This Comfortable Cage Called America :: Personal Narrative Essays

This Comfortable Cage Called America    My brothers have a cage in which they keep two iguanas.   I'm sure these creatures were born in captivity, and I assume they will die in the same cage they are in now.   It's not a bad cage.   There are quite a few square feet for them to run around, there is a stick they can climb up and down, there is a heat rock they can relax on, and they have everything they need to survive at their clawtips.   They don't even need to hunt for their meals because their meal tickets (my brothers) provide them with four square meals a day.   They can see outside their cage, but have no idea what it would be like to live outside.   I often wonder, however, what would happen if we were to set these two animals free in what would be considered a natural habitat for most iguanas in the wild.   Would they be likely to adapt in no time at all, or would they look for a nice place with four glass walls and a stick to play on?   And how could this story about two lizards, even if used metap horically, apply to us as a race?   We are responsible for our entrapment within four similar glass walls, yet we are not aware of them.   Inside of a cage called America we sit, and though we have a great view of the rest of the world, that's all it is-a view.   If we could somehow find a way of recognizing and breaking out of this comfortable cage called life, we would be more capable of coming together as a human race and putting an end to a division so obvious that terms such as "first world" and "third world" are created to define the differences.   Although I will incorporate the use of a few references, the main section of this essay will focus on my own experiences of life in another country which, in its own way, was another world.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I was taught little in school or home about cultures and people other than my own.   Was theple other than my own.   Was there a reason I should have learned about a less productive people in some remote country?   There was nothing wrong with the land of the free and the home of the brave, and whether or not I was culturally diverse was of little importance in my life-until I went to live in a different country.

Religion in China: Chinese Buddhism

As of July 2008, the population of the People’s Republic of China has reached 1,330,044,544 which has always been governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since October 1, 1949 (Central Intelligence Agency). Though PRC is under very strict communist control, the country has already opened itself up to the rest of the world after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. Deng Xiaoping turned the country into a market-driven economy issuing the Open Door Policy and engaging into foreign relations with countries like the United States of America.Aside from rejoining the world affairs, the people also experienced independence after being inhibited by the Cultural Revolution which suppressed all forms of freedom. One kind of freedom that the people have experienced is religious freedom (Central Intelligence Agency). PRC is a multi-religious country; hence, the country has diverse religious practices and beliefs (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America) .The major religions, though, in the country are Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism and Protestantism; however, there are still Chinese who practice traditional folk religions. In 1997, there are already more that 100 million Chinese who devote themselves to the religions mentioned above. Moreover, there are 85,000 locations dedicated to religious activities, 300,000 clergies, more than 3,000 religious organization, 74 schools and colleges managed by religious organizations (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America).This paper, though, will center on Chinese Buddhism and attempts to prove that is the country’s true religion. According to Travel China Guide, the most important religion in China is Buddhism. About 102 million Chinese practice Chinese Buddhism, making China the country which has the most number of Buddhists in the year 2007 (Buddhist-Tourism). In 1997, there are already about 13,000 Buddhist temples and 200,000 monks and nuns. In addi tion, there is also a Buddhist Association of China (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America).Gautama Buddha and His Teachings In general, Buddhism was formed through a Nepal prince, Siddharta Gautama, of the Shakya family. Ever since he was born in the 6th century BC, he was not aware of suffering of the people outside the palace; however, when he did become aware of this, he got upset and decided to leave the life of royalty. After leaving the life he used to live in the palace, Gautama resolved to practice asceticism for seven years only to find out that an ascetic lifestyle is not sufficient to take away suffering (Theobald).He then added meditation with asceticism and through meditation he was able to formulate inferences which turned him into a Buddha or an â€Å"Enlightened Man. † Afterwards, he went on and spread his teachings called the â€Å"Wheel of Teaching† – where the â€Å"wheel† stood as a symbol of Buddhi sm – and died at Kusinara (Theobald). Gautama Buddha formulated the Four Noble Truths which can be summed up as life is suffering due to the continuous yearning for survival and sensual pleasures (Theobald). Thus, Buddha devised the Eightfold Path that would restrain suffering.This Eightfold Path consists of (1) right views, (2) right intentions, (3) right speech, (4) right action, (5) right livelihood, (6) right effort, (7) right mindfulness and (8) right concentration which can be attained by conforming to a strict moral discipline, avoiding evil actions, doing good, cleansing the mind through mental discipline and mending it through the important aspects of doing good (Theobald). The Buddhist religion has what they call the Three Jewels which consists of the Buddha, the teachings and the community; moreover, the center of any Buddhist world is called Mount Sumeru that has its own Buddha (Theobald).Arrival of Buddhism in China Centuries after Gautama Buddha passed away, Bud dhism was finally able to enter China and began to co-exist with Confucianism and Taoism (Theobald). The Chinese Empire was able to gain contact with Buddhism in the Silk Road where there was a constant movement of traders and missionary. Chinese people were able to mingle with Buddhists from Central Asia – this was made possible due to the spread of Han Dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD) to the Central Asia during the 1st century AD in which increased the interaction of China and Central Asia through trading (BDEA Inc.& BuddhaNet). The Emperor Ming Ti of the Han Dynasty who ruled from 57 AD to 75 AD is said to have been a huge follower of Buddhism and Taoism (International Dunhuang Project). It was said that the Emperor dreamt of a foreign god – this triggered his sudden decision to sent messengers in India to look for Buddhist texts and teachers (Edkins, 88-89). Buddhists from India went to China along with the messengers that the Emperor sent as there is already a dema nd to translate Buddhist texts to Chinese. Buddhist monks like Lokashema, Kaspaya, Dharmaraksha, Kashiammadanga, Anshigao, etc.translated various Buddhist texts like the Shravakanaya texts, the Mahayana texts done by Lokashema, the Sutra of Forty-Two Sections done by Kashiapmadanga (who was said to have died in Lo-yang), Kasyapa and Dharmaraksha, etc. (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet; Edkins, 89; International Dunhuang Project). Along with other Buddhist texts being translated, Buddhism was spread more in China leading to the formation of a Chinese monastic order. In addition, there were already monks that are of Chinese decent – the first of them is said to be Anshigao’s disciple (BDEA Inc.