Sunday, January 26, 2020
The issue of global food security in the future
The issue of global food security in the future Introduction Food is a necessity for life, yet millions of people every day go without it, due to a lack of global food security. Food has been used for millenniums to bring people together, yet there are people in poverty every day that donââ¬â¢t know where their next meal is coming from. With the population steadily growing, now is a more important time than ever to eradicate hunger around the world. Description of the issue With the population set to have increased by more than 35% (Foley, 2014) in 2050, we will be faced with the reality of having to feed nine billion people. For this to be achievable, crop production would need to double, as it would have to significantly outpace population growth. With millions currently starving around the world, global food security doesnââ¬â¢t seem achievable. However, if we work together and are guided by the principles of human flourishing, the agriculture industry should be able to grow alongside our population, eventually resulting in food security for all. Reasons why this issue is one associated with social justice The United Nations (un.org, n.d.) defines social justice as ââ¬Å"an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disabilityâ⬠. Food stability is an issue associated with social justice due to the millions of people starving around the world every day because of a lack of access to food, or an inability to purchase it. Food is a necessity to live, and therefore should be available to all, regardless of geographic location, economic status, or any other disability. Stakeholders involved in this issue and analysis of their perspectives Scientific research and development bodies play a vital role in the issue of food security going forward. Global partnerships such as CGIAR work towards research for agricultural production in the developing world. Their aim is to ââ¬Å"identify significant global development problems that science can help solve; collect and organize knowledge related to these development problems; develop research programs to fill the knowledge gaps to solve these development problems; catalyze and lead putting research into practice, and policies and institutions into place, to solve these development problems; lead monitoring and evaluation, share the lessons we learn and best practices we discover; conserve, evaluate and share genetic diversity; and strengthen skills and knowledge in agricultural research for development around the worldâ⬠(CGIAR, n.d.). Through their aims, they hope to achieve four main goals: reduce rural poverty, improve food security, improve nutrition and health, and have sustainably managed natural resources. CGIAR believe that science can make radical changes to the current issue of food security, and it has been cited that ââ¬Å"one dollar invested in CGIAR research results in about nine dollars in increased productivity in developing nationsâ⬠(CGIAR, n.d.). Partnerships and bodies such as CGIAR want the current situation in regards to food security to change, as they realized that the present condition is neither sustainable, nor fair, and while it may not be easily fixed, scientific breakthroughs make the issue of food security appear to be one that can be solved. Farmers make up for 60% of the worlds population (apcentral.collegeboard.com, n.d.), yet they are constantly under threat from large corporations buying up their land. Many countries also face the issue of how to ensure increased efficiency in farming the land we already have, as Foley (2014) states ââ¬Å"most of the land cleared for agriculture in the tropics does not contribute much to the worldââ¬â¢s food security but is instead used to produce cattle, soybeans for livestock, timber, and palm oil. Avoiding further deforestation must be a top priority.â⬠There are currently ââ¬Å"yield gapsâ⬠between existing production levels and those possible in areas such as Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. ââ¬Å"Using high-tech, precision farming systems, as well as approaches borrowed from organic farming, we could boost yields in these places several times overâ⬠(Foley, 2014), which is important in providing more food to the world, while not increasing the size of the agricultural footprint. If farmers were able to invest in these technologies, such as subsurface drip irrigation, cover crops, and mulches, there may be a high upfront cost, but they would be producing more, which would lead to them increasing their profit once the produce is sold. With a higher profit, these small farmers may be able to better stand their ground against large corporations. These methods of organic farming are also more environmentally friendly, which is important as issues such as climate change have a large impact on agriculture. While it is often believed that small farmers are better, putting more heart and soul into what they do, there is still a role for multinational agribusinesses in the road towards food security. Many of these businesses, such as Monsanto, have been working to develop products, and methods to help farmers grow more on the land they have. Agribusinesses work closely with the scientific research and development bodies, as they are often the largest investors. Companies, like