Essay Corporate Finance - 1613 Words

Why is corporate finance important to all managers? Corporate finance is a specific area of finance dealing with the financial decisions corporations make and the tools as well as analyses used to make these decisions. The primary goal of corporate finance is to enhance corporate value, without taking excessive financial risks. A corporations managements primary responsibility is to maximize the shareholders wealth which translates to stock price maximization. Corporate finance provides the skills managers need in order to: ï  ¬ Identify and select the corporate strategies and individual projects that add value to their firm- Capital Budgeting ï  ¬ Forecast the funding requirements of their company, and devise strategies for†¦show more content†¦In practice business operations are financed by the owners, but sometimes businesses are financed by venture capital firms. Venture capital is capital typically provided by outside investors for financing of new, growing or stagnating businesses. They are characterized as risky investments. Before developing a final product, venture capitalists do not invest into business. In the first stage the financing venture has finally launched and achieved initial traction. Sales are trading upwards. The funding from this stage is used to fuel the sales, reach the breakeven point, increase productivity, and cut unit costs. At this point the company is two or three years old. This is the stage when the venture capitalists get into business. At second stage of financing, sales are starting to grow rapidly. The company is also rapidly accumulating accounts receivable and inventory. Capital from this stage is used for funding expansion in all its forms from meeting increasing marketing expenses to entering new markets to finance rapidly increasing accounts receivable. At third stage sales are climbing. Customers are happy. The second level of managers is in place. Money from this financing is used for increasing capacity, marketing, working capital, and product improvement or expansion. After this stage company is at Mezzanine or Bridge financing point when investment bankers agreedShow MoreRelatedCorporate Finance Notes1881 Words   |  8 PagesStudy notes By Zhipeng Yan Corporate Finance Stephen A. Ross, Randolph W. Westerfield, Jeffrey Jaffe Chapter 1 Introduction to Corporate Finance ..................................................................... 2 Chapter 2 Accounting Statements and Cash Flow.............................................................. 3 Chapter 3 Financial Markets and NPV: First Principles of Finance................................... 6 Chapter 4 Net Present Value....................................Read MoreNotes for Corporate Finance2082 Words   |  9 PagesCorporate Finance Notes * Chapter One: Introduce to Corporate Finance 1. Three Questions: A. What Long-term asset should be invested? Capital Budgeting B. How to raise cash for capital expenditures? Capital Structure C. How to manage short-term cash flow? Net Working Capital 2. Capital Structure: Marketing Value of Firm = MV of Debt + MV of Equity 3. Finance perspect and Accountant perspect: Finance: Cash Flow ! Accountant: A/R means profit ! 4. Sole proprietorshipRead MoreCorporate Finance69408 Words   |  278 PagesCorporate finance P. Frantz, R. Payne, J. Favilukis FN3092, 2790092 2011 Undergraduate study in Economics, Management, Finance and the Social Sciences This subject guide is for a Level 3 course (also known as a ‘300 course’) offered as part of the University of London International Programmes in Economics, Management, Finance and the Social Sciences. This is equivalent to Level 6 within the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ). For moreRead MoreCorporate Finance4881 Words   |  20 PagesTrends of Leverage 7 2.3 Comparison of capital structure with similar companies 9 2.4 Capital expenditures and its financing 10 2.5 Important factors influencing the use of debt financing 10 2.5.1 Tax Advantage 10 2.5.2 Corporate Tax Rate 11 2.5.3 Credit rating 11 2.5.4 Interest rate 11 2.5.5 Company’s Industry 12 2.5.6 Company’s growth rate 12 2.5.7 Some other arguments about Harvey Norman 12 2.6 Evidence of financial distress 13 Read MoreCorporate Finance1421 Words   |  6 Pagesoperating earnings of the firm. The capitalization is to be made at a rate appropriate to the risk class of the firm. Growth Plans, are involved in capital structural theories in which a certain amount will be allocated for the growth plans. A finance manager should draw a plan according for the dividend policy. For Example: The firm has $10 million as equity capital and $6 million as debt capital and the firm made a profit (after tax) of $2 million, and the fund allocated to the growth plan wasRead MoreCorporate Finance - Concept Questions12247 Words   |  49 Pagesquestions of corporate finance? a. Investment decision (capital budgeting): What long-term investment strategy should a firm adopt? b. Financing decision (capital structure): How much cash must be raised for the required investments? c. Short-term finance decision (working capital): How much short-term cash flow does company need to pay its bills. ( Describe capital structure. Capital structure is the mix of different securities used to finance a firms investmentsRead MoreFundamentals of Corporate Finance 9e82683 Words   |  331 Pageshttp://helpyoustudy.info Chapter 01 - Introduction to Corporate Finance Chapter 01 Introduction to Corporate Finance Answer Key Multiple Choice Questions 1. Which one of the following terms is defined as the management of a firm s long-term investments? A. working capital management B. financial allocation C. agency cost analysis D. capital budgeting E. capital structure Refer to section 1.1 AACSB: N/A Difficulty: Basic Learning Objective: 1-1 Section: 1.1 Topic: Capital budgeting Read MoreCorporate Business Finance 7343 Words   |  30 PagesCorporate Business Finance Seminar 5 Project Finance Lauren Leigh Essaram 207507339 Ruvimbo Mukorera 206525531 27 September 2010 Submitted in partial fulfilment of the duly performed requirement of International Business Finance, School of Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal Abstract Non-recourse financing has grown in popularity, especially in developing countries. It has done so more specifically in the basic infrastructure, natural resources and also in the energyRead MoreAdvanced Corporate Finance4303 Words   |  18 PagesUniversity of Puget Sound School of Business and Leadership BUS 434 Advanced Corporate Finance Professor Alva Wright Butcher Tues-Thurs 11:00-12:20 McIntyre 107 Spring Semester 2012 Office: McIntyre 111 I Phone: 253-879-3349 FAX: 253-879-3156 Office Hours: T-Th: 1:00-1:50 Wed: 9:30-10:30 And by appointment Note that I am always willing to schedule additional office hours by appointment. I check email frequently, so that is also a goodRead MoreCorporate Finance Essay1150 Words   |  5 PagesCorporate Finance Essay Most corporate financing decisions in practice reduce to a choice between debt and equity. The finance manager wishing to fund a new project, but reluctant to cut dividends or to make a rights issue, which leads to the decision of borrowing options. The issue with regards to shareholder objectives being met by the management in making financing decisions has come to become a major issue of recent times. This relates to understanding the concept of the agency problem. It deals

