Keurig Case Analysis free essay sample

Keurig has been successful in selling its coffee brewing system to the office coffee segment (OCS) of the US market. This success led its leaders to ponder entering the consumer market. While making the move might seem like a reasonable next step in the development of the company core business, it also presents unique challenges. The biggest of those challenges concerns the danger of losing the existing OCS business due to a possible disruption of the unique distribution channels that the company relies on for OCS. The management also has to decide on the appropriate pricing scheme for its new brewer, which is further complicated by the proprietary nature of the coffee cup (aka K-Cup) that comes with it. Calculating the brewer price In calculating the price for the brewer we must consider the full picture. In particular, the proprietary nature of the company business inevitably ties the profits on the brewer and the profits on the coffee that comes with the brewer. We will write a custom essay sample on Keurig Case Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page More specifically, the total profit per customer: Profit=Profitbrewer+Profitcoffee It should be notes here that the aforementioned profit model is by no means unique to Keurig, and can be observed in other industries, like computers (where the profits are oftentimes split across hardware and software) or printers (where the profits are split across hardware and cartridges). Writing out the above formula further, we get: (1) Profit=Marginbrewer? Qbrewer+Profitcoffee (2) Profit=(Pricebrewer-Costbrewer)? Qbrewer+Margincoffee? Qbrewer (3) Profit=(Pricebrewer-(Costbrewer-Margincoffee))? Qbrewer The last equality (3), although follows immediately from the previous one (2), illustrates an important conceptual point, namely: profit margins gained on coffee sales can offset the costs of a brewer. Also, given the nature of their coffee business (royalties), the margins on coffee sales are virtually equivalent to profits (no â€Å"costs† are incurred in order to receive royalties). Calculating profit on coffee From the case we know that a typical customer consumes 2. 25 cups of coffee per day. This number multiplied by 365 gives us 365 ? 2. 25 ? 821 cups per year. Keurig receives $0. 04 in royalties per cup; therefore the total profit will amount to $32 per customer per year. Assuming the four year time horizon (N = 4) and the cost of capital, r=10%, the NPV value for the stream of income on coffee sales is NPV=i=1N321+ri = $101 per customer. Calculating brewer price elasticity To calculate the elasticity we use the market research data presented in Exhibit 6. A log-log regression of the 6-point data gives us an estimate of the price to share elasticity equal to ? -3. 2 (see Appendix A), which we shall round to -3 per this assignment’s instructions. The mark-up coefficient in the â€Å"optimal price† formula will therefore be equal to ? 1+? = 1. 5. the recommended brewer price Using the original cost estimate for the brewer ($200) and the mark-up factor of 1. 5 would give us the optimal price of $300. However, as was explained earlier, per equation (3) we can interpret Keurig’s profit on its coffee sales as a brewer cost reduction factor. Thus, the original cost of a brewer is reduced to $200-$101=$99; applying the mark-up coefficient of 1. 5 will give the recommended price of $99? 1. 5? $148 per brewer. Calculating the K-Cup price

Performance Art free essay sample

Performance art is an essentially contested concept: any single definition of it implies the recognition of rival uses. As concepts like democracy or art, it implies productive disagreement with itself. [1] The meaning of the term in the narrower sense is related to postmodernist traditions in Western culture. From about the mid-1960s into the 1970s, often derived from concepts of visual art, with respect to Antonin Artaud, Dada, the Situationists, Fluxus, Installation art, and Conceptual Art, performance art tended to be defined as an antithesis to theatre, challenging orthodox art forms and cultural norms. The ideal had been an ephemeral and authentic experience for performer and audience in an event that could not be repeated, captured or purchased. [2] The in this time widely discussed difference, how concepts of visual arts and concepts of performing arts are utilized, can determine the meanings of a performance art presentation (compare Performance: A Critical Introduction by Marvin Carlson, P. We will write a custom essay sample on Performance Art or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 103,2-105,1). Performance art is a term usually reserved to refer to a conceptual art which conveys a content-based meaning in a more drama-related sense, rather than being simple performance for its own sake for entertainment purposes. It largely refers to a performance presented to an audience, but which does not seek to present a conventional theatrical play or a formal linear narrative, or which alternately does not seek to depict a set of fictitious characters in formal scripted interactions. It therefore can include action or spoken word as a communication between the artist and audience, or even ignore expectations of an audience, rather than following a script written beforehand. Some kinds of performance art nevertheless can be close to performing arts. Such performance may utilize a script or create a fictitious dramatic setting, but still constitute performance art in that it does not seek to follow the usual dramatic norm of creating a fictitious setting with a linear script which follows conventional real-world dynamics; rather, it would intentionally seek to satirize or to transcend the usual real-world dynamics which are used in conventional theatrical plays. Performance artists often challenge the audience to think in new and unconventional ways, break conventions of traditional arts, and break down conventional ideas about what art is. As long as the performer does not become a player who repeats a role, performance art can include satirical elements (compare Blue Man Group); utilize robots and machines as performers, as in pieces of the Survival Research Laboratories; involve ritualised elements (e. . Shaun Caton); or borrow elements of any performing arts such as dance, music, and circus. Some artists, e. g. the Viennese Actionists and neo-Dadaists, prefer to use the terms live art, action art, actions, intervention (see art intervention) or manoeuvre to describe their performing activities. As genres of performance art appear body art, fluxus-performance, happening, action poetry, and intermedia.

