Adopting Telemedicine in developing countries

ICTs are technologies that have spread widely and are cheaper for use by the general public. Even though information and communication technologies could tackle some of the heath care challenges that face the modern society, the utilization of ICTs is faced by numerous challenges for social as well as historical transformations that are associated with other natural rights.The case is not different in the field of telemedicine. Telemedicine is an example of ICT that has been used in the world for over forty years. Modern telemedicine applications employ high quality image and video in addition to audio capacities.These technologies range form excellent resolution still images to complex teleconferencing apparatus. Recent developments in ICT are encouraging and they include the use of internet, wireless ICT diffusion, and the exchange of medical information electronically in addition to remote consultations.Infrastructure factures that have an effect on the outcomes of telemedicine in clude: the national ICT infrastructure in addition to the governments preparedness, approach, as well as policies towards information and communication technology. Technically sophisticated telemedicine applications are currently employed across a wide range of healthcare settings.This technology allows medical personnel to transmit images through mobile phones and sophisticated wireless devices (Martà ­nez, Villarroel, Seoane, and Pozo 2005, p. 1).3.1.2 E-Health PoliciesVarious shareholders of the telemedicine sector have numerous opportunities to become deeply involved in the development policies that affect the industry. Shareholders of this sector include vendors of information technology, manufacturers of medical devices, health care professionals, decision makers and the government.E-health policies are set in such a way as to improve network capacity, enhance ability of transcending geo-political, social, economic and cultural obstacles.Policies should be set in such a way a s to allow teleconsultation beyond national borders. Patients in addition to medical care professionals should be offered with a chance of seeking evidence based opinion as well as treatment from overseas through teleconsultation (Lee, Mun, Levine and Ro 2000, p. 28).3.3 Capabilities of health sector institutionThe modern health care system has undergone numerous modifications in order to meet the ever increasing heath needs of the population. One of the modifications is the implementation of telecommunication in health care. All modifications in the health care sector are carried out with the patient being the center of focus.Telemedicine and telegraphy are some of the most recent telecommunication strategies that have been incorporated in the health care sector. Currently, digital images of a patient can be sent over a wireless device to a medical personnel and medical consultations carried out over the internet (Tanriverdi and Iacon, 1998, p, 40).3.4 Analysis of Telemedicine case studies in developing countriesThe emergence to telemedicine is associated with the search for communication-oriented solutions to make it easy for rural populations to access medical services. Telemedicine is considered as one of the most appropriate ways through which contemporary medical services can reach the underserved regions (Lee, Mun, Levine, and Ro 2000, p. 16).Reality has however, gone in a different direction. Extensive studies with telemedicine in developing nations have not yet demonstrated the potential of telemedicine. There are a number of factors that need to be implemented in order that telemedicine services in rural areas become sustainable.A highly robust organizational strategy needs to be implemented, a radio based system should be erected and resources utilized properly; remote maintenance systems should be implemented; a high technological base should be established; and all information and communication should be satisfied through simple and synchronous sy stems (Kifle, Salmon, Okoli, and Mbarika 2008, p. 5).Despite the numerous benefits associated with telemedicine, the program has been slow to come into routine use in both rural and urban zones.4. Evaluation of the current situation of Telemedicine in rural and urban zoneTelemedicine holds a great hope for health care and medical centers both in rural areas and urban centers. Rural areas in particular have for long been faced by shortage of medical personnel, scarcity of means of transportation in addition to other access issues such as unfavorable weather conditions.Telemedicine allows for teleconsultation that utilize a variety of technological advancements such as voice over internet, digital images, digital video teleconferencing, in addition to other emergency services (Martà ­nez, Villarroel, Seoane, and Pozo 2005, p. 70).However, there are various issues that affect the implementation of telemedicine in rural areas. These include: poor infrastructure, limited bandwidth avail ability in network systems, and scarcity of internet providers.Telemedicine is not only about the provision of medical care in the rural areas, but it is very beneficial in linking suburban, urban and inner city medical facilities in a network offering intensive medical care services (Richard 2001, p. 3).4.1 Advantages of using Telemedicine technologiesAn increased use of telemedicine would bring about a number of benefits ranging from enhanced medical care, better utilization of health professionals, increased patients compliance, to enhanced delivery of medical care services outside clinics and hospital setting and in rural as well as the underserved regions.Telemedicine allows for frequent monitoring of vital sign information rather than using periodic visit by physicians. It also improves care of the elderly, physically incapacitated as well as the home bound patients, because it reduces hospital visits thereby increasing convenience and compliance for incapacitated patients.As a result it improves general health of the community and population because it reduces exposure to various illnesses from other patients. It also empowers patients in relation to their own health. It is a source of innovative and creative employment in the health care system.It is a significant strategy of tackling likely future scarcity of medical personnel.   It brings down the rate of death, injuries and infections as a result of medical errors due to inaccurate patient information.Presence of telemedicine programs in rural areas enhances care by reducing transportation costs; deploying medical professionals and specialists; and through providing medical care delivery regardless of geographical barriers (Hein 2009, p. 9).4.2 Challenges of adapting TelemedicineThere are numerous challenges to generating dependable evidence concerning the effects of the use of telemedicine. Scrutiny is rarely carried out as a fundamental part of implementation, and as a result resources are not a bsolutely dedicated to evaluation.However, there are times when resources are dedicated to scrutiny after implementation, therefore prospective gathering of baseline data is impossible. Retrospective gathering of medical data is faced by numerous hurdles in terms of appropriate source identification in addition to collection techniques.These issues make difficult the scrutiny of various interventions, even as the actual nature of evaluation of telemedicine presents further difficulties (Brear 2006, p. 24). Besides evaluation, other challenges that face telemedicine, as indicated by Paul, Pearlson and McDaniel (1999, p 281), include: various social, cultural, economic, technical and organizational hurdles that health care systems must deal with before achieving the full benefits of telemedicine.Other factors that derail the implementation of telemedicine in developing countries are: poor telecommunication and electric power infrastructure; domination in addition to high cost of inter net services; lack of government involvement; difficulties in sustaining implementation of telemedicine; substandard organizational strategies; and user discontent   with low band-width as well as delayed response.Patients, medical professionals and decision makers lack essential knowledge on telemedicine services as well as their potential for medical care. Lack of proper funding is the other challenge that faces telemedicine.Despite its recommendation by the world health organization telemedicine is yet to be realized as a technical service in many national ministries of health (Kifle, Salmon, Okoli, and Mbarika n.d, p. 3).5. ConclusionsIt can therefore be concluded that telemedicine is one of the most significant modern medical strategies that can be employed in tackling the numerous health care challenges that face populations living in both urban and rural areas.   Various benefits of telemedicine include: improvement of patient care, reduction of patient transfers to terti ary health centers and providing physicians a good access to tertiary consultation.Telemedicine improves the general health of the community because it reduces expose to various illnesses from other patients through reduction of hospital visits. There are however, various challenges that are associated with implementation of telemedicine and these include: evaluation challenges, poor telecommunication, misinterpretation of information, and lack of awareness and commitment by the government and decision makers.Telemedicine is faced by various issues including information technology policies, E-Health policies, and data security policies. Even though there are numerous benefits associated with telemedicine, the program has been slow to come into routine practice both in rural and urban zones. Bibliography:Brear, M. 2006, Evaluating telemedicine: lessons and challenges, Health InformationManagement Journal, Vol 35, no. 2, pp. 24Hein, M. 2009, Telemedicine: An important force in the tra nsformation of healthcare,Journal of High Speed Networks, Vol 9, no. 15, pp. 9 –30