The Decline Of The Twentieth Century - 1156 Words

1. Introduction One of the major medical achievements of the twentieth century was the dramatic increase in the average global life expectancy. In 1950, the global median age was 23.6 years; by the year 2000, it rose to 26.4 – a gain of three years. The United Nations has projected that by the year 2050, the median age will jump to 37 years – a ten-year gain (Kochhar, 2014). People are living longer. At the same time, people are having fewer children. The consequence will be a situation without precedent: by the year 2020, there will be more of people over 65 years of age than children. World Health Organization (WHO) and many of the developed as well as developing nations are raising questions such as  ¬ Will longer lives result in longer periods of good health, longer periods of productive careers and social engagements, or will old age mean prolonged illness, disability, and dependency on family and the State. How will the healthcare and social costs be borne by high-income and lo w-income nations? Managing the demographic forces will require creation of institutions and infrastructures that may seem costly; waiting could be costlier (Dobrianskt, Suzman and Beard 2011). The first part of the paper describes the projected changes in the population and the attitudes towards aging and coping with aging-related issues. An aging population, without appropriate policies, can become an economic and social burden in many of the European countries. The second section describes someShow MoreRelatedThe Decline Of The Early Twentieth Century2289 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction The early twentieth century saw a gradual shift in the way Americans desired to care for struggling single mothers. The well-being of poverty stricken mothers, and their offspring became a social responsibility for the first time. Americans wanted to ensure that they were protected, and constant advocation to improve upon nineteenth century poor laws that favored separating families reached the White House in 1909. Incited by the peoples demands President Theodore Roosevelt called aRead MoreThe Decline Of The Nineteenth And Twentieth Century1040 Words   |  5 PagesThe nineteenth and twentieth century were very devastating times in the world not just for North America, but also in Europe politically and economically. This has been very devastating times in this world not just on North America, but also in Europe politically and economically. During the nineteenth-twenty’s, the economic crisis was hitting hard. Trade barriers and devaluing currencies were the only way the go vernment had of protecting themselves. International trade and free trade among countriesRead MoreThe Contribution of the Discoveries and Theories of Charles Darwin in the Nineteenth Century to the Decline of Religious Belief in the Twentieth Centu586 Words   |  3 PagesThe Contribution of the Discoveries and Theories of Charles Darwin in the Nineteenth Century to the Decline of Religious Belief in the Twentieth Century In Victorian England, people wanted answers. Explanations for unusual natural events were becoming unbelievable in an increasingly educated time, and these religious and supernatural explanations were doubted by many. People needed a sensible explanation for life and mans existence. Charles Darwin provided a possible answerRead MoreWilliam Carlos Williams s The Twentieth Century833 Words   |  4 Pages The early twentieth century in the United States was a time of rapid change combined with rapid loss. As new technologies designed to improve everyday living became available to people across the nation, a new culture was rising in America: a culture that both afforded comfort and thrived on capitalism. There were many critics of this new America, including poets Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams. The aforementioned poets reflected on a fast changing America through exploitation. As an AmericanRead MoreExamining the View that the Traditional Nuclear Family is in Decline1344 Words   |  6 PagesExamining the View that the Traditional Nuclear Family is in Decline When evaluating the view that the traditional nuclear family (of two opposite sex married parents living in a household that contains only them and their own dependant children), is in decline, I will be taking various pieces of research and evidence from Sociologists, Journalists and other sources, into consideration in order to try to determine how true this view is. The nuclear family would appear toRead MoreEssay on Is Western Civilization in a State of Decline?756 Words   |  4 Pagesthe century was spent under conflict and unsettled disputes. Later the Soviet Union broke down and divided into separate republics, giving freedom to the West. But this liberation led to uncertainties for the West’s future leadership. Many issues arose questioning whether the change will decrease the danger or will the West be able to maintain the position in world’s affairs during the millennium? Will the twenty-first century be more peaceful and have productive outcomes than the twentieth centuryRead MoreWorld Superpower Rankings : The United Kingdom And Japan Essay1455 Words   |  6 Pageson the magnitude influence that stretches beyond their terrains. However, what sort of considerations, measures, weightings and criteria is used in these rankings? What exactly contributes to a country being ranked as a sup erpower in our current century? Some experts assert that a mixture of several factors comprising the vastness of a nation’s military resources, economical might, political influence and human resource intensity. Most commonly, military power often takes the first considerationRead MoreBooks Are Humanity in Print Essay1364 Words   |  6 Pagesmaterialistic court; and, modern literary classics depict worlds of which the human race is ruled by technology. From ancient Greek mythology to the next big literary classic, the era in which a work is written reflects the period in which it was penned. Centuries before the introduction of the printing press and written history, historical events were passed down through oral accounts to which people could take artistic liberties without a soul knowing. Spanning six-hundred years, the Anglo-Saxon period isRead MoreProblems Associated With Geography And Economic Development Across Countries1431 Words   |  6 PagesDo you agree that twentieth century divergence in economic development across countries was largely the result of geographic factors? The traditional view associated with geography and economic development across countries is that distance has played a huge role in creating disparities in terms of location . However, this interpretation is questioned by some who note that the failure of developing economies can be attributed to the persistent problem of institutional failure, which prevents individualsRead MoreEssay on The Growing Economic Crisis of the Late Nineteenth Century1068 Words   |  5 PagesAPUSH Document Analysis and Questions Packet The Growing Economic Crisis of the Late Nineteenth Century Part A. 1. What did John D. Rockefeller believe was the key to stabilizing the oil industry? He believed that centralizing the administration, hard-working people that applied themselves and work together, and a monopoly – owning as much as they can – would stabilize the oil industry. 2. What were the weaknesses of each of the following methods of stabilizing the industry?

Mark Bittman Man v. Meat Free Essays

As the spokesperson In the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What’s wrong with what we eat, Blatant expresses his once about negative ecological and health impacts of our current food regimen. He describes our modern diet as, â€Å"overwhelmingly meat-centered and hooked on fast food† (TED). Meat’s role In our society is massive, and knowing more about it is crucial. We will write a custom essay sample on Mark Bittman: Man v. Meat or any similar topic only for you Order Now When Batman delivers the â€Å"stinging condemnation† of the way we eat now, and many worldwide were listening. Mark Batman’s argument, on how eating as much meat and Junk food as we do is negatively affecting the health of our planet and ourselves, is accurate and credible, because of his extensive background in the food Industry and the valid evidence that ties his claim altogether. What Is It about Mark Bellman’s great background In the food Industry that makes his argument even more so probable? Well, throughout his career, he has won several awards from the James Beard Foundation and the International Association of Culinary Professionals for his writing and his television series, Batman Takes on America’s Chefs. The Beard Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working In North America. † (lames Beard Foundation) Mark Batman was recognized, for being a culinary professional who had shown excellence and achievement in his field. The CAP Cookbook Awards honor the authors, publishers, and other contributors behind the best of cookbooks pub lished each year† (CAP). Due to this acknowledgement, Blatant now holds â€Å"a coveted mark of distinction† (CAP). According to, the highly awarded journalist and author, Michael Pollen, Mark Batman is one of â€Å"The World’s 7 Most Powerful Bodies,† an honor that Batman shared with First Lady Michelle Obama (EGG). In order for Batman to get where he Is currently, he had to work hard and lobby for his position. In 201 2, he was the only regularly-appearing opinion penman in a leading newspaper in the united States, writing rather much exclusively about food, for the most prime paper in the country and one of the most major papers in the world (ICE, 2012). Evidently, due to the outstanding highlights of Mark Batman’s food career, he Is a credible source. 1 OF 7 it is now time to take a look at the research that completely ties the claims that he makes together. Other than in the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What is wrong with what we eat, in an interview with the Institute of Culinary Education, the â€Å"food columnist† continually argues that eating meat is a big problem for the food system. Batman lams that, â€Å"If we had stricter laws on the treatment of animals, and better controls on the use of antibiotics in animals, better waste disposal systems, better environmental controls, it would make meat much more expensive, and if we made meat much more expensive, then sustainable meat and meat raised non-industrially would be more competitively priced† (ICE, 2012). As a result, of higher meat prices, meat consumption rates would decrease. By consuming less meat, the generation of the world’s greenhouse gases would also decrease, (Batman, 2008) because eating meat is what is â€Å"destroying our environment† (PETA). Although PETA is a bias source, this statement can easily be proven as correct. Validated through research, what we eat contributes â€Å"more greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO), methane, nitrous oxide, and the like to spew into the atmosphere than either transportation or industry’ (Filial, 2009). Many underestimate the importance of eating less meat, over half of the carbon footprint of the average American diet comes from animal products (Take Extinction off of Your Plate). While watching the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What’s wrong with what we eat, I was shocked how big of an impact eating eat has on the Earth and the people who inhabit it. When Batman mentioned that meat was more of a concern than transportation, I started to think back to the time when many CEO-friendly people would bike or walk places instead of spreading around â€Å"car pollution. † They, like my past self, had no idea that eating less meat does more than not driving a car. Mark Batman’s claim within his concern is accurate, because of the various studies of the negative impacts of meat consumption on our environment. Logically, if eating meat affects something as big as the Earth, it would have a bigger effect on our overall being as well. To back up Mark Batman’s claim about how we should have â€Å"better controls on the use of antibiotics in animals†, science-writing intern Cassandra Brooks states that, â€Å"the administration of antibiotics causes health problems, so much so that it can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threaten the usefulness of medicines that treat people. † That must be one of the key reasons why meat eaters experience more health problems. â€Å"Harvard studies showed that daily meat eaters have approximately three times the colon cancer risk, compared to those who rarely eat meat. † Eating meat encourages the growth of cancer, (The Physicians Committee) while plant-based diets promotes a healthy lifestyle that reduces such negative health impacts (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Diets that are rich in fiber, such as a Vegetarian diet, speeds the passage of food through the colon, effectively removing carcinogens, changing the type of bacteria that is present in the intestine, so that there is a reduced production of carcinogenic secondary bile acids. Anti-cancer compounds. Those reasons explain why, vegetarians are at the lowest risk for cancer and have a significantly reduced risk compared to meat-eaters (The Physicians Committee). According to new research in Austrian vegetarians, â€Å"Many people who go vegetarian do so because they are experiencing health problems† (Messing, 2014). Eating meat as we do is killing us, and according to Dry. Frank Huh, co-author of a new Harvard study on the topic, what is new â€Å"is the magnitude of risk associated with very moderate red meat consumption. † The magnitude for processed meat is even greater than that. The Harvard study concluded that one serving of red meat a day increases the risk of early death by 13 percent. The same single daily serving of processed meat (like bacon or hot dog) increases that risk by 20 percent. And â€Å"one serving† means that little deck-of-cards sized lump that doesn’t satisfy anyone over the age of 10. Huh acknowledged that â€Å"it’s not really surprising because red meat consumption has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. What is surprising is the magnitude of risk associated with very moderate red meat consumption† (Hoffman, 2014). There are both pros and cons when it comes to eating or not eating meat, but the cons of not eating meat are easier to fix than the health related problems that come with eating meat. Eating less or no meat requires change, real change that involves having a clear understanding of meat’s critical role in our lives. Just knowing how negative the impacts of eating meat are to the overall health of each person and the evidence that proves it, Mark Batman’s claim stands true. Real change in the right direction something that Mark Batman predicts will eventually occur and he believes that his solution to tax Junk food will enable that. The money that comes from taxing Junk food, would be used to subsidize public health measures like making fruits and vegetables less expensive and more widely accessible. Batman compares this change in food to, great strides for minorities, the establishment of Medicare, and tremendous strides for women. By regulating Cafes Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and taxing Junk, Batman presumes that change is going to happen, and assumes that we are Just too impatient. He believes that the change that we want to see is not coming as quickly as we would like it to, and the thing that we need to realize is that real change is a slow process (Ottawa). It took over 20 years, in order to revise nutrition labels. That revision had a â€Å"dramatic effect on what people choose to eat and drink and what products sell in permeates† (Museum Chaw and Thompson). With this improvement, people felt less defeated, now that they had a clearer understanding of the labels and could differentiate between items such as sugars, natural and added. We need to educate the lost by, discouraging the consumption of bad food and encouraging the consumption of good food (Batman, 2012). Previously, before label and other food changes, consumers would Just eat items without knowing what they Just ate. Due to their lack of understanding and the companies’ lack of clarification, people would eat more than they needed, resulting in an unhealthy body weight. As someone who likes labels, especially when I am trying to stick to a healthy diet. To avoid the defeat, I would have to do the majority of my cooking at home, homemade. Due to the validated knowledge that has been brought to my attention, I believe that Mark Batman’s argument is solid. In Mark Batman’s Ted Talk he helps the viewers understand the importance of home cooking and how straying away from it might seem easy, but not at all as healthy as actually knowing what they are eating. Batman states that, â€Å"It is really important to be a home cook,† and informs us that throughout history we have lost that concept. Between the years of 1950-2000, many were sucked into the idea of convenience and the quality of home cooked meals â€Å"was down the tubes† (Batman, 2012) Fewer meals consisted of home cooked breads, desserts and soups, because it all could be purchased at any store. In the ass, women began to enter the workforce, and due to a lack of time and patience, they brought home store bought meals for their families. Home cooking was in a bad state, due to the appealing contents in convenient foods (Batman, 2007). In order for healthy home cooked meals to recycle back up the food chain, â€Å"We need to start acting. We need to start eating and cooking with less meat. Instead of going for meat, go for healthier proteins, such as nuts. â€Å"The time has come to stop raising them industrially and stop eating them thoughtlessly’ (Batman. 2007). We need to start considering the piece of ham on our breakfast plates, and where it came from before it lands on our grocery store shelves (Brooks). Knowing that eating meat is hazardous, makes me not regret my choice of becoming a vegetarian. This knowledge is not something that should be kept to myself. I feel safe, and feel as if it is my moral obligation to inform meat eaters of the deadly consequences that they redundantly face, like Mark Batman does. I would gladly recommend meat eaters, especially those who do it excessively and thoughtlessly, to watch the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What’s wrong with what we eat. His talk is based off of research that has been done by credible sources such as Batman himself, and I am in agreement with his valid claim. How to cite Mark Bittman: Man v. Meat, Papers

