I Went to the ARC for the First Time

I Went to the ARC for the First Time Ive been a student at the University of Illinois for two years now, and in all my time here, I had never taken a trip to the ARC (activities and recreational center). My freshman year, I had a fitness center in my dorm, and the thought of trekking a few blocks in the middle of January just didnt do it for me. My sophomore year, the company I lease with opened a fitness center. I always went there to avoid the crowds. Photo from Rachel Hernandez But recently, Ive turned a new leaf. Today marks the seventh consecutive day that Ive gone to the ARC Im hooked! Whether running the track or relaxing in the sauna, the ARC offers something for everyone: swimming, lifting, cardio, yoga, dance, massages, and meal-prep. Gif from Giphy.com So, heres the deal. If you are a high school senior and health and fitness are important to you, let me say this, loud and clear; the University of Illinois has one of the largest, nicest gyms of any college. With the number of machines available, you will always be able to get your workout done, and the staff is incredibly friendly! Rachel Class of 2020 I am studying Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Social Sciences and Literacy in the College of Education. Although I now reside in Champaign, I am originally from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.

The Importance of Latin in the Curriculum Essay examples

The Importance of Latin in the Curriculum My memories of Latin in high school are less than fond. I remember slouching in my chair, staring blankly at my desk as I tried to remember the form of the word agricola (farmer) in the ablative plural. Much of the class consisted of mundane activities like this. We translated endless Bible passages from Latin, translated what seemed like the entire body of Greek mythological literature, and read hundreds of lines from The Aneid, The Odyssey, and The Iliad. I signed up for Latin because I was considering going into medicine, and I had heard that doctors need to know Latin. As high school progressed, though, a medical career seemed less and less likely so it appeared I had no real use†¦show more content†¦Until the Reformation, church services were conducted using only Latin. One of the key principles of the Protestant movement was that the entire Christian message, Scripture included, should be made accessible to the common folk in their own tongue (Hammond 243-4). The Catholic Church also began to use the vernacular for its homilies during the Counter-Reformation for similar reasons (Smith 32). The switch from Latin to the common tongues did not occur overnight, though. In fact, the Catholic Church mandated that Mass be spoken only in Latin until the bishops of the second Vatican Council voted to make the switch in 1962 (Waquet 47). For hundreds of years it remained a key part of the education from middle school to college of those students that were fortunate enough to get one. Latin was taught so that students could read ancient religious, philosophical, and dramatic texts in their original language (Smith 27). By reading these texts in their original tongue, students would gain â€Å"the key to the superior wisdom of the Ancient World and to the piety of the Christian Fathers† (Smith 27-8). When these privileged students entered college before the decline of Latin, they entered a deeply Latin world. Upon entering the building, they would see Collegium inscribed above the door, their classrooms would be labeled sexta, quinta, quarta, and the teacher would lec ture in Latin. In fact, students were required to converse only in Latin during freeShow MoreRelatedThe Reign Of The Carolingian Dynasty1429 Words   |  6 PagesMiddle Ages. Although there were various Carolingian rulers who aided these advances, it is fair to say that Carolingian developments reached their peak during the reign of Charlemagne, a leader and reformer of the church who fully appreciated the importance of learning and education. Throughout his reign, he established himself, as a ruler, and his empire as an example that subsequent Kings of the Middle Ages would aim to obtain and uphold. In addition, Charlemagne created a cultural legacy that allowedRead MoreEssay On The MA IB Degree864 Words   |  4 Pagesnot all the offered International Business degrees fulfil these expectations, for instance, some prefer to teach the main modules in German. Coming back to the MA.IB, this postgraduate programme is a striking example of a complete international curriculum. That is to say a totally international atmosphere (around 50% of all students own an international degree), as well as the multi-disciplinary and multi-lingual approach. Not to mention the possibility to obtain a double degree in cooperation withRead MoreShakespsear867 Words   |  4 PagesWhen Shakespeare was a kid going to grammar school, a school open to boys only by the way! they learned Latin, Greek and rhetoric, persuasion through logical argument. Students read Latin and Greek writers to learn about the history of ancient Greece and the glory that was Rome† and this material was translated by them into English or French after many hours of work. Im glad the school curriculum of the 21 st century has evolved and we no longer spend our days doing boring stuff like that! Their old-fashionedRead MoreThe Impact Of Medieval Europe On Education1286 Words   |  6 Pagespossibilities, and a lot of freedom for the student to pick. The importance of education is found in many cultures, but where did it all begin? Medieval Europe started many ideals about education that would have a powerful effect on many different forms of education around the world. Medieval Europe birthed the very first institutions in which students could collectively learn the same information. While the institutions and the importance of education was growing more and more popular, the populationRead MoreAmerica, Mexico, The Caribbean, And South America Make Up Latin America Essay1070 Words   |  5 Pagesand South America make up Latin America. Approximately 640 million