Analize a social problem in the community in which I live Essay

Analize a social problem in the community in which I live - Essay Example The mental health professionals hold important positions in implementation and strategizing such an intervention, and one such project has been presented here that can be implemented. Following implementation, this proposal incorporates an idea to evaluate to see how far it has been able to achieve success in reducing bullying or implementing the social change in the community. "But it did not end there. As soon as Amanda got home, the instant messages started popping up on her computer screen. She was a tattletale and a liar, they said. Shaken, she typed back, "You stole my stuff!" She was a "stuck-up bitch," came the instant response in the box on the screen, followed by a series of increasingly ugly epithets." This is the story of Amanda, writes Harmon (2004) in her New York Times article, "Internet Gives Teenage Bullies Weapons to Wound From Afar" published on August 26, 2004. This is a consequence of a fight that started at school, when Amanda Marcuson dared to report the makeup in her pencil case stolen in the school by some eighth-grade classmates (Harmon, 2004). Amanda, however, said the girls never said a word to her in person, and she thought, "It seems like people can say a lot worse things to someone online than when theyre actually talking to them," (Harmon, 2004) but, these messages went to the full capacity of her cell phone mailbox. This is the picture of the county where this author lives, Westchester County in NY State, USA. It seems bullying is no longer an evidence of cruelty that is confined to schools; the quarrels can be pursued and amplified even from a distance into homes in a more devious manner. Most likely bullying is inbred in schools for perhaps as long as schools have existed. Recently, systematic investigation has confirmed to be a pervasive phenomenon. However, in her discussion, Arehart-Treichel (2004) comments that parents and teachers have become more determined to have actions taken

