Saturday, August 31, 2019

Washing Dishes Process Essay

Mrs. Morris English Comp 106 27 March 2013 Washing Dishes A nice meal was just enjoyed by the family. Everyone is sitting around the table with full stomachs not wanting to get up, but it has to be done. All the essential items are already out. Gloves, dish soap, dish strainer, a sponge and table full of dirty dishes. It's time to wash the dishes. Depending on what situation you're faced with determines weather or not you should wear rubber gloves to wash the dishes. If you are wearing a hoody or shirt with long sleeves now is the time to roll them up and put on an apron to minimize the chance of your clothes getting wet.As you take the dishes off of the table scrape all food items into the garbage can. Any napkins and straws should be thrown away also. This reduces the chance of your sink getting clogged. Set the dishes, cups, and silverware on the counter essay writer promo code. Fill the sink up with warm not scalding hot water. Add the dish soap of your choosing to get a mixture of suds within the water. Place the dishes into the sink gently, so there aren't any splashes. If there is enough time the dishes can soak to make washing them even easier.Pots and pans may also soak for easier washing. Take the sponge and get it wet. Grab the plates from the sink and begin to scrub off any food particles that may be stuck on. Rinse off the plates with warm water and make sure all the food and suds are off. Place in the dish strainer to dry. The cups need to have a little extra attention paid to them. Liquid can dry on the bottom and become stuck making it difficult to remove. If you can't reach your hand all the way inside of the cup use the handle of a fork to push the sponge in.Thoroughly rinse the cup inside and out with warm water. Place upside down in the dish strainer so the water will run out. Silverware is probably the most important to make sure it's clean. It goes in our mouths and serves our food. Wash one piece at a time to ensure maximum cleanliness. G rab the handle and scrub opposite end very well. Rinse with hot water. Dish strainers usually have a designated spot for the silverware to stand vertically; place them there. Pots and pans are the dirtiest and hardest to clean.Food gets baked on from cooking and depending how long they have been sitting; it can get really hard. Keep some warm soapy water inside of the pots and pans. Some force may be required to chisel some of the food particles off. Rinse with warm water and place upside down in the dish strainer. The dishes are done! Rinse out the sponge and squeeze out any excess water. Let all of the water out of the sink and wash down any remaining suds down the drain. The dishes can stay in the dish strainer and air dry or be dried with a towel and put away.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Nike Marketing Report Essay

The purpose of this report is to use concepts, models and theories to critically assess and evaluate Nike’s digital marketing activities. Within the report models such as the Marketing Mix and Assofs Matrix are used to demonstrate the importance of Nike’s digital campaigns and evaluate their validity. The report begins with an introduction to Nike as a company; this is a brief history into how the company was conceived. After this we explore different  product ranges Nike have to offer and their share within the sporting goods market. I go on to discuss how â€Å"Nike create anâ€Å"ecosystem† of digital services that complement its product range and encourage consumers to connect with the brand daily†(Olander, S., 2012). I continue to use evidence to support the importance of digital based marketing at Nike. I demonstrate the way in which they target their specific markets using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. My conclusion focuses on the flaws and achievements of the companies digital marketing efforts. Nike is a company that has an impeccable record when it comes to marketing and its reflected within the examples I present throughout. Using Assofs matrix model I assess what Nike will have to do to remain dominant within its market. These include: – Diversifying into emerging foreign markets such as Chine and India. – Utilizing relationship marketing more effectively with marketing campaigns segmented to the consumers individually. – Market development within its pre-established markets – Product development to keep up with current digital trends Introduction to Nike As smaller companies are fading away and large multinationals are flourishing its hard to think of them having any similarities. One company that boasts of being that largest sportswear company in the world, started out with humble beginnings. I have chosen to analyze Nike due in part to their large online presence, which continues to grow and adapt to their ever-changing environment. The way in which we consume information has drastically changed in the last 20 years causing companies to rethink their marketing strategies. I believe that Nikes success as a company is due in part to its effective use of marketing to create a strong brand image and its adaptability when faced with a digital revolution within the global markets. Track athlete Philip Knight and his coach, Bill Bowerman created Nike in 1964. Originally called Blue Ribbon Sports, the company started as an American distributer of footwear made by Onitsuka Tiger, a Japanese shoe maker that would later go on to found the sportswear company ASICS. Originally Blue Ribbon Sports conducted their business out of the back of Phillip Knight’s car after training. Knight’s and Bowerman’s business grew and 2 years after they had first created their brand they had opened their first store in California. This is when they adopted the name Nike, inspired by the ancient Greek goddess of victory. This was the time they would also start using the iconic image of the â€Å"swoosh†. After this point their business started to expand rapidly. It did so by â€Å" Pursuing different advertising strategies in its various markets, while at the same time striving to communicate an identical brand identity worldwide† (Von Borries, 2004, p19) . In 1988 Dan Wieden of the Wieden and Kennedy advertising agency coined one of the most famous advertising slogans of all time. The Iconic â€Å"just do it†. The slogan has been chosen as one of the most iconic slogans of the 20th century by Advertising Age magazine. (Nike: History and Heritage , 2012). Financially Nike has seen a massive growth from its humble beginnings of selling products from the trunk of a car to having revenue of $24.148 billion and a income of $ 3.040 billion in 2012 (United States Securities and Exchange Commission, 2011) Nike has been extremely effective at expanding beyond its domestic market of the United States to become a global brand that boasts 44,000 employees worldwide. When it comes to the products produced by Nike it is clear that they have diversified slowly over the years to produce an extremely broad range of sporting goods. Their range of products includes shoes, team kits, clothing and base layers to name a few. As a company they also produce goods for an array of sports including, ice hockey, track and field, tennis, football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and cricket. Like any other sporting goods companies they face many  competitors within the market. These include Adidas, Reebok, Fila, Puma, New Balance, Asics, and Skechers though Nike is the largest company within the group. Adidas is its closest competitor with a 16 % market share compared to 31% help by Nike. Not only is Nike the leader within its market but it also has the most creative marketing campaigns, which I believe to be the key contributor to its international success. Though they have faced controversy over the years with accusations of poor working conditions and low pay for staff they have managed to continue their dominance within the market. They are a true testament to what branding and marketing can achieve within a retail company.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

An Ideal Husband, By Oscar Wilde

An Ideal Husband, By Oscar Wilde To give the devil his work is fiction Wilde brilliantly uses the opportunity to authors comments (remarks), which gives explanations to the text of a dramatic work, containing a description of the situation, the exterior of the actors, the behavior of the characters in the play and some other information. From them we get the information and impressions, which are unlikely to have been able to get when watching the play, and to understand that we have and what the author says in his remarks, hidden meaning, you must have knowledge of the realities of the time, location, social stratum, in which the action. You must decide the amount of tasks to solve a set of puzzles that we offer Wilde. Puzzles start from the beginning of the text. The persons of the play opens The Earl of Caversham, KG What does it mean K.G.? This is a Knight Companion of the Garter. The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in medià ¦val England. Membership in the Ord er is strictly limited and includes the monarch, the Prince of Wales, not more than 24 companion members, and various supernumerary members. Only 24! Interestingly, as we know it, if we look only stage action? What will the director, if it considers that these two letters – the author’s name to him? Would put the actor in the mantle and hat of the Order? This will give a completely unnecessary comic effect, the Earl of Caversham is a very serious person and not clothe them in inappropriate time and place setting. You can decorate the costume hero Badge of the Order of the Garter, but whether the public understands what it is? Especially from the back rows. No, this is only a literary device, it is a sign for the reader who understands the reader who immediately allocate a statement and say to himself, after reading the following line -, his Son:  «It is clear with whom we work.† For audiences the premiere, which were also to some extent, the readers, as acquain ted with the play before a performance at the theater program that is an indication of Wilde’s spoken a lot more than us, the inhabitants of the 21 century. For them it was an allusion to specific individuals, who could imagine that it was possible to correlate what is happening on stage. Only 24 people in England. And certainly few of them actively participated in political activities, close to the prime minister, as the Earl of Caversham. No, not the family of the Knights of the Garter were not among the noble, but impoverished families, and Viscount Goring will live in Curzon Street, next door to Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. Oscar Wilde (and not only he) likes to put his characters at that address. In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Lord Henry Wotton lives on Curzon Street. In Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, Rawdon and Rebecca Crawley live in a very small comfortable house in Curzon Street, Mayfair.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

EMPLOYER VS EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION HEALTHCARE WITH UNION WORKERS Thesis Proposal

EMPLOYER VS EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION HEALTHCARE WITH UNION WORKERS - Thesis Proposal Example evident that healthy humans or workers can only put in their best efforts and elevate organizations’ performance, their profits, their market share, and so on. This being the case, it is very crucial for the organizations, labor unions, and even government to adopt or come up with policies to safeguard and improve the health of the employees. Speaking of government’s role, although it is a joint federal/state system, the federal government has given the main responsibility of regulating health insurance policies regarding employees to the states. In addition, governments are encouraging organizations to come up with their own health insurance plans called employer contributed health insurance. under the McCarran-Ferguson Act. States regulate the content of health insurance policies and often require coverage of specific types of medical services or health care providersthey have The 1985 act of ‘The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation’ required that every employer having twenty or more employees should provide nonstop access to health coverage to workers who leave their jobs. Moreover the 1996 Act of ‘Health Insurance Portability and Accountability’ (HIPA) guarantees the employees that their company authorized health insurance cover will not be revocable under any preexisting exclusions. (Patel and Rushefsky 2006). Based on this enticing factor and other necessities, the health insurance cover can be enlarged. Provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the size of U.S. workforce relative to workforce outside the United States...prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance (Sullivan, 2008). â€Å"Small businesses currently get a tax deduction for health insurance paid, and even this is limited to only an income tax deduction for the owner. Convert this deduction into a dollar-for-dollar credit. Let small businesses reduce their tax burden by how much they spend on health insurance premi ums and health savings account