people reside in this region. Latin America is the largest foreign supplier of oil to the United States. It is the United States’ fastest growing trading partner, as well as its biggest supplier of illegal drugs. Latin America is also the largest source of U.S immigrants, both documented and not. The life expectancy for females is 72 years of age and the life expectancy for males is 79 years of age in Latin American. Just about 35Read MoreJohn Locke s Views On Education879 Words   |  4 Pagesenormous influence on Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s novel â€Å"Emile†. John Locke advocate for changes in parental care and education of children. Locke’s views on education were forward-looking compared to the classical ways of education. He emphasized the importance of teaching practical knowledge. He recognized that children learn best when they are engaged with the subject matter. Locke also foreshadowed some contemporary pedagogical views by suggesting that children should be allowed some self-directionRead MoreStructural Diversity Within A Community859 Words   |  4 Pagesethnic communities the implementation of structural diversity has influenced each community in a different way. The influence of structural diversity serves different purposes for European Americans as it does to African Americans, Asian Americans or Latin Americans. In Bowman’s (2012) study of structural diversity in college, results concluded that structural diversity, in an equally diverse institution, positively influenced the European American group of stude nts at that particular college. ThisRead MoreJustification of a Scheme of Work Essay1589 Words   |  7 Pagesyears. It is merely a breakdown of the whole programme into smaller chunks based on your frequency of your meetings with learners. (Wilson Practical Teaching 2008 p68) The selection and sequencing of topics reflect on the 6218 curriculum set by the awarding body, the curriculum is a Basic Construction Skills course built around various practical tasks for which there are unit credits attached to obtain the qualification. I first begin with easier tasks leading up to more advanced tasks as the courseRead MoreCurriculum Development1575 Words   |  7 PagesCurriculum Development The term curriculum originates from the Latin meaning â€Å"race course†. The term has been expanded and today is more widely used in education to mean a plan for a sustained process of teaching and learning (Pratt, 1997, p. 5). There are numerous formats for curriculum models. They can be deductive, meaning â€Å"they proceed from the general (examining the needs of society, for example) to the specific (specifying instructional objectives, for example)†, or inductiveRead MoreEssay on Comparative Education Project1269 Words   |  6 PagesMalmesbury, Lichfield, Hereford and Worcester. ï‚ § 776  Alcuin established school at York. ï‚ § 1016  Canute became king of England: concerned about the education of poor boys. ï‚ § 1066  Norman invasion: French replaced English as vernacular medium for teaching Latin. ï‚ § 1096  Oxford: evidence of teaching. ï‚ § 1209  Cambridge: scholars arrived from Oxford. ï‚ § 1249  Oxford: University College established, followed by Balliol 1260, Merton 1264. History 1300-1800 ï‚ §    ï‚ § 1384  Grammar school opened at Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire:

Essay about Womens Rights Movement - 833 Words

Tuesday, November 2, 1920, the day women voted for the first time. The New York Times called it, â€Å"The greatest voting day in the city’s history.† It was a wonderful day for women all across the country. All of their hard work had finally paid off. The Women’s Rights Movement changed the way women were seen. Before the passage of the 19th Amendment, women in many states were not given the right to vote. The Women’s Rights movement was caused by many factors, greatly impacted the society of the early 1900s and changed American society forever. Women were traditionally seen as the weaker sex – second-class citizens with a lower social status than men. A woman’s place was in the home. Men did the â€Å"heavier† labor, like plowing and hunting.†¦show more content†¦She modeled her Declaration of Sentiments after the Declaration of Independence. The first line of the Declaration of Sentiments and the Declaration of Independence only differed in two words, â€Å"and women†. At the convention, the women signed their names on the document. As one of the youngest signers to the Declaration of Sentiments, Charlotte Woodward became the only signer to see her dream come alive at the ballot box. To discourage the women from taking any further actions, newspapers across the country published and ridiculed the Declaration and its signers. Embarrassed by the bad publicity, several women decided to withdraw their name. However, most women were still willing to fight for their cause. The tea party on t hat hot summer afternoon started an ongoing fight for women’s equality. â€Å"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex† (U.S. Constitution). These are the words that women across the country were fighting to hear. Congress passed the 19th Amendment on June 4th, 1919 and sent it to the states. Seventy- five percent of the states needed to ratify the Amendment for it to be official. Before her son, Congressman Harry Burn from Tennessee, made the crucial vote on Women’s Suffrage, Mrs. J. L. Burn wrote him a letter. She told him, â€Å"Hurrah! And vote for suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt†¦ Don’t forget to be aShow MoreRelatedWomens Rights Movement1336 Words   |  6 PagesThe Women’s Rights Movement Women’s Suffrage is a subject that could easily be considered a black mark on the history of the United States. The entire history of the right for women to vote takes many twists and turns but eventually turned out alright. This paper will take a look at some of these twists and turns along with some of the major figures involved in the  suffrage  movement.   