Norman Finkelstein Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Norman Finkelstein - Term Paper Example It has taken away the moral stature of the entire martyrdom and placed it at parallel with Monte Carlo Casino. Finkelstein’s account on the Holocaust Industry is a rather liberal account of the Holocaust Industry, which he feels is today an American-driven myth designed to serve the larger interests of the Jewish elites. It is a part of growing commercialism with respect to the Holocaust Industry. There has been an avalanche of books, statutes, movies and Holocaust memorial. A recent development was the shakedown of Swiss banks and German insurance companies for victims of the Holocaust. Finkelstein argues that all of this is a part of the corrupt â€Å"Holocaust Industry† and it should be exposed and ripped off any business it is doing so that the lives of Auschwitz and Treblinka can finally be in peace. Finkelstein is not the first one to point this out. A lot of British, American and Israeli scholars have said things about it in the last few years. According to Frank elistein’s arguments, after the wars, American Jews seemed to be more ignorant and apathetic towards the Nazi Holocaust. Rather, their entire focus was on adapting themselves fully to the American life style. They were least bothered about harping a dreadful historical episode which could have isolated them as a separate ethnic group from the American society and could have victimized them. There was a lot that changed. Finkelstein explained the shift in U.S. foreign policy interests towards the Middle East. After the Second World War, the British were quite bankrupt and they were caught between diverging demands of the Arabs and Jews. Due to this, they declared the mandate in Palestine â€Å"unworkable†. Therein, the matter was referred to the United Nations, established after the War. The UN established special committee on Palestine, which was the first international body established with the aim to solve the Palestinian problem. The committee recommended the partit ioning of the area, and eventually on November 29, 1947 partitioned Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The partition was not accepted by the Arabs but accepted by the Jews. When Israel announced its independence, it was to face opposition from the Arabs The Jews of Israel celebrated with joy and gladness for they had hoped to gain this freedom for over two thousand years (Silverman). However, the Arabs were not happy because they were eventually forced into exile. Therefore, there was a clash of rights, which is one of the main reasons for the war. The war that ensued was marked bloody from both the sides. Israel was fighting its war for independence and the war continued from 1947 to 1949. In 1948, the Palestinian Exodus occurred in which around 725,000 Palestinian Arabs fled from their homes or either were expelled and Israel did not allow them to return as McDowall, David, Palley recount. Post the 1967 six day war, there was a shift in US policy towards the Israe l. This move was cheered by the all growing powerful Jewish lobby groups who were looking out for fresh fund raising ways. They capitalized on this by encouraging a pro-Israel foreign policy. This happened in the 1970s by the right wing Israeli governments who were looking out to deflect attention from the bitter treatment of the Palestinians. Finkelstein argued that they achieved the same by a Holocaust

Marks and spencer assignment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marks and spencer assignment - Coursework Example In the consolidated statement of financial position of M&S, the company have many subsidiaries or associate companies. However, when the consolidated cash flows are analysed, they reflect ‘acquisition of subsidiaries’ amounting to 5.4 million pounds in 2010. Operating segments-IFRS 8 Marks & Spencer Group Plc adopted International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 8- operating segments on 29 March 2009. This Standard requires the internal reporting should be used as a base to report the performance of operating segments of an entity. The Group has reshaped its operating segments as UK and International and their performance is reviewed by the executive directors. On the basis of review, the chief executives ascertain the amount of the further resources. The UK segment comprises of the UK franchise operations and UK retail business. The International segment operates in the Republic of Ireland, Asia and Europe, together with international franchise operations. In the ye ar of 2009 and 2010, the Group made revenue of 8164.3 and 8567.9 billion pounds from UK operations respectively, and from the International segment, the Group posted 897.8 and 968.7 billion pounds in the year 2009 and 2010 respectively. Analysis The Group has shown less attractive financial performance. The above financial information suggests that the company earns more than 90% its revenue from its UK segment and the remaining comes from the International segment. Aggregately, much of the financial performance can be evaluated from the UK segment. In comparing the UK segment revenue of 2009 and 2010, the aggregate addition is around 403.6 (8567.9-8164.3), which is 4.94%. Also, there are no attractive figures of 2010, highlighting a stable growth in UK clothing and footwear. In terms of volume market share, only 11.2% in 2010 and the same figure was displayed in the year 2009. Furthermore, in terms of value market share, the growth percentage of 2010 is 11.0% and 10.7% in the year 2009. Without any doubt, such growth figures do not satisfy the current shareholders, nor could they attract the potential shareholders. The unattractive figures are also reported in UK market share food, in 2010 M&S posted mere 3.8 % in comparison with 3.9% in the year 2009. Instead of showing growth, in the UK market share of food segment, M&S has decreased and market share is slightly down (Kantar world panel, web).This means in the year of 2010, the company has only shown such a minimum level of revenue growth. Additionally, from the International segment the aggregate growth 70.9(968.7-897.8), which is 7.89%. Even this growth rate is not as attractive as it should be. Goodwill-impairment The Group does not amortise goodwill. However, it ensures that each year goodwill is tested for the purpose of impairment with the recoverable amount. And the recoverable amount is calculated from value in use. The Group uses the discount rate, changes in income and costs and growth rates as th e key assumptions for the value in use calculations. Additionally, the Group prepares forecasts of discounted cash flows. They are prepared with the use of previous financial performance and predications for future developments in market for a period of three years. Cash flow occurring beyond this time period; are assessed and extrapolated with the use of a growth rate of 2% on the assumption that it must not increase more than the long-term average growth rate for the Group’s retail businesses. However, the Group owns certain brands and they are