Earthquake in Japan Essay Example for Free

Earthquake in Japan Essay On March 11, 2011, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded hit Japans eastern coast. It killed hundreds of people as it made its way through the streets and fields, sweeping away boats, cars and homes. Its magnitude was 8.9, releasing a 23-foot tsunami and then provoking more than 50 aftershocks for hours. This horrific event resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and devastated entire towns. The amount of damage caused by the earthquake and resulting tsunami was excessive, with most of the damage being caused by the tsunami. Thousands of families were left without electricity. Many nuclear and conventional power plants went offline after the earthquake. Cell phones and landline services suffered major disruptions so many people weren’t able to communicate with their relatives across the country. Japans transportation was also affected. Expressways were damaged; cars and trucks were swept away by the tsunami and railway services cancelled. The earthquake was caused by an uplift of the sea floor, where the Pacific tectonic plate slides beneath the plate Japan sits on. This motion pulls the upper plate down until the stress builds up enough to cause a seismic event. Tons of miles of crust ruptured along the area where the tectonic plates meet. Since the earthquake occurred at a very shallow depth, much of its energy was released at the seafloor, therefore causing the tsunami that devastated Japan and causing chaos among the Japanese community. Even though Japan was said to be â€Å"prepared† for a natural disaster such as a tsunami by building protective walls, the large size of the water surge was completely unexpected. The tsunami walls were built based on much smaller tsunami heights recorded in the past. To the surprise of the Japanese people, the tsunami simply washed over the top of the seawalls, collapsing some in the process. The tsunami also caused a number of nuclear accidents. Many electrical generators were taken down, and at least three nuclear reactors suffered explosions due cooling system failure. The tsunami waves overtopped seawalls and destroyed diesel backup power systems, leading to severe problems such as large explosions and radioactive leakage. It has been almost a year since the devastating 9.0 earthquake and tsunami destroyed coastal communities in northern Japan killing more than 15,000 people. What struck me the most about this tragedy is the reaction of the Japanese community and picturing what it would have been like to be present at that moment. I can simply imagine the terror in people’s faces trying to survive and doing everything they could to save their families and themselves. Even though thousands of people died, those who lived through this horrible experience can count with our total support and help from those who could not do anything at the moment and simply watched as Mother Nature, once again, did its job.

Snow, Yolanda by Julia Alvarez Essay -- culture, latina writer

Culture molds the character of writers and gives a variety of different perspective on certain life experiences. In Julia Alvarez’s short story Snow, Yolanda, an immigrant student, moved to New York. While attending a Catholic school in New York, bomb drills were performed. The teacher would explain why these drills were important. Yolanda later found out that her first experience of watching snow was not the best experience one could possibly have. Julia Alvarez was an example of how a Latina writer identified herself in a new culture outside of her comfort zone. She, as a Dominican Diaspora, had to reinvent herself as she migrated into a new scenario. Her assimilation into the United States culture allowed her to understand and relate to the reader’s needs and points of interests. After all the effort, Alvarez kept in mind that she could not comfort to all the reality that she lived in, so she re-reinvented herself all over again to process her thoughts and beliefs into her life. She put her perspective on her writing so that the new wave of readers, even if they did not understand, could relate in some way and appreciate the differences. The sole purpose of her writings was for everyone to change their perspective from â€Å"walk to the other side of the street in order to avoid sharing the same sidewalk† to â€Å"I do not know them, but I do not avoid them because I do not know them†. She instilled in h er reader’s mind how ordinary events were viewed differently through other cultures’ eyes. Her story Snow was a great example of how she portrayed her technique. Many reviews have been written on Julia Alvarez since she is a Dominican Diaspora, a Jew who lived outside of Israel, who wrote in a Latina perspective in the country of Uni... ... Works Cited Julia Alvarez. â€Å"Snow†. Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Lauren G, Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. 8th ed. Boston, Wadsworth 2011. 75-76. Print â€Å"Marking The Centennial Of Pable Neruda’s Birth: A Review of His Selected Works.† Social Studies 95.4 (n.d): 181.SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 25 March. 2014. Neruda, Pablo. â€Å"Ode to the Liver (poem).† Alcohol Research & Health 27.3 (n.d.): 210. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 25 March. 2014. Rivas-Rojas, Raquel. â€Å"FABULAS DE ARRAIGO VICARIO EN LA NARRATIVA DE JULIA ALVAREZ. (Spanish).† Canadian Journal Of Latin American & Caribbean Studies 33.66 (2008): 157-169. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Suarà ©z, Lucia M. â€Å"Julia Alvarez And The Anxiety Of Latina Representation.† Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism 5.1 (2004): 117-145. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 25 Mar.2014.

