The Chocolate of Tomorrow Essay Example for Free

The Chocolate of Tomorrow Essay R evenues from the chocolate industry continue to prove rewarding, with 2011 figures from IBISWorld predicting annualized growth of around 2% over the next five years, after dampened expectations during the dark days of 2007-09. But behind the encouraging headlines, many companies are battling to stay on top of a rapidly shifting marketplace. Taste is diverging, as fast-growing economies and empowered consumers demand more from their products. For industry stalwarts, the requirement to offer local, highly tailored and increasingly diverse products represents a serious threat to market share. Spotting the markets that are likely to grow quickly will make the difference between the winners and losers of tomorrow’s chocolate landscape. According to official government figures, current hot spots include India (annual growth rate 15%), China (9%), Russia (6%) and Mexico (3. 8%). They all exhibit a number of key factors that help them stand out from the pack, including a youthful population, rapid capital inflows and retail consolidation. In this report, we’ll take a tour of the factors shaping the chocolate market of tomorrow – from geography and demographics, to consumer needs and preferences, and other market drivers. And we’ll attempt to offer a glimpse into the future by defining what might be the chocolate bar of 2030. John A Morris European Head of Consumer Markets KPMG LLP  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. The chocolate of tomorrow State of the market Contents 4 The global picture. What they’re eating and why: a world tour of consumer taste in the chocolate market The three types of consumer shaping the way people buy chocolate across the world Four factors that are increasingly de? ning the chocolate market A glimpse of the future – and what it might mean for the industry 6 Shoppers’ preferences 8 Trends to consider Where next for chocolate? The industry has weathered a global recession and is still seeking growth. But with some markets saturated, where does its future lie? The global chocolate industry is many things, but as a bellwether for the wider economy its use is limited. Revenues have remained resilient despite a recessive global picture, falling disposable incomes, volatile commodity prices and increasing competition. Chocolate is often described as recession-proof. Some economists call it the ‘lipstick effect’: when facing an economic crisis, consumers are more willing to buy less costly luxury goods, such as cosmetics and chocolate, even as they cut back on other luxuries. Revenues over the past few years would seem to back this hypothesis, although year-on-year growth remains relatively sluggish and the spectre of volatile input prices continues to cast a shadow over future projections. Although the global market is still dominated by Western Europe and North America, emerging markets clearly represent the future. The BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) accounted for 55% of global confectionery retail growth in 2011. Other emerging economies with youthful populations and an acquisitive middle class are likely to develop a taste for chocolate and, as their disposable incomes grow, they will represent important target markets. With the traditional markets of Western Europe and North America seemingly saturated, manufacturers are being forced to pull even more innovative tricks out of the bag to attract consumers, from enigmatic ? avor combinations to bolder health claims, portion control and personalized bars. Like a large sharing tablet, the market is breaking up. Taste is diverging as the BRICs and empowered Western consumers demand more from their products. Where will the market take us next? 10 The bar of 2030 12 Contacts Global chocolate retail market value 120 100 US$ billion 80 Source: Euromonitor 60 40 20 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 3  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. The chocolate of tomorrow The global picture Western Europe is still the largest chocolate market in the world, but slow growth suggests saturation. Health is becoming a major driver in new product launches: in 2011, 10% of products were marketed as vegetarian, 7% as free from additives and 7% as organic. The US eats more chocolate by volume than any country, says the International Cocoa Organization. Consumers are demanding value – and wild ?avors, such as bacon and wasabi. Health matters but is not yet a major driver. The large Hispanic market is key. The British government is pressurizing manufacturers to tackle obesity, although only 12% of consumers see fat content in chocolate as an important factor. Portion control is imperative, with smaller bars and larger ‘sharing packs’ introduced to curb overeating. In Mexico, 52% of the population are under 20: a huge market for candy and chocolate. Around 80-90% of chocolate products are aimed at children. This offers opportunity for tie-ins with well-known children’s brands, but rising obesity levels may prompt regulation. The world of chocolate Geography is still key to understanding the speci? cs of consumer taste. What are customers across the world demanding? 4 Easter is big business in Brazil, with 100 million Easter eggs eaten every year – and this is likely to increase. But childhood obesity presents a curb on growth. With more than 35% of children overweight, child-focused product launches have been driven down by 62%.  