Essay on Raising Minimum Wage Increases Unemployment

â€Å"Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. †¦ And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.† -–President Obama, State of the Union address, Jan. 20, 2015 President Barack Obama is renewing his call to raise the minimum wage to $10.10. During a speech at a manufacturing plant, President Obama proclaimed, We should be raising the minimum wage to make sure that more workers who have been working full-time shouldnt be living in poverty.... He also called for a wage increase for tipped†¦show more content†¦This means that all tips are placed in a â€Å"pool† that is then distributed amongst each staff member at the end of the shift. Also, restaurants have to pay credit card processing fees. Some restaurants will take a small percentage out of the waiter’s tip to balance out these fees. The waiter still gets a high percentage of the tip but out of that $20 tip, the waitress may only get between $5 and $10 out of it. There are many things that alter a tip worker’s paycheck. A simple wage increase could make a huge difference in how much money they take home each week. Tip workers produce more than what they are paid for, which leads into the minimum wage effects on production. However, regular should not get a pay increase. Employers will have to pay workers more money for the same job, price adjustments will be made to accommodate the wage increases. Employees will be expected to produce more. For jobs that already require a lot of work, this could be very troublesome. Wages have an effect on production. For any job, an increase in pay means the job performance and contributions outweigh the current salary. If employers do not feel as though the increase is warranted, they may expect more from their employees. Also, employees will be fired faster because employers may feel as though workers are being overly compensated for their jobs. Some companies may also retaliate against the wage increases byShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Raising Minimum Wage1088 Words   |  5 PagesBrendan Mason Mrs. Scruggs 08/07/15 Raising minimum Wage There is always talk about the problems of North Carolina’s economy, and these problems then become publicized and put throughout the media, informing people on the condition of their state’s economy. A popular topic lately is the state’s minimum wage, and whether it should be raised or if we should keep the current minimum wage. Usually, opinions vary on what to do about minimum wage, however there certainly seems to be a larger group ofRead MoreThe Positive and Negative Effects of Raising Minimum Wage805 Words   |  4 Pagesincome. Many people’s income relies on minimum wage. In 2012, 3.6 million people received an hourly pay at or below minimum wage. There is an ongoing debate in government as to what the minimum wage should be. Stuck at $7.25, Obama has suggested raising the minimum wage to $9.00. Depending on a person’s perspective, raising minimum wage could be positive or negative. Minimum wage has the ability to change lives, and change t he economy. Small businesses and unemployment, teenage demographics, and the costRead MoreThe Effect of Minimum Wage on the American Economy800 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effect of Minimum Wage on the American Economy A sensitive topic for many Americans is their income. Many people’s income relies on minimum wage. In 2012, 3.6 million people received an hourly pay at or below the national minimum wage. There is an ongoing debate in Congress as to what the national minimum wage should be. Currently at $7.25, Obama has suggested raising the national minimum wage to $9.00. Depending on a person’s economic perspective, raising minimum wage could be positive or negativeRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Raised?870 Words   |  4 PagesShould Minimum Wage Be Raised? Minimum wage has always been a controversial issue. Many politicians use the argument of minimum wage for their own political propaganda. Some may argue minimum wage should be raised, while others believe it will have detrimental effects on our economy if it is raised. Surprising to most people, minimum wage earners make up only a small percent of American workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, minimum wage workers make up about 2.8% of all workersRead MoreRaising The Minimum Wage?1575 Words   |  7 PagesThe issue of raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour is a heavily debated topic. Both sources against or in favor of the minimum wage refer to a â€Å"growing gap† between low-income workers and high-income earners. Sources against the minimum wage believe raising it will increase this gap, whereas those in favor of the minimum wage believe it will decrease this gap. The arguments in favor of the minimum wage rely mostly on ethical beliefs, such a s â€Å"pay should reflect hard work,† to advanceRead MoreMinimum Wage During The Great Depression1419 Words   |  6 PagesThe Minimum Wage Battle In the United States, the minimum wage was passed during the Great Depression in 1938 to protect the buying power of normal workers in a period in which the â€Å"unemployment rate was still a very high 19 percent† (Sklar, 2009, p. 1). Since that time, there has been significant debate about the controversial topic of raising the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage law was created to eliminate unfair practices of sweat shops and manufacturing companies during this timeRead MoreMinimum Wage and the American Dream1258 Words   |  6 PagesAchieving the American Dream while earning minimum wage may take a person longer but it is still attainable. Through higher education or hard work individuals can achieve a higher standard of living. What is minimum wage? Minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate (dollars per hour) that employers can pay their employees. According to minimumwage.com Minnesota’s minnimum wage is $7.25 per hour but will be getting raised to $9.00 per hour. Minnesota’s minimum wage is a common rate among many states suchRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Raised910 Words   |  4 Pagesmaximize the American Dream on the minimum wage† (Benjamin Todd Jealous). In 1938, minimum wage was created by the federal government in order to protect workers by ensuring a minimum of twenty-five cents per hour worked. Though President Roosevelt had the right idea in protecting the workforce, something needs to be done to ensure that Americans are getting a reasonable amount of money for the amount of hours they have worked. As Benjamin Todd Jealous stated, minimum wage is not enough for the averageRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Legal1239 Words   |  5 PagesLisa Valk Kristoffer Martin English Composition Raise Minimum Wage There is not one state in the US where a minimum wage worker can afford a two-bedroom unit at fair market rent, working a standard 40-hour work week(There are a few states where this is not true. Also, the fair market rent is the average cost. It doesn t reflect the super expensive and bottom rent places). The federal minimum wage would be $10.86 [per hour] if it had kept up with inflation over the past 40 years. Instead, it isRead MoreMinimum Wage : Low Skilled And Young Workers1553 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Minimum wage, a program created to help the poor, has every contrary effect to its well intentions. Throughout the history, people who hurt the most during minimum wage hikes are the low-skilled and young workers. Drastically raising minimum wage is meaningless as high inflation usually comes alongside with wage increases. Past economic statistics have shown that the rate of increase in inflation usually outpaced the rate of increase in minimum wage. Thus, the real value wage workers receive

