Justice and Gender in the Oresteia free essay sample

Justice and Gender in the Oresteia Justice and gender are put into relation with each other in Aeschylus’ Oresteia. In this trilogy, Greek society is characterized as a patriarch, where the oldest male assumes the highest role of the oikos (household). The household consists of a twofold where the father is the head, and the wife and children are the extended family. The head of the oikos is the only one who possesses the authority to seek justice. This is because the father acquires the authority through the inheritance law or male lineage.On the contrary, Greek society seems to transform to a matriarch when Clytemnestra solely murders Agamemnon because she, like primitive males, exercises destructive justice and enters the cycle of violence. Conversely, Athena implements a new and productive structure of justice known as litigation. This suggests that Clytemnestra functions as a catalyst in the transformation from oikos (aristocratic) to polis (democratic) which reflects upon society’s progress towards cleansing. We will write a custom essay sample on Justice and Gender in the Oresteia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, Athena replaces Clytemnestra as the dominant female figure because she employs a new and more productive justice referred to as the rational Athenian judgment, and therefore establishes a just society that will produce and not destruct. In order to completely grasp Clytemnestra and Athena’s role in Oresteia, one must first acknowledge that a change in government is characterized by the societal change in justice from old to new. Then, the chorus outlines two forms of justice: destructive and productive.It is important to acknowledge that destructive justice was the prevalent type utilized by men since the earliest epochs of Greek culture. Aeschylus writes, â€Å"And Justice tilts the scales to ensure suffering is the only teacher. As for the Future, you will only learn it when it comes† (Agamemnon 53:287-290). In this passage, the chorus assists in defining that destructive justice insofar as it expounds on the notion that honesty is restored only through entering the continuous cycle of violence.It also suggests that suffering is an unending cycle of blood for blood because â€Å"it is law: that each and every drop of blood spilled on the ground calls out for more blood spilled† (121: 456-8). Aeschylus suggests that blood for blood is a highly revered belief in Greek culture because it is part of the male’s inheritance law. One might argue that the inheritance law strictly pertains to productive and wealthy heritage. However, every head of the household is subjugated by â€Å"the first mayhem, that ancestral sin, as one by one each spits on a brother’s bed that brought destruction to its defiler† (85:1364).This excerpt concludes that the cycle of violence is inescapable because it is inherited through lineage. The concept that suffering is only justified through more suffering is socially accepted, and therefore individuals that are born into this destructive structure embody an instinct inclination towards justice through violence. In knowing that males link their suffering to the sins of their ancestors, one might question that because Clytemnestra is a female, she cannot also link suffering to the sins of her lineage.Clytemnestra becomes a male in a sense that her nature is primitive and inclined to be destructive or violent. The suffering that Clytemnestra endures from death of her da ughter Iphigenia is astronomical, and therefore she can link her suffering to Agamemnon. However, one might dispute that Agamemnon is considered ancestry, and therefore Clytemnestra should not have pursued a violent vengeance. Although, Agamemnon is not considered â€Å"through streams of kindered blood,† it is important to note that as Clytemnestra assumes the head of the oikos, she also becomes affected by the ancestral sins (97:1735).Like all primitive Greek males, Clytemnestra instinctively relieves her suffering she endures, from the death of Iphigenia, by entering the cycle of violence. This further elucidates why a man, whom kills another, only acknowledges his own position in the circle of unjust acts at the very point he, in turn, becomes affected by it (murdered). Clytemnestra makes no implications of violence until she deceitfully welcomes Agamemnon, â€Å"For while the root still lives, the leaves bring cool shade to the house again.So coming back to hearth and home, you bring a summer’s warmth to us in wintertime,† (77: 1108-1112). This quote serves as the prelude to Clytemnestra finally utilizing destructive justice, and thus breaking the circle of violence. Clytemnestra destructiveness is intrinsic in the scene where she welcome home Agamemnon, who accompanied by Cassandra. Aeschylus writes, â€Å"You go inside now. I’m talking to you, Cassandra. Zeus, not unkindly, has determined you should share the lustral water of our house, standing where all our slaves crowd the altar of god who guards the house’s wealth† (79:1173-78).In this excerpt, Clytemnestra shows that she is the head of her household because she can determine who is rightfully welcome. One might argue that Clytemnestra is not revealing destructive justice because of her calmness and generosity in this scene. However, the passage suggests that she is the head and Cassandra is the extended family, and therefore Clytemnestra shows a hint of her destructiveness as she enslaves Cassandra. Clytemnestra mercilessly tells Cassandra that it is â€Å"Here with us you’ll be treated as custom warrants (1189).Destructive justice is first seen when Clytemnestra says, â€Å"My aim was so exact—I won’t deny it—that he could not outrun death, or fend it off once I ensnared him in a deadly wealth of robes, escapeless as a