What is a Unitary State Pros, Cons, Examples

A unitary state, or unitary government, is a governing system in which a single central government has total power over all of its other political subdivisions. A unitary state is the opposite of a federation, where governmental powers and responsibilities are divided. In a unitary state, the political subdivisions must carry out the directives of the central government but have no power to act on their own. Key Takeaways: Unitary State In a unitary state, the national government has total authority over all of the country’s other political subdivisions (e.g. states).Unitary states are the opposite of federations, in which governing power is shared by a national government and its subdivisions.The unitary state is the most common form of government in the world. In a unitary state, the central government may grant some powers to its local governments through a legislative process called â€Å"devolution.† However, the central government reserves supreme power and can revoke the powers it devolves to the local governments or invalidate their actions. Examples of Unitary States Of the 193 member countries of the United Nations, 165 are unitary states. The United Kingdom and France are two well-recognized examples.   United Kingdom The United Kingdom (UK) is composed of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. While technically a constitutional monarchy, the UK functions as a unitary state, with total political power held by Parliament (the national legislature located in London, England). While the other countries within the UK each have their own governments, they cannot enact laws that affect any other part of the UK, nor can they refuse to enforce a law enacted by Parliament. France In the Republic of France, the central government exercises total control over the country’s nearly 1,000 local political subdivisions, which are called â€Å"departments.† Each department is headed by an administrative prefect appointed by the French central government. While they are technically governments, France’s regional departments exist only to implement the directives issued by the central government. Some other notable unitary states include Italy, Japan, the People’s Republic of China, and the Philippines. Unitary States vs. Federations The opposite of a unitary state is a federation. A federation is a constitutionally organized union or alliance of partially self-governing states or other regions under a central federal government. Unlike the largely powerless local governments in a unitary state, the states of a federation enjoy some degree of independence in their internal affairs. The US government structure is a good example of a federation. The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of federalism under which powers are shared between the central government in Washington, D.C., and the governments of the 50 individual states. The power-sharing system of federalism is defined in the 10th Amendment to the Constitution: â€Å"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.† While the U.S. Constitution specifically reserves some powers for the federal government, other powers are granted to the collective states, and others are shared by both. While the states have the power to enact their own laws, the laws must comply with the U.S. Constitution. Lastly, the states have the power to collectively amend the U.S. Constitution, provided that two-thirds of state governments vote to demand it. Even in federations, the distribution of power is often a source of controversy. In the United States, for example, disputes over states’ rights—the constitutional division of power between the federal and state governments—is a common subject of rulings issued by the U.S. Supreme Court under its original jurisdiction. Unitary States vs. Authoritarian States Unitary states should not be confused with authoritarian states. In an authoritarian state, all governing and political power is vested in a single individual leader or small, elite group of individuals. The leader or leaders of an authoritarian state are not chosen by the people, nor are they constitutionally responsible to the people. Authoritarian states rarely allow freedom of speech, freedom of the press, or freedom to practice non-state approved religions. In addition, there are no provisions for protecting the rights of minorities. Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler is typically cited as the prototypical authoritarian state; modern examples include Cuba, North Korea, and Iran. Pros and Cons The unitary state is the most common form of government in the world. This system of government has its benefits, but as with all schemes of dividing power between government and the people, it also has drawbacks. Advantages of a Unitary State Can act quickly: Because decisions are made by a single governing body, the unitary government is able to respond more quickly to unexpected situations, whether they are domestic or foreign. Can be less costly: Without the multiple levels of government bureaucracy common to federations, unitary states are able to operate more efficiently, thus potentially reducing their tax burden on the population. Can be smaller: The unitary state can govern the entire country from a single location with a minimal number or elected officials. The smaller structure of a unitary state allows it to meet the needs of the people without involving a massive workforce. Disadvantages of Unitary States Can lack infrastructure: Although they may be able to make decisions quickly, unitary governments sometimes lack the physical infrastructure needed to implement their decisions. In national emergencies, like natural disasters, the absence of infrastructure can endanger the people. Can ignore local needs: Because they can be slow to develop the resources needed to respond to arising situations, unitary governments tend to focus on foreign affairs while keeping domestic needs on the back burner. Can encourage abuse of power:  In unitary states, a single person or legislative body holds most, if not all, governmental power. History has shown that power, when placed in too few hands, is easily abused. Sources .†Unitary Stateâ€Å" The Annenberg Classroom Project..†Constitutional Limits on Government: Country Studies – Franceâ€Å" DemocracyWeb..â€Å".†Overview of the UK system of government Direct.Gov. UK National Archives.

