of the new woman, and Prohibition renewed confidence in the productivity of the common man. It is in such times of optimism that people take their savings out from under their mattresses and out of banks and invest it. In the 1920s, many invested in the stock market. The Stock Market Boom Although the stock market has the reputation of being a risky investment, it did not appear that way in the 1920s. With the mood of the country exuberant, the stock market seemed an infallible investment in the future. As more people invested in the stock market, stock prices began to rise. This was first noticeable in 1925. Stock prices then bobbed up and down throughout 1925 and 1926, followed by a strong upward trend in 1927. The strong bull market (when prices are rising in the stock market) enticed even more people to invest. By 1928, a stock market boom had begun. The stock market boom changed the way investors viewed the stock market. No longer was the stock market only for long-term investment. Rather, in 1928, the stock market had become a place where everyday people truly believed that they could become rich. Interest in the stock market reached a fevered pitch. Stocks had become the talk of every town. Discussions about stocks could be heard everywhere, from parties to barber shops. As newspapers reported stories of ordinary people, like chauffeurs, maids, and teachers, making millions off the stock market, the fervor to buy stocks grew exponentially. Buying on Margin An increasing number of people wanted to buy stocks, but not everyone had the money to do so. When someone did not have the money to pay the full price of stocks, they could buy stocks on margin. Buying stocks on margin means that the buyer would put down some of his own money, but the rest he would borrow from a broker. In the 1920s, the buyer only had to put down 10 to 20 percent of his own money and thus borrowed 80 to 90 percent of the cost of the stock. Buying on margin could be very risky. If the price of stock fell lower than the loan amount, the broker would likely issue a margin call, which means the buyer must come up with the cash to pay back his loan immediately. In the 1920s, many speculators (people who hoped to make a lot of money on the stock market) bought stocks on margin. Confident in what seemed a never-ending rise in prices, many of these speculators neglected to seriously consider the risk they were taking. Signs of Trouble By early 1929, people across the United States were scrambling to get into the stock market. The profits seemed so assured that even many companies placed money in the stock market. Even more problematic, some banks placed customers money in the stock market without their knowledge. With the stock market prices upward bound, everything seemed wonderful. When the great crash hit in October, people were taken by surprise. However, there had been warning signs. On March 25, 1929, the stock market suffered a mini-crash. It was a prelude of what was to come. As prices began to drop, panic struck across the country as margin calls were issued. When banker Charles Mitchell made an announcement that his bank would keep lending, his reassurance stopped the panic. Although Mitchell and others tried the tactic of reassurance again in October, it did not stop the big crash. By the spring of 1929, there were additional signs that the economy might be headed for a serious setback. Steel production went down; house construction slowed, and car sales waned. At this time, there were also a few reputable people warning of an impending, major crash. However, when months went by without one, those that advised caution were labeled pessimists and ignored. Summer Boom Both the mini-crash and the naysayers were nearly forgotten when the market surged ahead during the summer of 1929. From June through August, stock market prices reached their highest levels to date. To many, the continual increase in stocks seemed inevitable. When economist Irving Fisher stated, Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau, he was stating what many speculators wanted to believe. On September 3, 1929, the stock market reached its peak with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at 381.17. Two days later, the market started dropping. At first, there was no massive drop. Stock prices fluctuated throughout September and into October until the massive drop on Black Thursday. Black Thursday, October 24, 1929 On the morning of Thursday, October 24, 1929, stock prices plummeted. Vast numbers of people were selling their stocks. Margin calls were sent out. People across the country watched the ticker as the numbers it spit out spelled their doom. The ticker was so overwhelmed that it quickly fell behind. A crowd gathered outside of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, stunned at the downturn. Rumors circulated of people dying by suicide. To the great relief of many, the panic subsided in the afternoon. When a group of bankers pooled their money and invested a large sum back into the stock market, their willingness to invest their own money in the stock market convinced others to stop selling. The morning had been shocking, but the recovery was amazing. By the end of the day, many people were again buying stocks at what they thought were bargain prices. On Black Thursday, 12.9 million shares were sold, which was double the previous record. Four days later, the stock market fell again. Black Monday, October 28, 1929 Although the market had closed on an upswing on Black Thursday, the low numbers of the ticker that day had shocked many speculators. Hoping to get out of the stock market before they lost everything (as they thought they had on Thursday morning), they decided to sell. This time, as the stock prices plummeted, no one came in to save it. Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929 October 29, 1929, became known as the worst day in stock market history and was called, Black Tuesday. There were so many orders to sell that the ticker quickly fell behind. By the end of close, it had lagged to 2 1/2 hours behind. People were in a panic, and they couldnt get rid of their stocks fast enough. Since everyone was selling, and nearly no one was buying, stock prices collapsed. Rather than the bankers rallying investors by buying more stocks, rumors circulated that they were selling. Panic hit the country. Over 16.4 million shares of stock were sold, a new record. The Drop Continues Not sure how to stem the panic, the decision was made to close the stock market on Friday, November 1 for a few days. When it reopened on Monday, November 4 for limited hours, stocks dropped again. The slump continued until November 23, 1929, when prices seemed to stabilize. However, this was not the end. Over the next two years, the stock market continued to drop. It reached its low point on July 8, 1932, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 41.22. Aftermath To say that the  Stock Market Crash of 1929  devastated the economy is an understatement. Although reports of mass suicides in the aftermath of the crash were most likely exaggerations, many people lost their entire savings. Numerous companies were ruined. Faith in banks was destroyed. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 occurred at the beginning of the Great Depression. Whether it was a symptom of the impending depression or a direct cause of it is still hotly debated. Historians, economists, and others continue to study the Stock Market Crash of 1929 in the hopes of discovering the secret to what started the boom and what instigated the panic. As of yet, there has been little agreement as to the causes. In the years after the crash, regulations covering buying stocks on margin and the roles of banks have added protections in the hopes that another severe crash could never happen again.

The Ethics Of Prenatal Screening - 1728 Words

Ethics of Prenatal Screening Prenatal screening itself is a moment that holds uncertainty and can change the lives of those involved. . The chance of having a boy or girl seems to be the least of worries of expectant parents. Having a child with disability has been stigmatized to be a much bigger issue that is considered a â€Å"problem† in society. Even with issues surrounding prenatal screening, and it being ethical or â€Å"the right thing to do,† the worries of people with disabilities about how prenatal screening is handled can be answered. Tom Shakespeare references in, Solving the Disability Problem Whose Responsibility? how â€Å"scientific progress has created a situation in which childhood disability has moved from being considered a random chance or act of God, to something which can often be anticipated, and thus prevented† (Shakespeare 2005). Before science could tell us the gender of our future children, and any other problem that may entail, it was up to chance and choice whe ther one would follow through with complete pregnancy. With technology and advances in prenatal screening, anticipation is removed, predominantly due to the fear of having to raise a child with a disability. In contrast to negative and opposing views, Madeo et. al mentioned Lardy et. al’s study, which showed that those who suffer from a disability have the ability to maintain, â€Å"friendships, hold jobs, and go to school† (Madeo et. al 2010, 1778). Even with attitudes, which dishearten the lives of theShow MoreRelatedEthics Of Computing And The Internet1173 Words   |  5 Pages Ethics in Computing and the Internet Jorge Zacarias Written Assignment Unit 7 University of the People Inside the topic of health care system ethic is implicit the pregnancy dilemma. This wide topic can include hundreds of pages; herein we are going to cover principal’s data of this essential topic in today’s lives. Pregnancy includes a debate for more than 4 decades and some topics that affect not only mothers even child, there are many dilemmas surrounding this controversialRead MoreEthics Of Computing And The Internet1173 Words   |  5 Pages Ethics in Computing and the Internet Jorge Zacarias Written Assignment Unit 7 University of the People Inside the topic of health care system ethic is implicit the pregnancy dilemma. This wide topic can include hundreds of pages; herein we are going to cover principal’s data of this essential topic in today’s lives. Pregnancy includes a debate for more than 4 decades and some topics that affect not only mothers even child, there are many dilemmas surrounding this controversialRead MoreArgument Against Prenatal Genetic Screening1845 Words   |  8 PagesArgument Against Prenatal Genetic Screening In this essay, I will argue that prenatal screening for disabilities for the intent of actively choosing to have a child without a disability is immoral. By disability, I mean the definition provided in a medical dictionary: â€Å"A disadvantage or deficiency, especially a physical or mental impairment that prevents or restricts normal achievement†. This does not include diseases that are considered inevitably and irreversibly fatal, nor does it include birthRead MoreThe Field Of Reproductive Technology1484 Words   |  6 Pagestrue within the field of reproductive technology. Advancements in this field has expanded family options significantly with the advent of reproductive technologies such as in vetro fertilization, embryo transplant, and varying genetic testing and screening (Finsterbusch, 2008). However, what drives humanity to want to modify humankind? Should there be limits placed on these modifications? And, how far should we really go? According to the President’s Council on Bioethics, the completion of the DNARead MoreEthics at the Beginning of Life: Prenatal Genetic Testing3950 Words   |  16 PagesEthics at the Beginning of Life: Prenatal Genetic