King Leopold s Ghost By Adam Hochschild - 1036 Words

The late 1800’s marked the peak of imperialism throughout Europe, primarily Africa. As a new century began to evolve, many European powers aggressively decide to surmount their power in many parts of Africa. More specifically, King Leopold’s journey to conquer the Congo and exploit the lucrative rubber/ivory market accurately describes the forced efforts of tyranny. King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild explains the propaganda remunerated by people in favor and opposition of King Leopold’s conquest. It also features the contributions of journalists and writers in relation to Leopold colonizing the Congo through means of propaganda, missionaries, use of other countries, and other various other methods to end his rule and change the common perceptions of imperialism. The main goal, however, of writers in the Congo, was to let the world know of Leopold’s actions and to end his selfish ruling. The role of journalists became most prevalent beginning i n the 1880’s. In 1885, under the pretense of philanthropy, King Leopold II Belgium claimed land along the Congo River as his personal property. He named it the Congo Free State, and for the next twenty-three years, he enslaved the Congolese and exploited their land. It is estimated that their population decreased by 10 million due to starvation, murder and disease. But while the king was forcefully pursuing his actions of forced labor, the world was largely unaware of what was occurring in the Congo. It would take many yearsShow MoreRelatedKing Leopolds Ghost Analysis1576 Words   |  7 PagesAdam Hochschild’s â€Å"King Leopold’s Ghost† is an account of a man’s rise of power who was very cruel and did unimaginable things. When I began reading, I wasn’t sure where the novel was going, but I soon caught on to what Hochschild was revealing. As the story begins to unfold he tells a story of King Leopold II of Belgium who managed to seize land next to the Congo River in Africa. King Leopold used political manipulation and lies to get what he wanted. King Leopold had everyone fooled that he wasRead MoreKing s Ghost : Illuminating Congo s Heart Of Darkness2144 Words   |  9 PagesKing Leopold’s Ghost: Illuminating Congo’s Heart of Darkness King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild is a sweeping and often revolting account of the atrocities of the Belgian colonization of the Congo and its aftermath. Using a variety of writing techniques, Hochschild creates an engrossing narrative which not only unveils a dark chapter in our global history, but also fosters an empathy in the reader to the victims of the barbarity of theRead MoreKing s Ghost By Adam Hochschild Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesKing Leopold’s Ghost, by Adam Hochschild , shows that the violence in Africa has gone rampant and the civil discourse is an effect to the cause of colonialism. Although he does not have a life devoted expertise to the Congo, his research and background was thorough and descriptive. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness served as a primary influence to many people who seeked to further their knowledge on the predicaments surrounding the Congo. On the contrary, rather th an displaying literary occurrences, heRead MoreAnalysis Of Adam Hochschilds King Leopold Of Belgium2003 Words   |  9 Pages European powers began to take over territories throughout the continent of Africa during the 19th century. Historian Adam Hochschild’s depiction of King Leopold of Belgium was written in 1998 and titled, King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Hochschild talked extensively about the greed for money and slavery resulting in the genocide of the Congo and the protests of humanitarians that followed the King’s exploitation of Africans. In his thesis, the authorRead MoreKing Leopolds Ghost1884 Words   |  8 PagesIn the 1880s, as the European powers were carving up Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium seized for himself the vast and mostly unexplored territory surrounding the Congo River. Carrying out a genocidal plundering of the Congo, he looted its rubber, brutalized its people, and ultimately slashe d its population by ten million--all the while shrewdly cultivating his reputation as a great humanitarian. Heroic efforts to expose these crimes eventually led to the first great human rights movement of theRead More King Leopolds Ghost Essay2090 Words   |  9 PagesKing Leopolds Ghost King Leopolds Ghost tells a story of the Belgian King Leopold II and his misrule of an African colony, named (at the time) the Congo Free State. It is a wild and unpleasant story of a mans capacity for evil and the peculiar manifestation of it. In telling this story, Hochschild does a wonderful job of giving detailed descriptions, especially of the colorful individuals involved, both good and bad. His analysis of the situation is very solid, starting with the movementRead More The Importance of History Essay992 Words   |  4 Pageshistory? Is history relevant? The definition of history, is a question which has sparked international debate for centuries between the writers, readers, and the makers of history. It is a vital topic which should be relevant in our lives because it?s important to acknowledge past events that have occurred in our world that deeply influences the present. This essay will discuss what history is, and why we study it. History is the study of past events leading up to the present day. It is a researchRead MoreKing Leopold s Ghost : A Story Of Greed, Terror, And Heroism2325 Words   |  10 Pages King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild explains the lead up to and the establishment of the Congo Free State under Belgium. Hochschild does so through many accounts of the life going on inside the Congo during the exploration of the Africa and the beginning of an established government in the Congo. The death toll during Leopold’s reign could have reached over 10 million before the Belgium government would take the Congo away from the outRead MoreThe Country Of Belgium : An Ambitious King Of The Conquest Of Africa1767 Words   |  8 Pagesnever attempted to conquer the area beyond the ivory and golden coasts until prompted by both great sins and great opportunities. While most rulers definitely abused their power over their African c olonies, none was more well-known than King Leopold II, an ambitious king of Belgium who sought to take the expansive area around the Congo River at any cost. When he finally achieved his power, though, he ruled with an iron fist with unforgiving policies, known especially for having hands of natives removedRead MoreEssay about Horror and Tragedy in The Congo3980 Words   |  16 Pages Introduction This is a tale of horror and tragedy in the Congo, beginning with the brutal and exploitative regime of King Leopold II of Belgium, and culminating with the downfall of one of Africa’s most influential figures, Patrice Lumumba. The Congo is but one example of the greater phenomenon of European occupation of Africa. The legacy of this period gives rise to persistent problems in the Congo and throughout Africa. Understanding the roots and causes of this event, as focused through

Lessons Learned As A Transfer Student Essay - 1152 Words

Lessons Learned As a transfer student, I only had to take three core courses to finish my Bachelor degree in Information technology because my other courses from my previous school supplemented the other core courses. But I did learn a lot from the three core courses that did I take at Campbell University were (ITS-345) Database Management , (ITS-410) System Analysis Design Dev, and (ITS-410) Networking Telecommunication. In taking these courses, I felt these courses taught me relevant concepts and examples that I used and applied in my project. These courses also helped me learn about concepts such as time management in project and how management is an important aspect in any project development. These courses were also helpful in that the concepts provided great insights in possible obstacles that an individual may deal with in a working environment such as security, network communication, and framework and business infrastructures. In the course (ITS-345) Database Management, I felt this course to be great refresher course that helped me refresh my ideas and concepts regarding database design and management. It helped understand previous concepts that I understood and also help provided me with detailed understanding of concepts that I needed more insight on such as relational models, SQL, entity relationship modeling, and database design. In this course it allowed to me understand how these concepts are all connected and how businesses use database in aShow MoreRelatedCompare And Contrast ( Walt ) And What Am I Looking For811 Words   |  4 Pagesthat leads students through the learning process. WALT and WILF are exhibited in the appendices as learning intentions and success criteria. WALT allows students to fully understand the task rather than just completing the instructed task (Musgrave Hill State School, n.d.). WILF helps students understand the purpose of the learning activity and how the curriculum is important to their work in order to achieve a greater goal (Musgrave Hill State School, n.d.). For example, in week six students edit oneRead MoreTeaching Will Be Very Proactive And Flexible During The Unit On Energy859 Words   |  4 Pagesduring the unit on energy. The students all have multiple disabilities and are in a self-contained setting most of the day. These disabilities impact all three students’ academics and behaviors. Lesson planning for this unit was and