Gun Control Laws And The Rights Granted Under The Second...

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed (US Const). Although written over two hundred years ago, the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is still indispensable today. With thousands of innocent Americans murdered from the use of a firearm every year, there is a strong calling for stricter gun-control laws and regulations. Yet, every day United States citizens are forced to use their firearms for protective purposes, frequently saving their lives. While firearms pose a threat when in the wrong hands, restricting their use to only law enforcement is not the answer to ending gun violence. Though the rights granted under the Second Amendment are imperative and must not be stripped away, there are measures that should be taken in order to prevent gun violence, including the expansion of more stringent and thorough background checks and the increase in mental health scre ening. The paramount function of the rights granted under the Second Amendment is the ability for citizens to protect themselves from violent or intrusive attacks. Millions of Americans own a firearm for defensive purposes, most commonly to protect against an intruder. In fact, four to six percent of gun owners reported using a gun for self defense within the last five years (Sowell). Not only is the use of firearms for self-defense common, but it is also highly effective. Crime victims whoShow MoreRelatedThe Cons Against Gun Control in the United States810 Words   |  4 PagesGun control is a topic that stirs a strong opinion from the general public. Gun control is the effort to regulate or control usage and sales of guns. The right to bear arms is granted to all Americans by the Second Amendment and many consider it essential to maintain order in the United States of America. Even though this was the Second Amendment right granted to citizens in the Bill of Rights, many Americans opt no t to own a gun, and others would like for this right to be abolished altogether. BothRead MoreThe Bill Of Rights Of The United States1557 Words   |  7 PagesThe Bill of Rights lists certain freedoms and liberties that are guaranteed to the people of the United States of America. Because these rights are in the Constitution, they are federal laws that apply to everyone in America. To ensure there was no question as to who the Bill of Rights applied to, the Fourteenth Amendment was passed in 1868 giving anyone born in, or a citizen of, the United States the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The amendment left clauses giving some interpretationRead More1st and 2nd Amendment1723 Words   |  7 PagesThe First and Second Amendments of the United States Constitution On September 25, 1789, The Bill Of Rights was submitted to the states for approval, based on the previous Constitutions insufficient assurances for civil freedom, liberties and justice. Concerned that the Constitution neglected to clearly state the basic civil rights of the citizens of the United States, Anti- Federalists opposed the Articles of Confederations, which gave state governments more authority (â€Å"Bill of Rights, n.d.). AsRead MorePersuasive Essay : Gun Control798 Words   |  4 PagesStates almost 100,000 people are shot or killed with a gun in one year? 10,527 people die a year in handgun related incidents in the United States. This number, by far, outweighs the number of gun related deaths in countries such as Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan, which number 13, 22, and 87, respectively. What is the reason for such drastic differences in numbers? Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan are all countries that have stricter gun control laws than the US. Mind you, these are ju st the number ofRead MoreThe Constitution And The Declaration Of Independence1712 Words   |  7 Pagesgovernment also included a set of rights entitled, The Bill of Rights. In The Bill of Rights, citizens of the U.S. are given rights, amendments, that make the U.S a free country today. This system has provided many citizens with rights such as, allowing them to express their religion and free speech and protect their privacy with no officials is allowed to search someone s belongings unless there is a warrant that states reason. There are many more amendments besides the two listed and each ofRead More Gun Control versus The Right to Bear Arms Essay886 Words   |  4 PagesWith the topic of gun control comes a widely split crowd. There are those that believe that gun control is necessary for decreasing crime and making a nation a safer place to live. And on the other end of the spectrum, they are those that speak of how anti-gun control is what would make our nation a safer pla ce to live. After all, ?Would a person be as likely to break into another familys home knowing that the family has means of personal protection (Warren 308). ?Most everyone will agree thatRead MorePersuasive Essay--Pro Gun Controll845 Words   |  4 Pages25 June 2013 Restricting Gun Control Did you know that in the United States almost 100,000 people are shot or killed with a gun in one year? Ten thousand, five hundred and twenty-seven people die a year in handgun related incidents in the United States. This number, by far, outweighs the number of gun related deaths in countries such as Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan, which number thirteen, twenty-two, and eighty-seven, respectively. What is the reason for such drastic differences in numbersRead MoreThe Bill of Rights Amendments984 Words   |  4 Pagesconstitution has an amendment process that has been included in the Bill of Rights. The amendment allows Americans to make changes to the September 17, 1789 United States Constitution, that was ratified and made law (Zink 450).. The amendment process has made it possible for the constitution to change moderately, than being overhauled, and it has been changed to adhere to the current times and changes. The Second Amendment to the US constitution is part of the Bill of Rights that guarantees all AmericanRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1058 Words   |  5 Pagesthe United States currently than that of gun control. Advocates on either side of the issue are quick to voraciously fight for what they believe, as well as to tear down anyone who sees the issue differently. But unlike other issues, it seems that gun control advocacy does not rest on a spectrum; either you are pro-gun control or you are against it, and anyone caught in the middle is likely to get flak from both sides. But why is the issue of gun control such a hot topic? And why is it that thereRead More America Needs Some Gun Control Essay1552 Words   |  7 Pages Gun control is the effort to restrict or limit the possession and use of guns. The gun control debate may be one of the most important issues in our society. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the 2nd Amendment restrains the government’s ability to ban handguns. Some politicians are passionat e about gun control and make voting decisions based upon on this issue alone; hence, the people we elect into office directly affect our lives. A few republican politicians have a strong

The Global Entrepreneur - 3616 Words

Best Practice BY DANIEL J. ISENBERG The Global Entrepreneur A new breed of entrepreneur is thinking across borders – from day one. FOR A CENTURY AND MORE, companies have ventured abroad only after establishing themselves at home. Moreover, when they have looked overseas, they haven’t ventured too far aï ¬ eld, initially. Consumer healthcare company Johnson Johnson set up its ï ¬ rst foreign subsidiary in Montreal in 1919 – 33 years after its founding in 1886. Sony, established in 1946, took 11 years to export its ï ¬ rst product to the United States, the TR-63 transistor radio. The Gap, founded in 1969 – the year Neil Armstrong walked on the moon – opened its ï ¬ rst overseas store in London in 1987, a year after the Challenger space shuttle†¦show more content†¦The company may be just six years old, but brand awareness is high, and RacingThePlanet is already proï ¬ table. In this article, I’ll describe the challenges start-ups face when they are born global and the skills entrepreneurs need to tackle them. ARTICLE IN BRIEF ââ€"   More and more start-ups are being born global. By tapping resources or serving customers across nations, entrepreneurs can take on larger rivals, chase global opportunities, and use distance to create new products or services. Distances, differences in cultural contexts, and paucity of resources are the main challenges new ventures face. Successful entrepreneurs are clear in their purpose, strike alliances from positions of weakness, are able to manage global supply chains, and can establish multinational organizations from the outset. ââ€"   ââ€"   ââ€"   Key Challenges Global entrepreneurs, my research shows, face three distinct challenges. Distance. New ventures usually lack the infrastructure to cope with dispersed operations and faraway markets. Moreover, physical distances create time differences, which can be remarkably tough to navigate. Even dealing with various countries’ workweeks takes a toll on a start-up’s limited staff: In North America,Show MoreRelatedChin A Better Market For New Entrepreneurs886 Words   |  4 PagesChina Is a Better Market for New Entrepreneurs Than the U.S. Most of the people believe the U.S. have the best economic system and the most mature market in today’s world, it should be the best market environment for most of the new business or new entrepreneurs; however, in the recent years some Asian markets are also developing rapidly, the most outstanding one is the Chinese market. With the Chinese government’s strong internal motivation and aggressive import and export policy I believe it isRead MoreRoles And Development Of Mncs880 Words   |  4 Pagessupport, MNCs aim to scale up emerging and promising entrepreneurs and enterprises by providing them crucial and targeted resources such as funding capital, social networks, mentoring, technical assistance, and technological platforms. One such example is SAP’s collaboration with Endeavor Global, an NGO, to identify and support high impact entrepreneurs in South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Angola, and Nigeria through its SAP Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative. According to the announcement, SAP unveiledRead MoreStrategic Planning, Development, And Implementation Of The Organization s Goals And Objectives1427 Words   |  6 Pagesinclude: Developing the core strategies, developing the global program, and applying and regulating the global effort. There are various strategies that can be used; differentiation strategy, cost leadership strategy, and hybrid strategy. A differentiation strategy focuses on what unique features a product has that are different from those of its competitors. On the other hand, a cost leadership strategy focuses on the reduction of prices. An entrepreneur offers the same products as those of the competitorsRead MoreHow Entrepreneurship Creates An Economy895 Words   |  4 PagesIt can be argued that entrepreneurs own the economy as it is suggested by the statement above that ‘entrepreneurship creates an economy. It creates jobs and stimulates economic activity.’ If this statement is true that it is entrepreneurs who generate income and thus pay tax which contributes to the economy to help it run and grow, then they can be seen as the owners of the economy. They also create jobs which mean other people who now are in employment can help contribute to economy making themRead MoreEntrepreneurship1326 Words   |  6 Pages: 2,091 words Introduction: Entrepreneurship as a lot of meaning but for me it divided into two separate fundamental, the first part debate high involve on dichotomy which in a whole set that dividend in two that identify in a entrepreneur joint exhaustive that it only belong in one business to other business but in the other has mutually exhaustive nothing will belong to simulate for both business. The second fundamental an entrepreneurship is a quality or property firm that definedRead MoreMarketing Plan For A Global Business Essay1585 Words   |  7 Pagesof incorporating a global focus into one’s business plan seems practical since today’s age of technology is expanding the reach of all but few businesses. To focus strictly on the domestic possibilities limits a businesses’ potential and minimizes the broad reach of resources that a global environment offers. Prior to this class I did not realize how many advantages are associated with a global outlook. The following are some of tho se advantages: managers and entrepreneurs have access to a largerRead MoreLike Colonel Harland Sanders and Steve Jobs, We Need to Continue to Change the World665 Words   |  3 Pageswant to start become an entrepreneur. 7 over 10 employer firms survives at least 2 years, the other half at least 5 years, a third at least 10 years and the quarter stay in business 15 years or more. The two successful entrepreneurs that achieved global success are Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of original Kentucky Fried Chicken and Steve Jobs, Apple Inc. CEO. Both of them had perseverance and have self-motivated. Body Topic Sentence 1: Firstly, the successful entrepreneur must have perseveranceRead MoreCase Study Guidelines Motivation and Leadership Essay689 Words   |  3 PagesCompany Todd McFarlane, president and CEO of the McFarlane Companies, is an entrepreneur who understands the importance of product development. Comics, sports, toys, and rock-and-roll have all benefited from his creativity. When McFarlane’s dream to play major league baseball didn’t happen, he fell back on another interest he developed as a teenager—drawing superheroes. He faced the same question faced by all entrepreneurs: Could he make money pursuing his dream? He sent his sketches to prospectiveRead MoreHow Entrepreneurship Has An Effect On The Economy Of India1557 Words   |  7 Pagesin nations that accomplished generous poverty diminishment, for example, in China. Third, benefactors and global advancement organizations have swung to entrepreneurship to enhance the efficiency and supportability of assistance. As we assess the economic development and correlation with Entrepreneurship, we measure how Entrepreneurship has had an effect on the economy of India. The GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Model) was used as a reference to help with the case study of India. The GEM is viewedRead MoreEntrepreneurship and Innovation710 Words   |  3 Pagesthan nature was the key to developing innovative skills. An alpha entrepreneur is a business person who has been able to hone five essential â€Å"discovery skills† (Dyer, Gregersen, Christensen, 2009, p. 62). An employee is not an entrepreneur, though they can exhibit entrepreneurial behaviors. An entrepreneur is self-employed. The reward of entrepreneurship is profit, not wages or salaries. The business does not owe the entrepreneur anything for all their hard labor, and there is a downside that you

