Health Policy and the Federal Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Policy and the Federal Government - Essay Example The congress is also tasked with the implementation of programs such as the Medicare and veterans administration. It also serves to ascertain that the various institutes of health research receive enough funding and support. The Congress also ought to mull over Medicaid and consider its funding sources (McLaughlin, 2008). The Congress has instituted committees that are tasked with the implementations of health programs and policies based on their specific needs. Various commissions perform functions that include standardizing, devising programs, financial control and supervision of the implementation. The Senate and the House of Representatives form the Congress. The Senate comprises of 100 members, two members from every state while the House of Representatives comprises of 435 members (McLaughlin, 2008). The duration of their term in office differs since the term of Senators expires after six years, while the House of representative members only last for two years. Both houses have four committees each, mandated with the task of deliberating on health issues. Since these houses have dissimilar times in office, the tasks of these committees also differ. Both houses make up eight committees that possess diverse expertise on health issues. Such representatives’ core task is to draft bills based on the appeals of the people, and forward them to the congressional clerk for consideration. The pertinent committee then takes up these opinions and creates motions that deliberate on various changes, through careful consultations. The clerk then conducts a poll and the draft passes the other house for further deliberation and final approval (Holtz, 2008). The bill then sets off to the president who finally ascends it into law. Eight steps form the core part of the legislation. Identifying the problem is the initial stage of

Marketing strategy and activities of an organisation Assignment

Marketing strategy and activities of an organisation - Assignment Example The paper throws light on the term ‘marketing’ as the activity or philosophy utilised to offer products or services in order to satisfy customers’ needs or wants. Marketing is a process of producing assorted appealing experiences that connect with varied populace and generate the desire of distributing with others. Marketing includes proper planning, scheduling and executing ideas essential for the enhancement of organisational profit margin as well as brand image. According to Kotler & et. al. marketing is referred as the discipline and the talent of investigating, generating, and conveying value in order to assure the needs and the demands of target market with specific returns. Along with these, marketing also helps to identify the unfulfilled wants and requirements. However, digital media also plays a vital role in the process of marketing as it enhances the relationship between customer and marketer. Hence, it can be depicted that marketing is a human action intended for pleasing the needs and wants through the process of replacement. In this era of globalisation, marketing is one of the essential techniques utilised by organisations in order to sustain in this competitive market in the long run. This is due to the fact that marketing develops a bond in between organisations and their clients. In order to maintain the steadiness of demands of varied products or services to sustain in the market, marketing process is highly essential for an organisation. Marketing process involves investigating the needs and the wants of the target customers. This can be possible only with the help of the strategy of marketing mix. Marketing mix is a critical tool utilised for shaping a product or brand’s exclusive selling point. It is essentially done with the help of four P’s i.e. Product, Price, Place and Promotion (Kotler & et. al., 2010). Product Product is one of the vital components of marketing mix. Products are offered by an organi sation in order to satisfy the desires and the requirements of customers. It may be tangible or intangible in nature. Tangible products are those which can be actually felt whereas intangible products are services presented to customers such as hotel service, telecom and tourism among others. Moreover, organisations also attempt to offer innovative products or services which would enhance customer demand thereby improving the position and the brand image of an organisation among others in the market (Kotler & et. al., 2010). Price Apart from product, price is the other vital constituent of marketing mix. Price is the amount a customer desires to pay for a specific product or service. Price is very essential as it determines the profit and the sustainability of an organisation in this competitive world for long run. The price of varied products or services of an organisation offers considerable impact on the marketing strategy and its transactions. Moreover, the price of product or s ervice should be reasonable and affordable for all customers. Place Place is also equally important for an organisation as it facilitates in selecting an

