Detoxing Diets B.S. or Life Changing Professor Ramos Blog

Detoxing Diets B.S. or Life Changing My cousin Jackie was a week away from her wedding date and was starting to feel anxious. She hadn’t been sticking to her diet and was feeling the pressure of fitting into her beautiful blush, mermaid fitted, beaded wedding gown. She tried juicing to lose weight quickly and feel healthy enough to finishing the last-minute details of the upcoming nuptials. Only thing is she is diabetic and her sugar levels were up and down making her sick the week of her wedding. Realizing it was the liquid diet making her ill, she switched to a well-balanced diet of healthy foods and finished her weight loss goal. She looked stunning and walked happily down the aisle on her wedding day with her handsome husband. Maintaining good health and riding the body of unnecessary and harmful chemicals is a natural concern for general health. Weight loss is one of the most common concern among Americans and searching for ways to achieve this successfully. The most advertised and common remedies are detox diets, whether it is juicing or colonics. It is a way to rejuvenate, renew and recharge the body. They promise to help you feel and look better by following a regimen. Most people, majority being women, are looking for a quick fix or fast solution to improve their body image or rapid weight loss. Others may consider it to be a way to cure an illness or disease. Is there proof of this conclusion? Do we need help to detox our bodies? I believe it is another â€Å"fad† for companies to sell a product or service that is unnecessary. Toxins we are exposed to daily may include pollutants in the air, ingredients in processed foods, pesticides on produce, or arsenic or mercury in the soil. For those who have an allergy to gluten that can also be harmful. Most things we consume can be harmful if we ingest a considerable amount. By cutting down on sugars, fats, and salt, with the help of our natural filtration system we can start feeling better (Cloake). Drinking only liquid can result in some weight loss but once carbohydrates and a normal diet is resumed the weight is gained back. There can be health risk when a detox diet is done improperly or for a long period of time.   Lack of protein due to insufficient amino acids for repair resulting in wasting of the muscle. Our bodies detoxify naturally every day without juicing. We have the kidneys and liver which filter and remove ingested toxins. Apovian says, â€Å"If someone wishes to detox from pesticides, sugars, or any other unhealthy substance, the best thing to do is abstain from it, and let the body remove the unwanted substance.† Most Americans are on the go and eat poorly due to time and money. With poor diet, necessary vitamins are lacking effecting the immune system therefore we feel tired and rundown. Eating better and exercise can help our body and organs function properly improving cellular and hormone balances. Fruits and vegetables should be a part of the daily diet so once individuals start drinking the juice they feel better attributing it to the liquid diet. â€Å"The notion that you can and should flush out your arteries or your intestines may seem plausible but it’s not,† says Edzard Ernst, M.D., Ph.D., professor of complementary medicine at Peninsula Medica l School in Exeter, England. In the article, â€Å"Do You Really Need to Detox† colon cleansing can be used to treat occasional constipation but regular colonics can cause cramping, nausea and vomiting. Dehydration can also be a risk with the persistent bowel movements and vomiting, electrolyte imbalance and infection can cause illness or death. Colonics can cause perforation and micro tears in the colon creating other health problems. People may be ignoring symptoms of a more serious condition and decide not to seek medical attention. Detox teas may decrease constipation, bloat, and flatulence by loosening bowels to clear intestines of any slow digesting material (Havala). According to Dr. B.J Hardick writes of detoxing as a necessity in the article, â€Å"The history of detox and why it’s not a fad,† stating the history and the â€Å"generation of wisdom and scientific knowledge† remains relevant and useful today. Detoxing has been used for centuries in the form of saunas or herbal baths but also in traditional Chinese medicine. They practice the ayurvedic method of detoxification after the World Trade Center tragedy and participants saw positive results in their health. We can still use ancient medicine in modern situations with a positive outcome. Metal can build up in the body through fish, environment and supplements that needs to be expelled through a detox of some form. He also states holistic medicine addresses issue with the body as a whole for treatment and not just the symptoms. The symptoms can be treated individually and caused by toxic accumulation. The body needs to be brought back to health as a whole in a purified state. Avoiding toxins or an environment can keep the body from absorbing possible harmful chemicals into the body. This science free health trend is driven by marketing, misinformation and fear.   It solely benefits the companies of these products and gives false hope to those with high expectations of life changing results. We can change our lifestyle and daily habits with the same results for long term success instead of these crash diets with short term results. It’s our sedentary lives and toxic exposure to food, gadgets, workplace and homes that cause our bodies to shut down or not function how they should be to naturally expel harmful toxins. There are no studies to show that a detox diet is necessary and can lead to a longer life. The human body can defend itself against environmental insults and occasional indulgences naturally. Save the money on a â€Å"fad† diet and start living a healthier lifestyle for longevity and happiness. Education is key to avoid falling prey to scams or nonsense suggestions we may run across. Apovian, Caroline M.D. BlackDoctor.org, â€Å"Are Detox Diets Safe? Nutrition Experts Weigh In.† Cloake, Felicity. â€Å"Let’s Face It: Detox Diets Are Making Fools of Us.† New Statesman, Jan. 2015, p. 53 â€Å"Do You Really Need to Detox?† Consumer Reports on Health, vol. 21, no. 1 Jan. 2009, p.6 Dr. B.J.Hardick.com. â€Å"The History of Detox- and Why It’s Not a Fad. May 11, 2016 Edzard Ernst M.D. â€Å"Detox is Bunk; Save Your Money.† Edzardernst.com. January 2018. Havala, Suzanne. â€Å"Detox Diets: The Pros and Cons of Cleansing Fasts and Products.† Environmental Nutrition, vol. 23, no. 3, Mar. 2000, p. 1 Netflix â€Å"The User’s Guide to Cheating Death.† 2018 Season 1 Episode 1.

