Dependent clause Essay Example for Free

Dependent clause Essay TRANSLATION: The process of turning an original or source text into a text in another language. TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES Direct Translation Techniques are used when structural and conceptual elements of the source language can be transposed into the target language. Direct translation techniques include: * Borrowing * Calque * Literal Translation Borrowing Borrowing is the taking of words directly from one language into another without translation. For example software, funk. English also borrows numerous words from other languages; abbatoire, cafe, passe and resume from French; hamburger and kindergarden from German; bandana, musk and sugar from Sanskrit. Calque A calque or loan translation is a phrase borrowed from another language and translated literally word-for-word. Examples that have been absorbed into English include standpoint and beer garden from German Standpunkt and Biergarten; breakfast from French dejeuner. Literal Translation A word-for-word translation can be used in some languages and not others dependent on the sentence structure: El equipo esta trabajando para terminar el informe would translate into English as The team is working to finish the report. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. And one sentence can be translated literally across languages does not mean that all sentences can be translated literally. El equipo experimentado esta trabajando para terminar el informe translates into English as The experienced team is working to finish the report (experienced and team are reversed). Oblique Translation Techniques Oblique Translation Techniques are used when the structural or conceptual elements of the source language cannot be directly translated without altering meaning or upsetting the grammatical and stylistics elements of the target language. Oblique translation techniques include: * Transposition * Modulation * Reformulation or Equivalence * Adaptation * Compensation Transposition This is the process where parts of speech change their sequence when they are translated. It is in a sense a shift of word class. Grammatical structures are often different in different languages. Transposition is often used between English and Spanish because of the preferred position of the verb in the sentence: English often has the verb near the beginning of a sentence; Spanish can have it closer to the end. This requires that the translator knows that it is possible to replace a word category in the target language without altering the meaning of the source text, for example: English Hand knitted (noun + participle) becomes Spanish Tejido a mano (participle + adverbial phrase). Modulation Modulation consists of using a phrase that is different in the source and target languages to convey the same idea: Te lo dejo means literally I leave it to you but translates better as You can have it. It changes the semantics and shifts the point of view of the source language. Through modulation, the translator generates a change in the point of view of the message without altering meaning and without generating a sense of embarrassment in the reader of the target text. It is often used within the same language. The expressions es facil de entender (it is easy to understand) and no es complicado de entender (it is not complicated to understand) are examples of modulation. Reformulation or Equivalence Here you have to express something in a completely different way, for example when translating idioms or advertising slogans. The process is creative, but not always easy. Adaptation Adaptation occurs when something specific to one language culture is expressed in a totally different way that is familiar or appropriate to another language culture. It is a shift in cultural environment. Should pincho (a Spanish restaurant menu dish) be translated as kebab in English? It involves changing the cultural reference when a situation in the source culture does not exist in the target culture (for example France has Belgian jokes and England has Irish jokes). Compensation In general terms compensation can be used when something cannot be translated, and the meaning that is lost is expressed somewhere else in the translated text. Peter Fawcett defines it as: making good in one part of the text something that could not be translated in another. One example given by Fawcett is the problem of translating nuances of formality from languages that use forms such as Spanish informal tu and formal usted, French tu and vous, and German du and sie into English which only has you, and expresses degrees of formality in different ways. WORD: It is one of the units of speech or writing that native speakers of a language usually regard as the smallest isolable meaningful element of the language, although linguists would analyze these further into morphemes There are eight different kinds of words in the English language. Nouns| Pronouns| Adjectives| Verbs| Adverbs| | Prepositions| | | Conjunctions| | | Interjections| | | NOUNS and VERBS are the most common and most essential. Every English sentence MUST contain a NOUN and a VERB. NOUNS name: people, places, things, ideas. They are always singular or plural. They are always common or proper. They may show ownership. PRONOUNS replace nouns. They have person, number, and case. ADJECTIVES describe nouns. They answer three questions: Which one? What kind? How many? VERBS have three jobs: show action, act like an equals sign, or hang around a main verb to show tense. They also have person, number, and case. ADVERBS describe verbs. They answer four questions: When? Where? How? How Much? PREPOSITIONS tell anywhere a mouse can run. CONJUNCTIONS connect things. INTERJECTIONS jump into show emotion. Sentence: it is a sequence of words capable of standing alone to make an assertion, ask a question, or give a command, usually consisting of a subject and a predicate containing a finite verb. Kinds of sentences. Simple Sentence it is a sentence having no coordinate clauses or subordinate clauses. Complex Sentence it is a sentence composed of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause. Compound Sentence it is a sentence composed of at least two coordinate independent clauses. Phrase it is a group of words forming an immediate syntactic constituent of a clause. Clause it is an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence. Pre-modifier is a word (or words), usually adjectives or adverbs, that comes before the word that it describes. Basic Modifiers * Adjectives * Adverbs * Prepositional Phrases More Modifiers * Degree Modifier * Presumptive Modifier * Summative Modifier Post-modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that functions as an adjective or adverb to limit or qualify the meaning of another word or word group. Adjective Order Adjectives can be used to describe lots of things, from physical size, age, shape, colour, material, to more abstract things like opinion, origin and purpose. We can use adjectives together to give a detailed description of something. Adjectives that express opinions usually come before all others, but it can sometimes depend on what exactly you want to emphasize. For instance: That nice, big, blue bag. (You like the bag. ) That big, nice, blue bag. (You like the colour. ) When adjectives are together there is a general rule for the position of each type adjective, these are: Position| 1st*| 2nd*| 3rd| 4th| 5th| 6th| 7th| 8th| | Opinion| Size| Age| Shape| Colour| Material| Origin| Purpose| | Nice| Small| Old| Square| Black| Plastic| British| Racing| | Ugly| Big| New| Circular| Blue| Cotton| American| Running|.

