Blood Bananas: Chiquita in Colombia Essay

For Chiquita Brands International, a pioneer in the globalization of the banana industry, bananas are not only serious business, they represent an array of economic, social, environmental, political, and legal hassles. Since its founding more than a hundred years ago as United Fruit Company, Chiquita has been involved in paying bribes to Latin American government officials in exchange for preferential treatment, encouraging or supporting U.S. coups against smaller nations, putting in place dictatorships in Central America’s â€Å"banana republics,† exploiting local workers, creating an abusive monopoly, and now doing business with terrorists.1 For American multinationals, the rewards of doing business abroad are enormous, but so are the risks. Over the past decades, no place has been more hazardous than Colombia, a country that is just emerging from a deadly civil war and the effects of wide-ranging narco-terrorism. Chiquita found out the hard way. It made tens of millions in profit growing bananas in Colombia, only to emerge with its reputation splattered in blood.2 In 2004, Chiquita voluntarily admitted criminal responsibility to the U.S. Justice Department that one of its Colombian banana subsidiaries had made protection payments from 1997 through 2004 to terrorist groups. Consequently, a high-profile investigation and legal trial followed. In 2007, Chiquita entered into a plea agreement to resolve the criminal prosecution. The interactions between the Justice Department and Chiquita were very contentious, but with the settlement, Chiquita expected that it could put the past behind and refocus on developing its business. However, in 2010, the victims’ families filed a separate lawsuit against Chiquita in an American court, demanding compensation. At the same time, investigators in Bogota and on Capitol Hill were looking at other U.S. companies that may have engaged in similar practices, dealing with terrorists as part of the conduct of business. With this in mind, Fernando Aguirre, Chiquita’s CEO since 2004, reflected on how the company had arrived at this point, and what had been done to correct the course so far. He faced major challenges to the company’s competitive position in this dynamic industry. What would it take to position the company on a more positive competitive trajectory? Would this even be possible in this industry and in the business climate Chiquita faced? Chiquita Brands International: Defendant The atmosphere in the Washington D.C. courtroom on September 17, 2007, was testy, with the lawyers on both sides pointing fingers at each other. The defendant, Chiquita Brands International Inc., had already signed a plea agreement that included a US$25 million fine and a five-year probation period. In addition, Chiquita was required to hire a permanent compliance officer. The plea did not stop Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Malis from taking a shot at Chiquita. He accused the company of making millions in profits while paying off Colombian right-wing terrorist groups, including the AUC (United Self Defense Forces of Colombia), for almost seven years. He said the almost US$2 million in payments made by Chiquita â€Å"fueled violence† and â€Å"paid for weapons and ammunition to kill innocent people.†3 Copyright  © 2010 Thunderbird School of Global Management. All rights reserved. This case was prepared by Professors Andreas Schotter and Mary Teagarden, with the assistance of Monika Stoeffl, for the purpose of classroom discussion only, and not to indicate either effective or ineffective management. This document is authorized for use only in Estrategia 2013-I Preg. Montes by Juan Carlos Montes at UNIVERSITY DE LOS ANDES COLUMBIA from January 2013 to May 2013. Chiquita’s lead defense attorney, Eric Holder Jr., snapped back, accusing Malis of shading the facts, of â€Å"being a little too cute and a little too crafty,† as well as â€Å"a little deceptive.† Holder told the judge that the government was partly to blame for the company’s predicament. In 2001, the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, added Colombia’s AUC to the list of â€Å"specially designated foreign terrorist organizations† in company with mostly Middle East-based groups like Al Qaeda and Hamas. Holder argued that in 2003 Chiquita asked the U.S. Department of Justice if it should stop the payments to the terrorists. Holder said, â€Å"All the government had to do was, ‘yes, stop the payments,’ just say yes, but they never did.† Bananas are Serious Business As one of the first tropical fruits to be internationally traded, bananas are a cheap way to bring â€Å"the tropics† to North America and Europe. Over the years, bananas have become such a common, inexpensive grocery item that we often forget where they come from and how they get to us. Bananas flourish in tropical regions, such as the Caribbean and Central America, where the average temperature is 80 °F (27 °C), and the yearly rainfall is 78-98 inches (198-249 centimeters). In fact, most bananas are grown within 10 degrees north or south of the equator. Iceland is an exception, where banana plants grow in soil heated by geysers.4 Bananas do not grow on trees; instead, they are perennial plants, which grow repeatedly from the same root system. They are related to the orchid, lily, and palm families. Bananas are harvested green and ripened during the transportation process, and as soon as the banana stem is cut from the plant, ripening starts. Within 36 hours, the fruit is packed in boxes and loaded onto refrigerated ships, where the cool temperatures slow down the ripening process. The whole trip, from plantation to grocery store, takes about two weeks. The earliest recorded writings about the banana date from around 600 BC or earlier in India. There were several different varieties growing in the wild, all of which were inedible due to taste, and some varieties even made people ill. The Indian agriculturalists experimented with crossbreeding wild varieties of bananas, but while some of the resulting hybrids were edible, they were also sterile, which meant that the original plants needed to be crossbred each time someone wanted a new edible banana crop. Eventually, they came up with a hybrid that produced offshoots (suckers) that could be planted to grow into new plants full of sweet bananas. Between 400-300 BC, bananas found their way eastward with Alexander the Great and his armies. The banana appeared in Chinese literature around 200 AD and then migrated westward to Africa. From there, it likely hitched a ride in the ships of Spanish explorers to the Canary Islands, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and other parts of the western hemisphere. Along the way, other hybrid breeds were created. New varieties were also developed in China. Somehow, a Chinese banana made its way to Great Britain and became famous as the â€Å"Cavendish Banana,† named after an important English family. The Cavendish became the great granddaddy of all commercial bananas sold in the 21st century. In 2010, there were 300 different varieties of bananas worldwide, of which about 20 varieties are being grown commercially, mainly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In 2010, bananas were ranked third on the list of staple crops in the world after wheat and coffee, making them critical for economic and global food stability. Bananas are one of the biggest profitmakers in supermarkets. The average American eats 27 pounds of them every year. Europeans also love bananas. For example, in Sweden the per-capita consumption was 35 pounds. In Eastern Europe, consumption was growing strongly and had already reached 20 pounds per capita per annum. While bananas may simply be a humble fruit with a long history, the banana business creates serious environmental, economic, social, and political problems. Historically, the banana trade symbolized economic imperialism, injustices in the global trade market, and the exploitation of agriculture-dependent third-world countries.

