Era of social and cultural rebellion Essay

â€Å"The disintegration of American values was reflected in manners and morals that shook American society to the depths.† (Leuchtenburg) The 1920’s was an era in which the Americans showed their independence through actions; learning not to live the same ways that those preceded them had. The ’20s was a cultural and socialistic rebellious attitude, decomposing past American ethics and beliefs. The most obvious rebellion is shown by the feminine movements during this time. The 1920’s led to a new role for American women, in which females desperately tried to rid themselves of Victorian roles they had played in the past. In an effort to become modern and masculine, the â€Å"flapper† led to newly recognized rights for females in the male fields. The flappers showed their rebellion by wearing short skirts that in previous years would have been entirely inappropriate dress for women. Rebellion was also shown by the increased number of females working in public offices, obtaining jobs, attending colleges, and having leading roles in professional careers (events that were practically unheard-of fifty years earlier.) Women professionals increased 50 percent, while married working women increased 30 percent. With the suffrage movement in 1920, women started out the ’20s with a passion for independence and political and social rights. Women lived by themselves, proving absolute independence from men. They, who had once been thought of as men’s property solely to perform the acts of cleaning and cooking, were revolting against their title of â€Å"exclusive possession.† Once the rebellion against stay-at-home wives had started, women who still fulfilled that role felt compelled to apologize that they were not out working alongside men in the job world. (Leuchtenburg) Marriage was also a way to rebel; women who were unhappy in marriages felt that they had the right to divorce their husbands; this act more then doubled between the years of 1914 and 1929. Divorce, once thought to be completely immoral, was becoming quite common. All these factors show that the female race was using the 1920’s to revolt against issues they had previously disagreed with, but never ha d the courage to address. The 1920’s brought a breakdown in ethics. Couples went further in publicly showing their affection for each other. Sex was a common discussion topic,  not only for women but young girls. Suggestive topics were broadcasted all over the radios, movies, and newspapers. Parties were no longer chaperoned, and parents no longer had knowledge about their daughters’ actions. The fact that individuals during this time were so free with their sexual favors proves the fact that people during this time wanted to show their capability at making decisions for themselves. (Leuchtenburg) One may argue that the 1920’s was not an era of social and cultural rebellion, and bring up the opinion that the dresses the flappers wore were efforts to save money. (Shannon) This is possible, but in order to feel completely at ease at wearing what would have been considered (only a decade earlier) an outrageous outfit, the women would have had to rebel. One might also say that the reason why there were increased numbers of women attending college was not the fact that they were rebelling to prove their equality with men, but rather because it was the first time they could ever afford such an education. This is untrue; debt was so high in the ’20s that most families would have been unable to afford a college education. During the 1920’s, the economy grew into a consumer economy, one that revolved around the ability of the citizens to consume products. In order to make it easy for the people to do this, credit was developed. With the innovation of credit, many people became in debt, and consumer debt rose a total of 250 percent. Personal debt rose 2.5 times faster then personal income, and people just didn’t have money to spend it on an education solely for the reason of becoming educated. However, in order to show their equality, women would have been more willing to put a college education on credit. In conclusion, the Roaring Twenties was a time of serious cultural and social rebellion. People wanted to live their lives they way they chose; they wanted to show their independence and ability to make decisions, and not live by the beliefs of their predecessors.

Coal Industry in India Essay

The coal industry in India witnessed its inception in 1774. However, it took almost a century for this industry to rise above its infancy and proclaim its actual arrival around the second half of the 19th century. What followed was the story of remarkable growth albeit with its share of ups and downs down the line. The flipside of this account of prosperity has not, however, escaped the scrutiny of historians. The oppressive attitudes of the coal-producing lobby and the miners’ miserable conditions have time and again found their place in prevalent labour historiography. Intriguing themes, for instance, production relations, migration of labour, manipulation around the recruitment of labour, workers’ resistance movements and debates around women and child labour have further enriched the discourse. This project aims to add a new dimension to this ongoing debate. The prime objective of this study is to unearth the history of hygiene issues at workplaces in the coalfields of Raniganj and Jharia districts in eastern India and of hygiene in their adjacent regions in eastern India, 1901 and 1973. The expansion of the industry was not without its adverse effects on human as well as natural resources. This project thus, has as its focus the health of the miner as well as the health of the mineral, i.e. coal, with its attendant thrusts on industrial hygiene and mine technology. Going beyond the colonial time-frame, this study also attempts an investigation into miners’ working and living standards in the first quarter of postindependent India. Moreover, a parallel will be drawn between miners’ living conditions at collieries of eastern India and those of Natal in South Africa. It will be interesting to look into two diverse pictures in these different colonial settlements. As far as labour legislation and methods of mining are concerned, a comparative study with Britain is on the cards. The first research question that this study aims to address is the health of the miners. Engaged in hazardous underground mining activities, the miners were exposed to serious and fatal accidents. The collapse of roofs and the sides was the most common form of accidents. Next in importance were accidents in haulage routes and shafts as well as explosions. The pertinent question is what played the pivotal part in those cases of accidents: was it the miners’ lack of mining knowledge, was it the subordinate officials’ paucity of proper supervision or was it the lack of adequate attention of the mine-owners and mine-managers to the workers’ safety concerns? In his report of 1912, the Chief Inspector of Mines coined categories of accidents for example those due to misadventure, due to the fault of the deceased, due to the fault of the fellow workmen and due to the fault of the subordinate officials (sirdars). The newly-formed categories singled out â€Å"managerial fault† as a distinct category which consisted of accidents fewer in number in relation to others. The intention was clear. It was to hold the miner primarily responsible for his misfortunes. But the colliery owners and managers hardly provided them with the proper training in the mining principles. It was only in 1909 that a book on mining practices was proposed to be brought out in Bengali. This is not to forget that a