Oedipus the King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Oedipus the King - Essay Example Creon returns with a message from the oracle and insists on delivering the message in private to the king. Oedipus however, insists that he will hear the message in front of his citizens. The message is that the god Apollo through the oracle, demands that, for the curse to be lifted, the murderer of Laius must be found and brought to justice. Laius was the former king of Thebes before Oedipus. He was attacked and killed on a crossroad by thieves when on his way to consult an oracle. All, but one of his travelling companions survived the attack (3). Oedipus’s Innocence In determining whether Oedipus was guilty or not, one has to put into account information that was available to him at the time his alleged crimes were committed. A great portion of Oedipus’s innocence lies in his ignorance of his past and that of Thebes. Oedipus had attacked and killed a group of travellers at a crossroad sometime in the past. At the time, they did not seem significant and never did he th ink that this incidence would ever come up in the future. When he was a child, it was revealed to him, by an old man that he was adopted; furthermore he was told that he would kill his biological father and have carnal relations with his biological mother. What he did not know at the time that these individuals would be king Laius and his wife, Jocasta, respectively. There was some aspect of relief when news reached Thebes that his adoptive father had passed on. The relief was however, short lived since future investigations revealed that the man he killed at the crossroads was king Laius. In this aspect, Oedipus is innocent of both regicide – Killing a king- and patricide – Killing his father- because he had no idea who the man was at the time (30 - 35). Assassinating a leader was and still is a serious offence. Oedipus’s case however has two possible outcomes. First, if Oedipus attacked Laius’s travelling party first without being provoked, then, he is guilty of murder. Secondly, if Oedipus was attacked first By Laius, then this can only be viewed as a classic case of self-defence. Both these theories can be true depending on who among the two survived to tell the story. When Oedipus took over as king following Laius’s death, he also took up his widow, Jocasta, as his wife. Oedipus had a number of children by Jocasta as his wife. Knowing what has been mentioned above; this is an obvious case of incest. Oedipus is however, innocent of incest since neither he nor Jocasta had any idea that they were related in the remotest possible manner. When Oedipus realized that he had been having an incestuous relationship with his own biological mother, he punished himself very harshly by plucking out both his own eyes. His mother or wife consequently killed herself on learning that the son that she thought had been killed long ago, was the man whom she shared a bed with. Oedipus’s Guilt Oedipus’s guilt in one aspect seems to stem from hubris. He had previously gotten his peoples acclaim by saving them from the curse of the sphinx. Seeing a chance to emerge a hero yet again, he completely ignores all advice given to him. First, on lifting the curse of the sphinx, he was specifically warned not to investigate the murder of Laius. Instead he promises his citizens that he will investigate the murder and decrees a steep penalty for whoever is found guilty. Secondly, his pride comes in when he orders Creon to tell him the news from Apollo

Marketing strategy and activities of an organisation Assignment

Marketing strategy and activities of an organisation - Assignment Example The paper throws light on the term ‘marketing’ as the activity or philosophy utilised to offer products or services in order to satisfy customers’ needs or wants. Marketing is a process of producing assorted appealing experiences that connect with varied populace and generate the desire of distributing with others. Marketing includes proper planning, scheduling and executing ideas essential for the enhancement of organisational profit margin as well as brand image. According to Kotler & et. al. marketing is referred as the discipline and the talent of investigating, generating, and conveying value in order to assure the needs and the demands of target market with specific returns. Along with these, marketing also helps to identify the unfulfilled wants and requirements. However, digital media also plays a vital role in the process of marketing as it enhances the relationship between customer and marketer. Hence, it can be depicted that marketing is a human action intended for pleasing the needs and wants through the process of replacement. In this era of globalisation, marketing is one of the essential techniques utilised by organisations in order to sustain in this competitive market in the long run. This is due to the fact that marketing develops a bond in between organisations and their clients. In order to maintain the steadiness of demands of varied products or services to sustain in the market, marketing process is highly essential for an organisation. Marketing process involves investigating the needs and the wants of the target customers. This can be possible only with the help of the strategy of marketing mix. Marketing mix is a critical tool utilised for shaping a product or brand’s exclusive selling point. It is essentially done with the help of four P’s i.e. Product, Price, Place and Promotion (Kotler & et. al., 2010). Product Product is one of the vital components of marketing mix. Products are offered by an organi sation in order to satisfy the desires and the requirements of customers. It may be tangible or intangible in nature. Tangible products are those which can be actually felt whereas intangible products are services presented to customers such as hotel service, telecom and tourism among others. Moreover, organisations also attempt to offer innovative products or services which would enhance customer demand thereby improving the position and the brand image of an organisation among others in the market (Kotler & et. al., 2010). Price Apart from product, price is the other vital constituent of marketing mix. Price is the amount a customer desires to pay for a specific product or service. Price is very essential as it determines the profit and the sustainability of an organisation in this competitive world for long run. The price of varied products or services of an organisation offers considerable impact on the marketing strategy and its transactions. Moreover, the price of product or s ervice should be reasonable and affordable for all customers. Place Place is also equally important for an organisation as it facilitates in selecting an

