Social Injustice South Africa - 1311 Words

The Social injustice and inequality in South Africa! English Final Essay Charmina Khanam 1128965 May 9th, 2013 603-102-MQ During the time of slavery in South Africa, the South African people were deprived of their homeland because the colonists colonized it. The white colonists snatched their land brutally and took their freedom of rights. In Nadine Gordimer’s, `` Country Lovers`` and Kate Chopin’s`` Desiree’s Baby``, both authors illustrate injustice and inequality within a society through the use of characterization, setting, and conflict. Both authors explore the characterization of the male characters depicted in both short stories. In â€Å"Country Lovers†, after two weeks, Paulus a white man comes home from his†¦show more content†¦Therefore, Thebedi`s husband has to be a poor farmer because of the injustice and inequality in society. In â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†, the second story, during the time in Louisiana, the slaves have to work for Armand`s plantation such as ``picking cotton`` for harvesting the plantation. This quote illustrates how the ``negroes`` are slaves who are forced to work for Armand`s plantation because they are the property of Armand. They have no right to refuse to stop working because only Armand can control these black people. Armand is a very rich man who owns a plantation because his socioeconomic status is wealthy. In addition, he is rich because of his white skin. The white people treat them as slaves and force them to work such hard labor because of injustice and inequality within a society. Therefore, both authors have the similar socioeconomic conditions that prevail in both stories. Both authors use similar catalysts for the conflict in both stories. In â€Å"Country Lovers†, when Paulus looks at his daughter`s skin color he is very shocked and he could not control his negative emotions within him. He could not control them because he feels very guilty and shameful for commiting a grave mistake with having a child with Thebedi. `` He struggled for a moment with a grimace of tears, anger, and self-piety``( Gordimer, 47). This quote illustrates how Paulus could not cope with his negative emotions because he feels he disgracedShow MoreRelatedMahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela1504 Words   |  7 Pagesparticipate in social and political change without violence. It is a form of social and political change between passive acceptances and armed struggle. Non-violence way to participate in the social and political change is including nonviolent civil disobedience against, acts of civil disobedience or other powerful influence uncooperative antagonistic form; it is similar with pacifism, but it is not pacifism. 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Most of the blacks have considered the languageRead More Steven Biko Essay1648 Words   |  7 Pagesshall form no point of reference. - Steve Biko South Africa is home to a great supply of natural resources, inherent beauty, and one of the greatest political and social travesties of the modern era. The South African government has suppressed native African peoples for hundreds of years. In the last century the situation has gotten progressively worse through governmental legislation lead by the racist Afrikaner Nation Party. This injustice lasted unchallenged until the late 1950s when legislation

Qualities for Young Mothers Who Are Expecting a Baby

The primitive thought of being a unexpectedly or expectantly mother is very frightful for a young mother. The mother may not be physical, mentally or financially ready for a child, thus making it the most difficult decision in the world for a women to decide. The decision of disheartening abortion and adoption compared to newly born member of the family tree. This leaves a lingering popular worldwide cultivated question of â€Å"What If ?†If the mother chooses to conceive what are the initial thoughts? The Initial thoughts and constant unreciprocated questions are unraveled leaving the mother and unborn child stupefied. Only god can control faith of whether the baby is healthy or not,but as a parent I most importantly would like to encourage confidence,commitment , and willpower in my child. I am a strong believer in the biblical way of practice what you teach. The day I decided to give birth to a child was the day I committed to protect him or her for as long as the y need it. Be there for them through thick or thin. Teach them responsibility for their actions. Teach them how to be respectful toward others and themselves. Teach them to obey regulations and prepare them for the future. When they are discouraged , built