Testing Lauren Delucca Linda Field Despain Cynthia Ventura-Lippert Submitted to Dr. Mark Jumper in partial fulfillment of HCE430, Health Care Ethics Regis University October 13, 2012 Prenatal Genetic Testing Prenatal testing and genetic testing developed hand in hand. Many genes, the basic unit of heredity, are now known through the human genome project (Pence, 2011, pp. 273-274). Genetic testing can identify theRead MoreThe Benefits of Human Genetic Engineering Essay1654 Words   |  7 Pagessomeone goes in and takes that malignant gene out of the equation with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) such as embryo screening, in vitro fertilization, and pre-implantation genetics. â€Å"PGD allows couples at risk of transmitting a genetic disease to ensure their future children are unaffected by the disease without going through the process of prenatal diagnosis†¦and being forced to make the difficult decision regarding pregnancy termination† (Pray). Doctors can perform a procedure whereRead MoreEthical Issues Regarding Prenatal Testing1498 Words   |  6 PagesEthical Issues Pertaining to Prenatal Testing Rebecca Arsenault University of Saint Joseph Ethical Issues Pertaining to Prenatal Testing The advances in medical and scientific research have impacted today’s society by constituting cures and treatments for illnesses and disabilities. A woman can now have her unborn child tested for diseases and disabilities before the child is born. This testing is called prenatal diagnosis and has become increasingly popular. Regretfully, selective abortionRead MoreNew World Or Gattaca Style Dystopic Future Development Of Effective Prevention And Treatment Strategies For A Great3494 Words   |  14 Pageshuman embryo to fears about slippery slopes into a Brave New World or Gattaca-style dystopic future characterized by designer children and a genetic underclass. In the following, I will attempt to map out the current debate as it applies to genetic screening and testing, with special attention paid to the criticism offered by disability studies theory and disability rights advocates. I will begin with a brief overview of the traditional arguments in favor of reproductive liberty and a more permissiveRead MorePrenatal Genetic Testing Should Be Allowed1569 Words   |  7 Pagestesting and manipulation. Prenatal genetic testing is becoming more readily available to expectant parents, many who currently appreciate the option of amniocentesis, a procedure performed in the second trimester to test for Down syndrome, among other prenatal tests (Lippman 383). However, technology has advanced to the point where doctors will be able to test fetuses and embryos for potential defects, and this point of contention has led to a debate on whether prenatal genetic testing should beRead MoreThe Pregnancy Of A Foetus Diagnosed With Down Syndrome1610 Words   |  7 Pagesestimated to occur in 1 out of every 650- 1000 live births (Bittles Glasson, 2004), receiving a positive diagnosis of Down Syndrome can be very overwhelming for the parents. Prenatal diagnosis and screening are controversial when we refer to ethical considerations, but the benefits that they provide are undeniable. Prenatal tests do not only facilitate choices through information provision, but also allow the parents to recognise and prepare for the challenges that their unborn child and their family

Neo-Liberal Hyperglobalism Free Essays

Globalisation is a major topic of debate of our era. Globalisation can be defined as the â€Å"global growing interconnectedness between economy, technology, culture and political institutions† (Lofgren Sarangi, 2009, pg. 57). We will write a custom essay sample on Neo-Liberal Hyperglobalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now This essay will discuss how globalisation can be good for developing countries. By applying Neo-liberal Hyperglobalism, I will analyse and demonstrate the various beneficial effects of globalisation through the case of India and the reform measures they have recently taken towards globalisation. Globalisation can provide new opportunities for developing countries due to increased access to developed country markets and technology, resulting in improved productivity and higher living standards (Balakrishnan, 2004). Following a major economic crises, India liberalised it’s economy in the early nineties. Inflation had rocketed to an annual rate of 17%, high fiscal deficit had become unsustainable and foreign investors confidence in Indian Economy was low (Goyal, 2006, p. 167). It was these factors that put pressure on the Indian government to call for a complete revamp of their economic policies. Some of the major changes made, as part of the economic liberalisation and globalisation strategy, included government’s privatisation and disinvestment in a majority of the public sector undertakings, allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) across many industries, the removal of quantitative restrictions on imports and the reduction of customs tariff from over 300% to 30 % (Goyal, 2006, p. 167). The main purpose of India’s economic reform is to ultimately â€Å"integrate Indian economy with world economy† (Singh, 1995, p. 36). This liberalisation and globalisation of the economy can help solve India’s major problems of unemployment and poverty. India’s economic reform favours a more open and market orientated economy (Goyal, 2006, p. 166). India’s new economic structure emulates the principals of neo-liberal Hyperglobalism. Neo-liberal Hyperglobalism â€Å"celebrates the global dominance of market principals over state power† (Lofgren Sarangi, 2009, pg. 70). This means that decisions about allocation, production and distribution in the economy are left to the global economy rather than the government. Burke, Devetak George, 2008, p. 299). States are increasingly the ‘decision- takers’ and not the ‘decision-makers’ (Goldblatt, Held, McGrew Perraton, 1999). Three key terms that come out of neoliberalism are deregulation, liberalisation and privatisation all of which India’s new economic policies draw on. Neo-liberal Hyperglobalism favours global ism as beneficial process for a developing country. The benefits that Neo-liberal Hyperglobalism can provide are evident in India. India’s steps towards globalisation through new economic reforms have produced some significant benefits for the country. The privatisation of particular state-owned enterprises provides the government with an increased amount of cash which they can then spend on increasing their citizen’s quality of life through increased food supplies and the development of hospitals, schools, infrastructure etc in poverty stricken regions. The domestic economy has been freed up from state control, virtually abolishing state monopoly in all sectors (Panagariya, 2001). This has lead to greater competition in industries; resulting in lower prices, a greater supply of goods which benefits the citizens (Goyal, 2006, p. 68). Another step towards globalisation that has proven beneficial for India is the decision to allow foreign direct investment in the Indian industry. The huge amounts of foreign investment that now enter India have significantly boosted the country’s economy. Many foreign companies have set up industries in India, mainly in pharmaceutical, BPO, petroleum, manufacturing and chemical sectors, which have created greater employment opportunities for Indian people, decreasing unemployment and poverty (Dwivedi, 2009). A further benefit of globalisation due to foreign investment in India is the advanced technology that the foreign companies bring with them (Dwivedi, 2009). Advancements in medicine which improve the health of citizens is an example how becoming more technologically advanced can be beneficial for the country. The economic reforms that reduce custom tariffs and remove restrictions on imports support the principals of neo-liberal Hyperglobalism. That is that measures should be taken that allow trade and finance to have unrestricted movement (Burke et. al. , 2010). Removing taxes and quotas can increase international trade which in turn increases economic competition. Competition was rife in the economy, after India’s economic reform, as more imports were encouraged (Balakrishnan, 2004). Exports also significantly increased as countries became more willing to accept India’s products due to the reductions in custom tariffs (Goyal, 2006, p. 170). This improved relationship between India and its trading partners can encourage low prices, reduce unemployment through the creation of more jobs and induce improved living standards. Improved relationships between developed and undeveloped economies can prove to be profitable and extremely valuable for developing countries especially when future policies have to be negotiated. Overall, the economic reforms initiated in India since 1991 has helped the Indian economy to grow at a faster rate and led to fiscal consolidation, control of inflation, and increased foreign investment and technology (Goyal, 2006). The reforms aimed to lliberalise and globalise the domestic economy have helped boost GDP growth rates, which increased from 5. 6% in 1990-91 to a peak level of 77. % in 1996-97 (Balakrishnan, 2004). The new economic policies have also proven to increase citizen’s living standards with increased employment opportunities and a decrease in poverty from 36% in 1993-94 to 26. 1% in 1999-2000 (Fox, 2002). The new policies can be used to further support the country’s citizens and develop the country. The Indian government’s strategy to globalise t heir economy has revealed that globalisation can be beneficial to a developing country by aiding the nation to a more favourable financial position. However, there are also negative effects of globalisation. A significant negative effect is the increase in inequality that can arise from globalisation. There have been arguments that state an increase in GDP can in fact increase income inequality. â€Å"Wealth is still concentrated in the hands of a few individuals and a common man in a developing country is yet to see any major benefits of globalization† (Lovekar, 2010). Also multi-national corporations (MNC) can worsen income inequality by generating jobs and producing goods that primarily benefit the richest portion of the population (Positive and Negative Effects of Multinational Corporations, 2010). This means that the richer are getting richer and the poorer are getting poorer. Many employees are working in awful conditions where negligible health and safety regulations apply. This is an example of globalisation can develop an exploitative nature. Furthermore, â€Å"the market economy seems to be more concentrated on the growth of consumerism to attract the high income groups who are mostly in the cities in the developing countries† (Malik, 2010, p. 4). The globalisation strategy paid little attention to the rural economy and the agricultural sector, which is essentially the backbone of the Indian economy. The agriculture sector is a major provider of food and nutrition to the people as well as raw materials to industries and to export trade (Malik, 2010). A further impact the globalisation strategy has had on agriculture sector is the decrease of agriculture’s share in GDP, which has resulted in a decrease of the per capita income of the farmers and an increase of rural indebtedness (Malik, 2010). India’s era of reforms exhibit many themes that are parallel those of Neo-liberal Hyperglobalism. Since 1991, India has experienced the strong inroad of neoliberalism (Lofgren Sarangi, 2009). The new economic reforms indicate a strong movement towards deregulation, privitisation and liberalisation of the Indian economy. These three factors are all examples of neoliberalism (Burke et. al. , 2010). A neo-liberal hyperglobalist state would believe that rather than the government trying to regulate and control the market through strict policies, the government should make policies to accommodate and open up the market. India’s new policies indicate the government’s willingness to adopt this thinking and it is through this thinking that has marked India’s steps towards the â€Å"real integration of the Indian economy into the global economy† (Malik, 2010, p. 1). In other words India is taking steps towards globalisation. India is an example of how the globalisation of a developing country can be positive and beneficial. Although there are some unfavourable effects such as income inequality, the overall benefits a developing country can receive from globalisation outweigh the negatives. India has proved how applying neo-liberal hyperglobalist principals to the domestic economy of a country can prove to be advantageous. With a greater focus on further developing a globalised economy, developing countries can aim to increase the working and living standards for the country’s citizens and subsequently become a healthy and wealthier state. A more liberal and global market can achieve improved living standards and wealth through the promotion of competition, efficiency, productivity, technological-upgradation and growth (Singh, 1995). Hence I believe, like a hyperglobalist, that globalisation is good for a developing country. References Balakrishnan, C. (2004). Impact of Globalisation on Developing Countries and India. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://economics. about. com/od/globalizationtrade/l/aaglobalization. htm Burke, A. , Devetak, R. , George, J. (2008). An Introduction to International Relations: Australian Perspective. New York: Cambridge University Press. Dwivedi, M. (2009). South Asia Security. India: Kalpaz Publications. Fox, J. W. (2002). Poverty in India Since 1974: A Country Case Study. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www. ekh. lu. se/ekhcgu/teaching/401d4/poverty%20in%20india. pdf Goldblatt, D. , Held, D. , McGrew, A. , Perraton, J. (1999). Global Transformations: What is globalisation? Retrieved October 11, 2010, from http://www. polity. co. uk/global/whatisglobalization. asp Goyal, K. A. (2006). Impact of Globalization on Developing Countries (With Special Reference To India). International Research Journal of Finance and Economics, (5), 1450-2887. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www. eurojournals. com/IRJFE%206%20goyal. pdf Lofgren, H. , Sarangi, P. (2009). The Politics and Culture of Globalisation: India and Australia. Social Science Press. Lovekar, V. (2010). Advantages and Disadvantages of Globalization. Retrieved October 11, 2010, from http://www. buzzle. com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-globalization. html Malik, T. (2010). Impact of globalization on Indian economy- An overview. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www. ibre2fashion. com/industry-article/8/738/impact-of-globalization7. asp Panagariya, A. (2001). India’s Economic Reforms: What Has Been Accomplished? What Remains to Be Done? ERD POLICY BRIEF SERIES Economics and Research Department,(2). Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www. adb. org/Documents/EDRC/Policy_Briefs/PB002. pdf Positive and Negative Effects of Multinational Corporations. (2010). Retrieved October 11, 2010, from http://www. socialscience. gardner-webb. edu/Fac ulty/craymond/Devdocs/DevMNCposn How to cite Neo-Liberal Hyperglobalism, Papers

Creative short stories Essay Example For Students

Creative short stories Essay MacBethsTransformation from Brave Macbeth to This dead ButcherWilliam Shakespeares play MacBeth tells the story of Macbeth change from a bravegeneral, to a vicious murderer. At the start of the play Macbeth is acknowledge by theking as a brave and honourable general, after he heard of Macbeths great victory in thebattlefield. He promotes Macbeth to Thane of Cawdor, which was still unknown by bothMacbeth and Banquo when they came across the three weird sisters. All Hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of Cawdor (I:III:51)All Hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter (I:III:53)Macbeth was sceptical about these prophecies, however developed faith in them whenRoss, following the kings orders titles him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth does not let on to anyone about his ever-increasing desire to become king. If chance will have me king, why chance will crown me. (I:III:154)Macbeth tells his lady about the prophecies and she is instantly enthusiastic about theprospect of Macbeth becoming king. Great Glamis, Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter!Thy letters have transported me beyond this ignorant present and I feel now thefuture is an instant. (I:V:58)Macbeths desire turns to an obsession and with lady Macbeth; they make plans toassassinate king Duncan. Macbeths strong conscience overpowers his obsession andhe resigns from the fatal ploy. He sees a vision of a dagger drifting in the direction ofDuncans room, which convinces him to take part in the sinful act of murder. False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (I:VII:92)Macbeth is discomforted and confused after the murder of Duncan, but does notexpress his emotions to anyone. Malcom and Donalbain Duncans sons in fear for theirlives flee the country, leaving Macbeth to assume the role as king. After reigning as king for a little while, Macbeth becomes concerned with the continuationof his supremacy. The weird sisters spoke of Banquo as being lesser but greater, not sohappy yet much happier, Thou shalt get kings though be none (I:III:68)This plays on Macbeths mind for a while and his desire proves to be to strong. His guiltyconscience is taken over and in an attempt to control