Scene Analysis in A Midsummer Nights Dream - 851 Words

‘Midsummer Nights Dream’ is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and successful plays. The play was part of Shakespeare’s early work. It was written and performed around 1595. ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ is a romantic comedy play; and that’s what I will be focusing on how Shakespeare creates humour in act 5 scene 1. So how does he create humour? There are many ways as to how Shakespeare creates humour; one of the main reasons is through the characters. There are there sets of characters the fairies, court and the mechanicals in this case it’s the mechanicals. The mechanicals are normal workers that want to become actors. They are uneducated, you can tell this because Bottom (mechanical) says in act 4 scene 2 line 20 â€Å"Where are these lads?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Theseus comments on the childish actors by saying â€Å"His speech was like a tangled chain, nothing impaired, but all disordered.† Act 5 scene, lines 123-124. This shows that because of Quince’s lack of education he cannot send the right information he wants to send to the audience. Due to the bumpy start of the play the court had already created a comical atmosphere. All of this entertainment and amuses the audience (both in the play and watching the play). The themes of this play are mostly to do with love and magic however the play as a whole is a comedy. The magic scene is the scene that brings the whole play together. Without it the lovers would not be called lovers and there wouldn’t be a marriage. Before Puck put the love potion on them Lysander was in love with Hermia but her dad wanted her to marry Demetrius; and Helena was in love with Demetrius and Demetrius was in love with Hermia. Puck sorted things out by putting a love potion on Demetrius so that he falls in love with Helena. The funny part about it all is when they are all confused when they awake from what they think is a dream which is a dramatic irony because we know it wasn’t a dream but in fact a reality. One of the ways Shakespeare creates humour in the mechanicals performance is with the usage of props. Through Shakespeare’s intelligent writing skills he sends a strong message that there is a man playing a wall. This is funny because Snout(playing the wall) actually has a speechShow MoreRelatedThe Antagonist, S hakespeare1405 Words   |  6 Pagesantagonists can be especially exciting.†(Hansen) Shakespeare develops his antagonists in a way that makes them interesting to the audience and does so especially well in his plays Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Hamlet. Each play has an antagonist, or something near one in the case of Midsummer Night’s Dream, but the villains can be very different from one another and strikingly alike depending on the situation. Shakespeare’s creation of profound antagonists helps the audience to identify withRead MoreWillima Shakespeares, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Unbalanced Love835 Words   |  3 PagesEverything is arranged for their escape and all is well until Helena enters the scene. Hermia is overjoyed with Lysander’s brilliant plan to run away and she had to tell someone right away, so when Helena walks in the room, Hermia explains the entire plan to her. Helena expresses her jealousy of Hermia; Helena is jealous of Hermia because Demetrius loves her and she is gorgeous. The famous â€Å"love square† begins at this scene. Both men, Lysander and Demetrius, love Hermia, but Hermia only loves LysanderRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream And Fool1401 Words   |  6 Pageshelp them achieve this purpose? Through an in-depth analysis of Shakespeare’s arguably two most famous fools, Puck (Robin Goodfellow) from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Fool in King Lear; an argument can be made that the scope of the fool goes far beyond being solely a comedic figure. Using a Shakespearean comedy and tragedy as evidence, this essay will make a case that Shakespearean fools can make horrific or potentially confusing or ambiguous scenes more understandable, and serve as a guide to theRead MoreWhy Did Freud Use Oedipis As Basis?1355 Words   |  6 Pagesshe must tell these to keep herself and everyone sage. For example, when Gertrude tewlls the king of Poloniusâ⠂¬â„¢ murder at the hands of Hamlet, she does what she can to protect her son, falsely claiming that he ‘weeps for what is done’ In the opening scenes of Hamlet, a significant change in the family dynamic has just occired with the inclusion of Claudius in place of Hammlet’s father. This causes tension as to become a man Hamlet must takke on the characteristics of his father and he has to chooseRead MoreEssay on A Midsummer Nights Dream: Critical Analysis3103 Words   |  13 PagesMandy Conway Mrs. Guynes English 12 16 March 2000 A Critical Analysis of quot;A Midsummer Nights Dreamquot; William Shakespeare, born in 1594, is one of the greatest writers in literature. He dies in 1616 after completing many sonnets and plays. One of which is quot;A Midsummer Nights Dream.quot; They say that this play is the most purely romantic of Shakespeares comedies. The themes of the play are dreams and reality, love and magic. This extraordinary play is a play-with-in-a-play, whichRead MoreA Midsummer Nights Dream: Bottom1466 Words   |  6 PagesA Midsummer Nights Dream: Nick Bottom In a Mid Summer Nights Dream, the character Nick Bottom is given a rather prominent role in the several scenes he appears in, although he is not a lead character in the play. Bottom is unique from all the other characters of the play not only because of the considerable contribution his character brings to the comedic value of the play, but because he is the only character able to enter fully in to both the human world and the world of the fairies. In thisRead MorePerfect Idealism In Shakespeares Hamlet1631 Words   |  7 Pagesthe condition of Hamlet s soul by viewing him. The play just depicts the many uncertainties in our lives that sometimes make us fail to act appropriately like the case of Hamlet. 2. Mosley, Joseph Scott. The Dilemma of Shakespearean Sonship: An Analysis of Paternal Models of Authority and Filial Duty in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Diss. 2017. Similarly, this article discusses the theme of the complexity of action. This play depicts of how at times the decision to act is usually influenced not only byRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1231 Words   |  5 Pagesplay†, i.e a play where the author stagged, at some time, an other theater play inside this one. Many of his plays can be qualified as â€Å"plays within plays† and espacially Hamlet and A Midsummer Night s Dream. Therefore, it is interesting to study these plays to know – and learn – more about this process. I) Act III scene 2 Hamlet is undoubtly one of the Shakespeare s most famous plays which was written between 1598 and 1601. It relates the story of Hamlet – the eponymous character – whose fatherRead MoreThe Theme Of Homo Eroticism Within The Play As You Like It And How It Differs From Various Other3688 Words   |  15 Pages Within this analysis, I will inquire into the theme of homo-eroticism within the play As You Like It and how it differs from various other plays written by Shakespeare and elaborate on how ground-breaking this play was during the time it was written and when it was performed, the differences in social constructs between then and now the differing views of society in the time it was written and the present day. As You Like Its first performance was in London in 1740, a time when popular literatureRead MoreLeadership Analysis: Dead Poets Society2935 Words   |  12 PagesLeadership Analysis: Dead Poet’s Society Leadership is defined as the ability to guide, direct or influence people, but it is much more than that. There are many ways to merely guide or direct. A leader is someone whose personality helps them to guide a group of people in a direction they believe is desirable. People want to follow the leader, but they are perfectly free not to. A leader guides people by the infectious nature of their vision. Leadership and authority are not the same thing

