Y2k Essays (1041 words) - Stock Market, Investment,

Y2k Y2K pessimists are approaching their moment of truth. In seven weeks the world will, or will not, run into more trouble than most people think. Investors will, or will not, suffer last-minute jitters as the millennium draws near. Yes, yes, I know?it's not yet the millennium, from a technical point of view. As a stern band of readers likes to remind me, only morons believe the millennium falls on Jan. 1. The 1,000-year span actually ends on the year's last day, Dec. 31, 2000. Well, that may be their millennium, but it's not mine. I'm partying now. A more interesting question than calendar dates is whether the stock and bond markets will be partying too. Has the Y2K selling already happened (as I believe) or will it erupt in the final days? If there's the usual year-end rally?and last Friday looked good?will we wake up with a hangover? When you read this, the Federal Reserve will probably have made its latest decision about interest rates (its open-market committee meets on Tuesday, Nov. 16). Either result?rates up or rates flat?should be good for stocks, says economist Irwin Kellner of Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Investors will feel more secure for the next few months. The markets don't expect the Fed to raise rates in December, on Y2K eve, or in early 2000, when business conditions might be distorted by the millennial bump. Rate hike: After that, investor concern about interest-rate increases may resume. The Fed wants the economy to slow, to ward off the inflation that could arise from tight labor markets and global growth. You're seeing some cooling already in housing and auto sales, but perhaps not enough. We're thinking one or two modest rate hikes, over six to nine months, says economist Allen Sinai, president of Primark Decision Economics in New York. Even so, hardly anyone mentions the R word. A recession could always arise from an unexpected shock, but none of the conventional signals are flashing red. By cooling things down, the rate hikes will preserve the expansion, Sinai says. It's still a great equity bull market. It just won't rise as much as it did in the past. Bond-fund managers have been shouting and waving their hands, trying to attract your eye. Last year's Russian crisis, plus the Y2K effect, drove money into U.S. Treasury securities, says Martin Barnes, managing editor of the Bank Credit Analyst in Montreal. Other types of bonds now carry relatively higher rates. That's a big opportunity, Barnes says. If you buy, you'll earn extra profits when the fixed-income markets get back to normal. High-yield bonds are very cheap, says Theresa Havell of Havell Capital Management in New York. Interest rates are in the 10 to 11 percent range. Havell thinks that total returns could reach 15 to 18 percent next year, as the markets adjust. And tax-free municipals? So cheap they're a giveaway, she says. Still, it's hard to interest people in bonds once they've sampled the thrill of AOL. Jeremy Siegel, of the Wharton School in Philadelphia, and high priest of growth stocks, sees no end to their dominance. A few have disappointed?Coca-Cola, Disney, Merck?but a few always do. AOL may be down 11 percent from its April peak, but it's up 93 percent for the year. Growth stocks generally boast high and rising earnings, and sell for high prices, relative to those earnings. Value stocks, by contrast, sell for low price-earnings ratios, and often are companies in trouble. In the 1970s and early 1980s, value stocks trounced growth. Then growth took over and never looked back. Go wrong: Growth investors go wrong, however, when they try to pick a small handful of winners, Siegel says. You might wind up with too much Coke and too little Lucent (or the opposite, when their relative market performance turns). He also counsels against stocks with P/Es over 75, which currently include Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems, Yahoo and AOL. High P/E stocks that can't keep delivering staggering gains in earnings (or any earnings at all) will get beaten up. The best growth-stock strategy? Buy a well-diversified fund, Siegel says. One good candidate: the Vanguard Growth Stock Fund, which is the growth half of Standard & Poor's 500-stock index (the Value Stock Fund is the other half). So

Database terms essays

Database terms essays Use short answers and examples to explain the following: Hierarchical Database Model An Operational database collects and stores data that is updated dynamically. This type of database is modified on regular intervals. A database containing account records for customers of a financial institution is an example of an operational database. This database is modified as customers change account information by performing various transactions at different intervals. An Analytical database is used to store data collected at a specific time. The data in this type of database remains constant and almost never changes. Companies conducting surveys or performing research often use this type of database. A marketing company conducting surveys on customers evaluation of a specific product would use an analytical database to store the results of the survey. The hierarchical database model defines hierarchical arranged data. The best way to visualize this type of database model is to visualize an upside down tree of data. In this tree a single table acts as the root of the database with other tables branching out from it. Relationships in a hierarchical database model are thought of in terms of parents and children. A child table has only one parent whereas a parent table can have many children. Links called pointers are use to tie parents to children. A parent will have a list of pointers to each of their children. The child/parent rule ensures that data is accessed systematically. To reach a lower-level table you must start at the root and work your way down through the tree structure to the desired target. The following diagram sho ...