Genetically Modified Food Should Be Limited Essay

Cigarettes and alcohol belong to the products with unhealthy substances which annually kill thousands people over the world. Many countries try to solve this global problem through the various campaigns or controversial advertisements. Governments attempt to make people conscious of all negatives of these products. However, this is not a case of genetically modified food. A lot of people are unaware of the content of genetically modified food, which they have been buying and eating every day for several years. New kinds of allergies or various types of diseases star spreading in some countries and a lot of people can not find any reason for getting them. Genetically modified food should belimited because of negative effects on environment, economy, people and society. Lack of information about genetically modified food causes that people do not have any possibility to make the same informed choice; therefore, this nontraditional food should have some limits. There are still a lot of people who have no idea about products which they buy and consume. When people go shopping to supermarkets, they can find great looking fruit, vegetable or meat; however, they can not see a label of GMF. For example, the US is one of the countries which do not require labeling. According to Britanny Shoot (2009), â€Å"the governmental and industry opposition to mandatory labeling has long been rooted in several arguments:† that production cost would be rapidly raised by labeling because of other monitoring of facilities; â€Å"that GM labels will signal safety or nutritional problems for consumers only accustomed to seeing nutritional information on labels and should therefore not be included† and that other labels â€Å"GM† and â€Å"GM-free† would be required. Therefore, production of genetically modified food should have some boundars if there are still countries in which people are not informed about this harmful food. Another point is that, genetically modified food could trigger a lot of different kind of diseases. When scientists have discovered GMF, it was progress in not only science but also sociaty. However, the first illnesses have appeared, since selling of genetically modified food spread over the world. For example, different kinds of allergies or cancers are the most dangerous diseases which could be caused by genetically modified food. According to Myron Stagman, PhD (2006), genetic modification avoid Evolution`s safeguard and can lead to growth of pathogens which often cause recorded, but unpublicized fatal disease epidemics. So people can suffer from some disease without consciousness that it could be caused by GMF. There is an untested virus gene in some GMF that could be toxic and harmful to not only people but also animals. (cited in Virus in GMF, 2013). Therefore, people could not be sure of effects of genetically modified food which they eat. In summary, this nontraditional food should not be without limits. It is also remarkable that genetically modified food could have negative effects on economy. There is a decrease in United State maize exports to the European Union from the beginning of production of GM crops. â€Å"Experts went a high of 2.8 million tons in 1995-96 to virtually nothing during 2000-01. That is a dramatic economic impact on U.S. farmers.† This is information from the source (C. Frompovich 2010). So production of genetically modified food could be slack and incapable to bring yield in some countries. GE crops, which are used commercially, do not support growth of the yield potential of a variety. They might even decline. â€Å"Perhaps the biggest issue raised by these results is how to explain the rapid adoption of GE crops when farm financial impacts appear to be mixed or even negative.† This is information from the source (GMF – renewed, 2008). Thus, genetically modified food should disappear from the market or be limited. Another claim is that genetically modified food may cause environmental dangerous changes. These shifts are related to not only people but also other organisms. An increased level of estrogen is caused by glyphosate, which is used in crops as resistance to weed. It could have harmful and long term effects on all mammals, including people which are very sensitive to the raised rate of estrogen. This is information from the source (Top 10 dangers of GMF, 2009). So, this nontraditional food can contain toxic substances which could cause to some animals harmful effects or deaf. According to Deborah B. Withman (2002), a lot of butterfly caterpillars die because of pollen from b.t. corn. The problem is that butterfly caterpillars which do not eat corn, but milkweed plants, could die because â€Å"pollen from b.t. corn is blown by the wind onto milkweed plants in neighboring fields.† Thus, genetically modified food and his production should be limited. However, the low cost of production and lower selling prices for more food stimulate a lot of people to consider this nontraditional food as the potential solution to the lack of food or even hunger. Therefore, there are still a lot of exponents, who believe that genetically modified food is very beneficial for human beings. While they can be right, there are still a lot of negatives of this controversial food. Some studies have shown that this nontraditional food can cause problems with human digestive system. The incorporation of some substances can interact badly with one another in food. In addition, GMF could cause poisoning, because the modification of certain genes could produce plant substances whichare difficult to digest at all. It is true that genetically modified food could be a solution of hunger and can help in case of the lack of food, but actually this nontraditional food could have several negative effects. Therefore, it should be limited because of negative impacts on humans, their health, environment and economy. It is usually good to invent something new but an advance for scientists do not have to be an advance for all humans. Reference Brittany Shoot (2009, November 25). GMO or No: Problematic Intersections of Religion, Biotechnology, and Food. Retrieved February 16, 2013, from Religiondispatches: http://www.religiondispatches.org/books/2018/gmo_or_no__problematic_intersections_of_religion__biotechnology__and_food__/ Stagman, M. Phd. (2006). GMO Disease Epidemics: Bt-cotton Fiber Disease. Retrieved February 16, 2013, from Portland: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/08/344305.shtml Virus in GM food could be dangerous. (2013, February 8). Retrieved February 12, 2013, from Unknowncountry: http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/virus-gm-foods-could-be-dangerous Catherine J Frompovich. (2010, June 23). Economic Issues Surrounding Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from Infowars: http://www.infowars.com/economic-issues-surrounding-genetically-modified-foods/ Genetically modified (GM) foods – renewed threat to Europe. (2008, December). Retrieved February 16, 2013, from Bangmfood:http://www.bangmfood.org/publications/4-short-leaflets/1-10-reasons-why-we-dont-need-gm-foods Top 10 dangers of genetically modified food. (2009, April). Retrieved February 15, 2013, from Invigorate306: http://www.invigorate360.com/reviews/top-10-dangers-of-genetically-modified-food/ Deborah B. Withman. (2000, April). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Retrieved February 15, 2013, from CSA: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php.

Beyond the arabin poetry Essay

Beyond the Arabian Poetry In the light of Arabic literature in Muslim Spain, It was one of the greatest lands at that time. Most of people were educated in too many studies, due to the Abd al-Rahman III one of the Umayyad Rulers. Abd al-Rahman III was interested greatly in books and education, which made him to collect a lot of books around the world. Arabic literature’ books were also interested by Abd al-Rahman III, which made a lot of Muslim Spain’s people interested on in and study it as well. Muslims and Jews were inherited in the Arabic literature which made them write stories and poetry. All that had a deep effect on literature scholars and especially Jewish scholars. When they were studying Islamic, Arabic literature they were also studying Islamic literature and the influence of the relationship of Arabic language and Islam. In that vein, many of the Jews converted to Islam by their own, But not all about Jews. And this raises the mind a question that what are the sources and the power of the Arabic literature which make these Jews converting to Islam by their own? And it appears that the larger spiritual vision of Islamic religious traditions and the Ideology of Islamic Arabic poems are involved with that. Therefore the Islamic traditions and the Islamic, Arabic poetry are the source of converting some of the Jews to Islam by their own in Muslim Spain. According to the book the Jews of Islam says â€Å"Islam had its sway over Jewish cultural life too. In literature, and the arts, the Muslim influence on the Jews is enormous.† (Lewis 81) It appears from that Islam affected on Jews through literature and the arts which means by traditions and poetry. In the same note of converting the Jews to Islam, the Islamic literature was very strong, because it was getting through the soul and shapes it. And writing famous poems on the walls of Madden T Al-Zahra, helped Jewish to read poems in the in that time, so one line of any Islamic poem has that huge effect for the reader. But that script was in Arabic, how did the spoken Hebrew, Jewish did read that? What kind of influence that the script has if it has translated to Hebrew? Would it be strong as it is in Arabic?  There were people in Muslim Spain who were in interested in reading Arabic poem translated to Hebrew. And according to book The Dream of the Poem for Peter Cole that it says there is a scholar who was translating poems to Hebrew by comparing meters to their Arabic models. (Cole 333). So this shows that yes by an effort of scholars the influence of Arabic poetry kept as itself, therefore spoken Hebrew Jews got a chance to read the Arabic poems with its influence which helped to make some of them convert to Islam. According to book of Daily life of Jews in the Middle Ages for Norman Roth he says â€Å"While some Jews, indeed, converted to Islam of their own free will in the early medieval period.†(Roth 202) and also Roth said that there are some of Jewish scholars in Muslim Spain Wrote in Arabic poems for them and one of them converted to Islam as Ibrahim Ibn Sahl, as he believe(Roth 165). By reading this book or some quotes of it we will see how the poetry affected these Jews to convert, even if it is not the big motive of converting, but Poetry was the media of the motive of converting these Jews to Islam. In that time Art was greatly considered as poems, due to the Islamic religion and the many of poets in that time, the poems were spread a lot in Muslim Spain, so it was easy for all to read them, and this shows that how the poems were the media of converting the Jews to Islam by their own. Furthermore the Jews were very interested with the Arabic poetry, and most of the Arabic poetry is describing Islam and how it is good for life. According to book of Arabic and Hebrew Love Poems in Al-Andalusia By Shari Lowin which says â€Å"Brann similarly maintains that Jews had primary knowledge of the sacred texts of Islam† (Lowin 40) and this shows that Jews were affected very deeply from the poems to know about Islam which made them to go and read holy texts from the Islamic religion. Moreover the connection of the poetry with science by proving that holy Quran proved a lot of science statements, and that was really convincing to the Jewish to convert to Islam, because the Jewish people believe in the concrete and the logic (Gwynne 160), and when they found that Islam is logical with the earth and it’s science so they will be more attracted to convert to Islam. All that is just from a link from Arabic poetry that talks about science and how Islam in the holy Quran proved it. In the line with that, it proves that  Jews converted to Islam by their own, because they read these sacred texts by their own and without any force from anyone, and this shows how strong was the Islamic literature, it affected the mind and the soul of Jews in Muslim Spain thus makes them convert to Islam. So the source of that is the literature of Islamic poetry and traditions. The poetry in Islam was very nice, great and wonderful and Muslim’s prophet Muhammad said to have enjoyed the poetry (Scheindlin 7), which made Muslims do great efforts to add in the Islamic poetry, which makes a lot of kind of attractive ways to Islam, which made the Jews be Muslims and be satisfied of converting, and this proves that the converting Jews in Muslim Spain to Islam by their own by the poetry. Even though the Jews reacted to most creative way of the brilliant Arab culture as I will show here â€Å"according to Bargebuhr, Hispanic Jews reacted in a most creative way to the influences of the brilliant Arab culture (though without converting to Islam, as the Persians did). (Jayyusi and Marin 515) † So it appears that Jews did not convert to Islam by reading that smart Arabic poems. But in the beginning I said some of Jews converted to Islam. And the same book said that some of Jews did not use the Hebrew language as well in reading the Islamic poems. Moreover they have reacted the Arabic poems not the Islamic one, but when it appears that the Hispanic Jews reacted to the smart Arabic poems it appears not the all Jews converted to Islam, but Some of them, who reacted to the Islamic Arabic Poems. The holy Quran is in Arabic and it has its language, and most of the Arabic in Muslim Spain were influenced in the holy Quran, and how it has the secret way to attract non-Muslim people to it, that are the Holy Quran ways, But the Arabs poets as I said they influenced of that and they started to work with it to attract people to Islam. And how about some of Jews Scholars had been influenced and attracted to the Quran language, and converted to Islam, they will have the power of attracting their previous people the Jews. Therefore the possibilities of converting Jews to Islam were so high because of the many of the Converted Jews scholars to Islam, and the knowing of the Hebrew language, they will be able to know how to attract people to Islam by making good Hebrew poets, that has the attraction ways of Holy Quran. Adding knowledge to the pomes in the Muslim Spain was so great, some of the Poets added a lot of knowledge in his poems, and by clever way the poets were adding attracting language to make the Jews convert to Islam when they were reading knowledge. All that made the Jews convert to Islam by reading the Arabic poetry in Muslim Spain. But did these converted Jews really converted to Islam just by reading the poems? Why if they were converting to Islam just not to pay the (Jyzia) which is a tax that Muslims take it from non-Muslims people? It could be, and this would happen, but not all of Jews who converted to Islam just because of the Jyzia, because the one who converted should not be so poor to not pay a small amount of money as a tax. Moreover a lot of poor Jews in Muslim Spain were able to pay the Jyzia, unless if that Jew is cheap or greedy, he would do that. But another question is in the mind now, which is what kind of poems affected the Jews that range to convert to Islam? We said before that the poets were Arabs from Muslim Spain and Jews scholars too who wrote poems in both languages as well, Moreover the Holy Quran’s Influence which attracted all those to convert to Islam. But the kind of poems are the one which were describing Islam and how it is, and the one which described other religions, and making Islam the best of them. Moreover the poems which describes the Islamic architecture, and the science as well especially the one which discovered by Muslims scientists. However these poems are showing in its form, it talks about architecture or science, how would that help or motive or being a media to convert the Jews to Islam? The questions here is logic and it appears that it has no answer. But the answer is simple, the poets really care to make the readers being pleased reading the poems they wrote, that would not happen they appeared they are trying to let non-Muslims readers to get bored fast, or to leave the poems by thinking it is trying to make them Muslims, so the poets used a hidden way to let the readers not feeling that they added the thing that make them convert, so they added in a hidden way, for example when they want to describe the architecture, they will describe the Mosque in purpose to let the readers to be attracted to the Mosque (Ruggles 171-8) , and also if they want to write about science they write about the Muslims scientists or how Islam explained science in perfect way, all that just by great poems that did not seemed to be like that. As Ibrahim Ibn Sahl did after he converted (Roth 165-9). In the end of this it was a clever idea to make the Islamic poetry strong to be capable to convert people by their own, and also the traditions of Muslims i n Muslim Spain were much educated to make a lot of ways to add the Islamic  sense at the poetry to make the Jews to convert. Moreover the secret way of attracting Non-Muslims to Islam was really strong because it was within the language which is the most playable media to attract people to Islam. Especially the Jews, but how about the Christians did they also converted to Islam by poems in Muslim Spain? If they did so, what was attracting them, to be converted? But are not they were jealous of Muslims who were able to convert Jews by their own, so they did the inquisition and forced people to convert to their religion by force. Or they were scare to be attracted by Muslims and then convert to Islam. And this raises the concept of Muslims verses Christian’s tactics of conversion. And the Muslim’s cultural influence verses Christian’s state violence. Work Cited Cole, Peter. The Dream of the Poem: Hebrew Poetry from Muslim and Christian Spain, 950-1492. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007. Print. D, F R. â€Å"Arabic Poetry and Architectural Memory in Al-Andalus.† Ars Orientalis. 23 (1993): 171-178. Print. Gwynne, Rosalind W. Logic, Rhetoric and Legal Reasoning in the Qur’an: God’s Arguments. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2014. Internet resource. Lewis, Bernard. The Jews of Islam. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1984. Print. Lowin, Shari L. Arabic and Hebrew Love Poems in Al-Andalus. New York: Routledge, 2014. Print. Roth, Norman. Daily Life of Jews in the Middle Ages. New York: Routledge, 2005. Print. Scheindlin, Raymond P. The Gazelle: Medieval Hebrew Poems on God, Israel, and the Soul. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991. Print. Jayyusi, Salma K, and Manuela MariÃŒ n. The Legacy of Muslim Spain. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1992. Print.