Market Research Reports and Analysis †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Market Research Reports and Analysis. Answer: Introduction: The project is based on the operational activity performed by Reef Design Lab (RDL) in the field of construction management. David Lennon, the owner of the company has been operating the construction project to structure the artificial reef designs. The company has captured the leading market position in constructing the reefs in different areas. The major aim of the company is to structure the design for the marine ecology. RDL is the first design lab to produce reef with the help of 3D printing machine. The company has achieved numerous awards for managing the sustainability issues in an appreciable way. David, the owner of the company is thinking of improving the materials and manufacturing methods for confirming the end-product. In order to achieve this objective, the company is looking forward to adopt the most helpful marketing strategies to develop the ideas about the market segment and the competitive scenario. Therefore, it is required to gather the adequate data related to the industrial segments. In addition to this, the project is even focusing on the potential challenges faced by the company during this project span. The aim of this project is to minimize these challenges and established a well-constructed reef design. The emergence of the advanced technologies has transformed the business project activities. Similarly, these advancements have created impact on the construction industry (Cardoso dos Santos Duro et al. 2017). While structuring the project activities, it is essential to address the specific needs of the clients. The list of needs specified by the clients is presented below: The high quality materials for the constructing the reef The effective packaging and shipping is also required. The project needs to be completed within the time provided by the clients. The above information provides the ideas about the clients requirements from this construction project. It is essential for the company to identify the relevant source from which the appropriate information can be collected. It is necessary to mention that the information will be used for managing the construction project is needed to be upgraded (Bryde, Broquetas and Volm 2013). Apparently, it is possible if the sources are authentic. The list of the relevant source for this construction project is as follows: Research through IBIS world would be effective enough in gathering the information about the performance parameter of the overall industry, players, markets and competitive landscape. Link: https://www.ibisworld.com.au The research project would require the information about the detailed information regarding the artificial reef. https://www.reefworlds.com/reef-worlds-news/and https://www.reefballaustralia.com.au/tech_note-shared_principles_of_ars_and_cities_v4.pdf . These sources would provide the details of the reefs all over the world. The information would be much helpful in making more improvements in this project. In order to gather the information about the sustainable tourism, the UNESCO website would be much preferable. Link: https://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx The project deals with the fishery department, which can be a potential source of generating more revenues. It is thus necessary to browse details about the opportunities, market policies, and underwater structures that would contribute to the project. Link: https://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx It is also necessary to identify the informative source of gathering adequate knowledge about the regulations imposed in the fishery sector. agriculture.gov.au/fisheries and https://www.afma.gov.au/ are quite helpful sources to browse data regarding the legal policies. These sources would provide the relevant and sufficient information related to the project subject. The business clients are the fishery department, partners, suppliers, clients, employees, and operations management. It is necessary to understand the basic requirements of the clients to structure the project activities. The following questions can be asked to the stakeholders to follow up with clients. What will be the Preconstruction Services require for the clients? What are the necessary details to be included in the pre-construction services? What will be the time duration for the first project assessment? Where the construction site will be located? Is there the proper connectivity to gather more resources? The project needs to concentrate on these basic questions to follow-up with the clients. The detailed information about the project specifications is essential for undertaking each of the associated functionalities (Hwang and Ng 2013). It will be beneficial for the project manager and the other associates to collect necessary resources and formulate the proper plan to complete the project as per the requirements. Personal Skills, Knowledge and Experience The project outcomes depend on the input of the skilled associates by following a structured plan. I joined this project as a fresher, but ended up being an experienced employee. The extensive information collected from the quantitative analysis and the accounting process provided me the adequate knowledge regarding the marketing principles. The skill audit report signifies the following aspects: I could strengthen my capability in research process, analyzing, and calculating method. However, I have found out that my weakness lies in the presentation session. I become nervous during the presentation. I have gained knowledge in the field of accounting and classical economies. I grabbed the necessary skills in the financial accounting part and eventually became capable of controlling the outflow, budget, and sponsors. I became much efficient in forecasting the sales ratio and eventually involved in the sales marketing department as well. The experience gathered from the project activity has strengthened my ability to establish the effective interpersonal skills with the associated teammates. The project helped me in understanding the necessity of adopting the effective communication process. The interactive session with the other teammates helped me in strengthening the communication skills. I have gained the cohesiveness in working in a group and sharing knowledge with others. Learning Development Plan It is