up their confidence. In this world commitment is incredibly important . Noncommittal is linked to the discerning trait of untrustworthy. This can daunt your future opportunities because your considered unreliable. Personally, Commitment is aShow MoreRelatedBreastfeeding Up Close and Persona1007 Words   |  5 PagesIntroducing Liberty in Feeding Babies: No Stigma Attached After eighteen years of failed in vitro fertilization trials1 and ineffective fertility drugs, my aunt had built up a wall against the taunts of a society that measures individual success based on one’s ability to reproduce. When my aunt did give birth to a healthy baby boy, she was forced to battle a new wave of criticism. She had difficulty producing an adequate amount of breast milk and soon after her delivery, she came down with the fluRead MoreSample Resume : The Retail Market Essay1335 Words   |  6 Pagessector Chosen Retail Sector: Mother care My chosen retail sector is Mother Care. Mother Care is a very modern updated mother and baby store which caters for all expecting mothers and mothers that have already welcomed there bundles of joy into the world. 2 – USP for a specific retail outlet from chosen retail sector Chosen Retail Outlet: Mother Care Mother Cares USP is that they have a brilliant range of baby equipment and they have some really good stuff for the mother. Things they have that areRead MoreThe Effects Of Low Birth Weight On Infants1518 Words   |  7 Pagesdescribing infants weighing less than 5 lbs 8 ounces (2500g) whereas the average weight is 8 lbs (Stanford, 2015). 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The aim of this policy is to reduce the number of people using illegal drugs and other harmful drugs and increase the number of people who successfully recover from drug abuse. Also, to restrictRead MorePostpartum Depression : A Mental Health Disorder1414 Words   |  6 Pageseven sadness. Expecting mothers may also feel a multitude of emotions after delivery as well. Postpartum depression in new mothers is a debilitating illness that can affect her everyday life, her family’s life and her newborn infants’. Most women feel the affects of postpartum depression in he first weeks of motherhood. According the American Pregnancy Association’s 2014 statistics â€Å"approximately 70 to 80 percent of women who have given birth experience what are often called the ‘baby blues’† (Piotrowski)Read MoreOedipus The King : A Master Of Tragedy889 Words   |  4 Pagesafter reading â€Å"Oedipus the King† who was this man and why did he think he could run from his destiny of fate. 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Some people just prefer items that seem more interestingRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy : A Social Issue1551 Words   |  7 Pagesdefined by UNICEF, as an adolescent between the ages of thirteen to nineteen becoming pregnant. (UNICEF Malaysia Communications). Teenage pregnancy is viewed as a social issue because of the way it affects a country’s economy, the mother and father’s future, the baby’s quality of life, and the parent’s extended family and community Statistics Over the past twenty years, teenage pregnancy rates have been continuously declining in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and PreventionRead MoreSophocles Oedipus And His Fate974 Words   |  4 Pagesafter reading â€Å"Oedipus the King† who was this man and why did he think he could run from his destiny of fate? Was Oedipus responsible for his final fate and could he have changed his fate? We are going to talk about Oedipus and how his life unfolds from his birth. Then you, the reader will decide if you feel empathy for Oedipus if this story was about a tragic hero. Oedipus’ life sets in motion before he is ever born. The King Laius and his wife Jocasta are expecting a child; the Oracle told them thatRead MoreBuck V. Bell Essay1357 Words   |  6 Pagesfeeblemindedness. Her mother was also tested and considered to be feeblemindedness because her test revealed that she had the mind of an eight year old. Carrie and her mother were sent to the Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded (Buck v. Bell, 2006). Dr. Albert Priddy was the superintendent of the State Colony for Epileptics and Feeble-Minded at Lynchburg he supported the population through the eugenics movement and sterilization. Dr. Priddy had sterilized about 75 to 100 young women without their

The Roaring 20s Free Essays

