The Use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War Essay -- Vietnam War Essays

The Use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War Agent Orange is a plant killer, which was used during the Vietnam War to destroy the massive amount of trees (Nguyen, 1). The destruction that occurred, however, is far more extensive than once believed. Complications in health occur much more frequently to those exposed to the chemical than those who managed to avoid contact (Nguyen, 2). The use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War affected the American soldier’s health and genetics. Agent Orange is a 50:50 mixture of two major compounds, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (Nguyen, 2). This defoliant also contains dioxin, which is one of the most lethal compounds known to man (Nguyen, 2). Ironically, the dioxin, which makes Agent Orange lethal to humans, isn’t intended to kill plants at all (Vancil, 1). It is extremely hard to prove, however, that dioxin is responsible for the countless illnesses acquired by many Vietnam veterans because each individual has their own tolerance to dioxin (Vancil, 1). Many soldiers in the Vietnam War encountered Agent Orange repeatedly. Their lives revolved around the 55-gallon drums, which once were filled with an extremely harmful herbicide. Unaware of the possible consequences, many soldiers built showers and hibachis out of these discarded drums (Doyle, 139). They also used the barren drums to store potatoes and watermelons (Doyle, 139). One man described to his wife how they would bathe and s...

My Ideal Career

My ideal career goal is to successfully complete all necessary training to become a proficient source of protection to our nation. My first desires are becoming a part of the U. S. Marshal forces or joining a Crime Scene Investigating team. I am open to various fields throughout the Criminal Justice system as long as I’m making a difference in the everyday lives of others. I chose this path because of my eight year military background involving tours with the Marine Corps and the Army National Guard.I served fifteen months overseas in Iraq with the Army National Guard where every day was a challenge to restore order. I fed off of the motivation of my fellow troops and my own motivation to make an impact on the lives of the people in Iraq. The careers that have my interest have many similarities that I have been trained on over the years. I chose this profession because I hold a passion for law enforcement and the military close to my heart. In this type of work, a bond forms b etween co-workers that lasts a lifetime. I am not only motivated to make a difference in the communities, but also motivated to join the ranks of a new family.Every day should be adventurous and my motivation for this type of work will allow me to push above and beyond the call of duty. Receiving my college education will boost my level of skills and support my military background to help me find work in various specialized fields. Currently my military background would allow me to have a job under Law Enforcement, but having a degree will allow me to move further along in my career to higher positions and more responsibility, which in return leads to making more money. My education in Criminal Justice plus my military background will both be the backbone to a new beginning.

Nevertheless, She Persisted Jane Eyre Study Guide

To paraphrase Virginia Woolf, modern readers often assume that Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, published in 1847 under the ridiculous pseudonym Currer Bell, will be old-fashioned and difficult to relate to, only to be astonished by a novel that largely feels as fresh and modern today as it did in the 19th century. Regularly adapted into new films and TV shows and still serving as the touchstone for generations of writers, Jane Eyre is a remarkable novel both in its innovation and in its enduring quality. Innovation in fiction isn’t always easy to appreciate. When Jane Eyre published it was something remarkable and new, a fresh way of writing in so many ways it was astounding. Closing in on two centuries later, those innovations have been absorbed into the larger literary zeitgeist and to younger readers might not seem so special. Even when people can’t appreciate the historical context of the novel, however, the skill and artistry that Charlotte Brontà « brought to the novel makes it a thrilling reading experience. There are, however, plenty of very good novels from the period that remain eminently readable (for reference, see everything Charles Dickens wrote). What sets Jane Eyre apart is the fact that it’s arguably the Citizen Kane of English-language novels, a work that transformed the art form permanently, a work that supplied many of the techniques and conventions still in use today. At the same time it’s also a powerful love story with a protagonist who is complicated, intelligent, and a pleasure to spend time with. It just also happens to be one of the greatest novels ever written. Plot For many reasons, it’s important to note that the subtitle of the novel is An Autobiography. The story begins when Jane is an orphan at just ten years old, living with her cousins the Reed Family at the request of her deceased uncle. Mrs. Reed is cruel to Jane, making it clear that she views her as an obligation and allowing her own children to be cruel to Jane, making her life a misery. This culminates in an episode where Jane defends herself from one of Mrs. Reed’s children and is punished by being locked in the room in which her uncle passed away. Terrified, Jane believes she sees her uncle’s ghost and faints from sheer terror. Jane is attended by the kindly Mr. Lloyd. Jane confesses her misery to him, and he suggests to Mrs. Reed that Jane be