The Relationship between the British Empire and the...

During the 18th century, a great change occurred in Britain. Britain became an industrialized country and an empire. The Industrial Revolution can be regarded as a technological change in Britain when manufacturing began to rely on steam power rather than on animal labour or wind power. The overall economic shift towards large scale industry rather than small scale individual operations. The British Empire was expanding rapidly during the 18th century. An empire is a large, multi-ethnic state, whose political structure is held together by force. The British colonised most of Africa, North America, the Pacific, India and parts of Asia and South America. There were British colonies all over the world. The Industrial Revolution and the†¦show more content†¦This strengthend the empire because countries relied on the empire. For example, India had the fine cotton but they still had to buy cotton goods from Britain because it did not have the technology and manufacturing skills. O nce money was gained by exporting goods, merchants or factories owernes could buy more raw materials from the colonies and this cycle repeated itself over and over again. Large scale factories required manyShow MoreRelatedLiverpools Slave Trade as a Centre of a Global Commerce and an Important Factor in British Economic Growth1437 Words   |  6 Pagesa Global Commerce and an Important Factor in British Economic Growth This essay will attempt to answer the question by approaching it in three stages. Firstly it will assess the importance of Britains slave trade in the context of global commerce, especially during the 18th century. Secondly it will attempt to show the degreeRead MoreEffects of British Colonial Rule in India4318 Words   |  18 Pagesof the British Empire. In fact, the Viceroy of British India in 1894 called India â€Å"the pivot of our Empire †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I examine the effects of the Industrial Revolution on the subcontinent. Besides highlighting the fact that without cheap labor and raw materials from India, the modernization of Britain during this era would have been highly unlikely, I will show how colonial policy led to the privation and death of millions of natives. I conclude that while India undoubtedly benefited from British colonialRead MoreModern Historical Debate Surrounding The Anglo-American1682 Words   |  7 Pagesmaterial foundation and trade infrastructure for Europe’s industrial revolution, slavery had fulfilled its purpose and was thus replaced by capitalism as an economic modality. Though radical for its time and considered insufficiently empirical f or ours, this analysis of emancipation’s conceptual underpinnings has served as the touchstone for successive scholarly works on the topic, and few historians now question the existence of an intersection between capitalism and slavery. Rather, discussion now revolvesRead MoreThe British Involvement Of India Essay2258 Words   |  10 Pages Historical Context and Background British involvement on the Indian subcontinent began early in the 17th Century through the British East India Company and its business ventures and dealings. The early British Empire was composed of several self-governing colonies which had been settled in by British civilians, and colonial policy was one of â€Å"salutary neglect† (Brown 2010). It is not unfair to say that Britain’s relationship with India was one of political subordination, but economic exploitationRead MoreA History Of The World In 6 Glasses Essay1458 Words   |  6 Pagesfor African slave traders. This impacted the colonies by letting their economy grow. 2.) In the 18th century, how did spirits change the balance of power amongst the western European nations (particularly Britain and France) ? In Britain, the knowledge of spirits allowed British sailors to have an advantage over French sailors. The British sailors were given grog, a spirit mixed with lime juice. This drink contained vitamin C, which made the sailors resistantRead MoreHistorical Context And Background Of Mark Twain Essay2286 Words   |  10 Pages Historical Context and Background: Before coming towards the colonial rule and how the British took control over India resulting to what was so good or so bad about it, it is very important to know about the history of this ancient civilization of the world. â€Å"The country of hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions, one sole countryRead MoreHistory3241 Words   |  13 PagesExam 2: Chapter 28-32 Atlantic revolutions (American, French, Haitian, Latin America) Rise of nationalism Industrialization Global transitions: the americas, the ottoman empire, Romanov Russia, Qin China, Japan. Global empires. Atlantic Revolutions: In the early modern period (1450-1750. Period of early European exploration and contact. It caused the establishment of european commercial empires. Primary tributary, it focused on trade, and some settler comics. This caused there to beRead MoreA Brief Note On Kashmir And Historical Perspective1308 Words   |  6 Pagesthe eventual process of decolonization. In the 17th and 18th century, colonialism had reached its zenith and almost every known territory on planet earth was in some way or the other was related to a colonial power. The idea of self-determination in the modern-era is in fact the product of the concept of