Insure vs. Assure vs. Ensure What’s the Difference

Ensure, insure, and assure are three of the most commonly confused verbs in the English language. All three words are derived from the Latin word securus, meaning secure, and they have some similarities in their definitions. However, these terms should not be used interchangeably.   How to Use Ensure Ensure  refers to the act of making something  certain. When you ensure something, you do what is necessary to make that event or action occurs. For example, studying for a test ensures that you will not fail the test. How to Use Assure Assure refers to the act of removing insecurities by guaranteeing that something will happen. The act of assuring is the act of dispelling doubts. In a sentence, assure will generally precede the object that you are assuring, as in, The mother assured her daughter that the loud thunderstorm would not hurt her.  Ã‚   How to Use Insure Insure refers to the act of taking out an insurance policy to protect something, such as taking out life insurance or insuring a car.  If you insure your car, you will be financially protected if the car is damaged in an accident.   Keep in mind that these rules refer to American English.  In British English, â€Å"assurance† actually refers to a type of â€Å"insurance.†Ã‚   Examples The insurance agent assured them that their new policy would protect their home in case of a flood: In this sentence, an agent responsible for providing financial compensation for properties is able to guarantee that a couple will receive fair payment should anything happen to their home.  The two speakers met before the conference to ensure their speeches did not overlap: Here, ensure indicates that the two speakers have made sure their speeches are unique so they will not be surprised by any similarities after presenting.  The professor assured the students that the test would only cover  chapter nine, and that to ensure a good grade, they should reread the chapter: After the professor dispelled doubt that the test would cover any additional material, she told them that they could be sure of a good test score if they studied the relevant chapter.Despite recent layoffs, the manager assures us that our positions are safe: By assuring her employees, the manager is removing fears about losing their jobs and telling them that they are going to be okay.  However, this is different than ensuring the jobs are safe, which would involve actively making certain that the speaker and his or her coworkers will retain their jobs.Recent regulatory policies ensure that carbon emissions are decreasing, helping assure those worried about global warming: The act of regulation has made certain that carbon emissions will decrease, while this decrease has helped allay fears among those concerned about the environment.  Stefanie assured us that Kyle had ensured the company would insure the painting in case of damage: In this sentence, Stefanie is promising that thanks to Kyle making certain that the company did what they said they were going to do, the painting would be financially protected in case something unfortunate happened. How to Remember the Difference Pay attention to the first letter of each word. â€Å"Assure† starts with the same letter as â€Å"alive. You can only  assure  someone who is alive, because you must be alive to feel doubt or fear in the first place. â€Å"Insure† begins with the same letter as â€Å"income.† Not having a good insurance policy  could impact your income. â€Å"Ensure† is a guarantee that something will happen — think of the double â€Å"e’s† at the end of guarantee to ensure that you’ll remember.   What About Reassure? Reassure is a combination of the prefix â€Å"re† and the word â€Å"assure,† and it can be used interchangeably with the latter to mean removing insecurities. However, just because they have the same meaning does not make them perfect substitutes. Reassure should be used only in situations of repeated assurance, or when someone reverts back to a previously held opinion (e.g. She was reassured of her original convictions.)

Signs And Symbols Of Racism In Battle Royal By Ralph Ellison

Signs and symbols of racism in america before integration In the late 1940’s in the south there was still segregation in schools, business, and most public places. In Ralph Ellison s â€Å"Battle Royal† he writes about an incident that he himself witnessed. The events and attitudes that he witnessed occurred regularly. Blacks in general were treated as less important, as second class citizens, and at times like animals. This type of behavior was treated so much as the norm that the boy was happy to be invited and join in the activities like it was a great honor. Using a marxist and symbolistic approach we will explore the symbols to discover the reasons behind the behaviors and attitudes displayed in this story. The battle royal itself†¦show more content†¦Many of them have probably never seen a real naked woman let alone a white one. The naked woman is blond and beautiful but also cold and remote. As the white men bring the boys in and require them to look at her it gives the men a rush of power that adds to the excitement of the situation. All men have natural reactions that happen when they see naked women. These poor boys have been taught their whole live to not look at white women at all and certainly never show any lustful thought or feelings toward or in relation to white women. And here they are in boxing shorts being forced to look at a beautiful naked white woman. When the boys bodies betray their natural reactions and try to show some respect and modesty by trying to leave the white men require them to stay and watch. As the woman begins to dance this adds to the erotic situation for the men. There is a sense of erotic power created for the white men by forcing the boys to look at what they cannot touch knowing that the white men can have it at any time they choose. â€Å" As in the battle royal, the townsmen use the bodies of black men to give vicarious expression to desires that are ordinarily repressed. While these white men are clearly aroused by the sight of the nude female dancer, most of them refrain from physically expressing their state of excitation.†(Kim.314) Watching the dancer was a lustful experience while the fight gave an outlet for the violent behaviors that areShow MoreRelatedRevelations Of The Fictional Characters Of Ralph Ellison s Invisible Man1402 Words   |  6 PagesDrew Wiseman Mrs. McElroy AP English 12 September 3, 2012 Revelations of the Protagonist In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the main character goes through a spiritual realization just as Meursault does in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. In the Invisible Man, Dr. Bledsoe leads the protagonist astray to the fabled Harlem of New York City. Once the narrator arrives in Harlem, it becomes apparent that he was sent to Harlem as a punishment and has been permanently expelled from black college. The narratorRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 Pagesand fed them. Ms. Bethune suggested that Hughes go on a reading tour of the South. To pay expenses, she suggested that he autograph and sell inexpensive copies of his books. Hughes liked the idea. In 1931, when Hughes returned to Harlem, he saw signs of the Depression--run-down buildings, garbage littered streets, and wide-spread unemployment. In reaction, he submitted bitter anti-capitalist poetry, articles, and a one-act play to New Masses, a magazine edited by Whittaker Chambers and supported