Reminiscence of Middle School Essay Example For Students

Reminiscence of Middle School Essay Good evening everyone, my name is David Bent and I would like reminisce with you about the class of 2001s middle school journey. Not too long ago, well about seven years to be exact, this group of seniors made a huge transition from the closed walls of various elementary schools to the huge building of opportunites, which literally had no walls, the middle school. The summer before we entered this huge abyss of opportunities, excitment breezed through the air. This was a chance to finally meet those other people who we had always heard about, but never knew who they really were. And of course, we also got to meet those people we heard lots of bad things about and never wanted to meet, but in the end we all survived and here It all started with the sixth grade. Why did the teachers expect us to master the ways of elementary just to start all over again? To this day I dont know why, but those days were great. We had our own bathrooms, yeah, as sixth graders, passing the eighth graders was scary enough. We also had our own lunch period, which allowed us to get better aquainted with our new friends and talk about how mad our mothers would be if they knew we were eating french fries for lunch everyday. Best of all, we could attend the school dances, which always brought up the conversation of who was going and who wasnt. And every Friday we got to participate in the Fun Friday activities. The first year was great, but that was only the start of many better ones. Seventh grade brought more decisions, but also lots of fun. Now that you knew everyone, it was tough to decide who you wanted to be your next girlfriend or boyfriend. Whether or not you wanted to try out for the volleyball or basketball team was another difficult decision. We learned how to master the art of gossip and some of us even experienced our first kiss at the boy/girl party your parents finally let you go to. Some of us also found that true best friend who we still share those deepest, darkest secrets with today. A few people that were wallflowers at the dances in sixth grade soon learned that they could be the center of attention on the middle of the dance floor, grabbing all the girls hearts. Well, this year went too quickly and there we were again, already to the summer before we ruled the school once more. Lots of memories were created that summer, for it was our last as middle schoolers. That was by far the best year. We all attended the, still popular, Friday night football games, dreaming of the day we would be out on Armstrong field, taking yet, another wolverine conference title. Our fascination with the middle school was wearing down and so was the time we had left in that place, so full of memories. During the last few days of those middle school days it finally registered in our minds what our parents meant when they told us to be a kid while we still had the chance. Bibliography: .

Essay on Enterprise Architecture (EA) Framework Essay Example

Essay on Enterprise Architecture (EA) Framework Essay Enterprise Architecture (EA) Framework Introduction Basically, an enterprise architecture (EA) framework is a grand design that is employed when creating a system to augment customers, process or an organization’s satisfaction. The concept includes various guidelines such as patterns, standards, rules, interfaces and policies that are typically incorporated when crafting a novel IT capability. Enterprise architecture framework is mostly designed to make certain the alignment between any business and its IT strategies, service deliveries, software development projects, guiding principles as well as operating model. By taking a universal enterprise wide outlook across business processes, services, technology, information and applications, enterprise architecture ensures that the business objectives and goals are holistically addressed across all application development ventures and their respective deployment into production.

biotech food essays

biotech food essays This paper is about Biotechnology and its use in creating new food products. In researching this paper, I found there is a lot of information on this subject and a lot of debate on the creation of genetically altered food, medicine, crops, and more. I decided to do my paper on the genetically altered food part of the subject. I will discuss what biotechnology is, who is for it and who is against it, and what some of the ethical concerns are when it comes to growing genetically modified (GM) crops. THE FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY DEBATE WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY? Biotechnology is a broad term that applies to all living organisms. It is used for everything from microorganisms used to ferment beer to the most sophisticated forms of gene therapy. There are two categories of activities in biotechnology: the traditional methods and new scientific methods. The traditional methods are the way that farmers have been breeding their crop for centuries, cross breeding plants until finally some generation down the line is exactly the way they want it. The new methods are taking genes from different organisms and inserting them into another organism in the lab. This eliminates the waiting period to get the results they want, instead they get the exact plant they want right away. The United States government defines it as being "any technique that uses living organisms or parts of living organisms to (1) make or modify products, (2) improve plants or animals, or (3) develop microorganisms for specific uses. The purpose of biotechnology in foods is to cr eate better tasting and more nutritious foods, that have higher crop yields, and plants that are naturally protected from disease, insects, and drought. Through biotechnology scientist can develop plants with only specific beneficial traits and leave out the undesirable traits. They can change one characteristic or a few characteristics at a time with current technology. This enables them to release, for us...

Value vs. Vanity Marketing Metrics With Andy Crestodina From Orbit Media

Value vs. Vanity Marketing Metrics With Andy Crestodina From Orbit Media Marketers have unprecedented access to marketing measurables. They’re inundated with data. So, which marketing metrics matter the most? Today, we’re talking to Andy Crestodina, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Orbit Media Studios. Also, he’s the author of Content Chemistry. Andy believes that the most visible marketing metrics are usually the least useful. He identifies and ranks metrics that matter. Inverse correlation between the visibility of a metric and its importance/success Metrics correlated with business success are difficult to get and require analysis Social, Search, and Email Metrics: Easy-to-see metrics that offer low to medium importance that correlate to business success Easy to see which post gets the most traffic, but it takes analysis to calculate conversion rate from visitor to downloader/subscriber/registrant per article Critical Metrics: Revenue, margin, profit, utilization, and capacity are difficult to measure, but are critical to business success Rather than trying to get reviews, try listening to your customers to make them happy enough to give testimonials and referrals Deliberately seek out sales, revenue, invoice, leads, and other critical metrics Look at your own biases as a marketer; deeper down you go in your funnel, the more impact of each action Best ways/tools to track metrics include UTM campaign tracking codes and Google Analytics; avoid influencer marketing Links: Orbit Media Studios Content Chemistry A Guide for Content Marketing Metrics: The 37 Most (and Least) Useful Metrics SEMrush Google Analytics Garrett Moon at Content Marketing World Barry Feldman QuickBooks How To Avoid The Most Costly Mistake In Influencer Marketing With Shane Barker [AMP 115] Write and send a review to receive a care package If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Andy Crestodina: â€Å"The problem is that those super visible metricsare the ones that are the least closely connected with business success.† â€Å"We tend to overvalue things that we can easily find. The hardest-to-find stuff is where we should be focused more.† â€Å"I don’t think you should start by trying to get reviews. Start by trying to listen to your customers.† â€Å"We all have to look for our own biases as marketers. The deeper down you go in your funnel, the more impact each action has.†

