Best Analysis Money and Materialism in The Great Gatsby

Best Analysis Money and Materialism in The Great Gatsby SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In The Great Gatsby, money is a huge motivator in the characters' relationships, motivations, and outcomes. Most of the characters reveal themselves to be highly materialistic, their motivations driven by their desire for money and things: Daisy marries and stays with Tom because of the lifestyle he can provide her, Myrtle has her affair with Tom due to the privileged world it grants her access to, and Gatsby even lusts after Daisy as if she is a prize to be won. After all, her voice is "full of money- that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it. . . . High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl. . . ." (7.106). So how exactly does materialism reveal itself as a theme, how can it help us analyze the characters, and what are some common assignments surrounding this theme? We will dig into all things money here in this guide. Roadmap Money and materialism in the plotKey quotes about money/materialismAnalyzing characters via money/materialismCommon assignments and analysis of money/materialism in Gatsby Quick Note on Our Citations Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text. Money and Materialism in The Great Gatsby In the opening pages, Nick establishes himself as someone who has had many advantages in life- a wealthy family and an Ivy League education to name just two. Despite not being as wealthy as Tom and Daisy, his second cousin, they see him as enough of a peer to invite him to their home in Chapter 1. Nick's connection to Daisy in turn makes him attractive to Gatsby. If Nick were just a middle-class everyman, the story could not play out in the same way. Tom and Daisy's movements are also supported by their money. At the beginning of the novel they move to fashionable East Egg, after moving around between "wherever people played polo and were rich together," and are able to very quickly pick up and leave at the end of the book after the murders, thanks to the protection their money provides (1.17). Daisy, for her part, only begins her affair with Gatsby after a very detailed display of his wealth (via the mansion tour). She even breaks down in tears after Gatsby shows off his ridiculously expensive set of colored shirts, crying that she's "never seen such beautiful shirts" before (5.8). Gatsby's notoriety comes from, first and foremost, his enormous wealth, wealth he has gathered to win over Daisy. Gatsby was born to poor farmer parents in North Dakota, but at 17, determined to become rich, struck out with the wealthy Dan Cody and never looked back (6.5-15). Even though he wasn't able to inherit any part of Cody's fortune, he used what he learned of wealthy society to first charm Daisy before shipping out to WWI. (In a uniform she had no idea he was poor, especially given his sophisticated manners). Then, after returning home and realizing Daisy was married and gone, he set out to earn enough money to win Daisy over, turning to crime via a partnership with Meyer Wolfshiem to quickly amass wealth (9.83-7). Meanwhile, Tom's mistress Myrtle, a car mechanic's wife, puts on airs and tries to pass as rich through her affair with Tom, but her involvement with the Buchanans gets her killed. George Wilson, in contrast, is constrained by his lack of wealth. He tells Tom Buchanan after finding out about Myrtle's affair that he plans to move her West, but he "[needs] money pretty bad" in order to make the move (7.146). Tragically, Myrtle is hit and killed that evening by Daisy. If George Wilson had had the means, he likely would have already left New York with Myrtle in tow, saving both of their lives. Hardly anyone shows up to Gatsby's funeral since they were only attracted by his wealth and the parties, not the man himself. This is encapsulated in a phone call Nick describes, to a man who used to come to Gatsby's parties: "one gentleman to whom I telephoned implied that he had got what he deserved. However, that was my fault, for he was one of those who used to sneer most bitterly at Gatsby on the courage of Gatsby's liquor and I should have known better than to call him" (9.69). In short, money both drives the plot and explains many of the characters' motivations and limitations. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Key Quotes About Money Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,I must have you!" - THOMAS PARKE D'INVILLIERS The epigraph of the novel immediately marks money and materialism as a key theme of the book- the listener is implored to "wear the gold hat" as a way to impress his lover. In other words, wealth is presented as the key to love- such an important key that the word "gold" is repeated twice. It's not enough to "bounce high" for someone, to win them over with your charm. You need wealth, the more the better, to win over the object of your desire. "They had spent a year in France, for no particular reason, and then drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together." (1.17) Our introduction to Tom and Daisy immediately describes them as rich, bored, and privileged. Tom's restlessness is likely one motivator for his affairs, while Daisy is weighed down by the knowledge of those affairs. This combination of restlessness and resentment puts them on the path to the tragedy at the end of the book. "There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars. At high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower of his raft or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two motor-boats slit the waters of the Sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam. On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city, between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains. And on Mondays eight servants including an extra gardener toiled all day with mops and scrubbing-brushes and hammers and garden-shears, repairing the ravages of the night before†¦." (3.1-3.6) The description of Gatsby's parties at the beginning of Chapter 3 is long and incredibly detailed, and thus it highlights the extraordinary extent of Gatsby's wealth and materialism. In contrast to Tom and Daisy's expensive but not overly gaudy mansion, and the small dinner party Nick attends there in Chapter 1, everything about Gatsby's new wealth is over-the-top and showy, from the crates of oranges brought in and juiced one-by-one by a butler to the full orchestra. Everyone who comes to the parties is attracted by Gatsby's money and wealth, making the culture of money-worship a society-wide trend in the novel, not just something our main characters fall victim to. After all, "People were not invited- they went there" (3.7). No one comes due to close personal friendship with Jay. Everyone is there for the spectacle alone. He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher- shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange with monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily. "They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. "It makes me sad because I've never seen such- such beautiful shirts before." (5.7-8) Gatsby, like a peacock showing off its many-colored tail, flaunts his wealth to Daisy by showing off his many-colored shirts. And, fascinatingly, this is the first moment of the day Daisy fully breaks down emotionally- not when she first sees Gatsby, not after their first long conversation, not even at the initial sight of the mansion- but at this extremely conspicuous display of wealth. This speaks to her materialism and how, in her world, a certain amount of wealth is a barrier to entry for a relationship (friendship or more). "She's got an indiscreet voice," I remarked. "It's full of- - " I hesitated. "Her voice is full of money," he said suddenly. That was it. I'd never understood before. It was full of