Security Breaches Anthem Health Organization

Question: Discuss about the Security Breachesfor Anthem Health Organization. Answer: Introduction Today, data breaches has become a big question for many organizations and firms and there is a need to focus on how hackers find paths to steal the confidential data and infiltrate networks. In 2015, numerous industries, such as, Sony, JP Morgan Chase, and eBay have suffered with data breaches. Therefore, these industries continuously make investments in different security technologies to prevent the industry from data breaches. This report includes the Anthem and JP Morgan Chase hacking case that has happened in September, 2015. Security Breach Anthem health organization is one of the second-largest U.S health insurance frim. In September 2015 it was reported that organization face a security breach which is also a one of the biggest health care breach, in which about eighty million customers data were at risk of infection (Thole, Moll, 2015). In an statement posted by the organization on its website, president Joseph Swedish anounced that the hackers might gain access to the delicate data for example, names, Social safety numbers, medical recognition proofs, business data, and also income data of the organization. Anthem organization was the target of the cyber hackers as it is nation's largest medical care insurance organization, therefore is the current target of the security breach. Almost eighty million customersclients, including the organization's own cheif executive officer, are at complete risk as their personal data was stolen. Why and How attack wasOccurred The outsourcing of tasks provide several opportunities, but data breach also happens by this outsourcing. At whatever point an outsider has been assaulted, it is dependably either because of lance phishing, malware, and Trojan or an online vulnerability. Almost seven million diminutive business customers have suffered because of this hacking (Telang,2015). Millions of customers had lost their private data and were publicly uncovered as a consequence of the data failure due to some Russian cyber-hackers. Yet, there is no proper information as how much data had been hacked in this data breach. The hackers also broke several networks of the Anthem organization, and they had stolen delicate data from the accounts of the customers. Possible Solutions Having proper techniques to measure and set-ups to forestall hacking in any case is the best technique to anticipate the leaking of delicate information, and actualizing the basic safety efforts, for example, regulatory benefits and hindering all the projects that are not white-listed deals with the most potential safety holes. There are a few methods created by the Cyber-security council, which Anthem must utilize. Anthem organization must utilize applications like cryptography to protect the delicate data, such as, the email-ids and credit card details of the account-holders as well as ensure their customers that their private data is safe. Anthems delicate data must be controlled or protected by the proper utilization of cryptography algorithm (Bradbury, D, 2013). JP MorganChase hacking Case 2015 Main Problem JP Morgan is one of the biggest banks in the whole U.S. During the September of 2015, they became the main target of a huge cyber-attack in which the data of almost 76,000,000 households and 7,000,000 small enterprises was hacked. This cyber-attack began in September 2015, but it was not disclosed until November, 2015 (Crowe, 2015). JP Morgan Bank is the world's largest bank and it controls the assets of approximately $2.59 Trillion (Zeissler, Ikeda, Metrick, 2015). As indicated by the required SEC documenting, the attackers or hackers from abroad has gained access to the names, addresses, telephone numbers as well as email-ids of account holders of JP Morgan Bank. Nevertheless, the account informations, passwords, social and legal document numbers were not taken by the hackers. JP Morgan has reported that they invest $250,000,000 yearly in the digital safety, in spite of such a large amount of investment, the bank was troubled by the huge cyber-attack and has failed in retaining th e cyber security of its account holders (Hansen, Eisenbach, Torres, Graham, Hardwicke, 2015). The three men, Ziv Orenstein, Joshua Samuel and Gery Shalon, were detected as hackers and numerous charges were filed against them, such as, hacking of data, identity theft, safety frauds, as well as money laundering (Hong, 2015). Who were Affected by the hacking Case? As indicated by the records documented with the Exchange as well as Security Commission, JP Morgan has affirmed that just names, addresses, and emails had got hacked. The assailants were unable to take cash, and delicate passwords, credit card details and social security numbers were also not got hacked by the attackers. However, this information seems to be untrue as many clients of JP Morgan have complained that their personal and delicate data have stolen. According to several authorities associated with the security breaches has said that the data hackers run a dozen of illegal online websites as well as Bitcoin channels. In September 2015, the JP Morgan team has admitted that eighty-three million account holders data were hacked in which hacking of names, phone numbers as well as addresses of millions of clients had been unprotected. The JP Morgan hacking case was one of the biggest information and data security failures in the history. How the Attack had carried out? Along with the JP Morgan, four other organizations were also breached with the same kind of cyber-attack. In this cyber-attack, some other or the third-party entity was involved as an ordinary entity, which most of the time had complete access to many other banks ("JP Morgan Chase admits to breach affecting 83 million customers and businesses", 2015). In many cyber-attacks, the third party is the main reason which lead to these downfalls, and it was pretty sure that in JP Morgans case too, a third party was involved and was the main reason of the cyber-attack (Riley, Robertson, 2015). To secure the details of account-holders, JP Morgan preferred to overcome few Human Resources related issues, therefore, they had outsourced their numerous tasks. This outsourcing had become the major reason for this data breach (Sreedevi, 2015). Then again, when organizations focus on the disadvantages of outsourcing of tasks, they come to know that data breach is one of the main issues caused by the outsourcing and it also wipe out an organization as well as the profits accrued by the outsourcing. Prevention from Attack It is really essential by organizations to upgrade the security standards from time to time, JP Morgan hacking case could be anticipated if they had consistently tried to make efforts for up-gradation of their security standards. To overcome this hacking issue, JP Morgan must utilize two-factor certification to forestall this type of attacks. In this certification factor, users require passwords and one-time secured pin to access the delicate data of clients. All the servers used in JP Morgan Chase should be regularly updated (Zeissler, Metrick, 2015). If somebody ever found the unreliable server then they will definitely utilize it to break the system or networks completely. Multiple law and social control agencies, such as, Federal Agency of Investigation, International Security Bureau, Division of Homeland Safety, and United State Attorneys Federal Agency are there, which have helped JP Morgan to overcome the consequences of data breach occurred in the bank and helped them in imp roving their financial services. Conclusion This study has uncovered that the JP Morgan and Anthem both organizations was devastated by the information break in which they had cautioned a large portion of a million prepaid cash clients that their delicate data might be at hazard. Two cyber-attacks has occurred within the time frame of six months, which was the huge situations for the safety mechanism of JP Morgan Chase and Anthem health organization. References Bradbury, D. (2013). Insuring against data breaches. Computer Fraud Security, 2013(2), 11-15. Crowe, P. (2015).sJPMorgan is the chief victim in the largest theft of customer data from a financial institution in US history.Business Insider. Retrieved 3 April 2017, from https://www.businessinsider.in/JPMorgan-is-the-chief-victim-in-the-largest-theft-of-customer-data-from-a-financial-institution-in-US-history/articleshow/49739816.cms Hansen, C., Eisenbach, C., Torres, C., Graham, S., Hardwicke, F. (2015). Maxillary Sinus Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors: A Review and Case Report.Case Reports In Oncological Medicine,2015, 1-9. Hong, N. (2015).Charges Announced in J.P. Morgan Hacking Case.WSJ. Retrieved 3 April 2017, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-announce-charges-in-connection-with-j-p-morgan-hack-1447169646 JPMorgan Chase admits to breach affecting 83 million customers and businesses. (2015).Computer Fraud Security,2014(10), 1-3. Khandelwal, S. (2017).JPMorgan Hack Three Men Charged in Biggest Bank Hack in History.The Hacker News. Retrieved 3 April 2017, from https://thehackernews.com/2015/11/jpmorgan-chase-hack.html Pagliery, J. (2017).JPMorgan's accused hackers had vast $100 million operation.CNNMoney. Retrieved 3 April 2017, from https://money.cnn.com/2015/11/10/technology/jpmorgan-hack-charges/index.html Riley, M., Robertson, J. (2015).Digital Misfits Link JPMorgan Hack to Pump-and-Dump Fraud.Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 3 April 2017, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-21/fbi-israel-make-securities-fraud-arrests-tied-to-jpmorgan-hack Sreedevi, B. (2015). Evaluation of Quality of Service Metrics for Hacking and Counter Hacking Mechanism in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks.Indian Journal Of Science And Technology,8(23). Smith, J. (2015). Health Data Breaches Compromised 29 Million Patient Records in 2010 2013. Caring For The Ages, 16(6), 6. TalkTalk and other breaches leave millions vulnerable to fraud. (2015). Computer Fraud Security, 2015(11), 1-3. Telang, R. (2015). Policy Framework for Data Breaches. IEEE Security Privacy, 13(1), 77-79. Thole, E., Solms, C., Moll, C. (2015). Cyber Security: How to DealWith (Cross Border) Data Breaches?. Computer Law Review International, 16(5).

Political Philosophy and Medium-paragraph Length Answer free essay sample

1. Identify and explain the two objections that Michael Sandel raises about Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy of Utilitarianism. 2. What are the three types of policies and laws that Michael Sandel identifies as being commonly rejected by libertarians? Briefly explain each type of policy, and explain why libertarians are philosophically opposed to them. 3. According to Mary Anne Warren (in â€Å"On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion†), what are the five central criteria for moral personhood, and what are the implications of this criteria on the issue of whether or not the fetus has the right to life? 4. According to Don Marquis (in â€Å"Why Abortion Is Immoral†), what is the property that the fetus possesses which makes abortion an immoral act? Why does Marquis say that abortion is just as wrong as killing an innocent adult person? 5. Judith Jarvis Thomson (in â€Å"A Defense of Abortion†) makes an argument about the morality of abortion when the pregnancy is due to rape by creating a fictitious example about being hooked up to an unconscious violinist. We will write a custom essay sample on Political Philosophy and Medium-paragraph Length Answer or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What are the elements of her example that make it analogous to the situation of pregnancy due to rape? What is the conclusion she draws about the morality of abortion in this situation, and what is the basis for this conclusion? Submission Guidelines Include your name and the assignment name (Homework Assignment 1) in the text of the document Include your name and the assignment name (Homework Assignment 1) in the name of the file that you submit