Haier’s Strategy for Global Success Essay

In 1920s China, a small factory opened in Qingdao, Shandong province, to manufacture refrigerators. Though the Qingdao factory survived for more than sixty years, by the early 1980s, poor management and heavy debt nearly forced it to declare bankruptcy. At the same time, the opening of the Chinese economy to the international market saw an influx of foreign companies seeking investment opportunities. One such company was Liebherr Haushaltergà ¤te (Liebherr), a leading German appliance maker. Liebherr saw a burgeoning market for appliances, and proposed a partnership with the Qingdao factory, in which Liebherr’s technology and manufacturing know-how would be sold to the factory. In 1984, Qingdao Refrigerator Co. Ltd. was born out of this partnership. However, technology alone was not enough to rescue the company. That same year, CEO Zhang Ruimin, then the assistant manager of Qingdao city’s household appliance division, arrived, bringing with him management techniques adopted from Japan and the West, with a focus on building a strong brand name founded on quality products. Mr. Ruimin’s techniques were successful, and by 1991 the company had turned a considerable profit and diversified into other household appliances such as freezers, microwaves and air conditioners. Recognizing that the company’s name was no longer synonymous with its products and had a poor reputation from its prior history, Mr. Ruimin decided to take a new name. The company adopted an abbreviation of the phonetic spelling of Liebherr – written as Lieberhaier – to become the Haier Group Corporation (Haier). This name change marked the birth of a new brand name and the revitalization of the company’s image. Capitalizing on its new management and brand, Haier transformed itself into the second largest home appliance company in the world, and the number one such company in China. By 2010, Haier designed, manufactured and marketed over 15,000 products in 96 categories sold in over 100 countries throughout the world. Branding The beginning of Haier’s brand strategy is the stuff of corporate legend. In 1985, one of the company’s customers brought back a refrigerator (still a rare luxury item in China at the time) because it did not work. Mr. Ruimin and the customer went through all the company’s available stock of refrigerators until they finally found a working model. Of the 400 or so finished refrigerators in the factory at the time, 76 were found to not be in working order. In response, he called his employees together and ordered that all of the dud refrigerators be lined up on the factory floor. He then gave sledgehammers to the workers and ordered them to smash the refrigerators. Mr. Ruimin is reported to have told the workers: ‘Destroy them! If we pass these 76 refrigerators for sale, we will be continuing a mistake that has all but bankrupted our company.† This event brought the importance of quality products to everyone in the company, and Mr. Ruimin stressed to them that quality products linked to a strong brand name were essential to the company’s survival. With this new commitment to quality, the installation of new equipment and the transfer of manufacturing know-how from Liebherr, sales rose 83% in two years. With the company’s reputation increasing, the name change to Haier created a new brand synonymous with quality cutting-edge technology that would inspire customer confidence and do away with any negative sentiments associated with the company’s former name. Developing new products backed by intellectual property rights (IPRs) such as patents ensured that the brand’s success would continue and it would maintain a competitive edge. The company and its customers also took pride in the ability of the Haier brand to successfully compete with more established international competitors. Haier knew that its brand was its most valuable resource, with brand image at the core of its business identity and strategy, therefore its early branding strategy was to build a strong, leading national brand name. Throughout the 1990s, the company realized its vision, and made multiple acquisitions to diversify its product portfolio and the company brand quickly become ubiquitous throughout China. With its position in China profitable and secure, Haier embarked on a global branding strategy. This strategy aims to position the company as a local brand in different world markets in conjunction with enhanced product competitiveness and strong corporate operations. The company focuses on localizing the design, manufacturing and sales processes, so it can truly become a â€Å"local† brand. The company is close to achieving its goal in important markets such as the United States and Europe, in which it has local production facilities. Its products are available in twelve of the top fifteen chain stores in Europe and in ten of the leading chain stores in the United States. Research and Development Since the company’s restructuring in the early 1980s, innovating new quality