Sample Assignment Coca-Cola Global Marketing Strategy

Sample Assignment Coca-Cola Global Marketing Strategy Introduction As domestic markets mature, it is becoming more and more fashionable for organisations to seek growth through opportunities in foreign countries. Faster communication, new technologies and improved transport links are making international markets more accessible and businesses pursuing a global position can experience an upsurge in brand awareness and cost effectiveness. Global marketing is a relatively new concept linked to these developments. In the main, it is concerned with decisions for integrating or standardising marketing actions across a number of geographic markets. This does not rule out any customisation of the marketing mix to individual countries but suggests that organisations should capitalise on similarities between markets to build competitive advantage. Compelling cases can be put forward for both a standardisation or adaptation approach to international marketing practice. These arguments are keenly explored, drawing from examples of Coca-Colas international marketing programme to elucidate key points. Background of Coca-Cola As the worlds largest manufacturer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages, Coca-Cola is certainly no stranger to global marketing. Established in the US, Coca-Cola initiated its global expansion in 1919 and now markets to more than 200 countries worldwide. It is one of the most recognizable brands on the planet and also owns a large portfolio of other soft drink brands including Schweppes, Oasis, 5 alive, Kea Oar, Fanta, Lilt, Dr Pepper, Sprite and Powerade. Despite this, Coca-Cola often struggles to maintain its market share over its main rival PepsiCo in some overseas markets, particularly Asian countries. Arguments for Standardisation †¢ Converging customer needs and preferences It is proposed by Levitt that the forces of globalisation driven by technology and wider travel are leading to more homogenised customer needs and wants worldwide. This paves the way for the building of global brand identities where companies are able to export their domestic brands to mass markets abroad and consumers will react to them in similar ways. In this sense, standardised marketing with a universal product and message can be an integrating force across national borders. To send out different communication messages across countries could lead to customer confusion and even dilution of the brand. In keeping with this, Coca-Cola sells virtually the same Coke beverage worldwide. The design of Coca-Cola soft drinks has changed little in its history, from the logo to the distinctive glass bottle. These unique and consistent characteristics evoke a strong brand image which has cross-cultural appeal. †¢ Economies of scale/experience In many industries, companies can reap cost advantages by operating on a global scale and ultimately improve their all-round competitiveness. Using a centralised structure, a firm can draw economies from bulk purchase discounts or by sharing functions such as product development, marketing, production and managerial resources among different markets. In Coca-Colas example, economies are gained through the competent running of a large-scale franchising system for its bottling operations. †¢ Technological viability In sectors where technological and production processes are homogeneous, extra weight is placed on standardisation of products as a prerequisite for success. As part of its vision that Coke should taste the same around the world, Coca-Cola has chosen to standardise its product and manufacturing process. The knock on effects of this are more streamlined procedures and greater cost efficiencies. It is worth noting Levitts argument that companies which opt to produce an assortment of products serving different customer segments would be unable to survive globalisation due to inefficiencies in their operation. Arguments for Adaptation †¢ Consumer Diversity Supporters of the adaptation view contend that, regardless of globalisation, consumers in different countries continue to vary dramatically in their geographic, demographic, economic and cultural characteristics. It is sensible to imply that, where there are differences in product preferences, product uses, attitudes, shopping patterns, income levels and education, a business will need to adapt its product offering or communication programme in some shape or form. By carefully singling out the most significant differences, organisations can tailor products to suit local tastes and conditions. Dennis and Harris pronounced that global branding strategy should actually be a local plan for each component market, as to apply a standard approach worldwide without considering local preferences and cultural differences is doomed to failure. Food and beverage organisations in particular, can easily fall prey to obstacles such as regional taste and category development issues. On the other hand, organisations that market internationally have to bear in mind that customising communication and product strategy will increase overall marketing costs. Traditionally, Coca-Cola used a standardised marketing campaign strategy where it would pull advertisements for specific markets from a common pool of adverts designed to have universal appeal. Lately, Coca-Cola has chosen to back away from a full standardisation approach and to instead tweak its efforts to accommodate local culture and nuances. Its former approach was deemed too rigid with some of its campaigns not always successfully transcending national borders. Although the branding and position of Coca-Cola remains consistent worldwide, its execution is based on what is judged to be best for each local market. This is evident in its Live on the Coke Side of Life advertisement campaign launched in 2006 where elements of local culture are included. On the product side, Coke bottles and cans include the target countries native language and are sized to match up to other beverage bottles or cans in that country. The company also offers a varied product line-up to capture different consumer tastes, for example, soy drinks for its Asian markets. †¢ Differences in Infrastructure and Regulations Several multinational companies, including Coca-Cola, have discovered that operating from a completely central and standardised perspective can impede the progress of the company, especially when it comes to understanding and integrating with local conditions. Coca-Cola is well known for its widespread accessibility through a variety of channels such as large supermarkets, petrol stations, restaurants, hospitals, cafes and so on. Having a strong brand gave Coca-Cola the supplier bargaining power it needed to break into the more complex and entrenched distribution systems of lots of countries. Adding the fact that food laws can vary tremendously from one country to another, it is not surprising that Coca-Cola describes itself as multi-local. Despite a standardised product, Coca-Cola is obliged to adopt different approaches to the global marketplace. This goes some way to disproving Levitts idea that one size fits all and emphasises a plan global, act local approach instead. Conclusion In essence, the arguments above reveal that global marketing is not necessarily an all or nothing proposition. Companies have the freedom to choose from many possibilities on the spectrum from total standardisation through to complete customisation. Clearly there are circumstances where multinationals can gain through increased standardisation of products and marketing, especially with respect to keeping costs down and building brand power. On the other hand, in conditions where national market differences are more marked, this strategy would harm the company and its reputation. By making standardisation decisions using target market conditions as its starting point, an organisation can ensure that, in the long-term, customers are being offered what they want. Although Coca-Cola can seemingly gain a great deal from a standardised agenda, its decision to combine global and local resources is ultimately more long-standing in a market where national customer differences are influential.

