Alternative Finance Models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Alternative Finance Models - Essay Example After the end of World War II there have been various innovations in the Banking sector and communication and technology have played a major role in aiding these innovations. The question is, however, whether the financial system that countries have been following is reliable or not. The system failed in the recent financial crisis and many countries such as Bangladesh are now finding alternative finance models such as Grameen Banking and the Gulf countries have now introduced Islamic Banking. Both of these models have certain attributes that differentiates them from the conventional Banking system. The choice of the system depends on the nature of the country and the series of policies being followed by the government. According to the World Bank estimate, around 1.3 billion people live on less than a dollar per day. Grameen Bank system was formed in 1976 by Muhammed Yunus, with a vision to eradicate poverty from Bangladesh. (Anon., n.d.) This Bank is designed especially for the poor who have no education, no credit history and no assets to offer to the Bank (Latifee, 2008). The bank also aims to empower poor women who are usually the bread earners of the family (Anon., n.d.). Women in Bangladesh are engaged in activities such as farming or raising poultry and they need small loans in order to meet their daily needs. Furthermore, women in Bangladesh are not educated and lack the basic knowledge about banking activities. The Grameen Bank was formed especially for women in the rural areas who do not have the finances to pay for their children’s education or to pay for basic necessities such as food and water. With the Grameen bank designed especially for the poor these women and men can now go to the bank and avail the financial services like any other individual residing in the urban area. For example women can get loans from the Bank and start up their own business. The loan can be repaid within a period of 3 months or 3 years depending on the amount. There are no requirements for getting the loan but members are usually required to memorize the resolutions proposed by the Bank. These resolutions include statements such as â€Å"I will use clean drinking water, I will wash vegetables with clean water, I will use contraception when possible† and so on. It has been estimated that the population growth in Bangladesh fell after the Grameen Banking system was introduced (Yunus, 1999). The concept of resolutions was Muhammed Yunus’s idea and he wanted to educate the women of his own country and help them improve their standards of living. His strategy has worked and over 5% of borrowers from the Grameen Bank rose above the poverty level and extreme poverty decl ined by 70% in a span of 5 years (Yunus, 1999). The Bank also serves the beggars though its struggling members program. The main features of this program are: The rules of Grameen Bank do not apply to these members and they can form their own rules All loans given to these struggling families are free of interest and they can pay installments in any way they are comfortable with The beggars are not asked to give up begging but they are asked to engage in other income generating activities. The main idea behind this step is to slowly move these beggars away from beggary and introduce them to other income generating activities. Such programs help the poor in ways one could not have imagined. Grameen Bank is probably the first Bank in the history of Banking which is 100% made for the poor and of the poor. The poor own the Bank; after a year of membership they can buy shares in the bank and become members. According to the founder Muhammed Yunus around 94% of the bank is owned

Personal and professional development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6750 words

Personal and professional development - Essay Example Life is a journey of a self-discovery. I can’t believe how far I’ve come considering my childhood on the tiny Japanese island of Okinawa. After spending much of young adult life in the United States, however, my recent return to Okinawa brought me to terms with the importance of my heritage. Okinawa consistently ranked as a number-one popular destination for the Japanese domestic tourist. In 2009, the prefecture recorded nearly 6 million visitors, close to that of Hawaii’s number. Surprisingly, during my tenure at the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCVB), public destination marketing organization, however, only 3 percent of tourists were international visitors. It is not understatement to say that Okinawa’s beauty is virtually unknown to the outside world. I began to understand that Okinawa needed more people with sophisticated business acumen to effectively aid in municipal development on many occasions especially during promotional activities such as tradeshows and conferences. Fierce competition led by foreign investment resulted in the buyout of major hotel properties in Okinawa. I was fortunate to be able to sit in on meetings with highly energetic and extremely bright executives. They consistently demonstrated excellent entrepreneurship and I recognized that my college education had not prepared me to conduct business on the senior level. Small island economies such as Okinawa, tourism industry becomes the most important business, accounting for 20-70% of the current external receipts. In an effort to strengthen the industry and with new policies known as â€Å" Visit Okinawa Program† in fiscal year of 2010, the prefecture set a goal of attracting 10 million tourists and generating