Prospectus Regulation is it a Misleading Tool for Investors Essay

Prospectus Regulation is it a Misleading Tool for Investors - Essay Example H) RECOMMENDATION BY ESME REPORT 2. I) FUTURE CHANGES 4. CONCLUSION 5. REFERENCES 1) INTRODUCTION 1) A. PROSPECTUS REGULATION -2005 Prospectus regulation1 came into effect from 1st July 2005 based on Section 2(2) of European Communities Act 1972 in relation to issuing of prospectus offering transferable securities to public through listing of securities / shares in the respective stock exchanges of the home country (Legislative.gov.uk, 2005). Only an approved prospectus can be offered to the public. The Prospectus Directive (PD) is required to be reviewed every 5 years by the European Commission (Lannoo, 2007). On 25th January 2011, the PD was reviewed and amendments were submitted which was approved. This is the first review that has taken place since the Prospectus Regulation came into effect since 2011. 1) B. EXEMPTIONS AND CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL Securities are exempted from offer to public if – The offer is made to Qualified Investors only The offer is made to less than 100 investors other that the qualified investors Minimum consideration per investor should be at least 50,000 Euros. The transferable securities are denominated in amounts of 50,000 Euros The total consideration should not exceed 100,000 Euros. The prospectus shall be approved only if the following criteria is strictly met by the companies which includes- UK will be the home state where the transferable securities are to be listed The prospectus contains all information related to assets and liabilities, financial statements, the rights of transferable securities. The prospectus needs to be submitted in comprehensible format, non-technical language and also includes a summary, and risk factors. 1) C. SUPPLEMENTORY PROSPECTUS Supplementary prospectus is one which includes significant new factors, corrections due to material mistakes or omissions relating to information included in the prospectus approved by the authority. 1) D. PASSPORTING A prospectus which is approved by another state outside UK where the company is going for issue of transferable securities after getting necessary approval from competent authority. Here the competent authority has to provide with the following documents for approval – certificate of approval, copy of prospectus and translation of summary of specified prospectus. 1. A prospectus can be published only with some types of securities that are either offered to the public or are requested for admission on a regulated market (Legislative.gov.uk, 2005) 1) E. SUSPENSION OF TRADING AND OFFER TO PUBLIC If the competent authority feels that a particular provision has been infringed then it has the power to suspend issue of securities / advertisement of offer for a period not exceeding 10 working days. The aforesaid authority also has the power to require the offeror to with draw the offer of issue to public in case of breach of regulations. Similarly, after listing of shares on respective bourses, if the competent authority finds in fringement of provision, then it can inform the market operator to suspend trading in the stock for 10 working days or even in that matter prohibit public from trading in the securities till further notice. 1) F. INVESTOR RIGHTS An investor who has agreed to subscribe for shares in circumstances where the final offer price is not mentioned in the prospectus, then the investor can withdraw his acceptance before the withdrawal period which begins at investors acceptance and ends the second day after the competent aut

Race and Whiteness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race and Whiteness - Essay Example From the discusses it is clear that a concept of whiteness is based on custom and tradition, but it greatly undermines social and scientific principles of race. Racism is a representation of a historical evolution and there is a great degree of the inferiority of an â€Å"other† â€Å"race†. Racial practices are usually degrading and representatives of ethnic minorities are afflicted by negative practices of racism. There are many factors influencing deepening of discrimination practices, such as customs, traditions, social and political factors and even law. Racism by intent in the run of time transformed different cultures and social practices and underlined the superiority of white ethnic groups. This paper stresses that the social construct of race and whiteness are considered in relation to Brazilians and Asian Americans. From the very beginning, Brazilians differed from native inhabitants by skin color and were often referred to as browns or blacks. Race classification on the basis of the skin color differed greatly from color of race. Starting from 2000 in Brazil there was a lot of complaints concerning discard of color of skin and there was a need to introduce numerous social and political changes in order to constrict social gap between native inhabitants and ethnic minorities. There are evident controversies between â€Å"ideological† and â€Å"scientific" positions and representations of race.

Health promotion Essay Example for Free

Health promotion Essay Diversity among individuals, as well as cultures, provides a challenge for nurses when it comes to delivering meaningful health promotion and illness prevention-based education. How do teaching principles, varied learning styles (for both nurses and patients), and teaching methodologies impact the approach to education? How do health care providers overcome differing points of view regarding health promotion and disease prevention? Provide an exampleAccess to health care to obtain a complete physical examination before starting to exercise and the quality of the work or neighborhood environment available for exercise can contribute to success or failure of this objective. This objective is related to other objectives such as nutrition, obesity, and stroke prevention. Additionally, current knowledge about physical activity and specific populations was considered when creating the Healthy People 2020 objectives. Women, low-income populations, Black and Hispanic people, people with disabilities, and those older than age 75 exercise less than do White men with moderate-to-high incomes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). These health disparities can influence the number of people in these groups who develop high cholesterol or high blood pressure measurements, which further increases their risk of heart disease and stroke. Although this objective addresses adults, other objectives address the need for beginning exercise activities at an early age and encouraging young adults to be actively engaged in exercise. How might this objective be adjusted to the needs of an older adult population? (Edelman 7) Edelman, Carole, Elizabeth Kudzma, Carol Mandle. Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span, 8th Edition. Mosby, 2014. VitalBook file.

My Goals - I Want to Get Back What I Once Had Essay -- strength flexib

My Goals - I Want to Get Back What I Once Had Physically I've always had my ups and downs. I suppose it all depends on what's going on in my life that would allow adequate amounts of physical activity. Most of my physical activities are done in the summer and the least amount is done in the winter. That's not to say that I don't get a little here and there all the time. Most of my cardiovascular fitness is done in the summer, whereas any other exercise I might have is done mostly other parts of the year. Currently I don?t have many strengths as opposed to weaknesses as far as physical fitness is concerned because I haven't been active very much since high school. You could say I?ve been pretty lazy. If I were to say that I still had any strengths left, they would be anything having to do with anaerobic exercise. Perhaps such things as lifting weights for a short period of time I may still be able to do pretty well, but as for running a mile or so, I don?t think I'd be able to do it as well as I used to.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My activity background isn?t very extensive other than a required physical education class throughout grade school. However in middle school I played on a soccer team recreationally for a year or two. In high school I really started to become aware of my physical condition and myself. I began to get tired easily and my muscles always hurt. I was horribly out of shape. So in ninth grade I decided to joint the wrestling team. And every winter form ninth to twelfth gra...

urfews are popular

Youth curfews are popular. In poll after poll, Americans support laws that restrict teenagers' activities during certain hours of the day and night. Youth curfews are also logical. If youngsters are getting into trouble, it makes sense to get them off the streets. Yes because most crimes are usually committed at night.. teens can be used as an easier target for adult predators.. less people to witness things at night Why Curfews Are a Good Thing Kids certainly need their freedom, but how much freedom?Some parents today are so worried about being friends with their kids that they forget hese young folks need guidance and structure in order to survive on their own later in life. There is nothing wrong with setting a curfew for a teen under the age of 18. The overarching goal of a curfew is protection, both of the teens as well as the community itself. According to youthright. org curfews are very effective in protecting minors from hazards such as, â€Å"drunk drivers, drug dealers an d stalkers/rapists that scuffle around the streets at night. Obviously a curfew won't keep a teenager out of trouble during the day time, but that is not their purpose. Curfews for minors play a big role in keeping them out of situations that can lead to them getting into trouble. Teens should have curfews because teenagers get into more trouble without them. Research shows that 59% of teens get in trouble at night rather than during the day. That's more than half, teens will be better having a curfew and not getting in trouble at night. Not only so, but also most teens get into car accidents late at night.There is one chief danger on the road that curfews aim to protect teenagers from and that is drunk drivers. There are thousands of accidents every year involving drunk drivers. It is best that we keep our young and inexperienced drivers off the road during this dangerous time of night. Essentially, with a curfew they won't be out on the roads late at night and they will get into l ess car accidents. Curfews help keep both teens and adults safe. It can be unsafe having teens roaming around without an adult after certain hours.Curfews would keep kids off the streets late at night. If they are home, and not out on the streets, there isn't the temptation to do something risky that will et them into trouble. Also if teens are at home they are safe from the very dangerous threats of drug dealers, talkers, and rapists. This is a very real threat because the naive youth of today are often the targets of these criminals in todays society. Having a curfew in place would significantly cut down on the chances of this happening.Keeping our children safely asleep at home. With curfews in place, the lifespan for our teens would increase. Teens should have curfews because teenagers seem to get into more trouble without them. If they are with friends then they may be empted to do things that are not okay. In the nighttime, it is more likely for teens to go out and cause troub le, or make trouble for themselves. In a group of cities that took a poll, over half agree that a curfew is a good idea and that it is effective if it is followed.The curfew helps keep teens out of trouble because they cannot be out causing trouble for others or themselves. Without a curfew, there would be many more case of crimes involving teens. Keeping kids off the streets would cut down on crimes such as vandalism and destruction ot prope Even though curtews can be ard to enforce, it is important that police officers make sure they are followed. Ninety Percent out of a group of cities interviewed agreed that police officers should enforce curfews.If they do not, the curfew will not be followed and teens can be out at whatever time they want. Having teens out at night can sometime be a bad thing because of the dangers they are susceptible to and the trouble they can more easily get into during the night time. Keeping teens at home during the night can help stop any trouble that i s caused mostly during the night. Although it is sometimes hard for olice officers to make sure curfews are followed, it helps make their Job much easier. Without teens being out at night, not as much trouble is caused.Late night parties are not as much of a worry to police officers or parents of teens. These parties cannot start if teens have a curfew to follow. Ninety three percent of cites interviewed agreed that curfews help stop these kinds of parties from starting. In conclusion more than half of the crimes committed by teenagers take place at night, so curfews would also help cut down on the overall likelihood of teenagers committing crimes. Curfews would also protect others from the dangerous things that teen do at night.Most importantly curfews contribute greatly to keeping teens safe from criminals such as drunk drivers, rapists, and kidnappers. A curfew is, in my mind, the best way for a parent and teen to build trust. The more the teen fallows the curfew the later or mor e lenient the curfew will become. In a good relationship the curfew soon is done away with because the parents know and trust that their child will be safe and know when to come home and when it is the right time to leave said party or friends house.When it comes to rebellious acts and the lot if the parents start early with the curfew then it will become more habitual for the teen. The only really troubling aspect of this is the friends of the teen. If they have a later curfew the teen will be torn between their friends and their parents. The best way to stop this is to ask why the teen what some of their friends have for curfews and negotiate and later time. This makes the teen see the parents and curfew in a more positive light and the parents now know that their teen will be home for sure.

