Essays on Movies (Films) - Stephen Spielbergs Schindlers List :: Movie Film Essays

Essays on Movies (Films) - Stephen Spielberg's Schindler's List    "I know that the great tragedies of history often fascinate men with approaching horror.   Paralyzed, they cannot make up their minds to do anything but wait.   So they wait, and one day the Gorgon devours them,   But I should like to convince you that the spell can be broken, that there is an illusion of impotence, that strength of heart, intelligence and courage are enough to stop fate and sometimes reverse it." Albert Camus.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Albert Camus believes that the greatest tragedies of history are so horrific that people stand in awe, and consequently, nobody even attempts to do anything in response of the tragedies.   Many are under â€Å"an illusion of impotence† , and eventually, Camus states, â€Å"The Gorgon devours them†.   Also, in order for this â€Å"spell to be broken†, people must   have â€Å"strength of heart, intelligence and courage.†Ã‚   I believe that Albert Camus is correct, people are under a vale of impotence when it comes to the tragedies of the world, and that people can easily overcome this inability and reverse their fate, or let the â€Å"Gorgon† devour them.   Camus's beliefs can be proved through the use of examples from the movie Schindler's List.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oscar Schindler, the movie's main character, is, in the beginning of the movie, not actually aware of the full extent of the killing of Jews and the powerful anti-Semitic outlook of his comrades.   His ties relating to the affairs of the Nazi party and his loyalty to his country shield him from this knowledge. Thus, it can be concluded that in the beginning of the movie Schindler does not fully grasp the tragedy at hand, and consequently does nothing attempt to aid the Jews.   Shindler's realizations of the horrors of the holocaust begin in one scene near the middle of the film.   During this infamous turning point of the movie, Schindler, on top of a barren hill, traces the path of a young and helpless Jewish girl who wanders haphazardly through the streets of a devastated camp.   In a red trench-coat-coat, nowhere to go, desperately searching for her two parents, the little girl finally wanders into an abandoned building where she is safe from the chaotic world outside.   Her safety is only temporary, for later she will be hunted down and cold heartily murdered, forgotten to the world, destroyed by her own people, asking in wonderment, why do I deserve such punishment?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This scene is the point at which Schindler becomes infuriated, and he asks himself why, and most importantly, what he could do to stop the massacre.

Band of Brothers: E. Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne From Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle Nest, Book Analysis Essay

Book Report â€Å"Band of Brothers: E. Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne From Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle Nest† by Stephen E. Ambrose Band Of Brothers is the history of Easy Company, 506th Parachute†¨Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from basic training to†¨D-Day. It follows the jump into Holland, the Battle of†¨the Bulge, and finally the occupation of Berchtesgaden and Austria. This is a rarity among military histories, told from the viewpoint†¨of the front line soldier, the privates, non-commissioned officers and officers who†¨carry out the grand strategy of generals. Many books†¨discuss the inner working of commands at Division and Army levels, but few detail the day to day life of the†¨soldier. Stephen Ambrose’s book does that and†¨more. It explores the how draftee citizen soldiers of†¨elite outfits like the 101st Airborne did, in World War II, defeat†¨an enemy like the well trained German Wehrmacht and S.S. In 1942 the Second Battalion of the 506th was formed and started†¨basic training. The recruits volunteered for the thrill, the honor, the extra money, but above all the desire to be better†¨than the ordinary draftee. A description of the physical effort†¨required in basic training explains why a majority of the†¨volunteers never made it as far as the door of the airplane. When†¨the Company finally made it to Fort Benning for jump school, they†¨were in such great physical shape that they outdid the school’s†¨physical fitness cadre. After five jumps in December of†¨1942, the company qualified as Parachutists, and nine-months later†¨they were on a ship to England to train for the invasion of†¨Hitler’s Fortress Europa. Ambrose also details the nine months of training that the company†¨endured in England in preparation for the invasion. He†¨tells it from the viewpoint of both officers and men and explains†¨the final shift in Easy Company hierarchy just prior to D-Day. His†¨description of the night jump of the 101st in the early morning†¨hours of June 6, 1944, with men and officers scattered about the†¨countryside, and the confusion, heroism and chaos that surrounded†¨the successful landings at Utah Beach, is masterful. He†¨explains how the few outer roads from the beach are zeroed in by†¨German artillery, and that the job of the airborne was to nullify†¨the artillery and its defending troops. The efforts of Lt. Richard  Winters to fulfill that mission are one†¨of the high points of the book. As the book reports â€Å"By†¨this time, about 0700, E Company consisted of two light†¨machine-guns, one bazooka (no ammunition), one 60mm mortar, nine†¨rifleman, and two officers.