The Tragedy Of The Iranian Hostage Crisis - 1147 Words

There was once time of prosperity and hope in this great nation. A time where it seemed that nothing could go wrong and a time that America seemed to be on top of the world as a powerhouse; however, by the late 1970’s, that time was no more. America went from an economic powerhouse to a country struggling to survive. America went from the land of the free and the home of the brave to citizens having no identity of patriotism following the Vietnam War. America went from doing the attacking and righting the wrong in the world, to being harassed and taken advantage of. This harassment is told through David Farber’s novel, Taken Hostage, which details the hostage takeover that involved sixty-six American citizens who had to endure 444 agonizing days of being taken hostage because America was no longer in control. During the time of the Iranian hostage crisis, Americans were held back by the tragedy for numerous reasons, many of which stem from the immediate reaction of comb ined shock and frustration towards the United States Government and President Carter, a lack of knowledge of the ongoing strained relationship between the two countries, and finally, the surprising tension and ineffectiveness of the Carter Administration’s foreign policy. In the months leading up to the hostage crisis, the morale and patriotism expressed by the American people was gloom and not promising for the nation; â€Å"Especially in the last years of the decade, it was mainly just hard times† (Farber, 10).Show MoreRelatedThe Revolution Of The United States1150 Words   |  5 Pageshad not planned to maintain control over the embassy and the hostages for too long. They had originally overrun the embassy to prove to the United States that they were not completely safe from the revolution and to prove a point that the Americans were no longer welcome. But the revolutionaries were forced to stay because â€Å"the American side now found itself without anyone in authority in Tehran with whom it could negotiate, and the Iranian side found itself captive of its own angry rhetoric and unableRead MoreThe United States And Iran1095 Words   |  5 Pagescan depend on each other. Based of the decisions made by both countries in the past towards each other, a true reconciliation would never come. As James Baker, US Secretary 1989-1992, quotes, â€Å" The history of US- Iranian relations since the Islamic revolution is in many ways a great tragedy. And that history itself will be perhaps the greatest obstacle to improving relations.† August 19th, 1953, was the kick off of a series of events that involve the U.S. and Iran. On this date, the U.S. and BritishRead MoreThe Iranian Hostage Crisis And The Formation Of The Social Identity Of Radical Islamic Extremists3222 Words   |  13 PagesWords: The Effect of the Media on the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the Formation of the Social Identity of Radical Islamic Extremists Katherine Brislin HST 111 Pr. Fought April 18, 2015 On November 4, 1979, a group of five-hundred Iranian student protesters and members of the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam s Line raided and overtook the United States Embassy in Tehran, taking sixty-six Americans captive. Of the more than sixty hostages, only fourteen were released quicklyRead MoreIs A Nuclear Free Iran?2048 Words   |  9 Pagesonly be used when all other approaches are exhausted. Pursuit of nuclear capabilities was not always seen as a controversial aspect of Iran’s foreign policy. As a matter of fact, the origins of the Iranian program began in the 1950’s with the support of United States. Research and development of an Iranian nuclear program began once they joined Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace initiative and signed treaty No.4898. On December 8, 1953 during the 470th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations GeneralRead MoreOperation Eagle Claw Decision Analysis2094 Words   |  9 PagesActors #1 Use military to rescue hostages in Iran. NSC Advisor- Zbiniew Brzezinski Secretary of Defense- Harold Brown (Civilian) JCOS- Gen. David Jones #2 Continue the use of diplomacy and economic sanctions until captives are released. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance CIA Director Stansfield Turner Introduction: Tragedy stuck America on November 4th of 1979, when 52 hostages were seized at the American Embassy in Iran during the midst of the Iranian Revolution. Different policy approachesRead MoreInternational Media s Coverage Of An Event Essay3208 Words   |  13 Pagescoverage of an event is determined by an abundance of ecological, internal and external forces. These become particularly visible when an international crisis occurs and the news media are expected to grant concentrated, live and sustained attention to the story as it unfolds. Such can be observed with the international media’s coverage of the hostage crisis that took place on the 15th-16th of December in the Lindt chocolate cafà © in Martin Place, Sydney. Though some news providers were successful in providingRead MoreThe Islamic Revolution Of Iran2209 Words   |  9 PagesOver 560 people were executed this year in Iran (Daftari). Every day, millions of Iranians lack basic human rights and opportunities. This abse nce of rights and freedoms results in a great exodus and undercuts the intellectual capital of the country. The Islamic Republic of Iran captured the attention of the world because of its persecution towards ethnic minorities, difficulty to find jobs after post-secondary education, and overall hostility with the West. Although Iran is very isolated from muchRead MoreGeorge Lucas s Star Wars1015 Words   |  5 Pagesseemingly perpetual state of animosity towards the Soviet Union. The Cold War had stretched on for almost three decades. The U.S was in the middle of the malaise period where fuel prices were skyrocketing, and the national debt was rising. The Iranian Hostage Crisis started just six months before The Empire Strikes Back was released into theaters. The future looked bleak, and literature of the period reflected that. Grim dystopias were the order of the day in science fiction. Then came Star Wars, aRead MorePsychological Effects of Terrorism1797 Words   |  8 Pagescovered that determines the effect. For example, Bulliet says the Iranian hostage crisis, which began in 1979 and lasted for 444 days, was actually one of the most harmless things that happened in the Middle East in the last 25 years. All of the U.S. hostages were eventually released unharmed, but the event remains a psychological scar for many Americans who watched helplessly as each evenings newscast counted the days the hostages were being held captive. Bulliet says terrorists frequently exploitRead MoreLife, Liberty, The Pursuit Of Happiness1852 Words   |  8 Pageswe come out golden in the final hour. It has shown us that in the future, for every ‘action’ we take, theres always a ‘reaction’; the fact of the matter is, it is all about how willing are to you get back up from such great mishap, such inevitable tragedy and solve the problem at hand. We view ourselves as conquering people, we stand ready for all of life s obstacles, we are hungry for success, we are hungry to live another day, we pride ourselves on the history of our past and present. This is what

The Philosophical Point Of Humanism - 1733 Words