will continue to be strategic and complicated. In order for students to grasp each concept, the concept must be broken down into smaller concepts. Each lesson will have to be well paced, where each lesson does not go too fast and cause students to be overwhelmed and stressedRead MoreLearning Theories1279 Words   |  6 Pagesapproximately 45 students in each grade. Crane is a Pre-K-12 school, and all grades are on the same campus. The teacher teaches first grade with approximately 17 students in my class. The classroom that this student was in has the student sitting in small groups with centers all around the classroom. Some of the centers are word art, writing using the word wall, there is a reading center and a math center. The classroom has visual aids such as the word wall and picture cues to help the students withRead MoreWhy Are Learning A Second Language?945 Words   |  4 PagesThey believe that students who are learning a se cond language take the skills they know from their first language and relate them to concepts they are learning in the second language. When doing this the students will have a positive transfer and a negative transfer of concepts. A positive transfer is when they relate to their second language and there are similarities between the languages, for example when words seem to sound the same and have the same meanings. A negative transfer is when there areRead MoreHolland Hall Classroom Observation702 Words   |  3 Pageswe observed was Holland Hall. As we walked into the classroom, the room had many colorful posters, a riser for the students to sit, enough Orff instruments for every student, and many other musical expressions. The room was a very welcoming and fostering for educational purposes. The lesson was split into different parts. The first part was learning a Russian folk dance. The students were all behaved very attentive to the instructions. The class responded very posit ively to the instructions. The nextRead MoreThe On The World Video730 Words   |  3 Pagesidentify the location of your country assignment, postcard information (assignment to demonstrate things you learned from different places), and assessment (rubric) Procedure: 1. Teacher will present lesson about around the world. Teacher will show mickey around the world video, by demonstrating a video to spark different ideas and interest. The video will serve as an introduction to the lesson presentation prepared. The video will last 1:30 minutes. The mickey around the world video provides examplesRead MoreTeacher Work Sample1667 Words   |  7 Pagesin Garland Hall, room 308. I observed and helped with individualized tutoring on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:00am to 9:00am, and Thursdays at 12:30pm to 1:30pm from October 2nd through November 20th. My supervising teacher was Amy Williamson. The student that I will focus on for this work sample is an eighteen year old African American female whose exceptionality is Cerebral Palsy, as well as speech and language problems; which are mild. For the sake of this paper, we will call her Mary. Mary is mobileRead MoreELT task 3 Essay examples955 Words   |  4 Pagesinto any lesson plan and that reinforces the use of listening skills. On way to reinforce listening skills is by asking a series of question to students as they ‘re reading passages from their textbooks. This method will encourage students to pay attention in order to answer questions at any moment during the lesson. Therefore, one student can read a text aloud while the rest of the class is following along reading quietly. During this time the teacher can pose questions to random students regardingRead MoreLearning Assessment922 Words   |  4 PagesThis tool provides techniques for assessing student learning in a way that deepens their understanding, enables their application of knowledge, and strengthens their ability to transfer their knowledge for use in new settings. Description Learning is at the heart of assessing for transfer and application. This tool is defined by assessment activities where students act because of their learning. Two things much happen before assessing for transfer and application: 1. Learning outcomes must beRead MoreQuiz on the CIPP Model of Evaluation755 Words   |  3 Pagesconversation Student interviews, evaluation forms Observation by trainers or independent instructors Micro-teaching (video taping) Performance testing and evaluations CIPP Model Questions - Context What is the relation of the course to other courses? What are the critical internal and external factors? Is there a need for the course? Is the course relevant to job needs? What is the environment? What are the needs of this course? CIPP Model Questions - Inputs What are student characteristics

Traditions Of A Jewish Commentary - 807 Words

Traditions such as homemade decorations, Grandma’s banana pudding, and ugly sweaters often remain close to family’s hearts. Candles, decorations, food, and outfits, the list of customs never terminates! Two families, who practice traditions in the book, The Chosen by Chaim Potok, include the Malter’s and the Saunders’. David and Reuven Malter enjoy weekly services, prayer, and special articles of clothing in their lives as orthodox Jews*check for accuracy. Also, in the Saunders’ family, the boys wear intricate outfits and the father bestows the role of tzaddick to one of the male children because they practice the Jewish sect of Hadism. Although these two families’ rituals differ, they both participate in the studying of the holy scriptures, a Jewish commentary, each Shabbat, or Sabbath day. OPENER!!!The Malter’s practice their unique traditions, the Saunders’ continue their customs, and the families share the tradition of studying the holy Jewish books. Beginning with the Malter family, Mr. Malter and Reuven involve themselves in many traditions. These traditions include: services, prayer, and customary articles of clothing (prayer shaw{113}, ). One quote displays the fact that the Malter family regularly attended services and exhibits one facet of the orthodox Jew’s praying habits: â€Å"We took our usual seats a few rows up from the window and joined in the prayers.†(113). As this quote demonstrates that the Malter family often attends services, it also verifiesShow MoreRelatedMoses Maimonides : A Scholar Of The Middle Ages Who Decoded1497 Words   |  6 Pagesand created major Jewish texts, which much of Judaism has foundations on. Through his works, namely the Commentary of the Mishnah, the Guide for the Perplexed, and the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides aided the Jewish community through the clarifications of beliefs, the challenge of questioning one’s beliefs, maintaining re levances to the Jewish community and shaped interactions within and between Judaism and other cultures and religions. Both the people of his context, and modern Jewish society have beenRead MoreJewish Death And Burial Practices1410 Words   |  6 Pages Burial traditions and practices have developed throughout history and around the world to meet this human need. This paper will examine Jewish death and burial practices from the Old Testament, the Gospels, and other New Testament accounts, as well as archaeological evidence from first century Palestine; this evidence, when compared to recent arguments against the burial of Jesus, supports the Biblical narrative that Jesus died, was buried, and subsequently rose from the dead. Jewish Death andRead MoreThe Issue Of Abortion : Comparative Views1393 Words   |  6 Pagescontinues to turn into a more prominent topic of discussion and debate, it is critical for us to understand these religious belief systems in order to cross over value conflicts. Thus, in my final paper, I’ve chosen to focus on the different stances Jewish and Islamic faiths have taken on abortion. Although abortion is normatively prohibited in both faiths, I’ve examined how each ethical code permits abortion if and when the pregnant woman’s life is in jeopardy. Additionally, I’ve emphasized the valueRead MoreEssay on Matthews Christology1423 Words   |  6 PagesMatthews Christology Matthew’s Christology is one that emphasises to a Jewish audience the Jewishness of Jesus. It will be the purpose of this paper to argue that the raison d’etre of Matthew’s Christology is to portray Jesus as entirely compatible if not with the Judaism of his day then with ancient Judaic tradition, namely the Old Testament. Whilst there are numerous titles given to Jesus that are exclusive/predominant within the Matthean account, such as that of Son of God, it is the writer’sRead MoreRabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, A Jewish Scholar, Astrologer And Physician Of The Twelfth Century1407 Words   |  6 PagesRabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, commonly known as Maimonides or by the acronym RaMBaM, was a Jewish scholar, astrologer and physician of the twelfth century considered to be one of Judaism’s greatest sages. His revolutionary publications were essential in the development of the Shulchan Aruch, the practiced Code of Jewish Law and maintaining Jewish continuity throu ghout the ages. Maimonides was born in 1135 in Cordoba, Spain to his mother and father, Rabbi Maimon, and would go on to study medicine and philosophyRead MoreAbandonment of Religiosity: A Glance at Jewish Law and Law Study from Moses to Karo1675 Words   |  7 PagesJewish Law is considered to be Divine Law due to its direct influence from God. God handed over a set of laws to the Jews and left it to adapt and flourish with them. They followed these rules, but in time they became obsolete which forced them to intervene and change the laws to better suit their