A Life Of Sacrifice History Essay

A Life Of Sacrifice History Essay November 13, 2010 wasnt a special day to many people. But to about fifty million Burmese, it might be the turning point of their lives. On that day, a lady called Aung San Suu Kyi was released from detention. In front of her house, a crowd of her supporters gathered together to celebrate the release. The lady is the pro-democracy leader of Burma and has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years, most of it under house arrest. Define Moral courage Thesis statement. Aung San Suu Kyi was the only daughter of Aung San, the man considered to be the founder of modern Burma. Unfortunately, Suu Kyi was only two years old when her father was assassinated in 1948. She hardly remembered anything about this great man. But even though I never really knew him, she said, I was always told how much the Burmese people loved and revered him.' (The Lady) Aung San Suu Kyi spent a lot of time learning about her fathers philosophy and commitment to the cause of independence. This desire to understand her fathers feelings eventually translated into the belief that she had to finish the job that her father had begun. When Aung San Suu Kyi was fifteen years old, her mother Khin Kyi was appointed Burmese ambassador to India. As a result, Suu Kyi moved to India to accompany her mother. Upon arriving in India, Suu Kyi spent one year in a strict convent school. The following year she attended Delhi University, where she learned about political science. During the first few years when Suu Kyi lived in India, she explored the lessons of passive resistance of Mahatma Ghandi and Jawaharlal Nehru. When Suu Kyi was accepted at St. Hughs College at Oxford, she left Delhi University. As an undergraduate at St. Hughs in Oxford, Suu Kyi was remembered as very demure and genuinely innocent, yet with a strong sense of belonging to the Burmese elite. (The Lady 48). Two years after Suu Kyi received her degree, she left for New York. When Suu Kyi arrived in New York to stay with Ma Than E, the older woman had just started working at United Nations headquarters. At Ma Than Es suggestion, Suu Kyi decided to resume her studies at a later date and instead apply for a job at the United Nations. In March 1988, Suu Kyi received a call from a close family friend in Burma, informing Suu Kyi that her mother had suffered a severe stroke. Almost immediately, Suu Kyi began packing. I had a premonition, Michael wrote in the introduction to a collection of essays about his wife, that our lives would change forever. (Burmas Iron Aunty) The next morning Suu Kyi was on a plane heading to Burma. When Aung San Suu Ki arrived in Rangoon to care for her mother, General Ne Wins military socialist government had been in power for twenty-six years. During that time, Burma had gone from being one of the richest nations in Southeast Asia to one of the poorest, most isolated, and most corrupt countries in the world. Thousands of monks, students, and ordinary civilians took to the streets in protest against the government. For weeks, as Suu Kyi nursed her mother in the hospital, the violence intensified, with groups of young people marauding through the streets of Rangoon.(The lady 56) By June, the doctors announced that there was no hope that Suu Kyis mother would recover. Suu Kyi made the decision to take her mother home to University Avenue, where she could die peacefully in her own room. Aung San Suu Kyi has never claimed that when she came to Burma in 1988, it was to lead a pro-democracy movement. It wasnt as if the students were organized in definite political groups in 1988, Suu Kyi once explained. The democracy movement evolved out of general chaos that was everywhere in Burma. It was this climate of rebellion that caused many political groups to emerge, which eventually coalesced into a democracy movement. On August 8, 1988, a day known as the Four 8s, a nationwide strike was called and that included students, civilians, lawyers, doctors, monks and civil servants. Crowds surged into the streets for a pro-democracy demonstration. Sein Lwin responded by ordering troops to open fire. However, the demonstrations continued and the death toll mounted. As Suu Kyi nursed her dying mother, she was kept informed daily of the news and mourned those who lost their lives on the streets of Burmese cities. By then, rumors that Aung San Suu Kyi was in the country had already sp read. Many people believed that the presence of General Aung Sans daughter in Burma meant that more than fifty years of repression, civil unrest, and violence would finally end. All of a sudden, pictures of General Aung San became a prominent symbol of the pro-democracy movement. In response to the hundreds of thousands of people who continued to demonstrate throughout the countries, Aung San Suu Kyi wrote an open letter to the government proposing that a committee be formed for the sole purpose of leading the country toward multiparty elections. Within days, Suu Kyi became a public figure, speaking out for human-rights and liberal free-market economic system. On August 26, surrounded by her supporters, she spoke to a crowd estimated at half a million people. Her message was simple: nonviolence, human-rights, and democracy. For Burmese, Suu Kyi not only was a poignant reminder of the past, but a living symbol of hope for the future. (Body paragraphs continued, influence of Buddhism, In 1991, this once obscure Burmese woman, when she had been living in exile for more than two decades and had been under house arrest for three years, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. There was no better way for the pro-democracy movement in Burma to make the world aware of the political repression throughout the country than for Aung San Suu Kyi and to have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet, there were many people, especially within Daw Suu Kyis inner circle, who feared that winning the prize would make it even more difficult for Daw Suu Kyi and the SLORC to come to any compromise. As the eighth woman in history to win the peace prize, and the first to receive it while in captivity, Daw Suu Kyi became the focus of a variety of human-rights groups throughout the world, as well as the United States Department of State under the Clinton administration-which suddenly put the pro-democracy movement in Burma high on its international agenda. (The lady) Prior to the summer protests, there had been growing unease in the population regarding the economic distress of the country which has stagnant economic growth and is ranked among the 20 poorest countries in the world according to the United Nations.