sent off to school. Mrs. Reed is happy to be rid of Jane and sends her to the Lowood Institution, a charity school for orphaned and poor young girls. Jane’s escape at first only leads her to more misery, as the school is run by the mean-spirited Mr. Brocklehurst, who embodies the pitiless â€Å"charity† often championed by religion. The girls in his charge are treated poorly, sleeping in cold rooms and eating a poor diet with frequent punishments. Mr. Brocklehurst, convinced by Mrs. Reed that Jane is a liar, singles her out for punishment, but Jane makes some friends including fellow classmate Helen and the kind-hearted Miss Temple, who helps clear Jane’s name. After a typhus epidemic leads to the death of Helen, Mr. Brocklehurst’s cruelty is exposed and conditions improve at Lowood. Jane eventually becomes a teacher there. When Miss Temple leaves to marry, Jane decides it’s time for her to move on as well, and she finds employment as a governess to a young girl at Thornfield Hall, the ward of Mr. Edward Fairfax Rochester. Rochester is arrogant, prickly, and often insulting, but Jane stands up to him and the two find that they enjoy each other immensely. Jane experiences several odd, seemingly-supernatural events while at Thornfield, including a mysterious fire in Mr. Rochester’s room. When Jane learns that her aunt, Mrs. Reed, is dying, she puts aside her anger towards the woman and goes to tend to her. Mrs. Reed confesses on her deathbed that she was worse to Jane than previously suspected, revealing that Jane’s paternal uncle had written asking Jane to come live with him and be his heir, but Mrs. Reed told him Jane was dead. Returning to Thornfield, Jane and Rochester admit their feelings for each other, and Jane accepts his proposal—but the wedding ends in tragedy when it’s revealed that Rochester is already married. He confesses that his father forced him into an arranged marriage with Bertha Mason for her money, but Bertha suffers from a serious mental condition and has been deteriorating almost from the moment he married her. Rochester has kept Bertha locked up in a room in Thornfield for her own safety, but she occasionally escapes—explaining many of the mysterious events Jane experienced. Rochester begs Jane to run away with him and live in France, but she refuses, unwilling to compromise her principles. She flees Thornfield with her scant possessions and money, and through a series of misfortunes winds up sleeping out in the open. She is taken in by her distant relative St. John Eyre Rivers, a clergyman, and learns that her uncle John left her a fortune. When St. John proposes marriage (considering it a form of duty), Jane contemplates joining him on missionary work in India, but hears the voice of Rochester calling to her. Returning to Thornfield, Jane is shocked to find it burned to the ground. She discovers that Bertha escaped her rooms and set the place ablaze; in trying to rescue her, Rochester was badly injured. Jane goes to him, and he is at first convinced she will reject him for his hideous appearance, but Jane assures him she still loves him, and they finally are married. Major Characters Jane Eyre:  Jane is the protagonist of the story. An orphan, Jane grows up dealing with adversity and poverty, and becomes a person who values her independence and agency even if it means living a simple, no-frills life. Jane is considered ‛plain’ and yet becomes an object of desire for multiple suitors because of the strength of her personality. Jane can be sharp-tongued and judgmental, but is also curious and eager to re-evaluate situations and people based on new information. Jane has very strong beliefs and values and is willing to suffer in order to maintain them. Edward Fairfax Rochester:  Jane’s employer at Thornfield Hall and eventually her husband. Mr. Rochester is often described as a â€Å"Byronic Hero,† so-called after the poet Lord Byron—he is arrogant, withdrawn and often at odds with society, and rebels against the common wisdom and ignores public opinion. He’s a form of antihero, ultimately revealed to be noble despite his rough edges. He and Jane initially spar and dislike each other, but find they are drawn to each other romantically when she proves she can stand up to his personality. Rochester secretly married the wealthy Bertha Mason in his youth due to familial pressure; when she began to exhibit symptoms of congenital madness he locked her up as the proverbial â€Å"madwoman in the attic.† Mrs. Reed:  Jane’s maternal aunt, who takes the orphan in response to her husband’s dying wish. A selfish and mean-spirited woman, she abuses Jane and shows distinct preferment to her own children, and even withholds the news of Jane’s inheritance until she has a deathbed epiphany and shows remorse for her behavior. Mr. Lloyd:  A kindly apothecary (similar to the modern pharmacist) who is the first person to show Jane kindness. When Jane confesses her depression and unhappiness with the Reeds, he suggests she be sent to school in an effort to get her away from a bad situation. Mr. Brocklehurst:  The director of Lowood School. A member of the clergy, he justifies his harsh treatment of the young girls under his care via religion, claiming that it is necessary for their education and salvation. He does not apply these principles to himself or his own family, however. His abuses are eventually exposed. Miss Maria Temple:  The superintendent at Lowood. She is a kind and fair-minded woman who takes her duty to the girls very seriously. She is kind to Jane and has a tremendous influence on her. Helen Burns: Jane’s friend at Lowood, who eventually dies of the Typhus outbreak at the school. Helen is kind-hearted and refuses to hate even the people who are cruel to her, and has a profound influence on Jane’s belief in God and attitude towards religion. Bertha Antoinetta Mason: Mr. Rochester’s wife, kept under lock and key at Thornfield Hall due to her insanity. She frequently escapes and does strange things that at first seem almost supernatural. She eventually burns the house to the ground, dying in the flames. After Jane, she is the most-discussed character in the novel because of the rich metaphorical possibilities she represents as the â€Å"madwoman in the attic.