How to tame a wild tounge Essay

In the essay, â€Å"How to Tame a wild Tongue,† Gloria Anzaldua the author, states the importance of maintaining one’s native tongue. She believes that people should speak whenever or however they please given that it does not harm anyone. Anzaldua does not want to escape her Mexican ways such as speaking Spanish. It is a vital part of her life because she communicates with her family members speaking a variety of Spanish dialects. Since she has no other way to show her Mexican ways, it is key that she speaks Spanish to maintain her Mexican pride. People take pride in the languages that they speak and its not right for others to tell them they are not allowed to express themselves in those foreign languages. On the other hand, it is important that to speak English in order to communicate with her classmates, teachers, and anyone around her. English is fast becoming the dominant means by which the world is able to communicate. It is being referred to as the global language as it is seen as a common means for interaction between different countries. This new phenomena can be seen in a positive light because the use of English as a common language brings efficiency and greater understanding. Nevertheless there some people who believe that this fact has changed and that now it is more important to learn Spanish and Mandarin than the English language. Anzaldua dealt with this issue on a consistent basis in her school life. Though she was not told to lose her Spanish ways, she felt that speaking English would not allow her to express herself. Especially in the American culture, it was necessary for her to learn English to communicate with her peers. Furthermore, the English language is the number one lingua franca no other comes close. At the moment about 1. 113 million people speak Chinese as their mother tongue, whereas about 372 million speak English. Following this criterion Chinese must be the world’s global tongue; and yet analysts considered English to be the global language of the century. Imagine if China’s economy takes flight in the coming few years, enabling the country to replace the United States as the greatest economical power, there would be a possibility that China could take over in the next couple decades. In fact, reports have shown that the number of Chinese learners is increasing dramatically. Chinese learners in Africa, for example, have increased to 8,000 in the year 2005. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation published the statistic in a 2005 report. The report also says that â€Å"in Sudan alone, Chinese learners have amounted to 450, and many have come to China to learn on Chinese government scholarships, according to Peter Nyot Kok, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Sudan. † According to the U. S. Bureau of the Census, ten years ago about one in seven people in this country spoke a language other than English at home. Since then the proportion of immigrants in the population has grown and grown. Ever-wider swaths of Florida, California, and the Southwest are heavily Spanish speaking. Hispanic people make up 30 percent of the population of New York City, and a television station there that is affiliated with a Spanish-language network has been known to draw a larger daily audience than at least one of the city’s English-language network affiliates. According to the census, from 1980 to 1990 the number of Spanish-speakers in the United States grew by 50 percent. Statistically, more people in the world speak Mandarin than English, but Mandarin is not spoken much outside Asia. A global language is a language spoken internationally. A global language is not only a majority people spoken, but also use in international organization or international event. It’s a well-known fact that there is huge demand for English speaking professionals in China who can facilitate international business. There is also acute demand for English teachers who can make the Chinese students better equipped for modern-day business and life. Chinese has more native speakers, however, it also has simplistic grammar, and it lacks articles, prepositions, verb conjugation and tense, singularity and plurality of nouns making it less effective than English at expressing complex meanings. It is also tonal, which limits the speaker’s use of tone for emotional and conceptual expression. Furthermore most Westerners find the Chinese writing system difficult to grasp. So from emerging trends, it seems evident that Chinese is not more popular than English as a global language. English is widespread largely due to the fact that it is used so heavily in television, film and music. Hollywood’s global spread has contributed strongly to the international popularity of English. It is also the predominant language on the Internet. Web pages in other languages often tend to have an English translation. The British Empire and the dominant nature of American popular culture have contributed overall to the spread of English across the planet. Because of this many young Hispanics have favored adopting the English language into their culture. In South East Asia, as a result of English becoming a kind of global currency, there is a large turn towards acquiring language skills not in any language but most specifically in English. As the world becomes more â€Å"globalized† or as corners of the planet open up for trade relations with other countries and tourism booms, the need for English increases. Hotels, shops and schools have a desperate desire to sell their services and make a living. People’s ability to survive is strongly linked to their ability to communicate in English. Consequently native languages become redundant and even endangered. People focus on learning English over learning other languages and also in many cases need to use their individual languages to a lesser degree. In fact more Asians speak English than anyone else. One of them is that it facilitates the exchange of information from one part of the world the other with ease. It is through the existence of a global language like English that peace and trade has been enhanced between dissimilar countries. It has also facilitated the mobility of people both in their physical terms and also electronically. Sufficient statistics indicate that most trade is done electronically and this is greatly facilitated by English as a global language. Finally, there are economic advantages connected with a global language. Crystal claims that the â€Å"more a community is linguistically mixed; the less it can rely on individuals to ensure communication between different groups† (Crystal 2003:11). Consequently linguistically mixed communities, as well as the global community, are spending large sums of money on translations and interpretations in order to reach its citizens. A global language known and spoken by everybody would undoubtedly lower these costs, and the spared money could be used in other important areas instead, for example in humanitarian aid. In fact, during the last decades the need of interpretation and translation in international organizations has progressively has been decreasing thanks to the expansion of English. Many international organizations find it necessary that all people involved speak English, since the translation expenses would be too high. According to Crystal â€Å"half the budget of an international organization could easily get swallowed up in translation costs if there was a lack of a common language† (Crystal 2003: 12). Mutual intelligibility, great career opportunities and reduced administrative costs are some of the advantages a global language would give. We are in need of an international language for communication, politics, trade and security, but at the same time we are worried about language death, the advantages native speakers will have and all the disadvantages non-native speakers will face. English is growing, it is a strong language, and its future seems bright. My opinion is that if there will ever be an official international language English is the best option. It is a strong, well-developed language with millions of speakers. Even if a global language might be important, different languages are of importance for their culture and for the development of their native speakers. Anzaldua wants to maintain her heritage by speaking her language constantly. She is in fear that speaking English will lead to the death of her heritage, but the integration of her heritage with English will only allow her to have communication with more people around her. Languages make the world more interesting and more alive.

Food Truck

Jennifer Collins Ent 1000 3-20-2013 Industry Paper Food Truck vs. Organic Trucks The street food trend has been a growing industry nationwide. According to American City Business Journal of Orlando, Fl. , â€Å"more than 3,000 street vendors made $1. 3 billion in revenue in 2010, a 12. 7% jump from the revenue from the prior year. The average startup cost of a food truck is only about $5,000-50,000 and the yearly profit potential can be anywhere from $100-250,000 per year. The list of costs for startup include fuel, maintenance, business permits, equipment, supplies, insurance, marketing and is still minimal in contrast to the fees required for a stand-alone cafe spot in a busy business area. This is good news. Organic food trucks have almost no competitive market compared to the food trucks that provide fan fair (unhealthy) fast foods. The mobility of this business provides a wider profit gross than a stand-alone brick and mortar business and the flexibility to drive wherever the c ustomers are can be a competitive advantage.I wanted to start an Organic Food truck business first rather than open a small restaurant for a few simple reasons. Startup costs are considerably less, and profit margins can be more. During my research of looking up for sale ads, I found that a used truck right now can be as low as $15,000 or a new one at $30-50,000. According to Forbes. com, I can move towards my market selling in more populated areas, whereas, â€Å"Purchasing a small cafe in my local area with twenty seats, around 2,000 square feet in size can cost upwards of $175- 300,000,† and then I am stuck in the same community for years.The basic food truck concept started way back in 1961 when New York began to regulate vendors selling food from push carts. Mobilecuisine. com- the History of American Food Truck article says, â€Å"Horse drawn chuck wagons started in 1866, sausage vendors sold quick hot foods to students at their dorms at Yale, Harvard and Princeton in 1974 and the first Taco truck in 2008 was regulated to sell food in a highly populated in Los Angeles, California. † The National Restaurant Association said, â€Å"The category tops $630 million in nationwide revenue in 2011. But when first introduced, a regular food truck selling the typical burger, taco or BBQ made about a third of that ten years ago. Currently there is no confirmed market spot for the vegetarian or organic food truck but this area is undefined. In the Western part of the U. S. , vendors who sold Asian, BBQ, or fair food sell the most products compared to the healthy foods that may be sold on a vegetarian or organic cart, yet there is a rise and a need lately in the health food industry with people trying to lose weight and eat better.Working in a health food kitchen for the past two years, I have realized how consumers have few choices in this area of eating out. Having the convenience of a healthy food truck alternative parked in â€Å"your area† is a perfect idea. Certain health risks and disease are on the rise and people love the idea now of having a gluten-free, soy or dairy-free, vegan or locally grown food choice in their own back yard where they can feel good about what they eat. Someone is looking out for them. According to Wikipedia. rg 2013, locally here in downtown Tampa; Mayor Bob Buckhorn organized a monthly food truck rally drawing thousands of coinsures. Saint Pete followed suit in 2011. â€Å"The biggest buyers of foods from mobile vendors are adults age 25-34 spending an average of $44 per month. † In Theresa Ehrlichs online article, she also ads, â€Å"major market area analysis shows that 55% of trucks park at a street corner, other venues or events such as rally’s are 18%, construction work sites 15% and shopping malls contribute to 12% of locations served. Right now, the phenomenon is gained so much buzz, that it’s difficult to accurately track the national sales. Yet as should be a ssumed with any business the first year, there are political, environmental, social-cultural, technological and competitive threats. Upon further analysis of my industry (Industry code #722211 mobile ready to eat pay first food service), and my industries trade associations (mymfva. org. Mobile Food Vendor Association MFVA or The NAC National Association of Concessionaires at naconline. org. , they outline a more extensive overview of the PESTC for further forecasting. POLITICAL: Some of my industries opportunities say that you will not have to purchase a separate kitchen to cook food in, as all the cooking can be done on the truck. There are rumors though, that these laws may change in the near future. Many truck owners may see parking tickets an s apart of an overhead cost. Parking at a free event saves cost of such fees. Permits to operate in the city are often affordable and I already possess a National Food Management License that is required by the state.I’m personally not ready to open a food truck but a few years from now when I am, permits and standards may change. ENVIRONMENTAL: Recently the economic state has plummeted and consumers are watching there money. They may not be able to afford eating out at ritzy cafes. A food truck offers unique food concepts at a more affordable price. Currently 70% of Americans are too busy to cook at home so they eat outside. On the other hand, if food truck owners do not keep up with trends and good locations in local areas to sell, consumers may not be aware of new foods.They would have to keep up with social media and marketing to promote themselves properly. Some vendors say they are using Twitter and Facebook to let customers know which location they will be serving next. SOCIO-CULTURAL: In my own experience with eating from a food truck, I see street vendors as fun and find the process is much like a â€Å"foodie groupie† in the game of searching out the locations where they may be this week. It b ecomes a fun weekend hobby. In the past Trucks were called â€Å"roach coaches. † I suspect that this stereotype deters some people from trying out a food truck.Owners must work extra hard to gain a positive reputation. TECHNILOGICAL: Technology is always changing and the prices increase for such equipment that may be needed to keep up with the times and customer demands. A food truck only has enough room for so much food, storage and equipment which is made to travel as simple as possible. Basic kitchen equipment based off of a standard menu is only required yet there may not be room for high tech registers or credit machines. Most food trucks use â€Å"Square†, with their mobile phone to process credit card payments.You won’t waste time counting cash or change for the customers and it works out just as quickly as any other process. COMPETITIVE: A competitive threat the local community might include a copy cat food truck that would force a new truck to step up his game, but as far as the threats of the environment in a competitive nature, I don’t see a lot. On contrary, the niche of having healthy food services is that it’s probably in no league of high competition with an actual restaurant. Because it’s mobile, this provides a direct link to the customer and find the most profitable areas to work in.If one area isn’t great, they can simply move on. Strengths within the food truck industry of â€Å"ready to eat foods†, I include lower overhead, creative menu options that can be changed, high brand recognition and lower start up costs that would also be affordable to maintain. Opportunities, I feel, are based on the individual business owners’ future goals. Moving into a tourist town where there are few trucks and less competition, offering something unique or replacing a truck spot that has just closed could bring more customers.Rising food costs or lack of expertise in financing or managing could pose as a Weakness. Rising gas prices, traveling expenses and county changes or restrictions could also become a Threat in the food truck business. On a better note, trends right now in the street food vendor industry are growing in our local area and are all the rage in western states. It is a competitive yet fun concept. In my personal opinion, the opportunities out weight the threats in this field so I look forward in learning more and producing a creative aspect to the ideas I already have in place.With the reputation that this concept first started with compared to the revenue its generated in the past recent years, the potential seems profitable enough and worthwhile. Food trucks have been around since 1866 selling ground chuck burgers and sausages but the vegan, vegetarian, organic trend has not been around too long making the potential gross profit almost unknown. I think this concept is a good thing to risk moving forward with. I see it as a win! BIBLIOGRAPHY â€Å"The co st of starting a food truck. † Forbes. com. Web. 27, September. 2012. Investopedia. Anjail, Fluker. Orlando Commisary Forms Association for Food trucks.Orlando American City Business Journal. Web. 14, March. 2012. Myrick, Richard. The history of American Food Trucks. Mobile Cuisine magazine. Take the Cannoli Productions L. L. C. MCM 2010-2013. Web. 2, July, 2010. Theresa, Ehrlich. Best Customers: Demographics of Customer Demand. 2008. Web. SBCC. net Pon, Jackie. 5 Things you should know About Starting Your Own Food Truck. Pbs. org. 2013 WNET. org. Web. 15, October. 2010. Myrick, Richard. Running a Food Truck for Dummies. Dummies. com. 2013 John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Web. Wikipedia. com. Food trucks in Tampa. 14 February 2013. Web.