& BuddhaNet). However, the Chinese were not able to comprehend the teachings of Buddhism at once for the translators used Taoist terms in order to translate the Buddhist terms; they encountered difficulty in finding the appropriate Chinese words to translate Buddhist concepts (BDEA Inc. & Bud dhaNet). Hence, the Chinese associated Buddhism to Taoism. Buddhism continued to grow despite the fall of the Han Dynasty in the early 3rd century. Translated Buddhist texts kept on going around and monasteries are being put up (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet).Chinese monks, like Dao-an, who is considered to be the most excellent Chinese monks of the 4th century, continued to invite translators like Kumarajiva from Kucha, who translated more important Buddhist texts and also revised the early translated Buddhist books (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). Development of Chinese Buddhism In Travel Guide China, the development of Buddhism in China is divided into four periods. The first period is Buddhism in Han Dynasty which was already discussed earlier, it was also in this period where the White Horse Temple was put up which is said to be the first Buddhist monastery in China (Theobald).The second period was in Jin during the 265 AD to 420 AD – at the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (385 AD – 589 AD). At the period of Jin, more Buddhist texts were translated, written and spread out, Buddhism became even more popular all over China and there was a growth in number of Chinese Buddhists (Travel China Guide). The third period was from the Sui Dynasty (581 AD – 618 AD) to the Tang Dynasty (618 AD – 907 AD). During these two dynasties, Buddhism reached its peak and its development had been exceptional.This unparalleled development of Buddhism during this period was because the Sui emperors are Buddhists and the Tang emperors accepted the growth of other religions despite being strict Taoists (Travel China Guide). During the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism became a part of Chinese Art, Chinese Literature, Chinese Sculpture, Chinese Architecture and Chinese Philosophy (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). The development was, however, halted during the late feudal society due to the heightening of social unrest in the country (Travel China Guide).The slumped developmen t of Buddhism occurred on the dying period of the Manchu Dynasty when the country got involved in wars against the Great Britain and series of peasant uprisings (ie. Boxer Rebellion) where China got striped off of its land and was divided among western countries and Japan in what was called the Spheres of Influence. The foreign occupation was followed by the fall of the Manchu Dynasty which was caused by the rise of the Nationalists, followed by the rise of the Communists which again triggered another civil revolution in the country which was briefly cut short due to World War II.Nonetheless, Buddhism was able to recover after the establishment of the PRC and even more after the reign of Mao Zedong. In addition, Buddhism has progressed into three different forms, namely, Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Southern Buddhism (Travel China Guide). Schools of Chinese Buddhism There were different schools of Chinese Buddhism which emerged during the Tang Dynasty. It was said that these s chools were derived from old forms of Buddhism that came to China, however, modern scholars stated that the said connections are most like tampered and flawed.Nonetheless, there are four main Chinese Buddhism schools that surfaced during the 7th century, namely, (1) T’ien-t’ai, (2) Hua-yen, (3) Ch’an, and (4) Pure Land (Lusthaus). T’ien-t’ai School This school was founded by Zhiyi (Lusthaus). He led Chinese Buddhism to a direction different from the path that various Buddhist theories and practices are leading it into. Zhiyi recommended a comprehensive synthesis. The whole T’ien-t’ai school was rooted on the Lotus Sutra – in this school, they view the Lotus Sutra as the carrier of salvation based on practice (China Views).This school is portrayed as principled and meditation- and philosophy-centered. It served as the connector of the developing Buddhism in Northern China as both religion of faith and discipline, and the intelle ctual tradition in Southern China (China Views). Hua-yen School While T’ien-t’ai School was based on the Lotus Sutra, the Hua-yen School has the Avatamsaka Sutra as their root (Lusthaus). The leading belief of Hua-yen School is â€Å"dharmadatu† or the â€Å"universal causation of the realm of the law† (China Views).The said realm refers to the whole of the universe including all of its dimensions while the universal causation is a philosophical development that is purely Chinese. The universal causation is an extension of Buddha’s teachings regarding â€Å"dependant origination† (China Views). Ch’an School The Ch’an School is the result of the reaction that rose against the T’ien-t’ai School and Hua-yen School (Lusthaus). The Ch’an School viewed the two other schools as an impediment towards enlightenment due to their capacious and complicated literatures. This school centers on meditation.Ch’an Sch ool was founded by an Indian monk from Southern India named Bodhidharma who arrived in China around the 5th and 6th century. He taught according to the Lankavatara Sutra and also practiced a tremendously simple mediation (China Views). Pure Land School Unlike the other three schools of Chinese Buddhism which center on devotional elements and rituals, the Pure Land School which focuses on the very fundamentals of devotionalism (Lusthaus). In addition, compared to the other schools, the founder or the origin of Pure Land is not known. However, there are contributors named Tanluan, Dao Chuo and Shandao.Aside from centering on devotionalism, the school also stresses the faith in Amitabha Buddha (China Views). The devotion will be centered on Amitabha in order for him to grant them salvation which is in the form of being born again the in the west pure land. Furthermore, this school has also ignored the need for self-development through the teachings of Buddha regarding the way of salvat ion (China Views). The scriptures that the Pure Land School use are the Larger and Smaller Sukhavati Sutras and the Guan Wuliangshuofo Jing (Lusthaus). Chinese Buddhist Temple and DeitiesThe temples of Chinese Buddhism are built according to the palaces of their imperial family and are definitely unlike the temples of Buddhism from other Buddhist countries like India. It is established facing south and have three cluster of buildings divided by courtyards (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). The first cluster is the front hall where the four massive images of the Four Heavenly Kings (Devas) greet anyone who enters (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). The Devas are the Guardians of the Four Directions and two of each are placed on the right and left. Thus, the hall is called â€Å"Si-Tien Wang Tien† – a name derived from the Four Heavenly Kings (BDEA Inc.& BuddhaNet). Visitors are mostly greeted by the soon-to-be Buddha called Maitreya Buddha, commonly known as the â€Å"Laughing Buddha† or â€Å"Ta-pao Mi-Lei-Fwo. † This particular Buddha is usually the one with a fat paunch. Precisely at the back of the Maitreya Buddha is the Projector of Buddhist Temples and Faith, the great King, Wei-to (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). He appears to be dressed in his full armor and is either holding a staff or a weapon in a shape of scepter. Aside from being the Projector of Buddhist Temples and Faith, Wei-to is also called the Protector of Buddhist Books (BDEA Inc.