African Economy essays

African Economy essays Ghana is an African country located on the western side of Africa. Its neighbors are Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and Cote D'Ivoire to the west. It has a population of 18,100, 703 and a population density of 197 people per square mile. Ghana is 92,098 square miles and English is its official language. The capital city of Accra has around 1, 673,000 people residing in it. There are the physical statistics, now onto the more interesting part. The country's greatest strengths lie in its natural resources. In those terms, it is very rich. Cocoa, its biggest export, accounts for 15% of the world's supply. Also its gold production, in recent years, it's exported as many as one million fine ounces. Ghana also has a good supply of bauxite, diamonds, coffee, rice, cassava, timber and rubber. Moreover, since 1983, the economy has steadily grown. With economic recovery policies intact, the economy has raised 5% a year since 1983. Tourism also is growing within Ghana. Tourist rates are increasing also. With all these cash crops, costly goods, and economic restructuring, one would wonder why they need assistance at all. Ghana's weaknesses though, almost outweigh the strengths. Like most countries in Africa, Ghana is in heavy debt since its independence in 1957. It also suffers from high budget deficits. All of the foreign investors that come in only invest in the gold fields. The richest business, Ghana isn't getting that profit. Because of clearing the land for farm use and urbanization, 70% of the forest has been destroyed. With the new urban communities and mining, pollution is a very serious problem in this small nation. As for other statistics that are related, its farming does well because of the two rainy seasons. There is only one doctor for every 12,523 people, but because of hygienic lessons, that doesn't cause too much of a problem. The major caus ...

Best Wishes for Your Birthday

Best Wishes for Your Birthday Some people like to celebrate their birthdays  alone. Others enjoy making a big splash and inviting friends for a grand celebration. Most people have a small party with their near and dear ones.  If you enjoy being with friends and family  but cant celebrate your birthday with them this year, dont feel depressed.  You can still make your birthday special with just a little effort. A birthday is a good time to take up an activity that youve never tried.  Choose   one  that involves other people so you wont feel so lonely on your birthday. Perhaps you can learn ballroom dancing or yoga.  Visit a luxury spa or salon and pamper yourself. Treat yourself to exotic massages and dont feel guilty about spending money on yourself. You deserve special treatment.  If youre in a benevolent mood, visit a local orphanage and donate generously. Spend time helping the needy. Youll feel an immense sense of satisfaction and spiritual fulfillment. Heres a list of birthday wishes that might inspire you to reflect on your life and how you would like to improve it: Maurice ChevalierOld age isnt so bad when you consider the alternatives.Alexander PopePleasd to look forward, pleasd to look behind,And count each birthday with a grateful mind.C.E.M. JoadMen are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.Oscar WildeThe old believe everything; the middle-aged suspect everything; the young know everything.Fred AstaireOld age is like everything else. To make a success of it, youve got to start young.Daniel Francois Esprit AuberAging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.Mark TwainAge is an issue of mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter.Pennsylvania Dutch ProverbWe grow too soon old and too late smart.Ubie BlakeIf Id known I was going to live this long, Id have taken better care of myself.J. P. SearsLet us respect gray hairs, especially our own.Lucille BallThe secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.Lucy LarcomWhatever with the past has gone, the best is always y et to come. Bernard BaruchWe grow neither better or worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.Stephen WrightI intend to live forever so far, so good!Martin BuxbaumSome people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty- they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.Jerry M. WrightThe first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left.PlautusLet us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.Pablo PicassoIt takes a long time to grow young.Les BrownYou are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.George BurnsNice to be here? At my age its nice to be anywhere.Robert FrostA diplomat is a man who always remembers a womans birthday, but never remembers her age.

