Pablo, The King Of Coke - 1617 Words

Pablo Escobar (or Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria) is frequently signified as the â€Å"King of coke†. This Colombian drug lord who is if not or most notorious and effective cocaine smuggler in history. Out of Rionegro, Columbia on December 1, 1949, Escobar is born and was a leader of one of the largest cocaine handling and supply groups in the world. Escobar’s desire and mercilessness made him one of the wealthiest, most influential and vicious criminals of all time. Born in December 1949, Escobar was a son of a teacher and peasant of Columbia, Pablo’s wrong choice of path started at a premature age. Details about Escobar’s life start at the age of 6. During Escobar’s childhood, his entire family struggled to survive, the fourth of six children to Abel de Jesus Escobar (father), a peasant, and Hemilda Gaviria (mother), an elementary school teacher. Pablo’s family lived in a hut that had no electricity, but did have running water. By the type of lifestyle Pablo lived it would put him in the middle class status part of Columbia at that time. For instance, one day Roberto Escobar (brother) and Pablo would always walk to school due to the fact that they had no money to receive transportation from a bus. The distance from Pablo’s home and the school is equivalent to an hour walk. Pablo and his brother walked to school so often, Pablo decided to go to school with no shoes and upon arriving to class Pablo’s teacher told him to go back home. Feeling humiliated, once Pablo gotShow MoreRelatedEl Pablo Escobars Life1392 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch â€Å"El Pablo Escobar†, because his lifestyle caught my eye. I instantly caught interest in wanting to know more of what he’s like. Other people in the world think El Pablo Escobar was born from hell, I think he was a person trying to survive in this cruel world. We all do things that we’re not proud of, but that’s just the nature of life. We do unusual things that some people just don’t understand, some of us grew up poor or mentally abused in our own mind. Creates people like El Pablo EscobarRead MorePablo Escobar2416 Words   |  10 PagesPablo Escobar Introduction Pablo Escobar was a man of power and riches during his time in history. Escobar was listed as the seventh richest man in the world in 1989. Coming from Medellin, the second largest city in Colombia, Escobar started off as a small time gangster and a car thief. His small time crimes would never amount to what he was going to become. In the late 1970 s Escobar and his cartel became one of the most powerful organized crime organizations. The cartel consolidated the cocaineRead More5 Coke vs Pepsi 21st Century Case Study13607 Words   |  55 PagesDAVID B. YOFFIE tC Cola Wars Continue: Coke and Pepsi in the Twenty-First Century For over a century, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola vied for â€Å"throat share† of the world’s beverage market. The most intense battles of the cola wars were fought over the $60-billion industry in the United States, where the average American consumed 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks (CSD) per year. In a â€Å"carefully waged competitive struggle,† from 1975 to 1995 both Coke and Pepsi achieved average annual growthRead MoreCola Wars Continue Coke and Pepsi10915 Words   |  44 Pages9-711-462 REV: MAY 26, 2011 DAVID B YOFFIE RENEE KIM Cola Wars Contiinue: Coke C an nd Pepsi in 20110 oke and Pepsi vied for â€Å"t hroat share† o of the world’ss beverage m market. For more than a century, Co The most intense battles in the so-called colla wars weree fought over the $74 billio on carbonated soft drink (CSD) industry in the Un nited States.1 In a â€Å"carefu ully waged co ompetitive strruggle† that llasted from 1975 through the mid-199 90s, both Cok ke and Pepsi achieved average annualRead MoreCola Wars9777 Words   |  40 Pages9-711-462 REV: MAY 26, 2011 DAVID B. YOFFIE RENEE KIM Cola Wars Conti inue: Coke an Peps in 201 C nd si 10 Fo more than a century, Co and Pepsi vied for â€Å"th or oke hroat share† o the world’s beverage m of s market. The most intense battles in the so-called col wars were fought over the $74 billio carbonated soft m b la e on drink (CSD) indus stry in the Un nited States.1 In a â€Å"carefu ully waged co ompetitive str ruggle† that l lasted from 1975 through the mid-199Read MoreDifferent Kinds of Terrorism3703 Words   |  15 PagesStates fight against the Columbian Medellin cocaine cartel, more particularly in the fight by the cartel against extradition. One of the most wanted men in the world, nicknamed the â€Å"King Coke† or â€Å"The Robin Hood of Medellinâ€Å", Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria surrendered to Columbian authorities in mid June 1991. Pablo Escobar was the accused leader of a major illicit narcotics organization know as the Medellin cartel and Different Types of Terrorism: 16 suspected mastermind of a terrorism campaignRead MoreThe Mind of a Marketing Manager26114 Words   |  105 Pagesconnects all audiences emotionally in why we do business . Internally, brands stir emotions and energize people internally and externally to reach for the higher-order benefits that they are working towards: * For Nike... to do your