Marketing Plan for Chain of Pro Shops Located Within Ice Arenas

Executive Summary Pro shops are businesses involved with selling sporting equipments that are required in the sporting facility. The chain of pro shops is situated in an Ice Arena and offers a wide range of hockey equipments as well as bags, apparels and coaching products among others. The chain has a single supplier and for this reason, the products are similar and range within the same price.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Marketing Plan for Chain of Pro Shops Located Within Ice Arenas specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These shops are dedicated to ensure that the players, coaches, fans and other interested shoppers get the greatest services and high quality goods. One of the main aims of the company is to increase the awareness among the customers of the available services and products as well as develop trust and loyalty for the growth of the shops. Increase in promotional tools will be used as a mark eting strategy, as well applying proper inventory management techniques. Market Overview The current market status of the pro shops is determined by the players and the individuals who visit the arenas. While the customers have been mainly the fans and the teams using the arenas, there is a need to increase the scope to reach even those who watch the game at home. The new strategy is meant to include online customers, who would access the shops’ products and purchase online. While there is a problem with congestion of shops in one arena, the strategy is to start specializing in certain products in order to avoid competition. Teams’ Model The arenas are used by both schools and professional teams. The amount of customers is therefore at a constant flow as a result of large number of tournaments. While the neighborhood has some other arenas, the specific arena within which these pro shops are located is one of the biggest. There is therefore a better chance of increased customers’ inflow as compared to the other ice arenas. With these considerations, the target customers are those attending the matches as well as those from the neighboring arenas, who should be encouraged by the new marketing strategy.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Target Market Growth The popularity of ice hockey has been increasing significantly. According to the TalkOn (2008) guide, Ice hockey is increasingly gaining popularity and for this reason, there is potential for increased customers in not only the United States, but also the rest of the world. With effective online marketing strategies, the shops will have the potential to increase their products awareness to potential customers and hence increase the sales of the sporting equipments and associated products. Marketing Objectives One of the major objectives of the pro shops is increasing the aw areness of their products to not only the local customers but also international fans. Increase the seasonal revenues to over $ 1 million collectively. SWOT Analysis Strengths One of the strengths of the pro shops is that the arena is state-of-art and hence encourages more fans than most other arenas. There is therefore a chance of increased demand of the products in the pro shops. The pro shops retail in many products and they combine a variety of products from different teams. This allows the fans an opportunity to get the specific products that they require. Weaknesses One of the major weaknesses with the company is the concentration of many pro shops within one arena. This creates unnecessary competition and affects the returns generated. Opportunities The increasing use of online marketing and financial transactions will allow for increased and expanded sales to not only the local-based customers but also the international ones. Threats The increasing popularity in other games like basketball and soccer may lead to reduced interest in Ice hockey and hence lead to reduced demand for ice hockey products. Pricing Strategy Some of the products in the pro shops are considered to be overpriced. The shops will try to adjust the prices by considering various cheaper sources and this will require the diversification of supply chains.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Marketing Plan for Chain of Pro Shops Located Within Ice Arenas specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, to avoid price competition, the pro shops will develop a strategy that will have the different shops engage in different products to avoid unnecessary competition. This will allow for the comparison with other competitor prices in different arenas in the region (Mondschein, 2009). Through appropriate and timely promotions, the pro shops will ensure that the customers are given a chance to purchase at reduced prices (Smith, Smith, 2011). Some services will be introduced that will be meant to save the customers’ spending, while still contributing to the shops’ returns. One of such will be skates’ repair and sharpening in order to tap those individuals who would not afford new pairs of skates. Through this strategy, the shops will create another way of increasing the customers without compromising on the shops’ returns. Marketing Communications Plan To increase the customers’ awareness of the available products in the pro shops, it will be essential that proper communication strategies be implemented (Masterman, Wood, 2006). One of the strategies that the shops will adopt is the use of brochures and leaflets during tournaments. This will ensure that the customers will spread the information about the shops’ products as they leave the arena after matches. In addition, the shops will develop personal links that will help the interested customers to gain access to their sites for information about the available products and the prices (Meyerson, 2005). The creation of online databases will also occur in line with the development of online payment options that will save the customers the hustles of making physical contacts with the company. Advertisement will also be made through print and electronic media in order to ensure that the public knows about the products. The internet for example will be great since it is expected to reach a large number of potential customers (Masterman, Wood, 2006). Sales and Marketing Channel Plan The products would need to be introduced to the potential customers through effective sales and marketing channels. This would ensure that rather than knowing of the existence of the products, the customers will be persuaded through appropriate means to purchase the products. One of the important aspects within this strategy is the workforce (Mathur, 2006).