fishing net† (93:1573-6). This quote describes the heartless and evil deed of murdering her husband. The â€Å"escapeless fishing net† is mentioned earlier in the Oresteia when the chorus states that, â€Å"the smothering mesh, seamless, so that in no way could the old or young slip free of the enslaving wide net of all-conquering destruction† (57: 411-414).This excerpt defines the net as being analogous to destruction, in that it smothers man deceivingly. It also reiterates on the notion, relevant in other Greek cultural texts such as The History and Iliad, that ancestral sin makes fate inescapable. A net captur es you before you see it coming. This idea parallels to both the fate and fashion that Clytemnestra determines Agamemnon’s fate. Clytemnestra, the head of the oikos, disrupts the cycle of violence when she solely murders Agamemnon as she â€Å"struck him (Agamemnon) twice, and while he cried two cries, his legs gave way† (93:1576).It is important that it was Aegisthus who planned the murder only to make â€Å"the entrapment, the woman’s role† (102:1897). Aegisthus causes Clytemnestra to become the catalyst towards cleansing as suggested when the chorus calls Aegisthus â€Å"a coward to the life,† and even asks, â€Å"why didn’t you kill this man yourself instead of leaving it to† (102:1898-1903). Clytemnestra becomes the catalyst because she enters the circle of violence unrightfully, and therefore disrupts it. It is a male’s duty, according to the household’s rights, to seek destructive violence.The system becomes impure when an unnatural individual, s uch as a female, and therefore disrupts. When the stripped of its destructive nature, man forgets how to seek justice until a new one is implemented. In Eumenides, the third play of the trilogy, we see a new justice that conflicts with the old. After the primitive cycle of unjust acts is disrupted by Clytemnestra, Athena employs a form of justice where no suffering is necessary in order to restore honor. The fewer people killed constitutes the society’s progress towards cleansing in Oresteia.Productive justice is something unheard of before in ancient Greek culture. It is not until Athena applies a rational and legal judgment that we see a sufficient alternative to entering the continuous cycle of violence. Rational judgment is considered productive because instead of the Erinyes avenging Clytemnestra, by killing Orestes, his crime is justified in court, and therefore his life is spared. Hence, no man will ever have to avenge Orestes’ death because the cycle of pointless violence was disrupted and replaced, and therefore should not be pursued.Athena partakes in the judgment by becoming a contestant in the conflict. The Athenian judgment is equally compromising and advantageous for Orestes, Apollo, and the Erinyes. It also causes Athena to litigate in regards to the interest of Athens. When her judgment releases Orestes, he promises that if they (his descendants) keep an upright course, and give enduring honor to the city of Pallas with their loyal spears, will I remain a blessing to them (Eumenides 178: 895-898).Athena judges favorably for Apollo and Orestes so that she can ensure in the future that Athens will also, in turn, be treated favorably. Likewise, Athena employs the power of the Erinyes so that they can work to protect her Athens. Athena enlightens the Erinyes with the concept that it is your choice now to take what I am holding out to you: to do well and, well honored, have your own share of this land and gods well (Eumenides 181:1009-1012). This passage underlines the correlation of justice reaching an equilibrium to society becoming cleansed, and on its way to becoming productive.This is because Athena’s rational judgment, which stems from Clytemnestra’s disruption of the cycle of justice, serves as the sufficient alternative insofar as it prevents further destruction, or the deaths of Orestes, Apollo, the Erinyes, and the citizens of Athens. Clytemnestra functions as a catalyst because as she assumes the head of the oikos, her gender disrupts the prevalent nature of the household. The cycle of violence was a law followed strictly by males, and because Clytemnestra (female gender) positions herself in the role of Agesthis (male gender) she is considered an unnatural force.The society is last seen in its aristocratic structure right before Clytemnestra murders Agamemnon. Hence, the cycle of violence ceases and leaves society inclined to search for a new justice with a productive configuration. Athena carries out what Clytemnestra initiated by creating a productive alternative to seeking justice through litigation. This contrasts the ancient Greek nature insofar as individuals were originally inclined to seek vengeance. Athenian judgment transforms society from aristocratic to democratic.The litigation of unbiased intermediaries correlates to how a polis or democratic nation functions. Instead of solely deciding among one another what is just or unjust, rational judgment serves as the sufficient alternative. This is because litigation rightfully determines which actions are characterized as socially accepted by the citizens as a whole. Clytemnestra’s pursuit of destructive justice causes the household to diminish, and through Athena, a polis, or city-state surfaces. A polis allows the once extended family (wife and children), to become equal because instead of the father determining the rights of each household, the city-state as a whole establishes what is socially accepted. This is characterized as rational judgment, and it serves as the only solution because it determines one’s fate through reasoning, and not by the consequences of man’s ancestry. Thus, Clytemnestra and Athena are female agents of justice whom have helped create a structure that future societies acquire as their own.