money- that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it. . . . High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl. . . . (7.103-106) Daisy herself is explicitly connected with money here, which allows the reader to see Gatsby's desire for her as desire for wealth, money, and status more generally. So while Daisy is materialistic and is drawn to Gatsby again due to his newly-acquired wealth, we see Gatsby is drawn to her as well due to the money and status she represents. I couldn't forgive him or like him but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. . . . (9.146) Here, in the aftermath of the novel's carnage, Nick observes that while Myrtle, George, and Gatsby have all died, Tom and Daisy are not punished at all for their recklessness, they can simply retreat "back into their money or their vast carelessness†¦ and let other people clean up the mess." So money here is more than just status- it's a shield against responsibility, which allows Tom and Daisy to behave recklessly while other characters suffer and die in pursuit of their dreams. Money: the ultimate shrug-off. Analyzing Characters Through Materialism We touched on this a bit with the quotes, but all of the characters can be analyzed from the point of view of their wealth and/or how materialistic they are. This analysis can enrich an essay about old money versus new money, the American dream, or even a more straightforward character analysis, or a comparison of two different characters. Mining the text for a character's attitude toward money can be a very helpful way to understand their motivations in the world of 1920s New York. If you analyze a character through this theme, make sure to explain: #1: Their attitude towards money. #2: How money/materialism drives their choices in the novel. #3: How their final outcome is shaped by their wealth status and what that says about their place in the world. Character Analysis Example As an example, let's look briefly at Myrtle. We get our best look at Myrtle in Chapter 2, when Tom takes Nick to see her in Queens and they end up going to the New York City apartment Tom keeps for Myrtle and hosting a small gathering (after Tom and Myrtle hook up, with Nick in the next room!). Myrtle is obsessed with shows of wealth, from her outfits, to insisting on a specific cab, to her apartment's decoration, complete with scenes of Versailles on the overly-large furniture: "The living room was crowded to the doors with a set of tapestried furniture entirely too large for it so that to move about was to stumble continually over scenes of ladies swinging in the gardens of Versailles" (2.51). She even adopts a different persona among her guests: "The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur. Her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became more violently affected moment by moment and as she expanded the room grew smaller around her until she seemed to be revolving on a noisy, creaking pivot through the smoky air" (2.56). In Myrtle's eyes, money is an escape from life with her husband in the valley of ashes, something that brings status, and something that buys class. After all, Tom's money secures her fancy apartment and allows her to lord it over her guests and play at sophistication, even while Nick looks down his nose at her. Obviously there is physical chemistry driving her affair with Tom, but she seems to get as much (if not more) pleasure from the materials that come with the affair- the apartment, the clothes, the dog, the parties. So she keeps up this affair, despite how morally questionable it is and the risk it opens up for her- her materialism, in other words, is her primary motivator. However, despite her airs, she matters very little to the "old money" crowd, as cruelly evidenced first when Tom breaks her nose with a "short deft movement" (2.126), and later, when Daisy chooses to run her over rather than get into a car accident. Myrtle's character reveals how precarious social climbing is, how materialism is not actually a path to happiness/virtue. In this novel, actual mountain climbing is safer than social climbing. Common Assignments and Discussion Topics About Money and Materialism in The Great Gatsby Here are ways to think about frequently assigned topics on this the theme of money and materialism. Discuss Tom Daisy as people who "smash things and retreat into their money" As discussed above, money- and specifically having inherited money- not only guarantees a certain social class, it guarantees safety and privilege: Tom and Daisy can literally live by different rules than other, less-wealthy people. While Gatsby, Myrtle, and George all end up dead, Tom and Daisy get to skip town and avoid any consequences, despite their direct involvement. For this prompt, you can explore earlier examples of Tom's carelessness (breaking Myrtle's nose, his behavior in the hotel scene, letting Daisy and Gatsby drive back to Long Island after the fight in the hotel) as well as Daisy's (throwing a fit just before her wedding but going through with it, kissing Gatsby with her husband in the next room). Show how each instance reveals Tom or Daisy's carelessness, and how those instances thus foreshadow the bigger tragedy- Myrtle's death at Daisy's hands, followed by Tom's manipulation of George to kill Gatsby. You can also compare Tom and Daisy's actions and outcomes to other characters to help make your point- Myrtle and Gatsby both contribute to the conflict by participating in affairs with Tom and Daisy, but obviously, Myrtle and Gatsby don't get to "retreat into their money," they both end up dead. Clearly, having old money sets you far apart from everyone else in the world of the novel. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. What do Nick's comments about money reveal about his attitude towards wealth? This is an interesting prompt, since you have to comb through passages of Nick's narration to find his comments about money, and then consider what they could mean, given that he comes from money himself. To get you started, here is a sample of some of Nick's comments on money and the wealthy, though there are certainly more to be found: "Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction- Gatsby who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn." (1.4) "My own house was an eye-sore, but it was a small eye-sore, and it had been overlooked, so I had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbor's lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionaires- all for eighty dollars a month. (1.14) "They had spent a year in France, for no particular reason, and then drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together." (1.17) Nick's comments about money, especially in the first chapter, are mostly critical and cynical. First of all, he makes it clear that he has "an unaffected scorn" for the ultra-rich, and eyes both new money and old money critically. He sarcastically describes the "consoling proximity of millionaires" on West Egg and wryly observes Tom and Daisy's restless entitlement on East Egg. These comments might seem a bit odd, given that Nick admits to coming from money himself: "My family have been prominent, well-to-do people in this middle-western city for three generations" (1.5). However, while Nick is wealthy, he is nowhere near as wealthy as the Buchanans or Gatsby- he expresses surprise both that Tom is able to afford bringing ponies from Lake Forest ("It was hard to realize that a man in my own generation was wealthy enough to do that" (1.16), and that Gatsby was able to buy his own mansion ("But young men didn't- at least in my provincial inexperience I believed they didn't- drift coolly out of nowhere and buy a palace on Long Island Sound" (3.88)), despite the fact they are all about 30 years old. In other words, while he opens the book with his father's advice to remember "all the advantages [he's] had," Nick seems to have a chip on his shoulder about still not being