intellect.gif (9933 bytes) Renaissance Humanism Humanism is the term generally applied to the predominant social philosophy and intellectual and literary currents of the period from 1400 to 1650. The return to favor of the pagan classics stimulated the philosophy of secularism, the appreciation of worldly pleasures, and above all intensified the assertion of personal independence and individual expression. Zeal for the classics was a result as well as a cause of the growing secular view of life. Expansion of trade, growth of prosperity and luxury, and widening social contacts generated interest in worldly pleasures, in spite of formal allegiance to ascetic Christian doctrine. Men thus affected -- the humanists -- welcomed classical†¦show more content†¦The present world became an end in itself instead of simply preparation of a world to come. Indeed, as the age of Renaissance humanism wore on, the distinction between this world (the City of Man) and the next (the City of God) tended to disappear. Beauty was believed to afford at least some glimpse of a transcendental existence. This goes far to explain the humanist cult of beauty and makes plain that humanism was, above everything else, fundamentally an aesthetic movement. Human experience, man himself, tended to become the practical measure of all things. The ideal life was no longer a monastic escape from society, but a full participation in rich and varied human relationships. The dominating element in the finest classical culture was aesthetic rather than supernatural or scientific. In the later Middle Ages urban intellectuals were well on the road to the recovery of an aesthetic and secular view of life even before the full tide of the classical revival was felt. It was only natural, then, that pagan literature, with its emotional and intellectual affinity to the new world view, should accelerate the existing drift toward secularism and stimulate the cult of humanity, the worship of beauty, and especially the aristocratic attitude. Almost everywhere, humanism began as a rather pious, timid, and conservative drift away from medieval Christianity and ended in bold independence of medieval tradition.Show MoreRelatedTaking a Look at Existentialism1640 Words   |  7 PagesExistentialism when looked in a dictionary means a philosophical theory or approach which emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their development through acts of the will. This theory emphasizes on the existence of man as an individual and how every choices exerted by him determines a different course of action for him. Existentialism when looked in a lexicon implies a philosophical hypothesis or methodology which accentuates the presence ofRead MoreSocial Philosophical Thoughts and Contributions of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar1587 Words   |  7 PagesSOCIAL PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR 1. INTRODUCTION Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s philosophical contribution has in the areas of Humanism, realism and rationalism. He propounded a philosophy of humanism taking in account both theory and practice. For him philosophy is not purely theoretic matter but has practical potentialities. It has its roots in the problems of life and the theories that are propounded return back as a contribution for the reconstruction of the societyRead MoreTaking a Look at Secular Humanism1267 Words   |  5 PagesAll systems of thought and each worldview have a notion of God. Secular humanism is defined as a belief system where humanity is the sovereign of all beings, and where reality and information rests in science and reason. The secular humanistic worldview started as a substitute among religions. Humanism is not a religious belief system in itself, while secular means â€Å"not religious.† A religion is any system of belief that informs an individual’s worldview. The secular humanistic wor ldview has aRead MoreImpact Of The Renaissance751 Words   |  4 Pagesmajor change in humanism, romantic music, and the impact of the Renaissance. First, during the age of the Renaissance, many historians consider this period as the time of ignorance, where there was a small amount of improvement that took place. During this time of the middle age, the church was center attention, instead of viewing the world as a philosophical. People around the world have been arguing, whether the renaissance separate time or if it just separates the high point of middle ages. AlsoRead MoreExistentialism And Human Emotions By Jean Paul Sartre1513 Words   |  7 PagesExistentialism is a Humanism. In this essay, I shall attempt to explore and evaluate Sartre s argument that existentialism is a humanism by unpacking what is meant by ‘existence precedes essence . I will argue that although the overall argument tends to be a good one, there are several points which could have been improved upon. In order to understand how it is that existentialism is a humanism, it is first necessary to understand what both of these terms mean. Humanism is generally referredRead MoreHamlet O What a Rogue and Peasant Slave Am I775 Words   |  4 Pagesfathers death. In this soliloquy Shakespeare has revealed Hamlet feelings of inadequacy due to his inability to act and the reasons behind his inaction. Shakespeare also uses this soliloquy to set up the play within the play as the climax at which point Hamlet will be forced to be the revenging son. From the beginning of the play it is obvious that Hamlet is extremely depressed and disillusioned with the world around him. In this soliloquy however Shakespeare has introduced Hamlets internal judgementRead MoreThe Influence Of The Renaissance1290 Words   |  6 Pagesgive it a time frame of between the years 1300AD to 1600AD. One of the most important things to emerge from the renaissance was not only a revival, but a transformation in the arts and architecture. Additionally, was the intellectual movement called Humanism which stresses human worth, knowledge and reason over rigid church dogma. This allowed for a freeing of humankind even furthering the artistic and creative revolution. As awful as it may sound, one of the contributing factors to the renaissanceRead MoreMind and Hamlet1132 Words   |  5 Pagesrelates to Hamlet in his inability to decide how to fulfil his immense responsibility. The idea of Renaissance Humanism is evident in Hamlet s conclusion to â€Å"catch t he conscience of the king† through the production of a play that is emulative of his father s murder in order to see Claudius guilty reaction. This notion is supported by Salter, 1988, who declares Hamlet is of a philosophical nature that is aware of the â€Å"larger moral implications of any act†. The soliloquy provides a variation of toneRead MoreHistorical And Philosophical Movement Of The Renaissance1596 Words   |  7 Pagesreligion among many other aspects that continue to shape modern philosophy. By focusing, on ideas presented by Southern, Petrarch, and Burckhardt I will argue that the historical and philosophical movement of the renaissance progressed the writings and concerns of the medieval times through the emergence of humanism and free will, the revival of antiquity, natural philosophy and enlightment of knowledge. To understand why the Renaissance played a significant role in this transition, it is importantRead MoreApplying Learning Theories Of Learning1469 Words   |  6 Pagesof knowledge, is the study of knowledge, what it is, how we acquire it, and our justifiable beliefs that are included in that study. Generally, the study of knowledge is done through a philosophical method. There are four basic theories of learning; those are behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and humanism; this paper will address these four theories of learning, in addition, we will address principles of learning, schema and scaffolding, adaption, metacognition, and strategies to ensure learning