political sovereignty as developed after the Treaty of Westphalia. Then came the Industrial Revolution and during and after the revolution, the colonies slowly gravitated towards the idea of self-determinationRead MoreWhy Did The Industrial Revolution Begin?1535 Words   |  7 Pages Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in Britain? One reason is because Britain had relatively high income and GDP per capita. Londoners at the time had one of the highest incomes in the entire world, the income was high way before industrialization. By Britain having a high income created a population with disposable income for the products like clothing produced in factories, and commodity products that supported trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. Second reason is because Britain was relativelyRead MoreTechnological Advancements of the Victorian Period Essay1863 Words   |  8 PagesThe Industrial Revolution changed financial, political and social elements of Victorian society. The revolution can be broken down to the effects of social order and the economy, and the matter of the industrial revolution can then be looked into as parts. In the first stage, it contends the positive effect of the Industrial Revolution on economy and urbanization. There was a colossal benefit pick ed up from the Industrial Revolution by the privileged and the government. However, the working population

Moral Majority - Evangelical Conservative Movement

The Moral Majority was powerful movement in American politics made up of evangelical Christian conservatives who felt their families and values were under attack amid the legalization of abortion, womens liberation and what they perceived to be the moral decline of society during the turbulent 1960s. The Moral Majority was founded in 1979 by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who would become a polarizing figure himself in the decades that followed.   Falwell described the Moral Majoritys mission as being the agent to train, mobilize and electrify the Religious Right.  In a speech at his own Baptist Church in  Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1980, Falwell described the Moral Majoritys enemy: We’re fighting a holy war. What’s happened to America is that the wicked are bearing rule. We have to lead the nation back to the moral stance that made America great. We need to wield influence on those who govern us. The Moral Majority does not exist as an institution anymore, but the movement of evangelical conservatives remains strong in American politics. The Moral Majority dissolved as an institution in 1989 when Falwell proclaimed our mission is accomplished. Falwell had resigned as the groups president two years earlier, in 1987. Falwell said in announcing the disbanding of the Moral Majority in 1989: I feel that I have performed the task to which I was called in 1979. The religious right is solidly in place and, like the galvanizing of the black church as a political force a generation ago, the religious conservatives in America are now in for the duration. Indeed, several other groups remain influential in carrying on the mission of evangelical conservatives. They include Focus on the Family, run by  psychologist James Dobson; the Family Research Council, run by Tony Perkins; the Christian Coalition of American, run by Pat Roberson; and the  Faith and Freedom Coalition, run by Ralph Reed. Public opinion has shifted on many of the issues that drove the formation of these groups following the 1960s. Policy Goals of the Moral Majority The Moral Majority sought to gain influence in national politics so that it could work to: Prohibit abortion and overturn Roe v. Wade.Require prayer in public schools.Oppose and ban gay marriage.Defeat the  Equal Rights Amendment, which guaranteed women the same rights as men.A return to traditional gender roles in American households. Falwells Family Manifesto declared the role of the male is most effectively that of provider and the role of the female one of nurturer. Bio of Moral Majority Founder Jerry Falwell Falwell was a Southern Baptist minister who rose to prominence as the founder of Lynchburg Baptist College in Lynchburg, Virginia. The institution later changed its name to Liberty University. He was also the host of the  Old Time Gospel Hour,  a television show that was broadcast across the United States. He founded the Moral Majority in 1979 to combat what he saw as the erosion of culture. He resigned in 1987 amid the groups sagging finances and poor election results in the 1986 midterm elections.  Falwell said at the time he was returning to his  first love, the pulpit. Back to preaching, back to winning souls, back to meeting spiritual needs, he said.   Falwell died in May 2007 at the age of 73. History of the Moral Majority The Moral Majority had its roots in the New Right movement of the 1960s. The New Right, eager to boost its ranks and hungry for a major election victory following Republican Barry Goldwaters loss in 1964, sought to bring evangelicals into its ranks and encouraged Falwell to launch the Moral Majority, according to Dan Gilgoff, the author of the 2007 book  The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War.   