Causes of the Global Financial Crisis and its impacts Assignment

Causes of the Global Financial Crisis and its impacts - Assignment Example At present, we still face the effects caused by this financial crisis, and much like the previous Great Depression which became a matter of educational importance for students to analyze; a great amount of thought has been dedicated to understanding the factors that eventually led to this economic breakdown. While analyst like Wendell Cox  have distinguished the cause into two broad categories, one being the Profligate lending that led to losses, (Macro-Economics) and the other being the excessive land use regulation exacerbated losses, (Micro-Economics). However, the entire process of the economic meltdown is a series of chain reactions, each policy directly or indirectly leading to the other and causing the system to collapse like a set of dominos. (Report, 2008) If we start at beginning of one of these chains, we find out that the period between 2000 and 2007 saw a marked increase in savings, all of which were available to be invested somewhere. At one point in 2007, the Global Pool of fixed securities increased from $36trillion to $70trillion. (Labonte, 2008) . Investors started searching for new alternatives around the globe where they could apply these savings. This caused a bridge to emerge between these investors and the policy controlling and regulating mechanisms established around the globe. This unauthentication and absence of transparency caused bubble after bubble to be created, each one waiting to burst at any moment. One such target became the housing sector as well, where extensive amount of investments were made and the housing bubble was created, particularly in the US which was soon to meet the expected fate of any economic bubble. To add to this was the fact that mortgage funding was made very easily available for everyone, at low interest rates and with reduction in the standards of regulation previously considered before approving a mortgage loan. This meant that even people who did not previously qualify for these loans (subprime) coul d now afford the expensive houses. The mortgage broker also extracted his benefit from this process. While he is awarded a fee for every mortgage that he passes, these brokers began to push their guidelines limit and award loans to even those who did not meet the qualification to pay them back. The â€Å"prime† borrowers were also able to extract advantage by taking larger loans than they could previously. So when these people were unable to pay back their loans, the mortgage market faced an unaccounted crisis and the series of failure of firms began. (Murphy, n.d.). House prices were skyrocketing, people investing in the housing sector were increasing exponentially, and it was only a matter of time till the bubble burst and this is exactly what happened. The interest rates began to increase, homeowners were unable to pay their mortgage installments, the default on the mortgages grew, and the house prices began to fall. The collapse of the US housing market went on to impact the global financial sectors. The â€Å"Credit Crunch† as it is called, was the loss of confidence by the US investors in the value of sub-prime mortgages and this led to a liquidity crisis. (Referencing). A bailout package was needed. The US Federal Bank invested a grand amount of capital into the financial markets. But nothing could help avoid the crash of the stock markets and the banking sector. The government proposed a $700billion rescue plan, but

Article Critique Essay Example for Free

Article Critique Essay The author of this article is a Canadian who has raised the alarm on the increasing number poverty stricken people hence springing up of ghettos in big cities. The author rhetorically is asking a question whether there are ghettos in Canadian cities. The author is coming up with many ghetto synonyms but yet they are of not the same meaning. The name like enclave sound more ethnical and it has been described as a grouping of people from the same ethnic group living in a low income earning or a poor neighbourhood. The article pinpoints that in the year 2001 families residing in high poverty levels doubled the year 1981. The message in the article is directed to the authorities in these cities to get warned of a looming crisis and look for ways to alter the trend. The message is not has to any group that it mentions that is the people from the enclaves and the ghettos. The article has outlined many causes of ghettos in Canadian cities. Poverty has been rated as the number one cause and this article gives figures from the research to substantiate its claim. The exact time is given when immigration policy of Canada was changed and the change swung Canada into a cultural and social crisis or socio cultural crisis. According to the authorities and the research that has been carried out immigration puts Canadian cities on spotlight of having many poor neighbourhoods. The author also makes a comparison between Canadian and American cities whereby Canadian cities are going more enclave than ghettos in America. In American cities the traditional definition of a ghetto is a residential district that concentrates racial Enclave tends to collect people of the same ethnic background together while ghettos collect poor people from various ethnic backgrounds. In both cases, people involved are affected by poverty and low income level. From one of the researches that have been done, the article reveals that an alarm was raised about the growth of neighbourhood poverty in Canada. The article pinpoints groups of people who make up the population who end up to the ghettos. Their background is partly covered by poverty and the article further expose that these are immigrants from Asia, Africa, West Indies and Latin America. The research that was conducted showed that between 1971 and 2001 is the period when the majority of the Canadian population was born in the back mentioned countries. Nevertheless, some cities like London there are no ghettos and this is due to the efforts of the councils. However, I take the article head to mention that it does not clearly outline and show the consequences of the increasing population in ghettos and mushrooming of ghettos and enclaves. In many a times these nighbourhoods have been associated with crime and drugs. Does is it mean the researches that were conducted didn’t capture these common phenomenon that is associated with ghettos? Furthermore, the article does not highlight any ways that have been adopted to combat the expanding ghettos and enclaves without necessarily disrupting the social cultural set of these people in the ghettos. Reference: Walks, A. R. Bourney, L. S. (2006). The Canadian Geographer Publication:

Food Additives and Unhealthiness

