Japanese War Crimes

Japanese War Crimes Introduction Japanese war crimes were committed during the reign of Emperor Hirobito. The paper will give a detailed analysis of the crimes that were committed such as mass killing, forced labor, lootings, use of biological and chemical weapons, cannibalism, sexual slavery, torture and enslavement. This will hence help in giving limelight to the main effects of the crimes.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Japanese War Crimes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To fully understand the crimes committed, the discourse will also analyze the Japanese and international law and some of the agreements that Japan signed in relation to the crimes that were later committed. As a means to an end, it will give a brief recommendation on the whole subject of war crime and the way forward for Japan. Discussion War crimes are the violations of war customs or laws (Trahan,7-13). This includes crimes that are committed against the enemies who can either be opponents or civilians. Though Japan has offered numerous apologies in regard to the suffering it caused, most people still assert that Japan still has not been humble enough to offer a genuine apology (Kristof, 37-49). Others in support of Kristof allege that the Japan government is not humble as it has until now not accepted the legal duty to compensate the people who were affected during the atrocities. Most women’s and Human’s rights organizations agree that Japan should have a legal and moral role to fully compensate the victims. However, Maga (9-31) disagrees with Kristof asserting that the nation has chosen to reject any form of reconciliation. It is the aim of this discourse to give a detailed analysis on the causes of war crimes in Japan in relation to crimes committed such as mass killing, enslavement, and forced labor among others.. It will also give limelight to obvious effects and discuss related laws and trials. Finally, it will give a recommendation. The Japanese Law in relation to War Crimes Japan promised to abide by the terms of Geneva Convention of 1929. Most of the crimes that were committed such as mass killing, lootings, slavery, forced labor, sexual slavery, torture among others did fall in the category of Japanese as well as the international law. For instance most of the crimes by the personnel in the period of the Second World War directly violated the military law. Moreover, the empire ended up breaking agreements that had been signed by Japan such as use of biological or chemical weapons as well as protecting the prisoners. The Japanese government fully accepted the terms that were set in 1945 by Potsdam declaration meaning they were not supposed to engage in the heinous activities that they later engaged in.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overview of Japanese War crimes and cau ses The military forces were responsible for the war crimes in Japan (Christopher and Eitzen.412-417). Other forces such as Japanese army, the navy, imperial, emperor Hirohito among others were responsible for the war crimes ( Nelson443-467). These people have been cited to have been directly or indirectly involved in the killings and the crimes that were committed against innocent civilians and war prisoners. They were responsible for the killing of millions as even some of the Japanese soldiers admitted to committing the crimes is (Maga 17-35). They conducted numerous abuses against the prisoners and the civilians in East Asia as well as the pacific region (Nelson, 443-467). Since 1950s, most of the government officials in Japan have offered unaccountable apologies for the war crimes though others still deny of having knowledge on the happenings of this period as the killings and lootings at Nanjing by the Japanese soldiers. In comparison to other forms of aggression during the Se cond World War in other nations, Japan is the only country that used biological and chemical weapons. As stated earlier, the paper will give a detailed analysis on the crimes that were committed which were against the law. Use of biochemical weapons and effects Japan started researching on both the chemical and biological weapons in 1920s (Guillemin 545-549). One of the most influential persons who was responsible for these weapons and the later effects was Shiro Ishii ( Kleinman, 23-47). He did his research on innocent victims with the protection of the local police among other influential agencies. He later constructed a biological weapon research center which was later completed in the year 1939. Every year hundreds of his prisoners were exposed to numerous known diseases such as yellow fever and anthrax (Kleinman, 23-47) Ishii even used these prisoners for various hyperthermia and gangrene experiments (Guillemin 545-549). This was a period where most prisoners were even coerced to having intercourse with people who had venereal diseases. The main victims of all these heinous acts and experiments were ordinary criminals, mentally challenged people, political prisoners, the homeless, the poor among others. Most of the prisoners who were used for the experiment were of Chinese origin as well as Americans, Europeans and Koreans.