Brazil Allows Police to Buy High Caliber Guns Essay Example for Free

Brazil Allows Police to Buy High Caliber Guns Essay The Brazilian military will now allow police and firefighters to buy powerful .45 caliber guns for personal use, raising fears over how the weapons will be used and where they might end up.Prior to the ruling, only federal police were permitted to buy .45 caliber weapons, while other police agencies carried less lethal .40 or .38 weapons. The new regulations open the way for civil, military, and transport police to purchase .45 handguns. The military command, which regulates gun sales in Brazil, said it changed the regulations in response to petitioning from state security forces. The move has already sparked controversy among some sectors. They are giving weapons to the police that they don’t know how to use. This is putting the safety of the police and the population at risk, a representative from violence prevention NGO Sou da Paz told O Globo. InSight Crime Analysis The decision to grant various police agencies access to more powerful weaponry is likely to prove controversial. Trust in the Brazilian police is low, amid widespread accusations of corruption, criminality and extrajudicial killings. Firefighters, who are allowed to carry weapons as part of the job, have also come under suspicion, with accusations that many form part of urban paramilitary groups while off-duty. The easing of the regulations could be linked to the ongoing conflict between criminal gang the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Sao Paulo police, which claimed the lives of at least 100 officers in 2012. The risk that rather than giving police another means to protect themselves, the increased availability of .45 weapons could only further fuel the conflict. Given past cases of Brazilian police selling weapons to criminal groups, there is a significant risk that these guns could fall into the hands of the gangs that are behind anti-police violence in much of the country. The high-power weapons could also end up being used by the vigilante militias that control many of Brazil’s favelas. Corrupt factions of the police and firefighting force are known to be members and collaborators of these militias.

Ethics in the Development of the Global Environment: Perception of Those in Power :: Essays Papers

Ethics in the Development of the Global Environment: Perception of Those in Power The mid-twentieth century was a powerful and revolutionary time in the history of the United States of America. It marked the beginning of the United States’ transition from a country that was built and perpetuated on biases and discrimination to a nation that was being inspired by and began to adopt new ideas of equality and social justice. During this period of time, various concerned individuals came together to form a variety of groups and organizations that committed themselves to bringing about these newly proposed social changes. These groups strove to make America aware of the social injustices that were, and to some extent, still are present in its society. Moreover these organizations made it of utmost priority to take the necessary measures to exterminate these injustices. These groups, while all striving for civil rights often had different fundamental ideas and beliefs as to what was the most beneficial set of circumstances for black Americans. This aspect of the Civil Rights Movement has proven to be the most problematic and consequently, has caused an immense amount of turmoil and disunity not only between white and black Americans but between people of the same race and ethnicity as well. Throughout history, it has proven to be a fact that power is a threat to power. In this, I mean that people who manage to acquire even the slightest amount of power are a threat to those who have established themselves in a position of power. Thus, those who are in these positions of power attempt to retain this power by depriving others of it. Slave masters, for example, deprived their slaves of the powers of knowledge and music in order to keep them ignorant and unable to communicate over distances, understand much vital information, or band together to overturn the established hierarchy of power. Furthermore, those slaves who rebelled, disobeyed, or challenged the slave master’s power were severely beaten, maimed, or killed; while those that took part in more subtle forms of disobedience, such as â€Å"accidentally† breaking farming utensils or failing to meet their quotas of work were often overlooked or perhaps slightly punished. While to simply disobey as th e passive aggressive slaves did was seen as unacceptable; the slaves that ran away or attempted murder on their masters acted in a new revolutionary manner. Ethics in the Development of the Global Environment: Perception of Those in Power :: Essays Papers Ethics in the Development of the Global Environment: Perception of Those in Power The mid-twentieth century was a powerful and revolutionary time in the history of the United States of America. It marked the beginning of the United States’ transition from a country that was built and perpetuated on biases and discrimination to a nation that was being inspired by and began to adopt new ideas of equality and social justice. During this period of time, various concerned individuals came together to form a variety of groups and organizations that committed themselves to bringing about these newly proposed social changes. These groups strove to make America aware of the social injustices that were, and to some extent, still are present in its society. Moreover these organizations made it of utmost priority to take the necessary measures to exterminate these injustices. These groups, while all striving for civil rights often had different fundamental ideas and beliefs as to what was the most beneficial set of circumstances for black Americans. This aspect of the Civil Rights Movement has proven to be the most problematic and consequently, has caused an immense amount of turmoil and disunity not only between white and black Americans but between people of the same race and ethnicity as well. Throughout history, it has proven to be a fact that power is a threat to power. In this, I mean that people who manage to acquire even the slightest amount of power are a threat to those who have established themselves in a position of power. Thus, those who are in these positions of power attempt to retain this power by depriving others of it. Slave masters, for example, deprived their slaves of the powers of knowledge and music in order to keep them ignorant and unable to communicate over distances, understand much vital information, or band together to overturn the established hierarchy of power. Furthermore, those slaves who rebelled, disobeyed, or challenged the slave master’s power were severely beaten, maimed, or killed; while those that took part in more subtle forms of disobedience, such as â€Å"accidentally† breaking farming utensils or failing to meet their quotas of work were often overlooked or perhaps slightly punished. While to simply disobey as th e passive aggressive slaves did was seen as unacceptable; the slaves that ran away or attempted murder on their masters acted in a new revolutionary manner.

Barriers In Language

`Foe` by J. M. Coetzee is the story of Susan Barton who lost her daughter and has gone searching for her – until she was jumped ship because of a mutiny. She became alone and a castaway and was washed ashore to an island. There she saw and met earlier inhabitants, Cruso and Friday. Cruso is an Englishman and he is in his mid-sixties. Friday is Cruso’s manservant. He is a slave of African descent. Friday has a speaking disability as his tongue has been cut by slave traders.Both Cruso and Friday does not intend to leave that island and continues with his constant activity of looking for food to eat; gathering stones and building them as terraces. After one year, Cruso, Friday and Susan were chanced upon by a trader. They were saved by the trader and took them on board his ship. Cruso was very ill at that time and could not do anything except to accept. However, Cruso dies before the group reaches England. They decided to throw the dead body of Cruso to the sea. It is only Susan and Friday who successfully made it back to England and decided to stay together as master and servant.In England, Susan looked for Daniel Defoe (or simply known as Foe), a publisher, who she thought would help her publish her memoir entitled â€Å"The Female Castaway†. Susan thought that the money she will earn from the publication will help her and Friday to sustain and support their needs. Susan and Foe eventually became lovers, but Foe takes Susan for granted and in the end could not really help Susan as he had to face so many problems of his own. Susan â€Å"Foe† is a novel that is considered as archetypal and post-modern. It illustrates a creative technique in languages of narration, of telling stories.The novel triggers the issue of whether there is a possibility of a true and right story – depending on who is telling it. Susan Barton as a survivor who lives to tell the tale about her life as a castaway with Cruso, deems to possess the authority ab out the truth of the story. However, as Foe is commissioned to assist in writing the story of Susan, the issue of how Foe interprets the story will create a difference. Foe considers zeroing-in on the story and characterization of Friday. Foe even believes that Friday can nevertheless be taught how to communicate, despite his tongue is cut.Friday can therefore â€Å"tell his story†, despite his inability to speak. Foe enlightens Susan that the struggle to tell a story can be surpassed in many other forms beyond speech. Susan on the other believes that her recounting and evaluating her analysis of Cruso would be the better part of the story in her memoir. Furthermore, Foe believes that the year long, boring experience of Susan in the island does not carry â€Å"much meat† to a story of struggle. Foe considers the incessant pursuit of Susan on her lost daughter in Bahia as a more forceful human element in narrating a story.Therefore, there is the reality of how stories c an change as it is perceived by the narrator or the story teller or the writer. Much as Susan wants to pursue writing her memoir by herself, she on the other hand acknowledges that she does not bear the flare and flow and fancy of the writing style of Foe. She is then faced with a compromise, yet a compromise that is nevertheless moot and academic as Foe cannot continue helping Susan due to his personal