Real Property Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Real Property Market - Essay Example The Centerpoint Properties in the Chicago area and AIG Global Red Estate Investment in New York was involved in an Atlanta development wherein a century-old steel mill covering more than 130 acres of prime downtown property was converted to mixed-use consisting of retail, office, and residential development. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated the project for its excellence in leadership program since it encourages pedestrian traffic to and from the various uses, and its proximity to mass transit will limit traffic congestion. (Rising, 2001) The third contribution of the real estate industry is its promotion of energy conservation. Residential and commercial buildings account for more than one-third of total U.S. energy consumption. Working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy, these leaders developed a program that recognizes commercial buildings which meet strict energy and environmental criteria that place them in the top 25% of all comparable buildings. The first 100 buildings to earn the Federal government's Energy Star rating were awarded in 2000. The Federal Energy Star Building Label program has been successful. The program served as an incentive for companies to build or renovate as many Energy Star buildings as possible. Arden and Equity Office Properties have in their respective portfolios more than half the buildings that have earned Federal Energy Stars nationwide. By making energy-efficiency investments in their buildings, these and other companies have experienced impor tant energy savings that accrue to their tenants and make the overall buildings more valuable. The environmental advantages of building multi-unit residences lie in the opportunities to share spaces and functions. This form of sharing reduces one's footprint because it reduces one's overall consumption. For example, every family need not have its own exercise and laundry facilities. (Paehlke, 2004) Another benefit is the social advantages of living in a community with spaces and things in common. Great architectural design which respects that yearning for privacy is also capable of bringing community residents together in shared gardens and playgrounds. (Ratcliffe, 2001) Real estate developers focus on location as it has an impact on price, profit and value. Proximity to employment, schools, shopping and entertainment are important. Hence, the more people that live in proximity to essential services, the more compact and vital the city, and the greater the opportunity for sustainable behaviour such as public transit use. (Ball, et.al., 1998) When proximity is high, more people are can use the transit, walk and cycle. Jeffrey Kenworthy and Peter Newman (1998) showed that there is a direct and consistent correlation between the compactness of cities and the proportion of people deciding to use public transit. The European cities such as Paris, Munich and London which have overall employment and residential densities that are higher than Chicago and New York record double the transit use and half the automobile use. Their studies have shown that when proximity is high, automobile use is low. Compact urban design as in the High Park areas in Toronto or the West End in Vancouver makes sense, both economically and

Exploring Business, v. 2.0 book Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Exploring Business, v. 2.0 book - Article Example Trade is also measured through the concepts of trade surplus and trade deficit (134). There are tremendous opportunities for a business entity to enter the global markets, such as licensing agreements, contract manufacturing and outsourcing, alliances and joint ventures, FDIs and subsidiaries (140). This provides the business to grow extensively and create a market share on the international market. However, companies must be cautious and carefully consider the global business environment which would be vital for the success of the globalization plan. Companies should be sensitive on factors such as cultural environment, language, sociability, and intercultural communication (152). Trade controls will also play a critical role in engaging in globalization. Tariffs and quotas are present in every country which protects its vital and developing local industries (167). The reduction of trade barriers, such free trade agreements, also helps strengthen the regional trading market by bolstering the import and export between the member countries (171). International business is truly a lucrative field to develop a career, and preparing for such would require early strategic planning (179). Choosing an undergraduate degree specializing of a core business concept would be a strong foundation to prosper in an international business career. Studying international politics, economics, and culture, covering the concepts discussed above, will provide indispensible tools in doing international trades and business. Lastly, is developing the know-how of communicating in foreign languages (179). Being able to communicate with clients in their mother-tongue would definitely increase the changes of successful business