Chemical engineering design project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chemical engineering design project - Essay Example There is an increase in agricultural subsidies offered to farmers under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). Table 1shows estimates of costs incurred in the SPS for 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. It is evident there is an increase in figures for the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 SPS(6.3M and 9.3M) and still further subsequent increase in 2010/2011. Biofuel producers also accrue tax exemptions. HMRC 2011 places tax per litre for biofuels, diesel and petrol to be equal. However, it is also perceived that exemptions are likely to affect government revenue earnings. Another factor that significantly influences the use of biofuels is caloric requirements required in comparison to pure petroleum. Biofuels have low caloric values and therefore a greater amount of biofuels are required to meet the energy output of petroleum products. Table 2 shows the amount of blended biofuel needed to meet the energy value of pure petroleum product (Chris and Wooders 24). Since the tax per litre is equal for both petroleum products and biofuels, then the cost for biofuels will be much higher compared to petroleum products. In consideration of petroleum being an input in the biofuel production, this has significant implications on costs of other inputs i.e. feedstock’s and transport services, therefore, affecting production costs. Table 3 projects that in 2020 bioethanol will be 16-35 pence per litre more expensive. On the other hand, biodiesel will be 29-42 pence per litre more expensive than the petroleum product they are intended to replace (Chris and Wooders 29). It is a requirement that biofuels comply with the sustainability criteria. This is an added cost to the producers (Chris and Wooders 32). GHG saving is set at 35% and from 2017 is expected to be at 50%. The introduction of sustainability criteria increases cost, and it is estimated to be at GBT 256milion. Therefore, it is likely that the

Philosophy-The Good Life and the Right Action Essay

Philosophy-The Good Life and the Right Action - Essay Example When we are alive death is not there and when death comes we are not there so where is the good or bad feeling about death. It is not wise to teach young to live well while old to end well since in same lesson one teaches live well and die well (Epicurus pars. 2-4). Epicurus considers religious practices and beliefs harmful since these lead one to disturbing thought of death and uncertainty of life after death (Wilson 274). Epicurus defines pleasures to Menoeceus in his letter. He says that desires are necessary for pleasures of life. These give health to body and tranquility to mind (ataraxia) which is highest pleasure obtainable where all emotional disturbances are removed and only simple needs remain. He explains that pleasures are not in the costly things or sensual pleasures of body, it is absence of pain and trouble in soul. A plain meal gives as much pleasure as a rich spread. A bread and water to a hungry man is divine meal. (Epicurus pars 6-9). He concludes that ultimate evi l is pain. It may be fear of death, fear of not being able to attain material wealth. The ultimate good is pleasure. Wilson (274) presents Epicurus’ view that postpone immediate pleasures to attain higher pleasures. Epicurus thus advised self-discipline. Epictetus’ views on good life and right action: Epictetus and other stoics felt that nature is rational and orderly. Our individual natures are part of universe so living in agreement with nature (homologia) is good life (Long 163). Epictetus and other stoics stated that a morally good life with health, wealth and reputation is one’s choice because it suits to the nature more than the life equally moral but full of poverty, illness and exiles. For stoics the virtuous life is most important (Meyer 142). Happiness is not doing anything against the law of nature. Epictetus found god or actually demigod (daimon) and human being in partnership. His god is between human and fully divine (Long 163). For a good

Pain spectacles rule the roost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pain spectacles rule the roost - Essay Example Of all other discriminations that we are aware of, Peter Singer (5 April 1973) had reminded us, â€Å"one should always be wary of talking of â€Å"the last remaining form of discrimination,†Ã¢â‚¬  which is the discrimination carried out by humans towards animals. He argued that like any racist or sexist, we believe that animals have an inferior status to us because they belong to some other species and calls this attitude, ‘speciecism’ (Singer, 5 April 1973). It is true that humans have never had the habit of viewing animals as equals. But are we as a species, sympathetic to even other human beings’ pain, once we shed the cultural and moralistic attires that we have learned to wear through human history, and stand naked in our basic human instincts? A comparison of our attitudes towards animals, especially in the context of our habit of entertaining ourselves in watching dog-fighting and bull fighting can be made with our attitude towards violence in spo rts. The logic is quite compulsive. Singer (5 April 1973) has rather been blunt in his arguments regarding animal liberation. He observed nonchalantly that â€Å"people who eat pieces of slaughtered non-humans every day find it hard to believe that they are doing wrong† (5 April 1973). The Roman elites who enjoyed the fighting spectacle between the enslaved humans used to bring perfumed hand kerchiefs to the venue to avoid the distasteful smell of blood becoming too strong.