and financial problems. â€Å"The God of Small Things† by Arundhati Roy is an Indian novel of perpetual struggle towards pursuit of truth by a fraternal twins, Rahel and Estha.From their deplorabole childhood in Aymanam, Kerala, India, until they were reunited in their adult years, theirs is a story of emancipation from their deplorable past. Rahel and Estha are the children of Ammu and a Tea Estate Manager, whom Ammu marries as a way to escape the violence and injustices of her father, Pappachi Shri Benaan John Ipe. Eventually through the course of the marriage of their mothe r Ammu and father, the man becomes an alcoholic and becomes abusive and violent. Ammu left her husband and took her twins and she had no choice except to go back to her father, Papaachi.One day, Ammu became friends with a factory worker, Velutha. He belongs to the untouchable caste level of India’s society. And, they found that they are in love with each other. Definitely the family of Ammy highly deplores the arrangement. She was locked up in her room to prevent her from continually seeing Velutha. Rahel and Estha were so sad and affected by the state of their mother and asked her to explain to them why their situation is as such. Ammu in her anger tells the twins that they are the reason why she is in such situation.Ammu shouted at the twins and told them to go away. Thus, the twins did run away. However, the twins has a cousin Sophie, who is the daughter of Margaret and their Uncle Chacko. So, Sophie was the one who convinced the twins to go with her. During the night as t hey were escaping, the boat they were using capsized. As they were struggling to save themselves, Sophie drowns. The twins tried to find Sophie and/or her body but to no avail. They instead found a way to reach the other side of the river and sought refuse in an abandoned housea and they fell asleep.Rahel and Estha did not realize that in the other side of the house was Velathu for apparently that abandoned house is the secret meeting place of their mother Ammu and Velathu. The twins have an aunt, Auntie Baby Kochamma, the sister of Ammu. Auntie Baby Kochamma was the one who told the police that it was Velutha who caused the deathof Sophie – when her body was eventually found. Auntie Baby Kochamma also told the police that Velutha tried to rape Ammu and he kept on threatening their entire family and that Velutha wanted to kidnap the twins. The twins got frightened as to what their Auntie has been falsely telling the police.So they told the police what they really know about h ow Sophie died. The police saw how the complication is building up. As a communist, Velutha has many supporters. These supporters will rally against the authorities if the truth about the accusations were revealed. So the police told Auntie Baby Kochamma that until she forces the twins to change their story, the blame about the wrongful accusations will fall Baby Kochamma. What Baby Kochamma did was to further complicate the situation by telling the twins that if they did not change their story, they will all go to jail – the twins and their mother.As their mother is endangered by all of the circumstances, Rahel and Estha decided to change not push thru with their real story with the police. And they likewise testified that Velutha caused the death of Sophie. Ammu learned of what transpired and was deeply affected by the false accusations. She told the police look for the truth as what Baby Kochamma said are lies. Baby Kochamma and Ammu have a brother, Chacko, the husband of Margaret. Baby Kochamma convinced Chacko that Ammu and the twins are instead the real cause of the death of Sophie.Chacko got so mad at Ammu and sends her and her twins away from their house. Ammu sent Estha to her Tea Estate Manager father and Rahel stayed with her. Ammu eventually dies in poverty. Rahel as a grown up adult goes to the United States and gets married. When she likewise ended up in divorce she returns to Ayamman and she gets reunited with Estha. â€Å"The God of Small Things† is glaringly expose the magnanimous possibilities of abuse and corruption of children. There are things that adults sometime take for granted that leaves an indelible mark on children.Indeed as the story is a first person narration from the young eyes of Rahel, one of the twins – the events and the reaction of the twins are truly palpable. What they went through how one lie leads to another lie until everything that is happening to them becomes a perceived truth – i. e. , al l because of the consistency of lies. And considering that the only thing the twins were hoping for is the safety of their mother that they can eventually be safe with her and enjoy her love and that they can work towards a bright future.In one simple truth of a story to be twisted and turned and aggravated without them knowing why, they all of a sudden saw the bleakness and the defeat of all possibilities in their lives. Dwelling so profoundly on human nature, â€Å"The God of Small Things† illustrate the basic need of love and respect and the desire for basic happiness. Yet, the simplicity of such seemingly small things can be brutally ruined by malice and manipulations. Foe and The God of Small Things – are definitely about struggles.The common thread that the two stories share is about the challenges and tests of time that Susan Barton and even Friday (as a slave being traded) and the twins Rahel and Estha encountered in their lives. Both stories excruciatingly ill ustrate the desire of the characters to survive. To win over their challenging circumstances – which in the first place, especially in the eyes of the children are so undefinable and unexplainable as to why they were happening. The difference becomes distant because the approach and the effect of the struggles of Susan and Friday who are already in their adult age, becomes manageable.As Susan encounters the twist on her opportunity to have her memoir written, could figure a way out to achieve her goal. On the other hand in the case of the twins in â€Å"The God of Small Things†, they encountered their most diabolical circumstances at such tender age of innocence. Everything that transpired utterly confused them. Unknowingly and beyond their comprehensive and control, the twins were surrounded by utter Dysfunction: a country and a government struggling between democracy and communism; abusive and violent elders; immoral relationships among levels of society; due process of law that can be corrupted.Therefore, the glaring difference between the struggles of Susan and the twins is the very profound, palpable and heartwrenching sadness that the experience of the twins went through. â€Å"The God of Small Things† is a very sad story that can even linger with the reader for sometime. There is always the tendency to deeply sympathise with the struggles of children. However, both Foe and Small things are stories that bear very profound and strong lessons on humanism and sensitivity towards the truth. Part of winning or being victorious about any struggle is to achieve the truth.When Susan was deterred from having her true story told because Foe could not help her, she still stays intact and determined to find a way for her truth to be told. The extreme dire case of the twins kept them at bay with their truth. The twins do not even eventually get to conclude and understand what the truth is. It can therefore be gleaned that stories are not just eve nts and words. Choosing the right words to be said at the right time contribute to the betterment of narration and eventually the achievement of truth.Stories are likewise characters of conviction. It is the ability to tell the story with dignity, with strength, with determination. The composite feature of the story is how the story teller, the narrator, the writer would stand by with all his strength and all his faith about the story. The role of language therefore rests on the structure of words that befit the sentiment of the story should be put to its proper place. Between â€Å"Foe† and â€Å"The God of Small Things†, the determination for the stories of the characters to be told – is firm and powerful.

The Crucible – Rivalries Exposed in Act Three

The play is centred on the witch trials that actually took place in Salem, Massachusetts during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote about the event as an allegory for McCarthyism which occurred in the United States in the 1950s. McCarthyism was a time of great anti-communist suspicion in the late 1940s and 1950s. The key connections in the two occurrences were that many people were accused on little or no evidence and all of it was inconclusive.Also, characteristic was the hysteria in all the places where the problems struck. ‘The Crucible’, is structured around four main themes which are, hatred, feuding, revenge and conflict of authority. All these add equal twists in the play. Hatred is a strong theme throughout the Salem Witch Trials. The strictness of Puritan laws meant people were bound to break them, whether on purpose or by accident, and the strong religious views shared in Salem aroused suspicion for the most trivial of matters. As a result of this, feuding was inescapa ble.Petty rivalries caused many arguments in varying situations, and the resulting tense atmosphere in Salem resembled a rumbling volcano just waiting to erupt. The subsequent controversial court hearings would bring out the worst in some people and possibly the best in others. Before the play began many rivalries were already in existence. Adultery had been committed and aggressive disputes over land had occurred. Personality clashes and ancestral feuds had set families at loggerheads with one another.Consequently, when opportunities arose to make accusations, which could result in hangings, many villagers jumped at the chance with glee; thus setting up the third main theme of the play – revenge. The final main theme of ‘The Crucible’ is conflict of authority. In Salem, Massachusetts, the people had no official, outright ruler of their lands; so trials were bound to spark a dispute about authority. Salem’s folk had a reclusive leader of their Puritan chur ch, the Reverend Parris. He called in the learned Reverend Hale to investigate the witchcraft accusations.There were many officials of the court as well, including Cheever and the overall judges of the court, Danforth and Hathorne. All these characters had their own reasons to think themselves the deserved rulers of Salem. With many wise people living in the village, you could be sure that lots of heated discussions about who should be leader would occur. In