Alibaba: Competing in China and Beyond Essay

Introduction In this report I will examine the case â€Å"Alibaba: Competing in China and Beyond.† Alibaba under the leadership of Jack Ma, its founder has transformed into one of the most successful e-commerce companies in China. In the 2000s Alibaba had emerged as the largest e-commerce company in China. The company tailored its strategies to meet the needs of the customers and made a mark because of its understanding of the Chinese language and culture. However, some experts have also raised doubts over the sustainability of Alibaba’s business model. In my report I will critically analyze the factors that led to Alibaba sustaining its leadership position in the Chinese e-commerce market. I will Discuss the rationale behind Ma establishing Taobao.com. I will examine the factors that led to Taoboa’s success in the Chinese online auctions market. Furthermore, with Baidu’s entry into the e-commerce market, I will discuss the challenges that Alibaba faces with regard to sustaining its position in the growing e-commerce market in China. Finally I will critically examine Alibaba’s business model, possibilities of global expansion and the overall sustainability of the company. Questions 1. One of the most significant factors that lead Alibaba Group sustaining its leadership positioning in the Chinese e-commerce market was its ability to understand the Chinese market itself. Jack Ma, Alibaba Groups founder understood that Chinese consumers and their preferences distinguished them selves from those in other countries. Other companies such as eBay did not appreciate the local market circumstances in China; instead, they were using the strategies that were working in the United States. I believe for this reason Alibaba Group was able to sustain its leadership position. Many of the competitors lacked understanding of the Chinese language as well as the culture. Moreover, Alibaba.com made its services extremely easy for its customers to use. Ma, himself, was a non-technical person and this helped him keep the websites more user-friendly. In the article Ma refers to this stating: (Deresky, 2010). â€Å"If you follow Google’s way, you always be a follower†¦ We have to make the Yahoo! Search engine more human, more interactive†¦ something for the 1.3 billion people in China who aren’t technology-oriented, who don’t know how to ask the right question to a search engine — for people who are like me.† (p.320) An added factor is the services that Alibaba.com offered. The company believed that the first thing to do was to build a devoted customer base. Therefore, before adding any charges, a lot of the services were free of charge. Alibaba.com offered many services such as email and listings of products/services free of charge. In addition, e-commerce was vulnerable due to the fact that sellers and buyers did not trust the idea of sending money before receiving their products and the sellers wanted the money before they shipped their products. For these purposes, Alibaba.com launched Alipay in 2004, which was an online payment solution that allowed the users to make money transactions in an easy, quick and safe way. All and all Alibaba.com basically concentrated greatly on increasing costumer satisfaction even on the expense of not gaining maximum profitability. The company made its customer and getting to know what customers want its number one. Question 2. Jack Ma established Taobao.com in May 2003 to enter the profitable e-commerce market. Taobao.com also symbolized a part of Ma’s Alibaba.com business model of joining SMEs, customers together, and helping SMEs grow. Taoboa’s goal was to generate an online trading platform for both B2C and C2C models. Several factors lead to Taoboa’s success over the rival eBay in the Chinese auctions market. First, Ma managed to raise a substantial investment of 56 million dollars from Softbank and teamed up with Masayoshi Son the founder and CEO of Softbank who had previously helped to defeat eBay in Japan (which lead to eBay leaving Japan in 2002). Also again Ma decided to build a loyal customer base before really attempting to make a profit; he did this by offering free listings as opposed to eBay, which charged for listings (Deresky, 2010). A major factors in Taoboa’s success was Alibaba Groups better management of the trust factor involved in e-commerce trading and better understanding of the local Chinese market. eBbay positioned its standard business model that was used in the United States and other countries. Taoboa, instead, established its own payment escrow service. With AliPay buyers paid into an escrow account that did not pay the seller until the buyer noted he had received the product; therefore, making the transaction thrust worthy since the money was in escrow until the transaction was completed (Deresky, 2010). Furthermore, Taoboa offered e-mail and chat services between users unlike eBay, which concealed identities and only had an offline messaging system. Taoboa also advertised aggressively through websites and billboards in major population areas something eBay did not do. The final steps of defeat for eBay was when Taobao offered three years of free listings and when Taoboa launched its B2C services in 2006. Moreover Taoboa had a large list of companies supporting it and also Alibaba.com members that could join easily. Overall Taoboa’s success over eBay has been attributed its ability to know the local Chinese market and adapt to it as opposed to eBay’s strategies of using a inefficient model that could not adapt to the Chinese market (Deresky, 2010). However, now Taoboa is facing competition from a company that knows the Chinese market very well. Taoboa’s main competitor Baidu, is the largest search engine market share holder in China. Baidu has a large, loyal customer base to work with and has ability to advertise and link its own ecommerce website. Taoboa will have many challenges facing the competition from Baidu. Never the less Alibaba Groups strong and evident presence in the Chinese e-comercial market signifies the company’s ability overtake its competitors by combining all services and maintaining the user-friendliness of its services in B2B, C2C and B2C markets. Question 3. Absolutely it is sustainable. As Alibaba Group now further develops and expands its various web services, it must also additionally develop the various products within each website. Alibaba Group should have one department focusing one website development aspect and another department focusing on product development aspect. The company can still capitalize on his legacy sites that have millions of monthly subscribers. The intention for the company should be to find a way to raise the monthly run rate on each customer on a yearly basis, this would allow Alibaba Group to use these profits to fund the company’s efforts to expand. In my opinion Alibaba Group should focus on moving into Russia first, using their political ties to their advantage. Russia has many raw materials but few factory centers like China. If they could move into Russia, this would effectively provide geographical access to the Middle East and Northern Europe in the future. However, after Russia, I would mainly focus on expanding through Southeast Asia all the way down to Australia. This would fundamentally provide an ecommerce solution that can link B2B, C2C, B2C, sales across the entire Eastern part of the world. Conclusion After reading the case and answering to the questions it seems like the case is too good to be true. Even though Jack Ma had proven his capability of  being a good leader and business man it is impressive how he started from scratch and was able to gather good people around him and develop this successful multinational company. I truly believe that Ma’s and Alibab Groups key to success were the founder people in the company. Overall I see Alibaba Groups story as a big success. It is truly a inspirational story. In the words of Ma’s business partner Masayoshi Son: (Deresky, 2010). â€Å"If there’s a company outside of America that can introduce a new business model to the world, it is Alibaba.† (Founder and CEO of Softbank Corporation, in Japan 2005.) Reference: Deresky, H (2010). International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures. 7th ed. Pearson Boston. 310-322.

Gestures and Non Verbal Theory of Communication Essay

Non verbal communication is defined by David Dickson and Owen Hargie as â€Å"all forms of human communication apart from the purely verbal message† (p. 76). This means that any form of communication that does not require the use of language can be considered as non verbal communication that includes body movements which involves the facial expression, body positioning, gestures, and grooming habits (kinesics), verbal messages or tone of voice (paralanguage), and signs, signals and cues that are seen around. Microsoft Encarta defines communication theory as â€Å"the forms of human communication, including branches of linguistics such as semantics as well as telecommunication and other non linguistic forms. The communication experiment In an article entitled â€Å"An Experiment in Two Way Communication on Orcinus orca† by Dudok Van Heel,; C Kaminga , and J. D. VanderToorn, they pointed out an experiment about an attempt â€Å"to achieved inter specific communication between human and a killer whale. † This experiment was to find out if an inter-specific communication with a killer whale is possible. The experiment used acoustical symbols attached to visual object corresponding to auditory stimulus. They used the frequently modulated signals as stimuli which represent two action words â€Å"take and bring. † Result of the experiment The result of the experiment seemed to indicate positive responses as VanHeel, Kamminga, and van der Toorn noted that the â€Å"killer whale† became more and more active in the acoustic domain. † How ever the authors did not give a concrete result as the experiment seemed to take longer time before it yelled positive result. The Underlying Principles The underlying principle behind this experiment was the knowledge that â€Å"odontocetes have impressive brains which could surpass the requirement that will en able the animals to communicate at the level of language. † This is perhaps encouraged by the success of inter-specific communication between man and dolphins. Using Theory of Ethical Ramification (description). The ethical ramification of using theories of communication can be a positive development brought perhaps by different forces that struggles to assert their own identities in the society compared to the â€Å"dichotomous relationship. † (Sender/receiver) It looked like a wide complex scenario inside a department store that people are free to move as they want. But to some extent, it can also be described as a specific place of destination which had multiple directions leading to the place. One can take short cut or detour, or go straight. Summary / Conclusion Modern communication theories have opened many avenues of not only human to human but human to animals as well. Were not surprised by these theories as it comes out seems so natural. What is interesting is the idea of exploring the potential of communication between human and animals. If this proves to be successful it could bring us life benefits as we could communicate our minds with those beasts that we are in danger with the aid of modern communication technology. I would like therefore to make this recommendation. I recommend to those in the authority in this matter to do further research on how man can extend communication with other wild beast either by using gesture, verbal, or non verbal communication. That government provides more fund for this undertaking as this can be very beneficial to every human being. Work Cited Hargie, Owen and Dickson, David 2004. Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research, Theory and Practice. Routledge. Heel, Dudok van, Kamminga,C van der Toorn, J. D 1982. An Experiment in Two Communication in Orcinus Orca. Http://OurWorld. compuserve. com/homepage/jaap/Gudrun/comm. _1. html Intercultural Technical Communication: The Pedagogical Possibilities of Paralogic Hermeneutics. Orange a Student Journal of Technical Communication. http://orangeserver. org/issues/6-4/daisy. html/document Definition of Communication Theory. Microsoft Encarta

