Rastafarianism Beliefs and Rituals Essay

The incorporation in many modern societies of dread locks amongst youths, the ever increasing efforts to legalize marijuana; what started out as an entirely black oriented religion spread throughout the world, particularly in the 1970s because of the popularity of reggae music, and currently has around one million followers in Japan, New Zealand, and elsewhere (Simpson 96) , along with many other activities that we are accustomed to in the American pluralistic society, represents a form of rituals and beliefs that have been brought to the mainstream by the Rastafarians. I had often been puzzled by the way in which my Rastafarian friends viewed and behaved within each different situation; in particular how happy and settled they usually were even on the most difficult conditions. The Rastafarian religion’s beliefs and rituals are extremely rich and pure; throughout extensive research it was possible to unveil six main beliefs that can be considered truly Rastafarians, one of th em stating that Haile Selassie I is the only God. These beliefs don’t hold true in a theological point of view because the bible teaches us of the Holy Trinity, and clearly proves that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the only living God, and that salvation can only be obtained through Jesus Christ. Before describing exactly what Rastafarianism’s religious beliefs and rituals are, it is important to understand the religious background. Rastafarianism is relatively new religion based on the African traditional religion. The Rastafarian religion falls into the Experiential/Emotional Dimension due to its particular distinctions between that which is profane and that which is sacred, and also to their careful distinction of food that the followers of this sect of religion’s are allowed to eat. Rastafarians don’t build special places for worship because they believe that their own body is the true church or temple of God; Although, some Rastafarians have created temples, as some call spiritual meeting centers i n international communities with large Rastafarian population. As a religion Rastafari is difficult to encapsulate, it might be meaningfully described as a spiritual movement that started in  Jamaica with a goal rooted in returning to, retrieving, or reinventing African heritage and identity. The name Rastafari derives from the title and given name (Ras, translated as â€Å"prince,† and Tafari, â€Å"he who must be feared,† from the Amharic language of Ethiopia) of Haile Selassie (Amharic for â€Å"power of the Trinity†; 1892–1975), the former Ethiopian emperor, whom most Rastafari worship as a God-king or messiah (Morris 217). Rastafari emphasizes the interior location of deity (Haile Selassie I), often referred to as I and I instead of We which represents an overdetermined symbol that includes both a sense of the self as divinity residing internally and the notion that the spirit and power of Haile Selassie I dwell within each individual Rastafari. Because of their cultural background some of their beliefs are sim ilarly shared by those of the Lost/Found Nation of Islam (Corduan, 104) although it differs on the prophetic message. One might wonder about what are the main religious beliefs of Rastafarians. First it’s important to define religious beliefs. Religious belief is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny. Such a state may relate to the existence, characteristic and worship of the deity or deities, divine intervention in the universe and human life, or values and practices centered on teachings of spiritual leaders (although Rastafarianism doesn’t have spiritual leaders), religious beliefs are usually codified. This power derives not from a body of systematic or logical truth, but rather from the psychological, emotional content of ideology (Barret, 103). The Rastafarians have developed for themselves a body of myth and rituals which can be summarized in a systematic form. Throughout my investigation, only the central ideas will be discussed along with the most basic rituals of the movement. Note also that many beliefs and rituals may vary from one group to the next depending on their demographic location. Information regarding this investigation was obtained from various internet sources, books, and scholarly published journals. There are a few main beliefs that can be described as being truly Rastafarians, They are the following! Haile Selassie is the living God. All true Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia, is the true and living God, at least for the black race. One member of the Rastafarian Repatriation Association it explained this way: We know before that when a king should be  crowned in the land of David’s throne, that individual would be Shiloh, the anointed one, the Messiah, the Christ returned in the personification of Rastafari. He (Ras Tafari) is the â€Å"Ancient of Days† (The bearded God). The scripture declares that â€Å"the hair of whose head was like wool (matted hair), whose feet were like unto burning b rass† (i.e., black skin). The scripture declares that God hangs in motionless space surrounded with thick darkness (hence a black man). Rastafarians also regard Haile Selassie I as God because of Marcus Garvey’s prophesy â€Å"Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be the redeemer â€Å"was swiftly followed by the ascension of Haile Selassie I as Emperor of Ethiopia. The notion of Haile Selassie being the God of the