the play, many characters are revealed to the audience, but one character we are familiar with from the start, is the village’s church leader, Reverend Parris.The whole chain of events could have easily been avoided had he been prepared to take a bit of criticism from the villagers, but Reverend Parris was too paranoid to allow that. This is ironic because the more he tried to stop trouble from arising, the more it actually happened. His main fear was that people were trying to uproot him and make him lose his place in th eir society. He was insecure. This is shown throughout the play, for example, in Act Three he says: Parris {in a sweat}: â€Å"Excellency, you surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court! This is an example of many different devices. The staging says he was ‘in a sweat’ because he was worried and this shows he was not a strong character. Also this comment is the first example of dramatic irony in Act Three. It was ironic because he was talking about Proctor lying, and Proctor wasn’t lying, however Parris was. This was also an exclamatory line. It was meant to persuade Danforth to believe Parris and not Proctor. This was the first of many dramatic techniques used to highlight Proctor’s and Parris’ rivalry. Its demonstration of Parris’ insecurity remains a key feature for the duration of the play.An insecure leader would not exhibit strength, allowing bolder characters to be able to affect his decisions concerning the comm unity. It also means he was swayed by others opinions. He didn’t have a definite mind of his own because of his paranoia of being uprooted. Before the start of the play, a strong dispute between Reverend Parris and John Proctor already existed. Although the rivalry was a key part of the entire play, it was highlighted in Act Three, as I have already shown. It’s the first rivalry to be exposed in this act.The rivalry reached its peak when John Proctor was falsely accused of compacting with the devil and Reverend Parris was trying to condemn him. This caused consternation throughout the village since John Proctor was portrayed as, and regarded as, a very intelligent man throughout ‘The Crucible’. He realised that the people accusing citizens of Salem of witchcraft were the guiltiest of all. This was one device Miller often used in this play – dramatic irony. When John Proctor was forced to defend himself he was quick to turn the accusations upon Abiga il Williams and Reverend Parris.As Parris was so bothered about the family’s good name, he could not let anything stand that might affect his reputation, and as Abigail was part of his family, he had to start defending her too. At this point in the play, both characters were trying to make the other look bad. A lot of facts were revealed to the court about both Proctor and Parris. As Proctor was being questioned about compacting with the devil, he was quick to point out that Parris had not mentioned the fact that he caught the girls dancing naked in the forest at the start of the play.Proctor [Taking it right up]: â€Å"Abigail leads the girls to the woods, Your Honour, and they have danced there naked -† Parris: â€Å"Your Honour, this -† Proctor [at once]: â€Å"Mr Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night! There’s the ‘child’ she is! † At this point in the play, Reverend Parris was forced to be very defensive. The fact tha t Proctor interrupted Parris showed how desperate each character was to get their point across first. With the staging saying ‘[at once]’ it conveyed the fact that Proctor did not want Parris to be given the chance to speak.Also, Proctor was very impolite in saying ‘child’ in the way he did since this would certainly offend Abigail. In the same act, Proctor also admitted the strength of his hatred for Parris. Parris once again questioned him on his attendance and Proctor was very truthful in his reply. The language Arthur Miller used at this point in the play revealed the degree of the mutual loathing and the putting of child in inverted commas showed Proctor’s disgust at the trust being invested in Abigail whom Parris regarded as ‘young’ and ‘innocent’.Parris: â€Å"Such a Christian that will not come to church but once in a month! † Danforth [restrained – he is curious]: â€Å"Not come to church? † Pro ctor: â€Å"I-I have no love for Mr. Parris. It is no secret. But God I surely love. † Parris was the first person to come out with an exclamatory line. He accused Proctor of not being a true Christian because of his poor attendance at church, but this only provoked Proctor to come back with an honest yet harsh reply, and he couldn’t be clearer in what he was saying.Even though throughout the play, their hatred for each other was made clear, this line was still key because it showed that Proctor was not afraid to admit, in court, that he did not like the clerical leader of Salem. I think this provides evidence that their rivalry was based on hatred. Proctor may have felt that Parris should rightfully be Salem’s church leader, but he did not agree with his policies and he did not believe he would be a good leader. Whilst their rivalry reached its peak in Act Three, their argument had, as noted, been ongoing throughout the play.For instance, in Act Two, as soon as Reverend Hale arrived, he was told to investigate the accused people’s household and it was clear that Parris was extremely quick to inform him that John Proctor attended church rarely compared to most. Proctor once again expressed his opinion in full and did not water it down. He was very truthful. Hale: â€Å"Good, then. [He makes himself a bit more comfortable. ] In the book of record that Mr. Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath Day. † Proctor: â€Å"No, sir, you are mistaken. † Hale: â€Å"Twenty-six time in seventeen month, sir.I must call that rare. Will you tell me why you are absent? †¦.. † This instantly showed that Parris had asked Hale to enquire about Proctor’s lack of attendance at church. Later in the conversation Proctor gave his foremost reason. Hale: â€Å"Mr. Proctor, your house is not a church; surely your theology must tell you that. † Proctor: â€Å"It does, sir, it does; and it tells me that a Minister may pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar. † This made it clear why Proctor disagreed with Parris’ power, as he did not believe he was focussed on God.It was ironic that Proctor just wanted to simply praise the Puritan way, whereas, the Puritan Minister had controversial ideas that went against a key part of his faith of keeping things simplistic. This was again a use of dramatic irony – a technique continued throughout the play. It was not spoken dramatic irony but its effect was nonetheless profound. Not only did Proctor and Parris have a rivalry, but so to did Proctor and Parris’ niece, Abigail. This rivalry was also set-up before the play began. Before the beginning of the play Abigail and John Proctor had had an affair. This all happened whilst Proctor had a wife.We discover in the play that only Abigail, John Proctor and Elizabeth knew of the affair and Elizabeth had found it in her heart to forgive John f or his wrong-doing. Although, John Proctor sincerely regretted the affair, there remained a complication in that Abigail still loved him. Abigail was blind to Proctor’s feelings; so she kept trying to rekindle their relationship, with no regard for Elizabeth. She wanted John for herself. Her desperation became so great that she stabbed herself in the stomach with a needle and tried to frame Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft. She says: Abigail: â€Å"Goody Proctor always kept Poppets! †In reality, Abigail had planted the poppet on Elizabeth Proctor to try and get her arrested and hanged. This exclamatory line was aimed at the court, and said thus because it had a greater dramatic effect. No other information was given to lend focus to that single point. The court took this very seriously as Abigail, ironically, had become the most trusted person in all Salem and effectively directed the court proceedings. Returning to the important exclamatory line spoken, in Act Three, by Proctor regarding Parris and Abigail, his two biggest rivals: Proctor [at once]: â€Å"Mr. Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night!There’s the ‘child’ she is! † Proctor’s exclamation aimed an attack at Abigail by referring to her as a ‘child’. This language exposed Proctor and Abigail’s rivalry. He said this because children were seen as innocent and reliable and knew Abigail was regarded as such by most of Salem. The exclamatory line was intended to put in bad light Abigail’s pretence of child-like innocence as a mask for her manipulative behaviour. It also reflected badly upon Reverend Parris since he was part of the same family. ‘Child’ is put in inverted commas in the script to emphasize its pejorative use as the main point of his exclamation.Throughout the play, Proctor wanted Abigail to be exposed for the ‘whore’ she truly was. In doing this he was even willing to ruin the exc ellent reputation that he had in Salem. When he admits to having an affair with Abigail, he loses the people’s respect, because he is considered to have sinned within a Puritan community. But, as we see during the entire play, John is not afraid to address unpalatable truths. John Proctor also physically attacks Abigail in the court, unable to keep a level head when he sees the trouble her lies are causing.The staging says, [Without warning or hesitation, Proctor leaps at Abigail and, grabbing her by the hair, pulls her to her feet. She screams in pain]. . . . [and out of it all comes Proctors roaring voice. ] Proctor: â€Å"How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore! † As we witness throughout the whole play, Proctor kept his temper well and for him to physically attack someone comes as a shock to the audience. It really shows how much he hated Abigail and how enraged she has managed to make him. His roaring voice shouts ‘Whore! Whore! ’ He is saying this becau se of their affair. It is in fact an accusation.Abigail actions seem to be motivated by a desire to seek revenge on John Proctor because he doesn’t love her. This is pathetic, for in doing this, she makes John Proctor’s feelings of loathing for her only the stronger. In the same act Proctor exclaims: â€Å"†¦She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He knows Abigail’s wish but does not agree with it and this exclamatory line lets everyone know he is against her. Abigail effectively takes the lead in making accusations although it is an unofficial role. She can accuse whoever she wants