David Copperfield Essay Example

David Copperfield Paper On the 28th of November 2008 I attended a performance of David Copperfield written by Charles Dickens at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. The play was adapted and directed by Giles Havergal, who for 33 years was artistic director of the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. David Copperfield follows the life of a boy, who was orphaned at an early age and experiences considerable hardship. Throughout the story David experiences love and betrayal but I believe the main theme in the story is ambition.Firstly I would like to comment on how well the actors identified their characters especially the actor who played David himself, although David is played by a fully grown man it is made obvious at the beginning that opposed to playing a fully grown man he is playing a child. This is displayed clearly very early on in the play when we saw David wailing like a child at the front of the stage, to emphasise the fact he was a child his facial expressions and movement where also very childish a good ex ample of this is when he is talking to his Nanny Peggety he tugs on her skirt and looks up to her.The other actors on stage also treat him like a child and talk to him in a different tone than they would to someone closer to their own age. Another well played role was that of Uriah Heap. From the moment he took his place on stage (even before he started to speak) you could begin to recognise that he was villainous, one of the traits I found particularly effective was how he had his hands up by his chest for a considerable amount of time. He also appeared nervous. Charles Dickens himself describes the character of Uriah Heap as probably the most consummate villain that has ever existedThe stage layout was very well suited to the play. It had some slightly raised areas, another raised area at the rear and a gauze. The two small raised were often used to show the significance of the character for example when David was attending school the school master was nearly always standing on a higher level that the pupils. The set was not very realistic but I think this was how it was intended to be. I think it was more symbolic and reflected the themes of the play for example around the edges of the stage books were piled.This could be signifying how during his younger years he had a tendency to immerse himself in a book in order to hide himself from the plight of every day life. The lighting and sound was also very well thought out for instance when David visited the seaside there was faint echoes of seagulls in the background accompanied by the sound of the sea. The lighting helped make it obvious who you should be focusing on for example if the narrator was delivering a monologue a spot light would be on him and there would be limited (if any) movement around him and in the background.Compared all the other plays I have seen the narrator played a totally different role in this one. On Wikipedia it states that a narrators role is;Within any story (literary work, movie, play, verbal account, etc.), the entity that tells the story to the audience.Although the narrator in David Copperfield does all of this he is also acts as the protagonist in the play as he is narrating his own life which is interesting as he reacts to his own actions, and to some degree I think you can sense his regret. I also found it particularly interesting how as David gets to the age of the narrator they swap roles and the narrator steps in and becomes one of the actors involved.I believe amongst many messages hidden in the play one of the most important was regret, I feel that whilst looking back you could sense how he regrets some of the paths he had taken in life but accepts them. The actor playing the older David communicates this well by sometimes stepping in and trying to change things himself. I believe this method displays the point well.I believe the director wanted to change peoples views on the play and make you see it in another light. I believe he achieved this w ell. I also think he adapted the humour to modern day humour, which was very cleverly done as it was subtle but effective. The audience reacted very well to this and laughed in all the right places, you could tell that they stayed interested all the way through and the general atmosphere of the theatre was amazing.Overall I think it was a very original piece of drama. Even compared to some shows I have seen in the West End such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Grease it stood out. Probably the most appealing element for me was the idea of having both the protagonist and the narrator as one person. My favourite scene was the opening one as it drew you in to the play and made you want to find out more about David. It also set the scene well and gave you a taster of whats to come. I would definatly recommend it to other people to see as the acting was superb, the script was well written and the set was memorable. David Copperfield Essay Example David Copperfield Essay David Copperfield is a heart warming, Victorian novel that is partly based on the life of Charles Dickens.Davids naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve mother, a dear surrogate parent called Peggotty and no Father unfortunately, let David experience the wonders of early childhood until the Mr Murdstone and his sister came along to wreck any known happiness. The time in London was cruelly spent with the help of a private school but all worked out in the end thanks to Mr Micawber and Davids feminist Aunt, Betsey Trotwood. The dirty, filthy life that the young lad followed was washed away and never returned again.Charles Dickens chose to write about children as it created pathos and drama for his readers. Also, I think the other reason that children are used as a focus is because it reflects on Dickens life as a child. It is all very similar to his life and the way that he grew up. The lives of children were extremely hard back in Victorian times and the fact that Dickens was a journalist made him realise th e hardship that children went through day by day, hour by hour.All of this, I imagine, he wanted to bring to the attention of his readers.Poor young David Copperfield grew up with no shadow figure to give him guidance into life. All this young boy had was a, white gravestone in the churchyard which is the remains of his kind-hearted father who sadly left before David entered the world. Although he had no second parent to look up to, never for a moment was David bitter or angry that he was left. We can sense melancholy in his feeling or sadness and despair. As Mr Murdstone begins to welcome himself into Davids life, he soon realises that the only Father he wants is his own blood Father, who would have cared and nurtured him until his dying day.The young Mr Copperfield missed out on many things such as father and son talks. Thats why I believe that David is just a bit overly sensitive, because he spent most of his days with Maid Peggotty and Mother Clara. A new experience like Mr Murd stone bullied Davey into leaving his friendly and warming home in which many memories, including his deceased Father, lay.Clara was Davids young Mother who gave birth to him at a very young age. She is inexperienced, immature, feeling abandoned and vulnerable because of her loss. That is why she falls into the arms of Mr Evil Murdstone, who provides money and good health, but also strict rules and upsetting consequences.A posthumous David had a remarkable relationship with his young Mother that only they could share. The deal of her husband months before David was born brought an immense connection between the two and nothing could tear them apart.Clara and her young treasure had great fun together. They would play together for hours on end. Although Clara was fun, she could also be indulgent at times which left Peggotty in charge. When David was naughty or irresponsible his Mother doesnt approve of reprimanding him, so when Mr Murdstone arrives David gets quite a shock at the stric t rules.A friend, a surrogate parent and a helper are just some of the words we can use to describe their Maid Peggotty. David and Maid Peggotty are not alone in the world at the end but shortly after Mr Murdstone orders them both to leave they find themselves lost and alone. Being older than Davids actual Mother, Peggotty is so much more mature and wise than Clara. She has foresight and thinks what the future may hold (especially for David) whereas the lone parent tends to think only of the present. I think that she is Claras best friend. She is a complement to her, and if it wasnt for the faithful maid, then she and David would be lost in the world of wonders.Although Peg provides little discipline, she is like the road of Davids life, and will guide him through anything that gets in his way.Edward Murdstone, is an extremely, possessive creature who crawled in to the lives of Clara Copperfield, Peggotty and the young and helpless David. His entrance is significant because of the t ension and trauma he creates but also because of his constant discipline towards David.Mr Murdstone obviously grew up in a background where rules were right and misbehaviour was not tolerated and if you disobeyed the system you would be punished severely. This man, throughout the whole of David Copperfield intimidates the young David and, I think, scares Clara too. She is so caught up in this love that she feels for him that I dont think Davids treatment is recognised. Mr Murdstone cannot be tolerated, and would not accept a person who treats him with disrespect. He says, If I have an obstinate horse or dog to deal with, what do you think I do? I beat him. These threatening words failed to straighten David out into the model boy that Edward Murdstone requires. Therefore, instead of helping him more, he throws David out of the house and into the care of Mr Creakle, the school Headmaster who runs a very strict boarding school facility.Murder, Stone, put it together to get Murderstone. These words fit perfectly to this mans ruthless character. He calls himself a Father, a husband and a friend, but Mr Murdstone should not be placed with these strong roles.To isolate a child for seven whole days and lock him in a room where darkness is the new light and light has disappeared like a vampire towards it, is just neglectful. On one hand, you can thank God that his own baby son died, because of the environment he would have been brought up in, and also because of the strict, harsh rules that he would have had to endure.When Clara and Edward married, they made vows to each other, to always love and honour, through sickness and in health. Mr Murdstone clearly didnt obey these vows. When Clara became sick, she could not look after the baby and David and slowly the began to deteriorate into nothing. Throughout her illness her husband ordered her around and neglected her until she sadly passed away.Lastly, he is no friend, has no friends and never will. Mr Murdstone, a man w ho is perfect only for himself.Clara doesnt enjoy reprimanding David, something she and Mr Murdstone do not have in common. He says to her, whats this? Clara, my love, have you forgotten? firmness, my dear! He is so omnipotent and impulsive that the household members just stand by his rules and demands. His use of words when speaking are very intimidating, especially towards the poor servant Peggotty. She turns from a blissful, happy friend to a poor unhappy servant who is treated with no respect and dignity from Mr Murdstone, which concludes with her leaving her home of many, many years. This whole act EM puts on is negative, although he was trying to offer David a better welfare for his young life. Many people could say he also wrecked the best part of his life the childhood part.Jane Murdstone, sister of Edward, and just as cruel and evil as he, is tagged along with her brother into the happy lives of David, Clara and Peggotty and managed to turn the sun into rain and happy into sad.Whenever a problem comes her way, Jane Murdstone will react to it with melodramatic skills. From this she can gain sympathy and concern from Edward. I think she partly does this because she is scared of his dominance which is also used over David and Peggotty not to mention the intimidation used on Clara. Jane has learnt well from her brother and uses her powers to turn the house upside down so that it is no longer recognisable to the family. Clara thinks she should have been consulted before the changes were made. Miss Murdstone reacts badly to this accusation, and threatens to leave, but stays as Clara accepts the fact that she cannot win in this one player game.She makes it extremely obvious that she disliked boys and held a similar opinion on them as Davids Aunt. Jane says, generally speaking, I dont like boys, which is very extraordinary for a woman not to like a child. I cant imagine her being capable of giving love and affection to anyone, apart from Mr Murdstone, and pe rhaps the baby who sadly passed on into the next life.Jealousy is bitter, especially when the people you are jealous of are your brother and his new wife. I wouldnt call it love that they are embarking upon, but obviously Jane realises that she has none of this love to share with a member of the opposite sex that is why she takes everything out on young David, who is helpless towards her and her nasty ways.Miss Murdstones power is reflected on Mr Murdstone. That is the only simple way that she can develop this amount of wickedness. If MM makes a remark about her, she accepts it as he can do nothing wrong in her eyes she is just a woman with no life, love or friendship. Jane is rather like a empty, desolate house or school- much like the school that David is sent to.The playground was a bare gravelled yard, the most forlorn and desolate place I had ever seen. These are just two out of many quotes used by David Copperfield as he gazed up at the iron bars of his new life at school. O n one side of the bars was his past, and on the other the future he would soon fall into.Mr Creakle, the schools Headmaster, fell into the same category as Mr Murdstone and his sister, dull, strict and prone to punishment. His small eyes and wooden leg intimidated David as his stepfather had before the same feeling of being frightened and helpless in a world of punishment.He seemed to make it obvious to David that he knows his sinister stepfather Edward Murdstone. I think this is why David was dreading his time at the school, it would be just as bad as home, but no Mother and no Peggotty to defend his honour.Clearly this man does not take any scruffy boys into the establishment, only the ones who need to be transformed into respectable boys.Inside Mr Creakle is nothing but a cold heart. As he breaks the news to David that his Mother has died, he provides little sympathy and seems more interested in his rich cheese. That is the kind of man he is cold, careless and mighty strict.Ste erforth provided David with laughter, respect and most of all, friendship. He guided him and protected him when times got rough. The mature prefect was very trustworthy, like when he offered to care for Davids shillings. He said not to be uneasy, and that he would take good care of them. Helpless David was captured by Steerforths compassion and he trusted this extraordinary boy even enough to give him the only money that he owned.The blacking factory where David is forced to work is a horrific sight and no place for children like David, especially because he is very gullible and he was so used to being smothered by his mother and maid that David might fall for someones tricks from the street . This factory exploits the children, scares them and makes their lives feel worthless. No child is fit to work in that factory, David went from a rich and happy to a poor and sad lifestyle which can change a persons perspective of life. If Peggotty had the power to stop him going then she would prevent it, but sadly David drifted and Peg was left feeling helpless and like she had let the deceased Clara down, all of this heartache was simply because of one man who wanted more.Betsey Trotwood knew David whilst he was in his Mothers womb. When he arrived into the world she fled because he was not a she. When David turned up on her neatly cut grass and prim rose garden she was flabbergasted and couldnt believe what was in front of her. She took David into her own hands with the help of her dear friend Mr Micawber and they gradually turned Davids life around, back into the happy one he once had shared with his mother and Peggotty.Miss Trotwoods opinion of boys and men changed without a doubt when she realised how blessed she was with a kind hearted nephew, who only wanted love and affection.In the end, everything worked out well for the boy who lost a life because of one evil man and his shadow sister. Davids parents are together in peace, Peggotty has found new love, the scho ol and work torture is over and everyone is happy apart from Edward Murdstone and Jane Murdstone, who only have each other to blame for the way their lives have worked out.David Copperfield brought a ray of light into everyones lives, even Charles Dickens who provided the heart-warming story of a lifetime. The readers are entranced and left feeling bright and happy a truly magnificent fictional tale for all.

