Comparison of two poems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Comparison of two poems - Essay Example As a result the child misses the father even after he is dead. The child remembers her father at the time when she is thirty nine years old. This is a prime age in the life of a woman as at this time in her life she is about to enter menopause. It is at this time that the woman has lived a larger part of her life as she is increasingly becoming wiser. She becomes more understanding to her actions when she was younger as well as their consequences both to her and her loved ones. In this case she remembers how tired her father was when she was young due to his hard work. In the first poem Spike (2003, p. 15) the child that is betrayed is both defenseless and in much more need for love and care than in the second poem. However in the second poem, contrary to the lack of love in the first one there is a lot of love and understanding from the parent. This is evidence by the phrase ‘He taught me how’. This phrase explains that the child had a lot of time with the parent who took the initiative of teaching the child the virtue of honesty. The language in the first poem shows the evidence of human brutality and cruelty against the child. The actions taken by the parent killing the child who is unborn and does not even know that it exists is the evidence. On the other hand we look at the second poem which has a smooth tone evident by the care and love portrayed by the parent. From the phrase, ‘had a savings account.’ it portrays the dedication and care of the father to the future of the child. The final stance of the poem is evidence of the lack of virtue by the parents Spike (2003, p. 15)Â   . According to the context of the society parents are supposed to be the ones to protect and give care to the children. Unfortunately the parents in the poem even celebrate on the death of the unborn baby; this shows the failure of the society in actual sense. In the second poem Walkers (2005, p. 25)Â   there is evidence of the society being

Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan - Essay Example He was young for his age, full of vitality and possibilities, and when I left school two years before, I soon noticed that he lived with a woman. It took me rather longer to realise that it was a different one every six months. But gradually his charm, my new easy life, and my own disposition led me to accept it.....It was easy to love him, for he was kind, generous, gay, and full of affection for me.' Sagan (p9) Cecile repeats his assertion that fidelity and commitment are 'arbitrary and sterile' Sagan (p13). That he is shallow and superficial, and will behave so, is expressed in her statement: 'Although I did not share my father's aversion to ugliness, which often led us to associate with stupid people, I felt vaguely uncomfortable with anyone devoid of physical charms.' Sagan (p11) In fact, she is more like him than she thinks, for having met Cyril, she is very taken with his looks, though touches on his character as an afterthought. Here too are the signs of an awakening sexuality. 'He looked typically Latin, was very dark and sunburnt. There was something reliable and protective about him which I liked at once.....He was tall and sometimes beautiful, with the sort of good looks that immediately inspired one with confidence.' Sagan (p11) Such values inherent in both Cecile and Raymond suggest that how they behave will be driven 3 by these. This, despite her slight criticism of Raymond as follows: 'His only fault was to imbue me with a cynical attitude towards love which, considering my age and experience, should have meant happiness and not only a transitory sensation.' Sagan (p21) The suggestion is that Cecile is already corrupted and that the later behaviours she displays are evidence of that corruption.... That Cecile is the narrator helps to give immediate insight into the themes and characters of the people, describing what they are and how their behaviours make things happen in line with any particular theme at the time. The opening lines are brilliantly expressive of a rather selfish young girl whose thoughts are ambivalent. The reader is made aware that for Cecile, the love from and for her father, together with the life they lead, is her greatest happiness. With the explanation of how they live, Raymond's immorality and character are exposed: In fact, she is more like him than she thinks, for having met Cyril, she is very taken with his looks, though touches on his character as an afterthought. Here too are the signs of an awakening sexuality. The suggestion is that Cecile is already corrupted and that the later behaviours she displays are evidence of that corruption. That he and she will selfishly seek sexual gratification, with little concern for fidelity is only a short time away. The catalyst is Anne's arrival, a woman who, unable to hide her feelings and character, puts in motion the jealousy and self-protection which overwhelm Cecile. motivated by love and perhaps self-importance, Raymond's by lust and love, they cause the manipulative, distressed and confused teenager to em