Food Additives and Unhealthiness What is a food additive? As stated by the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21-Food and Drugs, Food additives includes all substances not exempted by section 201(s) of the act, the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result, directly or indirectly, either in their becoming a component of food or otherwise affecting the characteristics of food. According to an article by S.E. Smith, food Additives are chemical substances added in food to enhance safety, flavor, appearance, and texture of the food. Without additives, several foods would be green and sour before they even get to the store shelves. Sugar would clump up together, mayonnaise would separate, and cotton candy would be hard as a rock. There are two types of food additives, direct and indirect. Direct Additives are those added to food intentionally, to create a desired look. Indirect additives are those that are added unintentionally while the food was being processed, packaged, stored, or howe ver it was handled. Most direct additives are listed on the food labels, since this is a general rule for manufacturers. Based on the EHSO website, there are five main reasons why food additives are used; to improve nutritional value; to maintain product consistency; to maintain its wholesomeness; provide leavening; and enhance the color and flavor. The use of food additives is one of the major issues today. It stirs confusion and concerns whether these additives being added to the foodstuff is in fact safe or dangerous. Food additives have been used for thousands of years. As there is no exact history of when and how food additives were discovered, it is assumed by researchers that additives were first used when humans have learned to preserve their crops on different harvesting times. However, the productivity of the food and achieving a desired look has been practiced for centuries, from the Egyptian to Roman times and up until today. Both groups have used food colorings, spices, and other additives to enhance the appearance and taste of their food. Historically, salt, herbs, and certain fats were used as processing aids. Salt was used to preserve hams, add flavor to the foods, and to control fermentation of vegetables and fishes. Given that there were no food inspections back in the days, food manufacturers took advantage of putting more than enough of additives in their food products and adulterating them, to deceive consumers. According to John Farley, chalks, whiting, and ashes of bones were u sed as flour in bread, and adulterations like this were commonly practiced then. Most people are not aware that food additives are in almost all the foods. They take the additives for granted. People who say they dont like chemicals in their food had better get used to it, stated Fergus Clydesdale Ph.D., A professor and head of the department of food science at the University of Massachusetts. Every food is made up of thousands of chemicals. More than 90 percent of food additives come from compounds that were originally found in nature. As more consumers demand for a more appealing and convenient food with vitamins and other nutritious ingredients that are lacking in ones body, manufacturers have developed food products that meet those demands using such chemical substances. In addition to that, companies have also produced food that lasts longer by using preservatives. However, before additives can be used in foods, manufacturers must first file a petition to the FDA for approval. The FDA regulates and goes through rigorous studies and tests to determine the amo unt of safety levels of different food additives before deciding to release it to the food industry. According to the FAIA, an association that represents UK manufacturers, without the use of food additives, the foods in the markets, restaurants, and even those cooked from home, would look and taste unusual, and the benefits that the additives have to offer would not exist. The FAIA, also known as the Food Additives and Ingredients Association, supports food additives and promotes their essentials to the public. They have concluded that having food additives and preservatives are necessary, especially in todays world where importing and exporting is becoming highly popular. As stated in their site, using additives reduces waste, and the need of farm lands, water, and energy. But, are people also aware of the downside of the chemical substances being added to their food? And how such additive can affect them if consumed too much? For centuries, and up to now, the food industry has been constantly producing chemical additives to manipulate, preserve and alter the food products. Such manipulation can have a great effect on ones body. Some consumers have concerns of whether all additives that have already been tested are actually safe or not. Even those that are approved by the FDA can be risky for those who have allergic reactions to such food because of the additives that were added in them. Many people are also concern of the side effects food additives have brought to them and their children. Common concerns include adverse reaction, ADHD, and other allergies. The people that are most affected by the use of food additives are the children, because they start consuming as infants, but human bodies were not developed to be exposed to a certain degree of chemicals and food additives. ADHD, otherwise known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is one major concern for parents. According on webMD health news, there is a new study that insinuates that the use of chemical additives in the food can increase the cause of hyperactivity amongst children. Food colorings and preservatives affect a childs ability to focus and learn. A study in the UK acknowledged that artificial food colorings and other additives increases the mean level of hyperactivity in children aged 3 and 8 to 9 years. These children were divided into groups having 153 three-year-olds as one group and 144 eight to nine-year-old as the other. Both group received drinks containing sodium benzoate and artificial food colorings. These results showed an increase in overactive, im pulsive, and inattentive behavior. Monosodium glutamate is also one example that can severely affect a childs behavior. MSG is an excitotoxin, which means that it acts to over agitate the neurons of the central nervous system causing physical and psychological problems which can worsen and become permanent damages. Aside from ADHD, children and even adults can suffer from obesity as well. Even those that have been FDA approved can be a contribution to obesity. Children who ate processed foods in fast food restaurants ate at least 126 calories than on days they did not. Throughout the year, these children have gained about 13 pounds just from fast food. Sodium nitrate can be found in