SELF-DEFINED PROJECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SELF-DEFINED PROJECT - Essay Example hat’s left from Experiencing the Divine†¦an expression of the artist’s spiritual nature in the material world†¦[it] is the portal to the soul† (Darlene). According to Andrej Tisma art allowed man to discover â€Å"deep secrets penetrating the source of things†. In primitive society, when religion was held central to the community, the priest was the same as the artist. He created prayers and hymns that allowed man to connect wit the divine. As society modernizes and beliefs become secular, the artist has finally risen up to assert his individuality and his interpretation of what the world is. This new form is called mental art. Unlike the earlier forms of art which tried to depict reality, or make a statement about the imagined reality, mental art allows the artist to communicate using his own concepts. In Rudolf Steiner’s words, â€Å"The basis of artistic creation is not what is, but what might be; not the real, but the possible†. This new form allows the artist to bring forth the â€Å"knowledge† that is burning alive inside him. For some people this â€Å"burning† is the seed of the divine, man’s ultimate connection to the being called God, the Source, the Creator. Because creativity is of divine nature, often the artist cannot recognize an artwork when he/she is done with it. Some would say â€Å"I can’t believe I did this† - an indication of the â€Å"other† which lives inside a person. The nature of this other is no longer within the bounds of this paper, what is sure, however, is that art is the medium of co mmunication between the â€Å"other† and the physical man. Creativity is its highest manifestation – man may deny revealing it, but such denial cannot last forever. When it reaches its peak, it will strive to break all barriers in the same way that mental art is now breaking social norms. This idea is supported by this quote from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, â€Å"If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you

Citizens of America Essay Example for Free

Citizens of America Essay Fellow countrymen, I stand before you today, to present my job application details, for the highest office on land. Citizens of America, today stands a man who is willing to sacrifice his self ambitions, a man who is willing to lay off his personal plans and embrace those of the state, a man who is willing to sacrifice his self esteem on the alter of criticism and a man who is able to lead this country to heights unprecedented before. Indeed, this man stands before you today and passes on his application details unto you, to be evaluated and approved if you so feel that he qualify beyond any reasonable doubts to become the fiftieth president of the United States of America. You may be asking yourselves why is this man, so tender in age and so inexperienced in leadership vying for this office? Citizens of our homeland, you will agree with me that leadership is God endowed. I want to state before you today that it is not because of the power that comes with leadership than makes me vie for this office, neither is it because of any monetary gains or honors. I stand to campaign for the presidency of this country because of the heart of service and allegiance I have for our great nation. In my heart, I hold big dreams that will assist in the economic development and technological advancement of our great nation. Just as one of our greatest reformers in history, Martin Luther King Jr. stood before an electrified crowd that was almost the same size with the one gathered today and declared, â€Å"I have a dream†, I too want to state before all of you listening to me today that â€Å"I have a dream! † I have a dream that through my presidency, the freedom that our forefathers once fought to preserve will remain intact. I have a dream that the unity of the reformers like Martin Luther shall be preserved and I have a dream that one day we shall look back and be proud of this defining moment (Martin 1963). Let us not forget that America has always been a free nation and will always be known to the world for its freedom, peace and sovereignty. My presidency will not only enforce the virtues that America stands for but will also create a platform where every man, woman and child can have a dream and fulfill their dreams. Fellow country men, our country has come from far. We have fought many wars. From the American revolutionary war fought between 1775 and 1782 against the largest empire in the world (historycentral. com 2009) to the war against terrorism that begun in 2003, America has always proved victorious. What does this prove to you fellow countrymen? It shows that America has been and will always be destined for victory. No situation will ever change this. We are a victorious nation! I stand as a man who like our forefathers, will preserve these victories even with my own life if necessary should you elect me as the fiftieth president of this nation. I stand here as a man who will make America even more victorious if given the opportunity to become its head of state by the electorate. However, as we boast of our victory in far and near battlefields, as we testify on the strength of our armies, we must remember the economic wars that still stand to pose great challenges to us. The great depression of 1929 was the worst of all of them. Even though it lasted for only ten years, it left house holds devastated. 