This Cody Free Essays

â€Å"This Cody† Comparison Essay â€Å"What I wanted, I know now, was just to say our son’s name out loud. The crisp â€Å"c† and the rolling â€Å"o† and the slight flick of the tongue for the â€Å"dy†Ã¢â‚¬  (Anderson 5). This quote comes from the story â€Å"This Cody† by Lauri Anderson. We will write a custom essay sample on This Cody or any similar topic only for you Order Now It states how the narrator misses being able to say her sons name for he died not too long ago because he was kidnapped in a park. The husband feels as though his wife is a shame to him and she believes that the reason he does not look at her the same anymore is because the son looked exactly like her. Every time he looks at her face he sees his son and misses him so much. Although the author talks about many different types of scenes that the wife talks about in this story, Lauri Anderson portrays the narrator as a static character. I say she is a fixed character because her beliefs stay the same throughout the entire passage. For instance, she thinks the dam is going to break constantly, she thinks her husband does not love her anymore because it was her fault for their son dying and also she tells the cops three bold face lies about her son. The narrator has dreams about the dam breaking throughout the entire short story. In these dreams, the author has the narrator use imagery to describe her dreams and how intense they were. For example, â€Å"I have dreams about it. They all start the same way. We wake to water two inches deep and the dogs whining, backed into their corners. All night we sweep the water out, but by morning, we’re wading waist-deep in the cold, fishless shallows, filling our buckets† (Anderson 4). The river that used to go through their neighborhood is not being stopped by the dam and the wife gives the river and the dam human characteristics, which is personification, and says that the river is mad and wants to destroy everything that is now in its path. â€Å"What I have learned is that when the river returns, it won’t be the same river. All that time pushing against a wall will make you desperate. All that time, you won’t care about this tidy home or that. If you are the river, you will say, show me a thing I can’t destroy, and if you are the dam, and you are tired of pushing back, you will secretly want to let go† (Anderson 6-7). The narrator also says â€Å"Sometimes I can hear a humming that seems to come from two places at once: from far down the creek and also somewhere inside me, as if the dam is as much aware of me as I am of it. As if I need only to step onto the porch and open my arms† (12). This is an example of personification. The wife thinks that the dam knows as much about her as she knows about the dam. She thinks that the dam is going to spill all of her secrets and make everything worse than what it is now between her husband and herself. The dam is also an example of a symbol because it represents the relationship between the wife and the husband. â€Å"The dam is holding back every drop it was built to contain. Its concrete walls are eight feet thick. It is designed to collapse in and not out† (Anderson 16). All of the lies that she told the police and her husband are hidden behind the dam and the moment that the dam breaks is the moment when the entire world will know that she was selfish. â€Å"I told myself that he was fine, the park was safe. I told myself I deserved a few minutes alone with the sun and with the trees moving overhead† (Anderson 16). She was selfish in thinking that she needed time to rest her eyes in a public place instead of looking out for where her son was and knowing exactly where he was. Instead of thinking he is just in one of his hiding places or sitting on the ground right in front of her, she should have been going everywhere that he went. The wife’s husband did not start getting mad at her and being disgusted with her presence until their son died. The wife lied to the cops three times when their son died so that the blame was not on her and the husband would not leave her. On the day I lost our son, I told three lies. First, I said he had only been missing for fifteen minutes, when it was really more like an hour. Fifteen minutes still sounded hopeful, I thought† (Anderson 6). She thought that the lie would make herself feel better and it did for a while but she eventually started feeling bad about lying to the cops about something that was her fault. â€Å"The second lie I told on that day I lost my son was about a hat. I told the detective he was wearing one-a blue baseball cap with an orange fish on the front. I said this because it was a hot day, nearly ninety degrees in the city, and when we arrived at the park, I saw all of the kids were wearing hats and even tiny pairs of glasses† (Anderson 10-11). The wife did not want to seem like a bad mother because she lost her own son, although later it would be established that she was, so she lied to the cops about her own son wearing a hat and watched the man write it down on his notepad without even flinching or showing regret on her face. There were a number of things that the narrator confesses to the audience about what she did not tell the cops at the end of the story. I’ve never said that I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I’ve never said that that I’d forgotten my sunglasses, and that the sun threw dappled shadows on my eyelids. No one knows that for maybe half an hour before I faded into sleep, I listened to my son playing nearby with another child, the sound like birds chasing each other in the treesà ¢â‚¬  (Anderson 15). This quote is an example of dramatic irony in that the husband does not know that it was the wife’s fault for their son being kidnapped. We the audience knows that she was the reason that her son was stolen at a park and kidnapped and had God know what done to him. The narrator also uses imagery to show how much the husband changed the way he looked and how different and difficult her life is now that their son died. â€Å"Some days I don’t recognize him. He’s grown out his beard, and the paunch I so lovingly stroked is now all muscle, his abdominals like flat stones stacked atop one another† (Anderson 4). The narrator’s husband changed the way he looked after the death. â€Å"I’m different two. Our dogs, two purebred Heelers Brian insisted we buy to go with our new life, won’t come when I call. The chickens peck my head when I reach for the eggs. The garden dies all at