Water Pollution In China - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1068 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/04/15 Category Ecology Essay Level High school Tags: Water Pollutions Essay Did you like this example? River Pollution in China As humans continue to evolve and technology continues to advance, ecological devastation and climate change have begun to plague planet Earth. A mixture of overindulgence and large discounts addressed to the future have pushed civilization to a place of hostility. Science and fact is no longer the driving force behind environmental decision making, rather economic dividends and the endless journey to financial freedom seemingly determine the health and expiration date of the resource-rich rock we call home. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Water Pollution In China" essay for you Create order Environmental damage and the ensuing attempts to mitigate that damage is a headline that can be found anywhere around the world in 2018. Degradation of climate is not local to one specific source, rather it is a fast spreading doomsday narrative that people with general awareness for human life have heard about- and even most have begun efforts to stop. With so many climate issues around the world, each with unique causes and effects, it would be near impossible to create a dialogue for all of them at once. For this reason, what follows will be focused on pollution and the effects from pollution on the ever expansive river system of China. The country of China is the largest in the world by population, at roughly 1.4 billion people-Add in Chinas relatively large exponential growth function and we are left with a part of the Earth primed for over-population and mass amounts of pollution. Environmental issues are not local to China, the entire globe is dealing with years of environmental neglect, now attempting to solve a problem that might be too large answer. Worldwide pollution awareness has been on the constant rise, yet it seems that in some situations pollution is getting worse. Prof. Webber from the University of Melbourne explains that In China, decades of high economic growth driven by rapid industrialisation were fuelled by a single-minded orientation to development, even at the expense of water quality (2). A combination of cheap labor and an extremely large labor force makes China a popular country for outsourcing manufacturing. As Prof. Webber alludes to above, China was more than willing to act as a ?pollutant receptacle if the economic climate was able to be capitalized on. Because we carried out this carelessness for an extended period of time, the road eventually led to what we see in present day China. A country living in excess. Excess in population, excess in waste, and excess in pollution all combine to leave China severely affected. The beautiful natural system of water that flows through the country is undergoing immense change due to this excess. Chinese surface water has gone from contaminated and drinkable, to useless in many parts of China; and is continuing to regress to harmful and hazardous as time passes and pollution levels rise. This devastation is not for lack of policy nor technological advances, which well be discussed at length later, but for attempts at correc ting behavior coming much to late. Chinese water pollution is raging past environmental disrespect into a territory of harming life in China. Water pollution is not regional in China, it is an obstacle to human life all across the country. According to research compiled in a Environmental Pollution textbook, out of 208,000 km of monitored river reaches in China, water quality in 31.4% reaches falls into class IV or worse, and thus is unfit for potable use or human contact( Han, currel Cao, 1225). Essentially, one third of all fresh-water sources in China are not cleared for human contact. A third of the water being polluted is not as hard to fix if the remaining two thirds of water can help sustain life. However, as noted in the above study, another 14.9% of river reaches is inferior to class V, indicating complete loss of potential for all consumptive uses or human contact( Han, currel Cao, 1225). Combining all these statistics we see that almost half the fresh river water is damaged beyond human or animal use. Pollution levels in China are at an all time high. These levels are not necessarily slowing down and many parts of the country are being accelerated for varying reasons. River pollution is now reaching levels that are having alarming effects on the humans in need of this simple resource. Because of these problems arising, China has made Water records in their country more accessible. As reported by the IPE, a non-profit environmental research group based in Beijing, and a non-profit project by Jeffrey Hays An estimated 980 million of Chinas 1.3 billion people drink water every day that is partly polluted(Hays, 6). According to this incredible data from the IPE and summed up by Jeffrey, nearly 86 percent of people in China are drinking contaminated water every single day. Images of black-sludgy water and dead fish lining the top of rivers and lakes are normal sights for a large majority of Chinas population. Access to clean water in rural China is becoming more difficult to attain lea ving people with no choice but to consume the highly polluted water. Policy regarding the river water pollution of China has been rigorously thought through. Finding an optimal remedy for China is not as easy as it would be for other countries. Chinas large and widespread population makes policy hard to get right and we can see that in some of Chinas past and current attempts at tackling water pollution. Bibliograhpy Data Services, wwwen.ipe.org.cn/about/DataServices.aspx. China Says Progress Made on Water Pollution, but Battle Remains. South China Morning Post, 1 June 2018, www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2148779/china-says-progress-made-water-pollution-battle-remains. Currell, Matthew J, and Guoliang Cao. Environmental Pollution. Environmental Pollution, by Dongmei Han, vol. 218, 2016, pp. 1222â€Å"1235. Hays, Jeffrey. WATER POLLUTION IN CHINA. Facts and Details, 1 Apr. 2014, factsanddetails.com/china/cat10/sub66/item391.html. Tingting, Deng, and Toxics campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia. In China, the Water You Drink Is as Dangerous as the Air You Breathe | Deng Tingting. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2 June 2017, www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/jun/02/china-water-dangerous-pollution-greenpeace. Webber, Michael. Tackling Chinas Water Pollution. Global Water Forum, 17 Oct. 2017, www.globalwaterforum.org/2017/10/09/tackling-chinas-water-pollution/. CHINESE RIVER WATER POLLUTION https://www.globalwaterforum.org/2017/10/09/tackling-chinas-water-pollution/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/jun/02/china-water-dangerous-pollution-greenpeace https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2148779/china-says-progress-made-water-pollution-battle-remains https://ac.els-cdn.com/S0269749116310363/1-s2.0-S0269749116310363-main.pdf?_tid=49ce6f18-6a23-4c38-a0ae-a7e63b07da6dacdnat=1540918735_6dd80222adeb3a1ae3d8e222ac5bab82 https://wwwen.ipe.org.cn/about/DataServices.aspx

Taking a Look at DNA Cloning - 1260 Words

DNA cloning is the process of creating a multitude of copies of isolated DNA fragments; DNA cloning can be carried out via in vitro or in vivo methods. One can clone a specific DNA sequence or entire gene fragments. There are a multitude of procedures to carry out DNA cloning, but the major steps are the same for all types. To begin the process, one must isolate a DNA fragment from the chromosomal DNA. This is done by using a restriction enzyme. One could also use gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The next step involves introducing the fragment into a DNA sequence that can replicate itself along with the DNA fragment. The restriction enzyme will cut a DNA molecule that can self-replicate, and then the isolated DNA fragment will be inserted by ligation, which connects the fragment to the larger DNA molecule. This new artificially joined DNA is called recombinant DNA. As mentioned before, restriction enzymes, which can isolate DNA fragments, are needed for the DNA cloning process to occur. Restriction enzymes can be found in bacteria; these enzymes can but within the molecule, so they are called restriction endonucleases. Restriction enzymes in prokaryotes can selectively cut foreign DNA in the restriction process; during the process, the host DNA will be protected by a methylase, which is a modification enzyme that modifies the DNA and prevents cleavage. These two processes combined are called the restriction modification system. Restriction enzymesShow MoreRelated The Benefits of Cloning Essay970 Words   |  4 PagesBenefits of Cloning Imagine having a twin that looks and acts exactly like you. Even more interesting this twin is a product of scientific cloning. If scientists have their way, identical replicas of human beings will be roaming the earth. This scientific vision may occur a lot more recent then many think. Cloning can be (better) understood by looking at it’s definition, process, and some examples. This first step to better understanding cloning is to hear precisely what it is. Cloning can be definedRead MoreDeoxyribonucleic Acid, Or Dna Is A Genetic Code That Determines1279 Words   |  6 PagesDeoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA is a genetic code that determines the characteristics of a living organism. DNA is a large molecule shaped as a double helix, or twisted ladder. It is made of repeating units called nucleotides. Unlike RNA, DNA does not have uracil, but does have thymine, and the other bases (adenine, cytosine, and guanine). DNA is very important for when it comes to transferring hereditary information. Hereditary material, or â€Å"information† is from the parents of the offspring.Read MoreThe Invention Of An Achievement And Left Alone983 Words   |  4 Pagescommonly known to people however, in 1928 a German scientist was the first to successfully clone a frog. Since that day in the early 1900’s scientist have progressively been making steps forward in cloning whether it be humans, animals or most recently stem cells. With all the se advancements in cloning it leaves people with many uncertainties regarding the morality, results and ethics behind all of it. Regardless of the uncertainties science continues to proceed with studies and experiments; whatRead MoreThe Science Of The Human Race909 Words   |  4 Pagesshould soon advance the biology of the human race. Ever since the cloning of the first animal, a sheep named Dolly in the year 1996 the world has been afraid that animal cloning is only the beginning for they felt man was playing god. As for human cloning the public knew it would follow soon after. In this time of panic Gretchen Vogel, a journalist notes, that suddenly the public’s fears came true. In the year 1997 before any cloning laws were set a physicist, â€Å"Richard Seed, made a widely publicizedRead MoreGenetic Engineering And Its Effects1592 Words   |  7 Pagesof genetic engineering. The next few decades after the first edition was published, scientists have been researching and doing studies on DNA and genetics and establishing what it does and how DNA looks like using a double helix and creating a genetic map to keep track of where all the chromosomes are and the order of them. Soon the first genetically modified DNA organism was done in 1974. Then the first genetically engineered mouse was done in the next co uple of years in 1980. Soon they started theRead MoreThe Cloning Of The Medical Field Essay1712 Words   |  7 PagesThe idea of cloning used to be considered science fiction, that was until dolly was made. In the late 90’s Scottish scientist, Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell along with colleagues from the Roslin Institute accomplished the first cloning in history -Cloning is basically creating a copy of something, but in genetic cloning means creating an identical copy of existing DNA (of an organism)-. The final object was named Dolly, born on July 5, 1996 she was the first clone to be produced from a mammal cellRead More Cloning Essay1224 Words   |  5 PagesShould Human Cloning be Legal? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cloning captured the public’s attention when Scottish scientists startled the world in July of 1996 when they announced the birth of a sheep named Dolly which they had cloned from the nucleus of an adult mammary cell and a sheep egg. Ever since this spectacular event occurred people have been thinking about the possibility of cloning humans. WhatRead MoreScience And Mind Altering Drugs1549 Words   |  7 Pageslike designer babies and cloning we must first better understand them and determine how they affect the definition of a person. There are two main forms of cloning used currently and they are reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning is done through a process that creates genetically identical versions or copies of the species such as an animal. Scientists do this process through removing a somatic cell excluding sperm or egg cells from the animal. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acidRead MoreEssay about Human Genome1485 Words   |  6 Pagesabsolute power and control of everything. The genome project and DNA engineering gives man the ability to create life and cu omize life to his specific needs of likes. So how good is too good? Man’s ability to make life or create perfect human beings so they can be in a state of Utopia will disturb the balance of nature. Every individual, every child born on earth is unique i it’s own way, not only by looks but also by their character, their DNA. Changing this by producing two of the same kind, of whichRead MoreThe Proud Family Movie : Human Cloning Essay2616 Words   |  11 Pagesreleased his evil clones of the proud family to get Penny to reveal the formula. The Proud Family Movie† show a situation of how cloning can be used in dangerous ways. This is just one out of numerous movie that shows what cloning can really do. Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. An ordinary person might ask themselves: if cloning a human is even really real? And if so how can someone prove it? A scientist has already cloned an animal successful a sheep named

Ants, Little But Mighty Essay Example For Students

Ants, Little But Mighty Essay Ants, Little but MightyWhat is an ant? Ants are insects, they have six legsand each leg has three joints. Ants legs are very strong. With its little legs it can lift twenty-five time its own bodyweight. They have two stomachs. One stomach holds itsfood, and the second holds food to be shared with otherants. The out side of their body is covered with a hardarmor. This is called the exoskeleton. Ants have fourgrowing stages, the egg, larva, pupa, and the adult. Thereare over 100,000 known species of ants. Each ant colonyhas at least one or more queens. The queens job is to lay eggs. How does she start hercolony? Well in the spring all the males and young wingedqueens leave there nest and fly high in the air and mate. The few ant queens that survive this marriage flight castoff there wings and instinctively begin to look for a spot tostart a new ant colony. After making a nest, the young queen ant seals off theentrance and begins to lay eggs. Some of the first batch areeaten by the queen for nourishment. When the survivingeggs hatch they become like larvae. After a few weeks eachlarva spins a cocoon around itself and pupates. In a fewmore weeks, adult workers emerge. It is their job to huntfor food and make the nest bigger. More workers will develop and the colony gets veryorganized. The new workers will completely take over ascaretakers of the eggs, larvae, and pupae. Now the queensonly duty is to lay more and more eggs, thousands of themin her lifetime. Many wingless workers develop and help toenlarge the nest into an intricate network of tunnels andchambers that will eventually house thousands of ants. When the colony becomes well established, the queenbegins to lay some eggs that develop into queens andmales. It takes a few years before a colony becomes largeenough to send out winged males and young queens to startnew colonies. The cycle will now begin all over again. Ant nests come in all shapes and sizes. One tropicalspecies built a nest that extended forty feet below thesurface of the ground. Another species built a nets thatcovered an area the size of a tennis court. Ants know thebest time to build a nest, thats after it rains. The damp soilis easier to work with. Their are many chambers in an antsnest. Some rooms are used to store the food. Some areused for storage of ant eggs. There are rooms for tiered antsto rest. There are even rooms for socializing! When itscold, the ant colony moves down to the deepest rooms ofthe nest where it is warmer. The reason we find ants understones is also for warmth. Stones become hot from the sunand remain warm during the night. The warmth will radiatedown into the nest and keep the young and older ants warm. Ants are social insects. Most insects have no familylife, but ants are different. Ants have families and live in communities. They areall related in the colony because the queen ant is the momto all of the ants.In the colony, every ant works for thewelfare of the whole community. Each ant has itsappointed work, and does it very well. Ants are everywhere, they can be a big problem for people when they invade thetimber of a house , causing the wood to collapse. Theyeven nest between walls. When ants invade wooden beams, they chew out extensive interconnecting chambers fornests. All this chewing is what weakens the wood . Whenpeople discover the ants chewing up their house, their isonly one way to get rid of them extermination!The jaws of an ant are very powerful. Their powerfuljaws not only chew through wood but are also used to fightoff enemies. Ounce an ant gets a bite on its enemy, dontexpect it to let go, even if it is torn to pieces. Its jaws arealso used to grasp, carry, cut up f ood, and carry theiryoung. Ant jaws work differently from human jaws. Theants jaws move from side to side. They actually have twosets of jaws. The set that moves side to side are calledmandibles, the other set are called Marilee. These jawschew food into very small pieces. Pieces that the tonguelaps up and passes in to a pouch below the mouth openingthat contains contracting muscles. The muscles actionsqueezes the liquid out of the pieces of food. Since antsswallow mainly liquids, they spit out what is left of thefood.Ants cant use their jaws to talk butthey do communicate, and very well. One way theycommunicate is by touching each other with their antennae. They also communicate by producing chemicals calledpheromones. These chemicals can give off different kindsof information. The taste or smell of a certain pheromonecan warn of danger, or mark a trail. Another way some antscan communicate to one another is by sounds. The soundsthey make are like the sounds of a cricket or a katyd id, onlynot as loud. Also, sounds that communicate informationare made if one ant rubs its armor-like body againstanother ant. Although the ant cant talk, it has greatcommunication skills. .