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While the chain has three sales persons in each shop, it will be important to increase the number of sales persons to five, especially during tournaments. This will ensure that there will be broader coverage and hence increased sales. The sales teams will also be positioned in the online channels in order to communicate directly with the customers and offer help and ideas about the available products (Meyerson, Scarborough, 2007). The shops will set sales goals in terms of distributed brochures and leaflets per individual match. This will proceed to be cumulatively reflected at the end of fiscal period, which should also coincide with playing season. In each match, the sales persons will strive to distribute around 5, 000 brochures in each game. This will make it easier for the awareness campaign to speedily get integrated into the interests of potential customers. In addition to the brochures’ distribution, the sales team will strive to increase the number of promotions to one per week throughout the ice hockey season. Product demonstration will also be started. The management will start demonstration initiatives by looking out for pro skaters to demonstrate the use and application of some of the products like skates and goalie sticks. In addition, the management will find opportunities to demonstrate the effectiveness of some coaching equipments in order to encourage not only the players and fans, but also the coaches. While the communications plan is effective enough to increase the number of customers, it will be important to maintain proper records for the sake of customers’ trust. In addition, the inventory will ensure that the management knows of the available products and those that need to be added. This will prevent customers from making orders that are out of stock. One of the most effective ways of managing the inventory is by use of bar codes and radio frequency Identification (McCraven, 2011). These types of technologies count the products as they are purchased and sold to customers. It therefore makes it easier for the marketers to know the products that are on the shelf, how many they are, and the ones already sold. The radio frequency identifiers may be incorporated into the database of available products to evaluate the rate of purchases and hence estimate the demand and supply. These tools will help in reducing chances of mismanagement and missing records since they can affect a lot the credibility of the shops. Since the shops will contemplate on diversifying the supplier chain in order to avoid monopolistic dependence that would affect the pricing strategy, keeping record of the purchases would be a must. The inventories will thus help in restructuring the marketing strategies hitherto applied by the pro shops. References Masterman, G., Wood, E. H. (2006). Innovative marketing communications: strategies for the events industry. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann. Mathur, P. (2006). Sales And Market ing Management. New Delhi: Ishar Books. McCraven, S. (2011). Inventory Control Comes of Age. Retrieved from https://precast.org/2011/04/inventory-control-comes-of-age/ Meyerson, M. (2005). Success secrets of the online marketing superstars. Chicago, IL: Kaplan Publishing. Meyerson, M. E., Scarborough, E. (2007). Mastering Online Marketing. Upper Saddle, NJ: Entrepreneur Press. Mondschein, K. (2009). Advertising, Sales, and Marketing. New York: Infobase Publishing. Smith, T. J., Smith, T. (2011). Pricing Strategy: Setting Price Levels, Managing Price Discounts, Establishing Price Structures. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. TalkOn. (2008). An Introduction to Ice Hockey. Web. This research paper on Marketing Plan for Chain of Pro Shops Located Within Ice Arenas was written and submitted by user Dalton A. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Anglo-German Naval Race

The Anglo-German Naval Race A naval arms race between Britain and Germany is often cited as a contributing factor in the start of World War I. There may be other factors that caused the war, which began in central and eastern Europe. However, there must also be something that led Britain to get involved. Given this, its easy to see why an arms race between two later warring powers would be seen as a cause. The jingoism of the press and people and the normalization of the idea of fighting each other is as important as the presence of the actual ships. Britain ‘Rules the Waves’ By 1914, Britain had long viewed their navy as the key to their status as the leading world power. While their army was small, the navy protected Britain’s colonies and trade routes. There was huge pride in the navy and Britain invested a great deal of money and effort to hold to the ‘two-power’ standard, which held that Britain would maintain a navy as large as the next two greatest naval powers combined. Until 1904, those powers were France and Russia. In the early twentieth