Luxury Fashion Brand Essay Example for Free

Luxury Fashion Brand Essay To be successful in India, it is both necessary to gauge the financial potential as well as the mindset of the Indian luxury consumer. This will help in bringing forth the right product offerings to the Indian consumer as well as targeting them better. There are conventional foundations for ensuring success of a brand and they are listed below in brief: * The brand must be â€Å"expansive† Which means it should be full of innovation opportunities for the marketer and in terms of satisfying the different needs of the luxury consumer. * The brand must tell a story – One of the best ways for an organization to compete and distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack is to tell your brand story. The story should be so powerful that it should make customer act as the way you want. * The brand must be relevant to the consumers’ needs Depending upon the mindset of the luxury class, it is necessary for a brand to satisfy those needs, whether they be for recognition or functional use etc. * The brand must align with consumers’ values A brand that does not concur with the basic values of a consumer’s society has a small chance of succeeding because luxury items are identification for a luxury consumer. This makes it difficult for the consumer to adopt the brand in such cases. * The brand must perform Irrespective of which category the brand belongs to, a performance assurance is a must for the brand. Based on the inputs given above as well as an understanding of the decision making process of the luxury consumer, we recommend the following paths for luxury marketers based on what Indian consumers really desire from their luxury brands, i. e. product brand, dealer/store brand and price/value relationship : (The price / value relationship has been accorded less focus since the Indian Consumer is at a phase when cost of luxury is secondary to its appeal / benefits) 1. Brand Me Affluent! It is essential for marketers to ensure that the recognition value of their brands is always high so that it lends a sense of affluence to the consumer, which can only come if others around him / her perceive the brand to be a top-notch luxury brand. This can come from either being aligned with the most successful celebrities or being a part of elite events and promotions. 2. Nothing but the Best – This is a golden opportunity for the marketer to earn greater margins by adding customized value to his line of luxury goods. These added-value customized goods will ensure that the customer feels he has something more than just the ordinary range of luxury goods available. 3. Luxury is having the world at my fingertips – First! A luxury marketer will not only have to be faster than his competitors in reaching out to the consumer, to gain a share of wallet but also continuously offer innovative products that serve to differentiate between the consumers. 4. â€Å"Ethnic Chic† – The Fusion of Local Global goods This point is connected to the strategy of a product being in line with the consumers’ values for it to be adopted. Apart from this, in the Indian context, ethnicity is also a fashion statement in many product categories. 5. You Think I’m Demanding? Next! The marketer’s job should be a constant endeavor to offer newer luxury goods to the consumer, in sync with their needs. In addition to that, marketers will need to make sure that each and every single consumer has to be treated with a high-level of personalized attention, given the nature of the product and the consumer. Even minor Shortfalls in this case will have the consumer shifting their brand preferences to those marketers who can satisfy their needs better. 6. CANNIBALIZATION OF BRANDS It thus becomes essential to ensure that successful celebrities are partnered with at the right time, thereby both eliminating chances of Competition as well as delivering the right aspirational / appeal message to the intended audience. Conclusion The starting point for identifying successful luxury brand strategies in India has been established by identifying certain salient aspects of luxury brands that remain constant as well as identifying the stage of mindset of the Indian consumer towards these brands. The focus is now towards ‘how soon’ luxury brands will enter the market to gain a first mover advantage, which is of significant importance in India. Apart from how soon, we primarily focus on ‘how will’ luxury brands cater to the mainly aspirational needs of the Indian consumer. A word of caution that goes for luxury marketers, irrespective of their brands and Geographical presence – The luxury consumer is always looking for newer ways to Satisfy his continuously changing needs. Hence, the need to keep a close tab through insightful research is of prime importance. As far as India is concerned, given the rapidly accelerating affluence of the Masses, the scenario is set to witness a boom. The ones who will be riding the Wave will be the ones who’ve kept their ears open to each and every word of their Each and every customer. After all, in the luxury business, no marketer can afford the luxury of treating its consumers as a loosely bunched segment.

Virgin on the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci

Virgin on the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci Featured in this gallery are the two versions of The Virgin of the Rocks (also known as The Madonna of the Rocks). These two altarpieces are being showcased in particular in this exhibition because they share a location in the same Milanese church, the San Francesco Grande, and most importantly the same artist (although this has been debated), Leonardo Da Vinci, painted both versions of the altarpiece. Further, another reason why they are being portrayed in this exhibition is due to the debates over their authenticity, even though they are 15 years apart in conception. Additionally, the two pieces share the same subject matter, imagery, iconography and pyramidal composition. In both altarpieces, the subject matter is unusual since the Biblical figures are placed in a mountainous pictorial backdrop; also, both paintings depicted were made for the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. These two pieces were further chosen because they incorporate many stylistic features such as s fumatto (blurring of lines) and the exploitation of the gradation of light (chiaroscuro) that the painter had accumulated and learnt from previous experiments, and which he then applied in this peak period of his career. The two versions of the Virgin of the Rocks also represent the artists continuous growth in the art of Italian Renaissance; The Virgin of the Rocks set the base for Leonardo Da Vinci to grow and mature as an artist in his two following infamous commissions, the Last Supper, and the Mona Lisa. The two altarpieces share the same iconography of the plants painted. Leonardo Da Vinci was a botanist just as much as he was an engineer, or an artist. He paid close attention to details; for these paintings, rather than looking at images of the plants, he looked at the plants in real, and painted from there. The plants depicted in the paintings have been chosen because they symbolize and represent religious meanings. According to the biographer, Charles Nicholl: the columbine suggests the dove of the Holy Ghost, the cyclamen below Christ have heart shaped leaves which make it an emblem of love and devotion, and by his knee is a basal