Back to Basics

Back to Basics Our website turned six years old this month! The above photo was taken on a rooftop in downtown Dayton, Ohio, the same week in December 2010 that we started our blog. Since then, weve swapped haircuts, and much has happened over the past half-dozen years. Yes, were looking ahead toward 2017, but first lets take a glance in the rearview. Here are a few highlights. 2010: Started TheMinimalists.com (how we started our blog) 2011: Published our first book, Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life 2012: Moved from Dayton, Ohio, to Missoula, Montana 2013: Cofounded Asymmetrical, a publishing house for the indie at heart 2014: Embarked on 100-city tour with our memoir, Everything That Remains 2015: Focused on contributionâ€"three wells, two schools, one orphanage 2016: Opened a coffeehouse, and our film was the years #1 documentary 2017: Back to basicsâ€"writing, podcasting, and a potential tour But of course, it hasnt been all ponies and rainbows: weve experienced failure, loss, frustration, breakups, heartbreak, arguments, and many struggles along the way. However, its important to note that while life is far from perfect, weve traded our old, vapid problems (consumerism, debt, corporatism, discontent) for newer, better problems. Weve let go of the past to make room for whats on the horizon. We never planned on most of what has transpired: we never developed a business strategy or a five-year plan. Doing so would have overwhelmed us, and we likely wouldntve accomplished much of what we did had we ruminated endlessly about long-term goals. Instead, we tend to focus on one or two main projects each yearâ€"keeping an eye on the horizon, not worrying about what lies beyond itâ€"and everything we do must serve those endeavors. If it doesnt, then we say noâ€"not for the sake of saying no, but so we can say yes to that which is most important. Its important to note that this journey has been a team effort. We certainly couldntve done it on our own, nor would we want to. The Minimalists are more than a couple guys from the Midwestâ€"it takes the chemistry and creativity and shared ideals of the group to create a movement. Our actual team involves more than a dozen people, and nearly 5 million readers. Thank you for being part of that growing group. Now, what does the future hold? Were getting back to basics for 2017. Now that our documentary, Minimalism, is on Netflix, were once again focused on creating. Our craft table is three-legged: (1) writing, which has been our creative foundation since the beginning; (2) podcasting, which is still relatively new to us, so it helps us grow; and (3) touring: once Joshuas back pain improves, were considering hitting the road once again with a handful of new ideas (subscribe to our email newsletter to be notified of new events). How about you? What will your life look like a year from now? Six years from now? What priority do you want to dedicate time to next year? What problems are you going to trade for better problems? What must you let go of to make that happen? Happy New Year, Joshua Ryan

The Illiad by Homer - 1206 Words

Women have held many different roles in society throughout human history. Since the beginning of time men have always been viewed as superior. In Homer’s Iliad, a perfect example of the suppressive role of women is shown. Women are treated as property and are used for the mere purpose of reproduction within the household. Paralyzed by their unfortunate circumstances, they were taken and given as if they were material belongings. In Homers Iliad, women are seen and introduce as rewards to the male heroines and usually the greatest fighters. They are depicted as being inferior to men both physically and intellectually. Throughout the epic poem, women play an important role that symbolizes their relative significance and the impact they†¦show more content†¦She is melancholic with her situation in the city of Troy but she has no doubt that she must settle through this because the gods have instructed it. Aphrodite, clearly enraged expresses her inner pain. This burst of emotions proves that the gods share some of the same characteristics as the humans themselves. Another incident happens in book five where Aphrodite experiences physical pain when Diomedes, after waiting patiently until he grasped the right opportunity to strike her and cause her to bleed her â€Å"divine blood† Aphrodite tries to take revenge when she complains her mother Dione of her assault and tries to influence Dione that the war is beyond the Trojans and the Achaeans; this aggression shown towards her was clearly a implication that the Argives yearned for war. This act of vengeance shows the women’s