Tattoos becoming more and more popular form of body arts among human beings, including office worker. But today, there still have many companies prohibit their employee to have a tattoo or do not allow their employee to have a visible tattoos during their work. Such as, Walt Disney World, require its employee use opaque makeup or ware work-appropriate clothing to cover their tattoos. Wal-Mart specifies the tattoos are offensive or distractive, have to be covered by clothing. Some law agencies are more prevents about tattoos, like New York State Police, the rules states that if a anyone want to become a police officer, he or she can not have any tattoos or body art to display on their skin. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department claims that the officers with tattoo need to cover them up when they're on duty. Because of the officer’s tattoo, the rule came about a complaint from a woman who thought a parolee was disguised as a police officer. (All business, 2009). The tattoo was evaluated differently from workplace to workplace on a case-by-case basis. But here, the ethical question is whether the tattoo or body art should be prohibited in the workplace? In my essay, I will use two theories from ethics to answer this question.
The first approach to answer this question is act utilitarianism theory. It was found in the 19th century by John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham as determine which laws were morally best. The principle of act utilitarianism is the act that it is morally right if, and only if doing things is likely to produce the greatest balance of substantive sustained benefits over substantive sustained harms to all affected by action than any alternative available. (Richardson, J. E. 2007). To analyze the moral action of whether tattoo or body art in the workplace is right or wrong, we look at 3 propositions. First, the things are to be judged wrong or right only by virtue of its consequences, nothing else matter. (Rachels, J. 2003). Act utilitarianism can be netter understood in a form of consequentialist moral philosophy. (Richardson, J. E. 2007). In this point of view, the consequence of actions normally evaluated in terms of the preferences of individuals, in some companies, the rule said that its employee can not have tattoos on their body if they are on duty or need to cover it up for the purpose of company’s image. Because if the customer saw their staff have tattoo, they might think that the company is not good, or they may think this staff is not a good guy, even they think that this staff is one of the reactionary gang. The tattoo probably damages the image of the company. The consequence is not as good as we expected. Therefore, in company’s preference, they have to force its employee to cover tattoos up during work time. Second, in order to assess the predict consequence, the right conduct we consider is solely on the greatest amount of benefits over harms. No tattoos or body art in the workplace or the tattoos is invisible, the company and its many other employee may feel happy and get benefits on their reputation. In our case, one alternative could produce the greatest happiness over unhappiness. Thus, act utilitarianism chooses to have no tattoos or invisible tattoos appear on the workplace. According to act utilitarianism’s doctrine, the only thing we desire is happiness as an end. Invisible tattoo or without tattoo, company will happiness, manager will happiness, almost employee will happiness, the greatest people will happiness, thus, happiness is what we desire. No tattoo in the workplace yields the greatest number of benefits over harms. The last proposition we look at is that each person’s happiness count the same. Form act utilitarianism’s perspective, individuals’ benefits or happiness are to be accumulated as evaluate in terms of their preference. (Baron, D. P. 2005). Hence, each individual utility is given equal weight. Accumulation is wanted because any actions the company taken would make some people better off and others worse off. However, since act utilitarianism is only concerned with greatest benefits or happiness, it does not matter how the individuals’ utility is distributed across every person. Taken our case into account, although the gain for the whole company and many other employees is greater than lose of minority employee, the act utilitarianism gives all people affected a same answer—no tattoos or invisible tattoos in the workplace. The utility is equally distributed across the individual. That is, each employee’s happiness or benefits counts the same. In total, the company and most employees have the best overall consequence in that rule, and unhappiness involved in this rule is merely or solely. In this particular case, the act utilitarianism conclusion, apparently, would be that without tattoo or invisible tattoos in the workplace is morally right.
The second important approach to answer above question has its roots in 18th century, from the German philosophy thinker Immanuel Kant. It is a very different approach compared to the first one. From Kant’s viewpoint, the only truly moral action is generated by a pure motive—the moral agent will do what ought to be done. Kant’ motive in this approach is based on what we called “categorical imperative”. The “categorical imperative” falls into 2 principles: the universalisability principle and the respect for people’s principle. (Rachels, J. 2003). For the first principle, Kant says that act only on the maxim which you can at the same time will to be a universal law. (Baron, D. P. 2005). In our case, the maxim is the rule or requirement that it says no one in the workplace can have tattoo or if he/she has, it must be invisible. To universalize the maxim, everyone must and will to follow that maxim, which means, once the rule becomes a universal law, everyone must believe it and willing to follow it. However, the “categorical imperative” rest on the belief in which human beings are entitled to equal consideration. (Rachels, J. 2003). In our case, the company’s rule is, obviously, not fair to every employee and dose not give an equal consideration to each of their employee. Moreover, the rule is not justice, because the rule is not the one that requires us to treat people fairly according to employee’s needs and merits. Tattoos is sometimes a needs of employee solely based on their culture belief, or other reasons. The rule set up by company is essentially the impartial in our case. Therefore, it can not be a universal law. The second principle holds that the morally right rule is always treat other human beings as “ends in themselves” and never merely as means to treat people. (Rachels, J. 2003). “As an end” means to recognize that the person has their own rights, just as you have. We must respect other person, treat other person appropriately, allow them to have a freedom of choice, and to behave in their own lives. But, in our case, the rule was violated some employee’s right, breached their liberty and destroyed their equal opportunity. The employee was forced to accept the rule against their will. The company’s rule does not premise employee to have their own rights and do not respect their own interest. The rule is inconsistent with the second principle in Kant’s approach to moral decision. Also, the rule dose not passes the first principle as well. Therefore, we can conclude that invisible tattoo or no tattoo in the workplace is morally wrong.
Act utilitarianism does not give adequate attention to employee’s right and freedom, which are considered to be our human fundamental needs or desire and is incompatible with the law of justice. The company does not accommodate and acknowledge their employees’ different cultures, backgrounds and needs. Nevertheless, another concern associated with act utilitarianism is that we judge the action to be right or wrong only depend on consequences, all the relevant action or consideration as regard to their effect on consequences. (Rachels, J. (2003). In deciding what right rule of the company, we must weighting up all the pros and cons of best promote the overall benefits over harms. In our case, we can not exclude minority employee’s wants, aspirations and opportunities, and we can not distribute overall benefits to each employee as well. For this reason, in my opinion, no tattoos in the workplace can not consider to be the morally wrong rule. Fortunately, some countries have been establish laws against the workplace discrimination, such as U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 1970, claimed that the firm can not make unlawful discrimination in the workplace, otherwise, the firm commit to the Civil Rights Act or Fair Employment Practices Acts. (Beauchamp, T. L. 2004). As for Kant ethics, the criticism of his approach in our example is that it is not indicate specifically and sufficiently if it would be acceptable to violate the fairness or rights of employee in some special situation. In my opinion, some rule can not be universalized according to some particular situation. In our case, if the rule says that employee can have tattoos in the workplace, then, this rule would, in some circumstance, increase the burden of company and perhaps, damage the image of whole company. In spite of above two theories, the company must address a variety of complex issue. Rules based on dress code should take ethnic characteristics or different racial into account, and try to avoid setting standard that would deny an employees’ job performance.
Reference
All Business. (2009).Understanding workplace discrimination. Retrieved November 15, 2009. from:
http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/workplace-health-safety-employment/1317-1.html
Pressel, D. (2009).Discrimination in the workplace: Ignorance is not bliss- know what awaits you in the work force. Retrieved November 20, 2009. from:
http://www.sfsu.edu/~career/Handouts_Forms/DiscriminationAtWork.pdf
Purcell, B. (2009). Workplace harassment and employment discrimination. Retrieved November 27, 2009. from:
http://www.braytonlaw.com/practiceareas/harass.htm
Rachels, J. (2003). The elements of moral philosophy. (4th Edition). New York. McGraw-Hill companies.
Baron, D. P. (2005). Business and its environment. (5th Edition). New Jersey. Pearson Education, Inc.
Beauchamp, T. L. (2004). Case studies in business, society, and ethics. (5th Edition). New Jersey. Pearson Education, Inc.
Richardson, J. E. (2007). Business ethics. (9th Edition). Dubuque. McGraw-Hill Companies.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Kelly's Essay
Different Views on Narrowing the Gap Between Urban Areas and Rural Areas in China
With the development of economy, the gap between urban areas and rural areas has become a popular concern by many countries. Looking back to the past few decades, you will find out that because of the unbalanced income, the differences between urban areas and rural areas had appeared gradually, lots of rural young people went to cities to look for work and left the fertile lands uncultivated. Should we narrow the gap between urban areas and rural areas? There is a fierce controversy over this issue. Some one think there’s no need to worry about this phenomenon, while others stick the different opinions, they think that we should pay more attention on this gap. In this essay, I’m going to look at the different sides of the argument and give conclusion.
Some people hold the view that it is unnecessary to narrow the gap between urban areas and rural areas. They think the developed level of one place is related to its location, since the land was unequally distributed, the gap occurred. For example, coastal areas are usually richer than inland areas. To some extent, the gap is the result of the development of the whole society. We do not have to narrow the gap between urban areas and rural areas because we are not able to change the location of one place. Besides, narrowing the gap needs to invest quite a lot of money. The government has to spend money on a wide variety of things, and what we need to do now is to make effort on construction of infrastructures. Bridging the gap is not so urgent at the moment. However, this idea is usually not acceptable because the public awareness of the gap between urban areas and rural areas has raised in recent years, more and more people get to know the disadvantages of the gap.
By contrast, some people have different opinions about the former view which I strongly agree with. They think it is important for government to adjust its national income distribution system, and invest more money in the rural areas in China. Since the gap between city and countryside becomes larger, it is not good for stability and sustainment of the whole society. The distribution of wealth between urban and rural people is a huge issue of this problem, no one will be comfortable living in a impoverished area with poor education. It is said that the gap between city and countryside has become the biggest barrier to the development of economy. China Agricultural Minister Sun Zhengcai said the average income rate between city and countryside had gone up to 3.33:1 in 2007 (Zhou Yingfeng & Wang Fei, 2008). Although the government is making effort to solve this problem, we still need to pay attention on it.
Moreover, people who stick the opinion that the gap between city and countryside should be bridged because they think it can stop the migration from rural areas to urban areas. The migration of rural labour to urban areas in China since the mid-1980s has created the largest labour flow in the world history. A commonly cited figure puts the number of rural migrations residing in urban areas at 50 million in the mid-1990s (Zhao Yaohui, 1999). Lacking of labour force makes the farm lands abandoned and be left uncultivated. As is known to all, China owns a large population, it is difficult to feed so many people without enough farm lands. Besides, this also causes a big pressure to the lands in urban areas, the housing prices has gone up quickly during recent years. As a result, the Chinese government has to launch a policy to restrict migration from rural to urban areas. Hopefully narrowing the gap between city and countryside can slow the migration.
Last but not least, the gap between urban areas and rural areas contributes to the low education level in the rural areas. Because of poverty, many children lose the opportunity to go to school. The government invested more money in urban areas than in rural areas, so the educational facilities are very poor in rural areas, not so many knowledgeable teachers are willing to teach there, these lead to the low teaching standard in rural areas. As a result, rural students’ studying skills are not so good as urban students’. Many rural students have to leave school and start to work early in their lives to support their families. A recent research shows that urban students are better at reading, writing, math and they are able to deal with more complicated relationships than rural students (Pan Weibo, 2009). However, education is the prime force of productivity. Narrowing the gap between city and countryside is needed to provide equal opportunities to students in education.
To walk out of this difficult situation, the government has to take responsibility to bridge the gap between urban areas and rural areas. As I said before, they should gradually adjust its national income distribution system, and invest more money in rural areas. In 2004, Chinese government abolished the agricultural tax for which the farmers had to pay before. Although the government had tried to make efforts to solve this problem, with a large population, the achievement was not so satisfying. Besides, medical care in rural areas needs to be improved. Confirmed data shows that 90 per cent farmers had to pay by themselves when they went to see the doctors. Also, the government ought to pay more attention on educations in rural areas, and consummate the rural educational systems.
In sum, although investing money to the construction of infrastructures is important, I am convinced that the gap between urban areas and rural areas can not be ignored. With the increasingly large gap between urban areas and rural areas, many problems emerged, such as social instability, migration and education problems. The existence of the gap shows an unbalanced development through the past years, and the gap is getting larger. Individuals have already raised their awareness on this issue as well. Since the government has attached importance to this phenomenon, and made efforts to solve it, maybe the gap is going to be bridged not far in the future.
Bibliographies:
David S. Landes (1999) ‘Why are We So Rich and They So Poor?’, The American Economic Review, Vol.80, No.2, (eds) Papers and Proceedings of the One Hundred Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, pp.1-13.
Zhao Yaohui (1999) ‘Leaving the countryside: Rural-To-Urban Migration Decisions in China’, The American Economic Review, Vol.89, No.2, (eds) Papers and Proceedings of the One Hundred Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, pp.281-286.