in the highest tier of the wealthy class. While he can observe the social movements of the wealthy with razor precision, he always comes off as wry, detached, and perhaps even bitter. Perhaps this attitude was tempered at Yale, where he would have been surrounded by other ultra-wealthy peers, but in any case, Nick's cynical, sarcastic attitude seems to be a cover for jealousy and resentment for those even more wealthy than him. Why does Gatsby say Daisy's voice is "full of money"? What does it reveal about the characters' values? Gatsby's comment about Daisy's voice explicitly connects Daisy the character to the promise of wealth, old money, and even the American Dream. Furthermore, the rest of that quote explicitly describes Daisy as "High in a white palace, the King's daughter, the golden girl†¦" (7.106). This makes Daisy sound like the princess that the hero gets to marry at the end of a fairy tale- in other words, she's a high-value prize. Daisy representing money also suggests money is as alluring and desirable- or even more so- than Daisy herself. In fact, during Chapter 8 when we finally get a fuller recap of Daisy and Gatsby's early relationship, Nick notes that "It excited [Gatsby] too that many men had already loved Daisy- it increased her value in his eyes" (8.10). In other words, Gatsby loves Daisy's "value" as an in-demand product. But since Daisy is flighty and inconsistent, Gatsby's comment also suggests that wealth is similarly unstable. But that knowledge doesn't dampen his pursuit of wealth- if anything, it makes it even more desirable. And since Gatsby doesn't give up his dream, even into death, we can see how fervently he desires money and status. Connecting new/old money and materialism to the American dream In the world of The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is synonymous with money and status- not so much success, career (does anyone but Nick and George even have a real job?), happiness, or family. But even Gatsby, who makes an incredible amount of money in a short time, is not allowed access into the upper echelon of society, and loses everything in trying to climb that final, precarious rung of the ladder, as represented by Daisy. So the American Dream, which in the first half of the book seems attainable based on Gatsby's wealth and success, reveals itself to be a hollow goal. After all, if even wealth on the scale of Gatsby's can't buy you entry into America's highest social class, what can? What's the point of striving so hard if only heartbreak and death are waiting at the end of the road? This pessimism is also reflected in the fates of Myrtle and George, who are both trying to increase their wealth and status in America, but end up dead by the end of the novel. You can read more about the American Dream for details on The Great Gatsby's ultimately skeptical, cynical attitude towards this classic American ideal. Connecting money to the status of women Daisy and Jordan are both old money socialites, while Myrtle is a working class woman married to a mechanic. You can thus compare three very different women's experiences to explore how money- or a lack thereof- seems to change the possibilities in a woman's life in early 1920s America. Daisy maintains her "old money" status by marrying a very rich man, Tom Buchanan, and ultimately sticks with him despite her feelings for Gatsby. Daisy's decision illustrates how few choices many women had during that time- specifically, that marrying and having children was seen as the main role any woman, but especially a wealthy woman, should fulfill. And furthermore, Daisy's willingness to stay with Tom despite his affairs underscores another aspect of women's roles during the 1920s: that divorce was still very uncommon and controversial. Jordan temporarily flouts expectations by ""[running] around the country," (1.134) playing golf, and not being in a hurry to marry- a freedom that she is allowed because of her money, not in spite of it. Furthermore, she banks on her place as a wealthy woman to avoid any major scrutiny, despite her "incurable dishonesty": "Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever shrewd men and now I saw that this was because she felt safer on a plane where any divergence from a code would be thought impossible. She was incurably dishonest. She wasn't able to endure being at a disadvantage, and given this unwillingness I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young" (3.160). Furthermore, by the end of the novel she claims to be engaged, meaning that like Daisy, she's ultimately chosen to live within the lines society has given her. (Even if she's not actually engaged, the fact she chooses to tell Nick that suggests she does see engagement as her end goal in life.) Myrtle feels trapped in her marriage, which pushes her into her affair with Tom Buchanan, an affair which grants her access to a world- New York City, wealth, parties- she might not otherwise have access to. However, jumping up beyond her roots, using Tom's money, is ultimately unsustainable- her husband finds out and threatens to move out west, and then of course she is killed by Daisy before they can make that move. Myrtle- both working class and a woman- is thus trapped between a rock (her gender) and a hard place (her lack of money), and perhaps for this reason receives the cruelest treatment of all. So all three women push the boundaries of their expected societal roles- Daisy's affair with Gatsby, Jordan's independent lifestyle, and Myrtle's affair with Tom- but ultimately either fall in line (Daisy, Jordan) or are killed for reaching too far (Myrtle). So Gatsby ultimately provides a pretty harsh, pessimistic view of women's roles in 1920s America. What's Next? In The Great Gatsby, money is central to the idea of the American Dream. Read more about how the American Dream is treated in The Great Gatsby and whether the novel is ultimately optimistic or pessimistic about the dream. Money (or the lack of it!) is also why the novel's symbols of the green light and the valley of ashes are so memorable and charged. Read more about those symbols for a fuller understanding of how money affects The Great Gatsby. Want the complete lowdown on Jay Gatsby's rags-to-riches story? Check out our guide to Jay Gatsby for the complete story. Thinking about indulging in a little materialism yourself al Gatsby? We've compiled a list of 15 must-have items for fans of The Great Gatbsy book and movie adaptations. Looking for other literary guides? Learn more about The Crucible, The Cask of Amontillado, and "Do not go gentle into that good night" with our expert analyses. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Biography of Emmett Till, Victim of Lynching

Biography of Emmett Till, Victim of Lynching Emmett Till (July 25, 1941–August 21, 1955) was 14 years old when two white Mississippians killed him for allegedly whistling at a white woman. His death was brutal, and his killers acquittal shocked the world. His lynching galvanized the civil rights movement as activists dedicated themselves to ending the conditions that had led to Tills death. Fast Facts: Emmet Till Known For: 14-year-old victim of lynching whose death galvanized the civil rights movementAlso Known As:  Emmett Louis TillBorn:  July 25, 1941 in Argo, IllinoisParents: Mamie Till-Mobley and Louis TillDied:  August 21, 1955 in Money, MississippiNotable Quote about Emmet Till: I thought about Emmett Till, and I could not go back. My legs and feet were not hurting, that is a stereotype. I paid the same fare as others, and I felt violated. I was not going back. –Rosa Parks Early Childhood Emmett Louis Till was born on July 25, 1941, in Argo, Illinois., a town outside of Chicago. Emmetts mother Mamie left his father, Louis Till, while he was still a baby. In 1945, Mamie Till received word that Emmetts father had been killed in Italy. She did not learn of the exact circumstances until after Emmetts death, when Mississippi Senator James O. Eastland, in an effort to reduce sympathy for Emmets mother, revealed to the press that he had been executed for rape. In her book, Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America, Tills mother Mamie Till-Mobley, recounts her sons childhood. He spent his early years surrounded by a large family. When he was 6 years old, he contracted polio. Though he recovered, it left him with a stutter that he struggled to overcome throughout his youth. Childhood Mamie and Emmett spent some time in Detroit but moved to Chicago when Emmett was around 10. She had remarried at this point but left her husband when she learned of his infidelity. Mamie Till describes Emmett as adventurous and independent-minded even when he was a young child. An incident when Emmett was 11 also reveals his courage.  