Digital Marketing Report( Gwynne's) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Digital Marketing Report( Gwynne's) - Case Study Example The key market that is served by the business is America. The business specifically targets Americans who live in NY, Colorado etc. There are several other online tutorials who teach Latin to students in the USA. Almost all of them are online based coaching classes who teach Latin based on teaching through SKYPE. The future direction for the business would be to advertise through online platforms such as face book and twitter and also contact the universities for conducting classes for the students of the universities. The current stakeholder’s in the organization’s marketing activities are the website of the company; you tube through which the company hosts the videos of classroom teaching to attract further students as customers. Other current stakeholders in the marketing activities of the organization are websites like Amazon through which the business markets textbooks written by the authors. In future the company intends to promote the business through social media websites and use them as marketing channels. Among the social media channels that the company wants to use in order to promote the business are Face book and Twitter. In future if the business goes big the company should hire more teachers, create a company promote online. The business may also provide free classes to the students so that they are attracted to undertake the full time courses. Amongst the existing channel mix for the business are the medium such as website of the company, and you tube. Most of the customers of the company connect with the company through the websites of the company. The website of the business also provides links about the videos dealing with classroom coaching by Mr. Gwynne. Other elements of the promotional mix that are used by the company to promote it are the newspaper in which the company advertises about itself. Amongst all the different marketing and channel mix that are used by the business to promote itself, the website

Outline the essential skills required for an undergraduate to equip Essay

Outline the essential skills required for an undergraduate to equip themselves for employment as a Bio-scientist in the 21st century - Essay Example dical engineering, biophysics, botany, cell biology, ecology, food science, forensic science, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology and zoology. Below are the brief descriptions of the following according to North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR, 2006a): Biophysics – employment of physics and chemistry principles and mathematical methods to comprehend how the biological system process. It aims to rationalise biological function through molecular structures and specific molecule properties. Zoology – focuses on the study of animals from their structure to the subcellural unit, also with the functions of the animal bodies, the inherited characteristics, the animals’ interaction with another and their behaviour (NCABR 2006a). The growth of bioscience has been astonishing as it can be characterised as exceptional due to the intense new findings and propagation of the methods and procedures used for the study (IUBMB 1999). Moreover, as the world of science becomes more complex over time, the boundaries that used to separate one kind of science from the others are starting to disappear – on the part of bioscience, each of its subcategories have began to communicate the same way and utilise tools used by other (IUBMB 1999). Bioscience has given bio-scientists the capabilities to search comprehensively through aspects of life which are wrought with questions (University of Leeds n.d.). Through the biosciences, various new discoveries and innovations were made that could aid and change people in their daily lives. These developments are made for cancer treatment, disease recognition and identification, biochemical production, pollution and energy consumption reduction, bioterrorism detection, and genetic analysis (Farmingdale State University of New York n.d.). Bioscience does carry huge benefits; however, along with it are are risks and dangers. Along with the various technological innovations, bioscience also helps in

Maintain international peace and security

Maintain international peace and security The United Nations, the UN is an international organization established to maintain and strengthen international peace and security, development cooperation between States. The basis of its activities and structure developed during the Second World War, leading participants-Hitler coalition. The name â€Å"United Nations† was first used in the United Nations Declaration, signed on Jan. 1, 1942. The UN Charter was adopted at the San Francisco Conference, held from April to June 1945 and signed on June 26, 1945 representatives of 51 States. Date of entry into force of the Charter (24 October) is celebrated as United Nations Day. The organization occupies a central place as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ. The General Assembly shall consider the principles of cooperation in the field of international peace and security; elects non-permanent UN Security Council members, members of the Economic and Social Council, on the recommendation of the Security Council appointed UN Secretary-General, in conjunction with the Security Council elects the members of the International Court of Justice, coordinates international cooperation in the economic social, cultural and humanitarian spheres; exercise other powers stipulated in the UN Charter. Security Council. Primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security; its decisions are expected to obey all the UN members. The five permanent Security Council members (Russia, USA, Britain, France and China) have veto power. The Security Council consists of 15 members: five members permanent (USA, UK, France, Russia and China), the remaining ten members (in the terminology of the Constitution â€Å"no standing†) were elected to the Council in accordance with the procedure stipulated by the Charter (paragraph 2 Article 23). Secretariat this is an international staff working institutions around the world and perform a variety of daily activities of the Organization. It serves the other principal organs of the United Nations adopted and implemented their programs and policies. Secretariat units are located at UN Headquarters in New York and elsewhere in the Headquarters of the UN bodies, the largest of which are the United Nations Office at Geneva and Vienna. At the head of the Secretariat is the Secretary-General who is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council for a term of 5 years, renewable for another term. Currently, there is a gentlemans agreement that a citizen of the country a permanent member of the UN Security Council can not be the UN Secretary General. An important instrument for maintaining international peace and security are the UN peacekeeping operations. Their activity is determined by a number of General Assembly resolutions adopted in accordance with the Charter of the Organization. Implementation of the UN peacekeeping operation can be expressed as: Investigation of incidents and negotiations with the warring parties with a view to reconciliation; Verifying compliance with the ceasefire; Contributing to the maintenance of law and order; The provision of humanitarian assistance; Monitoring the situation. Human rights. On 10 December 1948 UN General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and then recommended that all Member States to publish the text of the Declaration by the â€Å"spread, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without any distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.† Humanitarian aid. Humanitarian disasters can occur anywhere and at any time. Whatever the cause flood, drought, earthquake or conflict they always lead to deaths, displacement, loss of the ability of communities on their own to ensure their existence and bring immense suffering. In countries which have for a long time been exposed to natural disasters or recovering from conflict, humanitarian aid is increasingly seen as one element of an overall effort to ensure that peace-building, along with the development of political and financial support. Perhaps the most dramatic natural disaster in recent years has caused a tsunami in the Indian Ocean earthquake. Early in the morning Sunday, December 26, 2004, off the west coast of northern Sumatra occurred strong earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, which resulted in a huge tsunami, which reached a height of 10 meters and move along the surface of the Indian Ocean at a speed of 500 kilometers per hour. The tsunami hit the coastal areas in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives, Myanmar, the Seychelles and Somalia. It has been estimated that as of April 2005 more than 217 thousand people died, 51 thousand missing and more than half a million people homeless. Organization of the United Nations began to take measures immediately, trying to satisfy a range of humanitarian needs, including in areas such as agriculture, coordination and support services, economic recovery and infrastructure, education, family housing and consumer goods, food, health , measures related to mine clearance, protection of human rights and the rule of law, security and water and sanitation. For this purpose, 5 January 2005 was made â€Å"urgent appeal† to the mobilization of 977 million dollars to fund critical of relief efforts undertaken by some 40 United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). However, despite its uniqueness, the UN has been discredited by failings and scandals. The organization has demonstrated that it is not always able to promptly adapt to rapidly changing global political realities. In this regard, the UN is often criticized for its inefficiency, undemocratic, the lack of attention to the problems of developing countries, bureaucracy, overstaffing and excessive budget.On behalf of the UN have also been linked, and some high-profile financial scandals. In one of them, the Program for Iraq â€Å"Oil for Food program, was involved even Kojo Annan (Kofi Annans son). American Commission of Inquiry program of assistance to Saddams Iraq Oil for Food has revealed the involvement of UN officials for corruption by the regime of Saddam Hussein. In addition, the number of peacekeepers and employees were indicted for sexual crimes against refugees. According to RBC daily interviewed experts inflation scandals plaguing the UN is being targeted, and above all they a re interested in the U.S. who do not want to reckon with the UN as an independent player in the international arena. Therefore, Washington was determined to discredit the organization. The new regulations the UN is an attempt to keep the organization itself and restore its shaken credibility in the world. However, it is unlikely to lead to desired results: in its current form, this organization is not able to solve the tasks assigned to it. All in all, despite the scandals and disadvantages, it can be said that the United Nations is an effective institution, which has been proven many times by its actions. The organization has many goals for the sake of the society all over the world, among them are: To maintain international peace and security and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace and suppress acts of aggression or other breaches of peace and by peaceful means in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment and settlement of international disputes or situations which may lead to a breach of peace; To develop friendly relations from nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace; To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms to all, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, and To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations and the achievement of common goals.

Uncle Toms Cabin Essay examples -- Uncle Toms Cabin Essays

Few books can truly be said to have altered the course of history, and even fewer can be said to have started an entire war. Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was one such novel. It is a realistic, although fictional view of slavery, that burned into the consciousness of America the images of brutal beatings and unfair slave practices. Uncle Tom's Cabin helped to turn the tide of public opinion against slavery in the 19th century. This controversial novel was initially written to question slavery and to convince people of its immorality. It was the first book that brought the problem of slavery in America to the attention of the world. It became not only a bestseller, but a social documentary of the lives of slaves. The closest parallel to the success of Uncle Tom's Cabin was Sinclair's The Jungle, but even The Jungle did not start an entire war.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The main characters in this story are Uncle Tom, Eliza and George Harris. Uncle Tom is a good man, trustworthy, a model slave. He refused to make trouble, and is accepting of an institution he cannot change. A very spiritual person, Uncle Tom tries his best to obey the Bible and to do what is right. He is the figure meant to show the good of man, and how that good was trampled by an unjust institution. Eliza is a beautiful slave owned by George Shelby, Sr., the same person who owns Tom. Eliza has a son, Harry. Eliza's husband, George Harris, lives on a nearby plantation. George is a ...

