Financial Ratio Analysis

Table of Contents Current ratio Total assets to Debt ratio Quick ratio Profit margin ratio References Calculations on financial ratios are basically derived from information obtained from the accounting records. The ratios provide the required guidelines of measuring the progress of the business and at the same time alert the management on the problems that might occur within the Company businesses. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Ratio Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The profitability ratios indicate the level of efficiency on how capital is being utilized. Liquidity ratios on the other hand help in indicating the ability of the Company to continue with its normal operations even in the midst of unexpected problems. While growth ratios are best used in the process of tracking down the financial progress of the Company (Graham, Campbell, 2001, pp 187-243). Compute the following ratios fo r 2009, and show supporting calculations (define each of the ratios, and explain them in simple terms Current ratio The current ratio is obtained through calculations derived from current assets and current liabilities. The ratio shows the relationship between current assets and current liabilities. The current assets refer to assets that are in form of cash or could easily be converted into cash within a short time. While Current Liabilities, refer to liabilities that could be compensated or repaid within a short period of time. This ratio measures the company’s ability to settle short-term liabilities effectively and promptly (Graham, Campbell, 2001, pp 187-243). The ratio reveals the number of times the current assets could be used for the purposes of settling current liabilities. In normal circumstances the current assets should always be twice the current liabilities. However, any organization should have reasonable current ratio since higher ratio on this gives an ind ication of poor financial utilization. On the other hand, low ratio is an indication of insufficient working capital; hence the enterprise cannot settle its current liabilities (Keown et al, 1998). Current Ratio = Current Assets/ current liabilitiesAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More = 220,000/80,000 = 3:1 The short term financial position of the company can be said to be satisfactory enabling the settling of current liabilities. But at the same time the ratio seem higher showing poor utilization of finances (Pink et al, 2007, pp 87-96). Total assets to Debt ratio This ratio compares the relationship between total assets and Long term debts. The total assets used under this calculation include fixed and current assets. This does not include fictitious assets which includes preliminary expenses, discount on share issue amongst others. The Long term debts refers to debts that th eir maturity is considered due after a period of one year, these include; bonds, loans from banks and debentures. This ration is used by providers of long-term debts as measurement of safe bench mark for any business Institution. The higher the ratio the better it means for the lenders based on the security involved in granting long-term loans to businesses. The lower the ratio the risky the business since it reveals that the business is heavily dependent on outside loans for survival. The ideal ratio for this calculation is normally 2:1 (Graham, Campbell, 2001, pp 187-243). Total Assets to Debt Ratio = Total Assets/Long Term DebtsAdvertising We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Ratio Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More = 1,000,000/300,000 = 3:1 The ratio is higher showing that the company’s security on loans is stable. This acts as assurance to lenders hence the company is capable of withstanding long- term loans. Quick ratio This shows the relationship between liquid assets and the current liabilities which is normally analyzed for the purposes of assessing the short-term liquidity of the company. Liquid assets refer to assets inform of cash or those that could be converted to cash in a short duration of time (Graham, Campbell, 2001, pp 187-243).The calculations are as shown below; Quick Ratio = Liquid assets /current Liabilities Liquid assets = Current assets – (stock + Prepaid Expenses) = 100,000/80,000Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More = 1:1 The Quick ratio of the company is satisfactory; this makes the company to be at stable position to meet its obligations. Profit margin ratio The profitability ratio indicates the ability of the company to plough back enough finances necessary for replacing the assets and also meet the increasing cases of services rendered to the company (Younis and Rice, 2001, pp 65-73) Gross profit margin (%) = (gross income/ sales) Ãâ€"100% = (395,000/2,000,000) Ãâ€"100% = 19.75% Net profit margin = (Net income/sales) Ãâ€"100% = (255,000/2,000,000) Ãâ€"100% = 12.75% Both the gross profit and the Net profit margin are not satisfactory, showing that the company is not at a position which could enable it to frequently supply finances necessary to replace assets and increase the services required. The level of efficiency on how capital is being utilized is unsatisfactory. References Graham, J. R., Campbell R. (2001). The Theory and Practice of Corporate Finance: Evidence from the Field. Jou rnal of Financial Economics, (60), 187-243. Keown, A., J.W. Petty, D.F. Scott Martin, J., (1998). Foundations of Finance. 2nd Edition. London: Prentice Hall, Inc. Pink, G., Imtiaz, D., McGillis, L. Mckillop, I. (2007). Selection of Key Financial Indicators: A literature, Panel and Survey Approach. Healthcare Quarterly Journal, (10), 87-96 Younis, B., Rice, B. (2001). An empirical investigation of hospital profitability in The post- PPS era. Journal of Health Care Finance, (28), 65-73. This essay on Financial Ratio Analysis was written and submitted by user Mck1nley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Time Is So Disurbing It Never Lets Me Out

