Structure Of Retail Sector In India

Structure Of Retail Sector In India Abstract Despite the ongoing wave of incessant liberalization and globalization, the Indian retail sector is still aloof from progressive and ostentatious development. This dismal situation of the retail sector undoubtedly stems from the absence of a Foreign Direct Investment (hereinafter referred as FDI) encouraging policy in the Indian retail sector. In this context, attempts have been made to study the strategic issues concerning the structure of Indian retail sector, current FDI policy and its limitation. Moreover, the latest move of the government to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail in India and increasing the FDI limit in single brand retail in India to 100% (from the existing 51%) is facing opposition which has raised significant hurdles for effective implementation of the reforms. FDI in retail has been opposed citing fears of loss of employment and that traditional retail may be affected. However, adherents of the same indicate easy access to capital for domestic retailers, increa sed transfer of technology, enhanced supply chain efficiencies, increased employment opportunities and curtailment of inflation as the perceived benefits. By analysis of the debate thats raging over opening the retail sector to FDI it is pointed out that opening up of FDI in retail in India could potentially be a mixed blessing for domestic players and negative impact if any is expected to be short-lived and to weaken over time. Also, the advantages of allowing unrestrained FDI in the retail sector evidently outweigh the disadvantages attached to it. Though its time for opening the door for FDI in retail the same should be treaded cautiously and the proliferation of foreign capital into retailing needs to be anchored in such a way that it results in a win-win situation for India. Introduction The retail industry comprising of organized and unorganized sectors is of late often being hailed as one of the fastest growing sectors in India. According to the Investment Commission of India, the retail sector is expected to grow almost three times its current levels to $660 billion by 2015. Though initially, the retail industry in India was mostly unorganized, however with the change of tastes and preferences of the consumers, the industry is getting more popular these days and getting organized as well. The Indian retail sector is ready to take on challenges from global retail players such as Wal-mart and Carrefour. Recently, to encourage the organized retailing in the country government decided to allow 51% FDI in multi brand retail and 100% in single brand retail in November, 2011.While this long awaited approval, come as a relief to many organised retailers and foreign players, oppositions from state government, political parties etc., raises significant hurdles for effective implementation of the reforms. Structure Of Retail Sector In India Before we go into the intricacies of the issue we must know what retail means and what the structure of retail sector in India is. Retailing can be said to be the interface between the producer and the individual consumer buying for personal consumption. This excludes direct interface between the manufacturer and institutional buyers such as the government and other bulk customers. Retailing is the last link that connects the individual consumer with the manufacturing and distribution chain. A retailer is involved in the act of selling goods to the individual consumer at a margin of profit.  [1]  Also, the High Court of Delhi  [2]  defined the term retail as a sale for final consumption in contrast to a sale for further sale or processing (i.e. wholesale). The retail industry in India is divided into organised and unorganised sectors. Organised retailing refers to trading activities undertaken by licensed retailers, that is, those who are registered for sales tax, income tax, etc. These include the corporate-backed hypermarkets and retail chains, and also the privately owned large retail businesses. Unorganised retailing, on the other hand, refers to the traditional formats of low-cost retailing, for example, the local kirana shops, owner manned general stores, paan/beedi shops, convenience stores, hand cart and pavement vendors, etc. Unorganized retailing is by far the prevalent form of trade in India.  [3]   Current Fdi Scenario With Respect To Retail In India The advent of FDI in India was witnessed during the end of 1990s when the Indian national government announced a number of reforms which aimed at helping in the process of liberalization and deregulation of the Indian economy.  [4]   FDI in Single- Brand Retailing was, permitted in 2006, to the extent of 51%. Since then, a total of 94 proposals have been received till May, 2010. Of this, 57 proposals were approved. The proposals received and approved related to retail trading of sportswear, luxury goods, apparel, fashion clothing, jewellery, hand bags, lifestyle products etc., covering high-end items. FDI in cash and carry wholesale trading was first permitted, to the extent of 100%, under the Government approval route, in 1997. It was brought under the automatic route in 2006. But, FDI in Multi-Brand retailing is prohibited.  [5]   Limitation Of Present Setup Limitation in the present scenario calls for relaxation of FDI norms. These limitations are as follows: Infrastructure There has been a lack of investment in the logistics of the retail chain, leading to an inefficient market mechanism. Though India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables (about 180 million MT), it has a very limited integrated cold-chain infrastructure, with only 5386 stand-alone cold storages, having a total capacity of 23.6 million MT. , 80% of this is used only for potatoes. The chain is highly fragmented and hence, perishable horticultural commodities find it difficult to link to distant markets, including overseas markets, round the year. Storage infrastructure is necessary for carrying over the agricultural produce from production periods to the rest of the year and to prevent distress sales.  [6]   Lack of adequate storage facilities cause heavy losses to farmers in terms of wastage in quality and quantity of produce in general.  [7]  Though FDI is permitted in cold-chain to the extent of 100%, through the automatic route, in the absence of FDI in reta iling; FDI flow to the sector has not been significant. Intermediaries dominate the value chain Intermediaries often flout mandi norms and their pricing lacks transparency. Wholesale regulated markets, governed by State APMC Acts, have developed a monopolistic and non-transparent character. According to some reports, Indian farmers realize only 1/3rd of the total price paid by the final consumer, as against 2/3rd by farmers in nations with a higher share of organized retail.  [8]   Improper Public Distribution System (PDS) There is a big question mark on the efficacy of the public procurement and PDS set-up and the bill on food subsidies is rising. In spite of such heavy subsidies, overall food based inflation has been a matter of great concern. The absence of a farm-to-fork retail supply system has led to the ultimate customers paying a premium for shortages and a charge for wastages.  [9]   No Global Reach The Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector has also suffered due to lack of branding and lack of avenues to reach out to the vast world markets. While India has continued to provide emphasis on the development of MSME sector, the share of unorganised sector in overall manufacturing has declined from 34.5% in 1999-2000 to 30.3% in 2007-08  [10]  .This has largely been due to the inability of this sector to access latest technology and improve its marketing interface. Prospected Changes In Fdi Policy For Retail Sector In India Recently in July 2010, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) had put up a discussion paper proposing FDI in multi brand retail. In July 2011, a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) had cleared the proposal to allow upto 51% FDI in multi-brand retail and increasing the FDI limit in single brand retail to 100%, which has been approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2011, albeit with a few drivers  [11]  . These drivers in bill are as follows: For multi-brand retail- Minimum investment of US$ 100 million by the foreign investor is required and atleast 50% of the investment by the foreign company to be in back-end infrastructure. The proposal restricts the location of stores to cities with a population of one million or more (53 cities as per 2011 Census); given constraints around real estate, retailers are