Sunday, December 29, 2019
Business Plan on The Luxury Resort for Pregnant Women
Executive summary Luxury Resort The luxury resort is a restaurant offering pregnancy packages for expectant woman who are almost delivering. It was established two decades ago and it is for baby moon vacation. The services offered in the SPA luxury resort is prenatal massaging treatments, which are part of the romantic package to make them feel appreciated before delivering. The target market is wide because it aims at expanding to all parts of the world. Its first operations or services were started in Northern America and Europe (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 56). Pregnant women in these regions who were interviewed appreciated the services the firm provided. This is a perfect baby moon trip to them as they prepare to give birth. Women have been enjoying the romantic moons at the resort before delivering. The hotel have been improving its services to become special and fulfilling by meeting their needs and desires. Other services offered are spa treatment for pregnant women to become mothers, hallmarks of romantic getaways that are tailor made to suit the needs of the expecting couple (Monroe, 2003, 78). The main goal and objective of the resort is to expand its markets by 12% every year, increase customer base by 23% annually, and to improve the quality of the services to counter competition, which is piling up. The top management and the staff of the resort are not only qualified but also committed and dedicated in their service delivery. The team members are John James, Ronald Mark, Jane Joe, Reuben Smith, and Mclaren, Beatrice, Williamson, Johnson, Peterson, and McDonald. They the people who will utilize the resources depending on the budget provided (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 57). Strategies used by the luxury resort Product strategy This is the strategy used by the resort to attract and to offer quality services to the customers in all target markets and regions. The services are tailor made to suit the needs of the expecting couples. The services provided are of high quality due to the advanced technological equipment and tools in the resort. The variety of the services provided by the resort is a strategy used to attract more customers to the firm. The check up too is an added advantage to the clients provided by the nurses and medical practioners to advise them more appropriately on what they should do (Monroe, 2003, 79). The rooms are spacious and all facilities provided making them more attractive. The product or service strategy is effective and efficient because it has made the existing customers to be loyal and trust worthy to the firm. This has made the company to gain competitive advantage and customer increase of 23% every year. This strategy has been left to John James one of the team members to ensure the services provided by the company meet all the customer’s requirements (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 58). Price strategy Price is the amount or the value a customer pays for the product or service. The company may decrease or increase the price of the services depending on the competition and quality of services. This pricing strategy is where the firm conducts a market research to know what the competitors offers and what the customers want. The luxurious resort usually offer its services at a lower price compared to its competitors. This is a strategy because customers are always sensitive to the prices offered by the firms in the market (Monroe, 2003, 80). The luxury resort charges are lower; hence has made the company gain competitive advantage over other firms. This strategy is important to the company because it has made it become a market leader; hence dominating the entire market of Europe, Middle East, China, and Northern America. This responsibility has been assigned to the two senior marketers in the, Ronald Mark, and Jane Joe. They are the ones to advise the top management on how to price the services offered. They must conduct research assisted by other junior staff where they must provide a comprehensive report to the firm on what should be done (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 59). Place or distribution strategy Place is the location where the product can be purchased or service can be provided. It is commonly known as distribution channel. The firm has utilized this strategy effectively and efficiently and it has helped to bring the services to our targeted customers and potential customers closer. It has opened many branches in many countries such as the Clarence in Dublin, Ireland, commonly known Baby moon dine in style packages, pre and postnatal massages offered in Raffles Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg, Germany, prenatal massaging at Raffles Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg, Germany, Spa prenatal treatment offered at Landmark in England and baby moon package (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 60). In addition, Pregnancy Spa Treatment Package is offered at Hotel grand Bretagne in Greece, Burj al Arab in Dubai, New beginnings treatment, maternity massaging offered at Ritz Carlton in Dubai and Doha. Pregnancy massaging, and treatment offered at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, pampering massaging treatment at Park Hyatt in Dubai, total indulgence treatment packaging at Sheraton La Caleta Resort and Spa in Tenerife, Spain. This responsibility of ensuring place or distribution strategy achieves the best are Reuben Smith, and Mclaren (Monroe, 2003, 81). Promotion strategy Promotion is the communication that marketers use in the marketing place. The firm uses the four distinct elements of sales promotion, personal selling, public relation, and advertising. For the firm to make its products known to its customers and potential customers mostly uses advertising. Advertising is any form of communication that is paid for by the company such as using the TV, radio, billboards, and internet advert through print media such as magazines  (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 61). The company has been able to use sponsorships and social responsibility such as helping the bright but needy students in the society and paying hospital bills for those who are unable due to poverty. Some times, they held some exhibitions and conferences to explain their services to the potential customers in all the target markets. The people in charge of ensuring the promotion strategy achieve its intended purpose are Beatrice, Williamson, and Johnson (Monroe, 2003, 82). People The people involved in the consumption of the services of the company are important. For instance, consumers, management, workers etc are the pillars for the success of the firm (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 