once, overnight. Last night, I found a scorpion on my pillow, his dancer’s arms poised to strike† (Anderson 4). This quote states how much the place that she is living now does not like her and she feels as though they are all out to get her, including her own husband. The author of the story â€Å"This Cody†, Lauri Anderson, uses different types of figurative language and imagery to portray the narrator as a static character. The wife is constantly thinking that the dam is going to break and all of her secrets will be revealed to her husband and the rest of the world and she everyone would know how bad of a mother she is. Throughout the story the narrator believes that her husband does not love her anymore because he blames her for his son’s death. He can not stand to look at her for their son looked exactly like her and every time he looks at her he sees his dead son. Also she continuously tells lies to the police and her husband about their son and what really happened that day at the park when he went missing. Works Cited Anderson, Lauri. â€Å"This Cody. † The Greensboro Review. 91. Spring (2012) : 4-16. Print. How to cite This Cody, Essay examples

Marketing Strategy of Tesla Model S

Question: Write about theMarketing Strategy of Tesla Model S. Answer: Introduction Tesla Motors was found by Elon Musk in the year 2003. Its main goal was to encourage the creation of electric cars and to make affordable vehicles. The CEO, Elon Musk, has a straight vision and used his skills to perfect the vehicle so far. The companys first car was Roadster which brought the electric innovation in the sedan segment with good pricing point. In the year 2012, they came up with the vehicle Tesla Model S. They brought it under the premium sedan segment. They chose to innovate and to create the best car with every generation. The aim was to popularize the use of electric cars so that non-renewable source of energy can be saved and focus can be given to use more and more renewable source of energy. The objective is to make our planet Earth a Green Planet by the year 2025. The company has been working hard and till now, 3 more cars have come into existence with all being the electric cars. They have now expanded from making 400 cars per year to a total of 400 cars per wee k now. The dedication of the team working at Tesla is praiseworthy. Also, the marketing of the cars has been done in a great manner to lure customers who have money and can support the good cause behind this electric car1. Summary of Tesla Product Model S The Model S is a result of Tesla's endeavors to put up a completely electric extravagance vehicle for sale to the public that has zero bargain. They have possessed the capacity to do this in view of their imaginative thoughts and dedication towards electric source for car. They always ask the question to themselves as Why not?" Why does an effective auto must be slow and uglier? Individuals that help the planet ought to be compensated, not punished. Model S has various advantages that fill in as strategic offers. Even more imperatively, it is for nothing out of pocket and returns overabundance charge again into the electric grid2. The Tesla Model S was one of the initial Electric cars which came into the market in the year 2012. It gradually got to be known for its superb performance along with the facilities and features which are inbuilt in the car. The wide reach of the car and growing popularity made Tesla continue its work in the current manner and further they went ahead in the launch of newer generations of Tesla Model S year after year. Thus, the car has received great appreciation from majority of the other automobile companies and from users worldwide. In the coming sections, we are going to check out the target market of Model S, Competitors of the car, its marketing mix and some more details. Targeting of Model S The Target market of Model S is to target the high society businessmen who are educated and with green thinking, with yearly pay over $150,000. Since, the Model S has an additional seat functionality and can load up to 7 individuals, they need to concentrate on families. Incorporated into the family class would be individuals who have not yet begun a family but rather are looking to later. Families are worried with security and execution. High society families are additionally worried with style and extravagance when looking for an auto. By isolating the objective showcasing into two sections, the father and the mother, they can unmistakably perceive how Tesla fits splendidly to take care of their issues when looking for an auto3. San Carlos, California-based Tesla as of now offers the Roadster electric car. The cost of the Roadster has restricted people to purchase it very easily. Only a few of the Hollywood stars managed to purchase the pricy car. The aim of the Tesla is to reduce the cost of the vehicle generation by generation to bring a car in the market which upper middle calls people can also afford. Musk stated that Tesla is determined to make the car "as reasonable as could reasonably be expected." He anticipates that the auto will speak to purchasers of mid-range to premium cars. Tesla arrangements to accomplish the 20,000 auto yearly rate about a year in the wake of going into generations. The organization hopes to get financing from the Department of Energy this year to bolster the Model S program. The Model S is comparable in size to different cars, yet it gloats an extremely inclined rooftop to make it more streamlined and guarantee its all-electric range4. Availability of Model S Tesla manufactures the Model S in Fremont, California. It acquired a factory which was once developed by the joint force of Toyota and General Motors. Currently, it is known as Tesla Factory. The site was bought at a rate of US $ 42 Million by Tesla. The deal occurred in the year 2010. Tesla has a distribution center in Tilburg, Netherlands from where it caters to the market of Europe. Near Tilburg, lies the Rotterdam Port which helps in further distribution of the cars manufactured to various geographic regions. This center is also used as a warehouse to store extra inventory of materials as well as finished goods5. Tesla, after the launch of Model S, started to roll out the vehicle in many major markets. After getting a good response in America, it went on to cater to the markets of Europe as well. The response was very good all over and the company wanted to expand further. It is also going to launch its car