processed meats, as this is convenient, cheap, and can produce a lot, most fast food chains often choose this as their best choice of meat to provide to consumers. Sodium nitrate is actually dangerous, since it is believed to be the primary cause of pancreatic cancer in humans even if consumed with a moderate quantity. Manufacturers use this type of chemical substance because it turns the meat bright red, which again attracts consumers. Monosodium glutamate, again, is one of the main additives that can contribute to obesity. Up to now, scientists injects MSG on lab rats to use in diet and diabetes test studies, wher e they found out that monosodium glutamate can be a factor of obesity, but still, manufacturers use it to enhance flavor and induce consumers into liking their products. MSG is an addictive substance, causing people to eat more, thus leading to obesity. In fact, the dosage of prepackaged meals, fast foods, and other fast foods have increased each time, as the FDA has not set a limit of how much it can be added to the foods. They had asserted that it is safe to eat in any amount. The reason why MSG is added to food is because it helps the elderly eat more, as Glutamate Association stated, Studies have found that adding MSG to certain foods, such as soup and mashed potatoes, has been successful in increasing the food intake in institutionalized elderly populations. But this amino acid can agitate body organs especially the brain. Too much MSG in the brain can overexcite the neurons causing migraines and headaches as well. There are other symptoms that have been reported too; numbness, burning sensation, facial pressure or tightness, chest pain, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, weakness, and have difficulty breathing for people with asthma. Although, some might not have side effect, others can become very sick. Aside from obesity, these additives can cause other side effects as well. Another chemical additive people should be concerned about is aspartame, which has over 92 reported side effects, and one of them weight gainer. According to Janet Starr Hull, aspartame can lead to side effect and adverse reactions including; eye problems such as decreased in vision, pain in one or both eyes and blindness; ear problems such as hearing impairment; neurologic diseases like epileptic seizures, migraines, memory loss, and severe tremors; psychological ailments such as depression, insomnia, and aggression; and other serious reactions like birth defects, brain damage, death, and many more. Foods that include hydrogenated fats or oils can also contribute to ob esity. As a typical body, it is essential to have fatty acids to function normally, but a hydrogenated fat has zero essential fatty acids. It prevents the absorption of nutrients in other words its nutrient dead. So not only does it not have nutrients, it also takes away nutrients from other food. Another harmful type of fat is called trans fatty acids or TFA which is found in most processed foods. According to an article from the PR Newswire, pancreatic cancer is increased by 6700 percent due to the chemical additives that has been added during the processing of the meats. A study led by Dr. Ute Nothlings was done at the University of Hawaii having people eat a large amount of processed meats, revealed that although there is no specific evidence that sodium nitrate actually causes cancer, something in the processed meat triggers this. The chemical substances that were added during the packaging of the meat have somewhat contributed to causing cancer. There are a few studies that link processed food and pancreatic cancer together as to how sodium nitrate link up with leukemia and brain tumors in children and infants. Artificial food colors contain petroleum and other petrochemicals. According to an article on AvainWeb, the human body is not used to consuming petrochemicals due to the fact that it causes risk to the health. As the food companies want to attract consumers, manufa cturers use petrochemicals in their food products, without taking into account the health conditions it can affect on people. However, quite a few of artificial colors have been removed from stores and have also been prohibited, because it has been discovered that it can cause cancer. Even natural food color can be harmful too. Allergic reactions can still be triggered even with natural food additives. Carmine, which many people are not aware of, is made out of insects and other chemicals. It is used as a food dye in products such as juice, yogurt, ice cream, and candies. Soft drinks, flavored minerals, fruit drinks: these all contain benzene in them. Benzene is another additive that people should be alert of as this can cause nausea, rapid heart rate, and death. Based on the AvianWeb, benzene can lead to an acute myelogenous leukemia when consumed too much, which is a cancer of the blood-forming organs. Benzene can have major affect on the bone marrow and decreases red blood cells which can lead to anemia. Apart from those side effects, benzene can also affect the immune system due to excessive bleeding, which can increase a chance for infections. It is not certain, but they have also mentioned that benzene could affect fertility in men and irregular menstrual period and the decreasing in size of the ovaries for women. According to Jean Weiss, a contributor to MSN Health and Fitness, there is a few more food additives people should be aware of such as olestra, sulfite, sodium chloride, and even caffeine. Olestra is known as synthetic fat that inhibits fat from getting absorbed in ones digestive system. It can have serious side effects, as it grabs the beneficial nutrients out of the body. Useful nutrients like carotenoids, which protects the body from diseases including lung and prostate cancer, heart disease and macular degeneration. Apart from those diseases, olestra can also cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and other gastrointestinal problems. Sulfite is a common preservative that is used on dried fruits, bottled fruit drinks, gravies, and many more. Based on an article by Dr. Blaylock, this additive can also be harmful to ones health as it can be fatal, increase asthma symptoms for those who are asthmatics, causing damages to the nervous system, damaging ones brain or causing other brain dis eases like Alzheimers or Parkinsons. It can also cause depression, panic attacks, and anxiety. Allergies such as hives and anaphylaxis can also be triggered by being exposed to sulfites. Another additive that people are already aware of when shopping for groceries is sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is commonly known as table salt. Yes, it is used every day by almost everyone. Processed food usually contains a high level of sodium chloride, and people should really be careful. During the