Malaysian Attitudes Towards Counterfeits Of Luxury Brands

Malaysian Attitudes Towards Counterfeits Of Luxury Brands CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The first counterfeiting emerged in more than forty years ago, and it was only happened on highly priced and prestigious products like textiles, jewelry and accessories (Eisend M. Schuchert-Gà ¼ler, P., 2006). This phenomenon considered insignificant and less attention has been paid to eliminate it. Nowadays, this phenomenon has widespread globally and has become a significant economic issue. According to Eisend M. and Schuchert-Gà ¼ler, P. (2006) European Union has reported a 1000% rising of counterfeiting within six years, rising from 10million in year 1998 to 103million in year 2004. Meanwhile, United stated has reported that seizures of counterfeits have doubled since 2001. Many products have been counterfeited, ranging from CDs, VCDs, software, shirts, designer shoes, wallets, purses, handbags, watches, jewelry, perfume, sun glasses, accessories, apparel, books, pain relievers, auto parts, cameras, TV, toys, food and beverages, tobacco and personal care products also being counterfeit. Most all these products could be categorized under luxury goods which most consumers perceived as symbol of status. Among the counterfeit goods, luxury designer brands have become targets of counterfeit producers. Therefore, counterfeit of luxury goods is increasing in a dramatic growth rate. For counterfeit manufacturers, this market is very lucrative as it is low cost products that are easy to manufacture status symbol and easy to sell with no marketing effort required (Gentry et al., 2006). Counterfeiting has caused negative consequences to the economy. As estimated by The International Anti Counterfeiting has caused at least $200 billion per annum in lost job, taxes and sales. This is also an obstacle to the development of intellectual properties. Therefore, there is a need to look into the issue from different perspectives to prevent it from getting worse. 1.1 Problem Statement Counterfeit market is in growing rate although many countries have implemented anti counterfeiting strategies to curb and eliminate this illegal industry. However, studies were mainly focused on supply side, including discouraging counterfeit through trademark registration, regulatory action and protection strategies to reduce the availability of counterfeits (Wee et al, 1995). Unfortunately, all the efforts exerted seem ineffective as it failed to deter the consumers from purchasing counterfeit goods. By referring to previous studies, people from different country or cultural background seem to have different attitudes towards purchase intention of counterfeits. Therefore, to eradicate the problem, the factors that drive consumers in a specific nation favourable to counterfeit luxury products must be identified (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2007). Therefore, we must find out why consumer purchase counterfeit? but not where they buy (Wee et al, 1995). By far, there is limited research on consumers attitudes toward counterfeits goods in Malaysia has been published. In fact, Malaysia has been listed on the IIPAs Priority Watch List from year 2003 to 2006. In year 2010, IPPA has suggested to remain Malaysia in the watch List as the counterfeits issues getting worse. In order to regain a good reputation to attract more international investors from luxury goods industry, government are urged to curb the counterfeits problem in Malaysia. Therefore, there is necessary to gain an insight into the main causes of the phenomenon of counterfeits in Malaysia. Particularly, we must understand Malaysian attitudes towards purchase of counterfeits. Undoubtable, counterfeits priced at much cheaper than genuine, as lower production cost and lower quality. Consumers who unwillingly to pay high price for genuine products are enticed to purchase counterfeits. Thus financial motives will be neglected in the investigation. Other antecedent motives of consumers attitudes should be examined as the analysis data may facilitate the marketing activities of genuine luxury brands in determining their effective countermeasures against counterfeiting. Meanwhile, there is critical to identify the underlying mechanism of intent to purchase luxury counterfeits. 1.2 Objectives of the Study This study aims to study the motives influence consumers attitudes towards purchase of luxury counterfeits. Theory of planned behavior was used as basis for theoretical framework development. Therefore relationship between three main factors: attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control towards purchase intention of counterfeit will be investigated as well. Seven motivations that influence consumers attitudes towards purchase of luxury brands counterfeit have been identified through review on previous studies. Motivation selected including status consumption, integrity, value consciousness, personal gratification, novelty seeking, materialism, brand conscious and product appearance. All these motivations will be investigated to identify the relationship between each of the motivation with the consumers attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands and the intention to purchase counterfeits of luxury brands. 1.3 Significance of the Study A review of previous research has indicated a need for further investigation on the determinants of counterfeits purchase intention. As according to Eisend M. and Schuchert-Gà ¼ler, P.(2006), previous studies have failed so far to integrate their results consistently into a more general framework because of lack of profound theory. The study also stated that culture has been seen significantly influence the purchase intention and behavior. Malaysia that consists of three main ethnic groups is expected to give a different result. 1.4 Scope of the Study In this study, definition of counterfeiting is adopted from Eisend M. and Schuchert-Gà ¼ler, P. (2006): Counterfeiting is mean that an original product with a remarkable brand value worth copying already exists on the market. Its characteristics are copied into another product, which is indistinguishable from the original, and is sold at a lower price as if it were the original. Nevertheless consumers are well aware of the difference between the two products. Meanwhile, luxury goods defined as products from four main categories: fashion, perfumes and cosmetics, wines and spirits, watches and jewellery (Jackson, 2000). CHAPTER 2 COUNTERFEIT MARKET Counterfeits were first found in luxury brands because of the high profit margin that provide attractive incentive to the manufacturing of counterfeit luxury brands. According to OECD (2008), a noticeable shift from luxury goods to common consumer goods was reported. Everything could be counterfeited, including household products, food and drinks, electronic devices, tobacco, books, toys, automobile parts, pesticides, cosmetics, tools, clothes and handbags to software and prescription drugs. Despite that other product categories are on the rise, the OECD (2008) has reported that luxury fashion items like accessories, clothing, jewellery and footwear still account for the largest part of counterfeit trade, which is up to 66,2% of all interventions by European Customs. 2.1 Luxury Goods Market As stated by Preiholt, H. Ha ¨gg, C. (2006) development of luxury goods market was believed contributed by three main factors: globalisation that helps more international designers to build up their worldwide reputation; the increase number of luxury conglomerates that are striving towards jewellery, accessories, wine, perfumes and cosmetics as complements to clothing. Last is the relational exchange was believed based on confidence and trust. Luxury goods market is in a dramatic growth rate. Luxury Institute had reported that luxury goods market has grown at a compounded two-digit rate in its 2008 luxury market report in past decade. According to the report, the phenomenon was attributed to three possibilities: wealthy are purchasing more luxuries, there are greater number of wealthy people and the middle and lower classes are purchasing luxury brands. Koehn (2002) stated more people aspiring to own luxuries will purchase luxuries more regularly than those economically affordable. This is due to consumers perceptions that luxury goods are symbol of status regardless of their economic situation (Vickers Renand, 2003). Some buyers are seems to be willing to pay a high price for a high-profile brand. 2.2 Counterfeit luxury brands Counterfeits are goods that similar or identical to genuine brands which like reproduction of trademarked brands (Cordell et al, 1996) but without the authorities of genuine brands owner. Staake et al (2009) defined counterfeit trade as trade in goods that, be it due to their design, trademark, logo, or company name, bear without authorization a reference to a brand, a manufacturer, or any organization that warrants for the quality or standard conformity of the goods in such a way that the counterfeit merchandise could, potentially, be confused with goods that rightfully use this reference. Staake et al (2009) also proposed to make a distinction with regard to consumers perception on counterfeits luxury brands. Research has identified two types of consumption of counterfeits. The first type is consumer that acquired without aware of the intellectual property infringement (deceptive counterfeiting) or unknowingly and unintentionally purchases the counterfeit that closely imitated the genuine brands (Staake et al 2009; Tom et al, 1998). Meanwhile another type is non-deceptive counterfeit, where consumer willingly to purchase the counterfeits (Prendergast et al, 2002; Staake et al 2009). It can also been defined as consumers recognises that the product is not authentic according to specific information cues such as price, purchase location or material used (Gentry et al, 2006). Consumers behaviour is different in these different cases. 2.3 Counterfeit in Malaysia In Malaysia, counterfeits market is active since decade ago. As reported by IIPA in 2006, counterfeiting of fashion, pharmaceuticals, batteries, computer accessories, tobacco, mobile phone batteries, food, electronics, petroleum products and toys was problematic in Malaysia. Among all products, entertainment software has constituted to 91% of the counterfeit trade in year 2004, resulting in a loss of US$74 million for local records and music industry (IIPA, 2005). The research has even reported that Malaysia was appeared as the most infamous optical disc entertainment software producer/ exporter in the world. Therefore Malaysia has remained on the Priority Watch List from year 2003 to 2006. In year 2008 and 2009, Malaysia has been removed from Watch-List but was suggested remain on Watch List in year 2010 as the issue remained problematic. Enforcement action was in declining since the removal of Malaysia from Watch-List. As a consequence, piracy goods like CD and DVD was re-emerged. Again, counterfeits were openly available in night markets that operating in different locations every night. Besides, counterfeits also available in fixed premises locations in Klang Valley, particularly in Bangsar, Sg Wang, Petaling Jaya, and Shah Alam; Perangin Mall in Penang; and Holiday Plaza in Johor Bahru (IIPA, 2010). Malaysian Government has collaborated with original vendor and local media in organising awareness campaign in attempt to make public aware of the severity of purchasing counterfeits. Unfortunately, all these efforts seem ineffective in deter consumers from purchase of counterfeits. Therefore, in order to develop an effective policy, there is a must to look into the problem from different perspective, especially demand side of counterfeit. CHAPTER 3 LITERATURE REVIEW Numbers of study has been conducted to examine the emergence of counterfeit trade, from both supply and demand side. However focus was on the supply dimension; in order to develop appropriate policy to restrain this illegal activity the factors that drive consumer demand for counterfeits should be identified (Kim, H Karpova, E., 2010). 3.1 Counterfeits Demand The dramatic increase of counterfeiting trade is driven by the high demand from consumers. Many consumers knowingly purchase counterfeits. OECD (2007) has grouped the factors that drive consumers towards knowingly demand for counterfeit and pirated goods into three principal categories: first, is the characteristic of product; second the individual consumer, and lastly the institutional environment in which the individual consumer operates. All these factors as listed in Table 1 influencing consumers behaviour towards counterfeit. Among these three categories, consumer characteristics, including consumer financial status and attitudes towards counterfeits, will be the main concern in this study. Besides, many studies have been conducting to evaluate consumers intention and willingness to purchase counterfeit products. Numbers of variables and determinants have been identified in previous research but results were differing for various products and brands, and also in different nation, as per listed in Table 2 which adopted and adapted from Eisend M. and Schuchert-Gà ¼ler, P.(2006) ; Stake, T. et al. (2009). Description Albers-Miller 1999 Survey among 92 US students: selling price enhances willingness to buy a counterfeit above all for those who prefer counterfeits over stolen products; presence of friends who also buy an illicit good enhance willingness to buy, buying alone decreases the willingness to buy; perceived criminal risk has higher influence on buying stolen vs. counterfeit or genuine products. Ang et al. 2001 Survey on 3251 Singaporean consumers: positive correlation between attitude/ purchase intention; negative influence of normative susceptibility, integrity and personal income on attitude towards piracy; positive influence of value consciousness on attitude towards piracy. Bian and Veloutson 2007 Comparison of British and Chinese consumers who admit to have knowingly purchased counterfeit products. Demographic variables have not been found to significantly influence counterfeit demand. In both countries, consumers show a very low opinion on counterfeit products in general, but perceived their average quality as similar compared to non-logo products Bloch et al. 1993 A survey on 200 US adults at mall and flea market: demographic variables did not distinguish between the choice groups; less reliance on durability and brand image has a positive influence on the stated choice to purchase a counterfeit compared to purchasing a designer label or no logo; apart form good value, all evaluation items scored higher for the designer label compared to the counterfeit; self-image is partially significant, indicating that counterfeit consumers are less confident, successful, of lower status and less wealthy. Chang 1998 Comparison of the validity of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as applied to illegal copying of software. The results suggest that perceived behavioral control is a better predictor of behavioral intention than attitude Cheung and Prendergast 2006 Survey on 1152 adult consumers in Hong Kong, Shanghai Wuhan: middle and high income families, males, white collar workers, people with tertiary education, younger consumers and singles are more likely to be heavy buyers of pirated clothing and accessories. Cordell Wongtada and Kieschnick 1996 An experiment study on 221 business students in an Eastern metropolitan area: attitude towards lawfulness negatively related to willingness to purchase a known counterfeit only for knit shirts; expected performance positive related to willingness to purchase known counterfeit for knit shirts and 35-mm camera; branding and price concession positive related to willingness to purchase a known counterfeit for low investment-at-risk (knit shirts); retailer prestige positive related to willingness to purchase a known counterfeit for high investment-at-risk (camera). Gentry et al. 2001 Qualitative study on 102 international students, predominantly Chinese subculture from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia: counterfeits are purchase because of the brands; a a low-grade version with the intent to purchase the authentic product if trial is successful; counterfeits are an acceptable compromise and offer lesser value for lesser cost; counterfeits are purchased because they represent a brand (brand decision), not as a product decision; counterfeits provide novelty and symbolize ones travel experiences for tourist consumers. Hoe et al. 2003 Qualitative study on 20 UK consumes aged under 30: consumers use counterfeits as substitute for desired high value designer brands that help them to create their identities, to transfer the associated cultural meaning, and impress others but only as long as they can deceive the onlooker Jenner and Artun 2005 A survey on 202 German consumers in Turkey: the perceived quality difference between counterfeits and genuine brand reduces purchase intention for all product categories (textiles, leather accessories, CDs, sofrware, watches, perfume) Kwong et al. 2003 A survey on 306 consumers from Hong Kong: attitude towards piracy influence purchase intentions; female have lower purchase intentions, age is negatively related and past experience is positively related to intentions to buy pirated CDs. Parthasarathy and Mittelstaedt 1995 Survey among 205 US students: The willingness to engage in piracy to be strongly affected by the attitudes towards piracy, subjective norms, perceived utility of the software, and the willingness to seek help from others to reduce non-monetary cost. The opinion that the high prices of software are not justified did not appear to affect piracy behavior. Peace et al. 2003 Extension of the theory of reasoned action by a factor of perceived behavioral control as posited by the theory of reasoned action, and punishment certainty/severity. In a survey among 203 students, the model was able to explain 65% of variance in software piracy intention. Penz and Stà ¶ttinger 2005 A survey on 1040 Austrian consumers: attitude towards counterfeiting and self-identity have a positive effect on purchase intentions, particularly at low price levels; normative pressure and perceived behavioral control have a positive impact on purchase intentions at low and high price levels; personality traits influence attitude towards counterfeiting and subjective norm price consciousness has no impact, access to counterfeits has a positive impact on purchase intentions; purchase intentions predict purchase behavior Phau et al. 2001 Survey among 100 consumers in Hong Kong. Those who less often purchase counterfeit clothing are younger, have a lower disposable income, and are less well educated Prendergast et al. 2002 A survey on 200 consumers from Hong Kong: quality and large supply enhances purchase intentions for high spenders compared to low spenders in case of VCDs; quality, material and friends/ family opinion enhance purchase intentions for low spenders compared to high spenders in case of t-shirts; for t-shirts, quality, popularity, ethical and legal issues are more important than for VCDs; overall the importance of criteria do not differ for low and high spenders with price being the most important criteria. Swee et al. 2001 Survey among 3600 Asian consumers who buy counterfeit goods. Counterfeit consumers regard the purchase of fakes as less risky and less unethical, are more value conscious, and have a lower average income compared to those who do not purchase counterfeit articles. Tom et al. 1998 A survey on 435 US consumers: importance of style has a negative influence, importance of price a positive influence on the preference for the counterfeit version of software; importance of brand, function, durability has a negative influence, importance of price a positive influence on the preference for the counterfeit version of t-shirt; importance of durability has a negative influence on the preference counterfeit purses; age and income is negatively related, as is education with the preference for counterfeit versions of a product preference for counterfeit product leads to more positive attitudes towards counterfeiting and greater satisfaction with the price, but less satisfaction with durability and quality. Wang 2005 A survey on 456 students from Taiwan: cost benefit enhance the intention to purchase a pirated DVD/VCD while performance risk, ethical concerns, and social norms decrease it. Wang et al. 2005 A survey on 314 Chinese students: positive influences of attitude towards piracy on purchase intention; negative influence of normative susceptibility, positive influence of value consciousness, novelty seeking and collectivism on attitude towards piracy; buyers have more positive attitudes towards piracy than non-buyers. Wee at al. 1995 A survey on 949 students and working adults in South-East Asia: attitude towards piracy is related to purchase intention for all counterfeit products; brand status, materialism, novelty seeking, and risk-taking have no influence; purpose is related to purchase intentions for counterfeit literature and software; quality is related to purchase intention for all counterfeit products; perceived fashion content is related to purchase intention for counterfeit watches; physical appearance is related to purchase intention for leather wallets/ purses and watches; image and durability have no influence; education is negatively related to purchase intention for all counterfeit products; household income is negatively related to purchase intention for counterfeit leather wallets/ purses. Woolley and Veloutsou 2006 Analysis of purchasing frequencies and underlying antecedents of software piracy among US students. Results indicate that students understanding and knowledge of copyright laws have increased since 1991, but this knowledge has not influenced software piracy rates Source: Adopted and adapted from Eisend M. and Schuchert-Gà ¼ler, P.(2006) ; Stake, T. et al. (2009) 3.2 Theory of Planned behaviour According to the Theory of planned behaviour (Azjen, 1985), an individual behaviour is guided by three kinds of considerations: attitudes toward behaviour, subjective norm and perceive behavioural control. In combination, these three considerations lead to the formation of a behavioural intention. Generally, a person who favourable towards the attitude and subjective norm, and with high level of perceived control, the stronger of his/her intention towards the behaviour. When opportunity arises, people are expected to carry out their intention, thus intention is assumes as the immediate antecedent of behaviour. 3.2.1 Attitude toward purchase intention of Counterfeits As per explained in Theory of Planned Behavior, consumers attitudes will direct influence their purchase intention and finally drive them toward purchase behavior. Past research has examined various motivations that influence the consumer purchase intention of counterfeit, including economic, quality, personality, social and ethical factors (Amatulli, C. Guido, G., 2011; Kim, H. Karpova, E., 2011; Kim, J. E. et al., 2009; Norum, P. S. Cuno, A., 2010; Perez, M. E. et. al, 2010; Phau, I et al., 2010; Phau, I. Teah, M., 2009). a. Status consumption Consumers perceived luxury brands as symbol of status, where they purchase, use and consumed a goods which will display their distinctive status (Eastman et al., 1997). Status consumption has been investigated in many studies in different countries but showing different result (Amatulli, C. Guido, G., 2011; Kim, H. Karpova, E., 2009; Phau, I et al., 2010; Wee C. H. et. al., 1995). Status seeking consumers those with low affordability tend to purchase counterfeits of luxury brands to satisfy their status seeking needs (Phau, I. Teah, M., 2009; Kim, H. Karpova, E., 2009; OECD, 2007). Luxury brands are used to project socioeconomic status, even though it is a counterfeit, consumer are hoping to convey their high society status that associated with genuine brand. Thus, the following hypothesis developed: H1a: Status consumption has a positive influence on consumer attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. b. Integrity Integrity represents individual ethical consideration, self-control, responsibility and honesty that related to lawfulness (Wang et al., 2005). Research has found that consumers that are more lawful-minded possess negative attitudes towards counterfeits and less willing toward purchase of counterfeits (Cordell et al., 1996, Phau, I et al., 2009). This lead to the developed of hypothesis that: H1b: Integrity has a negative influence on consumer attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. c. Value consciousness Consumers would like to purchase a luxury brands that associated with value, prestige and benefits but they might not willing to pay a high price for it (Cordell et al, 1996). Consumers who are value conscious are different from consumers that are price consciousness that only concern for products price. They tend to maximize perceived utility or benefits to be acquired for their money. Consumers perceived that counterfeits have similar quality and function to genuine brands, thus they are more positive towards counterfeits which is much cheaper than genuine brands (Kim, H. Karpova, E., 2011; Phau, I. Teah, M., 2009). Therefore, this study propose that: H1c: Value consciousness has a positive influence on consumers attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. d. Personal Gratification Personal gratification could be defined as the desire for self-accomplishment, social recognition and to enjoy finer things in life (Wang et al., 2005). Hence, consumers possess high personal gratification are conscious on products quality, appearance and trendiness. According to Bloch et al. (1993) counterfeits buyers perceived themselves to be less successful, less confident and low perceived status. Thus those with high personal gratification might have low tendency towards goods of inferior quality (Amatulli, C. Guido, G., 2011; Phau, I. Teah, M., 2009). Thus, this study proposed that: H1d: Personal gratification has a negative influence on consumer attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. e. Novelty Seeking Novelty seeking consumers tend to try new and different brands to satisfy their curiosity (Wang et al, 2005). Counterfeits those in lower price may become their choices (Phau, I. Teah, M., 2009; Wee C. H. et. al., 1995). H1e: Novelty seeking has a positive influence on consumer attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. f. Materialism For consumers with high level of materialism or materialist, they view that happiness come from acquisition of possessions. They consume prefer consume status products than general products (Wong, 1997). As similar to status consumption, for those who would like to gain a special identity from others but without the financial capacity, counterfeits that perceived as lower-priced branded goods will become an alternative (Kim, H. Karpova, E., 2011; Phau, I et al., 2010; Wee C. H. et. al., 1995). Therefore, H1f: Materialism has a positive influence on consumer attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. g. Product Appearance Luxury brands always associate with fashion component thus product attributes play an important role in influencing consumer purchase intention. Consumers are willing to pay for physical attributes without paying for the associate quality (Cordell et al., 2006; Kim, H. Karpova, E., 2009). Physical will be one of the main concerns when consumers purchase a counterfeit (Wee C. H. et. al., 1995). Thus, H1g: Product appearance has positive influence towards purchase intention of counterfeit luxury brands. Most of the previous research has suggest that attitudes toward behavior are more accurate in predicting intention to purchase behaviour. Thus we hypothesize H2: Attitude towards counterfeit is positively influence the purchase intention of counterfeit luxury brands. 3.2.2 Subjective norms towards purchase intention of Counterfeits Subjective norms play an important role in influencing a behavior as people will share information, knowledge and experience with others. Consumer who has friends and family members who favourable in purchased counterfeits may influence them to have a tendency towards counterfeits. Thus, H3: Subjective norm is positively influence the purchase intention of counterfeit luxury brands. 3.3.3 Perceived Behavioural Control Perceived behavioral control reflects past experience, knowledge about products and expected obstacles. Consumers those think that their friends or family do not approve the possession of counterfeit goods may not carry out the behavior. Therefore, H4: Perceived behavioral control is positively influence the purchase intention of counterfeit luxury brands. CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4.1 Research Design Integration methodology will be utilized to investigate the research topics. Qualitative and quantitative survey will be conducted in two phases. First phase, in depth interview will be conducted as complementarity research to confirm the context for theoretical model. Second stage will be getting the conclusive data through quantitative survey. By far, most of the studies conducted are by quantitative research, limited qualitative research has been identified. Qualitative research is useful in exploring new elements and develops an initial understanding towards studied market (Amatulli, C Guido, G., 2010). 4.2 Phase One: In-depth Interview Integration methodology was used in many research with purpose of exploring viewpoints in early stage of research (McCracken, 1998) or to enhance the descendant quantitative research to be conducted (Greene et al, 1989: 259). Since there is limited research conducted in Malaysia, the main purpose is to gain initial understanding about consumers conceptualization of counterfeit luxury brands and to learn the language they used to describe it. Meanwhile, this research to be conducted to confirm the context for theoretical model developed based on previous studies. All finding hoped to support the motivations and factors that influencing purchase behaviour identified from literature review. 4.2.1 Target Group: In order to obtain the data to cover the whole population, 30 respondents from different age and sex categories will be selected. Selection criteria will be as listed in Table 4. 4.2.2 Questions Design: Research Question Interview Question Question 1: To what extend are the relationship between Malaysian consumers motivation and attitudes toward counterfeits brand? What brands do you consider as luxury brands? Have you ever purchase a counterfeit o