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 , .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .postImageUrl , .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 , .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088:hover , .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088:visited , .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088:active { border:0!important; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088:active , .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088 .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u06d1b7b9214aea3e6d7603155f8cf088:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Merchant of Venice Persuasive EssayThere are about 100,000 species of ants. They areusually black, brown, or rust color. There are some that areyellow, some purple, some green, and some are even blue. There are to many to write about them all, but here is someinformation on a few ant species. Amazon antAmazon ants cant survive with out slaves. Theyattack the nests of other ants and kidnap the pupae, thenwait for them to develop into adults. The slave ants acceptthe amazon ants, the as their own, because they dont knowthey were kidnapped as pupae. These slave ants will spendtheir entire lives working for the amazon ants. The amazonant has a sickle shaped jaw, its excellent for fighting but itis completely useless for taking care of themselves or theirown larvae. They must depend on their slaves to survive. Harvester antHarvester ants can be found almost everywhere in theworld. In the southwestern united states they build hugenests. The mound above ground might be twenty to thirtyfeet across and six feet or more in to the ground, with sixtythousand to ninety thousand ants living inside. Harvesterants collect and store seeds in their nest. They chew thekernels into a soft pulp and feed it to the growing larvae. The adult ant will not eat the pulp unless there is a drought,and no other food sources are available. During rainytimes, the ants will not allow the seed to get damp. If theydid they would sprout or get moldy. When days are dry theworkers carry the seeds outside to dry them out in the sun,then carry the seeds back into the storage area beforenightfall. They work hard to make sure their seeds dontget moldy or grow sprouts. Leaf-Cutter antsThe Leaf-Cutter ant always looks like its carrying alittle umbrella over its head. Its actually carrying circularpieces of leaves. Using their scissor like jaws, theycompletely strip trees and other plants of their foliage. Theythen carry all the leaves back to their nest. The chambers ofthe nest can be as big as a bushel basket. The leaf cutterants nest is very large. The leaves they bring back are noteaten they are chewed into a thick pulp like material, whichsoon sprouts fungus. The fungus is what the ants eat forfood. The ants tend to their gardens very carefully. If theleaves are dry, the ants place them outside at night tocollect moisture. If they are wet, the ants place them outside on a sunny day to dry. This all takes place before theystart chewing the leaves. The little ants also know how toregulate the ventilation and temperature of the sponge likemass of chewed leaves by arranging the mass properly inthe chambers. When a queen starts working on a new nest, shecarries along a pellet of fungus in a pocket on her head. She puts the pellet in the new nest and deposits specialsecretions from her body on the pellet. When her first eggshatch, the new workers go out and find fragments of leaves. They then bring the fragments back to the new nest. Theseare the leaves that will eventually become the food sourcefor the nest, using the queens pellet as a starter. Bulldog antsThe Bulldog ants are little bullies. They are a jumping,stinging, giant ant. They are one of the most fierce antsknown to man. Just a shadow passing over their nest willprovoke them to rush out and find the enemy, jumping upto a foot off the ground as they approach. They make itvery difficult to get away from them. Thirty stings from abulldog ant could kill a man. The only likable thing aboutthem is how loyal they are to the colony. At home in thecolony they are just a typical ant, their always working,repairing, cleaning, exchanging, and gathering food. Thebulldog ant is a very aggressive ant, and a very loyal one. .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 , .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .postImageUrl , .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 , .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018:hover , .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018:visited , .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018:active { border:0!important; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018:active , .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018 .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u99c240a67a21c8d00eab52dc1b63b018:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Mercent of Venice EssayFive more facts to think about the next time you see anantAnts are the longest living insects. Workers livefor one year and some species up to four or five years. Queens will live as long as twenty years. Ants are like sharks, they havent changed verymuch physically in millions of years. Ants will work together in small or large groupsto move extremely large objects. (team work)When moved to a different climate or location,the ant will adapt quickly. Some ant species can survive under water for upto fourteen days or longer in a state of suspendedanimation. The next time you see an ant, remember They mightbe little but they are extremely mighty.