America s Immigration System Is Broken - 1458 Words

IMMIGRATION:- Immigration is the movement of people into another country or region to which they are not native in order to settle there, especially as permanent residents or future citizens. Immigrants are motivated to leave their countries for a variety of reasons, including a desire for economic prosperity, political issues, family reunification, escaping conflict or natural disaster, or simply the wish to change one’s surroundings. â€Å"Together we can build a fair, effective and common sense immigration system that lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.† – Barak Obama America’s immigration system is broken. Too many employers game the system by hiring undocumented workers and there are 11 million people living in the shadows. Neither is good for the economy or the country. The President’s plan builds a smart, effective immigration system that continues efforts to secure our borders and cracks down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants. It’s a plan that requires anyone who’s undocumented to get right with the law by paying their taxes and a penalty, learning English, and Under going background checks before they can be eligible to earn citizenship. It requires every business and every worker to play by the same set of rules. Rosa Fernandez is 35 years old and she is an engineer. According to Rosa; Immigrants are not criminals; all immigrants have one reason to be here. Their biggest dream is to have a better future forShow MoreRelatedThe United States Immigration Policy1596 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States immigration policy has never pleased all Americans and probably never will. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, politicians have toiled continuously with the broken system. For example, Congress attempted to strengthen the western border by passing the Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in 1996 (Historical Overview). Although the proposed increase in Border Patrol agents seemed promising, insufficient funding kept the act from adequate enforcement (HistoricalRead MoreEconomics And Immigration : The Economics Of U.s. Immigration Policy964 Words   |  4 PagesEconomics and Immigration Immigration is a topic on everyone s minds these days. With presidential candidates vying for votes in debates and political campaigns, immigration has been talked about quite a bit. But what is truly known about immigration? Since it is such a divisive issue, it is hard to know what is true and what isn’t. Unfortunately, the information most readily available to us comes in the form of opinionated articles and biased speeches by presidential candidates. Because the informationRead MoreThe World s International Immigrants1040 Words   |  5 Pagesdestinations for the world’s international immigrants. People from all over the world with different backgrounds and beliefs come to this country so they can be guaranteed life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. America is one of the only countries that have been historically built on immigration, and they all have different level of education from doctors and professors to high school dropouts. People come to this country a s naturalized citizens, legal permanent residents, refugees, international studentsRead MoreThe End Of President Obama s Final Term1517 Words   |  7 Pagesin office, the candidates that are about to succeed him are faced with questions about their policies and some of those policies such as immigration apply to all of us. Immigration seems to be a sensitive topic to discuss as there are 42.2 million immigrants residing in the United States and that number sees to be growing. There are those who oppose immigration and wish to send them all back to their place of origin because they â€Å"Drain the Economy† or â€Å"Steal all the Jobs† but the truth of the matterRead MoreThe United States And The Civil Rights Movement903 Words   |  4 PagesBeginning in the 1960’s the growing strength of the civil rights movement struck the attention of political figures that influenced calls to reform the U.S. immigration policy. In the 1920’s immigration was based on the national-origins quota system. The system assigned each nationality a quota, which restricted immigration on the basis of existing proportions of the population due to its representation in past U.S. census figures. The goal of the quota system was to maintain the existing ethnicRead MoreA Broken System Of My Mother1716 Words   |  7 PagesBrenda Murillo Mr. Hart English III 09 December 2014 A Broken System Like for many people, my mother is one of the most important people in my life. My mother has sacrificed so many things for me and would sacrifice so much more without hesitation. The thought of losing her never crossed my mind until one night where I truly believed she was going to be taken away from me. One late night, from basketball game, my mom was driving me back home when out of nowhere behind us we sawRead MoreAnti- Immigration Attitudes in America Essay608 Words   |  3 Pagesimmigrants and foreigners today, and must be changed by first changing the anti-immigrant attitudes in America. The social structures of politics and laws affect both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike and can only be changed by reforming America’s immigration system. Racial prejudice and nativism are still social issues that define our present reality and affect us all. Everyday, immigrants in America find themselves victims of hate crimes like genocide because of their race and ethnicity (Wong 2).Read MoreIllegal Immigration Is It Really That Big Of A Deal?1084 Words   |  5 PagesIllegal immigration. Is it positive or negative? There are many views to this, as to any topics in its nature, but is it really that big of a deal? This paper will be introducing the pros and cons to this subject. There will also be the views politicians of the upcoming 2016 election. This will cover the views of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Bernie Sanders. What’s your view towards illegal immigration? There are many pros to this topic, such as the fact that the government would earn moreRead MoreIllegal Immigration and Equal Rights Essay example1627 Words   |  7 PagesIllegal Immigration and Equal Rights Should immigrants receive the same tolerances that other minority groups have received in the past decades? Should their struggle for equal rights over- shadow the fact that immigration laws are ignored? Pro Amnesty and Anti-Immigration groups have different opinions about these issues The immigration laws that exist in the U.S are not the problem, the problem exist with the people who refuse to enforce them because they contrast the immigrant’s struggles withRead MoreThe Growing Problem Of Illegal Immigration871 Words   |  4 PagesGrowing Problem of Illegal Immigration Every year, millions of immigrants pour into the United States illegally. Are there any possible solutions to this trend? Immigrants cross the border either by the means of, swimming, using fake documents or by the means of using work visas. â€Å"Nearly half of the 12 million-plus illegal aliens in America arrived legally with non-immigrant visas,† said David Seminara, a tenured member of the U.S. Foreign Service (Illegal Immigration). Usually after the work

Catering Thesis - 2634 Words