Immigration Issues

Over the years the United States has been called a nation of immigrants. The fact that America is a melting pot for so many different cultures, races, and religions makes it unique in the world. The newcomers, both legal and illegal, fill labor shortages and provide new business opportunities. History shows they also bring ideas, vigor, and ambition. However, rising immigrant numbers and messy immigration policies have become a serious problem to gain control of.Although immigrants have contributed to America, the government should reform current immigration policies and limit immigrants flow today because of the economics and the large population problem. Kofi Annan in her lecture on â€Å"International Flows of Humanity† states that we must approach the issues of immigration with the strong ethical compass. Jagdish Bhagwati asserts that while changing immigration policies we should seek benefits for all. I disagree with both of them.American government should first of all se ek benefits for native citizens and local economy; and there is no place for â€Å"ethical compass† in effective immigration policies that will benefit the economy and citizens. The new immigrants have caused economic problems in America today. Each decade of new immigrants has done worse than the last economically. According to a study released by the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, â€Å"The education levels of newly arriving immigrants have not kept pace with those of native-born Americans.As careers that require advanced education continue to drive the job market, it is no surprise that many immigrants are finding it increasingly difficult to join the economic mainstream† (Camarota). The results of the lower education ripple effect do not bode well for recent immigrants. â€Å"Those who arrived in the 1980's have remained at an economic disadvantage, and are still less likely to own homes or become citizens than the immigrants of the previous three d ecades,† says the study (Camarota).Several decades ago, many immigrants entered America as skilled workers and filled the labor shortages; however, the majority of the immigrants today are unskilled workers, and the labor market is almost full because of the machine utilization and the network development. The problem is that current immigration policies give more consideration to those unskilled workers. For example, it is easier to get a visa through a family member than through an American employer. In fact, there are only 140,000 employment-based mmigrant visas given out each year, comparing to unlimited family-based visas (Visa Types for Immigrants). Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) data show that those new arrivals usually are from the developing countries, and most of them come to join close family members. Most of those new immigrants usually have to face many troubles such as language problems and cultural adjustments when they arrive in America. Social se curity has to pay benefits to them because of their low income.Thus, the majority of them have low education there is no doubt that they will become a public burden. If the government does not change the messy immigration policies, the economic problem will get worse. So, I suggest that the American government should expand the number of employment-based immigrant visas. This will let more educated and determined people into the country, who will boost the economy by providing innovations in fields of science and technology.Then, the government should limit the number of family-based visas, so those skilled immigrant workers wouldn't be able to bring their unskilled relatives. Another economical problem that immigrants from developing countries bring is that they send large amounts of national wealth to their home countries. As Kofi Annan in her lecture on â€Å"International Flows of Humanity† states, â€Å"migrant workers in developed countries send at least $88 billion ba ck to their countries of origin-more than those same developing countries received in official development aid† (Annan).If American government won't do anything about it, the numbers will grow faster with each year. I suggest that to compensate the loss of national wealth, American government should stop sending financial aid to developing countries. Unlimited immigration will cause a large population problem. The large population in India has caused increasing unemployment, unsafe environments, and a lack of resources. Following their experience, America should be on the alert that continued rising immigrant numbers will lead to a large population one day.It is estimated that if immigration continues at a current levels, the nation's population will increase from 301 million today to 468 million in 2060 – a 167 million (56 percent) increase (Camarota). Immigrants plus their descendents will account for 105 million (63 percent) of the increase (Camarota). Kofi Annan men tions in her article: â€Å"The more we try to deal with migration simply by clamping down on it with tighter border controls, the more we find that human rights are sacrificed-on the journey, at the border, and inside host countries. Such increase in the population will cause congestion, sprawl, traffic, pollution, loss of open spaces, and greenhouse gas emissions. So, tightening border controls will heart much less people than these problems. To do that America should focus on what kind of nation it wants to be: uneducated, dependent, and unmotivated or united, skilled, and progressive. Immigration policies that exist today People that come here as+ live in closed communities Kofi Anan addresses the issue of immigrants' discrimination in U. S. a lot in her article.But in my opinion United States is the most anti-discriminative country of all already. In fact the government focuses so much on minorities that if you belong to white race and don't have any disabilities it is almost impossible to get a financial aid or any other kind of benefits.Annan, Kofi. â€Å"Lecture on International Flows of Humanity† Camarota, Steven A. â€Å"The Slowing Progress of Immigrants. † Center for Immigration Studies, March 2001, http://www. cis. org/articles/2001/back401. html â€Å"Visa Types for Immigrants. † U. S. Department of State, October 6, 2008. http://travel. state. gov/visa/immigrants/types. html

Great Expectations Essay

Magwitch is simply portrayed as an evil man chasing a little boy while in the Lean version we get to learn a little more about Magwitch and can empathise with him more. The 1946 Lean version incorporates both characterisation and maintaining the audience’s interest (done through dialogue rather than just one dramatic word). Therefore, I would argue it is more effective. The sound effects used in both films are dramatic and each has moments where the sounds used are more effective than the other film. For example, Lean’s film makes use of trees creaking, wind whistling, a short sharp scream and loud lonely bird calls. These sounds build up the effect of loneliness and solitude surrounding Pip. This is effective because it allows the audience to become emotionally attached to the character which makes it more dramatic when Pip meets Magwitch. On the other hand, the 1999 version of the film makes use of heavy breathing and very loud sudden bird calls. These sound effects are mote dramatic than the other film’s effects because the birds and heavy breathing are very loud and upfront rather than subtle. They really add to the scene and so I believe both the films have equally effective sound effects. A heavy use of symbolism is evident in both films. In the Lean version some symbolism used includes the book at the beginning. This represents that a story is about to be retold and the pages of the book turning suggest that the audience are being immersed into a story. The book may also be a subtle tribute to Dickens from Lean who acknowledges that the film is based on a novel. In fact, Lean tries to remain faithful to some of Dickens’ descriptions such as the horizontal lines in the sky. The shot of Magwitch’s dirty skin is also an interesting use of symbolism. This is very effective because not only does it introduce us to Magwitch’s circumstances but it also helps develop an alternate side to him. The dirt on his skin not only suggests that he is different underneath but also shows that he has been through a lot. The contrast in colouring between Magwitch’s dark hand and Pip’s pale skin also reiterates how Magwitch is more evil and Pip is vulnerable. It is very effective because it has many purposes and is done very subtly. There is also symbolism in the later film and an interesting example is the birds flying in the sky. The quick transition from Pip’s face to the flying birds suggests to the audience that something terrible is happening. The timing of the cut suggests that the birds’ caws are covering what would be the boy’s screams. There is also the symbolism in that birds are free and can fly away from trouble while Pip is limited and can not get away so easily. I would argue that there is more important symbolism that has more purposes in the Lean version because there is a tribute to Dickens and it is used to develop the characters and plotline while the later film mainly uses symbolism for dramatic effect only. One way in which the earlier version is very good is in the use of the camera. One place where it is very effective is when there is a long shot panning behind a tree in a graveyard it is possibly a point of view shot. This not only sets the scene and establishes the background due to the long-shot but also creates the feeling that the audience are hiding and watching the boy. This makes them wonder what will happen to the boy as the audience will not know at this moment whether the character whose view we are taking has good or bad intentions. There is editing where there is flicking from one shot to another and this builds tension and creates confusion. This is used in the dialogue between Pip and Magwitch to show the urgency of the situation. Between this rapid editing the shots are mainly extreme close ups of Magwitch’s face to create fear and close-ups of Pip so his emotions are very clear to the audience. The 1946 film has a lot of variations in shot however; the 1999 film mainly uses point of view and mid-shots which are interesting because they allow the audience to stay close to what is going on. Yet the variety in the Lean film keeps the audience’s interest engaged. There would not have been a choice at the time the film was made but because the film is in black and white it is often very striking as the black white and grey seem minimalist but they still strongly contrast. Lean uses the black and white to create stark contrasts in the sky and background to emphasise the eeriness and loneliness of the setting. So although he can not make full use of the colour that the later film can Lean uses the contrasts in symbolism. Overall, I would say that although both films have very good openings the earlier one has more ways that make it a better introduction to the story as a whole. Generally I feel that the Lean film has shots that allow for more characterisation and development of plot while also making the vital dramatic impact that is imperative to retain the interest of an audience. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Miscellaneous section.

Sex Roles of Men and Women essays

Sex Roles of Men and Women essays In a society of todays nature, men and women are still unequal. Societys stereotypes and discriminations date back to the time period that the white man controlled the black man and women had no say in the household. This still continues today. Baby-Boomers and some of their parents are still present within the workplace. The parents have passed those traits down from generation to generation through their beliefs in culture and ethics. Whenever they were growing up, it was not right for the woman to be out working. She was to set at home, take care of the house, and raise the kids. The man was to get out and make the money for them. People just cant seem to get past this belief at the present time. Although it may be illegal to discriminate against a person due to age, race, sex, gender, etc., there are still loopholes within that. In todays society many men make way more money than a women even though they may be doing the same work. That would be a form of discrimination that is very difficult to prove. These occurrences come from the people that are doing the hiring and dont see women running everything as an equality. They still see it that males are the ones that should run the business. They want the females to be the data entry operators, the file clerks, the administrative assistants, and the secretaries. This is not right of the field or of the workplace today. There is too large of a diverse workplace to all employees not to be equal. As we can see, things have come a long way from say 100 years ago. However, it still has a long way to continue. We have to continue to train our employees, advance our employees, offer diversity workshops to our employees, and show them that all employees can work their way up within a company or business. With the productivity of a business today and the economy the way that it is, it ...

The Arts of Russia essays

The Arts of Russia essays The Arts play a large role in the expression of inner thoughts and beauty in life. From dance and music to art the concept of life is shown through the various ways in which we interpret it. The arts play a valued role in creating cultures and developing and documenting civilizations. Russia has been developing the its culture for as long as anybody could think. Nowadays, Russian painters and musicians are quickly becoming well known among each and every one around the world. It should be no surprise that the rich Russian culture is producing so much talent, and everyone around the world seems to enjoy it. Great artists such as Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky (music), Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov (literature), and Marc Chagall (art) have shared Russias culture with the rest of the world. Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky is mostly known for his great musicals. One of his greatest musicals The Nutcracker has been turned into an ice show in United States of America. Peggy Flaming, Nicole Bobek, Todd Eldredg, and Brian Orser along with others star in the beautiful and magical ice show. The Nutcracker is a story of a young girl (Clara) who receives a Nutcracker doll as a Christmas present from her Godfather (Drosselmeier), and with the help of a little magic, the doll comes to life in her dreams. Everybody, especially children, love to watch how these ice champions bring the Christmas story of the Nutcracker to life. The Swan Lake is also a very known production of Tchaikovsky. The well-known theme of the tragic Swan-Princess from Swan Lake seems to embody the intense, heartfelt, romanticized suffering which Tchaikovsky music gives voice to so often. Numerous people around the world listen to Tchaikovsky when they are either in a bad mood and want to relax or just to break away f rom the world and go to an imaginary world. In music competitions countless of musicians perform Symphony ...