† Lt. Winters was in charge. With less†¨than 100 men assembled in the battalion, the commander could only†¨afford to send Easy Company to attack and overrun a four gun German†¨battery defended by a fifty-man platoon. As the book puts it, quoting one of the men, â€Å"Here the training paid off. `We fought as†¨a team without standout stars,’ Lipton said. `We were like a†¨machine. We didn’t have anyone who leaped up and charged a†¨machine-gun. We knocked it out or made it withdraw by†¨maneuver and teamwork or mortar fire. We were smart;†¨there weren’t many flashy heroics. We had learned that heroics was†¨the way to get killed without getting the job done, and getting the†¨job done was more important.† Three hours after the attack†¨commenced, it was completed successfully. Easy Company went on to fight through Normandy until June 29th when†¨it was pulled out of line and sent to a field camp near Utah†¨Beach. They had jumped into Normandy with an effective†¨strength of 139 men and officers and ended up with†¨79. Ambrose’s description of those few days from the†¨night jump to their last fight at Carentan is magnificent. The book next describes the company’s jump into Holland, near the†¨Rhine River, where they fought through November of 1944, and then†¨on to Bastogne, to again become front line troops in the historic†¨Battle of the Bulge. Easy Company was the first Allied†¨troops to occupy Hitler’s mountain retreat at†¨Berchtesgaden. After occupation duty in Austria, the†¨company and battalion were sent back to a small town near Paris,†¨and on November 30, 1945, the 101st was deactivated. As Ambrose†¨puts it, â€Å"The Company had been born in July 1942 at†¨Toccoa. Its existence essentially came to an end almost†¨exactly three years later. In those three years the men had†¨seen more, endured more and contributed more than most men can see, endure or contribute in a lifetime.† Band Of Brothers†¨describe s those eventful three years in such a way as to make the†¨reader experience them too. I think Ambrose did very well telling the story of Easy Company because, as stated above, I felt that I was able to experience the three years very well. I am not much of a reader, but enjoyed reading the book very much. I love American history and I have an interest in the military. Having participated in JROTC in high school for 4 years and  doing ROTC my first year in college, I was able to understand the roles and concepts presented in the book. One theme I saw a lot in the book was the feeling and thought of brotherhood. The title of the book is Band of Brothers and Ambrose did a very good job of conveying the soldiers’ brotherhood through out the book. Starting at the beginning, when they are training, the soldiers’ trained together, worked together, and suffered together. As a team, working together is key, and the soldiers of the 101st Airborne identified that concept early on and kept it strong. One phrase I saw quite a few times was â€Å"follow me†. I think Ambrose included that phrase so much because it shows the leadership and brotherhood. They helped each other and led each other to success and improvement. From the American history perspective, I loved this book! I have been learning about World War 2 for several years now, i ncluding this year in this American History class with the great Keith Maljean, but this is the first time I learned from the soldiers’ perspectives. Ambrose did a phenomenal job of interviewing the members of the 101st Airborne and recounting their stories. Reading the book, I felt like I was right there with them on their first jump, landing in France, and at the first mention of the Airborne division. Volunteering for something new, not knowing what was going to happen. Literally jumping into an unknown, new division of the Army. I embarked with them on the fight to defeat Germany and bring an end to the Nazis. I feel that I gained a better understanding of the American soldier in the World War 2 era, and it is nothing like the American soldier nowadays. Today, our armed forces are facing things that we have seen before, for the most part. Back in the World War 2 era, the soldiers were facing new ships, vehicles, aircrafts, artillery, rocketry, small arms, and biological, chemical, and atomic weapons. It was a very scary time for the soldiers not knowing what was coming or how bad it is. Through the stories in Band of Brothers, I was able to understand what the life of the soldier was like and how they adapted to the new weaponry. When I first heard that I was going to have to do a book report for this class, I was completely dreading it due to my lack of joy for reading and writi ng, but I am glad that I stumbled across this book because I don’t know if I would have been able to find a book as good as this. Stephen Ambrose is a brilliant writer and recounted the stories of the men from the 101st Airborne with great detail. It was entertaining,  informative, and all around life changing. This book reinforced the concept of brotherhood and gave me a great perspective of World War 2 from a soldier’s point of view. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in American History or just looking for a good read.