allowed to set up stores within 10 km of such cities. Also, at least 30% of manufactured items procured should be through domestic small and medium enterprises (SMEs). While the proposals on FDI will be sanctioned by the Centre, approvals from each State Government would be required. For single brand retail- While allowing FDI limit in single brand retail to 100% with government approval, some restriction is again laid down. The foreign investors are to be an owner of the brand and products to be sold should be of a single brand only. Also, in respect of proposals involving FDI beyond 51%, 30% sourcing would mandatorily have to be done from domestic SMEs and cottage industries artisans and craftsmen. Further, like in multi-brand retail state government approval is needed. But, the mounting opposition by several political parties and State Governments has prevented the effective implementation of the key reform measure. Challenges For Foreign Firms In Organized Retail In India The first challenge is competition from the unorganized sector. Traditional retailing has been established in India for many centuries, and is characterized by small, family-owned operations. Because of this, such businesses are usually very low-margin, are owner-operated, and have mostly negligible real estate and labor costs. Moreover, they also pay little by way of taxes. Consumer familiarity that runs from generation to generation is one big advantage for the traditional retailing sector. It is often said that the mom-and-pop store in India is more like a father-and-son enterprise. Such small shops develop strong networks with local neighbourhoods. The informal system of credit adds to their attractiveness, with many houses running up a tab with their neighbourhood kirana store, paying it off every fortnight or month. Moreover, low labor costs also allow shops to employ delivery boys, such that consumers may order their grocery list directly on the phone. These advantages are sig nificant, though hard to quantify. In contrast, players in the organized sector have to cover big fixed costs, and yet have to keep prices low enough to be able to compete with the traditional sector. Getting customers to switch their purchasing away from small neighbourhood shops and towards large-scale retailers may be a major challenge. The other major challenge for retailers in India, as opposed to the US, is the storage setup of households. For the large-scale retail model to work, consumers visit such large stores and return with supplies likely to last them for a few weeks. Having such easy access to neighbourhood stores with whom, as discussed above, it is possible to have a line of credit and easy delivery service, congested urban living conditions imply that few Indian households might be equipped with adequate storage facilities. Concerns Causing Roadblock In Implementation Of Relaxed Fdi Norms History has witnessed that the concern of allowing unrestrained FDI flows in the retail sector has never been free from controversies and simultaneously has been an issue for unsuccessful deliberation ever since the advent of FDI in India. The recent proposal for relaxation of FDI norm is also facing the same challenges and opposition creating roadblock for implementation of suggested reforms. The antagonists of FDI in retail sector oppose the same on various grounds which are as follows: Move will lead to large-scale job losses.  [12]  International experience shows supermarkets invariably displace small retailers. Small retail has virtually been wiped out in developed countries like the US and in Europe. South East Asian countries had to impose stringent zoning and licensing regulations to restrict growth of supermarkets after small retailers were getting displaced. India has the highest shopping density in the world with 11 shops per 1,000 people. It has 1.2 crore shops employing over 4 crore people; 95% of these are small shops run by self-employed people. Adverse impact on domestic small and unorganized retailers as the move would lead to unfair competition and ultimately result in large-scale exit of domestic retailers, especially the small family managed outlets.  [13]   Global retail giants will resort to predatory pricing to create monopoly/oligopoly. This can result in essentials, including food supplies, being controlled by foreign organizations.  [14]   Disintegration of established supply chains by establishment of monopolies of global retail chains, leading to their control on both ends of the supply chain.  [15]   Farmers to get affected on account of non-remunerative prices paid to them by these corporate giants.  [16]   Key Perceived Benefits In spite of the recent developments in retailing and its immense contribution to the economy, it still continues to be the least evolved industries and the growth of organised retailing in India has been much slower as compared to rest of the world. Over a period of 10 years, the share of organised retailing in total retailing has grown from 10 per cent to 40 percent in Brazil and 20 percent in China, while in India it is only 2 per cent (between 1995-2005).  [17]  One important reason for this is that retailing is one of the few sectors where foreign direct investment is not healthily and liberally allowed. Given this backdrop, it is widely acknowledged by the advocators of the reform that FDI can have some positive results on the economy, triggering a series of reactions that in the long run can lead to greater efficiency and improvement of living standards, apart from greater integration into the global economy.  [18]  Some of the benefits claimed by implementing FDI in re tail sector are as follows  [19]  : These would enable cash-starved domestic retailers to deleverage their overly stretched balance sheets by plugging the gap between capital required for growth and the ability of local players to raise capital. Local incumbents will be benefited from technical inputs, investments in supply chain, and investments in human capital. There could be a potential shift in bargaining power of these retailers with FMCG companies (at present, large FMCG players are better positioned vis-à  -vis retailers in discussing terms of trade) once these retailers become large and attain size and scale. Improvement of supply chain/ distribution efficiencies, coupled with capacity building and induction of modern technology, which will help arrest wastages (in the present scenario, lack of investment in logistics and inadequate storage facilities have been creating inefficiencies in the food supply chain, leading to significant wastages). Though FDI is permitted in cold chains to the extent of 100% through the automatic route, in the absence of FDI in front-end retail, investment flows into this sector have been insignificant. The move to open up retail sector to FDI will reduce inflationary pressures as : Farmers will be able to directly sell their produce to retailers, thereby reducing margins for middlemen. Investments in cold-storage and warehousing will ease supply-side pressures that have driven inflation close to a double-digit. Improved supply chain contributes to savings in food wastages which has been rampant on account of inadequate infrastructure. Further, consumers would also benefit from wider choices and better quality products.  [20]   Improvement in productivity and realizations for farmers through direct sales to these large organised players, thus eliminating the margins outflow to the middle-men who have been dominating the value chain, and whose pricing lacks transparency. The opening of the sector to FDI is expected to result in creation of over 10 million jobs (including 6 million jobs in the logistics sector alone) in three years, across agro-processing, sorting, marketing, logistic management and the front-end retail business. Expectations are that it would create jobs not only in the retail industry but also in related areas like real estate and construction. Consumer Benefit In the fierce battle between the advocators and antagonist of unrestrained FDI flows in the Indian retail sector, the interests of the consumers have been blatantly and utterly disregarded. Therefore, one of the arguments which inevitably needs to be considered and addressed while deliberating upon the captioned issue is the interests of consumers at large in relation to the interests of retailers.  [21]   In wake of relentless protests for the opening up of the Indian retail market for the reception of unrestrained FDI, the Investment Commission in July, 2006, opined that that foreign investment would help in improving the retail and supply chain infrastructure, and generate large-scale employment in the country. In addition, the Indian retailers could absorb some of the best operational practices of these international retailers and gain in experience. Ultimately, the consumers would benefit due to the availability of more product offerings, lower prices, and efficient service. The entry of large low-cost retailers and adoption of integrated supply chain management by them is likely to lower down the prices. Also, FDI in retailing can easily assure the quality of product, better shopping experience and customer services. They promote the linkage of local suppliers, farmers and manufacturers, no doubt only those who can meet the quality and safety standards, to global market and this will ensure a reliable and profitable market to these local players.  [22]   Also, from the stand point of consumers, organized retailing would help reduce the problem of adulteration, short weighing and substandard goods. FDI will not just provide access to larger financial resources for investment in the retail sector but simultaneously will rationally allow larger supermarkets, which tend to become regional and national chains to negotiate prices more aggressively with manufacturers of consumer goods and thus pass on the benefit to consumers and to lay down better and tighter quality standards and ensure that manufacturers adhere to them.  [23]   Authors View In principle, governments should not prevent anybody, Indian or foreign, from setting up any business unless there are very good reasons to do so. Hence, unless it can be shown that FDI in retail will do more harm than good for the economy, it should be allowed. Authors are of view that concern raised by opponents is exaggerated. Opening up of FDI as per reform in India could potentially be a mixed blessing for domestic players and negative impact if any is expected to be short-lived and to weaken over time. A major argument given by opponents of FDI in retail is that there will be major job losses. Frankly, the jury is out on whether this is the case or not, with different studies claiming different findings. Big retail chains are actually going to hire a lot of people. So, in the short run, there will be a spurt in jobs. Eventually, theres likely to be a redistribution of jobs with some drying up (like that of middlemen) and some new ones sprouting up. Infact, the government has added an element of social benefit to its latest plan for calibrated opening of the multi-brand retail sector to foreign direct investment (FDI). Only those foreign retailers who first invest in the back-end supply chain and infrastructure would be allowed to set up multi brand retail outlets in the country. The whole idea is that the firms must have already created jobs for rural India before they venture into multi-brand retailing. Also, fears of small shopkeepers getting displaced are vastly exaggerated. Whe n domestic majors were allowed to invest in retail, both supermarket chains and neighbourhood pop-and-mom stores coexisted. Its not going to be any different when FDI according to the reform is allowed. It is also pertinent to note here that that with the possible advent of unrestrained FDI flows in retail market, the interests of the retailers constituting the unorganized retail sector will not be gravely undermined  [24]  , since nobody can force a consumer to visit a mega shopping complex or a small retailer/sabji mandi. Consumers will shop in accordance with their utmost convenience, where ever they get the lowest price, max variety, and a good consumer experience. The argument that farmers will suffer once global retail has developed a virtual monopoly is also weak. To begin with, its very unlikely that global retail will ever become monopolies. Stores like Wal-Mart or Tesco are by definition few, on the outskirts of cities (to keep real estate costs low), and cant intrude into the territory of local kiranas. So, how will they gobble up the local stores. Mega retail chains will keep price points low and attractive thats the USP of their business. This is done by smart procurement and inventory management: Good practices from which Indian retail can also learn. The benefits of larger FDI in other sector has been tangibly felt in the domains pertaining to technological advancements, generation of export, production improvements, and hastening of manufacturing employment. Capital inflow into India has increased and so have the exports from the country. Allowing healthy FDI in the retail sector would not only lead to a substantial surge in the countrys GDP and overall economic development, but would inter alia also help in integrating the Indian retail market with that of the global retail market in addition to providing not just employment but a better paying employment, which the unorganized sector (kirana and other small time retailing shops) have undoubtedly failed to provide to the masses employed in them. Apart from this, by allowing FDI in retail trade, India will significantly flourish in terms of quality standards and consumer expectations, since the inflow of FDI in retail sector is bound to pull up the quality standards and cost-com petitiveness of Indian producers in all the segments. Further, with regard to the concern raised about limit of cap for FDI in multi- branding authors would like to highlight that Industrial organisations such as CII  [25]  , FICCI, US-India Business Council (USIBC), the American Chamber of Commerce in India, The Retail Association of India (RAI) and Shopping Centers Association of India (a 44 member association of Indian multi-brand retailers and shopping malls) favour a phased approach toward liberalising FDI in multi-brand retailing, and most of them agree with considering a cap of 49-51 per cent to start with. RECOMMENDATION FDI in multi-brand retailing must be dealt cautiously as it has direct impact on a large chunk of population.  [26]  Left alone foreign capital will seek ways through which it can only multiply itself, and unthinking application of capital for profit, given our peculiar socio-economic conditions, may spell doom and deepen the gap between the rich and the poor. Thus the proliferation of foreign capital into multi-brand retailing needs to be anchored in such a way that it results in a win-win situation for India. Therefore, apart from the drivers incorporated in the bill negative effect if any can be further diluted and given below are the recommendation for the same: Reconstituting the poverty stricken and stagnating rural sphere into a forward moving and prosperous rural sphere can be one of the justifications for introducing FDI in multi-brand retailing. To actualize this goal it can be stipulated that at least some percentage of the jobs in the retail outlet should be reserved for rural youth and that a certain amount of farm produce be procured from the poor farmers. Public Distribution System is still in many ways the life line of the people living below the poverty line. To ensure that the system is not weakened the government may reserve the right to procure a certain amount of food grains for replenishing the buffer. To protect the interest of small retailers the government may also put in place an exclusive regulatory framework. It will ensure that the retailing giants do resort to predatory pricing or acquire monopolistic tendencies. Besides, the government and RBI need to evolve suitable policies to enable the retailers in the unorganized sector to expand and improve their efficiencies.  [27]   A National Commission must be established to study the problems of the retail sector and to evolve policies that will enable it to cope with FDI- as and when it comes. The proposed National Commission should evolve a clear set of conditionalities on giant foreign retailers on the procurement of farm produce, domestically manufactured merchandise and imported goods. These conditionalities must be aimed at encouraging the purchase of goods in the domestic market, state the minimum space, size and specify details like, construction and storage standards, the ratio of floor space to parking space etc. Giant shopping centres must not add to our existing urban snarl.  [28]   In order to address the dislocation issue, it becomes imperative to develop and improve the manufacturing sector in India. There has been a substantial fall in employment by the manufacturing sector, to the extent of 4.06 lakhs over the period 1998 to 2001, while its contribution to the GDP has grown at an average rate of only 3.7%.  [29]   The government must actively encourage setting up of co-operative stores to procure and stock their consumer goods and commodities from small producers. This will address the dual problem of limited promotion and marketing ability, as well as market penetration for the retailer. The government can also facilitate the setting up of warehousing units and cold chains, thereby lowering the capital costs for the small retailers. Set up an Agricultural Perishable Produce Commission (APPC), to ensure that procurement prices for perishable commodities are fair to farmers and that they are not distorted with relation to market prices. Quality regulation, certification price administration bodies can be created at district and lower levels for upgrading the technical and human interface in the rural to urban supply chain. Credit availability for retail traders must be encouraged with a view to enhancing employment and higher utilization of fixed assets. This would lead to less wastage (India has currently the highest wastage in the world) of perishables, enhance nutritional status of producers and increase caloric availability. CONCLUSION Indias retail sector remains off-limits to large international chains especially in multi-brand retailing. A number of concerns have been raised about opening up the retail sector to FDI in India. But, after in depth study it can be safely contended that the advantages of allowing unrestrained FDI in the retail sector evidently outweigh the disadvantages attached to it. While initially the small indigenous retailers business would be impacted once modern retail enters the locality, this adverse impact is expected to be short-lived and to weaken over time. Indias experience between 1990-2010, particularly in the telecommunications and IT industries, showcases the various benefits of opening the door to large-scale investments in these sectors. Arguably, it is now the turn of retail. It is expected that organized retail could help tackle inflation, particularly with wholesale prices. It is also expected that technical know-how from foreign firms, such as warehousing technologies and distribution systems, for example, will lend itself to improving the supply chain in India, especially for agricultural produce. Creating better linkages between demand and supply also has the potential to improve the price signals that farmers receiv

Organizational Behavior Essay -- essays research papers

Organizational Behavior: A Case of Effective Management   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Organizational structure is the formal system of task and reporting relationships that controls, coordinates, and motivates employees so that they cooperate and work together to achieve the organization’s goals†. (George et al, 2002). The importance of structure can’t be stressed enough. Having an organizational structure ensures that each member of the organization has the correct goals of their particular department set. A good structure will give people the motivation needed to achieve those goals, and enhance their performance. As discussed in our text, in order to encourage work, cooperation, and the drive needed from employees, an organization should have some sort of organizational structure. Whether a functional structure, a divisional structure, a network structure, or even a matrix structure, every corporation must have one type to achieve the directives set forth by their mission statement. A strong structure essentially changes the way people work, and the results of their work ethics will produce quality work. If we look at the Aberdeen plant, we see what I believe to be, a functional structure. This structure, that Lancaster as developed, has proven to be quite a success. Each employee is a member of a group, and each group has a leader that has been chosen by the team members. If we try to put Aberdeen in an organizational chart, it will look something like this: Then, from the team leaders, come the members of each group, and information is shared between everyone within the hierarchy. This is what forms the trust needed, and helps coordinate people, and encourages motivation. At Green River, this type of structure can be implemented, but not without doing away with the union. The union, in essence, has its own hierarchy within the union itself. Here, at Green river, I can see more of a divisional structure with a concentration on the product structure, or quite possibly a market structure. Green River is part of Alkali Chemicals, which is a division of FMC that supplied to many different areas of the market. Its goal was to produce sodium-based chemicals to the detergent industry, the glass industry, and large commercial chemical plants (Clawson et al, 2003). This type of structure does not allow for much group interactivity as a formal structure ... ...in the organizational goals. Having done this, the organization can build a strong culture, and increase the performance of its employees. At Green River, the culture is built on an interactive management style from Dailey. He has built high levels of trust with his employees, and he is always willing to share information with them. This type of culture has proven to be successful in his plant. If he wants to improve the culture, then maybe he can try to do as Aberdeen and have employee picnics and such, and having them bring their families. Or, Dailey can incorporate a new code of ethics. Make the union members responsible for their own actions, and promote the fact that he will always be there to offer support if anyone has problems to deal with, professionally or personally. Promote the company as being a family unit. This can build a strong relationship with both organizations†¦the union organization and Green River management. References Clawson, J. (2003). Custom business resources. Custom ed.: Prentice Hall. George, Jennifer M., & Jones, Gareth R. (). Organizational behavior. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, New: Prentice Hall.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

The First Knight

In medieval times people lived by the medieval code of chivalry which is usually associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love. In a knights code of chivalry a knight was expected to have strength and skills to fight but also was expected to be kind. In the rules of courtly love it describes the pure romance of love but also the love for another man’s wife. In the movie the first knight, Lancelot displays the ideals of medieval chivalry and courtly love in admirable ways but also in ways that caused pure chaos.In the film, Lancelot illustrates the knight’s code of chivalry even before he became a knight. In the code of chivalry, one of the rules is to protect the weak and defenseless. Lancelot shows this again and again by protecting Guinevere. The first time he shows this is when Guinevere’s carriage was attacked by prince Malagants followers and her carriage was being taken away he saved her and brought her back safely.Another time is when he goes to save her from Malagants cave when she was abducted by his people from the castle in the middle of the night. Although he protects her all the time his reason to do so is very abstruse because he doesn’t do it to protect the queen but because they both have a clandestine love for each other which later on leads to a calamity. Courtly love is very well illustrated in Lancelot’s love for Guinevere in the film the first knight.In the rules of courtly love it points out that a true lover is continually and without interruption obsessed by the image of his beloved and that in sight of his beloved, the heart of the lover begins to palpitate. In the first knight, Lancelot admits to Guinevere more than once that he cherishes her so much that he can’t balk the thought of her out of his head. Another part of the movie where he displays courtly love is when the people are playing the gauntlet and he sees her you can see that he is mesmerized by her sight and that his heart is palpitating.Even though Lancelot was in love with King Arthur’s wife (Queen Guinevere) behind his back he still displayed even more chivalry when King Arthur noticed he would make an adept knight and made him a knight of the round table. When Lancelot joined this camaraderie he vowed to protect every one of his brothers no matter what. In the knights code of chivalry it points out that you have to guard the honor of his fellow knights and to protect them.When Lancelot saw that his brothers (Knights of the Round Table) needed help during a battle, he would go and protect them from the enemy. Although I accede with many of the rules of courtly love the times have changed and today its hard to find someone who still follows the rules as well as Lancelot followed them for the love he had for Queen Guinevere. In spite of the fact that he is loving a married woman Lancelot stuck to many of the rules of chivalry and courtly love.

