Crisis Communication During Volcanic Emergencies Japanese Earthquake Free Essays

Dynamic: Expanded presentation to volcanic danger, especially at Japan, is driving a critical and developing requirement for improved correspondence between checking researchers, crisis chiefs and the media, ahead of time of and during volcanic emergencies. The discoveries of the Japan spring of gushing lava studies point up the basic significance, More than seven days after the country of Japan pronounced a crisis at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant in Fukushima prefecture, the â€Å"haze† of the episode is simply beginning to clear. Force has been reestablished to two of six reactors at the Daiichi atomic plant and gradually the atomic circumstance is going under control. We will compose a custom paper test on Emergency Communication During Volcanic Emergencies: Japanese Earthquake or on the other hand any comparable subject just for you Request Now While some uplifting news is rising up out of Japan recriminations and anecdotes about TEPCO’s long history of â€Å"false reporting† are presently rising. The most exceedingly awful of the atomic emergency may now be settled, however the war of words is simply starting. In the event that it is in India it will take significance on (1) Bringing together checking researchers, crisis directors, and delegates of the media, well ahead of time of a volcanic emergency, and (2), guaranteeing that methods and conventions are set up that will permit, beyond what many would consider possible, compelling and consistent collaboration and coordination when and if an emergency circumstance creates. Correspondence During Volcanic Emergencies is intended to advance and energize both of these needs through giving the principal source-book tending to working connections and between linkages between the partner gatherings, and giving instances of good and awful practice. Presentation: The greatness 9.0 seaward tremor on March 11 set off a tidal wave that pummeled minutes after the fact into Japan’s upper east, clearing out towns and taking out force and reinforcement frameworks at the waterfront Fukushima Dai-ichi atomic force plant. Police said in excess of 11,000 bodies have been recouped, however the last loss of life is relied upon to surpass 18,000. Several thousands stay destitute, their homes and jobs devastated. Harm could add up to $310 billion †the most costly catastrophic event on record, the legislature said. The plant has been spilling radiation that has advanced into vegetables, crude milk and faucet water as distant as Tokyo. Inhabitants inside 12 miles of the plant were requested to leave and a few countries prohibited the imports of food items from the Fukushima district. Doubts that hazardously radioactive water is spilling from harmed atomic fuel poles. The debased water has been emanating radiation exposures multiple occasions the sum the administration considers alright for laborers and must be siphoned out before power can be reestablished to the cooling framework. That has left authorities battling with two pivotal however once in a while opposing endeavors: siphoning in water to keep the fuel bars cool and siphoning out polluted water and securely putting away it. Atomic security official Hidehiko Nishiyama said cooling the reactors had overshadowed worries about spillage. Emergency in Japan: Emergency correspondence as a major aspect of a bigger emergency the board plan has a few key components. The objective of advertising in an emergency is to both educate and to pass on a bigger feeling of authority over the unfurling episode. Advertising chiefs and Public Information Officers must act rapidly and reliably to convey precise data and to set desires. Great emergency correspondence ought to be inevitable about what is known and not known. Fiascos are not really unsurprising and regularly leaders are confronted with confounded problems without complete data. Recognizing the obscure and what is being done to address the information hole is similarly as significant as illustrating what is known. Never with regards to emergency interchanges should the message be false or deluding. At long last, emergency correspondence ought to connect the entirety of the partners in an occurrence †everybody with an enthusiasm for the result of an episode. Between these partners, inform ing ought to be composed and predictable. With the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant there were numerous issues in the correspondence to the outside world about what precisely was unfurling at the plant. At first the progression of data was moderate and conflicting. Despite the fact that the quake happened at 2:45pm neighborhood time followed intently by the tidal wave which crippled the generators supporting siphons to cool the atomic fuel at Daiichi, the main report of a noteworthy occurrence didn't happen until 8:15pm. By 10pm the Japanese government started a restricted 3km clearing around the plant. TEPCO’s 10pm official statement demonstrated just that radiation screens distinguished a â€Å"departure from normal†. In public interviews TEPCO held with the media, administrators with the force organization were dubious about what was occurring and were not set up to address addresses presented by the media. The clearness of messages about the unfurling atomic calamity likewise added to the disarray about the seriousness of the occurrence. For instance, the Japanese government at first arranged a departure for 3km around the Daiichi plant. By 7am on 12-Mar, the day after the tremor and torrent, the departure request was extended to 10km. By 13-Mar, the clearing request was extended to 20km. The crawling clearing separations passed on a message that the episode was becoming insane. Without target data about radiation levels recognized around the Daiichi plant, numerous individuals filled this hole with theory that the episode was possibly developing into an atomic calamity. A solitary proactive 20km departure request, then again, would have passed on a feeling of conclusiveness with a similar result. Informing during the episode contrasted between partners. Data from TEPCO, the administrator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, was downplayed and fragmented. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which administers atomic plants in Japan, was broadly missing from data scattering. The IAEA, the UN’s atomic observing association, blamed Japan for not being prospective about what was going on at the Daiichi plant. In the US, the Surgeon General proposed individuals in California should purchase potassium iodine while the CDC said precisely the inverse. These various voices encouraged a feeling of disarray and recommendations by numerous that TEPCO and the Japanese government were concealing something. More than some other correspondence issue, the bungle of messages from various sources made the best harm the validity of everybody included. My own nation (INDIA) can deal with the correspondence emergency in the accompanying manner: 1.India will recognize partners in the emergency correspondence process well in front of any episode. Train these partners in the emergency the board procedure and instruct them about the significance of steady message between associations. 2.Clarity of activities and words is significant. Advertising staff and Public Information Officers must be set up with data to respond to inquiries from the media. In the event that the response to the inquiry is obscure, recognize it. On the off chance that the appropriate response requires research, discover then catch up with the requestor. 3.The little occurrences are as significant as the huge episodes. Albeit little episodes don't generally warrant a lot of media consideration, neglecting to address them can be a difficult when significant occurrences strike. The day preceding the Daiichi atomic plant debacle nobody was expounding on TEPCO’s history of bogus reports. In the weeks to come, media stories and uncovered will uncover the holes in TEPCO treatment of little occurrences. In the event that TEPCO had taken care of the little episodes well or if nothing else attempted to improve after some time, there would be little to expound on. 4.Practice. Any procedure or plan is just comparable to the execution. Improve the chances of strong execution at time of emergency by rehearsing emergency correspondence regularly. The best thing is to have a strategy arranged ahead of time. That way, you can respond quickly and shrewdly when an emergency hits. End: Populace rise and expanding urbanization are driving a checked upward pattern in the occurrence of catastrophic events. This pattern is as of now being reflected in the quantities of deadly volcanic occasions and in an ascent in the quantity of spring of gushing lava related passings. the normal number of passings every year because of volcanic movement, in the 17thâ€19th hundreds of years, was 315, this figure has move to 917 for the twentieth century and 491 volcanic ‘events’ during the twentieth century, wherein individuals were slaughtered, harmed or influenced here and there, and the greater part of which brought about death toll, At least 500 million individuals as of now live inside the risk zones of dynamic volcanoes, and this number is sure to climb significantly. In particular, crisis plans must address the issue of consistent correspondence between the primary partner gatherings, and guarantee that the components that support powerful correspondence during a volcanic emergency are set up some time before a spring of gushing lava gives indications of agitation. Where emissions are visit, such estimates should be set up now or sooner rather than later. Messages from all the partner bunches must be as straightforward and brief as could reasonably be expected and should address guidelines and proposals on what to do next just as advise regarding the common circumstance. All endeavors need to concentrate on the structure of trust between partners, the support of good working connections, and the defending of an open and nonstop data stream between every single key player. REFERENCES: Fearn-Banks, Kathleen, 2006, Crisis Communications: a case book approach, third Edition, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. Nichen, 2009, Institutionalizing Public relations: A contextual investigation