62). This has helped the company to define the market segmentation e.g. demographic segmentation. This has helped the people who benefit from the Spa services especially the women who are almost delivering get quality services. The person in charge of this strategy is Peterson. He is the one to find out what people want (Monroe, 2003, 83). Physical evidence This marketing strategy is to ensure effective communication and customer satisfaction at all times in all target markets. When customers are satisfied with the services provided by the luxury resort, they will become loyal to the firm. This responsibility is left to McDonald to ensure the strategy achieve its intended purpose (Monroe, 2003, 85). Process This is the mechanism, procedure, and flow of activities where services are used. This also includes how the product or services will reach the end user and its reactions. The process should be reliable and serve the purpose intended. This responsibility is left to Jane Joe and Reuben Smith to ensure the strategy achieves its intended purpose (Kotler Armstrong, 2010, 63). BUDGET ALLOCATION Items                                                                         $ Promotion                                                              20000 Expansion and growth                                           400000 Wages and salaries                                                30000 Equipment                                                              20000 Research                                                                 40000 Transport                                                                10000 Bill payment                                                           5000 Technology                                                             10000 Total                                                                       535000   These budget will be funded by the firm’s assets and loans borrowed from banks and other financial institutions. References: Kotler, P. Armstrong, G. (2010). Principles of Marketing 13E. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall. Pp. 56-63 Monroe, K. B. (2003). The Pricing Strategy Audit. New York: Cambridge Strategy Publications. Pp. 78-85
Saturday, December 21, 2019
The Reservation Land For Native Americans - 980 Words
Poverty Imagine a life where the government legally owns all your assets, and you report to a special bureau set up to handle your affairs. The land you live on is held in trust, and each exhausting step you take to climb out of poverty is snagged in mountains of legal red tape. In 1831, Chief Justice John Marshall started Native Americans along the slippery slope to poverty when he established a federal doctrine that assigns the government as trustees of Indian affairs. The reservation lands set aside for Native Americans are often the poorest, least desirable areas; better suited for ranching than farming. Since most Native Americans don’t own their homes, or the land they are on, they can’t mortgage their assets to get a loan like other Americans. Even the reservation lands with valuable natural resources can seldom reap any financial gains, due to the notoriously slow progress of bureaucracy. Delays or inability to acquire permits for energy development on Indian lands renders any natural resources â€Å"dead capital,†and unable to generate desperately needed income for impoverished tribal communities (Forbes). In Sherman Alexie’s book, â€Å"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,†the reader experiences firsthand the overwhelming devastation poverty wreaks on the lives of those living on a reservation. The story’s awkward teenage narrator, Arnold, expresses frustration when he shares how he l ives â€Å"with his poor-ass family on the poor-ass Spokane IndianShow MoreRelatedNative Americans During The European Settlers920 Words  | 4 PagesAmerica--a promising land for the European settlers was a home to many Native Americans tribes. Slowly, as settlers migrated to the U.S, they began to expand into lands owned by the Native Americans for hundreds of years back. Before the civil war, Native Americans had initially welcomed European settlers as they believed in sharing the land with the newcomers. They would help the settlers in their travel across the plains by providing supplies and expert advice on location. In return, European settlersRead MoreThe United States And Native Americans Essay1300 Words  | 6 PagesThe history between Native Americans and Americans is harsh. Native Americans have been pushed off of their land by Americans and put into smaller reservations. The united states have enforced a number of treaties trying to better the relationship but it has oppressed Natives. Recently the united states were plaining to build an oil pipeline that would run through native land and the native Americans did not want the pipeline to be built. So this created more tension between the two. History ofRead MoreThe Treatment of Native Americans on Reservations1437 Words  | 6 PagesThe Treatment of Native Americans on Reservations Ever since white men came to the New World, they were never at peace with the native peoples. One of the first white men to come to North America was Sir Walter Raleigh, who took the Indians he met as slaves as early as 1584. In the years that followed, settlers forced the Native Americans further and further west. By the year 1850, there had been many attempts at peaceful negotiations and uprisings on both sides, but the government eventually decidedRead MoreThe Dawes Severalty Act of 1887826 Words  | 3 PagesThere has been much documentation on the plight of Native Americans throughout the beginnings of this nation. In spite of the attempts by the early government of the United States, the culture of many Native American tribes has survived and even flourished. The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 is just one of many examples of how our government attempted to wipe out Native American culture. This paper will discuss the Dawes Act, particularly the time leading up to the act, the act itself, and finallyRead MoreNative Americans and the Frontie Essay989 Words  | 4 PagesNative Americans and the Frontier The Native Americans of today are descendents of the Mongoloid people who migrated from Asia into N. America somewhere in between 20 to 40,000 years ago. When the Europeans rediscovered N. America at the end of the 15th century, the Native Americans whom they discovered were particularly diverse in nature. They were diverse in terms of their religion, political organisation and their language. Aspects of the relationshipsRead MoreThe Differences Between Native Americans And Europeans1323 Words  | 6 Pagesdisrupted the life of the Natives. The natives had their own culture in America with their own special beliefs. When Europeans arrived they tried to alter the way