ANALYSIS OF CHOOSING CATERING SERVICES AS AN IDEAL SOLUTION FOR MOST FILIPINO EVENTS A Term Paper Presented to (Name of your professor here) Department of (Name of your school faculty in this subject) City University of Pasay In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for (Subject) Term (No.), school year 2012 -2013 by (Your Name) (Section) Abstract With the Philippines choice of their own events, people are becoming ideal of this kind of catering services to have their own alternatives of food and location. Such an alternative for this is that catering provides what choice of food to be served and location and meet up can be made without any problems at all. These qualities of catering have made it popular among consumers who are†¦show more content†¦Even before the US gained its independence, the colonies had many eateries. Places like general stores often also would sell food for people to eat right in the shop. Today many places have included the idea of shopping and eating. Many department stores have contracted other business to sell the food. For example Malls target other food services like Chowking Restaurant to sell in their establishments. As time progressed more public places such as hospitals started to serve often low-grade meals to those coming and going or working there. Other places such as colleges wou ld serve their students in a â€Å"family-style† where the food would be brought out and the students would pass the dishes around. After World War II the food service industry really took off. Institutions, schools, and even non-food related businesses started to serve. Another thing that took off was the fast-food or quick-service idea. This included things like McDonalds or Wendy’s. Other business like Tamayo’s Catering Service, Restaurants and Flower Shop and Josiah’s Catering incorporated the concept of buffets with to-go or doggie-bags. In each of these places the development of menus has been vital to the success of the establishment. Menus are simply a list of items that an establishment serves. Trends in the Food ServiceShow MoreRelatedProblems Encountered in Entering a Catering Business6280 Words   |  26 PagesENCOUNTERED IN ESTABLISHING A CATERING BUSINESS A Research Paper Presented to The Faculty of the English Department Polytechnic University of Quezon City Novaliches, Quezon City In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Subject English 123 Jennefer T. Macasa Abigaille P. Marcelo Charmaine D. Gaspar Ernie Bacaran Jerry Mar Gelizon Lady Lyn E. Lupango March 2009 i APPROVAL SHEET This thesis entitled PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN ESTABLISHING A CATERING BUSINESS, PREPARED AND SUBMITTEDRead MoreEdward’s Restaurant and Sir George’s Catering Case Analysis Essay15385 Words   |  62 Pages03/13/2013 Edward’s Restaurant and Sir George’s Catering Case Analysis General Environment Demographic: Industry: Demographic factors are favorable to the restaurant industry. Approximately 52% of the 1993 population in the area was 60 years of age or over. This was considered the restaurant’s main target market. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the number of people taking up permanent residence in the valley increased dramatically for various reasons. The climate was attractiveRead MoreEdwards Restaurant and Sir Georges Catering Case Study15360 Words   |  62 PagesEdward’s Restaurant and Sir George’s Catering Case Analysis General Environment Demographic: Industry: Demographic factors are favorable to the restaurant industry. Approximately 52% of the 1993 population in the area was 60 years of age or over. This was considered the restaurant’s main target market. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the number of people taking up permanent residence in the valley increased dramatically for various reasons. The climate was attractive for growing populationRead MoreNike Research Paper1194 Words   |  5 Pagesget people to purchase their products, but the concept does come back to the original thesis. I believe that this is a brilliant strategy, because with a company as large and omnipresent as Nike, it would be very easy to get lost in the minutae. My Own Web Page A business that I have always wanted to start would be a cupcake food truck. The mobile food truck business which is also known as the catering truck or mobile kitchen or restaurant on wheels. The mobile food vendor business is aRead Morekindergarten1034 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿THESIS TITLE PROPOSAL TITLE: The Level of Mother Tongue-Based Reading Readiness of Kindergarten Pupils of Cabatuan East Central School SY 2013-2014 Proponent: OPIDO, Patson P. Statement of the Problem This study attempts to assess the level of reading readiness in the mother tongue of Kindergarten Pupils of Cabatuan East Central School SY 2013-2014. Specifically, this study attempts to give answer to: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of: a. age b. gender c. motherRead MoreHow to Plan a Wedding on a Budget978 Words   |  4 PagesBased on the research that I’ve seen, establishing the necessities for a wedding can drain your pockets. I can tell you from personal experience that weddings are expensive. Saving time and money by creating your own event is helpful to anyone. III. Thesis Statement: I will discuss how to plan a wedding on a budget by using resources such as the internet, and shopping around to get your money’s worth. IV. Preview Statement: During the minutes that follow, I will tell you how save on a wedding thatRead MoreKhepera Charter School Essay1032 Words   |  5 Pagescan drastically change the way instruction is taught within the classroom. Technological resources also enhance the delivery of instruction for special education students as well. The thesis of this paper is to identify the need to update Khepera Charter School’s technology by using a need analysis. From the thesis, this paper will address the learner’s characteristics for the needs, a practical analysis, and objectives for the identified need. The ability to identify the need for Khepera CharterRead MoreChange Analysis Vision802 Words   |  4 Pageswell as the cost associated with the project. NHARMONIC PRODUCTIONS 2011 NHARMONIC PRODUCTIONS 2011 By Abayomi Oluwole Submitted to Dr. Susan Orr on November 20, 2011 Requirement for Course Project Part 1 Executive Summary This thesis formulates a cost estimate and schedule for organizing a musical concert and recording to complement an annual festival which has attracted a global recognition as well and served as an avenue to unify different cultures and backgrounds; using musicRead MoreDubai Refreshments Company, The Sole Franchisee And Distributor For Pepsi Co1437 Words   |  6 PagesThesis Statement Dubai Refreshments Company, the sole franchisee and distributor for Pepsi Co. in UAE, is facing serious government regulations owing to various environmental and health hazards arising from the company’s manufacturing process and from excessive consumption of soft drinks, respectively. The company should resort to floating the market with healthier alternatives and making use of improved recycling practices to prevent losing market share to competitors. Company’s History and GrowthRead MoreThe UK Publishing Industry and Digital Technology: Effects of Emerging Trends and Innovations1421 Words   |  6 Pagesanswers. It will cater in getting an idea that how a respondent might react to the questions asked and the reason behind his reaction too. Structured and semi-structured format would be utilized as the combination of these two formats will result in catering us with much detailed and flexible answers which might not be obtained by us through any other method. Statistical data would be obtained through the use of structured format. Sampling: Saunders et al. (2012) put forward that whenever a research

Essay on Stem Cells The Cure for Uncontrollable Diseases...

Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, Alzheimer’s. This world is plague by countless diseases and there existed a time where, after many failed research attempts, scientists began to believe that people would always suffer from these diseases. However, with the introduction of stem cell research those past notions were dismissed. Upon their introduction, stem cell’s provided a new hope to the world and it proved itself to be an invaluable asset. Through stem cell research, a multitude of cures have been brought upon the world and these diseases that were uncontrollable in the past, can now be regulated and the ones suffering from now have a chance at living a better life. Sadly, there are many people who†¦show more content†¦Naturally, he shares this belief with many people especially those viewing this from a religious standpoint. Religiously, people regard the use of embryonic stem cells as unnecessarily throwing a way the lives of humans in the name of medical advancement, which, in the end, does not justify it. Some have even gone further to support this belief by citing part of the Hippocratic Oath which states â€Å"first, do no harm† (Kiessling 184-94). The opponents of embryonic stem cells stick to the belief that destroying one human’s life to save and cure others is not worth it because it makes you wonder, where will the line be drawn? Can the killing and experimentation of homeless people, for example, be justified by the possibility of saving a few Alzheimer’s patients’ lives? Will the world allow the destruction of the elderly just to save the younger generation? The opponents of embryonic stem cells realize that if the world begins using embryonic stem cells to make everyone healthier, than there is no telling what the world is willing to sacrifice in order for them to survive and if the world does go down that path, who gets to decide who deserves to live or die? (â€Å"Using Embryos is Immoral†). The destructive view that the world