Dispute Summary

Introduction This paper will concentrate on a dispute that occurred in a company where my friend worked. The dispute has been resolved informally and has never resulted in any form of legal process such as grievance, agency complaint, arbitration, or litigation. The management of the company succeeded in using effectively the services of a third-party mediator, applying the so-called Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). We will examine the effectiveness of the dispute resolution process, given the seriousness and the length of the dispute.The start of the disputeThe dispute was originated due to the computer fraud by the company's employees. The company is a medium-size local grocery store chain. The management discovered that employees of the accounting department were sometimes skipping booking some of the transactions, selling in this way some of the stuff they traded on their own. In this way they developed a business of their own, in fact using the company's premises. When the store manager discovered this practice, he decided to take the fraudulent employees to court, claiming a compensation of the lost revenue and profits.However, the chief executive of the branch suggested that the conflict can be resolved without costly litigation, offering that the employees who had perpetrated the fraud compensate the losses. Analysis of the dispute The dispute appeared between several stakeholders in the firm. It evolved on the level employee-supervisor, and in fact involved three separate levels such as rank-and-file employees (accountants), and top management (chief executive officer of the company). The subject was the dispute was the punishment that the employees should get for their fraud.Dispute Resolution Process The dispute was resolved through the application of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The management of the firm invited a third-party mediator. The mediating firm, Legal Solutions, opened the mediation process with a joint session where they in vited all the participants in the conflict. Namely, all project managers and department heads were present, as well as representatives of the other employees. In these meetings, the mediator also asked the parties’ representatives to put forward their suggestions for the solution of the issue.Then the mediator once again held meetings with parties separately seeking to inform each party of the other’s solutions. The lead mediator has worked out his own solution for the dispute and offered it for both parties’ consideration. The working proposition was discussed and accepted by the parties. Subsequently, the dispute resolution process ended with signing a detailed written agreement by both parties.Assessment of the effectiveness of the dispute resolution processI would say that this dispute was resolved in a very speedy and efficient manner as it was resolved in less than two weeks. The ending of the process without resort to formal procedures like arbitration or litigation can also be considered a success for the project. The process ended with the decision that employees paid the sum that exceeded the losses of the company in the double amount. They benefited from such a decision as their case was not taken to court, and they did not have their reputations marred by the lawsuit.All of the fraudsters had to resign, but kept a clean record. The company, on its part, saved on the litigation expenses, and received the needed compensation. Conclusion The dispute related to fraud in the grocery store has been resolved effectively and in a timely manner. This effectiveness was reached through the involvement of a third party, a mediator, who brought his expertise and skill to the mediation table opening new channels of communication and helped to achieve a lasting accord among the firm’s employees.

Euthanasia should be legalised. Agree or Disagree? Essay

Euthanasia is inducing a painless death, by agreement and with compassion, to ease suffering. There are also four different kind of euthanasia; active, passive, voluntary and involuntary. Active euthanasia means carrying out some action to help someone to die, whereas passive euthanasia is to not carry out actions which would prolong life. Thus with regards to the above, voluntary euthanasia is helping a person who wishes to die to do so and involuntary euthanasia is helping a person to die when they are unable to request this for themselves. It is argued on a yearly basis as to whether euthanasia should be legalised in the United Kingdom. There are several arguments in favour for the legalisation of euthanasia. In voluntary euthanasia, it’s argued that it shows mercy for those suffering with pain and a disease with no cure, a view which Thomas More (1478-1535) supports. In his book Utopia (1516), More argued that when a patient suffers ‘a torturing and lingering pain, so that there is no hope, either of recovery or ease, they may choose rather to die, since they cannot live but in much misery’. It is an opportunity to end needless suffering, one that we already offer to animals, thus should be offered to humans. Other advocates of voluntary euthanasia argue that it should be an option for an adult who is able and willing to make such a decision (autonomy). They argue that it should be on offer as one option among many, along with the kind of care of patients with a terminal illness is offered by hospitals and hospices. This argument is maintained by John Stuart Mill who, in his book On Liberty (1859), argued that in matters that do not concern others, individuals should have full autonomy: ‘The only part of the conduct of any one, for which (a citizen) is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his body and mind, this individual is sovereign.’ The VES (www.dignityindying.org.uk) also argues that every human being deserves respect and has the right to choose his or her own destiny, including how he or she lives and dies. American doctor Jack Kervorkian has said (Gula, 1988): ‘In my view the highest principle in medical ethics – in any kind of ethics – is personal autonomy, self-determination. What counts is what the patient wants and judges to be a benefit or a value in his or her own life. That’s primary’. We have autonomy over our bodies in matters of life, and it should be the same in matters of death. Thus, voluntary euthanasia gives people full autonomy and should be legalised. Other believers of voluntary euthanasia claim that it maintains quality of life. They say that human beings should be able to maintain their dignity up until the end of their lives. Thus, not only is it a matter of pain, but of self respect. If someone’s standard of living is such that they no longer want to live, then they should be able to end their life and, if necessary, be assisted in doing so. However, the quality of life worth living is one that only the person in question can define. Having control over their life is a way of enhancing their human dignity. Thus, as euthanasia maintains this quality of life and human dignity it should be legalised. A further point arguing that euthanasia is acceptable claims that the act is not in fact murder and should therefore be legalised, as it doesn’t go against any other laws. This is sustained by Gregory E. Pence in his article ‘Why physicians should aid the dying’ (1997). Pence argues that killing humans who don’t want to live is not wrong. He continues to explain that it isn’t wrong to help the dying to die, because they are actually dying. There are also several arguments against voluntary euthanasia. One difficulty with euthanasia being legalised is a person’s motives. It is questionable as to whether we can be sure that when a person asks for death, that the person isn’t crying out in despair, rather than making a definitive decision. When a person is desperate, they may feel that they want to end their life and therefore deduce that the pain is too great and life too agonising. However perhaps these moments of desperation will pass and they will be glad that no one acted on their pleas. It is also questionable as to whether doctors can be sure that they know and understand all the facts. It could also be possible that they may fear a future which will not be realised. Thus any euthanasia process would have to establish, beyond any doubt, the true intentions of the patient who is requesting euthanasia and that the patient is fully aware of the situation. Thus from this view point euthanasia shouldn’t be legalised due to the risk of misinformation or a failure to comprehend the situation which would leave the patient vulnerable to a decision that he or she might not truly want to make. There are also arguments against the legalisation of euthanasia due to the risk of mistake that may occur, as we can’t be certain that they would be avoided. For example, someone chooses death because they have been diagnosed with a fatal, incurable and painful illness. Then, after the person has died, it is discovered that the diagnosis was incorrect. Therefore, in the legalisation of euthanasia, the diagnosis would have to be beyond a doubt and it is questionable about whether there can always be medical certainty about what the condition will entail and how long it will take to develop. Thus, being an area of doubt that could lead to irreversible mistakes, euthanasia shouldn’t be legalised to safeguard people against this. Glover (1977) noted that people who feel they are burdens on their families sometimes commit suicide. Thus it may be possible that elderly relatives who think they are burdens to their families ask for voluntary euthanasia out of a sense of duty to the family. It’s also questionable as to whether, on the other hand, they could be pressured into asking for voluntary euthanasia by their relatives. As an example, the conviction of Harold Shipman who, as a doctor, murdered elderly patients over a period of years shows the power of doctors. Thus, due to possible abuse of the system, euthanasia should not be legalised as the existence of such a system could allow such people even more capacity for murder by manipulating patients and documentation. There are also arguments against the legalisation of euthanasia due to its’ possible negative impact on the community. It is argued that the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia might lead to other forms of euthanasia being supported, for example, involuntary euthanasia may start to be carried out (like the Nazis did) on the sick, the elderly and the disabled. However, Glover (1977) says that this argument is unconvincing and thus rejects it, whilst Helga Kuhse (1991) has observed that this has not happened in the Netherlands, where voluntary euthanasia is legal. It is further argued that its’ negative effects on the community might include the damage of the care of patients who are dying. While oppressing voluntary euthanasia, people have developed caring and sensitive environments for the terminally ill within the hospice movement. Therefore it is possible that legalisation of voluntary euthanasia would effect the culture in which that approach to care has been developed. For example, it is questionable as to whether, if voluntary euthanasia was legalised, people would be concerned about visiting hospitals, fearful of what might happen such as an unwanted assisted death. There are other cases where a patient cannot let their wishes be known, such as a person who is in a coma in which recovery is very unlikely or impossible. There are also cases of babies who have severe, permanent and possibly deteriorating health conditions that cause suffering. The withdrawal of treatment or use of certain medicines may lead to involuntary euthanasia. The principle of this is uncontroversial. However, the question of taking away food and water is. Tony Bland (1989) was in a coma from which doctors believed he would never recover. He was classed as in a vegetative state and could open his eyes but he did not respond to anything around him. He couldn’t feed but could digest food and needed to have food and water provided to him through a feeding tube. He wasn’t dying, yet there was no cure. There ended in being a court case over whether or not it was right to remove artificial feeding, which would lead to his death. The court allowed Bland to die through starvation and dehydration, which would be painful if he was able to sense the pain, though is was presumed that he couldn’t. Thus this takes steps towards active involuntary euthanasia or even non-voluntary euthanasia as The 2005 Mental Capacity Act for England and Wales preserves in law the view that assisted food and fluids is a medical treatment that could be withdrawn. With there being instances where doctors are convinced a person will never wake up from a coma, or has no capacity for normal function, and yet can be kept alive, there is the question over whether it shows much or less respect for the value of a person to withdraw life saving measures and thus whether or not this should be legal. Other areas of controversy surround the care of disabled babies. It is possible to keep alive more and more physically disabled babies. However, some argue that allowing a disabled baby to live is to disable a family. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (November 2006) urged health professionals to consider euthanasia for seriously disabled babies to spare the emotional burden of families bringing them up. Critics of this are concerned that the example of actively killing a baby or withdrawing treatment to bring about death develops a culture in which all disabled people are considered to be of less value and thus dispute as to whether or not this should be legal. Answers of these questions are also sought through religion. Questions such as what do we do for the person who is in a coma with no hope for recovery? How do we care for the terminally ill who is in a lot of pain? These questions can be answered by Christianity and Islam. In Christianity, biblical teachings forbid killing (Sixth commandment). They also say that life should not be violated and there is also a powerful message of the importance of healing and care for the sick. However, there are exceptions for warfare and self-defence. There are also examples in the bible where the sacrifice of life is considered moral (‘greater love has no man than this: That a man lay down his life for his friends’ John 15:13). The bible does not prohibit all taking of life in all circumstances, although Christians have traditionally considered taking one’s own life to be wrong. Thus is can be seen that Christians would accept euthanasia in certain circumstances.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