Native Americans lived their lives to resemble their way of living. The Natives did not respect this because they had previously built a lifestyle in America that they wish not to be transformed. The two cultures had different opinions about government, religion, land, and society. Due to the many differences between the Native and European peopleRead MoreThe Discovery Of The 19th Century1511 Words  | 7 Pagescentury Americans saw it as their duty to accomplish what many might believe to be unrealistic, to connect North America from coast to coast. Manifest Destiny is a term that describes the attitude that many Americans had during this era of transformation and progression. Americans claimed the ri ght to bring civilization westward and transform the unknown world into a land where men could live and be free. However, with this movement of progression Westward meant destruction for many Native AmericansRead MoreNative American Cruelty Essay1180 Words  | 5 Pagesyears Native American removal has caused a lot of pain and suffering for many Indians in America. How we have treated Native Americans in the past is an embarrassment to our history. Removing Native Americans from their land when we first settled here was wrong because we caused them a lot of hardships, took something from them that wasn’t ours to take, and in the end we all the pain and suffering we caused them was really for nothing. People still believe today that taking away their land was theRead MoreThe Treatment Of Native Americans1426 Words  | 6 Pagesinsulting the Native American people with poor excuses. This paper will discuss the fairness of the treatment of Native Americans in America by the US government over the years, and consider the effects of this treatment and abuse even today. It will look into the lives of those living on the Reservations, the Native Americans who have moved into an urban society. It will be explained by researching how they are being treated even in modern times. The cruel treatment of Native Americans is nothingRead MoreDiscrimination Against Native American Indian1588 Words  | 7 PagesThroughout history there have been many minority cultures. Americans first minority group was that of the Native American Indian. The claim made in 1492 by Columbus of being the first to discover America, was the first discrimination against the Native American Indian. How can one claim to discover a body of land when there are already inhabitants on that land? This was just the beginning of the discrimination against Native Americans and this discrimination continues to this day. When European
Friday, December 13, 2019
The Return Midnight Chapter 44 Free Essays
On the smal est moon of the Nether World fine ash was fal ing. It fel on two already ash-covered bodies. It fel on ash-choked water. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Midnight Chapter 44 or any similar topic only for you Order Now It blocked the sunlight so that an endless midnight covered the moon’s ash-coated surface. And something else fel . In the smal est imaginable droplets, an opalescent fluid fel , colors swirling as if to try and make up for the ugliness of the ashes. They were tiny drops, but there were tril ions upon tril ions of them, fal ing endlessly, concentrated over the spot where they had once been part of the largest container of raw Power in three dimensions. There was a body on the ground on this spot – not quite a corpse. The body had no heartbeat; it did not breathe, and there was no brain activity. But somewhere in it there was a slow pulsing, that quickened very slightly as the tiny drops of Power fel upon it. The pulsing was made up of nothing but a memory. The memory of a girl with dark blue eyes and golden hair and a smal face with wide brown eyes. And the taste: the taste of two maidens’tears. Elena. Bonnie. Putting the two of them together they formed what was not exactly a thought, not exactly a picture. But to someone who only understood words, it might be translated: They are wiating for me. If I can figure out who I am. And that sparked a fierce determination. After what seemed like centuries but was only a few hours, something moved in the ash. A fist clenched. And something stirred in the brain, a self-revelation. A name. Damon. How to cite The Return: Midnight Chapter 44, Essay examples
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Byzantine Empire free essay sample
But according to document 2 Justinian was hypocritical, secretive by temperament, and two faced. But he was very clever and had a great ability to hide his real opinion. Justinian had such a great power over his empire that he was able to make the people of Constantinople convert to the Christian religion, making them believe in only one God. According to document 3 the emperor was equal to all men in nature of his body, but in authority of his rank he is similar to God, who rules all. What this really means that in eyes of others, Justinian was seen as a godly figure himself, in that he would tell people how to live. Justinian more than anything wanted to restore the Roman Empire, and while restoring it he wanted to include much of the Roman fortifications used in the old Roman Empire. As shown in document 5, Justinian built the Hippodrome which was modeled after The Circus Maximus. We will write a custom essay sample on Byzantine Empire or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Justinian started restoring the Roman Empire by trying to conquer the land that first belonged to the eastern Roman Empire. He gained back southern Spain, all of Italy, and northern Africa. Once he started gaining all this land he had to start to find a way the gain back all the money he spent on conquering land. As shown in document 6, The Byzantine Empire reached its greatest size under Justinian. Because of the location the Constantinople, Justinian had a great advantage because it was right in the center of two cross roads between Asia and Europe, so the empire gained a lot of money in trade because if its location. Because of all these advantages of Constantinople, it was known as the center of power. Without all the contributions Justinian made, the Roman Empire probably wouldn’t have been rebuilt. Out of the many contributions that Justinian gave to the Roman Empire a few stand out. One of the many contributions Justinian made was the building of the Hagia Sophia which was a huge dome like building that when entered gave people the influence of god. In document 3 the Hagia Sophia is described as a spherical-shaped dome that is exceedingly beautiful. The entire ceiling is covered with pure gild, which adds glory to the beauty. The Hagia Sophia was known as a place of god, a place where people worshiped god. This was important because it taught people how important religion was in their lives and the beauty it can bring. Another contribution