best . * For Coke ... to refresh . * For Microsoft... to help realize your potential . Even the most dull, boring industrial sector, dealing in so-called commodities like cement or fertilizer can still create strong and compelling brands - look at CemexRead MoreManagement Challenges for the 21st Century.Pdf60639 Words   |  243 Pagesbehave differently. In France, for instance, the Coca-Cola Company does far better selling fruit juices than it does selling carbonated Cokes. In Japan one of its major products is coffee dispensed in vending machines. But both fruit juices and prepared coffee fit Coca-Cola’s Theory of the Business and its strategy. Physically they are different from the original Coke. In every other aspect, that is, as businesses, they are exactly the same. Strategy—The New Certainties 67 To repeat something

Essay on The Impact of Industrialization - 908 Words

During the 19th century, modifications and innovative ideas formed what would shape the face of the modern world. Industrialization was the shift from an agrarian and handmade economy to a machine and manufactured one (Judge 664). It transpired in Britain first and eventually spread across the Atlantic and the United States. Industrialization helped pave the way towards more workers’ rights, stronger nations, improved economies, and improvements for the middle and lower classes. The movement for workers’ rights became significant during the 19th century due to the formation of labor unions and the concept of collective bargaining. Workers were expected to work according to terms laid out by their employers, which included low pay and†¦show more content†¦The British had an array of assets, such as the machinery and labor forces required to operate them, that contributed to them being the first industrialized nation (Judge 668). The Netherlands was the second in dustrialized economy after Britain. Their success was on account of earlier advances in agriculture, and coal and iron deposits along with assistance from the British. The nation built railways as banks provided credit for the financing of industrial ventures in the 1830s. France and German states lagged behind due to political and financial instability. However, after the political unification of Germany in 1871, the industrialization period transpired swiftly (Judge 669). The government supported railways, an education system to provide literate workers, and laws enabling corporations to collaborate in setting prices and production quotas. With care and skill, the nation even surpassed Britain in the 1900s. Alternating from republic to empire, the French lagged behind due to their diplomatic and military setbacks (Judge 681). The most prominent growth was seen in the United States after the Civil War (Judge 669). United as one nation, the country moved towards a fully supported industry with a huge labor force expanding due to mass immigration from Europe. With such significant growth, the United States was the dominant figureShow MoreRelatedImpact Of Industrialization1134 Words   |  5 Pages Impact of Industrialization on American Society Reese Aghayedo HISTORY 1312- 701: United Stated History II September 11, 2017 â€Æ' During late 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, the United States went through rapid industrialization that drastically changed many aspects of its society. During this era, the United States became the leading industrial capitalist of the world . This also led to tremendous increase in demand for the working-class Americans. Also, advancement inRead MoreImpact of Industrialization on Environment1103 Words   |  5 PagesImpact of Industrialization on Environment OVERVIEW Centuries ago, when there was no active expanding of large cities and industries, nature was able to overcome pollution and keep air fairly clean without outside help. The wind and rain in the form of natural rescuers scattered gases and washed away the dust. However, with increasing industrialization and urbanization, the nature’s system cannot cope with pollution and clean the environment naturally. In comparison with volcanoes, hurricanes,Read MoreImpact Of Globalization On Industrialization761 Words   |  4 PagesGlobalization in human activities is the most frequent and closest part of the environment. So far, globalization’s negative impact on the ecological environment is far more than its positive impact. In this article, industrialization, urbanization, and trade liberalization these three factors’ influence on globalization will be illustrated. Globalization has a great influence on industrialization. Globalization has drastically reduced the technical and policy barriers to the flow of various elements of goodsRead MoreIndustrialization Impact Essay783 Words   |  4 PagesIndustrialization brought machines to the forefront of efficiency and profit for many new entrepreneurs, and many technological advancement such as the telegraph and the transcontinental railroad radically improved communication and transportation. With such advancements to society, social and economical changes occurred where more people moved from an agrarian society to an urban society, and during this transition, the conditions of life grew worse as the wealth gap increased from working in