Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization

Rethinking the historical events is one of those tasks that inevitably bring people to realizing their past mistakes and drawing experiences so that these mistakes would not be made further on in the future.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness: The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On Conrad’ Heart of Darkness, the lead character, Marlow, at first considers the reasons behind the Europeans who were heading to the wilderness of Central Africa as â€Å"civilized† and rather noble; however, further on, Marlow becomes disappointed about these reasons. After re-evaluating the ambitions of the people exploring the African continent in such an impudent manner, Marlow realizes that the true reasons behind the Europeans’ travel were far more egotistic than he could ever imagine. Indeed, the goals of the people, heading for the terra incognita of the distant and savage lands are not quite clear; wisely enough, Conrad does not disclose the aims of the travelers from the very first page – eh only hints at the possible aims which the travelers might pursue: â€Å"But these chaps were not much account, really. They were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect† (Conrad 9). However, when it comes to discussing the reasons that made Marlow join the ranks of those exploring the uncharted lands, Conrad makes it obvious that Marlow’s intentions were most innocent: â€Å"Now when I was a little chap I had a passion for maps. I would look for hours at South America, or Africa, or Australia, and lose myself in all the glories of exploration.† (Conrad 11). It seems that for Marlow, only the passion for adventures and new experiences was the true motivation. Nevertheless, even Marlow has hard times with learning about the continent and its inha bitants: After all, that was only a savage sight, while I seemed at one bound to have been transported into some lightless region of subtle horrors, where pure, uncomplicated savagery was a positive relief, being something that had a right to exist — obviously — in the sunshine. (Conrad 122) Finally, he also lets some of the madness which the rest of the crew was infected with reach his heart, filling it with darkness as well: â€Å"I had to beat that Shadow — this wandering and tormented thing. ‘You will be lost,’ I said –‘utterly lost.’† (Conrad 137).Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, the readers are left with guessing what the Europeans heading for the new lands are going to do. On the one hand, it might seem that the mission of these people could be quite noble; starting with bringing common knowledge t o the pagans, it could expand further on to establishing relationships with the people inhabiting the uncharted places, which will supposedly include not only cultural, but also economical and even political ties. However, Conrad clarifies the given issue pretty soon, explaining that the causes bringing the Europeans to the uncharted lands are far from being noble: â€Å"They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force — nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others† (Conrad 9). As Conrad’s lead character, Marlow, continues telling his side of the story, it becomes clear that the Europeans ware aiming only at cashing in on the inhabitants of the wilderness: â€Å"They grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to be got. It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind — as is very proper for those who tackle a darkne ss† (Conrad 9). The author stresses that the goals of a new European presence were to use the lands, the people and their resources and then leave the place, barren and forgotten. Thus, the question of what the European people were targeting at when heading for the wilderness of the continent remains open. While there are some specks of humanity left in some of the characters, including Marlow, the narrator, it is still clear that the story focuses on the lowest of the low and their efforts to grab every single thing of the slightest market value. The darkness within the man who came to conquer started to grow: â€Å"It had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation† (Conrad 92). The above-mentioned, therefore, triggers the question whether these are the wild pagans, the gloomy forests of the continent or the wretched souls of the European conquero rs where the darkness is born. It is quite peculiar that all characters portrayed in the novel pursue their own goals, though their goals seem to revolve around the same core, i.e., the desire to get their own profit out of the situation which they have trapped themselves in.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness: The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hence, it seems that none of the characters reach their goals in the end; the attempt to conquer the wilderness ended up in a complete failure. Marlow’s point seems sadly legitimate enough. Driven by the supposedly huge economical and financial profit, the European travelers were defeated not by the threatening darkness of the African continent. It was the darkness of their souls that trapped them – the darkness of the people making their way over corpses. Works Cited Conrad , Joseph n. d., Heart of Darkness. PDF file. 17 Nov. 2012. https://planetpdf.com/planetpdf/pdfs/free_ebooks/Heart_of_Darkness_T.pdf. This essay on Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness: The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization was written and submitted by user Hiroim 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.

We are all Federalists we are all Republicans essays

We are all Federalists we are all Republicans essays Federalists and Republicans were the first two political parties in the United States. Federalists believed in a strong central government, a strong army, industry, and loose interpretation of the Constitution while Republicans believed in a weak central government, state and individual rights, and strict interpretation of the Constitution. Despite the inaugural address made by Thomas Jefferson, We are all Federalists, we are all Republicans, domestic and foreign policies of Thomas Jefferson have showed that he only supported the Republicans. To force Britain to give the United States favorable commercial terms, Jefferson advocated an Embargo Act against that country, which prohibited American ships from sailing to any foreign port. The Kentucky Resolution was a protest against the Alien and Sedition Acts passed by Congress. Louisiana Purchase was the greatest real estate deal in history. Embargo Act was a law that prohibited United States vessels from trading with European nations during the Napoleonic Wars. Passed by Congress in December 1807 over Federalist opposition and at the behest of President Thomas Jefferson, the Embargo Act was a response to restrictive measures imposed on American neutrality by France and Britain, at war with each other. Specifically, Napoleon sought to blockade his foe by forbidding any nation to trade with Britain. The latter retaliated by banning neutral trade with France and its allies. Vessels violating either the French or British blockades would be seized; thus, the neutral U.S. risked the loss of merchant ships to both sides. To pressure the belligerents to respect neutral rights and to demonstrate the value of trade with the U.S., Jefferson responded with the embargo instead of open warfare. In U.S. history, resolutions passed in opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were enacted by the Federalists in 1798. The Jeffersonian Republicans first replied in the...