rosette of primrose, an emblem of virtue. Kneeling below St. John is the acanthus, considered to be a symbol of the resurrection because of its rapid growth; the hypericum which has small dots of red on yellow petals represents the blood of the martyred St. John. Other hidden symbols are religious in nature: the water, pearls and the crystal, which are used to fasten Marys robe, are symbols of her purity. This would make the connection with the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Further, the stone formations, eroded by natural forces are a metaphor for Mary, pointing towards her unexpected, virtuous fertility. Da Vinci wanted the viewer to feel as if they were seeing material Nature spiritually transmuted. In both versions of the altarpiece, Leonardo Da Vinci portrayed the Virgin together with the infant Christ and St. John, and with an angel. They have been placed amongst a rocky backdrop or a grotto. It is the setting of the Biblical figures against this pictorial background that gives the altarpiece its title, the Virgin of the Rocks. The Virgin has been placed in the center of the composition dressed in a blue garment. By having the Virgin as the focal point, the other figures have been placed in a pyramidal composition. Further, the Biblical figures are interconnected not only via the pyramidal composition but also via subtle glances and gestures. The rocky backdrop has caused some debate, as they are different in the style of the brushstrokes. According to the geologist, Anne Pizzorusso, Da Vinci has not painted the second version of the altarpiece, because the rocks which he would have been familiar with because of his obsession with nature have been painted incongruently in c omparison to the first version. Other than these evident similarities between the two versions of the altarpieces, there are also many significant differences between them. To start, both pieces are not in their original locations anymore. The first version is now in the Louvre in Paris, and the second version is currently in the National Gallery in London. Further differences lay in the iconographic and stylistic details of the paintings, which aid in making them individually significant and unique. Further, these differences in details are what raise the debate about authenticity whether Da Vinci was responsible for either painting, or just the first version currently in the Louvre. To extrapolate, if it were Leonardo Da Vinci who painted both, the altarpieces should share the same stylistic features, such as that of exploiting the use of light, which they do not. This raises the hypothesis of Leonardo not being the sole artist for the second version of the altarpiece. Rather, he most likely got help from his tw o Milanese assistants, the brothers Ambrogio and Evangelista de Predis, as evident in some aspects of the painting. The first version of the altarpiece is generally considered superior as revealing the more mature Leonardo Da Vinci than the second version. Hanging in the Louvre, the first version is thought to be solely by Leonardo Da Vinci, whereas the second is seen as overseen by the artist but having received assistance. Both paintings also share a different mood: where the Louvre version is vibrant, the National Gallery version is more austere; The different mood of the second version may be due to the numerous hands of multiple artists on the painting. Through further analysis of these criteria the symbolic iconography, stylistic techniques and the debate over their authenticity- we will see that although each altarpiece is unique and mysterious it is still intertwined with the other. Leonardo Da Vinci, Virgin of the Rocks, 1452-1519, oil on wood/panel transferred to canvas, 78in x 48.5in In the early 1480s, artists in Milan were beginning to finally prosper and were coming into the city from the rest of Italy due to its growing wealth and Ludovico Sforzas encouragement. Numerous artists were attempting to get commissions from the court; at the time, the most prominent artist and painter was Donato Bramante, who achieved success with his design of St. Peters Basilica in Rome. He was crowned as an architect of the court after he secured his architectural commission for the Basilica. Even though Bramante secured his position as the courts architect, Da Vinci did not give up and continued to toil in his early years in Milan to receive the title of the courts painter. Five or six years elapsed before the Sforza court recognized Da Vincis talent. It was with his first employment at court that Da Vincis career as a painter in Milan started off; the confraternity of the Immaculate Conception commissioned him for the Virgin of the Rocks, making this altarpiece his first artwo rk in Milan. With this altarpiece, Da Vinci took risks that worked to his benefit, by attempting to incorporate new ideas, and by introducing new themes to the art field. Before this altarpiece, the Virgin and Child were usually placed within an interior setting of a church or a chapel. Therefore, the altarpiece is emblematic of the flourishing of his career, as placing the Virgin and Child amongst a natural setting was a new theme in Italian Renaissance art. As with all other altarpieces, Da Vinci had to agree to a contract for the altarpiece, which was dated at April 25, 1483. According to the contract, the patrons asked for a triptych with the Virgin and Child in the midst of a host of angels attended by two prophets, while the side panels were to feature four angels each, singing or playing musical instruments. Although contracts are written in stone, and followed, Da Vinci diverged from the clients specifications. Apart from the Virgin and Child, none of the other requirements are met. The composition is comprised of the Virgin, the infant Christ, one angel, no prophets, and an unstipulated infant St. John, a divine quartet organized by a pyramidal structure with the Virgins head at the vertex; the side panels are also deficient, having only one angel each. The Virgins right arm is draped over the shoulder of St. John, and her left hand poised over the figure of the infant Christ. On the lower right portion of the panel, the kneelin g angel is pointing toward St. John. Other than the subject matter, the contract also specified details concerning the composition and choice of colours, which Da Vinci did not completely adhere to: Our Lady is at the center, her cloak [is to] be of gold brocade and ultramarine blueà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the gownà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦gold brocade and crimson lake, in oilà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the lining of the cloakà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦gold brocade and green, in oilà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Also, the seraphim done in sgrafitto workà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Also God the Father [is] to have a cloak of gold brocade and ultramarine blue. The mountains and rocks shall be worked in oil, in a colourful manner. A possible reason for this may be that Da Vinci was already working on some kind of painting, and just carried on with the composition regardless of the details of the contract. This may be because the deadline allowed them only 9 months, so to save time; Da Vinci may have taken this path to complete the painting on time. The Virgin is depicted as a young woman in this version of the altarpiece. The introspective