Anglo-American Special Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Anglo-American Special Relationship - Essay Example Since Britain joined the then European Community in 1973, it has had an uneasy ride with its European partners. The relations have often been turbulentï‚ § Since Britain joined the then European Community in 1973, it has had an uneasy ride with its European partners. The relations have often been turbulentThe UK’s membership in the European Union (EU) that have a self-proclaimed goal of â€Å"ever closer union† was suggested by Rachman (2001) is a question that mattered more in London than in Washington. The US also have special relations among other countries such as Israel, Canada, Mexico (Wright, 2002), Japan and, also the EU.  Economically, there was a difficulty in totally integrating in to the European Union despite the low economic growth in Britain due to the high value of the pound making Britons believe that economy is doing well even while outside the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).   The UK shares 15.3 percent of export to the US while it has considerable larger export to the EU members Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Italy at around 50 percent. UK also lists Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, China, and Italy along with US (9.3 percent) as its leading import partners.While the US lists Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, along with UK (4.4 percent) as its export partners, it has only Canada, China, Mexico, Japan and Germany as its leading import partners.The British have had their national sovereignty slowly eroded by EU laws and regulations.   While mainland Europe such as Germany rates 43.6 to 56.6 percent and France's rate is 41.6 percent, the UK taxes only about 20 percent considered the lowest in the European Community (Expatica, 2005) making Britons Euro-sceptic as former president of Germany's Central Bank announced "A European currency will lead to member nations transferring their sovereignty over financial and wage policy, as well as in monetary affairs. It is an illusion to think that states can hold on to autonomy over

Henry James The Turn of the Screw Essay Example for Free

Henry James The Turn of the Screw Essay At first glance, it would appear that Henry James The Turn of the Screw and Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands have only one thing in common: they are both from the gothic genre. But upon looking closer, one will notice that there are a number of other similar traits between the two. There are noticeable similarities between Edward and the Governess, as well as similarities between Edward and the two children in The Turn of the Screw, Miles and Flora. There are also general themes which the two share images of a perfect society, as well as onlookers who have no control over the situation. Both The Turn of the Screw and Edward Scissorhands have many traditional features of the gothic genre. However, when compared to each other, it is found that The Turn of the Screw has more of the traditional gothic elements. These include things such as the mysterious setting; an atmosphere of mystery and suspense that is present throughout the entire novel; visions, which are a regular occurrence for the Governess; supernatural events such as the ghosts and the possessions of the children; high emotion; women threatened by males, which is found on the many occasions in which the Governess feels threatened by Quint; and there are many instances in which the women of the novel are in distress. In spite of this, a number of these elements can also be found in Edward Scissorhands, if not to a lesser extent. These include elements such as the setting while the entire movie does not take place in a gothic setting, there are times where the viewer is able to see Edwards original home a mysterious, gloomy castle; an atmosphere of mystery and suspense, which is an underlying theme throughout the movie; visions to some extent experienced by the Boggs neighbour; and supernatural events largely, the overall creation of Edward. Other elements that are similar between the two are women in distress in Edward Scissorhands, this is largely Kim; and women threatened by males shown in scenes with Kim and her threatening boyfriend, Jim. There are not only similarities between the overall genre of The Turn of the Screw and Edward Scissorhands, but between the characters as well. There are striking similarities between the Governess, the narrator of the book, and Edward, the main character of the movie. One of the most prominent is that  neither of these lead characters have much experience in the real world, as is evident through their actions and words. However, the Governess and Edward deal with this in different ways. Edward is generally dazed and confused about everything. Nevertheless, Edward is willing to learn, and is open to being taught. In contrast, the Governess reacts to her lack of experience by acting as though she is knowledgeable. She is unwilling to try other methods, and refuses to listen