† St. John Eyre Rivers: A clergyman and distant relative of Jane’s who takes her in after she flees Thornfield after her wedding to Mr. Rochester ends in chaos when his previous marriage is revealed. He is a good man but emotionless and dedicated solely to his missionary work. He doesn’t so much propose marriage to Jane as declare it to be God’s will that Jane doesn’t have much choice in. Themes Jane Eyre is a complex novel that touches on many themes: Independence: Jane Eyre is sometimes described as â€Å"proto-feminist† novel because Jane is portrayed as a complete personality who has ambitions and principles independent of the men around her. Jane is intelligent and perceptive, fiercely committed to her view of things, and capable of incredible love and affection—but not ruled by these emotions, as she frequently goes against her own desires in service of her intellectual and moral compass. Most importantly, Jane is the master of her life and makes choices for herself, and accepts the consequences. This is contrasted in a neat gender-flip by Mr. Rochester, who entered into a doomed, unhappy marriage because he was ordered to, a role most often played by women at the time (and historically). Jane persists against tremendous adversity, especially in her younger years, and matures into a thoughtful and caring adult despite the deprivations of her mean-spirited aunt and the cruel, falsely-moral Mr. Brocklehurst. As an adult at Thornfield, Jane is given a chance to have everything she wants by running away with Mr. Rochester, but she chooses not to do so because she firmly believes it is the wrong thing to do. Jane’s independence and persistence was unusual in a female character at the time of composition, as was the poetic and evocative nature of the intimate POV—the access the reader is given to Jane’s inner monologue and the adherence of the narrative to her limited point of view (we only know what Jane knows, at all times) was innovative and sensational at the time. Most novels of the time remained at a distance from the characters, making our close association with Jane a thrilling novelty. At the same time, being so closely wedded to Jane’s sensibility allows Brontà « to control the reader’s reactions and perceptions, as we are only given information once it has been processed through Jane’s beliefs, views, and feelings. Even when Jane weds Mr. Rochester in what could be seen as the expected and traditional conclusion to the story, she twists expectation by saying â€Å"Reader, I married him,† maintaining her status as the protagonist of her own life. Morality:  Brontà « makes clear distinctions between the false morals of people like Mr. Brocklehurst, who abuses and mistreats those less powerful than he is under the guise of charity and religious teaching. There is in fact a deep undercurrent of suspicion about society and its norms throughout the novel; respectable people like the Reeds are in fact awful, legal marriages such as Rochester and Bertha Mason’s (or the one proposed by St. John) are shams; institutions like Lowood that ostensibly demonstrate the good of society and religion are in fact terrible places. Jane is shown to be the most moral person in the book because she is true to herself, not out of adherence to a set of rules composed by someone else. Jane is offered many chances to take an easier way by betraying her principles; she could have been less combative towards her cousins and curried Mrs. Reed’s favor, she could have worked harder to get along at Lowood, she could have deferred to Mr. Rochester as her employer and not challenged him, she could have run away with him and been happy. Instead, Jane demonstrates true morality throughout the novel by rejecting these compromises and remaining, crucially, true to herself. Wealth:  The question of wealth is an undercurrent throughout the novel, as Jane is a penniless orphan through most of the story but is in secret a wealthy heiress, while Mr. Rochester is a wealthy man who is quite reduced in every way by the end of the novel—in fact, in some ways their roles reverse over the course of the story. In the world of Jane Eyre, wealth is not something to be jealous of, but rather a means to an end: Survival. Jane spends large portions of the book struggling to survive due to a lack of money or social standing, and yet Jane is also one of the most content and confident characters in the book. In contrast to the works of Jane Austen (to which Jane Eyre is invariably compared), money and marriage are not seen as practical goals for women, but rather as romantic goals—a very modern attitude that was at the time out of step with the common wisdom. Spirituality:  There is only one bona-fide supernatural event in the story: When Jane hears Mr. Rochester’s voice towards the end, calling to her. There are other allusions to the supernatural, such as her uncle’s ghost in the Red Room or the events at Thornfield, but these have perfectly rational explanations. However, that voice at the end implies that in the universe of Jane Eyre the supernatural does in fact exist, bringing into question how much of Jane’s experiences along these lines might not have been truly supernatural. It is impossible to say, but Jane is a character unusually sophisticated in her spiritual self-knowledge. In parallel to Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s themes of morality and religion, Jane is presented as someone very much in touch with and comfortable with her spiritual beliefs whether those beliefs are in step with the church or other outside authorities. Jane has a distinct philosophy and belief system all her own, and shows a great deal of confidence in her own ability to use her wits and experience to understand the world around her. This is something Brontà « presents as an ideal—making up your own mind about things rather than simply accepting what you’re told. Literary Style Jane Eyre  borrowed  elements of Gothic novels  and poetry that shaped it into a unique narrative. Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s use of the tropes from gothic novels—madness, haunted estates, terrible secrets—gives the story a tragic and ominous overtone that colors every event with a larger-than-life sense. It also serves to give Brontà « unprecedented freedom to play with the information given the reader. Early in the story, the Red Room scene leaves the reader with the tantalizing possibility that there  was, in fact, a ghost—which then makes the later happenings at Thornfield seem even more ominous and frightening. Brontà « also uses  pathetic fallacy  to great effect, having the weather often mirror Jane’s inner turmoils or emotional state, and uses fire and ice (or heat and cold) as symbols of freedom and oppression. These are the tools of poetry and had never been used so extensively or effectively in the novel form before. Brontà « uses them powerfully in conjunction with the gothic touches to create a fictional universe that is mirrored on reality but seems magical, with heightened emotions and, thus, higher stakes. This is amplified even more by the intimacy of Jane’s  point of view  (POV). Previous novels had usually hued closely to a realistic depiction of events—the reader could trust what they were told implicitly. Because Jane is our eyes and ears to the story, however, we’re conscious on some level of never really getting  reality, but rather  Jane’s version  of reality. This is a subtle effect that nonetheless has a tremendous impact on the book once we realize that every character description and piece of action is filtered through Jane’s attitudes and perceptions. Historical Context It’s essential to keep in mind the original subtitle of the novel (An Autobiography) for another reason: The more you examine Charlotte Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s life, the more obvious it becomes that Jane Eyre is very much all about Charlotte. Charlotte had a long history of an intense inner world; along with her sisters she had created an incredibly complex fantasy world Glass Town, composed of numerous short novels and poems, along with maps and other world-building tools. In her mid-20s she traveled to Brussels to study French, and fell in love with a married man. For years she wrote fiery love letters to the man before seeming to accept that the affair was impossible; Jane Eyre appeared shortly afterwards and can be seen as a fantasy about how that affair might have gone differently. Charlotte also spent time in the Clergy Daughter’s School, where conditions and treatment of the girls were terrible, and where several student did in fact die of typhoid—including Charlotte’s sister Maria, who was only eleven years old. Charlotte clearly modeled much of the early life of Jane Eyre on her own unhappy experiences, and the character of Helen Burns is often seen as a stand-in for her lost sister. She was also later a governess to a family that she bitterly reported treated her poorly, adding one more piece of what would become Jane Eyre. More broadly, the Victorian Era had just begun in England. This was a time of intense societal transformation in terms of the economy and technology. A middle class formed for the first time in English history, and the sudden upward mobility open to regular people led to an increased sense of personal agency which can be seen in the character of Jane Eyre, a woman who rises above her station through simple hard work and intelligence. These changes created an atmosphere of instability in society as old ways were changed by the industrial revolution and the growing power of the British Empire worldwide, leading many to question ancient assumptions about the aristocracy, religion, and traditions. Jane’s attitudes towards Mr. Rochester and other monied characters reflects these changing times; the value of property owners who contributed little to society was being questioned, and Rochester’s marriage to the insane Bertha Mason can be seen as an overt criticism of this â€Å"leisure class† and the lengths they went to in order to preserve their status. In contrast, Jane comes from poverty and has only her mind and her spirit through most of the story, and yet ends up triumphant in the end. Along the way Jane experiences many of the worst aspects of the time period, including disease, poor living conditions, the limited opportunities available to women, and the stultifying oppression of a harsh, pitiless religious attitude. Quotes Jane Eyre isn’t famous solely for its themes and plot; it’s also a well-written book with plenty of smart, funny, and touching phrases. â€Å"By dying young I shall escape great sufferings. I had not qualities or talents to make my way very well in the world: I should have been continually at fault.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"’Am I hideous, Jane?’ ‛Very, sir: you always were, you know.’†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"I had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate from my soul the germs of love there detected; and now, at the first renewed view of him, they spontaneously revived, great and strong! He made me love him without looking at me.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"I would always rather be happy than dignified.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Flirting is a woman’s trade, one must keep in practice.†

