Race and Ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Race and Ethnicity Essay The list comprised in this article is unfortunately true and eye opening. Many white people are unaware of the natural advantages that are written here. They take it for granted thinking everyone else is also entitled to these rights. Since I am not white, I can clearly see that these are privileges given to whites only. I can even say that I have never experience some of the things written in McIntosh’s list. I disagree with many of these terms. The item on her list that I feel most strongly about is: 10. Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of my financial reliability. People should not relate other’s financial situation based on their skin color. That is very wrong. It has been engraved into people’s minds that all black people are on welfare or food stamps because they don’t work. But that is not true. Just because someone is black does not mean that they are poor and unable to support themselves. If you are judged for walking into a high end store just because of your skin color, that is very unfair. Race and ethnicity does not have anything to do with someone’s financial reliability. Another that I think is unfair is: 12. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race. For the same reason as the previous one, race should not be a factor in the judgment of others. McIntosh sees these are privileges for white only when in fact; it should not be a privilege. Anything written on this list should be given to everyone, regardless of the race. I definitely agree with McIntosh that: whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work which will allow â€Å"themâ€Å" to be more like â€Å"us.† The idea of white privilege relates to the themes of white power because it is giving whites an overall advantage in life. White privilege also relates to the themes of white supremacy because it makes them more powerful. Privilege is being of a favored state by birth or luck. If the things stated McIntosh is called privilege, then it is extremely misleading. The idea of white privilege makes them feel confident, comfortable, and oblivious; on the other hand, other groups were likely being made unconfident, uncomfortable, and alienated. White power and white supremacy is all about making white people the most powerful and advantageous, white privilege also supports that.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Globalisation Economics Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Globalisation Economics Essay Redding (1999) defines that globalisation as the increasing integration between the markets for goods, services and capital and at the same time the breakdown of borders. Other researcher found that the process of globalisation not only includes opening up of world trade, development of advanced technologies such as communication, internationalisation of financial markets, growing importance of multi-national corporations (MNCs), population migrations and generally increased mobility of persons, goods, capital, data and ideas but also critical problems such as infections, diseases and pollution (Braibant, 2002). Thus, from many point of views, globalisation is seen to be the borders between countries, governments, the economy and communities, increasing liberalization and openness of markets, particularly through the elimination of barriers to trade in goods and services and the development of integrated international financial market. PRUS (2001) simplified the term of globalisation as a process of increasing connectivity, where ideas, capital, goods, services and people are transferred across country borders. Labour and employment Positive Impact However, the process of globalisation can bring more jobs opportunities in host country when MNCs move their production operation into developing countries. According to Rama (2003), job creation only will occur in export-processing zones where large amount of work forces are required in order to keep the production running. A good example of jobs creation would be Coca-Cola decided to invest in Malaysia with a new bottling plant, consist of $301 million investment. They stated that this investment will able to create 600 to 800 jobs at the plant with 8,000 jobs connect with local suppliers (Agence France-Presse, 2010). Negative Impact Woods (2000) stated that the government of developing countries start to compete with each other by deregulate their policy to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and multi-national corporations (MNCs). Hence with lower the wages and taxes rates enable the investors to avoid the risk of losing their capital invested in developing country. Research done by The Economist (2001) and Woods (2000) and found that when the government of developing countries increasing minimum wage and labour safety standards in order to protect local workers rights, this might could cause MNCs relocate their operation to another developing countries, where that particular countrys labours, who were probably willing to accept low wages by any standards, lack of union representative and legal protections such as child labour and other gross labour that abuses by global companies. Technology transfer Positive Impact