General Gordon of Khartoum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

General Gordon of Khartoum - Essay Example The Arab and African merchants handled the inland trade of commodities and slaves. After the abolition of the slave trade by the British in 1807, they started patrolling the coasts, seizing other countries’ slave ships. Within the last twenty years of the 19th century, rivalries and conflicts in Europe started affecting individuals in Africa directly. Over the last years of the 19th century (1880’s), the European powers shared African territories among themselves without the consent or will of the people living there. They had partial understanding of the land they had acquired (BBC 2013, p1). Political rivalry, commercial greed, and territorial ambition all instigated the European scramble for Africa. This climaxed in the Africa’s partition during the 1884-5 Berlin Conference. The whole process that is the partitioning of Africa became famously identified as the scramble for Africa. In the last half of the 19th century, the disjointed patchwork of trading coloni es, understandings, protectorates, and alliances yielded to sweeping transformations enforced by the Europeans. The French and the British were determined to make things right and institute a clear administrative hierarchy composed of the Europeans (at the top) and Africans (at the bottom) (BBC 2013, p1). On the other hand, a number of the oldest trading countries in Europe left Africa and the other set of players emerged. The Danes and the Dutch abandoned the continent while Belgium, Italy, and Germany moved into the continent. Elsewhere the mineral riches of Africa dazzled and fixated European adventures. However, casual commercial connections were replaced by methodical control and exploitation. At the beginning of the 19th century, the European hold of the African geography was restricted mainly to the coastal regions. However, before the end of the century, Europeans were spanning the continent with roads and railways. Now it was easy to take control of the continent both comme rcially and politically (BBC 2013, p1). The Scramble for Africa â€Å"had the effect of defusing and displacing tensions between the European powers in Europe, but eventually the tradeoffs and alliances could not disguise the fact that Imperial Germany was on a collision course with Britain and France† (BBC 2013, p1). For the first time, the African people found themselves pulled into conflicts, which had its sources in London and Berlin war rooms. The moral bravado of the European powers, purportedly representing reconciliation and order, civilization, and wisdom, soon broke into the destruction, death, and chaos of World War I (BBC 2013, p1). It is important to note that, in Africa, the Europeans were strangers but by aggression, settlement, and trade they became by different levels part of the inside (Connah 2004, p175). General Charles George Gordon’s Experience in Khartoum Sudan In the year 1882, Mohamed Ahmed (also referred to himself as Messiah or Mahdi) invited all the true believers to join in the holy war against Christians. Most people especially wild tribesman heeded to his call, and in the following, he conquered an army of close to eleven thousand Egyptians and English that had tried to subdue the revolt. England was forced to leave the province. However, thousands of Europeans who had sought asylum in Khartoum and other towns had to be rescued from their

Enviromental Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enviromental - Assignment Example Mass of Ozone in troposphere = 2.28Ãâ€"1013g. Similarly, it means 3 ppm = 3 volumes of Ozone gas/106 volumes of air. Ppmv of Ozone in stratosphere = (ppm/MW) Ãâ€" 22.4. Therefore, ppmv = (3/48) Ãâ€" 22.4 = 1.4ppmv. This means that 1 million volumes of air have 1.4 volumes of Ozone by mass. 1 million volumes of air in stratosphere represent 2.5Ãâ€"1020 g of air. What about 1.4 ppmv of Ozone? Mass of Ozone = (1.4Ãâ€" 2.5Ãâ€"1020)/1Ãâ€"106. Mass of Ozone = 3.5Ãâ€"1014g. Partial pressure, Px = CxÃâ€"P where Px is partial pressure, Cx is the partial concentration of gas x and P is the entire pressure. N2O, MW of 44, has a concentration of 0.31ppm at ground level. Ne, MW of 20, has concentration of 18 ppm at 30km. Pressure of Ne with respect to the altitude of 30 km is given by Pa = 0.9877a, where a = altitude in 100’s of meters. Therefore, Pa = 0.9877300= 0.0244atm. Partial pressure of Ne = 18ppmÃâ€"0.0244 = 0.44 atm. Partial pressure of N2O = 0.31Ãâ€"1 = 0.31 atm. Therefore, Ne has a greater partial pressure that N2O. 100% relative humidity represents 0.031atm