International Law Essays (421 words) - International Law

International Law International Law International law is the body of legal rules that apply between sovereign states and such other entities as have been granted international personality (status acknowledged by the international community). The rules of international law are of a normative character, that is, they prescribe towards conduct, and are potentially designed for authoritative interpretation by an international judicial authority and by being capable of enforcement by the application of external sanctions. The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, which succeeded the Permanent Court of International Justice after World War II. Article 92 of the charter of the United Nations states: The International Court of justice shall be the principal judicial organ of the United nations. It shall function in accordance with the annexed Statute, which is based upon the Statute of the Permanent court of International Justice and forms an integral part of the present Charter. The commands of international law must be those that the states impose upon themselves, as states must give consent to the commands that they will follow. It is a direct expression of raison d'etat, the interests of the state, and aims to serve the state, as well as protect the state by giving its rights and duties. This is done through treaties and other consensual engagements which are legally binding. The case-law of the ICJ is an important aspect of the UN's contribution to the development of international law. It's judgements and advisory opinions permeates into the international legal community not only through its decisions as such but through the wider implications of its methodology and reasoning. The successful resolution of the border dispute between Burkina Faso and Mali in the 1986 Frontier Dispute case illustrates the utility of judicial decision as a means of settlement in territorial disputes. The case was submitted to a Chamber of the ICJ pursuant to a special agreement concluded by the parties in 1983. In December 1985, while written submissions were being prepared, hostilities broke out in the disputed area. A cease-fire was agreed, and the Chamber directed the continued observance of the cease-fire, the withdrawal of troops within twenty days, and the avoidance of actions tending to aggravate the dispute or prejudice its eventual resolution. Both Presidents publicly welcomed the judgement and indicated their intention to comply with it. In the Fisheries Jurisdiction case (United Kingdom v. Iceland , 1974) the ICJ contributed to the firm establishment in law of the idea that mankind needs to conserve the living

Role of Women in Deir El Medina essays

Role of Women in Deir El Medina essays The Egyptian workmans city known as Deir El-Medina existed from the 18th Dynasty, founded to facilitate the creators of the Royal Tombs of the Valley of the Kings and their families. The images of ancient slaves that are seared in to modern consciousness see them as tortured labourers, driven by the iron fist of their Pharaoh, however the inhabitants of Deir El-Medina were the contrary, living prosperous and free lives. Deir El-Medina which translates in Arabic to Monastery of the King , is one of the most well preserved ancient settlement of Egypt and was a highly skilled community of craftsmen who passed their enterprise from father to son. Whilst the majority of those who worked in the Royal tombs were men, a lot of the time the community was of women and they maintained a strong and significant role in the running of the city. Egyptian women were among the most respected and privileged of their time, living in a supposed egalitarian society. Evident in many of the ostraca and papyri records is the fact that women had superior legal rights in comparison to other working women around the world. Incidents of women presenting cases before their superiors and exercising their legal freedom are being continually discovered and translated. Among the recent examples is a papyri from the late middle kingdom including a copy of a case brought by a woman against her father's estate, demonstrating a 'married woman enjoying a completely independent legal personality'. Another example was in the literary text entitled "The Instructions of the (Vizier) Ptahhotep," preserved in Middle Kingdom, this stated: Do not contend with her in court. Keep her from power, restrain herher eye is her storm when she gazes. Thus will you make her stay in your house. This reference to contending with one's wife in court clearly indicates that women had legal rights and were willing to fight for them Legally a woman co...

SWOT analysis of HP Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SWOT analysis of HP Inc - Essay Example , the company is able to easily enter into a business partnership with multi-national companies such as in the case of Starbucks in terms of using HP’s Wireless Connection Manager software for the Wi-Fi access of Starbucks’ clients. (Weinschenck, 2002) Aside from having good and loyal customer reputation in terms of patronizing HP’s PC-related products, the company continuously improves its global distribution network over the years. (BNET, 1998) By enhancing its global distribution network, the company is able to easily distribute its product and services across the world. Thus, strengthening the company’s ability to increase its annual sales and profitability. Since 1999, HP continuously exerted extra effort in protecting its product and services through the U.S. intellectual property law. (HP, 2008a) By actively registering its newly innovated products and brand name under patent and trademark, the company is highly HP’s Storage Division falls short of its client’s expectations. (Maitland, 2004; Vance, 2004) For this reason, the company has experienced a 5% decline in revenue because of HP’s server and storage division. Likewise, this causes the company’s share to fall down from $19.10 to $16.28 back in 2004. (Vance, 2004) HP continuously innovate new product and technology to satisfy the needs and wants of its target consumers. (Hoffman, 2007) Aiming to increase the business opportunity of HP, the company has recently designed and marketed a universal printer driver in order to increase its competitive advantages over other brands. In order to overcome the company’s weaknesses, HP entered into merger with Compaq in order to improve its storage division. (Stammers, 2004) In the process, HP should take it as a challenge to improve its Server and Storage Division by changing its existing storage landscape. (Maitland, 2004) Failure of HP to immediately act upon its weaknesses imposes a significant threat over its annual revenue and