Race, culture and identity ( social policy and criminology) Free Essay Example, 2750 words

Black, as a group category, refers to the black-skinned people of the African continent. As the Black became subjects to slavery and oppression, the identity of the Black as slaves is a result of socio-political action, which is colonisation. These two aspects are significant in the formation of self-hood as the morale of the Black is affected by the adverse treatment of their masters. As a result of slavery, Black-White antagonism develops and remains in White societies worldwide (Nagel, 1994, p. 153). According to Zach (2007, p. 102), race and ethnicity have distinct differences; ethnicity may be based on cultural traditions, while race refers to physical appearance. Race and ethnicity are essential factors influencing the development of identity (Chavez and Guido-DiBrito (1999, p. 40), and those concepts are necessary in understanding one’s self, society, and ancestry (Bernasconi, 2007, p. 123). With this definition, it can be said that racial and ethnic ascriptions determ ine the identity of a person. As mentioned by Ross (2003, p. 20), race, in the sociological context, is used as a technology in sorting people into different classes. As it relates to the Black subject, the word â€Å"race† becomes a symbol of historical and cultural injustice because of the prevailing misrepresentation of the African race, which signifies anger and dirt. We will write a custom essay sample on Race, culture and identity ( social policy and criminology) or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now While it can be said that race and ethnicity can be interpreted in different ways, those two concepts are closely intertwined as these determine the identity of a person or group. As the Blacks face issues such as racial discrimination and slavery, being Black means more than just a difference in color. What It Means To Be â€Å"Black† The term â€Å"Black† refers to those people with African decent; they are regarded as the â€Å"other† color. As this paper focuses on the race, identity, and ethnicity of the Black subject, it is necessary to provide readings on the identity of the Black. In the words of Du Bois (2006, p. 9), being â€Å"Black† means containing within one’s self two conflicting personalities and ideals: â€Å"One ever feels his twoness, --an American, a Negro: two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder. † This duality of nature confronts Blacks as they struggle to fit into two societies. Frank Fannon, in his essay The Fact of Blackness, describes his experiences as a Black in the light of the â€Å"white† power. According to Fannon (1952, p. 62), the African color seems like a corporeal malediction, which reminds Africans that there is more to color than its extrinsic value.

The Information Age How Safe Are We - 1525 Words

The Information Age: How safe are we? General Purpose: To inform. Specific Purpose: I want my audience to understand that there are significant dangers in the age of technology and the Internet particularly regarding the privacy of protected information. Preview: While the Internet, cellphones and ATM machines provide us with a very convenient lifestyle there are inherent dangers-mostly and especially financial dangers, to those who share their personal information online or on their home computers. Introduction: I. Attention getter: I was checking my email and I ran across a message from PayPal, a popular internet site for processing online payments, that indicated that my account was being frozen due to suspicious activity and then asked me to verify personal information. I know for a fact that PayPal never asks for personal information via email so, I was being targeted for a scam to gather personal information. I wondered, how safe am I really, how much of my information can be used against me? Against anyone? I decided to investigate the phenomenon of the invasion of privacy and the business of information gathering in order to determine the overall damage done to those of us who trust supposedly secure websites, devices and businesses. II. Introduction: I am positive that I am not the only one here who has been subject to scams, information gathering techniques or ads targeted at them via emails or cellphones based on electronically stored information obtained byShow MoreRelatedThe Health And Safety Code Section 85.007 Education Program1323 Words   |  6 Pagesduring their lifetime,† (NCSL). In our society today sex is a very open subject and is being observed by young adults in everyday life. Walking down the street we see half naked women plastered on billboards and street signs, leaving nothing to the imagination and making adolescents everywhere question why and wonder what that is. 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Living Home vs Living Away Home Free Essays