Accounting Theory British Petroleum

As per Tagesson (2014), most of the corporation activities affect the biodiversity or the environment either directly or indirectly. Therefore, this report has been prepared in order to study and understand the direct as well as the indirect impacts of a renowned corporation named British Petroleum Limited on the ecology. Thus, here, a case study on British Petroleum Limited has been studied and analyzed in detail in order to find out the issues related with the firm. It has been found that the particular company mainly has three issues. At first, consequence of oil spill on ocean ecosystem, secondly, lack of ecology services for governing risks and thirdly, lack of regulation sketch for noticing the reinstatement cost.   Ã‚   Depending on the provided case of British Petroleum, it has been noticed that the specified company is not capable to measure its reinstatement cost. As a result of this, the company analyzes this cost with respect to monetary terms. In addition, it has been identified that British Petroleum does not provide much significance to the harm it causes to the environment. Besides, the company counts this as products that cannot be marketed. So, British Petroleum should focus on the same and measure the value. It has been found that the government of the nation counts the firm as liable to pay fine as it causes harm to the ecosystem through causing oil spills, though the company does not portray the total damages done by it clearly (Ball 2016). As a result, the chief intention of preparing this report is to alert the firm British Petroleum regarding the spoils done by it to the environment.    The report mainly deals with the collection of data from both secondary and primary resources, so both primary and secondary as well as qualitative and quantitative analysis will be performed. Telephonic or face-to-face interview (qualitative analysis) and questionnaire survey (quantitative analysis) will be performed here. The secondary resources include – websites, articles and scientific journals. In order to collect accurate and authentic information, researcher will gather data from the inhabitants of Gulf Coast where oil spills occurred and employees of the company through survey. Nonetheless, both the staffs and the inhabitants of the region might falter to answer the researcher to the survey questions due to the nature of the research (Guthrie and Parker 2014). Oil spills are a type of pollution and thus all the firms of the petroleum sector should remain alert about this. However, British Petroleum does not portray the damages it done to the environment through oil spills. Moreover, the firm is found to cause more incidental oil spills than accidental oil spills. The later pattern of spill occurs accidentally and thus it is named so, but the former kind occurs due to the carelessness, negligence and ignorance of the employees and management of British Petroleum. Both the types of oil spills affect the ocean ecosystem (environment) directly and this has leaded to increase in mortality rate in marine ecosystem. Therefore, the company should pay the cleanup amount and fine charged by the government, but BP Limited aims to cover all the damages done by it to the ecological wealth (Dull, Schleifer and McMillan 2015). It has been found that ecological damage measurement as well as detection is very difficult, so the corporation measures it with respect to monetary value.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The stakeholders of British Petroleum fully trust on the corporation regarding its moral standards and ethical standards, so it should put steps forward for betterment of the ecological and social wealth (Henderson et al. 2015). Furthermore, British Petroleum should follow all the accounting standards of the environment for making it a trustworthy organization for the stakeholders. These standards will assist the corporation to widen a strong relationship between the organization, environment and ecosystem.   Ã‚   It is a common factor that most of the organizations of oil and petroleum industry break their penalty or fines by the application of political bargaining. However, the application of the political bargaining approach does not help the firm to recover all the damages done by it to the ecosystem. Thus, the organization British Petroleum should imply any process-adjusted structure in order to resolve all the risks associated with its operations. Moreover, it can be said that this particular process is considered as the required one for each firm of the particular sector. It has been found that the â€Å"accidental oil spills† generally arise due to collide of autocratic action as this results into featured accounts (Molisa 2014). The unveiled data of a firm is very important for the management department as it helps in estimating the endeavor point for reinstatement cost. Therefore, lack of regulation sketch might affect the corporation negatively, especially in the process of i dentifying reinstatement cost, so the mentioned approach is important for every organization of the oil and petroleum sector. In this research work, the researcher will implement primary research process as well as secondary research method. Thus, from both the primary and secondary resources, the researcher will gather data for better analysis. Thus, the researcher will target the people who live in Gulf Coast and the workers of BP Limited for performing questionnaire survey. In addition, secondary data will be gathered from the secondary sources (like – websites, journals and articles).    The researcher will collect information from a fixed sample size of 50 employees and 150 residents of Gulf Coast and this sample will be selected randomly. The selection of the samples can be done through various techniques, however, in this work, â€Å"Probability Sampling Technique† will be used. There are various kinds of oil spills that generally take place due to the activity of the organization British Petroleum and the percentages of occurring various kinds are shown below: Figure 1: Various patterns of Oil Spills and Their Occurrence Percentage In addition to this, it has been found that due to increased percentage of occurrence of oil spills, the mortality rate of the marine ecosystem has also been increased noticeably. It has been found that the oil spills majorly affect the ocean ecosystem as various kinds of spills take place on a short interval of time. These are: As per the data collected from Gulf, it has been came to know that the oil spills chiefly affect the ocean ecosystem, deepwater but it also affect the other parts of the environment. With the passage of time, the demand as well as the supply of the oil increased, but the workforce, numbers of staffs and contractors started to decrease as the occurrence of oil spills of the firm started to increase. Moreover, the information regarding the budget of Deepwater Horizon has been collected from the organization’s employees and it can be enhanced through the following chart: Figure 4: Financial Plan of Deepwater Horizon On the other hand, the reinstatement cost can be better explained through the following pie chart: Figure 5: Lack of Regulation Sketch Here, genuine information has been collected from both the kinds of resources (secondary and primary) and the participants of research survey can keep trust on the researcher of the project as the gathered data will not be unveiled. It can be concluded that British Petroleum should keep notice on the damages done by it the environment and should implement the accounting standards of environment. Moreover, fines paid by the firm to the government are not enough for improving the harm cause to the ecology. Baker, C.R. and Burlaud, A., 2015. The historical evolution from accounting theory to conceptual framework in financial standards setting.  The CPA Journal,  85(8), p.54. Ball, R., 2016. Why We Do International Accounting Research.  Journal of International Accounting Research,  15(2), pp.1-6. Bp.com. 2017.  Bp.com. [online] Available at: https://www.bp.com [Accessed 18 Jan. 2017]. Deegan, C., 2013.  Financial accounting theory. McGraw-Hill Education Australia. Dull, R.B., Schleifer, L.L. and McMillan, J.J., 2015. Achievement goal theory: the relationship of accounting students’ goal orientations with self-efficacy, anxiety, and achievement.  Accounting Education,  24(2), pp.152-174. Freeman, R.J., Shoulders, C.D., Allison, G.S., Smith Jr, G.R. and Becker, C.J., 2014. Governmental and nonprofit accounting: Theory and practice.  JPAEJOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDUCATION VOLUME 20 NUMBER 3, p.441. Guthrie, J. and D. Parker, L., 2014. The global accounting academic: what counts!.  Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal,  27(1), pp.2-14. Henderson, S., Peirson, G., Herbohn, K. and Howieson, B., 2015.  Issues in financial accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU. Molisa, P.B.M., 2014. Accounting for apocalypse: Re-thinking social accounting theory and practice for our time of social crises and ecological collapse. Tagesson, T., 2014. Accounting reforms, standard setting and compliance.  Public sector accounting, pp.8-22.

