How P&G Brought the Diaper Revolution to China Essay Example for Free

How PG Brought the Diaper Revolution to China Essay When Procter Gamble set out to sell Pampers in China more than a decade ago, it faced a daunting marketing challenge: PG didn’t just have to persuade parents that its diapers were the best. It had to persuade many of them that they needed diapers at all. The disposable diaper — a throwaway commodity in the West — just wasn’t part of the cultural norm in the Chinese nursery. Babies wore cloth diapers, or in many cases, no diaper at all. And that, says Bruce Brown, who’s in charge of PG’s $2 billion RD budget, is why China presented — and still presents — such a huge opportunity. Today, after years of exhaustive research and plenty of missteps, Pampers is the No. 1-selling diaper in China and the company, in many ways, is just getting started there. The diaper market in China is booming. It stands at $1. 4 billion — roughly a quarter the size of the U. S. market — and is projected to grow 40 percent over the next few years, according to research firm Datamonitor. PG’s success in China has helped CEO Bob McDonald set some bold goals. Last October, he laid out a plan to add one billion customers over the next five years by promoting PG brands throughout some of the poorest corners of the world. How will PG go about doing that? To get a sense, just look at the way it cracked — and to a large degree created — the market for disposable diapers in China. Learning From Failure When PG first launched Pampers in China in 1998, the effort flopped. Instead of developing a unique product for the market, PG made a lower-quality version of U. S. and European diapers, wrongly assuming that parents would buy them if they were cheap enough. â€Å"It just didn’t work,† Brown says. Chinese split-pants, or kaidangku. Photo by The Wus Photo Land on Flickr It didn’t help that Chinese families had always gotten along just fine without disposable diapers. There, potty training often begins as early as six months, and children wear what’s called kaidangku — colorful open-crotch pants that let them squat and relieve themselves in open areas. Pampers’ pitch wasn’t compelling people to try something new — and neither was the product itself. â€Å"We scrimped on the softness in the earlier versions,† says Kelly Anchrum, director of global baby care, external relations, and sustainability. â€Å"It had a more plasticky feel. It took us awhile to figure out that softness was just as important to moms in a developing market. † PG had tried a similarly watered-down approach earlier in the decade, when it launched laundry and hair-care brands in several emerging markets. Those products also failed, Brown says. After these experiences, the company in 2001 came up with a new approach to product development: â€Å"Delight, don’t dilute. † In other words, the diaper needed to be cheap, but it also had to do what other cheap diapers didn’t — keep a baby dry for 10 hours and be as comfortable as cloth. So PG added softness, dialed down the plastic feel, and increased the absorption capability of the diaper. To bring down the cost, the company developed more efficient technology platforms and moved manufacturing operations to China to eliminate shipping costs. The revamped diaper, Pampers Cloth Like Dry, hit retail shelves in China’s largest cities in 2006, selling for the equivalent of 10 cents in local currency, less than half the cost of a Pampers diaper in the United States. The Universal Pitch PG had the right diaper and the right price point. Now it faced the bigger challenge. â€Å"You have to convince someone that they need this thing,† says Ali Dibadj, an analyst who covers PG at Sanford C. Bernstein Co. For Frances Roberts, global brand franchise leader for Pampers, every trip to China was (and still is) an opportunity to learn more about Chinese nursery habits. It’s part of the PG ethos that brand leaders visit consumers in their own homes — something Roberts has done in dozens of countries, including Germany, Russia, and Jakarta. The goal is to uncover the nuances of each market, and early on in its diaper research PG discovered a universal need. â€Å"Moms say the same things over and over,† Roberts says. Their cry: We want more sleep. With the help of the Beijing Children’s Hospital’s Sleep Research Center, PG researchers conducted two exhaustive studies between 2005 and 2006, involving 6,800 home visits, and more than 1,000 babies throughout eight cities in China. Instead of cloth, the research subjects were tucked into bed with Pampers. The results: PG reported that the babies who wore the disposables fell asleep 30 percent faster and slept an extra 30 minutes every night. The study even linked the extra sleep to improved cognitive development, a compelling point in a society obsessed with academic achievement. PG then put its marketing machine into motion. Pampers launched the â€Å"Golden Sleep† campaign in 2007, which included mass carnivals and in-store campaigns in China’s biggest urban areas. A viral campaign on the Pampers Chinese web site asked parents to upload photos of their sleeping babies to drive home the study’s sleep message. The response was impressive: 200,000 photos, which PG used to create a 660-square-meter photomontage at a retail store in Shanghai. The ad campaign boasted â€Å"scientific† results, such as â€Å"Baby Sleeps with 50% Less Disruption† and â€Å"Baby Falls Asleep 30% Faster. No diaper brand, not even rival Kimberly-Clark, maker of Huggies, has come close to spending as much on advertising in China, according to CTR Market Research, the China-based division of American media researcher TNS Media Intelligence. Since 2006, Pampers’ measured media spend topped 3. 2 billion yuan, or about $476 million — more than three times as much as any other brand. In 2009 alone, PG spent $69 million, compared to Kimberly-Clark’s $12 million spend for Huggies. Ruling the Nursery — in China and Around the World Today, Pampers is the top-selling brand in China, a country where about a decade ago the disposable diaper category hardly existed. PG does not release sales figures for specific countries, but Datamonitor estimates that the company has captured more than 30 percent of the $1. 4 billion market. Karl Gerth, an Oxford professor who researches the spread of consumerism in China, says PG’s marketing campaigns strike the right tone. â€Å"You don’t want to come off as paternalistic,† says Gerth, who wrote the book â€Å"China Made: Consumer Culture and the Creation of the Nation. â€Å"The idea that Pampers brings a scientific backing and gives children an edge in their environment — that’s a brilliant way to stand out from the competition. † You could argue that it’s easy being No. 1 when the market is still small. But PG still has a lot of work to do. The company faces challenges from private-label and domestic brands, including the No. 2 market leader, Hengan International Group, which has steadily grown its market share to 20 percent. Local brands, meantime, are catching up with better products, marketing, and distribution. Chinese consumers are going to want to root for the home team,† Gerth says. And there’s still the challenge of making disposables a habit. On average, diaper use still amounts to less than one a day. â€Å"We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface [in China],† Dimitri Panayotopoulos, vice chairman of global household care, told investors in a 2008 analyst meeting. There’s even bigger potential in India, where the birth rate is almost double that of China but the diaper market remains tiny at about $43. 4 million. (Pampers is the top-selling brand there, too. So now, PG plans to take the sleep argument throughout rural and poor areas in India and elsewhere. The company also makes its case by positioning itself as a baby-care educator. Pampers sponsors healthcare-outreach programs such as a rural immunization program in China and mobile medical-care vans in Pakistan and Morocco. In India, there’s a door-to-door program that offers baby-care tips and diaper samples for moms. Of course, PG tweaks the sales pitch to fit different markets; that’s what the company is known for. In India, for instance, the convenience of disposable diapers doesn’t resonate with parents. The company’s consumer research found that many Indian mothers think that only lazy moms put their babies in disposable diapers that last a full night. As Pampers brand manager Vidya Ramachandran reported in an internal video shown to employees, â€Å"We really had to change that mindset and educate [mothers] that using a diaper is not about convenience for you — it’s about your baby’s development. †

Energy Drink and Red Bull Essay Example for Free