Free Essays on Time Is So Disurbing It Never Lets Me Out Time is so disturbing it never lets me out. How many waves must be cast ashore, Before the sand can settle Before each gentle grain can find it’s place In a world that carries so much treasure How many waves must be cast ashore, Before the sand can settle Before each gentle grain can find it’s place On an unearthed beach , lifeless. For even still the rain would move And yet, even then with no rain, Our eyes would weep with sorrow and pity, On the world’s hourglass of time....

The Keynesian School of Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Keynesian School of Economics - Essay Example Keynes brought out theories that form a base to understand the great depression. With the help of these theories, Keynes attempted to explain how a thing as great depression could occur and suggested actions that could help in overcoming the same. The theory also suggested a set of measures that could further avoid any such happening and could maintain a healthy equilibrium of the overall economy that could support good amount of employment along with an appropriate demand and supply. This would in turn promise that enough amount of money circulated in the market that could be used for business investments and productions to meet the demand. Individuals such as Robert Lucas, Thomas J. Sargent, and Robert Barro carried the theory forward but at the same time questioned many of its percepts. This resulted into small large modifications in the original theory and came to be know as 'The Keynesian Revolution' in which new adjustments were proposed to the original Keynesian tenets. In many aspects, the Keynesian theory departed with the classical economics that was much prevalent in those days. Keynes debated that as proposed by the classical theory, the markets would not by itself achieve a state of full employment equilibrium, but at any given point and amount of unemployment, an economy can come to a standstill and stopping any further progress. He also found the classical theory to be inadequate in providing equal financial opportunities and being unable to solve the problem of unemployment. "The outstanding faults of the economic society in which we live are its failure to provide for full employment and its arbitrary and inequitable distribution of wealth and incomes" [Keynes, 1936]. The classical theory advocated a policy of non-intervention by the state government in the economic affairs and suggested that the economy is entirely self regulating that does not require any external manipulation for it to achieve a state of balance. Whereas the Keynesian theory suggested that the economy would require appropriate manipulations to direct its growth in a desired manner and this is to be achieved by active involvement of the government by continuously managing the amount of aggregate demand. Demand is the key by which the government could exercise control over the market and the total amount of employment. " Aggregate demand shocks can cause significant changes in output and employment if agents adjust prices and wages in ways that are 'insignificantly' suboptimal from their individual standpoints" [Page 43, N. Gregory]. On this account the policies that are framed on the basis of Keynesian theories are called 'Demand Management Policies'. The Keynesian theory also does not distinguish between short-run and long-run principles as the classical theory does. Keynes suggested that the economy could stabilize at any equilibrium level of income and that it was the role of the government to verify that the given equilibrium is appropriate for the state economy. If the equilibrium does not promise total employment, the government needs to interfere by using appropriate policies to achieve the desired equilibrium. In that case the government would either have to implement reflationary policy that can boost the aggregate demand or deflationary policy that can decrease the aggregate demand in the market. The chief theories put forward by Keynes were: The Labor

