Presentation Questions...

Who owns fresh water resources?Large companies and organization that can afford the rights to take off water.

Who should own them?Everyone. Water belongs to the world and is a basic need, It should not be restricted to one company. Everyone and especially people who live locally close to it, should be able to make a use out of it.

What did your presentation do well? What am I going to do better?I prepared well and had enough information.I will try not to be so nervous next time and speak clearer and more fluid.

Child Poverty in Colorado Rises Drasticly

The highest Rate Of Rising Child Poverty Was Measured In Colorado

The NYT article shows a study released by Colorado's Children's Campaign, which reveals that child wealth has dropped like nowhere else in the world.
"Most recent census data show that 180,000 children — 15.7 percent of the state total — were living in poverty in Colorado in 2006, a 73 percent increase since 2000." The suggested reasons for this are the rising number of single households in Canada, a shortage of jobs, an increase in Hispanics and a low rate of finished high school education “What the data is telling us is that we’re headed in the wrong direction in terms of taking care of our lower-income population,” the president of the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Megan Ferland, said. Politicians critisize that the states spend too less on the people. Canada is never thought of a country with a high rate of poverty, rather than one with a well structured government along with safety. But if nothing changes soon the poverty rate will start growing...

Discussion of Poverty

Leaders Meeting to Fight Poverty and inequity

The New York Times article talks about the summarization of huge African leaders like Nigeria and South Africa, to argue the current issue of poverty. They are discussing on how to spend the foreign investments and even earn more of them.
With this they want to fight corruption in election in politics, right abuses and poverty in Africa. They are aiming to "attract billions of dollars of foreign investment to the continent".
The article clearly states the disaffection and the willingness to change and improve in Africa.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E2DE1F31F93AA15756C0A9659C8B63&scp=3&sq=poverty%20in%20africa&st=cse

Worse Chances of High Education For the Poor

Universities like Boston, Cornell and Brown that have previously focused on getting the students who are accademically outstanding will now have to focus on bringing in more profit. "Many students, increasingly conscious of costs, are flocking to their state universities; at Binghamton University, part of the New York State university system, applications were up 50 percent this fall. But with this year’s state budget problems, tuition increases at public universities may be especially steep. Some public universities have already announced midyear tuition increases."As soon as next semester the wealthier people will have a better chance of getting in since they can afford the higher University charges which have to be paid by the students. This again shows the difference of education possibilities that are still existing in our world today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/education/08college.html?scp=5&sq=poor&st=cse

Affect of Organ Market on the poor

The article states that in the USA "poorer people are more willing to give organs than they are likely to receive them", since people who get donated organs in the U.S. nearly always have health insurance, while most of the people who give these organs do not. A market for organs would therefor be negative for the poor. Still an organ market would not only exploid the poor, but give them a chance to receive organs. Also it is suggested that this matter will not be changed much over time since "organ transplantation uses a “scarce resource that can only come from fellow human beings”...

Mistake in Calculating Poverty Rates

New Yorkers worser off than expected...
(from the article: "City Refines Formula to Measure Poverty Rate")

A new calculation of the poverty rate was released in New York, that is including more everyday costs (f.e. child care, clothing, housing). Regarding this, the poerty rate increases to 23% of the population the poverty rate of elderly from 1 of 5 to 1 of 3. Still the extreme poverty rate has declined little.
The new formula is said to be used soonly everywhere since it gives a more realistic view of the current living situations of the people. It is the start of a "national re-examination about the way poverty is gauged".

Escaping from poverty

3 young men have succeeded their way out of the ghetto of Newark to college

Is our world still that class structured? The NY times article is about Rameck Hunt and his two friends which grew up in misery and poverty in Newark but still succeeded to get into college. Though it is well known that a high education is very hard to get if you are under the poverty line, it isn’t recognized how difficult it is to work itself up.
Rameck Hunt and his 2 friends claimed to have had no future plans, with their dad’s in jail, their friends and parents on drugs and none of their relatives having a high class education. Still they made a pack to finish High School and Medical School and become a doctor which they are today. The article clearly describes that the high crime, the drugs and the poverty plaid a main theme in the everyday life of the boys and they were often robbed on their way to school. “I felt it was important to do it for myself and my community, to show that it was something that was possible.” Hunt states. With this the men clearly show that a high level education is not unreachable. “You have to stay out of trouble in school” the men suggest. All their achievements and how they reached it can be read in their written book “The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream”.