Energy Drink and Red Bull Essay This global profile focuses on the industry trends in soft drinks. ? All values expressed in this report are retail/off-trade in US dollar terms using a fixed exchange rate (2012). ? 2012 figures are based on part-year estimates. ? All forecast data are expressed in constant terms; inflationary effects are discounted. Conversely, all historical data are expressed in current terms; inflationary effects are taken into account. SOFT DRINKS OFF-TRADE RTD VOLUME 534. 8 billion litres Bottled Water 192 billion litres Sports and Bottled and Energy Drinks Sports Energy Water 15 billion litres Drinks 205. 1 billion 16. 2 billion litres Concentrates litres 43 billion litres RTD Coffee 4. 5 billion litres Disclaimer Much of the information in this briefing is of a statistical nature and, while every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy and reliability, Euromonitor International cannot be held responsible for omissions or errors. Figures in tables and analyses are calculated from unrounded data and may not sum. Analyses found in the briefings may not totally reflect the companies’ opinions, reader discretion is advised. Carbonates 169. 5 billion litres. Fruit/Vegetable Juice 62. 0 billion litres Concentrates 43. 7 billion litres RTD Tea 30. 1 billion litres While Red Bull remains the world leader in energy drinks, it is facing growing competition from other players. TCCC in particular, with Monster in the US and Burn in Brazil, is also posing an increasing threat. These two markets are emerging as energy drinks battlegrounds and the implications are considerable for Red Bull’s ability to remain the number one ranked player.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 2Dietrich Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya each owned a 49% stake prior to 2012 when Mr Yoovidhya passed away. Mr Yoovidhya’s son Chalerm holds the remaining 2%. While Mr Yoovidhya was alive he acted as a silent partner. Red Bull GmbH Headquarters: Regional involvement: Category involvement: Fuschl am See, Austria Global Carbonates, sports and energy drinks ? Red Bull has created the global market for energy drinks, and the pioneering Red Bull brand has became synonymous with energy drinks for a large number of consumers. Red Bull remains bullish and ambitious in their corporate brand. Despite rising competition, Red Bull continues to comfortably lead the global energy drinks market in both volume and value terms. However, the threat from The CocaCola Co (TCCC) has been mounting. World soft drinks share by off-trade 0. 2% RTD volume (2012): World soft drinks off-trade RTD volume 12. 4% growth (2011-2012):  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 4 STRATEGIC EVALUATION Red Bull continues to see strong net sales growth ? Red Bull operates many other businesses aside from energy drinks The company owns and manages a construction company, football clubs, youth academies and TV broadcasting and recently online clothing (Red Bull label only) sales. ? Additional media products include print magazines about football, motor racing, celebrity gossip and lifestyle. The company has even ventured into the mobile phone service business in Austria, Hungary, Switzerland and South Africa.? As a privately-held company, financial information is limited however the company reported net sales of â‚ ¬4. 9 billion in 2012 and 5. 2 billion cans sold, representing growth of 15. 9% and 12. 8%, respectively.  © Euromonitor International ? Red Bull reported exceptionally strong net sales growth in South Africa (+52%), Japan (+51%), Saudi Arabia (+38%), France (+21%), the US (+17%) and Germany (+14%). Red Bull cited efficient cost management and ongoing brand investment as underpinning its growing profitability. SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 5 STRATEGIC EVALUATION SWOT: Red Bull GmbH STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Broad geographic presence ? Red Bull has ? Red Bull has a broad established a strong, geographic presence, consistent brand image which should ensure (an independent, edgy positive long-term brand) globally. Red Bull growth even if certain is synonymous with markets reach maturity. energy drinks in many countries. Category leader OPPORTUNITIES Category limitations Controversial ? In overall soft drinks, ? The relatively high Red Bull has a limited caffeine content of Red product portfolio Bull makes the brand compared to the rising highly vulnerable to number of rivals with a regulatory control. plethora of flavour variants and categories. THREATS. Emerging markets New production Competition High marketing costs ? Red Bull is building a new ? Monster represents the ? Market maturity in ? Emerging markets production facility in Brazil biggest threat to Red developed markets will represent newer which is likely to make its Bull as it contains make marketing to its geographies for Red retail price more natural ingredients, core consumers harder Bull’s expansion. competitive than imported which seem more than in the past. Accelerating the product prices. Building a desirable than Red Bull Constant communication marketing and site in Asia should also be for some consumers.with consumers means sponsorships in these high marketing costs. markets is a wise move. considered.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 6 STRATEGIC EVALUATION Key strategic challenges and objectives It is not easy at the top ? Red Bull’s success has attracted considerable interest from soft drinks multinationals, TCCC and PepsiCo. TCCC in particular has been successful at leveraging its distribution network to launch Burn across many markets and to back Monster. Burn is a major threat to Red Bull in Brazil while in the US Monster has overtaken Red Bull in offtrade volume sales terms. Red Bull will need to find ways to hold onto its number one ranking globally in energy drinks and stave off this competition. Will premium work in emerging markets? ? Red Bull has consistently maintained its premium positioning from its slimline metal cans to its price differential versus brands such as Monster. While this strategy has reaped dividends in the mature markets, it remains to be seen if it will sustain growth in the emerging markets. Brazil with its large population of lower-income consumers may pose a challenge giving cheaper brands such as TCCC’s Burn a competitive advantage. Red Bull stands up to health regulators ? While health officials continue to voice concerns over energy drinks and the category remains under threat from stronger regulation, energy drinks has seen relatively little impact in terms of sales. To some extent this has added to the category’s â€Å"edginess† attracting young consumers and generating consumer interest. There is little risk of Red Bull reformulating its product to cater to health concerns and instead the company insists that its products do not pose a health risk. Red Bull breaks with tradition in 2013 ? In 2013, Red Bull, for the first time in 15 years added new products to its energy drinks range. Red Bull underperformed the overall energy drinks market in 2011-2012. While the company’s market share of the energy drinks market in the US increased in 2012, the market’s growth rate overall began to wane. Red Bull remains heavily dependent on the US for its global growth. Weakness here is reflected in the company’s weakening global performance in volume terms. The company however continues to enjoy the position of number one ranked player in energy drinks globally with a 21. 4% market share. ? In terms of absolute volume growth however, the US remained Red Bull’s key growth engine in 2011-2012 reflecting growth of 96% over 2007-2012. Brazil came second in terms of absolute volume growth expanding by 608% over the review period or 48% CAGR. This market was a particular focus for Red Bull with the company sponsoring various sporting events in order to raise the brand’s profile.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 9 COMPETITIVE POSITIONING Red Bull faces mounting pressure ? In value terms, the company’s performance was stronger in recent years although even in value terms the company’s performance fell below that of the energy drinks market overall. The energy drinks market has attracted a number of other players including Monster Beverage Co, and The Coca-Cola Co (TCCC) which marketed it own brands in the category including Burn as well as engaging in a distribution alliance with Monster Beverage Co. PepsiCo had a modest presence in energy drinks with its brand Sting; however like TCCC it maintained its own alliance, with Rockstar Inc. ? Red Bull’s sister brand non-carbonated Red Bull remains owned by TC Pharmaceutical which led the energy drinks category in China and was present in Thailand where it ranked second. Top 10 players in soft drinks by off-trade value share Soft Drinks: Global Top 10 Companies by Off-Trade Value, Rank 2007-2012 and 2012 Share 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2011 Company Coca-Cola Co, The PepsiCo Inc Nestle SA Suntory Holdings Ltd Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc Danone, Groupe Red Bull GmbH Asahi Group Holdings Ltd % company share 2012 26. 2 11. 3 2. 8 2. 7 2. 0 1. 9 1. 6 1. 5 ? Danone’s volume share is significantly higher than its value share, due to its large volume sales of low-priced bottled water in emerging markets, notably Aqua (Asia Pacific) and Bonafont (Latin America). Meanwhile, Mondelez does not rank among the top 10 in value terms due to its reliance on the low-priced concentrates category in RTD volume terms. ? Red Bull GmbH however with its relatively premium but small serving size Red Bull brand ranks seventh in 2012. The company’s narrow focus in soft drinks, being almost exclusively based on energy drinks, continues to keep the company out of the top five in soft drinks. ? TCCC and PepsiCo capture a stronger share in value than in volume terms chiefly due to their products, particularly carbonates, being priced higher than local brands and   ? North America will continue to lead energy drinks in absolute volume growth terms over the forecast period. However, its CAGR of 8. 