Islamic and diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Islamic and diversity - Research Paper Example ployed several non-Muslims in functions such as diplomacy and public administration while subsequent dynasties such as Ottoman dynasty of 1281-1923 placed non-Muslims like Yakub Mahallesi as Prime Minister. Islamic history is characterised by numerous queens who ruled Islamic dynasties such as Queen Radhia of Egypt thus confirming that Islam appreciates diversity (Mapel & Nardin, 1999). Although some conservative Muslims may argue that men are the protectors and women should not be leaders as outlined in Quran (4 : 34), contemporary Muslim scholars have challenged this notion since the verse concentrates on Islamic family law and not general political leadership (Manger, 1999). In addition, the conservative Muslims may argue that Islam does not appreciate the leadership of non-Muslims, but Quran (5 : 15 ) makes it clear that Jews and Muslims are protectors and friends of each other and thus Islam requires them to foster relationships with unfriendly people in order to ensure peaceful coexistence (Ali, 2005). Prophet’s tradition and Holy Quran in the Quran 5 evidence Islamic appreciation of diversity: 18 that asserts that ‘if God had so willed, he would have made you a single people, so strive as in a race in all virtues’ (Nagel, 2002). The Quran therefore recognises individual heterogeneity and ‘a race in all virtues’ signifies God’s intention of using diversity to make human beings work better. Prophet’s traditions (Sunnah) such as Medina Charter promotes multiculturalism and diversity as outlined by the ethnic diversity of Medina population of 22 tribes and Jews and the need of equal rights and status in the society. The Quran also supports unity and brotherhood as evidenced by Quran (49: 13) that clearly points out that all human beings descended from same parents. Furthermore, Islamic appreciates the differences of language and race as evidenced in the signs of God as outlined in Quran (30: 22) that points out that God’s signs ar e creation of

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 84

Reflection - Essay Example 2). These points are the ones that appeal to me most from Sirico’s publication. I think the new concept highlighted in the publication is the fact that entrepreneurship is similar to other professions; therefore, it is prudent to afford entrepreneurs with the same level of respect. Judging them based on stereotypes originating from biased, archaic religious perceptions does little to encourage those in the vocation to engage in ethical business practice. Positive consequences result from applauding the innovative, intuition-filled actions of entrepreneurs, as it affirms their ability to create something in spite of dire circumstances. In my opinion, if the world regarded entrepreneurship as a vocation, there would be a limited need to use regulatory policies to coerce entrepreneurs to conform to business ethics principles. Ensuring ethical practices would become second nature, as entrepreneurs would regard these practices as their inherent duty to the public. They would endeavor to ensure their practices result in positive outcomes rather than harmful