Zhou Yingfeng & Wang Fei (2008) ‘the average income rate between city and countryside has gone up to 3.33:1’, http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-08/28/content_9730713.htm
Li Xiaohua (2009) ‘Income gap between city and countryside grows’, http://www.china.org.cn/china/news/2009-06/16/content_17956039.htm
He Limin (1998) ‘Narrow the gap in education between urban areas and rural areas’,http://space.30edu.com/04350323/ReadArticle.aspx?ID=de6e48ea-b449-4bd6-ab8a-70aa1998d1f2
Pan Weibo (2009) ‘A research on the gap between city and countryside in China’,http://www.12371.gov.cn/ShowArticle.aspx?MsgID=CA20091029195928584000412&PublisherID=000.012.001&Code=000.012.001
With the development of economy, the gap between urban areas and rural areas has become a popular concern by many countries. Looking back to the past few decades, you will find out that because of the unbalanced income, the differences between urban areas and rural areas had appeared gradually, lots of rural young people went to cities to look for work and left the fertile lands uncultivated. Should we narrow the gap between urban areas and rural areas? There is a fierce controversy over this issue. Some one think there’s no need to worry about this phenomenon, while others stick the different opinions, they think that we should pay more attention on this gap. In this essay, I’m going to look at the different sides of the argument and give conclusion.
Some people hold the view that it is unnecessary to narrow the gap between urban areas and rural areas. They think the developed level of one place is related to its location, since the land was unequally distributed, the gap occurred. For example, coastal areas are usually richer than inland areas. To some extent, the gap is the result of the development of the whole society. We do not have to narrow the gap between urban areas and rural areas because we are not able to change the location of one place. Besides, narrowing the gap needs to invest quite a lot of money. The government has to spend money on a wide variety of things, and what we need to do now is to make effort on construction of infrastructures. Bridging the gap is not so urgent at the moment. However, this idea is usually not acceptable because the public awareness of the gap between urban areas and rural areas has raised in recent years, more and more people get to know the disadvantages of the gap.
By contrast, some people have different opinions about the former view which I strongly agree with. They think it is important for government to adjust its national income distribution system, and invest more money in the rural areas in China. Since the gap between city and countryside becomes larger, it is not good for stability and sustainment of the whole society. The distribution of wealth between urban and rural people is a huge issue of this problem, no one will be comfortable living in a impoverished area with poor education. It is said that the gap between city and countryside has become the biggest barrier to the development of economy. China Agricultural Minister Sun Zhengcai said the average income rate between city and countryside had gone up to 3.33:1 in 2007 (Zhou Yingfeng & Wang Fei, 2008). Although the government is making effort to solve this problem, we still need to pay attention on it.
Moreover, people who stick the opinion that the gap between city and countryside should be bridged because they think it can stop the migration from rural areas to urban areas. The migration of rural labour to urban areas in China since the mid-1980s has created the largest labour flow in the world history. A commonly cited figure puts the number of rural migrations residing in urban areas at 50 million in the mid-1990s (Zhao Yaohui, 1999). Lacking of labour force makes the farm lands abandoned and be left uncultivated. As is known to all, China owns a large population, it is difficult to feed so many people without enough farm lands. Besides, this also causes a big pressure to the lands in urban areas, the housing prices has gone up quickly during recent years. As a result, the Chinese government has to launch a policy to restrict migration from rural to urban areas. Hopefully narrowing the gap between city and countryside can slow the migration.
Last but not least, the gap between urban areas and rural areas contributes to the low education level in the rural areas. Because of poverty, many children lose the opportunity to go to school. The government invested more money in urban areas than in rural areas, so the educational facilities are very poor in rural areas, not so many knowledgeable teachers are willing to teach there, these lead to the low teaching standard in rural areas. As a result, rural students’ studying skills are not so good as urban students’. Many rural students have to leave school and start to work early in their lives to support their families. A recent research shows that urban students are better at reading, writing, math and they are able to deal with more complicated relationships than rural students (Pan Weibo, 2009). However, education is the prime force of productivity. Narrowing the gap between city and countryside is needed to provide equal opportunities to students in education.
To walk out of this difficult situation, the government has to take responsibility to bridge the gap between urban areas and rural areas. As I said before, they should gradually adjust its national income distribution system, and invest more money in rural areas. In 2004, Chinese government abolished the agricultural tax for which the farmers had to pay before. Although the government had tried to make efforts to solve this problem, with a large population, the achievement was not so satisfying. Besides, medical care in rural areas needs to be improved. Confirmed data shows that 90 per cent farmers had to pay by themselves when they went to see the doctors. Also, the government ought to pay more attention on educations in rural areas, and consummate the rural educational systems.
In sum, although investing money to the construction of infrastructures is important, I am convinced that the gap between urban areas and rural areas can not be ignored. With the increasingly large gap between urban areas and rural areas, many problems emerged, such as social instability, migration and education problems. The existence of the gap shows an unbalanced development through the past years, and the gap is getting larger. Individuals have already raised their awareness on this issue as well. Since the government has attached importance to this phenomenon, and made efforts to solve it, maybe the gap is going to be bridged not far in the future.
Bibliographies:
David S. Landes (1999) ‘Why are We So Rich and They So Poor?’, The American Economic Review, Vol.80, No.2, (eds) Papers and Proceedings of the One Hundred Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, pp.1-13.
Zhao Yaohui (1999) ‘Leaving the countryside: Rural-To-Urban Migration Decisions in China’, The American Economic Review, Vol.89, No.2, (eds) Papers and Proceedings of the One Hundred Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, pp.281-286.
Zhou Yingfeng & Wang Fei (2008) ‘the average income rate between city and countryside has gone up to 3.33:1’, http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-08/28/content_9730713.htm
Li Xiaohua (2009) ‘Income gap between city and countryside grows’, http://www.china.org.cn/china/news/2009-06/16/content_17956039.htm
He Limin (1998) ‘Narrow the gap in education between urban areas and rural areas’,http://space.30edu.com/04350323/ReadArticle.aspx?ID=de6e48ea-b449-4bd6-ab8a-70aa1998d1f2
Pan Weibo (2009) ‘A research on the gap between city and countryside in China’,http://www.12371.gov.cn/ShowArticle.aspx?MsgID=CA20091029195928584000412&PublisherID=000.012.001&Code=000.012.001
Lance's work
Luxury Consumption in China, Necessary or Reasonable?
Luxuries, as a rare, useless and expensive image to people, traditionally, in China, they only belong to nobles or very rich people in the past. However, due to the dramatic economic development, the middle class has become the main consumer of luxuries; the image has become a symbol of rich and power. It is normal that a middle class wears a full set of luxury logos driving a posh car to work. Indeed, in the past few years, the pace of luxury consumption has kept increasing as 20% every year, even when the world is suffering the global financial crisis, it stood still. In comparison, Japan used to be the largest luxury market in Asia, the second largest in the world, and now, China had taken it over. Many luxury brands came to China to in order to expend their market share. Versace, a world famous brand, has declared that they had decided to shut down all the shops in Japan one month ago, and they are willing to double their shops in China which would possibly reach 44 next year.
It all seems that China is so rich that people are encouraged to purchase these rare and expensive goods which most people could hardly dare to think about. It is said that people should save their spending on luxuries as much as possible in order to fight against the economic crisis that the whole world is suffering. The aim of consumption is to stimulate productivity. Should this kind of consumption behavior which is considered to be unnecessary really be encouraged in China, or reasonable and sensible?
As a social value, only rich people could afford luxuries, which shows their wealth, and it’s unnecessary. However, more and more people in China could purchase luxuries without any hesitation, which suggests the economic development in China for the last 20 years is successful. One benefit of luxury consumption is to encourage rich people to share their wealth with others. More than 20 years ago, when China was about to process the economic reformation was to have a few people become rich first, in order to excite consumption, then the rests would be rich in future. Indeed, the millionaire club has kept increasing and the result is obvious. As a research shows (Mckinsey, 2009), there are 18 thousand billionaires, 4.4 thousand millionaires, 250 million middle class and 195 million of the population is able to afford luxuries in China as a result of the economic development during last 10 years. A consumption chain has formed, higher consumption rates lead a higher social need, which acquires more production, and then more welfare will be offered to the workers, and as time goes by, they may be rich one day. It seems all of these are good for the economic development in China, or is it?
KPMG had a investigation in China about the luxury market last year (China luxury consumers, 2008), which was collected as questionnaire in 15 cities, between the age of 20 to 44 and the average monthly incomes are above RMB 3,500. 59% of them are bachelors and 11% are masters, and 56% are male. This research shows the luxury market in China has become saturated since last two years. It is interesting that these consumers still keep a conservative and cautious attitude to credit consumption, which suggests that credit model was not the reason why luxury consumption has kept increasing. Additionally, it also illustrates there will be a steady growth in future. Another aspect that this report focuses on is the reason why Chinese customers are seeking luxuries, the result showed that to flaunt is the most significant consumption power rather than collection or enjoyment. And the goods that people prefer the most are watches, jewelries and clothes, rather than super cars or IT products.
However, most of those luxuries which are chasing by Chinese are more likely to be made in Europe or North America or originally from these areas. Most native brands of luxury are considered to be lack of competitive strength. Overseas brand are more attractive than natives, even they are made in China. When purchasing, these overseas brands are the first priority to be consider by consumers. In contrast, the native brands are impacted by such consumption behaviors, in other words, there will be no place for them to survive in the market. In this case, the purpose of economic innovation is missing; the great amount of wealth which supposes to share with other classes is going abroad. The living condition of other classes could hardly improve unless spending reasonable and sensible.
As a result of the global economic crisis, the global luxury market has kept decreasing; companies need to expend their market share in order to reduce the lost. Obviously, China is the best option. It is no doubt that the pace of economic development of China is the fastest in the world, which suggests higher consumption in order to improve productivity. However, this blind consumption behavior could only lead to a situation that the wealth which has obtained generation by generation may be lost soon. In addition, China also has the largest population in the world, when rich people spend money on goods unnecessarily, there are a lot of people are needy and suffering illness in the countryside. One of the traditional and basic principles suggests frugality. In another words, wealth should have been spent on other aspects which are more reasonable and sensible rather than on luxuries.
References:
Atsmon, Y, Ding, J, Dixit, V, St-Maurice, I & Suessmuth-Dyckerhoff, C (2009) ‘2009 Wealthy China consumer report’. Insight China, McKinsey&Company. Available at: http://www.mckinsey.com/locations/chinasimplified/mckonchina/reports/mcKinsey_wealthy_consumer_report_cn.pdf [Assessed 19/11/2009]
Chinanewsweek. (2009) China will become the largest luxury market in the world. Available at: http://city.finance.sina.com.cn/city/2009-11-30/118029.html [Accessed: 30/11/2009]
Huicongzhengbaishi. (2009) The report of luxury consumption of Chinese citizen. Available at: http://info.huicong.com/2009/10/15142080323.shtml [Accessed: 7/11/2009]
KMPG (2008) China luxury consumers, KMPT CHINA. Available at: http://www.kpmg.com.cn/sc/virtual_library/Consumer_markets/ChinaLuxuryConsumers.pdf [Accessed: 18/11/2009]
Luxuries, as a rare, useless and expensive image to people, traditionally, in China, they only belong to nobles or very rich people in the past. However, due to the dramatic economic development, the middle class has become the main consumer of luxuries; the image has become a symbol of rich and power. It is normal that a middle class wears a full set of luxury logos driving a posh car to work. Indeed, in the past few years, the pace of luxury consumption has kept increasing as 20% every year, even when the world is suffering the global financial crisis, it stood still. In comparison, Japan used to be the largest luxury market in Asia, the second largest in the world, and now, China had taken it over. Many luxury brands came to China to in order to expend their market share. Versace, a world famous brand, has declared that they had decided to shut down all the shops in Japan one month ago, and they are willing to double their shops in China which would possibly reach 44 next year.
It all seems that China is so rich that people are encouraged to purchase these rare and expensive goods which most people could hardly dare to think about. It is said that people should save their spending on luxuries as much as possible in order to fight against the economic crisis that the whole world is suffering. The aim of consumption is to stimulate productivity. Should this kind of consumption behavior which is considered to be unnecessary really be encouraged in China, or reasonable and sensible?
As a social value, only rich people could afford luxuries, which shows their wealth, and it’s unnecessary. However, more and more people in China could purchase luxuries without any hesitation, which suggests the economic development in China for the last 20 years is successful. One benefit of luxury consumption is to encourage rich people to share their wealth with others. More than 20 years ago, when China was about to process the economic reformation was to have a few people become rich first, in order to excite consumption, then the rests would be rich in future. Indeed, the millionaire club has kept increasing and the result is obvious. As a research shows (Mckinsey, 2009), there are 18 thousand billionaires, 4.4 thousand millionaires, 250 million middle class and 195 million of the population is able to afford luxuries in China as a result of the economic development during last 10 years. A consumption chain has formed, higher consumption rates lead a higher social need, which acquires more production, and then more welfare will be offered to the workers, and as time goes by, they may be rich one day. It seems all of these are good for the economic development in China, or is it?
