Microsoft and Sun

The first problematical questions between Microsoft and Sun concerning the design and the sources of Microsoft Java implementation and Sun`s Java standards start back in 2000 or even earlier. When Sun’s more powerful and flexible standard of Java 2 arrived, due to different reasons (partially because of the legal troubles over Java)Microsoft was stuck in older JDK 1.1 mode. So it comes to the point, where you have to do something, or pass off. So Microsoft improved their JVM in the new version of Windows. And then Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced it has started an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corporation. In its complaint (Press Releases, 2002), Sun alleges that Microsoft has engaged in extensive anticompetitive conduct, including the following: Fragmenting the Java platform; Flooding the market with incompatible Java Runtime Environments; Forcing other companies to distribute or use products that are incompatible with Java; Significantly limiting Sun's distribution channels for the Java Runtime Environment; Intentionally interfering with the development of Java-based applications for compatible runtimes; Copyright infringement resulting from Microsoft's distribution of an unlicensed implementation of the Java Runtime Environment; Intentional creation of incompatibilities between Microsoft software and competing technologies, thereby raising switching costs for consumers and reducing consumer choice. The other side of this long lasting conflict is trying to find a compromise between those standards (Microsoft’s own and Sun’s) and withstanding the lawsuits with more or less efficiency. Also Microsoft protesting against the sources of the lawsuits from Sun. Jim Allchin(Jim Allchin, 2002) from Microsoft wrote: This issue was addressed in detail during the liability phase of the trial. The Court of Appeals determined that it was not illegal for Microsoft to develop and distribute our JVM just because it was incompatible with Suns specification. Also on one of the Microsoft’s press conferences Steve Ballmer (2004) said about interchanges between their companies: So I'd say that's the elements and then if you take a look at the payment, some of the money is to resolve our antitrust lawsuit. Some of the payment takes a look back and says let's make sure we are clean with respect to one another on patents. Some of it is forward-looking in terms of how we work together from a patent perspective. And then some of it is forward-looking, us to Sun and Sun to us, in terms of the licensing of key intellectual property that relates to making these things plug together and interoperate well over the network. Press Conference Transcript: Steve Ballmer (Microsoft), Scott McNealy (Sun), retrieved February 18, 2007, from http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/legal/04-02-04SunPressConference.mspx Sun Press Releases, Sun files suit against Microsoft for antitrust violations, retrieved February 14, 2007, from http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2002-03/sunflash.20020308.1.xml Written Direct Testimony of Jim Allchin, retrieved February 18, 2007, from

