5 Books by Queer Korean Americans You Need in Your Life

5 Books by Queer Korean Americans You Need in Your Life Books by queer Korean Americans arent exactly abundant, but there are definitely more than there used to be. O Magazine  recently published an article by author R.O. Kwon about why she chose to come out as bisexual earlier this year. In the article, Kwon talked about her decision in the context of being Korean American. She counted up four other existing queer Korean American writers with published books, and expressed her desire to add to this slim, ferocious list of names. As a bisexual Korean American writer myself (albeit without a book published yet), Ive been watching the aforementioned list grow with interest. Despite the still relatively modest presence of queer Korean American literature, a few very notable works have popped up just within the past couple years. So who are the writers who have made this slim, ferocious list? What have they been up to? Heres a starter kit of selected books. Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell Im reluctant to point out the quirkiness of this 2017 novel, because quirkiness in writing usually isnt a selling point for me, but Sorry to Disrupt the Peace is really odd in the best way. Helen Moran receives word that her adoptive brother has killed himself. She decides to fly from NYC to her childhood home in suburban Milwaukee to investigate his death. This proves to be something of a challenge, as she hasnt been on speaking terms with her adoptive parents for a while. But Helen has a way of following through on her impulses that makes her a disturbingly funny and delightfully weird character. Throughout the text, Helen refers to her adoptive brother and adoptive parents as such. This quirk is so noticeable that it informs the whole tone and texture of the narration.  Sorry to Disrupt the Peace  is full of discomfiting humor, but also surprising sincerity. The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon The Incendiaries follows Phoebe, a young woman whos drawn to a cult, and her boyfriend Will, a transfer student whos lost his Christian faith. The early coverage of this book last year seemed to focus on the questions it raises about faithâ€"and not wrongly, as this is a big part of what The Incendiaries is about. But knowing this didnt prepare me for how virtuosic of a work it would be. It didnt prepare me for such an ambitious swirl of language and viewpoints. The Incendiaries is bold in its stylistic choices, and impressively broad in scope considering that its a relatively short book. It plays with the readers perceptions and assumptions. Theres a whole world churning beneath its surface. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee The biggest surprise of this 2018 essay collection may be that the title is not being cute. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel  does address the challenges of writing autobiographical material, however loosely. Sure, Chee talks about subjects as varied as tarot cards, roses, and a summer he spent in Mexico as a teen. But the essays ultimately paint a picture of his life as a writer, as well as the effects living and writing have on one another. Alexander Chee has emerged as a natural mentor figure not just for Korean American writers, but Asian diaspora and marginalized writers in general. One reason for this is that his debut novel Edinburgh was published in 2001. At that time, there was much less visibility for Korean and Asian writers in the Western world. Chee has also made a point of using his platform as a known author to be supportive of and helpful to others. The Lost Prayers of Ricky Graves by James Han Mattson This compulsively readable 2017 book gets into the blessings and hazards of extremely online culture, particularly for marginalized people. A closeted teenage boy in a small town reaches out to an openly gay man in San Francisco through a chat app. The boys mother, concerned about her socially withdrawn son, emails a famous author for personal advice. An Asian girl in the same town seeks community in an online social justice organization after her crush makes racist remarks about her. While seeing emails, texts, and instant messages in fiction these days is nothing new, Mattson uses these forms with an accuracy that burns. But  The Lost Prayers of Ricky Graves  isnt only about portraying internet technology as a source of tragedy. Its also a non-cynical reminder of how real community and support can exist behind a smiley or heart emoji. Soft Science by Franny Choi Franny Chois Soft Science, which follows her 2014 debut Floating, Brilliant, Gone and the 2017 chapbook Death by Sex Machine, is simply  not to be missed. Soft Science revolves heavily around the theme of bodies and the implications of existing in a body, particularly with regards to queerness, race, and femininity. It plays with the idea of artificial intelligence vs. human intelligence, delving into how humans, some more than others, are expected to perform human-ness in a way that is in itself artificial. In an interview with NPR, Choi made a statement about how things in the publishing industry may be changing for the better. While its about artists of color in poetry, Id like to share part of it here because I think it also sums up the sentiment behind this list: And what I see happening around me is a lot of amazing artists who are kind of refusing to think with this, like, scarcity model…and to really try to, like, bring all of us up together and, you know, reach new readers who have felt alienated from poetry for so long who are able to now be part of this big party that were starting. A disclaimer about the content of this post: Im using the term Korean American purely as a way of describing a demographic and not as an assumption of personal identity. Some people of Korean heritage prefer to identify themselves as simply Korean regardless of where they live or were born. This post isnt necessarily meant to be exhaustive, either, but rather just to expand on Kwons list. There may not be many books by queer Korean Americans at this point in time. But the ones that do exist contain some of the most exciting literature out there.

