A Good Death :: essays research papers

A Good Death   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Death is final. Some die naturally in a peaceful manner while others suffer through tremendous pain in order to get there. Euthanasia is the only way for some people to leave all their pain behind. Euthanasia is the act of killing another person in a merciful way. Of course, euthanasia has many more meaning to it than that. A person that is suffering from a terminal illness decides that life is not worth living because there is too much pain involved and ends his own life, would that be wrong of him? That is the question that is at hand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many supporters of the â€Å"right to die movement† can justify euthanasia. First, because terminal illness is causing pain that is unbearable for that individual. That is the main reason why people seek self-induced death. Second, the thought of a restricted life and depending on others, even for the simplest task, does not appeal to them. Aristotle wrote, â€Å"happiness is the exercise of vital powers along lines of excellence in a life affording them scope.† These people will never find happiness because they cannot live their lives out to the fullest extent that was given to them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nancy was only four years old when her grandmother died. Her grandmother had a big lump on the lower right hand side of her back. The doctors removed it, but it was too late. The tumor had already spread throughout her body. Instead of having a lump on her back, she had a long stitched up incision there. She couldn’t move around; Nancy’s parents had to help her go to the bathroom and do all the simple things that she use to do all by herself. Nancy would ask her grandmother to get up to take her younger sister, Linh, and herself outside so they could play. She never got up. A couple of months later, an ambulance came by their house and took their grandmother away. That was the last time Nancy ever saw her alive. She was in the hospital for about a week and a half. Nancy’s parents never took them to see her. One day, Nancy saw her parents crying and she have never seen them cry before. They dropped Linh and her off at one of their friendâ€℠¢s house. Nancy got mad because she thought they were going shopping and didn’t take her with them.

A comparison of the pros and cons of Hybrid cars to those of fuel-cells

A hybrid car is a fuel efficient car which has 2 motors. One is electric motor while the other one is a gasoline powered motor. It has in addition to these a special system to capture braking energy store in an on board battery.A fuel-cell car produces electricity directly, the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; the byproduct being water. A fuel –cell vehicle utilizes the electricity produced by the fuel cell to power motors at the vehicle’s wheel.A hybrid car has many advantages; they don’t use energy while idle, they also use less than gas motors at low speeds. With gas motors doing better at high speeds, it can deliver more power for a given motor weight. The electric motor works great at a time like rush hour and this way it doesn’t produce any exhaust therefore reducing smog levels.When a hybrid reaches a speed of 40 mph, the gas motor kicks in and gives a good feeling to the driver something most car owners are looking foe when on the highways. Hybrid cars also change the battery while running.Its disadvantages will include cost and complexity. It is a new technology and the cost is high. It also has its complications since the systems have to work together. If one system breaks then it might affect the others thereby making it really expensive to fix.Advantages of a fuel-cell car include:- low cost both in maintenance and purchase, its performance and rangeas read on ‘http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/cars_pickups_suvs/fuelcell-vehicles.html’, it is known to be a smooth, quiet and fun to drive. They are also widely available in most parts of the world. They have disadvantages as; they contribute to global warming, they pollute air since they ran on pure hydrogen.  Ã‚   My opinion is that let there be wide variety since we are all different and have different tastes so let the variety to chose from be available.