Proposal assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proposal assignment - Essay Example The Arctic Ocean is covered with ice and is surrounded by treeless permafrost. The sea ice in the arctic has declined very much in recent years. ` The recording of extent of ice in arctic began in 1953. Since then, the extent of the summer sea ice has been declining. The extent of ice was the lowest in 2007, the second lowest in 2008, and the third lowest in 2010. Currently, the snow cover in the Arctic is present for about 200 days per year. A decrease in the duration of the snow season results in increased warming. Between 1970 and 2000, there was a decrease in duration of the snow season by approximately 2.5 days per decade. From the commercial point of view, it is a new opportunity as exploration of the arctic has become easy now. Estimates show that Arctic can contain about 20 per cent of world's reserves of hydrocarbons. Most of these resources happen to be in the Russian part of the arctic. New trade routes linking the Atlantic and the Pacific via arctic instead of Panama Cana l has become a possibility now. So, there began a geopolitical competition in the region to gain control over transport routes and natural resources. All these have increased the strategic importance of arctic region. Countries bordering arctic are also in the process of preparing territorial claims for submission to the Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf. Russia claims a large portion of arctic. The Arctic is highly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. There is greater warming in the Arctic than global average. Because of this, there are concerns that the melting of ice in Arctic could result in rise in sea levels. The current Arctic ice melt might also lead to Arctic methane release. Large amount of methane is stored in the permafrost. Methane is a greenhouse gas and is more dangerous than carbon dioxide. Scientists are not sure whether this is natural cycle or manmade. Apart from concerns regarding the negative impact of warming in the Arctic, some potential op portunities have come up. Since the middle ages, world’s maritime powers looked for a shorter route between Atlantic and Asia. The melting of ice opens up the possibility of two trans arctic routes- The Northern Sea route and the Northwest passage. The new routes will reduce distances between Europe and Asia. It will also provide strategic alternatives to other countries such as Japan. At present Japan is dependent on the Strait of Malacca for transporting energy. The Northern Sea route (North East Passage) is along Russia’s northern border from Murmansk to Provideniya. It is about 2600 nautical miles in length. The Northern Sea Route, the shortest shipping lane from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, links European Russia with Russia’s Far East. The Northern Sea Route over Eurasia is important since it shortens shipping routes between northern Europe and north-east Asia by 40 per cent .The Northwest Passage is through Canadian arctic islands. It consists of several potential routes. The US Geological Survey report of 2008 says that the extensive arctic continental shelf may constitute the geographically largest unexplored prospective area for petroleum remaining on earth. It estimates 90 billion barrels of oil and 1700trillion cubic feet of natural gas remain to be discovered. Such reports have led to recent international debates as to

Industrial hygiene Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Industrial hygiene - Case Study Example c among many others, an industrial hygienist therefore ensures the safety of the employees at a place of work by ensuring that the risks presented by the above hazards do not materialize at the place of work. The goal of industrial hygiene is to prevent both industrial diseases and industrial accidents both of which incapacitate the employees thereby causing immense inconveniences in their productivity. In doing this, industrial hygienists use a number of scientific techniques including exposure assessment, risk management, and industrial safety among others. The profession employs rigorous and stringent methodologies that often require professional judgments based on both experience and education in its determination of the potential exposures to hazardous environments. In doing this, the professionals implement safe procedures, systems and methods of completing tasks in a company. I. A professional hygienist conducts effective health programs in a governmental organizational or an industrial plant with the view to recognizing, eliminating and controlling the occupational hazards and diseases. The hazards may arise from either the working environment or the nature of the work. As such, the professional collects various samples including vapors, dusts and gases among other materials that may possess a level of toxicity for in-depth analysis in laboratories. After the scientific analyses, the professional makes recommendations depending on the level of the risks that the materials present to the employees thus making the place of work safer for the employees. II. A professional hygienist investigates the sufficiency of the exhaust equipment installed in a company, lighting and ventilation among other features that may risk the health of the employees. In measuring the efficiency of such facilities, the professional considers the number of the employees in the organizations and determines the ability of the resources to safeguard the health of the employees. This

Men, friendship and companionship in Divine Comedy Essay

Men, friendship and companionship in Divine Comedy - Essay Example He ends his pilgrimage into vision of "the Love which moves the sun and the other stars. (Michael Novak 2003)" The dual allegory of Commedia is the progress of soul toward Heaven, and the anguish of humankind on Earth. Throughout his journey, Dante's relationship with Virgil becomes more distinct as does that of the other characters who occupy the realm. In much of Dante's work, he turns the people who he was directly or indirectly associated with in real life into characters in his work. His feelings towards them can only be understood when observing the interactions between himself and the characters. To understand how these real life characters came to be involved in his epic poem, a little of Dante's history must be explained. Living in Florence, Dante was active in both political and military life. As a youth he entered the army and held several key posts in the Florence government during the 1290's. At this time Florence was politically divided between Guelphs and Ghibellines. The Guelphs supported the church and were conservative, preferring to keep things as they were. The Ghibellines on the other hand supported the German emperor but were relieved of their governance. During this time, the Guelphs whom Dante's family was associated with took the reigns of power. Though born into a Guelph family, Dante believed the church should only involve itself in spiritual affairs and later in life he became more neutral after realizing that the church was corrupt. When the new century dawned, Dante gained position from city councilman to ambassador of Florence. In 1301 when the Black Guelph and their French allies seized control of the city his career ended. The authorities seized Dante's possessions and permane ntly banished him from Florence, threatening the death penalty upon him if he returned. From this sprang some of his misgivings about those in high positions and used their characteristics and 'sins' in his work. It is during his exile that Dante wrote new pieces of literature. Between 1307 and 1314 he began writing The Divine Comedy where Dante introduces his invention of the three-line stanza as well as himself as a character. Dante's epic poem consists of three parts, The Inferno being the first. It depicts the journey of Dante, who himself is the hero, through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. He writes in the first person enabling the reader to identify and understand deeply the truths he wished to share about the meaning of life and man's relationship with the Creator. Dante's vision stems from personal experience and expresses them through images to convey his analysis of the nature of human existence. In the poem, Dante is around about the halfway point through his life and he finds himself wandering alone in a dark forest, having lost his way on the "true path" (Spark Notes 2006). In the first lines of the Divine Comedy, Dante says "In the middle of the journey of our life I came to my senses in a dark forest, for I had lost the straight path. (123Helpme 2005) " This is the typical stereotype of today for when a person becomes "lost" or consumed in sin. The sinful life is a dark life and a sinless life is a bright, white, and pure life. Dante's coming to his senses in a dark forest symbolizes his realizing how "lost" in sin he truly is and realizes he needs to do something. He remembers nothing about how he lost his way, but here he is in a fearful dark place. Above, he notices a

