Financial markets in u.K for the morrison plc. - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 13 Words: 3945 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Executive Summary: The following assignment focuses on the financial analysis of the annual reports and the effects of the developments and the downturn in the financial markets in U.K for the Morrison Plc. This assignment talks about the financial condition of Morrison plc in London in last few years. In order to analyze the financial statements we have used different financial tools such as ratio analysis to examine the financial condition of the company. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Financial markets in u.K for the morrison plc." essay for you Create order The recession has hit the worlds economy in last few years and had varying degree of effects on the economies of the companies. Some companies were able to cope up and some lost their financial stability. Companies tried various means such as cost cutting in order to cope up with the financial distress. This assignment talks about the financial condition of the Morrison plc after the global recessional hit. It also talks about the various measures or strategies adopted by the Morrison to overcome the recession. Discussion also includes ratio analysis of Morrison plc in UK and comparing it with its competitor Sainsbury. Introduction The food retail industry is one of the fastest and the biggest growing industry in UK with lots of competition over the price and the quality of the products due to presence of lots of competitors providing the service. Few of the major players of this industry in UK market are Sainsbury, Tesco, Morrison and Asda. Morrison was founded by William Morrison in 1899 in west Yorkshire in England. He started the business with a small stall in the Bradford market and has grown with time to become a giant player in food retail industry of UK. Morrison started its market operations and continued them for a long time in North of England. In the year 2004 Morrison acquired Safeway and expanded its market operations to southern England. Morrison plc is the UKs fourth largest retailer with 425 stores across Britain and focuses on food and grocery. They source and process fresh food and meat through their own manufacturing units giving them more control over the quality of their products. It has more than 100 years of experience in supermarket business. Approximately nine million customers visit their stores each day and they have around 124,000 colleagues to take care of their customers. It has its warehouses and plants both in UK and abroad to take care of its demand and supply requirement. Some of the subsidiaries of Morrison plc are- Farmers boy limited Neerock limited Safeway limited Rathbone kear limited Optimization developments limited Bos brothers fruit and vegetables Farock insurance company limited Optimization developments limited On Jan 28, 2010: Loblaw joined as COO in Morrison and on Jan 27, 2010 it appointed a new Non-Executive Director. On Jan 27, 2010 it had new chief executive to its Board. Morrison plc received Red Tractor certification for fresh meats on March 03,2010. On Feb 25, 2010: Morrison joined Zetes wireless IT solution. Morrison showed an increase in the group turnover, earning before tax, earning per share and total dividend per share for the fiscal year 2010 as compared to 2009.these financial highlights shows that the overall performance was good for the company as well as for the share holders but it showed an increase in net debt in 2010 with respect to previous year which is a negative factor for its financial stability. The strategy and vision of the company is to become â€Å"food specialist for everyone†. With this simple mission and vision the company has focused on the quality and the service for their products through their own manufacturing and distribution system which has proved efficient enough for the positive financial growth of the company during the last few years. Morrison market share has also showed an increase during the last four years with 11.9% in 2007 and increasing to 12.6% in 2010. Morrison share of grocers UK 2010 is 12.6% as compared to Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys (combined) 63.5%, Premium (combined) 5.8% and discounters and others (combined) 18.1%. Recently Morrison is working on making use of digital technology for the marketing purpose by developing a mobile enabled website and applications for the I-Phone due to growing use of Smart phones and mobile phones for the shopping purpose. Analysis and Evaluation Financial analysis can be defined as study of the working of an organization in order to plan, budget, monitor, forecast and improve the financials of an organization. Financial Analysis can also be defined as the study of the balance sheet and the profit and loss account in order to relate them in such a way to conclude the financial strengths and weaknesses of the firm. Financial analysis of a company helps in decision making as it gives various information about the firm such as:- firms long-term debt commitment shareholder return financial distress market share growth rate etc All this information helps in doing future forecasts for the company. Financial analysis of a company gives the following information about the business of the company: A profitability of the business B ability to pay the bills or debts C efficient use of assets D dividend per share etc The study and analysis of financial statements of a company is useful for:- Investors Managers Employees Suppliers and creditors Government agencies Public Environmental groups Researchers (academic and professional) Customers Lenders Financial analysts Tools and Techniques of Financial Statement Analysis: Horizontal and Vertical Analysis Ratio Analysis 1 Horizontal Analysis Analyzing the financial statements of a company for two or more years and comparing them. For example: the sales for the year 2010 were 20 million pounds, 30 million pounds in 2011 and so on. In percentage it can be calculated as 30-20/20 * 100=50% increase for 2011 Vertical analysis- This analysis is usually carried out on the PL account and the balance sheet. The figures in the statements are calculated as the percentage of total amount. For example: if trade debtors were 20m pounds and balance sheet total was 50m pounds in 2011 and for 2012 it was 40m pounds and 80m pounds respectively. Debtors can be expressed in percentage of balance sheet total as for 2011 , 40%of the balance sheet total(20*100/50=40%) and similarly for 2012 , 50% of balance sheet total. 