& BuddhaNet). Wei-to is always built facing the Great Hall or â€Å"Ta-Hung-Pau-Tien† – the second cluster which is separated away from the front hall by either a wall or a courtyard (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). The main altar of the temple is found in this hall, the image of the altar being Sakyamuni Buddha and his two chief students, Mahakasyapa and Ananda, if not, the place of the two students can be replaced by other Buddhas from the past. Even the image of the main altar can be different; temples of Pu re Land Schools will have the image of Amitabha Buddha.Nonetheless, on the both left and right side of the main altar are the two Great Bodhisattvas, Manjusri or Wen-Shu-Shih-Li and Samantabhadra or Pu-Hsien, however, this too can vary (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). The east and west halls of this hall have the assembled figures of the Eighteen Arhats. These Arhats or Lohas are said to be in control of different supernatural powers (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). On the north wall is the images of Dipankara or Jan-teng Fwo and other popular and non-popular Bodhisattvas. There are also instances when the image of the Protector of Buddhism, Kuan Ti, is also found in this hall.The Great Hall serves as the place where the dedicated Buddhists pray and offer flowers, fruits, etc. in the main altar (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). The last cluster is the back hall which is, most of the time, split into smaller halls or smaller rooms. In the center of this hall is usually an altar of a Buddha or a Bodhisattva ( BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet). The right is usually the funerary tablet of the founder of the temple while the left is usually a hall for either teaching or meditating. Finally, there are living quarters, dining area and kitchen that are located either on the side of the three clusters or at their back (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet).Chinese Buddhism in Modern China The Chinese people realized the need for Chinese Buddhism to modernize as early as the 20th century. There were efforts to modernize Chinese Buddhism and these efforts began during the Manchu Dynasty led by Yang Wen-hui by republishing and redispersing Buddhist texts (Lancashire, 220). He also tried to learn the significance of Chinese Buddhism in the modern world as a whole. Through his examinations, he was able to construe that Buddhims goes well with modern science, and, also, Chinese Buddhists have a role to serve – to introduce Buddhism to the outside world particularly in the West (Lancashire, 220).Hence, he encouraged the Chinese Buddhists to recognize the value of modern science and the existing connection between it and Buddhism, and also helped the Chinese Buddhist to prepare for the missionary tasks they have to fulfill in introducing the religion to the west (Lancashire, 221). It continued until the Chinese Buddhist Association was also established in 1929. Membership for the association was divided between the laity and the clergy with the latter having more dominance (Lancashire, 222).During the early stages of the association, it was able to saw of the two most politcally active monks of that period, namely, T’ai-hsii and Yuan-ying. T’ai-shii was said to be the leader of the progressives while Yuan-ying was the major head of the much contemporary ideas (Lancashire, 222). Personal Interest: Marriage Buddhist weddings are usually characterized as worldly and materialistic, however, the couples who are about to be wed always make sure that they will be able to receive the blessing of the monks from local Buddhist temples exactly right after accomplishing the civil registration procedures (BDEA Inc.& BuddhaNet). Chinese Buddhists strictly abide to their religion that even if two people are already married in a civil ceremony, they still need to have a Buddhist wedding in order to be considered as rightfully married (Urban Dharma). Choosing for the wedding day is usually relied on fortune tellers, however, the couple or the their parents could now have the right to choose for the appropriate wedding day (Urban Dharma). Before the wedding, as early as 5:30 AM, the family of the man will go to the house of the woman with trays that they will give to the woman (Walsh and Poremba).Each tray has its own corresponding purpose and may contain things like wine, fruit, traditional and western cake, tea, meat, trau cau and jewelry. One tray will have a pair of candles that will be lit up by the fathers of the soon-to-be groom and bride to represent the union of the two families, in addition, there will also be a tray that will have the traditional gown that the bride will wear for the wedding (Walsh and Poremba).A roasted pig will also be given to the family of the bride; this roasted pork will be cut into three, the family of the woman will keep the middle part while the rest will be given back to the family of the man (Urban Dharma). Afterwards, a tea ceremony will be conducted in which the couple will serve the elders of the woman’s family with tea and, in return, they will give them red packets with money or jewelry inside. The tea ceremony will also be repeated in the house of the man (Urban Dharma).The wedding ceremony will come after, in Buddhist weddings, the groom and the bride will be the ones who will administer the wedding ceremony (Walsh and Poremba). Just as how early the groom and his family went to the bride’s house for the gifts and ceremonies, they groom will again go to the house of the bride, or wherever she is st aying, early in the morning with his groomsmen. Before the groom could enter the house, the friends of the bride will ask him questions that are difficult enough to test if he is suitable for the bride.In addition, another test will be on the financial aspect where the groom will give the bridesmaid red packets with money or jewelry (Urban Dharma). Afterwards, the bride will bid farewell to her family and will pay respects to her ancestors in the their family’s spirit house, the groom will also follow suit, offering a bowl of trau cau to them with him (Walsh and Poremba). The couple along with the bridesmaids and groomsmen will then go to the house of the groom. The mother of the bride and the mother-in-law will put earrings on the bride to signify her virginity (Walsh and Poremba). Respects will again be paid to the ancestors of the groom.Again, a tea ceremony will be held where the groom and the bride will serve their parents. The tea ceremony will symbolize that the couple is married, it is also this ceremony which makes the bride a part of the groom’s family (Urban Dharma; Walsh and Poremba). Professional Interest: Interacting with Chinese Investors The essential beliefs and values of the Chinese are deeply rooted from philosophies and teachings of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism (Miroslawski, 46). Hence, even the holistic configuration of the Chinese society has its origin in the three major philosophies and religions in the country.Thus, in order to fully comprehend the Chinese culture, one must understand the different philosophies that the Chinese believe in and how these philosophies affect their way of life. In his study, Miroslawski (2008) compared and contrasted China and Germany using the cultural dimensions formulated by Geert Hofstede. In the comparison, it was learned that the organizational model of the Chinese emphasized on the necessity of a single supervisor at