Marketing Planning and Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing Planning and Communications - Essay Example On the shore on the other hand, were millions of inhabitants who had barely recovered from the rampage of Hurricane Katrina and the like. The Gulf of Mexico was also polluted with 5 million barrels of crude oil and methane gas, surpassing the Exxon disaster within four days (Sachs, 2012). Biggest Corporate Fine in US History British Petroleum has so far put aside $42 billion payable as fines, compensation to the victims and well as restoration costs (the economist, 2013). In other words, the company has paid 14 billion for restoration and clean up of the site, 17.5 billion as compensation to individuals and small businesses, $4 billion in the form of criminal charges to the Department of Justice as well and $3.5 billion as penalties for oil leak under the America’s Clean Water Act (the Economist, 2013, p.66). Integrated Marketing Communications According to Percy (2008) integrated marketing communications is about planning, it aims at delivering a consistent and effective mess age. IMC applies to all forms of communications, be it consumer, business-to-business or corporate. Furthermore, by consistent message we mean that the message must have the same visual feel throughout media so as to form a distinct image that can be linked to the brand. Ensuring the proper implementation of IMC requires a strategic plan, the process begins by identifying the target audience and understanding their purchase decisions and behaviours. Strategic IMC for the BP Brand In 1997, the then CEO of BP John Browne was determined to make BP the world’s largest oil company through exploration, acquisition and marketing. Browne was of the impression that the consumers could be taught to identify with a brand of gasoline. But making the consumer identify with an oil brand was exceedingly hard as people hated oil companies and perceived them as villains following the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. With increasing awareness about climate change, oil companies were the worst perfo rming product category in terms of brand affinity (Sachs, 2012). Browne made significant changes to the approach of the company, including investments in solar energy research and withdrawal from oil- interest group Global Climate Coalition. These efforts were perceived positively by the consumers as British Petroleum was no longer resisting the fight against climate change with was now an active participant. By 2000, the company’s name was changed to BP with the tagline â€Å"Beyond Petroleum†, furthermore the company shield was replaced by helios. This new look was received positively by the masses, so the company further invested in advertising to supplement their green stance on the environment. Over the next few years the company built extensive brand equity, and John Browne one of the most popular CEOs in the world was granted knighthood. The truth in fact was very different from the facade created by green advertising because in reality the company was not makin g any significant progress in alternative energy. In 2010, BP’s operations comprised of drilling the world’

Social Organization Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Organization Analysis - Essay Example Another fallacy presented is fallacy of appeal to pity. The video tries to encourage people to donate by making them feel sorry for the victims of animal cruelty. The viewers are led to believe that giving financial support to the organization will help promote the plight of the poor animals. The organization may be guilty of using content fallacies. Although it gave information on the number of animals being abused every single hour and the number of animals which were rescued last year, one does not have any way of confirming the said data because the source of the figures were not given. The arguments presented may make us suspicious because the figures could very well be invented just to get a lot of contributions. The fallacies have a strong impact on the aim of the organization to encourage people to make a donation. I think that the fallacies used are very effective into moving the viewers to action by calling right after watching the video. There was even a statement which wa s shown, â€Å"For hundreds of others, help came too late.† The statement used would make viewers react at once; else it would be too late for the â€Å"hundreds† of animals. The impact of this is that there seems to be a sense of urgency in the issue being presented.

