Technology Into Early Childhood Education

Matters to Consider when introducing Technology into Early Childhood Education Introduction Earlier research was more concerned with weather or not technology; including computers were, in fact, beneficial to children's learning. Current research is concerned with how technology can be used to support children's learning and development (Morrison, 2009). Acronyms like PC, CD, DVD, PDA, DSL, eBay, and . com, are part of our professional vocabulary right alongside ECE†¦ technology has changed the way we teach children (Donohue, 2003). This author takes the position that technology is beneficial to early childhood education.This paper will outline how technology is beneficial to early childhood education through an analysis of contemporary literature. The paper has been set out in sections addressing a different aspect of technology and matters to consider as it effects early childhood education. This paper will begin by defining technology. It will discuss recent trends in technol ogy and the importance of educators and the benefits for children. It will discuss computer technology in the classroom and the use of media in education. It will conclude with a discussion on the effects of television superheros on children's behaviour in an educational setting.This paper will show by presenting different aspects of technology and arguing different perspectives from research; technology is beneficial to early childhood education. Defining Technology in Early Childhood Education Before a discussion on technology in early childhood education can proceed, there needs to be an understanding of what technology is comprised of. Depending on which author one reads or what the purpose of the research is for, the definition of technology varies to include or exclude varying forms of artefacts.Dockett ; Fleer (1999) explain technology to be inclusive of high technology such as television, fax machines and computers as well as replica objects of television characters (p. 150) . Dockett ; Fleer use a very general definition of technology. Looking critically at this example leads this author to feel the information here is too limited in content. In addition, other ‘high technology' items include cell phones, smartphones, PDA's, personal computers, the internet, e-mail, and digital cameras (Donohue, 2003), and electronic teaching materials such as SmartBoards (Flynn et, al. 2010). Donohue (2003) and Flynn et, al. (2010) explain that we routinely use these tools in our classrooms, as well as the home and work. Both Dockett & Fleer (1999), and Donohue (2003) use the term ‘high technology'. The purpose here is that there are other categories which can be viewed as artefacts of technology such as blocks, sandpit toys, play group equipment or infant toys (Dockett & Fleer, 1999). While this author acknowledges the listed ‘low tech' items as developments of technology, this paper will not be discussing such items.Technology as listed above (Dock ett & Fleer 1999; Donohue 2003) lists items which could be considered as hardware. But technology is not limited to hardware alone. Other forms of technology which this paper holds interest include media. Weddell (2001, p. 4) describes media as being†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦all forms of broadcasts, advertising, television, computer games, film, video, interactive online media (email, internet), recorded music, print material (newspapers, magazines, cards, stickers), toys and merchandising associated with media-related products†.This paper will refer to technology as including both technical hardware and digital media. Technological Trends in Early Childhood Education In this section, the author will address matters that need to be considered about trends in early childhood education. While differing views are presented, the favoured position is overwhelmingly for the inclusion of technology into the early childhood curriculum as shown in the research. The question of technology in the ea rly childhood classroom is not if, but how and why we use it (Donohue, 2003).The use of computers and technology in early childhood education has grown each year, and the ways in which technological tools are used to manage and improve programs and enhance children's learning have expanded dramatically (Donohue, 2003). It needs to be acknowledged that technology and media are social icons, and, most importantly, children are active consumers of these products (Weddell, 2001). There is little wonder why technology is being viewed as becoming, if not already, common place in the educational setting.Zevenbergen (2010, p. 1) states, â€Å"This generation has been immersed in technology since their emergence into the world. Their homes have computer technology in all facets of gadgetry-the remote control for the television, the programmable microwave, the mobile phone computers, digital games (such as Xbox, as well as those on the computer)†. Early childhood is a period of growth and rapid development. During this time, many children attend preschool, where they have access to technology as a learning tool (Chen ; Couse, 2010).There is increasing interest and belief in the need to start this education [technology] at an earlier age, possibly as soon as children begin formal schooling or even nursery school or kindergarten (Stables, 1997). In a survey conducted by Flynn et, al. (2010), the results showed more than half of the educators surveyed think that children should be introduced to technology between ages 3 and 4. Perhaps one reason the findings would indicate this is due to the motivational interest technology hold for young children.In support of this, Chen ; Couse (2010) state, â€Å"Encouragement in the learning process is directly linked to motivation, as illustrated in Haugland's study (1999), which found the motivation of kindergarten and primary-aged children increased when academic instruction was paired with the use of technology (p. 77). Tod ay, educators are using technology in many creative ways (Donohue, 2003). In a study conducted by Jarvis and Rennie (1994) (cited in Fleer & Jane, 1999), young children were asked about their views on technology by using a picture quiz to identify their perception of the term ‘technology'.Of the 28 items shown that had something to do with technology, the most frequently listed item was the computer (p. 7). This author notes this research was carried out in 1994. The results of a similar study being carried out today could likely reveal a different result. Unfortunately this author was unable to locate such a study. Either way, in early childhood classrooms, computers have become an increasingly accepted tool for learning and when used in a pedagogically appropriate manner, they provide valuable educational experiences for children (Edwards, 2005).As children naturally explore and learn about their environments through inquiry, computer technology has proven an effective means of cognitive and conceptual development as children develop literacy and numeracy skills and competence (Edwards, 2005). Educators recognize ever developing potential of technologies to enhance the ability of children to learn, problem solve, and convey their ideas (Chen & Couse, 2010). The trend will continue for the foreseeable future; but equity issues of access, affordability, and the need for computer literacy for early childhood teachers and faculty will remain s significant barriers for many early childhood programs and professionals (Donohue, 2003). The trend of introducing technology into the classrooms appears to have gained motivation to the point where it is accepted by students, educators and parents (Dockett & Fleer, 1999; Edwards, 2005), the reason for this occurring is largely due to children being so familiar with technology as a result of this generations lifestyle (Zevenbergen, 2010), we must also consider another aspect for introducing technology into the classr ooms as it has been pointed out by O'Shanesy (2013, MOCR), not all children have computers in their homes.This is one very important reason why educators need to introduce technology and computers to these children as early as possible so that they may also develop the computer literacy skills that their peers may take for granted (p. 3). Early Childhood Educators in an Age of Technology In this section, the author will address matters that need be considered about early childhood educators working in this age of technology.While differing views are presented about the educator's level of training and confidence, it is without question that educators are the key to successful integration of technology into the school curriculum. Digital technologies and computers have become an integral part of many children's daily lives. For this reason, it is important that early childhood educators are not only familiar with the use of computer technologies, but are able to guide children's unde rstanding of, and ability to use them (Morrison, 2009).In agreement with Morrison, Weddell (2001) also insists that teachers need to guide children's learning to better understand and interpret technology (p. 5). Haugland & Wright (1997) suggest, without training it is very difficult for teachers to obtain the necessary expertise to successfully integrate computers into their curriculum. Only when teachers feel comfortable with technology will computers play a significant role in early childhood education (p. 17). It seems that researchers agree that the key to successfully implement technology into the classroom rests with the early childhood educator.According to Filipenko and Rolfsen (1999, as cited in Edwards, 2005), the integration of computers in the early childhood classroom to support children’s learning and development is influenced by the educators’ level of computing knowledge (Edwards, 2005). The question is raised, are teachers provided with the appropriat e level of training to successfully implement technology into the classroom? Stables (1997) suggests, some teachers have warmly welcomed the challenge of introducing technology education to children at an early age.They have found that it has allowed them to develop new dimensions to work already underway (p. 50). This is not the case however with all educators as the research shows. Burnett (2010, p. 1) states, â€Å"Studies have highlighted a lack of confidence and competence amongst early childhood educators in relation to new technologies. † In support of this statement, Stables (1997, p. 50) argues, â€Å"Some [educators] are confused by what technology education would mean for young children†¦ There are also those who believe that technology education is simply inappropriate with a younger age group. The author questions why there are such differing opinions amongst early childhood educators. Perhaps Zevenbergen (2010, p. 1) offers an answer to this issue as he st ates, â€Å"We contend that young children coming into early childhood settings may be different from other generations because of the social and technological conditions within which they are developing. † In support to this statement, Donohue (2003), argues that most early childhood educators, unlike the young children in their classroom, have come to computers as adult learners and can be resistant to using technology (p. 17).If this is the case, then how does one bring these generations closer together? How has it come to be that the early childhood learners, know more about technology, and are more comfortable using it than many of the educators? There are noted benefits of early childhood educators using computers in classrooms as Morrison (2009) mentions, when educators support children to use computer technology in their classrooms; it helps them to develop skills such as the use of a keyboard and basic computer software. It also assists children to build learning con cepts around computer use and digital media over time (p. 6). A point being addressed here by Morrison is not regarding the benefits that computers offer to children but rather what benefits the educators off to children in developing their computer skills. Consistent with this research, it has also been bought to the authors attention by O'Shanesy (2013, MOCR) that educators need to be trained appropriately to scaffold learning and use the correct computer language when working with children (p. 3). Early Childhood Learners and Computer Technology In this section, the author will address matters that need be considered surrounding computers in the classroom.While differing views are presented, the position is overwhelmingly in favour for the instruction and use of computers in the classroom as shown in the research. Computers are all around us. It has become virtually impossible to function on a daily basis without using or benefiting from computer technology (Haugland & Wright, 19 97). It is inevitable in this technological age that children will be exposed to computers and that these computers will be instrumental in their daily lives (Haugland & Wright, 1997).Computers have been shown to be beneficial to children's cognitive development (Dockett ; Fleer, 1999). With the use of a computer, children can develop their skills in areas where they would otherwise be limited. For example (Clements, 1992), a child can further develop their composition abilities using a simple word processing program. It is argued that children will not be limited by their handwriting ability as it is easier to press the keys on the keyboard (Cited in Dockett ; Fleer 1999). Stables (2007, p. 1) states, â€Å"Curiosity as to how things work, leads to a determination to make things work. Consequently, opportunities to develop problem solving skills are provided [through the use of computers]. † Used in developmentally appropriate ways, the computer is a resource which fits chil dren's learning style (Haugland & Wright, 1997). Introducing technology into the curriculum of young children is important because of the propensity of this age group to engage in technological activity with an enthusiasm, curiosity and lack of inhibition that creates an optimum opportunity for