How to Use the Italian Verbs Sapere and Conoscere

How to Use the Italian Verbs Sapere and Conoscere â€Å"I know how to play the piano† and â€Å"I know him.† While the main verb â€Å"to know† in those two phrases doesn’t differ in English, it does in Italian. In fact, the two verbs you would use would be either â€Å"sapere† or â€Å"conoscere.† Both mean to know, but have different implications. Sapere means to know† in the sense of to be able to, or to know how to. It can also be understood as knowing about a situation or a fact, like â€Å"Non sapevo che tu fossi qui. - I didn’t know that you were here.† Conoscere, on the other hand, means â€Å"to know† in the sense of â€Å"to know someone† or â€Å"to know an area, town, restaurant, etc. Examples With Sapere  in the Present Tense Non so sciare. - I don’t know how to ski.So cantare. - I know how to sing. / I am able to sing.Non lo so. - I don’t know.Non so la risposta giusta. - I don’t know the right answer.Lei sa quando il treno arriva? - Do you know when the train arrives? (formal)So la lezione. - I know the lesson. TIP: The last example could also be used with the verb conoscere: â€Å"Conosco la lezione. -  I prepared for today’s lesson.† Using Sapere in Other Tenses (Il condizionale) Credo di sà ¬, ma...non saprei. - I believe so, but...I wouldn’t know.(L’imperfetto) Sapevi che Marco frequenta qualcuno? - Did you know that Marco is dating someone?(L’imperfetto) Non sapevo che tu volessi imparare l’italiano! - I didn’t know that you wanted to learn Italian! TIP: If you want to say something like â€Å"I’m able to speak Italian,† you would use the verb â€Å"riuscire† instead. For example, â€Å"Riesco a parlare bene Italiano. - I’m able to speak Italian well.† Examples of the Verb Conoscere in the Present Tense Non conosciamo Bologna molto bene. - We dont know Bologna very well. / We aren’t very familiar with Bologna.Il ristorante si chiama L’archetto? Mhh, non lo conosco. - The restaurant is called L’archetto? Hmm, I don’t know it.Quel film con Hugh Grant? Quello in cui conosce un’attrice e si innamorano? - Do you know that Hugh Grant movie? The one where he meets that actress and they fall in love? Conoscere in Other Tenses (Il passato prossimo) Ho conosciuto Francesca a casa di Giuseppe. - I met Francesca at Giuseppes house.(Il passato prossimo) Li Abbiamo conosciuti tre anni fa. - We met them three years ago.(Limperfetto) Da bambino conoscevo bene New York, ma tutto era cambiato da quel periodo. - When I was a kid, I knew New York well, but everything has changed since that time. TIP: Unlike the verb â€Å"conoscere,† which means the same thing when conjugated in the present, past, or imperfect tenses, the meaning of â€Å"sapere† changes when in the passato prossimo form. For example, when you say â€Å"Ieri sera ho saputo che lei viene qua. - Last night I found out that she’s coming here.† So, you could define â€Å"sapere† in the past tense as â€Å"to find out.†

Project Management Theory & Practice Assignment

Project Management Theory & Practice - Assignment Example Therefore, in order to come up with successful, reliable and efficient projects, project managers are required to have a keen interest in managing quality of a project and shall also consider factors influencing quality of a project (Chen, 2010; Levy, 2011). This paper includes a discussion of how various factors influence the quality management process in a project management scenario and what different alternatives for managing quality and recommendations on how further improvements in quality of a project can be attained. Quality Control / Management – Definition Quality control or management can be defined as a process aimed at ensuring that a project which involves manufacturing a product or rendering of a service is able to a predefined and acceptable level of quality. The process of controlling or managing quality includes initiatives and steps taken by the responsible persons to verify and test whether the project is adhering to a certain predefined sets of quality ass urance standards (Levy, 2011; Lester, 2007). The Project Management Process The process of project management is a purely managerial activity which involves planning and managing activities related to a project. The traditional layout of a project management process comprises of various processes. These processes include the following: Initiation of Project Planning and Developing a Project Executing the Project Monitoring and Controlling the Project Closing Down the Project (Levy, 2011). Before going into the details of managing quality in projects, it is pertinent to mention here that the implementation and carrying out of a project involves two basic processes, which include technical process and management process (Levy, 2011). The technical process refers to a process which relates to the development of product. The technical process determines sub processes or activities for development of a product. The process outlines the cycle which is to be followed while carrying out a p roject and also identifies the activities involved in different phases of a project (Levy, 2011). On the other hand, management process refers to a process which relates to the whole project. This process determines the processes and ways in which all the activities involved in carrying out a project are planned, managed and controlled, such that each and every aspect of a project is considered and responsibilities and duties are allocated to relevant personnel and departments. The management process also takes into consideration the timely completion of a project and carrying out of all activities within the allocated budget (Levy, 2011). The interaction of technical process and management process is diagrammatically shown as follows: Source: (StaffTechs, 2013) As can be observed in the diagram presented above, the quality management process lies in the middle of technical process and management process and is regarded as a supporting process. This means that quality control and ma nagement actually bridges the technical and management processes and is interlinked with both of them. Quality Management Standards In order to satisfy the intended users or stakeholders of a project, it is important that the project meets their expectations and is able to provide them what it is

Tata Nano International market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Tata Nano International market - Essay Example In some sense, the market was flooded with their products and a hedge existed to bar new entrants into this market category (McLoughlin and Aaker, 2010, p. 121). Tata Nano could not compete favorably in this category of the market because its products due to the presence of the stronger brands that had controlled the segment for years. Its pioneering entry into the ultra-low-cost market had the implication of expanding the market niche in the country in ways that increased possibilities and opportunities for local and international players. The growth of this segment of the market resulted partly from the synergies of globalization and liberalization of the market economy. These global forces helped Tata Nano to establish a strong operational base since the growth in the purchasing power of the middle class signaled the ability to own cheaper cars that could align well with the needs of the industry (Thakur, 2009). In general, some of the issues that affected the choice related to th e desire to invent alternative ways of business practice with regard to the global car industry. In essence, some of the issues that related to the growth of the industry revolved around the need to provide the clientele with alternatives away from the generally acceptable ways of conducting business. In this regard, Tata Nano became revolutionary in the manner in which it contributed to the realignment of the global car industry as perceived from the perspective of industry players. Essentially, the need for alternatives was necessitated by the apparent inequalities that favored global players at the expense of the local investors. Strategically, the choice for the ultra-low-cost car market positioned Tata Nano on a vantage position from... Center of discussion in this paper is Tata Nano as one of the companies that created the most innovative approaches in the global car industry. Its intention of manufacturing cheap and user friendly cars received positive remarks from the global markets. Although originally intended for the Indian middle class and low-income earners, the Tata Nano model has spread to other parts of the world. It also continues to receive diverse responses from various sections of the global markets. However, there is a sense in which the company continues to contribute to consistency in growth in car innovations. Some of the challenges that have affected the development of the Tata Nano model relate to the marketing strategies that have had the unintended consequence of lowering its prestige of the car. This effectively locked away the car from the higher-level income of clientele. Much of Tata Nano’s potential lies in the emerging markets. The growth of Tata Nano is tied to the development of new market segments previously ignored by established global players in the industry. It might be necessary to consider the fact that some of the issues that afflict the growth of the industry relate to the relative potential of other companies to engage with the markets and other aspects of business. It is recommended for the company to embark on aggressive marketing strategies that might help the company in redeeming some of the image lost through its single-angled dimension of marketing.