2 Ratio Analysis It is most widely used and powerful tool for the analysis of financial statements. It is done by expressing one term in terms of another. Ratio analysis can be used to a nalyse the financial statements in order to examine the strength and weakness and the past and present performance and financial conditioned can be interpreted. Top of Form Bottom of Form Profitability Ratios: Profitability ratios can be defined as the evaluation of the total output produced or the performance efficiency of the company. As the name suggests, profitability ratios are concerned with the efficiency of a business in achieving its targets and generating profits or returns on the invested capital. So profitability ratios are one of the financial analytical tools by means of which we can judge the ability of a business to generate profits or earnings with respect to the expense met with the business. They measure the firms performance by comparing the profits produced by the firm with the size. Assets and the sales made by the firm. There are different types of profitability ratios as follows: 1 Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) as the name suggests this ratio is a measure of the return or the gain that a company gets by investing its finance and resources. It can be defined as the percentage of return with respect to the capital employed. Formula:- ROCE = [profit before interest and tax/capital employed] x100 For the Morrison plc measure of ROCE ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (369/3927) x100=9.39 In 2008- (612/4378) x100=13.97 In 2009- (655/4520) x100=14.49 2007 2008 2009 9.39 13.97 14.49 The above data shows that there is an increase in ROCE over the years for Morrison plc which shows that the return on capital employed has shown an improvement over the years which is a good symbol for the success of the business. 2 Net Profit Margin- it can be defined as the amount of profit a company makes from every pound of the total revenue it produce or sales it makes. Its good for the company to have more net profit margin as compared to its rivals. Formula: Net Profit Margin= [profit before interest and tax/sales or turnover] x100 For the Morrison plc measure of net profit margin ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (369/11826) x100=3.12 In 2008- (612/12151) x100=5.03 In 2009- (655/13615) x100=4.81 2007 2008 2009 3.12 5.03 4.81 The above data shows that the net profit margin shows an increase from 2007 to 2008 but then gradually decreased in 2009.This shows that the performance has gone down with respect to the profit the company has made in the previous year. 3 Net Asset Turnovers- It can be defined as the measure of how capable the management of a firm is in producing returns by the best and optimal utilization of firms net assets. If this ratio is very large it signifies very low investment while if the ratio is very small it signifies inept management. Formula: sales or turnover/capital employed For the Morrison plc measure of net asset turnover ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 11826/3927=3.01 In 2008- 12151/4378=2.77 In 2009- 13615/4520=3.01 2007 2008 2009 3.01 2.77 3.01 4 Gross Profit Margin- The gross profit margin ratio can be defined as the amount of profit a firm can produce with respect to the cost of sales, or cost of goods sold. We can also state it as the amount of gross profit a company makes compared to each 1 pound of the total turnover a business is able to make. Gross profit is the amount of profit we get before we deduct any cost of administration, sales etc. thus its good if net profit margin is lower then the gross profit margin. Formula- [gross profit/sales or turnover] x100 For the Morrison plc measure of gross profit margin ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (636/11826) x100=5.37 In 2008- (818/12151) x100=6.73 In 2009- (913/13615) x100=6.70 2007 2008 2009 5.37 6.73 6.70 From the study of above data we have seen that the gross profit margin in higher than the net profit margin for Morrison plc over the years 2007,2008 and 2009 which is good for the financial condition of the company. Activity ratios- it can be defined as how actively or quickly a company is able to change the assets into sales or cash. Different types of activity ratios are as follows: 1 Stock days or stock turnover- it can be defined as the measure of the amount of time a company needs to convert its stock into sales. The lesser is the stock days or stock turnover, lower is the cost incurred by the company in holding stock. Formula- [stock or inventory/cost of sales] x365 For the Morrison plc stock days or stock turnover ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (368/11826) x365=11 days In 2008- (442/12151) x365=13 days In 2009- (494/13615) x365=13 days 2007 2008 2009 11 days 13 days 13 days It has gradually increased from the year 2007 to 2008 and then remained constant. Company should work on plans to be able to make it as small as it can to incur the minimum cost for holding the stock. 2 Fixed Asset Turnover- It can be defined as the sales produced from the fixed assets of a company. Formula- sales or turnover/fixed assets For the Morrison plc fixed asset turnover ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 12462/6605=1.8 In 2008- 12969/6726=1.9 In 2009- 14528/7160= 2.02 2007 2008 2009 1.8 1.9 2.02 3 sales/net current assets- this ratio indicates the level of working capital required for a given level of sales while analyzing the financial statements.A reduction in this ratio is a negative sign, signifying that company may have slowed production, lessening the quantity of stock Formula- sales or turnover/net current assets For the Morrison plc sales/net current assets ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 12462/766=16.26 times In 2008- 12969/910=14.25 times In 2009- 14528/1066=13.62 times 2007 2008 2009 16.26 14.25 13.62 From the above data we can see that the sales/net current assets ratio has decreased during the years 2007, 2008, 2009, which is a negative sign. Liquidity Ratios- It can be defined as one of the financial analytical toolthatis usedto determine a companys ability to disburse itsshort-terms debts obligations. Different types of liquidity ratios are as follows- 1 current ratio- it can be defined as the measure of the capability of a company to fulfill its financial obligations that are outstanding. It is also called as â€Å"Liquidity Ratio†, â€Å"current asset ratio† and â€Å"cash ratio†. Higher is the current ratio better it is because it shows that the company has higher degree of ability to fulfill its short-term debt obligation that is falling due. Formula- current assets/current liabilities For the Morrison plc current ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 766/1855=0.41 In 2008- 910/1853=0.49 In 2009- 10 66/2024=0.52 2007 2008 2009 0.41 0.49 0.52 From the above data we can see that the current ratio has shown an increasing trend for the financial years 2007, 2008 and 2009 in Morrison plc which is good as it indicates that the companys ability to fulfill its short term debts and obligations has increased over the years. 