A Trade Mark

A Trade Mark Introduction A trade mark is a way for one party to distinguish themselves from another. In business, a trade mark provides a product or organization with an identity which cannot be imitated by its competitors. According to section 1(1) of the 1994 Act, a trademark is ‘any sign capable of being represented graphically which is capable of distinguishing goods or services of one undertaking from those of another’. In Sigla SA v OHIM (Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market) the Court of First Instance (CFI) stated that a trade mark does also convey other messages concerning the qualities or particular characteristics of the goods or services which it covers, such as luxury, lifestyle, exclusivity, adventure, youth. A mark has then an inherent economic value which is independent of and separate from that of the goods and services for which it is registered. The CFI held that ‘these messages are conveyed, by trademarks with reputation and confer on it significant value which deserves protection because the reputation of a mark is the result of considerable effort and investment on the part of its proprietor’. However, how far the UK courts and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) have recognised this â€Å"inherent economic value† of registered trade marks? Relative Grounds for Refusal Marks which conflict with earlier marks or signs may not be registered. The grounds for refusal of the registration of a trade mark are found in section 5 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Article 8 of the Community Trade Mark Regulation (CTMR): Identical marks on identical goods and services: section 5(1)/Article 8(1) (a); Identical marks on similar goods and services that there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public which includes the likelihood of association with the earlier mark: section 5(2) (a)/Article 8(1) (b); Similar marks on similar goods and services and there is a likelihood of confusion which includes the likelihood of association, between the marks: section 5(2) (b)/Article 8(1) (b); Identical or similar marks on goods or services which would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character of the earlier mark, without due cause: section 5(3)/Article 8(5). UK incorporated Articles 4(4) (a) of the EC Trademark Directive and 8(5) of the Community Regulation 40/94 into domestic law under section 5(3) of its Trade Marks Act 1994. According to section 6, Earlier Marks cover UK and Community Trade Marks with an earlier registration date and Community Trade Marks with seniority derived from an earlier UK mark. They can also be marks registered under the Madrid Protocol and â€Å"well known† trademarks protected under Article 6bis of the Paris Convention. Article 4(4)(a) of the EC Trademark Directive allows any Member State to provide that ‘a trade mark shall not be registered where, the trade mark is identical with, or similar to, an earlier national trade mark and is to be registered for goods or services which are not similar to those for which the earlier trade mark is registered, where the earlier trade mark has a reputation in the Member State concerned and where the use of the later trade mark without due cause would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark’. There are four main grounds for infringement, which are set out in section 10 of the Trade Mark Act 1994. They are the same grounds for refusal of registration, as contained in section 5. Any act of infringement is not required to of held any previous knowledge or intention to carry out the act. To infringe, a mark must be used ‘in the course of trade’. Any use which is liable to put at risk the guarantee of origin may be prevented, because this guarantee constitutes the essential function of the mark. Identical and Similar Marks under Section 10(1) If the marks are identical or similar, and the goods and services are identical or similar, confusion must be shown. A mark is considered similar if in the mind of the average consumer the likelihood of confusion for the goods/services is at issue. The marks must be compared as wholes because the average consumer generally recognizes marks as a whole. Section 10(1) prohibits the use of an identical mark to the registered mark upon goods or services for which the mark is registered. In Reed executive v Reed Business Information Ltd it was held that the marks were similar, not identical. The claimant alleged that the defendants had infringed its trade mark. The defendant had used ‘Reed’ as part of the composites ‘Reed Elsevier’ and ‘Reed Business information’. Jacob LJ did not think that ‘Reed Business information’ was identical to ‘Reed’ and he noted that the additional words would not ignored by the average consumer. The ECJ in SA Societe LTJ Diffusion v SA Sadas stated that the criterion ‘must be interpreted strictly. The definition of identity implies that the two elements should be the same in all aspects’. The level of identity between the marks must be high. In Origins Natural Resources Inc v Origin Clothing Ltd the marks ‘Origin’ and ‘Origins’, were held to be similar but not identical. Likelihood of Confusion Likelihood of confusion is arising from similarity with an earlier mark and goods and services for which that earlier mark is registered. If exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public, the trade mark will not be registered under section 5(2). Jacob J recommended in British Sugar plc v James Robertson Sons Ltd, that to apply section 5(2) is to ask first whether the marks are the same or similar and then whether the goods are the same or similar. Finally, ask whether the proviso applies and whether there is a likelihood of confusion, including a likelihood of association between the marks. If the answer to all three questions is positive, then there will be a conflict. In Sabel v Puma the ECJ held, that the likelihood of confusion must be appreciated globally, taking into account factors including the recognition of the trade mark on the market, the association which can be made between the registered mark, the sign and the degree of similarity between the mark, the goods and the services. The Court considered that there is a greater likelihood of confusion where the earlier trade mark has a highly distinctive character. It was noted in Ruiz-Picasso v OHIM, that attention would be particularly high as regards goods which are expensive, and highly technological in character. The ECJ said in Canon Kabushiki Kaisha v Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc that, if the association between the marks causes the public to believe that the respective goods come from the same or economically linked undertakings, there is a likelihood of confusion. In Marca Mode CV v Adidas AG it was held that ‘the reputation of a mark does not give grounds for presuming a likelihood of confusion simply because of a likelihood of association in the strict sense’. Protection for Marks with Reputation Article 8(5) of the Trade Mark Directive and Article 4(4) the Community Trade Mark Regulation offer protection for marks ‘with a reputation’, recognising that trade marks do more than simply signify origin. In Bristol Myers Squibb v. Paranova the â€Å"essential function† of the trade mark was held to be to guarantee origin to the consumer without any risk of confusion. Some marks because of their reputation have obtained a value not confined to the basic distinguishing function of a mark, so that they should be entitled to protection. The CFI give guidance in Sigla on the distinction between the notion of the likelihood of confusion and the risk of unfair advantage. The Court noted that a likelihood of confusion occurs where a consumer is attracted to a product or service covered by the applied for mark because of a misunderstanding that it comes from the same origin as that covered by an earlier mark which is identical or similar. However, the risk of unfair advantage might happen where the consumer is attracted to the mark itself, without confusing the origin of the good or service. The Court in Sigla held that: ‘Article 8(5), ensures that a mark with a reputation is protected with regard to any application for an identical or similar mark which might affect its image, even if the goods or services covered by the mark applied for are not similar to those for which the earlier mark with a reputation has been registered’. Being able to prove that the trade mark ‘has a reputation’ is a key to a trade mark owner’s ability to benefit. Dilution Section 5(3) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 offers the means for an earlier trade mark holder to prevent registration of a later trade mark which dilutes the distinctiveness and exclusivity of his trade mark. The dilution claim it appears as section 10(3) of the Act: A person infringes a registered trade mark if he uses in the course of trade a sign which is identical with or similar to the trade mark, and is used in relation to goods or services which are not similar to those for which the trade mark is registered. The trade mark must have a reputation in the UK, namely the use of the sign must be without due cause and must either take ‘unfair advantage of’ or be ‘detrimental to’ the distinctive character or repute of the trade mark. In Adidas-Salomon AG and Adidas Benelux BV v Fitnessworld Jacobs found that the concept of detriment encapsulates dilution, which is often referred to as ‘blurring’ and means that the mark is no longer capable of arousing an immediate association with the goods for which it is registered or used. This concept of detriment is sometimes referred to as ‘tarnishment,’ and means that the goods for which the infringing sign is used, appeals to the public’s senses which accordingly affects the mark’s power of attraction. Reputation The justification for the laws protecting trade marks focuses on the recognition and their quality. Kur stated that reputation could be claimed by ‘a trademark with a relatively low degree of renown, yet which possesses an attractive, strongly associative image’. The question of the reputation needed by a trade mark to qualify for protection was decided by the ECJ in General Motors Corporation v Yplon . It was stated in this case that the stronger the earlier mark’s distinctive character and reputation, the easier it will be to find that detriment has been caused to it. The ECJ held that the words has a reputation in Section 5(3) of the Trade Marks Act, Article (4)(4)(a) of the 89/104 directive and Article 8(5) of regulation 40/94 require the mark known only by a significant part of the public concerned by the products or services covered by it. To oppose a trade mark under Article 8(5) a challenger must prove in the case of an earlier Community trade mark the trade mark has a reputation in the Community and, in the case of an earlier national trade mark, the trade mark has a reputation in the Member State concerned. The Court held that a national Court when is deciding whether a mark had a reputation has to take into account facts like ‘the market share held by the trade mark, the intensity, geographical extent, and duration of its use, and the size of the investment made by the undertaking in promoting it’. In Hag II the Advocate General stated that trade marks found their justification ‘in a harmonious dove-tailing between public and private interests’, the right purpose of the law being to protect the ‘clarity of the signal transmitted by the mark’. The CFI in Spa Monopole v OHIM-Spa finders , held in that the reputation for certain goods or services can not be extended to other goods and services. The Court held that the reputation for mineral waters could not constitute the evidence of reputation for goods in class 3 (namely soaps, perfumery and cosmetics) and that ‘the proprietor of the earlier mark is not required to demonstrate actual and present harm to his mark. He must adduce prima facie evidence of a future risk, which is not hypothetical, of unfair advantage or detriment’. Marks with Reputation on Similar or Dissimilar Goods Section 5(3) of the 1994 Act has been amended to mirror section 10(3) which is relevant to goods and services that are dissimilar to those of the relevant registration. There is no need for there to be any ‘likelihood of confusion’ for an infringement under section 10(3). It was considered in Davidoff Cie SA and Zino Davidoff SA v Gofkid Ltd that a well known mark should receive the same protection where the goods are similar as it receives where the goods are dissimilar. The Court held that member states were entitled to provide specific protection for registered trade marks with a reputation in cases where a later mark or sign, which is identical with or similar to the registered mark, is intended to be used or is used for goods or services identical with or similar to those covered by the registered mark. In Adidas v Fitnessworld the ECJ held that ‘it is sufficient for the degree of similarity between the mark with a reputation and the sign to have the effect that the relevant section of the public establishes a link between the sign and the mark’. It was considered that where a member state exercises the option under Article 4(4) (a) of the directive it is bound to grant the protection in question in cases of use by a third party of a later mark or sign which is identical with or similar to the registered mark with a reputation, in relation to goods or services which are not similar and to goods or services which are identical with or similar to those covered by that mark. In this case the Court stated that ‘Article 5(2) of the directive establishes, for the benefit of trade marks with reputation, a form of protection whose implementation does not require the existence of likelihood of confusion’. The ECJ considered that Article 5(2) of the Directive must be interpreted in the sense that, where the sign is used for identical goods or services, a mark with a reputation must benefit from protection which as extensive as where a sign is used for non-similar goods or services. Unfair Advantage or Detriment A trade mark will not be registered where the use of the later mark must either take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark. The Court held in Spa-Finders that ‘Unfair advantage encompasses cases of clear exploitation and free-riding on the coat-tails of a famous mark or an attempt to trade upon its reputation, unfairly drawing on and profiting from an earlier mark owner’s goodwill and investment in promotion’. Detriment could take the form of tarnishing or blurring. The association between two marks and between the goods or services to which they relate could be detrimental to the strength and reputation of the earlier mark if it tarnished it by association or made it less distinctive. Evidence of reputation can go a long way toward proving unfair advantage or detriment. Unfair Advantage of the Earlier Mark Advocate General Jacobs in the Adidas case considered that the concept of ‘unfair advantage of distinctive character or repute’, as found in Article 5(2) of the EC Trademark Directive was ‘intended to encompass instances where there is clear exploitation and free-riding on the coattails of a famous mark or an attempt to train upon its reputation’. The CFI in Sigla, stated that the unfair advantage of the repute takes place where there is a risk that the image of the mark with a reputation or the characteristics which it projects are transferred to the goods covered by the second mark, with the result that the marketing of those goods is made easier by that association with the earlier mark with a reputation. Sir Thomas Bingham, in Taittinger SA v Allbev, stated that it would be unfair to allow others to ‘cash in on the reputation that they had done nothing to establish’. In L’Oreal SA v Bellure NV , the defendants were a cosmetic company who were trying to pass off their brand as that of L’Oreal’s. The L’Oreal trade mark is very popular. Jacob LJ looked at the importance of unfair advantage and stated that the relation between the defendants’ packaging and the registered marks, if established, would give an advantage on the defendants. He gave as an example of unfair advantage, where a well known mark in one field is used by another in a same field and therefore excludes the chance for the owner of the registered mark to move into that field in the future. In Akteselkabet af 21 November 2001 v OHIM, the earlier mark benefited from a reputation for ‘apparatus for recording transmission or reproduction of sound or images’ and evidence has been given of its use in sporting events, while the other trade mark was applied for clothing. It was considered by the CFI that as the public was familiarized to seeing the TDK mark on clothing related to sporting events, the use of the second sign on clothing could make the public to believe that such clothing was manufactured by, or under licence from, the owner of the TDK mark. Detrimental to the Distinctive character of the earlier mark It was held in Spa-Finders that there is detriment where the earlier mark is no longer able of beginning direct association with the goods for which it is registered and used. The CFI held that the existence of a link between the marks Spa and Spa-Finders in the mind of the relevant public is not enough to show the risk of detriment to the distinctive character. The Court in Intel Corporation Inc v CPM United Kingdom Ltd said that article 4(4)(a) of the Directive was to be interpreted as meaning that whether there was a link between the earlier mark with a reputation and the later mark was to be assessed globally, taking into account all the relevant factors which included the fact that, for the average consumer, who was reasonably well informed, observant and circumspect, the later mark called the earlier mark with a reputation to mind was tantamount to the existence of such a link between the conflicting marks. It was held in Intel that ‘the fact that the earlier mark had a reputation for certain types of goods or services, and those goods or services and the goods or services for which the later mark was registered were dissimilar or dissimilar to a substantial degree, and the earlier mark was unique in respect of any goods or services, did not necessarily imply that there was a link between the marks’. Jacob LJ thought that there should be more than a ‘mere calling to mind’ of the earlier mark by the average consumer when confronted with the later mark on dissimilar goods. Any detriment should be to the distinctiveness of the earlier mark in relation to the goods and services it covers, no to its attractiveness more generally. The more unique the earlier mark appeared, the greater the likelihood that the use of a later identical or similar mark would be detrimental to its distinctive character. Detriment to the Repute In Claeryn v Klarein the Court considered that the concept of detriment to the repute of a trade mark, often referred to as degradation or tarnishment of the mark, describes the situation where the goods for which the infringing sign is used, appeal to the publics senses in such a way that the trade marks power of attraction is affected. The case of Sigla SA v OHIM, explained that the detriment to the repute occurs where the goods or services, for which the reputed trademark is unjustifiably used, have a quality or a value which may have a negative influence on the image of the earlier mark with reputation. The CFI held in Spa-Finders that there is no ‘antagonism’ between the goods and services covered by the marks which might be detrimental to the repute of Spa mineral waters. The Court notes that it is unlikely that the mark Spa-Finders will tarnish the image of the Spa mark. These marks designate different goods consisting, in mineral waters and, on the other hand, in publications and travel agency services. The Court find that it is unlikely that the goods and services covered by the mark Spa-Finders, even if they turn out to be of lower quality, would diminish the power of attraction of the mark Spa. The closer the goods are the easier to prove a detriment to the repute will be. Without Due Cause When an opponent has established that its earlier trade mark has a reputation, and that use of the applicant’s mark will take unfair advantage of, or to be detrimental to, the earlier mark, the obligation then falls upon the applicant to show that the use would not be without due cause. Jacob LJ noted in L’Oreal v Bellure that the onus of establishing due cause lies with the defendant. In the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc case the CFI held that Nasdaq was distinctive and conveyed an image of modernity which was attractive and relevant to the stock market and to other goods such as the applicant’s. It was considered that the applicant had not established that its use of the trade mark would be founded on due cause within the meaning of Article 8(5), and the Court held that there was no due cause for the applicants use of the sign. The Court in Premier Brands UK v Typhoon Europe, applied the criterion from found that Typhoo was an established brand of tea with a reputation and that the defendant used its mark without due cause. It was held that there would be no likelihood of confusion but proceedings commenced in relation to section 10(3), on the idea that the goods in subject were dissimilar. Neuberger J held that the phrase ‘without due cause’ required an applicant to show some reasonable grounds for using its sign in relation to its goods even this was unfair or detrimental to the earlier mark. Good faith would not justify the registration of a mark. In Hollywood SAS v Souza Cruz SA it was held that ‘the condition of due cause is not fulfilled merely by the fact that the sign is suitable for identifying the products for it is used, the applicant has already used this sign for these or similar products within and outside the territory of the community or the applicant invokes a right ensuring from a filing over which the filing by the proprietor of the opposing trade mark takes precedence’. These factors are guidelines which may the Court use in balancing the competing interests present in dilution cases. Conclusion A trademark is a powerful right. For many businesses, a Trade Mark is a valuable asset which plays a key role in the commercial success of the business. Reputation can improve the distinctiveness of the mark and increase its scope of protection. Trade marks act as a motivation to sustain quality since they act as a guarantee to the consumer. The ECJ has treated the requirement that the trade mark must have a reputation as a threshold that can be included into a global appreciation. As the ECJ has interpreted it, the additional zone identifies that the economic value of a trade mark can reflect ability for doing something more than presenting its important meaning and that this ability can require certain legal protection.