Olmec Religion - the First Mesoamerican Civilization

The Olmec civilization (1200-400 B.C.) was the first major Mesoamerican culture and laid the foundation for several later civilizations. Many aspects of Olmec culture remain a mystery, which is not surprising considering how long ago their society went into decline. Nevertheless, archaeologists have been able to make surprising progress in learning about the religion of the ancient Olmec people. The Olmec Culture The Olmec culture lasted roughly from 1200 B.C. to 400 B.C. and flourished along Mexicos Gulf coast. The Olmec built major cities at San Lorenzo and La Venta, in the present day states of Veracruz and Tabasco respectively. The Olmec were farmers, warriors and traders, and the few clues they left behind indicate a rich culture. Their civilization collapsed by 400 A. D. - archaeologists are unsure as to why - but several later cultures, including the Aztec and the Maya, were profoundly influenced by the Olmec. The Continuity Hypothesis Archaeologists have struggled to put together the few clues that remain today from the Olmec culture which vanished well over 2,000 years ago. Facts about the ancient Olmec are hard to come by. Modern researchers must use three sources for information on the religion of ancient Mesoamerican cultures: Analysis of relics including sculpture, buildings and ancient texts when availableEarly Spanish reports of religious and cultural practicesEthnographic studies of modern-day traditional religious practices in certain communities Experts who have studied the Aztecs, Maya and other ancient Mesoamerican religions have come to an interesting conclusion: these religions share certain characteristics, indicating a much older, foundational system of belief. Peter Joralemon proposed the Continuity Hypothesis to fill in the gaps left by incomplete records and studies. According to Joralemon there is a basic religious system common to all Mesoamerican peoples. This system took shape long before it was given monumental expression in Olmec art and survived long after the Spanish conquered the New Worlds major political and religious centers. (Joralemon quoted in Diehl, 98). In other words, other cultures can fill in the blanks in regards to Olmec society. One example is the Popol Vuh. Although it is normally associated with the Maya, there are nevertheless many instances of Olmec art and sculpture that seemingly show images or scenes from the Popol Vuh. One instance is the nearly identical statues of the Hero Twins at t he Azuzul archaeological site. The Five Aspects of Olmec Religion Archaeologist Richard Diehl has identified five elements associated with Olmec Religion. These include: A cosmos which identifies the socio-cultural context within which Gods and man interactedDivine beings and gods who controlled the universe and interacted with menA shaman or priest class who acted as intermediaries between the common Olmec people and their gods and spiritsRituals enacted by shamans and/or rulers that reinforced the concepts of the cosmosSacred sites, both natural and man-made Olmec Cosmology Like many early Mesoamerican cultures, the Olmec believed in three tiers of existence: the physical realm they inhabited, an underworld and a sky realm, home of most of the gods. Their world was bound together by the four cardinal points and natural boundaries such as rivers, the ocean and mountains. The most important aspect of Olmec life was agriculture, so it is no surprise that the Olmec agricultural/fertility cult, gods and rituals were extremely important. The rulers and kings of the Olmec had an important role to play as intermediaries between the realms, although it is unknown exactly what relationship to their gods they claimed. Olmec Deities The Olmec had several deities whose images repeatedly appear in surviving sculptures, stonecarvings and other artistic forms. Their names have been lost to time, but archaeologists identify them by their characteristics. No fewer than eight regularly-appearing Olmec deities have been identified. These are the designations given to them by Joralemon: The Olmec DragonThe Bird MonsterThe Fish MonsterThe Banded-eye GodThe Maize GodThe Water GodThe Were-jaguarThe Feathered Serpent Most of these gods would later figure prominently in other cultures, such as the Maya. Currently, there is insufficient information about the roles these gods played in Olmec society or specifically how each was worshiped. Olmec Sacred Places The Olmecs considered certain man-made and natural places sacred. Man-made places included temples, plazas and ball courts and natural places included springs, caves, mountaintops and rivers. No building easily identifiable as an Olmec temple has been discovered; nevertheless, there are many raised platforms which probably served as bases upon which temples were built of some perishable material such as wood. Complex A at La Venta archaeological site is commonly accepted as a religious complex. Although the only ballcourt identified at an Olmec site comes from the post-Olmec era at San Lorenzo, there is nevertheless much evidence that the Olmecs played the game, including carved likenesses of players and preserved rubber balls found at the El Manatà ­ site. The Olmec venerated natural sites as well. El Manatà ­ is a bog where offerings were left by the Olmecs, probably those who lived at San Lorenzo. Offerings included wooden carvings, rubber balls, figurines, knives, axes and more. Although caves are rare in the Olmec region, some of their carvings indicate a reverence for them: in some stonecarvings the cave is the mouth of the Olmec Dragon. Caves in Guerrero state have paintings inside which are associated with the Olmec. Like many ancient cultures, the Olmecs venerated mountains: an Olmec sculpture was found close to the summit of the San Martà ­n Pajapan Volcano, and many archaeologists believe that man-made hills at sites such as La Venta are meant to represent sacred mountains for rituals. Olmec Shamans There is strong evidence that the Olmec had a shaman class in their society. Later Mesoamerican cultures which derived from the Olmec had full-time priests who acted as intermediaries between the common people and the divine. There are sculptures of shamans apparently transforming from humans into were-jaguars. Bones of toads with hallucinogenic properties have been found at Olmec sites: the mind-altering drugs were presumably used by shamans. The rulers of Olmec cities probably served as shamans as well: rulers were likely considered to have a special relationship with the gods and many of their ceremonial functions were religious. Sharp objects, such as stingray spines, have been found at Olmec sites and were most likely used in sacrificial bloodletting rituals. Olmec Religious Rituals and Ceremonies Of Diehls five foundations of Olmec religion, the rituals are the least known to modern researchers. The presence of ceremonial objects, such as stingray spines for bloodletting, indicate that there were, indeed, important rituals, but any details of said ceremonies have been lost to time. Human bones - particularly of infants - have been found at some sites, suggesting human sacrifice, which was later important among the Maya, Aztec and other cultures. The presence of rubber balls indicates that the Olmec played this game. Later cultures would assign a religious and ceremonial context to the game, and it is reasonable to suspect that the Olmec did as well. Sources: Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008Cyphers, Ann. Surgimiento y decadencia de San Lorenzo, Veracruz. Arqueologà ­a Mexicana Vol XV - Num. 87 (Sept-Oct 2007). P. 36-42.Diehl, Richard A. The Olmecs: Americas First Civilization. London: Thames and Hudson, 2004.Gonzalez Lauck, Rebecca B. El Complejo A, La Venta, Tabasco. Arqueologà ­a Mexicana Vol XV - Num. 87 (Sept-Oct 2007). P. 49-54.Grove, David C. Cerros Sagradas Olmecas. Trans. Elisa Ramirez. Arqueologà ­a Mexicana Vol XV - Num. 87 (Sept-Oct 2007). P. 30-35.Miller, Mary and Karl Taube. An Illustrated Dictionary of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya. New York: Thames Hudson, 1993.