Effects of CO2 and H2O Mixture-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Quetion: Discuss about the Clean coal technology: Effects of CO2 and H2O mixture on intensified gasification of residual carbon in partially gasified char. Answer: Introduction Coal is one of the major fuels which have been used for long in different sectors. Coal is a product of carbon and its gasification is divided into two different steps of coal pyrolyzation and char gasification (Zhou et al. 2006, p.13). Gasification process involves water evaporation and therefore carbon dioxide and water vapor has great effects in gasification of carbon residue in order to produce clean energy. The clean coal technology is able to involve gasification of coal with syugas. Carbon is able to react with carbon dioxide and water to produce different products. When coal is heated, it produced char and after gasification, char residue is produced. Char is a combination of carbon and ash (Malekshahian Hill 2011, p.22). In addition, coal is able to occur at different stages and this is able to affect its gasification process. Some of the key parameters which are able to change during gasification process include the temperature, carbon particles, ash content and char. Thes e factors are able to depend on the amount of carbon dioxide and water allowed during the gasification process of the coal. During the gasification, coal is able to pass through the fixed bed, entrance bed and lastly the fluid bed. CO is reacted with hydrogen gas in presence of oxygen in order to produce CO2 and water. The produced char, which is coal, is able to react with carbon dioxide to produce CO and with water to produce CO and hydrogen gas (Jeong, Park, Hwang 2014, p.31). Therefore the mixture of carbon dioxide and water are able to affect the gasification process and residue of carbon. In this project, different materials were investigated. Chinese coal, Shenmu and Tejing were used in the analysis of the effect of water and carbon dioxide in the gasification process. The composition of the two coals will be made in this report. In addition, effects of carbon dioxide and water during the gasification process will be key in this project (Hou et al. 2014, p.45). Carbon is usu ally in residue form. Changing the temperature is able to affect the results of the ash produced in different cases. This report and project will analyze the different products of ash which are produced in the different coal types. Aim To determine the effects of carbon dioxide and water on the residue of carbon in the gasification process through analysis of the different changes of parameters. Objectives The project will also analyze the different factors change when the CO2and water are used in the gasification process. To investigate the effect of increased temperature on the gasification process of coal To investigate the amount of ash produced when different amount of carbon dioxide and water are used To analyze the ash composition in the two different types of coals used Scope This project will focus on the different effects which are achieved during the gasification process of coal. Increasing temperature during the process has some key effects. Water and carbon dioxide are able to play important roles in this process and increase temperature affects their functionality. In addition, this experiment will be able to investigate the different products which are produced during the process. Changing the conditions and key parameters will as well affect the amount of products which are produced. These include the ash and char (Deng, Luo, Zhang Wang 2012). Gasification process is highly affected by the increase of temperatures and this project will investigate the way different products are able to change when the temperature is changed within the process. This project will highly investigate the effect of heat increase on the production of the different products. The heat change is able to affect the reactivity rate of the coal and present reactants (Bai et al. 2014). Materials: The major materials which will be used in this project include the typical Chinese coal: Shenmu and Tejing, will be employed in this work. The proximate and ultimate analyses and ash composition of these two coals are as follows: Mad Ad Vdaf Fcad Industrial Analyze (%) of Shenmu coal: 6.62 5.08 33.04 59.35 Industrial Analyze (%) of Tejing coal 5.41 13.63 43.48 46.18 Description Ash produced is able to compose of different compositions of materials. The results depend on the different coal type which is analyzed in each status (Lahijani, Zzinal, Mohamed Mohammadi 2013). Shenmu Coal and Tejing coal are able to produce different ashes with different characteristics and compositions of the products. Addition amount of water in the process and CO2 is able to affect the ash composition produced in the process. The analysis will be able to find the different effects which are achieved when the carbon dioxide and water are exposed in different temperatures during the gasification process. Ash is one of the key products which are produced during the gasification process of coal. This experiment will be able to analyze the ash composition in coal. To achieve the result in this project, gas flow controller will be utilized. Gas cylinders will be used to create the high temperature furnace (Gao, Vejahati, Katalambula Gupta 2010). In addition, reaction tubes will be used to ensure that the gasification of coal is controlled and not highly affected by external conditions. Gas anatuper will be as well be used in the process. Factors are investigated Temperature (?): 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150; Particle size (um): 100~250, 250~500, 500~600, 600~1000, 1000~1500; Ash content (%): 10, 30, 50, 70, 90; Char: Graphite, Shenmu, Tejing; Gas flow rate (NL/h): 1; Gasification atmosphere (atm): Pure O2; 0.2H2O: 0.2O2+0.6N2, 0.4O2+0.4N2, 0.5O2+0.3N2, 0.6O2+0.2N2, 0.8O2+0N2; 0.4H2O: 0.2O2+0.4N2, 0.4O2+0.2N2, 0.5O2+0.1N2, 0.6O2+0N2; 0.5H2O: 0.2O2+0.3N2, 0.4O2+0.1N2, 0.5O2+0N2; 0.6H2O: 0.2O2+0.2N2, 0.4O2+0N2; 0.8H2O: 0.2O2+0N2; Pure H2O. Proposed work plan and methodology Work plan Activity Timeline 1 Proposal writing 2 weeks 2 Training 3 weeks 3 Experiments 5 weeks with 1.5days per week Methodology A type R thermocouple will be inserted through the gas ducting tube with the tip located above the sample. Then the gas ducting tube will be assembled into the sheath and fixed with screws. The samples will be preheated to the target temperature in pure Argon atmosphere, and then a gas mixture of defined composition will be blown into the gas ducting tube. The gas flow rate and composition are controlled by mass flow controllers. Pure Argon will be used for annealing, while feed gas with different composition will be used for gasification experiments. The off-gas composition will be monitored by a gas analyzer. The process will be repeated at temperature changes to different temperatures such as 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1100 and 1150o Conclusion Different parameters are able to affect the gasification process. Carbon dioxide and water are some of the critical parameters which are essentials in the gasification of residual carbon in partially gasified char. These changes on temperature are able to change the products which are achieved. Ash is produced and at different situations it leads to different composition. In addition, coal is the main carbon product which will be utilized in this project. Two main types of coal will be utilized and their differences in the product produced will be analyzed. The result will be able to show how changes in the two factors are able to affect the gasification process of carbon. In addition, the char compositions are able to have different composition when the amount of intensified water and carbon dioxide are changed. References Bai, Y.H., Wang, Y.L., Zhu, S.H., Li, F., Xie, K.C., (2014). Structural features and gasification reactivity of coal chars formed in Arand CO2atmospheres at elevated pressures. Energy 74,464470. Deng, J., Luo, Y.H., Zhang, Y.L., Wang, Y., (2012). Investigation into synergy in co-gasification of coal and char of biomass by thermo gravimetric analysis. J. Fuel Chem. Technol. 40 (8),943951. Gao, C., Vejahati, F., Katalambula, H., Gupta, R., (2010).Co-gasification of biomass with coal and oil sand coke in a drop tube furnace. Energy Fuels 24 (1), 232240. Hou, W., Zhou, Z.J., Chen, X.L., Dai, Z.H., Yu, G.S., (2014). Study onCO2gasification reactivity and physical characteristic of biomass, petroleum coke and coal chars. Bioresour. Technol.159, 143149. Jeong, H.J., Park, S.S., Hwang, J., (2014). Co-gasification of coalbiomass blended char with CO2 at temperatures of 9001100?C. Fuel 116, 465470. Lahijani, P., Zzinal, Z.A., Mohamed, A.R., Mohammadi, M., (2013).CO2 gasification reactivity of biomass char: catalytic influence of alkaline earth and transition metal salts. Bioresour. Technol. 144, 288295. Malekshahian, M., Hill, J.M., (2011). Effect of pyrolysis and CO2 gasification pressure on the surface area and pore size distribution of petroleum coke. Energy Fuels 25 (11),52505256. Zhou, Z.J., Fan, X.L., Zhang, W., Wang, F.C., Yu, Z.H., (2006). Char gasification kinetics using non-isothermal TGA. J. Chin. Coal Soc. 31 (2), 219222.