How Does the Role of Women Affect the Novel? Essay

In this essay I will be discussing and analysing how the role, or roles, of women affect the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’. The novel is set in the 1930’s during ‘The Great Depression’ and features three women: Curley’s wife, who lives on the ranch and is representative of the stereotypical suppressed wife, Susy the brothel owner who represents the role of women as solely sexual objects and whores, and lastly, Aunt Clara – a mother figure to Lennie. These are the three archetypal women in the novel and in this essay I will be evaluating their influence on the novel. It is not immediately apparent that women are not vital to the novel. However, the three women help the reader understand how life was for them. Curley’s wife confuses and plays with Lennie’s immature and insane mind with her flirtatious comments, and seductive body language. ‘She moved closer to him’ suggests their actions became out of control. Curley’s wife could have lived her dream as an actress but instead she stood by Curley, ‘I coulda went with the shows’ Her actions demonstrate her love for Curley at the time and how she gave up her dream for him. Curley’s wife allows us to appreciate the role of women in the novel and women at that time that had to suffer from great loneliness in the ranch, outnumbered by a large number of men. ‘Think I like to stay in that 6 by 4 house listening to Curley?’ Her pitiful relationship with Curley or even the agony of her loneliness results in her playful, engaging behaviour. Curley’s wife 1 resembles the stereotypical wife on a ranch in the 1930’s. Deciding on whether his wife is a tart or victim is significant to understanding the real message behind the novel and enables the reader to understand the role of women on such ranches. Susy is immensely different in contrast to Curley’s wife as she is a working woman, owner of a brothel so she is surrounded by friends of both sexes constantly ‘Old Susy’s a laugh’ Unlike Curley’s wife, Susy isn’t as pivotal to the plot but through her we can see and grasp the typical working woman in the 1930’s furthermore the sexual discrimination suffered where women were valued as mere sexual objects. Aunt Clara presents a completely contrasting character to Curley’s wife and Susy. Firstly she presents herself as maternal character ‘her hands on her hips, and she frowned disapprovingly at him.’ this suggests, Aunt Clara must have looked after Lennie like a mother figure when he was younger. ‘I told you’ This is a demonstration of her guiding influence over Lennie and how she was an important character in his life. Aunt Clara is a typical mother and helps the reader value the role of a mother and how it influences the novel. All three women are crucial in the development of the plot and have a great impact on the reader. Their roles help to raise awareness of the women during the ‘Great Depression.’ Women can be seen in a triad of roles; wife, mother and whore. The novel exposes sexual discrimination, sexism and the hierarchy of male over female on the social ladder.

Compare and Contrast American Slavery to British Slavery Term Paper

Compare and Contrast American Slavery to British Slavery - Term Paper Example What is also important to note that slavery still exists in some other forms and people are still being slaved for different reasons. Recent news from Britain highlight that it may be existing in its traditional form even in societies like Britain in this era also. US and Britain are two of the most important countries in the world with rich history of slavery. Though both these countries are the developed countries but both these countries have a history of slavery and slave trade and it was legally abolished in 19th century. It is however, important to note that the nature of slavery and its mechanics were different in both the countries. This paper will discuss and highlight the comparison and contrast between the slavery in both these countries with special emphasis on how historical the patterns of slavery changed over the period of time in both these countries. Slavery in Britain Slavery in Britain is often less talked of and is find rare mention in the academic literature howe ver; Britain was one of the few countries which abolished the slavery trade in 1807 despite the fact that slave trade was one of the profitable occupations in the country. The overall history of slavery in Britain is however, more than 2000 years old with evidence of Romans mentioning about the British slaves. What is relatively different about Briton slaves was the fact that they enjoyed few rights and were not easily replaceable. However, they could marry with the consent of their Lord and had to work for fixed number of days without actually expecting payment for the work rendered. From 16th century to 19th century, Britain were also forced as slaves by the Barbary Pirates who were able to capture British ships and forced the sailors to slavery and were traded as slaves in other markets. (Morgan 2007) It is critical to note that the British Slave trade was the significant part of the overall history of slavery in the country. Slaves from North and East Africa were a common practi ce and Britain along with other European nations was actively involved in the trade of slaves from this region. More importantly, slaves were traded because Britain required labor and manpower to develop the land and its resources in Americas. The British slave trade therefore was largely based upon the notion of providing required manpower to the landowners as plantation owners in Americas. However, history of slavery trade in Britain also dates back to 1500s wherein British slave traders filled in the gap to provide slaves for sugar plantation in Americas and exported the processed sugar back to other countries of Europe. The Britain therefore became part of the Triangular trade in slavery wherein Portuguese as well as Dutch were involved in the slave trade also. Britain made a late entry into this market to fill in the gap left open by these two nations. (Morgan, 2000) The Workhouse slavery was another form of slavery which emerged in United Kingdom. This sort of slavery flourish ed wherein those who were poor with no alternatives were assigned to workhouses and were put under the forced labor. Workhouses also took new born illegitimate babies and subsequently put them in forced labor as they grew old and became capable of working. The modern roots of slavery in Britain also suggest that those who were convicted or punished were often sent as slaves to work on the government projects in the colonies of the British

I Have a Dream - Critical Rhetorical Analysis Essay

I Have a Dream - Critical Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example The speech was part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the speech refers to these themes time and again. The march was designed to put greater pressure on the Kennedy administration in order to advance civil rights legislation within Congress. (Carson) Evidence suggests that the President was worried that if a large crowd did not appear for the march then the civil rights drive in Congress might be affected negatively. There was a dire need to bring in large numbers to prove the unequivocal support for the civil rights movement. The organisers of the march were able to attract large numbers but this presented unique challenges. There were chances that the march might turn into a violent mob based demonstration. Dr. King dealt with this possibility in his speech by persuading the audience that freedom was around the corner and that violence was not going to get them anywhere. Subsequent events proved the efficacy of King’s words. The real contention behind the speech was a collective desire to surmount racial injustice and to integrate society on a commonly shared identity. The Black Civil Rights Movement had sparked off a few years ago. Momentum had been building and some of the momentum had turned to violence. Scores of mistreated African Americans were learning to organise themselves into an effective political instrument. Protests to this effect were increasing and bore testimony to the increasing political coherence of the African American community. King and other visionary leaders such as JFK knew that the country was fast becoming a powder keg. There was a dire need to vent the building pressure of social hate and injustice. This was only possible if legislation to this effect ensured the rights of all American citizens as equal. This speech was effectively aimed at encouraging further positive action on the part of African Americans to pressurise the legislators for legislation and to ensure that violence did not mar the face of the movement. Notably, Martin Luther King employed his skills as a Baptist minister and his intellect as a history aficionado to deliver multiple messages effectively. Rhetorical Devices Employed in â€Å"I Have A Dream† Martin Luther King’s speech is distinct because of the various rhetorical devices it utilises. Most of the rhetorical devices used in this speech are well balanced and connected to each other. The more notable rhetorical techniques utilised to create this speech are: phrases have been emphasized through repetition at the start of sentences; specific key words have been repeated throughout the speech; appropriate quotations and allusions are utilised; concrete examples are presented in order to back up arguments; metaphors have been utilised to highlight contrasting concepts. These major techniques are briefly discussed below to analyse the speech within rhetorical perspectives. Anaphora Anaphora refers to the repetition of words at the start of neighbo uring clauses and is one of the commonest rhetorical devices used. The repetition of words tends to create a discernable pattern for the audience. In effect the audience can connect better to the spoken words because of the certain predictability offered by repeating words.

The ubiquitin system, disease and drug discuvary Essay

The ubiquitin system, disease and drug discuvary - Essay Example Ub as a protein is heat stable in nature that formulate into a compact global structure. Ub can be seen in all cells and has the capability to exist in free form or with other cells in a complex nature. When existing with other cell it is attached to protein in a covalent state along the glycine at the C-terminal end of ubiquitin and lysine. However, single ubiquitin molecules can be seen conjugated with lysine of these protein.Ub has a role to play in many cell processes. For example, during the GI phase of mitosis,Ub is coupled to the cyclin protein, thus play an important role in regulating the cell cycle. The coupling of Ub is also seen in, DNA repair, the regulation of transcription, programming cell death and embryogenesis. It is a family of genes which encodes Ub and has fusion proteins as it translation products. The protein in Ub exists in a linear chain of amino acids. This linear chain of amino acids can degrade over time and it is called protein - turnover. The concentration of protein in the cell is determined by the balance between the synthesis and protein degradation in a cell. It has been understood by studies on protein turnover rate that some protein are short lived where as others live for long duration. Majority of protein in the cell is comprised of long lived protein. However, the main regulatory are the shorlived protein but they are abnormal proteins. The short-lived protein are easily prone to degradation because they get partially unfold. The Ub by regulating degradation of certain protein regulate the protein turnover in a cell. This kind of regulatory action is necessary in a cell. The regulating protein degradation has the ability to avoid a protein which regulates other necessary function in a cell. This kind of control is necessary in a cell as the disposal of this kind of regulatory protein helps in the cessation of processing of the regulatory protein. Inactivation of protein is also performed by