Justinian gave to the Byzantine Empire was his code of law; his laws kept the empire in order and told people the way to live. According to document 1, people were finding the laws obscure because they had become for more numerous than they should be and in obvious confusion because they disagreed with each other. Justinian preserved them in the Legal Code of Emperor Justinian by controlling their discrepancies with the greatest firmness. That means that he controlled their conflicting ideas by creating this code of law. Justinian created the laws so that everybody had fair rights. Justinian’s main goal in rebuilding the empire was to preserve the Greco-Roman culture. Justinian kept some of the old Roman traditions but fixed them to fit the requirements for the new empire, for example, laws were rearranged to become fair to everybody because many citizens didn’t agree with them and new buildings and structures were constructed which lead to a lot trade and cultural diffusion. Justinian made a large impact to the new empire.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Fifth Child Essays - The Fifth Child, Family, Abnormality
Fifth Child ?The Fifth Child? In ?The Fifth Child,? Lessing contrasts society's idea of an ?ideal? family to the ?real? dysfunctional family in our everyday lives. Harriet and David's dream was to have the ?ideal? family. They made the mistake of setting standards too high for themselves and putting a front of an ideal family, which was just a cover for the real dysfunctional one. People in society tend to believe that the ideal family is what life is all about. They believe that as long as they can obtain the ideal family, this will bring them happiness. The reality is that this perfect family structure isn't obtainable. Bridget, for instance, comes from a dysfunctional family and goes to stay with Harriet and David's family to get a taste of their ?ideal? family. Even the family realizes that Bridget longs for this feeling of family togetherness. ?Bridget has to be told by you hat she is welcome.? She does not realize that Harriet and David's ideal family is just a picture they painted so others could believe this it is ideal. The picture they painted is of a big house, lots of kids, and big family parties. This doesn't necessarily mean that this is a happy family. David comes from what is thought of as the ideal family. He had everything anyone could ever ask for. Although, his parents were divorced, no one was ever around for him, and he set himself in solitude. ?My room-that was home.? The ?ideal? family that turned out to be the dysfunctional family; is what this is all about. The idea of a perfect family is the dream of a dysfunctional family. Harriet has a strong belief in this also; she and David's dreams create her ideas of the ideal family. Their dreams and wishes are irrational; they are what they want in life. Dorothy describes Harriet as having ?eyes bigger than her stomach.? Harriet wants more than what she can handle. She does not realize that what she wishes for cannot come true. Harriet and David cannot fulfill their fantasies; their idea of an ideal family cannot be created. Families aren't meant to be ideal; they are dysfunctional. All families have problems. This is what life is all about. Life isn't always what you want but what you put into it. Bibliography fifth child novel English Essays
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Examination of the United States Position on the Kyoto Treaty essays
Examination of the United States Position on the Kyoto Treaty essays According to an article found in the journal, Harvard International Review, in 1997 one-hundred sixty nations from around the world met in Kyoto Japan to discuss global climate change and to implement a strategy for correcting the problem (Zepeda, 2004). As a result of this meeting the Kyoto Protocol was created. This protocol is actually a treaty that has since been successfully implemented (Zepeda, 2004). The treaty or protocol was designed to obligate the countries that sign the treaty to revert back to the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions standards of 1990 by the year 2012. In addition, the treaty required that 55 or more nations that compose 55% of worldwide GHG emissions to sign the treaty in order for the treaty to be effective (Zepeda, 2004). Schreurs (2002) asserts that at the time of the 1997 meeting there were great expectations for the development of an international treaty that would address the issue of global warning. The international community was also anticipating the support and participation of the United States. This anticipation existed because President Clinton and in particular Vice President Al Gore were known for their environmentally friendly beliefs and initiatives (Schreurs, 2000). Indeed at the time Gore was the greenest politician to be member of the White House in many years (Schreurs, 2000). In addition environmentalists had great expectations and there was also a great deal of fear among industry was also real (Schreurs, 2000). In addition there were indications that the Clinton administration would shift US positions on important global environmental issues. For instance, Clinton signed the Biodiversity Convention during his first Earth Day as president. In addition Clinton posited that the United States would voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000 even though the administration initially remained opposed to legally binding targets and timetables (Schreurs, 2...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Teaching about Religions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 20
Teaching about Religions - Essay Example The course ids fit for high school students who need to gain familiarity with different ideologies and belief systems exhibited by different religions. Introducing the course at the high school level will produce students with open minds and who exhibit tolerance for the religious beliefs of other people. In order to successfully implement this project, there is a need for all stakeholders involved to approve the introduction of the course. This memo describes both the primary and the secondary audience, which comprises of different levels of stakeholders. The primary audience includes the board of the school, parents, teachers, and the students. The school board is the key decision maker in a high school setting. There is a need for the board to understand the potential outcomes of introducing a course that teaches students about the different religions and countries. The board comprises of people with professional experience and expertise, who have the vision of ensuring that the school registers a positive impact on the society. Evidently, introducing this new course serves to register an immensely positive impact. Moreover, the school board should consider the relevance of the course and determine whether the school has the required resources by offering the course. It is critical to consult staff and parents because of their position in the school’s decision-making process. The staff’s opinion is critical because they will actively participate in the delivery of the course content to the students. Parents need to be aware of what their children learn in school and should form part of the student milestones in the education system (Lester, 2011). Students from the ultimate stakeholders because they stand to benefit from the course. Therefore, it is significant to consider their opinion on the potential benefits of the course to their individual and social lives.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Perspectives on Hroup Conflict on the Iraq Conflict Essay