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. Russia is one of the most promising emerging economies for chocolatiers. The market is worth more than US$8bn and is expected to grow 45% by 2016. As consumers move up the value chain, artisan manufacturers begin to stake their claim. Widespread lactose intolerance has made for a slow start in China, but chocolate sales have risen 40% since 2009. Lindt claims in its annual report that the market is growing 30% a year. Premium products are popular, with over half of all sales bought as gifts. At US$11. 4bn, Japan is the largest Asian market. Domestic artisan companies are ? ourishing but foreigners can ? nd it hard to gain a foothold. Nestle’s Kit-Kat brand is the exception, appealing to consumers with 200 unusual ?avors and special editions. India has always had a sweet tooth, and chocolate is fast becoming its favorite treat, ahead of sugar candy, with an annual market growth rate of 15%. Cadbury’s now owns 70% of the market, introducing innovative products that can survive in the extreme heat. The Middle East/North Africa market is expected to reach US$5. 8bn by 2016, up 61% on today. Almost every part of Africa is growing: South Africa is the biggest market, but sugar confectionery is still 22% more popular there than chocolate, says Leatherhead Food Research. Source: Euromonitor Global market share by region, 2011 Western Europe 32% North America 20% Asia 17% Latin America 13% Eastern Europe 12% Middle East and Africa 4% Australasia 2% 5  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. The chocolate of tomorrow Shoppers’ preferences. What consumers want The psychology behind chocolate suggests consumers see it as a ‘naughty but nice’ impulse treat. But a closer look reveals three distinct types of buyer, each with different behaviors and demands THE CONVENIENCE BUYER Chocolate may be seen as an impulse purchase, but it’s becoming increasingly everyday among consumers. Convenience is a major driver for chocolate lovers, who want to grab a bar from a local store or throw a multi-pack into the trolley during a weekly shop. As convenience becomes more important to time-poor shoppers, sales of tablet bars are growing (up 37% in the UK last year) as consumers grab and go. Premium chocolate-makers such as Godiva are rethinking their strategies to get a bite of this lucrative market, introducing smaller bar formats. A desire for convenience is also increasing the popularity of sharing bags, particularly in Western markets, as consumers buy to share or ? nish eating later. Manufacturers have reacted with packaging innovations, such as the ‘memory wrapper’ from Mars that allows bars to be twisted, closed and saved. Mars says the innovation â€Å"empowers the consumer†. It also drives brand loyalty. THE VALUE BUYER In many markets, value is a hot topic. In the US, 79% of consumers look for good value when choosing chocolate, although 70% also want a name brand, according to Mintel Oxygen – meaning even value shoppers are making demands of manufacturers. Value is particularly important in economies where the middle class is still being de? ned – and may exist far below Western levels. According to research from ? nancial services provider Rabobank, a 45g chocolate bar accounted for less than 1% of the weekly shopping budget in the US and UK in 2010, but in India the same bar made up 18% of the weekly food allowance: which means a snack comes at the expense of a full meal. One-size-? ts-all global pricing solutions are dif? cult when the income levels and aspirations of the fast-growing middle class differ so widely. Although disposable income is rising in emerging markets, we could assume that a large proportion of consumers will continue to look for the cheapest option. Value-conscious shoppers favor a new generation of outlets. Discount stores are ? ourishing, which is forcing supermarkets to think more like discounters to attract ? ckle customers, including increasing their private label ranges. Small grocery stores may lack the economies of scale to compete on price, while ‘specialist’ formats are being crowded out. In emerging markets, ‘one-stop’ retail locations are becoming popular due to low prices and greater choice. Where they’re buying 15. 7% 1. 5% 45. 3% 10% 27. 5% Non-store Specialist stores Small grocery stores Supermarkets and discount stores Others 6  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. Global chocolate retailers market share 2011. Source: Euromontior THE LUXURY BUYER The luxury chocolate market continues to embrace the mainstream – and not just in developed economies. â€Å"The psychology is that even expensive chocolate is an affordable luxury,† says Marcia Mogelonsky, Global Food Analyst at researcher Mintel. Chocolate is becoming increasingly premiumized, and brands such as Godiva and Lindt have become almost mass market as consumers develop a taste for everyday glamour. Godiva, which has increased its sales from US$400m to almost US$700m in 10 years and is now owned by Turkey’s Yildiz Holdings, plans to become a staple for the health-conscious, sweettoothed consumer. â€Å"Our revenues have increased in all our markets, especially in China and Japan, which are the most important markets right now,† Godiva CEO Jim Goldman has said. â€Å"[Marketing our product] is a balancing act. And it’s different in every country. We do retain our prestige†¦ but we have to be relevant. † In Russia, the chocolate market is expected to grow 45% over the next ? ve years, to reach US$11. 