century, Britain engaged in a large program of reform: better training and better ships were the result. Germany Targets the Royal Navy Everyone assumed naval power equaled domination, and that a war would see large set piece naval battles. Around 1904, Britain came to a worrying conclusion: Germany intended to create a fleet to match the Royal Navy. Although the Kaiser denied this was his empire’s aim, Germany hungered for colonies and a greater martial reputation and ordered large shipbuilding initiatives, such as those found in the 1898 and 1900 acts. Germany didn’t necessarily want war, but to browbeat Britain into giving colonial concessions, as well as boosting their industry and uniting some parts of the German nation - who were alienated by the elitist army - behind a new military project everyone could feel part of. Britain decided this couldn’t be allowed, and replaced Russia with Germany in the two-power calculations. An arms race began. The Naval Race In 1906, Britain launched a ship which changed the naval paradigm (at least to contemporaries). Called HMS Dreadnought, it was so large and heavily gunned it effectively made all other battleships obsolete and gave its name to a new class of ship. All the great naval powers now had to supplement their navy with Dreadnoughts, all starting from zero. Jingoism or patriotic sentiment stirred up both Britain and Germany, with slogans like â€Å"we want eight and we won’t wait† used to try and spur the rival building projects, with the numbers produced rising as each tried to outdo each other. It’s important to stress that although some advocated a strategy designed to destroy the other country’s naval power, much of the rivalry was friendly, like competing brothers. Britain’s part in the naval race is perhaps understandable - it was an island with a global empire – but Germany’s is more confusing, as it was a largely landlocked nation with little that needed defending by sea. Either way, both sides spent huge sums of money. Who Won? When the war started in 1914, Britain was held to have won the race by people looking just at the number and size of the ships, which was what most people did. Britain had started with more than Germany and ended with more. But Germany had focused on areas that Britain had glossed over, like naval gunnery, meaning her ships would be more effective in an actual battle. Britain had created ships with longer range guns than Germany, but German ships had better armor. Training was arguably better in the German ships, and British sailors had the initiative trained out of them. In addition, the larger British navy had to be spread over a larger area than the Germans had to defend. Ultimately, there was only one major naval battle of World War I, the Battle of Jutland, and it is still debated who really won. How much of the First World War, in terms of starting and willingness to fight, was down to the naval race? It is arguable that a notable amount can be attributed to the naval race.

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Research - Essay Example Over time, the organization’s idea has evolved from just the acquisition of skills to developing of cognitive processes accompanying the acquisition of the required skills. It is has been proposed that workplace learning should involve a process of reasoned learning that is projected towards the prerequisite outcomes for both the individual employees and the organization (Bratton 2008, 16). These outcomes should steer a sustained development for both these parties, within the present and the foreseeable future context of organizational goals and the career development of the individual employees. The performance capacity of the organization has been recognized to depend almost entirely on the learning capability of the workforce. Increased extent of the globalization of the workforce is characterized by innovative approaches to learning so that the barriers often imposed from outside the business world can be overcome (Ashton and Johnny 2002, 16). The emphasis placed on individual employees’ improvement linking it to an organization’s strategic direction has helped in the understanding of workplace learning. This is through administering the relationships existing between organizational and the individuals’ capabilities. The intention for this is to make learning to be integrated into the everyday work practices of the employees, and for the work to become a viable source for learning new practices and methods. The diversity which exists in the current work environment includes the organizational cultures, work practices, organizational policies and the various human resource systems. The diversity has been known to influence workplace learning for individuals, groups and the organization at large (Ashton and Johnny 2002, 24). The most important reason for the provision of learning and development in an organization is to enable the employees to Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1 Research - Essay Example In this respect, it is quite essential to reassess all the data collection sources, which the researcher wants to incorporate in his research work. There are several different types of data collection sources which are directed to reveal different type of information related with the research context. I have used primary and secondary data collection mythologies in the research. For using such methods, it is quite crucial for me to reveal merits and demerits of different types of data sources and align them with his objectives of the research so that the work related to the current research can be performed and conducted in the most efficient and effective manner. The presented paper is aimed to reveal the importance and effectiveness of different research methods taken into account for the purpose of undertaking a