black race is supported by the Rastafarian idea that God himself is black, a claim backed by the biblical text found in Jeremiah 8:12 â€Å" For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt, I am black; as astonishment hath taken hold of me†. This scripture is true, but one must be careful on how to use scriptures in order to defend our own views based on racial principles. It is necessary to study and understand completely the Holy Bible, and not quote verses that seem favorable for that moment our use at that instance. Rastafarians offer justification for the divinity of Haile Selassie I, by using biblical names such as Lord of the Lords, King of Kings and Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah for Haile Selassie I. further proof that Haile Selassie I is not God can be said because this term had been used throughout history to describe Ethiopian Emperors and describing him as another God would be taking the Rastafarian religion as a variation of Hinduism in which reincarnation of God’s is common. Many Rastafarians trace Haile Selassie’s lineage back to King Salomon and the Queen of Sheba. They believe that the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon found in the Book of Kings (1 Kings 10:1-13) provides further proof of the divinity of Haile Selassie I. Rastafarians believe that King Salomon and Queen of Sheba had sexual intercourse during the visit, which led to the conception of a child who was in the same line of descendants as Haile Selassie I; which to many of them this shows the divine nature of Haile Selassie as he is therefore related to Salomon’s father King David and therefore to Jesus. This perception is basically a Rastafarian myth since there are no literature that defends the idea of King Salomon and Queen of Sheba being involved sexually and this idea arose because King Solomon is well known for  being unfaithful and married different woman in order to expand his empire. The Rastafarians also believe that the lord Jesus Christ spoken of in the bible is Haile Selassie I and believe that the early Christians missionaries present him as a Jew in order to hide from the black slaves their true identity. However, the research shows that Haile Selassie I was a devoted Christian and did not want to be perceived as a God, which contradicts one of the main beliefs of the Rastafarians. According to Rastafarian teaching, the black person is the reincarnation of ancient Israel, who at the hand of the white person, has been exiled in Jamaica, because they believe to be Israelites, they have not been able to break away from the world â€Å"Israel†. They believe that Israelites and Ethiopians are basically the same name referring to holy people. The idea of Ethiopia being Israel â€Å"Israelite state founded in 1947† and that Jamaicans Slaves came from Ethiopia is completely false; and African History shows that Jamaican slaves came from different part s of Africa not from Ethiopia; Ethiopia is actually the only country that was not exposed through slavery and that Slavery act According to the Rastafarians, they, the true Israelites have been punished for their sins by God, their father through slavery under whites. This sin has led to their exile in Jamaica. They believed to have been long pardoned by God, and should have returned to Ethiopia long time ago, but because of the slavemasters’ trickery, they have been unable to do so (Barret 112). Another major Rastafarian teaching states that the white person is inferior to the black person. This idea of black supremacy comes largely as an echo from the days of Marcus Garvey and remains a strong point in both the Black Muslins in the (United States) and the Jamaican Rastafarian movements. As example from Garvey’s African Fundamentalism we read: If others laugh at you, return the laughter to them; if they mimic you, return the compliment with equal force. They have no more right to dishonor, disrespect and disregard your feeling and manhood than you have in dealing with them. Honor them when they honor you; disrespect and disregard them when they vilely treat you. Their arrogance is but skin deep and an assumption that has no foundation of morals or in law (Barret, 114). I greatly disagree with the idea of black or white supremacy because God has made us equal in every sense, and that the only perfect man to ever walk in the earth did not see ethnicity but taught  us that the most important thing in the world is to love each other. Rastafarians believe that not all white people are evil. I have previously mentioned that this Rastafarian belief is very similar to the Black Muslin movement as can be seen in the supreme wisdom of Elijah Muhammad that says: The original man is none other than black man, the black man is the first and the last: creator of the universe and the primogenitor of all other races including the white race, for which a black man used a special method of birth control. White man’s history is only six thousand years long, but black man coexistence with the creation of the earth†¦ Everywhere the white man has go ne on our planet they have found the original man or sign that he has been there previously (Morris, 118). The last major Rastafarian belief states that Jamaica is Hell; and Ethiopia is Heaven thus representing their idea of Heaven on earth. Rastafarians regard ‘Ethiopia’ as their homeland and believe they will eventually return. During periods of colonization Africans were divided up and sent to destinations