South African Investment Essay Example for Free

South African Investment Essay In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Caltex (an affiliate oil refinery of Texaco and SoCal) started their operations in South Africa. In this paper, I will identify and explain the benefits and the negatives as to why Caltex should build there plant in South Africa. I will also discuss how I would vote on three of the resolutions made by the stockholder’s as well as discuss how the managers of Texaco and SoCal should have responded. Finally, I will address the management responsibilities as it relates to this case. Utilitarian benefits of building the Caltex plant in 1977 When Texaco and SoCal decided to build there refinery plant, Caltex, in South Africa in 1977, there was much to consider. First of all, the South Africa was ruled by government upheld apartheid legislation. According to the textbook, Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases, the apartheid system, â€Å"deprived the entire Black population of all political and civil rights: They could not vote, could not hold political office, could not unionize, and had no right to freedom of assembly,† (Velasquez, p. 8). Despite this obstacle, Caltex was built and began operations. Caltex believed that by opening operations in South Africa they could provide the people with some economic opportunities that they could not have if they did not. According to the case study, â€Å"the managements of both Texaco and SoCal argued that Caltex was committed to improving the economic working conditions of its black employees and their continued pre sence in South Africa did not constitute and ‘endorsement’ of South Africa’s ‘policies’,† (para. 5). By declaring that there presence in South Africa was in no way evident in support with the government policies, Caltex gave the impression of a utilitarianism approach. According to the textbook, utilitarianism is â€Å"a general term for any view that holds that actions and policies should be evaluated on the basis of the benefits and costs they will impose on society,† (Velasquez, p. 61). Caltex upheld the belief that the benefits they provide to its employees outweigh the fact that they are conducting business in an oppressed nation. In my opinion, I think that that the benefits outweighed the negatives. Even though the South African government was morally wrong for oppressing the majority of its citizens, Caltex brought an opportunity to the region that had the promise of not only economic promise for the organization, but also the opportunity to show the people of South Africa what it is like to be equal and not discriminated. Also, there presence no doubt brought on political change and opened the eyes to the other nations of the world as to the oppression present in South Africa. If I were a stockholder in Texaco or Standard Oil Despite of all the benefits and the promises that Caltex could have provided to the people in South Africa, the shareholders still encouraged management to withdraw their operations from South Africa. As a result, the stockholders proposed three resolutions to which they would vote on and decide the future of Caltex’s operations in South Africa. The first resolution (A) was asking Caltex to terminate its operations in South Africa. The second (B) asked Caltex not to sell to the military or police of South Africa. The last resolution (C) asked Caltex to implement the Tutu principles. I believe that as a shareholder invested in my company, I would want to portray us as a responsible organization that will work with the host country to find a common ground rather than be charged with a serious crime. C. FAVOR. Tutu’s principles are something that I would definitely be in favor for. According to the case study, Bishop Tutu’s principles â€Å"outlined several conditions of the investment which would enable Caltex and other U. S. companies to make such a ‘positive contribution to improving economic and social opportunities’,† (para. 4). These principles would be exactly what I would like my company to portray because they contribute to human rights and equal opportunities to all races. Manager’s responses In regards to the resolutions proposed by the stockholders, I believe the manager’s responses should be as follows: A. The manager’s should have also not been in favor of this resolution. In this case, the manage ment needs to consider that the utilitarian benefits do actually outweigh the negatives and oppression the South African government has over its citizens. B. The manager’s responses to this resolution should be weighed very carefully. Even though they may not agree with the practices of the government and may think they are an aid to unwanted practices, they still need to consider there reputation and the consequences that can result from not being cooperative. In my opinion, the manager’s should have responded by communicating the need to work with the government to their stakeholders as well as find some type of resolution with the government. C. The management should embrace the Tutu principles. If the management is really dedicated to the ideals and principles of their institution then they should know that these principles are about the people and their well-being. They should make any adjustments necessary to make sure the principles are upheld. Management responsibilities (i. e. , duties) In my opinion, I believe the management of a company does have the responsibility beyond ensuring a high return for its stockholders. In this case, the responsibility of the management is to make sure that the principles and business ethics that they have developed as an organization is upheld at all costs. Just because the stockholders wanted to see their company disassociate themselves from a country that they did not see as ideal, it is still imperative that the management stick to there own ideals and principles regardless of where they are. On the other hand, I do not believe that the management of a company should look primarily to the law and to the rate of return on its investment as the ultimate criteria for deciding what investments it should make. Companies should always consider the economical and social circumstances in the region to which they decide to invest their company. Conclusion This paper outlined why I believe the utilitarian benefits outweighed the negative circumstances for the building of Caltex in South Africa. I have also provided my own views as to what I would do if I were a stockholder in the company as well as what the manager’s should have done in response to the resolutions. Finally, I gave my point of view as to what the manager’s responsibilities are when dealing with stockholders and investments. Caltex was in a difficult place as they had to deal with their stockholders and the government of South Africa in order to conduct their business, but the most important thing they had was the opportunity to show the oppressed people of South Africa what it was like to be an equal member of an institution.