in some days in India. India can be a major market where it can rollout the newly launched vehicles. India is a major market in automobiles sector. The demand for premium cars is increasing and this is the correct time to enter Indian market. Tesla declared the launch of its new generation Tesla Model S in Spain in the year 2017 as a part of the plan to launch expansion in Western Europe. Other Products in Teslas Product Line The Product Line of the Tesla Motors includes the former Roadster series, Model S, Model X and the newly introduced Model 3. There are many more future models in the pipeline. The company started with the Tesla Roadster which was priced very high. The main vision of Tesla is to provide affordable cars with clean energy to every household6. His aim is to make cars affordable in every generation of new car. The revenue of one model will cover for most costs of next model and will make the cars less expensive. The Model S was introduced in 2012 which marked the success for Tesla. After that, the company never looked back. The success of Model S led way for entry of Model X and now the Model 3 in the year 2016. All the models of Tesla have attracted many new customers due to its stylish look and creative positioning. The all electric car has also made a point for themselves in saving energy. Competitors of Tesla S There are many competitors of Tesla once it began production of Electric Cars. Many major auto manufacturers have come up with their own Electric Cars. The popular among them to enter this segment of vehicle are Audi, Porsche, BMW etc. The primary competition of Tesla S was with Audi A7, Porsche Panamera, BMW 5-series etc. The other brands were providing tough competition to Tesla however, the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, was determined to provide affordable cars to people generation by generation. So, he continued towards his vision and never looked back (Mangfram, 2012). This helped him to overcome the competition in later years with new generation of Tesla Model S. Marketing Mix Product The Tesla Model was introduced in the year 2012 and has seen many new variants of the same car every year till the newest one on the year 2017. This car is very sturdy and all electric. Place The car has already been successful in American and European markets. Their plan is to launch the new models of the car worldwide. Price The Price of Model S is at a bit of higher end. However, the company plans to bring it down with every new generation. Promotion The company is targeting the rich folks with the initial models thereby laying down a road to reach middle class folks with its newer generation. Tesla Cars Specialty The vision of mission of Elon Musk for his company Tesla Motors was simple enough to provide every home with an affordable car running in clean energy. The company started with the Tesla Roadster which was priced very high7. The main vision of Tesla is to provide affordable cars with clean energy to every household. His aim is to make cars affordable in every generation of new car. The revenue of one model will cover for most costs of next model and will make the cars less expensive. The premium looking cars with top notch features running in fully clean energy is the dream that Tesla made true. This is the specialty of Teslas cars. Product Life Cycle Stage Every Product goes through a four stage Product Life Cycle. These includes the Introduction, Growth, Maturity and Decline. The Tesla Model S, when introduced in the year 2012 was in the first stage of Product Life Cycle. Over the years, it has grown and has created a market position for itself. Currently, it is in its Maturity stage with new models coming in from Tesla. Despite new models in the lineup, Tesla Model S remains the best buy for many customers8. Any Improvement Recommendation for the Product The company is working on the vision to provide affordable cars running on clean energy to everyone. This aim is one of major thing that world believes in. The cars made by Tesla have all the modern facilities and features equipped into it. However, they can try to bring in more features which will be helping the differently abled people as well to have a feel of their cars by sitting behind its wheels. The Tesla Motors can come up with some variants for differently abled persons so that they are not left out of the persona of Tesla Motors. Conclusion The vision of mission of Elon Musk for his company Tesla Motors was simple enough to provide every home with an affordable car running in clean energy9. The company started with the Tesla Roadster which was priced very high. The Teslas Product Line consists of the former Roadster series, Model S, Model X and the newly introduced Model 3. There are many more future models in the pipeline. The premium looking cars with top notch features running in fully clean energy is the dream that Tesla made true. Many major auto manufacturers have come up with their own Electric Cars. The popular among them to enter this segment of vehicle are Audi, Porsche, BMW etc. The primary competition of Tesla S was with Audi A7, Porsche Panamera, BMW 5-series etc. However, Tesla has always tried to win over the competition. References Bohnsack R, Pinkse J, Kolk A. Business models for sustainable technologies: Exploring business model evolution in the case of electric vehicles. Research Policy. 2014 Mar 31;43(2):284-300. Carlson WB. Tesla: Inventor of the electrical age. Princeton University Press; 2013 May 7. Hardman S, Shiu E, Steinberger-Wilckens R. Changing the fate of Fuel Cell Vehicles: Can lessons be learnt from Tesla Motors?. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2015 Jan 30;40(4):1625-38. Karamitsios A. Open innovation in EVs: A case study of Tesla Motors. Mangram ME. The globalization of Tesla Motors: a strategic marketing plan analysis. Journal of Strategic Marketing. 2012 Jul 1;20(4):289-312. Morrish SC, Miles MP, Deacon JH. Entrepreneurial marketing: acknowledging the entrepreneur and customer-centric interrelationship. Journal of Strategic Marketing. 2010 Jul 1;18(4):303-16. Rothaermel FT. Strategic management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2015. Seireeni R. The gort cloud: the invisible force powering today's most visible green brands. Chelsea Green Publishing; 2010 Jul 15. Sortomme E, El-Sharkawi MA. Optimal charging strategies for unidirectional vehicle-to-grid. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. 2011 Mar;2(1):131-8.