Free Essays on Plessy V. Ferguson

Plessy v. Ferguson, a significant instance of 1896 wherein the Supreme Court of the United States maintained the lawfulness of racial isolation. At the hour of the decision, isolation among blacks and whites previously existed in many schools, cafés, and other open offices in the American South. In the Plessy choice, the Supreme Court decided that such isolation didn't damage the fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. This alteration gives equivalent security of the law to all U.S. residents, paying little mind to race. The court decided in Plessy that racial isolation was lawful as long as the different offices for blacks and whites were â€Å"equal.† This â€Å"separate yet equal† tenet, as it came to be known, was just mostly actualized after the choice. Railroad vehicles, schools, and other open offices in the South were made independent, yet they were once in a while made equivalent (Postema). Following the American Civil War finished in April 1865 the Southern states started to isolate blacks from whites in schools and other open offices. Recreation, a time of revamping in the American South that kept going from the finish of 1865 to 1877, put an impermanent stop to these approaches in certain spots. Blacks had won enough political force in the South during Reconstruction to forestall the entry of enactment intended to deny them access to open offices. Likewise, after the Civil War the national government stayed focused on maintaining probably some level of racial decency. Be that as it may, in any event, during Reconstruction, most Southern schools were isolated and blacks were regularly compelled to utilize insufficient open offices. After 1877 whites increased more noteworthy political control and inevitably complete political predominance of the South, and the national government did little to stop the intensifying situation of Southern blacks. Therefore, isolation co ntinuously spread (Nieman). By the mid-1890s railroad vehicles and different types of publ... Free Essays on Plessy V. Ferguson Free Essays on Plessy V. Ferguson Plessy v. Ferguson, a significant instance of 1896 where the Supreme Court of the United States maintained the lawfulness of racial isolation. At the hour of the decision, isolation among blacks and whites previously existed in many schools, cafés, and other open offices in the American South. In the Plessy choice, the Supreme Court decided that such isolation didn't damage the fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. This change gives equivalent security of the law to all U.S. residents, paying little mind to race. The court decided in Plessy that racial isolation was lawful as long as the different offices for blacks and whites were â€Å"equal.† This â€Å"separate however equal† precept, as it came to be known, was just in part actualized after the choice. Railroad vehicles, schools, and other open offices in the South were made isolated, however they were seldom made equivalent (Postema). Following the American Civil War finished in April 1865 the Southern states started to isolate blacks from whites in schools and other open offices. Reproduction, a time of reconstructing in the American South that kept going from the finish of 1865 to 1877, put a brief stop to these arrangements in certain spots. Blacks had won enough political force in the South during Reconstruction to forestall the section of enactment intended to deny them access to open offices. Additionally, after the Civil War the national government stayed focused on maintaining probably some level of racial reasonableness. Notwithstanding, in any event, during Reconstruction, most Southern schools were isolated and blacks were frequently compelled to utilize deficient open offices. After 1877 whites increased more prominent political control and in the end all out political predominance of the South, and the national government did little to stop the compounding predicament of Southern blacks. Thus, isolati on step by step spread (Nieman). By the mid-1890s railroad vehicles and different types of publ...

Experts Advice on the Importance of Homework For Students

Experts Advice on the Importance of Homework For Students Almost every student hates homework for many reasons. But homework is beneficial for the students because of many reasons. The homework is one of the crucial aspects of our education system. We cant neglect the importance of homework. Here in this blog, I am going to share with you the top 10 reasons that are showcasing the importance of homework for the students. Here we go:- Importance of Homework Summary Importance of HomeworkHelps build responsibilityDevelops work ethic from an early ageImproves time management.Enhance students confidence.Enhances self-esteemDevelop study habits.It can offer valuable feedback.Improves knowledge in studentsA Chance to ExploreBrings Families TogetherConclusion Helps build responsibility Nowadays, self-learning is the key to success for the students. Most of the education systems are working to make the students more accountable for doing self-studies. Homework helps the students to do some self-study to complete it. Because nowadays, the students cant revise whatever they have learned during their class session. Therefore homework allows them the opportunity to review whatever they have learned during their classes. They also get the reward for their outstanding work in the form of good grades. It also makes the students responded that the homework should meet the requirements of the teacher and submitted with the given deadline.   Develops work ethic from an early age Most of the students think that there is no value of hard work in the current scenario of the world. But they forgot that hard work is the key to success. Homework helps the students to understand the value of hard work and determination. The harder they work for their homework, the more they produce the quality homework. In this way, the students understand the value of hard work at the early age of their life. Improves time management. Time management is a crucial key for everyone. It is quite beneficial for students to learn time management at an early age. With the help of homework, the students can prioritize their tasks. In this way, they learn the skills of time management. We have seen that the students need to perform a variety of tasks daily. For this, they make the schedule and plan to manage their tasks. Enhance students confidence. Homework also helps the students to increase the self-confidence. When doing their homework, the students need to find out the solution to the problems. For this, they attempt multiple chances and come to know their reason for failure. They learn from the failure and get the best ways to solve the problems. In this way, they increase their self-confidence to solve a similar problem that they have faced in their homework. It also helps them to be confident in their problem-solving ability. Enhances self-esteem Self-esteem is interrelated with self-confidence. Once you increase your self-confidence, you also enhance your self-esteem. It allows you to complete your homework independently with confidence. Self-esteem helps you in various aspects of your life. Develop study habits. Study habits arent inherited in the students. Most of the students are still not able to develop study habits. It is quite tough for the students to develop study habits. For this, homework plays a crucial role in developing study habits. Homework helps the students to realize the importance of practice. The test-oriented homework is quite helpful in developing the study habits. It can offer valuable feedback. Done with the homework is not the end of the story. Whenever you submit your homework to your mentor, then they provide you with valuable feedback. If you have missed something in your homework, then they will let you know. In this way, their valuable feedback helps you to prepare for the exams more effectively. Sometimes the mentor provides tips on how to improve the weak areas of your study. Improves knowledge in students Homework is one of the key elements to enhance the understanding of the students. With the help of the homework, the students come to know about their topic more effectively. They do the practice again and again to solve their homework. Thus they become more creative to answer and solve the question adequately. In this way, they improve their learning and try to get academic achievements. If the students take help from their parents and teachers to complete their homework, then they allow themselves to enhance their knowledge. In contrast, it helps them to prepare for the upcoming tests.   A Chance to Explore We know homework is not just textbook oriented. Most of the time, the students may not find the answer to the homework in their textbooks. For this, they need to do some proper research. In other words, they need to solve the problems by researching the relevant answer to the problems from various sources, either online or offline. If the students do their homework independently, then they explore the skills of research in themselves. With the help of the research, they also discover new ways and concepts related to their subjects. It is an excellent example of the importance of homework in the learning process Brings Families Together Homework also plays a crucial role in bringing the family together. It brings the home and the school close enough to each other. In other words, homework helps to improve the connection between the home and the school. It is a common scenario that when the students come back to their home with lots of homework. Then they ask their parents and siblings for the homework help. It allows the parents to be a part of the homework environment. It also creates an environment where the parents and the siblings play a crucial role to spark the students enthusiasm towards studies.   Conclusion Homework is always beneficial for students. It ensures that the students should spend time studying and learning the new skills related to their subjects. Practice in homework makes it perfect for the students as well as for the teachers. The only problem I have seen in the homework that most of the time, the teacher gives an excessive amount of homework to the students. The homework should be less and straight to the point. In this way, it will be quite helpful for the students to enhance their skills.   Get the best homework help from the experts at nominal charges.