Writing Persuasive or Argumentative Essays :: Writing an Essay

In persuasive or argumentative writing, we try to convince others to agree with our facts, share our values, accept our argument and conclusions, and adopt our way of thinking. Elements toward building a good persuasive essay include * establishing facts to support an argument * clarifying relevant values for your audience (perspective) * prioritizing, editing, and/or sequencing the facts and values in importance to build the argument * forming and stating conclusions * "persuading" your audience that your conclusions are based upon the agreed-upon facts and shared values * having the confidence to communicate your "persuasion" in writing Here are some strategies to complete a persuasive writing assignment: Write out the questions in your own words. * Think of the questions posed in the assignment while you are reading and researching. Determine o facts o any sources that will help you determine their reliability (as well as for further reference) o what

Chemistry †Factors Affecting Electrochemical Cells Essay

How do the changeable electrodes of different reactivity affect the energy in Volts measured by a Voltmeter while the Solution and the Salt Bridge stay constant for every single trial by the same amount in each beaker? Background Theory: The conductance of an electrolyte depends upon the number of ions present in the solution. Therefore, the greater the number of ions in the solution the greater is the conductance. The number of ions produced by an electrolyte depends upon its nature. The strong electrolytes dissociate almost completely into ions in solutions and, therefore, their solutions have high conductance. On the other hand, weak electrolytes dissociate to only small extents and give lesser number of ions. Therefore, the solutions of weak electrolytes have low conductance. Electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that makes the substance electrically conductive. Ionic Solutions are the most common, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible. Hypothesis: As the Electrodes in the constant Sodiumsulfate solution varies after each trial, the electrolyte with the highest difference of reactivity should result the highest Voltage. The understanding behind this theory is the following. The used electrodes are in a specific order of reactivity. Therefore the element on top of the list (potassium) should react most and the element on bottom (copper) least. If both are used together in an electrochemical cell, this should more reactive than other elements (electrodes, such as zinc, calcium, aluminium and†¦). With a higher reactivity rate, the voltage also increases because of the number of ions released which related to a greater conductance. Apparatus †¢2 Beakers (50ml) †¢Salt bridge (0.1 concentration) (KNO3) †¢Solution ïÆ'   (MgSO4) †¢Voltmeter