Dimensions of brand personality or characteristics Essay

As shown in the figure above, the dimensions of brand characteristics include sincerity, competence, excitement, ruggedness and sophistication of the products or services. In this regard, the dimensions can be sued for operationalising the dimensions of the characteristics of the brand structure. Different studies have shown that the characteristic of a specific brand reveals their best characteristic that outperforms their rival brands (Kapferer, 1997). The distinctive brand characteristic provides the brand the ability to be exploited as a channel for self-expression, self-appraisals and self-definition for clients (Karande, Zinkhan & Lum, 1997). In addition, brand characteristic is a context linked with the multidimensional image of a specific brand (Keller, 1993). These imply that the characteristic of the brand will lead to brand image. The brand personality dimensions can be sued evaluate or measure various brand images. It is noted that the brand personality dimension is a well researched context to determine whether the brands is strong and effective (Austin et al, 2003, Phau & Lau, 2000). The most direct and simplest manner which has been recommended in measuring the strength and effectiveness of the brand image is to solicit responses to different questions which pertains to a specific human traits (Keller, 2003). As mentioned above, one of the questions that should be answered in this paper is to determine the characteristics of a strong and effective brand. Different scholars have been able to establish some points to distinguish strong and effective brands. It can be said that a specific brand is strong and effective if such brand have the ability to influence the consumer purchase behaviour. According to Keller (1993), a brand is strong and effective if it has a significant impact on the purchase behaviour and decision making of the target market. In addition, strong brand is a brand which has the ability to retain on the memory and consciousness of the clients associated with their purchasing decision making. Based on the brand concept of a target market, Dobni (1990) regarded brand image as the subjective consciousness phenomenon. Dobni (1990) have realized that it is not easy to understand how brand can retain on the memory and consciousness of the consumer but brand which has a strong image is forming through the reason and perceptual connotation of the consumer. Furthermore, since the image of the brand does not physically exist in the products as well as in the entity, it is mentioned that a strong and effective brand has the ability to influenced and meld by its brand’s declaration of specialties of their content and by the individuals who accept the image throughout the purchase process. Hence, it is more essential consider the image of the brand than the consciousness appeared of fact to know whether the brand is strong and effective. In the explanation made by Aaker (1991), he mentioned that the brand is typically linked with the company in a meaningful manners and its strength and effectiveness is reflected to different attitude of characteristics include the performance of the product, compare price, the interests of the customers, the behaviour of the clients, famous person/s, personality and life style, their competitors, product category, and others. Each of these characteristics has a different degree of intensity to influence the strengths and effectiveness of the brand image. In addition, it can also be noted that strength and effectiveness of brand image of the products or services offered by the company can also bee attributed with the associated brand name to ensure that the clients will purchase the products or services. The characteristics of a strong and effective brand can be divided to flexibility of the materials, the tangible and intangible feelings of the consumer and others. A strong and effective brand is also considered as the one which has the ability to determine the products and services taken on their brands. It can be said that one of the characteristics of a strong and effective brand has the ability to appeal to its target market, and has the ability to become memorable among customers. Furthermore, a strong and effective brand also offers a unique image which separates it from other competing products or services. It can be noted that a company with a strong brand enables a specific service or product to distinguish itself from its rivals. From the study conducted in which 101 companies have been surveyed, the participants of the study revealed that having a strong and effective brand are indeed important to the success of the company and products, specifically new launches (Kohli & McBahn 1997). In addition, it is said that strong and effective brand has the ability to make statements to other audience. Having a strong and effective brand enables the company to have a short-hand communication of what the organisation is and what it offers. Strong and effective brand create social acceptance and instant mutual recognition among their clients. By having a strong and effective brand image, organisations can have the ability to relay to relay to the clients their intended market expression for the products or services they offer. Most likely, target market tends to buy strong and quality or effective branded products and as time go by, this branding change use-value with image value. Furthermore, it can be said that the key component of a strong brand is based on the initiation of an integrated approach in which industries are able to convey what they can offer relative to the competition, do what they are offering to the market and confirm it through consistent practice (Cai & Hobson, 2004). Accordingly, having a strong and effective brand and image to attain competitive advantage in the global market and to sustain its strengths and effectiveness, the management of the company must be able to give value to the capabilities of the brand (Nguyen and LeBlanc (2001). In an organisation, having a strong brand is attributed to having quality products or services. In this regard, the company must be able to provide a pleasant experience for target market to establish a strong and competitive brand image which may lead to their competitive advantage. It is said that the strength of the brand can be established once the company is able to consistently provide the target market quality products and services. In a study conducted by Kim, Kim, and An (2003), they have stressed that a strong and effective brand image has the ability to meet the specific needs of the consumer and achieved consumer-based brand equity. Strong and effective brand image has the ability to influence the development of customer base of each of the company as well as the consequent enhancement in brand’s financial performance. One of the significant characteristics of a strong brand has the ability to meet the viewpoint of the clients. Furthermore, a strong brand and effective brand has the ability to convey and update their information on the current trends in market demand and has the ability to formulate a strategy to sustain its strengths and effectiveness through customer satisfaction. Strong brand has the ability to provide total customer satisfaction which was developed within the company from knowing that most of the target markets are trying to find products which have been used by other people based on its name alone. Another characteristic of a strong and effective brand is its ability to reach the feelings that clients and other establishments have about the company with regards to the evaluation and assessment of other competing brands. In doing so, the management or the company handling the brands must be able to reach the clients through marketing activities like advertising and promotions. Having a strong and effective image means that the brand has the ability to maintain and sustain their competitive advantage. These brands has the ability to maintain such image in the marketplace since a negative change for a brand name may decrease in target market and consequently of revenue. It is said that it takes twice as hard to rebuild a good and effective brand image rather than initially building it.

Free Essays on Competitive Advantage

Competitive edge is defined as how effectively an organization meets the needs of customers relative to others that offer similar goods or services. There many companies in the United States that have this competitive edge in their industry. Their competitive edge causes growth in many key aspects within the business. These are return on investment, better service to their employees and customers, paying of debt, and increased market share. There are many ways a company can have a competitive edge. These are price, quality, flexibility, time, service, employees, and product or service differentiation. A few of these companies are Dell Computer Corporation, United Parcel Service (UPS), and Wal-Mart. These companies have strengths in one or more of the competitive advantages listed above. The competitive advantages listed can be defined as the following. The most common way to have a competitive price is to make the cost low to customers. Most customers will look for the lowest price i n the market. The main reason for customers wanting lowest price is to save money. By having a customer save money they are more likely to invest in the products or services offered by the company. Quality is defined as how well the product or service serves it purpose. Many customers will not continue to buy a product or service that breaks repeatedly, does not last longer or cannot perform the task that is needed to be done. A company’s ability to recognize and adapt to changes in the economy, trends of the market or other market facts is related to how flexible the company is. If the demand of a specific type of product or services increase or decreased in a certain market and the company cannot meet the required about need by customers then another company in the industry it will lose its competitive edge. Time refers to many operations that go on within the business. These operations are defined as the ability for the organization to deliver its produ... Free Essays on Competitive Advantage Free Essays on Competitive Advantage Competitive edge is defined as how effectively an organization meets the needs of customers relative to others that offer similar goods or services. There many companies in the United States that have this competitive edge in their industry. Their competitive edge causes growth in many key aspects within the business. These are return on investment, better service to their employees and customers, paying of debt, and increased market share. There are many ways a company can have a competitive edge. These are price, quality, flexibility, time, service, employees, and product or service differentiation. A few of these companies are Dell Computer Corporation, United Parcel Service (UPS), and Wal-Mart. These companies have strengths in one or more of the competitive advantages listed above. The competitive advantages listed can be defined as the following. The most common way to have a competitive price is to make the cost low to customers. Most customers will look for the lowest price i n the market. The main reason for customers wanting lowest price is to save money. By having a customer save money they are more likely to invest in the products or services offered by the company. Quality is defined as how well the product or service serves it purpose. Many customers will not continue to buy a product or service that breaks repeatedly, does not last longer or cannot perform the task that is needed to be done. A company’s ability to recognize and adapt to changes in the economy, trends of the market or other market facts is related to how flexible the company is. If the demand of a specific type of product or services increase or decreased in a certain market and the company cannot meet the required about need by customers then another company in the industry it will lose its competitive edge. Time refers to many operations that go on within the business. These operations are defined as the ability for the organization to deliver its produ...

