Are sweatshops good or bad essayEssay Writing Service

Are sweatshops good or bad essayEssay Writing Service Are sweatshops good or bad? essay Are sweatshops good or bad? essayThe term sweatshop denotes a factory which violates labor laws and human rights by forcing workers to have low wages, to work in poor conditions and/or long hours. There are many sweatshops worldwide, and many SP 500 companies rely on sweatshops to make profits. The major reasons why companies organize sweatshops are low labor costs and poor protection of workers rights in the developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether sweatshops are good or bad. The major thesis of the paper is the following; sweatshops are bad, and it should be the goal of all human beings to combine efforts to eliminate sweatshops and similar business practices.There are numerous negative issues associated with sweatshops. People have to work and live in poor conditions in such factories; many of them receive low wages which are only enough to provide for some food or shelter or medicine. Workers of top earning corporations might have to choose between bu ying a medicine, buying a breakfast, buying basic clothes, etc.Children of those parents who work in sweatshops grow mostly on their own; they are not able to get an education and eventually the children of these parents will form another generation of sweatshop workers. In many developing countries, children above 5 years are also forced to work.Large corporations often use unethical and even cruel practices in developing countries to force their workers to work in such poor conditions. There are armed guards in sweatshops, and the top management in developing countries might collaborate with local mafia to gain control of the workforce. When external people attempt to visit sweatshops, guards do not allow workers to speak with the visitors at the threat of penalties, firing or even physical punishment.This vicious cycle of poverty and exploitation should be stopped. Furthermore, it can be stopped: according to surveys of public opinion, consumers might be willing to pay 15% more f or products that do not come from sweatshops, and doubling the pay of workers in such factories would only cause an increase of cost by 1.8% on average (Do Something, n.d.). The profits of large companies might slightly reduce due to eliminating sweatshops, but at the same time providing at least for basic human needs might increase the performance of sweatshop workers, drive motivation and stimulate the growth of developing economies.The supporters of sweatshops have several arguments warranting the existence of sweatshops. For instance, Kristof (2009) states that in some regions working in a sweatshop is considered a blessing for those people who do not have a job and have to dig garbage to find some plastic elements for recycling. Furthermore, Kristof (2009) indicates that the standards of living in the regions with sweatshops soared. However, these arguments only show that the presence of factories in developing countries is beneficial for economic development.None of the argume nts set by Kristof actually justifies the practices common for sweatshops: extremely low wages, poor living conditions, excess working hours (which are directly related to very low wages), etc. Furthermore, if manufacturing companies adopt some basic standards of payment and working conditions that allow their workers to maintain human dignity, both these companies and the economies of developing countries will be better off.Indeed, workers who have enough time to rest and enough resources to satisfy their basic needs are able to work more efficiently, can reduce the rate of errors and can be more enthusiastic in their work. Furthermore, higher wages will cause the inflow of additional finance into developing countries; these cash flows will likely stimulate the further increase of living standards in the community. The only threat that comes from adopting such practices is international competition from countries with no laws protecting their workers. However, if basic labor standa rds and wages were adopted at the international level, there would be no such threat to the developing countries which dare protect the rights of their citizens. Therefore, the arguments set by the supporters of sweatshops are inconsistent and basically relate to the presence of manufacturing companies and not to the practices adopted by sweatshops. Sweatshops have negative consequences for the developing countries and should be eliminated at the international level.

Your Guide to Creating a Character Sketch (With a Free Template!)