The first recorded instance in American history where a woman demanded the right to vote was in 1647. MargaretRead MoreWomens Rights Movements1199 Words   |  5 Pagesdoes have hope struggling to carry the world. Women are continuously dehumanized because they are not treated as equals in the work place, the media, and school however the women’s rights movement has given women the right of freedom of speech and right to vote I. Need for the movement Although, when the Women’s Rights movement started women were happy but it has then and even now moved quite slowly making women lose their hope. Women have transitioned into the state of mind of being the â€Å"housewife†Read MoreWomens Rights Movements951 Words   |  4 Pagesgovernment went through great length to prevent specific groups from having the right and ability to vote. One group in particular that were deprive voting rights in the past was women. The idea that women wanted to be not above a man, but equal was unfathomable to most men and women. In the past, women were seen as unintelligent servants to their husbands and children. They were deprived many rights especially the right to vote in public state or national elections. This did not change until theRead MoreEssay on The Womens Rights Movement1346 Words   |  6 PagesThe Womens Rights Movement was a significant crusade for women that began in the late nineteenth century and flourished throughout Europe and the United States for the rest of the twentieth century. Advocates for womens rights initiated this movement as they yearned for equality and equal participation and representation in society. Throughout all of history, the jobs of women ranged from housewives to factory workers, yet oppression by society, particularly men, accompanied them in their everydayRead MoreEssay on The Womens Rights Movement1962 Words   |  8 PagesThe Womens Rights Movement History looks different when the contributions of women are included. -the National Womens History Project Throughout history, society has impacted the lifestyle of the individual. Change in society has a particular impact on the individual. During the Vietnam era, change in society was drastic. 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All people are deserving of quality health care, unconditional love and mutual respect. Human rights are at the heart of women s issues, whether you are a woman, man or child, everyone, is entitled to basic human rights as individuals. As a marginalized section of the population, women should be interested in the elimination of patriarchal ideologies and systems that continually seep intoRead MoreWomens Right Movement 1970s784 Words   |  3 Pages Womens Right Movement 1970S The Womens Right Movement has been a long enduring battle, which started in 1848 and is still something we are fighting for. Woman Rights in the 1970s wasnt the first wave of feminism which focused on suffrage;this wave was mostly focused on equal opportunity. This movement helped gain the ERA amendment which allowed women equal payment in working fields. 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The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s goal was to hopefully put an end to racial discrimination and to restore voting rights in the South. Clearly the 60s was not the beginning of the fight for civil rights in America. The 18th century in the United State was plagued by hatred, racism and slavery. Slavery affected the entire nation. Slavery destroyed families

English Exam Free Essays

I personally think â€Å"Culture Smarts Norway a Quick Gulled to Customs Etiquette† has managed to capture the Norwegian lifestyle well. The tips are angled in a way for the reader to better understand Norwegian way of thinking and acting. Basic information about the Norwegian people and what values we got, that may be very different from other cultures. We will write a custom essay sample on English Exam or any similar topic only for you Order Now Being aware of other cultures values is an important and clever thing to do when traveling abroad. It strengthens your chances of good communication and prevents you from being misunderstood as easily. The only negative thing to say about the text is that It has put a lot of weight on Just explaining why we are so reserved, to help prevent foreigners from misunderstanding us. Of course this is important information, but there could be given more advice on how to otter the communication with us, rather than it mostly being excuses for our rather strange behavior. But don’t get me wrong, if I was to write a guide like this, I would most definitely mention the same things, but with some enhancements In the communication part. Appease 3. C) Do we really want to know? Weeklies; the weapon that â€Å"leaks out† confidential Information Into the public domain, Information the government Intended to keep secret, and backing the Information with trustworthy sources, as well as making sure the Individual providing the highly classified material remains anonymous. Weeklies has been a hot topic in the media the last couple of years. It’s not the information being given that is the main focus, but the fact that the Information is being given. Whether it Is good for the public to know, or if much of the information should be held kept, as intended. I personally appreciate such information. We all know terrible things happens in war, out rapports Ana Tall Dotage snowing emulates Ana Inhuman actions In war, causing death of civilians is something I feel is right for the public to see. To help prevent the government from believing they are untouchable. To help prevent military actions aging lives’ of the innocent, without consequences. For each individual, and their rights to know what is going on in the world, this information is best to be official for the public. But is this what’s best in the bigger picture? Is much of this information held secret, not only to hide information that is not accepted by the public, but to benefit world peace? Will the leaked information cause bigger consequences for cooperation between countries? Is the reduced trust in our government benefiting us, or is it better not to know? Maybe some of the information from Weeklies is better of being unknown to the public, in order to maintain world order. How to cite English Exam, Papers English Exam Free Essays