development (Stables, 2007).Haugland & Wright (1997) explain learning involves children actively exploring their world and then, through a process of assimilation and accommodation, acquiring and constructing knowledge. Piaget (1971 cited in Haugland & Wright, 1997) states, â€Å"If we desire to form individuals capable of inventive thought and of helping the society of tomorrow to achieve progress, then it is clear that an education which is an active discovery of reality is superior to one that consists merely in providing the young with†¦ready-made truths to know with. † This author acknowledges how relevant is this tatement by Piaget of 1971 is to modern education. While based on the research indicating the many developmental advantages of computers in early childhood educational settings as presented in this paper, there is still some doubts as to the benefits that will come from computers. Haugland & Wright (1997, p. 6) state, â€Å"Opponents believe computers should not be placed in early childhood classrooms. They fear computers will replace other activities, will rob children of their childhood, are too abstract, provide children an unrealistic image of the world, lead to social isolation, reduce feeling awareness and creativity. But based on research findings (Lipinski, et. Al, 1986, NAEYC in Press) this is not the case. It needs to be stated that a computer does not replace traditional resources for teaching in the classroom. Instead usual or traditional activities that take place in the classroom are as important as they always were. As suggested by Haugland & Wright (1997), computers should be used to supplement or accompany the children's norm al learning experiences (p. 7).Classroom activities help children place computer experiences in context and reinforce the competencies and skills children gain from technology (Haugland ; Wright, 1997). Early Childhood Education and Media Technology In this section, the author will address changing opinions towards media technology. While differing views are presented, the argument for introducing media into the classroom is favoured as shown in the research. Television programs, whether positive or negative, do form a large part of children's life experience (Dockett & Fleer, 1999). In support of this research, Flynn et. al. (2010, p. ) states, â€Å"It is hard to find a national study of children's use of media in the past 20 years that does not demonstrate that media, and especially television, are a dominant activity of childhood. † Flynn et. al. (2010) claims that young children have incorporated media technologies into their out-of-school lives in unprecedented ways in recent years. Early media use is now the norm, with baby videos and 24/7 cable television for children used by even infants and toddlers (p. 3). Weddell (2001) presents a position (but does not advocate to) that parents do not want media studies in their children's curriculum.Waddell argues in most cases, parents and teachers report that children are exposed to enough [media] at home and in the community without it becoming part of their education (p. 4). Weddell (2001) comments that children aged three to five are watching up to 17 hours of television a week (p. 4). While the argument that parents do not want media studies in their children's classroom is not further supported by the research this author has located, there is certainly supporting research (Dockett & Fleer, 1999; Flynn et, al. 2010) that children are exposed to a great deal of media in their lives. There is research that indicates that parents are in favour of media being integrated into their children's curriculum. Rideout & Hamel (2006, cited in Flynn et. al. , 2010) state, â€Å"We have a generation of parents who are more accepting of not just television but also computers and other technologies and who view such technologies as more likely to help than hurt their children's development (p. 3). Perhaps this change in opinion could be a result of changing attitudes from 2001 to 2006.Dockett & Fleer (1999) argue there is a range of children's programs in Australia designed by educators to enhance children's cognitive, social and emotional development. There is a great deal of community support for these kinds of programs. As a result, these television programs are part of many children's educational experience. The Effects of Television Superheros on Early Childhood Learners In this section, the author will address matters of the media that affect the behaviour of children. The research presented shows conflicting views.Once again, it is shown the educator is the key to successfully integra ting media technology into the school curriculum. A significant amount of research into superhero play has suggested that teachers should work with the popular children's culture initiated and developed through television and video (Cupit 1989 cited in Dockett & Fleer 1999). This would be interesting and thus motivating for the children. However, research indicates this also has negative effects on children's behaviour due to television superheros usually being associated with violent acts.According to a study by Lisosky (1991; cited in Levin and Carlsson-Paige, 1995); there are over 200 acts of violence per hour in a popular children's show of that time (Dockett & Fleer 1999). In addition, the same television program used footage of real-life actors and settings with special effects and animation. As a result, children see real people engaged in realistic acts of violence (Dockett & Fleer 1999). According to Levin and Carlsson-Paige (1995, p. 0, cited in Dockett & Fleer 1999), teac hers surveyed on the effects of the said television program on children's play believe that the use of real people in the program increased the negative effect on children. It was argued ‘at 4 and 5 years of age, children do not have the cognitive skills to separate the fantasy from the reality of the show' (p. 153). In contradiction to this survey finding, Weddell (2001, p. 4) states, â€Å"Very few children will be influenced by antisocial images or violence they see on the screen, nor will they become obese, unimaginative, poor communicators. Weddell (2001) does not deny that some children may behave violently during play after watching their television superheros in violent acts, however Weddell (2001) claims that some children behave violently because they have a predisposition to violent acts and are in need of supervision. Dockett & Fleer (1999) suggest that children act out their superheros violent actions as they are unable to imagine another storyline to go with the ir superhero character, as a result, children should be protected from violence in media (p. 153).In argument, Weddell (2001, p. 5) states, â€Å"The notion that children are inevitably ‘at risk' from the media and therefore must be ‘protected' from it is a distorted perspective. Encouragement-rather than protection-is needed to guide children's viewing and to teach the art of watching and interpreting the media. † Weddell (2001, p. 4) states, â€Å"Most importantly we need to trust that children can learn to discern the media messages they receive. We seem to forget that children of this century will know more about the media than their parents or teachers. It is unlikely that teachers will be able to influence what children choose to watch at home. As a compromise of the research presented, perhaps while at school, this author suggests teachers should choose media programs that do not involve violence but rather appeal to the children through other means. In su pport of the author, Dockett & Fleer (1999) suggest teachers use quality television programs to stimulate positive children's play. Programs such as ‘Playschool' actively encourage children to construct the same or similar things as those shown on the program.The construction work (e. g. , building a doll's house, making name tags, or making hats) may stimulate further play (p. 158). This suggestion (Dockett & Fleer 1999) is consistent with the research presented from both positions. Children do, to varying degrees, imitate what they see on television. So rather than expose them to violent acts, in an educational setting, children should be exposed to ‘quality' television media that stimulate their desire to learn. Conclusion The future looks bright for technology in early childhood classrooms (Donohue, 2003).The effects of technology in educational settings on the development of young children have been widely documented and strongly positive (Chen & Couse, 2010). Techn ology has changed the way we teach children (Donohue, 2003). This author has taken the position that technology is beneficial to early childhood education and presented this position with supporting research through an analysis of contemporary literature. This paper addressed different aspects of technology and discussed matters to consider as it effected early childhood education.This paper began by defining technology to include technological hardware (Dockett & Fleer, 1999) and digital media (Weddell, 2001). It discussed recent trends in technology arguing technology is present in all areas of children's lives (Zevenbergen, 2010). It argued the importance of educator training and experience as being a key factor to successful implementation of technology into the curriculum (Haugland ; Wright, 1997). It also argued the learning benefits technology offers for children (Dockett ; Fleer, 1999) in early childhood education.It discussed benefits of computer technology in the classroom (Clements, 1992) and the benefits of using media in education (Flynn et. al. , 2010) including a discussion on the benefits of television in education (Dockett ; Fleer 1999). This paper has shown by presenting different aspects of technology and arguing different perspectives from research; technology is beneficial to early childhood education. References Burnett, C. (2010). Technology and literacy in early childhood educational settings. Journal of early childhood literacy, 10(3), 247-270. Retrieved 20 January 2013 from http://shura. hu. ac. uk/1308/1/Final_JECL_(3). pdf Carlsson-Paige, N. ; Levin, D. (1990). Who's calling the shots? How to respond effectively to children's fascination with war and play and war toys. Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers. Chen, D. ; Couse, L. (2010). A tablet computer for young children? Exploring its viability in early childhood education. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 43(1), 77-100. Clements, D. (1992) Computer technology an d early childhood education. In Roopnarine, J. , ; Johnson, J. (eds). Approaches to early childhood education, 2nd ed. , pp. 97-316. Columbus, OH: Meril Publishing Co. Cupid, C. (1989). Socialising the superheroes. Australian Early Childhood Resource Booklets, no. 5, Canberra, ACT: AECA. Dockett, S. , ; Fleer, M. (1999). Play and pedagogy in early childhood. Bending the rules (pp. 149-168). Marrickville, NSW: Harcourt Brace ; Co. Donohue, C. (2003). Technology in Early Childhood Education: An Exchange Trend Report (pp. 17-20). Child Care Information Exchange, November/December 2003: Redmond, W. A. Retrieved on 23 January 2013 from http://www. secure. worldforumfoundation. org/library/5015417. pdfEdwards, S. (2005). Identifying the factors that influence computer use in the early childhood classroom. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology. 21(2), 192- 210. Fleer, M. , ; Jane, B. (1999). Our experiences and understandings of technology and technology teaching. In Technology fo r children: Developing your own approach (pp. 3-21). Sydney: Prentice Hall. Fatouros, C. , Downes, T. and Blackwell, S. (1994). In control: young children learning with computers. NSW: Social Science Press. Filipenko, M. ; Rolfsen, G. (1999). What will it take to get omputers into an early childhood classroom? Canadian Children, 24(2), 35-38. Flynn, R. , Lauricella, A. , Robb, M. , Schomburg, R. , ; Wartella, E. (2010). Technology in the Lives of Teachers and Classrooms: Survey of Classroom Teachers and Family Child Care Providers. Latrobe, PA: The Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media. Retrieved on 23 January 2013 from www. fredrogerscenter. org/media/resources/TechInTheLivesofTeachers. pdf Haugland, S. (1999). What role should technology play in young children's learning? Young Children, 54(6), 26-31. Haugland, S. & Wright, J. (1997). Young children and technology. A world of discovery (pp. 1-20). Needham Heights, Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon. Jarvis, T . and Rennie, L. (1994). Children's Perceptions about technology: an international comparison. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Anaheim, March 1994. Levin, D. and Carlsson-Paige, N. (1995). The mighty morphin Power Rangers: teachers voice concern. Young children, vol. 50, no. 6, September, pp. 67 – 72 Lipikinski, J. , Nida, R. , Shade, D. , ; Watson, J (1986).The effect of microcomputers on young children: An evaluation of free play choices, sex differences, and social interactions. Journal of Computing Research, 2, 147-168. Lisosky, J. (1995). Battling standards worldwide â€Å"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers†fight for their lives. Paper presented at the World Summit for Children and Television, March 12-16, Melbourne, Australia. Morrison, T. (2009). Putting Children First: Digital technology and computers in child care. National Childcare Accreditation Council 29 March 2009 (Pages 16-17). Retrieved on 15 January 2013 from http://ncac. acecqa. gov. u/educator-resources/pcf-articles/Digital_computers_and_technology_Mar09. pdf Piaget, J. (1971). The science of education and the psychology of child. New York: Viking. Stables, K. (1997). Critical Issues to Consider When Introducing Technology Education into the Curriculum of Young Learners. Journal of Technology Education. Spring, 8(2), 50-65 Waddell, C. (2001). Media-savvy young children. Understanding their view. Every Child, Summer, 7(1), 4-5. Zevenbergen, R. (2008). Computer use by preschool: Rethinking practice as digital natives come to preschool. Australian Journal of Early Childhood. 33(1)

