Sociology and Teaching Egalitarian Society

Question: Describe about the Sociology and Teaching for Egalitarian Society. Answer: Is Australia an egalitarian society? - Your answer should focus on economic inequality and class, or gender. An egalitarian society refers to a society that values equality among its people. Therefore, it treats all her people equally and provides equal opportunities in political, economic, and social rights. Further, an egalitarian society seeks to eliminate various forms of inequality which leads to discrimination founded on ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or race (Henslin Elder, 2015). This understanding leads to the question is Australia an egalitarian society? Australia as a society has undergone evolution since the colonial era. In the course of her development, it abandoned the class barriers of colonialist and spread the political and the economic opportunities more than the colonial masters. However, Australia's egalitarian, democratic trends were hampered by greedy capitalists. Thus, the egalitarian, democratic reformers would not implement the social and political policies that could have annihilated elements such as; political, economic, and social inequality (T hompson, 1994). The development of efficient transport and communication networks has facilitated to globalization. Globalization, therefore, has significantly contributed to the probe of Australia as an egalitarian society. The probe is founded on the increase of income disparities among the Australians. Hence, the question what is causing the economic disparity and what government should do to curb it. Lawrence (2015) argues that the rise in economic inequality is a normal impact of globalization, hence, unavoidable. Glover (2015) on the other hand, argues that the economic inequality is a result of national factors that could be avoided. Ken Henry, a former Treasury secretary, argues that economic globalization may impact on the national economy but the magnitude of the impact is determined by the development policies propelling the national economy. Thus, as a result of unjust policies Australian society has grown unequal more than at any stage in her history as a country. The levels of disparit y are such that 1% of the adult population possess 60% of the country's wealth, while the rest have only the consumer durables and no net wealth at all. Walmsley (1997) attribute the economic disparity to three factors which include taxation, new technology, and globalization, and finally the diminishing of union movements. The government has implemented tax policies that reduce tax rates progression hence emphasizing on the indirect taxes. Similarly, the decline of the labour movement has denied the citizenry the ability of collective bargaining to individual negotiation. This reduction has allowed exploitation of workers and less growth of their incomes. Additionally, new technology and globalization have offered a few opportunities to access the global market. Professionals such as sportspeople, entertainers, and other high profile professionals have ventured into the world market. The world market thus has increased significantly the income of only a handful of individuals. Attempts to invite expatriates to head the Australian firms have forced the government to increase the salaries and benefits of all the chief executive's offi cers hence creating excessively wealthy individuals (Holmes Julian, 2014). Such economic inequalities reflect what Karl Marx perceived as social inequalities resulting from class-ridden capitalist societies, where bourgeoisies exercise political and economic power over the workers, hence, control all means of production. This argument by Marx is mirrored by the Australian society today in which, class interests are intrinsically tied to the Australian development policies furthering the disparity. To ensure the issue of economic disparity remains hidden, misrepresented, and misunderstood the government authorities deliberately fails to include the data of income inequality in the government financial reports. It is explicit that Marx concepts present economic key which illustrates the foundations of the unequal trade which leads to the economic inequality. Cementing profit on the basis of private property perpetuates the economic inequality. To remedy this form of inequality Marx Weber suggests a harmonization of capital and labour, which results to non-eco nomic disparity (Glover, 2015). In the last quarter of a century, Australian society has made tremendous progress to reduce discrimination against minority groups and especially women. However, gender disparity is still prevailing; women in some companies earn less than their male counterparts in the same positions. Similarly, men are denied equal access to parental leaves and other family policies enjoyed by women. Though such gender inequality exists a lot have been achieved through allowing both genders equal access to education, job opportunities, rewards, and resources. Besides, all the Australian government policies and decision-making process reflects the needs of women and the minority groups. As a result, the Australian government has implemented policies that enhance greater choices and opportunities for women. To illustrate its commitment to the issues of gender equality Australian government is a signatory to the CEDAW-Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Stilwell Jordan, 2007). In conclusion, with such issues affecting the Australian society, it cannot be categorized as an ideal egalitarian society. Although the growth of industries has contributed to better living of the workers, it has created opportunities for bourgeoisies to amass unjust wealth. It should be clear to all Australians that in the midst of pseudo sustainable economic growth, the crisis of