Have you ever think on living away home? Or you prefer to live at home with your family? A lot of people, mainly students, have this question in mind. But to answer it is better to made a balance between what you will find living away and what you have living at home; but it is a difficult task because you will find a lot of differences and similarities in both situations. One obvious difference is food. We will write a custom essay sample on Living Home vs Living Away Home or any similar topic only for you Order Now Food is a minimal basis to have into consideration in our life. At home, well, you will probably were with your parent’s so they know where they can buy the cheaper and better food; whereas, if you live on your own away from home, you don ‘t anyone who could go to buy food at the right place or even, to advise you where to go to buy. In home you can also have your parent’s who cook instead of you and they also are the ones paying the food; on the contrary, living away meaner to learn how to cook and to pay your groceries. Other areas of difference between live at home and living away home involves money and rent. When you are at your parent’s’ house don t have to centered in saving big sums of money because the only things in what you are going to spend your money on is in your yens because you don ‘t have to pay any rent or any kind of expenses: you don ‘t have to pay community expenses, trash service, health insurance†¦ Because these expenses are in charge of your parent’s; in comparison, living away on your own you have to pay a rent and all kind of living expenses such as community charges, health insurance, social security expenses, and all of this sort of expenses for which you must to save a big sum of money to pay them. Another important difference is the state of freedom. At home you are always bound to the rules that your parent’s established and they, most of the time, are going to pay attention to you trying to know what you are doing, telling you how things must be doing under their rules because you are under the same roof as them; therefore, living away from home you can established your own rules and can do mostly anything you want to do. In spite of these differences, these two apparently opposite situations share several important experiences. Living at home and living away from home are alike in their comparability when you arrive after a day working or even studying and need a nap or even to relax yourself seeing the TV, reading, listening to music, gaming†¦ People and meet with your friends to go to the cinema or going shopping. Also, you will have shops around your home that let you buy things you need. Living at home can be compared to living away from home in the possibility of paving a room of your own where you can relax, study or stay with your friends seeing films, playing some game or chatting. There is not such a huge rift between living at home and living away from home, both situations has its good things and its bad things. Probably people think that it is more secured living at home because it is a place that they know and don ‘t want to risk themselves going to a place that can be good or bad for them. But there is no much difference between the two situations. How to cite Living Home vs Living Away Home, Papers

Prepare A Report of Financial Analysis On Barratt Developments Plc

Question: Required to prepare a report on Barratt Developments Plc that would be of interest to a potential shareholders using financial details and ratios. Answer: Introduction Company name and External Auditor The purpose of this report is to assist the investors in providing useful information which would help them in the decision of investment in the shares of Barratt Developments Plc. The information has been provided in the form of analysis of the financial statements of the company for the period ending 30th June, 2015 given in the annual report audited by Deloitte LLP. Financial ratios and change in the financial statements items have been calculated for the analysis. Brief Description of the Company Barratt Development Plc is one of the leading house builders operating across Britain. The company operates through four brands namely, Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, Barratt London and Wilson Bowden Developments. The first three are house building brands whereas the last one is for commercial developments. The company operates only in Britain and has delivered 16,447 total homes as of 2015. The distinguishing feature of the company is its capability to deliver developments at all level of complexity ranging from standard housing to large and highly complex schemes. The company employs a total of 5971 employees. Details of Chairman, CEO and Directors Title Name Chairman John Allan Chief Executive Officer Mark Clare Chief Finance Officer David Thomas Chief Operating Officer Steven Boyes Non Executive Director Tessa Bamford Non Executive Director Nina Bibby Senior Independent Director Mark Rolfe Non Executive Director Richard Akers General Counsel and Company Secretary Tom Keevil Market Capitalisation The total Market Capitalisation of the company for the year ended 30th June, 2014 was 368, 08, 83,246.08 (3.73*984983475) and for the year ended 30th June 2015 was 533, 56, 26,274 (5.36*99542663). Financial Details and Ratios 3.1 Table of % change in Income Statement items given in Annexure 3.2 Table of % change in Balance Sheet items given in Annexure 3.3 Table of % change in Cash Flow Statement items given in Annexure 3.4 Table of Financial Ratios given in Annexure The figures included in the annexure are as on 30th June 2014 and 2015 as per the annual report. Analysis and Interpretation Financial Statements The financial year 2015 has been a great year for Barratt Developments Plc. in terms of increase in revenue and profits. The revenue increased by 19% in 2015, mainly because of the strong housing market in Britain. Britain is recovering from the slowdown hence; the demand for housing is more than the supply, thereby, giving a lot of scope for the company to increase their revenue. Also, the house prices have gone up due to a shortfall in supply and availability of low interest mortgage finance. The cost of sales has also increased but the increase is less than the increase in revenue. This has been achieved by the company due to its efforts towards improvement in operational excellence by reducing cost of raw materials procured. The gross profit has increased by an impressive 35% and the operating profit has also