throughout the world, in most cases as slaves to whites. This is why many Africans found themselves in Jamaica and why it is regarded by many Rastafarians as hell. Ethiopia, the homeland, was seen as a place of fond memories of freedom and life prior to oppression. This meant it eventually became regarded as heaven. To develop this belief Rastafarians refer to Psalm 137:1 â€Å"By the Rivers of Babylon we sat down; there we wept when we remembered Zion†. The intent of this belief was to lift up their morale and give them hope of a place where blacks just as much rights as their fellow whites. I completely agree with this idea of Ethiopia representing Zion for Jama ican slaves. One important aspect of the Rastafarian religion is to be found on its rituals. The most important ceremonial occasion is the Nyabinghi, which is held to commemorate events that are sacred to the Rastafari. Nyabinghi was a religious-political cult that resisted colonial domination in Uganda in the last decade of the nineteenth century. It was also a term that came to suggest a secret organization, Nyabinghi, which swore on oath ‘death to whites’ (Chevannes 1995, 15). In contemporary setting, it essentially refers to Rastafari ritual meetings, otherwise known as groundation, a conflation of the words ‘ground’ and ‘foundation’ (Morris, 219). The typical Nyabinghi meetings were held monthly or on specific occasions, such as to mark the coronation or birthday of Haile Selassie. They began in the early evening and would last  for an entire night or extend for several days with prayers, readings from the bible, dancing, smoking of ganja, and feasting. The other kind of ritual is more informal and consists of a small gathering o f brethren who share the smoking of the sacred weed, ganja, and engage in what is described as ‘reasoning’ (Chevannes 1995,17). The weed is to be passed on a clockwise manner; the only time that the weed is passed on a counterclockwise is at the time of war. Yet although there is very little in the way of rituals among the Rastafari and they repudiated baptism and funeral rituals, nevertheless there are crucial rituals focused around the individual person and the body. The other aspect of Rastafari personal rituals is the emphasis on I-tal [natural] food and the ritual avoidance of many foods that aren’t considered natural. The Rastafari, in varying degrees, refrain from drinking alcohol (which is associated with aggression), using salt in their cooking, eating meat (which is associated with sexuality), and even express a revulsion for chickens and goats that, like the pig, are associated with scavenging. Rastafarians express a viewpoint that is essentially naturalistic and ecological, for like the early romantics, they have a positive attitude towards nature and organic life. Yet though affirming that they are vegetarians and non-violent, the key image that they promote of themselves is, ironically, that of a lion aggressive, proud, dominant, dreadful, and they ‘simulate the spirit of the lion in the way they wear they locks and in the way they walk (Morris, 221). Rastafarians reject the use of alcohol, since is a fermented chemical that does not belong in the temple of the body and make a person completely stupid, thereby playing into the hands of the white leaders. This is contrasted with the holy herb of marijuana, which is natural and believed by Rastas to open their mind and assist in reasoning. Throughout this research, it was possible to see that Rastafarians like other non Christian religions often ignore some teachings of the Holy Bible in favor certain scriptures that defend their wrong doing. Nowhere in the Holy Scriptures says that the smoking of Marijuana enhances one’s ability to communicate with God, Paul teaches us that Christ is our only way to God, and despises the use of narcotics! The emphasis is to accept Jesus Christ as our savior and live a life that glorifies him, so the use of marijuana is not the right way to get God’s attention. Some people, most people like me haven’t spent enough time studying and understanding the essence and different types of religions. Rastafarians are very passionate and caring people who by the smoking of ganja believe to have a better understand of the world; they beliefs and rituals are very rich and pure. Although their all religion is based on revolutionary ideas rather than biblical techings; I believe that they have not understood that the New Testament gives us a clear guidance on how to live for God even when on face of persecution, and that the only living God has already walked on the earth two thousand years ago. A careful study is necessary in order to create basis and understand of their background which throughout my research I found it to be very contradictory of what the bible teaches us about God. In conclusion; contradiction is the main word I can find to describe Rastafarianism beliefs and rituals. Works Cited Morris, Brian. Religion and Anthropology: A Critical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print. Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1998. Print. Barret, Leonard. The Rastafarians. Boston: Beacon Press,1997. Google Book Search. Web. 20 November 2012. Chevannes, Barry. â€Å"The continuity creative debate, the case of revival.† Diss. University of the West Indies, 1995. Print. Simpson, George. â€Å"Afro-Caribbean Religions†. The Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Mircea Eliade. New York: McMillan, 1995. Print.