1% over 2012-2017 represents a moderation from the 11. 4% CAGR seen over 2007-2012. The Monster brand has led the market in the US over the review period in terms of absolute volume growth. Rockstar, due in large part to its alliance with PepsiCo, has also seen strong growth in this market. ? Red Bull entered China in 2011, however Asia Pacific remains the company’s weakest region in terms of market share. However, this region will be exceeded only by North America in terms of absolute off-trade volume growth over 2012-2017 which may raise some concerns for Red Bull. After a period of strong market share gains in this region between 2007-2010 its performance began to moderate. TC Pharmaceutical with its non-carbonated version of Red Bull is the regional leader. Despite the close relationship between Red Bull GmbH and TC Pharmaceutical with the latter having been founded by the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, the companies remain separate entities.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 14 MARKET ASSESSMENT The Americas to lead growth in energy drinks ? In value terms, both Latin America and Asia Pacific gained in importance for Red Bull over the review period. Latin American sales represented 12% of global value sales in 2012 while Asia Pacific made up 8%. In terms of growth prospects, the strongest growth will take place in North America where the market for energy drinks will expand by US$4. 1 billion over 2012-2017. In CAGR terms however, the strongest performance will take place in Latin America which will see a 20% CAGR. ? Red Bull is ranked number one in both markets. In Latin America, its market share remains a healthy 49. 7%, however this represents a decline over 2007-2012 as the company faced strong competition from TCCC whose share has risen from 2. 5% in 2007 to 14. 9% in 2012. ? Growth in both Eastern and Western Europe will be a comparatively modest at 5% and 5. 1% CAGRs, respectively. However, these exceed the CAGRs for soft drinks overall in these regions, which will be only 2. 7% and 0. 5%, respectively. CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Leading players in energy drinks by off-trade volume and value  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 17 CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Red Bull shows some weakness in volume sales ? The rankings of the leading players in energy drinks vary significantly by volume and value. Red Bull commands a stronger market share in value than in volume terms reflecting its relatively high price points and reliance on the mature markets, particularly the US, for its sales. The company however maintained is leading position by both measures in 2012 although in both cases it has seen its market share plateau over 2007-2012. ? The Lucozade brand has faced strong competition in its domestic UK market from Red Bull. In 2012, GSK announced a strategic review of the Lucozade and Ribena brands, which may lead to possible divestment. ? Red Bull has been constrained to some extent in volume terms by its highly concentrated production infrastructure. Up to 2012, the company produced exclusively in Austria leading to high shipping and ? The major winner over the review period was production costs, which opened up the emerging Monster Beverage Co, which until 2012 was known markets in particular to less expensive energy drinks as Hansen Natural Corp. Underpinned by its brands. In 2012, the company announced plans to distribution agreement with TCCC the brand has build its first factory abroad in Brazil which may help made rapid gains in both value and volume terms. improve its competitiveness. The brand’s success has been driven by its North ? Rockstar’s distribution agreement with PepsiCo did American performance where it generated 90% of not bring in the same share gains as the Monster its volume sales in 2012. and TCCC alliance. Rockstar made few share gains ? In contrast GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and its Lucozade brand have been losing market share. In volume terms, GSK has lost 2. 4 percentage points in market share over 2007-2012. globally, with sales mainly coming from developed Western markets where Red Bull continues to lead. PepsiCo may have found it hard to drive Rockstar sales in these mature markets in the face of TCCC’s penetration and Red Bull’s dominance.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 18 CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Most dynamic energy drinks markets over forecast period  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 19 CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Red Bull tries to counter weakness in key markets with new launch ? While the US will lead growth in energy drinks in both volume and value terms over 2012-2017 there are clear differences among the top 10 rankings by both measures. ? China will push ahead of Brazil in volume growth terms. The market for energy drinks in China is more mature than in Brazil. Unit price growth in Brazil will as a consequence be higher than that in China allowing it to take second position in terms of value sales growth. In China, Red Bull’s sister company TC Pharmaceutical with its Red Bull is the overwhelming category leader with a market share of 81. 2% in off-trade volume terms in 2012. ? Markets entering the top 10 in volume terms include the Philippines and Vietnam both relatively price-sensitive markets. Per capita consumption however in both markets is higher than the global average. Energy drinks in many Asian markets have a long history of being consumed by truck drivers and labourers as a temporary energy boost. These products were in fact the original inspiration for Red Bull; a Westernised version of the potent drinks sold through by Thai pharmacists.  © Euromonitor International ? The UK ranks among the top five most dynamic markets in both volume and value terms. While Lucozade remains the leader here, its fortunes have waned. Red Bull was responsible for much of Lucozade’s market share loss in the early part of the review period. However, later in the review period, smaller brands are increasing fragmentation. The UK is becoming increasingly fragmented as newer and smaller players have entered the market. ? In 2013, Red Bull launched three new flavour variants in the US market. This marks the first major launch for the brand in the energy drinks category over the review period. The new range called Edition includes cranberry-, blueberry- and lime- flavoured variants packaged in red, blue and silver cans, respectively. The move may help to invigorate consumer interest in key markets such as the UK and the US where the range of energy drinks options has increased considerably. It is recommended that the range be rolled out to other markets where market share has weakened. SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 20 CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Top US brands in energy drinks  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 21 CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Red Bull and Monster look to high-adrenaline sports sponsorship Monster pulls ahead in volume sales ? The Monster brand pulled ahead of Red Bull in the US energy drinks market in 2009 in volume sales terms but remains second to Red Bull in value terms. Monster has achieved wider presence in supermarket and forecourt retailers. TCCC has leveraged its strong distribution network through both channels thus giving Monster an edge in terms of volume sales. ? The Monster brand has also been supported by sponsorship of high-adrenaline sports such as MotoGP, NASCAR and Freestyle Motocross which is a direct challenge to Red Bull, which also relies on sponsorship of these sorts of events to maintain consumer interest. Another reason behind the disparity has been the fact that Red Bull sells primarily in smaller 8. 3oz cans, whereas Monster is sold in larger 16oz cans at a relatively cheaper price. Red Bull has since begun to offer its product in a wider variety of sizes and in 2012 trumped Monster with Red Bull Stratos, sponsoring Felix Baumgartner’s free-fall from over 128,000 feet. Threat from consumer health ? Both Monster and Red Bull have also been challenged by the 5-Hour Energy brand from Living Essentials, included in Euromonitor International’s Consumer Health database as a tonic and bottled nutritive drink. This product has been heavily marketed on US television and offers a small pack size (57ml) and the benefit of being sugar-free. While Monster is targeted primarily at younger male consumers, 5-Hour Energy is positioning itself as a pick-me-up for office workers and working mothers. ? The addition of new flavours in 2013 will help to reignite consumer interest. Red Bull’s success in the US has been due in part to its success in the on-trade which has helped to introduce the brand into the off-trade. Educating consumers about how the new flavours can be mixed with alcoholic drinks in the on-trade should form part the marketing campaign to launch the brand.