refining process, the 99.9 percent sodium chloride in the table salt will be lessened and the natural minerals will be stripped away and be replaced with aluminum and anti-caking agents. Consuming too much sodium chloride can affect ones kidney and adrenal glands, reduces calcium and other valuable nutrients found in the body. It can also contribute to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Caffeine, which is found naturally in coffee, tea and cocoa, can elevate the stomach-acid secretion ca using peptic ulcers. It can also affect reproduction and cause birth defects such as cleft palates, missing fingers and deformity of the skull. Caffeine can be very addicting that is why some people have a hard time stopping themselves from consuming too much sodas, coffee, and other drinks containing this additive. People who try to withdraw themselves from using caffeine will have symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, and bad tempers. Pregnant women or those who are planning to get pregnant should avoid consuming caffeine as this can cause birth defects and miscarriage. Avoiding toxins and the chemical additives mentioned is an important step to help improve lowering the risks of diseases. Toxins may affect ones health causing minor side effects and other health conditions. Those that have immediate effects may feel headaches, might feel a change in their energy level, and may affect their mental concentration, behavior or immune response. Those with long-term effects could be at risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health conditions. By avoiding certain additives and by not consuming such chemical substances on a regular basis, it can help improve ones health resulting to a longer healthy life. Works Cited Blaylock, Russell. WEEKLY TIP: Sulfite Hidden Danger in Food. Newsmax Health.(May 2010). June 30, 2010. . Diseases Attributed to Food Additives. AvianWeb. AvianWeb LLC. June 30, 2010. . Environmental Health Safety Online. Advantages of Food Additives. (2006). June 28 2010. .Farley, John. Section II. Considerations On The Adulteration Of Bread And Flour. Chest of Books. June 29, 2010. .PR Newswire. Bacon, Sausage, Hot Dogs and Processed Meats Hike Cancer Risk by 6700% Due to Chemical Preservative, Says Nutritionist. Life Extension. (April 2005). June 30, 2010. .Smith, S.E. What Are Food Additives?. Wise Geek. June 28, 2010. Food Additives and Ingredients Association. The FAIA. (2010). June 28, 2010. Food Additives and Ingredients Association. Why Do We Need Food Additives. (2010). June 28, 2010. Lambert, Craig. The Way We Eat Now. Harvard Magazine. (2004). June 30, 2010. Weiss, Jean. 12 Food Additives to Avoid. Health Fitness. MSN. June 30, 2010. . Solomon H. Katz. Additives. Encyclopedia of Food Culture. Ed. Vol. 1. Gale Cengage, 2003. eNotes.com. 2006. 28 Jun, 2010 additives>.

Comparing Individuality and Transcendence in Wordsworth, Tennyson, and

Individuality and Transcendence in Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Joyce      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The development of the scientific method started a revolution in thought   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   that changed how people viewed the world. Scientists tested theories by   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   creating experiments and carefully observing the results. The importance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of scientific discoveries raised questions about the role of the observer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     According to Ralph Koster, the importance of observation in science led to   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the rise of the individual and an awareness of subjectivity. Society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   realized that the individual could determine the outcome of an experiment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and that people could interpret events differently depending on prior   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   experience.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to changing the role of the individual, science also changed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   people's views on religion. By contemplating experimental results,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   scientists created rules for how the universe operated. Nature became a   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   knowable force that scientists described in a logical collection of laws.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, science took away much of the world's mystery and changed how people   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   viewed God. If the universe operated by rules, it wasn't necessary for God   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to be involved every moment. God became a clockmaker who started the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   universe and sat back to let it run.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The rise of individuality and changing views on religion resulted in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   insecurity and isolation. Before the Romantic era, achieving oneness was   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   often thought of as an act of grace given in mysterious moments. God was   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ineffable, but just. Because science encouraged the clockmaker view of ... ...nity. He embraces it all in a unique   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   vision. Amazingly, in this total embrace, he recovers mystery lost in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   modern civilization.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Joyce, James. "The Dead." The Norton Anthology English Literature. Ed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     M.H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton, 2000. 2240-68.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Koster, Ralph. "Seeking the Beyond" 29 March 3003.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.legendmud.org/Ralph/papers/transcendence.html      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wordsworth, William. "Preface to Lyrical Ballads." The Norton Anthology   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton, 2000. 238-50      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wordsworth, William. "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey." The   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Norton Anthology English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2000. 235-237.               

Ritu Kumar