Writing a Research Paper Using Color-Coded Index Cards

Writing a Research Paper Using Color-Coded Index Cards A research paper is primarily a discussion or argument based on a thesis, which includes evidence from several collected sources. While it may seem like a monumental project to write a research paper, it is really a straightforward process that you can follow, step by step. Before you get started, make sure you have plenty of note paper, several multi-colored highlighters, and a pack of multi-colored index cards. You should also read over the checklist for research ethics  before you begin, so you dont head down the wrong path! Organizing your Research Paper Youll use the following steps to complete your assignment. 1. Select a topic2. Find sources3. Take notes on colored index cards4. Arrange your notes by topic5. Write an outline6. Write a first draft7. Revise and re-write8. Proofread Library Research Become familiar with the services and layout of the library. There will be a card catalog and computers for database searches, but you dont need to tackle those alone. There will be library personnel on hand to show you how to use these resources. Dont be afraid to ask! Select a Research Paper Topic Once you narrow your choices to a specific subject area, find three specific questions to answer about your topic. A common mistake by students is to choose a final topic that is too general. Try to be specific: What is tornado alley? Are certain states really more likely to suffer from tornadoes? Why? One of your questions will turn into a thesis statement, after you do a little preliminary research to find theories to answer to your questions. Remember, a thesis is a statement, not a question. Find Sources Use the card catalog or computer database in the library to locate books. (See Sources to Avoid.) Find several books that seem to be relevant to your topic. There will also be a periodical guide in the library. Periodicals are publications issued on a regular basis, like magazines, journals, and newspapers. Use a search engine to find a list of articles relating to your topic. Make sure to find articles in periodicals that are located in your library. (See How to Find an Article.) Sit at your work table and scan through your sources. Some titles can be misleading, so you’ll have some sources that don’t pan out. You can do a quick read over the materials to determine which ones contain useful information. Taking Notes As you scan your sources, you will begin to zero in on a thesis. Several sub-topics will also begin to emerge. Using our tornado topic as an example, a sub-topic would be the Fujita Tornado Scale. Start taking notes from your sources, using color coding for the sub-topics. For instance, all information referring to the Fujita Scale would go on orange note cards. You may find it necessary to photocopy articles or encyclopedia entries so you can take them home. If you do this, use the highlighters to mark the useful passages in the relevant colors. Every time you take a note, be sure to write down all bibliographical information to include author, book title, article title, page numbers, volume number, publisher name and dates. Write this information on each and every index card and photocopy. This is absolutely critical! Arrange Your Notes by Topics Once you have taken color-coded notes, you will be able to sort your notes more easily. Sort the cards by colors. Then, arrange by relevance. These will become your paragraphs. You may have several paragraphs for each sub-topic. Outline Your Research Paper Write an outline, according to your sorted cards. You may find that some of the cards fit better with different â€Å"colors† or sub-topics, so simply re-arrange your cards. That’s a normal part of the process. Your paper is taking shape and becoming a logical argument or position statement. Write a First Draft Develop a strong thesis statement and introductory paragraph. Follow through with your sub-topics. You may find that you don’t have enough material, and you may need to supplement your paper with additional research. Your paper may not flow very well on the first try. (This is why we have first drafts!) Read it over and re-arrange paragraphs, add paragraphs, and omit information that doesn’t seem to belong. Keep editing and re-writing until you’re happy. Create a bibliography from your note cards. (See citation makers.) Proofread When you think you are happy with your paper, proof read! Make sure it is free of spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors. Also, check to make sure you’ve included every source in your bibliography. Finally, check the original instructions from your teacher to make sure you are following all assigned preferences, like title page directions and placement of page numbers.

Rumiqolqa - Primary Source of Incan Masonry