Transition to a New Cultural Environment Free Essays

Information on Culture Introduction of Information At some point in life people experience a culture as an outsider by moving from one culture to another. In the world today there are so many different cultures and not one of them is found to be the same. Instead they all have something that makes them unique, whether its language or even the clothes they wear and their behavior as well. We will write a custom essay sample on Transition to a New Cultural Environment or any similar topic only for you Order Now The differences they have is what separates them from one another and who ever joins that culture must get accustomed to their way of life. For example, today there are many people immigrating to the United States to start a new and better life. What they soon begin to realize is that it’s a whole new world out there and in order to survive they have to get accustomed to the new way of life which is much different from their lives before. Background and Significance of the Problem According to Dewiel (2005), the idea of culture has changed over the years. He states that the history of culture is as followed, Although today we think of the peoples of the world throughout history in terms of their cultures, the idea of culture is a relatively recent idea. Before modernity began in about the 17th and 18th centuries, people in Europe saw themselves not as participants in various cultures but as members of competing religions. With the secularizing trends of early modernity, social scientific ideas began to replace religious terms in the self-understanding of Europeans. (para. 4) Statement of the Problem Adjusting to a different culture can be difficult for just about anyone. What is necessary for one to feel at home in a new culture? Many cultural barriers must be addressed before a person can feel at home with a new culture. Many steps can be taken to help with the differences a person my experience in a different culture. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to inform the reader of different step in which can be taken to help one feel at home in a new culture. Many actions can be taken to help ease the transition to a cultural environment. Definition of Terms â€Å"Culture comprises the values, beliefs, and norms that are shared by a group of people, such as a racial or ethnic minority. Culture influences how people think about, act on, and see the world. † (Ramirez Soto, 2006, para. 2) Preview Around the world people poses all different kinds of culture. How do we as outsiders become a part of the people and become a welcome member of different cultures? The writer will explain different methods of adapting to a new culture. These steps could be taken to make one feel at home with a different culture. How to Accustom to New Culture Understanding History Behind every culture lies a history. A person must ask themselves why the people of this culture follow their beliefs, customs, and poses certain values. For a person to truly find out the real history behind a culture, a person must ask the people of the culture. It’s the only way to find the true history. Once a person understands the history of a culture, they can begin to practice the same customs the culture already practices. Benefits Discovering the history can be very beneficial. Knowing the history of a culture means knowing where the culture came from. This could result in the people of the culture to accepting a person as one of their own. This will definitely better chances of making the culture feel like home. Summary If a person wants to feel at home in a new culture, they must first do some research first. Researching the history behind a culture with help a person better adapt to a culture. This will also help people within the culture accept you as one of them because you know the roots of the culture. Learning the Language Another method to adapting to a new culture is learning their language. This will help a person connect better with the people of the culture. Although people may be able to speak the same language they could understand or interpret words differently, because the same words may mean different things to various persons. That is why it’s essential for a person to learn the cultures’ language and how they interpret words. A person must have patience when learning a new language. It is very important for one not to get down on their selves for the simple fact that this could discourage the learning process. It takes everyone some time to adjust and become comfortable with a new language. A person should begin to learn a few common words or phrases. Results Leaning the language will connect a person to the people of a different culture. This gives a person the ability to socialize with the people of a culture. The people will also be able to get to know and understand this new outsider and it would be greatly appreciated by them. Summary Adjusting to a new culture can be difficult as well as frustrating. It’s important to have patience thought the process of adapting to a new culture. Leaning the language of a culture could ultimately bring you closer to the people of the culture. Therefore, it is essential to the process of making the new culture feel like home. Find similarities Lastly, the writer believes if a person tries to find things that are similar to their own culture, then the transition would not be so difficult. For example, similar foods that the new culture eats that is similar to the culture a person came from could definitely make someone feel at home. Food is comfort, and as a result, it’s a good idea to stick with what is familiar and stay open to adapting new foods. Music could also be a get similarity between two different cultures. Hearing music that reminds a person of where they came from makes it easier to accepting a new culture. Result Finding similarities helps a person accept a different culture. It makes someone feel at home with a new culture. A person could discover that their two cultures could possibly have a lot in common. Summary Adapting to a new culture can be very difficult and at times, frustrating. Finding similarities between a persons’ current culture and a new one could help make the new culture feel like home. It is necessary for a person to figure out what the enjoyed best from their culture and compare this to the new culture. Conclusions and Recommendations Furthermore, many steps should be taken in order for a person to feel at home in a new culture. Understanding and becoming a part of a new culture can be very difficult and frustrating at times. First of all, the writer feels it is essential for the person to do some research and find out the history behind the new culture. This will give the person a better understanding of why the people of the new culture practice certain customs and traditions. Another necessity includes learning the language of the culture. Even if this culture speaks the same language, words might be interpreted differently. This could help a person better connect with the people of a different culture. Last