and the blind people of Salem are hooked on her every word.They never question her judgments or decisions until Proctor provokes Danforth to do so. Even then she avoids the question by quickly faking the sensing of a spirit, a device she frequently employs to get out of awkward situations; especially when Mary Warren finally stands up to her. But M ary is not at all confident in her accusations against Abigail. She has a really strong case, but as she doesn’t really want to accuse Abigail: aware of her strong character, she weakens and Proctor does more talking than Mary. Mary and Abigail’s is the shortest-lived rivalry. It actually only appears in Act Three and no other.Mary is acting as Proctor’s puppet and in the end the rivalry affects nobody except John Proctor who eventually is accused of compacting with the devil: Mary Warren [terrified, pleading]: â€Å"Abby! † Mary at this point is pleading. The staging shows she is terrified of Abigail. She is screaming Abigail’s name. It is not only the staging that shows Mary Warren’s fear but also the use of the exclamation mark. This reveals it is an exclamatory line and so adds to the tension because it is screamed. Act Three is a point in the play where Abigail has to be defensive.She does as she usually does and accuses Mary Warren of sending her spirit on the girls. You can see by the staging how fearful Mary is, not just of the court, but also of Abby. She screams Abby’s name, begging her not to accuse her and to stop lying, but Abigail’s character is too uncaring, too cruel, too persistent, too determined and too deeply committed to back out at this stage. She, Abigail, is such an amoral person, that she will see people hang rather than be told off for the dancing that occurs at the beginning of Act One. Another rivalry that centres on Act Three is that between Reverend Hale and Danforth.Throughout the Act, there is a clear conflict of authority. Reverend Hale, being a learned Church leader, knows Abigail is lying, and that the court is corrupt. We see Hale introduced in the first Act because Parris feels that such a clever man will put his village to rest. However, being a member of the church, Hale believes strongly in witchcraft and so it takes him a while to work out what is actually going on . When he eventually discovers the truth, the town has gone into hysteria, and with no official standing, he is powerless to stop it. In Act Three, he is treated by the court as a superfluous character.No-one wishes to listen to his point of view, and he holds no authority. Danforth is prominent in the court proceedings. He is only introduced in person in Act Three for the trials. His character is a very officious one. He is seemingly unconcerned by the fact that he is killing innocent people. He is just interested in following official court proceedings. He hates his trials being interrupted and so, he seeks to dismiss any inconvenient information likely to disrupt his foregone conclusions and therefore, ends up executing unfair trials. Hale notices this and is bitterly annoyed.The two of them have many arguments. In the arguments, they are always interrupting each other and shouting each other down. Each one of them always wants to get their point across first and though Hale has the more valid arguments, the fact that he has no power shows. Hale: â€Å"But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not – † Danforth: â€Å"That is precisely what I am about to consider, sir. What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity? † Hale [defeated]: â€Å"I surely do not. Sir. †¦Ã¢â‚¬  There are many examples of dramatic techniques that are used in this section.One can see how Danforth interrupts Hale. He also asks Hale rhetorical questions. He knows Hale cannot express his doubts about him in court without the likelihood that Danforth would try him for contempt. Hale knows that ultimately Danforth is in power. Additionally, Hale makes his final remark in a ‘[defeated]’ way realising there is no point in his arguing any further. Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams have a very indirect rivalry. They don’t have any face-to-face arguments, but they talk about each other, or carry out actions to hurt the other.As already noted, Elizabeth’s husband previously had an affair with Abigail. Naturally she is bitter and possibly jealous of the girl. But that is not shown in the play. Abigail’s hatred for Elizabeth is a lot clearer. She accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, and of harming her. When she sees Mary Warren, Elizabeth Proctor’s maid, putting a needle in a poppet she is going to give Elizabeth, Abigail stabs herself in the stomach just to get Elizabeth into trouble. This reveals her determination to be rid of Elizabeth. Giles Corey and Putnam have an enduring rivalry between.Their hatred for each other has been passed down through generations. Their disputes are always concerned with ownership of land. Giles: [over Proctor’s shoulder at Putnam]: â€Å"I’ll cut your throat, Putnam, I’ll kill you yet! † This quote shows Corey’s hatred for Putnam. The staging shows Corey was about to hit Putnam but Proctor res trains him. His exclamatory line says that Corey wants to kill Putnam. There is resentment between these characters because they can’t settle who owns what land. The dispute carries on into court and Corey is eventually tried for contempt of court.At the time in which ‘The Crucible’ was set if a man was condemned to death by law his family had no rights to his possessions. As Giles was a learned man, who had been to court many times, he knew that if he was pressed to death without pleading innocent or guilty, the trial would not have been complete. This would prevent his land from being taken from his family by Putnam. So, when he is having stones laid upon him to try and force him to plead innocent or guilty, he says nothing but ‘more weight’ and consequently dies.So, although Giles Corey loses his life, he keeps his land in within his family and thus succeeds in his aim to prevent it falling into Putnam’s grasp. In conclusion, Arthur Millerà ¢â‚¬â„¢s play ‘The Crucible’ has many dramatic devices used throughout its duration, but these become particularly prominent in Act Three. They are very effective in conveying the sense of hatred and tension between many of the characters. There are clear parallels to the society in which Arthur Miller found himself and through the vehicle f the play he expresses his disagreement with the court procedures, adopted by McCarthyism, which were in many ways similar to the ‘Salem Witch Trials’. There was a huge amount of paranoia within 1950s American Government, causing members to believe that innumerable communist people were trying to undermine their political ideas and destroy the American way of life by introducing communism. This paranoia and obsession grew, leading Senator Joe McCarthy to pass laws to restrict the activities of communists. This led to trials which resembled in many aspects the witch hunts which proceeded in Salem.Indeed the McCarthy era t rials came to be known as ‘witch hunts’. Highly visible investigations were conducted with much publicity, supposedly to uncover subversive political activity and disloyalty, however, they were really to harass and weaken the entire political opposition. The witch hunts in ‘The Crucible’ were similar in that they were also corrupt and weren’t really used to search for witches, but to accuse innocent people within Salem for ulterior motives, e. g. long-standing rivalries and feuds. Although set in the past, Arthur Miller’s play is a poignant reflection on the times in which he lived.

Benetton Family Essay Example

Benetton Family Essay Example Benetton Family Paper Benetton Family Paper a shoe manufacturer and distributor; Galli Filati S. p. A. , a producer of woolen yarn; and Columbia S. p. A. and Altana Uno S. p. A. , both licensed to produce and market under the Benetton trademark. To integrate group logistics, Benetton also acquired Azimut S. p. A. , Benair S. p. A. , and Benlog S. p. A. To enhance global production and marketing, Benetton built a factory in Argentina to add to facilities built the year efore in Brazil; acquired, incorporated, or sold marketing companies in various countries; opened stores in Warsaw, Moscow, and Cairo; listed on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges; planned to expand Benetton Cosmetics, which had operated in North America and Europe for the last three years, into the Japanese and South American markets; and entered into a joint venture with the Japanese trading company Marubeni, creating Benetton Shoes Corporation, to sell shoes in the United States and Canada. Negotiations also were made with Toyobo on joint plans to enter both the Japanese and Brazilian markets, and with Seibu-Saison to convert its license to a production and marketing joint venture. These developments were representative of Benettons strategy to first use licensees to gain wide exposure in new markets and then to convert the license into production and marketing joint ventures. Accordingly, growth also was accelerated by granting licenses to producers in noncompeting industries. The Home Colors trademark was developed by acquiring an interest in Eliolona S. p. A. , which was to produce linens under license agreements in Brazil and Israel and to sell them in European markets. A new joint venture called United Optical was formed between H. J. Heinz and the Italian manufacturer Anser to produce spectacles. Furthermore, W. I. D. E. Corporation was incorporated in the United States as a joint venture with Avendero S. p. A. to manage international forwarding and customs clearance operations. By 1989 exports rose to 65. 5 percent of total annual sales. To finance this expansion, Benetton aimed to attract investors in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Europe by making a capital issue of 24 million shares. In that year, Benettons holding company, Edizione Holding, reinvested its funds from the sale of financial services by buying Nordica, a ski equipment firm, for $150 million and soon acquired several other retail sports lines. Moreover, the trademark United Colors of Benetton was adopted. In the meantime, the Federal Trade Commission conducted a preliminary investigation to determine whether Benetton had violated federal statutes by failing to file as a franchiser but dropped the inquiry after Benetton asserted that contracts are negotiated by independent sales agents and that store owners pay no fees or royalties, even though they are required to follow stringent merchandising rules. In the late 1980s, Benetton gained additional competitive advantage by implementing global networking to connect sales and production. A oint-of-sale computerized program, which linked the shops to headquarters, was designed to handle order management, cost accounting, production control, and distribution support. Thus agents began booking 80 percent of each seasonal order six months in advance; the remaining orders were placed midseason and relayed to headquarters by computer. The point-of-sale program was replaced by late 1989, and Benettons decentralized operations were linked by a gl obal electronic data interchange network, which also included freight forwarding and customs applications. Although sales grew by 24 percent in 1990, Benetton lost $6. 