Islamic fund structure Essay Example for Free

Islamic fund structure Essay Introduction The concept of Islamic fund and banking system is developing over a period of couple of decades now. It could be mentioned that Islamic banking is a different approach to conventional banking and financial institutions. This is because the fundamentals of the Islamic fund, banking and financial specifications that based on the religious norms and regulations. It could also be mentioned that behind the formulation of Islamic banking and financial institutions the major reasons were instrumented by demography, historical and political influences. The major financial instrument of the Islamic funds and banking along with financial institutions could be enumerated as Sukuks. The term Sukuk is an Arabic word that is identical to the aspects of a financial instrument and is an equivalent instrument such as a bond under Islamic perspective of banking. But contrary to the usual financial instrument Sukuk is different as there are no fixed incomes as under the laws of Islam interests are seen as a crime. Therefore as an alternative it has been instrumented to use such non tangible or tangible assets that are could be classified according to the basic non tradability or tradability. But once again, under the principals of Islam these formulations could only be used in the secondary market. According to the estimation of the ‘Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions: The Progress and Probability’ published in 2005, there are around $521 billion worth of financial assets that are circulating in the fiscal market as per year ending March 2005. The entire amount of this investment regulated by principals of Islamic investment plans it could be enumerated that the entire procedure is regulated by the moral and spiritual obligations of the ‘Shari’ah’. Therefore it is seen that the Islamic financials instruments traded on GCC financials markets are huge and there are a number of countries who regularly uses this form of banking. The countries can be enumerated as USA, UK, Yemen, UAE, Turkey, Tunisia, Switzerland, Sudan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, Palestine, Pakistan and around 150 countries all over the world. Malaysia is one of the key player of this form of banking. Dallah Al Baraka (Malaysia) Holding Sdn Bhd, Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank), Kuala Lumpur, Islamic banking Takaful Dept, Bank Negara Malaysia, United Malayan Banking Corp. Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (LOFSA) and Lembaga Urusan Dan Tabung Haji (Fund), Kuala Lumpur are the few most important financial institutions of the country. The financial institutions that that deal with the instruments can be enumerated as International Islamic Financial Markets, Mudaraba Companies, Takaful Companies (These are basically insurance companies), Islamic Mortgage Companies, Islamic Windows, Islamic Investment Funds and Banks and Islamic Banks. Under these institutions there are different plans such as Mudaraba which are basically Capital trust financing where the basic implementation is the contact which accumulates the capital along with the cost. However there are also other schemes that are marked up. Then there are also other plans under which leasing comes into consideration. This called Ijara. There is also another technique that is defined Ijara wa Iktin wa which is basically the contract of hire purchase. The basic limitations of these plans are based on the contracts between the parties but the over all scenarios are based on the principals of Islam where a financial instrument like Musharaka is treated as long termed investment under the parameters of equity arrangement. The capital supplied in this case is the bank and the clients. The profit in this case is shared among the concerned parties in according to prior agreement whereas the loss is shared in accordance to the capital invested. On the other hand another financial instrument like Mudaraba is treated as a financial credit on a short termed basis. Here the capital is supplied by the bank and the investor. The profit in this case is shared among the concerned parties in accordance to the agreed ratio and the loss is bearded by the investor alone. Therefore it could be termed that the advantages and the disadvantages along with the limitations of the market are based on different aspect of the Islamic law but in an over all sense this system is working quite well and the turn over and the volume of the entire formulation seems to develop over time. Further more it can be enumerated that the success of the GCC market is not only based on the religious beliefs but it has its financial values too that enables the uses to enjoy certain notion of tax free up to a limit and it works fine under controlled environment of the finance sector. However, the parameters of Establishing Islamic Fund to issue Islamic Bonds for Infrastructure Projects lies in the feasibility section of the economic aspects that are juxtaposed with social and international image. Aim The focal point of this research proposal is Establishing Islamic Fund to issue Islamic Bonds for Infrastructure Projects. There have been numerous research papers that have discussed other impacts such as financial, social, political and economic impact of Infrastructure Projects. Methodology and literature review in this regard would be carried out in order to evaluate the strategies from different parameters and they will be compared with each other. The strategy evaluation will vary in size, audience and theme. To analyse the strategies and their success and failure realisation, questionnaires will be used to gather key primary data amongst participants. The questionnaire will be used to measure the perception of the participants and the residents of the communities in which these events are being held. Administrators, managers and customers will also be interviewed to determine the results and objectives that were achieved by the implementation of the strategy. Objective The objective of the paper would be specific yet wide spread. Out of the several related itineraries of the paper it would be specifically noted that stress is given towards identifying potential Infrastructure Projects by Islamic Funds analysis of their successes and failures of their strategy. Alongside it would also be formulated to identify Key Consultants within the establishments and their effects as a whole. Market trends and growth would be analyzed closely and evaluated accordingly to estimate the overall potential of the events. It would also be seen that proper emphasis is provided about the research entry barriers to English and international market and how to penetrate. Lastly, the compilations of database of market sector would be made along with proper notes that would identify head of events and its financial fall outs and provide the estimated details. In this context it would be relevant to mention that marketing is one of the most important aspects for a business to grow and from a managerial point of view it is the most involved factor in the aspect of business development. This is a market research and business development along with feasibility project where the research would be able to contribute based on the experience and learns from the process. The objective would be based on the opportunity of primary research on the market and obtain real world information through interfacing directly with the client organization and its customers. Background There are several aspects behind the motion of Establishing Islamic Fund to issue Islamic Bonds for Infrastructure Projects. This should be thoroughly dealt in this section. The insects of racial discrimination, the curse of civilization, are gradually eating up out society, dissolving harmony and affection, transforming human being in weapons of carnage. Thus the society no longer remains a better place to live in. Islamophobe is a contentious neologism distinct by some as a chauvinism in opposition to, or demonization of, Muslims. The expression is documented in use as early as 1976, but came into greater prevalence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The expression’s use has become greater than before since the September 11, 2001 attacks. It can be mentioned that this is an irrational paranoia that needs to be eradicated from the face of the earth in order to make life a bit peaceful. British authors and intellectuals like Kenan Malik have condemned the perception, calling it an allegory. According to Malik this concept bamboozles prejudice in opposition to Muslims with denigration of Islam, and is applied to silence detractors of the religion, as well as Muslims who intend to reform it. Novelist Salman Rushdie and many others signed a proclamation in March 2006, which deemed Islamophobe a desolate perception that perplexes disapproval of Islam as a religion and stigmatization of those who have faith in it. Danish politician Bashy Quraishy has mentioned that islamophobe and anti-Semitism are two faces of the same coin. In the yrar1996 the Runnymede Trust, an autonomous anti-racist think tank in the United Kingdoms, recognized the assignment on British Muslims and Islamophobe, headed by Professor Gordon Conway, the vice-chancellor of the University of Sussex. According to the report launched in November 1997 by the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, Islamophobe can be considered as a challenge for the society as a whole. It portrayed Islamophobe as concerning eight idiosyncratic characteristics such as Islam is considered as a monolithic bloc, static and insensitive to alterations. It is observed as separate and other. It does not have principles in familiar with other ethnicities, is not pretentious by them and even does not influence them. It is perceived as substandard to the West. It is observed as barbaric, unreasonable, primordial, and sexist. It is seen as brutal, violent, intimidating, encouraging of terrorism, and affianced in a clash of civilizations. It is observed as a political philosophy, designed for political or military benefit. Condemnations made of the West by Islam are discarded out of hand. Antagonism towards Islam is used to give explanation for prejudiced practices in the direction of Muslims and segregation of Muslims from conventional society. Anti-Muslim resentment is seen as usual and normal. In 1997 the British Runnymede Trust made it clear that Islamophobe as the observation that Islam has no ethics in common with other cultures, is substandard to the West, is an aggressive political ideology instead of being a religion, that its disparagement of the West have no essence, and that prejudiced practices against Muslims are justified as such. Despite the fact that Muslims do not comprise a race in isolation, the submission is that many Europeans and North Americans have an inaccurate discernment of Muslims as composing a separate a race, which in he words of Khyati Joshi is radicalization of religion. On the other hand, Muslims may be perplexed with Arabs, even though the mainstream of the worlds Muslims are not Arabs. There are several causes behind Islamophobe the prime among them is to perplex disapproval of Islam as a religion and stigmatization of those who have faith in it. Sociologists have time and again argued that there was a swing in forms of chauvinism in the 1990s from race-based discrimination to inequity based on culture and religion. In 2004, Anja Rudiger, Executive director of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, made it clear in an Oxford conference on Muslims in Europe that, ever since the 9/11 attacks, religion had outshined race as the most important focal point of divergence, and that an individuals religion was now looked upon as one and the same with their background. In the case of Muslims, this showed the way to another dimension of chauvinism, Rudiger argued, in that European Muslims were observed as signifying an amalgamated culture relatively different from European society, one that is strappingly correlated to certain non-European states. From Rudigers perspective, such observations are element of the course of action of classifying Islam as Europes other. Due to Islamophobe instead of engaging Muslims in debate, non-Muslims are hypothetical to sneak around them, for fear of causing felony. There are several alleged acts of Islamophobia, such as Dr Amanda Wise and Ghali Hassan from GlobalResearch. ca have assumed that the 2005 Cronulla insurrection were the consequence of an atmosphere of Islamophobe in Australia. Dalil Boubakeur, a director of a Paris mosque illustrated the wreckage on a Mosque, referred to the burning of a Muslim Sanctuaries, attacks on hijabi Muslim women all over the world as Islamophobic. Muslim activists alleged that the Forest Gate anti terror raid in London was Islamophobic. France, which has a strong secular institution separating church from State, was accused of Islamophobe when the decree on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools was approved, which prohibits the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols in public schools. In a February 10, 2004 accounted by Al Jazeera the head of the Party of Frances Muslims, Muhammad Latreche in analysing the French decree on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools was referenced as mentioning that the legislation would, institutionalise Islamophobe. In Germany, the state of Baden-Wurttemberg has anticipated set of laws that necessitate citizenship applicants from the member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to answer enquiries concerning their outlook on domestic aggression and other religious subjects. A BBC assessment taken in the summer of 2004 estimated that employment applicants with Muslim names were far less probable to be called for an interview than applicants whose names did not appear to be Muslim. There have been efforts in opposition to supposed Islamophobe by several organizations in various countries through out the globe. In 2006 the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) was set up as an observatory body on Islamophobe. This will keep an eye on and document activities professed as Islamophobic around the planet. Throughout the attainment talks on the subject of Turkey’s probable entry to the EU, then Prime Minister of Holland, Jan Peter Balkenende, made it clear that Islamophobe must not have an effect on the possibility of Turkeys access to the European Union. 50,000 people signed an appeal urging French President Jacques Chirac to deem Islamophobe as a new form of racism, punishable by decree. In the UK several methods directed towards limiting Islamophobe have been set up. In Tower Hamlets, a heavily populated area in London, a misdemeanour reporting system called Islamophobe† has been set up which police expect will increase consciousness of Islamophobe and facilitate them to recognize the extent of the dilemma. The British National Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued guidelines to teachers and recommending them to Challenge Islamophobe, as they have a fundamental character to play in helping to dismiss myths about Muslim communities. In 2006 the Catholic Mission Austria and the Islamic Denomination Austria formed a platform called Christians and Muslims, which endeavours against stereotypes and antagonism and intends to augment lenience and admiration. In 1991 the Islamic Culture Foundation (FUNCI) prepared, in association with UNESCO and the Institut du Monde Arabe of Paris, a worldwide symposium concerning the involvement of Islamic Civilization in European Culture. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan issued a call in 1999 to world influential to fight Islamophobe. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) organized a colloquium on how to fight Islamophobe. History helps out us to identify ourselves, recognize who we are and be acquainted with the origin where we come from. We over and over again shrink back from hearing about our chronological times of yore for the reason that so much of it is excruciating. Islamophobe is a dejected perception that perplexes disapproval of Islam as a religion and stigmatization of those who have faith in it. Islamophobe, a myth or a kind of racism, obfuscates bias in opposition to Muslims with disparagement of Islam and that it is used to quieten detractors and Muslim reformers. But the best and fast method of assimilation into the world mainstream is economy and if the Islamic institutions are able to indulge itself in the main stream of the global economy then the possibility becomes quite high that these unwanted trends would end. Thus it is important for Establishing Islamic Fund to issue Islamic Bonds for Infrastructure Projects. But why Infrastructure Projects? The answer is simple. Once the finance runs into the parameters of infrastructure the entire influence becomes relevant to overall development as it is seen in the case of Dubai. According to a report from the Washington Times (2006), Dubai’s economy grew at around 16 per cent in the year 2005. Dubai Department of Economic Development estimated that the economy is worth $ 37 billion. The growth rate of the emirate had beaten the growth rate of China which is 8. 5 per cent. Mohammed Ali Alabhar had stated in the Washington Times The dominating industry in the emirate is the Petroleum. The wealth gained from the industry is invested in capital improvements and social services in the whole seven emirates. Production of Petroleum is concentrated in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Industrial Development is associated with the petroleum gains and is limited by the trained manpower that the country has and the raw materials. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the UAE grew by 5. 7% in 2004 having a value of $ 63. 67 Billion. The oil industry had contributed 38 percent up from 34 percent in the year 2002. Other areas that Dubai is concentrated on are the tourism and its real estate properties. Mohammed Ali Alabbar, the director of the Department of Economic Development (DED), stated that the economy of Dubai will be sustained over the long term. He further noted that as compared to the $17 billion value in the year the 2000, the accumulated growth in the last decade is among the highest rate of growth in the world. Alabbar associated this economic growth to the diversification policy of the emirate. The establishment of transparent policies that had supported and encouraged private enterprises has given the economy further confidence. The government initiatives had also enabled a continuous inflow of foreign capital, it is expected that this inflow would be maintained. Since Dubai is located in between Africa and the Middle East and also between the Far East and Europe, it had created a gateway for the 1. 5 Million consumers in the countries surrounding the Red sea and the Gulf. Its infrastructure had become an important factor in the global transport and distribution system. The emirate has 170 shipping lines inside its emirates and more than 86 airlines offers links to over 100 cities worldwide. This shows a strong shipping and transporting sector in the emirate. The sector is mostly composed of leading regional and international freight forwarders, insurers and shipping agents. The emirate also boasts its rapidly developing high quality manufacturing sector and a prosperous domestic market. All its infrastructures and services can match with the international standards. Thus like Dubai the entire Islamic world can emerge from alleged fundamentalist mode with Establishment of Islamic Fund to issue Islamic Bonds for Infrastructure Projects.