Complete List of FREE ACT Math Practice Questions

Complete List of FREE ACT Math Practice Questions SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Whether you're on a budget or just want to see what kinds of ACT Math study materials you can access for free, you've come to the right place. Though the internet is chock-full of ACT resources of dubious quality, we've collected and put together only the highest quality free ACT Math study materialavailable. So let's jump right in! Note: For guides and reviews of the best for-pay ACT study, check out our list of ACT study links, which includes all official practice tests, and our top picks for ACT prep books. Why You Must Use High-Quality ACT Math Materials Because the ACT is a very specific type of standardized test, it's crucial that you study using the right sources. Studying with the wrong materials is about as bad as not studying at all,and there are, unfortunately, a lot of poorly designed ACT prep materials floating around. So don’t be tempted by the many websites and programs, both free and paid, that provide ACT prep materials of poor quality. If you spend your time studying from inferior materials, you will not have a clear sense of how you’ll perform on the ACT.Proper test prep is about assessing your current level and improving upon it, but you won’t be able to do this if you get a false sense of your skill level (either higher or lower) based on low-quality study materials. In short, any practice problems that don't properly reflect the types of questions you’ll see on the ACT aren't worth your time! Knowing this, the absolute best study strategy is to use official ACT materials.The test is designed by ACT, Inc., and their free materials are far and away the best place to start. From here, you can then branch off to programs and resources that utilize (or closely resemble) this official material. Because you should only be studying from websites and programs that are as close to the source (i.e., the official ACT) as possible, there sadly aren't a whole lot of free materials available. That said, we've found a couple of solid free ACT Math resources you can use in your prep. Read on to see what these are! The 4 Best Resources for Free ACT Math Practice Here are four super helpful websites you can use to help you make the most of your ACT Math studies- and you don't have to pay a cent for any of them! #1: ACT, Inc. The creator of the test itself, ACT, Inc., should always be your first go-to website for any and all ACT matters. Luckily, they also have a good deal of free study resources, offeringboth complete ACT practice tests and individual Math practice materials. Free Official Full-Length ACT Practice Tests The five tests linked below are the only free tests available from the past 10+ years.Each ACT test includes an optional Writing section and answer key: ACT Practice Test 2015-16 ACT Practice Test 2014-15 ACT Practice Test 20-12 ACT Practice Test 2008-09 ACT Practice Test 2005-06 You might notice that there are missing years here (2006-07, 2007-08, etc.). This is because the ACT repeats tests for different years, meaningthatthe tests for missing years are actually duplicates of the ones above. Note: If you buy the third edition of theACT Red Book, you'll have access to five more official ACT practice tests, but this is obviously not free (around $30 on Amazon).You can also buy the more recent 2017-18 edition of the ACT Red Book, but this oneonlyincludes three practice tests whose questions often overlap with those in the practice tests above. Free Official ACT Math Practice In addition to complete practice tests, the official ACT website providessample math questions with answer choice feedback. These are a full 60 questions in ascending order of difficulty, just like a real ACT Math section. It's essentially another free complete ACT Math test with which you can study! We recommend solving all your questions on paper and then checking your work at the end, rather than checking your accuracy after each question. This method will give you a better sense of how you’ll do on the ACT (remember, you won’t get immediate feedback while you’re taking the actual test!). No need to worry about bills here- most of your ACT studying can be done for free. #2: PrepScholar ACT Blog At PrepScholar, we've compiled tons offree resources for all your ACT Math needs, including detailed guides on every ACT math topic. Our articles give definitions and explanations for major math concepts, offer examples of how you’ll see each topic on the test, and provide ACT practice questions with detailed answer explanations. Below are some of our most helpful content-related resources for the ACT Math section: Numbers Integers (Basic) Integers (Advanced) Fractions, Ratios, Rational Numbers, and Proportions Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode) Probability Sequences Algebra Single Variable Equations Systems of Equations Operations Functions Coordinate Geometry Lines and Slopes Reflections, Translations, and Rotations Plane and Solid Geometry Lines and Angles Circles Triangles Polygons Solid Geometry Trigonometry Trigonometry Formulas The 31 Critical ACT Math Formulas You MUST Know In addition, we have strategy guides to help you solve numerous ACT Math problems across the board: Plugging in Answers Plugging in Numbers You can also sign up for a free five-day trialforour online ACT prep program. This customizable program assesses your current strengths and weaknesses and adapts to your needs based on your progress. It also gives you practice questions tailored to your areas that need improvement and provides expert answer explanations for all questions. The questions we use in our program are all based on real ACT test questions,and, though the full program is not free, we guarantee you your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points. #3: Ivy Global ACT Practice Test This company offers afree unofficial ACT practice test. Although the math content overall is solid, some questions are slightly easier than those on the actual ACT. In addition, there are no answer explanations, making it hard to determine how to effectively solve questions you got wrong. Otherwise, this PDF offers helpful practice and is a great option if you've already used up all official resources. I recommend using itmainly to digintoextra math questions (instead of taking it as a full-length test). This will help you develop a clearer picture of what math concepts and question types are especially difficult for you. It should also be noted that unlike other ACT websites, Ivy Global does not require you to make an account in order to access its ACT practice material. #4: Khan Academy A partner of the College Board (the creators of the SAT- not ACT), Khan Academy is a great website to use forACT Math practice and review, as long as you know how to use it effectively. I say that because this free prep website only offers a program for the SAT, so you won't find any official ACT practice questions here. That said, you can still use Khan Academy to drill relevant ACT Math concepts and practice those you've learned. Since the ACT, like the SAT, has a big emphasis on algebra, you can use the SAT's Heart of Algebra and Passport to Advanced Math sections for relevant practice. For geometry (which makes up 35-45% of ACT Math), use the High School Geometry page to choose specific concepts and watch videos on them. Finally, for trigonometry, go with the trigonometry and SAT Additional Topics sections. OK, so you've got your study material. Now how do you best use it? How to Use ACT Math Resources Effectively: 6 Key Tips In addition to knowing what material to actually use (and what to avoid) for your ACT Math prep, it's important to know how to best utilize the resources you find. The following six tips will help you achieve your highest ACT Math score using the free prep materials available. #1: Take a Complete Practice Test in One Sitting Though you're probably mostly concerned about your ACT Math score, you still need to know how you'll fare over the course of the full ACT. Answering one or two ACT questions might not be overly challenging, but the test is a marathon: if you aren't prepared, you'll likely find yourself exhausted by the end of it. And exhaustion can cause anyone to make mistakes! So before you dedicate your focus to ACT Math alone, see how your Math score fits into the larger test-taking picture. Plus, a bonus: by taking a full ACT practice test, you'll also be able to see how your Math score does over the course of the entire Math section (remember, questions get harder and harder over the course of the Math test!). #2: Use Proper Timing As you take your complete practice test and any math-specific sections, be sure to follow the proper timing used on the real ACT. Here's a brief overview of how much time you'll get on each ACT section as well as how much (estimated) time you should spend per question: ACT Section Total Time # of Questions Time per Question English 45 minutes 75 36 seconds Math 60 minutes 60 60 seconds Reading 35 minutes 40 53 seconds Science 35 minutes 40 53 seconds Writing (Optional) 40 minutes 1 40 minutes As you can see, you'll have an average of one minute to answer each Math question,and you'll need to know how well you fit into these parameters before test day. It's not worth much if you can answer every question correctly but can't complete the test in time! Don’t worry if you run out of time while taking your first practice test- this is completely normal and gives you a place from which to begin and improve. If the trend continues, however, consider checking out our guide on how to stop running out of time on ACT Math. #3: Review Your Mistakes Taking a practice test is merely the first step. Once you're done with this, focus on identifying any patterns in your correct and incorrect answers so that you can see what and how you need to improve. For example, do you tend to get the last few questions wrong on Math? Dofunction questions always throw you for a loop? Whatever your case, dig deep to examine your errors, andtailor your study plan to drill your most challenging areas. #4: Target Your Areas of Weakness Your goal is to answer as many questions as accurately as possible, so dedicate the majority of your time to improving your areas of weakness. For example, if you're struggling to understand a certain concept, such as systems of equations or coordinate geometry, take time to review it and then use practice questions and tests to ensure you're getting it down. In addition, make an effort to prioritize the first 40 questions or so on ACT Math.Though each question is worth the same number of points, they get more and more difficult as you go through the test. Therefore, it's more efficient in terms of your time and energy to solve two questions in the 20-range than it is to spend twice as much time solving question 60. #5: Pace Your Studying Don’t cram all your studying into one day before the test. With a busy schedule, cramming might seem like your only option, but real improvement happens over time. And yet don't despair, either! No matter how much time you have left before the test, you can make a balanced study program. Start by looking at the time you have before test day. We generally recommend giving yourself at leastthree to six months to study for the ACT; this should be enough time for you to identify your weaknesses, take several practice tests, and review key content. Next, assign yourself at least three full practice tests in addition to your normal studying time, spaced out over the course of your time until the test. This probably won’t be possible if you only have a week or two before the ACT, but it’s still important to fit in at least one practice test or twowherever you can. If you're on an accelerated or last-minute schedule, check out our guides to studying for the ACT in a month andimproving your ACT score in 10 days. #6: No Improvement? Consider Using a Tutor or Prep Program Some students want to do all their studying alone, but for others this method is impractical. If the material doesn't make sense to you and you need extra guidance (or something to get you to make time to study), a tutor or prep program (or both!) can give you the final push you need to do well on the ACT and maximize your score.At PrepScholar, we offer both expert tutoring and a fully customizable online ACT prep program. As you weigh your options, remember to consider how much you should pay for an ACT tutor and when your ACT test date isso you can come up with a surefire plan that works well for you! There are many different study paths, and you'll find the right one for your needs!(maramao/DeviantArt) What’s Next? Want to best make use of your ACT study materials? Now that you've gathered some ACT Math resources, check out how to get the most realistic ACT experience in your practice. Bitten by the procrastination bug? Time running out until test day? Check out how to beat the urge to procrastinate and learn how to balance your time for your ACT prep. Looking to get a perfect ACT score? Take a look at our guides to how many questions you can get wrong and still get a perfect scoreandhow to get a full 36 on ACT Math(written by a perfect scorer!). Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Business Finance Theory & Practice- Financial rationale of a strategic Essay