Speech Outline Why Winter Is Better Than Summer Essays

Speech Outline Why Winter Is Better Than Summer Essays Speech Outline Why Winter Is Better Than Summer Paper Speech Outline Why Winter Is Better Than Summer Paper Topic: Winter is better than summer Specific Purpose: To persuade that winter time is better for health and it`s fun as well. Central Idea: Many people hate winter time and can`t wait for summer, but they don`t realize all good things that winter offers. Organization pattern: Monroe Motivation sequence I. Arouse Attention A. Who likes to sweat every time you go outside and take a shower three times a day to get rid of the sweat smell and refresh body? B. According to article Emergency Heat Wave Advice every year 175-200 people in the U. S die from the heat. C. Today I want to persuasive audience that winter is better than summer. II. Demonstrate the Need A. In summer time there are many mosquitoes which can spread diseases. 1. According to article Mosquitoes and Disease â€Å"Even today, mosquitoes transmitting malaria kill 2 million to 3 million people and infect another 200 million or more every year. 2. Tens of millions more are killed and debilitated by a host of other mosquito-borne diseases, including filariasis, yellow fever, dengue and encephalitis† B. According to Dr. Maoshing â€Å"the winter is a time to come back to quietness and rebuild your energy reserves. † C. Too hot to sleep at night. 1. A lot of people can`t sleep because of the heat and it might cause health problems. 2. People sleep better in cold room and in summer time it`s mean bigger bills to use they AS system more. III. Satisfy the Need A. Winter is better for health than summer. 1. People are not in danger for heat exhaustion and dehydration. 2. People can`t get sunburn, that`s mean lower risk to get skin cancer. . Mosquitoes sleep in the winter time B. Winter brings snow 1. People can go skiing and snowboarding 2. People can have snow fights and make snow mans. 3. People can walk on the freeze water and go ice fishing C. Winter means Christmas and as well it means presents and cookies. The Christmas season, whether you are atheist or not, is the warmest, most peaceful time of the year. IV. Visualize the Result A. Each season time has it`s own advantage, but winter has more possible activities. 1. In the summer people can swim 2. In the winter time people can skate, ice fishing, jump in after sauna to make lover body temperature. B. Temperature: 1. In the summer time its hot and humid, usually if it`s too high temperature and it`s hard to breath as well. A lot of oil gases 2. In the winter time temperature is low and air is more fresh and clean. V. Call to Action A. In conclusion, winter brings so much positive emotions and things. 1. Making snow mans and playing with snow 3. Skiing and snowboarding 4. Ice fishing 5. And enjoy the beautiful nature B. Also, people health is not in as big danger than in the summer. C. It`s time when family come together to celebrate Christmas and New Years eve. D. Hopefully I persuasive some of you that winter is the really nice season and that it`s better than summer. Emergency Heat Wave Advice. Emergency Preparedness Disasters, Plans, and Survival. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. . Mosquitoes and Disease. Illinois Department of Public Health Home Page. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. . Ni, Dr. Maoshing. 5 Secrets to Winter Health and Energy. Yahoo! Health. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. .

The True Meaning of 'Push' Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The True Meaning of 'Push' - Essay Example ontext of the protagonist’s life, because it symbolically represents the fact that she has been left behind and needs to push her way forward to survive in the world. At the beginning of the story, Sapphire sets the stage by providing indications that the protagonist lags behind others. â€Å"I was left back when I was twelve because I had a baby for my fahver†¦ I had got left back in the second grade too, when I was seven, ‘cause I couldn’t read†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1). In fact, Precious is considered such a hopeless case as far as learning is concerned that the principal of the school tells her teacher to give up and stop wasting time on her. â€Å"Focus on the ones who can learn† (39). Precious herself articulates the predominant view that exists about her learning powers. â€Å"The tesses paint a picture of me wif no brain†¦ the tesses paint a picture of me an’ my muver – my whole family, we more than dumb, we invisible† (33). Because Precious has been left so far behind, it is not even worth the time or effort for anyone to help her so that she can move forward. In having to push when giving birth to her first baby, Precious is, for the first time, encouraged to be assertive and aggressive rather than passive, drawing upon her basic, primal, female energy in bringing forth life (Marvel, 1996). The title Push, therefore, represents the basic energy of the female protagonist, who at sixteen, cannot read or write, still hasn’t completed high school and is already about to give birth to her second child. Nevertheless, she does not give up or submit to despair; she is always ready to keep fighting, as reflected in her attitude: â€Å" ‘N I really do want to learn. Every day I tell myself something gonna happen, some shit like on TV. I’m gonna break through or somebody gonna break through to me – I’m gonna learn, catch up, be normal, change my seat to the front of the class† (5). When the story commences and Precious is suspended from school because she is