2 Quick ratio this ratio can be defined as the measure of the liquidity of a company. It is the capability of a firm to meet its debts, liabilities and obligations. It is also known as â€Å"acid test ratio†. This ratio can be derived by lessening stock from the current assets and then dividing by current liabilities. Quick ratio is an indicator of the financial strength and weakness of a company (more is the value of this ratio means stronger the firm is and lower value signifies that the company is weak). Formula- current assets less stocks/current liabilities For the Morrison plc quick ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (766-368)/1855=0.21 In 2008- (910 -442)/1853=0.25 In 2009- (1066-494)/2024=0.28 2007 2008 2009 0.21 0.25 0.28 From the above data we can see that the quick ratio has shown a gradual increase over the financial years 2007, 2008 and 2009 which is a good signal as higher is the value if quick ratio indicates that the firm is financially strong. CALCULATIONS FOR THE RATIO ANALYSIS OF SAINSBURY:- ROCE For the Sainsbury plc measure of ROCE ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (477/3762) x100=12.67 In 2008- (479/3716) x100=12.89 In 2009- (466/3826) x100=12.17 Net profit margin For the Sainsbury plc measure of net profit margin ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (477/15979) x100=2.98 In 2008- (479/16835) x100=2.84 In 2009- (466/17875) x100=2.60 Net asset turnover For the Sainsbury plc measure of net asset turnover ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 15979/3762=4.24 In 2008- 16835/3716=4.53 In 2009- 17875/3826=4.67 Gross profit margin For the Sainsbury plc measure of gross profit margin ratio is stated below for the years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (1172/15979) x100=7.33 In 2008- (1002/16835) x100=5.95 In 2009- (1036/17875) x100=5.79 Stock days or stock turnover ratio For the Sainsbury plc measure of stock days or stock turnover ratio is stated below for t he years 2007- 2009:- In 2007 (590/15979) x365=13 days In 2008- (681/16835) x365=15 days In 2009- (689/17875) x365=14 days Effects and Development This is a world of globalization and every business wants to expand its reach outside the territories of its own country in order to explore new markets and customers and earn more money. Global recession is the most talked and topic of major concern for all the businesses worldwide. Global recession has hit the markets world wide adversely affecting the businesses of every trade. It all started in United States due to various reasons such as downfall in the house prices, deficiency or unavailability of finance resulting in credit crunch, inflation causing reduction in incomes earned and disposed etc. Global recession entered the territories of most of the countries worldwide affecting their economies and brought a downturn as we have seen in 2008-2009. The global recession caused a lot of problems such as- Inflation-the prices of the commodities and products and other supplies started rising causing a problem for the buyers. Downfall in the wages and salaries People were thrown out of jobs by the companies in order to cut the cost. Due to downfall in income earned their was a downfall in the disposable incomes of the consumers which resulted in a vicious circle and inturn continued in adversely effecting the growth and stability of economies and markets of the countries. The global recession also affected the markets of UK bringing downturn in the economy of the country as seen from 2008-2009 and the conditions are now improving and expected to improve more in upcoming years. The UK labor market- The changes in the UK labor market were first observed in the second quarter of 2008.it was seen that their was a 3.6% increase in claimant count,5.6% decrease in vacancy levels and 14% increase in redundancy level with respect to the previous quarter. There was a fall of 0.3% in the employment levels and 0.4% fall in workforce jobs in third quarter of 2008. The unemployment rate in UK was recorded as 5.8% for consecutive three months in 2008.it resulted in downfall of disposable income as people tried to cut down their expenses. Disposable income- the increasing unemployment and inflation and due to the fall in the incomes earned, there was a downfall recorded in the amount of disposable income of the consumers by the recessional hit during the years 2008-2009. Inflation-As per the national statistics online, an annual inflation rate of 4.5% was recorded in October 2008.it was observed that the rise in the cost of fuels and lubricants in 2008 which later fell down in 2009 had adversely affected the consumer price index. Interest rate- The interest rate fall from 4.5% in October 2008 to 1.1% in September 2009.it made it easier for people to borrow money due to less interest rate. Savings were reduced due to low interest rate. The weakening of currency made imports costing more for UK. The graph below explains the interest rate in UK Exchange rate-the UK exchange rate decreased from 2008-2009 due to the recessional hit and the weakening of currency. This made the imports more difficult for UK. The currency kept on weakening recording the all time low of 1.0219 GBP in December, 2009. The recession showed hard times to companies. Morrison was able to continue its strong growth rate of 7.8 percent from the year 2007.though the UK market was under recession but the Morrison was able to continue its trend of attracting and indulging large customers to buy they products. The Morrisons product prices were hit by inflation. During duration of 24 months company was able to have 1.1 million customers visiting its stores every week drawn through the customers of all the other strong competitors in the supermarket industry. Morrison thinks that it will be able to carry on its ability to attract more customers to visit their stores in the time to come. The downturn in the economy had adverse effects on the prices which were inflated and customers had to bear this entire problem. Morrison at the same time tried to convince and attract more customers by emphasizing and focusing on the value of their products for its customers. Morrison is a manufacturer and a retailer and this helped the Morrison to compete and survive in the bad times of downturn in the economy. Morrison was able to offer very competitive prices and attractive offers on its products backed up by its strong promotion helped the Morrison to attract the customers. Due to its own manufacturing Morrison was able to provide fresh items to its customers from its own manufacturing facility which its competitors were lagging in. It was able to enjoy its competence of providing fresh products to its customers but at the same time Morrison also focused on the quality of its products. It got the advantage of being the single giant retailer in UK to provide 100 percent British beef, poultry, lamb and pork. Customers were really convinced with the Morrisons policy which was in favor of and promoting the use of British farming and its focus of providing the fresh products with British standards to its customers. It was observed that Morrison was able to attract more customers as compared to its competitors during the Christmas as said by the chief executive officer of Morrison Marc Bolland. The Morrison was able to sho w a strong growth figure of 9 percents which was recorder to be highest when compared to the other four leading players in the supermarket industry of UK. COMPARISON Morrison Sainsbury Return on capital employed (ROCE) 14.49 12.17 Net profit margin 4.81 2.60 Net asset turnover 3.01 4.67 Gross profit margin 6.70 5.79 Stock days or stock turnover ratio 13 days 14 days Current ratio 0.52 0.66 Quick ratio 0.28 0.31 Ratio analysis carried on Morrison and Sainsbury for the financial year 2009 In the above table we have shown