6 Neuroscience Hacks to Beat Writers Block - Freewrite Store

6 Neuroscience Hacks to Beat Writers Block - Freewrite Store The page is blank and the cursor is blinking at you accusingly. You’ve been sitting at your computer for an hour and you’ve written a sum total of nothing. It’s not that you don’t want to write – it’s that you can’t. The words that yesterday flowed so easily have disappeared into the ether – and you’re wondering despairingly if they’re ever going to return. Most (if not all) writers are familiar with this scenario. The dreaded writer’s block – that, for me at least, usually turns up when there’s an important deadline looming. Recently, however, I got into an argument with a friend – another writer – who insisted that writer’s block doesn’t exist. Writer’s block, he said, was all in my mind. He’s not the first to suggest that idea. I headed straight to Google to find out what others have to say about it (hoping to be able to present my friend with proof that I was right and he was wrong). Instead, I stumbled across some fascinating research from the world of neuropsychology and neuroscience. It turns out that writer’s block is just in my head – but not in the way that my friend was suggesting. The Neuropsychology of Writer’s Block Neuropsychology is a complex field that combines psychological understandings of the mind with a more physiological investigation of the way that the brain works. For example, neuropsychology might look at what neurons are firing when we experience certain feelings, or what the parts of the brain that are active during specific experiences or actions. So, what does neuropsychology have to say about writer’s block? Neurologists, psychologists, neuropsychologists and neuroscientists have been studying and debating for decades why things like writer’s block occur. While some psychologists will conclude that writer’s block is more of an excuse than a phenomenon, there have been studies that have set out to demonstrate that there’s neuropsychological evidence for the reality of writer’s block. Executive Dysfunction Neuropsychologists Elkhonon Goldberg and Russell Barkley have both investigated a set of complex mental functions that happen in (or are controlled by) the pre-frontal cortex known as ‘executive functions’. It is these executive functions that allow us to do things like plan, organize, prioritize, self-monitor, initiate and sustain certain behaviors as we pursue goals. When there’s disruption to executive functions, we enter a state Russell Barkley has called ‘executive dysfunction’. A sign of executive dysfunction is an inability to stop ourselves from doing something that’s preventing us from achieving a goal-focused activity. A prime example of this is when you’ve set yourself a goal of writing a blog post but spend the time set aside for writing watching videos of dogs on YouTube. When writers are experiencing writer’s block, then, it’s a form of executive dysfunction. Certainly, there are problems with executive functions when you feel that your creativity is blocked. These problems can include: Difficulties with getting started (initiation) Distraction Trouble prioritizing Struggling to pace ourselves Emotional Roots Another key neuropsychological view of writer’s block came from Gene Parret. His theory is that not only is writer’s block a genuine malady, but it is also rooted in underlying fears. Neuroscience backs up this idea. Everything that we do is the result of neurons firing in our brains – and strong emotions, such as fear, can have a profound effect on neuron functions. Parret’s view is that the way that we perceive our writing abilities plays a huge role in our experience of writer’s block. For example, if you have a negative mindset (such as thinking that no one will want to read what you’re writing) and sit down to write, the negativity will impact on your neuron pathways and cause difficulties with the writing process. The Psychology of Writing Ronald Kellogg is the author of ‘The Psychology of Writing’ and he has highlighted the way that certain environments, schedules and rituals can either increase or inhibit writing processes. There’s a neuropsychological link with this, as it’s been shown that neural pathways can be activated by associations with places, times of day, and so on. Circadian Rhythm Rules There are links, too, with the circadian rhythms (otherwise known as the sleep-wake cycle). For example, many writers find that their creative juices flow better at certain times of day. This is another area that has been backed up by neuroscience – albeit in studies done with mice. Neuroscientific studies have revealed that circadian rhythms aren’t just about when we’re awake and when we’re asleep. There are also times of the day that are better suited to different types of tasks. To make this more complicated, everyone’s circadian rhythm for specific tasks is different, so there are no rules when it comes to the specific times when you should be doing something. What the circadian rhythm studies have shown, though, is that if you don’t understand your own circadian rhythms, you could find yourself trying to write when your brain is better optimized for research (knowledge-processing). There are different neural processes involved in creativity (such as writing) compared with more structured tasks (such as research), so when you experience writer’s block, it could actually be that you’re trying to be creative when your brain wants to be learning. Interestingly, we’re notoriously bad at correctly understanding our own circadian rhythm, too. Some research has proved that self-proclaimed ‘morning-people’ are actually more productive in the evening, and those who call themselves ‘night-owls’ are more productive during the morning. Could beating writer’s block be as simple as better understanding your circadian rhythm? Using Neuropsychology to Combat Writer’s Block Now that we’ve taken a quick tour through some of the complexities of neuropsychology, it’s time to get practical. How can you use neuropsychology to combat writer’s block? There are actually a number of techniques you can use that have their roots in neuropsychological thinking. 1.  Cognitive Cueing Cognitive cueing is based on Kellogg’s understanding of how certain places can impact on the efficiency of certain processes. It’s not an immediate fix, as it takes time to establish cognitive cues, but it’s a technique that’s been shown to help break the cycle of writer’s block. With cognitive cueing, you need to create a specific space that is only used for writing. It will only be effective if that space is exclusively for writing – if you use it for anything else, the cognitive cues won’t work. Your brain will come to associate the space with the act of writing, and the neural pathways that are formed will kick-start the writing process when you return to the space to write. 2.  Circadian Self-Reflection Since our circadian rhythms have such a big impact on our ability to perform specific tasks, it makes sense that another means of beating writer’s block lies in understanding the times of day that are most suited to writing. It’s different for everyone, so the only way to figure out the times of day that are suited to research and those that are better suited for creativity is through self-reflection. Keep a journal or notes about your daily activities and reflect on how easy (or difficult) the different types of tasks seemed. Vary the times of day that you complete tasks so that you can begin to see patterns. When you understand your circadian rhythm, you can focus your writing activities at the most creative times of day, and reduce your risk of writer’s block. 3.  Incubate Your Creativity Incubation of ideas is a neuropsychological principle that’s been tested on mice. It’s based on the idea that when you work on a task (or learn a skill) and then take a break or begin a different task, the neural pathways involved in the original task or skill remain active. RELATED: Writing Habits to Jumpstart Your Creativity Applying this to writer’s block, if you find that you’re struggling to get the words onto the page (or screen), then taking a break and doing something else – going for a walk, reading a book, and so on – can allow ideas to incubate, since the neural pathways that related to your writing task will stay active. Writers regularly report that their best ideas come when they’re doing something completely unrelated, so it’s worth trying incubation to beat writer’s block. 4.  Motivational Methods In neuropsychology, there are different types of motivation that have been identified, and people tend to have one or the other. These are known as ‘approach motivation’ and ‘avoidance motivation’. ‘Approach motivated’ people are optimistic about what they can achieve, and positively motivated to complete tasks. ‘Avoidance motivated’ people, by contrast, are negative and motivated by a fear of failure. Neuroscience shows that changes in neuronal activity can be affected by perceived outcomes – so what we think will be the result impacts on our performance. If we start writing worried that no one will want to read what we’re writing, this perceived outcome will negatively impact our neurons, and the writing task will become more difficult. RELATED:  55 Motivational Writing Quotes from Famous Authors The solution to this problem is to change our motivational type and use approach motivation. To do this, we focus on positive outcomes and set easily attainable goals that will reinforce the positivity. The more we attain these ‘easy’ goals, the better the impact on our neurons, and the less likely we are to experience writer’s block. 5.  Background Noise I was skeptical about this technique – until I tried it myself. Apparently, studies have shown that writers are often more productive in coffee shops or other similar environments where others are being productive. This has something to do with background noise – and there are now apps that will actually replicate the ambient noise of a coffee shop for writers who aren’t able to physically go out and sit in a coffee shop to write when they’re feeling blocked. Different types of background noise can either positively or negatively affect our creativity and productivity, so it’s important to note that you need to find the kind of background noise that works for you. Some people, for example, are more sensitive to noise, so a very busy coffee shop could have a negative impact on their ability to write, but a quieter shop could help to combat writer’s block. 6.  Unplug and Reset In the modern world, it sometimes feels like we’re slaves to our technological devices. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops keep us constantly connected to emails, social media, online videos and other distractions – which can be bad news if you’re already prone to experiencing writer’s block. There are a range of psychological benefits to unplugging from technology for a while. Unplugging can help when you’re feeling depressed and anxious or overwhelmed in any way. It can also help with writer’s block, by removing distractions and allowing you the opportunity to reset and get back in touch with your creativity. If you’re used to writing on a laptop or desktop computer, switching off all your technology can help unblock you when you feel like your creativity has dried up. The abundance of distractions on the internet can make it impossible to focus on anything and get into a rhythm.   It’s a simple technique that increases your ability to focus and helps get those creative juices flowing again. While you could abandon technology completely and go back to the basics with pen/paper, most of us can type much faster than we write.   Plus, re-transcribing handwritten notes to the computer is extremely tedious. Luckily, there is a way to unplug but still reap the benefits of technology: Freewrite’s distraction-free writing devices. With a typewriter-like feel and automatic syncing to the cloud, you can get writing again quickly. Find out more about the range of available devices here. A Treatment Plan for Writer’s Block Neuropsychology shows us that there’s scientific evidence for the existence of writer’s block – and it isn’t just excuses and/or laziness. Treating writer’s block with neuropsychology offers a range of techniques that can be used individually or combined into your own personal treatment plan. Experiment with the different techniques and find the ones that work best for you, so that you can combat the dreaded blank-page syndrome that writers fear.

