Dnatas financial performance

Dnatas financial performance Data gathering In the process of conducting the study, a number of issues which include the source of data, its accuracy and credibility were taken into account in the process of gathering the necessary data. The study mainly relied on secondary sources of data.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Dnata’s financial performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This was achieved by gathering data from published company reports posted on the firm’s official website and from other credible data bases. For example, the study relied on the financial information published by the Emirates Group on Dnata’s financial performance. As a result, a high degree of credibility, accuracy and reliability was ensured. In an effort to gather sufficient amount of data, a comprehensive questionnaire was designed. A comprehensive review of the questionnaire was undertaken prior its administration to the respondents in order to eliminate any form of errors and ambiguity. The questionnaire included both open-ended and close-ended questions. Open-ended questionnaires were used in order to provide the respondents with an opportunity to communicate their opinion while close-ended questionnaires were used where a specific answer was required. The questionnaires focused on five main areas which include the operational cost, trend of fuel prices, the impact of fuel process on the firm’s operation, logistics and location and how outsourcing can be used to minimize the challenges associated with high fuel prices. Considering the fact that the respondents are very busy, the questionnaires were mailed in time in order to provide them with ample time to look at them.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The target population for the study included all Dnata Company employees. In an e ffort to simplify the study process, the concept of sampling was integrated. Fifteen employees were selected to be the respondents. By selecting a small sample size, it was possible to increase the power of the study. Maxwell (2005) asserts that a large sample size reduces the power of a particular study due to numerous errors. However, a small sample size reduces such errors. As a result, the researcher was able to improve the degree to which the findings of the study can be relied upon in addition to lowering the cost of the study. Employees from different job categories were selected to be the respondents. Some of the respondents belonged to the top level management while others belonged to lower level of management. However, it was ensured that the respondents selected were conversant with the impact of high fuel prices on the operation of Dnata Company. Data analysis Both qualitative and quantitative data research methods of data analysis were used. This was achieved by integra ting descriptive statistics and inferential data analysis methods. Descriptive statistics entails calculating the mean, mode, frequencies and percentages. On the other hand, inferential statistics entails integrating tests such as t-test and the chi-square. Such tests aid in evaluating the statistical difference between categorical variables. On the other hand, multivariate analysis will be used to assess the impact of high fuel prices on the performance of Dnata Company. The research questions considered in the study will be analyzed individually.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Dnata’s financial performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By using descriptive statistics, the researcher will be able to condense the voluminous data collected. The data collected will be presented using tables, graphs and charts. As a result, it will be easy for a large number of stakeholders to interpret the findings. Re sults Analysis of how the rise in oil price has affected Dnata’s operation Oil is an important component in the operation of organizations in various economic sectors. The data gathered from secondary sources shows that the UAE has been experiencing a significant fluctuation in oil prices over the past five years. The chart below illustrates the trend in the performance of crude oil price in the UAE from 2008 to 2012. Figure 1 Source: (Index Mundi, 2013) The chart shows that the price of oil in the UAE reduced significantly from May 2008 to November 2008. However, the downward trend was reversed from 2009 and the country been experiencing an upward trend with regard to oil prices as illustrated by the graph.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The table below shows a summary of the average oil price per barrel in UAE and the associated percentage change from 2008 to 2012. The chart shows that oil price from 2009 to 2012 has experienced minimal change. This explains why the cost of doing business in the UAE has been very high. Year Average oil price per barrel in AED Percentage change 2008 577.49 13% 2009 232.4 5.14% 2010 286.66 1.15% 2011 389.39 1.58% 2012 287.1 0.15% Figure 2 High oil prices increases the risks faced by an organization. From the illustrations above, it one can assert that Dnata is exposed to numerous financial risks. Consequently, it is fundamental for the firm’s management team to conduct a comprehensive analysis and evaluation on the risks that the firm faces. This will result in development of greater insight on the most effective risk control measures. This will improve the effectiveness with which the firm implements effective risk control mechanisms. The mechanisms integrated should enable the firm balance between the risks faced and the returns gained. Most of the respondents cited market risk as one of the greatest challenges that Dnata is currently facing. The respondents said that Dnata is currently exposed to a high degree of market volatility as a result of the prevailing fluctuation in oil prices. The high oil prices in the UAE have persisted since 2008 despite the numerous financial and economic reforms undertaken by the government to address the situation. The reforms instituted by the UAE government have significantly boosted business confidence amongst investors in various economic sectors. Dnata has experienced a significant increment in the cost of its operation over the past five years. The cost has been relatively high compared to the revenue. The increment