KPMG had a investigation in China about the luxury market last year (China luxury consumers, 2008), which was collected as questionnaire in 15 cities, between the age of 20 to 44 and the average monthly incomes are above RMB 3,500. 59% of them are bachelors and 11% are masters, and 56% are male. This research shows the luxury market in China has become saturated since last two years. It is interesting that these consumers still keep a conservative and cautious attitude to credit consumption, which suggests that credit model was not the reason why luxury consumption has kept increasing. Additionally, it also illustrates there will be a steady growth in future. Another aspect that this report focuses on is the reason why Chinese customers are seeking luxuries, the result showed that to flaunt is the most significant consumption power rather than collection or enjoyment. And the goods that people prefer the most are watches, jewelries and clothes, rather than super cars or IT products.
However, most of those luxuries which are chasing by Chinese are more likely to be made in Europe or North America or originally from these areas. Most native brands of luxury are considered to be lack of competitive strength. Overseas brand are more attractive than natives, even they are made in China. When purchasing, these overseas brands are the first priority to be consider by consumers. In contrast, the native brands are impacted by such consumption behaviors, in other words, there will be no place for them to survive in the market. In this case, the purpose of economic innovation is missing; the great amount of wealth which supposes to share with other classes is going abroad. The living condition of other classes could hardly improve unless spending reasonable and sensible.
As a result of the global economic crisis, the global luxury market has kept decreasing; companies need to expend their market share in order to reduce the lost. Obviously, China is the best option. It is no doubt that the pace of economic development of China is the fastest in the world, which suggests higher consumption in order to improve productivity. However, this blind consumption behavior could only lead to a situation that the wealth which has obtained generation by generation may be lost soon. In addition, China also has the largest population in the world, when rich people spend money on goods unnecessarily, there are a lot of people are needy and suffering illness in the countryside. One of the traditional and basic principles suggests frugality. In another words, wealth should have been spent on other aspects which are more reasonable and sensible rather than on luxuries.
References:
Atsmon, Y, Ding, J, Dixit, V, St-Maurice, I & Suessmuth-Dyckerhoff, C (2009) ‘2009 Wealthy China consumer report’. Insight China, McKinsey&Company. Available at: http://www.mckinsey.com/locations/chinasimplified/mckonchina/reports/mcKinsey_wealthy_consumer_report_cn.pdf [Assessed 19/11/2009]
Chinanewsweek. (2009) China will become the largest luxury market in the world. Available at: http://city.finance.sina.com.cn/city/2009-11-30/118029.html [Accessed: 30/11/2009]
Huicongzhengbaishi. (2009) The report of luxury consumption of Chinese citizen. Available at: http://info.huicong.com/2009/10/15142080323.shtml [Accessed: 7/11/2009]
KMPG (2008) China luxury consumers, KMPT CHINA. Available at: http://www.kpmg.com.cn/sc/virtual_library/Consumer_markets/ChinaLuxuryConsumers.pdf [Accessed: 18/11/2009]
IBRAHIM M ALTOWAIJRI Essay
FINANCIAL CRISIS
INTRODUCTION
In the resent few years no one expected the current financial crisis will happen as occurred .Increasing demand on banking productions such as mortgages, currency exchange and investment in financial market prompted banks to offer several services to increase their profits by encourage people to join this marketing with poor regulation and large volume of risk by loaned them a high quantity of money. People around the world have been becoming more interested about business news which attracted people to pay attention who they growth their wealth or to get own house rather than rent a house. according to the( Wikipedia for the 2008-2009 crisis)" The term financial crisis is applied broadly to a variety of situations in which some financial institutions or assets suddenly lose a large part of their value". The question is what are reasons for the present recession crisis? And how we can came up of this crisis? Therefore, this essay will explain some reasons of current financial crisis and give a suggestions to solve this problem.
What are the reasons of the current financial crisis?
To explain some of the underlying reasons for the causes of the present recession crisis. The essay is based on predominantly two schools of thought carried and conveyed by two respective scholars.
Firstly, According to the( kabalistic2009) views, the ego of narrow personal interest for pursuit of wealth duo to internal conflict .Knock on effect by infectious collapse when some element happen in financial institutions infect others which we need to fortify our understanding of future to prevent repercussions of inaccurate predictions for make balance and harmony between all element means of deal with nature systems not with artificial systems.
Capitalism gave every one right to attain the wealth by any possible way with out impose enough regulation to protect macroeconomic from individual greed. Weaknesses in the law and financial regulation in capitalist countries and the lack of control on financial transactions stimulated the workers of financial institutions and individuals to focus on the increasing of their profit with out considerable the risk that may result from these measures .
Secondly, according to (Siejel at Knowledge Wharton in 2009), U.S stock market lose more than third of its value. The fatal flaw when the government allow banks to creating bundling for supply more mortgages and government encourage people who in low and middle income to buying homes which hence increased home price rabidly .Intervene bailing out Lehman Brothers by government cause crisis of confidence .The massive failure by traders and CEO about homes prices would go in just one direction.
Inaccurate analysis of the general trend of the market by traders and business managers, and competition to achieve the highest profitability ratios ignoring the fact that a bounce is the opposite may occur at any time, most of them pumping their savings to catch the largest possible proportion of the profits because of the continuing rise in the price of real estate and financial market, unjustified with low distributions and returns on these investment.
Solutions:
According to (Jakabovies:25/09/2008) has proposal for government to buy mortgages from the homeowners which can not be able to pay their payments to local banks that will lead to a good result by creating new money in home market. People and bank in this solution will be able to pay their payment for creditors which allow them to start again land money. The economy will increase and government can sell these houses again in new markets in Wall Street.
Also (Jakabovies: 25/09/2008) suggestion for government to impose new law and regulations the homeowners will going to pay their mortgages.
This proposal will work just in short time but not forever because of, when the banks start to make profit they will not commitment in this role any more. They try to avoid encumber to achieve their target of profit. New generations do not new about previous financial crisis as existing just like some thing from history they should new about it not they must learn from it to prevent it happen in other time. The crisis will occur in next time by the economic cycle and home price start to increase and demand for mortgages by young workers will rising and banks creating bound to exploiting this opportunities to make bagger of profitable with ignoring all crisis which happen on the past.
(Siegel : January 21/2009) offering to government to set up new banks to be able land money to new consumer and investors rather than give money to old banks which they lose confidence from people, who want to save their money or to invest in low risk investment. Also he support government to reduce interest rate to be near zero to avoid any demand dose not have enough security to make sure they will be able to pay money back.
Conclusion
To sum up all these reasons and solutions to solve this problem we have study this crisis from the roots not from the top and treat it to lead us be able to prevent next crisis to happen with out take painkillers as (Kabalistic) views .
Bibliography
What Really Lies Behind the Financial Crisis?: Knowledge@Wharton
(http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2148_02/12/2009)
http://www.kabbalah.info/engkab/kabbalah-worldwide/ynetnews#a-kabbalistic-interpretation-of-the-economic-crisis_02/12/09
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_crisis
Real Solutions to the Financial Crisis
Andrew Jakabovics September 25, 2008
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/09/real_solutions.html_02/12/09
Afghanistan war and history (Essay)
Afghanistan war and history
Afghanistan is a country of more than 5000 years of history. This country has been developed of several different cultures, traditions, religions, and has huge civilization & education background. Its first name Ancient was Ariana, later named Khurasan and now THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN. Arians were the first people in the world that established cities. Also developer of 3 different Religions in the region as Buddhism, Brahman, & Zurdashat, and finally after hardship introduced to Islam. Afghanistan for its geo-political location, rich natural resources, wonderful beauty been many times under attacks of conquerors, like Alexander the great, British, Russians & others. Sometimes it had been part of another territory or a large part of other territories added to Ariana/Khurasan territory. A country with freedom and peace loving people, but always struggled for their rights & freedom. Never accept any foreign rule or occupation.
Different Mujahadeen warlords occupied different cities and regions of the country. Burhanuddin Rabbani, the same Northern Alliance warlord who recently took Kabul from the Taliban, was the warlord who ruled over the city from 1992 until his ouster in 1996. During his reign over 60,000 people were murdered and thousands of women were raped. Current Northern Alliance warlord Rashid Dostum who is in control of the city of Mazar –E – Sharif, also ruled over it from 1992 until his ouster in 1997. Similarly the warlord Ismail Khan again rules the city of Heart, which he also ruled from 1992 to 1995; and warlord Yunis Khalis is back in control of Jalabad, which he ruled from 1992 to 1996. Once in power the Taliban sought to create a theocratic state based on their interpretations of the Koran (John Willam Kaye, “History Of The War In Afghanistan”). Though already severely repressed by the various Mujahadeen warlords, the plight of Afghanistan’s women was made even worse under the new regime. The veil became the law of the land, and women were forbidden from attending school or holding employment outside of the home. Television was banned and an effort was made to purge the country of any signs or remnants of secular or Western influence. The country became politically and diplomatically isolated. Then came the current war. Following the September 11 World Trade Center bombings the United States accused Osama Bin Laden of the crime. Bin Laden, who had left Afghanistan following the defeat of the Soviets, had returned after falling out of favor in Saudi Arabia, and being pressured to leave his first nation of refuge, the Sudan. Within a few weeks the United States began bombing the impoverished country, as well as providing active support to the Northern Alliance warlords (Kenneth Katzman, “CRS report for Congress”, July 11, 2008). Following weeks of devastating bombing, and several failed offensives, the Northern Alliance succeeded in breaking out of its northern enclave, seizing the city of Mazar – E – Sharif, and then moving on to take Kabul. This set in motion a series of defeats for the Taliban, which began surrendering and abandoning almost every major city in the country, and retreating into the mountains. The U.S. meanwhile has continued its bombing campaign, and now has Marines on the ground hunting for Bin Laden. All the while the people of Afghanistan continue to suffer.
The Taliban resistance in Afghanistan is a threat to American freedoms and the US military presence in Afghanistan is necessary for America's national security. The controversial issue is whether or not a U.S. military presence is necessary in Afghanistan. The history of the war in Afghanistan is the Taliban's presence and influence in the area. The armed forces of Afghanistan are weak and ill-equipped to deal with the Taliban. The threat posed by the Taliban's alarmingly large support base and is a popular hide-out for high profile Taliban commanders (AFGHANISTAN’S NARCO WAR: BREAKING THE LINK BETWEEN DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND INSURGENTS, August 10, 2009).
I have strong opinion that there is undeniable evidence on the topic that can prove the Taliban resistance in Afghanistan. The first argument in opposition to the Taliban emergence maintains that the Taliban insurgents are defeated and that the overall situation could be classified as stable. There are numerous facts and events that show the emergence of the Taliban as a fighting force. The average number of violent accidents per month in Afghanistan has increased by 529 deaths per month from 2003 to 2008. This is followed by an increase of casualties inside the US and British forces deployed in the country. The US forces have seen an increase of 218 casualties per year from 2003 to 2008 and the British forces have seen an increase of 64 casualties per year, which is Britain's highest casualty rate since the end of World War II. These numbers are a proof of the escalation of the fight in Afghanistan and also of the Taliban's improved skills in operational planning and executing (Tim Dyhouse, “Afghanistan: ‘The Forgotten War’”).
It’s hard to say how much longer the Taliban will continue to fight, or when the U.S. will end its war. Currently Northern Alliance warlords, southern Pashtun warlords, opportunistic emigre politicians, and even supporters of the aging deposed autocrat King Zahir Shah, are arguing about who will be the exploiter-in-chief of the devastated land. Most likely they will come up with some sort of coalition government that will perhaps hold the different factions together, perhaps not. In the end it matters little, since none of the figures involved represent the people of this country, and none of them seem to have ever had their interests at heart. The most immediate thing would be for the United States government to end its bombing, withdraw its troops, and respect the Afghan people’s right to self-determination. And while this alone would not end all of the bloodshed and the fighting, it would create a situation where the workers and farmers of Afghanistan would be more able to cast off the warlords and petty feudal tyrants, take control of their destinies, and create a society that is based upon cooperation and solidarity. Towards that end let us redouble our efforts to stop the U.S. bombing, to stop the U.S. war on the people of Afghanistan.
Bibliography
1. John Willam Kaye, 'History Of The War In Afghanistan'.
2. Kenneth Katzman, 'CRS report for Congress', July 11, 2008.
3. AFGHANISTAN’S NARCO WAR: BREAKING THE LINK BETWEEN DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND INSURGENTS, August 10, 2009.