25000 banks fell with no likelihood of ever rising again. We must also remember that it was through the election of the skilled democrat leader, President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the war against this depression was fought and eventually won (Cary 2009). Currently, with the recessions of the stock markets and increase in the debt ratio, we, the today’s generation, stand at the threshold of another depression like that of the 1929. There exists unemployment as never seen before since the times of the great depression and the value of stocks is rapidly falling. You will agree with me my dear country men that these are sad times for our great nation. However, you should not look at the recent troubles without hope. I want to assure you that if elected as the president, I will do all in my power to ensure that the history of depression does not repeat itself. We must stand together as a nation and win this war. You must always bear in mind that extra ordinary circumstances require extra ordinary solutions. I present myself today as the extraordinary solution for the current extraordinary circumstances our great nation is going through in the present age. On the same tune, I want to state that my fellow brother who is also a runner in this race Mr. Willis Brown has always questioned my integrity to rule this country. Mr. Willis has often cited my tenderness of age and inexperience in governance as the reason as to why I should not be allowed to ascend to the highest office on land. As you all know, I have been silent on this matter all this time for I felt that under no circumstances, should a leader with integrity such as me trade accusations with him. However, today as I make my last appeal for the office of the president, I want to settle the matter once and for all and state my case. Fellow countrymen, as you are all aware, it is not by the advancement of age that a country is ruled. You are also aware that it is not by the strength of the muscles that such a battle as this is fought. Leadership is seen through the policies and the ideas one has to offer for this great nation. Even if Mr. Willis was to succeed in discrediting my fitness for presidency and I was to fail in my quest, my great ideas for this nation will never die. Remember that as John F. Kennedy once stated, A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. ( brainyquote. com 2009) My ideas will never be killed! Don’t tell me I am too young to rule. Tell me that my policies and ideas for this country are wrong. Don’t tell me that I am inexperienced. Tell me that the presidency seat was never meant for the young and the vibrant. Fellow countrymen, I know that with your help and with the help of God, I, Franklin Carole, will surely become the fiftieth president of the United States of America. What Ideas do I have for this country? We note great with pride that our country has been the bedrock of the world economy over the years. We note with great pride that our country has been the home to scientific discoveries and inventions. When a time came for man to travel beyond the horizons of the world, it was America that ensured that the first of Adam’s race stepped on the surface of the moon. Indeed, in 1969, history was made when Apollo 11, a space craft under the command of Neil Armstrong became the first of its kind to land on the surface of the moon and as the first manned lunar landing mission (Lyndon 1993). Fellow countrymen, on that day, we watched with awe and wonder as one of our very own sons became the first man to step on the surface of the moon and lay the first footsteps there. It is from that time that we realized that America was a land where nothing could be considered impossible, a land where all had an equal opportunity to become what they wanted to be and a land that no other land can ever be compared to. To this land, great men endowed with great leadership skills have been born. From the first president of this country George Washington who took oath of office in 1789 to the time of Barack Obama, the first black president of this nation (Whitehouse. gov 2009), to these times that I now stand to become the fiftieth president, these sons of ours have served our nation with their lives. They have led our country in times of peace and in times of war, in easy times and in times of hardship, in times of scarcity and in times of plenty. Some have served for just a month while others have served for over twelve years. They were loyal men who were not afraid to lay down their lives for the sake of our prosperity. They were courageous men who did not fear the assassin’s gun. They were devoted to duty despite criticism and they were honest to their country in all they did. It is to the list of these men that I desire to belong. It is to the works of these men that I desire to add and it is to their unaccomplished dreams that I hope to accomplish only if you, fellow countrymen offer unto me that mandate. What do I have to offer at my tender age? Issues of education have been neglected for too long. Teachers are poorly paid and thus do not take the art of imparting knowledge to their students seriously. Some of our higher learning centers lack the proper equipments and finances to carry out research for the advancement of technology. Fellow countrymen, we must note that education is the only bridge that is left for the maintenance of our economic prosperity and success. We need to produce men and women from our educational systems who will not only be ready to fill in the vacant positions in our country but are fit to work and become competent on global levels. It is for this reason that when elected, my government plans to remove all tax paid by teachers and increase the government spending on education by fifty percent from its current standings. We realize that all of us passed through the hands of a teacher. We will ensure that we put in place machinations to ensure that teacher’s salaries are thus reviewed upwards to cater for their needs and boost their morales as they shape the future leaders of this nation. Terrorism is also a real threat to this country. From September 11th when the twin towers were brought down by terrorists, our country has never been the same again and our people have never felt safe. What can we do? Are we helpless when it comes to terrorism? Fellow countrymen, I want to tell you that America has means and ways to deal with terrorism. It is sad that while this country bleeds, the current government has forgotten its call to protect the citizens of America. As the president, I will deal with terrorist in a manner that will ensure that they will never again attack our lands. I will employ measures that due to security reasons, can not be mentioned here. This mechanisms, will use all our technologies and manpower to ensure that America remain free from terrorism. We understand that America can never be America without its citizens and it is in our interest to ensure that the citizens are safe. Fellow countrymen, like I earlier stated, employment has become an elusive matter in our nation. When a nation can no longer employ those whom it has educated, it is creating insecurity within itself. We as the new government will therefore direct for the