inequality and poverty are exacerbating. Moreover, they should be cognisant of the fact that a democracy that is founded on the egalitarian principles should be reflected in all facets of life. Political and economic inequalities are therefore inconsistent with the egalitarian principles hence the need to eliminate such disparities. What is state power and how might it be important in the sociological study of one or more of the following: ethnicity, aboriginality? In political sociology, state power can be traced to three developmental stages of a state which include: multiplicity of state functions, the necessity of the state, and territorialized centrality of the state. The necessity of the state implies that every civilized people are organized under a single authority which is limited in scope. The multiplicity of state functions refers to the domestic and the international roles the government plays. Territorialized centrality of the state entails the territorial bounders and the institutions under which the state power is exercised (Coakley, 2012). Thus, the autonomous state power is characterized by two understandings. One understanding connotes despotic powers, that is, the power which is exercised without any control, routine or institution and without any negotiations with civil groups. The second understanding implies infrastructural powers, that is, a power which is implemented within systems and through political participation. Th erefore, where state power is exercised fairly, the societies are organized, centralized, and territorialized. In Marx Weber analysis of the state power he distinguishes between power and authority. Weber view power as the coercion of individuals by use of threats while authority is the legal use of power in which individuals act upon orders because they are just and right. Marx further points out that if state powers are utilized for political gains, it disintegrates a cohesive society into ethnic cocoons. In the modern societies, ethnicity constitutes a basis of identity. Hence, ethnicity is a term that is used to communicate an idea of shared traditions, culture, and a way of life (Irfan, 2014). Moreover, sharing is be mirrored in material culture, for example, food, and clothing, cultural products for instance arts and music, religion or language. Ethnicity, therefore, plays a significant role in enhancing social conflict or social cohesion. The state power thus can be utilized to build social cohesion or social conflict through creating ethnic equality or inequalities. The importance of the state power on the issue of ethnicity can be viewed through sociological perspectives such as conflict theory, functionalism, and social interaction theory (Enloe, 1980). In the view of the conflict theory, the state should use its powers to foster economic, social, and political inequality to the ethnic group that critiques the structure and the policies of the government. According to the theory, the state power is, therefore, a tool to control resources, institutions, and politics which constitute a society. However, conflict theory offers a sound basis for demanding social change. The subjugated ethnic group should demand even distribution of power, political, and economic rights. Ludwig perceives civilization as a result of conflict between ethnic groups. The social forces are organized regarding the ethnic struggle to safeguard the interests and the ideologies of the group. To succeed various means are employed including capturing some of the state apparatus. Further, the oppressed ethnic group may utilize their economic and social power to upset the government policies. In the midst of the social conflicts, it is the role of the state power to maintain social order and preserve the existing hierarchies of power (Hattam, 2014). In the perspective of the functionalism, state power should promote ethnic inequalities because it serves a critical function for the society existence. This idea is, however, contentious and problematic. Does lead to questions such as, how discrimination can render positive results in society? Sociologists who are subscribed to this school of thought, however, argue that ethnic discrimination and inequality contribute positively to the dominant groups. Also, they perceive discrimination against a given ethnic group as a source of close ties which promote social cohesion within the group. This cohesion can have immense political and economic benefits in search for recognition. Further, the close ties offer the cultural and emotional support needed by those individuals who feel mistreated by the dominant group (Osaghae, 1996). In the symbolic interaction theory, the state power utilizes strong symbols from a given ethnic group hence creating a given identity which leads to discrimination and inequality. Ahmar (1996) argues that the use of such symbols the dominant ethnic group creates an abstract picture of the subordinate ethnic groups hence sustaining the status quo. When the state power chooses a particular symbol from a certain ethnic group, it enhances a culture of prejudice. Such images influence the thought process of the citizenry thus fuelling social conflict (Migdal Shue, 1994). In conclusion, state power contributes to understanding how society is organized. Maintenance of social cohesion is dependent on how the state power is exercised. To enhance stable social cohesion, the state power must be applied justly and equitably, thus, providing social, political, and economic opportunities to all the ethnic groups. Promotion of inequality results to the social conflict which may lead to genocide or war. State power, therefore, should be implemented in a manner that justifies state dominance. Additionally, the government should utilize its powers to create mutual appreciation among various ethnic groups. The