to others who might know better. Both characters were also taught the difference between right and wrong. Edward is taught this by the inventor, while the Governess is taught this through both her upbringing, and by her father. Both Edward and the Governess are taught this in theory, but have never experienced it in practice that is, they have never been able to apply the idea of right and wrong to the real world. Additionally, there are a number of similarities between Edward, and the two children, Miles and Flora. Both have overbearing female or mother figures in their lives. In Edwards case, this is his foster mother, Peg, who tends to be more caring towards him, and looks out for him. In the childrens case, this is the Governess. However, unlike Peg, the Governess coddles the children, spending all her time with them and not letting them out of her sight. Both of them are also blamed for something which they didnt do, or which never happened. Edward is framed for the robbery and murder, which had the potential to get him in trouble with the law. This was a deliberate blame and set up. On the other hand, Miles and Flora were accused of seeing ghosts, and lying about it. However, in contrast to Edwards situation, we never know whether this actually happened but either way, it wasnt a deliberate setup. There are even more similarities between Edward and the two children. Both of these characters are abandoned by their father figure. In Edwards case, this is in the death of his inventor. Because of this, Edward has to learn to cope for himself, and as a result, is confused about how to act correctly. This differs to Miles and Flora though their parents die, and their uncle effectively abandons him, they still have people who are willing to look after them, such as Mrs Grose and the Governess. They are also both  idealised by the people around them. The community idealises Edward he is treated as a phase, the latest craze. They have preconceived notions of him, but dont take the time to get to know him and see if theyre actually true. In the childrens case, this is where the Governess idealises Miles and Flora. She imagines them to be so perfect and innocent, but she doesnt take the time to get to know them. Because of this, when they act differently to the behaviour she expects of them, she thinks something is wrong. Edward and Miles are both seen to have dangerous characters, and because of this they eventually become shunned or kicked out though the extent to which this happen differs. Miles is seen as a danger to the other children, and is kicked out of his school, but he is not rejected or shunned overall, just from one place. In contrast, Edward is eventually shunned by society as a whole because they dont understand him. As a result of this, he is rejected by society, and becomes an outcast. The narrative structure of the two texts is also quite similar. Both of them are told by a female, and in the first person. This viewpoint makes the story seem more personal, as it gives the reader or the viewer a better insight into what really took place. Both stories also start off in the present tense, with someone talking about the events which had previously taken place, before going into an account of the story. However, in The Turn of the Screw, we never go back to the original setting, whereas in Edward Scissorhands we are taken back to the original storyteller to finish the story. In both instances, it also gives the feel of the storyteller holding onto the secret, and waiting for the right time and place to finally tell their story to a willing audience. There are a number of general things which are common in both the texts. One of these is that both The Turn of the Screw and Edward Scissorhands have onlookers that have no control over the story, and dont fully understand what is going on. In Edward Scissorhands, the onlooker is Kim Pegs daughter who is a silent observer, and unsure as to what is happening. In The Turn of the Screw, this onlooker is Mrs Grose. Mrs Grose has no control over the actions of any of the other characters, and is forced to sit back and watch as the events take place around her, not fully knowing what is  going on. Another theme common in both texts, as well as being common in the gothic genre, is the idea of a woman being threatened by a powerful, impulsive, controlling male. In The Turn of the Screw, this is Quint, who, though dead, makes the Governess feel threatened. In Edward Scissorhands, the male is Jim Kims boyfriend. She feels threatened by his actions, and especially at his reaction to Edward. But the most obvious similarity between the two texts is that both have a perfect society, which slowly falls away, leaving the reader with an image of a very tainted place. In Edward Scissorhands, the community that he lives in is regarded as perfect, with everyone being accepting of him. However, as the story progresses, the perfect image falls away and we are left with a community that is biased and judgemental. In The Turn of the Screw, it first appears as though everything is perfect particularly the beauty of Bly, and the childrens characters, but we soon learn that it isnt. Overall, while there are some aspects of the texts which are entirely different, there are too many similarities for one to say that they are not alike in some way. These similarities are shown in a number of areas in the genre, the narrative structure, the characters actions and thoughts, as well as the overall themes and ideas which are introduced. However, whether The Turn of the Screw and Edward Scissorhands are similar or entirely different, they are both classic examples of the gothic genre of fiction.