The novel, The Crucible was written in 1953 by Arthur Miller, which was based on the Salem Witch Trials existing in the late 1600s. In the play, Abigail and several other young women accuse innocent citizens of Salem for the action of witchcraft. During the trials, many individuals were unfairly persecuted; such as John Proctor. This event in history may be associated with the Red Scare, in which individuals were tried for their questionable influences of communism in the United States.When Miller compares the character of John Proctor to himself, the reader is able to relate the similar experiences that both men faced. The Crucible demonstrates the struggle against corruption involving the court, which lead to the death of many innocent individuals in Salem. The Crucible generates an allegory for Arthur Miller’s struggles with McCarthyism because of his similar experience relating to John Proctor’s battle against the Salem Witch Trials, and the relation between the act ions of the court in both situations.Arthur Miller uses several writing methods in order to convey The Crucible as an allegory for his struggles with McCarthyism. Miller demonstrates how the Crucible represents an allegory for his conflict with McCarthyism by relating his experiences with the plot of the novel. Miller relates the novel to his struggles by stating, â€Å"Should the accused confess, his honesty could only be proved by naming former confederates.† (Are You Now†¦ 34) Miller is explaining how the court operated, in terms of coming to their conclusions. He is showing the similarity between his experience with the trials involving the Red Scare, and the trials in Salem.The witchcraft trials were very much alike the communism suspicions in the United States, in which many individuals were falsely accused for crimes they had not committed. The court’s duty was to draw names of other participants of the so-called â€Å"crimes†. Miller indicates the s imilarity in Judge Danforth’s statement to McCarthyism in the quote, â€Å"Mr. Proctor. When the devil came to you did you see Rebecca Nurse in his company?† (Crucible 129) This displays how the court believed your testimony, only if you were to mention other members.Miller uses the technique of connecting the two experiences together by incorporating the approaches in which the court took to obtain valuable information. The court’s actions demonstrate how unjust they were in coming to conclusions. Another way that Miller creates an allegory for his  struggles with McCarthyism in the novel is when Hale tells Abigail, â€Å"You must have no fear to tell us who they are, do you understand? We will protect you.† (Crucible 43) This technique pressures Abigail into falsely accusing others for acts they had not committed, although she is turning the blame away from herself.Miller relates this technique to his experience with the court in which they attempted to make him feel protected, if he would reveal his knowledge. This proves that the court did whatever they could to extract information from the suspects. The novel proves to represent an allegory for Miller’s struggles with the court, and the suspicion that the jury had among the suspects. He relates the Salem Witch trials to the Red Scare by stating, â€Å"In both places, to keep social unity intact, the authority of leaders had to be hardened and words of skepticism toward them constricted† (Are You Now†¦ 32).Arthur Miller is clarifying the fact that as the trials continued, the more strict and severe the court became. This often caused for false accusations against innocent citizens. As the trials developed, the courts were able to establish their own conclusions stemmed from the proceedings. Miller explains how John Proctor rebelled against the court’s unjust actions of jumping to conclusions before gaining enough logical reasoning. He claims that Proc tor, â€Å" [had] become the most forthright voice against the madness around him† (Why I Wrote†¦ 26).He relates his experience with the court to the Proctor’s relation with the Witch Trials because they both had stood their ground against the authority. Miller continues on to state, â€Å"I sensed that I had at last found something of myself in it,† (Why I Wrote†¦ 26) Miller is able to finalize his relationship with Proctor by professing how the character in the novel was an inspirational figure. Overall, this strategy of relating himself to the character of John Proctor proved to be effective in the representation of Miller’s fight against McCarthyism.The Crucible constructs an allegory for Arthur Miller’s struggles with McCarthyism because of his similar experience relating to John Proctor’s battle against the Salem Witch Trials, and the relation between the actions of the court in both situations. Arthur Miller is able to devel op an allegory from the play to his experience with several strategies. He relates the actions of the court to the way in which the court treated him. He then uses the similarity between the role Proctor played in the play, to the role he had in his struggles during the Red  Scare. In conclusion, Miller used many effective tactics to create a compelling allegory of his struggles against McCarthyism in the novel, The Crucible.

Clinical psychology Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Clinical psychology - Personal Statement Example It is their purview to help people cope with their condition and find suitable means to overcome them and lead a normal life. Regarding my experiences in this field, I have worked for 10 years as a Psychologist in the Department of drug addiction. Having fully realized the importance of clinical psychology, I now want to pursue a Masters Degree program and hence I am seeking admission for the same at your institute. I believe enrolling for the Masters Degree program will give me an opportunity to learn in depth the concepts and theories relating to clinical psychology and thus improve my understanding of the subject. This will enable me to work better with my patients and have the right understanding about their medical condition. In addition, I am also interested in pursuing research in this field and hence this Masters program will help me achieve my long-cherished dream. Studying about the human mind is always fascinating as the mind is subject to constant changes. Both genetic an d environmental factors can contribute to these changes. All the studies carried out in the field of clinical psychology focuses on the human mind in order to better understand the working of the mind and to work out a solution to help people overcome their difficulties and problems. These studies have helped psychologists to understand how the human mind works under different circumstances. This field also provides the opportunity to work with people both young and old and both the sexes. I am keenly interested in using the various theories of clinical psychology to understand in more detail about several psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. During my experience as a psychologist with the department of drug addiction, I employed techniques such as observation, assessment and experimentation to understand individual behavior and the causative factors behind the addiction. Additionally laboratory experiments carried out along with suitable controls, hypnotic methods, biofeedback techniques, and tests which help to ascertain the personality traits, intelligence and aptitude of an individual. I understand that clinical psychologists play a vital role in helping people deal with their lives after events such as terror strikes and numerous other accidents and natural calamities. It is the clinical psychologists who help people cope with mental disorders or personal problems. A strong bond between the patient and the psychologist is established through patient interviews, psychotherapy for patients and their family and other suitable intervention and treatment strategies which are undertaken to fully understand the mental state of the individual. I hope to employ all the above approaches and strategies effectively while dealing with patients and their families. I also understand the importance of encouraging patients to think and reason out things on their own which would provide more clarity to previously confusing thoughts and actions and also help them cope better with their mental condition. When the right strategy is employed people often find a relief from the underlying medical condition or from the stresses imposed by daily life. I also have a strong inclination to work with under-privileged people suffering from mental illnesses and want to help them cope with their condition and thus bring some cheer in to their lives. I have, in my personal experience, worked and helped such people and the experience that I had gained

Chapter 9 assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapter 9 assignment - Essay Example er Quebec Civil Law, in case of illegal contracts, the court must order restitution between parties and that illegal clause in the contract may be deleted and the remainder of the contract upheld in appropriate cases. However, a court may refuse restitution in favour of a party who has acted fraudulently, immorally or by deliberately breaching the law. Anent the protection granted to the true owner of a property subject of an illegal contract, the Civil Code of Quebec has already contained provisions regarding this matter. Under US Law on the other hand, illegal contract is a promise that is prohibited due to its very nature. Such contracts are prohibited since the performance, formation, or object of the agreement is against the law ("Illegal Contract Law, n.d). Despite the definition of the defective and illegal contracts, it does not automatically render the contract as null and void, unenforceable or ineffective, if the formation or performance or existence did not comply with what is required by the enactment unless the result is required by the enactment or to further the purpose of the enactment. Anent the protection granted to the owner of a property, the US law the concern is where the property is purported to be transferred under an illegal contract and the property is then the subject of a further transfer to a person who is not a party to the contract. The court may grant only the relief if there is question as to title of the