Almost Sisters

I couldn’t keep my feet from fidgeting as I sat in the back seat of the car awaiting our arrival at the airport. The two hour drive seemed like ten. I was so anxious to meet the girl who had been the center of almost every conversation for the past few weeks. Everyone was so eager to know everything about the girl who would soon become my new sister for the next year. I reflected back to the night when my parents asked what I thought about hosting a foreign exchange student. We had had an exchange student four years before, and I hadn’t minded having another brother around. I actually enjoyed hearing stories about his life in Venezuela. After a short period of contemplation, I agreed to the idea of hosting another. After all, one more brother among the three preexisting ones couldn’t be so bad, but my parents weren’t exactly on the same page as I was. I had wanted a sister when I was younger, but as a freshman in high school, it had been awhile since the thought had crossed my mind. I had been the only girl all my life, and I wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea of changing that now. I tried to convince my parents that a boy would be more what they wanted and that they wouldn’t want another girl around the house, but they insisted that a male exchange student just wasn’t an option. After careful deliberation, I reluctantly decided to give it shot. The next few weeks were spent getting everything prepared for the infamous newcomer. From interviews to paperwork, it all seemed so pointless. We cleared the room that was once my oldest brother’s and made it suitable for a teenage girl. My brother was now doomed to the couch on his sparse visits home. The time went by quickly and before I knew it, it was the day before the beginning of what I projected to be the longest year of my life. By the time we got home with Vartushick, or simply â€Å"V† as we learned to call her, I was already beginning to like her. There was something about her inviting smile that let me know that we were going to have a good time. Throughout the weeks leading up to the new school year, I introduced her to friends and classmates that we ran into around town. When school finally started, I made it my personal responsibility to show her to her classes and make sure she didn’t get lost. Having a sister wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated, in fact, it was actually somewhat fun. The first month or two was full of ruts in the road. Although she knew some English, there was still a big language barrier that made it difficult to understand each other. We became easily frustrated with one another as I attempted to teach her simple tasks such as sweeping and using the washing machine. There were times when I felt like she would never learn, but despite our disagreements, we eventually became as close as real sisters. The year went by much quicker than I expected, and soon, it was time for V to go back to Armenia. I was disinclined to let her go, but I knew she missed her family back home. I realized how important it had been to persevere through our struggles. If I had simply given up, like I had so often wanted to do, we both would have had a miserable year, but I hadn’t, and it brought an extraordinary friendship.