Macronutrient Intake Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Macronutrient Intake - Research Paper Example Types of fats consumed included saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. In addition, the patient supplemented daily fat requirement with linoleic acid, cholesterol and Omega 3 fats. Based on the daily nutrient reports, it is apparent that the patient’s daily intake of proteins and carbohydrates surpassed predetermined targets. The patient took 67g and 47g of protein on the first and third day respectively. In this case, daily protein intake exceeded target quantity, which lies at 46g. With respect to carbohydrates, the nutritional assessment project set a daily target of 130g, representing approximately 45-65% of total calories. Records indicate that the patient consumed carbohydrates in excess of daily requirements, thus supplementing daily calorie intake with an average of 52% starch. Despite the patient maintaining protein and carbohydrate intake within the target limits, fat intake for the assessment period indicates a slight imbalance in the different types o f fats. Targeted intake of alpha linoleic acid is 1.1g per day. However, the patient consumed only 0.1g of the same linoleic acid on the first day. Therefore, fat intake for that day falls under the clinically required levels. From a theoretical perspective, each of the three macronutrients plays a significant role in providing energy requirements of the body. Clinically, imbalanced intake macronutrient components results in disturbed body functions (Janos and Berdanier 45). Therefore, fat intake for that day falls under the clinically.

Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix Assignment

Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix - Assignment Example Philip Kotler and other academicians (In 1965, Philip Kotler described 4P’s as various marketing variables in his article) proselytized the concept in coming years (Schultz, and H Schultz, 2004, p.7). Proctor & Gamble Proctor & Gamble is a renowned American consumer goods company. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The organization was established by William Procter and James Gamble in the year 1837. The company serves over eighty countries across the world. Sales volume has touched a record mark of $82,500 billion in the year 2011. The company has established category leadership in various segments like House Care, Skin Care and Oral care. More than 127,000 people work in the company. The consumer goods company markets more than two hundred and fifty brands across the world. The company enjoys leadership in almost twenty four brands in its category and able to fetch billion of dollars annually from each of the brands. The consumer goods organization has es tablished twenty eight technical centres across the globe (PG-Global, n.d.). Product Strategy Product strategy of P&G is influenced by one seventy year old vision statement established by James Gamble that is being honest in product making. The study will focus on product strategy in terms of cosmetics division for the company. They have noticeably changed time tested cosmetics business into a new height by implementing strategic and holistic approach of new product development. Before 1994, the company tried to maintain product systems complemented with Olay, Clarion and Cover Girl but failed due to their unfocused business effort. Real breakthrough was achieved during late 1990’s when the company launched Diamond initiative and developed new product... Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix Sales volume has touched a record mark of $82,500 billion in the year 2011. The company has established category leadership in various segments like House Care, Skin Care and Oral care. More than 127,000 people work in the company. The consumer goods company markets more than two hundred and fifty brands across the world. The company enjoys leadership in almost twenty four brands in its category and able to fetch billion of dollars annually from each of the brands. The consumer goods organization has established twenty eight technical centres across the globe. Product Strategy Product strategy of P&G is influenced by one seventy year old vision statement established by James Gamble that is being honest in product making. The study will focus on product strategy in terms of cosmetics division for the company. They have noticeably changed time tested cosmetics business into a new height by implementing strategic and holistic approach of new product development. Before 1994, the company tried to maintain product systems complemented with Olay, Clarion and Cover Girl but failed due to their unfocused business effort. Real breakthrough was achieved during late 1990’s when the company launched Diamond initiative and developed new product Olay. Previously the product was meant for whole body usage but the new campaign targeted the product for facial usage. They streamlined distribution network and supply chain management according to market demand.