Reaction Paper of the movie Les Miserables (1998) Essay

The movie is a potent social document of poverty, ignorance, and brutality of man by Victor Hugo. Les Miserables is also a rousing adventure of the hapless victim of French society – Jean Valjean, and his valiant struggle to redeem his past. The movie had been so well done. The actors and actresses had played their part and portrayed the characters in a way that the audience could really relate to. It was shorter than the adaptation of 2012 Les Miserables but the characters gave justice to their role. In addition, I prefer the 1998 adaptation than of the latest. Les Miserables is a story that portrays of the heroic life of a simple and good man in the person of Jean Valjean. He is a very memorable character who is morally upright but guilty of certain thefts for which he feels remorse. To avoid capture and life sentence, he assumes the identity of Monsieur Madeliene, soon becoming the mayor of the small town he has adopted. It is a very beautiful story packed with excitement. You will always try to think what would happen to the characters as they ventured into new frontiers. It talks about man’s struggle to escape the past and reaffirm his humanity in a society where in poverty and ignorance prevails. Aside from being a superb adventure, it can also be considered as a powerful social document. It shows the inhumane treatment of the convicts and ex-convicts. It also shows how a man can be redeemed by accepting suffering, and by following the dictates of his conscience even if it entails suffering and ostracism from many people. It also talks about the man’s struggle for existence in the case of the principal character, Jean Valjean as he tried to forget the past and go on with his life. He is such a remarkable character distinct to other people we met in our daily undertakings. He’s exceptional and one of a kind. It dwells with the supernatural power of love, the love to give up one’s freedom for the sake of justice. It is also quite romantic especially on the part of the love affair of Marius and Cosette that tickles your bones. However, it is more on being a melodrama that let your heart cry out especially on the ending part when Jean was willing to sacrifice his freedom for the happiness and peace of mind of his adopted daughter Cosette. On the other hand, I don’t like the part where Cosette fell in love to Marius on a short span of time. Marius was the big disappointment. He came across as a wimp. It had to be Cosette’s lack of knowledge that attracted her to him. She could have done so much better. I don’t feel that anyone, with the exception of Fantine, was portrayed as well as possible. There were times that I should have been brought to tears, and I wasn’t. Another memorable character is Javert, the inspector who always followed Jean in the hope of capturing him. He is very much obsessed about it that leads to his death in his own hands. He can’t accept that he who is trying to inflict harm to a person was saved by the same person. I admire his courage to admit that his father was a thief and his mother was a prostitute helps me understand more fully his reactions to Valjean, Fantine, and Cosette. My favorite scenes? Valjean’s last moment with Marius and Cosette – who among us have not lost a loved one, ever? I’m sure everyone can relate. I also like the part when Valjean was willing to do everything just to protect Cosette. It stirred me deep inside because knowing that he’s not her biological father and yet he’s willing to risk everything for the happiness of his adopted daughter. It reminds me of my father on the other way ‘round. Gavroche’s parts – the kid was awesome too. He deserves to have another movie!  This film teaches us many things. Such as we can’t escape our conscience. Even if we have successfully hidden our secrets in the form of misdeeds in the past, it will continue to haunt us until we face it and divulge it in public. Such was the case of Jean. It opens our eyes about the reality in our society we belong where there are lots of injustices, discriminations and the like. It also tells us not to judge the book by its cover in the case of Marius. We should not let pass any judgment over anybody because that person might have a golden heart hidden within him. We should also put in mind that if there is life, there is hope. No matter how messy our past had come, we could still make amends to it and make our lives better. Jean is a great example of such thing; he succeeded to become a mayor in a town despite his dark past. Life is difficult but it is in difficulty that we can  appreciate its meaning. The miserable character of Jean in the movie teaches us the reality in life. Nevertheless, the bottom line is â€Å"It does not matter how many heartaches, sufferings and pains we encountered in life as long as we have loved and we have been loved.

'Sound business models are a necessary component in a healthy Essay

'Sound business models are a necessary component in a healthy visualarts ecology and essential for most publicly funded organi - Essay Example In essence, a business model is greater than the financial transactions of an organisation recorded and presented in its financial statements. A business model provides a clear description of the rationale of how an organisation crates, captures and delivers value. In conducting business, sound business models are a necessary component in the visual arts ecology and most publicly funded organisations. However, there has been a widespread belief that numerous business models in the context of visual arts are relatively weak and have a high possibility of facing reduced funding with time. This beliefs have been backed by available research suggesting the same. Most organisations in the visual arts sector are characterised by undercapitalisation and holding reserves that are too little to support investment and growth and to cushion the organisation during times of crisis (Oakes & Oakes 2012, p.59). In most visual arts organisations, assets are never fully exploited and increased level of activity often translates into increase costs while visitors remain a relatively unexploited source of income. Within the visual arts ecology, there is minimal understanding of what a sound business model is and what it does for an organisation. This indicates the generally lower levels of business skills and understanding within the sector. Despite this, there is, however, a shared ground as to what a good business model should be like. The challenge arises in translating the shared opinion into tangible action. From a total business perspective, the culture depicted in visual art of individualism and a somewhat traditional leaning towards the values of the economic world. This may be problematic as it is difficult to be exemplary in something that you do not have high regard of or have full comprehension of. Business models relating to the visual arts sector and publicly funded organisations are somewhat technical and attention has to be paid to the detail in order to stipulate a viable and sustainable plan for the long run (Townley& Cooper, 1998, p.66). For example key aspects such as free entry into the visual arts organisations can be a blessing but will pose technical business challenges. This is explained by the fact, revenue is not generated directly from customers, let alone the contribution to overheads or surpluses. As a result, increased level of activity would lead to a disproportionate increase in costs compared to the revenues generated. In light of this, the business models drawn up for the visual arts ecology should focus on secondary revenue generating activities in order to supplement their lack of a direct source of revenue and enhance their operational sustainability. In formulating business models in the publicly funded visual arts sector, the key question still remains â€Å"what is a sustainable business model in the visual arts sector?† When creating a good business plan for the not-for-profit sector, key factors need to be p ut into consideration including the mission, the fiduciary perspective, the customer perspective, internal perspective and the growth and learning potential. In