The Day That Changed My Life Forever :: Personal Narrative Essays

Throughout life we come across many people, some who influence us in negative ways, and those who influence in good ways, often changing our complete outlook on life. For me, it took the struggle of one of my best friends to open my eyes. I only wish it wasn't too late to thank her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I grew up having more than the average kid. My parents bought me nice clothes, stereos, Nintendo games, mostly everything I needed and wanted. They supported me in everything I did. At that point in my life I was very involved with figure skating. I never cared how much of our money it took, or how much of my parents' time it occupied, all I thought about was the shiny new ice skates and frilly outfits I wanted. Along with my involvement in soccer, the two sports took most of my parents' time, and a good portion of their money. Growing up with such luxuries I began to take things for granted. I expected things, rather than being thankful for what I had and disregarded my parent's wishes, thinking only of myself. Apparently my parents recognized my behavior and began limiting my privileges. When I didn't get what I wanted I got upset and mad at my parents somehow blaming them for all my problems. Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't a bad kid, I just didn't know how el se to act. I had never been exposed to anything less than what I had and didn't realize how good I had it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Regina Maywack lived just down the road from me. Before 5th grade I never knew who she was. As the year progressed we got closer and closer. Regina was extremely talented. She was, in my mind, a genius; she loved school and always did well. She was also blessed with athletic ability. Something I respected since most other kids we knew weren't involved in sports. No matter what day it was I always went to school knowing that Regina would be there with a smile on her face. It seemed as though she didn't have a care in the world. There were days I would show up mad at something my parents had done, or at something that hadn't gone my way, and she would just look at me with those honest eyes and tell me to be thankful for the good things.