Sky & Telescope Essays - Physical Cosmology, Astrophysics

Sky & Telescope Patrick Sullivan 2nd hour Astronomy Mr. Wessling Magazine Report Sky & Telescope The Future of the Universe The magazine Sky & Telescope is a very helpful magazine for beginning and amateur astronomers. The magazine contains information on new star clusters, constellations, galaxies, and even possible new planets. It gives a more in-depth look at what's going on outside our galaxy. This magazine is also helpful in showing astronomers new ways to look at stars. Certain articles can help with finding focal points, which elements of the spectrum to use to view certain stars, and how to get the best photo images as possible. Sky & Telescope also offers a wide range of different pictures for those who don't have telescopes. They always seem to find some of the best pictures to use in their magazine. Sky & Telescope has even reached the web, at www.skypub.com, where you can find the very latest in new galaxies and tools to help see these new constellations. It is also a good way to communicate with fellow astronomers and cosmologists. If you're having trouble finding out the latest missions in Space Exploration, you can go to Sky & Telescope to find out. There is a monthly article on the latest missions and findings, for those who are interested. The article I researched explained the possible Future of the Universe. At the beginning, it explains the different possible types of universe: flat, closed, and open. A closed universe, caused theoretically by the Big Bang Theory, will make the universe collapse on itself over a period of time. An open universe can keep expanding, because there are no barriers to make it collapse on itself like a closed universe. The flat universe may keep expanding, but it will be at such a slow rate that it will seem to approach a standstill. The article is explained more easily through a cosmic time line. The age of the universe starts with the Big Bang then moves to the Inflation era, through new galaxies and clusters to the end of inflation. When the universe started, it was full of high potent energy and heat, so it had to expand. This in turn created new universes. The next era, the radiation-dominated era, was caused by the high energy and inflation. Over time, the radiation decreased from the mass of the universe, and stars were created. This brought the Stelliferous era. This is when the Milky Way was formed along with many other galaxies. Next comes the Degenerate and Black Hole era. These are the eras where the planets are pulled out of their orbits, stars are turned into white dwarfs, and the black holes turn the universe inside out. Most galaxies will be crushed, and the only things left will be the black holes. After time passes, the black holes will evaporate, leaving nothing but empty space. Bibliography Bibliography Adams, Fred C., and Laughlin, Gregory. Sky & Telescope. August 1998, pages 32-39. Sky Publishing Corporation, 1998. Science Essays

Where the Red Fern Grows †Book Summary and Review American Literature Essay (100 Level Course)

Where the Red Fern Grows – Book Summary and Review American Literature Essay (100 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Where the Red Fern Grows Book Summary and Review American Literature Essay (100 Level Course) The book Where the Red Fern Grows is about a boy, named Billy, who during the Depression. The year in which this story takes place is the 1930’s. Billy really wanted dogs. He especially wanted coon dogs. He always wanted to hunt. His grandfather told something that made him think about earning his own money to save for coon dogs. No one knew, not even his family knew, that he was saving money, and doing so many jobs for coon dogs. Finally, when he saved enough money, he went to his grandfather and told him to order two coon dogs. Altogether the price was 40 dollars, he had enough money for both of them. He was really excited. He waited so long for his coon dogs to arrive. They finally came to a city, not far away from where he lived. He snuck out of his house, and went to the city to pick him up. He had to walk all the way to a railroad station. That was where the coon dogs were. He got them. They were only puppies. He then walked to a store to get his father and mother some things that they desperately needed, with the change that he had from buying the coons. On the way back home, he gave his puppies a bath in a waterfall. While he was drying them, he saw a tree that said Dan Ann. He then decided to name is puppies Old Dan and Little Ann. After he let them take a bath, he settled somewhere close by his house, and then his dogs and him went to sleep. He finally came home surprising all of his family. His family was worried sick about him. He showed all of them the puppies and they forgot about worrying about him. He showed the presents he got for his family and they were really happy. They loved him a lot. When he finally got his coon dogs he trained them too hunt coons. He started to train them ever since they were puppies with the help of his sisters. They became really good hunters and could track any coon that was in the woods. The story about his puppies spread around the town. Whenever he caught a coon he skinned and gave to his grandfather. His grandfather sold them at his store and Billy began to earn money again. In the story, Billy faces many challenges. He started to bet with people and he even competed in competition. He won the competition and got a pool of money. He loved his dogs very much. He thought he could have keep on doing bets and hunt coons for a long while. That was what he thought though. One night, Billy and his dogs were on a hunt. The dogs thought they smelled a coon. What they really smelled was a mountain lion. Old Dan and Little Ann started to fight the lion fiercely. They were becoming really beaten up. Billy finally killed the mountain lion. Then he found out that Old Dan was dead. The next day they buried Old Dan. Then Little Ann started to feel lonely. She didn’t eat was all worn out. One day, in the morning, she walked all the way where Old Dan was buried, and she died. Billy was really sad and his father buried Little Ann. Billy didn’t even want to hunt again. Since the great depression was happening, Billy and his family had to move because they weren’t doing so well through the dust bowl. Billy wanted to say good-bye to his dogs. When he finally got to where his dogs were, there was a red fern. The red fern indicated that the dogs were in heaven, and they were deeply in love with each other. He was really happy that the fern was there. He then had to move. Research Papers on Where the Red Fern Grows - Book Summary and Review American Literature Essay (100 Level Course)Book Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Essay19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Spring and AutumnThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceMind TravelWhere Wild and West MeetPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy

Research of Pthisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Research of Pthisis - Essay Example Laennec argued on both clinical and post-mortem grounds that pathognomonic was the hallmark of phthisis. Through the knowledge he had on the cause and location of the disease he identified different diagnoses like scrofula and tuberculosis meningitis. A challenge that was common among the French physicians was the identification of the disease. There are different types of diseases that existed in their vocabulary thus; it was hard to know a disease. They relied mostly on correlations between clinical signs and pathological changes to differentiate diseases and with future developments; criteria of identifying a disease have been developed (McNeill, pp. 22). This saw the improvement of the diagnosis to patients as it was easy to identify the disease a patient was suffering from. Something that troubled the physicians was fever and this was solved in 19th century when they came to identify fever as a sign of a disease. Phthisis in Early Civilization A discovery of human remains in 200 8 showed that tuberculosis existed 9000 years ago in a settlement in the eastern Mediterranean during the Neolithic era (McNeill, pp. 24). This is the oldest ever reported evidence of TB infection in human beings and it was confirmed by morphological and molecular methods. Some authors have identified tuberculosis to be the first disease to be known to humankind. More evidence on tuberculosis during the Neolithic era was also discovered in a cemetery in close proximity to Heidelberg. Signs of the disease have also been discovered among Egyptian mummies in the period between 3000 and 2400 BCE. This shows that the disease has been in existence for many centuries and this is why extensive research has been done on the same. In 1881 Grebart discovered a... Since the discovery of tuberculosis as a killer disease, extensive research has been done on the same. The research has continued to advance with more discoveries that are helping to mitigate the disease. Through research of tuberculosis, physicians have also been able to research on other diseases. There are other diseases that are closely related to TB like typhoid and medical researchers have been able to differentiate TB from other diseases. All the signs of the disease at the fingertips of physicians and this have helped to mitigate the cases of wrong treatment. Through research on tuberculosis, physicians were able to discover that fever is a sign of a disease and not a disease by itself. This discovery better research and from there physicians were able to discover other diseases like yellow fever. The discovery of the vaccine on the 20th century was of great importance. BCG has played a vital role in curbing TB and more so in third world and densely populated countries. Despi te the efforts that are been made through international organizations, TB has remained to be a threat of human life and currently India marks the highest deaths from TB per annum.

Mid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mid - Essay Example Petrarch is known as the â€Å"Father of Humanism† because he was the one who theorized that â€Å"language was the key to learning and a window to the human soul† (Woods). In short, he was the one who first realized the interplay between language and the human being. For Petrarch, if only the human being can use language effectively, we can know ourselves and the world better and we can serve others better as well. Petrarch was also the first to theorize on the need to know the theoretical and practical purpose of human life in order that one may live well and happily (Woods). Petrarch, however, endured the Black Death because a woman whom he had met in his youth, Laura de Noves, died of Black Death, and of whom Petrarch could only write, â€Å"her soul, as I believe, returned to heaven, whence it came† (Petrarch on the Plague). Women were excluded from the history of our culture because â€Å"our tradition tells us†¦that philosophy itself [including history], and its norms of reason and objectivity, exclude everything that is feminine or associated with women† (Witt). Moreover, society is simply biased against women as it promoted the â€Å"negative characterization† of women or anything pertaining to the feminine aspect (Witt). Our culture and cultural heritage therefore have been not only biased against women and once did not recognize many of the rights that they freely exercise now. The passage actually comes from William Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, Act 2, scene 1, 12-17. This means that the speaker is sick and tired of the pretense that he experiences from the world around him. He seems to have been forced to adopt this insincerity ever since and that everytime he adopts this worldview, he suffers â€Å"adversity† in his life. However, without this adversity, he would not have realized the good thing that such adversity would bring him – the â€Å"precious

Marketing and Sales Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing and Sales - Essay Example It is for this reason that marketers and salespeople alike, focus on integration and alignment of the two functions and a greater focus on the ultimate objective, rather than departmental goals. The American Marketing Association defines marketing as â€Å"Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.†(American Marketing Association 2008) Sales is largely a subset of marketing and focuses on the delivering and exchanging part of the paradigm. It also involves maintaining cordial working relationships with clients, partners and customers all across the society. Marketing is broad context that also encompasses sales and merchandizing. In context of a small business, there are stark differences between the two concepts. The core focus of the marketing process includes: Discovering the products, services or ideas to be implemente d. Producing products with the ideal features and quality that cater to the target market. Correctly pricing the product. Promoting the product through several techniques to allow the message to spread to maximum people. Selling and delivering the product to willing customers. It is clear that selling is just one of the activities of the entire marketing process. It essentially involves effort to implement the plan and make the actual sale. All marketing activities support the eventual objective of magnifying sales. It must be noted that it is extremely important that marketing and sales activities are aligned in ways that complement rather than ways that contradict (Atkins & MBA 2009). Some of the key differences in the way marketing and sales are done are: A marketer looks at the decision making aspect of the spectrum. He empathizes with the customer by identifying needs, wants, deciding on the target market, positioning the brand, promoting and taking other steps that communicate to the customer that the product is designed specifically for him and that he should consider its purchase. A seller, by contrast, focuses on the execution state after the work has been done by the marketer. His main focus is on reaching targets, achieving goals and focusing on numbers. He also needs to ensure the timely availability of products for customers. Importance of Aligning Marketing and Sales: In many companies and small business, the personnel and actions of sales and marketing contradict each other significantly. Sales people accuse marketers of being unaware of the actual needs of customers or overestimating the buying power of customers resulting in overpriced or unneeded products. They argue that marketers then expect them to generate sales revenue with such redundant and overpriced products. Such decision making leads to deviation from the ultimate objective of maximizing profits and hinders growth in sales numbers. Marketers, in contrast, suggest that salesmen have a very shortsighted focus on individuals and short term sells rather than looking at the bigger picture. This alienates the firms from prospective long run profitability and stable revenue. Furthermore, the limited knowledge they have about the strategic decision making involved in coming about the final product makes them vulnerable to misinterpreting the essence of the product and its