The Love Canal Tragedy and Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation

Introduction The Love Canal is named after William T. Love, the man who envisioned the idea of creating an 11-km canal between the two sections of the Niagara River to produce electricity for powering his planned city in the 1890s. However, his plan failed and the pit filled with water over the years.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Love Canal Tragedy and Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In 1940, Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation purchased the land for use in disposing chemicals. Nearly a decade later, the company had disposed more than 22,000 tons of toxic wastes, and the Love Canal was almost full. The land was later used to build schools and residential homes, and soon, residents started reporting strange odors and the presence of heavy metals. In 1976, heavy rains caused a large amount of chemicals to move to the surface, contaminating the whole area. In the years that followed, the area reported abnormally high rates of stillbirths and miscarriages, and a similar number of babies born with defects. Eventually in 1978, more than 1,000 families were evacuated from the area, and an EPA study found out that of the 36 people tested, 11 had deformed chromosomes, and that of 15 babies born in the area between 1970 and 1980, just 2 were well. In the early morning of August 19, 2006, residents of Abidjan city of Ivory Coast observed trucks with freshly painted logo dumping liquid wastes at various locations within the city, this went on for more than three weeks. A few weeks later, several residents began reporting a fowl smell, and tens of people were said to have died. After several investigations by foreign journalists and the Ivorian government agencies, it was discovered that a Dutch company, Trafigura, had contracted a ship to dispose chemical wastes from its plants in Ivory Coast. The wastes consisted of over 500 tons of a mixture of fu el, caustic soda (Sodium hydroxide), hydrogen sulfide and phenols that Trafigura had failed to dispose in the Netherlands due to high costs. The waste had come from the process of stripping coker gasoline to obtain naphtha. The company had then contracted a ship, Probo Koala, to deliver the wastes in Abidjan, and collaborated with a local company to dispose the wastes throughout Abidjan. The disposal is estimated to have caused the deaths of more than 17 people while close to 40,000 suffered various illnesses after inhaling the harmful gases released by the wastes. Parties Involved Hooker Chemical factory was solely responsible for the Love Canal Tragedy, however, the government was also responsible for failing to carry out conclusive studies on the long-term effects of the wastes on the area as had been done by Dr. Robert Mobbs. Dr. Mobbs had investigated the relation between insecticides and cancer and made his reports public, but the government failed to take it up. Eventually, m illions or dollars were used to clean up the area, with Hooker Company contributing almost $130 million and the rest by the government.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the Ivorian case, Trafigura was at fault, however, the Dutch government through the port of Amsterdam was also at fault for allowing Trafigura to move the waste back into the Probo Koala after realizing that the disposal fee was too high. Eventually, the Ivorian government and Trafigura paid for the victims’ hospital bills, the clean up exercise and other related expenses. The ‘Superfund’ was created in 1980 to collect funds from gas and chemical companies for use in clean-up processes identical to the Love Canal. A second legislation, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was passed in 1976 in the US to monitor the disposal of solid wastes and toxic wastes. Superfund is i mplemented under the EPA and has been successful in cases such as the Kaiser Aluminum Chemical Corporation v. Catellus Development Corporation and Kaiser Ganton Technologies v. Quadion Corporation in California (1992) and Illinois (1993) respectively (Zoltowski, 1998). The RCRA has monitored waste disposal in areas such as in the Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. incinerator near Kimball, Nebraska. The Basel Convention failed in Ivory Coast since Trafigura failed to disclose the contents of what it was carrying to port officials, besides, it worked in secrecy with an Ivorian company, Compagnie Tommy, to dispose the wastes in Abidjan without anyone’s knowledge. Corruption must have played a role too. The desire to build more schools and residential areas instigated the Love Canal tragedy. Later, Lois Gibbs, a woman whose family had been affected by the harmful wastes mobilized the Love Canal community and led a campaign to draw the government’s attention to th e matter. This led to the closure of the school. Further studies by the EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry put pressure on the government and Hooker Corporation to act appropriately. Finally, people were moved out of the area and the company and the government worked together in the clean-up exercise and compensation. The Ivorian scenario also had its own set of pressures, mainly from media companies, but beginning with the company’s desire to make huge profits. Trafigura’s actions were exposed by a host of journalists, among them David Leigh (The Guardian), Meirion Jones and Liz Mackean (BBC Newsnight). The Ivorian public also protested, amidst mass resignations of top government officials. Further pressure came from the Dutch Parliament and the High Court in London, which filed a  £ 100 million lawsuit, eventually, after much denial, Trafigura paid a  £ 100 million for clean up and a further  £ 46 million to people who were affected. Trafigura vehemently denied ever depositing toxic substances, instead insisting that the waste was from the