Convention Of The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Politics Essay

Convention Of The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Politics Essay People with disabilities exist in every age group, every social sector, every class and every ethnic and religious community. They often do not have a voice of their own in issues that affect their lives. It is important to understand the causes of disability and the discrimination intended for the disabled, and measures that need to be taken to ensure the equal enjoyment of human rights for persons with disabilities. Societies must work as a whole to integrate disabled persons into the life of society and provide them with equal opportunities in schools, the workplace and the global community. Â   December 13, 2006 the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was implemented. Currently 99 countries have approved the Convention and there are 147 members. A high number of developing countries are included in signing the Convention. It is to likely those developing countries will be asking development actors for support after approving the convention in the implementation of the principles and binding responsibilities. Around 650 million people, 10% of the worlds population live with a disability. According to the UN Development Program (UNDP) 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries (Rights and dignity, 2011). Estimated by the World Bank 20% of the worlds poorest people are disabled and are regarded as the most disadvantaged in their own communities (Takamin, 2004). The term persons with disabilities is applied to all people with disabilities. It includes people who have long term mental, physical, intellectual or sensory impairments. These disabilities can affect their participation in society. Impairment is a functional limitation caused by physical, mental or sensory damage and a disability can be defined as a loss or reduction of opportunities to take part in the everyday life of the community on an equal level (Yeo, 2003). It is important to note that a person with a disability may be viewed as a person with a disability in one society or setting, but not in another, depending on the role that the person is anticipated to take in his or her community. The convention recognizes that disability is an evolving concept and that legislation may adapt to reflect positive changes within society. (Country profile: thailand, 2010). The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities consists of an article on international cooperation, pointing out the gap between developed and developing countries. Issues such as human rights violations, poverty, and social exclusion are overpowering and have prevented the global South to have significant improvement. Article 32 in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities insist that there be international cooperation for the support of the CRPD in developing countries, once a country has ratified the convention they become required to engage in international cooperation. The important question to keep in mind is how can international partnership be effectively put into action in developing counties. With the help of official donor agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which represent persons with disabilities and the families in developing countries the CRPD can be applied. Thailand is one country that has had the help of four major NGOs working with persons with disabilities and official donor agencies from developed counties such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan (Thailand human rights, 2011). Thailand approved the CRPD in July 2008 along with Australia. Thailand symbolize the typical issues developing countries face, such as poverty. Thai persons with disabilities are challenged with poverty. NGOs in Thailand in comparison to other developing counties are well recognized, the representatives of NGOs in Thailand are strongly taking part in the development of the policy on disability on a national level (Thailand human rights, 2011). More attention has been given to the reality of persons with disabilities among the disadvantaged people in developing countries. International Organizations such as the World Bank state that persons with disabilities are the poorest of the poor. According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific approximately 160 million persons with disabilities which are over 40% of the total number of persons with disabilities are living in poverty (Takamine, 2003). Around 100 million people in developing countries have a medical condition due to malnutrition and poor sanitation (Takamin, 2004). Social exclusion helps to clearly comprehend the association between poverty and disability. In developing countries, persons with disabilities are more likely to experience different types of social segregation including: limited social contact, exclusion from formal/informal education and employment, the community has low expectations from them and they hold low expectations for themselves, exclusion from the political/legal process, exclusion from basic healthcare, the lowest priority for any limited resources such as food, clean water, and inheritance, and lack of support for the high expenses directly linked with the impairment such as costly medical treatments (Yeo, 2003). All of these factors take away the opportunity for persons with disabilities to make an income, placing them in the absence of state support. Impairment may be caused by malnutrition and poor health that is a result of poor people being deprived of healthcare and healthy food. Poor people are often oppressed and sent to work in dangerous conditions, which generates risk of accidents and physical impairment. Poverty and disability are mutually reinforcing, as persons with disabilities are socially excluded and adequate social services are not provided (United Nations, 2007). In developing countries we see a large amount of people who are disabled and living in poverty. To improve the circumstances, persons with disabilities in these developing countries should be involved in all the development efforts of their countries, and an inclusive development approach should be put in place to deal with the different forms of social exclusion. Article 32 was negotiated in a series of CRPD preparatory meetings. Article 32 states: 1. States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities. Such measures could include, inter alia: (a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities; (b) Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through the exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programmes and best practices; (c) Facilitating cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical knowledge; (d) Providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including by facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, and through the transfer of technologies. 2. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the obligations of each State Party to full fill its obligations under the present Convention. (Convention on the, 2011). Disability is a major issue that requires strong support and partnerships from different participants. The process to draft the CRPD began in 2001, and in 2002 the United Nations Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons adopted a set of policy guidelines known as the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action to Promote an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (United Nations, 2007). In the Framework, the rights-based approach is suggested for the formation of national disability policies and aid programs in the Asia-Pacific region (United Nations, 2007). This guarantees that persons with disabilities benefit from all the rights which other citizens enjoy. In developing countries human rights tools promote the quality of life of people; it is questioned whether the Declaration of the Right to Development would be better guaranteed by UN and international NGOs rather than individual nation states (Dean, 2008). International aid organizations in some developing countries have been the main body for encouraging social policy associated to persons with disabilities and providing pertinent amenities. Concerning this Article 32 clarifies that international cooperation is in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention (Convention on the, 2011). UK, Australia and Japan are three developed countries that have been involved in international development programs concerning disability and have set up policies on development cooperation. The UK has one official donor agency that deals with disability that has been playing a primary role in development aid called the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID works in association with NGOs and accentuates the cycle of disability and poverty and the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Stating that reducing poverty by tackling social exclusion is a DFIDs policy and disability is about discrimination and exclusion key aspects of DFIDs work - DFID is dedicated to addressing issues of disability in its development programs throughout the world (Dfid department for, 2011). In Australia the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has also made an effort to establish Australian leadership on disability. Since early 2008 AusAID formed a unit of NGOs and other stakeholders to create new disability strategy for the Australian aid program for 2009-2014, titled Development for All. Effective international leadership on disability and development is one of the main objectives of the strategy which is in alliance with CRPD Article 23 (Saunders, 2007). In 2003 the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in alliance with Japanese experts and NGO representatives developed its policy paper on support for persons with disabilities (Japanese overseas cooperation, 2011). Hundreds of