Affirmative Action Was Created By Universities - 2060 Words

Throughout its earlier beginnings, Affirmative action was created by Universities who were obliged to improve the educational opportunities of groups who have experienced prejudice in the past, however defies the basis of American civilization. The leading figures in American Independence battled adversity to create an equal chance for all people. â€Å"Martin Luther King, Jr., said in 1963, ‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold those truths to be self evident’, that all men are created equal† (Pearson). In the effect of these leading figures in the revolution of independence, there were dreams to create a different nation, where freedom and were the basis for right and wrong. Ideals of people have allowed for constitutional changes over the course of history. Martin Luther King, Jr., became one of the larges advocates for liberty. His credibility flowed from his pure dream with good intent ion. Throughout time, leaders, like him, have worked to give equal opportunity to young adults everywhere. In the more recent times, Presidents have labored to pass legislation to prohibit racism. A historian, Anne Stokely stated that â€Å"Affirmative Action in the United States dates from the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson in the early 1960s. After signing the Civil Rights Act into law in 1964 prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin, President Johnson went one step further†Show MoreRelatedAffirmative Action Should Not Be A Program1540 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern American government and yet is still very active today. Affirmative action is defined as â€Å"the practice of improving the educational and job opportunities of members of groups that have not been treated fairly in the past because of their race, sex, etc† (Merriam-Webster). 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The Civil Rights Act was created in 1964 to prohibit discriminationRead MoreAffirmative Action : The Education System And Job Market1284 Words   |  6 Pagesprogram affirmative action was instilled into universities around the nation, it set different qualifications for minority applicants and assigned points based off race. With these new c riteria instigated, people saw the program as alluding to the notion that if you came from a particular race, the bar was no longer set at a high standard and therefore no need to work as hard as before. Others saw it as a great step forward to helping those who needed the extra assistance. Affirmative action beganRead MoreWhat is Affirmitive Action?934 Words   |  4 Pages Affirmative action or sometimes known as positive discrimination have been an issue that has going on around the world. Even though the policies vary from country to country, with some having quotas and others offering preferences in the selection process, the idea of providing special opportunities to a disadvantaged group remains universal. Our group choose this topic as we all have a personal interest in affirmative action and have had some form of affiliation with it in our lives. It can beenRead MoreEssay on Against Affirmative Action584 Words   |  3 PagesAffirmative action was created to assist minority groups against discrimination, but affirmative action does more harm than what it can do to help. Affirmative action was created with the intention of leveling the playing field so that everyone can have an equal opportunity to be hired or accepted in to a school, but it does the opposite of what it is meant to do. Affirmative action is reverse discrimination against white males, lesser qualified people are admitted into jobs and colleges, and notRead MoreUnderlying Reasons for Affirmative Action1442 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The issue of affirmative action has existed for around forty years, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the idea may be coming to an end (Sander Taylor, 2012). The reason for this is that while the idea of affirmative action originated for positive reasons, it has also had some negative side effects. In light of the possibility that affirmative actions are unwound, it is necessary to consider what might happen if that were to occur. This essay will consider precisely that issueRead MoreThe Precedency: Supporting the Affrimative Action Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative action is a government policy that gives opportunities to minorities, women, and any group who has been the victim of discrimination in the past. Affirmative action is the outcome of the 1960’s Civil Rights movement, growing out of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or gender. It was the 1978 Supreme Court decision, The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which allowed for the use of race-based preferences as a means ofRead MoreAffirmative Action in Universities728 Words   |  3 PagesAffirmative Action in University Admissions All across America, universities have been denying highly qualified applicants to accept minorities who are usually less qualified. These admissions processes misuse the basic principle of affirmative action. Affirmative action is a mandate that says that minorities should be given special opportunities. In 1952, when President D.W. Eisenhower was in office, he decided to let the states decide whether or not to use affirmative action (AffirmativeRead MoreAn Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It?1706 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It? An Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It? Abstract This paper discusses the importance of affirmative action in today’s society and the ethical role it plays when Employers and Universities are considering entry to their respected places of establishment. The paper will conclude with what America will face in the future in terms of affirmative action. An Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still NeedRead MoreAffirmative Actions Have Consequences Essay example1219 Words   |  5 Pagesclaims to have suffered unfair treatment from the University of Texas. After being denied acceptance, presumably because of her racial aspects, Fisher decided to take her case to a higher power. In a story covering the initial hearing, a reporter describes the scene. Fisher’s lawyer argued against affirmative action on the grounds of unfair treatment. Some sided with Abigail, but all those who opposed her case said nothing about affirmative action as a means to increase fairness; their only claims

Essay on The Rise Of Frederick Douglass - 917 Words

Frederick Douglass was a man born into slavery. Separated from his mother and unaware of his fathers identity, he was left to bear the burden of slavery all on his own. Early on Douglass realized that an education was his ticket to freedom. Throughout his life Douglas met many obstacles on his way to freedom, and more often than not these obstacles were created at the hands of one of his many masters. In his letters, Douglass speaks of no less than five masters under which he was forced to serve, his original master, the Auld brothers, Mr. Covey, and William Freeland. While all of these men were bad, some actually meant well and were simply victims of their time. However some of these men were cruel and†¦show more content†¦However, Mr. Ault put a stop to this, If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ellÂ… Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world. (p.946) It is while listening to this oration that a young Douglass sees just how important it is that he does in fact learn to read, These words sank deep into my heartÂ…From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedomÂ…I set out with high hopeÂ…at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read. (p.946) Frederick stayed with this family for most of his young life, taking every opportunity he could to gain knowledge. After spending seven years under Master Hugh he was sent to live with Thomas Ault. Thomas Ault was definitely a bad man to have a master. He was a religious man who used his religious beliefs as an excuse for his barbarism. Master Thomas would