Israel s International Affairs A Major Issue Of Social...

Despite all of the focus on Israel’s international affairs, ranging from relations with the United States, persistent conflicts with Palestine, and back and forths with Iran, Israel has a major issue of social inequality within their nation. Despite narrowing the number of Israelis in poverty and raising incomes in recent years, Inequality in Israel is still one of the highest of the Western developed countries. According to a report released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 18.6% of Israelis live beneath the poverty line, which can be defined as those who earn less than 50% of Israel’s median national income. Meanwhile, the top 10%, much to the chagrin of politicians like Bernie Sanders, were taking in nearly 36% of the Israel’s income while the bottom 10% were pulling less than 2%. Therefore, I believe that for Israel’s economy to grow, the country must focus on addressing the rampant inequality that their citizens face. The more people that earn more, the better off the nation will be as a whole. One of the most common and popular statistics to look at when discussing inequality is the famous Gini coefficient. Despite Israel’s Gini coefficient dropping from .371 in 2007 to .360 in 2013, the country still ranks much closer to the â€Å"1† mark than most developed nations. It is important to note that Israel’s issue of income inequality does not stem simply from policies enacted by the current and former administrations, but rather a culturalShow MoreRelatedThe Palestinian And Palestinian State3134 Words   |  13 Pagesunbiased approach towards the actions/ reactions of these tense regions. Covering the everlasting issues of: yielding palestinian refugees, border regulation, global recognition Since the region is so rich with it’s cultural and religious reputation, violence has been extremely evident on both sides. 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My Ambition Of Wanting To Become A Teacher Originates From

My ambition of wanting to become a teacher originates from my own educational experience. Being brought up in Korea, the United States, and Canada, I experienced new places, cultures, and languages wherever my family moved. I am grateful for this unique upbringing, but it also brought a fair amount of struggle. Amidst the overwhelming feeling of trying to absorb the new environments and trying to make friends however, my teacher at each of the schools were the constants in my life. They made me feel safe in their classroom, they were supporting and encouraging of my efforts to learn a new language and culture, and they accepted me as who I was. As I started to ponder my own future career, I thought to myself that this is something I want†¦show more content†¦I taught a science unit on strong and stable structure. Students participated in a class brainstorm of the topic (mind map). Then, they individually selected the factor that most interested them and designed and conducte d an investigation to examine their chosen factor. Mini lessons are provided on experimental design along with investigation recording reports that support learners according to their needs and interests. For my fourth practicum experience, I was fortunate to participate in an unique alternative practicum placement, in Boston, MA. Setting up classrooms, routines, and getting to know the students were a few of the many important things that were happening in the days before and first days of school. I have participated in creating curriculum planning, read stories, lead direct instruction and sensory tables. Introduction to the Classroom/School Context I was in a grade 3 classroom with 20 students, 13 girls and 7 boys. One student had IEP and other student had learning and language difficulties. The classroom was well organized and students were extremely engaged. 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Peruvian Andean Women Free Essays

This research will focus on the Andean woman of Peru in the sixteen century. First, I will explore the role that the woman played in the Inca society. Secondly, I will reflect on the impact the Spanish invasion had on the role woman played in her kinship, in the household, in religion and in relation with productive activities and politics. We will write a custom essay sample on Peruvian Andean Women or any similar topic only for you Order Now Later on, I will discuss the contradictory perceptions of the Andean woman as a victim and as a skilful negotiator. Furthermore, I will focus on change and continuation of the roles that women played in society. The impact of the changes in the demography of Andean communities and all over the Inca empire, the labour division and degradation of the status that women played in society in contrast with the relationship between Spanish men and Indigenous women and its repercussions in the society. Peruvian Andean Woman Before the arrival of Spaniards onto Peruvian soil, Andean woman enjoyed a respected position in the Inca society and was an active collaborator and participant of the political, religious and economic life of the Inca Empire. Silverblatt (1978); presents different elements to show the parallel role of woman and man in Inca societies, like the structure of kinships, she noticed that women were entitled to inherit lands following her maternal line and men through their paternal line. She also observes that the authority in the kinship was not related to gender but to birth order. She