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Segundo de Chomon and His Ciinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Segundo de Chomon and His Ciinema - Essay Example As the study stresses on one side the cinema is documenting reality, the reality of the train coming to the platform. On the other hand the same cinema is making the unreal look real, by making the viewer believe that the train coming towards him is real. These two qualities of Cinema led to the division of it into documentaries and feature films or fantasy films .It was the French magician Georges Melies who first explored the possibility of fantasy created through cinema He was the one to use what we now call the special effects in cinema. He discovered the cinematic special effect called the stop trick, in which objects disappear from the screen. He is the one to use the photographic effect called the multiple exposure, and also time lapse photography. He achieved all this with in a year after the Lumiere show, that’s in 1896. With his inventiveness, humor and the visual power Melies could create magic on the screen, so that he was called the â€Å"Cine magician†. Ac cording to Robert Philip Kolker, â€Å"Lumiere and Melies are posited as progenitors of two separate modes of cinematic expression, the one photographing things existing in the world, the other creating fantasies in the studio.† Years later Teruel Segundo de Chomon y Ruiz took forwards this fantasy and magic of cinema initiated by Georges Melies, both of them in France. Chomon’s Les Kiriki: Acrobats Japanois is a two minutes thirty seconds film that shows the Melies’s effect on him. This film was made one hundred and two years ago in 1907.It shows a group of dances who look like Japanese acrobats. Their samurai hair style is absurd and not correctly matching the samurai style at all.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Energy drinks effect Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Energy drinks effect - Research Paper Example The main loss of water from the body is due to perspiration According to various studies if one loses water up to two or more percent of ones body weight (water makes 60% of the body weight) due to sweating (If a man/woman weigh 50 Kilograms and if s/he loses one liter sweat), that will lead to a drop in blood volume. This will force the heart to work harder to pump the blood through the arteries. This is the extreme situation of dehydration. This leads to muscle cramps. The functioning of the brain heavily depends on water. Thus dehydration affects the brain leading to fatigue and dizziness. If not re-hydrated immediately this situation may even lead to heat illnesses like Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion. In addition to excessive sweating, other causes of dehydration are inadequate fluid intake, failure to replace fluid losses during and after the exercises, working out in dry hot weather, in the open, and drinking only when one is thirsty. There was a time when water was the only or one of the few sources of hydration. But water as a hydrant was found to have a lot of limitations. The major draw back of water as a hydrant is that it doesn’t replace the salts or electrolytes lost during perspiration. Water easily quenches thirst even before the body gets re-hydrated. Only few people like the taste of the water; most find the taste relatively bland. More over, drinking too much water can, though rarely, cause hyponatremia or water intoxication. It was these limitations of water as a hydrant that forced researchers to develop energy drinks especially for sports. Energy drinks or Sports drinks with their typical sweet-tart taste combination don’t quench thirst. So one is likely to drink larger volumes of energy/ sports drinks, compared to water which helps to maintain a better level of hydration. POSITIVE EFFECTS: Electrolytes or salts and Carbohydrates are the major components of an energy drink or sports drink. Protein is another component

Sunday, August 25, 2019

The Impact of Globalization On Labour Markets Essay

The Impact of Globalization On Labour Markets - Essay Example This very fact could be regarded as one important negative aspect of globalisation over the labour market when it allowed for a substantial hike in the wage rates of skilled labour force (owing to premiums over wages) but at the same time increased the difference with that earned by the low-skilled or unskilled group of labour. The present paper is dedicated to a proper examination of the impact that globalisation had over the labour markets across the world with the help of literature background supported by proper empirical evidences. In addition, it also attempts to enlist the functions of the International Labour Organisation and suggests remedies to correct the negative impact that globalisation had over the labour market. Introduction Globalisation had been one of the most significant of all revolutions to have affected human civilisation. It assisted the transmission of resources between nations so that the problems arising out of resource crunch at one location could be easil y tackled. Initially, the procedure had been associated with hefty cross-border duties as well as transaction costs, though these expenses eventually started receding with time. The nature of resources nonetheless had been restricted at the outset, limited only to commodities. In fact, there had been economic concerns which restrained nations from importing or exporting services from their peers. Commodity trade themselves had been associated with a high cost. However, this practice was later discovered as a delusion as the merits of free trade gradually came to the forefront. This kicked off the transfer of human resources across national premises as well. Thus globalisation had a... This essay stresses that globalisation is characterised by a reduction or relaxation in trade tariffs so as to promote international openness thus facilitating free flow of goods and services between nations. This particular aspect had been very beneficial for the global labour market from a number of aspects such as betterment in the wage structure of both skilled and unskilled labour forces than what it had been immediately after the World War. Apart from that there had been a considerable fall in the rate of unemployment around the globe. This is essentially due to the fact that openness has helped people to migrate across international premises so that an excess supply at one corner of the world is compensated by excess demand in another. This paper makes a conclusion that there had been an efficient allocation of factor resources as well in addition to improvements in economic activities which is reflected through betterment in the economic growth rates of nations across the world. Hence, all nations are instigated to add up to their capital stocks which ultimately result to greater factor productivities and shoved up the economic growth rates further. However, the hikes in wage rates were also followed by a rising disparity in the wage rates between groups of skilled and unskilled labours. On the other hand, lack of monopoly now deprived the trade unions of their bargaining powers so that the unskilled labour force was left to loom behind in impoverished living conditions.

Phoenix Johnson and the Worn Path Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Phoenix Johnson and the Worn Path - Essay Example The character is able to become symbolic of the meaning of the overall story and what it means to change the worn path into something new as a transition. The first aspect of the character that is recognized as a part of the worn path is the name. Phoenix is a symbolic meaning of a bird that dies then rises through the ashes. In the story, Phoenix is seen as walking the same path continuously, always which is done for the illness of her grandson. This is combined with the routines and expectations that she has as well as the reoccurring events that everyone recognizes about the character. The idea of the phoenix then remains present in the story as the worn out path of the character continues until it dies. When Phoenix falls into a ditch, there is recognition of the character dying to the old and worn out path, which then leads to rising to the new. The presentation of the character as a bird that is not going to walk down the same path again then becomes a central part of the recog nition of the struggle that the character goes through as well as the problems which are associated with making a transition out of the old and into the new. The name of Phoenix which holds the symbolic meaning with the character is followed by the actions which are taken and the expectations that the character has. The worn path that Phoenix walks down is also symbolic of the mentality of the character and the difficulties which she continuously encounters throughout her life. The never – ending struggle of the character and the ability to overcome this is one of the highlighted aspects of the character. For instance, when walking the worn path, Phoenix states that the journey makes it â€Å"seems like there is chains on my feet, time I get this far† (Welty, 143). The statement is one that is not only based on the difficulty of the path but is representative of the path that Phoenix continues to travel and rise through each time that something occurs. The characteriza tion of Phoenix then becomes associated with the struggle that she continues to go through and the ability to overcome the difficulties which she has faced. The recognition of the character that has the chains on the path and which continues to struggle is not only based on the one struggles of the character. Phoenix is an African – American that lives in the south and which has lived through the Civil Rights movement and the changes toward blacks and whites in the nation. The representation of the character then moves into a deeper aspect not only of one character that has walked the worn path. It also relates to the struggles of those living in the South at the time and the continuous need to have bravery, the ability to overcome and to chase things away if they appeared as a threat. For instance, when Phoenix meets a hunter, he holds a gun to her to shoot. The response is not one out of fear. â€Å" ‘Doesn’t that gun scare you?’ he said, pointing it at her. ‘No, Sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day† (146). This phrase and several others show the courage and the understanding of the meaning of the character as the worn path. The character is one that has seen guns, struggle and other difficulties based on the social order of the time. The development of the character is then to show how these struggles have allowed the character to overcome.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

The relationship between the average amount of sleep a high school Assignment

The relationship between the average amount of sleep a high school teenager gets per school night and the total average amount of Internet used in one school week - Assignment Example Vast expansion in the sector of technology has been experienced in the recent past and has been embraced by almost all the people regardless of age. For a younger generation of people, technology has taken a very substantial role in both their educational and social lives. A large number of teenagers have access to cell phones, the Internet, desktops, laptops, and many other forms of modern technology. A matter of concern has been raised on the increased role played by the modern technology in the teenagers’ lives about how these children might be influenced. Currently, technology is greatly changing the process and content to a level that young children/teenagers are heavily immersed in a world that is surrounded with a lot of information. The ever increasing amount of time spent by teenagers on modern technology has raised a number of questions about the use and the trends of the technology. Dehmler states that the children of today are growing up in a very interconnected an d networked world. The teenagers have unlimited access to the modern technologies and use them in the ways they deem fit for them. This study was undertaken to present an understanding of the impact of Internet on the amount of hours spent on sleeping by the teenage students. Quantitative research methodology was used to guide the study. Two variables were used to test for the quantitative impact of the study. The variables included, the amount of time spent on the Internet (explanatory variable) and the amount of time spent in sleeping (dependent/response variable).

Friday, August 23, 2019

The Unredeemed Captive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Unredeemed Captive - Essay Example Young as she was, she was taken to Canada along with other 100 captives from Deerfield. The raid was later named the Deerfield Massacre. The story of Eunice reveals the experiences of New England including how the colonial events impacted the Indians, English, and French or colonists both negatively and positively. Eunice, a daughter of a crucial person, was captured by French soldiers to be used in a part exchange deal. The raid was organized by the governor of New France, who wanted to rescue a British captive named Capt. Pierre Baptiste. Captain had attacked British ships on the Atlantic Coast on behalf of the French authorities. In an attempt to save the captain, the New French decided to capture an important British prisoner. French authorities obtained Eunice in order to get the captain from the British authorities. Capturing the daughter to one of the powerful and influential people in England was an effective and logical that would prompt the English authorities to negotiate with the French. Eunice’s captivity had an adverse impact on the people of Deerfield. According to Haefeli and Sweeney, they had lost a daughter to their prominent minister and some of their populations. They grieved and were in sorrow.2 In an attempt to free his daughter, John Williams tried to convince the French authorities to release her daughter, but his attempts proved futile. To add to that, Eunice, after being fully assimilated into the Indian culture, decided to stay away from home. Her decision was followed by numerous futile attempts by both his brother and father to convince her to come home. Consequently, her refusal to go back home became the primary source of her family’s misery. Apart from Eunice, several young Deerfield captives never returned to their families, but instead joined either the French authorities or the Native American society. The captivity of Eunice had a positive impact on the Indian people. They were overjoyed and

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Key Skill Essay Example for Free