expansion of industries to create more employment opportunities. We will also create an investor friendly platform and lay out a framework where all that are willing to invest and become self employed can get the profits from their labors. We will support the worker’s union and their fight for better working conditions for their members. We will support the retired men and women. We appreciate the fact that that they have given unrelenting services for this great nation and. We shall ensure that their retirement benefits are accorded to them in time and also add to them bonuses based on the amount of years that they worked. As I end my humble plea for your endorsement of my presidential ambitions, I want to remember the many that have taken their times and forgone other opportunities just to be here. I also remember those who have traveled with me throughout my campaign trails and have offered both financial and moral support until this final campaign. In a special way, I also wish to thank my wife Mary for the encouragement she gave me. I am forever grateful to all of you and to the American nation for giving me this chance to practice my democratic right. Fellow country men, though the campaigns end today, the journey continues. We today stand a chance to make history, to rectify the mistakes that we have done in the past and to ensure that America is stronger and better. Citizens of America, let us not be weary of fighting for better living conditions, let us not be weary of upholding the values of our constitutions. Let us not be weary of treating each other as brothers and sisters. Even after the elections are past and gone, we shall still remain citizens of this great nation. We have come from far. We are going still going far. These elections will be the landmark of the better future yet to come. For those who will vote for me, I want to tell you thank you for believing in my policies. For those who will vote for my opponent, I still appreciate you for practicing your democratic right. For those who will not vote at all, I want to challenge you to know that you are held accountable for not helping in shaping the political landscape of your nation. We are all Americans, we all belong to America and one day when we shall have all gone, America shall still remain with our children and grandchildren as its rightful inheritor. Let us take this time to change America for the benefit of the future generations by voting for me as the fiftieth president of this country. Never forget that when history will one day be written down, your works today will always be remembered and told on to the future generations. Fellow countrymen, I want to urge you not to meditate upon the words of George Santayana when he once stated that, â€Å"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it†(George 2009). God bless you all and God bless America. Works Cited Brainyquote. com John F. Kennedy Quotes, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/authors/j/john_f_kennedy. html Historycentral. com, America’s Wars, A complete History, 2009, Sourced On 28th April 2009: http://www. historycentral. com/wars. html Johnson, Lyndon B. , Neil A. Armstrong, 1993, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www.jsc. nasa. gov/Bios/htmlbios/armstrong-na. html King, Martin Luther, I Have a Dream Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963. Available: http://www. mlkonline. net/dream. html Nelson, Cary, About the Great Depression, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. english. illinois. edu/maps/depression/about. htm Santayana, George, Quotations, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. quotationspage. com/subjects/history/ Whitehouse. gov, George Washington, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. whitehouse. gov/about/presidents/georgewashington/

Atonement as a Liberation for African American Christians

Atonement as a Liberation for African American Christians Shirley Mitchell Can the gospel message of the Atonement have a liberating message for all African-American Christians? Is there really power in the blood? JoAnne Marie Terrell in her exposition explored the meaning of the cross, sources of suffering and sacrifice from the beginning of Christianity through modern times and it is written by an African-American feminist who has suffered both abuse and oppression as a black woman.[1] (J. M. Terrell 1998). JoAnne Marie Terrell, Power in the Blood examines in her exposition the historical exploration of the meaning of the Cross and the impact it has towards the identity and history of African-Americans. From her introduction, she interprets the evil and suffering in which black theology approached the issue of the atonement and the cross. She identifies the various devices such as Negro spirituals, those oppressed in slavery, biblical texts, and other writings which conveyed both positive and negative experiences of African-Americans. She crafted her own observations by beginning with her own remembrance of the cross from slave narratives and other sources bringing them together while linking them with that of the character of Celie in the Color Purple, with the description of God echoing her own: He big and old and gray-bearded and white. He wears white robes and goes barefooted.[2] (Terrell n.d.). The Christians have always placed the great emphasis of Jesus death on the cross, though theologians often are at odds on how to interpret The Crucifixion. Many grapple with the images of torture and abuse, the suffering, and abandonment that Jesus endured while on the cross. Those of us as theologians and who study Christianity often attempt to define Gods nature by explaining Jesus final line, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, (Matt 27:46, Mk 15:34). One may question, Did God actually forsake Jesus? The divine and human nature of Jesus were never separated. Yet, it is clear, that His fellowship with the Father was temporarily broken as He took the sins of the world upon Himself. Jesus used the words of Psalm 22, which begins with David affirming his conviction that God was in control. With the sins of the world upon him, Jesus felt the agony of separation from his Father. At times, we may feel alone, abandoned or rejected but we should remember Gods promise: Never will I le ave you; never will I forsake you (Heb 13:5). Today our