solemnity that Da Vinci used to express the Madonna in his earlier works (The Adoration of the Magi, The Benois Madonna) develops delicately and gracefully, making evident Da Vincis concern with the intermingling of spiritual and devotional qualities with human feelings of tenderness in the Virgin in this altarpiece. Although there are inconsistencies with the Virgins face, such as in the bulging slanted eyes, the outline of the face of the Virgin has been regularized and lengthened (in comparison to his previous attempts to drawing Virgins), giving Her a more naturally unified appearance. A stylistic feature that develops from this starting point is the artists new treatment of light. In the present altarpiece, light exists and an independent and mobile part of nature. The surfaces of the painting vibrate gently through the subtle interpenetration and gradation of lights and shadows. Therefo re, by using the technique he used to exploit the quality of light, he was able to achieve the tranquil, fluent, delicate, and tender emotions conveyed by the Virgins face. The angel in the painting is compelling and looks out at the viewer. The goal of placing the angel in such a way was to use the angel to catch the viewers attention, and to draw it to the center of the painting specifically towards St. John- by means of pointing his finger. The pointing of the finger has many other functions other than to point out the infant St. John: it fills the interval and clarifies the vertical accent that result from the foreshortened hand of the Virgin, which she extends to crown the Christ Child. This helps to reestablish the prominence that Christ is in danger of losing by his subordinate location in the composition. Leonardo Da Vinci was highly influenced by Verrocchio, his trainer, and by Flemish styles and techniques. These influences are evident in the infant Christ and St. John, whom are in round and fleshy forms. The infants have been directly taken from Donatello and Verrocchios sculptural style. Da Vinci continued to take from his early predecessors and teachers, and apply their stylistic forms to his works. Version 2: The second version of the Virgin of the Rocks is the painting that had to be created due to a lawsuit against the previous version of the altarpiece. The patrons bestowed a lawsuit on the previous altarpiece because it had not been completed within the timeframe given to them of 9 months. While the lawsuit was in progress (lasted for 10 years), the Confraternity asked for another painting, which would follow the same contract; thus the second version of the Virgin of the Rocks was born. The fact that Da Vinci was not able to complete the first version was not surprising, because he had difficulties meeting deadlines a childhood problem that matured with him into his adulthood. The second version was commissioned to be painted for the same chapel of San Francesco Grande in Milan. Due to many inconsistencies throughout the painting, there have been debates on whether Da Vinci painted the altarpiece wholly. Many scholars believe that due to the lack of attention paid to the exploitatio n of light, the different moods and due to the changes in the softness of lines, Da Vinci received help from his assistants Ambrogio and Evangelista de Predis. The Virgin of the second version of the Virgin of the Rocks is in most ways facial features, arrangement of hair, and set of her head similar to the previous version in the Louvre. Although Da Vinci usually does not repeat himself in this way, it may have been necessary because the London painting was meant to replace the Paris painting in the ancona of the Confraternity. The Virgin in the second version of the altarpiece looks older because her facial forms are heavier and larger, and she has a serious expression. The Virgin in this altarpiece is also much more voluminous, occupying a greater area of the panel; lacks crispness and spontaneity in execution. Further, the Virgins drab and lusterless hair and sharp-edged forms, the mechanical way light and shade are distributed in separate areas, the loss of radiance in the light and the loss of the atmospheric veil suggest that the Virgin was not painting by Da Vinci, but by Ambrogio de Predis. The head of the angel may be the only part of the altarpiece where Da Vincis artistic hand is evident, although it was not solely him responsible for it. It has some of his vivacity and sensitivity of handling, and the spotted light over the delicate curls in the angels hair is surely his invention. Ambrogio de Predis hand is evident in the head of the angel as well, as there is a lack of crispness in the facial expression. In this altarpiece, the angel is no longer pointing to the infant St. John. This collaboration between the two artists is clearly identifiable and comparable to the first version in which Da Vinci was the single artist.

Essay --

At first I would like to say that I am really excited to write to you this letter and I am doing it with love. As we are going to spend a year together, now I would like you to know about me, my character, my likes and dislikes, my hobbies, and of course about my family. First of all I will tell you about me. I am 18 years old, I am a tall girl with brownish curly hair, brown eyes and quite a pretty face. I am a sophomore at Vanadzor State Pedagogical Institute named after Hovhannes Toumanyan and studying in Philological Faculty, English Department and my major field of degree is the English language. I am a future English teacher for what I am really proud as I love teaching children. I am called "an interestin person" by my friends and relatives. I like to learn something new all the time, in other words _ absorb any information which is important and interesting to me. At the same time I have great sense of humor. I am fond of joking so I often get in touch with such people who are witty, friendly, and of course humorous. By the way I have a lot of friends whom I love and repect very much and friendship to me is very important. All of my friends are very interesting, kind, helpful and trustful. When I am sad and disappointed, they are always there to cheer me up. When I am happy, they are always there to share my happiness. Of course it is mutual. We love, repect and count on each other. What about me, I am a person who seldom gets offended. I hate lying and being lied about. I do not like when people butter somebody up either. That is something horrible for me. I like just and honest human relationships. I should say that my mood is quite changable. And it depends on circumstances and sometimes on weather. I can s... ...witty. He is also skillful with many things. He graduated from Vanadzor State Pedagogical Institute. He is not married yet, but I hope he will soon. I love him too much. Unfortunately, my mother died when I was six. But as I remember her, she was a real beauty. She was very careful, loving, and gentle. She was a music teacher as well as a pedagogue at kindergarten. Though she is not with us now, I am sure she always follows us from the sky and helps us. It is really difficult living without "Mother" but my brother and I try to do everything so my Dad will not feel lonely and sad. Our family is very united. We live in the air of family life. We are as separated as the notes of a piano and as linked as the notes of a song. That is all about me and my family. I hope that you have liked me. I also hope that one day we will meet, love and repect each other strongly.