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Japanese War Crimes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is no definite data on the people who were killed during the experiments but it is estimated that over twelve thousand people were sacrificed in the name of research (Greenleaf, 275-411). Over 250, 000 people were killed during the field tests as well as in the period of the post war epidemic outbreak which is directly related to biological and chemical weapons that were used (Greenleaf, 275-411). Though Ishii was an influential researcher for both biological and chemica l weapons, he did not commit these crimes alone, but he was helped by various veterinarians, researchers, doctors, among other medical experts (Kleinman, 23-47). All this happened during the reign of Emperor Hirohito in which other units which was like those of Ishii were constructed between 1931 and 1945. From the beginning of 1945, the Japan government denied having any knowledge on the activities of the chemical and biological weapons and its impact on people. They also in their interrogations on the issue tended to reduce the impact that these weapons had. In 1996 the spokesman for foreign affairs lied and defended the Japanese government asserting that the government did not have documents to prove without doubt that they used Chinese people for research.( Edwards, 317-336). That was an outright lie and Drifte ( 47-71) agrees that the Japanese government was obviously aware of the documents that confirmed the vast activities of the allied units and Unit 731. The Japanese govern ment was aware that during this period the highest authority including the Royal Family was fully responsible for these crimes. Since then, for unknown reasons, the Japanese government has refused to acknowledge on the existence of these crimes and those in authority today have continued to deny of having knowledge on such activities. It is to be understood that Japanese War Crimes were not just committed by the ethnic personnel. However, people in pacific and Asian countries teamed up with the Japanese military after coercion and threats. Others collaborated due to economic hardships, imperialist influence, aversion, among other adverse reasons. The result of the war crimes is quite vast and is nothing less than horrific. The war criminals due to the immunity given by the U.S were free to resume to their careers as if nothing happened. Various professions were dominated by high ranking Japanese researchers and medical personnel for a long time. These murderers even rose to high pos ts and became prominent government officials and presidents of various institutions and were credited for being outstanding researchers in the scientific world.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Research shows that most of the graduates of various units dominated the Ministry of Health. Additionally, criminals such as Kitano Masaji and Naito Ryoichi developed influential pharmaceutical companies for instance the Green Cross Company (Hornblum, 1437). Having criminals occupy public and private companies had its own consequence. It led to the Green Cross Scandal in which approximately 1500 Japanese were given unsterilized blood which had HIV virus The war crimes have led to numerous lawsuits which are still pending. The War crimes have led numerous charges to people who were liable against various crimes against peace. Some of these charges were introduced in Tokyo trials so as to prosecute class A, Class B and class C criminals. Class B criminals were prosecuted on the merit of being found guilty of the war crimes as per the Japanese and international law. Class C were the people who were guilty of crimes related During the period of 2nd Sino Japanese War, there was use of ga s weapons for example such as tear gas was used in 1937 though from 1938, the Japanese Army started using other chemical weapons such as nausea, chlorine, phosgene gas among other toxic gases. For instance, the emperor permitted the use of such toxic gases on various occasions during the Wuhan war of 1930 despite the agreement signed in relation to use of Noxious Gases in Warfare and Hague conventions(Maga, 18). Furthermore, during the Yichang battle of 1941, the Japanese army launched around one thousand toxic yellow and red gas shells which led to immense adverse effect on over 1,600 Chinese soldiers (Maga, 17-35). Enslavement in relation to war crimes There has been immense controversy on the role of Japan during the Second World War. This has been in relation to the numerous deaths of prisoners of war who were all under Japanese rule. During this period, the Japanese government during its criminal activities killed over 30 million people in which 25 million were Chinese (Futamur a, 59-114). Japan is known to have enslaved millions of people. People were exploited and worked as casual laborers and forced prostitutes. Additionally, forced labor caused several deaths. Over 100, 000 civilians ended up dying during the Siam Railway construction (Fatamura, 59-114). Fatumura in regard to the Tokyo Tribunal’s findings, asserts that the death rates from the Asian nations in which