Introduction
Environmental and social issues have become a major business challenge. Since there is interdependency between business and environment, it’s important that care is taken to determine the effect of the relationship. Business depends on the environment, i.e., drawing a large number of natural resources but putting back nothing. Some world agencies have come up with specific environmental regulations that try to compel several enterprises to act with regard to social and environmental status. In this case study, we take a critical look into some of the environmental and social concerns that may be associated with this Coffee firm in the United Kingdom. (Rousseau, 2006)
This is an agricultural industry, and therefore some of the social and environmental concerns that may be experienced here include; unequal employment opportunity, religious beliefs, taboos, overutilization of natural resources like water, land, and forests. Others could include refusing disposal, etc. the main reason for emphasizing these environmental concerns is to ensure that there is sustainability. Resources used by the firms are the same ones used by the people. It will be in order to ensure that firms do not compete with individuals in utilizing the scarcely available resources, be cautious that they do not introduce substances that are harmful to human beings and the entire environment. Firms should also ensure that the current resource consumption does not compromise the future generation. (Rousseau, 2006)If resources become depleted, the future operations of the firm might be adversely curtailed. This can be detrimental to the firm as well as the people.
The impact of social and environmental issues on marketing
A lot of pressure is mounting on firms to be socially responsible. This is because organizations depend on the entire environment for their present and future operations. If this is not done, it will be difficult to sell the marketing policies to the environment as people are sensitive to organizational behavior. This might lead to a decline in the market share of the organization. The marketing managers will need to take extraordinary steps in explaining to the local environment their activities and what their future plans are. (Kotler, 1994)
Local individuals are also anxious about the way an organization may respond to their needs; for example, if a firm is perceived to be discriminative on employment issues, it might change its purchasing pattern that can adversely affect the business. This will mean difficulty to the marketing manager. If a firm does not have a proper method of disposing of its refuse, then this can lead to complications, including death, injuries, and disability. If this happens, the company can be sued and spend a lot of unnecessary expenditures solving court cases. Failure to properly dispose of firm refuse can also lead to depletion of resources like water. This happens where a firm directs its disposal system to a river or a lake. Truly speaking, failure to appropriately comply with environmental and social issues can plunge a company into serious marketing problems. Imagine an organization that has earned itself a bad name; what responses can you expect? It’s so bad. (Kotler, 1994)
Factors that can make me change my marketing mix
As a marketing manager, a lot of research should have been carried out. This will reveal the marketing position of the firm. If the response is below the company standard, then the manager needs to change the marketing strategy. (Lingham, 2004) Additional factors will include.
Company objective
If the objective of the firm is to maximize profits, then it will be difficult to deviate from it. I will be left with no option but only to do as the company objective stipulates. I will change my market mix to suit the changing circumstances. (Marketing, 2009)
Local response / public reception
If it’s already eminent that the public reception has earned a bad name by not being socially responsible, then it will be ordering that I change to suit the people’s response. Remember that marketing is all about winning the public confidence. (Digital marketing, 2009)
Presence of competitors
If my competitors have already captured the area and are almost winning the confidence, it will be in order that I change my strategy. This will make me appear unique to strategically attract another opportunity. (Angeles, 2008)
The government
If my marketing policies and activities were perceived to be contravening regulations and laws, then the only option will be to change. If this is not done, then the government can render my policies illegal and hence fail my process. (Jennings, 2007)
Conclusion
Businesses should be socially responsible as this will improve their company image and win more clients. People tend to be locked to a company that is perceived to be responsive to their needs and values. It’s important for organizations, whether small or big, to prioritize the needs of society as well as the environment. (BSR Staff, 2003)
List of References
Angeles. (2008) Web Ecosystem Marketing.
BSR Staff. (2003). Overview of business and community investment. Business of Social Responsibility. Web.
Digital marketing. (2009). Internet presence. Web.
Jennings.S.J. (2007) Emails Marketing Strategy.
Kotler, P. (1994) Marketing plan. Web.
Lingham. L. (2004) Marketing mix. Web.
Marketing. (2009) Positioning strategy.
Rousseau. (2006) Success in the New Business Environment Depends on the Right Business Model. Web.