aggression play a major role throughout the epic. The reprisals of women can cause the war in the epic to become hotter or to calm down a bit. Aphrodite, clearly infuriated by Diomedes, makes this Trojan War a personal obsession. Helen serves as the rousing cause for the Achaean’s war with Troy and brings about the first battle in the epic. This battle is the clash between Menelaos and Paris, however; it does not resume for long in the Iliad. She takes control over the battle between Menelaos and Paris the young Trojan prince and then flies off to Paris side when Aphrodite leads him off of the battlefield using her sexual powers. HelenShow MoreRelatedThe Illiad by Homer1157 Words   |  5 Pageshold his ground no longer, he left the gates behind him and away he fled in fear(22.162-164) He acted in a dishonorable, not heroic and disgraceful way. Although these two times, he is still considered a hero and he is a good example of what the Homer, just as all the Ancient Greeks, considered to be heroic. The only person that was not afraid of death was Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior. Achilles was half human and half god. He is truly what a god should be according to the Ancient GreeksRead MoreThe Illiad by Homer: Homer The Ancient Inspiration518 Words   |  2 Pagesocean stream to glitter with brilliance† (Homer 22). This is a beautiful line from Homer’s The Iliad. It is a comparison to the stars describing someone or something that stands out amongst an ordinary crowd and proves himself. This seems to fit Homer’s description perfectly. Despite the fact that his life was a mystery, Homer, â€Å"The teacher of Greece†, is legendary due to the multiple theories about his existence, his poems, and his beliefs. To begin, Homer had a very incomprehensible life that scholarsRead MoreTroy Versus Homers Illiad2234 Words   |  9 PagesTROY VS HOMERS ILIAD (A comparison between the two with a mix of movie reviewing) by Amber Shepherd When comparing the movie Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petterson, and The Iliad, written by Greek poet Homer we can clearly see that although Petterson has made an excellent film he has clearly left out certain aspects of the Iliad which really define the story. Both versions portray the Trojan War between Greece and Troy, Achilles killing Hector and King Priam visiting Achilles to ask for the bodyRead MoreJacques Louis David, Andromache Mourning Hector1145 Words   |  5 Pagesto his artwork, encapsulating important Homeric textual and philosophical references. Masterfully, David engages audience with four central themes of the illiad; the rage of Achillies, Hectors death a metaphor for the fall of troy; and most importantly, the human impact of War. The ominous, heart-breaking family portrait not only enhances Homers’ text, but also ‘paints’ David’s own time; a steady shift into the Romantic Eras’ emphasis on emotive expressionism and passion. After Jacques-Louis David’sRead MoreThe Fury of Achiles in Homers Illiad and Ovids Metamorphoses1066 Words   |  4 PagesAchilles Through the stories in both Homers Illiad and Ovids Metamorphoses one can see the power and the fury of Achilles, one greatest Greek warriors in the Trojan War. In Homers Illiad, Homer illustrates the battle between Achilles Hector, who was the Prince of Troy. In Ovids Metamorphoses, Ovid illustrates the battle between Achilles and Cycnus, who is the son of Neptune. In both battles, the outcome is the same both warriors are slain by Achilles. While both stories have the same endingRead MoreThe Trojan War : History Not Myth1545 Words   |  7 Pageshistories most legendary battles. This battle is told to have lasted ten years, resulting in the eventual collapse of Troy, under the siege of Greek forces. Modern knowledge of the Trojan War has survived mainly through the account given in Homer’s Illiad, and while having proved to be a rich source of inspiration for other writers, artists, and even filmmakers in recent history, much speculation still exists surrounding his accoun t. I will analyze modern interpretations of the Trojan War and examineRead MoreAdvent of the Trojan War Essay544 Words   |  3 PagesEric Cline from the George Washington University says â€Å"The archaeological and textual evidence indicates that a Trojan War or Wars took place and that Homer chose to write about one or more of them making it into a great ten-year-long saga†. In the Illiad the Trojan War was fought around 1200-1100 BC. The Illiad was writing by the blind poet Homer around 750 BC. Helen of Sparta was married to king Menelaus of Sparta. The Mycenaeans had recently formed a peace treaty with Troy. However this was allRead MoreThe Trojan War - Fact or Fiction?1674 