[9] Many, including the United Nations have blamed the economic problems on the leadership of the military junta and the proportion of national income spent on the armed forces. In late 2006, the cost of basic commodities began rising sharply in Burma with rice, eggs, and cooking oil increasing by 30-40%. According to the BBC, on 22 February 2007, a small group of individuals protested the current state of consumer prices in the country. While the protest was small and careful not to be seen as directed at the military junta, officials jailed nine of the protesters. The military junta detained eight people on Sunday, 22 April 2007 who took part in a rare demonstration in a Yangon suburb amid a growing military crackdown on protesters. A g roup of about ten protesters carrying placards and chanting slogans staged the protest Sunday morning in Yangons Thingangyun township, calling for lower prices and improved health, education and better utility services. The protest ended peacefully after about 70 minutes, but plainclothes police took away eight demonstrators as some 100 onlookers watched. On 15 August 2007 the government removed subsidies on fuel causing a rapid and unannounced increase in prices.[11] The government, which has a monopoly on fuel sales, raised prices from about $1.40 to $2.80 a gallon, and boosted the price of natural gas by about 500%.[9] This increase in fuel prices led to an increase in food prices. Soon afterwards, protesters took to the streets to protest the current conditions. These peaceful protests of September 2007 in Burma were not brought to any significant conclusion. The protests were not brought by opposition groups, or foreign governments. However, the Burmese lay people, and the monks were frustrated with the economic and political situation of the country. When the time came activists monks successfully brought together the people of Burma to protest. These protests gave sight to many young people to witness first-hand the brutality of an authoritarian government, thus making them realize the sacrifices the people had to make while fi ghting for political changes in Burma. Furthermore, the junta agreed to talk to the opposition because they want a win-win situation for all. The catch being that the opposition groups follow the rules of the government as of now. Despite all of the talks going on between groups, true democratic changes are still far from being obtained, making the political future of the country uncertain. On the evening of May 3, 2009, Yettaw swam a 2-kilometer (1.25-mile) distance across Lake Inya in Rangoon to the house where Aung San Suu Kyi was held under house arrest by Myanmar authorities. He asked Suu Kyi if he could stay at the house for a few days. She refused, and her caretakers threatened to turn him in to the authorities, but Suu Kyi agreed to let him stay on the ground floor after he began to complain about leg cramps. The Myanmar government requires all non-family overnight visitors to be registered and forbids overnight stays by foreigners. As a result of the 2009 visit, the authorities declared that Suu Kyi breached the conditions of her house arrest.[25] She was charged under the countrys Law Safeguarding the State from the Dangers of Subversive Elements, which carried a three-to-five-year jail term. (legacies and influences) One of the most difficult challenges that Aung San Suu Kyi faces is not only to bring democracy to Burma, but to achieve that goal without putting the people at risk. (her nonviolence philosophy) It is a difficult task since the Burmese people have been shut off from the rest of the world for decades, and do not believe democracy and freedom to be their inalienable rights. As a result, Daw Suu Kyis role lies somewhere between that of a politician who leads the people toward democracy, and a spiritual figure who encourages people to take their initiatives in riding the country of an oppressive regime. For the majority of the Burmese people, the most important sacrifice that Aung San Suu Kyi made for them was not giving in to the SLORCs demands during the six years that the military kept her under house arrest. The SLORC insists that at any time during those years. The lady always had the choice of safe passage out of Burma in a car to the airport and a free one-way ticket back to England where she had been living for the last two decades. For Suu Kyi, that was always an unacceptable alternative. It is also her credit that she refused a sign of courage and stamina that she remained steadfast in her commitment to bring democracy to her country of birth. (The lady) Since 1988, when Aung San Suu Kyi first became visibly involved in the struggle for democracy, the people have become even devoted and loyal to her, more committed to the cause of freedom in Burma, and more dependent on her to bring their plight to the worlds attention. If that were not the case, the NLD would have never survived-and grown-despite all the obstacles the government has put in its way since 1988. (Conclusion) Courage means to work for what you believe with perseverance and to be strong and to have good will. Its not courageous to use ones physical strength and to shout loudly, said Suu Kyi. It is undeniable that Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrated her moral courage. Her sense of responsibility helped Burmese achieve their final goal. Her own little step was a big step to democracy progress in Burmese Unplayed Piano.