Marketing Plan Oberoi Hotels In Mumbai

Marketing Plan Oberoi Hotels In Mumbai A luxury 5-star business hotel, The Oberoi, New Delhi provides over 250 rooms and suites. It features the best of restaurants, a well-equipped business center and a rejuvenating spa experience. In addition the dedicated service makes the hotel popular with business and leisure travelers. Bearing a blend of traditional and colonial style, the rooms are done up with traditional Indian art and handicrafts and also appointments from Europe. The hotel has taken care to ensure there is no compromise on luxury, so a perfect balance of modern luxury and traditional charm has been achieved. Regally appointed baths and specially prepared toiletries add well to the luxuries offered. Guests can choose rooms with different views, the most popular being pool-view or golf course-view rooms. Amongst the most luxurious, the Kohinoor suite is the most luxurious. The Oberoi offers perfect rejuvenating experiences for the guests. A 9000 square area of the hotel dedicates itself to make you feel relaxed and get rejuvenated. The Oberoi Spa features a therapy suite, an Ayurveda therapy room and a hydrotherapy room for Vichy shower. For those who love to take laps, the hotel has temperature controlled outdoor swimming pool which allows you to swim in all seasons. Designed to suit the needs of the class business travelers, the hotel is well-appointed with all requirements for the same. It offers to guests conference rooms with a capacity to accommodate around 300 people, business centers with all modern facilities and other business facilities. Company Overview The Oberoi, Mumbai Located in the citys prime business and shopping district of Nariman Point, The Oberoi, Mumbai has been completely redesigned to be the ultimate destination for contemporary style and luxury in the city. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, the hotel welcomes you with space and serenity. Luxuriously appointed guestrooms have been meticulously planned with a host of innovative features using the latest technology. The Oberoi, Mumbai is located on Marine Drive, the famed boulevard along the coast in South Mumbai. An hours drive from the airport and only minutes away from the business, financial and entertainment districts, the hotel is also well located to visit the citys tourist attractions. The hotel offers a rich variety of dining experiences ranging from an all day dining restaurant serving global cuisine, to an Italian Restaurant and a signature Indian restaurant under the direction of a Michelin starred chef. An ideal location for business meetings and conferences in Mumbai, venues range from private meeting rooms at the 24-hours Business Centre to the conference rooms on the top floor of the hotel offering sweeping views of the Arabian Sea. Recreational facilities include an outdoor heated swimming pool, a fitness centre and a full service Oberoi Spa. The Spa and the Fitness Centre are open 24 hours. Complemented by Oberoi Hotels legendary service delivered by caring staff, The Oberoi, Mumbai is the ideal hotel for discerning business and leisure travellers. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Oberoi-Hotel,-New-DelhiBlending-Business-With-Pleasureid=2320861 Our brands: Business Hotels The Oberoi, Calcutta The Oberoi, Mumbai The Oberoi, New Delhi Leisure Hotels: The Oberoi sahl Hasheesh The Oberoi Rajvillas The Oberoi Madina Wildflower Hall, Simla Current Situation Macro Environment (PESTEL Analysis) Economical The economy of UK has been getting back to the normal position as there are significant amount of increase in the tourists visiting the major cities of London as well the rest of the United Kingdom and so with the migrants from different parts of the world for jobs which would thus lead to a overall increase in the economy of the UK. Initially there need to be a high investment in purchase of building up of the vessel which would be covered under the financial capabilities of the Intercontinental group of hotels as there has been a gradual stability and increase in the economy of the Intercontinental Group of Hotels InterContinental Hotels was the main talking point yesterday as London started the new year with a bounce. InterContinental climbed 6.3 per cent to 597Â ½p after a unit of Hong Leong, the Asian conglomerate that owns Thistle Hotels, declared a 3 per cent stake. As it has been seen that the due to the economy crisis of recession there were many job losses which has left out the skilled workers out and away from their jobs but as now clearing of the overall debts of all the world economy there has been a significant growth in the economic factors as well many job openings And as seen now there is an substantial increase in Tourism sector which would be quiet related to concept of hospitality on board of Intercontinental Blue Retreat and thus would be easier to find experienced labour http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/569a38fa-d937-11dd-ab5f-000077b07658.html Political In Britain there is new Liberal Democrats Government which will now bring on new rules and regulations on the have a change in taxation policy in correspondence to the present taxation policy on Britain The main focus of the government is to reduce the carbon credits by reducing the carbon emissions and such elements leading towards global warming. This means there will be an increase in the fuel costs by imposing taxes over it which will directly effect on the driving of the motor vessel of Intercontinental Blue Retreat which may have a long journeys of a week from Britain to Caribbean, Mexico, Bali, Dubai at initial and thus expanding with the themed holiday retreats so the taxation rates are the major concern in considerations with the fuel as well as the service taxation rates which are to be revised Socio Cultural Environment Since the time trend of cruise travel came into existence the cruise liners have been a status symbol for a frequent leisure traveller who had the power to spend high amount for his travel. It was only the upper class of the society who could have afforded to travel with leisure on board but since the concept of travel with leisure had been came into existence promoting varied tourist countries and attractions it has been quiet affordable for the working class and became a means of themed travels just instead of travel with leisure The average age of tourists travelling varies now from the young age group to the old age group varying from 15 55 for the purpose of visiting places over the world for holiday purpose Technological Factors The advancements in the cruise liners for facilitating the tourist with all the facilities throughout the journey. The major concerns in the cruise liners is the technologies to be used for waste management and water preservation and storage as well the oil or waste spills in the sea which are to be looked as major concerns.Some of the cruise liners are already implementing Water saving technologies are found throughout cruise ships, such as vacuumed toilets and low-flow faucet aerators on water outlets. In minimising emissions, is also looking at ways to reduce the amount of fuel used. As well as designing more fuel-efficient itineraries, the cruise line is pilot-testing a computer system that will make vessels more aerodynamic and lessen fuel consumption and have to further reduce sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and particulate matter over the next decade in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI, revised in 2008, which relates to air pollution. Some cruise lines are already implementing scrubber technology on board their ships, a system in which the natural chemistry of seawater is used to scrub the sulphur out of a ships exhaust gases. These technologies are to be implemented and for which the budgeting will the looked over and thus new technologies will be adopted Environmental The cruise ships emit tons of sulphur emissions into the sea on a yearly average. The use of low sulphur-producing fuel which is the most popular means of reducing sulphur emissions in the cruise industry, also comes with some environmental consequences. The process of distilling crude oil to make the fuel leaves refineries with a type of waste fuel that is unusable and thus it leaves back a considerable amount of solid waste. Research is been carried out for viability of solar and wind turbine technology for ships and is set to release a sustainability report soon detailing more solutions for the future which will make the cruise liners eco friendly without disturbing the ecological balance and harming the environment. Legal The introduction of a new cruise liners should consider the various legal terms to be followed up which are imposed and regulated by the Cruise liner