some ratios for Morrison plc and Sainsbury for the financial year 2009.it can be seen that the return on capital invested(ROCE) ratio is high in case of Morrison. So Morrison has good return on the amount of capital employed. This is positive for the performance of Morrison. The net profit margin of Morrison is more than Sainsbury which means that Morrison has made more profits than Sainsbury with respect to their turnovers respectively. The net asset turnover ratio of Sainsbury is more than Morrison, which means Sainsbury has made low investments and the Morrison, have inept management of its resources. Stock turnover ratio of Morrison is less than Sainsbury which is good for its performance as Morrison is taking less time to sell its stock and convert it into capital. The current ratio of Sainsbury is more than Morrison, which means Sainsbury has more abi lity to fulfill its short term debts. The quick ratio of Sainsbury is also higher than Morrison, which means Sainsbury has more financial strength than Morrison. Similarly we can interpret and compare the results of the financial performance of Sainsbury and Morrison for the past two years 2007 and 2008 from the data shown in the tables below. Ratio analysis carried on Morrison and Sainsbury for the financial year 2008 MORRISON SAINSBURY Return on capital employed (ROCE) 13.97 12.89 Net profit margin 5.03 2.84 Net asset turnover 2.77 4.53 Gross profit margin 6.73 5.95 Stock days or stock turnover ratio 13 days 15 days Current ratio 0.49 0.71 Quick ratio 0.25 0.40 Ratio analysis carried on Morrison and Sainsbury for the financial year 2007 MORRISON SAINSBURY Return on capital employed (ROCE) 9.39 12.67 Net profit margin 3.12 2.98 Net asset turnover 3.01 4.24 Gross profit margin 5.37 7.33 Stock days or stock turnover ratio 11 days 13 days Current ratio 0.41 0.80 Quick ratio 0.21 0.50 RECOMMENDATIONS- Morrison should plan to work on adding non food products to their product category instead of just focusing on being food specialist in order to cope up and compete with the other rivals in the supermarket industry in UK such as Tesco, Asda etc. Morrison should focus on how to analyze its financial statements and take necessary steps and changes in order to make optimal use of its finance and other resources and to manage the capital and its liabilities efficiently. this is a digital age and thus digital technology plays an important role in the marketing of products. Thus Morrison should lay emphasis on making use of digital technology such as online shopping and make it user friendly with all the range of its products in order to attract more customers and earn more profit. Morrison should focus on providing best delivery and customer service in order to pace up with the other players in this industry CONCLUSIONS- Morrison is able to manage the entities linked with the business such as creditors and debtors effectively and efficiently Morrison had acquired Safeway limited in 2004.it resulted in merger reserve, which is a reserve in the balance sheet of the firm. The directors of Morrison think that this reserve is not for distribution and rather it will be regarded as capital reserve Morrison had made donations to the charitable institutes and for the charity purpose amounting a total of 1.18 million pounds Morrisons financial statement shows a strong flow of cash

Midsummer Nights Dream Essay - 1041 Words

William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream utilizes the technique of multiple characters playing leading roles. The fairy character Puck stands out as a dominant and leading role in the play. Puck is the best fit for the role of the protagonist because he is mischievous and therefore, has the ability to change the outcome of the play through his schemes and actions. As the protagonist, Puck is responsible for creating the major conflict that occurs between the four lovers throughout the play. This is important because the play focuses on the lives and relationships of the lovers. In addition, because of Puck’s interaction with these characters, his actions throughout the play, alters the final outcome. Finally, Puck’s†¦show more content†¦Once the love potion is used again as an antidote in Demetrius’ eyes everything becomes reversed and he awakens to find his true love, Hermia. Puck also has another encounter with mortals by interfering with Bottom’s life. Bottom is the overdramatic and self-aggrandizing lead actor in a play that a group of amateur actors plan to perform at the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. They rehearse in the forest where Bottom explains how the cast will have to reassure their audience that the lion in the play is only â€Å"pretend†. Puck overhears Bottom and decides to test the casts’ imagination by placing a real asshead on Bottom. At the same time, the fairy queen Titania was placed under the love potion’s spell and the first thing that she sees when she wakes up is Bottom who looks like an ass. By doing this, Puck creates a twist in the plot and makes the play quite comical. It is evident that Puck’s relationship with the mortals has a huge impact on the outcome of the play. Additionally, Puck’s connection to the fairies is also very unique and special. Puck has multiple interactions with his fellow fairies throughout the play; each one is individual and unique. Puck’s superiority over the other fairies is prominent in all of his encounters with them. For example, in Act 2 Scene 1 â€Å"But, room fairy! here comes Oberon† (II, I, 58). In this quote, Puck is behaving very dismissive and rude to the fairy he is talking to. In addition, Puck has developed a very notoriousShow MoreRelatedA Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1482 Words   |  6 PagesA Midsummer Night’s Dream: by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born in April 1564. He had married at the age of eighteen to a twenty-six year old woman named Anne Hathaway in 1582. He had a daughter named Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, his only son, died at age eleven. Shakespeare died in April 1616. Despite the fact that Shakespeare wrote some thirty-seven plays, owned part of his theatrical company, acted in plays, and retired a relatively wealthy man in the cityRead MoreA Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1790 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† Essay â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream†, one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, is generally thought of as a comical romance. A very important factor that makes the whole play a comedy, is magic, which is used to affect the lives of four Athenians: Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius. Bottom, also a simple human, falls victim of the fairies’ mischievous magic. The magic reaches these characters by Puck, a naughty fairy, and Oberon, the king of fairies. PuckRead MoreEssay The Forest in A Midsummer Night’s Dream’1122 Words   |  5 PagesOnly in the forest do women exercise power. How far do you agree with this statement? The forest in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is used as a green space, a place where the social norms don’t apply. At the time