Online Journalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Online Journalism - Essay Example The main source of journalists and online reporters for the internet medium is the Online News Association which has 800 members. The different forms of online journalism pertain to forums, discussion boards, epapers, online news boards as well as blogs and RSS feeds. The nature of the medium and the ease of information dissemination on the internet have made it a very competitive field for online journalism. The internet is in fact challenging the traditional form of reporting and journalism as the classified advertising as well as advertisements are shifting to the online medium for newspapers. Aside from this the niche as well as general scope of journalism online makes it much more appealing for readers than the hardcopy based newspapers and magazines. People even consider online journalism to be broader in scope, more informative as compared to those conducted through the traditional medium. There is more freedom of speech online, as official journalists as well as volunteers can provide information on various topic. Aside form this online journalism is also considered to be less biased as compared to the traditional medium for journalism. According to Cohen as per her article in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media in 2002, online journalism is depicted as a form of journalism which is entirely driven by the market. However, opposition to the benefits of online journalism and its advantages the form of journalism also is considered to be of temporary nature, with the news structure being more random than properly structured. Advantages of Online Journalism As mentioned earlier, the advantage of online journalism pertain to the fact that the online medium is less biased than the traditional medium for journalism, has more information and is more specialized for the niche market of readers. However the most significant benefit that is reported for online journalism is the real time dissemination of information and the immediacy. The publishers in the online medium have the opportunity and the facility to publish news about news and events as it happens. "Other advantages of online journalism relate to other medium-specific characteristics. The incorporation of multimedia elements makes news websites more informative and entertaining. Hyperlinks, blogs and discussion forums allow web-users a more hands on experience, allowing them to be participants in the news process. The archiving ability of news websites is also a great advantage as it provides an extensive research resource to the public." (Rayment, 2004) Other benefits of online journalism also include the positive effect it has on the social and the culture of the people in the regional and global community. Moreover the online news channel is available to the readers twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, making it one of the most accessible medium for disseminating news and opinions. Aside from this the journalism on the online medium also allows the people to access news and opinions which are regional as well as global in nature providing them an increased scope of information and knowledge. The ease and the convenience provided through the online nature of the online journalism is the biggest advantage that is available to readers as well as information publishers in the world of today. This is because people can access epapers as well as forums and new boards

Assessing Performance and Developing Employees(HRM) Essay

Assessing Performance and Developing Employees(HRM) - Essay Example But it is not perfect; with inaccuracies in the scoring system and subjectivity involved in few parameters it has scope of improvement. ‘Performance Preview’ is one of the methods which Samuel Culbert describes as an approach to better performance reviews. He also talks how this system can improve by putting the CEO right in the front of the steering wheel to see for himself the relationships between bosses and subordinates. The HR is using performance review as its own toy right now and holding up to company secrets, but if there is trust and relationship on the basis on which things can change. The scoring system needs to be more objective with transparency and set rules of how much score can be given when. The subjectivity can be avoided in each BSC parameter by law of averages. Culbert’s views are one of an extremist I feel. Performance review is a real chance where a good subordinate can showcase his work; a good boss can affect positivity and motivation. Obj ectives can be set and continuous improvement can be achieved by a performance review and then continued with a performance preview. Not every boss is motivated by money and not every HR person secretive and conspiring against the subordinate.

UNIT 1 science Individual project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

UNIT 1 science Individual project - Essay Example This revolution meant replacing the economy, which was built on manual labor, to one which is dominated by industry and by manufacturing machinery. This, in turn, led scientists to build more and more machines, tools and buildings with new function, which decreased the workload of workers but also had a negative affect on nature (HighBeam Encyclopedia, 2004). This led to the latter of the revolutions- the Environmental Revolution. The environmental revolution is something which has been taking place and occurring more lately. Since the quantity of research and data proving how detrimental some technologies and machines are is abundant, more and more people are opting to fight for the noble cause of trying to heal our planet and to uproot and stop those responsible for the ecological degradation and increasingly more imminent destruction of our world. These people are called environmentalists, and their purposes include minimizing pollutions, preserving and protecting nature from detrimental people, machines and buildings and fighting to add more ecologic-friendly laws to the constitution and by doing so, legitimizing and reinforcing their claims by legislation. This revolution is closely and tightly bound to the term environmentalism, which is "a concern for the preservation, restoration and improvement of the natural environment, such as the preservation of natural resources, prevention of pollution, and cer tain land use actions". This activism for nature and ecology was first recorded in India 400 years ago, when Indian men embraced death in order to protest and try to stop the cutting of trees in their forest by the kings men of that region. Modern environmentalism started in the mid to late 19th century in the United States with two preservationists starting to fight for the environment. One of them was a writer who writings were read by millions, and therefore became more known to

Introduction to Child Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Introduction to Child Development - Essay Example Piaget's idea was that adults did not simply know more than children, but that their knowledge was structured differently. Indeed, Piaget suggested that children at different stages of their development thought about and interpreted their worlds in different ways. Piaget developed the idea of children as ' "little scientists" who were engaged in active exploration, seeking understanding and knowledge' (Bee, 164). Piaget's theory of cognitive development was based on three main principles - those of assimilation, accommodation and equilibration. These will be explained below; however, first it is important to define the term 'schema'. Schema is a cognitive representation of activities or things. When a baby is born it will have an innate schema for sucking in order to ensure that it can feed and therefore grow. As the baby grows, this schema will become integrated with other feeding schemas as the baby's experience and nutrition changes. Assimilation is the process of putting a new experience into already existing mental structure. Children develop cognitive structures to help them make sense of their world and when they encounter a new experience they place this into the schemas they have already developed. The process of assimilation is an active one. Children are not merely absorbing knowledge via a process of osmosis, they are actively engaged in the assimilation process. They are active insofar as they are selective - they do not absorb all the information they encounter. Accommodation is the revising of an existing schema due to a new experience. For example, a child may have a schema that describes all flying objects as birds, but when he encounters a Frisbee this does not fit the schema. It isn't alive; therefore a new schema is necessary. As children develop they will encounter experiences which their existing schemas are incapable of explaining. Therefore they must develop new schemas in response to new experiences. Equilibration is the process of seeking to achieve cognitive stability through assimilation and accommodation. The child is constantly trying to interpret and understand the world while encountering new experiences. The child builds an understanding of the world and how it works, but this is constantly challenged by new experiences that conflict with their current understanding. They seek to develop schemas to help this interpretation process. The drive for equilibrium is that all these interpretations and schemas fit together and make a general picture of the world that is logical. However, equilibrium is a constantly changing thing, as each time a child encounters a new experience they are in a place of disequilibrium until assimilation or accommodation has taken place. If we return to the example of the Frisbee, when the child first encounters it they are in a state of confusion (i.e. not equilibrium) - 'It isn't alive, I can't explain it with my present schemas or ways of thinkin g'. Through accommodation and the development of new schemas the child returns to a state of equilibrium, until the next new experience. Piaget's Stage Model of Cognitive Development Piaget suggested that the child's cognitive development could be divided into stages. As the child develops and goes

Environmental Ethics Assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental Ethics Assignment 2 - Essay Example 111). From this description, the major functions of zoos are to maintain the animal species contained therein for safeguarding, learning, or display to the general community. Therefore, it is from such a definition that the immorality or morality of the issue can be weighed. As such, one of the issues that make zoos be viewed as immorality is the fact that the animals kept there are taken out of their natural habitat. This means that as much as the zoo management may try to replicate the natural environment of any of the species, it never really recreates it in the exact manner especially due to space constraints. This results in the animals being confined in a small area, thereby making it more like a form of imprisonment. Additionally, the care provided at the zoo may not be what the animal actually needs (Lee and Holder 2007, p. 189). There are certain elements of the wild that are never fully met. Despite these drawbacks that tilt zoos towards immorality, the establishments have helped in the study of numerous species. This has been essential in tackling elements such as diseases that may threaten animal existence. From this, therefore, the immorality of zoos, or otherwise, is subject to the perspective from which it is viewed. Tree Huggers is a term that is generally used to refer to individuals who are highly passionate about the environment to the point that they can literally do anything towards its conservation. The term originated from a past where individuals could actually hug trees so that they could prevent them from being cut down. They would achieve this by hugging the tree at precisely the point where the lumberjack’s axe is about to strike (Lee and Holder 2007, p. 267). Since then, the term â€Å"tree hugger† has been used to refer to people who are passionate about the environment. This act of tree hugging culminated into movements aimed at environmental conservation, extending well into the contemporary society. As

Into the Woods with Nathanial Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown Essay

Into the Woods with Nathanial Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown - Essay Example The name Faith fits the personality of Goodman Brown’s wife. With the perfection of her character, Faith symbolizes the inner strength of Goodman Brown, his devotion and loyalty. When Brown finally grasped the reality that he has lost his Faith he lays down his value system and accepts the nature that steers individuals to wickedness. Without his wife Faith, he witnesses the threatening backwoods surrounding him with its dreadful hums and noises. However, as the storyteller emphasizes, â€Å"he was himself the chief horror of the scene, and shrank not from its other horrors† (Hawthorne 1992, 30). Without Faith, he himself is the malevolence he has been attempting to oppose, and he grips the power, although fleetingly, and grants it control over his consciousness. Once in the woods, Brown witnessed all the wicked things that a devoted Puritan should not be witnessing, like the evil transformation of the supposedly ‘good’ people in their community such as Goo dy Cloyse, Deacon Gookin, and even his wife Faith. Brown, in my opinion, takes such a night’s journey to test his Faith, Belief, and Conviction.