the top who will give those below instructions that should be fo llowed.This model is due to the Chinese inclination towards extensive power distance and the necessity for them to have an apparent and influential type of leadership (Miroslawski, 46-47). The Chinese are also collective in nature, hence, they always put the welfare of their group over their personal interests (Miroslawski, 47). Chinese have the tendency to not to speak out from the group just so they could maintain their good relationship with one another – this is also the case by not choosing to speak out towards their superiors.Aside from Hofstede’s explanation that if there is a high power distance, there is also high collectivism in the society, the organization model can also be attributed to China’s extended family and patriarchal society. Moreover, it is also due to Confucius’ teachings about filial piety (Miroslawski, 48). It is also because of the fact that Chinese are collectivists that their communication vary from those who are inside their group and those who are outside. This is also due to the huge amount of loyalty that the Chinese put on one another (Miroslawski, 48).Another finding was that China has a very high-context culture, hence, the value on face-saving is high and tremenduously important (Miroslawski, 48). Face-saving refers to instituing, sustaining and intensifying status. Despite being collectivists, the Chinese still give themselves value by having a significant status in the group, still, this reflects only within the group as every group tries to contain all their knowledge within them. In order to comprehend Chinese more easily, then, they must be from a high-context culture as well or at least attempt to study their ways (Miroslawski, 48).Conclusion Chinese Buddhists range from 50% to 80% of the Chinese population, their infrastructures are more than 10,000 in numbers while there are hundreds of thousands Chinese Buddhist monks, nuns, lamas and Buddhas (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America; Vipassana Foundation). The Chinese have, indeed, welcomed and nourished the Buddhist religion ever since it arrived in China during the Han Dynasty. Emperors were open enough to accept its unstoppable growth and even allow it continue its development.Despite the turmoils that the country experienced during its fall at the period of the Manchu, the Chinese people still resurrected and modernized the religion in order to make it still fitting with the changing times. It can be said that the Chinese Buddhists are very loyal to their religion that when it comes to marriage, the couple should still be wed in a Buddhist ceremony in order to be considered married. Though the Chinese are no longer particular about having their child marrying another Chinese, they would still want the couple to undergo a Buddhist wedding ceremony.The rituals, the ceremonies and the traditions are still being strictly followed. However, there are practices that were no longer co nstantly done, like parents arranging the marriage of their children, going to the matchmakers, and consultation with forture tellers. Chinese are now allowing their children to chose who they want to marry irregardless of nationality and the couple are also free to choose what day they would like their wedding to be held. Perhaps the most difficult matter where other people from other countries to get along with the Chinese is regarding business.Chinese tends not to share what they know with others even with their fellow Chinese. Moreover, they also wanted to play a big role in a certain agreement. In addition, engaging a business with Chinese might take a lot of time as they will always consult their group regarding the business at hand. These qualities of the Chinese is attributable to their high power distance, collectivism and context culture (Miroslawski, 46-48). Chinese prefer having a someone above them who are capable of leading them irregardless of the circumstances.They w ill always put the best interests of the group their their own and they do not share anything to anyone easily for they find it hard to trust other people, however, they gave their utmost loyalty to their group. This is due to their philosophies and religion – Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism (Miroslawski, 46). Works Cited BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet. â€Å"Buddhist Studies: Chinese Buddhist Temple. † 2008. Buddhist Studies: Buddha Dharma Education Association & BuddhaNet. 13 October 2008 . BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet.â€Å"Buddhist Studies: Mahayana Buddhism: Chinese. † 2004. Buddhist Studies: Buddha Dharma Education & BuddhaNet. 13 October 2008 . BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet. â€Å"Buddhist Studies: Personal Ceremonies in Buddhism: Marriage. † 2008. Buddhist Studies: Buddha Dharma Education Association & BuddhaNet. 15 October 2008 . BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet. â€Å"Timeline of Major Events in Chinese Buddhism. † 2008. Buddhist Studies: Buddha Dharma Education Associat ion & BuddhaNet.13 October 2008 . Buddhist-Tourism. â€Å"Statistics on Buddhism, Statistics on Buddhist Religion, Buddhist World Statistics Description. † 2007. Buddist-Tourism. 14 October 2008 . Central Intelligence Agency. â€Å"CIA – The World Factbook — China. † 9 October 2008. Central Intelligence Agency. 14 October 2008 . China Views. â€Å"Chinese Mahayana Buddhism – A Complete History.† 2007. China Views. 13 October 2008 . Edkins, Joseph. Chinese Buddhism: A Volume of Sketches, Historical, Descriptive and Critical. New Jersey: Gorgias Press LLC, 2003. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America. â€Å"White Paper–Freedom of Religious Belief in China. † October 1997. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America. 14 October 2008 . International Dunhuang Project. â€Å"Chinese Buddhism on the Silk Road.† n. d. International Dunhuang Project. 13 October 2008 . Lancashire, Douglas. â€Å"Buddhism in Modern China. † Religion in Communist Lands (1977, 5 (4)): 220-228. Lusthaus, Dan. â€Å"Buddhist philosophy, Chinese: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online. † 1998. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 13 October 2008 . Lusthaus, Dan. â€Å"Buddhist philosophy, Chinese: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online. † 1998. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.13 October 2008 . Lusthaus, Dan. â€Å"Buddhist philosophy, Chinese: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online. † 1998. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 13 October 2008 . Lusthaus, Dan. â€Å"Buddhist philosophy, Chinese: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online. † 1998. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 13 October 2008 . Lusthaus, Dan. â€Å"Buddhist Philosophy, Chinese: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online.† 1998. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 13 October 2008 . Miroslawski, Gregor. â€Å"International Expan sion & Market Entry of Mainland Chinese Businesses in Germany within the Context of Culture. † China Media Research (2008, 4 (2)): 46-59. Theobald, Ulrich. â€Å"Religions in China, Chinese Religions – Buddhism ( ). † 2000. ChinaKnowledge – a universal guide for China studies. 13 October 2008 . Travel China Guide. â€Å"China Buddhism. † 14 October 2008.Travel China Guide. 13 October 2008 . Urban Dharma. â€Å"Newsletter – 2/10/04. † 10 February 2004. Urbad Dharma. 15 October 2008 . Vipassana Foundation. â€Å"Buddhists in the World. † July 2008. The Dhamma. 15 October 2008 . Walsh, Richard T. and Barbara Poremba. â€Å"Buddhist Wedding Ceremony. † 1998. Salem State College. 15 October 2008 .

