Philippine Canning Corporation Case Essay

I. Issues that Azucena Inalis must take into consideration. There seems to be two major issues that PCC must tackle in its ‘corned beef venture’; 1) where should PCC get its raw materials? (beef) and 2) Where does PCC source its debt? When it comes to the outsourcing of beef, PCC is considering Argentina, Australia, and/ or India. There are a number of concerns that must be addressed when it comes to importing raw materials from any one of these countries: 1) Political and Legal Considerations 2) Economic Performance and Management 3) Government Protectionist Policies The matter of sourcing debt is relatively simple because there are only two options being deliberated; 1) Denomination in Philippine Pesos, or 2) denomination in US Dollars. II. Evaluating the Issues 1) Political and Legal Considerations Argentina is widely considered to be one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Argentina scored 35/100 on the Transparency International rating as of 2011. 0/100 would be extremely corrupt while 100/100 would be clean. Crime rates as well as poverty are known issues. There is high risk as far as the political considerations in Argentina are concerned. India scored 36/100 on the Transparency International rating as of 2011. 0/100 would be extremely corrupt while 100/100 would be clean. Australia is would be considered in a low risk bracket, there is a strong legal system in operation and there is high confidence in government Australia scored 85/100 and they are well recognized for their efforts to stymy and eventually eradicate corruption and poverty altogether. 2) Economic Performance and Management Taken from Teadingeconomics.com(2013) | Instituto Nacional de Stadista ^ The latest reported inflation rate for Argentina is 10.5% for this month. It has been steadily decreasing from a high of 11.1% in early February  (Instituto Nacional de Estadista, 2013) but it has been forecasted to increase to 10.8% by mid-October. Taken from Tradingeconomics.com(2013) | Ministry of Comerce and Industry ^ India’s latest reported inflation rate is 4.86%. It has also been decreasing but in a more rapid rate compared to Argentina. From 10% in late 2011 to a sudden drop to7-8% in early 2012, and a gradual decrease to 6.68-7.5% in late 2012 and early 2013. Taken from Tradingeconomics.com | Australian Burau of Statistics ^ Inflation in Australia From 2010-2012, Australias inflation has been in the 2.1% (low) to 3.6% (high) region. Inflation went as low as 1.2% in the mid-2012, and gradually increased back to 2.5% through late 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. In the second quarter of 2013 however, inflation is back down to 2.4%. As far as inflation is concerned, the Australian economy is outperforming both Argentina and India by the proverbial mile. Let’s take a look at economic management. Indian Central Bank Base Interest Rates (Historical) Retrieved from Global-rates.com (2013) The current base interest rate is 7.25%. It has fluctuated in recent years from 5% in 2010 to 8.5% in early 2012- probably to control inflation; it was during this period that India’s inflation rate suddenly dropped frombeen on the decline from a high 8.5% in early 2012. This may be an explanation as to why India’s inflation dropped from 10% to 7+%. Retrieved from: Tradingeconomics.com (2013) 11.38 is the current base interest rate for Argentina. It has been moving in the 9-12% range since early 2012 3) Government Protectionist Policies REFERENCES Transparency International (2013) The Global Coalition Against Corruption; Corruption by Country/ Territory. Retrieved from: http://www.transparency.org/country#ARG_DataResearch Trading Economics (2013) Inflation Rates. Retrieved from : http://www.tradingeconomics.com/argentina/inflation-cpi