has towards embryonic stem cells is made evident not only by the ongoing debate about whether or not embryonic stem cells should be used but also by the restricti on placed on embryonicShow MoreRelatedNo Prohibitions On The Use Of Stem Cells1199 Words   |  5 PagesNo Prohibitions on the Use of Stem Cells In the past century there have been many breakthroughs focused on extending human life. One such discovery is the controversial use of cells taken from human tissue. These are commonly referred to as stem cells. Stem cells are beneficial to human beings from being able to regenerate damaged to cells, to helping find cures to some of the most known diseases such as Rett’s disease, a disease that attacks the nervous system, and to reducing abnormalities inRead MoreCancer : The Emperor Of All Maladies1338 Words   |  6 Pagesof the disease. Sadly the War on Cancer declared by Richard Nixon in 1971 is still ongoing, and although many new technologies, medicines and techniques have been introduced, there are still instances where we are wholly defenseless in our fight against an ancient illness. Cancer is not a foreign infectious disease, nor is there one single cause for all cancers, cancer instead is when your own body cells stop following the instructions they need to remain liver, bone or epithelial cells, and insteadRead MoreStem Cell Research : Stem Cells1999 Words   |  8 Pagesdoes not happen naturally, or take place as cinematically as one might imagine. Over the past decade, there have been major advances in regenerative medicine, commonly known as stem cell research. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells within the body that have the capability to specialize into any tissue. They are most commonly found in cord blood, bone marrow, organ donations, placenta, and embryos . Stem cells are seen by some as a new miracle treatment, encouraging many countries to invest in theirRead MoreTaking a Look at a Coma1713 Words   |  7 Pagesseveral underlying diseases or infections; a large variety of causes. The ‘coma’ comes from the Greek word ‘koma’ meaning ‘state of sleep.’ Coma in the past was very much of an unsolved enigma. People couldn’t see the reasons of people falling into a death-like sleep, but still breathing and carrying out normal sleep patterns. They didn’t know of any treatment to cure this mysterious disease, so they could only leave the people in their comas, deciding that time was the only cure, but also allowingRead MoreEssay about Stem Cells: The Future of Medicine3292 Words   |  14 Pageswas a cure for cancer or a treatment for spinal injuries? Would you support the research? What if there was a way that you could repair damaged nerves. Some believe that stem cells may hold the answers to some of these questions. What are stem cells and why should you or I even care about them? Some believe that they are a miracle treatment waiting to happen while others believe that stem cells are highly immoral. Why does so much controversy surround the issue? Why is the conversation of stem cellsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Day I Die 2937 Words   |  12 Pagesout why the devastating disease known as cancer has been so systematically killing off my family. Ever since I was a little boy and especially after my Grandpa WÅ‚adek’s death, or ironically-my sister’s birth in 2003, I always wondered, â€Å"Was there really nothing that could have prevented these pointless deaths?† I couldn’t understand: my grandma was only 58 and my Grandpa only 62, and sadly their oldest son only 47! In summary for those not exactly familiar with the disease, cancer is essentiallyRead MoreBrain Structure And Basic Functions6760 Words   |  28 Pagesconcentration/focus - Concentration/Focus Disorders IV- Brain Nutrition V- Brain Sleep VI- Brain Exercise VII- Brain Social Life VIII- Negatives for brain health - Stress - Alcohol - Smoking - Drug Addiction - Traumatic Brain Injury - Cerebrovascular Disease â€Æ' Preface The brain is the control center of the body. It controls the conscious and the unconscious body processes. It is the center for conscious thoughts and mood , allows us to make decisions , think , feel and communicate with outside . ItRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesâ€Å"Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much just by sitting in a class listening to teachers, memorizing pre-packaged assignments, and spilling out answers. They must talk about what they are learning, write about it, relate it to past experiences, apply it to their daily lives. They must make what they learn part of themselves.† (Chickering Gamson, 1987) In their classic book on active learning, Bonwell and Elson (1991) list seven defining characteristics. 1. Students are involvedRead MoreMarketing Management130471 Words   |  522 Pagesthe organizations occurs when a leader in the company seeks personal gain (usually financial profit) from false advertising. â€Å"Cures† for fatal diseases are one type of product that falls into this category of et hical conflict: In their greed to make a profit, a marketer convinces those who may be dying from an incurable disease to buy a product that may not be a cure, but which a desperately ill person (or members of his or her family) may choose to purchase in an effort to save the dying familyRead Morepaul hoang answers72561 Words   |  291 PagesZimbabwean government printing more money, thereby raising the money supply and reducing its value Demand-pull, e.g. citizens getting large pay rises (due to the increasing cost of living), thereby creating pent-up demand and higher prices Uncontrollable inflation can affect the Zimbabwean economy in several ways, including: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Reduces the international competitiveness of the economy – this will make it more difficult for Zimbabwe to sell its exports, thereby hindering the country’s

Christianity and Islam A Case for Comparison and Contrast Free Essays

The world is a place marked with essential diversity. In particular, one only has to take world religions as a composite phenomenon to best exemplify the diversified character of human affairs. But much too often, diversity can become a sure catalyst for misgivings and misunderstandings. We will write a custom essay sample on Christianity and Islam: A Case for Comparison and Contrast or any similar topic only for you Order Now This for instance happens when, still pertaining to religion, a person pits on belief system in respect to another, or someone tries to compare one set of doctrines against another. It is thus not surprising to learn that religion was often, and is in fact currently being taken as an unwarranted cause for heated debates, if not for human conflicts all together. In view of the foregoing, it is insightful to note that roadmap of this study aims not at sowing seeds of religious division as collocating the interesting correspondences that may be gleaned from juxtaposing Christianity on the one side of the spectrum, and Islam on the other side of the spectrum. At the very least, the crux of this paper aims at pursuing a successful comparison and contrast between Christianity and Islam. In the process, this paper hopes to appreciate important strains of resemblances between the two religions in question, against the palpable differences that already define them. To this end, the central thesis of this paper lies in arguing that notwithstanding patent differences, Christianity and Islam can in fact manifest elements of correspondences, while upholding respectable uniqueness in their own beliefs. Methodology and Scope Briefly, it needs to be cited that, for purposes of clarification and delineation, this paper employs an expository approach in discussing the major themes of the religions in question. An expository approach is done so as to elucidate on, with significant analyses, the topics that may be deemed appropriate for discussion. Since this paper would not to attempt to exhaustively circumscribe all the aspects pertinent to the two religions, owing much to the limits provided for this particular study, the discussions shall zero in on expounding on the similarities and differences between the two religions in respect to at least three distinct aspects: the role which their own founders play in their respective belief-systems, the quality of the monotheism operative in both religions, and the differing notions of Abraham’s role in their faith and life. Christianity and Islam: A Ponderous Juxtaposition Christianity emerged from a handful of followers of a man named Jesus the Christ, sometime during the first century. Put in other