Critically analyse the benefits of a cross-curricular approach to Essay

Critically analyse the benefits of a cross-curricular approach to learning and teaching within KS2 - Essay Example (Skills framework) It lays stress on guidance towards multiple intelligences, learning styles, thinking skills, assessment for learning, and approaches to marking of pupil’s work.† (ACCAC, 2004, p. 32) The obligations of an individual towards society at large are inculcated in the child during this stage. (Barnes, Jonathan M, p. 8) Basically, the national curriculum is divided into 4 key stages based on the students’ age and educational attainment. As soon as the child reaches the age of 3 years, he or she is required to go through an early learning program. Specifically the National Curriculum for students between the age of nine to eleven, or the Key Stage 2, is designed to allow the primary school teachers to be guided on the learning topics they need to teach the students. (ACCAC, 2002). At the end of Key Stage 2, these students are required to participate in the national test and teacher assessment in English, Math and Science. The tests must focus on the range of KS2 levels. (ACCAC, 2004, p. 34) The emphasis now being cross-curricular approach, the teacher must critically analyze well in advance its benefits in the learning and teaching of Key Stage 2 (KS2) students. It is very important for the teacher to assess and examine the purpose behind the promotion of cross-curricular approach in strengthening the learning and teaching techniques for KS2 students because this is the year when children start getting acquainted with the three R’s. (ACCAC, 2002, p. 4) Additionally, the Curriculum highlights the need to focus on skills along with knowledge content so that the child gets maximum exposure to application of knowledge wherever possible. Learning material in both English and Welsh languages must be appropriately complemented and available to ensure language barriers do not obstruct students and teachers’ requirements. (ACCAC, 2004, p. 36) There is a

Reading Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

Reading Response - Essay Example Germany hoped these points would be the basis for the treaty. However this hope was belied and the terms of the treaty were so harsh on Germany that it finally resulted in a more destructive and horrific war. America had come out of the war virtually unscathed. However the people of Britain and France were devastated by the destruction caused by the war and in no mood to forgive Germany for it. So it came about that Germany was held solely responsible for the misery and death caused to millions, and the terms of the treaty were particularly humiliating to Germans. Besides, Britain and France had rich colonies that added to their coffers, and therefore clauses that held that determination of their status must have â€Å"the interests of the populations†; were contrary to their interests. Every nation naturally looked at the treaty with its own interests foremost. France wanted the territories of Alsace and Lorraine with a view to safeguarding its borders from future German attacks. In this way Germany lost land to France, Belgium, Denmark, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The victors of the war were the ones who drafted the treaty of Versailles and the defeated nations were not asked to contribute to the drafting of the treaty. The treaty therefore looked after the interests of the victors and since Germany was blamed for the havoc caused by the war and held solely responsible for it; she had to bear the burden of war reparation and cutting down of her armed forces as well as losing territories to other nations. The most important of the fourteen points was the last - that of setting up an international body to maintain peace among the nations of the world. This was set up in the form of the League of Nations. However, Wilson was unable to convince the Americans to join the league and it proved to be an ineffective and toothless body. It led to more friction among nations