Impact of Globalization on International Security

Impact of Globalization on International Security In order to better discuss the question at hand we must first discuss briefly what globalization is? Globalization as a term has been widely spread during the last two decades, even though it is not a very precise or agreed term. We can say that globalization is a process where different societies, cultures and economies have integrated more and more in a global network via trade, communication and transportation. The term includes economic globalization, i.e. the integration of national or regional economies into the international economy through trade, financial flows, the proliferation of technology, migration etc. Globalization refers also to the international circulation of ideas, languages and culture. It is a process being driven by a combination of factors like economic factors, political factors, technological, social and cultural factors.  [1]   We must understand the fact that globalization and its components are not spread equally, nor do them influent the same throughout the world. For example many African states are much less globalized than European states and in terms of components, for example financial globalization is much more diffused than migration. A concrete example where components of globalization are not spread equally would be China where economical and technological globalization is much more present than liberal ideas. According to Habermas nation states are more and more under pressure both on functional and on normative grounds. They are increasingly unable to handle the intensity and volume of flows of people, capital, information, and problems that cross their borders. He argues that nowadays it is more difficult for nation states to maintain political sovereignty and that the dynamic of democratization is leading to a new transnational and global form of governance.  [2]   Despite Habermases deduction of where it leads, the fact stands that in a globalized world states cannot solve problems in a unilateral way. In security terms states cannot tackle their own security threats efficiently, which leads to the need for states to cooperate in order to manage the threats that result from globalization. Globalization affects in two major ways issues of security in one way it diminishes their threat (positive way) and in the other it increases them (negative way). There are a whole range of security threats from the more traditional, such as interstate and intrastate wars, economic collapse, arms proliferation, refugee crises, infectious diseases, insurgencies, genocides and ethnic cleansing, to relatively more new threats like climate change, oil depletion, nuclear weapons, drug and human trafficking, population trends, terrorism and cyber war.  [3]   Globalization has had a positive impact or a more restrictive effect in security issues like interstate and intrastate wars, genocides, ethnic cleansing, and prohibition of further proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). We have noticed that since the end of the cold war armed and military conflicts have diminished in number, time and space. With globalization is less convenient to make war and is more difficult for them to spread since it is very likely for measures to be taken from the UN and NATO to confine these conflicts and arrive to solutions as soon as possible. In todays globalised world there is more security provided from international organizations; trade and spreading of democracy makes it less likely to go to war, also the possession of WMD makes states more hesitating.  [4]  If we see the trend there are more efforts to confine conflicts, for example Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Ivory Coast and now Libya (although this remains highly debatable); nuclear weapons have decreased in number and continue to decrease although more countries now posses them.  [5]   There is also the other side of the medal where globalization has increased the level of some security threats like migration, terrorism, infectious diseases, oil depletion and climate change. With the development of technology, trade, communication and transportation it is more difficult to prevent and solve problems like migration, terrorism, infectious diseases and financial crisis from passing states borders. Also in the highly globalised world that we live in today climate change has become a major problem one that requires enhanced cooperation in the international level but that withholds many complexities. Globalization has brought more welfare which in turn has helped increase the global population and the speed at which resources are consumed, and now we face the threat of depletion of a major resource like oil. All of the security threats mentioned above require more cooperation in the international level to find some stable solutions. Through globalization problems like or ganized crimes which used to be primarily domestic problems now are internationalized.  [6]   Despite the effect that globalization has on security issues we must emphasize the fact that not all states are affected the same, i.e. maximizing the gains while lowering the risks. For example more developed states can cope better and are much less vulnerable to risks of globalization than are developing countries. Nevertheless, globalization in general reduces the ability of states to act successfully in a unilateral way and to respond to security threats. This increases the necessity for states to cooperate and manage the threats that result from globalization. Globalization also means that seemingly weak actors like individuals (terrorists) or small and isolated problems like viruses can have a disproportionate influence on international security. Furthermore states have different vulnerabilities meaning that their propensity to cooperate in the international arena will vary according to their vulnerabilities and interests.  [7]   Even between rich and powerful countries we can notice differences in the ways they deal with global security threats. The USA for example often behaves unilaterally when dealing with security challenges caused or aggravated by globalization. A different behavior is seen on other important actors such as member states of the European Union. EU member states try to find effective multilateral solutions to the same problems that USA tries to tackle on its own. With the Lisbon treaty and the changes in CFSP, EU has enhanced its capabilities and its efforts to tackle these problems in a more cooperative way. We must say that EU tackles better in a multilateral way nontraditional security threats like migration, climate change, economic issues, drugs and human trafficking.  [8]   Moreover globalization has considerable effect on the study of international security and how we perceive threats. While it is fairly easy to find countless books and articles that deal with hard power and military related topics in international security; we notice a decline in attention concerning the analysis and study of nontraditional security threats like migration, infectious disease and economic crisis. For example researchers of the less traditional international security issues like economic crisis, climate change and public health take for granted the idea that internal behavior in domestic policies can have a thespian influence on specific international problems. For these researchers globalization only intensifies trends that have perpetually been present among us, to them it displays merely a change of degree rather than type. It is quite different for analysts who analyze more traditional security issues relating hard power, war and the use military force, to them glob alization challenges their orthodox, state centric presumption about how security issues are determined and followed. Globalization affects the study of international security for example by how traditional state centric views of war and military security issues are challenged in the way globalization alleviate threats by non state actors like organized crime, insurgencies and terrorism.  [9]   We can say that globalization has increased the persistence of a more liberal approach to the study of international security while realism is playing a more subtle role. More focus is being placed on the individual rather than states. In this case analysts and/or policy shapers of US which focus on hard power and military power will be ineffective and perhaps counterproductive since other actors whose cooperation is necessary to solve security issues will refuse to comply. Globalization has not only changed the way the study of international security is approached but also the role of major powers in these issues.  [10]   Word count Q1: 1490 The human security agenda: discuss content and meaning, and the possible consequences of adopting this framework for security analysis! Human security is a new concept developed after the cold war and it is used today by various actors and factors in international relations like states and governments, international organizations (IO) and nongovernmental organizations (NGO). It is a concept that comes as result of successful attempts to broaden the traditional concept of security. The human security agenda includes traditional and nontraditional security issues such as war, economic security, arms proliferation, refugees and migration, public health security, insurgencies, genocides and ethnic cleansing, environmental protection, nuclear weapons, drug and human trafficking, terrorism, food crisis etc. Shortly put it means a broad definition of security where the focus is on the individual level as opposed to the more traditional focus on the international or domestic/national level, i.e. the states system or states.  [11]   Human security is a very interesting concept, one that even though stands to some extent in conflict with the state centric concept of security that we are used to, governments have used it to shape foreign and security policy. Another interesting fact is that it did not come from researchers or analysts but it came from politics; it was first used in the Human Development Report of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 1994. Since then the concept has taken a broad use by UN, NGOs and it has become a cornerstone of policy for important states like Switzerland, Canada and Japan. 14 states have formalized the concept in a multilateral setting within the Human Security Network, and they meet annually at the foreign minister level since 1999 to follow an analogous human security agenda on many security issues.  [12]   The content of human security agenda can be divided in two major components, freedom from fear and freedom from want. The first is linked closely to the activities of the human security network and it means to take way the threat or the use of violence and force from the life of the population. There are many successes examples from following the objectives of freedom from fear policy such as the creation and promotion of the ICC the International Criminal Court, the Ottawa Convention (to ban anti-personnel landmines), and the action to restraint the proliferation of light weapons and the misuse of small arms. The second (freedom from want) is based upon the original formulation of the UNDP and it is about securing what is considered as basic human needs in terms of food, health, economy, environmental and social security. This was included on the very famous 2003 final report of the UN Commission on Human Security. The report points to ten ways how to improve human security on a glo bal scale focusing not only in situations of conflict but as well on issues related to access to education, access to health care, fair trade, patent rights, and basic freedoms.  [13]   The human security agenda with its both divisions of freedom from fear and freedom from want its quite complex and withholds contested consequences if it is going to be adopted as a framework for security analysis, which seems to be the desire of many individuals, NGOs, some IOs, and even some states. Of course if adopted not both divisions have the same consequences, for example freedom from fear is a much more narrow view of human security and is much more coherent. While freedom from want is so broad that includes issues that present no real threat to human security. It seems that as a result from this human security includes nearly everything that can be considered a threat to peoples wellbeing. Here lies the potential risk that if everything that impacts negatively peoples well being is marked as a security threat, than security will lose its meaning. If this happens than security instead of being a term that helps prioritizing problems and being at the focus of policy makers an d analysts than it will be counter-productive. The concept will have no utility; it wont easy the process of prioritizing problems or help make policies more coherent. There must be some priorities, global equity, universal education or fair patent rights cannot rival international security issues like terrorism, wars, pandemic disease etc. We must understand that securitizing everything it wont help the problems disappear it will only narrow our tools to deal with them.  [14]   It is understandable that expanding so much the human security agenda it becomes nearly impossible to find all the resources to deal properly with the presented problems. What has already happened and is probable to continue to happen is that major stakeholders will discuss the issues in international bodies and promise more than they can deliver. Examples can be given by observing objectives like poverty eradication throughout the world, part of the human security agenda, where many powerful countries have failed consistently to provide what they pledge during UN funding campaigns. Mr. Smith suggests that: the international community must be very careful about confusing the provision of international security no matter how unfairly it may be defined with the pursuit of development/humanitarian goals.  [15]   As mentioned in the beginning the human security agenda shifts the object of security from states to people. It categorizes human security threats in 7 general categories: personal, community, environmental, economic, food, health and political security. To be more specific the novel formulation stipulates human security firstly as safety from chronic threats disease, hunger and repression and secondly it takes the meaning of protection from harmful disruption in daily life patterns being it in home or working environment. It also asserts that such threats can exist in all levels of development and national income. We notice an effort to change the concept of security from the realist and cold war definitions and obsession with arms and territorial security to a peoples security and a sustainable human development.  [16]   Despite the attempts to shift security from states to individuals the human security agenda is being developed within the framework of the UN system meaning that states member of the UN and their governments are charged with fulfilling these policies. Perhaps the human security enthusiasts forget that the traditional state centric view of the international security system already includes some basic human needs. Meaning that issues like food, health, education and individual security which are part of the human security agenda are also part of states agenda even though in some states these are issues that take a lot of attention and in others they lack the adequate commitment. Believing that this is generally the case than perhaps in order to solve or to soften such issues more attention should be focused on good government both in developed and developing countries. Perhaps this could be a better approach than adding more extremely difficult goals to an already very crowded internat ional agenda. If we take a quick look at the world we will see that it is filled will failed, weak or ineffective states and governments. If we take into account this fact than we notice that human security is very much related to the state security system itself.  [17]   Furthermore since we dont have a world government and that is very likely that we wont have one in the foreseeable future the duty of providing human security primarily falls under states and secondly under IOs. If we do not have an authority or authorities to insure protection from fear and want human security wont be achieved. Since states are so important for human security, and for them to provide it, it is necessary that they themselves be secured, than states should deal primarily with threats directed to them. That is why as long as there will be more important or urgent threats, human security agenda will have a lower priority in the international security agenda. I agree with Smiths suggestion that: we should simply revert back to the terminology of human rights and human/international development and promote those goals accordingly rather than re-package and devalue them in the form of potential security threats to the richer, and more powerful, developed world.  [18]   Word count Q2: 1437

Graduation Speech by Faculty -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Addres

Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself Any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go. You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there." With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, You're too smart to go down any not-so-good street. And you may not find any You'll want to go down. In that case, of course, You'll head straight out of town. It's opener there In the wide open air. Out there things can happen And frequently do To people as brainy And footsy as you. And when things start to happen Don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too. OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO! You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon tak...