Literature review- should marijuana be legalised? Essay

The legalisation of marijuana has long been a debated subject, and not only in Australia But all around the world. People’s views in this area vary greatly, with many reasonable arguments for and against the issue. In this report, past studies and literature will be reviewed providing an understanding into the possible consequences of legalising marijuana as well as the views and debates regarded to the issue. The organisation, Gallup has been examining America’s attitude towards the legalisation of marijuana since the late 1960’s. Their studies show that in the past Americans have been opposed to the issue, with just twelve percent supporting the drug’s legalisation in 1969. However, in 1977 this number increased to 25 percent, and in 2000 rose again to 31 percent (Carroll, 2005). According to a new study by Gallop, the amount of Americans in favour of marijuana’s legalisation today has now soared to a riveting fifty percent. Including people between the ages of eighteen and twenty nine most in favour of its legalisation, and people sixty five and older proved to be most opposed to it (daily mail reporter, 2011) A predominant question in the debate relating to the legalization of marijuana is whether consumption would rise and by how much. Many people are concerned that if the drug became legal it would become more accessible, affordable, and acceptable in society, making an increase in consumption a big possibility. Rand, a drug policy research centre, conducted a study that supports this argument. â€Å"Results from these studies suggest that regular use of marijuana will Increase both in prevalence and in terms of average level of use with a fall in the monetary price of marijuana and a reduction in the enforcement risk of using marijuana. The precise increase in use, particularly in terms of average quantities consumed among users, remains unclear because of inadequate analyses of conditional demand. However, it is clear that the number (prevalence) of regular users will rise in response to both (Pacula, 2010).† According to Rand there is still an uncertainty towards how much marijuana consumption will increase post-legalisation, however, their models suggest that numbers could increase by fifty to one hundred percent or more. This would depend on the retail price, availability, advertisement and the federal response (Kilmer, 2010). If more people are using the drug, more people will be open to the health disadvantages marijuana has on the human  body. The primary reason why marijuana has been illegal in the past is because the drug does have many adverse health effects. In the same way the government protects people on the road by making them wear seatbelts; they also want to protect members of society from falling to the consequences involved with consuming marijuana. The government does have a certain level of responsibility over the safety of society, which is why many people believe that marijuana should remain illegal. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has surveyed and conducted many scientific research projects, all showing that excessive marijuana use has a serious effect on a user’s memory, social skills and capability to be educated (buddy, 2006). Intensive use can also lead to many long term effects such as depression, anxiety and personality disorders as well as an increased risk of getting bronchitis, lung cancer and other diseases of the respiratory system (NSW Government, 2011). Despite these effects of marijuana usage, it has proved that marijuana is no more harmful than legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. Which brings into question, why should marijuana be illegal when alcohol and tobacco consumption is allowed? An investigation by the British Medical Association actually went on to prove that alcohol and tobacco are far more addictive than marijuana. In fact, the drinking of alcohol and the use of cigarettes result in more deaths per year than does the use of marijuana.(marijuana safety, 1999) † Alcohol is more toxic, more addictive, more harmful to the body, more likely to result in injuries, and more likely to lead to interpersonal violence than marijuana† (safer choice,2010) If marijuana were to be legalised it could provide a safer alternative to alcohol and more harmful drugs. Substituting these drugs with marijuana could be a successful approach to the battle against substance abuse. Amanda Reiman describes what she has found in her study about the substitution of other drugs with marijuana. â€Å"Substituting cannabis for alcohol has been described as a radical alcohol treatment protocol. This approach could be used to address heavy alcohol use in the British Isles – people might substitute cannabis, a potentially safer drug than alcohol with less negative side effects, if it were socially acceptable and available.