Essay --

The Adolf Coors Company is one of the world’s largest brewing companies in the world, and third largest brewing company in the United States. But what makes Coors different from other brewers is its unique advantages and disadvantages in the brewing industry. Coors maintains a certain brand image or â€Å"mystique† that – while positively influencing the company – also causes some strategy problems. The first main problem for Coors is distribution. Coors is branded as a cold, fresh beer and has profited from this immensely in their sales. There are several factors that contribute to this brand image and are ultimately advantages to the company. However, some of these advantages come at a cost. While Coors’ â€Å"pure Rocky Mountain spring water† has been emphasized by the company for over a half century, this water comes from 60 springs on company-owned land where its brewery is in Golden, Colorado. In order to be true to their image, Coors does not want to brew any beer without the fresh â€Å"spring water† of the Rockies. This means Coors is in a bind if interested in shipping beer to parts of the United States such as the east coast. Not only would the beer be extremely expensive to ship over 1500 miles, there is another problem with the idea of shipping the brews across America from a single plant: Coors does not pasteurize their beer. They claim that the heat the beer would experience during a normal ship would harm the taste of the beer. This means that shipments of their unpasteurized beer need to be kept cold the duration of the ship to stay fresh. However, concern about the 25-30 million barrel ceiling on capacity at the Golden, Colorado sites makes it an intriguing prospective to expand sites considering the recent yearl... ...h the beer may be as â€Å"fresh† as Coors claims, companies that do pasteurize their beer are able to ship it across America without the worry and hassle of keeping it cold throughout the duration of the ship. I mentioned reasons as to why this poses some potential problems for the company earlier in this assessment. It’s no mistake that Coors has gained the reputation they have – and it’s mostly a worthy appraisal of the company. As a customer, seeing the extent to which Coors goes to maintain a fresh, unique, brew would make me want to try their product over other â€Å"typical† breweries. However, the very reasons that has led to success for Adolph Coors Company, is also the very reasons why Coors faces potential growth problems. Aside from the problems that Coors’ is dealing with as a result of their pledge to â€Å"freshness,† what other problems does the company face.

College Essay (Soccer)

As a senior, my team and I take our first step onto the turf field; we go on as a family that is striving to bring home the cup. This is my first, yet last chance to do this. The heat from the turf moves through my cleats and onto my feet. The intensity of the sun is shining straight down on me and the sweat is just beginning to start. Then my mind rewinds back to those few words that crushed me terribly last year coming from the varsity soccer coach, â€Å"I think it’d be best if you played on junior varsity this season. I spent countless nights being angry that I did not make varsity and I felt somewhat like a loser because I was a junior playing on the JV team. After a few weeks, I figured it was pointless to feel pity for myself and decided that I was going to show everyone how great I could be. Soccer has been my addiction since I was five and nothing could ever replace the desire for it. My father taught me the rules and coached me; I was set on making sure I knew every aspect of the game, attempting to perfect every skill. I was in complete disbelief when I was not put on the varsity squad, I thought I was good.I knew I had to get better because there is always room for progress. My first step was to improve my physical condition by running and lifting. Running was something that I dreaded to do every day, but knew it was so vital to do. I absolutely despised running, every time I wanted to stop I would just think, â€Å"A starter wouldn’t stop running until they’ve reached the end†. Lifting weights was an activity that I found enjoyable and did not mind doing. Besides exercising, I spent numerous hours working on my ball skills; juggling, controlling, and passing everything a starting player should be precise at.Finally, after many long months, my hard work had paid off. During tryouts I showed everyone that I was a zealous and determined player, taking practice serious and hustling for every drill. The varsity coach awarded me with a starting position for the team my senior year. My determined work ethic, initiative and discipline helped me to get where I am now. To this day I continue to work hard at every practice, even though I am starter. Slacking off is not an option for me. I have applied this lesson to many areas in my life including school work, sports and volunteer work. I am not a quitter and am never satisfied until I achieve my goals.