is as a result of the high oil prices. The chart below illustrates the operating cost that the firm incurred from 2008 to 2012. The chart shows that the cost of operation has been on a n upward trend. Â  AED Year Amount in million 2007/2008 34,359 2008/2009 40,988 2009/2010 39,890 2010/2011 48,788 2011/2012 60,474 Figure 3 Figure 4 The high oil price has adversely affected the Dnata’s financial performance. The chart below illustrates the firm’s financial performance over the past five years. Year and amount in million AED 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 Revenue and operating income 2,565 3,181 3,160 4,406 7,000 Operating cost 2,340 2,714 2,601 3,906 6,207 Operating profit 245 467 559 500 793 Figure 5 The table above indicates that Dnata has been experiencing a positive financial performance despite the high oil prices. This is evidenced by the increase in the firm’s level of profitability. During its 2011/2012 financial year, Dnata attained the highest level of profitability. The increment was associated with the aggressive international expansion strategy that the firm has integrated in i ts strategic management. The graph below shows the percentage change in the firm’s level of profitability from 2008 to 2012. Year Percentage change 2007/2008 12% 2008/2009 16% 2009/2010 19% 2010/2011 13% 2011/2012 12% Figure 6 Source (Emirates Group, 2012) Figure 7 Figure 8 The Middle East airline industry is expected to grow with a margin of 6.4% over the next two decades. The growth is expected to emanate from development in both long-haul and short-haul forms of air travel. An analysis of how outsourcing will help Dnata address the financial crisis In an effort to enhance its sustainability, Dnata Company entered into a 2-year partnership agreement with Al Ahli Club in 2012. During the two years, Dnata will act as the travel agent for the club. When asked about the impact of the partnership on the firm’s future sustainability, the respondents were of different opinion. Eighty percent (80%) of the respodents were of the opinion that the partnership will enable the firm increase its profitabilty. This is due to the fact that the partnershp with Al Ahli Club will stimulate higher sales revenue. The respondent were of the opinion that the partnership presents a unique opportunity for Dnata to market its services to a large number of potential customers. On the other hand, 90% of the respondents said that the partnership will enable Dnata develop a high level of loyalty amongst its customers. This is due to the fact that Al Ahli is one of the most popular clubs in the UAE and has a strong base of loyal fans. Discussion High oil prices have been a subject of concern for many organisaitons. Despite their enormous oil reserves, countries within the MENA region such as the UAE are ranked amongst the economies with the highest oil prices in the world. One of the reasons that explain the high oil price relates to the high rate of speculation by the various stakeholders. Business process outsourcing is one of the most effective strategie s that Dnata Company have integrate in its strategic manaagement. Effective implemenntation of the outsourcing strategy inncreases the effectiveness with which an organisation survives challenging economic times. Firstly, outsourcign enable an organisation to minimise the cost of operation. This is due to the fact that some operations are transferred to the outsourced firm. Secondly, outsourcing plays a fundamental role in attracting and retaining customers. Currently, the UAE is experieincing a financial crisis. Consequently, it is fundamental for Dnata’s management team to be effective in implementing its outsourcing strategy. Conclusion The study shows that the airline industry in the UAE is facing a major threat emanating from changes oil prices. Over the past five years, oil price in the UAE has been on an upward trend. This has presented a major challenge to firms within the industry in their quest to maximize profit. However, Dnata has managed to sustain a positive fin ancial performance despite the prevailing financial crisis in the UAE. One of the factors that have contributed to the firm’s success is effective integration of administrative strategies. For example, the firm has integrated the concept of merger and acquisition in its operation. As a result, Dnata has been able to achieve higher economies of scale. The high oil price in the UAE is one of the major challenges that Dnata Company will be required to deal with in order to survive in the long run. Thus, it is crucial for the firm to incorporate effective management strategies. One of the strategies that the firm should consider integrating is outsourcing. Outsourcing is ranked as one of the most effective strategies that can assist firms within the hospitality industry to deal with challenging economic situations such as financial crisis. Currently, the firm has entered into a partnership with Al Ahli Football Club. The partnership is likely to promote the firm’s sales re venue. This is due to the fact that the firm will be able to interact and create awareness to a large number of potential customers. To enhance its competitiveness, it is essential for Dnata conduct a comprehensive market analysis to in order to identify potential firms with which it can enter into a partnership agreement with. Secondly, to improve the effectiveness with which it deals with changes in oil price, it is fundamental for Dnata Company to incorporate the concept of hedging. Hedging will enable Dnata to safeguard itself from high oil price hence increasing the likelihood with which it sustains competitive ticket prices. By integrating these strategies, the likelihood of the firm attaining its profit goals will be increased. This is due to the fact that the firm will attract and maintain a large number of customers. Hedging will enable Dnata to compete on the basis of fair ticket prices. As a result, the firm will be able to appeal to a large number of potential customers. Upon integrating the above strategies, it is fundamental for the firm to conduct a continuous review of its performance. Reference List Emirates Group: Financial report. (2012). Web. Index Mundi: Crude oil. (2013). Web. Maxwell, J. (2005). Qualitative research design: an interactive approach. New Jersey: Sage Publication.