of writing, Shakespearean England was ruled by a female monarch, Queen Elizabeth the 1st who was only the 2nd queen of England in their own right. This power held by a woman at the time was not the norm, women were subservient of men. Hermia has been promised to Demetrius by her father;Read MoreEssay on A Midsummer Nights Dream: Critical Analysis3103 Words   |  13 PagesMandy Conway Mrs. Guynes English 12 16 March 2000 A Critical Analysis of quot;A Midsummer Nights Dreamquot; William Shakespeare, born in 1594, is one of the greatest writers in literature. He dies in 1616 after completing many sonnets and plays. One of which is quot;A Midsummer Nights Dream.quot; They say that this play is the most purely romantic of Shakespeares comedies. The themes of the play are dreams and reality, love and magic. This extraordinary play is a play-with-in-a-play, whichRead MoreEssay about Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream920 Words   |  4 PagesThe Power of Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream Is love controlled by human beings who love one another or is love controlled by a higher power? There are many people who believe that a higher power has control over love. An example of a higher power would be a cupid, a flying angel-type creature who is supposed to shoot arrows at people to make them fall in love. There are other people who reject the idea that a higher power controls love and that the people who experience love can controlRead MoreEssay on Love In A Midsummer Night’s Dream524 Words   |  3 PagesTrue love’s path is paved with every step. Through the assistance of fanciful elements as well as characters Puck and Oberon, the true message of love in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is revealed. The four lovers know the direction in which their hearts are inclined to turn, but when the love potion is administered, the bounds of their rectangle are thrashed without knowledge or consent. The rapid shifts in affection between the play’s â€Å"four lovers† is representative of the ideaRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essays3973 Words   |  16 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream In the following essay I am aiming to show how Lysanders claim that the course of true love never did run smooth is supported by other events in the play. A Midsummer Nights Dream was written by William Shakespeare. No one knows the exact date it was written but we know it was between 1589 and 1595. He combines romance with comedy to produce this popular story. When he was writing the play superstition aboutRead MoreExpository Essay On A Midsummer Nights Dream711 Words   |  3 PagesAbby Kuhlman L.Liebl 10A Hour 4 Expository Essay 1 Nov. 2017 Crazy in Love The famous quote You can t be wise and in love at the same time, by Bob Dylan, applies to three of the main characters in William Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream: Hermia, Helena, and Lysander. Reason and love are often at odds in real life, and this romantic comedy shows how these characters struggle to balance between the two. Hermia has a crazy determination to marry Lysander. Hermia is willingRead MorePassion in A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesPassion in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream may come off as a simple comedy but is a complex play with many interesting aspects. Passion, a significant characteristic, is often expressed through the play. Characters in the play show passion for different reasons; Puck passions for mischief, Helena for Demetrius’ love and Bottom for theatrics, are a few of the many examples. Passion shows much significance, being the most important characteristic in the playRead More Comparing A Midsummer Nights Dream and Romeo and Juliet Essay1176 Words   |  5 Pagesanother, two stand out from the rest as sharing a great deal in common. Specific, solid parallels can be drawn between Shakespeares plays A Midsummer Nights Dream and Romeo and Juliet. The themes and characters are remarkably similar in many aspects. Firstly, both plays highlight the stereotypical young lovers - Hermia and Lysander in A Midsummer Nights Dream and Romeo and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. Secondly, bot h plays are very ambiguously categorized. By this I mean that each could have been

Free Hamlets The Character of Ophelia Hamle Essay Example For Students

Free Hamlets: The Character of Ophelia Hamle Essay t essaysHamlet: The Character of Ophelia Ophelia is gentle, loving and beautiful. She is also obedient to her father and loyal to her family and it is this which draws her into the circle of disaster and leads to her untimely death. She is deeply in love with Hamlet and believes his tenders to be sincere, but her obedience to both her father and her brother must come first. Laertes tells her to beware of Hamlets interest as it is driven by lust, not love. He also points out the difference in their background and rightly concludes that Hamlet is not in a position, as heir to the throne to choose freely who he will marry. Polonius is also scornful of Hamlets motives and concerned that he will be discredited by Ophelias conduct. His command to her not to see Hamlet again is brutal, as is his decision to use her as a decoy to sound out the reason for Hamlets eccentric behaviour. The fact that she obeys would be quite understandable to Shakespeares audience, if not to a present day one, since filial obedience was a fundamental part of the life of the time. Note also how differently Laertes is treated by his father, compared to the lack of regard shown to Ophelia by Polonius. Women had little status, and Ophelias wishes are not considered at any time. Torn apart as she is by divided loyalty it is no wonder that the strain on her eventually leads to her madness and subsequent death. That she loves Hamlet is without question. She is distraught when she observes his behaviour before the nunnery scene, and after his savage rejection of her in that scene she laments his noble mind..here oerthrown She also grieves for herself, Oh woe is me, thave seen what I have seen, see what I see. She is sophisticated enough to understand the ways of the world, too, as we see in her dialogue with Hamlet before the mousetrap play, when she obviously understands the meaning of his bawdy remarks, and also in her quick understanding of her brothers likely conduct when he is away at school. Her madness is triggered by loss of her father, murdered by Hamlet, whom she also believes to be mad. The pathos of the mad scene is emphasised by the language of loss in some of the songs she sings and the overt sexuality of others. In fact the sentiments of Ophelia for Hamlet in the nunnery scene, are, ironically applicable to herself later in the play. Her story parallels Hamlets. They think they have both been deserted by one they love; both lose a father through murder and both go to an untimely death; both are sensitive, caring souls whose innocence is exploited by others. No character has anything evil to say about Ophelia at any time and of all the deaths which occur in the play as a result of Claudiuss original murder, hers is perhaps the most pathetic.