Example of a Research Plan Essay

Statement of the Problem The aim of the study is to identify the effect of different pH level of the Agar plate to the antibacterial activity of Santol (Sandoricum koet jape). Specifically, the study will seek for the answer of the question: 1.) Is there any difference on the No.of colonies after applying Santol (Sandoricum koet jape) extract on the Agar plate with pH level greater than seven (base)? 2.) Is there any difference on the No.of colonies after applying Santol (Sandoricum koet jape) extract on the Agar plate with pH level less than seven (acid)? Hypothesis 1.) There is no difference on the No.of colonies after applying Santol (Sandoricum koet jape) extract on the Agar plate with pH level greater than seven (base). 2.) There is difference on the No.of colonies after applying Santol (Sandoricum koet jape) extract on the Agar plate with pH level less than seven (acid). Research Methodology Materials and Equipment The study will make use of: Agar Plates, specifically Nutrient Agar, for different tests and as a controlled variable for the problem, Nutrient Broth, same purpose as the nutrient agar, Santol (Sandoricum koet jape) extract, Escherichia coli, for the gram positive, Bacillus , for gram negative, and Candida________ a test subject for the study. Also, the study will make use of litmus paper for measuring and maintining the pH level of the Agar plates. The study will also make use of spectrophotometry. Research Design The study will use Complete Randomized Design as a Research Design.   Control Group Design is two parallel experiments are set up, identical in all respects except that only one includes the treatment being explored by the experiment. The control group may have no treatment, with nothing happening to them, or they may have a neutral treatment. Statistical Tool The study will make use of ANOVA as its statistical tool. T-test can be use to compare two dependent samples/matched-pairs design experiments. The study will make use of two types of pH: Acidic and Basic. Each Agar Plate will be assign to one specific pH level. Inoculate the microbes in the Agar and in the broth. This can be done by streaking the loop containing the gram positive, gram negative, and the fungi . Data Gathering Procedure Prepare the Agar plate and the broth for the experimentation. The pH of the Agar and the broth must also be set. Place the agar filled petri dishes and the broth that have been inoculated in a dark, warm (86 F) place for a week for incubation. Apply the extract of Santol (Sandoricum koet jape) to each Agar plate and Nutrient Broth. Using the Colony Formation Unit (CFU), determine the number of colony inhibited. Record the data from the Agar plates and the Nutrient broth. Figure 3.1 Experimental Procedures Figure 3.1 Experimental Procedures shows the step by step procedure of the experiment. Starting from the preparation of the Agar plate with their assign pH level. The Agar plate will solidify at 32 ºC- 40 ºC but will melt at approximately 85 ºC. Next is to inoculate the bacteria by streaking the loop containing the bacteria. After inoculating the bacteria, the agar plate must be incubated for one week. After the incubation of the agar plates, apply the Santol (Sandoricum koet jape) extract to the each agar plate. Each plate must receive equal amount of the extract. Using the Colony Formation Unit (CFU), determine the number of inhibited colony/ies and record the data. Data Classification pH Level of the Agar Plate| Number of Colonies| | Trial 1Mean of Three Repetitions| Trial 2Mean of Three Repetitions| Trial 3Mean of Three Repetitions| pH 5| | | | pH 6| | | | pH 7| | | | pH 8| | | | pH 9| | | | Figure 3.2 Interactions in Acidic, Basic, and Neutral Agar Plate Figure 3.2 shows the effect of pH levels less than seven (Acid) on the no. of colonies. pH Level of the Nutrient Broth| Number of Colonies| | Trial 1Mean of Three Repetitions| Trial 2Mean of Three Repetitions| Trial 3Mean of Three Repetitions| pH 1| | | | pH 2| | | | pH 3| | | | pH 4| | | | Figure 3.3 Interactions in Acidic Nutrient Broth Shows the effect of pH levels lower than seven (Acid) on the no. of colonies. pH Level of the Nutrient Broth| Number of Colonies| | Trial 1Mean of Three Repetitions| Trial 2Mean of Three Repetitions| Trial 3Mean of Three Repetitions| pH10| | | | pH11| | | | pH12| | | | pH13| | | | pH14| | | | Figure 3.4. Interactions in Basic Nutrient Broth Shows the effects of pH levels greater than seven (Basic) on the no. of colonies Bibliography * Anke, T. & Weber, D. (2009). Physiology and Genetics: Selected Basic and Applied Aspects, Volume 15. Springer-Verlag: Heidelberg, Germany * Chapelle, F. (2001). Ground-water Microbiology and Geochemistry (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Canada. * Kubitzki, K. (2011). Flowering Plants. Eudicots: Sapindales, Cucurbitals, Myrtaceae. Springer-Verlag: Heidelberg, Germany. * Shahidi, F. & Ho, C. T. (2000). Phytochemicals and Phytopharmaceuticals. AOCS Press: USA. * Storz, G. & Aronis, R.H. (2000). Bacteria Stress Responses. ASM Press: USA. * â€Å"Agars.† Difco & BBL Manual. http://www.bd.com/ds/technicalCenter/inserts/Agars.pdf, accessed January 17, 2008. * â€Å"Agar Bottles – Preparation & Equipment Use.† Science Stuff, Inc. http://www.sciencestuff.com/playground/agar_bottle.shtml, accessed January 14, 2005. Mott, et al. * â€Å"Agar Bottles – Preparation & Equipment Use.† Science Stuff, Inc. http://www.sciencestuff.com/playground/agar_bottle.shtm l, accessed January 14, 2005. * â€Å"Artificial Environments for Growing Bacteria.† WW Bio Institute. http://www.woodrow.org, (www.woodrow.org/teachers/esi/2002/Biology/Projects/lab_skills/ls5/), accessed January 14, 2005. * â€Å"Microbiology.† MadSci Network. http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/mar98/888937612.Mi.r.html, accessed January 25, 2005.