6bn, says Euromonitor. Belgian artisan chocolatier Jean-Philippe Darcis has his eye on the country, predicting: â€Å"The market will evolve and people will have more buying power. † Lindt is enjoying double-digit sales growth in the Middle East. In China, rich dark chocolate is thriving, with Ferrero Rocher and artisan chocolate maker Senz launching exclusive premium dark brands in the last two years. Unsurprisingly, larger manufacturers are keen to get a bite of this burgeoning sector but, without the personal story required to sell such products, they can struggle. The solution: purchase artisan brands and market them as separate entities – large producers’ economies of scale mean this phenomenon makes life hard for surviving artisan brands. Mars has Ethel M, Nestle bought Maison Cailler and Hershey owns Dagoba and Scharffen Berger. â€Å"It may sound counterintuitive, but what’s happening in the [global ? nancial] crisis is a quest by consumers for value, for more affordable products, but also for products that overtake their expectations,† says Laurent Freixe, head of Nestle’s European business. However, large manufacturers with designs on artisan businesses must be careful. â€Å"Consumers like artisan companies because they are high quality and unique,† warns Mary Nanfelt, Food Analyst at IBISWorld. â€Å"That uniqueness and independence must remain. † Luxury sales on the up â€Å"What’s happening in the ? nancial crisis is a quest by consumers for products that are more affordable but that also overtake their expectations† 2001 2005 2008 2011 0 0. 5 1 1. 5 2 2. 5 Godiva Lindt 3 US$bn sales 7  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. The chocolate of tomorrow Trends to consider Driving growth From sustainability to eventing, four factors that are increasingly important in understanding the global chocolate market – and the opportunities they could create both now and in the future SUSTAINABILITY Food origin is an increasingly important driver for consumer purchasing decisions in more developed markets, particularly at high-end retailers. Mary Nanfelt, Analyst at IBISWorld, says: â€Å"Americans in particular are becoming more socially conscious in their choices, buying chocolate from sustainable and organic sources. † Globally, use of Fairtrade cocoa has risen dramatically over the last few years, and smart phone users can even download ethical shopping apps. All the major manufacturers have embraced Fairtrade to some degree. Kraft’s Cadbury brand has tripled the amount of Fairtrade cocoa it uses, and Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, the UK’s best-selling bar, is certi? ed Fairtrade. Hershey announced this year that it would begin to source the cocoa for its Bliss brand through Fairtrade farms, while Mars and Nestle already have best-selling Fairtrade lines. INNOVATION As consumers become ever more demanding, innovation is crucial to market share. And personalization is likely to be the next consumer-driven revolution in the industry. Nestle is leading the pack in this area. Maison Cailler allows customers in Switzerland, the world’s largest per capita chocolate market, to create personalized taster packs based on their preferences. Its Spanish brand Diselo con Chocolate recently launched an e-commerce platform where customers can create their own assortments. Gum and candy businesses such as Wrigley’s have already introduced personalized packaging (particularly aimed at gifters) and chocolate could soon follow suit. The next logical step is for consumers to design chocolate bars that cater to their unique palate – but which manufacturer will take on the production challenge involved? HEALTH Although many consumers view chocolate as an occasional treat and don’t obsess over its effect on health, fat is becoming a major issue for manufacturers. So-called ‘fat taxes’ are threatened in a number of major economies, including the US and the UK, while European countries such as Denmark and Hungary have already introduced surplus taxes on unhealthy food. In Japan, the government has gone one step further and is taxing companies and local authorities with a h proportion of overweight igh employees or residents. An increased emphasis on healthy lifestyles is an imperative for governments facing rising healthcare costs, particularly in developed economies that are battling childhood obesity. This has impacted childfocused product launches, which fell 62% last year in the US and Brazil, both countries that are struggling to keep their weight down (more than 35% of Brazilian children under six are overweight or obese). Globally, 21% of parents reported switching products to give their children healthier snacks, potentially reducing brand recognition among the next generation. To combat this, the industry should debate the potential health bene? ts and enable chocolate to be among the next generation of functional foods, pushing the antioxidant effects of dark chocolate or investigating the energyboosting properties of bars with oats, nuts or ‘super fruits’. Latvian brand Laci is using ‘super berry’ sea buckthorn in its products. Smaller bars (Mars has capped its bars at 250 calories in the UK and Australia, and will follow suit in the US in 2013) can encourage awareness of portion sizes. Fairtrade takes off 35,000 30,000 Global production in tonnes 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 Source: Fairtrade Foundation 5,000 08 20 03 20 04 20 20 05 06 20 07 20 20 09 10 20 8  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. QA Bert Alfonso CFO, Hershey Personalization is likely to be the next revolution in chocolate†¦ the logical step is for consumers to design bars that cater to their unique palate EVENTING In many countries, chocolate is an essential component of religious events, special occasions and festivals. The seasonal chocolate market is worth US$4. 