regular washing of the ship’s tank and could not cause human deaths in any way. The company only agreed to pay for the clean up and compensation due to pressure from media stations, the Dutch Parliament, and the arrest of its executives in Ivory Coast. Occidental also denied any involvement in the disaster, but eventually paid the settlement and clean-up fees. Hooker Corporation did not know the long-term effects of their actions while Trafigura knew the effects of their waste and engaged in unethical practices. I would choose to invest my money in Hooker Corporation. Environmental Justice is â€Å"the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies† (Miller Tyler, 2003). Trafigura f louted this concept since they opted to dispose their wastes without involving all people of Ivory Coast. Source reduction refers to any alteration in the planning, manufacture, acquisition, or use of objects or products to lower their levels of toxicity before they become municipal waste. Companies can reduce the toxic nature of their wastes by adding certain chemicals to the wastes to react with the toxic elements, or to pass the wastes through chemical processes that lower their toxicity, e.g. heating under very high temperatures to break down harmful compounds. Some companies have adopted industrial processes that produce very little toxic wastes while some recycle their wastes. References Miller, Jr., and Tyler, G. (2003). Environmental Science: Working With the Earth (9th Ed.). California: Brooks/ Cole. Zoltowski, C. (1998). Superfund Liability: Is it too strict? VA: National Society of Professional Engineers. This essay on The Love Canal Tragedy and Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation was written and submitted by user Kaylyn Martin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Marketing Approaches of Nike and Li-Ning Essays

Marketing Approaches of Nike and Li-Ning Essays Marketing Approaches of Nike and Li-Ning Paper Marketing Approaches of Nike and Li-Ning Paper Introduction  Nike Target Market Mature marketing approaches bring companies considerable fortune, especially in such a competitive market. Therefore, marketing people play an essential role in planning, decision-making, market segmenting, targeting, pricing and positioning. In the following report, it will explore the marketing theory and practice of two products of two famous companies, the world’s largest sports goods company Nike and China’s popular sports brand Li-Ning. This report focuses on Nike’s basketball shoes and Li-Ning’s running shoes. Industry background 2008 Olympic Games took place in Beijing last month, meanwhile, the Olympic spirit is broadcasting everywhere across the world. Increasingly individuals attend sports activities in order to keep healthy. As a result, the sports product industry has developed rapidly over the last two decades. Besides Nike and Li-Ning, there are many competitors such as Reebok, Adidas, Fila and Converse. These companies are the dominant leaders in the marketplace and lead this industry. The sports goods industry expecially footwear manufacturing, is currently experiencing intensive competition. Nike is one of the industry leaders, â€Å"with a 47% market share, followed by Reebok with a figure at 16%, and Adidas at 6%† (Hays, 2000, P. 31). Li-Ning Company Limited is one of the leading sports brand enterprises in the PRC which is one of the most popular sports brand in the world. â€Å"It has covered more than 90% market share of the world’s largest market- China, almost every thirty seconds Li-Ning running shoes will be sold† (Hays, 2000, P. 35). This category of running shoes is facing decreasing demand because there is the rising popularity of alternative footwear, resulting in more pressure than ever before to achieve high profit through effective global sourcing practices. Company background Nike company Nike, Inc. is the worlds leading sports and fitness company, â€Å"with 2000 sales of $9 billion. † The company has made a strong commitment to sustainability in both word and deed over the past several years. Three core values of the company are â€Å"honesty, competitiveness, and teamwork†. Despite its size, Nike operates with a minimum of hierarchy. As a result, there is a lot of collaboration and consensus decision-making. Commonly held values are imperative in such a matrix organization. (Nike Official, 2008). Nike has a strong ability of Research and Development, its new style is always fashionable in appearance and professional in function, for example, Nike dunks, Jordan shoes, Nike air force one. Nike has been manufacturing around the Asian region for over twenty-five years and there are over 500,000 people today who participate in the production of their products directly. Li-Ning company As described on Li-Ning company’s website (2008), LI-Ning Company Ltd. was founded in Guangdong Province in 1990 by LI-Ning who was a Chinese Olympic gymnast. It is one of the leading sports brand enterprises in the PRC. It has its own branding, research and development, design, manufacturing, distribution and retail capabilities. Li-Nings logo design is based on its own initial letters L and N. The Groups products include sports footwear, apparel and accessories for sport and leisure use which are primarily sold under its own Li-Ning brand (Li-Ning Company, 2008). The products of Li Ning sports goods continue to be more popular in China than those of foreign competitors. Strategic marketing and planning Most marketing organizations operate according to formal plans. Pride, Thiele, Waller, Elliott, Paladino Ferrell, (2007) claim that strategic planning is the process of establishing an organizational mission and formulating goals, corporate strategy, marketing objectives, marketing strategy and a marketing plan. Based on Nike Official (2008), the mission of Nike is to be a company that better than all others in the sports footwear industry. They hope to maintain their position by providing high quality and new fashion comfortable footwear to consumers of all ages and lifestyles. They promise to make their