Sustainability Reporting - Woolworths Essay - 2146 Words

Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 Defining Sustainability 2 What Sustainability means to Woolworths 3 Corporate Stakeholders of Woolworths 3 Woolworths Drive for Change 5 Integrated Reporting 6 Why Integrated Reporting? 6 Woolworths Integrated Reporting 7 The Future of Integrated Reporting 7 Conclusion 8 Word Count: 1995 Executive Summary This report examines the new world of sustainability reporting, and the complex web of stakeholders. It focuses particularly on the demands for new kinds of transparency which serve the interests of the environment and society. In this report, Woolworths, one of our major competitors has been analyzed in order to understand how they have evolved the concept of†¦show more content†¦Woolworths believes their existence is directly linked to the global environment as well its community. In carrying out its activities, Woolworths believes it must maintain respect for human dignity, and strive towards a society where the global environment is protected. Woolworths are committed in understanding how people feel, their fears and their needs and aligning the business’s focus into addressing those needs in order to build both loyalty from customers and effort from employees (ICAA, 2011). In order to be sustainable over the long term, Woolworths has made sure that their success doesn’t come at the expense of the society, economy and environment as they are a part of it (ICAA, 2011). They believe it not only involves responsibility to understand and manage their impacts, but also gives them an opportunity to achieve lasting and beneficial change that extends beyond their operations (ICAA, 2011). Corporate Stakeholders of Woolworths Woolworths is a significant part of the Australian community and are aware that their actions and operations do have an impact beyond their immediate interactions with customers, employees and shareholders. A result, they are also concerned with reconciling and aligning the demands, needs, interests, and values with suppliers, communities, the environment, and society at large (ICAA, 2011). Woolworths has a number of programs in place to engage with stakeholders. Through these avenuesShow MoreRelatedEssay on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting1869 Words   |  8 Pagescost/benefits of integrated reporting. By using Woolworths as an example of what to expect and the outcomes of their progress I dissect the strategy Woolworths adopted in attempting to implement sustainability into their every day-to-day operations and through doing so have resulted in a conclusion with a recommendation for Coolworths. Sustainability will require heavy investment in the short term, however with the correct approach, attitude, and strategy, investments into sustainability will pay for themselvesRead MoreWoolworths Limited Case Study5822 Words   |  23 Pagesï » ¿Background Woolworths Limited was foundedin 1924, and is Australias second largest employer. Colloquially referred to as Woolies, the company has grown to be Australias leading supermarket retailer. Woolworths has also gained a strong foothold in the retail markets in New Zealand. Woolworths officially listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on 12 July 1993, and trades with the issuer code WOW. Woolworths Limited (Woolworths) is Australias most recognised and trusted retail brandRead MoreManagerial sustainability Essay2023 Words   |  9 PagesLecturer: RACHNA SHARMA Student’s name: VU THI LAN HUONG Student’s number: 12857879 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.................................†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 1 .0 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 2.0 What is sustainability†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 3.0 Triple Bottom Lines†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 3.1 Economic performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 3.1.1 Turnover†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 3.1.2 Wages†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 Read MoreEthical Ethics And Financial Performance1206 Words   |  5 Pagesrefers to the standards of right and wrong in an attempt to influence behaviour. (Kinicki 2015, p.83) In stating this, companies can be ethical within numerous occasions such as ethics and financial performance, ethical performance, ethics and sustainability and ethical competition such as competitive advantage. Despite the positive side, there are also some negative implications towards ethics. Ethics and financial performance: jEthics can be addressed within financial performance in stating howRead MoreWesfarmers : Financial Analysis Essay1488 Words   |  6 Pages2009). However the major one of them all being Woolworths. Woolworths has established a clear lead in sales growth in recent years, and is estimated to hold approximately 27% of the market with Coles falling down to 23%. Woolworths has clearly demonstrated a lead in terms of supermarket margins and supply chain automation resulting in heavy price discounting, and they have reported a solid growth in margins from 4.7% in 2005 to 6.2% in 2007(Woolworths, 2008). As Wesfarmers operate in various otherRead MoreWoolworths Ltd Doing the Right Thing11796 Words   |  48 PagesDoing the right thing | Sustainability Strategy 2007–2015 Doing the right thing. Contents 2 3 4 7 8 9 0 1 2 1 8 1 0 2 2 2 4 2 6 2 8 2 Foreword What sustainability means to Woolworths Limited Our major commitments and targets Who is Woolworths Limited? Our external engagement Engaging our people Our sustainability priorities Climate change Water Sourcing Packaging Waste Green Stores Implementation and reporting All of us, every day. Foreword Read MoreNational Accounting Standards in Retail Industry3454 Words   |  14 Pagesare Woolworths from Australia and Walmart from the United States and compare the two firms in 4 perspectives. Firstly, the different in recognition of intangible assets, revenue, tax, inventory under IFRS (Aus) and U.S.GAAP. Secondly, describe consequence of the different recognition of accounting items and how it affects to