9bn in the US, an increase of 6. 4% since 2010, says Mintel. Easter is the biggest chocolate event globally and, although the shelves can appear full of competing products, the market is in fact far from saturated. Easter products launched worldwide rose 45% during 2011. Canada has proved particularly fruitful for manufacturers, with seasonal activity increasing 89% in 2011. In gift-hungry Western Europe, growth in seasonal product launches is particularly notable in the UK and France, where seasonal activity increased 53% and 41% respectively. In more mature markets like the US and Australia, there is evidence to suggest consumers are choosing to buy a smaller number of high-margin, luxury items rather than focusing on value products. In Australia, where Easter chocolate spending is expected to grow 3% in 2012 to over US$178m, specialty retailers stocking luxury Easter eggs from the likes of Lindt have been reporting robust growth. China has seen a seasonal boom. The expanding middle class is spending more on premium chocolate, which makes the perfect gift. More than half the chocolate bought in China is purchased as a gift, with Christmas and the Lunar New Year peak buying times. According to Shaun Rein, author of The End of Cheap China: Economic and Cultural Trends that will Disrupt the World, costly confectionery ? lls a gap in traditional present-buying. â€Å"Chocolate hits a good market position. There just aren’t that many other prestige gift items in the $50-$200 range. † Q How has Hershey maintained growth in a time of ? nancial uncertainty? A: We have focused on productivity gains, which have been reinvested in the products consumers are looking for, and increased marketing activity. Gross margins have increased over the last few years as a result of several actions, including raising prices in the US market to offset rising commodity costs. We believe we’re in the middle of a secular bull market for commodities, driven by the growth of emerging economies. What steps have you been taking to mitigate rising raw material costs? Aside from pricing, we use hedging programs in everything but dairy. Certain costs are predictable but when it comes to commodities, we follow the fundamental as well as technical market indicators for materials such as cocoa and sugar. Longer-term, there’s an opportunity to improve cocoa yield in regions such as West Africa. The methods being used at the moment aren’t that sophisticated, which is why we are involved in farming training to enhance cocoa-growing productivity. Overall, cocoa farming is still pro? table at current market prices – and some markets are actually increasing production. How much of your future revenue would you like to see coming from overseas? We have targeted US$1bn revenue from our overseas operations by 2015 – we’ve actually been pacing ahead of that. Mexico, Brazil, India and China are the most important markets for us, and we now manufacture in all of them. We have been manufacturing in China for several years, rather than just exporting there, because US chocolate simply isn’t formulated for the local taste pro? le. How do you see the luxury market developing in future? I believe that smaller artisan companies will ? nd it harder to stay in the market in the long term. Luxury is growing again as a segment and competition is intensifying. It could eventually account for 20% of the market over time. What type of chocolate will we be eating in 2030? A lot of the products currently available in the US market still have longevity. There will be more personalized products as the market seeks to deliver on unique taste pro? les. Also, consumers are looking for more permissive, better-for-you alternatives. The digital aspect of personalization is still at an early stage and we will see further investment from manufacturers. The mass market won’t go away, but it will evolve. 9  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. The chocolate of tomorrow The bar of 2030 Looking to the future What kind of chocolate will we be eating in 2030? The rapid change of the past few years gives us some vital clues to the industry’s direction Innovative packaging To stand out on the shelves and reduce costs, packaging could undergo a revolution. Manufacturers will devise new ways to ensure chocolate doesn’t melt in the extreme heat of many emerging markets, as well as introducing new bar sizes. Health bene? ts Chocolate could ride the trend for nutraceuticals. Nestle has already announced plans to invest US$510m in â€Å"pioneering a new industry between food and pharma†. Medicinal herbs could be used as an ingredient, or even aspirin. Additional betterfor-you ingredients such as super-fruits, nuts and oats may become more common. Additive-free chocolate will become the norm in developed economies. Dark chocolate could increase in popularity as consumers become more aware of its health bene? ts. Attracting youth Marketing to the youthful populations of emerging markets (especially India and Latin America) will be vital. Use of popular culture, including bands and TV shows, in marketing campaigns may increase, as will viral marketing and social media interaction, as young people broaden their channels. While children prefer sweeter chocolate, concerned parents will look for chocolate with added health value. 