Clean India For A Green India Essay

‘When the last tree is cut and the last fish killed, the last river poisoned, then you will see that you can’t eat money.’ -John May The CLEAN-India Programme India has a population of over one billion, of which almost 300 million live in around 600 towns and cities. Unfortunately, as a result of stressed environmental conditions, most of these towns and cities are unable to cope with the rapid pace of urbanisation. Water pollution, unavailability of drinking water, inadequate sanitation, open dumping of waste, and loss of forest cover are some of the related problems. These have serious consequences on the health of the people and are also an economic burden to the country. Similarly, water-borne disease like diarrhoea, jaundice and cholera are taking a heavy toll on both human health and economic productivity. This situation demands immediate intervention in the management of rapidly growing urban environmental problems. The quality of the environment needs to be monitored regularly and, more importantly, scientific work needs to extend beyond the laboratory and become more community centered. While the regulatory agencies continue to play their role. Programmes that are community based are required. These will help the community understand local issues and take necessary initiatives to improve their local environmental conditions and come up with new locale-specific initatives to improve their sorrounding environmental conditions. CLEAN-India (Community Led Environment Action Network) programme was launched by Development Alternatives (DA) with the vision of developing a cleaner environment for our urban centres. This nation-wide programme focuses on environmental assessment, awareness, advocacy and action on school children who are the future citizens. The underlined realisation is that ‘each one of us is responsible for the current state of are environment and we cannot wait for someone else to solve it’. CLEAN-India Mission The CLEAN-India programme aims to mobilise community responsibility for environmental assessment and improvement in all major towns and cities of India through schools and NGOs linked with governments, business, academic and other institutions. CLEAN-India Network CLEAN-India programme partners with more than 30 like-minded NGOs, 400 schools and over one million students who coordinate the activities across 78 urban centres of India. They participate in various environmental activities and programmes for a cleaner greener India. CLEAN-India Thematic Areas †¢ Water quality and conservation †¢ Sanitation †¢ Land use and biodiversity conservation †¢ Water conservation †¢ Air quality †¢ Energy efficiency †¢ Carbon footprint †¢ Climate change CLEAN-India has evolved with the experiences and learnings from the various initiatives it has taken in the past fifteen years. It is now a front runner in the field of conservation and sustainable living. CLEAN-India programme evolved from DA’s experience with the Delhi Environment Action Network (DEAN) programme, which began in September1996 with five schools. Over 4000 children have now been trained directly on environmental assessment and improvement activities. Action programmes to improve local environmental conditions have been initatiated. Solid waste management, plantation drives, energy conservation, paper recycling, etc., are some activities done by the schools, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), business and industrial associations and individual households. This experience indicates that when environment assessment is youth and community based, it mobilises the community to review their local environment conditions and take the requisite measures without waitin g for external support. CLEAN-India has around 30 partner NGOs who drive the CLEAN-India initiative in their urban centres. The endeavour has been well received in these areas. Many more NGOs from across the country have expressed interest to initiate the CLEAN-India programme in their own cities and towns. Over the past decade, the programme has mobilised an extensive network of environmentally conscious citizens. They have assumed responsibility and evolved solutions to their existing environmental problems. Besides the core network of 30 NGOs, thousands of  school teachers and several other citizens’ groups like RWAs, parents fora, local business associations and youth clubs participate actively in the activities. The programme covers various aspects pertaining to our environment like water, air, trees and medicinal plants, waste management (composting, waste paper recycling), checking for food adulteration, bird watching, energy conservation, eco-consumerism. The CLEAN-India Programme is: Unique – because it involves children and yougth, the future citizens as engines of change Scientific – as it is equipped with scientific tools, methods and techniques Innovative – as it has a structured framework with flexibility to address the local needs Inclusive – as it joins hands with all stakeholders Holistic – as it addresses the entire value chain from assessment to solutions Regular – in creating an environmental movement combining hands-on scientific learning with civic action Effective – because it creates Eco-Citizens for tomorrow†¦ Recognising the potential of the CLEAN-India Programme, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Development Alternatives to mutually assist and strengthen existing initiatives of community based environmental action in India. This collaboration was aimed at mobilising the school network for continuous monitoring of environmental quality and motivating communities to initiate activities for clean neighbourhoods. Similarly, CLEAN-India is partnering relationships with business and industry associations and entities like the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), FORD Motors and also with academic institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Indian Institute of Science (IISc). CLEAN-India Tools †¢ Jal-TARA Water Testing Kit helps monitor the quality of drinking water. †¢ Pawan-TARA Air Testing Kit helps assess the quality of the air we breathe. †¢ Jal-TARA Water Filter provides safe drinking water by treating pathogenic bacteria and turbidity. †¢ TARA Mini Paper Recycling Plant recycles waste paper generated in schools and communities which enable us to make our own  stationary. Achievements/ Milestones †¢ CLEAN Dindigul recieved the JCB Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)-Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) second runner up award for excellence in solid waste management in 2011. †¢ CLEAN-India website won the Manthan-AIF Award for best e-content on environment in 2006. †¢ A CLEAN-Shillong (ex-CLEAN-India Centre) student was selected by Reuters for the Johannesburg Meet in 2000. †¢ The first DEAN – CLEAN Mela was held in 1998 and included an exhibition, competitions, quiz and a public forum †¢ CLEAN-India students participated in international conferences in Edinburgh, UK and Nairobi, Kenya in 1997 and 1998. †¢ Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Britain interacted with a CLEAN-India student in Edinburgh, UK in 1997. †¢ DA was nominated as the focal agency for ‘Earth Charter for Children’, South Asia. Few of our Resource Centres have helped us translate it into 6 regional languages also. We have released posters, brochures and one book on all the languages in ninth CLEAN-India Meet in 1995. †¢ Tree helpline started by Delhi Government. PIL in Supreme Court for protection of greens / trees. †¢ A number of projects have been catalysed with agencies such as UNICEF, Water Aid, Department of Science and Technology, MoEF and Delhi Government. †¢ CLEAN-India is a part of an International Youth Alliance ‘Be the Solution’. Support for CLEAN-India †¢ European Commission †¢ Delhi Government †¢ Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India †¢ Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India †¢ State Governments †¢ Central Pollution Control Board †¢ Respective State Pollution Control Boards †¢ Royal Netherlands Embassy †¢ Foundation Ensemble †¢ Ford Motors †¢ Jocknick Foundation Success Stories †¢ A Solid Waste Management Plan for Jhansi is being developed in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation of Jhansi and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board. †¢ Ten deflouridation filters were provided by the manufacturer and 70 filters have been set up with the initiative of CLEAN members by Rural Water Supply Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. †¢ CLEAN-India Delhi Chapter initiated and facilitated in setting up of a tree helpline. †¢ CLEAN-India Mysore Chapter has networked with Mysore City Corporation for solid waste management. They have also networked with a womens’ Self Help Group (SHG), to convert all election campaign material into mats and other decorative items. †¢ CLEAN-India Pune Chapter was successful in the Eco-visarjan campaign. The authorities banned the use of idols made of plaster of paris painted with toxic colours. Unbaked clay idols were made available and proper arrangements were made for immersions. †¢ CLEAN-India Dindigul Chapter has set up a residual recycling plant in tanneries as an outcome result of a campaign by school students. Harnessing Youth Power – Way Ahead Young people constitute a large part of the world’s population. India has the largest youth population in the world. Nearly 40 per cent of the Indian population is aged between 13 to 35 years, and are defined as youth in the National Youth Policy. A large population, especially young people and children, are particularly vulnerable to environmental risks, for example, access to clean and safe drinking water. In addition, young people will have to live with the consequences of current environmental actions and decisions taken by their elders. Future generations will also be affected by these decisions and the extent to which they have been addressed. Their concerns would be on depletion of resources, the loss of biodiversity, and radioactive wastes. Youth have both special concerns and special responsibilities in relation to the environment. Young people will engage in new forms of action and activism that will generate effective responses to environmental challenges. CLEAN-India will now focus on youth and provide them with an opportunity to associate with it. It will direct their efforts towards eliciting a positive change in urban society. In the past 16 years of its existence, CLEAN-India has traversed a long way in pursuit of its mission to mobilise community responsibility for environmental assessment and improvement, which has also earned it numerous laurels from both within as well as beyond its shores. But a greater opportunity of work and engagement still awaits our footsteps and we are committed to take it further in the days to come!