factoriesRead MoreThe Impact of the Napoleonic Wars on Industrialization810 Words   |  4 Pageshave a large impact on industrialization in Britain, the United States and Europe as a result of realizations and actions taken to better their countries after the Na poleonic wars. Although the Industrial Revolution began in Britain during the 1700s it was boosted in the early 1800s after the Napoleonic wars because of reform that was needed. Industrialization then started spreading throughout Europe and into North America in the early 1800s. By the mid-1800s industrialization was widespreadRead More Impact of Industrialization on the Environment Essay1343 Words   |  6 PagesImpact of Industrialization on the Environment During the past several hundred years, humans have begun to industrialize rapidly. Tons of new technologies with all sorts of capabilities have sprung up. In many cases, these added capabilities have been used to manipulate natural things for human benefit, often at the expense of other things. On the other hand, technological advancement has required that humans come to a better understanding of the world, bringing with it a greater potentialRead MoreThe Impact Of Fishing On The Service Of Industrialization1066 Words   |  5 Pagesactivity that people have been doing since early civilization. It evolved from a social need to currently also one of commercial interest2. As Cochrane and Garcia (2009) describe it so nicely: â€Å"†¦the commoditization of nature in the service of industrialization.† After years of perceived growth, it is now evident that globally countries suffer from the negative effects that we people have ourselves helped create. The introduction starts with a background and relates the complexity of fisheries managementRead MoreImpact Of Industrialization On The United States1843 Words   |  8 PagesDuring the process of industrialization in the United States, the government decided to increase regulation of businesses, trade, and the economy overall. In his Address to the Nation on Labor Day, President Richard Nixon placed â€Å"some temporary restrictions on our economic freedom in order to create new jobs, to stop the rise in the cost of living, to protect the American dollar.† During the process of industrialization, these regulations were necessary to ensure growth and sustainability. HoweverRead MoreImpact Of Industrialization On Chinese Culture1372 Words   |  6 PagesIndustrialization was another important way in which the Japanese exercised its imperialism in Taiwan. Before their rule, Taiwan was not very developed in infrastructure hence it was difficult for people to move from one part of the island to the other. Taiwan was seen as a source of raw materials for the industries in Japan as well as an overseas market for its goods and services. The region also provided an important outpost and Confederate defensive position. A network of railroads was constructedRead MoreImpact Of Globalization On The Age Of Industrialization1918 Words   |  8 Pagesnewly discovered technology allowed populations to achieve economies that could generate successful productivity. In recognizing and analyzing this distinct historical event, it then begs the question of what exactly made the greater impact on the age of industrialization. There were numerous contributing factors that propelled worldwide economic development. Britain, as the most advance economy of the time, showed leadership in its introduction of limited liability law which is arguably the primary

Legal Aspects of Enterprise-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthlep.com

Question: Identify any regulatory framework/s affecting the Multinational Company you have Identified Operating in Australia and discuss why and how it affects the Company. For example, Multinational Corporations, like local Companies, are subject to 30 per cent Corporate tax. Answer: Introduction Organisations are required to comply with various domestic and international regulations while operating their business in multiple countries. The regulatory framework affects the business of multinational corporations and its operations. This report will analyse the regulatory framework of Woolworth Limited; it is one of the largest retailing chain in Australia and second largest in New Zealand. The company was founded in 1924, and it operates in the retailing industry. Further, the report will evaluate the treaties, conventions or agreements in Australia that influence the business of Woolworth Limited. Woolworth Limited Woolworth limited is worlds 19th largest retailing chain, and the stores of the company are situated in more than 992 locations. Mainly, the corporation operates in Australia, New Zealand, and India; the firms head office is situated in Bella Vista, Australia. Woolworth limited is known for its competitive pricing products and high-quality customer services; the company provides value and specialised facilities to diversified customers relating to wholesale products (Raghuram and Kuberkar, 2008). The company is governed under the chairmanship of Brad Banducci and Gordon Cairns; Banducci is also the CEO of the firm. There are more than 202,000 employees in the company from which 197,000 work in Australian stores whereas around 5000 are employed