Issues and Controversies Journalists Face

Issues and Controversies Journalists Face Theres never been a more tumultuous time in the news business. Newspapers are drastically downsizing and facing bankruptcy or the prospect of going out of business entirely. Web journalism is on the rise and taking many forms, but there are real questions about whether it can really replace newspapers. Press freedom, meanwhile, continues to be nonexistent or under threat in many countries around the world. There are also ongoing controversies about issues such as journalistic objectivity and fairness. It seems like a tangled mess at times, but there are many factors involved that well examine in detail. Print Journalism in Peril Newspapers are in trouble. Circulation is dropping, ad revenue is shrinking, and the industry has experienced an unprecedented wave of layoffs and cutbacks. So what does the future hold? While some people will argue that newspapers are dead or dying, many traditional outlets are indeed adapting to the new digital world. Most offer all of their content online, either via paid subscriptions or for free. This is also true for TV and radio media outlets. Though it seemed at first as if modern technology would win out over tradition, the tide seems to be finding a balance. For example, local papers are discovering new ways to localize a story to attract readers interested in a smaller piece of the bigger picture. The Rise of Web Journalism With the decline of newspapers, web journalism seems to be the future of the news business. But what exactly do we mean by web journalism? And can it really replace newspapers? In general terms, web journalism includes bloggers, citizen journalists, hyper-local news sites, and even websites for print papers. The internet certainly opened up the world for more people to write whatever they want, but that doesnt mean all of these sources have the same credibility. Bloggers, for instance, tend to focus on a niche topic, as do citizen journalists. Because some of these writers do not have training in or necessarily care about the ethics of journalism, their personal bias can come across in what they write. This is not what we consider journalism per se. Journalists are concerned with the facts,  getting to the heart of the story, and have their own on-the-job lingo. Digging for answers and telling them in objective ways has long been a goal of professional reporters. Indeed, many of these professionals have found an outlet in the online world, which makes it tricky for news consumers. Some bloggers and citizen journalists are unbiased and produce great news reports. Likewise, some professional journalists are not objective and lean one way or another on political and social issues. This burgeoning online outlet has created all types on either side. This is the larger dilemma because it is now up to readers to decide what is credible and what is not. Press Freedoms and Reporters Rights In the United States, the press enjoys a great deal of freedom to report critically and objectively on the important issues of the day. This freedom of the press is granted by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In much of the world, press freedom is either limited or virtually nonexistent. Reporters are often thrown in jail, beaten, or even killed just for doing their jobs. Even in the U.S. and other free-press countries, journalists face ethical dilemmas about confidential sources, disclosing information, and cooperating with law enforcement. All of these things are of great concern and debate to professional journalism. However, it  is unlikely to be anything that resolves itself in the near future. Bias, Balance, and an Objective Press Is the press objective? Which news outlet is really fair and balanced, and what does that actually mean? How can reporters set aside their biases and really report the truth? These are some of the biggest questions of modern journalism. Newspapers, cable television news, and radio broadcasts have all come under fire for reporting stories with a bias. This is especially true in political reporting, but even some stories that should not be politicized fall victim to it. A perfect example can be found on cable news. You can watch the same story on two networks and get two completely different perspectives. The political divide has indeed swept into journalism - in print, on air, and online. Thankfully, a number of reporters and outlets have kept their bias in check and continue to tell the story in a fair and balanced manner.

Computer Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Computer Security - Essay Example In this element bidders can use the early stages to their advantage, since the prices then are low, to decide amongst themselves who should win which objects and then agree to stop pushing up prices. To overcome this weakness there is a need for a stronger auction design. Ozment addresses this issue of collusion, pointed out by Klemperer, by categorizing them into two major areas of concern in the vulnerability market. The first being employee-tester collusion, which comprises of the possibility that a competitor to pay an engineer to insert a backdoor into the program and hence increase its vulnerability. The second being tester-tester collusion, in which testers could agree not to submit reports until the price works in their favor. Having acknowledged these problems Ozment also proposes certain solutions to mould auction design to minimize the occurrence of collusion. By not making public the number of testers a limit can be imposed on their ability to collude and control the auct ion. It can further prevent colluding groups to form and then identify and punish a opposing member through retaliatory bidding. Also by having testers register in advance with a third party the auction provides incentives, in shape of reduced registration charges, for individuals who are actively planning to test the product and claim the reward. This reducing chances of employee-tester collusion. ... The issue of entry deterrence eventually leads to, the third main issue, predatory behavior as some bidder’s receive a modest advantage over the others. Ozment proposes the incorporation of an initial value of the reward in the auction to be of a high level to combat this issue. This creates an incentive to kick start the first few auctions in the series by bringing in a large number of testers. Furthermore it lowers the entry costs for participants in future actions in the sequence. Another solution proposed is by incorporating a reputation reward along with the monetary reward will increase participation of the bidders as well as effectively discourage predatory behavior. Some other factors such as reserve prices, political problems, loopholes, credibility of rules and market structure are also mentioned by Klemperer. However Ozment proposes structural suggestions to strengthen auction design by inserting stronger elements of cultural, legal and managerial tools during the s equence of the auction. Looking at all the above mentioned details it is effective to conclude that it is possible to design an auction as mentioned by Ozment while keeping in mind the factors mentioned by Klemperer. Despite undertaking a development of an auction design keeping in mind the strong enhancements suggested to strengthen it by Ozment, there are still a lot of perverse incentives that might be created. If we look at the fact that the key barriers to auction design are collusion, entry deterrence and a general buyer market power it can lead to the conclusion that design may not matter very much when the entry for a big number of potential bidders is made easy. This can be viewed by looking at the example of government security sales in which