ABOUT  RITU KUMAR Birth: November 11, 1944 Place of Birth: Amritsar, Punjab Label: Ritu, LABEL Introduction Ritu Kumar is the largest & most respected designer brand in India today. Since 1969 she has developed a unique style of her own, reflecting the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary. Her understanding of ancient designs and the innovative use of traditional crafts has created a new classicism. The company is renowned for its distinctive use of colors, quality of fabrics, intricate embroideries and a gloriously rich Indian aesthetic.An icon of the Indian Fashion industry and a frontrunner in establishing a position for India in the global forum,Ritu Kumar's contribution has been impeccable to the fashion fraternity, both nationally and internationally. With almost five decades of work for display, the designer excels in both traditional and western outfits, thoughethnic attires being her specialty. She was the first women to bring the boutiqu e culture to India, under the name†Ritu†. The gradual change in the fashion scenario has also lead to a change of designs for her brand.She haskept in sync with the varying times and has effectively brought creativity and innovativeness with eachcollection. Ritu holds the status of being a revivalist in the fashion scenario, which has successfully bridged thegap between conservative and conventional style. Company History Mrs. Kumar became the first woman to introduce the ‘boutique’ culture in India under the brand name ‘Ritu’. Her work is constantly evolving within an aesthetic which is sophisticated both in the eastern and western sense, with ach of her collections making a contemporary statement in a fast changing modern India. The Brand Ritu Kumar has been retailing in Europe and India since 1970’s. The products include couture, formal pret accessories and a fashion forward sub brand called LABEL, Ritu Kumar. Currently Ritika Pvt. Lim ited operates two main production centers Gurgaon and Calcutta. Factories are equipped with in? house printing, tailoring, finishing and quality control facilities. It self runs and franchises retail outlets under the label RITU KUMAR.Ritu pioneering work in reviving master craftsmanship has earned her several accolades including the French Honor â€Å"chevalier des arts et des lettres† , a knighthood was awarded to her by French government in recognition of her contribution to Indian textile crafts and her interaction with French fashion world. She has also been graced with ‘Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini award’ for her achievements and contribution in the field of fashion. Mother Teresa, Birju Maharaj, Pt. Hari Prasad were previous recipients of this prestigious award. COSTUMES AND TEXTILE OF ROYAL INDIAIn October 1999 Christies of London published Ritu Kumar’s book â€Å"Costumes and Textiles of Royal India† a definitive chronicle of the history of India’s royal patronage to textile arts down the centuries starting with the historical context of Mohenjo Daro to the present era of vintage royalty. The book is an academic fashion history text which has become a key reference for its field in India. PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Ritu Kumar was born on 11th November 1944 in Amritsar, Punjab. A native of Delhi, Ritu graduated fromLady Irwin College in 1964 and did her higher education from Briarcliff College, NY, USA in 1966.Theace designer had a humble beginning in a small village, near Kolkata, in 1960, with hand block printers andtwo tablets to flaunt about. With the passage of years, fashion grew and so did her network. From being adesigner to an author, Ritu Kumar has been the master of the game. Her son Ashvin Kumar is director, whose has made films like Road to Ladakh (2002) and short filmLittle  Terrorist(2004), which was nominated for the2004Academy Award for Live Action Short Film,and in which she did the costume design. Ritu Kumar is the largest & most respected designer brand in India today.Since 1969 she has developed aunique style of her own, reflecting the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary. Her understanding of ancient designs and the innovative use of traditional crafts has created a new classicism. The company is renowned for its distinctive use of colors, quality of fabrics, intricate embroidies and a gloriously rich Indian aesthetic. ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 1966 – Ritu’s first Boutique opened in Delhi at D3 Defence Colony Link Road, New Delhi. This was thefirst ever boutique in Delhi. 1968 As a celebration of 21 years of Ritu, THE TREE OF LIFE, as audio visual fashion tableau wasmounted, by invitation the Crafts Museum in New Delhi. 1970 – A fashion show; called â€Å"the Fashion Mood of the Seventies†. It was the very early attempt to bringsome professionalism into the ramp. 1972 – Fashion Parade by RITU’S BOUT IQUE at the Tollygunge Club, Calcutta. 1974 – RITU’S BOUTIQUE opens at Bombay. 1975 – She started a company called Kalamkari Designs Pvt. Ltd. jointly with her husband. Franchiseswere also started with Harrods London, Liberty, andLondon for brief periods. 1985 – The ZARDOZI COLLECTION of traditional wear was exhibited at the festival of India in the USA. Ritu’s boutique was by this time was renamed simply as- RITU. 1990 – Established RITU a shop within a shop at Paris, as an ongoing promotion of India 1994 – Ritu was approached by Femina Miss India to professionalize the wardrobes for the finalists of thecontestants. 1998 – â€Å"Lifetime Achievement Award† by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. Ritu wasappointed on the Board of Governors at NIFT. Outstanding Women Entrepreneur Award† by the PHD-Chamber of Commerce. 2000 – â€Å"Lifetime achievement award† set by Kingfisher Group. 2002 †“ Launch of first sub brand – Ritu Kumar ‘Label’. 2004 – Selected as the President of FDCI board. Designer of the year 2004 by F Awards. 2006 – Bridal collection at the Lycra MTV Awards. ‘Glam Womenswear(India) Award by Tuscan VerveZoom Glan Awards. 