Mamies estranged husband came by their home and threatened her. Emmett stood up to him, grabbing a butcher knife to defend his mother if necessary. Adolescence By his mothers account, Emmett was a responsible young man as a preteen and teenager. He often took care of the house while his mother was at work. Mamie Till called her son meticulous. He was proud of his appearance and figured out a way to steam his clothes on the radiator. But he also had time for fun. He loved music and enjoyed dancing. He had a strong group of friends back in Argo whom he would take the streetcar to see on the weekends. And, like all kids, he dreamed of his future. Emmett told his mother once that he wanted to be a motorcycle policeman when he grew up. He told another relative he wanted to be a baseball player. Trip to Mississippi Tills mothers family was originally from Mississippi and she still had family there, specifically an uncle, Mose Wright. When Till was 14, he went on a trip during his summer vacation to see his relatives there. Till had spent his entire life in or around Chicago and Detroit, cities that were segregated, but not by law. Northern cities like Chicago were segregated because of the social and economic consequences of discrimination. As such, they did not have the same sort of rigid customs relating to race that were found in the South. Emmetts mother warned him that the South was a different environment. She cautioned him to be careful and to humble himself to the whites in Mississippi if necessary. Accompanied by his 16-year-old cousin Wheeler Parker Jr., Till arrived in Money, Mississippi, on August 21, 1955. The Events Preceding Emmet Tills Brutal Murder On Wednesday, August 24, Till and seven or eight cousins went by Bryant Grocery and Meat Market, a white-owned store that mainly sold goods to the African-American sharecroppers in the area. Carolyn Bryant, a 21-year-old white woman, was working at the cash register while her husband, a trucker, was on the road. Emmett and his cousins were in the parking lot chatting, and Emmett, in a youthful boast, bragged to his cousins that he had a white girlfriend back in Chicago. What happened next is unclear. His cousins do not agree whether someone dared Emmett to go into the store and get a date with Carolyn. Emmett did, however, go into the store and purchased bubble gum. To what extent he attempted to flirt with Carolyn is also unclear. Carolyn changed her story on several occasions, suggesting at various times that he said, Bye, baby, made lewd comments, or whistled at her as he left the store. His cousins reported that he, in fact, whistled at Carolyn, and they left when she went to her car, apparently to get a gun. His mother suggests that he may have whistled in an attempt to overcome his stutter; he sometimes would whistle when he became stuck on a word. Whatever the context, Carolyn chose to keep the encounter from her husband, Roy Bryant. He learned of the incident from local gossip- a young African-American teenager apparently being so bold with a white woman was unheard of. Tills Murder At around 2 a.m. on August 28, Roy Bryant and his half-brother John W. Milam went to Wrights house and pulled Till out of bed. They kidnapped him, and local farmhand Willie Reed saw him in a truck with around six men (four whites and two African-Americans) at around 6 a.m. Willie was on his way to the store, but as he walked away he heard Tills screams. Three days later, a boy fishing in the Tallahatchie River 15 miles upstream from Money found Emmetts body. Emmett had been tied to a fan from a cotton gin that weighed around 75 pounds. He had been tortured before being shot. Till was so unrecognizable that his great-uncle Mose was only able to identify his body from the ring he was wearing (a ring that had belonged to his father). The Effect of Leaving the Casket Open Mamie was informed that her son had been found on September 1. She refused to go to Mississippi and insisted that her sons body be shipped to Chicago for burial. Emmetts mother made the decision to have an open-casket funeral so that everyone could see what they have done to my boy. Thousands came to see Emmetts badly beaten body, and his burial was delayed until September 6 to make room for the crowds. Jet  magazine, in its September 15 edition, published a photo of Emmetts battered body lying on a funeral slab.  The Chicago Defender  also ran the photo. Tills mothers decision to make public this photo galvanized African-Americans across the country, and his murder made the front page of newspapers all over the world. Scott Olson /  Getty Images The Trial Roy Bryants and J.W. Milams trial started on September 19 in Sumner, Mississippi. The two main witnesses for the prosecution, Mose Wright and Willie Reed, identified the two men as having been the ones to kidnap Till. The trial lasted five days, and the jury spent a little over an hour in deliberation, reporting that it took so long because they paused to have a soda. They acquitted Bryant and Milam. Immediate Protest Reaction Protest rallies took place in major cities across the country after the verdict. The Mississippi press reported that one even occurred in Paris, France. Bryant Grocery and Meat Market eventually went out of business. Ninety percent of its customers were African-American, and they boycotted the place. Confession On January 24, 1956, a magazine published the detailed confessions of Bryant and Milam, who reportedly received $4,000 for their stories. They admitted to killing Till, knowing that they could not be retried for his murder because of  double jeopardy. Bryant and Milam said they did it to make an example out of Till, to warn others of his kind to not come down to the South. Their stories solidified their guilt in the publics mind. In 2004, the U.S. Justice Department reopened the case of Tills murder, based on the idea that more men than just Bryant and Milam- who by that point had died- were involved in Tills murder. No further charges were filed, however. Legacy Rosa Parks  said of her refusal to move to the back of a bus (in the segregated South, the front of the bus was reserved for whites): I thought of Emmett Till, and I just couldnt go back. Parks was not alone in her sentiment. Many famous figures including Cassius Clay and Emmy Lou Harris describe this event as a turning point in their activism. The image of Tills battered body in his open casket served as a rallying cry for African-Americans who joined the  civil rights movement  to ensure there would be no more Emmett Tills. Sources Feldstein, Ruth.  Motherhood in Black and White: Race and Sex in American Liberalism, 1930-1965. Cornell University Press, 2000.Houck, Davis W. and Matthew A. Grindy.  Emmett Till and the Mississippi Press. University Press of Mississippi, 2008.Till-Mobley, Mamie and Christopher Benson.  Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America. Random House, Inc., 2004.Waldrep, Christopher.  African Americans Confront Lynching: Strategies of Resistance from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Era. Rowman Littlefield, 2009.