The Decline Of Jazz Music - 1928 Words

Over the past several decades, there has been a great decline in the popularity of jazz music. The â€Å"Decline of Jazz† has fueled a debate as to whether or not the genre is â€Å"dead.† Many music scholars and fans argue that jazz’s popularity is declining because the people who appreciate the music are aging and newer generations do not share their love of the music. For as long as I can remember, my parents have played jazz music in our home, while cooking meals together, or entertaining guests, or reading on a Sunday morning. My familiarity with the music from a young age is what caused me to start singing songs from artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. Jazz served as the foundation for my love and appreciation of music, both old and new, which is why I believe there is a place for jazz in the future. Over the past century, jazz music has evolved immensely—so much so that some people mistake the genre’s evolution for complete disappea rance. But jazz is not dead. Instead, it has been woven together with other genres, such as rock and pop, and embraced new sounds and techniques that make it difficult for people to recognize as jazz. The musicians who have expressed a deep love and passion for the music are the ones who have kept jazz alive. When jazz was first being played, the fame or the money that accompanied the music’s rising popularity did not motivate musicians. They played purely out of love for the music and the message it communicated to audiences. â€Å"In the jazzShow MoreRelatedWhen Jazz Stopped Being Cool By John Blake1393 Words   |  6 Pageshis CNN article, â€Å"When Jazz Stopped Being Cool,† writer John Blake uses the publication of â€Å"Jazz Festival: Jim Marshall,† to reflect on the life and times of Jazz music and the questions of if, how, and when it had died. 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The Ideas of Reality and Perception in Heart of Darkness

Drawing upon our readings and class discussions, write an essay that focuses on a specific idea or textual effect in any one of the novels we have read (if you wish to reflect on any two novels, you may). Your essay should develop a coherent project that shows your understanding of the issues we have been analysing in class, and makes thoughtful use of the works of literary and cultural theory we have been reading. The Heart of Darkness explores reality and perspective in several interesting ways; these include amongst others the interplay of reality and objectivity, the use of otherness to define one’s own identity and the construction of that otherness in direct association with one’s perceptions of oneself. This†¦show more content†¦To quote Achebe’s article An Image of Africa once more, in â€Å"Western Philosophy (there is a need) to set Africa up a foil to Europe, as a place of negations†¦with which Europe’s own state of spiritual grace will be manifest.†.(337) This commentary is highly insightful yet it fails to recognise that in Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses Africa not as a foil to portray European greatness but as a mirror in which to portray Europe’s degradation. Aimà © Cà ©saire tells us that â€Å"colonization works to decivilize the colonizer, to brutalize him in the true sense of the word, to degrade him, to awaken him to buried instincts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (173) Conrad shows us through the metaphorical Kurtz how the European self-image is false one and how the process of colonisation brought the discrepancies between the European’s perspective of themselves and the reality of their essence to the surface. The opening passage of the novel, situated still in the heart of European ‘civilisation’ tells us of the early colonists who had â€Å"gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire.†(5) (The idea of Europeans bringing a ‘light of civilisation’ to the continent that has known it longer than any other is of course ludicrous.) Similarly we are informed that Kurtz was a member of â€Å"the gang of virtueà ¢â‚¬  (25) sent from the continent to as an â€Å"an emissary of pity, and science, andShow MoreRelatedConrad s Heart Of Darkness1138 Words   |  5 PagesThe modernity of Heart of Darkness is exposed/reflected through the growing belief/awareness of new anthropological and psychological theories with unprecedented insights into the human condition. 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The seaman, Marlow, tells his crew a startling tale of a man named Kurtz and his expedition that culminates in his encounter with the voice of Kurtz and ultimately, Kurtzs demise. The passage from Part I of the novel consists of Marlows initial encounter with the natives of this place

Criminal Law Prosecution on sentencing and Reflective Report