mutual recognition should be tested through the incorporation of symbols from different ethnic communities and is accepted by all the ethnic groups constituting the state. The channels through which state power is exercised should be structured to ensure the legitimate exercise of power. References Ahmar, M. (1996). Ethnicity and State Power in Pakistan: The Karachi Crisis. Asian Survey, 36(10), 1031-1048. Coakley, J. (2012). Nationalism, ethnicity and the state: making and breaking nations. Sage. Enloe, C. H. (1980). Police, military, and ethnicity: Foundations of state power. Transaction Books. Glover, D. (2015). An economy is not a society: Winners and losers in the new Australia (Vol. 7). Black Inc. Hattam, V. C. (2014). Labor visions and state power: The origins of business unionism in the United States. Princeton University Press. Henslin, J. M., Possamai, A. M., Possamai-Inesedy, A. L., Marjoribanks, T., Elder, K. (2015). Sociology: A down to earth approach. Pearson Higher Education AU. Holmes, D., Hughes, K., Julian, R. (2014). Australian sociology. Pearson Australia. Irfan, M. D. (2014). Nationalism, Ethnicity and the State: Making and Breaking Nations by John Coakley. London: Sage. Lawrence, C. (2015). Inequality, civil Society and social solidarity. Australian Options, (82), 25. Migdal, J. S., Kohli, A., Shue, V. (1994). State power and social forces: domination and transformation in the Third World. Cambridge University Press. Osaghae, E. E. (1996). Ethnicity, class and the struggle for state power in Liberia (Vol. 1). Codesria. Stilwell, F., Jordan, K. (2007). Who gets what?: analysing economic inequality in Australia. Cambridge University Press. Thompson, E. (1994). Fair enough: egalitarianism in Australia. Thomas Telford. Walmsley, D. J., Weinand, H. C. (1997). Is Australia becoming more unequal?. The Australian Geographer, 28(1), 69-88.

Strategic And an Innovative Marketing Plan †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Strategic And Innovative Marketing Plan. Answer: In todays world, it can surely be said that without a firm planning no business organization can become successful in this competitive market. Thus it can be said that to gain desired success, the organization will have to make an innovative marketing plan. A goodstrategic marketing plan should consist of three major components and those are Company Positioning, Goals and Strategies and Target Market Defined. In this report these components are highlighted go get the basic idea of the strategic nature of a marketing plan. The key elements of marketing in todays world are making specific goals and strategies, chalking out the current position of the organization in the market and the ability to define the target customers. Company Positioning The management of the business organizations should chalk out the current position of their organization in respect to the financial results. These types of detailed analysis can allow the management to locate the strategies that might help to increase the profitability of the organization (Koku 2014). Then the management team can choose to do a SWOT analysis to get the idea of the present situation of the organization in the market of operation. Strategies promoted by marketing plans: Goals and strategies A strategic marketing plan would remain incomplete if the management does not implement any specific goals and strategies for the organization. These organizational goals appraise the rationalization of the resources in distribution marketing and production when the marketing strategies would allow the conversion of the targets into realities (Foxall 2014). For an example, it can be said that a strategic goal might express the intention behind improving the brand recognition and the brand reputation, when the parallel plan would surely define the suitable media or any method of promotion to attain the desired success. Target Market Defined For the management of any business organization, it is necessary to define the target customers for all the products and services of their organization. This technique allows the management to conduct further research on their requirements, preferences or demands in order to monopolize the market (Nykiel 2016). Apart from that the management should define the geographic and demographic stratification of those groups. Coca-Cola In this context, it can be said that Coca-Cola is such an organization, where they somewhat follow these basic strategies of marketing and in todays world they are one of the oldest successful beverage manufacturer organization. They know that in order to sustain their reputation and profitability they will have to get to know the market demands and they will have to adapt with the market changes that have been changing very rapidly nowadays (Armstrong et al. 2015). Thus in global market Coca-Cola is one of the biggest names because with time they have improved their quality of the products, they have understood the value of a proper marketing strategy along with that the management of Coca-Cola have successfully read the market demands and gained the desired competitive advantage in the market. These are the keys behind their success as a global brand. Thus to conclude, it can be said that Strategic Marketing Plans are essential for a business organization to sustain their productivity and profitability along with the reputation or the brand value. References Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M. and Brennan, R., 2015.Marketing: an introduction. Pearson Education. Foxall, G., 2014.Strategic Marketing Management (RLE Marketing)(Vol. 3). Routledge. Koku, P.S., 2014. Strategic Marketing Plan. InDecision Making in Marketing and Finance(pp. 35-47). Palgrave Macmillan US. Nykiel, R.A., 2016.Marketing Your Business-A Guide to Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan.