Biography of Pol Pot, Cambodian Dictator

Biography of Pol Pot, Cambodian Dictator Pol Pot (born Saloth Sar; May 19, 1925–April 15, 1998) was a Cambodian dictator. As the head of the Khmer Rouge, he oversaw an unprecedented and extremely brutal attempt to remove Cambodia from the modern world and establish an agrarian utopia. While attempting to create this utopia, Pol Pot initiated the Cambodian genocide, which lasted from 1975 to 1979 and caused the deaths of at least 1.5 million Cambodians. Fast Facts: Pol Pot Known For: As the leader of the revolutionary Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot oversaw the Cambodian genocide.Also Known As: Saloth SarBorn: May 19, 1925 in Prek Sbauv, CambodiaParents: Loth Sar and Sok NemDied: April 15, 1998 in Anlong Veng, CambodiaSpouse(s): Khieu Ponnary (m. 1956–1979), Mea Son (m. 1986–1998)Children: Sar Patchata Early Life Pol Pot was born Saloth Sar on May 19, 1928, in the fishing village of Prek Sbauk, Kampong Thom province, in what was then French Indochina (now Cambodia). His family, of Chinese-Khmer descent, was moderately well-to-do. They had connections to the royal family: a sister was a concubine of the king, Sisovath Monivong, and a brother was a court official. In 1934, Pol Pot went to live with the brother in Phnom Penh, where he spent a year in a royal Buddhist monastery and then attended a Catholic school. At age 14, he began high school in Kompong Cham. Pol Pot was, however, not a very successful student, and he eventually switched to a technical school to study carpentry. In 1949, Pol Pot obtained a scholarship to study radio electronics in Paris. He enjoyed himself in Paris, gaining a reputation as something of a bon vivant, fond of dancing and drinking red wine. However, by his second year in Paris, Pol Pot had become friends with other students who were impassioned by politics. From these friends, Pol Pot encountered Marxism, joining the Cercle Marxiste (Marxist Circle of Khmer Students in Paris) and the French Communist Party. (Many of the other students whom he befriended during this period later became central figures in the Khmer Rouge.) After Pol Pot failed his examinations for the third year in a row, however, he had to return in January 1953 to what would shortly become Cambodia. Joining the Viet Minh As the first of the Cercle Marxiste to return to Cambodia, Pol Pot helped assess the different groups rebelling against the Cambodian government and recommended that returning members of the Cercle join the Khmer Viet Minh (or Moutakeaha). Although Pol Pot and other members of the Cercle disliked that the Khmer Viet Minh had heavy ties with Vietnam, the group felt this Communist revolutionary organization was the one most likely to take action. In August 1953, Pol Pot left his home secretly and, without even telling his friends, headed to the Viet Minh’s Eastern Zone Headquarters, located near the village of Krabao. The camp was located in the forest and consisted of canvas tents that could be easily moved in case of an attack. Pol Pot (and eventually more of his Cercle friends) were dismayed to find the camp completely segregated, with Vietnamese as the high-ranking members and Cambodians (Khmers) given only menial tasks. Pol Pot himself was assigned tasks such as farming and working in the mess hall. Still, he watched and learned how the Viet Minh used propaganda and force to take control of peasant villages in the region. The Khmer Viet Minh was forced to disband after the 1954 Geneva Accords; Pol Pot and several of his friends headed back to Phnom Penh. 1955 Election The 1954 Geneva Accords had temporarily quashed much of the revolutionary fervor within Cambodia and proclaimed a mandatory election in 1955. Pol Pot, who was now back in Phnom Penh, was determined to do what he could to influence the election. He infiltrated the Democratic Party with the hope of being able to reshape its policies. When it turned out that Prince Norodom Sihanouk had rigged the election, Pol Pot and others became convinced that the only way to change Cambodia was through revolution. Khmer Rouge In the years following the 1955 elections, Pol Pot led a dual life. By day, Pol Pot worked as a teacher and surprisingly was well-liked by his students. By night, Pol Pot was heavily involved in a Communist revolutionary organization, the Kampuchean Peoples Revolutionary Party (KPRP). (â€Å"Kampuchean† is another term for â€Å"Cambodian.