Love & Friendship text analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Love & Friendship text analysis - Essay Example To her, Robbie is a sex-crazed maniac who is out to hurt her sister. Her accusation lands Robbie a jail-term. However, with age she comes to terms with her mistake and leads her life wishing for atonement, and this makes her writes to the end. All the events in the novel can be attributed to the failure of the older generation. Therefore, this paper shall seek to explain the extent to which the older generation’s failure contributed to the events of the story. The novel centers on the youth and adolescents facing challenges as a result of their parents’ failures. For instance, Briony’s cousins’ Lola, Pierrot, and Jackson visit the Tallis’s home for summer since their parents, Cecil Quincey and Hermoine are having problems in their marriage. They are giving their parents time to work out their differences and probably revert back their idea of having a divorce. It is during this visit that Lola gets raped and Robbie is accused of the crime. Chances are high that if Lola’s parents were in a healthy relationship, then they could have not visited the Tallis’s home during summer since they could be spending time together as a family. On the other hand, if they had not visited Tallis’s home, then Lola could have not been raped and Robbie could not have been sent to prison. The Talli’s family members are not happy as a family since their parents are not always there for them. Jack Tallis, the head of the family is always in London working and does not get time to visit or spend quality time with his family. McEwan asserts, â€Å"†¦and the old man is staying in town. He might come later† (48). The whole household misses his presence, and everything that goes wrong is attributed to the fact that he is not around. Briony explains that her father’s presence always changed the family’s atmosphere. She asserts, â€Å"Whenever he was around, the house settled on a fixed point† (McEwan 122). In as much as he spent his time at home in the library

Against nuclear power Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Against nuclear power - Research Paper Example However, there is equally a somewhat increasing concentration in the mastering of the nuclear fuel succession to ensure there is an adequate supply in terms of the needed nuclear fuel. The major concern involves the aspect of mastering this fuel cycle, meaning that countries trend riskily close to the nuclear weaponry capability. There have been endless protests in both the United States and Europe opposing the operations and construction of the nuclear power centres. Some of the proponents are said to have argued that the extending of the movement focus beyond the atomic plants was likely to end up alienating the government and public target individuals, thus most of the antinuclear alliances appears to have shied from certain issues including socialism and the corporate capitalism. There has been points of tension with the particular one being the amount of the emphasize that ought to be placed upon the elimination of the nuclear weapons. The antinuclear alliances began basically from an environmental initiative concerning the safety of the atomic plants, with several members in the movement calling for an increased stress involving the connections between the nuclear weapons and the nuclear power. Through the endeavoured occupations of the nuclear power plant centres, the modern movements against the atomic power is said to have adopted the civil disobedience being a primary criteria of protest, together with other various legal demonstrations and protests. It will be noted that an unscrupulous concern for the nonviolence seems to have marked attempted occupations of the atomic plants, thus winning some favourable attention on the national as well as the local media. Most of the antinuclear protesters tend to look up to the nonviolence in terms of philosophical manner that guides the whole of political and personal actions, with many others adopting it as a promising

Quantitative research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Quantitative research - Essay Example Infant Mortality Rate: It is defined as the number of infant deaths in a given year divided by the number of live births in the same year. Normally, it is expressed per 1,000 live births. Or stated otherwise it is an estimate of the number of infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. Infants are children defined as less than one year of age. How does infant mortality rate affect birth rate? About 25,000 infants die each year. The loss of an infant remains a traumatizing reality for many families and takes a serious toll on the health and well-being of the affected families. It also significantly affects demographic structure of a given country. The risk of a child dying before completing the first year of age was highest in the WHO African region (63 per 1000 live births), about six times higher than that in the WHO European region (10 per 1000 live births). 63 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to 35 deaths per 1000 live births in 2012. Annual infant deaths have declined from 8.9 million in 1990 to 4.8 million in 2012. What leads to infant mortality rate? Infant mortality rate is significant in that, it is used as an indicator to measure the health and well-being of a nation. This is because the factors affecting the health of the entire populations can also impact adversely on the mortality rate of infants. The keys causes of infant mortality include; 1 Â   Born too small and so prematurely- this are babies born before the completion of the entire gestation period. It’s obvious that such babies are mainten aid in the baby incubators until they achieve the required age. However, it sometimes unfortunate that such babies don’t make it, due to circumstances that above the control of the responsible medics. Victims of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - this is a gracious syndrome that causes abrupt and un-anticipated death of new born babies. At times, such deaths lack medical justification and explanations as to why they

Strategic Management Accounting Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic Management Accounting Master - Essay Example As organizations have a decision-support system in place for continuous evaluation of their market position, business strategies and competitive analysis, there is a need for improved techniques for evaluating the same at regular intervals and SMA is one such tool that is increasingly being used as an appropriate tool for mangers to gauge the strategic position of their company and enhance it continuously. The issues related to the use of SMA and its resulting effectiveness is also studied and evaluated. It is seen that the use of SMA can be uniform for a set of similarly operating businesses which aids in the decision-making process of these businesses and hence this technique can be generalized and applied for a group of businesses with similarities in operational strategy. Strategic Management Accounting (SMA) has been defined by different authors in different perspectives. However, it is found that it serves the common goal of supporting the decision-making in any organization. Smith (2005: 15) observes that managers need to "take strategic decisions in a variety of areas like corporate strategy, competitive strategy and operational strategy". It boils down to the more mundane tasks of the manager to understand and make key strategic decisions on a regular basis to ensure profitability and sustainability of the business. Strategic decisions related to the corporate strategy include decisions as to what profile of business the company needs to be in, what products it should roll-out, the pricing of these products, the procurement, development and manufacture of the same, along with the operational strategy of the organization for enabling the business and its smooth running without being run over by competitors. This requires the managers to effective ly equip themselves with the cost and income of the activities involved and the net profit from these activities on the whole. Further, these activities of the organization are to be ensured to be in-line with the "organizational goals, the mission statement, objectives, operational strategies and the performance measurement" (Smith, 2005: 15). Smith defines SMA as "an integral part of the establishment of a decision-support system providing information to decision-makers" while Drury quotes Innes definition of SMA as "the provision of information to support the strategic decisions in organizations and Cooper and Kaplan's definition as it being a technique to support the overall competitive strategy of the organization, principally by the power of using information technology to develop more

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 6

International Business - Essay Example These basic characteristics of Hong Kong assist the investors to invest more in the regional and global markets. Global reports state that Hong Kong continues to be the Asia’s second and world’s third major recipient of ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ (FDI). Furthermore, in accordance with the report presented by the World Bank, it can be ascertained that Hong Kong is considered to have bagged the second position associated with ease in conducting business within the region. Hong Kong government has implemented advanced measures in endorsing a market that entails policy related to minimum government interference. In Hong Kong, foreign investments are readily welcome and there exists no law for protecting the local business against the international competitors. Another advantage which Hong Kong enjoys is its location in central Asia from where all the key markets are at a distance of merely four hours by air (PwC, 2012). This report intends to discuss the strat egic operational facets related to a major British international retailer, which wants to expand its business in one of the Asian Dragon’s i.e. Hong Kong. It provides an insight about the implications of political, cultural, economic and ethical risks associated with the foreign business. Identification along with evaluation of the opportunities frames a vital part of the study with the inclusion of appropriate examples. Furthermore, it will provide findings and recommendations related to the market entry strategy required for the international retailer to enter the Hong Kong market. The key aim of the report would be to reveal the attractiveness of Hong Kong in terms of potential return on investment. Based on the analysis, the feasibility of the nation would be determined and accordingly recommendation would be placed to the management of the retailer whether it can invest or not. Critical Analysis of: Political Risk Political factors of any region frame an important consti tuent for new business setup. It frames the bases of the policies and regulations that are needed to be adhered by the new business setup for growth and continuation of trade. For any foreign investors, it becomes necessary for them to acquire a vivid understanding about the political conditions prevailing within that particular region. If a particular region enjoys favourable political relationships, it initiates stable business environment and facilitates to accelerate the international collaboration in many of the areas. Furthermore, stability in political conditions further increases the foreign business opportunities by lowering the risk factors. Considering Hong Kong with regard to the political condition, ‘The HK Special Administrative Region (SAR)’ was basically headed by Donald Tsang, whose tenure of being the Chief Executive ended up in the year 2012. Furthermore, Hong Kong is considered to be a free and an open society, where the courts are free to take indep endent decisions, human rights are greatly respected, stable law is abided by the citizens and they are empowered with the ability of changing their government. The various political parties being prevalent within the