Will US dollar lose its role as the global reserve currency before Essay

Will US dollar lose its role as the global reserve currency before 2050 - Essay Example There is a tendency among governments and individuals to diversify by storing the value of their wealth in other dominant currencies, other than the dollar or converting them into commodities. The BRICs development bank, weakening dollar trend, increased US budget deficit, emergence of alternative contender currencies, and shifting pricing away from the dollar elaborates on the serious threat the US dollar faces, in its position as the global reserve currency. The US Dollar has served as the dominant and world reserve currency for about seventy years today, since the adoption of the system back in the 1940s. Over the years, it gained acceptance and increased use in international transactions and by governments’ central banks for purposes of storing value, exchanges and invoicing transactions. It brought numerous advantages to the governments across the world, and especially the US citizens, whose purchases of goods or services have been at much cheaper rates compared to foreign nations. Some countries went on to peg their currencies to the dollar, but they have experienced the risks besides the benefits of the act. Though still a global reserve currency, the US dollar has been faced by numerous challenges towards the end of the 20th century and the past one decade. Inclusive to this are the exposed weakening US dollar, depreciated dollar and risk of volatility, emergence of challenging currencies to the dollar, changing monetary in stitution and dollar pricing, and diversification against the dollar. Though a debatable issue, the US Dollar is more likely to lose its role as the global reserve currency by 2050. It appears that countries are slowly changing their currencies in trading of products even at the international level. Where dollars have been used, other currencies are taking control. For example, most wise and even rich people have studied the behavior of the

Patagonia Another Way of Doing Business Essay Example for Free

Patagonia Another Way of Doing Business Essay 1Introduction Patagonia was founded in 1957 by Yvon Chouinard who defines himself as a reluctant business man. He started his business as a way to climb and surf year long, seeking to build the best product to satisfy his passion. â€Å"Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. † –Patagonias Mission Statement Patagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Alpinism remains at the heart of a worldwide business that still makes clothes for climbing as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running. Customers are willing to pay a premium for the Patagonia brand and environmental ethic. The companys goal is as simple as it is challenging: to produce the highest-quality products while doing the least possible harm to the environment. Yvon Chouinard founder and owner of Patagonia has done business differently since the beginning of the company, placing environmental sustainability and social welfare of his employee before profit. Three examples of the company practice will show how marketing and business can meet ethical behavior. Patagonia: a different workplace environment Patagonia is hiring only passionate people (friends, family†¦) who are also product user so they don’t have to understand the customer because they are the customer. Patagonia has developed the Let My People Go surfing flextime policy to cope with the employee passion (surfing, backcountry skiing†¦). There are no private offices and the architectural layout keep communication opens. The cafeter ia where employees can gather throughout the day serves healthy, mostly vegetarian food. The company has also an on-site child care center, the presence of children playing in the yard, or having lunch with their parents in the cafeteria helps keep the company atmosphere more familial than corporate. Patagonia has a program that allows employees to take off up to two months at full pay to work for environmental groups. Patagonia fosters creativity and authenticity through its work environment and hiring process enabling the development of original products. 3Patagonia: The 1% for the Planet Initiative Since 1985, Patagonia has devoted 1% of its sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. The company has awarded over $46 million in cash and in-kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental. In 2002, founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, created a non-profit corporation to encourage other businesses to do the same. 1% For The Planet is an alliance of businesses that understand the necessity of protecting the natural environment. As of today 1401 companies are members of the 1% for the Planet Initiative and donate 1% of their sales to a network of 2,735 environmental organizations worldwide. More than a marketing campaign, The 1% for the Planet Initiative is a really strong statement from Patagonia (no matter what are the financial results 1% of its sales will serve the environmental cause every year), it has reinforced the company corporate social responsibility and ethical image, hence the loyalty of its core customers. 4Patagonia: The Common Threads Initiative This marketing program first asks customers to not buy something if they dont need it, then if they do need it, Patagonia ask that they buy what will last a long time and to repair what breaks, reuse or resell whatever they dont wear any more. And, finally, recycle whatevers truly worn out. Patagonia with The Common Threads Initiative is the first private company launching a marketing campaign telling its customers to buy less or to buy used gear. In September 2011 Patagonia launched an online marketplace in collaboration with eBay for customers to sell and buy their used Patagonia products. This feature is displayed on the homepage of patagonia. com. Recycling is what we do when were out of options to avoid, repair, or reuse the product first. Thats why I am so impressed with Patagonia for starting its Common Threads Initiative with the real solution: Reduce. Dont buy what we dont need. Repair: Fix stuff that still has life in it. Reuse: Share. Then, only when youve exhausted those options, recycle (Leonard, 2011). This new marketing campaign was unveiled at the New York fashion week as an experiment. Only a private company without public shareholder and a charismatic leader with strong belief can promote such a different business attitude. 5Conclusion Patagonia has always done business and marketing differently. In the seventies Chouinard Equipment had become the largest supplier of climbing hardware in the U. S. It had also become an environmental threat because its gear was damaging the rock. Yvon Chouinard and his partner decided to phase out of this business even it if was the main source of revenue for the company, it was the first environmental step for Patagonia. Instead of focusing on profit the company took a big risk by discontinuing a successful line of products to promote an alternative solution (aluminum chocks) for climbers. It became a success because Patagonia crafted the right product with the right message and stayed true to its core values. Today with the Common Threads Initiative they are pursuing the exact same philosophy and trying to push the industry to adopt more ethical business behaviors. Patagonia’s highly public search for a new way of doing business implies a new kind of relationship with customers, reinforced by unconditional guarantees, extremely high product quality and an explicit commitment to ethical codes of behavior (Reinhardt, 2000).