Can and should the marketplace be inclusive to all consumers Essay

Can and should the marketplace be inclusive to all consumers - Essay Example It will examine the problem that the aged face when companies decide to advertise and sell their commodity through the media and social networks. The paper will also try to explain how the aged can be integrated in the fashion industry. According to Macnicol (2005), age discrimination has a long history going back to 1930s, and even today it is a topic of debate in Britain. In the current world, many old people have a feeling that they are overlooked and ignored in the market. For example, in the designing of shopping complexes in the street. There are many old people who cannot obtain a service or the product that they want- whether from cinemas, restaurants or newspaper. This is because things have changed, so there is nothing that suits their taste. According to Mumel and Prodnik (2005), this discrimination has led the aged to stay away from this market. They consider themselves less fortunate and burden to society. According to Birtwistle and Tsim (2005), a fashion designer that can adopt and agree to cater for the individual needs of aging women will do quite well because it has a high potential, unsaturated market. Fashion designers have failed to provide old people with clothes that are psychologically, physically and socially comfortable. Psychological comfort gives the old person a well-being sense (Kunze, Boehm, & Bruch, 2011). Old people want clothes that will make the public have a positive mind and respect them. Physical comfort is achieved when the older people put on clothes that protect them from heat, humidity and cold. Their social comfort will be achieved by wearing clothes that will make them presentable and create a good impression to the public. The old also feel excluded in todays media. Images of the youth dominate the media today. Older peoples pictures are of two categories: one portrays old people as decrepit, aimed at generating sympathy and enable other people to contribute to them (

Nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Essay

Nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Essay Example The paper would be looking at the various perspectives that could have motivated the Americans to use this weapon of mass destruction. During the WWII1, Japan joined forces with the Germany and Italy, the enemies of the Allied Forces and fought against them vigorously. It accessed several small nations like Vietnam, coastal China and in its efforts to increase its oil reserves, after the boycott of oil supply by America, its attacks and subsequent accession to Indonesia, considerably expanded its territorial rights over a large area in Pacific Ocean. This aggressive behaviour further escalated the tension between Japan and the Allied forces specially America and Britain. The war between the two intensified, leading to bloodiest attacks of Pearl Harbour by Japanese forces and invasion of Okinawa by US forces. Even though, the allied forces regained territories and reduced the Japanese influence in the Pacific, they were unable to overpower the might of Japanese forces. Hence, after the fall of Mussolini of Italy and Hitler of Germany, Japan became the sole target of the allied forces. HiroshimHiroshima was the headquarters of the Japanese army and one of the most advanced cities of Japan. It therefore became the first target of the nuclear attack by America. American President, Harry S. Truman, deliberately targeted Hiroshima because the devastation of the city and killing of a large part of the population, would, according to the American President, convincingly show the repercussions of the Japanese refusal for an amicable peace treaty (Hersey, 1989). The detonation of 'Little Man' (name of the nuclear bomb that was dropped) on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945, became a reality and created unprecedented holocaust, ever recorded in the history of mankind. It killed more than 90,000 people, maimed and injured grievously more than 30,000 and genetically damaged the surviving population. The second attack on the city of Nagasaki became significant because it was an important off shore trading centre and an important port of Japan. Though, much of the population was shifted from the mainland, 'Fat Man', the atomic bomb that was dropped on 9th August 1945, was equally devastating in its effect. About 70,000 were killed instantly and more than 60,000 injured. The total casualties in the two attacks defied the imaginations of the world. Japanese government called an immediate ceasefire and surrendered to the allied forces and signed the 'instrument of surrender' on 2nd September 1945, which officially ended the World War II. The Emperor Hirohito of Japan surrendered for the overall welfare of his people and his surrender was subject to keeping the sovereignty of the Crown intact. Japan surrendered and the WWII came to an end. Reasons cited for bombings Japan was increasingly becoming powerful and the allied forces wanted to curb the growing influence of the Japanese. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were major cities of Japan that were commercial hub. The decision to bomb the two cities had mainly two objectives. The foremost being, to establish the

Academic and Trade Journals Focusing on Advertising in the Media Essay

Academic and Trade Journals Focusing on Advertising in the Media - Essay Example The focus is to help build strategies that will help sales initiative. By using contributors from all over the world EJM offers a global viewpoint of issues that involve any industry. Theoretical information is made readable so that practical application is possible; this journal is used by academic libraries and marketing managers alike. Publishers are The Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.The article summarized in this paper was written to analyse three qualitative research themes that are objects of "frustration and confusion" (Gummesson, 2006, p.309) and are: "analysis and interpretation, theory generation and the quest for scientific pluralism and individual methodologies." (ibid.) The basis of this discussion is that complexity, change, chaos and other confusing factors are the characteristics of the market economy.The author feels that marketing has only customer satisfaction and planning as its clout in company boardrooms. He also references Piercy (2002) as saying that there is a "pathology of mediocrity and a process of trivialization" in the academic standards of marketing. He argues that even though quantitative analysis can take marketing studies from "an art to a science", that is not enough. He wants to know if research into marketing can make anything happen. Gummesson gives examples as to why it is not possible to just get more facts, or data, to find the solutions to marketing problems. The aftermath of the dot.com era's boom is an example. He uses both hard factual references and his own philosophical notions to come to his conclusions. He offers up some strategies for the analysis and interpretation of marketing data results. The fact that research is constrained by researchers having different agendas and incentives gives science a "disparate army of two-legged individual paradigms" says the author, which gives the reader an idea of his creative style as he discusses interactive research methods. The Journal of Interactive Advertising (JIAD) is a good collection of relevant articles by professionals and academics that give insights into topics such as (Fall 2005 issue) Super Bowl advertising and product review websites. JIAD is produced by both the Department of Advertising at Michigan State University and the Department of Advertising at The University of Texas at Austin. It is published twice a year. The first 2006 issue is not available. Contributors to the journal come from ivy league schools to marketing agencies around the world. Their audience is anyone who may be interested in the subjects that the journal includes. The article summarized focuses on online auctions as advertising revenue. A study was done of auctions conducted by the Ventura County Star's newspaper online that lasted 12 days each for 7 months. The study decided the effectiveness of this online auction for raising revenue compared to the revenue generated by its online banner advertisements. It also tracked the increase in traffic to the web site based on these auctions. Its findings were that revenues were substantially higher through auctions and that there was also a measurable increase in traf

Compare and Contrast Essay Example for Free

Compare and Contrast Essay While penguins are technically birds, they have many distinct attributes that set them apart from the much of the animal class Aves. Penguins thrive in many different climates including tropical and temperate zones. These animals can survive temperatures below -100 degrees Fahrenheit. Antarctic penguins have a three-tiered insulation system. First, they have feathers that act like tiles on a roof, with longer feathers overlapping smaller, fluffier ones. In essence, water-proofing. Beneath that, penguins have a thick layer of fat that provides an extra buffer from the elements and retains body heat. A third special adaptation in the penguin that isnt found in most birds is its ability to recycle its own body heat. Blood flows pre-cooled to the extremities and warmed going to the heart. In the harshest wind-chilled conditions, penguins will huddle together in massive clusters. Most birds dont have a thick layer of fat or longer feathers on top of fluffier feathers. Many species have to find shelter at night, unlike penguins. Only 50 types of birds can live in the Antarctic and far fewer dare to breed there like the penguin. Most penguins spend upwards of 80 percent of their life in water, preferring colder, nutrient laden coasts. Because they only eat seafood, penguins have evolved sharp, hooked beaks to snare fish. They also have a sticky tongue that helps them capture slippery prey. Penguins are superb swimmers because they have webbed feet that serve as diving fins. Their wings have evolved into flippers. Their hydrodynamic bodies allows them to reach speeds of up to 15 mph. Penguins can hold their breath for long periods, allowing them to dive deep for prey. While 150 species of the bird family Antedate specialize in the water, penguins are the fastest and most adept underwater. Penguins live in colonies of up to 1 million but they dont necessarily need protection in numbers. Penguins have few natural land predators because of the places they inhabit, while many species of birds have to deal with a wide variety of natural land predators. Another distinguishing feature of penguins is their white underside, which keeps them virtually invisible to sharks looking up into the sun through the depths and the birds black tops allow them to swim underneath fish with little detection. Penguins cant fly, but they can toboggan over ice. While many flightless birds roam the Earth, penguins are heavier than most. Their wing bones are denser than those of flight-birds, whose bones are typically hollow. Even without flight penguins are versatile travelers.