†( Reiman, 2009) Similar studies in this area went on to suggest that legalising marijuana will decrease road  accidents. By viewing statistics in areas where the drug has been allowed, researchers have found that there was nearly a nine percent reduction in traffic deaths (science daily, 2011). Marijuana has actually proved to have many medical uses, although sometimes they are completely overlooked. In the past, many studies have shown the drug to have several beneficial effects, these include, effective pain relief as well as providing aid to the side effects of chemotherapy and the symptoms of AIDS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma and other serious illnesses.(co-ed magazines, 2010) In 1997, the National Institutes of Health published a report specifying the possible medical uses for marijuana. The report emphasized five areas of medical care that were most applicable. These included Stimulation of appetite and decreased cachexia, Controlled nausea and vomiting linked with cancer chemotherapy, Decreased intraocular pressure, pain relief and finally, the benefits in area of Neurological and movement disorders By allowing marijuana consumption the government would be providing many people with a cheaper and effective alternative for pain relief and other medical impa irments. Legalisation could also lead to further medical research and findings on the medical uses of the drug.( National Institutes of Health, 1997) ‘Though the benefits of medical marijuana are ignored by the federal government, many scientists seemingly agree that the benefits of marijuana from a medicinal standpoint heavily out weigh the risk when it comes to aiding patients’ (Gallagher, 2012) When looking at marijuana legalisation from an economic perspective many advantages are noted. a study lead by Dr. Jeffrey Miron reported that once legalised, If marijuana were to be taxed similarly to the taxation system used on alcoholic and tobacco products, Governments could be looking at annual savings and revenues of up to fourteen billion each year. This includes savings in areas like prohibition enforcement which is said to be around 7.7 billion dollars. Over 500 other economists are supporting Dr. Jeffrey Miron’s study and are calling for a debate considering the reason and basis behind marijuana prohibition. (Miron, 2005) Overall, views on the legalisation of marijuana vary greatly among the people of Australia and the world. Past literature and in depth studies have revealed many advantages and disadvantages in regards to the drugs legalisation. Society’s arguments  are centred around, the effects on marijuana consumption, health effects, health benefits, economic advantages and its harmfulness in regards to other legal drugs. Bibliography Vandaelle, I. (2012, Janurary 17). Majority of Canadians support legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, new poll suggests. Retrieved 2012, from National Post: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/17/majority-of-canadians-support-legalizing-or-decriminalizing-marijuana-new-poll-suggests/ 10 Major Health Benefits of Marijuana. (2010, September 2). Retrieved 2012, from Coed magazine: http://coedmagazine.com/2010/09/02/10-major-health-benefits-of-marijuana/ Cannabis is The Answer To Booze Problems. (2011, October 16). Retrieved 2012, from imarijuana.com: http://www.imarijuana.com/tag/medical-cannabis-dispensary Medical Marijuana Laws Reduce Traffic Deaths, Preliminary Research Suggests. (2011, November 29). Retrieved 2012, from science daily.com: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129123257.htm Medical Marijuana Laws Reduce Traffic Deaths, Preliminary Research Suggests . (2011, november 30). Retrieved 2012, from The rational response squad: http://www.rationalresponders.co m/forum/30694 Record high: Gallup poll shows FIFTY per cent of Americans favour legalising marijuana. (2011, october 18). Retrieved 2012, from mail online: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050348/Legalisation-marijuana-50-Americans-favour.html Carroll, J. (2005, November 1). Who Supports Marijuana Legalization? Retrieved 2012, from GALLUP: http://www.gallup.com/poll/19561/who-supports-marijuana-legalization.aspx Debate on legalising marijuana . (n.d.). Retrieved 2012, from Hun pages: http://ange1ica1.hubpages.com/hub/Debate-of-Legalizing-Marjuana Gallagher, P. (2012, April 30). Are the benifits of medical marijuana being completely overlooked. Retrieved 2012, from Activist Post: http://www.activistpost.com/2012/04/are-benefits-of-medical-marijuana-being.html Kilmer, B. (2010, September). Insights on the Effects of. Retrieved 2012, from Rand: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimonies/2010/RAND_CT351.pdf