volunteers and professional are sent out annually by JICA to both governmental and non-governmental organizations for support to work in special education, physiotherapy, vocational training, and many others. It has also helped a number of disability-related projects carried out by the governments of developing countries. (Japanese overseas cooperation, 2011). The population of Thailand in mid-2007 recorded by the United Nations is approximately 62,829,000 million, with 5.7 million living in Bangkok the capital city. The National Statistical Offices Disability Survey in 2002 found that 1.7% of the people consisting of 1.8% male and 0.9% female had disabilities. The rate among the rural population was twice that of the urban population according to the survey. The Northeast 2.4%, the South 1.9%, and the North 1.8 % had higher rates of disability, while Bangkok and the Central region had 0.7% and 1% (Thailand asia-pacific, 2011). These statistics prove that rural regions have a higher majority than the central regions of poor people, and more persons with disabilities live in these poor regions. In 2007 1.9 million of the population had a disability and the proportion of persons with disabilities to total population was 2.9%. (Thailand asia-pacific, 2011). The Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act of 1991 and the united Ministerial Regulations which had been the main legal instruments, was replaced by the Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act which was enforced in 2007 (Persons with disabilities, 2007). The Rehabilitation Act of 1991 set the basis for the rights of persons with disabilities to benefit from public services. Other Acts also involve rights for persons with disabilities such as the Social Security Act which gives registered persons with disabilities an allowance of 500 baht which is roughly 15 US dollars each month (Camfield, 2009). The National Education Act is also in place, which defends the rights of persons with disabilities to acquire education. However, compared to the current standard of living the survival allowance and other support are quite minimal, the daily minimum wage of 2007 was 120 baht in Thailand. The National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has been launched and works in collab oration with other government agencies and NGOs. These Acts guarantee that Thai persons with disabilities are given employment support and financial aid, as well as educational, medical, rehabilitative, and services. District Public Welfare Offices and Health Centers offer assistance to persons with disabilities, and Provincial Special Education Centers are responsible for educational services for children with disabilities (Glassman, 2008). The Thai government now has a more hands-on position on human rights. For example, the Thai diplomatic mission states that: The country has progressively striven to promote human rights awareness through human rights education and to strengthen legal frameworks to promote and protect human rights in line with UN Conventions, in particular with regard to the rights of vulnerable groups (The royal thai, 2008). Moreover, Thailand has a long-standing commitment to enhancing cooperation to uplift the quality of life of women, children and persons with disabilities as well as to ensure their rights (The royal thai, 2008).Thailands ratification of the CRPD was one of the earliest in Asia. The Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act of 2007 is renowned as the first Thai law to forbid discriminatory and biased acts against persons with disabilities and to punish anyone that does not abide by the law. Also, the Act has expanded the rights for Thai persons with disabilities and explained thes e rights in more detail. Most importantly the Thai government has confirmed its support for the CRPD by adjusting the domestic legislation to fit the CRPD (The royal thai, 2008). There are four major NGOs which are involved in a wide range of activities and influence on the Thai disability policy which include: Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB), the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities, the Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism under the Thai Autism Foundation, and the National Association of the Deaf in Thailand (NADT). These NGOs epitomize persons with disabilities as well as their families (Delcore, 2003). Within the last few years in Thailand, all four NGOs recognize the Empowerment Act as an advanced legal device that has improved the legal and policy development, in terms of punishing discrimination against those with disabilities. They agree that even with an active disability association and recent advancements at the national level, the situation of persons with disabilities has not been much improved in the rural areas due to poverty and countless social exclusions. Many with disabilities are still denied from education and employment. The private sector is in need of more employment opportunities for persons with disabilities due to poor understanding and support of the employers. Furthermore, the quality of education and other related services for persons with disabilities requires more improvement in Thailand. Many persons with disabilities are have HIV/AIDS due to lack of education of it, and some persons with disabilities mostly deaf people are unfairly treated when it come s to legal cases due to incomplete sign language interpretation. Young women with disabilities easily become victims of different exploitations, such as those with hearing impairments or intellectual disabilities are very weak and socially cut off and do not receive sufficient education (Delcore, 2003). With the formation of the CRPD and the Thai Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act improvements have been made at the national level, however not much of a change has been made at the lowest level in Thailand and other developing countries. Stating that disabled persons have rights is important although it may not be enough to bring about a real adjustment for disabled persons. All local leaders should be knowledgeable about the rights of those with disabilities as well as an obligation to protect their rights. Another benefit is to have local leaders with disabilities that can serve for the empowerment and be an example to those with disabilities in their community. This will advocate the need to empower persons with disabilities and educate local people on disability issues. It is apparent that the understanding of the Thai public range is limited concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, and there is difficulty in the carrying out of the Empowerment Act and promotion of the CRPD in the government. They face many issues such as poor understanding, policies adopted by the central government are not expressed in local governments properly, and therefore the understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities at the local level is very restricted. It is crucial to raise awareness through public education (Delcore, 2003). The Thai disability policy is moving on the right course. It is in a transitional period by following the international movements. The Thai disability policy needs further evaluation to have actual implementation. It is stressed that the assessment and monitoring of policy implementation are vital but currently lacking. The future NGOs should be more involved in monitoring and evaluation. NGOs in Thailand and their representatives with disabilities have been recently very much involved in the formation of the national policy in comparison to the past as well as the surrounding developing countries. While some people with disabilities are asked to participate at the national level, only a small number of persons with disabilities are participating at the local level. More local leaders with disabilities and local self-help groups need to participate in the policy formation and push these programs at the local level. More attempts should be made for empowering persons with disabilities especially in the rural areas; the difference of the situation of persons with disabilities between Bangkok and other regions has been increasing. The implementation of Thai disability policy should be further dispersed in the future by improving local programs (Delcore, 2003). The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has raised fundamental knowledge of the rights of persons with disabilities in the underdeveloped countries and has also influenced the formations of their disability policy. Thailand is a developing nation-state; it has already ratified the CRPD and has launched an anti-discrimination law for persons with disabilities. Article 32 on international cooperation in the CRPD states that international cooperation is necessary to support national efforts. Through NGOs and civil society, and a nations government, have the main responsibility to support and defend the rights of its citizens with disabilities and achieve international cooperation. Organizations of persons with disabilities and other NGOs have been the most active and have started the promotion of rights through their local networks. In Thailand, local leaders with disabilities have great potential in spreading the goals of the CRPD at the community level. UK, Australia and Japans international donor agencies have been involved for years, in assisting the development for persons with disabilities. Distinguishing the relationship between poverty and disability, these agencies attempt to take in persons with disabilities and include them in their international development programs. Therefore, it is evident that major donor agencies are ready for the execution of CRPD Article 32 if they remain committed to attain effective implementation. In addition, their collaboration with different associations that deal with persons with disabilities and other NGOs are growing, which will enrich programs of these agencies.