society. Rabbinic judaism evolved as the philosopher king of interpreting the Hebrew Bible. These interpretations formed the Talmud. Although the interpretations were much like opinions on what the BibleRead MoreThe Role of Judaism in Family Relationships: Article Analysis1235 Words   |  5 Pagesin Family Relationships, because Judaism plays an important role in a Jewish persons identity, Judaism should be incorporated int o family-based therapy. Judaism itself is more than just a persons religious beliefs, it is also part of a Jewish persons ethnicity and culture as well. And because Judaism plays an important role in family life, a Jewish family is often influenced in its beliefs and actions by Jewish tradition, literature, and history. This influence cannot be ignored when it comesRead MoreWhy John Is the Most Jewish Gospel658 Words   |  3 PagesWhile numerous scholars say that John is the Gospel to the world (and Matthew to the Jews, Mark to the Romans, and Luke to the Greeks), a Jewish scholar such as Israel Abrahams might very well believe that the Gospel of John is the most Jewish Gospel of the four by the way it reflects Jewish traditions and symbolisms. According to David Wenham[i], there is more attention given to Jesus as the Messiah in the Gospel of John than in any of other Gospels. In John, from chapter one onwards people areRead MoreGuided Evolution and Intelligent Design: A Guide to the Jewish Perspective783 Words   |  3 Pagesthe context of naturalistic, unguided evolution, â€Å"then evolutionary theory is deeply incompatible with theistic religion, whether Christian†¦or Jewish.† However, Plantinga stresses that evolution does not need to be interpreted in this way, and that, because of this, religion does not have to be held in such opposition to science at all. Christian and Jewish doctrines require only that â€Å"God intended to create creatures of a certain kind†¦planned that there be creatures of that kind†¦and acted in suchRead MorePauls letter to the Galatians Essay1103 Words   |  5 PagesGalatians. Galatia took its name from these Galatian inhabitants (Williams, 19). Paul had passed through Galatia during his ministry and he had preached and established churches there. The letter to the Galatians was written around C.E. 51 and later tradition will assert without certainty that Paul had written to the Galatians from Ephe sus. Pauls letter to the Galatians is sometimes compared with his letter to the Romans in the respect that the Galatian letter was written to a church that Paul founded

Value Judgment and Consumerism Evaluating American Consumer Culture Free Essays

This essay argues that American consumer culture is largely driven by the economic, social and psychological landscape of consumption- which blurs the distinction between needs and wants of American consumers. Values of goods and products are therefore judged on the basis of how they satisfy personal wants instead of the intrinsic value of the products or services. However, while this is the case, American consumers have become more demanding and particular with products and services. We will write a custom essay sample on Value Judgment and Consumerism: Evaluating American Consumer Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now The irony shows that Americans are driven by a consumerist culture; consumption and value judgment are made based on the personal and aesthetic value of products but competition is making consumers more knowledgeable in choosing their products. American Culture of Consumption Consumption in American society has been regarded as a standard of living and a way of life- the bulwark of which is fuelled by a commodity culture that emanates from the abundance in production and from a sociological point of view, a way to distinguish and create bonds with each other (Friedman, 2). Consequently, it is not only the economic and sociological value that determines how Americans values goods and services- to a large extent, the psychological impact of consumption particularly the emotional gratification which has been celebrated and integrated in popular culture drives the value of goods and services regardless of their true meaning to the American consumer. Significantly, American consumer culture rests on the principle that people work because they want to have the material things that they think they need- things that their social circle has or even people in mass media. To a large extent, American consumer culture is fuelled by big businesses which seek to make consumerism of every American a trend rather than a pursuit of better value. Fundamentally, this hastens the ability of American consumers to draw the line between what is needed and what is wanted thus, making mistaken valuation of products and services. First, consumerism in American society is largely driven by mass media which largely dictates the value of products and services. Consumers’ belief in the value of an object is a construct that is driven by companies seeking to attain profitability- with the aid of mass media, companies capitalize on value creation consumers are made to want a product and are made to need them regardless if they really need the product or service (Plaster and Alderman, 2). The control of companies on the perception of the consumers on the value of the product and services in turn alters the psychological and social acceptance of a product- the more popular a product is, the higher the value it has according to the society. Thus, popular culture becomes more than an individual construct but rather, it becomes a social construct to which valuation of products and services are manufactured in the media and consumed by the American public. For instance, the I-pod by Apple is now considered by any American youth to be a necessity. This is not the case for countries in Africa and to several countries in Asia. However, due to the massive influence of mass media, owning an I-pod is now considered as a necessity instead of being a fancy product. This is because American popular culture has accepted and embraced the trend thus, making its way into the lifestyle of the people. Essentially, the value of an I-pod or a product for that matter becomes prominent. This is regardless of whether it is needed to survive. Second, inability of American consumers to value products based on its intrinsic merits emanates from the materialist-fuelled society. Essentially, American consumer culture emerged from the association of materialism with that of the family, sexuality and the individual- realities that have given the essence of existence and in order to be participants within the American culture (Agnew, 4). The association of social status and importance has been related to consumerism- the more one consumes, the higher the social standing one attains. Thus, the belief of consumers that getting or buying the most expensive brands would make their social standing better is again fuelled by the business environment and mass media. Due to societal pressure which can come from the family and one’s social circle, American consumers become susceptible to the creation of needs and in the process, disregarding their personal perception or valuation of a product. For instance, while mainstream society values affordable products, the need to get the latest models and the best brands drives competition to create brand names that precedes their reputation. This is the reason why surplus goods are abundant and midnight sales are frequent. The insatiable drive to get the new products that neighbors or relatives have further blurred the accurate valuation on the real value of the product. However, while mainstream American consumers neglects the intrinsic value of the product they are purchasing, another group of American consumers have emerged in recent years- those who have been advocating ethical and pragmatic consumption. Valuing a product or service according to Cohen, Comroy and Hoffner (67) necessitates the consideration of ethical consumption when making ordinary purchases in order to lessen the exploitation of the environment and the natural resources as well as the indiscriminate use of cheap labors to produce affordable and quality goods. This stream of consumers’ advocates for the vigilance and empowerment of the American public in choosing the products or services those are basic and fundamental to survival. While this has yet to receive much support in the society, this movement is gradually taking ground. Finally, with the advent of internet and technological revolutions, consumerism in American society is further heightened. The easier access to products and goods oftentimes, without looking at the products further diminishes the ability of consumers to make an accurate valuation of the products. Conclusion Essentially, American society values consumerism and materialism and in the process, the distinction between consumer needs and consumer wants have become indistinct. To a considerable extent, the inability to distinguish between the two has propelled the inability of most consumers to value products and services. Thus, while there are segments of the society that has opposed this type of consumer culture, the predominant and mainstream American culture continues to consume and spend on products that they may know little or nothing about. Works Cited Cohen, Maurie, Comrov, Aaron and Hoffner, Brian. â€Å"The new politics of consumption: Promoting sustainability in the American marketplace. † Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy. 1, 1(2005): 58-76. Plaster, Gary and Alderman, Jerry. â€Å"Customer value creation: A platform for profitable growth. † Charter Consulting. 1 (2006): 1-7. Friedman, Monroe. â€Å"The consumer culture research landscape. † The Journal of American Culture. 30, 1(2007): 1-5. Agnew, J. C. ‘‘The Consuming Vision of Henry James. ’’ The Culture of Consumption. Eds. R. W. Fox and T. J. J. Lears. New York: antheon, 1983. How to cite Value Judgment and Consumerism: Evaluating American Consumer Culture, Papers