Goal

Goal relationships and competition for resources affect healthy relationship, which exist among people. This makes the people have sour relationship among them, which makes a person fail to experience peace of heart and peace of mind. A person also pursues to have peace of heart and peace of mind by reference to divine intervention. Religion acts as a reference to many people as they strive to attain peace of heart and peace of mind. Religion acts as a source of aspiration to many people. Persons own religious beliefs are a source of inspiration. When a person is faced with conflict, he, or she may try to seek divine intervention to have peace. Religious believes have their own ways in which they inspire peace to the believers. The religious beliefs have some spiritual inspirations, which they put to people so that they can be healed of any problem they may be faced by at different circumstances. Spiritual nourishment acts as a source of peace to many people both in their minds and in the heart. This is because many religious teaching offers hope to a person that tomorrow is always a better day. Therefore, they give hope to many people who may have no hope. This makes a person to turn to religion when striving to attain this goal of peace of mind and peace of heart. However, there is always opposition when a person tries to attain peace of heart and peace of mind by use of religious intervention. There are many times when the religious intervention fails to provide this peace. This especially happens if a person needs instant peace or the person has so many conflicts. This is because for one to attain peace through religious interventions one needs to have strong faith. If one does not have this faith then, person may not attain peace by use of religious intervention. Therefore, as can be seen from the essay peace of mind and peace of heart is a basic need if a person has to attain full human development. Every person would enjoy life in one has this peace. However as we have seen there are opposition that come on the way, so it becomes important for a person to be able to face the opposition and strive more to attain this goal of having peace of mind and peace of heart in his or her life.

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 48

Case study - Essay Example The fans who purchase the premium and the non-premium seats fail in reselling these tickets in the secondary market. Furthermore, the high pricing of the seats has led to the stadium experiencing their lowest attendance to date. The empty seats in the stadium are noticeable especially with the matches being televised. The seats closer to the pitch have a lower number of fans compared to other seats in the stadium (Mowen et al 554). The Yankee management fails to acknowledge the economic situation of a majority of their fans as they continue to enforce this pricing plan. Various factors influence the pricing of Yankee tickets. First, the post-season games such as the play-offs determine the pricing of the tickets. The presence of stars such as Derek Deter and others dictate the value of tickets in the stadium. When Derek Jeter announced he would retire from the sport, all the tickets to his last matches were sold out and ridiculous prices. The level of competition dictates the pricing of the tickets in the stadium, the tickets for the finals usually cost more than those of normal league games (Mowen et al 554). The failure to sell out all the seats in the Yankee stadium reduces the reputation of the Yankees. The reduced reputation results in low performance by the Yankee players which consequently means that the baseball enterprise will incur losses. Reduced income in contrast to the investment into the billion dollar stadium represents losses to the grand enterprise. Furthermore, the stadium requires maintenance throughout the whole baseball season and the income from the sale of seats will not cover this expense (Mowen et al 556). The financial impact of the unsold seats is great due to the stature of the world richest team. The revenue from the seats is used in the aforementioned activities and in financing other activities.

Dunlap v. Tennessee Valley Authority Research Paper

Dunlap v. Tennessee Valley Authority - Research Paper Example Dunlap felt that the system of scoring was extremely skewed and in favor of white candidates. This discussion investigates the legal issues in the episode and the decision to credit the claim of desperate treatment and neglect the disparate impact claim. Similarly, the discussion will suggest different ways in which Tennessee Valley authority can improve their process of interview. Discussion Legal issues They include David Dunlap, who believes that the process of interviewing in the TVA is discriminating and violates the Title seven of the 1964 Civil Right Act. David feels that he suffered prejudice under both disparate treatment and impact by the interview, which was increasingly subjective. Dunlap believes that the selection criteria favored white people. The committee evaluated all the applicants during the interview, but Dunlap felt that the evaluation process lacked merit and had limited rhyme. For instance, he scored low marks on a safety question than his colleague who has ha d more than two accidents in a span of 11 years, and for Dunlap, he had no accident, (Markusen, 2003). The system of evaluation itself can lead to various legal issues, for instance, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s subjective hiring and evaluation process allowed racial discrimination against Black applicants such as Dunlap. The Court of Appeal verified the claim of disparate treatment, reversed the claim of disparate adverse and verified the award of the district court of damages and fees to David. Why the disparate impact claim failed The theory of disparate claim demands the plaintiff to show that a seemingly impartial employment practice influences one team increasingly harshly than the other and that the practice of employment is unjustified by business requirements. Under the doctrine, discriminatory testimony intent is not necessary. Even though, the district court construed that Tennessee Valley Authority process of interviewing was influenced to exclude black applic ants, the Appeals Court objected, citing inadequate statistical evidence that a protected team was negatively affected, therefore, creating a prima Facie argument. Dunlap could not support his case by just challenging the employed process in his interview; therefore, his case failed. Success of disparate treatment argument The doctrine of disparate treatment demands a plaintiff to show that the employer has favored some people against others based on their race, origin or cultural background. It also requires the plaintiff create a prima Facie condition of racial bias, the employer to demonstrate a number of legitimate nonbiased reasons for his actions and the plaintiff to show some evidence that the articulated accusation was pre-textual. In this theory, a discriminatory proof is crucial. Nevertheless, in different circumstances it may be concluded from the sole disparities in treatment. Discriminatory motive proof may be gathered from the employers’ false explanation for th e actions. To refute a prima Facie argument, a defendant should show a legal nonbiased reason for rejection of plaintiff. In Dunlap’s case, Tennessee Valley Authority demonstrated the selection medium employed during the interview of Dunlap, and indicated that Dunlap’s interview score did not put his last marks into the best ten. The challenge then turned back to Dunlap to show that the process of selection was pretext for biasness. The district court

Economics of Warfare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economics of Warfare - Essay Example For instance, some numbers only include civilians and does not count those who are in the military and those who are in the militia groups that have been resisting the government. In all, the number of deaths is very high (Atassi, 2013). Children have not been left behind have hundreds of them have faced death as a result of the attack. What is even more unfortunate is that some of these children have died from attacked from the government. However, the government has denied any of these allegations. However, it is clear that both the government and the militias have caused deaths of non-resisting civilians (Rabil, 2003). The Syrian economy has also been affected badly from the war. Like many wars, the Syrian war has affected the ability of the country to produce economically. Syrian exports have been reduced by over 75 percent, and the country is no longer able to export the exports it used to export which development agencies valued at $2.73 billion in 2010. These losses have brought many problems to the country, including illnesses that have been caused mainly by the lack of adequate proper basic amenities such as sanitation services. Syria is one example of how war can affect the economy. As Reynolds (2003) says, most non-economists tend to think that the major economic cost of a war is the money used to manufacture the equipment for war. They also consider the cost of war to involve cost to pay the soldiers to carry out the war. But as has been seen in Syria and indeed in many other wars around the word, there are many other economic issues that come from war (Benet, 2014). However, the economics effect of the Syrian war is only affecting Syria. It is affecting the rest the world, especially Europe. As Lobello (2013) says, even though Syria itself is not a major producer of oil, the conflict in Syria is affecting the prices of oil