Words   |  7 PagesThe Trojan War Ââ€" Fact or Fiction? The Trojan War. Confined totally to the pages of Homers The Illiad, the indulgent fantasy of a Greek poet who lived over two and a half thousand years ago- or a historic fact at the centre of the most famous quarrel ever? The Illiad is the ancient tale of a mighty city called Troy that lay at the edge of Asia Minor whose prince abducted Helen, the most beautiful woman of all time, from the king of Greek Sparta, causing the Greeks to send an army in a thousandRead MoreCharacteristics Of A Hero In The Illiad979 Words   |  4 Pagesabout unrealistic heroes who wear crazy outfits and capes and have a different they hide behind, but during the time of the Ancient Greeks, they had slightly different thoughts on heroes. When it comes to The Illiad by Homer, one of the biggest things focused on is the image of the hero. Homer never directly gives the answer to the question â€Å"What makes a good hero?†, but he does write about many heroes, and through the writings it is easy to pick up what qualities make a good hero. It is also madeRead MoreAnalysis Of Xenia And The Odyssey 889 Words   |  4 PagesProfessors Name Course Number †¨Date The Significance of Xenia in the Works of Homer: Hospitality in the Illiad and the Odyssey The concept of Xenia was extremely significant in ancient Greek culture. As such, it played a prominent role in the works of authors, most specifically Homer. In fact, some of the most significant information we have about the concept of Xenia, as it relates to cultural norms come from the work of Homer, and the examples of hospitality demonstrated in the protagonist’s journeys

Ownership Of Wild And Exotic Animals - 1481 Words

Ownership of Wild and Exotic Animals â€Å"Those who wish to pet and baby wild animals love them. But those who respect their natures and wish to let them live normal lives, love them more,† (Teale). This quote shows that people who keep wild animals as pets do not realize that the native environment provides the wild animals with the necessities they cannot receive as a pet. Permits should not be given to people to own wild and exotic animals as pets because it is inhumane and dangerous. People who keep exotic animals as pets do not realize the danger they are putting on the animals or themselves. There have been around 2,000 incidents involving captive exotic pets that have been reported and 75 reported deaths between the years of 1990†¦show more content†¦States categorized in B* have a semi-ban on exotic animals. This allows their citizens to own some exotic animals but other animals are forbidden. The type of animals that are forbidden depends on the different states. The states included under this category are Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Virginia, and West Virginia. (Summary of State Laws). The final two classifications that permits are separated into are the categories of L and N, in which the states either requires a permit or do not require a permit. In category L, states require exotic pet owners to receive a license or to at least register with the local authorities to legally own those exotic animals. Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Texas are the states that are classified as category L. The states that do not require an owner to receive a permit or license are specified to be in category N. However, these states may require similar aspects of a license such as an entry permit or a veterinary certificate. These states would include Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. (Summary of State Laws). Within these categories of B, B*, L, and N there are smaller subcategories that separate the animals into classes. The subcategories are Class I, Class II, and Class III but the types of animals in each class

Justus Case Free Essays

Just Us! Case Just Us! is a corporation that imports, roasts and sells primarily organic coffee from fair traded certified coffee producers. Their vision is: â€Å"to be a leading Fair Trade business that builds on quality, professionalism and innovation for the benefit of all our stake holders. Since its inception, Just Us! had experienced healthy growth in the maritime provinces of Canada, mainly supported by its corporate values: social and environmental responsibility, sustainability, ethical practices in all the areas of the business and in all stakeholders, and product differentiation. We will write a custom essay sample on Justus Case or any similar topic only for you Order Now They even opened a fair trade museum to help educate the public on the social impact and benefits of fair trade. Once roasted and packed, the coffee and other products are shipped to retail outlets, supermarket