Botticini’s Madonna Adoring The Christ Child And O’Keefe’s The Green Apple
The Madonna adoring the Child Jesus is the work of a renaissance artist, Francesco Botticini. He was born in the 1400s in Italy (Kuhnel 11-13). The year of his birth is estimated to be 1446. There is a debate over the time of his death with some sources claiming that he may have died in 1498 while others give the time of his death as 1497 (Kuhnel 23).On the other hand, the Green Apple is the work of Georgia O’Keefe. O’Keefe was the first female painter to be given a second glance in American artistic circles. Describing her as a trailblazer would be justifiably appropriate. She took up a career that women had hitherto not ventured into and created a huge following in terms of supporters. Georgia O’Keefe was born in 1887 and died in 1986. This is a clear indication that these two artists or painters lived in two different periods. Is this difference in time evident in their works? In this essay, the recognizable similarities and differences between the two artists and their works will be explored. The first part deals with the differences followed by the similarities. A conclusion will then be made regarding the points discussed in the essay.
To begin with, the most outstanding difference between the two painters is the period in which they lived and did their work. Francesco Botticini lived during the renaissance (Kuhnel 16-18).In contrast, Georgia O’Keefe lived in the twentieth century. Why is this important? The period in which these two painters lived had an impact on the kind of work they produced. The renaissance painting style had too much concentration on human figures due to the debate over religion and scientific thought that prevailed at the time. On the other hand, Georgia O’Keefe’s time was characterized by recognition of the crucial role played by nature in American life. The ideas of Manifest Destiny that ruled the 1800s advocated for the conquering of the new world and developing it for the sake of plenty. This is a definite influence in the work of Georgia O’Keefe.
Secondly, living the times in which the painters lived aside, there is a clear thematic difference in the two works. Francesco Botticini’s work is made up of human figures. Does this give a clue to how his other works were? This painting provides a clue to his other works. All of his known paintings were made up of human figures. This is in complete contrast to Georgia O’Keefe’s Green Apple, which is an item of nature since it is a fruit. This also provides a clue to the type of items that dominated the paintings of this lady. They were mostly parts of plants such as flowers and in some cases, a skull of an animal. What about the two painters painting styles? Were they different?
Thirdly, there is a clear difference in the styles employed by Francesco Botticini and Georgia O’Keefe. In the Madonna adoring the Child Jesus, Francesco Botticini makes use of perspective painting (Kuhnel 57). The highly decorative elements of his style are replicated in nearly all his works and his illustrious ability is hard to miss. On the other hand, Georgia O’Keefe used abstraction to a high degree in her work. Her paintings display the abstract painting at its best (Messinger 32). There is also a clear element of simplicity in some of her works especially the one under consideration, the Green Apple. The usage of distinct colors for the various parts of the items in the set gives the painting a simple and deep presence. The deep green with a light swipe of reddish-brown is in sharp contrast to the dark background that supports the apple. The grey that holds the dark makes the two colors visible and outstanding. This painting is not as decorated as the Madonna adoring the child Jesus by Francesco, which has rich reds and browns as well as deep greens and blacks.
Also, the Madonna adoring the child Jesus as painted by Botticini is a painting that resembled most paintings of his time. Numerous paintings were painted by such painters as Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci that had a religious theme and included baby Jesus. It is, therefore, justifiable to say that Botticini’s painting is a work that conforms with the climate of the time. But this is not the case with the Green Apple. This piece of work by Georgia O’ Keefe was not in agreement with most paintings of her time. The focus of other painters was mainly on human figures and war themes as well as huge landscapes depicting wild America. Therefore her simple work that contained mostly plant body parts was a challenge to the status quo. What about the similarities between the two artists and their works?
Leaving the differences aside, there are similarities too between the two artists and their paintings. The first similarity between Francesco Botticini and Georgia O’Keefe is that both learned their trades from someone else. Francesco Botticini was mentored by such great painters as Bicci di Neri while Georgia O’Keefe learned her painting from Arthur Wesley Dow (Messinger 12-14). The influence that these mentors had on these two painters is immense but difficult to analyze given that fact after learning the trade, a painter moves forward to express ideas that are dear to their convictions. There is also a similarity in the sense of attachment to the natural world through the plant connection. Botticini’s work has a plant in the background and O’Keefe’s work is a plant part.
In conclusion, the two painters lived in different times and their two paintings have differences such as the items painted, the style used, and the setting. There are also a few similarities such as the natural world connection and the fact that each of them underwent a form of apprenticeship.
Works Cited
Kuhnel, Ernst , Francesco Botticini (1906).New York: Kessinger Publishing. 2009.Print.
Messinger, Lisa. Georgia O’Keeffe. London: Thames & Hudson, 2001.Print.
Natural Gas In The Global Market Analysis
Introduction
Renewable energy can be used to identify any forms of electrical energy power plant generation such as sunlight as well as geothermal heat. In addition some other renewable sources have been introduced, suchlike small hydro carbon. For instance, wind power is growing annually worldwide and is widely used in the US, Europe and Asia1. Nations like Brazil pose one of the biggest renewable energy plans because of the ability to generate ethanol fuel from sugar cane which is also available in the USA. The renewable energy persists to develop due to climate change apprehension, in concert with elevated oil prices and in that several states sustain the renewable energy2.