Breast Cancer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Breast Cancer - Research Paper Example Other areas of the breast can also be affected, however, this is rare. Treatment will also vary considering the type of breast cancer and the stage it is in. One can find out if they are a victim to this disease by getting an examination by a physician, a biopsy, a mammography or an ultrasound test. Rates of breast cancer have risen over the years, however there are many women who also fight this disease and survive in America. Men can also suffer from this disease. (society, 2000) Causes of breast cancer The exact factor that causes breast cancer is yet to be pinpointed. Certain factors increase the probability of the cancer’s occurrence. Some can be controlled and modified in order to avoid the onset of the disease; whereas other factors cannot be controlled. There are some main reasons as to why it occurs; Family tree: having family members, especially closely related women in the family such as an aunt, a sister etc. who have breast cancer greatly increases the chances of developing breast cancer. Age: as a person grows older, the chances of breast cancer also increase. Life history: having cancer in one breast increases the likelihood of having cancer in the other breast in the future, or other different types of cancers in the same breast. Menstrual cycle: women with a cycle that started before twelve or ended before fifty five are more susceptible to this disease. Race: black women tend to have stronger potential to avoid the tumor than white women Breast tissue: women with a denser breast tissue as compared to others have a higher probability of developing breast cancer. Giving Birth: having no children or having children at a very late age can also increase the probability of breast cancer occurrence. Studies show that a breastfeeding mother for one or two years has a lesser probability of developing breast cancer. Weight: obese people have a greater probability of suffering from breast cancer than women who have an average body weight. Use of c ontraceptives: The use of oral contraceptives for about ten years or so increases the probability of breast cancer occurrence. Exercise: Exercise has been shown to lower the probability of breast cancer. Alcohol consumption: The rate of consumption of alcohol and the probability of developing breast cancer are directly proportional These are the risk factors that are associated in the development of cancer of the breast in women. Aspects such as age cannot be controlled, as one cannot stop aging, however other factors such as exercise, weight and alcohol consumption etc. can be controlled. (Majure, 2000) Signs, symptoms and diagnosis One of the most common symptoms of breast cancer is a mass or lump in the breast. Other symptoms include dimpling or swelling of the breast, nipple or breast pain, or discharge from the breast or redness. A healthcare provider can confirm whether these signs or symptoms point towards breast cancer. Mammograms are usually used to detect breast cancers. A nd women should at least at the age of forty get regular screen shots in order to prevent the disease or catch it at its earlier stages. A clinical breast exam, CBE, should also be conducted in women in their twenties or thirties in order to be aware of the changes that the breasts are undergoing as well as the early onset of the disease or possibility of the disease. A self-exam of the breast can also be done called a breast self-exam (BSE) by women especially those in their early

Business Plan for E-business Essay Example for Free

Business Plan for E-business Essay ABC Company is an aboriginal products company offering Australian aboriginal artists materials and products, such as painting, boomerang and other handicrafts. Based on the internet, ABC Company also provides timely information about Australian aboriginal culture like their history or daily news. It is the responsibility of ABC Company to support the development of indigenous people’s culture and improve their living quality in the same time. The Market ABC is at the forefront in an exciting and growing market. We focus on the market of Australia and extend to the tourists and Australian indigenous culture lovers. Most aboriginal products stores do not supply the sufficient and related knowledge of aboriginal culture. And our special supporting stagey helps communities get $1 from our sales every $100 for the sake of attracting more aboriginal artists enter the business. It is a different point from other current there is no such e-business company like XX operated today. The Organization ABC is owned and operated by our group members. Since our company is operated online, our management team is the group of our four founders. It is founded on the idea that maintaining satisfied customers is essential to the bottom line. With this in mind, our team will be working hard to ensure that all of their customers expectations are exceeded in all transactions. To maintain a presence within the art and craft community and close relationships to customers and also our suppliers aboriginal people, we will focus more on the professional knowledge of Australian indigenous culture and encourage local communities to join us. Financials The sales growth will be conservative in the first year as when our focus is on the advertisement and make our products well known by potential customers. It is estimated that the sales increase in a 33% phase from second year of business operation. The marketing costs will remain the 10% of total sales. And we may consider company expansion if projected sales met or exceeded our target. 1. Company Summary ABC Company is founded in September of this year in UNSW. The company will offer a variety of products and services of aboriginal culture. In order to have sufficient information and resources of aboriginal culture, we will cooperate with some institutions and communities. For the aspect of products, we will offer aboriginal art such as artefacts and painting which are brought from eBay, institutions such as Tandanya in Adelaide and personnel (Tandanya 2013). Moreover, we will provide aboriginal culture and its history on the website. The resources of those will be picked up from variety of institutions, communities and government’s website. For the first three years, we will focus on the business on the website. Therefore, customers and visitors can experience aboriginal culture on our website 24 hours, seven days a week. When our business is stable, we will expand our services and establish a physical store in Alice Spring. The mission of our company is to become the best platform which spreads aboriginal information and provides products. 1.1. Market Niche In the recent market in Australian, indigenous arts occupy a small part. In the recent years, the sale of aboriginal art is $8m every year, which is equivalent to sale 11 years ago (Rothwell 2013). One reason is that people has few opportunities to engage the aboriginal culture. Moreover, few places have aboriginal arts. Most of arts are sold in the regional institutions and cultural centre, and are offered on few numbers of website. The mission of our company is to be the best platform to provide aboriginal culture and arts. Therefore, we will spread indigenous culture firstly through our website so that more people are familiar with their culture. Moreover, we will offer a variety of products on the website such as gifts and painting. The range of price is from about $50 to thousands of dollars. After getting information of the product, customers could purchase the arts what they are interested in. There are two characteristics of our products. Firstly, we are not only sell aboriginal arts, but share the information and background of each art. Therefore, customers could understand the meaning of it. Secondly, as we stock artwork from institution and artists, the price could be lower than other stores. Therefore, our products have high quality with a lower price. 