H2O. On the other hand, liquid water is present at 100ug/m3. Assuming a temperature of 25oC, then we will convert ug/m3 into ppmv using the formula ppmv = (mg/m3 Ãâ€" oK)/ (0.08205 Ãâ€" MW). With respect to water vapor, ppmv = (0.1 mg/m3 Ãâ€" 298)/(0.08205 Ãâ€" 18). Ppmv = 20.18. Using PV = nRT, then moles of air in 1 mol of gaseous mixture = 1Ãâ€"106 / 6.023Ãâ€"1023 = 1.66Ãâ€"10-18. Converting moles into volume we get 4.06Ãâ€"10-14 cm3. Therefore, the urban atmosphere contains 20.18 molecules of liquid H2O /4.06Ãâ€"10-14 cm3 of air. On water vapor, 30% relative humidity represents (30 Ãâ€" 0.031)/ 100 = 0.0093 atm. In 1 atm, volume of gas = 24.45L, in 0.0093 atm, volume of vapor = (0.0093 Ãâ€" 24.45)/1 = 0.227L. Based on theory, 1 mol = 24.45L (Dr Richards 01). Therefore, 0.227L contains (0.227Ãâ€"1)/24.45 = 0.0093 molecules/L. In terms of cm3, the atmosphere has 9.3

Introduction to american civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction to american civilization - Essay Example By the 1840s, steam powered locomotives became the major source of traveling and transportation in the United States. The railroad was used to transport large items which reduced the costs of transportation. By the 1880s, electric railways were being used for transportation in cities like New York (Steven, 2006). The Transcontinental Railroad brought much profit and efficiency to organizations and individuals in the United States. The Industrial revolution allowed the massive cultivation of the American West with the use of new farming techniques and mechanization. This led to efficiencies in production and the railroad ensured the distribution of foodstuff to distant markets. Industrialization also led to the increased urbanization of the American people. Automobiles would further revolutionize the concept of traveling. Mass manufacturing led to an increase in goods and as a result a new middle class emerged eager for these products. The progressive era in the United States was launched in order to protect the rights of workers and reduce waste and corruption. This era was also marked with a desire to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Alcohol was prohibited in this era and women’s rights were achieved. Media exposed corruption in political circles. Political reforms to enable the citizens to rule directly were implemented. Theodore Roosevelt launched the square deal to ensure that food and drugs would be safe for citizens. The railroad rates were also regulated. Universal health care, health insurance and conservation of the environment were some of the major goals of his government. President Howard Taft also believed in the progressive era. During his presidency, the civil service was expanded and the US postal service was made more efficient. He also launched many antitrust suits against large companies and promoted world peace. President Woodrow Wilson is credited with the establishment of the F ederal Reserve System which is the central

Legal Environment of Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legal Environment of Business - Research Paper Example European Union employment law protects all employees in the European Economic Area. However, each country has its own employment regulations. The employment laws cover issues to do with working conditions, wages and immigrant workers. In both Europe and the U.S, it is the obligation of workers to perform their duties with respects and veneration to their employees (Wanda, 2010). This relationship is founded on shared understanding and trust. The employees should work towards meeting international standards. Loyalty amongst employees and the employer is also critical, and it is, therefore, illegal when employees perform actions jeopardizing their employer's interests. The relationships between employers and employees in Europe and the U.S are an equivalence of a master-servant relationship. The employer, therefore, possesses absolute power over the employee. Despite this, labor laws have been enacted in both Europe and the United States setting minimum wage limits. This protects the employer from exploitation. Among the basic rights the employee enjoys include, a right to be provided with a healthy and safe environment. Amongst the countries that have been in the forefront of shaping labor laws and guidelines in the world are European countries and the United States. Despite Europe and United States cooperation in the development of what can be termed as labor standards that are acceptable globally, there exists various significant differences on how the two authorities conduct employment related issues.