Free Essays on Eloquent Expressionalism

Eloquent Expressionalism The thick morning fog swirls in plumes on the field as the sun attempts to break through the cover above. Hues of orange, purple, and red combine to form a breathtaking vista that belies the nature of what’s transpiring. The tall grass is stained red. Heat and humidity work in sync to establish an invisible barrier that bonds clothing to skin with little effort. To either side stand men in arms. Their brandished uniforms clearly visible against the backdrop of thick pine and spruce trees that surround the expanse of open land. Officers on horseback dictate orders to men who form the front line. Their well-groomed steeds exert a sense of power that would strike fear into anyone who would draw near. Pistols hug their sides as a reminder that abandonment is treason, and punishable by death. Cannons flank the field, positioned aggressively at the front of the line as to optimize their distance. Men awaiting the next shot step away in order to evade the recoil of the large gun. The smell of gunpowder and open wounds fill the air, a truly sickening combination. The sound of men screaming is overpowering, their cries heard only by god, a futile attempt at salvation. Whiffs of smoke emanate from the entrance of bullet holes, all while cauterizing tissue. The ground is littered with discarded weaponry. A rifle, lay jammed but mere feet from its owner, a pale young sergeant with thinning hair, and a look to his eyes as though he’d seen more than men twice his age. His vision slowly fading being replaced by instead, a murky darkness that drowns its victims in its sweet surrender. Soldiers charge over the already bent blades of grass, tripping, falling, over comrades and adversaries alike. Bodies taking cover from rogue cannonballs flying overhead. The earth is soft and rich, coating the smooth leather of the soldiers army issued boots. Unpolished buckles fail to gleam as they should due to oxidation, wh... Free Essays on Eloquent Expressionalism Free Essays on Eloquent Expressionalism Eloquent Expressionalism The thick morning fog swirls in plumes on the field as the sun attempts to break through the cover above. Hues of orange, purple, and red combine to form a breathtaking vista that belies the nature of what’s transpiring. The tall grass is stained red. Heat and humidity work in sync to establish an invisible barrier that bonds clothing to skin with little effort. To either side stand men in arms. Their brandished uniforms clearly visible against the backdrop of thick pine and spruce trees that surround the expanse of open land. Officers on horseback dictate orders to men who form the front line. Their well-groomed steeds exert a sense of power that would strike fear into anyone who would draw near. Pistols hug their sides as a reminder that abandonment is treason, and punishable by death. Cannons flank the field, positioned aggressively at the front of the line as to optimize their distance. Men awaiting the next shot step away in order to evade the recoil of the large gun. The smell of gunpowder and open wounds fill the air, a truly sickening combination. The sound of men screaming is overpowering, their cries heard only by god, a futile attempt at salvation. Whiffs of smoke emanate from the entrance of bullet holes, all while cauterizing tissue. The ground is littered with discarded weaponry. A rifle, lay jammed but mere feet from its owner, a pale young sergeant with thinning hair, and a look to his eyes as though he’d seen more than men twice his age. His vision slowly fading being replaced by instead, a murky darkness that drowns its victims in its sweet surrender. Soldiers charge over the already bent blades of grass, tripping, falling, over comrades and adversaries alike. Bodies taking cover from rogue cannonballs flying overhead. The earth is soft and rich, coating the smooth leather of the soldiers army issued boots. Unpolished buckles fail to gleam as they should due to oxidation, wh...

reniasance essays

reniasance essays The word renaissance, meaning rebirth is perfect to describe the renaissance because the renaissance was a period of creativity and rediscovery (Farah and Karls 402). Developments in art, architecture and literature spread from Italy to the rest of Europe as people revisited the past stories of Greek and Roman culture. These are just a few reasons why the Renaissance period should be seen as a great time of cultural evolution that paved the way for everything that was to follow. Art during the renaissance was full of complex painting and phenomenal sculpture. Italian sculptors went back in time to reflect on classical ideals of free - standing statues of nude figures that resembled those of Greek and Roman sculpture. Painters of the renaissance also used a more realistic style of painting than that of the medieval times. Medieval painting was quite flat and boring while renaissance painting was very detailed and thought out. Much like art, architecture took a step back in time during the renaissance to a classical style of building. The rebirth of such ideas was necessary to the construction of many structures during the renaissance, such as churches, palaces, and villas. On such structures, architects used columns and domes, which were used in the days of Greek and Roman, rule, instead of arches and spires found on medieval structures. Some of the most impressive and most important structures every constructed, were built during the time of renaissance and reformation. Literature of the renaissance also took a step back in time to the days of Greek and Roman rule. Interest in ancient Greece and Rome moved artists to include classical mythology as well as biblical themes in their works. The renaissance was especially known for drama. Such playwrights as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe drew some of their ideas from classical mythology and histories of ancient Rome. ...