Amen. Actions and Consequences

Costa-Gavra’s â€Å"Amen. † is a thought-provoking film that combines political thriller, suspense and expose. â€Å"Amen†, translated in Hebrew as â€Å"So be it†, deals with three significant characters, both real and fictional, who act out different moral or ethical principles. These characters, Father Riccardo Fontana, Kurt Gerstein and Pope Pius XII, provide the audience with different perspectives on the dilemma about the genocide of millions of Jews during World War II, commonly known as â€Å"the Holocaust†.By reflecting on the lives, actions or personalities of these three characters, we would understand the ethical challenges, ethical principles and actions they have faced, considered and performed. Body Father Riccardo Fontana, played by Mathleu Kassovitz, is a junior diplomat and an idealistic Jesuit priest. Father Riccardo Fontana learned the life and sufferings of the Jews in the Nazi concentration camps (through the help of Kurt Gerst ein). He also learned that the American government inquired about the genocide of Jews through a letter addressed at the Vatican.He endeavoured or tried his best to alert the Vatican about the genocide of Jews in the Nazi concentration camps. He thought that his familial connections with the local priests and at the Vatican would bring in results or considerations from the Pope. He also thought that by directly stating the problems at the Nazi concentration camps to the Pope, he would be able to bring light to the problem and have the Pope do his part by making a public statement condemning the actions of the Nazis.However, in the end, he was not able to have the support of the Vatican. He lost his life; Father Riccardo Fontana died a martyr. Father Riccardo Fontana is a fictional character in the movie; however, I believe that he symbolizes the early life of Pope Pius XII. As a morally righteous priest, I believe that he wanted to ease the pain or sufferings of the Jews. As a diplo mat, I believe that he wanted to do things in a peaceful and legal manner. I also think Father Riccardo Fontana believes on deontological ethics.Deontological ethics or deontology refers to the method of applying ethics by focusing on what actions are right or wrong, regardless whether the consequences would right or not. This ethical principle is sometimes referred to as â€Å"obligation† or â€Å"duty† ethics. These are the reasons why I believe, Father Riccardo Fontana tried his best to alert the Pope, make a difference or bring the Jews help from the Vatican even if it means to sacrificing his own life for the sake of duty. If I were Father Riccardo Fontana, I would also inform or alert the Vatican, particularly the Pope.I would seek his assistance regarding the genocide of Jews and strongly emphasize my point that it is wrong and immoral. I would let them see that as priests, we should do our best to preserve life and peace all throughout the world, despite the di fferences in race or ethnicity. I would stand for the right of my fellow Jews, especially for their right to live. However, unlike Father Riccardo Fontana, I would seek or provide other kinds of help if all of the previous acts fail. I help the Jews by hiding them from the Nazis and I will ease their pain with my prayers.Subsequently, I will continue my efforts to make the authorities do their part. I will not have myself killed, not for selfish reasons, but because I know that dying won’t solve anything. If I die, I would no longer be able to help the Jews or the needy. If I die, I won’t be able to strengthen their morale and keep their spirits and hopes high. On the other hand, Kurt Gerstein, played by Ulrich Tukur, is a real character or individual, greatly devoted to his duty as a soldier and religious beliefs as a Protestant. He is a German SS officer on board the Waffen-SS during the World War II.He is also an intelligent scientist and member of the Institute for Hygiene who developed the gas Zyklon B for treating or curing the waters drank and used by Nazi soldiers. As a scientist, hygienist and developer of the Zyklon B, he only wanted to prevent illnesses or the spread of diseases among the Nazi troops. Unfortunately, Zyklon B was used to exterminate the Jews. Raised in a family of patriotic officers and soldiers with strong sense of responsibility, his obedience or compliance to authority cannot be doubted. However, after learning this horrible truth, his values as a Protestant dominated his sense of patriotism.He alerted the Protestant leaders, then the authorities, Swedish diplomats and also the Roman Catholic Church about the immoral acts committed by his superiors. He took actions similar to what Father Riccardo Fontana did and just like the efforts of Father Riccardo Fontana, Gerstein’s efforts were in awe. Conversely, I am convinced that he believes the same ethical principles as Father Ricardo Fontana. If I were Kurt Gerst ein, I would first try to reach a higher position in the Nazi party. I will do my best to reach that position as soon as possible because time is of the essence.After having power or authority, I would instantly see to it that the officers under my authority would provide help to the Jews. I would do this secretly or behind the radar of my superiors so that I can still have my power and my life for the service of those who are suffering. With my power and my life, I will provide more help or make more things morally right. Pope Pius XII, the most controversial character in the movie, is subjected to allegations of preserving his selfish-needs, economic interests, ambition and power by doing nothing regardless of knowing the horrible truth at the Nazi concentration camps.In this sense, allegedly, the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in extension, committed passive sin. Somehow, watching the movie had made me scrutinize or contemplate on the faith and hope that I had for the Vatican or to the Pope. Putting myself in the shoes of Kurt Gerstein and Father Riccardo Fontana made me doubt that the religious authorities are not morally upright. However, considering the position of the Pope, I reclaimed my belief that he did not do anything wrong and that he only wanted greater good for a greater number of individuals or Jews in particular.As a prominent and religious leader, every action should be seriously weighed and the interests of those who are in need or prosecuted should be considered in order to prevent further harm done to them. Alerting the international public would disrupt the allegiance of the Vatican and the Nazi party and spark more tension. If the allegiance is lost and the Nazis are angered by the public statement or expose of their immoral acts, will the Vatican be able to address the retaliation of the Nazis? How can the Vatican keep Jews, provide food and shelter in chapels if the angered Nazis destroyed the Catholic chapels?Will the public state ment improve the situation of the prosecuted Jews? Will it stop a possible war? I don’t think. This is due to the fact that the Nazi party has great military power at that time to retaliate to any threat or opposition. Public protests against this inhumane party would only increase prosecution, not only of Jews but also Roman Catholics; and that would be further agonizing. I think that as a religious leader, a morally upright Roman Catholic and diplomat, Pope Pius XII did actions behind the eye of the public to help the Jews.I believe that Pope Pius XII believes in utilitarianism and because of this. Consequently, he suffered the pain of doing nothing because he knew that the consequences would be right or provide greater good. Conclusion Father Riccardo Fontana, Kurt Gerstein and Pope Pius XII are three interesting characters with varied perspectives when it comes to what is right or wrong. Father Riccardo Fontana and Kurt Gerstein believed in fulfilling their moral obligati ons while Pope Pius XII believed that â€Å"the end justifies the means†.The first two characters believed in doing things now and in considering consequences later while the third character was thinking of the consequences first before making an action. Somehow, I believe that the Holocaust or the genocide of millions of Jews in Nazi concentration camps, considering these two opposite ethical principles, is a dilemma. It is a dilemma where I believe, Pope Pius XII did the best choice. Works Cited Costa-Gavras, dir. Amen. Perfs. Ulrich Tukur, Mathieu Kassovitz. Kino International, 2002.