Your Guide to Creating a Character Sketch (With a Free Template!) The ability to create memorable characters is what separates mediocre writers from master storytellers. The books we read that we cant forget often include characters that appeal to us for their humanity (or lack thereof), and they come to life on the pages in ways that only a great writer can make happen.So how do writers make such memorable, real-life characters? One way is to create intensive character sketches for each character of a story and writers vary in their approach to doing this. In this article, Ill discuss how to create a character sketch and provide a template for you to use (unless youd rather create your own).PhysicalWhen determining the physical aspects of your character, its important to keep in mind that you shouldnt stop with hair color, eye color and skin color. Sure†¦these are important aspects to help the reader visualize the character, but a characters overall physical appearance includes so much more. The more you consider in the character sketch, the easier it will be for your character to come to life on the page. With that in mind, consider these physical characteristics, as well.Face/hairWhat is the characters face shape (round, oval, heart-shaped, square)?Does the character have freckles, sun spots, a birthmark, or scar on his or her face?What is the color, texture, and length of the characters hair?Does the character dye his or her hair?Does the character have facial hair and if so, how long is it and what is its texture?SkinWhat color is the characters skin and does it have freckles, wrinkles, sun spots, or scars?Does the character have tattoos? If so, what kind of art is it and where is it located?BodyWhat body type does the character have (lean, athletic, curvy, overweight)?Does he or she slouch?How tall is your character?Where does your character carry most of his or her weight?Is there a strange gait to his or her walk?ClothingWhat type of clothing does the character like to wear for lounging/relaxing?What type of clot hing does the character like to wear for formal occasions?What type of clothing does the character like to wear outdoors?What type of shoes does the character tend to wear? Are they scuffed?Does the character take pride in their appearance?Are the characters clothes neatly pressed or wrinkled?Are there any particular pieces of clothing or jewelry your character owns that has special meaning for him or her? If so, what pieces and why are they special?PsychologicalIf youve ever sat down to people watch- and lets face it, all writers should make this practice a part of their daily routine- then youve probably already noticed psychological aspects on a subconscious level. For example, when you see the girl walking beside a man busy looking at his phone, her face downcast and a frown turning her lips, your mind picks up on subconscious characterization and revelation. You can piece a story together of their relationship quite easily with this one glance, and although it may be wrong, you ve used psychological techniques to create depth when encountering strangers. The same thing happens when you consider the psychological and subconscious actions of your character for a character sketch.What is the characters overall outlook on life (optimistic, pessimistic, depressed)?Does the character have anxiety, claustrophobia, insomnia, PTSD or depression?Is your character introverted or extroverted?Does your character have a good relationship with his or her mother?Does your character have a good relationship with his or her father?Does your character have a good relationship with his or her siblings?Does your character have a significant other? If not, why?Is your character an addict? If so, what is he or she addicted to?What is the life mistake your character most regrets?Does your character drink alcohol? If so, how much?Does your character have healthy relationships with friends?HistoricalThink about how much your history has shaped you into the person you are today. In fact, it could be argued that every facet of who we are as humans stems from our history. In the same way, your characters history should shape him or her as a living, breathing entity that comes alive on the page. The more that history fits or makes sense to the reader, the more believable your story and characters are. For example, if your character suffered a childhood trauma and you want that character to be believable and real, the reality is that he or she will demonstrate aspects of PTSD and/or have a negative relationship with the responsible parent. Thinking these details through helps you to connect all the dots of the character- physical, psychological, and historical- to create a compelling persona that feels real and alive to your reader.What was your characters mother like?What was your characters father like?Does he or she have any siblings?Where was your character born?What were the circumstances of your characters birth?What were the circumstances of your characters early childhood?What were the circumstances of your characters preteen and adolescent years?How did your character do in school? What were his or her favorite subjects and why?When did your character first fall in love and with whom?Has your character ever been in legal trouble?Does your character have a history of addiction?Try our free templateIf youd like to have your own template for this character sketch, weve got you covered. View it or download it and let us know what you think.