Japan was fully accountable was approximately 27.1% whereas the Chinese death rates were higher than that of the Asians which were directed by Emperor Hirohito( 59-114). Enslavement led to war crimes as it was against the Japanese and international law. Mass killings in relation to war crimes Japanese government was also guilty of mass killings as between the year 1937 and 1945; the military killed over 10 million people (Fatamura, 59-114). This was a result of poor military strategy and immoral national culture. The most famous incident happened in 1937 to 1938; Nanking Massacre, wh ere the Japanese military and army killed over 300, 000 prisoners and civilians (Maga, 17-35). This was against the law and hence led to war crimes. Torture as a cause of war crimes The Japanese forces employed vast usage of torture mechanisms in an effort to promptly gather intelligence. The tortured prisoners could be later executed which went undetected and unquestioned. The prisoners were bullied and murdered so as to cover evidence. This was crime against humanity. Cannibalism as a cause of war crime Another issue under crimes were cannibalism in which most Tokyo tribunals cases indicates that the personnel in Pacific and Asia who were from Japanese origin committed heinous acts of cannibalism against the prisoners. It was so tragic that the Japanese personnel started selecting prisoners daily where every day a prisoner would be killed and later eaten by the army. Liutenant Yoshio Tachibana among other personnel was convicted of cannibalism in 1946 (Maga, 17). Sexual slavery Th e other form of crime was sexual slavery among women where women were recruited by deceptive means, then abducted and finally forced to sexual slavery. This was against the law hence causing war crimes. Trials in relation to war crimes After the war, various people were categorized in the class A, B and C war criminals where around 984 people were condemned to death. Approximately 920 people were executed, 2, 944 people received prison terms, 475 people got a life sentence, 1, 018 got acquitted and around 279 people were neither brought to trial nor sentenced (Maga, 17-31). Emperor Hirohito and other members of the Royal Family who were implicated in the war were exonerated from the criminal prosecutions. Most of the historians have been cited criticizing this decision of the court to exonerate these high ranking officials of the Royal family arguing that they were directly involved in the war crimes. Recommendations It goes without saying that there comes a time when it is not nece ssary anymore to understand why Japan cannot genuinely apologize for its acts, why the Japanese soldiers committed such barbaric acts and even why the emperor was exonerated from the war crimes. The question is, does it matter anymore to count on the innocent victims who were killed during Nanjing Massacre, how many Chinese and Americans were tortured and killed or even how many times the Japanese used biochemical weapons in China which resulted to deaths? It is time that Japanese government acknowledged its war crimes if at all they want to maintain peace in the international sphere and even play a meaningful role in the United Nations (Li,.8-12). For Japan to gain trust of other nations, it ought to settle its legal and moral obligations. Japan should take responsibility for the war crimes, apologize to the victims who were involved in the atrocities and pay the appropriate reparations to all the victims. Conclusion It is apparent that Japanese War crimes had immense effect. The p aper has extensively discussed the Japanese War crimes focusing on the crimes committed, its effects and finally given a recommendation. Christopher, George., Eitzen, Edward. â€Å"Biological warfare†. JAMA, 278.5 (1997): 412-417. Drifte, Reinhard. Japan’s security relations with China since 1909. From balancing to bandwagoning. New York: Routledge, 2002. Print Edwards, Jason. â€Å"Community focused apologia in international affairs. Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama’s apology†. Howard journal of communication, 16.4 (2005): 317-336. Futamura, Madoka. War crimes tribunals and transitional justice. The Tokyo trial and the Nuremburg legacy. New York: Routledge, 2000. Print Greenleaf, Peter. Japan’s secret weapon. Washington: Current publishing, 1944 Guillemin, Jeanne. â€Å"Scientists and the history of biological weapons†. Science and society, 7 (2006): 545-549 Hornblum, Allen. â€Å"They were cheap and available: prisoners as resea rch subjects in 20th century’. Education and debate, 315(1997): 1437 Kristof, Nicholas. â€Å"The problem of memory†. JSOR, Foreign affairs, 77.6 (Nov 1998): 37-49 Kleinman, Arthur. Japan’s wartime medical atrocities. Comparative inquiries in science, history and ethics. New York: Taylor and Francis, 2010. Print Li, Peter. Japanese War Crimes: The search for justice. New York: Transaction publishers, 2003. Print Maga, Timothy. Judgment at Tokyo: The Japanese War crimes Trials. CA: University press of Kenturcky, 2001. Print Nelson, John. â€Å"Social memory as ritual practice: commemorating spirits of the military dead at Yasukuni Shinto Shrine†. Journal of Asian Studies, 62.2 (2003): 443-467 Trahan, Jennifer. Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. A topical digest of the case law of the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. New York: Human Rights watch, 2006. Print