Appalachian State Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

Appalachian State University is a public university  with an acceptance rate of 69%. Located in  Boone, North Carolina, the university frequently ranks well among best value colleges because of its strong academic programs and relatively low tuition. Appalachian State offers 150 undergraduate and graduate major programs through its six colleges and schools. The university has a 16-to-1 student/faculty  ratio  and an average class size of 27. In athletics, the Appalachian State Mountaineers compete in the NCAA Division I  Sun Belt Conference. Considering applying to Appalachian State University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students. Acceptance Rate During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Appalachian State University had an acceptance rate of 69%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 69 students were admitted, making Appalachian States admissions process less competitive. Admissions Statistics (2017-18) Number of Applicants 16,154 Percent Admitted 69% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 31% SAT Scores and Requirements Appalachian State University requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 50% of admitted students submitted SAT Scores. SAT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile ERW 560 640 Math 540 630 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing This admissions data tells us that most of Appalachian States admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Appalachian State scored between 560 and 640, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 640. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 540 and 630, while 25% scored below 540 and 25% scored above 630. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1,270 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Appalachian State University. Requirements Appalachian State does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that Appalachian State University participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. ACT Scores and Requirements Appalachian State requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 48% of admitted students submitted ACT scores. ACT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile English 22 28 Math 22 26 Composite 23 28 This admissions data tells us that most of Appalachian States admitted students fall within the top 31% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Appalachian State received a composite ACT score between 23 and 28, while 25% scored above 28 and 25% scored below 23. Requirements Appalachian State does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, Appalachian State University superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered. GPA In 2018, the average high school GPA for incoming Appalachian State University freshman was 4.29, and over 92% of incoming students had average GPAs above 3.75. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Appalachian State have primarily A grades. Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph Appalachian State University Applicants Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex. The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Appalachian State University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in  with a free Cappex account. Admissions Chances Appalachian State, which accepts just over two-thirds of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the schools average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, Appalachian State University has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful  extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Applicants should consider including an interest statement which is optional, but recommended, to supplement their application. Note that Appalachian State does not require or recommend letters of recommendation. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of successful applicants had high school GPAs of B or better, combined SAT scores of 950 or higher (ERW M), and ACT composite scores of 19 or better. Slightly higher numbers improve your chances of getting in significantly. Note that there are some red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) mixed in with the green and blue in  middle  of the graph. Some students with grades and test scores that were on target for Appalachian State University did not gain admission. All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Appalachian State Universitys Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Food, Inc., By Michael Pollan And Eric Schlosser - 1264 Words

Food, Inc. is a documentary film made by Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser. In this documentary they took a look at the practices of food production in the United States. There are several things that I learned from this documentary that was horrifying to me. For this paper I will focus on the following three topics covered in the documentary: fast food to all food, the dollar menu, and hidden costs. The beginning of the documentary discusses fast food to all food. In this section a history of the fast food industry is provided. The documentary further discusses how the fast food industry has transformed what people eat. In addition it debates the farming practices and the whole global food system. According to Pollan and†¦show more content†¦Most of the meat in grocery stores comes from these companies even though they are stamped â€Å"from farm†. This can be very misleading for consumers. The dollar menu section of this documentary focused on how processed fo ods and fast food are typically less expensive than healthier foods. The documentary shows one family having the dilemma at the grocery store: a family is aware that the father who has diabetes needs a healthier diet with more fresh, but they are forced to buy foods they can afford. As the film implies people with lower incomes are more likely to eat processed, cheaper, foods, leading to a higher rate of diabetes, obesity and other health problems. The federal government spends billions each year subsidizing commodity crops. Over time, prices of certain crops, like soybeans and corn, were lowered due to these subsidies causing overproduction which made them a lot cheaper than other crops. Since these crops were so cheap, meat and food producers started using them for a variety of purposes, such as, high-fructose corn syrup, animal feed and hydrogenated oils. The lowest-priced options at the grocery are processed foods made from subsidized ingredients that have refined grains wit h added fats and sugars. This cheap food has had the greatest impact on low-income families. Because are on a tight budget, the price difference between fresh healthy foods and food with subsidizedShow MoreRelatedEssay on Who’s to Blame?1485 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the food industry in America. We often hear in the news that obesity rates have increased, or that Americans have many diseases that contribute to being obsessed. We also hear that foods are contaminated with bacteria like E.Coi l. â€Å"What You Eat is Your Business† by Radley Balko expresses that people are at fault for making such unhealthy food choices. Others argue that the food industry is to blame for being so unhealthy. 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Robert Kenner is a film directorRead MoreEssay on Fast Food Industry968 Words   |  4 Pagesrushed. Almost every aspect of life has become industrialized. Food and the way it is prepared is no exception to this world that always appears to be in fast forward. The fast food industry has revolutionized how and what people eat. The public has begun to consume more fast food and the problem is that people do not know what they are eating. If the concept of a nutritious meal is thrown out the window for the convenience of fast food then the health risks wil l outnumber any pros in favor of thatRead MoreThe Complicated Story of Food1222 Words   |  5 PagesThe Complicated Story of Food Earlier in this semester I wrote an essay discussing my relationship to food and my understanding of how the supply of healthier food could be achieved. 