Biographical/Historical Influences Essay

Frankenstein, also known as ‘The Modern Prometheus’, is written by a British author Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin – Shelley during her teens. The novel’s theme is leavened with a few characteristics of Gothic and Romanticism. Based on â€Å"Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus† (Shelley), the title is alluded to an inventor, Victor Frankenstein, who has an ability to create life of a man whom he calls ‘monster’ afterwards. Moreover, the long arguments with regard to the significance and originality of the story always come along the way; thus, this paper unfolds the real essence of the story—what does it signify for the modern readers; and how do words of the story flow along with the connotations; its influences and so on. Given the list of influences and/or events from Mary Shelley’s life, it becomes quite easy to identify and distinguish how these impacts have prospered to the entire conception of the novel. One of the influences concern the arguments of his father, Godwin in Political Justice, in which he argues that decisions made concerning who lives and dies should be made by those scientists and doctors that are completely impartial. In addition, the impacts of Godwin’s pieces of writing in Shelley’s philosophical thoughts become undeniable, indeed. Her father created a certain philosophy in which the presence of responsibility is inevitable: â€Å"The true perfection of man was to attain, as nearly as possible, to the perfectly voluntary state; that we ought to be, upon all occasions, prepared to render a reason of our actions; and should remove ourselves to the furthest distance, from the state of mere inanimate machines, acted upon by causes of which they have no understanding,† (â€Å"Political Justice 2: 519-528,† Godwin). Hence, as an analysis of the entire view, it becomes quite easy to determine all the responsibilities, which are accountable for every individual’s behavior such as those of Frankenstein. One of the impacts that should also be acknowledged is that which concerns her father’s disapprobation of the rise of technology; stating that its existence would diminish the need for human beings to cooperate with each other—making it less and less necessary to work together. In other words, such a view concerns dealing with reliability on the information technology: â€Å"Responsibility in the contemporary world and with the awesome power of technology which may be used for good or evil has changed. We cannot evade the responsibility that comes with this change — the responsibility to use technology wisely, not only for the sake of our patients but also for the sake of the future. In a sense, we need to be able to foretell the future, to re-enunciate norms and standards as substitutes for the norms and standards left behind by technology. If we fail to do this, the future is bleak,† (Loewy). In other words, development of the high and sophisticated technologies may bring a number of troubles in various means, as seen in the Frankenstein’s work. Moreover, the creation of the novel also comes along with an influence concerning Mary Wollstonecraft (Shelley’s mother) who refers Frankenstein to Prometheus who attempts to give the power of the gods to humanity. In her novel, the appearance of the ‘monster’ is a scientific blame in which the creature dares to imitate God: â€Å"Nature in every thing demands respect, and those who violate her laws seldom violate them with impunity,† (â€Å"Vindication of the Rights of Woman,† Wollstonecraft). Hence, the laws of nature should make the boundaries of everyone’s behavior; Victor Frankenstein surpasses such boundaries like the new sophisticated technologies. Cited Works Loewy, Erich. â€Å"Textbook of Medical Ethics. † NY: Plenum Medical Book Company, 1989, p. 69 â€Å"Political Justice. † bilkent. edu. February 2, 2009. Shelley, Mary. â€Å"Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus. † Broadview Press Edition 2. Eds. David Lorne Macdonald and Kathleen Dorothy Scherf. Melbourne, Australia: The University of Melbourne, 1999. 364 pp Wollstonecraft, Mary. â€Å"Vindication of the Rights of Woman† pp 138-139. sa