increased by a remarkable 41%. This has been possible because of lower operating costs which include both cost of sales and selling and administrative expenses and increased revenue. The net profit has increased by a whopping 47% as the interest expense has gone down. The company has had a strong Balance Sheet in 2015. The current assets have increased by 21% as the cash balance has increased by 31%. Also other current assets like inventories and receivables have increased. The current liabilities have also increased by 22% mainly due to an increase in taxes payable, trade and land payables and accruals and deferred income. The short term debt has reduced. The non current assets have remained stable with a fall in 3.2% due to a fall in deferred income taxes. The non current liabilities have increased by 25% due to an increase in trade and other payables and a marginal increase in long term debt by 1 million. The Equity has increased by 10.5% due to an increase in the retained earnings by 18%. The share capital has also increased by 1 million. The cash position of the company has been strong in 2015. There has been an increase in cash from investing and financing activities by 216% and 38% respectively. The cash flow from investing activities has increased due an increase in the investments accounted for using the equity method; there was a decrease in these investments in 2014 by 59 million. The financing activities is negative but better than 2014. The inflow has been only in the form of issue of share capital of 1 million whereas the outflow is of approx 145 million accounted by dividends paid and loan repayment. The cash inflow from operations has reduced by 58% mainly due to an increase in inventory by more than 100% and increase in taxes paid. There has been a remarkable increase in net cash by 500% in 2015 as compared to 2014 with a positive cash balance of 86 million, thus making it a cash rich company. From the above analysis of the items of the financial statements, we see that the Income Statement has improved considerably, the Balance Sheet has remained mostly stable with only major movement in inventories, and the Cash Flow Statement has also improved significantly. Financial Ratios Profitability Ratios The profitability ratios have improved in 2015 as compared to 2014. The gross profit margin has improved by 2.2% due to an increase in revenue and a fall in cost of sales. The operating margin is 15.3%, an increase of 2.4% from 2014. The interest expense has reduced as the company has paid back some of its debt and there are no short term debts. The Return on Equity is 12.1%, an increase of 3% from 2014. The increase is due to an increase in the net income attributable to the equity shareholders. The share capital has increased by only by 1 million whereas the net income has increased by 47%, thus increasing the returns on equity. The company has not paid high dividends; rather they have retained the profits which they will use for growth of the company, thus promising a bright future for the shareholders. The Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) for the company is 13%, an increase of 2.5% from 2014. This capital employed has reduced by 23 million due to a decrease in debt of the compan y by approx 24 million whereas the equity has increase only by 1 million. The increase in ROCE is due to an increase in EBIT by 41%. This means the returns on the capital employed have improved significantly. The overall profitability of the company has been very good in 2015 and 2015 has been the year of highest ever profit before tax. Efficiency Ratios The Total Assets Turnover ratio is 0.6 for both 2014 and 2015 with a slight increase in 2015 by 0.04 points. The revenue as well as the total assets both has increased with increase in revenue being slightly more than the total assets. There has been almost no improvement in the efficiency with which the company is utilizing its assets to generate revenue. The Industry Standard for a Construction Industry Assets Turnover Ratio is 0.8, so we can say that Barratt Developments is not up to the industry standards and the company should try to utilize its assets better. The Inventory Turnover has is 0.7 for the company whereas the industry standard is more than 1. We can say that the company has managed its inventory better than the other companies in the industry. The number of days of inventory turnover has increased by 10 days but the increase is very less as compared to the increase in inventory, thus signifying improving inventory turnover. The Receivables Turnover has reduced in 201 5 to 24.6 lower by 6 points. But the industry turnover for receivables turnover is 15; hence, the company is not up to the industry standards. It is not utilizing its receivables properly to generate revenue. The company is providing more credit than what the other companies in the industry are giving. The receivable turnover days has increased to 15 days which means on an average it takes 15 days for the company to recover its sales revenue. The company needs to work on its inventory and receivables management to match up to the industry standards. Liquidity Ratios The Current ratio of the company is 3.3 in 2015 almost similar to what it was in 2014. The current ratio should be more than 1 as per industry standards; hence the company is quite liquid as per industry standards. The current assets are sufficient to pay for the companys liabilities. Looking at the Quick Ratio, which is only 0.4 because most of the current assets of the company are in the form of inventory. A lot of cash is tied up in the inventory making the company less liquid in short term i.e. the company is not in a position to release cash immediately. However, this is the nature of a construction industry as the product they sell