1.2. Social responsibility of our business There are two main social responsibility of our business: spreading the culture and facilitating the economy. As we share aboriginal culture on our website, more people will familiar with its culture. Therefore, our first social responsibility is to spread aboriginal culture. For example, we will share information about meaning of painting, dancing and their music instead of merely selling products. Culture is a part of fortune for a country. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent it from disappearing. Additionally, we will help some communities and extract $1 from our sales every $100. As we stock some artefacts from communities, it will increase the sales of them. Moreover, we will donate for the community to help it spread aboriginal culture. As a result, it probable creates more job opportunities for aboriginal as more people are interested in its culture. 2. Our service and product Our company will provide a series of services and products on the website. For the aspect of service, we will divide into three stages. In the first stage, we will share information about aboriginal culture and artwork. The profile of artists and their painting also is offered. In this stage, we will focus on spreading the culture of aboriginal. In the next stage, when our business is stable, we will expand our service to day tour that visits physical museum and institution. For example, in South Australia, we will have a day tour to Tandanya to watch a show and have a workshop in Brambuk in Victoria. In our final stage of service, we will offer an opportunity to experience ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings, music, dance and storytelling in Northern Territory (Cultural Tour, 2013). In order to achieve it, we need find more partners with us to organize the planning of travel. For the aspect of our product, we will focus on selling them on our website in the first three years. In the meantime, we will establish a small physical store in Alice Spring. We will offer several products such as artefacts, artwork, crafts, glass and didgeridoos. Every product will attach profile of artist. As we purchase some artefacts and paintings from artists, there will be some unique artworks on our website. Therefore, it is a good choice for gifts to your friends, and good collections for collectors. Moreover, we also have some books about aboriginal culture that will be sold on our website. 3. Market Analysis In recent years, the consumptions of aboriginal culture products (arts, paintings, craft and so on) are decreasing in both Australia domestic and international markets. However, it does not mean that the value of have dropped a bit. ABC Company aims to expand the market size of the indigenous products in Australia markets and international markets by selling indigenous tourism products; in the meantime, increasing the value of indigenous tourism products by spreading the Australia aboriginal culture information online. The Company will market to four primary customers: 1. Tourists. 2. Amateur artists and crafters, including collectors and hobbyists. 3. Professional artists. 4. Businesses, such as architects, graphic designers, or direct mail advertisers. In the meantime, customers who are interested in aboriginal culture are also our potential customers. 3.1. Target market segment strategy 1. Tourists. In general, tourists normally visit the physical stores near the attractions. However, tourists’ purchase amounts are limited to size, material, and there are strict regulations of overseas travelling. Therefore, it is necessary to have partnership between travel agencies and light companies, by sending advertisement via email to the tourists. Then tourists can order indigenous tourism products from overseas or even order the products while they are in Australia before their returns. 2. Amateur artists and crafters, including collectors and hobbyists. In general, most part of this segment will be targeted in low and mid-price level of our products compare with the profession artists. However, we will also consider some customers from this segment are eager to purchase the high-price level products. 3. Professional artists. Considering professional artists not only need to purchase the products, but also need to get regular customer service. Our business will try to set up connections between professional artists and indigenous tourism products services. For the business, such as architects, graphic designers, interior designers, or direct mail advertisers, we will provide large amount order discount for the business oriented purchases or group-buying. 3.2. Service business analysis Our company is an online business store sells indigenous tourism products from Australia to worldwide. Currently customers can buy indigenous products from the stores which are located around the famous attraction sights. However, due to the strict regulations of overseas travelling, some indigenous tourism products are restricted by the materials, amount, and size. Therefore, some customers prefer to order indigenous tourism products online. Our products include: artworks, Didgeridoos, paintings, dolls, books, clothes, and some special order products, etc. 3.2.1. Competitions Besides the traditional attraction sights stores, there are two main competitors in Australia, Alperstein Designs and Spirit Gallery. Alperstein Designs entered the marketplace in 1996 and open online in 2013 (Alperstein Designs, 2013), it is Australia owned business. Alperstein Designs manufactures and designs products for gifts and indigenous tourism industries. Alperstein Designs has its own creative team, and works with Australia artists and designers in order to produce unique products. The products are manufactured in Australia and Asia. Alperstein Designs provides wholesale service nationally and internationally, it also has private label service for the customers who have exclusive desires. Spirit Gallery is located in The Rocks Centre. It was established in 2002 as a small Aboriginal art crafts store in the heart of historic Rocks area of Sydney Australia (Spirit Gallery 2013). The products include: aboriginal arts, carvings, boomerangs ceramics, glassware basket weaving, bark paintings, and didgeridoos. Spirit Gallery also presents exhibitions for local aboriginal artists. 