Bussiness and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bussiness and Ethics - Essay Example The theory of intellectual property advocates specific ways to shape moral character and refine aesthetic works. In education, universal ethical principles are communicated to the student-both through didactic instruction and exemplary action--so that they might be applied in concrete situations. Useful pedagogical tools include examples and lessons found in fairy tales, fiction and biography. Although some idealists believe social wisdom (traditions, cultural conventions and so forth) is the repository of moral principles (Vicinus and Eisner 2008). The theoretical work or a work of art is a creative process based on unique skills and knowledge of the author. If the author person uses his ideas, this practice can be defined as a theft. I ethics goodness flows from the proper activity of reason. The morally good act is that which is controlled by the intellect. Knowledge of what is right is fundamental: people cannot do the right unless they know what it is (Posner, 2007). Cooperating with the intellect in the moral venture is the human will. The will is to perform what the intellect judges to be right. In conception of the ethical life, the will is subservient to the intellect. Moral error, then, stems from either ignorance on the part of the intellect or weakness on the part of the will.

The Patriot Act and Terrorism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Patriot Act and Terrorism - Assignment Example According to the Act, Smith & Hung (2010) explains that the government can trace pen and trap order to interrupt information on communication via the internet. This also includes trapping email addresses received or sent to determine what communication exists among the people. This means that the Department of policy on Justice is free to retrieve information on any sites one is visiting using traces, pens and traps. Apart from the patriot Act, there exist anti-terrorist laws, which cut the civil rights of American citizens. Following a terrorist case the Supreme Court of the United States took a freedom shot of speech. However, by a vote of 3vs 6 on law provision it criminated providing knowingly support materials to terrorist, foreign organizations. Another recent terrorist law which, erodes the, Constitutional law that allowed the government to kill and target Americans; who passed on in the process. This was when the Administration of Obama authorized the killing of a cleric Muslim; Awlaki Anwar believed to be an AlQaeda member (Smith & Hung, 2010). Terrorism should remain a separate offense because terrorists are war criminals and not subject to same constitutional rights as normal citizens of America. However, the problem is that the U.S government bypasses many provisions of the constitution, allowing the extraordinary power over both terrorists and citizens. The crimes previously in place do not address the terrorism acts adequately in such a way that the government authorities target the citizens of Americans who are not terrorists, but intentionally and covertly perceived to be them. Bullock and Coppola (2012) claim that a preventive and forward-looking strategy of criminal justice against the terrorists should follow a system that is comprehensive of offences, techniques, and investigative powers. Each person has a right to life and therefore, law protection should

Changes in our culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Changes in our culture - Essay Example It reminds of a simpler time in history when one has to catch food in order to eat or plant crops to be harvested for sustenance. That time of having the familiarity of building a house with one’s own hands or with the help of neighbors. All of these virtues and values are at a lost in today’s world where we open cans, lids, pouches, or any of other similar make for our so-called nourishment. But this is what our evolution has come to be. This is the era of conveniences and expediency. The availability of all modernity does not impose relentless clutch on all that it offers but it provides for a choice, because ultimately how one lives is according to how he desires to. I have to admit that I was born in a time where I can no longer imagine having to live without all of the tools that are easily available to me. There is no question that I am thrilled and relieved even that I only have to pop something in the microwave for a couple of minutes in order to satisfy my hunger. There is no hesitancy that my laptop is most cherished and adored of all the tools that great minds have invented. This is especially true because of the internet which has now been declared a basic human right by the United Nations, raising its rank along the same level as food, clothing, shelter and education (as cited by Chipchase, par. 5). Google is a dear old friend who virtually knows everything I need to know when I have to finish an assignment. Email is especially welcome in how it has made communication such a breeze. Losing my mobile phone feels almost like losing an arm. But in all the exigencies that this state of constant sprint that we are in, the choice remains ours in whether to follow the flow of the current, go against it or simply remain still. In however positive or negative opinion we have of these changes in our culture, we cannot deny the fact that this is actually where our

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Assignments1-3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Assignments1-3 - Essay Example The retirement benefit costs are set to increase in the state of Virginia. The pension plan in the state is underfunded and overburdened and the employee would have to pay for the pension benefits. Previously, the employees did not contribute to their pension scheme but now they will be forced to contribute towards the pension scheme. There will be no benefit for the taxpayer and savings are not expected from the shift in contribution back to the employee. Some say the shift to the employee contribution and the mandatory 3 percent raise will put more burdens on the Virginia Retirement Scheme; the effect is set to be long-term (Robertson, 2011). Poor investment in technology is one of the issues that many financial services companies face. The progress is little for these organizations in terms of service provision effectiveness and increased efficiency. The scenario has been creating an industry that is poorly automated or highly manual and use of processes that are time consuming; the processes are demeaning and insufficient to the skilled finance professionals (Worth, 2011). The cloud based systems are growing rapidly and the Intuitive technology wants to offer the clients and prospective clients with complete accounting system and cloud financial management. The company, Intuitive Technologies has noted the demand for cloud computing in the market and the need to replace the old on-premises financial management systems of Intacct with the modernized cloud based financial management application (PR-USA.NET, 2011). The political reforms in China have had an effect on the growth of China. The political system in China though unfavorable, it has created an economic growth spurt in the country. The political reforms aim at tackling the country’s social problems. The problems include the huge income inequality and the absence of a national pension scheme (Mitter,

Environmental and Corporation Social Responsibility Assignment

Environmental and Corporation Social Responsibility - Assignment Example The efficiency of production range between 50 and 60 percent; this translates to only to the preferred replacement technology of energy production. From the same graph, it should be noted that the higher the emission of biofuel byproducts into the atmosphere, the higher the ionization rate (Werther and Chandler, 2011). Additionally, the same biofuel products usually react with the free hydrogen gas and radicals in the atmosphere leading to acidic atmosphere. From the graphs, it is also apparent that the higher the energy generation form the biofuel the higher the chances of formation of the acidic atmosphere. The effects of the use of biofuel are stronger when the emission is directed to the air other than water (Mullerat and Brennan, 2011). In fact, it should be noted that the direct use of these gases is intense in air emission than water since the water emissions usually result in accidents. Nonetheless, both cases are never environmental friendly. Finally, it should be noted that eutrophication is also affected by increased emission and use of biofuel into the environment. Charts c and d indicate that the high the electrici ty generation the high the emission; thus, the higher the global warming thereby affecting the normal ecosystem functionalities (Kao, 2010). Hence, it is worth noting that electricity generation among the use of other energy sources contributes to the efficiency of the environment in different ways. All the charts above indicate the higher or the massive use of biofuels in the United States, the higher the effects on Eutrophication, Acidification, and Global Mass Warming; hence, the corporates should minimize such energy use to minimize the effects on the same. All these graphs and their subsequent analyses relate to the energy regulation and generation of barley.

Risk of Derivatives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Risk of Derivatives - Essay Example Derivatives are either traded in stock markets or can be quickly made or created through any financial institution (including banks). Derivatives are widely used these days by corporate entities and other users in order to manage and control the risks associated with financial transactions and to limit the risks of changes in rates of commodities, interest rates, market conditions, or foreign currency rates. Derivatives can occur in many forms and types â€Å"including futures, forwards, swaps, options, structured debt obligations, and deposits,† (Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks, 1997, p. 1). These financial instruments produce many risks for the users and both the parties involved (that is, the drawer and the drawee of the derivative contracts). Some of the dangers include the risk of change in the price of the derivative itself, a change in interest rates, and a change in foreign exchange rates, if applicable, to name only a few. In this paper, the manageability of risks of derivatives, as per the given text, is discussed and evaluated. The ideas of Thomas A. Bass, who considers that the risks of derivatives are manageable are compared and evaluated with the ideas presented by Justin Welby who argues that the risks of derivatives are not controllable. The management of risks associated with the use of derivatives and the ideas and conclusions of two authors, Bass and Welby, were discussed. In his article, â€Å"The Ethics of Derivatives and Risk Management,† Welby’s view was that the vast use of derivatives in the financial markets these days in order to reduce certain financial risks and control them is itself quite dangerous. However, the risks associated with the derivatives are quite doable with the help of implementing ethical investment policies, including transparency, governance, and so forth. He believed that derivatives are those financial instruments that can be used to â€Å"alter the risk profiles† rather

English Languages and Power Essay Example for Free

English Languages and Power Essay English language has many types that are influenced by the culture of the people. This is why other people cannot understand people with a different type of English. English language, according to Dr. Tupas is not a neutral language. It is ideological through and through because it carries meanings which are not originally not ours. Learning proper English can help you understand the ideas of a person with a different type of English language. In his essay, Wronging English, he explains that when you know your English inside and out, you know whats wrong and whats right, then you can intentionally make the English wrong. In Sutherlands essay For A While, he states that English usage in the Philippines is idiosyncratic, or even unique. For example, in the Philippines, the idiom for a while means sandali lang, but in UK, they would prefer to use just a second or just a moment. For the foreign perspective, Philippine English may sound odd to the visitors. On the other hand, Montemayors essay The Kings English and I, she states that British English has verbose politesse. In example, the Filipinos will just say thanks or thank you, but the British will invariably say, thank you very much indeed. Moreover, Dr. Tupas essay wronging English neutralizes the perspective of Sutherland and Montermayor. She exclaimed that changing the way we speak and write does not automatically translate to changing the way we live in our lives. And by saving the English language may just be a good way to save us from thinking that English is inherently good, it brings good lives to everyone, and everyone benefits from it.

Australian Wine Industry Essay Example for Free

Australian Wine Industry Essay In addition, this trend is enforced by a global economy with increasing free trade, international business collaboration, strategic alliances and a global currency. Geographically Australia is well placed to capitalise on the Asian boom and wine meets the Asian demand for Western style products. As for the domestic market, despite the fact that there has been minimal focus on developing new wine consumers during the last ten years, domestic sales have continued to expand in value rather than volume. Population growth in prime wine consuming age groups, the emerging generation who has grown up with wine consumption, the changing demographic profile of the Australian population, growth in the dining out market, increasing popularity of the Mediterranean diet, tourism growth and the quest for more individualised beverage experiences are significant opportunities exist for increasing domestic wine consumption. 1. 1. 2 Economic conditions Although a decline in the value of the Australian dollar inhibits profitability and the ability of Australian winemakers to hit key price oints, it helps to stimulate the other countries to import Australian wine because of lower price Increase in demand for wine may be attributed to the following economic factors: changing living standard, changes in the relative price of wine to other goods and services, the introduction of fringe benefits tax and the modification of sales tax to wine and other beverages. 1. 1. 3 Social and cultural trends Although nowadays, there is a strong trend away from alcohol beverages and alcohol consumption, quality table wine still be a favourite one for consumers. The image of a man drinking wine, bottles to bottles until get drunk is no longer seen. People do not drink wine in quantity but prefer quality alcohol. Sales in cask wine decline whereas profits in bottled semi-premium or premium wine increase. The reason for this can be explained by: Quality table wine has its own image and status, engenders high consumer involvement, provides variety, and has a range of flavour complexity. It is therefore a stronger alternative to other non-alcoholic beverages (soft drinks, bottled water, fruit drinks and coffee) than is beer or spirits. Quality wine has acknowledged health attributes. Recent research showed its effects in reducing cardio vascular disease. People look for more spiritual meaning in their lives. They favour healthy products, healthy lifestyle and show environmental concerns. Media, advertising, transparency, and openness in marketing. Many of these trends favour the Australian wine industry. Wine will meet the future consumers dem and for individualised, customised products which are natural, environmentally friendly and healthy. 1. 1. 4 Political and legal forces The Australian wine industry has set a target to be the worlds most influential and profitable wine producer in the Year 2025. It is supported by government in terms of providing a positive investment climate and facilitation infrastructure. Taxation Certainty in the retention of the current taxation level and structure for wine and brandy Review the method for valuing trading stock, particularly the maturation of wine stocks geared to premium wine production Maintain the current vineyard depreciation provisions Vary other taxation provisions which inhibit growth or prejudice quality. Facilitation Maintain support for industry research and development Enhance support for wine export promotion Upgrade Government contributions to training and to strategic data collection Continue the commitment to industrys pro market self regulation Adopt appropriate water access and pricing policies. 1. 1. 5 Technology Technology is of vital importance to Australia wine industry. It can help to improve productivity, economic of scale, efficiency and quality of products. In addition, the industry is also strongly committed to environmentally friendly production.

Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Hiv Health And Social Care Essay

Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Hiv Health And Social Care Essay Since the first reported case of HIV/AIDS in 1981, the disease has had a devastating effect on all components of our society and has become the most deadly infectious disease epidemic in recent times. The disease is seen as a threat to the stability of entire nations and regions affecting the most productive members of the society. HIV/AIDS has become a global phenomenon, however the disease is most pronounced in developing countries particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. The spread of the disease has reached pandemic proportions in most parts of the African continent (WHO 2007). The numbers of people infected with HIV keeps on increasing particularly among the young people. The estimated number of persons living with HIV worldwide in 2009 is 33 million. African continent alone had 22.5 million of the worlds estimated 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS/WHO 2007). UNAIDS estimates showed that young people under 25 accounted for about 45% of all new HIV cases (over 6800 people become infected with HIV everyday) in adults in 2007. The disease continues to ravage Sub-Saharan Africa and it remains the most serious of infectious disease that challenges Africa. The leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa is HIV/AIDS (Tanaka, Kunii, Hatano Wakai 2007). It is true HIV/AIDS continues to spread among the population of urban communities in Rwanda, with its heavy toll on the 15 49 year age groups, who constitute the economically productive sector of the countrys economy. Kanombe and Muhima Districts are urban communities in Kigali City Province, which has seen increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS. Urban districts are part of the worst HIV/AIDS prevalence in Rwanda. As at 2006 it had prevalence rate of 5.1% far higher than the rural average of 2.1 the same year. Rwanda is among the ten countries in Africa most severely affected by HIV/AIDS. The country is facing a generalized epidemic. National estimates indicate that in 2006, the adult prevalence rate is in the range of 3.1% among the general population (WHO 2007). Behavioral data serve as an early warning system and provide information to guide program design and evaluate interventions. In addition, the data provide information that can explain HIV prevalence trends. Prevention supports of donor agencies and the government have been working assiduously to curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic but there has not been any considerable decrease in the prevalent rate within Kigali City Province. A critical question here is; what could have accounted for this? Prevalence in 15-24 years group shows an increase trend though efforts have been made to slow down the spread. Young female adolescents are vulnerable and may be influenced into high-risk behaviors. The gab between male-female percentage regarding condom use in Rwanda is 40.9 and 19.7 respectively (WHO 2007). The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of adolescents towards HIV/AIDS in order to institute meaningful preventive measures for the control of HIV/AIDS in Kigali City urban community. The findings of this study can be added to the existing body of knowledge on HIV/AIDS in Kigali City Province and in Rwanda as a whole. The findings of this study will help policymakers and healthcare professionals to develop adolescent centered, all-round and intensive programs that will curtail the spread of HIV in the province. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 HIV/AIDS Definition HIV is the short form of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS. (Levy. 1993). AIDS is an abbreviation for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Simply put Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the cells in the human body that combat infections. Dr. Samuel Border, formerly at the National Cancer Institute in the United States of America, reminds us the history of HIV/AIDS. He said In June of 1981 we saw a young gay man with the most devastating immune deficiency we had ever seen. We said, we dont know what this is, but we hope we dont ever see another case like it again (WHO 1994).On 5th June, 1981, AIDS was first reported in Los Angeles, California. (Centers for Disease Control 1981). According to Broder S 1984 cited by Katrak 2006, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV 1) was discovered in 1983 as the root cause of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (Katrak 2006). Kahende (2001), in his thesis viewed HIV/AIDS as a cause as well as a symptom of underdevelopment. Its long incubation period makes it hard to predict the social and economic effects it may have on households and national development as a whole. The disease mostly affects individuals in their prime between the ages of 15 to 49 years and sizable number of those in this category will have major social and economic effects in the long run (World Bank 2007, International Development Committee (IDC) 2001). The United Nations International Labor Organizations (ILO) report in Akukwe (2006), suggest that a minimum of 26 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS are in the workforce with at least two-thirds of them living in Africa. The consequence of this is that the labor force in Africa will be in jeopardy in the near future. The disease has an incubation period of about 8 years and someone infected with the virus could infect many other people (Kahende, 2001). This means that a person infected with HIV may not show any noticeable symptoms until between 8years t o 10 years when the bodys immune system can no longer withstand the HIV virus. During this time many more persons will have become infected [around 6800 new infections per day at present) USAIDS (2007)]. This creates continuing rolling burden and a vicious cycle of illness and deaths which effects could be perilous to the affected countries. This makes AIDS much more dangerous than other diseases since diseases without incubation periods can be easily identified and treated (Kahende, 2001). Cure for HIV/AIDS has not been found yet, however, anti-retroviral therapy can prolong the lives of individuals living with HIV/AIDS (Akukwe 2006). This therapy is however currently expensive and not available to majority of infected people in sub-Sahara Africa (Fry 2007). 2.2 Rwanda Country Profile 2.2.1 Rwanda History Rwanda is a small, landlocked country in Central Africa with 9.7 million and a high population density (368 people per sq. km). Rwanda became independent in 1962 after colonization by Germany (1899) and Belgium (1919). In 1961 its monarchical government was formally abolished by a referendum and the first parliamentary elections were held. Political turmoil over the sharing of power and access to opportunities resulted in explosions of ethnic violence which have marked much of the recent history of the country. A civil conflict pitting the Hutu-led government against the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi-led rebel movement, culminated in genocide, between April and June 1994. About 800,000 people were massacred by the army and the extremist Interahamwe militia. The RPF overthrew the regime in June 1994. While the country is currently at peace, Rwandans continue to struggle with the legacy of genocide. National reconciliation is a long-term endeavor that has the full commitment of the Government and the support of the international community. The Rwandan Government has undertaken significant measures to consolidate reconciliation including the continuation of the demobilization and reintegration project for ex-combatants and a model of democratization focused on a decentralized administration (World Bank 2009). 2.2.2 Economic and Social Progress Rwanda has made remarkable progress since the 1994 genocide and civil war. Peace and political stability have been re-established, reconciliation efforts are continuing, and democratic institutions and processes are being strengthened. Poverty and social indicators have also improved. Rwanda has been able to maintain overall macroeconomic stability and implement extensive reforms which have contributed to a strong growth performance. Rwanda is on track to achieve several of the Millennium Development Goals  (MDGs): MDG 2 on universal primary education; MDG 3 on gender equality; and MDG 6 on HIV/AIDS and malaria. Net primary enrollment is currently 95 percent, with 97 percent enrollment of girls. However, low completion rates and poor quality of basic education show that there are still major challenges to meeting MDG 2. HIV prevalence is estimated at about 3 percent with female infection rates (3.6 percent) substantially higher than those of males (2.3 percent). Rwanda is also on track to achieve the targeted reduction in malaria incidence (World Bank 2009). 2.3 Adolescents and HIV/AIDS Adolescence is one of the most captivating and complex transitions in the life span. It is a period of tremendous adjustment for children and parents. As children transition from childhood to adulthood, they undergo many physical, emotional and behavioral changes. These changes include; very fast physical growth, the rise of reproductive sexuality, new social roles, growth in thinking, feelings and morals. The sequence of pubertal changes is relatively predictable and consistent; however, their timing is extremely variable (National Academies Press 1999, 1-2.). Nearly 50% of the worlds population is under 25 (UNFPA 2003). The threat of HIV pandemic to young people cannot be over emphasized as UNAIDS estimates showed that young people under 25 accounted for about half of all new HIV cases in adults in 2007 and more than half of them still lack accurate and comprehensive information about how to avoid exposure to the virus (USAID 2008).The indication that less than 40% of young people globally have accurate and comprehensive knowledge about HIV (UNGASS indicator 13) is unacceptably low and consequently worrisome. Previous studies done in USA (DiClemente, Zorn, Temoshok, 1986; Bhattacharya, Cleland, Holland, 2000),Nepal (Mahat G Scoloveno 2006) and Turkey ( Savaser 2003) where adolescents in those studies knew of only sexual route of transmission. There is the need to step up HIV/AIDS education among the youth particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa where various cultures frown at sex education among adolescents. Young People between the ages of 15 to 24 accounts for 30% of all people living with HIV/AIDS (UNSAIDS 2001). The disease keeps on spreading especially among young people making it even harder to control. The HIV/AIDS epidemic remain invisible to both young people and the society, people usually carry the disease for years without their knowledge. As a result, the epidemic is spreading among young people at an alarming rate. In sub-Sahara Africa, the situation looks gloomier. More than half of sub-Saharan Africa have generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic, this means 5% or more of the young people are infected (UNAIDS 2000). The youth constitute one-fifth of the worlds population and nearly two-fifths in the developing countries populations (Population Reference Bureau (PRB) 2000). All hands must be on deck to reverse the trend in order to salvage our youth from the scourge of HIV pandemic, the future looks bleak if current situation must be allowed to continue. Young people have been designated as a group at high risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS due to their involvement in sexual experimentation and the use of recreational drugs. Vulnerability of young people to HIV/AIDS can be attributed to physical, social, economical and psychological features of adolescents (Offer, Ostrov, Howard, Atkinson, 1988, 270 Senderowitz, 1995). Socially and economically, most adolescents are dependent and inexperienced therefore, they are unable to protect themselves from infections, and have less access to health care than adults. Again, young peoples vulnerability to HIV/AIDS increases as result of cultural practices that shape their behaviors. Adolescence is a stage where young people establish their sexual identities, in doing so they are faced with pressures from society as well as their peers. 2.4 Adolescents knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and prevention of HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS has caused indescribable suffering to millions of people world wide. The fight against the scourge and epidemic of HIV/AIDS is and continue to be one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. The impact of the disease touches on the lives of the global community in different predictable and unpredictable ways. Though the severity of the crisis is obvious, biochemical and pharmaceutical development of vaccines continue to have limited success; current drugs available can suppress the virus but they do not cure HIV infections or AIDS (The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), 2009).Therefore, promotion of prevention strategies needs to be intensified in order to halt the spread of HIV. It is now a common knowledge as reported in many studies that Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) via sexual contact is the most common(UNAIDS 2002) and accounts for 75 to 85 percent of all infections(Royce, Seà ±a, Cates, Cohen, 1997). Over the past two decades, rates of infection with sexually transmitted diseases have continued to increase among teenagers. Roscoe and Kruger (1990) in their article titled Late adolescents knowledge and its influence concluded that although adolescents knowledge of HIV transmission might have improved over the past few years, their risk-related behaviors remain unchanged. This, no doubt can be linked to Adolescents sexual behavior and knowledge, attitudes, perceptions towards HIV/AIDS. Numerous studies have been done on adolescents sexuality, knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors relevant to AIDS in order to improve the over all sexual behavior of adolescents. It is important at this point to consider such surveys of adolescents. A random-sample surveyed by Strunin and Hingson (1987) of 860 adolescents, 16 to 19 years of age, concerning their knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors regarding AIDS indicated 70% were sexually active (having sexual intercourse or other sexual contact) but only 15% of them reported changing their sexual behavior because of concern about contracting AIDS, and only 20% of those who changed their behavior used effective methods. Several prominent studies showed high engagement in unsafe sexual behaviors such as sex with multiple partners, sex with unknown persons, as well as negative views about condom use, and a low rate of behavior change even after learning about HIV/AIDS (Buysse, 1996, Gray Saracino, 1989). This corroborates the suggestion that a moderate to high knowledge level of AIDS may not be a predictor of safe sexual behavior practices (Gray Saracino, 1989). However, a study conducted by Roscoe Kruger, (1990) of 300 late adolescents suggests that one-third had altered their sexual behavior as a result of fear of the disease. Available Research on the effects of beliefs of susceptibility to AIDS indicates that adolescents and adults who report high perceived risk for AIDS practice safer sexual behaviors, whereas those who perceive low risk for contracting AIDS report practicing unsafe sexual behaviors (Gray Saracino, 1989 Villarruel, A.M., Jemmolt, Howard, Taylor, Bush, 1998). Youth Education and prevention programs have been used as the primary means of decreasing rate of HIV infections among adolescents, it can be summed up in three letters ABC(A=Abstinence, B=Be Faithful, C=Condoms). Barnett and Parkhurst (2005) have described abstinence as the best followed by faithfulness to one partner and condom use as last. Anytime ABC is mentioned Ugandan situation comes to mind, in 1991, the government, opinion leaders and the people of Uganda had the courage to change the attitudes and behaviors that were spreading the HIV. A Harvard study in Uganda finds HIV rates drop 50% within eight years. The study credits abstinence education in reducing HIV/AIDS in Uganda (Trafford 2002). Again, it has been argued that condoms have about 10-13% failure rate in preventing pregnancy and 10-20% failure rate in preventing HIV for several reasons. Museveni (2004) in his commentary on HIV titled Behavioral Change Is the Only Way To Fight AIDS cited Uganda as being excellent in this direction; it has successfully managed to bring the seroprevalence rate from 18.6% to 6.1% using just social vaccine (behavior change), approximately 70% reduction. Molomo 2008, National coordinator of NACA(National Action Committee on AIDS) said behavioral change is the responsibility of the individual and not the community. He explained the latter could provide enabling environment within which the former can effect behavioral change. Attitudes, beliefs, and/or intentions have been described by many theories as proximal determinants of behavior. Consequently, changes in attitudes toward abstinence and condoms, and Perceptions of personal risk or susceptibility to HIV should be the main goals in any HIV/AIDS prevention program. 3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The aim of this study is to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of adolescents (15-24) towards HIV/AIDS in order to institute meaningful preventive measures for the control of HIV/AIDS. Ultimately, the study will provide information on appropriate intervention methods necessary for preventing HIV/AIDS among adolescents in the community. 3.1 Research Questions With respect to the theme of our research, the following research questions shall be addressed: 1. What knowledge do adolescents in Kigali City Province have about HIV/AIDS? 2. What are the perceptions and attitudes by adolescents towards HIV/AIDS preventions? 3. Which preventive method(s) do they use? 4. Do they perceive any risk of contracting/getting HIV/AIDS? 4. RESEARCH METHODS AND DATA SOURCES Qualitative research approach will be used to address HIV/AIDS prevention among adolescents. Qualitative methodology or deductive approach according to Pope and Mays (1995) is used to explore, interpret or illustrate the actions and/or subjective experiences of research participants. In other words qualitative research tends to give a comprehensive data about human observations, thoughts and feelings; it tries to establish meaning from human life experiences. As the focus of our study is to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of adolescents and young adults towards HIV/AIDS and its prevention, a qualitative approach will allow the participants to express their feelings and experiences genuinely (Punch 1998).

The Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay -- Martin Luther King

On April 16, 1963, from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, Martin Luther King Jr. composed an extensive letter to eight clergymen who condemned the timing of the civil rights movement. Although the letter was addressed to these eight clergymen, the Letter from Birmingham Jail speaks to a national audience, especially King’s â€Å"Christian and Jewish brothers†(King, 29). His peaceful but firm letter serves as a remarkably persuasive voice to an immensely chaotic mess, and is seen as a major turning point in the civil rights movement. King believes that without direct action, the full rights for African Americans could never be achieved. He defends the impatience of people in the civil rights movement, upholding that without forceful demonstrations, equality will never be reached. King upholds that human rights must take precedence over unjust laws. His eloquent language and use of classical argumentation make his case resilient and convincing. King’s expert use of pathos invokes anger, sympathy and empathy; his impeccable use of logos made his argument rational to all; and his use of ethos, especially his use of biblical references, makes his opinions more authoritative. Through his vivid descriptions, passionate tone, and expressive examples, King’s arguments evoke an emotional response in his readers. King’s use of pathos gives him the ability to inspire fellow civil rights activists, evoke empathy in white conservatives, and create compassion in the minds of the eight clergymen and the rest of his national audience. King seeks to lessen the aggression of white citizens while revitalizing the passion for nonviolent protest in the minds of African Americans. King cautions, â€Å"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere† (K... ...ivil rights movement. Overall, I believe King’s letter his extremely influential due to his impeccable use of argument within it, incorporating logos, pathos and ethos. In my opinion, King’s use of pathos is one of the factors behind the success of his letter. Although his letter was addressed to the eight clergymen, I believe that King intended for the entire nation to read it and react to it. The variety of literary devices in his letter makes King sound intelligent and convincing. On the other hand, I believe that King incorporates too much alliteration within his letter; many times, King makes a historical or biblical reference without delving into its relevance or meaning, leaving the reader questioning his intentions. In my opinion, if King would have described these alliterations more or, rather, left them out entirely, his argument would be deeper.

The Body Essay -- Sexuality

The social and cultural conditions in which we live in today continue to perpetuate and maintain the rape culture that pervades our lives, especially for the lives of individual women. As a feminist thinker, Ann Cahill works to change this by challenging current definitions of rape as assault, and addressing questions of why rape exists in the first place, and how we can begin the prevention process. In Cahill’s book, â€Å"Rethinking Rape†, she approaches the subject of rape by analyzing the works of contemporary feminist theorists like Judith Butler, who perceive the female body as a potential site of resistance against gender-based oppression and a â€Å"larger system of sexual domination† (Cahill 32). Although each is addressing very different issues in feminist theory, Cahill does draw upon some of Butler’s ideas about the imitation and performance of gender in Butler’s essay â€Å"Imitation and Gender Insubordination.† Cahill does t his in order to further articulate her critique of â€Å"the body† and the role it plays in the phenomenon of rape â€Å"as an embodied experience of women† at the level of the individual (Cahill 109). There are certain concepts besides the performance of gender that both Authors touch on including â€Å"the body†, heterosexual norms as inhibitions to attaining liberation, the relationship between sexuality and gender, and the problematic nature of social constructs. By comparing and contrasting the works of Cahill and Butler, this paper will explore the importance and complexities of â€Å"the body†, the pivotal role it plays in Cahill’s critique of the phenomenon of rape, and how Butler’s critique of â€Å"coming out of the closet† values the notion of gender â€Å"performativity† more than the notion ofâ€Å"the body† itself. Before de... ... feminine body so we internalize that ideal and subject ourselves to the â€Å"intrusive, expensive, and high maintenance practices in order to be rendered beautiful† (Cahill 155). There are a number of factors that play into the perpetuation of rape culture, the hierarchy of gender, and gender performativity. The one thing they all have in common that is essential to understanding how men have been able to oppress us for so long and continue to oppress us. â€Å"The body† is the one thing that can maintain our inferiority and powerlessness, but it can also be the one thing that can free us from the same system of oppression. Works Cited Butler, Judith. "Imitation and Gender Insubordination." The Second Wave: A Reader in Feminist Theory. Ed. Linda Nicholson. New York: Routledge, 1997. 300-15. Print. Cahill, Ann J. Rethinking Rape. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 2001. Print.

Instagram Term Paper

AMA COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER COLLEGE Tagbilaran City, Bohol INSTAGRAM (Android Application) A term paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY by: Josie Marie Mosqueda Edralyn Tutor 2012 ABSTRACT Today the folks responsible for one of the most popular social photography apps in the world  have brought that entertainment to  Android– and here we’re going to review it! What you’ll find is that this app is extremely similar to the iOS version, it having the ability to snap photos, edit them in brief, and send them out to several social networks.This Android version is said to be superior to the iOS version in several ways by its developers. This app got extremely popular on iOS because it allowed (and still allows) you to do three different activities in one app – photography, sharing, and editing of photos. Here on Android you’ve got several of those abilities built in – the HTC One series in-particular has some pretty amazing photo editing, taking, and sharing abilities. INTRODUCTION An important application for the tech-savvy crowd, Instagrams are all about the beauty of capturing moments through man-made lenses and sharing it with your near and dear!As Will Smith says â€Å" Life is not about number of breadths you take, it is about number of moments take your breath away†. Moments like that don’t happen everyday, but can be captured and cherished for the rest of your lives, thanks to the app called Instagram! Instagrams are solely for the Apple person, that is compatible with Iphones, Ipads, Ipod Touch with an iOS version of 3. 1. 2 or above. Instagram, the popular photo sharing application which gained prominence on iOS – is now available for Android. Complete with a beautiful user interface and a full feature-set, it seems to have been worth the nail biting.It is a free photo sharing application which helps you to click pictures, apply fresh effects on them using their inbuilt filters and then post it online on any social networking site like Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr etc. A list of the most popular filters are the Walden Filter, the X Pro II, the Lomo-Fi, the Brannan, the Hefe, the Earlybird, the Sutro, the Poprocket, the Nashville and the Gotham. HISTORY Below is a short Infographic on Instagram’s history. TIMELINE DISCUSSION Felling the walled gardenInstagram and  Hipstamatic, a digital photography application for iOS devices, entered into a partnership that would allow photos from the app to be directly ported into Instagram. â€Å"I’m a huge fan of what Hipstamatic is doing and all they’ve accomplished,† Systrom  said. â€Å"They were iPhone App of the Year in 2010 and we got 2011. We have a huge amount of respect for that whole team both as fellow photographers and entrepreneurs. † â€Å"Really it comes down to this: People post Hipst amatic photos on Instagram all the time, and we just want to make that experience easier. †Pictures paint more than a thousand words Instagram already has seven million users all over the world and the number is only going to get bigger when the Android app launches. There are loads of awesome photos available on Instagram today and these photos are inspiring others to follow suit. Taking Photos with Instagram Instagram has a built-in camera function, making it easy to quickly snap a photo to share in the app. You can also pull photos directly from your iPhone photo library, so you can share older photos taken with your iPhone or photos synced from your iPhoto library on your computer.All Instagram photos are square, so after you take or select a shot you are presented with an easy interface to scale and crop it. Transforming Photos with Instagram After your photo is cropped, you can transform the look of it with a variety of filters. Most of the filters are designed to give y our photo a vintage look, bringing back polaroids and old black-and-white pictures. While quick Photoshop style filters are often considered cheap tricks, people have embraced Instagram because it simply makes photo sharing fun. Photo Sharing with InstagramWhen you are done editing an Instagram, you can choose to share it just within the app or on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Posterous, Tumblr and Foursquare. Instagram also creates a web page with your image that you can link to, but that's as far as the website goes. It is not the place to follow people, view galleries or submit photos. All of that functionality is reserved for the app itself, where you can view photos from your friends, see popular photos, and find people to follow and more. FEATURES OF INSTAGRAM * 100% free custom designed filters and borders The Lux: A new feature given by the makers to bring out the inner nuances in your picture with nothing but a tap on the picture! Best part in using Lux is that it can be used even without a filter. * Instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Foursquare (Flickr coming very soon) * A new filter called the Sierra. * Interact with friends through giving ; receiving likes and comments * Works with Android versions 2. 2 and above that support OpenGL ES 2 * Full front ; back camera support SCREENSHOTS ADVANTAGES OF INSTAGRAM Instagram is great especially if you are fond of taking pictures and uploading them right away for other people to see. * It is fast like when you took a picture, uploaded it and it will automatically be uploaded or posted on your facebook account, twitter and tumblr. * It offers a lot of effects, or if you want your photo to have a frame or not. * You can be updated on your friends’ happenings or your friends’ important announcements. * A great way of making or meeting new friends. * You can also advertise your own products if you have some business or shops.You can take a photo of your products and post it on instagr am and it can help you gain more customers. * Another great thing is that, there are some photo applications that you can directly upload on instagram the photos you have taken or edited. One of this is the photoshake, it's up to you if you want to upload the photo you took directly on instagram or just save it on your mobile phone or tablet. DISADVANTAGE OF INSTAGRAM * Privacy – where in, every detail and every photo that you will be uploading, a lot of people might see it.Rumors can also start by others seeing some photos of you not being good. Your life can be at danger especially if you always takes a photo of you on where you at and what are you doing. CONCLUSION Above all, Instagram is made for us to enjoy the convenient of taking some pictures with our loved ones. And take note, important pictures with our friends, family, classmates or any special ones. Instagram is not made to make rumors of other people, to make fun at them and to invade others privacy. The team has certainly come a long way, to create a better world for its users.