World History Essay Example for Free

World History Essay Two civilizations have been hailed as being important to the history of the world and are usually referred to as the cradle of mankind. These are the Mesopotamia and the Ancient Egypt. The development of the city states of Mesopotamia and the stability of the ancient Egypt has been seen driven by geographic factors. Indeed the origin of these civilizations is almost similar; however due to geography, they differ in a number of factors both in the development and in their stability. It is this geographic aspect of their differences that will be the focus of this paper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both these civilizations owe their origin to the presence of important water mass, their people survived on the abundant resources that the rivers provided.   Egyptian civilization would have been non existent had there not been a river Nile. It is this river that owes the survival of the livelihood of the Egyptians and a culture that was carried forth from one generation to another. Mesopotamia city states on the other hand were supported by two rivers. Indeed Mesopotamia is a Greek word that means ‘the land between two rivers’, these are Tigris and Euphrates lying in what is currently referred to as Iraq. Inadvertently, it is important to mention that similarities can be drawn on how these two civilizations were able to survive. Parallels can be drawn on the flooding patterns of the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates. River Nile used to flood once in a year bringing with it huge deposits of rich silt, leaving the surrounding areas well irrigated, â€Å"when the waters receded, they left behind deposits of black silt that were rich with vitamins and minerals.† (M. Solodky , 2006, 5) Euphrates and Tigris had similar behaviors only that they were largely unpredictable leaving dead trails and destroyed crops in their wake. The rich soil and well irrigated banks were viable for farming and agriculture. This attracted huge number of settlements and villages and small towns began cropping up along the banks (Waddel,l 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     One difference that can be discerned in the nature of these two civilizations between Egypt and the city states of Mesopotamia lie in the population dispersion. In Mesopotamia, settlement was around the two rivers meaning that it was highly clustered compared to the highly dispersed settlement along the Nile stretch. The growth of the Egyptian civilization was facilitated by the ease of transportation along the river Nile thus expanding the civilization’s influence (David, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The development of the Mesopotamia civilization was greatly inhibited by one geographic factor, lacking in the advantage that the Egyptian civilization had.   Egypt had natural geographic barriers that acted as a natural line of defense allowing the civilization to thrive in isolation. The Mesopotamia city states lacked in this and they lived in constant collision with others, â€Å"the geographical features of Mesopotamia contributed to lack of stability, as there was no natural barrier to protect the city states from outside invaders.† (Deborah Preston, 2006, 11). The Mesopotamia city states could hence not stand for long and they fell under constant attack from the neighbors. On the other hand, the ancient Egyptian civilization was able to thrive well as there was no competition and the population was dispersed evenly, the existing villages and the small towns â€Å"had approximately equal access to the river and did not have to compete among themselves for water as their contemporaries in Mesopotamia were forced to do.† (Douglas Emily, 2004, 65). Trade was well coordinated and facilitated by the immense harbors along the Nile, a stark contrast to Mesopotamia.   These two civilizations though similar in their economic activities and their reliance on the rivers had different geographic characteristics that would either ensure or derail their survival (á ¸ ¤agai Gershoni, 2000). References Douglas J Brewer, Emily Teeter (2004) Egypt and the Egyptians. Cambridge   Ã‚   University Press, 2004 Solodky (2006). The Technology of Ancient Egypt. The Rosen Publishing Group, Deborah Vess, Preston Jones (2006). AP World History (REA) The Best Test Prep for the AP World History: The Best Preparation for the AP World History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Exam. Research Education Assoc. David Christian (2004). Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History. University of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   California Press. a. Waddell (2003) Egyptian Civilization Its Sumerian Origin and Real Chronology. Kessinger Publishing. á ¸ ¤agai Erlikh, I. Gershoni (2000). The Nile: Histories, Cultures, Myths. Lynne Rienner   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Publishers.

Forever 21 Management Analysis

Forever 21 Management Analysis Solomon Mehari   Mission Statement The companys mission is to provide is to furnish customers with an unpresented determination of todays styles with moderate costs. Theyre known as continually changing and dependably in style. The proprietor is Christian and needs to impart this to his clients. History One of Americas most favored retailers, Forever 21 was set up as Fashion 21 in 1984 by a Korean foreigner in a little 900 sq. feet space. Today, shopping centers house the fashion giant in 9,000 square feet zone and their XXI lead stores are spread more than 24,000 square feet. Quick design retailer, Forever 21 works more than 600 stores under the Forever 21, XXI Forever, For Love 21, Heritage 1981, and Reference pennants. Always 21 offers mens and ladies apparel and extras. Stores can be found all through the U.S. furthermore, in Canada, Europe, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. The organization is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Stakeholders Employee: They are viewed as inside partners. As they work inside the organization, the representatives have an intrigue and impact the way it is run. In this manner, anyone who works for Forever21 is a partner. Customers: They are considered external stakeholders. They are slightly different from employees because they do not work for the corporation, however they buy products and services. So, they have an interest in Forever 21. Structure and Leadership Structure of Forever 21 Leadership Forever 21 has assumed control shopping centers over the world with its stock of popular garments at absolute bottom costs. The stores acquired $135 million in benefits in 2008, the last time the privately-owned business made its financials open. Whats more, the same number of retailers declare store terminations, Forever 21 keeps on growing. This month alone, the affix has declared arrangements to open two new areas: one in Rochester, Minnesota, and one in Santa Cruz, California. A great part of the organizations prosperity has originated from its interest to spending plan cognizant ladies in their youngsters and 20s. It utilizes the quick design demonstrate, getting new form patterns to stores as fast as it can, then offering at a low cost. Conventional retailers attempt to set up a brand with a mark look, so its impossible that others will attempt to duplicate Forever 21 subsequent to investing so much energy and exertion assembling their own brands. Furthermore, it just offers at tire for not as much as its adversaries do. forever 21 offers pants for as low as $15, where youngster retailers by and large begin at $30 for this imperative class, noticed the Bank of America investigators. Do won Chang (CO-Founder and Chief Executive Officer) With little more than a high school education, the young Korean couple came to the U.S. in 1981 in search for a better life. Husband Do Won, just 22 at the time, worked the morning shift at a coffee shop, pumped gas during the afternoon and started a small office cleaning business that kept him busy until midnight. Jin Sook, 25, toiled as a hairdresser, a skill she acquired back in her home country. While at the gas station, Do Won noticed that wealthy men in the garment industry drove the nicest cars, inspiring him to take a job at a clothing store, where he was determined to learn the ropes. I treated it like it was my own business, he told FORBES. After three years in the U.S., the couple pooled $11,000 in savings and opened a 900-square-foot apparel store in L.A. in 1984. Calling it Fashion 21, first year sales reached $700,000. It eventually became fast-fashion juggernaut Forever 21, which has $4.4 billion in revenue from 790 locations in 48 countries. But after years of expansi on the company appears to be facing some setbacks; sales have been flat and in the past year its reportedly paid some vendors late. Forever 21 denies any financial difficulties and says business remains solid. The devout couple, who goes to early morning prayer at a local church nearly every day, has the Bible verse John 3:16 printed on the bottom of the chains shopping bags. Jin Sook Chang (CO-Founder/President) After moving to the states from South Korea in 1981, Jin Sook Chang and her husband Don worked odd jobs to make ends meet. Three years later, the pair opened up their first clothing store, Fashion 21, a 900-square-foot shop in Los Angeles. The Changs expanded upon first year sales of $700,000 by opening new stores every six months, eventually changing the teen-focused retailers name to Forever 21. Today their fast-fashion clothing chain, which has been sued more than 50 times for copyright infringement, has $4.4 billion in sales, flat from year ago. It has closed some stores and was late to pay some vendors. But the company denies any financial difficulties, saying its business is solid and noting the planned opening of 67 more stores this year. Sook works as the chief merchandising with the help of her 2 daughters Ester and Linda, while her husband don is the CEO. Task Environments Social factures: forever21 has similar objectives of disposing of tyke and grown-up constrained work, and we are completely adjusted to the soul and reason for Responsible Sourcing Networks cotton vow. forever 21 has marked the cotton vow compelling October 7, 2016. forever 21s dedication to this issue is not new. Since 2013, Forever 21 has attempted to guarantee that none of its outsider sellers intentionally acquire their supply of cotton from Uzbekistan. Our Corporate Social Responsibility program incorporates the Forever 21 Vendor Audit Program. While large portions of our merchants have worked with Forever 21 for various years and are believed, all providers and sellers must give plant contact data and all industrial facilities must take an interest in the review program. Technological Factors: It reports the accessible techniques for changing or changing over assets into items and administrations. Notwithstanding, supervisors must be watchful about mechanical variables since they must be precise in new innovations and adjust to new condition to dispatch another item or to make a venture. Political / Legal Factors: It is alluded to the administration law of business (control and set the dos and donts), business-government relationship (It is vital to have great connection in business as far as economy) and the general political and legitimate circumstance of the nation (It demonstrates that positive circumstance where directors need to work with). Economic Factors: The economic dimension of an association is the general status if the financial framework in which the association works. The most vital monetary elements are loan fees, unemployment and swelling. These components bring issues for the interest for items. Since, if financing costs are high, purchasers will spend less; if the expansion is high, the organization they pay more for assets, and they need to expand costs to cover costs; and if the unemployment is high, shoppers purchase less on the grounds that there are few individuals working for the association. Organizational Culture At Forever 21 Inc. they have a most significant organizational culture, resource is the general population who work for organization. As a quickly developing claim to fame retailer, perpetually 21 appreciates a dynamic and quick paced working condition. They are a fun, adaptable, and vigorous gathering of individuals cooperating to make a novel charming condition. Cooperation is key when sharing the alternate points of view that permit the organization to develop. Whats more, perpetually 21 is focused on supporting differing qualities inside the organization and imparting this dedication to a group. Organizational Hero Do Won Chang open his first store in L. As. Highland Park neighborhood in 1984, calling it Fashion 21. As deals took off and the demographic developed past the Korean American people group, he changed the name to Forever 21. Different stores soon followed in the U.S. whats more, abroad, incorporating one in the Seoul neighborhood of Myung-Dong, where Chang grew up. The financial downturn constrained Chang to make a few cuts. The organization finished 2009 with seven less stores than the prior year. Still, income is climbing. In the last monetary year, Forever 21 posted $1.7 billion in deals. It anticipates income of $2.3 billion this year. A lot of that is from forceful extension Chang is peering toward Israel and Hong Kong, for instance. Similarly, critical is an expansive lineup. Notwithstanding Forever 21, the chain has seven different arrangements, each serving unmistakable types of shopping center rats, including XXI Forever, which concentrates on higher end couture lines, and Heritage 1981, highlighting vintage-styled garments. Success of Forever 21 Innovation: One vital thing recognizes Forever 21 from its fundamental rivals is its uniqueness. No dread that you will discover your colleague or companion in the same outfit from yourself, Forever 21 arranges little mounts and learns it customers to purchase promptly and not hold up till the following visit. Not purchasing implies gone. Consistently something new, that is additionally the saying of Forever 21. Get it now, or its gone is the productive and benefit creating arrangement of Forever 21. Evidently, Mrs. Chang, who is in charge of the gathering of Forever 21, surveys around 400 new outlines a day. The Changs understood that change is fundamental. The perfect idea for the empowering addicts era of today. No dead stock, development starts things out. Easy access and quality: Without any things above $60, Forever 21 is making style open to all and making itself a substantial potential market. They went from one to more than six possess brands, offering garments to children, men, additional vast and pregnant ladies. Everybody can bear to purchase something at Forever 21. Sustainability Forever 21 goes into an exhaustive concurrence with each of our sellers and their production lines under which they guarantee to use lawfully qualified laborers, pay them compensation which are reasonable and legitimate in their ward, and give a situation that follows their lawful necessities. Our understanding likewise covers issues of time off, free affiliation rights, nondiscrimination, ecological assurance and security, and forbids the utilization of constrained or slave work, youngster work. They have a profoundly prepared Vendor Compliance Team, which advances and upholds legitimate and moral operations at our outsider manufacturing plant destinations. The Team fulfills this implementation by leading assessments of our dynamic non-US Vendor producing offices on an arbitrary premise to guarantee The Vendor Compliance Standards are comprehended, regarded and taken after. We additionally visit most production lines before We contract them, to guarantee their office and operations meet with our models. After every manufacturing plant visit, the Vendor Compliance Team gives a composed assessment of the processing plant, including any activity things which may require revision before the following visit. We additionally do our best to give continuous data, guidance, and support on reasonable work, wellbeing and security, and related issues. The objective is to work with our industrial facilities to help them enhance and guarantee reliable consistence. In any case, if we find intense infringement or infringement which are not adjusted inside a sensible day and age after our remedial activity arrange has been issued, we may end that plant from our program. Forever 21 trust this procedure helps with guarding against potential hazardous conditions, working environment wounds or abuse, and furthermore brings about a general change in processing plant effectiveness and item quality principles. The Future of Forever 21 Since first opening its entryways 30 years back, Forever 21 has turned into a universally perceived brand. The organization has possessed the capacity to maintain a strategic distance from the battles of other youth-focused brands. It pulls in solid deals $4.6 billion worth in 2014, as according to Privco and hasnt needed to battle with a brand character like other teenager retailers. This most recent move is a piece of the organizations objective to end up distinctly a $8 billion organization inside the following two years and to have 600 stores the world over inside the following three years. Forever 21 right now works more than 680 stores in 45 nations. References http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/profile/jin-sook-chang/refURL=https://www.google.com/referrer=https://www.google.com/ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/31/business/la-fi-himi-chang-20100731 https://successstory.com/people/do-won-chang http://moneyinc.com/do-won-chang-facts/ http://www.forever21.com/Htmls/CustomerService/en-US/socialresponsibility.html?5/11/2014 http://goodonyou.org.au/the-ethics-of-fast-fashion-uniqlo-topshop-and-forever-21/