large chunk of miners used to migrate from regions outside Bengal like the Central Provinces. The principal reason for ascribing responsibility to the miners was to not have to pay compensation in case of permanent disablement or death. The case was just the reverse in Britain. The scope of the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1923 was broadened for the Indian coal miners only after independence. True, some of these accidents pointed to the responsibility of the miners like in cases of pillar-robbing or drinking while working, but even when managerial fault was indicated, the penalty was minimal. The management even failed on a number of occasions to report cases of serious and fatal accidents without delay. Besides, any attempt at protective labour legislation in the coal industry was hampered by fierce opposition from the coalproducing lobby consisting of both Europeans and Indians. Issues related to the regulation of involvement of women and children underground, maternity leave, restriction on hours of work etc. found stern protesters in the colliery-owners. The government was hardly in a position to frustrate the claims of their close collaborators. This story of the colonial government-capitalist class nexus will help us go beyond the traditional nationalist versus imperialist historiographical framework and highlight the complexities of the issues involved in the question of governmental legislation to ensure higher safety conditions in mines. Increasing number of accidents in Indian collieries was often ascribed to the prevalent methods of mining which were often termed as â€Å"faulty†. This brings us to the next crucial question i.e. the health of the mineral. The usual mining method that was followed in Indian coal mines was the bord and pillar system. Coal was cut into pillars but the co-existence of small pillars and large galleries augmented the risk of collapse as well as that of loss of significant amount of coal. We can draw a parallel with the standard method of mining in Britain which was called the panel system. I t was a system where isolation of workings was possible. Every outlet was hermetically sealed that left solid ribs of coal of varying thickness between panels which used to be cut into pillars and immediately extracted. This method was often recommended for the Indian situation. The relevant question in this context is the supposed shortcomings of the bord and pillar system. Was the panel system practicable in Indian conditions? Furthermore, Miners were often accused of improper ways in which they handled the cutting and extracting of coal. Here again the question of their lack of access to any kind of training becomes vital. Moreover, the never-ending demand for higher productivity often forced the workers to work in the abandoned part of mines, a practice that had its inevitable effects on both the health of the miners and that of the mineral. What was more surprising was most of the coal mines in Raniganj and Jharia were run without any proper plans of the mines. Frequently, both seams were worked simultaneously with the working of the one being above the working of the other. This caused the workings to be unstable resulting in loss of a huge quantity of coal. The practice of lease was such that the demarcation line between two neighbouring collieries often turned out to be indistinct. It was noticed that instead of leaving barriers untouched as intended, the work was continued up to or even over the boundary. A thin barrier was dangerous for it was liable to suddenly give way under water pressure. The question of exhaustion of coal and the need for its conservation leads us to the next important research problem i.e. the evolution of mine technology. Sand-stowing is one such safeguard that ensures safety in workplace as well as conservation of coal. The institution of the Coal Mines Stowing Board and the subsequent Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Act of 1939 was, however, intended to guarantee only protection against accidents at mines. It was only after independence that adequate attention was paid to conservation of coal with the Coal Mines (Conservation and Safety) Act of 1952. The Coal Mines Stowing Board was replaced by the Coal Board in 1951 in an attempt to function more effectively during the period under review. On the other hand, the persistent problem with the safety management at Indian collieries was that none of the appliances, tools and materials required for combating fire, gas, or water in collieries was kept at any of the mines in the Raniganj and Jharia coal fields. A number of large collieries adopted safety lamps in place of naked lights to avoid the danger of explosion but they were not regularly examined before being taken into the workings. Mine owners or managers often failed to post notices specifying limit s of timber withdrawal for each seam or district of a seam or the maximum intervening distances between props or other roof supports at the working places. Even for winding purpose, makeshift appliances like haulage ropes were used in place of winding ropes on a number of occasions, thus inviting unfortunate consequences. The mine authority, nonetheless, had the miners to blame for their technological deficiencies. Even the Chief Inspector of Mines had some interesting and often contradictory remarks to make regarding the use of machinery by Indian miners. On the one hand he thought that the cheapness of Indian labour prevented use of machines while on the other he found comfort in the saying that, â€Å"Handling a miner’s tool was more of a matter of skill than was generally supposed†¦.and the Indian coal miner was clumsy with his weapons; but when doing work to which he and his forefathers had been accustomed [e.g. loading or carrying material] he was capable of showing good results.† But the fact that the Indian miner could be induced to abandon the tools of his forefathers was seen is most Indian collieries where English shovels were commonly used, and where the pointed crow bar was replaced by double pointed picks. Hence the question of availability of mine and safety technology, and more importantly, that of the proper application of technologies in possession turns out to be the critical imperatives. Even attempts at introduction of new technology often drew severe flak from various quarters. Coal commissioners were suggesting the extension of the boiler act to colliery districts. The steam boilers which were in use in collieries required the fitting of a second safety valve to all boilers, second one preferably to be of the lock-up type. The Indian Mining Association took up the matter and protested strongly against any such intervention. They were of the opinion that the danger of accident had been sufficiently minimized without the precaution. Furthermore, mere introduction of certain apparatus was not enough e.g. Jeffrey Company’s electric coal-cutter was introduced at some collieries. But it was not successful on account of difficulty of repair and removal of the machine. Moreover, mechanical coal cutters were more suited to Longwall method as in Britain than to the bord and pillar system that was adopted in Bengal. However, introduction of machinery like Welsh ovens for coking purposes in the Giridih coal field was hugely successful although the usual practice elsewhere was predominantly open ovens. Thus the issues involved in the adoption of mining technology is required to be studied in close association with the safety of the miner and the conservation of the mineral in order to get an overall picture of the question of industrial hygiene in the Raniganj and Jharia coal-fields. A study of occupational hazards