Multiple Linear Regression Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Multiple Linear Regression - Assignment Example It penalizes the model for including too many parameters that do not contribute much in explaining the original variance. It is a modification of R2. 3. Multicollinearity is a statistical phenomenon in which two or more predictor variables in a multiple regression model are highly correlated resulting to inter-associations among independent variables. This means that one can be linearly predicted from the rest that have non-tribal degree of accuracy. Multicollinearity is a problem because it makes the data unreliable. Multicollinearity is measured using the variance inflation factor that assesses how much the variance of an estimated regression coefficient increases if the predictors are correlated, if not then the variance inflation factor becomes 1. e. From the residual vs. fitted graph, the residuals appear randomly around zero line. This indicates that the assumption of linearity is reasonable. The normal q-q plot shows that the points re lined up on the identity line and thus, the dependent and independent variables are comparable. Scale-location plot shows that there is a downward trend in residuals. Cook’s distance’s graph shows that observation 4, 15 and 25 are influential in the model. f. There are outliers in the variables Flux, East and South. Outliers in Flux are observation 19 and 25 which are ==40.6. Thus, we drop observations with outliers in East and South variables. Additionally, observation 4, 15 and 25 are considered to be influential in the dataset. e. The residual vs. fitted graph shows that residuals appear randomly around the zero line. This indicates that the assumption of linearity is reasonable. The normal q-q plot shows that the points re lined up on the identity line and thus, the dependent and independent variables are comparable. Scale-location plot shows that there is a downward trend in

English Legal System and Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

English Legal System and Skills - Essay Example Jury selection is one of the features that identify its credibility in determining guilt. A random approach to selection reduces potential bias due to conflict of interest among decision makers, unlike in a formal court process in which a presiding judge or magistrate can be predetermined or compromised. Jury selection from the entire population makes it difficult to predetermine the final list of jurors. Juror selection process also provides for exclusion of people with certain traits, which could threaten credibility. Individuals who are under community service sentences and those awaiting trial can be excluded and this eliminates their potential bias due to their condition. People with suspected mental incapacitation or disorder can also be excluded and this eliminates possible irrationality. A jury service can also be deferred if a member of the selected jury faces a technical schedule and this ensures stability of jurors during decision-making. In addition, a juror can be challe nged, as occurred in the case of R v Gough, or even an entire jury, as was in the case of R v Fraser, in order to eliminate threat of bias. A vetting process also follows jury and ensures suitability of each juror for the task.1 (123-130) Advantages of the jury trial also support significance. It involves the public and is therefore likely to gain support from the people than formal proceedings. The public can also easily associate with jury trial and accept its verdict, a factor that is also significant to the correctional objectives of the criminal justice system because convicts are likely to accept their verdicts. The law may also contradict fairness and jury ensures equity instead to strict adherence to the law. In the case of R v Ponting, in which the accused was guilty under law but whose action had good intentions, acquittal was justified because of political stake that could take advantage of the law to

Project Management of (what ever you prefer) Coursework

Project Management of (what ever you prefer) - Coursework Example w provides the project manager with the opportunity to review the success rate of the project in a comprehensive and successive manner, formally recognize the completion phase of the project, and identify â€Å"loose-ends† and at the same time foster best practices. In this report, post project reviewing techniques of a Television commercial will be present. Since this report is not aimed at comprehensive evaluation of the project, a proposal for the same will be highlighted. The post project review proposal is for a TV commercial project which has been already telecasted in many channels. However, it can be disclosed due to certain legal constraints. According to Carton, Adam and Sammon (2008) post project review is one of the most vital steps towards knowing the effectiveness of the project. In this context, i.e. to propose the most relevant ways of measuring the success of a project, both theories and personal experience will be reflected. The application or implementation of classic iron triangle of project management can be a viable option. According to the theory of project management, every project is constrained by time goals, cost goals and quality goals and to ensure success, all the three aforementioned factors need to be in line with the other and balanced (Tsai, Shen, Lee and Kuo, 2009). This is because a change in one of the factors will lead to drastic change in the other. The quality goals represent the specifications, the project is trying to achieve; the time goals represents the total duration of the project and the cost goals represents the overall budget of the project (Rabaai, 2009; Shi, 2010). At first, the scope of the project will be identified i.e. what were the initial intentions of this TV commercial. It is obvious that the aim of TV commercial will be to reach out to a mass audience and convey messages to the customers. The extent to which the advertisement has been successful in its scope will be evaluated on the basis of the