Nokia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nokia - Essay Example President will be the overseer managing everything through other people. Figure 1 displays how the chain of human resource would work; Making a move to Morocco will require creating a small subsidiary like company in Casablanca. Plus, from the demographic and survey reports, it is clear that the most skilled people live in Casablanca in Morocco, so Nokia’s search will be narrowed down. What they need to be looking are managers for finance, supply chain, sales and production. As the official language of Morocco is Arabic, there will be a lot of web apps needed to be developed specifically for Moroccan people in Arabic language. For this local IT experts and web developers will be welcomed. All of the departments will be in touch with the export manager, as he will be traffic sergeant of all the supplies from Finland, the home of Nokia. Another aspect that needs to be considered is how many personnel will need to hired from Morocco and how many will fly from Finland to Morocco. The reason for this plan is Nokia doesn’t need many phone manufacturing experts in Morocco, there is a complete powerhouse back in Finland for Nokia so there is hardly any need for establishing something along the manufacturing lines in Morocco. Nokia will only nee managers that can manage the sales and marker research side. The building will be located in Burgogne Ouest, which will give Nokia a central spot in the city to move and supply its Lumia phone easily throughout the city. Better access to phone markets will help refill shelves quickly than the competitors. Taxation system in Morocco consists of two paths; the direct and indirect taxation. Corporates come under the taxation frame known as â€Å"impà ´t sur les societies† or simply corporate tax (â€Å"Doing business in,†). Nokia will have to pay a tax rate of 30% of its income as given by Moroccan corporate law. This rate could

Toyota Strategic Analysis and Strategy Formulation Research Paper

Toyota Strategic Analysis and Strategy Formulation - Research Paper Example Strategic Management: Toyota Strategic Analysis and Strategy Formulation First, the company’s global vision is to â€Å"lead the way to the future of mobility, enriching lives around the world with the safest and most responsible way of moving people† (Toyota-global.com 2011). Further, this vision is based on the commitment to quality, high innovativeness and respect for the earth. From the company’s vision, it is clear that Toyota seeks to be the industry leader way into the future. The company’s mission statement is â€Å"To sustain profitable growth by providing the best possible customer experience and dealer support†. The mission and vision statements reveal that the company’s current and future are pegged on sustainability, quality and customer satisfaction. The company’s range of guiding principles involve honouring the every nations law to be a true global corporate citizen, respecting customs and cultures around the globe, production of cleans and safe products, outstanding products through technology, fostering individual creativity and teamwork through an appropriately enabling corporate culture, harmonious growth with the global community and healthy cooperation with stakeholders. From these objectives, it can be discerned that Toyota seeks to remain within the law at all times, provide quality and safe products, respecting the environment and the community while balancing this with stakeholder interests. These principles also indicate the time-tested ethical inclination of Toyota; sustainable development and respect for environment and harmony in the company’s work environment. Internally, the company not only seeks to comply with all labor and employment laws and regulations but goes a step further and establishes a culture for its employees based on mutual trust and mutual responsibility (Toyota Motor Corporation 2006, p. 8). The company’s values are integral in attainment of its objectives as it seeks to fulfill its mission and drive towards the established vision. Internal Analysis of Toyota The review of Toyota’s internal resources will follow the format of first establishing the strengths of the company and then the weaknesses. This will then be followed by an analysis of Toyota’s product development and a value chain analysis of Toyota’s operations. Strength: Organisational- The â€Å"Toyota Way† Toyota has successfully implemented their widely recognized â€Å"Toyota Way† strategy in all its global business operations. This strategy is based on operational excellence through a 4-P model; philosophy, process, people and problem solving. Philosophy is anchored on long-term thinking; process on waste elimination; people on respect, growth and chall enge; and problem solving through the concept of continuous improvement. The resultant effect of this strategy is organizational performance excellence due to sustenance of high quality that not only attracts customers but also makes them loyal (Liker 2004, pp. 1-2). The â€Å"Toyota way† is a clear strategic strength since it is tailor-made for the company as evidenced by the fact that most of the other operational excellence strategies pursued by organizations around the world were developed from it, including the popular â€Å"