Various by Various free essay sample

Autobiography of a Face The song â€Å"Survivor† by Destiny’s Child strongly connects to the scene in the novel when Lucy returns to school with 1/3rd of her jaw gone. The classmates bully and taunt her. A 6th grade classmate boy says, â€Å"Hey girl, take off that monster mask- oops, she’s not wearing a mask!† (Grealy 118). After hearing this comment, Lucy responds with something that shows that other people comments don’t shake her. This scenario relates to the line in the song â€Å"Survivor† When Destiny’s child sings â€Å"I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it† This quote shows the confidence that Lucy and the lyrics both show. As the song continues, it talks about self-destruct, which also relates to the quote of the boys making fun of her. The song says â€Å"Thought that I would self destruct, but I’m still here.† This lyric explains that no matter what happens, she will be okay. We will write a custom essay sample on Various by Various or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"Survivor† by Destiny’s child is a good song to show the connection of confidence that both Lucy and the theme of the song display. â€Å"Thought that I would self destruct But Im still here Even in my years to come Im still goin be here Im a survivor (What?) Im not goin give up (What?) Im not goin stop (What?) Im goin work harder (What?)† Destiny’s Child. The song â€Å"Fix You† by Coldplay strongly connects to the scene in the novel when Lucy’s dad doesn’t fully accept the fact that Lucy has cancer, when he gets emotional during her chemo treatment. Usually, Lucy’s mom takes her to her treatments. On this occasion, Lucy’s dad, who felt un-accepting of the cancer, had taken her. In the book Lucy explains the un-comfortableness of the appointment, she says, â€Å"I watched his back as he left, and felt relieved because his embarrassment and awkwardness caused me as much pain as they did him.† (Grealy 84) Some of the feelings in this quote showed how Lucy and her father felt during this scene, he felt so helpless towards Lucy. This quote relates to the song â€Å"Fix You† by Coldplay. In the song it says, â€Å"When you’re too in love to let it go.† I think that this quote leads to Lucy’s dad not accepting the fact that she has cancer. Coldplay then goes on saying, à ¢â‚¬Å"and I will try to fix you..† I think this also explains the feelings of Lucy’s father during this time. He wants to cure Lucy so badly. All in all, the song and book are both emotional and that is why â€Å"Fix You† by Coldplay would be a good choice as backround music. â€Å"And high up above or down below When youre too in love to let it go But if you never try youll never know Just what youre worth Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you† Cold Play The song â€Å"Blurry† by Puddle of Mudd strongly connects to the scene in the novel when Lucy is shopping for wigs and begins to feel insecure about herself. She is unhappy with her appearance and to make herself feel a little better she decides to go shopping for a wig with the gesture from her mom’s friend. In the book Lucy says â€Å".. I didn’t want to look at myself.† (Grealy 108). Lucy was feeling insecure at this moment during the book because she didn’t want to go through the pain of not being able to feel pretty. This relates to the song â€Å"Blurry† by Puddle of Mudd. In the song it says, â€Å"everyone is changing, there’s no one left that’s real to make up your own ending.† This relates to Autobiography of a face because it shows the feelings and emotion of people being fake. Of Lucy knowing that someone is going to judge her and secretly talk about her, that there is, â€Å"no one left that real† to be her true friend. â€Å"Blurry† by Puddle of Mudd would be a good choice for backround music when Lucy is trying on wigs. â€Å"Everyone is changing theres noone left thats real to make up your own ending and let me know just how you feel cause I am lost without you I cannot live at all my whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl† Puddle of Mudd The song â€Å"Philadelphia† by Neil Young strongly connects to the scene in the novel when Ann Patchett writes about Lucy’s death. In the Afterwards part of the book, Ann, one of Lucy’s good friends, writes about the last phone call between her and Lucy. Ann says, â€Å"I want the chance to say it again. Absolutely.† (Patchett 236). This quote obviously means that she wants to be able to talk to Lucy again. It relates to the song â€Å"Philadelphia† by Neil Young. The songs theme is about death and in the song Neil sings â€Å"Don’t turn your back on me I don’t want to be alone, love lasts forever.† This lyric relates to the Afterwards when Ann explains and talks about how much she missed her and how she â€Å"wants the chance to say it again.† (Patchett, 237). I think that the song â€Å"Philadelphia† would be a good song to play at the ending of the scene of Autobiography of a face. â€Å"City of brotherly love Place I call home Dont turn your back on me I dont want to be alone Love lasts forever.† Neil Young

Crisis and Disaster Organization Management

Question: Discuss about the Crisis and Disaster Organization Management. Answer: Introduction The crisis or risks are identified as the major aspects, due to which the organizations have to face the issues in different conditions. The not for profit organizations are also facing the issues related to the competition of the funding. There are various organizations which have their specific criteria for accepting the funds and the resources, but the economic downturn creates an impact on managing the appropriate criteria and raising funds accordingly. The organization selected for the discussion is related to the Not for profit field and the article for discussion is derived from the paper published by the Australian Government. The family, economic, community and indigenous aspects are handled with the help of the center for corporate and public affairs. The report mainly covers the situational analysis, goals and objectives, stakeholder analysis, strategy, tactics and conclusions. As the PR officer of the organization, the responsibility is to manage the major aspects related to the organization and to manage the crisis management of the organization. Situational Analysis The SWOT analysis is identified as one of the major aspects which is essential to study while studying the economic downturn. These organizations, mainly observed the individual changes in the current scenario. The tabular structure below shows the SWOT study. Strength The strength of the not for profit organization is that there are plenty of funds and services provided to the organizations in complete reference. The specific planning for fund raising and the suitable support of the stakeholders will be provided to the organization. Weakness The NFP Organization is facing the issues related to the finance in a specific manner. The planning is prepared for the specific area rather than preparing the complete planning [1]. Opportunity The collaboration of the peer- organizations is helpful in managing the suitable risk related to the organization. The demand for services and the evaluation in the specific manner can be managed with the help of these opportunities. Threats The threats are mainly from other NFP organizations in Australia. The ratio of the competition and the continued threatening also increases with the specific growth rate. The threats are also observed from the stakeholders, who withdraw their contribution any time. Goals and Objectives The initiation of the report can only be done by setting the specific goals and objectives. The goals and objectives should be managed in a SMART manner. These SMART goals will be helpful in defining the specific targets in an appropriate manner. By these goals, the staring aspects are mentioned on an initial level and the level of competition is also decided simultaneously. This will be helpful in developing the required strategy in a right direction. Analysis of Application The proper analysis of application is successful in delivering the major theories and strategies used for solving the issues related to the crisis management. There are various theories and agendas identified to solve the issues in definite process. The article which is selected for the appropriate discussion is mainly helpful in reflecting the crisis or risk in a definite format. The different type of risk that is observed in the article is shown below. The first risk is related to the distribution of overall funds and amount in a definite manner. The easy distribution will be helpful in making the task easier, so that the maximum amount can be provided to areas suffering from the financial crisis. The cutting and firing of resources are also observed in the article. The non-profit organization are continuously facing the issues of the amount due to which the exchanging of money and the execution of the process is becoming tough. In fact, the employees cannot be able to generate the suitable amount for their success. In year 2008-09, volunteering was getting increasing, but simultaneously the negative impact on the growth was also observed. The major crisis was also observed among the donors, corporate partners and the government. The issues are continuously getting more common and broadened. The coordination of all these