Violent Crimes Against The Poor

Violent Crimes Against The Poor Call For More Help
The homeless McGraham was brutally killed by someone who had put poured over him and set him on fire. The cruel murder on a homeless man for the first time brings new rights and special laws for "the most vulnerable people in our country". The number of attacks on homeless people has increased 13% in the last years. The cause of these attacks are that the unemployed homeless are pitted against each other, it seems almost like its allowed to hurt them since they aren't worth as much. New regulations of the last year have made crimes against homeless people part of the Hate Crime Statistic Acts and have " included the homeless in the list of classes protected under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994". Most importantly though it is essential to provide more housing and support for the poor and seek for more information about the crime, so violent actions like these will not occur again.
It is very important to be aware of the harships that people on the street face and it surely would a problem especially of the American government that is worth spending more money on.


from the article http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1852825,00.html

Globalization rising too much?

From the article:
One world? Oct 16th 1997 From The Economist print edition


With globalization the growing integration of national companies is increasing. Still it cannot be seen as dramatic, since it’s extend can be exaggerated and can still be reversed.The growing globalization in the 90’s resulted in a decrease of it after World War One since “that earlier attempt at globalization ended abruptly with the first world war, after which the world moved into a period of fierce trade protectionism and tight restrictions on capital movement”.Though globalization can bring an increase in living standards, boost in productivity, capital shifting to the most productive investment opportunities and a better division of labor, it also is said to have the negative effects of increase in competition, reduction of wages and welfare benefits, setting of own economic policies, increasing power of financial markets.Today the trade of countries is reducing, “Britain and France are only slightly more open to trade today than they were in 1913”, because of the high prices and the decrease in financial market integration. And while labor is decreasing today only communication is increasing.And as we look into the future we can on one hand see that the communication of the internet has made the markets more transparent since it allows the control of prices =on the other hand the wealthiest that globalization is constructing will be unequally distributed.With rising technology it seems like there is no turning back of globalization. Still market faith can always be “overwhelmed by big economic shocks”, so the situation cannot be described as escapeless.

Terms-Definitions

Globalization
-amount a trade between nation increases
-location of factories where raw materials/skills are cheapest
-economies and businesses becoming increasingly independentEconomies of Scale
-most efficient to produce masses of a product-big companies can buy for less and sell to more

Footprint
-area covered by the countries a company works in
-working in more countries: protection from economic instability
-factors of developing in a country: Legislation, Technology, Education, Investment, Advertising

Multinational Corporation (International Corporation)
-manufacturing sales/service subsidiaries in at least one foreign country
-worldwide influence over businesses/government-create employment/wealth, improve technology
-inordinate political influence, exploitation of developing nationsConglomerate
-very rapid capital growth throw horizontal integration
-protection against overspecialization, availability of management expertise, reduced costs

Merger
-at least 2 businesses become 1
-vertical merger: supplier-customer relationship, different types
-horizontal merger: related
-extensional merger: similar businesses in new market
-hostile takeover: involuntary takeover

Competition
- rivalry in supplying or acquiring an economic service or good
- natural outgrowth of the operation of supply and demand within a free market economy
- supply-and-demand pricing most efficient without control

Monopoly
- large business interest with the ability to control industry prices
-one seller that sets market prices
- exist in “natural monopoly,” the conditions of market make control necessary to the public interest

Cartel:
-firms agreeing on market factors (price fixing, total industry output, market shares, allocation of customers, allocation of territories, bid rigging, establishment of common sales agencies, division/combination of profits)
-forbid by competition law
-increase individual profit, decrease competition

Who helps the poor?

Speaking of a development crisis Ban-Ki Moon has announced his fear that wealthier countries would fall behind on their commitments of aid and help to the poorer countries. Though countries like Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark are still keeping their pledges of aiding developing countries, most others like the US have fallen behind on their improvement plans.The world leader's annunciation of 2000 to commit to half the poverty and reduce the child mortality rates has fallen behind, since "the richest nations are falling behind on their aid commitments.(...) Many of the development goals announced with such fanfare will go unmet."In contrast to helping countries like Sweden, the USA is only spending "0.16% of its income on development assistance". Though after the terrorist attacks on September 11 America tried to prevent further rising of terrorism by supporting developing countries, the spending has decreased in the previous year as more focus went to global warming.Due to this countries like the US have decreased the support given to the developing countries


"Failing the World’s Poor" from the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/opinion/24wed2.htmlscp=4&sq=poor&st=cse