Benefits of a Healthy Workforce Essay

Organisational health programmes are essential to the survival of companies. Undoubtedly, a healthy workforce would work wonders for any business by reducing absenteeism and turnover, and increasing employee motivation, productivity and revenues. Lowe (2004) writes that hundreds of studies have already documented the direct as well as indirect advantages of â€Å"healthy work environments† to employees in addition to their organisations (p. 7). Indeed, healthy workplaces as well as jobs contribute to the well-being of employees. These benefits may be realized by the whole organisation through lower absenteeism, lower turnover, higher job satisfaction, improved performance on the job, lower rates of accident, in addition to â€Å"reduced health benefit and worker compensation costs (Lowe, p. 7). † Moreover, research has revealed that the largest gains in productivity may be realized by the organisation that changes the entire work environment to make it healthier for all employees (Lowe). Research has also revealed that the impact of poor health is keenly felt in the work environment, so therefore managers require an improved understanding of the dangers of allowing minor symptoms to escalate. Four in ten managers who participated in a recently conducted survey related to workplace health complained that they often become angry with others and feel humorless due to pressure. More than fifty percent of the managers complained of physical pain, at the same time as forty four percent reported experiencing frequent headaches. Moreover, fifty five percent complained of constant tiredness, fifty seven percent complained of insomnia, while twenty percent simply stated that they found it difficult to make decisions because of ill health (Poor Health 2006). Unsurprisingly, these results demand organisations to put effective health programmes in place for all employees. Sick employees are not likely to be highly productive in any case. In the United States, businesses are known to spend at least U. S. $450 billion every year on direct health care. Poor health costs around U. S. $225. 8 billion to American businesses each year through absenteeism as well as productivity losses that are related to the health problems of employees and their families. Hence, insurers as well as employers have started to create a large number of health promotion and prevention programmes that have already started to pay handsome dividends. According to a study, American employers may â€Å"reap the average of [U. S. ] $3. 48 in reduced health care costs and [U. S. ] $5. 82 in lower absenteeism costs for every dollar invested in employee wellness (Toomey 2006, p. 13). † Of course, these benefits can be realized anywhere in the world. In the United Kingdom, three quarters of a million workers are known to take time off work each year due to work-related illnesses (Firman 2006). These illnesses are further known to cost businesses as much as ten percent of their total payroll costs. Indeed, by promoting health in the workplace and preventing illnesses through effective health programmes in the organisation, absenteeism and costs related to the same may be drastically lowered. The money that is saved thus may be used by the organisation to update its equipment; on marketing; as well for the provision of training to employees. Organisations may also be able to increase the number of employees with the cost savings realized through effective health programmes (Jim 2006). Indeed, the benefits of health management programmes in the organisation are aplenty. Healthy employees add value to the organisation. The care shown by employers can boost the morale of the workers. The entire organisation benefits from this, as it becomes more efficient with a healthy and therefore productive workforce. REFERENCES Firman, C. 16. 11. 2006 â€Å"Health Matters. † Motor Transport available at EBSCO Host database. Jim, N. 9. 6. 2006 â€Å"Health and Safety Assessments Cut Costs and Boost Productivity. † Electronics Weekly 2256 available at EBSCO Host database. Lowe, G. S. 2004 â€Å"Healthy Workplace Strategies: Creating Change and Achieving Results. † The Graham Lowe Group available at http://www. grahamlowe. ca/documents/93/Hlthy%20wkpl%20strategies%20report. pdf. Poor Health 2006: â€Å"Poor Health Leads to a Humorless, Angrier Workforce† article in Occupational Health (Jun 2006), 58(6) available at EBSCO Host database. Toomey, D. 18. 12. 2006 â€Å"Wellness and Prevention Programs Generate Healthy Outcomes. † Executive Health & Wellness Guide available at EBSCO Host database.

Problems faced by women Essay

            Human Resources in the Recession: Managing and Representing People at Work in Ireland; William K Roche, Paul Teague, Anne Coughlan, Majella Fahy. The effects of the Irish recession on the manner in which people are managed at work and on how they are represented by trade unions is the subject of this study. This study examines how human resource managers and unions (where they are found) have faced the challenges. First of all, the impact of the international financial and economic crisis on the Irish labor market is assessed. Then, the Irish economic crisis is placed in a comparative European context to get a sense of the extent to which the public policy response in Ireland has been similar to those pursued by other EU member states. After this assessment a detailed literature review is conducted on reviews and debates concerning the impact of recessions, past and present, on the conduct of human resources in organizations. This is followed by a detailed examina tion of the type of policies and practices that are available to HR when making adjustments to difficult business conditions. The research has used a survey conducted of managers with responsibility for human resources to assess their responses to the recession. The survey firstly sought to examine the impact of the recession on firms in terms of revenue and employment change, in order to establish the commercial context for any recessionary measures adopted. The subjects of examination are then the types and incidence of measures taken by firms, ranging from pay and headcount adjustments, changes in HR systems and functions, to changes in working time arrangements. The responses of the firms reflect the severe effects and challenges experienced by the survey respondents. This is followed by an investigation into the role of the HR function in the recession. The section explores whether the operation of HR has changed as a result of the recession, the function’s level of infl uence in terms of HR strategy formulation and implementation, the business role of HR, the level of engagement with employees, types of policies and practices that have received greater or lesser attention and relationships with trade unions. Finally, the HR practices that survey respondents considered to be most effective in helping them manage the recession are investigated. Examination of the effects of the recession, as experienced by thirty HR  managers, representing a wide range of businesses, who participated in the different focus groups is entailed. It reviews, in detail, the effects on HR of acute cost, headcount and productivity pressures and the range of retrenchment measures that they were required to put in place. The research then examines HR managers’ understanding of what constitutes ‘good human resource practice’ in recent and current recessionary conditions. The main HR practices that were identified in the literature include – wage ad justment; employment adjustment; re-organization of working time; workforce stabilization; employability; voice and engagement; and process or product innovation. By and large, while most of the measures adopted were aimed at reducing pay costs in one way or another, Irish firms have been quite diverse with respect to the range of measures that have been implemented to steer their way through the recession. The survey results also show that HR mangers have been steadfast with regard to implementing the ‘softer’ side of HR practices.             Impact of the Recession on the Labor Market in the South East; Annette Cox, Terence Hogarth, Thomas Usher, David Owen, Freddie Sumption, Joy Oakley. This study focused on analyzing the impact of economic downturn on skills needs and training practices within different sectors in the South East, focusing on a mixture of sectors which were seriously affected by recession and those which might lead the recovery. The research consisted of two phases: the first involving quantitative analysis and literature review, and the second involving qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with stakeholders and employers. The research concluded that the Impact of Recession on Employers’ Current and Future Skills Needs and Training Practices is conditional. Small organizations are reported to be more likely to reduce training investment than large firms and commitment to training varies by sector, There is an increased demand for ‘short and sharp’ courses, Training opportunities are being targeted at senior staff and trainees, Employers are receiving high numbers of applications and using tighter screening criteria and Multi-skilling needs are developing as a result of expansion or contraction of business.             The impact of the economic recession on hR; Talent 2 and Ipsos MORI This study is based on a survey. Senior HR professionals were asked about how the global recession is affecting their organizations and their people management strategies and practices. 200 senior HR Directors and VPs were invited to participate in the survey, and 73 completed it. The findings of the survey were that HR is greatly affected by recession in the economy. Three in five respondents felt that the current capital markets had a direct impact on their organization, with three- quarters also feeling they have a direct impact on HR. Similarly, the vast majority of organizations (95%) were either freezing, or decreasing, their annual HR budget, in areas such as training and development, external training, the use of external consultants, recruitment and HR systems. Evidence suggests this is likely to be the case regardless of what the predicted financial performance is for their organization. The top three priorities selected were Performance management; Leadership and management development; and Employee communication and engagement.             The Impact of the Recession on Employment-Based Health Coverage ; Paul Fronstin This article focuses on the impact of the recession on employment-based health coverage. This Issue Brief examines changes in health coverage among workers during the recession that started in December 2007, including monthly changes for 2007 and May 2008−July 2009. The emphasis is on changes that occurred between September 2007 and April 2009. While health coverage through the work place is by far the most common source of health insurance among the population under age 65, the recession that started in December 2007 is associated with a change in employment- based coverage and the uninsured. Workers least likely to have employment-based coverage at the beginning of the recession were more likely than other workers to experience a decline in the percentage with such coverage one year later. Younger workers were more likely to lose coverage than older workers. Hispanic workers we re more likely to lose coverage than whites or blacks. Part-time workers were more likely than full-time workers to have lost employment-based coverage. The percentage of workers with own name employment-based coverage declined the most for those employed with  for-profit private- sector employers and those employed by the federal government. The largest declines in the percentage of workers with employment-based coverage in their own name by firm size occurred in the smallest firms, those least likely to offer coverage. Workers who were members of a union were less likely to have experienced a loss of employment- based coverage than were nonunion workers. Workers with the lowest earnings were the least likely to have employment-based coverage in their own name and experienced the largest decline in coverage.