Monsanto, have spent millions on developing agricultural innovations in key areas, such as breeding, where they select the more desirable traits from existing plants; biotechnology, where they add these beneficial traits into the DNA of another plant; integrated farming systems (IFS), which helps farmers utilise the resources they have for maximum yield, while reducing the amount of wasted resources; and chemistry, where studies are done to minimise environmental impact of herbicides, while still protecting crops from pests (Monsanto.com, n.d.). Companies like Monsanto recognise that they need to invest further in agriculture, as the lack of food security means that they are being badly perceived, and largely blamed, due to their for-profit nature, and their use of terminator genes in their seeds, leaving a heavy financial burden on farmers, as they are unable to use the seeds again for next year. Many foods are already genetically modified, but Monsantoââ¬â¢s lack of ethical boundaries in doing so (such as the terminator gene to boost their profits, and crops that will only work in conjunction with their other products to gain and to capture a captive market), has resulted in public outcry against the corporation worldwide. Protest against the company has come from all corners of the globe, not just the United States, and Australia, as it is the farmers in the developing world that are most effected. These sort of issues need to be addressed if we are to produce enough food for the growing population, as all farmland ne eds to be utilised efficiently, not just those farmers who can afford it. Analysis of the issue in relation to the common good and the principles of human flourishing The common good can be defined as benefiting everybody in the world. Human flourishing comes from the Greek word eudemonia, which is a core idea to Aristotelian philosophy. It promotes the idea that by working together, and finding meaning in our lives, we will flourish as a whole. The principles of human flourishing guide us in ways we can work together and find the meaning we need to achieve this. Global food security is an issue affecting the word, where the current injustice of the many people left malnourished needs to be responded to at a global level. The common good urges us to work together in collaboration to take responsibility for those around us, and pursue conditions in which we can achieve a life that is good for all, not just a majority. In order to achieve this, we must fight against injustices, such as Monsantoââ¬â¢s mistreatment of small farmers, at both local and global levels. Charity organizations can only do so much to help, and promoting the common good often challenges many current social values, and social structures that allow these injustices to take place without government interference. The main principles of human flourishing relating to the issue of food security is: the dignity of the human person, preferential option for the poor, stewardship of creation, and solidarity. The dignity of the human person is an important principle in food security, as it promotes the rights of those who may not be able to bring attention to their needs themselves. Avocation is important, as it is often those who need the most help that are unable to ask for it. Many small farmers in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe are struggling to produce enough food, not just for global consumption, but also for themselves. Due to their nature as small farmers and not multination businesses, their voice isnââ¬â¢t often heard when speaking out against the problems in the agriculture industry worldwide, such as Monsantoââ¬â¢s use of terminator genes in their seeds, which further disadvantages the poor. The poor cannot afford to keep buying new seeds every season, often relying on the seeds gathered from last season to replant. This keeps costs low for small farmers, and allows them to increase their profit margin. Monsantoââ¬â¢s use of the terminator gene means that the seeds can only be used once, and often only used when combined with other Monsanto products. Monsanto has been suffering public backlash over these issues for years as a result. A preferential option for the poor would see governments and not-for-profit organizations providing resources, such as non-genetically modified seed, or fertilizer, to these smaller farmers, allowing them to kick start their production. This would utilize the land already cleared for farming, and reduce environmental impact as well. Stewardship of creation is the principle of looking after the planet. Agriculture has already lead to ââ¬Å"an area roughly the size of South Americaâ⬠(Foley, 2014) being cleared for crops, and even more land ââ¬Å"roughly the size of Africaâ⬠(Foley, 2014) has been cleared as pastureland for livestock. This has resulted in the loss of whole ecosystems, and is not sustainable. Particularly with the rise of global warming, deforestation is not an option. In order for us to maintain the planet for future generations, we must use the land we have available more efficiently so we can still produce enough to provide food security. It is our responsibility to care for the planet, so it can care for us in return. Solidarity is the principle that it is our responsibility to care for each other across