Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Should Marijuana Be Legal - 1197 Words

Marijuana is one of the most highly addictive substances utilized worldwide in today’s society. According to David Evans, â€Å"clinical dependence has been found to afflict roughly 10% of all marijuana users. Most are in their late teens and twenties. The risk of dependence is higher among those who try marijuana at a young age. In 2009, individuals between the ages of 12 and 25 comprised 65.3% of all substance abuse treatment admissions for marijuana; daily use was reported by 49.6% of this group. More young people are being treated for marijuana dependence than for any other drug. Marijuana is far more powerful today than it was 30 years ago and it serves as an entry point for the use of other illegal drugs.† Legalizing marijuana in the state of Arkansas will be more of a serious problem for the adolescents and the younger population. This age is critical for this population cause of the influences, such as fitting in, peer pressure, and increase in wanting to try new things. Most importantly, the mental health professionals are concerned about the effects it has on the populations, especially the adolescents or young adults. According to Evans, â€Å"adolescents are particularly vulnerable to harm, given the effects of cannabis on neurological development.† Therefore, the physicians have expressed their concerns on the issue of legalizing marijuana. The article, Six Vermont Physician Organizations Warn against Legalizing Weed, by Bob Kinzel said, â€Å"The physicians state, thereShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legal?1609 Words   |  7 PagesMs. Fingarson English 11 March 9th, 2017 Junior Research Paper: Marijuana Should Be Legal. According to world recognized American Scientist Carl Sagan â€Å"the illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insights , sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world†. These are just some of the benefits of Marijuana along with many others. All you have been taught about cannabis inRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1060 Words   |  5 PagesMedical Marijuana Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United Sstates (Wagner).. Marijuana is commonly used becauseThis it is because marijuana is easy to get and doesn’t have the visibly dangerous effects that other drugs like cocaine and heroine have. However,But does that mean marijuana is harmless to the human body? There are some people and studies that believe it is harmlessso. Sanjay Gupta, MD, Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN, wrote the following: â€Å"Frequent marijuana useRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?986 Words   |  4 Pages smoking pot in California, is legal. On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, California became the fifth state to legalize the recreational use of pot. By a margin of about 56% to 44%, voters passed Proposition 64. With its passing, California is now among states like Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska who have also legalized marijuana. â€Å"Marijuana could become quite the cash crop† said Richard McGowan, a professor at Boston College and expert in the field of marijuana legalization. While many peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1230 Words   |  5 PagesCannabis Can The marijuana movement is more prevalent now than ever. Just recently, two other states have joined Colorado and Washington in the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana. On the other hand, the state of Florida did not pass the bill to approve medical marijuana. Although more and more states have begun to see the benefits in legalizing marijuana, many states maintain the view that smoking marijuana is criminal despite the many advantages it poses. Marijuana offers medical andRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?864 Words   |  4 PagesCannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or medicine. Marijuana smoking remains the most prevalent form of illicit drug use in the United States and has even been legalized medicinally in twenty-four states. Four of these states, including Colorado and Washington, have legalized marijuana for recreational use. This means that it is treated like a contr olled substance, like alcohol or tobacco, and anyone theRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?997 Words   |  4 Pagesof the topics; write a thesis statement and complete the introduction 1. Marijuana should be legal, because it is harmless, and it is an effective medicine for many kinds of diseases. - Marijuana should be legal due to its variety of health benefits - Marijuana is an effective medicine for many kinds of diseases - Marijuana legalization would help boost the economy Thesis Statement: Why shouldn’t marijuana be legal due to its variety of health benefits, its effectiveness for combating manyRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1630 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana has been a hot topic of conversation over the last few years, as some states in America have legalized it medically and recreationally. By discussing the legal aspect of marijuana, the economic benefits, medical usage and how marijuana affects the family, we can see the positive and negative impact that marijuana has on sociology. Except for a few select states, marijuana usage, sale and distribution of marijuana is in some manner illegal. As a result, there is immense legal considerationsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1610 Words   |  7 PagesSince the very first day marijuana began dominating our country over 30 years ago, federal control of the drug has been the topic of an continuing arguments. Marijuana is a crushed up blend of dried out herbs, seeds and stems of the plant cannabis. Most people inhale it in the shape of cigarettes for pleasure and relief. Should marijuana be made legal? Advocates of the drug argue that there are multiple medical advantages and that tobacco and alcohol are far more harmful for us than the drug itselfRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal? Essay1261 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana is safer than tobacco and alcohol, more beneficial and healthier too. Marijuana, unlike tobacco and alcohol, never causes serious illnesses like cancers of the lungs, throat, and mouth, cirrhos is, dementia, or anything else. In actuality, medical marijuana is used to treat cancer cells. â€Å"The earliest use of cannabis as a medicine is attributed to the legendary Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, who is thought to have lived around 2700 BC.. Cannabis sativa is thought to have been grown for at leastRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal? Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesShould Marijuana Be Legal? In order to start a discussion about whether marijuana should be legal, we must first begin with the history of marijuana. How long has marijuana been around? The earliest recorded use of marijuana is from the island of Taiwan off the coast of mainland china over 10,000 years ago in the Stone Age (Marijuana, 2014). They wove their clothes and made their shoes from hemp. The first paper was made from a combination of crushed hemp fibers and mulberry tree bark. This

Monday, December 16, 2019

Bunker Gear Fabric Free Essays

Bunker gear or turnout gear is the protective clothing used by a firefighter in fighting fires and during rescue operations. This gear is called turnouts because when not being used, they are kept standing by to be put on swiftly by ‘turning out’ the pants over the boots. It is a requirement for firefighters to be able to put on all of the gear in no time, and in this set up, all they have to do is to step into the boots and pull the pants up. We will write a custom essay sample on Bunker Gear Fabric or any similar topic only for you Order Now This solidly insulated gear is worn to shield the firefighter’s body from the extreme heat of a fire. Approximately, structural turnouts will break down at 650 °C (1200 °F). A full turnout gear may weigh more or less 30kg aside from other extra tools to be carried. It is consisted of â€Å"a coat, pants and suspenders, leather or rubber waterproof boots, a hood, a strong helmet with eye protection, gloves, a belt, and SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus)† (www. sccfd. org). Turnout pants protects the lower part of the firefighter’s body. It is made of fire-resistant materials and they are easy to put on with Velcro and snaps. Turnout pants have side pockets for tools, gloves, and other necessary equipment. In order for the firefighters to be seen at nigh, these pants also have reflective stripes on the bottom. Turnout coat’s outside liner is made of exclusive fire resistant fabrics. The coat has various liners for extra protection. One of these liners acts as a moisture barrier, it prevents outside moisture to reach the firefighter. Another part of the liner protects firefighters from the exposure to thermal heat. Pockets are also available for extra equipment such as gloves, radio, wrenches and other tools. Around its neck is a Nomex hood. Except for the face, it covers practically the entire head of the firefighter. The turnout boots are made of rubber. Aside from steel to covering, these have a steel shank in sole to protect firefighters from sharp or pointed objects. In order to be put on quickly, these boots have handles at the top. Wearing of this protective gear is a requirement for all firefighters approaching a seat of the fire or entering a hazardous area as stated in the NFPA 1971 Code or the Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting. Looking back in history, firefighters’ garment was consisted of a cotton or wool shirt, heavy wool trousers, and a heavy wool tunic, which was sometimes worn over with rubber slickers. Wool was used because of its ability to protect a firefighter from heat and cold, and also because of its resistance to mild flame and water. Their gloves were the traditional leather gloves for laborers. It was only after the World War II when the standards for firefighter protective gears were issued by a number of organizations like the National Fire Protection Association or the NFPA. According to the NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Clothing for Structural Firefighting, turnout gears must be composed of three layers: the outer layer must be made from flame-resistant fabric â€Å"that would not be destroyed through charring, separating, or melting when exposed to 500 °F for a five-minute period;† the second layer must â€Å"prevent moisture from penetrating through to the wearer;† and the third layer must â€Å"provide thermal insulation from radiant, conducted, and convective heat† (http://www. pbs. org). Firefighters’ gloves should also be resistant to heat, flame, liquids, vapor, and sharp objects. The boots should also withstand flame, puncture, heat, electrical current, and abrasion. Further advancements in firefighters’ turnout materials came up during the 80s. The 500 °F temperature resistance limit of the outer shell was raised to around 1,200 °F. The other layer also allowed the firefighters to â€Å"release moisture from inside the gear,† and the material used was a fire-resistant fabric. Being self-extinguishing, this material will not continue to burn once it is out of contact with a fire. Bunker gears are made out of synthetic fibers such as Aramid and Polybenzimidazoles (PBI). These synthetic fibers are polymers. A polymer is a substance with high molecular weight made up of a large number of smaller molecules. These molecules, called monomers, react together in hundreds, or even millions of times. The properties of the polymers are determined by the molecular shape variations that resulted from the reactions. These could be in the form of long, straight chains or branched. It is through their average molecular weight that their sizes are expressed. Polymers with higher molecular weights have the higher strength. They also usually have high melting or boiling points. Filaments made of synthetic polymer fibers have excellent strength because these fibers can be prepared with regular structures that allow the chains to pack together tightly. Another