Prejudice in The Crucible free essay sample

This paper describes the different types of discrimination in Arthur Millers play. This paper discussed the different types of prejudice and discrimination found in Arthur Millers The Crucible: . Race, gender, age, religion and class are some of the characteristics that the author finds as targets of discrimination. An example of prejudice used in The Crucible is ageism. The assembly of girls, Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, Marry Warren, and Ruth Putnam, who initiated the chain of events resulting in the trial, were victims of this prejudice. Because of their youth, their first alibi of innocent dancing was accepted, showing that this case of prejudice worked to their advantage. After caught dancing by her uncle Reverend Parris, Abigail stated, ?Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it and Ill be whipped if I must be. But theyre speakin of witchcraft.?(p. 9) Rebecca Nurse was also a sufferer of ageism. We will write a custom essay sample on Prejudice in The Crucible or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many believed the accusation that she was a witch partly because she is older and seemed less credible. Rebecca served as a midwife for families in the town and was convicted of murder of the Putnam babies.

The Corporate Takeover of American Farming Essays

The Corporate Takeover of American Farming Essays The Corporate Takeover of American Farming Paper The Corporate Takeover of American Farming Paper Essay Topic: Slaughterhouse Five We are literally eating ourselves to death. For the first time in American history, the generations born after the baby boomers face a lower life expectancy than their parents did. This situation Is largely a result of a product that we cannot even eat until it has been processed into our food and drink supply. This food, plus a sedentary life-style, have caused an epidemic of obesity which has been on the rise in America for the past 30 years, increasing the rate of diabetes and other food- related Illnesses. Because of the method of farming, the use of chemical fertilizers, ND the supply of genetically modified seed for crops of corn and soy, we have plenty of cheap food available in the US, but this food comes a at a cost. It causes so many problems with our health that we would be much better off with a lower quantity of a higher quality substitute which we would call wholesome food. The primary Ingredient Is found In the most common element In our food supply: corn. Not the type of sweet corn that you eat off the cob in the summer-time, but an inedible corn that must be processed at high heat levels to be transformed into a starchy mess before any mammal can eat it. This corn product Is in our food and our sweetened soft drinks. It Is used as cattle feed because It Is cheap and readies the cows for market in a shorter time than the grass which cattle have naturally evolved to eat. It is in ready-made foods and soft drinks in the form of high fructose corn syrup. Another ingredient grown by US farmers is soybeans. These are also used to feed cattle and they wind up In two-thirds of all processed foods (Pollen p bib Corporations run the whole system to their ultimate benefit in the form of cheap feed and sweetener as inputs of production. Ethanol producers also benefit from the availably of cheap corn. This corn is farmed at a loss to farmers which the U. S. Government makes up for In the form of subsidies called deficiency payments. Without these subsidies, farmers would not be able to earn a living farming such a low-priced commodity. Thesis The modern corporation has taken over the farming industry. What we have, as a result, Is a near serfdom In the personage of farmers who must follow the rules that corporations set when they draft the Farm Bill. Corporate lobbyists control the production of corn and soy beans for their own benefit. We, as taxpaying citizens, subsidize a system of over-production and farm subsidies which only allow farmers to barely survive volcanically, while ultimately benefiting only the corporations who write the rules for their own game In the end. The result Is a diet which Is unhealthy for Americans to eat, causing obesity and a myriad of related health problems and farmers who have no say in the economics of agribusiness. Problem Because of the corporate control of farming In the United States, we are faced with a staggering set of problems which have no easy fix. Four corporations, Monsanto, DOD Chemical, Archer Daniels Midland, and the Cargill Group control the vast majority of the food supply (Wolf). One of every four Americans lived on a farm near OFF ten turn AT ten TNT century (Pollen 3 ) Nine, a Tarter could supply enough T feed his family and twelve others also. Today, less than two million people in the United States still farm. (ibid). Yet, they grow enough food to feed the entire population and then some. Today, in Iowa, what we used to call the Bread Basket of America, farmers grow nothing but corn and soy beans. Todays typical farm is so productive that it can feed 120 Americans (ibid). American farmers are the most productive of all humans in any civilization in history. But this productivity comes at a high cost to humans, animals, and the entire ecosystem. Because corn is so abundant and cheap, it is used in various forms in the American food supply. As stated above, this type of corn is inediblefor anyone or any animal. It must be processed and heated to a mush to make cattle feed and further processed to make liquid corn syrup. Cattle have evolved to eat grass, which they do for the first couple of years before they are shipped to feedlots where they re kept in crowded, inhumane conditions and fed this corn-based substance which fattens them up faster for slaughter. These conditions and food are so unhealthy for cattle that if they were fed it for another month before being shipped to the slaughterhouse, they would die (Wolf). Cattle are kept alive in these conditions by the use of powerful antibiotics. They are also given growth hormones so they will yield more meet. Cattle are raised on feed made from corn and are injected with antibiotics and growth hormones. We eat cattle, and therefore we eat the anti-biotic and growth hormones in our beef. We drink sodas and other soft drinks which are sweetened with corn syrup. So much of our food and drink supply are full of this corn product. Yet this corn-fed meat is less healthy for us, because it contains less omega-3 fatty acids and more saturated fat than comes from grass-fed cattle (Pollen p 75). Cafes?Concentrated Animal Feeding Operationsanother phrase for feedlots, have caused several problems in the ecosystem with their waste byproducts (Pollen, 67). A recent article in Mother Jones reported that meatpacking giant, Tyson Foods, would no longer by cattle which have been injected with the popular growth Armonk, Climax made by Merck pharmaceuticals. In a letter to their Cafes they cited concerns over animal welfare: there have been recent instances of cattle delivered for processing that have difficulty walking or are unable to move. (Philipp). This announcement is sending showplaces through the CAFE industry. China, Russia and the European Union, already ban imports of cattle where Climax has been used. In fact, China bans all beef from the U. S. And instead rely on supplies from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Australia, and New Zealand (Philipp). The problem is manifold. The sots include higher rates of obesity than at any time in our history. Before the asss, when cattle were mostly grass fed, our meat was less fattening and more