products easily available worldwide through the use of retail outlets and their company web site. Nike’s management believes that their success lies in the hands of our teammates, customers, shareholders and the communities in which they operate. Meanwhile, the vision of Nike is to remain the leader in the industry. They continue to produce quality products that they have provided in the past and meet the ever-changing needs of their customers, through product innovation. In comparison, the primary objective of Li-Ning is to increase its overall market share â€Å"from the current 17% to 20% in 3 years time† and defend its first place in China sportswear market against strong competition (Li-Ning Company). To achieve this goal, Li-Ning has to improve the customers’ brand recognition, rationalize market segments and the mission of Li-Ning is through sports, they â€Å"inspire people’s desire and power to make breakthroughs. † The vision is to be the worlds leading brand in the sports goods industry. Macroenvironmental factors The organization and its suppliers, marketing intermediaries, customers, competitors and publics all operate in a large macroenvironment of forces that shape opportunities and pose threats to the organization†. The macroenvironment consists of six major forces, they are â€Å"demographic forces, economic forces, natural forces, technological forces, political forces, cultural forces† (Kolter, et al, 2006, P. 81). Demographic environment Assessing the demographic environment entails observing and monitoring population trends. The demographic profile includes the size, age, density, location, sex, race, occupation and other statistics of the population (Shank, 1999). The changing age structure of the population is one of the important aspects. Figure 1 shows a diagram in which the ages and sexes for the Chinese population structure. As can be seen from the diagram, there is a large population at the age of 10-50 years old. (U. S. Census Bureau, International Date Base, 2001). The movement of population is also a problem that both of these two companies should consider. Economic environment The economic environment is another uncontrollable factor for sports marketers to consider. â€Å"The purchasing power depends on the income condition and the consumer spending patterns† (Shank, 1999, P. 78). As figure 1. 2 showed that, the world’ s economy has grown rapidly in the past twenty years, as a result, people’s living standard and income have increased as well. However, consumers’ spending patterns are more varied. That means the consumers have different need and tastes. These factors can be a threat to sports shoes companies. Cultural and social trends Cultural and social trends also influence the market of sports products. Nowadays sports and youthfulness are symbolic of many people’s core values. More and more people pay attention to sports activities (figure 1. 3). Sports activity seems to be growing in popularity as a result of the renewed emphasis on family values. As a result of this the market of sports wear becomes larger and larger, at the same time the sale of running shoes is increasing quickly (Li-Ning Company). Microenvironmental factors The micro environment consists of the forces close to the organization that affects its ability to serve its customers- the organization, suppliers, marketing intermediaries, customer markets competitors and various publics. † (Kolter, et al, 2006, P. 78) Suppliers The suppliers are an important link in the organisation’s overall customer ‘value delivery system’, they provide the resources needed by the organsiation to produce its goods and service. Nike and Li-Ning both chose developing countries the biggest supplier market because of the lower cost and huge amount of resources. As a company that wants to earn more profit, Nike reduces its costs as it also has some supplier market in South Africa where there is one of the cheapest labors force in the world. But at the same time Nike also is surrounded by some ethical issues. Competitors Competitor is one of the micro-environment factors need to consider. Davidson, Simon Gottschalk, Hunt, Wood and Griffin (2006) say that an organization that wants to be successful must have 3 distinct characteristics: They are of value to the customer They are better than that of the majority of other competitors They are difficult to imitate or replicate Nike and Li Ning have the same competitors such as Reebok, Adidas, Fila, Converse, and New Balance. All of them are playing an important part in the sports world. Kotler, et al(2006) define marketing intermediaries help company to promote, sell and distribute its products to final buyers. They include resellers, physical distribution firms, marketing service agencies and financial intermediaries. Nike maintains more than 100 countries targeting its primary market regions: United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas. Furthermore, the public force expecially government policy is another component of microenvironment factors. Some policies are protecting domestic market such as Chinese government has made some policy to encourage Li-Ning which is Chinese brand. SWOT analysis SWOT analysis is a very useful and popular planning tools that product manager use to determine the situation of the product. Pride, Sellit, Rundle-Thiele, Waller, Paladino and Ferrell (2006, p. 34) describe a SWOT analysis can assist with the marketing planning process by addressing issues that need to be considered in the creating of the marketing plan. By recognizing an organization’s strengths and weaknesses, it is possible to match capabilities with external opportunities and threats and develop strategic to assist the organization to compete effectively in the market place. Market segmentation Market segmentation is dividing the while market into direct groups of buyers who might require separate products or marketing mixes, and also it’s the process of analysis is customers into groups depend on their different needs, behavior or characteristics. (Kotler et al. 2006,P231). Geographical