Promotion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Promotion - Research Paper Example According to present company management, it is essential to have a unique selling price market promotion to ensure that the company has a difference with the rest. Promotion is inclusive in marketing and is believed to play the part of a marketing investment that is excessively essential in businesses (Gordob, 2010). Over the years, phone manufacturers have had to deal with wireless carriers so that they can have adequate access to their networks. This is the reason most phone companies have their prices dictated by the same carriers mentioned above. High pricing caused people to find other services that can be used in place of the phones. As the struggle went on, different manufacturers, Verizon included, have used the technological ideas currently flooding the markets and have come up with the models that have been used to end the struggle. According to latest statistics, world mobile users have greatly increased such that they have surpassed internet users. It has been stipulated that more than forty five million people use smartphones. Additionally, more cell phone producing companies have joined the markets hence the stiff competition for clients. However, statistics show that Verizon has acquired success in the markets through the various promotions done continually. The fact that almost everyone owns a phone can be attributed to the high quality advertising strategies in the present world (Newton, 2009). This increase in the numbers of the mobile users has offered promoters hope that the market will soon become phenomenal. In the act of promoting mobile phones, it is essential to understand that most people typically are attached to them. For this reason, the more features a mobile phone offers the better and the more its promotion will result to the company’s prospected success. Verizon has conducted enough research on characterized customer satisfaction, customer research, and products use, but seem to have forgotten to question directly from th e customer of their expectations. This is the reason there models seem to have similar applications despite the diverse shapes of the cell phone bodies. The Verizon promoters need to realize that their aim is to satisfy the needs of their customers as they make extremely large amounts of money. In my opinion, the customers’ demands have not yet been reached despite having new models of phones in the market (Saulimen, 2011). Verizon Company has also realized this and is tirelessly trying to incorporate the client’s wishes in their newest models. This is since most individuals attempt keeping their phones with them and can aspire to have the phones assist them in doing almost all of their activities. Take for instance, the Verizon’s smart phones that have greatly broken into the market. They have a lot of applications favoring some people in the community but for those who would like to use programs, they cannot do it via their phones. A company that can break int o the market with such a marketable plan can greatly make profits as well as offer mobile phones with some programs. As stated above, technology improvements have caused great changes in the mobile phone market. For instance, the types of phone currently produced are technologically advanced although not to the expected standards. All companies dealing with the production of mobile phones seem to use

Constructions of cultural memory Research Paper

Constructions of cultural memory - Research Paper Example My research questions are: How is the cultural memory of Tiananmen Square Protests represented in the chosen resources and what are the changes that these memories seem to anticipate and argue for? How does the event continue to make history? Witty and Calhoun both represent the event’s cultural memory by describing some of the most critical turning points of the Tiananmen Square protests, although Witty emphasizes rebellion against autocracy through the Tank Man’s photo, while Calhoun analyzes the actions and thoughts of people who were in the midst of shaping democratic ideals in their own terms. Figure 1: Widener’s Photo of the Tank Man Source: Widener (1989 in Witty) In the article, â€Å"Behind the Scenes: Tank Man of Tiananmen,† Witty uses four photos of the Tank Man to represent different perspectives of the Tiananmen Square Protests, where these images try to underline that this man symbolizes the struggles of all ordinary people against government repression and corruption, but because of lack of violence of some photos, it somehow hides the gruesome effects of the government’s crackdown on the protesters. ... The cultural memory focuses on four tanks that are ready to crush all those who oppose and criticize the state and one man who will not be crushed at all. The light post represents urban space through manifesting technology and modernity. The action of the man against the tanks and the cropped lamp post together signify that non-violent action is light in the darkness because rationality meets irrationality. Standing tall like the lamp post, the Tank Man symbolizes democracy and hope for the people. The photo further shows that the tanks are approaching and one man with his shopping bags stand before them. Like others before him, the Tank Man stands in front of the state’s military tools, a memory which argues that he, as well as other ordinary people like him, will fight for democracy anytime and he will not even need tanks to do it. He only needs his resolve and principles, which hundreds to thousands others already offered when they died the night of the Chinese governmentà ¢â‚¬â„¢s crackdown. The photo argues that the state does not have absolute power because the people have power to fight for what is absolutely right for them- the right to oppose and to replace a corrupt and oppressive government. Furthermore, from Witty’s article, the Tiananmen Square protests continue to make history because it portrays an ordinary man’s greatest act of courage and integrity against symbols of oppression. The photo shows that the Tank Man seems to be an office employee with his white shirt and black pants. He is an ordinary man with two white shopping bags, the image of an urban dweller that the state wants to control. The photo argues that he is one man against the state’s violence, and yet because he has had enough, he will stand for his principles of