Key Skill Essay Ensure your work is accurate and clear and is saved appropriately  You need to have achieved Key Skills 9 and 10. In addition your teacher needs to have verified that the work is both accurate and clear. This means they need to have supplied a written statement saying that the work is accurate. They cannot do this is there are any mistakes so check the work clearly. Advantages and Disadvantages of using ICT for this task  Demonstrate knowledge of how IT can help you in your work and be able to compare your use of IT with other methods  You need to write about how IT helped you to produce your presentation. This might include spell-check making sure that the words were spelt correctly, or the use of cut and paste to move objects around the page to try out different layouts.  The second part of this Key Skill needs you to write about how else you might have done this presentation. You need to compare creating computer generated presentation with another method maybe using a pen and pencil. The advantages and disadvantages of using IT  You need to list at least two advantages and two disadvantage of using IT to write the story. Example You might have used a pen and paper. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pen and paper to write the story against using a computer?  You must make sure that you have covered both the advantages and the disadvantages. Example  Disadvantages might include cost of hardware software and peripherals or time spent learning how to use the programs needed to search, find and use information  The Importance of Copyright and Confidentiality  When it is necessary to observe copyright or confidentiality  You need to write a few lines about copyright what it is and how it affects you and the pictures you have found on the internet and CD/Clipart. You can present screen shots from the site showing copyright information or copies of emails sent and receiving permission to use graphics, text and photographs You can write about confidentiality what it is and how it does/does not affect you. You could refer to the lack of personal information and the fact that the Data Protection Act (1998) does not affect you.  Example  You have not used pictures of yourself or other young people which could identify them  Error Handling and Virus Protection  How to identify errors and their causes You will need to show, using screenshots, of errors and how to solve them. This can show the use of the office assistant, or searching for a web page that returns a not known error. It could be a picture of the spell check identifying a spelling error. How to minimise risks from viruses  You will need to provide a description of how to avoid getting viruses from floppy disks or from Internet downloads, including the purpose and use of virus checkers and how they prevent and remove a virus.  A couple of paragraphs are all that is required. Health and Safety Matters Work safely and take care of equipment, avoid losing information and know how to get help when dealing with errors  You will need to write a paragraph about:  Taking care of equipment e.g. storage of disks:  You must not put your disks near a magnet as this will delete the content, not throwing them around  Avoiding loss of information e.g. use of AutoSave or backup. Saving information onto disks as well as the account at school  Obtaining help e.g. on-line help, telephone support or teacher assistance.   I could not work out how to adjust the margins so I used the online help (screenshots here)  You need to show (through screenshots) that you have backed up your files. How to work safely and minimise health risks  You need to write a short paragraph about two health and two safety risks involved in using computers.  You may write about the use of anti-glare screens and taking a break from using the computer to rest your eyes or wrists. You may write about repetitive strain injuries from not having the correct keyboard and backache from not having the correct chair. Think about the rules in your computer room not drinking in a computer room, trailing cables or bags in the aisle.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Message The Book Of Romans Theology Religion Essay

The Message The Book Of Romans Theology Religion Essay As evident in all other epistles written by Paul to the churches, in his epistle to the roman his aim was to proclaim the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ by teaching doctrine and edify and encourage the believers who would receive his letter. Particularly, to all the brethrens who were loved by God and called to be saints according to Roman 1:7, and of course because he himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them. One of the key verses of the letter is found in Roman 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. THE MESSAGE The Book of Romans is primarily a work of doctrine and can be divided into four sections: righteousness needed, 1:18-3:20; righteousness provided, 3:21-8:39; righteousness vindicated, 9:1-11:36; righteousness practiced, 12:1-15:13. The main theme of this letter is obvious of course righteousness. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul first condemns all men of their sinfulness. He expresses his desire to preach the truth of Gods Word to those in Rome. It was his hope to have assurance they were staying on the right path. He strongly points out that he is not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16), because it is the power by which everyone is saved. The Book of Romans tells us about God, who He is and what He has done. It tells us of Jesus Christ, what His death accomplished. It tells us about ourselves, what we were like without Christ and who we are after trusting in Christ. Paul points out that God did not demand men have their lives straightened out before coming to Christ. While we were still sinners Christ died on a cross for our sins. 1 Corinthian PURPOSE The apostle Paul founded the church in Corinth. A few years after leaving the church, the apostle Paul heard some disturbing reports about the Corinthian church. They were full of pride and were excusing sexual immorality. Spiritual gifts were being used improperly, and there was rampant misunderstanding of key Christian doctrines. The apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians in an attempt to restore the Corinthian church to its foundation Jesus Christ. MESSAGE The Corinthian church was plagued by divisions. The believers in Corinth were dividing into groups loyal to certain spiritual leaders (1 Corinthians 1:12;3:1-6). Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to be united because of devotion to Christ (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). Many in the church were essentially approving of an immoral relationship (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). Paul commanded them to expel the wicked man from the church (1 Corinthians 5:13). The Corinthian believers were taking each other to court (1 Corinthians 6:1-2). Paul taught the Corinthians that it would be better to be taken advantage of than to damage their Christian testimony. Paul gave the Corinthian church instructions on marriage and celibacy (chapter 7), food sacrificed to idols (chapters 8 and 10), Christian freedom (chapter 9), the veiling of women(1 Corinthians 11:1-16), the Lords Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34), spiritual gifts (chapters 12-14), and the resurrection (chapter 15). Paul organized the book of 1 Corinthians by answering questions the Corinthian believers had asked him and by responding to improper conduct and erroneous beliefs they had accepted. Paul uses the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness to illustrate to the Corinthian believers the folly of the misuse of freedom and the danger of overconfidence. Paul warned the Corinthians about their lack of self-discipline in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He goes on to describe the Israelites who, despite seeing Gods miracles and care for them, the parting of the Red Sea, the miraculous provision of manna from heaven and water from a rock, they misused their freedom, rebelled against God, and fell into immorality and idolatry. Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to note the example of the Israelites and avoid lusts and sexual immorality and putting Christ to the test and complaining. 2 Corinthian PURPOSE In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul expresses his relief and joy that the Corinthians had received his severe letter now lost in a positive manner. That letter addressed issues that were tearing the church apart, primarily the arrival of self-styled false apostle who were assaulting Pauls character, sowing discord among the believers, and teaching false doctrine. THE MESSAGE Paul explains the nature of his ministry. Triumph through Christ and sincerity in the sight of God were the hallmarks of his ministry to the churches. He compares the glorious ministry of the righteousness of Christ to the ministry of condemnation which is the law and declares his faith in the validity of his ministry in spite of intense persecution. Chapter 5 outlines the basis of the Christian faith the new nature (v. 17) and the exchange of our sin for the righteousness of Christ (v. 21). Furthermore, Chapters 6 and 7 find Paul defending himself and his ministry, assuring the Corinthians yet again of his sincere love for them and exhorting them to repentance and holy living. In chapters 8 and 9, Paul exhorts the believers at Corinth to follow the examples of the brothers in Macedonia and extend generosity to the saints in need. He teaches them the principles and rewards of gracious giving. Paul ends his letter by reiterating his authority among them (chapter 10) and concern for their faithfulness to him in the face of fierce opposition from false apostles. He calls himself a fool for having to reluctantly boast of his qualifications and his suffering for Christ in chapter 11. He ends his epistle by describing the vision of heaven he was allowed to experience and the thorn in the flesh he was given by God to ensure his humility (chapter 12). The last chapter contains his exhortation to the Corinthians to examine themselves to see whether what they profess is reality, and ends with a benediction of love and peace. Galatians PURPOSE The churches in Galatia were formed partly of converted Jews and partly of Gentile converts, as was generally the case. Paul asserts his apostolic character and the doctrines he taught, that he might confirm the Galatians churches in the faith of Christ, especially with respect to the important point of justification by faith alone. Thus the subject is mainly the same as that which is discussed in the Epistle to the Romans, that is, justification by faith alone. In this epistle, however, attention is particularly directed to the point that men are justified by faith without the works of the Law of Moses. MESSAGE Galatians was not written as an essay in contemporary history. It was a protest against corruption of the gospel of Christ. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by the works of the law had been obscured by the Judaizers insistence that believers in Christ must keep the law if they expected to be perfect before God. When Paul learned that this teaching had begun to penetrate the Galatians churches and that it had alienated them from their heritage of liberty, he wrote the impassioned remonstrance contained in this epistle. Paul appealed to the Galatians to stand fast in their freedom, and not get entangled again with a yoke of bondage (that is, the Mosaic law) (Galatians 5:1). Christian freedom is not an excuse to gratify ones lower nature rather, it is an opportunity to love one another (Galatians 5:13;6:7-10). He stresses further that such freedom does not insulate one from lifes struggles. Indeed, it may intensify the battle between the Spirit and the flesh. Nevertheless, the flesh (the lower nature) has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20); and, as a consequence, the Spirit will bear His fruit such as love, joy, and peace in the life of the believer (Galatians 5:22-23). The letter to the Galatians was written in a spirit of inspired agitation. For Paul, the issue was not whether a person was circumcised, but whether he had become a new creation (Galatians 6:15). If Paul had not been successful in his argument for justification by faith alone, Christianity would have remained a sect within Judaism, rather than becoming the universal way of salvation. Galatians, therefore, is not only Luthers epistle; it is the epistle of every believer who confesses with Paul, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20). The books of James and Galatians illustrate two aspects of Christianity that from the very beginning have seemed to be in conflict, though in reality they are supplementary. James insists on the ethic of Christ, a demand that faith prove its existence by its fruits. Nevertheless, James, no less than Paul, emphasizes the need of the transformation of the individual by the grace of God (James 1:18). Galatians stresses the dynamic of the gospel that produces ethic (Galatians 3:13-14). Nor was Paul less concerned than James about the ethical life (Galatians 5:13). Like the two sides of a coin, these two aspects of Christian truth must always accompany each other. Ephesians PURPOSE Paul intended that all who long for Christ-like maturity would receive this writing. Enclosed within the Book of Ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of God. Furthermore, a study in Ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfil the purpose and calling God has given. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church. It presents a balanced view of the body of Christ and its importance in Gods economy. MESSAGE Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the Book of Ephesians. Half of the teaching in this epistle relates to our standing in Christ, and the remainder of it affects our condition. All too often those who teach from this book bypass all the foundational instruction and go directly to the closing chapter. It is this chapter that emphasizes the warfare or the struggle of the saints. However, to benefit fully from the contents of this epistle, one must begin at the beginning of Pauls instruction in this letter. First, as followers of Christ, we must fully understand who God declares us to be. We must also become grounded in the knowledge of Gods accomplishment for all humanity. Next, our present existence and walk must become exercised and strengthened. This must continue until we no longer totter or stagger back and forth with every spirit of teaching and subtlety of men. Pauls writing breaks down into three main segments. (1) Chapters one through three introduce principles with respect to Gods accomplishment. (2) Chapters four and five put forth principles regarding our present existence. (3) Chapter six presents principles concerning our daily struggle. Philippians PURPOSE The Epistle to the Philippians, one of Pauls prison epistles, was written in Rome. It was at Philippi, which the apostle visited on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:12), that Lydia and the Philippians jailer and his family were converted to Christ. Now, some few years later, the church was well established, as may be inferred from its address which includes bishops (elders) and deacons (Philippians 1:1). MESSAGE Philippians can be called Resources Through Suffering. The book is about Christ in our life, Christ in our mind, Christ as our goal, Christ as our strength, and joy through suffering. It was written during Pauls imprisonment in Rome, about thirty years after Christs ascension and about ten years after Paul first preached at Philippi. Paul was Neros prisoner, yet the epistle fairly shouts with triumph, the words joy and rejoice appearing frequently (Philippians 1:4, ,28;Philippians 3:1,4:1,4,10). Right Christian experience is the outworking, whatever our circumstances may be, of the life, nature, and mind of Christ living in us (Philippians 1:6,11;2:5,13). Philippians reaches its pinnacle at 2:5-11 with the glorious and profound declaration regarding the humiliation and exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossian PURPOSE The Book of Colossians is a mini-ethics course, addressing every area of Christian life. Paul progresses from the individual life to the home and family, from work to the way we should treat others. The theme of this book is the sufficiency of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in meeting our needs in every area. MESSAGE Colossians was written explicitly to defeat the heresy that had arisen in Colosse, which endangered the existence of the church. While we do not know what was told to Paul, this letter is his response. We can surmise based on Pauls response that he was dealing with a defective view of Christ denying His real and true humanity and not accepting His full deity. Paul appears also to dispute the Jewish emphasis on circumcision and traditions (Colossians 2:8-11;3:11). The heresy addressed appears to be either a Jewish-Gnosticism or a mix between Jewish asceticism and Greek philosophy. He does a remarkable job in pointing us to the sufficiency of Christ. The Book of Colossians contains doctrinal instruction about the deity of Christ and false philosophies (1:15-2:23), as well as practical exhortations regarding Christian conduct, including friends and speech (3:1-4:18). As with all the early churches, the issue of Jewish legalism in Colosse was of great concern to Paul. So radical was the concept of salvation by grace apart from works that those steeped in Old Testament law found it very difficult to grasp. Consequently, there was a continual movement among the legalists to add certain requirements from the law to this new faith. 1 Thessalonians PURPOSE In the church of Thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of Christ. Paul desired to clear them up in his letter. He also writes it as an instruction in holy living. MESSAGE The first three chapters are about Paul longing to visit the church in Thessalonica but not being able to because Satan stopped them (1 Thessalonians 2:18), and how Paul cared for them and was encouraged to hear how they had been. Paul then prays for them (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13). In chapter 4, Paul is instructing the believers in Thessalonica on how to live, in Christ Jesus, a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12). Paul goes on to instruct them of a misconception they had. He tells them that the people who have died in Christ Jesus will also go to heaven when He comes back (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,5:1-11). The book ends with final instructions of living the Christian life. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the persecution they were receiving from their own countrymen (v. 2:15), the Jews who rejected their Messiah, is the same that the Old Testament prophets suffered (Jeremiah 2:30;Matthew 23:31). Jesus warned that true prophets of God would always be opposed by the unrighteous (Luke 11:49). In Colossians, Paul reminds them of that truth. 2 Thessalonians PURPOSE The church in Thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the Day of the Lord. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. They were being persecuted badly. Paul wrote to clear up misconceptions and to comfort them. MESSAGE Paul greets the church at Thessalonica and encourages and exhorts them. He commends them for what he hears they are doing in the Lord, and he prays for them (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). In chapter 2, Paul explains what will happen in the Day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Paul then encourages them to stand firm and instructs them to keep away from idle men who dont live by the gospel. 1Timothy PURPOSE Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him in his responsibility for overseeing the work of the Ephesians church and possibly the other churches in the province of Asia (1 Timothy 1:3).  This letter lays the foundation for ordaining elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and provides guidance for ordaining people into offices of the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13).  In essence, 1 Timothy is a leadership manual for church organization and administration. MESSAGE This is the first letter Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor who had been a help to Paul in his work. Timothy was a Greek. His mother was a Jewess and his father was Greek. Paul was more than just a mentor and leader to Timothy, he was like a father to him, and Timothy was like a son to Paul (1 Timothy 1:2). Paul begins the letter by urging Timothy to be on guard for false teachers and false doctrine. However, much of the letter deals with pastoral conduct. Paul instructs Timothy in worship (chapter 2) and developing mature leaders for the church (chapter 3). Most of the letter deals with pastoral conduct, warnings about false teachers, and the churchs responsibility toward single members, widows, elders, and slaves. All throughout the letter, Paul encourages Timothy to stand firm, to persevere, and to remain true to his calling. 2 Timothy PURPOSE The Book of 2 Timothy is essentially Pauls last words. Paul looked past his own circumstances to express concern for the churches and specifically for Timothy. Paul wanted to use his last words to encourage Timothy, and all other believers, to persevere in faith (2 Timothy 3:14) and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:2). MESSAGE Paul encourages Timothy to remain passionate for Christ and to remain firm in sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:1-2,13-14). Paul reminds Timothy to avoid ungodly beliefs and practices and to flee from anything immoral (2 Timothy 2:14-26). In the end times there will be both intense persecution and apostasy from the Christian faith (2 Timothy 3:1-17). Paul closes with an intense plea for believers to stand firm in the faith and to finish the race strong (2 Timothy 4:1-8). Titus PURPOSE The Epistle to Titus is known as one of the Pastoral Epistles as are the two letters to Timothy. This epistle was written by the apostle Paul to encourage his brother in the faith, Titus, whom he had left in Crete to lead the church which Paul had established on one of his missionary journeys (Titus 1:5). This letter advises Titus regarding what qualifications to look for in leaders for the church. He also warns Titus of the reputations of those living on the island of Crete (Titus 1:12). MESSAGE How wonderful it must have been when Titus received a letter from his mentor, the apostle Paul. Paul was a much-honoured man and rightly so, after establishing several churches throughout the eastern world. This famous introduction from the apostle would have been read by Titus: To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour (Titus 1:4). The island of Crete where Titus was left by Paul to lead the church was inhabited by natives of the island and Jews who did not know the truth of Jesus Christ (Titus 1:12-14). Paul felt it to be his responsibility to follow through with Titus to instruct and encourage him in developing leaders within the church at Crete. As the apostle Paul directed Titus in his search for leaders, Paul also suggested how Titus would instruct the leaders so that they could grow in their faith in Christ. His instructions included those for both men and women of all ages (Titus 2:1-8). Philemon PURPOSE The letter to Philemon is the shortest of all Pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. The letter suggests that Paul was in prison at the time of the writing. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. During the time of Pauls ministry in Ephesus, Philemon had likely journeyed to the city, heard Pauls preaching and became a Christian. The slave Onesimus robbed his master, Philemon, and ran away, making his way to Rome and to Paul. Onesimus was still the property of Philemon, and Paul wrote to smooth the way for his return to his master. Through Pauls witnessing to him, Onesimus had become a Christian (Philemon 10) and Paul wanted Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ and not merely as a slave. MESSAGE Paul had warned slave owners that they had a responsibility towards their slaves and showed slaves as responsible moral beings who were to fear God. In Philemon, Paul did not condemn slavery, but he presented Onesimus as a Christian brother instead of a slave. When an owner can refer to a slave as a brother, the slave has reached a position in which the legal title of slave is meaningless. The early church did not attack slavery directly but it laid the foundation for a new relationship between owner and slave. Paul attempted to unite both Philemon and Onesimus with Christian love so that emancipation would become necessary. Only after exposure to the light of the gospel could the institution of slavery die.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Evaluation of UK Legislation and Policy on Fracking