The Effects Of Climate Change On Africa - 1420 Words

Climate Change in Africa Noah Jones Ms. Martin Humanities 9 Period 1/5 January 12, 2015 Climate Change in Africa Introduction-What is the impact of Climate Change in Africa? How we can help to reduce our carbon output. I. What are the leading causes of Climate Change? A. Electricity B. Transportation C. Industry D. How the greenhouse effect works II. What have been some of the impacts in Africa? A. Impacts on Agriculture B. Impacts on water table C. Impact on economy III. What are the future problems that can arise from further Change in the Climate? A. Problems that can happen to the whole world in the future B. The problems the can happen to Africa in the future C. How this may affect Agriculture for the worlds’ growing†¦show more content†¦Electricity contributes to 32% of greenhouse gases for 2012. Over 70% of electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. Transportation contributes to 28% of the greenhouse gases in 2012 and over 90% of transportation is powered by petroleum based fuels like gasoline and diesel. Industry is the third most leading cause and is responsible of 20% of the greenhouse gases of 2012. These greenhouse gases are produced from the chemical reactions necessary to produce products from raw materials. These gases are responsible for blanketing the earth and trapping in heat from the sun. The mainly agreed cause of climate change in the scientist community is the greenhouse effect. â€Å"Certain gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping. Long-lived gases that remain semi-permanently in the atmosphere and do not respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are described as forcing climate change. Gases, such as water vapor, which respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are seen as ‘feedbacks’† (Global). Some gases in our atmosphere can trap heat radiating from the earth, like how a greenhouse works by trapping in warmth. The gases that are responsible for this greenhouse effect is water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbon or CFOs. Water vapor is the most abundant of the greenhouse gases, but give feedback to the

Top Expository Math Essay Topics for High School Reviews!

Top Expository Math Essay Topics for High School Reviews! The Hidden Gem of Expository Math Essay Topics for High School Surprisingly maths can provide help! Explain why you're interested in a specific career. I have to know why. I soon realized I was incorrect. My daughter will turn ten this October. Maddie is presently a botanist. It's important then to explain the way the answer was found. Explain why parents are from time to time strict. What Everybody Dislikes About Expository Math Essay Topics for High School and Why Based on this issue, each essay will change depending on the depth of the thesis. All essays ought to be rewritten three or more times. Therefore, an analytical essay is a bit of writing that supplies an informative observation about the particular topic or idea. If you're a fantastic writer who's ready to produce essays on a selection of topics, a scholarship essay contest may be a pure choice for you. The key point to keep in mind is these expository essays are based on facts as opposed to the writer's beliefs or feelings. There isn't anything like a very good expository essay example! Yes, selecting a topic isn't uncomplicated. Before writing any essay, you want a topic and an expository essay is the same. The Hidden Truth About Expository Math Essay Topics for High School The primary aim of the body paragraphs is to fully demonstrate the thesis statement. Sometimes utilizing a hook statement can be effective, but it's not required. Creating an outline is a significant portion of writing. The body is where all your arguments go. An individual should locate their existing location and the way to move to the destination. The world is growing increasingly quantitative. Creating an intriguing topic may take a while, but nevertheless, it should be something you can obviously define and present accurate concise data. Looks like you've come to the correct spot! Our premium p lans provide different degree of profile access and data insights that may let you get into your dream school. There are math topics which include a wide selection of genres you can pick from. Many computer programs are deemed linear systems. There's no particular style for the introduction, but background information is easily the most frequent procedure of approach. When it has to do with your interests and the discipline of study you're in, these factors will be able to help you narrow down the selection to possible topics you would want to write about. This is the reason we will explain the significance of selecting the most suitable topics in fantastic detail. With a little bit of ingenuity you may enrich even quite simple topics to bring in a selection of mathematical skills. Some will request that you acquire political, some will challenge you to develop workable solutions to problems facing the nation, and a few will ask you to spell out your passion for a specific area of study or potential career. Quality over quantity goes a very long way here. Each of these forms of paper is owned by the category of informative essay. Recipes for various foods vary either regarding ingredients used or simply by the range of ingredients. And the good thing is that it is possible to use any portion of these examples in your paper because the papers are 100% original (they are written only for you). The odds are that you will come across pieces of the paper that are full of mistakes or parts that need clarity. Several have gone on to do remarkable things all around the world. Perhaps, among the best methods to demonstrate creativity in math is via an identity question. In football mathematics may be used in a number of various ways. It's also worth noting that a differential equation may not contain an unknown function, a few of its derivatives and absolutely free variables whatsoever, but nevertheless, it must contain a minumum of one variable. You may usually discover these situations in an equation. On the flip side, there's non-Euclidean geometry. It's important to clearly define any variables that might be used. The Argument About Expository Math Essay Topics for High School It's just it is math. Moreover, mathematics is applied daily in the grocery stores. Some professors assign the exact topic to the whole class. Like most math books, it begins with a couple of tests to determine precisely how stupid you're.