Under Armour (Case 26) Essays

Under Armour (Case 26) Essays Under Armour (Case 26) Essay Under Armour (Case 26) Essay Student 9/23/13 Under Armour (Case 26) Technological Hot and sweaty t-shirts are a thing of the past. New and innovative material for making clothing has changed the game for sports apparel. Now, high-tech fibers are woven into shorts, shirts, Jackets and more that can adapt to and regulate the bodys temperature. This advancement is huge for athletes of all kinds, allowing increased performance and endurance. New water-resistant material and fibers that prevent ultraviolet and infrared rays are among the long list of technological advancements taking place in the sports apparel industry. Demographics Performance sports apparel has not always been so widespread. It started off as being primarily utilized by major sports teams, but over the recent years the market has extended to accommodate nearly all sporting activities. Not only are all of the major sports teams using some sort of performance apparel but also active lifestyle consumers and youths. Research has shown that nearly 80% of activewear is worn for non-sports activities. Another study determined that more than 85% of athletic footwear is being used for a different sport other than what they were made for. Only sports teams and sporting activities used sporting apparel until recently. Now sporting apparel extends to men, women and children of all shapes, sizes and walks of life. Economics The sports apparel industry has grown exponentially in the past few years mainly due to heavy marketing and advertising, technological advancements and a vast catalog of new items in new product categories. The ever-prolific sporting world has seen consist Political/Legal Large companies in this industry must stay up to date with the most modern clothing ine and accessories in order to be competitive. With new products and materials come legalities to maintain dominance over specific innovations. Outsourcing production and manufacturing also plays a huge role in legal policys and political conflicts. Sociocultural and Global Climate has a big effect on when, where and how often you can exercise or train. With innovative clothing lines that can repel water, prevent harmful rays from the sun and moderate body temperature, come new possibilities to train anywhere, anytime and for longer periods of time. And sports apparel is available to all who seek increased pertormance. Porters Five Forces Model†Apparel Supplier Power (High) Businesses in the performance apparel industry establish credibility with their suppliers. The suppliers use new and technologically advanced materials and create highly differentiated products; thus, giving them more power over their buyers. Barriers to Entry (High) A few very large sports apparel companies, i. e. Under Armour, Nike, Adidas, Columbia, that have been well established for many years dominate the market. Over he years, the larger companies have been able to establish themselves through brand recognition, advertising and various distribution channels. Thus, a company trying to start off in this industry would struggle initially but could profit in the long run due to fewer competitors. Competitive Rivalry (Moderate) The large companies are constantly inventing or reinventing their product lines depending on the consumer market and modern design. Due to a large degree of differentiation in performance and quality, there is less rivalry among performance apparel businesses. Threat of Substitutes (Moderate) There are a few substitutes when it comes to performance apparel. Only a few have been at the cutting edge of technological advancement and quality enhancement by which they have established themselves as being among the top leaders for quality and performance. However, there is still a major threat of substitution for cheaper alternatives if the economy were to weaken. Buyer Power (High) Customer buying power for apparel is strong due in part to the availability to switch to other products at little, if any, cost, but mostly due to the percent of revenue that he large companies sell from their individual product segments. If a company has a large percentage in a single product category, they are more vulnerable than a company that has a well-diversified combination of products. Competitive Analysis Under Armour has several large competitors; the largest being Nike, Adidas and Columbia Sportswear. These companies are similar in that they all stress product innovation, advertising and sponsorships. Adidas is broadly focused in all sporting categories but fails to stand out. Columbia is known almost solely by its winter gear, imiting its growth potential and creating strong seasonality trends. Nike strives to be the best in every segment while Under Armours goal is to be a leader in each process of its product development, concentrating on quality over quantity. An advantage for Under Armour is that it is focused more on improving its brand and unique products, licensing o ther items and accessories manufacturers. Internal Analysis through independent Under Armour is continually improving their apparel line and broadening there market. The company has been growing at a substantial rate, 30. annually over a 5-year period, largely due to the ambition of Kevin Plank, founder, and also to heavy marketing and promotions. Plank attributes the success of the company to brand recognition and the ability to market to all consumers. Under Armour makes head- to-toe apparel for anyone during any season. It has pushed its image into as many stores as it can, reaching college universities and numerous distribution channels. Suggestions to the Firm Over 80% of Under Armours revenue comes from the sale of its apparel line. While it eans that it has been very successful in this segment, there needs to be more diversity to increase competitiveness and decrease supplier power. While creating a footwear line will aid in Under Armours aim to create a full apparel product line and increase the pressure on competitors, many challenges will need to be overcome in order to penetrate this product market. Under Armour will need to reinvent and reengineer its footwear line. Alternative Strategies Expanding the product line to diversify its product portfolio may dilute Under Armours image and label thus causing consumers to deviate from premium-priced products. Alternatively, Under Armour could focus more primarily on the development of its footwear product and increase those sales. This option will be very costly and challenging due to the huge market players that already have dominance in footwear, i. e. Nike and Adidas. I suggest Under Armour pursue other product opportunities as well as the footwear to put more pressure on its competitors and to keep the focus on quality and performance rather than quantity.