Bangladesh Media Landscape by Robert

1 Bangladesh Media and Telecoms Landscape Guide May 2012 If you wish to suggest any updates or amendments to this document, please contact Robert Powell on Robert. [email  protected] org [Type text] 2 Introduction Bangladesh is a flat and low-lying country that occasionally suffers from devastating tidal surges and floods. It is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The scale of human suffering caused by a combination of high winds, tidal surges and heavy rainstorms is sometimes immense.In 2009, Cyclone Ailia caused a tidal surge that flooded low-lying coastal areas and left about 500,000 homeless. 80% of Bangladesh consists of flood plain. 75% of the country’s land area is less than 10 metres above sea level. This makes Bangladesh vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of climate change. Flooding caused by rivers bursting their banks is a big problem in many areas. About 20 million people living in low-lying coastal areas are at risk of being f looded out of their homes by rising water levels and tidal surges.The capital, Dhaka, has population of about 16 million and is one of the largest cities in the world. But 73% of Bangladesh’s 164 million population still lives in rural areas. Most of the population relies on subsistence farming. Rice is the staple crop and the country’s main source of food. Bangladesh ranked 146 out of 187 states listed in the 2011 UN Human Development Index. According to the World Bank, 81% of the population lives in poverty [Type text] 3 Administrative divisions of Bangladesh Source: http://www. newspecialpictures. om/category/map-2/bangladesh-map/ [Type text] 4 The adult literacy rate was 56% in 2009, according to UNESCO. It estimated that 61% of men could read and write, but only 51% of women. Bangla or Bengali is spoken as a first language by 98% of the population. It is the official language of government Bangla is also spoken in the neighbouring West Bengal State of India, with which Bangladesh has close cultural and historical ties. Bengalis in both countries love their language and rich culture. Poets are national heroes, known to everyone.Most educated Bangladeshis still regard the city of Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta), across the border in India, as the cultural capital of Bengal – a region that historically includes West Bengal and Bangladesh. Many Bangladeshi families still have strong links to West Bengal, having left part of their family there when they fled clashes between Hindus and Muslims during the partition of India in 1947. However, at a political level many Bangladeshis feel ambivalent about India. The intentions of this larger and more and more powerful neighbour are widely distrusted.Several local languages are spoken in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in South-eastern Bangladesh and in the extreme north of the country, where the influence of India’s neighbouring Assam region is pronounced. About 300,000 people in the trou bled Chittagong Hill Tracts speak Chakma. The main international language spoken is English. This is a legacy of nearly two centuries of British colonial rule. [Type text] 5 Bangladesh achieved independence from British colonial rule as part of the Islamic state of Pakistan in 1947.The territory was then known as East Pakistan, but it was physically separated from the rest of Pakistan by India. The teaching of English declined following independence from Pakistan in 1971 as Bangla was promoted for nationalist reasons. However, English continues to be widely used in government, business and the media. It is also widely spoken among the educated elite. English is now making a comeback. Many Bangladeshis regard fluency in the language as vital for getting well-paid jobs both at home and overseas. About 90% of Bangladeshis are Sunni Muslim. A further 9% are Hindu.There are small minorities of Christians and Buddhists. Traditionally most Bangladeshis have defined themselves as ‘Ben galis first and Muslims second’. However, Islamic fundamentalism has been on the rise since the early 1990s. Bangladesh split away from Pakistan after a successful armed uprising in 1971, which was backed by the Indian Air Force. This is known in Bangladesh as the War of Liberation. Language and culture was a key factor in the liberation struggle. Bangladeshi nationalists advocated the use of Bangla as an official language instead of Urdu, the official language of Pakistan.Nationalism, democracy, secularism and socialism were the four pillars of Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution. However, in 1988 Islam was made the state religion. [Type text] 6 Post-independence politics have been marred by a bitter feud between the two main political dynasties in Bangladesh. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, served as the country’s first president until his assassination by military officers in1975. He was the leader of Awami League, founded in 1949. His da ughter, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, took over the party leadership after his death.She has been Prime Minister and leader of the government since 2009. A rival political dynasty was founded by General Ziaur Rahman, a military hero of the 1971 revolt against Pakistan. Ziaur Rahman, who is widely known as â€Å"General Zia,† became the de facto military ruler of Bangladesh in 1975. He took the helm after several months of instability triggered by the killing of Mujibur Rahman. Ziaur Rahman appointed some of Mujibur Rahman’s assassins to senior government positions. This move created a rift between the families of the two men and has poisoned relations between them ever since.Ziaur Rahman assumed the title of president in 1977 and ruled Bangladesh until his own assassination in 1981. He founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the country’s other main political movement in 1978. The party is now led by Ziaur Rahman’s widow, Khaleda Zia. She served as prime m inister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. In early 2012, with the Awami League back in power, she was leader of the opposition. The personal rivalry and animosity between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia is intense and has coloured much of Bangladeshi politics over the past 20 years.Both women are in their late 60s. [Type text] 7 Since independence, Bangladesh has either been ruled by the Awami League, the BNP or a military-led administration. The army’s most recent intervention in politics took place in 2007. It formed a caretaker administration after the previous BNP-led government failed to hold fresh elections by the end of its parliamentary mandate. A military-led interim government organised fresh elections in 2008. The Awami League scored a landslide victory, winning 49% of the popular vote and 263 of the 300 seats in parliament.It returned to power in early 2009 with Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister. This was her second term as head of government. She had ear lier ruled Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. The ideological differences between the Awami League and the BNP are insignificant, but the animosity between their respective leaders is intense and extremely personal. Sheikh Hasina blames General Zia and the BNP for being close to her father’s murderers, for removing secularism from the constitution, and for rehabilitating collaborationist forces such as Jamaat-e-Islami, which formerly opposed independence from Pakistan.The BNP and Khaleda Zia suggest in turn that Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League are insufficiently Muslim, and that they are in league with Hindu-dominated India. Khaleda Zia filed corruption cases against Sheikh Hasina and her associates while she was in power. Sheikh Hasina has since retaliated in kind. The next parliamentary elections are due in 2013. Corruption is widespread at all levels of government in Bangladesh, especially in the police. [Type text] 8 The country was rated 120 out of 183 countries listed in Transparency International’s 2011Corruption Perception Index with a rating of 2. out of 10. Bangladesh once occupied the bottom rung of the index, but its performance has improved in recent years. Every few years, Bangladesh suffers from devastating floods, most of which are triggered by cyclonic storms coming ashore from the Bay of Bengal. Only 5% of the world’s cyclonic storms form in the Bay of Bengal, but these cause 85% of the loss of life and property inflicted by all cyclones on the planet. In 1991, a severe cyclone killed nearly 140,000 Bangladeshis and made up to 10 million homeless. It sent a six-metre high storm surge of sea water rushing inland.Following that disaster, international donors helped Bangladesh to build a network of cyclone shelters along the coast and set up an early warning system for residents in vulnerable areas. Regular TV and radio bulletins are issued as cyclones reach key stages of development in the Bay of Bengal. The government also p asses warning messages down to local government officials. At moments of extreme danger, sirens mounted on the cyclone shelters are sounded. In 2009 the government used the mobile phone network to create an additional channel for distributing cyclone warning messages.It began to broadcast SMS cyclone warning messages to all mobile phone owners living in danger zones as danger approached, urging them to urgently seek safety. Casualties have been greatly reduced as a result of these precautions, but powerful storms continue to inflict heavy damage [Type text] 9 Earthquakes are rare, but when they do occur they can be extremely powerful. Only seven earthquakes of over 8. 5 magnitude have ever been recorded in the world, but two of those affected Bangladesh–in 1887 and again in 1950. The country sits astride three major fault lines. In September 2011 a 6. magnitude earthquake with its epicentre in Sikkim to the north rocked buildings in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere for up to t wo minutes. According to Professor Humayun Akhter, Head of the Earth Observatory at Dhaka University, a 7. 5 magnitude quake with an epicentre 50km from Dhaka would wreak havoc in the capital. He estimated in September 2011 that such a quake would destroy 30% of all buildings in the city, killing 200,000 people and trapping a further 300,000 in the debris of collapsed buildings. Famine has been a recurring phenomenon in Bangladesh for centuries.However, there has not been a serious hunger crisis in the country since 1974, when over one million people died. New varieties of rice, better farming techniques and improved early warning systems have boosted agricultural output. In most years Bangladesh manages to achieve self-sufficiency in food. Although most of Bangladesh is peaceful, a regional conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) near the Burmese border in the Southeast has been simmering for the past 40 years. This pits indigenous people from the region against settlers from other parts of Bangladesh and the army.The government signed a peace agreement with the hill tribes in 1997, granting limited autonomy to the CHT. [Type text] 10 However, the promise of self-rule for the CHT was never fulfilled and sporadic violence continues to plague the region. Reports of human rights violations in the CHT are commonplace. In late 2011, there were 28,000 registered refugees from Myanmar (Burma) living in two government-run camps in the South eastern district of Cox's Bazar. Nearly all of the refugees were Muslims from the Rohingya ethnic group. They represented the remnants of an influx of 250,000 refugees from Myanmar in 1991.The Bangladeshi government estimates that a further 200,000 to 300,000 Burmese live in Bangladesh without formal refugee status. In October 2011 the Burmese government announced that it would take the Rohingya refugees back. The Bangladeshi authorities were keen for them to leave, but by early 2012 there had been no reports of any forced re patriations. The army has not attempted to intervene in politics since it returned Bangladesh to elected civilian government in 2008. However, in 2010 more than 70 people, including civilians and army officers, were killed during a mutiny by the Bangladesh Rifles’ (BDR) border force.More than 2,100 BDR personnel were subsequently detained. According to media reports, more than 60 of these detainees died in custody. The army and the police have a poor human rights record. The Rapid Action Battalion, an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit set up in 2004, has a particularly bad reputation. It is able to act in secrecy and with impunity. [Type text] 11 According to Amnesty International, the Rapid Action Batallion has been implicated in the killing of at least 700 people since its formation. It has also been accused of torturing detainees.In 2010, according to human rights organisations, law enforcement officials were responsible for 127 deaths, 101 of which were attributed to ‘crossfire’. The Rapid Action Battalion accounted for 65 of the crossfire killings, while regular police were responsible for a further 21. Combined security units of Rapid Action Battalion and police agents were responsible for a further 12 deaths. [Type text] 12 Bangladesh at a glance Population Main Language Other languages widely used in broadcasting Gross National Income per capita Adult Literacy (15+) $624 (World Bank 2012) 56% (UNESCO 2009) 164 million (World Bank 2010) BanglaEnglish Mobile phones Mobile phone penetration (lines per 100 inhabitants) Mobile network coverage (population) Internet users 87. 9 million (BTRC February 2012) 94% (urban) and 83% (rural) (NMS 2011) 98% (BTRC 2011) 5. 5 million (Internetworldstats. com December 2011) Internet subscribers Ranking in UN Human Development Index 2011 Ranking in Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2011/12 3. 1 million (BRTC February 2012) 146 (out of 179) 129 (out of 179) [Type text] 13 Media overview Television is the most popular source of news and entertainment in urban areas of Bangladesh.It is also rapidly gaining ground in the countryside. However, radio still commands large audiences in the rural areas, where 73% of Bangladeshis live. Many rural families have no access to electricity and are too poor to afford a TV set. Radio ownership has fallen steadily in recent years and so have radio audiences. The 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographic Survey, conducted by the global media marketing group AC Nielsen, found that radio listening had declined to 15% of the population in 2011 from 36% in 1999. It also found that over the same 12-year period access to television in urban areas increased from 69% to 91%.In rural areas, the proportion of the population watching television increased even more dramatically from 24% to 67%. The 2011 Nielsen Survey indicated that Bangladeshis who still listen to radio are increasingly tuning in on their mobile phones rather than a traditi onal radio set. It showed that 73% of radio listeners tuned into stations on their mobile phones, but only 34% still listened to programmes on a radio set. This change in listening habitsreflects the fact that young urban Bangladeshis frequently listen to music broadcast by FM stations through earphones attached to their mobile handset. Type text] 14 However, one in five Bangladeshis do not watch TV or listen to radio at all. The Nielsen survey indicated that 20% of the population has no access to any media whatsoever. It found that 27% of females were unable to watch TV, listen to radio or reach any other media on a regular basis. 