Analysis of the 260-day Value at Risk (VAR) of a portfolio of four Assignment

Analysis of the 260-day Value at Risk (VAR) of a portfolio of four shares - Assignment Example It is the level of return comprising of a given probability (usually, 5, 2.3, or 1 percent) of experiencing a return of less than that level. Value-at-Risk was first used in the late 1980’s by major financial firms to measure the risk of their trading portfolios. Since then, Value-at-Risk is widely used quantitative tool to measure market risk. According to Hull (2005), â€Å"VaR answers the question: how much can one lose with X% probability over a pre-set horizon†. More precisely VaR is an amount (say V dollars), where the probability of losing more than V dollars is over some future time interval, T days. Value-at-Risk has become widely used by corporate treasurers, fund managers, financial institutions, brokerage firms and investment funds to gauge their financial risk. In addition, bank regulators use Value-at-Risk in determining how much capital a bank should possess to reflect the market risks it is bearing (ibid). The aim of this project was to implement various VAR methods that consist of Analytic VAR, historical (Bootstrap) VAR and Monte Carlo (MC) VAR simulation as alternative approaches to calculating VAR, by using data from four portfolios namely; Johnson Matthey PLC, Kazakhmys PLC, Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC and Xstrata PLC. These portfolios are listed in the FTSE index, which are among the largest 100 UK companies by full market value. The FTSE index1 is the most widely used of the FTSE Group's indices and is frequently reported on UK news bulletins as a measure of business prosperity, because it represents about 80% companies of the market capitalization of the whole London Stock Exchange. The companies listed in the FTSE index are determined quarterly according to their market capitalization. These companies must meet a number of requirements set out by the FTSE Group, including having a full listing on the London Stock Exchange and meeting certain tests on nationality, free float, and liquidity. In the FTSE, share prices are weight ed by market capitalization, so that the larger companies make more of a difference to the index than smaller companies do. The first company is Johnson Matthey PLC. The company is world renown in refining and distribution of gold, silver, and platinum group metals in 30 countries on six continents. The company is organised in different divisions that includes Precious Metal Products division (the sole marketing arm for Anglo Platinum), Johnson Matthey's Environmental Technologies Catalysts division that produces emission control products, fuel cells, and process catalysts. The company also has Fine Chemicals and Catalysts division that make base and precious metals catalysts and chemicals. Johnson Matthey PLC has an average market capitalization of ? 43.90 billion. The second company under focus is Kazakhmys PLC. Kazakhmys PLC is a company that specializes in copper. It undertakes copper mining, processing, smelting, and refining as well as making of copper cathode and rod products . It is among the top ten copper producers in the world, with an annually production of about 350,000 tons of copper cathode that are used in computers, electric motors, automobiles, and other products. Additionally, Kazakhmys processes and sells by-products such as gold, silver, and zinc. Kazakhmys PLC has

Independent Study Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Independent Study Project - Essay Example The project has been undertaken with due seriousness, but it has been limited due to certain unavoidable factors. Time constraint is an important factor that has limited the projects research work. However sufficient time has been devoted to research of various journal and articles to make the project extensive, more articles and reports could have been incorporated. Time being a limiting factor has limited the research. Also the research is totally based on secondary research carried out by others, so it does not provide any quantitative or qualitative data. The focus of the study revolves around the three investigating questions that have been selected for the study. The first question throws light into the fact that why companies resort to rebranding and what are the implications of rebranding. While discussing this issue it had been find out that many believed that rebranding was due to specific reasons that the company wanted to improve on, for example in order to modernise a existing brand or to differentiate it from its competitors. He believed that the rebranding is not the effect of one particular reason but can be a combination of a few reason. Rebranding also takes place at the time of mergers and acquisition. As studied in the case study of Glaxo Smith Kline, it had been seen that rebranding is necessary for the companies that merge or acquire other companies. This is because of the fact that when a new company is formed the message should be communicated to its customers.

