Countering Terrorism Essays - Biological Warfare, Nuclear Weapons

Countering Terrorism Essays - Biological Warfare, Nuclear Weapons Countering Terrorism Countering Terrorism There are currently more than 1500 terrorist organizations and groups being monitored in the United States. Terrorists by definition kill people and destroy property in order to advance a political agenda. We must make every effort to protect American citizens from these attacks. In the future that will require both state of the art measures to monitor terrorist activities and the movement of materials used for these activities, but also response scenarios in the event of an actual incident. The United States has consistently set a good example of no negotiations with terrorists and attempting to bring alleged terrorists to trial. We need to support humanitarian, political, and educational efforts to decrease the incidence of terrorism across the world. That includes measures to eliminate the production and deployment of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. We need to maintain a high level of vigilance to protect the security of the United States. The FBI is the lead agency in the the fight against terrorism. This FBI has been very effective in coordinating the efforts of other agencies. They have been successful in finding the perpetrators of terrorist activity and preventing many terrorist incidents. The problem is that no federal agency can be expected to find all of the terrorists, before they commit violent crimes. The bombing incidents at the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City are two examples. In both of these incidents, conventional explosives technology was used to kill people and destroy property. There are current efforts coordinated by the FBI to obtain intelligence on the groups that would use these methods and intercept them before the incidents occur. These incidents will continue to require concerted efforts by national and international law enforcement agencies. But there are possible incidents that could lead to greater loss of life. Those incidents would occur if terrorists used biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. Bioterrorism Bioterrorism is using biological warfare agents to commit terrorist crimes. There are various estimates of the effects of terrorists releasing various biological weapons on an unsuspecting population. The Johns Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense suggest that the three most likely biological agents that could be used include smallpox, anthrax, and plague. There are several other bacteria, viruses, and biological toxins that are also considered candidates for biological warfare or terrorism. On October 1, 1999 Dr. Kanatjan Alibekov, a former Soviet military officer who was second in command of their biological weapons division appeared on ABC News Prime Time Live. He had defected from the Soviet Union in 1992. He wrote a classified report at that time that this program had produced hundreds of tons of anthrax and several tons of small pox virus and plague bacteria. He said that the Russians were continuing to actively work on biological weapons. This allegation was subsequently denied by Russian officials. The most significant threat from biological weapons currently has to do with the security of the Russian supply of these materials. Because these weapons are inexpensive to produce and deploy there are concerns that they may be the agents of choice for some states that sponsor terrorist activity. The World Health Organization has estimated the lethality of these weapons. The lethality of smallpox, anthrax, and plague are given in the table below: Agent Case Fatality Rate Treatment and Prevention Smallpox 30% Vaccination Anthrax 80% Vaccination, Antibiotics Plague 50% Vaccination, Antibiotics The Working Group on Civilian Biodefense has concluded that of the total number of known biological agents only a few would be suitable as weapons of mass destruction. Various estimates about the lethality of these agents are available. A 1993 report by the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment estimates that an aircraft release of 50 pounds of anthrax spores over a large metropolitan area would result in 130,000 to 3 million deaths. This is the same magnitude of the expected casualties expected in a nuclear attack. The main problem in the case of a biological weapon attack is recognition of the illness and taking the appropriate treatment measures. Some of the symptom presentations are difficult to figure out, and any delay in diagnosis can lead to further poor outcomes and further spread of the illness. If the attack is not announced, the only early sign may be a large increase in serious respiratory disease in a community. Nuclear Terrorism Nuclear terrorism is a consequence of nuclear proliferation and advanced technology. As early as 1980, the Soviet Union and the United States produced working suitcase sized nuclear weapons that could be used for the purpose of terrorism. The United States subsequently disposed of these weapons. Dr. Alexie Yablokov gave testimony to the Research and Development Subcommittee in 1997 and asserted that these suitcase bombs exist and that many were unaccounted for. The Committee Chairman, Representative Curt Weldon said that in other contacts as many as 132 of these devices were built in Russia and that

How to Grow Your Own Quartz Crystals

How to Grow Your Own Quartz Crystals Quartz crystals are silicon dioxide, SiO2. Pure quartz crystals are colorless, but impurities in the structure lead to beautifully colored gems, including amethyst, rose quartz, and citrine. Most natural quartz crystallizes from magma or precipitates from hot hydrothermal veins. Although man-made quartz is produced, the process requires heat not generally possible in a home setting. Its not a crystal most people want to try to grow at home  since perfect crystals require  specialized equipment. Synthesized quartz is made using the hydrothermal process in an autoclave. You probably dont have one of those in your kitchen, but you may have a smaller equivalenta pressure cooker. Growing Crystals With a Pressure Cooker If you are truly determined to grow quartz crystals at home, you can grow small crystals by heating silicic acid in a pressure cooker. Silicic acid can be made by reacting quartz with water or by  acidification of sodium silicate in aqueous solution. The main problem with either technique is that silicic acid has a tendency to turn into silica gel. However, it is possible to synthesize quartz crystals with a pressure cooker. In 1845, the German geologist Karl Emil von Schafhutl succeeded in making quartz the first crystal grown by hydrothermal synthesis. Modern techniques can be used to grow large single crystals, but you shouldnt expect fabulous gems from a home canning system. Similar Alternatives Fortunately, there are similar-looking crystals you can grow at home. One rather spectacular option is to make a fulgurite, which is the glassy shape made by a lightning strike or other electrical discharge into sand. If youre seeking a large colorless crystal to grow, try alum crystals.

How to Grow Your Own Quartz Crystals

How to Grow Your Own Quartz Crystals Quartz crystals are silicon dioxide, SiO2. Pure quartz crystals are colorless, but impurities in the structure lead to beautifully colored gems, including amethyst, rose quartz, and citrine. Most natural quartz crystallizes from magma or precipitates from hot hydrothermal veins. Although man-made quartz is produced, the process requires heat not generally possible in a home setting. Its not a crystal most people want to try to grow at home  since perfect crystals require  specialized equipment. Synthesized quartz is made using the hydrothermal process in an autoclave. You probably dont have one of those in your kitchen, but you may have a smaller equivalenta pressure cooker. Growing Crystals With a Pressure Cooker If you are truly determined to grow quartz crystals at home, you can grow small crystals by heating silicic acid in a pressure cooker. Silicic acid can be made by reacting quartz with water or by  acidification of sodium silicate in aqueous solution. The main problem with either technique is that silicic acid has a tendency to turn into silica gel. However, it is possible to synthesize quartz crystals with a pressure cooker. In 1845, the German geologist Karl Emil von Schafhutl succeeded in making quartz the first crystal grown by hydrothermal synthesis. Modern techniques can be used to grow large single crystals, but you shouldnt expect fabulous gems from a home canning system. Similar Alternatives Fortunately, there are similar-looking crystals you can grow at home. One rather spectacular option is to make a fulgurite, which is the glassy shape made by a lightning strike or other electrical discharge into sand. If youre seeking a large colorless crystal to grow, try alum crystals.