Rumiqolqa - Primary Source of Incan Masonry Rumiqolqa (spelled variously Rumiqullqa, Rumi Qullqa or Rumicolca) is the name of the major stone quarry used by the Inca Empire to construct its buildings, roads, plazas and towers. Located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) southeast of the Inca capital of Cusco in the Rio Huatanay valley of Peru, the quarry is on the left bank of the river Vilcanota, off the Inca road leading from Cusco to Qollasuyu. Its elevation is 3,330 meters (11,000 feet), which is slightly below Cusco, at 3,400 m (11,200 ft). Many of the buildings in the royal district of Cusco were constructed of finely cut ashlar stone from Rumiqolqa. The name Rumiqolqa means stone storehouse in the Quechua language, and it was used as a quarry in highland Peru perhaps beginning in the Wari period (~550-900 AD) and up through the latter part of the 20th century. The Inca period Rumiqolqa operation probably spanned an area of between 100 and 200 hectares (250-500 acres). The main stone at Rumiqolqa is bedrock, a dark grey horneblende andesite, made up of plagioclase feldspar, basaltic horneblende and biotite. The rock is flow-banded and sometimes glassy, and it sometimes exhibits conchoidal fractures. Rumiqolqa is the most important of the many quarries used by the Inca for constructing administrative and religious buildings, and they sometimes transported building material thousands of kilometers from the point of origin. Multiple quarries were used for many of the buildings: typically Inca stonemasons would use the closest quarry for a given structure but transport in stone from other, more distant quarries as minor but important pieces. Rumiqolqa Site Features The site of Rumiqolqa is primarily a quarry, and features within its boundaries include access roads, ramps and staircases leading to the different quarrying areas, as well as an impressive gate complex restricting access to the mines. In addition, the site has the ruins of what were likely residences for the quarry workers and, according to local lore, the supervisors or administrators of those workers. One Inca-era quarry at Rumiqolqa was nicknamed the Llama Pit by researcher Jean-Pierre Protzen, who noted two rock art petrogylphs of llamas on the adjacent rock face. This pit measured about 100 m (328 ft) long, 60 m (200 ft) wide and 15-20 m (50-65 ft) deep, and at the time Protzen visited in the 1980s, there were 250 cut stones finished and ready to be shipped still in place. Protzen reported that these stones were hewn and dressed on five of the six sides. At the Llama Pit, Protzen identified 68 simple river cobbles of various sizes which had been used as hammerstones to cut the surfaces and draft and finish the edges. He also conducted experiments and was able to replicate results of the Inca stonemasons using similar river cobbles. Rumiqolqa and Cusco Thousands of andesite ashlars quarried at Rumicolca were used in the construction of palaces and temples in the royal district of Cusco, including the temple of Qoricancha, the Aqllawasi (house of the chosen women) and Pachacutis palace called the Cassana. Massive blocks, some of which weighed over 100 metric tons (about 440,000 pounds), were used in construction at Ollantaytambo and Sacsaywaman, both relatively closer to the quarry than Cusco proper. Guaman Poma de Ayala, a 16th century Quechua chronicler, described a historic legend surrounding the building of the Qoriqancha by Inka Pachacuti [ruled 1438-1471], including the process of bringing extracted and partially worked stones up into Cusco via a series of ramps. Other Sites Dennis Ogburn (2004), a scholar who has dedicated some decades to investigating Inca quarry sites, discovered that carved ashlars of stone from Rumiqolqa were conveyed all the way to Saraguro, Ecuador, some 1,700 km (~1,000 mi) along the Inca Road from the quarry. According to Spanish records, in the final days of the Inca Empire, the Inka Huayna Capac [ruled 1493-1527] was establishing a capital at the center of Tomebamba, close to the modern town of Cuenca, Ecuador, using stone from Rumiqolqa. This claim was upheld by Ogburn, who found that a minimum of 450 cut ashlar stones are currently in Ecuador, although they were removed from Huayna Capacs structures in the 20th century and reused to build a church in Paquishapa. Ogborn reports that the stones are well-shaped parallelepipeds, dressed on five or six sides, each with an estimated mass of between 200-700 kilograms (450-1500 pounds). Their origin from Rumiqolqa was established by comparing the results of XRF geochemical analysis on uncleaned exposed building surfaces to fresh quarry samples (see Ogburn and others 2013). Ogburn cites the Inca-Quechua chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega who noted that by building important structures from the Rumiqolqa quarry in his temples in Tomebamba, Huayna Capac was in effect transferring the power of Cusco to Cuenca, a strong psychological application of Incan propaganda. Sources This article is a part of the About.com guide to Quarry Sites, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Hunt PN. 1990. Inca volcanic stone provenance in the Cuzco province, Peru. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology 1(24-36). Ogburn DE. 2004. Evidence for Long-Distance Transportation of Building Stones in the Inka Empire, from Cuzco, Peru to Saraguro, Ecuador. Latin American Antiquity 15(4):419-439. Ogburn DE. 2004a. Dynamic Display, Propaganda, and the Reinforcement of Provincial Power in the Inca Empire. Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association 14(1):225-239. Ogburn DE. 2013. Variation in Inca Building Stone Quarry Operations in Peru and Ecuador. In: Tripcevich N, and Vaughn KJ, editors. Mining and Quarrying in the Ancient Andes: Springer New York. p 45-64. Ogburn DE, Sillar B, and Sierra JC. 2013. Evaluating effects of chemical weathering and surface contamination on the in situ provenance analysis of building stones in the Cuzco region of Peru with portable XRF. Journal of Archaeological Science 40(4):1823-1837. Pigeon G. 2011. Inca architecture : the function of a building in relation to its form. La Crosse, WI: University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Protzen J-P. 1985. Inca Quarrying and Stonecutting. The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 44(2):161-182.