Thurgood Marshalls Fight for Equality Essay -- essays research papers

It was Thurgood Marshall who helped end legal segregation in the United States. He won Supreme Court victories creating transportation for children, which proved that separate but equal, is not equal. Marshall was able to prove to the Supreme Court that separate but equal was not equal by using his legal expertise. Marshall was able to have a more direct influence on society and the way the government was treating blacks at the time. Thurgood Marshall also had the help of lawyer Kenneth Clark to solve the case of segregation. Kenneth Clark conducted an experiment with the colored children at the school. To conduct the experiment, Clark had several baby dolls, some were white, and some were colored. Clark asked the children of the colored school a number of questions such as, ?Which one of the dolls is your favorite or, ?Which one of the dolls is ugly Of all the subjects questioned, 65% of the black children said that the white doll was the nice doll. The majority of the colored children rejected the black doll. This was obviously due to self-esteem issues. A little colored boy was forced to walk several miles home, the school had no money in their budget to pay for a bus for the black school. But, the white school had over 40 buses, which clearly proves that they were being discriminated against. Marshall started a petition and fought for equal rights. The principal of the school for the colored children had his job taken away from him and his house was burned down all because of segregation. The KKK started to threaten colored people. The KKK were doing everything in their power to make the black people feel inferior and to punish them for going against the whites. This event helped the case go to Supreme Court. It was pr... ...rked a turning point in the history. The Supreme Court ruled against the Board of Education and Kenneth Clark. Marshall forced rights to be extended equally from colored school children to full-grown colored individuals. In conclusion the roles of the NAACP and individuals such as Thurgood Marshall, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and Mr. Kelly made history and proved that separate but equal, is not equal. Marshall?s use of the courts led to rulings that judged the discrimination of colored children given equal rights to use a school bus. Clark?s experiment was powerful. It showed that segregation psychologically harmed the colored children. The NAACP worked very diligently on the case. But it was Marshall that was able to have poignant control on the public and the way the government was treating blacks at the time. Thurgood Marshall was truly an American revolutionary.