I will UPLOAD loms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

I will UPLOAD loms - Essay Example The group achieved 98.435 instead of the planned 53000 pounds. In the analysis there was failure in achieving the objectives that were set by the group. The approaches otherwise could be adjusted to bring out the desired results due to the objectives that were aimed by the group The objectives that were set by the group was to achieve during the month of running the company was the performance measures that will allow the ability to deliver the products on time and keep customers satisfied by the number and amount of penalties that they paid. The objective was however not achieved due to the factors that the group did not consider. The important aspects that was neglected by the group in the approach includes forecasting, planning and also ordering of enough inventory that was needed in the production to have just in time delivery to the orders that were give. The group did not order enough during the first three weeks and led to suffering of the inventory especially raw materials. Since the group was bound by own raw materials available in their inventory, the group could not produce more than the minimum quantity even if the demand that week required it to. Thus the group did not manage the inventory as well it should have been managed. The strengths that the group managed is together with coinciding with the actual peak in the last month of the game which was luck in the trying to chase the week. Due to the unfulfilled orders in the approaches, high unit cost and penalty charges, the group ran bankrupt. A strength came when after the situation there was plan of the next move which was done carefully and this enabled the coming out of the bankruptcy in the next one week and even came up with a profit in the week. Forecasting as an element was not used in the approach by the group. The element was necessary in the approach since it would make the group plan the production, tell the peak and purchase more

Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 14

Business Ethics - Essay Example My assessment of the strengths of utilitarianism is that it is simple and provides a straightforward manner of an ethical decision making of minimizing pain to the users and to the others and that, the principles put forth are applicable in the society. Deontology makes a moral action through focusing on adhering to moral rules (Boylan, 2014). The right choice is when the moral rules dictate that it is right and has no place for subjectivity while the wrong choice is which is not morally accepted by the set moral rules and it is believed to be wrong. The argument that can be fronted by deontologists is that adherence to moral duty may lead to an action that ought to have been considered immoral, but if the right motivations led to the decision, the action is considered moral. Actions are not considered based on their consequences, but the rightness or wrongness of an action based on moral rules of behavior guiding the decision. The main strengths of deontology are ability ti make concern to family, friends, and relatives, use of moral standing, and better performance of one’s duties. Ethical Intuitionism believes in the existence of moral beliefs that are discovered through intuition and through intuitive awareness, one decides on the wrongness or rightness of a choice through assessing these moral values and beliefs (Boylan, 2014). The argument in this case would be the choice of an action was based on the intuitive moral beliefs of a person that the decision was morally right. The main strengths of intuitionism are that it allows individuals to answer issues instantly and clearly, is dependent on human nature and is very simple. Virtue ethics emphasizes on the person and not the action where a right action is the choice that could be taken by a virtuous person with the wrong action being the action that a non-virtuous person would take. The argument would be that the action