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Even though it is great that food is now readily available at all times, this convenience comes at a price, for both the producer and the consumer. Farmers are cheated out of money and are slaves to big business, workers and animals are mistreated. And, because food now comes at a low cost, it has become cheaper quality and therefore potentially dangerous to the consumer’s health. These problems surrounding the ethics and the procedures of the instantaneous food system are left unchanged due toRead MoreGenetically Modified Food - Pros Cons2979 Words   |  12 PagesApril 2012 Genetically Modified Food: World Wide Panacea or â€Å"Frankenfood† to Fear? Never before in history has mankind so masterfully commanded its food chain. Thousands of years ago, much of our species made the leap from a hunter-gatherer level of subsistence to an agricultural society. With agriculture, slowly but surely many modifications were made to plants and animals used and domesticated by us for the purpose of feeding ourselves. New specialized varieties with specific desirable traitsRead MoreFood Inc. Case Study1504 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿1. How has technology been applied to the food production process? Give/describe at least 3 examples. In the last 50 years, technology has completely changed the way we eat. When we think about farming, we think red barns, green grass, free-roaming animals, etc. Farming, now-a-days, is far different than the image the industry has lead us to believe. Farming has become a highly industrialized and mechanized business. The reality is our food is no longer coming from farms; it’s coming off assembly

List Of 5 Must-Visit Cities In Europe - 807 Words

5 must-visit cities in Europe Planning a big trip to Europe? Before you make any bookings you should check out this list of the must-visit cities on the continent. Some European cities are just an automatic must, and theres good reason for that, but this list may include a surprise or two. 1. Florence, Italy Florence is a city of wonder and it also just happens to have been where the Italian Renaissance was born. There are two sides to the city, both equally delicious. The first, of course, includes the classic sights like the Galleria dell Accademia, which is where Michelangelo’s David lives. Dont forget about the other side, though, the modern side. You will find a covered market as well as street art and more. The Mercato†¦show more content†¦It looks like something right out of a fairy tale, which makes it hard for anyone to resist. You should choose public transportation as you travel the city, but do avoid taxis at all costs. They can get seriously expensive. The majority of hotels in the area offer free breakfast and its a big one, so make sure yours does before you make the final booking. Keep your eyes peeled for the delicious street food. 4. London, England Why London? It tends to crop up on every list, but theres a reason for that. There is a lot to take in here. Like Florence, there are two sides to the city. The Tate Modern is a must-see and screams avant-garde, while the Tower of London tells the story of a dark time in Englands history. You can also find actors reciting Shakespeare, Buckingham Palace, tea, scones, fish and chips, and of course, fashion. Oxford Street brags some of the worlds biggest retailers and no visit to the big city would be complete without a shopping trip. There are plenty of museums which offer free entry so be sure to take advantage of that aspect of the culture. You may also want to invest in an Oyster card to get around the subway system. Its the cheapest way to travel. Look out for Brick Lane for eating, the food is delicious and affordable. There are plenty of celebrity chef hot-spots to visit, too. 5. Madrid, Spain It might be the largest city in Spain, it may be the capital, it may be the hub ofShow MoreRelatedEssay About Slovakia1028 Words   |  5 Pagesspectacular capital city. Some of the best things to do in Bratislava are free or only incur a small entry fee. Whether you have just 24 hours in Bratislava or plan a weekend getaway there is a hold host of things to do to keep you entertained. Bratislava is the epitome of Eastern European charm, although, this has not always been the case. Once the stomping ground of failing Communists, the city centre is now a charming and vibrant area that should feature high on your to-visit cities. 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Analysis Of Mercadonas Internationalizing Economics Essay free essay sample

Mercadona is a 100 Spanish-owned Distribution Company within the supermarket section. It is the largest concatenation of supermarkets in Spain. The executive President is Juan Roig. They have the SPBA?A? policy, which means in Spanish Siempre Precios BajosA?A? ( Always Low Prices ) . They are able to offer SPB because they buy their merchandises straight from the beginnings, puting up long-run understandings with makers. This Model is called `The Total Quality ModelA? ( Mercadona, 2010 ) . Recent research on retail merchants ( Esade, 2011 ) , shows that Mercadona is the leader in the ranking of house trade names that are preferred by the clients. Statement ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL PROFILE: Mercadona has constitutions in many metropoliss in Spain but has no presence overseas. In malice of the crisis, the net incomes of Mercadona are still turning, and they are strong plenty to get down internationalising. Mercadona has increased its turnover an 8 % up on the old twelvemonth and grew 4 % in gross revenues per floor country. It is possible to go on progressing and turning, even in the extremely inauspicious times we are populating inA?A? ( Juan Roig, Annual Report 2012 ) . The procedure of internationalisation of the leader supermarket web in Spain started a few old ages ago. Using a scheme is really hard and requires surveies of the different mark markets. Mercadona is a LSE ( Large Scale Enterprises harmonizing to the EU definition ) with more than 250 employees. LSEs features ( Sirkeci and Cawley 2012, p.5 ) are chiefly risk-averse, concentrate on long-run chances, capacity to take advantages of economic systems of graduated tables and range and usage advanced techniques for happening information. RATIONALE FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION: Harmonizing to Svend Hollensen ( 2007, p.5 ) , international enlargement provides new and potentially more profitable markets ; helps increase the firmA?s fight ; and facilitates entree to new merchandise thoughts, fabricating invention and the latest engineering. Mercadona is a mature and potentially planetary house which capableness to internationalise. It is prepared for globalisation, establishing in the nine strategic Windowss of Solberg ( 1997 ) . ( See appendix 2 ) Analysis OF VARIOUS TARGET MARKETS: To make up ones mind the mark market is of import to see the geographic the purgative and the cultural distance ( Johanson and Vahlne, 1977 cited in Hollense, S, 2007, p.244 ) . Harmonizing to the geographic distance, the nearest markets are Portugal, Morocco, Italy and France ( Brief summary in appendix 3 ) . Analyzing the physic distance, Italy is the nearest 1 because the civilization is really similar. Portugal is besides really similar, but is geographically so near than before or after, Mercadona will hold presence at that place and it is non necessary to analyze the market. Analyzing Morocco is besides really similar but the faith is different and this factor may hard the enlargement. France is discarded based on the physic distance and the competitory competition. We merely have Italy, and harmonizing to MercadonaA?s features this is the most interesting state ( El Confidential, 2012 ) , a really close state psychologically and geographically. The protectionist ordinance coul d be avoided by geting a supermarket concatenation of the state. Mercadona has a group at that place, directed by Francisco Espert, which is pull offing purchases from providers and analyzing the features of the local sector of distribution ( Carlos Herranz, 2012 ) . Mercadona is seeking to happen the best spouse for the internationalisation, possibly geting EsselungaA?A? ( A. Caparos, 2006 ) which is really similar as Mercadona. But is so much similar that would be really hard to alter the present civilization. ( add other attacks to analyze the mark markets ) Analysis OF THE CHOSEN TARGET MARKET- ITALY: Italian retail market has several cardinal features are for illustration extremely fragmented and a limited international presence ( see appendix 3 ) . Recent research on ItalyA?s Grocery ( Euromonitor, 2012 ) , grocery retail merchants had seen their gross revenues increasing by 1 % to 122a‚Â ¬ billion in 2011, although food market retailing shops gross revenues are expected to worsen