4. Business Strategy Summary 4.1. Competitive edge Instead of merely selling indigenous tourism products, ABC Company aims to spread Australia aboriginal culture and history. This point is different our business from many of our competitors. ABC Company’s target markets are not only large consumers, but also have different price levels from low to high, in order to fulfil all kinds of the customers’ requirements. 4.2. Marketing strategy Our marketing strategy will focus on customer loyalty, partnership, and online promotion. ABC Company will make partnership between aboriginal institutions and communities, travel agencies and flight companies. For the institutions and communities, we could provide teaching instruments for educational needs in order to achieve the promotional goals and special discounts for students and teachers via email. In the meantime, we can get potential customers and aboriginal culture and history information from them. By working partnership with tourism agents, our business can attract customers by sending emails. Moreover, we could also provide discount deals to the customers who used partner travel agencies and flight companies. Our online promotion will rely on social networks such as, Facebook page, Twitter page, and Aboriginal culture and history videos on YouTube. Our company also have the search engine support from Google. All our promotion plans are based on the Internet, since we are an online store. 4.3. Sales strategy The purpose of our company is to provide the friendliest online shopping experiences for our customers. First, we design and refine our website to make sure it is user friendly. Second, provide secure online payment by using Paypal. Third, provide fast and accurate delivery by working with TNT, UPS, and FedEx. Fourth, we provide the best return/exchange policy to build trust with our customers and maintain retention and loyalty. Most importantly, we will also help some aboriginal communities and extract $1 from our sales every $100. 4.3.1. Sales forecast The following table and chart highlight forecasted sales. 5. SWOT and Competitor Analysis 5.1. SWOT Analysis Strength Our company provides not only a variety of aboriginal products but also offers the services of aboriginal culture. Besides, the social responsibilities which improve the traditional culture play a key role in the objective of our company. Comparing with other aboriginal products suppliers, we do not rely on the big production of manufactory chain. Instead, we stock artwork from our local institution and artists. In the meantime, the price could be lower than other similar stores. All in all, the most strength in our company is the unique and special quality with a lower price. Weakness The weakness of our company is the volume production in the short term. Since our suppliers are the aboriginal people from the local community and institution. It is difficult to replenish our stock as we required. Moreover, the professional knowledge of aboriginal culture and communication to the people is another challenge for us. Opportunity The aboriginal art has become more and more significant in Australia’s tourist trade. People from all over the world begin to focus on the traditional culture when they travel to Australia. Although there are many stores especially in tourist attractions, the lack of aboriginal culture information has confused the customers and they cannot understand the reason they buy this work of art. It is an opportunity for us to bring the aboriginal culture to the Internet from physical world. Threat There are amounts of aboriginal culture shops today and the aboriginal show that will attract more customers and tourists. However, our business cannot show the real perform to our potential customers. There are two main competitors for our company: Alperstein Designs and Spirit Gallery. 5.2. Competitor Analysis Our Company vs. Alperstein Designs For Alperstein Design, there are several advantages compared with our company. First, it has its own creative team; therefore, it could have its unique products. Moreover, it provides private label service for customers who wants exclusive products. Therefore, Alperstein pay more attention on different kinds of high quality products. For our company, even though we do not have creative team, we provide a variety of services and products which are collected from different institutions and personnel. Overall, the price of our products will lower than Alperstein and we provide information of aboriginal culture as well. Our Company vs. Spirit Gallery For Spirit Gallery, it is a brick-click company which means both physical and online business are operating. Moreover, it will provide detailed information about Didgeridoo. Spirit Gallery also presents exhibitions for local aboriginal artists. Though we do not have a gallery for business, we provide particular aboriginal information not only focusing on Didgeridoo, but different kinds of artists and culture. Therefore, compared with Spirit Gallery, our company pay more attention on spreading information on the website. As a result, our business is more convenient for customers searching information and products. 6. Financial Plan 1. Sales growth will be conservative in first 12 month as it takes time for us to advertise and make our products well known by potential customers. It is estimated that the sales increase in a 33% phase from second year of business operation. 2. Marketing costs will remain the 10% of total sales. 3. We may consider company expansion if projected sales met or exceeded our target. 4. There would be a physical store in Alice Spring after three years in order to attract more tourists and present our arts work in more comfortable ways. 6.1. Important Assumptions 1. All the assumption is based on the fact that the investment of this business is from founders’ savings. 2. Assume the overall economy of the world especially tourism marketing is stable so that economic situation would not affect business operation dramatically. 