Invisible Saviour Siblings Essay Example for Free

Invisible Saviour Siblings Essay The philosopher Immanuel Kant said â€Å"Treat others as an end and not as means to an end. † People need to value others for themselves rather than for what they can achieve by the means of them. The idea of selecting an embryo, conceived by IVF, which will become a child that can donate for an older sibling suffering from a genetic disease, has created a difficult moral dilemma. Concerns over the creation of what are called â€Å"savoir siblings† are specifically created to help an existing child. In the novel â€Å"My Sister’s Keeper† by Jodi Picoult there is a girl named Anna who was brought in to this world for the purpose to save her sister Kate. Anna suggests that while her method of coming into the world is not conventional, since most babies born are unwanted; she at least was a wanted child. But she is wanted as a product, as a medical treatment, as a donor. Anna came to a decision that she wanted to stop donating to her sister, so she starts a lawsuit for medical emancipation; the right to control her own body. The child is used as something instrumental and has a welcome that is far from being unconditional. Even the label savoir† is a misnomer. When we speak of a savoir we refer to someone who has made an active choice to donate. The child never has a choice. When a donation occurs it will have lifelong effects on the body. The possible psychological problem the child will have from being a savior sibling. The parents do not think about the saviour child in the terms of an individual. The parents need to realize that there is a line that separates the value of preserving life and the costs of the quality of life. When a child is born it is up to the parents to make the decisions for them, but what if the parents are not focus on that child? It is their zeal to make things better for their sick child, but the parents have forgotten that their donor child is a person with feelings, not a something just to pick at when needed. In the case of babies who are selected as a source of cells, the â€Å"savior is passive and is treated as a product. The choices being made about donation is not even being discussed about. Anna is not even being asked about what she wants to do, â€Å"You make it sound like there’s some process involved. Like there’s actually a choice. † (192) the parents are deciding what is for the best. They do not even consult with Anna about how she feels about everything. Anna had to quit hockey because she was missing two many games, but the only reason why she was missing games was that she had to be there when Kate might need something. Her choice to play hockey was taken away from her and no one in her family even cared. They did not even notice when she started to play hockey, so why would they notice when she stopped. There is a big chance that the family would not even listen to Anna if she would have said that she does not want to continue being the donor. The doctors do not ever consult with Anna about what she wanted to do; they only talked to the parents. They never let Anna make her choice. She was brought in this world as a savior sibling, but it did not mean to make her sacrifice her whole life. The use of savior siblings have raised the issue of the possibility of psychological trauma that the created sibling may suffer from knowing that they was created partly for reasons of imposed selflessness. The child could feel as if they had been used. The donor sibling would feel that they were around to provide â€Å"spare parts†, and were not valued for who they are. Remember the adolescent cry â€Å"I did not ask to be born† and add to it the accusation that the parents only had them to save their siblings life. The moment the child is brought in to this world they have a job to perform. How the parents treat Anna makes her feel like her only purpose in life is to help heal Kate. With these feelings it makes her think about what if Kate was not sick, â€Å"It made me wonder, though, what would have happened if Kate had been healthy. Chances are, I’d still be floating up in Heaven or wherever, waiting to be attached to a body to spend some time on Earth† (08). If Kate was healthy would the parents ever thought about having a third child. The parents once said that their family was complete with two children; each child favored a parent. Anna has matured faster than any child her age, because from the start of her life she was not fully allowed to be a child. She learnt early on that Kate was the main focus and everything else became second. Growing up is hard enough, but when there is question on ones existence it can have serious emotional effects. The child becomes lost in their quest for their own identity. Furthermore, if the treatment of the sick child is unsuccessful, their death can be much harder for the savior sibling, as they may feel as if they have failed. The child would have to go through the rest of their life feeling guiltily about not saving their sibling life. Donating an organ is not as simple as it sounds. The donor of the organ has to deal with limitations on their life. In the novel Anna is being pressured by her mother to donate her kidney to her sister Kate. Her mother does not think about the after effects of the surgery. Anna loves to play hockey, but donating her kidney will stop here from playing. Kidney organ donors should not participate in physical activity that could damage their other kidney. Anna’s mother Sara only concern is Kate, so when Anna wanted to go to Hockey camp her mother said no. Her mother is not caring for what Anna wants â€Å"Not because I am afraid of what might to Anna there, but because I am afraid of what might happen to Kate while her sister is gone. If Kate survives this latest relapse†¦.. we will need Anna-her blood, her stem cells, her tissue-right here. (269), she wanted Anna to be where she needed her. If Anna did go through with the surgery something could go wrong, but does her parents ever does comprehend it. If there were no complications with any of these procedures, the savior sibling would still stay in the hospital with stress and pain which they are not gaining any type of personal benefit. The mother will be so worried about Kate after the surgery; she will be by her side and not by Anna’s. The parents should not make an organ donation decision. It has to be Anna’s choice. Going through with a kidney donation, she would lose some quality of her life. While there is potential harm, it is not without potential benefits to the saviour sibling. The donor child might derive pleasure from knowing that he or she has saved his or her sibling’s life and would benefit from the saved child’s company. In this respect, it is appropriate to consider the welfare of the donor child within the context of the family since his or her social, emotional and psychological interests depend on the welfare of the child’s family. Saving the life of the existing sibling is also in his or her best interests. This will ensure a happier family (e. g. no grieving parents) from which the donor child would benefit. There are benefits to the child, but if the child is born and the transplant is made but is unsuccessful, what comes of the family at that point? The donor child would feel that they have fail in their job in helping to keep their sibling alive. If the transplant was successful, there is no time frame for a savior sibling to stop providing transplants for their older sibling. The donor sibling could chose not to donate later in life or chose to no longer accept the role of â€Å"saviour† for which they were originally conceived. The parents might not like that they brought this child in to this world for a certain purpose, but now the child does not want to donate anymore. The savior child would have no support from their family. They would feel that they had only one purpose; to save their sibling. Parents have more choices than ever before and they need to use every resource available to protect the health of their children, but there is a line that should not be crossed. There are potential harmful psychological effects on a child born not for itself, but to save another. If conception of saviour siblings for the donation of cord blood stem cells is permitted, what is to stop donation ending there. There may be an inevitable situation where the donor child will be expected to â€Å"donate† bone marrow in the event that the umbilical cord stem cell transplant fails or the sick sibling relapses and requires further treatment. If the child is under age, then the parents decide the choice for them and of course they would have the savior child donate whatever the sick child needs. Parents are blinded from seeing what is in the best interest for both of their children. The only thing that is on their mind is to save their sick child. If there is no benefit at all to the created saviour child, it appears hard to justify that it is humane and proper to use them to save the life of a sibling. Every parent has to seriously decide the point at which they will halt their efforts to save their sick child regardless of the potential outcome. There comes a point when people have to realize there is nothing they can do. The parents get so consumed in the entire process and the emotions involved in saving your sick child that they may lose the ability to know when to stop. Despite how gut-wrenching it may be, they have to stop, not only for the sake of their other children, but for the sake of their sick child. They should have to realize that there comes a point when vigilance becomes obsession and good intentions get warped and bastardized to the point that they do more harm than good. People should to write to President to have him put regulations on the use of Genetic technology for creation of savoir siblings. A savior sibling cannot lose their quality of life just because they were conceived with the weight of the family on their shoulders. The child should not go through life suffering, for the reason that she was conceived to help heal their sick sibling.