Wars Without Congressional Declaration of War Essay

Wars Without Congressional Declaration of War - Essay Example Of those killed in the Korean War, 4,759 died while missing in action (MIA), 2,806 perished in prison camps (POW) and 2,484 died of wounds received (â€Å"All POW†, 2001). More than 8,000 soldiers are still listed as missing. Of the 1.7 million American troops deployed to Korea, the official number killed was more than 33,000 but when including those who died from illness, accidents and wounds received after they came home, the number rises to approximately 53,000. U.S. expenditures exceeded $64 billion dollars on the war (Yan, 2003). The most deadly battles all occurred during the first year of the war. Three thousand six hundred three American soldiers died in the initial battle, the Pusan perimeter that lasted from August 4 through September 16, 1950. Another 1,641 were killed at the Chosin Reservoir, November 27 – December 9 and 1,194 at Kunu-Ri, November 29 – December 9 (â€Å"The Forgotten War† 2007). The hard lesson learned, seemingly, from America’s involvement in Vietnam was that possessing an overwhelming military force does not guarantee victory. Though three million enemies were killed compared to 58,156 on the American side, the ‘big dog’ in the fight eventually had to run home with its tail between its legs, beaten and humiliated. More than 2,594,000 U.S. military personnel were sent to South Vietnam from 1965 through 1973 in addition to the 50,000 ‘advisors’ prior to that. Of those, 75,000 were classified as severely disabled with more than 23,000 soldiers classified as 100 percent disabled. The MIA total was 2,338 and 114 of the 744 POW’s were killed (Duffie, 2004). The U.S. entered the Vietnam War and the recent invasion of Iraq to spread democracy to oppressed peoples (the official representation) and with great optimism for victory. Both conflicts supplied a similar paradigm: the ability of America to use its military power as

Kingdom of matthias Essay Example for Free

Kingdom of matthias Essay The Kingdom of Matthias tells the story of Robert Matthews, who later took on the name Matthias the Prophet. A religious charlatan in 1830s New York, Matthews established a Kingdom of fanatical followers, causing a nationwide scandal. Matthews most fervent follower was Elijah Pierson, who was born into a strict Calvinist church upbringing but who quickly got swept up in the evangelical, perfectionist movement upon his move to New York as a merchant. Elijah married a missionary woman named Sarah, and together they established a Retrenchment Society and other organizations designed to spread the word of God. In her fervor, Sarah literally worked herself to death, and died in 1830. The event spurred Elijah toward madness as he attempted to raise Sarah from the dead during funeral. Elijah started to hear God speak and he adopted the title Prophet Elijah of Tishbe. Simultaneous to these events, Robert Matthews was born and raised in a Scottish community called Coila. His parents died when he was young, and after several of his sons tragically died, Matthews began to hear God and see prophetic visions. He adopted the name Matthias. In May 1832, Matthews visited Pierson, and Pierson became convinced that Matthews was Gods Prophet. Matthews used Piersons merchant wealth to establish The Kingdom. Matthews preached regularly to a small band of followers. Eventually, he came to regard Christianity as the Devils work, and his philosophy was full of anti-woman hatred. Matthews convinced a wealthy couple, Benjamin and Ann Folger, of his prophethood, and soon he established a community at the Folger home in Sing Sing, which he called Mount Zion. Matthews ruled his community with an iron fist, dressing extravagantly, bearing an unkempt beard, punishing severely, and lecturing frequently. Not content with the Christian conception of marriage, several of Matthews followers forsake marriage to be united in the Spirit of Truth. This caused a good deal of scandalous wife-swapping, as it might be called today. Matthews and Ann fell for each other, and Matthews proclaimed Ann as the Mother of the kingdom. Benjamin strayed to Matthews twenty-year-old daughter Isabella, as well as to a widow named Catherine Galloway. The sexual intrigue proved too much for the community, and Benjamin and then Ann revolt. Additionally, an increasing public outcry against the Kingdom and its scandals assisted in its dissolution. One day, Elijah Pierson, suffering from seizures, ate blackberries and soon after died. The public rumor was that Matthews, along with his servant Isabella Van Wagenen, had poisoned the man. Matthews was arrested and tried with murder after two doctors conducted an autopsy and claimed there was poison in Piersons stomach. However, the prosecution had only a flimsy case, and the jury found Matthews not guilty of murder, but guilty of assault (for beating his daughter), and so Matthews served four months in prison. The Kingdom of Matthias scandal is noteworthy for sparking the penny press newspapers, with their obsession with crime and scandal, a tradition that continues to this day with such periodicals as National Enquirer.

Character Analysis of Katherine Anne Porters He Essay -- Katherine An

Character Analysis of Katherine Anne Porter's He In Katherine Anne Porter's short story "He," she presents several themes that she develops primarily through the actions of the main characters, particulary Mrs. Whipple. Porter portrays a poor, lower class Southern family and the difficulties they encounter. More importantly, she centers the story around the feelings of shame, pride, and an exaggerated concern for appearances through Mrs. Whipple's's relationship with her mentally retarded son and her behavior toward Him. Other characters, such as her husband Mr. Whipple and their two "able-bodied" children Adna and Emly serve to expand the story's themes and highlight the extremity of Mrs. Whipple's actions. Early in the story we see how vital appearance is to Mrs. Whipple. She remarks to her husband that no one should ever hear them complain (324). Her real effort to maintain a front for her neighbors, however, surrounds her "simple-minded son," who never has any identity other than "He." It seems that Mrs. Whipple fears that if those around her know He is retarded, this would reflect badly on her character. Many times, unfortunately, parents of children with any birth defect worry they have some blame to account for. Mrs. Whipple, unfortunately, represents a rather extreme case. She seemed to believe that by "over-loving" her son in public and refusing to acknowledge his handicap, she could avoid social stigma and somehow quell her own insecurities. Mrs. Whipple comments to whoever would listen that He is strong, capable, and "He can do anything . . . " (325). Such exclamations, the author tells us "seemed to ease her mind" (324). In these quotations we see clearly how Mrs. Whipple's actions... ...ok sick" (332). Furthermore, she takes care to dress in her good clothes, so no one will think she looks like charity. Even as she is about to lose her son, she cannot let go of her need to put on a performance for the society she feels has shunned her. Porter's story gives its audience a powerful lesson that extends far beyond social standing or mental handicaps. The pathetic example of "Him" shows us just how far many of us go for mere illusions. Mrs. Whipple was willing to sacrifice her son and her family's welfare in order to mask their situation. To a world of airbrushing and political propaganda, Porter shows how dangerous the game of pretense can become and how the innocent often bear the brunt of the harm. Work Cited Porter, Katherine Anne. "He." The Literature of the American South. Ed. William L. Andrews. New York: Norton. 1998.