Advantages of Using Ict in Learning Process at Higher

Assignment 1 Academic Writing Skills BBB3301 NAMA : ABDUL IYAD SHUKREE MATRIC NO : UK250 COURSE : COMPUTER SCIENCE OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING LECTURE NAME : CIK WAN NURHAFEZA WAN SALAM TOPIC : ADVANTAGES OF USING ICT IN LEARNING PROCESS AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TOPIC 1 : Higher education institution is a place where the student that past the high school with the good result gathered together. Local university or private college became a dream place for student to continue their study.Higher education institute is totally different to them compare to school life. At this stages , they will face a new place , variety of course subject and different way of teaching. If we focus on different way of teaching , Information Communication Technology (ICT) became a main role for a learning process. ICT has been chosen because of several reasons that are enables to gain information and knowledge faster and further , supports information and knowledge sharing on a large scale and save our time and cost in a learning process.ICT will continued act as a catalyst in advancing education growth and backbone to education in higher institution. As stated in â€Å"Effective Blended Learning for Development†, article by Charles Meguire and Jiping Zhang ,even the barriers of distance and time , the ICT will overcome this resistance to gain a new information and knowledge and significantly improve their accessibility. For a result , information and knowledge can be sharing faster. Besides that , ICT becomes a gold key to achieve a main goal for a higher education institution as place that provide first class learning rocess. Without worry the barriers of distance , ICT can make a students able to attend and understanding a topic in a class even do not take part in a class. According to article by Elyssa Krosski , â€Å"Advantages of online class† , by a online class or video conference, student can access and attend the online anywhere. Other than that, there are no limits for student on online class so ICT gathered a student even across a worldwide. Students today prefer to use a email or social network to exchange information and sending a message.This situation should be used as a advantage for higher education institution to attract their student interest in learning process by using an ICT. As a conclusion , ICT need to be used by a higher education institution because of the ICT enables to gain information and knowledge faster and further , support information and knowledge sharing on a huge scale and save our cost and time in a learning process. In future , ICT will be standard method to use in learning process in each education institute and not only able in university and college.At the same time , ICT need to be improve from time to time to make sure the using of ICT in learning process keep reasonable. The government need to cooperate together with academic expert to make ICT become a reality and can give a advantage to all people . Works Cited : Meguire,C. , and Zhang,J. , â€Å"Effective Blended Learning for Development† http://www. jointokyo. org/files/cms/news/pdf/s2_benefits_v7. pdf Kroski. E. , â€Å"Advantage of Online Class† 10th January 2012, http://oedb. org/library/distance-vs-local/10-advantages-to-taking-online-classes

Lush Marketing Plan

Program: MSC Management MARKETING MANAGEMENT [pic] ASSESSMENT Submitted to: Programme Administrator: Carrie flitcroft Lecturer: Nichole Dunlop Submitted by: DATED: 19th APRIL 2012 Executive Summary This report is to provide a marketing plan and analysis of entering in uk market for lush cosmetic’s products over the next three years. This report explores and considers the various factors which impacts lush cosmetic’s product in term of entering the market.There are methods which can be taken with this organisation, were researched; the main focus will be to: †¢ Spread information about fresh handmade cosmetic product. †¢ Advertise existing products and introduce new products to the market. †¢ Expand market by existing and new products such as massage bars, shampoo bars, kids soaps, naked products †¢ Expand sales through online retailing websites, high street store. The main focus of this report is growth a three-year Marketing Plan of lush products wh ich will improve the sale of company in the UK market.The main elements of this report will include: †¢ Introduction about lush and clarify lush’s position †¢ Analyse the UK structure market †¢ Marketing objectives †¢ Marketing strategy †¢ Strategic implementation and control 1. lush and where is lush now? 2. 1 Lush Lush is a handmade cosmetics company headquartered in Poole, Dorset in the UK. In 1994, husband and wife Mark and Mo Constantine opened the first Lush store in Poole under the name Cosmetic House Limited. Lush adopted its current name on 10 April 1995.There are now more than 600 stores in 43 countries. Lush produces and sells a variety of handmade products, including soaps, shower gels, shampoos and hair conditioners, bath bombs, bubble bars, hand and body lotions and face masks. Lush uses fruits and vegetables, essential oils, synthetic ingredients, honey and beeswax in their products. In addition to not using animal fats in their product s, they are also against animal testing and perform tests solely with volunteers instead. As the company was in its early stages it has limited distribution.Now, Lush sells products in UK France, USA, Philippine, Australia and more than 38 countries, however its objective is expand in the future. 2. 2. The SWOT With the SWOT Analysis, the paper describes Lush’s internal and external environment which essential for its process of strategic planning. From a SWOT Analysis† a marketing strategy can be developed using corporate strengths, avoiding corporate weaknesses, benefits form the future opportunities and regards of future risks† (Bohm, 2009). Strength: |Weakness: | |All the products are fresh handmade |Low cash flow | |Lush only focus on making ethical products |Less marketing and advertising | |Reduce packing cost |Less outlet and store | |Environmental green products, close to nature. Prices are high considering the position they are | |Less or no artificia l ingredients | | |Wide range of products | | |Unique display style | |Opportunities: |Threats: | |People wish to use fruit and vegetable made skin care products |Less knowledge for use of lush products | |Using recycled material will increase interst from customers |Strong competition | |Against animal testing increase customer loylty |Lowing speed to made products | |Lush can develop further with in the uk and many more countries | | |Very few compatitors as sole ethical companies | | 2. 3. Lush position Through SWOT analysis (Appendix 1), Lush has low market share but high grow rate.Lush’ position can be seen in Boston Consulting Group Matrix (Figure 1). Figure 1: Lush’s position in Boston Matrix [pic] showing lush position in market Clarifying the lush’s position is very useful and essential for them to orient their objectives and do marketing planning and strategy. â€Å"There is no point deciding where your business is going until you have actually dec ided with great clarifies where we are now† (Sir John Harvey Jones, ex ICI chairman). 3. The UK structure market 3. 1. Market analysis Market analysis is determining the attractiveness of a market and looking for growth opportunities and threats related to the strengths and weaknesses of the company (Aaker, 2008). 3. 2. Customer analysis The most strategic market-planning contexts, the first logical step is to analyse the customers†(Aaker and McLoughlin, 2010, pp 26). Customer analysis is one of the important factors used to create the success of a firm as it enables firms to understand the current activities of customer and their behaviour, which helps firm to increase profits and competitive advantage in the market (Paley, 2006). Hand made cosmetics is a fairly new market which is up coming within the cosmetics industry, where the issues of production and trading can be complex. According from the survey of Mintel (2007-2008), 60% customers thinks it is important that a company acts ethically (See appendix 3). 4. The marketing objectives of lush 4. 1. MissionMission and Vision Fresh handmade cosmetics lush believes in making effective products out of fresh fruit and vegetables , the finest essential oils and safe synthetics, without animal ingredients , and in writing the quantitative ingredient list on the outside †¦ in buying only from companies that test for safety without the involvement of animals and in testing our products on humans †¦ in making our own fresh products by hand, printing its own labels and making its own fragrances †¦ in long candlelit baths, sharing showers, massage and filling the World with perfume and the right to make mistakes, lose everything and start again †¦ that its products should be good value, that we should make a profit and that the customer is always right †¦ that words like â€Å"fresh† and â€Å"organic† have honest meaning beyond marketing 4. 2. lush’s objectiv e in the next 3 years A company often plan its objectives based on the existing products and new products in existing market and new market.However, in limited report, my study only focuses on analyzing marketing strategy of Lush in the UK market. 4. 2. 1. New opportunities online Selling online may the huge potential market for Lush to afford in the UK market. The internet has been hugely important as in many other areas of retail. About 70% adults use shopping online, especially the ages from 25 to 34, the rate is around 85% (See appendix 4). In addition to online retailers, there is a growing number of websites and blogs devoted to green issues. Many of the sites give full detailed information about ethical production and the different ingredients used, websites helps to increase selling by improving knowledge about ethic products for consumers.Lush can use their own website to sell products or through big website such as Amazon or Argos in the UK. 5. Marketing Strategy If Lush w ants to achieve the above objectives, its products need to be created a successful mix of: the right product, sold at the right price, in the right place and using the most suitable promotion (Marketing Mix’ 4P). 5. 1. Promotion strategy â€Å"A retailer could stock the most attractive merchandise priced very competitively and have a convenient location but still fail to attract customers if he or she did not communication with them† (Cox& Britain, 2000). The UK structure market analyze (Part 3. 1) stated that the issue of handmade cosmatics products complicated and not all of the UK customers understand it.Therefore, promotion should be the first step Lush need to carry out before they can sell their products. The customer analyze (Part 3. 2) indicates that if Lush wants to sell their fresh hand made products, they should improve knowledge about handmade production for the customers. And the success of the Lush’s promotion are informing, persuading and remindin g customers about Lush’s handmade products through advertising, publicity, personal selling and sales promotion. a. Advertising Advertising is a non-personal communication of information usually paid for and usually persuasive in nature, about products, services, or ideas by identified sponsors through various media (Kotler, 1999).The objectives of lush’s advertising in the first year is bring lush image to the UK customer awareness. In the UK, advertising by press is popular, about 29. 6% total share in 2009 (See appendix 7). However, internet advertising has quickly developed, increase 39. 5% in 2008 (See Appendix 6). As a result, lush should focus on two advertising ways: press and internet. b. Sale promotion In short-term incentives, lush can encourage consumers by promotion activities. For example, in special holiday such as Christmas, mother’s day, valentine’s day, season sale, Lush sells online with free shipping, or discount price for old season p roducts. c. Personal sellingPersonal selling is oral communication with potential buyers of a product with the seller’s representative through face to face or telephone contact to gain benefit. Personal selling is an option help lush to improve knowledge about handmade cosmetics for the UK customers. d. Public relations (PR) LUSH has generously supported seven Small Change Fund projects in full, through the Charity Pot Program. 100% of the retail price (minus taxes) of LUSH Charity Pot hand and body cream goes directly to carefully selected charities around the world that support animal rights, environmental protection, and humanitarian concerns That is an advantage of lush to create a good image in public.Hence, public relation activities are essential in building lush brand in the UK market. Distribution strategy Distribution strategy (place strategy) refers to how an organisation will distribute the product or service they are offering to the end user. Efficient and effect ive distribution is important if the organisation is to meet its overall marketing objectives. There are three main common distribution strategies included intensive distribution, exclusive distribution and selective distribution (Hollensen, 2008). With the specific characteristics of handmade cosmetics products, lush should choose the second or the third: exclusive or selective distribution. a. Selling online (exclusive distribution)As the paper analyses in the lush objectives (Part 4. 2. 1), selling online is potential distribution channel for lush. Thus, firstly, lush need to develop their website to become more attractive with customers. Consumers can conveniently shopping with lush website like easily select, purchase even exchange or refund. The website keeps continuously updating new products and offers. Secondly, lush can sell their products through other famous shopping websites in the UK such as Amazon or Argos. Thanks to three websites, customer can faster know lush produ cts. b. Opening shops in England (selective distribution) Recently, lush only sells through 100 shops in England.But in the UK, there is high rate of consumers buying cosmetic products in high street and department store, 56% and 32% (Figure 3) Figure 3: Where they regularly buy cosmetics products, November 2000 Base: 1,526 adults aged 15+ [pic] Source: Ipsos MORI/Mintel As a result, lush should open their own more lush shops in some of big cities in England. Opening the shops in England, lush can realise in the second years of strategy. The first years, lush should focus on develop selling online and promote brand. 5. 3. Product strategy A product is anything that is offered to a market for attention acquisition, use or consumption and that might satisfy a need or want (Kotler et al, 2008). a. Developing existing product: naked solid bars Because of the reasons which were introduced in lush’s objectives (part 4. . 2), the target product which is chose as the most important p roduct in the UK market is naked solid bar products. Although lush can introduce and sell all their collection such as bathing bars, massage bars and henna bars but in the 3 years of objectives the main product lush should focus on is only naked solid bars. Product design Recently, lush has limited the number of design, naked conditioning bars, shampoo bars. lush should invest to variety products not only particular solid bars but also some liquid kind of hand made products. Product quality lush products are guaranteed high quality made from fruit and vegetables. Product featureAll of lush products are fresh handmade from fruit and vegetables. It makes the specific for Lush’s products. That is also the reason why the price is often higher. Brand Lush now is not famous brand but Lush can promote itself like Oxfam as ethical brand. b. Experimenting new product: makeup products Based on the analysis in lush objectives (part 4. 2. 3), lush can experiment new product makeup produc ts in the UK market in the third years of strategy. Preparing introduce makeup in the third year, lush need to research the UK makeup market, customer analysis, and designing in the first two years. 5. 4. Price strategy Pricing has greatest impact on immediate performance of the business (Gilligan, 2009).With particular characteristics of ethical and handmade cosmetics, price of lUSH is just right. Figure 4: lush’s price lush |TOO CHEAP JUST RIGHT | TOO EXPENSIVE In the first three years, Lush is a not well – known in the UK market, therefore, at that time, Lush should focus on promotion strategy to improve brand value in customer’s image. It can be implementation by price strategy. In the first three years, Lush can attract new customers by reducing their profit to sell their product with cheaper price. For example, the price can be changed: Figure 5: lush’s accessories price change |Old price |New price | |Bath bombs |From ? 3. 15 to ? 2. 40 |From ? 3 to ? 2 | |Snow fairy |From ? 15 to ? 13 |From ? 13 to ? 5 | |Shower scrub |? 8 |? 7 | Price is one of the most flexible elements as it can be changed quickly. Using right price is important factor for Lush to achieve their objectives. 6. Strategic implementation and control Figure 5: Implementation time table strategy |Task |2013 |2014 | | |% |% |% | | | | | | |It is important that a company acts ethically |60 |59 |61 | | | | | | |I have refused to buy products from a company of |45 |45 |45 | |which I disapproved | | | | | | | | | |I like to buy products from companies who give |41 |38 |45 | |something back to society | | | | | | | | | |I only buy products from a company with whose |19 |18 |20 | |ethics I agree | | | | Taken from the TGI survey of around 25,000 adults SOURCE: BMRB GB TGI Q4 (July 2007-June 2008)/Mintel Appendix 4: Internet penetration at home/work/place of study or elsewhere, by demographic group and working status, Internet quarterly report, 2003-08 | | Appendix 7: [pic]