Change is an inevitable part of life. With new ideas, opinions, and morals came a new way of life. No time period in American history felt a more drastic change than the 1920s. We will write a custom essay sample on The Roaring 20s or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Roaring Twenties embraced a new culture that focused on enjoyment, art and innovations. The style of clothing, especially for women, went completely against that of the previous generation. Many people were offended by and opposed to the new style of the ‘20s which was epitomized by the flapper. 4 Women’s clothing, which was loose fitting, complimented their efforts to make their chests appear flatter. Cloche style hats were very popular and were tight around the head before flipping out at the base of the neck. 6 Year by year, the length of skirts and dresses grew noticeable shorter until it reached halfway up the knee. 7 Short, flowing skirts made dancing to the new forms of music easier. Music and dance became an important aspect in the lives of Americans. The Harlem Renaissance embraced the new American music, Jazz. Harlem came with a culture all its own. 8 Dances such as the Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Charleston, and Lindy Hop were performed to jazz, blues, and rag time music. These quick, energetic dances were seen as scandalous to older generations because of the physical contact they involved. From school to church, dance was involved in every part of life. 10 Entertainment fostered a sense of happiness in Americans after World War I. Movies and sports were two of the most popular pastimes during the 1920s. Silent films could be understood by all and brought happiness and laughter to their viewers. In 1923 the first â€Å"talkie† was created which eventually replaced the silent film. 14 Sportswere enjoyed not only by those who played them but also by those who watched. Among the popular sports of football, boxing, tennis, and golf, baseball remained the fan favorite. In 1927 Babe Ruth hit his record 60 home runs. Thanks to him and others like him, such as Lou Gehrig, baseball became America’s sport. 15 Interestin activities created a sense of unity in Americans. Many fads became the obsession of many Americans. Crossword puzzles became very popular. People would work on them whenever they had a free moment, and soon, contests were being held to see who could complete the puzzles the fastest. Mah-Jongg, and ancient Chinese game, became a national obsession. It replaced the game of bridge, and clubs, even, were opened for players. Many Americans participated in stunts. Flagpole sitters literally sat on flag poles to gain money or attention. Barnstormers performed stunts in airplanes while wing-walkers performed their own tricks on the plane’s wings. 16 Thesecrazes swept across the nation during the 1920s. Many innovations came about during the Roaring Twenties. Henry Ford’s affordable automobile redefined Americans’ way of life. 17 Peoplecould travel farther and faster with a car than with a horse. Vacationing became popular which caused motels and service stations to be established along popular routes. 18 In1927 Ford introduced the Model A which quickly became the most popular car in America. The new innovations of the 1920s were accompanied by new ways of thinking. New medical and scientific discoveries were made during this time. In 1920, Frederick Banting created insulin to treat diabetes. It was the first hope patients with diabetes had of living a normal life, and it even help some of those near deathmake miraculous recoveries. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered the possibilities of penicillin in fighting bacteria. It wouldn’t be until several years later, however, that it would be used to save lives. 19 Theconflict between evolution and creation caused much tension. In 1925, John Scopes taught the theory of evolution to his class and was arrested. Eventually, evolution was taught in most science classes. 20 These new ways of thinking changed life in American. The Roaring Twenties is characterized as a positive and optimistic time,however, it did have its negatives. With the manufacture of alcohol made illegal by Prohibition, many people turned to speakeasies and bootlegging to get their alcohol. 21 Prohibition was supposed to lower the crime rate, but more corruption and organized crime emerged. 22 The murder rate in 118 cities was higher that one in every 100,000 in 1927. 23 Despite this problem, the positives of the Roaring Twenties outweigh the negatives. The Roaring Twenties was characterized by a lifestyle of enjoyment, art, and innovations. The 1920s focused on optimism. After World War I, Americans sought happiness in music, dancing, movies, and sports. New inventions made life easier, and all appeared well. But every up has its down, and the Roaring Twenties was no exception. Notes Feinstein, Stephen. The 1920s. (Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. , 2001), 26 Scott, Robert. â€Å"The Roaring Twenties: A Historical Snapshot of Life in the 1920s†. available from http://www. 1920-1930. com; Internet; accessed 15 April 2009. Feinstein, The_ 1920s, _25. Langley, Susan. Roaring ‘20s Fashion: Jazz. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2005), 95. Laubner, Fashions of the Roaring ‘20s, 47. Kallen, Stuart A. The Harlem Jazz Era. (Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books. 2004), 24. Scott, â€Å"The Roaring Twenties†. Scott, â€Å"The Roaring Twenties†. Feinstein, The_ 1920s_, 7. Scott, â€Å"The Roaring Twenties†. Scott, â€Å"The Roaring Twenties†. Feinstein, The_ 1920s. _ 32. Feinstein, The_ 1920s. _21. F einstein, The_ 1920s. _9. Scott, â€Å"The Roaring Twenties†. Scott, â€Å"The Roaring Twenties†. Scott, â€Å"The Roaring Twenties†. Feinstein, The_ 1920s. _11. Frederick Hoffman, â€Å"The Spectator,† The Literary Digest, (2 July 1927). Bibliography Feinstein, Stephen. The 1920s. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. , 2001. Kallen, Stuart A. The Harlem Jazz Era. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books. 2004. Langley, Susan. Roaring ‘20s Fashion: Jazz. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2005. Laubner, Ellie. Fashions of the Roaring ‘20s. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 1996. Scott, Robert. â€Å"The Roaring Twenties: A Historical Snapshot of Life in the 1920s,† Available from http://www. 1920-1930. com. Internet; accessed 15 April 2009. How to cite The Roaring 20s, Essay examples

Billabong International Limited A Private Limited Company

Question: Discuss about the Billabong International Limited. Answer: Background: Company Overview Billabong International Limited was started by Gordon and Rena Merchant in 1973 in the Gold Coast Australia. It deals in clothing and other accessories like watches, backpacks snowboard and skateboards. It. The company name has been derived from the word Billabong which means creek running only in the rainy season. In the beginning, the company made board shorts. In 1980s the company was expanded its business and were selling board shorts in the entire Australia. With this high growth rate in the business, by the late 1980s the company did international expansion to New Zealand, Japan and South Africa. Billabong listed itself in the Australian Securities Exchange in the year 2000 and soon the company began to acquire other brands and retail outlets to expand rapidly. In 2001, the company acquired Von Zipper- an eyewear brand and Element- skateboarding apparel brand. Honolus, Xcel, Tigerlily, Sector 9, RVCA and Palmers are also few other brands which are possessed by the company. In 2001, the sales of the company was $225 million and it grew to $1.7 billion in 2011. However by the end of 2012 the company closed more than 150 stores after it underwent a restructuring process and with loss of jobs for more than 400 employees internationally. In the year 2013, Billabong accepted the takeover offer by Altamont Partners. The losses to the company in the year 2013 was $536.6 million. (Reuters) Analysis The ratio analysis is very beneficial method to examine the financial performance of the company. It assists the investors to comprehend the financial health of the company and understand if the company was able to accomplish as their expectations. It also helps in judging if the company has been able to make use of its resources and assets to earn better profits. These ratios also help the company to identify the areas where they need to improve and formulate plans in accordance with the trends of its financial performance. Some of the important financial ratios are Profitability ratios: Profitability of a company is defined as the capacity of the business to make profits. In a business, all the revenue earned by the sales of goods and services minus all the expense incurred in conducting the business will provide profit. Profitability is the most important goal of any business. It helps in determining whether the company will be able to generate returns for the investors who have invested in the company. The various Profitability ratios are Gross Profit Margin: Gross Profit Margin is defined as Gross Profit/ Sales. It measures the profit earned by the company while selling its inventory. A higher gross profit margin ratio is preferred as the company will have more revenues to pay its expenses. For the company Billabong, In 2015, Gross Profit Margin = 560822/ 1056130 = 53.10 % In 2014, Gross Profit Margin = 53643100/ 1027471= 52.21% Thus the gross profit for the company has increased. This can be due to increase of revenues by the company and