The Stranger in Oedipus Essay - 1467 Words

Murder, assault, and other forms of violence are widespread plagues that haunt modern society. In order to combat these relevant issues society has implemented different systems over the years. These systems have moved from a simple mindset to intricate organizations of jurisdiction and law. Violence appears not only in reality but, in novels and literary works alike. Albert Camus’ The Stranger depicts a modern system of justice; however, Sophocles Oedipus Rex portrays a simplistic system of justice. Society implements these to prevent the downfall of the human race. Society protects humanity from its own demise by condemning acts of violence. Acts of violence, weather brought on by anger as illustrated in Oedipus Rex or by environmental†¦show more content†¦This seems to show an extremely shallow love for his mother. â€Å"’We just sat there like that for a while. The woman’s sighs and sobs were quieting down. She sniffed a lot.’ ‘Then fin ally she shut up.’† (Camus 11). Anger in Meursault, is demonstrated in this section of the novel. His mother’s friends were attending the funeral and one of them was in tears. Meursault had no patience for this, however, what little self-control was left of him ignited and he did not act out violently. He rather let the anger stay within him just to nourish it. This violence in Meursault is classified as a hidden violence. The catalysts for his anger are seen in his environment. Meursault has a tendency to react sporadically to his environment. Environmental influences can cause one to act without logic and reason. Unfortunately for Meursault his conscious took the better of him which in turn caused him to kill. Meursaults’ pet peeve which causes him to act irrationally is heat. â€Å"It was very hot† (Camus 3) â€Å"glare of the sky† (Camus 4) â€Å"It was very bright† (Camus 6). The sun, more specifically its product, heat, is a domi nate issue within Meursaults’ life. In every situation, he comments on how hot it is. In these uncomfortable situations he loses his ability to generate logical solutions to issues. â€Å"The scorching blade slashed at my eyelashes and stabbed at my stinging eyes.† (Camus 59). This is the most pivotal scene in theShow MoreRelatedFate in Oedipus the King Essay1065 Words   |  5 Pagesthe future. This is true; at least in â€Å"Oedipus the King† in which the protagonist, Oedipus calls forth his doom unwillingly. Fate is defined as something that unavoidably befalls a person. The author of â€Å"Oedipus the King,† Sophocles, writes a tragic fate that Oedipus was born to experience. Fate is what is meant to happen and cannot be avoided or unchanged. Furthermore, events that lead to other events could be the result for one to meet their fate. In â€Å"Oedipus the King,† Sophocles expresses the natureRead More Tragedy in Oedipus the King and Dolls Hous e Essay660 Words   |  3 Pagesunspoken way of life. In Sophocles Oedipus the King and Ibsens A Dolls House, the main characters - Nora and Oedipus, are both constructed to illustrate flaws in society and how naive people are. Ibsen and Sophocles both developed tragedy into a central idea that all people surreptitiously understand. Nora and Oedipus make incompetent decisions that assist in discovering their fundamental nature as tragic heroes and provoke sorrow and pity among the audience. Oedipus lived his entire life in a darkRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King884 Words   |  4 PagesKing of Thebes, owner of a family tree that identically resembles Medusa on a bad hair day, and the inspiration for a psychologically-riveting complex, Oedipus, tragic hero of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, exposes troubling truths about the human condition and, acting as an exemplary precaution for the entirety of humanity, demonstrates how a self-destructive struggle between love, anger, and fate, conveyed through an unorthodox love affair between mother and son (Who gets custody in a divorce?),Read More Sight And Blindess Of Oedipus The King Essay1470 Words   |  