products has been of central importance to its goal of building a globally recognized brand name. Haier and its subsidiary companies constantly focus on innovating new products through research and development (R&D). One such technology the company’s R&D efforts developed is its â€Å"Safe Care† technology, which it applies to appliances such as water heaters. Safe Care monitors wiring and electrical components of the appliance and gives a warning should any electricity leakage pose a risk to the consumer. This technology was introduced at the 66th International Electrotechnical Commission Conference in 2002, and products equipped with Safe Care went on sale in 2006. This is just one example of Haier’s innovative capabilities through its R&D efforts. The R&D department is also responsible for developing all of the computer software that runs its products such as Safe Care, and this is an essential part of the company’s R&D strategy. Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Haier’s innovation and expansion has led it to be the owner of over 6,000 patents and over 500 software copyrights worldwide. To maintain its competitive edge, the company ensures that it secures protection for all of its intellectual property (IP). Haier is an avid user of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, and has made over twenty PCT applications. Because the company endeavors to build a global brand, trademarks are also an essential aspect of its IP strategy. As such, Haier has registered a trademark for its company name under the international Madrid system. It has also made trademark registrations for its name in the United States with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and in Europe with the Trademark and Designs Registration Office of the European Union (OHIM). Commercialization Haier designs, produces and markets its products through its global network and business framework. As of 2010, Haier had fifteen industrial complexes, thirty overseas production factories and bases, eight design centers and over 58,000 sales agents worldwide. In the domestic market, Haier focuses on four leading product categories: refrigerators, refrigerating cabinets, air conditioners and washing machines. Haier also has a significant consumer electronics division. For international markets, Haier has adopted a unique strategy to penetrate difficult markets such as the United States and Europe. When it first entered the market in the United States, it identified two potentially lucrative yet underdeveloped niche markets – that of small sized refrigerators for dorm rooms, hotels, and the like; and electric wine cellars. Haier’s imports of these appliances, coupled with a strong design and development team, helped the company rapidly develop its brand, and by 2000 it was a major player in both product markets. The success of Haier in such niche markets has allowed its brand name to become well known, which encouraged the company to target the higher-end full size refrigerator market in the United States. To do so, the company built its first manufacturing plant in the United States in Camden, South Carolina in 1999. In line with the company’s goal of making its brand name â€Å"local† in international markets, this initiative was a resounding success. Haier has since undertaken similar initiatives in other markets such as the European Union and the Middle East. Business Results Haier’s focus on building a strong brand has brought it from the brink of bankruptcy to one of the most successful appliance companies in the world. By 2010 the company had over 50,000 worldwide employees. It enjoyed an annual growth rate of 68% between 1984 and 2005, with revenue in 2005 totaling 103.4 billion Chinese Renminbi (RMB). The company enjoys a 40% market share for household appliances in China and has successfully entered difficult markets such as the United States, and it is now the world’s number two refrigerator manufacturer, only second to Whirlpool. Despite the economic slump in 2008, Haier profits increased nearly 20% that year and enjoyed net profits of RMB 768 million. In 2004, Haier acquired a controlling stake in Haier-CCT Holdings, a joint venture which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that same year. Haier’s international success and well known brand name led to the company becoming an official sponsor for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Success Built on the Shoulders of Branding Key to any company’s success is its brand, and strong brands allow a company to not only grow domestically but also internationally. Haier rode the wave of its strong domestic brand to enter new markets and expand into a fast growing multinational corporation. In March 2009, the Financial Times recognized Haier’s success when it ranked it among the Top 10 Chinese World-class Brands. Through protecting its IP and brand names with trademarks, Haier has built up a powerful asset that has transformed the company and brought global recognition for its brand and products.