Optimal Extraction Paths of Coal

Optimal Extraction Paths of Coal Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1. Motivation According to the World Energy Outlook (WEO 2007)[1], global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will increase by 1,8 % per year from 2005 to 2030, and 2 % per year for the period 2030-2050.[2] From 12.446 Mt of CO2 equivalent in 2002, emissions will reach 15.833 Mt in 2030 for OECD countries an average increase of 1,1 % per year. CO2 is the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG), which is contributing to global warming. The primary source of the increased atmospheric concentration of CO2 since the pre-industrial period results from fossil fuel use, with land-use change providing another significant but smaller contribution.[3] Continued greenhouse gas emissions at or above current rates would cause further warming and induce many changes in the global climate system during the 21st century.[4] According to the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Energy Agency the power generation sector will contribute to almost half the increase in global emissions between 2002 and 2030, and will remain the single biggest CO2-emitting sector in 2030. In OECD countries, its emissions will rise from 4.793 Mt of CO2 in 2002 to 6.191 Mt of CO2 in 2030, but the share will remain constant.[5] Today, power generation emits 65 % of industrial emissions of CO2 in OECD countries and is likely to become instrumental in countries strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[6] One of such instruments is the Kyoto Protocol. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), more than 180 countries have recognised the need to stabilise the concentration of GHG in the atmosphere, which are causing climate change. The Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, was adopted at the third session of the Conference of Parties in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. It entered into force on 16 February 2005 with 184 Parties of the Convention who have ratified to date.[7] The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries (including Germany) and the European Community for reducing GHG emissions. These amount to an average of five percent of the 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.[8] The Kyoto Protocol includes specific flexible mechanisms such as Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) for the countries to be able to reach their mandatory emission limits. Emissions trading, as set out in Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows countries that have emission units to spare emissions permitted to them but not used to sell this excess capacity to countries that exceed their targets. Thus, a new commodity was created in the form of emission reduction or removal assets. Since CO2 is the principal greenhouse gas, people speak simply of trading in carbon. Carbon is now tracked and traded like any other commodity. This is known as the carbon market.[9] In European countries the emissions trading system is the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the largest system nowadays. The CDM, defined in Article 12 of the Protocol, allows a country with an emission reduction or emission limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to implement emission reduction projects in developing countries. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction credits, each equivalent to one ton of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting the Kyoto targets. A CDM project activity might involve, for example, a rural electrification project using solar panels or the installation of more energy-efficient boilers.[10] The JI mechanism, defined in Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows a country with an emission reduction or limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to earn emission reduction units from an emission-reduction or emission removal project in another Annex B Party, each equivalent to one ton of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its Kyoto target. JI offers Parties a flexible and cost-efficient means of fulfilling a part of their Kyoto commitments, while the host Party benefits from foreign investment and technology transfer.[11] Germany is one of the worlds largest energy consumers and ranks third in total CO2 emissions within the G-7, after the USA and Japan.[12] Annually, Germany produces around 850 millions tons of CO2 equivalent gases, which is approximately 2,8 % of all worlds CO2 emissions.[13] On 31 May 2002, the Kyoto Protocol was ratified by Germany. After entering it into force Germany has played an active role in the European and world carbon markets. Electricity production in Germany is largely based on burning exhaustible resources, causing high CO2 emissions. That makes the issue of CO2 trade crucial for German power plants and the economy in whole. In 2008, the total amount of gross electricity supplied in Germany was around 639,1 TWh[14], that is slightly higher in comparison to the previous year. Nevertheless, during last years there is a tendency of increase in electricity supply (See Table 1). The electricity supply in Germany is based on several technologies and fuels. The distribution of net electricity supply in last years in Germany is shown in Table 1. Electricity production in 2008, as in previous years, was based mainly on coal-fired (hard coal and lignite) steam turbine (43,6 %) and nuclear (22,3 %) power plants.[15] Energy source Since the share of the coal based power plants in Germany is large and the amount of electricity produced is still growing, the impact of the CO2 emissions trade on the economy of these plants is very significant. According to data provided by the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Energy Agency, the price for coal is rising during the economic lifetime of the coal-firing plants.[16] This rise partly can be caused by additional CO2 costs. The largest impact of the emissions trading on the electricity generation cost is felt by the lignite-fired power plants followed by the hard coal-fired power plants, since lignite while burning is producing more emissions than hard coal.[17] With an assumed emission price of 20 â‚ ¬/tCO2 the power generation costs of the lignite-fired power plant would increase by 63 % from 25,4 â‚ ¬/MWh to 41,4 â‚ ¬/MWh, whereas the generation costs with hard coal-fired would rise by 48 % from 30,2 â‚ ¬/MWh to 44,8 â‚ ¬/MWh.[18] The competitiveness of the coal-fired plants is also influenced by including the CO2 prices into the costs. 1 represents marginal cost curve based on the total installed capacity and facilities operating costs for Europe.[19] As can be seen, the addition of CO2 price to the production costs can make coal power plants less competitive. The sequence of most of electricity plants stays the same after addition of 20 â‚ ¬/tCO2 to the costs, though coal based power plants move to the side of less competitive plants. These facts and evident changes raise many questions such as following: how long will electricity from fossil fuels stay competitive, how the extraction of fossil fuels is influenced by CO2 prices. 1.2. Problem definition From all of the above it can clearly be seen that the CO2 price is influencing the value of coal and its extraction path.[20] Questions this thesis is dealing with are how the extraction path is affected by the CO2 price, and what the optimal path of using coal is. For many companies, i.e. in coal mining and coal utilizing, this question is essential, since they already face significant changes in profitability. The thesis is aimed at describing the optimal extraction path of exhaustible resource (coal) without and then with CO2 considerations. That will allow to compare and to see the changes in paths. Coal-related industries will be discussed here, but similarly the approaches can be used for other exhaustible fossil fuels. Since coal is an exhaustible resource, for describing its optimal extraction path we will use the exhaustible resource economic theory, to be more precise, Hotellings theory, which determines the optimal extraction path of exhaustible resource. Hotellings rule is one of the required conditions of optimality of the extraction path. The optimal extraction path means that the miner is maximising his profit if he follows this path. Besides that, we widen the scope of the work and change the condition of maximising the profit and look at the case when a miner aims to prolong the life-time of the mine as much as possible. We will also consider different markets types: competitive and monopoly. For modelling all the scenarios in the mentioned conditions, a single mine which is situated in Germany will be used, and we will assume that all coal is burned at the power plant for production of electricity which belongs to the same company as the mine. 1.3. Relevance We aim to determine how the EU ETS is influencing the extraction path of the coal and its value. This question is very important for the mine owner, as it allows him to choose the right strategy for production and exploitation, depending on the new market conditions with costs for CO2. That is essential for the economic survival of the miner. And for us, the task is therefore to determine the influence of CO2 price on the extraction path of a coal mine. First, we will construct the model without consideration of CO2 price in two different market conditions, and afterwards we include CO2 price considerations. As mentioned before, we will discuss the case when a miner wants to maximize the life-time of the mine. The reasons for that might be to save jobs or governmental directives. This case also will be studied in different markets. 1.4. Goals The goal of the work is to construct simplified models, on the base of Hotellings rule theory, which will determine the optimal extraction paths of coal and extraction paths leading to maximization of life-time, for one single mine situated in Germany in different market conditions without and with CO2 price consideration. Afterwards, on the base of models including into them numerical data, we aim to show the scale of the CO2 price affecting the extraction path. 1.5. Structure The current chapter, chapter one, gives an introduction into the topic, determines the goals of the paper, explains the motivation of the research done in the work, supports it with topical data. The second chapter contains the theoretical base for the further research. It describes Hotellings rule extraction of exhaustible resources, discusses the crucial points of the theory, and gives the basic model of optimal extraction of exhaustible resource. In the third chapter, models of optimal extraction of coal in different conditions are developed. At the beginning, the models represent the optimal extraction path of competitive market and then monopoly market. Next, cases are discussed in which the company is maximising the life-time of the mine also in two market types. Afterwards, the CO2 price is integrated into the models, and the change in extraction paths is described. At the end, two numerical examples are given, and calculated to find two optimal extraction paths without CO2 and then with it. The last chapter, chapter four, gives the summary of the whole master thesis and its results.  ­Ã‚ ­Chapter 2: The theory of exhaustible resources 2.1. Overview This chapter is dedicated to Hotellings theory itself, since we use it to determine extraction paths of coal. It contains the theoretical background for further models construction, and allows to understand the theory deeper. Next, Hotellings rule is discussed. Afterwards, we discuss different parameters which can influence the rule, since these considerations are necessary for construction of the models and making appropriate assumptions for them. At the end of this chapter the basic model of optimal extraction of exhaustible resource is given. On the basis of this model, in the following chapter, we will build models with considerations of different market conditions and CO2 price. The main questions of the economics of exhaustible resources are: what is the optimal rate of exploration of the resource by company, the price path of the exhaustible resource and how does it change through time? These are the questions which we are interested in. And since coal is exhaustible resource, this theory is applicable to our case. Exhaustible resources are those that are available in fixed quantities. They dont exhibit significant growth or renewal over the time. Coal is exhaustible resource; its amount in deposits is fixed and doesnt grow over time. Pindyck distinguishes between exhaustible and non-renewable resources[21] by noting that, while the latter do not exhibit growth or regeneration, new reserves can be acquired through exploratory effort and discovery.[22] Since the first one is more wide spread, in this work the term exhaustible resources will be used for indication of this type of resources. In 1914 L. C. Gray dealt with questions of natural resource economics. He examined the supply behaviour over time of an individual extractor who anticipates a sequence of real prices and attempts to maximize discounted profits.[23] Harold Hotelling extended Grays theory by predicting the sequence of market prices that Gray took as given in his work â€Å"The Economics of Exhaustible Resources† in 1931, which then became a seminal paper on the economics of exhaustible resources.[24] 2.1.1. Hotellings rule Hotellings rule, as described in his paper entitled â€Å"The Economics of Exhaustible Resources†, is an economic theory, pointing out how the prices should behave under a specified (and very restrictive) set of conditions.[25] It states that competitive mine owners, maximizing the present value of their initial reserves, should extract a quantity such that price of the exhaustible resource rise at the rate of interest.[26] In other words, if we assume that P0 is the initial price of the resource, Pt is the price of resource at some point of time, i is interest rate, then:[27] (1)Hotellings rule is based on the following assumptions:[28]  § the mine owners objective is to maximize the present value of his current and future profits. This requires that extraction takes place along an efficient path in a competitive industry equilibrium, which implies that all mines are identical in terms of costs and that they are all price takers in a perfect and instantaneous market of information.  § the mine is perfectly competitive and has no control over the price it receives for its production.  § mine production is not constrained by existing capacity; it may produce as much or as little as it likes at any time during the life of the mine.  § the ore deposit has a capitalized value. That is, a copper or gold deposit in the ground is a capital asset to its owner (and society) in the same way as any other production facility. Furthermore, he assumed that the richest and most accessible deposits would be mined first, and that increasing scarcity (after exhaustion of the best mines) would confer capitalized value on inferior deposits, which could then be mined.  § the resource stock is homogenous and consequently there is no uncertainty about the size, grade and tonnage of the ore deposit. Current and future prices and extraction costs are known. This implies that an ore body has uniform quality or grade throughout and that there is no change in grade of the ore as mining proceeds. Miners and grade control officers, who endeavour to supply the mill only with ore above a certain grade, recognize this fifth assumption to be major departure from reality. The topic of uncertain reserves is discussed in more details in section 2.1.5 of the thesis.  § The sixth assumption is that the costs of mining or extraction do not change as the orebody is depleted. Again, this assumption does not recognize that all mines face increasing costs as the ores are depleted. Underground mining costs increase as the mining face becomes longer and deeper and moves further away from the shaft system, while in open pit operations haul roads become longer and pits become progressively larger and deeper. A rider to Hotellings assumption that the marginal unit (standard mining unit) is accessible at the same constant cost, is the assumption that the marginal cost of extraction in this particular case is zero. In addition, it implies that the market price and the rate of extraction are connected by a stable, downward sloping demand curve for the resource.[29] In this constrained model the size of the remaining stock declines without ever being augmented by exploration discoveries. To the topic of cost of extraction is also dedicated the section 2.1.4 of the thesis.  § The final assumption is that there is no technological improvement during the life of the mine and that no new additions to the resource stock are contributed by exploration. Sections 2.1.7 and 2.1.8. are discussing technological progress and â€Å"backstop† resources, which are also connected to technological progress. Hotellings model predicts a general rise in commodity prices over time. The model has been used by numerous authors as a useful reference point in discussions on the various dimensions of mineral supply and availability. Among the factors that the model helps introduce are that:[30]  § Prices are a useful indicator of scarcity, if markets are functioning well (section 2.1.3 is discussing the question of resource scarcity)  § The effects of exploration and technological innovation significantly and importantly influence mineral availability over time  § Market structure matters (competition versus monopoly)  § Mineral resources are not homogeneous  § Backstop technologies limit the degree to which prices can increase  § Substitution is an important response to increased scarcity  § Changes in demand influence price and availability. In other words, the model provides a vehicle for introducing the various dimensions of mineral supply and scarcity.[31] But since Hotellings rule uses a number of assumptions, it might not coincide with reality completely. The next part discusses the empirical validation of Hotellings rule. 2.1.2. Empirical validation of Hotellings rule All the assumptions of the model mentioned before diminish the potential value of the application of the model for the miner in the real world. In an attempt to validate Hotellings rule, much research effort has been directed to empirical testing of that theory. But unfortunately, till now there is no consensus of opinion coming from empirical analysis.[32] One way of testing Hotellings rule seems to be clear: collect time-series data on the price of a resource, and see if the proportionate growth rate of the price is equal to r. This was done by Barnett and Morse. They found that resource prices including iron, copper, silver and timber fell over time, which was a most disconcerting result for proponents of the standard theory.[33] Other research came up with absolutely different results which could not assess whether the theory is right or wrong. But the problem is far more difficult than this to settle, and a direct examination of resource prices is not a reasonable way to proceed. The variable Pt in Hotellings rule is the net price (or rent, or royalty) of the resource, not its market price. Roughly speaking, these are related as follows: pt= Pt +b (2) where pt is the gross (or market) price of the extracted resource, Pt is net price of the resource (unextracted), and b the marginal extraction cost. According to the equation (2), if the marginal cost of extraction is falling, pt might be falling even though Pt is rising. So, evidence of falling market prices cannot, in itself, be regarded as invalidating the Hotelling principle.[34] This suggests that the right data to use is the resource net price, but this is an unobservable variable as well as i. So its possible to construct a proxy for it, by subtracting marginal costs from the gross market price to arrive at the net price. This difficult approach was pursued by a number of researchers. Slade made one the earliest studies of this type. She concluded that some resources have U-shaped quadratic price paths, having fallen in the past due to changes in demand or costs of extraction, but later rising.[35] The other study of this type is by Stollerys, which generally supported the Hotelling hypothesis with an example of the nickel market by calculating the resource rent per ton of nickel.[36] Thirdly, Halvorsen and Smith tested the theory and concluded, that â€Å"using data for the Canadian metal mining industry, the empirical implications of the theory of exhaustible resources are strongly rejected†.[37] If it can be shown that prices for exhaustible resource did not rise at the rate i, it does not necessarily mean that Hotellings rule is not right. There are several circumstances where the resource prices may fall over time even where Hotellings rule is being followed. For example, a sequence of new mineral discoveries could lead to a downward-sloping path of the resources net price. Pindyck first demonstrated that in his seminal paper. If the resource extraction takes place in non-competitive markets, the net price will also rise less quickly than the discount rate. And in the presence of technical progress continually reducing extraction costs, the market price may fall over time, thereby contradicting a simple Hotelling rule.[38] Named before facts show numerous contradictions which researchers face while dealing with Hotellings rule. But inspite of all these problems, the theory remains appealing. In their conclusion, Devarajan and Fisher state that Hotellings article is â€Å"the sole source of work in a vigorously growing branch of economics†.[39] Solow stated that, â€Å"Good theory is usually trying to tell you something, even if it is not the literal truth†.[40] So although the economics of exhaustible resources does not cover the real world of mining and mineral extraction to any large extent, it is still worthwhile to re-examine the theory. Also, many studies relaxed the assumptions of Hotelling, which introduced flexibility and widened the scope of the model applications.[41] Next some of the most important factors influencing the Hotelling model will be discussed. As can be clearly seen from formula 1, the main variable is the price of the resource. On what does it depend? Which parameters function is it? As in the thesis will be considered a single mine case, in the discussion we take into consideration mainly single mine factors, which are:  § scarcity rent ( see section 2.1.3)  § cost of extraction (see section 2.1.4)  § uncertain reserves the amount of the resource left in the mine, discovery of new reserves (see section 2.1.5)  § demand in the market (see section 2.1.6)  § technological progress (see section 2.1.7)  § â€Å"backstop† technologies (see section 2.1.8)  § market structure: competitive (see section 3.3.1) or monopoly (see section 3.3.2) Now we have a closer look at these parameters, since further description of the scenarios in different markets might require taking some of the facts into consideration. 2.1.3. Resource Scarcity Hotellings rule is determining the price of exhaustible resource and the extraction path of it. This price, along with other costs, covers resource scarcity, and a large part of the Hotellings theory is dedicated to resource scarcity. Since it may influence the price of the resource and the extraction path, we discuss it more in details. Worries about resource scarcity can be traced back to medieval times in Britain, and have surfaced periodically ever since. The scarcity of land was central to the theories of Malthus and other classical economists. What do we mean by resource scarcity? One use of the term to be called absolute scarcity holds that all resources are scarce, as the availab ­ility of resources is fixed and finite at any point in time, while the wants which resource use can satisfy are not limited.[42] But this is not the usual meaning of the term in general discussions about natural resource scarcity. In these cases, scarcity tends to be used to indicate that the natural resource is becoming harder to obtain, and requires more of other resources to obtain it. The relevant costs to include in measures of scarcity are both private and external costs. It is important to recognize that, if private extraction costs are not rising over time, social costs may rise if negative externalities such as environmental degrada ­tion or depletion of common property resources are increasing as a consequence of extraction of the natural resource. Thus, a rising opportunity cost of obtaining the resource is an indicator of scarcity let us call this use of the term relative scarcity.[43] There are several indicators that one might use to assess the degree of scarcity of particular natural resources, and natural resources in general including physical indicators (such as reserve quantities or reserve-to-consumption ratios), marginal resource extraction cost, marginal exploration and discovery costs, market prices, and resource rents. Scarcity is concerned with the real opportunity cost of acquiring additional quantit ­ies of the resource. This suggests that the marginal extraction cost of obtaining the resource from exist ­ing reserves would be an appropriate indicator of scarcity. Unfortunately, no clear inference about scarcity can be drawn from extraction cost data alone. Barnett and Morse, studying marginal resource extraction costs, found no evidence of increasing scarcity, except for forestry.[44] The most commonly used scarcity indicator is time-series data on real (that is, inflation-adjusted) market prices. It is here that the affinity between tests of scarcity and tests of the Hotelling principle is most apparent. Market price data are readily available, easy to use and, like all asset prices, are forward-looking, to some extent at least. Use of price data has three main problems. First, prices are often distorted as a consequence of taxes, subsidies, exchange con ­trols and other governmental interventions. Reliable measures need to be corrected for such distortions. Secondly, the real price index tends to be very sens ­itive to the choice of deflator. Should nominal prices be deflated by a retail or wholesale price index (and for which basket of goods), by the GDP deflator, or by some input price index such as manufacturing wages?[45] The third major problem with resource price data is that market prices do not in general measure the right thing. An ideal price measure would reflect the net price of the resource. Hotellings rule shows that it rises through time as the resource becomes progressively scarcer. But net resource prices are not directly observed variables, and so it is rather difficult to use them as a basis for empirical analysis.[46] Stern distinguishes two major concepts of scarcity: exchange scarcity and use scarcity. Rents and prices measure the private exchange scarcity of stocks and commodities, respectively, for those wishing to purchase them. They are not necessarily good measures of scarcity for society as a whole or for resource owners. Though originally intended as an indicator of the classical natural or real price, unit cost can be reinterpreted as an indicator of use scarcity. Unit cost or related measures are possible indicators of use scarcity but are not perfect either as a social scarcity indicator they do not reflect downstream technical improvements in resource use, availability of substitutes, or, as in the case of price, the impact of environmental damage associated with resource extraction and use on welfare. All individual indicators of scarcity have limitations. There is no â€Å"correct† way to measure resource scarcity.[47] 2.1.4. Cost of extraction The cost of extraction of an exhaustible resource is discussed in this section, since these costs, similarly to resource scarcity, are also included in the price of resource. Any changes in them can affect the resource price and the extraction path of it, and further we need to make appropriate assumptions. A number of researchers have attempted to provide deterministic explanations for deviations from the Hotelling price path based on the properties of the extraction cost function [Solow and Wan (1976), Hanson (1980), and Roumasset, Isaak, and Fesharaki (1983)]. They argue that, holding technology and knowledge of the stock of the resource constant, the most easily accessible sources of the resource will be exploited first. This suggests that extraction costs should rise over time, and this will affect the resource price path [Dasgupta and Heal (1974, 1979)]. However, extraction costs alone-unless changed unexpectedly-do not explain why prices have not risen.[48] 2.1.5. Uncertain Reserves The change in reserves may influence the resource scarcity value, the price of the resource and demand in the market, any of these changes affects the Hotellings rule. We discuss reserves change to have better understanding of it, as then we need to make an assumption about it to construct the model. Changes in extraction and exploration technology all affect the size of the stock of proven, or extractible, reserves. This uncertainty about the reserve base contrasts with another underlying assumption in the Hotelling model. Constant real appreciation in exhaustible resource prices is derived in this model because the reserve stock is known with certainty (as are the demand function and extraction costs). In practice, however, reserves are not known with certainty and have increased dramatically over time, often in large, discrete leaps.[49] The effect of uncertain reserves on the optimal depletion path has been examined in a number of studies. An unanticipated shock to reserves can cause a shift among optimal paths. A sudden, unanticipated increase in proven reserves causes the price trajectory to fall to assure full resource exhaustion. Observed prices in these models fall sharply when the discovery is made.[50] In addition to unanticipated shocks to the reserve base, a number of these models address the impact of endogenous exploration behaviour on the resource price path. As shown by Arrow and Chang, exploration tends to accelerate as the stock of known reserves declines and the price of the resource rises. With major new discoveries, exploration tends to slow until scarcity again becomes important.[51] The implied price path, therefore, is one that rises and falls, with little apparent trend. As pointed out by Pindyck, uncertainty about the stock of reserves is consistent with observed price behavior, although such uncertainty does not fully explain that behaviour.[52] Clearly, reserve shocks have played an important role in preventing the Limits to Growth scenario from occurring by consistently raising the size of the resource stock. The timing of reserve discoveries and shifts in price trajectories, however, do not coincide precisely as the theory would predict. Announcements of large new deposits have sometimes caused prices to move, but often there is little immediate response.[53] In any case, the frequency with which shocks to the reserve base have occurred either because of luck or because of the endogenous response of enhanced exploration activity raises an important issue regarding the degree to which these resources really are exhaustible. The steady rise in reserves, despite growing demand, which depict a steady upward trend in consumption), may argue for decreasing scarcity value of the resource over time.[54] D.B. R

