A comparison of Fluvial and Glacial Sediments (deposits) In the Glen Rosa area of Arran

The aim of my investigation is to ‘compare the Fluvial and Glacial sediments in the Glen Rosa area'. I will use a variety of experiments and methods to collect my results. My investigation will be based on proving these hypotheses are correct. I hope to show that: * Fluvial sediment will be generally smaller than glacial sediment. * Fluvial sediment will be more rounded than glacial sediment. To provide evidence of these hypotheses I will look at river sediment on the fluvial slip off slope and compare it with that of a glacial deposit in the form of a terminal moraine. Slip off slope; The slip off slope Terminal moraine; I will also be considering; The difference in B Axis length, Roundness, Sediment composition and Sorting. I expect the glacial deposits to be more angular than that of the fluvial deposits because the rate of erosion is different. In fluvial erosion the rocks are in constant erosion from frequently colliding (attrition) with other rock material. I would expect more edges of the rock to be rounded because the chances are they would have been knocked off. The glaciated deposits however, I would expect to be more angular because they collide less. I am going to collect a range of results which will hopefully provide evidence that my theories are correct. To collect these results I will: * Use appropriate methods to measure and accurately record my results to prove my hypothesis correct. I will measure the length of a slip off slope (and moraine vertically if possible). The length divided by twenty, will be the length of the intervals for my measurements. At each interval I will proceed to measure these factors. I. Roundness II. Orientation III. Length of the B axis. (stone width) By doing this I will collect sufficient evidence to support or disprove my hypothesis from the results. I am going to use twenty readings to give me an accurate sample of the whole geographical feature. Points to note: Glen Rosa is a NTS area – conservation issues do not allow us to move scenery – including rocks. This could be a limiting factor as we may not be able to locate all the results we need. And to what extent do we measure sediment? After all a grain of dirt is a form of sediment, but is it practical to measure a grain of dirt? My project also involves considering how glacial and fluvial deposits vary in: * Sorting (division into coarse, medium and fine sizes). * And the orientation of the B axis. * And composition ( rock type ) The orientation is the alignment of the B axis. River deposits are measured on a slip off slope and glacial deposits in a terminal moraine, with the following expectations: * Water borne sediment will be sorted into size categories, the largest material being dumped upstream first, (upstream where the water flow is strongest) and the finest last (downstream where the flow is weakest). Glacial deposits however will be dumped irregularly because they ‘melt out' of the ice. * River sediment will have been rounded by river transport and attrition whereas glacial sediment, having only travelled a sort distance, will be angular. And slip off slope deposits will lie with their B axis at right angles to the flow of the river whereas glacial deposits are thought to lie in the ice with their A axis parallel to the direction of flow. Risk assessment. The axis of a rock are as follows: The A axis (Length of rock) The B axis (Width of rock) The C axis (Depth of the rock) Apparatus needed for my investigation: * Callipers * Compass clinometer * A water-proof notebook/pad * A pencil * Hand lens * Sorting chart * Powers Roundness index * Measuring tape – 20m length * Camera (to record locations and to provide secondary evidence) * Map to find location and note grid references Note Because I was working in a group and am collecting data for the group it is imperative that each of us has their own role and each must keep to that role. This is because the sake of a fair test. For example, If I read the callipers at the start I must read them throughout because the others eyesight and judgment may not be the same as mine, so if each person continues to do one job their judgment will not be too diverse. I am going to collect my evidence to prove my theory by doing thus: I. Firstly I am going to assess the possible location of a moraine and a slip off slope. II. Secondly I am going to travel to the Glen Rosa valley area. III. Then I will proceed to go to the site and take photographs. IV. I will measure the article in question by using a transect of the slip off slope/ terminal moraine. V. Then I will collect the evidence I need by accurately measuring and recording my results. I shall be looking at the ; a. Roundness b. Orientation c. Length of the B axis. I will measure the transect by measuring a point across the hole moraine / slip off slope and divide it by 20.The results from that then apply to the collecting of the samples, at each interval one should proceed to measure the nearest sample. I will measure Roundness by- comparing sediment sample to the guide shown below, this may be difficult to decide which category the rock goes into however for the sake of speed it was my primary choice. I will measure orientation by – locating the b axis and using the compass clinometer I will measure the orientation. I will measure the length of the B axis by – using callipers and reading off the rule. I will collect 10 (20 if possible) readings from each site to give me a suitable range of results. The locations I have chosen are highlighted on the map and the grid references are below: The terminal moraine – 987 382 The slip off slope – 987 383 I will record my results on the attached sheet. I will present my evidence as a range of graphs with attached section on collecting recording and presenting evidence. Stage 2 collecting, recording and presenting evidence. On the Day when we travelled to these two grid references the terminal moraine on 987 382 and the slip off slope on 987 383, I worked with 2 other people to obtain evidence/results for my investigation, they were Matthew Cruse and Lawrence Card. This was the original plan for the results table we were going to use. However during collecting the evidence our group decided we could double the amount of our results in ample time. So this is the real results table we developed. We were helped by 1 person in identifying some of the rocks, she was called Lucy and she was an instructor for this course. On the actual day we collected 20 samples from each site both the terminal moraine and the slip off slope. Our results table is as below; Graph sheet 1 Some graphs may help to show the evidence. Firstly the length of the b axis against the length of the slip off slope. (Sample every 1 meter). Anomalous point Graph sheet 2 These are the results for the composition of both fluvial and glacial deposits. Here O represents other specimen of rock P is Phyllite and G is granite Fluvial deposits Glacial deposits As it is clear here the fluvial deposits have more variation that that of the glacial deposits, the glacial