Transfers of technology depend on resource available by MNCs with the ability to achieve the level of technology development in order to make them competitively in global market. Usually developing countries unable to do research and development on their own as the technologies that required implementing the competition strategy are most likely to come from other countries through technology transfer (Stewartet al., 2003). Hipkin and Bennett (2003) stated that the extent of developing countries, participation in global economy depend on their ability to respect where the importance of technological transfer cannot be overemphasized. There are ten modes of technology transfer which has been identified by Peter Buckley (1985, citied in Transnational Corporations and Technology Transfer to Developing Country) but the most conventional form will be whole-owned subsidiaries. This form is also known as FDI where MNCs can lower their transaction cost (Cantwell and Dunning, 1994). Hence technology transfer to subsidiary in other country allow developing country to learn the operation of new technology. Sometime subsidiary didnt allow local firms to learn but they somehow find their way to obtain the technology such as hiring operator from that particular subsidiary (Mansfield and Romeo, 1980). Negative Impact However globalisation can also bring negative impact to developing country. Certain MNCs transfer their technology to developing country as those technologies might cause health problem to employees as well as local citizens. Good example would be Bhopal disaster caused by America MNCs subsidiary, Union Carbide India Limited that produces pesticides. Sophisticate technology bought into India but the leakages of chemical caused more than 500,000 people suffer from the disaster (Eckerman, 2005). Social impact Positive impact Globalisation can bring good and bad effect to developing countries. Developing able to reduce the amount of population that live below poverty level with the help of globalisation as the effect of job creation has been achieved (Lee and Vivarelli, 2006). Local citizens are able to get a job and ensure the survival of their family and improve their living standard. Negative Impact In this era of globalisation, social aspect is tightly related to the effect of the waves of globalisation such as living standard, career, families and their communities. In this case, globalisation are claimed that it is a method to organise someones life which consist of assimilation, communication among people, organisation, and the government as well in other part of the world. Hence, it was also called the method that used driven by global trade and investment aided by information technology. Besides, this issue is also directly inter-related with some other issues such as unemployment, disparity and scarcity, and environment as the chain effect of the waves of globalisation (Globalisation 101, 2002). The inter-relationship between the technology and economic is very critical and it succeeded in consisting the rise of the theoretical approaches where the centrality of changes in technology have been accepted and the dynamic force of the term innovation in the elements of economical changes (Freeman, 1998; von Tunzelmann, 1995). According to Nussbaum and Sen (1993), investment in technology appears to have an optimistic link to wider philosophy in developing economic interests which include social choices and freedom capability in longevity and education. Globalisation on impact of the countries economy Positive Impact According to Baghwati (2004) globalisation is playing the significant role of enhancing economic affluence by offering new hope to developing countries. Gangopadhyay and Chatterji (2005) saying that globalisation has been characterised as a reduction in trade barriers such as free flow of goods, services and labour from one country to another. Richardson (2000) contends with these views as, the effect of this is increasing the trade which turn into increased income for developing countries and serves as an opportunity to stabilise their economies by taking the advantages of trade. This statement is true and has been proving by (Richardson, 2000; Dierks, 2001) that globalisation has greatly reduced the trade barriers between countries through adjustment of tariffs and import duties. Negative Impact The rise in globalisation has increased capital flow into developing countries economies. Foreign Direct Investment injects capital into developing countries in terms of stabilizing the countries economic. This is also a benefit that increased the countries financing through loans and grants from developed countries (Aurifeille, 2006). However, there will be net capital inflow that could lead to negative effects on trade. Chan and Scarritt (2001) noted that the large capital inflows were caused by the appreciation of exchange rates and inflationary pressures that impact on the countrys current account. This means that globalisation in improving the countries economy could actually stop the progress of the economy unless the host countries balance of payment focuses on the foreign plant where the export is more than import. The adjustment in trade barriers has lead to the promotion of specialisation to