An Examination of Obamas Inaugural Speech Essay

An Examination of Obamas Inaugural Speech - Essay Example Despite its lack of the excitement aroused by his earlier speeches, this inaugural speech had the basic ingredients of the art of rhetoric characteristic of most political and civil movement speeches. Because of its messages and the use of the fundamentals of rhetoric, President Obama’s inaugural speech has been described by many as a moment and speech that the American people had longed for since the election night. In fact, some feared that they might have died without hearing such a speech. Besides being the first African-American to be sworn in as president of the United States of America, President Obama wrote a speech that both his opponents and supporters will remember for quite some time. In fact, the speech introduced a new era of leadership and communication in the country. The speech was not only well written but was also well-read, a feat quite hard to achieve if the performance of the post-2996 inaugural speeches is anything to go by (Walker 8). There was plenty of anaphora in President Obama’s inaugural speech, in which many words were repeated at the beginning of neighboring clauses and sentences. For instance, he said, â€Å"Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished.† In addition, anaphora was evident when he said, â€Å"For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.† The other fundamental of rhetoric used in the President’s speech was ethos when he said, "From the grandest capitals to the  small village where my father was born.† The speech was also delivered at the grandest of stages by a man â€Å"†¦whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.†

Research Methods (semi structured interview of four women in the sex Essay

Research Methods (semi structured interview of four women in the sex industry) - Essay Example The paper also discusses the various themes and the data that will be collected in the interview. There are two research methods namely quantitative research method and the qualitative research method, both qualitative and quantitive research methods have their strength and weakness. D according to Amaratunga (2002) Qualitative research method is concerned with the properties, the current state and the character, in this method data is collected through focus groups, questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative research on the other hand is defined as collection of numerical data, in this research method data can be sorted, categorised and measured, for this reason therefore statistical analysis of the data can be undertaken to obtain central measures such as the mean, median and standard deviation. In this research I intend to use the qualitative method of research, qualitative methods collect greater information depth and details than in the quantitive method of research, therefore this method will aid in collection of more information in our case because some of the themes in our study are not easy to generalise. Our research topic is very sensitive and therefore the qualitative method being suitable for s... Qualitative method of research will create openness between the interviewer and the respondents whereby the participants can discuss subjects that are important to them rather than when the respondents are offered closed questions. The research coordinators can also correct and clarify ambiguities and confusion over concepts. Therefore Qualitative method in our research will help reduce biased responses in the answers given and any confusion corrected. Having discussed the advantages of qualitative method we can conclude that it is suitable to undertake our research method, it will help us collect more information and for this reason we will not require a large sample size, our results will also not be biased in that the research coordinator will clarify any misunderstanding of questions and also the ability to check the level of understanding by the respondents. It would be therefore to collect data using the qualitative research method. Semi structured interview: Biklen (1992) states that In structured method of surveys interviews have limited number of questions but in the semi structured interview there are set themes to be explored and therefore the interview is flexible and does not follow a limited number of set questions. In a semi structured interview the survey is like a conversation and respondents are more likely to open up and give more information. Face to face interviews have advantages over the other survey methods, according to Biklen (1992) some of these advantages include the opportunity to clarify any misunderstanding of questions by the respondent, and the research coordinator also has the opportunity to gain more information on the

California Vaccine Mandate Bill Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

California Vaccine Mandate Bill - Research Paper Example Initially, the philosophical exemption law protected some groups of Americans against mandatory vaccination based on their religious and philosophical perspectives of them. It means that while it is almost necessary that children are vaccinated before they enter school, some children were exempted. However, the California vaccine mandate bill will eliminate the privilege starting 2016 (McGreevy, 2015). Therefore, the implication of the new bill is that families with negative religious beliefs will no longer be exempted. The new bill demands that a greater number of Californian children is vaccinated before they enter schools. According to the LA Times (April 22, 2015), the Senate passed the legislation on Wednesday 28, 2015 and will become a law beginning 2016 (McGreevy, 2015). The bill also provides that have negative perception of vaccines as a way of protecting their interests. There is a question of how suitable the proposed legislation is towards safeguarding of the rights of re ligious minorities in the state. While there is an acknowledgement of the rights of minority groups in the state, the new legislation will undermine such a privilege. The rationale for the deduction is that as some parents already complained, the number of children in schools will go lower. The reasoning is simple because parents with such beliefs will opt to keep their children away from schools as a way of protecting their interests. Some may argue that the legislation provides for parents with such opinions to home school their children.

Abnormal behavior Essay Example for Free

Abnormal behavior Essay There are many factors that affect and produce abnormal behavior. Its aspects vary largely depending different factors. Abnormal behavior has many varying classifications. According to the   DSM-IV, there are 5 types of Axis that classify abnormal behavior. Out of these five, there is much importance on the effect of situational factors that can range from simple or grave in nature, nonetheless, situational factors provide a huge effect on abnormal behavior. The DSM-IV provides categorical classification that segregates mental disorders into different kinds or types from a basis of sets of criteria that possess defining features. The five types are the following: Axis I Clinical Syndrome, Axis II Personality Disorder and Mental Retardation, Axis III Physical Disorder, Axis IV Psycho-social stressors and Environmental Problems, and lastly, Axis V Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). See more: Homeless satire essay Abnormal behavior represents different effects. The causes and stimulants for this abnormal behavior may vary very uniquely. But every abnormal behavior condition can be consequences of genetic predisposition, developmental factors that influence, patterns learned due to response from situations, impact of acute or chronic life experiences, defective assumptions, and adaptation to situations. Excluding the genetic predisposition, abnormal behavior largely revolve around factors of different situations that may have started or aggravated the said abnormal behavior. The once normal behavior of people can change due to a very life-changing situation. Examples of these are traumatic events or major disasters that occurred in ones life. Such disorders or abnormality may greatly have been caused by these kinds of situations which resulted to the change of the normal behavior into abnormal.