Malaysian Airline System

From a small air service that began with a 5-seater twin engined Airspeed Consul in 1947, Malaysia Airlines has grown into an award-winning airline with a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, servicing more than 110 destinations across six continents. Today, Malaysian Airlines System Berhad is a corporation with a vision of global expansion. The airline's network will grow extensively in response to consumer demand for worldwide coverage. The airline's enhanced in-flight services, reliable ground support and excellent infrastructure will set new world standards. Company History: Malaysian Airlines System Berhad is the holding company for Malaysia's national airline carrier, one of Asia's fastest growing airlines. Through several other subsidiaries, the company manufactures aircraft parts, offers trucking and cargo transportation services, caters food, provides laundry and dry-cleaning services for airlines and other industrial institutions, and oversees a travel agency. Company Chairman Tajudin Ramli owns a significant share in Malaysian Airlines System (MAS), and the Malaysian government retains a strong voice in MAS affairs. 930s Origins The history of Malaysian Airlines dates back to 1937, when the Straits Steamship Co. of Singapore joined forces with two British companies–Ocean Steamship Co. and Imperial Airways–and won approval from Singapore's government to operate an airline in the region. Malayan Airways Limited was registered on October 21, 1937. Getting clearance and getting planes in the air, however, proved to be two different things for Malayan Airways Ltd. Operations did not begin until 1947, well after the Japanese occupation had come to an end, when a twin-engined Airspeed Consul lifted off from Subang International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, linking that city with Singapore, Ipoh, and Penang in the north of the country. In 1947 the fledgling airline added a 21-seater DC-3 to its fleet of three Airspeed Consuls. By the end of the year the airline was flying to Jakarta (then called Batavia), Palembang, Bangkok, Medan, and Saigon (later called Ho Chi Minh City). Jointly controlled by the intercontinental carriers BOAC and Qantas, Malayan Airways as for a time run by Keith Hamilton, who would later become head of Qantas. 1960s Independence Following Malaysia's political establishment in September 1963–the new country comprised the former states of Malaya and Singapore, and the one-time colonies of North Borneo, Sabah, and Sarawak–Malayan Airways became Malaysian Airways and was reorganized to focus on connecting the new country's disparate regions. Expansion brought more aircraft into the fleet after Borneo Airways was purchased and folded into Malaysian Airways in 1965. This brought four Dakota jets and two Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer aircraft to the carrier's stable of aircraft. More organizational changes for the airline occurred in 1966, a year after Singapore seceded from Malaysia to become a sovereign state on its own. That year, the governments of Singapore and Malaysia jointly bought a controlling stake in the airline and renamed it Malaysia-Singapore Airlines Ltd. (MSA). Powerful Boeing jets then entered the fleet and enabled flights to reach a number of far-flung Asian destinations. However, differences between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore over the future direction of MSA prompted a split in 1972. Lee Kuan Yew, prime minister of Singapore, desired a truly national carrier for his country, the aim being to fly a small fleet of Boeing 707s displaying the yellow and blue colors of Singapore Airlines. Malaysia likewise chose to go its own way. In October 1972, Malaysian Airline Systems (MAS) was established. (The acronym MAS means gold in the Malaysian language. ) Each of its aircraft would henceforth sport a winged tiger logo, a stylized form of the traditional Kelantan â€Å"wau† or Malaysian kite. The split was crucial to the future fortunes of MAS. From 1972, the airline continued to see itself as a regional carrier, connecting a myriad of remote destinations in Peninsular Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak. Singapore Airlines, on the other hand, was committed from its inception to becoming an international success. By 1975, Singapore Airlines was flying to Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei. A year later, that airline was carrying passengers to Paris, Dubai, and New Zealand. Unlike Singapore, Malaysia looked to focus on exploiting its vast reserves of natural resources–petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, timber products, and rubber. The country's government would choose much later than Singapore had to attempt competing with Western companies in manufacturing and high-tech markets. Thus, maintaining a successful regional airline carrier was judged the best strategy for Malaysia during the 1970s. The company slowly built up its regional services to Jakarta and Medan in Indonesia. Later the destinations of Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, and Singapore were added. â€Å"Malaysia felt that MAS was not serving the needs of Malaysians,† explained Abdullah Mat Zaid, director of corporate planning at MAS. Expanding as a regional airline was not without incident for MAS. In 1978, the company's low-wage policy met with a setback. Kuala Lumpur had set out rules limiting union activity at the national air carrier as a means of keeping wages and costs down, and a bitter and disruptive labor dispute occurred in 1978. Events surrounding a strike at the national airline prompted the government to intervene and cite MAS workers as being engaged in illegal activity. Several union officials were subsequently arrested. Growth in the 1980s–90s  An economic boom in Malaysia during the 1980s helped spur growth at Malaysian Airlines. By the end of the decade, MAS was flying to 47 overseas destinations. These included eight European cities: London, Zurich, Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Brussels. MAS also flew at this time to six Australian cities–Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney&mdash well as to Auckland, New Zealand. Besides flights to such Asian hubs as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Peking, MAS also connected with Los Angeles and Honolulu. By 1992, MAS had added scheduled flights to Athens, Madrid, and Rome, and plans were in motion to reach at least one destination in Eastern Europe. Moreover, a new service to South Africa and Brazil was scheduled for 1993. The airline would also look to reach one city on the eastern seaboard of the United States. MAS also chose during the early 1990s to expand by teaming up with other airlines to make additional destinations available for its customers. For example, Iran Air connected Kuala Lumpur with Tehran, and Royal Jordanian connected MAS flights with Amman. In addition, joint services to Chile and Argentina were discussed in late 1991. The impetus for this expansion came from Malaysia's burgeoning economy. Between 1986 and 1991, the country's export-oriented economy posted an average real growth of nine percent. Changes to Malaysia's foreign investment rules during the mid-1980s were designed to help speed a shift from an economy previously dependent on natural resources to a finely tuned industrialized economy. At the same time, a number of large Asian and Western corporations such as Sanyo, NEC, Toshiba, and Philips established branch plants in Malaysia. The extra traffic of company officials flying back and forth from their headquarters to Malaysia, and the transportation of their high-tech goods, spurred on ticket sales for the airline. The number of business passengers MAS accommodated was underscored by gross foreign investments in Malaysia that rose 30 percent in 1991 to M$10. 7 billion ($5 billion). The 1980s–90s Tourist Trade As the country's export trade thundered ahead in the late 1980s, so did the domestic passenger traffic in and out of Malaysia, and naturally tourism also provided a springboard to expansion for MAS. By the late 1980s Malaysia began to go after the prized Western tourist, a market already well exploited by neighboring Thailand and the Philippines. Nearly 5. 5 million travelers visited Malaysia in 1991. Although the country, and its airline, were hit by the effects of the Gulf War and global recessionary conditions, tourism contributed M$5 billion–or $2. 