words, the Christian religious phenomenon takes root from a small community that first embraced the teachings of Jesus as a both compelling and sufficient cause to deflect from the more dominant religious force of the time – namely, Judaism. Thus, the â€Å"precipitating cause† of Christianity â€Å"was and is a man named Jesus† (McGrath 1). Which is why, Tavard contends that Christianity is a religious movement that commenced when â€Å"an undetermined number of Jews believed that the prophet Jesus of Nazareth, who has ‘risen from the dead’ was alive in their midst by the power of God’s Spirit† (15); a movement which was greeted with much disdain and skepticism initially. For Christians, Jesus Christ is both the center and crux of their faith. They hold that Jesus Christ is Son of God, who was sent by God the Father to redeem humanity from misery and sinfulness. Consequential to this belief is the equally important ascent to the divinity nature and mission of Jesus Christ here on earth. Thus, Christians unreservedly worship Jesus Christ as a divinity as well. Islam, like Christianity, started too from a small group of community who saw themselves glued by a gripping desire to follow their revered founder in the person of Mohammad. While the faith in Mohammed’s teachings started when Christianity was already an expansive religious force, the historical circumstances defining the emergence of Islam nevertheless manifest unmistakable strains of similarities with the Christian faith. Like Christianity, Islam started on account of one man – Mohammad. And akin to Christianity, the small Mohammedan community was at the onset despised on account of the new faith it embraced (Renard 6). Unlike Christianity however, Islam does not give its founder a respect proper to a divinity. For Moslems, Mohammad is not a god; he is instead a prophet of plain human origin and descent. The prophet however is rendered with unparalleled importance within Islam because it is believed that Allah chose Mohammad to reveal his message (Renard 7). Secondly, herein it is important to cite that the manner in which the Islamic faith refuses to render Mohammad a kind of reverence fit to a divinity reveals only the quality of monotheism which the religion professes. Islamic faith, it has to be mentioned, is operative on a type of monotheism in the strictest sense of the term – i. e. the belief that there is only one god, and that such deity, because he is absolutely supreme, does not have a competing divine force as its rival. Islamic faith believes that Allah – the proper name of God as provided by the Qur’an – is identified as the principle of ‘tawid’ or simply, the unity of God. And â€Å"according to this central Islamic idea, (God) is utterly and inevitably One, a perfect unity (and) uniqueness unto himself† (Gordon 24). Simply put, the Islam religion believes that Allah, and him alone, is the accepted singular expression of divinity. Christianity meanwhile is operative on a unique kind of monotheism. On the one hand, it has to be noted that like Islam, Christianity concurs to a belief that there is only one God to whom unqualified human obedience and worship is due. On the other hand however, Christianity does not subscribe to a radical type of monotheism; for while Christianity believes that God is essentially one, it nonetheless takes such oneness as revelatory of a further sociality within it. Christians call this the Trinitarian unity of the God, or simply, the Trinity. And according to this doctrine, â€Å"the divine life consists in three persons of equal and same nature – the Father, the Son (i. e. , Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (Neuner and Ross 86). As such, the Trinity does not speak of three separate divine entities; otherwise, Christianity would have been best described as a polytheistic rather than monotheistic faith. What this doctrine instead teaches is that the three persons of the Trinity are distinct expressions of that same divine reality which is God. Last but not least, it is certainly insightful to appreciate that both Christianity and Islam places high premium on the role of Abraham in their own profession of faiths. This is because both religions share a belief that the remotest roots of their faith necessarily throw them back to the heritage which Abraham bequeathed thousands of years passed. In fact, both the Christian Bible and the Islamic Qur’an give Abraham a special importance precisely on account of the fact that it was through him that the first strains of monotheistic faith was successfully practiced. Far more essential, both Christianity and Islam see the supreme importance of Abraham’s promethean response to God’s invitation as the primordial inspiration required for living one’s own faith; and this is for the plain reason that Abraham showed how to adore God who requires â€Å"submission to His decrees, even when they are inscrutable† (McLean). Still, it is imperative to carefully note that both Christianity and Islam differ in their particular understandings of their respective Abrahamic heritage. Christians on the one hand believe that Abraham’s faith acts as a precursor to the coming of the Messiah – who is Jesus Christ. The Christian Bible speaks of Abraham as the progenitor to a myriad of descendants commencing through Isaac, his only son to Sarah (Gen 17: 21). Thus, Christianity holds that God’s covenantal relationship with Abraham, and his children, marked the beginning of the long preparation that would welcome the sending of His Son into the world at an appointed time. On the other hand, Islam believes that the great Mohammedan tradition draws directly from the fount of the Abrahamic legacy. In other words, Islam maintains that the Moslems are the direct, nay rightful descendants and legitimate heirs to the heritage of Abraham. This is because the Islamic Qur’an speaks of Ishmael, Abraham’s son to Hagar, as the legitimate heir and the primordial progenitor of the Islamic faith. Ishmael, if only to remind, also figures in the Christian Bible as the son of Abraham to his maidservant Hagar. Both Ishmael and Hagar were thrown out of Abraham’s household â€Å"to find a life of their own† after Isaac was born to Sarah (Maxwell 168). Notwithstanding conflicting narratives, it still can be said that both Christianity and Islam recognize that the gratuitous love of God for humankind is the initial act that brings into play the faith with which both religions so sacredly profess. Conclusion This paper ends with a brief thought that affirms its central thesis expressed hereinabove – i. e. , notwithstanding differences, one can glean unmistakable similarities in juxtaposing the teachings and tenets of both Christianity and Islam. In the discussions, patterns of differences and similarities were discussed in respect to three aspects. First, it was seen that both Christianity and Islam places high regard and respect to their revered founders; second, both religion embrace monotheism as an axiomatic aspect for their respective belief-systems; and third, Christianity and Islam believe that their common Abrahamic heritage lends an initial inspiration to the subsequent coming about of the faith they now both profess. In the end, it must be acknowledged that efforts to draw similarities against the larger backdrop of defining differences surely constitute a welcome avenue not only for inter-religious dialogue but also mutual respect. How to cite Christianity and Islam: A Case for Comparison and Contrast, Papers