In What Ways Do You Think That The Dreams Of The Characters Are :: English Literature

In What Ways Do You Think That The Dreams Of The Characters Are Different From Reality And To What Extent Will They Be Fulfilled? The American Dream can be defined as the idea that America is the land of opportunity for everyone who is willing to work hard and persevere. It was seen as the land of freedom where everyone has a chance of "pursuit of happiness." The USA was seen as a place of equal opportunities for anyone, one of the reasons being that there was no class system like there were in Britain. Dramatic irony links in with this idea of the Wingfield family living in the middle of the American Dream. It involves us in the play but as it is a memory play, dramatic irony does not make us feel part of it. It reminds us that we are on the outside looking in and also that we live in a different time period than the one in which the play is set. We, as the audience have a great deal of insight into the play, and therefore we know that there is no real truth in the American Dream. It is just a myth because the play is set in the 1930's, which was the period of the Great Depression. The American economy had collapsed due to the Wall Street Crash, so it would have been virtually impossible for the American Dream to work for someone like Jim. Jim is Tennessee Williams' central focus point of all the characters' dreams as he is "the long delayed but always expected something" that the Wingfield family have been waiting for. He is the most significant character in the play who can be related to the American Dream. In the film version, Jim is portrayed as an ordinary man, which is disappointing for us as we find it impossible to believe that he is such a central character and that all the dreams of the Wingfields depend upon him. " Knowledge - Zzzzp! Money - Zzzzzp! - Power That's the cycle democracy is built on!" When he pitches this line to Laura, we wonder that how can a person who believes in this absurdity, be such a central character in the play if he is portrayed like this. The actor who plays Jim in the film makes him seem extremely stupid. The actor does not give the impression that Jim is very important and it does not emphasise the fact that he is such a major character, which is why I feel that the portrayal of Jim is unsuccessful. Jim strongly believes that he will be able to obtain an executive post

Men and Women in Music Essay -- Gender Roles

Gender is a set of attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that we typically associate with masculinity and femininity (Brym, 2011, p.76). A lot of times, these differences are socially constructed through various outlets – one of them being music. Often times there is a lot of confusion between the definition of â€Å"sex† and â€Å"gender†. An easy way to understand the two definitions is to remember that â€Å"sex† refers to biological differences between men and women and â€Å"gender† refers to culturally defined ways of being male or female. Through a process of gender socialization, we are enabled to understand how to be more masculine or feminine (Brym, 2011, p.89). Music is definitely a contributor in the process of gender socialization. In a sociology 100 class, on February 3rd 2011, a class discussion suggested that men are often characterized as violent, assertive, strong, and sexual instigators (reinforced by Pruitt, 2007). Since the beginning of time, men have been considered the dominant sex. In the same class discussion it was also suggested that women were emotional, motherly and insecure (again, reinforced by Pruitt, 2007). Unfortunately, women are seen as the weaker sex in society. This simplistic way of categorizing women and men is commonly referred to as gender stereotyping. Gender stereotyping is the â€Å"simplification† of common beliefs about men and women and the traits that they possess (Brym, 2011, p.156). Gender roles are socially constructed expectations on how males and females are required to behave in social settings (Brym, 2011, p.76). The problem with gender roles is that they’re socially constructed – meaning, it’s constantly changing. The term assumes that there are strict differences between men and women and the truth of t... ...be a part of. The women promote concepts like independence and freedom for women and have helped fuel the feminist movement in the world through music. Conversely, rap music is a Black male-dominated genre that promotes aggressiveness, sexuality and dominance over women (Conrad et al., 2009). This genre is notorious for being misogynistic and sexist towards women (Conrad et al., 2009). As the world continues to evolve and grow, hopefully women will get the recognition they deserve in music and in the world in general. This way, there can be equality between the sexes in every aspect of life. However, the only way that this can happen is by allowing space for women in male-dominated genres like rap. Music is a social phenomenon that is constantly bringing people all over the world together. Hopefully in years to come, we can eradicate all inequalities within music.

Disability Discrimination Employment Law Essay

Disability Discrimination, Employment Law Introduction            The employment law governs the duties and rights between employees and employers and are also referred as labour law. The rules are largely designed to keep the workers safe as well as ascertain that they are treated reasonably within the workplace. In addition, the Employment Laws are also enacted to protect the employer’s interest. In a nutshell, Employment Laws are based on national and state charter, administrative rules, court opinions and legislation. As mentioned earlier, a particular employment relationship can be governed by a contract between the employer and the employee. For example, the American Employment Act traces back to the community protest, in opposition to the unfair practices during the industrial revolution in the 20th century. The initial laws were enacted to compensate the injured workers, outlaw child labour and establish minimum wage for the workers. However, the law has been expanded to cover other aspects faced in the contract of employment (Davies, 2012).            Employment discrimination laws are the federal and state laws which usually prohibit employers from treating the workers differently in reference to certain attributes. Discrimination by government employers ‘for example’ violates the constitution guarantee of equal protection. Under the current law, persons are protected against unfairness based on aspects such as their skin colour, race, country of origin or genetic information (such as family medical history), gender, disability, religion or age. In several cases, it is also unlawful for employers to show favouritism based on political affiliation, sexual orientation or marital status.            What is discrimination? Labour market discrimination is referred as the difference in the treatment of two qualified individuals job applicant or workers on account of their disability, religion, race, gender, etc. It is the main source of inequality in the workplaces. Discrimination is harmful as it affects the economy outcomes of business entities, organizations, and that of equally productive workers. This can either be directly or indirectly. Discrimination is not only about measurable outcomes but also involves unquantifiable outcomes. However, at some points it becomes hard to differentiate between productivity relate inequality at the workplaces and discrimination. However, over the time, employment inequalities have declined but the vital issue on employment discrimination is the persistence of the vice (discrimination) in the capitalist economy.            