The Maintenance of Stereotypes Essay Example for Free

The Maintenance of Stereotypes Essay Although the nature of stereotypes are not essentially negative it has been found that stereotypes of out-group members are more likely to be negative than those of in-group members (Castelli et al. 2005; Perdue, Dovidio, Gurtman Tyler, 1990). Despite this fact, engaging in stereotyping still occurs. In order to adequately understand why we continue to use stereotypes, when we know of the negativity that can be attached to them, several areas need to be considered. Firstly, in the context of this essay stereotypes need to be defined. Lippman (1922) can be credited for having coined the term as being a set of socially shared representations and beliefs about the characteristics, features and behaviours of members of a group (Lyons Kashima, 2001). The Social Identity Theory also seeks to define stereotypes (Brown, 2000). Secondly, there are various mechanisms which occur that support the ongoing use and maintenance of stereotypes. In relation to this is priming, which has been found to be an active influence (Rudman Borgida, 1995; Lepore Brown, 1997; Blair Banaji, 1996). More recent research illustrates that stereotyping emerges as a way of simplifying the demands on an individual, a type of cognitive shortcut (Macrae et al. , 1994; Clark Kashima, 2007). Furthermore, stereotypes can be seen as a function of social connectivity and are thus maintained through communication (Lyons Kashima, 2006; Lyons and Kashima, 2003; Karasawa, Asai Tanabe, 2007). This essay will attempt to look at the most recent research in the past two decades and investigate the various methods that have been found to support the preservation of stereotypes. One of the key points with Social Identity Theory is that in the very act of categorisation, regardless of group contact, in-group preference is produced (Brown, 2000). This then defines a differentiation from out-group members (2000). This group differentiation can lead to the formation of stereotypes. Individuals seek also to perceive themselves in as optimistic light as possible, in an attempt to establish a positive distinctiveness between the self and other in-group members and between the in-group in comparison with the out-group. This is known as the self-esteem hypothesis (2000). From understanding how stereotypes are formed through the social identity theory, we can see how they are maintained. As found by Perdue, Dovidio, Gurtman, Tyler (1990), priming plays an intricate role in influencing the opinions and judgments of individuals on out-group members. A study conducted by Rudman Borgida (1995) primed male subjects to sexist female stereotypes through a television commercial in which women were portrayed as sexual objects. It was found that the primed males were more likely to engender women in a sexual fashion, paying more attention to her appearance than to what she was saying. They also responded faster to sexist words pertaining to women (babe and bimbo) than to non-sexist (mother and nurture). In this way, language plays a role in unconsciously priming people to stereotypes. It helps create an in-group versus out-group bias (1990). Impressions of people are also moulded by the names and labels which are applied to them (1990). As found by Perdue et al. (1990) ‘we’, ’us’, ‘ours’ are collective pro-nouns and are thus powerful priming influences in social cognition and perception, subtly characterising evaluative responses towards others and upholding the maintenance of stereotypes. However, in a study carried out by Blair and Banaji (1996) it was found that, although priming in stereotypes is automatically activated, an individual can control and even eliminate the automatic response, such as in gender stereotyping. In fact, it is also the individual’s intentions and cognitive resources that determine the extent to which an individual avoids the influence of such automatic processes. For example, in their study (1996) participants were asked to judge whether a name was male or female, when primed with a gender paired word, such as caring, sensitive, weak (for females) strong, arrogant or decisive (for males) or a neutral word like autumn, jelly, sleep. When sufficient cognitive resources were available and the participants intended to process counter-stereotypic information (the gender neutral words) there was a complete reversal of stereotype priming (1996). So although priming is a powerful method in maintaining stereotypes it does not fully account for the continuation of stereotyping in the face of its negativity. As reported by Bodenhausen (1990) instead of processing incoming or new information, stereotypes rely on previously stored knowledge and as a result information processing becomes easier. Thus the maintenance of stereotypes could be partially due to a type of cognitive laziness. Instead of flexing the grey matter muscle and using cognitive energy to process the new information, people effectively ‘rest on their laurels’, without motivation to change them they are reinforced to continue using stereotypes (Blair Banaji, 1996). However, as Macrae, Milne Bodenhausen (1994) established, stereotyping can also occur as a way to free up resources which can then be used in other tasks. Either way stereotypes are a type of judgmental heuristic, a short cut we take when demands are high and resources low. For example, it was found that morning people, whose peak function was early on in the day, fell back on stereotypic responses in the afternoon and for afternoon people, whose peak function was later on in the day, it was the reverse (1990). In this case, the amount of cognitive energy was the motivation to either reject or maintain a stereotype. In terms of the continuation of stereotypes, the motivation to reject them and process new information is thus a strong mechanism. It appears from the research (Clark Kashima, 2007; Lyons and Kashima, 2003; Lyons and Kashima, 2006; Lyons and Kashima, 2001) that stereotype-consistent information is more likely to be communicated than stereotype-inconsistent information, called the stereotype consistency bias. To test this, Lyons and Kashima (2001) investigated communication through a chain of people. The experiment involved one participant reading a story with stereotype-consistent and inconsistent information relevant to the stereotypes of footballers then reproducing it from memory to another person. The second person then read it to a third, and the third to a forth and so on and so forth (2001). As the story was communicated down the chain it became devoid of all stereotype-inconsistent information, effectively illustrating how communication is key in maintaining stereotypes. Clark and Kashima (2007) also found that the stereotype consistency bias would occur due to the social connectivity function found in stereotypes. In other words; when a stereotype was perceived as being socially shared it was more likely to be used. Thus, the social connectivity aspect of communication is a strong mechanism in the continuation of them. Subtyping occurs when any information from an individual, that undermines a group’s stereotype, is functionally placed outside of the group and thus not calculated when forming a stereotype (Park, Wolsko Judd, 2001). This leaves the overall stereotype unchanged even though aspects of it have been disproved. Kunda and Oleson (2001) have also found that members of one group do not generalize the neutral information of an individual in the out-group to members of that same group. In other words, it is the negative aspects of out-group members that are projected, while the neutral as well as the positive features are ignored. Subtyping provides us with another mechanism in the maintenance of stereotypes, as we can see through this model that stereotypes are able to effectively shed aspects which are proven to be inaccurate whilst still maintaining the overall stereotypical view. Stereotypes are a persistent and persuasive method of social categorisation. Socially we are primed towards engaging in stereotypes (Perdue, Dovidio, Gurtman, Tyler, 1990). In terms of communication we use stereotypes when we perceive that the people we are communicating with hold the same stereotypes and so stereotypes become a type of social lubrication, assisting communication (Karasawa, Asai, Tanabe, 2007). In this way, communication is also a motivation to not reject the stereotype and process new information. However, if we consciously allocated more cognitive resources we would reject the stereotype and process new information (Macrae, Milne Bodenhausen, 1994). Although the mechanisms that underlie the maintenance of stereotypes are intricate and complex, if the puzzle of these mechanisms were to be explained then, although we know that we should avoid stereotypes, we would understand how to. Blair, V. I. , Banaji, M. (1996). Automatic and controlled processors in stereotype priming. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 1142-1163. Bodenhausen, G.V. (1990). Stereotypes as judgmental heuristics: Evidence of circadian variations in discrimination. Psychological Science, 1, 319-322. Brown, R. (2000) Social identity theory: Past problems, current achievements and future challenges. European Journal of Social Psychology, 30, 745-778 Castelli, L. , Zecchini, A. , De Amicis, L. , Sherman, S. J. (2005). The impact of implicit prejudice about the elderly on the reaction to stereotype confirmation and disconfirmation. Current Psychology: Developmental, Learning, Personality, Social, 24, 134-146. Clark, E.A. , Kashima, Y. (2007). Stereotypes help people connect with others in the community: A situated functional analysis of the stereotype consistency bias in communication. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93, 1028-1039. Karasawa, M. , Asai, N. , Tanabe, Y. (2007). Stereotypes as shared beliefs: Effects of group identity on dyadic conversations. Group Processes Intergroup Relations, 10, 515-532. Kunda, Z. , Oleson, K. C. (1995). Maintaining stereotypes in the face of disconfirmation: Constructing grounds for subtyping deviants. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 565-579. Lepore, L, Brown, R. (1997) Category and stereotype activation: Is prejudice inevitable? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 275-287. Lipman (1922) as cited in Lyons, A. , Kashima, Y. (2001). The reproduction of culture: Communication processes tend to maintain cultural stereotypes. Social Cognition, 19, 372-391. Lyons, A. , Kashima, Y. (2006). Maintaining stereotypes in communication: Investigating memory bias and coherence-seeking storytelling. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 9, 59-71. Lyons, A. , Kashima, Y. (2003). How are stereotypes maintained through communication? The influence of stereotype sharedness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 989-1005. Lyons, A. , Kashima, Y. (2001). The reproduction of culture: Communication processes tend to maintain cultural stereotypes. Social Cognition, 19, 372-391. Macrae, C. N. , Milne, A. B. , Bodenhausen, G. V. (1994). Stereotypes as energy-saving devices: A peek inside the cognitive toolbox. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66, 37-47. Park, B., Wolsko, C. , Judd, C. M. (2001). Measurement of subtyping in stereotype change. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 37, 325 – 332. Perdue, C. W. , Dovidio, J. F. , Gurtman, M. B. , Tyler, R. B. (1990). Us and them: Social catergorization and the process of intergroup bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 475-186. Rudman, L. A. , Borgida, E. (1995). The afterglow of construct accessibility: The behavioural consequences of priming men to view women as sexual objects. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 31, 493 – 517.