†) During this time, Pol Pot also married Khieu Ponnary, the sister of one of his Paris student friends. The couple never had children together. By 1959, Prince Sihanouk had begun to seriously repress leftist political movements, especially by targeting the older generation of experienced dissidents. With many of the older leaders in exile or on the run, Pol Pot and other young members of the KPRP emerged as leaders in party affairs. After a power struggle within the KPRP in the early 1960s, Pol Pot took control of the party. This party, which was officially renamed the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) in 1966, became more commonly known as the Khmer Rouge (meaning â€Å"Red Khmer† in French). The term â€Å"Khmer Rouge† was used by Prince Sihanouk to describe the CPK, since many in the CPK were both Communists (often called â€Å"reds†) and of Khmer descent. The Battle to Topple Prince Sihanouk In March 1962 when his name appeared on a list of people wanted for questioning, Pol Pot went into hiding. He took to the jungle and began preparing a guerrilla-based revolutionary movement that intended to topple Prince Sihanouk’s government. In 1964 with help from North Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge established a base camp in the border region and issued a declaration calling for armed struggle against the Cambodian monarchy, which they viewed as corrupt and repressive. The ideology of the Khmer Rouge gradually developed in this period. It featured a Maoist orientation with an emphasis on the peasant farmer as the foundation for a revolution. This contrasted with the orthodox Marxist idea that the proletariat (working class) was the basis for revolution. Courting Vietnam and China In 1965, Pol Pot was hoping to get support from either Vietnam or China for his revolution. Since the Communist North Vietnamese regime was the most likely source of support for the Khmer Rouge at the time, Pol Pot went to Hanoi to ask for aid. In response to his request, the North Vietnamese criticized Pol Pot for having a nationalist agenda. Since, at this time, Prince Sihanouk was letting the North Vietnamese use Cambodian territory in their struggle against South Vietnam and the United States, the Vietnamese believed the time was not right for an armed struggle in Cambodia. It did not matter to the Vietnamese that the time might have felt right for the Cambodian people. Pol Pot next visited the Communist People’s Republic of China (PRC) and fell under the influence of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, which emphasized revolutionary enthusiasm and sacrifice. It accomplished this in part by encouraging people to destroy any vestiges of traditional Chinese civilization. China would not openly support the Khmer Rouge, but it gave Pol Pot some ideas for his own revolution. In 1967, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, though isolated and lacking widespread support, made the decision to start a revolt against the Cambodian government. The initial action began on January 18, 1968. By that summer, Pol Pot had moved away from collective leadership to become the sole decision maker. He even set up a separate compound and lived apart from the other leaders. Cambodia and the Vietnam War The Khmer Rouge’s revolution progressed very slowly until two major events occurred in 1970. The first was a successful coup led by General Lon Nol, which deposed the increasingly unpopular Prince Sihanouk and aligned Cambodia with the United States. The second involved a massive bombardment campaign and invasion of Cambodia by the United States. During the Vietnam War, Cambodia had officially remained neutral; however, the Viet Cong (Vietnamese communist guerrilla fighters) used that position to their advantage by creating bases within Cambodian territory in order to regroup and store supplies. American strategists believed that a massive bombing campaign within Cambodia would deprive the Viet Cong of this sanctuary and thus bring the Vietnam War to a quicker end. The result for Cambodia was political destabilization. These political changes set the stage for the rise of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. With an incursion by Americans within Cambodia, Pol Pot was able to claim that the Khmer Rouge was fighting for Cambodian independence and against imperialism. Although he might have been refused aid from North Vietnam and China before, Cambodian involvement in the Vietnam War led to their support of the Khmer Rouge. With this new backing, Pol Pot was able to concentrate on recruiting and training while the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong did most of the initial fighting. Disturbing trends emerged early. Students and so-called â€Å"middle† or better-off peasants were no longer allowed to join the Khmer Rouge. Former government workers and officials, teachers, and people with an education were also purged from the party. Chams- an important ethnic group in Cambodia- and other minorities were forced to adopt Cambodian styles of dress and appearance. Decrees were issued establishing cooperative agricultural enterprises. The practice of emptying urban areas began. By 1973, the Khmer Rouge controlled two-thirds of the country and half the population. Genocide in Democratic Kampuchea After five years of civil war, the Khmer Rouge was finally able to capture Cambodia’s capital of Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. This ended Lon Nol’s rule and began the five-year reign of the Khmer Rouge. It was at this time that Saloth Sar began calling himself â€Å"brother number one† and took Pol Pot as his nom de guerre. (According to one source, â€Å"Pol Pot† comes from the French words â€Å"politique potentielle.