International Association (CLIA) along with the legal regulating bodies of the nations the laws and acts such as Design and Construction standards Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act Sea Environmental law (solid waste/ Toxic / Ballast water / Air Pollution) Sexual assault on Cruise Act Log Book and Crime Reporting Crime Scene Preservation These all rules, regulations and acts are to be considered from formulation a vessel to the onboard safety and security of the consumer http://www.cruiselawnews.com/ Market Analysis According to the projected bar graph there seems to be a substantial increase in the cruise travellers within the coming two years and this would be a very good thing for the Intercontinental Blue Retreat The Cruising has become a major part of the tourism industry as well as for onboard hospitality accounting for with over 18 million passengers carried worldwide in 2010. The worlds largest cruise liner is Royal Caribbean which would be the major competitor for the Intercontinental Group. The industrys rapid growth has seen nine or more newly built ships catering to a North American clientele added every year since 2001, as well as others servicing European clientele. Smaller markets, such as the Asia-Pacific region, are generally serviced by older ships. These are displaced by new ships in the high growth areas. so the Intercontinental with its new vessel would initially grab on the European market and then with the themed holidays and thus moving towards the far east http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_ship Using Micheal Porters five force analysis model it will help us to classify the major five forces for the Intercontinental Blue Retreat Competitive Rivalry There is an existing high density of cruise liners along with a increase in 32 new vessels in the coming three years which will lead to increase in vessels and so creating a port reserving problems along with the shortage of ports for existing cruise vessels There has been a competitive rivalry between the major cruise liners in the past few decades in accordance with the on board services they offer to attract the customers along with the varied experiences for the cruisers to remember with Threat of New Entrants Though there are 11 new cruise vessels to be launched in 2011 there is a level of threat of entrants in luxury cruise market .The easiest way to enter the cruise industry appears to be via mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers. There are essentially three cruise market segments: contemporary, premium, and luxury. Along with these types of cruises comes varying levels of service and expertise. The high cost of training and maintaining exceptional employees for their shops, casinos, entertainment, hotel staff, world class chefs, and of course the maritime staff requires a parent company with vast financial resource. Therefore the threat of new entrants is substantial. As the similar marketing strategies can be applied over but the other large group of hotels Threat of Substitutes The cruise industry holds a unique position in that the threat of a substitution by another vacation activity by the current consumer market seems likely to be high with the pioneering cruise companies such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival in the cruise tourism. Family cruises are also growing in popularity. a cruise vacation is generally cheaper than a traditional vacation package. Many lines offer package airfare and cruise rates to their customers. An increasing number of lines are expanding their ports of call and destinations to please the demands of todays diverse cruise market. According to a survey 25 ships from major cruise lines from three more than last year is now carrying about 10% more passengers. All this means more choices for travellers. And thus increase in competition with the existing pioneering cruise companies and increasing a threat of substitution with Intercontinental Blue retreat Bargain Power of Suppliers A rise in fuel prices has been quite costly for the cruise industry, who are not only directly affected by fuel cost for running their own ships, but must raise ticket prices to cover the increase cost of flying due to high fuel prices and a hike in airfares. Quality, dependability on suppliers are vital in order to ensure repeat cruisers. If the food was good on the first cruise, consumers expect it to be up to par each time they cruise. This goes for advertising too. Carnival was the first cruise line to use television ads to promote itself. Travel services also play an important role in promoting and fulfilling cruise reservations. the bargain power of the suppliers in regards to fuel , food , supplies is likely to be high which needs an proper evaluation in accordance with the service contract for constant supply of the resources. Bargaining Power of Customers Cruise travellers have many different lines to choose from, each offering a slightly different variety of service on cruising. Most cruise lines target middle class travellers with the grand ocean liner experience. The first time travellers or cruisers are offered along in by moderately priced air and cruise package rates. Often one can buy a cruise vacation anywhere form $125-$250 per person, per night. Most hotel stays in major cities are more expensive per night, not including transportation as well as food. Along with low priced package rates, consumers are also demanding a unique vacation experience which would create a difference in their normal vacations . Now cruises appeal to a younger, hipper audience, and its easy to see why. Modern cruise ships are being more like floating resorts, offering everything from Casinos, spas and gyms to in-line skating and Rock-climbing walls. Cruising is the fastest-growing segment of the travel Ships also stop at more ports, with over 1,800 destinations worldwide to choose with. So does the bargain power of cruisers increase along with having wide options of cruise liners to choose from. Customer Analysis (current and targeted) There has been a rapid growth in number of UK cruise passengers travelling by cruise liners which have effectively been doubled in just eight years. The cruise report makes the prediction based on estimates by the UK Passenger Shipping Association that 1.35 million cruises were booked by UK residents last year, with a rise of 15% to 1.55 million predicted for this year. Now cruises are attracting to a younger, hipper audience, Modern cruise ships are being more like floating resorts, offering everything from Casinos, spas and gyms to in-line skating and Rock-climbing walls. Cruising is the fastest-growing segment of the travel Ships also stop at more ports, with over 1,800 destinations which would certainly lead to increase in the family travellers and young travellers which would create a trend for them to travel in luxury The base target of the Intercontinental group would be to create a difference on their cruise liners along with the generation trends. initially it will be launched starting the voyage from UK to Mexico, Caribbean Islands, and covering 1 voyage to Bali and Asian country parts. the motive would be to create a difference in hospitality as intercontinental is following the concept of making customer happy and to create great hotels guest love http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2008/02/13/26646/uk-cruise-market-to-hit-two-million-passengers-by-2012.html Internal Environment The potentials of Intercontinental Blue Retreat Strengths: Good financial stability of the brand Customer loyalty Large database of Intercontinental customers Pioneers in Hospitality since long time Luxury Brand image along with all 9 brands of intercontinental group Assured clientele Weaknesses: Higher fixed cost Onboard service is labour intensive Seasonality of ship usage Weak environmental policies Long lead time for ship delivery before introduction in the market Competitive industry with other pioneering cruise liners High fuel and maintenance cost Opportunities: Expected 11 more ships in next four years Only 8 % have taken over in the tourism sector by cruise lines Ageing population wants relaxing vacations Multilingual staff for language efficiency which can be picked over within from the properties over the world ships for mergers or acquisitions from existing vessels due to brand power Threats: Maturing industry Overcapacity of vessels in the sea Rate of growth might slow down Expected growth of 6.3 % in coming year Tight regulations in voyage and cruise laws Other cruise companies to increase their vessels in next years by acquisitions Competitive advantage The aim is to build a sustainable competitive advantage could be achieved by Intercontinental Blue Retreat through the Intercontinental Hotels resorts groups