Waterford Crystal A Case Analysis Waterford Crystal HISTORY OF WATERFO Essay Example For Students

Waterford Crystal A Case Analysis Waterford Crystal HISTORY OF WATERFO Essay Waterford Crystal a case analysis Waterford CrystalHISTORY OF WATERFORD CRYSTALWaterford Glass was started by two brothers, George and William Penrose, in 1783. It was the most notable of all Irish crystal companies. In 1799, the Penrose brothers sold Waterford Glass to the Gatchell family. The crystal industry was prosperous until 1825. Irish glass manufacturers began to slowly close due to high export duties, the economic depression, and a lack of capital. Waterford Glass was the last to close in 1851. It was reestablished nearly a century later by Charles Bacik and Bernard Fitzpatrick. In 1947, they set up a factory in Waterford, Ireland.A turning point in the companys history came in 1950 when Joe McGrath made a sizable investment in Waterford Glass. He invested the capital needed to convert the small crystal manufacturing company into one with the potential to become a major player in the crystal industry. This investment gave his family control for the next thirty-five years. We will write a custom essay on Waterford Crystal A Case Analysis Waterford Crystal HISTORY OF WATERFO specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Joe McGrath was committed to Ireland and providing jobs for his country. He wanted to reduce the countrys high unemployment level. His focus for Waterford Glass was on growing the company through exports to the United States. In 1966, Joe McGraths son, Paddy McGrath, took over management of Waterford Glass. Like his father, he was dedicated to Ireland and to providing employment opportunities for the Irish. McGraths quest to provide more jobs for the Irish led him to diversify the company. By 1983, the company had acquired more than thirty non-core businesses. To reflect the expansion, management changed the companys name to Waterford Glass Group. In 1985, Paddy McGrath resigned as chairman of Waterford Glass. Concurrent with Paddy McGraths resignation, Paddy Hayes was appointed chairman and CEO of Waterford Glass Group. He immediately began to sell off the non-core businesses in an effort to reduce the companys high debt level. Waterford Glasss debt was virtually eliminated with the issue of American Depository Shares (ADS) on the United States NASDAQ market. On November 28, 1986, Waterford Glass acquired Wedgwood, a two hundred year old manufacturer and marketer of fine bone china. Paddy Hayes was named the chairman and CEO of both companies and Paddy Byrne was appointed CEO of Wedgwood. In 1989, the companys name was changed to Waterford Wedgwood. Three divisions were created as a result of this acquisition: the Waterford Crystal division, the Wedgwood division, and the Creative Tableware division. In 1989, Paddy Hayes resigned from his position as chairman and CEO of Waterford Wedgwood. Paddy Hayes was succeeded by Paddy Byrne as CEO of Waterford Wedgwood. Paddy Galvin was appointed as CEO of Waterford and Paddy Byrne continued as the CEO of Wedgwood. In 1990, the ownership of the company began to shift from Ireland. This was the result of an equity investment made by the Morgan Stanley/Fitzwilton consortium. On April 5, 1990, the workers at Waterford Wedgwood went on strike. The strike occurred when management took steps to reduce high labor costs. The strike lasted fourteen weeks causing significant problems for the local community. In December 1990, Waterford Wedgwood became two independent entities. Concurrent with the restructuring of the company, Paddy Byrne resigned. In September 1991, Waterford introduced a new brand of crystal called Marquis by Waterford Crystal.THE CRYSTAL BUSINESSToday, the craftsmen of Waterford are supreme artists as they were in the 18th century. Having craft and design skills is the critical element in establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage. The combined skills of the craftsmen create the distinctive patterns known all over the world. The exceptional clarity of Waterford Crystal is achieved through several steps that have remained almost unchanged for over two centuries. Waterford products are manufactured by a strict process of mixing, blowing, cutting and polishing. Manufacturing crystal is very labor intensive. Labor costs are generally 50 to 55 percent of the manufacturing costs. Chemicals are mixed to create a unique formula that gives Waterford crystal its special sparkle and light refractive qualities. It is then heated to 1400 degrees centigrade in a natural gas fired furnace for at least 36 hours to produce molten crystal. A blower, using the traditional tools and techniques as in the 18th century, gathers a quantity of crystal from the furnace on the end of a blowing iron with a twisting motion. This is then smoothed with a wooden block that has been soaked in water and resembles the shape of the desired item. The craftsman then blows the piece, either by machine or by mouth, to its full shape. Crystal pieces are similarly cut to its unique pattern by either machine or by hand. Those crystal pieces that are mouth blown and hand cut have the highest quality of all crystal products.No other crystal is cut as deeply as Waterfords. Some of the companys core competencies are its crystals sparkle of light refractive qualities and unique 18th century designs. The assembly and packing of the crystal for distribution takes a considerable amount of time to complete. After the crystal is polished, everything is carefully checked and