Evaluation of UK Legislation and Policy on Fracking AN EVALUATION OF CURRENT UK PLANNING LEGISLATION AND POLICY MEASURES TO CONTROL THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF FRACKING ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction The pace of the development of Britains Shale-gas industry is accelerating due to the current governments policy to progress the extraction of shale-gas, or fracking as commonly known, to provide energy security, growth and jobs (DBEI. 2017). Commercial extraction of shale-gas is not yet in production, but exploration of the recoverable amount available is occurring. Shale-gas could potentially be a resource that transforms the UK energy market and contribute to the national security of supply. However, whilst the economic potential is apparent, the environmental and social implications are unknown. There have been reports of earthquakes (in Lancashire) (DECC 2013), leakage of fracking chemicals and gas (methane) into the water table, where fracking has occurred, most typically in the United States of America (Finkel and Hays 2016). There has also been campaigning by community groups opposed to fracking because of the environmental concerns. Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting a viscous fracturing fluid carrying a proppant, usually select sand, which is left in fractures to hold them open and promote substance migration to wellbores but advances in directional drilling with a greater horizontal reach means that multiple wells can be drilled from a single pad. (Zillman et al. 2015). However, this could include horizontal drilling beneath Nature Reserves, Country Parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) etc. Some of the concerns by these new technologies are: (a) Air emissions. (b) Water quality and quantity (aquifer and surface water contamination by fracturing fluid chemicals). (c) Potential seismic activity, particularly in major fault areas. (d) Public participation in regulatory decisions concerning fracturing activities. (e) Transparency, including public disclosure of chemicals and toxicity information. (f) Disturbance creating dust, noise, and congestion in communities that host fracturing operations. (Zillman et al. 2014.) All of which have potential to impact upon humans and wildlife conservation. Consequently, the Law and Policy surrounding fracking and the environment to conserve wildlife will be evaluated. Aims and Objectives This study aims to evaluate current UK planning legislation and policy with regard to the potential impacts of fracking on wildlife conservation. An analysis of the controls available for the protection of wildlife and the compensation procedures that are currently in place will be discussed within this report. The analyses of concerns and opinions of the businesses involved, government policy, wildlife organisations, public and media opinions which may have an impact on future planning policies and procedures, habitat degradation, human health, and wildlife conservation will be undertaken. Case studies, government articles, fracking company media statement and media reports used to illustrate current approach. An analysis and evaluation comparison of two shale gas companies within the two counties of Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, both of which have had planning permission granted for fracking exploration sites. In the county of Lancashire, planning permission was refused not only for an exploration site but for extraction of shales gas. The company turned to the government to appeal this decision which was overturned. Preston New Road Action Group (a group of local residents) has subsequently appealed and the hearing is set for 15 March 2017. Therefore, are the strategies that are currently in place sufficient to meet all needs from both companies, the conservationists, the public and the government? To investigate and evaluate the policies and procedures required by the Shale gas companies to obtain planning permission to include Environmental Impact Assessments, are these effective, detailed sufficiently and acceptable? What are the procedures post damage or accident? Is this acceptable? Critical analyse of each perspective. Methods Materials This evaluation analysis is a desktop review and will therefore not require the participation of human, animal, and environmental subjects. Information will be sourced from scientific and law books, scientific journals, media reports and websites (such as governmental, legal and the companys websites). European Law will not be taken into consideration due to the imminent exit from the European Union. Therefore, only the Laws and policies currently in place for England and Wales are to be included. Some of the topics covered in this study will be: Environmental Law; Law Commission Report 2012; National Planning Policy Framework; Environmental Impact Assessments of the sites in the two Counties; Company information of the two companies involved Caudrilla Resources and IGas plc. The criteria used when searching for information was based upon: Environmental Law; Fracking in the UK; Legislation and policy with regard to planning in the UK; Fracking in Lancashire; Fracking in Nottinghamsh ire; Hydraulic Fracturing; Shale Gas; UK Shale Gas Fracking House of Commons 2017; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. to be completed. Not quite sure how to finish this off Chapter 2: Shale-gas Fracking 2.1 Overview of fracking. Extraction of a natural gas known as shale gas is found in shale rock formations that can be extracted by Hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The gas is mined by drilling a well down vertically until it hits the shale, then horizontally. This involves inserting high volumes of water mixed with chemicals into the rock to cause it to fracture and release the gas. See Figure 1. Currently the UK government supports fracking although concerns remain about the adequacy of current UK regulation of groundwater and surface water contamination and the assessment of the environmental impact. Figure 1. Hydraulic Fracturing and environmental concerns (Carbon Brief 2013). 2.2 Legislation and policy relevant to fracking, and wildlife conservation. Environmental regulation is intended to protect the environment. The impact and effectiveness of the legislation can be considered from several perspectives which seem to be fragmented and haphazard at best. Some of the law statutes for environmental protection include: Clean Air Act 1956 Clean Neighbourhood and Environmental Act 2005 Control of Pollution Act 1974 as amended in 1989 Environment Act 1995 Environmental Protection Act 1990 Freedom of Information Act 2000 Law of Property Act 1925 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 Town Country Planning Act 1990 Water Resources Act 1991 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Case Law will also be included where relevant. The principles under common law governing property rights to the subsurface and to minerals are necessary to understand the law governing activities using geological developments. The general rule (with some exceptions) is that the rights deriving from the possession or ownership of an estate in land extends upwards and downwards. The Latin phrase that expresses this rule is cujus est solum ejus est usque ad coelum et ad inferos; to whom the soil belongs, to that person it belongs all the way to the sky and the depths (Zillman et al. 2014). Therefore, permission from the land owner must be sort to enable permission for fracking to take place on privately owned land. In the case of Bocardo v Star Energy UK Onshore Ltd in 2010 the land owner sued the oil company for trespass for three wells made under its land for directional drilling. In the case Star Energy Weald Basin Limited (and another) v Bocardo SA (Supreme Court Judgment, 28 July 2010). There is no depth limit after which geolo gical formations are owned by the state and that any invasion of it must have a physical effect on the surface. It could be said therefore that considering the risks associated with fracking and public opinion generally against fracking, land owners would not allow fracking upon their land but government incentives and fracking companies payments to allow access can be a high incentive to land owners. This could influence the conservation of wildlife if directional drilling undermines a special conservation site alongside a landowner that has agreed permission. Who owns shale gas? Shale gas counts as petroleum within the meaning of the Petroleum Act 1998 and the rights are vested in Her Majesty. By section 2(1) of that Act. The Crown has the exclusive right of searching for and getting petroleum in its natural condition within Great Britain. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) issues licenses to companies for exploration and for mining. The Oil and Gas Authority (a department within the government) is responsible for awarding onshore oil and gas licenses, which include exploratory fracking operations. On 17 December 2015, the Oil Gas Authority (OGA) announced that licences for a total of 159 blocks were formally offered to successful applicants under the 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round (OGA 2017). Proposals for shale gas exploration or extraction in England Wales are subject to the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 administered by the Minerals Planning Authority (MPA) for the area in which the development is located. Individual town and city planners face a difficult task, they are required to consider the future economic and social needs of the community and provide the best possible environment in which to live and work (Evans, Stephenson, and Shaw 2009). Public and conservation charities opinion and opposition to the proximity of the well sites. The legal framework for land use planning and relevant legislation will be discussed individually for Lancashire and Nottinghamshire later. In May 2015, the government issued a statement regarding sustainable development making decisions now to realise our vision of stimulating economic growth and tackling the deficit, maximising wellbeing and protecting the environment, without affecting the ability of future generations to do the same (DEFRA 2015). Each department within the government is responsible for their own policies and activities to create sustainable development with DEFRA overseeing decisions. As you will see from the statement: development, economic growth and tackling the deficit, comes as a priority before wellbeing and protecting the environment. In June 2012, the government commissioned The Royal Society to compile a Review of Hydraulic Fracturing and their initial findings concludedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The health, safety and environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (often termed fracking) as a means to extract shale gas can be managed effectively in the UK as long as operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation (RS and RAE 2012). However, they also made ten recommendations summarised as: to detect groundwater contamination, to ensure well integrity, to mitigate induced seismicity, to detect potential leakages of gas, water usage and wastewater should be managed in an integrated way, an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) should be mandatory for all shale gas operations, best practice for risk management should be implemented. (RS and RAE 2012). These recommendations should be included within the planning and licensing applications. On the 6 April 2016, section 50 of the Infrastructure Act 2015 came into effect introducing amendments to the Petroleum Act 1998 regarding when and how consent can be issued for hydraulic fracturing in relation to the exploration and production of shale gas. The changes to the Infrastructure Act 2015 gives the shale gas companies in England Wales the means to access deep level land at least 300 metres underground for deep geothermal energy, one of which is shale gas. It also imposes a formal consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. It also originally stated that there would be a ban on fracking in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) but SSSIs have been excluded and now allow for underground fracking. It should be noted that some regulators whom approve licenses for fracking, such as the Environment Agency, view prosecution as a last resort and prefer to adopt a compliance strategy. The Environment Agency is a government run organisation who work to create better places for people and wildlife, and support sustainable development. (Environment Agency 2017). Environmental permitting regulations cover: protecting water resources, including groundwater (aquifers), assessing and approving the use of chemicals which form part of the hydraulic fracturing fluid appropriate treatment and disposal of mining waste produced during the borehole drilling and hydraulic fracturing process suitable treatment and management of any naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) disposal of waste gases through flaring In the planning process the Environment Agency can be a statutory consultee and provides local planning authorities (county or unitary local authority) with advice on the potential risks to the environment from individual gas