The importance of literacy development in terms of life success Essay

The importance of literacy development in terms of life success - Essay Example Moreover, the notion of literacy is greatly expanded (informational, technical, financial literacy, etc.) and acquires some status of culture’s attribute. Already this issue is not about the availability of key areas of literacy, the question now should be put on the expansion of the general population literacy to the level of culture (information culture, scientific, technical, social, etc.). Thus, we are going to discuss different kinds of literacy and the importance of its development in terms of life success. First of all, it is necessary to mention that ‘literacy’ from a traditional point of view is a definite degree that is mastered by a person in accordance with grammatical rules of native language. Concerning the characteristics of the population – it is one of the basic indicators of its socio-cultural development. The need for literacy and learn reading, writing and arithmetic related to the occurrence of a pictographic writing system, and has its roots in early society. The transition of society to symbolic and graphical ways to store and transfer socially relevant information is a huge leap in the cultural and social development of mankind. According to Cope and Kalantzis, â€Å"literacy is at the heart of education’s promise† (Cope and Kalantzis, 2000). As a result, literacy has become an essential tool of possession of written culture. The specific content of the concept of literacy has changed historically, expanding with increasing public demands for the development of the individual - from basic skills to read, write, count, etc. to the possession of minimum socially necessary knowledge and skills (functional literacy). In addition Cope and Kalantiz emphasized that â€Å"literacy represents a kind of symbolic capital in two senses: as the preeminent form of symbol manipulation that gets things done in modern times and as a symbolic marker of being educated† (Cope and Kalantiz, 2000). Thinking abou t the historical background of the literacy development’s problem it is known that issues regarding the term ‘literacy’ definition, its statistical characteristics were considered at international meetings on statistics and census programs since the end of XIX century. UNESCO General Conference (10th session, Paris, 1958) recommended all countries in conducting censuses â€Å"to consider literate such persons who can read with comprehension and write a brief statement about their everyday lives† (Brandt, 2001). The semi-literate person in that context was a person who was able only to read. A term of functional literacy was proposed at the World Congress of Ministers of Education on literacy (Tehran, Sept. 1965), and a text of recommendations of the International Standardization of Educational Statistics, proposed by UNESCO, was revised in 1978. Street said that â€Å"Initially, functional literacy was used to refer to the needs of employment and economic development† (Street, 2001). Moreover, â€Å"the concept was then broadened to include the print demands of occupational, civic, community and personal functioning† (Street, 2001). According to a new edition of this document, it is necessary to consider a literate person who can be engaged in all activities in

The description, feeding and threats of Arabian oryx Essay

The description, feeding and threats of Arabian oryx - Essay Example It has black markings on its face and legs and is of the size of a deer. It has reasonably long legs with wide hooves that help them in running in deserts. It possesses a splendid peripheral vision that helps it in spotting predators. It has the ability to increase its body temperature and make it higher than the ambient air in order to lose inordinate body heat (Walther, 1990). Although, sweating also helps the animal in loosing heat. The ability to increase its body temperature permits the Arabian Oryx to release heat into the surroundings. The brain is, however, protected during the process of increasing body temperature by the cool blood that returns from the nasal pathways, thus absorbing heat from arterial blood that is destined for the brain (Walther, 1990). (National Wildlife Research Center, 2007). The Oryx leucoryx (Arabian Oryx) is also known as white Oryx. It is a moderate-size antelope with a distinguishable shoulder bump, a tufted tail and long and unbowed horns. It is a bovine and is the smallest-sized member of the genus Oryx, native to steppe and deserted regions of the Arabian Peninsula. By the years 1970s, the Oryx leucoryx had vanished in the wild but was preserved in private preserves and zoos and then was reintroduced, in 1980s, into the wild (Wildscreen, 2013). It was enlisted as an endangered species in 1986 on the IUCN Red List while it was the first animal species that was reverted to vulnerable status after being categorized as extinct species in the wild. The populations of Arabian Oryx, in 2011, were estimated to be more than 1,000 animals in the wild while there are around 6,000-7,000 animals in the preservation areas and zoos worldwide (Wildscreen, 2013). General Description The scientific name of Arabian Oryx is Oryx leucoryx. It belongs to the Order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. Its range of habitat noticed formerly was Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Arabian