2007 – Opened Ritu Kumar’s outlet in New York. 2008 – Awarded knighthood for contribution to Arts & Letters by the French government (Life Time Achievement Award).EARLY   BEGINNING †¢Concept development In the late 1960s India was going through profound changes; plastics had replaced mud, brass and silver;factory produced papers and woods took the place of sophisticated handicrafts and nylons displaced anancient heritage of cotton and silk. It was not only a battle between tradition and modernity; it was also aconfrontation of lifestyles and values. During this time, a small group who had benefited from unique opportunities of study and travel began tosee the depth of the craft and design heritage of their own country.They discovered that India was areservoir of delicate skills. In an attempt to merge their international experiences together with the skills of  their people, they became aware that contemporary designers must revitalize their own roots and identity. This was essential to take Indian creativity out into the world in such a way that benefited both craftsmenand the modern consumer. †¢Starting of the venture Ritu began with hand block printers and two tablets in a small village near Kolkata. Mrs. Kumar became the first woman to introduce the ‘boutique’ culture in India under the brand name ‘Ritu’.Her work is constantly evolving within an aesthetic which is sophisticated both in the eastern and western sense, with each of her collections making a contemporary statement in a fast changing modern India. †¢ Capital contribution less than Rs. 10,000 (estimated figure) T  URNING   POINT †¢Snaps hots of struggle phase She initially faced many problems for her business as she was a woman entrepreneur, which was a rare phenomenon. Confronted with the challenges associated with trying to build a designer business in a country facing infrastructural woes.Uninterrupted power, superior quality, and advanced skills were not easily available in India during the time. †¢Promotional strategies 1. No commodity production in beginning due to lack of infrastructure. 2. Diversification rather than expansion. 3. Pioneered the term ‘fashion' in the Indian context. 4. Customer satisfaction. 5. Created an image of a reliable company. 6. Importance of hand-made products. 7. The mix and match of the Indian and western wear. JOURNEY  TO SUCCESS †¢Entrepreneurial traits 1. Determination: She was determined to build up Ritu Kumar’s Boutique. . Confidence: Started business in relatively new innovative field. Her confidence was commendable when comparing with the challenges that she has faced. 3. Motivation: Employee feedbacks. Performance checks. Work place principles. 4. Risk Taker  : Mrs. Kumar became the first woman to introduce the ‘boutique’ culture in India under  the brand name ‘Ritu’. 5. Innovative: She was the one who put forth the importance of hand-made products as it can be as cost-effective as machine-made clothes and even more gorgeous than those. †¢Principles and policy of enterprisePut forth the importance of hand-made products as it can be as cost-effective as machine-made clothes andeven more gorgeous than those. Ritu Kumar with her team of committed designers has come a long way. She has worked mainly on cotton, silk and leather and produced some of the country's most magnificentgarments. Ritu Kumar's specialty is traditional Indian clothes, which highlights on the textile andembroidery heritage of India. But the mix and match of the Indian and western wear also holds a primeposition in her work.C   ONTRIBUTION †¢Ethics and corporate social responsibility By putting forth the idea of hand made products she has employed many people, especially the women andthe lower segments, mostly in villages. She had also tried to keep the Indian values and ethics high, whichcan be seen throughout her work. â€Å"Ritu has pioneered the term ‘fashion' in the Indian context, and more importantly  has demonstrated that hand made products can be as profitable and even moreglamorous than those made by the machine.

Individualism in Szuma Chiens Historical Biographies †History Essay

Individualism in Szuma Chiens Historical Biographies – History Essay Free Online Research Papers Individualism in Szuma Chien’s Historical Biographies History Essay Through the course of China’s development of the written word, the aged tradition of recording history has played an indispensable role. The Chinese have long valued historical accounts as precedents to guide their own lives, and in the past it was these writings that gradually gave rise to later literary forms such as fiction. The historical biography, or zhuan, appeared as an intermediate genre, and many still consider it as the quintessential narrative form. Supplying commentary for early recorded history, these pseudo-historical accounts attempted to explain the cause and motivation behind actual events. Scholars and advisors then referenced these commentaries as models for their own situations, so these biographies were more concerned with education than painting detailed portraits of individuals. Of the vast number of historical biographies composed throughout China past, Szuma Chien’s Shi Ji stands out as the most well-known and arguably most important piece of Chinese historical writing. Completed around 100 BC and Comprising 130 chapters, it presents a model that influenced subsequent writings of the genre as well as other mor e modern types of literature. Moreover, it illustrates central ideas about society and, more importantly, the individual as a microcosm of society. In the stories â€Å"Hsiang Yu† and â€Å"The Assassins†, for example, Szuma Chien uses the lives of failed heroes to exemplify desirable qualities that make the men appear ideal while also pointing out faults and peculiarities that show their innate humanness. In a sense, these men represent exemplary models of behavior that still resemble the reader. This makes the subjects and their valuable qualities accessible, thereby encouraging readers to place emphasis on the self and emulate the heroes’ righteousness, courage, honor, determination, and other values. Yet, although the central characters have been normalized, these stories fail to address aspects of life seen in other literary genres, such as emotion, religion, and the supernatural. On the other hand, this disregard helps to add emphasis to the self and do not take away from the overall effect and importance of Szuma Chien’s work. In the biography â€Å"Hsiang Yu†, the author normalizes a flawed hero in order to articulate the traditional Chinese belief that, to attaining success in life, one must first instill desirable qualities in the self. The narrative portrays Hsiang Yu as a strong-willed, courageous, and virtuous man whose own arrogance and rash character ultimately leads to his defeat to Liu Pang. The storyline can be broken up into two parts of a parabola shape: a steady rise to power followed by an equally progressive decline. During Hsiang Yu’s ascension, the author highlights the man’s heroic qualities by enlacing his account with a reverent tone. Even early in the story, when Hsiang Yu kills the governor of Wu to raise an army against Chin, the narrative describes: â€Å"Hsiang Yu killed several scores of them. The whole office cowered in terror and no one dared stand against him† (â€Å"Records of the Historian†, p206). The image showing the officials cow ering implies their cowardice and illustrates Hsiang Yu’s bravery by comparison. As the defeated are portrayed unfavorably here, the author elevates the protagonist as a strong and fearless victor, the archetypal hero. In fact, Hsiang Yu’s strength and courage become increasingly accentuated as he repeatedly leads his men to victory against