Us Beer Industry Overview Essay Example for Free

Us Beer Industry Overview Essay The beer industry is widely known for been an oligopoly. However, in our approach, we will explore the possibility of analyzing microbreweries in particular from a monopolistic competition market structure perspective. The beer market oligopoly is composed by three big players: Anheuser-Busch which holds 48 % of the market share, Miller Brewing Co. , with 18% and Coors Brewing Co. with 11%. Please refer to the below graph and table for information regarding the market share held by the remaining companies. (Market shares are shown based on shipments of 205. 6 million cases in 2005 and 210 in 2006). Based on the above market shares, we calculated the concentration ratio of the three big players and the Herfindahl Hirshman Index for the industry. Both measures confirm that the Beer Industry is indeed a highly concentrated one as the concentration of the big three players is almost 80% and the HHI is well above the 1,800 threshold. Market Analysis The demand in the beer market is characterized by flat consumption trends although we can currently identity two growing markets: First, a domestic niche market for microbreweries, and second, the international market that is currently been targeted by our big national brands. Another very strong market trend is the consolidation of many national brewers. This consolidation has been driven by the increased regulatory burdens and taxation in the industry as well as by changes in demographics: greater alcohol awareness, slow population growth, aging population, etc. Through consolidation, brewers can accomplish economies of scale and other supply chain synergies. Parallel to this trend, there has also been an expansion of specialty brewers (microbreweries) that target more sophisticated and knowledgeable beer drinkers. The players in this market focus on differentiation and therefore can afford to charge premium prices for their products. This is actually the niche market on which we will focus our analysis on in the later part of this paper. Barriers to Entry Standard and poor label the barriers to entry in the beer industry as relatively minimal; however, once firms enter the market, it is really difficult for them to remain competitive. The high barriers to entry are partially due to the fact that the beer industry is a relatively mature industry and that the market is dominated by very well established leaders. Other factors constituting barriers to entry are: an increased tendency for vertical integration (i. e the three largest brewers each own subsidiaries to perform non-brewing functions like grain elevators, milling, can manufacture, labels, etc), advantages of economies of scale and a very intense price competition. As a result, the new entrants are mainly microbrewers which are focusing on a new type of demand. Production Inputs Big or small, companies in the beer market are competing for the same resources and are affected by the prices’ fluctuations of their inputs. In the beer market, some of the key inputs to consider in any economic analysis are grains, hops and yeast. Strategy to succeed: ? Market Leadership ? Expanded market share (internationally) ? Price Increase ? Production efficiencies ? Recent differentiation – Premium Price i. e. Anheuser-Busch – Michelob Ultra for â€Å"Atkins† taste Industry niche markets Smaller micro brews ? Highly fragmented but growing ? Only growing market segment in the domestic beer industry ? Target small consumer market segments with high price inelasticity ? Rely on regional brewers for production to avoid high entry costs ? Market Trends: Consolidation of National Brewers: Flat Consumption trends Regulatory Burdens High Taxation Greater alcohol awareness Slow population growth Aging population Expansion of Specialty Brewers: Uniqueness and high price points High demand in category Constant high prices to attract sophisticated drinker [pic]. ? Although the barriers to entry are classified by SP as relatively minimal, it is still extremely difficult for firms to remain profitable once they enter. Barriers may include: The market is a relatively mature Industry The market is dominated by well established leaders Increasing vertical integration Economies of scale advantages (i. e. the three largest brewers each own subsidiaries to perform non-brewing functions like grain elevators, milling, can manufacture, labels, etc) High price competition New entrants are niche markets – microbreweries ? Grains (i. e. barley, wheat, rice, malt, sugar, etc. ) ? Hops (cascade) ? Water (H2O) ? Yeast FORECAST o Reduced market shares for national brands o Weak domestic consumption trends = Price increases to improve margins for sustained profitability However, o Signs of competitive pricing o Potential decreases in industry-wide pricing levels / decreased operating margins. C3 (2006): 77. 70 % HHI (2006): 2,831. 79.