Question: Discuss about the Prosecution on Sentencing. Answer: Prosecution on sentencing In this case, Leo, being a Protective Service Officer (PSO) has caused reckless injury to Sam and his friends at 1 am in the morning on July 20, 2016 while he was patrolling at Flinders Street station. Section 17 of the Crimes Act 1958 lays down that any person who causes seriously injuries to another person recklessly without having lawful justification or excuse for such act, the person is said to have committed an indictable offense[1]. Any person guilty of committing an indictable offense shall be punished with an imprisonment for a period of 15 years. According to section 18 of the Crime Acts 1958, any person who deliberately or recklessly causes injury to another person without any lawful excuse is said to be guilty of an indictable offense[2]. Any person who causes reckless injury to another person shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of 5 years and if such person has caused the injury to any person intentionally, such person shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of 10 years. An act of recklessness requires the accused person to foresee the likeliness of the injury that may occur to the victim as a consequence of his or her actions or conduct. In this context, the term injury shall include that hysteria, unconsciousness, pain, any substantial impairment of bodily function[3]. An indictable offense such as causing reckless injury to any person shall carry a maximum penalty of imprisonment for a period of 5 years and /or a fine amounting to 1200 penalty units. Indictable offences are serious offences by nature and persons accused of committing indictable offenses are tried before a judge and a jury in the County or the Supreme Court[4]. However, such offense may be heard summarily before the Magistrates Court provided the court deems fit and the defendant assents to the same. In this matter, the Leo, a newly recruited police service officer, caused reckless injury to Sam and his friends, as he was highly irritated from the comments passed by Sam and his friends on July 20, 2016. Sam and his friends were only yelling under the influence of alcohol. Leo being a police officer could have warned them for behaving in that manner; instead, he himself got engaged in a brawl with Sam and his friends. It is expected from a protection police officer that they would safeguard the country and ensure safety of its citizens. In this matter, the Protection Police Officer himself got involved in causing Sam and his friends injuries without having any lawful excuse for the same. Sam and his friends were yelling at the police officers including Leo as they were not in their senses and was under the influence of alcohol. As per the statutory definition of reckless injury laid down under, section 18 of the Crimes Act, 1958, any person who without any legal justification, causes injures to other knowing that his conduct shall cause injuries to such person, is said to have committed reckless injury. Such person is liable to be punished with imprisonment for a maximum period of 5 years[5]. Further, the court must consider the following sentencing factors that have been laid down under section 5 (2) of the Sentencing Act 1991: Present sentencing practices Nature and gravity of the offense Statutory maximum penalty Whether the offense is a hate crime Injury, damage or loss from the offence Impact of the offense on the personal circumstances of the victim (VISs) Aggravating or mitigating factors Early entry of a guilty plea As per section 5(1) of the Sentencing Act (Vic) 1991 sentences are purported to be imposed for the following reasons: Deterrence Rehabilitation Protection of the community Denunciation just punishment All of the above According to section 109 of the Sentencing Act 1991, in case a person has committed indictable offence and such offense has been tried summarily, the matter shall be heard before the Magistrate. The person committing such offense shall be punished with imprisonment for 5 years and shall be liable to pay maximum fine of 600 penalty units. Reports reveal that the people aging from 17 years to 81 years are usually sentenced for causing injury recklessly[6]. As per statistics, men that are sentenced for causing reckless injury are slightly more aged than women are that is, a median age of 30 years compared to 29 years. In this matter, Leo contended that he is proud of his new qualifications and the new ways to serve the community. Therefore, when Sam and his friends were insulting him and his position he pushed Sam forcefully, and even attacked vividly. Sam mentioned in his Victim Impact Statement that Leo was so aggressive that he is fearful of Protective Service Officer (PSO) and the police generally. He also mentioned that he suffered minor scratch towards his head when he was forcefully pushed to the ground. The general police officers including the Protective Police Officer are under statutory obligation to protect the country and its citizens. If the citizens are scared of the police officers or the Protective service Officers, then the citizens shall feel reluctant to complain about any wrongs or crimes, which would enable the criminals to commit more crimes in the country[7]. The police officers are recruited to safeguard the citizens and they are under statutory obligation to act in the best interest of the country and its citizens. If they exhibit aggressive conduct, it would have an adverse impact on the society and the country as a whole. According to the statutory provisions, it is apparent that Leo has committed reckless injury towards Sam and his friends and is liable to be punished with imprisonment for a maximum period of 5 years with a fine of 600 penal units[8]. Reflective Report As per the case study, I observed that Leo is the PSO for Victoria