Criteria For Heroes Essays - Greek Mythology, Mythology, Literature

Criteria for Heroes The ancient Greeks had strict criteria for individuals to follow if they were to be seen as heroes. Above all, a man needed to be a skilled warrior, but this was not the only requirement. To be a hero, a warrior had to respect authority, both governmental and religious. The Greeks gave heroes no room for pride. These men were to be modest, not only giving credit to their culture and the gods for any great deeds they had done, but also accepting everything that happened as Fate, not scenarios they had created for themselves. In other words, they did not make themselves what they were; rather, they had been predestined to become it. The final requirement of being a hero was coolness. Heroes were not permitted to be blinded by rage or have mood swings. In The Iliad, two Greeks are presented to the reader as heroes. They are Achilles and Diomedes. Although they are both good contenders for the title of hero, Diomedes is by far the better of the two. Diomedes is one of the finest and brav est of the Greek warriors. He is respectful to all authority figures and has little or no pride. Always wise and reasonable, he may be the vision of the perfect nobleman. Both Achilles and Diomedes easily meet the first requirement, that a hero must have skill on the battlefield. Throughout The Iliad, Homer tells of their incredible (though usually god-aided) feats during the many battles of the Trojan War. Perhaps the greatest example of Achilles? fighting skill is when he fights with and kills Hector, the greatest of the Trojan warriors (260-261). However, this fight may have never happened if Athena had not disguised herself as one of Hector?s brothers and convinced him to fight (260). That was not enough though, as Athena then helped Achilles win the fight (260-261). This seems to be the case with all of Achilles? battles. A god, goddess, or gods help him in battle by strengthening and encouraging him and his men, or they rally a Trojan army into entering a futile final battle. Diomedes is also guilty of receiving help from the gods. After praying for Athena?s aid, Diomedes proceeds to not only slay Pandaros (who wounded him earlier) and many othe r Trojans, but also wound Aeneas in his hip and his mother Aphrodite in her hand (60-64). Later on in the same battle, Diomedes thrusts his spear through the belly of Ares, also done with the help of Athena (73). Another example of Diomedes skill comes when he and Odysseus spy on the Trojan camp. Diomedes goes ahead of Odysseus and strikes down so many Trojans that ?the ground was reddened with blood? (124). Even before this, Diomedes prayed again to Athena for help. It seems no Greek warrior could fight their own battles; instead, they requested help from the gods. This fact makes it difficult to discern the better fighter between Achilles and Diomedes, but the common choice would probably be Achilles because of his legendary status and he was the son of an immortal. Achilles fails miserably at respecting anyone in authority, whether governmental or religious. He not only disrespects King Agamemnon?s authority, but also the goddess Athena herself. This lack of respect begins when Achilles calls an assembly of the Greeks, something only Agamemnon was able to do (12). He then proceeds to insult the king, telling him he is greedy, shameless, a cheater, and a drunk (14-15). To top it off, Achilles contemplates drawing his sword to strike down Agamemnon, and is only stopped by Athena grabbing his hair (14-15). (Needless to say, killing the leader of your nation would be the ultimate act of disrespect to the government.) Although he does so badly with respect for government authority, Achilles has no problem respecting human religious authority, only because he has no encounters with priests, prophets, and etceteras. However, he does show some disrespect to Athena for stopping his murder of King Agamemnon. Instead of following the goddess? orders whole -heartedly, he does it quite reluctantly and talks back in the process (15). Diomedes is the opposite of Achilles in the area of respect and demonstrates a great

Akindele Owolabi Essays (1145 words) - Racism, Identity Politics

Akindele Owolabi Essays (1145 words) - Racism, Identity Politics Akindele Owolabi Nikongo Ba'Nikongo The African Experience in film November 28, 2015 Racism in the Americas and Africa Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. Racism has been especially prevalent in Africa and in the Americas for the past few decades. In the Americas, Blacks have been discriminated against and attacked because of their color. Even though blacks are originally from Africa, the same discrimination and general mistreatment has been done there as well. Racism has affected the lives of blacks through violence, through acting as a unifying force, and through perpetuating poverty. Throughout history, blacks have been victims at the hands of violence for decades. "Cry Freedom" depicts that experience in Africa. The movie "Cry Freedom" is essentially about the fight against apartheid from the perspective of a journalist Donald Woods and it also shows the highlights of Steve Biko's life. Steve Biko was one of the many South Africans that were jailed, beaten, tortured, killed during the apartheid era. Also depicted in the film, when blacks went to riot in front of the police against the unfair laws of apartheid, they were attacked with pepper spray and if they continued to riot, were sometimes shot on site. Police spared no one; men, women, and children were all shot mercilessly. This these actions by the police were also displayed in the motion picture a "Dry