chains, health food stores, coffee shops and churches. A substantial portion of Just Us! revenues came from wholesaling to large retail stores such as supermarket chains. Their coffee is also offered in the Just Us cafes, which were meant to be a place where customers could enjoy a cup of premium fair trade coffee and gather information about fair trade. The locations were not standardized as a typical chain. A major competitor in the retail organic fair trade coffee market is Kicking Horse which also offers products that are certified organic and fair traded. Its main channels are: coffee shops, gourmet food stores, grocery chains and restaurants. The growth of fair trade product sales had prompted several major food brands to offer fair trade products, such as: Kraft Foods, Procter Gamble and Nestle. Also, in Canada, large super market chains such as Loblaws were offering also fair traded private labeled products which was concerning for Just Us, since supermarkets is one of its most important channels. In the coffee shop area, there was a lot of competition since some independent coffee shops and well-known chains (Ex. Starbucks) were trying to tap into the â€Å"fair trade trend†. Due to the original management team lack of marketing experience a new Marketing Director was hired and part of the initial issues she found was that Just Us! did not spend much on advertising. 2009 had been set at $20,000. There was a massive growth opportunity in the fair trade market in Canada but the economy was on recession, therefore, the expansion needed to be planned carefully. The marketing director had several specific questions to answer to help develop a marketing plan to bolster the growth of Just Us! First off, how was Just Us! going to target new buyers given the current competition and what segment would those buyers belong to? College students were clearly a growing customer base and Just Us! already had a strong presence in three college universities. Therefore, marketing should be directed at the young, educated demographic that are willing to pay a premium for products. Furthermore, the majority of their sales are business to business and their marketing needs to emphasize the benefits of fair trade to the end user. The case stated that the internet was a great tool for increasing awareness of fair trade products, along with initiatives that enhance word of mouth (p. 3). In order to reach new customers they should consider expanding their internet marketing, such as using search engine optimization/ search engine marketing. They can also utilize co-op advertising with other organizations that emphasize fair trade, organic, and environmentally friendly practices. The fair trade museum should also be utilized to educate potential customers and will be discussed in more detail below. All Just Us! advertising needs to emphasize the story behind the products in order to educate new customers. Educating customers on the benefits of fair trade is the key to growth and will set Just Us! apart from competitors with brand recognition. In order for Just Us! to enhance the cafe’s performance they need to improve the customer experience and become customers’ first choice of â€Å"place outside the home to enjoy coffee. Surveys and focus groups should be used to find out what customers like to do in their cafes as well as what customers like about the competitors cafes (Starbucks and Trident) and incorporate those into Just Us! ’ cafes. Additionally, the current Just Us! cafes are stand-alone destination shops. Just Us! should open up new stores in large commercial shopping centers in densely populated cities with multiple Universiti es. This would allow Just Us to still market to the young educated demographic that have long customer lifetime values that they have had success with and reach new customers via foot traffic in the shopping center. By keeping the overall educational theme about fair trade and brand awareness the same across all of the cafes should be able to convert new customers into loyal customers. Another questions the Marketing Director had to consider was how Just Us! can expand their loyal customer base? This could be achieved through improving the customer experience mentioned above. However, offering opportunities for the customers to get involved would create a concept of community among their customers and which could develop into a core competency and set them apart from their competitors. Just Us! ould achieve this by having guest speakers or workshops on fair trade in the stores or even get involved with community organizations to help educate people about fair trade. Customers could sign up to receive emails for upcoming events, new products, new