notable that I need to develop some of my personal skills that would be helpful for me in performing the project activities and ensuring career growth. The target goals for my personal skill development is structured further: The semester provides us the significant opportunity to enhance our skills to improve certain career goals. However, some of the probable obstacles can create the limitation in achieving the learning goals. These probable challenges are listed further: Lack of adequate information related to the construction management project would be limiting the learning course development. Lack of proper expertise may affect the entire learning program. I have the capability in calculating and financial accounting process. Working on any subject out of my expertise level would create obligations in the learning development process. In order to establish the extensive knowledge in this field, it is necessary for me to create the self-motivation. I should persuade myself with enough motivation for achieving significant professional and personal skills. The time constraints would be the major limitation for achieving the learning goals. Lack of sufficient capital for conducting the extensive research would also affect the learning program. Focus on these aspects is quite necessary for fulfilling my career goals. Mitigating these challenges would help me to step ahead towards achieving the significant learning goals. Measuring Success in Achieving Success The activities associated with the learning development program are helpful enough in leading towards achieving the personal goals. However, while performing these activities, it is essential to measure the progression report to ensure whether I will be succeeded in achieving my learning goals. It is essential to develop the set of activities to measure the progress. for example: The continuous monitoring of the performance checklist would be beneficial in measuring the success. Keeping track of the daily targets Tracking the weekly target Receiving responses and feedbacks from the other associates Internal survey among the other employees Monthly review of the performance The activities mentioned above are quite helpful in measuring the performance progression. It will be helpful for me to derive the feedback from the other associates to understand the areas of improvements. Accordingly, improving these areas would signify my capabilities of achieving the learning goals associated with this project activity. Hence, at the end, I shall be able to gain success by improving these concerned areas. References Afma.gov.au, 2017.Home - The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). [online] Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). Available at: https://www.afma.gov.au [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017]. Agriculture.gov.au, 2017.Fisheries. [online] Agriculture.gov.au. Available at: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/fisheries [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017]. Bryde, D., Broquetas, M. and Volm, J.M., 2013. The project benefits of building information modelling (BIM).International journal of project management,31(7), pp.971-980. Cardoso dos Santos Duro, L.F., Di Favari Grotti, M.V., Minetto Maceta, P.R., Zancul, E., Berssaneti, F. and Monteiro de Carvalho, M., 2017. A review of the soft side in project management: concept, trends and challenges.Revista GEPROS,12(2), p.157. Cottrell, S., 2015.Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Palgrave Macmillan. Fish.wa.gov.au, 2017.Department of Fisheries. [online] Fish.wa.gov.au. Available at: https://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017]. Hwang, B.G. and Ng, W.J., 2013. Project management knowledge and skills for green construction: Overcoming challenges.International Journal of Project Management,31(2), pp.272-284. Ibisworld.com.au, 2017.Market Research Reports Analysis | IBISWorld AU. [online] Ibisworld.com.au. Available at: https://www.ibisworld.com.au [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017]. Lejeune, C., Raemdonck, I. and Beausaert, S., 2016. An electronic Personal Development Plan (PDP) as learning practice fostering. Inthe 8th EARLI SIG 14 Learning and Professional Development Conference. Reefworlds.com, 2017.Artificial Reef News. [online] Reef Worlds. Available at: https://www.reefworlds.com/reef-worlds-news [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017]. Sharp, A., 2013.Ecological purification in the captive reefnatural approaches to water quality management. Urban, M., 2016. Differences between self-and other-rating and the influence on the probability to take personal development actions.Ad Alta: Journal of Interdisciplinary Research,6(2).

Threats to Bioreserves free essay sample

If any one of the eight interactive crises passes a tipping point, it will probably act as a threat multiplier for the remaining crises. Both politicians and the average citizen believe that priorities can be established for these interactive crises, but such an option is not viable for a highly interactive system. Polls indicate that most people place economic growth as the highest priority for human society, even though the highest status should be given to the master biospheric life support system to which all other systems are subordinate. Key Words:Resource depletion, Energy, Environmental refugees An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it. James Albert Michener The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers; he’s the one who asks the right questions. -Claude Levi-Strauss 1. Tipping Points Most complex ecological and social systems have one or more tipping points beyond which change is irreversible (e. We will write a custom essay sample on Threats to Bioreserves or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page g. , Catton 1982). Passing a tipping point in any one of the eight, complex systems (human economy, climate change, exponential human population growth, ecological overshoot, biotic impoverishment and reduction of biodiversity, renewable resource depletion, energy allocation, environmental refugees) would produce a ripple effect in the other seven and probably throughout the entire biospheric life support system (Solomon et al. 2009). Reducing risk in the context of the eight interactive global crises would be a difficult undertaking even if the task only involved scientific evidence. Mixed into the responsibility of reduction of risk and avoiding tipping points is the general public’s assessment of important issues for the planet. Gertner (2009) quotes a poll, conducted by the Pew Research Center two days after President Obama was sworn in, that ranks the issues Americans said were the most important priorities for this year [2009]. At the top of the list. . . jobs and the economy. . . Farther down, well after terrorism, deficit reduction and energy . . . was climate change. It was priority No. 20. That was last place. Economic growth has both provided many benefits to humans and been a major forcing factor in the eight interactive global crises discussed in this manuscript. Perpetual material (i. e. , physical) growth is simply not possible on a finite planet, which was recognized over 30 years ago by Economist Kenneth E. Boulding (1972) in his Ballad of Ecological Awareness. It was published as the conference summary for Farvar and Milton’s volum e The Careless Technology. The conferees were seated in alphabetical order at a huge round table at the 1968 conference, so I had the honor of sitting next to Boulding. I still remember his asking me: what rhymes with schistosomiasis? I gave an inadequate reply, but found out later that he was writing a ballad. The ballad is as useful today as the year it was written. No growth (i. e. , steady-state) economics has been espoused by Daly (1991, 1994) and Daly and Townsend (1993). The economics of climate change is also discussed in the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (Stern 2009). If natural resources were used within the biosphere’s regenerative capacity, the probability of crossing tipping points would be significantly reduced. 