Development of Independence From Colonialism

Development of Independence From Colonialism Ghana was the first country in black Africa to achieve independence, on March 6, 1957. It showed the way to the rest of Africa to free themselves from the colonization which was spread everywhere on the continent. Kwame Nkrumah was the one who inspired by India’s independence came out with the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and brought imperial Britain to leave the Gold Coast (Ghana before the independence) only thanks to political means. After this victory, Kwame Nkrumah became the symbol of a generation as the anti-colonialist struggle, recognized by the most as the first real African activist victorious over the colonialism. The independence of Gold Coast had a magnitude all over the continent and was at the basis of the many nationalist actions realized afterward. After the independence of Ghana : No one doubted about the bright economic future of Ghana as it is the first cocoa exporter worldwide and was producing big quantity of gold (about one tenth of the world’s production). Ghana was also full with crops, forests and even gemstones.Finally, many in Ghana were well-educated and a quarter of Ghana ’s population was literate. Besides, Nkruhmah was becoming more and more appreciated by people thanks to the inspiration he provided to them. He got the heavy responsibility of rebuilding again this country, to unit its habitants although they shared very few things in common and still, the colonization ended up recently. Indeed, in this year, many groups still remain hostiles toward each other from the hundreds of years of wars and of slave trade. Tensions were still present as Ghana was trying to change its face. The country wasn’t stable yet, the population could have been influenced by others therefore Nkrumah decided that all the political parties whether regional or tribal oriented were forbidden in order to prevent any internal problems caused by feelings of nationalism. 1958 was a dark year for Ghana which was no longer the world’s largest cocoa supplier. Unfortunately, the country was facing an economic downturn which created a social crisis. Nkrumah’s government lost its popularity toward the mass and the rural population. The government’s response makes the situation even worse: Indeed, Nkrumah became dictatorial and took many hard measures against the manifestations and to anyone who disliked his government. While, he said once: â€Å"If we get self-government, we will transform the Gold Coast ( Ghana ) into a paradise in 10 years†[1] Strikes were considered illegal and severely punished. He implemented of a law which without trial allowed to arrest anyone suspected being against the state for five years which turned to be ten years later on. All political parties were prohibited. As a result: Nkrumah declared himself president for life; Ghana as a one-party state and finally achieved to turn his country as hell on earth for Ghana ’s workers. In 1960, Nkrumah is designated president of republic. The president had high expectancy for Ghana and started many expensive and ambitious projects without unfortunately getting profit from them. As a matter of fact, Nkrumah wanted to use the resources of Ghana to promote the industry development and the economic growth for the country. Ghana had a lot of bauxite and that could assure a good rise of the sector especially thanks to the manufacture of aluminum, by exporting worldwide. However to start these projects, the need for electricity became a necessity. As a consequence, the process of industrialization began, leading to the Volta Dam project. The project was only half successful as many others Nkrumah had run but nobody could doubt the good intentions behind them. The agricultural sector remained unheeded whereas it represents the basis for a developing country and overall for Ghana as it disposes of a lot of natural resources. As a consequence, the economy started to turn bad and Ghana contracted a debt which was increasing highly. The positive mood in the recent past years which tend to stay confident in Ghana ’s development ended and provoked a big change in the political climate. Later on, in 1962, the economic situation evolved so badly that all foreign investors and industry were in the obligation by law to invest again more than 60 percent of their gains within Ghana . The president had no choice than to force his investors as he did with the population to continue providing money to its system that no one else believed in any more. As if the fall was endless, in 1964, one year after W.E.B died; (he was the first African American who graduated at Harvard and to earn a doctorate. He was also known as an activist against racism and the segregation. After the independence of Ghana , he was invited by Nkrumah to live in Ghana ); the president Nkrumah suspended the constitution