in other Woolworth stores situated worldwide (Woolworth Group, 2017). Woolworth limited operates in multiple sectors including hotel, liquor retailing, departmental stores, and supermarkets. The financial position of the company is solid that assisted them in expanding their business throughout Australia and New Zealand. The products and services offered by the company focus on improving the living standard of its customers and maximising stakeholders value (Lyons, 2007). The competition in the retailing industry has proliferated due to globalisation and digitalisation; Woolworth has gained a competitive advantage over its competitors because of competitive pricing and large market share. Regulatory Framework Affecting the Company Woolworth limited is constantly innovating and evolving its products and facilities to fulfill the requirement of customers and finding new methods to address the market challenges. The company operates as per its regulatory framework. The retailing industry changes rapidly as per the market and customers requirements; nowadays, consumers prefer more choices and affordable products in great quality. Woolworth serves more than 21 million customers in a week. Therefore, the company requires that each of its vendor and supplier comply with legal obligations and responsibilities (King, 2014). A code of conduct enhances the reputation of Woolworth because the company can achieve its organisational goals through ethical, legal and moral standards. However, several regulatory frameworks influence the business and operations of the company. The frameworks varied from company to company in the retailing industry. The regulatory framework is required to be followed in various areas relating to health, safety, trade practices, food safety, privacy, environment, and responsible handling of alcohol. The corporation is required to supply its products and facilities as per the conditions established by the industry. The Woolworth limited and its vendors are required to analyse and fulfill the requirements provided by the retailing industry. Many of the regulatory framework provisions affect the operations, and financial performance of Woolworth limited in the long run (Hollander, 2006). There is a significant amount of diversity in the retailing industry based on area, nature of products, format of the sector, the level of competition and the products and services that are produced and sold. In recent years, the firm has met multiple challenges that are linked to rules and regulations of the retailing industry. The performance, structure, and efficiency of the firm operating in the retailing industry have become a barrier for the economic contribution in Australia. As per government regulation, the Australian retailers are obligated to share their products and facilities with the foreign counterparts. As per the directions of the Australian government, the retailing industry is required to establish safety standards for the protection of life and health of the people (Business, 2017). Many tax regulations influence the business of the corporation. The government has implemented various taxes and duties on the retailing industry that creates both advantage and disadvantage for the firm based on the conditions in which it operates. Impact of Regulatory Framework on Woolworth Following are the policies implemented by the Australian government that influence the business of Woolworth limited: Corporation Tax: The corporation tax influence the corporations development and investment within an industry. This tax imposes on the net profit on a corporation hence it reduces its investment opportunities. A high rate of corporation tax reduces corporation revenue which decreases its investment opportunities, and it allows local competitors to expand their business in the industry. The current corporation tax rate in Australia is 30 percent, and companies are required to pay such amount on their marginal income (Australian Taxation Office, 2017). Food Safety Regulation: The Australian government requires corporations to comply with food safety standards to ensure that their good and services are as per the safety requirements to protect customers welfare. The food safety regulations apply to the retailing industry because they sell consumer products and services (Hobbs, 2010). Woolworth limited provides its services through supermarkets and departmental stores that offer a variety of consumer food products. Therefore, the company can increase customers trust by effectively complying with the regulations of food safety. The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) provides a code of practices for corporations operating in the industry to address various problems relating to food safety. The standards require companies to sell environment-friendly products and services instead of products that are hazardous for customers health; the corporations that failed to comply with the safety regulations are forced to pay the penalty. Recently, Woolworth limited has to pay a fine of $3 million for selling unsafe consumer products, and it reduces companys performance and revenue (The Australian, 2016). Consumer Law: The consumer law ensures that contracts are created based on fair rules and regulations that focus on protecting the customers from unsolicited agreements, product safety, and penalties. The national statutory framework of the Australia has a significant impact on its economy because it encourages retailers to ensure that their products and services are not harmful to consumer health and environment. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is authorised to impose these standards on corporations (Richards, Lawrence, Loong and Burch, 2012). Woolworth limited is also required to comply with the consumer law provided by the country. However, the company follow a strict code of conduct that ensures the protection of the welfare of customers along with other stakeholders. The company ensures that its policies and strategies comply with the consumer laws because noncompliance can have a negative impact on the performance and success of the firm. In 2016, a fine of $3.057 million has levied over Woolworth limited because it failed to comply with the standards of safety and health provided by the government. Therefore, lack of compliance with regulatory framework can reduce customers trust in a corporation. Goods and Service Tax: The Australian Government introduced Goods and Service Tax (GST) in 2000. The functions of Woolworth limited directly influence by the GST because it affects its revenue and expenses. Currently, the rate of GST is 10 percent in Australia, and it imposes directly on consumer products and retail sector (Australian Taxation Office, 2017). The introduction of GST is beneficial for retailing corporations because it strengthens the strategies relating to customer product and services. The high rate of GST reduces tax expenses for corporations from different areas such as service and real estate, and it ensures that companies perform in an effective manner. GST reduce issues relating to value chain by the implementation of uniform tax rates. Impact of Treaties, Conventions, and Agreements on Woolworth Limited Woolworth limited in one of the largest retailing company in Australia, the company enter into new agreements and contracts to expand its business. The company offers its services and products in areas of Australia, New Zealand, and India, therefore, the agreements and treaties between these countries have a significant influence on Woolworths business. In 1983, Australia and New Zealand entered into an agreement to bring economic relations closer called ANZCERTA or CER which stands for Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (Elijah and Leslie, 2013). The agreement allows corporations to trade between the countries freely and it builds the foundation for the development of both countries economic and trade association; the agreement help strengthen both countries treading relations through common valuable development (Lockie and Higgins, 2007). The agreement has a direct influence on Woolworth limited because the compliance and transaction expenses for products has been reduced which resulted in higher revenue and significant progress. The quantitative restriction on the offering of products has been removed due to the elimination of tariffs which resulted in maximisation of market distortion and eventually assist the company in satisfying a large number of customers requirement (Wright and Grace, 2011). The elimination of trade barriers drastically changes the products offered by Woolworth; the company has increased use of technology in the production process because the cost and duties of transportation have been reduced due to the agreement. Therefore, the quality of products has been increased which enables the company to satisfy its customers and expand its market share. The Bilateral Free Trade Agreement (BFTA) between New Zealand and India has assisted in the expansion of economic cooperation between both countries (Aggarwal and Urata, 2013). This agreement has a considerable influence on the retailing products of Woolworth limited; the demand for products has increased between both countries because of the low cost of the products. The quantity of manufacturing and trading of products has increased between the countries which positively influence the investment opportunities for the corporations. In 2009, Woolworth limited invested $24 billion in entering into the hardware sector; the company enter into a contract to acquire Danks in order to expand its operation in the local sector. Danks Holding Limited deals in building supplies and hardware products, and it is one of the largest hardware retailing corporation in Australia (Greenblat, 2009). Woolworth limited focuses on establishing a multi-format strategy to improve the daily requirements of customers. The contract has increased the corporations opportunity to deliver and distribute products as per its customers requirements. The progress of Woolworth in home expansion, consumer and hardware products increases the corporations retailing capabilities, technology, and skills. Despite the adverse economic condition, Woolworth limited decided to diversify their business and invest in a business which provides high competition in the retail sector (Durie, 2009). The decision affects Woolworths other operations as well because the amount could be invested in improving the quality of