Instructional planning and design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Instructional planning and design - Essay Example While no textbook is perfect, how do teachers go about deciding if a proposed textbook will be chosen? What makes a particular instructional material adequate? One of the most important criteria is design. If the textbook in question does not align with the standards being addressed, then what use can it be? Textbooks that actually help achieve these standards must also be free from errors with documented sources that can be referred to if a question of accuracy arises. This is especially important in subjects such as geography where place names and maps change over time. Textbooks must also address both the desires of teachers and students in order to be effective. It is here that design tends to overlap with the criteria of clarity, efficiency and procedure. Teachers wish to have a book that emphasizes important points. Actual text should provide enough information in a grade/age appropriate manner but also facts that can assist in initiating discussions. While students should be challenged to go beyond the basics of the standard being addressed, they do not need to be overwhelmed with irrelevant information. Teachers want a sufficient number of questions to reinforce the topic being studied but not so many that students take one look and panic. Activities should provide practice of the basic skill but also encourage students to stretch a little and engage their critical thinking skills. While many teachers have created their own assessments over the years, some may want to be able to use the prepared assessments that come with new textbooks. If the teacher has to make major revisions to the prepared assessments in order to use them then the textbook may not be adequate. In addition, teachers want to be able to train students to use the textbook as an aid in the individual learning process. Once this training has been completed, the instructions for textbook activities should be such that teachers can use them

Why do Incumbents win majority of time during election Essay - 1

Why do Incumbents win majority of time during election - Essay Example Since they are in office, they can use the privileges provided to them by the taxpayers in the form of free travel, mailing, airtime, town hall meetings, hiring sizable staff to assist them in making them more likeable and others to strengthen their campaign. Furthermore, during their time in office, they certainly make some friends in the corporate world and political arena, such as labour unions, professional lobbyists and big businesses, who are likely to express their desire to find their campaigns in return for favors and advantages in the future (Gelman & King 1148). Recent statistics confirm the same. During the 2012 election cycle, every incumbent was able to raise more than 0.9 million US dollars as part of their fundraising campaign, but the same figure remained at less than 0.15 million for the challengers. Therefore, incumbents were able to outraise their challengers by 405 million to 88 million. Sitting members of Congress are paid to meet and talk with the voters, attend town hall meeting, appear regularly on the media, liaison with the press and engage in actions and decisions, which could assist them in improving their overall image because this is an imperative part of their job as members of Congress (Ashworth and Bueno de Mesquita 1009). Therefore, they can run their campaigns while performing these jobs and taking advantage of the perquisites available to them while they are in office. However, a challenger, if he or she is not extremely wealthy, would have to use their savings, go into debt and find other ways of financing to run a campaign (Sabato 142). If the challenger is not already a political servant, celebrity, or well known in the masses, it puts him or her at even a bigger disadvantage against the incumbent. This is true because the incumbent has served for at least two or six years in case of Congress and Senate respectively, thus allowing

Monopoly Market Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Monopoly Market Structure - Essay Example In the operating system of monopoly there is usually one firm that provides the majority of the products and services sold and there may be a handful of smaller firms that might have little or no impact on the large dominant firm Because of the lack of competition the firms in the monopoly makes super normal economic profit which attracts other firms to enter the market. However there are quite some barriers for the new entrants (Mike Moffatt). The technology may be such as to exhibit substantial economies of scale which require only a single plant if the economies are to be fully reaped. For example in transport, electricity, and communications there are substantial economies which can be realized only at large scales of output. The size of the market may not allow the existence of more than a single large plant. In those conditions it is said that the market creates a natural monopoly and it is usually the government in such cases undertakes the production and distribution of the commodity or service so as to avoid the exploitation of the consumers. There is an ongoing debate about the advantages and disadvantages of monopoly. "The consensus seems to be that the economic case for and against monopoly needs to be judged on a case by case basis- particularly when assessing the impact on economic welfare" (Tutor2u). (1) Economies of Scale and Low... Advantages and Disadvantages of Monopoly There is an ongoing debate about the advantages and disadvantages of monopoly. "The consensus seems to be that the economic case for and against monopoly needs to be judged on a case by case basis- particularly when assessing the impact on economic welfare" (Tutor2u). There are certain distinct benefits accruing out of monopoly. These are: (1) Economies of Scale and Lower Prices - Because the monopoly producers often provide the goods or services on a large scale the producer may be able to take advantage of the economies of scale leading to a reduction in the total cost of production. Although this may increase the profits of the monopolist sometimes the higher efficiency in production may be passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices for the product or service. (2) Regulation of Monopoly - Since there is always the possibility of economic welfare loss arising from the exploitation of monopoly power there are governmental regulations which can control the annual price increases and can also introduce fresh competition in certain industries which is beneficial to the consumers. (3) Research and Development, and Innovation - There is the necessity for the large firms to remain competitive globally to earn supernormal profits. Some part of the supernormal profits might be used to make research and development programmes which have the potential to bring new and innovative products and services into the market for the benefit of the consumers. (4) Price Discrimination - Some form or price discrimination being adopted by the monopolists may benefit the consumers. (5) Domestic