6 million in the United States that year, and another $10 million in 1991, a loss of 28 percent since 1987. Thus in 1991 Benetton started to consolidate its stores in the United States as well as Europe, replacing the clusters of smaller stores with the megastore concept, which carried the full Benetton line. In addition, Benetton turned its marketing and sales efforts once again to developing markets in the Near and Far East and to Eastern Europe, and halved its dividend to have more funds for expansion and acquisition. In December, Benetton signed a joint manufacturing agreement with Alexanian in Egypt in light of plans to open 30 stores in that country, and in 1992, 12 stores were opened in Poland. A joint venture agreement was signed for manufacturing facilities in Armenia, which was to produce apparel for the Soviet market under the United Colors of Benetton trademark; future expansion plans came to a halt, however, owing to lagging productivity at this plant. To beat the worldwide recession and increase market share, in 1992 Benetton developed strategies to achieve the following goals: to improve operating margins, reducing prices by about 15 percent, increasing production volume, improving product mix, and taking advantage of the devaluation of the lira; to improve operating efficiency, reducing number of styles of its collection from 4,000 to 2,600, and acquiring and integrating the operations of four key former subcontractors; and to improve cash flows, refinancing short- and medium-term debt. The mix of items was improved by introducing sophisticated classic professional apparel through shops dedicated to these higher-margin product linesAnd for dress shirts, Di Varese for shoes, and Benetton Uomo and Benetton Donna for mature men and womenand by continuing to expand into the sporting goods market. By mid-1992, Benetton bought the remaining interest in Galli Filati and consolidated interests in four suppliers of woolen and cotton materials; now about 68 percent of the cost of production was represented by charges from subcontractors, compared with 87 percent in 1991. As a result, 1992 group sales rose 10 percent. By early 1993, Benetton had continued to close stores in the United States and, for production and marketing reasons, ceased operations at the Rocky Mountain plant in North Carolina. A technologically advanced factory opened at Castrette, Italy, which was designed to expand manufacturing capacity to 20 million pieces per year with about 15 people, using sophisticated robotic technology. Goods were now exported in greater numbers from Italy, where Benetton benefited from the abolition of the wage indexation system and the devaluation of the lira following its withdrawal from the exchange rate mechanism of the European Monetary System. At this point, Benetton had 32 factories, of which 27 were in Italy, and license agreements in 13 countries. In addition, Benetton decided to expand in developing countries, forming a joint venture with a major Indian manufacturer to produce linens and stationery, opening its 7,047th store, in Cuba, and transforming Benetton Mexico from a sales subsidiary to a manufacturing operation for the North American market. These developments, particularly the continued effort to rationalize production, resulted in Benettons stock reaching a five-year high. Consolidated revenues increased in 1993 by about 10 percent compared with the previous year, and net income rose 39 percent since 1990. Benettons global advertising campaign succeeded in generating a mix of praise and criticism and, ultimately, a fair amount of free publicity since about 1989. The ads, which were initially product-oriented campaigns on themes of multinational and multiracial harmony, eventually focused on institutional-oriented campaigns that featured documentaries on AIDS, sexuality, the environment, interracial relationships, and the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Although many of the ads became the subject of controversy and were withdrawn or banned throughout the world, the United Colors of Benetton ad campaign, which hinged on racial diversity, won Benettons art director Oliviero Toscani the UNESCO Grand Prix award. Despite the ad controversy, Benetton managed to maintain a sterling corporate image during Italian government kickback investigations conducted in 1993 that involved more than 5,000 of the countrys political and business elite. In fact, Luciano had gotten involved in national politics as part of a movement to overthrow the old system, and n 1992 was elected to the Italian Senate as a member of the Republican party. In 1994, however, Luciano retreated from politics, believing that the Italian government had met its objective, to devote himself to the family business. In early 1994, Palmieri diversified Benetton by planning substantial acquisitions of either well-known brands or companies in the developing world. One such expansio n was a joint venture agreement signed with Timex and Junghans Uhren to produce watches and alarm clocks. In addition, Palmieri planned to double turnover by 1996. To fund these ambitious plans, he placed 11 million shares in foreign markets. This issue was expected to raise the float from 20 to 30 percent, with the remaining stock controlled by the Benetton family. In the mid-1990s, Benettons efforts to crack the U. S. market appeared to run out of steam. While the companys clothing continued to attract European consumers, American shoppers turned away from the brand and its all too controversial advertising campaigns. The companys attempts to enter the Asian and Eastern European markets met with similar indifference on the part of consumers. In the meantime, the 1990s saw the rise of a new breed of trendy designer-retailers who soon were beating Benetton at its own game. Such names as HM, Zara, The Gap, Diesel, and many others began drawing consumers from Benetton stores. With its apparel sales in a slump, Benetton also faced a crunch from its effort to crack the sporting goods market. Since the late 1980s, the Benetton familys Edizione holding had been building up a portfolio of sporting goods companies, starting with its purchase of Nordica in 1989. By the late 1990s, the company had tennis manufacturer Prince, racquetball equipment maker Ektelon, the United States Rollerblade, and others, including golf equipment from Langert, skis from Kastle, and mountaineering boots from Asolo. These holdings were placed under a new unit, Benetton Sportsystem, which was then sold to Benetton S. p. A. between 1997 and 1998, for $300 million. Yet the sporting goods division never jelled with the company, and after years of posting losses, Benetton began selling off the sporting goods division. This process was completed in large part by 2003, with the sale of Nordica. In the meantime, Benettons problems with its clothing division deepened. The late 1990s saw the company attempt a massive licensing scheme, placing its brand name on items ranging from condoms to mineral water to wallpaper. As one consultant told Forbes: That is not a good sign. Its usually an indication that a brand is over the hill. Benettons desperation to recapture its former glory was highlighted by a distribution agreement reached with staid U. S. department store group Sears, Roebuck and Co. in 1998. The hoped-for sales never materialized. Worse, Benettons advertising campaign inspired only revulsion in the United States, when it launched its We, On Death Row campaign featuring prison inmates. The resulting controversy convinced Sears, Roebuck to pull out of its distribution agreement. Benetton continued to struggle into the 2000s, with a lack of focus and little enthusiasm for its clothing designs. The company appointed a new CEO, Luigi de Puppi, who was replaced in 2003 by Silvano Cassano, a former Fiat executive. At the same time, the Benetton family announced that it planned to draw back from the day-to-day operation of the clothing company. Cassano installed new management and led a revamp of the companys clothing designs and a redesign of its retail stores, with a focus on the groups 166 megastores. The company also launched a new brand, Sisley, featuring trendier, edgier youth fashions. By the end of 2003, as the companys sales continued to slipback to $2. 