0 03 2 Luxury vs commodity A growing middle class will continue to propel the luxury market, and will increasingly drive it into mainstream retailers. But this will pose a challenge: although middle class consumers in emerging markets may develop expensive tastes, their disposable income will still be relatively limited. Manufacturers may need to choose between margins and volume, positioning themselves carefully as either a luxury or commodity player. The outsourcing solution. The most successful chocolate companies could be purely marketing and RD operations after outsourcing their production to industrial suppliers. The public won’t even have heard of the world’s largest chocolate producers, who will work behind the scenes to supply well-known brands. 10  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. The personal touch Bespoke bars may be commonplace. One artisan chocolate maker says he envisages smaller shops offering people the chance to create their own bar. As consumer palates grow more sophisticated, unusual ? avors will become the norm, with chocolate-lovers choosing their own combinations. Consumers may also be able to design their own packaging. New distribution channels Chocolate will be available from a wider variety of outlets, from coffee shops to health food stores, to cater for convenience buyers. Supermarkets and discount stores will continue to dominate sales, particularly among value customers. Premium chocolate could become available in mainstream stores as luxury buyers proliferate. Brands might seek to move up the value chain by creating their own ? agship stores, something Hershey and Mars (through its MM’s brand) have already done successfully. ar b 0 Fresh ? avors In developed markets, ? avors may become increasingly unusual as palates grow more sophisticated and brands seek a marketing boost. Combinations of sweet and savoury (such as bacon and chocolate) will increase, and salt, olive oil, herbs and ? owers will all be used as ? avorings. Middle class rule Manufacturers are likely to offer more chocolate from ethical sources to meet aspirational buyers’ needs. Middle class consumers will also be keen on premium chocolate for gifting purposes, and seasonal launches, which increased 6% during 2011, will continue to grow. A new recipe Milk chocolate will have a l ower cocoa content due to rising prices, and manufacturers will be forced to use cocoa more sparingly. Demand for cocoa could spiral out of control: one Latin American manufacturer predicts that China and India increasing average per capita consumption by just 1kg could make most manufacturers’ current models unsustainable. In that scenario, arti? cal cocoa could become a viable alternative. Price vs size Think small Rising obesity levels and government regulation will lead to manufacturers limiting portion sizes. Sharing bags of smaller bars will become more popular as people seek to limit the amount eaten in one sitting. Average per capita consumption (currently 8kg in Europe) may drop, although overall consumption is likely to rise as the global middle class mushrooms. In emerging markets, chocolate takes a hefty bite from the household budget. As input price volatility continues, manufacturers may have to keep value in mind or risk losing consumers. Price per gram is rising fast in developed markets, but research shows consumers feel cheated if bars get smaller but price is static. Mainstream manufacturers could be forced to choose between containing cost, at the expense of size, and moving further up the value chain. 11  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. About KPMG KPMG is a global network of professional ? rms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We have 145,000 outstanding professionals working together to deliver value in 152 countries worldwide. KPMG is organized by industry sectors across our member ? rms. The Consumer Markets practice, which encompasses the Food, Drink and Consumer Goods and Retail sectors, comprises an international network of professionals with deep industry experience. This industry-focused network enables KPMG member ?rm professionals to provide consistent services and thought leadership to our clients globally, while maintaining a strong knowledge of local issues and markets. It’s clear the chocolate market is shifting rapidly, and presents a range of challenges and opportunities. To discuss any of the issues raised in this report, please get in touch. Contacts Willy Kruh Global Chair, Consumer Markets and Food, Drink and Consumer Goods +1 416 777 8710 [emailprotected] ca Nick Debnam ASPAC Regional Head of Consumer Markets and Food, Drink and Consumer Goods KPMG in Hong Kong +852 2978 8283 nick. [emailprotected] com Stephane Gard Head of Consumer Markets KPMG in Switzerland +41 21 345 0335 [emailprotected] com John A Morris EMA Region Head of Consumer Markets KPMG in the UK +44 20 7311 8522 john. [emailprotected] co. uk Patrick W Dolan Americas Region and US Head of Consumer Markets KPMG in the US +1 312 665 2311 [emailprotected] com Publication name The Chocolate of Tomorrow Published by Haymarket Network Ltd Publication no 120788 Publication date June 2012 Pre-press by Haymarket Pre-press The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.  © 2012 KPMG International Cooperative (â€Å"KPMG International†), a Swiss entity. Member ? rms of the KPMG network of independent ? rms are af? liated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. No member ? rm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member ? rm vis-a-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member ? rm. All rights reserved. The KPMG name, logo and â€Å"cutting through complexity† are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International. Photography and illustration: Creativ Studio Heinemann/Westend61/Corbis; Peter Dazeley/Getty Images; AP/Press Association Images; Shutterstock.