is incomplete without an investigation into occupational diseases (for instance; Pneumoconiosis, ankylostomiasis, lungs’ diseases etc.) and diseases that affected the workers’ habitation. Our understanding of the question would be furthered by exploring the disease management policy of the mining authorities. Workers’ huts or â€Å"dhowrah† were not initially part of the colliery districts but later on became integral division of the districts. As far as workers’ housing arrangements were concerned, the official version of the â€Å"comfortable† brick hut was constantly clashing with the workers’ version of the â€Å"squalid† mud hut. The miners’ perception of hygiene and sanitation formed the principal subject matter of the official critique. True, the miners fell short on the counts of their health and hygiene standards, but the real problem lies with the alternative settlement that the nexus of colonial government and mine authorities provided. The one room tenement with common latrine facilities did not turn out to be a more hygienic alternative to the previous mud hut. Here, we can draw a parallel between the colli eries of Bengal and those of Natal in South Africa. A large number of Indian miners started migrating to Natal around the first decade of the 20th century because of better working and living conditions there. The question of health and hygiene standards of the adjacent colliery districts is worth exploring, too. Outbreak of diseases in the neighbourhood had its decisive effect on the workplace hygiene. A mere rumour of outbreak of Cholera in the vicinity used to result in widespread desertion of collieries and its surroundings by the miners, thus having disastrous effects on the production process. Hence, a detailed study on the connections between colliery hygiene of the areas under study and that of the wider region becomes essential. This connection was all the more evident in the post-independence period. The civil hospital of Dhanbad had a number of seats reserved for the colliers of Jharia mines. The mines used also to gain a great deal from the water supply scheme in the neighbourhood or for the purpose of supply of electricity. Systems of water supply, sewerage systems, sanitary measures, and disease policies in the adjacent areas undoubtedly had their impact on workplaces and the other way round. Furthermore, coal mining and its impact on the wider environment induced the government to formulate public health measures in tune with the necessities of the coal mining industry as well as with the requirements of the adjoining regions. These two linked and often conflicting aspects will be explored through the story of dilemmas, preferences, strategies and decision-making at the government level. Particular attention to the functioning and implementation of various safety measures at collieries in post-colonia l India forms the conclusive part of this project. Was the working and living conditions of the coal mine workers improved in any way in the immediate post-independence period? What was the status of labour legislation in relation to workers’ health and safety concerns? Apparently the colliers were better placed with the growing effectiveness of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. Women miners gained significantly from regular functioning of the Mines Maternity Benefit Act of 1941. Jharia and Raniganj Mines Boards of Health looked in better shape in postindependence years. Particular attention must be paid to the activities of the Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund. Establishment and proper functioning of central and regional hospitals of Jharia and Raniganj were regulated under the auspices of this fund. Dispensary services like the one at Bhuli in Jharia improved a lot as well. We can also come across instances like spraying operations to prevent Malaria or B.C.G. vaccination to combat Tuberculosis or the setting up of the mo bile laboratory teams in the Jharia and Raniganj coalfields which point to improvement in the condition of health and hygiene in colliery districts. Working of the Coal Mines Pithead Bath Rules, 1946 and of the Mines Creche Rules, 1946 must be mentioned. Especially, provision of crà ¨ches demands particular attention in relation to women labour. They had a place for their children to be taken care of while they were busy working. Despite such favourable proceedings, miners’ wretchedness was far from being reduced. A remarkable increase in opencast mining with its associated dangers furthered the misery of the miners. Added to this were dissatisfactory mining conditions e.g. slaughter mining, violation of mine safety laws etc. The result was nationalization of Coking coal mines in 1972 and that of non-coking coal mines in 1973. Health and hygiene related themes in Indian coal mines during the colonial and postcolonial period have not found a substantial space in existing scholarship. The only work that stands out is an article by Colin Simmons (1976) where he devotes himself to the study of coal mines accidents, workplace safety and labour legislation. His other works are also of seminal importance particularly for the understanding of the nature of the labour force and ownership of colliery land. As to issues relating to practices of landleases and tenancy rights, the work of Dietmar Rothermund (year) is intriguing indeed. Rakhi Raychowdhury (1996), in her work on the women labour of eastern Indian coal mines, has a chapter devoted to matters concerning work schedule, rest and leave and accidents. While Dilip Simeon’s principal focus was production relations (1997) and labour movement (1999) in Jharia coalfields, he gave some attention to the safety concerns of Indian collieries. (1999). He even addressed the post-colonial situation. But a detailed study on industrial hygiene in relation to coalfields awaits scholarly attention. In the process of tracing the growth of coal industry in India, A.B. Ghosh(1977) referred to lists of accidents in coal mines and also to some examples of technological evolution but he made no attempt to derive a connection between accidents, safety issues and introduction of technology which this project intends to address. Deepika Basu’s (1993) occasional mention of health issues in coal and other mines is meant to broaden the understanding of the growth of the working class in India. Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt’s (2001) concern over water problems, sewerage systems etc. gives us a fair idea about the gradual process of urbanization in the Raniganj coalfields. She has also established a relation between growing mechanization of coal industry and decreasing importance of women labour. But the connection between mechanization and safety issues remains to be explored. It is a principal aim of this proposed project to analyze the same issues in the light of the themes of health and hygiene. In her case study on Kolar gold mines, Janaki Nair (1998) writes extensively on accident related issues in the work place and the process of sanitation outside the workplace, mainly in the workers residence. Nair, however, views these themes within the Foucauldian paradigm of â€Å"surveillance and resistance†. Anti-plague measures or sanitizing efforts of the mining authorities was, according to Nair, an intrusion into the private life of the mine workers. She saw in the sanitary zeal of the persons concerned an extension of the â€Å"barrack like discipline† (even though mines cannot be considered barrack like structures) of the workplace to the territory beyond. This project will attempt to move beyond such stereotypical formulations and instead attempt in-depth analyses of the questions raised that will