Short stories of Sherlock Holmes Essay Example for Free

Short stories of Sherlock Holmes Essay Title: Review two stories for a magazine called Crime Monthly, saying why such old examples of the crime genre are still popular today. Introduction Many people say that the short stories of Sherlock Holmes were the best detective stories ever written. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote these stories, which were first published in the Strand magazine in 1890. These stories included A Scandal in Bohemia, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Copper Beaches, A Case of Identity, The Man With The Twisted Lip and others. People in Victorian England really enjoyed reading the stories, the main reason for which was that there were many murderers running free at the time, which the police force couldnt catch so people didnt believe that the police was sufficient. Arthur Conan Doyles character was very liked because no case seemed to challenge him and he always defeated the evil villain. The Red Headed League was first published in 1891 and The Speckled Band was first published in 1892 in the Strand magazine. One of the key elements of Victorian detective stories is that the crime must be solved by logical means, not by supernatural causes or by a lucky accident. This is what happened in all of the Sherlock Holmes stories. In both The Red Headed League and The Speckled Band Sherlock Holmes solves the crimes by using powers of deduction and his own intelligence. Another important element of Victorian detective stories is that the investigator must not wittingly conceal clues or the reasons for his deductions from the reader. At the end of both stories Sherlock Holmes explains to the villain and to his companion Dr Watson how he solved the crime. Even though the stories of Sherlock Holmes are over a century old they are still read and loved by millions of people across the world today. I think the main reason for this is because Arthur Conan Doyle used many techniques, like red herrings, twists, and very detailed descriptions of the characters and settings which makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and encourages the reader to try and solve the mystery themselves. Also, even though the stories were written over 100 years the crime that was going on then is still going on now and people still like the thought of villains always being punished, so the Victorian society is very similar to our society at the moment. Arthur Conan Doyle used very detailed descriptions of the setting and location in the two stories to create a certain atmosphere. The Head Headed League was set in London, mainly around Saxe-Couburg Square, in 1891. Arthur Conan Doyle created an atmosphere by saying that Saxe-Couburg Square is a pokey, little, shabby-genteel place, which immediately makes the reader imagine a worn out and cramped place, also it makes the reader suspect that something bad happens there, because there is often trouble in such places. The Square is described as being dingy, which makes the reader think that the place is dark and dirty with smoke and grime. The writer even describes the atmosphere as being uncongenial so obviously it is not a very pleasant place to live in. This atmosphere is created so that the reader can deduct that Jabez Wilson wasnt very well off and that he desperately needed the money that Mr Duncan Ross gave him to look after his home and business. The Speckled Band was mainly set in Stoke Moran, Surrey, in 1883. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created an atmosphere by saying that the house is half renovated and half in a ruin. The building itself is described as having a high central portion and two wings. This sounds like it once was a very big and grand house, but over the past couple of years Dr Roylott didnt have enough money to look after it. He didnt have enough money to look after the whole house so he modernized half of the house, so the left half was left with broken windows blocked with wooden boards and with the roof being partly caved in. In contrast, the right part of the house was comparatively modern. This atmosphere is created so that the reader can deduct that Dr Roylott didnt have enough money to look after the house, and the extra sum of money that would go to Helen Stoner after her marriage would have ruined him. The main characters in all of the Sherlock Holmes stories are Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. Dr Watson is Holmes colleague, who appears to be a lot weaker then him in solving crimes. The main reason for this, seems that Dr Watson doesnt notice things that Holmes does, like when they were both observing Mr Jabez Wilson in The Red Headed League Watson noticed the outside appearance, such as that he was wearing baggy grey shepherds check trousers, whereas Holmes noticed much deeper things, such as that hes done manual labour because his right hand is bigger than his left. Also the language that Holmes uses is a lot more mysterious then the language that Watson uses which suggests to the reader that Watson is less educated then Holmes. Holmes uses many different techniques to solve the crimes in both stories, mainly he follows clues and uses his own intelligence. Holmes is very skilful, he is not only a great detective but also a master of disguise. This was shown in both The Man With The Twisted Lip and A Scandal in Bohemia, where Holmes disguised himself as a drug addict and an old man. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are similar to a few modern day detectives like Inspector Morse and Detective Lewis because they too follow clues to solve the crime and they work as a duo. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson follow clues to make deductions and solve the crimes. The first clue in The Red Headed League was that the clerk agreed to work for half wages which meant that he was either not very clever of he had a special reason for wanting to work at the pawnbrokers. Holmes assumes the second is true. The advertisement for the Red Headed League was another clue because it seemed almost as though it was targeted at Jabez Wilson, which was very suspicious. The nature of the job was another clue because it was use-less therefore we could deduct that the job was merely an activity that would get Jabez Wilson out of the shop. Then when Jabez Wilson described his assistant Vincent Spaulding, Holmes instantly recognized the description and realized that his real name is John Clay and hes a murderer. Spauldings interest in photography and his stained wrinkled trousers suggested that he did something dirty in the seller, like maybe he was digging a tunnel. Then Holmes tapped on the payment in front of Jabez Wilsons shop and the tunnel wasnt there, so he went to the back of the shop to find a City and Suburban bank, which is probably the place were the tunnel is going to. The fact that the Red Headed League was dissolved was a clue to that the digging had finished. And the fact that nineteenth-century banks were closed on weekends and Mondays so Holmes knew that John Clay would rob the bank on Saturday, leaving plenty of time to get away.

