Month: October 2012

Canada with it’s billions it’s forest, fresh water, fertile land have been the foundation of many industries that came alive in the 20th century. The future of Canada’s resource based economies are in a category of its own. Limited resources are inevitable, what you do with the resources is another story.

The article has 9 steps to help sustain these resources and Canadian economy. Some of these steps are not necessarily the best or most important, but they do offer some information on how it would be effective eg. using the situations of other nations that are currently doing the same.

The issue of global warming could potential benefit Canada’s agricultural economy and other industries. The warming temperatures would allow agricultural to expand north. The melting of the permanent ice up north could potentially allow access to new oil fuels and mineral mines.

The people who reside in Canada are quite “Green” politically. People are encouraged to recycle, reduce and reuse. I do agree with the article that resources must be carefully allocated and protected. I believe there should be more of an incentive for people to work and study in the field of sustainability to preserve Canada’s economy.

In class we’ve discussed the importance of brand reputation. The connotations, attached to brand, influence market strategies and willingness of consumers  to buy a product. We’ve questioned McDonald’s ethical practices in terms of child marketing and how close to impossible swaying the consumer mind.  We now witness McDonald’s doing the “impossible”.

A video of McDonald’s campaign: Our food, Your Questions

McDonald’s is using social media services(Twitter) to connect with people that have concerns or questions  about the brand, about the products itself etc. The seemingly risky move has put McDonald’s front and center. This campaign could be an excellent marketing strategy potential repositioning the brand in the consumer mind. There motives could be questionable. Creating an opened, revealing atmosphere, McDonald’s sudden openness has put it in a seemingly vulnerable position. But in reality would McDonald’s give up its ‘recipes’ of the mac sauce? As the company with power they could easily create alternative answers.

I’ve worked at McDonald’s before, and they do advertise 100% All Beef patties, but the funny thing is the company is named 100% All Beef. The patties themselves are another story. Clever marketing perhaps? Will their “tell all” do the same?

Here’s the Article

I’ve recently came upon an article.

The article describes the housing situation across the cities in mainly Canada. Due to the fall in number of house sales, as in economics, the price of homes will fall with decreased demand in the future. The article discussed some of the ordeals accompanied with financing a home and renting a place to stay as a new home owner or a young adult. A home, is a long term investment (that never seems to end) while renting is only a temporary fix (if you’re lucky enough to get one). Entering adulthood and coming from a Chinese ancestry, I’ve been told that the most important things in life is to own a house. The symbolic representation or competences, financial stability and success is embedded within a piece of land. As I finish school, my biggest problem is finding a place I can call home. I don’t know if I want to endure price wars for renting or housing. Being financial independent in itself is a scary thought. It is an investment you’ll have to live with for awhile Living in Vancouver now, I am not sure if I will be able to call Vancouver home forever.