Business Finance Theory & Practice- Financial rationale of a strategic readjustmentFinancial rationale of a strategic readjustment - Essay Example It seeks to achieve this aim through production of quality items, timely response to customer needs and investment on future projects. Henry Williams founded the company in the year 1859 as a small wardrobe clothing company. Despite its small start, the company has expanded its network and business units to various market destinations globally including US. The expansion is resulting to high amount of revenue and asset development. The level of performance can be ascertained from its strong revenue base and asset capacity as contained in its financial statements. For instance, the company recorded a gross profit of 440 million in the year 2014 up from the amount realized in the year 2011 that stood at 690. Likewise, the company reported an encouraging net profit and sales of 75900 and 834 in the year ending 2014 respectively. Its net asset worth was also reported at 485300 in the year 2014 up from 319000 in the year 2011. The growth in the company’s capital base and revenues including assets depicts a good start for the company that operates in the competitive industry. Although the firm is reporting positive figures in its balance sheet, the performance, there is need for the company to improve its balance sheet figures to facilitate its competitiveness in the market. To achieve this there are various financial developments or action plans that the company can adopt. The action plans are essential since they hold the capacity of revolutionizing the revenue entry points through diversification and expand income capacity (Salhanick, Kipnis & Wiele, 1995, p. 67). The probable action plans include adopting product diversification, seeking for strategic partnership, injecting more capital to increase productivity and reaching out to a wider market spectrum. All these action plans forms viable tools that the clothe making company can embrace to ensure that its balance sheet is boosted to higher levels. The action

Authentic Assessments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Authentic Assessments - Essay Example Authentic assessment is the product of a reform in education. This shift is to make standardized testing less drill oriented and applicable to what is expected will be necessary in the students' adult life. These tests hold students to higher standards as well as create a growing body of accurate awareness pertaining to student learning. This way the teacher learns from the student as well. The key argument these test pose is that for the traditional testing method, the right answers are not rationales. This basically acknowledges that the level of logic required for traditional standardized tests is lacking. This is due to a relationship that involves test takers who simply cram for their tests, and instructors who feel the tests have no relevance to their teaching ability. This is a common occurrence that has resulted in resentment for traditional standardized testing on the behalf of both parties involved. Authentic assessment is a genuine push towards the implementation of more authentic tasks. Instructors find it easier to apply these tasks to their curriculum and students find it easier to assess what is expected of them. It is considered a form of improving overall performance, in a testing system traditionally structured solely to monitor it. Authentic assessment applied to math and science addresses the notion among educators that this curriculum is designed to assist students in solving everyday problems like, civic affairs, jobs and professions. To do this less computation must be emphasized and these curriculums must focus more on the analytical. When I was younger, and my grades were starting to slip in math, my father required me to make calendars as a punishment until I was able to improve. Initially, I thought this would be an easy task, but he required that every square have equal length and width, and that all lines on each page be equal in length from one another. This served two purposes; it taught me that everything in the world around me can be weighed and measured. It also taught me the value of organization. The process of using mathematical tools like protractors, rulers and calculators, along with my own thinking and reasoning, incited me to be enthusiastic towards math. This is the perfect example of a pplying math to the student's surroundings. This is the type of authentic assessment I would apply to a middle school math or science curriculum. It doesn't have to be something as bland and mundane as creating calendars, but my task will be inherently applicable to the student's daily living routine. My student evaluations would consist of open ended questions that require mathematical awareness to produce solutions. For example, The Shoe Thief Puzzle A person went into a shop to buy a pair of shoes. The person chose a pair which were reduced to their cost price of $12, and gave the shopkeeper a $20 note. The shopkeeper didn't have any change, so he took the $20 note next door to his friend the restaurant owner to get some. He returned to his shop and gave the shopper $8 change. The shopper then departed. A few minutes later the restaurant owner stormed into the shop shouting "that $20 note that you gave me is a forgery". The shopkeeper took back the forged note and gave the restaurant owner a new and genuine $20 note. How much has the shopkeeper lost on the transaction, explain the cash movements, and show two methods of calculating

How do we end gridlock in the American political System and modernize Term Paper

How do we end gridlock in the American political System and modernize the federal Government's administrative infrastructure t - Term Paper Example â€Å"Gridlock† as it is experienced in Washington D.C. today represents a system of government that the Anti-Federalists specifically warned against in the founding of the United States through the Constitutional Convention, â€Å"Bill of Rights† negotiation, and state ratification process. In understanding how Jeffersonian ideals relate to â€Å"Athenian† democracy, and also how populism and progressivism present a historical framework for reform of the political system, the goal is to continue in the tradition of innovation in social institutions so as to make them more open, transparent, participatory, and non-violent as a basis of civil society. This essay discusses downsizing government, decentralizing political organizations, and building stakeholder frameworks that lead to real participation in government organizations and decisions by citizens. The essay also discusses possibilities to increase multi-party political representation through use of informat ion technology and other forms of innovation in democratic organization to implement fundamental ideals through progress. Table of Contents Abstract 1 Table of Contents 1 I. Introduction 2 II. Definition of â€Å"Gridlock† 4 III. Two Party Monopoly 6 One example commonly cited as â€Å"gridlock† is the prevention of legislation from passing by one party through control of one branch of government, such as a Republican party majority in the Senate refusing to support Democratic legislation, or a Republican president unable to build legislative support for his/her agenda in the House of Representatives. A larger aspect of â€Å"gridlock† is the actual two-party monopoly that prohibits a wider representation of views and discussion of issues in the Federal system. This can be compared to systems of government internationally that encourage wider multi-party frameworks and coalitions, as well as an ideal of direct, participatory democracy that would be supported thr ough a more diverse representation of views than found in two-party politics. While the Constitution does not mandate a two-party system, â€Å"winner take all† representation does discourage third party candidates from attaining office, as do the discriminatory ballot measures that restrict ballot access to third parties. 6 IV. Corporate Interests over Public 6 One of the most important issues related to the ideological fusion of Capitalism and Democracy in Enlightenment thought is corruption in government related to minority business interests and the use of â€Å"pork-barrel† politics and legislation to produce social injustice. The recent Wall St. bailouts are an excellent example of the valuation of the interests of the â€Å"super rich† over the â€Å"super poor†. Nevertheless, innumerable aspects of the interrelationship between the U.S. government and the economy can be found. The chart below estimates the Federal Government to be related to appro ximately 43% of U.S. GDP through taxation, spending, and social programs. It is interesting to note that before the 20th Century government spending was typically representative of less than 10% of GDP, representing another aspect of the anti-federalist view. 6 US Government Spending as Percent Of GDP Source:

Mobile home Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mobile home - Essay Example Mobile homes are being fabricated in advanced countries because these countries are able to venture into such projects that need real time testing and thus can bear contingency challenges in this technology. These fabricated houses are manufactured in factories from where an assembly line, shapes and, puts the pieces together for transported to its destination. They are usually temporary in some places, whereas they can be employed as a permanent solution where ambiance is friendly for their deployment. The house rests on a permanent chassis that is actually the foundation of the house. This foundation provides for three main aspects; one, the flooring, second is the mobility, third, lifting of the one piece foundation. (Britto, Et al., 2008) As it is seen that many mobile houses are being developed and deployed in US, UK, Israel etc, the special advantage that has inflated their importance is the option of their transportation with ease. To many the concept of aerial transportation can be new yet it is viable. A gross analysis can be suggested to have these aerially mobile houses must be small in size. This is because of the endurance, stress-strain constraints, airlifting ability, technical difficulties in building perfectly balanced model. Thus the besides those mobile homes that are using highway grade wheels and tires with tractor-trailers as their movers, the lift-able houses can also be an option. This essay discusses the options and constraints that come in the way to build this concept. Abstract of the parameters for such structures: Parameters are actually the fact and limits that define the circle of viability or operability of the structure. Here, these parameters are divided into two main parts. One concerns with the building of such structures and the other related to the transportation. The practice of putting together the components of a structure and other allied structural material required for complete building of such houses is known as pref abrication. The next stage is the transportation of this structure towards the destination. The prefabrication process is usually distinguished from typical construction processes that are conventional. (Wong, Hao, Hu, 2010) The materials used are specialized as far as their metallurgy, stochastic and ergonomics is concerned. The important fact in these designs is the high endurance and light weight of the material that constitute the structure. It features the ability to assemble, reassemble and transport the structure to the site. The main structural components are the base or foundation, walls and sectioning pieces, doors and mobility components. Parameters for Construction and Transportation: In aerial transportation have constraints of striking the balance and heaving the whole structure into the air. Thus these basic materials as described in the previous paragraph need special attention. Before getting into the details of these materials the engineering parameters are needed to be distinguished. The main factors that are credited or discredited to construction of these types can be stated as follows: The materials that are employed in the construction of these structures are self supporting and are ready made. For example to find a tradeoff between strength to endure dent or any snag the sheets of walls can be made contoured or with beams. (EESI, 2011) Like in the manufacturing of the cars to help saving the steel component the steel plates are

Construction Materials Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Construction Materials - Assignment Example 1.1. Social Buildings have to comply with social considerations of sustainability so that they must provide safe, comfortable and healthy interiors. In order to meet these objectives the major considerations are ensuring structural integrity, dealing with vibration levels, adequate weather protection, fire resistance and acoustic performance. 1.2. Economic Economic considerations play a major and often deciding role in determining what kinds of materials to use for construction purposes. The major considerations are that buildings ought to be durable, reusable, require low maintenance and energy efficient. These considerations need to be satisfied both during the building phase as well as during the operation phase. Some other considerations include the construction costs, net lettable area, building reuse value, construction programmes and whole of life value. 1.3. Environmental Environmental considerations mandate that buildings ought to be constructed in a manner that their whole- of-life energy use as well as their greenhouse gas emissions produce a small ecological footprint. The major considerations are the life cycle assessment (LCA), cooling of urban areas, thermal mass and recycling. Appendix ‘A’ shows the mutually common area that social, environmental and economic factors share to produce a truly sustainable design. 2. Sustainability of Current Lecture Centre Building Concrete has been in extensive use around the globe as a preferred construction material for residential and commercial applications alike (Goodchild, 1997). When put in perspective of sustainability, concrete has a number of advantages to offer including (but not limited to) economic considerations, durability, acoustic performance, recyclability, thermal mass, fire resistance and adaptability. The factors listed above can be optimised to achieve maximised sustainability from concrete construction based on construction techniques and other considerations. The current Lectur e Centre Building at Brunel University is made out of concrete in large part and offers a sustainable outlook based on social, economic and environmental considerations. These are discussed below in detail. 2.1. Social Concrete buildings are able to offer structural integrity along with structural requirements that are well understood by designers and builders alike. This leads to the construction of safer structures that are able to stand up to risks such as snow, earthquakes, wind base loading etc. The large mass involved in concrete construction ensures that these structures provide excellent damping characteristics that are required for minimising vibration. In addition, concrete provides exceptional fire resistance given that it does not burn at all and does not emit toxic fumes when exposed to fire (Ching, 1995). For most cases concrete structures can be described as fire proof. Similarly, concrete structures are able to offer excellent acoustic damping characteristics as well which mandates the lowest possible use of insulation materials. 2.2. Economic Concrete buildings are the most economical solution when it comes to multi-storey buildings (please see Appendix ‘C’ for a comparison). The large amount of benefits that are provided by concrete such as fire resistance, large thermal mass and durability ensure that concrete buildings have lower operating costs and maintenance requirements. Building reuse is also more common for concrete structure for example