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 22. CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Leading players in Brazilian energy drinks  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 23 CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Red Bull vs Burn in Brazil TCCC pushes Burn ? Strong growth in the Brazilian energy drinks market has attracted a wider number of players, many of whom have focused on the emergent C socioeconomic class, launching energy drinks at lower prices in 1-litre PET bottles. Examples include BadBoy Power Drink from Horizonte and Orbit from Bebidas Chiamulera. These moves have helped to fuel growth overall in the category.? TCCC has made significant gains in the market with its Burn brand investing significant resources in marketing. Like Red Bull, TCCC has targeted high-adrenaline sporting activities, announcing in 2012 its sponsorship of Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus F1 team. The brand competes directly with Red Bull, packaged similarly in a slimline metal can. Its price points however are typically lower than those of Red Bull giving it a stronger presence among lower-income groups. ? In 2012, Red Bull announced plans to begin producing its energy drinks locally. Localisation of production will help Red Bull ? Localising production in such a key market is a wise move for Red Bull. It also gives the company stronger capacity more widely in Latin America where the markets for energy drinks in Colombia and Mexico are also set to see strong growth. While Red Bull’s number one position remains safe for the time being, reducing the price premium with TCCC is recommended. This will be supported by significantly reducing costs associated with importing the product from Austria. ? The entry of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV was a key development in the market in 2011. By 2012, the Fusion brand had managed to capture 0. 2% of sales in off-trade volume terms which, while modest compared to the Red Bull brand at 19. 8%, indicates strong potential for further growth. Marketing initiatives centred around the popular Big Brother Brazil TV programme in 2012 helped to increase awareness of the brand among young people.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 24 CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Worlds apart: A tale of two Red Bulls ? The relative weakness of Red Bull from Red Bull GmbH in Asia Pacific is due in part to the strength of sister brand Red Bull from TC Pharmaceutical. A more cohesive international strategy should be developed by both companies. ? The strongest prospects for the two players is in China, however opportunities are also being missed in markets such as the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. TC Pharmaceutical sales here in energy drinks have been virtually flat over the review period, as newer, more dynamic brands such as Cobra from Asia Brewery and Sting from PepsiCo in the Philippines have invested heavily in marketing and advertising. ? A decisive entry for Red Bull GmbH in key Asian markets will be complicated by the presence of TC Pharmaceutical’s Red Bull. However, both companies could benefit from working more closely together including on the production side to reduce costs and widen their distribution network. The sudden death of TC Pharmaceutical founder Chaleo Yoovidhya in 2012 may present a challenge however in ongoing collaboration.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 25 STRATEGIC EVALUATION COMPETITIVE POSITIONING MARKET ASSESSMENT CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES BRAND STRATEGY OPERATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS BRAND STRATEGY Red Bull’s premium focus will result in pressure on market share ? Red Bull’s sales in 2012 remained dominated by the US market. In most of its major markets the company has managed to retain its number one position in volume terms despite strong competition from newer entrants. The US is an exception where Monster owing to the strength of its alliance with TCCC combined with an aggressive marketing campaign has managed to topple Red Bull from first place. ? In value terms however, the company’s premium positioning has meant its ranking has remained more secure. As the dynamics of forecast demand shift to emerging markets, where consumers remain more price sensitive, this premium focus will result in growing pressure on Red Bull’s market share. TCCC and PepsiCo have emerged as the company’s strongest competition whether indirectly through distribution agreements such as TCCC/ Monster and PepsiCo/Rockstar and through their own directly owned brands such as Burn and Sting, respectively  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 27 BRAND STRATEGY High octane sports drive home Red Bull message ? Event and sports sponsorship have been key elements for Red Bull’s marketing strategy for many years. Red Bull’s eponymous brand has achieved remarkable global success and 30-40% of its sales are re-invested back in marketing and promotional activity. Red Bull’s strategy has historically been a 3-pronged approach incorporating buzz marketing, sponsorship and TV advertising. Buzz marketing, including handing out free samples at campuses and events where under 30s gather, is often used as a way of initially raising consumer awareness when entering new markets. ? In 2012, the company took its marketing literally to an entirely new level with the Stratos campaign which featured Felix Baumgartner in a record- breaking 128,000 feet jump from the earth’s stratosphere, making him the first man to break the speed of sound while in freefall. The event was streamed live on line with viewers able to log in to post comments via Twitter and Facebook. Motorsports is another key focus for the company with its own very successful F1 racing team.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 28 BRAND STRATEGY Red Bull tries to stay true to its roots ? In a bid to stave off competition from rival brands, Red Bull launched the Red Bull Edition range in 2013 in select city markets in the US. The launch will likely be followed by a nationwide roll-out later in the year. Despite pressure from other energy drinks brands many of which have launched additional flavours Red Bull has stayed loyal to its original formulation and packaging. ? The launch of cranberry, blueberry and lime Red Bull variants is a major direction change for the brand, being its first major launch over the review period. In order to differentiate between Red Bull Edition and the original Red Bull the new cans received a facelift with the addition of new colours and a new bull design. ? Red Bull has not as aggressively as other brands launched into new packaging formats, remaining almost exclusively with slimline metal cans. It has however in some mature markets such as the UK launched into 1-litre PET bottles. This reluctance is in part due to the company’s strategy of retaining its premium positioning.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 29 STRATEGIC EVALUATION COMPETITIVE POSITIONING MARKET ASSESSMENT CATEGORY AND GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES BRAND STRATEGY OPERATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS OPERATIONS Expanded corporate operations Red Bull GmbH Red Bull Soft Drinks Other Businesses Red Bull Energy Drinks Motor Racing, Media, MVNO, Fashion Online Retailing Red Bull Simply Cola, Carpe Diem.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 31 OPERATIONS Red Bull looks to diversification ? Red Bull is diversifying into other businesses, rather than limiting itself to energy drinks. In recent years, it has been branching out and became a media company in its own right. The participation in sports sponsorships and events connects the company with a global brand that has passion and excitement associated with it. The company is also present in RTD tea and bottled water with the Carpe Diem brand which it launched to target the health and wellness trend in soft drinks. Carpe Diem Kombucha is a premium RTD tea sold in Western Europe. The brand is also in bottled water in Switzerland and Austria using plant extracts and slight carbonation to offer a healthy alternative to carbonates. ? The company owns two Formula One teams (Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Toro Rosso), a NASCAR racing team as well as several football teams in Brazil, the US and Germany. ? In South Africa, the company is partnering with Cell C to offer voice and broadband services as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), ie a company that provides a mobile phone service but does not have its own licensed frequency. Red Bull Mobile will be the second MVNO in the country, after Virgin Mobile. ? It also sponsors many events from cliff diving to air races and subscribing to Red Bull Mobile is a way for people who like the brand to access further benefits when they attend these events. These kinds of partnerships between operators and consumer brands are common in Europe. In Germany, for example, one operator, E-Plus, has 19 such partnerships. It is a way for these brands to get closer to their target group. ? The Group also includes Austrian TV station ServusTV, lifestyle and fashion magazines and a construction company called Bull Bau. ? Red Bull had 8,966 employees in 165 countries as of 2012. The company, which is not listed, traditionally finances its investments from its cash flow.  © Euromonitor International SOFT DRINKS: RED BULL GMBH PASSPORT 32 OPERATIONS Red Bull expands production outside Austria for first time ? Red Bull received approval from the B\razilian government to build its first production facility in the country in early 2010. The companys initial investment in the pr.