natural. We can still buy beef from grass-fed cattle, but the cost is nearly twice that of corn-fed beef. The cost of beef has gone down drastically in real terms over the past 30 years due to the abundant supply of cheap corn. Before our food supply changed to provide cheap beef, meat was a treat for most families. Today, the hamburgers we eat are kept cheap, and, as a result, we eat too much. The only people benefiting from his system are those who profit from corporations which run the system. Government policies, which are highly influenced by powerful lobbies of corporations wanly Duty corn, nave athletes ten economics AT Too supply In America Into a perverse system of over-production at any price paid at the grain elevators. Market forces are out of balance in terms of equity due to the fact that so few players determine corn prices, both in the commodities market at the Chicago Board of Trade, and at grain elevators themselves. (National Family Farm Coalition). Farmers are at the mercy of mega-corporations such as Monsanto which determine how much deed costs, what seeds will be available, what crops will be grown, and what prices will be paid. Ultimately, the only real benefactors of this system are a handful of huge corporations, the players who keep the system running for their own benefit. Other problems with the modern agribusiness system is genetically modified food products. A study done in 2010 revealed some disturbing effects of GM corn when fed to laboratory rats. The study found that the SMOG corn caused organ damage in the rats indicating that this could also present a danger to humans. The primary organs affected were the kidney and liver, both of which have the function of laminating toxins. In addition, some effects on heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells were also frequently noted. Monsanto followed up with a crude 90 day study which, not surprisingly, found that the SMOG corn had no ill health effects. Scientists at JIBS had concluded stating data strongly suggests that these GM corn varieties induce a state of heptagonal toxicity and that these substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown (Miami). It wasnt always like this. Before World War II, more Americans worked farms and they planted a wide variety of crops. They also kept cattle which provided not only income from their sale to slaughter houses, but also manure which made a great fertilizer for farm land and preserve the nitrogen needed for growth for other crops. There were problems with erosion which became obvious during the dust bowl years of the sasss and which were addressed by the conservation corps to educate farmers to prevent erosion of the top soil . Crops were rotated to maintain a balance of essential ingredients for plant growth, especially nitrogen. Chemical redelivers were almost unheard of and they were not necessary because of the manure provided from cattle. During WI, ammonium nitrate was used for explosives. After the war there was an overabundance of ammonium nitrate which so happens to be a rich source of nitrogen. The use of ammonium nitrate as a fertilizer caused a huge increase in harvests which were guaranteed year after year, only affected by bad weather. The use of chemical fertilizer has eliminated the need for farmers to rotate crops with anything other than soy beans, which are the other leg of farm production and also used as high protein foods for livestock. The corn elevators are mostly owned by corporations now, not the farmer co-ops of yesteryear. In Iowa, the operators of the grain elevators will only buy corn and soybeans. So, the corporate owners of the elevators end up dictating not only the price of these commodities, but the type of commodities that farmers must plant. The price of corn falls whenever there is an abundant supply which has been the case in almost every year since Earl Butt, secretary of agriculture under the Nixon administration, changed farm policies that had been in effect from the time of the New Deal. By encouraging farmers to plant crops in every available piece of land they owned, Butt ensured an annoyance TOT I en result came at Just ten relent time politically following a sharp increase in food prices in 1973. Butt would later argue that he had done the right thing based on the fact that there is more food available now at lower prices than at any time in history. (Wolf). The US government subsidizes cheap corn by direct payment to farmers for the approximate difference between the cost of production and the price of corn in a given year. Thus, the only way for the farmers to arrive economically is to plant more and more corn. The perverse effect of this is that such overproduction only causes the price of corn to fall further and further the more that is produced and it is we the taxpayers who pay for the governments deficiency payments to farmers (ibid). But who really benefits from this whole twisted system of agricultural economics? The big corporations such as Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, neither of whom sell directly to the public nor do they therefore have reason to answer to the public. Together both corporations buy the majority of he corn supply. They are what economists would call monopolists entities which corner the market on buying commodities and therefore have market power to control the price of a given commodity, such as corn and soybean at their grain elevators. This corn, as Pollen says in the Omnivores Dilemma, is less a food than an industrial raw material?and an abstraction. (Pollen, p 64) Proposed Solutions All sorts of horrible things are set into motion by our corn policies. This paper cannot cover the entire scope but keep in mind that cattle are fed this corn to fatten them p faster in crowded feed lots which are unsanitary. To keep the cattle from dying of disease before they can be slaughtered, the feed lot owners make sure they have plenty of antibiotics. Also, cattle evolved to eat grass, not corn. Many become ill due to an inability to digest the enormous quantities of corn they are fed. We eat this meat full of antibiotics and extracted from unhealthy cattle all so that we can have cheap hamburgers. The only way to change this perversion of nature is by paying careful attention to what we consume including fast food and even much of what can be found at a typical grocery store. Still, there remain cattle which are grass fed and yield much leaner meat. This meat is more expensive, but if enough consumers want it, it is possible that enough could be supplied to bring down the price. This is one way of eliminating our dependence on unhealthy corn. Other ways of influencing farm policy, include keeping track of the voting records of U. S. Assembly members and senators, writing and calling them, and organizing or supporting grass roots organizations which address the Farm Bill and the lobbying that the few corporations do to get their version passed annually. A situation where we see a return to regular farming, where a variety of crops are grown besides corn and soy beans, where cattle are raised on grass, and where more of the population returns to working farms is not likely. There are, however, some who are farming small plots of organic vegetation to feed their families with high-quality food. The ways that our food industry works can be changed with effort and organization among voters, who are the very consumers affected by the Farm Bill. Because the Farm Bill is actually written by lobbyists for Monsanto, DOD, Archers-Midland, and Cargill, a solution lies UT of reach through their representatives for most Americans. These corporations Duty