developing countries because they are able to concentrate on the production of commodities which can be produced at the least cost (Aurifeille, 2006). Developing countries fully use the advantage of globalisation to enhance their income through trading goods which they can produce most effectively. Such development is giving developing countries an opportunity to obtain goods that prove expensive to produce in their own countries. Corsi (2009) saying that, competition is always an effective way of enhancing innovation to produce better quality goods. Thus, globalisation had enhanced competition as the flow of goods and services between countries has becomes easier. Globalisation impacts on economic and environment Negative Impact Economic and environmental problems show few signs of improvement for a large share of the worlds people but when comes to external debt levels, weak export and real income growth, it often enter a mutually destructive relationship with environmental and resource degradation which linked to the agriculture and urban activity. The important connection between economic and environmental problems can be clearly seen in the widespread social and economic impacts towards soil erosion, deforestation, urban congestion, unmanaged chemical such as heavy metals, air pollutants, solid and liquid industrial and residential waste (Long, 1990). According to Huber (1982) and Simonis (1989), ecological modernisation was one of the primary modes of sustainable development which comprised both a theory and a policy or political programme based on the view that comprehensive political and economic change could be implemented to achieve a less material and energy-intensive economy through the application of integrated and preventive resource and pollution-reduction strategies. This technologically-intensive mode of production would not be a viable option for lower income nations because the intensive technological basis of ecological modernization suggests that its effective operation and flow-on benefits are probably beyond the reach of poorer nations. Indeed, rapid global technological progress has often resulted in the Intensification of uneven development rather than enhanced opportunities for the poor (Freeman, 1987). The post-materialist solution for technologically advanced economies would Conclusion Although globalisation can help developing countries to grow and become developed countries through different kind of benefits enjoyed by them but at the same time globalisation can bring disaster to developing countries, even can bring the whole country collapse in few months times. Research done by scholars indicated that globalisation can be a benefit to developing country but at the same time its also a threat to developing country. However the net benefits enjoyed by developing countries is greater than net cost paid as shown in this literature view can say that globalisation can actually bring benefits to developing countries.

Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

BEOWULF AS A CHRIST-LIKE FIGURE The epic poem, Beowulf, recounts the tale of a man named Beowulf who sacrifices his own safety to save the Danes from two evil dragons. Then, years later, Beowulf risks his life yet again to save his own people from a dragon. Throughout the story, Beowulf is presented as a Christ-like figure. This is manifested in the events that take place, the way that Beowulf speaks about himself, and the way the people treat him. The first way Beowulf's likeness to Christ is revealed, is through the events that take place. After Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he will fight Grendel, there is a celebration. During the celebration, Welthow, the queen "raised a flowing cup" (615) and poured "a portion from the jeweled cup/ For each" (621-622). When she got to Beowulf, she "thanked God for answering her prayers" (625). This event is strikingly similar to the Last Supper when Jesus passed around a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. Then, the crucifixion is portrayed when Beowulf fights Grendel's mother. During the stuggle, other monsters come to watch and beat at "His mail shirt, stabbing with tusks and teeth/ As they followed along" (1510-1511). Similarly, when Jesus was crucified, crowds drew near laughing at him, hurling insults, and spitting on him. Finally, Beowulf is said to have "Gone to a glorious death" (3037) and his soul "Left his flesh, flew to glory" (2820). This is similar to the resurrection of Jesus. All of these events clearly parallel the events of Jesus' day. What Beowulf says also shows his similarity to Christ. Beowulf says "I already knew that all/ My purpose was this: to win the good will/ Of your people" (633-635). Jesus also knew that it was his mission to come down to earth to save his people from their sins. Later, Beowulf says: . . . No one else could do What I mean to, here, no man but me Could hope to defeat this monster. No one Could try . . . (2532- 2535) Likewise, Jesus was the only man who could do his job. Thus, no man could defeat evil without the help of God. Many of Beowulf's statements are true to what Jesus said and felt. One other way Beowulf is linked to Christ is through the way the people act towards him and speak of him.