4. Tim Dyhouse, 'Afghanistan: ‘The Forgotten War'.
Afghanistan is a country of more than 5000 years of history. This country has been developed of several different cultures, traditions, religions, and has huge civilization & education background. Its first name Ancient was Ariana, later named Khurasan and now THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN. Arians were the first people in the world that established cities. Also developer of 3 different Religions in the region as Buddhism, Brahman, & Zurdashat, and finally after hardship introduced to Islam. Afghanistan for its geo-political location, rich natural resources, wonderful beauty been many times under attacks of conquerors, like Alexander the great, British, Russians & others. Sometimes it had been part of another territory or a large part of other territories added to Ariana/Khurasan territory. A country with freedom and peace loving people, but always struggled for their rights & freedom. Never accept any foreign rule or occupation.
Different Mujahadeen warlords occupied different cities and regions of the country. Burhanuddin Rabbani, the same Northern Alliance warlord who recently took Kabul from the Taliban, was the warlord who ruled over the city from 1992 until his ouster in 1996. During his reign over 60,000 people were murdered and thousands of women were raped. Current Northern Alliance warlord Rashid Dostum who is in control of the city of Mazar –E – Sharif, also ruled over it from 1992 until his ouster in 1997. Similarly the warlord Ismail Khan again rules the city of Heart, which he also ruled from 1992 to 1995; and warlord Yunis Khalis is back in control of Jalabad, which he ruled from 1992 to 1996. Once in power the Taliban sought to create a theocratic state based on their interpretations of the Koran (John Willam Kaye, “History Of The War In Afghanistan”). Though already severely repressed by the various Mujahadeen warlords, the plight of Afghanistan’s women was made even worse under the new regime. The veil became the law of the land, and women were forbidden from attending school or holding employment outside of the home. Television was banned and an effort was made to purge the country of any signs or remnants of secular or Western influence. The country became politically and diplomatically isolated. Then came the current war. Following the September 11 World Trade Center bombings the United States accused Osama Bin Laden of the crime. Bin Laden, who had left Afghanistan following the defeat of the Soviets, had returned after falling out of favor in Saudi Arabia, and being pressured to leave his first nation of refuge, the Sudan. Within a few weeks the United States began bombing the impoverished country, as well as providing active support to the Northern Alliance warlords (Kenneth Katzman, “CRS report for Congress”, July 11, 2008). Following weeks of devastating bombing, and several failed offensives, the Northern Alliance succeeded in breaking out of its northern enclave, seizing the city of Mazar – E – Sharif, and then moving on to take Kabul. This set in motion a series of defeats for the Taliban, which began surrendering and abandoning almost every major city in the country, and retreating into the mountains. The U.S. meanwhile has continued its bombing campaign, and now has Marines on the ground hunting for Bin Laden. All the while the people of Afghanistan continue to suffer.
The Taliban resistance in Afghanistan is a threat to American freedoms and the US military presence in Afghanistan is necessary for America's national security. The controversial issue is whether or not a U.S. military presence is necessary in Afghanistan. The history of the war in Afghanistan is the Taliban's presence and influence in the area. The armed forces of Afghanistan are weak and ill-equipped to deal with the Taliban. The threat posed by the Taliban's alarmingly large support base and is a popular hide-out for high profile Taliban commanders (AFGHANISTAN’S NARCO WAR: BREAKING THE LINK BETWEEN DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND INSURGENTS, August 10, 2009).
I have strong opinion that there is undeniable evidence on the topic that can prove the Taliban resistance in Afghanistan. The first argument in opposition to the Taliban emergence maintains that the Taliban insurgents are defeated and that the overall situation could be classified as stable. There are numerous facts and events that show the emergence of the Taliban as a fighting force. The average number of violent accidents per month in Afghanistan has increased by 529 deaths per month from 2003 to 2008. This is followed by an increase of casualties inside the US and British forces deployed in the country. The US forces have seen an increase of 218 casualties per year from 2003 to 2008 and the British forces have seen an increase of 64 casualties per year, which is Britain's highest casualty rate since the end of World War II. These numbers are a proof of the escalation of the fight in Afghanistan and also of the Taliban's improved skills in operational planning and executing (Tim Dyhouse, “Afghanistan: ‘The Forgotten War’”).
It’s hard to say how much longer the Taliban will continue to fight, or when the U.S. will end its war. Currently Northern Alliance warlords, southern Pashtun warlords, opportunistic emigre politicians, and even supporters of the aging deposed autocrat King Zahir Shah, are arguing about who will be the exploiter-in-chief of the devastated land. Most likely they will come up with some sort of coalition government that will perhaps hold the different factions together, perhaps not. In the end it matters little, since none of the figures involved represent the people of this country, and none of them seem to have ever had their interests at heart. The most immediate thing would be for the United States government to end its bombing, withdraw its troops, and respect the Afghan people’s right to self-determination. And while this alone would not end all of the bloodshed and the fighting, it would create a situation where the workers and farmers of Afghanistan would be more able to cast off the warlords and petty feudal tyrants, take control of their destinies, and create a society that is based upon cooperation and solidarity. Towards that end let us redouble our efforts to stop the U.S. bombing, to stop the U.S. war on the people of Afghanistan.
Bibliography
1. John Willam Kaye, 'History Of The War In Afghanistan'.
2. Kenneth Katzman, 'CRS report for Congress', July 11, 2008.
3. AFGHANISTAN’S NARCO WAR: BREAKING THE LINK BETWEEN DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND INSURGENTS, August 10, 2009.
4. Tim Dyhouse, 'Afghanistan: ‘The Forgotten War'.
Nicole (Advertising)
Advertising
------ Good or Bad?
Advertising, we see and hear it every day, we talk about it all the time. It is a form of communication used to influence individuals to purchase products of services or support political candidates or ideas. (Advertising, Wikipedia) It is the main way for people to get to know about the goods they want to buy. Also, most of the companies use advertising to introduce their products. Advertising has become a very important part of people’s life. Even though, it still has many negative impacts to the society. This essay will talk about the different influence of advertising. It will first have a brief introducing of advertising and its three different roles in society which included economic role, information role and entertainment role (Sheehan, 2004). And then the essay will discuss about the positive and negative influence of advertising to the society respectively.
Advertising performs different roles in the society. More specifically, it plays economic role, information role and entertainment role.
The economic role of advertising in the society should be highlighted. One of advertising’s key economic roles is to help company to sell products. Advertising helps to sell product and services by providing consumers with ideas and styles of living that can be achieved by using the products and services. These ideas are often seen as superior to the consumers’ “status quo” (Nicosia, 1974 as quoted in Kim S, 2004). Additionally, advertising could advances competition between companies in the market. Then consumers can get reasonable price for the products and services.
As an information role, advertising has a great deal of influence on the customers. Generally, customers start gets to know a product through advertising. It provides information about the products which helps customers making decision. For example, customers can compare same products with different brand through advertising.
The final role is entertainment role. As we know, advertising normally be presented through the media, such as television, newspaper, magazine or internet. So companies will try to make the advertisement as attractive as possible to get more attention from customers. Therefore, most of the advertisements not only have their basic functions but also have become to entertainment. Moreover, there are many advertising competitions in the world which could improve the standard of advertising, for instance the one club which is an American organization who encourage good advertising (The one club, Wikipedia).
For most of people, advertising is the main way to know the products. Along with the development of advertising, advertisements are everywhere nowadays. People can find it on TV, internet, newspaper, shops, even in the bus, train and underground. Thus, it is very convenient for people to get information about the products or services they want to purchase.
The information provided by advertising also can help customers to make decision to buy products or services. Meanwhile, it could teach knowledge and guide customers a different life styles. A study by a research company, Wirthlin Worldwide (1999), found that 87% of respondents to a recent survey agreed with the statement:” Before I make a major purchase, I spend a lot of time finding out as much information as I can about which brand is best.” (Sheehan 2004)
Furthermore, advertising can promote market demand. A good advertisement can inspire consumer’s desire to purchase. Then the sales of the market will be increased at the same time (Lee 2008). That is one of the reasons why many companies are willing to pay big amount of money on advertising.
Although advertising could help consumers make purchase decision, some people think that advertising encourages the customers to buy the products they do not really need. Besides some of the products are not as good as they promised in the advertisement. Take slimming pill as an example, some products make physically implausible promises such as “lose 10 pounds in 10 day” which could attract the consumers who are desperate to lose weight.
Advertising also has some unintended effects to the children. It could cause some psychological and physical problems. Some children are confused by the fact in the live and fiction in the advertisements. Some children may have stereotypical view of sex roles because of the influence of advertising. Experts suggest that babies ages are under 2 should not watch advertising. Because babies need human contact to develop socially and emotionally which include voice, image, touch and smell. But advertising only has voice and image (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1995 as quoted in Kim S, 2004). The children who watch TV more hours will have fewer hobbies. And advertising can make the children unhealthy such as obesity. They also could learn some bad things from the advertising like drugs, alcohol and early sexual activity. (Sheehan, 2004)
There always are some people complain about the advertising like deceptive advertising or its bad influence to the children. The customers have their own judgment. They have purchasing right to decide whether to buy the product or not. In addition, not all of the advertisings are bad for the children. Some of the advertisings are quite educational such as public-service announcement.
To sum up, advertising has a lot of negative influence. But generally speaking, advertising are still beneficial to the society. Apparently, it needs to be improved. There are a lot of rules and regulations about advertising. But the regulations system still not consummate. Along with the development of advertising industry, advertising will become better and much more helpful to the society.
Ruonan HAO (Nicole)
Bibliography
American Academy of Pediatrics (1995) as quoted in Kim Sheehan (2004) controversies in contemporary advertising, Sag Publications, Inc. P.173
Definition of Advertising, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising
Fuyu L.(23 Dec 2008). ‘guang gao dui she hui de ying xiang’, http://www.yewuyuan.com/article/200812/200812230046.shtml
Introduction of the one club, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Club
Kim S. (2004). ‘Advertising’s Roles in Society’, Controversies in Contemporary Advertising, Sag Publications, Inc.
Kim S. (2004). ‘Getting older younger: children and advertising’, Controversies in Contemporary Advertising, Sag Publications, Inc.
Nicosia (1974) as quoted in Kim S (2004) Controversies in Contemporary Advertising, Sag Publications, Inc, P.4-5
------ Good or Bad?
Advertising, we see and hear it every day, we talk about it all the time. It is a form of communication used to influence individuals to purchase products of services or support political candidates or ideas. (Advertising, Wikipedia) It is the main way for people to get to know about the goods they want to buy. Also, most of the companies use advertising to introduce their products. Advertising has become a very important part of people’s life. Even though, it still has many negative impacts to the society. This essay will talk about the different influence of advertising. It will first have a brief introducing of advertising and its three different roles in society which included economic role, information role and entertainment role (Sheehan, 2004). And then the essay will discuss about the positive and negative influence of advertising to the society respectively.
Advertising performs different roles in the society. More specifically, it plays economic role, information role and entertainment role.
The economic role of advertising in the society should be highlighted. One of advertising’s key economic roles is to help company to sell products. Advertising helps to sell product and services by providing consumers with ideas and styles of living that can be achieved by using the products and services. These ideas are often seen as superior to the consumers’ “status quo” (Nicosia, 1974 as quoted in Kim S, 2004). Additionally, advertising could advances competition between companies in the market. Then consumers can get reasonable price for the products and services.
As an information role, advertising has a great deal of influence on the customers. Generally, customers start gets to know a product through advertising. It provides information about the products which helps customers making decision. For example, customers can compare same products with different brand through advertising.
The final role is entertainment role. As we know, advertising normally be presented through the media, such as television, newspaper, magazine or internet. So companies will try to make the advertisement as attractive as possible to get more attention from customers. Therefore, most of the advertisements not only have their basic functions but also have become to entertainment. Moreover, there are many advertising competitions in the world which could improve the standard of advertising, for instance the one club which is an American organization who encourage good advertising (The one club, Wikipedia).
For most of people, advertising is the main way to know the products. Along with the development of advertising, advertisements are everywhere nowadays. People can find it on TV, internet, newspaper, shops, even in the bus, train and underground. Thus, it is very convenient for people to get information about the products or services they want to purchase.
The information provided by advertising also can help customers to make decision to buy products or services. Meanwhile, it could teach knowledge and guide customers a different life styles. A study by a research company, Wirthlin Worldwide (1999), found that 87% of respondents to a recent survey agreed with the statement:” Before I make a major purchase, I spend a lot of time finding out as much information as I can about which brand is best.” (Sheehan 2004)
Furthermore, advertising can promote market demand. A good advertisement can inspire consumer’s desire to purchase. Then the sales of the market will be increased at the same time (Lee 2008). That is one of the reasons why many companies are willing to pay big amount of money on advertising.
Although advertising could help consumers make purchase decision, some people think that advertising encourages the customers to buy the products they do not really need. Besides some of the products are not as good as they promised in the advertisement. Take slimming pill as an example, some products make physically implausible promises such as “lose 10 pounds in 10 day” which could attract the consumers who are desperate to lose weight.