Health Care Economics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Health Care Economics - Article Example Declines in demand for healthcare services in other communities have resulted in an increase within the Boston community. With the high-level of medical research being undertaken within the community, other healthcare systems rely on the occurrences within the Boston community healthcare system. Market structures The healthcare sector within the Boston community remains dominated by relatively low number of large organisations. This has been fundamental toward the organisational stability experienced within the healthcare market. The prevailing market structures within the Boston community remain fundamental in determining how various stakeholders within the healthcare sector perform. The healthcare sector in Boston remains highly unique as in consists on several world renowned teaching medical centres. Notable among them are Boston Medical Centre, Massachusetts General Hospital, New England Medical Centre, among others. These academic medical centres have a significant contribution not only to the Boston community, but the entire world as well. The reputation of Boston’s healthcare institutions plays a significant role in the existing stricter of the healthcare market within the community. ... The market structures are significantly influenced by the healthcare providers and insurers as well. These two stakeholders have a fundamental role in establishment of the structures. Healthcare providers The healthcare providers form the base for any healthcare system. The providers within this community have continuously struggled to gain sufficient dominance of the market. While seeking to improve on their market dominance, several healthcare providers merged in order to strengthen their market share. Consolidation strategies have been adopted by many healthcare providers, however, majority of these consolidation structures have not produced the desired payoff to the providers(Williams, Christianson, Barraclough, & Gaylin, 1999). The consolidation strategies have caused a reduction in the number of healthcare providers through mergers and partnerships. The healthcare sector in the Boston community has remained dominated by two major organisations; Partner and Caregroup. The sign ificance of Boston healthcare institutions upon the regional healthcare sector has increasingly affected the structure of many providers within the community. Numerous academic healthcare centres have continuously sought affiliates to manage the increasing demand for medical services within the community. These providers continue to be faced with expansion challenges seeking to satisfy the market demand. As opposed to other medical providers, the academic centres receive high numbers of referrals from other providers within and outside Boston. These referrals continue to present a challenge to the academic medical providers as they seek expansion through mergers with other facilities. Other providers

Human rights abuses and violations of international law in Israel-Gaza Article

Human rights abuses and violations of international law in Israel-Gaza war - Article Example Israel is waging a war of self-defense against a â€Å"terrorist organization† (the Hamas authority) and, hence, is obligated to protect its security whilst meeting the â€Å"vital needs† of the civilian population of Gaza. Were these needs at odds with security, priority was to be given to security. Apparently, the Israeli Supreme Court resolved that the Gaza Strip was not occupied by Israel on the basis of the closure of Israeli military rule and the temporary existence of Israeli combatants in Gaza. Therefore, the court decided that, â€Å"Israel no longer has effective control over what takes place within the territory of the Gaza Strip† (Davis & Kirk 128) and, thus, â€Å"has no general obligation to care for the welfare of the residents of the Strip†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mukhimer 33). Basically, the court believed that the widening of the occupation to a certain territory necessitates the recognition of the right to ‘permanent presence’ of soldiers and hostile armed forces in that territory (Davis & Kirk 128-9). Such facts only show that the Israeli state is in clear violation of the legal rights of the Gaza Strip. Violation of the laws of war by the Israeli army involved drone-propelled missile assaults that took the life of several civilians. Hamas and other Palestinian militias encroached upon the laws of war through rocket-launched attacks intentionally or extensively to civilian territories in Israel (Garlasco 59). Furthermore, both Hamas and Israel keep on violating international humanitarian law. Palestinian armies have loosened up but did not cease their wholesale rocket attacks against Israel. Israel is seriously limiting the import of needed supplies for rebuilding into Gaza. After the hostilities, civilians in Gaza have been incapable of restoring their devastated houses and infrastructures. Insofar as right to self-defense is involved, the UN Charter stated that the right to self-defense is an â€Å"inherent right of [the] state† (Meloni & Tognoni