Wrote Gilgoff: Through Moral Majority, Falwell focused his activism on evangelical pastors, telling them that issues like abortion rights and gay rights required them to cast off their decades-long political inhibitions and to stop viewing politics as a dirty business unfit for church people. In the early 1980s, Falwell barnstormed the country, speaking to countless congregations and pastors breakfasts and logging 250,000 miles a year on a chartered plane. Falwells activism seemed to pay off early. While white evangelicals had backed Jimmy Carter - a Southern Baptist whod taught Sunday school in Georgia - in 1976, they broke 2 to 1 for Ronald Reagan in 1980, providing a major plank of support and establishing themselves as a lasting base of Republican support. The Moral Majority claimed some four million Americans were members, but critics argue the number was substantially smaller, only in the hundreds of thousands. The Decline of the Moral Majority Some conservative firebrands including Goldwater openly mocked the Moral Majority and portrayed it as a dangerous fundamentalist group that threatened to erase the line separating church and state by using the muscle of religion towards political ends. Said Goldwater in 1981: The uncompromising position of these groups is a divisive element that could tear apart the very spirit of our representative system if they gain sufficient strength. Goldwater added that  he was  sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C and D. Just who do they think they are? The influence of the Moral Majority peaked with the election of Republican Ronald Reagan  as  president in 1980, but the re-election of the conservative icon in 1984 also sped the decline of Falwells group. Many financial backers of the Moral Majority saw little need to keep contributing when the White House was safely in their control.   Ronald Reagans reelection in 1984 led many supporters to conclude that further contributions were no longer as badly needed, wrote  Glenn H. Utter and James L. True in  Conservative Christians and Political Participation: A Reference Handbook. The decline of the Moral Majority was also precipitated by nagging questions about prominent evangelists including Jim Bakker, who hosted The PTL Club until a sex scandal forced him to quit, and Jimmy Swaggart also brought down by scandal. Eventually, Falwells critics began to ridicule the Moral Majority, it was neither moral nor a majority.   The Controversial Jerry Falwell In the 1980s and 1990s, Falwell was widely ridiculed for making a series of bizarre statements that made him and the Moral Majority appear to be out of touch with mainstream Americans. He warned, for example, that a purple character on the childrens show  Teletubbies,  Tinky Winky, was gay and  encouraging tens of thousands of children to be gay as well. He said Christians were deeply concerned about little boys running around with purses and acting effeminate and leaving the idea that the masculine male, the feminine female is out, and gay is O.K. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Falwell suggested gays, feminists and those who support abortions rights help create the environment for such terrorism. Falwell said: Throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools ... the abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. The pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way — all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say you helped this happen. Falwell also claimed: AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. To oppose it would be like an Israelite jumping in the Red Sea to save one of Pharaohs charioteers ... AIDS is not just Gods punishment for homosexuals; it is Gods punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals. Falwells influence in politics waned dramatically in the final two decades of his life because of such statements, which he made a time when public opinion was shifting in favor of gay marriage and womens reproductive rights.

Unity in Diversity - 4053 Words

Unity and Diversity: Finding the Proper Balance Unity and diversity are both qualities to be desired within society. Both, when balanced with one another, provide for the strongest form of society in which all are unified under some ideas, but differences are tolerated and accepted. One of the strongest factors of determining the present status of unity and diversity is the current state of affairs within a community. The current state of affairs can be altered by a number of issues, some planned and recurring, such as elections years, and some unexpected altogether, such as natural disasters. Within the global community, the current state of a variety of affairs greatly affects the balance of unity and diversity amongst the global†¦show more content†¦Society: According to Eugene M. Makar, the traditional Indian culture is defined by relatively strict social hierarchy. He also mentions that from an early age, children are reminded of their roles and places in society. This is reinforced by the fact that many believe gods and spirits have integral and functional role in determining their life. Several differences such as religion divide culture. However, far more powerful division is the traditional Hindu bifurcation into non-polluting and polluting occupations. Strict social taboos have governed these groups for thousands of years.In recent years, particularly in cities, some of these lines have blurred and sometimes even disappeared. Nuclear family is becoming central to Indian culture. Important