Unfortunate effects on rural public education in Ecuador

Unfortunate effects on rural public education in Ecuador Educator George Washington Carver once stated, Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom (State University 2002). Such key will never be held by the hand of Ecuadorians as the country of Ecuador struggles to provide a satisfactory education system to children in rural areas. The poor education system is a key contributor to Ecuadors state as a developing country. This limiting factor has created a vicious cycle of child laborers and inequality among children in rural and urban communities (Salazar and Glashinovich 1996). This paper will provide an in depth analysis of the education systems in Ecuador and the reform required to provide children with a better future. Ecuadors substandard education system is a consequence of the lack of government funding towards infrastructure and accessibility. With the lack of money towards education, problems such as inconsistent teaching, poor attendance, and inequalities between rural and urban scho 1ols arise. Attempted progress has been made by reformists such as President Rafael Correa who works with government funding to better school systems (Bellettini 2004). It is people like President Rafael Correa who are undoubtably the greatest source of hope to the education system of Ecuador. Last April, I travelled to Ecuador with Canada World Youth. The purpose of the trip was to form a partnership between the Canadian and Ecuadorian students. The trip provided me with a cross-cultural experience as I learnt the necessity of foreign for rural education. Our group of fourteen students raised $10,000 which was used to sponsor the education of 4 students in Ecuador including their high school fees. The failing education system instated in rural Ecuadorian communities is faced with numerous issues involving, inconsistent teaching, and poor attendance. These issues are presented due to the lack of government support and funding for education. The problems currently present in Ecuador make it difficult for Ecuadorians to become prosperous and contribute to society. Political instability within the countrys own borders have invited violent protests concerning the previous three democratically elected presidents (Lopez and Valdes 2000). Political issues as well as the economic crisis have proved to further the potential of restoring proper and effective education practices in rural Ecuador. Many social institutions demand governmental support, but it is the education system in Ecuador that is the most desperate. Researchers have highlighted that the education system has slowly been improving since the 1990s (Vos and Ponce 2004). Although, in comparison to previous decades, the educational development has decreased in effectiveness while educational inequalities has drastically grown between the urban and rural communities. The Ecuadorian government has set aside insufficient funds for their social programs as they solely contribute four percent of the countries Gross Domestic Product, compared to the average twelve percent that the general Latin American country invested (Ibid 2004). Not only has the Ecuadorian government neglected funds for the necessary social programs but they have also transferred their focus to social protection programs. This transfer of priorities has cut the funding for education programs by fifty percent (Cibilis, Giugale and Lopez-Calix 2003). The budget cut has affected all school systems across Ecuador, especially the ru 2ral communities. The limited support has caused a decrease in school infrastructure, teacher salary, and teacher training programs. The school systems are suffering and need more investment and greater reform strategies. The government must increase their investment to at least five percent of the countrys Gross Domestic Product in oder to be successful (Schiefelbein 1992). In 2007, President Correa was elected to office in Ecuador. He created a platform that believed in education excellence and education reform (Economist 2009). Since 2007, Correa has spent approximately $280 million on school infrastructure and maintenance (Ibid 2009). In addition the President has introduced logic tests which teachers must pass in order to educate the youth. These logic tests are designed to increase a teachers credibility and ability to instruct young students (Ibid 2009). Those who do not pass the logic tests are required to take a year long training course which will help to develop their teaching strategies and knowledge. The logic tests benefit the school systems as teachers become more prepared and have more effective teaching methods. These tests will be a mandatory measure for all teachers, and will soon increase the quality of Ecuadors public education system. The lack of government investment towards social programs, specifically education systems has greatly inf 3luenced accessibility, teaching methods, and school infrastructure. The rural communities are far more underprivileged then the urban public schools in Ecuador. In rural regions and in most parts of Latin America, teachers are likely to be under qualified and ineffective at instructing. Similarly to Ecuador, forty to fifty of Latin American teachers have no professional training or qualifications (Schiefelbein 1992). The lack of training and qualifications is a result of poor funding and investment by the government. Training programs and workshops are not available to all teachers especially those in the rural communities. In Latin America, people who graduate with higher levels of educations tend to move to the urbanized cities and obtain prosperous jobs (Schiefelbein 1995). Sadly, those who have poor levels of education, become teachers. Teachers with no training and limited knowledge dictate the quality of a school. Furthermore, the teaching population in Ecuador earn low salari es as the government does not believe that teachers merit higher salaries (Schiefelbein 1992). A typical public school instructor in rural Ecuador generally earns $350 per month (Torres 2005). Teachers make an insufficient salary because there is limited funding. Without funding and low salaries, most instructors at the public school level have two or more jobs to pay for their finances. Multiple jobs on the go, means that teachers sometimes neglect to show up to instruct. The Foundation for Sustainable Development claims that there is a high rate of absenteeism among teachers (sixteen percent)(FSD 2003). With teachers absent from classes sixteen percent of the time during the scholastic year, students are missing crucial learning opportunities. Most of the teachers absent for that time would be working at other jobs trying to gain a greater income. The quality of teaching in rural Ecuador and in the public system is very low as the teachers are under qualified and mostly disinteres ted in teaching. Although some teachers are effective, the vast majority of those effective teachers are accepted to teach at private schools. Private schools in Ecuador have the money unlike public schools to afford exemplarily teachers. Unfortunately for the public system, qualified teachers escape to the private schools wh 4ere their salaries are often five to ten times higher then the public system (Schiefelbein 1995)The typical school is unable to hire highly skilled teachers and will find it difficult to implement innovations to improve its educational quality (Schiefelbein 1992: 36). The methods of instruction are inadequate in countries like Ecuador. Unfortunately due to budget