walmart Essay -- essays research papers

Describe the nature of the industry in which Wal-Mart competes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The discount retailing industry, in which Wal-Mart competes, suffered slower growth in industry sales and in new store increases by reaching maturity. This resulted in a shakeout that has left the industry very concentrated. These trends are likely to continue due to intensified competition driven by companies seeking to expand market share by gaining efficiencis and economies of scale in distribution and purchasing. Indeed, in 1993 the top 5 discounters accounted for over 70% of total industry sales. Consequently, barriers to entry are high. Other barriers to entry include the high capital expenditure requirements of leasing or buying the stores; promotional costs; vast capital costs of leasing or buying warehouses and distribution channels in order to buy and store the product; costs of training and hiring the work-force to provide high-quality customer service. Finally, the threat of subsitution is high, for all the merchandize is readily available at many type s of stores; this reinforces the need to compete on prices, costs and customer-focus. As growth in this industry slowed securing more market share is the critical way to compete as only then are you able to leverage your economies of scale to build cost advantages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The nature of Wal-Mart’s competitive priorities are based on the foundational of minimizing all its costs vis-à  -vis its competitiors so that it may provide the lowest cost merchandise, and thereby boost its market share. Wal-Mart aims to differentiate itself, and enhnce it’s competitiveness, by making technology, its advanced computer and telecommunication system, a core competency. This maintenance of superior technology greatly enhances Wal-Marts ability to focus on building and maintaining relationships with its customers, suppliers and employees; for example, it cuts down on unnecessary large inventory levels and enables intimate and timely contact with suppliers. Wal-Mart further competes on cost, ‘value of the dollar’ philosophy, and also performance quality, by adding value through its training program and its corporate culture which increases customer satisfaction. However, Wal-Mart’s management which initially portraye d itself as the lowest cost provider had to change this policy partially because it becam... ...r relative to its suppliers, Wal-Mart was able to implement and enforce radical cost-cutting measures; these included saving realized by eliminating manufacturer’s representatives from negotiations with suppliers; by making its vendors pay for communicating expenses. Wal-Mart’s decentralized, incentive driven corporate cultural program is also a major asset in reducing costs for, despite non-unionization, employees assisted in realizing savings and in keeping ‘shrinking’ costs below their competitors. This program also raises employee satisfaction, and probably reduces employee turnover (thereby reducing costs for training new workers), and boosts customer satisfaction. Wal-Mart’s hihgly-automated two-step hub distribution network, involving greater supplier participation, and usage of techniques such as ‘cross-docking’ enabled the company to utilize even quicker inventory control (resembling a manufacturing firm’s JIT). Final ly, even the location of the distribution centers and stores, which were grouped together, enhanced the speed with which inventory was managed. It also meant that trucks could be used which further reduced costs and increased reliability and speed of service.