measured.Every possible step is taken to ensure that every piece of crystal arrives at its destination safely and securely. With its quality craftsmanship and design expertise, Waterford has gained a reputation for quality around the world. Based on price and brand name recognition, crystal products are divided into three market segments: high-end (in which Waterford Crystal was dominant in), medium, and low-end. These markets can be further divided into three subgroups: stemware and giftware, premium and incentive, and catalog mail order. The major distribution channels of these crystal products are department stores. Waterford Crystal is unique among other crystal manufacturers in that its stemware patterns are never discontinued. If a replacement is needed for a stem pattern bought many years ago, it can be specially made. 1950 1985 THE MCGRATH FAMILY ERA Joe McGrath, being intensely pro-Ireland, was more concerned with growing the company in order to provide jobs for his country than making a profit. He focused on doing so through exports to the United States, so in 1961 Waterford established a marketing subsidiary in the United States. A distributing company was established in the United Kingdom three years later.Sales revenues and profits were on the rise. Employment had grown and the company moved its operations to a larger location. Financing came from loans and stocks. When Joe McGraths son Paddy McGrath took over management in 1966, the family controlled 40% of the companys equity and their success continued. Paddy, like his father, had that strong dedication and sense of responsibility to his homeland. .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc , .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .postImageUrl , .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc , .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc:hover , .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc:visited , .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc:active { border:0!important; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc:active , .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc66dd1470cf21c15ebe4016fba45fcfc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Analysis of West End Blues by Louis Armstrong Essay His goal of investing in Ireland and creating new jobs led him into the acquisition of multiple businesses. Waterford Glass, which then changed to Waterford Glass Group, went beyond the manufacture and sale of high-quality crystal and into fine bone china, car assembly, and department stores. The acquisition of these businesses increased the companys debt to 50 million Irish punts. Employment multiplied and of course labor rates increased, especially with workers being paid on a piece-rate basis. By mid- 1980s, Waterfords labor rates were 77% above the average industrial salary in Ireland.Management signed a three-year labor agreement that again raised labor-related costs by 44% over the life of the agreement. A typical labor agreement is renegotiated every year, which allows labor to accommodate for inflation and the such. In 1984 Avenue Investments, the holding company, which maintained control of Waterford Glass, made poor investments and had to sell its 20% stake in Waterford Glass to Globe Investment Trust of London. In order to meet Globes standards, Waterford found itself having to meet an external standard for return of invested capital. Shortly after that, McGrath resigned as chairman of Waterford Glass. 1985 1989 THE PADDY HAYES YEARS The Waterford Board of Directors announced Paddy Hayes chairman and CEO of Waterford Glass Group in 1985. Hayes had strong experience and managerial know-how. He recognized how the companys various businesses outside of the crystal industry were creating low profits, poor cash flow, and had a lack of commitment toward winning a competitive advantage. These non-core businesses had low market share and were in a slow growth industry, therefore, Hayes knew they had to be liquidated. He then sold the retail division holdings for 7.4 million punts, the Aynsley China division for 19. 7 million punts, and the printing division for 5.7 million punts. Within 18 months, Hayes was able to rid the company of nearly all its debt.Outstanding debt dropped to 22 million Irish punts and the debt/equity ratio was reduced 21% in a year. By 1989 the company, now Waterford Wedgwood, consisted of four divisions all focusing on the manufacturing and sale of crystal and china. ACQUISITION OF WEDGWOOD Although Waterford had sold off all of its non-core businesses, the company still wanted to diversify into other markets similar to the crystal industry. In 1986, Waterford Glass purchased Wedgwood China for 255.5 million punts. Waterford Glass issued ordinary shares of stock to the public in exchange for their share of Wedgwood stock. Fourteen shares of Waterford Glass stock were issued for three shares of Wedgwood China stock that raised 166.6 million punts toward the purchase of Wedgwood. Before the issuance of the shares Ireland owned 42%, more than any other country, of Waterfords stock. After the issuance of the shares, the United Kingdom held 55% of Waterfords stock and Ireland only 35%. Ireland was not the shareholders main concern for the first time. In addition, Paddy Hayes sold the non-core businesses of Wedgwood to reduce the debt even further. Trent Sanitaryware, a company that produced bathroom fixtures, sold for 26. 5 million punts the Ranton Estate, a hunting reserve, sold for 2.8 million punts and two facilities in Australia sold for 2.4 million punts. However, the debt level that was previously zero increased to a level of 67. 