restraints, teachers do not have access to a curriculum to help improve their lesson plans. Without a common curriculum to be followed by all public schools, the learning becomes inconsistent and unequal between different schools and regions (Schiefelbein 1992). Simple skills that involve reading, writing, comprehension are difficult to achieve in rural Ecuador (Ibid 1992). Teachers do not posses the necessary credentials and materials to teach these children, as the government neglects them of the necessary resources. With limited funding invested in education, many consequences arise with improper teaching methods between schools in rural Ecuador. The greatest consequence of poor teaching is the rate of student repetition. In Latin America, only nineteen percent of nine year olds attend schools, but nearly fifty percent of the first grade students repeat as they are unable to fulfill the teachers requirements (Schiefelbein 1992). The country of Ecuador would drastically benefit if more money was invested into increasing the quality of teaching as it would decrease the rate of student repetition. Repeating a grade is not only staggering the students ability to learn and involve themselves in the work force but it also posses massive affects on the educational system financially. In rural Ecuador, repetition is two times higher then the countries average (Ibid 1992). If the ecuadorian g 5overnment were to invest more money in to developing an accessible curriculum for all teachers, repetition rates would decrease. The Ecuadorian public school system posses many problems for people in rural communities. The inconsistency in teaching methods are followed by widespread truancy as parents would rather send their child to work as opposed to enrolling them in a rural school. Limited access to schools and extra student costs for those in rural Ecuador are some of the major factors that affect enrollment rates and attendance. There are vast differences and inequities that are noticeable when comparing urban and rural education systems. Although public education is free for children ages five to fifteen years old, enrollment rates suffer drastically in rural communities. In urban developed areas, children have an average of twelve years of schooling while children from rural Ecuador only have an average of four years (Cibilis et al. 2003). Of those children who had four years of schooling, only nineteen percent of the total rural population is enrolled in school compared to eighty percent of the total urban population (Ibid 2003). Education inequities are also affecting those children who wish to attend higher education levels as only two percent of the poorest quantile attend higher education (Ibid 2003). The Ecuadorian government must learn how to disperse their funding equally among communities so that education practices and accessibility is the same for every child. One of the most common reasons for the lack of enrollment, is due to school accessibility. Although the Correo government is starting to invest more in school infrastructure and maintenance there are still minimal public schools available for children in rural areas(Economist 2009). Only 42% of children among those in the poorest quantile have access to preschool education (Cibilis et al. 2003: 271). There is noticeably more opportunity for preschool education in urban communities as they are given a higher priority over rural public education. Coincidently there are more children in rural Ecuador who need public education than urban areas. The inadequate financing and poor accessibility to public schools for those living in rural Ecuador posse major decisions on parents. They often have to decide whether or not to enroll their children due to financial limitations. Although Ecuador promises to serve the public with free education there are still extra costs that are not covered by the government. With restricted funds, families have difficulty paying for uniforms, school supplies, and transportation (Vos and Ponce 2004). The indirect costs linked to the lack of government investment are a considerable reduction in family income because the child is no longer working (Ibid 2004). Many families in rural Ecuador are faced with the difficult decision on whether to send their 6 child to school or have them work. With more government funding towards public education, parents would not have to pay extra costs for school. Therefore, parents would be more inclined to enroll their children to become educated. Although it is evident that the rural education system in Ecuador is desperate for money and seems somewhat helpless, there are reform practices taking place that are proven to be effective. Currently in Mexico, education reform is taking place that could be implemented in to Ecuadors education system. Education reform known as Telesecondary would be transferable and an effective means of reform in rural Ecuador. Telesecondary is a teaching strategy that delivers greater education through new technologies. It consists of using computers, internet and mass media (Cibilis et al. 2003). The students learning from this innovative teaching method distance themselves from the instructor. The main purpose of th 6 7is reform is to give all children the ability to learn at their own pace with a structured and reliable source of information (Cibilis et al. 2003). Another recommendation and applicable education reform strategy would be following the model of the Escuela Nueva. The Escuela Nueva project is currently being practiced in Mexico. Escuela Nueva is community based which focuses primarily on active participation, and cooperative learning (Schiefelbein 1992). The project helps children learn vital life skills by applying their knowledge learnt in class to the outside community. This model of education responds directly to the education challenges that are currently present in Ecuador. It helps to eliminate poor educational infrastructure, repetition rates, and under qualified teachers. The Escuela Nueva programs help schools to achieve a standardized curriculum, better teacher training and greater community involvement. Once part of the Northern Inca Empire, Ecuador has suffered a disruptive past. Such is exemplified as the country has faced poor governance and instability of constitutions as they have just recently imposed their twentieth constitution since 1830 ( State University 2002). However, the greatest problem to face the country is that of education. The poor education system is a key contributor to Ecuadors state as a developing country. Ecuadors substandard education system is a consequence of inconsistent teaching, poor attendance, and the nonobservance of minority groups. Progress has been attempted by reformist President Correa who has concentrated millions of dollars on bettering education in Ecuador. Undeniably, it is he w 8ho serves as the greatest source of hope to the education system of Ecuador. Although the President and his government have made much progress during his two-term reign, there are many steps to be taken to reach resolution, including the elimination of child labor. Subsequently such extensive education problems are followed by the constant battle with child labor in addition to poor economic practices. It is educational reform which will lead to the evolution of Ecuador as its citizens become literate and receive additional opportunities, such as jobs, thereby diminishing poverty (Bellettini 2004). Education may be the problem, but it is also the solution to increase Ecuadors progression to become a developed country.