Jerry Garcia And The Grateful Dead :: essays research papers fc

Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead Rock Legends of the 60s and 70s   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jerry Garcia’s life was filled with wonderful things, many of which he never expected in the first place. After an almost fatal heroin overdose in 1986, â€Å" Garcia philosophically stated, ‘ I’m 45 years old, I’m ready for anything, I didn’t even plan on living this long so all this shit is just add-on stuff.’ † (â€Å"Garcia†) This attitude shows why Garcia did all of the things he did and even how some of them came about. Garcia, who â€Å"functioned as the preeminent pied piper of the rock era,† led a life of great artistic ability which he used in many ways(â€Å"Grateful Dead_ Rockhall†).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jerry Garcia was born as Jerome John Garcia on 1 August, 1942 in San Francisco, California (â€Å"Garcia†/’Grateful Dead†). Garcia learned to play folk and rock & roll when he was 15 even though the third finger on his left hand was missing because of an accident as a child. In 1959 he served in the U.S. Army for a very short period of time (â€Å"Garcia†/Erlewine_). J.J. Garcia, also known as Captain Trips, was a diabetic heroine addict and was arrested on charges of heroine possession in 1985(Erlewine_/†Grateful Dead_ Rockhall†/†Garcia†). While in a Forest Knolls, California drug treatment center, Garcia died on 9 August 1995(â€Å"Grateful Dead†). Some of his ashes were scattered in the Ganges River not long after he died, and the rest were scattered into the San Francisco Bay in the second week of April 1996(â€Å"This Is the Week That Was†E7). The effect of his death was equivalent to those of J ohn F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Elvis Presley, and John Lennon. When Garcia died â€Å"The press was largely in agreement, concerning that a major talent in the world of music had passed on (either that or all the news editors on daily newspapers are all 40-something ex-hippies.)†(â€Å"Grateful Dead†) The â€Å"pied piper† was and is now no more than a legend in many people’s eyes. The band name as well went down with Jerry as a unanimous agreement among the band members(â€Å"Grateful Dead†).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Captain Trips first played with Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions who became the Warlocks in 1965 and later became the â€Å"seminal ‘60s rock & roll band the Grateful Dead† for which Garcia is most known(â€Å"Jerry Garcia_†). Grateful Dead is a name that was randomly chosen from an open copy of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Dylan Marlais Thomas :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’ve had eighteen straight whiskies. I think that’s the record.†(Quoted by John Malcolm Brinnin, Dylan Thomas in America). One of the most renowned authors of the twentieth century, Dylan Thomas is as well known for his philosophical poetry, critical writings, and essays. Often focusing on themes as birth, death, love, and religion, Thomas's works remain distinctly personal through a blend of rich language, detailed imagery, and psychological issues. Thomas is a poet known greatly for his indulgence in his love for poetry and literature. Parallel to this is the unique way Thomas was able to write his works about ideas and themes outside the environment he was contained to live within. His strict childhood and middle age life, which was largely filled with drinking, and wondering slums played some part in shaping his work, but can be overlooked if studied correctly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dylan Marlais Thomas was born on October 27, 1914, in the Welsh seaport of Swansea. Both his parents held respectable jobs and he lived under a middleclass household. His mother, in particular lead Dylan from an early age to be a serious reader and writer of poetry. Dylan’s interest in poetry and literature was sparked at an early age, and by high school Dylan was editing for his school newspaper. Aside from editing, Dylan also published his own works which frequently appeared in other publications.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is particularly clear from his early poems, where Marc Alyn has observed, all of his originality is already on view, that he was occupied with introspections that lie outside of time and place, and that his style owes comparatively little to tradition and experience.†(Dylan Thomas) Unlike many writers, Dylan was able to explore with ideas that he frequently could not compare his own life with. Dylan’s early poetry was greatly influenced by his friend Daniel Jones. The two friends often wrote plays, and developed poems by drawing lines out of a hat and piecing them together. These were the beginnings of Dylan’s career as a writer and poet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before long he was reporting and writing feature articles for the paper and its weekly supplement, The Herald of Wales. Thomas began to spend much of his time exploring the streets, pubs, and alleys of the depression-ridden seaport town in which he lived. Even though, well off himself, Thomas found it much more interesting to study and write about these areas (The Life of Dylan Thomas, Constantine Fitzgibbion). Dylan Marlais Thomas :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’ve had eighteen straight whiskies. I think that’s the record.†(Quoted by John Malcolm Brinnin, Dylan Thomas in America). One of the most renowned authors of the twentieth century, Dylan Thomas is as well known for his philosophical poetry, critical writings, and essays. Often focusing on themes as birth, death, love, and religion, Thomas's works remain distinctly personal through a blend of rich language, detailed imagery, and psychological issues. Thomas is a poet known greatly for his indulgence in his love for poetry and literature. Parallel to this is the unique way Thomas was able to write his works about ideas and themes outside the environment he was contained to live within. His strict childhood and middle age life, which was largely filled with drinking, and wondering slums played some part in shaping his work, but can be overlooked if studied correctly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dylan Marlais Thomas was born on October 27, 1914, in the Welsh seaport of Swansea. Both his parents held respectable jobs and he lived under a middleclass household. His mother, in particular lead Dylan from an early age to be a serious reader and writer of poetry. Dylan’s interest in poetry and literature was sparked at an early age, and by high school Dylan was editing for his school newspaper. Aside from editing, Dylan also published his own works which frequently appeared in other publications.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is particularly clear from his early poems, where Marc Alyn has observed, all of his originality is already on view, that he was occupied with introspections that lie outside of time and place, and that his style owes comparatively little to tradition and experience.†(Dylan Thomas) Unlike many writers, Dylan was able to explore with ideas that he frequently could not compare his own life with. Dylan’s early poetry was greatly influenced by his friend Daniel Jones. The two friends often wrote plays, and developed poems by drawing lines out of a hat and piecing them together. These were the beginnings of Dylan’s career as a writer and poet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before long he was reporting and writing feature articles for the paper and its weekly supplement, The Herald of Wales. Thomas began to spend much of his time exploring the streets, pubs, and alleys of the depression-ridden seaport town in which he lived. Even though, well off himself, Thomas found it much more interesting to study and write about these areas (The Life of Dylan Thomas, Constantine Fitzgibbion).