be based on solid empirical research informed by an awareness of the theoretical issues involved. The work has been conceptualized in a manner that it will pull toge ther issues that have been dealt with in discrete, scattered contexts. As far as historical works on Indian public health system are concerned, we are familiar with a significant body of literature about public health systems of major cities like that of Calcutta (Kabita Ray, 1998), and of Bombay (Mridula Ramanna, 2002). A discussion on public health systems of industrially-rich regions is supposed to be first of its kind. Mark Harrison (1994) pioneered a comprehensive account of the system of public health in India starting from disease management in military garrisons to vaccination policies, preventive measures against plague in wider regions. The mining sector however has not featured in his work. Industrial hygiene and in this case, health and hygiene issues in collieries and in their adjoining regions is an unexplored arena. The proposed research aims to combine specifically two kinds of historiography within the span of its methodology. One is the historical literature on mines and the other is the historical accounts of science, medicine, techn ology, and of public health systems in India. While works on mines have overlooked aspects of hygiene and technology, the history of science, medicine and technology has yet to incorporate the industrial sector or industrial hygiene within its orbit. This endeavour, therefore, proposes to fill in the void in the existing historical literature by combining elements of both these fields of research. On another level, this discussion on industrial health and hygiene will seek to include within the scope of its analysis the role of extra-economic factors in the understanding of the working classes in India. Last but not least, a comparison with the coal mines of Britain and South Africa follows from the logic of the analysis of the factors affecting the Indian collieries which I have discussed before. In its attempt at juxtaposing global phenomena, this venture treads the path shown by Peter Alexander (2004). This research thus seeks to situate the post-colonial situation of eastern Indian coalfields within the global context. Such a work is also of relevance to current global concerns that seek to foreground the question of safeguarding the environment in the context of the global-capitalist hunt to maximize profits from commercial ventures. Primary Sources The Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1947/ Act No. 32 of 1947.Delhi. The Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Rules. Delhi, 1939. East India Railway: the Coalfields of Bengal and Chota Nagpur Served by the East India Railway. Calcutta, 1926. First Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1924. (Simpson Committee). Indian Mines Act. By W.H.Pickerink and W.Graham, 1907. Papers Regarding Legislation for the Regulation and Sanitation of Mines in India. Govt. of India: Department of Revenue and Agriculture. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, 1896. Report of the Chief Inspector of Mines in India under the India Mines Act, VIII of 1901. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, (1901 onwards). Report o the Coalfield Committee. Calcutta: Govt. Printing, 1920. Report of the Coal Mining Committee. Delhi: Manager of Publicat ions, 1937. Report of the Indian Coal Committee, 1925. Reports on the Production and Consumption of Coal in India. Report on the Inspection of Mines in India. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, (1894-1900). Rules Framed by the Govt. of Bengal under Section 30 of the Indian Mines Act, 1923 (IV of 1923) applicable to Coal Mines and Mines other than Coal Mines, Corrected up to 30th June, 1940. Second Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1929. (Simpson Committee). Special Rules for Coal Mines under Section 21 of the Indian Mines Act, 1901 (VIII of 1901), 1918. Third and Final Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1932. Journals and Bulletins Bulletins of Indian Industries and Labour: ï‚ · ï‚ · Indian Factory Legislation: A Historical Survey. By A.G.Clow. 1926. Reduction of Hours of Work in Mines, 1932. Bulletins of the Department of Industries, Bengal: ï‚ · Catalogue of the Indian Manufacturers (compiled in the office of the DirectorGeneral of Commercial Intelligence), 1911. Secondary Sources Alexander, Peter and Halpern, Rick, ‘Introduction: Comparing Race and Labour in South Africa and the United States’ in Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 30, Number 1, p. 5-18, March 2004. Alexander, Peter, ‘Race, Class Loyalty and the Structure of Capitalism: Coal Miners in Alabama and the Transvaal, 1918-1922’ in Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 30, Number 1, p. 115-132, March 2004. Basu, Deepika, The Working Class in Bengal: Formative Years, Calcutta, 1993. Ghosh, A.B., Coal Industry in India: A Historical and Analytical Account, Calcutta, vol. 1, 1977 & vol. 2, 1990. Guha, B.P., Wage rates in the Indian coal mining industry, Priya, 1973. Harrison, Mark, Public Health in British India: Anglo-Indian Preventive Medicine 1859-1914, Cambridge, 1994. Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala, Mining and Urbanization in the Raniganj coalbelt. Calcutta, 2001. Nair, Janaki, Mines and Millhands: Work Culture and Politics in Princely Mysore. New Delhi, 1998. Ramanna, Mridula, Western Medicine and Public Health in Colonial Bombay, 18451895. Hyderabad, 2002. Ray, Kabita, History of Public Health: Colonial Bengal, 1921-1947.Kolkata, 1998. Raychowdhury, Rakhi, Gender and Labour in India: the Kamins of Eastern Coalmines, 1900-1940. Kolkata, 1996. Rothermund, Dietmar, ‘Tenancy Legislation for Chota Nagpur: the Emphasis on Executive Protection’ in Zamindars, Mines and Peasants: Studies in the History of an Indian Coalfield and Its Rural Hinterland, edited by Dietmar Rothermund and D.C. Wadhwa. New Delhi, 1978. Simeon, Dilip, The Politics of Labour Under Late Colonialism. Workers, Unions and the State in Chota Nagpur, 1928-1939. New Delhi, 1995. ibid. ‘Coal and Colonialism: Productions Relations in an Indian coalfield, c. 18951947’ in â€Å"Peripheral† Labour? : Studies in the History of Partial Proletarianization, edited by Shahid Amin and Marcel van der Linden. Cambridge, 1997. ibid. ‘Work and Resistance in the Jharia Coalfield’ in Contributions to Indian Sociology, vol. 33, no. 1-2, p. 43-75. 1999. Simmons, Colin, ‘Working Conditions, Accidents and ‘Protective’ Labour Legislation in the Indian Coal Mining Industry in the Pre-Independence Period’ in Bengal Past and Present, pt.1 (N.K. Sinha Memorial Vol.), p. 185-200, 1976. ibid. ‘Recruiting and Organizing an Industrial Labour Force in Colonial India: the Case of the Coal Mining Industry c. 1880-1939’ in The Indian Economic and Social History Review, vol. xiii, no. 4, p. 455-485 , 1976.

102 Week 4 Journal Response Professor Ramos Blog

102 Week 4 Journal Response Locate an article, news report, or social media post to respond to. You can also respond to any of the articles or topics discussed in the class. First, summarize what the post is saying and what you understand them to be arguing. Second, respond to the article with what we have been learning in class. Point out fallacies if you see them. Evaluate the argument they are making. Explain any bias you see in the post. Point out unsupported claims. If you agree, help them better support their argument. If you disagree, explain why. Notice the use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos Make sure your journal response is at least 250 words long. Comment below with a link and your response.