fate Macbeth devises a plan to killboth Banquo and his son Fleance. Macbeth is disturbed when he receives word that Banquo had been murdered, butFleance escaped. Macbeth begins to hallucinate and is constantly hunted by a ghost ofBanquo. During these hallucinations in the presence of many noblemen, Macbethreveals emotions and thoughts from deep down inside. Many noblemen now suspect himas the murderer of Duncan and Banquo. He becomes isolated from many peopleincluding Lady Macbeth. Macbeths desire to reign as king has led him to kill. His obsession drives him to revisit the weird sisters, to obtain the answers to hisquestions. MacBeths fatal flaw is shown clearly when the image of Eight kings passbefore him, with the Ghost of Banquo following. What is this so? (IV:I:134)Ay sir, all this is so; but why stands MacBeth so amazedly (IV:I:138)It shows that he has yet to realise that he cannot control fate, and Banquo will father aline of kings no matter what he does to try and prevent it from happening. The first of the second set of prophecies Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife. (IV:I:77)almost instantly became apparent when Lennox brings word that Macduff has fled toEngland. The bluntness of his orders shows how selfish and arrogant he has become. .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d , .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .postImageUrl , .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d , .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d:hover , .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d:visited , .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d:active { border:0!important; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d:active , .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud0470db38781142e83d380788428068d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Compare / Contrast - Baseball EssaySeize upon Fife; give to the edge o the sword, his wife, his babies, and all theunfortunate souls that trace him to his line. (IV:I:165)MacBeth is prepared for the invasion by Macduff and Malcom, his overwhelming pridecauses him to feel fearless of Macduff, and is filled with confidence before they confronteach other, but when they do eventually meet MacBeth does not want to fight. He hasrealised how ruthless he has been in his actions and how guilty he is of slaughteringmany innocent people to benefit him. How selfish and pretentious he has been in hisattempt to control fate. He is eventually slained after being to proud to concede defea tand having to kneel before his successor, the son of his first victim, Malcom. MacBeths transformation from a brave general to a dead murderer, was not gradual, hisoverwhelming pride and his inability to realise he could not play the part of God broughtabout

Toyota Ethics case study

Identification of ethics and social responsibility issues facing the company Toyota Motor Corporation is an international automobile and financial company, respected for its quality and reliable products; to remain competitive; the company’s management makes timely decisions. In all operations, the company aims to be ethical; it also extends a hand of appreciation to the public through corporate social responsibilities (CSRs). When determining the operation base and the CSRs to undertake, the company considers different issues likely to influence the direction of the projects or decisions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Toyota Ethics case study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There has been come ethical issues faced by the company, for example in early 2010, Toyota Company was faced by a problem when some fault vehicles got their way to the market and lead to deaths particularly in the United States of A merica. The company was considered not to be taking good care of its customers and the public. The brands of vehicle could accelerate themselves to an uncontrollable level they even led to death. The move or the experience that the company got at the time forced the management to appraise in person on the case and recalled all faulty automobiles. The case of Toyota was broadcasted in international and national media a point that made the sales of the company reduce ((Habisch, Jonker and Martina 1-123). Toyota being in the automobile industry has been blamed for environmental damage; the damage has been attributed to the company’s products, vehicles, which use fossil fuels to run. When fossil fuels are burnt, they produce green house gasses that have been a major talk in environmental debates, for the reason the company has been considered unethical. However, despite the moves and criticism gotten from environmental conservatisms, the company has continued to improve its produ cts and has innovated battery vehicles (electronic vehicles). Identification of key stakeholders and explanation of their involvement and influence There are a number of stakeholders in Toyota as far as ethics and corporate social responsibilities plans are concerned. The stakeholders are both internal and external players; internally Toyota is divided into departments performing different tasks. Internal team is expected to be creative, inventive and innovative to come up with approaches to ethical and CRS programs.