continues focusing on the active role of women in the economy and their labor roles; specializing as weavers, brewers, traders and agronomists. A reference to a plead to Carlos V of Spain, requesting protection for indigenous women from Spaniard’s abuses, stresses the importance of women’s work as essential to household labor and complementary to men’s. Karen Viera Powers (2000) noticed the clash between Spanish and native understanding of gender relations, gender roles and sexuality. She puts special emphasis in gender parallelism and complementary roles of men and women, acknowledging that women and men performed different social, political and economic roles; but that these where perceived as equally mportant and that their contributions were valued in the same manner. Powers argues that marriage was not a form of subordination but that â€Å"the Andean ceremony clearly symbolized a union of equals through a ritual gift exchange between husband and wife and between their families that was intended to create balance and harmony between peers. † The Spanish could not understand the way in which t he Inca Empire worked, the Spanish failed to comprehend the reciprocity, parallel and complementary activities performed in the community and impacted a well organized system forever. The role of women in pregnancy, childbirth and childcare was associated with fertility and considered significant to the subsistence and survival of the community. Every year the communities in the Inca empire were inspected by the Inca officials whom had the task to chose the most beautiful virgins to become wives of the Inca. The virgins called acllas, that means chosen in Quechua, were secluded in special institutions to guard their sexuality. These women were expert weavers that produced fine cloths that were used in religious ceremonies or given as gifts to Inca’s allies. Some were taken by the Inca as second wives or married to Inca nobles or to rulers of conquered territories to seal alliances. Polygamy and exogamy for political purposes was very common among the elite members of the Inca Empire. When the Spanish arrived, the Incas tried to consolidate alliances with them through offering women in marriage. In the words of Karen Viera Powers: The Inca’s assignment of beautiful young women to be wives to his allies, not only created intra-elite and interethnic bonds through a reward system, but also produced a sophisticated, hybrid political system. The role of the women in the colonial society has been studied with prejudice towards women. Elinor Burkett (1978) condemns authors who have written with prejudice towards women and presents a different approach focusing on â€Å"indigenous society by considering tribute as a household rather than an individual obligation. † Men and women worked as a team, as did the whole family. Indeed men and women even shared some professions. Karen Graubart (2000) explains this by citing the chronicles of Fray Bernabe Cobo: The Indian women spin not only at home, but when they go outside, whether they are sanding in one place or walking. As long as they are not doing something else with their hands, walking does not interfere with their spinning, which is what most of them are doing when we meet them on the streets†¦. Although women are the ones who generally practice this occupation as their own, nevertheless, in some places the men consider it to be their own also. After making the thread, it is doubled and twisted; they never weave with single threads. The same women twist it in the same way as they spin it, and some of the men will generally help in this, especially the old men who are not able to do other work. Karen Graubert (2000) argues that the chronicles are bias identifying the work performed by Andean women as proper: when they weave, make chicha (corn beer), cook and undertake other type of agricultural work. When the Andean men produced textiles they were considered as artisans. While both, men and women were producing a garment to be paid as tribute for the state and religion, these activities were identified and constructed as distinct. Graubert observed a more detailed description of the works performed by women in the writings of Pedro Cieza de Leon, when he says: These women are hard workers: because they are the ones who break the ground, and sow the fields, and reap the harvests. And many of their husbands are in the house weaving and spinning and repairing their weapons and clothing, and†¦ doing other female activities. The Spanish had an ethnocentric view of how society, gender relations and religion were supposed to be. They imposed their political models onto Andean societies and destroyed the organization of the Inca society. Women were removed from their former positions of authority, and the society was transformed into a male-centric society where women had to depend on men for formal representation. Under Spanish rule, the Inca noblewomen were not allowed to attend to new schools, only indigenous men were allowed into the educative system set up by friars to educate the native elite. The Inca Queens of the Andes lost her status. Her role as the axis of the female political system was eliminated. The Spanish faith excluded women of all participation in religious practices and women were forbidden to perform former roles of midwife, healer and confessor. Although, despite all the efforts of the Spanish to convert Indians and introduced them to Christianity, Indians found ways to hold onto their beliefs