The Road Beneath My Feet :: essays research papers

Style Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author in this story, Kevin McConnell, states that his main consideration in writing 'The Road Beneath My Feet'; was to develop a style that would remain consistent throughout the entire story. I feel that he accomplished this consistent style in a few different ways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One way the author tried to accomplish this was by the way that he used his figures of speech. Many of the authors' statements were very similar if not exact. For example, the author says a few times that 'the dust would rise and choke me.'; This figure of speech is repetitious, which I feel is one way that the author tried to capture the consistent style that he was looking for. Also, the author said, 'my pace was steady and rather fast.'; This statement is also used repeatedly as another way that he develops this consistent style.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another way the author develops his consistent style is in the way he describes certain images. For example, there are a few different occasions where his way of describing what he sees around him are similar to eachother in a way that they all make reference to the fact that the day is going by and it will soon reach dusk. Like when he said 'the soft dew of morning which had glistened and twinkled on the blades of grass which grew in clumps by the side of road quietly disappeared.'; This indicates that the day is going on. At another point in the story the author makes reference to the shadows saying that they have grown longer, which would indicate the sun was setting. Also, the author never exactly comes right out and says the obvious. He uses his descriptive ways to give you an idea of what is going on or happening. For example, he never exactly says that the man he encounters on the road is an old man. He just gives certain physical characteristics that would associate with an old man. I feel his reasoning for this was to also indicate that this man was not just old but a man of wisdom, which very often is associated with old age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In my mind this particular short story has a very interesting meaning behind it. This meaning is one that many younger people such as myself would benefit most from. I think that the whole point of the story is that you shouldn't just rush along and always be in such a hurry.

Hiv And Aids Stigma Health And Social Care Essay

In Taylor ‘s article†¦ .. , cited in Orme, 2003, Taylor emphasises on the significance of the populace in issues refering their wellness. The laterality of the biomedical position in the construct of wellness and healing where professionals are viewed as holding the cognition has had a batch of impact on public wellness globally. Harmonizing to Taylor, 2003, the populace, â€Å" the ballad people † have a important function in the procedure of wellness betterments. She emphasises on the importance of listen to, and understanding ballad people ‘s experiences of their sick wellness and how it is affected by their day-to-day lives. This can assist us to understand why people behave the manner they do in order for us to be able to happen them the best possible intervention, by working in partnership with them and utilizing available resources. Taylor relates to this partnership in two key footings, the public wellness resources and the public wellness action. The former refers to a scope of services aimed at advancing wellness including disease surveillance and the latter refers to a broad scope of activities of groups, administration, communities and persons that can advance wellness, ( Taylor, 2003, cited in Orme, 2003 ) . Using Deems taylors, partnership of the ballad position and public wellness resources as a construct of wellness and healing, this paper shall research its significance to wellness and healing in relation to the HIV/AIDS stigma. The paper will get down by specifying HIV stigma and place its causes. It will besides foreground how stigma affects people populating with HIV/AIDS. The paper will so consistently reexamine literature on HIV stigma from different surveies that have been conducted and discourse the issues highlighted on them. The paper will complete by doing some recommendations on how to turn to some of the jobs of the HIV stigma. Goffman ‘s theory of stigma in relation to HIV/AIDS is farther complimented by Parker and Aggleton, 2003, who interpret stigma as a tool of continuing or sabotaging societal constructions. They view stigma and favoritism as functional systems which maintain boundaries between those in power and those without. Through such power, societal inequalities are developed therefore the favoritism of people harmonizing to gender, socio-economic position, age, gender, disablement and unwellness. Parker and Aggleton farther argue that from societal inequalities, societal norms are derived and this is when stigmatisation formulates as these norms govern persons † manners of behavior and reinforce power constructions that are transformed through discriminatory patterns that serve to insulate those that are regarded as foreigners. In most of the research examined in this reappraisal both Goffman ‘s model and Parker and Aggleton ‘s reading of stigma confirm the demand for pu blic wellness and public wellness action to work manus in battling HIV/AIDS related stigma. A batch of surveies have been conducted globally on the impact of HIV related stigma. Due to the wideness of the topic, this paper shall reexamine literature refering HIV/AIDS stigma in relation to public wellness resources and public wellness action, those underpinned by Goffman ‘s theory of stigma. To increase the cogency and dependability of this reappraisal, a figure of web sites of different publishing houses and administrations such as Assia, through the Nottingham University library portal, PubMed, Sage, British Medical Journal, British Nursing Index, Cochrane and Eco host were visited for published articles on HIV/ AIDS stigma. The term HIV/AIDS stigma was used so that the hunt is non merely limited to stigma, HIV/AIDS or a peculiar geographical country. Abstractions from 20 surveies were reviewed for the survey aims, methodological analysis and cardinal findings. Out of the 20 surveies, twelve surveies that met the standards were chosen. Articles that did non measure u p for the standards were excluded. From the bibliographies of the selected articles, relevant paperss from other administrations such as the WHO and UNAIDS were besides reviewed. Research has highlighted a scope of features that confirm the demand for the ballad people ‘s beliefs to be taken into serious consideration in the combat against HIV/AIDS stigma for the bar and intervention of the epidemic to be effectual. In Tanzania, the survey unveiled some discriminatory and stigmatised patterns such as dish the dirting about the patients ‘ HIV ‘s position, disregard, verbal maltreatment, proving and unwraping HIV ‘s position without consent, Tanzania ‘s stigma-indicators field trial group, 2005. Similarly in India, wellness workers were unwraping the patients ‘ HIV position to their household members without seeking consent from the patient. The wellness workers even went to the extent of have oning baseball mitts even if there had been no physical contact during the interaction, Journal of Social Aspects, of HIV/AIDS, 2007. In other surveies, stigma and favoritism has a contributed a great trade in maintaining people off fro m accessing HIV/AIDS intervention and attention thereby compromising their wellness and good being. The fright of being identified as infected with HIV was one of the grounds why some people prolonged proving for HIV even if they had the symptoms until their unwellness was at an advanced phase. This was chiefly due to the society ‘s perceptual experience on how HIV is contracted. Research has proven that both experient and sensed stigma and favoritism have a terrible impact on both the persons and the public wellness, Bond V, Chase E, Aggleton P, 2002, Human resources of wellness, 2007, Varga C, Sherman G, Jones S, 2006, Kalichman SC, SImbayi L, 2003. Research has besides unveiled a really interesting point on the wellness workers stigmatizing patients to cover up for their ain frights of their HIV position. They stigmatise and discriminate in order to keep their societal position as professionals for the fright of losing their power over the laic people who would them see them as portion of their community†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . While most of the literature on HIV related stigma is negative, research has besides highlighted increasing grounds of the value of supportive and de- stigmatising HIV services in some parts of the Earth. China, Brazil†¦ †¦ †¦ .. Recommendations, single degree, environment, policy, degree, preparation, usage of participatory methods, affecting ballad people, monitoring of stigma, address the demands of wellness workers Research has highlighted the significance of cut downing HIV/AIDS stigma as it poses deductions in preventing, attention and intervention of HIV/AIDS. There is demand for HIV programmes to underscore on the deductions of the stigma as one of its precedences. Service suppliers should supply support services to dispute pattern that promotes HIV- stigma by professionals, within communities and globally. HIV/AIDS has claimed a batch of lives and still continues to claim more, the consequence of stigma on both the person ‘s wellness and well-being and public wellness results calls for all of us to fall in custodies in battling the spread of this deathly epidemic. By merely altering our attitudes towards people populating HIV/AIDS we will hold made our part towards public wellness for all.