Media Violence and its Effect on Youths

Media Violence and its Effect on Youths Introduction Background of the Study Over the years, researchers have examined the effects of before and after the introduction of media to the community. The constant question which crops up on the effects of media is, will the exposure of youth to media violence cause increased levels of aggression and violent behavior. According to Huesmann (2001), he said that the young adults may behave aggressively if they are exposed to media violence since young. Ones characteristics can be formed when they are young due to the exposure of media such as television, can determine what kind of a person he/ she will grow up to be. Media violence is reputably hard to explain and define. Violence is the act of a threat in harming and hurting where it could end up with life being sacrificed. The exposure towards media violence may arouse the aggressiveness in the behavior of a person. The connection between media violence and aggressiveness is interrelated because whenever there is aggressiveness it can somehow be linked to media violence. How media violence affect youth nowadays is indeed very important in order to have a clearer view of the society because if this matter is not taking seriously eventually violence in youth might contributes to a major portion of the increasing crime rates. Thus, the media indeed plays an important and major role in developing of morals and values of youth. Numerous shooting cases have taken place in schools, colleges and universities all around the world for the past few years. Many innocent lives have been taken due to the aggressiveness in youths. A youth who grew up surrounded by violence may have the tendencies of getting themselves involved in crime and violence at a higher rate compared than those who were not exposed to the media (Huston and Wright, 1997). There are many things around the world will influence a youths behavior, but in this research we will only be focusing on entertainment that is media such as television, wrestling and video games. The reason for researching on this topic is due to the fact that youth nowadays tend to develop characteristics by imitating behaviors from the media. One of the main influences of mass media would be media violence, where the printing and writing of the mass media wont have a big impact, because it is only visual compared to the media which has audio and visual effects at the same time. In many cases, youths tend to develop a violent behavior through media, and violence among youths is growing exponentially. Therefore, this study will focus on the university students perceptions towards media violence and its effects on youth in Malaysia. The specifications of media violence in this study are television, video games, internet games, music videos and music lyrics. Problem Statement This research is trying to find out what is the university students perception towards media violence on youths in Malaysia is because the media has the capability of affecting youths in their development of individual characteristics. The uncontrolled media violence incidents could be the birth of a more violent community and society in the future. Besides that, people may confuse reality by observing violence on media and develop unrealistic fears. It is an undeniable fact that entertainment media plays an important role for the future generations. Take the television for example; it has grown from a black and white small image set to full high definition wide screen. Today, it is a constant companion to most youths. Its influential properties are indeed undeniable, and the effect of media violence on youths is consistent. With parents working most of the time, youths are left alone depending on media as the sole source of entertainment, this of course leads to the youths tending to believe that all the behaviors and results are real and logical. University students can be categorized as youths where youths are generally visual learners because students at the university level is able to visualize the information given whether is it true or not rather than just trust whatever the information given. Visual learners think in pictures rather than in words. At this stage, they learn better visually, and usually would see the big picture first before learning the minor details. Most media nowadays depends a lot on visual effects; this includes media violence as well. The false admiration of heroes or heroines will cause youths to imitate the actions and behaviors from the entertainment source, and apply it in the real world. Youths will draw a quick conclusion and perceive that aggression could solve problems in life directly and generate rewards easily. Definition of the Term Mass media is any medium used to convey mass communication, and the mass media sources, which includes books, newspapers, magazines, radio, movies, television, and internet. It is a fact that mass media has grown by leaps and bounds, and the importance of it has also grown significantly throughout the years. Therefore, the influences in todays society are an unquestionable fact. One of the main influences of mass media would be media violence. Media violence is the visual portrayal of acts of aggression, and the action could be portrayed by anyone or anything, from human beings to animals. In many cases, the highly influenced group would mainly be youths. Such aggression behaviors include damages to properties, verbal abuse, emotional or physical abuse. In an important study carried out in Canada, children were found to have become significantly more aggressive two years after television was introduced to their town for the first time (Kimball and Zabrack, 1986). Children who prefer violent television shows when they are young have been found to be more aggressive later on, and this may be associated with trouble with the law in adulthood (Huesmann, 1986). The increase of violence among youths would reflect the growing numbers in violence among adults as well. This would lead to a crisis in society where violence would wander freely. University students are the future leaders, where the practice of media violence is normal to them could lead the world to an unhealthy trend by using aggressiveness to settle problems instead of using a peaceful way such as negotiation and meetings. Many wars could be waged and innocent citizens could be the victims of the violent world. The foundation behavior of a person is important because how a person grows up really depends a lot from the condition a person being raised up. Purpose of Research The purpose of this research is to find out what are the university students perceptions towards the media violence effects on youth in Malaysia. The research purpose is to analyze media violence on youths in contributing to a negative impact on society. This research also includes about how university students perception about the seriousness of the media violence affecting the younger generation compare to the older generation in this century. Research Questions There are three research questions which will be conducted in this research, they are: What are the university students perceptions towards the media violence effect on youth? Does the media violence affect their lives? What are the impacts of media violence on youths? Theoretical Framework (Social Learning Theory) Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action. (Albert Bandura, Social Learning Theory, 1977) The social learning theory is considered the most influential theory of learning and development which was proposed by Albert Bandura (1977). In many of the basic concepts of traditional learning theory, Bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning concepts such as observational learning, imitation, and identification. The theory are as follows, people learn by observing the behaviour of others and outcomes of it. Imitation is another direct mechanical reproduction of behaviour and learning can occur without a change in behaviour. Behaviourists say that learning has to be represented by a permanent change in behaviour. Social learning theorists say that because people can learn through observation alone, not necessarily to be shown in their performance. People can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. Known as observational learning (or modeling), this type of learning can be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors. The observational learning and modeling process involved are attention, retention, reproduction, motivation. Literature Review The importance of Media In the society nowadays, the media has become an essential need that everyone must have such as food and clothes where is it indeed true that media is playing an important role to play. With advance improvement in the field of science and technology today, the media has become a crucial part in our modern society. Media is a social device in our communication lives. The media can be obtained in everywhere such as newspaper, television, radio, films and internet. The society exposed to media everyday. In fact we seek knowledge through media (Tan, 2009). According to Devrani (2008), the duty of the media is to inform, entertain and also to educate the people in the society. Despite of that, the media help everyone to know what is going on in the world from time to time. Media shape lives and the societys lives will not be complete without media (Devrani, 2008). The medias impact is through psychological and intellectual where the media shape public opinion and help frame the society. The medias information is what we read, listen to and watch (Angel, 2008). According to Adedamola (2009), he explained that the media had always played the leading role in the way we think and do things, he also point out that the idea of perception is the central role of the media. Besides that, media also affects a persons perspectives not only through television but at the same time through radio, newspaper and the internet (Devrani, 2008). A person cannot rely completely with the media because a person has to filter and critically analyze the situation before judging on something. It is also important to know that the media is able to influence our thinking and minds. With this is also explaining the reason why the media is so powerful to manipulate one persons mind (Tan, 2009). In parallel, the media influence the people on making the decision, the product s to buy, questions to ask and choices to make in the daily life (Angel, 2008). It is often use by the leaders to make full usage of the media to influence people and by controlling the media means controlling the flow of the communication among the society. Media Violence It seems like that the violence among children is growing rapidly in our society today. It happen almost every parts of the world but the question still remains a mystery. How do children develop to be so violent? Is violence genetically programmed in them even before they are born? It is possible to ever change their attitude again? In many cases, researchers found that nowadays, the entertainment media plays a powerful role in the formation of values and morals in children. For a variety of reasons, it is now time for a new assessment of what is known scienti?cally about how media violence affects young people and what can be done to mitigate these adverse effects. (C. A. Anderson et al, 2003). In the past few years, there has been an onset of school shootings, and many teenagers had been sacrificed. One of the examples is the Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999, which killed 13 people and wounded 23 others. The incident was committed by two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, which involved imitation of characters of video games. They both committed suicide after the tragedy. In other case, Cho Seung-Hui has been identified as the gunman responsible for the two Virginia Tech attacks that claimed 33 lives to become the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history in April 16, 2007. Chos inability to handle stress and the frightening prospect of being turned out into the world of work, finances, responsibilities, and a family, Cho chose to engage in a fantasy where he would be remembered as the savior of the oppressed, the downtrodden, the poor, and the rejected. The panel went further, stating that, His thought processes were so distor ted that he began arguing to himself that his evil plan was actually doing good. His destructive fantasy was now becoming an obsession (The Virginia Tech review panel, 2007). Media violence contributes in making the student to have such evil plan mentality with a heavy heart that this world is so terrible to live anymore. In many situations, it seems that minority groups are usually targeted. The teenagers who kill seem to feel that they are being shunned and made fun of by their fellow classmates. The feeling would soon developed into hatred and revenge, thus sparkle off any undesirable incidents. Some of these tragedies have led to the killers killing themselves at the end in search of peace of mind. Violence (homicide, suicide, and trauma) is a leading cause of death for children, adolescents and young adults, more prevalent than disease, cancer or congenital disorders (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001). It is possible for those who are naturally aggressive to be the most affected by the media violent while the most vulnerable at the risk of increasing in aggressiveness (Gentile, 2004). Family history and background does contribute to the violence because when the children grow up in the aggressive family tends to behave more aggressive. Television Watching television is also one of the main factors contributing to the media violence on youth. By the time a child is eighteen years old, he or she will witness on television (with average viewing time) 200,000 acts of violence including 40,000 murders (Huston, et al, 1992). Williams (1970) have studied both before and after the television was introduced in a rural village in British Columbia where after two years the introduction of television, the violent incidents had increased by 160 percent. In?uences that promote aggressive behavior in young children can contribute to increasingly aggressive and ultimately violent behavior many years later. Therefore, it is important to recognize factors including media violence that, separately and together, may play a role in these outcomes in childhood (Huesmann Moise, 1998; Tremblay, 2000). In 2001, the Surgeon Generals conclude on youth violence that the media violence rises up youths physically and verbally aggressive behaviour in the short term rather than violent behaviour. According to the National Commission in 1969, television violence encourages violent forms of behavior that they do not propose that television is a primary cause of violence in society but they do propose that it is a causative factor. In 1993, American Psychological Association stated that there is totally no doubt that often watch violence on television are interconnected with increased of aggressive attitudes and increased aggressive behaviour. Other than that, in 1972, the Surgeon Generals Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior has set a television research impact on children. They have come out with the result that the evidence supports, a beginning and uncertain indication of a causal relation between viewing violence on television and aggressive behavior for some children who are prone to be aggressive. In July 2000, the, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and