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company has embarked on enforcement of its operating strategies: the company operates under five principals, they are Kaizen (continuo’s improvement), teamwork, Challenges, Respect and Genchi Genbutsu (go and see): to be ethical, the company aims at fulfilling the above objectives. Another set of the company’s st akeholders that affect the ethical code of business in the company is the external environment like customers and the society; there is a level of quality that customers expect from the company, the level forces the company to adopt high ethical operations. The company takes social corporate responsibilities as advertising and marketing tools, they offer the company a competitive advantage as communities value the efforts made by the company. The government and community-based organizations are other stakeholders; the main areas that these organizations get involved is in offering a minimal base and rate of operation that the company should uphold, for instance the environment movements require some level of emission from the company’s products and operations. When the company is compiling with such regulations, then it has to conduct its businesses ethically. International bodies and regulations are other stakeholders which the company has as stakeholders, there are a number of international conventions, protocols , and agreements that define the way business should be conducted, they include Kyoto protocol, Stockholm agreements, Doha round of talks, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, European Commission, and The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). However, these organizations are more concerned on pollution matters and environmental protection. The company is listed in Asian stock exchange whereby the public can buy shares in the company. The employees have a policy that ensures that they also have shares in the company, all this are stakeholders. The government and the public also would like to get ethically correct products from whichever the company and thus are included in the context of stakeholders. Shareholders are recognized by paying them dividends and the government by taxes. The public benefit from social corporate responsibilities programs (Habisch, Jonker and Martina 1-123) Identification of company’s stance Al though Toyota has been concerned on ethical and CSR issues, it waited until 2005 when the company developed a CSR policy, in the policy the company’s stance which is â€Å"CSR POLICY: Contribution towards Sustainable Development.† The policy team section has been upgraded to full departmental level managed by team of experts; the sector looks into economic, social, political and environmental issues in the company. The department has been successful in innovating environmental technologies in both products and processes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Toyota Ethics case study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The stance is seen as a combination of pragmatic, ethical, or strategic stance; the broad approach of the stance offers flexibility in country. The success of the structure can be seen in different areas which include development of products that are internationally accepted and automating its process to meet international standards. The stance is not limited to guidance in CSR and ethical issues but takes massive research to advice the company on consumers expectations. The following are the policies that are contained in the stance: Contribution towards a prospectus 21st century society Pursuit of environmental technologies Voluntary actions and Working in corporation with society The above action policies are implemented using the framework of: Action plan Toyota Green purchasing Guidelines Biodiversity guidelines Initiative at the new Toyota RD center Let us evaluate the success of the company using a Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility. Carroll Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility is as follows: At the base of the pyramid, the company profit objectives; when the company economic welfare has been looked into, the company lays the base of other corporate responsibilities and ethical code of conducts. The pyramid can be expanded as fo llows:Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Basic policy action guideline Economic responsibility the company has futuristic actions and strategies that target the continuity of the business, according to the CRS plan, the company aims at improving its products and improves the quality of the products to meet the demands of 21st century. When doing this, the company aims at maintaining harmony with the environment. Legal responsibilities It is the company’s policy that it should comply with national and international ethical standards; when the standards are being developed, it is one of the companies consulted for their inputs, it advises these organizations with customer as the main concern. Ethical responsibility The company has ethical policies that it should attain in its operations, the ethical responsibilities include the need to conserve the environment and create harmony with the environments its is operating. Philanthropic responsibilities the company has created good citizenship with the communiti es it is operating in, it aims at adding value to stakeholders. The efforts of the company look into all areas of ethical concern, the major drive of the company is to have products that are accepted internationally and whose connect with the people (Toyota official website). The automobile industry is quite demanding as far as ethical and social responsibilities are concerned, they are at the point of focus by national and international bodies more so when it comes to the issues of environmental conservation and being efficient. Mitsubishi is another international automobile company; it has ethical and corporate social responsibility functions at it heart, in every automobile it produces, it ensures it meets international accreditation of quality, before releasing to the market, the company quality team has to ensure that ever thing is intact. The efforts have not gone untested; the company’s Glanti model has been accused of brake failures and color fades. There are a num ber of corporate social responsibilities that the company has embarked on; they include environmental conservations, public educations, and has embarked on massive automation to