financial statement and different regulation under AISC (Aus) and SEC (US). Thirdly, describe the factors that influence the accounting practices of Walmart and Woolworths. InRead MoreWoolworths Supply Chain5368 Words   |  22 PagesDiscussion and Evaluation of Woolworths Foods purchasing process Authors: Ian dlamini, Sne Byron Van Herder, Naseer Khan, Mohamed Kadar amp; Muhammad Moola, Executive summary Woolworths is one of the biggest retail stores in South Africa. Founded in the early nineteen thirties by Max Sonnenberg, Woolworths has grown to a retail giant with over four hundred stores throughout Africa and Middle East. Along with Woolworths being of such large proportions it now is listed on the JohannesburgRead MoreHistory And Vision Of Macquarie Group1739 Words   |  7 PagesPM HTTP://WWW.SBS.COM.AU/NEWS/ARTICLE/2015/08/27/DAVID-JONES-NEW-OWNER-MAKES-BIG-CHANGES Sales at David Jones have soared under its new South African owner, which says it wants to turn the retailer into one of the world s best. South Africa s Woolworths bought David Jones for $2.1 billion in 2014, and after taking con-trol in August David Jones made great progress in its sales presentation and delivered an op-erating profit of $161 million. David Jones last annual profit reported as a publiclyRead MoreManagement Accounting And Control Systems Essay1998 Words   |  8 Pagesenvironment from the traditional brick and mortar office to one that has its storefront on the internet. With the new global shift towards sustainability, organisations are being more self-aware about what impact they have on the environment and many organisations are now attempting to decrease their impact on the environment by using systems such as triple bottom line reporting, which not only identifies that a business should be earning a profit, but also that they have responsibility to be a good citizen

The Book Of Alice B. Toklas By Gertrude Stein - 1552 Words

The Modernist writers were all about finding their own identity. There are those who were struggling to find their own because they were close to the modernists that expressed it. Through experimentation they were able to find an identity that they were comfortable with. Gertrude Stein found a voice when she wrote about her life from the point of view of her partner Alice B. Toklas. When it comes to writers talking about themselves they couldn’t help but use the words and actions of their own characters, to create an idea of experimenting that they are unable to reveal about themselves or others that hey might have known. They are shadows of who they once were, but create a new identity under those experiments. The idea of being a shadow of someone else’s identity helps shapes their own but, also the identity of the people that take on as they experiment with finding themselves . The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein is one of the most known works by th e author. It is often seen as a simple read as compared to the rest of her works. Stein’s works are often seen as experimental. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas could be seen experimental as well, because she wanted to tell her story from the perspective of her partner through the eyes of her partner Toklas. In the first chapter of the book, it may be the only thing that gives a voice to Toklas herself. Before the full introduction to Stein herself besides the talk of paintings and a coral brooch,Show MoreRelated Gertrude Stein Essay882 Words   |  4 PagesGertrude Stein Gertrude Stein is one of the most celebrated authors and patrons of the arts. She encouraged, influenced and aided many literary and artistic figures through her support, investment and writings. Stein was born on February 3, 1874 into upper middle class surroundings in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. When she was 3 years old the family moved to Vienna and then on to Paris before returning to America in late 1878. Gertrude and her brother Leo became very close although he wasRead MoreGertrude Stein s A Rose1771 Words   |  8 Pagesa rose† Gertrude Stein. Gertrude Stein who many consider her a â€Å"major author, the founder of a new literary style, the great apologist for Modernism, and the discoverer and promoter of the French school of contemporary painting.† She was the beginning of a new era, some looked up to her while others thought she was an insignificant person (but how wrong they were). Gertrude Stein influenced a new generation in the arts. She helped encourage new and old authors and painters. Gertrude Stein enjoyedRead MoreRelationship Between The Old Man And The Sea And Ernest Hemingway1075 Words   |  5 PagesGertrude Stein made a tremendous impact on the author of The Old Man and The Sea, Ernest Hemingway. Gertrude, an American novelist, poet, playwright and art collector, served as a mentor for Ernest. The novelist also served as a godmother to Ernest along with her companion, Alice B. Toklas. Ernest Hemingway used his experience with Gertrude in his 1952 book, The Old Man and The Sea. Santiago and Manolin share a relationship similar to Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Throughout The Old Man andRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1121 Words   |  5 PagesGertrude Stein made a tremendous impact on the author of The Old Man and The Sea, Ernest Hemingway. Gertrude, an American novelist, poet, playwright and art collector, served as a mentor for Ernest. The novelist also served as a godmother to Ernest along with her companion, Alice B. Toklas. Ernest Hemingway used his experience with Gertrude in his 1952 book, The Old Man and The Sea. Santiago and Manolin share a relationship similar to Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Throughout The Old Man andRead MoreEssay on Pablo Picassos Bequest of Gertrude 1768 Words   |  8 PagesPablo Picassos Bequest of Gertrude Pablo Picasso was a very famous artist in his time. I have always found his work very interesting and unique. He has a style all his own and, I believe that this was what made him so famous and at the same time controversial. The painting I have chosen is called â€Å"Gertrude†. Pablo Picasso was born in Spain to Jose Ruiz and Maria Picasso. He later adopted his mother’s more distinguished maiden name Picasso. Picasso was a child prodigy who was recognized