Albert Camus :: Biography

Albert Camus   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Born on November 7, 1913 in Mandoui, Algeria, Albert Camus earned a worldwide reputation as a novelist and essayist and won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1957. Though his writings, and in some measure against his will, he became the leading moral voice of his generation during the 1950's. Camus died at the height of his fame, in an automobile accident near Sens, France on January 4, 1960.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Camus's deepest philosophical interests were in Western philosophy, among them Socrates, Pascal, Spinoza, and Nietsche. His interest in philosophy was almost exclusively moral in character. Camus came to the conclusion that none of the speculative systems of the past could provide and positive guidance for human life or any guarantee of the validity of human value. Camus also concluded that suicide is the only serious philosophical problem. He asks whether it makes any sense to go on living once the meaninglessness of human life is fully understood.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Camus referred to this meaninglessness as the â€Å"absurdity† of life. He believed that this â€Å"absurdity† is the â€Å"failure of the world to satisfy the human demand that it provide a basis for human values-for our personal ideals and for our judgments of right and wrong.† He maintained that suicide cannot be regarded as an adequate response to the â€Å"experience of absurdity.† He says that suicide is an admission of incapacity, and such an admission is inconsistent with that human pride to which Camus openly appeals. Camus states, â€Å"there is nothing equal to the spectacle of human pride.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Furthermore, Camus also dealt with the topic of revolution in his essay The Rebel. Camus rejected what he calls â€Å"metaphysical revolt,† which he sees as

Essay --

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) Holiday Inn Chris Elder Baker College Holiday Inn (IHG) Holiday Inn purpose of business InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) was created in 2003 from which the Holiday Inn brand is overseen. Holiday Inn’s are located world wide in 100 countries with over 4,600 hotels (IHG, 2014). Holiday Inn provides a service to their over 100 million guest nights each year customers and currently have over 47 million members enrolled in the IHG rewards club and rank â€Å"highest in satisfaction† in their category (IHG, 2014). IHG can be found on the stock market and has publicly offered stock since 1967. In 2013 IHG showed a net income of $237.99 million and is currently a profit operating company (Market watch, 2014). In 2013 over 67% of gross sales were conducted electronically through IHG web sites and affiliates (IHG, 2014). History of Holiday Inn In 1952 the first Holiday Inn was built by Kemmons Wilson and was located just outside of Memphis Tennessee (Orrill, 2014). Customers knew exactly what to expect when arriving at Holiday Inn because each included the same features and amenities. Inspired by a 1951 road trip Wilson pictured a chain of affordable fresh lodging along major freeway exits (Orrill, 2014). Wilson’s first hotel had 120 rooms. Each hotel room had television, air condition and telephone. Each hotel had an outdoor swimming pool and children under 12 stayed free (Orrill, 2014). In 1956 a $76 billion highway development offered Wilson the opportunity to expand (Orrill, 2014). Wilson recruited investors in 1953 and began offering stock publicly in 1967 for the chains ongoing expansion (Orrill, 2014). In 1967 Wilson opened his first European hotel and was the first hotel chain to surpa... ...the government requirements of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules of the NYSE and are also applicable to it as a foreign private issuer (NYSE, 2014). Since IHG is a foreign private issuer it is required to disclose any important ways in which IHG’s corporate practices are different from those of the US companies (NYSE, 2014). These are as follows: Basis of regulation, independent directors, chairman and chief executive officer, committees, non-executive director meetings, shareholder approval of equity compensation plans, code of conduct and compliance certification (NYSE, 2014). Each year all Chief Executives of any US company must confirm to the NYSE that he or she is not aware of any violations by their company with regards to NYSE corporate governance listing standards (NYSE, 2014). These standards in the most part drive business decisions within the company.

Creon is the Tragic Hero of in Sophocles Antigone :: Antigone essays

Creon is the Tragic Hero of Antigone Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am here today to argue the title of tragic hero in the play Antigone by Sophocles. I would like to start off by saying that it will be extremely difficult for me to have the passion that I usually have because of my client. My client's ruthless leadership disgusts me in the worst way. But I will still stand in front of you, the jury, and defend my client. As I said before I am here to argue the title of tragic hero in the play Antigone. I could see that some of you are dazzled by the word "tragic hero". No need to worry for I will enlighten you. The great Aristotle was one of the first men who defined a tragic hero. His definition is not a rule for what tragedy should be, but it is a description of what he believed tragedy was. According to Aristotle a tragic hero must have these qualities to qualify as one. A tragic hero is neither good nor bad. Along with being neutral in his stance, a tragic hero must also be born into royalty. A tra gic hero could never be of the common folk. In addition to this a tragic hero must suffer a large fall from good grace. By this he means that a fall that brings him "down to earth". A tragic hero also has some type of flaw. Whether it is a character flaw such as pride and ego or the character must make an error of judgment or a mistake. With the tragic flaw the character must also recognize the flaw that they have made. In other words, they have to be enlightened. The audience is then supposed to feel pity and fear for the tragic hero because of his tumultuous journey. The tragic hero also is supposed to inspire catharsis in the audience. In some respects Creon is seen as good but with others as bad. The large fall that Creon took was the fall from the good grace of being a respected king. "Your people are beginning to question your judgment and are beginning to side with Antigone.