White season". Gordon Ngubene, the son of an all white school teacher's gardener, was beaten then captured and tortured by the local police. In the Americas, violence was definitely an experience blacks had to deal with due to racism. The film Mississippi burning displayed violence during the Civil Right movement as three Civil Rights workers, who were organizing a voter registry clinic, went missing in Mississippi's Jessup County. While the FBI are still investigating the murders, the Ku Klux Klan, with help from the police, target the frightened African-Americans, brutally torturing them and setting their houses on fire. In the motion picture Malcolm X directed by Spike Lee, there was a brief part in the beginning of the film that showed Malcolm's life as a young child in Omaha, Nebraska. His family's home was set on fire and his father was killed by the Klu Klux Klan causing him and his siblings to become wards of the state. A last example of violence due to racism is in the fictional movie "Higher learning". Deja, the young collegiate track star for Columbus University, was killed by a fellow classmate/white supr emacist Remy in his attempts to terrorize the blacks on campus and to show his Aryan Brothers that he was a true white supremacist. These are just a few of many other examples that shows how racism towards Blacks causes violence and in some cases leads to death. Although racism has exacerbated violence and other negative things, it has created a sense of unity in black communities. A prime example of that is in the film Malcolm X. The black men of Malcolm's community came together and were unified through Islam. Although later on conflicts occurred within the nation of Islam, at the moment, it gave the blacks in his community a sense of hope and purpose and encouraged them throughout their conflicts with the whites. In South Africa their bravery and unity helped them in their peaceful protests and sometimes riots. The Africans came together in their community whenever they were about to go protest in front of the police. Although they knew some of them would be attacked and killed by the police, they were still unified because of the strong passion they had for the elimination of the apartheid era. On the campus of Columbus University in "higher learning", the black students also came together. They met to bring up matters that concerned them such as not feeling like their school is a safe environment and the discrimination from their campus police and some of their fellow classmates that were in the white Fraternities and Sororities. Racism can create a sense of unity force. Throughout history humans have always come together in hard times for encouragement and support of one another. In

MCH Programs and Policies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MCH Programs and Policies - Assignment Example y contraceptives were safe for use and a litigation by over 60 women and medical groups’ in 2001 forced FDA to approve emergency contraceptives for use over-the-counter for all women. Thereafter, various state government established laws that allowed sale of emergency contraceptives without a doctor’s prescription but in 2011, the Obama administration restricted access to those under 17 years (Center for Reproductive Rights, 2015). The policy has improved economic welfare of many women. They are not inconvenienced by unwanted pregnancies, although it has not reduced the risk of acquiring sexual infections. Religious groups believe plan B causes abortion while but researchers prove it prevents implantation. Emergency contraceptives have reduced agony and suffering from women who previously had to seek abortion services after unprotected sex. College girls no longer drop out of school due to unwanted pregnancy inconveniences (Glasier & Baird, 1998). Drug manufacturers, women rights group, FDA and religious groups have vested interests the bill. Drug manufactures, would want it approved for use by all without restrictions. Women groups find it a right violation and medical groups such as pediatric associations believe that it important because it reduces the cost of unwanted pregnancies and the risk of complications during delivery and late abortions. Religious groups find it immoral. The FDA and government find that people are likely to abuse the drugs (Culp-Ressler, 2013; Faà ºndes, Tavara, Brache, & Alvarez, 2007). Culp-Ressler, T. (2013). Judge Rules Emergency Contraception Should Be Available To All Women Over The Counter. Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/05/1826411/judge-plan-b-over-counter/ Faà ºndes, A., Tavara, L., Brache, V., & Alvarez, F. (2007). Emergency contraception under attack in Latin America: response of the medical establishment and civil society. Reproductive Health Matters, 15(29),

Review of the Service Setting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Review of the Service Setting - Essay Example The organization also sells various types of confectionary as well as pastry items along with equipment for coffee such as coffee beans, travel mugs and other such coffee related items. The company has further grown and ventured into several other options such as selling its coffee beans in retail stores operated under the name of Starbucks. Moreover, Starbucks also produces premium quality ice cream along with Frappuccino as a labeled specialty drink through its subsidiary parties. In addition, Starbucks has a sister concern by the name of Tazo Tea Company that sells premium quality tea products in retail. Starbucks works under the premise that each country and each neighborhood should know the name of Starbucks and associate it with positive feelings particularly