services, and new social initiatives. These actions would all help expand their loyal customer base. The Marketing Director also needed to make several changes to the marketing program in order to benefit the cafes. The marketing budget should be increased to reflect the company sales and growth potentials. A larger budget will allow Just Us! o compete with similar fair trade coffee companies such as Java Factory and threatening new mainstream entrants such as Starbucks who can capture the market share quickly. The existing market media plan (Case exhibit 8) should be updated to focus on product differentiation and increase channel diversity. Just Us! should advertise in multiple newspapers, magazines, and outdoor locations to increase customer reach. Furthermore, Just Us! should promote more direct communication to events around colleges and young professionals emphasizing their fair trade and environment responsibility concept in order to foster community involvement. A major customer segment for Just Us is students and young professionals who are mostly tech-savvy. Therefore, internet should be a main advertising vehicle to reach mass marketing. Just Us should use internet marketing tools including emerging social media (e. g. Facebook, Tweeter, blogs), mobile advertisement (e. g. Groupon), search engine marketing, and co-op advertising on sites offering similar fair trade concepts. Finally, the Marketing Director needs to utilize the fair trade Museum as a way to spread awareness as well as promote brand awareness just like they should in the new locations but take it one step further. Just Us! could hold free concerts or guest speakers at the museum to attract potential new customers. They could also charge for the concert and allow free admission if you bring a reciept from a recent purchase at the Grand Pre store. Just Us! could sponsor a local race or work with local University fundraisers in the community. Once again, Just Us! needs to be involved with the community to educate people about fair trade and get their customers involved to create a sense of community that can lead to new customers and extend the lifetime customer value of existing customers. How to cite Justus Case, Essay examples

Job Order Costing free essay sample

1. Define and explain the meaning of a predetermined manufacturing overhead rate that is applied in a job-order costing system. The predetermined overhead rate is used for estimating the manufacturing overhead cost because companies cannot assign the actual overhead cost to specific job. From the case, Wall Decor uses a traditional job-order costing system. The actual costs of direct materials and direct labor are charged to its specific jobs which are unframed prints, steel-framed with no matting prints, and wood-framed with matting prints. As mentioned, predetermined overhead rate is based on estimates rather than actual results.This is because the predetermined overhead rate is computed before the period begins and is used to apply overhead cost throughout the period. Wall Decor calculates this rate as total estimated manufacturing overhead cost divided by total estimated cost of prints. Then, companies use predetermined overhead rates to allocate manufacturing overhead costs to each unframed or framed print, based on the costs of the prints. We will write a custom essay sample on Job Order Costing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In conclusion, Wall Decor can assign this rate to a specific job to determine total cost of each specific job when it is completed. 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the cost of each print as a manufacturing overhead cost driver? From the case, Wall Decor calculates predeterminated overhead rate as total estimated manufacturing overhead cost divided by total estimated cost of prints. The advantage of using the cost of each print as a manufacturing overhead cost driver is that the base is easily to determined because we can calculate the cost of the prints. There are some disadvantages of using the cost of each print as a manufacturing overhead cost driver. Manufacturing overhead is an indirect cost.This means that it is either impossible or difficult to trace these costs to a particular product. The actual overhead incurred may not relate to the cost of print for example, an unframed print would get a higher share of overhead cost due to its higher volume comparing to the framed print that require much effort but still get a lower share of overhead because its lower volume. 3. Using information next page. Compute and interpret the predetermined manufacturing overhead rate for Wall Decor. Wall Decor allocates its overhead on the basis of cost of print.