Graduate Study Challenges

I will explain my personal and professional goals, reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, three challenges I face in meeting my goals, strategies I use to overcome these challenges, milestones that will mark my short-term goal and long-term goal, my strength and weakness to personal communication, and three strategies I will use to improve my communication skills. Personal and professional goals / Reasons for pursing graduate study I want to obtain a graduate degree to accomplish my long-term educational goal that I set for myself when I obtain my undergraduate degree.I want to prove to myself that I can achieve this goal and that anything is possible. Obtaining my graduate degree will also teach my family on how to stay positive and focus and to never be afraid to chase after their dreams if they see me doing it. The career that I have working in the information technology field is a good rewarding career. I then find myself drained out from the hectic work schedule and not enjoyin g what I do. This is why I am pursing my masters' degree so that I can move into a new career field; advance my employment opportunities, and financial status.I know a masters' degree will help me succeed into a position with more leadership, and to provide for my family so that I can help them achieve their goals in the near future in any way that I am able. Short-term goal and Long-Term goal The short-term goal that I have set for myself is to continue working my fulfillment job until I finished my graduate study. My long-term goal is to be the best Health Care Administrator Informatics employee that I can be and re-locate my family to with an agreement that a new change is best and must be done to accomplish the goal to live out our dreams.Three challenges I face in accomplishing my goals/Strategies to overcome it As I am on my Journey to obtain my masters' degree I know that I have road bumps and curves ahead of me that is out of my control. Working a full-time Job, time managem ent, and stress is the challenges. I have put strategies into place for myself that will allow me to achieve my goals. I have Journal that I complete each week to help me stay on track to complete my assignments because I do work a full-time Job. For, time management in my Journal I plan out the time in where I want to spend my ours with my family.I make sure that I leave room to move around activities on another day so no one in my family gets upset if they are not met. To relieve stress I usually walk four days out of a week. I sometimes walk by myself or with family. It relaxes me and gives me time to think to myself on how to stay on target to accomplish goals. Milestones that will mark the achievement of my short and long- term goal The milestone that will make my achievement of my short-term goal is I must learn and become familiar with the new technology for the healthcare industry.If willing I will complete my graduate study by the year 2018 to accomplish my short-term goal. For my long-term goal is that when I complete my graduate study is to obtain a career in the Health Informatics field and be the best employee I can be, and relocate my family to Atlanta, Georgia from Charlotte, North Carolina, to retire. Strength and weakness related to personal communication The weakness in personal communication is that I have a hard time remembering names and I know that is not a good thing. The people I meet will not feel they are important and I do not want them to feel that way.The strength that I have is that I am a good listener. My friends enjoy my conversation because if she needs someone to vent she always call me up. She knows that I am Just there to listen and not give my opinion because sometimes that is what she wants someone Just to hear her out. I think this is very important in the communication skills is to learn how to listen. Three strategies I use to improve my communication The three strategies that I use to improve my communication skills i s listening, numbering names, and not interrupting or talking over someone in a conversation.I listen and pay close attention when other are speaking. When, I meet someone new I will repeat their name a couple of times so that I would not forget it. This will make them feel important the next time we meet and I remember their name. I do not interrupt or talk over someone in a conversation. I think this is very rude, especially if they are in the middle of telling a story, and they lose their train of thought because of the interruption.

State Sponsored Terrorism in Iran

State Sponsored Terrorism in Iran Iran has consistently been described by the United States as the worlds foremost state sponsor of terrorism. It actively supports terrorist groups, most prominently the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The Iranian relationship with Hezbollah demonstrates one accepted explanation of why states sponsor terrorism: to indirectly influence politics elsewhere. According to Michael Scheuer, the former CIA officer: State-sponsored terrorism came in the middle-1970s, and ... its heyday was in the 1980s and early-90s. And typically, the definition of a state sponsor of terrorism is a country that uses surrogates as its weapon to attack other people. The primary example to this day is Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah. Hezbollah, in the nomenclature of the discussion, would be the surrogate of Iran. State Sponsored Terrorism Thrives, says Michale Scheuer Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was created following the 1979 revolution to protect and promote the objectives of the revolution. As a foreign force, they have also exported that revolution, by training Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and other groups. There is evidence that that IRGC is playing an active role to undermine Iraq, by funneling funds and arms to Shiite militias, engaging directly in military activity and gathering intelligence. The extent of Iranian involvement is not clear.​ Iran and Hezbollah Hezbollah (which means Party of God, in Arabic), an Islamist Shiite militia based in Lebanon, is a direct product of Iran. It was formally established in 1982 following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, aimed at uprooting the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) bases there. Iran sent Revolutionary Guard Corps members to assist in the war. A generation later, the relationship between Iran and Hezbollah is not entirely transparent, so it is not clear whether Hezbollah should be considered a full proxy for Iranian intentions. However, Iran funds, arms, and trains Hezbollah, in large part through the IRGC. According to the New York Sun, Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldiers fought alongside Hezbollah in the Israel-Hezbollah summer 2006 war by supplying intelligence on Israeli targets and manning and firing missiles. Profile of HezbollahIsrael Concludes Serious Errors Made in 2006 War with HezbollahNY Sun: Iranian Revolutionary Guards helped Hezbollah in 2006 War Iran and Hamas Irans relationship with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has not been constant over time. It has, rather, waxed and waned according to the interests of Iran and Hamas at different times since the late 1980s. Hamas is the dominant political party in the Palestinian territories that has long relied on terrorist tactics, including suicide bombing, to register a protest against Israeli policies. According to Cambridge University Professor George Joffe, Irans relationship with Hamas began in the 1990s; it was around this time that Irans interest in exporting revolution coincided with Hamas rejection of compromise with Israel. Iran has been alleged to provide funding and training for Hamas since the 1990s, but the extent of either is unknown. However, Iran did pledge to help fund the Hamas-led Palestinian government after its parliamentary win in January 2006. Profile of HamasGeorge Joffe discusses Iran-Hamas relations Iran and Palestinian Islamic Jihad The Iranians and PIJ first made extended contact in the late 1980s in Lebanon. Subsequently, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps trained PIJ members at Hezbollah camps in Lebanon and Iran commenced funding PIJ.​​ Iran and Nuclear Weapons The creation of WMD is not itself a criterion for being a state sponsor of terrorism, however, when already designated state sponsors to appear to have manufacturing or acquisition capabilities, the U.S. grows especially worried because could be transferred to terrorist groups. At the end of 2006, the United Nations adopted Resolution 1737 and imposed sanctions on Iran for failing to halt its uranium enrichment. Iran has contended that it has that right, in order to create a civil nuclear program

Fifth Business essays

Fifth Business essays Throughout Fifth Business there was much evidence provided that there were relations between the class of characters from an old style opera and the characters seen in Fifth Business. Clearly there was an association between Dunstable Ramsays character and that of an old style operas, which was of course the role of Fifth business. In my opinion the five main characters each shared different roles that were originally used in old style operas. This is why I believe that The characters in Fifth Business are related directly to that of an old style opera. Originally, there were five main roles in an old style opera. These roles were the Hero, the Heroine, the Villain, the Confidante and the Fifth business. There were also five main characters in Fifth Business, each representing one of the five main characters in which were used in operas. There were many incidents in the book that designated each character to one of the five roles. Percy Boyd Staunton was characterized as the villain through his smoothly procured riches, his controlling love life and the fact that he was the one who had initially thrown the snowball that resulted in Pauls pre-mature birth and Mrs. Dempsters poor mental state. Paul Dempster represented the Hero in the novel. Paul overcame the shame that was brought upon by his mother and led a successful and erotic life. He could have been seen as the centre point of the novel because he was always turning up and bringing excitement and life into the novel. In an old style opera there were guidelines and roles in which the characters would follow. There was the heroine who was often a fool, a villain, who was often the rival to the hero. There was a hero, who the heroine often loves; a confidante who was odd but trustworthy who often rivalled the heroin (usually played by a sorceress). Finally, there was the fifth business who was usua ...