step the writer feels is necessary when adapting to a new culture is finding similarities between cultures. Doing this could definitely make a person feel at home in a new culture. All steps should be carefully considered when entering a new culture. References Dewiel, B. (2005). Cultural Diversity. In R. P. Carlisle (Ed. )Encyclopedia of Politics, 1(pp. 115-117) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference Retrieved March 12, 2009, from Gale Virtual Reference Library via Gale: http://go. galegroup. com. prx-01. lirn. et/ps/start. do? p=GVRLu=lirn_main Ramirez, S. Z. Soto, J. (2006). Cultural Barriers. In Y. Jackson (Ed. )Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology, (pp. 127-129) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference Retrieved March 12, 2009, from Gale Virtual Reference Library via Gale: http://go. galegroup. com. prx-01. lirn. net/ps/start. do? p=GVRLu=lirn_mainBerens, L. V. , Cooper, S. A. , Ernst, L. K. , Martin, C. R. , Myers, S. , Nardi, D. , et al. (2001). Quick guide to the 16 personality types in organizations: Understanding personality differences in the workplace. Huntington Beach, CA: Telos. How to cite Transition to a New Cultural Environment, Essay examples

Nuclear Power Cons Argumentative Essay Example For Students

Nuclear Power: Cons Argumentative Essay Nuclear Power: ConsSince the days of Franklin and his kite flying experiments, electricityhas been a topic of interest for many people and nations. Nuclear power hasbeen a great advance in the field of electrical production in the last fiftyyears, with its clean, efficient and cheap production, it has gained a largeshare of the worlds power supply. However with the wealth of safer alternativesources of electricity, the dangers involved with nuclear reactors to humans (ie. cancer) and past disasters such as Chernobyl there are well based reasons not topursue this energy source. New sources such as fusion power, new studiesconcerning the health of nuclear by-products and scares of nuclear accidentslike those at Chernobyl are slowly rendering Nuclear Fission an obselete energysource. This essay will prove that nuclear power is a dangerous technology andwith many other sources and the dangers involved, the disadvantages of nuclearpower far outweigh the benefits. Alternative sources of energy are making their way into the highlycompetitive field of electricity production. With the wealth of sources such assolar, wind, hydro or geothermal the dangers involved with fission could besolved by adopting these newer, safer methods. A main source of energy thatcould lead the way for the near future is solar energy. It is clean efficientand is already a large part of American and Canadian electricity production. Solar energy already supplies about 6% of the nations U.S.A energy theindustry is still in an embryonic stage, and opportunity exists for increasingthis contribution by ten times from current levels. (Maidique, 92) It isobvious that solar power will become a large part of the electricity productionaround the world. With future expansion and newer solar cells, the powerproduction could be increased to about 60-70% of the U.S.As needs. Cold fusion will most surely be the newest type of energy leading usinto the 21st century, producing energy that is cheaper, safer and easier togenerate then any existing source. Fusion fuel releases a million times moreenergy then does burning a comparable weight of coal or oil; one teaspoon ofdeuterium, obtained cheaply from H20, contains the equivalent of 300 gallons ofgasoline; a mere 1000 pounds of deuterium could fuel a 1000-megawatt powerstation for a year. (Dean, 84) Such spectacular figures sound unbelievable. Using a thousand pounds of a substance to supply a 1000-megawatt power stationfor a year, such figures will cause plummeting electricity prices and makefission plants far too expensive. However, prices and efficiency are useless if the safety factor isabandoned. All three topics are dealt with in fusion, that is why it is such amiracle. In fact, a meltdown in a fusion reactor is impossible, which cannot besaid for fission. Compared with fission reactors the absence of such fissionproducts as radioactive iodine and cesium from the fusion cycle reduces thepotential hazard by more then a thousand-fold. (Dean, 84) This is accomplishedbecause in a fission reactor the fuel is formed in a solid form which must becooled by water, and if water is unavailable then a meltdown may occur. In afusion reactor the fuel is a hot gas rather then a solid. Because of this evenwith a complete loss of cooling the gas would cool as it hits the cold walls ofthe reactor chamber. With future resources, some proven like solar othersexperimental such as fusion, there is a wealth of possible energy sources. However, new sources of energy will not reduce the risk of horrificfission disasters such as those at Chernobyl or Three Mile Island. Pastdisasters such as Three Mile Island are well- based reasons to reconsidernuclear technology. At the Chernobyl power station at 1:00 am on April 25, 1996reactor number 4 was running smoothly. The engineers performed a standard teston the turbo generators (Engine that turns to produce electricity.) At 1:20amthe operator turned off the emergency cooling system. The sharp temperatureincrease in the reactor core, the rupture of the cooling channels (releasingsteam on to the red-hot graphite moderator, producing water gas) and thechemical reaction between overheated zirconium canning and water (releasinghydrogen) ignited by the fireworks of flying hot and glowing fragments producedby the steam explosion resulted in the explosion. (Trainer, 116) As the twohuge steam explosions tore the core apart, the force of the blast lifted thethousand ton cover lid above the core. Lethal radiation was being released intothe air. The explosion gave of more radiation then two atomic bombs dropped onHiroshima and Nagasaki combined. The accident is an awful reminder that andexplosion may not be only a freak occurrence. It so happens that it may becaused by other errors such as human blunder, low water supply or computerglitch, any misfunction may cause horrific problems. Feminine Traditions EssayThe thought of a nuclear power reactor located near a large city such asHarrisburg, Pennsylvania (site of Three Mile Island) where the exposure isreleased to thousands of people is unthinkable but does occur due to companyprofit needs. Radiation is not only spread through the air we breathe. It is alsopassed from plants we eat and water we drink. In areas such as Chernobyl thathave had even the mildest nuclear problems (obviously Chernobyl was not a mildproblem) we see an area in diameter around Chernobyl reaching as far as Kiev(400km) to have plants that are permanently inedible due to enormous radiationlevels. Unfortunately the radiation is not in the plants, it is in the soil, alayer of soil that will spread harmful radiation for the next 7 billion years. These plants should not be eaten, however many poor families have no choice andmay not be aware they are poisoning themselves. Neither the animals nor thepeople eating them know that they are being poisoned. It is more surprising thatareas in the U.S.A have to measured with abnormally higher radiation, it must bementioned these areas are located in relatively close proximity to a fissionpower plant. In addition, wind and rain erosion wash nuclear waste into streamsand rivers, poisoning the waters, killing