economy and their pioneering performance in past few decades acquiring over 6 major brands within Brittan and world over . Possessing extensive knowledge of the UK market and existing extensive research into consumer behaviour they can offer a holistic service supported by the groups expertise in customer service. Intercontinental already has a guest loyalty card of which the regular guests or customers can avail of the discounted rates on the voyages or themed holidays with family and friends also can avail business facilitation with intercontinental business jets for conferencing. Intercontinental blue retreat would formulate a cruise theme trip along with the hotel stays at intercontinental resorts at varied location along with hampered gift packages for the loyal customers or frequent customers and offering business coaches for business class within the cruise and pioneering the cruise liners Mission Vision and core values of INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL GROUP Mission: To create great hotels guests love. Vision: To build the hotel industrys strongest operating system focused on the biggest markets and segments where scale really counts. Core Values: Do the right thing Show we care Aim higher Celebrate difference Work better together Mission Vision and Core values of INTERCONTINENTAL BLUE RETREAT Mission: To create best cruise guest would love. Vision: to build up the pioneering voyages with a great customer satisfaction maintaining the higher scales in the cruise tourism sector Core Values: Do the best for the guest Show the care through better service on board Be pioneers Work unitedly Create valuable difference Introduction of INTERCONTINENTAL BLUE RETREAT The cruise vessel of Intercontinental would be introduced in summer 2010 from south Hampton port of Great Britain and the first voyage would be with grand opening to Caribbean island. The vessel would be initially advertised with the in-house marketing from all the brands of intercontinental group and along with a in-house reservation desk in the lobby of every hotel as travel desks at the lobby which would help make aware the brand loyal guests with the pre launching of luxury cruise The Marketing Strategy (Marketing Mix) Product: The product being a service product it has to be generally promoted based on the brand image of the hotel so as to facilitate loyal customers with the efficient and luxurious on board service at the intercontinental Blue retreat Price: The price of the voyage would be as along with the luxury with an offered discounted rate to the loyalty card members of intercontinental group and along with a discounted rate for the first 200 reservation special family and themed packages with a special rated with over the chosen destination in accordance to promote the voyages Place: The cruise vessel of Intercontinental would be introduced in summer 2010 from south Hampton port of Great Britain and the first voyage would be with grand opening to Caribbean island. The vessel would be initially advertised with the in-house marketing from all the brands of intercontinental group and along with a in-house reservation desk in the lobby of every hotel Promotion: The promotions are to carried out at initially by in house promotions by in room pamphlets, advertisements on in room televisions and to the business class by a presentation of advertisement of launching and on a large scale by following Companys own Website Billboards Printed advertisements Direct Mail to business class Loyalty members offers Online media Sales promotions Sponsorship Type of Promotion Method Objective Companys own website Efficient, branded website with online booking facilities. And initial advertised page Provide info Enable online bookings Billboards .billboards at the major transport lines and tourist places along with the airport and stations Create awareness and promote the luxury voyage facilitated for the consumers Printed Advertisements Poster advertisements Ads in publications such as the travel and tourism magazine remind and retain customers about the brands new launch Direct Mail Letters, Pamphlets. Reaching business class segment efficiently Online Media Emails Banners Sponsored links marketing Social media websites comparison websitessites. Utilise the internet to reach as many targeted customers, efficiently as possible, to guide them directly to the online booking system and retain data of customers to avail them with promotions. Sales Promotions In-house promotional stands and desk prior the launch Inform about the luxurious service of the cruise Loyalty members offer Offer with special packages to loyalty card members To increase brand loyalty of customer Sponsor high end events Sponsor high end events with a handful budget. To get relation with the people in events and thus make brand promotions Marketing Strategy: Differentiation Strategy: Intercontinental Blue Retreat should make their cruises more unique and luxurious then other cruise lines making differentiation with the packages or the services provided on board by the pioneering brand in hospitality. Sample of Advertising Critical Reflection I am a graduate in hospitality and tourism management with a relevant experience of one year working with a 5 star property. I have learned marketing in my bachelors but havent related or do not have much relevant experience with the same. It had always seemed interesting subject according to me. Coming from a hospitality background, learning the marketing concepts in depth and relating them with the real world scenario has been a truly worth experience. I was also able to explore the creative side of me while designing of the advertisement which made me think of the several factors which should actually be taken into consideration. My expectation at the beginning of the module was to learn the basic concepts of marketing which are to be used on regular basis on and throughout marketing in any industry. But I have not only learned the core marketing theories but able to apply the theoretical concepts to practical. I feel confident now as i can take any product and formulate a descent marketing strategy. Following a video advert for the designed product line is a concept of learning the advertisement trends of marketing the new product which is quiet interesting. The assignments provided me a tremendous opportunity to apply the gained theoretical knowledge and bring into practice. I have always considered PESTEL analysis and marketing mix as the main tool to analyse a marketing strategy for any product. These both theories provide a concrete base for marketing any product. while designing the product line of my product it became quiet clear and concise to me how anyone can relate effectively use the 4 Ps of marketing mix considering not only the product and place as in usual rather then also looked over the price and promotion of the product which are of major considerations for any product. My concept of promotion of a product was only as advertisement but as i progressed through the coursework i found out that advertisement is just a basic tool of promotion. Whereas promotions can be done in varied different ways to promote the product in market. One of my biggest misconceptions about product placement was cleared in this assignment. I always used to consider the placement of product about an large scale in a hypermarket .as going through the product line of my new product of an chain of hotels to cruise liners was a huge and massive product for which the location on the right place at right time maters a lot as the cruise business is usually termed as seasonal PESTEL analysis helped me to look overall factors which would effect the new product in the existing competitive market. at initial the factors like political, social and environmental factors where not been of much importance in accordance to me but while going through the assignment i realised that these factors to play a major concern in case of INTERCONTINENTAL group of hotels launching a cruise liner. The environmental factors are of major consideration with the legal environmental laws for the cruise liners as to regulations of carbon emission and oil spillages of cruises are considered with different laws which are followed up by the companies Market analysis is an another vital tool to recognise and evaluate the market segmentation of an particular product in the market. as considering the marketing game which initially i found to be worthless. But it proved to be a very effective tool for evaluating the strategies to be applied in accordance to market situations. i always had it in my mind as a key assignment where i have learned to evaluate the market in accordance with the situation of the market and the requirements on the product in the sector. it also helped me to consider