The Singapore Cultural Analysis Cultural Studies Essay

The Singapore Cultural Analysis Cultural Studies Essay Singapore is a small island in southeast Asia Known for its trade and tourism. It is a small island with not much history but has a strong economy, stable government and a vibrant culture. II. Brief discussion of the countrys relevant history Singapore was a British colony for nearly 150 years merged with the Malay territory. In 1965 it gained independence from the British and was separated from Malaysia to from a new country called Singapore the name derived from singa-pura which means city of the lion. . (everyculture.com, n.d) III. Geographical setting Situated in Southeast Asia, Singapore is a small island with a total area 647.5 square kilometers, with land being 637.5 and water 10 square kilometers including the main island and around 60 islets and the coastline extends to 193 kilometers. Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei are the bordering countries to Singapore. It is the focal point in the Southeast Asian sea routes. A.Location Singapore is located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia in between Malaysia and Indonesia. 1 22 N, 103 48E is the geographical location of Singapore. B.Climate Singapore experiences tropical climate with high humidity and rainfall. There are no specific rainy and dry seasons but during the northeast monsoon (dec-mar) it receives abundant rainfall and during the southwestern monsoon (jun-sep) it is the driest comparatively. C.Topography Singapore Island is mostly low-lying, green, undulating country with a small range of hills at the center. The highest point is Bukit Timah which is 166 meters and the lowest point is the Singapore strait which is 0 meters. There are sections of  rainforest  in the center and large  mangrove  swamps along the coast, which has many inlets, particularly in the north and west. Singapores harbor is wide, deep, and well protected(Singapore overview , 2007). IV. Social institutions A.Family 1.The nuclear family The general family trend in Singapore is a nuclear family which is the parents and the unmarried children living under the same roof. About 85% of Singaporean families are nuclear families. . (everyculture.com, n.d) 2.The extended family Close links are maintained between the relatives from both the mothers and fathers side. There is a positive amount of interaction between the extended family with them getting together during festivals and celebrations. . (everyculture.com, n.d) 3.Dynamics of the family a.  Parental roles The parental roles that is the duties and responsibilities of a parent towards their children are shared equally by the mother and the father. b.  Marriage and courtship Monogamy or having only one wife is the general rule in Singapore but Polygamy or having more than one wife at the same time is allowed among Muslim Malay. The divorce rate in Singapore is seemingly increasing but Interethnic marriages still are had to come by. The average age at first marriage has increased, and it is customary for young people to live with their parents until they marry. . (everyculture.com, n.d) 4.Female/male roles (changing or static?) The male and female roles are changing with 80% male employment and 50% female employment. Women are being given more importance in society through the time but there still lacks female involvement in the managerial or high level roles. (everyculture.com, n.d) B.Education Singapore has a very high literacy rate with a strong education system. The education system is based on six years of primary school, four years of secondary school and later vocational school or university, depending on the grades and student prefferences. The best schools are very demanding with the competition being high and fierce. (everyculture.com, n.d).Singapore one of the most prominent education hubs in Asia with high levels of education standards attracting students from all over the world with some of the best universities and institutions in the world. 1.The role of education in society Education plays a very prominent role in society were children are thought to hold the key not only to their own future but also to the future of their families. The average age at which children start school is six. (everyculture.com, n.d). Due to the increasing competition for jobs and personal improvement in Singapore there is high emphasis given to good education and nurturing and promoting the various talents of the students. a. Primary education Primary education is a total of six years which consists of a four year foundation stage from Primary 1 to 4 and a two year orientation stage from Primary 5 to 6. The overall aim of primary education is to give students a good grasp of English language, Mother Tongue and Mathematics. There is no fee for primary school but there are some miscellaneous expenses which add up to SGD $11/ month. During primary school the students are encouraged to participate in Co-Curricular Activities and Community Involvement Programs to develop early skills. At the end of primary school the students have to take a national level examination called the Primary school leaving examination (Ministry of education, 2012). b. Secondary education Secondary education consists of four to five years of school in which the students are placed in Special, Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical) course according to how they perform at the  Primary school leaving examination. The different curricular emphases are designed to match their learning abilities and interests. The fees for secondary school varies from $5/ month for public schools, $3-$18 for autonomous schools and $200-$300 for independent schools. For graduating from secondary school the students have to attend a national examination called