towards the food products that the company sells. The paper will focus primarily on the customer service elements of Starbucks coffee retail outlets that focus on selling hot and cold coffee drinks along with food items su ch as pastry items (History of Starbucks, 2003). Review of the Service Setting Starbucks is a global organization with its retail outlets in a large number of countries across the world. The root of success for Starbucks has primarily been the quality of service it provides to its customers, which has helped the company to gain loyal consumers in the longer term. The channels that Starbucks uses are critical in developing a holistic customer experience thus gaining the company loyal customers (History of Starbucks, 2003). As a customer, the service experience that I had with Starbucks included several elements including a greeting, listening to my order and noting down the details about what I specifically wanted, and providing me with the service and my coffee with a smile wishing me a good day. As a customer I believe this was very important because it made me feel that they were taking time out to understand my order and make me feel involved and a part of Starbucks. Verheof et a l. (2009) believe that retail stores particularly service related retail stores consider service quality towards consumers extremely important because it helps in keeping customers involved, allowing for a stronger customer base that can bring in larger amounts of revenue. Management of customer experience is now becoming part of organizations’ longer term vision and mission because products, channels and services can become brands with their own personality through effective management of this customer experience (Michelli, 2007; Badgett, Boyce & Kleinberger, 2007). Frow and Payne (2007) suggest that the effective management of customer experience is through exceptional customer service and this can only be done if the correct touch points of the customer are managed effectively. At this point, the Starbucks staff tried to greet me nicely and wished me a good day which I felt was important as not many people are inclined towards it; as most people are too busy with their wor k. Thus I feel that Starbucks did cover some of the touch points which are important to a customer. The key touch points of the customer’s experience have to be noted for each scenario in case of a service setting and then targeted in such a manner that the customer experience can be enhanced positively towards the service or retail brand. Starbucks is one such popular example that many scholars and authors (Enquist et al., 2007; Fang & Yu, 2009) try to

The Kalabagh Dam Consequences

The Kalabagh Dam Consequences The Kalabagh dam is controversial for many reasons. A key reason has to do with the decision making process, which is highly centralized, politically coercive, and technically flawed. Regrettably, when the need is for broad-based stakeholder consultations, the existing trend is towards even greater centralization. For instance, the rotating chairmanship of the Indus River System Authority has recently been converted into a permanent appointment, provincial resolutions against Kalabagh have been given short shrift, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) has consistently ignored the matter and community concerns continue to be met with blatant disregard. Small wonder then that the political leadership in the smaller provinces and civil society are up in arms against Kalabagh. In this essay, we critically examine four contested aspects of the Kalabagh dam. These relate to: water availability; environmental impacts; food and energy; and technical and financial feasibility. The work of colleagues is gratefully acknowledged. Water availability is an over riding concern. Is surplus water available to justify the Kalabagh project? WAPDA itself the generic source has sown confusion on this issue. It cites two average flow figures: 123 MAF (million acre-feet) and 143 MAF. The first calculation is based on a 64-year period (1922-1996) and includes both wet and dry cycles. The second estimate is based on a much shorter and wet cycle period of 22 years (1977-1994). Since the total requirement (inclusive of the additional allocation of 12 MAF under the 1991 Water Accord), is calculated at 143 MAF, there is a clear short fall of 20 MAF if we use the first estimate. This means Kalabagh may remain dry every 4 out of 5 years. Even the higher flow figure (143 MAF) overlooks certain factors. The first of these is system (evaporation and seepage) losses. If such losses increased from 6.2 MAF post Mangla to 14.7 MAF post-Tarbela, presumably, they will be even higher post-Kalabagh. This would have adverse implications for inter-provincial water distribution. New irrigation infrastructure appears untenable in view of these losses, since the increased upstream off-takes would be at the expense of downstream flows. This concern is also ignored when presenting Kalabagh as a replacement for Tarbela. Tarbela is projected to lose 5.3 MAF of its storage capacity by the year 2010. Since Kalabagh would, essentially, be replacing this loss, the Right and Left Bank canals would divert even more of Sindhs allocations than they presently are. In addition, illegal off-takes would also tend to be exacerbated. Consider now the environmental implications of constructing yet another large dam on the Indus River ecosystem. A catalogue of existing degradation provides the context for future environmental impacts of dams like Kalabagh. Degradation of the Indus delta ecosystem, as a result of reduced water outflows, is already a highly visible phenomenon. The present level of silt