Analyzing Jack Londons White Fang English Literature Essay

Analyzing Jack Londons White Fang English Literature Essay Jack London was an American author who wrote quite a few books. The main focus of this paper will be on White Fang, one of his more popular books. Jack London’s White Fang exhibits his naturalist way of thinking, when discussing how the environment and natural world around him is able to raise society and exhibit the deeper truths. Throughout the book there are many references to naturalism with the use of symbols and metaphors. He also uses survival of the fittest and romanticism as major themes. Jack London uses the theme of Naturalism all through the book of white fang. Naturalists were people who view life strictly from a scientific point of view. In turn this means that Jack London thought that man and other creatures were molded by their genetics and what they were around or where they lived. The environmental theme is indicated at the start of White Fang as London vibrantly describes the landscape, ironically combining a foreboding hostility with an ominous sorrow. Jac k London wrote this book with biological as well as social determination. London insists that although Beauty Smith was â€Å"a monstrosity the blame of it lay elsewhere. He was not responsible (GradeSaver Editors)†. White Fang’s heredity is carefully defined as three fourths wolf and one fourth dog leading up to the fight within him between his sophisticated impulses and his untamed ones. London is also careful to stick to traditional facts of a White Fang’s life cycle in his early years. The nature of life was another major theme in white fang and London seemed inattentive in it. Many 19th-century readers and thinkers had this theme on their minds. In 1859, Charles Darwin pressed on ideas that came to be known as â€Å"survival of the fittest†. About a half-century later, London published this novel, which may be read as a â€Å"taking to task† of such â€Å"social Darwinism.†(Novelguide editors) The change that takes place in White Fang a t Weedon Scott’s start shows that love is the greatest power of all. With Darwin’s ideas in mind, Jack London wrote many books, the one I’m referring to is white fang. Natural selection is embodied by white fang. From the opening he is the strongest, the only one to survive the famine. His strength and intelligence make him alpha dog in the Indian camp. While defending Judge Scott, White Fang takes three bullets but is able to survive(GradeSaver Editors). He learns how to scrap with the other dogs, he learns to befriend new masters, and, finally, he learns what love is and is tamed by Weedon Scott. If White Fang explores the meaning of life, then it must also explore the meaning of civilization. It does so through the character of Beauty Smith. Beauty Smith stands as an quarrel against the distortions of Darwinism, the validation of the weak and powerless utilization at the hands of the strong and powerful; and an attempt to free individuals from the responsibil ity to exercise their own will by an appeal to a fixed destiny. Smith is the product of harsh experiences. Like White Fang, his clay has been roughly shaped. Even so, Smith has had and most probably still has choice about how to respond to his environment with a choice, for instance, whether or not to justify his existence by harming men and beasts less powerful than he. White Fang, in order to survive, does not. This marks the biggest contrast between the two characters. It also elevates the novels overarching likeness on the fight of life, however, for even as Smith is wrongly exercising his power, White Fang is rightly exercising his to continue to live: â€Å"He had too great vitality. His clutch on life was too strong† to continue to resist Smith (GradeSaver Editors). Ironically, he shows power through compliance. Thus, if Smith was a civilized man, he would know that he should treat White Fang better.

Performance Enhancing Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Performance Enhancing Drugs - Essay Example Performance enhancing drug tests are stricter for male than for female athletes. There is a list of substances banned in males only. Differences between the reporting level for men and women are also acknowledged. The confusion over the nandrolone issue is exacerbated by claims that low concentrations of metabolites conferred no performance -enhancing effect and are due to the contamination of supplements. This conclusion from a single untimed urine sample could not be substantiated; the possibility that the result arose from the long-term use by injection of nandrolone may seem unlikely in the present climate of testing but evidence to the contrary had to be unequivocal (Dean, 2000). The number of positive test results has increased dramatically in recent years, but still, researcher admit that differences in male and female constitution prevent laboratories to identify illicit substances. OTC drugs, such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are relatively less potent and non-selective than other stimulants, hence their availability without prescription. Following Bowers (1997) this lack of selectivity, with a concomitant likelihood of side-effects, especially if used in supratherapeutic doses, makes them less desirable as potential performance -enhancing drugs, since no improvement in performance has been found in the few research studies on these drugs. Another argument is that women may have illnesses that require them to take particular drugs. It indicates an increasing trend in its use as a performance -enhancing drug, since its pharmacological properties are likely to have adverse, rather than positive, effects on performance in most sports. Statistical results prove that women swimmers perform much better than men because of inadequate drug tests and differences between male and female constitution.

How has the study of media and communications developed over the last Essay - 1

How has the study of media and communications developed over the last century - Essay Example To some theorists, however, it is a field that encompasses various media, not just mass media. According to McLuhan’s aphorism, for example, media is anything that mediates interaction (Genosko, 2005). Whether it is human artifacts or technologies, so long as they can provide that channel for interaction, they are media. This paper looks at the history of the study of media and communications over the last century, and the theoretical approaches that have been employed to explain this development. Most people have an implicit understanding of how humans have always interacted with each other and the world. Nevertheless, very few people recognize the fact that the development of communication has been a process. It is something that has taken place within periods, and effected by different events. For instance, before the development of the printing press, media studies and communications were quite slow. With the invention, however, there was a robust into the formal studies of these disciplines. Over the last century, media has played a major role in the political sphere. For example, over the Kosovo atrocities, the media played a significant focus for the revolution. In Eastern Europe, the media has been the major weapon in the transition to liberal politics. In the postmodern world, the social media networking has completely broken down the conventional forms of communications. These developments have however taken place in stages and subjected to different theoretical app roaches. Marxism is a theory hypothesized by Karl Marx to describe mainly the interaction between the superstructure and the economic base. Marx maintained that the dominant class controlled the means of production (Strinati, 2004). For this reason, he believed that the media served no other purpose other than the ideological interests of the capitalists. Because they are the dominant class, it only follows

Structure and Characteristics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Structure and Characteristics - Research Paper Example The Chinese population during 1980s was around 1 billion. The slow growth rate o the population can be attributed to ‘one child policy’. In the next few decades, the population of china is expected to increase. Reasons for this expected increase are a decline in infant mortality rate and also a sudden decrease in death rate due to the improvement in national health. Though the population is expected to rise even more, however, around 2030s, it is anticipated to reach its peak level and then decline gradually. Another such country that I have taken up is Germany. Germany along with few other European countries have a substantially low growth rate of population. The German population has crossed 82 million long before. Since 1990s, population of Germany has increased considerably. The main reason behind this increase was immigration, i.e. entry of individuals in the country. Infact, it is also assumed that if Germany did not witness immigration, its population would have b een shrinking much like that of Czech Republic. However, in the near future, the total expected population of Germany is expected to decline. According to destatis.de, in the coming decades, the population will decline due to decline in birth rates and increase in birth rates. Life expectancy will increase and birth rate will continue to fall in future.

Macroeconomics of Argentina Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macroeconomics of Argentina - Research Paper Example This research paper is one of the best examples of analysis of the macroeconomics of Argentina, which involves review of the monetary and fiscal policy, growth rates, unemployment rates, inflation, and currency exchanges in the country. Traditionally, Argentina was one of the countries in Latin America that had better social indicators. Compared to the other nations in this region, Argentina’s inequality and poverty levels were very low. The country had widespread labor protection policies and the unemployment rate was low . Academic studies show that the socioeconomic status of Argentina has been deteriorating since 1970s with the sharp increase in poverty levels. When the crisis of 2001/02 ended, the economy started showing signs of recovery as the major social indicators continued improving significantly. The economic context described by many financial analysts depicts the inflation rate of Argentina as being unsustainable. Years before 2002 portray inflation in Argentina as fluctuating and high. However, the rate of inflation in this nation recorded at its lowest before the Tequila effect at 4 percent a year and almost at zero a year after this effect. The government applied generally an ambitious strategy. Sometimes ad-hoc and vague, it encourages growth, manages it with reference to the macroeconomic prudence, re-industrialization, and moderate state intervention . To some extent, this strategy represents a new approach of social inclusion that bases economically on the revival of domestic markets led by the state.

Business Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Plan - Term Paper Example With clear targeted clienteles, market analysis is likewise done to have a clearer picture of the organization’s strength, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT). The company has a P10 million initial capital and its targets to gain comfortable and reasonable return or profit for sustainability. The business plan is its map to attain success in this business venture. Executive Summary This is a business plan of Ameritech Corporation. This business concept is developed as a start up plan and thus details business plan and its operations. Experts viewed that a business plan is a fundamental necessity in starting a venture. The plan consists of a narrative and research to ensure that company will be able to open and operate systematically with concrete understanding and context of the market. Details below discuss the nature of the company, its products and services; its targeted market; its financial plan and an initial SWOT analysis conducted as first step in scanning the m arket. AmeriTech company will be venturing on marketing information technology. Below is the proposed organizational structure of the company: The CEO will do all the executive functions, lead the planning and implementation and conduct the regular monitoring of the human resources. The SEO does the market analysis. The finance department will be in-charge for the financial disposition, disbursement of salary, payment of purchases and for regular reporting of financial status. It will also be liable for accounting. The marketing department will be composed of human resources, preferably those who have earned a degree in information technology course and has background on business management. They will deal with the customers on regular basis and ensure their satisfaction. The operations department will be responsible for the transportation of purchases from infotech producer and will be accountable for the quality of these products. The support technology engineer on the other hand, will ensure that they will be able to produce online or personal support to customers who suffer some problems in the utilization if the communication gadgets. These are human resources that are trained and capable of fine tuning the equipments and in repairing them in case of defects. Or, in case the gadgets are irreparable, they are those who are knowledgeable to advise customers on the best option to undertake. Company overview AmeriTech Corporation is a company dedicated in selling or marketing information technology facilities. These infotechnologies include computers, laptops, computer accessories, camera, cellular phones with accessories, telephone and fax machines. Softwares related thereto will also be sold. It is located at the heart of San Francisco, California. The company’s vision is to become a business leader in marketing quality infotechnology and other related communication products/services to improve lives, virtually bridge distances between peoples, insti tutions and companies. The company’s mission is to provide infotech consumers with reasonable way of enjoying quality business services, to boost its profit, and to advance the use of technology. Products and Services The company sells information technology such as computers, laptops, cellular phones, telephones, fax machines and their related accessories. It will also sell internet facilities such as

Structure and Characteristics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Structure and Characteristics - Research Paper Example The Chinese population during 1980s was around 1 billion. The slow growth rate o the population can be attributed to ‘one child policy’. In the next few decades, the population of china is expected to increase. Reasons for this expected increase are a decline in infant mortality rate and also a sudden decrease in death rate due to the improvement in national health. Though the population is expected to rise even more, however, around 2030s, it is anticipated to reach its peak level and then decline gradually. Another such country that I have taken up is Germany. Germany along with few other European countries have a substantially low growth rate of population. The German population has crossed 82 million long before. Since 1990s, population of Germany has increased considerably. The main reason behind this increase was immigration, i.e. entry of individuals in the country. Infact, it is also assumed that if Germany did not witness immigration, its population would have b een shrinking much like that of Czech Republic. However, in the near future, the total expected population of Germany is expected to decline. According to destatis.de, in the coming decades, the population will decline due to decline in birth rates and increase in birth rates. Life expectancy will increase and birth rate will continue to fall in future.