and to continue their ancestral practices. According to Irene Silverblatt (1978): Among the archival material there is a legal suit which documents a cult to â€Å"Woman Moon,† a goddess venerated by women from several neighbouring communities. This feminine cult crossed community boundaries, articulating women from different kin groups in an organization centred around the worship of the moon. The Spanish, influenced by 800 years of war with the Moors, viewed the world under patriarchal eyes and condemned these practices. The transformation of the Inca society took place through Catholic syncretism; Andeans understood the new religion through their religious believes, associating the image of Mary and female saints with the moon and mother earth. Spanish priests did not rest emphasising the importance of virginity and introduced legal codes that defined extramarital sex as criminal (Powers, 2000). The new Spanish system to forced labor, created changes in the role of women but also impacted the demography of the communities all over the Inca Empire. An example of this is found in the work of Bianca Premo; she observed an imbalanced population in the Chucuito census, imbalance that she attributes to a â€Å"combination of deception and real absence† of men: Almost 45 percent of adult women were said to be unmarried†¦ The total number of unmarried adults in the province seems higher than might be expected in communities where land rights were linked to marriage and where marriage amounted adulthood. The way in which the Spanish used, abused and transformed the organisation of the tributary Inca system and its networks and lines of kinship have resulted in impoverishment and isolation of Andean regions. While in the Inca tributary system, the government taxed only men and women who were married, during the Spanish rule the taxes were imposed on men, women and widows. While the Andean male population was being depleted in the mines and through infections and diseases, the Spanish populations grew due to immigration and higher birth rates (Powers, 2000). In 1618, legislation was enacted requiring women to stay in the villages, even if their husbands were absent or had disappeared. As Premo (2000) observed, the labor in mines, especially in the case of Potosi, left the community of Chicuito and other nearby communities without the support of men; single women and widows were paying tribute by weaving textiles, with the aid of young children. Premo cited a local leader reporting: The whole community is working for the benefit of the tribute and it is impossible to pay in silver more than we already are neither women nor the old nor the children can contribute more. In a community called Juli, Jesuits priests were accused to have had women locked up, sewing day and night. Another example of exploitation of the women labor is found in a reference to a letter dated on 1672, where Viceroy Conde de Lemos is quoted: In these already dissipated provinces, the judges from Potosi take these Indians, leaving the land uncultivated and the women and children without anything to eat. In contrast to views that the women were exploited and abused by the Spanish, we also have the accounts of Elinor Burkett; she recompiled information about Andean women working in household as domestics, inheriting from Spanish people, sewing and engaged in small trading; while men were isolated in mining work, construction and agriculture. According to Burkett, the proximity of Andean women to Spanish men, Spanish women and Spanish families put her in a privilege position than the Andean men; she learnt the language, customs and ways of the Spanish. Burkett (1978), examining records of Potosi, finds Indian women selling pastry, candy, silver items, groceries, bread, preparing food and selling other goods and concludes that the Andean women is depicted as a strong, wilful woman, either Indian or mestiza, aggressive economically and socially. Conclusions After a thorough research of the role of the Peruvian women in the sixteen century, I have observed the great challenges that Peruvian women had encountered during that period, from having a religion an identity related to beauty, reproduction and in some cases chosen as priests, they were not only forced into a new belief system but also forbidden to practice their religious rituals. Their Inca queens also lost any trace of royalty and became mistresses. Their man, partner and parallel was taken by the new government and forced to labor. From being an integral part of the kin, women became workers, in many cases they were enslaved, chained, raped and treated like the last rung in the ladder of society. Nevertheless, the Peruvian women, went to the mines looking for their partners, to the point that Spain had to edict legislation to stop them. The Andean women, adjusted to the changes, she wove when she had to weave, but she also looked for other opportunities, migrated, sold cloths, became a trader, worked in Spanish household and also learnt the language. Nowadays, Peruvian indigenous women have just as much a central role within a household as 500 years ago; they are often the primary caregivers of family and kinship and continue to play a vital role in the Peruvian society. How to cite Peruvian Andean Women, Papers

South Africa’s Economic Environment