A Magazine Article for creative writing Free Essays

George Bernard Shaw once said that ‘A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hell’. I’m here to analyse whether this is true. He could have meant that a holiday from work or school forever would be hell but I like to think and therefore I’m testing out the theory of actually moving to a place that was once your favourite holiday destination. We will write a custom essay sample on A Magazine Article for creative writing or any similar topic only for you Order Now Will that place still hold all the carefree, luxurious magic that it does when you escape there for a few weeks of rest and relaxation, or will paying tax and contributing to the debate about what time the village lights should be turned off kill that magic for you? My favourite holiday destination was always Roquecor in the south of France. A tiny hilltop village near Toulouse, far from the coast and in the rural mainland. I have been visiting since I was a little girl and to me it always represented peace and happiness. For that one or two weeks a year I was free, even at four years old I think I loved the segregation from daily nursery and weekly ballet lessons. As I got older that feeling of escapism grew, particularly depending on the unfolding dramas affecting my life at different times. People are now saying this trip I am embarking on, taking the plunge of escaping abroad is just that; escaping. I will confirm now that this is all in the name of journalism but I know that deep down I am hoping for the reassuring joy and tranquillity that I experienced annually on holiday in Roquecor, but is that all it’s supposed to be, a holiday? The day of departure arrived much sooner than I had anticipated. All my affairs were in order, my accommodation sorted out. I had opted for a beautiful maisonette as there would only be me and my boyfriend, Adam, going out there. He has decided to come indefinitely, quite possibly for good if the dream lives up to all that is anticipated. He was won over by the lure of cheap wine, French bread and better weather. As an aficionado of the French language and a trained teacher, he has managed to wangle his was into being the English teacher at the local primary school. My job as a journalist is highly mobile and I will continue to pursue with this career and also start work on my novel. On the way to the airport I think about all the things that I’ll miss and the things I won’t; fresh milk, re-runs of The Vicar of Dibley and Blackadder, and London yobs (which obviously falls into the latter category). Then suddenly I realise, and it shocks me that I haven’t thought of it before. Not only am I emigrating abroad but I’m swapping a vibrant city for a remote village. Suddenly my mind swims with things that I will miss and with the realisation that even the overcrowded underground in the middle of summer becomes something I yearn for, well almost. The maisonette is delightful, full of charm and character. It is on the main street through the village but it is nothing like the main roads in England. It is a small ‘rue’ with flower baskets hanging on every house and the traditional shutters adorning them. It is the ‘tour de guet’ the watchtower to the village that is ours. Basically it is the gatehouse, the first house on the road into the village however we will only occupy the top part of the five story house which we enter straight from the road as the rest on the house continues down into the hill and a sloping path reaches the front door at the bottom for the other tenants. Inside the property is quintessentially French and when you open the windows in the back room you easily have the most breathtaking view you could imagine. You are on the top of a cliff with nothing but countryside and fields full of bright yellow sunflowers. We unpack and decorate the property with our personal touches, all we can do seeing as it is ready furnished. A celebratory gin and tonic is rapidly concocted from the supplies in the larder and we head out to the terrace at the front of the house. Beautiful, sun kissed French children hurriedly skip up the hill talking excitedly of their fathers boar hunting trip. They abruptedly stop when they see our pale inquisitive faces, whisper to each other for a moment and then give us broad grins and a chorus of ‘Salut! ‘ rings around us. I grin back at them, then grin at Adam and realise that I have grinned like this for a long time. Will I continue grinning like this? Only time will tell and so for now I’m going to go and enjoy, as they say, the first day of the rest of my life. How to cite A Magazine Article for creative writing, Papers

Starbucks Downsizing and Global Growth Strategy Essay Example For Students

Starbucks Downsizing and Global Growth Strategy Essay How Starbucks Downsizing in the USA Impacts Global Growth Strategy By: Delilah N. Wesley BUSINESS 401-INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Dr. Joseph Thomas July 24, 2010 Starbucks believes that conducting business ethically and striving to do the right thing are vital to the success of the company. Starbucks closed more than 200 coffee shops in the U. S because they felt that the business in China had not felt the impact of the global economic slowdown and that they might eventually rival with the United States. While they closed unprofitable stores in the U. S. , Starbucks has also downsized its plan for the number of international stores from 900 to 700 for fiscal year 2009. Two-thirds of the stores are expected to be licensed, which usually involves less cost to operate than self-owned stores. Starbucks remains highly respectful of the culture and traditions of the countries in which we do business. We recognize that our success is not an entitlement, and they work hard to continue to earn the trust and respect of their customers every day. We will write a custom essay on Starbucks Downsizing and Global Growth Strategy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Some of the decision factors that Starbucks assesses when attempting to market globally with different countries would be; how they choose partners. This factor is very critical to maintaining the success rate that the company enjoys. Shared values, strategic fit, good leadership and a strong track record are among the most important qualities that they look for when choosing partners. The most pressing decision factor for Starbucks in opening a coffee shop in China is that the Chinese are mainly tea drinkers and are unfamiliar with coffee. China offers an immense market potential for Starbucks, since it constitutes one-fifth of the world population. Starbucks opened its first store on the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now has more than 350 outlets in 26 cities. It has become one of the, if not the, most popular coffee brands among Chinese white-collar workers. Starbucks buys coffee beans from China and roast in the U. S. and afterwards they bring the roasted coffee back to China to try to introduce the Chinese to Coffee as opposed to drinking Tea. This also a helpful way to expand marketing for the company. One of the strategic choices and entry strategies that Starbucks adopted is to upwardly mobile, predominantly young, and interested in consumer products, especially foreign items that have previously been unavailable â€Å" In 1995, the company started its international expansion by entering Japan, followed by many other countries in the later years. It entered China around the mid-1990s with a distribution business. Starbucks entry into China highlights the strategies of entry and expansion and also discusses some of the localization strategies followed by Starbucks in the country. At a time when the company was facing severe pressure in its home country and in certain other international markets due to a host of factors, its success in China attracted the attention of experts. This was particularly so as the Chinese market was considered a hard market to crack for Western companies and also because of the fact that China had a tea drinking culture with the beverage market predominantly controlled by tea. References * Starbucks Calls China Its Top Growth Focus, Wall Street Journal, New York, N. Y. ; February 14, 2006 * Starbucks aims for new tier in China Cafes: Financial Times. London: February 14, 2006 * The forbidden latte Business. view, Economist. com/ Global Agenda. London: July 17, 2007 p. 1. * Waite, A. (2008) Starbucks to lay off 12,000 workers, accessed 5/23/09. * n. a. (2009) Starbucks pushes China sales with local brew- Starbucks in China grows while USA downsizes, accessed 5/23/2009, China Daily. |