social conditions continue to compel women to accept surrogacy roles. Both African-Americans and other ethnic races continue to labor as domestic workers and are often subjected to modern-day indentured servitude by our white employers. While our black men are being incarcerated at a rate 9.6 times that of white men, leaving the women to take on the role of both mothers and fathers to their children. Convinced by our churches teaching that suffering is a virtue, African-American women remain trapped in sexually, mentally, and physically abusive relationships. They are told in some of our churches to pray for them and faithfully bear their crosses. They identified with Jesus, writes Jacquelyn Grant of black women in slavery, because they believed that Jesus identified with them. As Jesus was persecuted and made to suffer undeservedly, so were they. His suffering culminated in the Crucifixion. But Jesus suffering was not the suffering of a mere human, for Jesus was understood to be God incarnate.[3] (Grant 1993, 281). Since crucifixion was a curse from God (Deut 21:22-23), the act was particularly heinous to Jewish people and what has become so despicable among us has become the instrument of our salvation. Jesus previously instructed his disciples to take up their crosses and follow him (Matt 16:24). Demetrius K. Williams finds redemptive meaning in Jesus crucifixion and how the cross sparked the formation of our religious community with an allegiance to Christ. This fellowship breaks down race, gender, and class distinctions that separate people in the larger society, and it unifies all who proclaim Christ crucified.[4] (Williams 1993). Jesus crucifixion affirmed their faith in their understanding of the saving work of Christ. It depicts all that Jesus endured overcoming evil and set believers free. For Christians, it demonstrates Gods love towards the world and our instructions that we must love God, our neighbors, and our enemies, as well as, the punishment we deserve as sinners which Jesus suffered in our place. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; by His wounds, we are healed. (Isaiah 53). From the similarity during slavery, lynched bodies and Jesus body on the cross, to crosses being burned on peoples lawns, the cross has always been a source of tension in black history. Nevertheless, the cross offers our communities faith, hope, and surviving power. By appropriating Jesus Crucifixion with African-American histories in mind and the deep faith in Jesus and the biblical witness in their hearts, black theologians and feminists free the cross for redemption. It symbolizes the suffering a person may have to endure who chooses to place Christ and his kingdom first in their lives and in doing so, they renew its liberating power for other suffering and abused persons living as the least of these in society today. The Crucifixion of Jesus proclaims that love is more powerful than hate and Jesus invites us to put our trust in Him, even in the face of evil, suffering, and oppression. Therein lies the power of Jesus Cross saving power. [1]Terrell, JoAnne Marie. Power in the Blood? The Cross in the African American Experience. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1998. [2]Terrell, Joanne Marie. Strange Fruit: JoAnne Marie Terrells Power in the Blood. http://frjody.com/writings/seminary/strange-fruit-joanne-mari. [3] Grant, Jacquelyn. Womanist Theology: Black Womans Experience as a Source for Doing Theology, with Special Reference to Christology, in Black Theology: A Documentary History, ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1993. [4] Williams, Demetrius K. Identifying with the Cross of Christ, in the Passion of the Lord, ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1993.

Self-Determination in Arab Society :: Arabic Culture Cultural Essays

Self-Determination in Arab Society Since World War Two, much of the developing world has been in transition. One such idea that saw a re-birth was that of self-determination-- be it on the national level or on the personal level. Self-determination on a national level means the independence of a country; on a personal level, it is the determination of one own fate. This can be seen in various ways with our five women characters, Maha, Um Saad, Nadia, Yusra and Suad. In the forward of Daughters of Abraham, Karen Armstrong notes that Islam is "adamantly opposed to the subjection of one human being by another," "insist that men and women were created by God image" and "both sexes have equal rights and responsibilities before God." Strong and resourceful women have played a key role in history and yet Islam has pushed women into an inferior and marginal position, excluding them from full participation in the social, cultural and religious life of the community. Even though figures such as the prophet Muhammad had a positive view of women, relied on them, and treated them as valued equals, some of the most respected sages and theologians have preached outright misogyny. In Rethinking Women and Islam, Amira Sonbol remarks that while the "vision of equality has been one of the mainsprings and central teachings of Islam," it is not extended to women. Rather the numerous Quranic references to equality between man and woman are commonly disregarded, "as the man is given superior moral and physical role as guardian over his wife." It is this type of understanding that is rooted into Arab culture whether or not Arab women have experienced great changes in modernization and industrialization. Therefore, it is imperative that women stand up for themselves and have a sense of self-determination. Self Determination Women were among the first converts to Islam, and the Koran gave women rights of inheritance and divorce that Western women did not receive until the nineteenth century. The Koran does not describe the wearing of the veil of all women as well as seclusion. However, Karen Armstrong notes that three of four generations after the prophet death, Muslims imitated the customs of the Greeks and the Persians in their empire who had long treated their women in this way. Moreover, in her view, Muslims also picked up some of the Christian misogyny and pre-modern legal codes like the Shariah "reduced women to the rank of second-class citizens even though the ideal of the equality of all believers was crucial to the Quran message.