Peninsula and Sinai. Sand deserts and gravel plains constitute the habita t of Arabian Oryx. Its diet includes herbs, fruits, grasses, melons and roots. The average body length has been found to be around 5.3 ft/ 160cm. The average shoulder height is approximately 2.7-3.4 ft/ 81-102 cm. The tail length has been recorded to be 1.5-2 ft/ 45-60 cm while its weight is 143-154 lb/ 65-70 kg (AZA, 2009). The colour of its coat is white in colour, without any colour washes, as noticed in the other species of Oryx. The colour of its legs is brownish black, excluding the ankles, which have white bands. Its face is spotted with black splotches that run from the eyes, beneath the jowls and down the cheeks, and dark hair triangles are noticeable down the nose bridge as well as on the forehead. The tasselled tail of the Arabian Oryx is somewhat dark brown and black. The unbowed, long, ridged horns are noticed in both sexes of the Arabian Oryx, growing 1.6-2.2 feet/ 50-68 cm long (AZA, 2009). It is a white, graceful antelope, standing 3 to 4 feet tall and around 300 pou nds weight, with black markings on the legs and face. Its white cost radiates the sunlight while during cold mornings heat is absorbed by the dark legs from the ground. The wide ears of the Arabian Oryx are circular at the tips. It is a keen-sighted animal, alert and wary, which protects itself by lowering its head in order to point forward its horns (AZA, 2009). The wandering herd comprises a leading male and various females with their young ones. Arabian Oryx is able to go without water for long periods, and the

Concept of Justice in Plato's Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Concept of Justice in Plato's Republic - Essay Example This argument is presented to Socrates in an accusatory fashion, and with Thrasymachus’ replies to what Socrates seeks in clarification in support of his argument, it seems evident that Thrasymachus’ himself did not completely understand the depth of the position he just took. This becomes apparent when Socrates designs his retorts to explore the argument further, dedicating the rest of the Book I to seeking clarification of the argument Thrasymachus’ had just presented. Socrates aims to make it apparent that a concept of justice such as this must develop in a coherent fashion towards one final definition of justice presented by Thrasymachus’, but as the argument continues, it is seen that Thrasymachus’ himself is slightly skewed in his approach and ends up presenting more than one definition of justice, with both consistencies and inconsistencies between the two. Discussion between Thrasymachus, Socrates and Cleitophon Thrasymachus, who originally seemed like an avid listener, enters into the discussion of justice by interrupting Socrates in a seemingly demeaning manner at 336b, positioning himself first as an aggressive philosopher who was staunch in his understanding of the dialogue at hand, ready to move forward and express his displeasure with the same, â€Å"But when we paused †¦ he could no longer keep quiet; hunched up like a wild beast, he flung himself at us as if to tear us to pieces.† (336b). Moreover, he exclaims to the recipient, â€Å"What if I could show you another answer about justice besides all these and better than they are? What punishment do you think you would deserve to suffer?† (337d). Clearly, Thrasymachus is about to make a sweeping statement regarding the concept of justice. When Thrasymachus delivers his version of what he believes justice encompasses, â€Å"nothing other than the advantage of the stronger party† (338c), Socrates approaches the man with a determined outlo ok to seek clarification. In response to his appeal, Thrasymachus presents clarifying examples, describing at first instance the various systems of governance that permeate societies of modern age, specifically, tyranny, democracy, and aristocracy. In all three of these variants, governments seek to design laws that not only uplift their own desires but also make it unlawful to act against them, passing laws with a view to their own advantage (338e). Justice is then designed to be the responsibility of the government, who would pertinently seek to protect their own wishes before they protect anyone else’s, making it clear that in â€Å"every city, the same thing is just, the advantage of the established ruling body† (339a). Thus, Thrasymachus applies that a reasonable man would necessarily conclude that the advantage of the ruling elite becomes justice in the land that he governs. In doing so, he supplies us with the first interpretation of his sweeping ideology of jus tice, that it is what is to the advantage of the stronger party; the strongest of the land take charge, make their own laws, and in doing so, define what is just and what is not. It follows that a person who acts in compliance with the wishes of his government is definitely just. To the above utterance, Plato, speaking via his teacher Socrates, begins to identify possible loopholes. According to him, there is a distinct lack of adherence in Thrasymachus’

Leisure Management Essays Leisure Activity