exploration and extraction sites (DBEIS 2017). The government publish documentation to convince the public of the strict processes companies have to adhere to before obtaining approval, operators pass rigorous health and safety, environmental and planning permission processes before any shale operation can begin in the UK (DBEIS 2017). See figure 2. Figure 2. Infographic: What happens before a company can explore for shale gas? (DBEIS 2017) 2.2 Impact on Wildlife Conservation, the concerns and public opinion. The first resource for environmental implication impact to consider is water. The quality, quantity used, accessibility of the resource and waste water disposal. Vast quantities of water mixed with proppant and chemical additives, for example: gelling and foaming agents, friction reducers, crosslinkers, breakers, pH adjusters, biocides, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, and surfactants are injected under pressure to release the shale gas and enable the gas to return to the surface. One third of them lack mammalian toxicity data (Stringfellow et al., 2014). The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) 2013, states that it is likely to involve the use of large quantities of clean water, typically 10,000 to 30,000 m3 water per well (10,000 to 30,000 tonnes). The water may be obtained from the local water supply company sources or by abstraction from surface or groundwater (if permitted by the relevant environment agency under licence). Loss of well integrity has led to contamination of surrounding strata by fracking fluid and/or methane (Jenner and Lamadid, 2013). Most water used is locked away underground and never returned to the natural hydrological cycle. Impacts on water quality have a potential to impact on contamination of groundwater aquifer layers with either the fracking fluid used to dislodge gas, or the methane gas itself (which is of course poisonous). As you will see from the following map of Great Britain this shows drilling sites and aquafers. See figure 3. Also, to be considered is the potential surface discharges of contaminated produced water (water drawn from the formation to initiate production, which flows to the surface for life of the well) and flowback water (predominantly fracturing fluids, which comes to surface after fracking is completed and before production begins) from shale gas production that could contaminate natural surface waters. Not only is this a risk to public health but als o the biodiversity or loss of biodiversity in the relevant environment. A permit, under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 (EPR), from the Environment Agency is required where fluids containing pollutants are injected into ground, where they may enter groundwater. To date there is no evidence that such a contamination has occurred in any site currently in Great Britain, but is it only a matter of time before an accident does occur which will affect the biodiversity of that area. Figure 3.(a) Map of UK showing location of onshore wells drilled for exploration or production and productive aquifers. (b) Map of UK showing location of potential shale gas and oil reservoirs and productive aquifers. Aquifer base map reproduced with the permission of the British Geological Survey.  ©NERC. All rights Reserved. (Davies et al. 2014). High pressure injection of water into shale formations has been linked to seismic events in Lancashire which will be discussed later. Public participation and consultation has become fundamental for energy regulators due to the intensity and immediacy of public engagement. The intense media scrutiny and broader public knowledge, as well as increased public organizations (local action groups) and the development of social media have contributed to improved citizen communication and often made local issues national and international (Zillman at al. 2015). This has resulted in public demonstrations against fracking in each local community to which fracking licensing have been granted. It would seem that much of public opinion is against fracking. The Infrastructure Bill (Jan 2015) originally said there would be a ban on fracking in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest and introduced mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments. But just eight months later, a major U-turn on this commitment has placed some of the countrys most sensitive and precious wildlife sites at risk by excluding SSSIs from the ban and allowing licences for underground activity in highly protected wildlife sites. 2.4 Controls currently in place. In the UK, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) followed the recommendations of the joint report of the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering and developed a stop light protocol whereby thresholds for different acceptable levels of seismicity are defined, and if a level is breached during the hydraulic fracturing process the entire operation is to be terminated (DBEIS 2017). This procedure was implemented after seismic activity in Preston in the Lancashire shale gas area. See Figure 4. Figure 4.Infographic: Seismic activity traffic light monitoring system (DBEIS 2017) Chapter 3: Comparison of Fracking planning procedures for two Counties 3.1 Current fracking in the UK In January 2017, the House of Commons produced a Briefing Paper titled, Shale gas and fracking, which states that there has been recent approval of two planning decisions in Lancashire and North Yorkshire suggesting that commercial fracking is getting closer. 3.2 Nottinghamshire County Council Further public consultation is required before Nottinghamshire County Councils Planning and Licensing Committee can consider a planning application for an exploratory shale gas well-site on land off the A634 between Barnby Moor and Blyth. Dart Energy is seeking planning permission to undertake exploratory drilling for shale gas at the site, known as Tinker Lane. The application is for exploratory drilling, to check the suitability of the rock for shale gas extraction. Nottinghamshire County Councillors will consider the countys second planning application to undertake exploratory drilling for shale gas at the Planning and Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday 21 March. The application was submitted by Dart Energy in May last year to drill one exploratory vertical well 3,300 metres deep and three sets of groundwater monitoring boreholes on land off the A634 between Barnby Moor and Blyth The application is not seeking permission to carry out any hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking. The application site, which is currently open farm land, is around one mile north of Barnby Moor and 1.5 miles south east of Blyth. Permission is sought for a temporary period of up to three years, with the drilling taking place for approximately four months. The County Council has received over 800 representations from the local community and a petition. (NCC) 3.3 Lancashire County Council On 1 April and 27 May 2011 two earthquakes with magnitudes 2.3 and 1.5 were felt in the Blackpool area. These earthquakes were suspected to be linked to hydraulic fracture treatments at the Preese Hall well operated by Cuadrilla Resources Ltd. Thus, operations were suspended at Preese Hall and Cuadrilla Resources Ltd were requested to undertake a full technical study into the relationship between the earthquakes and their operations. Cuadrilla submitted to DECC a synthesis report with a number of technical appendices on 2 November 2011, and published this material on their website. These reports examine seismological and geomechanical aspects of the seismicity in relation to the hydraulic fracture treatments, along with detailed background material on the regional geology and rock physics. They also estimated future seismic hazard and proposed recommendations for future operations to mitigate seismic risk. Further information supplied by Cuadrilla in the course of this assessment is available as Annexes below. The independent experts have now made recommendations to DECC for mitigating the risk of induced seismicity resulting from continued hydraulic fracturing at Preese Hall, Lancashire and elsewhere in Great Britain. (OGA 2017) 3.4 Organisation responses; Igas and Caudrilla 3.5 General public and conservationists responses (Wildlife Trust etc.) Chapter 4 : Discussion 4.1 Comparison of the two counties policies and procedures. 4.2 Proposed further exploration sites and possible impacts, compensation etc. Interpretation of the literature generally and in relation to the two counties. Analogy with mining and the collapse of the industry in the UK. Political party in government and their views. Limitations of the study Chapter 5 : Conclusion and Suggestions for further research A summary. Critically evaluate the dissertation. Is there enough protection for wildlife conservation? Recommendations for further research. REFERENCES Carbon Brief. 2013. Carbon Briefing: what does extracting shale gas mean for the local environment?Science. Available at: https://www.carbonbrief.org/carbon-briefing-what-does-extracting-shale-gas-mean-for-the-local-environment. Davies, R.J., Almond, S., Ward, R.S., Jackson, R.B., Adams, C., Worrall, F., Herringshaw, L.G., Gluyas, J.G., and Whitehead, M.A. 2014. Oil and gas wells and their integrity: Implications for shale and unconventional resource exploitation. Marine and Petroleum Geology. 1-16. Delebarre, J., Ares, E., and Smith, L. 4 January 2017. House of Commons Library Briefing. Number 6073. Shale gas and fracking. Evans, D., Stephenson, M, and Shaw, R. 2009. The present and future use of land below ground. Land Use Policy 26S. S302-S316. Finkel M.L., and Hays J. 2016. Environmental and health impacts of fracking: why epidemiological studies are necessary. J Epidemiol Community Health. Vol 70. No 3. Great Britain. Department for Business, Energy Industrial Strategy (DBEIS). 2017. Guidance on fracking: developing shale gas in the UK [Online]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/about-shale-gas-and-hydraulic-fracturing-fracking/developing-shale-oil-and-gas-in-the-uk. [Accessed: 27 February 2017]. Great Britain. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). 2013. Oil and gas: onshore exploration and production [Online]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-onshore-exploration-and-production. [Accessed: 28 February 2017]. Great Britain. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). 2015. 2010 to 2015 government policy: sustainable development. [Online]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-sustainable-development/2010-to-2015-government-policy-sustainable-development#issue. [Accessed: 7 March 2017]. Great Britain. Environment Agency (EA). 2017. [Online]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency. [Accessed: 15 March 2017]. Great Britain. Oil Gas Authority (OGA). 2017. Exploration and Production Onshore. [Online]. Available at: https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/exploration-production/onshore/. [Accessed: 15 March 2017]. Great Britain. The Royal Society and The Royal Academy of Engineering (RS RAE). 2012. Shale gas extraction in the UK: a review of hydraulic fracturing [Online]. Available at: https://royalsociety.org/~/media/policy/projects/shale-gas-extraction/2012-06-28-shale-gas.pdf. [Accessed: 7 March 2017]. Jenner, S. and Lamadrid, A.J. 2013. Shale gas vs. coal: policy implications for environmental impact comparisons of shale gas, conventional gas and coal on air, water and land in the United States, Energy Policy, 53, 442-53. Jones P., Hillier D., and Comfort D. 2015. Contested perspectives on fracking in the UK. Geography. 100. Part 1. Small. J. QC. 2013. Fracking Liability. The Estates Gazette; Sutton. 92-94. Stringfellow, W.T., Domen, J.K., Camarillo, M.K., Sandrillo, W.L., and Borglin, S. 2014. Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of compounds used in hydraulic fracturing. Journal of Hazardous Materials. Volume 275, 37-54. a Ecological Engineering Research Program, School of Engineering Computer Science, University of the Pacific, 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95211, USA b Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA Zillman, D.N., Lucas, A., and Beirne, S. (2015) 2014: An eventful year for energy law and policy, Journal of Energy Natural Resources Law, 33:1, 82-105 Zillman, D.N., McHarg, A., and Bradbrook, A. 2014. The Law of Energy Underground: Understanding New Developments in Subsurface Production, Transmission, and Storage. [eBook type]. Oxford Scholarship Online. Available from: NTU Library One Search. [Accessed: 9 March 2017] Shale Wealth Fund PM Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-rewrites-plan-to-put-money-from-infrastructure-in-the-hands-of-local-people BBC Politics. 2016. Fracking moratorium rejected by MPs. [Online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30993915. [Accessed January 2017]. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498160/160204_FINAL_letter_to_Mineral_Planning_Authorities.pdf Impact Assessment http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/384/resources Accessed 27 February 2017 Briefing Arrangements for fracking operations clarified. 2015. Planning, , pp. 32. APPENDIX 1.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Evaluation Essay -- Essays Papers