Population demographic for australia Essay Example

Population demographic for australia Essay Example Population demographic for australia Essay Population demographic for australia Essay Australia has become the 52nd most populous country in the world. Population Demographics and its diversity have played a key role in shaping the very foundations of todays culture. This can be seen through the transparencies of our local communities and the different profiles that co-exist within. This critical review will examine the population demographics of the Fairfield City Council. Through a number of sources including; (Fairfield a history of the District, Geographical Research- implications for Australia cities and region, Fairfield Aged Services Survey and Fairfield City- the Community profile) this report will identify the existing frameworks of the current scene outlined in those sources, whilst also evaluating the strengths and weakness of the articles themselves. Summary- The first piece of article being reviewed is the Geographical review released from the 2010 Intergenerational report (IGRP). The paper analyses the current trends and likely directions in the population and distribution and the major implications from the nations metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, relating directly the Fairfield city area. Further to this, it also isolates and pinpoints the cause the growth is based solely and driven by the effects and causes of immigration. This is clearly shown through the ethnic diversity in the Fairfield area. McGuire and Argent (2011) Journal article further represents this. It states that 80% of the population within Fairfield is ethnic including languages of Spanish, Arabic/Assyrian, Vietnamese and English. Secondly, the Fairfield city- Community Profile released biblically on the Fairfield city council website outlines the statistics associated with the diverse population of the Fairfield city area. The Fairfield City Community Profile provides demographic analysis for the city and its suburbs based on results from the 2011, 2001, 1996, and 1991 censuses of Population. Conducted by the council, the research divides Fairfield city into smaller areas of representation and subsequently the different ethnicities, age and gender within those areas. Thirdly, the publication of Vance Georges Fairfield A History of the District was written based upon the early researches conducted in the sasss, where he accepted commission from the Fairfield City Council to examine the dynamics of the Fairfield local government. Interviews were lead to analyses the recordings of citizens of their memories within the district. In addition to this, Vance George started to write newspaper articles about Fairfield history and complied a series of notes for those seeking information about the areas past, or for students undertaking local history projects. The common theme behind all his works, proudly claim that Fairfield has the highest migrant population of any local government area in the nation, with the largest Italian, Yugoslavian and South-East communities in Australia. Finally, the Aged Services survey was commissioned and funded by the State Library of NEWS grant to discover why elder immigrant use the library less than others and how education can be increased. In an Australian and possible the worlds first the survey explored the behavior of library and non-library users in three different languages: Assyrian/Arabic , Spanish and Vietnamese. Written by income, behavioral and attitude characteristics of each demographic groups and suggestions in approving further assimilating policies within the community. Lastly, the survey shows that the 193,000 population can be broken down into three group Arabic/Assyrian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Critique- Through a sound analysis the evidence gained has identified that the population geographic of Fairfield city is a multicultural and diverse region. All four sources point out that the demographic of Fairfield is populated by immigrants from regions of the world which consist of three major groups; these groups are of Spanish, Assyrian/Arabic and Vietnamese backgrounds. The difference between all these sources is that they dont identify specific characteristics of the groups involved. The sources are not consistent with information regarding age, gender and the number of individuals that are Australian born with parents born abroad. The main ideas to why all the sources were written are to show Fairfield city as the most diversely populated region in Australia. The main aspects covered by the sources include information regarding the matter of surveys being conducted throughout the Fairfield region on how it has always been culturally diverse region. Throughout surveys conducted the information obtained has lead us to believe that it has always been a very cultural region, these surveys where done from the asses towards late 2011. Sampling is done usually because it is impossible to test every single individual in the population. It is also done to save time, money and effort while conducting the research. The sampling used by the researchers provided helps the readers to understand clearly that they have used probability sampling. Probability sampling makes sure that the reader understands that the survey conducted allowed every individual in the population have equal chance of being selected as a subject for the research, this was done so that the information obtained was as accurate as possible. The sources provided clearly show through this method they have achieved their goal of trying to show diversity inside of the Fairfield city region. Population geography is one of the most data-rich fields in the discipline. This is because most communities conduct comprehensive censuses around every ten years; this is shown in the sources provided. These contain such information as gender, age and ethnic background. In the examples provided the Fairfield city council conducted surveys between 1970 to 2011. This data is maintained by the Fairfield council and Australian Government. Population data is also available through government documents like birth and death certificates. Governments, universities and private organizations also ark to conduct different surveys and studies to gather data about population specifics and behavior that could be related to topics in population geography. As a resident of Fairfield city, I can concur with the data being provided to readers that it is convincing because all the different types of data provided in different sources provide information of the same nature. All the sources data within tables and graphs is very similar and there are no major differences within the numbers provided in their research. Conclusion- diverse in terms of different cultures living in one sector of the wide population. Fairfield city is the most populated city in Australia in terms of having different ethnic backgrounds in the one region. From when the first survey was conducted in this area until the most recent survey, a multicultural diversity has always been a major part of the growth towards Fairfield City, Multiculturalism has always played a major role in the development of the city. This is also shown in Australias immigration drive that has allowed 60% of the Australian society with migrant backgrounds. The sources that I have provided all restate the same diversity in the Fairfield city population demographic.