Free Essays on Differences

Should teens be able to obtain contraceptive services without parental consent? Teenagers that are sexually active take the risk that comes with sexual intercourse such as sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and pregnancies. Yes, teens are too young to be having sex and usually do not think of the risks or consequences that comes with having sexual intercourse. And this is why birth control is an important part a teenager’s life today. Definitely, teens should be able to obtain contraceptive services without parental consent. Personally speaking, I felt awkward taking to my parents, even my mother about sex – let alone birth control. So, I am sure that teens feel awkward asking parents for birth control. Many teens do not want to get caught or let their parents know that they are having sex. I honestly feel that is the major reason why teens do not use birth control. And no matter what the teens are still going to have sex with or with out contraceptives. Again, this causes problems, STD’s and pregnancies. Teens must be provided with contraceptives to protect themselves and also their futures. If teens cannot or will not get the contraceptives from their parents or guardians, then it should be easily accessible to them from another source, with or without parental consent.... Free Essays on Differences Free Essays on Differences Should teens be able to obtain contraceptive services without parental consent? Teenagers that are sexually active take the risk that comes with sexual intercourse such as sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and pregnancies. Yes, teens are too young to be having sex and usually do not think of the risks or consequences that comes with having sexual intercourse. And this is why birth control is an important part a teenager’s life today. Definitely, teens should be able to obtain contraceptive services without parental consent. Personally speaking, I felt awkward taking to my parents, even my mother about sex – let alone birth control. So, I am sure that teens feel awkward asking parents for birth control. Many teens do not want to get caught or let their parents know that they are having sex. I honestly feel that is the major reason why teens do not use birth control. And no matter what the teens are still going to have sex with or with out contraceptives. Again, this causes problems, STD’s and pregnancies. Teens must be provided with contraceptives to protect themselves and also their futures. If teens cannot or will not get the contraceptives from their parents or guardians, then it should be easily accessible to them from another source, with or without parental consent....

Book Marketing How to Strategically Market to Increase Book Sales

Book Marketing How to Strategically Market to Increase Book Sales Book Marketing: How to Strategically Market to Increase Book Sales Just because you wrote a new book doesn’t mean that your book is guaranteed to sell.Harsh? Maybe. But its true. And here at Self-Publishing School, you first have to learn the truth before taking action.Even if your book is the next Great American Novel, it won’t be a success if it doesn’t get into the collective conscious of the public.This is why youneedgood book marketing tactics to back it up. Here are the book marketing strategies we cover:Social media marketing strategiesUse a launch team for book marketingPricing your book effectivelyBuild a website to market your bookGrow your email listInfluencer outreach for book promotionApply for BookBubLand interviews on podcastsReach book clubsWrite another bookBook Marketing for Self-Published AuthorsMarketing takes planning, organization, and consistent action; it’s hard work. But the good news is that marketing is also about fostering connections and relationships, which can be rewarding to you and your fa n base.And since you’re the one who knows your book from cover to cover, your backstory, your reasons for writing it, and who your ideal reader is, its your duty to put a plan in place to best connect with your intended audience and share your story.We know, we know†¦you’ve put a ton of effort into writing, editing, and getting your book ready for publication that the thought of adding another layer of â€Å"work† is not the most appealing idea.NOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about how to build a platform and maintain consistent book sales in our Sell More Books Program. Learn more about it hereBut realize that if you launch your book without a marketing plan, FAR fewer people will read it.It will hamper the success of the book you’re working on now, as well as others you plan on publishing in the future. So if you dream of becoming a New York Times bestselling author, or if you want your book to help you reach other lifesty le goals, a book marketing strategy is your essential key to success.And if you want a quicker, easier way of understanding whats in this blog post, check out your free training.Join Chandler Bolt at his FREE Webinar Training as he reveals the exact tactics and strategies he used to write and publish 6 bestselling books in a row and how he used them to build a 7-figure business in less than 2 years!Spots are limited!Click Here to Save Your SpotBook Marketing Strategies for Social MediaHaving a quick overview of exactly what you can do and how much time and effort each will take can help you better plan for your book marketing plan.Here are our recommended book marketing strategies and what you need for each.Book Marketing PlatformWhat to doTwitter- use appropriate hashtags - post relatable tweets to increase shares - engage by liking and replying to others - search common hashtags to find your audienceInstagram- use appropriate hashtags - post photos related to the content of your book - engage by liking and replying to others - ask questions in photos to increase engagement - search common hashtags to find your audienceFacebook- create a page for yourself or your book - post video content - go Live to answer questions or discuss your book - post blog posts supporting your topic/ideas/bookPinterest- create pins linking back to your website - repin content related to your genre - create appropriate boards for your content - optimize pins with keywords - join group boards - connect with others who pin similar ideasLinkedIn- great for business-related topics - share insights/stats - share blog posts supporting your ideas/topics - connect with leaders in your industryPersonal Website- create a website - maintain a blog with posts about your main topic - use this to create an email list - keep this updated regularlyFree Book Marketing PlanHaving seen and been involved in so many book launches ourselves, we know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to book marketing.We’ll walk you through a play-by-play of exactly what you need to do so that your readers can find your book and buy it.We’ve broken this guide down into three main sections for learning book marketing:Pre-Launch: Building Your Book Marketing Launch TeamPricing Your Book for Maximum SalesPost-Launch: 8 Strategies for Selling More BooksLets get started! Pre-Launch: Build Your Book Marketing Launch TeamThe first step of preparing for your book launch, and the marketing behind it, is to build your launch team or street team, as its also commonly referred to.What is a launch team?The ideal launch team, also known as a street team, is a dedicated, hand-selected group eager to make your launch successful. If you use your team’s talent and communicate well, there’s nothing your launch team can’t accomplish!This video does a great job of detailing what a launch team is and exactly what they do: #1 Launch Team SizeThe first step is to determ ine the projected size of your book marketing launch team basedon the size of your audience.Your audience is anyone interested in you, your book, and your product. They could be five of your lifelong friends, members of your community, big organizations you’re connected to, social media followers, email subscribers, anyone who might be interested in what you’re sharing.If you have a smaller following, we suggest you aim for a launch team of 10-50. Those with hundreds in their network can aim for 100-250 team members.How to Finda Launch TeamIf you don’t have much of a following right now, start by looking at your personal inner circle- your family, your close friends- then branch out to their connections, families, and colleagues.You can reach out to peers from college, your volunteer work, or even your first job. You may even consider parents at your child’s school, fellow dog owners, or members of your yoga class.Even though you may not know these peopl e well,they are a part of your network, and you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that they’re inspired by your book and would be eager to share it.Once you’ve completed this exercise, you should have an initial list of potential launch team members!