Evaluation I believe that my writing has grown a lot with in this first semester of college. I was the type of person in college that would write a paper, and not review it, and still turn it in. I would usually receive good grades, but that was on the high school level. Those types of under-developed papers do not receive good grades in college. On a paper that I may have turned in to one of my high school teachers would have got me a B, yet if I turn around and use that same paper now, I would receive no more than a D. That is what I believe should happen at this level in the game. You as an individual must recognize your own mistakes, and correct them on your own. In high school many of my teacher’s would grade a paper, return it with marks on which we should impro...

Sophists Essay -- Philosophy, Socrates, Plato, Gorgias, Aristotles

Sophists have been perpetuated in the history of philosophy primarily due to their most fierce critic Plato and his Gorgias, where Socrates brings profound accusations against the practice of sophists and declares notoriously rhetoric to be a part of flattery (ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¿ÃŽ »ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ºÃŽ µÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ±, 463c). This paper focuses on the responses to sophists’ practices by Plato and Aristotle, analysing on the one hand criticism made on their practice, on the other, however, trying to evaluate in which respect the responses of the two philosophers differ. Thus, taking the polemic of sophists as a starting point, the paper moves forward into discussing the fundamental differences in the treatment of rhetoric as perceived by Plato and Aristotle. For this reason (and in order to present a fuller account of Plato’s theory of rhetoric) not only Plato’s Gorgias, but also his Phaedrus is incorporated to the following analysis. Plato on sophists and rhetoric In Gorgias Plato claims that rhetoric is not a Ï„Î ­Ãâ€¡ÃŽ ½ÃŽ · (462b) and his accusations against sophists or rhetoricians seem to be reducible to three closely related arguments: first, that rhetoric doesn’t have its own subject (that would make it a Ï„Î ­Ãâ€¡ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ·); second (and most importantly) that it lacks the theoretical basis that is necessary for a Ï„Î ­Ãâ€¡ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ·, and thirdly that rhetoric is used for morally base intentions and pursuits, which corrupt the souls of the citizenship (503a). And, as will be apparent below, a discussion of these problems is offered both in Plato’s theory of true rhetoric in Phaedrus as well as in Aristotle’s treatment of rhetoric in his Rhetoric. Thus, the above presented accusations are latently put forward also in Phaedrus, where Plato presents his positive concept of rhetoric, yet which obviously sta... ...or Plato actually) rhetoric ‘happens’ (McCabe 1994: 152), the sophistic practice has an impact on its audience and thus it must be possible to find out the underlying system of this practice (1.1.1) that would enable one to call it an art. Further, it seems that Aristotle’s response is in some sense more fundamentally a response to Plato, at least in terms of taking the problems Plato articulates in his Gorgias as well as in his Phaedrus into serious consideration, and building up his own theory that would not suffer of the problems demonstrated in Plato’s works. Thus, Aristotle is very profoundly in a dialogue with Plato, accepting some of his criticism against the sophists (rhetoric should be basically a rational practice, with morally-neutral pursuits), while rejecting others (the appeal to emotions plays an important part in Aristotle’s theory, for example).

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Crisis of Modern American Masculinity :: Essays Papers

Crisis of Modern American Masculinity I think every man between 20 and 40 needs to read Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Last American Man". Without going into details (like I said, you should read the book), this is a biography/profile of Eustace Conway - a man who is, among other things, capable of and prefers to (or would prefer to) live the kind of frontier lifestyle we have read about: hunting and gathering his food, living in a house he built using his own hands, making his own clothes from the skins of animals he captured, etc. I suspect that for many people the story, at least initially, will arouse the sort of Romantic feelings that tend to come with fantasies of a "simple life" of rugged self-sufficiency. However, even for those who are quite certain that they prefer their modern urban lifestyle (air conditioning, direct deposit, grocery stores, ebay, cable TV, &c.), I think this book raises fundamental questions about what it means to be a man at the dawn of the twenty-first century. The problem, as I see it, is that we have not re-defined masculinity for the modern age. In the old days, masculinity was measured by (1) physical abilities, particularly strength, but also skill, (2) power/success/wealth, and (3) sexual prowess. The first can be developed through education and hard work, the second could be acquired through the application of the first, and the third, well, either you got it or you don't, but locker-room bragging can always make up for any lacks, especially if you got the first two. Boys growing up in such a society work to develop their physical abilities and learn how to apply them most efficaciously, thus becoming a "man". This makes sense when a man might be faced with the challenge of building shelter on the prairie or raising crops, but us modern urban men are unlikely to face such challenges. Of course, we are not unprepared for the challenges of a modern urban lifestyle. Our education generally provides such life-sustaining skills as linear algebra, the performing arts, and information systems management. The educational system is successful enough to allow most of us to get jobs that pay us enough to afford all the requirements of a modern urban lifestyle: housing, food, clothing, entertainment, transportation, etc. The trouble is that while education has more or less kept pace with the advance of civilization, our notions of masculinity have not.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Are Curfews Fair to Juveniles Essay