Perspectives on Hroup Conflict on the Iraq Conflict - Essay Example Chandra (2001) postulates that ethnicity is both fluid and it is influenced by external factors within the community. In this context, therefore, Chandra (2001) has criticized how constructivists view the notion of ethnicity and states that ethnicity is more suitable to political approach than any other approach. Achieving peace in Iraq seems to be an impossible element. The major reasons behind this notion lie in the fact that, the number of deaths that have occurred seems to be so high since 2003, and an additional 600,000 persons seem to have lost their homes and are displaced. The intense booming that happened few years back seems to torment most of the Iraq people. From the constructivist point of view the Iraq 2003 conflict, the whole issue can be viewed as social problem constructed within the society. According to Alexander (2009) the identity of the crisis is identity together with factors that drive the identification process, and that they are socially constructed. This pa per is organized from the first part that presents the view of nationalism, along with the notion of constructivist/ instrumentalist, primordial and ethonosymbolic. A closer analysis of how these prospects view the Iraq conflict, and the implications on how to manage these conflicts have also had a great part of this case study. Nationalism is an interdisciplinary factor that needs to be considered using different perspectives. This can be achieved by obtaining historic materials that are very important and understanding how political mechanisms work within different institutions (Brown, 2000). Thus political scientists have to share their ideas on how nationalism works. The theories of nationalist have developed as academic themes since the year 1980s. Political scientists have discussed the theories of nationalism to include; ambivalent strategies that focused on social theories and on the other hand, they focused on liberal, Marxist and conservative ideologist. They also state th at the primordial’s and modernist view the nation as an element that organizes the society. Currently instrumentalist have emphasized on shifting and politically contingent nature of ethnicity (Brubaker, 2004). The primordial’s point on the other hand, points out the high degree of correspondence between cultural and genetic makers (Salters, 2003). Ethno-symbolic constructed nature of ethnicity shows that ethnicity is strongly path dependent. They look at cultural bound such as language, race as old ways of demarcating boundaries and they fail to confine these to the modern period. Primordial approach appeals to emotions, personal constraints, so as to give explanations on ethnic issues. The instrumentalist or constructivist view ethnicity as a dependent variable, therefore, ethnicity is developed based on its strategic utility in achieving political gains within a given territory. Perennials view ethnicity as predating modernity. As indicated by Hechter and Okamato (2 001) primordial’s is not present in several literary materials. The primordial’s theory argues that the demand for a nation-state does depend on the societal ethnic self-
Monday, November 18, 2019
Rechargeable Batteries report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Rechargeable Batteries report - Assignment Example 14). This paper is a report on the development of rechargeable batteries in terms of technology, uses, cost, size and environmental friendliness. Rechargeable batteries are electrochemical cells that produce energy through a reversible chemical reaction as defined by Li, Weng and Chan (2011). The potential of these cells to be recharged makes them fall under the group of secondary cells. Like other cells, rechargeable cells comprise of various sizes and are manufactured in various shapes. The diverse types of rechargeable cells are made though technological combination of various chemicals to enhance their effectiveness and energy output. Trevey and Bright (2011, p. 139) say that when compared to disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries are less harmful to the environment. Additionally, rechargeable batteries are less costly than the disposable ones. According to Lim (2010, p. 22), the development of rechargeable batteries was aimed at enhancing their use in the portable appliances such as mobile phones. In the motor vehicle industry, rechargeable batteries have commonly been used in vehicle starters. The development in the use of rechargeable batteries is parallel to the advances in technology which has led to innovations of various appliances, equipment and hardware. The development of light vehicles such as electric bikes and wheelchairs has also led to the application of rechargeable batteries in motorizing these vehicles. Li, Weng and Chan (2011) add that rechargeable batteries have found wide use in sports such motorizing golf carts. Cameras which capture sports activities also apply rechargeable batteries to enhance the experiences of the viewer which are related to the increased demands of consumers for the enhancements of technology. Rechargeable batteries are also finding increasing use within the computing environment. The advances in information and computing technology have led to the development of portable
Friday, November 15, 2019
Investigating The Age Of Criminal Responsibility