Assignment On The Fundamental Rights

Assignment On The Fundamental Rights All democratic constitutions provide for the guarantee of certain rights, which are inviolable and beyond the reach of the state. Rights arise from very social nature of man and which are the external conditions necessary for the greatest possible development of the capacities of the personality. Fundamental Rights are sacro sanct and the supporting pillars of democracy as a form of government and as a way of life. . Democracy and inviolable fundamental rights go together. In this assignment I would like to elaborate the Fundamental Rights under the Constitution of India. Constitutionalism is an achievement of the modern world. The following are the salient features of Indian Constitution. The longest written constitution in the world The idea of popular sovereignty Supremacy of the constitution Provision for Fundamental Rights Provision for Directive Principles of State Policy Provides Parliamentary system of Government Provision for secularism Encouraging Socialistic pattern of society Sovereign Democratic Republic Provision for Emergency Provides single citizenship Provision for single integrated judiciary Federalism The constitution of India has a wonderful preamble. The preamble is an introduction to a Constitution. It proclaims the source, objectives and date of adoption of the constitution. The preamble of the Indian constitution reads as follows: WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; And to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION. Demand for Fundamental Rights in India During the 19th century a demand for civil rights in India took deep root. The Indians were subjects and not citizens under British rule. Before 1947 India did not have national liberty, and the individual, therefore, could never imagine to have individual freedom with the complete set of guaranteed fundamental rights. As early in 1895, under the inspiration of Bal Gangadar Thilak, a swaraj bill was prepared and this thought in terms of a constitution guaranteeing fundamental rights. In 1928, the Nehru Report spoke of the need to have fundamental rights in the future constitution of India. In 1933, the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress adopted a resolution in favor of fundamental rights. But the British government did not accept the demand of the Indians to incorporate a list of fundamental rights in the constitutions introduced in India. Fundamental Rights: A Preface The Fundamental Rights, embodied in Part III of the Constitution, guarantee civil rights to all Indians, and prevent the State from encroaching on individual liberty while simultaneously placing upon it an obligation to protect the citizens rights from encroachment by society. Seven fundamental rights were originally provided by the Constitution right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, right to property and right to constitutional remedies. However, the right to property was removed from Part III of the Constitution by the 44th Amendment in 1978. The purpose of the Fundamental Rights is to preserve individual liberty and democratic principles based on equality of all members of society. They act as limitations on the powers of the legislature and executive, under Article 13, and in case of any violation of these rights the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts of States have the power to declare such legislative or executive action as unconstitutional and void. These rights are largely enforceable against the State, which as per the wide definition provided in Article 12, includes not only the legislative and executive wings of the federal and state governments, but also local administrative authorities and other agencies and institutions which discharge public functions or are of a governmental character. However, there are certain rights such as those in Articles 15, 17, 18, 23, 24 that are also available against private individuals. Further, certain Fundamental Rights including those under Articles 14, 20, 21, 25 apply to persons of any nationality upon Indian soil, while others such as those under Articles 15, 16, 19, 30 are applicable only to citizens of India. The Fundamental Rights are not absolute and are subject to reasonable restrictions as necessary for the protection of public interest. The Fundamental Rights can be enhanced, removed or otherwise altered through a constitutional amendment passed by a two-thirds majority of each House of Parliament. The imposition of a state of emergency may lead to a temporary suspension any of the Fundamental Rights, excluding Articles 20 and 21, by order of the President. The President may, by order, suspend the right to constitutional remedies as well, thereby barring citizens from approaching the Supreme Court for the enforcement of any of the Fundamental Rights, except Articles 20 and 21, during the period of the emergency. Parliament may also restrict the application of the Fundamental Rights to members of the Indian Armed Forces and the police, in order to ensure proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline, by a law made under Article 33. Classification of Fundamental Rights The Constitution of India in part III provides for six categories of fundamental rights. They are; Right to Equality The Right to Equality is one of the chief guarantees of the Constitution. It is embodied in Articles 14-16, which collectively encompass the general principles of equality before law and non-discrimination, and Articles 17-18 which collectively further the philosophy of social equality. Article 14 guarantees equality before law as well as equal protection of the law to all persons within the territory of India. This includes the equal subjection of all persons to the authority of law, as well as equal treatment of persons in similar circumstances The latter permits the State to classify persons for legitimate purposes, provided there is a reasonable basis for the same, meaning that the classification is required to be non-arbitrary, based on a method of intelligible differentiation among those sought to be classified, as well as have a rational relation to the object sought to be achieved by the classification. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them. This right can be enforced against the State as well as private individuals, with regard to free access to places of public entertainment or places of public resort maintained partly or wholly out of State funds. However, the State is not precluded from making special provisions for women and children or any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This exception has been provided since the classes of people mentioned therein are considered deprived and in need of special protection. Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and prevents the State from discriminating against anyone in matters of employment on the grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, place of residence or any of them. It creates exceptions for the implementation of m easures of affirmative action for the benefit of any backward class of citizens in order to ensure adequate representation in public service, as well as reservation of an office of any religious institution for a person professing that particular religion. The practice of untouchability has been declared an offence punishable by law under Article 17, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 has been enacted by the Parliament to further this objective. Article 18 prohibits the State from conferring any titles other than military or academic distinctions, and the citizens of India cannot accept titles from a foreign state. Right to Freedom The Right to Freedom is covered in Articles 19-22, with the view of guaranteeing individual rights that were considered vital by the framers of the Constitution, and these Articles also include certain restrictions that may be imposed by the State on individual liberty under specified conditions. Article 19 guarantees six freedoms in the nature of civil rights, which are available only to citizens of India. These include the freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association without arms, freedom of movement throughout the territory of India, freedom to reside and settle in any part of the country of India and the freedom to practice any profession. All these freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions that may impose on them by the State, listed under Article 19 itself. The grounds for imposing these restrictions vary according to the freedom sought to be restricted, and include national security, public order, decency and morality, contempt of court, incitement to offences, and defamation. The State is also empowered, in the interests of the general public to nationalize any trade, industry or service to the exclusion of the citizens. The freedoms guaranteed by Article 19 are further sought to be protected by Articles 20-22. Article 20 provides protection against arbitrary and excessive punishment to any person who commits an offence. Article 21 prevents the encroachment of life or personal liberty by the State except in accordance with the procedure established by law. The Supreme Court also ruled that life under Article 21 meant more than a mere animal existence; it would include the right to live with human dignity and all other aspects which made life meaningful, complete and worth living. Subsequent judicial interpretation has broadened the scope of Article 21 to include within it a number of rights including those to livelihood, clean environment, good health, speedy trial and humanitarian treatment while imprisoned. The right to education at elementary level has been made one of the Fundamental Rights under Article 21A by the 86th Constitutional amendment of 2002. Article 22 provides specific rights to arre sted and detained persons, in particular the rights to be informed of the grounds of arrest, consult a lawyer of ones own choice, be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of the arrest, and the freedom not to be detained beyond that period without an order of the magistrate. Right against Exploitation The Right against Exploitation, contained in Articles 23-24, lays down certain provisions to prevent exploitation of the weaker sections of the society by individuals or the State. Article 23 prohibits human trafficking, making it an offence punishable by law, and also prohibits forced labor or any act of compelling a person to work without wages where he was legally entitled not to work or to receive remuneration for it. Article 24 prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 to work in any factory or mine or in any other hazardous employment. This has been provided to protect the health of future citizens, and also on the ground of humanity. Right to Freedom of Religion The Right to Freedom of Religion, covered in Articles 25-28, provides religious freedom to all citizens and ensures a secular state in India. According to the Constitution, there is no official State religion, and the State is required to treat all religions impartially and neutrally. Article 25 guarantees all persons the freedom of conscience and the right to preach practice and propagate any religion of their