ten congress tongue Notations wanly assures teen AT tenet approval AT can and every item in the Farm Bill. Because of Citizens-United, these moneyed-interests are assured an unlimited amount of free-speech in the form of unlimited corporate donations. This is the one issue that will require years to change, but there are movements now to persuade congress to legislate Citizens United out of existence as the law of the land. However, most are pessimistic about the chances of that happening while the Roberts Court is still around. A Call for Action Public education should be encouraged to reveal the results of our farm policy. By making information readily available concerning agric-business and Smogs, demand for such food can change and a preference for healthy, naturally grown food can be realized. This is already happening among consumers who shop for organic foods at farmers markets around the country and among grass-roots political organizations which have as part of their goals the labeling of GM foods. The presence of chain stores selling healthy food indicates there is strong enough demand to start hanging the market and working for a healthier America. Because of the power that corporations wield, the only way for consumers to change the food industry is through banding together, getting organized, and becoming involved politically. There is hope for change because ultimately what is supplied in the market is what consumers demand. Americans have changed their consumption of beef in the past few decades from an average of about 80 pounds per person annually, vs.. About 130 pounds in the mid-sasss (Philipp). That means that the big meat packers have had to rely on exports for profit growth. As consumers, we ultimately have the power to change demand. It is clear that demand for beef is elastic in relation to the price of beef. This is because there are substitutes. We can eat chicken, pork, or become vegetarians. It is up to us what we consume. Also, since ready-made foods usually have some corn product in their ingredients, it would be healthier to skip the convenience of these foods and return to fresh food preparation and cooking. Conclusion The situation with the food supply in the U. S. Is complex and perverse. Farming is no longer the function of the typical American, nor is it recognizable when compared tit the type of agriculture upon which humans have relied upon for 5,000 years. In the last half of the 20th century agriculture grew into agribusiness and in the last 30 years, into the domain of corporations which have only their financial bottom line in mind. Farmers now must follow the dictates of a handful of corporations. These behemoths determine what crops will be grown and at what price. The farmer really has no choice. Because of the corporate influence on congress, these corporations hold all the cards. Corporate lobbyists write the Farm Bill which determines Farm policy for the next five years until it is renewed again. The passage of the aspects of the Farm Bill which these lobbyists write are routinely approved by congress. Their approval is assured by campaign contributions and outright bribery. The resulting state of the farm, and farmers is not far off from the relationship between feudal lords and the serfs who farmed their land. The difference exists is that farmers are allowed to own their land but, in terms of choices, that is where the difference ends. The price of corn is kept so low that farmers operate at a loss.

Final Paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Final - Term Paper Example Anxiety is one psychological disorder which is reported even from the beginning of recorded human history. In Holy Bible incidents of depression are reported to two prominent personalities; King David and Job. Many people still don’t have much idea about anxiety as a disease since the symptoms of anxiety are visible among even normal people occasionally. Like many of the psychological disorders, both heredity and environment can cause depressive behaviors Anxiety is always caused by negative thoughts and negative energy driven by unpleasant emotions or feelings. Anxiety can be defined as a psychological disorder characterized by cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components. It is driven by low mood and lack of activity. Persons with anxiety disorders may exhibit sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, guilty feeling, restlessness, uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry. Anxiety can change the normal conduct of a person and it can be considered as a normal reaction to stress. An 80 year old mother of one of my friends, who is staying near my home, is undergoing treatment currently for anxiety related psychological problems. Lady X (For convenience throughout this paper this lady is referred as ‘Lady X’) was a brave and courageous lady who has faced several problems during her childhood with respect to poverty. She was the second child of a seven member family. She was married to a soldier at an early age of 18. Her husband was busy with his military assignments till 58 years of age and enjoyed only 2 months of his annual holidays with his wife and four children for a prolonged 20 years of his military services. When he retired at the age of 58, he was quiet happy as all the four children were already got employment and his family burdens were considerably reduced. Lady X was the one who brought up her children and worked hard for the wellbeing of their children even though Mr. X assisted her with

Cultural differences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cultural differences - Essay Example ould like to state that the importance of understanding different cultural factors is limited to business but it is vital for eliminating several societal problems prevailing in the community that comprise racism, gender inequalities and differences in social classes among others (Littlechild, 2012). According to my viewpoint, understanding cultural differences in the light of theories postulated by certain distinguished researchers and their implications on cultural diversity leads towards significant outcomes in terms of facilitating greater understanding different unaddressed cultural issues. Moreover, I believe that these theories guide an individual with necessary insights that promotes displaying of specific behaviour at varying cultural environment. Hence, in order to critically address the issues of cultural differences, I have chosen six primary topics like culture as well as lived experiences, working with the Spanish and Japanese, cultural intelligence, teams and cultural differences, historical perspective of British class of society and leadership along with management development. Bruce Parry is one the most well-known activists who possess a comprehensive understanding about different cultures. He strongly believed that there is only one way of understanding cultures. According to his observation, in order to understand the culture for any particular tribe, it is quite important to live with that particular tribe for a certain time period. He also realised that taking part in the daily cultural lives of tribes with all its richness as well as diversity would certainly enable to understand their culture better. One of the tribes that he observed was the Penan tribe that has its existence in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia. It has been observed that there lay the presence of a significant portion of Penan tribe in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. (BBC, 2008). In relation to determine Bruce Parry’s view i.e. ‘to understand a culture you need to