Santeria and Lukumi Religions Practiced by Hispanic Caribbeans :: Religion Religious Caribbean Essays

Santeria and Lukumi Religions Practiced by Hispanic Carribeans Religious origins: The Yoruba religion was brought to the Hispanic Caribbean approximately four hundred years ago by African slaves during the period of conquest and colonization of the new world. The religion remained traditionally strong among the African community until the Spanish conquerors began to prohibit its practice. When the Spaniards reached the New lands they brought with them the religion of the reigning King. That is Queen Isabella's religion; Catholosism. The conquerors forced the slaves to accept the Catholic faith as their new religion. The African, stripped already of their dignity refuse to give up their religious beliefs, this belief being all they brought with them. Knowing of the negative ramnifications, punishment and sometimes even death if caught "devil worshipping" it meant that in order to continue to worship theri Gods the angry Africans had to find a way to practice thier religion. They astutely hide theri religion behind Catholic religious practices and saints. The religion is therefore called "Santeria" or the way of the saints. According to Migene Gonzalez-Wippler Santeria is neither a cult or a sect. "It is a monotheistic religion, where God is seen as the creator of the Universe and of humanity. The orishas, syncretized with catholic saints, are repositories of God’s powers and the mediators between humanity and the Supreme Being. During this same period the Lukumi religion was also developed. The Lukumi religion is very similar to that of Santeria, while Santeria utlizes the Catholic Saints and prayers for ritualistic purposes Lukumi does not. Lukumi tends to make African images to represent the Orisha and makes little or no use of Christian prayers. The Lukumi religion is a less diluted form of Orisha worship and was mostly concentrated in Cuba. In Santeria, Yorubas then continue to worship and honor the Orishas and to practice their strong religious beliefs. The Yoruba rituals are modified and made similar to that of the Catholic religion. As aforementioned , when the Africans where brought to Cuba and the other New Lands they saw themselves forced to disguise theri ancestral religion and to embrace the church of theri captors. This created a complex religious mixture of beliefs. Because of its roots in Africa the worship of the saints has been a misunderstood religion, sometimes reffered to as unciviliazed and almost always viewed as a dark religion or a devil worshipping religion.

Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism Essay

Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism are the three main philosophies of the Chinese people. They have been the most influential and widely taught philosophies of the Chinese for many centuries. This essay will reveal the history of each philosophy’s origin, and will reveal the main characteristics of each respected area. Confucianism began as the thoughts and ideas of a man named Confucius who lived at around 500 B.C. It is interesting to note this was around the same time Buddha was supposedly alive. Confucian was not a prophet, and had little to say about gods, death, or the afterlife. He developed instead three concepts of living that formed the basis of his philosophy. First, every person should accept an assigned role in society and perform the duties of that role. Second, the government should be virtuous. Finally, only well-educated and extremely virtuous officials should be appointed to run the government. According to legend, Confucius worked as a minister in his native province of Shandong. It is said that in a less than a year, almost all crime was gone. However, after this it is said nearby emperors became jealous and forced him to retire. For the rest of his years he educated people on the ways of his teaching and stirred thought into the minds of many. Daoism was thought to be founded by a man named Laozi that lived around 500 B.C. Daoism can be defined by its root word Dao meaning â€Å"Way of Nature†. Laozi viewed Dao as the indescribable force that governed the universe and nature. Laozi believed that people should not strive for riches or power, but rather should try to bring themselves into harmony with Dao by being peacefully quieted, thoughtful, and humble. Unlike Confucius, Laozi shunned politics and advised people not to get involved in public affairs. Daoism mainly influenced artists and peasants because artists were encouraged by Dao and began expressing themselves in a better manner. Peasants began to believe in the philosophy because it dealt with nature and its natural forces. Confucianism and Daoism simply filled in what the other lacked in certain areas. Legalism, another form of philosophy, also concerned itself with politics. The teachings, however, differed greatly then that of Confucianism. Legalists believed in power, not virtue, and in harsh forms pf punishment. Legalists viewed people as selfish and untrustworthy. It was believed that threatening people was the only way to achieve peace and prosperity in society. The emperor Shi Huangdi of the Qin Dynasty followed the Legalist method. The Qin Dynasty became powerful but was short-lived mainly because of its cruel punishment and laws. It was believed that the yin and yang was not balanced enough during this time. Overall, I think all three of these philosophies are well developed and each has their good and bad. For this reason, many people understandably combined more than one of the three philosophies in an attempt to even out their lifestyle. All three are worthy philosophies and each deserves a certain amount of respect. I believe that because of the great principles each is built on, and the flexibility within each sector, the three philosophies will live in for a very long time and will be passed on from generation to generation forever.

President George Washington - Fast Facts

President George Washington - Fast Facts George Washington was the only president to be unanimously elected to the presidency. He had been a hero during the American Revolution and was made the president of the Constitutional Convention. He set many precedents during his time in office that still stand to this day. He provided a blueprint of how the president should act and what role he should take. Here is a quick list of fast facts for George Washington. You can also learn more about this great man with: George Washington biographyTop 10 Things to Know About George Washington Fast Facts: George Washington Birth: February 22, 1732Death: December 14, 1799Known for: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Founding Father, First President of the U.S.Number of Terms Elected: 2 TermsTerm of Office: April 30, 1789-March 3, 1797Spouse: Martha Dandridge CustisNickname: Father of Our CountryFamous Quote: I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent. Additional George Washington Quotes. Did George Washington chop down a cherry tree and tell his father the truth? Answer:Â  As far as we know, no cherry trees fell victim to Washingtons rapacious ax. In fact, Washingtons biographer, Mason Weems, wrote a book called The Life of Washington shortly after his death where he created this myth as a way to show Washingtons honesty. Major Events While in Office: Elected to first term with a unanimous electoral vote (1789)First United States census (1790)District of Columbia established (1791)Bill of Rights ratified (1791)Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)Whiskey Rebellion (1794)Jays Treaty (1795)Pinckneys Treaty (1796)Farewell Address (1796) States Entering Union While in Office: Vermont (1791)Kentucky (1792)Tennessee (1796) Related George Washington Resources: These additional resources on George Washington can provide you with further information about the president and his times. George Washington Biography: Take a more in depth look at the first president of the United States through this biography. Youll learn about his childhood, family, early and military career, and events of his administration. Revolutionary War: The debate over the Revolutionary War as a true revolution will not be resolved. However, without this struggle America might still be part of the British Empire. Find out about the people, places and events that shaped the revolution. Chart of Presidents and Vice Presidents: This informative chart gives quick reference information on the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, their terms of office and their political parties. More on the Presidents of the United States: This informative chart gives quick reference information on the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, their terms of office and their political parties.