13% of males were in the same situation. The government began to liberalise broadcasting in the late 1990s. Unusually, it allowed private TV stations to operate before licencing private radio stations. Bangladesh’s first private satellite channel, ATN Bangla, began broadcasting on satellite in 1997.But the first commercial radio station, Radio Foor ti, only went on air in 2006. The government-run radio network Bangladesh Betar and state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) have both lost audiences to private sector competitors in the towns and cities. However, state radio and TV still dominate the air waves at a national level. They are still the only broadcasters that can be received easily in large swathes of the countryside, where the majority of Bangladeshis live. Bangladesh Betar and BTV both strongly reflect the views of the government of the day.Their programming is widely regarded as dull and uninspired compared with that of their private sector competitors. Mass circulation newspapers remain influential, especially in the main towns. The 2011 National Media Survey found that 40% of Bangladeshi men read newspapers at least once a week. The figure for women was much lower at 14%. [Type text] 15 This reflects lower literacy rates amongst women. It also reflects the fact that men tend to control household incomes and that men get out and about much more than the women of the household.They therefore have more opportunity to buy newspapers. Before the government allowed the first private television stations to go on air in 1997, newspapers were the only source of independent information in Bangladesh. However, the liberalisation of the air waves, the proliferation of mobile phones and the spread of internet access, have dramatically opened up the media landscape since then. Mobile telephone ownership has become widespread in both urban and rural areas following a rapid expansion of the mobile telecoms network in the early years of this century.The 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographic Survey found that two thirds of all Bangladeshis over the age 15 owned a mobile handset with an active SIM card. The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said there were 87. 9 million mobile phone subscribers in the country by the end of February 2012. This figure implies that one in two Bangladeshis has a mobile phone. However many handset owners have SIM cards for more than one network, so the actual mobile penetration rate is undoubtedly lower. Mobile phones are mainly used for voice conversations.Very few handsets support the alphabet of the Bangla language, so the volume of text messaging is quite low. According to the BTRC, the average volume of SMS messages sent in 2011was 30 million per month. [Type text] 16 This is the equivalent of one message for every three phones in use. Nevertheless, mobile phones are already being used as a channel to broadcast information. Since 2009 the government has issued cyclone warnings by SMS. Members of the public can also dial a short code on any of Bangladesh’s three mobile phone networks to hear a recording of the latest BBC Bangla news headlines. These are updated every hour.Internet use is growing fast from a low base, but access to the internet is still restricted well-off people living in the main towns. According to the website www. internetworldstats. com there were 5. 5 million internet users in Bangladesh at the end of 2011 – equivalent to 3. 5% of the country’s population. The BTRC reported in February 2012 that Bangladesh had 3. 1 million internet subscribers, of whom nearly 3. 0 million went online via the mobile telecoms network. The website www. socialbakers. com which measures global internet usage, said more than 2. 5 million Bangladeshis had signed up to Facebook by February 2012.The most popular Bangladeshi news website is that of Prothom Alo (First Light), the country’s top-sellling newspaper www. prothom-alo. com The independent and widely respected news website www. bdnews24. com follows close behind it. News about Bangladesh is often faster to break online than on local TV or radio. However, TV and radio are still widely regarded as the most authoritative sources of news and information. [Type text] 17 A 2008 study by the Institute of Governances Studies at BRAC Univers ity, entitled The State of Governance in Bangladesh, found that state and private broadcasters both scored highly on credibility.News on private TV was rated as authentic by 82% of respondents to the survey, while state-run BTV scored 78%. Public confidence in the state media was noticeably lower in urban areas, where there is generally a greater choice of media. The BRAC University study found that only 68% of urban residents considered government owned TV and radio to be authentic sources of information. However, the credibility rating of state media in the countryside was much higher at 87%. For many Bangladeshis in rural areas, the state radio network Bangladesh Betar is still the main source of news and information.Bangladesh Betar runs 12 regional radio stations as well as a national radio service. It also runs a special Traffic Channel for Dhaka. Its broadcasts on FM and Medium Wave cover the entire country. Bangladesh’s has only five private commercial radio stations. All of them are based in Dhaka. Their broadcasts on FM are primarily aimed at urban audiences. Only two private radio stations have broad national coverage – Radio Foorti and Radio Today. Both have relay transmitters in several provincial cities. Radio Today also has a network of regional studios which produce some local programming. Type text] 18 Radio Aamar has one relay station in Chittagong, but Metrowave and ABC Radio only broadcast to Dhaka and the surrounding area. The government has so far licensed 14 community radio stations. The first two went on air in 2011. There are plans to establish more than 100 community stations across the country in due course. Private TV stations only distribute their programmes by satellite and cable. Nevertheless, they have come to dominate broadcasting in the towns and cities. Channel-i and ATN Bangla are the most popular private TV channels.Government-run BTV is the only station that broadcasts free-to-air from terrestrial transmitter s. As such it is the only TV station that can been seen by most people with access to television in rural areas. However, BTV’s hold on rural TV viewers is starting to loosen as more and more people in the countryside are switching to satellite television, which allows them to watch private and foreign channels. The largest and most influential Bangla language daily newspaper is Prothom Alo. It sold 437,000 copies per day in early 2011, according to government statistics.The newspaper’s online version www. prothom-alo. comhasmore than 800,000 readers, according to its editor. Many of these aremembers of the Bangladeshi diaspora living overseas. Prothom Alo’s stable mate, The Daily Star, is the largest circulation English language daily in Bangladesh. It sells over 40,000 copies per day and is influential in the ruling elite. All of Bangladesh’s national newspapers are published in Dhaka. However, dozens of provincial dailies are published in several other cities, including Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal, Bogra and Rangpur. [Type text] 9 Most private media outlets are broadly aligned with one of Bangladesh’s two main parties; the Awami League, which is currently in power, or the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP). The private media in Bangladesh is mostly owned by large business conglomerates, such as Transcom, Square Group and the Beximco. These groups have extensive interests in manufacturing industry, trading and financial services as well as the media. There are relatively few genuinely independent media outlets. Many also allow the business interests of their owners to colour their news coverage.Editors and journalists can face pressure or intimidation for opposing government policies, and reporting on sensitive issues such as corruption, crime, human rights abuses and illegal business practices. Salaries are low, so many journalists are also open to financial inducements to slant their stories in f avour of their paymasters or suppress embarrassing information. Threats from political parties, police and military, extremist religious groups, and other powerful individuals, are relatively common. Bangladesh was ranked 129th out of 179 countries listed in the Reporters Sans Frontieres 2011-12 Press Freedom Index http://en. sf. org/press-freedom-index-20112012,1043. html According to The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) www. cpj. org , 12 journalists were murdered in Bangladesh between 1992 and March 2012. Most of their killers escaped prosecution. [Type text] 20 Three quarters of those who died were covering crime and/or corruption stories at the time. Generally speaking, journalists and editors tread carefully, self-censoring themselves to avoid trouble. The 2009 Right to Information (RTI) Act allows for freedom of access to information held by public organisations.This has improved the potential for investigative journalism, although so far few journalists have taken adva ntage of it. Libel, sedition and reporting on national security issues all carry the risk of criminal prosecution. Like other Bangladeshi citizens, journalists can be held for up to 90 days without trial under the 1974 Special Powers Act. A code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists was issued by the Bangladesh Press Council, a statutory body controlled by the government, in 1993. It was amended in 2002. Restrictions on media freedom have often increased during periods of political turmoil.The authorities have occasionally tried to block access to some websites, citing religious and moral concerns. According to Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) www. rsf. org the government blocked access to the popular social networking site Facebook for nine days in 2010 until it agreed to withdraw cartoons of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed and cartoons of certain Bangladeshi politicians The pro-opposition newspaper Amar Desh was closed for three months in June 2010 after a publishin g a report that accused the son of the prime minister of involvement in a corruption scandal. Its editor and main shareholder Mahmudur Rahman was arrested. Type text] 21 Rahman, a former energy adviser of the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP), was released nine months later. Two private TV stations, Channel 1 and Jamuna TV, have also been shut down by the current Awami League government since it came to power in 2008. Jamuna TV, owned by the Jamuna business conglomerate, was banned in November 2009, after 35 days of test transmissions for operating without a licence. Channel 1, whose owner has close links with the BNP, was forced to suspend broadcasting in April 2010after the government accused it of violating unspecified rules.The station is owned by businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, who has close ties to the eldest son of opposition leader and former prime minister Minister Khaleda Zia. Wherever television is available, Bangladeshis have come torely on TV rather than radio as their main source of news, information and entertainment. By the end of 2011, there were 19 local TV channels available in Bangladesh, only three of which were controlled by the government. Many Bangladeshis with a satellite dish also watch Indian channels broadcasting in Bangla and Hindi.The Indian soap operas on Star TV are particularly popular. Over the years, a succession of governments has pledged to turn state TV and radio into independent public service broadcasters, but no convincing move has so far been made in this direction. However, the government has agreed to allow the establishment of a handful of community radio stations. [Type text] 22 The first two community radio stations opened in 2011 and the government has awarded licences to 12 others. All will be operated by local NGOs. Academic facilities for journalism training in Bangladesh are quite good.The state universities of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, Jagannath, Chittagong and Rajshahi all offer graduate and post-gradu ate courses on mass communication and journalism. Some respected private universities, such as BRAC, the Independent University of Bangladesh, Stamford University, and Daffodils also offer courses in journalism and media studies. In 2007 USAID set up the Journalism Training and Research Initiative (JATRI), a professional training centre for investigative journalism. It now forms part of BRAC University’s Institute of Governance Studies. [Type text] 3 Media Groups Many newspapers and radio and TV stations in Bangladesh are owned by business conglomerates with extensive interests in manufacturing industry, trading and financial services as well as the media. The shares of some of these companies are traded on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, but most of them are controlled by rich and politically influential families. The largest and most influential business groups with media interests are: Transcom Groupwww. transcombd. com Transcom owns Prothom Alo, the largest circulation Bangla l anguage newspaper in Bangladesh.It also owns The Daily Star, the largest and most respected English language daily in the country. Transcom’s broadcasting interests are represented by ABC Radio, a Dhaka-based news and current affairs FM station. Transcom’s media outlets are generally perceived as being politically neutral. The conglomerate was founded as a family-run tea plantation business in 1885. Its non-media business interests include electronics, mobile phones, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages. It owns the Bangladeshi franchises for Pepsi Cola, 7-Up, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. [Type text] 24 Bashundhara Groupwww. bg. com. d Bashundara Group owns two influential Bangla language daily newspapers; Kaler Kantho and Bangladesh Protidin, and an English language newspaper, The Daily Sun. It also owns the bi-lingual news portal www. BanglaNews24. com – not to be confused with the more popular www. Bdnews24. com The conglomerate’s media outlets are held through a publishing subsidiary called the East West Media Group. Bashundhara Group began life in 1987 as a real estate company. It has since diversified into shopping malls, manufacturing industry and the media. It is a major producer of cement and paper products and bottles and distributes Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).The Bashundhara Group website says the conglomerate intends to set up its own TV channel and radio station in due course. The editorial line of the group’s newspapers generally favours the ruling Awami League. Many of their news reports are seen as serving the group’s own business interests. Jamuna Groupwww. jamunagroup-bd. com The Jamuna Group publishes the popular Bangla daily Jugantor and is trying to set up a TV station – Jamuna TV. The TV station started broadcasting in 2009, but was shut down by the government after 35 days for operating without a licence. [Type ext] 25 The Jamuna Group was founded as an industrial manufacturing ven ture by businessman Nurul Islam in 1974. Today it has interests in electronics, shoe and textile manufacturing, construction and chemicals. The conglomerate also owns Jamuna Future Park, one of Bangladesh’s largest shopping malls. Jamuna diversified into media with the establishment of Jugantor in 2002. Impress Group www. impressgroup. com. bd Impress Group is a textiles, garment manufacturing and pharmaceuticals conglomerate which owns Channel i, one of Bangladesh’s most popular private TV channels.Its Impress Telefilm subsidiary also produces TV programmes for