An unmanageable Case-Management Quandary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An unmanageable Case-Management Quandary - Essay Example There is a need to change the way judges are managing their cases because it is clear that they are uncertain about how to reduce backlog. According to a report by Great Britain (2011), even before opening of the court door, there are more cases going into court thanks to settlement or negotiation of cases out of court by litigants themselves. Litigants in person are individuals without legal representation by solicitors or barristers but have a right of audience. Litigants in person bringing their cases to court are less prepared because they do not have knowledge of the documents required by the judges. The judges end up starting of case hearing without all the relevant documents. In addition, litigants in person do not have an idea of the evidence required for presentation in court and the witness reports are poorly prepared. This makes the judge to steer off the case and assist the litigant in person, increasing the time taken to dispose a case. The longer the time taken to dispose a case the longer the queue thus creation of a backlog. The courts should avoid such cases without help from people with legal knowledg e. The court should appoint Pro bono lawyers to represent people who cannot afford to hire lawyers or hire more staff to assist them. This will increase the number of cases disposed monthly. Efficient justice administration is dependent on many factors (Abioye, 2014). Abioye (2014) considers the registry, modern technology and availability of material and resources, quality of judges and dedicated lawyers as the factors required to reduce backlogs in court. The court’s staff should be competent when it comes to record keeping. The court should increase number of staff in order to improve record keeping and hasten the speed of file recovery for case hearing, to avoid delay. Introduction of modern methods of file storage and recovery

Construction Materials Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Construction Materials - Assignment Example 1.1. Social Buildings have to comply with social considerations of sustainability so that they must provide safe, comfortable and healthy interiors. In order to meet these objectives the major considerations are ensuring structural integrity, dealing with vibration levels, adequate weather protection, fire resistance and acoustic performance. 1.2. Economic Economic considerations play a major and often deciding role in determining what kinds of materials to use for construction purposes. The major considerations are that buildings ought to be durable, reusable, require low maintenance and energy efficient. These considerations need to be satisfied both during the building phase as well as during the operation phase. Some other considerations include the construction costs, net lettable area, building reuse value, construction programmes and whole of life value. 1.3. Environmental Environmental considerations mandate that buildings ought to be constructed in a manner that their whole- of-life energy use as well as their greenhouse gas emissions produce a small ecological footprint. The major considerations are the life cycle assessment (LCA), cooling of urban areas, thermal mass and recycling. Appendix ‘A’ shows the mutually common area that social, environmental and economic factors share to produce a truly sustainable design. 2. Sustainability of Current Lecture Centre Building Concrete has been in extensive use around the globe as a preferred construction material for residential and commercial applications alike (Goodchild, 1997). When put in perspective of sustainability, concrete has a number of advantages to offer including (but not limited to) economic considerations, durability, acoustic performance, recyclability, thermal mass, fire resistance and adaptability. The factors listed above can be optimised to achieve maximised sustainability from concrete construction based on construction techniques and other considerations. The current Lectur e Centre Building at Brunel University is made out of concrete in large part and offers a sustainable outlook based on social, economic and environmental considerations. These are discussed below in detail. 2.1. Social Concrete buildings are able to offer structural integrity along with structural requirements that are well understood by designers and builders alike. This leads to the construction of safer structures that are able to stand up to risks such as snow, earthquakes, wind base loading etc. The large mass involved in concrete construction ensures that these structures provide excellent damping characteristics that are required for minimising vibration. In addition, concrete provides exceptional fire resistance given that it does not burn at all and does not emit toxic fumes when exposed to fire (Ching, 1995). For most cases concrete structures can be described as fire proof. Similarly, concrete structures are able to offer excellent acoustic damping characteristics as well which mandates the lowest possible use of insulation materials. 2.2. Economic Concrete buildings are the most economical solution when it comes to multi-storey buildings (please see Appendix ‘C’ for a comparison). The large amount of benefits that are provided by concrete such as fire resistance, large thermal mass and durability ensure that concrete buildings have lower operating costs and maintenance requirements. Building reuse is also more common for concrete structure for example