Questions: 1.Africas most developed, but stuttering economy faces the danger of ratings cuts from agencies worried that Pretoria might not stay on a thrifty fiscal path, after President Jacob Zuma inexplicably shuffled finance ministers twice four days in December? 2.Moving forward, structural reforms are imperative to reduce policy uncertainty, boost confidence, tackle structural impediments, and lower vulnerabilities, the global lender said? 3.Explain what appropriate steps the South Africa government and reserve bank might have taken? 4.Discuss the effect of South Africas challenging economic environment as outlined in the article, on unemployment. Make special reference to the effect of appropriate steps to counter rising government debt and inflation? 5.Discuss the Market structure of the grocery market in South Africa as outlined in the article. Make reference to characteristics of market structures? 6.With reference to the kinked demand curve do you a price war is a good strategic move for the four main food retailers in the current South African grocery market? Discuss the effect of a price war on consumers and smaller rival grocery retailers? 7.A single national grocery retailer operating in a Shopping Centre may be in position to charge higher prices due to the lack of competition. Discuss , with the aid of a fully labeled diagram how the exclusivity clauses in the lease agreements allow for monopoly prices and therefor economic profit for food retailers operating in malls? 8.Explain, using examples, how the four main retailers can use concepts of price elasticity of demand cross elasticity of demand and income elasticity of demand for revenue maximization and demand planning? Answers: South Africas Tough Economic Environment 1. For some time now, the South African economy has been stuttering. Mainly, this was brought about by President Jacob Zumas unprecedented reshuffling of the countrys finance ministers twice in four days in at the end of last year. As a result, the economy faced the danger of rating cuts from organizations that were worried about Pretorias fiscal stability (SA Faces Tough, 2016). In addition to this, one can attribute the economys stuttering to the fact that the government goals, although honorable and justifiable are accompanied with large amounts of wastage, cronyism and policy experimentation. Furthermore, the international community has lost confidence in the Zuma administration. For this reason, there is great fear that the government might instigate unfavorable fiscal policies that may affect the business environment in the country (Mapenzauswa, 2016). Besides, South Africa is a divided nation. Specifically, the ruling party, African National Congress has adopted populist policies in the economy to gain mass support (Tshabalala, 2015). All these factors combined have led to the stuttering of the economy, exposing it to the risk of rating cuts from institutions who are concerned that the economy might dwindle. 2. The Zuma administration set a nine-point plan to initiate structural reforms and promote business and investments in the country. Firstly, the plan sought to resolve the energy challenge in the nation (Pressly, 2015). Secondly, it highlights the need to revitalize and increase the agriculture value chain. This way, the economy can reap gains more from the agricultural sector. Thirdly, the strategy focuses on advancing beneficiation and addition of value to the countrys mineral resources. In turn, these structural reforms in the energy, agricultural, and mining would bring about intense economic growth in the country. The fourth agenda pertains to the governments plan to ensure efficient execution of a higher impact Industrial Action Policy (IPAP). Through this reform, the government can raise the impact of its interventions to support industrial development and re-industrialize the economy (South African Government, 2015). Likewise, the fifth plan aims at encouraging private sector investments in South Africa. To this effect, the Zuma administration set up an investment clearinghouse in the Department of Trade and Industry to support international and local investments and reduce regulatory inefficiencies. Consequently, this would enhance investments and business in the nation. The sixth agenda sought to moderate workplace conflict. On the other hand, the primary goal of the seventh agenda is to unlock the potential of rural enterprises, cooperatives, townships and SMMEs (Pressly, 2015). Subsequently, this is expected to pilot the informal sector and increase business activities in the aggregate economy. Correspondingly, the eighth point focuses on advancing the role of state-owned enterprises, information and communication technology infrastructure and sanitation, water, and transport infrastructure. Lastly, the ninth plan is the Operation Phakisa whose primary goal is to grow the ocean economy (South African Government, 2015). Indeed, the implementation and complete execution of these structural reforms would bring about an increase in investments and business activity in South Africa. 3. In order to counter the rising inflation and government debt, the SA government together with the SA Reserve Bank instigated appropriate steps in the economy. To begin with, the two set the public finances under control despite the adverse political development at the time. In addition, the Zuma administration continued to demonstrate a commitment to translate the nine-point development plan into action, thus ensuring that the economy remained an investment hub (Reuters, 2016). Further, the government made excellent progress on countering rising debts. Particularly, the 2016/2017 budget and the fiscal plan is expected to create stability in the economy and reduce the overall debt metric (Khuzwayo, 2016). Moreover, the Reserve Bank works towards a less severe tightening of monetary policy in the country. In turn, this supports economic growth. 