Baldwins Writing Style in Notes of a Native Son Essay -- James Baldwi

James Baldwin was born in Harlem in a time where his African American decent was enough to put more challenges in front of him than the average (white) American boy faced. His father was a part of the first generation of free black men. He was a bitter, overbearing, paranoid preacher who refused change and hated the white man. Despite of his father, his color, and his lack of education, James Baldwin grew up to be a respected author of essays, plays, and novels. While claiming that he was one of the best writers of the era could be argued either way, it is hard to argue the fact that he was indeed one of the most well-known authors of the time. One of his intriguing skills as a writer is his ability to intertwine narration and analysis in his essays. James Baldwin mixes narration and analysis in his essays so well that coherence is never broken, and the subconscious is so tempted to agree with and relate to what he says, that if you don’t pay close attention, one will find him self agreeing with Baldwin, when he wasn’t even aware Baldwin was making a point. Physical placement of analytical arguments and analytical transitions, frequency and size of analytical arguments, and the language used within the analytical arguments are the keys to Baldwin’s graceful persuasion. Throughout this essay, I will be using Baldwin’s â€Å"Notes of a Native Son† for examples. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son† is an essay that Baldwin wrote which focuses primarily on his life around the time his father died, which also happens to be the same time his youngest brother was born. With the exception of the last paragraph, you never see a paragraph in â€Å"Notes of a Native Son† which offers only analysis. The majority of the time, Baldwin will either start ... ...any places throughout his essay which effectively helps the reader accept what he says as fact. Then, within these analyses, he uses a passive voice to make points. He doesn’t assert anything. He merely suggests and notices things around him, then lets you make the obvious connections. Maybe Baldwin uses this writing style no purpose or maybe he just writes this way naturally without noticing. Baldwin may have written these essays with the intent to make a point, or he may have written them for some other reason. It was not my intent to assign a purpose to Baldwin’s writing, but rather to note an interesting and powerful writing technique Baldwin uses, and how it results in writing which is extremely easy to agree with. Baldwin, James. ?Notes of a Native Son.? 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84.

The Martian Chronicles Essay -- essays research papers

The Martian Chronicles   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury, is a science-fiction book and was written in 1946. This major work by Bradbury is a collection of short stories relating to Mars or Martians. Bradbury had a clear vision of the Mars in which these stories are set. His vision was one of a fantasy world from the Martians point of view. In this work, the humans from Earth are the aliens from outer space. Bradbury has won many awards including the O. Henry Memorial Award, the Benjamin Franklin Award, the Aviation-Space Writers Association Award, the World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement, and the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America. Bradbury supported his awards with The Martian Chronicles, keeping with the theme of giving his readers something to enjoy. His thoroughness in his writing keeps the reader wanting more.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Martian Chronicles is a collection of 19 short stories about Mars and the Martians. He opens the book with a very short story, 'Rocket Summer';. 'Rocket Summer'; is a great exaggeration of how hot it becomes within a few miles radius of a rocket launch. Around this certain rocket, it was winter. As soon as the rocket's booster ignited, all of the snow within the vicinity melted. 'The snow dissolved and showed last summer's ancient green lawns.';. Bradbury knew when he wrote this that a weather change that dramatic would never happen from a single rocket, it was simply to grab the attention of the reader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 'The Third Expedition';, the sixth short-story in The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury uses his description of America on Mars to give a setting and tone for the story. He suggested that by 1950, America had already started to vanish. By the time any astronaut reached Mars, the America the astronaut knew would be greatly different than that of America in 1950. Bradbury was setting Mars equal to small-town life on Earth. 'The rocket landed on a lawn of green grass. Outside, upon this lawn, stood an iron deer. Further up on the green stood a tall brown Victorian house, quiet in the sunlight, all covered with scrolls and rococo, its windows made of blue and pink and yellow and green colored glass.'; If just this quote had been read, one would have thought that the rocket landed on Earth. Bradbury, using his wonde... ...n anyone's 'should read'; list. It is a great example of science-fiction from the 1950's. Although people today may want a newer and fresher look at aliens and outer space, Bradbury provides a wonderful compilation of stories that could have been passed off as recently written. His ideas were so new to anyone at the time that we, in the year 2000, look at them as marvelous ideas that we can agree with, in theory, today. The Martian Chronicles meets the criteria of a great literary work because it has all of the characteristics of being one. First, there is a well organized and thought out plot to the story. Even though there are a number of short stories, they can all be read together as one collection on the same subject. Secondly, if you were to take out one of the stories to read by itself, one would never know it came from a book of stories. That is something that many authors have a hard time doing. Finally, Bradbury has built a reputation to be a great writer. This work doe s not let down on his reputation. Truly, anyone that is the least bit interested in science-fiction should really give this compilation a read. This book should really be on everyone's 'should read'; list.