Country Lovers a Reader’s Response Free Essays

Country Lovers, Nadine Gordimer TLC 25 November 2012 ? Nadine Gordimer dramatically depicts the theme of forbidden love in Country Lovers, but more than just the depth of this love, the forbidden relationship between races during the years of apartheid. Gordimer brings forward very early the fact of racial division, â€Å"the black children are making along with the bodily changes common to all, an easy transition to adult forms of address, beginning to call their old playmates missus and baasie little master†. Gordimer, 1975) This short story powerfully demonstrates the ever present desire for that which is taboo and the often very tragic end for all concerned in an overtly subjugated society, race notwithstanding. We will write a custom essay sample on Country Lovers: a Reader’s Response or any similar topic only for you Order Now She sets the story in South Africa on the farm owned by the white Eysendeck Family, early in the childhood of their son Paalus and the young black girl, Thebedi. The vivid descriptions or Local Color are depictions of culture and landscape within this setting allow the author to depict the atmosphere that shaped the characters moral values of individuals in a particular region. (Clugston, 6. 4) The use of setting, in this case the time and place of the story also illustrates Milhauser’s opinion, â€Å"†¦ if you concentrate your attention on some apparently insignificant portion of the world, you will find, deep within it, nothing less than the world itself. The author also cleverly uses foreshadowing to allude to issues the characters may deal with, â€Å"The trouble was Paalus Eysendeck did not seem to realize Thebdi was now simply one of the crowd of farm children down at the kraal†. (Gordimer, 1975) The overwhelming sense of cultural taboo was evident throughout the story and was recognized by both characters in their need to be secretive in their meetings. The use of foreshadowing and setting strongly supported the themes in the story, allowing Gordimer to bring the reader closer to the heart to the story. Although Nadine Gordimer grew up in South Africa during the enforcement of apartheid and attempted throughout her years of writing to bring attention to the under privileged; she and many other writers did not have the ability or desire to discuss the unfortunate issues that generations of the often over-indulged and morally corrupt class also had to face, â€Å"I will try and carry on as best I can to hold my head up in the district. † (Gordimer, 1975) The characters throughout this story were strong and richly developed. Both Paalus and Thebedi were similarly portrayed as equally developing young people in the illustrations of their interactions with classmates and friends, an example being the gifts they exchanged on holidays and the joy they gained admiration of them. (Gordimer) Ms. Gordimer expertly executed the account of two young people that were lifelong friends and eventually secret lovers and the on pressures that society, class and race can have on those individuals. An incredible sense of despair is exposed in the passages discussing the issues faced by the characters, Thebedi and Paalus, both showed a feeling of loss of control of the situation when he stated, â€Å"I feel like killing myself†; she could not help but feel sadness for a man she likely still loved, â€Å"her eyes began to glow, to thicken with tears†. (Gordimer, 1975) This effort to bring the ominous mood to the reader is astonishingly effective. In the last portion of the story the dialogue of the main characters demonstrates the deliberate change in the characters. Paalus becomes very aware of the potentially catastrophic outcome of his and Thebedi’s indulgences. The shift in characterization was brilliantly executed with the seemingly formidable white man becoming the pariah in the district where his family was well respected. The conflict or struggle within both characters became what to do with the baby who was the product of forbidden love in an unaccepting society. Lastly, the reader is made aware of several shifts that have shift occurred. The first shift being for Paalus and the Eysendeck family by being lowered in status â€Å" left with his mother’s raincoat shielding his face from photographers†. The next obvious shift of the Judge in his statement in court actually raised Njabolu’s status, †by commending the honorable behavior of the husband†¦ and even provided clothes for the unfortunate infant out of his slender means. † (Gordimer, 1975) The final line of the story provides insight on the outcome by bringing to light the fact that the girl â€Å"in her own language stated that â€Å"it was a thing of our childhood and they don’t see each other anymore’’ The symbolic nature of this last line demonstrated the eventual movement forward of the young woman and her embracing her life as it was set in motion by time and society to be. REFERENCES: Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Milhauser, S. (2008). The Ambition of the Short Story. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www. nytimes. com/2008/10/05/books/review/Millhauser-t. html How to cite Country Lovers: a Reader’s Response, Essay examples

Laws Affecting Mercedes and Starbucks Essay Example