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a tremendous literary achievement, combining a subtlety of voice with a setting and characters rendered with consummate skill. From a young girl imbued with her older self’s perspectives to the inner life of a servant, Lee makes choices with her characters that add impact to the plot’s events and realism to the setting. It’s that realism- the ability for the reader to imagine actually meeting the characters in the book- that makes Lee’s themes of racism, equality, and the trap of poverty so powerful, and why the novel remains relevant and readable today. Scout Finch Jean Louise Scout Finch is the narrator and main character of the novel. The fact that Jean Louise is actually telling the story as an adult decades later is sometimes forgotten, because Lee so perfectly ties the perspective to the younger Scout, who is 6 years old when the story begins. As a result of this technique, Scout is often remembered as a precociously intelligent child who understands the subtleties of events around her more than most children her age. The fact is, it is the elder Scout injecting those insights into the story with the aid of hindsight and mature experience. Scout is a tomboy who rejects traditional feminine roles and trappings. She is adventurous and idealistic, taking her moral cues from her father, Atticus. Even when she does not fully understand scenarios she instinctively defends Atticus, usually by getting into physical altercations. In fact, physical action is Scout’s preferred way of overcoming any obstacle, which is a curious opposition to Atticus’ more cerebral and peaceful approach. Scout’s physical approach to problems reflects her initially simplistic moral outlook: she initially believes that there is always a clear right and wrong in every situation, and triumph in physical combat always results in a winner and a loser. As the story goes on and Scout grows older, she begins to understand more about the world around her, which by necessity makes her less certain about the morality of any particular action. As a result, Scout begins to value reading and education more as she grows older, and begins to see the way physical force can be abused and lead to less certain moral outcomes. Atticus Finch Scout’s widower father is an attorney. Although he is a well-respected member of the community and can seem like a very traditional man of his time, Atticus in fact has many subtle attributes that mark him as a bit of an iconoclast. He shows little intention of remarrying and seems comfortable being a single father. He values education and is intent that his daughter receive a first-class education, and is not concerned with her lack of what many at the time would consider feminine qualities. He indulges his children, allowing them to call him by name instead of insisting on a honorific like father, and lets them more or less roam unsupervised, trusting their judgment despite their young age. Thus it should not be a surprise when Atticus takes his role as lawyer to Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman in the American South in the 1930s, very seriously. It is strongly implied that the town expects Atticus to do very little to defend Tom, and his insistence on taking his role seriously and doing his best for his client enrages much of the community. Atticus is presented as an intelligent, moral man who believes strongly in the rule of law and the necessity of blind justice. He has very progressive views on race and is very perceptive about class distinctions, and teaches his children to always be fair and empathetic to others, but to fight for what they believe in. Jem Finch Jeremy Atticus Jem Finch is Scout’s older brother. Ten years old at the beginning of the story, Jem is in many ways a typical older sibling. He is protective of his status and often uses his superior age to force Scout to do things his way. Jem is depicted by the elder Jean-Louise as sensitive, intelligent, and fundamentally fair. Jem also demonstrates a rich imagination and an energetic approach to life; for example, it is Jem who drives the investigation into the mystery surrounding Boo Radley, the play-acting the children engage in, and the steadily escalating risks involved with making contact. Jem is in many ways presented as the end result of Atticus’ parental example. Not only is Jem older, and thus able to demonstrate how his father has influenced his worldview and behavior, but he shares many of the implied characteristics of Atticus, including a deep reverence for fairness and a decency and respect offered to all other people regardless of race or class. Jem displays difficulty dealing with other people who do not rise to his standard, showing just how hard Atticus has to work every day to keep his aura of calm and maturity. In other words, Jem shows how difficult doing the right thing can be- something that his father makes look easy. Boo Radley If there is one character who encapsulates the broader themes of To Kill a Mockingbird, it’s Boo Radley. A troubled recluse who lives next door to the Finches (but never leaves the house), Boo Radley is the subject of many rumors. Boo naturally fascinates the Finch children, and his affectionate, childlike gestures towards them- the gifts left in the tree knot, Jem’s mended pants- point towards the ultimate lesson that Scout learns from him: That appearances and rumor don’t mean much. Just as Tom Robinson is assumed to be a criminal and a degenerate simply because of his race, Boo Radley is assumed to be terrifying and animalistic simply because he is different. Scout’s recognition of the fundamental humanity of Boo Radley is a crucial part of the story. Dill Harris Charles Baker Dill Harris is a young boy who visits his Aunt Rachel in Maycomb every summer. He becomes best friends with Scout and Jem, who find his sense of adventure and fanciful imagination to be a delightful source of entertainment. Dill is the main driver behind the quest to make Boo Radley come out of his house, and at one point agrees to marry Scout when they are older, something she takes very seriously. Dill serves as an outside point-of-view for Jem and Scout, who have grown up in Maycomb and thus cannot always see their home objectively. Scout expresses a callous attitude towards racism early in the book, for example, but Dill’s reaction is visceral revulsion, which inspires the Finch children to reevaluate their view of the world. Calpurnia Cal is the Finches’ housekeeper and a surrogate mother to Jem and Scout. Whereas early in the novel Scout views Calpurnia as a disciplinarian and killer of fun, by the end of the novel she views Cal as a figure of respect and admiration. Calpurnia is educated and intelligent, and has helped to raise the Finch children to be the same. She also provides the children with a window into the world of black citizens in Maycomb, which is vital to their understanding of the stakes involved in Tom Robinson’s plight. Tom Robinson Tom Robinson is a black man who supports his family by working as a field hand despite having a crippled left arm. He is charged with the rape of a white woman, and Atticus is assigned to defend him. Despite being the accused, Tom has very little to do with the central conflict of the story- just like other members of the black community in America at the time, he is largely powerless, and the conflict is fought between white people. Tom’s essential decency is perceived by Scout when he finally takes part in his own defense, and his eventual death disillusions and depresses Scout.