New British Empire

Interview a senior citizen Tonya Williams PSYCH/500 March 25, 2013 Tanya Semcesen A face to face interview was held with Mr. C. Mr. C. is an 82 year old African American male. Physically looking at interviewee he does not look that age at all he looks like he is in his early sixties. Part I: Questions & Answers Q-How old are you? A-I am 82 years old. Q-When will you be 83? A-I will be 83 in mid-July Q-Are you married? A-I am a widow and have been for almost 53 years. Q-Do you have children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren?A-Yes I do. I had three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Q-Do you live alone? A-No I do not, my youngest son lives with me. Q-Tell me a little about your background? A-I was born in the south and raised in the north by an aunt. Both of my parents died when they were fairly young. My mother at 56 and my father at 42. They were both ill the reason for their passing’s. I graduated high school at age 17. I am a retired restauran t worker for 21 years now. Q-What are no most memorable experiences that you have had?A-The most memorable experiences that I have had are a few good ones. My marriage is one, the birth of my children and grandchildren, and buying my own home. Q-What are the most significant life’s events for you? A-The death of my wife the mother of my three children, the death of my oldest son, my parents, and the death of my domestic partner was another significant stressful event for me. Q-If you had the opportunity to change anything would you and what would that be? A-Of course I would change the passing of my family members besides that it would be the type of job that I choose and when.I would have choose one that gave me better financial security and job happiness. Part II: Senior Citizen Developmental History There is a saying that says â€Å"once a child twice a man†. There a many stages in the development of the human lifespan. In middle and late adulthood people tend to lo ok at things in quite a different prospective as they reflect back on the journey of life. This paper and reflective interview will address the many developmental histories of a senior citizen. Mr. C. is an 82 year old African American who lives along with his adult son.Mr. C. is a widow whom had fathered three children one of which is deceased. Mr. C is the oldest of five children whom are all males. He was born in Virginia and raised in New York since he was age 13 with his aunt. He has been living in New York since then. He was educated in New York’s city public school system where he graduated high school at the age of 17. Married at age 27 and widowed at age 30. Mr. C. ’s father died at age 42 making Mr. C 15 years of age and at the passing of his mother he was 36 years old his mother was 56.Mr. C. never remarried he really never got over the death of his wife and children’s mother. Mr. C. lost his oldest son when the son was 27 years old. Mr. C. was in a d omestic partnership many years after the death of his wife. After multiple years in the domestic partnership yet again he was faced with another death, the death of her. Chronologically Mr. C is 82 and is an imperfect indicator of his functional age. Mr. C looks like he is in his sixties. People age biologically at different rates Mr. C. eems younger than he really is (Sutin, Wethington, et al. , 2010). Mr. C was so gracious to disclose his medical status with me. He is a survivor of prostate cancer, his cancer has been in remission on and off for 12 years. He suffers from congestive heart failure which he developed a few years ago. Not an indication of heart disease at all genetics and environment play a big role in the aging process and disease (Beck, 2010). During the duration of the interview when speaking about the deaths of his family members Mr. C. ecame a little emotional and seem to drift back into time a moment of reminiscence is what I think he was doing, trying to relive those moments in time. I asked him how he felt about their deaths. He responded by saying that he came to terms with it and that he was powerless over what had happened and that everyone has an appointment with God and his faith is what sustains him to carry on every day. According to ((Sutin, Wethington, et al. , 2010) the events that individuals define as stressful and how they cope with these events change across the lifespan (  Aldwin, Sutton, et al. , 1996).Starting in late adolescence, the ability to reconstrue negative experiences as positive develops, but it is not until young adulthood that this experienced wisdom is translated into a touchstone for coping with future situations (  Bluck & Gluck, 2004). The most surprisingly response in the interview process was the interviewee’s ability to remain powerless and come to terms about death. He spoke about what he wanted his son and daughter to do when the time came when he passed on in this life, He accepts death a nd knows that it is inevitable that it cannot be avoided no matter who you are.He keeps his faith in God to help deal with the end of life situations. Religious affiliations and psychological aids are helpful in handling depression and may improve the quality of life of aging individuals (Butler, Fujii, et al. , 2011). The birth