racial, economic, cultural, national, and ideological differences, while promoting rights for every person. In order to accommodate their needs, we must first recognize that everybody is different; while there are people starving in developing nations around the world, there are also many homeless and hungry people right here in Sydney that require our help. Their needs may differ greatly, despite their common problem of a shortage of food. Solidarity is recognizing those abroad, as well as those at home, and working towards global food security together. A proposed resolution for realising the common good In order to reach global food security by 2050, we must take steps now to be able to achieve the common good. With scientific developments, we are able to better develop the land we already have available, allowing us to produce more without further damaging the environment. By utilising high-tech farming systems, we can work towards reducing the yield gaps we currently have, boosting the output from these areas, as well as providing a much more reliable source of income to these small farmers. With the scientific research and developments that have taken, and are currently taking place, small farmers are able to better understand the best ways to work their land, not only to create a higher yield, but also to save and use resources more efficiently. This helps the environment, as up to 70% of water is used in agriculture, and also saves the small farmers money. A big part of realising the common good is understanding our part in it on an individual scale as well. We may not be scientists or farmers, but by participating in actively changing our diet, we, too, can help global food security be achievable by 2050. As Foley (2014) states, ââ¬Å"for every 100 calories of grain we feed animals, we get only about 40 new calories of milk, 22 calories of eggs, 12 of chicken, 10 of pork, or 3 of beef. Finding more efficient ways to grow meat and shifting to less meat-intensive dietsââ¬âeven just switching from grain-fed beef to meats like chicken, pork, or pasture-raised beefââ¬âcould free up substantial amounts of food across the worldâ⬠. Conclusion Global food security is an issue that affects us all. Agriculture is one of the oldest and largest industries in the world, but it still has a long way to go before it is able to cater for the growing population. However, the issue has been recognised, and together, we are working towards eliminating hunger, and providing food security by 2050.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Brief History Essay
Iran, or what is formally called as the Islamic Republic of Iran, has a rich culture starting out since 8000 B.C. (Ladjevardian par. 2). The historic trends that transpired since then up to the present has had a lot to do with the political turmoil which the country has experienced. The economy and the culture of Iran were greatly influenced by these changes; wars within and outside the country were also great factors to the countryââ¬â¢s history. The beginning of the 20th century had positive changes for Iran after centuries of different dynasties. The Pahlavi Dynasty during the 1920s, which was also the last dynasty to rule Iran, constructed road infrastructures and initiated land reforms; education was also opened for women during this time. In 1946, Iran had a taste of freedom from the Soviet Union and in 1951, passed a law to take the Oil industry from the British control (Ladjevardian par. 73). The country experienced a sudden economic growth in 1963-1973 and during this time that public and educational institutions were further improved. By 1973, Iran was earning about $20 billion a year (Ladjevardian par. 76) from its Oil revenues. The Supreme Leaderââ¬â¢s determination to modernize Iran instantly, backed up by the rapid economic growth, created pressure on the administration which eventually led to economic turmoil such as inflation, corruption, and increase authoritarianism by the Supreme Leader. Moreover, numerous social and political problems continued to emerge that needed to be dealt with. In 1978, the economic growth of Iran slowed down; the Supreme Leader was overthrown and since then, the government of Iran became a theocratic republic; from 1980-1988, Iran fought against Iraq. The economic loss due to the war caused a lot of problems to Iran. Furthermore, the population of the country increased tremendously and has resulted to increase in unemployment. Communication and transportation and education and public institutions were also needed to be recovered. Iranââ¬â¢s Economy and Resources Iran remained to be a country dependent on its oil industry; its earnings comprise the 70% of its government revenues (Economy of Iran par. 1). Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 34M Iranian rial in 1990 to 1.7B in 2005, partly due to said industryââ¬â¢s earnings. The oil industryââ¬â¢s role to the economy of Iran proves to be of utmost importance since this is the main export of the country. It includes petroleum, chemical and petrochemical products; other exports of Iran are from their agricultural and service sectors products such as fruits and nuts, cars, carpet and technical services. Though Iranââ¬â¢s GDP increased tremendously over the years, the countryââ¬â¢s economic problems such as inflation and unemployment remain to be the two most impediments to the countryââ¬â¢s growth. Economic Issues Khalaji (par. 3) reports that inflation in Iran reached 19% in 2008. This figure was reportedly to have been due, in part, to the increasing corruption in the country. This puts the country in a difficult situation as inflation translates to increase in goodsââ¬â¢ prices and corruption leads to more political and social chaos. The increase in the goodsââ¬â¢ prices lead to more importation as goods from other countries appear relatively cheaper. Inasmuch as the said problem makes the countryââ¬â¢s situation appalling, the unemployment problem further worsens it. This was due to the increasing population which has not been backed up with increase in job offerings. Iranians pursue to work outside the country instead leading to the reportedly brain drain. It has been said that the historic trends in Iran was greatly affected by the political turmoil in the country, and that economic and cultural changes were also affected by it. The economic issues in Iran have then put the country in a social dilemma. The oil industry is not enough to sustain the countryââ¬â¢s needs. Iranââ¬â¢s lack of resources to provide for its citizens sustenance require importing from other countries. This is where the importance of trade comes in. Gross Domestic Product GDP of a country is an indicator of the economic growth. The national currency of Iran is Iranian Real (IRR). Since 1990 it has increased, with an average annual growth rate between 1990 and 2005 of 2.5% as seen in the figure 1. (Economy of Iran par. 1) It means that as time has passed, the economic growth of Iran improved. There were several factors that affected the growth of the Iranian economy. The paper will dwell more on the economic indicators on how the economy of Iran rose. The highest GDP growth rate was recorded into 2002, when there was a 7.1% growth rate. Its oil abundance is considered to be the main source of its growth. Being one of OPECââ¬â¢s cartel members, it has the privilege to gain higher returns for its oil products. A big contributer to Iranââ¬â¢s GDP growth would be its strong domestic demand benefited the non-oil and manufacturing countries.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Cook Essay
For many years, I have been interested in studying baking and pastry arts. I want to pursue a career in culinary arts and attend a college that will allow me to be creative and collaborate with people that share the same passion. To me education is the most important asset that you can have or achieve. By attending college I want to gain my associates degree, by using the knowledge I learned and hope to begin a career as a pastry chef in a well-known restaurant, and to eventually own my own bakery. Since I was a child my dad told me to go to college, earn a degree and get a good job. Lakes region provides me with an opportunity to accomplish my goal. I want to learn the history and techniques used for baking and take that knowledge and turn it into master piece. I want people to fall in love with cakes, candy, chocolate, and every other dessert under the sun the way that I have. To gain this degree it would prove to everyone including myself that I can go back to school and achieve w hat I set out to do. To earn my associates degree is very important to me because without continuing my education I wouldnââ¬â¢t be able to accomplish my future priorities. I feel so much pride when a cake rises into perfection, when chocolate unmolds successfully without breakage, or when the fondant goes on smoothly without any rips. My dream is to work at an upscale restaurant and be the lead pastry chef. LRCC it would make my dream into reality and prepare me for what the future lies ahead. ââ¬Å"Find a job you love and youââ¬â¢ll never have to work a day in your life.â⬠This quote by Jim Fox is a hundred percent true, whenever Iââ¬â¢m in the kitchen baking I feel like this is what Iââ¬â¢m supposed to be doing and I enjoy every bit. Having the ability to create multiple varieties of deserts and to decorate them would fulfill my dreams of becoming a pastry chef. The importance of your college having an impact on my life is major because without the help of the chefs teaching, guiding and handing down there knowledge is more than I could ever ask for. Without the experience and education your college could give me, I wouldnââ¬â¢t have the chance to work along great pastry chefs and learn and grow. A wise man once said ââ¬Å"that our lives are defined by what we do.â⬠Enrolling in culinary school is defining my life in a major way. I know what I want and it is to accomplish all my goals so that I have a more desirable future. Iââ¬â¢ve never been so passionate about anything in my life. Itââ¬â¢s important that I stay on track and give it my all so I can get my associates and then one day own a bakery. Myà education is highly important to me because I want to be able to have a successful life. When I earn my associates degree it will help me achieve my dream job working as a chef. Lakes region community college is going to prepare me for everything I need to know to succeed. By attending the Lakes region community college I will gain my associates degree, begin a career as a chef, and one day own a bakery.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