existing products. The profitability and market position of a company is influenced by significant amount of investment in the new sector. The firm is now dealing with diversified products and facilities of the different retailing sector. The agreement of expansion benefits customers because it increases the number of product choices for them. This contract has also assisted in reducing the resource allocation of producing other consumer products and facilities. Therefore, entering into new industry increases and develops the corporations productivity but it also hampers the quality of existing products of the firm. Conclusion To conclude, several factors influence the retailing industry in Australia and customers preference. Woolworth limited has acquired a substantial amount of retail market in Australia, however, the regulatory framework established by the government require to business to meet specific standards. The regulatory framework ensures that products of the firm are not hazardous for customers, and they are environment-friendly. The Consumer law, GST, Food Safety regulation, and Corporation tax are few of the regulatory frameworks that influence the business and policies of Woolworth limited. The company expands its business by entering a new market through new agreements and contracts. The new contracts and agreements also influence the existing products and services of the business. The agreements focus on maximising shareholders value and increasing market share of the company. References Aggarwal, V. and Urata, S. eds., 2013.Bilateral trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific: Origins, evolution, and implications. Routledge. Australian Taxation Office., 2017. Company tax rates. [Online] Australian Taxation Office. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Company-tax/ [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Australian Taxation Office., 2017. GST. [Online] Australian Taxation Office. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/GST/ [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Business., 2017. Retail wholesale trade industry fact sheet. [Online] Business. Available at: https://www.business.gov.au/info/plan-and-start/develop-your-business-plans/industry-research/retail-and-wholesale-trade-industry-fact-sheets [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Durie, J., 2009. Woolworths but of Danks designed to take on Bunnings. [Online] The Australian. Available at: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/woolworths-buy-of-danks-designed-to-take-on-bunnings/news-story/f6706a4d9df18f806a7371a3b1fbb54a [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Elijah, A. and Leslie, J., 2013. Australia and New Zealands slow and steady move towards economic integration. [Online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/australia-and-new-zealands-slow-and-steady-move-towards-economic-integration-12024 [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Greenblat, E., 2009. Woolworths moves into hardware with Dank buy. [Online] The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/business/woolworths-moves-into-hardware-with-danks-buy-20090824-ex09.html [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Hollander, R., 2006. National competition policy, regulatory reform Australian federalism.Australian Journal of Public Administration,65(2), pp.33-47. King, M., 2014. 10 facts you need to know about Woolworths Limited. [Online] The Motley Fool. Available at: https://www.fool.com.au/2014/02/06/10-facts-you-need-to-know-about-woolworths-limited/ [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Lockie, S. and Higgins, V., 2007. Roll-out neoliberalism and hybrid practices of regulation in Australian agri-environmental governance.Journal of rural studies,23(1), pp.1-11. Lyons, K., 2007. Supermarkets as organic retailers: Impacts for the Australian organic sector.Supermarkets and Agri-Food Supply Chains: Transformations in the Production and Consumption of Foods, pp.154-172. Mitchell, S., 2016. ACCC urged to approve 'anti-competitive' Mitre 10 and Danks merger. [Online] The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/accc-urged-to-approve-anticompetitive-mitre-10-and-danks-merger-20160516-gow1fz.html [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Raghuram, G. and Kuberkar, G., 2008. Woolworths Limited, Australia. Richards, C., Lawrence, G., Loong, M. and Burch, D., 2012. A toothless chihuahua? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, neoliberalism and supermarket power in Australia.Rural Society,21(3), pp.250-263. The Australian., 2016. Woolworth fined $3 million over faulty products. [Online] The Australian. Available at: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/woolworths-fined-3-million-over-faulty-products/news-story/4ebeefc24b6cf9d9bb06b80eec7054e1 [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Woolworth Group., 2017. About Us. [Online] Woolworth Group. Available at: https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/page/about-us [Accessed on 30/11/2017] Wright, O. and Grace, A., 2011. Trust and commitment within franchise systems: an Australian and New Zealand perspective.Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics,23(4), pp.486-500.