Watchman. A spiritual discipline that guides christians lives Essay

Watchman. A spiritual discipline that guides christians lives - Essay Example Today, most believers get frustrated as they try to seek the spiritual path experience. They end up not getting the most appropriate path in this case. This leads them into darkness, lingering in the crossroads throughout the year There is therefore need for clear guidance for the believers to take the right path. According to Watchman (1998), all those who go out to seek God with a very honest heart move step to step in the right path. Every sinner moves from his or her position to a step by step pace towards the correct spiritual life peak. There are several questions regarding spiritual life, which the believers would like to comprehend despite the fact that the answers are not given openly. Some hard matters including hearing of the voice of God as well as comprehending his will are some issues that are not clearly given to every Christian.The major issues concerning Christian life include: salvation, sanctification, denying the self, regeneration, baptism of the spirit, the holy spirit filling and the power, prayer, fellowship, bible study identification, supernatural experience, miracles, the discernment of true and false speaking, the emotion, the soulish life, speaking in tongues, the conscience, Gods revelation, spiritual work, Satan's war fare and the renewal of the mind.According to Watchman (1998) tying to concentrate on God almost all the time would not be a possible activity. But a closer link with God can be achieved by taking some time every day to read the bible, talk to God and hence think about Him. In this approach God would be communicating back in a powerful wave which makes the Christians to have a feeling of God's love and other times challenged by the approach they are supposed to open up scriptures. In this way the Christians would be investing substantial time into their relationship with God thus receives back a reciprocating relationship of love with Him. Growing deeply in spiritual world demands setting aside quiet times with God t hat has no interruptions as well as distractions hence tuning their ears to hear the God's voice. Watchman (1998) indicates that the spiritual conditions of Christians are usually varying as their degree of spiritual life. Every believer's spiritual experience has some mystery. In order to be led by the lord into a deeper spiritual life, the Christian believer has to receive a taste of the outline of that level of spiritual life prior to really getting into it. On getting a taste of a particular level of spirituality, most believers believe that they have gotten into that level. But in the actual sense, this is just but the beginning of the work of the lord leading them into such matters. This implies that a believer getting a taste of a particular level does not necessarily mean fully entering into that level. Watchman (1998) further asserts that seeing God's light means getting the knowledge of ourselves and subsequently not losing our broadness in the Lord otherwise one will be in their own thoughts as well as feelings. Involving in such self-feelings would hinder one from gaining one's self in the Lord. Spiritual self-analysis and self-consciousness are usually harmful to the believers' spiritual life. Thus knowing the necessary spiritual guidance calls for unrelenting understanding of the right path and deep teachings by the lord would help one have a better personal relationship with God. It is quite important to understand as well as remember God's way of redemption. His ultimate goal is to have all believers delivered via a new life that offers believers the time of regeneration from our natural things (nature), supernatural things and sin; all these three comprises the

Battle of Okinawa Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Battle of Okinawa - Research Paper Example a period of 80 days, the â€Å"Typhoon of Steele† as it was referred to, raged on as the Allied Forces made headway in the battle to make Japan surrender. The attack itself took place on April 1, 1945. The Americans had sent in two United States Marine and Army Divisions to land via amphibious vehicle on the island of Okinawa. The Japanese troops were thought to number at least 150,000 covering ground, air, and naval troops. 10th U.S. Army Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was in command of the Allied troops that consisted of III Amphibious Corps and XXIV Army Corps. Even though the Allied Forces had sent a formidable troop assignment to the island, the Japanese still felt that the war was going to end with them as the victors. After all, the Japanese were fighting on their home territory, 350 miles from the Japanese homeland. However the Americans had other plans for this battle as they pulverized the island of Kyushu. The Japanese by this point knew that the battle was lost and yet they soldiered on. The Japanese soldiers fought based upon honour and military logic. But the bombings of the American planes coming from the Marianas Islands would soon conquer Japan. Truth be told, there was too much land coverage in Okinawa for the troops that were first sent to cover. Thanks to the Army, the new 6th Marine Division, the war became a winnable battle for the Americans. Eric Hammel, noted Pacific War historian recounted the battle as follows: Coming to put their defense arrangement to the test was the Tenth Army. The new 6th Marine Division (1st Provisional Marine Brigade plus the 29th Marines and attachments) would land over the northernmost beaches on the western side of Okinawa a little south of the islands midpoint. It was to strike across the island, then turn north to pacify a little more than half of Okinawa on its own. To the right, the 1st Marine Division was also to strike across the island, then become part of the Tenth Army reserve.