Leisure Management Essays Leisure Activity The Development and significance of tennis as a Leisure Activity (Mainly in the UK). 1. The History and Development of tennis. (Mainly in the UK) According to The Cliff Richard Tennis Development Fund 2000, tennis is a world-class competitive sport captivating millions of players and fans all round the world. It was in France that the game tennis as we know it today really came into being. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries it became the highly fashionable sport of kings and noblemen a far cry from being played by the lower classes. The development fund 2000 describes how real tennis was actually very different to the game that we know today. The game was played indoors, in large galleries with jutting roofs and points were won according to how the ball was played off of the gallery walls, rather like squash. This concept is very different to todays Lawn Tennis, where the rectangular court is laid out on a grass surface and the play is within marked boundaries, not off of the walls. After its initial rise in popularity with the French nobility, tennis spread throughout Europe, becoming particularly popular in England. To day, Wimbledon and the UK are associated with lawn tennis. Cliff Richard’s Development fund describes how the changes in tennis have taken place over the years and how the shift has moved tennis from being associated with the upper classes to a sport which is played at all different levels and at every level of the social classes. During the 19th century when Victorian prosperity in England prompted a significant revival, courts were built in many famous country houses and the first tennis clubs providing facilities for members began to appear. The biggest boost for tennis however came in 1875. As said by the development Fund 2000, The All England Croquet Club, which had formed in 1869 had failed to attract enough visitors and in 1875 they decided to offer Lawn Tennis as an added attraction. The new game was an instant success, so much so that in 1877 the name of the club was changed to the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. This highlights that the popularity of tennis has been growing for many decades thus gives us a good ind ication that it will continue to prosper. The Wimbledon Championship has been one of the most significant developments in the history of tennis. This event alone has contributed to a huge numbers of followers and participants throughout the UK and illustrates the development of tennis as we know it today. In the 1930s the game became highly fashionable in the UK, led by British stars such as Fred Perry and Don Budge and International Champions such as Henri Lacoste. Then, into the 1990s the championships became more popular than ever particularly as Great Britains hopes for a champion became rekindled with the likes of Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman. Now, entering 2006 we are witnessing the rise of young Andrew Murray who is taking the tennis circuit by storm and he will hopefully encourage and boost tennis numbers within the UK. The Lawn Tennis Association has outlined a number of ways in which it has attempted to translate the enthusiasm generated by the Wimbledon Championships each year into lasting benefits and continually develop tennis on a yearly basis. Some examples include; the sponsored campaign, ‘Play Tennis’, which is an initiative that offered free tennis lessons with the Lawn Tennis Association coaches in April and May 2004. The Lawn Tennis Association confirms that in 2004, 8,000 Londoners participated in the scheme and as a result around a third joined their local tennis clubs after playing. This highlights the significance of tennis within the UK and that the sport is held in high esteem. Perhaps now it is important to expand its target market and appeal to different socio-economic groups. Further, the Lawn Tennis Association launched an Ariel Tennis Ace campaign which was a ‘talent search’ for young players, the winner of which received coaching with John McEnroe du ring the Wimbledon Championships. It is important to note that tennis is such a significant sport within the UK that such competitions are respected and widely sought after. Other ways in which the Lawn Tennis Association has developed and increased the popularity in the UK include the introduction of a Tennis Show which has been running since April 2004 which was linked in with the Fitness Show and offered free coaching, access to clubs and information. Further, in order to establish a larger ratio of children who play tennis the organisation pioneered the Wimbledon Kid’s Zone; whilst the Championships were taking place, a children’s area is established to introduce children to tennis. Approximately 6,000 children attended in 2004 and lastly, ‘The Road to Wimbledon’ initiative was set up for young players to lure them into tennis and encourage promising young talent which will help boost tennis numbers. The incentive to entering this competition was that the winners were given the opportunity to play at Wimbledon in August. Nowadays, sporting events tend to be sponsored by major companies in order to generate more money. Last year, American Express sponsored a five-day event next to Tower Bridge with larges screens televising Wimbledon matches, tennis training and held a celebrity tennis night which raised money for the Sport Relief Charity. The Lawn Tennis Association supports any private sponsorship for these free public events because it helps develop the sport. Moreover, it is obvious that much is being done to develop tennis within the UK because Sport England has launched a website www.activeplaces.com – this Internet site has produced a list of facilities for all sports, including the locations of every tennis court in London. Sport England believes that the site’s usefulness could be enhanced if it keeps records of the condition of facilities to ensure the courts upkeep and increase the number of tennis players in the UK. The Lawn Tennis Association believes that currently a third of local authority tennis courts are in a state of disrepair, this information needs to be passed onto the local authorities to be addressed, otherwise tennis could cease to play a significant sporting role in the UK. Also, if information of facility conditions is recorded it will provide a more realistic picture of sports resources in London and may serve as a prompt to local authorities to improve their local facilities. 