Investigating The Age Of Criminal Responsibility The following research attempts to explore and discuss the criminal age of responsibility in England and Wales. A questionnaire was given out to a sample population in order to gauge public opinion on and around this topic. Secondary data was gathered, such as books, journals and online resources, in order to discuss and explore different ways of dealing with juvenile offenders. Overall, the evidence indicates a strong argument for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised but insufficient evidence was gathered to determine clearly which juvenile justice approach is most effective. The age of criminal responsibility is the age at which a child can be considered an adult for purposes of criminal prosecution. In England and Wales, the criminal age of responsibility is set at age ten and is one of the lowest in Europe, with only Switzerland being lower at age seven. Countries such as Uganda, Algeria, China and the Russian Federation, all have political regimes that could arguably be considered as severe and excessive, yet, all these countries have set the criminal age of responsibility at over ten years, YJB [online]. In England and Wales the age of criminal responsibility has not changed since 1963, when it was raised from age eight to ten. Until 1988 a policy was in place to safe guard children between the ages of ten and fourteen; under this policy children were presumed incapable of forming necessary criminal intent unless proven otherwise by the prosecution, House of Commons Library [online]. In March of this year, Scotland raised the age of criminal responsibility from age eight to twelve years; England and Wales have no plans to change the age at present. YJB [online]. Therefore, evidence shows that there is no clear agreement on what is an acceptable age to be treated as an adult under the jurisdiction of the law. Literature review Morrison, Blake. (1997). As If. London: Granta Publications. Blake Morrison attended the trial of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson and in his book gives a sensitive account of the families involved in the Bulger case. Morrison describes a criminal justice system that is concerned with only facts and arguably lacks the understanding needed when dealing with such sensitive cases involving children of such a young age. Williams, John. (2010) ASBO Nation. Sociology Review. 19, (4), p2-6. Sociology Review is an academic magazine aimed at A-level sociology students. It covers a broad range of sociological topics including politics, education, and religion and of course crime and deviance. In this issue of the magazine it covered a topic on anti social behaviour orders, which proved useful when discussing juvenile crime. Children Young People Now [online] Available from http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Archive/1009000/Criminal-Bar-Association-chair-calls-rise-age-criminal-responsibility/ [accessed 19th June 2010] Children and Young People Now is a Journal available in print and on line. It aims to bring together children and youth professionals across health, social care, education, childcare, youth work and youth justice, to provide advice and guidance to managers and senior practitioners working with children and young people. It features many relevant news articles and current issues concerning children and young people and is a trusted source of information used by professionals working within this area. The Howard league for Penal Reform. [online] Frances Crooks Blog (updated 1st April 2010) Available from http://www.howardleague.org/francescrookblog/the-age-of-criminal-responsibility [accessed Saturday 19th June 2010] Frances Crook is the director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, the oldest penal reform charity in the U.K. She has been responsible for research programmes and campaigns to raise public concern, about among other things, young people in trouble. Throughout her career she has worked as a teacher in secondary schools as well as taking the position of Governor of Greenwich University. In 2005 she was awarded the Perrie Award which is awarded to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the development of criminal justice or penal policy and practice. Therefore, Crooks long career working with children and within the criminal justice system gives her valuable insight into the most effective ways of dealing with child crime. Youth Justice Board. [online] Cross-national comparison of youth justice Available from: http://www.yjb.gov.uk/en-gb/ [accessed Saturday 19th June 2010] The youth justice board (YJB), oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales. It works to prevent offending by children and young people under the age of 18 and ensures that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour. It enables access to reports and legislations and is a valuable and reliable resource concerning youth crime. Home office [online] Available from: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/ [accessed 1st July 2010] The home office is a Government department that deals with, among other things, drugs, policy, police and crime. During this research it proved useful as a guide to the workings of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. It is also linked to many surveys and statistics that were used within this research. Being an official Government department, the information is highly reliable. Rationale The media is awash with reports of juvenile crime with stories of anti-social behaviour to more violent crimes such as the murder carried out by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, Blake Morrison, (As If). In 1998 the Anti Social Behaviour Order was introduced, and since then the term asbo child has become part of the English language, Sociology review, vol 19, (p2-6). Gun and knife crimes are high and recent reports claim that the ambulance and emergency services in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, dealt with six hundred and seventy nine gunshot wounds in people under the age of twenty five in the twelve months leading to October 2009, BBC Newsbeat online. Therefore, the criminal age of responsibility is often the focus of much discussion. In light of the recent reports of Jon Venables being taken back into custody Guardian.Co.uk [online], the Childrens Commissioner Maggie Atkinson reportedly called for the government to raise the age of criminal responsibility, from ag e twelve to fourteen, Children and Young People Now [online]. This argument is supported by the Chairman of The Criminal Bar association, Paul Mendelle QC, who is reported as saying that he also believes that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to age fourteen; he is also reported as calling for a return to the previous policy of Doli Incapax. However the Ministry of Justice maintains that children over the age of ten know the difference between bad behavior and serious wrongdoing, Children and young people now [online]. Therefore, evidence shows a lack of agreement concerning the set age of criminal responsibility. Consequently, it could be argued that the current system would benefit from research to help determine a more universally acceptable age to be held criminally responsibility. Aims The aims of this research are: To explore different ways of dealing with young offenders in England and Wales, to help determine ways that could improve the current system. To discuss whether age ten is a reasonable