The Use of Symbolism in Margaret Laurences Stone Angel Essay -- Stone

The Use of Symbolism in Margaret Laurence's Stone Angel The statue of the stone angel is symbolic of the Currie family pride, Hagar's inability to relate and share her emotions, and the blindness and ignorance that comes from constantly refusing to see things from another point of view other than your own. The Stone angel is symbolic of the Currie family pride because it does not seem to serve it's purpose, which is to honour Hagar's mother who had died giving birth to her. Hagar describes Mrs. Currie to be a "meek woman" and a "feeble ghost", whereas she describes herself to be "stubborn" and "practical". The statue was bought in Italy and brought to the Manawaka cemetery "at a terrible expense . . . in pride to mark her bones and proclaim his [Mr. Currie's] dynasty, as he fancied, forever and a day" (p. 3). Mr. Currie bought the angel "in pride" rather than in grief for someone he considdered his possesion, his "dynasty". The stone angel is also a symbol of Hagar's pride as she inherrited it from her father. It was this pride that kept her from speaking up and fighting for her brother when Mr. Currie sent her away to college to become "more civilized". She knew Matt deserved to go more than her, but she never stuck up for either him or herself. In an attempt at freedom, or maybe just to spite her father, Hagar married Bram Shipley soon after she came back from school. From day one, Hagar's marriage to Bram was a complete embarrassment to her and her family: "When i'd listen to Bram spinning his cobwebs, then it would turn my stomach most of all, not what he said but that he made himself a laughingstock" (p. 114). Upon hearing about their plans to wed, Hagar's father disowns her. Bram was not a rich man by any means, he ... ...itals rise to meet his. he never knew. I never let him know. I never spoke aloud, and i made certain the trembling was all inner . . . i prided myself on keeping my pride intact, like some maidenhood. (p. 81) The stone angel, in additon to being made of hard marble, is "doubley blind". Not only because it is made of stone, but because the artist neglected to add the eyeballs to his masterpiece. This is also symbolic of Hagar because she is blind when it comes to the feelings of others. It prevents her from having a friendship with Lottie. It isn't until it's too late that she realizes she has more in common with lottie than either of them had ever imagined. It also prevents her from seeing that Marvin was the son she'd been looking for, that her pride had been holding her back, and that sometimes the problems of others were of more importance than her own.