the fish and eventually threateninghumans throughout the water they drink. (Kronenwetter, 48) The passage ofnuclear waste directly from the power plant to the soil, (which poisons plants)run- offs from the land which go into the water affecting both the poisonedwater we drink and the contaminated food we eat, not to mention the air that webreathe. These are scary facts that must no longer be overlooked in the name ofprofit. Nuclear power is a major pollutant and must be recognized a s one. In the 1990s we have many alternatives to Nuclear Power. Solar, wind,hydro and geothermal are all great sources that should be used to limit the useof nuclear power. Although nuclear power on the whole is a clean and efficient,it has many unnecessary drawbacks such as the waste it produces, this willcontinue to poison humans, plants and animals. With all the choices available topeople, why not choose a clean or renewable source of energy, one without thedangers of radioactive waste and possible core meltdowns. New sources canalready today replace fission power, it is unsafe, unwarranted and pointless toperuse something that can literally blow up in out face and kill us. In thefuture use of solar or wind power and maybe someday fusion power will causenuclear fission power to become obsolete. Science

Banking services in saudi arabia research proposal The WritePass Journal

Banking services in saudi arabia research proposal Literature Review Banking services in saudi arabia research proposal Literature ReviewI.  IntroductionII.  Lending Institutions in Saudi Arabia  III. Regulatory Framework of Banking System in Saudi ArabiaIV. Improvement of Banking ServicesVI. Service Quality in Saudi Arabian BanksVII.  Technology Use in Banking Service ProvisionRecommendationsReferencesRelated Literature Review I.  Introduction The beginning of the modern banking system began in October 1952 with the creation of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) the principle agency responsible for management of monetary matters. Paper money was first introduced in the early years of the 1950s decade. Banking problems in the late 1950s decade resulted in regulatory framework being strengthened in Saudi Arabia during the middle 1960s decade in which broad supervisory capacity was given to SAMA in a legal environment that upheld the concept of a Universal Banking Model allowing banks to make provision of a wide range of financial services â€Å"including banking, investments, securities, etc. through their branches.† (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004, p.3) There were 12 operating banks by 1979 only three of which, were non-Saudi banks and branches had doubled by that year to 140. II.  Lending Institutions in Saudi Arabia Five major lending institutions were introduced in the decade of the 1970s: (1) Saudi Credit Bank; (2) Saudi Agricultural Bank; (3) Public Investment Fund; (4) Saudi Development Fund; and (5) the Real Estate Fund. (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004,  Ã‚  Ã‚   p.3) Restructuring was accomplished arising from encouragement by the Saudi Government and by 1975 there was a reported â€Å"10 international bank†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦including â€Å"29 branches present.† (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004, p.3) There was a rise and fall in the economy and SAMA faced a critical challenge for supervision in 1982 â€Å"when irregularities appeared in Saudi Cairo Bank’s operations. Two senior managers were involved in unauthorized trading in bullion during the 1979-81 period, and had concealed accumulated losses that exceeded the Bank’s share capital.† (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004, p.3)   It is reported that SAMA required the Bank to issue new shares and doubl e its capital in 1986. SAMA arranged this increase to be taken up entirely by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The Bank also benefited from â€Å"low-cost† deposits from the Public Investment Fund. These measures helped the Bank with liquidity and rescued it back to a healthy position.† (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004, p. 4-5   III. Regulatory Framework of Banking System in Saudi Arabia SAMA in collaboration with Saudi Arabia Ministry of Finance ensured the financial system’s stability and assisted banks in clearing the hurdles of economic downturn. Included in this collaborative initiative were the following actions: (1) Banks were required to seek SAMA’s approval prior to announcing their dividends. The Banking Control Law required all banks to build their statutory reserves equal to their share capital. SAMA further encouraged Saudi banks to build additional reserves to strengthen their capital base. (2) Most foreign shareholders in Saudi banks enjoyed a tax holiday for the first five years of their ownership. To encourage retention of profits, the tax holiday was extended in most cases by another 5 years after which a deferred tax scheme was permitted; (3) In 1986, SAMA obtained a ruling from the Tax Department that permitted the tax deduction of loan loss provisions on   an accrual basis. This encouraged banks to increase their loan loss provisi ons for doubtful accounts; (4) To encourage Saudi banks to increase their inter-bank dealings and to support the development of a riyal inter-bank market, a tax ruling was obtained which exempted foreign banks from withholding taxes when carrying out inter-bank transactions with Saudi banks; (5) Corporate Governance.   SAMA recognized the need to encourage banks to take strong steps to improve their risk management and control procedures. Consequently, it took major initiatives in the area of corporate governance. Firstly, it required all banks to develop and strengthen their internal audit departments, and secondly it issued minimum internal control guidelines.   In addition, SAMA issued accounting standards for Commercial Banks in Saudi Arabia which were in line with International Accounting Standards; (6) Creation of Banking Disputes Committee. In 1987, Saudi authorities established a Banking Dispute Committee by the order of the Council of Ministers.   The creation of this Committee as the only relevant quasicourt to handle dispute between banks and their customers significantly strengthened the legal system.   By law, all banking disputes had to be referred to this Committee and the rulings of this Committee were given the same enforcement support as decisions from any other court; (7) Exchange of Information on Large Borrowers and on Delinquent Loans. In the early 1980’s, SAMA established a credit information service that provided information to Saudi banks on all large exposures of the Banking System.   This enabled banks to better assess the credit position and risk of big borrowers.   Also in 1986, SAMA permitted banks to exchange information on delinquent borrowers as a means of applying collective pressure on them. These measures have proved quite effective in resolving problems of delinquent loans.