Laws Affecting Mercedes and Starbucks Essay Starbucks Coffee Company: Brief Summary Starbucks Coffee Company is a coffee house chain that has locations all over the world. It was opened in Seattle, Washington in 1971, by two teachers and a writer. Starbucks now has over 11,000 locations in the United States and more than 6,800 locations in 49 other countries. In addition to selling coffee, Starbucks sells pastries, sandwiches, coffee drinking accessories, and various media. Starbucks is headquartered in Seattle, owns five different subsidiaries, and has partnership agreements with both Apple and MSNBC (Starbucks Coffee). Starbucks Health Code Compliance The FDA Food Code is a federal law that regulates jurisdictions responsible for inspecting Starbucks (FDA). Because each state has slightly different rules, compliance with the health code differs for each Starbucks location. Each store is required to follow the rules for its respective county department of health and state board of health. Starbucks is regularly inspected by the county health code inspector and must pass that health test, which is later published publicly. Each new store has to apply for a permit from the state health board yearly (Jefferson County). In order to comply with the health code, Starbucks must monitor many different aspects of its operations. Starbucks stores have many different machines that require electricity in a small space. This may cause a store to lose many points because the state requirements are very stringent. Managers must make sure each employee has clean clothes under their apron and has sanitized their hands before preparing food. Starbucks locations must pass an inspection four times a year in the state of Alabama. We will write a custom essay sample on Laws Affecting Mercedes and Starbucks specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Laws Affecting Mercedes and Starbucks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Laws Affecting Mercedes and Starbucks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer An inspection is graded on a 100 point scale, and anything above an 85 is considered a passing grade. If they make a score lower than 85, they must be retested within 60 days. If they do not pass the following test, they will have their permit suspended and have to go to trial for possible revocation. Health code inspectors have the authority to shut down an establishment whenever they see fit. Therefore, compliance is critical (Jefferson County). Contract Laws The Uniform Commercial Code and the Statute of Frauds are federal laws which regulate specific contracts. However, each state has its own contract laws, which vary slightly. Starbucks contracts with coffee farmers, suppliers of ingredients, manufacturers of other Starbucks goods, and many more business entities. In addition, Starbucks contracts with different music artists. In October of 2009, singer/song-writer Carly Simon filed a lawsuit against Starbucks claiming that the company substantially eliminated sales of her new album when it shut down its music production label. She accused the company of tortuous interference with contract, and demanded $5 to $10 million dollars for her losses. Simon said she could have used a different record company to promote her album, but she chose the Starbucks label because it would distribute her work at its store locations. Starbucks claims that it fulfilled the contract’s obligations and promoted the album for the agreed-upon amount of time. Simon claims that the overall assumption when she signed her contract was that the Starbucks label would not cease operations. She claimed a substantial loss of sales because of her album’s absence from the shelves of Starbucks. The coffee company argues, however, that she can only sue its subsidiary company that owned the label, not the coffee roasting side of the business. The case has not yet been resolved. (Farley). Tip Sharing Laws The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits tip sharing with employers (Jones). In 2004, a former Starbucks employee filed a lawsuit against the company stating that it was unfair for Starbucks to let supervisors partake in tips. This class action lawsuit was filed in California and represented over 100,000 employees, including persons who were no longer employed. The California Labor code prohibits employers or agents from receiving any tips for employees if they do not participate in activities resulting in a tip. A San Diego county superior court judge ruled in the plaintiffs favor and awarded them $106 million in restitution. Starbucks appealed the suit on the premise that supervisors perform the same jobs as baristas. They argued supervisors cannot hire, fire, or discipline, which gives them no responsibilities as managers. In 2009, the California Supreme Court reversed the decision, agreeing that supervisors perform the same job as baristas. As a result, the plaintiffs appealed the decision (Jones). Accidental Tea Burns Like most business entities, Starbucks must be aware of negligence laws. Negligence laws vary from state to state. Recently, Starbucks defended itself against a negligence lawsuit over severe burns. The company won the lawsuit in early November of this 2010. A 76 year old woman from New York alleged that Starbucks was responsible for burns that resulted from tea spilling on her leg when she tried to remove the lid. She claims the drink spilled because she had trouble removing the lid since it was placed in a double cup. She also claimed that Starbucks should have warned her that the cup could spill. This is nearly identical to a 1994 case where a woman burned herself with a cup of coffee at McDonalds. The woman in the Starbucks case, however, was unsuccessful with her claim. The 2nd U. S. Court of Appeals did not take long to dismiss the case because the hazards of hot drinks are nothing new and the entire beverage industry uses the double cupping method to allow ease of holding a hot drink (Starbucks). Fair Trade Starbucks is a massive supporter of fair trade when it comes to their products and merchandise. Currently in the U. S, we have many free trade laws which conflict with a fair trade policy. Free trade is a market principle where prices are not artificially tampered with by governments, and both parties in a transaction receive fair profits. Government intervention would include taxes, tariff, price floors and quotas. The U. S. has legislated free trade acts with both North America and Central America (Cornell). Starbucks claims that we hurt farmers in these foreign countries by supporting free trade legislation because we cut down on local farmers’ sales and profits by making the farmer’s product as cheap as possible. Therefore, Starbucks only has fair trade transaction to promote this market practice and to not add to what they think is the problem. They also are outspoken in supporting new fair