Antigone: The Conflict of Hubris, Fate, and The gods Essay -- Sophocle

Antigone: The Conflict of Hubris, Fate, and The gods Sophocles, Antigone is a classic example of the role of the gods in the life of a Grecian. It is a story of the precedent set by the gods, versus the will and actions of the characters of Antigone. Creon deceives himself into believing that he is upholding the laws set by the gods. While he would like to think of himself as being above the gods, even he can not deny their power. The humans were to revere the gods above all else, despite any obstacles that tried to displace them. Creon lies to himself to convince himself that he is not violating the laws of the gods. At first, Creon is able to ignore the edicts of the gods, because his beliefs lie shallowly within the boundaries of his mind, whereas Antigone’s reverence for the gods pierces the depths of her heart. In Antigone Creon falls victim to the tragic flaw of hubris, eventually leading the destruction of his house. Polynices and Etiocles were the rightful heirs to the thrown; however they were killed by mutual fratricide, a dishonorable way to kill and be killed. Creon’s only legitimate claim for the thrown of the house of Thebes would have been through Edipus; however, Edipus’ only claim to the thrown was the riddle of the sphinx. By Greek law this would not have transferred down to Creon, thus making his stake to the thrown an insecure one. Do to this, Creon has a plaguing fear of anarchy in his city. He wants to be a strong ruler, with no one questioning his authority, or challenging his power. This desire comes from a root of instability and illegitimacy. Creon’s first element of pride is to have a chorus that is loyal to him. If Creon could not even prove the legitimacy of his line to h... ... discusses the conflict between the will of the god’s versus the will of man, and what right Polynices even had to being buried. According to Greek culture, Creon had ever right to make a decree stating that Polynices need not be buried within city limits; however, he was going too far in his decree of no burial at all. The Irony is that in the end he ignores religion again, to have Polynices buried with the city limits, where the god’s would have wanted him outside of the city. There are many more elements of Grecian law and religion that this article discusses, and because of that this will definitely be a very helpful source. I can see many of the points that I was looking to make, backed up within this article. This article was an extremely helpful find. Works Cited Sophocles. Antigone Dover Thrift Editions New York: Dover Publications, INC. 1993