A Comparison of Homeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey Essay

Homeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey "Much that is terrible takes place in the Homeric poems, but it seldom takes place wordlessly... no speech is so filled with anger or scorn that the particles which express logical and grammatical connections are lacking or out of place." (from "Odysseus' Scar" by Erich Auerbach)    In his immaculately detailed study comparing the narrative styles of Homer to those of the Bible, Erich Auerbach hits upon one of the most notable intrigues of reading Homer, namely his unrelenting sense of epic form and rhythm. The stories that unfold in the works of Homer are filled with passion and fury, but this never effects the meticulous regulation of his narrative. One of the chief questions regarding the works of Homer is to what effectual end he follows this formula so explicitly. In both The Iliad and The Odyssey, the reader recognizes patterns and formulae that combine to make up the Homeric template.    The reader can first recognize Homer's formulaic style on a specific scale in the repetition of phrases and epithets. Odysseus, throughout both The Iliad and The Odyssey is almost never mentioned without a reference to his cunning or "many designs". Likewise, throughout The Iliad the city of Troy is almost never mentioned without reference to it being "strong-walled" or "wide-wayed". As Richard Lattimore writes in the introduction to his translation, much of this particular kind of repetition was dictated by the metric needs of the poem. Above and beyond this strictly mechanical function however, recurring descriptions serve to ground the story in a cast of recognizable characters, thus creating a sense of familiarity for the reader.    Studying ... ...tions of the Odyssey,   Frankfurt, Athenaeum 1988 Hamilton, Edith. The Greek Way. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1930. Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988 Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. Nussbaum, Martha C. "Victims and Agents: What Greek Tragedy can teach us about sympathy and responsibility." Boston Review. (1999)31 May 1999 Stanford, William Bedell. Homer's Odyssey. 2 Vols. Macmillan  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Iliad. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Books, 1990. The Iliad of Homer. Trans. Richmond Lattimore. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1951. Tracy, Stephen V. ,The Story of the Odyssey Princeton UP 1990 "Gospel of Matthew". The Holy Bible. New Revised Standard Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989.

The Economic Botany of Manilkara zapota (L.) Van Royen :: Botany

The Economic Botany of Manilkara zapota (L.) Van Royen America is well versed in the use of a byproduct of the plant Manilkara zapota (L.) Van Royen, yet few people are aware of this product's history. Chewing gum has its origins in the economic botany of the Chicle tree (M. zapota). Throughout Mexico and Central America, the Sapotaceae plant family is recognized for its latex. Manilkara zapota (synonym: Achras zapota L.) is an evergreen canopy tree of medium size (15-30 meters in height) native to Central America, which is currently cultivated throughout the tropics of the world (Castner, Timme, & Duke, 1998). The Sapotaceae (Soapberry family) belongs to the Ebenales order along with the Ebenaceae, Styracaceae, Lissocarpacee, and Symplocaceae according to the Cronquist system of plant classification (Jones & Luchsinger, 1986). Historically, M. zapta was an important source of timber and latex in the new world tropics (Janzen, 1983). The latex is a milk-white exudate produced in laticifer canals under the phloem bark surface (Simpson & Ogorzaly, 1995). The latex is known as chicle, which had its highest demand during the rubber boom of tropical America in the 1800's. When the United States and Great Brittain established Rubber tree (Hevea spp.) plantations in southeast Asia in 1876, the rubber boom occurred in tropical America. Economies were left helpless and Indian rubber collectors were massacred (Hill, 1996; Stanfield, 1998). The Chicle tree (synonyms: Sapodilla, Naseberry, Nispero) was the lone latex plant to economically survive. The Mayan Indians of Mexico and Central America traditionally have chewed the raw chicle latex. Furthermore, Aztec prostitutes loudly snapped their chewing gum to advertise their trade during the height of pre-Columbian Aztec civilization (Plotkin, 1993). This custom was common to many Mexicans, including an eccentric political leader from Veracruz. He is Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, eleven time president of Mexico (born 1794, died 1876). His military prowess is capped by success at the battle of the Alamo (1836), where Santa Anna's troops killed Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie (Simpson & Ogorzaly, 1995). His eccentric political ways got him exiled to the West Indies. The U. S. Secretary of State, William Seward, payed Santa Anna a visit in the West Indies. Assuming he gained Seward's trust, Santa Anna sailed to New York in 1866. Santa Anna's shipmates stole his money, leaving him stranded in America where Santa Anna was turned away by Secretary of State Seward. The exiled Mexican president was a wise businessman and politician who brought some chicle with him to New York.