segmentation Demographic segmentation Psychographic segmentation Behavioral segmentation The importance of market segmentation results from the fact that the buyers of a product or service are no homogenous group. Actually, every buyer has individual needs, preferences, resources and behaviors. Since it is virtually impossible to cater for every customers individual characteristics, marketers group customers to market segments by variables they have in common. These common characteristics allow developing a standardized marketing mix for all customers in this segment. For basketball shoes the most important factor should be considered is the demographic segmentation. Shilbury, Quick and Westerbeek (2003 P. 66) believe that â€Å"most important demographic determinants being gender, age, religion, income, occupation, level of education, marital status, geography, and stage in the family life cycle†. Although all demographic variables are important, the age and life cycle, gender and income have the greatest impact on sport consumption. Base on the age and life cycle and gender factors Nike divide their basketball shoes into a few different groups such as 15-24 years old children and 24 years old male and female. The main market is the group at age of 15-24. Li-Ning also uses the same way to divide its running shoes market. Income can divide market into a few different groups, Nike focus on the middle and above middle class meanwhile, Li-Ning focus on the middle. Psychographic segmentation dividing a market into groups based on social class, lifestyle or personality characteristic (Kotler, Adam, Brown, Armstrong). Socioeconomic classes have a strong effect on performance in clothing. people’s economic situation will affect product choice, it will have a strong influence on people consider buying an expensive new basketball shoes or running shoes or buy cheaper one or do not buy it. Because of this Nike and Li Ning usually set up their shop in big city or some rich town. Behavioral segmentation dividing a market into groups based on consumers’ knowledge of, attitude towards, uses for and responses to a product. In order to creative high loyalty both Nike and Li-Ning set some VIP card for their high loyalty consumers that offer some special discount and service. Target markets Trying to sell to everyone can be wasteful, as not everyone would demand. Targeting offers the possibility of reducing waste and maximizing market response. â€Å"Target market is a specific group of customers on whom an organization focuses its marketing efforts† (Pride, Thiele, Waller, Elliott, Paladino, Ferrell, 2007). The selection of the appropriate target market follows the process of segmentation. Because of its main target market is young people, Nikes primary starting point for expanding the market will select the youth. Also the consumers on the market have personality characteristics such as love sports, strong sense of revered hero and sports stars, lively thinking and imagination. Meanwhile, Li-Ning concentrates on its domestic market which proves efficiently. Because China has the largest population across the world different nations have different tastes. Moreover, Li-Ning is China’s own brand that protect by Chinese government and consumers. Targeting Strategy A number of strategies can help guide a manager’s choice of target markets. â€Å"Three of the more common of these are mass-market, niche-market, and growth-market strategies†(Walker, Boyd, 1999, P187). The marketing organization can adopt one of three market-coverage strategies: â€Å"undifferentiated marketing differentiated marketing or concentrated marketing† (Keith, 2000, PP398-399). Both Nike and Li-Ning use differentiated marketing strategy, because basketball shoes and running shoes can vary in design, both of these two products are in the mature stage f product life cycle, for basketball shoes and running shoes market their customers’ needs are different. These factors above are all suitable for they to use differentiated marketing strategy, but at the same time their main competitors also use the same strategy that will bring some challenges for Nike and Li Ning. Positioning Strategy Marketers can follow several positioning strategies. They can position their product on specific product attributes, usage occasions as well or the need they fill or the benefits they offer. â€Å"A product can also be positioned directly against a competitor. Finally, the product can be positioned for different product classes†(Kotler, et al. 2006,P234). There are a few way of positioning, in the book principles of marketing Kotler, et al. (2006, p234) write that â€Å"Company can position products on specific product attributes, products can be positioned on the needs they fill or the benefits they offer, products can be positioned on the certain classes of users, a product can also be positioned directly against a competitor, finally the product can be positioned for different product class†. Choosing and implementing a positioning should identify a positional direction. â€Å"The positioning task consists of three steps: identifying a set of possible competitive advantages on which to build a position; selecting the right competitive advantages; and effectively communicating and delivering the chosen position to the market† (Kolter, et al. 2006, P235) Compare with other basketball companies Nike’s competitive advantage is the high brand reputation, good design and advanced technology. So Nike’s positioning strategy mixed by all these strategies has been outlined above and it is dominated by the strategy position the product for certain classes of users and specific product attributes. Li-Ning’s competitive advantage is the cheaper price and good quality, it also use all of the five strategies, but it is dominated by the approach of positioned on the benefits they offer. Conclusion In conclusion, for Nike and Li Ning to gain a successful market in the sportswear world is not so simple. There are so many factors they should consider, such as the macroenvironmental and microenvironmental forces. It is a good