Why is financial reporting important to small business Essay

Why is financial reporting important to small business - Essay Example The financial reporting involves making a summary of financial information in accordance with accounting standards for the users of such information. Financial reporting involves preparing various financial statements for easier understanding by respective users of such information (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc. 2013). The three financial statements have different uses to the business and its stakeholders. However small a business entity may be they all require the financial statements namely statement of cash flows, income statement and statement of financial position of the company (Tracy, T &Â  Tracy, J., 2011). These documents are essential to a small business various ways. Statement of cash flows is an essential financial report to a small business because it shows cash inflows and outflows of the business (Revees, 2011). It provides summary information on the balance sheet and income statement so that the users of such information can obtain information about business activities and profitability of the business activities. It gives an overview of how well the business out is carrying out its activities. It shows the solvency of the business. According to Lynch (2000), statement of financial position or balance sheet is a financial statement that demonstrates the financial position of the business at a given time, usually at the end or the trading period. It can be shown in the form of the equation as follows. Assets = Liabilities + owner’s equity. This statement provides the users of such statement with a snapshot of the business resources or assets. Liabilities represent what business owner external financiers while owner’s equity represents what business owes shareholders or individual investor in case of a sole proprietorship. The equation must balance at all times. Therefore, statement of financial statement is essential for the small business because it shows the total worth of the business

The impact of the foreign intervention on the uprisings during the Essay

The impact of the foreign intervention on the uprisings during the Arab spring - Essay Example Foreign intervention has played significant role in accelerating the uprising and influencing their outcome. This paper examines the impact of foreign intervention on the Arab awakening. Origin of Arab uprising The extent of foreign intervention in Arab uprising varies across the different countries that experienced or are currently undergoing the upheavals. Before investigating the various foreign interventions, it is important to investigate the underlying social, economic and political factors in various Arab countries in North Africa and Middle East. According to Timo and Mika, protests in Tunisia and Egypt were driven by similar social, economic and political motives. Uprisings in both countries took an identical course of events that ultimately resulted to the fall of the existing governments. The dissatisfaction with the economic situation played a critical role in causing the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia. For several decades, both countries had initiated economic reforms to stimulate and enhance trade in the region in response to globalization. However, the reforms adversely affected the living standards of the majority middle and low-income groups creating resentment. Prior to the uprising in Tunisia and Egypt, majority of the citizens experienced decline in real wages, high inflation, and increasing levels of unemployment. The situation was worse among the youth, especially graduates, who experienced high levels of unemployment (Kitchen, 14). The â€Å"Jasmine Revolution† that was precursor to Arab spring in Tunisian was started by unemployed graduate Mohamed Bouazizi who set himself ablaze after he was denied authority to sell groceries in the streets of a Tunisian city(Kumaraswamy, 6) Although the economic reforms generated significant job opportunities, in these regions, most jobs were low skilled and of dismal wages. Moreover, the high population growth in these countries has not been accompanied by proportionate economic growth to absorb the citizens into the labor market. A combination of these factors left many unemployed and middle class youth disillusioned with countries’ political systems (Kumaraswamy, 6). The political structure in Egypt and Tunisia also played a critical role in causing the uprising. According to Timo and Mika, the political governance in these countries is dictatorial, where cronyism and nepotism reigned supreme. The poor, â€Å"unconnected† and educated individuals lacked access to employment opportunities while the crony capitalism amassed wealth and power in the country at the expense of meritocracy (5-6). The disenchanted but educated youth formed the core of the uprising in the affected countries. Political oppression is another major defining characteristic of the countries affected by the uprising. For long period, leadership in the affected Arabic countries has been autocratic, suppressing fundamental human rights and freedoms. In Egypt, the leadership of President Hosn i Mubarak was characterized by ruthless crackdown on public protests and other forms of expression. In addition, the government manipulated elections in favor of the incumbent, who had remained in power for over three decades. The government utilized state security agencies to

Racial and Ethnic Identity and the feelings of Acceptance and Belongingness Essay Example for Free

Racial and Ethnic Identity and the feelings of Acceptance and Belongingness Essay Ethnicity generally refers to a person’s affiliation with a particular ethnic group, or to their sharing qualities, characteristics or customs of that ethnic group. Ethnic identity, on the other hand, has been linked to the sense of belongingness and identification of an individual within a cultural group. The first use of ethnic identity in 1896 by French nationalist and scientist, George Vacher de la Pouge, was synonymous with racial identity which means the â€Å"natural and counterfeit cultural, psychological and social characteristics of a population. † (Timble) According to Smith, â€Å"Ethnic identity is the sum total of group member feelings about those values, symbols, and common histories that identify them as a distinct groupâ€Å" (Smith, 1991) Charlesworth (2000) maintained ethnic identity development to be an essential human need that provided a sense of belonging and historical continuity and created a foundation on which to build a concept of self. On the other hand, Tajfel (1981) described ethnic identity as part of an individual’s self-concept developed from knowledge of membership in a cultural group and the value or emotional significance attached to that membership. However, moving to another community with different culture and ethnicity, like in the case of migration, compromises the maintenance or preservation of ethnicity in relation to the individual’s belongingness to the majority. Parents of the next generation strengthen ethnic identity development of their children by ethnic socialization. Ethnic socialization consists of three themes: 1) understanding ones own culture, 2) getting along in mainstream society, and 3) dealing with racism. (Steinberg, 1996) Racism and racial discrimination has long been a concern of the immigrants and their descendants. The inherent characteristics like skin color, language, religion are parameters in racial identity which sometimes lead to racial discrimination. Belongingness sometimes adapts the adage â€Å"When in Rome, do as the Romans do† which lose their own self-identity and ethnic identity. Maintenance and preservation of ethnicity and original culture is subjected to a strong pressure of the host country’s culture. For example, language is an important issue for the immigrants. The influence of the communication speeds up to learn the host language that previously, the adaptation of language is in the third generation, now the trend is in the children of immigrants. The growing population and influx of immigrants face debates regarding complex issues which dictate acceptance and belongingness of the immigrants to the host country. Prejudice and discrimination may be directed toward an immigrant’s status as a newcomer as well as against his or her ethnicity or race. In Europe, there is a growing concern on how the immigrants affect their culture and national identity which comes with common language, heritage and ethnicity. (Cohen, 2000) Further queries have been raised whether or not to absorb the immigrants and allow them to participate in their national activities or to allow them to become their citizen without the thorough knowledge