definitely be considered one of the bad apples. But, perhaps, his biggest influence on Douglass happened when he sent Frederick off to be broken by Mr. Covey. Mr. Covey was as mean as they come, rotten to the core to say the least. However, it was while Douglass was under the control of Mr. Covey, that he became a man. He stood up to the slave driver Covey, letting him know that he would be his whipping boy no longer, Â…but at this moment Ââ€" from whence came the spirit I dont know Ââ€" I resolved to fight... (p.960), after this incident, the regular beatings stopped. Douglass wonderedShow MoreRelatedFrederick Douglass: The Rise of a Slave Essay example1906 Words   |  8 Pageshe Rise of a Slave Frederick Douglass is a former slave who made great effort in order to obtain freedom. He is born into slavery in the state of Maryland and he barely knows his parents. Douglass is unique compare to other slaves because he learns how to read and write. He found a way to escape from his master and settles in Massachusetts. Frederick Douglass writes his text to abolish slavery and to change it as well; he plays an important role in securing the equal rights of African-AmericansRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1351 Words   |  6 PagesBrown 8th period English 1/4/16 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Research Paper Frederick Douglass positively influenced the United States politically and peacefully, as reflected in the literature of the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass. His work described slavery and provided key information to show the world how slavery really was. Frederick Douglass showed America how terrible the life as a slave was. Frederick Douglass was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland. He was unsureRead MoreAn Analysis Of Frederick Douglass s The Light Of Anti Abolitionism 941 Words   |  4 PagesFourth of July† was brilliantly written by Frederick Douglass in the heat of anti-abolitionism. The speech was well written and executed by using imagery and language, using emotional tones to garner sympathy and understanding, and the overarching idea that slavery was wrong. The tone all through the speech shows the passion and fervor Mister Douglass was feeling that day and really goes to show why this speech is fantastic. To start, Frederick Douglass uses heavy and raw imagery to paint a surrealRead MoreFrederick Douglass, An American Slave1114 Words   |  5 Pages Frederick Douglass is well known for many of his literary achievements. He is best known, now, as a writer. As a writer, Frederick Douglass shined. As a speaker, he was the best. There was no abolitionist, black or white, that was more for his speaking skills. (McFeely, 206) So impressive were Frederick Douglass’s oratorical and intellectual abilities that opponents refused to believe that he had been a slave and alleged that he was a impostor brought up on the public byRead MoreEssay Frederick Douglass and Slavery1448 Words   |  6 PagesFrederick Douglass and Slavery Frederick Douglass the most successful abolitionist who changed America’s views of slavery through his writings and actions. Frederick Douglass had many achievements throughout his life. His Life as a slave had a great impact on his writings. His great oratory skills left the largest impact on Civil War time period literature. All in all he was the best black speaker and writer ever. Douglass was born a slave in 1817, in Maryland. He educatedRead MoreFrederick Douglass Research Paper1165 Words   |  5 PagesUnit VII: Frederick Douglass Relevance in the 21st Century Born into a life of slavery, Frederick Douglass overcame a boatload of obstacles in his very accomplished life. While a slave he was able to learn how to read and write, which was the most significant accomplishment in his life. This was significant, not only because it was forbidden for a slave to read due to the slaveholders wanting to keep them ignorant to preserve slavery, but because it was the starting point for Frederick to think moreRead MoreEliot s Influences On Literature1013 Words   |  5 PagesFrederick Douglass and T.S. Eliot’s Influences On Literature The nineteenth and twentieth century were pivotal times in the world of literature. Many new elements of writing and style were evolving and authors all over the world were finding ways to present what they felt most passionate about. Some writers opened their readers up to newer ideas by the means of, as Ezra Pound once stated, â€Å"making it new.† Two writers in particular who did a fantastic job of this were Frederick Douglass and T.S.Read MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1243 Words   |  5 Pages Frederick Douglass slave owner was his dad. This book is Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The author is Frederick Douglass of his narrative. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery he was working on the farm by age 7. His dad ( Fred’s slave owner ) whipped him as well as Fred’s mom. He was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, and about twelve miles from Easton, in Talbot county, Maryland. â€Å"I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containingRead MoreFrederick Douglass And Slavery.1438 Words   |  6 PagesFrederick Douglass and Slavery Frederick Douglass the most successful abolitionist who changed America’s views of slavery through his writings and actions. Frederick Douglass had many achievements throughout his life. His Life as a slave had a great impact on his writings. His great oratory skills left the largest impact on Civil War time period literature. All in all he was the best black speaker and writer ever. Douglass was born a slave in 1817, in Maryland. He educatedRead MoreAnalysis Of Frederick Douglass s World Literature 1144 Words   |  5 PagesJenifer E. Forrest Leslie Lovenstein World Literature from 1650 to the Present - Online 26 November 2014 Frederick Douglass: From Chains to Podium When a man grows up as an untaught slave in the southern eighteenth-century, he has no other ambitions than to be free. But for Frederick Douglass, freedom was merely step one. Douglass began his life on a plantation owed from the moment he arrived. He was not destined to stay put there. Born in (what he can come close to) 1818, he began life out as a

Religion and Psychology Essay example - 729 Words

Religious faith is important to most Americans, with approximately 95% of Americans reporting belief in God and about 50% being active in church organizations (Gallup Castelli, 1989). Despite the widespread prevalence of religious beliefs in society, some researchers have maintained that religion and religious beliefs are often neglected in psychological research (Jones, 1994; Plante, 1996). This neglect stems from a couple of different factors. First, it is difficult for psychologists to overcome the fact that believers in many religions claim to have unique access to the truth. Secondly, truly theological questions such as the existence of God or the nature of an afterlife are often ignored by scientists. This may be in part a†¦show more content†¦For example, William James studied religious experience and suggested that the spiritual process works to curtail peoples negative behaviors (James, 1936). For James, spirituality helps individuals recognize their own eart hly suffering as either a consequence of individual pathology or addictive behavior, or both. When people begin to criticize or consciously reject problematic individual behaviors as a permanent way of being, then they become open to the possibility of rising to a higher awareness. This higher awareness of his or her own behavior is then integrated as a part of the persons psychology. James was already considering the role religion plays in a persons consciousness early in the twentieth century. Alfred Adler, another pioneer of psychology, believed that our ideas about God are important indicators of how we view the world (Ansbacher H., Ansbacher R., 1956). According to Adler these ideas have changed over time as our vision of the world and our place in it has changed. Adler suggested religion was of importance because our view of God embodies our goals and directs our