Trapped

"United States is a land of opportunity, a place where people can start out poor, work hard and become rich." This very traditional and glorious believe gets a crack in today's society. The escape of poverty is rare, since the damage it has brought over the child in its early age will make it very hard for it to gain financial stability and the support of the US-government is not effective enough.
The worsening situation of poverty has emoted in the last years. Though the democrats candidates have called for improvements the measures cannot be taken seriously yet. A wealthier nation is the result of the government support which is given in European states. Until now the US government has made more excuses than promises.
Studies have proven that the living situation in poorer households cause "unhealthy levels of stress hormones which impair neural development". Low memory and language development is an often result of this. Poor families are often the outsiders and outcasts of towns which is a drastic problem for the progression of a child. Children who come from wealthier families gain a better education than poorer children who are smarter, a study says. The rate of those who escaped from poverty is older age is low another one states.
As a conclusion the governmental situation and the limited development of poor children often take away the possibility to become successful in the future.

(Povert is Poison: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/opinion/18krugman.html?_r=3&scp=1?&sq=Poverty&st=cse&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin)

Grudge Music Movement

The grudge developed in Seattle (Washington) in the mid 80s. It was influenced by bands like Pear Jam and Nirvana but also went back to the musical inspiration of bands like Melvins and Mudhoney. Grudge bands combined guitar rock with metal and punk. Another characterization of this movement are the heavily distorted electric guitars.
The commercial success, which a lot of bands were very unhappy about, arrived in the early 90s. With this grunge crossed over to mainstream and became the most popular style of hard rock.

http://www.silver-dragon-records.com/grunge.htm
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:2679

Summary Chapter 2

Logos seem to have gotten bigger and bigger in the last time and younger children are becoming the focus of brand recognition, to create early brand loyalty. “Walking billboards” are now seen everywhere, they look good and they are cool. The next step was the branding of cultural events (MTV music awards, Euro cup etc). Art used to be a skill that wealthier people sponsored. Today it is for the arts sake. Another example for this would be Tommy Hilfiger that did an ad campaign for the Rolling Stones Tour. Also advertising used to be very competitive (coke used to go against Pepsi) now coke is going against everyone. Advertising is not only replacing culture it is culture. Shows like Dawson’s creek that teenagers love to watch everyday earn money by product placement, where they place hidden advertisements for the products in the show. In earlier times the main focus was lying on sports music and art. Now all of these 3 themes are ads. Today people (ex. Sport celebrities) are branded. An example for this is Michael Jordan. The celebrities aren’t only making commercial for the brand, today they ARE the brand.

Poverty isn"t our fault!

Poverty isn't our fault. In today's society inequality in wealth over the world is a top theme. But though this is always said to be the West's spoiled lifestyle's fault, it is not. Instead of blaming the poverty of the East on the West, it should be blamed on the corrupt governments, since statistics show that the western democracies have better living standards.
In the world statistic that states that "1 of 10 people of the world own 99%", 82% of the Americans are included. This shows how "even poor Americans are rich by world standards".
While a study shows that earning more than 2200 gets you in the top half of the wealthiest people in the world another study shows that western democracies in general have higher levels of wealth than 3rd world dictatorships.
But what makes the West's population have such a high living standard? What sets it apart from the dictatorships of the 3rd world? Clearly the answer to these questions is the government. We can be proud to have such a successful functioning democracy which is the fundament for our wealth. To come to a conclusion this is the reason why the West is generally living a better lifestyle. Not because it is taking up the possible wealth and money the East could have, but its government is right and functional.
(see times article <http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2006/12/they_are_not_poor_because_we_a.html> )

Product vs. Lifestyl

Aspirin tablets against headache are being sold by a simple advertisment which is often in the windows of the pharmacy.
The picture does not sell anything else but the pure product

A holister advertisment on the other side (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po7J7gn2h4M) shows pretty teenagers jumping around having fun with their friends while they are wearing the expensive brand clothes. The commercial is saying: This is how life should be: Hang out, have fun!
Therefor it is definentally a lifestyl because the most importand thing of the commercial is not to sell the product but the feeling to the people.
Another example of a lifestyl commercial made in Zuerich is G-Star Raw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5p0MMUg9is). Its showing models walking throw the streets of Zuerich in G-Star clothes and people staring at them. Its saying: Come into our new G-star shop in Zuerich and be cool!