of their culture and heritage. During elections, opposition to immigration is always an issue in some countries like Britain, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy and Sweden. (Cohen, 2000) Immigrants in some countries are also subjects of distrusts and fear. Opposition to immigrants often claims that immigrants have something to do with crimes and unemployment, if not low-wage jobs. Racial discrimination tends to set in which affects the acceptance of immigrants to the host country and if not properly addressed to by the government will give negative effect to both the immigrants and the host country. Ethnic discrimination was identified by Garbarino (1999) to be one of the risk factors that contributed to youth violence. Rejection and estrangement from the macroculture experienced by many children significantly contributes to acts of violence. Consequently, immigration issues become the central topic for studies of different researchers and sociologists to minimize conflicts. (Garbarino, 1999) There have been clamor that immigrants are linked with social crimes in the host countries. This was contradicted by some researchers who conducted related studies. Based on the studies in Little Village conducted by the Harvard sociologist Robert J. Sampson, having high number of immigrants does not mean high number of crime. Though Little Village is poor, a relatively low incidence of violence is recorded. (Eval Press, 2006) At least, inacceptance and prejudices to immigrants and their children will lessen a bit by the findings of the researchers done by these sociologists.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

People have different perceptions of courage all the time; some think it is a man with a gun in hand; some see courage as mental strength to persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty; others think courage is an ordinary person, doing extraordinary things; or even standing up for what is right, even if you are standing alone. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is illustrated through the characters of Atticus Finch, Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, and Bob Ewell. Atticus and Mrs.Dubose share some of the same characteristics of courage. They both begin an impossible task but give it their all until the end, even if they don't succeed. On the other hand, Bob Ewell shows an immense lack of courage throughout the book by not having the courage to accept the consequences of his own wrong doing. Atticus, Bob Ewell, and Mrs.Dubose each reveal courage in different ways, even if that way is not showing any courage at all. Atticus Finch feels true courage is when " you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through to the end no matter what." (p.112) With this definition of courage, Atticus would be considered an extremely courageous man. Tom Robinson was being accused of raping a white girl during the 1930s in Alabama. Because of the way blacks were treated then, obviously the chances of Tom Robinson walking out of the courthouse innocent were slim to none. When Atticus takes the case of Tom Robinson he says it is the "one case in his lifetime that affects him personally." (p. 76) If he didn't take this case, he felt he couldn't "represent this country in legislature" additionally he said, "I couldn't hold up my head in town I couldn't even tell you and Jem not to do something again."(75) Taking this case took a great deal of courage and made Atticus a target of ridicule for Maycomb County. He was standing up for what he felt was right, and he was almost standing solo. The majority of Maycomb's citizens do not agree with Atticus's actions whatsoever. He was "running a still" in Maycomb, he was referred to as a "nigger lover" which was not accepted in society of Alabama in the 1930s(75). In Atticus's own home he was put down for defending a black man. Although Mrs. Merriweather never stated it, she did make her point clear that she felt there were "some good but

Organization Study Essay

INTRODUCTION Organization study is â€Å"the examination of how individuals construct organizational structures, processes, and practices and how these, in turn, shape social relations and create institutions that ultimately influence people†, organizational studies comprise different areas that deal with the different aspects of the organizations, many of the approaches are functionalist but critical research also provide alternative frame for understanding in the field. An organization is a group of persons formed to seek certain goals. Each and every organization has its own importance in the wealth of nation. Different organization meets different products and services. In this fast changing business scenario, it is the imperative for every aspirant of business to have a vivid understanding of the functional application of the new age business. The organization study undertaken as a part of the curriculum was done at â€Å"The Kerala Kerakarshaka Sahakarana Federation Ltd (KERAFED)†, Thiruvananthapuram. This study provides an opportunity to expose the students to an industry /organization and its operational conditions. This study also aims at having a better understanding of various departments and its functioning. This report consists of a detailed study of the history of the company, product profile, organizational hierarchy, various departments and their functioning etc. This study proved to be fruitful by familiarizing us to the organization and at the same time it also helped us to create practical awareness. KERAFED’s main product is ‘KERA’ coconut oil – the purest, healthiest and tastiest cooking oil. The federation started commercial production in 1993. KERAFED’s coconut oil production plant is in Karunagapally in Kollam district. The head office of KERAFED is in Thiruvananthapuram. Regional office in Ernakulum and mobile units are at Malappuram. KERAFED one of the largest coconut oil producers aims at an integrated development of coconut and coconut products. Production plant of KERAFED is having the facilities for processing of copra, extraction and packing. Processing is done through most sophisticated processing facilities. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To study about the organization and how it functions. To learn the working of various departments. To understand how the theoretical aspects are put to practice in the organization. To assess the marketing efforts adopted by the company. To study about the organizational culture. To study various production levels and units. To study the financial activities of the company. To study the overall functioning of the company. It aims to understand the flow of authority inside the organization. To identify and evaluate the strength, weakness, opportunity and threats faced by organization. INDUSTRY PROFILE The coconut palm is one of the most valuable plants to man. In Sanskrit the coconut palm is called â€Å"kalpa vriksha†, which roughly translated means â€Å"Tree of Life†. In India, it provides livelihood to about 10 million people through various activities from its cultivation to processing of its products. All the parts of the coconut tree can be put to useful purposes- the roots, the trunk, the wood, leaves, the blossom and all the parts of the nut. Two major classes of coconut palm are typically recognized on the basis of structure: tall and dwarf. The ones most commonly planted for commercial purposes are the tall varieties, which are slow to mature and first flower six to ten years after planting. They produce medium-to-large size nuts and have a life span of sixty to seventy years. The dwarf varieties may have originated as a mutation of tall types. The dwarf variety may grow to a height of twenty five to thirty feet and begin flower after three years, when the y are only about three feet tall. Their life span is only about thirty years. INDIAN EDIBLE OIL INDUSTRY The climate conditions in India favors of a variety of oil seeds. On the demand side, a growing population and vastly varied directory habits have ensured a thriving market for Edible oil in the country. In India, the fasts of animal origin are seldom used as a cooking media; the term vegetable oil is used as a synonym for Edible oil. Thus, Edible oil is a major source of nutrition for the people and oil cakes, which are by-products of oil extraction process and are important sources of animal nutrition. Oil seeds in India account for around 5.0% of the Gross National Product (GNP) and 14.0% of the country’s area under cultivation of crops. Castor, Groundnut, Mustard, Sunflower etc. are some of the major oil seeds grown the rise in oil seeds production has been stimulated by increase in production of soya been and groundnut crops. India produces10% of the world’s oil seeds, but has a