deposits contain no other rock types. Graph sheet 3 Charts to compare roundness of fluvial deposits against the roundness of glacial deposits. It is clear here that glacial deposits are more randomised and do not follow any particular roundness, where as the fluvial deposits are mostly in-between the 2-3 category Graph sheet 4. Here are 2 charts to compare the orientation of the B axis. Fluvial orientation Glacial orientation Both graphs show completely opposite finding which was totally as I had expected, mainly the glacial deposits were all at right angles to the flow of direct which is what happens. The fluvial was parallel to the flow of water. The glacial sediments B axis was not parallel to the flow of the glacier because it travels on it's A axis which is as I predicted. Stage 3 description, analysis and interpretation of evidence. All of my data I collected I believe I collected accurately. But unfortunately my results do not support my predictions very accurately which were; * Fluvial sediment will be generally smaller than glacial sediment. * Fluvial sediment will be more rounded than glacial sediment. The graphs which show sorting on the B axis for the fluvial sediment are vast variations than those predicted although they do provide weak evidence (graph sheet 1). For example, on the photograph below it is clear that there is sorting on the slip off slope. This sorting is the absolute opposite to what I had expected in my prediction. This variation may exist because it is a frequently visited spot and people very often pick up rocks to study them and cast them down in a different locations, this may have happened here. Or another reason could be my inaccurate measurements, or even the choice of my samples. Section 4 drawing and justifying conclusion and evaluation. Here were my main predictions * Fluvial sediment will be generally smaller than glacial sediment. * Fluvial sediment will be more rounded than glacial sediment. Here are the sub predictions * Sorting (division into coarse, medium and fine sizes). * And the orientation of the B axis. * And composition ( rock type ) As far as the sorting for the slip off slope is concerned, I found that my results are conclusive but very weakly so. The results did support my prediction roughly but not the extent I had hoped for. You can see evidence for this though section 3. Because I found that the slip off slope is not how I expected I have used additional secondary evidence to show what my results should have been like according to my prediction and the laws of fluvial deposition. There is only one reason I can see for my weak results for the slip off slope – human interference, it is easy to pick up something and place it down somewhere else, could that of happened here? Since it is a widely used site I believe this is the case. I believe that the evidence for the sorting I obtained from the fluvial sample appeared to be back to front the larger sediment should have been deposited at the front not the back. The composition is definitely as I had expected. So as far as the composition is concerned I found a definite conclusion that my sub-predictions were true, the fluvial deposits covered a wider range of rock type because it could transport more diverse material than the glacier. Although there is little evidence to support this there is a definite link. The orientation was not as I had of expected. I believed the glacier to be more randomised where as the fluvial to be more sorted. Evaluation We had a few problems during this investigation many of them minor, but a few were major. For example, since we did not have any artificial light and light throughout the day was fading we may have made a few mistakes on measurements, this may be a reason for some if not all of the anomalous points. One person in my group noted all of the data down on the day so we could have misjudged his handwriting and could have written variable data. Below is a simple diagram of some of our problems: The Main weaknesses and faults. The main weaknesses during my investigation were the lack of conclusive results as shown in the graphs. However this could be rectified by using secondary data, such as maps, other people's results as shown during my project shown after this page. As always any investigation can be improved by the quantity of evidence, and also the quantity. If I could obtain more evidence from different locations, i.e. not just from Glen Rosa it would provide a much better supporting structure for my predictions. Although this would involve thousands of pounds it would have a very accurate conclusion.

Cultural Background Essay

I come from China, actually the south of Yunan. I learnt about Chinese culture from my father who was born in China and rise up with the Chinese culture. I have been taught by my father to behave as a good Chinese people and brings up good values in my life, the concept of Yin and Yang, the balance in life and especially we’re coming from east where the people there respect ancestors and older people much more compares to the western people. This will impact on how we communicate and interact with other people especially with the elder. China is believed to have the oldest continuous civilization. China has over 4,000 years of verifiable history. Beijing is the capital of China and is the focal point for the country. The official language is standard Chinese, which is derived from the Mandarin dialect. Most business people speak English. There are many dialects in China however there is only one written language. A Communist form of government rules China. The Chinese government promotes atheism although the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The Chinese practice a variety of religions, however, Confucianism; despite not being a formal religion is practiced widely throughout the country. China is the most densely populated county in the world with approximately 1. 17 billion people as of 1992. Almost 100 percent of the population are ethnic or Han Chinese. There are strict rules regarding childbirth and each couple is limited to only one child. The tradition of digging up â€Å"dragon bones† (tortoise and cattle bones) has long been a part of Chinese culture. These bones are often used to predict the future. The bones were inscribed with questions then heated to reveal the answers. The tradition dates back as far as the Bronze Age (around 2100 BC during the Xia dynasty). The Geert Hofstede analysis for China is similar to that of Hong Kong where Long-term Orientation is the highest-ranking factor. However, the Chinese rank lower than any other Asian country in the Individualism factor. This can be attributed primarily to the Communist rule and its emphasis on a collectivist culture. Geert Hofstede analysis for China has Long-term Orientation (LTO) the highest-ranking factor (118), which is true for all Asian cultures. This Dimension indicates a society’s time perspective and an attitude of persevering; that is, overcoming obstacles with time, if not with will and strength. The Chinese rank lower than any other Asian country in the Individualism (IDV) ranking, at 20 compared to an average of 24. This may be attributed, in part, to the high level of emphasis on a Collectivist society by the Communist rule, as compared to one of Individualism. The low Individualism ranking is manifest in a close and committed member ‘group’, be that a family, extended family, or extended relationships. Loyalty in a collectivist culture is paramount. The society fosters strong relationships where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. Of note is China’s significantly higher Power Distance ranking of 80 compared to the other Far East Asian countries’ average of 60, and the world average of 55. This is indicative of a high level of inequality of power and wealth within the society. This condition is not necessarily forced upon the population, but rather accepted by the society as their cultural heritage. China’s religion is officially designated as Atheist by the State, although the concepts and teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (500BC) are woven into the society at large. Some religious practice is acceptable in China; however, the government sets rigid limits. You can find more information related with the religion in China. RELIGION IN GENERAL Before the Communist Revolution, a number of religious and philosophical systems were practiced in China. Traditionally Taoism and Confucianism provided ethical guides to the proper behavior of individuals and officials. Both of these systems originated in China during the so-called Golden Age of Chinese thought, several centuries before the beginning of the Christian era. Taoism sought to promote the inner peace of individuals and harmony with their surroundings. Confucianism, based on the teachings and writings of the philosopher Confucius, is an ethical system that sought to teach the proper way for all people to behave in society. Each relationship–husband-wife, parents-children, ruler-subjects–involved a set of obligations which, if upheld, would lead to a just and harmonious society. Following his teachings would also promote a stable, lasting government. Buddhism, which came to China from India as early as the 1st century AD, was a more conventional religion. Its followers attended occasional services, practiced rituals, and supported a temple on a regular basis. It has been estimated that more than 68 million Chinese still consider themselves Buddhists, though it is unlikely that they practice the religion regularly (See Buddhism). Prior to 1949, practices that may best be called folk religions were common throughout China. Although they incorporated elements of Buddhism and, especially, Taoism, these religions were usually local, often based on local gods, and served the local people. Christian missionaries have been active in China since Roman Catholics belonging to the Jesuit order arrived in the early 17th century. Protestant missionaries first appeared in the early 19th century. All the Christian missionaries had difficulty converting the Chinese because Christianity was associated in the popular mind with Western imperialism. By 1949 there were only 3 or 4 million Christians in China, less than 1 percent of the total population. Islam came to China mainly from Central Asia, where it was practiced by many of the Turkic peoples. Today there are believed to be more than 4 million Chinese Muslims. One autonomous region, Ningxia Huizu, has been designated for Islamic adherents. The Communists have discouraged religious practices, which they consider anti-socialist. Many temples and churches have been closed and their property taken. During the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (or simply the Cultural Revolution), a mass movement that lasted officially from 1966 to 1977, conditions were especially difficult, and religious practitioners were persecuted. The situation eased after 1977. A number of Buddhist temples were allowed to reopen. Worship services among Christians were permitted once again, and it is believed that as many as 2 million Christians are practicing their faith in China. The Chinese government is cautious about all religious activity, especially if it happens to involve foreign people in any way. THE AGE OF PHILOSOPHIES. *CONFUCIANISM CONFUCIUS is a latinized form of the honorific title K’ung-fu-tzu (Master K’ung), given to a wandering scholar from the state of Lu in Shandong Province in northeastern China. Although little known in his lifetime, Confucius was revered as the greatest of sages throughout most of China’s history. His teaching, Confucianism, was the state teaching from the beginning of the Han Dynasty in 202 BC to the end of the imperial period in 1911. Disturbed by constant warfare among the states, Confucius taught that most of the ills of society happened because people forgot their stations in life and rulers lost virtue. He advocated a return to the golden antiquity of the emperors Yao and Shun, when rulers were virtuous and people knew their places. Therefore, Confucius’ primary concern lay in social relations, proper conduct, and social harmony. Confucius defined five cardinal relationships: between ruler and ruled, between husband and wife, between parents and children, between older and younger brothers, and between friends. Except for the last case, all of the defined relationships are between superiors and inferiors. He emphasized the complete obedience and loyalty of the inferior to the superior but also mentioned the benevolence of the superior to the inferior. The ideal Confucian family was an extended one of three or four generations, in which authority rested with the elderly male members. Filial piety (obedience to parents) was one of the most important virtues emphasized by later Confucians. Confucius reportedly spent his last years editing and completing some of the books that came to be known as Five Classics. These include the `Classic of Poetry’, `Classic of History’, `Spring and Autumn Annals’, `Record of Rites’, and `Classic of Changes’, or `I Ching’. Memorized by scholars for generations in China, these books and four other works, including the `Analects’, a compilation of Confucian teachings, were the subjects of civil service examinations for over 2,000 years. (See Confucius) Confucianism commanded a greater following some 200 years later, during the time of Mencius, or Meng-tzu (371-289 BC). He was second only to Confucius himself in shaping Confucianism. His three main tenets were the basic good nature of human beings, the notion of society with a distinct distribution of functions, and the ruler’s obligation to the people. On the last point, Mencius elaborated on the concept of the mandate of heaven, which allows that rulers lose support of heaven when they cease to be virtuous. The concept served as the basis of revolts in China and the succession of new rulers. MENICIUS MENG-TZU The `Meng-tzu’, meaning â€Å"Master Meng,† was written by the philosopher Mencius (a Latinized form of the name Meng-tzu) in the 4th century BC. The work earned for its author the title of â€Å"second sage† in China. The book deals with government and asserts that the welfare