Benefits Of Urban Regeneration

Benefits Of Urban Regeneration Urban decay, usually associated with deprived areas, tends tend to be a characteristic of poorer communes, reflecting their low earning power and susceptibility to the higher unemployment rates associated with changes in the structure of the national economy (Skifter Andersen, 2003). The a feeling that buildings are physically falling into a state of decay particularly in some areas more than others, often results in an excrescence of dilapidated and vacant buildings. By remaining vacant, buildings are generally targeted for commercial signage and vandalism unless subjected to a population change or economic restructuring (McGregor and McConnachie, 1995; Skifter Andersen, 2003). The redevelopment of decaying, run-down or underused parts of urban areas with the intention of bringing new life and economic vitality is crucial in maintaining a market position (Bolton Council, 2009). Redeveloping these structural units, however, may not be an easy task, as a set physical as well as casual mechanisms likely to be different in every area, are also accentuating the problem of urban decay. According to Skifter Andersen (2003), one of the major causes of urban decay is the decline of the local economy. The changes in the structure of the national and international economy can directly or indirectly influence the local economy as outlined in Haggetts Cumulative Decline Model (2001). Certain government intervention and planning policies with regard to the industry and alterations in the locational preferences of the industries to better equipped sites are also assumed to be among the primary causes of decline by increasing the gap between the core and periphery. Similarly, the population age structure in most Western countries is changing with an increasing number of elderly dominating the demographic chart (Commission on Growth and Development, 2008). This disinclinati on of the population is likely to remain in the highly urbanised areas resulting in a number of blight properties that are likely to fall into a state of disrepair if structural investment keeps lacking. Perhaps, following Myrdals Cumulative Causation theory (1972) might help inject vigour into the local economy from the institutional set-up (Fujita, 2004). Nonetheless, this process of urban renewal, through which environmental quality redevelopments occur in derelict urban areas, is highly contested. This chapter reviews selected literature that concerns the effects of regeneration in the urban core of a settlement with regard to the value enhancement and positive externality of building refurbishment while considering the social and economic implications. Urban Regeneration Urban regeneration most likely to take the form of public policy in order to regulate urban processes, attempts to improve the urban environment through renewal (Couch et al., 2003). Although seeming fairly simple and straightforward, Home (1982) describes the concept of urban regeneration as involving complex socio-economic, environmental and political issues, with no profession or academic disciple claiming control over it. Roberts (in Roberts and Sykes, 2000) defines urban regeneration as a vision which leads to the resolution of urban problems and which seeks to bring lasting socio-economic, physical and environmental conditions of an area that has been subject to change. Broadly defined as a process that prevents the urban fabric from starting or continuing to deteriorate by improving the urban fabric, urban regeneration is fundamental to the structure plans established by the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority in 1998 and 2006. According to the Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC, 2004) of the Mediterranean countries, the aim of urban regeneration projects as a solution to this phenomenon in developed is to promote: return to the city, revitalise the city centre, restore activity in a fiercely competitive international context, and implement initiatives to improve the quality of the environment operating in a wide sense towards a smart growth. Such systemised and planned action concerning certain parts of a town would mean injecting new vigour into an area. Skifter Andersen (2003) argues urban regeneration would transform, strengthen and recreate places to act as a catalyst for further investments for the benefit of the local community. By concentrating public resources and private investments on specifically designated area may turn an area to a great appeal (Adair et al., 2000). However, urban regeneration is not only concentrated around property-led and retail-led regeneration but also through cultural regeneration to transform the city as a form of urban recreation (Evans, 2001). According to Evans (2001), arts and cultural industries can distinguish themselves by restoring identities and economies with other lifestyles. Whilst Calxton and Siora (2008) recognise the retail sector as offering opportunities and employing a wide range of different socio-economic groups, they argue that retail-led regeneration appears to provide a key reconnection to economic opportunity by engaging in direct employment and additional investment for a community and its residents. Furthermore, Claxton and Siora (2008) sustain that the most successful developments are those supported by the local authorities where planning or economic development departments work together. On the other hand, Rubin and Taylor (2008) question the enormous institutional corporate power of certain chain stores that might have some influence on the planning system and in regeneration projects. According to them, the benefits from such regeneration are overstated as this type of regeneration creates an inverse system that extorts money out of the local economy resulting in serious consequences for small local businesses. Pitkin (1963) sustains that as an important trait within various Mediterranean communities is the urban ethos, the city is depicted as a place of cultural richness, civilisation and civic pride (Leontidou, 2000). Strengthening this argument, Florida (2003) suggested that as social ethos is becoming increasingly dominant in most entrepreneurial and growing regions, it is attracting creative people to the city and accentuating the processes of gentrification. Additionally, Ley (2003) also accentuates the importance of cultural and lifestyle of the middle class, who value the preservation of the historic core and the utilisation of exceptional commodities. Bailey et al. (2004) suggests that culture-led regeneration has only been effective when associated with commercialised identities, thus stressing the need for economic investments and retail establishments. Hiller (2000) suggests that for waterfront regeneration with transformation of the urban environment with luxurious residences a nd gentrified neighbourhoods must be create jobs through a number of office towers as well as shopping centres, included in most projects. As cities are never still, Lancaster (1995) had previously argued that they are places where people strive to overcome negative effects and create hope in the place that history has located them. According to Dunn (1998), the consumer culture might therefore encourage residents to disattach themselves from their particular area and associate themselves to the new global culture irrelevant of the location. Bailey et al. (2004), disagrees and argues that cultural forms of consumption can actively enhance and enliven local communities. Bailey et al. (2004) goes further by suggesting that it is the people who live in the city themselves have to engage in regenerating the city rather than the planning policies. Kantor et al. (1997), stresses the significance of local urban democratic conditions in creating inclusive governing that can influence the local communitys ability to participate and have a reach in the business. Gentrification As defined by Kennedy and Leonard (2001), gentrification involves the processes of reinvestment and revitalisation to enhance the physical and socio-economic components of cities. In this relationship, higher income households settle in that settle in the area, upgrade the physical and socio-economic component of lower income residences. Smith (1987b, p.463), specifically stated that the crucial point with regard to gentrification is that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it involves not only a social change but also, at the neighbourhood scale, a physical change in the housing stock and an economic change in the land and housing market. It is this combination of social, physical, and economic change that distinguishes gentrification as an identifiable process/set of processes. Furthermore, Wyly and Hammel (1999, p.716) add that the process of gentrification complements: class transformation of those parts of the city that suffered from systematic outmigration, disinvestment and neglect, or neglect in the midst of rapid economic growth and suburbanisation. Badcock (2001), argues that today the process of gentrification and restructuring have become so interrelated together that they have formed the broader transformation known as revitalisation. Furthermore, households of median and higher incomes generally value the preservation of the historic core and contribute to raising the areas ethos (Ley, 2003). Therefore, employment in the tertiary, quaternary and quinary sectors of production, usually associated with having a university degree, is a key indicator of gentrification according to Ley (2003). In other words, the post-modern lifestyles of consumption are the solution towards revitalisation of a location through the processes of gentrification. Consequently, the process of gentrification can be said to be the outcome of the range of responses to the new economic and social opportunities that arise from prior dispositions of the social classes (Bridge 2001). On the other hand, Smith and Williams (1986) were particularly concerned with displacement and the side effects the middle class is having on the lower working class through the processes of gentrification. Although the extent of the problem is not agreed upon, Sumka (1979) argues that displacement of the working class through rent increases was undoubtedly a major issue. More recently, Blomley (2004) outlines that the social mix the processes of gentrification bring with them tend to expose the working classes to several equalities in the social hierarchy as interaction between the owners and tenants in gentrified neighbourhoods seems to be limited. Slater (2006) argues that this process can lead to social segregation and isolation when trying to revitalise a neighbourhood. Yet, according to Sigworth and Wilkinson (1967) the beneficial effects to the community through gentrification outweigh the issues of social segregation which can be resolved through several policies. Ideal Scenario In a society where the absence of building care culture is increasing, prompt maintenance would help make aging buildings less problematic to rehabilitate as it is often the case that such buildings are found in a state of disrepair with various safety problems. Throughout the 1970s, many of the European countries had already started emphasise the gradual renewal process of rehabilitation rather than focusing on the massive redevelopments simultaneously (Wood, 1991). Thomas (1977), suggested that making way for redevelopment would give an opportunity to replace any substandard buildings, any clashes with regard to the land-use, as well as any environmental nuisance. Although in essence the process of redevelopment causes a lot of inconvenience as it dislocates people (Sumka, 1979; Smith and Williams, 1986; Blomley, 2004), redevelopment can help utilizing the full potential of a site as well as exploiting the beneficial effects to the community such as solving the problems related to social segregation (Sigworth and Wilkinson, 1967). Amongst the main problems that dominate the list for the issue of urban renewal, the lack of institutional planning (Adams and Hastings, 2001) and unfair reimbursements (Kam et al., 2004). This raises the question of whether it would be eloquent to redevelop rather than to rehabilitate certain properties in some areas. It was proposed that the decision making on whether to rehabilitate or redevelop is generally influe nced by six aspects namely; political, legal, technical, institutional, social and economic forces (Walker, 2002). According to Olson et al. (2001) and Hobman and Bordia (2006), the influences of the professional work background on the attitudes towards a renewal project can also make a difference. For instance, building surveyors are said to consider the structural conditions of a particular building as the most vital concepts of consideration in a regeneration process. Conversely, the town planners tend to give more importance to the impacts of the project in the visual quality and micro climate of the neighbourhood rather than the structural conditions of a building (Olson et al., 2001, Hobman and Bordia, 2006). Despite these converging views, it is evident that the implementation of an urban renewal strategy especially when done on a massive scale would include a strong financial input. This would also have to be coupled with adequate public resources, and a determined commitment to solving to the urban dereliction problems while aiming towards increasing the social and economic benefits and fostering entrepreneurial activity (Hamnet, 2000; Skifter Andersen, 2003; Calxton and Siora, 2008). In such circumstances, it is also advisable that there should be improvements to the infrastructure, the transportation system as well as the environment that should all coincide with the renewal development that has the support of all social partners (Adair et al., 2000). Yet, as such conditions rarely occur, policy makers must shape their development plans based upon the constraints they face at the particular moment in time. Williams (2006) suggested that in order to ensure a more successful project, t he ruling authority can also use its powers relating to property development to influence the planning, the infrastructure and the compulsory purchase powers together with the availability of public land assets. When trading land for example, it is not a rare occurrence that one party missing from the market forum and thus the scenario of a compulsory purchase might be required in order for the renewal project not to be brought to a halt because by the private economic forces (Williams, 2006). To redevelop or to rehabilitate? Specifically on property-led redevelopment, Harvey (1992) highlighted that the timing of redevelopment projects depend on three essential issues being; the value of the current existing use of the land resource, the current value of the best of alternative use, and the cost of rebuilding. As the use of property is not irreversible, property has the potential to be redeveloped and converted into another type or usage to suit the expected socio-economic demands at a given time (Gunnerlin, 2001). According to the structure plan issued by the Malta Planning Authority (PA) (1998), there is a need: to use land and buildings efficiently and consequently channel urban development activity into planned developed areas particularly though rehabilitation and upgrading of existing fabric and infrastructure. Notionally, if the present value of the existing use of the land resources is greater than the present value of the best alternative use, redevelopment would not take place since it would not be financially viable, and the rebuilding costs would affect the occurrence of urban renewal. This explains why sometimes redevelopment in the old, urban core is less attractive to the developers (Harvey and Jowsey, 2004). As for the option of rehabilitation, which would mean securing the existing structure, it was concluded that it would only be