Women are just as Violent as Men an Example by

Women are just as Violent as Men When we heard of domestic violence, it usually registers in our minds that women are victims. Most of the reported crimes, men are the assailants and women are the victims. Beyond our knowledge, there are numerous cases where men are abused by their partners but decided to remain silent about it. Need essay sample on "Women are just as Violent as Men" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Most of us think that the level of violence inflicted on men by women is less serious than that inflicted by women (Straus, M. 1993). That is why when women are abusive; some of us think that women are just being defensive of themselves against men. Our society seemed to harbor an implicit acceptance of womens violence as relatively harmless, according to Maguire, J. (1999). Men chose to remain silent of their situation because of embarrassment. Men feel that people will not believe their stories. Due to this, rate of men being abused by women is difficult to estimate due to cases that are not reported and filed which leaves the whole story on women being abused by their partners Violence against men may start from actions such as shoving, pushing, and throwing objects; later on, it may turn into verbal abuse. It shows that men are more deeply affected by the cruel words that women might say such as coward and failure rather physical actions. Men can endure physical violence that women may give for they are tougher than women. In a more detailed way, women are just as violent as men. Psychological problem such as personality disorder often makes a woman characteristically abusive and violent. Women may also be suicidal and have severe mood swings which often result to being violent. Frustrations and depression can be expressed by women easier than men do. Women can be very vocal and violent about what they are feeling. Womens violence, psychologically speaking, can be interpreted easier than men. Their mental and emotional condition is a result of their own insecurities. Women have the need to create unrealistic expectations and demands towards men wherein they become violent when men were unable to provide or meet their demands. Unlike battered women who will do everything just to get out of the bad relationship, abused men chose to stay because they consider factors such as protecting their children from their wives or partners, they feel guilty about the situation and they think that they deserve the treatment that they are getting from their wives or partners, or they are dependent on women, regardless if it is emotional, mental, or financial dependency. References Gelbes, R. (1987). Family Violence. Beverly Hills: Sage. Lewontin, R.C. (1995). Sex, Lies, and Social Science. The New York Review of Books. Maguire, J. (1999). Are Women More Violent than Men? Violence Against Men is Ignored. Massachusetts News. Straus, M. (1993). Physical Assault by Wives, A Major Social Problem. Current Controversies on Family Violence. Sage Publications.

Business in Ghana

Business in Ghana Introduction In justification of the case for Global Ventures PLC business idea on production and processing of Cocoa, the company has focused on Ghana as the country of choice for the business idea.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Business in Ghana specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Currently, Ghana is the second leading African country in the world cocoa production after Ivory Coast with an 11% market share in cocoa production (2011 Investment Climate Statement). Many large companies, which produce cocoa such as Nestle and Cadbury, focus on Ghana as the country of choice. Though traditionally the country was involved in farming cocoa and then exporting it as beans. In the recent past, it has strived for increasing its earnings from the export by setting up facilities for processing the cocoa beans. While Ivory Coast is the leading world producer of cocoa, the preference for Ghana over Ivory Coast was due to the constant political instability associated with Ivory Coast. Justification As stated in part 2, lack of corruption was key to choosing the country of choice for setting up the new business. While no case can be made for an African cocoa producing country that is free of corruption, there is clearly a case to make on the level of corruption in Ghana being minimal as compared to other African countries involved in cocoa production and manufacture such as Ivory Coast or Nigeria. Therefore, it is important to investigate the situation on the ground while establishing the base for conducting such a business. One significant milestone occurred when Ghana achieved success in fighting corruption, which resulted in the establishment of the Serious Crime Office in 1999; thereafter, it has been involved in investigating corruption. In addition, though the country has not signed a treaty for its commitment with OECD Countries for fighting bribery, the law on procurement laws of 2004 helped in co nformance with the World Trade Organization principles.