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Company

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Company I have been employed with the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Company Limited (TSTT) for the past fourteen years. TSTT was historically, the single provider of telecommunications services in Trinidad and Tobago until the mid 1990s when, pursuant to a World Trade Organisation Agreement in 1997 on Basic Telecommunications, 69 countries agreed to liberalise their telecommunications sectors and to open their domestic markets to foreign companies. This agreement resulted in the entry of several competitors in Trinidad and Tobagos telecommunications market thereby ending TSTTs monopoly status. Against this backdrop, TSTT which provided primarily fixed line, mobile and internet services, engaged Goulet Telecom International Inc. to examine the impact of globalization on its operations. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Analysis (SWOT) Gregory G. Dess, G.T. Lumpkin, Alan B. Eisner (2007) Strategic Management Text and Cases, 3rd ed. , New York, McGraw-Hill Irwin states One of the most basic techniques for analysing firm and industry conditions is SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. SWOT analysis provides a framework for analyzing these four elements of a companys internal and external environment. It provides raw material-a basic listing of conditions both inside and surrounding your company. The strengths and weaknesses portion of SWOT refers to the internal conditions of a firm-where your firm excels (strengths) and where it may be lacking relative to competitors (weaknesses). Opportunities and threats are environmental condition external to the firm. Opportunities and threats are also present in the competitive environment among firms competing for the same customers.(p 49) An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for TSTT in a competitive environment is highlighted, at Appendix A. Strengths One of the major strength of TSTT is its human resource capital and in particular, the leadership and experience of its executive management team which has steered the Company through the process of liberalisation in 2006, to its current position of sustained profitability. The strength of the Company is reflected in the leadership skills and managerial acumen of the executive team who ensured that the Company retained significant market share since the liberalisation of the sector. Management of TSTT have become more strategic in their thinking and in their of way developing new and innovative technology. TSTT are also developing the intellectual capacity of the workforce through e-learning, training and development program and courses. The strength of the Companys human resource capital is also reflected in the Companys middle management and Senior and Junior Staff employees who have successfully implemented the Companys strategic initiatives such as the deployment on new customer services such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and BLINK Broadband. Weaknesses One of the major weaknesses which have been identified at TSTT is its poor network infrastructure and aged plant which has occasionally resulted in the delivery of poor customer service to its subscribers in many instances customers are made to wait for as long as a year to have their phones repaired especially if it is cable related issue. TSTTs aged outside plant has also had an impact on the Companys ability to provide new services such as IPTV to some of its customers due to the unavailability of upgraded plant facilities in certain areas of the country. As a result of the aged plant facilities, the Company has not rolled outits IPTV service throughout the country, thereby precluding it from effectively competing with FLOW, the dominant Cable TV provider which services the entire country. Another weakness is that TSTT was only able to focus on customer service when it was faced with competition, only then did the prices of the companys goods and services were reduced. Opportunities TSTT has sought to capitalize on by its foray into the entertainment sector through the provision of IPTV, a new service which it now provides in selected areas in Trinidad. The IPTV product which is branded Blink Entertainmentis a digital television service which, instead of delivering content through traditional broadcast and cable formats, is received by the viewer using internet protocol technology. TSTT, like many of the worlds major telecommunications providers is exploring IPTV as a new revenue opportunity from its existing and potential subscriber base and as a defensive measure against encroachment from competitors such as FLOW, a conventional cable television provider which now provides internet and voice services. Another new market which TSTT has sought to penetrate is the security services sector with the launch of its Blink Vigilance Security Service. This product which was launched on November 3rd 2009 (along with Blink Entertainment) is a wireless security surveillance system which TSTT offers to both commercial and residential subscribers. Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspapers, November 4th 2009 stated The opportunity to pursue this strategic initiative is as a result of the growing criminal activity in Trinidad and Tobago which has driven a demand for security services a point which was made by Dennis Gordon, Vice President, Organisational Risk and Security Services at the launch of the product. TSTT provides the infrastructure used by security companies to operate their business, its entrance into the security services sector provides an excellent opportunity for the Company to increase its revenue streams and maintain its viability in a competitive telecommunications market. The provision of these two new services, Blink TV and Blink Vigilance are therefore two examples of how TSTT has created new opportunities for itself based on consumer needs and changes in the social environment. Threats One of the most significant threats faced by TSTT was that provided by its competitors in the mobile services market as a result of the deregulation of the telecommunications sector in 2006. As a consequence of the liberalisation of the market, Digicel, began offering mobile service which for the first time gave the population of Trinidad and Tobago a choice of wireless providers. The introduction of Digicel into the Sector was expected to remove substantial market share from TSTT which had previously enjoyed monopoly status. TSTT Financial Reports stated The extent of the threat posed to TSTT by its main competitor is reflected in the Companys financial results in the immediate aftermath of Digicels entry into the market. In the financial year 2006 to 2007, TSTT suffered a financial loss of TT $122 M as compared to the financial year 2005 to 2006 where it made a profit of $261 million. Likewise, FLOW, a Company that had traditionally provided only Cable TV service, became in May of 2008, the first Triple Playprovider of telecommunications services in Trinidad with its offering of Cable TV, Broadband and Landline Voice Services to the population at large. As a result of FLOWs strategic initiatives, TSTT is now faced with an additional threat to its revenue streams in the Broadband and Landline Voice sectors. PEST ANALYSIS TSTTs PEST analysis focuses on the following factors, Political, Economic, Social and Technological scan of the macro-environment in which the organisation operates. The political environment as it presently relates to TSTT is one of uncertainty. This has been mainly as a result of the change in government of Trinidad and Tobago on 24 May 2010 