Definition and Examples of Clitics in English Grammar

Definition and Examples of Clitics in English Grammar In English  morphology and phonology, a clitic is a  word or part of a word that is structurally dependent on a neighboring word (its host) and cannot stand on its own. A clitic is said to be phonologically bound, which means that its pronounced, with very little emphasis, as if it were affixed to an adjacent word.   Clitics are usually weak forms of functional elements such as auxiliaries, determiners, particles, and pronouns. Examples and Observations of Clitics Certain tensed forms of auxiliary verbs have, in addition to their weak forms, clitic versions, which merge phonologically with an adjacent word, their host. Thus, weve is pronounced like weave, and hell like heel, while Im rhymes with time, and so on. . .The clitic forms of am, have, and will consist of a single consonant: /m, v, l/. In the case of are, it is not possible to give a satisfactory representation for the clitic itself, as the host clitic combination may not be phonologically divisible into two corresponding parts. For example, theyre in BrE is usually homophonous with locative there.(Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2002) Clitics s and ve One interesting property of clitics that differentiates them from other affixes is that while an affix will be limited to attaching to a stem that is a particular type of lexical category, such as a verb,  a clitic is  not so limited. It can attach to entire phrases or even words with other clitics. Consider the English possessive clitic s and verbal clitic ve  in the following examples (which indicate things that can be said, even if they wouldnt necessarily be captured this way in orthography):- The students assignment- The student of psychologys assignment- The student that we inviteds assignment- The student dressed in reds assignment- The student who went outs assignment- The mens assignments have been done, but the womensve not.(Dani Byrd and Toben H. Mintz,  Discovering Speech, Words, and Mind. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010) Proclitics and Enclitics There are . . . instances where two words are combined without forming a compound in the usual sense. The negative word not and a relatively small number of frequently occurring words (mostly verbs) can be contracted and attached to other words. Usually, they are attached at the end as enclitics: shes (she is or she has), dont (do not). Occasionally they are proclitics: dyou (do you), tis (it is). The combination of both types of clitics appears in tisnt. Although they are not isolated orthographically or in other respects, we can regard these clitics as reduced forms of words.(Sidney Greenbaum, The Oxford English Grammar. Oxford University. Press, 1996) Clitics and Affixes The distinction between clitics and affixes is naturally fluid: e.g. English -nt in havent or arent is a clitic by some criteria but has been claimed as an affix by others. So too is the boundary between clitics and full words: e.g. unstressed to is a clitic, by some relevant criteria, in I have to [haftÉ™] go.(P.H. Matthews, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics. Oxford University Press, 1997) Controversies With Clitics In  phonology, the prosodic structure of clitics is much debated. Mostly, clitics are prosodically deficient in that they fail to meet prosodic minimality conditions. For instance, unlike prosodic words, clitics need not consist of a full vowel. Moreover, clitics often exhibit different phonological behaviour from other categories... From a morphological point of view, it is questionable whether a distinct morphological category of clitics is linguistically desirable beyond a purely descriptive means. In recent analyses, it has been proposed to accommodate clitics in one of the categories word or affix. The syntactic status of clitics is no less controversial. As for pronominal clitics, one of the main problems is whether they are arguments as proposed by Kayne (1975) and many others, or whether they are functional heads as proposed by, e.g., Sportiche (1996). (Birgit Gerlach and Janet Grijzenhout, Introduction. Clitics in Phonology, Morphology and Syntax. John Benjamins, 2000) EtymologyFrom the Greek, leaning

effect of enzyme concentraitio essays

effect of enzyme concentraitio essays The Effect of Substrate Concentration on the Rate of Enzyme Catalase An experiment was carried out to discover if there was a relation between Hydrogen Peroxide and the enzyme Catalase. The experiment was set up as said in the method and carried out as accurately as possible. During the reaction the Hydrogen Peroxide was broken down to water and Oxygen. (H2O2 >H2O + O2). It was broken down by the enzyme catalase. A catalyst (enzyme) lower the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Investigate how the varying concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide affects the rate of reaction. The independent variable will be the Hydrogen peroxide and the dependent variable will be the volume of gas that will be measured. Set up the equipment as it was shown in the diagram. Use the 100% Hydrogen Peroxide and to produce different concentrations of H2O2. Make up a volume of these concentrations so that the experiment can be repeated at lease twice. The concentrations are 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. 0% = 0cm3 of H2O2 and 10cm3 of H2O 25% = 2.5cm3 of H2O2 and 7.5cm3 of H20 50% = 5cm3 of H2O2 and 5cm3 of H20 75% = 7.5cm3 of H2O2 and 2.5cm3 of H20 100% = 10cm3 of H2O2 and 0cm3 of H20 For each experiment react 1 Cm3 of Catalase with 10 cm3 of the H2O2 of different concentrations. Make sure that the measuring cylinder is completely filled with water before you begin the test. Record the volume of oxygen produced in 2 minutes. Put in a table. Calculate and convert to rate of reaction During the experiment there were no extremely dangerous chemicals used involved. But you should always make sure that the area you are working in is clear of any objects and bags. Also take care when handling glass equipment as they break easily and could harm you. ...