6 Pages Oedipus the King by Sophocles was a play written after a devastating plague struck the city of Athens in 430 B.C. The play is about how knowledge can lead to devastation and destruction based on how the characters find out the truth of the Delphic Oracle. Years before Oedipus became the king of Thebes, the previous king, Laius, had received a prophecy that his son would grow up to kill his father. With this information he gave his baby son to a sheperd to dispose of him. Years later Laius is murderedRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Power of Prophecy1000 Words   |  4 PagesThe Power of Fate in Oedipus Rex (the King) The underlying theme in Oedipus Rex is that fate is more powerful than free will. On this strong basis of fate, free will doesnt even exist. This was a popular belief among the ancient Greeks.   Fate may be accepted or denied by modern society, but in Oedipuss story, fate proves inevitable. In the play, Oedipus Rex, the characters Oedipus, Iocaste and Laios try to change fate.    In the very beginning of the story, before we hear from theRead MoreOedipus Fate Essay1478 Words   |  6 Pagescannot change their fate and it is unavoidable. Throughout the Greek tragedy, Oedipus the King, the hero, Oedipus often tries to run away from what he is destined to do only because of his ignorance to his situation. Throughout the entire play, the conflict of Man versus Fate is often seen as everyone tries to avoid what is fated upon them. Oedipus’s parents, Jocasta and Laius, were told by the gods that their son, Oedipus, would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother, a terrible fate. InRead More Tragedy in Oedipus the King and Dolls House Essay example1057 Words   |  5 Pagesages. But not until the Greeks and prominent playwrights such as Sophocles did tragedy take on into its own on the stage. Out of this rebirth of tragedy came what has been considered, even by Aristotle himself, the greatest tragedy ever written, Oedipus the King. He delves into the human psyche: bringing forth the notion of predestination, a supposition desperately believed in by humans, betraying the fatal flaws of his hero and manifesting the suffering brought upon the hero by his tragic downfallRead MoreOedipus the King: The Innocence of Oedipus Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles Oedipus Rex Is Innocent Because Oedipus knows nothing about the past of Thebes, he is not an assassin. Oedipus committed murder but unknowingly of who King Laius was. Oedipus honor was his claim against the murder. Had it been the other way around and Oedipus had lost the battle, King Laius alibi would have also been for reasons of honor: for reasons of royalty. Oedipus was royalty and knew it as well did King Laius. The main idea behind Oedipus innocence is this royalty. RegardlessRead MoreSophocles Oedipus Rex as Modern Tragedy Essay examples1184 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus Rex and Tragedy Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is, in short, the story of a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. It certainly sounds like a tragedy, doesn’t it? But the classification and definition of ‘tragedy’ are one of the many things widely disputed in the realm of literary studies. So, for the purposes here we’ll use Aristotle’s five criteria of a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth, a tragic flaw or mistake, a fall from grace, a moment of remorse, and catharsisRead MoreComparing the Downfalls of Sophocles Oedipus and Shakespeares Othello1262 Words   |  6 Pages Oedipus and Othello were both honorable and heroic men that became the victims of tragic downfalls that can be compared and contrasted with each other. Sophocles, the writer of Oedipus the King, and Williams Shakespeare, the writer of Othello, were both enormously influential playwrights of their respective generations and their legacy continues today. The two playwrights made their masterpieces during different eras; Sophocles life coincided with the Golden Age of Greek tragedy and Shakespeare