the board of directors resigned since they were politically appointed and to date no board has been appointed. This has result in the capital expenditure budget for the various departments not being past. To this extent certain activities have been at a stand-still such as the cut-over of new infrastructure in Penal, Fyzabad areas which would allow the company to provide a more efficient and reliable telephone service to the people living in these areas. TSTT has also been impacted by economic factors from the environment with the liberalisation of the telecommunications market TSTT has not given an increase in salary to its junior and senior staff workforce. Due to the liberalisation of the market as stated before this has resulted in TSTT loosing part its customer base to its competitor resulting in a decrease in the companys profit margins in 2005-2006 of TT$122m. TSTT has been a socially responsible organisation, sponsoring local sporting activities and teams, TSTT has been and still is the main sponsor for the Soca Warriors Trinidad and Tobagos national football team. Through its Employee Wellness Program various initiatives have been made available to employees such as Domestic and Substance Abuse Programs. Recently, due to the outbreak in the H1N1 virus TSTT has taken the initiative to bring-in at the various work locations, personnel from the Ministry of Health to immunize staff against the virus and other illnesses. Among the social and cultural events covered by TSTTs Employee Relations department are Thanksgiving prayer meetings at the end of the last year and start of the new-year, Employees calypso competition, secretarys day, Sports and Family day, Emancipation and Indian arrival day activities etc. These are undertaken to allow the various levels staff in this multi-cultural, racial country to interact as one and enjoy the social, cultural and sporting activities. It fosters a culture of trust, harmony and cooperation between the hierarchical levels in the organisation. These activities also encourage or motivate both customers and employees to buy-in to the policies of the company and encourage loyalty. Through the use of innovation, research and development TSTT has been able to develop new technologies which would allow it to maintain its competitive advantage in the face of competition. This can particularly be seen through the companys use of technology to penetrate new markets such as the provisioning of Internet Protocol Television and residential and business security and alarm systems. Industry Attractiveness In determining Industry Attractiveness, the issue of Competition must be taken into consideration, as this will have an impact on the threat of new entrants and competitive rivalry within the market from FLOW and Digicel. TSTT no longer enjoys being a monopoly but now has to share its market with other competitors. Buyers would also have more bargaining power since they have a wider variety from which to choose as a consequence of the liberalisation of the telecommunications market as a result consumers are more likely to purchase where they can get value for their money. TSTT also has to compete against substitute goods and services, for example customers may not purchase their mobile phones from TSTT but from its competitor. The customer may simple pay TSTT for the use of the service of being attached to its network, therefore the company loses on it sale of mobile phone. Suppliers of TSTT would also have bargaining power as to what price they charge you for their goods since they can sell the same goods to your competitors and it you want to maintain competitive advantage over your competitors you would want to enjoy first market advantage and market leadership by providing new and innovation technology to your customers before your competitors. (See Appendix B) STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS Stakeholder Analysis is necessary because it provides information indicating the level of influence and expectations of the various stakeholders within the environment. As it relates to the Companys (TSTT) relationship with its employees and the representative Union a great deal of mistrust exists between this group and Management. In addition during times of industrial unrest it is alleged that the Union is able to influence workers to either work-to-rule or down tools. With regards to the customers, if customers are not satisfied with the quality or price, the opening-up of the Telecommunications Sector could cause customers and have caused customers to migrate to other service providers. Customers feel that they can getting better service for their money have chosen to migrate to Digicel or FLOW where they believe they are getting better value for their money. The management group needs to understand, in addition to managing, emphasis needs to be placed on effective Leadership and to an extent leadership by example. Over the past seven years junior and senior staff employees have not received a salary increase while management level continue to be paid incentives on a yearly basis for meeting their set objectives. This has left employees feeling disenchanted and de-motivated with management. (See Appendix C) Assessment of TSTTs position Having assessed the SWOT elements that TSTT is faced with in its internal and external environment since the advent of competition, one may conclude that the organisation has been able to maintain its position as the dominant entity Trinidad and Tobago telecommunications sector. This has been facilitated by the leadership of the executive management team which has taken strategic initiatives such as the investment of over $700 million in new technology in order to address the weakness associated with the Companys aged plant. This investment has also given TSTT a competitive advantage in the IPTV and Security services market as the Company has exploited the opportunities in its external environment to create new revenue streams for itself. Porters five forces can be seen through the threat of potential entrants in this case FLOW and Digicel, since TSTT no longer exist in a monopolistic market customers have bargaining power and this was seen when TSTT had to reduce its prices to be more competitive. Suppliers in this case also bargaining power with more than one telecommunications company to sell mobile telephones so they are able to bargain as to which telecommunications company what to sell them and at what price. Competitive rivalry is evident when TSTT promotes it mobile phones at reduced prices and the competitor Digicel also reduces its prices in order to compete with TSTT. The financial results of TSTT since the liberalisation of the market therefore supports the proposition that the organisation has been able to manage the threats posed by its competitors as evidenced by its after tax profits since 2006. In this type of arrangement, emphasis is being placed on maintaining Strengths, exploring and analyzing Opportunities, improving or outsourcing Weaknesses and identifying, developing and implementing Plans to overcome Threats this is the strategic direction of the company. Conclusion Through strategic planning and implementation TSTT was successfully able to maintain its leadership position in the telecommunications market in Trinidad and Tobago in a liberalised, global market. The organisation was able to convert its weaknesses into strengths and threats in to opportunity to maintains competitive advantage. Though its leadership and strategic management, innovative strategies and technologies were developed allowing for training and development of staff thereby providing opportunities for staff to be promoted within the organisation.