GCE O Levels(for Special/Express courses) or GCE N Levels (for Normal course).All students take part in at least one  Co-curricular activity;  CCA  performance is considered for admission to  JCs,  CI, polytechnics and  ITE(Ministry of education, 2012) c. Higher education Singapore has some of the best universities offering various programs. The National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University and Singapore University of Technology and Design are some of the most reputed universities in Singapore. These universities have a worldwide reach and attract thousands of students each year. There are universities from all over the world also who offer their programs in Singapore either by collaborating with Singaporean institutions like university of Whales and university of Bradford who offer their programs through Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) or by setting up a sister campus in Singapore like INSED which is one of the worlds premier business school from France and James Cook university an Australian university have sister campuses in Singapore. 2. Literacy rates Singapore has a high literacy rate due to the emphasis given to education. The % of people above the age of 15 who can read and write is total population:  92.5%   male:  96.6%   female:  88.6% (2000 census) (Singapore-counrty profile ,2012) C. Political system Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary system. As a former British colony, Singapore since independence in 1965 has adopted the Westminster Module. The head of state is the president, who is elected for a fixed term of six years. The parliament is elected in a general compulsory election every five years. There are also six nominated members of the parliament. The cabinet is the executive organ of the state, and execution of government policies is carried out by ministries and statutory boards. . (everyculture.com, n.d) 1.Political structure: Singapores government is segrigated into three segments. -Executive- This includes the presedent who is the head-of-state abd the cabinet which is lead by the prime minister.(www.sg , 2011) -Legislative- The Legislative branch is the  Parliament, which is elected by  general election  every five years. The first sitting of Parliament was held on 8 December 1965. The first general election for Parliament was held on 13 April 1968. There are 22 registered political parties. .(www.sg , 2001) -Judiciary- The  Supreme Court  and its  Subordinate Courts make up the judiciary. The Judiciary administers the law independently of the Executive and this independence is safeguarded by the  Constitution.(www.sg , 2011) 2.Political parties- There are 22 political parties in singapore and are as follows: Singapore Chinese Party Persatuan Melayu Singapura Partai Rakyat, Singapore State Division Angkatan Islam The Workers Party Pertubohan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura Peoples Action Party (PAP) United Peoples Party Barisan Socialis (BS), Socialist Front (SF) Parti Kesatuan Raayat (United Democratic Party) Singapore Indian Congress Alliance Party Singapura United National Front National Party of Singapore The Peoples Front Justice Party, Singapore Democratic Progressive Party Peoples Republican Party United Peoples Front Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) National Solidarity Party (NSP) Singapore National Front. (nationsencyclopedia.com , 2007) 3.Stability of government The Singapore government is very stable. There has never been a political imbalance and the government has never been dissolved. 4.Special taxes 5.Role of local government Since singapore is such a small country it does not have divisions in local government and is ruled by divisions of the central government instead. In 1996 the then primeminister of singapore Goh introdused a system of community devolopment councils (CDCs). In november 2001 the number of CDCs redused from 9 to 5 consisting of South West, North West, Central Singapore, South East, and North East. They are managed by a council comprising a mayor and between 12 and 80 council members. (nationsencyclopedia.com , 2007) D. Legal system The legal system of Singapore is designed on the bases of British law. . (nationsencyclopedia.com , 2007) 1.Organization of the judiciary system. The judicial system consistes of the supreme court which is the higest level headed by the chief justice who is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the primeminister.It divided into the high court the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Criminal Appeal. This id followed by the subbordinate courts which are magistrates courts, trying civil and criminal offenses, the disrtict court, the juvenile courts, for offenders below the age of sixteen and the coroners courts; and the small claims courts, which hear civil and commercial claims for sums of less than S$10,000. . (nationsencyclopedia.com , 2007) 2.Code, common, socialist, or Islamic-law country? 3.Participation in patents, trademarks, and other conventions 4. Marketing Laws E. Social organizations 1.Group behavior 2.Social classes 3.Clubs, other organizations 4.Race, ethnicity, and subcultures Singapore is predominantly Chinese with 77% of the population being Chinese according to the 2002 census. It also mentioned that Malays consist of 14% of the population and Indians consist of 8% of the population. The rest 1.4% of the population consisted of various other ethnic groups.(nationsencyclopedia.com , 2007) F.Business customs and practices V. Religion and aesthetics A.Religion and other belief systems There is freedom of religion with some exceptions. Singapore has been described as one of the most religious countries in the world. The major religions are Islam (Malay), Hinduism (Indians), Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religion (Chinese), along with a substantial number of Christians of various denominations. 