advantage of synthetic polymers is that they are stronger and much lighter than steel, making them the choice for bunker gears and bullet proof vests. Aramids are synthetic polyamides, a class of polymer for textile fibers. It has a carbon-based backbone which contains aromatic rings. Fabrics made of aramids are strong and flame resistant even at extreme temperatures because of the stability of the fiber’s aromatic structures and their conjugated amide linkages. Polyamides are manufactured through step-growth polymerization. In this process, â€Å"monomers with two reactive ends join to form dimers (two â€Å"parts† joined together), then â€Å"trimers† (three â€Å"parts†), and so on. However, since each of the newly formed oligomers (short chains containing only a few parts) also has two reactive ends, they can join together; so a dimer and a trimer would form a pentamer (five repeating â€Å"parts†)† (www. fibersource. com). The aramid fibers, on the other hand, are produced through Wet Spinning process. The fiber-forming materials are dissolved in a solvent, which is usually hydrogen sulfate (H2SO4), and spun using a spinneret. Aside from firefighting gears, aramid fabrics are also useful for friction products such as brake pads, clutch pads or seals and gaskets, because synthetic materials made from this fabric does not ignite or melt. Aramid fibers are also flexible, lightweight, resistant to organic solvents and fuels, and good insulators of electricity. Aramids are more popularly known with the names Kevlar and Nomex. The blend of these two aramids is used in manufacturing turnout gears. How to cite Bunker Gear Fabric, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

International Business Management Globally and Venture

Question: Discuss about theInternational Business Managementfor Globally and Venture. Answer: Introduction The growing economy makes it a necessity for organizations to operate globally and venture into the emerging international markets. However, it is worth noting that internationalization comes with some inherent risks that need to be given serious attention. Observably, different countries exhibit different economic conditions and political climate. As such, utmost due care is vital when handling the process of entering the emerging global markets. Moreover, before a firm makes a decision of entering into the global market, it should evaluate the available strategies and subsequently chose the one that best suits its situation. This paper examines the various entry strategies into the global market and further discusses the value creation in Merger Acquisitions and Joint Ventures in the context of Carlsbergs experience when entering the emerging markets (Rugman 2009). Entry Strategies of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) In this business environment characterized by increasing competition, coming into emerging foreign markets becomes a vital means of survival. However, the process of international should be approached with care as it a carries a significant magnitude of risk. As such, various strategies can be adapted when entering a foreign market. The market entry strategy chosen is crucial to the success of the business in the foreign land as it significantly controls the manner in which the international firms operates and implements their programs. As a result, the managers of an internationalizing firm should thoroughly scan both the internal and external factors to enable a sound decision on the method of entry (Buckley and Ghauri 2004, p.85). There are different techniques of entering an international market as explained below Exporting Exporting is a strategy that entails production of goods and services in the home country with the aim of distributing some portion of the output to the foreign market. This approach significantly reduces the costs that would otherwise be incurred if the products were manufactured in the foreign market and are ideal for firms experiencing limited knowledge and expertise in operations of international businesses. Notably, for exporters, high emphasize should be put in establishing efficient distribution channels in the foreign land to ensure easy access to the products by the customers (Coe et al., 2008). In the case of Carlsberg, the company deployed exporting in the 1890s when drums of beer were exported to Chinese market from Denmark. Joint Ventures The joint venture involves a foreign firm agreeing with a local company to enter into a partnership with the aim of sharing capital, resources and the associated benefits. In circumstances where the international company lacks the needed capital and the managerial capacity to invest alone in the new market, partnering with a local becomes the most viable mode of entry. Joint venture gives the investing firm an avenue to penetrate into the market easily and further allows enough time to strategize on how to venture alone and significantly increase market dominance entirely. Notably, a joint venture benefits both the firms; the investing firm limits possible barriers by making use of the locals companys expertise on the prevailing economic and political conditions (Kim et al., 2013, p.334). On the other hand, the local benefits from the exposure to new technological innovations and the additional capital. In 2000, Carlsberg and Thai based company Chang Beverages Pte Ltd entered into a joint venture where they exercised equal share control. Mergers and Acquisitions Merger encompasses two existing companies coming together to form one new entity and primarily involves both firms consolidating their assets and liability into a newly created third entity. This strategy is more often deployed to penetrate into the emerging markets, thus, enhancing the market share of the firm. Notably, the merger can take various forms such as vertical, horizontal or a conglomerate (Caiazza and Volpe 2015, p.210). Horizontal merger refers to a combination of enterprises in the industry dealing with the same line of business while vertical merger denotes a situation where two firms along the value chain are brought together. On the other hand, a conglomerate involves two entirely different companies