Cooking Oil Company in India

Cooking Oil Company in India INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE TOPIC Cooking oil is purified fat of plant origin, which is usually liquid at room temperature (Saturated oils such as coconut and palm are more solid at room temperature than other oils). Some of the many different kinds of edible vegetable oils include: olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, argan oil and rice bran oil. Many other kinds of vegetable oils are also used for cooking. The generic term vegetable oil when used to label a cooking oil product refers to a blend of a variety of oils often based on palm, corn, soybean or sunflower oils. Oil can be flavored by immersing aromatic food stuffs such as fresh herbs, peppers, garlic and so forth in the oil for a period of time. However, care must be taken when storing flavored oils to prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum (the bacteria that produces toxins that can lead tobotulism). Product Origin: India Description: Pandey Groups Ltd. (PGL), a Rs. 2700 crore company; is a joint venture between two global corporations. Somya Refined Soyabean Oil is light, odorless and healthy oil. Most importantly it contains OMG3 (Omega 3 fatty acids) an essential PUFA which needs to be supplemented from outside sources. Soyabean oil is the preferred oil of many a household across the world. Somya Refined Soyabean Oil, enriched with OMG3, gives you and your family Paanch Ka Aashirwad Company Name : Pandey Groups Limited Address : Gujarat, India Tel : 91- 9855021213 Fax : 91- 11-2201055 Website : http://www.pandeygroups.com The IMC Plan Situational Analysis: Past promotional Situation Somya Oil PLC is the holding company for a group of companies whose principal activities focus on Eidable oil supply in India. On July 15, 2005, the Company acquired Sona Ediable Company Limited and its subsidiaries. In October 2005, it disposed all interests in Making all types Of Ediable Oil. Product Situation (Quality,Packaging,Price,image,availability,Feature,Unique Selling point) Somya Edible Oil Exports In Consumer Packs Pandey groups Ltd, which is into trading and refining of edible oils, is now planning to supply consumer packs of ‘Somya edible oil in india upto 2010. At present, the company is supplying loose packs of edible oil to these countries and plans are afoot to increase export capacity of loose packs of edible oil from 2,000 metric tonnes to 5,000 metric tonnes as well this year.. Pandey Groups is also planning to increase its capacity to produce ‘Savarg vanaspati from 100 metric tonnes to 300 metric tonnes. After marking its presence with Somya refined oil in the northern, western and eastern markets, Pandey Groups is now planning to strongly focus on the southern market, specifically Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu this year to widen its distribution reach.According to Pandey Groups Ltd general manager (marketing and sales) Sahil Sharma: â€Å"As part of the distribution strategy, we are now planning to expand our number of offices from 65 to 80. In addition, we will double the number of existing 1,800 distributors, three lakh retail outlets and 600 super stockists within a year. In the southern market, we have recently created 10 stockpoints (companys own branches) to spur more volumes of Fortune edible oil.† Besides, Pandey Groups is planning to foray into the speciality fat oil category which will be introduced in the Indian market in consumer packs under the umbrella brand name Somya this year. Audience Situation Paneer, pakoras and more 1. One of the ads, titled Railway station, is about an elderly couple making a train journey. The husband realises that his wife hasnt prepared the customary ‘pakoras for the journey this time. Forgetting the he was supposed to arrange for a taxi, he busies himself in preparing the pakoras when his wife offers to make them. The couple miss the train due to the delay, but share a mischievous moment on the platform when they gorge on the pakoras. 2. The second commercial is about a young man who lives away from home with a group of friends. He steps home after his day at work and reaches for some stale pizza; his sister calls him just then, asking what he is having for dinner. He cooks up a story, telling her hes having ‘muttar paneer just so that she doesnt feel bad about his eating habits away from home. His sister then reprimands him on why he didnt leave his dirty shoes out at the door, to which he turns around to see that his sister has actually brought him some home cooked food. A third film is on its way. Apart from the commercials, the campaign consists of a mix of press, hoardings and bus shelters. Radio is specifically to be used in Tamil Nadu. Of the total budget, Fortune has allotted about 15 per cent to outdoor, while 10 per cent and 5 per cent will go to press and radio respectively. A huge 70 per cent of the budget is directed to TV and electronic media. National and regional channels are being employed. Competitive Situation Pandey Groups is the leader in edible oil. But it now wants to carve out a bigger slice of the pie by focusing on sunflower oil, which accounts for a big chunk of the edible oil market, through its Somya brand. Competitive Analysis In competitive analysis I found that there is great competition in the existing players like Saffola oil, Sunflower oil, Fortune oil, Ginni Oil, Kings oil, and Raag oils. I have do something different to survive in this competition like: A strong Heart The Healthy Growth of your Children Controlling Diabetes Healthy Eyes Marketing segmentation:  · Somya has segmented its market on the basis of following: Demographic Income Occupation Geographic Tier 1 cities Tier 2 cities Psychographic Life style Personality Behavioural Value Benefit Sought So, this is a market segmentation of the Somya Oils that we give more importance to tier 1 cities that are metro cities. And we prefer the high level people and middle level people because this level of people are health conscious. Targeting Somya oil has targeted its market on the basis of the product that they are offering to the consumer. We are targeting: Upper class segment Upper end We are targeting to those consumer who are more concern of life style product. Our product is ore of upper mid class and premium segment, so we are targeting audience are those consumer,, who want Healthy Product which gives them fitness at reasonable price We are also targeting those consumers, who are more concern of safety and health issue. We are now going to shift over to mind mid or lower mid class segment and want to mass market their product. SWOT Analysis (S)trengths Demand of new technology. Manufacturing unit having good supply of raw material and Transportation System. â€Å"Gujarat.