trade legislation. The problem Starbucks has though is the U. S. cannot act completely in supporting Fair trade because some countries where fair trade exist the U. S. has an embargo upon and Starbucks usually does not have jurisdiction to override foreign countries international trade policies. Still Starbucks claims all of there coffee is bought in a fair trade market (Starbucks). STARBUCKS CONCLUSION Mercedes-Benz: Brief Summary Mercedes-Benz is an international manufacturer of luxury automobiles. The company can trace its origin to the first gasoline powered car by Karl Benz in 1886. Since then, the company has had many mergers and is now owned as a division of Daimler AG. Today Mercedes-Benz has manufacturing plants in 20 countries including one in Vance, Alabama. Mercedes-Benz is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany and manufactures automobiles, buses, and trucks (Mercedes). Vehicle Safety Requirements The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has power under Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations that Mercedes-Benz is required to adhere to. The safety standards are regulations of the minimum safety requirements for motor vehicles. The regulations are enforced so that the motor vehicle operator is protected against crashes caused by Mercedes-Benz negligence and faulty construction or design of the motor. These are just the regulations Mercedes-Benz has to adhere to in the U. S. (Federal Motor Safety). The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a federal lemon law, offers a remedy for car buyers that purchase vehicles which continually fail to comply with quality and performance standards. Lemon laws differ slightly for each state and do not include used or leased cars. Consumer rights provided by the laws may surpass warranties in the purchase contracts because federal law requires that the consumer be made aware of all terms of the warranty, and they must also be aware of their options in the event that something goes wrong. On top of that, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act assures consumers a speedy resolution to any disputes involving the warranty of the automobile (â€Å"Businessperson†). A notable case involving Mercedes began when a 40-year-old man bought an E320 for $56,000 from a Mercedes-Benz dealership in 2005. He claimed the car would not start, and he had to replace the battery numerous times. Finally, a mechanic told him there was nothing more that could be done to save the functionality of his car. He demanded a refund from the dealership, but it offered him a replacement instead. Mercedes-Benz eventually agreed to refund but did not do so within 30 days. The lawsuit was filed seeking double damages and attorneys fees (Lattman). Mercedes-Benz claims that it acted appropriately, stating that the plaintiff acted in bad faith and did not provide his information fast enough for a timely refund. A Wisconsin state judge concluded Mercedes violated Wisconsin’s â€Å"Lemon Law. † As a result, the judge ordered Mercedes-Benz to pay $482,000 (Lattman). Wisconsin’s set of Lemon Laws are more strict than other states (â€Å"Wisconsin Lemon Law†). The ruling here could have forced Mercedes-Benz to pay twice the purchase price and legal fees for breaking the law. However, in 2008, an appeals court overturned the prior ruling and moved for a retrial so a jury could decide whether the plaintiff acted in bad faith. The jury agreed with Mercedes-Benz the verdict was eventually overturned due to a lack of evidence. A judge later ruled in the plaintiff’s favor, even though the plaintiff still drives the car in question to this day. He now says it is working fine but it is wrong Mercedes-Benz sold him a lemon. Price Fixing Price fixing is an arrangement by participants on allied sides of a market to buy or sell only at a secure price, and then to uphold the market’s present situation so that the price stays at its current level, thus giving the parties the ability to control supply and demand. Parties involved in price fixing are known as a cartel. There are many different goals one can achieve through price fixing. Some possible outcomes include raising prices, lowering prices, or maintaining prices to secure a maximum profit for all companies involved. The crucial characteristic of price fixing is any agreement about price regardless of whether the agreement is expressed or implied (Title 15). In the United States, this action can be prosecuted as a federal offense under Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Prosecutions can either be handled by the U. S. Department of Justice or by the FTC. Consumers or organizations can file their own lawsuits for triple damages and also recover attorney’s fees. Colluding on price amongst competitors is also seen as price fixing and is in violation of the Sherman Act. In 2007, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that price fixing by a manufacturer and its retailers is not in violation (Kloset vs. Leegan). In 1999, Mercedes-Benz was accused of price fixing and already had a bad public image due to this previous case (Mercedes). Recently, Mercedes issued a statement saying that the U. S. Department of Justice is investigating allegations that the companys subsidiaries participated in a price-fixing scheme in New York. The 3-year-old lawsuit was filed in New Jersey, by buyers of the cars. The lawsuit claims 27 dealers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and Mercedes-Benz USA conspired since 1992 to artificially maintain prices. The company stated that the allegations were all derived from a single dealer that, due to poor performance, the company had tried to revoke its franchise agreement. (Henry) International Trade Laws As the world becomes a more globalized place, international trade laws are beginning to become more prevalent at all levels of business. However, many laws do not draw from U. S. Code. The World Trade Organization (WTO) regulates international trade (World Trade Organization). One issue of international trade law that Mercedes deals with in the United States is known as â€Å"parallel import. Parallel import occurs when a