Tap Water in 42 States Contaminated by Chemicals

Tap Water in 42 States Contaminated by Chemicals Public water supplies in 42 U.S. states are contaminated with 141 unregulated chemicals for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has never established safety standards, according to an investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Tainted Tap Water Used by Millions of Americans Another 119 regulated chemicals- a total of 260 contaminants altogether- were found by the environmental group in a two-and-a-half-year analysis of more than 22 million tap water quality tests. The tests, which are required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, were conducted at nearly 40,000 utilities that supply water to 231 million people. Pollution Threatens Tap Water Quality According to a report by the EWG, the top 10 states with the most contaminants in their drinking water were California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Illinois- in that order. EWG said the biggest sources of contaminants were agriculture, industry, and pollution from sprawl and urban runoff. Utilities Need More Enforceable Standards for Tap Water EWGs analysis also found that almost all U.S. water utilities comply fully with enforceable health standards once they are developed. The problem, according to the environmental group, is the EPAs failure to establish enforceable health standards and monitoring requirements for many tap water contaminants. Our analysis clearly demonstrates the need for greater protection of the nations tap water supplies, and for increased health protections from a number of pollutants that are commonly found but currently unregulated. said Jane Houlihan, vice president for science at EWG, in a prepared statement. Utilities routinely go beyond what is required to protect consumers from these contaminants, but they need more money for testing, and for protection of vital source waters. Additional Information: Why Is Chlorine Added to Tap Water?Does Fluoride in Tap Water Improve or Harm Your Health?