of his children and grandchildren played a major part in the interviewee’s life. While interviewing he always said family first. I gathered the impression that he is a very family orientated person. In the bedrooms, living room, and hallway of the interviewee’s apartment is pictures of all family members, recent and the throw backs that is what the younger generation calls old pictures.A different demeanor hovers over the interviewee when he shows me family pictures and speaks about his family. I sense it brings him back to his more youthful days, days where he was the ruler of full independence. I asked Mr. C. did he belong to any senior citiz ens centers and his reply was no and he further elaborated for me. He wanted to be around younger people not people his age that constantly reminded him of what reality was indeed about but to feel vivacious for if only a moment when youth was on his side.He stated that is why he loved for his daughter to bring her youngest grandchild over. He loved the sound of the baby especially when he heard it cry it reminded him of youthfulness and independence. Aging is inevitable; becoming wiser with age is not. Researchers, theorists, and clinicians have noted that older adults approach their lives in one of two ways: Either they draw on their strengths and live life to the fullest, or they magnify their weaknesses and restrict their lives to succumb to life's inevitable end  (Gilbin, 2011). From listening to stories about when Mr. C. as much younger and able to take full control of his independence that making the transition from young adult and middle adult to the latter being late adul thood was the hardest to come to terms with and except fully. Hot cocoa was made for me and coffee was made for him by none other but Mr. C. I offered but that was not an option he insisted upon doing so. He maneuvered around his home with no assistance from anyone and when I attempted to do so he refused. I see that he is like a person with a special need and you opt to do it or help they respond by simply saying they can do it.He spoke about being able to do chores around his home that he no longer could do, his failing eye sight and the need for a therapeutic bed, he has difficulty getting up from lying flat. No longer being able to reach items that are on his top shelf in the kitchen cabinets was a hindrance at one time Mr. C. uses ingenious items to help around his home with activities of daily living. Self-efficacy allows one to develop and carry out a plan of action, allowing for a sense of competency (Butler, Fujii, et al. , 2011).His cognitive skills are on point and sharp and he held on to the conversation that he and I shared foe quite some time for a senior citizen his age. The second premise of successful aging is maximizing high physical and cognitive functioning, with these two factors partnering to optimize overall functioning. Physical function is maintained with moderate exercise and a network of support from family and friends. Cognitive function can be sustained with mental exercises and active engagement through conversation (Butler, Fujii, et al. , 2011).The most valuable information that I received from this interview  is to make sure that I take care of myself health wise, choose a career that I get satisfaction from, and live life like it is golden. Do what I want to do like life is a bucket list. At the end when life is almost near the end you hold no regrets. . References Berk, L. E. (2010). Development through the lifespan (5th ed. ). Boston, MA: Allyn ; Bacon. Butler, J. P. , Fujii, M. , ; Sasaki, H. (2011, January). Balanced agi ng, or successful aging?. Geriatrics ; Gerontology International. pp. 1-2. doi:10. 1111/j. 1447-0594. 010. 00661. x. Giblin, J. C. (2011). Successful aging. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing ; Mental Health Services,  49(3), 23-26. doi: http://dx. doi. org/10. 3928/02793695-20110208-01 Rowe, J. W. , ; Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist,  37(4), 433-40. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/210948228? accountid=35812 Sutin, A. R. , Costa, P. r. , Wethington, E. , ; Eaton, W. (2010). Turning points and lessons learned: Stressful life events and personality trait development across middle adulthood. Psychology And Aging,  25(3), 524-533. doi:10. 1037/a0018751

Links And Relationships Within The Travel Industry

Tour operations is a dynamic and complex business environment, where companies must work with many different travel and tourism component industries, comply with laws and regulations, and deal with a variety of external influences and challenges. Unlike travel agents, who sell holidays and a range of other travel products, tour operators actually assemble the different parts of a holiday, i. e. the type of travel, accommodation, facilities, transfers, excursions and other services.If we consider that travel agents are the retail arm of the travel business, then tour operators are the wholesalers, since they buy in bulk from the providers of travel services, such as the hoteliers and airlines, break the bulk into manageable packages and offer the finished product – the package holiday (or inclusive tour) – for sale via a travel agent or direct to the public. The