i.e. homes and buildings have a long construction period which is why the product of the company is mostly in WIP and it may take years for a product to complete, thus increasing the inventory. The Interest Coverage Ratio has improved by 300% in 2015 due to an increase in operating income and a decrease in interest expense. The company is comfortably able to pay for its finance charges from its operating income, thus making the company liquid. Financial Stability Ratio The Gearing ratio of the company is 0.05 in 2015 a slight increase from 2014. The company has very low debt as compared to the equity share capital. In the year 2015, the company has further reduced its short term debt by 24 million and increased the equity by 10.5%. The company relies mostly on its equity capital for funding its operations. Though this makes the company quite stable from shareholders point of view, but the company is unable to use the debt to gain tax benefits and has very low gear. Investment Ratio The Dividend Yield Ratio is 2.2% in 2015, an increase of 0.7% from 2014. The increase is due to a market capitalisation increase and an increase in dividends paid. It is good news for investors as there is an appreciation in the market value of the share and also an increase in the dividends paid, thus giving them more cash returns. Performance and Position up to December, 2015 Looking at the above analysis, we can say that the company has a strong profitability and stability. Even the liquidity is good looking at the nature of the industry the company is. The returns to shareholders are also satisfactory. The performance of the company has been quite satisfactory in 2015 with increasing profits and a strong balance sheet. A potential investor could look at investing in the company as it gives goods return on stocks and the fundamentals of the company are also strong with a strong future outlook instigated by a clear strategy and continuous improvement in management and operational capabilities. Possible Improvements to the Companys Annual Report Disclosure of dividends policy and practice Currently the annual report of Barratt Developments Ltd. does not have a dividend policy disclosure in the Accounting Policies. There is a mention of the dividend policy on page no. 17 of the annual report, but a detailed policy is not given. The policy is needed in the annual report as it reflects the companys cash and capital management process. Both debt and equity investors are interested in knowing how the company balances between the various competing priorities like investment needs, targets of credit rating agencies and other forms of return to stockholders. The policy could be either Progressive or payout ratio. Also, the disclosure would include how the company worked in order to deliver according to the policy. The above policy will appear on page no. 112 117 in the Accounting Policies section of the annual report. Reporting of Pay and Performance Currently the pay is reported in the Remuneration report section of the annual report. FRC lab suggests that the remuneration information should be clear and simple. The investors favour scenario charts being prepared which will access the relationship between the remuneration of the CEO and the company performance. The company is expected to provide three scenario bar charts i.e. when performance meets, exceeds and falls below the target. The bar chart will have the breakup of total remuneration into fixed, annual variables and long term incentives. Currently, the annual report of the company provides only the details of each of the executive directors salary; the scenario charts are not included. The above reporting of pay and performance will be done in the Remuneration Report given on page no. 75. Presentation of the Operating Cash Flow Currently the details of the operating cash flow by the indirect method are being shown in the notes to the financial statements. According to FRC lab reports, the indirect method of reconciling the profit or loss to the operating cash flow should be shown in the main part of the Cash Flow Statement. This is helpful to the investors when they view the annual report on the electronic media. The above suggestion of reporting the Operating Cash Flow in the main Cash Flow Statement would be given in the Financial Statements section of the annual report present in page no. 111. Appendix a) Consolidated income statement /consolidated statement of comprehensive income Consolidated statement of financial position Consolidated cash flow statement b) Financial details and Ratios References Barratt Developments Plc, (2015), Barratt Development Plc Annual Report and Accounts, 2015 Morningstar, (2015), Barratt Developments Plc Financials, accessed on 20th January, 2016, available https://financials.morningstar.com/ratios/r.html?t=BDEVion=gbrculture=en-US Ive, G., Murray, A., (2013), Trade Credits in the UK Construction Industry: An Empirical Analysis of Construction Contractor Financial Positioning and Performance, BIS Research paper no. 118, Department of Business Innovation and Skills CSImarket, (2016), Construction Services Industry: Efficiency Information and Trends, accessed on 20th January, 2016, available at, https://csimarket.com/Industry/industry_Efficiency.php?ind=205 FRC, (2012), Lab Project Report: Operating and Investing Cash Flows, The Financial Reporting Council Limited FRC, (2015), Disclosure of Dividends policy and practice, The Financial Reporting Council Limited FRC, (2013), Lab Project Report: Reporting of Pay and Performance, The Financial Reporting Council Limited Yahoo finance, (2016), Barratt Developments Plc, Historical Prices, accessed online on 20th January,availablehttps://in.finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=BDEV.La=05b=30c=2014d=05e=30f=2015g=m