Black Footed Ferret

Black Footed Ferret Essay In the past three decades very few endangered species have been restored toviable populations. The black footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) was believed tobe the most endangered mammal in the united states. It is a small mink sizedcarnivore of the Great plains and intermountain basins The ferrets appear to beobligatory predators on the prairie dogs and once occupied a range essentiallyidentical to that of the prairie dogs. They prey on them and also use theirburrows for shelter and nesting. The prairie dogs are considered agriculturalpests and competitors with livestock since white settlement first began in theAmerican west. Large scale rodent control programs were implemented by the stateand federal governments. They drastically reduced the population of prairie dogs(and other species related to the prairie dog ecosystem) through trapping,gassing and poisoning. These poisoning programs were considered a major cause ofthe ferrets demise. But, the main cause was the loss of the ferrets preybase and appropriate habitat. Their remaining habitat was fragmented thusleaving the ferret population vulnerable to extinction from various causesincluding inability to find mates, inbreeding depression, environmental events,and disease of ferrets and their prey. The ferrets were believed to be extinctin 1974, but in 1981 a ferret was discovered in Meeteetsee, Wyoming when a ranchdog killed an unusual animal eating from its food dish and the rancher took thecarcass to a knowledgeable taxidermist. This was viewed as a rare chance torecover the species. In 1985, a catastrophic disease struck the small ferretpopulation, and most remaining animals were taken into captivity. Captivebreeding was initiated, and reintroduction into the wild from the captivepopulation began in 1991. The ferret is just one of more than 900 species listedunder the Endangered Species act as either threatened or endangered. Over threethousand more species wait on a list of candidates for such status, but in the1980s over thirty-four species went extinct while on the waiting list (Cohn,1993). Is the ferret program representative of the national effort to recoverspecies? Main body: United States policy on endangered species, including theferret and hundreds of other plants and animals, is codified in the 1973Endangered Species act (ESA ,as amended, U.S. Congress 1983, Bean 1991) . Thispiece of legislation sets a national goal the prevention of any furtherextinction and the restoration of species currently threatened with extinction. The ESA is a highly popular piece of legislature because no one would advocatethe killing of an entire species. But the simple goal of saving a species cloaksa complicated process. The ferret case is a good illustration of how the ESA isactually outfitted, how and state officials and others tackle the complex workof restoring species, and how problems come about in nearly all recovery plans. In short, the ferret rescue is a measure of how the ESA really works. Afterfinding the small population in Wyoming, in 1981, one might expect a well ledand smoothly coordinated recovery effort to have been quickly organized to savea species that had been recognized as Americas most endangered mammal. Manyuniversities, conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, and localpeople were willing to help. Collectively they command substantial resources,not only in terms of money: national and international expertise on populationgenetics and small population management, experienced field researchers, testedbreeding facilities, and support staffs from major zoos. All that was needed forthe ferrets to be restored swiftly, professionally, and efficiently was a meansto bring the talent together in a productive well organized program. Under theESA, the task of organizing recovery efforts is the responsibility of thefederal government acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and theU.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. Federal officials had numerous optionsopen to them at the start of the ferret program, one of which was to functionlike administrators of a large hospital, pulling together a world-classprofessional team, supporting the necessary work with adequate funding,equipment and facilities, and relying on the teams judgment to bring aboutthe patients recovery. But this model was not selected. The ferret programwas organized and operated very differently. Section 6 of the ESA requires thatstates be involved to the maximum extent practicable. Early in 1982,the federal government turned the main responsibility for ferret restorationover to the state of Wyoming. Almost immediately, problems began to emerge. READ: Prostitution EssayThrough a formal resolution, the American Society of mammologists (1986:786)urged the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Fish and Game department,and other state wildlife departments, and numerous and numerous interestedconservation groups to make broader recovery efforts than those exhibitedby the current program. Miller, Reading, and Forest (Miller et al.1996:208)identify the FWS as the national agent responsible for maintaining professionalrestoration programs. It is our contention, they write, thatRegion 6, of the FWS, failed to make the ferret recovery a national program. Itmay have been easiest for Region 6 to acuiesence to Wyomings agenda in theshort term, but the strategy has probably impaired the recovery in the long run. People, or agencies, in a position to improve conservation should not simplythrow money at a problem, but invest in time and attention as well. TheWyoming Game and Fish department was interested in doing whatever was necessaryto insure that the ferrets be returned to the wild in Wyoming first, whether ornot Wyoming was the best place to introduce them. There could have been sites inother states which were better suited for ferret reintroduction, but thejealousy of the Wyoming Game and Fish department prevents them from consideringsuch an alternative. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition (1990) concluded thatstate-level concerns had taken precedence over national recovery issues. TheWilderness Society concluded that of the 495 species listed in 1988, only about16 (3.2 percent) are recovering. Another 18 listed species (3.6 percent) mayhave already been extinct. This is a record that fails to demonstrate the basicpromises of the act. The General Accounting Office (1992) added that of sixt eenspecies removed from the list, five were recovered, seven were extinct, and fourwere reclassified because of misinformation. Two federal audits of the ESAimplementation have been conducted. Reviews of the FWS endangered speciesprogram and found that the federal government did not maintain centralizedinformation needed to determine how well the overall program was operating. Required recovery plans have not been developed and approved for many species. In 16 recovery plans that were investigated in depth, nearly half of the taskslisted had not been undertaken even though the plans had been approved, onaverage, more than four years earlier. Fws officials attributed this to shortageof funds, the inspector general of the Interior department has lambastedhis federal colleagues at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, charging that theymay be sending species to extinction (Holden1990). Conclusion: Thedestruction of other life forms because of the actions of people is a problemwith profound biological, ecological, economic, and ethical dimensions. We mustassume that a healthy biosphere is in the common interest of humanity. Appreciation of the fundamental importance and far-sightedness of the EndangeredSpecies Act and other biodiversity protection policies has grown over the lasttwo decades, but that has neither prevented nor appreciably slowed theextinction crisis. Around the globe, the problem of extinction is extreme andgrowing, with perhaps scores of species disappearing everyday. The ESA ispotentially a powerful tool to better the extinction crisis, and in many wayshas served as a global model. But despite its value both substantively andsymbolically, there are problems with it, as both the biological and politicaltrends of the past years attest. Implementation has fallen short of promise. Protecting species under the ESA is a long , complex process. Once species arerecognized as deserving of protection and are listed, conservation programs mustbe designed, approved, and then implemented. Almost four thousand species in theUnited States now wait to be afforded the basic protections of the ESA; severalhundred, many of them plants may already be extinct. Beyond the listing process,there are innumerable steps, activities and processes that make up the ESAimplementation. The extinction problem in the U.S. and the world is apparentlygrowing faster than practical policy responses can be generated to stop it. Theblack footed ferret was a good example for showing how there are problems withthe conservation process and limitations of conventional approaches. The ferretrestoration program was fraught with problems, which has added to its notorietyin the public eye and the scientific and conservation communities. If we are toimprove the policy-making process for conserving biodiv ersity, we mustacknowledge the problem openly, honestly, and realistically. We must turn ourknowledge of saving species and take turn it into more effective, more efficientconservation gains. In other words, we must reconstruct the endangered speciesrecovery process. READ: History of Solar Energy EssayBibliographyAmerican Society of Mammologists. 1986. Recovery andrestoration of the black footed ferret. Journal of mammology 67:786. Bean,M.J.1983. The evolution of national wildlife law. Prager, New York. Cohn,J.P.1993. Defenders of biodiversity. Government executive national journal,April:18-22 General accounting office. 1988. Endangered species: Managementimprovements could enhance recovery programs. GAO/RCED 89-5. GPO, Washington. Holden, C.1990. Ecology hero in the interior department. Science 250:620-621. Miller, B.J., R. Reading, C. Conway, J.A. Jackson, M.A. Hutchins, N. Snyder, S. Forest, J. Frazier, and S. Derricson. 1994. Improving endangered speciesprograms: Avoiding organizational pitfalls, tapping the resources, and addingaccountability. Environmental Management 18:637-645. Reffault, W. 1991. Theendangered species lists: Chronicles of extinction? P.77-75. Island Press,Washington.