country imports a product that was originally distributed to that country with a certain price and specifications. In 1981, Mercedes-Benz had planned not to distribute the W126 in the United States because specifications were too costly to meet. The demand for the car caused U. S. consumers to import their own from other countries and pay a large price for the cars to f it the specifications. This increase in demand for these imported cars ended up driving the price of Mercedes-Benz’s other models sky high, which in turn drove demand down immensely. Mercedes estimated that over 22,000 W126 were being parallel imported each year (Mercedes). Labor Laws Mercedes-Benz has to deal with a vast array of labor laws for every country in which it has a plant. In the United States, Title 29 of the U. S. Code is the federal law which establishes labor laws. Labor laws encompass unions, wages, benefits, discrimination, and working conditions. Federal law typically governs basic rights and allows individual states to be more extensive based on their environment. (U. S. Department of Labor). GIVE EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC LAWS IN THIS PARA In Alabama, minimum wage is set at the federal wage of $7. 25 an hour, and hiring and firing is allowed for any reason, as long as it is not based on discrimination. Alabama employees are allowed to join unions, but unions are not as prevalent in Alabama as they are in other States. This is a large reason why Mercedes-Benz decided to create a plant in Vance, Alabama. The company is praised for its compliance to labor laws and did not have to lay off any employee during the recent recession when many car manufacturers had to lay off hundreds of employees (Department of Labor). While Mercedes has a strong track record when it comes to abiding by labor laws, it has faced some problems with its Alabama plant. Employees at the Vance plant are suing on the basis that Mercedes has been violating the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act by not giving some employees their lunch breaks. Over 150 employees are pushing to be repaid with interest for missed overtime due to working during the lunch hour. The employees also allege that Mercedes-Benz has been calling its employees in during their lunch breaks and causing them to miss family time. Mercedes-Benz has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Young hindu boys Essays

Young hindu boys Essays Young hindu boys Essay Young hindu boys Essay Should children be brought up with a religious upbringing? Do you agree? Show that you have considered more than one point of view and refer to another religion in your answer. Many people around the world think that they should bring their children up religiously. There are quite a few reasons for this, mainly because of tradition. The few main reasons have been outlined below; Firstly, if the children are brought up religiously, they will be baptized, and once done so, to keep the baptism promises, parents will enforce and pass down teachings and bible quotations to their children which then are led to believe in god.This is similar to Hinduisms teachings, where the child goes through a special ceremony at birth to welcome god into their lives, thanking them and spending their lives in his debt. Christians have a similar confirmation ceremony which is rather like the thread ceremony for young hindu boys. From an early age, young Christians may go to Sunday school run by the church, where they would learn stories and prayers, and then assume that god exists because the people around the child believe that he does. In Hinduism, it is quite common for younger children to attend Sunday school hosted by the mandir. They are brought up to believe in god so that they may go to heaven after death.Most of the time, children are automatically accepted into their parents religion(s) because when they hear their parents talking about god or praying, they tend to follow in their parents footsteps which then lead them to believe and assume that god exists. As children get older, they are able to attend church which further helps them believe in god. Special festivals such as Christmas are usually celebrated without knowing their background and story, but if children attend church they naturally end up assuming that there are religious reasons behind every festival which end up positively enforcing their beliefs about god. They may also learn these facts through school, their peers and RE lessons. In Hinduism, children are taught about their festivals and nearly every festival has a religious meaning or story behind it, which eventually alters childrens thoughts as they grow older to accompany new religious ideas and beliefs.Finally, daily prayers and offerings are done by both hindu and Christian children which further enforces their beliefs about god. Children that are brought up with a religious upbringing usually believe in heaven, and their parents also believe that after death the body will rest eternally in heaven (or hell, in some cases). I disagree with the question and believe that children should not be brought up with a religious upbringing because they should have their own right to choose how they act and what they believe in.For example, Hindu children are not allowed to eat beef, and may bear a grudge against their parents for forcing them into Hinduism, or any other religion as such. This could lead to major conflicts which could break tradition, but wouldnt have occurred if the child could choose what they wished to be. Without religion, major conflicts which spark wars and other things such as bad behaviour can be prevented.Even if children are brought up in a certain religion they should be able to choose as they get older and have more experience about other religions. Sometimes children are brought up by agnostics, which can help reinforce the childs beliefs. In conclusion, I think that children have a right to believe what they want in life, and steer their lives in the right direction, for who knows whether the path they choose to live may be the right one for them, if not for others, therefore I disagree with the question stated above.