†) After taking control of Cambodia, Pol Pot declared the Year Zero. This meant much more than restarting the calendar; it was a means of emphasizing that all that was familiar in the lives of Cambodians were to be destroyed. This was a far more comprehensive cultural revolution than the one Pol Pot had observed in Communist China. Religion was abolished, ethnic groups were  forbidden to speak their language or follow their customs, and political dissent was ruthlessly suppressed. As dictator of Cambodia, which the Khmer Rouge renamed Democratic Kampuchea, Pol Pot began a ruthless, bloody campaign against a variety of groups: members of the former government, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Western-educated intellectuals, university students and teachers, people in contact with Westerners or Vietnamese, people who were crippled or lame, and ethnic Chinese, Laotians, and Vietnamese. These massive changes within Cambodia and the specific targeting of large sections of the population led to the Cambodian genocide. By its end in 1979, at least 1.5 million people had been murdered in the â€Å"Killing Fields.† Many were beaten to death with iron bars or hoes after digging their own graves. Some were buried alive. One directive read: â€Å"Bullets not to be wasted.† Most died from starvation and disease, but probably 200,000 were executed, often after interrogation and brutal torture. The most infamous interrogation center was Tuol Sleng, S-21 (Security Prison 21), a former high school. It was there that prisoners were photographed, interrogated, and tortured. It was known as â€Å"the place where people go in but never come out.† Vietnam Defeats the Khmer Rouge As the years passed, Pol Pot became increasingly paranoid about the possibility of an invasion by Vietnam. To preempt an attack, Pol Pot’s regime began carrying out raids and massacres in Vietnamese territory. Rather than dissuade the Vietnamese from attacking, these raids ultimately provided Vietnam with an excuse to invade Cambodia in 1978. By the following year, the Vietnamese had routed the Khmer Rouge, ending both the Khmer Rouge’s rule in Cambodia and the genocidal policies of Pol Pot. Ousted from power, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreated to a remote area of Cambodia along the border with Thailand. For several years, the North Vietnamese tolerated the existence of the Khmer Rouge in this border area. However, in 1984, the North Vietnamese made a concerted effort to deal with them. After that, the Khmer Rouge survived only with the support of Communist China and the toleration of the Thai government. In 1985, Pol Pot resigned as head of the Khmer Rouge and handed over day-to-day administrative tasks to his longtime associate, Son Sen. Pol Pot nonetheless continued as the de facto leader of the party. Aftermath In 1995, Pol Pot, still living in isolation on the Thai border, suffered a stroke that left the left side of his body paralyzed. Two years later, he had Son Sen and members of Sen’s family executed because he believed that Sen had attempted to negotiate with the Cambodian government. The deaths of Son Sen and his family shocked many of the remaining Khmer leadership. Feeling that Pol Pot’s paranoia was out of control and worried about their own lives, Khmer Rouge leaders arrested Pol Pot and put him on trial for the murder of Sen and other Khmer Rouge members. Pol Pot was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of his life. He was not punished more severely because he had been so prominent in Khmer Rouge affairs. Some of the remaining members of the party, however, questioned this lenient treatment. Death On April 15, 1998, Pol Pot heard a broadcast on Voice of America (of which he was a faithful listener) announce that the Khmer Rouge had agreed to turn him over to an international tribunal. He died that same night. Rumors persist that he either committed suicide or was murdered. His body was cremated without an autopsy to establish the cause of death. Legacy Pol Pot is remembered for his long, oppressive reign and for his attempt to exterminate all religious and ethnic minorities in Cambodia. The Cambodian genocide- responsible for the deaths of at least 1.5 million people- resulted in several Khmer Rouge leaders being convicted of crimes against humanity. Sources Bergin, Sean.  The Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian Genocide. Rosen Pub. Group, 2009.Short, Philip.  Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare. Henry Holt, 2005.