How to Easily Make Glow in the Dark Ice

How to Easily Make Glow in the Dark Ice Open up a bottle of tonic water, pour it into an ice cube tray, and stick it in the freezer. Tonic water glows vivid bright blue under a black light. The glow is activated by other sources of ultraviolet light, such as fluorescent lights or sunlight, though the glow wont appear as bright in part because the room wont be as dark. If you want to duplicate the effect in the photo, you need a black light somewhere in the room with the ice. Glowing Ice Flavor Tips Tonic water tastes vile, so heres a couple of tips for improving the flavor of the ice cubes. The first tip is to dilute the tonic water. If you mix the tonic water with normal water, your ice cubes will last longer (pure tonic water cubes melt fairly quickly) and wont taste as much like quinine (the ingredient responsible for the glow). Otherwise, you can cut it with lemonade or another sweet-sour drink that wont suffer from the bitter tang of the quinine. The second option is to put the ice into a drink where the flavor is desirable. The obvious choice would be to use the ice cubes in gin to make a gin and tonic. Non-alcoholic choices include fruit juice, Mountain Dewâ„ ¢, or Kool-Aidâ„ ¢. Dont worry about diminishing the glow from the ice. This photo is of tonic water ice and water. Types of Tonic Water The tonic water has to contain quinine. It doesnt make a difference whether you use diet or regular tonic water, be sure the label lists quinine. Some brands contain more flavoring than others, but I have had equally good luck with inexpensive store brands and premium brands. Another tip is to use clear plastic cups instead of glasses. Most plastic cups are brightly fluorescent under black light, so you get an added glow if you use them. You might want to take a mini-black light with you when you go shopping, to see what else will glow for you. You can make the ice into a glowing crystal ball to decorate punch bowls or look cool.

Database Configurations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Database Configurations - Assignment Example Most organizations do not rely on a single database configuration to be followed across the board. The purpose of having multiple database configurations and settings is similar to the principle of hedging or diversifying risk – the multiple configuration serve as barriers to employees who wish to internally cause damage, collect data about the company or use the information for unauthorized purposes (like selling to a third party). Multiple database configurations can come in various forms: having dedicated database servers, multiple platforms like SQL, Oracle and MySQL and a mix of the above. The idea is that organizations and their IT managers feel safer when information and their data sources are scattered across various configurations. This allows them to reduce the risks of data losses and hacking. The former is avoided because if there is a data failure, then it is likely to be restricted to the particular configuration only due to the fact that multiple configurations are often needed to be enforced across different physical data sources. As for hacking it is important to have different configurations because it restricts the success of hackers, viruses and other automated attempts to gain unauthorized access to data.

Perspectives on People at Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Perspectives on People at Work - Essay Example They make possible the application of the process of management and create a framework of order and command through which the activities of the organisation can be planned, organised, directed and controlled. In this case, the personality of a manager and his own individual differences determine the style of management and have a great impact on the staff. Without the direct participation and support of a manager, this power cannot be pushed to its full potential. Successful management require many of the characteristics common to all managers, but also requires special abilities to manage any organization in today's rapidly changing environment. The concerts of perception, individuality and attitudes play the most important role here. The impact of individual differences on the staff is important, because managers are judged not just on their own performance but on the results achieved by subordinate staff. There are many ways of looking at the meaning and role of individuality. It should be mentioned that for many oganisations, individuality of the manager and his personal skills as a leader is the main criteria in recruiting. For some corporations, individuality is the major criteria for further promotion. The personal qualities of managers are identified as an essential part of the process of management and require that proper attention be given to the personnel function. The effectiveness of any team or staff is dependent upon the efficient use of their skills and knowledge. In this case, the human element plays a major part in the overall success of the organization (Robbins, 2004). Proper attention to the personnel function of a manager helps to improve the efficiency of the labour force and the level of organisational performance in general. The influence of the manager's individual differences can be explained by the fact that the manager is an example for his subordinates. The manager is a leader who has a great influence on employees through his image, personal values and ability to motivate people. Good communication skills of the manager will result in an open and friendly atmosphere in the organization. If the manager has a reserved character, the staff relations will be restraint and emotionally limited. The staff can exercise self-direction and control to achieve objectives to which they are committed, if they are persuaded by the manager. The practical manager can be helped by analysing various approaches to leadership styles, but he must come to his own conclusions and adapt to the actual situation. Under proper conditions people can learn to accept and seek responsibility to follow his style of management and personal characteristics. The impact of manager's differences is closely connected with the process of perception. The concept of perception means that people select from the environment around them the information they need the most. The process of perception includes comprehension of sounds, shapes, smells, colours, pain, movement, taste, touch, pressures and feelings. And the most important, the process of perception determines individual behavioural responses to particular situations (Schuler, 1998). From the psychological point of view, perception is explained by the fact that people are not able to respond to everything around them, and they subconsciously select the information. The process of perception is important for a manager, because he has individual differences perceiving other people, and employees perceive him