3 million punts after the purchase of Wedgwood. Management thought that they could decrease this debt level through savings from the operations of the two companies. Wedgwood China, famous in both British and Japanese Markets for quality, was a 200 year old company based in England. Wedgwood had 18 factories and 6,600 employees while Waterford only had 5,300 employees at the time of the purchase. The company made fine bone china with a high quality image though the market was controlled by porcelain china. The fine bone china attracted people because it was made very thin and translucent giving it a delicate and eloquent appearance. The core competencies of the two companies as well as the strategies were basically the same. Both of the companies used excellent manufacturing skills to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. Waterford Glass and Wedgwood also had the same international strategies of producing a high quality standardized product for each country to which they distributed. Though the acquisition created high amounts of debt, Waterfords management thought the purchase would be beneficial as a strategic move. Paddy Hayes felt that the two companies could benefit from each other because Wedgwood was striving for the same brand name image of high quality and prestige that Waterford was striving to obtain. Management thought that the image of Wedgwood would complement the products of Waterford and vice versa. Another reason that Waterford thought highly of the acquisition was Wedgwoods channels of distribution. The distributions of the two companies were similar because both sold high quality products through high-end retail shops. Waterford thought that they could reduce distribution costs through a world wide distribution network. Waterford now had access to 150 Wedgwood distribution shops in Britain and the Wedgwood sales network in Japan. Also, Wedgwood increased penetration into other markets by gaining access to Waterfords sales network in the United States. Management wanted to market the products separately but use the same distribution channels to lower the distribution costs for both companies. Waterford estimated that they could save 10 million punts annually with the new distribution network.Unfortunately, the two companies brand name recognition did not benefit one another. Waterfords crystal was the premier brand in the United States while Wedgwoods china image was weakest in the United States. The crystal of Waterford and the china of Wedgwood were both sold in retail shops; however, the crystal was sold at full price with no discounts and the china could not be sold without offering a discount. As a result, the crystal and the china could not be in the same area of the store preventing Wedgwoods name to be associated with Waterfords crystal. The strategy of brand name recognition complementing each other did not succeed in the United States but it did work in Japan. In Japan, Wedgwood had a high quality image while Waterford Glass image in Japan was weak.Wedgwoods base and quality image in Japan increased the image of Waterfords crystal and in turn increased sales. In 1987, all of Japans major department stores carried Waterford crystal.Even with the difficulties surrounding Wedgwoods sales in the United States, Waterford still changed its name to Waterford Wedgwood in 1989. The Wedgwood division consistently contributed operating profits year after year averaging 20 million punts in profits from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. In addition, the operating expenses for the Wedgwood China division were far lower than the Waterford division. For example, an employee of Waterford Crystal division made three times as much as an employee from Wedgwood. The Waterford division needs to coordinate some of their activities with the Wedgwood division to share knowledge on how to improve their profitability. .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 , .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .postImageUrl , .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 , .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627:hover , .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627:visited , .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627:active { border:0!important; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627:active , .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627 .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u53da76079b967d2fbca843a15fcf8627:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Inrony In Pride Prejudice Essay A strong competitive advantage can be gained through the sharing of ideas across all of Waterford Wedgwood divisions. PRESENT CONDITIONS AT WATERFORD At their lowest peak, Waterford reported a one year loss of 21.3 million punts, reflecting high operating costs, unfavorable exchange rates (weak US dollar) and additional provisions relating to stocks and debtors in the United States. It was dreadfully obvious that Waterford Crystal had become over-dependent on the United States market. Also, the loss was caused by exceptional restructuring provisions of 18.4 million punts with the separation of the Wedgwood porcelain product line. Around 1990, at the height of Waterfords problems, the company was near the point of insolvency. Mr. ODonoghue, now Waterfords Chief Executive, was sent to the U.S. to restructure the companys retail business. He spent just under a year in the U. S., which now accounts for about 70% of sales. Mr. ODonoghue said that US sales are likely to continue to account for about 70% of company sales, but it will be a 70% slice of a bigger pie. In 1990, Fitzwilton, U.S. merchant bank Morgan Stanley, and an investment group headed by Dr. Tony OReilly invested 80 million punts for a 29. 