bay of pigs :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the administration of United States President John F. Kennedy, the Cold War reached its most dangerous state, when the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came to the brink of nuclear war in what was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States and Russia were already engaged in the Cold War, and both countries were now in a race to build up their armed forces. The Arms Race was a competition between both countries to scare each other by creating bigger, more powerful missiles and bombs. Usually, the United States was more advanced than the Soviet Union in technology and the Soviets tried to catch up as quickly as possible and neither stopped. The American people thought that the Russians had more, and better missiles than the United States had because of Soviet Premier Khrushchev boasting over his country’s status. Eventually, American officials show this to be false. As the Cold War continued, the fear of a nuclear holocaust grew and proposals for arms reduction began, but the fear still remained. In 1961, the United States formed the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, which dealt with the government policy concerning nuclear testing and arms control. In May of 1972, the firs t Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT 1) came to an end and a treaty had been signed by the United States and the Soviet Union to limit the production of anti-ballistic missile systems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the Cold War people feared nuclear war, but the world was never closer to one then during the Cuban Missile Crisis. There would be no winner in a nuclear war, only destruction would remain. For fourteen days in October of 1962, American and Soviet troops were prepared to attack one another and were ready to use nuclear weapons. This was the highest peak of tensions during the Cold War.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cuban Missile Crisis began with the growing tensions between the United States and Cuba following the Cuban Revolution of 1959. The revolution ousted Cuba’s dictator, Fulgencio Batista and brought to power a government headed by Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Before the revolution, the United States had a significant influence in Cuba’s economic and political affairs, but the Castro government refused to be influenced by the United States. Castro caused concern in the United States when he confiscated property belonging to wealthy Cubans and foreigners in an attempt to implement policies to improve conditions for poor and working-class Cubans. bay of pigs :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the administration of United States President John F. Kennedy, the Cold War reached its most dangerous state, when the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came to the brink of nuclear war in what was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States and Russia were already engaged in the Cold War, and both countries were now in a race to build up their armed forces. The Arms Race was a competition between both countries to scare each other by creating bigger, more powerful missiles and bombs. Usually, the United States was more advanced than the Soviet Union in technology and the Soviets tried to catch up as quickly as possible and neither stopped. The American people thought that the Russians had more, and better missiles than the United States had because of Soviet Premier Khrushchev boasting over his country’s status. Eventually, American officials show this to be false. As the Cold War continued, the fear of a nuclear holocaust grew and proposals for arms reduction began, but the fear still remained. In 1961, the United States formed the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, which dealt with the government policy concerning nuclear testing and arms control. In May of 1972, the firs t Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT 1) came to an end and a treaty had been signed by the United States and the Soviet Union to limit the production of anti-ballistic missile systems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the Cold War people feared nuclear war, but the world was never closer to one then during the Cuban Missile Crisis. There would be no winner in a nuclear war, only destruction would remain. For fourteen days in October of 1962, American and Soviet troops were prepared to attack one another and were ready to use nuclear weapons. This was the highest peak of tensions during the Cold War.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cuban Missile Crisis began with the growing tensions between the United States and Cuba following the Cuban Revolution of 1959. The revolution ousted Cuba’s dictator, Fulgencio Batista and brought to power a government headed by Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Before the revolution, the United States had a significant influence in Cuba’s economic and political affairs, but the Castro government refused to be influenced by the United States. Castro caused concern in the United States when he confiscated property belonging to wealthy Cubans and foreigners in an attempt to implement policies to improve conditions for poor and working-class Cubans.

Borders :: essays research papers

Borders are concepts which encompass and exclude. They exist everywhere. Some are literal visible physical lines whereas others go beyond sight and exist in terms of characteristics such as monetary wealth, or even humanity. Over time these boundaries are redefined and in turn change the flow of daily life for the individuals they effect. In many cases it is the powerful governments which are in control of the pen which outline these symbolic and physical lines. However as history can prove even though it is these powerful governments which give definition to these borders, it is very often them (the governmental officials) who are the ones who cross them. This hypocritical characteristic is blatantly apparent in regards to Central America. Both the ruling elite and the United States government has infringed upon the many levels of borders which exist in this part of the world. Numerous atrocities have been committed, thousands of lives have been shattered, countless victims have suffered all due to lack of respect for the borders which exist. All levels have been touched; political, economic, and even human. No outline is safe from being infringed upon or even shattered in Central America. While many of us may point fingers it is indeed our very own United States government which has not respected the political borders present in this part of the world. We have stepped into territory in this area that we have no business being involved with. Under our government’s supervision, the CIA carried out a coup in Guatemala in which it installed a self-perpetuation pro-American gang of military criminals who have held power for almost forty years. Their reproductive mechanism has been murder of hundreds of thousands of Guatemalams. After this unnecessary interaction of the CIA, US national security planners saw "Cuba as a highly inflammable element which unchecked, could spread communism - now interchangeable with revolution" (Landau 30). In response to this President Eisenhower ordered the CIA to repeat its ‘success’ in Guatemala. "Throughout the continent, US police and military advisers worked with torturers, murderers and Fascists to repress not only revolution, but all forms of democracy" (Landau 31). Our government officials have such extreme fears of the uprising of the poor in these nations that it did not care out of place it was to get involved. Their economic investments and trade guided our foreign relations. They would enter and cross the borders of this seemingly innocent third world section of the continent and intervene regardless of the fact that they did not belong there in the sense that it is not thier country and should not be involved.