Study On Malcolm X Little

Study On Malcolm X Little Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in May 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. His father Earl Little was a Baptist teacher who was very outspoken on the Back to Africa movement. This was a movement of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Malcolms father was murdered in 1937 by white terrorist because of his political and social outspokenness. The death of Earl Little had a severely negative effect on Malcolms childhood and the entire Little family. Malcolms mother went mad under the weight of trying to bring up eight children alone in extreme poverty. His family was broken up and Malcolm went to live in a group foster home. In 1941, he went to live with his half sister in Boston. There he soon entered the fringes of the underworld and at the age of 17, he moved to Harlem where he turned to a life of crime, including drug dealing and armed robbery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed robbery at the age of 20. In prison, Malcolm found an interest in the Nation of Islam, a Black Nationalist religious movement whose members are known as the Black Muslim. He became and advent follower of the leader of the Nation of Islam; Elijah Muhammad who was a strong advocate of the Black Independent state. His teachings were founded on traditional Islamic teachings, Black Nationalism as taught by Marcus Garvey and self help programmes that catered for the need of African American living in poverty. The nation of Islam declared that the whites were evil by nature and predicted that in the near future a great war would take place and all the whites would be destroyed and black people would rule the world. In preparation for this new world, the Nation of Islam stressed personal self restraint from drugs and alcohol, and organized economic self help enterprises. The nation of Islam recruited among the poorest of urban blacks and in prison which was were Malcolm Little converted to the Islamic faith and joine d the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X became a minster and a recruiter for the Nation of Islam and was appointed chief minster by Elijah Muhammad in 1954. Within five years of joining the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X had become a more prominent spokes person for the Nation of Islam than Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X was a fundamental figure in his generation fighting against white supremacy against the blacks in America. He believed that the western societies were racist by nature and that African Americans should build their own societies and value systems. His course in life was from oppression and victimization to rebellion and revolutionary independence. His journey was from resistance to an informed radicalism. It was a journey from which he ultimately gathered political and historical insight which, combined with his tools of persuasion and skills at leadership, made him at the time of his death arguably the most dangerous figure in Americas history to confront its ruling class. LEADERSHIP AND ITS THEORIES Leadership is about coping with change. Leaders establish a course of action; develop a vision of the future and align the followers by communicating that vision and inspiring them to overcome hurdles. Leadership can also be said to be inspiring people to achieving a set of goal or vision. Great leaders have always been associated with certain trait and qualities which differentiate them from followers. The trait theory attempts to identify the characteristics that distinguish leaders from followers by focusing on their personal qualities and characteristics. Such characteristics include charisma or charm, ambition, drive, courage amongst others. These attributes and characteristics have been associated with great leaders from time in history. T Using the Big Five personality theory, the traits of ambition and energy in leaders are part of extroversion which has been identified as the most important trait of effective leaders. However extroversion has been identified as related strongly to leadership emergence rather than leadership effectiveness. Conscientiousness and openness to experience also are strongly correlated to leadership however not as strong as extroversion. Agreeableness and emotional stability on the other hand were not so strongly correlated with leadership. The Trait Theory suggest that leaders who like being around people and are able to assert themselves, who are disciplined and keep their commitments made, who are creative and flexible are in a better position to be good and effective leaders. Another trait that effective leaders have according to this theory is emotional intelligence. At the core of emotional intelligence is empathy. Empathic leaders can sense others needs, listen to their followers and show empathy to their plight. Malcolm X we have seen and observed that he had basic education because of his race and he was a convicted criminal. However, this did not affect his level of effectiveness as a leader. He was able to transition from a criminal to a spokes man for his people. He exhibited extroversion, conscientiousness, emotional intelligence (empathy) towards to the people and the vision of the group. Upon joining the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X wasnt the most active or longest serving member, he wasnt even high up in the hierarchy of things; however, he distinguished and demonstrated himself as a leader through his discipline, commitment, passion as a follower and his ability to assert himself on the followers of the vision of a Black Nation. These were the qualities that were identified by Elijah Mohammed that led to the selection of