discharge, estimated at 100 million tons per year, is a four-fold reduction from the original level before large dams were constructed on the River Indus. The combination of salt-water intrusion (some reports show this as 30 km inland), and reduced silt and nutrient flows has changed the character of the delta considerably. The area of active growth of the delta has reduced from an original estimate of 2,600 sq. km (growing at 34 meters per year) to about 260 sq. km. The consequent ravages to the ecosystem have been exceptionally severe, in particular to the mangroves, which are its mainstay. They sustain its fisheries, act as natural barriers against sea and storm surges, keep bank erosion in check and are a source of fuel wood, timber, fodder and forest products, a refuge for wildlife and a potential source of tourism. Without mangroves and the nutrients they recycle and the protection they provide, other components of the ecosystem would not survive. The direct and indirect benefits of mangroves are enormous. In 1988, Pakistan earned Rs.2.24 billion from fish exports, of which shrimps and prawns constituted 72%. Additional income is generated from fuelwood, fodder and forest products was another Rs.100/- million. Not only is this revenue at risk from mangrove loss, but the physical infrastructure required to replace the natural protection provided by the mangroves (dykes, walls) would entail enormously high capital and maintenance costs. The health of mangroves is directly linked to fresh water inflows. Releases below Kotri barrage in most years and excluding floods average 10 MAF. Of this, little or none actually reaches the mangroves. The rest is lost due to evaporation or diversions. According to the Sindh Forestry Department, about 27 MAF is required to maintain the existing 260,000 ha. of mangroves in reasonably healthy condition. This is 27 MAF more than currently available, a situation which has contributed to ecosystem instability and mangrove loss. Within the framework of the Indus Water Accord, an additional 12 MAF would be diverted for upstream dam construction including Kalabagh. This would reduce existing sub-optimal flows further and aggravate an already critical situation. A community of about 100,000 people, residing on the northern side of the Indus Delta, depends on the mangroves for their livelihood. The prevailing view is that being under privileged, such communities are prone to degrade their environment. However, it is difficult to fathom why poor communities should endanger the very basis of their existence. The more likely explanation is that community practices have not changed, but they appear unsustainable because the resource base has begun to degrade. Communities are more often the victims than the agents of such degradation are. The real culprits are water diversion; biological and chemical water contamination and large-scale commercial practices, compounded both by institutional ignorance and complicity in such practices. Mangrove loss is only one among the many manifestations of biodiversity deficits emerging along the entire length of the Indus River ecosystem. The ecosystem has been severely fragmented over time by its extensive network of dams, canals and barrages, resulting in threats to a variety of species and organisms, the most notable among them being the Indus dolphin and the palla fish. Both can be classified as indicator species, as their impending loss represents the loss of a way of life, characterized by interdependence between communities and their environment. Another myth firmly embedded in the minds of our planners is that large dams are the perfect flood prevention devices. The evidence for Pakistan shows otherwise; that its large dams not withstanding, there has been no reduction in the incidence and intensity of floods nor in the associated losses in lives, crops, livestock and infrastructure. There is no seeming pattern to the floods other than the fact that they could have coincided with wet cycles. In actual fact, the severity of flood impacts appears to have increased after the two major dams, Tarbela and Mangla, were constructed. In actual fact, the shrinking of the riverbeds due to water diversions reduces their absorptive capacity and hence enhances the danger of flooding. River ecosystems have a natural capacity to deal with floods and these natural processes provide many benefits. Flood plains, wetlands, backwaters are commonly referred to as natures sponges; they absorb and purify excess water as a hedge against lean periods. They act as spawning grounds for fish and wildfowl. The floods themselves replenish agricultural soils. Communities living around these areas adapt to this natural rhythm and use its bounty to ensure reliable and sustainable livelihoods. It has also been pointed out that dams dont prevent floods, they merely create flood threat transfer mechanisms. The solution is to work with communities, rely on their knowledge and to supplement their flood mitigation and coping strategies. Two of the most commonly cited arguments in favor of large dams relate to food security and energy. Such arguments have become increasingly compelling in the light of perceived threats to food security and the recent furor surrounding the private power projects. We examine both of these arguments in turn. Additional water from Kalabagh can enhance crop production in three ways: by irrigating new land; by enhancing cropping intensity on existing land; or through yield enhancement. The first option appears tenuous. It is claimed that Kalabagh will irrigate close to an additional million hectares of barren land, and bring Pakistan closer to wheat self-sufficiency. However, the