family relations extend to as far as gotra, the mainly patrilinear lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at birth.In rural areas it is common that three or four generations of the family live under the same roof. Patriarch often resolves family issues. Among developing countries, India has low levels of occupational and geographic mobility. People choose same occupations as their parents and rarely move geographically in the society. Family: India for ages has had a prevailing tradition of the joint family system. It’s a system under which even extended members of a family like one’s parents, children, the children’s spouses and their offspring, etc. live together. TheShow MoreRelatedUnity and Diversity1694 Words   |  7 PagesKevin Osman M. Ward Writing 140/ IR 100 December 7, 2007 Unity and Diversity: Finding the Proper Balance Unity and diversity are both qualities to be desired within society. Both, when balanced with one another, provide for the strongest form of society in which all are unified under some ideas, but differences are tolerated and accepted. One of the strongest factors of determining the present status of unity and diversity is the current state of affairs within a community. The currentRead MoreUnity in Diversity Skit1003 Words   |  5 Pagesfor technology industries but also because of it’s variety of people, numerous languages, multiple customs and traditions; different races with different faces and marvelous landscapes. These always project India among other countries like â€Å"unity in diversity†. Most of us never know about northern states and North Indians like vise- versa but yet we join hands to support any sensational news created by media like Anna Hazare’s corruption movement. We never know how many languages are exiting in ourRead MoreUnity in D iversity Skit1003 Words   |  5 Pagesfor technology industries but also because of it’s variety of people, numerous languages, multiple customs and traditions; different races with different faces and marvelous landscapes. These always project India among other countries like â€Å"unity in diversity†. Most of us never know about northern states and North Indians like vise- versa but yet we join hands to support any sensational news created by media like Anna Hazare’s corruption movement. We never know how many languages are exiting in ourRead MoreUnity : The Message And Diversity Is The Messenger1111 Words   |  5 Pages10/25/2015 Unity is the message and diversity is the messenger. The statement strongly clarifies the importance of diversity in order to change the world. Diversity means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. It signifies the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies which clearly signifiesUnity in Diversity. Introduction:Read MoreEssay on Unity Amid Diversity1691 Words   |  7 PagesUnity Amid Diversity The 1950’s and 1960’s was a dawning of a new age. Many changes were occurring within America’s society. Segregation was prominent with the passing of Plessy vs. Ferguson, however, the Jim Crow laws of the south were being challenged. Negroes in the south wanted equality and justice. The nation was in need of an ethic of caring and a solid identity of what it meant to be an â€Å"American.† With the war in Vietnam and the war for equality, people were fed up with all of theRead MoreUnity And Diversity Of Islamic Civilization. Set In The1508 Words   |  7 PagesUnity and Diversity of Islamic Civilization Set in the Fourteenth century in different regions of Africa and Asia, The Adventures of Ibn Battuta presents a precise representation of Ibn Battuta’s rihla , exemplifying a clear distinction between the different countries and regions he visited. Ibn Battuta began his journey by setting off from his home Tangier, Morocco to Mecca. â€Å"I braced my resolution to quit all my dear ones, female and male, and forsook my home as birds forsake their nests† (DunnRead MoreEvolution Drives The Diversity And Unity Of Life1674 Words   |  7 Pages Big Idea 1- The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life Natural selection is evolutions driving mechanism. Evolution is â€Å"the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from early forms during the history of the earth.† Darwin s theory states that inheritable variations exist within individuals in a population. This big idea has impacted human life and evolution in many ways. With natural selection as its major mechanismRead MoreIs cultural diversity proving to be compatible with social unity1840 Words   |  8 PagesIs cultural diversity proving to be compatible with social unity? Britain has changed quite significantly over the past few decades in terms of cultural diversity. Whereas Britain was largely white not so long ago, the number of ethnic minorities has been steadily increasing and this growth does not look likely to stop anytime soon. Demographic experts have, infact, predicted that by 2050, 1 in every 5 British person will belong to an ethnic minority. The question issue I will be discussing in theRead MoreGlobalization : The World And Created Unity Out Of Great Diversity Essay1542 Words   |  7 PagesFor centuries, globalization has increasingly knitted 　　together the world and created unity out of great diversity. Coca Cola, Disney and McDonald’s symbolize the process, along with Sony, Shell Oil and IBM. They are products known and