3 billion, Cassano announced plans to spend nearly $530 million on an effort to revitalize the companys retail offer. As part of that strategy, the company intended to introduce a new range of higher-quality goods, and diversification into cosmetics, accessories, and home furnishings. Benetton hoped to recapture the flair that had made it one of Italys major fashion success stories. Principal Subsidiaries Benfin S. p. A. ; Bencom S. p. A. ; Galli Filati S. p. A. ; Fabrica S. p. A. ; Benetton Fashion S. p. A. ; Benlong S. p. A. Benetton Services Ltd. (U. K. ); Benetton U. S. A. Corporation; Benetton Capital Investments N. V. (Netherlands); Benetton Holdings N. V. (Netherlands); Benetton International N. V. (Netherlands). Principal Competitors Industria de Diseno Textil S. A. ; The Gap Inc. ; Hennes Mauritz AB; Vivarte; Gruppo Coin S. p. A. ; Kiabi S. A. ; La Redoute; Charles Vogele Holding AG; Peek und Cloppenburg KG; Somfy International S. A. ; Cortefiel S. A. ; Mango S. A. Further Reading Benetton, Luciano, with Andrea Lee, Io e i miei fratelli: La storia del nostro successo, Milan: Sperling and Kupfer Editori, 1990. Benetton to Sell Rollerblade, WWD, January 7, 2003, p. 16. Camuffo, Arnaldo, and Giovanni Costa, Strategic Human Resource ManagementItalian Style, Sloan Management Review, Winter 1993, pp. 59-67. Carlson, Scott, Benetton Write-Offs Add Up to Loss, Financial Post, April 1, 2003. Cento Bull, Anna, and Paul Corner, From Peasant to Entrepreneur: The Survival of the Family Economy in Italy, Oxford: Berg Publishers Limited, 1993. Dapiran, Peter, BenettonGlobal Logistics in Action, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, volume 22, number 6, 1992, pp. -11. Edmondson, Gail, Has Benetton Stopped Unraveling? , Business Week, June 30, 2003, p. 76. Gallagher, Leigh, About Face, Forbes, March 19, 2001, p. 178. Harvard Business School, Benetton S. p. A. : In dustrial Fashion (case study), Boston: HBS Services, 1987. How Benetton Has Streamlined and Branched Out Worldwide in Casual Clothing Market: Case Studies from Academia, International Management, May 1985, pp. 79-82. Kaiser, Amanda, Benetton Invests $526m to Expand Range of Product, WWD, December 10, 2003, p. 2. Ketelhohn, Werner, An Interview with Aldo Palmieri of Benetton: The Early Growth Years, European Management Journal, September 1993, pp. 321-31. , An Interview with Aldo Palmieri of Benetton: The Return As CEO, European Management Journal, December 1993, pp. 481-84. Lee, Andrea, Profiles, New Yorker, November 1986, pp. 53-74. Pepper, Curtis Bill, Fast Forward, Business Month, February 1989, pp. 25-30. Stillit, Daniel, Benetton: Italys Smart Operator, Corporate Finance, June 1993, pp. 30-39. Vergani, Guido, A Family Affair, Harpers Bazaar, December 2002, p. S16. - Marina L. Rota; Updated by M. L. Cohen Sponsored Links Benetton Family Latest World News from the International source- FT. com FT. com Benetton Perfume Major Brand Names Perfume, Make up Cosmetics 50% off. Free Shipping. www. strawberrynet. com Biography: Benetton Benetton, founded in 1965, and initially producing fine colorful knitwear, expanded to become the largest apparel network in the world. Benetton Groups diversification into a wide range of products and activities and its often controversial advertising techniques made the Benetton name a household word. The Benetton clothing line was created by three brothers and their sister in a small knitting shop in Ponzano Veneto, Italy. When their father died, Luciano (born 1935) left school to work in a clothing store in order to support his mother, sister Giuliana, and younger brothers Gilberto and Carlo. Luciano developed promotional and commercial expertise as a clerk in a textile store in Treviso. Later, as a representative of small textile establishments, he built up contacts with the Roman knitting magnates who were helpful when the family expanded its operation. As president of the Benetton Group, Luciano led the expansion of family holdings, particularly in the 1990s. He served as a senator of the Italian Republic from 1992 to 1994. Luciano is the father of four children, including Mauro Benetton, marketing director of the Benetton Group. Giuliana Benetton (born 1937) gained her experience from ten years of handicraft work in knitting for women. She created new knitwear collections and oversaw product lines. Giuliana served on the board of directors of both Edizione Holding, the family owned financial holding company and Benetton Group. She is married and has four children. Gilberto Benetton (born 1941), vice-president of the Benetton Group, president of Edizione Holding, and president of Benetton Sportsystem, also handled all Benetton sponsorships of athletic events. Through the Benetton Foundation, he created a sports complex in Treviso, Cittadella dello Sport, which was open to the public. Gilberto is married and has two children. Carlo Benetton (born 1943) was involved with the manufacturing component of Benetton. He was responsible for production at headquarters and abroad. Carlo served as vice-president of Edizione Holding and was on the board of directors of the Benetton Group. He is the father of four children. Mauro (born 1962), eldest son of Luciano, began working for the Benetton Group as a student and later managed a shop in Paris. In 1985 he moved to Benettons headquarters in Ponzano, where he took charge of the relaunch of one of the Groups main lines, which then experienced a period of record growth. Mauro was appointed marketing director of the Benetton Group in 1992, at the age 30. The Benetton family combined and optimized their expertise in marketing (Luciano), production (Giuliana), management and finance (Gilberto) and technical know-how (Carlo). They aimed at the casual wear market with color to catch the eye, first only in woolens but later in cotton. When regional small plants producing stockings came upon hard times, the Benettons bought their equipment at bargain prices. Now they were ready for a spectacular expansion. Between 1972 and 1976, they expanded into all types of clothing, from jeans to gloves to a complete Benetton wear model. Going into the 1990s there were 14 family members in the business. The Benettons aimed to transform the fashion-fractionalized small handicraft style into an industry with minimum risks. To achieve this, they expanded in variety and size and decentralized production and distribution. They purchased large quantities of materials in raw form, benefiting from quantity discounts and controlling the processing (especially color) from its rawest form. However, 80 percent of production was performed in plants not owned by Benetton but controlled by the family. In distribution, various attempts were made to control all stores. At the beginning they would go into partnership with a friend who would in turn find others interested in having a Benetton store. Later, with international expansions, the holdings model was adopted, with the Benettons always having an exclusive contract. As a practical characteristic, the stores were about 400 square feet (while the competition was usually 1,500 square feet) and 50 percent of all working hours were dedicated to sales (the competition, 22. 5 percent). This is probably why Benettons productivity was four times greater than the competition. Still, the success of the Benetton model is due to their trust. They wanted the stores to be exclusively Benetton, but allowed the owners to have 51 percent of the holdings. The Benettons have always preferred to be partners with their producers and distributors rather than to seek vertical integration (where the managers of stores were salaried people with no direct share in the operation). The incentive was to make every representative a majority partner in his particular operation so that, as owners, they would strive to increase sales and profits. In the 1980s, the little 400-square-feet stores developed a turnover more than twice as large as those of competing companies. Specialization and standardization are the main instruments that allow high productivity. The Benettons found a happy mixture of personal incentives: outright ownership by each unit and overriding control of operations and a quality/product mix to conduct market penetration at low risk with high profitability. The family entered into other business ventures assisted by loans from financial institutions. They eventually purchased the large well-known shoe manufacturer, Varese. In time, they allowed larger store units, depending on the sales as calculated pieces per square foot. The 1980s saw a decline in the number of shops in the United States, but expansion into other global markets. Benetton increased the number of stores in the Far East and boasted 50 stores in China alone. By 1996 Benettons presence was felt in over 100 countries, with 7,000 sales outlets for their main brands of United Colors of Benetton, Sisley, and 012. The sales network included 80 branches and 800 staff responsible for independent stores in specific geographic areas. In 1996 the largest store opened for business in London, England. The Benetton magazine, Colors, was introduced, using multicultural messages the company had featured in its ad campaigns of the 1980s. In addition to their clothing lines, Benetton diversified into a variety of other enterprises through Edizione Holding. Acquisitions included Rollerblade, Prince tennis rackets, Nordica ski boots, Kastle skis, and Asolo hiking boots. Benetton, along with partners, also acquired Euromercato, Italys leading superstore chain and interests in GS-Autogrill markets and restaurants. Other product lines included watches, stationery, cosmetics, linens, eyewear, books, the Twingo Benetton car (in collaboration with Renault), and a line of pagers through an agreement with Motorola. By 1995 Benetton sponsored sports teams in volleyball, basketball, and rugby. Benetton team Formula One World championships include the 1994 and 1995 World Drivers championship and the World Car Makers championships. In the 1990s Benetton came under criticism for its use of controversial images in its advertising campaigns, including those depicting war, AIDS, racism, violence, and homelessness. While Benetton was pressured into removing offensive ads from billboards, the same ads were critically praised for their sociopolitical statements. A number of lawsuits were filed against Benetton by shopowners who claimed that the ads had caused a drop in sales, but these charges were difficult to prove. A downturn in the European economy impacted sales during this period. The images used in the ad campaign have been included in museum collections around the world and continue to spark debate. Benetton, independently and in conjunction with other groups and organizations, contributed to many initiatives aimed at social problems. Examples include a 1995 campaign aimed at generating AIDS awareness in India. Support for War Child, a charity that helps children in war zones around the world, has also been praised. Autographed Toscani posters were offered to visitors at a clothes show event in exchange for donations to War Child. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations invited Benetton to create a communications campaign for the first world food summit held in Rome. Benettons use of information technology facilitates the management of the global business from Ponzano Veneto. Students from around the world study at Fabrica, Benettons arts and communications research center near Treviso, learning communications in all its forms and using the new technologies that will take them, and Benetton, forward into the future. Further Reading Additional information on the Benetton family can be found at their official Web site, ; in Business Month (February 1989); Business Week (March 5, 1990; April 10, 1995); Los Angeles Times (January 23, 1994; April 21, 1996); New York Times (November 23, 1993; March 20, 1997); Washington Post (January 21; August 29, 1995); and in Italian language references: P. Calvani, Perche tutti copiano il modello Benetton Espansione (1986); Giuseppe Nardin, La Benetton (1987); E. Rullani and A. Zanfei, Benetton: invenzione e consolidamento di un sistema internazionale, Bolletino Ospri (1984); G. Turani, Benetton sbarcheraa Milano e Wall Street, La Repubblica (December 15-16, 1985). Sponsored Links Musto Nautica on-line Cerate, accessori, maglie, HPX Spediti con 9 euro, garantito! www. ilmarinaio. com/Musto Benetton Find Solutions for your Business. Benetton, Info. Registration! www. KnowledgeStorm. com Modern Design Dictionary: Benetton (established 1966) By the early 21st century the Italian multinational company Benetton had become one of the largest retailers in the world with outlets in more than 120 countries. The company markets four different brand identities: United Colours of Benetton casual wear for the family; Sisley for older consumers; 012 baby and toddler clothing; and Playlife sportswear. Within a dozen years of its establishment this clothing manufacturing company, founded near Venice by Luciano Benetton, commenced its programme of international expansion. This was helped by the standardization of the companys retail outlets, which were designed in such a way as to show off Benetton products in an alluring manner. Benetton was quick to utilize computing systems in the automation of its operating processes, both in the manufacture of clothing and in the monitoring of stocks and sales. As such, the company was an early exponent of the Just in Time production and distribution system, a philosophy that a number of progressive manufacturer-retailers adopted in the late 20th century. In northern Italy in the early 1990s Benetton built two new factories that utilized advanced computing technology in the linking of production controls with an efficient ordering and distribution system. Benetton became widely known for its dramatic, and often controversial, advertising campaigns directed by the fashion photographer Oliviero Toscani. These centred on themes such as ‘All the Colours of the World’ (1984), ‘United Colours of Benetton’ (1990), and ‘HIV Positive’ (1992). The company also captured tremendous publicity through its involvement in Formula 1 motor racing, televised throughout the world. Sponsored Links Il Tuo Bazar on Line Acquista in sicurezza da casa tua con un semplice gesto! www. mercatissimostock. com Bedava Video Benetton Milyonlarca Videoyu Izleyin ve Paylas? n! 4dh. com/Video Modern Fashion Encyclopedia: Benetton Spa (Italian sportswear firm) Founded: by Giuliana (1938- ), Luciano (1935- ), Gilberto (1941- ), and Carlo (1943- ) Benetton, in Treviso, in 1965 as Maglificio di Ponzano Veneto dei Fratelli Benetton. Company History: First Benetton outlet opened in Belluno, Italy, 1968; first shop outside Italy, in Paris, 1969; launched major European expansion campaign, from 1978; first U. S. store, New York, 1979; first Eastern European shop, Prague, 1985; went public in Milan, 1986; formed Benetton Sportsystem SpA, 1989; opened huge stores in Paris, London, Barcelona, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Vienna, Prague, and Sarajevo, 1994; opened 50 shops in China and factory in Egypt, 1995; opened London megastore and New York flagship, 1996; bought sports group from parent company, 1997; formed Benetton USA with Sears, 1998; introduced Playlife stores, 1998-99; dumped by Sears, 2000; concentrated expansion in U. S. , 2001. Company Address: Via Chiesa Ponzano 24, 31050 Ponzano Veneto, Treviso, Italy. Company Website:www. benetton. com. In recent years the Benetton Group of Italy has become better known for controversial advertising campaigns than for the brightly-colored knitted sweaters with which the company was founded in 1965. As part of a well defined global strategy to make the Benetton name as well known as McDonalds or Coca-Cola, the sibling members of the Benetton family- Gi uliana, Luciano, Gilberto, and Carlo Benetton- created a multibillion-lire business with an ever growing cadre of shops in 120 countries worldwide. The company is a leading producer and retailer of casual apparel and sports-related goods, as well as licensed accessories such as cosmetics, toys, swimwear, eyeglasses, watches, stationery, underwear, shoes, and household items. Benetton collections are aimed at young people and children, but over the years have been adopted by consumers of all ages. United Colors of Benetton attempts to transcend gender, social class, and nationality by manufacturing knitwear that exemplifies a philosophy of life. This was explicitly reflected in longtime creative director Oliviero Toscanis 1983 advertising campaign Benetton- All the Colors of the World. The campaign depicted groups of children representing all walks of life wearing colorful Benetton garments. Subsequent campaigns commented on political and social issues including religion, sex, terrorism, race, AIDS, and capital punishment, without depicting actual Benetton garments. A number of controversial campaigns were banned by advertising authorities, fueling unprecedented media coverage. Similar in attitude to the California-based Esprit company, Benetton epitomizes the values of a generation of young, socially aware consumers. Garments are designed to be fun, casual with an easy-to-wear cut. Inspiration is often drawn from past sentiments but produced with a contemporary twist, like 1950s ski fashions in high-tech synthetic ice-pastel fabrics, 1960s tailored suits in herringbone, 1970s disco garments with sequins and leather combined. Other collections have been based on themes such as the Nordic for little girls, designed in new fabrics like fleece, and Riding Star, drawn from the world of horseback riding. In keeping with the companys cosmopolitan attitude, collections have also been drawn from Benetton family travels. In the beginning, Benetton sweaters were hand-knit by Giuliana in bright colors which distinguished them from existing English-made wool sweaters. The first collection consisted of 18 pieces, the most popular item being a violet pullover made from cashmere, wool, and angora. Todays apparel, of course, is produced on a much grander scale, using high-tech manufacturing and innovative marketing strategies. Benetton is certainly one of the most progressive clothing manufacturers in the world; yet its rapid rise has not come without a price. Profits fell off sharply after a lower-price initiative backfired in 1994; the European recession forced the closure of nearly 600 stores; its cosmetics division produced dismal results; then came family squabbles, and court battles with a group of German retailers who refused to pay for merchandise after another of Benettons controversial ad campaigns (eventually resolved in Benettons favor). By 1995 a seemingly wiser Benetton had toned down its often offensive ads, belatedly realizing the shockwaves cost the firm time and money in having to defend its position. Instead, the firm concentrated on making money and much of it came from the expansion of sister firm, Benetton Sportsystem SpA, which unabashedly pursued its intention of becoming the worlds largest sports equipment and accessory company. While Sportsystem was busy acquiring Rollerblade, Nordica, Langert, Prince, and others, Benetton was fielding major losses in the U. S. market. By the end of the century, Benetton had opened a factory in Egypt and built megastores in London, New York, San Francisco, Moscow, Riyadh, Berlin, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. In a slick move, Benetton purchased a majorty stake in its sibling, Sportsystem, effectively segueing into the sporting goods and activewear industry, then introduced and stocked a chain of sporty stores called Playlife. To bolster its U. S. presence, the firm formed a joint venture with Sears (Benetton USA) and saw that alliance collapse after another provocative ad campaign (We, on Death Row) enraged everyone from consumers to politicians in 2000. Benetton had finally gone too far with its shockvertising- not only did it lose the lucrative contract with Sears and part ways with creative director Toscani after 18 years, but was forced to issue a formal apology to the families of those murdered by its poster-boy Death Row inmates. Ironically, a newer, gentler Benetton arose in 2001, surprising everyone with its low-key ads similar to those made popular by Gap. Generally panned, Benetton, as usual, ignored its critics and set about doing what it did best- selling Benetton. With new stores planned for a multitude of high profile cities in the U. S. , Carlo Tunioli, executive vice president for Benetton USA, promised a bit of the old-style advertising in the near future. Benetton will always be loyal to its brand DNA, which means social statement, Tunioli explained to Womens Wear Daily (20 March 2001). Benetton will keep working in that direction, but much will be focused on product. It may be controversial, but were not going to be controversial in the way you used to see Benetton. Time will tell if that holds true. Publications On Benetton: Books Baker, Caroline, Benetton Colour Style File, London, 1987. Belussi, Fiorenza, Benetton: Information Technology in Production Distribution, Brighton, 1987. Aragno, Bonizza Giordani, Moda Italia: Creativity and Technology in the Italian Fashion System, Milan, 1988. Mantle, Jonathan, Benetton- The Family, the Business, and the Brand, New York, 1999. Articles Bentley, Logan, The Tightknit Benetton, in People, 15 October 1984. Lee, Andrea, Being Everywhere: Luciano Benetton, in the Ne wYorker, 10 November 1986. Coleman, Alix, A Colourful Career, in the Sunday Express Magazine (London), 20 September 1987. Fierman, Jaclyn, Dominating an Economy, Family-Style: The Italians, in Fortune, 12 October 1987. Finnerty, Anne, The Internationalisation of Benetton, in Textile Outlook International (London), November 1987. Alessandro Benetton, in Interview, April 1988. Fuhrman, Peter, Benetton Learns to Darn, in Forbes, 3 October 1988. Griggs, Barbara, The Benetton Fratelli, in Vogue (London), October 1988. Tornier, Francois, Les 25 ans de Benetton, in Elle (Paris), 1 October 1990. Baker, Lindsay, Taking Advertising to Its Limits, in The Guardian (London), 22 July 1991. Kanner, Bernice, Shock Value, in New York, 24 September 1992. Waxman, Sharon, The True Colors of Luciano Benetton, in theWashington Post, 17 February 1993. Rossant, John, The Faded Colors of Benetton, in Business Week, 10April 1995. Forden, Sara Gay, Luciano Benetton Sees a Rosy Future Despite Cloudy Days, in W omens Wear Daily, 20 April 1995. Levine, Joshua, Even When You Fail, You Learn a Lot, in Forbes, 11 March 1996. Rossant, John, A Cozy Deal at Benetton, in Business Week, 28 July 1997. Edelson, Sharon, Benettons