Sample CUN Essay

Sample CUN EssaySample CUN's include: a common everyday example, a problem, and a recommendation. These are known as standard samples. The CUN may be used to make an essay or research paper, and there are several things that should be kept in mind when making a CUN, as well as determining the level of difficulty. In this brief article, I will discuss the three main differences between a CUN and a standard sample.First, a CUN sample should be written for a specific situation, with specific information that is relevant to the topic of the paper. In other words, a CUN should be carefully tailored to match a particular topic. For example, if the sample was to be used for an essay on owning a business, the CUN should highlight the positives and negatives of owning a business, as well as review some useful strategies that can be used to be successful in business.Secondly, the CUN should have enough information for the essay writer to formulate their own opinion and demonstrate the relevanc e of the topic in the essay. A CUN will not have enough information for the essay writer to explain a specific strategy or tip. A sample should have enough information for the essay writer to comment on a specific subject and not just use it as a 'template'. A sample will not contain enough information to explain the entire topic. A CUN must be specific enough to offer the reader a clear, concise summary.Finally, a CUN sample should focus on a single aspect of business. A CUN will focus on just one part of business. In other words, if you want to use a CUN on your homework assignment, you should focus on just business. If you wanted to use a CUN on your exam, you should focus on just business. This focus on business shows the reader that you have taken the time to choose a CUN that is specifically focused on business.The first point of a CUN is to provide a summary of the topic being covered. In other words, if the CUN is used for a research paper, the CUN should show how the writer thinks the topic will relate to a topic they are writing about. The summary of the topic could show the relevance of the topic in the research, the benefits of the topic, or the rationale behind why the topic is important.The second point of a CUN is to provide a solution to the problem that is being discussed. Using a CUN to solve a problem can be very helpful when it comes to writing. It can help the reader relate the problem to a solution, as well as explaining why the solution will work.Finally, the third point of a CUN is to provide a recommendation. A CUN must give the reader a positive recommendation. This means that the CUN should suggest that the reader change their behavior, or that they should follow a specific course of action. A CUN must not suggest that the reader should completely ignore the problem. In other words, the CUN should not call for the reader to ignore the problem, but rather suggest that the reader should change their behavior.To use a CUN on your CUN es say, it must provide sufficient information to formulate an opinion and should give the reader a solid recommendation for the topic. A CUN should also focus on a single aspect of business and should offer a recommendation for a solution to a problem.