Ralph Bunche Free Essay Example, 3250 words

Findings To begin to analyze any person’s legacy, the first place one should turn to is that person’s own words. The same holds true for Bunche as well. First off, Bunche felt that the mere creation of an international organization, such as the UN, was not enough to bring about world peace: â€Å"But international organization is not enough! The bare framework of a world league and court constitutes no guarantee of perpetual or even immediate peace! † (Henry 18). Obviously this is the case as the UN has been in existence for over fifty years and there are still conflicts and instances of genocide taking place. It should be noted that even if an actual world peace is not accomplished, it is still a worthy goal to strive towards. As Bunche said, the existence of a world league is not enough in itself. As it is, not every country participates in the UN. In order for any sort of world peace to be reached, every country would have to participate in the presiding world league. We will write a custom essay sample on Ralph Bunche or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now This would require for any country to be able to make concessions: â€Å"World courts, world leagues, world pacts of all sorts, are futile unless solidly backed by an international citizenry willing to sacrifice for its realizations† (19). Sacrifice is the most important idea here. In Bunche’s view there would be no way to accomplish world peace through military force. If some country was for some reason or another seeking conflict, and another country or world organization came along and conquered that country in order to keep it from attacking other countries, there would have been much hatred spread through those means. A county that has been conquered is going to feel resentful to those that conquered them. They would be less likely to cooperate and would always pose a problem in the future for safety of other countries. If, however, a country is able to be dissuaded from attacking others through diplomatic means, then it would be seen as the decision of that country to not attack, and this country would feel as though they weren’t forced into anything. The only way that one country could persuade its citizenry to invade another country would be to dehumanize the country being invaded. The only way to do this would be to make the citizens of one country hate another. It is in hate that people are able to do some of the things that they are through military means. As long as one group of people hates another, there will not be world peace. There was a way that Bunche saw to solve this problem: â€Å"If people can, by educated processes, mutually arrive at greater understanding and sympathy, these hatreds will in large measure be dissipated† (22).