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster - Essay Example Tears not because of the tragedy itself, but the event resonates far into the deep recesses of what we know is true in every one of us. We all dream. We then work to bring forth the dream into reality, into actuality. And something goes wrong and how with the vision, the exhilaration of the dream - in contrast with how tragic our efforts become, we realize how fragile we are. For in itself, the dream, the challenge is made of sterner stuff. It' s as if reaching towards the dream is something that is beyond our control - for if it isn't, we would all stop telling fairly tales to children, knowing that in reality, it's not always a happy ending. (NASA) and of Morton Thiokol, the company which produced rocket motors of space shuttles (Greene p. 1; Berkes par. 6) fought for. The engineers supposedly voiced opposition to launching Challenger into orbit that fateful day. Challenger's launch of its 10th mission was already delayed for days by the cold weather and NASA's management was eager to launch despite concerns by engineers to delay take-off because the O-ring sealants (like washers in a faucet) in the rockets were not tested for complete reliability most especially during cold weather. Despite their opposition, the NASA management proceeded with the take-off and what the engineers feared came to pass. Hot gases from Challenger's right-side rocket leaked through the faulty O-ring and led to the explosion of the spacecraft. Like the mythical Icaru... No matter what their real personal lives might have been - we look at them like icons, the chosen ones to at the juncture of history. And looking at a picture of them smiling, with their blue astronaut suits, and holding their space headgear - we think of how the human race have stretched democracy into space. We are gladdened that of the seven, two were women - one of them a non-specialist, one an African-American and one an American of Japanese descent. These seven on board Shuttle Mission 51L, the tenth of Challenger's orbit into space was to do something probably routine for astronauts -which was to carry some equipment like satellite and cameras to observe something so ordinary as Halley's comet (Greene p. 1). What was extraordinary and made it special was that it was the first time a teacher was going into space and she was to be there especially to teach the first outer-space classroom lesson. Sharon Christa McAuliffe, 37 at that time, was chosen from the ranks of 11,000 teachers across the country to fly on Challenger. Her often quoted line from her Challenger Disaster astronaut application form was "I watched the Space Age being born and I would like to participate" (NASA website).1 The commander of the crew was Francis Scobee, 47 who enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and originally trained as an engine mechanic but longed to fly (NASA website). He pursued his dream and managed to fly 45 types of aircraft. As a NASA astronaut, he was part of the crew of the fifth Challenger obit flight who managed to retrieve and repair a satellite in orbit, the Solar Maximum Satellite. For Michael J. Smith, 41, the 10th Challenger mission where he was space shuttle pilot was his first flight into space. A member of the U.S.