low productivity around 850-900 kg per hectare. The oil seeds take their place, next only to food grains, has the second largest agricultural crop. The cultivation of oil seeds in India is spread over various states. In Jan1989, the Government announced an integrated oil policy which emphasizes on the introduction of moved technology and incentive price to the Production Programmed through the technology mission on oil seeds. GLOBAL SCENARIO The oil and fat industry consists of processors of vegetable, animal and marine products that convert these products into edible oils and fats usually sold as food products in their own right or sold as ingredients for further processing into other food products. In India, the facts of animal origin are seldom used as cooking media. Edible oil is a major source of nutrition for the people and the oil cakes which are by-products of the extraction process are important sources of animal nutrition. Vegetable oils are extracted from the fruits, flowers and seeds of plant and essentially have the same constituent but its propositions may vary. The principle vegetable oils are palm, sunflower, corn, groundnut, cotton seed etc. Among these oil seeds copra or coconut production is only 1%. The crop plays a dominant role in the socio-economic and cultural life of the growers. Indonesia, Philippines and India are the top three leading producers of coconut oil. 3.5 million Tones of coconut oil are produced annually around the world. Coconut Industry in India Coconut palms are grown widely in the coastal tracts of the country. The coconut economy of India is in a convenient status. India accounts for 22.34 percent of the world’s coconut production and is one of the major players in the world’s coconut trade. Currently the crop is 1.91 million hectares with an annual production of nearly 13000 million nuts. Copra processing, coconut oil extraction and coir manufacturing are the traditional coconut based industries in the country. The price of the coconut in the country is dependent on the prevailing price of coconut oil which is characterized by recurring violent fluctuations. The behavior of coconut oil price is relatively dependent on overall supply of oils and fats in the country. The fluctuation in the price of the coconut oil simultaneously reflects on the price of coconut. The volatile price situation often ends in the negligence of the coconut gardens, leading to attack of pests and diseases and low productivity. Of the range of ways, promoting cost effective coconut based farming system, product diversification and value addition play a crucial role in the stabilization of the coconut oil driven domestic market and is essential for reorienting and engineering the Indian Coconut Industry cost effective and globally competitive. The Coconut Development Board has been playing pivotal role in promoting viable coconut based farming system, on-farm processing and products development. The production and marketing of value added products have started attracting commercial interest and the situation brought rejuvenation in the sector. The market promotional measures undertaken in pursuit of the popularization of health benefits of coconut oil and tender coconut water have attributed a stimulating effect on the less dependency of coconut oil driven coconut economy. There has been a well defined network in the country to undertake the R&D of coconut. The State Agricultural Universities, ICAR Institutes, Agriculture/Horticulture Departments of States/UTs, organizations like NAFED, KERAFED etc. and private institutions contribute to the pursuit of the research and development process of coconut in the country. STRENGTH OF INDIAN COCONUT INDUSTRY India is one of the leading producers of coconuts in the world, producing 13 billion nuts per annum. The coconut areas are distributed in 18 states and three Union Territories under different agro-climatic conditions. India has 3000 years tradition in coconut cultivation. It is the premier coir manufacturing country in the world. India is the producer of best grade milling copra in the world yielding high grade coconut oil known for its aroma and flavor. Large number of farmer’s co-operative societies in primary processing and marketing. Government agencies such as KERAFED, State Trading Corporation, Kerala State Marketing Federation and Karnataka State Marketing Federation in manufacturing and marketing of branded coconut oil in small packs. Hundreds of reputed and established private firms in manufacturing and marketing of various coconut products including branded coconut oil in small packs. ïÆ' ¼There are wide ranges of coconut products both edible and non-edible available for export. Technical know-how and trained manpower for the manufacture of various coconut based products. There is an availability of research support by reputed research organizations such as CSIR, ICAR and DRDO. Coconut Products in India A large number of coconut products are manufactured in the country which have both domestic and export market. Vinegar and soft drink are manufactured in the country from coconut water. Tender coconut water is another product which is manufactured and marketed successfully. Coconut Products Coconut Oil Coconut oil makes up about 20% of all vegetable oils used in the world. Copra, the dried kernel is the chief commercial product from coconut, which is mainly used for oil extraction. Coconut oil is made from fully dried copra having maximum moisture content of 6%. For the extraction of oil from copra the common method still prevailing in our country is by using rotary chucks. But the efficient system of extraction of oil is by the use of expellers. Coconut oil is an important cooking medium in Southern parts of the country especially in Kerala State. Besides, the oil has varied industrial applications. It is used in the manufacture of detergents, hair tonics, cosmetics and toilet soaps, laundry soaps, and surface active agents. It is used throughout the country as hair oil as it helps growth of the hair. As massage oil it has a cooling effect on the body. Owing to these qualities coconut oil has a potential market in the country. Since the price of a coconut oil in the international market is very much lower than the domestic price, the quality and attractiveness of consumer packs are important factors to compete in the world market. While the demand for coconut oil for cooking purpose is elastic, its demand as hair oil is inelastic. Coconut oil is marketed in bulk as well as in packs ranging from sachets containing 5 ml to 15 kg tins. The branded coconut oil in small packs is mainly marketed as hair oil and body oil. There are several brands known for their superior grade oil which have export market throughout the world. India has unbeatable quantity advantage in this sector. Refined coconut oil is also manufactured in the country for industrial uses. Refined coconut oil is mainly used in the manufacture of biscuits, chocolates and other confectionary items, ice cream, pharmaceutical products and costly paints. Generally, filtered coconut oil is used for cooking and toiletry purposes. Virgin Coconut Oil Virgin Coconut Oil is also made in the country from the milk extracted from raw kernel. This is done on a small scale by the traditional method which is now partially mechanized or on a large scale by adopting wet processing technology. Coconut milk is fermented and then by mechanical process, water is separated from oil. No heating or application of sunlight or dryer is done for the process. The virgin coconut oil is free from Trans fatty acid, high in medium chain fats known as lauric acid, which is identical to special groups of fats found human breast milk and also rich in vitamin-E. High quality of this oil makes it ideal massage oil for babies and also for skin and hair applications. APPLICATIONS Cooking Coconut oil is widely used in cooking, the refined oil is one most commonly used. Manufacturing Coconut oil is used in volume quantities for making soap and cosmetics. Hydrogenated coconut oil is often used in non-dairy creamers, and snack foods. ïÆ' ¼Fractionated coconut oil is used in the manufacture of essences, massage oils and cosmetics. Coconut oil is an important component of many industrial lubricants, for example in the cold rolling of steel strip. Cosmetics and skin treatments Coconut oil is excellent as a skin moisturizer and softener. Coconut oil is used for styling hair, and cooling or smoothing the head. As a fuel- Traditional use Coconut oil is used in oil lamps. In diesel engines Coconut oil has been tested for use as a feedstock for biodiesel to be used as a diesel engine fuel. In this manner it can be applied to power generators and transport using diesel engines. Raw coconut oil can be used as a fuel for