Advertising also has some unintended effects to the children. It could cause some psychological and physical problems. Some children are confused by the fact in the live and fiction in the advertisements. Some children may have stereotypical view of sex roles because of the influence of advertising. Experts suggest that babies ages are under 2 should not watch advertising. Because babies need human contact to develop socially and emotionally which include voice, image, touch and smell. But advertising only has voice and image (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1995 as quoted in Kim S, 2004). The children who watch TV more hours will have fewer hobbies. And advertising can make the children unhealthy such as obesity. They also could learn some bad things from the advertising like drugs, alcohol and early sexual activity. (Sheehan, 2004)
There always are some people complain about the advertising like deceptive advertising or its bad influence to the children. The customers have their own judgment. They have purchasing right to decide whether to buy the product or not. In addition, not all of the advertisings are bad for the children. Some of the advertisings are quite educational such as public-service announcement.
To sum up, advertising has a lot of negative influence. But generally speaking, advertising are still beneficial to the society. Apparently, it needs to be improved. There are a lot of rules and regulations about advertising. But the regulations system still not consummate. Along with the development of advertising industry, advertising will become better and much more helpful to the society.
Ruonan HAO (Nicole)
Bibliography
American Academy of Pediatrics (1995) as quoted in Kim Sheehan (2004) controversies in contemporary advertising, Sag Publications, Inc. P.173
Definition of Advertising, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising
Fuyu L.(23 Dec 2008). ‘guang gao dui she hui de ying xiang’, http://www.yewuyuan.com/article/200812/200812230046.shtml
Introduction of the one club, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Club
Kim S. (2004). ‘Advertising’s Roles in Society’, Controversies in Contemporary Advertising, Sag Publications, Inc.
Kim S. (2004). ‘Getting older younger: children and advertising’, Controversies in Contemporary Advertising, Sag Publications, Inc.
Nicosia (1974) as quoted in Kim S (2004) Controversies in Contemporary Advertising, Sag Publications, Inc, P.4-5
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Rie's essay
Children Eat in the Isolated Island
- Eating alone makes bad influences on children's health and minds -
The trend of family has been changing over thirty years. It was common
that mothers stay at home, not work outside because the working situations at
companies were unfair for women, so most of women quitted their jobs when
they got married. However, these conditions have been improved in developed
countries, a large number of women having children work these days. Also, the lifestyle of children has been changed. Most of children in cities go to cram school for getting high mark at exams in some Asian countries. Respoundly, the percentage of children who have meal without parents is increasing today. It may cause children some health problems including both physical and mental problems. This essay will mention what happen to them because of eating alone from positive and negative sides, and some solutions to avoid them eating without families.
First of all, children get overweight by taking in too much carbohydrate and oil, not vegetables. It is allowed that children eat snacks as much as they want if they are alone at home. They become full easily by snacks, then it leads to skip meals. And, if children can control the desire to eat snacks or sweets, it is still difficult to take enough nutrition. Some family prepare the meal which is cooked by mothers, but to be honest, cooking supper in the morning can be a burden for working mothers. So, they usually give money to children to buy supper themselves. It means that children can choose foods whatever they like.
Fast food, or already food sold in supermarket are eaten quickly, and not necessary to cook. These foods are helpful for children who don't have cooking skills, that is why the children prefer to buy them. Ironically, they are not "friendly food" for children bodies. Hamburgers, pizzas, and pasta are high in calories, also unbalanced. They contains a huge fats and carbohydrates, but few vitamins and iron. The research carries that obese children more prefer to buy already food because both parents go out to work.(Ohya, 2007)
Secondary, children may get hyperactivity because of artificial colors in foods.
The research by Southampton University shows that taking in artificial food colors may cause children's conducts. Children may get good results on hyperactivity or ADHD by cutting the food that contains amount of colors. From Dr.Andrew Wadge's perspective, artificial colors are not only reason causing hyperactivity, but the research can be useful, and people who are afraid of can avoid artificial colors by checking food labels.(Food Standards Agency, 2007) This doesn't seem to connect the problem that children eat meal alone. Hence, as I mentioned before, children have own choices what they have for dinner. Foods with pretty colors attract them because they don't think how bad the artificial colors are. Their favourite snacks usually use a various type of colors. They have no limits to take unhealthy foods, so the risk of having ADHD may increase, and be higher than those who rarely eat snacks and sweets.
Moreover, the opportunity of talking with family is taken by eating alone. The relationship between children and parents becomes worse when they don't talk during eating.(Bennese Corporation, 2009) Having same meal with family or friends is more important than people expect. It is an element to make a close connection with other people.(Lupton,1999)
The lack of communication with family causes not only the bad family relationship, but also children mental problem. The communication with people at the table enriches our minds, and brings the enjoyment of eating. Having a meal with family, especially, makes become calm, be healed, and eased the tension. These effects are necessary for children to build their characters, and communication skills. The feeling of eating with parents enjoyable connects to "basic trust". If children can not get enough basic trust, they begin a new experience by themselves difficultly.(Murota, 1995)
These mental problems are sometimes more serious rather than health problem. It is hard for parents to notice them because they are invisible. And if they notice these problems, illnesses may worsen, so children needs a long treatment.
On the other hand, eating alone doesn't always cause bad effects on children.
Children can be self-sufficient by preparing meal themselves. Young people who have mothers doing only housework don't tend to cook meals themselves. They are in the situation that they don't need to cook. This may continue unless they go out homes. However, children can get a way to live themselves early if their parents work out. At the same time, they have opportunities to think about their healths, and cultivate a sense of the value of money and the knowledge of food thorough going to supermarket to prepare meals.
Furthermore, it is difficult to make a time to eat with family. Companies offer women having children some welfare programs like shortening working time, but it doesn't seem to work efficiently now. Mothers doesn't have enough time to cook supper if they cut their working time. This opinion in not only because of mothers. Children who go to cram school aren't at home at supper time. They have supper which they buy at convenience stores in a break time at cram school.
Even though there are good aspects of eating alone, we have to recognize that it has bad effects on children. Both parents and children should make effort to change their eating habits. One of possible solutions is making a day that all family members have meal together. They can share not only what they eat, but also the time to talk and know the feelings regularly. Also, having a pleasant meal aids absorption of nutrients.(Fujisawa,2002) The another solution is that parents or schools should teach cooking with knowledge of nutrition. For example, Japan has an obligation for all students to take cooking classes at schools. Through the classes, they get more interests in controlling their health by eating behaviour. Then, it can create that children choose and cook balanced meal by themselves.
Our life styles are changing, and it causes that families are separated at home. However, parents should not abandon their children's growth, they need to pay more attention to them. It is important to have balanced meal with family at home for their healths, and making a good relationship.
Bibliography
Bennese Corporation, (1999), 'Homerare keiken, shikarare keiken', Monograph Shogakusei Now, Vol. 18, No. 3, p37, http://www.crn.or.jp/LIBRARY/DATA/M2/183/M2183037.PDF, (22 Nov 2009).
Food Standards Agency, (11 Sep 2007), "Agency revises advice on certain artificial colours", http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/sep/foodcolours, (25 Oct 2009).
Fujisawa, Y.(2002), Kodomo no kokoro wo sodateru shokujigaku, Daiichi shuppan.
Lupton, D. (1999) as quoted in Maeda ,K. (2003), 'Shokuiku Saikoh', p21, http://kyoumusv2.wako.ac.jp/auto/www.wako.ac.jp/hattatsu/closed/soturonclosed2003/00d080maeda.pdf, (2 Dec 2009).
Murota, S. (1995) as quoted in Suzuki,Y. (2006), 'Koshoku kara Kyoshoku eno shokuiku no kokoromi', http://www.kyoikukensyu.metro.tokyo.jp/information/sk_daigaku/pdf/19daigakuin/14-16-suzuki.pdf, (22 Nov 2009).
Ohya, C. (2007), 'Shokushukan, seikatsushukan to jidoh no himan to kankei', pp. 148-149, http://dspace.nara-edu.ac.jp/bitstream/10105/507/1/b2007-R18.pdf, (2 Dec 2009)
- Eating alone makes bad influences on children's health and minds -
The trend of family has been changing over thirty years. It was common
that mothers stay at home, not work outside because the working situations at
companies were unfair for women, so most of women quitted their jobs when
they got married. However, these conditions have been improved in developed
countries, a large number of women having children work these days. Also, the lifestyle of children has been changed. Most of children in cities go to cram school for getting high mark at exams in some Asian countries. Respoundly, the percentage of children who have meal without parents is increasing today. It may cause children some health problems including both physical and mental problems. This essay will mention what happen to them because of eating alone from positive and negative sides, and some solutions to avoid them eating without families.
First of all, children get overweight by taking in too much carbohydrate and oil, not vegetables. It is allowed that children eat snacks as much as they want if they are alone at home. They become full easily by snacks, then it leads to skip meals. And, if children can control the desire to eat snacks or sweets, it is still difficult to take enough nutrition. Some family prepare the meal which is cooked by mothers, but to be honest, cooking supper in the morning can be a burden for working mothers. So, they usually give money to children to buy supper themselves. It means that children can choose foods whatever they like.
Fast food, or already food sold in supermarket are eaten quickly, and not necessary to cook. These foods are helpful for children who don't have cooking skills, that is why the children prefer to buy them. Ironically, they are not "friendly food" for children bodies. Hamburgers, pizzas, and pasta are high in calories, also unbalanced. They contains a huge fats and carbohydrates, but few vitamins and iron. The research carries that obese children more prefer to buy already food because both parents go out to work.(Ohya, 2007)
Secondary, children may get hyperactivity because of artificial colors in foods.
The research by Southampton University shows that taking in artificial food colors may cause children's conducts. Children may get good results on hyperactivity or ADHD by cutting the food that contains amount of colors. From Dr.Andrew Wadge's perspective, artificial colors are not only reason causing hyperactivity, but the research can be useful, and people who are afraid of can avoid artificial colors by checking food labels.(Food Standards Agency, 2007) This doesn't seem to connect the problem that children eat meal alone. Hence, as I mentioned before, children have own choices what they have for dinner. Foods with pretty colors attract them because they don't think how bad the artificial colors are. Their favourite snacks usually use a various type of colors. They have no limits to take unhealthy foods, so the risk of having ADHD may increase, and be higher than those who rarely eat snacks and sweets.
Moreover, the opportunity of talking with family is taken by eating alone. The relationship between children and parents becomes worse when they don't talk during eating.(Bennese Corporation, 2009) Having same meal with family or friends is more important than people expect. It is an element to make a close connection with other people.(Lupton,1999)
The lack of communication with family causes not only the bad family relationship, but also children mental problem. The communication with people at the table enriches our minds, and brings the enjoyment of eating. Having a meal with family, especially, makes become calm, be healed, and eased the tension. These effects are necessary for children to build their characters, and communication skills. The feeling of eating with parents enjoyable connects to "basic trust". If children can not get enough basic trust, they begin a new experience by themselves difficultly.(Murota, 1995)
These mental problems are sometimes more serious rather than health problem. It is hard for parents to notice them because they are invisible. And if they notice these problems, illnesses may worsen, so children needs a long treatment.
On the other hand, eating alone doesn't always cause bad effects on children.
Children can be self-sufficient by preparing meal themselves. Young people who have mothers doing only housework don't tend to cook meals themselves. They are in the situation that they don't need to cook. This may continue unless they go out homes. However, children can get a way to live themselves early if their parents work out. At the same time, they have opportunities to think about their healths, and cultivate a sense of the value of money and the knowledge of food thorough going to supermarket to prepare meals.
Furthermore, it is difficult to make a time to eat with family. Companies offer women having children some welfare programs like shortening working time, but it doesn't seem to work efficiently now. Mothers doesn't have enough time to cook supper if they cut their working time. This opinion in not only because of mothers. Children who go to cram school aren't at home at supper time. They have supper which they buy at convenience stores in a break time at cram school.
Even though there are good aspects of eating alone, we have to recognize that it has bad effects on children. Both parents and children should make effort to change their eating habits. One of possible solutions is making a day that all family members have meal together. They can share not only what they eat, but also the time to talk and know the feelings regularly. Also, having a pleasant meal aids absorption of nutrients.(Fujisawa,2002) The another solution is that parents or schools should teach cooking with knowledge of nutrition. For example, Japan has an obligation for all students to take cooking classes at schools. Through the classes, they get more interests in controlling their health by eating behaviour. Then, it can create that children choose and cook balanced meal by themselves.
Our life styles are changing, and it causes that families are separated at home. However, parents should not abandon their children's growth, they need to pay more attention to them. It is important to have balanced meal with family at home for their healths, and making a good relationship.
Bibliography
Bennese Corporation, (1999), 'Homerare keiken, shikarare keiken', Monograph Shogakusei Now, Vol. 18, No. 3, p37, http://www.crn.or.jp/LIBRARY/DATA/M2/183/M2183037.PDF, (22 Nov 2009).
Food Standards Agency, (11 Sep 2007), "Agency revises advice on certain artificial colours", http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/sep/foodcolours, (25 Oct 2009).
Fujisawa, Y.(2002), Kodomo no kokoro wo sodateru shokujigaku, Daiichi shuppan.