other Bangladeshi TV channels, such as BTV, ATN and Ekushey TV. Beximco Group www. beximco. net Beximco is one of the largest diversified industrial groups in Bangladesh Its relatively modest media interests include the English language daily The Independent and the Independent TV channel. Beximco’s main business activities include pharmaceuticals, ceramics, textiles, garment manufacturing, real estate, and banking. [Type text] 26 Beximco was founded in the 1970s by two brothers, Ahmed Sohail Fasiur Rahman and Ahmed Salman Fazlur Rahman.The latter is a close advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed on private sector investment matters. Multi Media Production Company This media group, founded by entrepreneur Mahfuzur Rahman owns two of Bangaldesh’s most popular private TV channels; ATN Bangla and ATN News. ATN Bangla became Bangladesh’s first private TV channel when it started broadcasting by satellite in 1997. Rahman made his initial fortune in the garment manufacturing industry. Diganta Group Diganta Group owns Naya Diganta, a Bangla language daily newspaper, and Diganta TV, a private television channel launched in 2008.Politically this media group is a strong supporter of the Jamaat-e-Islami Islamic fundamentalist party. Square Group The Square Group is a large industrial conglomerate which launched Bangladesh’s newest TV channel, Maasranga TV, in 2011. It has invested heavily in hiring leading media personalities to run the new station and has spent lavishly on equipping its studios. [Type text] 27 The Square Group, founded by business magnate Samson Chowdhury, also has interests in pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing and healthcare. [Type text] 28 Radio overviewRadio audiences in Bangladesh have fallen steadily in recent years as people have turned to television instead. The 2011 Nielsen Mediaand Demographics Survey showed that only 15% of the population still listened to the radio once every seven to 10 days, down from 36% in 1995. The same survey indicated that 91% of people in urban areas and 67% of people in rural areas now had access to television. Radio stations in Bangladesh are still largely still owned and controlled by the government. The first private radio station, Radio Foorti, only began broadcasting in 2006.By early 2012, there were just five privately owned commercial FM stations on air and the community ra dio movement was in its infancy. The five private commercial radio stations are all based in Dhaka. They are: Radio Foorti Radio Today ABC Radio Radio Aamar Metrowave †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ State-owned Bangladesh Betar is the country’s only nationwide radio network. [Type text] 29 It operates a chain of 12 regional radio stations which link up with Dhaka for national news bulletins and other networked programmes, plus a Traffic Channel for commuters in the capital. Bangladesh Betar’s broadcasts on Medium Wave and FM reach all parts of the country.However, Bangladesh Betar’s news and current affairs coverage is tightly controlled by the government and its programmes are often dull and uninspired compared with those of other broadcasters. Repeated pledges by government leaders to transform Bangladesh Betar from a government mouthpiece into an independent public service broadcaster have so far come to nothing. Reach of radio (% Population) 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1995 1998 2000 2002 National 2005 Year Urban 2006 2008 Rural 2009 2011 (Source : NMDS 2011) [Type text] 30 Most of the private FM stations transmit music and entertainment programmes aimed at an urban youth audience.The notable exception is ABC Radio, a talk station which targets a slightly older audience with a strong diet of news and current affairs. ABC Radio is owned by Transcom, the same business group that owns Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, Bangladesh’s leading newspapers in Bangla and English respectively. Radio Foort iand Radio Todaybothhave a network of FM relay transmitters in several provincial cities. This gives them broader national coverage. Radio Today also has studios in eigh provincial cites which produce some local programming. Radio Aamar broadasts in Dhaka and Chittangong. ABC Radio and MetroWave only transmit from Dhaka.According to the 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographics Survey, Radio Foorti is the most popular FM radio station in B angladesh, with 47% of the national FM radio audience. It was followed by Radio Today with 28%. The survey found that where listeners have a choice, they regard the private FM stations as being more informative and entertaining than Bangladesh Betar. The government has so far licensed 14 community radio stations. The first two went on air in 2011. [Type text] 31 Although radio ownership has declined in recent years, more and more Bangladeshi radio listeners are tuning into programmes on their mobile phones.In fact, mobile phones have become the preferred method of accessing radio in Bangladesh, especially for young people on the move in search of music and entertainment. The 2011 Nielsen Survey found that 73% of radio listeners used their mobile phones to tune in to programmes, whereas only 34% listened on a conventional radio set. How Radio Is Accessed (%of listeners) 73 Mobile 34 Radio Others 1 Source: Nielsen Media and Demographics Survey 2011 Several international broadcasters t arget Bangladesh with broadcasts in Bangla and English.They attract listeners because Bangladesh Betar is viewed by most people as little more than a crude mouthpiece of the incumbent government. [Type text] 32 BBC Bangla, Voice of America (VOA), Radio Deutsche Welle and All India Radio are all respectedas sources of independent news, but they command relatively small audiences. BBC programmes in Bangla and English are relayed on FM by Bangladesh Betar’s FM 100 station in Dhaka. BBC Bangla programmes are also relayed twice a day by six of the state broadcaster’s regional stations. Some VOA Bangla programmes are relayed by Radio Today and Radio Aamar.According to the 2011 Nielsen survey, 5% of radio listeners tune in to the BBC, and only 4% to VOA. Radio Deutsche Welle and All India Radio can only be heard on Short Wave. Their audience figures are even lower. Several internet radio stations have been launched in Bangladesh since 2010. These include: www. lemon24. com, w ww. oniyom. com, www. radio2fun. com, www. radiodhaka. net www. radiogoongoon. com. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ They broadcast popular Bangla songs, and regular news bulletins. However, they only reach relatively affluent members of the educated elite who have access to the internet and Bangladeshis in the diaspora. [Type text] 3 Community radio is only just coming into existence. The first community radio station, RadioLokobetar, began test transmissions in the town of Barguna in Barisal division in June 2011. It is run by the NGO, Mass Line Media Center. In October 2011, a second community station, Radio Padma, started broadcasting in Rajshahi. It is run by another NGO, the Centre for Communication and Development By the end of 2011, the government had issued a total of 14 licences tocommunity radio stations. Two were on air and another four had begun test broadcasts. Each one is being set up and managed by a different civil society organisation.The Community Radio adv ocacy movement was started in 1998 by a network of NGOs and like-minded civil society organizations called the Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). This pressure group argued that community radio would help to reduce poverty, eliminate social exclusion, empower marginalized rural groups and encourage the active participation of disadvantaged sections of the population in development. The government approved the ‘Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008’ (Bangladesh Gazette, 12 March 2008).The National Regulatory Commission on Broadcasting subsequently proposed that a total of 116 community radio stations be established across the country. [Type text] 34 Community radio stations approved by the government in 2011 Sl. No. Name of radio and Frequency (where available) Krishi Radio, 98. 80MHz Radio Chilmari, 99. 20MHz Lokobetar, 99. 20MHz Name and address of organisation which will run the radio 01 Agriculture Information Serv ice (Ministry of Agriculture), Amtoli, Barguna RDRS Bangladesh, Chilmari, Kurigram 02 03Mass-line Media Center, Amtoli Hospital Road, (Kathpatti), Barguna Nalta Hospital @ Community Health Foundation, Kaliganj, Sathkhira Landless Distressed Rehabilitation Organization, Sherpur Road, Bogra BRAC Mathar Kapon, Chandnighat, Moulvibazar Sadar Naogaon Human Rights Development Association, Ukilpara, Naogaon Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Sitakunda, Chittagong Proyas Manobik Unnayan society, Belepukur, Chapainawabgonj Center for Communication and Development (CCD), Monafer More, Rajshahi Srizony Bangladesh, Pabahati, Jhenidha 04 Radio Nalta, 99. 20MHz Radio Mukti, 99. 0MHz Radio Pollikontho, 99. 20MHz Barendro Radio, 99. 20MHz Radio Sagor Giri, 99. 20 MHz Radio Mahananda, 98. 80MHz Radio Padma, 99. 20MHz Radio Jhinuk, 99. 20MHz Radio Bikrampur 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Environment Council Bangladesh (EC Bangladesh), Dewvogh, Munshiganj Broadcasting Asia of Bangladesh, Koyra, Khulna 13 R adio Sundarban, 98. 80MHz Radio Naf 14 Alliance for Co-operation and Legal Aid Bangladesh (ACLAB), Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar [Type text] 35 Location of authorised community radio stations Source: BNNRC 2011 [Type text] 36 Radio stations Bangladesh Betar www. betar. rg. bd Bangladesh Betar is the state-run radio network. It is the only radio service that reaches the whole of the country. The flagship Home Service is broadcast from the main studios in Dhaka. Bangladesh Betar also operates 12 regional stations in the following cities: Bandarban Barisal Chittagong Comilla Cox's Bazar Dhaka Khulna Rajshahi Rangamati Rangpur Sylhet Thakurgaon These stations transmit on both FM and Medium Wave In addition, Bangladesh Betar runs the Traffic Channelin Dhaka. This broadcasts traffic updates to commuters in the capital on 88. 8 and 103. 2 FM.Most Bangladesh Betar programmes are in Bangla, but some, including several daily news bulletins, are in English. [Type   text] 37 National news bullet ins and other networked programmes are transmitted from Dhaka and relayed by the other centres. Some local language news bulletins and programmes are produced in Chakma, Marma and Tipra for the tribes living in the Chittangong Hill Tracts. These are broadcast by the Bangladesh Betar local stations in Bandarban, Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar. News bulletins are broadcast every hour. Special programmes for farmers are broadcast daily at 06. 5 in the morning and between 18. 05 and 20. 00 at night. Bangladesh Betar also produces an external service. This broadcasts on Short Wave in Bangla, English, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Nepali to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Bangladesh Betar started life in 1939 as a regional station of All India Radio, broadcasting from Dhaka. After the partition of India in 1947, it became Radio Pakistan Dhaka. At independence from Pakistan in 1971 Bangladesh Betar assumed its present identity. Bangladesh Betar relays the BBC World Service in English and BBC Bangla for 12 hours per day on its FM 100 station in Dhaka.BBC Bangla’s morning and afternoon programmes are also relayed by the Bangladesh Betar local stations in six other cities. Center Dhaka-Ka Dhaka-kha Dhaka-Ga Chittagong [Type text] Frequency (kHz) 693 630 1170 873 Meter 432. 90 476. 19 256. 41 343. 64 Power (kW) 1000 100 20 100 Broadcast Time(Local) 0630-1210 and 14302330 0000-0300, 0630-0745 and 0900-2310 1500-1700 0630-1000 and 12002310 38 1080 Rajshahi 846 Khulna Rangpur Sylhet Barisal Thakurgaon Rangamati Cox's Bazar Bandarban Comilla 558 1053 963 1287 999 1161 1314 1431 1413 354. 60 537. 63 284. 90 311. 52 233. 10 300. 30 258. 9 228. 31 209. 64 212. 31 100 100 20 20 10 10 10 10 10 10 277. 77 10 0630-1000 and 12002310 0630-1000 and 12002310 0630-1000 and 12002310 0630-1000 and 14002310 0630-1000 and 14002310 1045-1715 1550-2310 1130-1630 1145-1645 1130-1630 1600-2310 Bangladesh Betar Medium Wave transmitters Source: Bangladesh Betar website Center FM100, Dhaka FM , Dhaka FM 88. 8, Traffic Channel FM 90. 0, Traffic Channel FM (Home Service), Dhaka FM, Chittagong FM, Khulna FM, Sylhet FM, Rajshahi FM, Rangpur [Type   text] Frequency (MHz) 100. 0 97. 6 88. 8 90. 0 103. 2 105. 5 102. 0 105. 0 104. 0 105. 0 105. Meter 3. 00 3. 07 3. 38 3. 33 2. 9 2. 85 2. 94 2. 86 2. 88 2. 86 2. 86 Power (KW) 3 5 10 10 5 2 1 1 5 1 1 Broadcast Time 1300-1600 0630-1200; 1415-2315 0800-2000 0800-2000 1730-2200 0630-1000; 1900-2310 0630-1000; 1900-2310 0630-1000; 1900-2310 0630-1000; 1900-2310 0630-1000; 1900-2310 0630-1000; 1900-2310 39 FM, Comilla FM, Thakurgoan 101. 2 92. 0 2. 96 3. 26 2 5 0630-1000; 1700-2310 1600-2310 Bangladesh Betar FM broadcasts Source: Bangladesh Betar website Director General (news)- Narayan Chandra Sen Tel: +880 2 8115072 +880 2 8113356 +880 2 8115079 +880 2 8115036 Email:[email  protected] et Address: Bangladesh Betar, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207 Radio Foorti www. radiofoorti. fm Radio Foorti is the largest private radio station in Banglades h. It broadcasts on 88. 0 FM in Dhaka and reaches a large audience in the interior through relay stations in the following seven provincial cities: Barisal Chittagong (98. 4 FM) [Type text] 40 Cox’s Bazar Khulna Mymensingh Rajshahi Sylhet(89. 8 FM) According to the 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographics Survey, Radio Foorti commands a 47% share of the total FM radio audience in Bangladesh. Most of its programming consists of music and entertainment.The station plays a wide variety of music, ranging from Bengali classics to the latest songs released by top Bangladeshi artists, along with some international tracks. Many programmes are inter-active, relaying phone calls and text messages from listeners. The station first went on in Dhaka in 2006. Since then its FM coverage has progressively been extended to other major cities. Radio Foorti is owned by the MGH Group. This is also has interests in transport, logistics, aviation services, banking and information technology. Chief Exec utive -Daniel Afzalur Rahman Tel: +880 2 8835747 +880 2 8835748 Email: Daniel. [email  protected] m Address: Radio Foorti, Landmark (8 floor), 12-14 Gulshan North C/A, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212 th Radio Today 89. 6 FM www. radiotodaybd. fm [Type text] 41 Radio Today is a music and entertainment station that broadcasts on FM from Dhaka and seven other cities across Bangladesh. It claims to reach a potential audience of more than 120 million people across the country. Radio Today plays popular Bangladeshi music. It has subsidiary stations which produce several hours of local programming each day in the following provincial cities: Bogra Chittagong Khulna Sylhet Barisal Cox’s Bazar Mymensingh All broadcast on the same frequency – 89. 6 FM.Radio Today is owned by Radio Broadcasting FM (Bangladesh) Co. Ltd. , a company controlled by a businessman with strong connections with the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP). It first went on air in 2006. [Type text] 42 The stati on also rebroadcasts two news bulletins per day from Voice of America (VOA) Bangla. Chief News Editor – Rashidul Islam Tel : + 880 2 8829293 Email : [email  protected] com Address: Radio Today, Awal Centre (13th and 19th Floors), 34 Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka-121 3 Radio Aamarwww. radioaamar. com Radio Aamar is a private radio station that broadcasts round the clock on 88. 