competent research work on the topic, i.e. ‘the risk management strategy of HSBC and Barclays’. This research topic is selected for the research work as it is a comprehensive research topic, which contains some crucial and effective insights into risk management theories and practices undertaken by different business organizations. However, the span of this research topic is so comprehensive that different types of data collection sources seem to be in need. ... These two methods are relevant Internet sources and review of 'hard copy' books and journals. In addition to this, with the help of measure of reviewing 'hard copy' books and journals, an intensive library research has been conducted, in which different books and journal articles available in the library in hard copy have been reviewed. These both methods have been used for the purpose of extracting some secondary type of information. A secondary type of information can be said to be the information which has already been gathered and collected and used by previous scholars in their research work. A brief discussion regarding these two different data collection methods and their usability and applicability are presented as below: Critical Analysis of Secondary Sources for Data Collection The first and foremost method undertaken by me for collecting data regarding operational policies of both banks is Internet. In this method, the website of both banks, their annual reports and other online available sources have been taken into account for the purpose of collecting information regarding differences and similarities between risk management strategies of both banks. This method used in the research work has been proved quite helpful for retrieving the desired information. Internet is a vast source of information through which different types of information can be retrieved without investing significant amount of time and efforts. This research work based on the usage of Internet sources was quite efficient as the research problem can be resolved by retrieving some of internal information related with bank’s policies and operations. The internet search has been done for this purpose as this is the place where interviews

Organizational Behavior Terminology and Concepts Essay - 3

Organizational Behavior Terminology and Concepts - Essay Example Employees or members behave in a particular manner with the knowledge that the employer or leader has control and their processes must be followed to remain with the organization or receive payment. Theory Y is based on models that explain individual motivations as driving behavior in a group or organization. Such models are based on individual need for recognition, self satisfaction and sense of belonging within the organization. It is often thought that such characteristics more accurately explain organizational behavior, as many members perform even when benefit is reduced. In my organization, recognition and self satisfaction are at high levels, though compensation is low. This has caused many workers to seek employment elsewhere, as they still need to support their families and meet basic needs. Recognition without proper financial reward sends mixed messages to employees.Nearly all organizations operate on more than one model, based on the type of leadership and organizational goals that have been established. Cultures within an organization are made up of individuals who contribute to a set of shared values and standards. The set of shared standards or values is known as Organizational culture. Organizational culture varies from one company to another based on the type of work or tasks required, the nature of business conducted and many other contributing factors.

Challenges to Maritime Security in Southeast Asia

Challenges to Maritime Security in Southeast Asia Lt Mohd Fadhil bin Ahmad Southeast Asia: The Current Challenges of Maritime Security Introduction Since ancient times, the control (or to have at least some forms of control) over the lucrative waterways has always been the ambition of littoral states as well as those with vested and specific interests. The reasons can be abundance, such as that for the purpose of facilitating peaceful trade and commercial, or nations or empire’s expansion or projection of power and influence, or for gaining quick wealth through a less peaceful means of piracy. With everyone going for a slice of cake, it then resulted in disputes, conflicts and even war and some are still unresolved until today. Back to the present, littoral states or these adjacent to Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) are now not only faced with tall order of keeping of SLOC safe for navigation and secured of threats, which most often than not are mostly non-traditional in nature, but are also pressured by extra regional and international â€Å"interested parties† to do so, as such are made preoccupied in keeping these â€Å"interested parties† at bay, i.e. from interfering. Littoral states are expected to ensure safety and security as their responsibilities, on their own effort and with heavy financial cost, without any modality of burden sharing through international funding. But, the question then, do they (the littoral states) really want any forms of funding with the terms and conditions which can be interpreted as external interference? Especially, when international users have already considered the Malacca Straits for an example as an international sea lane with their rights of usage. Apart from these threats and the conflict of interest, this strategic outlook or landscape can also be looked upon as having its own opportunities at the same time. Although the factors that shape these opportunities are mainly driven by economic gain, the aspect of security interests could lead to other mutual beneficial partnership. A lot has been said on