Malcolm X as Chief Minister for the Nation of Islam. There were two propositions made by the Ohio State Studies on leadership behaviour which they tagged initiating structure and consideration. Initiating structure includes behaviours that attempt to organize work, work relations and goals, providing structure in the organisation. It involves assignment of tasks to members of the group and expects a certain level of performance from followers. Consideration has to do with having job relations characterized by mutual trust, respect for followers feelings. A leader with high consideration is friendly, approachable and concerned with his followers personal problems. In the life of Malcolm X there were characteristics of a leader high in initiating structure in his organization of the fellow members, assigning task to them in their conduct of meetings and mobilization of new members for the nation of Islam. He also showed high levels of consideration as he commanded a lot of respect from members as he was friendly and approachable and had genuine concern for their well being as exemplified in the case of a member being brutalized by the police. Malcolm X mobilized fellow members of the group to the police station and facilitated the release of the member and ensured that he got medical care. This self sacrificial behaviour and concern for the followers attributes to his effectiveness in leadership. Leaders who have certain traits and display consideration and initiate structuring behaviours appear to be more effective. Malcolm X was able to find a balance between getting the job done and looking after the welfare of the members of the Nation of Islam. This is known as transformational leadership. The essence of Transformational Leadership Theory is the transformation of the attitudes, motivations and the behaviours of followers. Transformational leadership tries to raise the consciousness of followers by appealing to their self interest, moral values, mobilizing them to reform the institution they find themselves and in exchange provide benefits for the people by looking after their welfare. Such was the case of Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam with the African Americans that were oppressed in United States. Malcolm X was inspirational and visionary, he was intellectually stimulating, he gave attention, respect and responsibility to his followers. However transformational leadership theory alone cannot be used to explain the leadership style of Malcolm X, a further theory that can be used is the Charismatic Leadership theory. This is often thought of a sibling of transformational leadership or as a component of transformational leadership. This kind of leadership is best suited into political leadership This Leadership theory is based on the perception of the followers that the leader is an exceptional human being. The followers willing to obey their leader, in some cases they idolize their leader and are highly emotionally involved to the mission of the group. However based on Self concept theory, the above are not a necessary condition for Charismatic Leadership Charismatic leadership generates increased self esteem and self worth for the leader, increased self efficacy and collective efficacy of the whole group, identification with the leader and the whole group and the internalization of the values of the leader. Charismatic leadership depends on the whole situation surrounding the leader, the leaders identity, behaviour, the culture, the followers identity and the groups all entwined. Charisma is likely attributed to leaders that have a vision that is highly controversial but for the ultimate benefit of the followers. These leaders must act in unconventional ways in order to impress the followers. This might include risking their lives for the course and vision they have for the people. Charismatic leadership can be used to describe Malcolm X style of leadership because he openly challenged the ruling class and spoke in a manner that was considered a threat to the American society. Malcolm X was self sacrificing and wasnt motivated by financial reward but the vision of the Nation of Islam which was why his followers trusted him because he was committed to the cause. This leadership style of Malcolm X was influenced by his perceived leader Elijah Mohammed who was a very charismatic leader. Malcolm X encounter with Mohammed was such a transformation in his life that he was ready to lay down his life for Mohammed. He was ready to do anything that Mohammed would ask of him. Malcolm X idolized Mohammed and most likely copied his leadership style as he saw Mohammed as a man sent from Allah. This was because Mohammed exuded such strong convictions and self confidence about his vision for the Nation of Islam and his beliefs that there was a deliverance coming to the people. The praise and recognition received by Malcolm X and his rise to fame by being appointed chief minster by Muhammad further built up his self confidence and a deeper obligation to meeting the set standard by Mohammed. Malcolm X was also influenced by him internalizing the new belief of the nation of Islam by adopting the belief of Mohammed and his vision. Another influence on the transformational/charismatic leadership style of Malcolm X was his environment. In his time America was in a crisis; the blacks were in a crisis, having suffered from racism, oppression and victimization from the ruling class. The African Americans were looking for a leader to give them hope of a better tomorrow and Malcolm X provided that hope. This situation of crisis was an influence in the leadership style of Malcolm X. Comparing and contrasting the leadership styles of Malcolm X and West Indian Archie who introduced Malcolm