major budgeting factor as we in a group where provided with a fix budget. During designing of the product, I had to keep in the mind the existing product portfolio, and the brand image of the company. This was challenging as they act as few factors within which I had the design the product. Placing myself in the shoes of a marketing head, I had to keep in mind the overall marketing strategy of the company, where my product fits in to the plan and how it delivers value to the customers. How would my product differentiated from the other competitors in the market The consumer analysis in the coursework was one of key learning aspects to consider the consumer behaviour along with the consumer buying habits depending upon the several factors such as age, sex, culture, habits, psychology, needs and wants of a customer which helps in formulating a unique products which can be differentiated from the others thus creating a competitive advantage. The purchasing power of customers vary which makes it more difficult for pricing a product accordingly and also that means to me as a marketing person is that I need to keep in mind these various aspects while designing the marketing campaign. Therefore I felt, the customer profiling exercise is a great tool to understand and identify the target segment of the customers. This exercise has enabled and enhanced my understanding of marketing as a tool to figure out the right target segment for the right set of customers and the right campaign that will help promote/sell the product. It was great to know that the intercontinental group of hotels maintain a portfolio of regular and business class consumer as well the loyalty card members. They avail and provide their consumers with a global facilitation with the loyalty card with the all existing 7 brands over round the world. The porters five force analysis which considers the differential factors irrespective to any other theories has helped me through the assignment to consider the situational analysis of the product in the concurrent market as the factors considered such as competitive rivalry, threat of entrants, threat of substitutes are major concerns for the market situation analysis while the bargain power of consumers and suppliers where of not much importance to me unless i evaluated the assignment and came through the situations where such analysis are the major issued as for INTERCONTINENTAL cruise liners had to enter into new market there the supplies such as fuel, food and water suppliers are the major onboard requirements to be considered and suppliers bargain power has helped me to look-over evaluation of any supplier SWOT analysis was useful in clearly highlighting the strengths I can use to promote and position the product, looking to weaknesses how i can improve the defects on the company, opportunities and threats will help me to look on to futuristic considerations. The best thing about the SWOT analysis was that during the process of conducting SWOT for the pioneering brand of Intercontinental Hotels and resorts, I realised that it is a very effective tool to understand a companys position in the overall market. Realizing the benefits of a SWOT analysis I decided to conduct a SWOT analysis on myself. This was even more insightful to me. It clearly helped me understand how I can improve myself professionally and personally. Considering my strengths weaknesses and improve myself After going through the assignment it reminds me of the question which was once asked to us as in a practice session to debate on with Marketing is an art or a science? This now truly makes me feel that it cant be any single piece of the duo pair because the science of the theory is implemented and the form of marketing art helps to implement the science into practical. So it cannot be just the one part of instead both terms compliment each other. During the exercise I felt I have undergone a complete transformation in terms of

World Politics: American Hegemony Essay -- The US as Global Hegemon

UNITED STATES POWER Whenever world politics is mentioned, the state that appears to be at the apex of affairs is the United States of America, although some will argue that it isn’t. It is paramount we know that the international system is shaped by certain defining events that has lead to some significant changes, particularly those connected with different chapters of violence. Certainly, the world wars of the twentieth century and the more recent war on terror must be included as defining moments. The warning of brute force on a potentially large scale also highlights the vigorousness of the cold war period, which dominated world politics within an interval of four decades. The practice of international relations (IR) was introduced out of a need to discuss the causes of war and the different conditions for calm in the wake of the first world war, and it is relevant we know that this has remained a crucial focus ever since. However, violence is not the only factor capable of causing interrupt ion in the international system. Economic elements also have a remarkable impact. The great depression that happened in the 1920s, and the global financial crises of the contemporary period can be used as examples. Another concurrent problem concerns the environment, with the human climate being one among different number of important concerns for the continuing future of humankind and the planet in general. In this paper, I will argue that the current system is hegemonial. My explanation to hegemony will then be centered on the sources of the United States as a hegemonial power. Furthermore, I will state the different primary implications associated with the rise of China and what the Roman Empire offers for understanding the United Sta... ... The Costs of US Hegemony: Military Power, Military Spending, and US Trade Performance. Sage. http://rrp.sagepub.com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/content/31/4/32.full.pdf+html R. Bruce Hitcher. (2008). Globalization Avant La Lettre: Globalization and the History of the Roman Empire. New Global Studies: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 2. Susan V. Lawrence, Michael F. Martin. (2013). Understanding China’s Political System. Congressional Research Services. https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41007.pdf The Rise of China and the Future of the West. (2008, January 1). Retrieved from http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/63042/g-john-ikenberry/the-rise-of-china-and-the-future-of-the-west Wei-Wei Zhang. (2004). The Implications of the Rise of China. Foresight, Vol. 6 Iss: 4, P. 223 – 226. http://www.emeraldinsight.com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/journals.htm?articleid=874264

Organ Donation :: essays papers

Organ Donation In March of 1999, I was given a gift from a person I never knew; a person I’ll never get to know. This gift cost the person who gave it to me, no money, but it was the most valuable gift I’ll ever receive. The gift was a piece of life from another person. At the age of twenty-four, I broke my hip. After three unsuccessful surgical attempts to heal it, my doctors performed a total hip replacement. The top four inches of my femur were sawed off, and the inside of my bone was hollowed out. A steel rod, nine inches long, was â€Å"pressed fit† into my bone. I was on crutches for over a year, but I really believed I would be able to walk on my own again. Less than one year after the surgery, I was back on crutches and in terrible pain. I had developed stress fractures in several places along my femur. For nearly one year I walked only when it was necessary and ate painkillers as though they were candy. Finally, my doctors decided to try something new. On March 9, 1999, my doctors took a rib bone, donated from a cadaver, split it in half, and wired it around my broken femur. Less than two months later, I was off crutches and walking normally for the first time in almost five years. I could actually enjoy life. I was lucky. I wasn’t going to die if I had no donor, donated bone is easier to acquire that a heart, lung or kidney. Other people are not as lucky. Patients waiting for one of those life-sustaining organs must rely on the generosity of others, and the misfortune of that generous person. Someone must die, in order for that person to live. No one likes to talk about death, but let’s face it, we all die. Dying is a part of life. Many people don’t talk about organ donation because it involves talking about death. But, what if, from our death, we could give another person a chance to live, or merely improve the quality of his or her life? As of September 1999, over 65,000 people wait, with their name on a list, for a life saving organ. Only a fraction of those will live long enough to receive that organ.