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder - 2128 Words

A dual diagnosis is when a person presents a severe mental illness like bipolar disorder with a substance use disorder (Halter Varcarolis, 2014). Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that can be characterized by either mania or hypomania and depressive episodes (Varcarolis, E, 2005). A manic episode is an elevated expansive or irritable mood lasting for at least 1 week. Hypomania episode is less severe than manic episode lasting for a duration of 4 days. A depressive episode has to be manifested by 5 of the 9 following symptoms: depressed mood, lack of interest or pleasure, significant weight loss, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, inability to concentrate and recurrent thoughts of death (Varcarolis, E, 2005). Bipolar disorder has several criteria’s but overall each criteria has either mania or hypomania with depressive episodes. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) deals with abuse and dependency of a drug. Drugs of choice are alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescribed medications, and many more. Drug dependency is among the most prevalent illnesses. Substance abuse and dependence are both a maladaptive pattern of substance use, which leads to significant impairment or distress (Varcarolis, E, 2005). The difference between the two, is that abuse impairs responsibility at work, school and home. There is a recurrent legal problems but use continues regardless of the consequences (Varcarolis, E, 2005). There are problemsShow MoreRelatedSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder706 Words   |  3 PagesBipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by changes in mood. It can lead to risky behavior, damage relationships and careers, and even suicidal outcomes if it’s not treated. Bipolar disorder is more common in older teenagers and young adults, it can affect children as young as 6. Women experien ce more periods of depression than men. More remains to be learned about this condition that affects millions of people. Aretaeus of Cappadocia began the process of detailingRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1454 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the greatly investigated neurological disorders is Bipolar Disorder. Regrettably, due to social stigma, funding issues, and a lack of education, many who are dealing with this disorder do not receive adequate treatment. Bipolar disorder, is also known as manic-depressive illness, it is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and the ability to carry out normal daily tasks. Symptoms of the disorder are severe and diverse from the normal ups and downs that everyone goesRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms1486 Words   |  6 Pagespeople may think that having bipolar disorder means that anyone with the disorder are just simply put, â€Å"crazy†, I was one of those people but the meanings of those two things couldn’t possibly be any more different. Bipolar disorder is defined as â€Å"A disorder ass ociated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.†(google.com) â€Å"Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness with recurring episodes of mania and depression†(nami.org). â€Å"The term â€Å"bipolar† — which means â€Å"two poles† signifyingRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1020 Words   |  5 PagesBipolar disorder, formally known as ‘manic depression’, is known for its extreme mood swings; these can last anything from weeks to months and are far more extreme than moods most people would experience. Mood swings include episodes of highs and lows; these are known as mania and depressive episodes. Bipolar is a disorder that affects men and woman equally and affects around 1 in 100 adults. Symptoms usually start during or after adolescents and rarely start after the age of 40 (Royal CollegeRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1648 Words   |  7 PagesBisecting Bipolar Disorde r Introduction and Background Overview 3.9% of adults in the United States are suffering from bipolar disorder as of 2014 according to the National Institute of Mental Health (Jann, 2014). Although rare, it is still a prevalent disease in the realm of mental health and requires special attention from healthcare providers. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition described by repeated manic or depressive episodes. Furthermore, due to the extreme mood swings and emotionalRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder Essay1278 Words   |  6 Pages1 HelenKeller541 Physiology October 26, 2016 Abstract: Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder; also referred to as manic depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V, 2013). Bipolar disorder is a depressive disorder with manic episodes, it is placed between the chapters on schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders in recognition of their place as a bridge between the two diagnostics in terms of symptomology, family historyRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms Essay1384 Words   |  6 PagesBipolar disorder is simply defined as a manic depressive illness, which affects a persons mood and energy. However, the way it affects a person’s mood is dramatic and severe. These are severe moods are called episodes of mania and depression, which means a person who suffers from bipolar disorder might be extremely excited and happy one day, and extremely depressed the next day. In some cases, depressive or manic episodes last weeks, and in some cases these episodes last days. People who suffer fromRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms1493 Words   |  6 PagesRorman Ms. Chrisman English 10 30 November 2016 Bipolar Disorder If people don’t get enough sleep and miss a meeting, they are just upset, but for people with bipolar disorder, it can trigger another episode to their week. Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that can cause shifts in people s mood that are more unusual. Signs and symptoms can be different depending on if the person has manic or depressive episodes. A person with the disorder can also give their family and friends struggles, asideRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1700 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Bipolar disorders, also known as manic depression, are mental disorders characterized by shifting moods between depression and mania (Bressert, 2016). Those with a bipolar disorder, have extreme emotional states called mood periods. In the United States, more than 10 million people have bipolar disorder (Kennedy, 2015). It is lifelong, but can be treated. Although it can easily be treated, once patients choose to stop taking their medication their symptoms worsen. Around 15 percentRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms1390 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch of bipolar disorder will not only describe in detail the symptoms and affects of this mood disorder, but it will also include the advantages, disadvantages of the treatment and medications, and the major role that medications take. Bipolar disorder involves periods of elevated or irritable mood (mania), alternating with episodes of depression (Moore and Jefferson, 2004). The â€Å"mood swings† of mania and depre ssion are very sudden and can happen at anytime any place. Bipolar disorder is categorized