Lawyers, Scientists Urge Ethics in Biological Advances

In this news article, the concerns of scientists toward an amoral approach to the advances of biological sciences and engineering are examined. Much of the article centers on a keynote address delivered by Harvard Law School professor Einer Elhauge where the professor states â€Å"The issue is that people tend not to focus on the consequences of certain forms of human re-engineering.†The professor goes on to comment that the great strides in biological science may yield a great number of advances in helping humanity overcome a number of diseases and afflictions, but he also acknowledges that there is great potential for abuse. Examples of such abuse include issues such as altering the sex of a child in the womb or even a deaf family biologically engineering the deafness of their offspring.Ultimately, the Elhuage’s focus is to convince the scientific community that, even though it has biological technology to alter evolution, it should use ethical standards before embark ing on the proverbial â€Å"playing God† concept that Mary Shelly warned science about 250+ years ago.To a great degree, the article is accurate in terms of its presentation and call for moral and ethical consciousness. Just because science reaches the technological or biological advances of a highly evolved society does not mean that science can now re-orchestrate what is considered morally acceptable in the hearts and minds of the population. As such, science should understand the limits of ethical and moral behavior and not approach advancements with total mindlessness and amorality.Congressman Calls out Tech Firms on China Ethics.The bulk of the purpose of this article is to put the onus on American and international businesses to reconsider their actions when empowering China by conducting extensive business with the nation.In the article, it is reported that Congressman Chris Smith has taken internet companies such as Yahoo, Google, Sysco Systems, etc to task for going along with China’s internet censorship program. This may not seem like an entirely important issue, but one needs to keep in mind that China is primarily a military-industrial complex dictatorship that has a horrible record for human rights violations. As Smith points out, when American businesses work in tandem with nations with such abominable track records they enable such dictatorships and help perpetuate significant human rights violations.Furthermore, it is noted that journalists in China have been censured and punished and imprisoned for exercising their free speech. Smith suggests that American businesses that contribute to such a scenario should be fined and sanctioned.What Smith is essentially doing here is he is compelling American companies to conform to ethical standards of behavior and that is commendable. However, these companies have limited ability in terms of being able to shape domestic Chinese law. Furthermore, in such a highly competitive international bu siness environment, it is difficult to impose ethics as defined by one nation onto another nation, no matter how noble the cause. Smith’s statements are commendable, but it is not entirely clear if they will be successful.Ethics board fines Dow for giving state workers airplane rideAs the title of the article infers, the center of the ethics controversy this article deals with is a fine levied at Dow Chemicals to the tune of $2,500.00 for flying three state college employees to an out of state training program. At the time of the issue of contention, Dow was launching a co-operative training program with the state college (Louisiana Community and Technical College) and provided free airline tickets to employees for meeting purposes. This, however, was a violation of state ethic laws, hence the fine.This scenario strikes one as, well, silly. For Dow to compensate the airline tickets of three state workers so all parties can hash out a co-operative venture hardly seems like une thical behavior, although it is defined as such under state ethics laws. While the whole scenario comes off as much ado about nothing (actually, $2500 to a multi-billion dollar company such as Dow is basically nothing), it technically is a violation of state laws and the levied fine is valid. However, it does not seem like any real, serious ethical violations actually took place.If anything, the situation appears more like an error as the result of an oversight as opposed to a deliberate ethical violation. Oversights, however, are not an excuse for not following directions. In that regard, the decision against Dow was valid and the fine levied justified.BibliographyAnon. (2007, February 9) Ethics board fines Dow for giving state workers airplane ride.The Associated Press.   Retrieved February 12, 2007 fromhttp://money.aol.com/news/ articles/_a/ethics-board-fines-dow-for-giving-state/n20070209095709990003Schwankert, Steven.   (2007, February 12) Congressman Calls out Tech Firms o nChina Ethics. IDG News Service, Retrieved February 12, 2007, fromhttp://www.infoworld.com//07/02/12/HNcongressmanchinaethics_1.html/article/ sourcedomain =www.dailyfreepress.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.comZerey, Ralpha. (2007, February 12) Lawyers, Scientists Urge Ethics in BiologicalAdvances. The Daily Free Press. Retrieved February 12, 2007, fromhttp://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2007/02/12/News/Lawyers.Scientists.Urge.Ethics.In.Biological.Advances-2712941.shtml?

Criminology essay

Criminology essay Criminology essay Criminology essayWhat is the role of the prison in contemporary US society?Prison is intended for those people who refuse to submit to discipline and follow the instructions which are designed to ensure order. Therefore, the main role of the prison in contemporary US society is to isolate criminals from the society and to â€Å"normalize† deviant behavior of criminals. With the help of the prison, the state shows what standards all the citizens need to follow and â€Å"what is good and what is bad†. Moreover, prisons are often considered to be â€Å"the punishment† because the deprivation of human rights and liberty is the most severe punishment in contemporary secular society. Depriving a person of liberty, it is necessary does not forget that the prison is not a place of torture in the literal and figurative sense, but a place that is intended to change a man and to force an individual to reconsider own mistakes.Do prisons work?Today, Western society is beginn ing to realize that the prison should not be a major institution of punishment because it does not work in its pure form, while it is quite costly and problematic means of â€Å"social correction.† There is an opinion that the prison seems to be a social experiment with unpredictable consequences, and maybe a prison carries destruction by its means of isolating people from society. And thus, society signs in its inability to be a society. The use of prisons as a way to struggle against criminality, which leads to constant imprisonment, outlived its usefulness many decades ago, and it is time to move on to more humane and civilized methods of punishment, promoting policies to prevent crime and reduce the harm to society. Criminology essay Criminology essay Criminology essayThesis statement: The rise of the criminology a science contributed to the emergence of numerous theories, which though do not provide the universal explanation of crime and its causes, while the understanding of criminal behavior needs the detailed analysis of each particular crime and personality of the criminal to understand motives, reasons and the gravity of crime.The traditional positivist theory has laid the foundation to many contemporary theories and it was the first criminological theory that made crime the subject to the scientific investigation.The classical theory grounded on the positivist one contributed to the development of the scientific view on crime and uncovered multiple factors that may affect the criminal behavior and cause crimes, including social factors.However, the claim of the classical theory to view crime in sheer scientific terms which imply the analysis of the crime proper focusing on objective factors and regardless of the personalit y and psychological condition of the offender is inconsistent.Instead, other theories emerged which focused on psychological aspects of the crime. In such a way, the emergence of new theories revealed the inconsistency of the sheer rational view on the concept of crime and criminal behavior. In other words, new theories take into consideration the fact that crime is not always rational.On the other hand, new theories, such as the trait theory, which focused on psychological aspects of crime failed to take into consideration social factors.In such a way, crimes may be viewed from two different perspective: social and psychological. On the one hand, criminological theories take into consideration objective factors that exist independently of the criminal and influence the criminal behavior. On the other hand, there are criminological theories oriented on the psychological aspect of crime and criminal behavior.

Body image and gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Body image and gender - Essay Example This essay "Body image and gender" outlines the attitude of both genders to their bodies and different disorders which are connected with that. It has been shown repeatedly that body image is the most significant contributor to eating disorders (Hoyt & Kogan, 2001). Studies have also shown that approximately 90% of all persons that have eating disorders are women (Shirao et al. 2005). This might stem from the fact that during pubescence, a woman’s figure tends to deviate from socio-cultural ideals, whereas that of men tends to move toward what is lauded in society (2001). In accordance with this, the study done by Hoyt and Kogan revealed that while 84% of college men surveyed were satisfied with their current weight, only 66% of the women were satisfied with theirs. It also showed that underweight women at-risk for anorexia showed little or no signs of being more satisfied with their body image than were those women of normal or excessive weight. However, in a study done by Fr iedman, et al. (2002), the degree of a person’s obesity (whether male or female) correlated with their evaluation of body image. Further, body image was found to be a mediator or determiner of self esteem and level of depression. This general tendency in women to be more dissatisfied with their bodies than men extends even to adolescents and pre-teens. Phares, Steinberg, and Thompson (2004) have cited research showing that adolescent girls of average weight are about as likely as overweight adolescents to be on a diet.

Rafaella Sartis Europe at Home Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rafaella Sartis Europe at Home - Essay Example Furthermore, Sarti not only studied material objects from their "economic point of view, but also in their symbolic and cultural cointexts" (Schuurman). More truly, Sarti exhibited less interest in general economics, and more in the diversity of gender, religion and wealth instead of in explaining the formulation or dynamics of those differences. As a matter of fact, Schuurman stated that there was "no direct relationship between the choice of research area and the research questions asked of it," when social history should have been more about the "choice of theme or social group" and not about the "choice of region." the three functions of a household, namely, reproduction, consumption, and production, with much emphasis on consumption. However, she paid no attention to the production sphere although she has included this as one of the functions. And even with the consumption sphere, Sarti unfairly left out the objects that played a large role in the diversity which she centrally addressed, those related to tea and coffee. The first chapter was about th