Tiffany Case

The case In July l993 . Tiffany& Company concluded an agreement with its Japanese distributor, Mitsukoshi Ltd. that would fundamentally change its business in Japan. Under the new agreement, Tiffany’s wholly owned subsidiary, Tiffany& Company Japan Inc. (Tiffany-Japan), assumed management responsibilities in the operation of 29 Tiffany &Company boutiques previously operated by Mitsukoshi in its stores and other locations in Japan.Tiffany looked forward to the new arrangement, as it was now responsible for millions of dollars in inventory that it previously sold wholesale to Mitsukoshi, resulting in enhanced revenues in Japan derived from higher retail prices. It was also apparent, however, that fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate would now affect the dollar value of its Japanese sales, which would be realized in yen. Since Japanese sales were large and still growing, it seemed evident such fluctuations substantial impact on Tiffany's future financial performance. Comp any BackgroundFounded in New York in 1837,Tiffany ;Company was an internationally renowned-retailer, designer, manufacturer ,and distributor of luxury goods . The famous blue-box company found its initial success in fine jewelry, most notably diamonds, but had since expanded its product line to include timepieces, china, crystal, silverware, and other luxury accessories. In the fiscal year ending January 31, l993 (FY1992), Tiffany earned $15. 7million on revenues of $486. 4million and had total assets of$419. 4 million. Recent financial statements are provided in Exhibits 1and 2.An historical summary of operations is provided in Exhibit 3. After more than a century of independence, Tiffany was acquired by Avon Products, Inc. in 1979. For the next several years, Avon, a nationwide door-to-door cosmetics marketer, worked to expand Tiffany's product line to reach beyond its traditional affluent customer base to the larger middle market. While this diversification strategy resulted in e nhanced sales for Tiffany from $84million in l979to $124million in l983, operating expenses as a percentage of sales grew inordinately from 34%to 43% in 1978and l983, respectively.Avon soon realized that Tiffany's traditional market niche was substantially different than its own and, in l984, decided to put the company up for sale. The most attractive offer came from Tiffany's own management, who agreed to buy back Tiffany's equity and the Fifth Avenue store building for a total of $135. 5 million. In what ultimately took the form of a leveraged buyout (L B O), the terms of the deal distributed virtually all of the equity shares to three key investor groups. Management ended up with 20% of total equity shares.Investcorp, the Bahrain-and London-based merchant bank that backed management in the deal, received 49. 8%of total equity shares. The third player, General Electric Credit Corporation(GECC), ended up with 25. 7%of total equity shares. 1t was through an $85 million credit arrang ement with GECC that management was able to refinance a substantial portionof the purchase price. The aftermath of the LBO was marked by very tight free cash flow coupled with significant growth potential on the horizon.After the company had once again become profitable and realizing that the company's growth prospects demanded more cash than could be generated internally, in 1987,management offered Tiffany stock to the public at approximately $15 a share(adjusted for a subsequent stock split). In l989,Mitsukoshi purchased l. 5 million shares of Tiffany's common stock from GECC. As of January31, 1993, Mitsukoshi owned approximately 14% of Tiffany stock, the largest percentage of any single institutional investor.Three other institutional investors collectively owned approximately 26% of the stock, followed by all Tiffany executive officers and directors as a group at 4. 9%. In l993, Tiffany was organized into three distribution channels: U. S. retail, direct marketing, and internati onal retail. U. S. retail included retail sales in Tiffany-operated stores in the United States and wholesale sales to independent retailers in North America. The l6 stores in this channel accounted for 50% of total sales in FY 1992 Direct marketing, representing the smallest channel of distribution, consisted of corporate and catalog sales .In FY 1992, its sales represented 18% of Tiffany’s total sales. International retail, which included retail sales through Tiffany-operated stores and boutiques, corporate sales, and wholesale sales to independent retailers and distributors, primarily in the Far East and Europe, accounted for 32% of total sales in FY1992. Jewelry sales from all three channels accounted for 65% of 1993 sales, making jewelry the most significant product line. Exhibit 4 provides financial results of Tiffany’s domestic and foreign operations.The past several years for Tiffany were marked by a trend of international expansion, beginning in1986 when it op ened a flagship retail store in London. Additional flagship stores were then opened in Munich and Zurich in 1987 and 1988, respectively. In 1990, the Zurich store was expanded. Stores were opened in Hong Kong at the Peninsula Hotel and at the LandmarkCenter in August 1988 and March 1989, respectively. Taipei saw the opening of a store in1990, as did Singapore (at the Raffles Hotel), Frankfurt, and Toronto in 199l. Also in l991, the London store was expanded.In l992, Tiffany opened five new boutiques in Japan, and two new boutiques were opened by an independent retailer in Korea. Early 1993 saw continued international growth, with the opening of two more boutiques in Japan, a second store in Singapore's NgeeAnnCity, two boutiques by independent retailers in Saipan and the Philippines, and the expansion of the Peninsula Hotel store in Hong Kong. Exhibit 5 shows the growth in the number of Tiffany stores and boutiques around the world from 31 to 79, implying a 250% increase from 1987 t o 1993.These 79 retail locations included l6stores in the United States,56 stores in the Far East,6stores in Europe, and l store in Canada, all of which ranged in size from700 to 13,OOO gross square feet, with a total of approximately 127,OOO gross square feet devoted to retail purposes. Tiffany's worldwide capital expenditures were $22. 8 million in FY l992. compared with $41. 4 million in FY 1991. These expenditures were primarily for the opening of new stores and boutiques and the expansion of existing stores.Management anticipated capital expenditures to drop further to $18. O million in FY l993 before rebounding to approximately $25. O million in FY 1994. Management also expected to open four or five new stores per year in the foreseeable future. To support future expansion plans, and fluctuations in seasonal working capital needs, management planned to rely upon internally generated funds and a $100 million noncollateralized revolving credit facility available at interest rate s based upon Eurodollar rates, a prime rate, certificate of deposit rates, or money market rates.As in the past, cash dividends were expected to be maintained at a relatively moderate level, which would permit the company to retain a majority of its earnings. Impetus for Change in the Japanese Operations While Tiffany found new market potential across the globe, nowhere was let as promising as in Japan, where Tiffany’s sales accounted for only 1% of the $20 billion Japanese jewelry market. The thriving Japanese economy of the late l980s and very early 1990s stimulated a booming demands for certain types of expensive and glamorous Western goods.Among these were Tiffany products, principally those of the fine jewelry line marketed toward older women. However, as the Japanese economy finally slowed and Japanese consumers became more cautious in their spending, the demand for Tiffany's luxury items also slumped. In response to soft consumer demand in Japan, Mitsukoshi cut back on Tiffany inventory levels. Mitsukoshi’s wholesale purchases from Tiffany-Japan declined from 23%of Tiffany's total sales in FY 199l to 15%in FY1992. Declining wholesale shipments were also accompanied by a small decline in gross margin from 49. %in FY1991 t0 48. 