2. The Human Economy Hawken et al. 1999) note that an economy needs four types of capital to function properly: . . human capital, in the form of labor and intelligence, culture, and organization financial capital, consisting of cash, investments, and monetary instruments . manufactured capital, including infrastructure, machines, tools, and factories . natural capital, made up of resources, living sys tems, and ecosystem services The industrial system uses the first three forms of capital to transform natural capital into the stuff of our daily lives: cars, highways, cities, bridges, houses, food, medicine, hospitals, and schools. Natural systems (fisheries, forests) are usually regarded as subsets of the human economy. However, in fact, the human economy is a subset of the biosphere (aggregate, global, natural systems). The human economy is substantially different from the economy of natural systems. The genus Homo was spread thinly over the planet in small tribal groups for most of 4 million years. Upon the emergence of H. erectus and with the transition to H. sapiens, when an animal was killed, it was eaten and the hide was used for clothing or other purposes. Hides and human wastes nurtured the biosphere. The rate of growth of the human population was trivial. After the Industrial Revolution, wastes were often harmful to the biosphere because they could not be assimilated into the environment or they exceeded the biosphere’s assimilative capacity for them. The human economy is in crisis because it wants more of everything for ever more people. Practices to increase material goods in one area of the world by using natural resources often has effects on other parts of the planet. China’s impressive economic growth is fueled by coal: In Shanxi, filthy coal is a part of daily life, providing a cheap, readily available source of energy that won’t be replaced by renewables or reduced via conservation efforts anytime soon (Minter 2010). By one estimate, China was responsible for 85 percent of the world-wide growth in coal demand last year, and what it didn’t obtain from the world’s third-largest known reserves, it imported (Pearse 2010). Much of China’s coal comes from Australia, which is paying a climate change price: The driest inhabited continent has just endured its warmest decade on record and its worst drought in history. It’s finally started raining again, but not before the 10-year Big Dry cost a quarter of all farm jobs (Pearse 2010). In short, Australia is both feeling and fueling climate change: Australians unwilling to see the irony of the situation sometimes have it forced on them. In 2007, cyclonic winds washed a coal tanker up on an iconic surf beach in New South Wales. Greenpeace seized the moment, projecting the words COAL CAUSES CLIMATE CHAOS onto the beleaguered ship’s hull (Pearse 2010). 3. Global Climate Change Humans have evolved and flourished in the present climate – an alternative climate will probably be less favorable. Combustion of fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution produced more carbon dioxide than the biosphere could assimilate, and anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions began to change the climate. Reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions is possible by switching to alternative sources of energy (e. g. , solar, wind). Although remarkable increases have been made in the development of wind power (Sawin 2010) and solar power (Liu 2010), fossil fuel production is still increasing (Russell 2010) and anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are still rising. As a consequence, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is still growing, as are world carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning (Mulrow 2010). This situation has already caused glaciers to begin melting and has shifted rainfall patterns that cause both droughts and floods. Obviously, humans have affected the climate and vice versa. If emissions of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, continue to increase, more climatic tipping points will probably be passed. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007) presents a number of detailed reports that contain scenarios based on the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The reports summarize a vast body of literature that is analyzed by thousands of climate scientists. The IPCC reports tend to be conservative since many governments influence the executive summary but not the supporting scientific evidence. Also, no body of evidence exists in human history on the rate of climate change being experienced. Although some evidence on global warming was published in the 1800s, most of the literature is from the last three decades, and the amount is breathtaking. The scientific process is designed to correct errors and generally does so quite well. However, when the number of printed pages is large, the probability is greater that some small errors will be found. In the context of climate change in the news media, these errors are pounced upon and given a great deal of attention. The errors typically have little or no impact on climate science and are usually corrected promptly. However, these small errors have left some doubt in the public mind about scientists and the scientific process, which is regrettable since the preponderance of evidence on climate change becomes more persuasive as the amount of evidence increases. 4. Exponential Human Population Growth In 1927, the global human population was 2 billion; in 2010, it is nearly 7 billion, which is over a 3-fold increase in a single human lifetime on a finite planet. In 2009, the number of starving people and the number of malnourished people each exceeded 1 billion. In addition, billions of people lack potable water, adequate housing, education, and medical services. If every individual on the planet lived as individuals in the United States live, five planet Earths would be needed. No substantive discussion has been forthcoming on whether humankind’s goal is for a populace living at subsistence levels or for a much smaller population leading a quality life. If humankind decided on a smaller population leading a quality life, then how could the population be reduced in a humane way? To achieve any goal, a free and open discussion is essential, but religious beliefs and ideology have blocked even the beginnings of such a discussion on exponential human population growth. Climate change is already having adverse effects upon agricultural productivity in many parts of the world, which will probably reduce the global carrying capacity for humans. Major adaptation to new conditions will be essential if civilization is to survive. Sustainable use of the planet will be a distant dream as long as humankind thinks that the natural laws of physics, chemistry, and biology can be ignored as applied to exponential human population growth. The human population is still growing exponentially. How did one species become so dominant that it could compete successfully with all the other animal species for resources and space? This achievement is accompanied by considerable risk because humans are damaging their biospheric life support system by both sheer numbers and environmental destruction (Ehrlich and Ehrlich 2008). Diamond (2005) has analyzed how human societies choose to succeed or fail. Some past societal collapses were not fatal to the human species since isolated events affected only one or a few societies. Globalization may have ended isolation; however, since humankind depends on cheap, abundant resources and regeneration of natural resources, regionalization may soon return. 