Family Therapy Involving an Alcoholic Parent Essay -- Counseling/Thera

One in five adults can identify with growing up with an alcoholic relative and Twenty-eight million Americans have one parent abusing or dependent on alcoholic (Walker, & Lee, 1998). There are devastating and ubiquitous effects of alcoholism, which vary from psychological, social, or biological problems for families. Counselor’s treating this problem all agree that the relationships within a family, especially between a parent and a child is one of the most influential within a system, but what are the effects on the family when a parent is an alcoholic? Contemporary research has found there is a higher prevalence of problems in the family when alcohol is the organizing principle. In addition, there is copious research on the roles of individuals within the family becoming defined into specific categories, and evidently, the roles may become reversed between the parent and the child. This topic of functional roles in alcoholic families will be analyzed and investigated further. Family therapy has had substantial results in the treatment of an alcoholic parent. These results will be discussed more along, with the literature examining the existing research related, to specific interventions and treatments in family therapy with an alcoholic parent. Before research on the treatment is illuminated on distinctive therapies, it is crucial for counselors facilitating family therapy to comprehend the literature on the presenting problems commonly, associated with alcoholic parents and the effects this population has on their families. Furthermore, the adverse outcomes an alcoholic parent has on their children and spouses has been researched and reviewed. Children of Alcoholics (COAs) Negative Outcomes Parental alcoholism has ... ...temporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 24(2), 371. Copello, A., Velleman, R., & Templeton, L. (2005). Family interventions in the treatment of alcohol and drug problems. Drug & Alcohol Review, 24(4), 369-385. doi:10.1080/09595230500302356 Steinglass, P. (2008). Family Systems and Motivational Interviewing: A Systemic-Motivational Model for Treatment of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 26(1/2), 9-29. doi:10.1300/J020v26n01_02 Liepman, M. R., Flachier, R., & Tareen, R. (2008). Family Behavior Loop Mapping: A Technique to Analyze the Grip Addictive Disorders Have on Families and to Help Them Recover. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 26(1/2), 59-80. doi:10.1300/J020v26n01_04 Chan, J. G. (2003). An Examination of Family-Involved Approaches to Alcoholism Treatment. Family Journal, 11(2), 129-138. doi:10.1177/1066480702250149 Family Therapy Involving an Alcoholic Parent Essay -- Counseling/Thera One in five adults can identify with growing up with an alcoholic relative and Twenty-eight million Americans have one parent abusing or dependent on alcoholic (Walker, & Lee, 1998). There are devastating and ubiquitous effects of alcoholism, which vary from psychological, social, or biological problems for families. Counselor’s treating this problem all agree that the relationships within a family, especially between a parent and a child is one of the most influential within a system, but what are the effects on the family when a parent is an alcoholic? Contemporary research has found there is a higher prevalence of problems in the family when alcohol is the organizing principle. In addition, there is copious research on the roles of individuals within the family becoming defined into specific categories, and evidently, the roles may become reversed between the parent and the child. This topic of functional roles in alcoholic families will be analyzed and investigated further. Family therapy has had substantial results in the treatment of an alcoholic parent. These results will be discussed more along, with the literature examining the existing research related, to specific interventions and treatments in family therapy with an alcoholic parent. Before research on the treatment is illuminated on distinctive therapies, it is crucial for counselors facilitating family therapy to comprehend the literature on the presenting problems commonly, associated with alcoholic parents and the effects this population has on their families. Furthermore, the adverse outcomes an alcoholic parent has on their children and spouses has been researched and reviewed. Children of Alcoholics (COAs) Negative Outcomes Parental alcoholism has ... ...temporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 24(2), 371. Copello, A., Velleman, R., & Templeton, L. (2005). Family interventions in the treatment of alcohol and drug problems. Drug & Alcohol Review, 24(4), 369-385. doi:10.1080/09595230500302356 Steinglass, P. (2008). Family Systems and Motivational Interviewing: A Systemic-Motivational Model for Treatment of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 26(1/2), 9-29. doi:10.1300/J020v26n01_02 Liepman, M. R., Flachier, R., & Tareen, R. (2008). Family Behavior Loop Mapping: A Technique to Analyze the Grip Addictive Disorders Have on Families and to Help Them Recover. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 26(1/2), 59-80. doi:10.1300/J020v26n01_04 Chan, J. G. (2003). An Examination of Family-Involved Approaches to Alcoholism Treatment. Family Journal, 11(2), 129-138. doi:10.1177/1066480702250149

IKEA Customer Loyalty Essay

Customer loyalty is all about attracting the right customer, getting them to buy, buy often, buy in higher quantities and bring you even more customers. In short, you build customer loyalty by treating people how they want to be treated. There are many ways by which IKEA builds customer loyalty. The goal of the loyalty program is to reward IKEA’s best customers with discounts and special offers throughout the store. The online business of Ikea was developed as a way of generating greater loyalty among the customer base, as it is this that ultimately delivers greater sales and profitability. This was the view of Adri Kraa, head of Ikea Shop Online, expressed at the Retail Bulletin Summit 2009 when he suggested that only five percent more retention through loyal customers could deliver as much as 60 percent more profits. Through a desire to give customers greater â€Å"empowerment† and convenience the decision was taken to launch the Ikea online store. IKEA’s kiosk-based loyalty program IKEA FAMILY has attracted more than 1.6 million members since its launch a few months ago. IKEA FAMILY offers special offers and benefits to customers, as well as program-branded merchandise and promotional events. The Kiosks, which are built, serviced and monitored by Kiosk Information Systems, allow new members to enroll and receive a membership card on the spot. The kiosks also encourage existing members to scan their cards for a chance to win a monthly $100 FAMILY Sweepstakes, as well as view exclusive current IKEA FAMILY discounts and offers. Mobile is playing an increasingly important role for IKEA as it continues to build momentum for its loyalty program. Mobile is a key part of the strategy, with employees using in-store tablets to sign-up new customers and IKEA sending out SMS alerts to keep consumers updated on new products.