Critical Literature Review for Organizing for Success

Critical for Organizing for Success - Literature review Example Diversity therefore means any significant difference that distinguishes an individual from another (Yang & Konrad, 2011). This diversity affects motivation, success, performance and interactions with others within the organizations. In order for an organization to manage diversity to enable its success, the managers and other leaders must have a broader perspective on diversity which will enable them to include a variety of other dimensions (Choi & Rainey, 2010). Diversity in the workplace has been managed by many organizations enabling them to succeed (Cook & Glass, 2009). Workplace diversity management is the process of managerial for developing an environment that is suitable for all the employees. This will enable all staff to feel that they are included and not excluded in the management process (Herring, 2009). The staff will have a good relationship that enables employees to deal with the important issues that may arise later as explained by Yang and Konrad (2011). Implementat ion of diversity in the workplace involves creation of an inclusive environment that values and welcomes the contributions and talents of other people with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives (Wood, 2012). Therefore, the paper reviews various literature works on the management diversity in organizations focusing on the following research questions: 1. How has diversity management enabled business organizations to prosper? 2. How managers and human resource directors ensures diversity implementation. The objectives of the study include the following; 1. To enable an individual to understand himself or herself in relationship to the people around them. This involves one’s own place within cultures, demographic subgroups and cultures and how these characteristics affect how they think and act (Hughes, 2012). 2. To understand the people around us including the peers, subordinates, our bosses, customers and other competitors. 3. To understand the process leading to usual reactions to anger, difference, hatred and fear and learn the positive way of responding to them. 4. To understand how management of diversity is related to strategic changes in organizations. 5. To equip one with management skills that improves outcome due to the fact that business environment, organizations and workforce are becoming more diverse. Organizational Frames Hughes (2012) explains that inclusiveness is useful in diversity management. In order to realize its usefulness, managers and human resource directors must identify the motives they have behind their interest in diversity (Visagie et al, 2011). The managers and directors should also identify the specific ways the organizations will benefit from diversity (Choi & Rainey, 2010). The success of diversity will depend whether the organization wants to tolerate, manage, harness, leverage, value or celebrate diversity (Wood, 2012). The outcomes organizations achieve are affected by the initiatives of framing workpla ce diversity (Visagie et al, 2011). Depending on how an organization defines diversity, the outcomes will be affected greatly (Hughes, 2012). An organization may define diversity as responsibility of only part of the organization, as a focused activity of a community, as a strategic planning outcome, or as a social justice (Hughes, 2012). Klarsfeld (2010) asserts that business organizations are different in both the degree to which they define diversity

Ethical tourism practices in Cancun Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Ethical tourism practices in Cancun - Essay Example This island belongs to the Mexican Caribbean sector and the name Cancun means, "bubble". This is literally how most tourists describe the secluded island. The Cancun is like a bubble enveloped in the wrap of time - far away from the maddening pace of the everyday life and external factors. The charm of Cancun lies in the fact that this secluded island offers all kinds of facilities within the island so that tourists do not need to leave the island in order to get any kind of necessities. It has hotels for all classes of tourists and caters to a variety of tastes and preferences as well. In this regard, sustainable tourism is an important feature that can be built into the tourism of the area as this area garners a major proportion of income from the tourism industry in Mexico. Sustainable tourism in this region can flourish mainly as this island has a rich heritage of diverse vegetation and scenic beauty apart from sea world vegetation and rare species of fish and other such species. A country that is so rich in the area of natural environs should take extra care to enhance its sustainable development so as to protect the rare species of the plant and animal kingdom that thrive there. Apart from this is the fact that due to its hold over the tourism industry in terms of contribution to the economy, Cancun stands a strong chance of developing a framework for sustainable tourism. It merely needs the right case to base this framework on, which has been discussed in this paper. Sustainable tourism in a beautiful island like Cancun is like a dream come true for environmentalists as well as policy makers who believe in green politics and green economy. Further, Cancun is already an established tourist hot spot. It has a wide network of hotel and other service providers like transport and other facilities. Cancun has 140 hotels, which translates to 24,000 rooms. These hotels and rooms cater to all kinds of people in the socio economic make up. There is something here that everyone can afford. This is a definite draw for a large chunk of tourists. Further, it has over 600 restaurants which ensures that people with varied tastes can find their ideal kind of cuisine in this island. That takes care of food and accommodation - the two most important things that a tourist or vacationer focuses on when on vacation. When a

Medical Microbiology case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Medical Microbiology case study - Essay Example ion which is the infection of the urethra and bladder that is shown by pain during urination, frequent urinating, blood stained urine and ‘NO’ fever is reported. The upper urinary tract infection that is the infection of the kidney parenchyma and pylus that shows in lower UTI signs and symptoms, fever and chills, vomiting and nausea (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). Laboratory diagnosis involves direct microscopic examinations of white blood cells, erythrocytes and epithelial cells. Existence of more than five white blood cells and many epithelial cells per HPF indicates UTI (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). Also culture can be done through blood agar medium and Mac Conkey agar medium. Culture results are interpreted as greater than or equal to 105cfu/ml of urine indicates UTI. Less than 103cfu/ml of urine shows specimen contamination, 103 - 105 cfu/ml of urine is not certain and 103 - 105cfu/ml of urine in catheterized specimen or symptomatic patient shows UTI (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). There are two species: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pseudomallei. Our species of interest is P. Aeruginosa. It is located in animal and human intestines, soil, water and moist areas in hospitals. Primarily, it is a nosocomial bacterium. It invades and triggers infections in hospitalized persons whose host defences are abnormal. It produces toxins. Its antigenic features include exotoxin A which by hindering protein synthesis is cytotoxic, pili to stick to epithelial cells, lipopolysacchride which has an endotoxic effect, exopolysacchride that has anti – phagocytic features and its enzymes include protease, hemolysins, phospholipases C and elastases which digests proteins (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). Its clinical features are that it’s pathogenic when it is introduced into environments that lack the required defences such as neutropenia of any cause, a broken mucus membrane and the utilization of urine catheter. Urinary tract infection is related with an indwelling catheter (Tadesse & Alem,

Clinical biochemistry and advanced assessment in nutrition Assignment

Clinical biochemistry and advanced assessment in nutrition - Assignment Example Structurally and functionally, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is closely related to oxoglutarate dehydrogenase. On the other hand, branched –chain ketoacid dehydrogenease complex (BCKDC) is another critically significant enzyme complex that plays a critical role in the normal breakwdown of amino acids by catalyzing the oxidative decarboxylation of the branched short chain alpha ketoacids. In terms of their functionality, one of the most important similarities between the two enzymes is that just like the Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, (BCKDC) is also an intermitochondiarial enzyme complex that is primarily regulated by covalent modification. Additionally, much like Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), the branched –chain ketoacid dehydrogenease complex (BCKDC) is also comprised of the three components namely the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, dihydrolipolyl succinytransferase and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase. With regard to the differences between the two enzyme complexes , the deficiency of the Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is normally caused by mutations in any of the cofactors or enzymes and the main clinical finding is usually lactic acidosis. However, unlike PDC, branched –chain ketoacid dehydrogenease complex is primarily concerned with the catabolism of branched amino acids such as valine, luecine and isoleucine. As a result, the deficiency of branched –chain ketoacid dehydrogenease complex is normally associated with the development of maple syrup urine disease as well as a number of other related medical problems. Accumulation for branched chain keto-acids is widely believed to be one of the potential causes of neurological features of MSUD through the induction of oxidative stress in the glioma cells. Lastly, when there is insufficient activity of Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, the organic acids that are usually elevated is primarily lactic acid while the insufficient activity of branched –chain ketoacid dehydrogeneas e complex normally result in the elevation of three organic acids namely: 2-oxoisocaproic acid derived from leucine, 2-oxoisovaleric acid derived from valine and 2-oxo-3-methylvaleric acid derived from isoleucine. How Peroxisomes are activated (PPAR system Fatty acid oxidation is an important metabolic pathway that normally results in the mitochondrial breakdown of long chain acyl-CoA to acetyl-CoA. The many steps involved in the process are generally regulated by PPARs at the transcriptional level. Peroxizomes usually work by proliferating or decreasing in response to lipids, toxicants, hormones or drugs that bind to bind to PPAR. On the other hand, the activation of peroxizomes is achieved when the PPAR suppress the gene transcription through small additions of dietary PUEFAs. Fig 1: Oxidation of fatty acids pathway How does biotin relate to multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD)? What are the symptoms and organic acid markers of biotin deficiency? Biotin is an important B-complex vitamin that is primarily obtained from food, but is also synthesized by certain microorganisms such as bifidobacteria in the human gut. Biotin is closely relate with multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD) in that the heritable disorders of biotin metabolism usually lead to MCD condition that is characterized by deficiency in the activities of various diotin

Some Issues of Global Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Some Issues of Global Finance - Assignment Example Normally, there are no risks of exchange rate crises and the system does not need government intervention in achieving the outcomes. They are normally variable since sometimes bandwagons and other speculative behavior drives and determines demand. It can also be so because exchange rates sometimes overshoot their long-run values.   The market corrects the rate automatically reflecting inflation and other market conditions influencing the economy.   Crawling peg: In this system, a currency links its value to another but gives it fluctuation limits and is immensely valuable if a currency linking itself has expectations of being volatile exceptionally, hence allowing itself to fluctuate to a level acceptable under the conditions. In this system, the authorities determine the value around which the currency can fluctuate.   Fixed exchange rate system. Here, the currency has direct convertibility towards another currency with the government trying to keep the value constant against the other currency. The government decrees the worth of its currency against the value of another, plus rules of the exchange. - Advantages and disadvantages of the Floating rate exchange system.   - Advantages. Flexibility, which enhances the capability of the country market economy to pick up and adjust quickly to the changing market conditions, is the main advantage of this system.   In case of a violation of the balance of payments deficit, this system of exchange allows for adjustment of outflow and/or inflow making either domestic or foreign goods more competitive depending on whether there was appreciation or depreciation in the currency market. Another advantage is the automatic determination of interest rates within the country, allowing efficient control of the economic balance. A country gets insulated from unemployment problems in other countries. This is because currency exchange rate adjustments normally serve as protection against the exportation of financial problems to other countries.   - Disadvantages. This system does not stimulate trade development and production, hence leading to market instability. Further, it destabilizes the financial situations and leads to economic crises. This causes uncertainty in trade; it may be uncertain to entrepreneurs the amount of money they get by selling their goods abroad or their prices in foreign countries. Likewise, importation will be uncertain since they may never know the cost of importing foreign goods. Another disadvantage is that the uncertainty it causes may discourage investment either internally or externally.   Additionally, it leads to speculation which is a serious economic destabilization since the speculative flows may contradict the trade flow patterns.