† Wide range of product to tap the consumer of middle class, upper class and high class. We think to launch our widest distribution network. Shifting to rural marketing. (W)eaknesses Our product are compared with our competitor like Fortune, Saffola etc. Similar product categories as compare to its close competitors like kings and Raag. (O)pportunities Shifting to rural market. Food oil market is growing very fast, so there is an opportunity for Somya to launch more new products. (T)hreats Price war. New entry in this segment. Positioning Strategy With the tagline â€Å"Paanch Ka Aashirwad † Somya positioning is to differentiate our product on the basis of technology which appealed to the consumer on the basis of health benefits. With this tag line its corporate philosophy to make to attract towards our product. Our positioning strategy are technological intelligent and futuristic. As we are in upper and premium segment, so we are featuring that their brand is young, vibrant and premium. We have differentiate our product using technology and health benefits. Competitive Analysis Market Share The market share and data show that Somya is not in the list because it is a new company in the electronic field. The target audiences for the other companies are very high as compare to Somya Product categories are more or less same. Close fight for the product is in the companies. Marketing Strategy The marketing objective of Somya, aims to focus on the premium segment of the market that fetches greater margin opposed to volumes. We want to capture 20% market share, by the end of 2011. We want 5% sales growth in each segment of our product. Corporate Strategy Somya corporate strategies is to more focus on innovation to attract more technology savvy consumer and the company is aspiring for keep innovating. Somya corporate strategy is to become a true global leader through fast growth and fast innovation. Somya has set its mid-term goal to rank among the top edible oil Company in the world. Somya would concentrate on staying ahead of the technology curve and develop products that deliver high value to consumers. The Marketing Background S. No. Key Considerations Questions 1. Product Descriptions Cooking oil 2. Market Assessment There are some global players in market like Fortune, Saffola, Ginni, Sunflower. 3. Source of Business We are coming from tiers 1 cities and tier 2 cities and rural areas. 4. Competitive Evaluation Somya offers freshness and technological strong 5. Marketing Objective Focus on Health innovation to attract consumers and the company is aspiring for keep innovating. 6. Marketing Communication Marketing Communication helps Somya to create a strong and positive brand attitude and influence consumer to do action in future. The Key Target Audience Worksheet Our sale and usage comes from metros urban and rural market. The marketing objectives required continue usage. Refers to Segmenting, Targeting and positioning analysis. Decision makers are the head of the family. Communication Objective To communicate the health plus objectives. To communicate that the brand is young, vibrant and premium. To hit the emotions of the Indian consumers by showing the warmth and affection. Brand Attitude Strategy:- Cooking Oil (Food) product is high involvement product, and consumers require information before purchasing the product. So, to influence the attitude of the consumers, Somya oil need to focus on the communication message, this is helpful to create a positive brand attitude. The communication objective of Somya Oil is to influence the target audience to do purchases. The Behaviour Sequence Model Decision Stages Consideration at each stage Need Arousal Information search Purchase usage Decision roles involved Category need Product awareness Purchase Facilitator Benefit of the product How is it likely to occur Brand awareness Product information - Timing of purchase - Competitive product information Offer discount Where purchase is likely to occur Company outlets, MBOS Budget As a team, Somya oil decided that we should go ahead and plan out the entire IMC campaign exactly how we wanted it to turn out, before we worried about any of the budget. This is referred to as a bottom-up budget, which means that we, the creative team have decided what we would need for the budget and have sent the budget for approval. Media Mix For the media mix of our products campaign we decided to do one television ad and one magazine ad. Because our product is an Cooking Oil we felt it would be more appropriate to reach our target audience through these means of advertising. Our television advertisement will be in the form of a thirty-second commercial. Showing the commercial at the prime time would help reach our ideal target audience. Our budget will allow about 2,50,000 for the pre-production, production, and post-production of our commercial advertisement. In order to buy advertising space, we allotted 150,000 per thirty-second spot. To achieve our communication objective, the commercial will air twice during each thirty-minute program on Sunday evenings for the duration of one month. The magazine advertisement we have chosen for our project will not be costing us nearly as much. Each of these magazines is a monthly publication. This helps reach our target audience because our customers must be housewives. Cost of TV Ad Prime Time: 6-11pm Channels: Top e.g., Geo, AAJ, PTV, Sony, Star Plus, Zee Tv etc. Cost in Prime Time: Rs. 70,000/min Cost in Off-peak time: Rs. 25,000-30,000/min Cost of Billboard Size: 2700 Sq. ft Skin: Rs. 54,000 Rent for 1 month in Cat-A1 area: 600,000-1,000,000 Cost of Hanging Hoardings Size: 5ft x 2 ft Cost: Rs. 150/hoarding Rent in Cat-A1: 1,350/week Cost of Poster Paper weight: 135 gram Size: 18inch x 23inch Quantity: 3000 @ Rs. 4.15/poster