social interactions. Compared to science, Adler believed that religion was more advanced because it motivates people moreShow MoreRelatedPsychology, Religion, And Religion1397 Words   |  6 PagesPsychology and religion are two fields of inquiry that are intimately related despite not initially seeming so. Humans have been engaging in religious thought for as long as we know, and possibly since we were first capable of thought. Likewise, psychology is a deceptively old field; although psychology as so named is a recent invention, philosophers have been asking the same questions the modern field does for centuries. Furthermore, both psychology and religion seek to address similar questionsRead MoreThe Psychology of Religion1187 Words   |  5 PagesIn terms of the psychology of religion, many thinkers have commented about the origins of religious belief. Some of these support these religious beliefs, some don’t. However it is first appropriate to establish whether or not they are actually making a valid comment on the subject of religion or not. Georg Hegel (1770–1831) was the initial scholar to step foot into this field. He redefined God by creating a character he often named ‘Spirit’. He attempted to make God sound theistic by giving GodRead MorePsychology and Religion1229 Words   |  5 Pagesthe practices involving psychology and religion in order to uphold the ethics code. There is a sensitivity level that must be exhibited by psychology professionals that practice traditional psychology in order to make clients feel comfortable and secure in the treatment setting. In addition, this essay explains the use of religion in non-traditional psychology and the professional manner according to the ethics code in which using non-traditional approaches involving religion should be used. Read MorePsychology of Religion1837 Words   |  8 PagesI believe that religion and spirituality play a major role in the understanding of human behavior. Religion and spirituality have been apart of human experience throughout the course of history, tapping into almost every aspect of life from cultural beliefs to the arts. Religion and spirituality encompass a world that goes beyond our general understanding of how and why by attaching a higher overall purpose and meaning that extends outside of our lives here on earth. I do not believe that an adequateRead MoreReligion vs. Psychology1800 Words   |  8 PagesSpirituality and psychology are two complex subjects to discuss and they become even more complicated when you try to relate one to the other. Psychology deals with the processes of sense perception, thinking, learning, cognition, emotions and motivations, and personality, focusing on the behavior of individuals. Spirituality, on the other hand, is all inclusive. Spiritua lity is living ones life from the realization that the body/mind/ego personality we have been taught to identify with is justRead MoreClass Of Religion And Psychology Essay2317 Words   |  10 Pages Linda Chacko Class of Religion and Psychology Professor Heaney-Hunter Final Research Paper: Religion can be defined as a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance. It contains a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices that allow its followers to live their life a certain way. The world consists of 19 major religions, which are further subdivided into 270 larger groups. According to David Barrett et al, editor of the â€Å"World Christian EncyclopediaRead MorePsychology And Religion : West And East957 Words   |  4 PagesWhile preforming a psychoanalysis of religion and human development, Sigmund Freud questioned whether or not a person could be religious and mature at the same time. In Future of an Illusion, Freud came to a conclusion that one cannot be religious and mature at the same time. Religion stunts a person’s transition of becoming a mature adult. Whereas in Carl Jung’s Psychology and Religion: West and East, he believed that a person can be religious and mature at the simultaneously. Opposing, to Freud’sRea d MoreEssay on religion vs. psychology1766 Words   |  8 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Spirituality and psychology are two complex subjects to discuss and they become even more complicated when you try to relate one to the other. Psychology deals with the processes of sense perception, thinking, learning, cognition, emotions and motivations, and personality, focusing on the behavior of individuals. Spirituality, on the other hand, is all inclusive. â€Å"Spirituality is living ones life from the realization that the body/mind/ego personality we have beenRead MorePsychology Of Religion : The Mad, Holy And Demonic2878 Words   |  12 Pages VPR - 2209 Psychology of Religion: The Mad, Holy and Demonic Assessment 1: Essay (3,000 words) Question 4: What is the unconscious and what is its relevance in understanding religious belief or religious experience? Answer with reference to either Jung or Freud, or to both Jung and Freud. It is widely assumed that in the field of psychoanalytic theory there are only two major influential characters when discussing the effect and importance of religion on the unconscious, these characters beingRead MoreHamlet : Jungian Perspectives On Psychology And Religion1558 Words   |  7 Pagesunconscious contains thoughts, memories, and desires that are well below the surface of awareness but that nevertheless have a great influence on behavior. The influence of Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Gustav Jung’s work in analytical psychology has never been more prominent in texts than it is today. â€Å"Introversion and â€Å"extroversion† have become standard words. Most people are aware of the connection between the â€Å"individual psyche† and the â€Å"collective unconscious.† Many of us have secretly

Coca Cola Unethical free essay sample

Coca Cola: Unethical BY kattel 234567 In 2006, Coca-Cola made headlines in the United Kingdom for being banned from students union over unethical practices. The students at Sussex University have decided that they can make a difference in exposing Coca-Cola for their unethical practices, unhealthy product, and the depletion of much needed ground water in rural Indian towns. They are not alone in believing that Coca-Cola contributes to the obesity of children; universities in the United States have also banned Coca-Cola, and a quarter of states in India have outlawed products following concerns that they ontain 27 times the permitted levels of pesticides. However, the harmful side effects of Coca-Cola were not the main objection of the product on the university campuses; the allegations of the anti-union practices in Columbia and the environmental damage they have caused in India were central oppositions. Dan Glass, the president of Sussex Universitys students union explained, Our ultimate goal is to make Coca-Cola accountable for the crimes it has committed, but by banning all its products from the campus, we can hit them where it hurts most in the wallet. As Glass is leading the charge, other universities, including Middlesex, Leeds, Portsmouth and the University of East Anglia, are planning to remove Coca- Cola products from their campuses. Although this is a small fraction of the profit that Coca-Cola makes, it is still effective in raising awareness of Coca-Colas true nature. Coca-Cola operates fifty-two water-intensive bottling plants in India, which contribute to the already persistent drought problem in the region. This is a concern as in the majority of the towns that Coca-Cola operates, the primary industry is farming. Obviously, in farming, water is necessary to the vitality of the crops and in having a successful harvest. After several large protests, the local government revoked Coca-Colas license to operate last year and ordered the company to shut down its $25 million plant. In other regions, several thousand people took part in a ten day march in 2004 between two Coca-Cola bottling plants thought to be depleting groundwater. The leader of the India Resource Center and organizer of the protests, Nandlal Master, believes that drinking Coke is like drinking a farmers blood in India, nd that Coca-Cola is creating thirst in India, and is directly