Early Literacy Instruction Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Early Literacy Instruction - Research Paper Example The kind of teaching that is done and the time that teaching is done also affects the rate and quality of learning or literacy acquisition that will take place. Reading acquisition is one of the most important literacy components that take place in people. As far reading instructions are concerned, it has been argued that the acquisition process becomes more effective and efficient when it is done at the very early stages of a child’s learning career. It has also been said that the type of learning intervention that is used by trainees or teachers in teaching reading instructions is also very instrumental in determining the success rate of the learning process. Because these assertions are generalized, the present research paper is dedicated to critically analyzing; by comparing and combing existing works of research to draw valid conclusions on the acquisition of early reading instructions with focus on phonemic awareness. The meta-analysis shall be done using eight existing recent research based studies. The contents of these research works shall be put together in four major themes as discussed below. The use of Scaffolding as a teaching Intervention Two of the research based literatures were thematically captioned to touch on the use of scaffolding as an intervention to teach phonetic awareness. These were research works from Lea et al (2009) and Shayne et al (2010). Whereas Lea et al (2009) sees scaffolding as a teacher-based approach to teaching phonetic awareness, Shayne et al (2010) sees scaffolding as a student based approach. Both researchers however agree that scaffolding is used in such a way that the teaching of phonetic awareness is taken from the student’s perspective whereby the teacher undertakes the teaching process from a point where student lacks the acquisition of a particular phonetic skill. The actual scaffolding takes place in the form of provision of series of guidance to students in developing the phonetic awareness of a particular sound (Lea, 2009). The intervention is thus called scaffolding because the teacher unfolds the learning process through a series of steps or processes (Shayne, 2010). In the various researches, it was found that one of the commonest ways in which kindergarten children learned phonetics was to isolate the sounds in a word, especially the first sound. It was therefore necessary that teachers taught phonemic awareness through the teaching of individual sounds of letters rather than combining them at a very early stage of language acquisition. Effect of phonetic awareness on English reading in non-English children Two other researchers found in their research works that the basis of English reading acquisition was phonetic awareness (Yeung et al, 2012 and Ryder et al, 2007). This means that for children to effectively acquire English reading skills, they needed to have a very good basis in phonemic awareness. According to Yeung et al (2012), phonemic awareness is the single m ost effective way to attempt to pronounce or spell any new English word. Consequently, Ryder et al (2010) hold the opinion that for effective reading to take place among new readers, it is important that the learner gets an idea about as many phonetic sounds of letters as possible. This way, the pronunciation of new words will be attempted by the sounds and pronunciation of already known letters. Consequently, the researchers lay emphasis on learning from the known to the unknown using phonemic awareness. Indeed, the researcher were quick to criticize other

Success of small farm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Success of small farm - Essay Example The paper will also suggest regarding the significance of the concept of economies of scale. To begin, as much as organic farming has gained a promising market niche over the years, there are numerous challenges facing the small and medium growers. While this has been valid for a few producers, many small farmers have likewise experienced significant difficulties regarding marketing and selling their products. While rivalry from bigger producers is obviously an essential component, past examination led by the California Institute for Rural Studies has documented a scope of extra marketing difficulties confronting little and moderate sized organic cultivators. This examination tried to acquire in depth data about these difficulties through meetings and surveys with producers, purchasers and specialists acquainted with the organic sector. Secondly, in microeconomics, economies of scale are the expense points of interest that firms earn because of size of operation and yield, with expense every unit of yield for the most part decreasing with the growing scale as fixed costs are spread out over more units of yield. Many people support local food and it is creating a vibrant new economic laboratory for the organic farmers in America. Probably, the results are enormous in terms of the increasing demand for small-scale organic farming by focusing on dollars as a reworking of old models regarding how farmers get financed and their produce marketed. Finally, issues particularly influencing organic farmers incorporated the development of the organic farming sector, authorization and rivalry with different other large farmers selling the same produce. Successful small-scale organic farmers are using a system of quality-based advertising to address these difficulties. They are laying much emphasis on the qualities that make their farms extraordinary and are competing on these qualities, as opposed to low