#2 Recruit Quality People for Your Launch TeamNow that you’ve determined your potential recruitment pool, the second step is to initiate contact and gauge their interest level. The most important lesson to consider about your book marketing launch team is that  QUALITY trumps QUANTITY.One top-quality, dedicated team member trumps a handful of mediocre ones.To begin recruitment for your launch team, create a simple questionnaire process that describes your book, your expectations of the team, and questions asking:Why are you interested in supporting my book?What part of my book speaks to you?What specialized skills can you contribute?What’s your available time commitment?Who are influential people you can reach out to?Why would these influential people be interested?To sweeten the recruitment deal, feel free to offer a free signed copy of your book or an inclusion in the â€Å"acknowledgments† section. You can easily do this through email, or through online forms like Typeform.#3 Record a Welcome VideoTake the time to record a warm welcome video for your new supporters! In your video, first, congratulate your team for being selected and express gratitude for their help.Then, detail your expectations, your unique mission for writing your book, and why you want to share it with as many people as you can!This welcome video will help you create a more personal connection with your book launch team, and show them a bit more about why you’re creating it and what message you’re trying to convey.Be sure to send it to everyone who completes your questionnaire!#4 Establish a Communication StyleHere’s the secret to a successful book marketing launch team: Effec tive communication. Communicate with your team regularly to keep them focused on weekly tasks, progress, and innovative ideas by doing the following:Strive to send one email per week preceding launch then increase it to three or more during launch week.Use a Facebook group to engage, share ideas, and post feedback. Set the tone by posting â€Å"Dos and Donts† to keep conversations focused and positive.Boost morale and build rapport by sharing inspiring quotes, gifts, and goofy photos to keep energy high and build vital connections.No matter which mode of communication you’re using, remember people like to be treated well.Always make sure your team knows how grateful you are to them and their dedication!#5 Book Marketing Launch Team AssignmentsYou can’t just build up a catalog of supporters and not use them, though. You have to give them small assignments to help you with launching and the book marketing process in general.It might feel weird telling people to h elp you, but don’t worry about it!They’re here because they want to support your project, and as long as you’re gracious and ask nicely, they’ll be happy to support your work.Facebook Groups will be the most effective way to dole out weekly team assignments.Here are some book marketing initiatives you can assign your team to do: Share snippets of content from your book across social mediaSubmit reviews on AmazonAdd their reviews to GoodreadsShare a book review on their YouTube channelRecord a testimonial for your bookBuy extra copies to give to their friendsGive you more marketing ideas!#6 Utilize TalentsYour team members will have a different variety of skills and talents, and it’s your job to effectively manage your team by assigning work based on their strengths.To identify your team’s talents, write a post during the introductory week and say the following:â€Å"If you have any special talents or connections you’d like to lend t owards my book launch, please comment on this post and let me know. I’m looking for ways to help spread my book’s message to a wider audience.†#7 Have Fun and Say â€Å"Thank You!†Your launch team will commit weeks of their time, energy, and talent, so make sure you thank each and every person for their contribution!Ensure that each person on your team feels valued and appreciated for their efforts.And most importantly, let them know how to get your book for free (or at least at a deep discount)!Which brings us to†¦How to Price Your BookOne of the most important factors in how successful your book launch is will be how you price it.To find out how to price your book for success, we recommend reading Book Launch.But for the sake of this article, here are some of Self-Publishing School’sbiggest secrets that will get your book to soar up the Amazon’s charts:If you have a sizable audience, we recommend launching your book for $0.99, and the n increasing the price to $2.99 or higher after about a week.For first-time authors, we recommendAmazon’s Free Book Promotionsfor your book launch.Although you won’t get paid by putting your book out for free,realize that it will be featured on another author’s page which instantaneously increases your exposure and recognition. Once the freepromotion has ended, switch your book’s price to $0.99 for the following week, then slowly increase the price by $1 per week until sales stagnate.Post-Launch: 8 Book Marketing Strategies for Selling More BooksAll marketing- no matter which market or industry- is fundamentally about people and making connections.Part of pitching your book will be figuring out how your book relates to your readers and how they will benefit from it.Now that your book is out in the wild, you want to get as many people to it as possible. Here are the eight best strategies for doing just that.NOTE: We cover everything in this post-launch mar keting section and much more about how to build a platform and maintain consistent book sales in our Sell More Books Program. Learn more about it here#1 Build Your Book WebsiteCan you imagine if you came home one day and your house was†¦missing?Well, that is what an author’s life can be like without a website to post fresh content.You’ll always be missing a home where you can park your books. Many authors think they don’t need a website because they can promote their books through social media or the author platform on Amazon.Sorry, not exactly.There is a huge difference. Having an author website is the difference between renting or buying a piece of property. When you rent, you are living in someone else’s space.It doesn’t belong to you and they can cancel your lease at any time. Maintaining your own website on a hosted server with your domain name is the same as having that piece of real estate.You can customize your site your way, publish your own content, and you are always in complete control of how it looks and what gets published.When it comes to book marketing with your own website, the sky’s the limit. You can: Publish your book’s landing page on your site. Post blogs about your upcoming book Create a countdown timer for the book’s release date. Set up an affiliate link to your Amazon page so you get commissions on book sales Include sample chapters from your book Link to video clips about the book on your website Communicate directly with your email subscribers about new releases or your current blog postAnd you can also set up a Google Alert so you can be notified about where your name and your book show up online. If someone gives you good feedback or a stellar review, reach out and thank them and ask them to link back to your book’s website.Action Step:If your book doesn’t already have a website, get one started! To set up your website and personal blog on a paid se rver, you can try Bluehost or Godaddy and use WordPress for building your site.