The American Monarchy essays

The American Monarchy essays Analysis of President Bushs Use of the Executive Order Stroke of the pen. Law of the Land. Kinda Cool. Paul Begala, former counselor to President Bill Clinton, put it best when he was quoted in regards to President Clintons increased use of executive orders. Executive orders can sometimes have tremendous policy impact on the nation, yet they do not require the approval of Congress. However they do have the force of law. These legal tools are not mentioned in the Constitution, but have grown up based on the implied powers stemming from Article II, Section 1 which states, The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. This vesting clause is significant because it lacks the phrase herein granted making the presidents powers more vague, allowing these powers to develop as the country develops. George W. Bush consistently relies on his ability to use an executive order helping his administration stay afloat. There are countless reasons why a president would use an executive order for example, to undue policies from a previous administration, fulfill campaign and platform promises, and advance policies that would never get passed if it were to go through the House or Senate. In this study, I plan to scrutinize President Bushs use of the executive order to negate Former President Bill Clintons policies, explore how Bush uses them to advance his own policies, and analyze the secrecy of his presidency. During President Bushs first year in office, his mission was to undue everything the previous lame duck president did in attempt to restrict his movement after he came into office. Clinton issued several executive orders in an effort to tie the hands of President Bush once he took control of the presidency. Within Bushs first year of his term, he issued ten executive orders all to revoke sixteen of Clintons ...

Food control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Food control - Essay Example In addition, in order to meet the key elements of the food law as requirements to ensure the safety of food, which is mentioned in Article 14 also compliance with obligations towards mentioned responsibilities in article 16-19. According to article 11 of regulation (EU) 178/2002, there are some requirements for food hygiene from importers, which referring to it in article 10 of Regulation (EC) 852/2004. However, in article 2 of regulation EC No 178/ 2002 defines food as is a composite product that foodstuffs intended for human consumption and originates from animal/non-animal origin. There are some of the requirements that must be met to import this food: Regulation (EC) 882/2004 in article 15 permits for the competent authority to apply all official controls and ensure safety of food non- animal origin through food law, which includes all aspects the food such as check all documents and ascertain the identity of randomly. Therefore, has presented by about 300 border inspection posts to ensure that the consignments are safe and completed all the requirements of the European Union (EU Commission, 2007). As the regulation 852/2004 by articles 3 to 5 refers to work on the application of some of the procedures, which meet the requirements of hygiene and scrutiny of food particularly imported from third world countries such as HACCP moreover article 6 refers to the need to register all food business operators with the local authorities. There are certain regulations associated with ensuring the safety of food whether importing or produced locally for example, Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 to determine acceptable levels of some contaminants in food. While Regulation 396 (EC) 396/2005 describes the permissible levels of pesticide residues on plant food and animal food as well as feed. Moreover, there is a Regulation (EC) 733/2008, which terms

Reprogenetics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Reprogenetics - Essay Example Which would mean creating children who are only useful and denying the others, who are considered useless in their place. Children created for parents selfish purpose is associated with disrespect for life of the discarded embryo taking the IVF cases and more questionably creating the children for the desired skin color, potential qualities and emotional satisfaction linked with status and reputation. She further explains the "intrinsic motivation view" which is to have a child for his own sake and bonding of the family. The "indiscriminate motivation view" is associated with post conception and treatment of child once born. It is just unreasonable to become parents of fully made up child. It is just unacceptable to create a child for some selfish reason of savior child or conspicuous immoral consumption. The children also have a need to be loved for their own sake and to be valued as individuals created by god not by technology. And these needs have to be considered and loved. Which also means the parents to be "unselfishly benefiting children" and also parents being "selfishly benefiting form children" for who and what they truly are and not what they could have artificially made them. T Designer Babies and the