In employment law, direct discrimination is decisions such as the failure to hire, unequal pay and benefits, firing of workers that are based on an applicant’s or employees characteristics such as colour, gender, religion disability among other characteristics. Indirect discrimination is when discrimination arises from employment policies issued by the employer. The policies have an adverse effect on the employee’s race, colour of their skin, ethnicity and other like characteristics. For example, when an organization has all the facilities and can be accessed by all the workers including the disabled, but access to the building by the disabled workers is from the back side of the building; then this is a form of indirect discrimination. Direct discrimination is when two different people ‘for example’ a white and black with the same qualification apply for a job vacant. The black person is told the job was taken, but when the white applies , the response is different, and the job is available. Disability discrimination            Disability discrimination is a form of discrimination in workplaces where a manager or other body covered by the Association for people with Disabilities Act, treats an employee or an applicant with a disability in an unlawful way. It is also giving harsh treatment to an individual only because he is disabled. On the other hand, disability inequity also occurs when a covered employer or other entity treats an employee or applicant less favourably because he or she has an account of a disability. Disabilities may involve cases such as cancer that is inhibited or in reduction and also cases such as mental or a physical mutilation. (Mutilation that is not short-lived such that it is expected to last or lasting for 6 months or less). The labour law ‘however’ requires an employer to supply rational accommodation to such a worker or a job aspirant with any form of disability. Despite this, there is an exceptional for such provision. In case doing so would ca use major complexity or expenditure to the employer (undue hardship), the employer is permitted to neglect the Employment Law (Geisen & Harder, 2011).            Under the equality Act 2010, disability discrimination by an employer is when he or she treats a job applicant or an employee’s less favourably because of his or her disability. For example, job is a qualified accountant and applied for the job of chief accountant officer in company A. However, his application was turned down after; the management learnt that he is on a wheelchair user. This is direct disability discrimination. When an organization has a policy or procedure which despite applying to all the workers in the entity, puts people who share disability at a disadvantage compared to others, it is referred as indirect discrimination. Direct discrimination is more prominent in comparison with indirect. It is mostly experienced when a person is discriminated in the following areas; employment, education and training, provision of facilities, goods or services among many other areas (Perry et al, 2004).            There are various sources of Employment Law or the labour law both at international and national level. It can be found in a number of different sources. One of the main sources is the Common Law. This is the law made by judges when announcing their judgment in cases. Common Law is different from the Legislation law. Secondly, there is the Legislation source of the employment laws which is also known as Acts of Parliament or Statute law. These are laws drafted and enacted by the government. For example under the Employment law, there are Employment Act 2008, Employment act 2002, Employment rights Act 1996. Others include; Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and 2005, human rights act 1998, Equality Act, 2006 among many other acts that are used to govern the employment contracts ‘as well as sources of Employment law’. What is contained in the different Act may differ from one country to another. Government agencies Contribution in preventing disability discrimination            Government agencies in the UK, has been known for their commitment to social justice for all the people. This has been through various ways such as access of vital information to all people. The government has embarked on the implementation of the United Kingdom employment equality law. This is a body of which legislates against prejudice based actions in the workplaces. The law has well stipulated guidance in prevention of discrimination against the defined characteristics such as disability. In addition, the government has a well established court system that has allowed disability discrimination victims to report in case of any discrimination experience. The government has been on the forefront in fighting against discrimination. This been seen through the support of agencies such as human rights movement. The movement is allowed to fight for the rights of minority groups in the community. The government has also supported the fight against disability discrimina tion through the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The act makes it criminal to categorize against disabled persons. The law was enacted in1995 to provide stability in employment. The U.K. government has since extensively improved the DDA’s reward by extending its extent to award disabled persons lawfully protected social rights in almost all decisive areas of life (Mabbett, 2005). Contribution of human rights in disability discrimination            Since the founding of the human rights movement, the establishment has been on the forefront in promoting fundamental human rights. The establishment has been and continues to fight for equality as this is the cornerstone of fighting all kinds of discrimination. The project of fighting disability discrimination has been through the collaboration of the government and the human rights organization as well as like minded establishment. However, the fight against disability discrimination has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is the peaceful existence of people in the places of work. Whether disabled or not, the extinction of discrimination in the work places makes it possible for each and every employee contribute positively to the running of the organization. In addition, the fight has led to minimized discriminations against disabled people. It also provides vital egalitarianism through equal rights in service. Finally, it makes easy access of goods and services to all people such as public transport, education among others, as well as providing optimal conditions for retaining and hiring qualified workers (Hunter, 1992).            