Business Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Plan - Term Paper Example With clear targeted clienteles, market analysis is likewise done to have a clearer picture of the organization’s strength, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT). The company has a P10 million initial capital and its targets to gain comfortable and reasonable return or profit for sustainability. The business plan is its map to attain success in this business venture. Executive Summary This is a business plan of Ameritech Corporation. This business concept is developed as a start up plan and thus details business plan and its operations. Experts viewed that a business plan is a fundamental necessity in starting a venture. The plan consists of a narrative and research to ensure that company will be able to open and operate systematically with concrete understanding and context of the market. Details below discuss the nature of the company, its products and services; its targeted market; its financial plan and an initial SWOT analysis conducted as first step in scanning the m arket. AmeriTech company will be venturing on marketing information technology. Below is the proposed organizational structure of the company: The CEO will do all the executive functions, lead the planning and implementation and conduct the regular monitoring of the human resources. The SEO does the market analysis. The finance department will be in-charge for the financial disposition, disbursement of salary, payment of purchases and for regular reporting of financial status. It will also be liable for accounting. The marketing department will be composed of human resources, preferably those who have earned a degree in information technology course and has background on business management. They will deal with the customers on regular basis and ensure their satisfaction. The operations department will be responsible for the transportation of purchases from infotech producer and will be accountable for the quality of these products. The support technology engineer on the other hand, will ensure that they will be able to produce online or personal support to customers who suffer some problems in the utilization if the communication gadgets. These are human resources that are trained and capable of fine tuning the equipments and in repairing them in case of defects. Or, in case the gadgets are irreparable, they are those who are knowledgeable to advise customers on the best option to undertake. Company overview AmeriTech Corporation is a company dedicated in selling or marketing information technology facilities. These infotechnologies include computers, laptops, computer accessories, camera, cellular phones with accessories, telephone and fax machines. Softwares related thereto will also be sold. It is located at the heart of San Francisco, California. The company’s vision is to become a business leader in marketing quality infotechnology and other related communication products/services to improve lives, virtually bridge distances between peoples, insti tutions and companies. The company’s mission is to provide infotech consumers with reasonable way of enjoying quality business services, to boost its profit, and to advance the use of technology. Products and Services The company sells information technology such as computers, laptops, cellular phones, telephones, fax machines and their related accessories. It will also sell internet facilities such as

The Popularity of Mixed Martial Arts Essay Example for Free

The Popularity of Mixed Martial Arts Essay For many fight fans, the allure of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has surpassed a traditional boxing match in terms of action and excitement even though Mixed Martial Arts is nothing new. In a sense, all martial arts styles have guided us to the creation of what we now refer to as MMA. Along with this and for quite some time, possibly before history was ever documented, fighters of all levels and styles have been practicing and testing their skills. But with change in time, so did the sport in many aspects. Through the many years of evolution, Mixed Martial Arts is currently the most popular and the fastest growing sport in the world. Having started around 648 B. C. in Greece, the most primitive contact sports or martial arts with few rules or a â€Å"no-holds-barred† concept was called pankration, placing itself amongst the other sports in the Olympic games. (Rousseau) It was an aggressive sport, a combination of boxing and wrestling techniques. In the 1800s, â€Å"no-holds-barred† events occurred when wrestlers who represented various martial styles competed throughout Europe. â€Å"Merikan† fighting in the early 1900s, which featured boxing versus Jiu Jitsu masters. Bruce Lee was significant having influencing MMA as he conquered in boxing, karate, judo, and other styles and combined them to develop a form of fighting greater than any other. His contributions have not gone unnoticed, as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has gone so far to call Lee, â€Å"the father of mixed martial arts. † (â€Å"Mixed Martial Arts Timeline†, 2007) With a new legion of fighters who train in various styles, the sport of MMA has greatly come together, to include the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993, which quickly became an overnight success. Mixed Martial Arts has â€Å"achieved a high level of popularity around the globe in recent years† thanks to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, especially being supported in Japan and the United States. With stars such as Chuck Liddell, Rampage Jackson, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, and Wanderlei Silva leading the way, the sport was venerable to a break through and achieved mainstream popularity. Regular coverage on ESPN and promotion in the pages of such popular publications has shown mixed martial arts continuing its spectacular rise having â€Å"surpassed boxing in popularity and poised for bigger and better things†. Megamass). Besides being a real show of entertainment, MMA is a sport of high-performance. As was the case with most martial arts at the time, fighters were typically skilled in just one discipline and had little practice when facing opponents with different skills. When the Ultimate Fighting Championship first started, there were few rules, no division of weight classes, time-sensitivity, or security equipment. For example, Keith â€Å"The Giant Killer† Hackney, with a 9† height difference and 400-pound weight difference, faced Emmanuel Yarborough at UFC 3. â€Å"UFC History†) Many martial artists held that having the skill could overcome such advantages, that a â€Å"skilled fighter could use an opponent’s size and strength against him. † (â€Å"UFC History†). It was quickly proved with the many defeats by 170-pound Royce Gracie that the outcome is not always determined by the size of a person. The UFC hit success on Pay-Per-View and home video almost instantaneously due to the originality, realism, and wide press coverage, even though not all of it was positive. The blood and brutality of the sport generated a loud and powerful backlash. The disposition of the rapidly increasing sport hastily brought attention to the authorities. UFC events were then banned in a number of States. In order to subsist, the UFC improved its cooperation and collaborated with the state athletic commissions and deliberated its rules to eliminate the less acceptable elements of fights, while preserving the core elements of striking and grappling. Weight classes were established, and gloves became mandatory. Then there was the introduction of restrictions on permissible striking areas, barring head butts, groin strikes, strikes to the back of the neck and head, kicks to an opponent who was down, small joint manipulation, pressure point strikes, and hair pulling. When the time limit of five-minute rounds was introduced, the UFC had become acknowledged as a sport rather than an act or spectacle. By 2001, the UFC â€Å"brand† had completely restructured Mixed Martial Arts into a highly systematic and controlled combat sport. With Mixed Martial Arts booming with popularity, training centers and dojos are filling up with new students everyday. Many of the professional fighters have opened gyms where they train the next generation of fighters to become the next champion. Amateur fight nights are organized all the time in order for the more novice fighters to work their way on getting recognized for a chance to go professional. Shows like Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV is an example of up and coming professional fighters training and fighting to win a chance at a professional contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. If not for the next championship title, many people fight for the fun nature of the sport. Combat sports, even now with the rules and regulations, is still and always will be a popular blood sport. The fans are intrigued to see strength and skills prevail in fights. Adrenaline runs through the roaring crowds as they cheer on their best contenders. From the days of the Coliseum to â€Å"the Octagon† at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the quick rise in gym openings and more live-aired Pay-Per-View events, Mixed Martial Arts has become a prominent commonplace in both the martial arts world and the entertainment industry.