consumed from Ulan Bator to Little Rock - and also powerful companies that drive globalization forward, creating new laws, new business practices, new ways to eat and drink, new hopes and dreams. Optimists look forward to a global village, linked together by the InternetRead MoreRELIGIOUS PLACES IN SURAT India is a country which believes in the principle of unity in diversity.600 Words   |  3 Pages RELIGIOUS PLACES IN SURAT India is a country which believes in the principle of unity in diversity. India houses many religions, cultures, traditions and customs. Some of the religions practiced in India are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Surat is the second largest city in the State of Gujarat which houses many of the sacred religious places. Some of the religious places at Surat are listed below: 1. Agam Mandir 2. Ambika Niketan Temple 3. Ambaji Temple 4. Khwaja

2013 Management and Strategy, Walmart case study free essay sample

Wal-Mart operates more than 11,000 retail units under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. (Wal-Mart. com) They employ 2. 2 million associates around the world; 1. 3 million in the U. S. alone. Wal-Mart provides general merchandise: family apparel, health beauty aids, household needs, electronics, toys, fabrics, crafts, lawn garden, jewelry and shoes. Also, the company runs a pharmacy department, Tire Lube Express, and Photo processing center as well (www. Wal-Mart. com). When Sam Walton created Wal-Mart in 1962, he declared that three policy goals would define his business: respect for the individual, service to customers, and striving for excellence (www. Wal-Mart. com). Wal-Marts corporate management strategy involves selling high quality and brand name products at the lowest price. In order to keep low prices, the company reduces costs by the use of advanced electronic technology and warehousing. It also negotiates deals for merchandise directly from manufacturers, eliminating the middleman. This paper will analyze Wal-Marts current strategy and challenges. In addition, I will discuss the threats and challenges facing Wal-Mart currently, priorities set by Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott. I will also discuss the proposals outlined in the â€Å"Supplemental Benefits Documentation: Board of Directors Retreat FY06,†the result of the Board Benefits Strategy document leak, Wal-Mart initiatives from the standpoints of strategy and public relations, Wal-Mart’s strategic social challenges from the standpoint of â€Å" When social issues become strategic† (Bonini, et al, 2006). CURRENT WAL-MART THREAT AND CHALLENGES In recent times, Wal-Mart has faced much criticism over issues such as switching to products made overseas. Consumer surveys had established that Americans cared less and less about buying national brands: Low price trumped brand loyalty. In the period following Sam Waltons death, when Wal-Marts sales slowed and its stock price began to stagnate, this consumer trend freed the company to ramp up the production of its house brands through unbranded suppliers in China, who now had privileged access to Wal-Marts 3,500 stores across America. The result was that Wal-Mart became its own de facto manufacturer, developing and designing products according to the taste of its customers, as analyzed by Wal-Marts supercomputer. Profits soared. Wal-Mart attempted expansion internationally, but are closing two stores in 2013. Another threat Wal-Mart faces is its resistance to unionized labor. For several years, Wal-Mart’s annual shareholder’s meeting has turned into protests against the retail giants treatment of its employees. None of Wal-Mart’s workers are represented by a union. Wal-Mart’s success in keeping its American workforce entirely nonunion is, of course, well documented. Many find it shocking that the countrys largest employer has remained union free. While Wal-Mart contends that its employees have no use for union representation, it stretches gullibility beyond the breaking point to think that no group of workers at any of the companys more than 4,000 U. S. stores would choose to organize themselves into a bargaining unit. After all, Wal-Mart has become almost as famous for its low wages and paltry health benefits as it is for its low prices. And despite the weakened position of unions in the U. S. economy, unionized workers still enjoy wages that are 13. 6 percent higher on average than those of their nonunion counterparts. Likewise, unionized workers are 28. 2 percent more likely to be covered by employer-provided health insurance and 53. 9 percent more likely to have employer-provided pensions. Similarly, since national labor law allows employers to permanently replace workers who strike for economic reasons, Wal-Mart often threatens employees that they can be permanently replaced as part of its strategy to scare workers into rejecting union formation at its U.  