American Academy of Family Physicians stated with a joint statement that over 1,000 studies point overpoweringly to make a connection in some children between media violence and aggressive behaviour. Video Games and Internet Games Most video games and internet online games nowadays would consist of violence or sexually elements and characteristics on the games to increase sales and popularity. Most of the youths seem to be indulged in the video gaming world until they apply the gaming world into the real life situation. Violent video games can cause people to have more aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and lessen sympathetic, helpful behaviours with peers. (Anderson, 2004; Gentile, 2003). In video game industry, particularly violence in general and sexual violence, the current trend is for gamers to be the bad guys. It creates acting out criminal fantasies in order to earn points for attacking and killing innocent passerby in the game. Even though these games are targeted for mature audiences but it is common and popular to be played by the teenagers. In the recent research about the video gamers by Anderson and Bushman (2001) shows that although the youth who only play the video games just few hours daily would also behave aggressively in the real world. By just playing the video games it can affect the youth negatively. This is a serious fact that cannot be ignored. According to Funk, Flores, Buchman, Germann (1999), the ratings provided by the video-game industry do not match with those provided by other adults and game-playing youngsters. The youngster and the adults totally disagree with the industry that has classified the cartoonlike character in many games as appropriates for general audiences. A study by Anderson et al. (2001), about a 14-year-old boy arguing that he has even killed somebody even though he has been playing video games for many years is indeed correct. Example for the 45-year-old two packets a day cigarette smoker also argues that he still does not have lung cancer. According to Anderson et al., both of them are wrong because their exposure to their respective risk factors of media violence and cigarettes has not unintentionally increased the likelihood of the people around them in future that one day suffers the consequences. Anderson and Dill (2000) also stated that violent video games may be more harmful than violent television and movies because they are interactive, very interesting and require the player to classify with the attacker. Anderson (2000) says, One major concern is the active nature of the learning environment of the video game. The exposures of the video games are potentially more dangerous than the exposure to television violence to ha ve significant effects on aggression and violence. (Anderson and Dill, 2000). In other meaning, playing video games may bring more significant violence effects on youths as they have the opportunities to be in the character and do the task in the games. Music Videos and Music Lyrics According to Waite, Hillbrand, and Foster (1992) says after the removal of Music Television (MTV) show a significant decrease of aggressive behavoiur on a forensic impatient ward. In 2003, Gentile, Linder, Walsh conducted a study on the fifth grade children where the children who watch MTV regularly reported to be involved into more physical fights compare to the children who do not watch MTV regularly. The regular MTV watcher also rated by their teachers is radically more aggressive and less prosocial. Music videos are also concern because these videos are sometimes stuffed with violence. The assumption of attitudes, behaviour and values portrayed in lyrics of the music that influence the young listeners on how to think and react received the most criticism from the public. (Carey, 1969; Christenson Roberts, 1998; Fedler, Hall, Tanzi, 1982; Roberts, Henriksen, Christenson, 1999). The songs and lyrics in the older days is totally different from now and the fact of the youths mind set also have change according to the pace of the society. Other the other hand, a group of mice were trained to run mazes in a high school science-fair experiments in where the group of mice were to put to listen to classical music, hard rock or no music. According to the student who perform the study says that the classical mice became faster in running the maze, whereas the hard rock mice became slower because the hard rock mice is killing each other while none of the classical mice did that (Eaton, 1997; Health, Wealth, Happiness, n.d.). Other than that, according to Rubin, West, and Mitchell (2001) stated that the college students who prefer heavy metal, rap or hip hop music are more aggressive than other students who prefer music such as country and pop where this bring a connection between the types of music youth listen and a broad range of troublesome attitudes and behaviours. The effects of media violence on youths Youths that often expose to the media violence tend not only behave aggressively but are more prone to have attitudes that support violence and aggression as a way of solving conflicts because the youths dun trust people around them and they view the world as a aggressive place. According to New Scientist ( 2007), by the time the average U.S. child starts elementary school he or she will have seen 8,000 murders and 100,00 acts of violence on TV. Besides that, Cyber (2006) says that after 15 years the researchers followed 329 subjects, they found that those who as children were exposed to violent TV shows were much more likely to later be convicted of crime. Researchers also state that, any children from any family regardless of social class or parenting can be affected by media violence. There is no word of escaping in the exposure of media violence because it is widely spread among the society and communities with the world. Girls who watched and expose more than an average amount of violence tended to throw things at their future husbands. In parallel, boys who grew up watching violent TV shows were more likely to be violent with their future wives (Cyber, 2006). Every violent TV show increases a little-bit the chances of a child growing up to behave more aggressively in their life. In the same way after many years looking for accumulated data, the society is now recognizing a relationship between violence in the media and social problems. According to Barry (2002), the one of her study result shows that tracked 700 male and female youths over a seventeen-year period showed a definite relationship between TV viewing habits and acts of aggression and crime in the later life. Barry (2006) also states that the findings of this study help strengthen the link between TV, violence and youths. This shows a relevant result in between the violence is connected with the youths from watching television. Perception of University Students Towards Media Violence and its Effect on Youths Murray (2002) says that media violence is one of the factors in contributing to forming of aggressive and antisocial behavoiur when a young boy becomes a young man. In a study Anderson, Carnagey, and Eubanks (2003) has reported that among 500 university students that violent music and lyrics increased the students aggressive thoughts, behaviours and hostile feelings. There are now good conclusion and practical reasons to expect perception and effects of media violence among the university students. According to Mortimer, 2005 (as cited in Caez, E, 2006) the students thinks that they may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, they may become more fearful of the world around them, and they may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways towards others. According to Cantor and Harrison (1999), they found out that 138 university students have perceive frightening memories of media images still continued to disturb them after many years. Cantor and Harrison (1999) also states that over 90 percent of the university students have trouble to sleep and phobia in certain situations continued suffer due to the scary experience from images they viewed as a child. In a survey conducted by Gossellin, Guise and Paquette (1977) found out that among 360 university students perceive that the heavy television viewers are more likely to think and mostly believe that the world is a dangerous place and the viewers are not particularly scare of it. This shows that the students were not bothered by the violence around them and do not see there is anything wrong with the violence (Mortimer, 2005, as cited in Caez, E, 2006). In Mortimer, 2001(as cited in Caez, E, 2006) another research also found that the students who are fear of being a victim of violenc e would prefer to carry a weapon with them and has the mentality of behaving aggressively and plan to hurt the people before the people get hurt them. This shows that the universities students have the perception of protecting themselves is important rather than just sit there and wait for protection. Youths Media Violence in Malaysia There have been many reports of youth involved in the rapes, sex crimes, and extortion including stabbing of school childrens. In Malaysia, police statistics on these crimes indicate that they are on the rise (Loh, 2004). This media report arise the sense of panic, curious and anxiety among the citizens. The violence convicted by the youth in Malaysia becomes more serious nowadays. There are eight juveniles are charged in killing a 16 years old student in Seremban (Loh, 2004). In another case reported in The Star in 2004, a mother and her daughter were reportedly raped by two youths who had escaped from a nearby reform school in Jerantut. According to The Star (2010), mention that there is this article back in the year 2002, a 12 years old boy was charged for murdering his tuition teachers 11 years old daughter by hitting her with a hard object. As 12 years old boy, he might not even realize that his action can kill a girl. Other than that, The Star (2009) report that a 17 years old youth was charged in the Juvenile Court by intentionally hitting and attacking a policeman and two Rela officers. Besides that, there is also a 20 years old youth ran amok and stab his father to death while his elder brother with serious injuries in an article in The Star (2010). The Star (2007) review that the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, it is very important for the youth and youngsters to know how to say no to violence at the National Youth Week. The media also hold an important role to play in investigating and reporting on media violence on youth. Moreover, the media is responsible to decrease the causes of crime but not contributing in increasing the media violence in Malaysia. Methodology Introduction Methodology can be explained as an appropriate method use to examine a field of study when conducting a research. Besides that, methodology also ensures that findings are relevant with the research questions in order to have discussion over the results before making a conclusion about the research. In this research, theoretical frameworks will be formed and tested, where as the quantitative research in primary research methods are planned. From there the methodology covers the research approach and preliminary layout of study that consists of the theoretical/conceptual framework, research questions, questionnaire design, statistic methods, analysis and finally with a conclusion. Quantitative Research Quantitative research is a category of research tools used when precise results are needed. The results are expressed in numbers or statistics form. There are two research form of quantitative which are survey questionnaire and content analysis. For this study, the survey questionnaire is designed to collect primary data. This method was chosen because survey questionnaire is more appropriate to be use in this research to find out the university students perception towards media violence and its effect on youths in Malaysia. Furthermore, this survey questioannaire method is not expensive, consuming less time, easy to collect data entry and the questionnaire can be design according to the research questions that at the same time suit to the target respondents mentality. The questionnaire will be printed out and send out to the target respondents for this study. Questionnaire Design The questionnaire is design according to the three research questions of this study. Each and every of the questions in the questionnaire must be able to relate back to the research questions which is about the perception of university students towards media violence and its effect on youths in Malaysia. It is important to know how the university students perceive this situation. Hence, this questionnaire is design to study the opinions, perceptions and experience of them on media violence. Structure of the questionnaire There will be four sections in this questionnaire where the section A consist of the target respondents demographics such as the gender, age, marital status and educational level while section B questions are on the university students perceptions, section C is about the media violence effects and the last section D emphasize on the impact of media violence on youths. Sampling Size The sample size of this research is 100 targeted to university students in Selangor state in Malaysia because there are quite a number of university in this area. All respondents are required to be honest with the answer and respond during the questionnaire is conduct to avoid inaccuracy of data collected. Methodological Limitation In this research study, there were few limitations in conducting this questionnaire survey. Limited time in conducting this survey has leads to the inaccurate of data collection. The small sample size due to time constraint has become one of the obstacles encountered because it is not representing the overall university students in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. In total, 100 questionnaires were distributed, a sum of 99 filled-out with valid responses was returned. Therefore, the effective response rate is 99%. Besides that, existing theories by the western researchers, might not be suitable apply into the Asian context. Findings and Analysis Introduction In this chapter, data collected from questionnaire are being converted into useful information to be interpreted. Findings and analyses are run to addressed the research objectives and answer the research questions. The intention of this chapter is to present the results of the questionnaire, as well as to offer interpretation of the findings and analysis related to the research questions. The findings is divided into three sections. Section A will be an overview of respondents profile. Section B reports the findings and analysis of the University students perception towards the effetcs of media violence on youths while the Section C report about the media violence affects on daily life among the respondents. Section D will be the impact of media violence on youths. The last part of this chapter is about analysis of the findings and comparison of the literature review with the data collected. Section A: Overview of Repondents Profile In total 100 copies of questionnaire has been distributed, total number of collection is 99 copies. This makes the response rate up to 99% of the solid respond from the respondents. There were total 99 were return, 53.5% of the respondents were male and 46.5% were female. With the total of 78 returned, 53.85% of the respondents were male and 46.15% were female. The result of the age population finding