choice. This right is, however, subject to public order, morality and health, and the power of the State to take measures for social welfare and reform. The right to propagate, however, does not include the right to convert another individual, since it would amount to an infringement of the others right to freedom of conscience. Article 26 guarantees all religious denominations and sects, subject to public order, morality and health, to manage their own affairs in matters of religion, set up institutions of their own for charitable or religious purposes, and own, acquire and m anage property in accordance with law. These provisions do not derogate from the States power to acquire property belonging to a religious denomination. The State is also empowered to regulate any economic, political or other secular activity associated with religious practice. Article 27 guarantees that no person can be compelled to pay taxes for the promotion of any particular religion or religious institution. Article 28 prohibits religious instruction in a wholly State-funded educational institution, and educational institutions receiving aid from the State cannot compel any of their members to receive religious instruction or attend religious worship without their (or their guardians) consent. Cultural and Educational Rights The Cultural and Educational rights, given in Articles 29 and 30, are measures to protect the rights of cultural, linguistic and religious minorities, by enabling them to conserve their heritage and protecting them against discrimination. Article 29 grants any section of citizens having a distinct language, script culture of its own, the right to conserve and develop the same, and thus safeguards the rights of minorities by preventing the State from imposing any external culture on them. It also prohibits discrimination against any citizen for admission into any educational institutions maintained or aided by the State, on the grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them. However, this is subject to reservation of a reasonable number of seats by the State for socially and educationally backward classes, as well as reservation of up to 50Â  percent of seats in any educational institution run by a minority community for citizens belonging to that community. Article 30 confers upon all religious and linguistic minorities the right to set up and administer educational institutions of their choice in order to preserve and develop their own culture, and prohibits the State, while granting aid, from discriminating against any institution on the basis of the fact that it is administered by a religious or cultural minority. The right under Article 30 can be availed of even if the educational institution established does not confine itself to the teaching of the religion or language of the minority concerned, or a majority of students in that institution do not belong to such minority. This right is subject to the power of the State to impose reasonable regulations regarding educational standards, conditions of service of employees, fee structure, and the utilization of any aid granted by it. Right to Constitutional Remedies The Right to Constitutional Remedies empowers citizens to approach the Supreme Court of India seek enforcement, or protection against infringement, of their Fundamental Rights. Article 32 provides a guaranteed remedy, in the form of a Fundamental Right itself, for enforcement of all the other Fundamental Rights, and the Supreme Court is designated as the protector of these rights by the Constitution. The Supreme Court has been empowered to issue writs, namely habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari and quo-warranto for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights The Supreme Court has the jurisdiction to enforce the Fundamental Rights even against private bodies, and in case of any violation, award compensation as well to the affected individual. Exercise of jurisdiction by the Supreme Court can also be on the basis of a Public Interest Litigation. This right cannot be suspended, except under the provisions of Article 359 when a state of emergency is declared. Directive Principles of State Policy The constitution of India envisages a welfare state for the country in which liberty, equality and fraternity will prevail. Part IV, from article 36 to 51 of the constitution [16 Articles] deals with Directive Principles of State Policy. They are more or less elaboration of principles and ideals contained in the preamble of the constitution. They are the core of our commitment to the silent social revolution. They fix certain social and economic goals to be attained through a non violent social revolution. Classification The Directive Principles of State Policy is directed towards the establishment a welfare state in India. These positive guidelines can be broadly divided into three. Socialistic Principles The principles grouped in this category are socialistic both in their direction and content. Article 38 of the constitution directs the state to secure a social order for the promotion of the people. Article 39 of the constitution briefly lays down the basic philosophy of democratic socialism. It directs the state to secure, Adequate means of livelihood both for men and women Fair distribution of resources, that is, ownership and control of material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good. The wealth of the nation should not be concentrated in the hands of a few Equal pay for equal work for both men and women The children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment Article 41 provides for right to work, to education and to public assistance. Article 42 directs the state to make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief. Article 43 directs the state to provide a living wage and conditions of work etc. Gandhian Principles Certain principles of state policy seek to organize the new order in accordance with some Gandhian principles, Article 40 says the state shall take steps to organize village panchayaths and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self government. Article 43 directed the state to promote cottage industries in an individual and cooperative basis in rural areas. According to the Article 46, the state shall promote with special care educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. Article 47 directs that the state shall regard raising the level of nutrition Liberal Policies Directive principles under this category direct the state to secure for all citizens a uniform civil code to the people belonging to different religions. Article 45 directs that the state shall endeavor to provide and compulsory education. Article 49 provides that it is the obligation of the state to protect monuments or place or object of artistic or historic interest, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export .Article 50 directs the state to take steps to separate the judiciary from the Executive in the public services of the state. Article 51 stands for the promotion of international peace and security. Fundamental Duties The following are the Fundamental Duties prescribed by the Constitution of the nation under PART [IV-A] to its every citizen: (a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem. (b) To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom. (c) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. (d) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so. (e) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women. (f) To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. (g) To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures. (h) To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform. (i) To safeguard public property and to abjure violence. (j) To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement. Conclusion The Fundamental Rights embodied in the Indian constitution acts as a guarantee that all Indian citizens can and will lead their lives in peace as long as they live in Indian democracy. These civil liberties take precedence over any other law of the land. They include individual rights common to most liberal democracies, such as equality before the law, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, and the right to constitutional remedies for the protection of civil rights such as habeas corpus. The directive principles are aiming at the welfare state. The fundamental duties are for the establishment of a just nation which is socially committed. So all of these are essential for the survival of a transparent democracy. Modern Social Work is highly based on the rights of individuals. So knowledge of rights and duties become quite significant in the social work as a profession and as an area of study.

The Effects of the Influenza Virus Essay example -- Biology Medical Fl

Influenza: The Virus and its Effects Abstract The flu, properly called influenza, is an amazingly widespread and widely known disease. There are many variations of the influenza virus, differing in severity, but not significantly different in function. The influenza virus infects epithelial cells in the respiratory tract, taking over the cell’s production mechanisms so more viruses are produced, eventually causing the host cells to burst. The body’s immune system tries to combat the infection from succeeding. This internal battle produces many outward symptoms including a fever and dry cough, among others. Influenza is not usually a fatal disease, but its high mutation rate insures its continuing import by allowing it to return in a different form every year. The flu. Everyone from the oldest grandparent to the youngest child has heard of it. But what is the flu actually? First of all, what is behind its name? â€Å"Flu† isn’t actually the disease’s correct name. It’s true name, Influenza, is Italian for â€Å"influence†. Flu is an abbreviation of this. People used to believe that influenza was caused by an unhealthy influence from the heavens, hence the name (WHO). The influenza virus is divided into three types, A, B and C. Influenza A is the most serious of the three. Influenza B is not as serious and less common, while influenza C is rarely noticed and only causes mild symptoms. Influenza A viruses are specified by their host of origin, geographic location of the first isolation, strain number and year of isolation. E.g. A/Swine/Iowa/15/30 (Wilschut 29). Influenza A viruses also have a classification determined by their type of Haemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. Haemagglutinin is necessary for entrance int... ...v/gi/Archive/2005/Oct/24-394830.html>. WHO. â€Å"WHO Report on Global Surveillance of Epidemic-prone Infectious Diseases, Chapter 7† World Health Organization. 2001. July 27 2007. WI Gov. â€Å"Influenza -- General Information† Wisconsin Government Department of Health & Family Services. January 31 2007. July 23 2007 Kilbourne, Edwin D. Influenza. New York: Plenum Medical Book Company, 1987. Stuart-Harris, Charles H., Schild, Geoffrey C., and Oxford, John S., Influenza The viruses and the disease. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd, 1985. Wilschut, Jan C, PhD, Abraham M Palache, PhD, and Janet E McElhaney, MD, FRCPC, PACP, eds. Influenza. 2nd ed. Rapid Reference. Pennsylvania: Elsevier Ltd., 2006.