However, the fight against disability discrimination has resulted to increased expenses for the organization and business entities. For example, the employer is supposed to provide adequate resources for the disabled to have equal access as the other workers. If workers is confined into a wheelchair, his mobility is limited, the employer is supposed to provide adequate facilities and structures to enhance such a worker movement. This calls for extra financial need to support the disabled people. Disability discrimination cases at work place. (Case 1)Case Summary            Joan Maya (the plaintiff) worked for Sweet Restaurant Limited. She sued her former employer Sweet Restaurant Limited for direct disability discrimination. Despite Sweet Restaurant Limited (the defendant) not making explicit remarks about Joan’s disabilities when terminating her employment, the court found that, the reason behind Joan’s dismissal was her injuries. In turn, the court ruled in favour of Joan and awarded damages for injuries and loss of income. Facts            Joan was employed by the Sweet Restaurant Limited as a waiter in its Liverpool restaurant. She was supposed to help wheelchair-bound customers by lifting the right side of the wheelchair using his left hand together with three other waiters. On 30th April 2010, Joan sustained an injury to the left side of her body while supporting a wheelchair-bound customer. The Employees’ Compensation (Ordinary Assessment) Board Sweet Restaurant Limited assessed that Joan had suffered a 1 percent loss in earnings capacity as a result of that injury. However, Joan alleged that the Defendant had engaged in unlawful disability discrimination in breach of the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) on the grounds that: The Defendant delayed or defaulted in reimbursing medical expenses to Joan. Mr. Walter, a manager of the Defendant, displayed a ferocious facial expression to Joan. Walter was dissatisfied when Joan asked to hold the left side of the wheelchair (instead of the right side) due to her injury.            Mr. Victor John, a director of the Defendant, had expressed dissatisfaction taking her sick leave. He showed a judgmental facial expression to Joan, yelled at her and directed her to leave Sweet Restaurant Limited for her inability to use her left hand to carry the wheelchair. The Defendant dismissed Joan with 7 days’ wages without notice and giving no reason. The Defendant denied the accusation of illegal discrimination. It argued that Joan was already well again from his injuries at the material times, and sought to base Joan’s dismissal on her poor work presentation. Decision            The Court alleged that, the complaints made against Joan’s work performance were unconfirmed because: No warning in print had been issued about Joan’s poor performance. I addition, there is no record of Joan’s attendance had been produced by the Defendant to show that Joan had intentionally selected the busiest dates to take leave. The conditions indicated that the reason for Joan’s discharge was not her deprived performance, but the soured affiliation between the parties. This was after she had her injuries. Despite the fact that no remarks were made by Walter or Victor that pointed directly at her disabilities, the Court concluded that the disgust they directed against Joan was as a result of the work injuries Joan had sustained. The Court held that the Defendant had acted in breach of the DDO and awarded damages to Joan of $101,181.70 comprising compensation for injuries sustained and her loss of earnings. Comments from the case            It is illegal to treat a worker less satisfactorily on the grounds of the employee’s disability. An employer does not need to have made any explicit remarks about an employee’s disability to engage in unlawful disability discrimination. As such, an employer needs to be careful about how it treats an employee who has a disability or who may have suffered an injury. The explanation of the case was based on the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which is the major law concerned with discrimination cases. The act is used to define disability in context to the case scenario. However, despite the well laid law in prevention of disability discrimination (direct discrimination), the implementation of justice has challenges which is identification of evidences to support the cases.            There has been the enactment of disability prevention policies which are directed at controlling and minimization of discrimination cases. The policies are usually contained in the law with well stipulated procedure for employees and employers. There has been a shift away from treating disabled persons as passive recipients of welfare to viewing them as people with rights and the capacity to control their own care. The disabled people’s society, in campaigning for an inclusive community, is highly decisive of the form that recent government policy on anti-discrimination has taken. The employers are always supposed to adhere to the rules and regulations of the law about any form of discrimination. (Reitz, 2007).The process of employment law enactment has been faced with numerous challenges. One of the main challenges is the difference in policies from that are implemented by various organizations and employment companies in curbing organizations. Despite the general law against the disability discrimination ‘as well as other forms of discrimination’ different organizations have various approach method in curbing the vice. This greatly the common goal of the discrimination eradication acts. In addition, the reluctance of the people in the country has contributed to fully enactment of the law. This is whereby employees fail to report discrimination cases to the courts. This has in turn become a stumbling block in the fight against employee discrimination. Another challenge in curbing discrimination is the lack of information and educates education on the matter (lack of knowledge to the people). Education programs are frequently organized to educate not only the employees but also the general public on ways to eliminate discrimination.            The employment law and legal institutions have to the change of the social interaction between the law and society. The employment law has contributed to the social understanding and existence of different people in work places. In other words, the law has created equality in the society. Law has, more often than not, been measured as the conventional approach of the state to manage and uphold social order within its domain. It is also taken as a mechanism to successfully promote and uphold regulations in the societies. Laws and regulations are generally constructed on lawful concepts that emerge for centuries all through time, and they are influencing everyday life in varying ways. If we, for theoretical purposes, understand the law as a system of rules, the relations between law and society has until recently been both fairly straightforward and based on customs, traditions, geographical boundaries and physical space. Conclusion            The employment law and measure remains important features of employment regulation. Employers are much less likely to determine policies or employment practices without reference to legal standards. Nevertheless, there is still achievement which has been attained in curbing various levels of discrimination among the workers. Disability discrimination however, requires efforts from various stakeholders in order to minimize the discrimination in workplaces. The adoption of the legislation setting into the employment laws has improved labour standards and in turn strengthens the workers as well as their unions. The designing of labour laws today also has a key position in ensuring that a high level of employment and sustained economic growth is accompanied by continuous improvement of the living and working conditions globally. References Blanpain, R. (2009).  European labour law. Alphen aan den Rijn [etc.: Kluwer. Reitz, A. E. (2007).  Labor and employment law in the new EU member and candidate states. Chicago: American Bar Association. Davies, A. C. L. (2012).  EU labour law. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Pub. Hunter, R. C. (1992).  