#2 Build Your Email ListThere is a saying going around that says: â€Å"the money is in the list.† Why? It’s simple. A list of followers who are in love with your writing will be the first to line up when you have a new product to sell.These people are essentially your customers.Your email list is yours. It doesn’t belong to Amazon or social media. You control what you want to say, how you say it, and when. Imagine if every time you had a new book ready to launch, hundreds or thousands of people were waiting for it so they could get it first. If you are serious about your book marketing your current project and all future ones as well, building your list shouldbe a top priority. Nothing else comes close.Although building a list takes time, in the long run it is the easiest way to market.These are the true fans that will get the word out and be the first to leave verified reviews afte r buying your new release at the special price of 0.99. But that is just the beginning.You can continue to build your list by including a reader magnet at the front and back of your book. Get people hooked on your brand and then keep them there by writing your next book, and then, including them in your next launch.As your book reaches more people, and you get more signups, your marketing capacity grows†¦exponentially.Action Step:If you haven’t started on your list building, go to an email management system such as Mailchimp or AWeber and sign up for an account. Then get building and start to funnel your fans into your books today.#3 Reach Out to InfluencersWhen it comes to book promoting, nothing can have a bigger impact on your book than influencers through book endorsements.Even Gary Vaynerchuk, one of the most influential and knowledgable people in the marketing game, thinks so. What is an influencer? Influencers can be podcasters, bloggers, or authors with strong e mail lists. It’s someone with an established platform that can get you noticed if they notice you.An influencer is someone who has a lot of promotional weight and can spread the word about your book to thousands of people with just a brief mention to their email list, on their blog, or by sharing on social media, for example.Influencers have a long reach. What you can do is identify the influencers in your niche and reach out to them. Tell them who you are and ask if they can help to promote your latest book.A lot of the time, theyll want a free copy to read and review. You can also offer to support their future endeavors as a way of giving back.Influencers can have a major impact on your exposure as an author, so try to set up interviews in your hometown or reach out to someone online and offer to do an interview so you can deliver value to their target audience.Guest post blogging on an influencer’sblog or website is another way to market your book.For example, if yo u wrote a book on recipes for Italian food, you could try connecting with people in the Italian cooking niche.They may have a blog, podcast, or a webinar on which you want to appear.Action Step:Identify at least one influencer in your market and reach out to that person. Tell them who you are and what you do. Get on their podcast or get interviewed. Exposure to fans in your niche will have a big influence on book sales.#4 Leverage Two Social Media PlatformsSocial media is a powerful way to promote your book to potential readers. We can engage with thousands of people just by hitting a few buttons.But with social media sites, the big scare is the amount of time we can get sucked into trying to do everything. If you try to connect with everyone, you’ll match up with nobody.When promoting and marketing your book, you can’t be everywhere doing all things at once.That is why we recommend you choose two social media sites to work withand post your content regularly on these two sites.For example, you can have a YouTube channeland post weekly videos covering a wide range of topics centering around your book. After a few months, you could build up a library of content that will bring in the right audience, engage with new subscribers, and even create a course out of your videos. Heres an example of Youtube content from a writer currently working on her first fiction novel. She created a Youtube channel to engage fellow writers, who are also readers:By creating a Youtube channel and giving advice about writing, shes appealing to writers while also advertising that she is also a writer and has a book in progress.Switching gears to Facebook, you can promote your book or blog using Facebook adsthat drive new readers to your Facebook page or your book’s website.You could also post popular quotes or snippets of material from your upcoming book. With Twitter, you can post multiple times a day with brief quotes or messages under 280 characters. Twitter h as proven to be a powerful platform for authors when it comes time to promote and market a book.And if your book is more business-focused, you may find that LinkedIn works best for you, since it allows you to connect with new readers on a more professional platform.We recommend choosing two social media platforms and focusing on consistent engagement. This will keep your book’s appearance fresh and invite new people in to check out your work.Using Specific Hashtags to Grow on Social Media#In the writing community, there are a number of very popular hashtags authors and writers use to connect with each other.Why make connections with other authors? Because almost every other isalso a reader!Here are some of the top hashtags you can use on each platform:Twitter#amwriting (as in, I am writing)#writerslife#fantasywriter, #scifiwriter, #contemporarywriter, etc.#writerprobs, #writerproblemsInstagram#amwriting (as in, I am writing)#writerslife#fantasywriter, #scifiwriter, #contempor arywriter, etc.#writerprobs, #writerproblems#writersofig, #writersofinstagram, #writersofinstaFacebook#amwriting (as in, I am writing)#writerslife#fantasywriter, #scifiwriter, #contemporarywriter, etc.#writerprobs, #writerproblemsAction Step:Choose two social media platforms and commit to publishing content regularly. If you only want to focus on one, master it, and then move to another that is perfectly fine! It is better to do one thing and get it right then do two things poorly.#5 Get on BookbubBookbub is the cream of the crop when it comes to promoting and marketing your book. In fact, you should submit your book for promotion as either free or for 99 cents right after your book launch.Bookbub has a massive following and can get your book delivered to thousands of readers. It really is the â€Å"Big One† when it comes to bookmarketing.The cost isn’t cheap and can run you anywhere from $200 to $2,000 for a promo, depending on the genre, category, and the price of y our book.But is it worth it? Yes. Definitely.For example, if you are running a promo for 99 cents in general nonfiction, you could potentially sell, on average, 2,000 copies of your book. Not only will you make a profit, but this could bring in hundreds of subscribers and leads to your email list.From there you can upsell readers on your other books or even a course if you have one.Action Step:Go here for Bookbub submission requirements. You can also check out the pricing here and submit your book here.