4 billion&mdasho the country's trade balance in 1991. The bulk of these tourists came from neighboring Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Kuala Lumpur's plans to build a number of luxury golf courses in the country were expected to help secure growing numbers of Japanese tourists. Getting into the package tour business also helped MAS encourage increased passenger traffic. Malaysia Airlines Golden Holiday packages and Malaysia Stopover packages were established in 1984. These encouraged European and Australian travelers in transit between the two continents to take a rest break in Malaysia before carrying on to their final destination. To further stimulate tourism, a joint campaign was run by the Malaysian government and MAS to declare 1990 Visit Malaysia Year. During the year, some 7. 4 million tourists flew into and out of the country, as compared with the 4. 8 million tourists who visited Malaysia in the previous year. Another source of new traffic for the airline was the growing number of foreign students attending educational institutions in Malaysia. In September 1989 the International School of Kuala Lumpur registered 700 students; a year later, the school had doubled its enrollment. By the same token, young Malaysians were studying in Europe and North America. In Canada, where many Malaysian students attended universities, it was felt in early 1992 that this new traffic source might warrant regular service between the two countries. Canada's own national airline, Air Canada, which was suffering from economic recession and increasing global competition, was slow to grant Malaysian Airlines landing rights. The Canadian government felt that allowing MAS to land in Vancouver would encroach on territory commanded by Canadian Airlines International Ltd. , while Toronto International Airport was considered the preserve of Air Canada. Malaysia's case at the time was not helped by Ottawa having a year earlier announced the cancellation of Singapore Airline's landing rights in Toronto. Even so, Kuala Lumpur officials reasoned that Canada was out-of-step in trying to protect its national airline carriers. The global airline industry as a whole was going the opposite way, towards increased deregulation and competitiveness. Malaysia was prepared to wait for Canada to accept its growing economic might and grant reciprocal landing rights. Intercontinental traffic for the airline was encouraged by the purchase of Boeing 747 wide-body jets. By 1991, the airline had four of them, and three more were added a year later with an average of two more due for delivery each year until 1995. In 1992, a tightening labor supply in Malaysia, in part the result of its increasingly prosperous economy, was cited by international corporations as the prime obstacle standing in the way of future expansion plans. Manpower shortages were especially acute at the middle management and technical levels. All of these circumstances would impact on MAS's passenger and cargo traffic figures as the country's economy moved from the farm to the factory and beyond. Amid this backdrop, the Malaysian government in 1992 forecast that passenger traffic on the country's combined airways–international and regional–would grow by ten percent annually in the five years before 1997. International freight volume in the same period was expected to rise by 13 percent annually. Officials in Kuala Lumpur announced in 1992 that they had plans to build a new international airport in Sapang, adding that all other airports in the country were expected to cope with the increased passenger demand of the 1990s without the need for expansion. Government forecasts in 1992 pointed to 9. 5 million passengers to be carried by MAS that year, a figure expected to jump to approximately 15 million by 1995. Cargo was also identified as an expanding source of revenue for the airline in the 1990s. In recognition of this potential, MAS in 1992 introduced MASkargo in order to begin providing a full cargo service to the United States and Europe. A DC-10-30 jet was fitted to carry up to 60 tons of cargo per flight. Further plans were announced to purchase an additional Boeing 747-400 freighter to carry 45 tons of extra cargo per flight. In 1992 MASkargo also opened a fully automated cargo handling center in Penang. The new facility complemented the expanded MAS Cargo Center at Subang Airport, which provided semi-automated and computerized facilities including elevating transfer vehicles and electronic scissor lifts fitted with computerized scales. Expansion at the cargo center brought MASkargo's total warehouse storage space to 150,000 square meters. The ambitious expansion plans taxed the carrier's profits, which were nearly halved, from M$206 to M$120, between 1991 and 1992. Turnover increased 23 percent in 1992, however, reaching M$3. billion. Correspondingly, employment at MAS rose from 17,575 workers in 1992 to 20,370 in 1993. Demand for flight crews was so great that the carrier contracted for 35 percent of these positions with overseas personnel, mostly Australian. Fifteen hundred of the employees worked in the airline's unique flight kitchen, which served 22 airlines. All 17,000 meals a day were hallal, that is, observing Muslim dietary restrictions that prohibited pork. During this time, MAS hired Star Wars producer George Lucas's special effects unit to create a stunning sci-fi television commercial. The spot, which aired around the world, was commissioned to present MAS as a modern, world-class airline and featured a huge kite-shaped space station. The cost was estimated at between $2 and $4 million dollars. In 1993, MAS bought a 24. 9 percent interest in U. S. charter operator World Airways. The company also leased five of its MD-11 aircraft. Operations personnel, in high demand at MAS, were also made available. 1994: Ramli Buys a Stake in the Airline In 1994 Malaysian entrepreneur Tajudin Ramli bought a 32 percent controlling interest for M$2 billion ($745 million) worth of stock. The government retained an 11 percent interest. Tajudin, who had earlier put together a mini-aviation empire in preparation of competing with MAS, was saddled with an overlarge fleet and diminishing profits. Although sales rose to $M4. 1 billion ($1. 6 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 3, 1994, profits fell from M$145. 4 million ($56. 4 million) to M$7. 7 million ($2. 9 million). The carrier was still receiving large shipments of new aircraft, including Boeing 747s, and sales of its used aircraft were slow. Some of MAS's new A330 aircraft were delivered late, resulting in penalty payments from Airbus. ) Tajudin immediately set out to trim the fat. He introduced a more businesslike attitude and required better reporting from the company's managers. Aircraft utilization was increased. The carrier signed code-share agreements on transpacific routes and promoted its Kuala-Lumpur-Los Angeles route to attract more business passengers. Virgin Atlantic Airways teamed with MAS in 1995 to operate joint London-Kuala Lumpur flights. The service proved convenient for Virgin's Australia-bound passengers. Planes stayed just as full after the number of flights was increased from eight to 14 a week, although the two carriers faced very formidable competition from the British Airways/Qantas alliance, which operated the only single-plane service between London and Australia. MAS recorded its highest ever pretax profit in 1996–97 of M$349. 4 million ($120 million). The company continued to buy new planes and relocated to Kuala Lumpur's new Sepang International Airport, a move expected to further enhance its reputation. However, the new airport's opening was plagued with lost baggage, computer malfunctions, and other annoyances. Depreciating Malaysian currency brought MAS debt up to M$12 billion by 1998. Debt servicing helped MAS lose M$260 million ($62 million) in 1997–98. In response, the carrier deferred new aircraft purchases, sold old planes, and slashed underperforming routes. A new restructuring plan put forth by Tajudin, whose hands were tied by the government when it came to cutting jobs, was rejected on the grounds it would rescue Tajudin at the expense of minority shareholders. Foreign airlines with an eye towards global expansion (such as Thai Airways and British Airways) seemed interested in investing in the troubled carrier, however.