Kobe Earthquake Essays - Seismology, Great Hanshin Earthquake

Kobe Earthquake An earthquake is defined as a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin. In the case of the Great Hyogo (Hanshin) earthquake of Kobe, Japan it is tectonic in origin. This devastating earthquake which occurred on the 17th of January at 5:46 a.m measured at a whopping 7 (7.2) on the Richter scale. This was the largest recorded earthquake to ever hit Japan. According to the Japan Meteorological its epicentre was in 34.6? north and 135.0? east in the northern tip of Awaji Island with a focal depth of 14 km. According to the results of the recorded in 24 observation centre, the fracture which triggered the earthquake was happened inside the Nojima Fault. Also investigation in the sea bed by the Ocean observatory Centre shows that the cracks occurred in Nojima Fault. This fault forms a part of a group of faults known as the "Rokko Fault', which extends from Awaji Island through Kobe City to the foot of Mount Rokko. The movement of the fault can be explained by the Tectonic characteristic of west Japan. The main reason for the big earthquakes in west part of Japan are the tectonic activities of the Eurasian, the Pacific, the North America and the Philippine plates. The collision between these plates in the central part of Honshu (Japan main island) is the main source of strain accumulation in the crust of western part of Japan. Casualty figures quickly mounted by the hour and when it was all said and done 5,472 people had lost their lives and 415,000 people were left injured. By the fourth day after the earthquake about 310,000 residents spent the night at 1,077 refugee centres. More than 350 fires broke out wiping out around 100 hectares of densely populated area. Fire fighting was virtually ineffective due to an inadequate water supply and access to fires. Lifeline facilities were severely damaged over a large area and following the earthquake, 900,000 households were left without electricity, 850,000 households were without gas, and water supply cuts affected about 2.5 million people. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corp.'s 160,000 lines out of 800,000 lines were out of order. The damage to major infrastructure, especially to the elevated expressway and shinkansen (bullet train) tracks, shocked engineers, planners and the general public. According to news reports its tracks were damaged at 42 locations. The first Shinkansen train was to run 30 minutes after the time of the earthquake. Had the disaster occurred few hours later, with an average capacity of about 1,600 passengers/train, casualty rate could have been much higher. Sections of elevated Hanshin expressway toppled virtually cutting off major transport lines to the affected areas. A contiguous section supported by eighteen single columns had fallen sideways in Higashi Nada-ku. Modern buildings -- and structures retrofitted with up-to-date engineering techniques -- fared well in the Great Hyogo quake. Much of the damage occurred in traditionally built older homes and in areas near the coast where liquefaction of the soil caused instability in structures. A large number of reinforced concrete structu res were completely devastated. The economic damage estimates vary from around 100 - 150 billion dollars US. The most extensively and severely damaged structures were smaller commercial buildings (often with residences upstairs) constructed with limited engineering design and traditional homes. The smaller commercial and mixed occupancy buildings are typically framed with wood or light steel and have walls of stucco over wood slats. Many of these buildings have a large shop window in the front and lack interior walls, factors which weaken the first floor. Traditional homes, typically those built before the 1970s, have heavy tile roofs with tiles set in a thick clay and mud mortar, few partitions, and are not waterproofed which causes widespread dry rot and water damage. Little nailing is used; wood joinery is more common. Many casualties were found in damaged and collapsed traditional homes. The heavy tile roofs stressed the walls, which cracked, crumbled and often collapsed, triggering fires from broken gas pipes. The Kobe earthquake exposed more modern and engineered buildings to stronger forces than any previous earthquake. The preliminary report indicates more studies are needed to evaluate seismic codes, design practice and construction

Kobe Earthquake Essays - Seismology, Great Hanshin Earthquake

Kobe Earthquake An earthquake is defined as a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin. In the case of the Great Hyogo (Hanshin) earthquake of Kobe, Japan it is tectonic in origin. This devastating earthquake which occurred on the 17th of January at 5:46 a.m measured at a whopping 7 (7.2) on the Richter scale. This was the largest recorded earthquake to ever hit Japan. According to the Japan Meteorological its epicentre was in 34.6? north and 135.0? east in the northern tip of Awaji Island with a focal depth of 14 km. According to the results of the recorded in 24 observation centre, the fracture which triggered the earthquake was happened inside the Nojima Fault. Also investigation in the sea bed by the Ocean observatory Centre shows that the cracks occurred in Nojima Fault. This fault forms a part of a group of faults known as the "Rokko Fault', which extends from Awaji Island through Kobe City to the foot of Mount Rokko. The