† (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004, p. 5-6) IV. Improvement of Banking Services Banking and financial services were improved during the early decade of the 1980s by technological advances and SAMA had acknowledged a decade earlier that there was not only a potential but as well as need to â€Å"enhance and strengthen the Saudi financial markets through greater investment in modern technology. It is reported that the primary objectives of this strategy were: (1) elimination of duplication of efforts and waste; and (2) development of a national infrastructure. (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004, p. 7) Technology enhanced business services introduced included: (1) automated Cheque Clearing System (1986); (2) linking of Saudi Arabia with the SWIFT payment network; (3) introduction of a national Automated Teller Machine System enabling customers to access accounts from any machine in Saudi Arabia and from the major financial markets; (4) introduction of debit, credit and charge cards; and (5) introduction of Point-of-Sale terminals that link customers, traders and banks. (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, 2004, p.7) International Islamic Financial Institutions It is reported that International Islamic Financial Institutions are reported in the work of Memon (2007) entitled â€Å"Islamic Banking: Present and Future Challenges† to be making provision of â€Å"a wide range of services in accordance with the basic principles of Shariah. The products are reported to include: (1) Mudaraba; (2) Murabaha; (3) Musharaka; (4) Ijarah; (5) Isstina; and (6) Salam. (Memon, 2007, p.4)   Conventional banks are reported to operate under the concept â€Å"of lender-borrower relationship where interest is considered as the rental income on capital. The depositors are assumed to be capital providers.† (Memon, 2007, p.4) Bank customers are reported to be divided into three broad categories as follows: (1) religiously motivated customers; (2) high profit customers; and (3) customers who are religiously motivated but also expect returns at least similar to conventional banks. (Memon, 2007, p.6) It is reported as follows in regards to the Islamic economic system: â€Å"Islamic economics is a system, which not only fulfils our moral, ethical, and religious obligations but also demonstrates to be economically feasible and financially rewarding. Islamic banking is based on asset-based transactions for the purpose of income generation, and prohibits financing in all forms of economic activities, which are normally and/or socially injurious to the society.† (Memon, 2007, p.6) Additionally stated is that the Islamic field of Banking operations â€Å"is unlimited. It is under continuous process of evolving and Islamic financial modes instruments have been developed to cover nearly all kinds of businesses including consumer financing, project financing, house financing, working capital financing, import and export financing, venture capital, etc.† (Memon, 2007, p.6) A survey conducted in the United States indicates that U.S. banker perception of Islamic Banking includes that 10 out of 20 Islamic Banking practices are viewed as acceptable. Those ten include: (1) investment accounts; (2) transfer of funds; (3) cost plus finance; (4) profit and loss; (5) sharing, (6) trust financing, (7) leasing, (8) lease purchase, (9) letters of guarantee, and (10) flexible investment of deposit and role as trustees. (Memon, 2007, p.8) VI. Service Quality in Saudi Arabian Banks The work of Al-Fawzan (2005) entitled â€Å"Assessing Service Quality in a Saudi Bank† states that service quality is defined as â€Å"the degree of alignment between customers’ expectations and their perceptions of the service received.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005, p.1) Al-Fawzan (2005) states that the move to â€Å"†¦managed service has increased demands for outcome-based accountability, cost containment, and attention to customer-focused quality in order to remain competitive in a rapidly changing environment. This dual focus on driving down costs while increasing quality has intensified pressures to understand, measure, and manage quality from a customer perspective.† (p.101) While banking systems are stated to provide services that are the same they are differentiated by the quality of services provided. In addition, today’s customers are â€Å"†¦more aware of the alternatives and their expectations of service have increased. Service quality c an, therefore, be used as a strategic tool to build a distinctive advantage over competitors. Banks are striving for zero defection and retaining every customer that the company can profitably serve in order to achieve service excellence.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) Zero defections makes a requirement of ongoing efforts for improving service quality. It is reported that while quality â€Å"can not be improved unless it is measured, it can be defined from several perspectives, e.g., the ability to satisfy the needs and expectations of the customer, or the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bears on its ability to satisfy given needs.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) There is a growing acknowledgement of quality importance in banking services although â€Å"its conceptualization and empirical assessment have remained limited.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) Al-Fawzan (2005) reports that the â€Å"central tenet of the quality paradigm is the importance of understand ing and utilizing customer data to drive operational and strategic decisions, defining quality from the outside-in based on customer information is critical. This shift in defining quality often necessitates a fundamental change in the way professionals, managers, staff, and policy makers think about and identify those who buy or use products and service.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) Those who use banking services are not generally refers to as ‘customers’ but instead are referred to as ‘client† suggesting â€Å"†¦a passive voice in the service delivery process, which is reflected by professionals in the field who question the credibility of client evaluation of services. On the other hand, customer carries an image of an active participant with more input in determining choices and decisions. Clients of human service organizations who follow directions from professionals and make few demands on the system are labeled as cooperative. In contrast, customers in the business sector who are loyal to the service, interact with the staff, and are willing to show their preferences are viewed as desirable customer.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) Al-Fawzan states that customers have difficulty in the articulation of â€Å"banking service quality† therefore â€Å"the recipient of the service can only really assess it, thereby making its mea surement more subjective than exact. Hence, the measurement of banking service quality has to be based on perceived quality rather than objective quality because services are intangible, heterogeneous and their consumption and production occur simultaneously.† (2005) It is reported that service quality   â€Å"†¦ is a measure of how well the service level matches customers’ expectations.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) It is reported that Parasuraman et al. â€Å"†¦defined service quality as perceived by customers and items from a comparison on their expectations of the services they will receive with their   perceptions of the performance of the service provider.