An Analysis of the Dynamic Customs Union Theory Essay

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The idea of a common market came to life with the economic integration of the European nations after the Second World War. The question thereafter lies whether the efficacy of this decision is quite effective or is working for the benefit of their common market.   In addition, the application of the ideas herein will be discussed with dissimilar analyses of the factors that discuss the economic implications of the regional integration. X-Efficiency Analysis There are a number of unlike potential efficiency effects of consolidation that may be able to be applied to either domestic or international M&As. In the current European Stock Market for example, we review the existing empirical research on a number of these types of efficiency (De Young, 2000). We include the scale and scope efficiency effects of M&As that increase the size and the count of different types of services offered by consolidated institutions. We also include several X-efficiency effects, or changes that move the consolidating institutions closer to or further from their optimal points on the best-practice efficient frontier. Specifically, we consider the X-efficiency effects of geographic diversification and managing from a distance, and the X-efficiency consequences of the M&A process itself (De Young, 2000). For all of these types of efficiency, we consider both cost and revenue efficiency effects, and often include research on profit efficiency, which incorporates both cost and revenue efficiency. For some of the types of efficiency, a change in the risks of consolidating institutions is also a consideration, because the risk of the consolidated institution affects its costs of funds and its ability to raise revenues. The research is drawn from many countries, including most of the European countries, although most of the studies use U.S. data. ‘Dynamic effects’ is the term used in a variety of ways by different authors to cover anything beyond standard comparative statics or any effect that has to do with economies of scale and any effect that tackles technical change (De Young, 2000). Static effects universally estimated at about 1%. With static effects only those resources who move activity gain (if they get re-employed). And gain is equal to the difference between uncompetitive (protected) activity and the new activity (assumed to have Comparative Advantage). Big effects are likely to come from scale economies and especially shift in cost curves. Cost reduction affects all existing production as well. Firms need regulatory certainty that they will get market access. Hence, incurs a lower risk premium on investment – in other words, growth effects Terms of Trade Effects Other than the import regulations, industrial organizations also differentiate the consequence of import raise effects on the stock markets in the European Union. On the other hand, the course of the effect of import raise on focus is unclear. A study points out that the effect of imports on producer concentration is positive. Probable reasons of the raise in producer concentration ratio are the absence of inefficient firms as a result of import liberalization. The other possible reason is the increase in mergers of domestic firms as a result of import threats. In addition, if imports are close substitutes for domestic production, sectors that have high import share may be expected to be characterized by a high degree of defensive concentration. Alternatively, it is also likely that imports would reduce concentration if producers were induced to improve efficiency and in turn increase the number of efficient firms. In the same way, the result of the increase in exports on producer concentration is also unclear (Nagy, 2005). There is a positive relationship between export increases and concentration if an increase in exports reduces average cost because of scale economies from increased market size, and as a result producers engaged in exporting activities should be able to increase their market share. Because a larger market size resulting from export opportunities can support more producers, a negative relationship is more likely if the economies of scale in production or distribution are not that important. Paralleling these theoretical developments in the industrial organization and international trade theory, there are a number of empirical studies examining the effects of trade liberalization on the price-cost margins. The result of the studies point out that an import increase has a negative impact on the price cost mark-ups of highly concentrated industries. The EU is an exception to these studies because it suggests that there is no systematic evidence of the import discipline hypothesis for the EU economy (Nagy, 2005). Regarding the pro-competitive effect of economic integration, a study of Bottaso confirms the view that economic integration reduces the price cost mark-ups for Italy and Spain. The idea of a free custom union around Europe emerged in 1950 as Customs Unions and Free trade areas have been seen as a step towards global free trade. This was previously supported by a provision on GATT 1947 Article I that required non discriminatory â€Å"MFN† trade. However, Art. XXIV allowed CUs/FTAs covering â€Å"substantially all† trade and if overall degree of protection was no higher although the provision was not well defined as it created a further dilemma particularly on the implementation stage of the process. Krugman argued that dividing the world into 3 blocs was worst possible outcome through impact on those excluded but later said benefits of deeper integration positive when â€Å"Natural† Blocs form. Kemp and Wan 1976 showed that any customs union could be welfare enhancing if the right tariff taxes and subsidies were adopted.   But high tariff CUs can have adverse terms of trade effects on an EU member’s partners and on trade partners. â€Å"Deep integration† can credibly ensure trade barriers not replaced by â€Å"domestic† measures:   trade barriers now often â€Å"non-border measures† and change business expectations. Economies of Scale Analysis Recent academic studies regarding international trade gives us specific gains from trade derived from theories both from classical and neo-classical economic approaches. Among what these theories suggests is the pro-competitive effects of trade liberalization with the emphasis on the expansion of the market size in terms relative to the change in the number of firms that are present. Consequently, the pro-competitive effects advocate that trade differentiates the intensity of competition in the market; including the company’s price cost mark-ups, their relative scale and production output. New several theoretical readings regarding international trade have had several implications upon the European Union economic customs integration. The purpose and significance of the welfare services involved in the new theory applied to the regional economic integration has widened the range of possible benefits from the European Union countries’ integration further than that put forward by the standard customs union theory patterned on a perfect competition structure and constant returns to scale (Akkoyunlu-Wigley, 2005). Accordingly, one of vital issue is that customs union theory concentrates more on the outcome of the economic integration rather than the market structure efficiency and the productivity of firms. For that reason customs union theory is not anymore viewed as one theory subsequent to the classical Vinerian ideas of the conception of trade and trade diversions. It is often debated that the pro-competitive aspect of trade liberalization is suitable under both the theory of monopolistic competition and the oligopolistic market structures. Obtained on the assumption of monopolistic competition, it is illustrated that trade liberalization leads to an increase in firms scale and decrease in average cost and prices by increasing the elasticity of demand. Likewise, under the theory of oligopolistic interaction between the European Union member countries, trade liberalization also creates a decrease in price cost mark-ups and produces an increase in the overall firm scale by heavily moving the market power of the firm in home markets (Akkoyunlu-Wigley, 2005). With respect to the pro competitive implication in the case of customs union, the significance of the pro-competitive effect as one of the outcomes of customs union and propose that regional ones, such as the European Union oppose global unions that will then intensify the pro-competitive result. Specifically, due to the production shifting effect, the exact figure of firms in a country that would boost the integrated area involved which in turn would reduce the home market shares of companies in the European Union. Alternatively, new empirical studies also show developed industrial organization theories that test the implications of trading on the current market structure as well as profitability. The â€Å"import discipline hypothesis† within the framework of the SCP paradigm is being tested as far as import liberalization is concerned. Then again, industrial organization theory also looks onto the implications of imports on price-cost margins (Akkoyunlu-Wigley, 2005). Similarly, an increase in imports of EU countries for instance as a result of trade liberalization would cause