U. N. Mission, in Womens Wear Daily, 3 April 1998. Sansoni, Silvia, The Odd Couple, in Forbes, 19 October 1998. Seckler, Valerie, Benettons Global Game Plan, in Womens Wear Daily, 1 July 1999. Garfield, Bob, The Colors of Exploitation: Benetton on Death Row, in Advertising Age, 10 January 2000. Sears Drops Benetton, in Womens Wear Daily, 17 February 2000. Gallagher, Leigh, About Face, in Forbes, 19 March 2001. Moin, David, Megastore Buildup: Benettons Game Plan for U. S. Recovery, in Womens Wear Daily, 20 March 2001. TealTriggs SydonieBenet Sponsored Links Benetton Fragrances Top brands at cheap prices Fast delivery of genuine products www. CheapSmells. com/Benetton Mujeres sexy en el chat Iniciar ahora gratis ? No necesitas registrarte! www. sms-contactos. es Wikipedia: Benetton Group Benetton Group TypePublic (NYSE: BNG) FoundedTreviso, Italy (1965) HeadquartersVilla Minelli, Ponzano Key peopleLuciano Benetton, Chairman Giuliana Benetton, Director Gilberto Benetton, Director Carlo Ben etton, Deputy Chairman Industry Clothing Products Complete list of Benetton brands Revenue â‚ ¬1,8 billion (2005) Employees 7,987 (2005) Website www. benettongroup. com Benetton Group S. p. A. (NYSE: BNG) is a global clothing brand, based in Treviso, Italy. The name comes from four members of the Benetton family who founded the company in 1965. Benetton Group is listed on the Borsa Italiana, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. The career began in 1955 when Luciano Benetton, the eldest of four children, was only 20 years old and working as a salesman in Treviso. He saw sales for colourful clothes. He sold a younger brothers bicycle in order to buy the first second-hand knitting machine, and began to market a small collection of sweaters to local stores in the area of Veneto. The positive reaction to his designs was only the beginning of a solid start. Soon after, he asked his sister and his two younger brothers, Giberto and Carlo, to join him. In 1968, the Benettons opened their first store in Belluno and the year after in Paris, with Luciano as chairman, his brother Giberto in charge of administration, their younger brother Carlo running production, and Giuliana as a chief designer. Its core business is clothing with the casual line marketed as the United Colors of Benetton, a fashion-oriented Sisley division, Playlife leisurewear, and Killer Loop streetwear brands. Their products include womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and underwear and they have recently expanded into toiletries, perfumes, exclusive watches and items for the home such as kitchen accessories and baby products. The United Colors publicity campaign originated when photographer Oliviero Toscani was given carte blanche by the Benetton management. Under Toscanis direction ads were created that contained images unrelated to any actual products being sold by the company; a deathbed scene of a man (AIDS activist David Kirby) dying from AIDS, a bloodied, unwashed newborn baby with umbilical cord still attached, two horses mating, close-up pictures of tattoos reading HIV Positive on the bodies of men and women, a collage consisting of genitals of persons of various races, a priest and nun about to engage in a romantic kiss, and pictures of inmates on death row. The companys logo served as the only text accompanying the images in most of these advertisements. Criticisms Benetton has faced criticism from Mapuche organizations, including Mapuche International Link, over its purchase of traditional Mapuche lands in southern Argentina. [1] Benetton aroused suspicion when they considered using RFID tracking chips on clothes to monitor inventory. A boycott site alleges the tracking chips can be read from a distance and used to monitor the people wearing them. [2] Issues of consumer privacy were raised and the plan was shelved. PETA launched a boycott campaign against Benetton for buying wool from farmers who practiced mulesing. Benetton has since agreed to buy nonmulesed wool and has further urged the wool industry to adopt the PETA and Australian Wool Growers Association agreement to end mulesing. [3] Most Benetton locations in Canada and in the United States do not stock any of their mens collection or will carry only a small fraction of the col lection. Unlike comparable clothing retailers such as Gap, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Abercrombie Fitch and Eddie Bauer, Benettons does not list prices for their merchandise on their official websites. See also Benetton family Benetton Formula Benetton Basket basketball club Benetton Rugby Sisley Treviso volleyball team External links United Colors of Benetton FABRICA (Benettons center for design research) regimbald. ca/Benetton/index. html oot. it 21investimenti. t Benetton vs. Mapuche: land recovery in Patagonia Benetton brands= Sisley Playlife Killer Loop Undercolors This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer) Donate to Wikimedia Sponsored Links Free PowerPoint Templates 300 Ready for You to Download Now, Make Your Presentations Look Great! PowerBacks. com publicite benetton Medias Publicite : lActualite Audiovisuel Cinema sur Le Figaro

The Cats Pajamas

The Cats Pajamas The Cats Pajamas The Cats Pajamas By Maeve Maddox Not everyone loves cats, but the language has its share of expressions coined from the appearance and behavior of these slinky domestic companions. The slang of the 1920s leaned towards expressions involving animal anatomy, giving us the cats meow and the cats whiskers, both meaning outstanding! It also gave us a non-anatomical cat expression the cats pajamas, meaning the absolute best or really modern and up-to-date. NOTE: Pajamas were a fairly recent cultural adaptation in the 1920s. The word derives from Hindi pajama, the word for loose trousers tied at the waist. Europeans living in the East adopted the comfortable style for nightwear and the fashion eventually found its way to the West. British spelling favors pyjamas. cat In the 1920s a slang word for flapper was cat, (hence the connection of the cats pajamas to the idea of modernity), but in black slang the word meant man, guy, dude. What it means to call a person a cat varies according to context. To call a man a cat is to imply that hes cool. To call a woman a cat is to insult her. catnap a short sleep, usually in the daytime. I suppose power nap is the more current term. Question: what does one wear while taking a cat nap? Answer: Why, the cats pajamas, of course! having no room to swing a cat being in a confined space. When I was little, I imagined a poor cat being swung through the air by its tail. I finally learned that the cat in this expression derives from a term for a whip used to flog sailors in the Royal Navy in the old days. It had nine thongs instead of one. to rain cats and dogs to rain very hard; possibly from the expression to fight like cats and dogs. catkin the furry flowers of trees like willow, birch and oak. The name derives from the soft, pettable texture of the flowers. catcall rude remarks shouted at sporting events catfish a fish with whiskers. (Yum) catwalk a high narrow walkway like those seen on construction sites. The idea is that only a cat could keep its balance. cats-cradle A game in which a string is looped on the fingers to form an intricate pattern between a players hands that can be successively varied or transferred to another players hands. Whether the word derived from the animals name is anyones guess. catsup A condiment consisting of a thick, smooth-textured, spicy sauce usually made from tomatoes. This word has absolutely nothing to do with cats and, in its original form, had nothing to do with tomatoes. Its from Malay kichap from Chinese koechiap brine of fish. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, catsup (earlier catchup) is a failed attempt at Anglicization, still in use in the U.S. Apparently it was the Americans who added the tomatoes to the original concoction. Also spelled ketchup. catty-corner directional word, meaning that something is diagonally across from something elseanother cat word that has nothing to do with cats. Originally cater-corner. The cater is from an English dialect word meaning to set or move diagonally. Because that cater dropped out of the language, folk etymology got busy and now we have all kinds of cat variants for this concept: catty-cornered kitty-corner kitty-cornered catty-corner cat-a-corner kitty-corner kit-a-corner Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Types and Forms of HumorPeople versus Persons10 Functions of the Comma

Operating (income) statement, statement of cash flow and balance sheet Personal

Operating (income) , of cash flow and balance sheet - Personal Statement Example A ratio of more than 1 indicates that the firm is not efficient in generating revenues. The working capital position of the hospital is not good. The current ratio is 0.21 in 2004 and 0.32 in 2003. The ideal current ratio is 2:1. The current ratio of the hospital signifies that it will not be able to pay off its obligations at this point of time. The company’s financial health is not at all good and is heading towards bankruptcy. If the hospital is unable to meet its current obligations then the operations will come to a standstill or halt (Troy, 2008, p xviii). The biggest concern is the hospital’s ability to continue as a going concern. There are no adjustments made to the financial statements which could reflect the possible recovery or revival of the hospital. The working capital deficiency and recurring operating losses has created doubts on the existence of the entity. In its present form the hospital requires additional financing to meet its working capital requirements but it will take them into more of a debt trap if they take loans for that additional financing. Sustainable profits are dependent on the increase in the utilization of Hospital’s services for which the hospital has to increase awareness among consumers and this will again call for incurring cost on advertisements and promotion of their services. The working capital position of the hospital is such due to the uncollectible accounts and the unwanted loan burden. The recurring losses can be reduced by taking some strict cost cutting measures. I would recommend you to reduce contractual allowances, take some measures to curb uncollectible accounts and free care, and reduce unwanted expenses which would enhance the profitability of the hospital. If uncollectible accounts are collected and the loans are curbed then the working capital position will improve and therefore will lead to revival of the