the needs for collaboration or joint efforts with regard to maintaining the safety and security of our immediate waters which include from the north-west of the Indian Ocean-Andaman, down to the Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore, and up to the South China Sea as well as the adjacent seas, oceans and waters. Has this SLOC not attracted enough attention with regard to the availability of both threats/challenges and opportunities? In this regard, have we not seen the rising numbers of piracy at the Straits of Malacca before, in the early 2000s of the increased traffics and trades that play this SLOC (from 56,000 ships in year 2000 to 73000 in 2011 for ship of more than 300 GRT)? Has this situation not attracted influential players-major military and economic powers, into this foray? These only proved how vital this SLOC is, and why all concerned parties should coordinate, cooperate and collaborate–bilateral or multi-laterally, for a concentrat ed/ integrated effort. Challenges Over the years, ASEAN through its various forums has introduced numerous commendable efforts and initiatives to ensure the safety and security of its water. The outcome has been remarkably encouraging especially when incidents of piracy has dropped to a near-zero. However, there are still other works to be done especially at the Straits of Malacca and more work elsewhere vis-a-vis the South China Sea. With regard to the Straits of Malacca, with piracy no longer in the limelight, the main concern now is the increasing traffic volume as mentioned earlier. As we know, the Straits of Malacca is one narrow Strait and with this increased in traffic volume; coordinated efforts now must be focused towards regulating the North-bound passage in ensuring navigational safety and putting in place a mechanism to address shipping-related pollutions-by irresponsible acts or mishap at sea. Competition over Resources There are some issues with regard to the maritime Southeast Asia waters which have been standing out such as competition over resources. As we know, maritime Southeast Asia, which are located between the Pacific and Indian Ocean, is composed of the volcanic and non-volcanic islands and also the island arcs. The geology of the area is highly complex but it is very promising in term of resources development. Extensive continental shelves washed by seas of less than 200metres deep join many of the islands to Australia and Asia. The Continental Shelf areas are the important location of sedimentary rock which contains of yields oil, tin, and others minerals. The growing in demand for energy is obviously generating greatly increased in offshore exploration for oil and natural gas. China for example, has expended massive efforts in exploring for oil in South China Sea as well as the Pearl River Basin to the North of Hong Kong. Nowadays, we can see that the developed oil-fields in Southeast Asian waters are small and located only in continental shelf area. So that, reservoirs are being depleted and increased in exploration and competition are to be expected. At present, oil, offshore minerals and also fisheries are the main focal point of disputes and future conflict. China has claimed a major portion of the South China Sea makes other littoral feel threatened against other interests over the South China Sea and its resources. Most of the contiguous states have claimed a 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Indonesian and the Philippine concept of the archipelagic state were incorporated in the 1982 Convention of the Law of the Sea. Article 47 of this convention stated that an archipelagic state may draw straight baselines to the outermost points of the outermost island. Furthermore, the 200 nautical mile EEZ, other claims of the littoral states, and the archipelagic claims of Indonesian and the Philippines and also the China’s undefined general claim, leave no uncontested or unclaimed maritime areas in Southeast Asian waters. Example like what had happened with regard to the Spratly Island where friction and some viol ence have occurred which jointly claimed by Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Philippines. Because of the pressure for a greater exploration develops, the areas with potential for exploration and drilling, which are normally located on or near continental shelves and disputed boundaries are becoming pressure points for disputes. The areas which are currently in disputed and believed to have hydrocarbon potential are the South-western Gulf of Thailand (involving Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam), the waters North of Natuna Island (involving Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Vietnam), the waters offshore of Brunei (involving Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and China) and also the Spratly Island (involving China, Malaysia, Philippine and Vietnam). The fisheries issue is more difficult to address in many ways since fish do not respect political boundaries. The fishery resource management problems are largely unresolved and frequently not even identified. The recent changes in the Law of the Sea, especially the establishment of 200 nautical mile economic zones, make governments are ill-prepared to cope. The establishment of the 200 nautical mile economic zones has created severe hardship for fishermen of certain Southeast Asian nations. For example, Thailand has suffered the loss of some 115,000 square miles of traditional fishing grounds. It is reported that most of the Thailand fishing fleet has been force back into the Gulf of Thailand which is already overfish. Sea Lines of communications, the Straits, the Achipelagoes and Extended Jurisdiction The question of the unilateral extension of maritime jurisdiction is gradually over loading regional mechanisms designed to avoid conflict. Political