S. stores. This message is echoed during its trainings for new workers, which are part of Wal-Mart’s coordinated, pro-active approach to stopping organizing campaigns in their tracks. (Dickenson, 2013) WAL-MART CEO LEE SCOTT PRIORITIES CEO Lee Scott announced that Wal-Mart was launching a sweeping business sustainability strategy to dramatically reduce the companys impact on the global environment and thus become the most competitive and innovative company in the world. He argued that being a good steward of the environment and being profitable are not mutually exclusive. They are one and the same. Scott also committed Wal-Mart to three aspirational goals: To be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain our resources and the environment. To meet those goals, Wal-Mart would seek to transform its supply chain, in cooperation with suppliers and environmental nonprofit organizations. In addition, Mr. Scott said that as the largest buyer of manufactured goods in the world, Wal-Mart has the power to encourage its more than 60,000 suppliers to adopt environmentally conscious business practices. Our most direct impact will be on our suppliers, he said. If we request that our suppliers use packaging that has less waste or materials that can be recycled, everybody who buys from that manufacturer will end up using that package. As an example of how the company can encourage better packaging, Mr. Scott said he would ensure prime placement, at the end of store aisles, for a 32-ounce bottle of All laundry detergent that has been concentrated to reduce the containers size. The goal, the company said, is for all laundry detergent suppliers to offer similar packaging by the end of the year. Healthcare was another issue he addressed. In his speech, Mr. Scott outlined a new health insurance plan with lower premiums but relatively high out-of-pocket deductible requirements that he said would make benefits more affordable to the companys 1. 3 million United States workers. But Ron Pollack, executive director of Families U. S. A. , a health care consumer advocacy group, criticized the plan, saying employees who signed up for it would be deterred from seeking medical care because of the out-of-pocket costs, which might exceed $2,500 a year. Mr. Scott struck a rebellious note on Wal-Marts wages, which average less than $10 an hour, or less than $19,000 a year. Even slight overall adjustments to wages eliminate our thin profit margin, he said. However, in an unusual move, Mr. Scott asked Congress to consider raising the minimum wage. We can see firsthand at Wal-Mart how many of our customers are struggling to get by, he said. The final priority he discussed was diversity. In an effort to continue to  lead in diversity, Wal-Mart will continue to ensure that their hiring represents the diversity of their communities, and grow the percentage of women and minorities in their management ranks, increase outreach to colleges and universities with large diverse enrollments, continue to hold officers financially accountable by tying officer incentive bonuses to the achievement of diversity goals, including mentoring and participation in diverse organizations, increase amount of business they do with minority companies using their size and leverage to create companies of significant size and stature, and the importance of transparency within the company, by releasing information on the gender and racial makeup of the workforce on a regular basis. This leaked document that was intended as an internal memo sent to Wal-Marts board of directors proposes numerous ways to hold down spending on health care and other benefits while seeking to minimize damage to the retailers reputation; among the recommendations are hiring more part-time workers and discouraging unhealthy people from working at Wal-Mart. In the memorandum, M. Susan Chambers, Wal-Marts executive vice president for benefits, also recommends reducing 401(k) contributions and persuading younger, and presumably healthier, workers by offering education benefits. The memo also states concern that workers with seven years seniority earn more than workers with one years seniority, but are no more productive. To discourage unhealthy job applicants, Ms. Chambers suggests that Wal-Mart arrange for all jobs to include some physical activity (e. g. , all cashiers do some cart-gathering). The memo acknowledged that Wal-Mart, the worlds largest retailer, had to walk a fine line in restraining benefit costs because critics had attacked it for being stingy on wages and health coverage. Ms. Chambers acknowledged that 46 percent of the children of Wal-Marts 1. 33 million United States employees were uninsured or on Medicaid. Wal-Mart executives said the memo was part of an effort to rein in benefit costs, which to Wall Streets dismay have soared by 15 percent a year on average since 2002. Like much of corporate America, Wal-Mart has been squeezed by soaring health costs. The proposed plan, if approved, would save the company more than $1 billion a year by 2011. One proposal would reduce the amount of time, from two years to one, which part-time employees would have to wait before qualifying for health insurance. Another would put health clinics in stores, in part to reduce expensive employee visits to emergency rooms. Wal-Marts benefit costs jumped to $4. 2 billion last year, from $2.8 billion three years earlier, causing concern within the company because benefits represented an increasing share of sales. Ms. Chambers also proposed that employees pay more for their spouses health insurance. She called for cutting 401(k) contributions to 3 percent of wages from 4 percent and cutting company-paid life insurance policies to $12,000 from the current level, equal to an employees annual earnings. Life insurance, she said, was a high-satisfaction, low-importance benefit, which suggests an opportunity to trim the offering without substantial impact on associate satisfaction. Acknowledging that Wal-Mart has image problems, Ms.  