Employee Involvement in Decision Making

Employee Involvement in Decision Making McCabe and Lewin (cited in Dundon et al., 2004) termed employee voice as a way of   expressing complaints or grievances or dissatisfaction and the participation and involvement of employees in decision making process of organization. During the last two decades, revolutionary steps that have been initiated to facilitate the high performance working mainly focused on increasing the ways of joint consultation, which attracts both employers (who demand better business results) and employees (who demand recognition and protection of employee rights) (CIPD, 2009). Employee voice is a very important factor in the success of an organization. Dundon et al. (2004) argues that successful voice regimes not only positively affect the performance of employees in terms of quality and productivity but also help to negate the issues which might explode otherwise. Opportunities of Employee voice are believed to be associated with the employee turnover. According to (Spencer,1986)employees will   show more interest in staying with the organization if they have more opportunities to express their dissatisfaction, grievances and to change the unsatisfactory work conditions. Collective bargaining and joint consultation have been the main spotlight of industrial relations as far as employee voice is concerned According to Boxall and Purcell (2003) in the industrial relations, the main focus for representation of employee voice has been on the collective bargaining and consultation. Freeman (1976) defined unions as the institutions of collective voice in the labour market. He further asserted that collective forums, for voicing employee issues are more effective in some situations as they help strengthening worker communities and provide a direct mean of communication between them and management; but Addison and Belfields (2004) findings tend to negate these arguments as according to them more formalized union structure may create a communication gap between workers and management, because they have to deal with their issues through a third party. Freeman and Medoff (1984) argued that union plays a vital role in minimizing turnover rate as they provide employees with the voice mechanisms through which they can rectify the work related problems and can negotiate higher compensation packages . Their arguments are supported by Batt, Colvin and Keefe (2002), who believes that employees in union set-ups are expected to have higher compensation than they could earn in similar jobs in non-union set-up and secondly unions strengthen employees, by providing them with a voice in determining policies that reduce the pay inequality, grievance and arbitration procedures for appealing managerial decisions Employee voice refers to the two dimensional dialogue between management and employees which allows employees to give their feedback and express their concerns and griefs relating to matters affecting them. Employee voice is not a one-off phenomenon as employees like to put their   suggestions for improvements and express griefs on a continuing basis. (Landau, 2009) Employee voice not only helps employees to improve performance but it is good in principle (Wilkinson 2001). It is a fundamental right of each employee to know the information regarding the financial and organizational performance of the organization   and express their concerns about the work conditions or feed any ideas which they feel will be beneficial and helpful in achieving the long term goals of the organization. Employee involvement (EI) and employee participation (EP) have been given much importance in the employee relations literature for a long time. Employee involvement is normally initiated by the management and it takes place at lower levels of organization sharing information at the shop floor on matters that effect their day to day working not allowing them to give their opinion about the higher lever decision making., on the other hand ,employee participation is driven by indirect means of representation like unions and advice councils etc and its aimed at higher levels of the organization concerning matters of long term importance (Ackers et al,2003). Employee voice plays an important role in increasing commitment. Sensitive financial and organizational information is shared with employees. These symbolic gestures can make them feel they are trust worthy and being treated fairly and openly and they are an important asset for the organization. (Marchington,Wilkinson, 2005 pp77). This commitment can lead to improved performance as committed employees put extra discretionary effort in to the work. Landau, 2009 concludes that employees who express their voice and their voice is accepted and appreciated are more committed,more likely to stay in the organization, have good attitudes about their immediate managers and feel more secure as compare to those who speak up unsuccessfully. Downward communication takes place in almost all the organizations, different kind of mediums are used to brief employees about the current issues faced by the organization. Employee voice can pave a way for more conducive and open work environment to work in.(Wilkinson,2004)   Financial participation not only helps employee to contribute towards the success of the organizatioan but also help them take their fair share of company profits. (Marchington,2005) It is argued that employees will be more likely to accept decisions in which they involved. Employees will be in a right /better position to perform if they know what is expected from them and what is the situation of the organization. Participation can lead to less conflict and increased team work spirit. There is compelling logic in favour of effective employee involvement.regular provision of relevant information to employees together with consultation on management proposal on issues, promotes a shared commitment to the objectives of an organization, this in turn maintains a positive climate in which employees are motivated to contribute to business success which benefits both employer and employees alike. Direct participation: direct participation means that the employees themselves express their opinion and say over matters affecting them on the contrast, indirect participation means that a third party e.g trade union or advice council represents the right of the employees (Guest, Fatchett, 1974). In top down problem solving, workers may feel that they are being lectured and not listened to ,where as in bottom up approach,employees may feel that management is using their ideas and suggestions without giving them any reward. A feeling of powerlessness decreases loyalty and commitment in employees, it is important to tap new ideas and suggestions from lower level employees as there are more close to the customer the workplace. There are more chances of having more satisfied employees if they genuinely being involved. Transformational leadership encourages their subordinates to give suggestions or report grievances or anything they are dissatisfied with because of their natural instinct towards improvement rather than just maintaining the status quo. These initiatives help the employees to perceive/discover their value for the organization and results in more committed and enthusiastic work force which is fundamental to the achievement of long term goals and objectives (Detort, 2007) References Derek Rollinson ,2005 pp56 Organizational behaviour and analysis, an integrated approach,3rd edition,prentice hall publishers. Wilkinson, A.(2001) Empowerment, in M. Warner (ed.)International Encyclopaedia of Business and Management(London:ineternational Thomson Business Press) Dr. Tony Bennett, 2007 The significance of employee voice mechanisms in the workplace: Employee participation in the new global economyPaper for submission to the Work, Employment and Society Conference held at Aberdeen University September 12th to 14th September Peter Ackers, Mick Marchington, Adrian Wilkinson ,Tony Dundon,2003 .Partnership and Voice, with or without trade unions: changing UK management approaches to organizational participation. Research series Paper 4 Peter Ackers, Mick Marchington, Adrian Wilkinson ,Tony Dundon,2004 Changing Patterns of Employee Voice: Case Studies from the UK and Republic of Ireland Mick Marchington, Adrian Wilkinson, ,2005 Human Resource   Management at Work, third edition,CIPD Jacqueline Landau, 2009, When Employee Voice is Met by Deafears, SAM Advanced Management Journal ,pp 4 -12 James R.Detort,2007 Leadership behaviours and employee voice,Is the door really open,Academy of management journal,Vol 50,no 4, 869-884 David Guest,Derek Fatchett 1974 ,Worker Participation: Individual Control and Performance ,institute of personnel management ,pp13 Mick Marchington,2005 ,Employee Involvement: Patterns ans Explanations ,Participation and Democracy at Work, essays in honour of Harvie Ramsay, pp27 palgrave macmillan CANNEL, M., 2009. Employee Voice [online]. CIPD. http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/empreltns/comconslt/empvoice.html DUNDON, T., WILKINSON, A., MARCHINGTON, M., and ACKERS, P., (2004) Changing Patterns of Employee Voice: Case Studies from the UK and Republic of Ireland The Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 298-322 SPENCER, D.G., (1986) Employee Voice and Employee Retention Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 488-502.

religion :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reflection Paper   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Who is God?†, this becomes as impossible a question to answer as the question â€Å"Who am I?†. Michael Himes, the author of this book which is called, Doing the Truth In Love, expresses his ideas and thoughts on how we are supposed to think about God, feel about God, and understand who and what God is. Mr. Himes, explains first and foremost that God is a mystery. He gives his opinions on how He is mystery and on how we should identify â€Å"God with God†. Himes states that God is agape, unconditional love. My problem with this is how does Himes know who or what God is? He has never met God, to find out and he has never asked God either. We believe that God has undying and pure love for us but we don’t know that for sure. God is the Trinity, meaning the father, son, and holy spirit. So is it that when Himes means that god is mystery, agape, and relationship; he means that the trinity stands for these three definitions of God? I t hink so.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  God is a mystery because we can’t fully understand God. We know he exists but we haven’t seen him, heard him talk or touched him, so how do we know he is not a complete mystery, I believe that to learn and understand God to our fullest capabilities, we have to undergo a â€Å"leap of faith†. We have to be willing to read and understand God’s message to us. We have to understand what He went through and why He did the things, he did. For example, he died for us. Why did He do this when He could have simply said â€Å"no†? I feel he died for us to have a better life and to be dependant for ourselves instead of having Him â€Å"spoon feed† everything to us. He wanted to see that if what he created could function and rely on each other to benefit ourselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  God is agape, because he loves us. As you said, Mr. Z, â€Å"God loves us simply because we exist. I am with you one-hundred percent. I understand that completely, because if He did not love us, he would not only let us live, but we would cease to exist. The best example I heard, is how you used your daughter, Maria, and how you said that after 30 some years you still don’t understand agapic love.

Implement person centred approaches in health Essay

1. Explain what is meant by ‘Person Centred Values’ It is to ensure that an individual is at the centre of their care and in control of the planning and support, upholding and promoting dignity, choice, individuality, respect, rights and privacy, independence and partnership. 2. Explain why it is important to work in a way that embeds person centred approach It is important to work in a way that embeds person centred approach in order to promote individuality , this allows the individual to make their own choices and decisions. This also enables them to understand the consequences as well as the possible risks of such decisions and choice that may relate to their own health and well-being. 3. Explain why risk taking can be a part of person centred approach Taking risks should not exclude a person from participating because the benefit can outweigh the risk. The ability to recognise, access and manage risks is essential to a person’s physical safety. It is the duty of a care provider to support the independence of the individual and manage any associated risks. Once the individual has made a choice, a risk assessment can then be put into place and recorded in the care plans. 4. Explain why using an individual’s care plan contributes to working in a person centred way Just as our needs change, so do those of the individuals we support. It is important to recognise that as needs change, the support which is provided will also need to be reviewed regularly, to see if any changes or adjustments are required. You have a responsibility to listen to the  individual, and to hear what they are saying, to write down any information about the change or support in their care plan and contact your supervisor or manager if this is likely to have an impact on the level, or type of care and support that is provided. 5. Explain the importance of establishing consent when providing care or support Consent should be gained for all activity, even if you were getting clothes out for an individual, you should ask for their consent, Consent helps to promote dignity, stops abuse, and allows the individual to make their own choices . It is essential for people not only to give their consent, but also to fully understand what they are consenting to, and the implications of this. People have become more comfortable with the idea of being asked for their views and consent. If no consent is given then you cannot proceed with the care. It is illegal to carry out a task without consent, or to put pressure on the person and go against their wishes. Consent can be implied verbal or written. Gaining consent protects both the carer and the person against legal challenges. 6. Explain what steps should be taken if consent cannot be readily established A person’s capacity to give consent should be assessed at the time the consent is required. Sometimes the person may not understand the choices they have or what is being asked of them. We must make sure as care workers that we do our best to help the person understand as much as they can. In the case of most of the individuals we care for, the individuals are usually asked to give consent, but if consent is not able to be given by the individual, then family members may give consent on their behalf. If a family member refuses to give consent to something that would place the individuals health in danger ,you would immediately need to contact your manager and ask them for advice, and to speak to the individual or family about any concerns. In general when seeking consent from the individual, if a person does not understand the question and every effort has been made, the next of kin is usually asked. If a person has a mental health disorder  such as dementia or a learning disability such as autism an advocate may be able to give consent for them. 7. Describe how active participation benefits the individual Active participation is essential to a person’s well-being and happiness, it allows the individual to think about what they can do for their self. It allows the individual to socialise and have relationships with others, and stops them from isolating themselves. It promotes independence and can help enhance the quality of the individuals life. 8. What kind of barriers is there that may prevent active participation? The kind of barriers are learning difficulties, physical disabilities and language barriers. You need to find ways to reduce barriers to activate participation by physical aids, communication aids and visual aids. 9. Explain why a workers personal view should not influence an individual’s choice A workers personal view should not influence an individual’s choice because it takes away the individuals human rights, and their ability to make choices for their self, It can affect their self esteem, it takes away the individual’s dignity, respect and fairness. It does not allow the individual to have their own thoughts and beliefs. 10.Describe how to support an individual to question or challenge decisions concerning them that are made by others That depends on the mental capacity of the individual you want to support. First, you must get their permission and then you must get them to express as exactly what help they feel they need. Then you can offer further information, suggestions, and a plan to challenge such decisions. You could offer to be their spokesperson if they weren’t confident enough to speak out, or to accompany them to any hearing or appointment. If the  person is mentally impaired, you would have to get their signed permission to speak and act on their behalf before any health or social care workers would listen to you. Because of issues of confidentiality, you either have to be next of kin, or obtain powers of attorney or guardianship. 11.Explain how individual’s identity and self-esteem are linked with well-being People come from different back grounds and have different views and needs. In order for older people to reach their maximum potential, their basicphysical and psychological needs should be met first. People have a chance of feeling good about them self if they are respected, encouraged to be independent, actively take part in traditions associated with their culture and religious beliefs. 12.Describe attitudes and approaches that are likely to promote an individual’s well-being To work in partnership to achieve and set goals that are realistic,  encourage individuals to develop and gain confidence in order to feel good about themselves and raise their own self esteem by communication with positive encouragement and active listening. Helping the individual to develop as much independence and assertiveness as they can. creating and maintaining a positive environment with interesting activities and pleasant surroundings.