of the people comes before all else. When a king no longer is good to the people, he should be removed–by revolution if necessary. Mencius, like Confucius, declared that filial piety was the foundation of society. One unusual doctrine that Mencius supported was that of the natural goodness of mankind, for which he found proof in the natural love children have for their parents. Two other philosophies that have had an enduring influence on Chinese thought are Taoism and Legalism. Taoism gave the Chinese an alternative to Confucianism–passivity and escape to nature–while Legalism provided the Chinese state with one of its basic doctrines. *TAOISM In the Chinese language the word tao means â€Å"way,† indicating a way of thought or life. There have been several such ways in China’s long history, including Confucianism and Buddhism. In about the 6th century BC, under the influence of ideas credited to a man named Lao-tzu, Taoism became â€Å"the way†. like Confucianism, it has influenced every aspect of Chinese culture. Taoism began as a complex system of philosophical thought that could be indulged in by only a few individuals. In later centuries it emerged, perhaps under the influence of Buddhism, as a communal religion. It later evolved as a popular folk religion. Philosophical Taoism speaks of a permanent Tao in the way that some Western religions speak of God. The Tao is considered unnamed and unknowable, the essential unifying element of all that is. Everything is basically one despite the appearance of differences. Because all is one, matters of good and evil and of true or false, as well as differing opinions, can only arise when people lose sight of the oneness and think that their private beliefs are absolutely true. This can be likened to a person looking out a small window and thinking he sees the whole world, when all he sees is one small portion of it. Because all is one, life and death merge into each other as do the seasons of the year. They are not in opposition to one another but are only two aspects of a single reality. The life of the individual comes from the one and goes back into it. The goal of life for a Taoist is to cultivate a mystical relationship to the Tao. Adherents therefore avoid dispersing their energies through the pursuit of wealth, power, or knowledge. By shunning every earthly distraction, the Taoist is able to concentrate on life itself. The longer the adherent’s life, the more saintly the person is presumed to have become. Eventually the hope is to become immortal. LAO-TZU (604? -531? BC). Some people believe that only one man, Lao-tzu, wrote the most translated work in all the literature of China, the `Lao-Tzu’ (also called `Tao-te Ching’). The book is the earliest document in the history of Taoism (â€Å"the Way†), one of the major philosophical-religious traditions that, along with Confucianism, has shaped Chinese life and thought for more than 2,000 years. It is a viewpoint that emphasizes individuality, freedom, simplicity, mysticism, and naturalness. (See Confucius) Knowledge of Lao-tzu is so scarce that only legends remain. His earliest biographer, who wrote in about 100 BC, relates that Lao-tzu lived in the district of Hu in present-day Henan Province during the Chou Dynasty (1122-221 BC). Presumably he worked in astrology and divination at the court of the emperor. The biographer tells of a meeting of Lao-tzu with the younger Confucius, which would mean Lao-tzu lived in about 500 BC. Another story says that he left China during the decline of the Chou Dynasty, and on his way west wrote the `Tao-te Ching’, after which he disappeared. He was worshipped as an Imperial ancestor during the T’ang Dynasty (618-907). Scholars today believe that the book cannot have been written by one man. Some of the sayings in it may date from the time of Confucius, while others are from a later period. It is possible that the name Lao-tzu represents a type of scholar and wise man, rather than one individual. `Tao-te Ching’ The `Tao-te Ching’, meaning â€Å"Classic of the Way of Power,† is one of the great works of ancient China not included among the Confucian Classics. The presumed author, Lao-tzu, is considered to be the founder of Taoism. He may have been alive at the same time as Confucius but older. The book is not only significant philosophically, but it is also one of the most sacred scriptures of the Taoist religion. (See Lao-tzu) CHUANG-TZU (4th century BC), Chinese philosopher, author, and teacher; classic work bears his name; influential in development of Chinese philosophy and religious thought; interpreted Taoism (from tao, â€Å"way†) differently from Lao-tzu; Chuang-tzu taught that wise people accept the ebb and flow of life without attempting to challenge it; true enlightenment involves freeing oneself of traditions and personal goals that stand in the way of the mysterious, all-encompassing Tao. Communal religious Taoism is quite distinct from its philosophical counterpart. It emphasizes moral teachings and collective ceremonies. Good moral conduct is rewarded with health and long life, while bad conduct results in disease, death, and suffering in the afterlife. There is an array of gods who are administrators of the universe, of which they are a part. From these gods come revelations of sacred texts. There is an order of married priests who live in the communities they serve and perform exorcisms and complex rituals. Folk religion Taoism is part of the everyday lives of the people. The gods are intimately connected with each individual’s life as bringers of calamities or givers of bountiful gifts. Each object of daily life has its presiding spirit that must be consulted and appeased. All types of Taoism have in common the quest for a harmonious, well-ordered universe. They emphasize the individual’s and the group’s need for unity through mysticism, magic, and ceremony. *LEGALISM *BUDDHISM Although Buddhism first entered China from India during the Later Han, in the time of Han Ming Ti (AD 58-76), it did not become popular until the end of the 3rd century. The prevailing disorders, aggravated by barbarian invasions and the flight of northern Chinese to the south, heightened the attraction of Buddhism with its promise of personal salvation, despite its lack of affinity with the society-oriented thought of the Chinese. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, a prince of the Sakya kingdom on the borders of what are now India and Nepal and a contemporary of Confucius. Intent on finding relief for human suffering, he received a moment of enlightenment while meditating under a Bo tree. The Buddha taught that desires are the source of pain, and that by overcoming desires, pain can be eliminated. To this end, he advocated meditation and pursuing the Eightfold Path, similar to the Ten Commandments of Judaism and Christianity. The objective was to reach Nirvana, the condition of serenity of spirit, where all cravings, strife, and pain have been overcome, giving way to a merging of the spirit with eternal harmony. At an early stage of its development, Buddhism split into two major trends, Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle). Hinayana remained closer to the original Buddhism and is still the religion of the Southeast Asian countries. The Buddhism of China, Korea, Japan, Nepal, Tibet, and Vietnam, however, stems largely from Mahayana. Mahayana Buddhism contained more popular elements, such as belief in repetitive prayers, heaven and deities–bodhisattvas–who would help people gain salvation. It also readily adapted to the land and people it converted. In China, it split into several schools, including Ch’an (Zen in Japan), T’ien-t’ai (Tendai in Japan), and Pure Land. Ch’an [or Zen] Buddhism Through his popular book `The Way of Zen’ (1957), the British-born American philosopher Alan Watts introduced Americans to the Zen school of Buddhism, which has a long tradition of development in China and Japan. Zen (Ch’an in Chinese) is a Japanese term meaning â€Å"meditation. † It is a major school of Japanese Buddhism that claims to transmit the spirit of Buddhism, or the total enlightenment as achieved by the founder of the religion, the Buddha (See Buddha; Buddhism). Zen has its basis in the conviction that the world and its components are not many things. They are, rather, one reality. The one is part of a larger wholeness to which some people assign the name of God. Reason, by analyzing the diversity of the world, obscures this oneness. It can be apprehended by the nonrational part of the mind–the intuition. Enlightenment about the nature of reality comes not by rational examination but through meditation. Meditation has been an integral part of Buddhism from the beginning. Nevertheless, a school of meditation grew up in India and was taken to China by Bodhidharma about AD 520. When the meditation school arrived in China, it had a strong foundation on which to build: Taoism, the ancient Chinese religion (See Taoism). This religion is based on the idea that there is one underlying reality called the Tao. Taoists, like the followers of the meditation school, exalted intuition over reason. This Taoist tradition was easily absorbed by the Chinese meditation school, the Ch’an. Within two centuries the meditation school had divided into two factions: Northern Ch’an and Southern Ch’an. The northern school, a short-lived affair, insisted on a doctrine of gradual enlightenment. The southern school, which became dominant, held to a doctrine of instantaneous enlightenment. The southern school evolved under the powerful influence of Hui-neng (638-713), who is recognized as the sixth great patriarch of Zen and the founder of its modern interpretation. In a sermon recorded as the â€Å"Platform Scripture of the Sixth Patriarch,† he taught that all people possess the Buddha nature and that one’s nature (before and after being born) is originally pure. Instead of undertaking a variety of religious obligations to seek salvation, one should discover one’s own nature. The traditional way to do this, sitting in meditation, is useless. If one perceives one’s own nature, enlightenment will follow suddenly. The goal of adherents of the southern Ch’an is to gain transcendental, or highest, wisdom from the depths of one’s unconscious, where it lies dormant. Ch’an tries to attain enlightenment without the aid of common religious observances: study, scriptures, ceremonies, or good deeds. Reaching the highest wisdom comes as a breakthrough in everyday logical thought. Followers are urged to find within themselves the answer to any question raised within because the answer is believed to be found where the question originates. Training in the methods of meditation leading to such an enlightenment is best transmitted from master to disciple. Ch’an flourished in China during the T’ang and Sung dynasties (960-1279), and its influences were strongly felt in literature and painting. Ch’an declined during the Ming era (1141-1215), when Ch’an masters took up the practice of trying to harmonize meditation with the study of traditional scriptures. Meanwhile, sects of Zen had been transplanted to Japan. The Rinzai school was taken there in 1191 by the priest Enzai (1141-1215), and the Soto tradition arrived in 1227, taken there by Dogen (1200-53), the most revered figure in Japanese Zen. These schools had their origin in China during the 9th century, when Ch’an divided into five sects that differed from each other in minor ways. The Rinzai sect evolved from the work of Lin-chi (died 866), who was an exponent of sudden enlightenment. The Soto was founded by Liang-chieh (died 869) and Pen-chi (died 901). The Soto stressed quiet sitting in meditation to await enlightenment. A third group, the Obaku, was established in 1654. The Obaku school is closer to the Rinzai tradition except for its emphasis on invoking the name of Buddha. Zen gained an enthusiastic following among the Samurai warrior class and became in effect the state religion in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 16th century Zen priests were diplomats and administrators, and they enhanced cultural life as well. Under their influence literature, art, the cult of the tea ceremony, and the No drama developed. The focal point of Zen is the monastery, where masters and pupils interact in the search for enlightenment. A newcomer arrives at a monastery with a certificate showing that he is a regularly ordained disciple of a priest. He is at first refused entry. Finally being admitted, he spends a few days of probation being interviewed by his master. When he is accepted he is initiated into the community life of humility, labor, service, prayer and gratitude, and meditation. 2. Communication Style of Chinese people There are many things that you should know about the communication style of the Chinese people. They are really care with the appearance, behavior and the way we communicate to them since it will show them our status, are we coming from the lower economic status or high economic status or even more we are coming from the King’s ancestor or just an ordinary people. It is all can be seen from the way we communicate so it become so important according to Chinese people. Please find below the detail in each topic of the communication style of Chinese people: Appearance Appearance is quite important for Chinese people or even Asian, they sometimes judge people from their first sight (Dresser,1996). †¢ Conservative suits for men with subtle colors are the norm. †¢ Women should avoid high heels and short sleeved blouses. The Chinese frown on women who display too much. †¢ Subtle, neutral colors should be worn by both men and women. †¢ Casual dress should be conservative as well. †¢ Men and women can wear jeans. However, jeans are not acceptable for business meetings. †¢ Revealing clothing for women is considered offensive to Chinese businessmen. Behavior Some of the behavior or gestures are mentioned as follows (Axtel,1998) : †¢ Do not use large hand movements. The Chinese do not speak with their hands. Your movements may be distracting to your host. †¢ Personal contact must be avoided at all cost. It is highly inappropriate for a man to touch a woman in public. †¢ Do not point when speaking. To point do