2. The Organisation of tennis.   The Lawn Tennis Association’s work and investment is based around three main priority areas, theses include tennis clubs, junior players and performance. The organisation has been trying to make British tennis more inclusive and available to a wide number for many years. The reasons for targeting the different areas and widening their target market are to attract more and better players. Nowadays, the Lawn Tennis Association is focusing on how and where tennis is played and organised in the UK. The reason for this is to establish where the best facilities are and to improve the areas which are in disrepair. In order to better organise tennis within the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association has introduced an initiative called ‘Club Vision’ which aims to provide progressive clubs with greater support and resources at both a national and county level and to ensure that clubs can play a greater part in making the UK into a stronger tennis nation and make it as popular and g enerate a following as great as that of football. ‘Club Vision’ is described by the Lawn Tennis Association as being a multi-million pound investment programme that puts clubs at the heart of British Tennis and also supports public pay and play indoor tennis centres, schools and local authority venues. The Lawn Tennis Association joined forces with the Sports Council and the All England Lawn Tennis Club in 1986 to launch the Indoor Tennis Initiative designed to develop indoor tennis centres around Britain. The main benefit of ‘Club Vision’ is that it is able to help any club throughout the UK regardless of size and therefore as facilities are better they can promote and attempt to attract many people. This shows that tennis is becoming more organised in the UK perhaps as a result of the increased availability of courts, the affordability of equipment and the increased media interest and coverage of tennis tournaments and championships. According to Sport England, the London Assembly’s Culture Sport and Tourism Committee met with them and the Lawn Tennis Association to discuss tennis in London in 2004. The aim of the meeting was to establish how the Wimbledon Championship could propel and promote tennis within London and the rest of the UK. Further, the bodies discussed and considered ease of access to tennis courts in London and deliberated over club organization and costs of using publicly owned tennis courts. Throughout the talks, certain projects were discussed which encourage young people to get involved in tennis (such as the Westway Tennis centre), and further they examined how the Mayor, Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association could encourage more Londoners to pick up a racquet. There is more incentive for people to take up tennis due to the 2,600 tennis clubs which have affiliated with the Lawn Tennis Association via their local county office. The development and introduction of so many clubs h ighlights the improvement of tennis as a leisure activity. Currently, the Lawn Tennis Association estimates are that two-thirds of local authority courts nationally are in a state of disrepair and nevertheless the cost of hiring local authority courts stands between  £2- £6 per hour for adults. Most tennis activities are run through such organisations as the Lawn Tennis Association and All England Tennis Club. As a result of theses clubs it is possible for people to enquire as to their nearest club or courts and increase the probability of people playing tennis as knowledge is more readily available. 3. The Social Structure of Participation. In my opinion tennis has always been classified as a rich mans sport. This might be due to the fact that when tennis originated it was played by the Kings, Queens and nobility. This stigma has now shifted however, there are still certain socio-demographics who shy away from the sport. According to the Lawn Tennis Association, 2.9  million people aged four years and upwards played tennis in the UK in 2003. Further, this is reinforced by the British Embassy who suggests that around five million people play tennis in the UK. Either way, this is a large number but there does not compete with the number of people that play football. Of the 2.9 million tennis players the Lawn Tennis Association estimates that 441,000 of   these people play tennis in London; 137,000 of them playing regularly. In the UK many of the tennis campaigns and organisations aim to attract the younger generation to take up tennis. This it is no surprise that the younger generation in the UK are likely to play mor e tennis in the future than