Medical Microbiology case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Medical Microbiology case study - Essay Example ion which is the infection of the urethra and bladder that is shown by pain during urination, frequent urinating, blood stained urine and ‘NO’ fever is reported. The upper urinary tract infection that is the infection of the kidney parenchyma and pylus that shows in lower UTI signs and symptoms, fever and chills, vomiting and nausea (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). Laboratory diagnosis involves direct microscopic examinations of white blood cells, erythrocytes and epithelial cells. Existence of more than five white blood cells and many epithelial cells per HPF indicates UTI (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). Also culture can be done through blood agar medium and Mac Conkey agar medium. Culture results are interpreted as greater than or equal to 105cfu/ml of urine indicates UTI. Less than 103cfu/ml of urine shows specimen contamination, 103 - 105 cfu/ml of urine is not certain and 103 - 105cfu/ml of urine in catheterized specimen or symptomatic patient shows UTI (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). There are two species: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pseudomallei. Our species of interest is P. Aeruginosa. It is located in animal and human intestines, soil, water and moist areas in hospitals. Primarily, it is a nosocomial bacterium. It invades and triggers infections in hospitalized persons whose host defences are abnormal. It produces toxins. Its antigenic features include exotoxin A which by hindering protein synthesis is cytotoxic, pili to stick to epithelial cells, lipopolysacchride which has an endotoxic effect, exopolysacchride that has anti – phagocytic features and its enzymes include protease, hemolysins, phospholipases C and elastases which digests proteins (Tadesse & Alem, 2006). Its clinical features are that it’s pathogenic when it is introduced into environments that lack the required defences such as neutropenia of any cause, a broken mucus membrane and the utilization of urine catheter. Urinary tract infection is related with an indwelling catheter (Tadesse & Alem,

Some Issues of Global Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Some Issues of Global Finance - Assignment Example Normally, there are no risks of exchange rate crises and the system does not need government intervention in achieving the outcomes. They are normally variable since sometimes bandwagons and other speculative behavior drives and determines demand. It can also be so because exchange rates sometimes overshoot their long-run values.   The market corrects the rate automatically reflecting inflation and other market conditions influencing the economy.   Crawling peg: In this system, a currency links its value to another but gives it fluctuation limits and is immensely valuable if a currency linking itself has expectations of being volatile exceptionally, hence allowing itself to fluctuate to a level acceptable under the conditions. In this system, the authorities determine the value around which the currency can fluctuate.   Fixed exchange rate system. Here, the currency has direct convertibility towards another currency with the government trying to keep the value constant against the other currency. The government decrees the worth of its currency against the value of another, plus rules of the exchange. - Advantages and disadvantages of the Floating rate exchange system.   - Advantages. Flexibility, which enhances the capability of the country market economy to pick up and adjust quickly to the changing market conditions, is the main advantage of this system.   In case of a violation of the balance of payments deficit, this system of exchange allows for adjustment of outflow and/or inflow making either domestic or foreign goods more competitive depending on whether there was appreciation or depreciation in the currency market. Another advantage is the automatic determination of interest rates within the country, allowing efficient control of the economic balance. A country gets insulated from unemployment problems in other countries. This is because currency exchange rate adjustments normally serve as protection against the exportation of financial problems to other countries.   - Disadvantages. This system does not stimulate trade development and production, hence leading to market instability. Further, it destabilizes the financial situations and leads to economic crises. This causes uncertainty in trade; it may be uncertain to entrepreneurs the amount of money they get by selling their goods abroad or their prices in foreign countries. Likewise, importation will be uncertain since they may never know the cost of importing foreign goods. Another disadvantage is that the uncertainty it causes may discourage investment either internally or externally.   Additionally, it leads to speculation which is a serious economic destabilization since the speculative flows may contradict the trade flow patterns.

Historical Interview on Nigerian Fashion Essay Example for Free

Historical Interview on Nigerian Fashion Essay In line with my background, I found it imperative to carry out this interview in Africa. This was made possible via Skype, as my granddad and mum had a 2 hours session with me on this topic, â€Å"How clothing was obtained in our family during their time and their sense of costume while they were still champions in the village. Other relative questions they attempted to answer in this interview are the nature of clothing production during their time, and how they had influenced their style of dressing. The interview was divided into two parts as clearly indicated above. The first questions were answered by granddad, while the later questions were answered by my grand mum. The era in focus is before colonization. It was an era commonly tagged the ‘pre-colonial’. Nigeria at this time had a very unique sense of costume, basically defined by the resources found within the African environment. They made do with what they had as there was no serious western or colonial influence. FIRST PART INTERVIEW WITH GRANDDAD This interview was conducted with my grandfather who joined me on Skype last night. My granddad is at his late 90, and had experienced different eras in Nigeria. With his wealth of experience as one of the few enlightened African man at his age, he comfortably took me on a ride to the past. In this interview, M represents the interviewer, and D represents the respondent M: What is your general view about African fashion? D: well, African Fashion is unique, decent and special. African fashion communicates in different ways. If you see a king in Africa, you wouldn’t want to ask questions before you you accept that he is a king. The royalty is often defined by their costumes. This is also applicable to native doctors, magicians and soothsayers. African fashion and costumes are original, only that lately, there has been an infiltration of western culture which seems to have adulterated the originality of our costumes, and the era of Obente, skin shoes, skin bags and cloths are beginning to go into extinction. M: Would you have preferred to go with the older costumes as against what’s trending now? D: I still wear traditionally made cloths even up till today. I’m a title holder of my community, and this position is often defined by one’s adherence to African values. I see Costumes as one of those values we must not discard. M: Can you succinctly tell me how clothing was obtained in those? D: Well, in those days, men would usually have little to cover their lower region while the women had a piece for their upper region and another for their lower region. Cloths were mainly gotten from animal skin and sometimes fibres made from trees. Usually, most of us made these cloths by ourselves, and sometimes we buy them. The means of obtaining them could as well differ, depending on who is involved. Then, we used to have trade by barter. Because I was enlightened and had government job, we would buy our cloths with some kind of money called Anderi; then, there was no naira and kobo. We were also engaged in trade by barter with some of the things we had. For instance if I needed a piece of skin to make my shoes or cloth, I would put up my yam or oil for sale. Most of the time, cloths were bought during festive period, like the New yam festival and the Akatakpa festival. Ordinarily, people find it difficult looking for what to buy as fashion was really not the priority as a then. The wealthy ones as of that time wore more beautiful deigns on their animal skin or bark cloth adorned with several accessories. It was always the influential families looked more adorned. M: Were you engaged in the actual buying and selling of cloths? Have you ever gone to the market looking for cloths? D: Like I said earlier, the African man in those days could wear just one piece of skin for days, so the issue of going to the market was really not there. These skins were locally made. The only time we started going to our local markets to buy cloths was when cloths were imported into Africa by the Portuguese and Britain. It was after then, that we began to wear what we have today as cloths, even though it had very low patronage as at then. M: Thank you dad: D: Thank you my daughter and face your studies squarely. SECOND PART INTERVIEW WITH GRAND MUM This interview was also conducted via the same medium (Skype) Here, ‘MM’ will represent the respondent while the interviewer’s remains M’ M: How was clothing made when you were growing up? MM: Clothing was usually made from animal’s skins and back of trees. This means that livestock and economic threes as well as other threes in the forest were sources of clothing. For the making of animal skin, the fur or hair would be shaved clean and compressed to soften, and then it would be tanned. This process unstiffens the hide, which becomes natural leather. After this leather is produced, it is either decorated with shapes and outlines, shells, beads or left plain, this could be as a result of choice of who it’s been made for. Leather clothing could be simple to make as it takes few days to be made. Bark cloth on the other hand was made by peeling off the inner bark of trees, after that is done; it is beaten until it becomes soft. Bark cloth was fashioned into skirts and robes long enough to float around. Then, we would use the fig tree for making bark cloth. Patterned bark cloth garments were made from the different colored bark of various trees, which were combined to create designs, in addition, the bark cloth was always painted for aesthetic purpose. At a point, we went into Batik cloth, which has been important to many African women. Here, pattern is applied to fabric to make it look beautiful. It is resist-dyeing method involving coating fabric with a dye-resistant substance and dipping the fabric into colored dye. I could recall how we used to make the dye-resistant substance from cassava root or rice flour and the chemicals called alum. The substance is boiled with water to make paste out of it for various designs. Once the paste is dry, the fabric is dipped into dye in large clay pots or pits. At the end of the day, a beautiful African fabric is made. M: How has this kind of cloth making influence your style of fashion in those days? MM: It depends on what you mean by style of fashion though. We have had very good sense of costume in those days. All our locally made shoes and bags must always have a touch of the design on our batik. The Batik design was usually seen as the type of clothing that must not be worn by men, because of the beautiful designs. Additionally, because the African woman, or better still, the Nigerian woman applies a lot of facial makeup, which she called ‘Uri’, she would always patronize Batiks that were beautifully designed. M: So when was considered the most appropriate time to wear Batik? MM: Anytime, but mostly during special events. In those days, if you wanted a man to respect you, then you must go with very well designed Batik.