Police and new recruiter in the department. At time of his duty, Sam who was a hooligan tried to abuse him and his colleges tried to saying some misleading objects. When he became irritated, he could not able to control his anger, pushed Sam to the ground forcefully, and sprays capsicum spray to him. His collogues noticed that he forcefully hit him. The victim was not seriously injured, he have suffered minimum head injury. Now, Victoria Police suspended him for a month without pay, charged with sec-18 of the Crimes Act 1958[9], and sent him to the Magistrate for the plea. Now, as per my investigation when he commences the offence he was in duty. When Sam was abusing him, he could have arrested him and handed him over to the Victoria Police. However, in anger he beats him. As per his record, he has good reputation and his family was well known to their community. From the observation of a defendant, sec- 16 defines in the Crimes Act that a person can be define as an accused if he cause injured to another person intentionally and sec 17 defines, a person can be treated as an accused if he recklessly cause any injury to the victim. While sec 18 of Crimes act defines the causing injury without lawful excuse intentionally or recklessly, I believe in this matter, Leo had no intention to harm Sam intentionally. There is also no lawful excuse that could be established because if Sam did not abuse him in front of his friends, then he would not have hit him. When Sam abused him, he out of anger beats him. His past record showed how responsible he is towards his job. Here, Sam was also commenced offence against a PSO who is in duty[10]. As per the view of the prosecution, when Sam tried to abuse Leo, the PSO can complain against the victim but he does not need to beat him that much when the PSO is not the actual cop. However, there is no lawful excuse established in this case and he did not intentionally harm Sam so, as per my belief, he is innocent and did not cause serious injury to Sam. Sam was slightly injured. Therefore, the Magistrate court must not imprison Leo according to sec- 109, Sentencing Act, 1991[11]. As per this section, for this offence a person can be imprisoned for at least 5 years or fine $600 penal units. However, as per my opinion, the court may again investigate the whole issue. Leo was not intending to cause any injury to Sam[12]. He is already guilty for beating Sam and the Victoria Police suspended him for 1 month without pay. The court can again review the whole case, punish him with the penalty of minimum fine, and acquit him. Sam must be punished as because he abused Leo when he is on duty of patrolling. References Allen, Michael.Textbook on criminal law. Oxford University Press, 2013. Bagaric, Mirko. "The Punishment Should Fit the Crime-Not the Prior Convictions of the Person That Committed the Crime: An Argument for Less Impact Being Accorded to Previous Convictions in Sentencing."San Diego L. Rev.51 (2014): 343. Daly, Kathleen, and Rick Sarre. ". Criminal justice system: Aims and processes." (2016). Freiberg, Arie, and Karen Gelb.Penal populism, sentencing councils and sentencing policy. Routledge, 2014. Herring, Jonathan.Criminal law: text, cases, and materials. Text, Cases and Materials, 2014. Ross, Stuart. "Victims in the Australian Criminal Justice System: Principles, Policy and (Distr) action."Crime, Victims and Policy: International Contexts, Local Experiences(2015): 214. Simester, Andrew P., et al.Simester and Sullivan's criminal law: theory and doctrine. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016. Taylor, Robert W., Eric J. Fritsch, and John Liederbach.Digital crime and digital terrorism. Prentice Hall Press, 2014. The Crime Act 1958 The Sentencing Act 1991 Wales, New South. "the Australian Capital Territory."Australian Journal of Entomology36 (2015). Warner, Kate, et al. "Measuring jurors views on sentencing: Results from the second Australian jury sentencing study."Punishment Society19.2 (2017): 180-202. Herring, Jonathan.Criminal law: text, cases, and materials. Text, Cases and Materials, 2014. Wales, New South. "the Australian Capital Territory."Australian Journal of Entomology36 (2015). Simester, Andrew P., et al.Simester and Sullivan's criminal law: theory and doctrine. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016. Freiberg, Arie, and Karen Gelb.Penal populism, sentencing councils and sentencing policy. Routledge, 2014. [5] Daly, Kathleen, and Rick Sarre. ". Criminal justice system: Aims and processes." (2016). Ross, Stuart. "Victims in the Australian Criminal Justice System: Principles, Policy and (Distr) action."Crime, Victims and Policy: International Contexts, Local Experiences(2015): 214. Allen, Michael.Textbook on criminal law. Oxford University Press, 2013. [8] Warner, Kate, et al. "Measuring jurors views on sentencing: Results from the second Australian jury sentencing study."Punishment Society19.2 (2017): 180-202. The Crime Act 1958 Taylor, Robert W., Eric J. Fritsch, and John Liederbach.Digital crime and digital terrorism. Prentice Hall Press, 2014. The Sentencing Act 1991 Bagaric, Mirko. "The Punishment Should Fit the Crime-Not the Prior Convictions of the Person That Committed the Crime: An Argument for Less Impact Being Accorded to Previous Convictions in Sentencing."San Diego L. Rev.51 (2014): 343.