Organic (Biological) Weathering Explained

Organic (Biological) Weathering Explained Organic weathering, also called bioweathering or biological weathering, is the general name for biological processes of weathering that break down rocks. This includes the physical penetration and growth of roots and digging activities of animals (bioturbation), as well as the action of lichens and moss on various minerals.   How Organic Weathering Fits Into the Larger Geological Picture Weathering is a process by which surface rock breaks down. Erosion is a process by which weathered rock is moved by natural forces such as wind, waves, water, and ice. There are three types of weathering: Physical or mechanical weathering (for example, water gets into cracks in rock and then freezes, pushing against the rock from the inside);Chemical weathering (for example, oxygen interacts with iron in rocks, causing the iron to turn to rust and thus weakening the rock)Organic or biological weathering (for example, the roots of a tree grow into boulders in the soil and splitting the boulders apart over time) While these different types of weathering can be described as different from one another, they also work together. For example, tree roots may split boulders more easily because the rocks have been weakened as a result of chemical or physical weathering.   Plant-Related Biological Weathering Tree roots, because of their size, cause a significant amount of biological weathering. But even much smaller plant-related actions can weather rocks. For example: Weeds pushing through road surfaces or cracks in boulders can expand gaps in the rock. These gaps fill with water. When the water freezes, the roads or boulders crack. Lichen (fungi and algae living together in a symbiotic relationship) can cause a great deal of weathering. Chemicals produced by fungi can break down the minerals in rocks. Algae consume the minerals. As this process of breakdown and consumption continues, rocks start to develop holes.  As described above, holes in rocks are vulnerable to physical weathering caused by the freeze/melt cycle. Animal-Related Biological Weathering Animal interactions with rock can cause significant weathering. As with plants, animals can set the stage for further physical and chemical weathering. For example: Tiny burrowing animals secrete acids or scrape their way into rock to create rocky burrows. This process weakens the rock and actually starts the weathering process.Larger animals leave feces or urine on rock. The chemicals in animal waste can corrode minerals in rock.Larger burrowing animals shift and move rock, creating spaces where water can accumulate and freeze. Human-Related Biological Weathering Human beings have a dramatic weathering effect. Even a simple path in the woods has an impact on the soil and rocks that make up the path. Major changes affected by humans include: Construction moving, scoring, and smashing rock for construction of buildings and transportation systemsMining massive projects involve stripping entire hillsides or making major changes to or removing rock from under the surface of the EarthAgriculture in addition to moving rocks to make farming possible, human beings also change the composition of the soil through fertilization and application of herbicides.

Understanding Experimental Groups

Understanding Experimental Groups Scientific experiments often include two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Heres a closer look at the experimental group and how to distinguish it from the experimental group. Key Takeaways: Experimental Group The experimental group is the set of subjects exposed to a change in the independent variable. While its technically possible to have a single subject for an experimental group, the statistical validity of the experiment will be vastly improved by increasing the sample size.In contrast, the control group is identical in every way to the experimental group, except the independent variable is held constant. Its best to have a large sample size for the control group, too.Its possible for an experiment to contain more than one experimental group. However, in the cleanest experiments, only one variable is changed. Experimental Group Definition An experimental group in a scientific experiment is the group on which the experimental procedure is performed. The independent variable is changed for the group and the response or change in the dependent variable is recorded. In contrast, the group that does not receive the treatment or in which the independent variable is held constant is called the control group. The purpose of having experimental and control groups is to have sufficient data to be reasonably sure the relationship between the independent and dependent variable is not due to chance. If you perform an experiment on only one subject (with and without treatment) or on one experimental subject and one control subject you have limited confidence in the outcome. The larger the sample size, the more probable the results represent a real correlation. Example of an Experimental Group You may be asked to identify the experimental group in an experiment as well as the control group. Heres an example of an experiment and how to tell these two key groups apart. Lets say you want to see whether a nutritional supplement helps people lose weight. You want to design an experiment to test the effect. A poor experiment would be to take a supplement and see whether or not you lose weight. Why is it bad? You only have one data point! If you lose weight, it could be due to some other factor. A better experiment (though still pretty bad) would be to take the supplement, see if you lose weight, stop taking the supplement and see if the weight loss stops, then take it again and see if weight loss resumes. In this experiment you are the control group when you are not taking the supplement and the experimental group when you are taking it. Its a terrible experiment for a number of reasons. One problem is that the same subject is being used as both the control group and the experimental group. You dont know, when you stop taking treatment, that is doesnt have a lasting effect. A solution is to design an experiment with truly separate control and experimental groups. If you have a group of people who take the supplement and a group of people who do not, the ones exposed to the treatment (taking the supplement) are the experimental group. The ones not-taking it are the control group. How to Tell Control and Experimental Group Apart In an ideal situation, every factor that affects a member of both the control group and experimental group is exactly the same except for one the independent variable. In a basic experiment, this could be whether something is present or not. Present experimental; absent control. Sometimes, its more complicated and the control is normal and the experimental group is not normal. For example, if you want to see whether or not darkness has an effect on plant growth. Your control group might be plants grown under ordinary day/night conditions. You could have a couple of experimental groups. One set of plants might be exposed to perpetual daylight, while another might be exposed to perpetual darkness. Here, any group where the variable is changed from normal is an experimental group. Both the all-light and all-dark groups are types of experimental groups. Sources Bailey, R.A. (2008). Design of Comparative Experiments. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521683579. Hinkelmann, Klaus and Kempthorne, Oscar (2008). Design and Analysis of Experiments, Volume I: Introduction to Experimental Design (Second ed.). Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-72756-9.

Who Lost China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Who Lost China - Essay Example A loose coalition of Communists and Nationalists in China assisted by the United States and other allied powers had successfully defeated the Japanese forces. The failure to reach an agreement between the two principals, the Communists under Mao Dze Dong and the Nationalists under Chiang Kai Sheik led to a civil war ending in the loss of China to Communism in 1949. The loss of China was essentially the result of deterioration in Nationalist power and influence, inability of American foreign policy to influence events and long term antipathy towards aliens in the country. The Nationalist forces after years of corruption and misgovernance had lost the initiative in the country. The Nationalists lacked popular support, suffered from poor morale and a corrupt leadership. The deficiencies were mainly intrinsic to the Nationalist forces as has also been indicated in the White Paper published by the US Government in 1949.1 While they were not defeated on the battlefield their organizational cohesion which is a function of leadership, confidence and a will to resist had collapsed. The Americans supported Chiang who had lost considerable status as a national leader and the Nationalist Army was no match for the Communists due to break down of a will to fight. The Communists on the other hand could impose discipline and win over the people.