not use your index finger, use an open palm. †¢ It is considered improper to put your hand in your mouth. Avoid acts that involve the mouth. †¢ Gift giving is a very delicate issue in China. It is illegal to give gifts to government official however; it has become more commonplace in the business world. It is more acceptable to give gifts either in private or to a group as a whole to avoid embarrassment. The most acceptable gift is a banquet. Quality writing pens as considered favored gifts. The following gifts and/or colors are associated with death and should not be given: – Clocks – Straw sandals – A stork or crane – Handkerchiefs – Anything white, blue or black †¢ Always arrive on time or early if you are the guest. †¢ Do not discuss business at meals. †¢ Do not start to eat or drink prior to the host. †¢ As a cultural courtesy, you should taste all the dishes you are offered. †¢ Sample meals only, there may be several courses. †¢ Never place your chopsticks straight up in your bowl. By placing your sticks upright in your bowl your will remind your host of joss sticks which connotes death. †¢ Do not drop the chopsticks it is considered bad luck. †¢ Do not eat all of your meal. If you eat all of your meal, the Chinese will assume you did not receive enough food and are still hungry. †¢ Women do not usually drink at meals. †¢ Tipping is considered insulting, however the practice is becoming more common. Communications †¢ Bowing or nodding is the common greeting; however, you may be offered a handshake. Wait for the Chinese to offer their hand first. (Morris, 2003). †¢ Applause is common when greeting a crowd; the same is expected in return. †¢ Introductions are formal. Use formal titles. †¢ Often times Chinese will use a nickname to assist Westerners. †¢ Being on time is vital in China. †¢ Appointments are a must for business. †¢ Contacts should be made prior to your trip. †¢ Bring several copies of all written documents for your meetings. †¢ The decision making process is slow. You should not expect to conclude your business swiftly. †¢ Many Chinese will want to consult with the stars or wait for a lucky day before they make a decision. †¢ Present and receive cards with both hands. †¢ Never write on a business card or put it in your wallet or pocket. Carry a small card case. †¢ The most important member of your company or group should lead important meetings. Chinese value rank and status. †¢ Develop a working knowledge of Chinese culture. †¢ Allow the Chinese to leave a meeting first. 3. Communication style when interacting with people from a Different Culture When we do the communication with other people with different culture we expect them to follow our rules especially when we are talking to older people. But sometimes for teenagers or younger people they would like to adapt the communication styles according to the people’s culture he/she talking with. Chinese people is very famous for their good personality traits, in this case they are really diligent and always try to give the best and also sometimes very brave to take any action compares to those who are coming from the west. They would do directly what they consider the thing is right or correct this can be seen in the way they sell things, they open their store and etc. If you are coming from the west you need to understand what the people from the east thinking about. Below are the patterns of Eastern and Western people that we can analyze and use to communicate with them. You can find out that western people will look like they are more individual compares to the eastern people.

The Buyer is Boss

Millie and Liza have been friends for the longest time. Some months ago they decided to share an apartment, and that is how they found the two-bedroom unit they are currently renting. Asked what their first major buy was after the move, they chorused that they just both got laptops. Both of them had desktops, Millie even has a superior type which helps in her work as a graphics designer. Liza, a writer, had an old desktop which sufficed for word publishing and internet access.However, they stressed they needed the laptops because â€Å"the apartment is small, there is no room for two desktops,† justifying that they needed the gadgets and did not just want them. However, they had different ideals for a laptop they have in mind. Millie, being a graphic designer, needed a high-end mobile computer which will be superior in memory and speed—and the bigger the monitor, the better. Liza, on the other hand, was more conscious about the price. She wanted a laptop that will work just like her old desktop, and she has set a budget to stick strictly on.Friends have warned them that laptops will cost more than powerful desktops do, but the need for space was of primacy. They went on to research and window shopping. Through Yahoo Answers, a web service where people can connect to each other for questions and answers about almost anything, they found the best suggestions: computer stores in the area and eBay. While the computer stores option gave competitive prices and models, the two girls agreed they will get cheaper units from eBay. They checked the site for a couple of weeks using a single user account, and finally found the laptops.It was Liza who found hers first. It was an mid-model Compaq Presario 1400 which was â€Å"released in 2002 according to my research. † Apparently, Liza was researching each of the product she saw and took note of which will give her the best computer with what little money she has. Millie got hers, a second-hand MacBook, about a month after, and she too went through the research ordeal. They asserted that shopping in eBay will require lots of patience, research, and inquisitiveness, else one might end up â€Å"with a D-class item†.Luckily, their finds were both A classes. Both Liza and Millie were contented with their laptops, but they now agree with their friends that â€Å"it is costlier to live with a laptop†¦ we have to buy mice to avoid overusing the trackpads, and soon we might need a [laptop] cooler, and I noticed that my laptop hangs more often than my old desktop,† says Liza. But given a choice to spend their money on some other things, Millie declined. â€Å"With these space-saving gizmos, nothing else will be better. † AnalysisAllen (2003) describes the five processes in a buyer’s purchase decision making: problem recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post-purchse behavior. Looking at the buying process that tr anspired between Liza and Millie, it is obvious that they both went through the whole process. They realized the need to get laptops, gathered information, selected the best offers, bought the items, and came up with the feedback. Both of them had criteria for the laptops they want—recommendations, function (save space), and usage.However, Millie focused on quality and performance because of the demands of her job, while Liza was more concerned about her budget. All these are part of their awareness, then follows the search for information. Rohan (nd) asserts that information search may be internal (based on knowledge and past experience) or