reduced the cost of the goods sold by better procurement of the raw materials. Return on assets: Return on assets is defined as Net Income/ Average Assets. It helps management to understand if the investment in assets are being converted to profits. The more the return on assets the better for the company. In 2015, Return on assets = 2552/ (751866 + 803980)/ 2 = 0.33 % In 2014, Return on assets = -239933/ (751866+751866)/ 2 = -31.91 % In 2014, the company has incurred huge loss and thus the return on assets is negative. The company has been able to generate a net profit by reduction in finance cost and other expenses. Return on sales: Return on Sales is defined as Net Income/ Sales. It helps in identifying if the company is able to generate profits by selling goods and reduce the wastage of resources. In 2015, Return on sales = 2552/ 1056130 = 0.24 % In 2014, Return on sales = -239933/ 1027471 = -23.35 % The company has shown improvement in the return on sales which is a good indicator for the investors. The higher value of Return on sales indicates that the company is generating more revenue with the increase in sales. Return on Investment: Return on Investment is defined as Net Income/ Investment. It helps the investors identify the return they will get for the investment they made in the company. In 2015, Return on sales = 2552/ 1094274 = 0.23 % In 2014, Return on sales = -239933/ 1094274 = -21.93 % The return on investment is positive in the year 2015. Thus the investors will get a better return for their investments compared to the previous year. Efficiency ratios: The efficiency ratio helps in identify if the company is able to use its resources and generate profits efficiently. It is used by the company internally to identify areas where resources are being wasted. The most commonly used efficiency ratios are Assets turnover ratio: Assets turnover ratio is defined as the net sales/ Average total assets. It reflects the amount of sales generated by the company for the amount invested in the assets of the company. In 2015, Assets turnover ratio = 1056130/ (803980 + 751866)/2 = 1.35 In 2014, Assets turnover ratio Assets turnover ratio = 1027471 / (751866 + 751866)/ 2 = 1.36 The company in 2014 was able to utilize its assets more efficiently than 2015. The investment in assets did not yield the same kind of return as was expected by the investors. Fixed assets turnover ratio: Fixed assets turnover ratio is defined as the net sales/ Average fixed assets. It reflects the amount of sales generated by the company for the amount invested in the assets of the company. This is more refined ratio as it takes only assets like plant, equipment, property etc. into account. In 2015, Assets turnover ratio = 1056130/ (89504 + 94305)/2 = 11.49 In 2014, Assets turnover ratio = 1027471 / (94305 + 94305)/ 2 = 10.89 Thus the company in 2015 utilized its fixed assets more efficiently as compared to the year 2014. Taking both assets turnover ratio and fixed assets turnover ratio it is clear that the management has not been able to utilize the intangible and other assets as efficiently as it did the previous year. Inventory turnover ratio: Inventory turnover ratio is defined as the Cost of goods sold/ Average inventory. This ratio tells the number of times the company was able to sell its average inventory. The higher value of inventory turnover ratio is preferred as it indicates well running of the business by the management. A low inventory turnover ratio may be due poor maintenance, over production or other factors. In 2015, Assets turnover ratio = 1056130/ ((187125 + 180222) /2) = 5.75 In 2014, Assets turnover ratio = 1027471/ ((180222 + 180222) /2) = 5.70 The inventory turnover ratio has improved for the company thus the management is improved and the company was able to sell the average inventory better in 2015 as compared to 2014. However the improvement was small in amount. Thus the increasing inventory turnover ratio and fixed assets turnover ratio are indicators of good use of assets by the company. Liquidity ratio: The Liquidity ratio is used to determine if the company will be able to pay of its debt both long term and short term. The most commonly used liquidity ratios are Current ratio: It is defined as ability of the firm to pay off the current liabilities using current assets. It is given by Current Assets/ Current Liabilities In 2015, Current ratio = 523753/ 239045 = 2.19 In 2014, Quick ratio = 495801/ 225671 = 2.19 Thus there is no effective change in the current ratio. Quick ratio: Quick ratio is defined as how quickly the company can convert its assets and pay off the current liabilities. It is given by Quick Assets/ Current Liabilities. A