that of the current older generation. In contrast to the number of tennis players in the UK, American Tennis Life Magazine, which conducted a survey on tennis, illustrates that 23.5 million Americans play tennis annually. Of this, 52 per cent of players were men and 48 per cent were women with the average age of these players being 29. Further, the percentage of women players to men is reflected in the ratio of spectatorship. McNamee, (2001) illustrates that 48 per cent of women watch tennis compared to 52 per cent of men. I am surprised that women on average play less and watch less tennis. The abovementioned illustrates that tennis is indeed a thriving sport within the UK but simultaneously illustrate that there is scope for growth within these figures. So, it is important to establish the type of people who do not play tennis and the reasons for their lack of participation in the sport. The kind of people not playing tennis are those who are in the lower social classes who cannot afford to pay for a club membership, those in areas where facilities are in a state of disrepair and those from ethnic minorities, the latter will be discussed further. Moreover, Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association have identified the following barriers to greater participation in tennis in London, some of which include; cost (however in reality this is more down to peoples perception of the sport – studies show that the actual cost of tennis membership is more than half what people estimate). Also, poor local authority facilities and a lack of investment in facilities has meant that people in certain areas are just unable to play tennis. Further, the weather plays a large role in determining the months of the year in which tennis is playe d. Those with no access to indoor courts are not likely to play tennis outside the summer months which results in lower numbers of people who play tennis. Moreover, Sport England has established that there is no co-ordinated approach to tennis for people with disabilities, thus limiting the development of tennis as a leisure activity. Lastly, due to the immense popularity and plugging of other sports such as football, competition with other leisure activities and sports creates a loss of interest in playing tennis once young people have left school. Furthermore, according to Gabriel, D from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), black players are noticeably absent from tennis. Supposedly, poverty is cited as a major factor, with 57 per cent of people from ethnic minorities socially excluded from sports on the grounds of destitution. Gabriel, D believes that a white sporting establishment effectively excludes people from ethnic minorities  from getting involved in the organisation and governance of sport at every level. In other words, the lack of black people in decision-making roles within sports organisations means there is little opportunity for them to ascend to senior and more influential roles that could promote their wider involvement and influence in sport. McLean, L reinforces the fact that the ethnic minorities do not take part in sport, compared with the national average. Supposedly, people from ethnic minorities are keen to give sports such as tennis a go, but they do not have access to facilities. Thus in order to ensure that tennis remains a popular sport and continues to grow it is essential that every local government looks to improve facilities in their area and encourage ethnic minorities. Every year, Wimbledon is broadcast on television and in its own right is one of the UK’s major sporting events. According to the Lawn Tennis Association, Sport England spent approximately  £18.7 million on tennis facilities, coaching and promotion and outreach in London in 2003. This perhaps demonstrates that tennis in the UK is in fact on the increase. What we must ensure is that we have the infrastructure in place to cope with larger numbers. The Lawn Tennis Association believes that the most immediate benefit from the Wimbledon Championships is the revenue generated by the event.   The 2003 competition brought in  £25.8 million (net income) which was invested back into tennis initiatives nationally. However, in order to see tennis become more popular it is essential to promote all year round and eradicate the idea that it is a summer sport. There is of course little that the Lawn Tennis Association can do to change the weather but it should look to invest in indoor co urts and floodlighting through its Club Vision programme and Indoor Tennis Initiative.   In 2003, the Lawn Tennis Association committed  £2.28 million to facilities in London, 30 per cent of the organisations fund. Since 2001 it has invested over  £4.89 million in 16 major tennis projects in London. Further, Gabriel, D from the Commission for Racial Equality has reported that black people are very interested in tennis thus there is scope to increase the number of tennis players in the UK. In my opinion tennis is a growing sport. This is further emphasised by UK Sport (2001), which has explained how the management Board of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to engage with Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association in an informal consortium to seek planning permission for the redevelopment of facilities at the Bisham Abbey Sports Centre, enabling it to become a Centre of Excellence for both