Paper Star Trek free essay sample

As a result, not only could he process information at lightning speed and arrive at rational conclusions, he also seemed to have desires, interests, and inclinations. He could formulate relationships and make free choices. In this episode, Commander Bruce Maddox, a member of the scientific research division of Starfleet, arrives on board the Enterprise with orders for Data to be transferred to him for the purpose of being disassembled with the goal of learning more about â€Å"it† (Maddox refers to Data as â€Å"it†, not â€Å"him†, throughout the entire episode). His ultimate goal is to create an army of androids like Data which can serve the needs of Starfleet in space exploration. When Data learns that Maddox may not be able to reassemble him, he refuses to submit to the orders and is supported by Captain Picard, captain of the Enterprise and Data’s commanding officer. Picard argues that, as an officer on the Enterprise, Data has rights—among them the right to refuse to undergo an experimental procedure such as this. However, Picard is unsuccessful in getting the transfer orders rescinded and so Data resigns from Starfleet. Maddox takes legal action with the local JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer challenging Data’s resignation and arguing that Data is not a person with a right to resign, but, being a machine, â€Å"it† is the property of Starfleet. He argues â€Å"Would you permit the computer of the Enterprise to refuse a refit? † going on to claim that Picard’s reaction is, â€Å"emotional and irrational. You are endowing Data with human characteristics because it looks human, but it is not. If it were a box on wheels I would not be facing this opposition. The JAG officer concurs with Maddox and rules that Data is the property of Starfleet and cannot resign or refuse to co-operate. Picard requests a hearing to challenge the ruling and is placed in the position of being the defending attorney for Data while his senior officer, Commander Riker, is given the unenviable job of prosecuting attorney. Riker opens his case by having Data define android which Data defines as â €Å"an automaton made to resemble a human being. † Riker emphasizes â€Å"automaton† and â€Å"resembles. After demonstrating Data’s abilities as a machine, Riker summarizes his argument: The commander is a physical representation of a dream; an idea conceived of by the mind of a man. Its purpose: to serve human needs and interests. It’s a collection of neural nets and heuristic algorithms. It’s response dictated by elaborate software written by a man. It’s hardware built by a man. And now a man will shut it off. With that Riker reaches behind Data and turns the switch that shuts him down say â€Å"Pinocchio is broken. His strings have been cut. During a recess in the proceedings, Picard consults with Guinan, a wise alien on board the Enterprise and becomes convinced that the real issue in this case is the creation of a race of Data’s to be enslaved to do man’s bidding. He believes this issue has been obscured â€Å"behind a comfortable, easy euphemism—property† and is determined to challenge that thinking. In his opening defense Picard acknowledges that Data is a machine but comments that this is irrelevant, â€Å"We too are machines, just machines of a different type. He also acknowledges that, as Data was created by a human, so are we, â€Å"Children are created from the building blocks of their parents DNA. Are they property? † He then asks Data a series of questions demonstrating that, like any person, he has wants and desires, values things, and forms deep personal relationships. Picard then calls Maddox to the stand and asks for the definition of a sentien t being. Maddox offers three criteria: â€Å"Intelligence, self-awareness and consciousness. † Picard goes on to ask Maddox to â€Å"prove to the court that I am sentient. When Maddox claims that Picard’s sentience is obvious, Picard asks what the difference between himself and Data is. Maddox replies that Picard is self-aware (he acknowledges the first criteria of Data’s intelligence) and defines self-aware as â€Å"Conscious of your existence and actions. You are aware of yourself and your own ego. † Picard turns to Data and asks him what he is currently doing. Data replies, â€Å"I am taking part in a legal hearing to determine my rights and status: am I a person or property. When asked what is at stake, he replies, â€Å"My right to choose. Perhaps my very life. † Picard points out how often Data refers to himself in his reply, â€Å"My rights, my status, my right to choose, my life. He seems reasonably self-aware to me. † He then asks Maddox, â€Å"What if Data can fulfill the last criteria, consciousness, in even the smallest degree? What is he then? Do you know? † He asks the same question of Riker and the JAG officer and goes on to say, â€Å"Starfleet was founded to seek out new life, well there it sits. Picard argues that if we create an army of Datas to do man’s bidding, then â€Å"Thousands of Datas become a race. Won’t we be judged by how we treat that race? † After considering the arguments, the JAG officer makes her final ruling: It sits there looking at me and I don’t know what it is. This case has dealt with metaphysics, with questions best left to saints and philosophers. I am neither competent nor qualified to answer those. But I’ve got to make a ruling to speak to the future. Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the property of Starfleet? No. We have been dancing around the basic issue: Does Data have a soul? I don’t know that he has. I don’t know that I have. But I have got to give him the freedom to explore that question himself. It is the ruling of this court that Lt. Commander Data has the right to choose. Data exercises his right to refuse to undergo the procedure encouraging Maddox to continue his research. Maddox agrees to rescind his request for transfer, commenting about Data that â€Å"He’s remarkable. †