Locke and the Legitimacy of the State: Right vs. Good :: Essays Papers

Locke and the Legitimacy of the State: Right vs. Good John Locke’s conception of the â€Å"legitimate state† is surrounded by much controversy and debate over whether he emphasizes the right over the good or the good over the right. In the midst of such a profound and intriguing question, Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration, provides strong evidence that it is ineffective to have a legitimate state â€Å"prioritize† the right over the good. Locke’s view of the pre-political state begins with his statement that â€Å"man is ‘naturally in,’ the state of ‘perfect freedom’ and equality,† (Christman 42). Locke believes that man naturally has the capacity for Reason which in turn allows man direct access to moral laws. Reason provides man with his own individual rights and obligations and moral rights and duties. Furthermore, Locke writes that â€Å"‘The State of Nature has a Law of Nature to govern it, which obliges everyone: And Reason, which is that Law, teaches all Mankind, who will consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his Life, Health, Liberty, or Possession,’† (43). Moreover, man needs an authority to protect and preserve these moral rights which can only executed when, as Locke states, when the â€Å" ‘power and jurisdiction is [are] reciprocal,’† (42). Therefore a social cont ract is created when human beings unite and the majority of a people agree upon a particular state which protects mans natural freedom and equality. Consequently, since all human beings have certain moral rights to health, liberty, and possessions; they also have the right to enforce the protection of those rights by way of punishing violators. And it is in this maintaining of ones own rights that it is necessary for man to initially come together and form a social contract. By forming a social contract they are agreeing to sustain from living purely in a state of nature. According to Locke, living in such a state of nature is ‘inconvienent’, for there is no common ground by which to appropriately judge an individual who infringes upon another person natural rights (Christman 43). Therefore, one can not ‘effectively enjoy’ their own rights until they join under a ‘common political authority’ (44).

Preventive Care

Running head: FUNDING PREVENTIVE CARE IN AMERICA Funding Preventive Care in America Webster University December 7, 2011 Funding Preventive Care in America Preventive care is an element that is becoming important to not only those in the healthcare field but America as a whole. Preventive care helps to not only prevent but in some cases stop from increasing illness such as obesity, hypertension, and heart disease. Many healthcare officials feel that preventative care is important to the health care field while the government does not share their sentiments and thus funds are not distributed equally to areas which assist with preventative care. Many critics feel that if the government would work with funding preventive care programs, the cost of health insurance would decrease and many Americans would be more apt to take a healthier approach to living. Preventive health care is measures taken by an individual to prevent illness or diseases that may or may not arise in the future. The American government does not equally fund preventive health care measures as it does the war. With this being said, many health care officials believe that it is important for individuals to receive preventive care. The whole idea would be to help keep costs down yet there has not been sufficient enough studies that shows that preventive care actually keeps rising health care costs down. Preventive health care measures include services such as screening (ie cancer, cholesterol), vaccines, and other wellness benefits. Currently the government is making adjustments in order to allocate more money into the preventive health care sector and this is partially due to the Health Care Reform Act created by President Obama. However, as good as this sound, this act has been met with much criticism. The government is still quite hesitant to allocate funds for several reasons: the estimated costs of spending is different based upon the type of preventive care that is provided, lack of evidence to show the effects of a decrease in rising health care costs due to preventive measures, and the evidence shows that the actual cost to implement preventive measures is more costly. For example, a simple medical test such as one that is given for cholesterol can detect if a person has cholesterol. The idea behind early detection would be to provide patient education in hopes that the patient would not have to get on medication and this condition could be able to control this by eating healthy and exercising. With early detection, the physician is able to assist the patient in monitoring their behavior. This action is presented two-fold: the patient is empowered to take charge of his health and the cost that was involved in the test is minimal thus keeping costs down by ensuring the patient is monitored and does not have to get on medication. One of the downfalls with funding preventive care is that neither the government or the physician knows if the illness(es) that is being prevented will be costly or not. It has been noted that prevented care is beneficial when a certain group of people suffer from a particular problem, yet it is difficult to target such a group because medical care cannot be predicted and often times many of the patients are asymptomatic. Preventive health care measures can be costly especially when physicians tend to test for everything and this added cost exceeds the savings which is what they are trying to do. Therefore, this is a catch 22 situation. Preventive care is meant to save money while the government does not see it in that way. Therefore, they restrict the amount of money that is allocated for preventive care. Interestingly enough, the idea that preventive care is beneficial; however, when you look at costs in the long run, preventive care may not be that beneficial. An interesting point to notate is that regardless of how the government is not allocating funds equally into the preventive health sector, many physicians have implemented preventive care services and started educating their patients. Most of this is done through a regular office visit; therefore, it does not look like the patient is coming in for preventive measures. Wellness Services Physicians are not the only one that is not relying on government funds to help with preventive measures. Large corporations are equally involved in wellness (Aldana, 2005). Many corporations are offering incentives to their employees. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield offers wellness benefits to their employees that maintain a healthy lifestyle to include not smoking, weight management, hypertension and high cholesterol management. This company has even gone as far as to offer financial incentives offset the costs for health insurance. The employees have access to a gym that resembles at a rate of approximately $10 per month. The employees have access to a personal trainer to help them with their weight management. BCBS have a health care team which visits the site and gives blood tests to determine their cholesterol level, hypertension, and smoking. This incentive allows employees to be seen for free and receive the proper treatment for free. To add more to this plan, the company gives the employee that meet the requirements for â€Å"a healthy lifestyle†, the gives the employee money titled â€Å"Wellness† each pay period. This is incentive enough to some people to continue to live a healthy lifestyle. Government interaction Great Britain’s Health Committee believes that the government should fund preventive care yet incorporate clear guidelines. The group feels as though the government should fund those with fluctuating needs. This seems to be an answer to those that are uninsured or underinsured. This committee; however, does agree with the US government that prevention even though is better than treating the symptoms is quite expensive (Great Britain, 2009). According to Masters 2005, even though prevention is costly, it is recommended because the government is wasting money on illness that could have been prevented through the use of prevention and these illnesses can result in lifestyle and environmental risk factor changes. It is believed that high quality can cost the government more money it is the level of quality care that is provided to the patient that prevents future costs and this is the whole intent of preventive care (Masters, 2005). Currently the government is offering incentives for health care physicians that use electronic health records. The first incentive was for $144,000; however, the government fails to incorporate some form of incentive for healthy living. It is unlike that many physicians will take the government up on the incentives before it is mandated in 2013 for all physicians to use some form of electronic health record. Many critics of this feel that incentives such as this should be going to help fund some form of preventive services. In an effort to answer the need for preventive measures in America’s health care system, the department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is investing $750 million into prevention and public health (hhs. gov). The funds are distributed into tobacco use, obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer, immunizations, and patient education. The idea is to be able to target individuals that are faced with these conditions and educate them so that history will not repeat itself. In order to assure that the funds are allocated correctly, DHHS has decided to disburse accordingly: †¢ 298 million for community prevention †¢ 198 million for clinical prevention †¢ 137 million for public health (health departments) †¢ 133 million for research and tracking (quality assurance). The general idea is to work as a unit to ensure that once the funds are allocated to the stated department that the organizations are able to utilize the funds accordingly. Apart from the government not allocating enough funds to go into the preventive care sector, the individual is responsible for their appropriate level of care. Conclusion Regardless if the government is willing to pay for war or for health; it is up to the individual to make sure that they are living in a healthy manner. Many people feel that to live a healthy lifestyle is costly, this may be true; however, by taking small measures, they are able to prevent many of the diseases and illnesses that occur. For example, if obesity is a problem and this is a medical burden which accounts for over 10% of medial spending (Finkelstein, E. A. et al, 2009). People that have this condition are able to eat smaller amounts, start to exercise, and monitor the intake of junk foods. By making these small adjustments, the individual is able to help combat obesity and not rely on the government to fund preventive health measures. The same thing that a physician would say to someone that is obese is the same thing that the individual can find online. References Aldana, S. G. â€Å"Financial Impact of a Comprehensive Multisite Workplace Health Promotion Program,† Preventive Medicine, vol. 40 (2005), pp. 31–137. Finkelstein, E. A. et al (2009). â€Å"Annual Medical Spending Attributable to Obesity: Payer- and Service-Specific Estimates,† Health Affairs, Web Exclusive (2009), pp. w822–w831. Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Health Committee. (2009). Social Care. United Kingdom: The Stationary Office HHS Press office. (2011, February 9). Retrieved from http://www. hhs. gov/news/press/2011pres/02/20110209b. html Masters, K. (2005). Role development in professional nursing practice. Burlington: MA, Jones Bartlett Learning.