The Representation Of Muslim Women - 2033 Words
This research will demonstrate the concept of Quebec majority versus the ones that are considered other or minority, specifically Muslim women. The methodologies and surrounding utilized by the print media along with the specific scope of specific issues created polarization amongst minority and greater part gathers. This research will summon an Orientalist focal point to show how racializing talks are portrayed in a monitored subtext over and the news print to support the protection of Quebec character. The strategy that is utilized is the basic analysis of two newspaper articles that are reflected from Gazette and Lap Presse. This examination aims to identify the importance of the representations of Muslim women in the specific recorded understanding of Quebecois in their particular dialect and culture. This essay will reveal that portion of the media procedures within the Quebec context. This will exhibit that Muslim women are minimized and victimized on the premise of their race, sexual orientation and social character. Revealing that the news print media makes harming depictions of Muslim women. The end goal is to counter these negative depictions. Individuals must be instructed how to think fundamentally about the media and build up the fitting media education ways so that they can comprehend what social value are implied. The media has intensely affected society, an effect so immense that people donââ¬â¢t notice its presence sometimes. Individuals become solelyShow MoreRelatedAre Representations Of Islam Realistic?1661 Words à |à 7 PagesAre representations of Islam realistic in the news? http://www.ukessays.com/essays/media/countless-stereotypes-and-negative-representations-media-essay.php http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/6758207/1-in-5-British-Muslims-have-sympathy-for-jihadis-in-poll.html Countless stereotypes and negative representations exist about Islam by the Western media in specific the news. It is known that media is very powerful source that shapes people s minds and opinions. For some people, theRead MoreRepresentations Of Religion And Western Media1499 Words à |à 6 PagesRepresentations of Religion in Western Media Islam There is a current obsession in western media, (during the last decade) pertaining to ââ¬Å"Islam and the Westâ⬠. 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In the novel, Do Muslim Women Need Saving?, Lila Abu-Lughod explores how this type of sympathetic aid from these seemingly superior, progressive, Western countries can reinforce negative stereotypes about women in the place she calls IslamLand (an overarchingRead More Hughes Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate1170 Words à |à 5 PagesHughes Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate In the Hughesââ¬â¢ text, Women in World History: Volume 1, the chapter on Middle Eastern women focuses on how Islam affected their lives. Almost immediately, the authors wisely observe that ââ¬Å"Muslim womenââ¬â¢s rights have varied significantly with time, by region, and by classâ⬠(152). They continue with the warning that ââ¬Å"there is far too much diversity to be adequately described in a few pages.â⬠However, I argue that there
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Essay about Solutions to Valuation Questions - 1712 Words
Solutions to Valuation Questions 1. Assume you expect a companyââ¬â¢s net income to remain stable at $1,100 for all future years, and you expect all earnings to be distributed to stockholders at the end of each year, so that common equity also remains stable for all future years (assumes clean surplus). Also, assume the companyââ¬â¢s à ² = 1.5, the market risk premium is 4% and the 20-30 year yield on risk free treasury bonds is 5%. Finally, assume the company has 1,000 shares of common stock outstanding. a. Use the CAPM to estimate the companyââ¬â¢s equity cost of capital. â⬠¢ re = RF + à ² * (RM ââ¬â RF) = 0.05 + 1.5 * 0.04 = 11% b. Compute the expected net distributions to stockholders for each future year. â⬠¢ D = NI ââ¬â ÃâCE = $1,100 ââ¬â 0 = $1,100 c. Use theâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¢ Pe = D1/(re ââ¬â g) = 700 / (0.11 ââ¬â 0.05) = $11,667 â⬠¢ price per share = $11,667 / 1,000 = $11.67 3. Same facts as (2) above, except the 5% income growth rate (and beginning of year common equity to support it) are only expected for years 2 and 3. Then growth is expected to be zero and all income is expected to be distributed to shareholders for all future years. a. Compute D1, D2, D3, and Dt for all future years. â⬠¢ Keeping in mind that income is $1,100 in year 1, increases by 5% in years 2 and 3, and then remains constant for all future years; and keeping in mind that beginning of year 1 common equity is $8,000, increases by 5% at the beginning of year 2 and at the beginning of year 3, but does not increase at the beginning of year 4 and remains constant from that point forward, you should be able to compute: D1 = $700, D2 = $735, and Dt = 1,212.75 for D3 and all future years. b. Use the dividend discount (i.e., free cash flow to equity investors) valuation model to estimate the companyââ¬â¢s current stock price. Pe = 700/(1+ 0.11) + 735/(1+ 0.11)2 + [1,212.75/0.11]/(1+ 0.11)2 = $10,175.31 and the price per share of common stock = $10,175.31 / 1,000 = $10.18. 