Memo to Chiquita Brands International free essay sample

Since the present problem is a serious nature threatening the existence of a big player in the banana market, I have tried to go back to history of the company of highly political nature of the international policy making in this trade. I have tried to understand the role of protectionism in the global banana market as it has created a lot of problems for players like Chiquita Brands International. After a careful evaluation of the whole issue threatening the existence of our company, I have tried to find the way out. Politics and Chiquita Brand International It appears that Chiquita Brands International and politics have been intertwined with the birth of the company. The history of the company that dates back to 1870 has seen involvement of the company in trades to far off places. Right from the very first sale to North American markets the company seemed to move farther and farther to cater to newer markets and make big profits. We will write a custom essay sample on Memo to Chiquita Brands International or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Doing business in a foreign country brings in certain degree of uncertainty as the business has to work foreign legal framework governing business there. The company enjoyed a position of unchallenged power in Latin American region where it produced banana crops on its own land. Through banana trade, the company virtually controlled economies of the nations in Latin America. The company owned not only vast expanses of land in these countries but also owned roads, rail tracks, transportation networks as these were very crucial in banana business. The sheer size of business operations of the company in the region brought company owners closer to the governments of these banana producing nations, and further led to company’s control over politics of the region. Even the US government ensured business interests of the company in unstable areas by sending marines to safeguard company’s assets. The company not only enjoyed the ultimate power in its production base of Latin America but also ruled the European markets by taking over a 45% share. The present crisis of the company has a lot to do with politics as the European nations want to restrict US companies and give protection to their former colonies as regards banana trade is concerned. Although the company tried to solve the issue through political channels, the company must look into its overall functioning to assess the reasons for its downfall. The restrictive and discriminatory conditions imposed by EU are common for all the players in the market but other players are not under similar adverse conditions of financial crisis. This proves that although politics has played a role for good as well as bad for the company, the problem lies somewhere else. The fact that the European market has given preferential treatment to ACP region as against Latin American and other non-preferred regions right from 1975 and still United Fruits Company managed to increase its volumes, its profits and its grip over the world. The EU’s new banana regime seems to be unfavorable for the company but the fact that EU managed to break Latin American region by signing a framework agreement to give preferential treatment to certain nations and weaken GATT petition shows that Lindner’s political management is much poorer than the people who were managing United Fruit Company. In fact, Lindner understands the importance of politics in running such a big business empire and that is why has indulged in political funding and taking help of politicians and legal framework like section 301 of USTR. He has approached the whole issue from a political thinking that became problem of international politics that needs to be settled through politics. Protectionism in global banana market – Good or bad? The present crisis being faced by the company seems to be a result of protectionism in the global banana market. Ideally there should be no restriction for free flow of goods and services but this is not true. There is hardly any field where restrictions are not present in trade as the nation/region imposing those restrictions wants to protect local economies from tough international competition. Banana industry is no exception to this general rule. The world is still in a transition phase as regards real integration of the world trade into an ideal single market. Undoubtedly the protectionism has played a spoil sport for big players in banana market but at the same time provided much needed support to developing nations especially ACP region that formed former colonies of Britain and France. The trade barriers proved successful for the less-efficient producers as they got protection against bigger players. Such a strategy can provide control to smaller entities in growing bigger and providing tough competition in the market. Despite the protectionist policies of European region as regards banana trade the US companies and those from other parts of the world have made good money out of it. The trade has been quite profitable through all these years and has rather stopped this industry from becoming a home-ground for one or two big players only. The fact that this business needs a lot of capital, this industry is likely to go into the hands of a few big corporations. These restrictions can be justified on the grounds that banana produce from less efficient production bases needs to be sold for the economic welfare of producing nations. This has rather opened an opportunity for companies to foray into new production sites and develop those nations as Chiquita helped developing Latin American economies through its business empire. Company’s approach to EU’s Banana Policy Since the company, throughout its history, has enjoyed political support in the Latin American region and the US, Keith E. Lindner’s approach to solve the problem through political channels seems quite obvious. Instead of taking proactive action in securing its position in EU markets by securing more licenses or creating new production base in EU preferred regions, company depended more on political links. However, the political power came under suspicion as EU prevented attempts of a strong GATT petition by dividing Latin American region by signing a Framework Agreement with a couple of nations and giving them better access to European markets. This should be considered as a political disaster for the company as it further restricted the company’s business in European region. Lindner filed section 301 petition with USTR only after the company had already lost a sizable market share to its competitors in the European region. Although the step was in the right direction but it was too late. Instead of directly going for asking for action against Latin American signatories to the framework agreement the company should have used its political resources to lobby as one entity. Instead Lindner approached Bob Dole, Kansas Senator to put pressure on these countries as they seemed to soft targets against political pressure given the fact that they were developing nations and were dependent on US for a lot of things. Dole not only helped Lindner to get his section 301 application through but also put pressure on the US government to relate banana regime with passage of GATT. Lindner and Bob Dole did their best to get the banana regime highlighted and corrective measures taken by the government but it failed as the two were exposed by the media. Due to political reasons Bob had to back out as he could not fully justify his all out support for a company that had major part of its operations and assets outside US. Although Bob backed out of the political game plan, his support and active campaigning lead to some developments at USTR asking for possible sanction against EU and Latin American signatories of Framework Agreement. What’s next? Since the company over years had enjoyed a political support in its business and financed the political regimes, it approached the banana regime with same mindset. Instead of understanding the financial implications and finding ways out to neutralize negative implications through good business planning and action, the company relied more on political links and legal framework. Even on political front he could not keep the Latin American economies together to give a tough fight to the banana regime in Europe. He should have used Germany in getting some relief from the restrictive banana regime as Germany had no areas to provide protection in this trade. The fact that Germany was against the regime could not be used by the company in its favor. Since the company has already invested a lot on political parties in the US, the company should continue lobbying for strict action against EU on banana regime and should put all its weight behind section 301 petitions with USTR. This will certainly provide company with some relief in the longer run. However, the company needs a short term solution to its problems as it is under severe financial pressure. The company must look into its financial statements and try to find out the problem areas. While its US-based competitors are expanding into ACP region, the company cannot afford to be left behind. The company cannot think of such a measure as the company has a cash crisis. The financial statements show that the sales of the company have increased and so have operating income. The problem area seems to be heavy debt. The immediate solution lies in selling reserve land; part of transportation network and other assets in Latin American region and with the proceeds increase cash position and expand in ACP region. This will lead to better market share in Europe and provide some insurance against uncertainties as the plantations would be spread across continents. The company should also try to expand its operations in other crops as it can provide better profitability. All the big competitors in the banana trade seem to be dependent less on banana sales as part of their total sales as compared to Chiquita. The company seems to be too much dependent on a single item and therefore diversification is another option that the company can resort to.