A Holy Nation Essay Research Paper A free essay sample

A Holy Nation Essay, Research Paper A Holy State After making the universe, a Eden for human sort, God is forced to ostracize Adam and Eve because they disobey His orders to non eat fruit from the tree of wisdom. This consequences finally in the autumn of adult male to earth. Immediately from the beginning of his clip on Earth, adult male chooses non to follow the way set before him by God but alternatively spreads evil throughout the universe. Therefore, the built-in job worlds face is the force per unit area to justice between good and evil, the demand to draw a bead on to be like God. God # 8217 ; s first solution to this job was to deluge the universe killing everyone, but those on Noah # 8217 ; s arch. God realizes, nevertheless, that this is non an reply to the job that worlds are, and decides upon a 2nd solution, that being the Holy Nation of Israel. We will write a custom essay sample on A Holy Nation Essay Research Paper A or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page God creates Israel, so that the Holy Nation and its history can function as a guiding-light to the universe. Israel is hence an illustration in which the universe can look upon and larn from. A polar character within the great history of Israel, is the Holy Nation # 8217 ; s first male monarch, King Saul. Saul epitomizes the debatable homo being, and his character to the full illustrates human pride, the demand to lift up and be like God in judging what is right and incorrect. This pride is finally the cardinal beginning of all other wickednesss. The regulation of Saul over the people of Israel is a major turning point for the Holy Nation, for it marks the terminal of a line of Judges and begins a line of Kings. Saul is anointed male monarch of Israel due to the wickedness of the people of Israel. The citizens of Israel, notice non merely that Samuel, the Judge, was turning old, but besides that his boies, whom he appointed to win him as Judge, # 8220 ; did non follow their male parent # 8217 ; s ways but were purpose on their ain net income, taking payoffs, and corrupting the class of justness # 8221 ; ( 8:3 ) . As a consequence the people demanded a male monarch be appointed to govern over them, even after they were given a grave warning of the hereafter king # 8217 ; s tyranny ( 8:10-8:18 ) . Because the Israelites reject the order of Judges, they thereby reject God # 8217 ; s word that He will salvage them, and have, as a consequence, lost religion in God. God states to Samuel, # 8220 ; Listen to the people and all that they are stating ; they have non rejected you, it is I whom they have rejected, I whom they will non hold be their King # 8221 ; ( 8:7 ) . In malice of His people # 8217 ; s transgress against Him, nevertheless, God finds a male monarch to govern over Israel, and chooses Saul. In the beginning Saul is a strong and low leader to his people. When is uncle inquiries him about Samuel # 8217 ; s comments, Saul replies, # 8221 ; # 8216 ; He told us that the donkeys had been found # 8217 ; # 8230 ; but he did non reiterate what Samuel had said about his being king # 8221 ; ( 10:16 ) . He does non state his uncle that he is to go male monarch of Israel because he is non cocksure and disdainful in his place as swayer over God # 8217 ; s chosen 1s. Furthermore, Saul becomes really avid and effectual leader when he chooses to # 8220 ; [ take ] a brace of cattle, cut them in pieces, and [ send ] courier with the pieces all through Israel to proclaim that the same would be done to the cattle of any adult male who did non follow [ Samuel and himself ] to conflict # 8221 ; ( 11:5 ) . Saul # 8217 ; s first Acts of the Apostless and first successes as king prove non merely that he possesses the qualities of a good leader, but besides reinforces in the head of the people that he is God # 8217 ; s chosen. Saul # 8217 ; s first triumphs against the state # 8217 ; s enemies cause great joy and exhilaration amongst the Israelites. During this minute of rejoicing, Samuel gives a warning to the people of Israel that is more directed towards Saul himself. Samuel provinces, # 8220 ; If you will idolize the Lord and give true and loyal service, if you do non arise against his bids, and if you and the male monarch who reigns over you are faithful to the Lord you God, good and good, but if you do non obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his bids, so his custodies will be against you and against your male monarch # 8221 ; ( 12:14-15 ) . Here, Samuel is effectually warning against the built-in homo job, stating the people non of all time to replace God # 8217 ; s opinion for one # 8217 ; s ain opinion. Although this is merely a warning, it comes at a really unexpected clip and foreshadows Saul # 8217 ; s ageless autumn signifier God # 8217 ; s good favour. Saul # 8217 ; s errors and wickednesss toward God Begin in his really following run against the Philistines. # 8220 ; The Philistines mustered to assail Israel ; they had thirty 1000 chariots and six thousand Equus caballus, with foot every bit countless as the sand on the coast. The Israelites found themselves in sore passs, for the ground forces was hard pressed, so they hid themselves in caves and holes and among the stones, in cavities and cisterns # 8221 ; ( 13:5-6 ) . Upon this hapless image of his countrymen Saul begins to doubt God # 8217 ; s promise to salvage His people, therein lies Saul # 8217 ; s fatal error, and adult male # 8217 ; s footing for wickedness. As a consequence Saul chooses to moving in the mode of heathens, make whole-sacrifices in order to # 8220 ; guarantee the Lord # 8217 ; s favor # 8221 ; . Although giving to God may look little and excusable, the ground for which Saul chooses to move in this mode is non. Saul has shown that he has lost his a ssurance in God, and that his actions no longer correspond to God # 8217 ; s wants because he can some how justice between right and incorrect for himself. At this point Saul # 8217 ; s ruin is non to the full evident to the reader, but Samuel is able to see through to Saul # 8217 ; s lifelessly wickedness. Samuel provinces, # 8220 ; You have acted foolish ly! You have non kept the bid laid on you by the Lord your God ; if you had he would hold established your dynasty over Israel for all clip. But now your line will non digest ; the Lord will seek out a adult male after his ain bosom, appoint him prince over his people, because you have non kept the Lord’s command† ( 13:13-14 ) . Samuel’s words at this point seem far excessively drastic, but Samuel makes this statement because he is able to acknowledge that Saul’s broken concluding can merely take to more utmost wickednesss against God. During Saul # 8217 ; s following run against the Amalekites, Samuel # 8217 ; s warning comes to fruition, and now non merely is God and Samuel able to see Saul # 8217 ; s evident defects, but so can the reader. God straight commands Saul during a clip in which # 8220 ; the word of the Lord was seldom heard, and there was no spring of vision # 8221 ; ( 3:1 ) , saying, # 8220 ; Go now, autumn upon the Amalekites, destruct them, and put their belongings under prohibition. Spare no 1, put them to decease, work forces and adult females, kids and babes in weaponries, herds and flocks, camels and donkey # 8221 ; ( 15:3 ) . Fully understanding the bids that God gave him, Saul goes straight into conflict with the Amalekites, yet he chooses non to obey God # 8217 ; s word, in malice of the strong accent that was put on the right class of Acts of the Apostless he should hold taken due to God # 8217 ; s rare direct direction. # 8220 ; Saul inflicted licking on the Amalekites # 8230 ; but Agag male monarch of the Amalekites he took alive # 8230 ; and his ground forces spared the best of the sheep and cowss, the fat animals and the lambs, and everything worth maintaining ; these they were unwilling to destruct, but anything that was useless and of no value they destroyed # 8221 ; ( 15:7 ) . Therefore Saul as acted out in entire rebelliousness of God. He no longer follows the word of God, but alternatively has acted out of his ain will. His rejection of the word of the Lord consequences in his loss of the Kingdom of Israel as prophesized by Samuel who took Agag and # 8220 ; hewed [ him ] in pieces # 8221 ; . Saul # 8217 ; s actions at Amalek go a polar point in Saul # 8217 ; s life because God does non back up him any longer ; he has loss his anointing as King of Israel. The statement that ensues between Saul and Samuel is a most powerful piece of symbolism. # 8220 ; As [ Samuel ] turned to travel, Saul caught the corner of his cloak and it tore. # 8221 ; ( 15:27 ) . At this point Saul is standing like a guilty kid, pitiably keeping onto a shred of fabric. This image marks the start of Saul # 8217 ; s drastic ruin. A new male monarch is revealed to Samuel, by God, as being David. God besides anoints David as King of Israel, showing a major struggle since there are now two male monarchs of Israel. David is besides appointed commanding officer of Israel # 8217 ; s ground forces and succeeds in conflict, routing his enemies a figure of times. As a consequence Israelites begin stating, # 8220 ; Saul struck down Thousands, but David 10s of 1000s # 8221 ; ( 18:7 ) . This causes Saul to go thick with green-eyed monster of David, and shortly Saul is seen hurtling lances seeking to slay David, yet David surprisingly is able to dodge certain decease. # 8220 ; After this Saul was afraid of David because he saw that God had forsaken him and was with David, [ who ] led his work forces into action and succeeded in everything that he undertook # 8221 ; ( 18:12 ) . Yet Saul continues to prosecute and seek to slay David, a clear agent of God. Therefore, Saul has finally developed on three separate degrees. On the first of these degrees, he foremost begins to doubt God # 8217 ; s power and word when he sees the monolithic Philistine ground forces and makes a forfeit to guarantee God # 8217 ; s support. This first wickedness easy progresses onto a 2nd degree, when Saul chooses to openly withstand God and decides to save Agag. In his concluding degree of development, Saul has deteriorated into an evil individual seeking for a manner to destruct God # 8217 ; s good work. Although it is absolutely clear that God protects David, Saul continues to seek and kill him. At this junction Saul finds himself entirely ; his boy is on David # 8217 ; s side, his girl is on David # 8217 ; s side, his people are on David # 8217 ; s side, and most significantly God is on David # 8217 ; s side. Therefore, Saul must decease and give manner to David, yet David is unwilling to kill God # 8217 ; s anointed one, and the Philistines are kep t from putting to death Saul because they are all uncircumcised. The concluding solution nowadayss itself when Saul is injured and # 8220 ; thereupon [ he ] took his ain blade and fell on it. Once Saul is dead as a consequence of his ain manus, David is king and he is non stained with the blood of another anointed male monarch. Saul # 8217 ; s patterned advance from God # 8217 ; s take male monarch to king against God comes full circle. He came from the wickedness of the people and hence he must decease when he returns to that wickedness. Saul # 8217 ; s narrative serves as an illustration of human nature # 8217 ; s need to judge for itself in its purest signifier. This demand is really debatable, as we have seen, because worlds can merely see the obvious cause and effects that present themselves throughout life. # 8220 ; The Lord does non see as a mortal sees ; persons see merely visual aspects but the Lord sees into the bosom # 8221 ; ( 16:7 ) . As worlds our perceptual experiences are imperfect, and as a consequence we can non perchance judge what is right and what is incorrect. Therefore, the most basic human wickedness is so necessitate to go like God in doing these opinions that we can non perchance do with any truth what so of all time. Saul embodies pure pride and is apart of Israel # 8217 ; s development into a state that will finally function as a usher to the universe because he is a theoretical account of what worlds must keep themselves organize making and being.