Chambers wrote: Wal-Marts critics can easily exploit some aspects of our benefits offering to make their case; in other words, our critics are correct in some of their observations. Specifically, our coverage is expensive for low-income families, and Wal-Mart has a significant percentage of associates and their children on public assistance. Her memo also stated that 5 percent of Wal-Marts workers were on Medicaid, compared with 4 percent for other national employers. She said that Wal-Mart spent $1. 5 billion a year on health insurance, which amounts to $2,660 per insured worker. The memo, prepared with the help of McKinsey Company, said the board was to consider the recommendations in November. But the memo said that three top Wal-Mart officials its chief financial officer, its top human relations executive and its executive vice president for legal and corporate affairs had received the recommendations enthusiastically. RECENT WAL-MART INITIATIVES Recently, Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, gave its suppliers an added incentive, announcing that it would increase sourcing of American-made products by $50 billion over the next 10 years. Wal-Mart said it would buy more goods already produced in the United States, like games and paper, as well as help vendors in areas like furniture and textiles return production that had moved overseas. The company did not disclose the value of the American-made products it already sourced. In its most recent fiscal year, Wal-Mart spent $335 billion buying and transporting merchandise globally. The $50 billion commitment, $5 billion a year, represents about 1. 5 percent of that annual total. Many have seen this as a public relations move by the company to combat Wal-Mart no longer being a â€Å"Made in America† company. (Clifford, 2013) One of Wal-Mart’s newest strategic initiatives is they are opening small versions of its mega-stores on college campuses. The retailer recently announced its plan to open a new concept store at Arizona State University. The initiative is part of the chains new Wal-Mart’s On Campus initiative. A similar store is already open at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and a third is planned at Georgia Tech. Arizona States Wal-Mart will only have about 10 employees and includes plans for a pharmacy, grocery and convenience items, and campus merchandise. Wal-Mart’s new campus stores are smaller than regular Wal-Mart supercenters. Arizona States store will be about 5,000 square feet and Georgia Techs will be only 2,500. Thats tiny compared to the chains 180,000-plus square foot Super Wal-Mart’s. (Durisin, 2013) In the area of Public Relations, Wal-Mart announced in 2011 a multi-billion dollar womens initiative, in a big move to repair its reputation after a high-profile gender discrimination lawsuit. The retailer plans to buy $20 billion worth of products from female-owned businesses over the next five years, and provide another $100 million to nonprofits for women. Plus, Wal-Mart says that it will be hiring and training more women, in both its factories and retail, all over the world. One key point is that there is still a potential for some smaller gender discrimination lawsuits in relation to the giant class-action one from earlier, so this may also be an effort to get a head start on that. (Bhasin, 2011) 2003 CASE STUDY REVIEW: The article by Bonini, et al (2006) approaches the issues of how companies must approach social issues. When a company innovates in, say, lowering environmental impact, enhancing the health of its customers, or enabling personal financial security, it creates shared value. Scalable, self-funding  solutions are then able to actually solve the pressing social problems we face while driving company growth and profitability. The many companies starting to think and act this way are going to be the most successful. However, it should not be about simply repairing reputations as it appears that Wal-Mart is doing. Porter and Kramer (2006) suggest a new approach to corporate social responsibilities (CSR), which both acknowledges the interdependence of companies and the broader community, and enables companies to develop a tailored, rather than generic, CSR strategy. Porter and Kramer offer a new approach to CSR which focuses on identifying the shared values between a particular company and its social context, and developing a tailored and strategic response. Using Porter and Kramers tool to map social opportunities, and practical steps to identify, develop and organize for CSR, companies now have a new CSR framework to enhance business and social outcomes. If companies are able to successfully use this model (and Porter and Kramers article provides numerous case studies to that effect) then the benefits will be reaped in terms of both a competitive advantage and social enhancement. CONCLUSION In conclusion, there has been a lot of controversy around how Wal-Mart does business. The company has not always kept its promises and has often made strategic decisions or proposals that are opposite of their promises. Bonini, et al. (2006) suggests that companies such as Wal-Mart take a real role in socioeconomic issues and begin improving their image and the world around them.