Women and Politics In Venezuela :: essays research papers

Women and Politics in Venezuela Women in every country all over the world are discriminated against when it comes to politics. There are many reasons for this discrimination and most of the reasons are a result of men being in control. Politicians are â€Å"supposed† to aggressive and argumentative. Some men and women do not see women as having these qualities but instead have the qualities of nurture and compromise. Time is a barrier for women because they do not have the time to participate in politics. The women use their time to do housework, take care of children and probably have a full time job. Politics and running for any kind of office takes money and as a generality women do not have most of the money. Religion is a big impact on whether women are allowed in politics are not. In most religions, women are seen as beneath men. These religions cross over into political and social life, hindering the chance of women to participate in politics. In Venezuela, the women have a hard time being in pol itics for the same reasons. The highest office that can be obtained in Venezuela is the presidency. â€Å"The president is elected by a plurality vote with direct and universal suffrage. The term of office is 6 years, and a president may be re-elected to a single consecutive term. The president appoints the vice president. He decides the size and composition of the cabinet and makes appointments to it with the involvement of the National Assembly. The Constitutuion of Venezuela also allows for three additional branches of the federal government--the judicial, citizen, and electoral branches.† (Politics of Venezuela) â€Å"The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. The justices are appointed by the National Assembly and serve 12-year terms. The judicial branch also consists of lower courts, including district courts, municipal courts, and courts of first instance. â€Å" (Politics of Venezuela) â€Å"The citizens branch consists of three components--the prosecutor general ("fiscal general"), the "defender of the people" or ombudsman, and the comptroller general. The holders of these offices, in addition to fulfilling their specific functions, also act collectively as the "Republican Moral Council" to challenge before the Supreme Tribunal actions they believe are illegal, particularly those which violate the Constitution. The holders of the "citizen power" offices are selected for terms of 7 years by the National Assembly.† (Politics of Venezuela) â€Å"The "Electoral Power," otherwise known as the National Electoral Council, is responsible for organizing elections at all levels.

Escaping the Chains of Slavery Essay -- Slavery Essays

In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave Written by Himself, Douglass writes about his life in slavery. Douglass portrays how he overcame being separated from his mother, of witnessing a slave being whipped for the first time and enduring his servitude for multiple masters. However, his major triumphs in life were moving to Baltimore, overcoming illiteracy and gaining his freedom. Douglass was between the age of seven or eight when he was sent to live in Baltimore, a move that would forever change his life. He was introduced to a different way of living for a slave. For example, on the plantation slaves were subject to merciless beatings, hunger, and cold. Clothing was provided, but if slaves did not sustain them throughout the year, they were forced to walk around half-naked. However, in Baltimore slaves were permitted to walk in the street as free men and women; they were properly dressed and well fed. Furthermore, it was considered an embarrassment to the slaveholder if their neighbors noticed they were not feeding their slaves adequately. Baltimore was of great importance since this is where he was sent to live with his new mistress, who forever changed his life. At the beginning of his stay in Baltimore, his new mistress, Sophia Auld teaches Douglass his A, B, C's. However, when her husband find out what was going on, he put a stop to it. Mr. Auld said, "If you teach that nigger how to read, there would be no keeping him. It w...

Traditional Family In A Post Modern Society

In a post modern society such as Britain, are traditional family and marriage necessary? This essay will explore whether traditional family and marriage are necessary in Britain today. The change of societal views and attitudes will need to be considered, as well as analyzing statistical evidence. The ideology of the family and marriage will then be discussed and contrasted, in relation to various theoretical perspectives such as functionalism and post modernism.Government views and policies will also be reviewed in order to show how family has evolved for various family types. Before discussing if there is a necessity for traditional family and marriage in Britain today, it only seems logical to first understand what is meant by the term traditional family. A traditional family or nuclear family, as it is sometimes referred to as, consists of a heterosexual monogamous couple that are legally bound through marriage and their healthy, dependent 2. Children, Muncie et al. (1999). There is usually a clear division of labor where the male predominantly plays the instrumental role of the breadwinner and the female predominantly plays her expressive role as the homemaker and care giver, Bernard (1997). This is based on the theory of Functionalism (which has dominated theories until the mid 20th century). They seem to place importance on the division of labor, as they believe that this structure is the most effective way of performing family functions.This image of family would have been very accurate if it was based families around the 20th century as it was considered to be the norm, to get married and have a family with males and females playing their respective biological roles. According to Pascal (1986) in Muncie et al (1 999, pop), the Beverage Report recognized three key characteristics of the associated with the idea of he family; 1 Women are available to do housework and care for children and elderly relatives, without pay. 2 Couples consist of one full-time worker (usually a male breadwinner) and one ‘housewife' whose work outside the home is insignificant†¦ Women look to men for financial support. As time has evolved the idea of what family is has become varied and not quite as meticulous in its structure, although this is still the image of some households. These characteristics that are noted in The Beverage Report may be deemed as dated by most individuals in the 21 SST century, as it is evident that family Structure has changed dramatically. This report would have been disregarded by feminists, as a patriarchal family is not what they believe in. This clearly shows the woman as being dependent on a man.According to data from the Office of National Statistics (2012), it is clear that the nuclear family (married parents with an average of 2 child dependents) has continued to be the most ordinary family type, although this number has slowly begun to decrease as the years have moved on. What can also be identified is that the number of people in other family types, for example single parent families and same-sex families, has begun to increase gradually. This suggests that people are beginning to accept that ‘family' does not have to be the ‘traditional nuclear family.The fact that it is documented at all shows that there is no huge necessity for marriage as there once was. Also there is the opinion as per Duncan and Phillips (2008, up), that ‘marriage and unmarried cohabitation are socially similar (as agreed by two-thirds of individuals when surveyed) and one-third felt that ‘unmarried cohabitation shows as much commitment as marriage'. There is also the suggestion that cohabiting relationships are actually lasting longer, for example in 2006 it was . 9 years, compared to 6. 