Lupton, D. (1999) as quoted in Maeda ,K. (2003), 'Shokuiku Saikoh', p21, http://kyoumusv2.wako.ac.jp/auto/www.wako.ac.jp/hattatsu/closed/soturonclosed2003/00d080maeda.pdf, (2 Dec 2009).
Murota, S. (1995) as quoted in Suzuki,Y. (2006), 'Koshoku kara Kyoshoku eno shokuiku no kokoromi', http://www.kyoikukensyu.metro.tokyo.jp/information/sk_daigaku/pdf/19daigakuin/14-16-suzuki.pdf, (22 Nov 2009).
Ohya, C. (2007), 'Shokushukan, seikatsushukan to jidoh no himan to kankei', pp. 148-149, http://dspace.nara-edu.ac.jp/bitstream/10105/507/1/b2007-R18.pdf, (2 Dec 2009)
Nancy's essay
How far is China from emerging as a fashion center?
Although many people in the fashion world consider China as a retail market only, some Chinese designers are striving to shine in the international fashion community. It will depend on multiple successful factors so that the country will become a fashion centre internationally. Fashion product is a special kind of product which would be worthless without a brand. China is a beginner in setting up international fashion brands, but we develop quickly. Many designers in China have strong ability of creativity. China also owns a large market of consumption. This essay is going to look further into these three main factors, fashion brand, designers and designer ideas, consumption idea.
The first factor is fashion brand. Famous international brands are vital for China to be a fashion centre. Most people may think that luxurious brands are the representative of materialism, as they're expensive and the effect of pleasure and showing off outweighs their practicability. However, it's just the surface of the things. Connotation and source of luxurious brands are actually spiritual and cultural. Many famous international brands tell people the legend behind their brands such as centuries-old cultural continuity. Further more, luxurious brands always have strong characteristic of national culture. For instance, France stands for romantic, Switzerland stands for accuracy, Italy stands for passion.
So, what does China stand for to the world? Chinese ancient civilization is highly thought of by the world. Silk, teas and porcelain kept coming into the West and Middle East, and was very popular among the high-society people because of the strong sense of Chinese culture. We are not lack of culture. With the development of Chinese economy and the rising nation status, demand for Chinese cultural products of the consumers around the world is becoming higher and higher. That's clearly a chance for Chinese international brands to grow up. Mario Boselli, chairman of Italy Fashion Association, thinks that in the long run, China has the best plus materials, excellent wool and a large amount of raw materials, and in the past twenty years, Chinese enterprises have made a lot of progress (Zhang, 2008). Not long ago, the Chinese brand NE Tiger set up business of high-level costume in Hong Kong. Though this tiger was only 16 years old, it shouted out a slogan of “to be the first luxury brand in China” bravely.
The second factor is designers and design ideas. A fashion centre needs a collection of international masters and indigenous designers. There used to be a lack of world-top designers in China, but now there are a number of excellent designers in Hong Kong and in Mainland China. One of mainland leading designers is Coco Ma. When she first appeared in Paris Fashion Week with her own brand Wu Yong in 2007, her designs created a sensation among the oversea fashion world. Like another famous Hong Kong designer Walter Ma said, Chinese designers are at the stage of learning. He also shows confidence to mainland designers (Lee, 2009).
Design ideas are also important. Fashion isn't necessarily style and style isn't necessarily a price tag. It should introduce new ideas about our culture. Chinese traditional culture with a long history is unique. Cheongsam is a successful example. Many Chinese film stars prefer to wear cheongsam in some important award ceremonies and are well reputed. On Shanghai APEC summit conference in 2001, twenty national leaders wearing Tang suit also caused a global run on Tang suit. Besides, oriental culture can be combined with western culture, for example, absorbing international cultures from fashion cities like Paris, Milan, London and New York.
The third factor is consumption ideas. Why do canvas bags, colorful and plastic costume accessories and purified cotton products become more and more popular in China in recent years? When people realize that human's expanded desire has brought a lot of harm to our environment, people begin to pursuit more healthy and more natural lifestyles, then vegetarian food and cotton costume emerge, so do environmental-friendly bags and costume. When economic crisis happens, fund shortage and insecurity make people transfer to concentrate on those bright-colored products with low costs. These are marks given by times. China owns a large market of consumption. Integrating with the world, Chinese people have gradually opened their mind to a wide range. So long as we follow their ideas about consumption, we get closer to the international fashion centre.
Although China satisfies the requirements on market size and productive power and other particularities, there is still some anxiety for the country to become a world fashion centre. One of these exists in people's mind, not only the designers, but also the public, even the government and companies. For designers, self-expression of Chinese designers is limited by several reasons such as traditional characteristics, economic pressure, demands of marketed. For public, the atmosphere in most cities in China except Hong Kong is not so open (Skov, 2003). Like Coco Ma speaks of how she talked to a kitten in Hong Kong, she talked to it and it approached her. In some other cities of China, they run away. In a society, if people are friendly and accept everything, including ideas, their attitudes will be reflected in even the little animals (Bullis, 2000).Besides, maybe the essence of design is not so difficult to handle. It is the business part that is hard. The talent of Chinese designers is good, but they need more government support, as well as business.
Fortunately, with the influence of globalization, fashion trend of the world are gradually adient. Many international fashion brands have come into Chinese market, and at the same time, a large amount of fashion information is being brought by internet and magazines, which imperceptibly influences people's mind. The exposure rate of Chinese designers on the world fashion stage is getting higher. Some new rules will come into existence to develop fashion industry in some big cities in China, such as Shanghai and Beijing. Chinese designers will be able to use these advantages to exert more influences on international fashion world.
As a conclusion, though we still need time to overwhelm many difficulties and work hard on developing international fashion brands of our own and fashion designs, what we've done has made it closer to the world fashion centre. Being supported by 5000-year culture and a group of people tenaciously pursuing and moving forward, China will give the world a miracle in the future.
Ling ZHENG (Nancy)
Bibliography
Douglas B. (2000). ‘Riddle in a Mystery in an Enigma’, Fashion Asia, Thames & Hudson, p191.
Kailuo L. (9 Sep 2009). ‘zhong guo li shi shang zhong xin hai you duo yuan?’,
http://pop.zoshow.com/east/2110.html
Sandra N, Ann Marie L,Carla J and Lisa S.(2003). ‘Making the Familiar Strange in Hong Kong’,Re-orienting Fashion-the globalization of Asian dress, Berg.
Shengyang Z. (5 May 2008). ‘Zhong guo she chi pin pai ru he lian cheng?’, Xinmin Weekly,
http://www.chinavalue.net/media/Article.aspx?ArticleId=25217&PageId=2
David's Homework
Does Chinese traditional culture have a positive or negative effect on modern life?
Traditional culture is the consists culture of the beliefs and practices held or observed by specific human groups that have been passed down from their ancestors through their grand-parents, parents and the society around them. Different countries have their own traditional cultures, China is no exception. Chinese traditional culture had a great impact on Chinese people’s life in education, habit, custom and so on. However, with the development of the times change, Chinese traditional culture is less important than before. In my opinion, Chinese traditional culture is still important and we should take measures to protect it. So, firstly, this essay will mention the positive effect of Chinese traditional culture on modern life, and then argue about the Chinese traditional culture have negative effect on modern life, the last part is the ways to protect the traditional culture.
Chinese traditional festivals have been an essential part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. In the past, these festivals were associated with myths and folklore tales, it was important and special for Chinese people. However, in modern times, Chinese traditional festivals is still important not because of the myths or folklore tales but because of the special meanings. For example, the Moon Cake Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is specifically aimed at families and in particular family reunions. On the Mid-Autumn day, the moon is always full, so when the full moon rises, families will meet together. They watch the glowing moon rise, eat moon cakes and sing moon poems. In China, the moon symbolizes beauty and reunion. Family reunion is very important for Chinese. Because of this special meaning, Mid-Autumn Festival still has a great effect on Chinese people's life.
Chinese traditional culture is not only has a great impact on Chinese people but also has a great impact on the world. Chinese traditional culture is beginning to capture the attention of the world. Asian countries have long history to know about the greatness in Chinese traditional culture. Their own cultures are a mix of their native culture and those Chinese characteristics. South Korea and Japan long ago adopted Chinese traditional culture such as Confucianism which is still continue today even challenged by Pop Culture. On the other hand, Kung Fu, especially, has had a great impact on the millions of people who first learned about China through it. From that, they may come to China and learn about other aspects of this culture, such as traditional operas like the Beijing and Sichuan ones. Western countries learned such things as Fengshui and other concepts that are unique in Chinese traditional culture. Currently, China is taking steps to further this spread of its culture by establishing Chinese Cultural Centers in such places as the United States and Europe, with the help of Chinese traditional culture, China is gradually to be known by the world.
But there are two sides to every coin. Some people thought traditional culture do have a negative effect on modern life. One of the opinion was that traditional festivals are clashing social values, it should be exerted cultural critique to the traditional festivals (Birgit Meyer,1998). The author used the Spanish case to show festivals always with conflict even physical violence, he also said that some traditional festivals affected by the politics. Obvious in his opinion, traditional festivals have negative effect on modern life, but it is not exactly true in China. Firstly, Chinese people celebrate traditional festivals just with their families or friends, every family has its own activities, So the ways to celebrate is different from some other countries’ traditional festivals such as “Carnival” or “Encierro”. Secondly, Chinese traditional festivals’ meaning is to have family reunions or to commemorate ancestors which are handing down for hundreds of years, it never affected by the politics. In conclusion, Chinese traditional festivals mix with the social values. It is no doubt that family love and friendship have important role in people’s modern life. People can deepen this feeling through these traditional festivals.
In the process of cultural heritage, due to the stability of the traditional culture, traditional Chinese values of education had negative effect. "Studying to becoming rich"(Borge Bakken 1988 )is traditional view of Chinese people. Traditional culture reflected in education values is to cultivate "government officials" or "celebrity" as education evaluation standard of success. It is still true that many students in China are studying for getting more money, because considering country's basic condition that only education can change people’s life and let them be rich, In the history of China, for the poor people, education is the only way to change their life condition. But as the country develops, this concept is gradually changing.
In conclusion, Chinese traditional culture still have a positive effect on modern life. It is necessary for us to take some measures to protect it .Here are two proper advices had come up by the experts to protect the traditional culture. First of all, keep traditional culture as traditional culture was. We all know that many old cities or villages keep their traditional architecture or traditional festivals for hundreds of years which attracts millions of tourists to tour and make sense of the culture. To keep it as it was that is the most direct method to protect the traditional culture and reveal it to the modern people. However, it is hard to use this method to protect the invisible traditional culture but the next method can do. The method is traditional culture adhering to modern means. For example, we make CDs for classic music so that it can not only meet modern needs but also spread further and more successfully in the modern world. The appearance of traditional culture changes, but the essence will never change and will be well accepted. So the traditional culture lies in life, forever continuing. It also has reference value for the Chinese traditional culture.
Bibliography:
Birgit Meyer(1998) 'Make a Complete Break with the past.' Memory and Post-Colonial Modernity in Ghanaian Pentecostalist Discourse, Journal of Religion in Africa, Vol. 28, Fasc. 3 (Aug., 1998), pp. 316-349
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1214170?seq=1
Borge Bakken(1988) 'Backwards Reform in Chinese Education.'The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, No. 19/20 (Jan. - Jul., 1988), pp. 127-163
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2158543
Reference:
http://www.tamu.edu/classes/cosc/choudhury/culture.html
Traditional culture is the consists culture of the beliefs and practices held or observed by specific human groups that have been passed down from their ancestors through their grand-parents, parents and the society around them. Different countries have their own traditional cultures, China is no exception. Chinese traditional culture had a great impact on Chinese people’s life in education, habit, custom and so on. However, with the development of the times change, Chinese traditional culture is less important than before. In my opinion, Chinese traditional culture is still important and we should take measures to protect it. So, firstly, this essay will mention the positive effect of Chinese traditional culture on modern life, and then argue about the Chinese traditional culture have negative effect on modern life, the last part is the ways to protect the traditional culture.
Chinese traditional festivals have been an essential part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. In the past, these festivals were associated with myths and folklore tales, it was important and special for Chinese people. However, in modern times, Chinese traditional festivals is still important not because of the myths or folklore tales but because of the special meanings. For example, the Moon Cake Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is specifically aimed at families and in particular family reunions. On the Mid-Autumn day, the moon is always full, so when the full moon rises, families will meet together. They watch the glowing moon rise, eat moon cakes and sing moon poems. In China, the moon symbolizes beauty and reunion. Family reunion is very important for Chinese. Because of this special meaning, Mid-Autumn Festival still has a great effect on Chinese people's life.