Research the German Car Industry †BMW Essay

Within this dossier I am going to research the German Car Industry, firstly I am going to give a little background history to Germany, then Berlin where the person will be based to work for BMW. Then finally I will tell the person about BMW, their history and his/hers role within the company. I have decided to use a 50/50 approach to this dossier by this I mean 50% will be on the country i.e. Germany and Berlin and 50% will be on the company. I have chosen this because I feel, and will explain throughout this piece of work that it is very important to know the ways and the customs of a country as well as the industry in which you are going to work. I will try through this piece of work to help the person ‘settle’ in quicker and be comfortable of his/her surroundings. If someone feels happy in his/her surroundings then this should spread into his/hers work life and by focusing more on the country I feel this could happen quicker than usual. About Germany Population: 82,057,000 Size: 357,021 kmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Adjacent countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland Highest point: Zugspitze (2,962 m) – 31% of the country is covered with forests Coastal line: 2,389 km Life expectancy: 77 years (Men – 73 years; Women – 80 years) System of government: The Federal Republic of Germany is a democracy with a liberal free-market economy, freedom of religion and freedom of the press. Germany is a member of the European Union (EU). Capital: Berlin (3.47 million inhabitants) 16 States in the Federal Republic: Baden-Wà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia Railway system: 43,966 km Freeways and roads: 633,000 km Bicycle tracks: 40,000 km Federal and national waterways: 10,000 km Sea water routes: 23,000 kmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Time zone: In Germany, clocks are set to Central European time. From the end of March to the end of October (summertime) they are put forward one hour. (Source: German tourist office) Economy Overview: After the fall of the Berlin Wall, progress towards economic integration between eastern and western Germany is clearly visible, yet the eastern region almost certainly will remain dependent on subsidies funded by western Germany until many years to come. The staggering $390 billion in western German assistance that the eastern states have received since 1990 – 40 times the amount in real terms of US Marshall Fund aid sent to West Germany after World War II – is just beginning to have an impact on the eastern German standard of living, which plummeted after unification. Assistance to the east continues to run at roughly $100 billion annually. Although the growth rate in the east was much greater than in the west, it will take 10-15 years for the eastern states to match western Germany’s living standards. The economic recovery in the east is led by the construction industries which account for one-third of industrial output, with growth increasingly supported by the service sectors and light manufacturing industries. Eastern Germany’s economy is changing from one anchored on manufacturing to a more service-oriented economy. Western Germany, with three times the per capita output of the eastern states, has an advanced market economy and is a world leader in exports. The strong recovery in 1994 from recession began in the export sector and spread to the investment and consumption sectors in response to falling interest rates. Western Germany has a highly urbanized and skilled population that enjoys excellent living standards, abundant leisure time, and comprehensive social welfare benefits. It is relatively poor in natural resources, coal being the most important mineral. Western Germany’s world-class companies manufacture technologically advanced goods. The region’s economy is mature: services and manufacturing account for the dominant share of economic activities, and raw materials and semi manufactured goods constitute a large portion of imports. Read more: Swot Analysis of BMW Current Issues in Germany Currently, Germany is facing post reunification economic problems caused by a number of factors including the flow of refugees into Germany, the flow of East Germans leaving to West Germany, and the poor economic conditions left in East Germany by the Communists. In the East, the unemployment rate remains at about 18%, despite efforts to lower it. Within the political arena Germany remain to be one of the fieriest opponents to the war on Iraq and diplomatic relations between themselves and the USA and Britain and have hit a low point, but given time and talking these issues will be resolved. Germany has changed a lot since the end of the Second World War. This is a country that lay in ruins, the majority of its infrastructure was destroyed, millions of its citizens were killed and its economy was in tatters. However nowadays nearly 60 years after the war Germany brought itself back into world economics. Germany remains to be one of the main players in global economics, its many industries i.e. the car industry have lifted it from the depths of recession to become a strong economy. About Berlin Located in the north-east of Germany and with a population of 3.5million, one third is covered by woodland, parks and waterways. Despite efforts to become a city of the future, Berlin has also made every effort to preserve its history. Berlin is home to the largest construction project Europe has seen since World War II, the city is redefining itself. The construction of the Berlin Wall on Aug 13, 1961 set the seal on the city’s division and separated its people. The city celebrated on Nov 9, 1989 when the Berlin Wall was torn down. After the reunification in 1990 Berlin became residence of the Federal Government, which held its first plenary session in the redesigned Reichstag on Apr 19, 1999. The Reichstag with its new glass dome became an attraction for both Berliners and tourists from all over the world. The new millennium was celebrated with a magnificent party at the Brandenburg Tor. A lot has changed in Berlin since then. And Berlin will keep changing. Museums Berlin’s museums present art works of international appreciation. More than 170 museums invite to see collections of the world culture such as the Pergamonaltar or the bust of Nofretete, painting works from Giotto and Breughel over Caspar David Friedrich and Picasso to contemporary artists. Spectacular new buildings like the Filmmuseum or the Jewish Museum and the reopening of great museums like the Old National Gallery enhance the fascinating range of Berlin’s museums. Nightlife Night owls with stamina can also give their undivided attention to the interesting range of pubs around Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg. The area consists of a great number of restaurants and bars where everyone can meet the stars of television or Berlin’s culture and political scene. Here is the melting pot that combines symbolically the former west and the new centre to a harmonic construction. Especially the younger crowd is attracted to the Pariser Straà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e. At this location you will find taverns, bars, American diners, Mexican restaurants