Evaluation of Banking Services for International Students

Evaluation of Banking Services for International Students ABSTRACT The main aim of the study was to evaluate the major banking institutes in Newcastle and distinguish the services and account types offered to international students. For the study, four banks were selected among which three were United Kingdom based and one was an international bank. The banks included in the study were HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Barclays and National Westminster (NatWest). By using two questionnaires; one from the international students and other from the bank personnel, the present study assessed the important factors that were considered significant in selecting the bank and the importance of students as customers for the banks. The results suggested that there was little different in the basic facilities offered by the four banks, but Lloyds TSB was the most popular among the international students due to its variety of student accounts. In conclusion, the research offered an insight into the management and the marketing strategies that banks can make use of to attract in ternational students as potential customers. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The aim of the present study was to evaluate the major banking institutes in Newcastle and distinguish the services and account types offered to international students. For the study, four banks were selected among which three were United Kingdom based and one was an international bank. These banks were: HSBC Lloyds TSB Barclays National Westminster (NatWest) The researcher compared the services, interest rate, few charges and the ease of accessibility of these banks to the international students with they region they resided and attended their respective colleges or universities. The topic of the present research was selected by the researcher because the issue of how international students select their banks in Newcastle has been given considerable attention by researchers. The reason for this is that most international students who come to Newcastle are without local bank accounts and in the long run most students need such a facility to work on completing transactions such fees payments, living expense, accommodation and fulfillment of other financial needs. Investigating such information would assist banks to recognize the suitable management and marketing strategies required to attract new students as customers and keep hold of existing ones (Kaynak Kucukemiroglu, 1992). The relevant literature indicates that a great deal of research effort has been put into investigating the bank selection decisive factor for international students in the United Kingdom. Researches on bank management and marketing are not a new phenomenon. In fact, a lot has been written on the subject of bank management and marketing with the bulk of the literature relating to banking behavior of general customers. A broad range of marketing paradigms related to customers has been examined, including market segmentation, attitudes, purpose, inclinations, bank loyalty, bank selection choices, bank representation, bank service value, contentment and multiple bank users (Garland 2002). One marketing concept related to customers that has fascinated abundance of researches has been the thought process of customers or the grounds on the basis of which customers decide to interact with particular banks (Anderson, Cox Fulcher, 1976; Evans, 1979; Kaynak, 1986; Boyd, Leonard White, 1994). A thorough examination of the present literature ascertains the generalization related to the thought process of retail customers. The population of interest in the vast bulk of such custo mer researches has been the general customer. Only a few of researches have intended for younger age groups such as the undergraduate section of the market though over past few years, the bank management have started to take vast interest in this section of the population (Mokhlis, Nik Mat Salleh 2008). Even though greater parts of undergraduate students are unemployed and their earning comes largely from educational loans, they offer an exceptional business opportunity for banks. First, in regards to their buying power, the student segment is growing and has turned lucrative (Ayadi 1996). With the development of educational services in United Kingdom, the amount of international students in further and higher education has been increasing rapidly over the years. Secondly, students are expected to require a bank account to settle their tuition fee or parental funding and might be taking care of their personal financial matters for the first time (Kaynak Whiteley 1999). Those students who do not yet hold bank accounts would be required to open one as they begin college because all transactions are done through the students bank accounts. Regardless of their comparatively basic banking requirements, students are considered an important segment in the market at the level in the buying cycle where they might be more receptive to marketing strategies from financial institutions (Thwaites Vere, 1995). Another important feature of the student market is the possibility for above-average profitability. Lewis (1982) suggested that banks understood that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"it is important to attract students to open accounts when they begin college, in the expectation that they would stay with the after graduation, and be lucrative, in the long run, for the bank. The fundamental reason for this observation is that college student is the section of the population who has the likelihood of earning a larger income than any other section of the population. As stated by Duncan, Smeeding Rodgers (1992), only individuals who are studying have a considerably greater probability of rising from the low income strata into the middle class. Specially, as contrasted with non-graduates of similar age group, graduates usually secure more highly paid jobs, achieve a more developing career and thus, grow a need for a greater variety of personal financial services as they go by their own life cycle. The ski ll to build up an existence in the student market through suitable attainment and maintenance strategies is thus expected to have an effect on banks future market share and revenue (Thwaites Vere, 1995). International students signify as a significant market for financial institutions such as banks. The skill to value, comprehend and deal with the precise needs of this segment section of the population is now a vital market reality (Cicic, Brkic, Agic, n.d). Bankers can no longer maintain their conventional belief that only business and salary earning customers will bring revenue to the bank. They must understand that student customers are also possibly lucrative market section and prospect market earnings will be attained by banks only if they target this up-and-coming section and win them (Grady Spencer 1990). Banks that would get hold of student segment must know the significant factors that decide the basis upon which students choose between financial institutions (Kaynak Yavas 1985). Bank marketers must be capable of discerning what is central to student customers in the market and how their force compares with those of their competitors (Cicic, Brkic, Agic, n.d). United Kingdom has an extensive history of inviting international students to educate themselves in its colleges and universities. According to UCAS (2009), à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“In the UK in 2009 there were 1.8 million full-time undergraduate students in higher education, which included over 104,000 international students.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? The rapid growth in the amount of international students in the past few years has become a significant supply of export revenues, and it surely has the ability for further rapid growth. It had been recommended that provided with the right support, the amount of international students studying in UK universities could more than double in the next few years (Higher educations importance goes well beyond teaching 2009). There are numerous factors involved in offering of student accounts in nearly all financial institutions. It might be due to growing the customer base or acquiring the new customers in the budding stage. In the contest to get hold of more and more customers and attract the younger generation, the financial institutions are offering various types of products and services. International students studying in the United Kingdom need to look after numerous things once they have arrived at their respective colleges and universities. These include accommodation, health, money matters, registration, etc. But the first and the foremost duty of a student on arriving in United Kingdom is to open his or her account in order to carry out the required financial transactions. Even though, the student cannot open a bank account until he or she has arrived and enrolled at the college or the university, but Barclays now offers a bank account that can be opened before arriving in United Kingdom (International Student Handbook 2009). In order to open a bank account, an international student needs to first decide on the bank and the account that he or she requires. Some banks offer first-time students a Student Account with special advantages. However, each bank offers different facilities, and the student would need to compare and decide which one will be best for him or her (International student: banking Information 2009). Once the bank has been chosen, the student needs to take his or her passport along with his or her student visa to the chosen bank. If the student belongs to EU, then he or she is also required to take the national photo identity card as well (Opening a UK bank account 2003). Furthermore, the banks also require a letter or certificate from the university confirming the students United Kingdom study details. Moreover, in order to open an online or a telephone account, the bank may require more proof of the students identity (You can bank on it: opening a bank account in the UK 2004). The reaso n for banks requiring proof of ID is because the law of UK states that all financial services companies must do everything they can to ensure their services are not being used for financial crime. Because of this, banks must avoid accounts from being opened under fake identities. They must ask each and every individual who wants to open or operate a bank account for documents to prove their identity (International student opening a UK bank account, n.d) As Newcastle has gained the one of the top most position in the United Kingdom for further education, therefore the need for the student to open bank accounts to carry out their financial transactions has risen as well. This is because most international students who come to Newcastle are without local bank accounts and in the long run most students need such a facility to work on completing transactions such fees payments, living expense, accommodation and fulfillment of other financial needs. Thus, the banks have recognized the significance of international students as potential customer and it is due to this fact, the banks in Newcastle are aiming to improve their clientele by attracting students to open bank accounts in their respective bank through different marketing strategies and incentives. As a result, numerous bank representatives are seen roaming around in the first week of the academic year in various universities and colleges marketing their benefits to the potential cu stomers. These bank representatives provide students with information regarding various services and benefits that are offered at their respective banks. They would also provide information regarding the different accounts that can be opened at the banks. The most common type of accounts are: Deposit account or à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"basic account Current account Student account The banks also offer a number of facilities to their customer to make their financial transaction more convenient and easier. These facilities include: Cash withdrawals available at Post Office Debit Card ATM ATM Card Direct Debit Online Banking Telephone Banking 1.1 Research Aims The basic aim of the research was to: Find the cheapest bank account students can open. Compare HSBC, Lloyds Plc, Barclays and NatWest in Newcastle for their international student services. Availability of banks/ATMs within the student area of Newcastle. 1.2 Research Objectives The objectives of the present research were to: Evaluate the best account type to open for international students. Investigate the majority of bank accounts used by international students. Investigate the reason for international students choosing a certain bank to open their bank accounts. Study the geographic locations and ease of access to the banks within the region designated to students and their life styles. Study the 4Ps (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) of the banks. Investigate the importance of students as potential customers for the banks. Find out the marketing and management strategies employed by the four banks. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW The banks in todays world are trying to attract students to open their accounts at their banks. The reason for this is that the banks think about it in the long term point of view. To them a student is not a student: a student is an individual who would have a career some day and this particular individual would be a loyal customer, would pay back his or her overdraft (sometimes with charges), need a loan or a mortgage and so on. Therefore, the perception of the student account summed up by the banks, is to facilitate the banking needs of the students who are working towards undergraduates. The basic banking needs that would help students fulfill their financial needs vary from bank to bank as different banks offer different products and services, such as cards, deposit slips and cheques, to its student customer. A small number of researches regarding the subject of bank selection decisive factor of international students in the UK have taken place over the years. Gray (1977) examined student behavior regarding bank services in the UK. He suggested that convenience was the most vital factor affecting the students choice of bank. Another research by Lewis (1982) analyzed the banking behavior in students studying in the UK. A total sample of 716 students in 11 universities and colleges in the Greater Manchester area were inspected for the research. From findings of the study, it was discovered that 92 per cent of students thought they would remain with their current bank until their course finished while 44 per cent considered carrying on with the same bank. Moreover, it was discovered that convenience of site of the bank and its facilities to college was the main factors influencing on students choice of bank. A study by Thwaites and Vere (1995), also taken place in UK, illustrated that nearness of an ATM to the educational institution, free banking service and student offers were the main three reasons used by students in choosing the banks to deal with. The present study was focused on researching the main facilities provided by HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest in their student account. Furthermore, the researcher also studied the extra facilities provided by each of the bank in the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"student account. The study helped the researcher get a general overview of the banking facilities provided to international student that were offered by HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest. Thus, the researcher was able to move forward and decide upon the most feasible and the optimum choice of international students regarding the bank and the bank account. The review of the literature was mainly focused upon the products and services offered by the four banks HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest to international students. Furthermore, the extra facilities that differentiated