Richard Branson and the Virgin Group of Companies in 2007 Essay Example for Free

Richard Branson and the Virgin Group of Companies in 2007 Essay A. Problem Summary â€Å"Richard, you will end up in prison or as a millionaire†. These are the words of the headmaster of Stowe, a private boarding school Branson dropped out at 17. His success started by publishing a magazine called Student, then he moved on to mail order records. This is where the Virgin Group started. Richard Branson has developed his brand in a large variety of markets. The over-familiarity of the Virgin brand has caused the consumers to not take the brand in a serious manner. One might argue that he stretched his brand too thin. This lack of focus and over-diversification could result in further over investments in projects that do not hold a steady future. In this paper we will brake down the strategic of sense of apparent entrepreneurial chaos. We will address topics such as key resources, dominant logic, characteristics of markets that conform to this logic, and designing a corporate strategy and structure. B. Analysis †¢ Key Resources o Virgin Brand The Virgin name is the group’s most important asset. The group is involved in a variety of different business ranging from airlines, books, jewelry to limousines. The Virgin Brand strives for value for money, good quality, brilliant customer service, innovation, competitively challenging and fun. The customers receive these attributes in a variety of ways. This is the brand’s competitive advantage. o Branson Branson’s eccentric personality, laid-back look and charisma are the essence of the Virgin brand. Branson embodied the spirit of â€Å"New Britain† to his generation because of his image and entrepreneurial spirit. Branson acted as a magnet for potential entrepreneurs; his brand actively encouraged the creating of fresh business ideas to its development office in London, Sidney and New York. Branson’s opposition to corporate offices led him to conduct business from family homes, houseboats, and vacation homes. His image exuded a carefree approach to exploring new ventures. Branson was impressed by the Japanese approach to business. Their long-term development and focus on organic growth were the key points Branson admired. His networking skills started a very young age. His first team was comprised of childhood friend Nik Powell, and affluent individuals such as Simon Draper and Mike Oldfield. Key management of the Virgin Group is the informal relations between Branson and a small core of long-term associates who form the senior management team of the group. Branson considers cash flow and capital value as important performance indicators, rather than concentrating in accounting profits. His tendency to avoid short-term taxable profits makes his approach ideal, concentrating in long-term capital growth instead. †¢ Dominant Logic The ability of the Virgin Group to operate effectively with so little structure or management systems owes much to the group’s unique organizational culture. This is defined almost entirely by Branson’s management style. His style reflects his sense of fun, disrespect for hierarchy and formal authority, commitment to employees and consumers and belief in hard work and individual responsibility. †¢ Characteristics of Markets that Conform to this Logic o Consumer Branson wanted to offer consumers a â€Å"new deal† by continually being on the lookout for business opportunities. Branson did so by involving venture with direct sales to consumers and passing on the cost savings from bypassing traditional distribution channels. o Dominant Incumbent Branson’s Virgin Travel is the dominant incumbent Virgin brand company. Post 2002 recovery in the airline industry, Virgin Travel was able to turn the largest profit of the Virgin Groups. o High Entry Barriers to Other Start-ups The airline and galactic companies both involve high entry barriers and significant start up costs. In addition to costs, Branson also had to negotiate with governments in order to receive approval. o Branson/Virgin Image Appeals to Customers Branson believed in multiple companies interlocking through managerial and equity linkages in a collaborative network. He accomplished this by having small companies combined and believes â€Å"small is beautiful† with strength through unity. Branson is a strong advocate of sticking it to the large corporations. †¢ Designing a Corporate Strategy and Structure o Business Model Virgin Group is built upon the theory of creating an entrepreneurial incubator and diversifying the corporation as much as possible. Branson does not want his best people to leave the company and start their own ventures. Instead, he prefers to develop them into millionaires within. The company is focused on diversifying into many markets. Some of these markets include travel, jewelry, entertainment, records, and mobile. His corporate strategy is focused on cash flow and capital value. He