Module Five: The Sacraments Essay

Trace the development of the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist from the early church with special reference to how it is understood and celebrated in the Church since the Second Vatican Council. Assignment: 3. Trace the development of the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist from the early church with special reference to how it is understood and celebrated in the Church since the Second Vatican Council. We all have experience of ‘celebration’. When I think of a celebration what comes to mind are the external factors, the cake, candles, and the food. Sometimes we forget the real meaning of celebration, the story behind the festivity. The celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist is where we find our story. This essay will outline the development of the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist from the Early Church, paying particular focus on how the Eucharist is celebrated in the church since the Second Vatican Council. Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church celebrate something, and that something is to do with God’s love and grace, experienced and related to one’s own story. (CCRS notes). Vatican II’s desire was to restore the sacraments back to the centre of Church life. The earliest celebration of the Eucharist were home Masses (Acts 2:46 says ‘they broke bread at home’) even with small numbers these early Christians were establishing the traditions for the future. There is clear evidence of Christ in the Eucharist. There is clear evidence of his unconditional love. What makes the bread sacred is not magic but the reality of the words. (Huebsch 1989). â€Å"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, â€Å"This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.† In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, â€Å"This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.†(Corinthians 11:23-30) The bread and wine for the early Christians was much more than a meal, it was a coming together of the  community of God, each time a reference is made about the bread or the wine it is a reference to the people of God. For Huebsch the early Christians like us today are accepting the whole community of God when receiving communion, all his people with their strengths and weakness. An important development for the celebration of the Eucharist was the movement from the ‘home Mass’ of the very early Church to the Eucharist of the larger p ublic buildings. The large basilicas allowed for processions. Sunday became a holiday, giving more time for Christians to celebrate. Liturgies became longer and more elaborate. In these early days, the celebrant at the liturgy had considerable freedom to compose their own prayers for the Mass. Soon, however, standardisation set in, as the various communities began to adopt the prayers of their more articulate celebrants. (Kellly:1998) In the Fourth century, Constantine’s toleration of Christianity (313) led to its rapid spread throughout the Roman Empire. This led to significant changes in the celebration of the Liturgy. Latin became the standard language of the liturgy. At first, the assemblies met in basilicas later they built and dedicated churches and the clergy grew in numbers. During this era, they began to wear special clerical clothes. The sacrificial aspect of the Eucharist grew in importance, while the meal symbolism faded into the background (Kelly: 1998). This period stressed Christ’s divinity; this led to the people feeling less worthy to approach the Lord. As a result, there was a decline in the reception of communion. Theologians in the Middle Ages debated the meaning of the â€Å"real presence† of Christ in the Eucharistic bread and wine. They used the term transubstantiation to describe the mystery of the bread and wine being changed into Jesus’ risen body and blood. The stress was on the sacrificial nature of the mass. There was a growing sense that the laity were spectators to a drama unfolding on the altar. This led to a feeling that the consecration was the high point of the Mass. Emphasis fell, not on receiving Jesus in communion, but on seeing and adoring the Eucharistic Lord. Since fewer laity were receiving communion, a small round wafer (called host) substituted the traditional loaf of bread. (CCRS notes). As so few were receiving Holy Communion, the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) passed a law that re quired Catholics to receive communion at least once a year. Practices that focused on Eucharistic devotion began to appear. These included Elevation of the Host  and chalice at Mass. The priest had his back to the people, he had to hold the host and chalice up high. People would sometimes call out, â€Å"Hold it higher, priest.† Some were so keen on this practice they would run from one church to another just to be there for the moment of consecration! (O’Deasss 2013) .The Eucharistic prayer was recited silently by the priest except for the words of consecration which were voiced a little louder but not so loud as to be heard by the people because the people couldn’t hear the Eucharistic prayer, and even if they could they would not understand the Latin, many filled in the time by reciting the rosary or other devotional prayers during Mass. (O’Deasss 2013) The sixteenth century brought about the Protestant Reformation. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) met to correct some of the abuses that had crept into the Church. It also defended some Catholic beliefs attacked by the Reformers. In the area of the Eucharist, the church fathers reaffirmed the real presence of Jesus and the adequacy of the theological term, transubstantiation. They also defended the sacrificial nature of the Mass against the Reformers. Most significantly, Pope Pius V published a Roman Missal (1570) to bring uniformity to the official ritual. The Church then used this for the next four hundred years. (CCRS notes) Since the reform of 1570, a lot more was discovered about the Eucharist of the early Church and this enabled Vatican II to restore the liturgy more accurately to the traditions that had been lost. Vatican II’s key document the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (1963) led to the renewal of all the Sacraments. Important changes that we take for granted today include the following; celebrating the Mass in the vernacular language so we can understand more fully what it means; the Liturgy of the Word has greater importance; Guidelines instruct the homilist to develop the homily based on the readings. The Sunday readings revolve around a three-year cycle; this emphasis has helped Catholics discover the scriptures. The altar now faces the people, this invites a clearer understanding of what is going on at the Eucharist, and it also symbolically opens the Mass to fuller participation by all those present. Today’s Mass includes the Prayer of the Faithful, which links the Eucharistic worship to the whole church, the world, and the suffering in the community. Active congregational participation is an important feature of the post-Vatican II liturgy. Before, we commonly spoke of â€Å"attending Mass.† Today, we emphasise, â€Å"celebrating the Eucharist.† The  Mass is not a private affair. It is public worship in which the community, led by the priest, joins in thanking, praising, and adoring God together. The laity assumes many ministerial roles today, for example, as readers, Eucharistic ministers, choir members, greeters, and gift bearers. Vatican II wished to make the Eucharist a celebration of the entire community. Many of the reforms help us better understand the symbolism and meaning of the mass. They also help us gather together as a worshipping community. (Kelly 1998). Pope John Paul 11 mentioned this vital connection when he stated: â€Å"the Eucharist makes the Church and the Church makes the Eucharist.† The council did encourage changes in the liturgy. However, many people have misinterpreted this message and have down played the importance of the Eucharist in the Church and in our personal lives. Some members of the Church will claim that this council stated that the Eucharist is merely a symbol, thus denying the Real Presence. On the contrary, almost every Vatican II document speaks of the Real Presence, and implies that we need to increase our devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. â€Å"Really sharing in the body of the Lord in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread, we are taken up into communion with him and with one another.† (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) 1963) This essay has traced the development and celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist from the early Christian Church and has demonstrated that the focus at this time was sharing, participating, celebrating and making a personal connection with God. It has also explained that since the establishment and development of the early Catholic Church, the real meaning of the Eucharist was lost and people no longer felt connected to the sacraments. They were observers in the church rather than taking an active role. Since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church attempted to involve the people and encourage them to experience Jesus’ real presence through the sacrament. â€Å"In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith. Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.† (1327 Catechism) The celebration of the Eucharist is a call, a call of the risen Christ who continues to give himself to us calling us to his banquet, through this celebration we can participate in our faith more richly. As Pope Benedict  explained so passionately: â€Å"I encourage you all to discover ever more fully in the sacrament of Christ’s sacrificial love† (Paclva 2013). Bibliography Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Geoffrey Chapman.1994. CCRS notes Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) 1963 Good News Bible, Second edition 1994 The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) 1963 O’Deasss,F: http://theeucharist.wordpress.com/the-author/ Eucharist the basic spiritually, 2013 Huebsch, B: Rethinking the sacraments, London, 1989 Pacliva, M: The Eucharist: A Bible study for Catholics, USA, 2013 Kelly, L: Sacraments Revisited, What do they mean today, 1998