Walt Disney: a Cultural Transformation

â€Å"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. † Walt Disney believed in this passionately. This is one of the many reasons Walt Disney accomplished so many things in his lifetime. With hard work and a great imagination you can truly do anything just as Walt Disney did. Even today Walt Disney’s company is extremely successful. All of the different things that Walt Disney and his company have done have contributed to the world’s popular culture. Walt Disney was born on December 5th, 1901. His parents were Elias and Flora Disney. Walt had a good childhood although it is said that his father had a bad temper that at times he could not control. Walt started to become interested in acting and drawing at a young age. At school, instead of focusing on his work, he would draw endlessly. Among his classmates he was known as Walt Disney, the artist. In 1917 Walt attended the Chicago Art Institute where he gained more experience. He dropped out of school in an attempt to join the army but was too young. Instead of the army, Walt joined the Red Cross where he drove an ambulance for a year. In 1919, Walt moved back to Chicago and started drawing for a living. After a couple fail attempts he and his brother were able to open Disney Brothers Studios. In 1927, Walt had created Oswald the lucky rabbit. Oswald turned out to be a huge success but Walt was betrayed. Universal pictures bought out Walt’s staff and he lost all rights to the character. Walt was desperate to create another successful character like Oswald. In 1928, Walt and his small circle of associates came up with a mouse character. The new character was named Mickey Mouse. At the time they didn’t know how much this little mouse would impact America. Mickey Mouse hit stardom when Steamboat Willie, the first animated short with sound and movement, was released. That’s when Walt Disney Productions was formed. During the time in which Mickey Mouse was introduced America was in the depths of a depression. The economy was hit badly on Black Tuesday October 29th 1929 when the stock market crashed. Then, tragedy struck again when a long drought destroyed crops and farms. So many people lost everything they had. Mickey Mouse was someone to pick them up in those hard times; a source f wishful thinking. In this time unemployment reached historic levels and the whole country looked for prosperity ahead. Throughout the 1930s the Disney cartoons were a business stimulus. Mickey Mouse merchandising exploded and there were a hundred products not only across the country but around the world. Mickey Mouse products were the only thing getting some companies through the Depression. By 1934 Mickey Mouse merchandise was earning around $600,000 a year. Political historians would likely say that the 1930s were the age of Franklin Roosevelt but cultural historians consider it the age of Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney is famous for saying, â€Å"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse. † Mickey Mouse is now one most recognized faces of all time and an icon of American culture. There is no doubt that Mickey Mouse and his ears are the face of The Disney Studios but Mickey isn’t the only iconic character that the company has created. Hundreds of characters have been born from Disney Studios, although some are more popular than others, they all have contributed to Disney Studios. Around the same time Mickey Mouse was introduced his â€Å"friends†, as they have been come to be called, were created. Mickey’s friends included Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. These characters represented friendship and often taught moral lessons like Disney often did. Snow White and Cinderella started the princess phenomenon. These movies lead to other Disney Princesses including The Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and Rapunzel. Girls around the world look up to these female heroes. The one thing that all these Disney characters have in common is that they will forever be embedded in pop culture. In 1937, Walt Disney made history when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released. The film was the first full length animated film of its time. Critics had little faith in the productive of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs but were proven wrong when the film earned over 8 million on its first release. The film was such a success that Walt built a studio specifically for the making of animated films. The film became a foundation for future feature length animated films. During the 1940s and 1950s the studio made many animated films including Fantasia, Bambi, Cinderella, Alice n Wonderland, and Peter Pan. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was an artistic and technological breakthrough in the entertainment world. Animated films lead to the production of live-action features and television programs. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs showed that animated films could be just as entertaining as other motion pictures. Walt Disney was known for transforming imagination into reality which was es pecially true when he made Disneyland, the first ever theme park. Disneyland changed the amusement park industry forever when it opened on July 18th 1955. Disneyland was the first start in making theme parks popular. Walt Disney once said, â€Å"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. † Although Disneyland was successful, it wasn’t the perfection Walt was looking for. Disneyland in California didn’t meet his vision because of the sleazy restaurants and hotels that were around the park. Fifteen years later Walt decided to build a new theme park in Orlando, Florida that would be a magical experience all around. Walt tried to keep the operation low key by setting up dummy corporations to buy the land. It was a reporter from the Orlando Sentinel newspaper who broke the news that it was Disney who bought the land. Walt never did get to see Disney World completed because of his death on December 15th 1966 of a cardiac arrest. Walt’s brother stayed on the project and Disney World opened to the public on October 1, 1971. Central Florida now has more theme parks than any other place in the world with Walt Disney World resort being the largest recreational resort ever built. The happiest place on earth didn’t just stay in the United States. Besides Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida there are three other Disney resorts in Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong. Many people wonder how such a successful enterprise was created. At first, the Walt Disney Studio wasn’t profitable but it was staying afloat. Even when in debt Walt Disney looked to do more. He made smart moves to fundraise money to start new projects including Disneyland. As early as the 1930s Disney enterprises became global with branch offices in Chicago, Toronto, London, Paris, Copenhagen, Milan, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Sydney. After the death of Walt and his brother, Roy, the company struggled. In 1980s and 1990s the stock grew rapidly which made Disney the largest entertainment empire in the world. Before Walt Disney died he managed to build the first multinational media corporation. Disney now has five business segments including media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. The Walt Disney Company is now a $60 million dollar company and is the complete entertainment experience. Walt Disney is known for saying â€Å"if your dream it, you can do it. † He and his company are an example of just that. Although Walt Disney died his legacy lives on. The Walt Disney Company continues to create blockbuster films, parks, and television. Disney has made a few hundred movies and more than fifty of them being animated films. There is now a Disney channel on all five continents in several languages. The Walt Disney Company has become part of the world’s culture especially in the United States. He has created some of the most iconic characters of all time including the timeless Mickey Mouse. Disney characters have touched the hearts of people around the world. When the first full length animated movie was made it changed the course of film making forever. Disneyland and Disney World were the start of theme parks as we know them today. The achievements of Walt Disney are impressive and they have laid out the foundation for the whole entertainment industry. Even to this day, Walt Disney will forever be known as the king of animation.