wants to increase his company’s real value and a long-term cash generation potential. He does not care about his accounting profit. o Type of Structure The Virgin Group is structured as if they are 150 small companies. Each one stands on its own two feet, as if they are their own companies. Employees have a stake in their success. They feel they are crucial to their individual company because they are one-in-fifty or one-in a hundred instead of one-in-tens-of-thousands. All of the companies are under the Virgin umbrella, but none of them are looked at, as simply a subsidiary. C. Alternatives As for the scope for New Approaches to Customer Service, Branson wants to create value for the customers entering with a new anti-establishment attitude, which sought to offer customers a better alternative. Branson hoped to bring a breath of fresh air. Virgin’s brilliant customer service approach strived to be â€Å"friendly, human, and relaxed; professional but not corporate†. According to the financial results of select Virgin Companies from 2004 to 2006. Virgin Retail Limited had a negative net profit in 2004. This branch of Virgin could be looked at to potentially divest. In order to maintain the Virgin name a success. Branson may look to consolidate some of his different brands in the future. With the threat of Britain’s capital gains tax laws, this could eliminate the advantages of multiple off shore companies, which Branson is involved in. D. Recommendation We feel the best alternative for Branson and his Virgin Brand would be to look into divesting out of some markets and focusing more on a smaller scale. Richard should look into investing more into the companies that are performing well and stray from unprofitable, high-risk markets. If Branson looks at the financial standpoint of his companies and possibly divest in the poor performing ones, he could potentially be more successful. Overall, Branson has been mostly successful in his quest for Virgin dominance. There is some room for improvement in Branson’s strategies; however, he is going to do what Branson wants to do. And this strategy has obviously been successful thus far.

Parallelisms and Differences:Rastafarianism and Judaism Essay -- Rasta

Parallelisms and Differences:Rastafarianism and Judaism The two religions of Rastafarianism and Judaism embody many of the same characteristics, as well as their ancestry. Although the Rastafarians, at times, inaccurately explain the bible, their belief in the Old Testament is still prevalent. Many of the customs are almost identical, but the rationale behind the traditions and laws contrast greatly. In 1933, when Leonard P. Howell was arrested for using"seditious and blasphemous language,"to boost the sale of pictures of Haile Selassie, he stated that Selassie was,"King Ras Tafari of Abyssinia, son of king Solomon by the queen of Sheba."1 Howell knew that in later years factual information about Selassie's true origin would be declared. As an Ethiopian constitution of 1955 confirms, Haile Selassie in his position as Emperor,"descends without interruption from the dynasty of Menelik I, son of Ethiopia, the Queen of Sheba, and King Solomon of Jerusalem."2 This constitution, therefore, gives us direct evidence from Ethiopian sources of an existence of a section of the Ethiopian Population practicing the Jewish Religion. According to the bible, King Solomon, King of Israel and the Jews, was paid by a visit from the Queen of Sheba, an Ethiopian Monarch. The Kebra Negast, the book of the glory of kings, states that by a trick, King Solomon inveigled the queen into sharing his bed with the result of a new born son, Menelik, who in due course became king or negus of Ethiopia.3 The queen was very impressed during her visit to the Holy Land, and adopted the Jewish Religion. But her son Menelik, when he grew up, visited his father, and transferred the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Axum. It is at this point where a new r... ...USA, no publishing given) Sanhedrin 90b 31 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Berakhot 28b 32 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) 33 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Genesis 3:18 34 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Exodus 10:12 35 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Proverbs 15:17 36 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Psalm 104:14 37 Barret, Leonard E. The Rastafarians (Boston: Beacon Press 1997) p129 38 Kolatch, Alfred J., The Jewish Book of Why (Jonathan David Publisher 1981) 118 39 Barret, Leonard E. The Rastafarians (Boston: Beacon Press 1997) 40 Barrow, Steve and Dalton, Peter, Reggae: The Rough Guide (London: Rough Guides LTD1997)191

Crocs