perspectives is tough to handle and the crisis is generating in the continuous manner. The other risks which are closely observed is related to the stakeholder issues and the common problems which are arrived due to the general issues. The management of the stakeholders and providing them satisfactory feedback are also identified as one of the important tasks to be managed. For this purpose also, the management of crisis is also essential on a wider level. To solve the issues, and to manage the circumstances related to the financial crisis, suitable planning, tactics and strategy are identified in the proper form. Media and environmental scanning The environmental scanning is done by applying the specific approach in the correct direction. This scanning can be done by the specific rules and regulations to complete the task in a definite way. There are various methods and appropriate aspects defined to solve the appropriate approach. The scanning is done by using the specific tools in a proper manner. Application of theories and principles The theories and principles are various in numbers. These theories are related to the decisions identified by the PR for the profit of the organization. The applications are the implementations which are identified from different areas of tactics and strategies. For defining the concept of the PR and its role in the definite way, the correct tactics and strategy should be selected accordingly. The specific tactic and strategy makes the task easier and most appropriate. The flow of work is also identifid in the proper direction. Stakeholder Analysis The stakeholder analysis is identified as one of the important aspect related to non-profit organization. The strong position of stakeholders is identified through the specific process. There are various stakeholders, such as the corporate people, organizations, volunteers, fund providing organizations and the different people are acting as the major source of the contributors. Apart from this, there are various religious and educational institutes which are also contributing in providing the specific facilities to the nonprofit or not for profit organization. Tactics The specific tactics are identified for completing the specific task. For NFP, the special process is required for completing the desired task. The media tactics and soliciting community are the major methods which are helpful in defining the suitable tactics in every possible manner. The strategic leak is identified as the key tactics by which information can be leaked according to the requirement. This is the method to show the marketing skills in a possible manner. The tactics and strategies can be changed according to the requirement. On temporary level, the suitable contribution can be managed accordingly. On the other hand, the PR techniques are also related to the formation of suitable posters, fliers, brochures and the appropriate notices. By this, the PR can be able to develop the specific assistance for the Not for profit or non-profit organizations. The PR plays an important role in all contrast. To manage the organizational structure and to provide the suitable assistance, the existing strategies are improved in all contrast. Each tactic is directly linked with the specific strategy which will be further helpful in providing the suitable assistance. Strategy The crisis management is identified as the key aspect, in which it becomes inappropriate to manage the present and the future scenario. The strategy should be well-defined and stable, so that it may become easy to manage the crisis. There are various situations defined above which are highlighting the crisis management. For distribution of the specific funds and to regulate the working aspects of the organization in a definite manner, it is essential to prepare the suitable funding plan beforehand. The sponsorship and the financial aspect of the organization can also be managed in a specific manner. This will be helpful in providing the appropriate assistance in the specific process of funding. For distributing the budget specific schemes and process, it is important to identify on an initial level. To manage the situation of resources related to the crisis, the organization is planning various efforts. The crisis related to resources shouldnt be solved by not replacing the staff with any other newcomers. The time duration and requirement of the staff can also be reduced for improving the situation related to the crisis management. Instead of providing the large budgets, the minimum expenses should be designed for the stable process. Apart from this, the resources can also be handled with the specific working approach. The corporate support and the willingness to provide the suitable assistance to the not for profit organization may also be helpful in making the work easier and comfortable. For managing the aspects related to the corporate partners and the stakeholders, there are various strategies which are planned by the organization in a specific manner. The administration and the organized department of the NPF possess the specific rights and process to face the crisis management in a specific and well organized manner. Apart from these, there are defined and different set of strategies which are planned by the organization to avoid the malfunctions related to the crisis management. Some theories and tactics are also adapted to identify the crisis related to the specific process. Timeline The timeline is the specific aspect by which the calculations related to the completion of the task can be done easily and in a structured way. The probabilities and the specific work completion aspects can be managed with the help of the timeline/PERT chart. The Gantt chart and the PERT charts are identified as the most suitable method designed for defining the timeline aspect. The specific presentation of the timeline with the excel chart is shown below. This timeline will be helpful in providing the suitable assistance in a specific manner. Conclusion Studying and analyzing the specific article are helpful in supporting the various perspectives related to the Not for profit or non-profit organization. It is essential to identify the definite crisis specific management perspectives. The economic downturn is identified as the most common reason of issues in the organization. The inappropriate impact and the negative identification are also mentioned on an individual level. It is recommended that to manage the economic downturn, it is essential to prepare the specific report in a definite way. The planned approach will be helpful in improving the existing financial conditions. Other than this, it is also recommended that the definite timeline and the approached structure should be followed to complete the process. This will generate the probability and most possible conditions for completing the existing task. By analyzing this report from every perspective, it is clearly identified that the structured approach is required for handli ng the crisis. The strategic aspects are helpful in pursuing the definite targets and appropriate approaches. References Celsi, C, "PR Goals, Objectives, Strategies And Tactics: How To Tell The Difference" https://www.publicrelationsprincess.com/2014/07/marketing-goals-objectives-strategies-and-tactics-how-to-tell-the-difference.html Greechie, S, "SWOT Analysis Of A Nonprofit Organization" https://smallbusiness.chron.com/swot-analysis-nonprofit-organization-4407.html Johnson, K, "Examples Of Strategies Vs. Tactics In Public Relations" https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/examples-strategies-vs-tactics-public-relations-21216.html PRSA, "From The Front Lines: 4 Challenges The PR Profession Will Take On This Year" https://apps.prsa.org/intelligence/Tactics/Issues#.WINu9NJ95dg Team, APO, "Impact Of The Economic Downturn On Not-For-Profit Organisation Management" https://apo.org.au/node/18565 University of Kansas, "SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, And Threats" https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/operations/mang-sys/planning/2SWOTAnalysisS.htm

The Mining Sector of Australia New Taxation Arrangements

Introduction It is a long established fact that the extraction of nonrenewable natural resources is the major source of government revenue in many countries. Based on the relationship between the government and extraction companies, there are various legal and economic approaches that can be used to maintain equity in this relationship.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Mining Sector of Australia: New Taxation Arrangements specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, the company may be given ownership of the resource through purchase or lease, or may obtain a license permitting the exploitation of the resource (Lund 2008). Regardless of the approach used the extract should be subjected to some form of taxation in order to generate revenue from exploitation. Within Australia the mining sector has long played a vital role in the development of the nation. Through political stability and regulatory arrangements t he nation has managed to capitalize on mineral demand in partnership with experts in mining from other countries (Novak Moran 2011). Based on this trend it was long believed that benefits accrued from mining activities would flow into the future. However, recent trends prompted by a commonwealth budget deficit driven by a largely unproductive fiscal stimulus have led to the laying aside of such beliefs and the initiation of new taxation arrangements for miners (Novak Moran 2011). The basis for this new legislation is built upon the idea of extracting a fairer share of revenue from mining in comparison to other sectors of the Australian economy. The government suggests that this policy will play a role in the reduction of divergence in economic growth between resource rich and non resource rich regions of the country (OECD 2008). The introduction of this new tax has generated significant debate about the merits of taxing economic success and policy issues related specifically to th e mining industry (Novak Moran 2011). It is necessary to thus analyze how this tax will affect the industry due to the fact that mining makes a major contribution to the Australian economy. In this report a review of literature on the subject will be used to make the analysis. Literature Review In review of literature it has been observed based on reports that in 2010-11 mining related activity accounted for almost 9 percent of the GDP compared to 5 percent a decade ago (Novak Moran 2011). This current contribution to the economy is comparable to the resource boom periods of the early 1900’s and 1980’s.