one bank from the other were also thoroughly studied in the literature review. National Westminster Bank Plc or generally known as NatWest is a part Europes second largest bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. In order to make the students financial transactions convenient and easier, NatWest has fifty five branches in the countrys largest universities. Moreover, NatWest also has 1650 branches that are more than any of the commercial banks in the country. To benefit the students who come to study in the United Kingdom from overseas, NatWest has offered a Blue International Account that charges a fee of 6.95 pounds monthly. This account facilitates international students by offering them an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) which enables the full time students more than 40,000 travel, online and lifestyle discounts within the region and abroad. Furthermore, the Blue International Account provides with a useful guide that contains information on banking in the UK and advice on how to manage finances as a student. The guide is available in 5 different l anguages. NatWest has also made transfer of funds for students easier as now they can easily receive money from their home country and pay their bill online. Moreover, the bank also offers both online and telephone banking to international students to keep a check of their finances during any part of the day. NatWest also offers the students mobile phone top-up facility along with mobile phone banking and text alerts regarding the finances. Another significant aspect of Blue International Account is insurance which allows students to insure mobile phone and other gadgets. Also, the bank offers the students an Orange SIM card for the mobile that dials to more than 50 countries for 5p per minute. NatWest also provides it student customers with discounts like saving 1/3 on rail fares if the students age ranges between 16 and 25 all the way through Great Britain for a whole year. Also, if the tickets are booked through the NatWest Box Office, then students receive a 25% discount on tick ets to the plays, concerts and other events (Advantage Blue International: student option 2010). The worlds à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"local bank, HSBCs international network comprises of over 9800 offices in 77 countries along with 59,000 Link ATMs in the United Kingdom (HSBC Passport 2010). The bank offers a dedicated package known as the Passport Account for international students with 24 hours access to their money but with no credit or draft facilities. Students holding a passport account at HSBC are charged 6 pounds a month for a period of 12 months after which renewal of the account is mandatory (HSBC Passport 2010). The bank further provides passport holders with a Western Union Gold Card on which the students can earn points and make saving on transaction fees when sending money bank home. Also students can receive a discount of 4 pounds on international money transfer fee. The Passport Account at HSBC also offers its students customers with both internet and telephone banking. Moreover, the bank provides the students with Maestro Debit card and Direct Debit or standing orders and access to saving accounts with high interest (Comparison of banking facilities offered in Oxford by the major banks 2009). There is a special UK relocation service offered by the bank with relocation advice in eight different languages. The students can also receive a UK SIM card with 10 pounds of free credit along with low cost international calls. International students can also open a Basic Account at HSBC which is easy to comprehend and administer. The benefits of opening a Basic Account are that firstly, students can check balances, get statements and make withdrawals of up to 200 pounds with their basic bank account card at HSBC bank cash machines in UK. Secondly, students can also access up to 200 pounds per day over Post Office counters with basic bank account card and PIN numbers. Regular bills can be paid; standing orders and direct debits can be set up on the account. Also students can enjoy free internet and telephone banking (HSBC Passport 2010). The Lloyds TSB Group is a renowned UK-based financial service organization that offers complete banking and financial services in both United Kingdom and abroad. There are thirteen branches of Lloyds within the designated area for international students within Newcastle (Student Account 2010). There is a variety of Lloyds TSB student accounts to select from, depending on the requirements and situations. It has the most number of accounts available to offer to international students for free and minimum of 7.95 pounds monthly is charged for silver account and accounts such as gold have a higher fee rate with more facilities (Student Account 2010). The Lloyds Student Account has been presented with 5 Star Rating by Defaqto for its outstanding variety of attributes and advantages. There are three types of student accounts that students can choose from at Lloyds (Student Account 2010). Firstly, the Student Account offers a Debit Card and a Master Card. Also it provides with a free NUS Ex tra card and a years free mobile phone insurance. The students can receive up to 75 pounds cashback and free music downloads while using the Lloyds Student Bank Account. The facilities of internet banking, phone bank and free text alerts is also offered along with the benefit of saving the change in which surplus cash is moved into a savings account each month (Comparison of banking facilities offered in Oxford by the major banks 2009). Another type of student account offered is the Islamic Student Account which carries the same benefits as the Student Account but with the guarantee that the money will be held in reserve in accordance with Shariah (Islamic Law). Moreover, the student is given the option to utilize other non-Shariah benefits if they wish. The third type of bank account offered to students is the Graduate Account which receives a Classic credit card with at least  £500 credit limit. The facility of internet banking is also provided and commission-free travel mo ney is given as well (Student Account 2010). Barclays is one of the worlds top most banks. Their status has been created on over 300 years of services. Barclays is an international bank with its branches in more than 60 countries. Barclays offers an International Student Account known as the iBank Student that can be opened before arriving in United Kingdom (iBank Student and foreign student bank accounts with Barclays Wealth International 2010). iBank Student is offered for a small monthly charge of  £5 and a opening balance of  £1,000. The iBank Student account is an international account also available in sterling, US dollar and euro. The VISA debit card can be connected in sterling and is accepted in 22 million locations around the world (iBank Student and foreign student bank accounts with Barclays Wealth International 2010). Students can also receive discounts up to 25% on Hewlett Packard laptops, desktops and accessories. The account offers easy access and a savings account in which funds can be deposited a nd withdrawn whenever the customer wishes. The savings account can also be opened to earn higher interest by the student (Comparison of banking facilities offered in Oxford by the major banks 2009). The student can also gain access to complete collection of savings and investments or balances of  £10,000 or more. International telephone and online banking is available 24 hours to operate money in diverse currencies and time zones. The bank also offers expert advice from our mortgage advisers to help the student or his or her parents to buy property in UK (iBank Student and foreign student bank accounts with Barclays Wealth International 2010). The literature review on the different services offered by HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Barclays and NatWest indicated that all of the banks provide students with the basic services that are required to fulfill the financial transactions, however, the Student Account product is structured in various ways, in accordance with the style, strategy and control affairs of each bank. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 3.1 Sample The present study was an investigation into student banking arrangements at four major banks- HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest- in the Newcastle area, and recommendations as to which provided the best services to international students. A sample of 100 subjects, including both males and females, ranging from the ages of 18 to 28 years, was drawn from different areas in Newcastle, United Kingdom. All the subjects were international students belonging to Newcastle university dormitories, Northumbria dormitories and Newcastle college campus in Newcastle. Another sample of 40 subjects, both males and females, was drawn from bank personnel of HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest. 10 employees from each bank were drawn as a sample. Further information from both international students and bank personnel was gathered regarding age, gender, education, accommodation, etc. 3.2 Sampling Strategy The sampling strategy employed in the research was Stratified Random Sampling. Stratified Random Sampling also referred as proportional  or  quota  random sampling, is separating the population into uniform subgroups and then drawing a simple random sample from each subgroup (Trochim, 2006). The reason for employing Stratified Random Sampling was that it enabled the researcher to draw a sample of international students from the total population and then draw a random sample among the international students to administer the questionnaire. Same was the case with the questionnaire from the banking personnel. For the present study, both primary and secondary researches were carried out. The use of both primary and secondary researches enabled the researcher to not only gather facts and figures about the products and services the different banks offered but it allowed analysis of the arrangements that the banks offered to international students through these products and services. 3.3 Primary Research 3.3.1 Questionnaire for Students A questionnaire was distributed among international students of Newcastle to find out which of the bank accounts was used most by the students. The questionnaire also had questions concerned with why the students chose a certain bank among HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest and what features of that bank attracted them the most. There were questions designed to investigate the geographic locations and ease of access to these banks within the region designated to students and their life styles. The questionnaire was divided into three sections. The first section dealt with gathering the information regarding the student respondent. This section included questions on age, gender, and educational level, how the student was funding his/her education, his/her tuition fee, maintenance cost, etc. The second section of the questionnaire was designed to gain an insight in the respondents history of banking. This section included questions on the number of accounts the student held previously and the type of account he/she held. The next section that is the last section was regarding the respondents experience of banking in Newcastle with the four banks; HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest. The questions in this section also dealt with the importance of different offered services to the respondent, factors that were involved in the students choosing a certain bank. Furthermore, questions on comparison of the four banks in Newcastle that is, HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest on the difference of the services and the type of accounts the respondent held at these banks were also included. 3.3.2 Questionnaire for Bank Personnel Another questionnaire was designed to gather data from the bank personnel of HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest. These questions were related to how important potential student customers were to their organization. Furthermore, the questions also investigated the management and marketing strategies these banks used. This questionnaire was also divided into three sections. The first section of the questionnaire was designed to provide a profile of the bank employee who responded to the survey. Questions on age, gender, the bank they were currently working for and their designation at the bank were included. The next section was regarding the importance of students as customers to these banks. In this section, the banking personnel were asked questions regarding whether it was important to have students as their customers, the type of accounts held by the students, why the students chose their bank over their competitors and the significance of different types of services offered at their banks. The third section was related to the marketing strategies, that is, the 4Ps that the banks used to attract students. This section included questions on the product, price, promotion and place of the products and services offered to the international students. 3.3.3 Consent Letter All the participants in the study were given a consent letter, which gave them the right to withdraw any information at any stage of the research. Also the authority and confidentiality of the people was confirmed 3.3.4 Cover Letter A cover letter was attached to both the questionnaires which explained the aims and objectives of the research to the respondents. It gave information about the time that the questionnaire would take to complete. Furthermore, it explained the privacy and the confidentiality of the information gathered. . 3.4 Secondary Research Secondary research was also employed in the present study. The purpose for this was to gather data regarding each bank from internet, books, articles and international account handbooks. The use of secondary research enabled the researcher to gather information regarding the various products and services offered to international students by these banks. Furthermore, it also enhanced the level of objectivity involved in the research as the data was gathered from other sources. 3.5 Research Design A comparative research design was employed in the study. A comparative research design evaluates two or more groups on one variable (McMillan 1991). This was employed because the research is an investigation in to student banking arrangements at four major banks in the Newcastle area, and recommendations as to which provide the best services to international students; (HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest). Thus, it was a comparison of the four banks as to which offered the best and the cheapest services to international students. 3.6 Procedure In order investigate into student banking arrangements at four major banks- HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest- in the Newcastle area, and recommendations as to which provided the best services to international students, a sample of 100 subjects, ranging from the ages of 18 to 28 years, was drawn from Newcastle, United Kingdom. All the subjects were international students belonging to Newcastle university dormitories, Northumbria dormitories and Newcastle college campus in Newcastle. Another sample of 40 subjects was drawn from bank personnel of HSBC, Lloyds plc, Barclays and NatWest. A comparative research design was employed in the research which is aimed the comparison of two or more groups on one variable (McMillan 1991). Stratified random sampling was used. First of all written permission was taken from the heads of educational institutions and the banks. They were briefed about the research, its significance, time involved and the procedure. Furthermore, the sample populati on was informed and consent forms were distributed. Also the authority and confidentiality of the people was confirmed. Individual testing was carried out. One time approach to the participants was used for data collection. The subjects were administered the questionnaires. The testing e