combining, for instance, a beer company merging with a technological firm. In mergers, the two combining companies continue to be in existence, and both take up the responsibility of controlling the activities of the new entity (Lasserre 2012). Entering the emerging market through acquisition entails the foreign firm organizing funds to purchase the assets and properties of the local firm. The acquired business gets integrated into the purchasing company and more often ceases to be in existence (Bresman et al., 2010, p.11). When using Merger and Acquisition as a strategy, the foreign firms decision process must put a focus on the valuation of the target business and ensure the target firm is accurately valued. Moreover, the management should forecast and ascertain whether the resulting entity after the merger and acquisition has increased value (Verbeke and Asmussen 2016). Pros and the Cons of Carlsbergs Entry Mode Strategy in China Carlsbergs strategy involved using different entry models to penetrate into the Chinese market. Some of the important strategies used included export, joint venture, and merger acquisition. Pros Carlsberg first entered the China market through exportation that helped in creating the awareness of the brand in the emerging market. Further, Carlsberg entered into the joint venture with the Chinese-based firms that enabled them to benefit by using the employees of the local company that had a profound understanding of the industry. Moreover, the joint venture offered additional networks for distribution, greater finance and importantly allowed for the spread of risks with the local companies Cons Carlsberg experienced a serious challenge arising from the failed joint venture with the Thai-based company Chang Beverages Pte Ltd. The joint venture was unsuccessful because of the disagreements that emerged between the two firms. The disputes adversely affected Carlsberg operations because the company had its assets tied up the Thai company and further suffered a monetary loss in the lawsuit. Value Creation in MAs and Joint Ventures Most multinational organization merges with other firms, acquire local entities or agree to operate jointly with the aim of creating an additional value. By merging, the resultant business significantly benefits from economies of scale and further experiences reduced costs of operations that ultimately improve the cash flow of the organization. Notably, most managers cite synergy gains to justify the decisions to the alliance. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that some of the mergers and acquisition at times fail to achieve the targeted results. As such, it is prudent to put emphasize on the issues and challenges that hinder the process of merger. For a merger to be successful, a comprehensive planning and careful execution are vital (berg and Tarba 2013, p.472). The following are the various challenges faced in the process of merger and acquisition and joint venture; Poor Strategic Fit The two merging firms in international markets more often have different strategies and goals that may end up conflicting. For in instance, Chang Beverages Pte Ltd had its operations in China while Carlsberg was in the process of penetrating the Chinese market. The different economic and political conditions dictate the type of strategies to formulate therefore resulting into a potential conflict due to the mismatch of the plans and goals. Valuation of the Target Company There is always a risk of paying too much in the case of acquisitions. The managers can find it tricky to evaluate a firm in the foreign land accurately. As such, there is a risk of paying much for the acquisition hence making it impossible to ultimately realize the expected benefits of the merging and procurement process. Cultural Differences The International market is characterized by the prevalence of diverse cultures. For instance, Carlsberg focused into venturing into the Chinese market, a country with different culture. This poses a challenge as the management has to spend more time and resources strategizing on how to eliminate the obstacles presented by the cultural differences (Hennart and Zeng 2002, p.705). Conclusion The increased globalization makes it a necessity to venture into the emerging markets. However, the management of the firms should carefully choose the entry strategy to use since the success of the expansion significantly depends on the strategy deployed. Notably, Carlsberg used a mix of strategies to gain dominance of the Chinese market and further improve its competitive advantage. As such, internationalizing firms should comprehensively study the emerging market to identify the target local companies for merging and acquisition purposes. Bibliography Bresman, H., Birkinshaw, J. and Nobel, R., 2010. Knowledge transfer in international acquisitions.Journal of International Business Studies,41(1), pp.5-20. Buckley, P.J. and Ghauri, P.N., 2004. Globalisation, economic geography and the strategy of multinational enterprises.Journal of International Business Studies,35(2), pp.81-98. Caiazza, R. and Volpe, T., 2015. MA process: A literature review and research agenda.Business Process Management Journal,21(1), pp.205-220. Coe, N.M., Dicken, P. and Hess, M., 2008. Global production networks: realizing the potential.Journal of economic geography, p.lbn002. Hennart, J.F. and Zeng, M., 2002. Cross-cultural differences and joint venture longevity.Journal of International Business Studies,33(4), pp.699-716. Kim, K., Park, J.H. and Prescott, J.E., 2003. The global integration of business functions: A study of multinational businesses in integrated global industries.Journal of International Business Studies,34(4), pp.327-344. Lasserre, P., 2012.Global strategic management. Palgrave Macmillan berg, C. and Tarba, S.Y., 2013. What do we know about post-merger integration following international acquisitions?.Advances in International Management,26(1), pp.469-492. Rugman, A.M., 2009.The Oxford handbook of international business. Oxford University Press. Verbeke, A. and Asmussen, C.G., 2016. Global, Local, or Regional? The Locus of MNE Strategies.Journal of Management Studies..