orientation and economic circumstances are important fact ors in the temptation to use force in order to establish or defend a maritime claim. Within ASEAN community there are well-established, if not perfect, informal procedures for settlement of disputes. The communist states of the East and Southeast Asia are less practicable and have used naval power in the recent past to emphasize their claim to areas in the South China Sea. Use of the straits and sea lines of communication throughout the region affect not only regional powers but also international trading community. Closure, for any reason, of the straits of Malacca and Singapore would severely damage the economies of Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, as well as other states. Major shipping routes of international importance use Indonesia’s Sunda, Lombok, Makasar, and Ombai-W etar straits. The Philippines, which also has declared its achipelagic status, possesses international passages within its territory. The maintenance of open sea lines of communication is of great interest to nations using the South China Sea. The major north-south routes transit the Natunas area disputed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. They also pass through the Paracel and Spratly zones disputed by China and Vietnam as well as other states. Future local naval engagements in either of these areas will impede or lengthen the transit period of user nations. The extended jurisdictional claims of China (legally unspecified but encompassing much of the South China Sea) and Vietnam require the most attention. The Chinese and Vietnamese claim the Paracel and the Spratly areas based on their claims of historical occupation. The Chinese evicted the South Vietnamese from Paracels in the 1974. Oil is being extracted to the west of these islands and is rumoured to exits on or very near the Chinese-occupied Paracels. The Spratly area viewed as being potentially rich in oil and natural gas. So far China has not pressed its claims to the Spratlys by occupying one or more of the islands. Vietnam and Indonesia are currently at a stalemate in their discussions over the delineation of their maritime boundaries. The talk have been going on for five years and involves rights to hydrocarbons located in the continental shelf north of the Natuna islands which are occupied by Indonesia. Indonesia has allowed Marathon Oil Company to explore in this area. Vietnam has vigorously and challenged this contract and stated that â€Å"foreign companies should pay attention to this matter and should not conduct survey and exploration operations in the disputed area without Vietnam’s consent†. Any oil company which failed to observe these instructions must be held responsible for the consequences arising from its act. Impact of the Arms Build-up and Major Power Interests The South China Sea and the maritime waters of Southeast Asia are of major strategic importance to the littoral nations as well as the major powers. The guarantee of innocent passage for the merchant and military ships of all nations is fundamental to stability in Asia. Passage in these waters, however, is becoming increasingly constricted especially in the sea lines of the South China Sea and the Vital Straits of Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and Wetar-Ombai, all of which are within Indonesian archipelago. Waters adjacent to these sea lines as well as the straits are sensitive for security and political reasons. These seas are bordered by countries of very different political ideologies and political outlooks. The western area (Spratly Islands) of the South China Sea especially sensitive, mainly because so many states have made claims to and have occupied island in this area. Potential strategic uses for the more developed island islands in the Spratly included bases for sea line interdiction, surveillance and possible launching points for further attacks. The Philippines and the Indonesia have particular reason to seek for influence maritime activity in parts of their archipelagos. The south of the Philippines, especially the Sulu Sea area, is a focal point for continuing friction with our country. Supplies for the continuing military support for the Moro National Liberation Front and New People’s Army in Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, Palawan and Davao are via sea routes. Indonesia vie ws the eastern portion of the country with continuing concern for security. Other strategic considerations include continuing use of the major straits for military purposes. East to west passage in important for surface units of all navies. North to south passage is also importance to submarines. The existence of the U.S. military bases in the Philippines and Soviet bases in Vietnam serve to complicate the security picture in the South China Sea area. Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in the Philippines have been importance features of U.S. security policy in Asia since World War II. Both are vital logistics support facilities which allow the U.S. Navy and Air Force to stand behind security commitments made to Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand. These bases also support U.S naval missions in the Indian Ocean. The United States has provided a continuous military presence in Asia since 1975. This presence has enabled the ASEAN nations, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, to increase their gross national product by an average of 10 per cent. While the United State does not take credit for the economy and the security successes of most of these countries, its policy of deterring Soviet, North Korean and Vietnamese intimidation has been effective. In the mid 1980s, the Soviet has a quantitative advantage in the military balance in the Pacific region, having greater numbers of newer, more