5. Ecological Overshoot Ecological overshoot refers to using Earth’s resources faster than they can be regenerated, which is due to both exponential population growth and excessive resource consumption. Sustainability requires living within the regenerative capacity of the biosphere (Wackernagel et al. 2002). The last Earth Overshoot Day was 25 September 2009 – the day on which humankind exceeded the regenerative capacity of the biosphere for that year. In economic terms, this circumstance is a huge ecological deficit, which goes beyond unsustainable to madness! Worse yet, ecological overshoot is not a recently discovered crisis – Catton (1982) published on this crisis years ago. By exceeding the biosphere’s regenerative capacity for resources, humankind is using natural capital (and the ecological services it produces) at a rate that probably will result in passing a biospheric tipping point in the near future. A tipping point may already have been passed, but inadequate monitoring systems have not detected it. Other species also depend on the biosphere’s regenerative capacity. Ecological overshoot is also an important component of intergenerational equity and violates both eco-ethics and sustainability ethics. Finally, without adequate resources, the human economy will collapse. 6. Biotic Impoverishment A major study has confirmed that the world’s governments will not meet their internationally-agreed target of curbing the loss of species and nature by 2010 (Black 2010). Since many of the planet’s species have not yet been named, calculating the precise extinction rate is difficult; however, the current extinction rate is estimated at 1,000 times the background rate and may climb to 10,000 times the background rate if present trends continue. This loss would easily equal those of past great extinctions. A major report – the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report (2005) – summarizes this crisis, and Benn (2010), the UK’s environmental secretary, believes The decline in the world’s biodiversity is approaching a point of no return. . . The big challenge will be for the real benefits of biodiversity and the hard costs of its loss to be included in our economic system and markets. Fischetti (2010) notes that a team of 30 scientists across the globe have determined that the nine environmental processes [biodiversity loss, land use, freshwater use, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, stratospheric ozone, ocean acidification, climate change, chemical pollution and aerosol loading in the atmosphere] must remain within specific limits, otherwise the ‘safe operating space’ within which humankind can exist on Earth will be threatened. . . . the world has already crossed the boundary in three cases : biodiversity loss, the nitrogen cycle and climate change. Immediate steps must be taken to avoid further reduction of biodiversity (e. g. , Myers et al. 2000). The general public and its political representatives might be more concerned with biotic impoverishment if they understood that species are the basic components of the biosphere, which serves as a planetary life support system. Lovelock (2009, p. 33) states that the Earth system, which he calls Gaia, is in trouble, and the climate war could kill nearly all of us and leave a few survivors living a Stone Age existence. But in several places in the world, including the UK, we have a chance of surviving and even living well. This statement is clearly a worst-case scenario, but does drive home the point that humans are part of Gaia and, when it suffers, humankind suffers as well. The biosphere is clearly a functional system that is more than a collection of millions of species. The charismatic species receive the most attention, but as Louis Pasteur stated: The role of the infinitely small in nature is infinitely large. The little species ran the planet without humans for billions of years, and humans cannot currently do without them. However, most of humankind lives in cities and has little opportunity to develop a relationship with nature – referred to as biophilia by Wilson (1984). 7. Renewable Resource Depletion Wastes from Homo sapiens, including industrial wastes, are often deleterious to natural systems. Wastes can be a threat to the regeneration of natural resources instead of being nurturing, as is the case for the wastes of the majority of species. Moreover, in 2009, humankind used natural resources at 140% of Earth’s regenerative capacity (http://www. footprintnetwork. org).

Biography of Sukarno, Indonesias First President

Biography of Sukarno, Indonesias First President Sukarno (June 6, 1901–June 21, 1970) was the first leader of independent Indonesia. Born in Java when the island was part of the Dutch East Indies, Sukarno rose to power in 1949. Rather than supporting Indonesias original parliamentary system, he created a guided democracy over which he held control. Sukarno was deposed by a military coup in 1965 and died under house arrest in 1970. Fast Facts: Sukarno Known For: First leader of an independent IndonesiaAlso Known As:  Kusno Sosrodihardjo (original name), Bung Karno (brother or comrade)Born:  June 6, 1901 in  Surabaya, Dutch East IndiesParents: Raden Sukemi Sosrodihardjo, Ida Njoman RaiDied: June 21, 1970 in Jakarta, IndonesiaEducation: Technical Institute in BandungPublished Works:  Sukarno: An Autobiography, Indonesia Accuses!, To My PeopleAwards and Honors:  International Lenin Peace Prize (1960), 26 honorary degrees from universities including Columbia University and the University of MichiganSpouse(s): Siti Oetari, Inggit  Garnisih, Fatmawati, and five polygamous wives: Naoko Nemoto (Indonesian name, Ratna Dewi Sukarno), Kartini Manoppo, Yurike Sanger, Heldy Djafar, and Amelia do la Rama.Children: Totok Suryawan, Ayu Gembirowati, Karina Kartika, Sari Dewi Sukarno, Taufan Sukarno, Bayu Sukarno, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Rachmawati Sukarnoputri, Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, Guruh Sukarnoputra, Ratna Juami (adopted), Kartika ( adopted)Notable Quote: Let us not be bitter about the past, but let us keep our eyes firmly on the future. Early Life Sukarno was born on June 6, 1901, in Surabaya, and was given the name Kusno Sosrodihardjo. His parents later renamed him Sukarno after he survived a serious illness. Sukarnos father was Raden Soekemi Sosrodihardjo, a Muslim aristocrat and school teacher from Java. His mother Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai was a Hindu of the Brahmin caste from Bali. Young Sukarno went to a local elementary school until 1912. He then attended a Dutch middle school in Mojokerto, followed in 1916 by a Dutch high school in Surabaya. The