Assessment On Guidance And Counselling Education Essay

This brief essay efforts to discourse the function that school counselors, larning and disablement specializers, school psychologist and sometimes even private pattern clinicians play in the procedure of educational ability appraisal. The paper ‘s statements are entirely based on a reappraisal of the modern-day relevant literature. The essay begins with a brief reappraisal of the kineticss involved in instruction ability appraisal and so examines in inside informations, what function that these professionals play. Measuring Education Ability By education/academic ability, the paper refers to a pupil ‘s possible and accomplishment in formal acquisition ( Oosterhof, 1994 ) . The appraisal is conducted to find the degree of possible and or attainment that a pupil has upon exposure to a peculiar acquisition environment ( Oosterhof, 1994 ) . In measuring a kid, the experts involved attempt to measure the extent of basic academic accomplishments that such a kid can or has accumulated at a given phase. In most instances, what is evaluated scope from cognitive accomplishments, reading and composing abilities, comprehension, callback, arithmetic accomplishments, communicating abilities etc ( Oosterhof, 1994 ) . For the intents of this paper, instruction ability assessment shall entirely mention to the potency of a kid to achieve academic accomplishments and non the already achieved accomplishments. Appraisal is besides conceived as supplying a scope of trials that help measure the potency of such a kid to larn and retain cognition in an academic scene ( Oosterhof, 1994 ) . There are those kids who display model academic accomplishments in such appraisals, normally classified in a group of superior larning ability, while others may hold a lower than mean possible, normally classified in a group of larning disablement ( Oosterhof, 1994 ) . Available literature suggests that in the yesteryear, instruction ability appraisal has meant a measuring of a kid ‘s rational ability. Such appraisals have merely constituted of sets and separate subtests of differing academic accomplishments ( Wiggins, 1993 ) . There are times that such assessment becomes critical ( Elliott, 2000 ) . For case, the school can acknowledge a kid who is executing beyond norm and even better than those far in front his or her degree ( Elliott, 2000 ) . These ‘genius ‘ pupils can sometimes hold the ability of pupils 10 old ages older and therefore necessitate particular attending and publicity to their degree of ability ( Wiggins, 1993 ) . At other times, a pupil can bespeak below-par public presentation and the school be willing to carry on a trial to find whether the kid has a disablement in acquisition ( Wiggins, 1993 ) . Independently, pupils are besides put through such appraisals when fall ining a new school, a new class or measure uping for a peculiar entry that requires a peculiar degree of instruction ability ( Taylor, Personal writer, compiler, or editor name ( s ) ; click on any writer to run a new hunt on that name.1997 ) . In all these cases, the appraisal is conducted by a panel of multi -disciplinary professionals, all of whom have single countries of expertness which combine in supplying the assessment consequences of such a kid ( Wiggins, 1993 ) . Professional Roles in Assessing Education Ability Education ability appraisal has attracted voluminous involvements in the last two decennaries. Presently, most of the available literature has been concentrating on the experts behind the appraisal procedure, inclusive of the diverse professionals responsible of doing the appraisal ( Aas et al. , 2009 ) . The assessors ‘ judgements carry important weight and impact for the assessed persons, the instruction plans and their establishments ( Aas et al. , 2009 ) . It is hence imperative that the function that these professionals/experts play be regulated by standardised processs and protocols if the appraisal is to be used for such cardinal determinations as a kid ‘s hereafter. The fact that academic ability appraisals have become a cardinal constituent of academic plans across the Earth in about every state on Earth makes it really of import that there be a cosmopolitan standards, criterion and codification of pattern employed in such procedures. Pertinent to this position is the method employed, the ends set and the functions that each expert plays in the appraisal ( Aas et al. , 2009 ) . Most schools have employed staff school counselors, larning and disablement specializers, school psychologist and sometimes even private pattern clinicians to panel the educational ability appraisal processes whereby they employ their professional expertness and cognition to organize an independent equal appraisal of kids in that school. The professio nals can be hired on a full-time, parttime and long-run footing ( Aas et al. , 2009 ) . One of the functions that these professionals play in the appraisal processes is naming larning jobs in pupils. Using the clinical psychological science theories, the experts diagnose whenever a kid has physiological, psychological and emotional jobs that mar his or her ability to larn. Identification of such jobs helps in finding ways to assist such kids in their acquisition. Second, the clinical psychological science professionals help to fit pupils with their optimum acquisition environments. This is done through measure uping which pupils fit which environment and which do non ( Taylor, Personal writer, compiler, or editor name ( s ) ; click on any writer to run a new hunt on that name.1997 ) . A pupil may be able to get by with certain demands of a peculiar acquisition environment while being wholly unable to get by with another environment ( Elliott, 2000 ) . These professionals help to fit a pupil with his or her ideal degree of challenges, demands and outlooks, non merely to forestall disheartenment and defeat for that kid, but besides to put the kid in the environment that he or she can be at his or her best ( Taylor, Personal writer, compiler, or editor name ( s ) ; click on any writer to run a new hunt on that name.1997 ) . Chiefly, these assessment Sessionss are the footing that many instruction establishments conduct abnormal psychology, psychological rating, psychoeducational guidance, audience, etc, for the pupils or possible pupils of such establishments ( American Psychological Association, 2007 ) . These professionals are charged with a experimental decision-making authorization, whereby they evaluate a kid and do a determination about such a kid ‘s ability to larn in peculiar environments. Notably, these professionals besides help the kids by coaction with the instructors in reexamining the best ways that a kid can be helped to achieve his or her possible ( Elliott, 2000 ) . This provides a important penetration to ideal direction and kid development methods in an purpose to expeditiously come on each kid ‘s cognitive/academic abilities. The professionals are besides able to name jobs in and propose ways of amending the socialisation processes of such kid ( Aas et al. , 2009 ) . In many cases, the professionals accumulate informations that is valuable to instruction and kid development and or psychology research while besides assisting reform educational systems organisations, policies and climes in favour of pupils ( Oosterhof, 1994 ) . Importantly, the professionals are given the authorization of forestalling crises and salving kids before their jobs get worse, utilizing their expertness to nail possible jobs even before such jobs become open ( Taylor, Personal writer, compiler, or editor name ( s ) ; click on any writer to run a new hunt on that name.1997 ) . School counselors, larning and disablement specializers, school psychologist and private pattern clinicians play the parental function in educational establishments by looking into the public assistance of each kid, for intents of heightening their acquisition ( Aas et al. , 2009 ) .