The Good Life: Perspectives of Buddha and Confucius

There are several definitions of the technical term â€Å"good life† and there are countless standards on â€Å"how one should live†, however, there are two personalities that teach differently with regards to this. This paper entitled â€Å"The Good Life: Perspectives of Buddha and Confucius† intends to answer the following questions: 1) â€Å"What is the ‘good life’ according to Buddha? †; 2) â€Å"What is the ‘good life’ according to Confucius? †; 3) â€Å"How should one live according to Buddha? †; and last but not least 4) â€Å"How should one live according to Confucius? †. II. The Good Life According to Buddha The good life according to Buddha is to live according to certain standards that will lead one to obtain the â€Å"definitive life of bliss† (Thapar, 1966). In addition to that the â€Å"good life† is where â€Å"equal treatment† is experienced (Thapar, 1966). This is stated under the category â€Å"Sunyata† (Thapar, 1966). Furthermore, it also entails â€Å"nirvana†, which means that â€Å"whatever happens or no matter how disordered incidents may turn out to be, there will always be perfect peace, as well as, fairness in the end† (Gotiangco, 2001). Believing in such is already living the good life according to Buddha (Gotiangco, 2001). Moreover, living the good life is also to practice the combination of â€Å"compassion and wisdom† (Gotiangco, 2001). This means that individuals ought to show sympathy towards other people which may be achieved by â€Å"understanding the real meaning of life (Gotiangco, 2001). He reiterated that â€Å"wisdom should be developed as well to be able to impart the right teachings of Buddhism while compassion should also be present to be able to appropriately carry out the appropriately the teachings of Buddhism† (Gotiangco, 2001). Last but not least is to â€Å"develop wisdom and faith† which involves the conviction with open-mindedness to be able to see visibly other people’s point of view without any preconceived notion and foregone conclusion; belief with extremely profound contemplation to be able to be acquainted with its soundness; commitment with efforts to be able to really comprehend it; and confidence with realization to be able to recognize that there is really no difference between the belief of an individual and the truth (Gotiangco, 2001). III. The Good Life According to Confucius The good life according to Confucius is a never-ending aspiration for moral faultlessness/perfection (Gotiangco, 2001). IV. How One Should Live According to Buddha According to Buddha, one should live in a matter that observes the following: A. Essential Teachings First of all, the basic and essential teachings of Buddha should be learned and practiced by an individual (Thapar, 1966). These include the following: â€Å"1) the Four Noble Truths which include the following: a) Noble Truth of Sorrow; b) Noble Truth of Arising Sorrow; c) Noble Truth of the Stopping of Sorrow; and d) Noble Truth of the Way which leads to the Stopping of Sorrow; as well as 2) The Noble Eightfold Path which consists of the following: a) Right Speech; b) Right Views; c) Right Conduct; d) Right Resolve; e) Right Effort; f) Right Recollection; g) Right Mediation; and h) Right Livelihood† (Thapar, 1966). B. Steps to Follow to Achieve a Life of Bliss and Perfection Second is to be extremely aware of the concrete steps to attain â€Å"a life of bliss and perfection† (Thapar, 1966). The following should then be followed: 1) It is important for one to discover what causes suffering to be felt or experienced (Thapar, 1996). Buddha technically defined suffering as â€Å"anything that hinders preference or anything which go against an individual’s will, for instance death, illnesses, etc† (Thapar, 1966). ) It is needed for an individual to know what he or she should do to be able to avoid encountering suffering (Thapar, 1966). Likewise, an individual is obliged to â€Å"control himself or herself† and to â€Å"fight off suffering† which â€Å"presents itself through lust, negative emotions, hatred, lapse in judgment, as well as, self-centeredness† (Thapar, 1966). This is in connection with the one mentioned in Part A of this section/category that te achings should be read incessantly to be able to internalize it (Thapar, 1966). This is because such internalization and habitual meditation will play a large role in letting go of wants and release of disparaging mania/fixations which will eventually keep the mind and body of a person to be calm (Thapar, 1966). Of course, to live calmly is to be able to initiate goodwill and capability of delivering rational decisions which are all parts of the good life according to Buddha (Thapar, 1966). 3) Last but not least is to know what is technically known as karma (Thapar, 1966). Buddha said that â€Å"since the calmness, rational judgment and goodwill are already present then it can be claimed that rebirth or karma has already taken place (Thapar, 1966). A human being who now actually has better control of herself/himself may now attain â€Å"perfect bliss or nirvana†, which in turn is the objective of living and so the most basic principle to how one should live as well (Thapar, 1966). V. How One Should Live According to Confucius There is a set of standards that one should follow according to Confucius (Gotiangco, 2001). It entails being ethical and being humanitarian (Gotiangco, 2001). Specifically, there are three elements included in the aforementioned two and these are â€Å"human relations, virtues, as well as, rituals† (Gotiangco, 2001). All these components are required or needed to be able to meet the standards on how one should really live from the perspective of Confucius (Gotiangco, 2001). A. Human Relations Human relations should be very harmonious according to Confucius (Gotiangco, 2001). The five kinds of human relations that should be kept are the following: â€Å"1) parents – children; 2) husband – wife; 3) older – younger; 4) friend – friend; and last but not least 5) ruler – subject† (Gotiangco, 2001). He advises that â€Å"a parent should be able to understand what a parents really means; a husband should know how to be a good husband; a daughter or a girl should be able to internalize the allusions highly related with being a female or a daughter; likewise, a ruler or a subject should be familiar of being a ruler or a subject respectively (Gotiangco, 2001). He said that everybody is anticipated to â€Å"relate† in accordance with the aforementioned kinds of relationships to be able to achieve harmony and maintain stability as well (Gotiangco, 2001). B. Virtues He thus reiterates that all the members of the family should be provided with the proper training to be able to exhibit the suitable and proper values relevant to the relationship they are involved with (Gotiangco, 2001). The training referred to here by Confucius include the following: First of all is â€Å"loyalty† (Gotiangco, 2001). Second is â€Å"filial piety† â€Å"which is technically defined as â€Å"the Chinese way of showing respect to parents and ancestors† (Gotiangco, 2001). Third is known as â€Å"obedience† (Gotiangco, 2001). Last but not least is better known as â€Å"conduct† (Gotiangco, 2001). Confucius stated that to be familiar with the aforementioned appropriate values will help people be more conscious of what they are about to carry out and since it maintains good relationships with others then it is a way of living the good life (Gotiangco, 2001). C. Rituals There are certain â€Å"rituals† that must be observed (and should be instilled preferably during childhood) as well according to Confucius (Gotiangco, 2001). Some of these are the following: First is to provide â€Å"formal education† to individuals (Gotiangco, 2001). This is in addition to the parental assistance and regulation given to their children (Gotiangco, 2001). Second is the â€Å"worshipping of ancestors† (Gotiangco, 2001). This is important it is effective in instituting and upholding â€Å"high esteem, reverence, faithfulness, as well as, loyalty among the members of the immediate family, as well as, that of the clan† (Gotiangco, 2001). Third is â€Å"contemplative reading or meditation† (Gotiangco, 2001). Confucius stated that the aforementioned is needed to enlighten the mind, invigorate it, as well as, instill and advocate values like tolerance/staying power, self-control/temperance, as well as, calmness that’s welled up inside a person (Gotiangco, 2001). He added that in times of extreme conflict or catastrophes, such values will definitely help the person (Gotiangco, 2001). Last but not least is the training in what is technically referred to as the â€Å"Confucian Six Arts† (Gotiangco, 2001). Included in the â€Å"Confucian Six Arts† are the following: ) â€Å"Music and Literature†, which are considered necessary for the â€Å"purposes of humanism and finesse† (Gotiangco, 2001). 2) â€Å"Mathematics†, which helps challenge and eventually sharpen â€Å"mental awareness† and â€Å"logic† (Gotiangco, 2001). 3) â€Å"Callligraphy†, which actually trains one to become extremely patient and strong-minded/indomitable (Gotian gco, 2001). 4) â€Å"Martial Arts†, which helps and molds someone to exhibit exactness and meticulousness (Gotiangco, 2001). In addition to that, it encourages maintenance of the body to become physically fit (Gotiangco, 2001). ) â€Å"Archery†, which â€Å"according to the philosophy of Confucianism, is needed for the purposes of developing deference, as well as, agility† (Gotiangco, 2001). 6) â€Å"Chariot Racing†, which Confucius says that it highly increases fortitude/stamina, as well as, adroitness/dexterity (Gotiangco, 2001). 5) â€Å"Confucian Literature Reading†, wherein a child is compelled to read the following books everyday: â€Å"a) I Ching or the Book of Change; b) Shuh Ching or the Book of History; c) Shih Ching or the Book of Odes; d) Spring and Autumn Annals; e) the Analects; f) the Great Learning; and last but not least g) the Doctrine of the Mean† (Gotiangco, 2001). The aforesaid books serve as â€Å"directions† or â€Å"models† for people to follow and to light their paths as they keep up with life and face all the challenges/endeavors that may come their way (Gotiangco, 2001). Confucius reiterated that the aforementioned rituals is a critical part of â€Å"how one should live† and so it is very important to him to start early with the aforementioned rituals (Gotiangco, 2001). He said that traditions will not only be sustained, the community/society will be cultivated and taken cared of as well (Gotiangco, 2001). In addition to that, the spirit of reciprocity lives on as well† (Gotiangco, 2001). VI. Conclusion The good life according to Buddha is one that is directed to reach â€Å"a definitive life of bliss† while for Confucius â€Å"it is the unending desire to attain moral perfection† (Gotiangco, 2001). According to Buddha, one should live by knowing and practicing his teachings and following the step s to attaining â€Å"a life of bliss and perfection† while for Confucius, one should live by maintaining good relations, instilling virtues and observing rituals (Gotiangco, 2001).

Too Connected to Social Media

Are we too connected? Last Monday was just an average Monday. My friend sent out a tweet about her new art show and so I wall posted her via facebook about the time and location in which she replied via a comment saying that she would give me a call. She followed up with a voicemail message and an invitation email, sent to my personal account of course. I then texted her telling of my availability and keenness to see her recent work. At the end of my Monday something occurred to me; actually it was more like I was slapped in the face by the hand of modern technology.I had seemingly been communicating all day and yet somehow connected with nobody. I myself am an avid enthusiast of the joys of modern technology so you can see why I did not absorb this epiphany with composure. Speaking as an 18-year-old girl whose middle school years were marked by the likes of MySpace I feel as if I am very well educated on the topic of digital communication. I have experienced first hand the infectiou s, consuming nature of social media sites.The internet allows me to instantly connect with my overseas relatives and at the same time sucks me into a vortex of procrastination. It would appear that somewhere between windows 98 and the ipad3 we as a society have manipulated ourselves into a constant state of flux; endlessly devoted to the idea that we must always be connected. Digital Libraian and fournder of the Internet Archive Brewster Kahle explains, â€Å"A lot of our brain, a lot of our worth to the world, a lot of our memories, are actually not in our heads anymore.They're actually in the Web, in the weave, in the interconnections, the friends that we can touch at a moment's notice. That's who makes us powerful. â€Å" It would appear that for most of us technology is no longer just a tool. It is a family photo album, it’s our workspace, it’s dinner with friends at six. Teenagers change their profile page to reflect their ever-changing adolescent identities. Mo thers are swapping recipes and parenting advice online. Singles are reaching out, exposing who they are in search for love.Businessmen are uploading their resumes virtually in order to climb the corporate ladder. Technology has become inherent to the way in which we function daily. As this urgency to contact one another grows so to does the need to disconnect. Things are not as intimate as they once were. It would seem that we’re almost always in a public space even from the privacy of our homes. This idea that we are always connected is in reality a false problem. You can turn the switch off, unplug, shutdown and so on. When is the last time you went without a piece of technology?Why we do rely on technology like an emotional crutch, supporting our need to interact? Technology will continue to rapidly grow and so too will knew and wonderful ways to connect globally. With this we must train ourselves. It is a hard truth, but we do not need to know what everybody is doing at e very point of the day. It is a matter of quality vs. quantity. Sometimes you have to step away from the faceless monitor, let your IPhone run flat, stop sharing life so candidly and instead enjoy the simplicities