GHB: Physiological Uses Versus Social Abuses :: Biology Essays Research Papers

GHB: Physiological Uses Versus Social Abuses The human genome is old news. The next generation of thinkers faces the great challenge of establishing how our physiological condition translates into complex thought and behavior. And there has not been a team of researchers more dedicated to empirically finding the answers to these questions than today's experimental teens. As subjects of their own study, these future scientists have quite thoroughly manipulated their mental and physical states through the use of drugs. While drug use may not directly reflect a dedication to science, the devices of these drugs have helped to elucidate the complex functioning of the brain and its effect on one's conscious state. The spirit of this drug culture raises issues important to the neuropsychologist as well as the social psychologist. Negative-effects or side-effects of [recreational] drugs are often considered physiological in nature, and social and political attitudes toward illicit drugs tend to reflect where a drug is presumed to regis ter on the " physically harmful" spectrum. What follows is an explanation of how clinical purposes and recreational uses of a substance may together inform a greater understanding of drug abuse. It appears that issues of over-all health are often connected to both nervous system input, the physiological effects of the drug, and nervous system output, which are the behaviors and alterations in conscious state caused by a drug. The potential advancements in our understanding of the functioning of the nervous system through this "hands-on" research strategy is confounded by the politics that surrounds recreational drug use in the US. Inevitably, the sub-culture of drug experimenters that pops-up as a result of stringent anti-drug enforcement, is not a random sample of the human population. While the DEA and FDA impose upon the research attempts of today's youth, shared information technology has created a space for future scientists to compare their methods and results. Looking up designer drugs on the Internet, I came to a greater understanding of the physiology of the brain as well as the preferences and behavioral patterns of today's youth. Easily manufactured, ubiquitously used, and derived from substances already occurring in the body, GHB is a model drug for addressing these issues. GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutric acid, was first synthesized in 1960 (1). Laborit, a French researcher interested in the effects of GABA on the brain used GHB, a GABA metabolite that can more readily cross the blood brain barrier, in his investigation (2).