X to the world of drinking, drugs and armed robbery. Archie had a transactional leadership style, where the leader rewards the follower for performance. Such was the relationship between Archie and Malcolm X. This style of leadership is non inspirational, non motivation and commitment and level of trust is low and in some cases non-existent as seen in the movie. Also comparing Malcolm X leadership style and that of Baines, Malcolm X was a more of a transformational /Charismatic leader while Baines was more of a transactional leader, where the leader offers rewards for compliance and performance. Transactional leadership style motivates followers by appealing to the followers self interest and exchange of benefits. This kind of leadership is necessary but not sufficient for the overall performance of the group. Unlike transformational leadership, transactional leadership isnt concerned about the welfare of the followers or their emotion or their needs but rather on getting the job done. In this form of leadership, followers are only rewarded based on their actions, behaviours and compliance with the expectations of the leader. As such the followers are not very committed to the leader and have a lower level of trust for that kind of leader than the transformational /Charismatic leader. The difference in leadership style as well as beliefs and expectations of Malcolm X and Baines might have led to the conflict that arose between Malcolm X and the leaders of the Nation of Islam. The conflict of interest that arose due to the other leaders enriching themselves at the expense of the vision and the followers was a major turn in the life of Malcolm X as well as the rumours of Muhammads extramarital affairs with young secretaries. Such actions were against the teachings of the Nation. Although at first Malcolm X ignored the rumours, but the women started making their accusations public and this was potentially damaging to the Nation of Islam. After several denials, Muhammad later confirmed the rumours and tried to justify his actions by referring to precedents by Biblical prophets. This was a major betrayal for Malcolm X. FOLLOWERS RELATIONSHIP WITH LEADERSHIP Upon release from prison, Malcolm X became a follower, a follower of Elijah Mohammed, a follower of the Nation of Islam. He played a passive role in this leadership followership relationship as well as when he was peddling drugs on the streets of Harlem with West Indian Archie, he was a recipient of leadership from West Indian Archie This role the follower plays can be described as followers as recipients of leadership. This is essentially a linear relationship between the leader and followers. After he was chosen as the chief minister for the nation of Islam, Malcolm x was still a follower of Mohammed, however he had evolved from a follower as a recipient of leadership to being a moderator of leadership. This is based on the situation theory and depends on the level of maturity and needs of the follower amongst other factors. The leader moves from the telling style to the selling style, the participatory style then finally to the delegating style. Malcolm X exhibited high level of maturity, motivation and had an established relationship with Mohammed which made him a moderator of leadership Followers as moderators of leadership suggests that though followers see themselves as passive in the relationship but the influence the leader has maybe moderated by the level of maturity, ability and motivation of the follower. The leader must take on an active role in the leadership process. There are aspects of followers that leaders need to take into account when leading these are: the followers initial attitude towards the leader, the followers acceptance of the leader, the followers need for emotional support and the followers knowledge and congruence of their values with that of the leader. After becoming the chief spokes person for the influence Mohammed had over Malcolm X -his follower was neutralize meaning that the task oriented or relationship oriented activities made no difference to the attitude and behaviour of Malcolm X. Followers as substitute for leadership originates from the substitutes for leadership theory, which argues that under some circumstances, the influence that a leader exacts over his follower may be substituted or neutralized. In the case of substitution, the activities of the leader are not necessary. However this requires the followers to be highly intelligent and very experienced hence might not have need for a leader as was with Malcolm X. The substitute theory deemphasizes the significance of the leader. Followers are also seen as constructors of leadership because if they do not recognize it as leadership then it isnt leadership. There are three theories that identify the construction process. These are the romance of leadership theory; where the identity and influence of the leader depends on the manner in which their followers perceive them, psychoanalytic theories; which identifies that leadership is influenced by the model of leadership exhibited by parents teachers and other adults in the maturation process from child to adulthood in the case of Malcolm X the influence of his father as a human right advocate to his style of leadership, the social identity theory proposes the extent to which a leader is selected by a group will depend on how representative he/she is to that group. CONCLUSION In conclusion, Malcolm X was a great person because of his honesty and sacrifice. He was a transformation and charismatic leader that influenced millions in his generation and generations after to stand up for their rights and beliefs and freedom. His words and actions are still celebrated in America even today.