4 FM in Dakhaand 101. FM in Chittagong. It carries news, traffic and weather updates, business news, Bangla and English music and phone-in programmes. It also relays 30 minutes of programming from Voice of America (VOA) Banglaevery evening. Radio Aamar began broadcasting in 2007. The station is owned by the Uniwave Broadcasting Co. Ltd [Type text] 43 Chief Executive – Zulfiquer Ahmed Tel: + 880 2 9886800 +880 2 9861133 +880 2 8832989 Address: Uniwave Broadcasting Company Ltd. , Silver Tower (12th Floor), 52 GulshanAvenue, Dhaka ABC Radio FM 89. 2 http://abcradiobd. fm ABC Radio is Banglade sh’s only privately operated news and current affairs radio station.It is based in Dhaka and covers a potential audience of 40 million people living within 80 km of the capital. ABC Radio is owned by Transcom, the industrial conglomerate which also publishes two of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers; Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. This linkage gives ABC Radio access to the newspapers’ network of more than 240 reporters and correspondents countrywide. ABC radio was launched in 2009 and is on air 24 hours a day. There are news bulletins every hour. According to the 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographic Survey, ABC Radio reaches 13% of all FM radio listeners. [Type text] 44It can be heard clearly as far south as Comilla and Chandpur, as far north as Tangail and as far west as Faridpur. Head of News – M. Sanaullah Tel: +880 2 8142038 +880 2 8189307-10 Email : [email  protected] fm [email  protected] fm Address: ABC Radio, 99 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Dhaka Tra de Center, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka MetroWave www. metrowave-bd. com MetroWave is a private music and entertainment radio station based in Dhaka. Under the terms of its broadcasting license, the station is required to relay some government news programmes and speeches by the Prime Minister and President. MetroWave is on air on 1170 Khz Medium Wave from 07. 0 until 10. 30 and again from 12. 00 to 15. 00. Its does not appear to broadcast on FM. Managing Director – Emran Mahmud Tel : + 880 2 9881131 Email : [email  protected] com [Type text] 45 Address: MetroWave, Electros house (9th floor), 18 Kamal Araturk avenue, Banani, Dhaka BBC Bangla www. bbc. co. uk/bengali BBC Bangla is the Bengali language service of the BBC. It is aimed at Bengali speakers in both Bangladesh and India. BBC Bangla broadcasts to Bangladesh on Short Wave and FM for two hours per day and online through its website. Programming consists of news, current affairs, sports, entertainment and discussion programmes .From 2005 to 2010, BBC Bangla broadcast a weekly TV and radio discussion programme called Sanglap (Dialogue)in association with Bangladesh’s Channel i satellite TV station. This popular programme aimed to initiate constructive public debate and encourage greater accountability from government and authority figures. It brought ordinary people face-to-face with influential politicians and business leaders and gives them an opportunity to ask questions about issues that matterto them. Sanglap was broadcast from different locations around Bangladesh and claimed a regular audience of 21 million. Type text] 46 Itsinspired several other private TV stations in Bangladesh to launch similar discussion programmes BBC Bangla is relayed on FM by Bangledesh Betar in Dhaka on its FM 100station. This also relays BBC World Service in English for 10 hours per day. In addition, BBC Bangla is relayed by the Bangladesh Betar local FM stations in: Chittagong(105. 0 FM) Khulna(105. 4 FM) Rajshahi( 105. 4 FM) Sylhet(105. 0 FM) Rangpur(105. 4 FM) Comilla(101. 2 FM) Since 2010 BBC Bangla has also offered a dial-in news update service to mobile phone users on Bangladesh’s three largest mobile phone networks.By dialing the short code 16262 members of the public can listen to a recording of the latest BBC headlines in Bangla at any time of day and leave their own comments if they wish. The news headlines are updated every hour. BBC Bangla has journalists based in Dhaka, Kolkata and Delhi. BBC Dhaka Office Tel: +88 2 9130996 +88 2 9130997 +88 2 9130672 [Type text] 47 Address,: BBC, Dhanshiri Apartments, Flat No. D 602, 35 Indira Road, Tejgaon, Dhaka1215 BBC Bangla Editor – Sabir Mustafa Telephone: +44 20 7557 1840 Email: [email  protected] co. k Address: BBC Bangla Service, Bush House, PO Box 76, Strand, LondonWC2B 4PH, UK Voice of America (VOA) www. voanews. com/bangla/news VOA Bangla is the Bengali language service of the US international radio station Voice of Ame rica (VOA). It transmits to Bangladesh and India on Short Wave for seven hours per week. In 2009 VOA Bangla said its radio broadcasts to Bangladesh reached 2. 6 million people and that its overall audience, including TV and the internet, was 10 million. VOA Bangla produces a 10-12 minute TV programme every week which is aired by the Bangladeshi private satellite broadcaster NTV.Two of VOA Bangla’s daily radio news bulletins are relayed on FM in Bangladesh by Radio Today from transmitters in the following cities: Barisal [Type text] 48 Bogra Chittagong Cox’s Bazar Dhaka Khulna Mymensingh Sylhet Radio Aamar also broadcasts a 30-minute segment of VOA Bangla programming at 22. 00 every evening from its transmitters in Dhaka and Chittagong. In addition, Radio Aamar broadcasts VOA Bangla’s one-hour call-in show Hello Washington every Wednesday. VOA Bangla Managing Editor Roquia Haider Email: [email  protected] om Address: VOA Bangla Service, 330 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20457 [Type text] 49 Television overview Over the past decade television has emerged as the most powerful channel of news and entertainment in Bangladesh. It has displaced radio and newspapers to become the country’s main source of reliable information. The 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographic Survey found that 84% of urban households and 43% of rural households in Bangladesh owned a television set. The same survey showed that 74% of Bangladeshis aged 15 and over watch television at least once every seven to 10 days.The rise of television has been stimulated by a boom in private TV channels, since ATN Bangla became the first private commercial TV station to receive a license in 1997. Seventeen private TV channels have begun broadcasting to Bangladesh by satellite and cable since then. They generally provide more attractive and entertaining programmes than the state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) network. [Type text] 50 However, BTV has maintained a strong hold on viewers in rural areas since it is the only TV network that broadcasts free-to-air from terrestrial transmitters.The 2011 Nielsen survey showed that 83% of TV owners in urban areas have access to private TV channels via satellite or cable, but whereas only 39% of TV owners in the countryside do so. However, more and more rural households with access to some form of electricity supply are acquiring satellite dishes. As a result, BTV’s former monopoly of rural television audiences is being gradually eroded. Satellite TV channels broadcasting from India in Hindi and Bengali are popular for their soap operas, films and sports coverage. ETV Bangla, an Indian satellite channel based in Kolkata,ZTV, Star Plus, Sony TV, and Zee Cinema are among the most popular Indian entertainment channels. Doordarshan, BBC, CNN, and ETV Bangla, are popular satellite channels for news. TV channels charge the highest rates for advertising between 19. 00 and 23. 00, suggesting that this is also the peak viewing period. Daytime TV audiences mainly consist of housewives watching soap operas. When their menfolk come home from work in the evening, the TV set is often switched over to news and sports channels. There are no dedicated sports channels in Bangladesh, but televised football and cricket matches carried by foreign channels are very popular. Type text] 51 Talk shows have become popular in the past three years, in response to the popularity of the BBC Bangla TV discussion programme BBC Sanglap. This ran from 2005 to 2010 on Channel i. Every TV channel now broadcasts at least one talk show per week and these programmes cause considerable debate nationally. Some TV discussion programmes have been criticised for promoting the views of a particular political party or the channel’s owner, but others are very professionally produced and presented. There are two private TV channels devoted solely to news – ATN News and Shomoy.Most of the other TV channels broadcast a mix of news, talk shows, reality shows, music shows, dramas, movies and other forms of entertainment. The majority broadcast hourly news bulletins throughout the day and a flagship news show in the evening. Most also air programmes about development issues such as health, agriculture, and education. Islamic TV, however, carries only religious news and discussions. Viewers in the main cities can access more than 70 TV channels by cable. There are hundreds of different cable networks in Bangladesh. Monthly cable subscriptions cost between 150 and 500 Taka, ($2. to $6. 50). They can easily be afforded by a middle-income family. [Type text] 52 The extension of mains power supplies, solar power and the availability of low cost TV sets have substantially increased access to television over the past decade. Rising incomes and the emergence of a large middle class have meanwhile made commercial television, based on the sale of advertising, extremely profitable. Many of Bangladesh’s private TV channels have been set up by the country’s largest industrial conglomerates such as Beximco, Square Group and Impress Group.Many of these business groups also own newspapers. In early 2012, there were three state-run TV channels and 16 private channels on air in Bangladesh. Government licenses had been granted for a further six private channels. According to the 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographic Survey, ATN-Bangla and Channel-iare the most popular TV channels overall. However, individual programmes on other channels may have higher ratings at certain times of day. The Nielsen survey identified ATN Bangla’s evening news as the most watched TV programme in the country.It rated NTV as the third most popular station. It has three channels which broadcast a mixture of news, entertainment, reality shows and discussion programmes. People in rural areas without access to satellite connections have no option other than state-run terrestrial channel BTV. [Type text] 53 BTV is Bangladesh’s largest TV station in terms of its studios, staff, equipment and countrywide coverage. It claims that its terrestrial broadcasts cover 95% of the population. BTV’s flagship national channel is broadcast from studios in Dhaka.It is normally on air for 18 hours a day. BTV’s regional studios in Chittagong produce a small amount of regional news and programming for Southeastern Bangladesh. This replaces national network programming in Chittagong for up to two hours every night. In January 2011 BTV launched a third parliamentary channel, BTV Sangsad. This broadcasts proceedings from parliament and discussion programmes about important national topics. The channel is on air for three hours per day whenever parliament is in session. BTV also runs an international channel, BTV World.This broadcasts by satellite 24 hours a day to Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. Terrestrial TV channels can easily be taken off air by the authorities – as Ekushey TV discovered to its cost in 2002. Ekushey was shut down for four years by an incoming Bangladesh National Party (BNP) government which perceived the station as being overtly in favour of the opposition Awami League. It only resumed broadcasting on satellite in 2006 Ekushey’s experience has made other TV channels wary of terrestrial broadcasting. [Type text] 54Unlike radio stations, which are licensed by the Ministry of Information, TV channels in Bangladesh are regulated by the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC). They require a ‘permission to broadcast letter’ from the Ministry of Information, but BTRC issues their license. Television stations Bangladesh Television (BTV) www. btv. gov. bd Bangladesh TV (BTV) is the national state TV network. Its main channel is the most watched TV channel in Bangladesh, largely because it is the only TV channel that can be received without a satellite dish in rural areas.BTV claims that its tra nsmitter network covers 95% of the population. Its main channel is on air for 18 hours per day from 07. 00 to 01. 00. BTV also operates a small regional television station in the South-eastern port city of Chittagong. This broadcasts up to two hours of local programmes in the evening. In 2004, BTV launched an international satellite channel BTV World. This broadcasts round the clock and can be seen throughout Asia and the Middle East. Its latest venture is a parliamentary channel, BTV Sangsad. [Type text] 55Launched in January 2011, BTV Sangsad broadcasts for three hours per day whenever parliament is in session. It carries parliamentary debates and discussion programmes on topics of national importance. Most BTV programmes are in Bangla, but some are in English. According to the 2011 Nielsen Media and Demographic Survey, the proportion of TV viewers who tune in to BTV is higher in rural areas (92%) than in urban areas (80%). However, the same survey indicated that BTV’s audi ence has declined across the board in recent years in the face of competition from private TV channels.The Nielsen survey ranked Ittyadi, a magazine entertainment programme as BTV’s most popular programme. BTV’s flagship evening news programme in Bangla scores high ratings and its Friday night movies are also very popular. State television started broadcasting in East Pakistan in 1964. BTV was created after Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan in 1971. BTV has transmitters in Dhaka and Chittagong and relay stations in the following locations: Natore Sylhet Khulna Rangpur Mymenshingh Rangamati Noakhali [Type text] 56Shatkhira Jhenidah Thakurgaon Brahmanbaria Patuakhali Rajshahi Ukhia [Type text] 57 BTV transmitters and relay stations Source: BTV website [Type text] 58 Director General – Kazi Abu Zafar Muhammad Hasan Siddiqi Tel: +880 2 9330131-9 +880 2 9330036-39 Email : [email  protected] gov. bd [email  protected] net. bd Address: Bangladesh Telev ision, Television Bhaban, Rampura, Dhaka-1219 BTV Chittagong www. btv. gov. bd, BTV’s Chittagong sub-station airs its own, locally produced programmes from 17. 30 to 19. 10 pm every day. This segment of local programming includes a 10-minute regional news bulletin.The Chittagong studios also produce short dramas and cultural programmes. Their quality is said to have improved since 2010. General Manager BTV Chittagong Tel: +880 31 611751 Email: [email  protected] gov. bd Address: BTV, 27, Nasirabad Housing Society, Road No. 3, Chittagong BTV Worldwww. btv. gov. bd, BTV World is the international satellite channel of BTV. It began broadcasting in 2004 and is on air 24 hours a day. [Type text] 59 Most of it the programmes are identical to those of BTV’s domestic service broadcast by terrestrial transmitters. BTV World is broadcast on AsiaSat 3S.Its footprint extends from the Sea of Japan in the east to Cyprus in the West, and from New Zealand-Australia in the South to S iberia in the North. Director General – Kazi Abu Zafar Mohammad Hassan Siddiqui Tel: +880 2 933 0131-6 +880 2 933 0036-8 Email: [email  protected] gov. bd Address: BTV World, TV Bhaban, Rampura, Dhaka-1219 , Sangsad TVwww. btv.