4. Characteristically, South Africas challenging economic environment has had an adverse impact on the level of unemployment in the nation. However, the steps undertaken by the government has reduced the level of unemployment. Precisely, the implementation of these strategies has brought about an increase in opportunities in various sectors of the economy. Specifically, opportunities have been created in the agricultural, marine, manufacturing and transport and communication sector. In turn, this has led to the improvement of the citizens standards of living. In addition, the subsequent drop in government debt will allow the economy to invest locally and create more employment opportunities for its residents. South Africas Grocery Market 5. Profoundly, the grocery market in South Africa is oligopolistic. Mainly, is based on the fact that few large retailers dominate the market. These firms include PicknPay, Woolworths, Spar, and Shoprite. Cumulatively, these four enterprises have a market share of 90 percent (SA Aims, 2016). For this reason, they have a tremendous market power and dominate the industry. In addition, these firms collude to create barriers that prevent the entry of rival firms. Currently, these firms have signed leasing agreements that restrict malls from renting out space to rival retailers. In turn, this has made it difficult for other retailers to join the grocery industry in the country. Moreover, their large market share allows them to influence market prices. Thus, they can charge higher prices without necessarily losing their market share. Besides, the lack of direct competition has increased their power to raise prices beyond the rate that would prevail in a competitive market. 6. With reference to the kinked demand curve, a price war is not a good strategic move for the four large retailers in the South African grocery market. According to this model, sellers follow a price cut policy and ignore a price rise strategy by the rival company. Thus, by engaging in a price war, firms will continuously reduce their prices in response to a competitors price decrease strategy. The more aggressive the price war is, the more the companies will offer price discounts. Notably, the introduction of price cuts will significantly reduce revenues and profits. In the long run, this may result in losses for the retailers. In extreme cases, losses may result in the closing down of a companys operations. For this reason, it is irrational for oligopolies to engage in price wars. Instead, it is advisable that they engage in non-price wars such as warranties, gifts, and advertising. 7. A single national grocery retailer operating in a shopping center may be in a position to charge higher prices due to lack of competition. Particularly, this occurs because the company dominates the market. Specifically, the retailer possesses a great market power that allows it to influence the prices of its goods and services. At this point, the firm operates as a monopoly due to lack of competition which is facilitated by the exclusivity clauses in lease arrangements. Consequently, this results in higher economic profits for the food retailers operating in malls while reducing the economic welfare of its customers. Source: (Khan, n.d.). 8. Notably, the four retailers can adopt the concept of cross elasticity of demand price elasticity of demand, and income elasticity of demand to plan for demand and achieve maximum revenues. Usually, different products have different types of price elasticity of demand. Therefore, for those products that have a high PED, the retailer should refrain from increasing their prices as it would significantly reduce their demand and decrease sales. In contrast, the retailer may increase the prices of products with low PED such as milk and kales. Normally, a significant increase in the price of these products leads to only a slight drop in its demand. Therefore, the store may reap more profits from increasing their prices. In the same way, the four retailers may implement the concept of cross elasticity of demand to improve their sales. Basically, the model elucidates the sensitivity of demand for one commodity following a variation in the price of another product (Moffatt, 2017). Thus, using this concept, firms can influence the pricing of goods depending on whether they are supplementary or complementary. Generally, retailers should refrain from increasing the price of commodities that have substitutes since it will lead to a reduction in their demand (Khan, n.d.). For example, if it increases the prices of fresh tomatoes, consumers may shift to tomato paste. On the other hand, it may increase the price of products that do not have substitutes such as onions, without reducing their demand, thereby safeguarding their sales and revenue. Furthermore, these retailers may use the theory of income elasticity of demand (YED) to improve its sales. Basically, YED pertains to the sensitivity of demand for a product to variation in the income of customers. Thus, they should increase the price of normal goods when the income of the consumer increases. This way, an increase in the buyers income will lead to a higher demand for these products. 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