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The relative importance of the mining industry in relation to national output is also reflected in the significant increase in actual capital investments that have been made in the mining sector (Novak Moran 2011). In relation to this fact data indicates that in 2010-11 mining investment contributed to 40% of total private investments compared to 12% a decade earlier (Novak Moran 2011). The increased contribution to the GDP comes at a time when there has been a general decline in productivity despite improved performance. There are a number of arguments that have been made in relation to this reduction in productivity including, long lead time between investment in new mining capacity and output, logistic difficulties associated with extraction, labor market, regulations and quality of infrastructure (Novak Moran 2011). Whilst this reduced productivity remains a matter of concern it is believed that once existing projects reach their full production capacity there will be a reversal in trends related to productivity. It should be noted that while the mining sector makes major contribution to the Australian economy, the mining sector bears the highest tax rate after accounting for state and territorial r oyalty payments (Novak Moran 2011). It has been suggested that the increase in levels of taxation within the mining industry may diminish incentive to invest in Australia. This notion is worth giving consideration given the fact that Australia receives 13% of the global mining exploration share. It is reported that the country comes only after Canada in terms of the amount of global funds invested to perform exploration activities for mineral resources (Novak Moran 2011). This move has the potential to send potential investors in search of more fiscally hospitable venues. In addition to that it has been noted that excessive taxation in any country with substantial resources will distort world development causing a reduction in international income levels (Novak Moran 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Mining Sector of Australia: New Taxation Arrangements specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Diversion of a ctivity to other locations thus can be particularly detrimental to Australia given the large amount of minerals available. This position suggests a need to reconsider the tax in order to prevent any adverse outcome based on the implementation of the legislation. In another review of literature on newly implemented Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT), it has been mentioned that the current global economic climate is not very favorable. This is based on trends that indicate Europe and the US are yet to fully recover from the 2007 economic crisis (Garnaut 2010). The poor global economic environment raises important questions on whether contemporary governments of democratic capitalist countries have the capacity to implement policies in public interest that are contested by powerful private interests (Garnaut 2010). It has been reported that governments in capitalist economies face constant challenges posed by citizens and lobby groups. The response to these challenges in relation climat e change will play a major role in determining prospects for these countries (Garnaut 2010). Current statistics indicate that Australia is faring better than other rich countries after the Great Crash. It has been suggested that this has been assisted by rapid growth in large Asian developing countries (Garnaut 2010). However, some reports indicate that the main reason for this position is the improved policy making processes in the past couple decades. This improved policy making approach is based on the increased interest in reform focused on national interest as opposed to private interests. However, the implementation of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) appears to have reverted Australian political culture back to one which responds to pressure from vested sectional interests (Garnaut 2010). Therefore, the implementation of this tax has been seen to draw powerful negative response from businesses involved in the resources sector. This policy appears to indicate that the Aus tralian government has taken a preference for propositions that show greater potential with regard to national interest at the expense of private interests that provide significant revenue (Garnaut 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is based on the position that any system of taxation is expected to be as far as possible neutral. The ideal of neutrality suggests that in the absence of suitable justification, the tax should not alter decisions on investment, production or trade (Garnaut 2010). This quest for neutrality is not meant to exclude use of special taxes to correct externalities. Thus, neutral taxation allows efficient allocation of resources after private participants have taken constraints of externalities into account (Garnaut 2010). Since minerals lie under immobile tracts of land the relationship and identification of rent is clear and practical. The choice to use MRRT was based on the fact that rent based taxation imposes lower economic costs and provides proper representation of resources than other forms of taxation (Garnaut 2010). However, it has been noted that the imposition of such a tax may have major impact on new exploration activity in Australia. This suggests that imposition of suc h a tax may have an impact on the currently large amount of exploration activity within Australia. The above position is also reiterated in another article on the issue of Resource Rent Taxation by the same author (Garnaut 2010, p. 349). In this article title Principles and Practice of Resource Rent Taxation, the author describes various issues that relate to the MRRT. The author mentions that it is a fact that the more taxation can be focused on economic rent, the lower the economic burden of taxation (Garnaut 2010, p. 349). In this article the author mentions that in cases when opportunity to impose rent tax arise it is important to be careful that the rent is not economists refer to as Quasi Rent. These quasi rents are payments that in the long term provide incentive to maintain an economically valuable resource allocation (Garnaut 2010, p. 349). In relation to mining it has been mentioned that the total return received from natural resources must include some return for explorat ion activities. Such returns can be termed to be the quasi rent of exploration. Because of this a current mine will continue to operate despite taxation which limits its ability to cover exploration costs. However, on the contrary new exploration will be affected. This is because this form of taxation will diminish the incentive for new mine development (Garnaut 2010, p. 349). This article provides support for the argument that the MRRT will most likely reduce the exploration activity in Australia. The subject of the MRRT has caused some controversy within the mining sector and there is a need to address the situation to mitigate possible consequences of the action. In attempts to achieve this, the report identified an article discussing theoretical perspectives on resource tax design. The report states that natural resources are a large portion of wealth in many countries. Based on this position the approach used in managing their revenue potential can play a major role in a nation ’s prosperity and economic development (Boadway Keen 2008). It has been mentioned that the period between discovery and exploitation of natural resources can be long and may involve expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars (Boadway Keen 2008). In addition to that it has been noted that significant expenditure is made prior to the generation of any cash flow. Such expenditure is considered sunk costs and cannot be recovered. Due to this position the imposition of rents should always give adequate consideration so that these rents do not distort decisions within the sector (Boadway Keen 2008). The possibility of distorting decisions within an industry suggests that there is an urgent need to address approach by which taxation should be implemented. The issue then becomes identification of features that prevent the application of taxation at 100 or close to 100 percent. This brings to the fore the need of distinguishing rents from quasi rents (Boadway keen 2008). It is believed that if this is done the quasi rents should be taxed less heavily so that there is little effect on decisions to undertake new exploration activity. It has been suggested that one approach that maybe used in solving the problem posed by