a decline in the price-cost margin by means of reduction in the market power of domestic firms or through the increase in competition. Also, since the competing imports will increase, the number of alternatives available to domestic consumers will increase and may raise the demand elasticity and therefore reduce the price-cost margins. Likewise, the other countries that have an interest in replicating what Europe had done may not necessarily run after the economic integration just so to experience the benefit it curtails. Some countries may not really have to. Instead, what governments must do to replicate the benefits without risking much of the variable discussed is through the multilateral cutting of the tariffs that the involved countries may have on certain products that either one or both of them produce. The concept of competitive advantage enters here as the devaluation that would follow suit which would create and ensure a full employment for both countries involved. Growth Effects Analysis The first systematic albeit descriptive investigation of output effects of economic integration was carried out under the heading â€Å"dynamic effects of integration†. According to Balassa these dynamic effects are rooted in internal and external economies of scale, faster technological progress as a result of economies of scale in the R&D-sector, enhanced competition, and reduced uncertainty, the creation of a more favorable environment for economic activity and lower costs of capital due to the integration of financial markets. The revival of growth theory in the mid-80s led to a more formal reconsideration of the effects of integration on growth and shed more light on the questions involved (Badinger, 2001). At the outset, a terminological clarification is in order here. The most important distinction relates to the persistence of the effects of economic integration on the growth rate: Permanent growth effects lead to a change in the steady-state growth rate, resulting in a steeper growth path of the economy. On the other hand there are temporary growth effects (or level effects), which cause only an upward shift of the growth path, while leaving its slope unchanged in the long-run, i.e. after the transition period the growth rate falls back to its steady-state level. Following the level effects can be further subdivided into static effects that lead to more output from the same amount of inputs and dynamic effects that â€Å"influence the accumulation of factors†. Also referring to the channels through which growth effects materialize the terms â€Å"integration-induced technology-led growth† and â€Å"integration-induced investment-led growth† (Badinger, 2001). Although first used in the context of level effects, this distinction equivalently applies to permanent growth effects. To analyze the consequences of integration for economic growth in a systematic way, two lines of theory have to be distinguished: neoclassical and endogenous growth theory. In neoclassical growth theory, economic integration and other institutional aspects or economic policy measures have no effect on the steady-state growth rate, which is solely determined by the exogenous rate of technological progress. As a result of diminishing returns to capital the capital stock and output per efficient worker grow only to the point where the investment ratio equals depreciation plus the rate of technological progress (for constant labor). (Badinger, 2001) The growth of capital stock and output per worker in equilibrium is then given by the constant rate of technological progress (g). Institutional changes, increases in efficiency or changes in the investment-ratio have only temporary effects on the growth rate; after a transition period it falls back to its steady-state level. Thus, neoclassical growth theory clearly rejects the hypothesis of permanent growth effects. Nevertheless, both static and dynamic level effects occur. Static effects arise from three main sources: lower trade costs, increased competition and enhanced factor mobility. This increase in efficiency leads to more output from the same amount of inputs in a first round (static effects). But this is not the end of the story. Given a constant investment-ratio, the increase in output also leads to higher investment and an increase in the capital stock, which in turn increases output in a second round (dynamic effects). Conclusion The European Union is the concern over the effects on competitiveness of the member countries when it comes to pricing behavior and market structure. The European Stock Markets indicate that the higher the volume of trade the lower the price will be and the price cost margins as well as industry market power. It is then safe to assume that the liberalization of trade would eventually cause gains in output and welfare. However, articles on trade liberalization bring out flaws regarding the effects of custom unions about the ability to raise trade volumes on the market structure and price cost margins of industries. Studying the implications of key variables involved, related indicators on the European Union member countries after the implementation of the customs union between the 1950’s and to date, it can be concluded that the volume of the internal trade within the manufacturing industry of EU member countries significantly increased on the average. Furthermore, the price cost and concentration ratios of the manufacturing industry declined on the average during the same time frame. As we examine the relationship that is causal between the increasing volumes of trade with EU countries and the decreasing cost of price margins as well as the concentration ratios of the manufacturing industry sector.   Price cost margins and concentration ratio equations will then use trade ratios with EU countries as explanatory variables in order to interpret the results obtained.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Results on estimation that are presented in this paper present the effect of pro-competitive increase in trade volumes of the EU member countries. We then estimate the price cost margin equation to illustrate an inverse relationship between the margins and import ratios. This implicates a theory that when there is a rise in import to the EU countries after the creation of a customs union would then create a competitive effect and would cause the decrease in price of cost margins within the manufacturing industry. Such an inverse relation supports the point that trade volume increases and export levels within EU countries are forcing the companies in the manufacturing industry to implement lower price cost margins (Breuss, 2001).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Generally, it can be said that the creation of a customs union and the rise in the levels of trade volume within European Union countries seemingly illustrates an increase in competitive gridlocks which will end up in falling price cost margins in certain countries. At the same time, putting an emphasis in the manufacturing industry, positive implications of trade liberalization in the aftermath of the establishment of customs unions is also supported with the results of the estimation schemes intended for the concentration ratio equation. Furthermore, a negative strong correlation can be found between the import variables and the Herfindahl concentration ratios. The concept suggests that raising outputs as well as the imports to the European Union will bring down the marginalized concentration ratios and seclude the market power in the manufacturing industry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also according to the results of the estimation method, it would look like that there is no direct relation between the export variables used and the concentration ratios for the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the concentration ratio equation estimate directs that unobserved time which is previously deemed insignificant and the invariant sector specific factors are as well responsible for the variations in the concentration sectors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In total, still according to the estimation results, it can be suggested that the increase in trade volumes brings about beneficial implications on the European Union economy as a whole after the custom union period through the increase in competitive pressure coming form other EU member countries as well as the one for falling mark-ups on prices of consumer goods and market power. Therefore, it would be then be concluded that implications on the welfare side of the economies involved are results of varying changes in the pricing behavior as well as the entire market structure of the European Union member countries. Bibliography:    AKKOYUNLU-WIGLEY, A. (2005) â€Å"Effects of Customs Union with European Union on the Market Structure and Pricing Behaviour of Turkish Manufacturing Industry†. Pearson Education International. BADINGER, H. (2001) Growth Effects of Economic Integration – The Case of the EU Member States(1950 – 2000). Center for European Studies. BREUSS, F. (2001) â€Å"WTO Dispute Settlement from an Economic Perspective – More Failure than Success†. Center for European Studies. DE YOUNG, R. (2000) Efficiency Barriers to the Consolidation of the European Union. Center for European Policy Studies. NAGY, M. (2005) Bank Efficiency in the Enlarged European Union. European Commission.