The Constitution Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Constitution - Thesis Example He further contends that many were disenfranchised and discriminated by the common law and thus were not represented in the Convention during its drafting which included countless adult males. In addition, most of the states at that time imposed property qualifications on the voters and consequently barred non-taxpayers. As most of the members of the conventions were lawyers and representatives of personalty, these individuals were 1'directly and personally interested in the outcome of their labors' and would economically benefit from the passage of the Constitution (Beard 59). Furthermore, Beard asserts that since these men were mostly merchants, shippers, bankers, speculators, and private and public securities holders, the Constitution was not crafted by 'the whole people.' Beard's assertions remained undisputed until 1956 when Robert Brown's critique titled Charles Beard and the Constitution: A Critical Analysis of An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution dispels and attacks Beard's thesis and conclusions for their lack of merit. Brown, attacking Beard's objectivity, argues that Beard failed to collect compelling data and evidence to support his contentions. In his critique, Brown scrutinizes the support for the Constitution among diverse economic and social divisions, the democratic character of the country, and the franchise within the states in eighteenth-century America. He holds that Beard was misguided and further added that, eighteenth-century America was democratic, the franchise was common, and there was extensive backing for the Constitution, alleging that his evidence contradicts Beard's arguments about the lack of democracy and the insubstantial support for the Constitution. According to Brown, since the Founding Fathers upheld the F ederal voting system done by indirect representation, the ratification of the Constitution was a democratic process and everyone's interests were aptly represented. Brown further argues that the constitution was not merely an economic document in which property was protected but it also stressed safeguards to life and liberty. This protection of property, Brown adds, is also essential to the protection of the individual and liberty. A close scrutiny of the US Constitution is necessary in order to resolve this conflict as the issue has its precedence in the Constitution itself. The textbook, 'We The People,' states that the charter 2'attempts to create a government that would be strong to protect commerce and property rights yet weak enough to threaten individual liberty.' The statement strengthens Brown's contentions that the provisions governing the protection of property are significant parts of the constitution. The Constitution also emphasizes that that the framers, 3'feared the call of equality' which could result to equal allotment of property, and consequently violate the freedom of property owners. Although Beard is right with his assertions that the economic interests of the framers and those who represented the public were given utmost importance, the focus on economic interests and rights to property as well as protection of those rights fortified individual freedom. It is also important to note that these economic interpretations of the

Socrates In Platos Apology Philosophy Essay

Socrates In Platos Apology Philosophy Essay In this essay I will discuss the character of Socrates as he is presented in the Apology, I will look at Socrates as a religious fanatic and an apostle of reason. I will provide an argument from my own personal stance that the character of Socrates in the Apology is a variation of both religious fanatic and apostle of reason. I will also make reference to Crito in order to strengthen my position that Socrates is indeed a religious man of reason. First I shall discuss the Apology and provide examples to strengthen my argument that Socrates is a man of religion and reason. Secondly I shall provide examples from Crito showing that Socrates is a moral and just philosopher. In Platos Apology, Socrates says to the jury that if they said to him, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Socrates, we do not believe Anytus now; we acquit you, but only on condition that you spend no more time on this investigation and do not practice philosophyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Socrates 29c-d, 2012), he would rather obey god than the men of Athens and practice philosophy as long as he is breathing. Socrates would continue to question the Athenian citizens about wisdom, truth, and the best state for ones soul, proving that wealth, reputation, and honor are not the most important things in life. According to Socrates, fulfilling his obligation to god is more important than what the law may tell him to do because in practicing philosophy, he is serving god. Be sure that this is what the god orders me to do, and I think there is no greater blessing for the city than my service to the god, (Socrates 30a, 2012). By sentencing Socrates, the men of Athens are mistreating gods gift to them because god himself a ttached Socrates to the city in order for him to question those he encounters. By teaching them about virtue and how important the soul is, Socrates shows them how to live the good life and live it well. As a result of Socrates being given to Athens as a gift from god to question the Athenians to enlighten them and bring about positive outcomes, he is entitled to disobey the courts verdict. If he was breaking the law and harming Athens it would be wrong and immoral, but because god sent him to do this duty, he must overcome every obstacle in his way to do so. There is no inconsistency between what he says in Crito about upholding the laws and never breaking them. What Socrates says in Platos Apology proves that he has found a common ground between reason and religion. Therefore, Socrates is both a religious fanatic and apostle of reason. Thus Socrates argument to continue practicing philosophy even if the men of Athens rule that he should not, is completely justifiable and moral. The Gods placed Socrates in Athens to act as a gadfly stinging Athens in order to wake up the lazy Athenian citizens. Socrates is acting as an apostle of reason and religious fanatic when he challenged the wise men of Athens. After receiving a prophecy from: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the god at Delphi (Socrates 20e, 2012), that he is the wisest of all men, Socrates concludes that he knows nothing so he mu st be the wisest in the sense that he knows nothing for sure. By challenging the wisest of Athens he follows the Gods wishes in a reasonable way. Through argument, question, and discussion, Socrates exposes false wisdom as ignorance which I argue is fulfilling his obligation to the Gods and reason. Socrates believed that he was following the gods plan for him; it was his moral obligation to question those who claim to be wise. As a philosopher one ought to act as an apostle of reason, whether it is to argue against the government to determine whether a law or idea is justified or completely wrong and determine through reason how to replace it with a new law or idea that has been proved to be correct. A Philosopher is a lover of wisdom which follows the obligation to cross-examine people in order to find out where or not that are wise or just ignorant. As a religious fanatic and apostle of reason Socrates attempted to teach people he argued with that instead of claiming to be wise and arguing for their ideas without reason along with claiming that any previous idea contradictory to theirs was wrong, one should be open to all objections because we are all truly ignorant. In the Apology, Socrates attempted to persuade people through argument and reason to question everything becau se not everything can be answered by saying, God did it. In order to strengthen my argument I shall refer to examples from Crito proving that Socrates is a variation of apostle of reason and religious fanatic. Socrates states that doing wrong to someone is wrong therefore it is immoral. Similar to the Apology, Socrates uses reason to prove his point. Escaping Athens and going against its verdict is disregarding the law, which is immoral and unjust. Socrates makes a connection between the laws of Athens and morals. By escaping, Socrates would be acting against the laws of Athens and disregarding everything he stood for up to this point. By fleeing, Socrates would destroy the citys laws and through the city, all of its citizens. This relationship between a citizen and the city is similar to the relationship between a parent and child. From the city, Socrates was brought to birth, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦was it not through us that your father married your mother and begat you? (Socrates 50d, 2012). Athens instructed Socrates father to get him an educa tion and made sure he was nurtured. Socrates cannot deny that he was brought up being properly educated and nurtured by Athens, therefore he cannot deny being an offspring and servant to it. Just like Socrates is on equal footing with his father, he must respect his superiors wishes. If his father scolded him or beat him, he would not do the same in return to his father because he is superior. From birth Socrates was taught to obey the laws of Athens like his parents did. The laws of Athens should be respected just as much as one does their parent. Your parents teach you what is right and what is wrong, thus it is immoral to disrespect or treat your parents poorly as it is them that have invested in you and raised you into the person that you are. Due to the fact that Socrates is an apostle of reason he cannot go against his parents actions/wishes, he cannot do the same even to Athens because Athens is more sacred than your mother and father and it is to be revered. Even if one feels the sentence was unjust, they should not do anything in return, according to Socrates No Harm Principle. This principle is one of the two fundamental principles needed for a city to function properly. It states, One should never do wrong in return, nor do any man harm, no matter what he may have done to you, (Socrates 49c, 2012). The other fundamental principle is the Just-Agreement Principle which maintains that when one has come to an agreement that is just with someone , they should fulfill it and not cheat on it. By leaving Athens, Socrates will break the Just Agreement Principle and be doing harm which goes against both his principles. If no one obeyed these principles, the citizens would no longer obey the laws and the city would not exist. By remaining in Athens and accepting death Socrates shows he truly loves and respects Athens. In death one will receive peace but if one were to flee and attempt to destroy the laws which hold Athens together, they will be judged harshly and have a rough welcoming in Hades, according to Socrates. Thus, Socrates believed it was always wrong to disobey the laws. According to Socrates the only rational and reasonable way is to accept the punishment given by the law, regardless of what it is. The objective of having laws in place is to teach virtue to those who inhabit the city. The rules which are implemented in the laws act as an outline for how to behave. The laws direct behaviour, censure, and praise in such a way that ensures that the citizens within the city will go after positive goals and partake in positive activities in order to keep the city secure. The fact that Socrates would rather stay in Athens and die rather than flee and love proves that he is an apostle of reason. I believe that by Socrates following through with his death sentence ordered by the Athenians, he proved that he is wise and he stood up for what he believes in. Socrates made a wise decision by refusing to escape and accept his death sentence. If Socrates would have decided to flee Athens to avoid hi s sentence he would not be an apostle of reason; Socrates would not have been able to get his point across. I will also argue that by remaining in Athens rather than escaping it solidifies my argument that Socrates is also a religious fanatic. The gods placed him in Athens for a reason and Socrates fulfilled his service for the gods until his last breath. Work Cited Plato . A PLATO READER: Eight Essential Dialogues Apology. Ed. C. D. C. Reeve. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2012. 21-46. Print. Plato . A PLATO READER: Eight Essential Dialogues Crito. Ed. C. D. C. Reeve. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2012. 47-59. Print.