sophisticated submarines, tactical aircraft, bombers, and infantry and so on. At present Soviet naval and air forces would be severely disadvantaged in a conflict with United State forces in maritime Southeast Asia. China’s impact on the security of maritime Southeast Asia already been outlined as it affects the Spratly area and also China’s relation with Vietnam. Other considerations worthy of mention are th e upgrading of China merchant fleet and evolution of the PLA navy in recent years. China has not entered the maritime power competition but clearly has the capacity and will to do so. In the near future, China will further expand its volume of maritime trade on a global scale. The PLA navy is attempting to catch up rapidly with those of the Soviet Union and the United States by developing a seaborne nuclear deterrent. It is also obvious from the interview with Liu Huaquing, head of the PLA navy, that China is serious about protecting its claim to the resources of the South China Sea as well as asserting itself as a maritime power in Asia. At present, the Soviets are effectively projecting their military power into an area which had previously been a preserve of the West. It is disconcerting to United States power to have the Soviets expanding their air and naval assets in Cam Ranh Bay as well as conducting a large scale construction programme within that base. The Cam Ranh Bay base in being expended into an advanced staging and repair facility which will save the Soviets time in projecting their naval forces into the Indian Ocean. In parallel and as back-up facility, in case of a break in relation with Vietnam, which is not likely to happen. The soviet are also developing the naval facility in the Kampuchean port of Ream. These points having been made, the soviet presence in Southeast Asia is prominent only in the military area. The KGB activity in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in recent years has been closely monitored by the security agencies of these countries. However, the soviets present no role models for eco nomic development. Future Developments and Conclusion The 1982 UNCLOS provides compulsory procedures for the settlement of disputes. Many venues are open to disputing parties, including arbitration, adjudication and conciliation, as well as other regional or local ad hoc procedures. As an example is ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus Expert Working Group (ADMM Plus EWG) on Maritime Security. This is one EWG which is giving full attention in as far as â€Å"providing a platform for information sharing among ADMM Plus countries in the hope of enhancing and further developing mutual confidence towards regional peace and stability† is concerned. It is sure that with the activities already conducted such as the Table-Top Exercise (TTX) held last year, and those already on the drawing board (i.e. to establish a virtual communication network/website, to conduct exercises at sea); practical operational cooperation in common areas of maritime security will soon become a norm (standard practice) among members, at least, where maritime se curity is concerned. Conflict in which resources are said to be the major issue but where, in reality, strategic position is the major motivation, will be more difficult to resolve. Solutions to fisheries questions will apparently leave some countries, such as Thailand, disadvantaged. The claims to ownership of hydrocarbon are, in theory, more easily negotiated. Joint development in production and policy is a possible solution to competing claims within ASEAN. With no clear sight of a permanent solution, the easiest way out as a short term measure is to a model a Joint Development Area (JDA) involving all the respective claimants such that of the Malaysia-Thailand JDA which jointly exploit fisheries and hydrocarbon-based resources. It is worth noting that this idea of JDA has in fact caught the attention of claimants to other disputed areas as well. Therefore, if we could not resolve the challenges we might as well capitalise on the opportunities. The question of providing a security presence in the region will increasingly become a problem for the regional powers. It may become increasingly difficult for the United States to continue to maintain its long term air and naval presence in Southeast Asia. Political and economic constraints are cited by friends of United States when there are ask to share greater cooperative security burdens. The major security burden of the future will fall upon the ASEAN nations, Australia, Japan and South Korea. National interest in the security terms may serve to overcome other inherent obstructions such as South Korea-Japanese cultural issues and the lingering effect of anti-Japanese feeling in Southeast Asia as a result of World War II. Australia may have a heightened role to play, given a receptive political climate, as a partner in co-operative naval and air patrol agreements and as a fall-back position for the United State forces. The regional communist states (China, Vietnam) appear to be transferring to the South China Sea their current confrontational relations. In order for stability to be maintained in the South China Sea, China and Vietnam will need to avail themselves of existing mechanisms for resolutions of disputes. References: ASEAN Partners invited to Jointly Develop Gas Field, Business Times (Kuala Lumpur), 14 November 1984. The Malaysian Chief of Defence Force Presentation on 10th ASEAN Chief of Defence Force informal Meeting, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 19 to 21 Mac 2013. Robert A. Brand, Defence Down Under: An American View, Pacific Defence Reporter, June 1985. J.C Johari, International Relation and Politics, (New Delhi: Sterling Publisher 1997). You Ji, The Armed Forces of China (Australia: Allen Unwin, 1999).