9% stake in Waterford Wedgwood the holding company for Waterford Crystal and Wedgwood as part of a financial restructuring. This restructuring included 1990s wage freezes and a new investment scheme that secured over 200 million punts to stabilize the companys finances. Since the 1990 restructuring, the investment group has been steadily recovering from heavy losses. By the end of March 1995, profits have doubled to 22. 6 million punts and the group paid dividends for the first time since 1988. Also, the group appears to be on target to increase profits by at least 20% for the full year.ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Waterford Crystal was one of eight Irish environmental demonstration projects to receive a partial grant from the European LIFE fund. This partial grant was used by Waterford Crystal towards a 2. 7 million punt project that seeks to develop and demonstrate an emission free process for glass manufacturing. The company already meets the highest national and international standards. This move keeps Waterford in line with their strategic objective of being at the forefront of technological development within the industry. In an interim report that ended June 30, 1996, Waterford Wedgwood reported an increase of 28% in profit before taxes and sales rose by 8%. This performance was principally due to record sales in the United States and Ireland. Both markets saw increases of 17% and a further strong contribution from its Marquis brand, which equates for nearly 30% of Waterfords sales. To date, the Marquis brand has not cannibalized sales from the Waterford brand, but sales in western Europe could be characterized as ?difficult conditions.Today, Waterford Crystal employs 1500 people. It has an estimated market value in Ireland worth 12 million punts and its export market value is 50 million punts. Not only has Waterford increased crystal sales in its key markets, it has also transformed the actual business of producing crystal into something of a tourist attraction. The companys factory tours attracted 230,000 visitors last year making it the forth largest tourist destination in Ireland. This year Waterford estimates tourist numbers will rise to 250,000. Furthermore, in 1996, Waterford Crystal has highlighted a campaign where it will specifically target the Northern Ireland market. Currently, Waterford is a distant second to Tyrone Crystal that controls 65% of Northern Ireland.INDUSTRIAL ANALYSIS Threat of new Entrants: There is little threat of a new entrant either coming on the scene or drastically affecting the new market share of Waterford due to the labor intensive craftsmanship needed for the high end crystal market. The Crystal market seems to be heading into the mature market phase that is indicated with slow growth. The demand for high end crystal is already fulfilled by the present companies of Waterford/Wedgwood (Ireland), Lalique (France), St. Louis (France), Baccarat (France) and Orrefors (Sweden).Bargaining power of Suppliers: Power of the suppliers is considerably low due to the relative abundance of the silica, red litharae, and potash, which are the basic ingredients to the sparkling multimillion dollar crystal industry. Bargaining Power of buyers: The bargaining power of the buyer is somewhat high when compared to the necessities of a household. If the customer does not like what they are being shown, for whatever reason, they can simply leave the store without purchasing the crystal. The product that Waterford produces must be of value to the customer to make them purchase it over the competitors crystal. Threat of Substitutes: The threat of substitutes is moderate to low. When purchasing high-end crystal, the question is not one of price, but one of quality. In the US, if you want the best, then there is no substitute. You may select from one of the before mentioned high-end crystal producers, but they are competitors and not substitutes. Intensity of Rivalry: The intensity of rivalry is high, but less so in the United States, where nearly 70% of Waterfords products are shipped. In the United States, Waterford is a household name, so when people look for crystal, they look for Waterford quality. RECOMMENDATIONS nThe Waterford division needs to coordinate their activities with the Wedgwood division to share knowledge on how to improve their profitability. A strong competitive advantage can be gained through the sharing of ideas across all of Waterford Wedgwood divisions. nThey should possibly expand beyond its core business by using brand enhancing. nThey should look at expanding into existing markets such as U. S. (which now represents 70% of sales), Britain, Japan, Australia and Northern Ireland as well as build sales in new markets such as Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea to keep globally competitive. nBeing globally successful will allow Waterford Wedgwood to cope more easily with localized fluctuations in demand and become less dependent on its U.S. market. nThey should improve on operating efficiencies along with the ever increasing cost of their main core competency of skilled labor. nThey should extend the growth rate of its new mid-priced Marquis line of stemware into all market areas. 1012