Chinese traditional culture is not only has a great impact on Chinese people but also has a great impact on the world. Chinese traditional culture is beginning to capture the attention of the world. Asian countries have long history to know about the greatness in Chinese traditional culture. Their own cultures are a mix of their native culture and those Chinese characteristics. South Korea and Japan long ago adopted Chinese traditional culture such as Confucianism which is still continue today even challenged by Pop Culture. On the other hand, Kung Fu, especially, has had a great impact on the millions of people who first learned about China through it. From that, they may come to China and learn about other aspects of this culture, such as traditional operas like the Beijing and Sichuan ones. Western countries learned such things as Fengshui and other concepts that are unique in Chinese traditional culture. Currently, China is taking steps to further this spread of its culture by establishing Chinese Cultural Centers in such places as the United States and Europe, with the help of Chinese traditional culture, China is gradually to be known by the world.
But there are two sides to every coin. Some people thought traditional culture do have a negative effect on modern life. One of the opinion was that traditional festivals are clashing social values, it should be exerted cultural critique to the traditional festivals (Birgit Meyer,1998). The author used the Spanish case to show festivals always with conflict even physical violence, he also said that some traditional festivals affected by the politics. Obvious in his opinion, traditional festivals have negative effect on modern life, but it is not exactly true in China. Firstly, Chinese people celebrate traditional festivals just with their families or friends, every family has its own activities, So the ways to celebrate is different from some other countries’ traditional festivals such as “Carnival” or “Encierro”. Secondly, Chinese traditional festivals’ meaning is to have family reunions or to commemorate ancestors which are handing down for hundreds of years, it never affected by the politics. In conclusion, Chinese traditional festivals mix with the social values. It is no doubt that family love and friendship have important role in people’s modern life. People can deepen this feeling through these traditional festivals.
In the process of cultural heritage, due to the stability of the traditional culture, traditional Chinese values of education had negative effect. "Studying to becoming rich"(Borge Bakken 1988 )is traditional view of Chinese people. Traditional culture reflected in education values is to cultivate "government officials" or "celebrity" as education evaluation standard of success. It is still true that many students in China are studying for getting more money, because considering country's basic condition that only education can change people’s life and let them be rich, In the history of China, for the poor people, education is the only way to change their life condition. But as the country develops, this concept is gradually changing.
In conclusion, Chinese traditional culture still have a positive effect on modern life. It is necessary for us to take some measures to protect it .Here are two proper advices had come up by the experts to protect the traditional culture. First of all, keep traditional culture as traditional culture was. We all know that many old cities or villages keep their traditional architecture or traditional festivals for hundreds of years which attracts millions of tourists to tour and make sense of the culture. To keep it as it was that is the most direct method to protect the traditional culture and reveal it to the modern people. However, it is hard to use this method to protect the invisible traditional culture but the next method can do. The method is traditional culture adhering to modern means. For example, we make CDs for classic music so that it can not only meet modern needs but also spread further and more successfully in the modern world. The appearance of traditional culture changes, but the essence will never change and will be well accepted. So the traditional culture lies in life, forever continuing. It also has reference value for the Chinese traditional culture.
Bibliography:
Birgit Meyer(1998) 'Make a Complete Break with the past.' Memory and Post-Colonial Modernity in Ghanaian Pentecostalist Discourse, Journal of Religion in Africa, Vol. 28, Fasc. 3 (Aug., 1998), pp. 316-349
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1214170?seq=1
Borge Bakken(1988) 'Backwards Reform in Chinese Education.'The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, No. 19/20 (Jan. - Jul., 1988), pp. 127-163
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2158543
Reference:
http://www.tamu.edu/classes/cosc/choudhury/culture.html
William's essay
Does China need film classification?
With the rapid development of China, more and more things become integrated into the global market. It is a symbol of modern society. But, in China, we don’t have the film classification, which is replaced by film censorship system. This system had changed a lot of China’s film market;, bring lots of inconvenient to directors. Audiences are influenced by this system a lot. They can’t see the original movie in China. Most movies had been cut or change parts of plots. Audiences really feel confused about this. Compare to other countries in the world, most countries have the film classification. That means film classification had became a basic and popular system in the world. We need a revolution to change this situation. In my personal view, I think we should establish the film classification system as soon as possible. In this essay, I will introduce the film censorship system in China and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of film classification
In China, we have the film censorship system, which means film need to be checked before been showed in cinema. Some films need to cut part of plots or change some parts of the story, only after everything required had been changed, then the film can be showed to the audience. Unfortunately, some film will not allow to show in cinema because the specific plots. Others need to edit a lot of the plot or cut some of them. All these actions sometimes make the film hard to understand and divide the film to small parts. Audiences can't connect the plot together. It will make them feel very confused. In addition, directors will always think about this system before or when they are shooting the film. This gives a restriction to director. They need to change their mind to make everything right, everything are follow the rules. Even though, some directors learn to cut the film by their selves before they send the film to the state administration of radio, film and television. It sounds funny, but it's the truth. As all mentioned above, the film censorship system had changed the China's film market a lot, also change some directors a lot. Directors need freedom to shoot, audiences need to see the whole story without cutting.
As we can see, film classification had been used in lots of countries in the world. We can easily find the advantages of it. First of all, it will cancel the restrict to the director, they can shoot everything they want and don't need to consider about the rules they had to before. They can show the story originally, I think it is the most basic point of movie. Secondly, audience can see the whole story instead of the cut one . In the past, people always feel very confused about the cut movie. Actually, they can't understand the main idea that the directors wanted to show. It's a really terrible feeling when you see a cut movie and don't know what was the director talk about at all. After we had film classification, It will be very easy for audiences to understand the movie than before. They can see the whole movie without cutting or changing any plots. Further more, film classification is good for children's education. It will divide the movies in different level. Children are not allowed to see the sex and violence movie in cinema, their parents will feel happy with film classification(jialeilei,2005). They don't need to worry about their children anymore. In the end, film classification let Chinese films be brought in line with international practice and also enlarge the international market. Chinese films can enter the international market easily, More and more people can see the great films which made by Chinese directors
Because film classification is a tendency of world’s film market. I think it will appear in China finally. But, some people think there are some problems about film classification. Firsty, an analyst in china think some directors will deliberately shoot some sex & violence films to attract audiences. Because they are not really understand the meaning of film classification ,they think it means encourage them to shoot sex &violence movies(zhoubin,2009). Secondly, it will rise the cost of cinemas, because they need to pay extra money to limit the young person entered the cinema when they are not allowed to see the film. Finally, some film will lose tickets from young people who are not allowed to see it. I think that's the situation the company who made the film don't want to see.(zhoubin,2009)
Although there are some problems people think will come with the film classification. But, I don’t believe those will be problems. Begin with the children, They are not the mainstream audiences of cinemas, they are busy with study and don’t have enough time to go to the cinema. They are also not interest in some adult movies. After the film classification come in, more and more people will be attract into cinema ,and these people will recover the lost tickets of children. Turning now to directors, I think most directors in China had responsibility. They will make the different movies to different audiences. It won’t take any benefits to them if they shoot lots of movies about sex or violence. I think they will follow their own idea and create wonderful movies for audiences.
With the beginning of film classification. The boundary between adult and children will easily come out. As we all know, different people have different kinds of requirements. “zhaoxiaozhao”,a writer in china said:” Different age People have different understanding of the same plot”(zhaoxiaozhao,2007). We cut the movies in order to suit all aged people. But, it will be better if we show different types original movies to different age people. We can’t enforce the people adapt to the cut movies. We need to care more about people’s opinions, we need to care more about the development of our film industry. It won’t develop well with the film censorship system. The films beneficial to all ages can’t satisfy the requirements of different kinds of people. If we continue keeping the film censorship system, it will lead our film industry to a wrong way.
To sum up, film classification is a system which had been in operation in lots of countries in the world for many years and still working now. Although it is not a perfect system and some people have different opinions of film classification. But, nothing is perfect in the world. I believe the problems all can be solved in the future. The film classification will become more and more complete. We need change. We need a revolution of our film censorship system, which had already carried out a lot of problems not only to audiences but also to directors. Therefore, film classification must be carry out in the future.
Bibliography: Zhou bin(05,april,2009)”Analysis of film classification”
http://column.entgroup.cn/1864.shtml
Jialeilei(2005 vol.05) “hundreds schools of arts”
”Scale Instead of Scissors: The Distinction between the Movie Gradation and Examination”
http://qkzz.net/magazine/1003-9104/2005/05/245522.htm
zhaoxiaozhao(2007vol.12)”Reporters’ notes”
“China is calling the film classification”
http://www1.bookan.com.cn/helib/book_intro.aspx?listid=d524c16f-4214-4d50-bc4a-a8cc804e912f
Reference:
http://www.gotoread.com/article/?MagID=7611&wid=104089
Jessica's Essay
Should new drug be tested on animal?
In the UK, any new drug that is used for medicine has to be tested on at least two different types of live mammal before the public can buy it by law . This would encourage more experiments to use animals and no one can stop it because of the law . However, the formulation of this law is too hasty because this law have not taken into accout for many important aspects including the weekness of testing, animal rights and the cost of it .
Animals have as much right to be free of pain as human beings . Because animals have very similar reaction to humans when in pain, distress and discomfort that means they also have the ability to ‘suffer’ ( Jeremy Bentham 1789) . It is a duty for humans not to cause them needless suffering . However, unfortunately according to the statistics , annually about 20 million animals are tested in experimentation and killed, three-fourths for medical purposes that nealy eight million are used in painful experiments and at least 10 percent of these animals do not received painkillers( Michael Allen Fox 1986) . What the researchers have done is arbitrarily unjust for animal and they should have moral responsibilities to the animal and the public . Because Animals also are subjects of a life like humans and the interests of animals should be respected, which includes respect for their interest to be free from undeserved pain (Jerrold Tannenbaum and Andrew N. Rowan 1985) . So based on the grounds of morality, the testing is quite cruel to animals .
Animal testing is incredibly expensive but unproductive . Animals used for testing are usually obtained from specific facilities for breeding and controlling environment but it generally costs an enormous amount of money . However, the values of output are far less than that of investment . Take AIDS research in Ametica for example, this research was in a heavy investment but the testing result for animal were disappointing . Animals being infected with HIV had not quite similar reaction compared with humans when they have AIDS and 15 laboratory workers in the US have been killed by the Marburg virus and caused by vivisection .
Animal test is not the best method for people to test new drug and it should be replaced . The main problem of this method is that the test result of animal isn’t exactly same as human because of the different physical structure, which will lead to potentially dangerous . In other words drugs that are safe or benefical to animal sometimes prove highly dangerous to us（Tom Regan and Peter Singer 1989）. Penicillin is an interesting example of a drug useful to humans that are deadly to many animals . Obviously, the difference is always existed that means the dangerous is always existed, which is difficult to eliminate . So with this dangerous problem, the method should be replced . In fact, there are many alternatives invented successful now such as human tissue sample and even computer models and programmes . These methods can be used without worring about the difference from animals and can give more accurat testing result instead of animal test . Therefore, the method using animal is not a good choice for testing drug compared with alternatives .
However, those who support animal testing argue that there is almost no differences in lab animal and humans for testing, so it is no need to worry about adverse reactions for humans different from animal . Even though the difference happened, the probability is quite low and even can be ignored . It is a truth that every coin has two sides like the testing , so there is no any weaknesses that is impossible . Also, it have made great contributions to help people against disease . On balance, its accomplishments outweigh its faults.
This point of view is correct to a certain extent, but the low probability does not mean low dangerous . At the current medical level, it is difficult to predict how dangerous the testing result will be, which is also dangerous . Furthermore, it is not the only option for testing new drug and there are many successful alternatives, then it can be easily abandoned regardless of uncertainty whether it’s dangerous .
In conclusion, it is clear that there are several main problems of the law for testing new drugs on animal . The Government should reconsider whether to continue the implementation of the law and the researcher worker should think about the ethical issues involved and to choose technique that will not only answer the scientific question but cause least distress to the animal.
Bibliography
Allen Fox, M (1986) The Case for Animal Experimentation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press).
Langley , G (1989)‘Some considerations when using animals for scientific purposes’, Animal Experimentation, pp. 170-171.
Regan, T & Singer, P ( 1989)‘The use of animal in science’， Animal Rights and Human Obligations , p. 202.
Tannenbaum, J & N. Rowan, A (1985)‘Rethinking the Morality of Animal Research’, Hastings Center Report, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 32-43.
In the UK, any new drug that is used for medicine has to be tested on at least two different types of live mammal before the public can buy it by law . This would encourage more experiments to use animals and no one can stop it because of the law . However, the formulation of this law is too hasty because this law have not taken into accout for many important aspects including the weekness of testing, animal rights and the cost of it .