How to Answer Ethical Interview Questions

How to Answer Ethical Interview Questions Ethical interview questions make for a very interesting interview. How would you react if you could only save your grandmother, a bus full of orphans, or a trunk full of a million dollars in untraceable cash? Which would you rather have, billions of dollars or immortality? They’re also risky in an interview- you don’t want to trip some secret â€Å"sociopath† wire, but you also want to seem confident. What do you do if you’re posed with ethical interview questions like â€Å"would you lie for the company?† or â€Å"what would you do if your boss asked you to help cover something up?† DON’T go full outlaw.If you answer, without thinking, that of course you’d lie for the company, you’d do anything for the company, that’s a red flag. It either shows that you’ll say anything to get hired (bad) or you’re seriously ethically challenged (worse). The interviewer isn’t really asking you to do this thing , so slow down a bit before you start helping him with an alibi.If you get the sense that the interviewer isn’t kidding, then it’s time to shut it down. Do you really want to be rehashing this conversation later with an attorney?DON’T get all judgmental about the question itself.â€Å"How dare you?† is not the right answer here either. No one’s impugning your reputation by assuming you would lie or commit other ethical crimes on behalf of the company. You likely won’t score bonus points for righteous indignation- the interviewer is asking because he or she wants to know how you would approach this, not inviting you to tag along on some unethical spree.DO treat this as another problem-solving exercise.Like oh, 75% of interview questions, this may be a test of your thinking and problem-solving skills. Talk through your process- especially if it’s the kind of ethical question that requires you to make some kind of judgment call between t wo attractive elements.DO see it as a choice of values as well.Do you have integrity, or do you have loyalty? These aren’t usually mutually exclusive, but if you’re asked point-blank to pit one against the other, always go with integrity. Assuming your interviewer isn’t Alec Baldwin’s character from Glengarry Glen Ross, it’s not likely your potential future employer values ruthlessness over personal integrity.DON’T give a binary answer if you can help it.It’s okay to frame it as, â€Å"I would never do anything to hurt the company, but I do value honesty very highly.† For good measure, you can emphasize that you were drawn to the company because you value its culture of professionalism.DO err on the side of caution.This could also be a test of how impulsive you are. Make sure that the response you give (even if it’s a vague â€Å"I can see both sides here† answer) shows the level of care and attention you would br ing to the role.DO take it seriously.No matter how outlandish the hypothetical situation is, treat it with full consideration. It may be funny, but it’s a very real test of your temperament and values. You want to make sure that you’re positioning yourself as a grounded professional, with strong values and a sense of personal ethics and boundaries.

Historical Presidents Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Historical Presidents - Research Paper Example The Emancipation Proclamation played a central role as it freed several slaves (Guelzo 4). Abraham Lincoln’s personality, leadership skills, communication skills and the time he governed played a central role to his success. First, he was a leader with charisma and unique storytelling ability. He could initiate conversations whenever he saw a group of people gathered. Moreover, he was a hardworking leader who made sure that he strived to succeed in everything and anything he did. His determination enabled him to pass the Emancipation Proclamation that saw an end to slavery in some states. In addition, he can be regarded as an empowering and persuasive leader; this enabled him to address public gatherings. The time he governed enabled him to made remarkable accomplishments. He became an American President at the height of abolitionist movements that aimed at ending slavery (Guelzo 5). During his tenure, Roosevelt persuaded Congress to pass the Economy Act, which reduced government spending by 25% and cut the pay of the army and government employees by 15%. The New Deal saw the passing of the Beer Act on 20 March 1933; this did away with prohibition. The beer raised government revenue; this revenue financed government projects. Other accomplishments of the New Deal include the Emergency Banking Act of 1933, National Industrial Recovery Act, Agricultural Adjustment Act, and National Labour Relations Act of 1935 (Haugen 69). By 1939, the New Deal had made remarkable accomplishments; it improved peoples lives, especially those who had suffered from the great depression. The New Deal also set the pace for the federal government to engage in social and economic affairs of the nation. Roosevelt can be regarded as a dynamic leader whose personality was notably amicable. Besides, he can be regarded as a leader who was engaging; this personality trait played a central role

Confucianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Confucianism - Essay Example In China where Confucianism was a way of life, it was a patriarchal society where the home was considered to be the center of social relations. Here women were never considered equal to the man and were expected above all to be obedient to their fathers or husbands and in later life to their grown sons. Confucianism takes a very practical view of matters regarding sexuality and hence homosexuality too was considered a normal facet of life. However today things have changed and although women have more freedom than ever before, the country is still deeply rooted in tradition and hence women are torn between personal freedom and traditional values. Gender and sexuality in modern societies is being increasingly studied in relation to the past, in order to understand how these societies have either progressed in their thinking on these subjects or have remained static on such issues. An understanding of past and present societies is possible only through a study and analysis of sexuality in past societies, and the way they are viewed today in those societies. China today an economic and industrial giant is the subject of much controversy and misunderstanding since Chinese society in the past has not been very open to the outside world. Today however, questions on sexuality and the roles of men and women in society are being looked at differently by the new generation due to western influences on Chinese society. The new generation of Chinese youth is going through a very rapid process of social change and is driven by consumerism as is the youth in most parts of the world today. This generation therefore looks at sexuality and g ender through a different prism and is more open. Therefore one may conclude that China is going through a social and sexual revolution. Historically women were treated as second class citizens with no legal rights and very little education. During the time of the imperial government, there

Financial Management Individual Work 1 Week 10 Essay

Financial Management Individual Work 1 Week 10 - Essay Example Multinational firms experience economies of scale as part of their financial strategies. This relates to the advantages that accrue to a firm as a result of large-scale production. The large volume of the units produced by the firms, result in a decrease in the cost of producing each individual product. Through the process of rationalization, multinational corporations are able to achieve the advantages of worldwide integration as they are able to manage their resources adequately. It further allows subsidiary firms to adapt to the specific product needs and financial requirements of the countries in which they operate such as taxation and other business regulations. The subsidiaries are encouraged to operate as national firms through compliance with the specific needs of the nations in which they are located but retaining some advantages such as sharing of financial risks with their affiliated firm. Another advantage of economies of scale is that it reduces the cost of raw materials as well as other overhead costs which lead to huge profits in the long-run (Ogilvie, 2006). World-wide integration strategy allows multinational firms to develop standardized products which bear global appeal thus are able to generate huge profits owing to the fact that they are generally accepted and preferred by many people. Multinational firms can be adversely affected by the regulations imposed by banking institutions operating globally. Such challenges may be due to liquidity problems and interest rates. As a result, financial managers of the multinational firms must consider the cost of accessing loans in their countries of operation as well as investment opportunities available in those countries. They prefer operating in countries in which the banking sector is subject to international policies which have been set up by the International Monetary Fund. The domestic firms are in direct