Aims and Objectives
Main Objective
The main aim of this research is to analyse the future perspectives for development of the renewable energy sources with regard to the existing energy market and problems it encounters regarding the demand of natural gas in the United States.
Specific Objectives
- To analyse the natural gas supply and demand ration in the world.
- To analyse the appropriateness of use of alternative energy sources.
- To consider the future of the natural gas in the global market.
- To analyse recent developments in US unconventional gas
- To consider interactions between gas and climate change policy, in particular the development and feasibility of gas CCS.
Scope and Limitations
Taking into account the global nature of the natural gas supply and demand problem, it is necessary to critically evaluate the alternative sources of energy with regard to the renewable ones.
Literature Review
Renewable energy is expensive but at the same time it helps reduce pollution and also conserve fossil fuels. There has been technological improvements in renewable; solar-electric systems that capture light energy from sun rays and convert it into energy provides solar units of power everywhere and they have become cost effective3.
Natural Gas and Supply
According to research done by the U.S department of energy the residential energy use will increase by 25% in the year 2025. This implies that this extra energy will have to come from renewable energy. According to the United States National Research Council4 (2002), the natural gas consists of primarily methane. Found mostly in fossil fuels, in coal beds. It is a major source of fuel. Natural gas has to be processed to remove all materials to remain with methane. One of the by products is carbon dioxide, which is dangerous to the environment.
Natural gas will be relied on for decades because of global demand that is growing so quickly and the world will continuously depend on fossil fuels though researchers are trying to make renewable cost effective. It is cheaper to produce electricity energy with coal than solar energy. Although in small quantities it contributes to global carbon emission and it is meant to gradually increase in the future which is dangerous for the climate change5.Natural gas can be referred to be a green house gas that is distantly more strong than natural gas whilst freed into the atmosphere though it is usually released less amount.
Some researchers believe that in the future the natural gas will be the dominant fuel producing electricity. Gas is the easiest option for fuel availability, price, distribution and greenhouse warming. Natural gas is slowly increasing in the United States because of new production from once hard to tap shale rock. In Africa, Australia there also an increase in production of natural gas this together with forecasting trends shows that there will be a modest increase in gas in the world by 2030. Capturing of this carbon dioxide requires more energy which increases fuel needs making it more expensive6.
Renewable Energy
According to the national renewable energy research council, in the year 2009 the US invested 20 million dollars in renewable energy programs through this more research is being conducted on renewable energy. Wind energy, according to research done by American wind energy association, generates enough energy to power nine million U.S homes. Construction of the offshore wind farms is one of the new technologies in wind energy that is electricity generating turbines that are placed in open water areas with strong wind. By 2015, it is expected that a policy that requires companies to use 10% of there energy from wind power and other renewable will be in operation.
Global Warming
The climate change talks in Copenhagen discussed the growing use of low carbon vehicles to reduce the carbon dioxide emission and reduce the global temperature rising in the next 8-10 years. Future world champions deemed the “green motor sport” will facilitate prospected world campaigns to oblige to zero discharge electric cars powered by renewable energy7.This will help in reducing carbon emission helping to achieve the global carbon reduction goal. Indeed, renewable energy helps reduce the consumption of finite energy resources, and in order to avoid dangerous climate change we need to transform our energy system into renewable systems.
Conclusion
Reliable sources of literature are the main resource of the information, including books, articles and reports. As the information should be specific, it is possible to include interviews from online sources with discussion of the global warming problem or the natural gas supply and renewable energy issues. To conclude, the demand and supply ratio of natural gas makes the global community think over the alternative energy sources which would be renewable.
Footnotes
- Chiras, Joseph D.The homeowner’s guide to renewable energy: achieving energy 2006.
- Hansen, Nick, S Manual for intelligent energy services, Publisher The Fairmont Press, Inc, 2002.
- Oppenheimer, Edward, E. Natural gas: the new energy leader, Pen. Podium Productions, 1980.
- National Research Council (U.S.) Renewable power pathways: a review of the U.S. Department of Energy’s renewable energy programs. Publisher National: Academies Press United States, 2002.
- Chiras, Joseph, D.The homeowner’s guide to renewable energy: achieving energy Independence through solar, wind, biomass and hydropower. Colombia: New Society Publishers, 2006.
- Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric, and Alternate Fuels. Renewable energy. London: DIANE Publishing, 1995.
- Payne, 1999; Hansen, 2002; Chiras, 2006.