Mao Zedong’s Legacy

Mao Zedong (Mao Tse Tung) was a Marxist theorist and soldier who led the Chinese communist revolution, later became the Communist Party’s leader and eventually became the head of state and Party chairman. While he did not entirely rule China on his own, he can be regarded as the modern China’s principal architect.[1]   Mao is largely credited for the programs the Great Leap Forward and the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution. Under Chairman Mao, China’s communism ideologically deviated from that practiced in the Soviet Union on account of the emphasis placed by the former on the role of the countryside peasantry in the communist revolution, a factor ignored in the Soviet paradigm centered on the urban classes. The Great Leap was an economic and social plan of Communist China under Mao Zedong to rapidly industrialize the then principally agricultural-based country. The plan hoped to modernize the communist state by turning it into an industrial-based economy.   It was however an economic debacle and aggravated by natural disasters, leading to the starvation and death of millions. The Cultural Revolution, on the other, was designed by Mao to get back at Party members who wanted to undermine his leadership.[2] Mao's policies were a mix of successes and failures. Millions died largely because of the inherent flaws of the Great Leap economic policy. Millions were executed under the reforms of the Cultural Revolution but in return, millions of proletariat farmers were awarded their own land to till. Among the long-term consequences of Mao's Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution policies was the decade-long widespread disruption in urban China of the education of many Chinese, giving their generation career and productivity disadvantages.[3] But Mao's programs did leave lasting advantages for China, including the legacy of a considerably successful space program, nuclear weapon capability and the acquisition of a strategic territory. [4]While the death toll under his leadership totaled to millions of Chinese who died either by executions or of famine, the architectural designing of China under his rule placed the country on the road to being a regional economic and political power that she is today. China is in fact currently being perceived by no less than the United States as a potential military threat. Pan, Esther.[5] References Giles, John.; Park, Albert; Zhang, Juwei. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, Disruptions to Education, And Returns to Schooling in Urban China.   Retrieved 6 Dec. 2006 Kane, Thomas and Serewicz, Lawrence. China's Hunger: The Consequences of a Rising Demand for Food and Energy.   Parameters (Autumn 2001).   Retrieved Dec. 6, 2006 from the U.S. Army Accessions Command Website: http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/01autumn/Kane.htm. Is China a Regional Military Threat. (18 October, 2005). Mao Zedong. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved December 7, 2006, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD. Mao Zedong. (2006, December 7). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:47, December 7, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/ w/index.php?title=Mao_Zedong&oldid=92619408.       . [1] Mao Zedong. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved December 7, 2006, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD . [2] Mao Zedong. (2006, December 7). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:47, December 7, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mao_Zedong&oldid=92619408 [3] Giles, John; Park, Albert; Zhang, Juwei. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, Disruptions to Education, And Returns to Schooling in Urban China.   Retrieved 6 Dec. 2006 from The William Davidson Institute At The University of Michigan Website: http://www.wdi.umich.edu/files/old/EDTS/Papers/ John_Giles_cultural_revolution.pdf. [4]Kane, Thomas and Serewicz, Lawrence, China's Hunger: The Consequences of a Rising Demand for Food and Energy. Parameters, ( Autumn 2001).   Retrieved Dec. 6, 2006 from the U.S. Army Accessions Command Website http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/01autumn/Kane.htm. [5] Is China a Regional Military Threat? 18 October, 2005. Retrieved from the Council on Foreign Relations Website: http://www.cfr.org/publication/9052/is_china_a_regional_military_threat.html.

I Am a Woman, Too Feminism to the Black Woman - 966 Words

Written by Tammy Carter In history, women have always struggled to gain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. Women had had to endure years of sexism and struggle to get to where we are today. The struggle was even more difficult for women of color because not only were they dealing with issues of sexism, but also racism. Many movements have helped black women during the past centuries to overcome sexism, racism, and adversities that were set against them. History tells us that movements such as the Feminist Movement helped empower all women, but this fact is not totally true. In this paper, I will discuss feminism, the movements, and its minimal affects on black women. The word feminism comes from the word†¦show more content†¦Later on in the years, the Black Feminist Movement was started to try to eliminate these ethnic notions that oppressed black women. In an effort to meet the needs of black women in the U.S., who felt they were racially oppressed in the Womens Movement and sexually oppressed in the Black Liberation Movement, the Black Feminist Movement was formed. The purpose of the movement was to develop theory which could adequately address the way race, gender, and class were interconnected in their lives and to take action to stop racist, sexist, and classist discrimination(But Some of Us Are Brave: A History of Black Feminism in the United States, (http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/thistle/v9/9.01/6blackf.html). Many black American women, inspired by these nineteenth century leaders have continued over the years to work toward the eradication of race and gender inequality, among other systems of oppression, which have historically subjugated black American women. In todays society, women of all colors are stepping up and taking what is rightfully theirs. Women are holding jobs, positions, and offices that mostly men use to dominate. (See Exhibit: 2). Here is a list of some important black women that carry on the legacy of our past generations: Maya Angelou Josephine Baker Bessie Blount Marita Bonner Dorothy Dandridge Jessie Redmon Fauset Althea GibsonShow MoreRelatedI Am A Woman,Too: Feminism To The Black Woman Essay examples941 Words   |  4 Pagesdealing with issues of sexism, but also racism. Many movements have helped black women during the past centuries to overcome sexism, racism, and adversities that were set against them. History tells us that movements such as the Feminist Movement helped empower all women, but this fact is not totally true. In this paper, I will discuss feminism, the movements, and its minimal affects on black women. 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