Mohammed Morsi Essay Example for Free

Mohammed Morsi Essay The Muslim Brotherhoods Mohammed Morsi has become Egypts first freely elected president after a delayed announcement of the results of last weekends runoff. He beat former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq by more than almost 900,000 votes. Morsi secured 51.7% of the vote, compared to 48% for Shafiq. Mohammed Morsi heads the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm. Mubarak appointed Shafik as prime minister in response to the protests against his regime. Shafik resigned a little more than a month later amid protests decrying him as a holdover from a discredited, ousted regime. Supports the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF): â€Å"SCAF is serious about power handover and is seeking to achieve the goals of the revolution. SCAF stands at an equal distance from all political and religious powers.† Parliamentary elections: the Muslim Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice party seems set to emerge as the biggest winner, with some analysts estimating it will capture about 40% of seats in the new legislature. Al-Nour, a more conservative Salafist party, looks likely to secure second place. The Muslim Brotherhood (known in Arabic as al-Ikhwan al-Muslimeen) is Egypts oldest and largest Islamist organization. As the most organized opposition group following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the Brotherhood became the countrys dominant political force, winning a near majority of seats in the post-revolution parliament, and its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, winning the presidency. Some Egyptians are concerned over the groups aim to establish a state ruled by sharia, or Islamic law, and ambiguity over its respect for human rights. Such concerns intensified after Morsi announced new sweeping powers for the presidency in late 2012 and a draft of theproposed constitution was published. The domestic political challenges also provide a difficult road for U.S.-Egypt relations, especially with regards to foreign aid. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political party of the Muslim Brotherhood, could not have come into being without the 25 January revolution. Up to that time, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), Egypt’s most powerful Islamist organization, was not only denied the right to form parties, but also barred – at least legally – from political life. As a result, the group had to pay a heavy price in detentions and repression to practice politics under the rule of former President Hosni Mubarak. The group had been trying to get a foothold in the country’s political arena for decades but was met with entrenched opposition by the Mubarak regime, which tended to accommodate the Brotherhood, but only within strict limits. Now, after the 25 January uprising, the group’s political ambitions have resurged on an unprecedented scale. Officially founded in May 2011, the FJP says that it is committed to a modern state, democracy, women’s rights, and national unity. The FJP’s initial membership of nearly nine thousand included one thousand women and one hundred Copts. New members are subject to a probationary period of six months after which, and based on their performance record, they become eligible for permanent membership. The FJP—along with the Salafist Al-Nour—is among a very few Egyptian political parties that issue probationary membership Formed alliance with name of Democratic Alliance (Freedom and Justice) Al-Nour Party Established in the wake of the 25 January uprising, Al-Nour (â€Å"The Light†) Party is the largest of Egypt’s three licensed Salafist parties (the other two being Al-Asala and Al-Fadila Parties). It was established by Al-Da‘wa Al-Salafiyya (â€Å"The Salafist Call†), Egypt’s largest Salafist group, commonly known as Al-Daawa Movement. Al-Daawa started in Alexandria where it now enjoys a considerable following. Al-Nour Party was officially licensed in June 2011. Official registration is of paramount importance in Egypt at the present time, as the current election law limits the right to contest two-thirds of the seats of the upcoming parliament to a limited number of officially registered parties, including Al-Nour. Under the rule of former President Hosni Mubarak, the state generally did not allow for the formation of Islamist parties, but after the revolution many Islamist groups managed  to obtain official political party license. The Islamist Bloc is an electoral coalition formed by three Islamist political parties with the aim to integrate their efforts in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Islamist Bloc is comprised of the Salafist Al-Nour and Al-Asala Parties, as well as the Building and Development Party, the latter of which was founded by the Islamic Group (Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya). Wafad party: Wafd Party is one of Egypt’s oldest liberal parties and is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming elections. With deposed President Hosni Mubarak’s ruling party officially disbanded, Wafd has emerged as an influential player in the political arena. The party commands the largest network that any political party in Egypt possesses today, covering major cities in twenty-four out of twenty-six Egyptian governorates. With a distinguished group of top Egyptian businessmen on its membership list, Al-Wafd stands out as one of the few established parties that do not face the same financial constraints that have historically challenged many of the country’s political parties. The party also enjoys a very strong presence in the media, thanks to its famous daily newspaper, its Internet portal, and a professional, well-equipped media department. Additionally, Wafd’s current leader Al-Sayed Al-Badawi is owner of Al-Hayat, one of Egypt’s top five television channels. Such are luxuries that very few Egyptian parties possess. Wafd’s history dates back to the beginning of party life under the monarchy, making it the oldest among existing Egyptian political parties. The name of the party is Arabic for â€Å"The Delegation,† and it references Saad Zaghloul’s attempt in 1919 to lead a popular delegation to the post-World War I Paris Peace Conference to demand independence for Egypt against the will of British occupation authorities. Threatened by the immense popular support that Zaghloul was able to garner for his mission, British authorities exiled the Egyptian nationalist leader along with members of the prospective delegation to Malta. This move instigated a mass uprising, which led to the 1919 Revolution. The Egyptian Bloc: The Egyptian Bloc consists of the Free Egyptians Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and Al-Tagammu Party. The Bloc is often portrayed as a â€Å"secular-leaning† alliance that seeks to counterbalance the influence of the Muslim Brotherhoodin the upcoming elections, specifically the Brotherhood led Democratic Alliance’s electoral coalition. Members of the Bloc announced in early November that their partnership is not simply a short-term electoral coalition, but encompasses a long-term political alliance aimed at turning Egypt into a civil democratic state. Magdi Abdelhad:iMiddle East analyst The Islamists rise to power in Egypt will send shockwaves through the courts and palaces of conservative Arab kings and presidents who have tried for decades to put the lid on political Islam. But foremost among Egypts neighbours who watched the brotherhoods success with increasing alarm is Israel. Cairo was the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel and the brotherhood has traditionally been vehemently opposed to that. But its opposition has softened over the years at least publicly. It is widely believed that the Muslim Brotherhood have reassured Washington that an Islamist government in Egypt would respect the peace deal with Israel. Given also that the ruling military council will continue to have the final say on matters of war and peace, it is unlikely that the brotherhood can put that peace at risk. It is also more likely that Mr Mursis immediate priority will be to concentrate on Egypts many daunting domestic problems including rampant poverty and unemployment. Debating leaders: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/opinion/21iht-edzewail21.html?pagewanted=all From the time of Ramses II, the strong pharaoh who ruled Egypt thousands of years ago, until last year when Hosni Mubarak’s reign ended, Egyptians were never able to witness a debate over who should take over the democratic reins in the highest office of the land. Our new culture of debate, together with the election of the Parliament last December, are milestones in the history of the nation, paving a new, but rocky, path toward democracy. The open debate between the secular and religious orientations of politics was  unthinkable over the past 60 years. This new openness means the Egyptian body politic is maturing. In the end, Egyptians know that, for the first time, they can choose their future. It won’t be dictated or imposed by anyone. Army protected revo: Unlike in nearby Syria or earlier in Libya, the Egyptian Army has taken the high road and protected the revolution in its infancy. And it has been the guardian of these unprecedented transparent elections. Problems: Among the most serious problems are economic hardship, the uncertainty of the political climate and the deterioration of security — a feature that Egyptian society faces anew. These problems have been compounded over the past 15 months as each of the three main constituencies involved in the revolution — the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which is in charge of the transition period; the politically liberal as well as Islamic-oriented parties; and the youth who triggered the uprising — have stumbled in one way or another. Little bloodshed: It is a hopeful sign indeed that we Egyptians are still marching forward toward democracy with relatively little bloodshed. All signs indicate that a counterrevolution is not in store for Egypt. We will not turn back to a totalitarian governing system. Perhaps the most encouraging of all is the confidence of Egyptians in their future. In Egypt, a Victory for Democracy but Fear for the Future: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-25/in-egypt-a-victory-for-democracy-but-fear-for-the-future â€Å"So many questions remain unanswered that what can best be said is that either SCAF and the Brotherhood have worked out a deal of some sort or the political jousting has only just begun,† wrote Issandr El Amrani, a popular blogger on Egyptian politics. â€Å"Both the Brothers and  SCAF have positioned themselves in a manner in which backing down from their respective positions on the question of parliament and the Supplemental Constitutional Declaration would be a loss of face.† Tensions ran high for two weeks, when the SCAF assumed legislative responsibilities after shutting down the Islamist-controlled Parliament, announced a Supplemental Constitutional Declaration that drastically reduced presidential powers, and gave themselves the ability to veto articles of drafts of Egypt’s new constitution. They also reintroduced martial law, allowing soldiers to arrest civilians. Critics called their actions a soft coup. The Muslim Brotherhood, the most powerful political player in Egypt, has on the surface refused to accept any of these decisions, staging a sit-in in Tahrir Square and issuing aggressive statements to the media, all the while vowing to pressure the military government to rescind their declarations. It was a rare move, as the pragmatic group is more generally known for cutting deals with the regime rather than going toe-to-toe. Last week, with the possibility of a victory by Ahmed Shafiq, the other candidate in the run-off election who is widely viewed as aligned with the military, the Brotherhood showed a willingness to work with the revolutionary groups it had mostly ignored since the uprising against Mubarak. Morsi pledged to form a national salvation government to include secular politicians, Christians, and women. â€Å"The big question is: Can they build a broader, more inclusive front that can effectively challenge SCAF’s grip on power?† asks Shadi Hamid, director of research at the Brookings Doha Center. â€Å"Now that fear [of Shafiq’s victory] has passed, is there still enough that binds [the opposition groups] together? I do think the Brotherhood has at least implicitly acknowledged the mistakes of recent months and they have tried to strike a more conciliatory tone, and the recognition that they can’t do this alone because they are fighting a very challenging adversary: SCAF and the old regime.† To add to the challenges of running a country with a crumbling economy, President Morsi won with a narrow margin, garnering 51.7 percent of the vote. He had promised to be the president of all Egyptians during his first address to the nation Sunday night . â€Å"The game was being played almost like a game of poker on both sides,† says Hani Shukrallah, managing editor of the English-language online version of the Al Ahramnewspaper. â€Å"If we have reached a compromise, that’s a bit helpful for healing the deep schisms  [within] society. We have a society that’s been split down the middle, with enormous polarization. Most of the people who voted for Morsi did so out of dread [of] Shafiq.† On a side street leading to Tahrir Square on Sunday night, Ehab El Shawi led his three children to the epicenter of the celebration in the birthplace of Egypt’s uprising. Like many, he was caught between rejoicing at the idea of a new president and the reality of the office’s lack of power. â€Å"This is the first time all Egyptian people made a choice in 7,000 years to elect a normal Egyptian citizen. This is the first time we have freedom in more than 60 years,† El Shawi said happily of the first non-military president in Egypt’s history. â€Å"But we have to change all the decisions taken during the presidential elections and force the powers to ensure Dr.Morsi will have all the power to make Egypt a modern country,† he added. â€Å"We still need to take Egypt back from the old regime. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Timeline: Anti-Mubarak protests 2010 February Former UN nuclear chief Mohammed ElBaradei returns to Egypt and, together with opposition figures and activists, forms a coalition for political change. ElBaradei says he might run in presidential election scheduled for 2011. 