sports. This illustrates that organisations believe that tennis is a worthy investment for the future. Further, Since September 2004, construction has been underway on the Lawn Tennis Association’s new National Tennis Centre (NTC) in Roehampton. If tennis was showing signs of decline there would not be so many initiatives or campaigns running to improve facilities throughout the UK. The site will provide a single site of national focus for tennis in Great Britain, and will open in late 2006. The reasons for a National Tennis Centre according to the Lawn Tennis Association are that in 1999 an extensive review of the sport was undertaken and it arose that tennis has effectively turned into a social leisure activity for a few, rather than a competitive sport to be enjoyed by many millions. In all, the evidence points to a rise in popularity of the game tennis. There is still plenty of scope for growth and the introduction of more ethnic minorities to the sport. Bibliography The Cliff Richard Tennis Development Fund (2000) The History of Tennis. (Internet), Available at http://www.cliffrichardtennis.org/planet_tennis/history.htm, cited 30/11/05 Bray, A. (2005) Tennis in London. (Internet), Available at http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/culture/tennis.rtf, cited 30/11/05 The Lawn Tennis Association. (2005) Building our Tennis Nation. (Internet), Available at http://www.lta.org.uk/InsideTheLta/AboutTheLta/BuildingOurTennisNation.htm, cited 30/11/05 British Embassy. Sport – One of the best things in life. (Internet), Available at http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate /ShowPagec=Pagecid=1065716130553, cited 30/11/05 Gabriel, D. Commission for Racial Equality (2005). Why black British tennis players are missing from Wimbledon. (Internet), Available at http://www.cre.gov.uk/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew070.RefLocID-0hg00k001.Lang-EN.htm, cited 30/11/05 UK Sport (2001) Cricket and Tennis seek Alliances. (Internet), Available at http://www.uksport.gov.uk/template.asp?id=376, cited 30/11/05 Tennis Life Magazine. Demographics. (Internet), Available at http://www.tennislifemagazine.com/advertising/advertising-demo.html, cited 01/12/05 McNamee, Dr (2001) Sporting Conduct: A survey of Sports spectators’ perceptions of the values and norms of selected professional sports. (Internet), Available at http://www.uksport.gov.uk/images/uploaded/sportingconduct.pdf, cited 01/12/05 McLean, L. Participation in Sport. (Internet), Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/uk/2002/race/participation_in_sport.stm, cited 01/12/05

Plan On Smoking :: Argumentative Persuasive Example Essays

Plan On Smoking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The incredible idea behind taking a course such as Theories of Persuasion is that a student can discover the principles and theories behind everyday decision making and beliefs. What may seem like simple ideas, in reality, are very complex processes. Fishbein and Ajzen, two researchers being discussed in class, brought to light their theory known as the Theory of Planned Behavior. In it they describe the intricacies of building attitudes and making behavioral decisions. By providing a brief summary of the theory, a real life example that directly relates to the theory, and an analysis of the possible outcomes of the theory, it becomes clear that Fishbein and Ajzen contributed significantly to the world of persuasion research.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Theory of Planned Behaviors is far more complex than just making behavioral decisions. It involves a well defined relationship between the Expectancy Value Theory, Subjective Norms, and Self Efficacy. In order to properly establish this relationship it is necessary to supply some definitions of the previously mentioned terms. The Expectancy Value Theory plainly states that “for behaviors, our attitudes were a function of our beliefs that an outcome would occur, and an emotional evaluation of that outcome.'; There is a mathematical advantage that applies your rating of certain factors and weighs the positives versus the negatives. The second term that applies to the theory at hand is Subjective Norms. It a simple idea that consists of attitude determination in two separate parts. Firstly, the person considers what others think he or she should do and, secondly, whether or not the person wants to “conform to these social pressures';. Once again the t erm can be expressed in mathematical terms by weighing the importance between social acceptance and personal satisfaction. The last term needed to be defined is efficacy. The person making the decision needs to question whether the behavior is realistic or possible. It is these three terms, collectively, that constitutes the overall theory. The theory suggests that a person’s behavioral intentions guide their actual behaviors. These intentions are the result of the person’s close examination of their Attitudes (EVT), Subjective Norms, and Self Efficacy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A real life situation that is applicable to the theory is really open to a degree of creativity. To spice up the topic a bit, it is interesting to look at the theory in terms of pre-marital sex and peer pressure. The problem with pre-marital sex is that it a controversial issue among many parents, primarily those who follow close religious beliefs.