Pro-Choice Movement By Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow Today the escalating fertility industry has shifted the making of baby from bedroom to laboratory. The in vitro fertilization allows the parents to decide how they want their children to be made. And the most questionable, it enables the selection of desired gender. It is also a political issue related to social values and individual liberty. Designer babies, the idea itself tinkers with genes, and to play as god at the stake of humanity. Creating babies to cure diseases of siblings is different and to fulfill the cosmetic needs in a conscious environment of health and beauty. The new eugenics provides more reproductive choices and desired babies but a line has to be drawn to it. This can also have social consequences as explained by Lee Silver, Princeton this could develop a whole new species which would completely separate the natural class and Gen rich class. The parents then will have to insert the best genes in their children to get them into best schools. This can challenge the human race and humanity at large. This can cause extremes to the communities like the GLBT. In case a gay gene identification is made, this technology can threaten the community at large. It can harm the reproduction and abortion rights of women. There will be greater line of distinction between equality and inequality, as meddling with the environment has its adverse affects attached. The reprogenitics has given humans a choice over life. The uncontrolled use of reprogenetic technologies will have adverse implications for the future. Re-Engineering the Human: New Reproductive

Briefing Note Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Briefing Note - Essay Example The international legal tenets of self-determination loom large over the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. One of the questions that have long been without a clear answer is whether Palestine is entitled to independence and self determination in an area it deems to be its ancestral homeland. International law does not allow nations to disregard peremptory norms, which are the international embodiment of the principles of justice and fairness (Caplan 12). The democratic principle of self-determination is one of the peremptory norms guarded under international law. In 1918 the British occupied the Palestinian territory and the following year, Palestine came under Class A Mandate. Until that mandate was terminated, it was agreed that the country’s independence would be provisionally recognized. A White Paper was issued in 1939 which formally stated the British Government approval of the formation of an independent Palestinian State in which both Arabs and Jews would â€Å"share in g overnment in such a way as to ensure that the essential interests of each community were safeguarded† (Scobbie, Hibbin and Siegman 4). In 1948, Palestine’s population was made up of 74% Arabs and 26% Jews. It was therefore expected that Palestine would have become an independent state at the end of the Mandate, but this expectation did not materialize. Rather, the State of Israel was proclaimed in 1948. Arab states rejected the formation of Israel and the partition of Palestine, but the rest of the world welcomed the newest nation into the world (Tessler 33). The establishment of an independent Israel nation saw the beginning of an Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has never been resolved to this day. In 1993, the Oslo Peace Accord was signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Antonius 10). The Peace Accord grated Palestinians an interim period of five years of self rule. The main issues covered in the signing of the accord included transfer of power to Palestinians. This transfer of power and responsibilities from Israel to Palestine included control over the West Bank and Gaza (Lubell 3). This was meant to enable Palestinians to control their own affairs. The Accord granted Israel full control of its borders and Jerusalem, which had been one of the areas under contention in the conflicts between the two countries. In the same accord, the PLO formally recognized the right of Israel as a state to exist in peace (Caplan 20). Both countries formally agreed to conduct peace talks so as to end many years of conflict between them. Since 2000, Israeli occupation of the west Bank and Gaza flamed several armed conflicts between the two countries (Antonius 17). In 2008, Israeli troops carried out an offensive against Hamas on the Gaza strip. The offensive finally came to an end after three weeks on January 17, 2009 after Israel and Hamas both announced a ceasefire. During the 3 week offensive 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilian s lost their lives. 400 of these were children. Another 5000 received injuries. Of these 1800 were children and 800 were women. The Israelis lost 13 people, 3 of whom were civilians. Human lives were not the only ones destroyed in this offensive. Much of the Gaza strip was left in ruins. Thousands were left homeless and without food and water (Scobbie, Hibbin and Siegman 14). The west, and in particular were in full support of Israel’