#6 Interviews and PodcastsA local radio or podcast interview can introduce you to new readers. While this may sound intimidating, you can pull this off like a pro with a little preparation.Look to local colleges, podcast hosts, or local radio stations for interview opportunities(Pro Tip: Hosts love to interview up-and-coming authors, so you may be surprised at the many offers that come your way when you reach out).Reach out, let them know a little bit about your book and why it might be interesting to their audience, and include a free sample of it so they can see if you’d be a good fit.If you have a press release describing what your book is about, feel free to include that as well to give them more context.Then be sure that when you go on, you present a great story about your book and get their listeners excited to read it!Action Step:What are three podcasts or radio shows you could go on to talk about your book? Find their contact info and reach out with a pitch about having you on.#7 Book ClubsLocal book clubs are another goldmine of new readers; you already know they like books! Find and connect with these groups.You can offer to attend a meet-and-greet and hand out copies of your free signed book. You can also get your book listed in Facebook Groups and other groups dedicated to readers.There are also paid lists, such as Buck Books, that can reach tens to hundreds of thousands of readers. Book Launchalso teaches what lists are out there, and which ones are the best to use.Action Step:Are there any book clubs you could join? Look on Facebook for groups that would be a good fit for your book.#8 Write Another BookPublishing another book is great for brand building. In fact, it’s much harder to market just one book unless it is a ground-breaking phenomenal masterpiece.Your book may be great, but you can compound that greatness by writing more books, preferably in a series.With every new book you put out there, you increase the chances of your work getting recognized by influencers and people online who are hanging out in all the places you can target for promotion and sharing.Become a Book Marketing Guru with FREE TrainingLaunching your book is only the beginning. The real work begins after the initial â€Å"bang† is over and you have to dig in deep to promote, engage, and provide solutions to readers’ problems.Remember: Marketing is about delivering a product [your book] to the right people [your audience] who need desperately what you have to offer [your solution].

Discuss the motives underlining M&A and compare the outcomes of the Essay

Discuss the motives underlining M&A and compare the outcomes of the different methodologies used to analyse M&A - Essay Example There are two types of acquisitions; â€Å"private and â€Å"public†. This depends on whether the company acquiring is or is not listed on a public stock market. The difference between Merger and Acquisition is that Merger deals with two companies joining to become one while Acquisition has one company, which is doing the buying (Sherman and Hart, 20016:11). The work that follows discusses the motives underlying M&A, and compares the outcomes of the different methodologies used to analyze M&A. All companies that engage in any business are under one rule: grow or die. Those companies that plan to grow take away market share from their competitors look for the creation of economic profits and provide returns to shareholders (Sherman and Hart, 2006: 1). Those that lack plans on growth are stagnant, do not plan any growth strategies, they end up losing customers and market share and lose shareholder value. Mergers and Acquisitions contribute a lot to these two conditions. It help s the stronger company to grow faster than the competition and ensures quick swallowing of the weaker companies or them making irrelevant through exclusion (Sherman and Hart, 2006:1). Motives underlying M&A Different business enterprises and companies have used Mergers and Acquisitions as a means of growth strategies. ... The three differ according to the ideas behind them (Schmidt, 2010: 67) Economic motives Different authors have devised different theories to explain economic motives that encourage people to engage in Merges and Acquisitions; Efficiency theory This theory presents the motive of benefiting shareholders and managers of the acquiring company (Farschtschian, 2012:18). According to this theory, companies plan and execute Mergers and Acquisitions to achieve financial, operational and managerial synergies (Faulkner, Teerikangas and Joseph, 2012). The shareholders with this motive aim to benefit from net gains through synergy. Monopoly theory Under this theory, companies engage in Mergers and Acquisition with the motive of achieving market power. Mergers and Acquisitions under this motive may allow companies to cross-subsidize products, at the same time limit competitions in more than one market, and discourage potential entrants from the market. All of this result to monopoly power for the company. The shareholders under this motive aim at the wealth transfers from customers. Managerial Motives Theories that explain managerial motives include; Empire/Agency building theory This theory shows the motive aimed at benefiting managers. In this motive, managers plan for Mergers and Acquisitions aiming at maximizing their own utility instead of shareholders’ value (Karenfort, 2011: 9). The managers, according to this theory, plan to engage the company in mergers and Acquisition aiming at benefiting or creating their own reputation. Another motive is the need to transform to a corporate identity or recognition. This is where companies merge to gain popularity (Sherman and Hart, 2006:13). Financial motives The following theories explain the

Write an essay of approximately 750 words (approximately 3 pages) in - 1

Write an of approximately 750 words (approximately 3 pages) in length to answer the following prompt - Essay Example Some of these restrictions include speech related to slander, libel, hate speech, incitement against the government, classified word, and obscenity, intruding another individual privacy among others. In the United States, freedom of speech also known as freedom of expression is protected by the first Amendment of the American Constitution. This paper aims at evaluating whether virtual protest tactics such as the Direct Denial of Services Attack should be protected by the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution. In my opinion, the virtual protest tactics ought to be protected by the First Amendment of the American Constitution. The reason is that various individuals use these tactics to seek, impart and receive information about various issues thus utilizing their freedom of speech or expression. Further, people also use the virtual protest tactics to express their opinions and ideas regarding different issues in the society and also agree and disagree on some of the issues they find oppressing in the society. According to the constitution of the United States, every individual has the right to express their views on particular matters such as government issues through the use of any medium or channel (First Amendment, 2014). Therefore, the virtual protests are ideas and opinions of people that are communicated through the use of the internet as well as other social media platforms thus should be protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. In addition, virtual protest tactics ought to be protected by the First Amendment of the American Constitution. It is because its primary aim is to inspire and motivate individuals to push for their rights and also air their grievances to the government. That, therefore, shows that these tactics are used to improve the methods used by people to express themselves as indicated in the freedom of speech. For