The Narration of F. Scott Fitzgerals The Great Gatsby and essays

The Narration of F. Scott Fitzgerals The Great Gatsby and essays There are multiple ways to dictate a novel to a reader and the use of narration can give more incite into the characters. Narration is the use of a character to tell a story either to the reader or other characters often called the narratee. (Hawthorn, 228). Two authors that use different forms of narration are Toni Morrison in her novel Beloved and, F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novel The Great Gatsby. While Morrisons novel conveys the harsh realities associated with slavery in Cincinnati (Harris, 277). Fitzgeralds story depicts the high life of upper class individuals in New York during the 1920s (Harris, 111) Morrisons novel has multiple narrators that build an image of the depth of slavery. This is because the narratee can read about all of the people affected by this event. Multiple narrators also constructs the image of caring for each other because they all speak their emotions through an omniscient presence.. An entirely opposite effect is created by Fitzgerald in, The Great Ga tsby by his use of one narrator. The use of one narrator in this novel personifies the narrow attitutudes of the upper class characters and their lack of compassion for one another. The narrator in, The Great Gatsby is of upper-class and his perspective is narrow, whereas the multiple narrators in Beloved have diverse life experiences and help each other. These two perspectives accentuate the characters and their experiences. Nick, the Narrator in The Great Gatsby, is surrounded by people of the same social class. This revelation is first revealed on page six of Fitzgeralds text when Nick states: My family has been a prominent, well-to-do people in the Middle Western city for three generations (Fitzgerald, 6). Nick belongs to a family that made its money in a wholesale hardware while fostering the myth of their decent from the Dukes of Beuccleuch (Kerr, 407). His family is recognized in high so...