6.2. Projected Profit and Loss Several important assumptions are made to calculate the projected profit and loss: 1. Sales are estimated in a conservative basis, while expenses are estimated above average to maximum values. 2. First years sale will be relatively low as it will take time to be well known by potential customers in order to reach the optimal sales target. With the consideration of first year operation, the sale of business is conservatively assumed at $102,000 in year 1 following by $128,000 and $170,240 in second and third year with gross margin ratio at 59.90%, 60.80% and 57.98% respectively. The net profit for each year stays at $20,596.36, $26,788.61 and $37,678.14 while the net profit to sales ratios are 20.19%, 20.93% and 22.13% accordingly. The further detail information can be referred to Appendix 1-1. 6.3. Projected Cash Flow In terms of the cash flow statement, the sales are main sources of cash inflow, and it increases in the same pace with business expansion. It is based on the assumption that there is no issue on collecting cash from sales. On the other hand, most cash spending is due to paying to aboriginal artists, sponsor contribution to aboriginal communities and utility bills. As showing on Appendix 1-2, the net cash inflows for first three years are at $17,351, $14,222 and $11,426 respectively. 6.4. Projected Balance Sheet Referring to Appendix 1-3, the net worth is steadily growing in first three years. Though there will be a physical store in Alice Spring to present our products and attract new customers, our business is primarily focusing on online buyers. Therefore, most assets are current ones. Furthermore, profits generated from business operation are determined to be retained for future business risk safeguard and opportunities capture. 6.5. Break-even Point Analysis For the purpose of break-even analysis, several factors are assumed as the fixed costs. It includes marketing costs ($5,000), Depreciation ($2,000), utilities ($2,000), Insurance ($400) and other costs ($120) with a total amount of $9,520. Gross margin of first year at 59.90% is extracted as the benchmark to calculate break-even point. As a result, our business needs to make $15,894 sales to be break-even. 7. Recommendation and Conclusion There are many places need to be improved and modified in the future. Firstly, about 60% of operating cost is the cost of rent; therefore, it will save much money if we can cut this cost. One of the effective and efficient ways is to get a closer supply chain relationship. The optimal situation is called just in time that we can acquire the product when we need it as soon as possible. We do not need a facility and staffs to stock and manage our product consequently. Furthermore, it is necessary to corporate with various partners such as culture institution, travel agent, museum and artists. It is easy to manage and corporate with our partners in the first three years. However, we need more partners when our business is stable such as travel agent. Therefore, the more partners we have, the more benefits we get. Additionally, a user friendly interface will encourage customers staying on our website. In order to achieve this, it is imperative to hire website designer or use tools such as WordPress (WordPress 2013). In conclusion, the mission of our company is to be the best platform spreading aboriginal information and providing products. We will offer a variety of services and products both on the website and physical stores for different customer segmentations. As a result, it will facilitate the economy of aboriginal and social stability. 8. Reference List: Alperstein Designs 2013, Alperstein Designs, viewed on 30th September 2013, http://alpersteindesigns.com.au/. Cultural Tours 2013, Territory Discoveries, viewed on 1st October 2013, http://www.territorydiscoveries.com. Rothwell, N, 2013, ‘Plunging sales crisis for indigenous art’, The Australian, viewed on 29 September 2013, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/. Spirit Gallery 2013, Spirit Gallery, viewed on 30th September 2013, http://www.spiritgallery.com.au/. Tandanya, 2013, ‘National aboriginal cultural institute inc.’, viewed on 29 Sep 2013, http://www.tandanya.com.au/. WordPress 2013, Themes directory, viewed on 1st October 2013, http://wordpress.org/themes/. Appendix Appendix 1-1 Profit and Loss

South Africa :: essays research papers

The amazing thing as you fly into Hoedspruit from Jo’burg is seeing the walls of the canyon from the air, and how the ‘highveld’ drops horizontally more than 1000 metres into a vast, flat expanse known as the ‘lowveld.’ As we drove from the airport to the Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve, we saw how the flatness of the ‘bush’ was framed by the huge red cliff walls of the canyon. The Reserve is at the bottom of the canyon, right by its mouth. The house was surrounded by a natural ampitheatre made of the beautiful rock faces of the canyon walls. It really is a majestic and amazing place. Wherever you look, you always have a choice of beautiful mountains to look at. Right in the reserve, stands a conical mountain called Modimule. It is a strangely pointed, stand-alone mountain at the mouth of the canyon, surrounded by all the enormous cliffs. The local people have always believed Modimule is the origin of the world and modern science has proved it has the oldest rocks anywhere in the planet other than Australia. The Blyde River Canyon is the third biggest canyon in the world and it is truly imposing. The natural reserve has all types of animals and happily for us since we always walked to and from the lodge for lunches and dinners, no predators. So the animals seemed more curious about us and it was possible to have close encounters with them. My first sight when we arrived was of beautiful zebras standing by the shade of the walls to avoid the hot sun. On the first morning, as we had breakfast outside, looking at the mountains, a plethora of birds came to say hello and entertained us with their melodies. On the second day, as we had lunch in the lodge, we saw a bunch of baboons moroding and trying to break into a house and steal food. They were so funny, walking one after the other in a straight line - oblivious to us. We also learnt that they can be pretty destructive if they get into a house, as it happened to our neighbours. She described it as being the worse scenario you could ever imagine, as she entered her home and found that the baboons had paid a visit through an opened window and gone around destroying, playing and marking territory all around the house.