Swot Analysis And Porters Five Forces Information Technology Essay

Swot Analysis And Porters Five Forces Information Technology Essay Walgreens pharmacies have integrated intellectual technology into every facet of its operation. The ability to develop, implement, and analyze the effects of the IT has significantly increased pharmacy efficiency. The companys core strategies include key objectives to provide innovative IT within its business operations that place them as the industry leader. The IT transformation is not just about cutting costs but utilizing this intelligence to become the value added community destination for quality healthcare. The pharmacys many processes utilize IT to fill prescriptions, bill third party payers, maintain patient profiles, document clinical services, manage supply chain, multichannel communications, and other supportive services. The integrated platform improves productivity and performance of the organization by streamlining workflow. The pharmacy manager can utilize the key performance indicators (KPIs) to effectively manage departmental functions and improve processes. The pharmacy staff utilizes the IT to improve customer service and satisfaction. Walgreens strategy is to operate as the leader within the industry. The initiative to transform community pharmacy is dependent upon its innovative IT development. The shift from the payer and provider to the consumer directed healthcare system will change the community pharmacies model. The IT system will support the necessary tools needed to redefine the role of community pharmacy. The prioritizing of company strategy focused IT systems will further support the business objectives. The future of the IT department will be to become less dependent on consultants to provide expertise rather than investing in the training and promotion of present company talent. There will be a shift from customized software solutions for applications and the utilization of packaged options when pertinent. The assessment of the IT operating model will determine if global delivery options will be needed to support the companies twenty-four hour capabilities. Strengths Over 7,500 integrated locations to provide services 72 percent of all Americans live within five miles of a Walgreens 18 percent of the market share IT innovator IT focused strategies Multichannel communications Weaknesses Dependence on outside IT consultants Development of customized IT solutions Lacking development of global and/or off shore IT staff Opportunities Changing IT operating model Wifi hot spots Wireless network Integration of healthcare units Threats Recession limits on new IT development and costly implementation Highly trained IT personnel Highly efficient packaged software Figure 1: SWOT Analysis of Intellectual Technology. The core strategies of Walgreens are focused on IT. There is a great deal of support from management to provide innovative transformations that will increase efficiencies and improve customer service. There are over 7,500 integrated locations compromising eighteen percent of the market providing these services to the consumer (Standard Poors, 2011). The many opportunities to interface with the consumer have given Walgreens the leading market position as the most convenient community drug store. The multiple channels include: brick and mortar store, telephone, website, e-mail, mobile phone, texting, and social networking media. The dependence on outside IT consultants posses a potential risk of the under development of Walgreens staff and increased costs to the company. The utilization of customized IT solutions increases costs for development and continued support. The cost savings that could be realized by either off shore or global IT staff have not been utilized. The changing of the IT operating model has the ability to create innovative opportunities that could increase their market share. The offerings of Wifi hotspots and wireless internet connections have the potential to capture more consumers through this on-line interaction. The IT integration of all health care units serves to increase efficiency and performance for the business. Several threats of the Walgreens IT system create potential risks to their market share. The recession poses constraints on the research and development of new IT solutions and innovations. The networks of highly trained IT people have the potential to offer their expertise to the rival competition. The increase in the development of packaged software options offers a more efficient and less costly system to maintain. The competitive environment of the industry exhibits significant power to control Walgreens share of the market with its most significant rival, CVS. The ability to gain market share could be greatly dependent upon the extent of innovative IT that either company may integrate within their operations. The ability to utilize this IT to conduct a more efficient business operation and exert its leverage on the market can determine its level of control. Walgreens has positioned its company as the market leader of innovative technology by offering cost effective solutions that provide value added services to the consumer. Walgreens ability to operate as an IT strategy focused operation is key to exhibiting a competitive advantage within the market. The ability to gain a further market advantage would be dependent upon innovation that would continue to differentiate Walgreens from the competition and establish its individual Brand identity. Walgreens has utilized its company IT focused stra tegies to introduce national programs (immunizations, diabetes testing, blood pressure monitoring, ect.) to change the community pharmacy and the role of the pharmacist. This leverage within the industry has enabled them to build substantial barriers that competitors must overcome.

Essay --

No one knows much of the earliest human settlement. They think that much of the settlers came around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. About the same time the Beltic Sea was formed. People are almost certain that Finland was inhabited before that period. People have also found tools in caves that link back to a hundred thousand years ago. Most of the people that came to Finland came from Russia. The people hunted beavers and elk with stone tools and weaponry. The tools and weaponry are spread out in Finland. The tools and weaponry have been found near or in sites in Southern Finland. They’ve found pottery dating back to the sixth millennium, BC. The pottery marked the start of the late Stone Age. The other name also referring to the late Stone Age is Neolithic period. Finding the ceramics made it easier to identify broad groups of people. It also helped make it clear on how the new people made it to the southern side of Finland. They have guessed that the people that migrated during the ice age are newer than the very first peoples. A lot of the people that migrated came from present-day Estonia. The people that did migrate ended up staying in the northern part of Finland. That’s where all the people with less culture stay because the really do not like new comers. They also found that Finland was a prime bronze trader during the time periods 1700 BC to 600 BC. The bronze was also mixed with stone for the Cairns. The bronze period was where Finland was the main provider for most of the bronze trading. During World War 2 Finland’s economy was terrible it started later than everyone else’s. When Finland gained its independence the GNP per capita became half of Britain’s. During the nineteenth century the senate of Finla... ...e. The culture was organized to help the children and the older people. Lots of people work in these types of fields. Finnish people are also modest and humble about what they accomplish. Finnish people expect people to be courteous to everyone. One thing in Finland that would get everyone in trouble is waiting for the talker to be done then you can talk to them or ask a question. Interrupting someone in Finland is not tolerable, and is extremely rude. Most people that meet in Finland shake hands, keep eye contact, and always keep a smile. One rule is that if you are greeting a married couple is to greet the wife first. If you are ever invited into a Finns home always arrive on time and do not be late. Always take off your shoes before entering. Call the hostess to see if you have to bring a dish when you go over, and help set up the meal and cleanup the meal.

Christianity and Islam Essay

Judaism is the Jewish religion. It is one of the oldest of the great world religions, and is the mother religion of both Christianity and Islam. Judaism was not founded by one towering personality, as were most other religions. Abraham and Moses are not regarded as founders. Abraham was the â€Å"father of the Hebrew people† and Moses was the â€Å"law-giver†. I had the chance to interview Gary Austein. This interview was done for me to know the idea or perspective of a believer regarding his faith in his religion and that concerns his spiritual life. During the interview I asked Gary Austein the important holidays and traditions of this religion. He answered â€Å"The important holidays and tradition of Judaism are Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashana and the Passover. The holiest day in the Jewish calendar is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This day is set aside to repent for the sins of the previous year. It is a day when any adult who has been Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s (age 12-13) fasts and reflects on the past year and asks God for forgiveness. Rosh Hashana is the previous weeks and is the Jewish New Year. Passover is in the spring and it is a time when Jews cannot eat unleavened bread reflecting on the Israelites exodus from Egypt. † When I asked him on how Judaism has shaped his life? And I quote â€Å"Religion defines who I am as a person. I would say I am a Jew first and an American second, that is how important it is to me. My value and belief system is a product of my Jewish identity and upbringing. My adult life has brought my Judaism more into my life than ever as I now have a Jewish home, Jewish wife and child on the way. I also work at a Jewish Day School so I am always reminded of my Jewish identity as both my professional and personal life revolves around my religion. † What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion? Jews throughout the world are always a target of anti-Semitism. This is a fact that they accepted and so with other families. It is scary that millions upon millions of people have been murdered because of their belief in Judaism. Between the Holocausts, pogroms in Russia, and terrorist’s attacks, an astounding amount of Jews have died because of their belief. Society is not very conducive for an observant Jewish lifestyle; Jews are supposed to observe the Sabbath (Friday night to Saturday night) and are not supposed to drive, work, spend money, etc. A lot happens on the weekends so this is difficult. Also if you keep Kosher (Jewish dietary restrictions) it is difficult to eat out as the vast majority of food and restaurants are not kosher. What are the false impression people have about Judaism? People have much false impression about Judaism. A lack of understanding and acceptance has led to misconceptions, not only of Judaism, but throughout the world. People need to always remind themselves that both Christianity and Islam were born from Judaism. Both religions accept the Torah (the Jewish Bible, also referred to at the Old Testament) as the word of God and credit Judaism for the birth of their respective religions. If people are more aware of this people then maybe open to differences of people. Judaism has clung to a number of religious principles, how important are they to your belief and values? Judaism defines who a Jew is; they wear it as a badge of honor. For them it is amazing that time still honors traditions that are still practiced at present. Something like male circumcision is the oldest religious tradition in the world today. It is amazing that it has lasted for thousands of years. It shows the resiliency and the testament of the Jewish faith that they are able to continue throughout the generations. What events and figures have shaped the faith of Judaism? Judaism has greatly shaped his life as a Jew. And it is through the people around that have helped him a lot in his Religious belief. His parents gave him his Jewish identity and the friends of his family have nurtured it. His best friend who is a rabbinical student has been very influential in shaping his Jewish identity. His marriage also shaped his Jewish identity as his wife converted to Judaism which has given him a newfound zeal and love for his religion. His study of Holocaust has been a dramatic part of his Jewish identity. Finally his visits to Israel, the Jewish state has given him a unique pride in his homeland. There are many Jewish denominations. To want certain extent the philosophies of these movements have shaped the reaction to one another? He considers himself a Conservative Jew which is best classified as the middle of the road. For the most part, Jews of different backgrounds are fairly understanding and respectful of the traditions and practices of other sects of Judaism, with the exception of the ultra-Orthodox movement. He believes that if you are a Jewish according to the laws and traditions of Moses then it does not matter how you practice as long as you believe it in your heart. However, he believes that there are certain misinterpretations some of the other sects have undertaken, but that is not something that he could be worried or be burden about. Judaism has been the common bond of the Jewish people. It is the foundation of their culture and the reason for the creation of Israel, the Jewish State. Israel is the most important tangible asset they have and something that must be protected at all costs. Judaism is the reason the Jewish people have and are persecuted, yet is the belief and intangible asset that keeps them together as a people. According to Jewish tradition, the history of Judaism begins with the Covenant between God and Abraham. What is the Covenant? â€Å"The Covenant is the â€Å"agreement† between God and Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish people, that the Jews will be â€Å"the chosen people. † This is a fact that is accepted by both Christians and Muslims alike. This covenant was symbolized by Abraham being circumcised and is something that is required for all Jewish males a week after they are born†. Judaism is different from many religions, how does differ? He answered, â€Å"This is a common misconception. All three of the major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have more similarities than differences. Their major prophets are the same; their historical texts are born out of the Jewish Bible, and their belief in one all powerful, all knowing, and benevolent God is distinct commonalities. They all practice and worship God in different ways, but when it comes down to it, they were all born from Abraham and Sarah, meaning they are all brothers and sisters†. The interview taught me the importance of having respect for other’s faith and beliefs. It is also important that any individual must know the values that the other people in the society portrays because that is how they were brought up with especially with regards to their religion. My experience during the interview was worth it, I learned a lot especially coming from a devoted person. What he shared to me were the same with the information’s in the textbook we used in the class.