Affordable Wallpaper In The Industry Design Essay

Affordable Wallpaper In The Industry Design Essay My aim for my final project is to have a professionally finished wallpaper design. Along with this idea I would like my wallpaper to be displayed in a house, perhaps in a show home, so people can see my work and see what it looks like in a room. This is because many aspects can affect the appearance of the wallpaper, for example, the lighting. If the light is very harsh and bright it can cause the colours to appear different and not look as effective. However if there is a soft glow it can appear warm and inviting. Within a show home everything is new and the home is developed to a high standard in order that it will appeal to prospective buyers, therefore presenting wallpaper within this environment would be and excellent promotion medium. I am also going to look into interior architecture and aim to master new skills within this subject so I can transfer them into my project. Once I have my wallpaper design and found a space in which to display it, I then plan to create the space using interior architectural programmes such as Auto CAD in order to create a virtual room. I will also introduce furniture, fabrics and colour alongside my wallpaper design. This virtual room will provide a prototype of how the finished room should look. In order to create a wallpaper design I need to look into the history of wallpaper; Where do they come from? How are they made? Do people still buy wallpaper? What are the consumer demands? Current styles and trends, are they cost effective? Is the economic climate affecting the wallpaper industry? I also need to find companies that will print out my design and at what cost? What is Wallpaper the History behind it? When looked up in the Oxford Dictionary the term wallpaper, means paper for covering the interior walls of rooms. Wallpaper is a kind of material used to cover and decorate the interior walls of either homes, offices or other buildings. It is not essential, however it has become a very popular method in which to style, create a mood or inject colour into a room. Wallpaper can be used for either residential or businesses purposes. These differ from each other for instance; they differ in weight, serviceability and quality standards. Residential wallpapers are commonly made from various materials and can be bought either pasted or pre-pasted. However when it comes to the commercial grade wallpapers they are divided into categories based on weight, backing composition and laminate thickness. All commercial wallpapers must have a vinyl surface and successfully undergo rigorous physical and visual tests as mandated by the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association. According to the Made How website, there are four popular methods used to print wallpapers and designers have chosen the printing technique based on the cost and aesthetics. This suggests that cost is a major issue when it comes to making wallpaper. The progression of wallpaper can be found going as far back into 200BC, in China where paper was originally invented. However the earliest wallpapers used within Europe was as early as the 13th century. Designs involved painted images of popular religious icons and were commonly used within the homes of those which were religious however they were also used to liven up the bleak, dull homes of the poor. Religious prints only remained popular with the poor over the following centuries. By the 16th century more expensive wall coverings such as depicting tapestries began to hang in the homes of the elite. Tapestries included repeated images which were block printed in various colours spread over multiple sheets of fabric. They added colour to the room as well as providing an insulating layer. Tapestries however were very expensive therefore implying only the rich could afford them. Due to the cost of these the less well off members of society turned to wallpaper in order to lighten up their homes. Wallpaper designs featured scenes which were similar to those in the tapestries, however printed onto large sheets of paper; these were either hung loose on the walls, or pasted instead of being framed. By the mid 18th century Britain was the leading wallpaper manufacturer in Europe, exporting large quantities to Europe but also selling within the middle class market, subsequently this trade was greatly interrupted due to the seven year war. Yet, slightly previously before the war, in 1748 the English Ambassador to Paris decorated his office with blue flock wallpaper, this in turn then became greatly fashionable. Within the 1760s designers began to work with silk and tapestry to produce subtle, luxurious wallpapers. Near the end of the century the fashion for scenic wallpaper revived in Britain once again and led to vast panoramic views of antique architecture, exotic landscapes and pastoral subjects as well as repeating patterns of stylized flowers, people and animals. During this period of time two problems arose, one problem was producing long sheets of paper for printing, the other was printing attractive wallpaper inexpensively. Until the mid 1700s their techniques included making rag-based paper which was individually printed in sheets, these were then applied to the walls. However in 1785, Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf invented a machine for printing coloured tints on sheets of wallpaper. Then in 1799 Louis-Nicolas Robert created a machine to produce long and continuous lengths of paper. This ability to produce long lengths of paper therefore allowed the wallpaper industry to flourish. By the 19th century printing costs had finally been reduced, this occurred by discarding manual block printing and replaced with cylinder printing. Wood block printing was a technique which involved applying a colour to each separate block by hand, then pressed down onto the paper, tapped in order to ensure the quality imprint, the block was then lifted up and re-inked and the process would be repeated, this was a very expensive and time consuming process. However with the cylinder printing the, technique involved the paper being mechanically fed between cylinders until the paper had been fully printed, therefore no hand printing being involved. This therefore led to the successful reduction of cost, consequently resulting in it being cheaper to wallpaper a house than it was to paint it. The development of the steam powered printing presses also had a great impact on the wallpaper industry as this allowed manufacturers to mass produce wallpaper, again cutting the costs and making it affordable to the working class. Wallpaper benefited from a high boom in popularity in 19th century and it had established itself as one of the most popular household items across the western world. Todays Styles Trends Wallpaper has changed greatly since it was first developed, in todays industry it comes in multiple patterns, designs and textures. Wallpaper manufacturers like Cole Son have realised the consumers needs for bold attractive wallpapers. As hubpages.com has pointed out, todays homeowners today want their walls to be more than simply covered they want them to make a statement. Arguably a wall covering is a piece of art and an expression of ones personality. By just browsing through the internet for popular wallpaper designs there are numerous different styles and textures available. However hubpages.com provides some of the industries offerings: Hubpages.com suggests that metallic wallpaper is one of the popular modern styles today. It is produced in a variety of colours and patterns. Due to its rich visual texture it instantly creates a focal point for a room therefore grabbing attention. Although this style of wallpaper is a modern technique, the patterns which are used are quite traditional, often with a floral repeat print. The colours used within todays market are bright and bold which have a modern feel to them. This therefore suggests to me that the current market trends are a mixture of traditional designs with modern bright colours. However it can be argued that in the 1970s bright orange was injected into the world of interiors. As Lesley Hoskins (1994 p.226) points out, The first few years of the 1970s were bright in every respect, Also according to hubpages.com, The most popular colour palettes in the seventies were based in nature dark woods, mossy greens, bright pumpkin orange, daffodil yellow and the ubiquito us harvest gold dominated the interiors of suburban seventies homes. Therefore questionably are bright colours a modern trend? Or have they just remained popular since the 1970s? Metallic wallpaper varies in price depending where you purchase it from it can range between  £10 a role in stores such as Focus and up to  £50 a role from Cole Son. Therefore showing that this type of wallpaper is affordable for everyone and it is also a popular style due to the wide range of stores selling it. Flock is a traditional style of wallpaper and has been around for countless years, it became very popular in the mid 17th century. It has a slightly raised textural pattern that has a soft velvety feel to it. This can be supported by hubpages.com as they state, it is rich in both visual and tactile texture. This style is elegant and luxurious. In the 1760s it was greatly respected within the industry as noted by Charles C. Oman and Jean Hamilton (1982 p.21) The flock papers of this period on the other hand, are, almost without exception, the work of very capable designers. Their decorative qualities were such that their suppression by other types of wallpaper later in the century was clearly due to a change in taste, rather than to the growth of greater artistic appreciation. Although Flock is a traditional wall covering it has remained to this day a fashionable choice of wallpaper, as it is sold by manufactures such as BQ, Cole Son, Osborne little and Zoffanny. Flock wallpaper is very expensive compared to other wall coverings. My research has identified that prices start from  £44.98 in lower end stores such as BQ and can range up to  £150 by Cole Son, increasing in price to  £253.95 by designers such as Antonina Vella. This style is very highly priced and therefore suggests only the greater cliental would be able to afford it. However it can be argued that a fashionable trend within the industry today is the feature wall, being the decoration of one wall only. This would subsequently cut costs and allow more homeowners to buy luxurious styles of wallpaper. As in a article published by the Guardian, Review of the Decade, Humi Qureshi makes the point that, with some designers saying feature walls offer recession-proof style (buying one roll of wallpaper or one pot of paint, to cover a single wall is more affordable than decorating a whole room), therefore supporting the feature wall current trend. An interesting design of wallpaper I have researched is glass bead wallpaper, after looking into this I have discovered that it is a moderately new product, it is very rich in texture as it is built up of thousands of miniature glass beads stuck onto the paper backing. The three dimensional surface makes this wallpaper strikingly unique. A positive to this wallpaper is that it can be developed in a variety of colours however when it comes to cost this product is very expensive compared to the others as it can be up to three times the price of regular wallpaper. This again makes me think this style of design would be more suited for the more affluent buyer. I love this technique I think its very eye catching and unusual, it would look great in a grand, luxurious bathroom. I can also see this design being used within upper class hotels and perhaps restaurants. However, although this is a very luxurious wallpaper, if too much was introduced into a room it would become tacky and unattractive therefore I would keep it to a minimum and use small amounts to add accents and create a unique look to the room. By adding only small sections of the beaded paper it would reduce costs therefore making it affordable to more people. Todays Economic Market According to keynote.co.uk in 2009 outgoings on wallpapers amounted to  £315 million. However total market value has dropped by 6.4% from the previous year. Is this due to the economic climate? Or is the consumer spending elsewhere? Keynote.co.uk states that wall coverings and ceramic tiles account for 10.3% of total expenditure on materials for maintenance and repair of dwellings in the UK, trailing other home dà ©cor and improvement products such as paint, this statement shows home owners are opting to use other methods for decorating instead of buying wallpaper. Arguably the cost cuts for the wallpaper industry may be due to the feature wall trend implying that the consumer is still buying wallpaper albeit not in large quantities as they did before, thus explaining the cost cuts. Although the market value has dropped keynote.co.uk also points out it remains popular with the C1 and E socio-demographic groups, as well as consumers based in particular regions such as the West Midlands, the North, the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside. This statement is interesting as to quote from Wikipedia, Socio groups C1 and E are; lower middle class and Those at lowest level of substance, suggesting, home owners of all classes are able to afford wallpaper and signifies, wallpaper is not just for the affluent buyer. According to keynote.co.uk Recovery within the UK retail market for wall coverings is not expected to start until 2011 By 2014 market value is expected to have risen by 7.3% Thus implying there is still going to be a demand for wallpaper in the UK for the fore coming years. marketresearch.com points out A key market influences, construction sector- historical trends and current performance of housing and commercial construction markets, house moving this statement shows the possibilities for wallpaper and its future. Through my own primary research, using surveys and asking a variety of consumers, their opinions based around wallpapers about their profession, thoughts on cost, design, colours and techniques, along with their outlook on the feature wall trend. Has allowed me to find out the current consumer demands; along with assisting me to answer the questions: do people still buy wallpaper in todays economic climate? Are they cost effective? What are the consumer demands/what do they look for in wallpaper? What styles do they like?