external. Millie and Liza resorted to external sources. There are four types of external sources: personal (family and friends), commercial (advertisements), public (news and bulletins), and experiential (tried product). (Buying Decision Process, 2006) In the case, a mixture of personal and commercial were utilized.Because the criteria fo r the laptops are clear, the process was easy for the two. They were able to sort out the purchase decision process of where, when, and if to buy, after which they came up with the concluding feedback that they were satisfied with their purchases. In some instances, parts of the buyer decision process may be skipped or reversed. This is determined by high-involvement or low-involvement. High-involvement purchases are those that require investment as they are costlier and have serious effects to its buyers (e. g.appliances, jewelry) while the low-involvement purchases are simple things that can be bought (e. g. bread, milk, burger). (Buying Decision Process, 2006) Brooks (1999) ratifies this by saying that the buyer decision process is highly situational and involvement level-dependent. Furthermore, he states that involvement may be influenced by economic, psychological, performance risk, and decision novelty factors. This theory is highly visible in the case. Millie and Liza had hig h-involvement purchases to make, and the factors played a major role.Economically, Liza was more conscious than Millie, but it is the other way around with regard to the product’s performance risk, though psychologically and in relation to decision novelty the two were consistent. The buyer decision process happens everyday to everybody. All buying processes require a person to go through at least two or three steps in the process, which may lead to a sale or not. When applied theoretically, the buyer decision process is a good tool for consumers to choose their wares, and for merchants to know how to target their consumers. For Millie, Liza, and their sellers, it definitely worked.

Competitiveness and investment attractiveness of the South African Essay

Competitiveness and investment attractiveness of the South African food retail industry - Essay Example By 2012, the SAFRI is expected to have a value of $98.1 billion which will be an increase of 32.7 percent over 2011 (Appendix A). While the above figures demonstrate the attractiveness of the market for investments, further evaluation would be conducted to determine the competitive advantage in investing in South Africa. This would be conducted through the extended model of Porter’s National Diamond. 2. Porter’s National Diamond The competitive advantage of an industry, according to Porter, derives from the national ‘diamond’. These four diamonds are the four determinants of competitive advantage created within the home base of the nation state – factor conditions, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, and firm strategy, structure and rivalry. The extended model of Porter’s National Diamond includes government and chance events. An important key feature of the model is that the determinants are supportive of each other and oper ate as a system (Clancy, O’Malley, O’Connell and Egeraat, 2001). This implies that there should be effective flow of information about needs, techniques and technology. Here geographic concentration is important because proximity facilitates flow of information. ... While the basic factors pertain to demographics, location and climate, the advanced factors include communications infrastructure, sophisticated skills and research facilities. South Africa’s population has surpassed 50 million and more than 90 percent of its population is non-white (Arisaig, 2012). Unemployment rate is 25.2 percent and the average life expectancy is only 57 years. Unequal distribution of wealth has resulted in the poorest ten percent earning just one percent of the total national income. Poor education system can be attributed to high rates in unemployment. However, the country has modern infrastructure and the retail sector is sophisticated although dominated by local products (Ntloedibe, 2012). The country also has a well developed communications network and electricity supply is also reliable. In addition, South Africa also has a network of merchant banks, brokers, and financial services specialists. Investments in technology and telecommunications are inc reasing which will enhance business infrastructure thereby enabling the companies to compete with the countries in the West (Maxwell, 2013). The southernmost country on the African continent, South Africa is one of the most economically prosperous nations in southern Africa due to its coastal location and presence of gold, diamonds and natural resources (Briney, 2012). However, climate change is prominent in South Africa and this impacts sourcing and transportation of agricultural products for retailers. One way to handle this is through adaptation by sourcing through several suppliers in vulnerable categories. Despite its coastal location, water is scarce and water security is a fundamental challenge faced by retailers. This requires the retailers to actively engage with suppliers for

Economics Portfolio, Microeconomics, EXTERNALITIES Essay

Economics Portfolio, Microeconomics, EXTERNALITIES - Essay Example "However, it must be remembered that such campaigns will not change attitudes overnight. These are the early stages, and we hope to see more progress made in a further round of a dozen or so campaigns this summer." "We have squads out working seven days a week. They start at the top of Royal Avenue, down one side of the street to Donegal Place, then across the place to the other side of Royal Avenue and back up to the top. Councils involved in the campaign are: Belfast, Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford. Brighton and Hove, Cardiff, Crawley, East Herts, Edinburgh, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Leeds, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Nottingham, Oldham, Oxford, Slough, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon and Westminster An externality in economics occurs when one action causes another action and the side effects of this cause and effect is not accounted for in market prices. A good example is demonstrated by the cost of gum to the ultimate consumer and the consequential costs of pollution to the government. `It costs 3p a stick to buy, but 10p to prise off the pavements. And councils across Britain are getting sick of having to foot the bill for cleaning it up. (See source article ) As demonstrated by the source article, the government, via council members are uninterested third parties to the gum industry. The obligation to keep the city streets clean and pollution free (as far as reasonably possible) is imposed on the government by tax payers and the democratic process. As a result, the government is unwittingly a stakeholder in the gum industry. According to the source article the costs to the government is more than three times larger than the cost to the consumer. Both Friedrich Havek and Milton Friedman, economists, when alluding to the term `economic externalities have described the phrase as neighborhood effects and spillovers interchangeably.(Cordato. 1992) Pollution is the `spillover