The Red Scare of 1919 Essay Example for Free

The Red Scare of 1919 Essay The Red Scare of 1919 was the first of two major periods in American History when fear of radicalism culminated in the persecution and deportation of Americans thought to be radicals (communists, anarchists, or socialists). An unprecedented event, the Red Scare of 1919 exhibits how popular suppression and fear of radicalism can have disastrous consequences. The causes of the Red Scare are numerous and varied, however, one of the most important factors that contributed to the scare was the acts passed during World War I. During the war, social-anarchists did not support American involvement, nor did they support the subsequent draft. In response to the dissent, Congress passed the Sedition Act (actually, amended the Espionage Act). It was important in relation to the Red Scare because it allowed for censoring of radical literature as well as regulation of the mail. It was directed against subversives and, therefore, cast a very broad net. Because of the Sedition act, many individuals were arrested for distributing media that criticized the American military (Eugene Debs, head of the Socialist Party, was one of them). It was in response to this act that Justices Oliver Wendell Holmes set forth the clear and present danger doctrine and marked the beginning of modern First Amendment jurisprudence. Therefore, the Sedition Act of 1918 was important in the imposition of censorship after World War I. Reds were seen as a danger to the American system of government, economic stability, and way of life. In this sense, the war produced an era of intolerance for subversives, and it was this attitude that provided a ripe setting for the Red Scare of 1919 to take place. The Sedition Act was the legal excuse people used to regulate, censor, prosecute, and deport Americans thought to be radicals. Intolerance during the war would cause Americans to fear immigrants and radicals afterward, and it would only take a little spark to cause full blown hysteria. The Bolshevik revolution in Russia only deepened Americans fears because they felt the same thing could happen on their soil. The labor unrest following the end of World War I would prove to be instrumental in igniting the fire that was the Red Scare of 1919. The years after the war were marked by economic turmoil and labor unrest. At first, laborers expected the good working conditions, a staple of the wartime economy, to continue after the war was over. The economy was in good shape because war time contracts had cased industry to boom. Labor was supported by the government during the war in order to keep production levels high. After the war ended, however, contracts were canceled, which caused rising unemployment, and managers stopped cooperating with labor. Also, the cost of living had risen 99% by 1919 because of inflation. Without government support, labor unions began to strike in order to recapture the gains they had made during the war. One such strike took place in Seattle and involved sixty thousand workers (Painter, 346). Soon, this strike and others were labeled as a communist effort to undermine the American economy. The cycle of hysteria had begun. Labor unions were seen as Bolshevik sponsored organizations, and union members were labeled as communists. America began to become afraid because they saw there way of life slipping away. This fear would soon turn into action. The fear of radicalism stemmed, as stated earlier, from the era of intolerance during World War I. Propaganda techniques that once united the American public against Germany and hyphenated Americans during the war were easily converted into an instrument to cast a negative light on Bolsheviks. After all, America was not happy with Russia leaving the war and instituting a form of economy that was directly opposite of capitalism. Bolsheviks, therefore, were seen as a threat to democracy. Likewise, the forming of the Communist International was seen as an attempt to spread communism throughout the world. People felt insecure after the war, and this feeling was only bolstered by the idea that communists were working to overthrow the American economy and government. When a series of mail bombs were discovered, one of which exploding at Attorney General Palmers home, they were labeled as a communist effort to undermine America. The Red Scare of 1919 had begun. Labor unions were hardest hit. However, anyone seen as radical was persecuted and labeled a red. Elected officials who were members of the socialist party  were dismissed from office. In fact, the New York State Assembly dismissed five elected socialists. However, the most vivid example of the extent of the scare is illustrated by the Palmer raids, in which six thousand people were arrested and five hundred were deported. There were very few Communists in the United States in 1919, yet Palmer viewed them as a huge threat. Encouraged by Congress, Palmer began a series of showy and well publicized raids against radicals and leftists. Striking without warning and without warrants, Palmers men smashed union offices and the headquarters of Communist and Socialist organizations. They concentrated, whenever possible, on aliens rather than citizens, because aliens had fewer rights. As quickly as it had began, the Red Scare of 1919 ended. Although the hysteria had subsided, consequences still arose. The scare, as well as the raids, was seen as unproductive. Of the numerous arrests made in association with the scare, only a small percent of the suspected communists were deported. Therefore, government persecution of subversives only stopped because it was not working as well as hoped, yet the fear and hatred of radicals was still looming in the distance. It would again resurface in the 1950s during the McCarthy era when another Red Scare, more organized and brutal, would take place. America had learned how to deal with reds, and these lessons would be effectively applied in the next crusade against communism in America. Finally, a more visible and immediate consequence of the Red Scare of 1919 was the mass fear of immigration that took place afterwards. The highly visual raids by Palmer had a deep effect on Americans because the raids exposed the enemy. Restrictions and quotas were placed on immigration, especially on those people coming from Eastern Europe. Fear of communists turned into hatred of immigrants, and American citizens would have a hard time excepting new arrivals. In many cases, immigrants were automatically labeled as subversives, anarchists, and communists. The association between immigrants and social upheaval would have a negative effect on American immigrants in the years to come, a fact most vividly portrayed through the trial of Sacco and Venzetti. Also, for many years to come, unions were seen in a negative light. The association of communism with unions would continue  to be a hindrance for labor and the advancement of labor reforms.