higher value of Quick ratio is preferred as it reveals that the company will be easily able to pay its liabilities In 2015, quick ratio = 179838/ 239045 = 0.75 In 2014, Quick ratio = 298920/ 225671 = 1.32 The quick ratio shows that the company will not be able to cover the current liabilities with the quick assets it has. There has been a sudden decline in the quick ratio and the management should focus on improving the ratio so that it can boost the confidence of the creditors and investors. Interest Coverage Ratio: Interest Coverage Ratio is defined as amount of income that is used to cover the future interest expense. It is defined as EBIT/ Interest expense Financial Leverage Ratio: It is used to measure the overall debt of the company compared to its assets and equity. It determines the share of owners and creditors in the company. The important Financial Leverage ratios are Debt ratio: Debt ratio is defined as the total liability of the company / total assets. The higher the value of debt ratio the more risky is the investment in the company. In 2015, Debt ratio = 522396/ 803980= 0.65 In 2014, Debt ratio = 492830 / 751866 = 0.66 The debt ratio for both the years is almost same. It states that 65% of the total assets is the liabilities of the company. Debt to Equity ratio: Debt to Equity ratio is defined as the total debt of the company / total equity. The higher value of debt to equity means the creditors financing is more in the company. In 2015, Debt to equity ratio = 522396/ 281584 = 1.85 In 2014, Debt to equity ratio = 492830 / 259036 = 1.90 Thus the Debt to equity ratio has decreased in the year 2015. This is a good sign as the share of creditors in the business has decreased. Investment ratio: These ratios helps the investor to understand the financial health of the company and make decision whether or not to invest in the company. The important Financial Leverage ratios are Earnings Per share: It is the amount of profit each share of the company will receive. It helps in comparing returns by investing in various shares. It is given by (Net income- Dividends) / No. of shares. In 2015, Earnings Per share = 0.5 cents In 2014, Earnings Per share = (28.6) cents Dividend Yield ratio: Dividend Yield ratio is defined as the dividend paid by the company by No. of shares. It is used to compare the investment in various companies. The company has not declared in the year 2015 and 2014. Thus the shareholders might want to invest in other companies which is giving better return. Conclusion and Findings Thus after the analysis of various financial ratios of the company Billabong International Limited for the past two years it has been identified that the company has suffered major losses in 2014 which has affected the performance of the company. The plans executed by the company in 2015 has performed considerably well. The company has been able to utilize it fixed assets better and the inventory turnover ratio has also improved. The company however since the last two years has not paid any dividend to the investors and the earnings per share is low compared to similar competitors in the industry. These are the major concerns for the investors and the management and they need to improve these areas to build trust of the investors. Thus the report helps in understanding the significance of various financial ratios and help understand the current financial health of Billabong International Limited Recommendation The following are the few recommendations based on the analysis The quick ratio of the company has fallen to 0.75 (less than 1). The company should increase this ratio so that it can use easily convertible assets to cover all the current liabilities. The operating expense for the company can be reduced by improving the waste control in resources while operating the business. The company should divide the profits made as dividends to the investors to gain their trust. Reference Billabong International Ltd. (2015). 2014 annual report of Billabong International Ltd. Retrieved from https://www.billabongbiz.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=154279p=irol-reportsannual Profitability Ratio. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.myaccountingcourse.com/financial-ratios/profitability-ratios White Claire. (2015). Why are efficiency ratios important to investors. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032615/why-are-efficiency-ratios-important-investors.asp Loth Richard. (n.d). Investment Valuation Ratios. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/university/ratios/investment-valuation/ Billabong International Ltd (BBG.AX). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=BBG.AX