Life Stressors Essay

Many daily hassles have contributed to a certain level of stress in our lives. For life to continue or achieve the set objectives, then the hassle must be there, no way we can avoid them. If we can not avoid these hassles, then we can manage then responsively for our well being and sound health. â€Å"Examples of the daily hassles are; regrets over past decisions, money worries or concerns and not enough time for family, relaxation or entertainment† (Coon & Mitterer†¦167). The pressures and demands that cause stress are called stressors. There are so many life stressors including, death of a close family member for instance the mother, divorce, bad health or a changing behavior of a family member. There are various symptoms that are visible to enable recognize that he or she undergoing stress. Stress causes mental, physical and emotional duress. To get a handle in stress, one needs first to learn how to recognize it. Incase of these daily hassles, a person needs to get used to then and prepare his/her psyche that without them there may be no tomorrow. If a person develops this mentality that the hassles are normal his /her conscious will not be bothering about the hassles. Incase of money, the rich who have the money are not satisfied, therefore a plan i. e. the budget in using the little money can save a person too much stress. The issue with lack of time to relax or be with family can solely be solved by good management of time resource and strictly adhere to the timetable or schedules. â€Å"Issues of the past can easily be avoided by getting occupied actively in the wok place and or focusing in the future† (Zautra†¦. 93). Stressors are the hardest to cope with but one must be occupied with no time to sit idle, talk to as many people as possible including counselors, pastors, close friends, workmates, and family members. To crown all these, â€Å"physical exercises are commendable to any kind of stressor or stress† (Cohen†¦57). Works Cited: Coon, Dennis & Mitterer, John, O. Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. New York: Wadsworth Publishing, 2003. Cohen, S. Measuring Stress: A Guide for Health and Social Scientists. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Zautra, A. Emotions, Stress and Health. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Thesis Statement

University of Phoenix Material Thesis Statement and Informal Outline Worksheet In this course, you will write a 1,050- to 1,750-word Personal Responsibility Essay, due in Week Five, which includes the following: †¢ Define what personal responsibility means to you. †¢ Explain the relationship between personal responsibility and college success. †¢ Include a preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education.This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide the thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment, due in Week Five. Thesis Statement: Even though when I do not take personal responsibility I am more likely to blame others, personal responsibility means to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions because the actions you take in life, affect your college success and by setting goals in the beginning you can stay focus throughout your college ed ucation.Informal Outline: †¢ Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions. Is important to acknowledge personal responsibility to be successful in life. †¢ The actions you take in life affect your college success.  §Ã‚   Procrastination can become a habit  §Ã‚  Learning to prioritize †¢ Setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education.  §Ã‚   Goals keep you motivated  §Ã‚   You stay focus in the reward of achieving your goal   Ã‚   I plan to practice personal responsibility in my academic career by being more responsible.  §Ã‚   Practice time management.  §Ã‚   Identifying my educational goals. o  Ã‚   Conclusion  §Ã‚   Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions for two main reasons. First, setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education. But most importantly, the actions you take in life affect your college success. Thesis Statement My thesis is based on the colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan, Afghanistan, which were destroyed by Taliban in March 2001. The Buddha statues at Bamiyan were of historical significance and were considered both as national and international heritage. I will provide in-depth information on those statues and their historical and cultural importance. There will be an introduction part in the thesis. I will then discuss step by step how these statues gained prominence on the global arena and the events leading to their destruction.The origin, history and other related events surrounding the Buddha statues at Bamiyan will be discussed in this paper. The main focus will be to find out why these statues were so historic and the qualities they had to gain such significance. In the end, I will provide a well-observed conclusion on the significance of these statues to the world community. Introduction Preservation of historic monuments with cultural significance is not only the responsibility of the state, but also it is the responsibility of the world community.However, the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan clearly indicated that the historical monuments are vulnerable to such attacks and are in real danger. The giant Buddhas of Bamiyan were considered as wonder monuments by people across the globe. They were carved into a mountainside at Bamiyan in the heart of the Hindu Kush Mountains. The Buddhas were among Asia's great archaeological treasures. A Brief Background â€Å"During the medieval period, modern-day Afghanistan was a breeding place for Buddhist culture and art. It was strategically placed from the Silk route that saw flourished trade between the Roman Empire, China and India.Bamiyan was a cultural center both in ancient and medieval period† (Rowland, 1960: 56). It made the region central to Buddhist history. Buddhism came into Afghanistan in the third century BC during the reign of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The religion flourished further under the pa tronage of Kushans. â€Å"According to Huan-Tsang, the Chinese traveler, Bamiyan was a flourishing Buddhist center with many hundreds of monks living in the caves built around the Buddha statues† (Rowland, 1960: 61). The rulers of Kushan dynasty expanded their empire from China to India and Afghanistan.They were responsible for bringing Buddhism to the soil of Afghanistan. They carved these beautiful wonders of the ancient world. Colossal Buddhas The Buddhas of Bamiyan were located in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan. They were believed to be built in the fourth or fifth centuries. They represented the classic style of Greco-Buddhist art. There were two giant statues. â€Å"The larger one stood at 53 meters (125 feet). It was considered as one of the most wonderful representations of the Buddha in the world. The other statue stood at 38 meters. Both the statues were painted in gold and were decorated with glittering ornaments.The entire structure of Buddhas of Bamiy an was a mixture of Greek, Persian and Central and South Asian art† (Rowland, 1960: 81). The architecture of the two grand statues was unique, as it differed from the sculptural traditions. The cliffs that housed the two main Buddha statues were 1300 meters long and 150 meters high. The taller statue was located at the far west of the cliff and the other one was located at the far east. Historians are still clueless on why such colossal statues were built. â€Å"Some believe that they were built by the Kushan rulers to attract attention and to gain supremacy over other countries in the world.It was also argued by some historians that the main reason could be to propagate Buddhism in other parts of the world by attracting people to witness the beauty of these giant statues† (Flood, 2002: 56). Description about the Statues â€Å"The smaller Buddha was sheltered in a forte. It was carved out of the mass of the rock on three sides and stood with the right hand in the gestu re of protection and the left in the gesture of charity† (Rowland, 1960: 83). The statue was built in such a way that voyagers considered the gestures shown by the statue as an assurance of protection from the dangers of travel.