Midwest Office Products Management Essay

Case Overview: MidWest Office Product was a regional distributor of office supplies to institutions and commercial businesses. The company offered a comprehensive product line like simple writing implements and fasteners to specialty paper for modern high-speed copiers and printers. Warehouse personnel in the company’s distribution center unloaded truckload shipments from manufactures, and moved the cartons into designated storage location until customers request the items. Typically, the company shipped products to its customers using commercial truckers; however the MOP had introduced the new way of shipment which called a desktop delivery option in which the personnel delivered the products directly to the destinations at the customer’s site. The company believed that the new way of shipments would improve the margins and create more loyal customers in its competitive market. Moreover, the MOP introduced the electronic data interchange, which allowed customers’ orders to arrive automatically into the system so that clerks wouldn’t have to enter the data manually. John Malone, general manager of Midwest Office Products, was concerned about the financial results of his business for a calendar year 2013. Malone was concerned that even after introducing the innovations, the company couldn’t earn a profit. The company’s management team decided to check out: What actions he should take to regain the profit? What profits Midwest Office Products had really earned on each of the orders stated? Case Solutions: According to calculations made on the Excel sheet, we think that in order for MOP regain the profits the company should look on the following recommendations: 1) To encourage customers to use more efficient and cheaper types of channels, like in this case the EDI. As you could see on the excel sheet 1 the electronic entry costs $3.50 which is the cheapest way of entering the information about the orders. 2) Improve the efficiency of the warehouse operations and order-entry process ( manual and electronic). We could recommend to decrease the amount of order-entry operators. The following action will help the company to decrease the costs on personnel. 3) To improve the Desktop Delivery option meaning to introduce the specific charges for the following options depending on the amount of drop points, distance, time consumed for travelling If the cost for Desktop Delivery is $75 per hour, the company should introduce the specific charges for a such delivery because it costs almost 5 times higher as the commercial freight. 4) It’s highly recommended to minimize the amount of small orders, may be it would be efficient to establish the minimum order size or put the minimum price for an order

Who Am I, Hedwig - 1291 Words

Who am I, Hedwig? – A Puzzling Question Indeed Who are you? The simple question that every icebreaker we play during the first week of school is essentially probing at. But is it really that simple? Most of us answer by saying our name, age, where we come from, maybe even what we like, but do those details really characterize who we are? Do they outline our â€Å"identity†? Identity is how we perceive ourselves and what others believe us to be. It involves a set of characteristics that locates us in particular groups, societies, and so forth. These features are the foundations of our identity, but in order to truly develop a sense of identity, it is essential to have a sense of self-awareness. Identity is socially constructed, in a way that once an individual assumes a particular identity, they acquire and exhibit specific social characteristics. Thus once one understands that â€Å"who we are† is fashioned by society, they can come to terms with the notion that how we view ourselves and how others see us is not sta tic. Society has formulated a definition for identity and yet it does not take into account the different positions on identity and how it may relate to gender. My standpoint in regards to gender is largely shaped by my social identities, which include my racial and ethnic background, my sexual identity, and my age. These factors, along with my background and personal experiences, define who I am and how I wish the world to see me. Racial and ethnic backgrounds play greatShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay On Gender Identity1719 Words   |  7 Pagesdistinctions are still only thought of in terms of homo and heterosexual nature. People who move fluidly along this spectrum, specifically transsexuals, are not given the same type of validation and community as other respective groups (gay and lesbian communities). 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10 Fascinating Facts About Fireflies and Lightning Bugs