The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis in Bangladesh Essays

The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis in Bangladesh Essays The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis in Bangladesh Essay The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis in Bangladesh Essay The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis in Bangladesh 20-Aug-2010 Prepared by Mojadda Alfa Azam ID. : 10916047 Dept. : Accounting Information System EMBA, DU Course name: Micro Macro Economics Course no. : 4102 Acknowledgements I would like to give thanks to Prof. Dr. Tahmina Khatun, professor of AIS Department, EMBA, DU, for her continuous guidance and supreme supervision throughout the course. I am solely responsible for any remaining errors. Finally all praise to Almighty Allah for giving us the strength and courage to complete the course. . Background and Objectives Political instability, natural disasters, the global food and fuel price hikes: Bangladesh’s economy has withstood several challenges since 2006. The global financial and economic crisis is another challenge that is testing its resilience coming on top of the former adversities. The global financial crisis started in mid-2007 has culminated in widespread financial stress among major financial institutions si nce September 2008. The economic downturn has now degenerated into recession. Projections of the gross domestic product (GDP) provide a gloomy picture for 2009. The 2009 world growth forecast has been revised downward by 1. 0-1. 5 percentage points to -1. 0 to -0. 5 percent in March 2009 compared with the last IMF projection of 0. 5 percent made in January 20093. While developed countries were the first hit by the recession, developing and least developed countries (LDCs) have also started to feel the consequences of the crisis on commodity prices, trade volumes, access to international financial markets and job losses, though to various degrees. These developments have led to shifting the debate from the causes to the consequences and policy actions required to mitigate the adverse impacts of the crisis. 1. 1. The Legacy of the High Food Prices As most of the developing countries, Bangladesh has no hiding place as the impact of the global financial crisis could compound the impacts of the food price rises. Although the recent food security situation cannot be attributed solely to the food price rises, there is evidence in the literature that the food price crisis has sent a substantial number of households back to poverty, after a decade of progress. The recent joint WFP/UNICEF/IPHN household survey suggests that 25 percent of the population has become food insecure as of December 2008, as many as the food poverty percentage of 1995-96. The most affected households are overwhelmingly headed by female (38 percent food insecure), they have higher dependency ratio (45 percent), the head of households are less educated (70 percent), and they have less assets (asset score of 4 against a national average of 9. 4). In terms of livelihood, household have barely 1 income earner (1. 8 on average), depend on agriculture wage labor (23. 7 percent), non agriculture wage labor (19. 1 percent) and casual labor (5. 2 percent). Most of them are landless (48. 6 percent) and net food buyers (39. 6 percent). The highest increases in the proportion of net food buyer households are non-agriculture wage laborers (59 percent), remittances earners (53 percent) and casual workers (55 percent). Female headed households included a much higher increase of th e proportion of net food buyer (64 percent) compared to male headed households (26 percent). On average, households spend 62. 2 percent of their budget on food, up from 52 percent in 2005. Unfortunately, such an increase of the food budget share is made possible at a high opportunity cost, using multiple coping mechanisms. In addition to eating less than 3 meals a day for adults and less than 4 meals a day for children under 5, 22 percent of households recourse to negative coping mechanisms such as cutting expenditure on health and 33 percent of them getting further indebted from the financial institutions. As a consequence, severe malnutrition rates increased. Severe acute malnutrition rate increased to 3. 4 percent in end-2008 from 2. 9 percent in 2007; severe underweight increased from 11. 8 to 12. 3 percent; and severe stunting increased from 16. 1 percent in 2007 to 20. 1 percent in end-2008 While the recent downturn of commodity prices may be seen as a relief for some of the affected households, the recession is likely to further worsen the situation of the most affected households who depend on agriculture and non-agriculture wage labor and casual labor. A review of literature by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD, 2009) reveals that the most vulnerable areas to the global financial crisis in Bangladesh are likely to be export- oriented sectors, manpower export, remittance and domestic resource mobilization. The livelihoods in these areas are the most affected by the food price rises. Bangladesh’s foreign exchange rely mainly on workers’ remittances (10 percent of the GDP) and ready-made garment (RMG) exports (more than 75 percent of total exports). 1. 2. Objectives of the Case Study Against this background, WFP initiated a rapid assessment of the impact of the financial crisis on households’ food security and livelihoods to enable better preparedness and appropriate and effective responses. This rapid assessment is part of a series of WFP country case studies to elicit how the global financial crisis is manifested in Bangladesh at macro-economic level as well as how the macro-level impacts are manifested on households’ living conditions4. More specifically, the assessment aims at: Understanding how the global financial crisis is being transmitted to the Bangladesh economy, particularly the performance of the channels through which the crisis is being transmitted. Assessing the extent to which the pass-through effects is trickling down at the household level, through key indicators such as remittances, wages, employment and commodity prices and ultimately the living conditions of households. Proposing actions to streng then responses and monitoring. 2 Methodology and Limitations In order to capture the impact of the current global financial crisis on households both secondary data analysis (SDA) and primary data collection are conducted. The assessment reviewed secondary data available and then conducted primary data. 2. 1. Data Collection, Collation and Review The SDA reviewed literature on the impact of the global financial crisis both at macro-economic level and on households’ incomes sources and food security. This information was used to provide an overview of the macro- economic vulnerability with insights into the country’s recent macro-economic performance. The macro-level analysis also aimed at gaining insights into how the global financial crisis transmits to the domestic economy. Key informants (KI) interviews were held from 12-18 March with senior government officials, development partners, NGOs, research institutions and leading members of the private sector (annex 1) to triangulate the secondary data review. The primary data collection was carried out through focus group discussions (FGD). The FGD helped to apprehend how households have been affected so far by the global financial crisis. They provided perceptions of vulnerability, including sources of incomes, expenditures, coping strategies, priority needs and responses, discriminated by sex. They also guided the discussions on the changes which occurred within the last few months. The field work took place between 22 March and April 04, 2009. Forty FGD were held (annex 2). Survey areas were identified through literature review of the dominant livelihoods that are most likely to be affected by the global financial crisis. Hence, areas with high concentration of migration and dependent on remittances in the North East and South East, areas with high concentration of agricultural labor and cash crops such as tea estates in the North East and shrimp farms in the South West and areas with high concentration of non agricultural unskilled labor (e. g. , garment industry) of the two biggest cities Dhaka (capital city) and Chittagong where selected. Two more locations were selected in Khulna and Rajshahi as control groups in both rural and urban areas to represent other categories of casual labor. From each selected location, two FGDs (female and male) were selected and interviewed separately. FGD participants were identified with the help of key informants (village heads, health and education workers, government employees) in each selected location. A team of five members comprising a supervisor, an organizer, a moderator, a note taker and a field writer interviewed the FGD participants. FGD materials included voice recorders and note books among others. A total of 304 individuals participated in the FGD discussions with an average of 8 participants per FGD. Table: Summary of FGD Composition Number of |Number of FGD |Number of | |participants per | |individuals | |FGD | | | |6 |8 |48 | |7 |7 |49 | |8 |19 |152 | |9 |5 |45 | |10 |1 |10 | |40 |40 |304 | |Average size of FGD = 8 | 2. 2. Limitations The findings of this study cannot be generalized to the whole population, mainly because of the purposive nature of sample and the small number of people participating in the survey. T he survey is designed to draw upon respondents’ perceptions of the impact of the global financial crisis. However, the possibility of multiple understandings of the situation makes it difficult to articulate the findings. The validity of the results may also be affected by ability of moderators to have control over the discussion process with participants. The moderator has to allow participants to talk to each other, ask questions and express doubts and opinions, while having very little control over the interaction other than generally keeping participants focused on the topic. By its nature focus group research is open ended and cannot be entirely predetermined. To reduce such a potential bias, the moderators received a 4-day training to facilitate recall and quantitative estimates to improve internal validity. The checklist was also translated into Bangla to improve interactions between the moderators and the participants and among participants. The reliability of focus groups’ perception may be weakened by internal cultural and hierarchical dynamics and lack of confidentiality within the group. As a result full participation of all may not have been ensured by the moderators. The effort made to select homogenous groups both by sex and livelihoods aimed at reducing this bias. 3. Macro-Economic Performance and Impact of the Global Financial Crisis 3. 1. Recent Economic Developments 3. 1. 1 GDP Growth Performance In recent years, Bangladesh enjoyed a substantial growth of the real GDP. The GDP growth stood at 6. 2 percent in FY08, slightly below the 6. 4 percent growth recorded in FY07. The GDP growth in FY08 was led by substantial growth in industry (6. 9 percent) and services (6. 7 percent) sectors while the agriculture sector grew by 3. 6 percent. However, in the backdrop of the current global crisis, there are some indications of uncertainties about the growth projection in FY09. Although the global financial crisis is yet to significantly affect the Bangladesh economy, all the projections converge on the fact that the GDP growth will be lower than the initial projection of 6. 5 percent in FY09 (annex 3). The central bank of Bangladesh (BB) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) set an optimistic target of the GDP growth of at least 6. 