2010 March President Mubarak undergoes gall-bladder surgery in Germany, returning to Egypt three weeks later. 2010 June Muslim Brotherhood fails to win any seats in elections to the Shura consultative upper house of parliament; alleges vote was rigged. 2010 November Coptic Christians clash with police in Giza over construction of church. Parliamentary polls, followed by protests against alleged vote rigging. Muslim Brotherhood fails to win a single seat, though it held a fifth of the places in the last parliament. 2011 January 21 killed in bomb at church in Alexandria where Christians had gathered to mark the New Year. Anti-government demonstrations, apparently encouraged by Tunisian street protests which prompted sudden departure of President Ben Ali. President Mubarak reshuffles his cabinet but fails to placate demonstrators, whose calls for his resignation grow louder. Days later he promises to step down in September. 2011 February President Mubarak steps down and hands power  to the army council. 2011 March Egyptians approve package of constitutional reforms aimed at paving the way for new elections. 2011 April Former President Mubarak and his sons, Ala and Gamal, are arrested on suspicion of corruption. 2011 April-August Protests continue in Cairos Tahrir Square over slow pace of political change. Islamist groups come to the fore. Army finally disperses protestors in August. 2011 August Former President Mubarak goes on trial in Cairo, charged with ordering the killing of demonstrators earlier in the year. 2011 October Clashes between Coptic Christians and security forces kill 24 people. Egypt and Israel swap 25 Egyptians in Israeli custody for a US-Israeli citizen accused of spying. 2011 November Violence in Cairos Tahrir square as security forces clash with protesters accusing the military of trying to keep their grip on power. Prime Minister EssamSharaf resigns in response to the unrest. Start of parliamentary elections. 2011 December National unity government headed by new Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri takes office. 2012 January Islamist parties emerge as victors of drawn-out parliamentary elections. 2012 March Pope Shenouda III, the veteran head of the Coptic Church, dies. 2012 April Crisis in relations with Saudi Arabia over the Saudi detention of an Egyptian lawyer briefly threatens the substantial aid that the Saudis provide Egypt. First free presidential poll 2012 May Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi tops the first round of voting in first free presidential elections, narrowly ahead of Mubarak-era prime minister Ahmed Shafiq. Official media put turnout at a low 43%. Military leaders announce the end of the state of emergency in place since Anwar al-Sadats assassination in 1981, as its last renewal expires. 2012 June Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi narrowly wins presidential election.Armyvs civilian rule Court sentences ex-President Mubarak to life in prison for complicity in the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising. 2012 July President Mursi submits to a Supreme Court ruling that the parliamentary elections were invalid, after initially ordering parliament to meet in defiance of a military decree dissolving it in June. 2012 August New prime ministerHishamQandil appoints a cabinet dominated by figures from the outgoing government, technocrats and Islamists, to the exclusion of secular parties. Islamist fighters attack an  army outpost in Sinai, killing 16 soldiers, and mount a brief incursion into Israel, highlighting the tenuousness of government control over the largely-lawless area. President Mursi dismisses Defence Minister Tantawi and Chief of Staff Sami Annan and strips military of say in legislation and drafting the new constitution. 2012 September Egypt kills 32 militants and destroys 31 smuggling tunnels to Gaza in an offensive against militants who attacked troops in Sinai in August. 2012 November Bishop Tawadros is chosen as the new pope of Egypts Coptic Christians. President Mursi issues a decree giving himself extensive new powers. The decree sparks angry demonstrations and is condemned by Egypts top judges, who accuse him of undermining the independence of the judiciary. The Islamist-dominated constituent assembly tasked with writing a new constitution approves all 234 articles of the draft constitution, which boosts the role of Islam in Egypts system of government. The assembly session is boycotted by liberal, left-wing and Christian members. The vote is held earlier than originally scheduled, after Egypts constitutional court threatened to dissolve the constituent assembly. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13315719 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2012/01/23-egypt-indyk Prospects for Democracy in Egypt: Theres a conventional wisdom in the United States that Arabs are incapable of sustaining a true Western-style, liberal democracy. It will take them hundreds of years to acquire a democratic culture, the argument goes. And in the meantime new authoritarian regimes either Islamist or military will replace the ones that have been overthrown in the past year and give us all a lesson in Arab democracy. Advocates of this view were the first to announce, with all-knowing smiles, that the Arab Spring had become an Arab Winter. When Islamist parties won free and mostly fair elections in Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco in recent months, the proponents of this view had an I told you so moment and they were quick to denounce anybody who said otherwise as hopelessly naive. After a prolonged hibernation, politics has broken out in Cairo, the capital of the Arab Awakenings. For the first time in six decades people are acquiring a taste for freedom and, yes, Western-style democratic politics. The issues they debate so vigorously are critical to the shape of Egypts democratic future: What will be the residual powers of the Egyptian military? Whats the best model for dividing powers between the Presidency and the Parliament? What revisions should be made to the Constitution to ensure democratic rule? At the same time, the newly-elected parties are busy engaging in the horse-trading necessary to coalition politics, since no one party gained a majority (the Muslim Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice Party won around 47 percent of the vote; the Salafi Al-Nour Party won 25 percent, and a variety of liberal parties won the rest.). We were treated to an amazing sight: Salafi religious purists attempting to negotiate an alliance with liberal secularists. How did they justify such a pragmatic deal? The enemy of my enemy is my friend, one of them explained to us. They can both agree on a short-term political agenda: countering the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and getting the army out of politics. And what about the imposition of Sharia law? The leader of the Salafi Al-Nour Party noted that his party is comfortable with the conservative nature of Egyptian society so a campaign to impose sharia law is unnecessary. They can be satisfied (at least for the time being) with the existing language of Article 2 of the Constitution which states that the principles of Islamic shariah will guide the state. This kind of pragmatic politics is deeply disturbing to the Costa Salafis a young generation of Salafis whose makeshift headquarters is in a Costa cafe. They denounce their elders not so much for being willing to compromise, which they readily accept as part of the new politics, but of failing to articulate through fatwas the religious basis for those compromises. Its as if the Salafi leadership, propelled onto the political stage for the first time, has become unplugged and feels able to do whatever is necessary in the political realm to protect its community of social  conservatives. They reminded me of the religious parties in Israel! Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood is busy making its own compromises with the military and with other liberal parties that would enable its Freedom and Justice Party to build a governing and empowered coalition (at the moment, they can control the parliament but until its powers are defined in the constitution and the military hands over power, they cannot control the government). Whereas the Salafis are looking to constrain the Muslim Brotherhood, the MB is focused on how to ease fears of its intentions. After operating for eighty years in the political wilderness, the MB has learned just how fragile this moment could turn out to be. Thats why its leadership is more willing to compromise with the military than the other parties to its left and right. Consequently, the other parties fear that the MB will sell them out to the military in some sweetheart deal that compromises the revolution and their abilities to use democratic rules of the game to constrain the MB and hold the military accountable. This tension will likely manifest itself in the massive demonstrations that are expected on January 25 in Tahrir Square to commemorate the first anniversary of the Revolution. The military and the MB have called for a celebration, complete with party balloons and patriotic songs. Youth activists and some liberal parties, particularly exercised by the eighty some demonstrators who were killed by the police and the army in crackdowns in November and December last year, are calling for a demonstration against military rule. Some of the far-left revolutionary youth are calling for a campaign of violence. The way the January 25 demonstrations play out will be only one of the ways in which square politics and party politics interact in Egypts newly dynamic democracy. All the parties feel that they can claim legitimacy from the peoples mandates that they have received in the elections. This empowers them to stand up to the military in demanding that it leave the political arena promptly and allow Egyptian democracy to have its day. If the military focuses only on protecting its narrow interests (e.g., retaining its business interests, claiming immunity from prosecution for  past actions, demanding only responsibility for protecting the states borders), then a reasonable compromise can be fashioned. However, if the military insists on specifying reserve powers in the constitution and protecting its budget from civilian oversight, then the people know the way back to Tahrir Square. As one newly-elected parliamentarian put it: We are legitimate now; the army is not. And what about the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty? We didnt raise the issue they did. It came up in most conversations in the following way: We have been elected by the people. Were responsible to them. The people want stability, above all. They want the police back in the streets and calm and predictability restored to their daily lives. We dont like the way Israel treats the Palestinians. We dont like the price that Israel pays for Egyptian gas. But were not going to mess with the peace treaty. That sentiment is so widely shared that one of the heads of the Muslim Brotherhood could declare to the New York Times last week that the peace treaty is a commitment of the state, and therefore will be respected. The sense of responsibility that rests on the shoulders of those who would govern 87 million people is palpable. They know the severe economic straits that they will have to confront. They know that neither tourists nor foreign investment will return to Egypt unless there is a clear commitment to stability. And they know the people will not forgive them if they fail to address their basic needs for order, jobs and housing. In short, newly-elected Egyptian politicians the Muslim Brotherhood first and foremost understand that they have to make a choice between feeding the people and fighting Israel, and for the time being they have made a conscious choice of bread over bombs. The fact that Palestine is not a priority for the Egyptian people has been manifest since the early days of the revolution. It was underscored for me during a lecture I gave at the American University in Cairo, just off Tahrir Square. A Palestinian student, draped in a Palestinian flag, stood with a makeshift banner in silent protest at the front of the hall. Despite this prominent reminder, during the ensuing ninety-minute QA session with  students and journalists no-one asked a question about Palestine. To be sure, theres always the risk that populist politicians will outbid each other in their demagoguery on the Palestinian issue, especially if Israeli-Palestinian violence flares. But Israel is particularly sensitive to this possibility and the Muslim Brotherhood is apparently signaling its Hamas branch to keep things quiet too. (With 350 trucks a day passing from Israel into Gaza, and smuggling of weapons through the tunnels continuing apace, Hamas has its own reasons for maintaining the current de facto ceasefire with Israel.) What was perhaps most striking to me, however, was the attitude of the new political class to the United States. I had expected to encounter hostility after all the United States had been Mubaraks staunch ally through the three decades of his Pharaohnic rule. I had assumed that the Islamist politicians in particular would be antagonistic towards American influence in post-revolutionary Egypt, just as the Iranian clerics have manifested intense antagonism towards the United States since their revolution. Yet Egypts Islamists all seemed keen to engage with the United States government. The Muslim Brotherhood was trying to understand President Obamas intentions in demanding that the military hand over power to civilian (i.e. Muslim Brotherhood) rule, expeditiously. They werent sure how to deal with the fact that Bill Burns, the Deputy Secretary of State, had just met with their leadership. But one thing they were very certain about they need U.S. economic assistance and U.S. help in mobilizing international assistance. They were therefore quite anxious to know how Congress would treat them. Because of this new U.S. Government engagement with their arch-rivals, the Salafis too are seeking American recognition. Their leaders are keen to come to Washington to explain their intentions. They even appear willing to engage with Israel to establish their bona fides one of their leaders recently gave an interview to Israeli Army Radio.