somewhat over the forecast period. In malice of the fiscal crisis, Italy is keeping as one of the biggest economic systems in the universe and it is consider as a state with high criterions for concern, investings and trade. Mercadona, if internationalize in Italy, would be on the Northern Italy, in which the population is higher, most of the between 15 and 64 old ages old, that are the commonly clients in food market. Harmonizing to the political and legal factors, Italy has a stable authorities and nowadays they are taking several constrictions to ease bureaucratic loads on citizens and SMEs. Finally, the engineering in Italy is developed. Carrefour has self-scanning and self-payment machines, Esselunga was the first Italian supermarket concatenation in presenting on-line shopping and Coop uses ZBDA?s epaper. Mercadona will non hold jobs in presenting its engineering in Italy. A deeply analysis of the economic system, human ecology, politic and legal factors and engineering is available in appendix 4. COMPETITORS Analysis: If Mercadona decide to internationalise in Italy, It would hold to vie with large retail merchants, like Carrefour and Auchan, and local leaders such as Coop, Conad, Esselunga y Selex. Harmonizing to Graziella Ascenzi ( Expansion, 2012 ) , the Italian retailing market is really disconnected between little and large houses, with regional differences based non merely in gastronomy traditions but besides on families income. In the North of Italy ( Target Market ) there are many rivals for Mercadona. Detailed regionalA?s rivals research and competitorA?s company descriptions are available in appendix 5. CUSTOMER Analysis: Customers in Mercadona are known as the bossesA?A? ( Mercadona, 2011 ) .Demand is driven by consumer income and demographic tendencies. In Italy consumers are being more interested in private labels and bargain-priced publicities. ( Grocery Retailers in Italy, 2012 ) . Italian consumers are traveling off from expensive disbursals and looking for discounted monetary values. This could be a competitory advantage for Mercadona, whose monetary values are low. Supermarket retail merchants have increased the private label scope which helps Mercadona to present its house trade names. Furthermore, MercadonaA?s supermarkets have an mean retail country of between 1300 and 1500 square metres ( Mercadona, 2012 ) , and as it is said in the research, hypermarkets with a selling infinite of 4,500 square metres appears to fight to stay attractive and clients are traveling towards those supermarkets bigger than 1,200 sp. metres which are frequently placed in more approachable countries. Here we could see another advantage for MercadonaA?s scheme. More information is detailed in appendix 6. POTENTIAL Placement: Mercadona has low monetary values ( harmonizing to their policy SPBA?A? ) and high quality. The chief rival in Italy ( Esselunga ) is situated really near so it could be more hard for Mercadona to put up their concern, but it is easier for them to confront the state of affairs with their `Total Quality ModelA? . Recommendation: In my sentiment, Mercadona should internationalise, get downing in Italy with which Spain has really similar civilization ( Mediterranean Food, for illustration ) and geographically is near excessively. Harmonizing to a recent research in the Wall Street Journal ( see appendix 7 ) , it is strong plenty to confront the internationalisation and the possible rivals that will hold. A method could be purchasing a food market retail merchant in the mark market and learn of it before the constitution of their ain trade name. Appendixs: APPENDIX 1: The company employs over 70,000 people, all of them with lasting contracts. Their end is to fulfill the day-to-day nutrient, cleansing, hygiene and pet attention demands of the more than 4.6 million families that do their food market shopping at Mercadona every dayA?A? . ( Mercadona, 2012 ) . It has constitutions in 46 states in Spain in 15 Autonomous Communities and represents a 13.5 % portion of Spain s entire nutrient retail infinite while lending to the kineticss of the commercial environments in which they are located. The Entire Quality theoretical account had been a success in footings of company growing and profitableness, sustained by the success of MercadonaA?s high investings in employee preparation and satisfaction ( Mercadona, 2010 ) . Beginning: adapted from MercadonaA?s Annual ReportA?A? ( 2011 ) Mercadona is besides well-know because of the good quality of their house trade names as for illustration HacendadoA?A? that is used for nutrient, Bosque VerdeA?A? used for cleansing merchandises or DeliplusA?A? for hygiene merchandises. They buy merchandises from a maker and set their ain name on the merchandises. Beginning: adapted from MercadonaA?s Annual ReportA?A? ( 2011 ) APPENDIX 2: Beginning: Adapted from Solberg ( 2007 ) Solberg ( 1997 ) discusses the conditions under which a company should `stay at homeA? or `strengthen the planetary positionA? as two extremes. ( Hollensen, S, 2007 ) . Mercadona is situated in the window figure 6, mature harmonizing to the readiness for internationalisation ( growing, net income and good footing for ruling the international markets ) and potentially planetary harmonizing to the industry globalism ( which is determinate by the international selling environment ) . APPENDIX 3: The Italian retail market has several cardinal features. It is extremely fragmented ; The top 10 retail merchants have generated merely 20 % of retail gross revenues in 2008 compared to 29 % in Spain 43 % in the UK. International retail merchants have a limited presence, although Carrefour, Auchan and Spar have all gained a topographic point within the top 10.A Internet retailing is turning excessively, but has less presence than in other West European markets, accounting 2 % of gross revenues in 2008 in contrast to an norm of 5 % for the part as a whole ( Euromonitor, 2009 ) . Mercadona has a web site in which you can purchase your food market and so that will be sent to your place. This could increase the internet retailing in Italy. Cuota+obj+Mercadona APPENDIX 4: Economy: The Italy Economy is one of the most developed with a per capita GDP higher than the EU norm ( Economy Watch, 2010 ) . Most of the Economy is based in the touristry ; because it is the worldA?s fifth most visited state in the universe due to its history and civilization. Because if the crisis the rate of unemployed has been on the rise in the past few old ages with degrees of 8,4 % ( OCDE, 2010 ) with a labour force of 25,05 million ( International Living, 2012 ) . Harmonizing with the World Bank, Italy has been categorizes as a state with high criterions for concern, investings and trade. In 2012, ItalyA?s GDP was US $ 1.771,14 a spot lower than past old ages but it is remained one of the biggest economic systems in the universe during the fiscal crisis. Demography: Italy presently has the forth-largest population in the Europe Union and the 23rd-largest population worldwide ( Demography in Italy, 2012 ) . The highest denseness is in the Northern Italy. Milan is the most populated metropolis in Italy with 7.4 million of citizens. About 69 % of the population is between 15 and 64 old ages old ( This scope of old ages is the 1 that buy the most ) . 