4. Same facts as (3) above, except the growth rates are 5% for years 2 and 3 and then 3% perpetually for all future years. a. Compute D1, D2, D3 and the growth in D for all future years. â⬠¢ Keeping in mind that income is $1,100 in year 1, increases by 5% in years 2Show MoreRelatedAnalysis of Intel and Ebay1159 Words à |à 5 PagesJames Stewartââ¬â¢s assessment of eBay reflects any biases (3 marks). 3. In what ways are the events described at Intel and eBay similar and in what ways are they different (4 marks)? Question # 1 Brandt Cornellââ¬â¢s paper ââ¬Å"Is the response of analyst to information consistent with fundamental valuation?â⬠reveals that analyst recommendations are pro cyclical. 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In the part two, based on the convertibleRead MoreBeyond Products1704 Words à |à 7 PagesQuestion 1: Evaluate the different market opportunities available to Peter, taking the financiersââ¬â¢ perspective. What would be your recommendations as a business angel? The success of the flow binding shows that people are looking for a better solution than the now available bindings. Hereby, it is clearly very important to keep the soft boots, as they provide the snowboarders the necessary comfort, together with the ease of the step-in bindings. However, attention need to be taken into account toRead MoreBeyond Products1690 Words à |à 7 PagesQuestion 1: Evaluate the different market opportunities available to Peter, taking the financiersââ¬â¢ perspective. What would be your recommendations as a business angel? The success of the flow binding shows that people are looking for a better solution than the now available bindings. 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Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Coca-Cola Co - Financial Analysis Example
Essays on Coca-Cola Co - Financial Analysis Term Paper Company Profile The Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1886 as a fountain pop beverage sold out of a pharmacy for five cents a glass. Today the enterprise has become a global icon with a wide variety of products sold across 200 nations. Its best selling product is its Coca-Cola Classic beverage, but as of 2010 the firm had over 3300 different products in the marketplace. The enterprise is a multinational firm that employees 92,800 people worldwide. The company estimates that the world consumes 1.6 billion servings of Coca Cola products daily. The mission of the company is to refresh the world, inspire moments of optimism and happiness, create value, and make a difference (Thecoca-colacompany, 2010). Financial Analysis Coca Cola is a company that has achieved tremendous economic success over the years. The firm has grown and in the process it has benefited its shareholders. The company has endured 48 consecutive years of dividend growth. In fiscal year 2009 Coca-Cola obtained revenues of $30,990 million. In comparison with 2008 the enterprise had a decrease in total sales of 2.98%. Considering the fact that the world during that time span was experiencing one of its worst recessions in modern history the decrease in revenues should not be too surprising. In 2009 Coca-Cola achieve a net profit of $6824 million and earnings per share of $2.95. Despite the fact the company decrease its revenues the firm was able to increase its profitability. In 2009 Coca Colaââ¬â¢s net income increased by 17.16%. Two of the reasons the firm was more profitable was due to the fact that its cost of goods sold and administrative expense went down. The net margin of the company was a very impressive 22.67%. The return of equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA) of Coca in 2009 were 26.92% and 14.02%. In order to determine whether these metrics are good or not an analyst must compare the ratios against the industry standard. A database that provides excellent information regarding industry business ratios is the Dun Bradstreet database. Appendix A shows a snapshot of the industry ratios illustrated in the Dun Bradstreet database. The industry average for ROE and ROA are 24.2% and 5.6%. This means that Coca-Cola performance in both these ratios is better than the industry. In terms of ROA Coca-Cola is doing 2.5 times better than the industry. The net margin ratio of 22.67% is much better than the industry norm of 1.7%. The debt ratio of Coca Cola in 2009 was 2.09. The debt ratio shows the ability of a company to pay of its total debt. The general rule is that the debt ratio should be above 1.0. The position of the company is good because the firm debt ratio is twice the comfortable level. The average debt ratio in the industry is 0.83 which proves once again that Coca Cola is in a good position. Another ratio that measures the solvency of a company is the current ratio. The current ratio measures the ability of business to pay off its short term debt. The current ratio of Coca Cola in 2009 was 1.28. This ratio is calculated by the following formula: current liabilities / current assets. The same 1.0 rule applies to the current ratio which implies Coca Cola is in a favorable position. Despite having a current above 1.0 in comparison with the industry norm of 1.6 Coca Cola is not doing as well as the industry. A ratio that further tests the liquidity of a company is the acid test or quick ratio. The acid test is calculated similar to the current ratio except in the numerator the inventory is subtracted. The quick ratio of Coca Cola in 2009 was 1.10. Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s inventory composes only 13.41% of its current assets. The quick asset test proves the company is in a good position to pay off its short term debts. The working capital of the company which is another metric that measures a companyââ¬â¢s ability to pay off its short term debt is $3830 million. The inventory turnover of Coca Cola in 2009 was 4.71. The inventory turnover provides information regarding how many times the company sold its inventory during a year. The average inventory turnover of the industry is 20.7. The discrepancy in this metric does not have too much significance due to the fact that each company establishes its inventory cycle. The industry norm includes a lot of small companies that cannot hold large inventory due to cash flow requirements. The debt to equity ratio of Coca Cola in 2009 was 0.92. The company has a good balance of usage of debt and equity since 48% of its operation has been financed by debt, while the remaining 52% was financed through equity. The industry norm is a debt to equity ratio of 1.41. In comparison with the industry Coca-Cola is doing well because it has not relied too much on debt to grow. Recommendation At first glance a person that does not know much about financial analyses might say that Coca Cola had a bad year in 2009 because it its revenues decreased in comparison with the previous year. In reality the truth is completely different. The Coca Cola Company had an excellent financial year. One of its most impressive stats was the fact that the company increased net revenue by 17.16%. The bottom line also referred to as profitability is much more important that total sales. The company has paid good attention to its leverage position. The financial analysis proved that the company is able to pay both its short term and long term responsibilities. Due to the size of the company and its proliferation worldwide the inventory cycle of the company is bit slower than the industry. Since the firm does not have any type of cash flow problem this metric is not a concern at all. Coca Cola was able to perform extremely well in the middle of a global recession. My recommendation as a financi al analyst is that the common stocks of Coca-Cola are a good investment. References Dun BradStreet Database. Key Business Ratios: Retrieved May 15, 2010 from Dun Bradstreet database. Thecoca-colacompany.com (2010). Growth, Leadership, and Sustainability. Retrieved May 15, 2010 from http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/index.html Appendix A: Industry Ratios (Dun Bradstreet, 2010) Appendix B: Coca Cola Income Statement (2009) (Thecoca-colacompany, 2010) Appendix C: Coca Cola Balance Sheet (2009) (Thecoca-colacompany, 2010)
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Vincent Van Goghs Work of Art Ann Essay Example For Students
Vincent Van Goghs Work of Art Ann Essay Vincent Van Gogh is a unique and outstanding artist who had a dramatic life that affected his paintings. At the age of twenty-seven, Vincent decided to devote his life for art because Vincent believed in the power of art. To him, a work of art, whether drawing or painting, had as striking an effect as a live sermon or a letter( Euchre 17) . Van Gogh started his work of art with drawing. Vincent sent Thee, is brother, some of his drawings such as Au Carbonate (At the Coalmines), Miner Shouldering a Spade or Men and Women Going to the Mines. He drew everything he saw in everyday life. The miners and weavers usually appeared in his drawings. In the letter to his brother, Thee, he told him about his sympathy for these people : I should be very happy if someday I could draw them, so that those unknown or little- known types would be brought before the eyes of the people(20). In summer of 1882, he started paintings in oils. Vincent often paints the simplest, most miserable, cost scorned objects such as old shoes or loamy potatoes. (Huge 61). Vincent painted with dark and sorrowful colors. At the end of 1882, he experiments with lithography. He created a series often graphic works: nine lithographs and one etching. In the letter to his brother Thee, Vincent told him about drawing: Sorrow is one of Van Sagos lithographs. The special thing about this lithograph is that it was originally a painting about a naked prostitute sitting with flabby breasts, heavy stomach, thin and stiff hair and weeping with her head on her knees (Huge 6). Vincent also decided to do a lithograph based on the painting The Potato Eaters. The Potato Eaters is his first major work. It depicted five miserable family members, who were peasants, gathered around the table, eating their potatoes in the end of a day. Vincent wanted to attain the moral value in this painting: I have tried to emphasize that those people , eating their potatoes in the lamplight, have dug the earth with those very hands they put in the dish, and so it speaks of manual labor, and how they have honestly earned their food (Euchre 88). Van Sagos only etching, L Home à ¤ la Pipe: Portrait du Doctor Cache,depicted Dry. Paul Cachet, a doctor and friend of Van Sagos who took care of him in the final weeks of his life. In 1886, Vincent