age for children to be held criminally responsible for their actions, within the jurisdiction of the law. To measure public opinion on whether the criminal age of responsibility should be changed in England and Wales. The experimental Hypothesis and null Hypothesis A majority of the public in England and Wales feel that the criminal age of responsibility should be set higher than age ten. This research predicts that the majority will feel that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised and therefore it is a one-tailed hypothesis. Under the null hypothesis we would expect no clear majority to be revealed on either side of the argument. Method An open questionnaire was used to gather qualitative, primary data (appendix A); eighteen participants were chosen from varied demographic backgrounds to help give a valid representation of the larger population, of England and Wales. Their ages ranged from eighteen to seventy four and consisted of both males and females and both parents and non-parent. The participants were verbally briefed on the nature of the topic and the questionnaire had a brief written introduction explaining the basic history and facts of the subject. They were told that all answers would be regarded as anonymous and that they had the right to withdraw their answers if they so wished. Using an open questionnaire enabled the respondents to be guided through the topical questions whilst still having the flexibility to fully express their feelings on the topic. Also, space was provided for any further comments the participants wished to make. After the interview participants were asked to sign a consent form giv ing their permission for the information to be used in sociological research (appendix B). Results Out of eighteen respondents, just under half felt that the age of criminal responsibility should be set higher than age ten. Just over half of the respondents felt that children of age ten do not fully understand the consequences of their actions. When asked should more responsibility be placed upon the parents of young offenders, all but one respondent felt that it should, thus supporting the idea that the current system in England and Wales does not work sufficiently. Contradictory to this evidence, when asked, do you feel that the current system works sufficiently, only two thirds of the respondents felt that it did not; many respondents felt that they did not know enough about the current system to give a valid reply. When asked for their ideas on improving the current system, respondents answers were varied and included: more discipline at home, stronger punishment for parents and more involvement from relevant bodies i.e. welfare workers etc. Therefore the questionnaire supports the original aims of the investigation. It was useful in gauging public opinion on whether the criminal age of responsibility should be changed and it enabled the respondents to express their opinions on whether age ten is a reasonable age for children to be held criminally responsible for their actions. Lastly it gave space for respondents to give any ideas they had concerning the improvement of the current system Discussion Overall the research indicates that there is a strong argument for raising the criminal age of responsibility; this is supported by both primary and secondary data. Many people feel that children of age ten do not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Also, evidence indicates that there is a strong feeling amongst the public that more responsibility should be placed upon parents; when asked, all but one respondent agreed that parents should take more responsibility for their childrens behaviour. Lastly, the primary data from this research indicates that many people feel that the current juvenile justice system does not work sufficiently in England and Wales. The results from the questionnaire support existing evidence; for example there is much evidence to support a change in the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales. One such argument was put forward by the childrens commissioner Maggie Atkinson; who when referring to the murder of James Bulger (James was murdered by two ten year old boys in 1993, Morrison, As If) is reported as saying Venables and Thompson should not have been tried for murder, at age ten they were too young to understand the full consequences of their actions Guardian [online]. Frances Crook, the Director of The Howard League for Penal Reform also supports Atkinson argument and compares the legal system of England and Wales with that of other countries in Europe. In her blog, Crook points out that the criminal age of responsibility in England and Wales is one of the youngest in Europe and she goes on to argue that children in these countries are not ignored if they do wrong but instead their immaturity i s recognized and the response is appropriate, Frances Crooks Blog [online]. This argument is also supported by the chairman of the criminal bar association, Paul Mendelle, who called for the age to be raised from age ten to fourteen. In an interview in the Telegraph Mendelle is reported as saying, a child of ten can know he or she is doing something wrong and not always appreciate it is criminally wrong children and young people now [online]. In his book As If, Blake Morrison again supports this attitude and suggests that children of ten are not able to act on their understanding of right and wrong with the same conviction as adults; he goes on to argue that, if children of ten know the difference between right and wrong then why not let them be jurors? (As If, chapter 5). Although there is much support for the criminal age of responsibility to be raised, it has been refused by the Ministry of Justice, which maintains that children of age ten and over can differentiate between bad behavior and serious wrong doing, Children and Young People Now [online]. Many people have similar opinions as the primary data of this research illustrates, just under half of the respondents felt that age ten is a reasonable age to be held criminally responsible for your actions. Other than public opinion, there is little evidence of a similar attitude; many high profile and academic people agree that age ten is not an appropriate age but other than the Ministry of Justice, no academic opinion was found to support the other side of this argument. Research illustrates two main attitudes towards dealing with young offenders: the welfare approach and the justice approach. The welfare approach emphasises paternalism and protection and therefore focuses on treating the root causes of juvenile crime; whereas the justice approach emphasises judicial rights, accountability for crimes and formal punishment, Cross-national comparison of youth justice [online]. It could be argued that most criminal justice systems can be traced back to