Airborne Express in 2002 Essays

Airborne Express in 2002 Essays Airborne Express in 2002 Paper Airborne Express in 2002 Paper Statement of Purpose The group aims to identify the generic strategy Airborne Express is pursuing, whether such strategy is sound in the context of air express industry. The company’s strengths and weaknesses are evaluated with the opportunities and threats to identify the distinctive competency that it can adapt. Statement of the Problem The group endeavors to identify the strategy that Airborne Express can implement to its domestic and international operations. Assessing the strategic alliances the company made and the diversification of its services including logistic services is also part of the group’s objective. Alternative Courses of Action Lease Out Airport One solution that is viable to some of Airborne’s dilemmas is leasing out a portion of their airport to private aircrafts or to its competitors. As mentioned in the case, Airborne has seen a decrease in price of its package per customer area. Competition and the new methods of sending packages cause its profits to drop. Such lease can subsidize these falling rates. With the cost of building an airport well above $120 million, this would be an option for other air carriers to consider. Further, with the revenue brought by the leases, Airborne could build another runway so the leased part of the airport would not affect Airborne’s business. However, competitors might be hesitant in giving Airborne additional revenues. Accept DHL company acquisition Since Airborne lacks capital for its expansion in the international scene, the takeover of DHL can be a good approach to achieve global scope. Additional facilities abroad can be accessed as well in such merger. This will provide an opportunity for the merged company to compete with UPS and FedEx and can possibly obtain increased market share especially in the international scene. This might not be good for the ego of the new administration but, as recalled in their history, Airborne has previously experienced mergers that led to quite promising opportunities. Then again, new culture might be adopted (that of DHL) that will need lots of adjustments and changes. Yet, such predicament can be solved by giving Airborne a grace period to be prepared for the merger. Pursue International Strategic Alliances Logistics Services The alliance with Mitsui and Tonami is a good mean for extending Airborne’s services to the global perspective. Not only does it receive funds for aircraft financing but it can also be a good way for Airborne to penetrate other geographical areas. Airborne will not need much capital, yet, it will continue to depend on other carriers for space lease. Airborne can remedy this buy starting to fly their own aircrafts and pursue more alliances with other groups to obtain the minimum volume for their operations. They can use the company’s Free Trade Zone (FTZ) as their primary service. Caution, however, is taken as the alliance will depend on the stability of the member companies. If the partner companies experience trouble, the domino effect would likely be felt. Improve GDS and SDS services The trend of shifting from overnight premium express to low margin deferred services implies that people take advantage of cheaper delivery services. Airborne can market this service to have diversified product from its competitors. However, since the service is imitable, benefits from these services can not last long, unless Airborne will decrease its prices further (this can be easily coped with its competitors or can bleed Airborne with osses). Methods of Analysis SWOT Analysis The group facilitated a SWOT analysis to determine the internal and external factors that influenced the company with respect to its industry. Based from this analysis, the company strengths primarily lie with its cost advantage with its economies of scales and good aircraft maintenance and its generic strategy of adopting a cost based focus, giving them big corporate accounts as customers. The weakness focused on their capital insufficiency that hinders them to explore the opportunities of global expansion. The intense competition of FedEx and UPS threatens the company’s market share, along with the bargaining power of buyers, the rising fuel costs, and the weak volume growth in the industry. Industry Analysis Using Porter’s Five Forces Model of Industry Attractiveness, the group analyzed the condition of the industry where Airborne belongs. Our analysis shows that entry to this air express industry is hindered with high barrier such as large capital outlay, economies of scale, and brand identity. Intensive rivalry between UPS and FedEx creates lots of price war, which can be detrimental for new entrants. A greater bargaining power from customers is present (especially in the case of Airborne that focused on corporate accounts) as well as from their suppliers (higher fuel). The threats of faxes and emails as substitutes exist, though not that significant with the delivery of original copies. Overall, the air express is an unattractive industry and is just favorable for the existing giants and players in the industry. Financial Ratio Analysis Using the data from the companys Income Statement from 1997 – 2001 and in reference with its shipment revenue statistics, shipment volume statistics and workforce and productivity statistics, the group analyzed the operational efficiency of the company. The trend analysis showed that profitability has declined over the years due to increasing operating costs and declining volume growth of shipments. The company is faced with high bargaining power from corporate accounts though it can generate higher revenue per shipment with these accounts compared with other services it offers. Employee productivity increased in 2001. Total benefits paid to employees continued to increase in 2001 when there was a reduction in the number of employees for the year which suggests that the company may need to examine its compensation plan to boost productivity. The demand for a global air express service challenges the companys market for high-volume accounts. A strategy has to be created to retain their corporate accounts if the company wants to survive in the airline industry. Recommendation Merging with DHL would be the ideal strategy that Airborne will do. It’s a win-win situation for both companies since Airborne does not have international scope which DHL have while DHL has limited access to the US market in which Airborne possesses. The merger can give an opportunity to compete with UPS and FedEx and possibly increase the market share of the company. The opportunities for the global market are just too big to forego, and merging with DHL would give Airborne a good level to commence such activity. Conclusion The transportation industry will definitely take a new turn in the near future. The world has become a very small place that we are defined more by the time zones rather than the distance. This means that we are most likely to observe some large merges that will divide transportation market on larger shares. It is up to Airborne whether to take the challenge of globalization or continue to battle with the heated domestic market in the US. Extending Competitive Strategy (Strength VS Opportunities) 1. Extend inventory management and logistic services in the global market 2. Find more alliances with foreign countries 3. Advertise and offer services to other global corporations Building Competitive Strategy (Weakness VS Opportunities) 1. Agree in the merger with DHL. 2. Advertise its newly acquired planes to establish a trademark. 3. Lease the old airplanes use the proceeds to enhance the new aircrafts. 4. Borrow funds from the bank to proceed with global expansion. 5. Promote more the GDS. 6. Start flying their aircrafts internationally. Sustaining Competitive Strategy (Strengths VS Threats) 1. Maintain flexible time. 2. Do more research to reduce further fleet repairs. 3. Obtain more corporate accounts. . Lease out their airports to competitors or other companies. 5. Improve SDS and GDS services. Avoidance (Weakness Vs Threats) 1. Give in to corporate accounts and continue providing discounts. 2. Sell excess aircrafts INDUSTRY ANALYSIS Risk of entry by potential competitors A high entry barrier exists in the air express industry. Huge capital investment is needed to set up a network and supporting infrastructure. As such there is no brand loyalty, however all the major players are know for their reliability and for a new entrant to establish the same will take a lot of time. There wont be any cost advantage factor as the hub-and-spoke model, used in this industry, can be implemented by new entrants. Economies of scale will not be in favor of the new competitor as the initial volume would be low. Switching costs are not high in this industry. Rivalry among established companies This industry is highly consolidated with only 3 major players – somewhat an oligopoly. The industry is also characterized by numerous price wars between the 2 giants, namely, UPS and FedEx. Airborne and the rest of the companies generally follow the trends set by these two firms or fall out. The exit barriers to this industry are high. This is due to the investments in hubs, vans, jets and other capital extensive infrastructure. Bargaining power of buyers Businesses and individuals all fall under the customers category for this industry. For Airborne, big customers do get volume discounts and can negotiate prices with sales representatives. However smaller customers have to take what is being offered to them. The only say they have is that they can switch between the players, but due to intense competition, the prices offered are generally the same across the service band. Bargaining power of suppliers The inputs to this industry are fuel, planes, vans, customs, permits and others. The companies do liaison with relevant industries to prevent themselves from fuel hikes. Arrangements with various customs departments are also made to facilitate faster clearance of goods and packages. As such there is no threat from supplier side to this industry. Substitute Products Businesses can use fax; telex etc to send important documents. Emails can also be used for the same purpose. These provide them with low cost alternative to express mail. However the threat of substitution is limited, when it comes to sending originals. Substitutes from other industries are also limited. The company is adopting a cost-based focus, which enables Airborne to carve a market niche against UPS and FedEx on focusing on large corporate accounts. It improves the value added activities of Airborne and reduced cost of services further. However, UPS and FedEx may catch up with Airborne if they will too enter this kind of niche, giving Airborne another type of competition. The bargaining power of the buyers also reduced its revenues with the discounts demanded by the customers. FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS Income Statement Analysis From the above data, it is apparent that profitability of Airborne Express Declined over the last five years. Almost 90% of the revenue generated by the company is from Domestic operations. Decreases in the profitability are results of weak volume growth, high fuel costs and strong competition from FedEx and UPS. Below are the components of Operating Expenses incurred by the company over the last five years as a percentage of total operating expenses: Major components of the cost of the company over the past five years are transportation purchased at 32. 89% of total cost and station and ground operations at 32. 47% of total cost followed by flight operations and maintenance at a percentage of 17. 09. The company incurs less labor costs. Shipment Revenue Statistics Analysis The table shows that Airborne Express generates more revenue on a per shipment basis in dealing with large clients. Airborne Express as a niche player, focuses on high-volume corporate accounts which enables it to significantly cut down on its costs. However on a per-pound basis, Airborne could charge only as much as $0. 94 on domestic high-volume transactions and $0. 77 on international freight transactions for 2001 because of the high-bargaining power of these customers. Shipment Volume Statistics Analysis Annual growth for second day service steadily increased from -11. 80% in 1997 to 15. 40% in 2001. The bulk of the shipments may be from overnight services but this has shown negative growth over the past years due to the use of e-mails which decreased the demand for the service. Shipments from high-volume accounts and international freight are more steady when compared to other services offered by the company although annual growth for these services are slow. Globalization, raises the opportunity for establishing an international service comparable to its domestic service. The company may work on this opportunity to retain its high-volume and international freight clients which generates higher revenue on a per shipment basis for the company. Work Force and Productivity Statistics Analysis Labor productivity measured by shipments per employee hour shows plays around 7%-8% over the past five years. Based on statistics, 1999 showed a decrease in productivity. In 2001 it showed an improvement. In 2001, employee hours decreased by 3. 74% compared with last year. Total compensation continued to increase in 2001 which shows that the increase in productivity may be due to additional incentives given to employees. However total shipments growth rate in 2001 decreased by 1. 60%. The company may need to look into its compensation plan as well in boosting productivity.