Michelangelo :: Art, Paintings

Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Tuscany. His dad was Lodovico di Buonarrotto and his mother was Fracessca Neri. Michelangelo was also the second of five brothers. His mother was not capable of raising Michelangelo so his dad let a stonecutter’s wife raise him. Sadly, Michelangelo’s mom died when he was six (Bonner Par. 1-13). Michelangelo’s family moved to Florence, Italy a month after his birth. Although his family was not wealthy, Michelangelo went to school in 1482. When Michelangelo started to excel in the arts his dad was not happy. He wanted Michelangelo to become a government or military figure. He beat Michelangelo to steer him away from the arts. Finally, at age 13 Michelangelo’s dad gave up and let Michelangelo start an apprenticeship under Domenico Ghirlando to learn (McNeese 11-21). Michelangelo’s first sculptures were made when he was around age 16. These sculptures were the Battle of the Centaurs and Madonna of the Stairs. The Battle of the Centaurs consisted of nude Greek men fighting centaurs. Centaurs are creatures that have the top half of a man and a bottom half of horse. These sculptures are what told Giovanni de Bertoldo, Michelagelo’s second teacher, that he had a unique calling for sculpting (Bonner Par. 1). Shortly after arriving in Rome, Michelangelo was hired to make a Roman god sculpture. Michelangelo chose to sculpt the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. Michelangelo spent a year on the project. The original customer was not happy with but Jacopo Galli, a Roman banker, purchased the piece. This sculpture is what lead Michelangelo to become more famous (McNeese 34). The next sculpture that Michelangelo made was for a French cardinal, Jean Villiers de Fezencac. The cardinal wanted a sculpture of Virgin Mary and Jesus. Michelangelo signed a contract to be paid 450 ducats if he completed the sculpture in one year. Gladly, he finished the sculpture successfully. The sculpture was called the Pieta and consisted of the siting Virgin Mary with the dead body of her son Jesus across her lap (McNeese 35). In April 1508 Pope Julius II hired Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (McNeese 87). The Sistine Chapel was where major papal ceremonies took place (Summers 11). Although Julius II just wanted Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the chapel Michelangelo had bigger ideas. By 1513, Michelangelo had around 340 figures on the ceiling of the chapel.

Cadbury and Kraft

The acquisition of Cadbury faced widespread disapproval from the British public, as well as groups and organisations including trade union Unite,[29] who fought against the acquisition of the company which, according to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was very important to the British economy. [30] Unite estimated that a takeover by Kraft could put 30,000 jobs â€Å"at risk†,[24][31][32] and UK shareholders protested over the Mergers and Acquisitions advisory fees charged by banks. Cadbury's M;A advisers were UBS, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. 33][34][35] Controversially, RBS, a bank 84% owned by the United Kingdom Government, funded the Kraft takeover. [36][37] http://www. publications. parliament. uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmbis/234/23405. htm High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut ; paste the article. See our Ts;Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales. [email  protected] com to buy additional rights. http://cachef. ft. com/cms/s/a153ff94-595f-11df-99ba-00144feab49a. html#ixzz1dKyAgSEK Cadbury helps Kraft to 26% rise in revenuesBy Greg Farrell in New York and Elizabeth Rigby in London Published: May 6 2010 23:54 | Last updated: May 6 2010 23:54 Kraft Foods reported net revenues of $11. 3bn for the first quarter 2010, a 26 per cent gain over the comparable period in 2009, much of it fuelled by the US food company’s acquisition of Cadbury, completed in February, and aided by favourable currency exchange rates. Organic revenues for Kraft grew 3. 3 per cent for the quarter, while Cadbury’s organic revenue growth was 8. 2 per cent. Net earnings for the company were $1. 9bn, largely from a $1. 6bn gain on the divestiture of Kraft’s pizza business.