The market position of Nivea for men in UK Essay

The market position of Nivea for men in UK - Essay Example (Euromonitor, 2010) Bargaining power of suppliers (Low): Nivea has a high bargaining power with respect to its suppliers because of its diverse portfolio and generating economies of scale (Beiersdorf AG , 2010). Bargaining power of buyers (High): Customers of men grooming products have high bargaining powers due to low switching costs, price sensitivity to grooming products etc (Kay, 2006). Threat of Substitutes (Medium): Nivea for men has a high threat of substitutes from general grooming products, natural products such as olive oil etc. (Heijden, 2005) SWOT Analysis for Nivea For Men In order to fully understand the competitive advantages and vulnerabilities of Nivea, (Beiersdorf AG, 2011)we conduct the following SWOT analysis for Nivea for men: The Boston Group Matrix The overall market growth of the men’s grooming market is 3% (2009-2014 CAGR) (Euromonitor, 2010) and the relative market share of Beiersdorf (Nivea for Men) is low. Market share of Beiersdorf AG is 5.3% (2011 ) as compared to 32% of P&G (Euromonitor, 2010). With a low market growth and low market share, Nivea for Men falls into the Dogs enterprise position, which indicates that Business is a cash trap (BRS Inc). The best thing that Nivea for Men can do is to focus on short term, avoid risky investments and look into niche segments. Where do we want to be? (Strategy Formulation) This stage of marketing strategies planning describes the objectives and aims of Nivea’s marketing plans, the strategy formulation for its brands’ growth and identification of â€Å"the business we’re in†. Before defining the objectives of Nivea’s marketing strategies, we must recollect the competitive advantages that Nivea for men... This research describes the Situation analysis or Market Audit for Nivea in the men’s grooming market in UK considering both External and Internal perspectives. Nivea currently holds the #2 spot in men’s grooming category for the UK market. The ‘Nivea-for-men’ case-study details the challenges that Nivea for men is having in the men’s grooming market in UK. Upon extensive analysis of the market and competition, it is evident that Nivea-for-men even though is a leading and important brand for both Beiersdorf and overall market, it’s sales still lag behind the flagships products of P&G and Unilever. The growth opportunity that is seen for Nivea for Men is the growing skin care segment with a CAGR (2004-2011) of 17.8%. Owing to the iconic branding of Nivea in skin-care products, Beiersdorf possess a competitive advantage in penetrating and increasing the skin-care market for men. In order to do so, they should segment their consumers on attribute s of age and shopping behavior. Target segments identified for Nivea for men are Adult adopters, midlife adopters, senior adopters, and midlife experimenters. The various attack strategies that Nivea for men can use are products bunding, progressive promotions and pricing. The various defence strategies that should be implemented by Beiersdorf are flanking defense and position defence. With proper risk management in place with respect to the implementation and control of marketing plan, it is bound that market share of Nivea for men will increase in the UK market.