Animals have as much right to be free of pain as human beings . Because animals have very similar reaction to humans when in pain, distress and discomfort that means they also have the ability to ‘suffer’ ( Jeremy Bentham 1789) . It is a duty for humans not to cause them needless suffering . However, unfortunately according to the statistics , annually about 20 million animals are tested in experimentation and killed, three-fourths for medical purposes that nealy eight million are used in painful experiments and at least 10 percent of these animals do not received painkillers( Michael Allen Fox 1986) . What the researchers have done is arbitrarily unjust for animal and they should have moral responsibilities to the animal and the public . Because Animals also are subjects of a life like humans and the interests of animals should be respected, which includes respect for their interest to be free from undeserved pain (Jerrold Tannenbaum and Andrew N. Rowan 1985) . So based on the grounds of morality, the testing is quite cruel to animals .
Animal testing is incredibly expensive but unproductive . Animals used for testing are usually obtained from specific facilities for breeding and controlling environment but it generally costs an enormous amount of money . However, the values of output are far less than that of investment . Take AIDS research in Ametica for example, this research was in a heavy investment but the testing result for animal were disappointing . Animals being infected with HIV had not quite similar reaction compared with humans when they have AIDS and 15 laboratory workers in the US have been killed by the Marburg virus and caused by vivisection .
Animal test is not the best method for people to test new drug and it should be replaced . The main problem of this method is that the test result of animal isn’t exactly same as human because of the different physical structure, which will lead to potentially dangerous . In other words drugs that are safe or benefical to animal sometimes prove highly dangerous to us（Tom Regan and Peter Singer 1989）. Penicillin is an interesting example of a drug useful to humans that are deadly to many animals . Obviously, the difference is always existed that means the dangerous is always existed, which is difficult to eliminate . So with this dangerous problem, the method should be replced . In fact, there are many alternatives invented successful now such as human tissue sample and even computer models and programmes . These methods can be used without worring about the difference from animals and can give more accurat testing result instead of animal test . Therefore, the method using animal is not a good choice for testing drug compared with alternatives .
However, those who support animal testing argue that there is almost no differences in lab animal and humans for testing, so it is no need to worry about adverse reactions for humans different from animal . Even though the difference happened, the probability is quite low and even can be ignored . It is a truth that every coin has two sides like the testing , so there is no any weaknesses that is impossible . Also, it have made great contributions to help people against disease . On balance, its accomplishments outweigh its faults.
This point of view is correct to a certain extent, but the low probability does not mean low dangerous . At the current medical level, it is difficult to predict how dangerous the testing result will be, which is also dangerous . Furthermore, it is not the only option for testing new drug and there are many successful alternatives, then it can be easily abandoned regardless of uncertainty whether it’s dangerous .
In conclusion, it is clear that there are several main problems of the law for testing new drugs on animal . The Government should reconsider whether to continue the implementation of the law and the researcher worker should think about the ethical issues involved and to choose technique that will not only answer the scientific question but cause least distress to the animal.
Bibliography
Allen Fox, M (1986) The Case for Animal Experimentation (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press).
Langley , G (1989)‘Some considerations when using animals for scientific purposes’, Animal Experimentation, pp. 170-171.
Regan, T & Singer, P ( 1989)‘The use of animal in science’， Animal Rights and Human Obligations , p. 202.
Tannenbaum, J & N. Rowan, A (1985)‘Rethinking the Morality of Animal Research’, Hastings Center Report, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 32-43.
CLAIRE'S HOMEWORK
Fast food culture
Probably in hundred of years ago, nobody even imaged that people will finish each of their meal within ten minutes or less. Actually, fast food already became a sign of our modern lifestyle. The development of fast food can be traced back to America. The first revolution of fast food happened in 1902. A great quantity of fast food chains swarm into global market: Clarence Birdseye(1920), white city (1930), McDonalds (1940), Kentucky Fried Chicken(1950)…. The AC Nielson Group is an international research organization made a survey recently, which shows 35% of Americans eat fast food at least one time monthly. However, 41%of Chinese have same habit. This report illustrates fast food restaurants are popular in global rather than in western countries. Obviously, fried chicken, potato mush and hamburgers are not the best food from USA. Whereas, they just convey a convenient lifestyle to those people who thirsty for lazy and uncomplicated life. Fast food really solves many problems in modern society. But it also changes our life even culture through many negative ways.
Less time consuming may be the most important reason that people prefer have fast food instead of traditional food. Because we can not lose the sight of fact that people have less time to enjoy their meal in modern society. Furthermore, the dishware that fast food restaurant supplied is also helpful to save time. For example, McDonald always provides paper packages and one-off stuff to customers, which aid consumers save both washing and cooking time. Actually, those facilities and dishware are also humanistic and considerate to consumers. Like appropriate tissue and tomato source, service of delivery and so on. Moreover, majority of fast food restaurants opens 24hours everyday, which provides warm and fragrant service to public. Consequently, fast food, to some extent, is the result of high-competition society and reflects the modern culture nowadays.
Hegel (1770-1831, a philosopher of the nineteenth century) said: “Only in the state does man have a rational existence”. So fast food restaurants must have their own key to be successful. Actually, fast food can satisfy the people’s needs to be full immediately and also fresh. Because the passenger flaw volume to snack bars are huge everyday, which make manufactures to grantee the freshness of foods. Consequently, customers can eat in peace.
At the first level of another hand, compared with traditional food, fast food provides less necessary nutrition that human need. Since the material of fast food is comparatively simple and monotonously, which means the elements of nutrition may in seriously shortage. The worse thing is, fried foods may cause many serious sicknesses to us. Like high blood pressure, ill effects of Cholesterol and unhealthy lifestyle. On the other sides, in ancient china, chief always add planet medicine and some portions of animals into dishes to cure or prevent diseases. However, in the society nowadays, it’s hard to find old traditional food restaurants. But fast foods restaurants, to some extent, become the common sign on the street of approximately every country.
"Now, it is a high time to revive the culture of traditional Food - 'The wisdom of our Grandmothers' Bebe di Rasoi"( A traditional food festival which held by The Chandigarh Press Club in collaboration with Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) and Millets Network of India (MINI)), said Badal. The group which suffered most impact from fast foods might be those young teens. A new report from MINNEAPOLIS (An University of Minnesota) describes that in 2,500 Minnesota adolescents, 33% of them eat fast food three or more than times a week. It is sad to witness people especially teenagers sitting in the MacDonald and eating trash foods. But the reason maybe that society brings too little knowledge about the harm of fast foods to teenagers. Therefore, some traditional food festival can be held yearly. Those festivals can taught teenagers the danger of fast food and propose us to get traditional food back.
At a deeper level, fast food also reveals a kind of pathetic lifestyle of the people in modern society. Some people have no accessibility to a delicious and nutritious lunch. Whatever they are boss or poor people. Apparently most of us know the danger and the awful consequence it took. However, we still pay for it to kill ourselves because we really have no time for eating. Consequently, the meal time instead by those convenience food when we enjoying the advanced and convenient life,. Not only fast food, but also electronic books, dictionary…… The popularity of such products represents the lost of old culture. It is the time for us to stop and thinking how many benefits we can get from this modern society actually.
In my opinion, traditional foods are irreplaceable. Not only that traditional food contain huge amount of alimentation, but also can represent an image of particular country. Many ways can be taken to rescue and prevent us from being overweight and trophic disturbance. For instance: holding traditional food festivals or developing educational lessons about diet in schools. However, fast food chains won’t disappear eventually because it is the products under the high competition of modern society.
It is irresistible and undeniable that fast food took huge benefits to our life, especially in this busy and competitive society. But with this tendency become strongly, traditional food and eating style may be vanished I future, which means a part of our culture and will be killed and disappear forever. Consequently, this result would be sorrow fully to human beings. Because in this era, too many old things dead with the development of new technology.
Bibliography:
Liuzhengyun (1992) “how can we survive from fast food culture”
http://ent.163.com/09/0418/10/5766941S00032DGD.html
Houjun (2008) <<>> vol .90, no.1 “we have more than fast food”
http://book.ifeng.com/section.php?book_id=399&id=23195
Reference:
“The development of fast food”
http://www.fastfoodnation.co.uk/development-fast-food.html)
Punjab Newsline (25 Oct 2009) “Youth can revive traditional food culture: Punjab CM”
http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=496
NACS online (April 2, 2009) “Fast Food for Teens Increases”
http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily/Pages/ND0402095.aspx
Probably in hundred of years ago, nobody even imaged that people will finish each of their meal within ten minutes or less. Actually, fast food already became a sign of our modern lifestyle. The development of fast food can be traced back to America. The first revolution of fast food happened in 1902. A great quantity of fast food chains swarm into global market: Clarence Birdseye(1920), white city (1930), McDonalds (1940), Kentucky Fried Chicken(1950)…. The AC Nielson Group is an international research organization made a survey recently, which shows 35% of Americans eat fast food at least one time monthly. However, 41%of Chinese have same habit. This report illustrates fast food restaurants are popular in global rather than in western countries. Obviously, fried chicken, potato mush and hamburgers are not the best food from USA. Whereas, they just convey a convenient lifestyle to those people who thirsty for lazy and uncomplicated life. Fast food really solves many problems in modern society. But it also changes our life even culture through many negative ways.
Less time consuming may be the most important reason that people prefer have fast food instead of traditional food. Because we can not lose the sight of fact that people have less time to enjoy their meal in modern society. Furthermore, the dishware that fast food restaurant supplied is also helpful to save time. For example, McDonald always provides paper packages and one-off stuff to customers, which aid consumers save both washing and cooking time. Actually, those facilities and dishware are also humanistic and considerate to consumers. Like appropriate tissue and tomato source, service of delivery and so on. Moreover, majority of fast food restaurants opens 24hours everyday, which provides warm and fragrant service to public. Consequently, fast food, to some extent, is the result of high-competition society and reflects the modern culture nowadays.
Hegel (1770-1831, a philosopher of the nineteenth century) said: “Only in the state does man have a rational existence”. So fast food restaurants must have their own key to be successful. Actually, fast food can satisfy the people’s needs to be full immediately and also fresh. Because the passenger flaw volume to snack bars are huge everyday, which make manufactures to grantee the freshness of foods. Consequently, customers can eat in peace.
At the first level of another hand, compared with traditional food, fast food provides less necessary nutrition that human need. Since the material of fast food is comparatively simple and monotonously, which means the elements of nutrition may in seriously shortage. The worse thing is, fried foods may cause many serious sicknesses to us. Like high blood pressure, ill effects of Cholesterol and unhealthy lifestyle. On the other sides, in ancient china, chief always add planet medicine and some portions of animals into dishes to cure or prevent diseases. However, in the society nowadays, it’s hard to find old traditional food restaurants. But fast foods restaurants, to some extent, become the common sign on the street of approximately every country.
"Now, it is a high time to revive the culture of traditional Food - 'The wisdom of our Grandmothers' Bebe di Rasoi"( A traditional food festival which held by The Chandigarh Press Club in collaboration with Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) and Millets Network of India (MINI)), said Badal. The group which suffered most impact from fast foods might be those young teens. A new report from MINNEAPOLIS (An University of Minnesota) describes that in 2,500 Minnesota adolescents, 33% of them eat fast food three or more than times a week. It is sad to witness people especially teenagers sitting in the MacDonald and eating trash foods. But the reason maybe that society brings too little knowledge about the harm of fast foods to teenagers. Therefore, some traditional food festival can be held yearly. Those festivals can taught teenagers the danger of fast food and propose us to get traditional food back.
At a deeper level, fast food also reveals a kind of pathetic lifestyle of the people in modern society. Some people have no accessibility to a delicious and nutritious lunch. Whatever they are boss or poor people. Apparently most of us know the danger and the awful consequence it took. However, we still pay for it to kill ourselves because we really have no time for eating. Consequently, the meal time instead by those convenience food when we enjoying the advanced and convenient life,. Not only fast food, but also electronic books, dictionary…… The popularity of such products represents the lost of old culture. It is the time for us to stop and thinking how many benefits we can get from this modern society actually.
In my opinion, traditional foods are irreplaceable. Not only that traditional food contain huge amount of alimentation, but also can represent an image of particular country. Many ways can be taken to rescue and prevent us from being overweight and trophic disturbance. For instance: holding traditional food festivals or developing educational lessons about diet in schools. However, fast food chains won’t disappear eventually because it is the products under the high competition of modern society.
It is irresistible and undeniable that fast food took huge benefits to our life, especially in this busy and competitive society. But with this tendency become strongly, traditional food and eating style may be vanished I future, which means a part of our culture and will be killed and disappear forever. Consequently, this result would be sorrow fully to human beings. Because in this era, too many old things dead with the development of new technology.
Bibliography:
Liuzhengyun (1992) “how can we survive from fast food culture”
http://ent.163.com/09/0418/10/5766941S00032DGD.html
Houjun (2008) <<>> vol .90, no.1 “we have more than fast food”
http://book.ifeng.com/section.php?book_id=399&id=23195
Reference:
“The development of fast food”
http://www.fastfoodnation.co.uk/development-fast-food.html)
Punjab Newsline (25 Oct 2009) “Youth can revive traditional food culture: Punjab CM”
http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=496
NACS online (April 2, 2009) “Fast Food for Teens Increases”
http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily/Pages/ND0402095.aspx
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