Coke-India: Case Study Essay

Coca-Cola has considerably gained a large share of the market in the soft drinks industry. In the chase of expanding to foreign companies, it decided to explore India which presented great potential for revenues due to the growing population. The company built bottling plants in India and also contracted with local entrepreneur to facilitate the circulation of the products. Acquisition of local beverages companies, aggressive advertising campaigns and competitive pricing played an important role in helping penetrating the market and gave Coca-Cola a competitive advantage over local beverages. In no time, Coca-Cola had gained the trust of the population and experienced a tremendous growth of the business in the region. This success was tarnished when accusations were brought to the government of India about a discovery found in the tests conducted by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), a Non-Governmental Organization in India. The discovery revealed that elevated amount of toxic substances (including Lindane, DDT, malathion and Chlorpyrifos) had been found in Coke and Pepsi products; especially in soft drinks. These substances are known to be dangerous to human health including causing cancer, birth defects and damage to the nervous and reproductive systems. Following this discovery, India’s government banned all Coke and Pepsi products and launched an independent investigation. Coke stock price plumed; the company promised to launch its own investigation and provide the results of the tests to disclaim the CSE’s accusations to regain the trust of the consumers in India. Previous cases involving Coca-Cola Company show that this is not the first time that the company is involved in this type of allegations. The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention the ethical issue presented in Coke’s business practices with emphasis on product safety and quality. The practices presented in the facts above need to be investigated and resolved. If these practices are not investigated and addressed, the effects to the population will be very devastating for many. The concerns will eventually spread out of India and pose great distress to the community of soft drinks consumers around the world. In addition to the consumers, these concerns will also affect India’s population, employment growth In India, the employees, current and future investors, the suppliers and the competitors. In response to these practices, I am proposing three different approaches that can be used to solve the dilemma and I hope that one of them can ultimately be implemented. The three alternative resolutions are based on the Utilitarian principle, the ethics of Virtues and Kant’s Categorical Imperative rule. The Utilitarian principle calls for actions that would produce the greatest balance of happiness over unhappiness (James, 2010). If Coca-Cola wants to regain the trust of its consumers and reassures them of the non-validity of the accusations, it should use mass media and communicate the results of their own tests to the greatest number of people. Instead of doing so, the companies redirected the consumers to its website to find the information. Now in a population with a low per capita of 6 bottles per year, I do not think that finding the results on the website is a proper media source for the consumers. Coming clean about the allegations will reassure the consumers and all the stakeholders. If the company uses the mass media to publish its results, the vast majority of population will get answers to the concerns and this will also help the company increase sales and attract more investors. Another solution will be based on the ethics of Virtues. According to Aristotle, a virtue is a trait or character manifested in habitual action (James, 2010). Here, Coke and Pepsi should construct positive behaviors of honesty and care and therefore invest more resources in educating the population on the processes used to manufacture their beverages; from the collection of water to the cleanliness of the trucks used for transportation of the final products without of course revealing the recipe of the drinks. The purpose of this step is to present consumers the strict safety standards that the companies claimed they use at all times in their manufacturing lants. In doing so, these companies show care for their consumers and their willingness to abide to regulations. The facts presented above show that this is not the first time Coca-Cola is involved in this type of allegations as mentioned in the Belgium case of 1999. Instead of taking responsibility for the accusations Ivester, Coca-Cola’s CEO at the time on visit in Paris, returned to the U. S. A without responding to the crisis; leaving the consumer in distress. This is not a behavior of a person who cares about the well-being of the consumers. To avoid this type of habit to develop, it is important to implement policies that ensure that the processes of manufacturing these goods are well presented to consumers. The third alternative resolution is based on Kant’s Categorical Imperative rule. Kant defined this rule as follow: â€Å"act only according to that maximum by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law† (James, 2010). Kant’s Categorical Imperative rule calls to act in such a way that the action taken under the circumstance could be a universal law, rule or behavior. I think that Coke, Pepsi and other beverage companies in India should joint the government in developing standards that they believe are strict enough to eliminate the potential for contamination in the manufacturing process of the soft drinks. These standards will also ensure a safe delivery of the final products. Everything use to produce and deliver the final product should be free of all contaminants. In developing these standards, companies involved and the government should make sure that the standards apply to all the parties involved in the production of beverages. In conclusion, I believe that the ethics of Virtues is the best approach to address this issue. A company that cares about the well being of its consumers always engages in activities that promote that objective. By caring for the consumers, managers at Coca-Cola and Pepsi will ensure that all the proper steps are taken to eliminate contamination. If a contamination occurs somehow, the company should take responsibility for the event and assist in resolving it; not run away and abandon the consumers in distress. Corporations should face the consequences of their actions at all time.