Event Management of Olympic 2014 Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Event Management of Olympic 2014. Answer: The analysis of event life cycle stages: The following section delves into the event life cycle stages of 2014 Winter Olympic Games held in Sochi, Russia. The Olympic Games held in Russia is often considered as the most expensive Olympic event in the history(International Olympic Committee. 2017). The life cycle of the event can be analysed into three distinct stages, which are as follows: The Formation stage of the Sochis Winter Olympics: The formation stage of the Olympic Games 2014 started in 2007 when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected Sochi, Russia as the next Olympic venue over Salzburg, Austria and Pyeongchang, South Korea. This next stage in the formation of the event consisted of allocating funds to the international event. The government is estimated to have allocated USD 49.5 billion towards the event. An analysis of an event of this scale shows that forming of infrastructure is very crucial to successful execution of the event. It is estimated that out of $ 49.5 billion only $10.8 billion was used towards the main event while the rest of the amount was spent to make infrastructure and other facilities(Scott 2015). This winning of the bidding of Russia and the subsequent allocation of funds towards the Olympic Games 2014 led to the next stage of the event, the growth stage. This stage is primarily building of infrastructures and various initiatives by the government of Russia to promote the O lympics 2014(Mller 2014) The growth stage of the Sochis Winter Olympics: The growth stage of the Olympic Games 2014 can be broadly be analysed into three stages namely, selection of venue, marketing of the event and construction of infrastructure. The three stages are analysed as under: Selection of venues: The venues selected were Sochi Olympic Park and the Krasnaya Polyana(Mountain cluster). The authorities first studied the climatic conditions of the various Russian places and selected Sochi due to its favourable climatic conditions. The authorities declared the smoking illegal in the region to maintain healthy environment required for the Olympic Games. They constructed several arenas in each venue dedicated to various events like ceremonies, ice hockey and figure skating. The authorities also arranged for the spectators to stay in the venues and watch the matches(BBC News. 2017). Marketing of the events: Logo and Branding: The Russian authorities launched the emblem of the Olympic 2014 in the year 2009. The emblem was minimalistic and futuristic and had Sochi and 2014 facing each other. An analysis of this decision of the authorities shows that it represented the diversity of the relief of Sochi. The emblem was criticisms from the critics unrealistic and claimed that it should have had more symbols reflecting Russias national identity. The authorities then held a voting to select the official emblem of the games(Schmitt 2014). Mascot: The authorities held a voting for the first time in the history of Olympics to choose the mascots. The mascots were a polar bear, a snow hare and a snow leopard. They were chosen using online voting and text messaging by the Russian people. Stamps and Coins: The Russian Post released postage stamps showing athletes, the three mascots and venues of the event. The Bank of Russia issued special coins and ruble notes of denomination 100 to market the event from their office. Sponsors: A large number of multinational companies like Coca Cola Company and Mc Donalds sponsored the Olympics 2014. The sponsoring companies were from diverse sectors like Microsoft and Pricewater Coopers Private Limited. These large numbers of sponsors ensured that international class resources and technology supplied the event(Gee, Jackson and Sam 2016). Infrastructure building: The authorities spent US $ 850 million to construct telecommunication network and entered into contract with Avaya. The telecommunication structure was constructed to provide information about the events. The important government departments like Russian Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Regional Development met to decide on construction of necessary infrastructure for the event. The authorities built infrastructure like roads, bridges and railway stations to ensure easy transport of people and materials to the venues of the games(Phillips 2015). The staging of the Sochis Winter Olympics: The next stage of the event of the Olympic Games 2014 was its opening on February 7, 2014 at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. The opening ceremony showcased the culture of Russia, its history, the Russian Revolution and the history of the Soviet Union. The event was managed efficiently by the authorities and was attended by eighty-eight nations. Themanagement and security of the staging of the event was taken care of by the Russian army and police. An analysis of the staging of the games shows that though it was managed excellently by the authorities it received threats from several radical groups like the Chechen Muslims and Vilayat Dagestan. Several Olympic authorities received threats from radical groups to assassinate athletes and officials. These threats created a serious threats to the interest of the stakeholders of the event like the organisers, spectators, governments of the countries involved, suppliers, sponsoring companies and athletes. There were also concerns raised by stakeh olders like the LGBT communities over ill treatment of the transsexual athletes. The third stakeholders concern raised while staging the event was protests from the Circassian organisations who objected that the games were being held on their lands. The fourth stakeholder issue was raised by a former director of anti doping authority of Russia who claimed that Russian Olympic organisers had allowed their athletes to use banned drugs to ensure their high performances(Ingle 2017). Recommendations: The above study raises several stakeholder concerns concerning several groups of stakeholders like spectators, governments, organisers, suppliers and athletes participating in the Olympics 2014. The first issue was security threats from the terrorist groups, the second issue was protests from Circassians, the third concern was breach of LGBT rights and the fourth concern was using of banned drugs by Russian athletes to improve their performances. The following are the recommendations regarding future developments of event destination of the Olympic Games: The countries participating in the Olympic Games should form a special force to deal with terrorist threats. The special force should be composed of defence personnel from all the participating countries. This arrangement would make the international sports events more secure and sustainable by inviting greater number of countries, athletes and sponsoring companies participating in them. The future Olympic events should be held in venues free from issues from stakeholders like Circassians. This would not hamper the interest of any community and the event would be free from any such controversies. This step would make Olympic events more sustainable by drawing participation and cooperation from larger number of communities. It is recommended that the Olympic organisers should frame laws to protect the interests of the transgender athletes who are one of the stakeholders for the event. The transgender athletes who participate in the Olympic event should feel secure and this would encourage them to perform well in the event. This would make the future sports events more sustainable and benefit all the athletes irrespective of their gender orientations. The fourth recommendation to the organisers of the future Olympic events is that they should abstain from allowing their athletes from using banned drugs to perform at the event. This would safeguard ethics and morality of the international sports events like Olympic. References: BBC News. 2017. Sochi 2014: Olympic venue guide. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25946582 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2017]. Gee, S., Jackson, S.J. and Sam, M., 2016. Carnivalesque culture and alcohol promotion and consumption at an annual international sports event in New Zealand.International Review for the Sociology of Sport,51(3), pp.265-283. Ingle, S. 2017. Anti-doping agencies call on IOC to ban Russia from 2018 Winter Olympics. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/14/anti-doping-agencies-tell-ioc-ban-russia-2018-winter-olympics [Accessed 19 Sep. 2017]. International Olympic Committee. 2017. Sochi Olympics - 2014 Winter Games in Russia results videos. [online] Available at: https://www.olympic.org/sochi-2014 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2017]. Mller, M., 2014. After Sochi 2014: costs and impacts of Russias Olympic Games.Eurasian geography and economics,55(6), pp.628-655. Phillips, M.K., 2015. Building Up Infrastructure.CFA Institute Magazine,26(6). Robbins, J., Hunter, L. and Murray, G.R., 2013. Voters versus terrorists: Analyzing the effect of terrorist events on voter turnout.Journal of Peace Research,management 50(4), pp.495-508. Schmitt, M., 2014.Nation Branding in Result of a Crisis: An Analysis of the Beijing and London Summer Olympics(Doctoral dissertation, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville). Scott, K.G., 2015.The Impact of Hosting the Summer Olympic Games on Economic Growth in Developing Countries: A Case Study of the 2008 Beijing Games(Doctoral dissertation, The University of Mississippi). Stampnews.com. (2017). Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at: https://www.stampnews.com/tags/sochi-2014-winter-olympics-stamps [Accessed 19 Sep. 2017].