0 percent. The GDP growth of 4. 5 percent (lower than its earlier projection of 4. 8 to 5. 4 percent) projected very recently by the World Bank (WB) is the most conservative one. The latest projection of the annual GDP growth (5. 6 percent revised from its previous stand of 5. 5 to 6. 0 percent) made by Asian Development Bank (ADB) is between the government and the WB’s projections, based on recent signs of the impact of the global financial crisis on key sectors. 3. 1. 2 Inflation Patterns Although the trend in inflation is subsiding, it is still above the long-run path, making it difficult for the most affected and vulnerable households to cope with recent shockshigh food prices (2007-2008) and localized natural disasters (cyclone Sidr) in 2007. The 12-month average inflation stood at 8. 9 percent by end 2008 with a declining trend since August. While the softening of the inflationary pressure is likely to continue, it is important to keep in view that the current price fall in the global commodity market is largely due to changes in demand side factors while the global supply situation has remained unchanged. As such if the major economies, especially the advanced ones, succeed in recovering from the crisis within a relatively short period, the commodity markets may again experience tight conditions. It is also worth noting the potential disincentive of the price decline on domestic food commodity production. While the high food prices resulted in only a small percentage increase of the net sellers of food commodities (i. e. , 5 percent increase in the category of small farmers of 0. 5-2. acres), these winners are likely to become losers as a result of the global financial crisis. With the global financial crisis, potential income losses are also likely to affect the households identified by the recent WFP/UNICEF/IPHN as th e most affected by the food price crisis, namely non-agriculture, agriculture wage and casual laborers. 3. 1. 3 Performance of the Financial Sector The demand for credit has weakened between July-December 2008. The growth in the broad money (M2) at the end of December 2008 remained around the same level of 17. 6 percent in June 20085. However, both the domestic credit and private sector credit dropped significantly during the last six months reflecting weak credit demand in the economy. While the growth in domestic credit dropped to about 19. 3 percent in December from about 21. 0 percent recorded in June 2008, the growth in private sector credit mainly concentrated to trade and industry recorded a decline of about 3 percentage point to 21. 8 percent in December from about 24. 9 percent in June 2008. This pattern is an indication of relatively lower economic activities during the period. Interest rates such as deposits, lending, repo and reverse repo rates moved up relative to their levels in the first half (H1) of FY2008 6 . During the last six months, however, the Bank Rate (Discount Rate) and yields of government Treasury bills (T-bills)7 and bonds remained mostly unchanged. The commercial lending and deposit rates of the banks varied within a relatively wide margin during H1 FY2009 compared with the narrow margin variation during H1 FY2008. Commercial lending rate reached its peak of 13. 5 percent in December 2008 from a low of 12. 6 percent in September 2008. Commercial deposits rate, on the other hand, reached 7. 9 percent in December 2008 from 7. 3 percent in August 2008. Real lending and deposits rate exhibited increasing trend during H1 FY2009 due to the decelerating inflation rate of the period. The interest rates on the certificates of National Savings Directorate (NSD) for the duration of 3 and 5 years remained unchanged respectively at 11. 5 percent and 12. 0 percent during H1 FY2009. The major indicators of health of the banking system, such as the ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs), amount of actual provisioning, total deposits and advances, the ratio of capital adequacy, the interest rate spread (IRS), and indicators of profitability remained broadly stable and satisfactory during H1 FY2009. Given the low level of foreign capitalization, the countrys banking sector remained broadly unaffected from the ongoing global financial turmoil. However, it would be important to refresh the surveillance of the banking sector and revisit the financial sector management to counteract any potential adverse impact on the countrys banking sector. 3. 1. 4 Fiscal Performance During the July-December period of FY2009, the realized amount of revenue receipts fell short of its annual target. In the FY2009 budget, the target for revenue earnings was set at 11. 3 percent. During H1 FY2009, preliminary estimates show that total revenue and total expenditure stood respectively at 5. 9 percent and 8. 1 percent of GDP, resulting in a fiscal deficit of 2. 2 percent of the GDP (during H1 FY2009) against the yearly target of 4. 99 percent. The financing of the deficit amounted to Tk. 135. 8 billion of which Tk. 93. 1 billion was accommodated from domestic sources, including bank financing of Tk. 73. 6 billion while the remaining Tk. 42. 7 billion came from foreign sources. The implementation of the Annual Development Program (ADP) also remained very low at 1. 2 percent of GDP in H1 FY2009 compared with the yearly target of 4. percent of the GDP, due to slow execution rate of projects. The execution rate of the ADP is unlikely to improve beyond 70 percent by the end of FY2009 in June. 5 Broad money is considered to be the most inclusive measurement of the money supply in a given country. It involves the most liquid or cash components of money supply or non-ca sh components that can be converted into cash very easily. Broad money is a key economic indicator used to forecast inflation and the decisions of investors. 6 Repo (repurchase agreement) is a financial instrument used in the money market. It is a transaction in which one party sells securities to another while agreeing to repurchase those securities at a future date. Bangladesh Bank has introduced repo for banks and financial institutions, as an indirect monetary tool for day-today liquidity management to smoothen temporary and unexpected disturbances in the supply and demand for money. 7 T-bills (Treasury Bills) are short-term debt obligation backed by the government with a maturity of less than one year. 3. 1. 5 Performance of the Capital Market In the backdrop of the ongoing financial turmoil, investors shaky confidence might have played a role in the recent mixed performance of the capital market in Bangladesh. Stock prices showed significant upturn during the first half (January-June) of 2008 while the second half (July-December) witnessed a downward movement. Although the daily average turnover improved, different monthly average price indexes at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) have declined, showing some fluctuations in 2008. Compared with December 2007, the monthly average of all share price index (DSI), DSEG, and DSE20 declined by 14. 1 percent, 12. 1 percent, and 8. 3 percent respectively in December 2008. 3. 2. Degree of Exposure to the Effects of the Global Financial Crisis The World Bank identified Bangladesh as highly exposed to the global financial crisis8. Almost 20 percent of the population was already leaving in the hardcore (i. e. food) poverty in 2005. The high food price crisis has sent ? of the population into food insecurity by end 2008. According to the World Bank, the capacity of the country to cope with the impacts of the financial crisis on poverty is constrained by limited leverage for larger fiscal deficits9 and moderate inflation at 8. 9 percent at end 2008. Despite efforts made by the government to mitigate the negative impacts of the high food prices on households, the implementation of the Annual Development Program (ADP) remained very low in 2008, raising some concerns about the country’s capacity to efficiently and effectively scale-up public expenditures to protect vulnerable groups and reduce poverty. Figure: Exposure of Countries to the Global Financial Crisis [pic] Source: World Bank, 2009 Bangladesh’s economy is increasingly exposed to global economic shocks, given its increased integration with the global economy during the last decade. The contribution of trade (export and import) increased significantly since 2001 from 33. 4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to 43. 4 percent in FY2008. About 85 percent of exports are destined to developed countries and roughly 60 percent of import originates from those countries. Exports take up 20 percent of the GDP in Bangladesh. Ready-made garment (RMG) is the main driver of exports, with a share of almost 80 percent of total exports (i. e. 16 percent of GDP). Almost half of the exports go to the European Union (EU), while 25 percent goes to the United States (US). The dependence on foreign aid has progressively reduced since the 1990s, while foreign direct investment remains low at 1 percent of the GDP over the last decade (2000-2009). Table: Bangladesh’s Degree of Openness to the Global Economy | |FY1981 |FY1991 |FY2001 |FY2007 |FY2008 | |(Export + Import)/GDP |13. 5 |16. 8 |33. 4 |43. 3 |43. 4 | |Remittances/GDP |1. 9 |2. 5 |4. 0 |8. 8 |10. | |ODA Disbursed/GDP |5. 8 |5. 6 |2. 9 |2. 3 |2. 4 | |ODA Disbursed/Export |158. 1 |100. 9 |21. 2 |12. 9 |13. 3 | | | | | | | | |Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)/GDP |- |0. 1 |1. 2 |1. 2 |0. 8 | The contribution of remittances has more than doubled since 2001 from 4 percent of the GDP to 10 percent in FY2008. Bangladesh is a huge labor surplus country, putting it on the supply side of the global labor market and at the fifth position among the top remittance recipient countries in the world. As a result, the economy is heavily dependent on migrants’ earnings in the Gulf countries and Western countries. In FY2007-08, total remittances (i. e. , USD8 billion) accounted for 10 percent of the GDP. As per the latest statistics, 5. 5 million Bangladeshis are currently working abroad. About 65 percent of these workers are semi-skilled (16 percent) and low-skilled (49 percent). Two-thirds of the migrants work in Middle East countries, mainly in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates (table 3). They constitute 25. percent of the total labor in those countries and contribute 63 percent of the total remittances inflow in Bangladesh. The remittances inflow from these countries doubled from USD2. 4 billion in FY2003-04 to USD4. 97 billion in FY2007-08, as a result of the construct ion boom in the Gulf, mainly Dubai. Table: Importance of Migrant Workers and Remittances | |Labor Force |Share of Bangladeshis in |Share in Total Remittance | | |(Million) |Labor Force (%) |Inflow (%) | |Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |6. 7 |27. |30 | |Kuwait |2. 2 |14. 2 |11 | |Qatar |1. 1 |10. 0 |4 | |United Arab Emirates |3. 3 |33. 4 |14 | |Bahrain |0. 5 |26. 2 |2 | |Oman |0. 9 |23. |3 | |Total |14. 7 |25. 3 |63 | The most recent data (July-December 2008) suggest that the pass-through of the ongoing global economic crisis into Bangladesh economy is real. Even though Bangladesh is not integrated to the global capital market, the economy is facing the second round effects of the global financial crisis. There is evidence that international trade, exports of manpower and inflow of foreign official development assistance (ODA) are being adversely affected (table 4). The major source of the potential adverse impact is emanated from the projected contraction of foreign aggregate demand. Recent trends in the volume of Cargo (export plus import) handled in the Chittagong (CTG) port decreased by 5. 