Economics Week 8 International Trade Simulation Essays

Economics Week 8 International Trade Simulation Essays Economics Week 8 International Trade Simulation Paper Economics Week 8 International Trade Simulation Paper Assignment: International Trade Simulation XECO/212 University of Phoenix David Cullipher The economy of Rodamia relies on three main areas: agriculture, industry and services. The country is surrounded by neighbors who produce similar and different products. Uthania is specialized in making chocolate and confectionary, but also produces goods such as minerals, coals and corn. On the other hand, Suntize is a tourist attraction which is good at producing electronic goods. Lastly, Alfazia is an agrarian economy and produces goods like corn, rice and cotton. In this age of globalization, the economies of the world are becoming more integrated and countries are increasingly engaging in international trade. Rodamia is no exception. Its most obvious trading partners will be Suntize, Alfazia and Uthania. International trade occurs because different countries have different comparative advantage. Comparative advantage arises when countries experience different opportunity costs when producing the same goods. For example, China has comparative advantage in producing agricultural goods when compared to a country like Singapore. This is because China is a large country with a large population and a lot of land available for plantation. On the other hand, Singapore is a small country with scarce land and a small population. As such, China is able to produce more agricultural products at a cheaper price with its cheap labor, and can devote the rest of its money to production of other goods. On the other hand, Singapore has to give up the production of a lot of goods should it decide to devote its land to agriculture. Therefore, this shows that China has a comparative advantage when it comes to the production of agricultural goods. On the other hand, absolute advantage occurs when a country is able to produce more products using a lower amount of resources when compared to another country. For example, America is able to produce more cars using fewer resources than Africa due to its high levels of technology. As such, America has absolute advantage in producing cars and this is a big advantage. The same theories apply to Rodamia. In the first year, Rodamia should give export incentives to cheese and DVD players since it has comparative advantage in these areas. In addition, the country should import corn from Uthania, watches from Suntize and no product from Alfazia. This is in line with the comparative advantages which these countries have and helps to maximize the benefits for Rodamia. Even though Rodamia does not have absolute advantage in this scenario, trading with other countries which are more efficient in producing other goods will still bring about benefits to the country. In international trade, countries are able to focus on the production of goods which they are most efficient at. As such, they are able to increase output of goods and services. Through trading, countries are able to enjoy more goods and services than it could without trading. For example, when Rodamia trades cheese with corn with Uthania. It is able to enjoy more corn and cheese than it could if it divides its resources equally for the production of two goods without international trade. The increase in level of outputs by Rodamia and countries in the region will help to promote economic development. This can help to increase standard of living. In addition, it will also add value and confidence in the region and help to attract foreign investors into the region. This will further help to develop the economy and create more jobs. Other than economic benefits discussed above, international trade can also help to enhance political ties between countries. For example, trade between Rodamia and Uthania will help to enhance the ties between the two countries and this can help to prevent conflicts between the neighboring countries. However, international trade is also associated with disadvantages and limitations as well. In the case of Rodamia, it was believed that Suntize engaged in illegal dumping behavior in Rodamia. It was found that Suntize has priced its watches much lower than the price it has set in its domestic economy. As such, this has harmed the watch industry in Rodamia. This demonstrates the increase in competition which international trades which can harm domestic companies and force them to close down. One of the methods which Rodamia has taken to solve the problem was to impose quotas and taxes. Even though such measures can prevent problems like dumping, it can result in retaliation by other countries. This means that other countries will likewise impose protectionist measures and this will hinder the export of Rodamia’s goods to other countries. Exchange rate is affected by demand and supply. When demand for a particular country’s goods is high, it will increase demand for its currency and thus causes the currency to appreciate. On the other hand, when demand for the country’s goods fall, the demand for its currency will fall and this will cause it to depreciate. Similarly, when supply of money increases, it will cause the currency to depreciate. However, when supply of money decreases, it will cause the currency to appreciate. Exchange rate is an important factor in international trade. It can affect balance of trade which is a component of gross domestic product. For example, when the currency of Rodamia depreciates, its products will be relatively cheaper in foreign currency while foreign products will be relatively dearer in domestic currency. This will result in an increase in demand for Rodamia’s exports and a decrease in demand for foreign goods. As such, this will increase balance of trade and thus increase gross domestic product for the country. On the other hand, when the currency of Rodamia appreciates, its products will be relatively dearer in foreign currency while foreign products will be relatively cheaper in domestic currency. This will result in a decrease in demand for Rodamia’s exports and an increase in demand for foreign goods. This will decrease balance of trade and thus decrease gross domestic product. In conclusion, international trade is very important to Rodamia. It needs to be noted that comparative advantage is dynamic; as such the country needs to keep check of comparative advantages as well as that of other countries so that it can make trading decisions to maximize its welfare. Similarly, given that exchange rate plays a large part in influencing international trade, the government should manage the exchange rate on a frequent basis. References â€Å"Absolute Advantage†. Retrieved July 27,2011 investopedia. com/terms/a/absoluteadvantage. asp

Saint Hippolytus of Rome essays

Saint Hippolytus of Rome essays Hippolytus of Rome was one of the most prominent 3rd-century theologians in the Christian Church in Rome. He was born in 170 C.E. and died in 235 C.E. in Sardinia. Even though the exact place of his birth is unknown, it can be inferred that he was indeed probably born in Rome or is of Eastern descent. Hippolytus became a member of the Roman clergy and became a notable writer for the church. He was extremely talented in writing and learning, which won over the church easily. His intellect was known to exceed that of the bishops, who he refuted and showed no mercy. Hippolytus was one of the last Christian authors in Rome to write in Greek. He was often considered to be a student of Saint Irenaeus in Gaul since they both were passionate in heresy or difference of opinions. Especially since he wrote Kata pason haireseon elenkhos or The Refutation of all Heresies, it is regarded to as one of his chief works. The work consists of ten books in total. Books one through four describe the Greek philosophy, religion, and the variety of Gnosticism systems that arose from these pagan sources. In his last book he even provides a history of the Jewish chronology and explains orthodox Christian faith. Gnosticism was the important unorthodox movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge, and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit . He discouraged the easing of the penitential system which he thought was brought by the increase of pagan converts into the Church (New Catholic Encyclopedia). Hippolytus was an intellectual because he sought out heresies through enlightening himself. He focused on the Greco-Roman philosophers, magicians, astronomical tellers, and the mystery religion.' His studies of astronomy and astrolo...

Colorism in African American Women Research Paper

Colorism in African American Women - Research Paper Example Indeed, colorism is an issue that should be extremely discouraged within various people. This essay explores deeply and widely on colorism, specifically colorism with respect to African American women, drawing references from various movies including the film question of color and other relevant sources. The film, ‘A question of color unearths almost everything about color discrimination among African American women. Discrimination by color is not an issue that began just recently. A general study of American history reveals that discrimination against color has lived and thrived ever since African immigrants invaded America either by the slave trade or any other means and the movie depicts just that. The film, a question of color, actually more of a documentary, begins with a sequence in which a group of black men and women of different complexions. From high yellow and blue-black to chocolate, right from the start this movie depicts color consciousness among the black people. Somebody could be forgiven to think that is a course for color equity among the people, that all citizens belonging to various racial origins are entitled to equal opportunities. As the film progresses, prevalence is seen to be made to the people whose looks come closest to European standards of attractiveness and tend to fare much better than the people who look more African or black to be precise. The film also explores the tensions generated by colorism, is actually an internalized expression of white racism, leaving everyone else feeling terribly insecure. The dark skinned women are prompted to feel less desirable mates and also tend not to do so well financially, or economically in general (Felder 284). The economic issue brings a whole new issue regarding colorism with the African American women. The only reason that can effectively explain why the African American women are not financially endowed like their white counterparts is because they may not be as better educated as the white to secure jobs, even then, the education background of these women is only questionable because perhaps they did not get enough equal opportunities to access quality education. Conclusions can be conclusively drawn that the dark skinned women do not get enough employment opportunities as the white skinned are entitled to. The film states that the only moment in the history of America when the white-oriented consciousness among the dark skinned seemed to be falling apart was in 1962, when the black conscious movement made many people adopt the afro hair style. With their slogan, black is beautiful, they achieved considerable success even though it lasted for a short period. Either way, the afro hair style success was not received well by some the white skinned women as is evidenced when a Ms. Sandler, a news anchor, almost risks losing her job just for wearing the afro hair style introduced by the black conscious movement to work (Sinclair 654). Besides the instances cover ed in the plot of this family, there are many other occasions in which colorism in Africa American women is depicted. According to actor and singer Tyrese, colorism in dark skinned people is evident in the entertainment industry. Music videos are also an integral part of the visual arts subject. Unfortunately, the music video industry has also borrowed the color discrimination issue. This is clearly seen by the