Cities across the United States have imposed curfews on juveniles for many years. Teen curfew laws restrict the hours that juveniles may be on the streets or in public places at night (Sutphen and Ford). Some people consider curfews infringing on people’s constitutional rights. Curfews are hard to implement by law enforcement, and, in fact, take law enforcement away from more serious crimes. More crimes occur during daytime hours and more children are victimized in their homes than on the streets. Although curfews are made to protect our juveniles and to deter crime by juveniles, does imposing these curfews violate the juvenile’s civil rights and target the true underlying problems involved in enforcing these issues? People have a right to personal freedoms, including juveniles, but curfews take away some personal freedoms of juveniles. A 16-year-old en route to a fast-food restaurant is stopped and questioned five times, by five different police officers (Davidson). Even though this teen had no intension of any mischief, he or she was stopped five times. When a juvenile transitions from a child to an adult they are required to take on more responsibilities, curfews limit them as they make the transition into adulthood. This hinders the juvenile from making adult decisions. Youth curfews use the idea of childhood based on innocence/ignorance, passivity and dependence, in order to prevent young people from crossing the boundary into adulthood before society deems them ready (O’Neil). Most parents want the freedom to choose how to raise their children and what values they want to instill in their children. If the state leaves guidance in the hands of the parents, they can monitor their child’s development and gradually increase her liberty and responsibility by allowing her to experience new situations and to make choices as she develops into an adult (Assessing the Scope if Minors’ Fundamental Rights: Juvenile Curfews and the Constitution). Curfews stifle the personal freedoms of juveniles. The enforcement of curfews presents even more reasons to abolish curfews. It is hard for law enforcement to enforce curfews and curfew violations are not taken seriously. Juvenile curfews will not stop young people who are intent on committing crime, in part, because the penalties for a curfew violation are not that serious (O’Neil). There are also limited police officers to help with the enforcement of curfews. Because of the curfews, it takes the police away from more serious crime that are happening in cities across the United States. The enforcement of juvenile curfews is hard to put into effect, and there are limited police officers to enforce these curfews, which are often not even taken seriously. Crimes by juveniles occur more often during the day than at night. When either both parents work, or there is a single parent household, juveniles must come home from school alone. Since juveniles are left unsupervised, they sometimes commit crimes and these crimes usually occur during the day. Those opposed to curfews replied that most juvenile crimes occurred in daylight hours, that most children were not criminals, and that many legitimate nocturnal activities were being suppressed (Juvenile Curfews and the Major Confusion Over Minor Rights). Since most juvenile crimes occur during the day, why should a curfew be imposed on juveniles? One of the main reasons juvenile curfews were imposed, was to protect the juveniles from the dangers that could occur during the late hours of the night. Although many feel curfews protect juveniles from these dangers, many times that is not the case. Many juveniles are victimized in their own homes. Critics argue that because many juvenile crimes occur during the day and most juvenile victimization occurs at home, nighttime curfews fail to target the worst problems (Juvenile Curfews and the Major Confusion Over Minor Rights). Although juvenile curfews were put in place to protect children, the streets are not always the places where children are victimized. Most large cities in the United States impose juvenile curfews. Juveniles have rights to the personal freedoms their parents allow and the government needs to let the parents raise their children without interference. Because most juvenile crimes are committed during the day, and since curfews restrict night time activities, we should abolish these curfews. Curfews also take law enforcement officers away from more serious crimes. Curfews were made to protect juveniles and to deter juvenile crime, but since most juveniles are victimized at home and most juvenile crimes are committed during the day, curfews are ineffective and should be abolished.

Friday, August 16, 2019

How Sports Influenced Me

Fit For Life How Sports Influenced Me Winning athletes and top students share many of the same qualities. They are both hardworking, dedicated, and have the desire to be successful. But a student-athlete has all of these characteristics plus numerous others. Throughout high school, I played multiple sports and they each taught me something different, influenced my life, and helped shape me into the person I am today. A few things I learned include how important teamwork is and how critical it is to have a good work ethic.Playing high school level sports was an amazing experience, unmatched by any other. I will carry all the attributes I learned through my life. One of the most important things I learned as a high school athlete was how to work well with others. Teamwork creates a sense of unity within a group of people that leads to having a successful team. Playing a myriad of sports during high school made me understand that when a team works together, as one, they get the greatest results.Teamwork is also important in the classroom. I discovered that working side by side with my classmates not only allowed me to excel academically but I could also help my peers reach their greatest potential as well. The first thing athletes are taught is to always try their best, no matter what. If a team is down by 20 points, a dedicated athlete will give everything he/she has and never quit. If just one player quits, either mentally or physically, the rest of team gets dragged down too.Athletes are told to be players who always hold their heads high and never accept defeat. This is how I became a leader and developed an exceptional work ethic. These are both important qualities for any person to possess. After high school I will pursue a Master of Education degree with a focus on elementary education. I hope that when I become a teacher I am able to teach my students to live by the same virtues. How Sports Influenced Me Fit For Life How Sports Influenced Me Winning athletes and top students share many of the same qualities. They are both hardworking, dedicated, and have the desire to be successful. But a student-athlete has all of these characteristics plus numerous others. Throughout high school, I played multiple sports and they each taught me something different, influenced my life, and helped shape me into the person I am today. A few things I learned include how important teamwork is and how critical it is to have a good work ethic.Playing high school level sports was an amazing experience, unmatched by any other. I will carry all the attributes I learned through my life. One of the most important things I learned as a high school athlete was how to work well with others. Teamwork creates a sense of unity within a group of people that leads to having a successful team. Playing a myriad of sports during high school made me understand that when a team works together, as one, they get the greatest results.Teamwork is also important in the classroom. I discovered that working side by side with my classmates not only allowed me to excel academically but I could also help my peers reach their greatest potential as well. The first thing athletes are taught is to always try their best, no matter what. If a team is down by 20 points, a dedicated athlete will give everything he/she has and never quit. If just one player quits, either mentally or physically, the rest of team gets dragged down too.Athletes are told to be players who always hold their heads high and never accept defeat. This is how I became a leader and developed an exceptional work ethic. These are both important qualities for any person to possess. After high school I will pursue a Master of Education degree with a focus on elementary education. I hope that when I become a teacher I am able to teach my students to live by the same virtues.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

A Good Man Is Hard to Find – Summary

A Good Man Is Hard to Find- my Initial reaction to this story was Intrigue. I was hooked from the first paragraph because I could foresee some sort of disaster or problem arising. I thought the story did not fail to entertain me. I really enjoyed reading the story and am interested in reading more stories from this author. Good Country People- I found Good Country People a little harder to follow and I kept losing interest in this story. I liked the previous story A Good Man is Hard to Find because it as intriguing.I think there may have been too much about religion In this story so It lost my Interest. (2) Is the story primarily escape or interpretive? Good Man is Hard to Find-this story is both escape and interpretive. I loved how the story took me to this era and I felt as if I were there to witness the family's run in with the misfit. On the other hand, it is interpretive because there was foreshadowing and symbolism in the story. Good Country People-this story Is more Interpreti ve because as a reader, I was spending ore time Interpreting what was going on as opposed to getting lost In the story and enjoying it. 3) What does the title mean? Are there any double meanings? A Good Man is Hard to Find- This title was tricky for me because before I read the story, I thought it was going to be about a woman who was down on her luck and unlucky with love. I thought I would be able to relate to the story but found the story to be a lot different than I thought. I still am unsure of what the title means and look forward to reading the responses of my classmates to see what their interpretation of the title means. 4) Summarize the plot in 4 or 5 sentences hitting on the following points: a.What happened in the beginning? A grandmother, her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren go on a trip even though most of the family members are reluctant to go on the trip. B. What was the rolling action? A cat causes the family to get In an accident In their vehicle while on th eir trip. C. Climax? They run Into a misfit and his friend who are escapees. The misfit talks to the grandmother while her family members are being shot to death. D. Falling action? The grandmother tries to talk the sift out of killing her and calls him her son. . Conclusion? The misfit kills the grandmother at the end of the story. (5) When/Where Is the story set? What clues led you to that conclusion? The story Is set in the South during the early 1 sass. I think this is the setting of the story because of the way the story is written and the way the grandmother talks about the plantations. 6) What Is the nature of the conflict? The conflict occurs from the beginning when the family heads off for their trip. Antagonists at one point or another. (8) How would you classify these characters? Mound or flat) (developing or static) The grandchildren seem to be flat but the grandmother is static. (9) Are symbols used in the story? Symbols used in the story are the misfit, the detour the grandmother wants to take, the grandmothers hat, and the cat that causes the accident. (10) What is the theme? How do you know? I am not religious but I would assume the theme has to deal with religion and God. Now for the story specific questions: â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† (1) What is the significance of the misfit? The misfit represents a good man gone bad.He was once a good man but something happened in his life to make him a hardened criminal. (2) What does the grandmother consider a â€Å"good man†? Does she think Bailey is a good man? The grandmother thinks a man is a good man if his values are the same as hers. I think she believes he is a good man because when she talks to him, he seems like his values are the same and then he shoots her and proves her wrong. (3) Why is the ending of this story significant? The ending is significant because it gives the reader insight into what the title of the short story means

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Corporate Governance Assignment Essay