Fireflies, or lightning bugs, are from the family Coleoptera: Lampyridae and they might be our most beloved insect, inspiring poets and scientists alike.  Fireflies are neither flies nor bugs; they are beetles, and there are 2,000 species on our planet. Here are other interesting facts about fireflies: Flight Like all other beetles, lightning bugs have hardened forewings called elytra, which meet in a straight line down the back when at rest. In-flight, fireflies hold the elytra out for balance, relying on their membranous hindwings for movement. These traits place fireflies squarely in the order Coleoptera. Efficient Light Producers An incandescent light bulb gives off 90% of its energy as heat and only 10% as light, which youd know if youve touched one thats been on for a while. If fireflies produced that much heat when they lit up, they would incinerate themselves. Fireflies produce light through an efficient chemical reaction called chemiluminescence that allows them to glow without wasting heat energy. For fireflies, 100% of the energy goes into making light; accomplishing that flashing increases the firefly metabolic rates an astonishingly low 37% above resting values. Fireflies are bioluminescent, meaning they are living creatures that produce light, a trait shared with a handful of other terrestrial insects, including click beetles and railroad worms. The light is used to attract prey and members of the opposite sex and to warn off predators. Lightning bugs taste bad to birds and other potential predators, so the warning signal is memorable for those that have sampled before. Talk Using Light Signals Fireflies dont put on those spectacular summer displays just to entertain us. Youre eavesdropping on the firefly singles bar. Male fireflies cruising for mates flash a species-specific pattern to announce their availability to receptive females. An interested female will reply, helping the male locate her where shes perched, often on low vegetation. Bioluminescent for Life We dont often see fireflies before they reach adulthood, so you might not know that fireflies glow in all life stages. Bioluminescence begins with the egg and is present throughout the entire life cycle. All firefly eggs, larvae, and pupae known to science can produce light. Some firefly eggs emit a faint glow when disturbed. The flashing part of fireflies is called a lantern, and the firefly controls the flashing with neural stimulation and nitric oxide. The males often synchronize their flashes with one another during courtship, a capacity called entraining (responding to an external rhythm) once thought only possible in humans but now recognized in several animals. Colors of firefly lights range widely among different species, from yellow-green to orange to turquoise to a bright poppy red. Lives Spent Mostly as Larva The firefly begins life as a bioluminescent, spherical egg. At the end of the summer, adult females lay about 100 eggs in soil or near the soil surface. The worm-like larva hatches out in three to four weeks and throughout the fall hunts prey using a hypodermic-like injection strategy similar to that of bees. Larvae spend the winter below ground in several types of earthen chambers. Some species spend more than two winters before pupating in late spring, emerging as adults after 10 days to several weeks. Adult fireflies live only another two months, spending the summer mating and performing for us before laying eggs and dying. Not All Adults Flash Fireflies are known for their blinking light signals, but not all fireflies flash. Some adult fireflies, mostly those in western North America, dont use light signals to communicate. Many people believe that fireflies dont exist west of the Rockies since flashing populations are rarely seen there, but they do. Larvae Feed on Snails Firefly larvae are carnivorous predators, and their favorite food is escargot. Most firefly species inhabit moist, terrestrial environments, where they feed on snails or worms in the soil. A few Asian species use gills to breathe underwater, where they eat aquatic snails and other mollusks. Some species are arboreal, and their larvae hunt tree snails. Some Are Cannibals What adult fireflies eat is largely unknown. Most dont seem to feed at all, while others are believed to eat mites or pollen. We do know that Photuris fireflies eat other fireflies. Photuris females enjoy munching on males of other genera. These Photuris femmes fatales use a trick called aggressive mimicry to find meals. When a male firefly of another genus flashes its light signal, the female Photuris firefly replies with the males flash pattern, suggesting she is a receptive mate of his species. She continues luring him in until hes within her reach. Then her meal begins. Adult female Photuris fireflies are also kleptoparasitic and can be seen feeding on silk-wrapped Photinus species fireflies (occasionally even one of their own kind) hanging in a spiders web. Epic battles can occur between the spider and the firefly. Sometimes the firefly can hold off the spider long enough to consume the silk-wrapped prey, sometimes the spider cuts the web and her losses, and sometimes the spider catches the firefly and the prey and has them both wrapped in silk. Enzyme Used in Medicine Scientists have developed remarkable uses for firefly luciferase, the enzyme that produces bioluminescence in fireflies. It has been used as a marker to detect blood clots, to tag tuberculosis virus cells, and to monitor hydrogen peroxide levels in living organisms. Hydrogen peroxide is believed to play a role in the progression of some diseases, including cancer and diabetes. Scientists now can use a synthetic form of luciferase for most research, so the commercial harvest of fireflies has decreased. Firefly populations are shrinking, and the search for luciferase is just one of the reasons. Development and climate change have reduced firefly habitats, and light pollution depresses the ability for fireflies to find mates and reproduce. Flash Signals Synchronized Imagine thousands of fireflies lighting up at the same time, over and over, from dusk to dark. Simultaneous bioluminescence, as it is called by scientists, occurs in just two places in the world: Southeast Asia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. North Americas lone synchronous species, Photinus carolinus, puts on its light show annually in late spring. The most spectacular show is said to be the mass synchronous display of several Pteroptyx species in Southeast Asia. Masses of males congregate in groups, called leks, and in unison emit rhythmic courtship flashes. One hot spot for ecotourism is the Selangor River in Malaysia. Lek courting happens occasionally in American fireflies, but not for long periods. In the American Southeast, male members of the blue ghost firefly (Phausis reticulate) glow steadily as they fly slowly over the forest floor searching for females, from about 40 minutes after sunset until midnight. Both sexes emit a long-lasting, nearly continuous glow in the forested regions of Appalachia. Annual tours to see the blue ghosts can be taken at state forests in South and North Carolina between April and July. Sources Buschman, Lawrent L. Biology of the Firefly Pyractomena Lucifera (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Florida Entomologist.Larval Biology and Ecology of Photuris Fireflies (Lampyridae: Coleoptera) in Northcentral Florida. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society.Day, John C; Goodall, Tim I.; and Bailey, Mark J.. The Evolution of the Adenylate-Forming Protein Family in Beetles: Multiple Luciferase Gene Paralogues in Fireflies and Glow-Worms. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.De Cock, Rapha, et al. Courtship and Mating in Phausis Reticulata (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): Male Flight Behaviors, Female Glow Displays, and Male Attraction to Light Traps. The Florida Entomologist.Faust, Lynn, et al. Thieves in the Night: Kleptoparasitism by Fireflies in the Genus Photuris Dejean (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin.Martin, Gavin J., et al. Total Evidence Phylogeny and the Evolution of Adult Bioluminescence in Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evoluti on.Moosman, Paul R., et al. Do Courtship Flashes of Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Serve as Aposematic Signals to Insectivorous Bats? Animal Behaviour.Wilson, Margaret, and Cook, Peter F. Rhythmic Entrainment: Why Humans Want to, Fireflies Can’t Help It, Pet Birds Try, and Sea Lions Have to Be Bribed. Psychonomic Bulletin Review.