responsible for the loss of livelihood and even hunger for thousands of people across India. Residents of the region are subjected to live in unhealthy and deadly conditions manufactured by Coca-Cola and the negative effects that they have on the environment. However, groundwater isnt the only issue that people of India are forced to deal with; Coca- Cola was also creating sludge which was found to be contaminated with several cancerous chemical elements. The sludge that was created by the manufacturing and bottling of Coca-Cola was ound to be extremely toxic and hazardous. Instead of Coca-Cola disposing of the sludge as toxic material, they distributed it as fertilizer to the surrounding farmers, telling them that it would help to increase their crops. However, in 2003, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India assessed the sludge at eight Coca-Cola bottling plants and found them all to contain excessive levels of lead, cadmium, and/ or chromium. As a result, the CPCB ordered the Coca-Cola Company in India to treat ts waste as industrial hazardous waste and deal wit n it accordingly. In addition to he investigation by the CPCB, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also sent in an investigatory team directly to a bottling plant in Plachimada in Kerala where it was known that they were distributing the toxic sludge to farmers as fertilizer. As a result of their findings, government authorities ordered Coca-Cola to immediately stop this practice. In the reports issued by the BBC, they found that the toxic sludge had not only ruined the crops of the farmers, but had also contaminated the groundwater. After the findings and reports that were issued in 2003, Coca-Cola has continued to how blatant disregard for the environmental rules and regulations and continue to operate with impunity. The plant did not disclose the amount of hazardous waste being used and generated, as required by the Supreme Court of India for all industrial units in India that deal with hazardous waste. As a result of all of these findings, Coca-Colas operations are being challenged by various communities across India that are being directly affected, as well as the international community. Amit Srivastava of the India Resource Center best describes the actions the company as he xplained, The Coca-Cola Company is announcing to the world that it is an environmentally responsible company, and it has partnered with UN agencies and NGOs to paint a pretty green picture of itself but] it is littered with toxic waste and a complete disregard and destruction of the way of life as many people in rural India know it. Because of the long history of violation of environmental laws and regulations, the Coca-Cola plants should be shut down in India until they improve their plants to meet the federal codes and regulations that have been issued by the Indian government. Until then, the Central Pollution Control Board and other agencies dealing with water and land have been asked to investigate the pollution at the Sinhachawar bottling plant immediately. The villagers have also taken matters into their own hands by showing strong opposition through protests across India. Over a thousand villagers protested at Coca-Colas north India headquarters demanding that the company take immediate actions to clean up its act in India. Nandlal Master, leader of the campaign against Coca-Cola believes that access to water is a fundamental human right and the Coca-Cola company is denying this right o thousands of people across India, and vows that he and his supporters will continue to campaign until people across India can live free of the abuses being perpetrated by these companies. The operations of Coca-Cola in India are truly a violation of environmental laws, human rights, and show deliberate disregard for any sort of ethical practice. This type of behavior must be stopped; through actions by the local villagers, along with the support that they have generated in the international community, it is now only a matter of time before Coca-Cola is brought to Justice. In addition to the findings of this research team and the violations found in India, an independent magazine called Ethical Consumer Magazine ranked Coca-Cola at the bottom of their ethos-core table that rates soft drinks on ethical principles, with a score of three out of twenty. They were found to be in direct violation of all twelve categories, which include: Environmental Reporting, Pollution and Toxics, Habitats Resources, Other Animal Rights, Human Rights, Workers Rights, Supply Chain Policy, Irresponsible Marketing, Genetic Engineering, Boycott Call, Political Activities, and Anti-Social Finance. These ethos-core categories are designed to help users quickly and easily identify the best ethical products to support and the worst companies to avoid. Coca-Cola is in fact one of the companies that people should avoid for their unethical practices. Despite their efforts to appear as a company who cares and actively seeks to improve the environment, they continually seem to lack in evidence that they actually execute their own environmental policies. Ata shareholders meeting in 2006, Coca-Cola claimed that their rainwater harvesting programs have aused lush green agricultural conditions in areas and that they have provided employment in areas of high unemployment. Because of this reason, they call themselves the savior of water, but when questioned about the true benefits of their programs, they sat in silence. The reason for their silence is because the rainwater harvesting program falls short compared to their negative effects. When looking at the facts of a single bottling plant in MehdiganJ, a major protested site in India, Coca- Cola withdraws over 180 million liters of water annually and their rainwater arvesting program recharges only 10 million liters a year; these are numbers that are presented by Coke. Their responses to these allegations were that water cannot be created nor destroyed and that there was no water shortage in the area. However, at the time, the local government in MehdiganJ and other blocks in the neighborhood had already announced water levels to be critical and banned withdrawal of water from larger bore wells. The attempt of Coke to spin their deliberate environmental rights violations is evidence enough that they were participating in unethical practices. Their extreme disregard for the environment is only one facet of Cokes unethical practices the other is maj or human rights violations across the globe. Coca-Cola attempted to disprove these findings by hiring two different independent inquiries who without surprise found that there was no evidence to support the allegations. Nevertheless, the findings of these two independent groups were not enough to convince corporate accountability International (CA) who held a press conference later that same year highlighting the unethical behavior of Coca-Cola. They found Coca-Cola to be in violation of draining he water tables in communities that were already dealing with problems in accessing clean water and violence towards protesters of the corporation. A representative from the Minnesota chapter of Association for India Development said that he had been at the site of the first protests in MehdiganJ where security personnel from Coca-Cola had attacked women who were part of a non-violent rally, resulting in serious injuries and broken heads. But the violence towards the protesters was not the only serious violation that Coca-Cola was committing, the Coca-Cola plant in MehdiganJ was built illegally on land owned by the village. The causes for the protests were because the villagers wanted equal rights as well as their land back from Coca-Cola. The citizens of the small communities and villages in the surrounding areas of the bottling plants of Coca-Cola have continually been oppressed and refused their basic human rights. The conduct of Coca-Cola must be stopped. Coca-Cola has continued to violate environmental and human rights t throughout India as well as in Columbia and shows no signs of attempting to reform their operations in either country in order to abide by federal regulations. The only way to