Y2k Essays (1484 words) - Calendars, Software Bugs, COBOL, Hazards

Y2k Y2K: Are You Ready? Why is the Y2K problem being overlooked? The Year 2000 is rapidly approaching! Will we be ready in time? Y2K stands for Year 2000 Catastrophe. Y2K seems to be overlooked for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is because people are not aware that there is a Y2K problem because so few are computer literate. Most of the general public, while being exposed to computers, just does not realize how computers have taken over the grueling task of keeping our country running. From writing social security checks to timing traffic signals, keeping banking account records to controlling food stocks at the local supermarket, computers are involved. Some other reasons include that the general public just doesn't care about Y2K and that the government doesn't want to expose the issue and cause a panic. No one in the world knows what's going to happen. Y2K could cause chaos and destruction, or just pass over as if nothing happened. The real question on my mind is what's going to happen to when the world hits midnight on January 1, 2000? Dale Kasler explains, The Y2K problem is this: Many computer programs recognize years only by the last two digits, rendering them incapable of telling the difference between 1900 and 2000 (2). My definition of Y2K is billions of computers that can't decipher the difference between a two-digit date and a four-digit date. This problem makes the computers go haywire, or just shut down because it doesn't know the difference between 1900 and 2000. For example, the computers figure out how old you are by the year of your birth year. I am 19 years old by subtracting '79 from the current year of '99, but in two years when I subtract '79 from '00 I will be -79 years old. The Government was first notified in 1969-70 says Rickey Staves, RGS Consultants, President. The government overlooked the Y2K problem, because they figured that they didn't need to worry about it. Yes, there was a crisis in Vietnam at the time, but there should have been some sort of effort to bring out this issue of Y2K to the American people. The government didn't care because, why take care of a problem that is 30 years away? This problem would have been no problem if Y2K had been addressed to the general public, business community, government departments and, utility companies. Instead, the government decided not to deal with the Y2K problem and let the children of the future deal with it. There are many people who have a lack of awareness of the Y2K problem. Other problems are pressing, but we need to start taking action. There has to be some kind of acknowledgement by the public. One field that should start taking action is our nation's hospitals. They have a total lack of awareness of Y2K. According to a nationwide survey of 1,700 hospitals, fewer than one-third of the respondents had developed a year 2000 compliance plan and only one in five had implemented such a plan. Worse, and most alarming, 18 percent of these hospitals are planning no action to protect their systems. Pity the patient who checks into one of these hospitals on January 1, 2000 (Hyatt 144). You would think hospitals would be the first to be 2000 compliant. It's terrifying to know that many hospitals don't even have a plan to be 2000 compliant. It's about time for the hospitals to start getting ready for the new Millennium. There might be situations where respirator machines stop working or someone gets the wrong dosage of medication. These are just two of the possible tragedies that could happen. Many businesses have overlooked the Y2K problem, according to Tasha Getlin; twenty-three percent of all companies and government agencies have not started to address the Y2K issue. By addressing this issue it could cause panic to their customers, but if you tell your customers that the Y2K problem is under control and you don't have it under control; you opened yourself up to a lawsuit (5c). Isn't it better off to have the Y2K problem under control and be ready so it will not cause a panic or a lawsuit