Business Management for Prominent and Profitable Industries

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Management for Prominent and Profitable Industries. Answer: Introduction: The nut industry of California has been consistently remaining as one of the most prominent and profitable industries of the country with a continuous and extensive boom in the industry over the last few decades. In a time span of a few decades the production levels, the prices in the domestic as well as in the global markets, the bearing acreage and also the value of the production of almonds, walnuts, pistachios and other crops of this primary product industry have grown significantly. The acreage of bearing almond especially rose from 418,000 acres to as high as 900,000 acres from 1995 to the current times. Walnut acreage has also undergone a significant increase between the same time span, from 177,000 acres to a enormous magnitude of 315,000 acres in the recent times. The huge upward dynamics in the nut industry collectively, attributed to the continually growing global demand for nuts and economies of scale in the industry itself, is currently one of the primary contributors to the economic growth and GDP growth of the country. The nut industry of California also poses as one of the primary employment generators in the country with immense backward as well as forward linkages (Howitt et al 2014). Theft Issues in the Nut Industry: In spite of being one of the most highlighted and continually expanding and revenue generating industries in California, the nut industry of the country is severely plagued with a constant and bothering issue of large-scale thefts. These are occurring in high frequencies and are jeopardizing the growth of not only the industry and its members but also the country as a whole. As has been speculated and reported in many instances the theft circle of the nut industry in the country includes various sophisticated international crime rings. The billion dollar industry, having a high demand and producing nearly 9.3 billion dollars worth of products annually, have been targeted by the crime mongers for the high profitability (Modernfarmer.com, 2017). The thefts, which are taking place in this industry, are of highly organized sorts. The thieves often hack into the company profile and in the profile of the trucking companies used for transporting the nuts, steal the identities of those companies and with false documents they drive off truckloads of nuts in broad day light. Each truckload valuing from 150,000 dollars to 500,000 dollars, these robberies are strengthening the hold of the theft organizations and are hurting the supply side as of the industry heavily. The most bothering issue regarding the theft in the nut industry of California is that the magnitude of theft, in spite of continuous preventive efforts on part of the government and vigilance authorities and also on parts of the companies involved, is continually increasing. The magnitude of nut theft in the industry in the last year amounted to 4.6 million dollars, from the 31 reported cases, the amount being higher than the theft amount in the industry in the previous three years. The nature of the commodity is also becoming as issue as there is no way of arresting anyone carrying a truckload of nuts till it is proved that the nuts are stolen. Thus, it can be seen that the thefts in the nut industry of the country has been and is still continuing to be one of the major threats in the industry. This affects the supply side severely and also having implications on the demand side as well as the economic growth of the industry as well as the country itself (Theguardian.com 2017). Industry Analysis: To understand the occurrence of any phenomenon, positive or negative, in any industry of a country, it is of absolute necessity to have an overview about the macro as well as the micro conditions of the economy and the genre or domain under which the industry is functioning. Macro-environmental Conditions: The macro-environmental conditions and the factors in this aspect are an important determinant of the way in which a commercial organization can operate and these factors have significant positive as well as negative implications on the productivity, prospects and short term as well as long term profitability of the commercial organization. To analyze these factors in the context of the nut industry of California, a PESTEL Analysis can be undertaken which is as follows: PESTEL Analysis Description Political factors The political framework of the country has never been simple as it includes a multi-player and multi-dimensional purview. The Governing Body of the country mainly constitute of what is informally known to be the Big Five, consisting of the Governor, Minority Leader, Assembly speaker, Senate Minority Leader and the Senate President. With the system of plural voting, the Californian political environment has many contending political parties with individual vested interests. With the immense political rivalry among the contending parties, lobbying, cartels and nexus forming are frequent illegal practices in this system, which also have significant effects on the overall industrial environment of the country, thereby posing as one of the important factors in the nut industry of the country as well (Gupta 2013). Legal Factors The legal framework of the country has remained robust and there are well defined laws in the aspect of doing business in California. These includes the security of the employees, Affordable Care Acts which give time to the enterprises to meet their tax requirements and also laws regarding cost adjusted minimum pays and classification of workers. However, the legal framework of the country allows easy access to guns and other fire weapons too, thereby making the security a big issue of question. This can pose as one of the factors helping in the large-scale theft in the nut industry of the country, which again is having its impacts on the companies and their employees as there are strict employee laws present in the economy. Economic Factors The economy of California is a combination of extremes. On one hand the country is recognized as the sixth largest economy in the world, in terms of the GDP and GDP growth rate dynamics. Over the years, the economic growth pattern has been impressive in the country. However, the country scores relatively much lower when it comes to the overall development and welfare of the residents of the country. California surprisingly is one of the nations having the highest poverty rates in the world. This in its turn indicates towards the presence of an extreme inequality in the overall framework of the country, which has its implications on every aspects of the economy. The extreme disparity in distribution of economic growth may also be expected to have its implications (mostly adverse) on the industrial sector of the country too and there may be linkages between this income disparity and the theft issues in the nut industry and other related industries in the country in the recent times (Ho 2014). Social- Cultural Factors The socio-cultural environment of a country sometimes directly and sometimes subtly influences the business operations that are carried out in a country. In case of California, the cultural environment of the country, though being primarily related to the socio-cultural trends of the USA, is mainly a confluence and cultural amalgamation of many countries like Spain, Mexico, Asia and others. This can be seen in the languages, food habits and lifestyle patterns in the country. California has a prolonged history of immigrations and still opens door to immigrants from all over the world. This, over the years has had lots of implications on the overall economy as well as the industrial sector of the country (Alkon, Cortez and Sze 2013). Technological Factors In the last few decades, the country has undergone significant technological up gradation, which had its effect in the overall lifestyle of the residents of the country as well as in the industrial sector of California. The technological advances on one hand have contributed immensely in augmenting and increasing the