Ernest Hemingway’s the Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea includes many symbols and metaphors within the story line. Hemingway uses the technique of comparing two items as symbolism in his story to make this story personally unique and to share his point of view of many different worldly topics. Some of the metaphors Hemingway uses as symbols to relate the story to real life are the similarities between the marlin and life, life and the sea, and the poor and the rich. Ernest Hemingway wrote about the marlin as if it was a human living in reality. This metaphor also includes a Christian aspect to it where Santiago (the old man) is God and the marlin is everyone on earth. Where Santiago found the marlin was in somewhat shallow water where it was closer to Santiago (the creator). The marlin was tempted with the hook like Adam and Eve were tempted with the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and eventually gave in and took the bait (Adam and Eve partaking of the fruit). Once the marlin realized it was hooked it started heading for deeper water to hide just as Adam and Eve hid from God. As the fish got deeper it naturally got darker, resembling man running away from God trying to make their sin unnoticeable. Along with swimming to deeper water, the marlin had to pull the boat behind him as a burden that he had to carry because he was trying to escape from his mistake. The old man wondering what the fish was doing said â€Å"If you're not tired, fish, you must be very strange. † (The Old Man and the Sea, page 67, paragraph 4) just as God would wonder about man running and running from Him and never seeing the truth that is right in front of him. A good amount of time goes by and they're in deep waters where sharks attack the fish and do a little damage to the boat. The attack on the fish is like man going through the tribulation but evil doesn't just do damage to man but to God too because He cares about us and doesn't like to see us suffering. At the end right after the old man sees the lights from the city on the horizon the sharks attack the fish again. The old man fought the sharks and finally got them to leave but with nothing but the carcass of the fish. In the same way, God will fight for us and scare the enemy off so that He may have us (those who accepted Him) like the old man had the memory of what the fish was like. In the night sharks hit the carcass as someone might pick up crumbs from the table. The old man paid no attention to them†¦ † (The Old Man and the Sea, page 67, paragraph 3) because it is only the flesh that remained. Another object in the story that shared similarities to life was the sea. The old man had been fishing for most of his life so he was well acquainted with the sea. Yet still that one time that he went out and he got a glimpse at what he desired he went after it and in this case cost him almost everything. While pursuing his desire the sea shook him, beat him, and gave him some unexpected turns. Some examples of those where when the fish dragged him out to sea further and further, when he had to fish for food because he ran out, when the fish kept going after the old man though it would be out of energy, when the sharks attacked, or after all the time he spent out at sea trying to catch the fish, he had nothing but the carcass to show for it. It is the same with life. Humans get into their routines but 100% of those humans get something thrown at them that they didn't see coming. Like a car crash resulting in death, heart attack, or maybe it is family members that just got the news that a loved one committed suicide. The biggest similarity between life and the sea is that in the beginning of the story the old man would take the boy out with him to teach him techniques of how to fish while in life the person you look up to, most likely the father figure, can tell you what to do incase something happens or if something happens again but the pupil will learn from the father the most when they are in real time situations and the pupil gets to see how the father handles the situation. Based on what the pupil sees is where he or she will ultimately learn from that father figure. So while the boy's parents where at home telling him not to go fishing with the old man because he is bad luck, the old man takes the boy out into the world and actually shows him how most everything is done rather than just telling him. The poor and the rich town people in the story also share similarities. Since it was a small town by the sea most if not everybody fished. The rich would fish as a way to relax while their business inland was being run by one of the citizens in a lower money bracket. While the poor were fishing to stay alive. It was their means of survival. Both the rich and the poor came in after fishing for the day and either turned in their fish for money or took it home to be eaten. Even though both classes of society were quite the opposite they almost did the exact same things because the town was so small and there was hardly anything to do. There are many different objects and characters that Hemingway wrote in The Old Man and the Sea that share similarities among symbols and some of them are how the marlin represented life, the sea also represented life, and how the rich and the poor were similar beyond society saying they are opposites. Hemingway used many symbols within his story and because no one has the same point of view, the reader is left to interpret those symbols on how they see it. All the symbolism in the book makes it a great book for all ages. For the kids it is a nice easy read but for the older generations there can be a lot of information found on the author, life, and many other topics.