Study of Chinas first five year plan

Study of Chinas first five year plan The industrial system taken over by the Chinese Communist leadership in 1949 was not only rudimentary and war-devastated, but also extremely imbalanced. Over 70% of the industrial assets and output were concentrated in the coastal areas while the rest of the country shared the remainder. Within the coastal region, modern industrial production was again heavily concentrated in a few cities, namely Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang, Anshan, Benxi, Dalian and Fushun accounted for 55% of the total for the coastal region. China was a typical dual economy, in which a few industrial cities were surrounded by large-scale agriculture. When the Chinese leadership started its efforts at industrialization, it regarded the huge coast-interior imbalance as irrational because, firstly, areas of industrial production were usually too far away from energy and raw materials supply areas and the interior market, meaning substantial long-distance transport costs and creating a strain on Chinas undeve loped transport system. Secondly, the rich resources in the inland areas could not be properly exploited. Finally, since the coast was easily exposed to foreign military power, the heavy concentration of industry there represented a national security risk, as was the case during the Second World War. To rectify that regional imbalance, the Chinese leadership decided to pull the levers of centrally directed investment. (Yang, 1990) Land Reform During the land reform, a significant amount landlords were murdered at Communist Party gatherings, the land was then given to peasants and there was also the Campaign to Suppress Counter-revolutionaries, involving public executions of mainly former Kuomintang officials, businessmen accused of market disturbances, former employees of Western companies and intellectuals whose loyalty was suspect. In 1976, the U.S. State department estimated around a million may have been killed during land reform, and a further 800,000 killed in the counterrevolutionary campaign (Shalom, 1984, p24). Mao himself claimed that a total of 700,000 people were executed during the years 1949-53 (Chang Halliday, 2005). However, because there was a policy to select at least one landlord, and usually several, in virtually every village for public execution, the number of deaths ranged between 2 and 5 million. In addition, at least 1.5million people (Short, 2001), perhaps as many as 6 million were sent to refor m through labour camps where many perished (Valentino, 2004). Mao played a personal role in organizing the mass repressions and established a system of execution quotas, which were often exceeded, arguing that these killings were a necessity for securing power. First Five year plan Chinas first Five-Year Plan entailed the forced provision of cheap agricultural supplies to cities, though per capita allocation kept low to discourage urbanization. In rural areas, production decisions are shifted from households to mutual aid teams, and then to cooperatives where a cadre makes key decisions. Ownership is redefined in the form of state-owned enterprises and collectivized farms. In terms of financial structure, the binding constraints on households and enterprises at this time are coupons, authorizations, and orders to deliver. These instruments rather than money determine production and consumption outcomes; therefore prices are of secondary importance. The Hundred Flowers campaign brings unanticipated criticism, especially from intellectuals, which Mao silences in the repressive anti-rightist campaign. Almost two-thirds of the major projects, including many being built with Soviet aid were located in the interior. Despite allowance made to help rehabilitate war-devastated coastal industrial facilities, nearly 56% of the state investment in fixed assets went to the interior during this period. The interior-orientated investment policy took its toll in terms of economic efficiency as coastal industrial growth was sorely needed as a foundation for the development of the whole country. More concentrated efforts at rehabilitation and improvement of old enterprises in the coastal region could have produced more immediate economic pay-offs than making new investments in areas that lacked infrastructural support. Thus, Mao, in his April 1956 speech On the ten great relationships, commented that in the past few years we have not laid enough stress on industry in the coastal region so that the productive power of coastal industry could be used for the full development of the whole country, e specially the interior. In the same speech, however, Mao also revealed he was in favour of building most of heavy industry, 90% or perhaps still more, in the interior. Worden, Savada and Dolan (1987) discussed how China used a Soviet approach to economic development was manifested in the First Five-Year Plan. The main objective was a high rate of economic growth, with primary emphasis on industrial development at the expense of agriculture and particular concentration on heavy industry and capital-intensive technology. Large numbers of Soviet engineers, technicians, and scientists assisted in developing and installing new heavy industrial facilities, including entire plants and pieces of equipment purchased from the Soviet Union. Government control over industry was increased during this period by applying financial pressures and inducements to convince owners of private, modern firms to sell them to the state or convert them into joint public-private enterprises under state control. By 1956 approximately 67.5% of all modern industrial enterprises were state owned, others were under joint ownership. No privately owned firms remained. During the sam e period, the handicraft industries were organized into cooperatives, which accounted for 91.7% of all handicraft workers by 1956. Agriculture also underwent extensive organizational changes. To facilitate the mobilization of agricultural resources, improve the efficiency of farming, and increase government access to agricultural products, the authorities encouraged farmers to organize increasingly large and socialized collective units. From the loosely structured, tiny mutual aid teams, villages were to advance first to lower-stage, agricultural producers cooperatives, in which families still received some income on the basis of the amount of land they contributed, and eventually to advanced cooperatives, or collectives. In terms of economic growth the First Five-Year Plan was quite successful, especially in those areas emphasized by the Soviet-style development strategy. A solid foundation was created in heavy industry. Thousands of industrial and mining enterprises were constructed, including 156 major facilities. Industrial production increased at an average annual rate of 19% between 1952 and 1957, and national income grew at 9% a year. Despite the lack of state investment in agriculture, agricultural output increased substantially, averaging increases of about 4% a year. This growth resulted primarily from gains in efficiency brought about by the reorganization and cooperation achieved through collectivization. As the First Five-Year Plan wore on, however, Chinese leaders became increasingly concerned over the relatively sluggish performance of agriculture and the inability of state trading companies to increase significantly the amount of grain procured from rural units for urban consumption. T he First Five-Year Plan was for a long time the only plan that was even partially executed. Second The success of the First Five Year Plan encouraged Mao to initiate the Great Leap Forward, in 1958. Mao also launched a phase of rapid collectivization. The Party introduced price controls as well as a Chinese character simplification aimed at increasing literacy. The Great Leap was not merely a bold economic project, it was also intended to show the Soviet Union that the Chinese approach to economic development was more vibrant, and ultimately would be more successful, than the Soviet model that had been used previously. Under the economic program, the relatively small agricultural collectives which had been formed were rapidly merged into far larger peoples communes, and many of the peasants ordered to work on massive infrastructure projects and the small-scale production of iron and steel. Some private food production was banned; livestock and farm implements were brought under collective ownership. Under the Great Leap Forward, Mao and other party leaders ordered the implementation of a variety of unproven and unscientific new agricultural techniques by the new communes. Combined with the diversion of labour to steel production and infrastructure projects and the reduced personal incentives under a commune system this led to an approximately 15% drop in grain production in 1959 followed by further 10% reduction in 1960 and no recovery in 1961 (Spence, p.553). To win favour with superiors and avoid being purged, each layer in the party hierarchy exaggerated the amount of grain produced under them and based on the fabricated success, party cadres were ordered to requisition a disproportionately high amount of the true harvest for state use primarily in the cities and urban areas but also for export, which resulted in the rural peasant snot left enough to eat and millions starved to death in the largest famine in human history. This famine was a direct cause of the death of some 3 0 millions of Chinese peasants between 1959 and 1962 and about the same number of births were lost or postponed. Further, many children who became emaciated and malnourished during years of hardship and struggle for survival, died shortly after the Great Leap Forward came to an end in 1962 (Spence, p.553). The famine was due to Maos leaning heavily on mass mobilization to speed up industrial development. The Great Leap emphasized heavy industry in general, and the iron and steel industry in particular. In any case, the Great Leap came to be a leap into disaster and was a major cause of Chinas worst famine (1959-61). During this period state investment in industrial assets in the interior continued to increase. It averaged 59.4% of the national total during 1958-62 and further grew to 62-5% in the post-Leap adjustment period (1963-65). In the meantime, worsening Sino-Soviet relations and U.S. involvement in Vietnam led Chinas leaders to perceive a greater need for enhancing its national defence capabilities. As a result, despite the much felt post-crisis need to invigorate existing industrial production and restore consumption levels, Mao in 1964 ruled in favour of building more defence-orientated industries in the interior so that Chinas industrial infrastructure would survive a foreig n invasion and provide for a protracted defensive war. (Yang, 1990, p.236-7) As part of this push for hierarchical organization and revolutionary thinking, Mao initiates the Peoples Commune Movement to foster a communist-agrarian society. Bad incentives and bad weather bring the famine of 1960 with its accompanying economic turmoil, starvation, and rural revolt. Twenty to thirty million people lose their lives through malnutrition and famine (Fairbanks 1987, p.296). The failure of the Great Leap Forward and the Peoples Commune Movement created the first open split within the ranks of communist leaders. Furthermore, a major rift opens with the Soviets, leading to a break in relations and Russian aid flows. (Jaggi et al., WP 1996) The Great Leap Forward was a disaster for China. Although the steel quotas were officially reached, almost all of it made in the countryside was useless lumps of iron, as it had been made from assorted scrap metal in homemade furnaces with no reliable source of fuel such as coal. At the Lushan Conference in 1959, several leaders expressed concern that the Leap was not as successful as planned. The most direct of these was Minister of Defence and Korean War General Peng Dehuai. Mao, fearing loss of his position, orchestrated a purge of Peng and his supporters, stifling criticism of the Great Leap policies. Senior officials who reported the truth of the famine to Mao were branded as right opportunists (Becker, 1998). A campaign against right opportunism was launched and resulted in party members and ordinary peasants being sent to camps where many would subsequently die in the famine. The party have now concluded that 6 million were wrongly punished in the campaign. (Valentino, 2004, p . 127) The largest man-made famine on record was the Chinese famine of 1958-1961, which resulted in the death of an estimated 30 million people and approximately the same number of births lost or postponed. This famine was thought to be as a direct result of the decision by Mao Zedong to launch the Great Leap Forward, a mass mobilization of the population to achieve economic advancement. Mao followed the Stalinist ideology of heavy industry being the answer to economic advancement, peasants were ordered to abandon all private food production and instead produce steel which proved to be of extremely poor quality and of little or no use (Smil, 1999). This created a similar pattern to that of the loss of grain production needed to feed the population as seen in the Ukraine in the 1930s,by the spring of 1959 famine had affected people living in one-third of Chinas provinces. Until the mid 1980s, when official census figures were finally published by the Chinese Government, little was known abou t the scale of the disaster in the Chinese countryside, as the handful of Western observers allowed access during this time had been restricted to model villages where they were deceived into believing that Great Leap Forward had been a great success. There was also an assumption that the flow of individual reports of starvation that had been reaching the West, primarily through Hong Kong and Taiwan, must be localized or exaggerated as China was continuing to claim record harvests and was a net exporter of grain through the period. Because Mao wanted to pay back early to the Soviets debts totalling 1.973 billion yuan from 1960 to 1962, exports increased by 50%. (ONeill, 2008) Censuses were carried out in China in 1953, 1964 and 1982. The first attempt to analyse this data in order to estimate the number of famine deaths was carried out by Dr Judith Banister. Given the gaps between the censuses and doubts over the reliability of the data, an accurate figure is difficult to ascertain. Banister concluded that the official data implied that around 15 million excess deaths incurred in China during 1958-61 and that based on her modelling of Chinese demographics during the period and taking account of assumed underreporting during the famine years, the figure was around 30 million. The official statistic is 20 million deaths, as given by Hu Yaobang (Short, 2001). Third Temporary realignment of political power, from Mao to Liu Shaoqi Recovery policies informed by pragmatism Readjustment of priorities Agriculture, Light, Heavy Take agriculture as the key link Agriculture as the foundation of the economy; grain as the foundation of the foundation Reorganisation of agricultural institutional framework commune production brigade, production team Introduction of grain imports Retrenchment in industry Third Five year Plan (1966-1969) tasks included developing agriculture to feed the populace and meet other basic needs (such as clothing); strengthening national defence (a priority given Chinese concerns of a potential war); advancing technology; developing infrastructure; encouraging economic self-reliance. Again striving to expand his command over the Party, Mao orchestrates the Cultural Revolution. Early stages of the movement entail a struggle against the so called antiparty clique, including Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping. Mao calls on the youth as Red Guards to spread revolutionary zeal. They make a specialty of attacking professionals and intellectuals, and wreak havoc on the educational system. Begun as a political struggle, the Cultural Revolution paralyzes normal life and throws the economy into turmoil. Fourth The Cultural Revolution change political succession discipline government bureaucracy produce a new generation of revolutionary successors introduce egalitarian policy initiatives Transfer of political power from pragmatic economic technocrats to radical elements of CCP (esp. gang of four) Three elements of Cultural Revolution economic strategy self-sufficiency egalitarianism the Third Front Cultural Revolution as an urban, not rural, phenomenon industry, not agriculture, the major loser The Fourth Five Year Plan was more successful than anticipated, with the industrial and agricultural goals exceeded by 14.1% and industrial gross output value goals by 21.1%. Agricultural gains also exceeded goals, but more moderately, with a 2.2% rise above expectations. According to the Official Portal of the Chinese Government, however, the focus on accumulation and rapid development in this and preceding plans were impediments to long-term economic development In September 1970, the Plan was drafted with such goals as maintaining an annual growth rate of 12.5% in industry and agriculture as well as specific budget allowances for infrastructure construction (130 billion yuan during the Plan). In 1973, some of the specific provisions of the plan were amended to lower the targets. All targets had been reached or surpassed by the end of 1973. China experienced a vibrant economy in the years 1972 and 1973. Conclusion In conclusion, Maos five year plans, during his time as Chairman of the CPC, were not only enabled China to grow in terms of GDP, but enabled improved rates of literacy, improved living standards if only slightly, some elements of trade liberalisation occurred and a focus on agriculture was eventually made in order to develop food securities, there was some industrialisation and investment in infrastructure. The growth was mainly export-led as GDP per capita did not drastically increase, infrastructure investment rose to a level allowing China to uphold its ability to It therefore can be argued that although many millions of people suffered due to Mao, that China today has partly benefited from the Mao years, although I believe that if Mao had not been kept unaware of the situation that arose in the Great Leap Forward years, that the suffering and deaths that occurred could have been avoided.