overall productivity of the industrial sector. However, with newer technologies, theft, fraud and cheating have also become easier, which in its turn is having negative implications in many industries including the nut industry of the country (Conlon 2016). Environmental Factors The environmental condition of the country is more or less favourable for human inhabitation and industrial development. Water is one of the issues of concern, the resource being limited. However, the overall environment of the country facilitates agriculture and primary production as a whole and also encourages people to participate in the same due to low cost of production and high productivities. The environment of California can be considered as one of the primary factors behind the growth of its primary product industry (Rahman, Saharuddin and Rasdi 2014). Micro Analysis: The following section tries to analyze the overall condition of the pistachio industry of California, which is one of the primary victims of the large-scale nut thefts, using the Porters Five Forces Model: Figure 1: Porters Five Forces Model (Source: E. Dobbs 2014) Bargaining Power of Consumers: The consumers of Californian pistachio do enjoy some bargaining power as Iran poses as a competitor. Though the quality of the latter is lower than what produced in California, the prices are also low which attracts customers. The theft, by increasing the price of the nuts further may affect this situation even more adversely (Lee, Kim and Park 2012). Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Compared to the customers the bargaining power of the suppliers in this market is less as there are not many options available domestically. However, the huge demand of the Californian pistachio in all over the world somewhat increases their power to bargain, as 40% of the total production is exported outside the country, which is considerably jeopardized by the recent and continuous and bothering problem of massive scale thefts of pistachios in the country (Wu, Tseng and Chiu 2012). Threat of potential entrants: The pistachio market of the country has been consistently one of the growing markets with huge prospects. However, the market is relatively unstable than the other forms of nuts as the demand dynamics in this market is relatively fluctuating. Nevertheless, with the new notion of impulse eating and organic food branding the market is seeing prospects and therefore there are threats of new entrants in the market, provided the problem of theft is solved (Han, Porterfield and Li 2012). Rivalry among existing firms: There are few big players in this market and each of them enjoy considerable market share in the domestic and international market. There is no considerable evidence of rivalry among the firms in the domestic market of California. However, the overall Californian pistachio industry faces stiff competition from that of the Iranian cheaper counterpart, the competition becoming even steeper with the thefts. The market in Hong Kong, for example has been recently taken over by Iran (Dul?i?, Gnjidi? and Alfirevi? 2012). Threat of substitutes: Pistachio, as a specific form of nut, though have many loyal customers, however, if priced that high can lose market. The presence of Iranian producers is one of the factors. Apart from that the increase in price and already fluctuating demand can lead to more consumptions of other forms of nuts as most of pistachio consumption takes place as a result of impulse eating and it is not a necessity good (Dlken 2014). Firms capable of stopping nut theft: The sheer magnitude and extent of theft in nuts industry in California shows that to tackle the problem, sufficient amount of precautions, security measures and man power will be required by the industry as a whole, which can only be provided by the big names in this industry which includes the following: Paramount Farming (Acreage: 80,000) Farmland Management Services (Acreage: 36,422) South Valley (Acreage: 16,752) Premiere Entities (Acreage: 32,334) Agriland Farming (Acreage: 15,504) Resources and Capabilities Required: To prevent the large-scale theft in the concerned industry first and foremost the firms have to increase their security framework and need to employ relevant and capable personnel for this purpose. The lands need to be protected properly, installing security cameras, electric fencing and others and special precautions need to be taken in the aspect of delivery and transport as most of the thefts take place in this aspect. Proper identification of transporters, hiring loyal people and empowering the guards with weapons can also to some extent help in mitigating the problem (Cordova and Vargas). Recommendations: In the context of the extensive and continually increasing theft in the nut industry of California, it is of utmost importance on part of the firms as well as the government of the country to take proper actions regarding improving the security of the industry. For this the firms need to invest more in technological as well as manual safety framework in their lands and also in the transport facilities which they use. Continuous monitoring through cameras, enabling the guards with weapons and equipments such that they can confront the thieves and hiring loyal employees are of crucial importance on part of the firms in this industry. References Alkon, A.H., Cortez, M. and Sze, J., 2013. What is in a name? Language, framing and environmental justice activism in California's Central Valley.Local Environment,18(10), pp.1167-1183. Conlon, B., 2016. The Dynamics of Domestic and International Cargo Theft.SMU Sci. Tech. L. Rev.,19, p.397. Cordova, C.J. and Vargas, S., Corbas Marketing, Inc. and A California Corporation, 2016.Copper wire theft protection method and apparatus for wall-mounted pull boxes. U.S. Patent 9,252,580. Dlken, F., 2014.Are porters five competitive forces still applicable? a critical examination concerning the relevance for todays business(Bachelor's thesis, University of Twente). Dul?i?, Ã… ½., Gnjidi?, V. and Alfirevi?, N., 2012. From five competitive forces to five collaborative forces: revised view on industry structure-firm interrelationship.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,58, pp.1077-1084. Dobbs, M., 2014. Guidelines for applying Porter's five forces framework: a set of industry analysis templates.Competitiveness Review,24(1), pp.32-45. Gupta, A., 2013. Environmental and pest analysis: An approach to external business environment.Merit Research Journal of Art, Social Science and Humanities,1(2), pp.13-17. Han, C., Porterfield, T. and Li, X., 2012. Impact of industry competition on contract manufacturing: An empirical study of US manufacturers.International Journal of Production Economics,138(1), pp.159-169. Ho, J.K.K., 2014. Formulation of a systemic PEST analysis for strategic analysis.European academic research,2(5), pp.6478-6492. Howitt, R., Medelln-Azuara, J., MacEwan, D., Lund, J.R. and Sumner, D., 2014.Economic analysis of the 2014 drought for California agriculture. University of California, Davis, CA: Center for Watershed Sciences. Lee, H., Kim, M.S. and Park, Y., 2012. An analytic network process approach to operationalization of five forces model.Applied Mathematical Modelling,36(4), pp.1783-1795. Modernfarmer.com (2017).Sophisticated, Large-Scale Thefts Plague California's Nut Industry - Modern Farmer. [online] Modern Farmer. Available at: https://modernfarmer.com/2013/11/sophisticated-large-scale-thefts-plague-californias-nut-industry/ [Accessed 14 Oct. 2017]. Rahman, N.A., Saharuddin, A.H. and Rasdi, R., 2014. Effect of the Northern Sea Route Opening to the Shipping Activities at Malacca Straits.International Journal of e-Navigation and Maritime Economy,1, pp.85-98. Theguardian.com (2017).California cracking down as crime rings steal truckloads of nuts worth millions. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/14/california-nut-thefts-agriculture-shipments-almonds [Accessed 14 Oct. 2017]. Wu, K.J., Tseng, M.L. and Chiu, A.S., 2012. Using the Analytical Network Process in Porter's Five Forces AnalysisCase Study in Philippines.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,57, pp.1-9.