Political Perspectives of Marjorie Cohn. Cowboy Republic Essay

Political Perspectives of Marjorie Cohn. Cowboy Republic - Essay Example Given the dominance the United States in world affairs, most justice groups and organizations championing for human rights from around the world, including the United States, became critical about the decision. Despite the United States having signed up to the Rome statute that established the International Criminal Court in 2000, the administration of the then president George Bush unsigned the statute in 2002. Since then, the United States has continued to pressure other countries into signing agreements forbidding them from surrendering citizens of the United States to the International Criminal Court. The United States even threatened to use force, including military force in the event that any of its citizens are held at the court1. Erna Paris attempts to explore why The United States, a country known to be vocal in matters relating to human rights would refuse to protect human rights by not signing up to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court. From a political perspective, the United States had the fear that the International Criminal Court may be used politically by other nations against it. For a long time, the United States continually got involved in dubious schemes around the world. In most cases, it got involved in the propping up of dictators and unpopular regimes. The United States has also been known to train and offer arms to a number of known abusers of human rights. This was mostly done during the period of cold war. The United States justified its actions as being better than if it allowed such countries to adopt communism. The United States was very involved in most regions of the world, citing the domino theory that if a single nation outside its known sphere of influence would fall, others would follow1. Erna Paris grapples with the dilemma in the twenty first century where the rule of international law is challenged by the political power held by the United States. The treaty that set up the International Crimi nal Court categorized as war crimes acts of forced pregnancy, rape, torture and forceful recruitment of child soldiers. The United States objected this inclusion and suggested that the court should only concern itself with genocide cases. The United States, being a large military and economic power, is expected to intervene in catastrophes of humanitarian consequences. This particularly makes citizens and officials of the United States vulnerable to arrests and trials by the International criminal Court in cases of humanitarian crises. The United States, a country known to promote its interests only, knew that the International Criminal Court would expose its political vulnerability to its perceived enemies. Being a country that boasts the best political institutions, the country would become helpless in trying to protect its citizens against the International Criminal Court without appearing to violate the human rights it has always championed for. Marjorie Cohn in the book, Cowboy Republic: Six Ways the Bush Gang has defied the Law, examines six ways of greatest importance that the government of the United States under the presidency of George Bush defied and consequently led to the weakening of the rule of law. The first reason was the establishment of the prison in Guantanamo bay, where suspects of terrorism were held without trial. Despite the president knowing well

Rational Approaches to Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Rational Approaches to Organizations - Essay Example It also highlights through examples how taking an open system or a natural systems approach could benefit managers. Rational Approaches to Organizations Rational approaches present a planned and systematic approach to decision making. Applying such an approach helps managers to maintain order and resoluteness in the decision-making process. Dyck (1997) observes that rational approaches generate reason and order through a sequence of steps starting with the discovery of an opportunity or a predicament and culminating with measures to be undertaken in regard to the decisions reached. Mintzberg (1990) argues that rational approaches are based on meticulousness of analysis and assessment of all probable courses of action. This may be appealing to managers considering the fact that future actions are predetermined at the strategy setting stage. Rational approaches to strategy formulation comprise environmental scanning, portfolio and industry analysis, all which are focused on establishin g the business opportunities and threats. Environmental scanning helps managers to determine the nature of the operating environment and to set strategies for utilizing emerging opportunities as well as dealing with potential threats (Robbins & Barnwell 2006). Portfolio analysis is the formal structured examination that encompasses decisions regarding the relative significance of the accessible business opportunities where a company can invest. It allows the management to devise strategies that can supplement the business portfolio in regard to emerging investment openings and products (Ferraro et al. 2005). Industry analysis helps managers to understand the nature of a particular market in which an organization presently sells its products or is planning to penetrate in future. Such rational approaches allow managers to determine the significance of the various strategic business units and prioritize the allocation of resources depending on market attractiveness (Williamson 2000). Strategy development through this process culminates in a well-detailed scheme with various courses of action that are meticulous with monetary aspects and resource affiliated data. This process is characteristic of the standard SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats) analysis in strategy development. Mitzenberg (1990) developed a comparable approach to strategy development. His planning approach involves formulating a strategy with a time line, goals and objectives which are stated and formulated to help achieve the organizational objectives. A plan is a critical source of direction for the company since it contains clearly stated objectives. Planning is a continuous process as variables keep changing hence the need for management to be ready for changes through out the organization’s life cycle (Glueck 2009). Litzenberg's planning model is limited in the sense that it is suitable for static operating environments otherwise the management needs to continuously review plans in a constantly changing environment. Plans can also not be relied upon in the long run due to technological and infrastructural advancements. The rational approaches integrate an evaluation of the organization and its operating environment with the underlying assumption that changes in the business environment will seldom affect the plan.