reports of the National Commission on Agriculture and the National Conservation Strategy suggest otherwise. They indicate that available cultivable land is almost fully utilized, leaving little scope for extensive cultivation. Between 1952 and 1977, about 80% of the increase in total cropped area was due to the cu ltivation of new land. Since then, this proportion has fallen dramatically, with double cropping accounting for the bulk of the increase. The reports suggest that in addition to the water constraint a very tangible land constraint exists as well. Crop production can also be increased through cropping intensity increases or crop yield enhancements. Both are water dependent and establish an a priori justification for Kalabagh. The NCS report states that at present 12.2 million hectares of land are available for double cropping while only 4.4 million hectares are being double cropped clearly water is the constraining factor. With respect to yield enhancements, water is again required in large quantities by the high yielding seed varieties (wheat, cotton, rice, maize) and for its synergetic effects upon chemical inputs. However, a critical choice needs to be made here. Does one opt for additional water, or can the same results be achieved through improved water use efficiency? Higher water retention in the system risks aggravating an already massive problem of water logging and salinity. In fact, the controversial and exorbitantly expensive ($780 million), 25-year National Drainage Plan project has been launched to mitigate its impacts. Kalabagh is bound to add to the problem, not only in its immediate environs but also where new irrigation infrastructure is to be situated. A clearly preferred choice is to use existing water more efficiently, and to focus on the necessary institutional changes for its equitable distribution. Some of the proposed measures are canal and watercourse rehabilitation, land leveling, improved on-farm water management and, at the policy level, switching demand based management while protecting the needs of the poor small farmers. These are clearly win-win solutions as they are relatively low cost, efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly. After the recent commotion over private power, the government began to hype up Kalabagh as an alternative source of cheap and clean energy. In the process, it switched adroitly from its earlier position that energy demand had been overstated, to one where it now posits a deficiency in supply. However, the cheap energy argument is becoming increasingly untenable both financially and technically. Donors such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are unlikely to provide concessional funding for Kalabagh. This reflects their commitment to the thermal based private power projects, as well as the censure they have faced for getting embroiled in projects with major environmental and resettlement costs. And even if concessional funding was available, it is still not clear that hydel unit costs would be lower than thermal, once these costs are factored in. At this point, the whole debate appears to be moot since the government is scampering for funds to keep the economy afloat against the backdrop of sanctions. Even so, renewed policy statements suggest there is a resolve to proceed when the situation permits. Apart from the political compulsions, there is an inertial aspect to this decision as well. Institutional and financial paralysis inhibits the scope for energy conservation, efficiency improvements and diversification. The options have been identified often enough: on the supply side these are reduction of transmission and distribution (TD) losses and renewable energy development technologies (solar, wind, biomass). On the demand side, both technical and economic options exist for energy conservation. While these have been employed to some extent (tariff increases, energy efficient lighting), the efforts are a far cry from the kind of sustained initiatives launched in some South Asian countries, such as Thailand, where revamped e nergy supply systems are part of a larger network, with linkages to RD, the private sector and trade facilities. The title of a study Tarbela Dam Sedimentation Management, carried out by TAMS-Wallingford (March 1998) is self-explanatory. It shows that a de-silted Tarbela would yield the same irrigation benefits as Kalabagh, but at one-seventh the cost in net present value terms. The study states that, replacement of [irrigation and energy] benefits by constructing a new dam and reservoir down stream is feasible, but will be expensive, environmentally damaging and socially harmful. An alternative option cited is the construction of new outlets at the Tarbela Dam that will enable sediment to be flushed from the reservoir. The proposed Tarbela Action Plan is based on computer simulations of sediment flows. These simulations were designed to determine whether flushing was technically feasible and could be used to enhance long run storage capacity and to predict future sedimentation. Based on these simulations, a three phased action plan was proposed. The implementation of this plan would ensure long term and sustainable storage with only a small annual reduction in capacity. The estimated increase in retention at 6 MAF is exactly what the Kalabagh reservoir is designed to hold. Our conclusion is that the burden of proof is on those who advocate building the Kalabagh Dam. Our findings show that it is not economically, socially or environmentally viable. Also, the proposed benefits are based on faulty or misunderstood premises and, in any case, there exist in each case more viable and cost effective alternatives.