facilitate ethical business. According to environmental report 2009 by US Environmental Agency, Mitsubishi has reduced its water wastage by 50%, this is through recycling and proper water use. The recycling is seen as a move to conserve the environment in line with EU environmental rules and Kyoto protocol. US Environmental Agency has congratulated the efforts taken by Mitsubishi to conserve the environment. It is of the view that if other motor industries follow the same trend, then the world is likely to reduce emissions by half. Pollution from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation can be controlled as a form of corporate responsibility (internal) or a company can embark on massive cleaning of the environment. Mitsubishi is also a key player in carbon emission reduction through: Adopting fuel efficient production methods like use electricity instead of coal when heating, this is estimated to reduce its in factory emission by 20% A project to develop electric motor vehicles is in an advanced stage The company has embarked on improved technology on it vehicles to ensure that they are fuel efficient The company have started making bio-diesel engine vehicles; they are seen as the breakthrough to future environmental conservation When comparing Toyota and Mitsubishi, Toyota is doing better; this is so because of the massive innovations that it has come up with in products and processes. Although Mitsubishi is having effective CRS, its coverage is lower than that of Toyota, this may be agued its because of the differences in operating base, since Toyota is the world largest automobile maker while Mitsubishi comes in as seventh (Mitsubishi Corporate website) The areas that both companies should look into are weak points and leakages in the company resulting from lack of 100% seal of holes that mi ght result to unethical businesses. The company’s quality report of 2009 has almost claimed that the company’s products quality is incomparably high, however, it was a matter of time before they believe failed the test of time. The five operating policies adopted by the company are strong source of drive and should shape the company’s direction, when it comes to ethical matters, the policies should be adhered to the dot. Advocators for good citizenship acknowledge the benefits that can be acquired from continuous improvements; they are of the view that businesses need to undertake research in their line of business to invent and innovate better ways of working than the current ones. Summary From the course, I have appreciated the benefits that a company can derive from being ethical and the power of corporate social responsibility as a marketing tool. Previously, I had less interest in CSR programs and their effect on a business, after the course I clearly under stand the benefits and the approaches it should take. The course was an eye opener; I now can tell companies that are ethical, them who respect stakeholders and those who have no interest. The efforts made by Toyota can be applauded, the company has automated its internal structures and is making products that are ethically accepted; to attain the ethical objective as required by the policies; the company is constantly innovating and inventing other ways of operating that are environmentally friendly. Some of the projects that the company has implemented as corporate social responsibilities have continued to change lives; for example the company’s education programs in developing countries has eradicated poverty and assisted communities. Such systems have a life touching effect; other programs that are aimed at environmental conservation are building to much needed sustainable development agendas attainments. The efforts made by Toyota has slightly made me respect the company and wish I would get a chance to work with the compact; at least it has made efforts and the efforts are yielding positive results. On paper and according to Toyota code of conduct, the company complies with internationally ethical values and has CSR efforts. The processes that the company has adopted in the efforts of being ethical are a great blessing to the company and societies; they include automation, recycling processes and refurbishment of products. The moves are compliant with international environmental conservation measures; the invention of electronic motor vehicles (EMVs) is seen as a major breakthrough in energy industry which has been threatened by increasing use and chances of depletion of oil reserves. on the other hand emissions from motor vehicles have been a major contributor to green gasses, the invention is expected to assist in a great deal. The company has embarked on quality management policies, they include TQM (total Quality Management), Six Sigma, and CR M (Customer relations management) policies; although the policy has made the company more profitable, its spillovers are ethically accepted moves like reliable, affordable and efficient automobiles. Conclusion In modern contemporary societies, there is a growing concerns on environmental conservation, management and restoration; this has been facilitated by enlighten among consumers and other business stakeholders calling for companies to act ethically and involve themselves in corporate social responsibilities. Toyota has embarked a number of measures to make its compliant with international ethical code of conducts. To act ethically, the company is guided by its CSR Policy document of 2005 and guidance of its implementation team. Works Cited Habisch, Andrà ©, Jonker Jan, and Martina Wegner. Corporate Social Responsibility across the Europe. Heidelberg: Springer. 2005. Print Mitsubishi Corporate website. Mitsubishi,2011. Web. Toyota official website. Toyota, 2011. Web. This essay on Toyota Ethics case study was written and submitted by user Knox T. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.