Medical uses of algae essays

Medical uses of algae essays Algae have been used for centuries, especially in Asian countries, as a remedy to cure or prevent various physical ailments. Scientific research has established a connection between these nutrient-rich sea plants and the bodys immune system response. It all started when intensive studies of marine life began in the 1970s to locate potential sources of pharmacologically active agents (Baba et al. 1988). Researchers found that algae contain a remarkable amount of components valuable for human health. According to Baba (1988), algae are beneficial in the following ways: 1. It is a complete protein with essential amino acids (unlike most plant foods) that are involved in major metabolic processes such as energy and enzyme production. 2. It contains high amounts of simple and complex carbohydrates which provide the body with a source of additional fuel. In particular, the sulfated complex carbohydrates are thought to enhance the immune systems regulatory response. 3. It contains an extensive fatty acid profile, including Omega 3 and Omega 6. These essential fatty acids also play a key role in the production of energy. 4. It has an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in naturally-occurring synergistic design. With all these benefits, it is no wonder why extensive research is being conducted on algae as a medical treatment. Three specific treatments that have been tested will be discussed. One medical use of marine algae is for the treatment of Herpes Simplex Viruses. The drug Acyclovir (ACV) is commonly used for treatment of herpes, but it, like many medications, results in undesirable symptoms (Field & Biron 1994). ACV has induced the emergence of drug-resistant viruses and can lower immune activity, causing even more illnesses (Field & Biron 1994). These findings made it necessary to find new sources of anti-herpetic treatments, one being marine algae. Marine algae, which are a source of potential c...

Friendship through thick or thin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Friendship through thick or thin - Essay Example ws down to explain their predicaments, how people neglect their occurrence and the problems they have to face in the society, since they are a neglected lot in the society. However, their fate is decided upon with them stumbling on a fortune. Since they have a strong bond in their relationship, they gain understanding in each other. They have ample trust in each other and decide to share their fortune. There are different people in the society with different economic muscles, depending on their social context. These are the rich people and the poor people who live in the same society, referred to as â€Å"home,† However, there is a difference between the two kinds of people as they have to live in different parts of the society. The poor people live on the streets and are regarded an invisible by the well-to-do with people. Wagamese states that it is â€Å"a truth you carry within yourself.† They are used to the neglect as they do not have the influence in the society (Wagamese, 124). They are forced to live on their own devices, which is a hurdle to their living. However, â€Å"their sense of belonging unites† them as friends and family that stays together. There is a spiritual guidance in the livelihoods of the four characters as they have their own contributions towards their companionship. First, Amelia One Sky is a considerable mother figure in the group, with the responsibilities of controlling the group. He is the in control of the group with â€Å"spiritual guidance and a deep reflection† on their needs. He instigated the whole group by joining the outsiders to their circle. Secondly, Amelia joined the outsiders to the group by incepting â€Å"Timber, Double Dick and Digger† (Wagamese 234). Their friendship was concreted by the fact that they lived in the same area and had the same experience in their life. In the course of their search for greener pastures, they attend a cinema and are obliged to have a deep adoration to the cinema. This is an instance that

International Operational And Logistical Strategies Assignment

International Operational And Logistical Strategies - Assignment Example Globalization of trade has meant that there is an increasing need to build capacities within the firm to handle the increased competition. There has been a significant increase in the number of business organizations while the rate of growth of managerial skills and talents has not grown concomitantly. In addition to the competition for markets, there has been a competition for the highly skilled employees in the global job market leading to shortages and ‘brain drain’ in several parts of the globe (Andriopoulos & Dawson, 2009). This is more often through the economies of production and the increase in personal capacity. The objective in the latter has emerged as a new field in management referred to as talent management and development. The aim of talent management is to build better capacities within the firm’s employees so as to facilitate better and efficient products as well as ensure there is succession within the organization providing the stability that is necessary for the long-term growth of the organization generally and the career growth and actualization of its employees.Consequently, capacity planning is an emergent area of interest whose importance can be seen in at least three basic functions as highlighted above which when ignored foretells the collapse of the business in our view. The team members have apportioned parts of the topic and which they were required through every second-day meetings to update the whole team/group on. The final draft was, therefore, a comprehensively researched and discussed paper that reflected the overall full participation of the members on the task. Supply Chain Game Supply chain management is a method of capacity planning. The study of supply chain management reveals two crucial views: Firstly, that the vast majority of processed commodities that reach the final consumer represent the cumulative efforts of all organizations within the organization i.e. these multiple organizations form the l ink that is referred to as a supply chain.