and very modern and stylish discos. During the summer life concentrates on the street in form of many chairs and tables that invite us to rest. In the middle of this street the well-maintained Ludwigkirchplatz with its rich areas of green providing a relaxing shadow is located. For someone who is going to live in a strange country it is important if they make themselves aware of certain customs within that country or a certain part of the country i.e. Tipping in a restaurant the bill you receive at a hotel, restaurant, cafe or bar often includes a service charge already. A tip is an indication of your satisfaction – 5% is average, whereas 10% indicates exceptional service. Tip taxi drivers about 5%, and porters and others who assist you with baggage one Euro per item. Berlin is one of the liveliest capitals in the world; it has huge volumes of history attached to it German Car Industry Germany is the birthplace of the automobile – in 1887 Karl Benz designed a couch fitted with an internal combustion engine, and the modern car was born. In 1901 Germany was already producing 900 cars a year; today the total is as high as 10 million. The industry employs about 1.26 million people, and over half of all the cars produced in Germany are exported. Today Daimler-Chrysler, the result of the merger between Daimler-Benz, Germany’s largest manufacturers of cars, and the American Chrysler Corporation, is the third largest car manufacturer in the world. The names of the car companies tell interesting, often personal stories. For example, when August Horch designed his first car, another car manufacturer operated under Horch’s name, so he was forced to find a new name for his company. He selected the Latinised version of the German word Horch, listen, and came up with Audi. Mercedes was originally the name of an early Daimler sports car – it was named after a client’s daughter. The car industry has remained one of the pillars of the German economy. Currently about 1.26 million people are employed in the car industry. In 1998 5.73 million cars were produced and 3.27 million of these were exported. Daimler-Benz is the largest of the three major players, Volkswagen being the second and BMW the third. The car industry is, however, facing the biggest changes since the introduction of mass production. With ever changing markets and fluctuating economies mass production in the old sense may be on its way out. Cars that are not sold quickly turn into huge losses for their company. This may be avoided by introducing more flexible production systems. The idea is to produce cars according to customer’s wishes and, more importantly, when they want to buy them. This idea is based on BTO (built-to-order) systems. In Germany about 60% of cars are built according to orders placed directly or indirectly with the factory. The next step, mass customisation, would suit both customer and manufacturer. The problem is to develop a production system that can adapt quickly to a changing demand and supply at a lower cost. Together with American and Japanese car makers Volkswagen is involved in the so-called â€Å"3DayCar† project which tries to apply the mass customisation model initiated by the computer manufacturer DELL to the car industry. Considering the size of German car manufacturers like Volkswagen and Daimler-Benz, these new production methods may mean major changes on a huge scale. Another change is the increasing size of car manufacturers. The five leading corporations worldwide are General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and Volkswagen. The worldwide overproduction of cars and fluctuating markets has meant that all five have been involved in a number of acquisitions and mergers in order to consolidate their position as global players. DaimlerChrysler is now said to be interested in Mitsubishi Motors and Volkswagen in BMW. German Car Exports to Ireland In the year 2000 about 25% of all new cars bought in Ireland were of a German brand. (55.160 vehicles). The largest number of imports, 37 700 cars, were by Volkswagen. BMW BMW, which stands for Bayerische Motoren-Werke, started off as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. After the First World War the production of these engines was forbidden by the Peace Treaty of Versailles. BMW therefore began to manufacture motor cycles. Later on BMW bought a company which was licensed to produce a car called Dixi. The cars sold very well despite the economic downturn of the late 1920s and when the licence expired BMW started designing their own models. The company began building six cylinder cars and sporting models. With every new model BMW introduced went a sporting model since taking part and winning races was the best publicity a car manufacturer could get. During the war the company received large orders to build aircraft engines. Because of its contribution to the arms industry of the 1930s and 40s the BMW plants were banned from production for three years after the Second World War. Two of the company’s plants, in Berlin and Eisenach, were in the Russian sector and later were nationalised by the East German government. The factory in Munich remained, but since it had only produced motor cycles car production did not start until 1951. For a while the company tried to both mass-produce as well as develop prestigious models which put it under considerable financial strain. In 1959 BMW nearly went bankrupt but managed to keep going. Between 1955 and 1962 the company produced Isetta cars under licence. This led BMW to work with Italian designers which proved to be very successful for the company. A major reorganisation of the company took place in the early Sixties under the auspices of major shareholder Herbert Quandt. The success of these changes allowed BMW to built bigger cars and offer a more comprehensive range in the following years. In today’s competitive markets the quality of the marketing and advertising of a product is just as important as the quality of the product itself. An example of this is the latest advertising campaign by BMW in the US. Instead of TV and cinema ads BMW financed five short films which can be viewed on the internet. The films are made by internationally renowned directors and are part of a series called The Hire. All films feature a chauffeur and his car, a BMW. Guy Ritchie’s film, the first of the series, stars Madonna and was an immediate success. Since the start of the US campaign three months ago (May 2001) six million people have viewed the films and BMW is now considering a similar project in Germany. Surveys showed that most potential customers are far more likely to surf the internet than to look at TV or magazine ads. The campaign, which is typical for so-called Image-Advertising, indicates that the perception of a car is nowadays as important as the actual product, if not more so. (www.goethe.de) BMW Group worldwide mission statement is: â€Å"To be the most successful premium manufacturer in the industry.† What is BMW (GB) Ltd’s turnover? 