1. Introduction Corporate entities of all types need a governing body. In the case of a company, this is its board of directors. Corporate entities governed by a board of directors face the central challenge of the agency issue. Whenever a principal has to rely on agents to handle his or her business, governance issues arise. (Tricker 2012) Presently, corporate governance is an evolving concept as such there is no fixed definition. However, corporate governance has been defined as, â€Å"the system by which companies are directed and controlled.† (The Report of the Cadbury Committee on The Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance: The Code of Best Practice 1993) Recent high-profile corporate failures, scandals and, in some cases, executive corruption, have focused international regulatory and public attention on the need for having appropriate corporate governance standards and practices. (Leblanc 2005) As such, much emphasis is being placed on board evaluation. The ‘principles-based’ model of corporate governance is applied in Commonwealth countries. Under this model companies are required to report that they have followed the governance principles laid down in the codes or to explain why they have not. (Tricker 2012) Guyana being a Commonwealth country is subject to this self-regulatory framework of corporate governance. This paper used the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2004) as the basis for reviewing the governance of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited. As such the paper is organized as follows; 1) explanation of the bases of review, 2) overview of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, 3) a review of the boards’ responsibilities, 4) recommendations for improvements and 5) conclusions. 2. Bases of Review There is no solitary model for good corporate governance, what constitutes good corporate governance will progress with the changing circumstances of the company. Established, codes and guidelines can serve as sound guidance for companies who care to be good corporate citizens. (Du Plessis, McConvill & Bagaric 2005) The OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2004) are a set of internationally recognised and accepted guidelines that pave the way for establishing good corporate governance within an organisation. Succinctly,  put the OECD recommendations in accordance with the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2004) are as follows: The rights of shareholders The equitable treatment of shareholders The role of stakeholders in corporate governance Disclosure and transparency The responsibilities of the board to act in good faith, diligently, and with care to treat all shareholders fairly to ensure compliance with the law to review and guide corporate strategy to select, compensate, and monitor key executives to monitor governance practices to ensure integrity of accounting and financial systems In conducting a review of the board of directors, it would be wise to assess along the guidelines stipulated as the responsibility of the board in the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2004). Additionally, ensuring that the board complies with the national Companies Act, follows the rules set out in the company constitution and adheres to industry regulations indicates conformance to good corporate governance principles. 3. Discussion 3.1. Overview of the Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited is one of the largest and oldest commercial banks in Guyana. The bank was initially a state owned institution, British Guyana Bank, which was sold to foreign investors thus becoming the Royal Bank. Further, transition saw the Royal Bank being resold to the Government of Guyana leading to the establishment of the National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited. In 1997 Republic Bank Limited of Trinidad and Tobago purchased majority shares of the company and later renamed it Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited. (‘History of Republic Bank’ 2015) 3.2. Responsibility 1: To act in good faith, diligently, and with care There are two key elements to the fiduciary duty of board members; the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. (Tricker 2012) The duty of care requires board members to act on a fully informed basis, in good faith, with due diligence and care. (OECD  2004) At Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited the duty of care is established as the board comprises of majority independent directors , whose extensive experience in both business and finance provide invaluable input into the decision making of the company. Additionally, in keeping with the bank’s culture of broad disclosure the executive director ensures that all pertinent information relevant to the bank’s operations is provided to members of the board of directors. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) The duty of loyalty is of central importance, since it is the basis of executing other corporate governance principles. (OECD 2004) At Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited the duty of loyalty can be seen in the bank’s related party policy underscores the need for all transactions done with related parties and affiliates to be done on the same terms and conditions as with a non-related party. Directors are required to disclose their interest in related party transactions and to recuse themselves from considering or approving transactions in which they have an interest. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) 3.3. Responsibility 2: To treat all shareholders fairly Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited is a subsidiary of Republic Bank Limited. As at December 31, 2014 the stock holdings of Republic Bank Limited in Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited was 51.1%. The OECD guidelines suggest this principle is of particular importance in companies, such as Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, who is the controlling shareholder and thus by de facto is able to select all board members. A sound corporate governance system requires that shareholders can actively participate in, and exert influence on, corporate strategic decision-making. If designed well, this can be done effectively through annual general meetings and proxy voting. Additionally, shareholders have a right to participate in, and be sufficiently informed on decisions concerning fundamental corporate changes. (Duhamel 2002) Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited adheres to the OECD principle in several ways. The company host an annual general meeting to which all stakeholders are given due notice of. Also, in accordance with the bank’s by-laws, three directors retire from the board annually and may offer themselves for re-election at the bank’s annual general meeting. The company also issues an annual report and quarterly financial statements to stakeholders and the general public.  Pursuant to the mandate to ensure that the interests of the various stakeholders are considered the board of directors meets, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis while the Executive Sub-Committee of the Board, comprising seven Board members, meets monthly for the remaining months. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) 3.4. Responsibility 3: To ensure compliance with the law The board of directors of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited is committed to proper standards of corporate governance and maintaining these standards at the highest level. Continuous monitoring of the bank’s systems and procedures is done to ensure that standards are in keeping with the best practice as determined by the principles of corporate governance. The bank is also guided by the Recommendations for a Code of Corporate Governance issued by the Guyana Securities Council, and Supervision Guideline No. 8 on Corporate Governance issued by the Bank of Guyana under the authority of the Financial Institutions Act 1995. In addition the Bank is compliant with Supervision Guideline 10 on the Public Disclosure of Information. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) 3.5. Responsibility 4: To review and guide corporate strategy As stated in the bank’s Annual report of 2014 â€Å"Of critical importance to the board of directors is the responsibility to approve and review the bank’s strategic plan and within this context, to approve annual budgets, including capital expenditure. The board retains the responsibility for reviewing and approving credit applications above a specified limit.† In keeping with the expectation of the board of directors the performance of each Management Officer is also assessed against all key performance areas which among other things may include financial targets. The performance of all management officers is reviewed by the Board of Directors on an annual basis. Additionally, taking into account the increasing need for risk assessment, the board of directors has established a risk management committee, known as the other risks committee. 3.6. Responsibility 5: To select, compensate, and monitor key executives As stated in the annual report of 2014, the managing director and management team are appointed by the board of directors. Each management officer has a written mandate and is required to execute the stated functions as outlined therein. The managing director’s responsibilities and authorities are  documented and approved by the board of directors. 3.7. Responsibility 6: To monitor governance practices Monitoring of governance practice involves continuous review of the internal structure of the company, monitoring and disclosure of corporate governance practices on a regular basis, self-assessment by boards of their performance as well as performance reviews of individual board members and the CEO/Chairman. (OECD 2004) At Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, the board of directors approves the organisational structure for the Bank which ensures a reporting structure with prudent and effective controls. The board of directors comprises nine directors including one executive director. Of the eight non-executive directors, five are independent. Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited adheres to the recommendations of the Supervision Guideline No. 8 on Corporate Governance issued by the Bank of Guyana under the authority of the Financial Institutions Act 1995 regarding its board structure. The board is comprised of an executive director and a majority of independent directors. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) Further, as suggested in the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2004, â€Å"with single tier board systems, the objectivity of the board and its independence from management may be strengthened by the separation of the role of chief executive and chairman†, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited chairman is a non-executive director. The managing director of Bank (Guyana) Limited is the only executive director on the board. Additionally, in the annual report of the bank a statement of the bank’s corporate governance practice is made public. 3.8. Responsibility 7: To ensure integrity of accounting and financial systems Several committees have been set up by Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited to ensure integrity of accounting and financial systems. These committees are: 3.8.1. The audit committee The audit committee of the board meets at least quarterly to review the bank’s system of internal control, financial reporting process, audit and examination process, and compliance with statutory and regulatory laws. When necessary, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the independence, competence and qualifications of the External Auditors. 3.8.2. The compensation committee The compensation, which meets at minimum once per year, is responsible for formalising the bank’s remuneration policy for staff. 3.8.3. The other risks committee The other risks committee, which meets quarterly, is responsible for reviewing policies and procedures and ensuring that the Bank is not exposed to unnecessary risks with respect to its operations. 3.9. Responsibility 8: Corporate Social Responsibility â€Å"Every board has a duty to formulate the company’s strategy, recognizing the risks involved, and part of that process involves determining how the company will behave, in other words, establishing how social responsibility will be exercised throughout the organization.† (Tricker 2012, p. 235) At Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited the need to be a good corporate citizen and perform its corporate social responsibility is understood and mirrored in the company’s vision which establishes the bank wishes to set a standard of excellence for social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility activities of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited are conducted under its Power to make a difference program. The Power to Make a Difference programme aims to enhance the quality of life of disadvantaged persons; support healthcare programmes and disability awareness initiatives; provide opportunities for young people to realise their truest potential through sport, education and th e arts; build community spirit and, in essence, help to correct some of society’s ills. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) 4. Recommendations It was found that Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited in its governance aims to be a good corporate citizen by complying with rules and regulation stipulated at a national level and also meeting international standards of corporate governance. However, there are areas that could stand improvement and as such the following recommendations are made: 1) The chairman of the board of directors should be an independent non-executive director. Presently, the chairman of the board of directors of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited is also the managing director of Republic Bank Limited, the majority shareholder in Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited. Having a connected non-executive director as chairman hinders board objectivity. Since the chairman’s interest are  aligned with the majority shareholder it can be posited that the rights of minority shareholder is at threat of being be overlooked. A non-executive chairman will be able to play a critical role in representing the different constituencies in the company with an impartial viewpoint. (Cossin & Caballero 2013) 2) The compensation committee of the board of directors in addition to formalising the bank’s remuneration policy for staff, should also be responsible for setting the remuneration policy and employment contracts for board members. This committee of the board should comprise either wholly or a majority of independent directors. (OECD 2004) 3) The bank should establish a nominating committee. The nominating committee offers a check-and-balance mechanism designed to reduce the possibility of a dominant director. The nominating committee should be made up wholly, or mainly, of independent outside directors, to make recommendations on replacement or additional members of the board. (Tricker 2012) 4) A standing committee of the board should be established with significant independent director membership, to recommend policies and to oversee corporate activities on corporate ethics codes, whistle-blowing procedures, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). (Tricker 2012) As suggested in the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2004 in fulfilling its control oversight responsibilities it is important for the board to encourage the reporting of unethical/unlawful behaviour without fear of retribution. 5) Of the nine members of the board only one is female. Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited should enhance board diversity by balancing the gender of the directors on the board. Studies that have validated a performance-based rationale for bringing women on boards. Results have demonstrated that comp anies with women board members outperform companies with no women directors.(Norris, 2012) 5. Conclusion Standards of corporate governance are determined by the measures which companies take for themselves, whether voluntarily or otherwise, to improve the way they are directed and controlled, and by the legal, ï ¬ nancial, and ethical environment in which they work. The governance framework is there to encourage the efï ¬ cient use of resources and equally to require accountability for the stewardship of those resources. The aim is to align  as nearly as possible the interests of individuals, of corporations, and of society. (Claessens 2003) The governance of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, when reviewed in relation to the functions of the board as presented in the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2004 was found to compliant with most. Thus it can be deduced that, in administering both its conformance and performance duties, the board of directors of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited adheres to best practices as they recognise good governance can play a role in promoting econo mic growth and business integrity. 6. References ‘History of Republic Bank’ 2015, About Republic Bank, viewed 17 Mach 2015, https://www.republicguyana.com/about/history-republic-bank. ‘The Report of the Cadbury Committee on The Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance: The Code of Best Practice’, Corporate Governance: An International Review, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 124-124. Claessens, S 2003, Corporate Governance and Development, The World Bank, Washington. Cossin, D & Caballero, J 2013, Active Chairmanship Background: Literature Review, IMD University, IMD Global Board Center. Du Plessis, J, McConvill, J and Bagaric, M 2005, Principles of contemporary corporate governance, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Duhamel, V 2002, ‘Promoting Shareholder Participation’ paper presented at The Fourth Asian Roundtable on Corporate Governance, 11-12 November 2002, http://www.oecd.org/corporate/ca/corporategovernanceprinciples/2484854.pdf. Leblanc, R 2005, 20 questions directors should ask about governance assessments. Toronto: Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Toronto. OECD 2004, OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2004, OECD Publications Service, France. Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014, Annual report 2014: The power of one, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Guyana. Tricker, B 2012, Corporate Governance: Principles, Policies and Practices, Oxford University Press, Oxford.