Legal Compliance with Un Directives

Beyond Bricks : A report on a new proposed business plan in the field of renewable energy 2013 Strategy Builders Consulting Inc. 2/5/2013 Introduction Sustainable development and renewable energy are among the most talked about topics at the moment. Renewable energy is the concept that the think tanks are throwing their weight behind, and the same is true for the European Union (EU, henceforth) The business model that we are going to propose, deals with promoting renewable energy resources, and has a lot of other elements to it, which are all in compliance with the vision that the EU has in place.The existing real estate agency in question is functional in both the residential as well industrial sectors. As a result of your operations, you have a strong and commendable network in place, which can be utilised in furthering our recommended business model. According to the ‘Energy 20:20’ vision of the EU, every new building must comply with renewable energy standards, set b y regulations. The existing and old buildings will also have to modify their installations to meet the new requirements.Considering that improving energy efficiency is high on importance for the EU, and for the entire developed world, we anticipate that the authorities are going to be fairly stringent on the issue of compliance of the said regulations. In approximately 7-9 years from today, it is going to be mandatory for buildings to meet the new set of criteria. Since we are still some distance away from the 2020 milestone, there is a fair chance of exploiting the time and reaping benefits. The Concept We propose to set up a model, wherein we facilitate installation as well as replacement of efficient and renewable energy components.We will have to tie up with providers of renewable energy sources and provide their services and products to our customers, who buy property from us. This service will also include our previous customers who would be looking to replace their current el ectricity system with renewable energy. In addition to promoting and facilitating use of renewable energy, we also propose to set up a carbon capture and storage unit and mechanism for our industrial installations. We will form alliances with small scale providers of these mechanisms and provide their services and goods to our customers.In addition to the task of acting as an intermediary, we also propose to employ and train a team of technicians, who will provide maintenance and after sales services to the customers. For this maintenance team, we will hire young, unemployed people from lower sections of the economy, who will be trained by our energy providing partners, and this initiative will hence, help in improving their societal placement. We also propose to tie up with an energy efficiency certification agency, so that our customers can easily obtain certifications.Rationale behind the concept The Commission says that EU must embrace renewable sources, not only to slow the cli mate changes but also because the EU's reliance on imported gas that is set to increase from 57% currently to 84% by 2030, and on imported oil from 82% to 93%. Hence the EU sets the goal of 1. Increasing renewable energy's share of the market to 20% by 2020, from around 8. 5% today. 2. Energy consumption is to be cut by 20% by 2020 through improved energy efficiency compared to 1990 levels. 3.Green house gas emissions are to be cut by 20% by 2020 compared with 1990 levels. The commission says states aid can legitimately be used to promote emissions cuts and increase take-up of renewables, so long as it does not breach EU competition rules. The commission has come up with new proposals for the EU to co-finance national and local schemes to promote energy-efficient housing. The EU will help member states install double glazing, wall insulation and solar panels in housing, especially targeting low-income households. The customersThe target group of customers for this business will be o ur own existing and new customers. Evidently, since renewable sources of energy are more expensive when compared to their non renewable counterparts, there might be an initial reluctance from the customers, to shell additional Euros. To educate them about the benefits of cleaner energy, their carbon footprint, as well as the impending EU regulations, we propose to have an â€Å"Energy Consultant†, who will lay out plans, a cost-benefit analysis and answer any questions that the customers might have.The existing customers will actually be a more vital part of this proposed business model, because they will be the ones who will be replacing their existing electricity systems into renewable sources, and they will form a bigger proportion of the revenue pool, because their numbers will exceed the number of new buildings coming up. The new business concept will have to be communicated to the existing customers using our contact database, and then the consultant/s will be functiona l in bringing them onboard with the new ideas.Scope of the Model: Target Market France’s real estate environment is in perpetual change from the classical renting to owner/occupant system and the trend is visible from the 1960’s to date whereby 45% of the people rented v/s 42 % owned to 38 % (renting) and 57% (ownership). The renting environment is currently made of 54 % of private sector housing and 46 % of social housing. Furthermore, out of the 9. 8 million private sector residences for rental purposes, 4. 5 million are HLM (habitation a loyer modere) or project housing.With these housing projects housing most of the poor populations, the costs of energy by legacy providers such as EDF is high and hence the costs of electricity and heating is an additional burden. The available housing is also relatively old (40%) of private rental properties built before 1948 and the needs for upgrading these properties to comply with EU regulation is tremendous. 60% of the rental property is also located in metropolis of 100000+ inhabitants with most of the rural housing being privately owned.The remote locations have lesser choices in terms of energy providers as the small scale providers are only present on part of the territory. The lack of competition drives prices high and slows the implementation of cleaner energy. As for the low income housing projects, most of them were built between 1950-1970 (50%) and due to high density and low maintenance, they require even more urgent upgrades to both comply with regulation and help the government in its housing policy making.By pairing up with smaller scale energy providers across the board from wind power harvesters like Planete Oui to solar energy providers like Direct Energy, we are creating a partnership with smaller scale EU based energy producers (as opposed to EDF) and we are encouraging competition, hence lowering costs for customers. Besides, this partnership can lead to training of young unemployed pe ople in the housing projects in electrical engineering/maintenance, hence contributing to fight unemployment. Besides, he youth know their neighborhood needs better and by outsourcing routine maintenance, the energy providers can save a lot in terms of travel costs for their maintenance teams. The Suppliers: Our role in this business model will be that of a facilitator, a middle-man of sorts. We will bring about the connection between renewable energy providers and willing buyers. We will focus on producers of wind power and solar power. We wish to focus on the smaller players in the market, because not only will in promote them, it will potentially increase competition in the energy market in France, where EDF is the largest supplier now.It will also be easier logistically for us to tie up with smaller producers. Our alliance will be based on a commission based system, where we will receive a commission based on the business volume from the producers, as we will be functional in en hancing their reach, network and business. Minimum Compliance Requirements: The states are obliged to comply with the above methodology in order to achieve cost-optimal levels. The level of these requirements is reviewed every 5  years.When setting requirements, Member States may differentiate between new and existing buildings and between different categories of buildings. New buildings  shall comply with these requirements and undergo a feasibility study before construction starts, looking at the installation of renewable energy supply systems, heat pumps, district or block heating or cooling systems and cogeneration systems. When undergoing major renovation,  existing buildings  shall have their energy performance upgraded so that they also satisfy the minimum requirements.When new, replaced or upgraded technical building systems such as heating systems, hot water systems, air-conditioning systems and large ventilation systems are installed, they shall also comply with th e energy performance requirements. Building elements that form part of the building envelope and have a significant impact on the energy performance of that envelope (for example, window frames) shall also meet the minimum energy performance requirements when they are replaced or retrofitted, with a view to achieving cost-optimal levels. Calculating energy performance:At the national or regional level, the buildings are evaluated by a methodology for calculating the energy performance which takes into account certain elements, specifically: * The thermal characteristics of a building (thermal capacity, insulation, etc. ); * heating insulation and hot water supply; * the air-conditioning installation; * the built-in lighting installation * Indoor climatic conditions The Finance Our research and analysis shows us that the initial start-up investment in the business will be â‚ ¬ 5 million. Out of this sum, we already have â‚ ¬ 1 million at our disposal.Out of the rest, we propose to send an application to the EU, with a request for funding under the EEPR or European Energy Programme for Recovery. We expect the EU to fund between 20% – 50% ( 1 mn – 2. 5 mn Euros ) of our project, and the rest will be sourced from angel investors and bank loans. The EEPR funds projects in three main areas of the energy sector: †¢Gas and electricity infrastructures †¢Off-shore wind energy †¢Carbon capture and storage This Regulation also establishes a financial instrument the aim of which is to support initiatives related to energy efficiency and renewable energy.The programme finances interconnection projects with a number of objectives, out of which, our business model complies with the following objectives: * Diversification of sources of energy and supplies * Optimisation of the capacity of the energy network and the integration of the internal energy market * Developmentof the network * Connection of renewable energy sources In addition to the se objectives, our model also includes carbon capture and storage, and this should facilitate the funding of our project, because it ticks a lot of check boxes on the EU list.Our project is aligned with the 2020 vision of the EU, The new concept goes beyond the classical real estate agent business, as it promotes clean energy use, it promotes SMEs, and it also increases employment among unemployed youth also. Appendix: Objective: Nearly zero-energy buildings By 31  December 2020, all new buildings shall be nearly zero-energy consumption buildings. New buildings occupied and owned by public authorities shall comply with the same criteria by 31  December 2018.The Commission encourages increasing the numbers of this type of building by putting in place  national plans, which include: * The Member State’s application in practice of the definition of nearly zero-energy buildings; * The intermediate targets for improving the energy performance of new buildings by 2015; * The information on the policies and financial measures adopted to encourage improving the energy performance of buildings. Financial incentives and market barriers Member States shall draw up a list of the existing and potential instruments used to promote improvements in the energy performance of buildings.This list is to be updated every three years. References http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/europe/7765094. stm http://europa. eu/legislation_summaries/energy/energy_efficiency/en0021_en. htm http://eur-lex. europa. eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ. do? uri=OJ:L:2010:153:0013:0035:EN:PDF http://europa. eu/legislation_summaries/environment/sustainable_development/l28075_en. htm http://ec. europa. eu/clima/policies/g-gas/index_en. htm http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/%C3%89lectricit%C3%A9_de_France http://europa. eu/legislation_summaries/energy/energy_efficiency/l27021_en. htm http://www. territoires. gouv. fr/spip. php? article1173