Ethics of Child Labor Essay Example for Free

Ethics of Child Labor Essay Ethics of Child Labor I. Intro A. During the nineteenth and early twentieth century child labor was a rampant problem with the advancements in technology. Then during the mid twentieth century, the United States started implementing child labor laws such as setting an age limit for somebody to work for pay and also setting certain health and safety codes at the work place. Despite efforts to prevent child labor, it is still prevalent in some areas in the world today. Most of these children work on small farms. II. Is Child Labor right or wrong? A. Pros: i. Human Rights Watch says that child farm workers in the United States- the vast majority of whom are Latino- regularly work 12 to 14 hour days, often suffering pesticide poisonings, heat-related illness, machine and knife-related injuries, and life-long disabilities. Many are forced to work without access to toilet or hand-washing facilities or adequate drinking water. (Cray 4) i. Helps support a struggling family financially ii. Child labor has a place in the world economy as long as it is neither hazardous or dead-end work, where the child laborers can still get an education and thereby help their families out of poverty since an education will ensure better paying jobs in the long run. iii. Work alongside their parents is both a financial necessity, and also part of the ethnic family work ethic. B. Cons: i. Illnesses, injury, lifelong disabilities. ii. The associative qualities of child labor is it produces a negative image of the associated company, country, family that enforces it. iii. Emotional distress is put on that child for life III. Jeremy Bentham A. Ethical System including the influence of Theology 1. Moral Aspects of Awareness: i. Finitude-â€Å"capacity of transcendence which gives humans the ability to imagine their own end†(Schaffer 66). ii. Incompleteness-â€Å"Comes from a sense of transcendence- we are able to imagine states which we can never quite achieve. This is about the individual†(Schaffer 66). 2. Beliefs about Right and Wrong i. Hedonic calculas:â€Å"According to this doctrine, the way to judge between alternative courses of action is to consider the consequences of each, in terms of the pleasure and pain of all the people affected†(Mills 281) 3. Definition of Good i. â€Å"Utilitarianism presupposes one overriding moral principle: that one ought to aim at the greatest happiness of the greatest number. â€Å"(Mills 280) ii. Bentham thought what was good was whatever gave the most amount of pleasure to the most amount of people iii. Subjective Theory of Value-â€Å"How I feel, not a matter of right or wrong, knowledge not needed. â€Å"(Schaffer 73) 4. Obligations i. â€Å"If the central question of political philosophy is taken to be: â€Å"Why, if at all, should the citizen obey the state? The utilitarian answer is quite clear. The citizen should obey just so far as obedience ill contribute more to the general happiness than disobedience. If the central question is taken to be the nature and ontological status of the state, the answer is equally clear: the state is not a super-entity with purposes and a will of its own, but a human contrivance to enable men to realize as many of their desires as possible. â€Å"(Mills 281) ii. Explanation: Bentham believes it is the obligations of the state to provide the people basic pleasures and if the state is doing that then the people should comply with some of the states’ demands and if that is not the case then the people don’t have listen to the state. 5. Ideals and Virtues i. â€Å"It is as the exponent of utilitarianism and as the acknowledged leader of the philosophical radicals, whose program of social reform was firmly based on utilitarian theory, that Bentham is chiefly remembered. He thought of the principle of utility as primarily a guide for legislators. Thought it he hoped to impart some order into chaos and illogic of the law†(Mills 281) ii. â€Å"Perhaps the crucial question for a utilitarian ethic intended mainly for lawyers and legislators is whether it can account adequately for justices. It may be argued that justice requires the equalization as well as the maximization of pleasures. It is not unjust to require me to endure five units of pain on Monday for the sake of ten units of pleasure on Tuesday. But is it just to require Smith to endure five units of pain for the sake of ten units of pleasure for Jones? It is doubtful whether Bentham can meet this objection. He does, however argue that the maximization of pleasure will itself involve an equalizing tendency. This is because the economist’s law of diminishing utility applies to pleasure. The minor amenities of life afford much pleasure to someone whose other pleasures are few, but comparatively little to someone whose pleasures are many. Consequently, while it is true that a utilitarian, forced to choose between a course of action that gives X and Y 10 units of pleasure each and one that gives X 31 units of pleasure and Y 10 units of pain, will prefer the second, it is also true that such choices are most likely to arise when X’s life is as a general rue more painful than Y’s†(Mills 283) iii. Sincerity-free from pretense or deceit, proceeding from genuine feelings (Oxford American Dictionaries) iv. Tranquility-quality or state of being tranquil;calmness;peacefulness;quiet;serenity(Dictionary. com) 6. Culpability/Consequence i. â€Å"In Bentham’s view, our conviction that it is unjust to punish an innocent man is based on nothing but the empirical consideration that punishing the innocent is not likely to deter others from crime. This is, however, not always true: the innocent man may be a hostage, or he may be generally thought to be guilty. †(Mills 283-284) ii. Consenquence:â€Å"a conclusion derived through logic, something produced by a cause or necessarily following from a set of conditions. † (Merriam Webster Dictionary) B. How Bentham would address Child Labor i. If Bentham were assessing the issue of child Labor he would probably take into account the pleasure and pain involving the children and the employers. From the employers point of view their getting workers working for lower pay and also more capability of certain tasks rather than adults. From the children point of view, Bentham would see that it would be a advantage for a struggling family for their children to work to help put food on the table also it could help inspire a stronger work ethic for the children. Then when calculating the pain involved, that would be attributed to possible injuries and diseases the child might get and also the trauma inflicted upon the child and family. Bentham would also recognize the outrage of other countries around the world that condemn child labor as a legal practice. Using hedonic calculus, Bentham would determine if this right or wrong and taking account of all the pleasure and pain involved he would probably come with the conclusion that Child Labor is wrong. IV. Aristotle A. Ethical system including the influence of theology 1. Moral aspect of awareness i. Unfinished-â€Å"Seeking the Other half-we have to drive to discover otherness through poetry, literature, movies, etc; profound desire to be in relation/community Philosophical Religious Understandings-in complete (dream) Aristotle, long for innocence Augustine†(Schaffer 66). ii. Explanation: Aristotle thought that to reach a higher level of being we must engage ourselves in the field of arts to reach the other half of our self 2. Beliefs about right or wrong i. Aristotle believed good was something that brought you happiness or fulfills your desires. ii. Aristotle also believed if you don’t overly indulge yourself in your desires then it would be considered ethical but if you indulge in excess then it would be unethical 3. Ideals and Virtues i. Temprance:†The Greek philosopher Socrates considered temperance to be almost synonymous with self-mastery. The temperate person, he argued, is the one who exercises control over his or her desires and thereby escapes domination by them. Aristotle took a similar view, holding self-indulgence to be childish. For these philosophers, and for many of the ethicists that followed them, the hallmarks of temperance are moderation and restraint of one’s desires and passions. †(Ruggiero 112) ii. Prudence:† This virtue known also as practical wisdom, consists of choosing one’s behavior judiciously by consulting experience and deliberating thoughtfully about what response is most appropriate. Prudence is the exact opposite of rashness and impulsiveness. †(Ruggiero 111-112) 4. Definition of Good i. Subjective theory of Value: â€Å"How I feel =not a matter of right or wrong; knowledge not needed†(Schaffer 73) ii. Aristotle thought whatever was good was whatever fulfilled your desires or made you happy 5. Obligations i. Obligations of friendship:â€Å"Friendship entails mutual respect and a special interest in the other’s well being. It requires one to rejoice at the other’s success and good fortune and to share the pain of the other’s disappointment and failure. It also requires on to be trust-worthy about confidences, to provide emotional support when it is needed, and to restrain the urge to be critical in small matters. †(Ruggiero 100) ii. Obligations of friendship:â€Å"Citizenship obligates a person to promote the well-being of the country and fellow citizens by respecting and observing the law and respecting the legitimate initiatives of the country’s leaders, even if one disagrees with their political perspective. In a democracy, it also requires participation in the electoral process. When the country is unjustly attacked, it is also a citizen’s responsibility, conscience permitting, to support the country’s response and even, if one is young and healthy enough, to play an active role in the country’s defense. † (Ruggiero 100) 6. Culpability/Consequence i. Consenquence:â€Å"a conclusion derived through logic, something produced by a cause or necessarily following from a set of conditions. † (Merriam Webster Dictionary) B. How Aristotle would approach Child Labor i. Aristotle would approach Child from a subjective theory of value and determine if it was right or wrong depending on the situation. For example if the family of the child is in desperate for money then he would consider it ethical for child to work. But if the child is suffering from the work then Aristotle would then consider it unethical. VI. My ethical system A. Ethical System Including the Influence of Theology 1. Moral Aspect of Awareness i. Incompleteness: â€Å"Comes from a sense of transcendence-we are able t imagine states which we can never quite achieve. We have a desire to have a complete awareness of our incompleteness† (Schaffer 66). ii. Unfinished-â€Å"Seeking the Other half-we have to drive to discover otherness through poetry, literature, movies, etc; profound desire to be in relation/community Philosophical Religious Understandings-in complete (dream) Aristotle, long for innocence Augustine†(Schaffer 66). 2. 3. Beliefs about right and wrong i. Believe you should do whatever gives you most amount of satisfaction and security. 4. Definition of Good i. Subjective Theory of Value: â€Å"Subjective theory of Value: â€Å"How I feel =not a matter of right or 5. Ideals and Virtues i. i. Justice-â€Å"Evaluation of situations according to their merits, without prejudice, and giving each person his or her due†(Ruggiero 102) ii. tranquility: quality or state of being tranquil;calmness;peacefulness;quiet;serenity iii. Temprance:†The Greek philosopher Socrates considered temperance to be almost synonymous with self-mastery. The temperate person, he argued, is the one who exercises control over his or her desires and thereby escapes domination by them. Aristotle took a similar view, holding self-indulgence to be childish. For these philosophers, and for many of the ethicists that followed them, the hallmarks of temperance are moderation and restraint of one’s desires and passions. †(Ruggiero 112) iv. Prudence:† This virtue known also as practical wisdom, consists of choosing one’s behavior judiciously by consulting experience and deliberating thoughtfully about what response is most appropriate. Prudence is the exact opposite of rashness and impulsiveness. †(Ruggiero 111-112) 6. Obligations i. Obligations of friendship:â€Å"Friendship entails mutual respect and a special interest in the other’s well being. It requires one to rejoice at the other’s success and good fortune and to share the pain of the other’s disappointment and failure. It also requires on to be trust-worthy about confidences, to provide emotional support when it is needed, and to restrain the urge to be critical in small matters. †(Ruggiero 100) ii. Obligations of friendship:â€Å"Citizenship obligates a person to promote the well-being of the country and fellow citizens by respecting and observing the law and respecting the legitimate initiatives of the country’s leaders, even if one disagrees with their political perspective. In a democracy, it also requires participation in the electoral process. When the country is unjustly attacked, it is also a citizen’s responsibility, conscience permitting, to support the country’s response and even, if one is young and healthy enough, to play an active role in the country’s defense. † (Ruggiero 100) 7. Culpability/Consequence ii. i. Consenquence:â€Å"a conclusion derived through logic, something produced by a cause or necessarily following from a set of conditions. † (Merriam Webster Dictionary) 8. Ethical influences i. Parents: My parents have instilled a strong ethical foundation for life. Since I was little kid, they have taught the importance of kindness and honesty. ii. Coaches: I have played sports my entire life and it has been a major influence in shaping my character. Sports have helped keep me disciplined and how to stay cool under pressure, and not letting my emotions control my actions. 9. My tradition i. â€Å"Natural Law-(def) the view that there is an unchanging normative order that is a part of the natural world†(Schaffer 83) ii. â€Å"One way to provide criteria of judgment on major issues, examine natural law (in relation to divine law) and human law to show the way in which they complement each other. † (Schaffer 83) iii. â€Å"Orders of Creation- (def): a hierarchy is given in creation which reveals obligation, responsibility and offer criteria for morality† (Schaffer 84) B. How I would address Child Labor i. I believe child labor is an unethical practice. It puts way too emotional distress and also physical injuries to be justified. The only positive I can see coming from child labor is the money that child would bring in. Conclusion A. Child labor is not as pressing as an issue as it used to be but still practiced around some parts in the world. I believe Bentham and Aristotle would both disapprove of child labor based on their idea that the basic goal in life is too find happiness and satisfy your desires which labor does not serve.