MRRT is the use of Production Sharing Agreements (PSA’s). It has been reported that such agreements are commonly used within the oil and gas industry (Boadway Keen 2008). Under this approach the government will share the profit from the resource after consideration and accounting for the production cost of the resource. This approach also allows for other measures to be put in place such as limits on the recovery cost to ensure the initial investment costs of the contractor are satisfied (Boadway Keen 2008). Another alternative is for the government to take direct ownership in resource based activities especially during the early stages of the venture. This approach can be handled in a number of ways which include the government re ceiving a short fully paid share of equity on commercial terms (Boadway Keen 2008). This approach to management of resources bears the advantage that it will mitigate the political risk involved given that the government has a stake in the arrangement. It may also play a role in reducing the effect of tax avoidance schemes. However, attempts at such arrangements have also revealed the downside of having state companies acting as fiscal agents (Boadway keen 2008). Another approach that has been suggested in the management of natural resources that may have varied results when compared to MRRT is the use of auctions (Boadway Keen 2008). These auctions can be successfully used to allocate rights to exploit resources and generate revenues for the government. To implement this approach simple rationing schemes may be used to allocate stakes on geographical areas. Though there is a high risk involved the owners can maximize profits once successful exploration is complete by charging re nts (Boadway Keen 2008). In relation to auctions the use of simple rationing may not be effective in making the prospects attractive to large producers. Thus it has been suggested that a more suitable approach may be to use technically supported applications (Boadway Keen 2008). It is believed that this approach can generate more revenue provided governments are well informed on how to choose among applicants. It is also crucial that these governments are free from the effects of capture, political influence and corruption for the process to succeed (Boadway Keen 2008). Using auctions provides the explicit advantage of selecting producers while generating revenue. There are several taxation approaches that can be used to levy tax on resources. However, consideration must be given to the average effective tax rate and the marginal effective tax rates. The main reason for this is to ensure that the rent tax imposed takes into consideration the distortion aspects caused by rent tax. This mode of taxation with some degree of sensitivity to underlying profitability issues may help in easing the pressure associated with such taxation. Throughout the review of literature one consistent notion has been that MRRT my influence new exploration in Australia. For this reason there is a need to look into investment activity in the region. In this regard it is reported that global resource investment is driven by the need for resources in rapidly growing Chinese and Indian markets (Drysdale Findlay 2008). These economies have in recent years emerged to become major player in overseas investment and development. For this reason China and India have the potential to provide opportunity on a scale that already dwarfs established markets in Japan and the rest of Asia. Australia has one of the most efficient mining sectors globally due t its openness in foreign investor competition and participation (Drysdale Findlay 2008). Though still in early stages of industrialization b oth India and China are sources of substantial international capital. This makes both active candidates for growing investment in the Australian resource industry. In the past few decades Australia and most developed countries have made efforts to convince voters that private sector and not government should take the lead in business management (Drysdale Findlay 2008). It has been observed that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a major role within the Australian resources sector. Based on statistics from 2006, it was mentioned that mining sector accounts for almost a quarter of the national foreign direct investment. This data suggests that mining produced accumulated stock of foreign investment amounting to almost AUD 77 billion (Drysdale Findlay 2008). In the same year the FDI in manufacturing was AUD 59 billion while FDI in services was AUD 164 billion (Drysdale Findlay 2008). The main reason for the ability to attract FDI is the confidence in the Australian investment env ironment. In addition to the above data it has also been reported that FDI accounts for over half the capital formation in all industries in Australia. In sectors such as mining in 2006, FDI accounted for half the capital formation and in some years forms an even higher proportion (Drysdale Findlay 2008). This fact is further complicated by data that indicates China is already Australia’s most significant trading partner (Drysdale Findlay 2008). It has been suggested that the trade relationship with China stands to become the most significant economic relationship in Australia. Despite the large FDI contribution by China there has been increased uncertainty about the treatment of Chinese FDI in the resources sector (Drysdale Findlay 2008). Due to this uncertainty it has been mentioned that rent tax has the potential to damage future growth in resources sector and interrupt Australia’s participation in Chinese economic growth. To dispel such uncertainty it has been s uggested that Australia reassert the market framework to allow for all foreign investment proposals to be examined in Australia (Drysdale Findlay 2008). In addition to that it has been suggested government to government initiation arrangements are made for routine consultation on issues of competition, corporate governance and financial transparency issues. The management of natural resources is a major issue given that they make a significant contribution to revenue in most nations (Perrings Vincent 2003). It has been observed that in recent time’s economic growth has seen half the world’s population double their income every decade (Torvik 2009). It has also been noted that countries that report the most growth had relatively little natural resources and many people. This has led to a sharp increase in prices or resources in comparison to industrial goods (Torvik 2009). In countries with properly established mechanisms to manage property rights and little corruptio n it has been observed that natural resources may contribute to growth (Torvik 2009). This situation informs on the role of institutional quality in terms of profits generated from natural resources. Another observation that plays a role in revenue generated from natural resources can be attributed to the role of parliament in democracies. It has been suggested that natural resources tend to benefit the country more when a parliamentary system is dominant within a nation (Torvik 2009). Proper management of natural resources is crucial given that the availability of resources has been known to feed corruption and affect quality of institutions (Bhattacharyya Hodler 2009). In studies on the role of institutions in management of natural resources it has been noted that resource rents can increase corruption and reduce quality of institutions (Bhattacharyya Hodler 2009). Analysis The suggestion to use MRRT comes in light of the failures associated with its predecessor the Resource Sup er Profit Tax (RSPT) (Ibp USA 2005). Controversy regarding use of RSPT began sometime in 2010 and ended with the eventual downfall of the then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (Ibp USA 2005). The response to the RSPT controversy created supporter and opposition groups composed of various stakeholders. The supporters included the Federal government, Australian Council of Trade Unions, Mining Unions and The Australian Greens. The opposition included the mining industry and mining lobby groups. In light of this controversy and resultant issues a proposal to utilize a different approach (MRRT) emerged. In designing an appropriate structure for resource rent there are three primary elements to consider namely, specified rate of return for imposition of the tax, specified tax rates imposed on net profits and the tax base (Daniel, Keen McPherson 2010). This form of taxation is widely used in the Petroleum industry and has been considered fairly effective in management of natural resou rces. Based on analysis of data from the petroleum industry it has been mentioned that resources rent provide ability to tie taxation directly to the projects profitability (Tordo 2007). In its pure form all taxes are deferred until all expenditure has been recovered and the project has yielded a defined target (Tordo 2007). If this approach is used in the Australian case it is likely to reduce the potential impact on exploration activity. One shortcoming of MRRT is that potential gains may be reduced by some of its characteristics. The first issue is due to the fact that the proposed tax has been set at a relatively low level and thus the taxation of profits of mining companies may remain much lower than prior to the mining boom (OECD 2010). In addition to that the efficiency gains promised by the MRRT are likely to be reduced by its coverage of only larger firms and certain sectors (OECD 2010). This suggests that for maximum efficiency the tax should be imposed on all sectors in t he resources industry. The suggestion to impose the tax on mining projects