and therefore the democracy. Ghana was finally officially recognized as a one-party state ruled by a dictator. Again, the West reacted after realizing to what situation Ghana fell after the Independence . Criticised by western societies, Nkrumah began to work with communist countries such as principally the Soviet Union . At that time, Ghana ’s economics’ crisis has reached its climax: The country is out of control and the people keep getting poorer. The dictator is totally unpopular because of its previous actions against his people. The economy is out of control and the population is getting poorer. Nkrumah is no longer a popular leader as he hits hard on demonstrations and arrests anyone in opposition. The first coup On the 24thof February, 1966: A military takeover occurred in Ghana, it didn’t make any big losses as it was planned to happen while Nkrumah was away from the country visiting his friend President Sà ©kou Tourà © in Guinea. The military coup was realized by British-trained officers who had the ambition to stop the hard rule of Nkrumah and his government. Therefore, while the president was away every of its statues in Accra were taken down by the people. The new military government called itself the National Liberation Council (NLC). They declared that their intention was to fight off corruption and to make some change in the constitution so that Ghana could come back one more time to a democratic system. Unofficially, Britain was intervening in Ghana because of the orientation the country was undertaking during the last years of Nkrumah’s dictatorship towards the communist countries. Indeed, it was the cold war, the world was divided in two and the tentatives to attra ct countries to one side or the other weren’t rare; overall in these underdeveloped countries. As a consequence, the NLC’s council tended to be rather more conservative than socialist and therefore, it kept under a strict control all politicians and ideologues whether they were either socialists or communists. All connections to the Soviet Union were broken and technicians from USSR and China were expelled in order to get rid of any influences that could lead Ghana to communism. Ghanawas having his chance another time, to the eyes of the West, Ghana was taking a new way, a proper one to democracy and self-sustainability. After three years of provisional leading: The NLC legalized another time the participation of multiples political parties. Finally, new elections were announced for September 1969 which marked the beginning of the second republic. A new civilian government is created by Dr. Kofi Busia and the Progress Party. His party got a good start as the national economy regained strength thanks to the high prices on the cocoa market. Very quickly, prices drop again, the economic situation of Ghana go from bad to worst in 1971. Indeed, a political decision has been made to devaluate the Cedi which led to higher prices and to demonstrations, conflicts with violence by the population. In 1972, Kwame Nkrumah dies, despite his political failure, African masses still see in him a brave activist, the symbol of the struggle anti-colonialist and as the founder of Ghana . On the 13thof January, 1972: Once again a coup occurred, realized by forces of the army, for a change of government. This time, The National Redemption Council decided to impose a leader for Ghana . So, they chose Colonel Ignatius Acheampong to rule the state. However, the head of the state doesn’t have enough experience in any domains whether they are political or economical. A lack of vision from Acheampong led to a rise of corruption from the basis to the top of the society and the government. As a consequence, big strikes are organised by the youth in the country to claim their disappointment toward the critical situation the country was conducted. One year later, the economy was almost falling to pieces and no agreement could have been found with NRC-government.Acheampong took the initiative to put an end to the government and implemented the Supreme Military Council (SMC) constituted of a little group of seven persons chose by himself. The SMC ruled the country in a very roughly way: Any opposing to the regime was victim of multiples persecutions and even jailing without any sentence. On the 5thof July, 1978, Acheampong was in the obligation to resign while the general William Akuffo was taking the command of the â€Å"Supreme Military Council II†. He engaged himself to reform a civilian government, to allow for another time the political parties in Ghana . Finally he declared that he would set a date for new elections. Later on, on the 4thof June in 1979, after a first failed coup in the same year, Jerry John Rawlings a flight Lieutenant planned a takeover some days before the planned election. He was finally victorious, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council achieved