7%in FY 1992. Despite lackluster consumer demand in the first half of FY 1993, however, Tiffany continued to believe that Japanese sales had attractive long-run growth potential. It was for this reason that Tiffany sought greater control over its future in Japan and ultimately decided to restructure its Japanese operations. From 1972 through July1993, Mitsukoshi acted as the principal retailer of Tiffany products in Japan, purchasing selected goods from Tiffany-Japan on a wholesale basis.Mitsukoshi sold the products on a retail basis to the Japanese consumer, realizing profits in the form of relatively higher retail prices. Since the wholesale transactions were denominated entirely in dollars, fluctuations in the yen/ dollar exchange rate did not represent a source of volatility for Tiffany's expected cash flows. Instead, Mitsukoshi bore the risk of any exchange rate fluctuations that took place between the time it purchased the inventory from Tiffany and when it finally made cash settlement.Typically, Tiffany merchandise sold by Mitsukoshi was priced at a substantial premium (l00% in some cases) over the domestic U. S. retail price for such merchandise. The new agreement between the two companies, however, fundamentally changed both companies' financial situations. In repurchasing the merchandise previously sold by Tiffany to Mitsukoshi, Tiffany-Japan assumed new responsibility for establishing yen retail prices, holding inventory in Japan for sale, managing and funding local advertising and publicity programs, and controlling local Japanese management.Mitsukoshi on the other hand, would no longer be an independent retailer of Tiffany products but would still receive fees equaling 27% of net ret ail sales in compensation for providing boutique facilities, sales staff, collection of receivables, and security for store inventory. With greater control over retail sales in its Japanese operations, Tiffany looked forward to long-run improvement in its performance in Japan despite continuing weak local economic conditions. However, increased sales and profits were not the only changes that Tiffany could anticipate as a result of the new agreement.Tiffany now faced the risk of foreign currency fluctuations previously borne by Mitsukoshi. Past history warned Tiffany that the yen/dollar exchange rate could be quite volatile on a year-to-year and even month-10-month, basis. Exhibit 6 illustrates the significant strengthening of the yen against the dollar during the l O years ending in 1993. While a continuation of this strengthening would enhance the dollar value of Tiffany's yen denominated cash inflows, there was the distinct possibility that the yen might eventually become overval ued and crash suddenly, just as the U.S dollar in 1985. Indeed,there was some evidence that the yen was overvalue against the dollar in 1993 (see Exhibit 7) Hedging to Manage Foreign Exchange Risk The possibility of sharp, unexpected movements in the yen/dollar exchange rate had prompted Tiffany’s management to study the desirability of engaging in a program to manage exchange rate risk. To reduce exchange rate risk on its yen cash flows, Tiffany had two basic alternatives available to it. One was to enter into forward agreements to sell yen for dollars at a predetermined price in the future.The other was to purchase yen put options. The terms at which Tiffany could purchase forward contracts and put options, along with other financial market data, are shown in Exhibit 8. Before committing Tiffany to a hedging program, management wanted to be sure it understood what the potential risks and rewards were for each of these so-called â€Å"derivative† instruments. Perhaps more importantly, it was essential to determine whether or not a risk management program was appropriate for Tiffany, what it objectives should be, and how much, if any, exposure should be covered. pic] This included a $ 75 million secured revolving credit facility; a $10 million, 16% subordinated note due in 1992; and common stock warrants to purchase approximately 25% of the company’s equity on a fully diluted basis. Prior to Mitsukoshi’s purchase of Tiffany’s common stock from GECC, Tiffany and Mitsukoshi entered into an agreement by which Mitsukoshi agreed not purchase in excess of 19. 9% of Tiffany’s issued and outstanding common shares. This agreement would expire on September 31, 1994.Due to the significant number of Tiffany boutiques already operating in Japan, future openings there were expected to occur only at very modest rate, if at all, in the near-term future. Tiffany’s business was seasonal in nature, with the fourth quarter typicall y representing a proportionally greater percentage of annual sales, income from operations, and net income. In FY 1992, net sales totaled & 107,238,000, $120,830,000, $105,897,000, and $152,431,000 for the first, second, third, and fourth quarters, respectively. Management expected this pattern to continue in the future.Tiffany management believed that a retail price reduction in Japan of 20% to 25% would likely result in a substantial increase in unit volume of jewelry sales. The repurchase of inventory by Tiffany necessitated the reversal of $115 million in sales and related gross profit previously recognized on merchandise sold to Mitsukoshi. Accordingly, Tiffany recorded a gross profit previously recognized $57. 5 million reserve to provide for product returns. , which reduced the second fiscal quarter’s (ended July 31, 1993) net income by approximately $32. 7 million, or $2. 7 per share. Of the $115 million of sales being reversed, only $52. 5 million of inventory held i n Mitsukoshi boutiques was actually repurchased during the month of July 1993 (Mitsukoshi agreed to accept a deferred payment on $25 million of this repurchased boutique inventory, which was to be repaid in yen on a quarterly basis with interest of 6% per annum over the next 4 1/2 years). Approximately $62. 5 million of Tiffany & Company inventory maintained in Mitsukoshi warehouses would be repurchased throughout the period ending February 28, 1998.Payment for this warehouse inventory was to be made in yen 40 days following actual receipt of the inventory. Fees were reduced to 5% on certain high-value jewelry items repurchased from Mitsukoshi. Tiffany Japan would also pay Mitsukoshi incentive fees equal to 5% of the amount by which boutique sales increase year-to-year. Calculated on a per – boutique basis. In Tokyo, Tiffany boutiques could be established only in Mitsukoshi’s stores, and Tiffany-brand jewelry could be sold only in such boutiques (though Tiffany-Japan r eserved the right to open a single flagship store inTokyo). ===============================================================================[ ] The suggested questions †¢ In what way(s) is Tiffany exposed to exchange-rate risk subsequent to its new distribution agreement with Mitsukoshi? How serious are these risks? †¢ Should Tiffany actively manage its yen-dollar exchange-rate risk? Why or why not? †¢ If Tiffany were to manage exchange-rate risk activity, what should be the objectives of such a program? Specifically, what exposures should be actively managed? How much of these exposures should be covered, and for how long? As instruments for risk management, what are the chief differences of foreign-exchange options and forward or futures contracts? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Which, if either, of these types of instruments would be most appropriate for Tiffany to use if it chose to manage exchange-rate risk? †¢ How should Tiffany organize itself to manage its exchange-rate risk? Who should be responsible for executing its hedges? Who should have oversight responsibility for this activity? What controls should be put in place?