Crocs began marketing its shoes at a November 2002 boat show. Crocs were originally intended to be sold to boaters, because of their slip proof, non-marking sole and the fact that they are waterproof and odor resistant. However, this market soon expanded to include gardeners, healthcare workers, waiters, and other professionals who had to be on their feet all day. This market began to encompass markets Crocs had never considered.Over the course of a year what had started out as simply an idea on a sailing trip evolved into one of the greatest footwear phenomena of the decade. Products and Target Market Crocs currently targets multiple market segments ranging from boaters to gardeners to simply individuals wanting a comfortable pair of sandals. However, the firm's initial target market was boaters. Crocs' initial foray into the market was an effort to provide a comfortable pair of nonslip boating shoes to a niche market.This target market soon expanded to others who would pay a premiu m price for comfort. Nurses, retail store clerks, and others who spent most of the day on their feet quickly recognized the value proposition Crocs offered: while expensive, these individuals were willing to pay a premium to avoid the discomfort of traditional shoes. Today, Crocs targets an even wider swath of the market. Crocs' product category advertisements state that Crocs are for â€Å"women, men, kid, sports, and everyone. To further broaden their market, Crocs advertises that among these segments, customer will find its products to be comfortable â€Å"on the beach, around the house, in the rain, in cold weather, off the road, for walks in town, â€Å"and even something that will â€Å"look good in the office. † Crocs has kept its original characteristics of light-weight, non-slip, brightly colored product lines while created additional styles to accommodate the needs of different consumers. Crocs also offers apparel products such as t-shirts, shorts and even women' s leggings.

Racism in Latin America - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1250 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/02/05 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Racism Essay Did you like this example? While the idea of racial democracy may be an ideology or agenda pushed by the political elite, there is evidence which shows the majority of Latin America is that of mixed or mestizaje lineage, people who aren’t clearly indigenous, black, or white. Racism manifests in Latin America where politics attempts to manipulate culture; divisive politics makes people easier to control and racial lines are easily exploited. According to Peter Wade, and his peers agree, Humans are â€Å"too similar genetically†, and groups so intermingled, that variation is too great to be categorized into races. Race is a set of â€Å"ideas† about human our similarities and differences. (Poole Wade, 2008) Ideas about racial democracy and racism in Latin America span pre-colonial, colonial, to modern times and have evolved to show tension between nature and varying forms of government – and its effects on the populations targeted. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Racism in Latin America" essay for you Create order Pre-Colonial/Colonial race relations The â€Å"social contstruction† of Latin America by Europe started immediately upon arrival in 1492 and by late 1500’s a population of roughly 20 million native â€Å"Indio† populations was reduced to two million. (Gates, 2011) Such a reduction in the native, â€Å" New World† manpower used by the conquistadors called for imports of African slaves en masse to South America, the Carribean, and North America. Thus a caste system or â€Å"sistema de castas† was proliferated throughout the Americas to promoted â€Å"proper† mixing of the races along state sanctioned lines. For such a system to work, the people, brown, black, and even white, had to be indoctrinated to believe that this is how things were, however pseudo-scientific we know such principles to be today. (Nieto-Phillips, 2008) Limpieza de Sangre By end of 17th century interracial marriages were on the rise, the Catholic Church relaxed its former restrictions on race mixing. The Catholic Church allowed marriage between all groups. So as doctrine changed and laws evolved to grant freedom to black slaves and children of white citizens, such propaganda as â€Å"Casta paintings† were painted to show diversity of mixing genes of black people, brown people, and white people. (Las Castas, 2013) Pseudo scientific reasons to make certain people inferior so that they were more easily managed. Convincing certain parts of the population that they are inferior is the key part in such a social manipulation technique; there is ample documentation of the psychological, physical, and emotional abuse that took place to enforce such philosophies. (Gates, 2011) Mestizaje Multiculturalism In modern times, if there is a case to be made for racism in Latin America, it is in the ideas about racial democracy and confusing racial coexistence with racial equality. Many Latin American governments it is the protocol, or doctrine, to push the belief that race is not an issue, that racism is not a problem, that racial discrimination does not exist because everyone is mixed – mestizaje. On the other hand much academic research shows that racism does exist and that racial discrimination does occur/is a factor in peoples’ life outcomes. (Zizumbo-Columbo Martinez, 2017). In our modern era we can observe the effects of what Peter Wade describes as â€Å"social construction†, we have this dual reality; on one hand we have racial democracy, which