3 percent during H1 FY2009. Table: Recent Developments in Trade, Remittances and Aid Flows | | | | | | | |Jul-Dec. 2008 |Jul-Dec. 2007 |Growth in |Growth in | | |(Provisional) |(Revised) |Jul. -Dec. 2008 |(FY08) | |1. Cargo (export plus import) handled in CTG | | | | | |port (000 MT) |13489. 0 |14244. 0 |-5. 3 |3. 4 | |2. Exports (fob) |7754. 7 |6495. 9 |19. 4 |15. 7 | |3. Imports (Settlement of LCs) |11115. 4 |9078. 4 |22. 4 |27. 6 | |4. Remittances |4504. 7 |3440. 5 |30. 9 |32. 4 | |5. Gross ODA inflow |898. 3 |903. 2 |-0. 5 |20. 4 | |6. Net ODA inflow |579. 6 |630. 0 |-8. 0 |25. 2 | |7. Foreign direct investment (FDI) |706. 0 |285. 0 |147. 7 |-18. 0 | |8. Change in reserve position |-361. 0 |437. 3 | | | |9. Change in exchange rate |-0. 42 |0. 3 | | | Sources: (1) Bangladesh Bank, (2) Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), (3) Chittagong Port Authority, and (4) External Resources Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance. 4. Perceived Impacts at Household Level Five divisions were covered namely Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet. To understand the impact of the global financial crisis, focus groups discussions (FGDs) were conducted in purposively selected locations to cover livelihood groups that are most likely to be affected by the financial, according to the macro-economic pass-through channels analyzed in previous sections. Hence, 40 FGDs were organized, 12 with remittance earners, 8 with garment workers, 12 with workers of export-oriented agriculture (shrimp and tea estate) and 8 control groups made up with casual workers not involved in the former activities (table 5). Overall, discussions did not reveal any major difference between control groups and other FGDs, suggesting workers of the most exposed sectors and casual laborers are similarly affected by the effects of the global financial crisis. Therefore, the next sections will not distinguish control groups from others. Given the small sample size, the next sections will not emphasize the analysis of the characteristics of individual livelihood groups either. Table: Geographical and Sectoral Coverage of FGDs |Sector of Activity |Division |District |No. FGD | | | |Sylhet Comilla Noakhali |4 | | | |Chandpur |2 | |Remittance earners |Sylhet |Maulvibazar |2 | | | | |2 | | | | |2 | | | |Dhaka |4 | |Garment workers |Dhaka |Gazipur |2 | | |Chittagong |Chittagong (Ctg) |2 | | | |Satkhira |4 | |Export oriented agriculture labourers (shrimp,|Khulna |Bagerhat |2 | |tea estate) | | | | | |Sylhet |Maulvibazar |6 | | | |Gaibandha |2 | |Control group rural (casual labour) |Rajshahi |Panchagarh |2 | | | |Rajshahi |2 | | |Khulna |Khulna |2 | |Total |40 | 4. 1. Impacts on Livelihoods and Incomes Based on discussions with the 40 focus group members, remittances are mentioned by 9 of 40 FGDs as the first income source of the communities, followed by unskilled non-agriculture daily labor (8 of 40 FGDs), work in tea estate (6 of 40 FGDs) and work in garment factories (4 of 40 FGDs). As the first source of income, 4 FGDs mentioned that remittances contribute to about 80 percent of their incomes. Unskilled non-agriculture dailylabor is the second main income source for 9 of 40 FGDs, , followed by agriculture daily labor (8 of 40 FGDs) and small businesses (6 of 40 FGDs). As a second source of income, the contribution of unskilled non- agriculture daily labor to income is estimated at 25 percent, according to 8 FGDs. Female FGDs reported more dependence on remittances as their main income sources, compared to male FGDs. Five of 20 female FGDs depend on remittances as their first source of income, compared to 4 male FGDs. Four female FGDs mentioned that remittances contribute to 80 percent of their incomes, suggesting female-headed household whose husbands are migrant workers are vulnerable to decreases of remittances. No male FGD reported such a high level of contribution of remittances to household incomes. Five of 20 female FGDs are also more dependent on unskilled non-agriculture daily labor as their second source of income, compared to 4 in 20 for male FGDs. By contrast, male FGDs are more dependent on agriculture daily labor (5 in 20 FGDs) as their second source of income compared to female FGDs (3 in 20 FGDs). In total, 4 in 40 FGDs mentioned work in garment factories as both their first and second source of incomes. Figure: Main Income Sources (Number of Respondent FGDs) Small business Day labor (agric. ) Unskilled day lab our (no n-agric. ) Earth-digging Fishing in deep sea/ river Garment worker Ho use-maid Skilled labour (non-agric. ) Remittance Rickshaw/ van/ cart puller Other services Tea worker Wood / bamboo/ f irewoo d seller Fish/ shrimp -processing worker There is a sense that activity changes witnessed by FGDs are being made at the expense of sustainable livelihoods. In response to whether households have changed activities in the past 6 months, 17 out of 40 FGDs (12 male FGDs and 5 female FGDs) answered positively. According to respondent FGDs, households most frequently changed their activity to daily labor, suggesting they are likely engaging in less regular livelihoods. The main reasons of livelihood changes are low purchasing power (9 FGDs) and reduced job opportunities (7 FGDs) suggesting households are likely facing the impacts of the global financial crisis on top of the lasting effects of the high food prices. Table: Activity Changes Observed over the Last 6 Months Before Type of activity change now Number of Respondent FGDs Earth-digging Selling firewood 1 Tea estate worker Earth-digging 1 Rickshaw-puller, Mason, Street-vendor Selling betel leaf and bidi (tobacco) 1 Day labourer 8 Agriculture farmer Day labourer 1 Unemployed Migrant worker 2 Worker in shrimp-hatchery Fishing in deep sea/river 2 Day laborer Small business 1 Total 17 4. 2. Impacts on Employment and Wages Job losses were mentioned by fish/shrimp processing, garment and migrant workers, though the magnitude of the losses is reported to be less than 25 percent, with 10 percent being the most frequently reported estimate. Of the 40 FGDs interviewed, 16 FGDs (10 male and 6 female FGDs) mentioned that job losses have taken place within their community during the last 6 months. Job losses were reported mainly in Chittagong and Khulna divisions, by 5 and 8 FDGs, respectively. In general, job cuts and reduced salaries are reported as the main reasons for job losses or for changing activities. Fish/shrimp processing workers are the most affected by job losses in Khulna due to diseases in hatcheries and reduction of exports. In addition job losses in the shrimp processing sector, especially in Khulna, are amplified by the normal seasonal break in shrimp producing activities. Reportedly, shrimp production covers only 6 months a year. As a result, workers in shrimp-hatcheries would normally seek additional jobs such as casual labor during the rest of the year. Salary decreases reported by garment workers are due to reduced buying orders from abroad and reduced payments on overtime. Job losses are engulfing the supply of labor as daily workers are also facing job scarcity, according to 5 FGDs interviewed in Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi. As shown in figure 10, most of the respondent FGDs estimate that job losses are below 25 percent, except in Khulna where half of them mentioned the percentage of workers that have lost their job during the last 6 months could range between 50 and 75 percent. In Chittagong, respondent FGDs of the garment sector tend to estimate job losses below 10 percent. Relatively high proportions (between 25-75 percent) of job losses were reported by only 1 of 6 FGDs of the garment sector in Dhaka and 1 of 6 casual labor FGDs in Rajshahi. However, these figures cannot be interpreted as a general trend of the responses emerging from discussions with garment workers and casual laborers in these areas 4. 3 Impacted by the food price shock By mid-2008, food prices had increased by more than 200% since 2006 and more than 60% since January this year Between March 2007 and march 2008, prices of corn, rice, soybean and wheat increased by 31,74,87 and 130% respectively Rice price passed US$1000 in April 2008 A large proportion of population depends on agriculture. Per capita food production has been low and negative. Proportion of claries obtained from cereals is high. [pic] Table: Food price contribution to consumer price inflation in South Asian countries, 2008 | | | | | |Country |Overall inflation |Food price |Expenditure |Contribution of food | | | |inflation(a) |share of |prices to overall | | | | |food (in %) |inflation(b) | |(1) |(2) |(3) |(4) |(5) | | | | | | | |Bangladesh (April 2008) |9. 94 |11. 84 |64. 5 |7. 64 | | | | | | | |India (February 2008) |4. 60 |5. 0 |33. 4 |1. 94 | | | | | | | |Nepal (April/May 2008) |7. 50 |10. 00 |53. 2 |5. 32 | | | | | | | |Pakistan (May 2008) |19. 30 |28. 50 |41. 5 |11. 3 | | | | | | | |Sri Lanka (June 2008) |28. 20 |40. 06 |46. 7 |18. 71 | Source: Statistical Departments and Bureaus of different countries, 2008. (a) Includes beverages and tobacco. (b) Column (5) entries are calculated as (5) = (3) ? (4)/100. Table: The Impact of Rising Food Prices: Bangladesh (CGE Estimates 60% Rise) Macroeconomic Variables The effect of increase in food prices General Price level 2. 6% Real household income -1. 61% Welfare (equivalent variation) -0. 905 Real GDP -0. 787 Source: Adapted from ADB (2008a). There has been a considerable amount of controversy and debate over the impact of food prices on the poor Country’s position as a net food importer or exporter HHs are net food sellers or net food buyers The share of food expenditure in total budget Food distribution system Infrastructure Government policies Table: Share of Food expenditure in Total Household Expenditure Country Overall Urban Rural Bangladesh Total expenditure share of food 61. 31 53. 13 63. 39 Total expenditure share of cereals 42. 22 32. 96 44. 58 Table: Share of Food Expenditure in Total Expenditure in South Asian Countries Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Table: Average welfare gain/loss from a 10 percent increase in the price of main staple, by income (expenditure) quintile and land-ownership category Country |Per Capita Expenditure Quintiles | | |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |All | | Bangladesh | | | | | | | |Landowners | | | | | | | |Non-landowners | | | | | | | | |-1. 22 |-0. 86 |-0. 29 |-0. 06 |0. 15 |-0. 34 | | |-3. 8 |-2. 92 |-2. 36 |-2. 04 |-1. 45 |-2. 60 | | Pakistan | | | | | | | |Landowners | | | | | | | |Non-landowners | | | | | | | | |1. 16 |1. 20 |1. 65 |1. 65 |1. 1 |1. 58 | | |-0. 66 |-0. 63 |-0. 49 |-0. 39 |-0. 15 |-0. 48 | Source: FAO (2008), p. 37 Response to Food crisis 1. Mitigation measures are necessary, but other interventionist policies had the effect of aggrava ting the problems for importing countries. 2. The resort to immediate trade restrictions by India and Pakistan highlighted the fact that SA remains a bastion of anti-liberalism. 3. Countries like SL introduce import restrictions when domestic food conditions are good and liberalize food imports during a crisis. 4. Experience in SA demonstrates that price controls do more harm than good. 5. The anti-liberalization reaction of governments to the food crisis was not a surprise (ex: trade restrictiveness around 46%). 6. Consumer and producer subsidies are not sustainable. 5. Perspectives and Ongoing Interventions 5. 