A Walk In The Woods: Chapter 9 :: essays research papers

Bill Bryson the author of the short story ‘A Walk in the Woods’ constructs the story in a certain way to try to get the reader to accept his attitudes and values about how dangerous and death defying Earl V. Shaffer and other’s are in attempting to travel the trail. He uses the techniques of emotive language, unusual language and use of first hand accounts in the short story ‘A Walk in the Woods‘ . The use of descriptive and humorous language, combined with conversational text has allowed Bryson to express his feelings and opinions on his and others experiences on the Appalachian Trail to the audience. The language that the author uses in the short story is very emotive and expressed the feeling which have been felt by others on the trail. The author uses emotive language throughout the story to position us to feel amazed and astonished toward Earl V. Shaffer’s 2000 mile journey on the trail. †He spent long periods bushwhacking over tangled mountains or following the wrong path when the trail forked.†, this text shows that Shaffer was a tough and sturdy and wouldn’t give up for any reason. â€Å" On the other hand, even the dustiest little hamlets nearly always have a store of cafà ©, unlike now, and generally when he left the trail he could count on a country bus to flag down for a lift to the nearest townâ€Å". The reader is also told that he might have been helped along the way, so suspicion arises. â€Å"...Reduced to a rutted, muddy track†¦Ã¢â‚¬  shows that the trail conditions at times were anything but perfect. ‘Rutted’ and ‘muddy’ describe the Appalachian Trail as an almost tough and hardy trail to trek across. â€Å"The trail Shaffer found was nothing like the groomed and orderly corridor that exists today† shows how the Appalachian trail appears to Bryson and portrays to the audience a trail affected by modern societies requirement of health and neatness. 'orderly' and 'groomed' are used to portray an image of a beautiful trail that is set out neatly, far from what Shaffer would have experienced on his travel along the trying trail. The attempts of Bryson to explain the conditions fought by Shaffer on his trip were well complimented by descriptive and explanatory sentences.Bryson uses the very distinct humorous and silly style of writing which entertains the audience very well.

The Merchant Of Venice: Portias Suitors :: essays research papers

Compare and contrast Portia’s three suitors, examining their characters Shakespeare highlights three of Portia’s suitors, the Prince of Morocco, the Prince of Arragon and Bassanio. He does this to heighten dramatic tension, as these three men are the most important candidates to win Portia’s hand in marriage. They reveal the contents of the three caskets and their different characters as exposed as being proud, vain and humble. They also emphasise the racial prejudices of Venice a place where many races clash. Their attitudes towards the caskets and their choices indicate what their character is like. This essay will compare and contrast the three suitors and will explore how Shakespeare influences the audience’s attitudes towards the three men. The Prince of Morocco is the first suitor of the three suitors we are introduced to. His first line is, ‘Mislike me not for my complexion’ (Act II Scene i) He is anxious to compensate for the colour of his skin. He shows himself to be ashamed and insecure. However his character is proud because after he remarks on his skin colour he proceeds to defend it and boasts about himself, ‘ ...this aspect of mine/ Hath fear’d the valiant†¦The best regarded virgins of our clime/Have lov’d it too...’ (Act II Scene i) He challenges Portia to compare his blood with the whitest of men to see whose is the reddest. ‘Bring me the fairest creature†¦And let us make incision for your love/ To prove whose blood is reddest, or mine.’ (Act II Scene i) This would be a way to suggest that Morocco was as noble as any white man was because red blood signified courage and virility. A lot of emphasis is placed on Morocco’s skin colour. His long-winded speeches full of false and extravagant praise makes him sound insincere, ‘†¦all the world desires her; /From all corners of the earth they come,/ To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint:’ (Act II Scene vii) In contrast his exit is short and dignified, in total disparity to his entrance and long speeches before choosing a casket. ‘†¦I have too griev’d a heart /To take a tedious leave: leave losers part.’ (Act II Scene vii) This indicates he does not easily accept defeat. He explains his thoughts on each of the caskets as he reads the inscriptions on them. He says the lead casket is not worth hazarding everything for and quickly dismisses it. When he comes to the silver casket he comments, The Merchant Of Venice: Portias Suitors :: essays research papers Compare and contrast Portia’s three suitors, examining their characters Shakespeare highlights three of Portia’s suitors, the Prince of Morocco, the Prince of Arragon and Bassanio. He does this to heighten dramatic tension, as these three men are the most important candidates to win Portia’s hand in marriage. They reveal the contents of the three caskets and their different characters as exposed as being proud, vain and humble. They also emphasise the racial prejudices of Venice a place where many races clash. Their attitudes towards the caskets and their choices indicate what their character is like. This essay will compare and contrast the three suitors and will explore how Shakespeare influences the audience’s attitudes towards the three men. The Prince of Morocco is the first suitor of the three suitors we are introduced to. His first line is, ‘Mislike me not for my complexion’ (Act II Scene i) He is anxious to compensate for the colour of his skin. He shows himself to be ashamed and insecure. However his character is proud because after he remarks on his skin colour he proceeds to defend it and boasts about himself, ‘ ...this aspect of mine/ Hath fear’d the valiant†¦The best regarded virgins of our clime/Have lov’d it too...’ (Act II Scene i) He challenges Portia to compare his blood with the whitest of men to see whose is the reddest. ‘Bring me the fairest creature†¦And let us make incision for your love/ To prove whose blood is reddest, or mine.’ (Act II Scene i) This would be a way to suggest that Morocco was as noble as any white man was because red blood signified courage and virility. A lot of emphasis is placed on Morocco’s skin colour. His long-winded speeches full of false and extravagant praise makes him sound insincere, ‘†¦all the world desires her; /From all corners of the earth they come,/ To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint:’ (Act II Scene vii) In contrast his exit is short and dignified, in total disparity to his entrance and long speeches before choosing a casket. ‘†¦I have too griev’d a heart /To take a tedious leave: leave losers part.’ (Act II Scene vii) This indicates he does not easily accept defeat. He explains his thoughts on each of the caskets as he reads the inscriptions on them. He says the lead casket is not worth hazarding everything for and quickly dismisses it. When he comes to the silver casket he comments,

Characters of Romeo and Juliet Essay

In The Prologue of Romeo And Juliet, the fate of the â€Å"star-crossed lovers†, the title characters, is already told. They have been doomed to â€Å"take their [lives]† before the play has even begun. This foretelling of what the audience is about to see displays that the play is about how and why the events unfold, and not what happens. Act Two, Scene Two is an important scene in the play, which is because this is where Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, the two children born of the â€Å"fatal loins† of their feuding parents, meet for the second time, after Capulet’s Masquerade. They fall in love, starting the chain of fated events that cause their deaths. Before meeting Juliet, Romeo was seen to be melancholic; he was supposedly in love with Rosaline, which was unrequited. He seemed to be introspective, and have a very negative outlook; in Act One, Scene One his father, Montague, said that Romeo had been shutting himself â€Å"[a]way from light† in his room. Romeo appeared to have a very poetic, yet bleak, attitude to love. This is demonstrated by Romeo’s use of extended oxymoron in Act One, Scene One, where he talked of â€Å"loving hate†, and â€Å"misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms†. His poetic words seemed to indicate that perhaps Romeo was not in love, rather in love with the idea of being in love. He spoke of Rosaline, the object of his love, as though she was a deity, even stating she has characteristics of the goddess Diana (â€Å"she has Dian’s wit†). The goddess Diana was an emblem of chastity, and the object of Romeo’s affections has taken a vow of chastity. Ironically, Romeo refuses to â€Å"examine other beauties†, as his friend and kinsman Benvolio suggests at the end of Act One, Scene One. In Act One, Scene Five, when Romeo firsts saw, spoke to, and kissed Juliet, he still used decorative language, and said similar to what he had previously said about Rosaline. He said that Juliet â€Å"doth teach the torches to burn bright†, a metaphor, after first seeing her in Act one, Scene Five, after calling Rosaline the â€Å"all-seeing sun† in Act One, Scene Three. This seems to indicate that Romeo is too quick to announce his love, saying of Juliet what he had said not long ago about Rosaline. He did, however, denounce his previous love and say that his love of Rosaline was not comparable to his love for Juliet in Act One, Scene Five, with the rhetorical question â€Å"[d]id my hear love till now? â€Å". In Act One, Scene Three Juliet is seen to be polite and respectful young girl. Her mother, Lady Capulet, who is less close to Juliet than her Nurse, tried to persuade Juliet to marry a suitor that has been chosen for her. Marriage was an â€Å"honour that [Juliet] dream[ed] not of†, being only thirteen years of age. Lady Capulet, in Act One, Scene Three, told her daughter that â€Å"[t]he valiant Paris seeks [Juliet] for his love†. Juliet seemed in no rush to fall in love and marry at such a young age, she stated she would â€Å"look to like†, but â€Å"no more deep [†¦ ] endart [her] eye†. She appeared grounded, with no unrealistic expectations about love, and in no hurry to find a husband, despite her mother’s insistence that girls younger than Juliet â€Å"[are] made already mothers†. When Juliet met Romeo for the first time in Act One, Scene Five, although she echoed Romeo’s poetic and metaphor rich language, she appeared more playful and flirtatious, telling Romeo he â€Å"kiss[es] by th’book†. In Act Two, Scene Two, Romeo speaks of his love for Juliet and watches her after she appears at the window. He compares her beauty to that of the sun: † [it] is the east and Juliet is the sun/Arise, fair sun,† when she appears at her window. Shakespeare uses this language to depict that Romeo has elevated Juliet to the stature of a goddess. This is reinstated, with Juliet’s beauty repeatedly being compared to (and bettering) the brightness of celestial objects; Romeo says that the â€Å"brightness of her cheek would shame [the] stars†. Shakespeare used more positive metaphor, repetition, and a less structured and poetic approach to Romeo’s speech to show that Romeo’s newly found love of Juliet has effected a change in his language. Romeo is presented as more happy to love, and simply be in the presence of Juliet: he is eager for her to â€Å"speak again†, rather than strike up a conversation instantly. When Romeo begins speaking to Juliet, after hearing her speak of her love and asking why she must love a member of the family she hates, asking â€Å"wherefore [is he] Romeo? â€Å", Shakespeare wants us to understand Romeo’s devotion to Juliet. Romeo offers to forsake his name, saying that â€Å"[h]enceforth [he] never will be Romeo† demonstrating his willingness to make sacrifices for the love of Juliet. During this scene Shakespeare repeatedly uses names, or words referring to names (for example, â€Å"name†, or â€Å"called†) to show the conflict between language, the words and names, and experience, reality; Juliet states that â€Å"a rose/By any other word would spell as sweet†. Romeo is eager to â€Å"exchange [Juliet’s] love’s faithful vow for [his]†, which shows not only Romeo’s eagerness to prove his unchangeable love to Juliet, but his need to be loved in return. He tries to swear his love many things, including â€Å"yonder blessed moon†, Juliet takes vowing love much more seriously, and asks Romeo not to swear by the â€Å"inconstant moon† as it is too changing to vow such an important thing on. This presents Juliet as a mature girl, who tries to consider the consequences of actions and promises, whereas Romeo is completely absorbed in the idea of love. Juliet is concerned that her and Romeo’s love is moving too fast, saying that it is â€Å"too like the lightening†. Shakespeare uses this again showing Juliet’s rationality, but also showing that she is young, love is new to her and she is in no rush. Romeo does not appear to share these concerns; he is more concerned with loving and being loved, only satisfied by Juliet’s â€Å"faithful vow†. She is however in love with Romeo, and is not happy to see him go, â€Å"[p]arting is such sweet sorrow†, but is eager to see him again. Towards the end of the scene Juliet’s language becomes more like Romeo’s in eagerness to vow love, and in use of simile, comparing Romeo to a â€Å"wanton’s bird†, tethered by her love. Romeo’s rashness, loyalty, and need to love Juliet and be loved in return are important characteristics that will end up sealing his grim fate at the end of the play. Juliet’s young age, and contrasting maturity, grounding in reality and strong will in her love will be ever important, and her need to see a plan through will be important factors that help lead her towards her tragic ending. â€Å"For never was there a story of more woe/Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. â€Å"