the oppressive Chin’s forces. During the battle to capture the Chin capital, a climatic point in the narrative that ultimately sets Hsiang Yu at his prime, Szuma Chien draws attention to another heroic quality of this man: his strength of mind. Resolved to defeat Chin, Hsiang Yu kills Song Yi, who has advised against immediate action, and unhesitatingly â€Å"led his entire force across the river. They sank all their boats, smashed their cooking vessels, burned their huts, and carried only three days’ rations with them, to allow their determination to fight to the death and never to turn back. They†¦defeate d it utterly† (212-3). In vividly detailing the absolute resolve involved in this battle, the narrative emphasizes determination and shi, the ability to seize the moment, as notable values to uphold. Only by adhering to his own beliefs and imposing absolute resolve, could Hsiang Yu attain total victory over Chin and eventually conquer a vast territory and become the Overlord of West Chu. In addition to bravery and determination, Szuma Chien presents his subject’s virtue, or de, as a desirable quality that plays an essential part in his rise to power. One can see Hsiang Yu’s virtuous nature when he derides Song Yi for delaying the attack on Chin: â€Å"‘The harvest has failed, the people are destitute†¦yet he holds a great banquet’† (212)! Hsiang Yu’s primary concern for the community evidences his compassion and high Confucian morals over personal benefit, and this de helps to win him loyalty from his troops as well as new fol lowers, which prove indispensable in his accumulation of power. Hence, in recounting the life of Hsiang Yu, Szuma Chien emphasizes the importance and benefit of possessing attributes such as bravery, determination, and virtue. In the second part of his narrative, in giving equivalent attention to Hsiang Yu’s downfall as his rise, Szuma Chien promotes the cultivation of desirable values in the self. Firstly, the historian depicts a man who falls prey to his own deep-rooted flaws. As a child, he was clever but never saw his studies to the end. As an adult, he allowed his victories to inflate his ego to the point where he ignored advisors and grew increasingly ruthless and arrogant. Impetuous and headstrong, he never believed himself to be at fault. Rather than decry his subject, however, Szuma Chien paints his demise in a sympathetic tone. In fact, he actually uses others’ points of view to present the victor, Liu Pang, unfavorably. Fan Hseng, for one, disparages him as one who â€Å"was greedy for wealth and fond of beautiful women† (216). In contrast, Hsiang Yu’s ability to attract numerous subordinates shows that others find his character much more worthy. Clearly Sz uma Chien holds a similar view, for he instills sympathy in the reader when associating the failed conqueror’s final hours with a tragic song and tears for his beloved concubine. This sympathetic tone prevents the reader from regarding the protagonist with disdain or derision. Instead, the failed hero’s fatal flaws normalize him so that the reader identifies with him and realizes the potential power of the individual that comes with the adoption of the same desirable values that Hsiang Yu possessed. While one might have read the first part of the biography believing that the subject’s achievement elevates him high above the common man, this latter part of the narrative presents Hsiang Yu as an individual who is, in fact, flawed like the reader, but whose exceptional qualities raise him above the everyman. This historical biography, therefore, is vehicle to the idea that one can attain greatness by implementing the right values and behavior in himself. At th e same time, it serves a didactic purpose in modeling favorable qualities such as courage and virtue while also cautioning against the faults that led to Hsiang Yu’s demise. Szuma Chien reinforces the emphasis on the self in a commentary at the end: â€Å"What a fool he was to say that Heaven was against him and that it was not his generalship that was at fault (237)! This commentary asserts that each person succumbs to the consequences to his own actions and character, in opposition to the belief that life is preordained by a greater power. One must nurture a worthy self before they can control larger entities such as the family or even the state. Thus, in depicting the life of a heroic but flawed man, Szuma Chien emphasizes self-cultivation and encourages values modeled after Hsiang Yu’s strengths: his courage, resolve, and virtue. In his historical biography â€Å"The Assassins†, Szuma Chien again emphasizes the importance of individual achievement through depiction of exemplary lives. While â€Å"Hsiang Yu† describes a life of great renown and achievement, this collection of narratives about various assassins in history focuses on commoner, lesser-known men who are nevertheless instilled with many of the same desirable values that led Hsiang Yu to power and fame. As with Hsiang Yu, Szuma Chien portrays these men as heroically as the embodiment of character ideals that serve as models for the reader. One such heroic value, which Szuma Chien illuminates in his Hsiang Yu biography as well as all assassin stories, is bravery. None of the men hesitate to risk their own lives for some ultimate goal, whether it is repayment, righteousness, or recognition. One can attribute this courage largely to the assassins’ absolute moral certainty, which cements their resolve and stays them from turni ng back on their goal. In Chuan Chu’s murder of King Liao, for instance, he â€Å"broke open the fish and stabbed the king with the dagger, dispatching him in an instant† (â€Å"The Assassins†, 387). In showing no reluctance or uncertainty in taking action to eradicate King Liao, Chuan Chu sets himself apart from the everyman, who is often riddled with indecision and need for compromise. Szuma Chien, then, depicts how a value such as moral certainty can elevate a person to distinction and heroism. This certainty also infuses the assassins with unwavering loyalty. In many of the stories, the assassins commit themselves to repayment, or bao, for patrons who gave them a name by recognizing their merit. For instance, Yu Jang, who inflicts physical mutilation upon himself in order to repeat attempts at avenging his patron, reflects that, â€Å"‘This way is very hard, but my aim is to shame all those who in future are guilty of disloyalty to their lordsâ €™â€  (388). Although Yu Jang ultimately fails in his goal, even his enemy recognizes his worth and offers the assassin his coat before taking his life. Szuma Chien therefore uses secondary points of view in illustrating the importance and nobility of loyalty and repayment. While Hsiang Yu shows his virtue when refusing to kill Liu Pang in adherence to Confucian ritual, or li, the assassins show similar greatness