Fashion Branding

Dry. Hang Fashion brands in the Market place The Market place of MAC was solely built on the networking and the relationships the previous owners Frank Token, and Frank Angelo had with people in the fashion industry. The owners were tired of seeing makeup products that couldn't sustain the abuse of studio lights so they decided to make a quality makeup company. Frank Token was the idea behind the original project making formulas with his brother-in- law Victor Casual who was also a chemist (Evelyn, 2009).Frank Angelo came along to kind of help with the entrepreneurship aspect of the company, and they hit it off after that. Since both of the franks were already in the makeup, and hair industry they knew a lot of people that they could network their new makeup products too. Like I also mentioned before they were the first cosmetic line to offer a wide range of color lipsticks, most companies were mainly focused on skincare and facial products.MAC cosmetics were originally made for peop le in the high fashion industry, and were later pushed towards any and everybody in the fashion and keep industry (Evelyn, 2009). In 1986 MAC was styling fashion looks one being the concept of bald brides in Toronto fashion shows (Upgraded). In 1988 Henry Bended in New York was the first department store picking MAC's cosmetics , followed by a 1994 campaign of â€Å"Who is the M. A. C girl† starring Our Paul nearly raising $1 million for their M. A. C AIDS fund.All this leads to MAC's participation in their first New York fashion week with fashion designer Amateurs (Upgraded). MAC was also featured in one of the biggest fashion magazines Vogue in 1994 for the first time. That first New York fashion week runway then lead to MAC sponsoring over 850 shows, spread across 47 New York fashion week by 2012. By 2007 MAC's AIDS fund raised over 236 million dollars with the help of celebrities such as Mary J. Bilge, Ill Kim, Nick Mina], Lady Gaga, and Rick Martin. We love the idea of b eing able to champion and solidify a strong point of view for the next generation,† says an Est ©e Lauder executive. â€Å"We're a makeup-artist brand, and we're inspired by the runway?it's very organic. † said Esteem' Lauder executive (Upgraded). One of MAC's biggest introduction of endorsements were led by the likes of Pamela Anderson, Boy George, Debbie Harry, and other big stars in the ass's this led to the company's growth in the industry and marketplace (Evelyn,2009).

African American vs. Caucasian Americans Essay

At first glance some people might consider this paper to be on the racial side, however it was all written by observations made. There are many differences between African Americans and Caucasians, some people don’t see the differences because of ignorance . You must read the paper with an open mind and take none of this to heart. African American and Caucasians function differently in public surroundings. When you see a young African American you usually see them in groups of four of more. However, when one of them gets into a disagreement five to ten more show up in their defense. They are a very close knit group of individuals. I have also noticed that when you see a young African American walking around they are usually singing, talking very loud or running around. Also when they are in groups they are very loud and take over the area that they occupy. On the other hand when you see Caucasians they are rarely in groups of three or more. To top it off when someone in one of their groups gets in trouble the rest of the group is nowhere to be found. Most times when you see young Caucasian people in a group they are for the most part within a normal speaking level. These two groups tend to act differently in the public due to their cultural differences. There are a number of differences between the churches of African Americans and Caucasians. At most typical African American churches there are no true sermons. The African American churches tend to do more entertaining rather than teaching. They also do a great deal of singing and dancing involved in there praising of God. They emphasize fellowship in their churches especially after church when they all gather and close the celebration with a meal together. However at a typical Caucasian church there are a few differences. To start it off when you first walk in you get a program detailing what will be happening through the service. They tend to structure the whole service around a sermon or story. The service every week is very predictable as to what will happen. The Caucasian churches are more there to teach the ways of the lord as they have interpreted it. Although not all the African American and Caucasian churches are along this line a majority of the main stream ones are.