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Professional marketers; Marketing was clearly a key ingredient of success of any company In Ghana, The Cocoa Marketing Company is owned by the Government and responsible for marketing and selling a significant portion of cocoa in Ghana. This was a justification for the establishment of the company in Ghana due to the availability of professional marketers. As such, this ensured marketing for the company not only at the national boundaries, but also at a global level. In addition, the company was impressed by the efforts by the chartered institute of marketing, Ghana (CIMG) (2011 Investment Climate Statement). Having a strong base in the country since 1991, and having been certified by Board on National accrediting, the company has help in nurturing strong base in Ghana. Gen uine Reforms The ability to uphold genuine reforms is one of the most outstanding characteristics of Ghana as a country, such as strong leadership, local ownership and political will within the country. Ghana upholds democracy more than any other African country, and is considered to be mother to key leaders within the African continent. For instance, key Ghanaian personalities, such as the retired President Kuffuor and retired UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, gained credits for restoring peace in Kenya after the 2007 post election violence. Moreover, the country has been the leading one in initiating education and health reforms while, at the same time, using soccer to promote peace. Observance of labor laws Labor laws have been highly violated in some cocoa producing countries; in fact, many countries violate children rights by employing children in cocoa farms, as well as processing industries. In addition, many of the cocoa producing countries have highly violated human rights through noncompliance to labor laws such as minimal wages (2011 Investment Climate Statement). In Ghana, there is moderate observance of labor laws with few cases of children labor being reported and being compared to Ivory Coast whose poverty level is much higher hence motivating the violation of labor laws. Many organizations and trade unions in the country are responsible for ensuring that labor laws are observed.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Business in Ghana specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In fighting child labor in Ghana, organization such as ILO/IPEC, the government, the media, international organizations have helped in achieving the proposal of 2001-2002 â€Å"National Plan of Action for the elimination of Child labor in Ghana† through campaigns education programs and involvement of inspectors and the police. Organization in Sacco Schemes Ghanaian farmers are not left behind when it comes to forming groups that enhance their collective decision to being heard and implemented. In the pilot study to justify the establishment of the company in Ghana, the company was impressed by the presence of the international NGO Technoserve that has played a remarkable role in helping cocoa farmers obtain greater results from their crops. Instead of selling cocoa immediately after it is harvested, the organization helps farmers to store it in a warehouses managed by the cooperation. In exchange, the farmers are able to obtain loan depending on the amount of cocoa that they have stored. Sacco’s such as Kuapa Kokoo Limited and Farmer Organization Network have been particularly prominent in some areas of Ghana. These are prominent in mobilizing farmers and in fighting child labor among cocoa farming and production industry. Infrastructure/Logistics In justifying the case for the establishment of the company in Ghana, a strong analysis of the transport sector was necessary. As state d in part two, this would ensure efficiency and presence of movement and infrastructure facilities to transport beans from producers to the processing factory and from the finished goods to global consumers. Many African countries are lagging behind in terms of the transport sector, and Ghana has never been an exception. In an effort to improve the sector, the Ministry of Transport in the country has been on the forefront in implementing projects to enhance the transport sector of the country. In 2009, there was established a project that has been active in enhancing mobility of goods and services and in reducing the cost of production. The first role of the 2009 project was directed at the road sector and engaged in vigorous feasibility studies coming up with a geographical system.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Open market system In the modern society, many nations that have achieved a mileage in their economic systems have embraced the private sector and have strived to eliminate government system in the financial control system. In the recent past, Ghana has drastically grown in terms of the freedom of its economic system especially in terms of labor freedom and money freedom. This year the country has climbed to number 9 of the 46 Sub-Saharan African countries with a 60.7% score in economic freedom. With a 6% annual growing economy, the country is number 84 in the world in terms of a free market (â€Å"Global Research Report†). Cocoa supply in Ghana As it has been stated earlier, Ghana is the second supplier of cocoa in the world. With over 90 years in cocoa production, the supply of cocoa by the six areas of Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Volta, Central and western region the supply of cocoa are highly guaranteed. Though many of the farmers of cocoa are small holders with 4-5 ac res, there is a guarantee of production of cocoa since it is a main source of livelihood in the country. Regulatory framework The regulatory framework in Ghana is effective in promoting new investment and competitiveness of a new company. The Global forum on transparency and exchange of information is the guiding tool for Ghana’s legal framework, it has been effective in promoting new investment companies. Industry policy Industry policies include the principles, policies, rules, regulations and procedures that regulate industrial enterprises within the nation; hence, determine the direction of key development. In June 2011, Ghana trade and industry Minister, Ms Hanna Tetteh launched the industrial policy for the country to be implemented within the period of the subsequent five years. Key issued the policy that justified the