Business Plan for Emerald Group Publishing- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Plan for Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Answer: Overview Of Russian Market Environment Economic Profile After nearly two years of economic downturn, Russia has finally ventured on the path to recovery. With international trade and growth strengthening at the end of 2016, the countrys economy demonstrated signs of overcoming the financial crisis caused by the economic sanctions and shock of low prices of oil. Its economy shrank in 2015 by 3.7% and the real disposable income reduced by 10%. However, the economic outlook for 2017 has been brighter. The World Bank had indicated earlier this year that growing prices are driving the nation into poverty. The number of poor people grew to 19.2 million in 2015 (World Bank Group, 2016). It is estimated that the poverty rates are likely to go back to the 2007 levels, signalling almost a decades worth of gains. Real GDP fell by .9% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first six months of 2016 and the domestic demand also decreased by 2% y-o-y. Due to continued shrinking in real incomes, consumer demands remained depressed, and household consumption was the biggest negative drag on the growth of GDP. The GDP per capita (USD) was 8,947 in 2016. Public consumption also deteriorated as the government followed expense consolidation in the new policy of low oil price. In spite of the sustained economic stagnation, the countrys employment rates were at almost maximum levels. Absolute figures of employed and economically active people were nearly unfazed in the initial eight months of 2016 as against the same time-frame in 2015 (Kulikov Porokhova, 2017). This is partially explained by the position of the countrys labour market, which reacts mostly via wages and not employment. Other reasons entail the outflowing of labour migrants from the nation, which has mitigated negative unemployment and wage pressure s from local workers. The employment rates and labour force involvement even increased to levels over 66% and 70% respectively, compensating for the fall in population of working age. Resultantly, the unemployment did not rise considerably and stayed at 5.6% in the initial eight months of 2016 (Focus Economics, 2017). Demographic Profile The population of Russia as of July 2016 was 142,355,415. The population growth rate is -.06% (2016 est.). The median age is 39.3 years, with the median age of males being 36.4 years and that of females being 42.3 years. 74% of the total population is an urban population with 12.166 million people living in the capital city Moscow. The population distribution in other cities is St. Petersburg (4.993mn), Novosibirsk (1.497mn), Yekaterinburg (1.379mn), Nizhniy Novgorod (1.212mn), and Samara (1.164mn). The rate of urbanization is -.13%. The literacy rate in the country is 99.7% with a literacy rate of males being 99.7% and that of females being 99.6%. 3.9% of the GDP is spent on education-related expenditures (Index Mundi, 2017). The ethnic profile of the country is as follows: Russian 77.7% Tatar 3.7% Ukrainian 1.4% Bashkir 1.1% Chuvash 1% Chechen 1% Others 10.2% Not-specified 3.9% Products And Services Of Proposed Business The proposed companys name is ABC Pvt. Ltd. It is a 3 years old start-up enterprise dealing in natural skin-care products. ABC Pvt. Ltd. plans to compete against Amazon. The reason behind choosing Amazon is that ABC Pvt. Ltd. is also an online platform for selling organic beauty products. It is an all-organic brand of beauty products which provides a skincare line made with herbs and other natural ingredients found in the ecologically clean region of Siberia, where nature is still untouched by genetic mutation and carries immense health potential. Siberian herbs and plants are renowned to possess incredible antioxidant properties that improve the well-being of human body and slow-down the process of ageing. ABC Pte Ltd. has taken these elements, expanded them with avant-garde technology and turned it into the state-of-the-art line of skincare products which can make the users look rejuvenated and younger in a matter of some days. The product portfolio of the company includes: Shower Gels Day Creams Night Creams Facial Serums Facial Milk Facial Scrubs Moisturizing Facial Tonic Body Butter Body Scrub Toning Massage Oil Organic Soaps Hand Cream Under-eye Cream Nourishing Cream for Feet Anti-age cream Sunscreen The entire portfolio of products comes in different varieties and suited for different skin types. The entire product line has been priced quite competitively, which in no way implies that it is subpar to those brands sold on Amazon. Moreover, unlike many of the skin-care products sold on Amazon, ingredients used in ABC Pvt. Ltd. products can only be obtained from nature, and cannot be made in a lab. Though the biggest markets for organic skincare products are in France, USA and Germany, however, Russias marketplace for natural skincare products is increasingly growing. Organic and natural skincare items are amassing popularity among Russian customers. In 2014 the industry for organic and natural products for skin expanded by 10%. This is estimated to continue expanding, however, is at present led by international brands. Although, the financial crisis witnessed the Russian customers becoming more mindful about their expenses, however, they continued to prefer high value-added products like beauty and skin care. While young customers are more inclined toward innovative items containing UV protection, minerals, amino acids or proteins, the mid-30s and above Russians are appealed by-products that bear natural claims and contain organic ingredients (Muth, 2017). Not only this, as per several market analysts, a large proportion of Russian customers feel that skincare merchandise made by domestic firms have less synthetic and artificial components and are more natural, thereby increasing their demand. This stereotype is being successfully utilized by ABC Pvt. Ltd. which is reflected in the gradual increase in its online sales. When purchasing goods bearing various claims, Russian customers do not tend to delve very deep in trying