The Users Experience of Critical Situations or Metal Psychiatric Medi Essay

The Users Experience of Critical Situations or Metal Psychiatric Medical Emergencies - Essay Example This is not quite in line with the NICE guidelines which suggest that mental health services should be provided for patients diagnosed with debilitating mental disorders that ensures that patients, and their families and carers, are well informed, cared for and supported (Nice.org.uk) There are several case studies in the literature with respect to critical situations or metal psychiatric medical emergencies. The perspective of users of the healthcare facility offered by the healthcare services is vital to gain a proper understanding of the situation. The other important aspect is the perception of palliative care and requirements of a patient suffering from a medical crisis. With respect to modern medicine, the French philosopher Descartes’s writings in the 17th century have had a very deep impact on the management of symptoms by healthcare professionals and their ways of approaching symptoms. This hence is reflected in both our perceptual understanding of them and consequently how we attempt to manage them. As mentioned earlier the principal outlook based on the philosophies of Cartesian dualism is that symptoms should be understood as aspects of a disordered biological state. The resultant trend is reflected in modern medicines approach to care which has largely been based on differentiating between physical and non-physical aspects of disease symptoms and subsequently targeting care at these physiological manifestations. However, most patients seldom if at all distinguish between the biological and perceptual symptoms, and indeed effective and appropriate acknowledgement of personal meanings of illness and its problems is a primary step to effe ctive care of sick individuals and their families ( Wenger, 1993; Halldorsdottir & Hamrin, 1996). Illness, as Pellegrino (1982) defines it, is only partially defined when understood as a physiological anomaly. The experience of sickness in psychiatric/behavioural dysfunction holistically is formed by an individual's acuity of alterations in his/her existential state and should not be ignored.  

Guanxi and corruption in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Guanxi and corruption in China - Essay Example In this short essay, I will start out by outlining problems of corruption in contemporary China. Then, I will explore to what extent Guanxi may contribute to what many perceive as a crisis of rampant corruption in the country. China has in the recent past been an object of scathing criticisms from both the local and international players over its apparent tolerance to corruption. Gong (2011) portrays the perception of China by Westerners who associate business culture in China with Guanxi. Regardless of the favour or job one wants in China, all that matters most is the ability to give gifts or bribery. Guanxi illustrates the complex form of corruption where relationship with bigwigs and those in powers motivate most of the decisions. In addition to enhancing business prospects for the corrupt in China, Guanxi has further led to the formations of monopolies pegged on capitalistic endeavours. This practise in fact threatened the survival of China as communist country. To further illustrate the problem of corruption in China, a survey one conducted on 100 people who were prosecuted for bribe-giving. The result indicated that 94.2% of them asserted that â€Å"they would â€Å"warm up the relationship† first before they would bribe with money† (Ling Li 7). Corruption through Guanxi has harmed Chinese image on both the local and international spheres. Illegal businesses that fail to adhere to human rights have been allowed to operate without legal charges. Also, the level of property rights violations and manufacture of counterfeit products without concomitant legal actions has left many questioning the willingness of China to fight corruption (Zhang). The Chinese judicial system is one of the areas significantly affected by cases corruption. â€Å"Guanxi† is evidently a factor into a judicial or arbitral decision. However, worth noting is the fact that this corruption does not necessarily assume the traditional form of bribe,

Relationship in Cousin Kate Essay Example for Free

Relationship in Cousin Kate Essay The crisp summer air filled the local park, the sun burning down, everyone wanted some fresh air-the park was packed. A young couple lounging on the fresh grass having a barbecue, the juicy aroma of sausages floated through the park, making everyone hungry. Across from the couple parked precariously on an old patch of grass was an ancient ice-cream van. The old, decrepit van had been in the family for years, paint peeling, bodywork rusting, the ice-cream van was fit for the dump, but as if transfixed, everyone in the local park was swarming to the van, tired parents, bored teenagers-everyone needed some refreshment. The ice-cream van driver a sweaty OAP, looking worn and fed up, his eyes scanning the crowd,hoping for some refuge from the swarm of impatient customer. Beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, handing out melting ice-creams laden with sprinkles, the summer heat was all too much. Close to the van was a young mother, struggling to control her two troublesome toddlers fighting with their younger sibling,sitting in a rather worn looking pram. Her oldest child, seemingly unaware, was clicking away on her phone. Baby crying, mother screaming, she was quickly attracting the attention of passers-by. The young mother was trying to explain to her children she had no money for ice-cream. Tired and confused she attempted to calm down her noisy children, stopping to pick up her crying toddler who had just fallen over, whilst trying to make a run for it towards the trees;she narrowly missed being trampled by a passing runner and his personal trainer. The sweaty, runner, looked nervously around the park, his eyes longingly glancing towards the ice-cream van, licking his lips, wishing he could gulp down an ice-cold can of coke. Rather large in comparison to his personal trainer- a young, fit female. He was finding it hard to keep up, begging her to slow down. Tiredly trying to tug-down his sweat-drenched West Ham t-shirt he came to a stop, collapsing right in the middle of the worn patch of grass, a group of boisterous boys were playing a rowdy game of football. Out of the usual gang playing football, one boy was already perched on a nearby bench being comforted by his concerned mother, clumsily dabbing anaemic looking antiseptic onto his rather badly grazed knee. Other players were taking a break, sitting on patches of grass licking rapidly melting ice-creams, whilst watching the carnage occuring on the pathetic looking pitch. One over-excited boy lobs the battered ball towards a passing couple, hand in hand the old couple quicken their pace, retreating from the brutal match. The old couple carry on along the path, leaning on their walking sticks for support. The old lady’s dress softly flaps in the wind, exposing her swollen feet clad in thick socks with sandals. Their aged faces crinkling into smiles as they watch the sunset. Their eyes wide through their magnifying-glass shaped spectacles. The local park is gradually cloaked in datrkness, the park slowly clears, until all you can hear is the gentle laughter ringing from the late night barbecues and midnight strollers. Wandering through the park, engulfed by my thick coat, I stare around me with disgust. The once green and beautiful park is now grey and boring; damaged by youths. However, the park is the place where I can just come and think: its quiet and peaceful and I feel free; away from the bustle and noise of the city. There is a chill breeze in the air, therefore most people are inside their warm houses, clustering round their coal fires, but this is when I like it best. To me, wrapped up in layers and scarves, it only feels fresh, not cold and I can think better when Im alone. I stare at the climbing frame, once bright and colourful with a shiny slide, but now the only colour is the dull rusty red of the metal and the black of the graffiti covering it. My eyes glaze over while I reminisce about happier times spent on the climbing frame, and how I used to fly through the air, aided by the monkey bars, just like a chimpanzee swinging through a tree. The trees in the park creak and groan as the wind picks up. Leaves rustle at my feet and my hair is whipped around my raw face by unseen hands. I disappear inside my warm jacket and spy the swings over in the corner. As I sit on the only swing not broken by vandals, one gloved hand entwined round the chain, and my feet scuffing at the tarmac, I gently propel myself forward and back in gentle rhythm. I am lost in my own world. Absent-mindedly my free hand delves deep into the mystery of my pocket and finds a single, solitary chocolate truffle. I unwrap the truffle slowly, so as not to damage the shiny wrapper. It has a wonderfully rich smell that only chocolate has and the creamy centre of the truffle warms my frozen insides as it makes its journey to my stomach. The roundabout is twirling through the wind in the distance, but I cant see it. I am entranced. I cant tear my eyes away from the wrapper fluttering in my hands. Its iridescent quality is making me feel tranquil and serene. My eyes swim in and out of focus as my vision is replaced by one from a long time ago. Parts of Goole have been flooded following heavy rain. Firefighters were called to the East Riding Council offices in Church Street after the building was struck by lightning. Emergency services said flooding was localised and advised people to check the Environment Agency website for the latest flood warnings. At present the Met Office is forecasting Hull will escape the rain this evening (Thursday). However, heavy rain is forecast for the city and county from mid-morning tomorrow (Friday). John Skidmore, head of streetscene services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: We have been alerted by the Met Office of heavy rain which will arrive on the east coast at 7am and move across the entire region which could lead to potential flooding issues. We have suspended all grounds, highway and street sweeping operations tomorrow so we have staff available should we need to activate any emergency plans. We will have staff at locations across the East Riding letting us know how heavy the rainfall is and if there are any areas of localised flooding so we can deploy services where we need them quickly. The rain is predicted to arrive on the east coast at 7am and move out of the area early afternoon. Driving conditions in tomorrow morning’s rush hour could be potentially hazardous due to surface water. I would urge drivers to allow extra time for their journey and drive accordingly. South Yorkshire’s public organisations have been widely praised for keeping people safe after last summer’s unprecedented floods. Now a new report aims to ensure any future flood would be met with an even better response for the people of South Yorkshire. The â€Å"Final Report on the Flooding of Summer 2007† highlights how the investment in emergency planning over the last decade proved its worth in ensuring that the response was of a high standard. Tragically, two people lost their lives in the early stages of the flooding, but the number of casualties would have been much higher had the response of emergency services, and other partners, not been so well co-ordinated. The report has been produced by South Yorkshire’s Local Resilience Forum (LRF), a high-level partnership of the area’s emergency services, local authorities, health authorities and other key partner agencies. The 13-page report praises the â€Å"prompt action by responding organisations† to keep people safe, and notes that effective recovery planning meant there has been â€Å"no large dislocation of communities to areas outside of the county as has happened elsewhere. The report also looks at areas of the response which provide lessons to be learned in the event of any future flood. The ‘Gold’ command which led the partnership’s response â€Å"proved effective in managing rapidly unfolding events such as the potential collapse of the dam at Ulley Reservoir,† but several improvements to the way that command structure operated have been identified. Steps are also being taken to improve the flood warning systems to provide a quicker indication that flooding might be on its way. Action is already under way to address 26 key recommendations, some of which provide an overlap with the recommendations of the national interim Pitt Report, which was published on 17th December 2007. The Environment Agency is already planning to install additional flood warning equipment to the north and west of Sheffield. A new, specially-designed ‘Gold’ command location is also being developed in the county. This means that in any future flooding – or similar major emergency South Yorkshire’s response will be informed not only by training exercises, but by improvements developed from real-life events. Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, chair of the South Yorkshire LRF, said: â€Å"The flooding of summer 2007 led to a tremendous response by everyone involved, which demonstrated the value of all the planning and training that has taken place for many years. â€Å"However, no amount of foresight could have fully prepared us for such an unprecedented situation. It is right that we now reflect on the things we would do better in any future flooding events, as well as the excellent work which took place last summer. †