No Logo

Summary

Chapter 1: No space, New Branded World
While merged companies are shrinking successful companies have to produce brands instead of products. Advertising is a very important part of branding, which came to the market in the mid 19th century. Advertisements have to convince people that they need to change the way the live their life. They have to sell a new lifestyle. Companies can today manufacture as many products as they want to what people are looking for are brands they want to buy. If a new product is invented, people must be convinced that their lives will be much better with it. The best example for this is Marlboro, the longest running ad campaign in history. Successful brands sell their item not as a product but as a way of life, an attitude, a set of value and a look. All companies big companies like McDonald’s, Pepsi, Cola who have their eyes fixed on total expansion are following these ideals.
So while in the older days advertising for the selling of the product was the main achievement of a company today it is branding which is giving a lifestyle and an image.

Me

Disney's Power

Disney owns:

Films:

Production/DistributionWalt Disney
PicturesTouchstone
PicturesHollywood
PicturesCaravan
PicturesMiramax
FilmsBuena
Vista Home Entertainment

Internet:

Buena Vista Internet Group:
ABC.com
ABCNews.com
Oscar.com
Disney.com
Family.Com
ESPN Internet GroupNFL.com
NBA.com
NASCAR.com
Soccernet.com (60%)
Infoseek (43%)
Toysmart.com (majority stake)

Music:

Buena Vista Music
GroupHollywood Records
Lyric Street Records
Mammoth Records
Walt Disney Records

Broadcasting:

Networks
ABC
The Disney Channel
SoapNet
ESPN (partial ownership with Hearst)
A&E (partial ownership with Hearst and GE)
The History Channel (partial ownership with Hearst and GE)
Lifetime (partial ownership with Hearst)
E! (partial ownership with Comcast, MediaOne and Liberty Media)
Television Stations 10 television stations
Television Production/Distribution Buena Vista Television
Touchstone Television
Walt Disney Television,
Animation
RadioABC
Radio Networks
Radio Disney
ESPN Radio
27 radio stations

Publishing:

Books
Walt Disney Company
Book Publishing
Hyperion BooksTalk/Miramax Books
MagazinesDiscover
MagazineDisney
MagazineESPN
Magazine Talk
US Weekly (50% stake)
Daily Newspapers
County Press (Lapeer, MI)
Oakland Press and Reminder (Pontiac, MI)
Narragansett
TimesSt.
Louis Daily Record

Recreation:

SportsMighty
Ducks of AnaheimAnaheim Angels (partial ownership)
Theme Parks
DisneylandWalt
Disney World
Disney-MGM
StudiosEuroDisney (partial owner)
Disneyland Japan
Animal Kingdom
Disney's California
AdventureDisney
Cruise Line
TheaterWalt Disney Theatrical Productions

McDonald's Truck

The appearance of a McDonald’s logo on a toy car truck is a good example for horizontal integration/external synergy.
Both companies will make a great profit out of the brand licensing. The toy truck company because the logo of the world’s most famous fast food restaurant attracts its fans to buy the toy car and McDonald’s because it is spreading it’s logo with this. Also the advertisement is directed exactly on children which are the group of people McDonalds want to attract. Kids will play with the toy car and memorize the McDonald’s logo as something happy, enjoyable of their childhood. The goal of this is not only to make a constant customer out of the child, but to bring the child’s family in and have the child as a guest when it is an adult.
The brand commercials on the toy trucks are therefore smart and effective- for both companies.

A vision of students today

My average class size is 16.

90% of my teachers know my name.

I complete 100% of the readings assigned to me.

I will read about 12 textbooks this year and 2300 web pages.

I will write 500 pages for class and for E-Mails this year.

I got 5 hours of sleep last night.

I spend 1 hour a day online.

I spend 1/2 hour a day watching TV.

I listen to music 2 hours a day.

I spend 3 hours a day on my phone.

I spend 8 hours in class.

2 hours eating.

2 hours of studying.

Global Me

I have lived in Nürnberg, Philadelphia and Zürich. I speak German and English.

G-star- Netherlands, Belgium
Ed Hardy- San Francisco
H&M- Stockholm
Sony- Shinagawa,Tokio
Carlsen Verlag- Hamburg
EA-games - Redwood City, California
Adidas- Herzogenaurach, Germany
Lacoste- Paris
Microsoft- Redmond, Seattle
BMW- München
Levi's- San Francisco
Abercrombie&Fitch- Manhatten
Tommy Hilfiger-New York
Fred Perry- England
Kylie Minouge- Australien
Naomi Campell- London
Gouda- Gouda, South of Netherlands
Nivea- Hamburg
Schwarzkopf- Düsseldorf
Garnier- Chlichy-la- Garenne
Ravensburger AG- Ravensburg
kellogg's- Michigan
Siemens- Berlin
Coop- Basel
Migros- Zürich