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) The study reported by Al-Fawzan (2005) summarizes the results stated the following findings: (1) the most important dimension determined by Saudi Bank customers is that of ‘assurance dimension’; (2) a service gap exists in service quality provided by Saudi Banks w ith the most notable gap being the accessibility dimension; (3) Saudi Bank customers, on average, rated Saudi Banks service quality to be overall good; (4) the expectations of Saudi Banks by customers are â€Å"highest in reliability dimension; (5) 67.8% of SB customers rated the overall service quality as good and very good; (5) SB employees dress nicely and they are polite when talking to customers; (6) SB has exceeded customers’ expectations in performing the service right from the beginning and in instilling the confidence in customers that their transactions are complete and safe.† (Al-Fawzan, 2005) The work of Sohail and Shaikh (2008) entitled â€Å"Internet Banking and Quality of Service: Perspectives from a Developing Nation in the Middle East† reports a study that had as its objective the measurement of the quality of service from the perspective of the customer on internet banking in Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted via a questionnaire survey and an extensive review of literature. Findings in the study report that upon the basis of a factor analysis three factors were found to influence the evaluation of quality of internet banking services by users. Those three factors identified are stated to include: (1) efficiency and security; (2) fulfillment; and (3) responsiveness. (Sohail and Shaikh, 2008) In 2010 Jasimuddin reported in the work entitled â€Å"Saudi Arabian Banks on the Web† reports that commercial transactions via the Internet began in 1995 and that online banking is an application with much promise. However, while many banks in developed countri es have made provision of banking services via the Internet, Saudi Arabia is â€Å"lagging behind.† (Jasimuddin, 2010, p.1) The environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s environment is very conducive to Internet banking service provision. Jasimuddin reports that as of 2000 there were 11 banks and 1201 branches operating in Saudi Arabia. As of the middle of 2000, there are 11 banks with 1201 branches operating across Saudi Arabia. Eight banks are reported to have established a web site presence which is a rate of 73% of banks with a web site presence although only two of these offer Internet Banking Services. When the Saudi banks web sites are compared there is not major difference noted in the content of the bank web sites. The contents of the websites are stated to be inclusive of information about the bank, the addresses of branches and ATMs, phone and fax numbers, press releases, newsletters, news about the site and welcome letters, hot links, job opportunities, publications, contact and email, feedback, sitemap, site search, online forms and so forth. (Jasimuddin, 2010, paraphrased) Practically all of the banks provide information relating to customer services that â€Å"incorporate financial market, retail and corporate banking, investment treasury service, telephone and PC banking.† (Jasimuddin, 2010) I t is reported that online banking in Saudi Arabia is still a â€Å"very marginal activity† and that internet is presently being used by Saudi banks primarily for â€Å"brand awareness and promotion.† (Jasimuddin, 2010) Saudi banks will be driven by â€Å"the dynamic and imperatives of e-finance†¦to build web site and to start Internet banking.† (Jasimuddin, 2010) In other words, since this is a banking service that is increasingly familiar customers will be requesting these services from banks in the future in Saudi Arabia. VII.  Technology Use in Banking Service Provision It was reported in 2007 that the National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia was established in Saudi Arabia prior to any other banks being established. This bank has 300 branches throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with some branches stated to be â€Å"dedicated exclusively to Islamic Banking Services. The National Commercial bank reports having implemented use of a digital signage system which is reported to make provision of a â€Å"better platform for NCB to better communicate with its employees, educating them about the banks products and services and enhancing the service they provide to their customers.† (Jasimuddin, 2010) Summary of Literature Reviewed It is clear that banks in Saudi Arabia are faced with a diverse customer-base and this makes a requirement of diversification of banking services offered by banks in the Kingdom. While internet banking services provision is somewhat behind the development in the rest of the world, it is certain that Saudi Arabian banking customers will clearly see the benefits to Internet banking and that the push will soon be on for provision of this banking service by Saudi Arabian banks. Internet banking as well as other technological advanced service possibilities are presently being explored by Saudi Arabian banks including such technologies as a digital signage system among others. While the banking sector is quite developed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia there does appear to be a general mistrust of Internet banking technology and not just on the part of customers but in the view of the banking industry in Saudi Arabia as well. Recommendations Arising from this study is a recommendation for research to be conducted examining the quality of banking service provision by banks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a focus on technology use.    References Memon, N.A. (2007) Islamic Banking: Present and Future Challenges. Journal of Management and Social Sciences. Vol. 3, No. 1, (Spring 2007) 01-10. Institute of Business and Technology (BIZTEK). Retrieved from: biztek.edu.pk/downloads/research/jmss_v3_n1/1-islamic%20banking.pdf A Case Study On Globalization and the Role of Institution Building in the Financial Sector Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. February 2004. Retrieved from: sama.gov.sa/sites/samaen/OtherReportsLib/SK521-04(CaseStudyonGlobalization-RoleofInstitutionBuildinginSaudiArabia-Final)Dr.Shaukat.pdf Al-Fawzan, MA (2005) Assessing   Service Quality in a Saudi Bank. J. King Saud Univ., Vol. 18, Eng. Sci. (1), pp. 101-115, Riyadh (1426H./2005). Sohail, M.S. and Shaikh, N.M. (2008) Internet banking and quality of service: Perspectives from a developing nation in the Middle East. , Online Information Review, Vol. 32 Iss: 1, pp.58 72 Jasimuddin, Sajjad M. (2010) Saudi Arabianu Banks on the Web. Array Development. Retrieved from: tenso.fr/emarketing/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Aper%C3%A7u-de-%C2%AB%C2%A0Saudi-Arabian-Banks-on-the-Web%C2%A0%C2%BB.pdf

How to Use the Italian Imperfect Subjunctive Tense