to identify the percentage of a herbal ingredient or essential oil in the products they purchase (Gurkov, 2016). Besides this, the companys business is completely online just like Amazon. There is the feature of door-to-door delivery. The online retail trade in Russia is undergoing consistent growth as the higher number of customers are moving to the Internet for their shopping. With more than 60% of the countrys population accessing the Web, internet shopping is only hitting its stride as the sector matures (Yandex, 2017). External Environment And Swot Analysis The major external environmental forces which can influence ABC Pvt. Ltd. include: Political and legal environment The government of Russia is pro-investment and encourages business ventures. However, growth opportunities for the forecast period of 2013-2018 were bleak prior to the geopolitical crisis began with Ukraine in 2014. The consumer goods safety laws are quite stringent and the products of ABC Pvt. Ltd. would have to satisfy the outlined safety requisites in order to avoid penalty (Elo, 2017). Economic environment Figures show that growth slowed a bit in personal care and beauty market in Russia in 2011 compared to growth rates before the financial crisis, however, the market is very far from saturation and post 2011 there have been many developments. Nonetheless, the tightening macroeconomic situations are not likely to be very advantageous, plus a rise in customers disposable incomes is not estimated to be high. Nonetheless, growing budget spending and low rates of unemployment are likely to trigger consumption in the nation, and skincare is estimated to experience a consistent value CAGR of 2% over the forecast period (Worth, 2017). Social environment Organic skincare products are a bit on the expensive side, however, not as expensive as international brands like Estee Lauder and the likes. There is a growing awareness among the Russian customers about the positive effects of natural products on their skin, and the females are especially becoming very conscious about the quality of their skin. This is the reason, they are willing to spend on high value-added natural products (Tyrimou, 2014). Technological environment The technological innovations regarding the development of more organic and healthier products for the skin are prevalent and companies are using the latest technology to embed in their products. Growth in research and development in this area has now made it possible to fill the skin care products with different proteins, amino acids, minerals etc. after experimenting their chemical properties together. Similarly, the herbal and natural use of several Siberian plants and herbs in skincare products are being identified and incorporated in products (Loh, 2016). Environmental Russia lies in a high-altitude region where the UV radiation is higher compared to low-altitude regions due to the thinness of the Ozone layer. Greater exposure to UV rays leads to dark spots and ageing. This triggers the demand for products which are made from natural ingredients and have UV protection abilities (Kudrin Gurvich, 2015). SWOT Analysis Strengths High quality Products made from completely natural and organic ingredients which cannot be replicated in lab Continuous exploration for finding better ingredients Certified by the European standard EU 834 Wide product portfolio with competitive pricing Weaknesses Low brand awareness Low penetration in smaller cities of Russia Chances of customers becoming allergic due to natural constituents Tag of Russian brand Opportunities New technologies and RD Swiftly growing online market Growing loyalty toward eco-brands Growing personal and skincare market Threats Geopolitical crisis Unfavorable economic condition due to which some customers are controlling their spending High competition from established global brands The main objectives of ABC Pvt. Ltd. are: To increase the companys brand awareness To augment turnover by 22-25% by the last quarter of 2017 To elevate the number of new clients by 80 per month To enhance the frequency of repeat purchases References Elo, M. (2017). Against All OddsA Diaspora Entrepreneur Developing Russian and Central Asian Markets. InThe Challenge of Bric Multinationals(pp. 481-502). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Focus Economics (2017). Russia Economic Outlook. [Online]. Available through: https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/russia. [Accessed on 2nd October 2017]. Gurkov, I. (2016). Oriflame CIS: The Successful Evolution of a Regional Subsidiary's Mandate.Global Business and Organizational Excellence,35(4), 44-54. Index Mundi (2017) Russia Demographics Profile 2017. [Online]. Available through: https://www.indexmundi.com/russia/demographics_profile.html. [Accessed on 2nd October 2017]. Kudrin, A., Gurvich, E. (2015). A new growth model for the Russian economy.Russian journal of economics,1(1), 30-54. Kulikov, D. Porokhova, N. (2017). Russian Economy: Recession Knocked Out. What Next? [Online]. Available through: https://www.acra-ratings.com/research/191. [Accessed on 2nd October 2017]. Loh, X. (2016). Polymers for Personal Care Products and Cosmetics. Royal Society of Chemistry. Muth, S. (2017). Russian as a commodity: medical tourism and the healthcare industry in post-Soviet Lithuania.International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism,20(4), 404-416. Tyrimou, N. (2014). The Impact of Russias Sanctions on Global Beauty Players. [Online]. Available through: https://blog.euromonitor.com/2014/10/the-impact-of-russias-sanctions-on-global-beauty-players.html. [Accessed on 3rd October 2017]. World Bank Group (2016). The Russian Economy Inches Forward: Will that suffice to turn the tide? [Online]. Available through: https://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/429441478647721427/Russia-RER-36-Eng.pdf. [Accessed on 2nd October 2017]. Worth, O. (2017).Hegemony, international political economy and post-communist Russia. Taylor Francis. Yandex, M. (2017). Assessing Russian Online Shopping Behavior 2016. [Online]. Available through: https://www.thegrinlabs.com/assessing-russian-online-shopping-behavior-2016/. [Accessed on 2nd October 2017].