package is sold for an all-inclusive price, which is generally lower than if the different parts of the holida y had been booked individually by the holidaymaker.In working with other travel and tourism industries, tour operators develop links with a wide range of organisations, including: †¢ Travel agents – using agents as a sales outlet for the tour operator’s holidays and agreeing commission payments and booking procedures; †¢ Transport providers – negotiating and agreeing contracts with airlines (charter and scheduled), rail operators, coach companies, taxi operators, etc.to supply transport services for holidaymakers; †¢ Hotels and other accommodation providers – negotiating allocations of bed spaces that form the accommodation element of the package holiday; †¢ Ancillary service providers – contracting with companies to supply representative services, transfers, ‘meet and greet’ arrangements, insurance, car hire, activities, excursions, etc.Even the large, vertically-integrated travel groups have to liaise on different functions within their own organisations, since individual parts of the group are usually separate companies in their own right, e.g. staff from Neilson Holidays, part of the Thomas Cook Group, would negotiate with staff at Thomas Cook Airlines to agree seat allocations for a season. As competition in the travel and tourism sector has intensified, tour operators have taken over or merged with other travel and tourism businesses as a way of maintaining or increasing their market share and maximising their profits. This is most noticeable in the tour operator/travel agent relationship, where: †¢ TUI Travel UK owns Thomson andFirst Choice tour operating businesses, and the Thomson travel agency chains (TUI UK is itself controlled by the German company TUI AG); †¢ Thomas Cook AG (a German group) owns a number of Thomas Cook tour operating brands/companies, plus the Thomas Cook and Going Places chains of travel agencies. These ‘big two’ travel groups were formed i n 2007 from the mergers of Thomson and First Choice Holidays, and Thomas Cook with MyTravel. They dominate the sale of package holidays in the UK, accounting for just fewer than 50 per cent of all sales.These are examples of vertical integration in the travel and tourism industry, which is when a company has control over other companies that are at different levels in the chain of distribution or in different industries. Some of the largest tour operators also own their own airlines, giving even greater control over the component parts of package holidays. As competition in the travel and tourism sector has intensified, tour operators have taken over or merged with other travel and tourism businesses.This is called vertical integration and it benefits the travel companies since they get bulk discounts and make savings by using their own companies as suppliers. However, there is concern that vertical integration of this sort may not always be in the public’s interest, since it can reduce the number of companies and give customers less choice when buying holidays. Also, customers may not know that a tour operator is owned by the travel agency that is selling their holiday.Horizontal integration is when a company owns or has control over a number of companies at the same level in the distribution chain or in the same industry. For example, many tour operating businesses that are now part of Thomas Cook and Thomson were originally independent companies, e. g. Neilson and Club 18-30 (now part of the Thomas Cook Group), and Something Special and the Holiday Cottages Group (now merged with Thomson). Large travel companies take over smaller independents as a way or reducing competition in the marketplace, but this is not always a benefit for customers who may have less choice.Trade bodies and associations are established to represent the interests of companies in a particular industry sector. ABTA – The Travel Association is the main trade body for both travel agents and tour operators in the UK. Its members are responsible for the sale of over 90 per cent of package holidays and 45 per cent of independent travel arrangements in the UK.ABTA’s role is to ensure that customers benefit from high standards of trading practice in the  travel industry and that the standards of service and business throughout its membership are of the highest calibre. All ABTA members – travel agents and tour operators – adhere to a strict code of conduct. ATOL – A United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority scheme to protect people who have purchased package holidays (Thomson, Thomas Cook, etc) and flights from a member tour operator. The majority of UK tour operators are required to hold an ATOL licence, without which they may not legally sell air travel.ATOL licensed firms will have had their business practices inspected by the CAA. An ATOL licensed tour operator must also obtain insurance bonds from the CAA. The aim of this i s to provide refunds to travellers affected by any event which causes the airline to be unable to provide travel for its customers, and to arrange for flights (in addition to accommodation and other items which may be included in a package holiday) to return home those who are still abroad at this time.