Geography and History of Kashmir

Geography and History of Kashmir Kashmir is a region located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It includes the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Pakistani states of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. The Chinese regions of Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram are also included in Kashmir. Currently, the United Nations refers to this region as Jammu and Kashmir. Until the 19th century, Kashmir geographically included the valley region from the Himalayas to the Pir Panjal mountain range. Today, however, it has been extended to include the aforementioned areas. Kashmir is significant to geographic studies because its status is disputed, which often causes conflict to develop in the region. Today, Kashmir is administered by India, Pakistan and China. Historical Facts About Kashmir Historical documents state that the region of present-day Kashmir was formerly a lake, thus its name is derived from several translations that deal with water. Kaashmir, a term used in the religious text Nilamata Purana, means for example a land desiccated from water. Kashmirs old capital, Shrinagari, was first founded by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka and the region served as a center of Buddhism. In the 9th century, Hinduism was introduced to the area and both religions thrived. In the 14th century, the Mongol ruler, Dulucha invaded the Kashmir region. This ended the Hindu and Buddhist rule of the area and in 1339, Shah Mir Swati became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir. Throughout the rest of the 14th century and into subsequent times, Muslim dynasties and empires successfully controlled the Kashmir region. By the 19th century, though, Kashmir was passed to the Sikh armies that were conquering the area. Beginning in 1947 at the end of Englands rule of India, the Kashmir region was given the choice to become a part of the new Union of India, the Dominion of Pakistan or to remain independent. Around this same time, however, both Pakistan and India attempted to gain control of the area and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 began which lasted until 1948 when the region was partitioned. Two more wars over Kashmir took place in 1965 and 1999. Todays Geography of Kashmir Today, Kashmir is divided among Pakistan, India and China. Pakistan controls the northwestern part, while India controls the central and southern portions and China controls its northeastern areas. India controls the largest portion of land at 39,127 square miles (101,338 sq km) while Pakistan controls an area of 33,145 square miles (85,846 sq km) and China 14,500 square miles (37,555 sq km). The Kashmir region has a total area of about 86,772 square miles (224,739 sq km) and much of it is undeveloped and dominated by large mountain ranges such as the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. The Vale of Kashmir is located between mountain ranges and there are also several large rivers in the region. The most populated areas are Jammu and Azad Kashmir. The main cities in Kashmir are Mirpur, Dadayal, Kotli, Bhimber Jammu, Muzaffrarabad and Rawalakot. Kashmirs Climate Kashmir has a varied climate but in its lower elevations, summers are hot, humid and dominated monsoonal weather patterns, while winters are cold and often wet. In the higher elevations, summers are cool and short, and winters are very long and very cold. Economy Kashmirs economy is mostly made up of agriculture that takes place in its fertile valley areas. Rice, corn, wheat, barley, fruits and vegetables are the main crops grown in Kashmir while lumber  and the raising of livestock also play a role in its economy. In addition, small-scale handicrafts and tourism are important to the area. Ethnic Groups in Kashmir Most of Kashmirs population is Muslim. Hindus also live in the region and the main language of Kashmir is Kashmiri. Tourism In the 19th century, Kashmir was a popular tourist destination because of its topography and climate. Many of Kashmirs tourists came from Europe and were interested in hunting and mountain climbing. Resources and Further Reading How Stuff Works. (n.d.). How Stuff Works Geography of Kashmir. Retrieved from: http://geography.howstuffworks.com/middle-east/geography-of-kashmir.htm