Music Censorship - 1016 Words

Kevin Ung Professor Vazquez English 101 October 9, 2007 Music Censorship I enjoy and love music very much. I feel that music artists should have the right to freely express their work and I feel that I should argue about the censorship attacks on these artists. I’m tired of listening to a good song on the radio with some of the words censored. It ruins the song and I can’t stand it. Some people think that rap is a bad influence and causes the young to behave badly. But I think all this censoring has something to do with racism because it is mostly black people singing the songs. The first website list the good side and bad side of rap censorship. I think half of this site is pretty good to use for my paper. The second website has a†¦show more content†¦I don’t think this site is appropriate for reasons mention above. But this site is a little better because I can actually view the whole essay plus the sources the person used. This makes the paper more reliable. This paper mostly shows the beginnings of how ra p got started and the troubles of censoring it went through. The writer does seem to be against censorship but this paper is mainly just facts for the reader and not that much persuasive. I would recommend my readers to read this for the freedom issues the write discusses about. ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) would be appropriate for my readers to contact. ACLU is a political organization that is nonprofit and nonpartisan. They have many civil liberties members and supporters. They protect individual rights, your First Amendment rights, your right to equal protection under the law, etc. Censorship goes against your freedom of speech and so they try and protect that from music artists who are having their work censored. The strongest piece of information I have discovered from this aspect of my research came from reading the paper on the second website. I read about how PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) claimed that popular music was responsible for influencing the young li ke increase of rape, crime, suicide, etc. This organization goes against everything I’m fighting for and is the main problemShow MoreRelatedCensorship And Censorship Of Music1544 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the years, music has evolved and transformed in many ways. However, there are restrictions in today’s music, otherwise known as, censorships. A crisis has emerged concerning the issue of censorship. This argument consists of two possible stances: one, supporting the continuation of censorship, and two, eliminating the status quo of censorships in the music industry. There have been countless debates and arguments regarding the issues of censorship ever since the U.S. Congress passed theRead MoreEssay on Music Censorship1049 Words   |  5 PagesMusic Censorship   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today, in the 1990s, citizens in our society are being bombarded with obscene material from every direction. From the hate lyrics of Guns N Roses to the satanic lyrics of Montley Crue and Marilyn Manson to the sexually explicit graphical content of todays movies, the issue is how much society is going to permit and where we, as a society, should we draw the line. The freedom of speech has always been considered a right, but that doesnt mean that you can shout, FireRead MoreCensorship in Music Essays1076 Words   |  5 PagesCensorship in Music Censorship in music has been a major problem plaguing America since the early nineteen forties. It came to a head during the nineteen sixties with the Vietnam War and the hippie movement. 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Music censorship is the attempt or action taken by any agency to limit or hold back anything in music that a community may find offensive to its beliefs or valuesRead MoreEssay on Censorship of Music1406 Words   |  6 PagesCensorship of Music In todays society, all types of music artists are expressing their views, opinions and feelings in their songs about what they see and what they know. This is on of the great things about this country, the freedom to express yourself. It is not fair, nor is it constitutional that music should be censored in anyway. It is not only rap music trying to be censored it is in all types of music. They are taking away their rights and it isnt fair. As reported in the New York TimesRead More Music Censorship Essay3364 Words   |  14 Pagesfuss about? Censorship, Government officials, and raving mad protesters alike have been trying to stop the expressive creativity in everything from rap music to Mark Twain. Censorship in music is a topic that has brought about much controversy in the past two decades. There have been many different arguments on the topic, however the question still remains as if it should be censored or it should not be censored. In Paul Blanshard’s book The Right To Read: The Battle Against Censorship, he speaksRead MoreMusic Censorship Essay2897 Words   |  12 PagesCensorship in Music When listening to the radio, most people come across a song that has been changed from its original version, whether certain words are beeped out, or a string of lyrics are replaced altogether. This is censorship, and it is very common on the radio. It is also very controversial. People don’t agree what should be censored or if anything should be censored at all. However, we believe that censorship is a good thing. Censorship allows offensive music to be altered so that it isRead More Music Censorship Essay2636 Words   |  11 Pageslyrics. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Since the dawn of musical expression, there have been people trying to stop or hinder the constitutional right to listen and enjoy music of all forms. There were ordinary, everyday people during the infancy of Rock N’ Roll in the 1960’s who made it their mission in life to stop so-called â€Å"obscene† music like the Beatles song â€Å"Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds,† from polluting our airwaves and minds. These groups succeeded in banning some songs from the radio, but most