choice to work out a wonderful SWOT analysis in order to assist in building a smart strategic marketing and planning. Identify the market segments and then chose the right target market, then implement suitable targeting and positioning strategy are also the essential steps for Nike and Li Ning. Recommendations Nike and Li-Ning have already done some good efforts of these a few aspects, but for long time successful there are more they need to do. From this report it is easy to find there are still some drawbacks in Nike and Li-Ning. Nike as a ‘big brother’ in the sports good market also face some ethic issues that may deduct the reputation of its brand, such as the issue of using cheaper labor force. In the sensitive circumstance in nowadays Nike should try to avoid this debate issue. Nike also should abroad its target market to achieve more market share. Li-Ning as a leader of Chinese sports goods company, it also need to explore more new products to gain a bigger market scale and develop new technology in order to catch up with the fast development of the world. References Blois, K. , (2000), The Oxford textbook of marketing, New York:Oxford University Press Davidson, P. , Simon, A. , Gottdchalk, L. , Hunt, J. , Wood, G. Griffin, R. W. (2006), Management: Core concepts and skills. (Australian ed). Australia: Wiley Hays, S. , (2000), The story of Nike, Minnesota: Smart Apple Media Kotler, P. Adam,S. Brown, L. Armstrong, G. (2006). Principles of marketing. Australia: Pearson Education Australia. Li-Ning Company. (2008). Retrieved from: lining. com. Accessed: 16th Mar. , 2008 Nike Official. (2008). Retrieved from: nike. com. tw/g1/tw/. Accessed: 1st Aug, 2008 National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2008) Retrieved from: stats. gov. cn/. Accessed: June, 2008 Pride, W. , Thiele, S. R. , Waller, D. , Elliott, G. , Paladino, A. , Ferrell, O. , (2007), Marketing (Asia-Pacific ed), Brisbane: Wiley Shank, M. D. , (1999), Sports marketing: A Strategic Perspective, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Shilbury, D. , Quick, S. , Westerbeek, H. (2003), Strategic sport marketing(2nd ed). NSW Australia: Allen And Unwin Walker, C. O. Boyd, W. H. (1999). Marketing Strategy: Planning and implementation. (3rd ed). United States: McGraw Hill

Bumblebees, Genus Bombus

Bumblebees, Genus Bombus Bumblebees are familiar insects in our gardens and backyards. Still, you might be surprised by how much you dont know about these important pollinators. The genus name, Bombus, comes from the Latin for booming. Description Most people recognize the large, furry bees that visit backyard flowers as bumblebees. Fewer probably know that they are social bees, with a caste system of the queen, workers, and reproductives cooperating to meet the needs of the colony. Bumblebees range in size from about half an inch to a full inch in length. Patterns in their bands of yellow and black, along with the occasional red or orange, help indicate their species. However, bumblebees of the same species can vary quite a bit. Entomologists rely on other features, such as genitalia, to confirm a bumblebees identity. Cuckoo bumblebees, genus Psithyrus, resemble other bumblebees but lack the ability to gather pollen. Instead, these parasites invade Bombus nests and kill the queen. The Psithyrus bees then lay their eggs in the collected pollen in the conquered nest. This group is sometimes included as a subgenus of Bombus. Classification Kingdom - AnimaliaPhylum - ArthropodaClass - InsectaOrder - HymenopteraFamily - ApidaeGenus - Bombus Diet Bumblebees feed on pollen and nectar. These efficient pollinators forage on both wildflowers and crops. Adult females use modified hind legs equipped with corbicula to carry pollen to their offspring. Nectar is stored in the honey stomach, or crop, in the digestive system. Larvae receive meals of regurgitated nectar and pollen until they pupate. Life Cycle Like other bees, bumblebees undergo a complete metamorphosis with four stages to the life cycle: Egg – The queen lays eggs in a pollen clump. Then she or a worker bee incubates the eggs for four days.Larva – The larvae feed on pollen stores, or on regurgitated nectar and pollen provided by the worker bees. In 10-14 days, they pupate.Pupa – For two weeks, the pupae remain inside their silk cocoons. The queen incubates the pupae as she did her eggs.Adult – Adults assume their roles as workers, male reproductives, or new queens. Special Adaptations and Defenses Before flying, a bumblebees flight muscles must be warmed to around 86 Â °F. Since most bumblebees live in climates where cool temperatures may occur, they cannot rely on the ambient warmth of the sun to achieve this. Instead, bumblebees shiver, vibrating the flight muscles at a high speed but keeping the wings still. The familiar buzz of the bumblebee comes not from the wings themselves, but from these vibrating muscles. The bumblebee queen must also generate heat when she incubates her eggs. She shivers muscles in the thorax, then transfers the heat to her abdomen by contracting muscles down her body. The warmed abdomen stays in contact with the developing young as she sits on her nest. Female bumblebees come equipped with stingers and will defend themselves if threatened. Unlike their cousins the honey bees, bumblebees can sting and live to tell about it. The bumblebees sting lacks barbs, so she can easily retrieve it from the flesh of her victim and attack again if she chooses. Habitat Good bumblebee habitat supplies adequate flowers for foraging, especially early in the season when the queen emerges and prepares her nest. Meadows, fields, parks, and gardens all provide food and shelter for bumblebees. Range Members of the genus Bombus live mostly in temperate areas of the globe. Range maps show Bombus spp. throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Arctic. Some introduced species are also found in Australia and New Zealand. Sources Bumble bees - The Great Sunflower Project (article no longer available online)Bombus BiologyBumblebees: Their Behavior and Ecology, by Dave Goulson