in pursuing bao. While the more common reader might not identify with li, he will most certainly understand the motifs of bao and loyalty, and Szuma Chien hence uses these assassin biographies to promote these ideal values. In the story of Nieh Cheng, the assassin honorably seeks repayment for his patron’s kindness, but his sister Jung is admirable for showing a different type of loyalty. She bestows fame upon her brother by identifying his body and perishes besides him, showing faithfulness to family. The community recognizes the two’s honor, a nd even the narrator praises their patron for being â€Å"a good judge of character able to find loyal helpers† (302). Szuma Chien again uses varying points of view to reveal his subjects’ merit, thus promoting their loyalty as a precious virtue that raises these otherwise ordinary persons to greatness. The grand historian’s narratives moreover reveal his subjects as pursuers of justice, or yi, a Confucian value. The assassins in the biographies sacrifice themselves to set things right according to their beliefs. The famous Prince Tan story vividly exemplifies this unrelenting desire for justice, as the pursuit of it eventually leads to the sacrifice of not only the assassin Ching Ko, but also of Fan Yu-chi, Chin Wu-yang, Kao Chien-li, and eventually Prince Tan himself. Before carrying out the assassination Ching Ko sings movingly, â€Å"‘The wind is wailing, cold the River Yi,/ And a hero sets forth, never to return’† (399). Here Szuma Chien uses an unconventional verse form and shows that Ching Ko does not yield to fear or despair and upholds his obligation to justice and bao even in the face of imminent death. Although Ching Ko fails in his mission to attain yi for his patron, Szuma Chien gives him fame by portraying him as one of the most noble failed heroes who even inspires others such as Kao Chien-li to continue his pursuit of justice. In doing so, the historian encourages this virtue in his audience. At the same time, by using unorthodox characters who are nevertheless heroic and honorable, he makes his point accessible to a larger audience. The peculiarities of these exemplary roles diverts them from the model imposed by the state, and because of this they bear greater resemblance to the reader. Szuma Chien asserts that the fame and honor in these men come from their individual values and not predestined capabilities. He thereby encourages the readers to emulate the virtues of these heroes, and to n urture nobility in themselves by adopting heroic qualities such as bravery, moral certainty, faithfulness, and righteousness. The author, in essence, uses his stories as a means of conveying the traditional Chinese belief that success in life begins with perfecting the self. Although Szuma Chien breaks literary barriers in using unconventional roles as character models and expanding narratives to include more genres and points of view, he ignores aspects of life explored in other forms of Chinese literature. For one, he does not incorporate personal sentiments, a subject that appears later in more fictional writings. The narratives, for the most part, merely recount assumedly factual information without describing the opinions, emotions, and reactions associated. The few passages that do reveal emotion, such as when Hsiang Yu and Ching Ko despair over their doom, are confined to verses instead of being incorporated into the main narrative. Yet, failing to include emotions does not weaken Szuma Chien’s argument for the potential of the individual. By presenting a frame of exemplary morals and behavior rather than a detailed personality, the author draws emphasis to his subjects’ model values and diverts attention from the rest of his c haracter. This way, he strengthens his belief about the importance of nurturing these model values in the self. Another aspect of life that is widely explored in Chinese literature but ignored by Szuma Chien is the role of otherworldly beings. These include gods that dominate early Chinese mythology as well as spirits and officials of the Heavens and underworld that appear in writings such as anomaly tales. In fact, Szuma Chien purposely remarks that the Heavens did not play a role in Hsiang Yu’s failure. By rejecting the idea of destiny, or ming, he stresses that people craft their own fates through their own actions. This fits with his emphasis on the importance of self-cultivation and individual action in taking control of life. Thus, by ignoring subjects such as personal sentiments and higher otherworldly powers, Szuma Chien promotes developing a noble self through the adoption of the heroic values modeled in Hsiang Yu and the assassins. In the in his famed work Shi Ji, the grand historian Szuma Chien uses the historical biographies â€Å"Hsiang Yu† and â€Å"The Assassins† to convey the traditional Chinese cultural belief about the importance of nurturing the self. The individual is a smaller replica of larger entities such as the family and the community, and only after one develops a worthy self can he attain control over those larger areas. To guide his audience, the author promotes values such as courage, determination, virtue, loyalty, and righteousness by modeling them in the protagonists of his biographies. Instead of portraying these subjects as ideal, however, he afflicts them with faults, failures, and oddities that normalize them without effacing their exemplary heroic qualities. In doing so, he allows the audience, who are themselves plagued with common flaws like weakness, indecision, and insecurity, to identify with the stories’ central figures. The text thereby promotes indi vidual accomplishment through the pursuit of the same values that elevate the flawed heroes above the ordinary man and win them fame. In drawing attention to the individual, Szuma Chien’s masterpiece establishes precedents in his time that are mirrored in later Chinese literature. For example, he is the first to sign his name to his work and incorporate multiple types of writing and points of view, including that of his own. In doing this, he presents a bias in factual accounts that lead readers to acquire similar inequitable opinions of different historical figures. It is this vivid characterization that continuously wins Shi Ji, as well as the zhuan narrative form, high regard over the centuries and today. Bibliography: Yang Hsien-yi Gladys Yang, Selections from Records of the Historian by Szuma Chien, Peking, Foreign Languages Press, 1979, p. 205-237 (â€Å"Hsiang Yu†), 385-402 (â€Å"The Assassins†) Research Papers on Individualism in Szuma Chien’s Historical Biographies - History EssayWhere Wild and West MeetCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsMind TravelHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionBringing Democracy to AfricaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and