Nazi Concentration Camps

The Holocaust was one of the world’s worst genocides; concentration camps were the worst place to be if you were a captive. Adolf Hitler, a Nazi, convinced many that certain groups of people needed to be exterminated. He started concentration camps to terrorize his enemies. The first concentration camps started in 1933, six years before World War Two began. There were several concentration camps. These concentration camps consisted of European Jews, P. O. W. ’s (Prisoners of War), political prisoners, criminals, homosexuals, and gypsies, the mentally ill and other groups.The first concentration camp was called Dachau, located in Munich, Germany. It was opened March 22, 1933. Within five years of Dachau opening, the number of concentration camps quadrupled. The Nazis created different types of camps, for example, labor camps, transit and collection camps, P. O. W. camps, hostage (or death camps), and extermination camps. Labor concentration camps were where inmates had t o do hard labor under inhumane conditions and cruel treatment. Transit and collection camps were where inmates were collected and transferred to main camps.Prisoner of war camps were where prisoners were held after being captured. These P. O. W. camps caused torture and liquidation of prisoners on a large scale. Death camps were where hostages were held and killed as reprisals. Extermination camps were a mixture of the other camps and were not useful people were sent to be killed. These concentration camps were all horrible but Auschwitz was the worst. Auschwitz was located in Poland and was opened in June 1940. Auschwitz was a total of 40 kilometers. Auschwitz was a labor and extermination camp. Auschwitz had three other sub camps Auschwitz 2 Birkenau and Auschwitz 3.Auschwitz had the highest death count compared to any other camp. It’s estimated that 4 million people were sent to Auschwitz and 1. 1 million died at Auschwitz. The prisoners died of starvation, exhaustion, dis eases, or killed inhumanely by being shot, burned, or gassed. For the most part, children and elders in the concentration camps were treated the worst. If a child was born in a concentration camp, they would be killed on the spot. Most children and elders were killed as soon as they got to the concentration camps if they looked too weak to be useful to work.Some were used for drug and surgery experiments. To save the amount of poison gas and ammunition used to kill people, some children would be thrown into ovens or put into open fire pits. These prisoners were also beaten, put in pressure chambers, or frozen to death. The Nazis were brutal and didn’t care who they killed. There were many escape attempts, though only 802 attempts on record. Only 144 made it out but most of them were caught and killed, or taken back to camp and starved to death. If someone successfully made it out of the camp, random people in their prisoner block would be starved.One of the most successful es capes was when a few prisoners dressed as guards, stole a car and drove out the front gate, they were never caught. The most successful escape was when Oscar Schindler got 300 women out of Auschwitz. Oscar pretended to be one of the people in charge of the camp. Before the freight car full of people got to the camp, he told them to send them back. When they got back, he took them to a safe house and looked after them. The concentration camps were all shut down on May 7, 1945 when World War Two ended.It was estimated that 7,991,460 people lost their lives in the concentration camps. When the Germans were defeated by the allies they were forced to close down all of the concentration camps. Most of the camps were destroyed. Some of the camps were used as prisons for the Nazis. Some of these concentration camps have been converted into museums and memorials for those who lost their lives. Bibliography 1. Nazi concentration camps Jan 14-17 2011 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nazi_concent ration_camps 2. Auschwitz, Nazi death camp Jan 14-17 2011 http://www. auschwitz. dk/auschwitz. htm

Precambrian - The Timeline of Biological History

The Precambrian (4500 to 543 million years ago) is a vast period of time, nearly 4,000 million years long, that began with the formation of the Earth and culminated with the Cambrian Explosion. The Precambrian accounts for seven-eighths of our planets history. Numerous important milestones in the development of our planet and the evolution of life occurred during the Precambrian. The first life arose during the Precambrian. The tectonic plates formed and began shifting across the surface of the Earth. Eukaryotic cells evolved and the oxygen these eary organisms exhaled collected in the atmosphere. The Precambrian drew to a close just as the first multicellular organisms evolved. For the most part, considering the immense length of time encompassed by the Precambrian, the fossil record is sparse for that time period. The oldest evidence of life is encased in rocks from islands off of western Greenland. Theses fossils are 3.8 billion years old. Bacteria that is more than 3.46 billion years old was discovered in Western Australia. Stromatolite fossils have been discovered that date back 2,700 million years. The most detailed fossils from the Precambrian are known as the Ediacara biota, an assortment of tubular and frond-shaped creatures that lived between 635 and 543 million years ago. The Ediacara fossils represent the earliest known evidence of multicellular life and most of these ancient organisms appear to have vanished at the end of the Precambrian. Although the term Precambrian is somewhat outdated, it is still widely used. Modern terminology disposes of the term Precambrian and instead divides the time before the Cambrian Period into three units, the Hadean (4,500 - 3,800 million years ago), the Archean (3,800 - 2,500 million years ago), and the Proterozoic (2,500 - 543 million years ago).