Malay Archipelago In The 18th And 19th Century History Essay

Malay Archipelago In The 18th And 19th Century History Essay Accounts of the Malay Archipelago, particularly the Malay Peninsula prior to the official intervention of the British in 1874, were mainly written by officials and non-officials who were in the Archipelago on business or to carry out professional activities. Nevertheless the writings by the merchants, travellers and missionaries in the 18th and 19th centuries are also means to enlighten us about the history of this part of the world before official intervention by western powers in Asia. This may be achieved by analysing selected writings and activities of the merchants, missionaries and travellers of the said period. Merchants/Traders Merchants or traders were in Asia well before the arrival of the western powers, but the objective was mainly to trade and not to intervene in the affairs of the native states. The scenario changed in the 16th and 17th centuries with the emergence of nation states in Europe and the introduction of the Mercantile System. This spearheaded the age of exploration and led to merchants traveling to Asia intent on acquiring spices to be exchanged in Europe for gold and silver. The formation of the English East India Company (EIC), Dutch East India Company (VOC) and French East India Company led to active trading activities in Asia. The EIC was formed in 1600 under the charter of the Queen and traders received instructions from their respective companies. However, when civil war erupted in England in 1657, a new charter was issued by Oliver Cromwell, ordering the EIC traders to withdraw from Asian waters. The orders were not adhered to by many of the traders, thereby prompting King Charles I I to repatriate the recalcitrants to England. His orders went unheeded, and the traders blissfully continued their Asian trade. These traders were known as country traders. The discussion below will highlight the importance of the country traders activities in providing clues to the history of the Malay Archipelago. The role of a number of prominent country traders will be highlighted to show how their accounts of this part of the world have become an invaluable source for the historical study of the Malay Archipelago. Country traders played a vital role in the Malay states in an era when the official policy of the British in this part of the world was non-interventionist. Prominent country traders like James Scott, Francis Light and Thomas Forrest played important roles in the Malay Archipelago of the 18th century. It was only through information provided by them that the European imperial powers gained a better appreciation of the situation in the Malay Archipelago of the late 19th and 20th century, thereby enabling them to make successful political inroads in this part of the world. The Prosperity of the Malay States Country traders played a vital role in highlighting the richness of the Malay states in the 18th century. This was obvious from their reports to the Government of India. For example Captain Alexander Hamilton who called at Kuala Terengganu as early as 1719 gave detailed information on the economic activities of Terengganu. In his report, Hamilton stated that the important products of the state of Terengganu were pepper and gold, which were mostly exported to China. Hamilton described Terengganu as an important flourishing port visited by traders of all races. Half of the towns inhabitants were said to be Chinese, and some 4-5 Chinese junks were said to be calling at the ports annually. Besides that, Terengganu was also said to have established, cordial relations with Siam, Cambodia and Sambas. Its leaders were said to be friendly with foreign traders and willing to fulfill their needs. The accounts show that Malay rulers from as early as the 18th century had a policy of accommodation towards foreign traders. Another important country trader was Captain Joseph Jackson, who visited Terengganu on 14 June 1764 en route to China. The intention was to collect the products of the Malay Archipelago to balance the trade with China which was not to Britains favour. His report provides a clear description of Terengganu of the time. It was said that the trade potential of Terengganu was equivalent to, or greater than that acquired at Coromandel or Malabar in India. The report provided information about the richness of the Malay states. Francis Light who was also a country trader in his letter to the Governor General of India, Lord Cornwallis, dated 7 January 1789, gives a comprehensive picture of the Malay states around Penang and its products. The information provided by Light relates to all the Malay states and enriches the historiography of the region. Without such information much less would be known about 18th century developments in the archipelago. The Accommodative Policy of the Malay Rulers The cordial relations established by the country traders created the opportunity for the Malay rulers to implement a policy of accommodation towards foreigners. Prior to the arrival of country traders, Malay traders were forced to sell their products at prices dictated by the Dutch. Malay rulers could now sell their products to traders who were willing to offer a higher price. Furthermore, country traders were also willing to sell fire arms to local traders. Light was said to have sold 5 thousand riffles to the Buggies. James Scott was also involved in selling firearms to local rulers. The policy of open and free trading enabled local rulers to sign different treaties with country traders, even when they had already signed treaties with the Dutch. Before this the Malay rulers sold tin to the Dutch at prices dictated by the latter and could not conduct trade with anyone besides the Dutch. It could be concluded that the relationship established by the country traders with Malay rulers gave the latter the opportunity to avoid Dutch intervention in their economy and the chance to sell their products to the country traders at a profit. The accommodative nature of the Malay rulers and their craftiness is evident in the written documentation attributed to the country traders; and this material has played an important part in clarifying the history of Malay Archipelago in the 18th century. Laissez-Faire Policy in the Malay Archipelago It was through the writings of traders operating in this part of the world that British officials first became aware that the laissez-faire policy had been in practice long prior to foreign commercial presence in this part of the world. G. Windsor, in his article which was published in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago in 1850, lists all the ports in the Malay Archipelago which practiced a laissez-faire policy. The laissez-faire policy in this part of the world had its own unique characteristics. If such a policy had not existed, foreigners would have employed gunboat diplomacy to achieve their ambitions. This would have proven costly, and many lives would have been sacrificed. The fact that most of the countries in Asia accepted indirect rule was very much related to the accommodative policy inspired by the laissez-faire system which had already been in place much earlier. Intervention was through negotiation and not force. The existence of free trade and free ports in the Malay Archipelago was brought to light by Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore. According to him, When the Europeans first frequented the Archipelago, the trade had long collected at certain established emporia; of this Achean, Malacca and Bantam were the principal. Macassar on Celebes, had also become an emporium of the more Eastern Commerce. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the smooth seas of the Archipelago is readily conveyed to the most advantageous markets. Foreign traders in large vessels found it more to their interest to proceed to the emporia, where they might at once procure a full cargo. The foreign commerce was carried on with ease and safety and to manifest advantage of all parties. The Malay Archipelago already had trade links with the outside world before the modern age. Local conditions suited the strategy of free trade and free ports which were used by the foreigners to develop settlements along the peninsula coast. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the Spice Islands formed a well structured regional trade network. A number of important ports emerged in the Malay Archipelago, like Pedir, Pasai, Sri Vijaya, Demak, Tuban, Makasar and Malacca. The ports functioned as free ports and traded without restrictions. From the beginning of the fourteenth century, five trade zones emerged in the Straits Settlements. The first trade zone was the Bay of Bengal which began at the Coromandel Coast, South India and included Sri Lanka, the Northern Malaysian Peninsula and the North and West Coasts of Sumatra. The North and West Coast of Sumatra became important in the years after 1300 due to the global demand for pepper. Consequently, the entry port of Samudra Pasai on the east coast became an important supplier of pepper for the traders from the East and West. When the Europeans came to the Malay Archipelago they did not create new trade routes, in fact they made use of the old ones. All the ports which were located in these trade zones, such as Malacca, Aceh, Pasai, Bantam, Macassar, Ayudhya experienced a rapid progress in trade. This freedom enabled the ports to attract traders from the East and West and to function collectively as a political, economic and social centre. With the double attractions of an established trading network and free trade status, the British were encouraged to develop free ports in the Malay Archipelago in the late 18th and early 19th century. The emergence of Penang and Singapore as free ports was based on these factors. Travellers The term traveller normally refers to those travelling to new places for recreation or pleasure and not for economic activities. Some came to the archipelago en-route to other destinations, while many others came either in an official or non-official capacity for business objectives. While ordinary travellers might, as observers away from their home environment, record their impressions of the people, landscape and events encountered, others, through their writings unwittingly contributed information which can today be considered as historical source material for the study of the Malay Archipelago, particularly the Malay states in the 18th and 19th century. Although the general perception about travellers is that they frame their perceptions within the cultural filters of their own cultures and based on patriotic sentiments, the same may not be said to apply to all the travellers. There are travellers who tended to speak their minds. Travellers do make judgments on contemporary affairs which appeal to the modern historian, such as in the case of Isabella Bird, whos The Golden Chersonese, the Malayan Travels of a Victorian Lady helps provide a better perspective on the events that were to unfold in the later decades. Another two travellers worth mentioning are G.W. Earl who penned Eastern Isles and Howard Malcolm, who wrote Travels in South-Eastern Asia Embracing Hindustan, Malaya, Siam, and China. The testaments of these authors will be discussed below to prove their validity as sources of historical information. Isabella Bird The Golden Chersonese, the Malayan Travels of a Victorian Lady, Singapore, Oxford University Press reprint (paperback), 1980. Isabella is a traveller and writer who travelled to Malaya in 1879 at the age of 47, five years after official intervention by the British in Malaya. Her book The Golden Chersonese, which was published in 1883, comprised a series of letters written to her sister Henrietta in Edinburgh while travelling in the Malay States (for five weeks from January-February 1879). Her description and evaluation of certain historical events remains as a source for studying the history of Malaya in the 19th century. She recorded her impressions of every place she visited with extraordinary clarity. Isabella evidently had a talent for observation, description and an unquenchable thirst of information. Views of the Malays Isabella viewed the Malays as an enlightened race in contrast to the British administrators: The Malays undoubtedly must be numbered among civilised peoples. They live in houses which are more or less tasteful and secluded. They are well clothed in garments of both native and foreign manufacture; they are a settled and agricultural people; they are skilful in some of the arts, specially in the working of gold and the damascening of krises; the upper classes are to some extent educated; they have a literature, even though it be an imported one, and they have possessed for centuries systems of government and codes of land and maritime laws which, in theory at least, show a considerable degree of enlightenment. Her view contradicts British perceptions of the Malays as uncivilised. Frank Swettenham, who was the British Resident of Selangor (1876-82), Perak (1889-95) and later the Resident-General of the Federated Malay States (1896-1901) expresses the following in his book, The Real Malay: There was a strong belief that Malays were treacherous by nature and pirates by trade, and that there were no special inducements for a white man to trust himself in such a barbarous country. Views of the Chinese Isabella provided detailed information on the Chinese. She explained vividly the character of the Chinese and why they were dominant in Malaya. To quote her, The Chinese promise to be in some sort the commercial rulers of the Straits. It is by their capital, industry and enterprise that the resources of the Peninsula are being developed. It explains why the British administrators and capitalists developing the agriculture and mining sectors in the Malay states were so dependent on them. It was no surprise that the Chinese came to play a vital role in the affairs of the Archipelago, particularly Malaya. Francis Light praised the Chinese in 1794 as, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the only people of the East from whom a revenue may be raised without expense and extraordinary effort of government. Raffles took steps to educate the Chinese in Singapore as they were seen as an asset to develop the island. The Chinese were generally preferred by the Europeans on account of their reliability and perseverance. As house servants with European families the Chinese were found to be particularly valuable. They were also employed to collect excise revenues. European trade in the Straits Settlements was managed almost exclusively by the Chinese. Isabella highlighted the role of Yap Ah Loy, a prominent Chinese businessman who developed Kuala Lumpur in the 1880s without any official recognition. In her writing, Isabella accorded due recognition to his contributions to the expansion of Kuala Lumpur. He was said to have built Kuala Lumpur each time it was burned down as a result of disturbances. He built roads connecting tin mines with the town. His contribution was recognised by Mr. Syers, the Superintendent of Police, who believed that without Ah Loys support, Kuala Lumpur would not have been developed. Isabella considers Ah Loy to be the creator of the commercial interests of Selangor, and as a man of large aims with an enlightened public spirit. She therefore considered that he needed to be accorded due recognition for his services and awarded either the St. Michael or the St. George Medal?. Incidentally, Yap Ah Loys place in history continues to be sidelined in modern Malaysian history. A local newspaper, the Sunday Star (dated 26th April 2009), carried a news item entitled Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) makes proposal to honor Kuala Lumpur founder. The MCA President declared that Yap Ah Loy had been overlooked, despite the fact that he had helped develop Kuala Lumpur into a commercial and mining centre, and contributed greatly to its advancement. The only reminder of this great hero is a small road in the city centre that carries his name. In view of this, the partys Chinese Community History Consultative Bureau was directed to document Ah Loys contributions. It looks like the grouches pointed out by Isabella 100 years ago are being repeated by the Chinese community in the 21st century. Views of the Indians Isabellas view of the Indian race does explain why Indians fail in modern day Malaysia. She compares them to the other races and her conclusion is that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Klings [Indians] are active and industrious, but they lack fibre apparently, and that quick-sightedness for opportunities which makes the Chinese the most successful of all emigrants. Not a Malay or a Kling has raised himself either as merchant or in any other capacity to wealth or distinction in the colony. To this day, the Indians continue to be seen in this light in comparison to the Chinese. In a news report, (New Straits Times, 27 April 2009), the Government exhorted the Indian community to emulate the Chinese in grabbing investment and business opportunities. In other words, Indians are asked to be more like the Chinese, who according to Frank Swettenham à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦are the bees who suck the honey from every profitable undertaking. View on Intervention in Perak, the Assassination of J.W.W. Birch, the first British Resident in the State of Perak and Intervention in Selangor Isabella made political commentary, although it was not her business to have done so. She wrote about the reaction to the assassination of J.W.W. Birch, the first British Resident of Perak. Those who were involved in the murder were hanged, while the Malay rulers were exiled. Isabella was of the opinion that the British had failed to heed the views of the locals. To her, the British were ever imposing their superiority over the locals, without realising that the latter had a superior civilization: A great mist of passion and prejudice envelopes our dealings with the chiefs and people of this State, both before and after the war. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ If I may venture to give an opinion upon so controversial a subject, it is, that all Colonial authorities in their dealings with native races, all Residents and their subordinates, and all transactions between ourselves and the weak peoples of the Far East, would be better for having something of the fierce light which beats upon a throne turned upon them. The good have nothing to fear, the bad would be revealed in their badness, and hasty councils and ambitious designs would be held in check. Public opinion never reaches these equatorial jungles; we are grossly ignorant of their inhabitants and their rights, of the manner in which our interference originated, and how it has been exercised; and unless some fresh disturbance and another little war should concentrate our attention for a moment on these distant States, we are likely to rem ain so, to their great detriment, and not a little, in one aspect of the case at least, to our own. In other word she admitted the natives had a superior civilisation. ARE YOU SURE? She was also critical of the manner in which the British intervened in Selangor: The history of the way in which we gained a footing in Selangor is a tangled one, as the story is told quite differently by men holding high positions in the Colonial Government, who unquestionably are all honorable men. This means she did not accept the official views of the British government which was considered to be the gospel truth with regard to intervention in the Malay states. George Windsor Earl The Eastern Seas, London, WMH, Allen Co., 1837 with an introduction by C.M.Turnbull, Singapore, Oxford University Press reprint 1971. Earl ( 1865) was another British traveller who was a ships captain, lawyer, colonial official, linguist, antiquarian and writer. He travelled widely in the Malay Archipelago. His famous book was The Eastern Seas. He also contributed numerous articles in the Journal of the Indian and Eastern Archipelago (JIEA). The Journal contains many writings by merchants and traders and reveals the importance of all the states and islands in the Malay Archipelago. Besides that, it also brings to light the importance of each island state and its products, referring to traders who are trading there as well as trade policy carried out by foreign powers. Writing in Earls journal conveyed valuable information about the region, and in some cases provided the stimulus for the advancement of Western colonization in Southeast Asia as well as other regions. These publications were widely read and were considered influential in shaping Western public opinion about the distant tropical east. Earl was also said to have been interested in the peoples of the Archipelago and mixed freely with the Asian population of the Straits Settlements. His account of the Malay Archipelago, according to Mary Turnbull in her introduction of the reprint of the book, was the honest opinion of an intelligent and detached observer and a most humane man. Although there might be accusations that his views reflected those of the British government, for Turnbull they reflected the liberal ideas of the times, as manifested in the actions of the officials on the ground: It reflects too the freshness and confidence of the best in British imperial idealism in the first half of the nineteenth century, before that confidence had toughened into arrogance of imperial power and the spirit of co-operation with the local population had coarsened into authoritarian command. Earl was said to be a man of integrity, with a sense of compassion. He was against the idea of taking strong repressive measures against the Chinese secret societies, and instead succeeded in convincing the Straits officers to be moderate and lenient to the Chinese population. Howard Malcolm Travels in South-Eastern Asia Embracing Hindustan, Malaya, Siam, and China, Vol. 1, 1839, Boston, Gould, Kendall Lincoln, 1839. Malcolm (1799-1879) was sent out as the deputy and representative of one of the great American Missionary Societies to gather details on every area in which the Board lacked information. The information provided was very objective and without bias. A lot of information was provided about Malaya, such as that relating to piracy. According to Malcolm, Malays considered piracy to be honorable and many of their princes openly engaged in it. This testimony also brought to light the fact that free trade policy was practiced in this part of the world before the advent of Western Powers. To Malcolm, Singapore was able to flourish as an important trading port in the 19th century due to the role played by local traders and trade routes which had existed for ages, well before the Europeans found their way into these seas. Malcolm also explained in detail the kind of products collected by the local traders from various areas. For example, the Battaks collected camphor; the Sulu gathered pearls; the Malays looked for birds nest, nutmeg, clove, tripang and agar-agar; the Bugis functioned as traders and mariners; the Sumatran traders dealt in pepper; the traders from China contributed wealth and capital towards the prosperity of Singapore; while the West brought technology and arts to this part of the world. Missionaries Missionaries were generally interested in the native population and helped to increase the number of converts to Christianity. In addition they became pioneers of social change. In the case of the Malay Archipelago, many missionary societies were formed and they published many works on this part of the world. One notable example was the London Missionary Society, which was founded in London in 1795 with the objective of spreading Christianity to all nations and people, to publish and distribute scripture in the vernacular and to teach the young to read and write in a school environment. Missionaries were therefore encouraged to produce Christian books, propaganda and text. The Origin of Missionary Activity in the Straits Settlements In 1815, the London Missionary Society (LMS) established a printing press in Malacca named Mission Press, and branches were formed in Penang (1819) and Singapore (1822). In Malacca, evangelism was spearheaded by Rev. William Milne (1785-1822). When Milne left Malacca the task fell to Rev. Claudius Henry Thomsen, who carried out missionary work among the Malays. His Malay teacher was the famous scribe, Munsyi Abdullah. Thomsens publications include a small hymn book, and tracts on human depravity, the Being of God, An exposition on the Commandments and a sixteen page treatise on the principal doctrines of the gospel. Thomsons activities raised objections from the locals, especially the Hajjies of Singapore. They were said to have refused to accept Christian tracts and also made efforts to prevent others from receiving them. Mission Press contributed not only to produce Christian publications, but also non- religious works. Their publications appeared in the various vernacular languages, and were mostly circulated in the form of tracts, broadsheets and books. Publications in the Malay language were mainly the Bible, interpretations of the Bible, religious treatises and prayers. In 1819, about 54,000 printed materials were published in Chinese and about 19,000 in Malay. Rev. Thomas Beighton (1790-1844) was responsible for Mission Press activities in Penang. Works published under his direction included Religion of the Bible, Fourth Commandment, and The Beatitudes. There were also a few controversial publications like Comparison of the Religion of Jesus with the Religion of Mohammed, The Rise of Christianity and pamphlets with titles like Pengajaran [Spiritual Lessons]. In Singapore, C. H. Thomsen (1782-?) who came from Malacca, became the editor of a Malay magazine, and assumed responsibility for missionary work among the Malays. Thomsen left Singapore in 1834 when he sold the Press to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The American Board was responsible for the religious activities there. It was the American missionary movement which translated Hikayat Pelayaran Abdullah (Abdullahs Travel Narrative) and the New Testament into English. One notable person, Benjamin Peach Keasberry came from USA to Singapore to work with the Malays under the American Board, and in 1839 joined the London Missionary Society. Keasbery was very much involved with publications in Malay. The LMS came to an end in the Straits Settlements when the Opium War broke out in China between 1838-1842. The Society then decided to shift its work from the Straits Settlements to China. The Mission Press under Keasberry printed a few Malay manuscripts including Adat Segala Raja-Raja Melayu dalam Segala Negeri and Sejarah Melayu. With the help of Alfred North from the American Board, Abdullah was able to pen his experiences in Kesah Pelayaran Abdullah (The Voyages of Abdullah) and Hikayat Abdullah (The Narrative of Abdullah). When Keasbery died in 1875, the press was bought by John Fraser and D.C.Neave Printers Ltd which survived until the Japanese occupation. With Keasberrys demise, the Mission Press fell silent until it was revived by the Methodist William Girlestone Shellabear, who was responsible for its revival. He became a missionary for the Methodist Church Singapore, and started the American Mission Press, which later became the Methodist Publishing House in 1906, followed by the Malaya Publishing House in 1927. Shellabear was the one missionary who was largely responsible for enriching Malay historiography of the early 20th century. Among the publications produced was the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Reaction of Natives to the Spread of Christianity It is interesting to note the reaction of the natives to Christian missionary activities in the Straits Settlements. The efforts failed to Christianise the Malays, although they were involved in the teaching of the Malay language to the missionaries. This poses an interesting question as to why such activities failed in the Malay States when it was successful elsewhere. Thomas Beightons publications related mainly to Christianity, and included titles like The Trinity Revealed in the New Testament, The Rise of Christianity that is the Story of Resurrection of Jesus on the Third Day after his Crucifixion, Religion of the Bible, and Fourth Commandment. Beightons most controversial publication was Comparison of the Religion of Jesus with the Religion of Mohammed, the Rise of Christianity and a pamphlet with the title Pengajaran. Comparison of the Religion was an attempt to belittle Al Quran and praise the Bible. Malay leaders were of the opinion that these writings were crude, insulting and belittled Islam and its followers. They were disturbed by the way such materials were brought right to their doorsteps. The Malays complained to the Governor of Penang, S. G. Bonham and wanted Beighton to be restrained from distributing such materials. The latter was, however, able to convince the Governor that most of them were translation works intended to stimulat e inquiry. The explanation was contained in his Letter to Mohammetans, in which he stressed that Abdullah Munsyi had helped in publishing the work. It is also interesting to note that Beighton had even adopted a young Malay, baptised him and named him Thomas John Ince. When the boy died, he even published a book titled The Story of Tom that is Thomas J. Inche who was Loyal and Dedicated to Christianity as Stated. The reaction of the natives towards Christianity is something which is not studied in Malaysian history. It is only through the writings of the missionaries that one could also acquire information with regard to how the natives reacted to the missionaries attempt to spread gospel or Christian teachings. As Milner rightly pointed out, It must be investigated further the contribution which missionaries made to the ideological assault waged by the west against Malay culture in the early nineteenth century; the schools they established in their preaching and the missionary pamphlets they distributed throughout the Archipelago. The Writings of the Missionaries as Historical Sources The Publication of Historical Works by Mission Press Early historical works of the time were published by missionary societies, without whose efforts Malaysian historiography would not have been complete. Many professional historians who worked on the Straits Settlements and the Malay Archipelago relied greatly on such publications to shed light on the many events of the time. A number of notable historical publications of the societies are listed below; Thomsen Claudius Henry, A Code of Bugis Maritime Laws with Translation, Singapore, Printed at the Mission Press, 1832. Moor, John Henry, (Compiler), Notices of the Indian Archipelago, and Adjacent Countries; Being a Collection of Papers Relating to Borneo, Celebes, Java, Sumatra, Nias the Philippine Islands, Sulus, Siam, Cochin China, Malayan Peninsula Etc, Singapore , Mission Press, 1837. Reverend Thomas Beighton, Comparison of the Religion of Jesus with the Religion of Mohammed. Prophet of the Arabs in Mecca, printed in Penang by Reverend Thomas Beighton in the year 1839. (Translation) Logan, The Journal of the Indian Archipelago, Vol. 1 2, Singapore, Mission Press, 1847. The Story of Abdullah Abdul Kadir Munshi, Singapore, Mission Press, 1849. (Translation). A number of the above publications need to be discussed in detail to show how they could be considered as historical sources for the study of the Malay Archipelago. Moors Publication John Henry Moor compiled Notices of the Indian Archipelago, and Adjacent Countries; Being a Collection of Papers Relating to Borneo, Celebes, Java, Sumatra,