movement of the fault can be explained by the Tectonic characteristic of west Japan. The main reason for the big earthquakes in west part of Japan are the tectonic activities of the Eurasian, the Pacific, the North America and the Philippine plates. The collision between these plates in the central part of Honshu (Japan main island) is the main source of strain accumulation in the crust of western part of Japan. Casualty figures quickly mounted by the hour and when it was all said and done 5,472 people had lost their lives and 415,000 people were left injured. By the fourth day after the earthquake about 310,000 residents spent the night at 1,077 refugee centres. More than 350 fires broke out wiping out around 100 hectares of densely populated area. Fire fighting was virtually ineffective due to an inadequate water supply and access to fires. Lifeline facilities were severely damaged over a large area and following the earthquake, 900,000 households were left without electricity, 850,000 households were without gas, and water supply cuts affected about 2.5 million people. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corp.'s 160,000 lines out of 800,000 lines were out of order. The damage to major infrastructure, especially to the elevated expressway and shinkansen (bullet train) tracks, shocked engineers, planners and the general public. According to news reports its tracks were damaged at 42 locations. The first Shinkansen train was to run 30 minutes after the time of the earthquake. Had the disaster occurred few hours later, with an average capacity of about 1,600 passengers/train, casualty rate could have been much higher. Sections of elevated Hanshin expressway toppled virtually cutting off major transport lines to the affected areas. A contiguous section supported by eighteen single columns had fallen sideways in Higashi Nada-ku. Modern buildings -- and structures retrofitted with up-to-date engineering techniques -- fared well in the Great Hyogo quake. Much of the damage occurred in traditionally built older homes and in areas near the coast where liquefaction of the soil caused instability in structures. A large number of reinforced concrete structu res were completely devastated. The economic damage estimates vary from around 100 - 150 billion dollars US. The most extensively and severely damaged structures were smaller commercial buildings (often with residences upstairs) constructed with limited engineering design and traditional homes. The smaller commercial and mixed occupancy buildings are typically framed with wood or light steel and have walls of stucco over wood slats. Many of these buildings have a large shop window in the front and lack interior walls, factors which weaken the first floor. Traditional homes, typically those built before the 1970s, have heavy tile roofs with tiles set in a thick clay and mud mortar, few partitions, and are not waterproofed which causes widespread dry rot and water damage. Little nailing is used; wood joinery is more common. Many casualties were found in damaged and collapsed traditional homes. The heavy tile roofs stressed the walls, which cracked, crumbled and often collapsed, triggering fires from broken gas pipes. The Kobe earthquake exposed more modern and engineered buildings to stronger forces than any previous earthquake. The preliminary report indicates more studies are needed to evaluate seismic codes, design practice and construction

Kobe Earthquake Essays - Seismology, Great Hanshin Earthquake

Kobe Earthquake An earthquake is defined as a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin. In the case of the Great Hyogo (Hanshin) earthquake of Kobe, Japan it is tectonic in origin. This devastating earthquake which occurred on the 17th of January at 5:46 a.m measured at a whopping 7 (7.2) on the Richter scale. This was the largest recorded earthquake to ever hit Japan. According to the Japan Meteorological its epicentre was in 34.6? north and 135.0? east in the northern tip of Awaji Island with a focal depth of 14 km. According to the results of the recorded in 24 observation centre, the fracture which triggered the earthquake was happened inside the Nojima Fault. Also investigation in the sea bed by the Ocean observatory Centre shows that the cracks occurred in Nojima Fault. This fault forms a part of a group of faults known as the "Rokko Fault', which extends from Awaji Island through Kobe City to the foot of Mount Rokko. The movement of the fault can be explained by the Tectonic characteristic of west Japan. The main reason for the big earthquakes in west part of Japan are the tectonic activities of the Eurasian, the Pacific, the North America and the Philippine plates. The collision between these plates in the central part of Honshu (Japan main island) is the main source of strain accumulation in the crust of western part of Japan. Casualty figures quickly mounted by the hour and when it was all said and done 5,472 people had lost their lives and 415,000 people were left injured. By the fourth day after the earthquake about 310,000 residents spent the night at 1,077 refugee centres. More than 350 fires broke out wiping out around 100 hectares of densely populated area. Fire fighting was virtually ineffective due to an inadequate water supply and access to fires. Lifeline facilities were severely damaged over a large area and following the earthquake, 900,000 households were left without electricity, 850,000 households were without gas, and water supply cuts affected about 2.5 million people. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corp.'s 160,000 lines out of 800,000 lines were out of order. The damage to major infrastructure, especially to the elevated expressway and shinkansen (bullet train) tracks, shocked engineers, planners and the general public. According to news reports its tracks were damaged at 42 locations. The first Shinkansen train was to run 30 minutes after the time of the earthquake. Had the disaster occurred few hours later, with an average capacity of about 1,600 passengers/train, casualty rate could have been much higher. Sections of elevated Hanshin expressway toppled virtually cutting off major transport lines to the affected areas. A contiguous section supported by eighteen single columns had fallen sideways in Higashi Nada-ku. Modern buildings -- and structures retrofitted with up-to-date engineering techniques -- fared well in the Great Hyogo quake. Much of the damage occurred in traditionally built older homes and in areas near the coast where liquefaction of the soil caused instability in structures. A large number of reinforced concrete structu res were completely devastated. The economic damage estimates vary from around 100 - 150 billion dollars US. The most extensively and severely damaged structures were smaller commercial buildings (often with residences upstairs) constructed with limited engineering design and traditional homes. The smaller commercial and mixed occupancy buildings are typically framed with wood or light steel and have walls of stucco over wood slats. Many of these buildings have a large shop window in the front and lack interior walls, factors which weaken the first floor. Traditional homes, typically those built before the 1970s, have heavy tile roofs with tiles set in a thick clay and mud mortar, few partitions, and are not waterproofed which causes widespread dry rot and water damage. Little nailing is used; wood joinery is more common. Many casualties were found in damaged and collapsed traditional homes. The heavy tile roofs stressed the walls, which cracked, crumbled and often collapsed, triggering fires from broken gas pipes. The Kobe earthquake exposed more modern and engineered buildings to stronger forces than any previous earthquake. The preliminary report indicates more studies are needed to evaluate seismic codes, design practice and construction

Five Tips for Landing Business Clients as a Writer

Five Tips for Landing Business Clients as a Writer The definition of writer can be a narrow view (â€Å"I write only women’s fiction†) to a broad view (â€Å"I use words any way people need me to†). I quickly learned to embrace the latter when I took the freelance plunge two and a half years ago, because, frankly, only pitching editors wasn’t adding up to my monthly income goals. This approach has led to a wide variety of contracts: website copy, blogs, social media posts, newsletters, emails, press releases, descriptions for online directories and more. With this approach, I was able to triple my income from 2012 in 2013. Here are five ways you, too, can land writing gigs for businesses that need content now more than ever in this fast-paced, online-heavy life. 1. Create a list of every business you’ve ever written about.Have you interviewed business owners for any of your articles? Then these folks are great people to pitch your other writing services to. Start your email 2. Make a list of businesses you’d like to write for, and pitch them.  Pitching a business owner is not that different from pitching an editor. You introduce yourself and share a couple of ideas, then follow up in a week or two. Start with flattery just like you would an editor, but instead of writing, â€Å"I loved this recent article,† say, â€Å"I love your wine† or whatever product/service they provide. Flattery works. 3. Seek businesses that do not have a blog or newsletter.Content is needed now more than ever, and if a business isn’t blogging or writing a newsletter to their fans, they are missing out on some major benefits. Offer to write one blog or newsletter for free to get your foot in the door, and share some stats about the power of blogging like this article, â€Å"Top Blogging Statistics: 45 Reasons to Blog.† 4. (Gently) point out a flaw in their online presence.Are they posting to Facebook three times a day? Do they still not have a Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram account? Do they have a dismal online listing score on getlisted.org? Be friendly and flattering at first, but then point out the hole in their online marketing that you’ve found and offer to fill it. I’ve landed several clients this way. 5. Don’t be scared to try something new. Business owners need all kinds of support, so don’t shy away from opportunities that might involve tasks that aren’t necessarily writing related. I once ran a usability testing session for a new tech startup and had absolutely no idea what that even was up until two weeks before I led the group through the developing website. I’ve also taken more photos than I care to remember for social media even though I don’t consider myself a stellar photographer. But you learn as you go and take on each new challenge with professionalism, which will help you establish a great reputation and eventually get businesses seeking you out instead of you constantly hustling for more work. Good luck and tweet me with any questions at @ShawndraRussell.