1. Future Outlook and Scenario Although Bangladesh economy has not yet faced a substantial negative impact of the ongoing financial crisis, significant downside risks exist in the coming months. The overall macroeconomic outlook beyond FY2009 is difficult to predict as it is very closely related to the duration and severity of the current global crisis, natural calamities and their consequences on the economy. Available information indicates that external sectors comprising international trade, remittances, foreign aid and FDI are being affected by the ongoing global economic meltdown. Given the overall stake of total trade and remittances as a ratio of GDP (around 53 percent), the Bangladesh economy is likely to slowdown to less than 6 percent growth in FY200910. As warned by the IMF, activity is expected to expand only weakly in 2009 before recovering gradually in 2010 leaving no chance for Bangladesh economy to gain momentum before 2010. In the backdrop of the deceleration of export growth and the inflow of remittances, the current account as well as the overall balance is likely to deteriorate further from the current surplus position. This pattern is likely to lead to further depletion of foreign reserves. The contraction of foreign reserves will further depreciate the exchange rate of the Taka against major currencies. Domestic currency depreciation could lead to some losses of real income and purchasing power through inflation driven by imported goods. The fall in exports and remittances may have resulted in about 0. 3 million job losses in the last 6 months. There are around 3. 0 million people working in more than 5 thousands factories in the RMG sector alone. According to a preliminary estimate, around 20-30 percent of the factories do not have any direct foreign buyers. They just survive by executing sub-contracts of factories who have directs orders from the foreign buyers. As the direct orders for these factories from foreign buyers are drying up, the survival of the sub-contracting factories are in real danger. The current trend shows that the flow of sub-contract is likely to stop due to the global economic downturn. In this context, workers of the sub-contracting firms will lose their jobs immediately as witnessed already. From the above analysis, the most frequently reported estimate of job losses is 10 percent. Assuming the most likely scenario of job losses in the last six months is a 10 percent job losses, say in the RMG sector alone, around 0. million new unemployed people have likely been released in the Bangladesh economy. With an average of 1. 38 income earner per household of 5 in 2009, and 0. 3 million new unemployed workers, around 1. 09 million people (i. e. 3. 62*0. 30 million), are likely to lose their livelihood, with subsequent risks on access to health care, food intake, education, debt and access to other vital services11. The worst case scenario of 20. percent job losses as implied by FGDs would double the number of people whose livelihoods are endangered (i. e. 2. 18 million)12. Based on the most frequent estimate reported by FGDs, the optimistic scenario of 5 percent job losses over the last 6 months is unlikely. Expected increase of government spending (in the short term) in terms of rescue package including tax break, cash subsidies and food rationing programs to safeguard the external sector and socially vulnerable people, could lead to monetary financing of increased fiscal deficits beyond the fiscal deficit target of 4. 99 percent of the GDP. No inflationary pressure is foreseen in the short run because of the substantial decrease of the import bill in the aftermath of fuel and food price decreases. However inflation will be contained if and only if government spending does not exceed monetary targets. Provisional data show that the growth in tax revenue fell short of its target while expenditure showed high growth resulting in governments bank borrowing above the central banks monetary program target. This pattern is likely to affect negatively private investment through crowding out effect and inflation through seignoriage13. This may generate some pressure on the overall fiscal deficit by the end of the current fiscal year (June 2009), beyond the target of 4. 99 percent of GDP 5. 2. Ongoing Interventions of the Government The Government of Bangladesh maintains an extensive social safety net system designed to address mainly transient food insecurity, stemming from shocks and setbacks. The Public Food Distribution System (PFDS) is the Government’s main mechanism for addressing household level food access shortfalls. Public food stocks are maintained and used for both ongoing food-based development programmes and for emergency purposes during periods of acute or transitory food insecurity. Although the PFDS has numerous programmes or channels through which food assistance is provided; the bulk of assistance, which covers more than 30 million people, is provided via the following eight channels: ?OMS/Open Market Sales ?VGD/Vulnerable Group Development ?VGF/Vulnerable Group Feeding ?FFW/Food for Work ?TR/Test Relief ?GR/Gratuitous Relief ?Food Assistance for CHT Area. ?Cash for Work. In order to safeguard the income losses due to the global financial crisis, a decision has been made in March 2009 to scale up and extend the open market sale (OMS) program. The OMS is expected to provide subsidized rice to all workers in the RMG sector. This program is currently under review by the government. At the macro-economic level, the government of Bangladesh is closely monitoring the day-to-day developments in the major economic indicators. In view of improving the interactions between the business community and the government, a public-private business forum titled Bangladesh Better Business Forum (BBBF) was formed in November 2007. In March 2009, a broad-based national committee (27-member taskforce) was formed to follow the developments related to the ongoing economic crisis and suggest measures to address the adverse impacts on Bangladesh economy. In view of safeguarding Bangladeshs key exports such as readymade garments, jute, leather, and frozen foods, a stimulus/rescue package including some form of incentives through tax break, rate cut and cash subsidy are under active consideration. Besides, in order to protect the loss of future remittance flows, the government of Bangladesh is taking various steps such as facilitating faster and easy transfer of remittances through official channels, finding new labor export markets, and negotiating with migrant workers’ host countries to preserve jobs. On the other hand, the central bank of Bangladesh recently (March 11, 2009) reduced the repo rates by 25 basis points to 8. 5 percent to ease the lending capacity of the commercial banks. Besides, it has been decided to cap lending rate of all types of loans except credit card and consumer loans at 13 percent to offset the fallout of global meltdown. This rate cut is expected to boost credit to the productive and employment intensive sectors. In view of the losses incurred by importers as a result of the fall in global commodity prices (e. g. wheat, edible oil and pulses) and the difficulties faced by importers in honoring fresh letters of credit (LCs), the central bank has relaxed the conditions for opening fresh LCs from the existing 90 days time to 150 days. The central bank has also set up a Forex Investment Committee to monitor and manage the currency composition of foreign exchange reserves. The central bank withdrew about 90 percent of its total investment from international banks which were perceived to be at risk 6. Conclusions and Recommendations The importance of nonfarm and farm employment, including casual labor, in rural and urban areas alike, underscores the need for rapid job creation in services, manufacturing and agriculture sectors to mitigate the adverse implications of the ongoing global financial crisis. Although it is too early to have a thorough insight on the extent of the impact on household livelihoods and food security, the urgent need to take policy initiatives and actions to address the emerging challenges is justified by the fact that the impacts of the global food crisis are compounding the livelihood and food security situation of households most affected by the global food crisis, namely agriculture and non agriculture wage labor and casual laborers. In addition to the efforts being made by the government to mitigate the negative impacts on economic activities, mitigating actions could consider the following: Expand and accelerate social protection programs (e. g. nutrition and education) targeting better households most affected both by the food and financial crises such as female-headed households, agriculture and non-agriculture wage earners and casual laborers. Specific targeting of female-headed households reliant on remittances should be considered in specific areas such as in Sylhet division. Accelerate the implementation of the Annual Development Plan (ADP) in investing more in labor intensive income generating activities (e. g. asic infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, rural roads and electricity) to mitigate the impacts of job losses in economic sectors and the downturn of the export of migrants. Accelerate investment to increase productivity in the agriculture sector to face the lack of arable land and counter production disincentives that are likely to occur with the decrease of agricultural commodity prices as a result of the global economic downturn. Promoting continued productivity growth in agriculture is expected to improve agricultural wages to absorb migrant returnees and less-skilled domestic workers who have lost their jobs in the face of the financial crisis. Diversification into higher value added crops, use of new seed varieties, and technology are crucial in this respect (World Bank, 2008). At the household level, endowment in productive assets – both physical as well as financial (microcredit) capital could be considered as a means to help job losers and returned migrants to set up small businesses and cultivate land. There is a momentum for quality investment in migrant workers to reduce the predominance of less skilled migrant workers. While exploring new destinations for migrant workers, there is a general sense in the country that further effort is required to strengthen the skills of candidates for migration. This is seen as a means to increase the likelihood of protecting jobs abroad and entering a new era of quality migration in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Monitor both macro-economic indicators and household food security and nutrition for early actions. At macro-level, the broad-based national committee (27-member taskforce) formed by the government is expected to follow the developments related to the ongoing economic crisis and suggest measures to address the adverse impacts on Bangladesh economy. To monitor the evolution of the macro-economic and sectoral performance, key signal indicators such as non-performing loans (NPLs), letter of credit opening (LC), utilization declarations (UDs), general inflation (food and non-food), exchange rate fluctuations, etc. should be carefully monitored. To see whether the slowdown of macro-economic indicators is affecting household food security and livelihoods, the macro-level monitoring should establish the implications for households, including fiscal implications for social safety programs. The micro-level monitoring could benefit from establishing the linkages between the macro-level and micro- level monitoring, by building on existing systems that monitor remittances, out-migration flows, flows of returnees, less-skilled wage rates in nonfarm and farm activities, staple food, cash and livestock prices, nutrition indicators, etc. In this context, a joint follow-up assessment could be envisaged in the second half of 2009 together with the government and others interested partners (e. g. FAO) to evaluate the magnitude of the impact of the global financial crisis on household food security and livelihoods, assuming the crisis will persist.