The Basel Convention - Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal :: Politics Environment Environmental

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal Abstract On March 22, 1989, leaders from 105 nations unanimously adopted the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal. The Basel Convention is the first international convention to control the export of hazardous and other wastes. Since the Convention celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1999, it is an appropriate time for an appraisal of how the Basel Convention has affected international trade of hazardous waste. To fully understand the Basel Convention and its ramifications, it is first critical to comprehend the damage caused by hazardous waste. Second, an analysis of the Basel Convention and its criticisms are explored. Next, an examination of the Basel Ban and its significance are presented. Then, the implications for recycling in relation to the Basel Ban are discussed. Finally, three important lessons to take from the convention are provided. "It is a grave abuse and an offence against the solidarity of humanity when industrial enterprises of rich countries profit from the weak economies and legislation of poorer countries by exporting dirty technologies and wastes which degrade the environment and health of the population." --- Pope John Paul II, October 22, 1993 On March 22, 1989, after 18 months of intense negotiations, leaders from 105 nations unanimously adopted a treaty restricting shipments and dumpings of hazardous wastes across national borders. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), is the first international convention to control the export of hazardous industrial wastes (Ruloff, 1989). A driving force behind the convention is the steady increase in international trade of hazardous waste over the past decade. There is a growing number of tempting, but environmentally questionable waste disposal contracts being offered and taken by nations (Ruloff, 1989). To combat this trend, the convention has three main objectives: to reduce transboundary movement of hazardous waste while minimizing their generation; to promote the disposal of such wastes as close as possible to their places of origin; and t o prohibit the shipment of hazardous wastes to countries lacking the legal, administrative, and technical capacity to manage them in an environmentally sound manner. Since the Convention celebrates its 10th anniversary in December 1999, it is an appropriate time for an appraisal of how the Basel Convention has effected international trade of hazardous waste.

The Voice of Billie Holiday Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Paper

The Voice of Billie Holiday      Ã‚  Ã‚   A woman stands before you, and although she isn't a politician, she expresses her moving thoughts on issues that affect all Americans. Her voice isn't harsh or demanding in tone. Her stature is slender and traced in a shimmer of light that reflects from her dress. A southern magnolia is lying comfortably above her ear. She sings. She sings of incomprehension, of hate, and of a race's pain. She sings low and confused. She sings as "Our Lady of Sorrow"(Davis 1), a representation of a whole people torn and discriminated against.   And though her speech is not spoken, she moves a crowd, one that gathers into many. Billie Holiday comes to prove that one woman's voice, singing one song, that calls awareness to one issue of society, can change the world.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Music has come to shape our views of society, love, race, and creed. We can all remember a time when a song evoked an emotion. The song seemed to express every feeling within us. The artist sang the words we longed to say, and the music expressed all the things we couldn't speak. At the same time, music can help express the things we don't understand in life, creating a bridge between differences. Music of a different artist can represent the point of view of someone that you don't understand, that looks at you funny, dresses different, speaks oddly, and believes something you don't. Music can express the emotions you feel, and the emotions that someone else feels.. Ray Charles once said, "Thank God for music, it was a salvation"(Keep on Pushing). Music is emotion: whether rage, love, lust, hate or confusion, music teaches us that our views fall within the same staff as the views of those we don't understand. ... ... <www.nytimes.com/books/98/03/08/reviews/980.08davist.html.>. Davis, Francis. "Our Lady of Sorrows." 2000. 9 Nov. 2001. <www.theatlantic.com/issues/2001/11/davis.htm>. Ellis, James. "Black Female Jazz Artists and Race and Gender Conscious Protest: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald." 12 Nov 2001. <www.wam.edu/~ellisj/news_femalejazz.htm>. Foley, Jack. David Marolick, Strange Fruit: Billy Holiday, Cafà © Society, and an Early Cry for Civil Rights. The Alsop Review. Running Press. 9 Nov. 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   <www.alsopreview.com/foley/jfmargolick.html>. Keep on Pushing: Say it Loud. VH1 Productions, 2001. Margolick, David. "Strange Fruit: A Song that Reverberates in the American Soul." 14 Nov. 2001. <www.qkw.com/racematters/nytarchjb218.htm>.                                 

Overcoming Racial Discrimination in the Heat of the Night :: Film Movie Movies

Through the film â€Å"In the Heat of the Night† racial tensions are high, but one character, the Chief of Police, Gillespie overcomes racial discrimination to solve a murder. The attitudes that he portrays in the film help us understand the challenges in changing attitudes of Southern white town towards the African Americans living there. As the film progresses, Gillespie moves from a desire to maintain peace to a realization that justice is better than peace. This is evident through two separate occasions during the film. The first event was when Virgil Tibbs was arrested solely based on the fact that he was black. After searching Virgil they found over $100 in his wallet. The second event was when the Chief arrested the suspect who stole the dead mans wallet. Since the man had his wallet, Gillespie laid the murder charge on him without further investigation. Through Virgil and the course of the film, Gillespie realizes that there is more to being a police chief than maintaining civil order. As the plot deepens, the Chief risks his neck several times to maintain a good relationship with Virgil. Through these events I feel that the Chief has overcome his racism, and can become friends with an African American. One event that proves this was when the four hoodlums were about to attack Virgil when Gillespie came to the rescue. The boys called the Chief a nigger-lover, which he just absorbed and didn’t let it get to him. In my opinion, if this same event happened a week earlier before Virgil came into the picture, Gillespie probably would’ve snapped and either arrested the boys or give them a good lashing. Another event that backs this point is when the Chief invites Virgil over to his place. Now normally this wouldn’t have been a big deal, but since Virgil was a Negro, it was a big deal. Through these events, I feel that Chief Gillespie overcame his racist ways. Through time, Chief Gillespie starts to realize that Virgil is his equal, and he learns that he can have a relationship with a black man as his equal. During the autopsy, Virgil starts to display knowledge of forensic science superior to anyone on the police force. While this is going on, Gillespie realizes that Virgil may have superior knowledge than himself. This is when the chief starts to view Mr. Tibbs as his equal. Later on in the film, the chief allows Virgil to remain in his office while the pregnant girl was telling Gillespie how Sam Carr supposedly impregnated her.