young man was gifted with a photographic memory and a talent for languages, including Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese, Dutch, English, French, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, German, and Japanese. Marriages and Divorces While in Surabaya for high school, Sukarno lived with the Indonesian nationalist leader Tjokroaminoto. He fell in love with his landlords daughter Siti Oetari, who he married in 1920. The following year, however, Sukarno went to study civil engineering at the Technical Institute in Bandung and fell in love again. This time, his partner was the boarding-house owners wife Inggit, who was 13 years older than Sukarno. They each divorced their spouses and married each other in 1923. Inggit and Sukarno remained married for 20 years but never had children. Sukarno divorced her in 1943 and married a teenager named Fatmawati. She would bear Sukarno five children, including Indonesias first female president, Megawati Sukarnoputri. In 1953, President Sukarno decided to become polygamous in accordance with Muslim law. When he married a Javanese woman named Hartini in 1954, First Lady Fatmawati was so angry that she moved out of the presidential palace. Over the next 16 years, Sukarno would take five additional wives: a Japanese teen named Naoko Nemoto (Indonesian name Ratna Dewi Sukarno), Kartini Manoppo, Yurike Sanger, Heldy Djafar, and Amelia do la Rama. Indonesian Independence Movement Sukarno began to think about independence for the Dutch East Indies while he was in high school. During college, he read deeply on different political philosophies, including communism, capitalist democracy, and Islamism, developing his own syncretic ideology of Indonesian socialist self-sufficiency. He also established the Algameene Studieclub for like-minded Indonesian students. In 1927, Sukarno and the other members of the Algameene Studieclub reorganized themselves as the Partai Nasional Indonesia (PNI), an anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist independence party. Sukarno became the first leader of the PNI. Sukarno hoped to enlist Japanese help in overcoming Dutch colonialism and unite the different peoples of the Dutch East Indies into a single nation. The Dutch colonial secret police soon learned of the PNI, and in late December 1929, Sukarno and the other members were arrested. At his trial, which lasted for the last five months of 1930, Sukarno made a series of impassioned political speeches against imperialism that attracted widespread attention. Sukarno was sentenced to four years in prison and went to the Sukamiskin Prison in Bandung to begin serving his time. However, press coverage of his speeches so impressed liberal factions in the Netherlands and in the Dutch East Indies that Sukarno was released after just one year. He had also become very popular with the Indonesian people. While Sukarno was in prison, the PNI split into two opposing factions. One party, the Partai Indonesia, favored a militant approach to revolution, while the Pendidikan Nasional Indonesia (PNI Baroe) advocated slow revolution through education and peaceful resistance. Sukarno agreed with the Partai Indonesia approach more than the PNIs, so he became the head of that party in 1932 after his release from prison. On August 1, 1933, the Dutch police arrested Sukarno once again while he was visiting Jakarta. Japanese Occupation In February 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded the Dutch East Indies. Cut off from help by the German occupation of the Netherlands, the colonial Dutch quickly surrendered to the Japanese. The Dutch forced-marched Sukarno to Padang, Sumatra, intending to send him to Australia as a prisoner, but had to leave him in order to save themselves as Japanese forces approached. The Japanese commander, Gen. Hitoshi Imamura, recruited Sukarno to lead the Indonesians under Japans rule. Sukarno was happy to collaborate with them at first, in hopes of keeping the Dutch out of the East Indies. However, the Japanese soon began to impress millions of Indonesian workers, particularly Javanese, as forced labor. These romusha workers had to build airfields and railways and grow crops for the Japanese. They worked very hard with little food or water and were regularly abused by the Japanese overseers, which quickly soured relations between the Indonesians and Japan. Sukarno would never live down his collaboration with the Japanese. Declaration of Independence for Indonesia In June 1945, Sukarno introduced his five-point Pancasila, or principles of an independent Indonesia. They included a belief in God but tolerance of all religions, internationalism and just humanity, the unity of all Indonesia, democracy through consensus, and social justice for all. On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allied Powers. Sukarnos young supporters urged him to immediately declare independence, but he feared retribution from the Japanese troops still present. On August 16, the impatient youth leaders kidnapped Sukarno and then convinced him to declare independence the following day. On August 18 at 10 a.m., Sukarno spoke to a crowd of 500 in front of his home and declared the Republic of Indonesia independent, with himself serving as president and his friend Mohammad Hatta as vice president. He also promulgated the 1945 Indonesian Constitution, which included the Pancasila. Although the Japanese troops still in the country tried to suppress news of the declaration, word spread quickly through the grapevine. One month later, on September 19, 1945, Sukarno spoke to a crowd of more than one million at Merdeka Square in Jakarta. The new independence government controlled Java and Sumatra, while the Japanese maintained their hold on the other islands; the Dutch and other Allied Powers had yet to show up. Negotiated Settlement With the Netherlands Toward the end of September 1945, the British finally made an appearance in Indonesia, occupying the major cities by the end of October. The Allies repatriated 70,000 Japanese and formally returned the country to its status as a Dutch colony. Due to his status as a collaborator with the Japanese, Sukarno had to appoint an untainted prime minister, Sutan Sjahrir, and allow the election of a parliament as he pushed for international recognition of the Republic of Indonesia. Under the British occupation, Dutch colonial troops and officials began to return, arming the Dutch POWs formerly held captive by the Japanese and going on shooting sprees against Indonesians. In November, the city of Surabaya experienced an all-out battle in which thousands of Indonesians and 300 British troops died. This incident encouraged the British to hurry their withdrawal from Indonesia and by November of 1946, all British troops were gone and 150,000 Dutch soldiers returned. Faced with this show of force and the prospect of a long and bloody independence struggle, Sukarno decided to negotiate a settlement with the Dutch. Despite vociferous opposition from other Indonesian nationalist parties, Sukarno agreed to the November 1946 Linggadjati Agreement, which gave his government control of Java, Sumatra, and Madura only. However, in July 1947, the Dutch violated the agreement and launched Operatie Product, an all-out invasion of the Republican-held islands. International condemnation forced them to halt the invasion the following month, and former Prime Minister Sjahrir flew to New York to appeal to the United Nations for intervention. The Dutch refused to