Beijing

I’m going to look at how Beijing’s (while mentioning China) climate will be affected and change if the average temperature will rise, creating global warming around the world. An overview of how Beijing’s weather and climate is currently. Average temperature in January is -7o to -4o C, while average temperatures in July are at 25o to 26  °C. Highest temperature ever recorded is 42 °C and lowest recorded is -27 °C. Annual precipitation is over 600 mm, with 75% of that in summer. Beijing is located in a high pressure area. Under the scorching sun in summer, heavy rainstorms also sees to occur late in the season. The citys climate is a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate characterized by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoons, and generally cold, windy winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Frequent typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean also influence the city but in a minor scale, most of the typhoons make their direction for Japan and never really reaches into Beijing. Springtime weather in Asia produces intense wind storm events that can pass over the Gobi Desert along the northern China / Mongolia. These prevailing westerly winds brings dust from the desert and trough suspension carries the sand dust via Beijing and further on. This threatens Beijing by a rolling tide of sand advancing on the capital from the Gobi Desert that is responsible for the massive dust storms every spring. If we then assume that the average temperature is rising, I think that the long term warming will cause a bit more spreading (in number) of natural hazards such as monsoons, (droughts), typhoons leading to more severe rainfall. Since the typhoons never really reaches the city but foremost Japan (due to the coriolis force/effect) the size and number may increase and then there will be more rain. Mostly this happens if the ocean currents are warm. The precipitation from both the monsoons and typhoons but also through convectional rainfall will eventually increase leading to e. g. floods (in coastal areas) and agricultural crops may die or grow (depending of what type of crops and its surrounding) more because of the intense rainfall. The temperature rises heating the land more which makes moist, warm air which becomes less dense and is forced to rise as strong convectional currents. In this picture below you can see were most of the precipitation occurs due to e. g. monsoons in the southern China, in the summer when there is strong solar radiation and the rain period is at its highest in Beijing. If we would see a similar picture but in present time or in about 10 years from now I would say that the color of amount precipitation in Beijing would be more in the blue scale. Because the winds bring more moist and rain clouds since the earth is moving. The climatic change may even change or disrupt the monsoonal pattern. In winter the temperature can be very low but if the global temperature rises I think so will the cold temperatures. It will not be as cold in the future as it is now. The Gobi Deserts sand dunes are already slowly expanding with winds blowing the sand towards the capital. In their wake, these massive dust storms have left entire towns abandoned and refugees left in a high number. The dust storms have probably also brought some weather effects due to the high altitude transportation of the sand. These winds are capable of generating huge yellow clouds of suspended dust which based on the direction of the prevailing wind can be sent out to sea to North America. And even have an impact on the visibility across different regions in the south western United States Part of the reason for why these dust storms are so severe, is maybe because the soil is so loose and fine. In addition to the fact that sandstorms cause such inconvenience in people’s lives, they also influence agricultural production, transportation and shipping, and other industries, and cause serious economic damage. The problem is overgrazing and deforestation which causes many land areas in China to become a desert. Due to this desert spreading that is getting closer to Beijing the government is planning to plant a â€Å"green wall† of millions of trees between Beijing and the sands. The plants should be planted to bind the soil more effectively. Some of the smaller rivers or lakes could even disappear due to the desert spreading cutting of water supply. And the larger rivers that transports some of the melting glaciers from the Himalayas could expand and lead to flooding in some cases. The air pollution from the city results in damage to air and water quality, agriculture and human health, with acid rain falling down. The climatic change will also have a great impact on the economy since they have to prevent some hazard from spreading far too much but the economy will also lose a lot of money if the agricultural farming is reduced every year. But if the rainfall changes the agricultural problem will give the economy a profit. Many people would have to leave their homes to try to find another place to grow their crops or move into the main city to try and find a job. Due to arable agriculture and overgrazing wind removes the soil so that soil erosion occurs. Then, during times of erosive rainfall or windstorms, soil may be detached, transported, and (possibly travelling a long distance) deposited. It has impacts which are both on-site (at the place where the soil is detached) and off-site (wherever the eroded soil ends up). As a conclusion Beijing will probably have more rainfall due to the monsoons and typhoons. The desert will increase or decrease (not expand as much) depending on how much it will rain and if the soil is nutrient enough to let vegetation grow. But if it increases Beijing will suffer from more dust storms as a thick layer of haze that can reduce direct solar radiation, it can have a dramatic impact on the visibility. It will also get warmer in the city since the air pollution is very high making a sort of cover over the area, thereby trapping the sun radiation from going back out into the atmosphere, making it more humid. The temperature will get higher during all seasons but in a slow process. The economic development may decrease because of manly the loss of agricultural land to soil erosion.

Ecotourism industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ecotourism industry - Essay Example Venice, Florida, is the place of implementing the action (Alexander 2013). Generally, nature walk opens up the area for positive interactions and dealings with the neighbourhoods. Inhabitants will particularly find prime chance to watch amazing beaches, fruit farms, waterfalls, rivers, and the vegetation cover. Nature Walk will further embrace tourists emanating from different parts of Florida and beyond its borders. Besides, the activity would help visitors discover and learn the cultural values and practices of the locals from different outlooks (Alexander 2013). Significance of Nature Walk to ecotourism and humanity is the critical aspect the project seeks to accentuate. According to the proposal, hospitality and tourism units of Venice city will play pivotal role in arranging and managing series of nature walks for different categories of people. First, the unit will accord residents and their families the opportunity to watch and feel the splendour of nature of Venice together w ith its neighbourhoods (Alexander 2013). All the revenues collected from the tourists and inhabitants shall assist in maintenance and repair of various ecotourism facilities as well as construction of advanced hanging bridges, pathways, eatery and boats. The array of activities that characterize nature walk will provide significant back up to environmental conservation and management policy (Alexander 2013). 2.0 Overview of Environmental Impacts Nature Walk and related activities have momentous impact on the environment and nature conservation approach. The negative impacts of nature walk include the following: i. Might result to destruction of wildlife habitation Such activity might contribute to widespread destruction of animals’ habitats. It is imperative to clear a part of the vegetation to pave way for establishment of pathways for tourists and residents. Since the activity contributes to destruction of certain habitats belonging to certain animals, birds, microorganisms in the soil among others, it is important that size and frequency of the pathways be regulated. Adults and even children taking part in the nature walk might accidentally cause fires in forests. Sometimes, they spill chemical substance in water hence putting at risk the lives of certain animals and aquatic life (Davis & Davis 2011). ii. Killing of wild animals Individuals who take participate in this activity might resort to killing or inflicting serious injuries on wild animals they come across for fear of their own security. Although the measure seeks to give assurance to participants of their safety and security, it is a threat to wildlife just like unauthorized hunting and poaching (Davis & Davis 2011). Rampant killing of certain rare species of animals might render such species becoming extinct. iii. A hindrance to wildlife movements Nature Walk will compromise unrestricted movements within the ecosystem. In the process, some animal species will migrate from the forest or wate r body as they scamper for safety. Killing of wild animals will further scare away such animals, which would then mean they are confined to their habitats for much longer period (Davis & Davis 2011). The higher the population of participants during the nature walk the more the animals get restricted to their habitats. iv. May lead to pollution of air, water and soil Careless fires, decomposing food items and chemical substances are a threat to the surrounding. 3.0 Environmental Benefits of Project Apart from the negative effects, nature walk result to a number of benefits to the environment. These include: Nature walk as an ecotourism activity will the locals realize the significance of conserving nature. The