of coal and iron ore suggests that the imposition of MRRT is likely to distort investment incentives in mining projects involving coal and iron ore (OECD 2010). This is further complicated due to the fact that mining ventures will remain subject to royalties which provide a large disincentive for marginal projects such as exploration (OECD 2010). To mitigate this condition it has been suggested that royalties should be replaced entirely by a well designed Resource Rent Tax. This approach is believed to have the potential to simplify the tax system and remove state incentives to increase royalties with counterproductive effects. Despite the significant commotion that the imposition of MRRT has caused it should be noted that the increased revenues from resources are aimed at financing a number of novel schemes (OECD 2010). It has been reported that with these funds authorities plan to make gradual increments to the compulsory pension contribution rate (OECD 2010). This action is meant to improve equity of the tax treatment of retirement savings for the currently disadvantaged low income earners in the country. It has been proposed that an increase of between 9 and 12% this contribution between the years 2009-20 (OECD 2010). These funds have also been earmarked for infrastructure financing. In line with this the government aims to establish the new Regional Infrastructure Fund whose assets are expected to reach AUD 6 billion in the next decade (OECD 2010). The goal to improve infrastructure is of special importance given that Australia experiences a shortfall in infrastructure (OECD 2010). This shortage of infrastructure could worsen due to demand pressures exerted by the mining boom currently being experienced in the country. In response to this demand and for the avoidance of potential bottlenecks, authorities have placed bolstering infrastructure at the top of their policy agenda (OECD 2010). The increased expenditure on infrastructure has the ability of creating significant benefit given that this type of reform has a tendency of influencing both public and private investment choices (OECD 2010). The imposition of the MRRT on the resource industry in Australia has varying implications for the sector. It has been mentioned that Resource Taxation has the potential to distort and inhibit investment and production within the sector at four different margins (Garnaut 2010). These include the ability to constrain investment in exploration, investment in new mines, investment in expansion of old mines and production from each mine (Garnaut 2010). It should be noted that distortion is not restricted to MRRT alone because specific and ad valorem royalties are also likely to have an effect on inhibition of investment in exploration. Such royalties have a minimal effect on investment in new mine development and even less effect on expansion of existing mines (Garnaut 2010). Based on this position it appears that MRRT will have some effect on the mentioned areas. Another problem with the MRRT is that it raises questions on the Federal-State relationship which have the potential to destabilize access to the resources. It is important that these issues are resolved alongside settling of the structure for resources taxation and it is not an easy task (Garnaut 2010). This is because of the issue in relationship to ownership of mined resources. Whereas treasury suggests Australian resources belong to all Australians, state officials argue resources belong to the people in the state where they are mined (Fenna 2012). The issue of Federal-State relationship comes into play based on the fact that responsibility for mineral leasing is handled by the State. On the other hand, the Commonwealth has constitutional authority for corporate taxation which by dint of interpretation suggests over riding authority on fiscal matters (Garnaut 2010). The apparent uproar by State based authorities appears questionable due to their inability to introduce better means of resource taxation. In summary, it should be noted that the main advantage that comes with resource rent tax is its neutrality (Tordo 2007). However, the approach also comes with the disadvantage that tax can only be realized when defined rate of return or target payback is achieved (Vanoli 2005). The disadvantage can be avoided by using a suitable combination of royalty and/or corporate income tax (Smith 2012). This also appears a suitable solution to the issue of the Federal-State relationship in Australia (Warren 2012). The main difficulty with resource rent tax is determination of an effective target rate. This suggests a deeper understanding of the project and exogenous conditions. In this case it is suggested that the government liaise with stakeholders in the industry to determine a fair target rate (Warren 2012). Conclusion In this report the discussion has attempted to analyze th e move to change the approach used to tax organizations involved in extraction of some natural resources in Australia. This is essential given that extraction of these nonrenewable natural resources makes significant contributions to government revenue in many countries (Lund 2008). The exploitation of natural resources has seen the evolution of various taxes to manage revenue from natural resources. In Australia, the mining sector has for a long time played a vital role in national development. The main reason that there has been steady growth in the natural resource extractions sector is due to the relative political stability and regulation arrangements (Novak Moran 2011). However, in light of changes in the commonwealth and an unproductive fiscal stimulus there was a need to identify mechanisms that could improve revenue generation. This position thus formed a basis to improve efficiency in the taxation of nonrenewable natural resources. It is hoped that such a policy (MRRT) wi ll help in reducing the divergence in growth between resource rich and non resource rich regions in Australia (Novak Moran 2011). It should be noted that the main advantage with the MRRT is based on its neutrality. Based on this characteristic the approach allows for maximum revenue generation. However, some have argued that the imposition of MRRT has the potential of influencing future investment decisions within the mining industry (Tordo 2007). This point is a matter of concern given that a large portion of expenditure in the mining sector comes from FDI. This suggests that unless the MRRT is adjusted appropriately it is likely to cause loss of revenue from potential exploration organizations. In addition to the potential to lose FDI, there is the issue of the Federal-State relationship. Despite these challenges it has been mentioned that if the effective target rate is properly calculated the risks associated with MRRT are likely to be minimal. For this reason it appears that f or the success of this new tax regime close partnership between government and stakeholders in mining is necessary. It is believed that with such considerations, the MRRT regime should be successful in Australia. References Bhattacharyya, S Hodler, R 2009, ‘Natural Resources, Democracy and Corruption’, OxCarre Research paper, No. 2009-20, pp 1-44. Boadway, R Keen, M 2008, ‘Theoretical Perspectives on Resource Tax Design’, Queen’s Economic Department Working Paper, No. 1206, pp. 1-70. Daniel, P, Keen, M McPherson, C 2010, The Taxation of Petroleum and Minerals: Principles, Problems and Practice, Routledge, Oxon. Drysdale, P Findlay, C 2008, ‘Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Australia: Policy Issues for the Resource Sector’, Paper for Presentation at Crawford School Public Seminar, pp. 1-45. Fenna, A 2012, ‘The Character of Australian Federalism’, eJournal of Tax Research, vol. 10.1, p. 12-20. Garnaut, R 2010, ‘T he New Australian Resource Rent Tax’, University of Melbourne, pp. 1-21. Garnaut, R 2010, ‘Principles and Practice of Resource Rent Taxation’, The Australian economic Review, vol. 43.4, pp. 347-256. Ibp USA 2005, Australia Mineral and Mining sector Investment and Business Guide, International Business Publications, USA. Lund, D 2008, ‘Rent Taxation for non Renewable Resources’, The Annual Review of Resource Economics, vol. 9, pp. 1-43. Novak, J Moran, A 2011, ‘Submission to inquiry into the Mineral Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011 and related bills’, Institute of Public Affairs, pp. 1-29. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 2008, OECD Economic Surveys: Australia 2008, OECD Publishing, Australia. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 2010, OECD Economic Surveys: Australia 2010, OECD Publishing, Australia. Perrings, C Vincent J 2003, Natural Resource Accounting and economic Development: Theory a nd Practice, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham, UK. Smith, G 2012, ‘The way forward on state tax reform: an AFTSR perspective’, eJournal of Tax Research, vol. 10.1, p. 126-137. Tordo, S 2007, Fiscal Systems for Hydrocarbons: Design Issues, World Bank Publications, Washington D.C. Torvik, R 2009, ‘Why do some resource-abundant countries succeed while other do not?’, Oxford Review of Economic Policy, vol. 25.2, pp. 241-256. Vanoli, A 2005, A History of National Accounting, IOS Press, Amsterdam. Warren, N 2012, ‘Fiscal Federalism under Review (at Speed)’, eJournal of Tax Research, vol. 10.1, p. 5-11. Warren, N 2012, ‘Fiscal equalization and State incentive for policy reform’, eJournal of Tax Research, vol. 10.1, p. 165-181. This essay on The Mining Sector of Australia: New Taxation Arrangements was written and submitted by user Trinity Osborne to help you with your own studies. 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