5 years in 2000.This demonstrates how views and relationship types have changed in Britain, as if this survey Was done in the early 20th century there probably would have been remarkable difference in th e responses and the types of relationship people were part of. Postmodernists such as Bernard (1997) believe that society needs to accept family diversity, as you would accept different classes, ethnicities and sexual orientation. This assumption of their only being one proper family form needs to be eradicated, as anything outside of this form will been seen as inferior. Morocco (1968) cited in Muncie et al. 1999) suggested the idea of the nuclear family as being a universal. The traditional nuclear family is based on the ideology of families. This ideology is shaped by both the state and the media and it seems to be heavily promoted, whereas other family types might be seen as deviant. It could be argued that this idea of a traditional family is becoming less of an option. According to Elution in Fox (2009, IPPP-459) in order for some families to cope with the strain of ‘domestic labor and paid employment', both spouses are having to share the responsibility of reducing a sa lary through paid work.This suggests that in some households the option of a traditional family lifestyle is unavailable to them, based on the way in which this capitalist state has evolved. According to Duncan and Phillips (2008, Pl), ‘Family life is no longer equated with the married couple'. This implies that this model of the family could be seen as unrealistic in this present modern society, as it simply ignores the different variations that we can now expect within a family unit, such as single parent families, same-sex families and step families to name a few.The legislation is that there is no family norm and no definite definition to the term family. ‘Marriage, as a social institution, may have simply been reformed, widened and ‘modernized' rather than being ‘decreed'†¦ If this family form were indeed ‘decreed', we would expect to find that those who live apart from their partners, solo living and same-sex partnerships are seen as equivale nt, rather than inferior family forms', Duncan and Phillips (2008, pop). The Postmodernism approach seems to take this diversity of family types into account and therefore pushes for this diversity to be accepted within society.This could be considered to be a more appropriate observation of British society today. This approach family is characterized by ‘choice, freedom, diversity, ambivalence and fluidity', Harmless and Holbrook (2007, IPPP). This suggests that individuals are more open to live their lives as they please, without judgment and humiliation. According to McNeil et al (2003, up) more and more people delay forming their own families; some may choose to remain Single or childless. This has led some sociologists to argue that there is such a thing as a postmodern family.This is a more modernized term that Seems to embody what British society is like today. Maybe the term traditional family needs to become redundant and replaced by the more flexible term postmodern family? This may be seen as a more appropriate portrayal of family life in a post modern society. Post-war women had the demands of devoting their lives to their men with domestic roles becoming imminent, Muncie et al (1999). The roles of women have now changed, for the majority. They now have more rights which could affect the dynamics of the family.In the past a non married woman might have been considered to be a spinster, but now they tend to be labeled as independent professional women. Some of these changes are down to feminists taking a stand for equal treatment of men and women and eliminating patriarchy, Bernard (1997). This can be evidenced with the Equal Pay Act in 1970, where feminists thought for the right for women to be paid the same salary as their male counterparts, when doing the same role, Lynn Seal in Muncie et al (1997).Another major turning point for women was in 1 918 when they were finally given the right to vote, after years of campaigning from the suffragis ts and suffragettes, Women and the Vote, (no date). It is apparent that feminists have conflicting views to the functionalists ND new right regarding the idea of the traditional nuclear family, as they would possibly prefer a more symmetrical family where the authority is shared. They might argue that traditional family and marriage are not necessary, as traditional family in particular is perceived as more beneficial to men.Gender appears to be Of some importance, as stated by Duncan and Phillips (2008, up), because ‘according to individualistic theory it is women who often lead change, as they break away from traditional and ‘antidisestablishmentarianism and seek fairer and more equal ones'. Feminists Barrett and McIntosh (1 982), maintain that this traditional nuclear family type is anti-social because it exploits women and benefits capitalism, whilst perceiving the more unconventional family types as in adequate.It is evident that societal attitudes have changed over time regarding the acceptance of the various family lifestyle choices. Society has become ethnically diverse and it could be considered as less judgmental. One of the most recent examples of this change is the consideration, by the coalition government, for gay marriages. The bill is to be submitted as early as next ear; with it becoming law by as early as 2015, Hennessey (2012).This insinuates that the coalition government are starting to adopt a more post modern view regarding family and marriage. Although according to McCarthy and Edwards (2011 a more recent concept known as New right, which supports many of the primary functionalist beliefs including the importance of monogamous marriage, the nuclear family and the division of labor in maintaining stability within society, is the view currently held by the coalition government.According to Mainland (2012) Deed Mainland has stated that, â€Å"There are many ay couples of faith and there are many faith groups that embrace gay pe ople and so it's only right for faith groups that wish to conduct same-sex marriages to be allowed to do so under law†. He believes that there needs to be marriage equality for gay couples with the ‘right to marry in churches, synagogues and meeting houses' that are willing to accommodate them.If this bill is pasted it may well be another significant triumph for the equality of gay couples since their right to adopt in the UK in 2005 and being allowed to have civil partnerships in 2005, Ross, Gas and Barrington (2011). These hanged were made through The New Labor Government from 1 997, which seemed to embrace the reality of the diversity of family types. This action can be perceived as necessary as it shows that the government have been taking steps to establishing equality and rights for gay people and regarding them as they would a married couple.They also showed great support for single mothers offering them financial support and paid childcare, Bourbons (2012). This in itself could be seen as evidence of traditional family not being necessary in Britain today and it also shows the support that is been received y these supposed ‘deviant' family types. This illustrates the rights that gay couples are starting to receive which are the same as a married couple and the support that single parents get from the state. Single parent families are becoming more common with the rise in divorce and separation.Since the Divorce Reform Act 1969 there has been a rise in divorce in England and Wales, Bourbons (2009). Also Rodgers (2011) explains how Data published by the Office for National Statistics, indicates that since 2009 there has been a 4. 9% increase from 113,949 to 119,589 in 2010. Single parent families seem o bring about the idea of living in a welfare state, where some individuals are preoccupied by state handouts instead of actually supporting themselves. Margaret Thatcher gave a speech in 1 987, which she clearly shows her condemnation of how society had become.She maintained that some individuals became complacent and dependent on the state to provide for them, because of the benefits that they were permitted to. She suggested that, ‘people have got the entitlements too much in mind without the obligations', Key (1987). This suggests that some individuals take advantage f the help that is offered and decide not to satiate their obligations of I. E. Trying to find a job. It can be considered as an effortless alternative for some, enabling their unwillingness to work.Although the welfare state was initially aimed at tackling poverty, it became apparent to some that it actually created more problems. Locks (2000) stated that the idea of the ‘nanny stats? and a ‘culture of dependency' started to emerge. It seems very fitting that the government is now trying to put a stop to this reliance on the state by capping the benefits that out of work individuals are entitled to (http:// www. Conservatives. Com/ Policy/Where_we_stand/Jobs_and_Welfare. Asps; no date).It will be made law that anyone claiming out of work benefits will not be able to receive more than EWE,OHO per year, which is what the average person earns in employment. By implementing this cap, in 201 3, the government could be seen as trying to create a much fairer system for families and possibly promoting the notion that everyone should work. Although there has been a rise in divorce rates there also seems to be a high level of remarriage, which means that the number of reconstituted families is also on the rise as indicated by Duncan and Phillips (2008).This could signify that marriage and family is still of some importance to most individuals and regarded as necessary, although there is a rise in divorce, these same individuals are still opting to remarry and create their own family form. In conclusion, it is evident that traditional family and marriage are not necessary in a post modern society such as Britain, althoug h it is still considered as important to some individuals. Family in general seems to have some importance to most individuals, regardless of the family form.The rotational nuclear family is still seen as the preferred family type according to New right and Functionalists; nonetheless it seems realistic to accept that society has become more flexible in regards to their views on family due to the changes that have occurred. Looking at family from a postmodernist and feminist view it is evident that society is diverse and it makes sense to adopt an understanding nature towards family situations and types.