â€Å"Both the statues were made with mud-plaster over a coating of lime plaster. They used to give a sense of naturalism and realism. The attributes found in the statues belonged to the style of ancient Gandhara art. The heads and the bodies of the statues were carved out of the sandstone cliffs. Due to lack of proper care and maintenance, the portions of the faces of the statues were destroyed. The hands of the statues were mutilated by some religious bigots who invaded Afghanistan several times† (Rowland, 1960: 84).â€Å"According to Huan-Tsang, the taller Buddha was adored with bright gold dye and precious ornaments. Although both the statues had same style, the larger one was much younger than the smaller one. There were several slots with well decorated walls and ceilings within the shrines of the statues† (Rowland, 1960: 61). External Influence The paintings were executed in a unique manner. â€Å"The walls and ceilings were covered with mud mixed with straw and lime plaster. In the forte of the smaller Buddha, the ceiling had the image of the Sun-God on a chariot with the Buddha located below him.The inclusion of the image of the Sun-God was indicated that Bamiyan was a cross-cultural region that was located on a road that was leading to different directions† (Rowland, 1960: 84). The painting at Bamiyan represented three different styles of art: Greco-Roman, Indian and Central Asian. â€Å"The portrayal of deities clearly indicated the use of these styles of art. The ceiling of the forte that carried the larger Buddha carried damaged human and divine figures. Indian influence could be easily detected in the divine figures engaged in religious conversation† (Rowland, 1960: 84).The convergence of people from different regions was the main reason behind the emergence of Bamiyan as a center for art and culture. The rock-cut paintings around the statues at Bamiyan exhibit recurring themes of the Buddha and scenes of his life. â€Å"A Bodhisattva image appeared in the northern part of the forte that carried the larger Buddha. The Boddhisattva sat with crossed ankles on his throne that was adorned with jewelry and embroidered clothing† (Rowland, 1960: 85). Many paintings around the Buddha statues were vandalized by fundamentalist forces, as they considered Buddhism an alien religion.Despite the damage made to the place, the beauty of the art continued to attract visitors and scholars to Bamiyan. Some of the beautiful sculptures found around the statues were domes, garlands, lotuses, trees and musicians. Preservation of the Statues The Afghanistan government was aware of the significance of these statues to its culture and heritage. Hence, it took several measures to protec t these monuments. â€Å"Between 1969 and 1978, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) worked closely with the Afghanistan government to conserve the site of Bamiyan.Efforts were made towards preserving and repairing the small Buddha and its forte and shrines. A tubular scaffold was constructed to support the statue's structure. A missing portion of the dome roof of a shrine was restored. Chemical treatment was applied to preserve the paintings around the statues† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 61). Destruction of the Statues Although the Buddhas of Bamiyan were spared during the conquest of Mahmud of Ghazni in the 12th century, invaders like Aurangzeb, Genghis Khan and Nadir Shah used heavy artillery and cannon fire to destroy the statues.However, they could not succeed in inflicting heavy damage on the statues. â€Å"Between 1999 and 2001, there have been much debate and discussions on the protection of the colossal statues. Afghanistan's Islamic clerics began a campaign to crac k down on non-Islamic structures, music, imagery and sports. In March 2001, a decree was passed to destroy all the statues in and around Afghanistan, which symbolized idol worship† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 69). The issue was given a political color when Afghanistan's foreign minister stated that the destruction was retaliation against the international community for economic sanctions.â€Å"According to some reports, then Taliban rulers of Afghanistan were outraged after a foreign delegation offered money to preserve the Buddha statues at Bamiyan while a million Afghans faced starvation† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 69). The Islamic government of Afghanistan took a serious note of this offer. That could be the immediate provocation behind the decision to destroy the statues. It was not easy to destroy the statues, as they were strongly built and were firmly attached to the mountain. â€Å"The Taliban forces used dynamite and tank barrages to demolish the monuments.The intense bombing of the Budhhas at Bamiyan lasted for almost a month until the statues were completely destroyed† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 70). Conclusion There is no doubt that the colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan were international treasures that should have been preserved at any cost. However, that did not happen. The destruction of such a world heritage illustrates the need for international laws for the maintenance of sites and strict punishment of violators. The world community must take a vow that they will never allow such destructions to occur again.The significance of the statues can be realized from the fact that despite the destruction caused by missiles, tankers and bombs, Bamiyan still remains as a unique example of the cross-cultural nature of Buddhist art. Bibliography: Rowland Jr, Benjamin. Gandhara Sculpture from Pakistan Museums. New York: Asia Society, 1960. Buckley, Mary & Rick Fawn. Global Responses to Terrorism 9/11, Afghanistan and Beyond. New York: Routledge, 2 003. Flood, Finbarr Barry. Between Cult and Culture: Bamiyan, Islamic Iconoclasm, and the Museum. The Art Bulletin. Volume: 84. Issue: 4, 2002. Thesis Statement 1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements: There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement. This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague. Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers. This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statement s: My family is an extended family.This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading. While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family. This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example: Companies need to exploit the marketi ng potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support. This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear.One way to revise the thesis would be to write: Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support. This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because, since, so, although, unless, and however.4. A strong thesis statement is specific.A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say: Wo rld hunger has many causes and effects.This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this: Hunger persists in  Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable. This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger. Thesis Statement University of Phoenix Material Thesis Statement and Informal Outline Worksheet In this course, you will write a 1,050- to 1,750-word Personal Responsibility Essay, due in Week Five, which includes the following: †¢ Define what personal responsibility means to you. †¢ Explain the relationship between personal responsibility and college success. †¢ Include a preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education.This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide the thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment, due in Week Five. Thesis Statement: Even though when I do not take personal responsibility I am more likely to blame others, personal responsibility means to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions because the actions you take in life, affect your college success and by setting goals in the beginning you can stay focus throughout your college ed ucation.Informal Outline: †¢ Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions. Is important to acknowledge personal responsibility to be successful in life. †¢ The actions you take in life affect your college success.  §Ã‚   Procrastination can become a habit  §Ã‚  Learning to prioritize †¢ Setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education.  §Ã‚   Goals keep you motivated  §Ã‚   You stay focus in the reward of achieving your goal   Ã‚   I plan to practice personal responsibility in my academic career by being more responsible.  §Ã‚   Practice time management.  §Ã‚   Identifying my educational goals. o  Ã‚   Conclusion  §Ã‚   Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions for two main reasons. First, setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education. But most importantly, the actions you take in life affect your college success.