98,4 % of the population is able either to read or to compose. There are different faiths, predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Judaic communities and a turning Muslim immigrant community. ( Kmike, 2012 ) POLITICAL AND LEGAL FACTORS: Italy has been a democracy since the terminal of World War II. It is a democracy in which the president is elected by popular ballot. Italy has aA bicameralA legislative assembly dwelling of a 315-member Senate and a 630-member Chamber of Deputies. Tax in Italy is rather a complicated issue because there are legion revenue enhancements that each citizen has to pay. Furthermore revenue enhancement is high, stand foring 43.3 per centum of the GDP. However, the figure and quality of the public services are some justification for high revenue enhancements, and steps to simplify the revenue enhancement system have been introduced since 1998.A Income taxA histories for 34.9 per centum of entire revenue enhancement grosss, whileA value-added taxA ( VAT ) contributes 35.4 per centum. In add-on, local governmentsA levyA otherA indirect revenue enhancements. ( Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2010 ) For a long clip, larger ironss were discouraged by the trouble of deriving be aftering permission for larger format shops, but this has become easier since the decrease of be aftering guidelines in 1998 ( Euromonitor, 2009 ) . The current disposal has removed several regulative constrictions to economic activity which could increase GDP growing by around 0.3 % -0.4 % per twelvemonth over a decennary, easing bureaucratic loads on citizens and SMEs ( OCDE, 2012 ) . Technology: Mercadona does non scant in engineering and it was the retail merchant in Spain utilizing the scan barcodes and it owns automated logistics warehouses merely outside Madrid ( Computers proctor bringings from providers and organise cargos to shops ) . Mercadona besides has online shopping available at their web site. In Italy, rivals use engineering excessively. For illustration, Carrefour has self-scanning and self-payment machines, Esselunga Sharpens its Pricing Strategy with OracleAÂ ® Retail Planning Platform and it was besides the first supermarket to present the online shopping ( Oracle, 2012 ) , and Coop has introduced de ZBDA?s epaper reflecting the technological styleA? of their stores ( Retail Systems, 2010 ) . APPENDIX 5: MercadonaA?s rivals are detailed here for the different parts of Northern Italy: In Lombardy, the market is dominated by Esselunga with a 27,7 % of the market portion, followed by Carrefour and Auchan ( 10 % ) andCoop ( 8 % ) . In Veneto, Selex is the leader with a 33,3 % of the portion. Far off it is followed by Despar ( 10,9 % ) and Coop ( 9,5 % ) . In Piedmont Carrefour is the first supermarket with a portion of 20 % , in 2nd place is Coop ( 18,7 % ) and with a 12,6 % of the portion it is Selex. In Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Coop controlled the 27,9 % of the food market, followed by Despar ( 23,3 % ) and Selex ( 10,6 % ) . In Trentino-Alto Adige Agora , Despar and Coop covered severally a 31,4 % , 24,5 % and 22,3 % of the portion. Finally, in Valle dA?Aosta the C3 group proprietors a 39,7 per cent of the market followed by Carrefour with a 27,5 % and Conad with a 17,1 % . Chicken coop: Their vision is Together to the top. It motivates them to make our really best in every manner, each twenty-four hours. Their corporate profile expresses how they perceive their work: near, diverse, typical, advanced and partnership-oriented. ( Coop, 2012 ) leitbild_pyramide-en ESSELUNGA: Esselunga is a taking Italian food market shop concatenation, with supermarkets and hypermarkets in northern Italy. The Italian food market concatenation has long been rumoured to be a coup detat mark of foreign retail merchants because it operates in some of the richest parts in Italy. The company has been busy opening new shops and remodelling bing locations. Founded in 1957, A Esselunga is owned by Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A. , and controlled by itsA laminitis and Chairman Bernardo Caprotti andA family.A ( Hoovers, 2012 ) Intersection: Over the past 40 old ages, the Carrefour group has grown to go one of the universe s prima distribution groups. The universe s second-largest retail merchant and the largest in Europe, the group presently operates four food market shop formats: hypermarkets, supermarkets, hard currency A ; carry and convenience shops. The Carrefour group presently has over 9,500 shops, either company-operated or franchises. CarrefourA?s three values are: Committed, Caring and Positive that conveying them closer to their clients and consumers and reflect their personality. ( Carrefour, 2012 ) In the figure they are briefly explained the five forces of the Porter Model that could be related with Mercadona. APPENDIX 6: In Mercadona, the clients are referred as The bossesA?A? . The Italian ingestion has raised 1,6 percent twelvemonth to forms seen before 2007. But the disbursement is falling down ( In 2008-2009 it decreased until 1999 degrees ) because of the recession. Spending less on holidaies, nutrient and vesture have brought overall disbursement to the degrees seen in 1999. The Euro zoneA?s third largest economic system is retrieving from its post-war recession. ( Deepa, B. 2011 )

Privacy and confidentiality of patients

Health care providers have the duty to make sure that the information they have about patients is held in confidence. Some criminal activity that a patient may be involved in is the trafficking and use of prohibited drugs. Upon the realization of such drug use, the heath worker is faced with the dilemma on whether or not to report such cases to relevant authorities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Privacy and confidentiality of patients specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More If they do so, they will be infringing on the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality. This paper is will look at ways in which health care workers can best deal with such situations. Discussion There are cases where a medical worker is legally expected to breach the patient’s confidence by reporting criminal activities conducted by such patients. In other instances however, the health worker is not obliged to disclose any such information and in such a case, they can be successfully sued for not protecting patient’s privacy. The practitioner has to consider whether he is legally bound or not (Pauls, LeBlanc, and Campbell, 2002). Reporting of a patient’s criminal activity is encouraged where the actions of the patient are likely to injure another identifiable person. It is the duty of the physician to determine how much risk is placed on society by the patient’s criminal activities. In case the risk to the community is high, then the physician should not protect the patient’s right to confidence and should give all necessary information to the authorities. If such a risk to community is low or if criminal activity is on property, the patient’s privacy should be protected. In order to reconcile his obligation, the health care worker should have an open discussion with the patient prior to making any decision. He should take into account the position of the society as a wh ole as well as that of the individual patient (Pauls, LeBlanc, and Campbell, 2002).Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the reasons why the health care providers should not always report crimes committed by their patients is to encourage individuals to have trust in hospitals and for them to be able to disclose important information when seeking medical attention. In case the physician suspects that his patient is a sexual offender, he should first carry out some investigation to determine whether a person has been offended before reporting the patient (Tony, Sally, Charles, 2003). Another consideration that the health care provider should have in mind before reporting any criminal activity is whether or not the affected persons are in need of the type of criminal protection that is generally provided. If not, then  the patient’s privacy and confidentiality should be maintain ed. There would be no point in infringing on a patient’s privacy in the affected person does not stand to gain (Brown, 2010). Conclusion Where there are no set rules on whether to report or not to report criminal activities, the physician should be guided by both the ethical principles as well as what he feels is morally right and has a greater benefit. In case a criminal activity is carried out by a patient and a third party wishes to report it, then the health care provider should not report should instead maintain confidentiality. The physician may also arrange for the patient to receive help such as counseling in order to prevent the criminal activities from continuing without necessarily infringing on the patient’s privacy. This should however be done after the patient has given an informed consent and is comfortable with the idea. Reference List Brown, B (2010). Protecting the Confidentiality of Medical Records in an Interconnected Environment. Journal of Health Care Compliance; Nov/Dec2010, Vol. 12 Issue 6, p35-38, 4p. Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Privacy and confidentiality of patients specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pauls, M., LeBlanc, C., and Campbell, S (2002). Ethics in the trenches: preparing for ethical challenges in the emergency department. Can J Emerg Med 2002; 4(1):45-8. Web. Tony, H., Sally. F., Charles, F (2003). Turning a blind eye to crime: health professionals and the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Web. This essay on Privacy and confidentiality of patients was written and submitted by user Husk 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.