Ruisdael Vs. Monet :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ruisdael and Monet When one arrives in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, he or she may be surprised, as I was, by its grand entrance. Upon entering this large pillared building, one is almost overwhelmed by the immense collection. Although very extensive, the museum undoubtedly concentrates on the grouping and placement of paintings and sculptures within the building. Through chronological and thematic paths, the museum takes the viewer through the major contributors to the advancement of art, from around the world. Separated by only a marble floor, the room containing Salomon Van Ruisdael’s Landscape with Cattle and an Inn, differs greatly from that of Claude Monet’s, Railroad Bridge at Argenteuil. These two paintings, when surrounded by the art of their contemporaries, create an environment for the viewer that parallels their original context. The halls of the Museum are set up in a long and slim rectangle with open doorways between all of them. The opening hallway to the Dutch gallery is modest in its wooden paneling until one turns and enters the first room on the right. Beautifully creased wood panels, line the walls, while intricately carved panels hold the grand window directly across from the door. Rich in color, the walls make one feel very comfortable in this intimate surrounding. The feel of the wood almost brings the viewer back to 17th century Holland. Reflecting off the V-shaped wood paneled floor, light flows through the window, illuminating the Dutch landscapes. A simple wooden throne sits against one wall, and a short dresser rests along the opposite wall. Instead of being labeled directly under or beside the painting, there are simply numbers which lead one to a book of descriptions. This groups the paintings together as one description of Dutch life, removing the initial need to find the name of the artist . Because the viewer is able to view Ruisdael’s Landscape with Cattle and an Inn through the doorway, even before they enter the gallery, he or she is able to recognize its importance. This painting appeals on many levels; it is a history painting documenting Dutch farmers of the 17th century, it is a representation of northern European style, and it is a detailed depiction of life. The room itself, is a perfect match for the bold but simple colors and detailed brush strokes of the Dutch landscapes. The dark wood walls shape the gallery into that of a living room in an old Dutch cottage.

Nursing Homes are a Haven for the Elderly Essay -- Nursing Homes Perso

Nursing Homes are a Haven for the Elderly A.) Security 1.)Curfews 2.)Lost faculties (No need to drive) 3.)Away from con-artists B.) Activities 1.)Entertainment/Songs (Brownies example) 2.)Activities/Crafts (Beta Club example) 3.)People of similar age C.)Health Care 1.)Takes stress off of the family 2.)Help with prescriptions and medicine 3.)In case of emergency... The Nursing Home: A Haven for the Elderly Today's nursing homes are excellent environments for our elderly. These establishments provide health care, entertainment, security, and above all, a home for over 1,000,000 American citizens over age 70. There is no better place for an individual who is slowly losing his or her faculties. During one's "golden years," one should not have to worry about daily chores like washing the dishes or mowing the lawn. One should be able to relax and enjoy life. Nursing homes give the elderly a chance to do just that. Security is a primary focus in most nursing homes. Curfews exist to insure the safety and protection of the residents. Also, busses take the senior citizens to places of common interest, such as the grocery store and local shopping malls. This alleviates the everyday stress of driving for those residents who are losing some of their basic faculties, and creates a safer driving environment for everyone. In addition, these ol...

Speech of Advocacy Rhetorical Situation Proposal

The problem I want to address in the speech is that whether colleges put too much stock in standardized test scores. It’s an actual exgience because colleges are currently relying a lot on standardized test scores as a base for their applications. 2. The teenage community is the most directly affected by the exigence. 3. Most people do seem to generally agree that the exigence exists because the people all have been attempting to get into colleges and have gone through the pressure placed on standardized test scores. 4.The values threatened by the existence of the exigence is the actual performance of students in general, not just under pressure and relying on one test score. Role of the Speaker 5. This exigence interests me because from young, I’ve always had to study and prepare for standardized tests. In China, tests represent whether we get into a good middle school, a good high school, and a good college. We can be the best in our class, but without scoring high on the placement tests, we’ll never get into a good school. The same was here, in high school, junior year was all about testing and studying for the ACTs or the SATs.There was too much pressure placed on just the standardized tests. 6. My relationship to the community was not affected because I am a teen and I have gone through all these placement tests. Role of the Audience 7. I believe all my audience has had exposure to exigence, they’ve all experienced the pressures of tests during their high school years because we’re all here today because of in part to standardized test scores. 8. Their relationship to the community is still not affected because we’re all teens who have taken these tests. 9.I believe they’ll agree with my perception because they’ve all been through the pressures of the standardized tests, and whether they scored good or bad, I believe they’ll all agree that standardized test scores are being placed too high in a pplication standards. 10. There is really nothing we can to minimized the exigence except to protest to the government and ask colleges to change the way the application process is. Speech 11. I’ll use a causal order for my speech, because then I can hit the cause and effect of each of my points as I talk about them. 12.The main points in my speech will be to talk about the pressures of the tests on the students, the high placement the colleges place on the tests, and how students who are straight A students may have just done bad on the tests, and how the tests also places pressure on the students own academic work. 13. It’ll be most effective for my audience to just agree with my position because there’s really not much that can be done in terms of actions for the topic. 14. I will ask them to agree that this exigence exists and that we’ve all be affected by it. 15. My goal is not to advocate action but to advocate agreement.

The Pros and Cons of Solar Power

The Pros and Cons of Solar Power The prospect of generating pollution-free power from the sun’s rays is appealing, but to-date the low price of oil combined with the high costs of developing new technology have prevented the widespread adoption of solar power in the United States and beyond. At a current cost of 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, solar power costs as much as five times more than conventional fossil fuel-based electricity. And dwindling supplies of polysilicon, the element found in traditional photovoltaic cells, are not helping. The Politics of Solar Power According to Gary Gerber of the Berkeley, California-based Sun Light Power, not long after Ronald Reagan moved into the White House in 1980 and removed the solar collectors from the roof that Jimmy Carter had installed, tax credits for solar development disappeared and the industry plunged â€Å"over a cliff.† Federal spending on solar energy picked up under the Clinton administration, but trailed off again once George W. Bush took office. But growing climate change worries and high oil prices have forced the Bush administration to reconsider its stance on alternatives like solar, and the White House has proposed $148 million for solar energy development in 2007, up almost 80 percent from what it invested in 2006. Increasing the Efficiency and Lowering the Cost of Solar Power In the realm of research and development, enterprising engineers are working hard to get solar power’s costs down, and expect it to be price-competitive with fossil fuels within 20 years. One technological innovator is California-based Nanosolar, which replaces the silicon used to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity with a thin film of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS). Nanosolar’s Martin Roscheisen says CIGS-based cells are flexible and more durable, making them easier to install in a wide range of applications. Roscheisen expects he will be able to build a 400-megawatt electricity plant for about a tenth of the price of a comparable silicon-based plant. Other companies making waves with CIGS-based solar cells include New York’s DayStar Technologies and California’s Miasolà ©. Another recent innovation in solar power is the co-called â€Å"spray-on† cell, such as those made by Massachusetts’ Konarka. Like paint, the composite can be sprayed on to other materials, where it can harness the sun’s infrared rays to power cell phones and other portable or wireless devices. Some analysts think spray-on cells could become five times more efficient than the current photovoltaic standard. Venture Capitalists Investing in Solar Power Environmentalists and mechanical engineers aren’t the only ones bullish on solar these days. According to the Cleantech Venture Network, a forum of investors interested in clean renewable energy, venture capitalists poured some $100 million into solar start-ups of all sizes in 2006 alone, and expect to commit even more money in 2007. Given the venture capital community’s interest in relatively short-term returns, it’s a good bet that some of today’s promising solar start-ups will be tomorrow’s energy behemoths. EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E.