Free Essays on Three-Strikes Law

â€Å"The 3-Strikes Law† In early 1994 the state Legislature made changes to the Penal Code Statute section 667. This section, along with 1170.12, which had been approved in November of 1994, is part of the Penal Code that encompasses the â€Å"three-strikes and you’re out† law. Without knowing the true nature of Proposition 184, the voters passed it anyways. We are now experiencing the many pitfalls of this law, and our prison system is seeing a dramatic increase in numbers of non-violent criminals that are being incarcerated for long periods of time. As of March 7, 1994 if someone commits a crime that is considered a felony and they have one previous violent conviction or a serious felony such as burglary of an unoccupied dwelling they are sentenced to twice the amount of time recommended by law. They must also serve 80% of this time without the hope of getting time off for good behavior. You will find that the definition of â€Å"violent† and â€Å"serious† are different and are based on the current conviction prior to March 8, 2000. Violent offenses include murder, robbery of a residence in which a deadly or dangerous weapon is used, rape and other sex offenses. Serious offenses include the same offenses defined as violent offenses, but also include other crimes such as burglary of a residence and assault with the intent to commit robbery or rape (Three, 1). Proposition 21 went into affect in March of 2000. There are other disturbing mandates of this â€Å"3-Strikes Law.† The court may not grant someone that is previously convicted of a violent or serious felony, who is convicted of one or more new felonies, probation (Mullins, 1). A person sentenced under this may not be committed to any other facility but to a prison. A person sentenced under this law may only get sentencing credits limited to a maximum of twenty percent (Mullins, 3). This law also does not allow plea-bargaining. Three-strikes doesn’t allow for p... Free Essays on Three-Strikes Law Free Essays on Three-Strikes Law â€Å"The 3-Strikes Law† In early 1994 the state Legislature made changes to the Penal Code Statute section 667. This section, along with 1170.12, which had been approved in November of 1994, is part of the Penal Code that encompasses the â€Å"three-strikes and you’re out† law. Without knowing the true nature of Proposition 184, the voters passed it anyways. We are now experiencing the many pitfalls of this law, and our prison system is seeing a dramatic increase in numbers of non-violent criminals that are being incarcerated for long periods of time. As of March 7, 1994 if someone commits a crime that is considered a felony and they have one previous violent conviction or a serious felony such as burglary of an unoccupied dwelling they are sentenced to twice the amount of time recommended by law. They must also serve 80% of this time without the hope of getting time off for good behavior. You will find that the definition of â€Å"violent† and â€Å"serious† are different and are based on the current conviction prior to March 8, 2000. Violent offenses include murder, robbery of a residence in which a deadly or dangerous weapon is used, rape and other sex offenses. Serious offenses include the same offenses defined as violent offenses, but also include other crimes such as burglary of a residence and assault with the intent to commit robbery or rape (Three, 1). Proposition 21 went into affect in March of 2000. There are other disturbing mandates of this â€Å"3-Strikes Law.† The court may not grant someone that is previously convicted of a violent or serious felony, who is convicted of one or more new felonies, probation (Mullins, 1). A person sentenced under this may not be committed to any other facility but to a prison. A person sentenced under this law may only get sentencing credits limited to a maximum of twenty percent (Mullins, 3). This law also does not allow plea-bargaining. Three-strikes doesn’t allow for p...

Saturn Corporation Company Causes of Challenges Essay

Saturn Corporation Company Causes of Challenges - Essay Example According to a study conducted by J.D. Power & Associates 42 percent of the customers would not even consider GM car. Saturn’s mission was to compete with big rivals like Honda, Toyota and Nissan in small cars’ market. Since its foundation, Saturn has undergone through many ups and downs such as being ranked third in new-car buyer satisfaction preceded by Lexus and Infiniti. It also left behind Hyundai, Subaru, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi with 2.1 percent share in US auto market. Many Saturn dealers sold demonstration models due to the high number of buyers and ended with advance production orders in 1991. Saturn also faced great difficulties in meeting production requirements at the same time, because it could not afford to compromise on quality. Despite Saturn was equipped with latest technological resources and manufacturing methods it greatly inclined towards serious labour dependency, because it was thought a key to productivity and quality measures. A matchless partnership between United Auto Workers (UAW) and GM in the auto industry decided to work side by side for the success of Saturn. Every employee at the Saturn was extensively trained to work with teams and to monitor costs. The overall plant’s design was one of the strategic steps towards Saturn’s attainment targets. It truly reflected people oriented philosophy. Marketing tactics were proved to be revolutionary in Saturn’s success because Saturn’s every decision was made after consultation with marketing agencies and dealers. With the help of Hal Riney & Partners (official ad agency) and Saturn’s dealers' company decided to name all sales outlets as â€Å"Saturn of (Geographic Location)† to emphasise on company’s name, this contributed Saturn’s recognition at the global scale. Employees at Saturn were found emotionally attached to the company; therefore Riney took great advantage for Saturn’s promotion from internal sources as well. A documentary made by Riney for advertisement campaign showed how workers were sensitively attached with Saturn.

Brain Development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Brain Development - Research Paper Example Brain functions through activity of neural circuits. These circuits are formed from the fetal period and throughout the life by forming synapses in a process called synaptogenesis. The necessary neutrons that a brain will have until death are almost present in a new born baby's brain. During the development stage 250,000 neutrons are added per minute. The brain grows after birth by increasing the size of the neurons and consequent increase in number of supporting cells. The weight of the brain of the newborn is approximately 300 grams. Brain weight increases with age and achieve mature weight between six and fourteen years of life. The baby's brain moulds itself in response to the demands of the surroundings. The child's brain is an amazing learning engine. A child learns to do everything step by step in his growing stage. Children acquire language in a fast pace. It is found out that a baby reacts to language with his complete brain until he is one year old. Brain imaging studies suggest that the brain continues to develop through adolescence and into young adulthood. During adolescence, the parts of the brain that are liable for expressing emotions and for seeking enjoyment tend to mature sooner than the regions of the brain that control impulses, reasoning and decision making. The adult brain is related mostly to the human intellect. The modern science admits that emotions are fundamental to the general mental health. Recent studies show that brain produces new neurons even at the age of seventies. The normal aging process leaves most mental functions unharmed, and even provide the brain with unique advantages that form the root of wisdom The 'Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus', written in the 17th century BC, has the earliest recorded reference to the brain. Hippocrates believed the brain to be the seat of intelligence. Studies of the brain became more sophisticated after the invention of the microscope. In the late 1890s Santiago Ramon y Cajal and Camillo Golgi suggested the neuron doctrine, which established that the functional unit of the brain is the neuron. Related studies by Paul Broca suggested that certain regions of the brain were responsible for certain functions. Modern researches are ongoing to show that distinct areas of the cortex are activated in the execution of specific tasks. The advance in neuroscience in the last 10 years is ahead of that has made ever since the studies of brain began. let us try to brief the current trends in the studies of brain. A child gets adapted to the environment at his birth, due to the presence of abundance of the neural circuit in his brain. Healthy brain cells will die if they don't have to perform during the critical periods of a child's developmental years. Each element of a picture which we see is sent to different parts of the brain for processing. The human brain's capacity is best standardized by the number of connections that develop among its billions of brain cells. Different neurological and behavioral differences come out in the early developmental stages and continue throughout a lifetime. Neuro-biological differences mostly causes many of the gender-specific patterns in learning and behavior. Immobility is unable to get along with complex learning experiences. Continual stress and fear can lead to the physical destruction of neurons in the hippocampus, a sub-cortical structure that plays an important role