Weather, Evil, and Chaos in Macbeth

Weather, Evil, and Chaos in Macbeth â€Å"So foul and fair a day I have not seen† (1. 3. 38) proclaims Macbeth as he unwittingly echoes the Weird Sisters’ incantation from the opening scene of Macbeth. The imagery of foul weather permeates the play, setting the tone and underscoring the unnaturalness of Macbeth’s treacherous behavior. Foul weather symbolizes both evil and the chaos it creates, and the most important function of weather imagery is to link Macbeth with evil and chaos. The connection between foul weather and evil is emphasized from the opening of the play. The stage directions for scene I reads, â€Å"Thunder and lightning. As the witches enter and begin speaking, the connection between evil and weather is established: â€Å"When shall we three meet again / In thunder, lightning, or in rain? † (1. 1. 1-2). This is an interesting question, since the audience later learns (during the witches’ second appearance) that the witches themselv es can control winds and create storms. Before Macbeth appears on stage, foul weather is firmly associated with the forces of evil. Thus Macbeth’s opening line (quoted above) foreshadows his descent into evil. The evil that takes root in Macbeth’s soul ultimately leads to chaos. To early modern audiences, murdering a king represented perhaps the greatest evil that man might commit, for the monarch was the highest human link in the great chain of being linking man to God. When Macbeth murders Duncan, he severs the great chain, throwing everything into chaos. According to Tillyard, To us chaos means hardly more than confusion on a large scale; to an Elizabethan it meant the cosmic anarchy before creation and the wholesale dissolution that would result if the pressure of Providence relaxed and allowed the laws of nature to cease functioning. 16) That such chaos exists within the world of the play is emphasized when Lennox and Ross discuss the unnatural weather during the night of Duncan’s murder. Lennox’s remarks imply a connection between foul weather and chaos: â€Å"The night has been unruly†¦. Our chimneys were blown down†¦. Some say the earth was feverous and did shake† (2. 3. 50-57). Ross’s response suggests that natu re has died, an idea anticipated by Macbeth’s earlier observation, â€Å"nature seems dead† (2. 1. 50). In a sense, nature has died with Duncan, and the destructive weather reveals that evil and chaos rule in his place. The references to foul and unnatural weather underscore Macbeth’s relationship to chaos and evil. The murder of Duncan creates chaos that undoes many characters, until nature is revived by the death of Macbeth. Foul weather imagery is thus an important aspect of the play, serving not only to provide a sinister atmosphere but also to symbolize the chaos that follows the murder of a king. Such imagery powerfully contributes to making Macbeth one of Shakespeare’s darkest and most powerful tragedies.

Parsing Dickens

Parsing Dickens Parsing Dickens Parsing Dickens By Maeve Maddox A reader, reacting to a recent post about parsing, responded with this literary reflection: Two sentences from Dickens Bleak House, chapter one, confuse me as to how to parse them.   [The rain in London has been heavy and the streets a running with mud.] Dogs, undistinguishable in mire. Horses, scarcely better; splashed to their very blinkers. Its the genius of Dickens that the reader must visualize mud everywhere and dogs running in and out of crowded streets with horses hooves splattering mud into the air with every step. If hed written in standard formal English, the reader could simply note the story fact for future reference in case dirty dog and dirty horses might be important. You can see the Londoners trying to avoid the dogs and step into flying muck from the passing horses. Read more carefully, and you can hear it, smell it, and even taste the air. But how the Dickenspun intendeddo you parse it? My first reaction to this email was admiration for the reader’s fine appreciation of Dickens, master of the inspired sentence fragment. My second reaction was, why would anyone want to parse Dickens? But, since the question was asked, my answer is, â€Å"very easily.† Dogs- noun, subject of the fragment undistinguishable- adjective, qualifies â€Å"dogs† in- preposition, governs â€Å"mire† mire- noun, object of the preposition â€Å"in† Horses- noun, subject of the fragment scarcely- adverb, modifies adjective â€Å"better† better- adjective qualifies â€Å"horses† splashed- past participle used as adjective to describe â€Å"horses† to- preposition governs â€Å"blinkers† their- possessive adjective, qualifies â€Å"blinkers† very- adjective qualifies â€Å"blinkers† ​blinkers- noun, object of preposition to​ A complete sentence has a subject and a verb; a fragment usually has one or the other. In modern usage, very is almost always used as an adverb, but it can also function as an adjective. For example, â€Å"The sailors mutinied for very hunger.† In the Dickens example, very serves to emphasize the extremity of the blinkers from the horse’s feet, which could be expected to be covered with mud. It’s nice to know that Dickens is still being read for pleasure and with aesthetic appreciation. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)The Possessive ApostrophePlurals of Proper Names