Challenges of Microfinance Banking in Nigeria

CHALLENGES OF MICROFINANCE BANKING IN NIGERIA-1 Nigerians, like many other Africans are generally known as their brother’s keepers in view of the extended family system. But when truly analyzed, there is a possibility that this may not be so? Perhaps a hypothetical deep may reveal that not up to 10% of Nigerians would invest in ventures or people that would yield them nothing in return and here I mean, â€Å"Returns in the short run or in the immediate†. The returns may be financial, emotional, spiritual, relational or social. But fact is, there is something the investors expect in return when they give and these could include being worshipped as personal heroes, fear of harassments, fear of being harmed, for family ties, religious ties, being perceived as a caring corporate organization with the intent of bigger business tickets etc. Hardly do the â€Å"Nigerian rich† set aside a portion of their riches for the â€Å"unknown poor† or for true charity except such gifts are meant to make them be seen by the Society or Divinity as good or circumvent some threatening harms etc. This anti-poor behavior is projected into organizations; corporate, social, religious and sometimes even Government and parastatals as people see only the short end of developments without heeding the social woes of economic imbalance and insecurity. Consequent upon my above beliefs, I may classify the challenges of Microfinance banking in Nigeria under five (5) main headings: 1. COMMUNICATION GAPS AND INADEQUATE AWARENESS As a background to the undeniable problem of communication for effective microfinance, listen to this quote by Stan Paris on his article on Microfinance As A Means of Reaching The People â€Å"Problems of communication are endemic in the industry, dating back to what could be considered the first micro-loan. In 1976, Muhammad Yunus, a young economics professor at Chittagong University, Bangladesh, took his students into a small village where he discovered a woman crafting beautiful stools out of bamboo. He inquired what the woman earned for her work after repaying the trader from hom she borrowed. She told him she earned the equivalent of 2 cents in net profit. Yunus was appalled. He wanted to help her find a means of financing that would allow her to make more net profit. But, first, Yunus had an enormous communication barrier to overcome. That was a time in Bangladesh when women didn't touch money and didn't talk to men, explains Sam Daley-Harris, director of the Microcredit Summi t Campaign, an important facilitator of dialogue in the industry. Yunus had to have a female student ask the woman a question, then return to tell him the answer. There were barriers of communication even in explaining the value proposition. † Truth is that today, communication barriers exists heavily in Nigeria particularly given that even within a State, there exist as many languages and dialects as exists ethnic groups. Also, high level of illiteracy even among the educated who fails to read important things that would enable them take positive steps towards personal, interpersonal and national development. I recall given many flyers of Elim Kit â€Å"n† Kin to a friend of mine who is well educated and is on a billion naira business locally and international. This guy was in a church service when a play-lets on Kit â€Å"n† Kin was delivered by a group of young people. But after the service, he approached me on how to go about empowering a friend he wants to help and when I suggested kit â€Å"n† Kin, he asked me what that was? Obviously, my educated friend neither read the flyer which is comprehensive and explanatory nor listened to the play†¦.. here lies the problem of many Nigerians of all classes, hence my concern for communication on micro financing. Lets now look at some of areas of specific communication challenges in Nigerian Microbanking In adequate awareness campaigns and supports by the regulators: The CBN and the NDIC as Federal Government’s engine of economic development need to do greater and continuous campaigns to all stake holders; investors, universal banks, the banking public, the micro targeted poor and low-medium scale entrepreneurs until the micro banking ideas sink in the society and gets well accepted. I hear and read the Governor of CBN assuring the public of safety of the Consolidated Banks. But the Similar truths and campaigns should also be carried for the microfinance industry Lack of trust by the oor themselves who believe that the microfinance banks are just like the unregulated community banks and unregulated finance houses. Going by the antecedents of the banking industry in general, no one would blame the people for lack of trust. Only effective and far-reaching campaigns and exhibited trust in the microfinance banks by the government and the regulators can achieve this desirable confi dence. An Uneducated Population: A critical ill of the populace in Nigeria is the bottom, bottom level of poor education of the people. A country where less than 10% of the populace pays attention to the print media, less than 20% listen or watch educative audio-visuals is a great challenge to information dissemination. Incidentally, the literally â€Å"very† educated people do not read handbills and communicative documents that deal with those things like microfinance banking since they have no interest in such activities. A survey of how many people would read this documentary would shock you even if the Guardian Newspapers circulate it free to just the middle and upper classers. This attitude is worse with the targeted microfinance clients. They are more interested in chasing their â€Å"kobos† than reading or listening to programs that would help them build up and improve on their standards of living The Active Poor’s Current Preference for Gifts Than Loans. Generally, a hindrance to economic development in Nigeria is the gift preference of the poor as a culture from political and religious biases. The politicians, the rich in religious circles, towns and villages all over Nigeria have cultured the poor to beggarliness and dependence rather than empowerment for productive and financial independence. Gifts are not usually regarded as re-investment treasures by the receivers. This is why givers ought to challenge the receivers to effectively put their gifts to work by rendering these helps through microfinance banks. Products such as ELIM Kit â€Å"n† Kin are meant for well intended givers to assist the poor live above perpetual begging. It is known internationally that micro-financing is not charity. Micro funds are meant for the productive activities of the beneficiaries. Consequently, only people who fall within the active poor or low income earners who are willing and able to utilize the loans for productive activities and repay both interest and capital are the bona-fide candidates for microfinance. 2. ANTI-POOR ATTITUDES OF NIGERIANS Dearth of quality investments in microfinance banks:. Most surplus spenders and investors in Nigeria, because of the lethargic attitudes to the poor, would not invest in Micro finance banks. They prefer to invest in the â€Å"billion naira profit making consolidated banks†. Again, Nigeria investors are coasted by the quick-return and trader-like attitudes which surely does not result in a meaningful development for the Nation. They are therefore unable to go through the gestation period required in the young microfinance industry for their investments to start yielding good dividends. The Grameen Bank of Mohammad Yunus did not start making profit in year one, but today, that bank is one of the most profitable financial institutions in Asia and yet, it is a financial institution with classic recognition for adding the greatest value to humanity. Snobbish and selfish attitudes by the financially well to do Nigerians. Hopefully, good campaigns and direct involvement by the who is who in Nigeria would solve the current snub by the rich on poverty alleviation programs and enable these categories of Nigerians see that Microfinance is both a good and rewarding investment and a good development project that directly and indirectly impact their lives. 3. INSUFFICIENT SUPPORT FROM THE REGULATORS AND GOVERNMENTS Poor buy-ins and competitive approaches by the State Governments and Local Governments. The policy direction towards the millennium development goals is that one percent of the annual votes of the State and Local Governments should be channeled to Microfinance banks for on-lending to the poor and low to medium scale entrepreneurs. So far, very few states have taken steps to get this started. Lagos state is a shinning example that has taken the lead to effectively and efficiently put microfinance banking into focus. Their microfinance institutionalization, the dept of involvement of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in developmental activities at the grassroots is equaled by non I know in Nigeria of today. This Ministry is not just a moribund ministry; it is a ministry that is empowered and achieving evidential results. This ministry needs to be copied by every state in Nigeria. Today, some 800 microfinance banks are established in Nigeria, but some states rather than use the services of these banks licensed by the CBN, choose to find a round about way of dealing with mega banks or establishing their â€Å"owned† micro credit institutions. It is my candid opinion that government involvements in microfinance banking would be counterproductive as they should concern themselves with policy formulation and control rather than implementation. How can someone formulate policies, implement it and effectively control it? Nigerian Microfinance banks have what it takes to manage micro funds for states and international bodies and should be given the chance to do so under strict supervision and controls.