1. Orthodox doctrines and structures There are many Chinese and Indian temples, Malay mosques, and Christian churches in the main public arenas for religious activities. Much religious activity is also carried out in the home. There are different street festivals according to the ritual calendars of the different ethnic groups. . (everyculture.com, n.d) 2. Relationship with the people Even with the vast difference in religious beliefs the people of Singapore live in peace with each other maintaining good relationships with people from all religious backgrounds. 3. Which religions are prominent? The Chinese religions of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism are the most prominent with 51% 4. Membership of each religion The Chinese with Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism take up most of the population with 51%. About 15% of the population is Islamic About 15% of the population is Hindu And the rest of the population are from various other religions such as Christianity, Jewish, Jain and Sikh (nationsencyclopedia.com , 2007) B.Aesthetics 1.Visual arts (fine arts, plastics, graphics, public art, colors, etc.) 2.Drama, ballet, and other performing arts Today in Singapore people who go to theatres enjoy traditional ethnic theatre such as Chinese opera and Malay  bangsawan  (which took root in Singapore in the 19th and 20th century respectively), as well as contemporary theatre, which emerged in 1950s and 60s with the establishment of mainly amateur groups. English language theatre gained prominence from the 1980s with a change in educational policy which emphasised English to be the main language of instruction. Today with more than 130 theatre companies and societies in Singapore, practicing a range of contemporary and traditional ethnic theatrical forms Singapore has a vibrant performing arts developed through time..(National Arts Council, 2012) 3. Folklore and relevant symbols Singapore like most Asian countries hos a rich folklore and legends from which symbols are dericed. One such folklore about the symbol of Singapore which is the merlion explains that one day the villager in the southern cost were awakened by howling winds and crashing waves. It was covered with black clouds and was thought the whole island would be engulfed by the sea. The villagers went down on their knees in prayer and suddenly in the sea appeared a gigantic creature half lion and half fish and won the battle against nature and saved the villagers. (10 Legends and Myths of Singapore, 2012) VI. Living conditions Singapore has one of the best living conditions in the world attracting people from all over the world to live, work and study there. A.Diet and nutrition 1.Meat and vegetable consumption rates Singapore has high meat and vegitable consumption rates. With the variety if foods available in singapore the main components in every day meals are Rice, fish, chicken, and vegetables. 2.Typical meals There are 3 main meals breakfast lunch and dinner and Rice, fish, chicken, and vegetables are the staples. The main ingredients are mixed with spices, coconut, lime, chili etc create numerous varieties of dishes. Each ethnic culture has its own special dishes. (everyculture.com, n.d) 3.Malnutrition rates Singapore has a low malnutrition rate with childern below the age of 5 having only 2.2% malnutrition rate.( Health Statistics  > Malnutrition prevalence, height for age > % of children under 5 (most recent) by country, n.d) 4.Foods available Due to the vast culture and ethnicity Singapore has a variety of dishes from Chinese cuisines, Indian cuisines, Malay cuisines and with the influence of western culture have a large variety of wesrten cuisines available. Singapore is the food hub of Asia and because of the availability of such vast cuisines is an attraction to people from all over the world. B.Housing A vast majority of population live in public housing which is publicly developed managed by the Housing and Development Board. About 80% of the population live in public housing which are like small town ship with schools, markets and health centers. The rest of the population live in privately developed houses and appartments which are slightly more expensive than public housing. (Housing in Singapore, n.d) 1.Types of housing available There is public housing which includes three-room, four-room, five-room and executive flats. A three-room flat has two bedrooms , which is about 1,000 sq ft. A four-room flat has three bedrooms which is about 1,200 sq ft of space. A five-room flat is about 1,400 sq ft. An Executive mansionette has three and they are relatively larger than any other public housing units- some even have double storey, with the rooms on the second level. The rest of the population live in private housing which include privately maintained apartments, condominiums and landed properties.(Housing in Singapore, n.d) 2.Do most people own or rent? 80% of the population live in public housing the most part of this own their own houses. 3.Do most people live in one-family dwellings or with other families? Most people do live in one- family dwellings and not with other families as 85% of the population believe in nuclear families. C.Clothing Singapore is the fasion capital of Asia and one of the mian attraction to sinsapore is the variety of clothing availablt there. It has clothing from the best designers from all over the world and orchad street in singapore is a 5 kilimeter streach of shopping on both sides. Singapore without saying goes hand in hand with fasion and shopping. 