moved to Paris, where he met his brother Thee, and he also made friends with Gauguin, Pissarro and Serrate. He discovered the French Impressionist. However, through Monticello, he discovered both flowers and color (Huge 63). And through his new friends, he brightened his palette. The Million De la Galatea is yellowed in tone but still muted in spite off pale sky. The hill of Montmartre was treated more conventionally; the painting was dominated by green and yellow ( Euchre 114). During 1887, Vincent created more than twenty- two self- portraits. The reason for this large amounts of his self-portraits was as though he wanted to rediscovered himself physically after he changed his style in art . Another reason is that Vincent Van Gogh was short of money, therefore, he became his own subject: l purposely bought a good enough mirror to work from myself, for want of a model. Self -portrait with a Straw Hat painted in the summer of 887 show the artists awareness of Neo-elementariness technique and color theory ( The Metropolitan Museum of Art), the background is sketched in by meaner of very widely spaced, comma- like strokes ( Euchre 1 15). In 1888, he moved to Arles. Vincent was affected by the strong sunlight and he became the prey of the sun , he burst out with spring, reached his highest point during summer and discovered July and the flames plenitude(Euchre 165). At this point of time, his style changed immensely , and it was greatly impacted by the work of the Impressionists and Neo- Impressionists. He started to abandon somber palette and experiment with lighter colors such as red, yellow, orange, green, blue. We can easily see this change in his paintings such as The Pear Tree in Blossom, The Angles Bridge, Boats at Anchor, Market Gardens, The Suave, A Walk in Arles, The Cafe at Night Etc. Besides, Vincent also developed his own unique style of painting. Vincent also experimented with the broken brush strokes of the Impressionists and hugely influenced by the Japanese prints. TennesseeWilliams of his work EssayThe intensity of the yellow note, emphasized by the vibrant blue of the contour , marks the paintings of the future painted in such a way that everybody , at least if they have eyes, would see it. Whereas the elegant armchair is bathed in full chiaroscuro'(202). However, their enthusiasm for each other and art faded away, and soon replaced by quarrels. Vincent had less and less confidence in Gauguin. He wrote Thee: On various occasions I have seen him do things which you and I would not let ourselves do, because we have consciences that feel differently about things. I have heard one or two things said of him, but having seen him at very, very close quarters, I think that he is carried away by his imagination, perhaps by pride, but Practically irresponsible ( CTD. In Euchre 202). About Vincent, he did not eat every day because he was short of money. Despite an empty stomach, he stayed for hours working under the sun. (Huge 80) . One time, when Vincent saw the portrait of Vincent Painting Sunflowers which was hidden by Gauguin , he could not recognized himself and reacted violently to Gauguin. When they went to a cafe, Vincent suddenly threw his glass of absinthe at Gauguin head. When Gauguin decided to leave Arles, Vincent tried many ways to make him stay. He had been through a difficult time to face with Gauguin threatened departure. He got up during the night to make sure Gauguin was still there, he used absinthe and bacon, since the only thing to bring ease and distraction, in my case and other peoples too, is to stun oneself with a lot of drinking or heavy smoking(Euchre 211). One day, when Gauguin was walking in the street, Vincent threw himself at him with an opening razor in his hand. However, he did not attack Gauguin, he ran away. Back in his room, he cut off the lobe of his ear with the razor. He cleaned his ear and put it in an envelope and gave the doorkeeper his ear. He was discovered by the police and hospitalized at the Hà ¶tell-Died hospital in Arles. Gauguin left immediately for Paris, choosing not to visit Van Gogh in the hospital. Then they never met each other in person again. Two weeks after it happened, he painted his self- portrait: Self -Portrait with Bandaged Ear. This portrait is considered as the calm after the storm. He takes a quiet and detached look at himself and expresses a feeling of renewed hope through his bright colors and simplified drawing. A clue to the origin of this bold style is found in the Japanese woodblock print on the wall behind him( The History in Self Portraits Para. 13). Van Gogh then started to alternate between fits of madness and lucidity and was sent to the asylum in Saint- Remy for treatment. Van Gogh left Arles on 8 May. In mid-June, Van Gogh produced his best known work: Starry Night. In 1890, he shot himself in the chest by a revolver. During his career, he only sold one painting. Van Gogh became famous only after his death because of his innovative art that had a strong influence on the artists of the next generation. Even though Vincent Van Gogh had a very dramatic life, he devoted almost most of his entire life for art. A very unique feature about Vincent ark of art is his outstanding bold brush strokes which he adopted in his later paintings..
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