to take power. His ideas were principally inspired by socialism whether they are political or economical. His goal was to find an issue to corruption and the economical situation in which the country remained. Rawlings’ intention was to settle democratic elections but in a first time to stop the generals of the â€Å"Supreme Military Council II† from running away wealthy whereas they turned the country in chaos. Two weeks later, Dr. Hilla Limann leading the People’s National Party succeeded the election. As a result, the party got only 71 of the 140 seats in parliament making them a bit powerless to undertake decisions to free the country from the problems it faced until now. Rawlings understood that the PNP couldn’t rule properly Ghana as long as corruption, order and justice are not restored. In this sense, he strongly encouraged and helped the AFRC to put an end to all these problems before letting Ghana coming back to democracy. Finally, in the same year, thanks to the AFRC, all the persons linked to the SMC government and who were accused of corruption was tried. As a result: Hundreds of businessmen are sent to prison as well as government officials and the leader of this former government: Acheampong, Akuffo and Arifa were sentenced to death. The third republic In September 1979, the AFRC gives power to Hilla Limann. Rawlings and his soldiers came back to the army. Unfortunately, this news government didn’t help Ghana to solve its economical problems. During two years, the PNP have been trying but without any success: They haven’t been able to leave the country from the economic stagnation. Indeed, many economic reforms haven’t been applied or the government renounced to them in order to avoid a new takeover. Indeed, all economic changes proposed by the PNP’s government presented hard terms for Ghana ’s people but they were declared as necessary for the rise of the country. In 1980, the corruption came back and brought many violent conflicts in the country which put a definitive end to the PNP’s government. At the end of 1981, on the 31st of December. Rawlings took again the command of Ghana thanks to the military, he took over the country. He formed the Provisional National Defence Council of which he became the chairman. This time, Rawlings established that the country would be a one-party state for a temporary time, to make of Ghana a stable country and to ensure in the long-run a real democracy.

Life After Death :: essays research papers

What is going to happen to us when we will die? Some people never considered what it could happen to them after life. For many people, death is a redoubtable event because they do not know what to expect after their death. However, other persons, such as religious people are conscious of what to expect after their death because of their beliefs. Each religion has different ideas and different ways of looking life. Death, therefore, is viewed by different religions in many ways. Although, different religions have a distinct conception of death, they all have something in common: they all give hope to people. Among all different religions in the world, four of the most common ones - Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, and Hindu- view death in different ways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One way in which death can be viewed comes across the Catholic religion. The Catholic believers look life after death in a prospective of three different worlds, such as Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise according to the deeds committed during life. If a person during his or her lifetime committed any sins, this person’s next world will be the Hell. The traditional view in which people refer to hell can be found in the book written by Dante Alighieri, â€Å"La Divina Commedia†. The book states that the formation of Hell was given by the crash of Lucifer (the angel that wanted to be better than God) from the sky onto the earth. Crashing on the Earth in Jerusalem, his head formed an upside down cone inside the Earth. This is where is located the Hell. In the Hell, people pay for their sins with different penitences (12-13). For instance, a person that committed homicide will freeze in a lake frozen by the breath of Satan (XXXIV canto). If a person during h is or her life commits any sins but asks for forgiveness, then he or she will go to the Purgatory. The purgatory is represented by an island with a mountain (23). One source states that â€Å"Purgatory is very similar to Hell; the main difference is that one will eventually be released from torture. The souls that go in the Purgatory are tortured with fire. These souls remain in purgatory until they become sufficiently purified to enter heaven†(2). For example, if a soul in the purgatory asks for forgiveness and pays the punition with some tests, the soul will be released and moved immediately to Heaven (2).