Indirect discrimination in the workplace. Annandale, NSW: Federation Press.Susser, P., & Petesch, P. J. (2011).  Disability discrimination and the workplace. Arlington, Va: BNA Books. International Labour Office. (2007).  Equality at work: Tackling the challenges : global report under the follow up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Geneva: International Labour Office. Geisen, T., & Harder, H. G. (2011).  Disability management and workplace integration: International research findings. Farnham, Surrey: Gower. In Heymann, J., In Stein, M. A., & In Moreno, G. (2013).  Disability and equity at work.Parry, J., & American Bar Association. (2008).  Disability discrimination law, evidence and testimony: A comprehensive reference manual for lawyers, judges and disability professionals. Chicago, Ill: American Bar Association, Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law. Perry, P., Perry Scott Nash Group., & British Standards Institution. (2004).  Winning with the Disability Discrimination Act: A guide for business. London: BSI. Mabbett, D. (2005). The Development of Rights-based Social Policy in the European Union: The Example of Disability Rights. Journal Of Common Market Studies,  43(1), 97-120. doi:10.1111/j.0021-9886.2005.00548.x Research and, M. (4). Research and Markets: European Union Non-Discrimination Law and Intersectionality: Investigating the Triangle of Racial, Gender and Disability Discrimination.  Business Wire (English). UK employment law – Disability discrimination. Retrieved from; http://www.lzwlaw.co.uk/documents/employment_law_dd.htm Disability discrimination, Retrieved from; http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/discrimination_e/discrimination_discrimination_because_of_disability_e/disability_discrimination.htm#h_toc Source document

The Haqqani Network: Terrorists or Insurgents

The definition of terrorism is broad and open to interpretation. Hoffman, in his book Inside Terrorism, suggests that terrorism is â€Å"the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change. † Schwartz, Dunkel, et al, define terrorism in their Studies in Conflict & Terrorism article entitled Terrorism: An Identity Theory Perspective, as â€Å"the deliberate targeting of civilian sites for attacks designed to result in destruction of those sites and/or the injury and death of noncombatant civilians. Together, these two perspectives coupled with identity theory and will serve as the basis for an evaluation of the Haqqani network and their interrelationships and interactions with known terrorist groups such as the Taliban and al-Qa’ida as well as with Pakistan’s military and government intelligence agencies.The Haqqani Network: Who Are They and Why do We Care? The Haqqani network is an Af ghan and Pakistani group of fighters that operates primarily in southeastern Afghanistan as a semi-autonomous component of the Taliban with close ties to Pakistan’s Army and intelligence agencies (Rassler et al. July 14, 2011, p. -2). The Haqqani network’s leadership structure is hierarchical in nature with members of the patriarch’s family filling top leadership roles (Rassler et al. July 14, 2011, p. 7). This familial structure is an important cultural identity marker â€Å"that can serve to promote terrorist activities. † Furthermore, Schwartz, Dunkel, et al address the family as it relates to upholding honor and â€Å"avenging wrongs done to the family. † This is interesting because even those who sympathize and support terrorism, but don’t actually participate in it, often share the same level of social identity based upon their group affiliations.This tends to show how the Haqqani network is able to exert its influence over their colle ague groups without actually having to be in control of them. It appears to be a symbiotic relationship where the Haqqani network clearly benefits from bi-directional credibility of association with the Taliban and al-Qa’ida. Rassler et al support this claim when they discuss the relationship between senior Haqqani network leaders and their close operational relationships with the Taliban and al-Qa’ida, revealing that there is often no distinction.This shared identity-based connection legitimizes the Haqqani network with the segment of the Afghan society that believes in radical Islam and jihad. This was evidenced when the Haqqani network helped â€Å"sustain al-Qa’ida’s relevance and branding as the leader of the global jihadist movement. † All in all, it appears the Haqqani network just wants their proverbial place at the table so to speak. Clearly, it must be working, as current assessments put the strength of the group close to 15,000 fighters. The Haqqani Network: Duplicity at WorkAmerican intelligence and military officials claim the Haqqani network is a â€Å"proxy force used by the Pakistani intelligence service [Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence {ISI} agency] to carry out grisly, high-profile attacks. † The question here is whether this is a relationship of convenience or an alliance due to shared identity. The secret relationship with ISI coupled with links to al-Qa’ida and the Taliban clearly shows the need to solicit support (e. g. , material, financial, spiritual, etc. ) and ultimately rally the masses behind them.Furthermore, â€Å"for decades, [the Haqqani network has been] a mentor to Arab, Uzbek, Chechen, Turkish, and Pakistani jihadists. † These associations speak to the core of shared identity and the interactions among the groups, as according to Schwartz, Dunkel, et al social and cultural identity is formed when members come together based upon common beliefs shared across the group, and individual identity represents personally chosen goals, values, and beliefs coupled with their perspectives of the world around them.The study of terrorism necessitates (according to Schwartz, Dunkel, et al) that we not only understand the effects of identity, but also the interactions among these levels. In addition, we need to look at the importance of the wider community as Schwartz, Dunkel, et al put it, â€Å"Without local, and sometimes international support, those engaged in terrorist attacks would find it substantially more difficult, if not impossible, to conduct their activities. † Working with the Taliban, al-Qa’ida, and Pakistan’s ISI is a duplicitous role that provides â€Å"credibility within, and across, multiple dimensions of jihad† (Rassler et al.July 14, 2011, p. 5) establishing the shared identity necessary to imbue respect and connectivity as part of an influential group dynamic. Why is all this important? The Haqqani ne twork’s credibility in the region, especially with the tribal groups of Afghanistan, helps extend the Taliban’s reach and because the Haqqani network is effective militarily, they act as a force multiplier for the Taliban. This puts the Haqqani network in a regional leadership position, and Schwartz, Dunkel, et al suggest that this leadership role would be considered admirable providing further social capital.The Haqqani Network: Terrorist Threat or Insurgency? So with such a significant fighting force that is radicalized, is the Haqqani network a terrorist organization pitted against Western ideology, or is it simply an insurgency focused on eradicating outsiders who have forced their way into the Afghani homeland? According to the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism of the Department of State as of September 15, 2011, the Haqqani network is not listed as a foreign terrorist organization. Despite this, according to the Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor , â€Å"The U.S. military has long been frustrated by deadly operations carried out against its troops in Afghanistan by Haqqani Network forces. † They quote U. S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta as saying, â€Å"We cannot have the Haqqanis coming across the border attacking our forces and [Afghans] and disappearing back into a safe haven [in Pakistan]. † In between the rhetoric, the real reason they aren’t on the terrorist list is because there is a belief that, â€Å"such a move would scuttle any chances that the group might make peace with Afghanistan’s government. To make our decision, it is essential that we not lose sight of the need to fairly evaluate this group from the point of view of that group and not from the â€Å"Westernized† framework we can easily apply to it. Brannan, Esler, and Strindberg, point out that, â€Å"Scholars’ insistence that ‘terrorists’ are somehow ‘not like us’ but, instead, abnorma l—insane, power hungry, or a combination of both—is a classic exercise in out-group stereotyping†¦which undermines the analytical utility of the interpretations in use. Applying this to the Haqqani network and to prevent us from being constrained by our (Western) cultural boundaries, it is incumbent upon us to look at the Haqqani network from their vantage point. The clearest and most-recent message came in September of 2011 when Sirajuddin Haqqani (the son of the group’s patriarch, Jalaluddin Haqqani) told The Telegraph in the United Kingdom via a telephone interview, â€Å"There are sincere people in the Afghan government who are loyal to the Taliban as they know our goal is the liberation of our homeland from the clutches of occupying forces. With this, their actions, and their relationships, it is apparent that the Haqqani network is interested more in the local issues and having local influence than it is in trying to wage a global jihad against the W est. A such, their lack of inclusion from the list of terrorist organizations is still valid. Bibliography Brannan, David W. , Esler, Philip F. , and Strindberg, N. T. Anders. 2001. â€Å"Talking to â€Å"Terrorists†: Towards an Independent Analytical Framework for the Study of Violent Substate Activism. † Studies In Conflict & Terrorism 24, no. 1: 3-24. Goodspeed, Peter. National Post, â€Å"About the Haqqani network. Last modified September 30, 2011. Accessed November 24, 2011. http://news. nationalpost. com/2011/09/30/about-the-haqqani-network Griffin, Emory. A First Look at Communication Theory. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 1997. Hoffman, Bruce. Inside Terrorism. New York: Columbia University Press, 2006. Mazzetti, Mark, Scott Shane, and Alissa Rubin. New York Times, â€Å"Brutal Haqqani Crime Clan Bedevils U. S. in Afghanistan. † Last modified September 24, 2011. Accessed November 23, 2011. http://www. nytimes. com/2011/09/25/world/asia/brutal- haqqani-clan-bedevils-united-states-in-afghanistan. html? pagewanted=all.Rassler, Don, and Vahid Brown. The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, â€Å"The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qa'ida. † Last modified July 14, 2011. Accessed November 11, 2011. www. ctc. usma. edu. Shahzad, Faizul. â€Å"Taliban Reject American Perceptions of the Haqqani-ISI Relationship. † Terrorism Monitor. 9. no. 37 (2011): 1-2. http://www. jamestown. org/uploads/media/TM_009_Issue37. pdf (accessed November 10, 2011). Schwartz, S. J. , Dunkel, C. S. , & Waterman, A. S. (2009). Terrorism: An Identity Theory Perspective. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 32(6), 540. Websites Referenced http://www. cfr. org http://www. tc. usma. edu http://www. dawn. com http://www. foreignaffairs. com http://www. jamestown. org http://news. nationalpost. com http://www. nytimes. com/ http://www. state. gov http://www. telegraph. co. uk http://www. thedailybeast. com http://tribune. com. pk h ttp://www. understandingwar. org/themenode/haqqani-network ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Hoffman, B. (2006). Inside Terrorism (2nd ed. ). New York, NY: Columbia University Press. p. 40. [ 2 ]. Schwartz, S. J. , Dunkel, C. S. , & Waterman, A. S. (2009). Terrorism: An Identity Theory Perspective. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 32(6), 537-559. 3 ]. Ibid (p. 540)—Identity theory for our purposes will cover cultural identity, social identity, and personal identity. [ 4 ]. Rassler, Don, and Vahid Brown. The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, â€Å"The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qa'ida. † Last modified July 14, 2011. Accessed November 12, 2011, www. ctc. usma. edu. [ 5 ]. The Haqqani network’s patriarch and leader is Jalaluddin Haqqani, although it is reported that he may be in ill health, and his son, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is running the day-to-day opera tions. http://www. cfr. org/afghanistan/institute-study-war-haqqani-network/p26126 [ 6 ].Schwartz, S. J. , Dunkel, C. S. , & Waterman, A. S. (2009). Terrorism: An Identity Theory Perspective. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 32(6), 542. [ 7 ]. Ibid. [ 8 ]. Ibid (p. 548) [ 9 ]. Much like the traditional phrase, â€Å"guilt by association,† I suggest there could be credibility by association. It is concept that is often discussed in marketing whereby a person, product, or company gains credibility by associating itself with a larger more recognized person, product, or company (e. g. , a computer with the â€Å"Intel Inside† sticker on it). [ 10 ]. Rassler, Don, and Vahid Brown.The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, â€Å"The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qa'ida. † Last modified July 14, 2011. Accessed November 12, 2011, www. ctc. usma. edu. (p. 40) [ 11 ]. Ibid (p. 43). [ 12 ]. http://tribune. com. pk/story/259314/sirajuddin-haqqani-dares-us-to-atta ck-n-waziristan/ [ 13 ]. Mazzetti, Mark, Scott Shane, and Alissa Rubin. New York Times, â€Å"Brutal Haqqani Crime Clan Bedevils U. S. in Afghanistan. † Last modified September 24, 2011. Accessed November 23, 2011. http://www. nytimes. com/2011/09/25/world/asia/brutal-haqqani-clan-bedevils-united-states-in-afghanistan. html? pagewanted=all. [ 14 ].Hoffman, B. (2006). Inside Terrorism (2nd ed. ). New York, NY: Columbia University Press. p. 199. [ 15 ]. Goodspeed, Peter. National Post, â€Å"About the Haqqani network. † Last modified September 30, 2011. Accessed November 24, 2011. http://news. nationalpost. com/2011/09/30/about-the-haqqani-network [ 16 ]. Schwartz, S. J. , Dunkel, C. S. , & Waterman, A. S. (2009). Terrorism: An Identity Theory Perspective. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 32(6), 540. [ 17 ]. Ibid. [ 18 ]. Ibid (p. 548) [ 19 ]. Rassler, Don, and Vahid Brown. The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, â€Å"The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qa' ida. Last modified July 14, 2011. Accessed November 12, 2011, www. ctc. usma. edu. (p. 13) [ 20 ]. Schwartz, S. J. , Dunkel, C. S. , & Waterman, A. S. (2009). Terrorism: An Identity Theory Perspective. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 32(6), 550. [ 21 ]. The current list of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations contains 49 entries, but the Haqqani Network is not one of them. http://www. state. gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085. htm [ 22 ]. Faizul Shahzad, â€Å"Taliban Reject American Perceptions of the Haqqani-ISI Relationship,† Terrorism Monitor, 9, no. 37 (2011): 1-2, http://www. jamestown. org/uploads/media/TM_009_Issue37. pdf (accessed November