generating electricity by remote communities that has an abundant supply of coconuts and milling capacity, provided diesel engines are adapted. Health effects Studies have found that coconut oil can help in weight loss and poison recovery. Nutritional/Medicinal Easy digestibility and absorbability. Ideal energy source in baby foods. Contains Vitamin-E. Composed mainly of short and medium chain fatty acids which have desirable qualities and functions. Does not contain cholesterol. Reduced fat accumulation in body. Easily oxidized and therefore a preferred energy source. Requires no transport system to absorb, digest and metabolize. Very low content of Omega 6 fatty acid. Studies undertaken by the Biochemistry Department, University of Kerala showed that coconut oil: Does not elevate blood total cholesterol Increases blood HDL cholesterol Consumed along with coconut kernel lowers blood cholesterol Copra Copra is the dried meat or kernel of the coconut. Copra making can be defined as the systematic process through which the fresh meat coconut containing 50 to 55% moisture is dried in sun or other sources of to bring down the moisture content 5% to 6% only. Eleven to twelve month old nuts are utilized for copra making to obtain the optimum output of better quality copra. The nuts are first husked to remove the fibrous outer layer of the husk. The husked nuts are then split into halves and the water is drained off. These halves are then kept for half an hour with the open side turned down to ensure that entire water is drained off, if this is not done, some moisture will be retained which will in turn lead to deterioration of copra. The halves or cups are now ready for drying, which should invariably start within 4 hours after breaking. Two types of copra namely milling and edible are made in India. Milling copra is used to extract oil while edible grade of copra is consumed as a dry fruit and used for religious purposes. Milling copra is generally manufactured by adopting sun drying and artificial means. Substantial quantity of milling copra is manufactured using modern hot air driers resulting in the availability of superior quality copra which is required for the manufacture of best grade coconut oil. A good number of farmers’ co-operative societies are also involved in the manufacture and marketing of milling copra. Milling copra is available in different grades. Edible copra is made in the form of balls and cups. Different grades of edible copra are available in the market according to the size, color etc. Quality of copra is determined based on moisture content and extend of inferior type of copra. Inferior types of copra are generally: Mould effect Immature or rubbery copra made from immature nuts. Insect attacked copra. Discolored copra. Good quality copra is one which contains not more than 6% moisture. Coconut oil is obtained by crushing copra and most efficient method of extraction is by using expeller. Methods of extraction of oil Various methodsYield of oil Chucks58% – 60% Rotary Mills 62% – 63% Expellers63% – 65% Source: Annual report Coconut Cake Coconut cake is the residue left after the extraction of oil from copra which is mainly used as a cattle feed. Coconut cake contains 4 – 5 percent oil which is extracted by solvent extraction process. This oil is generally used for industrial purpose and de-oiled cake is used to make mixed cattle feed. There are a few such units in the country especially in Kerala. NAFED National agricultural co-operative marketing federation, which was organized in 1958, represents the entire marketing structure at the national level. It was established with the object of coordinately and promoting the marketing and trading activities of the members in agricultural and other commodities. Their main objectives are:- ïÆ' ¼To make arrangements for the supply of agricultural requirements of its members. ïÆ' ¼To promote interstate and international trade in agricultural and other commodities. ïÆ' ¼To render advice and technical guidance to its members. The main aim of NAFED is to assist the marketing of cooperatives in the states to develop their marketing businesses. In order to achieve this NAFED adopts various strategies with a view to ensure better returns to the farmers. It undertakes price support operation, buffer stocking, export and import of commodities etc to balance production with consumption. When the government of India formulates policies for support price in respect of certain commodities, it appoints NAFED as its agency for procurement. Coconut Day (2nd September) September 2nd of every year has been designated as coconut day as per the decision of Asian and Pacific Coconut Community head quarters at Jakarta, Indonesia. Foundation day of APCC also falls on 2nd September. A major coconut growing countries including India are the members of the APCC. The celebration of the annual coconut day is aimed at creating more awareness on the importance of the coconut and focusing world attention to this crop to enhance its potential in alleviating poverty, encouraging investment in the sector and promote total development of coconut industry in the member countries. In India coconut development board is taking the lead in the annual celebration of the coconut day. COMPANY PROFILE â€Å"Kerala Kerakarshaka Sahakarana Federation Ltd†, (KERAFED) was registered under the co-operative societies Act in 1987, with assistance of European Economic Community, National Cooperative Development Corporation and the government of Kerala. KERAFED is the Apex Cooperative Federation of coconut farmers in Kerala and is the largest producer of coconut oil in India. The federation started commercial production in 1993. The head office of KERAFED is located in Thiruvananthapuram. KERAFED’s coconut oil complex at Karunagapally in Kollam district is one of the biggest such units in India, with a capacity of 200 tons per day. The primary objective of KERAFED is to organize coconut growers by bringing them under the cooperative umbrella and to provide them with all supplies and services to augment their income base by increased productivity and value additions through the integrated system of production achievement, storage, processing, diversification and marketing of coconut oil and all/any products of coconut palm at a price remunerative to growers and fair to consumers. As the coconut farmers in Kerala were reeling under the strange hold of powerful country trade cartels that consistently manipulate market conditions and dictate price trend to their advantage, KERAFED aimed at procurement of 50% to 60% of the total coconut/copra produced in the state which will be processed at its own processing unit and marketed. KERAFED is the single largest procurers of coconut/copra produced in Kerala from 900 societies all over the state. KERAFED has a good distribution network consisting of stockiest, dealers and suppliers. The Objectives of KERAFED are: To reduce edible oil imports. To provide an impulse effect on internal production of coconut. To develop the agricultural potential of Kerala State. To strengthen the co-operative movement To secure the marketing of coconut and its by-products, thereby assuring economic prices to the growers. ïÆ' ¼To establish and manage infrastructure facilities for production and supply of inputs and processing, manufacturing and marketing of products and by products of coconut palm. ïÆ' ¼To undertake research and development activities on production, processing and marketing. Thus to increase the income of 29 lakh farmers’ families and create employment opportunities in the industrial sector. For effectively and efficiently carrying out the administrative and operational practices on a day to day basis, the state is divided into three region, the southern region, the northern region and central region. The southern region consists of the revenue districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. The northern region consists of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode districts. The central region consists of Kottayam, Idukki, Eranakulam, Thrissur, Palaghat districts. 300 primary agricultural credit cooperatives societies in each region are members of the federation to undertake production, procurement, marketing activities at the farmers’ level. For processing and product diversification, each region will have one processing plant with a capacity 200 tons of copra per day. MOTTO To give support to the coconut farmers. Distributing or providing healthy coconut oil to customers VISION To become the single largest Procurement agency of Copra and the biggest Coconut Products manufacturing Company in India. MISSION Being the number one producer of the best quality coconut oil, it aims at the following areas Business Customer relation Innovation