1996 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,239,000 1997 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,400,000 1998 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,478,000 1999 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,580,000 2000 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,511,000 2001 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,966,000 2002 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2,350,000 (Source: www.bmw.com) BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) began life as a manufacturer of aircraft engines during World War I when it built a reputation of reliability and excellence. In 1923, BMW built its first motorcycle and in 1928, its first motorcar – a version of the Austin Seven built under licence. Production Range. With a workforce of approximately 2,700 employees, the Berlin Plant builds up to 400 motorcycles of the R, K and F Series a day. Also manufacturing camshafts, brake discs and track control arms for BMW’s various car models, the Berlin Plant is an important supplier for other locations within the BMW production network. Human resource policy The human factor is the No. 1 criterion in determining a company’s relative success. Accordingly, we see our associates not as a cost factor, but instead as an essential performance factor. This is especially true because any human resources policy that is not oriented towards the associate will always lead to negative cost effects in the long run, thus proving uneconomical. As a future-oriented company, we seek to pursue an exemplary, creative and associate-oriented human resources policy, making significant contributions to business success through our human resources activities. The human resources policy of the BMW Group is an integral feature of our overall corporate policy in both strategic and operative decisions. What are the BMW Group brands? BMW The BMW brand stands for one thing: sheer driving pleasure. Sporting and dynamic performance combined with superb design and exclusive quality MINI The MINI brand wins hearts and turns heads. MINI is part of a lifestyle that is cosmopolitan and confident, ready for everything. Rolls-Royce Uncompromising concentration on quality is a matter of course. The Rolls-Royce fascinates through unique solutions in detail BMW Ltd applies selection processes for both internal and external applicants which ensure the appointment of the highest quality staff. Special selection events are designed to give applicants every opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities in a variety of relevant activities and to learn as much as they can about the organisation and the role they are applying for. BMW Ltd actively encourages its employees in the development of their careers Generally, vacancies will be advertised internally and wherever possible a current member of staff will be recruited into a position. Only if an internal appointment is not possible will BMW consider external recruitment. BMW Ltd operates an equal opportunity policy BMW Ltd offers all employees (Head Office and Dealer Network) the practical support, advice and training opportunities to encourage personal development, aligned to the achievement of corporate objectives. The BMW Centre for Development team helps employees to select and undergo the most appropriate training programme for their needs. Requirement is assessed annually during the appraisal process Managers are expected to interact regularly with their team and this process is formalised through â€Å"Portfolio† where managers and employees review performance together every November covering the following areas: * Review of performance against agreed objectives * Establishing objectives for the forthcoming 12 months * Identification of individual training and development needs Planning actions to build on strengths address weaknesses and plan career development. BMW offer an extensive induction programme which includes one or two days where the person is allowed to talk to fellow workmates on an informal basis. New workers are put into groups and set a task i.e. finding certain places within the factory. They are also assigned a mentor for 12 months this is so if they have any problems they can go to this person and hopefully they can sort it out, usually the new worker doesn’t use the mentor for 12 months it’s normally for the first month or so. BMW Ltd applies selection processes for both internal and external applicants which ensure the appointment of the highest quality staff. Special selection events are designed to give applicants every opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities in a variety of relevant activities and to learn as much as they can about the organisation and the role they are applying for. BMW Ltd actively encourages its employees in the development of their careers BMW Ltd offers all employees (Head Office and Dealer Network) the practical support, advice and training opportunities to encourage personal development, aligned to the achievement of corporate objectives. The BMW Centre for Development team helps employees to select and undergo the most appropriate training programme for their needs. Requirement is assessed annually during the appraisal process. Courses available to staff include: Management Sales After sales Technical Dealer Service Managers are expected to interact regularly with their team and this process is formalised through â€Å"Portfolio† where managers and employees review performance together every November covering the following areas: Today BMW has various production plants in Germany, Austria, South Africa and the USA as well as sales offices in Asia and Mexico. Apart from cars and motor cycles the group is involved in the production of aircraft engines. Cars, however, account for nearly 75% of the company’s sales. Company’s operations also include software (softlab GmbH). Due to recent changes in the car industry there has been speculation about a possible merger between BMW and another car manufacturer, but the Quandt family who owns about half of the BMW shares has downplayed such speculation. In the beginning of 1994 BMW bought 80% of the shares in the Rover Group. The company later on sold Land Rover to Ford and Rover Cars to Phoenix Consortium. BMW is known for its production of passenger and Formula 1 cars as well as motor cycles. In the year 2000, BMW sold 830 000 cars, 74 000 motor cycles and employed 93 000 people. BMW are and will continue to be one of the largest car manufactures in the world, producing top of the range vehicles for years to come and being a credit to Germany is what BMW is all about. Bibliography www.goethe.de excellent site provides very good history on the car industry within germany and also that of bmw www.btm.de Another very good website, very helpful, will post out brochures to you about germany and getting around Berlin. Would be very good to a person who has never visited germany www.germanytouristoffice.de A good site offering details on accomdation within Germany, although does lack in the fact that it could be more helpful with regards to providing maps etc of germany www.guardian.co.uk Provides good history articles on various car manufacteurs in germany www.geographic.org Provides excellent maps first of Germany then of Berlin, its different regions etc. www.aboutgermany.org Good website providing information on different festivals that happen in Berlin, also features tips on how to live to in Germany Dossier German Car Industry