1.National dress Singapore because of its vast culture and ethnicity does not have a natioal dress but each culture has its own traditional dresses wich are- The Peranakan- who are the mixed race of chinese and malay- The Nyonya Kebaya  is the traditional dress The chinese- Cheongsam is the traditional dress for the women. The Indians- Sari is the traditional dress for women and Dothi Kurtha is the traditional dress for men. The Malay- The Baju Kurungis the traditional dress for women and The Baju Melayu is the traditional dress for men. (Deliatoh, 2011) 2. Types of clothing worn at work The normal clothing worn to work consists of trousers, long-sleeved shirts and ties for men and blouses, skirts or trousers for women. Because of the weather being hot and humid jackets are usually not required. Although Singapore is a liberal country, women should make sure they do not wear clothes that are too revealing. (Communicaid, 2009) D.Recreation, sports, and other leisure activities Recreation and leasiure activities play an important role in the busy lives of Singaporeans. Different groups are interested in different activities such as sports, adventure and water sports as Singapore has beautiful beaches or even shopping, parties and gambling. 1.Types available and in demand There are various ways singaporieans spend their time away from busy sceduels. The most popular are Motor racing, football, swimming, paragliding, scoobadiving, boatimg, gambling, sailing, surfing, camping, trecking, cycling and horse racing. (Adventure and Rcreation in Singapore, n.d) 2.Percentage of income spent on such activities E. Social security In Singapore instead of of a national social security there is Central Provident Fund. The Central provident fund is a compulsory savings scheme that was introduced in 1955 to help cover the cost of living for Singapore residents upon retirement / termination of employment. ( ExpatFocus.com, n.d) Money that is saved in the Ordinary Account of the CPF can be used to help pay for home ownership, education and investment. The Special Account is meant for old age and contingency purposes and to purchase retirement-related financial products. A portion of the CPF known as Medisave can also be used to help pay for hospital treatment and for medical insurance (known as MediShield). ( ExpatFocus.com, n.d) Every Singaporean and Singaporean Permanent resident should contribute to the CPF. Foreigners who are on a Work Pass are not required to contribute to CPF. However, when a foreigner takes up permanent residency in Singapore, the foreigner will be expected to contribute to the CPF scheme. Both the employer and the employee contribute to this fund in varying proportions. ( ExpatFocus.com, n.d) F.Health care The Singapore healthcare system comprises public and private healthcare, complemented by rising standards of living, housing, education, medical services, safe water supply and sanitation, and preventive medicine.Over the years, Ministry Of Health has followed the principle of ensuring that good and affordable basic medical services are available to all Singaporeans. MOH has been continuously fine-tuning the health care system to ensure that Singapore has developed its healthcare system into one that has received praise and recognition both locally and internationally.(Ministry of Health, 2012) VII. Language Singapore with its variety of cultures is a multilingual country. Its national language is Malay. English is the administrative language and the medium of instructions in school and the students choose one of their mother tongues either Malay Tamil or Chinese. (everyculture.com, n.d) A.Official language(s) The official languages of Singapore are Malay, english, Tami and chinese(Manadarin) (everyculture.com, n.d) B.Spoken versus written languages C. Dialects [insert text here] IX. Sources of information -photius.com (1999) Singapore geography, retrieved from http://www.photius.com/wfb1999/singapore/singapore_geography.html -Ministry of education(2012) Singapore: education system. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/ -everyculture.com(.n.d) Culture of Singapore-Countries and Their Cultures retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Singapore.html#b nationsencyclopedia.com (2007) Singapore overview, retrieved fromhttp://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Singapore.html#b Singapore- Country Profine (2012) retrieved from http://www.indexmundi.com/singapore/ www.sg(2011) Who We Are , retrieved from http://app.www.sg/who/18/Government.aspx#ixzz28HNqHH4U National arts council (2012) arts forms, retrieved from http://www.nac.gov.sg/art-forms -10 Legends and Myths of Singapore (2012) retrieved from http://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/singapore-legends-and-myths/ Health Statistics  > Malnutrition prevalence, height for age > % of children under 5 (most recent) by country (n.d) retrived from http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_mal_pre_hei_for_age_of_chi_und_5-height-age-children-under-5 -Housing in Singapore (n.d) retrieved from http://www.singaporeexpats.com/housing-in-singapore/housing-in-singapore.htm -Deliatoh (2011) The Traditional costumes of Singapore retrieved from http://comesingapore.com/travel-guide/article/546/traditional-costumes-of-singapore -Communicaid (2009) Doing business in Singapore retrieved from http://www.communicaid.com/access/pdf/library/culture/doing-business-in/Doing%20Business%20in%20Singapore.pdf -Asiaroom.com (n.d) Adventure and Recreation in Singapore retrieved from http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/singapore/adventure-and-recreation-in-singapore/index.html -ExpatFocus.com(n.d) Singapore-Social Security Retrieved from http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-singapore-social-security -Ministry of Health (2012) our health care system retrieved from http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/our_healthcare_system.html