Fast Facts About Gerald Ford - 38th President

Fast Facts About Gerald Ford - 38th President Gerald Ford (1913-2006) served as the thirty-eighth president of the United States. He started his presidency in the midst of controversy after his pardon of Richard M. Nixon following his resignation from the presidency. He only served out the rest of his term and has the distinction of being the only president who was never elected to either the presidency or vice presidency.   Here is a quick list of fast facts for Gerald Ford. For more in-depth information, you can also read the Gerald Ford Biography Birth: July 14, 1913 Death: December 26, 2006 Term of Office: August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977 Number of Terms Elected: No Terms. Ford was never elected to be president or vice-president but instead took office upon the resignation first of Spiro Agnew and then of Richard Nixon First Lady: Elizabeth Anne Bloomer Gerald Ford Quote: A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.Additional Gerald Ford Quotes Major Events While in Office: Ford grants Nixon an unconditional pardon (1974)Campaign Reform Law (1974)Communist victory in Southeast Asia (1975-76)Helsinki Agreement (1975) Additional Resources and Information This informative  chart of Presidents and Vice Presidents  provides at-a-glance  quick reference information on the presidents, vice-presidents, their terms of office, and their political parties. Richard NixonJimmy CarterList of American PresidentsChart of the First Ladies

Microbiology Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Microbiology Report - Essay Example Retail beef has lead to disastrous outbreaks of shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in Europe. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli is the leading cause of hemorrhagic colitis and this usually progresses to the fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome. Contamination of meat by shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli occurs during the skinning process. Poultry is susceptible to Campylobacter contamination. Other common microbial contaminants found in meat products as revealed by surveillance studies in retail outlets are Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Moraxella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Clostridium and Staphylococcus. These micro-organisms have virulence factors that contribute to pathogenicity in the human host and they include toxins, adhesins etc. Microorganisms such as Moraxella, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas lead to food spoilage via gas production, putrefaction and souring. Aside bacteria, fungi that lead to food spoilage and pathogenicity include molds in the following genera: Alternaria, Mucor and Cladosporium. Strict hygiene must be upheld in retail butcheries in order to eliminate microbial contamination (Montville, 2008). The Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom provides for safety regulations in food retail outlets such as butcheries. They include directives on cross-contamination, cleaning, chilling, cooking and preparation. The various regulations that address food contamination caused by bacteria and other microorganisms are found in a legislative act i.e. The microbiological criteria regulation 2073/2005. It contains rules and regulations for all food business operators and is in agreement with the standards set by the European Union (EU). The implementation of general and specific hygiene measures is stipulated in article 2 of 2073/2005 and this is very relevant to meat production and selling (Moss & Adams, 2008). With respect to the aforementioned legislation, the latest applicable legislation in the United Kingdom was effected in the year 2006 and this legislation requires that for any person or firm to conduct any retail meat business, they must have a food management system that is documented. The document should strictly adhere to the principles outlined about hazard analysis of critical control point. The various areas that these guidelines are set to address is on carcass and carcass testing, handling and also processing as well as packaging of the meat and meat products to ensure that they are safe for human consumption devoid of any microorganism that can cause food poisoning (Moss & Adams, 2008). The management system required by the law is meant to ensure that the meat seller have the correct policies and procedures, that the employees have the correct training, equipment and also ensure that the firm/ meat dealer upholds and keeps records that can be used in future to help solve cases of food poisoning or help the government make some analysis about a certain concern. The visit to the butchery helped us come up with several observations on compliance with the set legislation. Most important all meat products were well labeled and the origin of the meat and preparation was well indicated. All standard operating procedures on cleaning and food hygiene were also adhered to. The manager explained the process of capacity building and the continuous training of personnel on food safety regulations. . The personnel working there are highly trained and