either the welfare or justice approach but most are more varied and complex and include elements of both. According to the Home Office Youth Lifestyle Survey (1998/99) [online], key factors linked with serious and/or persistent offenders between the ages of twelve and seventeen was found to be: Drugs children that had used drugs within a twelve month period were almost fives times more likely to offend than those that had not. School children that were unhappy in school or were persistent truants were found to be more likely to offend. Family and peers children that had family and friends who had offended were found to be more likely to offend themselves. Also children that did not have sufficient supervision and guidance, and /or hung around in public places, were found to be more likely to offend than those that did not. Additional research into the reasons why children offend is beneficial to crime prevention agencies in addressing and preventing juvenile crime. Much research supports the idea that prevention is the cheapest and most successful way of dealing with crime; studies in America have shown that one dollar spent on early prevention will save seven dollars fourteen years later, young people and crime [online]. Therefore, the root causes of youth crime are of great interest to Sociologists and Governments alike. The following paragraphs aim to explore and compare two similar criminal cases, so as to determine ways that could improve the current system in England and Wales. The first crime took place in 1993 in Merseyside, England. Two year old James Bulger was taken from a shopping centre by two ten year old boys, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson. Venables and Thompson wandered around with James for several hours before beating him and leaving him tied to a railway track; when the child was finally found his body had been cut in half by a passing train. The two boys, Venables and Thompson were tried and convicted of murder in an adult court which in contrast to youth courts allows public and media access and consequently spent eight years in custody before being released in 2001 with protected identitys, Morrison, As if. In 2010 Venables was taken back into custody but the reason has not been made clear to the public. There has been no news on Thompson and so it may be assumed that he has settled back into mainstream society with no major problems. A similar crime was committed in 1994, in the Norwegian city of Tronheim. Five year old Silje Raedergard was stoned and left to freeze to death in snow, by two six year old boys, BBC News, How Norway dealt with its Bulger case [online]. In contrast to the Bulger killing, the two boys responsible for killing Silje were not prosecuted or named in the press but instead were treated as victims, not killers. The boys were left with their families and returned to kindergarten shortly after the incident and welfare and psychological help was given to them. All that is known of the two boys today is that one has settled back into mainstream society and the other still has ongoing psychiatric problems. Therefore it could be argued that while these two cases were dealt with very differently, the outcomes are similar. One of the boys responsible for Siljes death has adjusted to normal life but the other still receives psychiatric help. Likewise, Venables has been returned to custody but Thompson so far has not. Little more is published about the boys or families concerned in these cases, which leaves many questions un-answered concerning the long term effects of both methods of reform. Statistics show (appendix C) that the annual total crime rate in 2002, in the U.K. is over 6.5 million compared to Norway which is just over 330,000; this could arguably be an indication that the juvenile justice system in Norway is more efficient than of that in England and Wales, The Eighth United Nations Survey [online]. Limitations of the methodology Keeping the focus of this research simple proved difficult because the subject of criminal responsibility is extremely vast. Finding Government reports and statistics that were specifically related to the topic was also difficult and time consuming. Also, gathering a sample that is representative of the wider population is challenging when time and resources are limited. Therefore the primary data gathered in this research was arguably limited and a larger population sample may have given more valid results. Not all of the questionnaires were returned and some people felt that they did not know enough about the topic to make valid comments. Therefore a more in-depth introduction or briefing may have been beneficial. Possibly a focus group would have been a more useful method of gathering primary data as it would of enabled the participants to fully discuss their ideas and thoughts on the subject before deciding on any conclusions. In conclusion, the evidence gathered in this research supports the hypothesis; there is much evidence both primary and secondary that suggests that the criminal age of responsibility should be set higher than age ten. Different ways of dealing with juvenile crime was explored and statistics were gathered to help determine which system proves to be most sufficient. Arguably, lower crime rates in Norway indicates that the welfare approach which is the most dominant factor in the Norwegian system is more effective than the justice approach, that is more dominant in England and Wales but as the comparison of criminal cases show, any difference is minimal and not sufficient to make any bold conclusions. Recommendations If further research were to be carried out, I would recommend that; More time is taken to investigate other juvenile justice systems, such as that of Norway. A larger population sample would be useful to gauge a more valid public opinion. A focus group would be useful to enable participants to discuss and answer any queries they have.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Why I Give Back to the Community Essay -- Community Service, Service L
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill I see community service as the key element to my future. I believe that each person should leave the world a little better than how they found it. Community service has held a huge part of my life already. I currently am very involved with a program called Candlelighters. Candlelighters is a program that works with cancer patients and their families. As a part of the Candlelighters program I have seen many children lose their lives to cancer. Each child has left a mark on my heart, and I am a better person for knowing them. All my life I have wanted to be an attorney. I had my whole life paved out. I knew what I was going to do and how I was going to get there. These children have taught me ...
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