How to Use the Italian Imperfect Subjunctive Tense â€Å"If I were able to live in Italy for the rest of my life, I would be happy.† How do you express a sentiment like that in Italian? Before I dive into the nooks and crannies of the grammar with the subjunctive mood, here’s what that sentence would look like: Se io potessi vivere in Italia per il resto della mia vita, sarei contenta. In order to create this sentence on your own, you need to use the imperfect subjunctive (il congiuntivo imperfetto). You would use this tense when the main part of your sentence includes the present perfect tense (il passato prossimo), imperfect tense (l’imperfetto) or the conditional tense (​il condizionale) to talk about an unlikely hypothetical situation that starts with se (If) like â€Å"If I won the lottery† or to discuss wishful thinking. Some constructions that might help you understand when to use this are: Imperfect Tense ( Che) Imperfect Subjunctive Credevo che avessero ragione. - I thought they were right.Non era probabile che prendessimo una decisione. - It wasnt likely we would make a decision.Non cera nessuno che ci capisse. - There was no one who understood us.Il razzismo era il peggior problema che ci fosse. - Racism was the worst problem there was. Present Perfect Tense (Che) Imperfect Subjunctive L’ha aiutata affinchà © potesse imparare l’italiano. - He helped her so she could learn Italian.Abbiamo organizzato un riunione cosi’ da informare tutti sul da farsi. - We scheduled a meeting so we could brief everybody on what to do.Ho ritenuto giusto che mio figlio decidesse da solo quale universita’ scegliere. - I believed it was right my son could choose by himself which university pick out. Se Imperfect Subjunctive Conditional Se fossi in te, non mi fiderei di lui. - If I were you, I wouldn’t trust him.Se lui mi baciasse, sarei felicissima. - If he were to kiss me, I would be so happy.Se Mario mi invitasse a cena, accetterei subito! - If Mario asked me out for dinner, I would accept immediately! Conditional S e Imperfect Subjunctive Sarei felicissima se lui mi baciasse. - I would be so happy if he were to kiss me.Comprerei un guardaroba nuovo se io avessi tre mila dollari in pià ¹. - I would buy a new wardrobe if I had three thousand more dollars.Direi una bugia se dicessi che sono stata bene. - It would be a lie if I said I’ve been great. Magari (If Only) Imperfect Subjunctive Magari fosse vero. - If only it were true.Magari potessi venire da noi! - If only you could come over to our place! TIP: The word â€Å"magari† can also be used to mean â€Å"maybe† or â€Å"yes† depending on context. You’ll notice that the translations between Italian and English aren’t direct, and that’s because this tense is interpreted differently in Italian than in English. For instance, in the last example, if you wanted to say â€Å"He helped her so she could learn Italian†, you might want to translate â€Å"could† as â€Å"potrebbe†, using the conditional tense. I know it’s confusing at first, but the more you’re exposed to the language and the more you practice, the more intuitive it will become. Plus, as you learn, you can rely on keywords or phrases to help you decide whether or not to use the imperfect subjunctive tense. Key Phrases Pensare che - To think thatCredere che - To believe thatDubitare che - To doubt thatEssere importante che - To be important thatBastare che - To be enough thatDirsi che - To be said thatSperare che - To hope thatTemere che - To fear thatAffinchà © - So thatPrima che - BeforeNel caso che - In case that For conjugations of three regular verbs, see the table below. Conjugating Verbs in the Imperfect Subjunctive PRONOUN CANTARE SAPERE FINIRE che io cantassi sapessi finissi che tu cantassi sapessi finissi che lui/lei/Lei cantasse sapesse finisse che noi cantassimo sapessimo finissimo che voi cantaste sapeste finiste che loro/Loro cantassero sapessero finissero What About Irregular Verbs? Here are some examples of irregular verbs in the imperfect subjunctive. Essere - To be Fossi Fossimo Fossi Foste Fosse Fossero Se io fossi una sirenetta, sarei una brava nuotatrice. - If I were a mermaid, I would be a great swimmer.Non ti piaccio?! Pensavo fossimo fidanzati! - You don’t like me?! I thought we were dating! Stare - To be, to stay Stessi Stessimo Stessi Steste Stesse Stessero Mi fa sentire come se stesse cercando di nascondere qualcosa. - It makes me feel like he was trying to hide something.Pensavo stessimo andando dal panettiere. - I thought we were going to the bakery. Dire - To say Dicessi Dicessimo Dicessi Diceste Dicesse Dicessero Voleva che tu gli dicessi la verit! - She wanted you to tell her the truth!Vorrei che Marta non dicesse nulla di questo a Mario. - I would not like for Marta to say anything about this to Mario.E se ti dicessi che nulla di cià ² che vedi à ¨ reale? - And what if I were to tell you that nothing you see is real?

Vodafone Finance Report Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Vodafone Finance Report - Case Study Example According to Reuters (2005) analysts' opinion, the company is outperforming currently (financial ratios provided can be seen in Appendix 1). The group turnover was 34,133 m on the year ended March 31, 2005, which was 33,559 in 2004 and 30,375 in 2003 (Vodafone Annual Report, 2005, p. 78). Presented in percentage, the growth of turnover in 2003/04 was 10.4% and in 2004/05 it was 1.7%. The rise of the group turnover represents the addition of new customers and the increase of revenue from value added services. Looking at the five-year annual growth of turnover given on the diagram 1 it can be easily seen that the company's rate of expansion is decreasing. During previous years the company was rapidly expanding due attraction of new customers; now the customer audience of Vodafone is stable. The interim results of six months ended September 30, 2005 show that the group turnover has increased 9% to 18,250 m (Reuters, 2005). Reasonably the cost of sales in 2005 has increased along with the group turnover, leading to the gross profit of 13,380 m. In 2004 gross profit was 14,098 m and in 2003 it was 12,479 m (Vodafone Annual Report, 2005, p. 88). This gives us the ability to evaluate gross profit margin providing us with the information on how much of the group turnover can cover the non-operational costs by dividing gross profit on group turnover. The following diagram shows the three-year perspective. As can be seen there is hardly a trend can be outlined, but it can be concluded that the gross profit margin has fallen to 39.19%, indicating the rise of operating costs. Diagram 2: Gross profit margin (%) The group's operating loss was 5,304 m, 4,842 m, 5,052 m in 2005, 2004, and 2003 respectively (Vodafone Annual Report, 2005, p. 78). Thus we can calculate the net profit margin, showing us basically the percentage of profit earned on sales, or in this case the percentage of losses lost on sales. Basically, net profit margin shows the profitability of the company. It is found by dividing operating profit (loss) on group turnover. The next diagram shows the net profit margin of three years. As can be seen the previous year 2004 was more profitable for Vodafone than 2005. Additionally Reuters (2005) report of net income 23% decrease to 2,780 m in the first half of 2006. The reasons of the decreasing profitability are increased operating costs, administrative expenses and a decrease of non-operating income. Diagram 3: Net profit margin (%) Liquidity Liquidity is important for the company as it reflects the ability of meeting its liabilities. High liquidity can detract from profits, because liquid assets are low returning investments. Low liquidity stunts company's growth and eventually leads to bankruptcy. Liquidity ratio is measured with dividing the current assets of the company by the its current liabilities. Current assets of Vodafone were 11,794 m and 13,149 m in 2005 and 2004 respectively (Vodafone Annual Report, 2005, p. 79). Current liabilities to creditors were 14,837 m in 2005 and 15,026 m in 2004 (Vodafone Annual Report, 2005, p. 79). The comparison of liquidity ratios for 2004-2005 can be found in the following table. Along with current ratio there is a quick ratio, which shows the ability of a company to repay its liabilities with cash only excluding inventory assets (sales of inventory are often