How Steroids Changed Mlb

Known as America’s pastime, baseball is a game in which generations of children of all ages grow up playing in parks, streets, and alleyways throughout America. These same children grew up idolizing names such as Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron. These men, as thousands of men before and after them, played in a league simply named Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball is rich in history with statistics and records dating back to 1873. Baseballchronology. com (n. d. ) provides this fact. However, as technology has advanced, so have the men who play this game. In the last 15 years athletes have become bigger, faster, and stronger making a game that is so difficult to play,look relatively easy. As a result records that have stood for many years are able to be shattered. Attendance has increased to record levels. Team owners and players are making record amounts of money. Unfortunately, along with these record accomplishments Major League Baseball is enjoying, the use of illegal drugs known as steroids are running rampant among the league’s players. Therefore, although players have become bigger, faster, and stronger, rampant steroid use among players of the last 15 years has changed the face of Major League Baseball negatively. Although it is true that steroids cannot improve a hitter’s hand-eye coordination, balance, or reflex, steroids can affect how hard a hitter hits a baseball. The harder one can hit a baseball the better the chance a hitter has of a getting a base hit. More hits lead to more runs scored, home runs hit, runs batted in by a single player. High statistics lead to Major League Baseball records that have stood for many years to be broken. A player will earn a high salary because of his accomplishments. He will have more of a fan base. This not only affects his pocket book, but the pocket book of the owner of the player’s baseball team because of the increased attendance the player generates. Higher attendance leads to higher television ratings. High television ratings affect Major League Baseball because the higher ratings are, the more the league could demand in a network television contract. With all these factors to consider it is easy to see why a player would use steroids despite the health risk, and why owners would overlook rampant steroid use in Major League Baseball. Thompson, Vinto, O’Keeffe, & Red, 2009 provides interesting facts on this subject. Rampant steroid use has a profound effect on Major League Baseball’s home run record book. Major League Baseball dates back to the late 1800s. An astonishing five of the top 11 home run hitters of all-time either are confirmed or suspected steroid users including the top home run hitter of all-time Barry Bonds. Next is the single home run record. Barry Bonds also owns this record. He hit an amazing 73 home runs in 2001. Barry Bonds surpassed Mark McGwire whom alone with Sammy Sosa became the only players in Major League Baseball history to hit more than 61 home runs in a single season. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are both confirmed steroid users. Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs in 1998 and Sammy Sosa hit 66 that same year. Prior to 1998 only two players ever hit more than 60 home runs in a single season. They are Babe Ruth, who hit 60 home runs in 1927 and Roger Maris who hit 61 home runs in 1961. Sportscity. com/MLB/500-Home-Run-Club (2007-2010) provides homerun statistics. Neither, Babe Ruth nor Roger Maris are suspected or confirmed steroid users. Steroid use is a key factor in perhaps the greatest pitcher of all-time’s success. Roger Clemens pitched 24 seasons in Major League Baseball. He compiled 354 wins, ninth most in history, 4672 strikeouts, third most all-time, seven Cy Young Awards, most all-time, while winning two World Series. Clemens allegedly began taking steroids in 1998. His accuser, Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens personal trainer from the year 1998 through the year 2007, testified to a senate judiciary committee, under oath that Roger Clemens began taking steroids not only to bulk up his aging body, but to help aid recovery time in between games. For athletes, the benefits from steroids come in the form of accelerated recovery from injury and from workouts, allowing them to exercise harder and more frequently. For a pitcher, especially aging pitchers, steroids help them bounce back between games† (Thompson, Vinto, O’Keeffe, & Red, 2009, p. 32). Roger Clemens denies these accusations and even fi led a defamation lawsuit again Brian McNamee that was eventually thrown out of court. If Roger Clemens used steroids, would he have won 354 games, or struck out 4672 hitters? Would Roger Clemens have won two World Series championships and seven Cy Young awards? Unfortunately, baseball fans may never know whether or not Roger Clemens took steroids; therefore these fans will never know the answer to these questions. However, just the question itself brings doubt to the legitimacy of Roger Clemens’ records and accomplishments. Broken records are not the only way rampant steroid use changed the face of Major League Baseball. In 1994 a labor dispute between the players and the owners resulted in a work stoppage. For the first time in the league’s 123 year history, a player’s strike resulted in the cancellation of Major League Baseball’s playoffs and World Series. Prior to the strike of 1994 Major League Baseball’s popularity was at an all-time high. Attendance reached a record high 70,257,938 in 1993. The previous record was set in 1991 at 56,813,760. Unfortunately for Major League Baseball, attendance figures dropped dramatically following the strike. Attendance figures from 1995 through 1997reached an average of 57,911,768 per year. Nineteen ninety-eight was a completely different story. Attendance figures hit a record high of 70,601,147 in large part because of the homerun race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Baseballchronology. om (n. d. ) provides statistical attendance facts. Television ratings reached an all-time high because of the large number of fans who wanted to watch every Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa at bat. Major League Baseball’s popularity was again at an all-time high. Owners and players benefitted greatly because of the substantial increase in revenue. Although there were many rumors concerning steroid use among players in Major League Baseball; neither the Major League Baseball’s Players Association or Major League Baseball’s Owners cared to implement a steroid testing program. Rampant steroid use among Major League Baseball Players was just a rumor in 1998. If the two sides agreed to test for steroids and those test turned up positive results in some of the game’s biggest names, attendance would fall once again. This was simply too much of a risk. Owners decided to look the other way, hoping rumors would fade. Rampant steroid use among players has changed the face of Major League Baseball negatively. First, steroid use among players changed the face of Major League Baseball’s record book. Second steroid use among players help drive attendance up by captivating fans from around America who had no idea players were shattering records because of the use of an illegal substance. Third, steroids use among players helped players and owners line their pockets with millions of dollars in revenue this attendance increase generated. Finally, any accomplishment a player has achieved in the last 15 years is in question from fans of Major League Baseball because these fans do not know every player who used steroids. This is an unfortunate reality for players who achieved greatness through hard work; without the aid of any