advantageous when a number of conditions are met (Pugh, 1991). This would mean that the service life of a building would be prolonged by another thirty to fifty years. Furthermore, the value as well as the interest rate of the existing building would also have to be high. Additionally, Pugh (1991) argues that if the direct and indirect costs of rehabilitating are considerably less than those incurred by rebuilding, then the developer would be more tempted to rehabilitate rather than redevelop. Ratcliffe (1993) also estimated that the costs of renovating a building can amount to twenty-five percent less than starting a new building project and thus making it more attractive for developers. Aikivuori (1994) points out that refurbishments may sometimes be required when there is a need for change in the land-use as well as when there is a need to increase or secur e the market value of the building. Additionally, this would also help to preserve the existing building and its externalities that may be important in inducing a culture-led regeneration. Challenges facing the renewal process Housing has long been regarded as a durable commodity (Wieand, 1999), yet, like any other physical commodity, properties are subject to deteriorate as time goes by and eventually fall into a state of dilapidation if they are not properly maintained (Burton 1933). A number of previous studies have highlighted among of the main factors that would make a building deemed for renewal would be the serviceable environment (Sohmer, 1999). Others like Rosenfeld and Shohet (1999) have formed models to determine whether and when a building should be upgraded. This helped to reduce uncertainties and serve as an aid when deciding whether to upgrade or not. Nonetheless, one should not forget that there are always a set of constraints that are likely to slow or halt the process of urban renewal. The multiple ownership of a number of properties is one of them for example (Chun To Cho and Fellows, 2000; Galea Debono, 2009). So are the limitations on the development in the urban village core through the Urban Conservation Area (UCA) which restricts certain types of redevelopment projects. Additionally, it is also likely that there may be disputes in the process of resettling those affected and disagreements on compensation issues which make it more difficult for the private developers to find a compromise with the landowners (Sumka, 1979; Smith and Williams, 1986; Blomley, 2004). Furthermore, it is also often the case that the lack of a central governing body to implement redevelopment and private developers little presumptive power, end up with the developers having fragmented, slow progress (Gordon, 2004). Positive outcomes from urban regeneration Fundamentally, the process of urban regeneration would help to contribute towards the preservation of structures of architectural value and significant historical importance (Jim, 1994). A sustainable regeneration scheme should therefore endeavour to lesson social exclusion, boost economic reintegration as well as salvage architecturally rich buildings and edifices (McGregor and McConnachie, 1995; Skifter Andersen, 2003; Bailey et al.,2004). Otherwise, an urban regeneration project can be a source of conflict and thus it might prove valuable to develop a decision making tool to facilitate the planning process as suggested by Walker (2002) and Ho et al. (2004) in figure 2.1. Figure Project facility making tool (Ho et al., 2004). Eventually, project regeneration proposals can be assessed and alterations can be made in order to achieve a higher rating for the plan which is subject to time, budgetary and other practical constraints (Ho et al., 2004). According to Kocabas, (2000a), evaluating the impact of protection planning would ideally assess outcomes against the physical, social and economic objectives. This should preserve the physical historic environment, the needs of the existing residents during the process of upgrading as well as determining whether the conservation process is economically viable (Kocabas, 2000a). On the other hand, Borja et al. (1997) showed that the socio-spatial outcomes of globalisation on urban areas varied according to the correlation between the technological and economic processes that form the core for this transformation. Whilst it is now widely accepted that no city can escape the reach of global economic and political forces (Sassen, 2000; Taylor and Walker, 2001), it is also clear that cities can upgrade their position in the global hierarchy by their strategic intervention (Clarke and Gaile, 1997). This was the case with Ireland in 1988, for example. With the help of the European Commission, Ireland reflected on the mistakes made through the demolishment of buildings in inner Dublin through the Greater Dublin Area Development Programme secured and managed the preservation of the built historical environment (Pickard, 1994). Essentially, the upgrade or upkeep of neighbourhood externalities is also thought to contribute to the migration and related change in a neighbourhoods economic status for two main reasons. Firstly, certain types of households may behave in ways that generate social capital and affluence for the neighbourhood influencing the demand for that location, thus, the process of gentrification (Ley, 2003). Likewise, certain types of households might also choose to migrate into or out of a neighbourhood based on the demographic and financial characteristics of their prospective neighbours because of the social status, irrespective of how these neighbours may behave (Rosenthal, 2008). In spite of this, it is important to recognise that raising a neighbourhoods economic status does not necessarily alleviate poverty but could simply force the existing low income residents to relocate to other areas of the locality. Jacobs (1961) argued that rather than being suffocated by urban regeneration, soc ial life should be revived, thus, the process of gentrification might not be always seen in a good light especially from those who are less affluent and other deprived sections of society (Sumka, 1979; Smith and Williams, 1986; Blomley, 2004). Therefore, building rehabilitation may garner more support as it causes less social disturbances (Needleman, 1966; DeFilippis, 2007). Achieving success through failure Amongst the good examples of successful waterfront regeneration projects that have managed to generate enough employment opportunities for the locals, Gloucester, Swansea, Cardiff and Liverpool immediately stand out in the United Kingdom (Jones and Gripaios, 2000). In these cases, a number of listed warehouses were refurbished and transformed to provide residential, office, retail, museum, marinas and restaurant facilities. Liverpools Albert Dock, for instance, has been so successful as a heritage site that was previously in a state of decay that it now receives around six million visitors yearly (Jones and Gripaios, 2000). From being a totally abandoned and neglected eyesore, the Albert Dock has now been turned into a visually pleasing environment with the most obvious and tangible manifestations of successful regeneration project in the United Kingdom. Canary Wharf in London is another successful redevelopment that even managed to generate 7,000 jobs for the locals (Daniels and Bob e, 1993). In spite of these successful cases of regeneration, the process of urban renewal still generates a great deal of heated debate especially when faced fierce opposition from the locals that fear that there would no significant improvement in their standard of living such as in the case of Canary Wharf in London. Quite rightly as Jeffrey and Pounder (2000) suggest, the physical improvement of a building is a fundamental element in achieving a successful regeneration project, however Hausner (1993), suggested that on its own it is not sufficient as the development of any project reflects the conditions and requirements of the area in which the project is located from a wider perspective. In addition to this, Moore (2002) sustains that the proactive use of this policy might even improve the local economic development and even create new working places, however, this might only be for a short while. Hemphill et al. (2004) argues that much of the research conducted in the United Kingdom ten ds to be critical as there is a persistent sentiment that urban policy has not really left many of the desired effects on the regenerated area. This had already been thought earlier as even though the inner-city redevelopments generally improve and enhance the degraded built environments, there is criticism that such projects only cater to certain sectors of society and particular locations such as waterfronts and thus these types of projects can fragment cities (Fainstein, 1994; Meyer, 1999; Marshall, 2003). Further criticism concludes that the stated goal of urban design and renewal is often forgotten as the concepts have become merely a marketing tool (Gospodini, 2002). Moreover, it is generally felt that the concept of urban renewal is too vague with the fusion of the traditional architecture, the landscape architecture, and the planning and civil engineering. As a result, urban renewal is said to be focused mainly on the marginal cosmetic aesthetics of the landscape rather than helping to sustain a better standard of living in the area (Inam, 2002). Hubbard (2006) added that the social as well as economic conditions of an area are usually worsened though the regeneration and gentrification policies that are meant to be beneficial. On a wider scale, Newman and Thornley (1996) had previously suggested that in contrast with other cities, the key European cities such as; Paris, Milan, Berlin, Frankfurt and Stockholm are underpinned by the factor of the international competitiveness rathe r than by the notion of urban policy and therefore the residents standard of living has nothing to do concept of urban renewal. Bentley (1999) went even further and argued that apart from the social, economic and environmental limitations, the concept of urban design is often manipulated by developers and public authorities to covertly hijack public space and neglect local conditions and values. Revitalisation projects targeted parts of the cities, such as decayed port areas and other post-industrial sites, for major redevelopments so that the area in effect becomes totally gentrified resulting in a residential area for the more affluent citizens rather than the whole society in general (Bentley,1999). Proprietors awareness and involvement It is evident that one of biggest barriers when it comes to building maintenance is the owners awareness that find it difficult to realise the basic forms of decay and the resulting impact on the building material (Kangwa and Olubodun, 2003). To make matters worse, when action is taken, it is often the case that an inappropriate remediation technique is applied (Leather and Mackintosh, 1994; Forrest et al., 1996). Thus, any effective renewal system must be constructed upon well informed diagnostic skill structures. Chanter and Swallow (1996) and Davidson et al. (1997) have suggested that some of the main awareness problems apart from the variations in perceptions of objects of regular maintenance include the inability to tell whether inferior products or components are used to rehabilitate the building. In addition to this, they also add that the average owner is generally unable to determine the quality of work done by the traders and cannot judge accurately the extent of skill requ ired for a particular work. In the end they argue that the absence of a referral system within the local housing communities which would act as an initial contacts for advice and general information on housing maintenance. Consequently, it is often the case that waves of building depilation later turn into the process of urban decay that has been a major problem in most developed cities (Skifter Andersen, 1995). It must be recognised that the local inhabitants are fundamentally the problem solvers and play an important and useful role not only in implementing regeneration strategies but also in maintaining the socio-economic improvement of the neighbourhood over the years. As powerlessness is central to peoples experience of poverty and exclusion, the people in general are more likely to involve themselves if they can clearly see their contribution in the city (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2005). Throughout the last number of years, the local citizens have also been emphasizing that new developments should retain their own characteristic and identity in order to reflect their collective memories. Public consultation meetings are no longer satisfying the citizens as they believe that a comprehensive public engagement exercise for the project is required and more channels should be provided for them to express their views on the developments (Lee and Chan, 2008). Research has shown that in the absence of government intervention, property owners are prepared to improve their buildings and edifices since it would enhance the market value of the refurbished properties provided that there is enough information for people to take sensible decisions (Holm, 2000; Gregg and Crosbie, 2001). Besides from having restored building edifices, this type of refurbishment project is estimated to increase the market price of the property which leaves a good profit after deducting the costs of the refurbishment project (Chau et al., 2003). Improvements on the buildings especially on the facades are intuitively expected to have a positive impact on properties adjacent to the building because of the improved visual quality enjoyed by the nearby residents. Likewise, unsightly externalities are created by the unsightliness of poorly maintained properties, thus, refurbishing these poor maintained buildings should reduce or even counter the negative impact (Colwell e t al., 2000; Boyle and Kiel, 2001). Nevertheless, while everyone would benefit from improving the exterior conditions of the buildings, the market value of the properties improved first would have their value depreciated by the dire condition of the neighbouring properties and thus for an individual to take the first step would not be easy. As a result, the unimproved properties would experience an increase in value as a result of the nearby investments done by the others. Consequently, this might also lead to a market failure as the refurbishment process may never take off completely resulting in an investment which is less than what was desired (Hui et al., 2007). Should more information on the enhanced market value of a refurbished building be made available, then the long-term sustainability of a rehabilitation effort would be incorporated into the urban renewal strategies easily, however, one must not forget that the effects may not be felt until a long time. In this particular scenario, the authority in charge sh ould encourage and encourage developers and owners to instigate redevelopment. Ultimately, the process of renewal is a product of an incremental decision making as owners have to decide whether to rehabilitate or redevelop their built land which is subject to facing obsoleteness (Bryson, 1997). Figure 1: Hamdi (2004) Everyone (civic society) should benefit by participating Concluding Remarks As authorities are widely considered as the ones responsible for the process of urban decay, they started to be seen as being unable to engage successfully with the private sector. With the rise of the new conservative movements, the local government started to be marginalised in favour of the private sector when it came to taking decisions (Gullino, 2008). This resulted in private sector being placed at the centre of the renewal activities as these kinds of projects are assumed to attract new financial capital (Bianchini et al., 1992; Loftman and Nevin, 1995). Despite the process of urban renewal through which envir