Competitive Balance Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Competitive Balance Policy - Essay Example The essay "Competitive Balance Policy" presents a critical evaluation of the approaches and policies to achieve competitive balance in North American sports and European sports. One of the most used principles of football is "the good of the game and the interest of the fans, is enhanced when all clubs have a reasonable opportunity to compete for championships at least periodically†¦ the game is not enhanced when controlled by a few wealthy clubs". The above statement suggests that there has to be a fair ground for all clubs to compete in football, with the experience of football to the fans enhanced when there lack a few clubs that dominate the game over others. In case the chasm between the rich and the poor clubs becomes greater, there would be a negative effect on sporting competition, which would affect the quality balance making football a preserve of a few clubs. To prevent such unfair balance, clubs in European football, as well as North African, have undertaken to imple ment a number of policies. European football leagues employ collective selling of broadcasting rights to media houses to ensure quality balance among all the clubs. Today, the value of broadcasting rights has increased tremendously in European football league. For instance, in the 2011-2012 league sessions, the European premier league received more than 1.1 billion pounds as revenues from the sale of rights to media houses to broadcast matches from the European clubs, one of the most successful collective bargain systems

What Competitive Strategy Coca Cola Should Adopt to Develop Business Dissertation - 1

What Competitive Strategy Coca Cola Should Adopt to Develop Business Expansions in China - Dissertation Example has released new bottling operations in China with plans of expanding its business. The company has commitments towards the country for investing in further growth in â€Å"one of the world’s largest and fastest growing beverage markets† (Guinness, 2011, p.166). The beverage market in China is known to be one of the most vibrant markets in the country. Monnikhof and Kranenberg (2000) had presented facts that around 48 percent of the populations are regular consumers of beverages in China (Alon, 2003, p.151). However, the country has other popular beverage companies as well like the Wahaha Future Cola or Wahaha Extreme Cola that pose competition for the Coca-Cola Company (Zhang & Alon, 2011, p.287). Globalization and the increasing competition in the current business world reflect the growth and development of different businesses and their expansion across different countries. The beverage industry is one of the largest industries in the world. The Coca-Cola Company being one of the leading companies in the world’s beverage industry, a research on their business strategies would help in an understanding of how leading companies create and maintain their position in their own countries as well as in other countries through expansions. China’s beverage industry reflects a huge market, particularly for large companies like the Coca-Cola Company. ... e business strategy for the company that may help the company in developing its business expansion in China and maintain its position above and over its competitors 2. Rationale of the Study: Globalization and the increasing competition in the current business world reflect the growth and development of different businesses and their expansion across different countries. The beverage industry is one of the largest industries in the world. The Coca-Cola Company being one of the leading companies in the world’s beverage industry, a research on their business strategies would help in an understanding of how leading companies create and maintain their position in their own countries as well as in other countries through expansions. China’s beverage industry reflects a huge market, particularly for large companies like the Coca-Cola Company. The company has its operations in China but the growing competitions and other internal and external factors may affect the successful expansion plans of the company. The rationale of the study is in the learning and understanding of the competitive business strategies of a leading beverage company that may benefit the expansion of the company in the China market. In the modern world of increased globalization, there is a need to learn the theories and concepts followed by large companies to have a view on the strategies necessary to keep up a position of a company in the industry among its competitor companies. This study would be focused on the Coca-Cola Company that already has its operations in the China market and would look for further expansions to which the company has the requirement of innovative and competitive strategies that would keep its position above its competitors. Hence, this study is rational in the context that

Restitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Restitution - Essay Example On October 15,1999, Liam Youens a resident of New Hampshire, shot and killed a young woman she had been running a trail on for several years named Lynn Amy Boyer. Youens had developed an obsession for Boyer since their high school years and had created a website featuring information about Boyer and his stalking tendencies with plans of eventually killing her. Youens employed an on-line service called Docusearch,Inc., to acquire personal information about her, including her place of work and social security number. A Docusearch subcontractor gathered her employment details under a fraudulent "pretext call." The subcontractor pretended to be an affiliate with her insurance company. Docusearch then sold their findings to Youens, who then traced her workplace, murdered her as she was leaving for work and committed suicide. The parents of Boyer filed a civil lawsuit against Docusearch for unfair death, privacy invasion through intrusion upon seclusion, privacy invasion through commercial acquisition of personal information, violation of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and the violation of the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act, alleging invasion of privacy, negligence and violation of the state consumer protection act. The New Hampshire Supreme Court found Docusearch at fault along the following legal theories. The private investigator would be held responsible since his revelations create a foreseeable risk of harm. The court also declared that one whose social security number is obtained under pretence and without the owner’s consent may have a cause of action for intrusion upon seclusion for the harm caused as a result of the sale of the number by the private investigator. Finally, the court concluded that obtaining a persons workplace address and later selling the information is guilty of harm under the state consumer protection act. This case was a success for the victims. After the ruling that docusearch would be held culpable

Population Changes and its Effect on Adult Education Research Paper

Population Changes and its Effect on Adult Education - Research Paper Example This specifically has become its advantage in the international trade considering that many multinational companies want to invest in China for profit maximization in particular. However, in some parts of the world, the increase of population has become a considerable problem of the government. In the case of developing countries, many people could not afford to go to school and get their degree due to the incapacity of the government to set enough budgets for free education for all. There are specifically many issues and these include socioeconomic factors that need to be faced. Maintaining a quality life in the case of highly populated nation has become a struggle especially in developing countries (Glewwe & Kremer, 2006). On the contrary, this may not be a great deal of problem in highly developed countries knowing that the government can afford to subsidize public education. However, in the case of highly populated countries, private institutions for education have become the sta ndard for quality education. Thus, these sectors are ensuring that their service is a cut above the other. This is their specific strategic move in order to entice students with their standard quality service in obtaining higher degree especially in adult education. The impact of population change on education Clearly, population change has become a considerable factor on how the system of education has been structured (Blanden & Machin, 2010; Climent, 2008). For instance, in Australia, there is a strong effort to promote standard and quality education amidst the rapidly increasing population. This has become its central focus considering that its economic standing in the world is so far one of the most great in contemporary time. The point of the country is to ensure that adult education has to be of high quality considering that the there is corresponding increase in population. However, in contrast, education in Africa for instance is remarkably poor knowing that there are other important issues that need to be addressed aside from it. There are other social issues that may be tied up to economic considerations. Food in Africa has become far more important than obtaining a degree. In line with this, it is clear enough that the country needs to focus on the problem from the basic point of view which particularly would involve population control. This example may be contrasting, but it is evident that the level of focus given on education can be influenced by population change. In the Philippines for instance, the country is currently debating on reproductive health bill. The current president of the country is very clear about its stand on the major impacts of population increase. This is the reason that he is strong in his stand for reproductive control issues. There is a need to certainly reduce the number of children that a family should have due to current status of the country. In fact, the current situation of the country is a concrete example how educ ation is compromised by high population. The government could not totally support the need of students for higher education due to high budget. The country has to allocate other budget. Thus, there are remarkable budgetary constraints. There are state universities in the country but there is always deficit on budget leading to poor educational