isn’t just a myth. It is in some respects a reality; Latin America is very much mixed between racial categories of white, black, and brown. (Race and genetics interact with each other; humans, genetically, are 99.9% the same, 0.1% different). For the last few decades Latin American nations have been going through processes of multicultural reform, giving land rights and educational rights to indigenous and black minorities. Such genetic data reinforces the idea that actually, Latin Americans are mixed primarily; this tends to put indigenous and African derived populations on the outer fringes of the modern Latin American societies. There was a period in the early 20th century where racial democracy was widely celebrated. There were national identities built around how mixed populations had become over time, in an effort to manifest a more racially tolerant reality. The lack of black people in political elite; Brazil, Mexico, Colombian elites are predominately white whereas the working class populations are of darker complexions’. (Poole Wade, 2008) The whole idea of racial democracy is, in one sense it’s an ideology imposed by the elite as a kind of idea about what the nation is. On the other hand, it also has certain elements of truth about it because the experience that the majority of the people in the country are mixed, and aren’t clearly indigenous, black, or white. This is an every day reality in Latin America. Particular cultural stereotypes exemplify racial distinction. Current Manifestations of Racism Current president of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales, while running for office in 2015, faced criticism for his character â€Å"Black Pitaya† or Black Dragonfruit. Morales, a former comedian and actor caught judgment for his questionably racist blackface comedy bit. (cite). Morales is associated with the least wholesome aspects of certain Afro-Latino stereotypes like narco-traficantes, hyper sexual content, and violence among lower classes. Such characters also exist throughout places like Peru, and Mexico. Morales just happens to be in the spotlight as he now holds the highest office in the land. Like Trump and his followers it appears Morales is no stranger to using polarizing racial rhetoric to gain political and economic advantages. (Lakhani, 2015) Other racist manifestations include cartoons like Memin Penguin, an afro-stereotypical rendition of a primate in popular comic book character form. The argument is that such characters in Latin American pop culture are so dated, coming from a time when such racial mockeries were seen as acceptable, and so they can be laughed about today. Again, an attempt to push a â€Å"we are mixed, and past that part of society† mentality. It does not always manifest in the true nature of society. I do not see any reason to believe things will change very much in Latin America, one of the things about Latin America in the last decade or so there has been a move toward official multiculturalism, where states recognize that they are, in fact, more racially diverse than previously admitted. (de la Cadena, 2007) Racism manifests in Latin America where politics attempts to manipulate culture; divisive politics makes people easier to control and racial lines are easily exploited. Should the people of Latin America (and even North America) continue to play into the false rhetoric and political propaganda displayed by media business models securing their profits from consumers, then we should expect the same cycle or manifestation of racial polarization. ? Works cited Casale-Hardin, M. A. (2017, December 07). Mejorar la Raza: An Example of Racism in Latino Culture. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-alejandra-casalehardin-/mejorar-la-raza-an-exampl_b_7558892.html De la Cadena, M. (2007, September 25). Reconstructing Race: Racism, Culture and Mestizaje in Latin America. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://nacla.org/article/reconstructing-race-racism-culture-and-mestizaje-latin-america Gates, H. L. (2011). Black in Latin America. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/ Lakhani, N. (2015, October 21). Guatemala election puts Latin Americas affinity for racist caricatures in spotlight. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/21/guatemala-election-latin-america-racist-caricatures Las Castas – Spanish Racial Classifications. (2013, June 15). Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://nativeheritageproject.com/2013/06/15/las-castas-spanish-racial-classifications/ Nieto-Phillips, J. M. (2008). Language of blood: The making of Spanish-American identity in New Mexico, 1880s-1930s. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. Poole, D., Wade, P. (2008). A companion to Latin American anthropology. Malden: Wiley Blackwell. Peter Wade, Race in Latin America, A companion to Latin American Anthropology (2008), pp.177-189 Zizumbo-Colunga, D., Martà ­nez, I. F. (2018, September 20). Study reveals racial inequality in Mexico, disproving its race-blind rhetoric. Retrieved October 13, 2018, from https://theconversation.com/study-reveals-racial-inequality-in-mexico-disproving-its-race-blind-rhetoric-87661