SAT Admission Requirements The Importance of the SAT

SAT Admission Requirements The Importance of the SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re currently applying to college or getting ready to apply to college, you’ve probably heard of the SAT and/or the ACT.You may already know thatthe SAT is a standardized test which high school students take before applying to college, but how important is the SAT in college applications? It’s hard to overstate the importance of the SAT. Your testscore will beone of themost important partsof your college application (if not themost important part). In this guide, I'll explain why test scores are a key part of your application and how you can determine the SAT admission requirements for the schools you're interested in. Why Is the SAT Important to Colleges? There are two main reasons for the importance of the SAT to colleges. Let's go through them one at a time. #1: Your SAT Score Is How Colleges Compare You to Other Applicants from Around the Globe. Applicants to one university will come from different backgrounds, will have attended different high schools, will have taken different classes, will have done different extracurricular activities, but all applicants will have taken the SAT and/or ACT (at least at non-test optional schools). Your SAT score reveals whether your GPA and transcript are accurate representations of your academic ability. Admissions officers use your SAT/ACT score to figure out if your grades were inflated or not. If you have a 4.0 GPA with a perfect 1600 SAT score, admissions officers will likely be impressed and think your GPA is reflective of your academic potential.If you have a 4.0 GPA with 1000 SAT score, admissions officers may think your grades were inflated and that your SAT score is a better representation of your academic potential. A high SAT score can also make up for a lower GPA.If you have a 3.0 GPA with a perfect 1600 score, a college admissions officer may be willing to overlook your GPA and consider your SAT score as an indication that you’re college ready. #2: Colleges Are Judged by Their SAT Score Ranges The SAT is important to colleges becausethey use it tojudge your academic preparedness for college. However, it's also important to colleges because if you're admitted, your SAT score will be incorporated into their yearly SAT statistics. Each year, universities publish their freshman admissions profile (see an example of Princeton's freshman admissions profile).In this profile, collegesprovide the data on admitted students.The data includes either the 25th/75th percentile SAT/ACT scores (sometimes referred to as the middle 50%) or the average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students. However, usually, the 25th/75th percentile is provided instead of average score.The 25th percentile score means that 25% of admitted students scored at or below that score (and therefore 75% of admitted students scored above).The 75th percentile score means that 75% of admitted students scored at or below that score (and therefore 25% of admitted students scored above).The average score is just what it sounds like, an average of all the admitted students scores. The public judges this data to perceive the selectivity of the school (the higher the range, the more competitive or â€Å"better† the public thinks the school is).When you think of Ivy League schools such as Harvard, UPenn, Columbia, you likely think, "Wow those are good schools!" Why do you think they are good schools? You might think of their alumni or campuses. However, many lower ranked schools such as Denison have beautiful campuses with famous alumni like billionaire Michael Eisner. You might think of their low admissions rates, but there are othercolleges with comparable admissions rates tothe Ivies. The mainreason you associate Harvard, Stanford and other top colleges with prestige is because of their published SAT score ranges and their ranking. When doing research on applying to colleges, you likely came across the US News World Report ranking of US colleges.Every year, US News World Report assembles their rankings based on several categories including the SAT scores of admitted students.If you’re admitted to the school, your SAT score will be factored into that school’s overall national ranking in US News World Report. Top colleges such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford want your SAT scores to be agood so that it reflects well on them. Even "second tier schools" such as Vanderbilt, USC, and Emory care about thisbecause they hope to continue to rise in theUS News World Reportrankings. Don't be blinded bybeauty or rankings! Find the right school for you! What Does This Mean for You? Because colleges rely so heavily on SAT scores in their college admissions process, you want to make sure that you have an SAT score that fits their expectations. How do you figure out what that theirscore expectation is? Remember, those score percentiles I mentioned earlier?As a brief refresher, colleges publish an admissions profile every year that shows either the 25th/75th percentile SAT/ACT scores (sometimes referred to as the middle 50%) or the average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students. Admissions officers use this data as the standard for the students they admit.Colleges willbe looking for applicantswho are in or above this range (or at or above the average). That way colleges are always getting the same or better caliber student (to either stay the same or increase their rankings). At PrepScholar, we recommend trying to get your score at or above the 75th percentile score for your target school to give yourself the best chance of admission. How To Find Out a College's SAT AdmissionRequirements? I’d recommend reading our guide to finding your SAT score for your target school first. However, the simple route is to Google Search for â€Å"[College Name] SAT PrepScholar.†That will bring you to our admissions page for your target school. You will find the average SAT score, along with the 25th/75th percentile SAT scores of admitted students, and you’ll be able to use our nifty admissions calculator to determine your chances of getting into that school based on your GPA and current SAT score. Take note of the 75th percentile SAT score listed onour admissions page for your target school. That should be your target SAT score. You can do it! What Can You Do To Improve Your SAT Score? Now that you’ve found out your target score, what can you do to reach it?If you have not prepared for the SAT, you need to. Start with our complete SAT study guide. If you’ve prepared but are still seeing no improvement, consider switching up your strategy. We’ve prepared many great SAT strategy guides. Read them hereand make sure you’re trying to incorporate some of these strategies. NOTE: not all strategies will work for all test-takers. Try out some on your practice tests. Try to figure out what works for you and what doesn't work for you. If you’ve tried all of the strategies and are still seeing no improvement, you should consider hiring a tutor or trying PrepScholar’s program.Don’t sweat! With the appropriate amount of time and effort dedicated, you should be able to reach your score. In a hurry? Check out our SAT 10-day cramming guide. What’s Next? Not sure where you’d like to go to college? Figure out how to find your target school. Worried about the rest of your college application? We’ll help you write a great personal statement and get excellent letters of recommendation. Still not sure whether the SAT or ACT is right for you? Let’s help you pick the right test for you! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Democracy in egypt and libya Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Democracy in egypt and libya - Essay Example It is estimated that Hosni Mobarak accumulated about US$40 billion through corruption (Kassem, 2004). Many demonstrators suffered injuries during their protests at Tahrir Square specially. Strong Egyptian army was present in the streets but army chief promised security to his own countrymen. Finally Hosni Mobarak changed his stance and left the presidency. Therefore, people of Egypt finally managed to get rid of a dictator and live their lives as per their own will. Unrest in Middle East spread to Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and now Libya is under fire. Now the world is focusing on the unrest in Libya. Anti government protesters have shown a lot of aggression against the Qadhafi’s government and are continuously exerting the pressure to topple Qadhafi’s government. Protestors set fire to the parliament building in Tripoli, seriously challenging the Qadhafi’s rule (Saikal and Schnabel, 2003). Libya is one of the largest oil producers in the region. Libya almost pro duces more than 1.6 million barrels of oil per day. Unrest in Libya can seriously affect the oil prices and global economy also. Unrest in Libya caused death of thousands of people (Pratt, 2007). Qadhafi’s ordered agencies to open fire on the protester that resulted in death of thousands of citizens. Libya is unable to provide protection to their own people. Egypt witnessed the largest protests in last few months. Protestors demanded the resignation of President Hosni Mobarak who ruled the country for more than 30 years (Saikal and Schnabel, 2003). Tahrir square of the capital was the main gathering point for protests. Protesters were not agreed on any incentive less then resignation of the president Hosni Mobarak. This stance of protesters was clear to Mobarak but even than he refused to quit before the elections of coming September. After seeing the state of turmoil in the country, complete cabinet was changed and new ministers were announced but public said that they would only be satisfied when president Mobarak resigns. Tens of thousands of protesters continuously demanded for an end to corruption, deprivation and lawlessness in the country (Kassem, 2004). Army was employed in the streets of Cairo with heavy tanks and other weapon systems. Army allowed protestors to continue protests against the government as this was their legal right. Hosni Mobarak addressed the nation on television before the million march and delivered very inflammatory speech and also pledged reforms in different parts of life (Kassem, 2004). However, on the next day more than a million people again took part in the protests and demanded resignation of Mobarak. This was the first time when people of the Muslim nations stood for their rights of self determination against a dictator who ruined the life of people through corruption and cruelty. Success of protests and end of Mobarak rule in Egypt is most likely to encourage people of other Muslim nations in mid east to take darin g steps against their rulers. Increasing numbers of demonstrations in Egypt cause many injuries to people but deaths were surprisingly very less (Pratt, 2007). Army did not take stern actions against the demonstrators. Army chief denied the use of force against its own citizens. This act of army really gave confidence to people to take active part in the protests and express their views about the government. There were incidents of throwing acid and stones on the protesters at