establishment of Global Ventures PLC in Ghana included the increase of industrious employment in the production sector and marketing of Agriculture base d industries (â€Å"Ghana launches Industrial Policy† 3). Export policy According to the ministry of Trade and Industry which is in charge of all the export policies in Ghana, the sector is geared to ensure the implementation of a self-fulfilling export sector. The country is improving its international presence so as to improve the export value of its goods, which are mainly the Agriculture processed or partially processed export goods. The country is likely to gain stable and fair prices for its exports by increasing its multilateral presence with other countries. In addition, Ghana has a positive image when it comes to the quality of its cocoa. Since 1947, Ghana has been the sole nation with the government established institution (Ghana Cocoa Board) among all cocoa producing countries in West Africa (â€Å"Ghana launches Industrial Policy† 2). Alliance, trade, navigation, and taxation agreements are mainly concerned with offering security for trading rights, as well as eliminate situations of double taxation. In Ghana, there is a fair business environment where all competing companies are treated equally without discrimination in the enforcement of laws and regulations. This was a key justification for the establishment of the country in Ghana as it was not exposed to unnecessary discrimination because it was a foreign company (â€Å"Global Research Report† 7). We identified the country because the pricing of cocoa beans was left to the market determinants of supply and demand, but not controlled by the government. Though several economies are not isolated from the world market fluctuations, in economically powerful countries such as the US as well, the floating exchange system in Ghana was a justification for the establishment of the company in Ghana. Monetary Policy This refers to all those activities and interventions that aim at establishing an even supply of credit for business and advancement of trade, as well as industry. The eff ectiveness of a monetary system is based on a thorough investigation on how the policy will affect and diffuse into other factors of the economy of the country (â€Å"Heritage Research Institute: Global Research Report† 5). In Ghana, the monetary system has been remarkably effective with the Bank of Ghana keeping a thorough check to ensure intervention in the monetary system is on time. Social or cultural factors Culture is a combination of the tangible and intangible factors which influence how a certain group makes its decision (2011 Investment Climate Statement). In justification of the company establishment within the country, it was adequately necessary to investigate the social norms that influenced consumer behavior. Since Ghana is an African country, the consumer behavior was highly influenced by what family and friends thought about the product; hence, it was necessary to use this as a key strategy for marketing the company. Individual purchasing decision was influen ced by what their friends and relatives thought about the product. An Integrated supply chain was necessary so that the product could be produced and sold to the relevant markets; in choosing Ghana, the presence of ports, malls and mass retail outlets were a key justification in the choice for the establishment of the company. Unlike a country which is landlocked, the presence of ports exporting the goods to the outside and enabled a fast reach of the global market (â€Å"Heritage Research Institute: Global Research Report† 7). The mass retail outlets established over the years were also a key justification for the choice. Government contracts and large corporate orders Since 1947, the government of Ghana has been in the forefront in promoting cocoa farming in the country. The country has a Board dealing with cocoa that is responsible for making purchases and then selling it internationally. With the government involvement in Ghana, the company will be assured of the governme nt assistance in the sale of its products. Niche market This refers to a selected group or class that the company wants to concentrate on selling its products. Cocoa farming and production will not be something new in Ghana and subset group will be easy to form. Forming a niche market will be remarkably easy since the company is dealing with a product that the local people already know (â€Å"Heritage Research Institute: Global Research Report† 7). At a global level, forming a niche market will be quite easy since Ghana cocoa products are distinct, as well as famous for their outstanding quality. Potential global market size It is no doubt that Ghana is well known all around the world for cocoa production. Establishing a global market will become easy. While the quantifiable characteristics such as the population size and GDP per head might have been hard to estimate, other characteristics such as, cheap labor and semi-skilled labor for farming and skilled labor for processin g justify the case for Ghana as the country of choice. In conclusion, when it comes to the country of choice in Cocoa farming, Ghana outdoes all other countries. The respect for democracy, peace and its record in stability, favorable legal framework, as well as outstanding economic growth and production of cocoa makes it the best country for making key investments. 2011 Investment Climate Statement South Africa. Bureau of economics energy and business affairs. March, 2011, Web. https://www.state.gov/. Ghana launches Industrial Policy, 2011. Government of Ghana, Web. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/. Global Research Report 2012. Heritage Research Institute. Web. https://www.heritage.org/index/country/ghana.