withdraw from the areas already seized in Operatie Product, and the Indonesian nationalist government had to sign the Renville Agreement in January 1948 as a result, which recognized Dutch control of Java and the best agricultural land in Sumatra. All over the islands, guerrilla groups not aligned with Sukarnos government sprang up to fight the Dutch. In December 1948, the Dutch launched another major invasion of Indonesia called Operatie Kraai. They arrested Sukarno, then-Prime Minister Mohammad Hatta, Sjahrir, and other Nationalist leaders. The backlash to this invasion from the international community was even stronger; the United States threatened to halt Marshall Aid to the Netherlands if it did not desist. Under the dual threat of a strong Indonesian guerrilla effort and international pressure, the Dutch yielded. On May 7, 1949, they signed the Roem-van Roijen Agreement, turning over Yogyakarta to the Nationalists and releasing Sukarno and the other leaders from prison. On December 27, 1949, the Netherlands formally agreed to relinquish its claims to Indonesia. Sukarno Takes Power In August 1950, the last part of Indonesia became independent from the Dutch. Sukarnos role as president was mostly ceremonial, but as the Father of the Nation he wielded a lot of influence. The new country faced a number of challenges; Muslims, Hindus, and Christians clashed; ethnic Chinese clashed with Indonesians; and Islamists fought with pro-atheist communists. In addition, the military was divided between Japanese-trained troops and former guerrilla fighters. In October 1952, the former guerrillas surrounded Sukarnos palace with tanks, demanding that the parliament be dissolved. Sukarno went out alone and gave a speech, which convinced the military to back down. New elections in 1955 did nothing to improve stability in the country, however. Parliament was divided among all the various squabbling factions and Sukarno feared the entire edifice would collapse. Growing Autocracy Sukarno felt he needed more authority and that Western-style democracy would never function well in volatile Indonesia. Despite protests from Vice President Hatta, in 1956 he put forth his plan for guided democracy, under which Sukarno, as president, would lead the population to a consensus on national issues. In December 1956, Hatta resigned in opposition to this blatant power grab- a shock to citizens around the country. That month and into March 1957, military commanders in Sumatra and Sulawesi ousted the Republican local governments and took power. They demanded that Hatta be reinstated and communist influence over politics end. Sukarno responded by installing Djuanda Kartawidjaja as vice president, who agreed with him on guided democracy, and declaring martial law on March 14, 1957. Amid growing tensions, Sukarno went to a school function in Central Jakarta on November 30, 1957. A member of the Darul Islam group tried to assassinate him there with a grenade. Sukarno was unharmed, but six school children died. Sukarno tightened his grip on Indonesia, expelling 40,000 Dutch citizens and nationalizing all of their property, as well as that of Dutch-owned corporations such as the Royal Dutch Shell oil company. He also instituted rules against ethnic-Chinese ownership of rural land and businesses, forcing many thousands of Chinese to move to the cities and 100,000 to return to China. To quell military opposition in the outlying islands, Sukarno engaged in all-out air and sea invasions of Sumatra and Sulawesi. The rebel governments had all surrendered by the beginning of 1959, and the last guerrilla troops surrendered in August 1961. On July 5, 1959, Sukarno issued a presidential decree voiding the current Constitution and reinstating the 1945 Constitution, which gave the president significantly broader powers. He dissolved parliament in March 1960 and created a new Parliament, for which he directly appointed half of the members. The military arrested and jailed members of the opposition Islamist and socialist parties and shut down a newspaper that had criticized Sukarno. The president also began to add more communists to the government so that he wouldnt be solely reliant on the military for support. In response to these moves toward autocracy, Sukarno faced more than one assassination attempt. On March 9, 1960, an Indonesian Air Force officer strafed the presidential palace with the machine gun on his MiG-17, trying unsuccessfully to kill Sukarno. Islamists later shot at the president during Eid al-Adha prayers in 1962, but again Sukarno was unhurt. In 1963, Sukarnos hand-picked Parliament appointed him president for life. As a dictator, he made his own speeches and writings mandatory subjects for all Indonesian students, and all mass media in the country was required to report only on his ideology and actions. To top his cult of personality, Sukarno renamed the highest mountain in the country Puntjak Sukarno, or Sukarno Peak, in his own honor. Suhartos Coup Although Sukarno seemed to have Indonesia gripped in a mailed fist, his military/communist support coalition was fragile. The military resented the rapid growth of communism and began to seek an alliance with Islamist leaders, who also disliked the pro-atheism communists. Sensing that the military was growing disillusioned, Sukarno rescinded martial law in 1963 to curb the Armys power. In April 1965, the conflict between the military and communists increased when Sukarno supported communist leader Aidits call to arm the Indonesian peasantry. U.S. and British intelligence may or may not have established contacts with the military in Indonesia to explore the possibility of bringing down Sukarno. Meanwhile, the ordinary people suffered enormously as hyperinflation spiked to 600%; Sukarno cared little about economics and did nothing about the situation. At the break of day on October 1, 1965, the pro-communist 30 September Movement captured and killed six senior Army generals. The movement claimed that it acted to protect President Sukarno from an impending Army coup. It announced the dissolution of parliament and the creation of a Revolutionary Council. Major General Suharto of the strategic reserve command took control of the Army on October 2, having been promoted to the rank of army chief by a reluctant Sukarno, and quickly overcame the communist coup. Suharto and his Islamist allies then led a purge of communists and leftists in Indonesia, killing at least 500,000 people nationwide and imprisoning 1.5 million. Sukarno sought to maintain his hold on power by appealing to the people over the radio in January 1966. Massive student demonstrations broke out, and one student was shot dead and made a martyr by the Army in February. On March 11, 1966, Sukarno signed a Presidential Order known as the Supersemar that effectively handed control of the country over to General Suharto. Some sources claim he signed the order at gunpoint. Suharto immediately purged the government and the Army of Sukarno loyalists and initiated impeachment proceedings against Sukarno on the grounds of communism, economic negligence, and moral degradation- a reference to Sukarnos infamous womanizing. Death On March 12, 1967, Sukarno was formally ousted from the presidency and placed under house arrest at the Bogor Palace. The Suharto regime did not allow him proper medical care, so Sukarno died of kidney failure on June 21, 1970, in the Jakarta Army Hospital. He was 69 years old. Legacy Sukarno left behind an independent Indonesia- a major achievement of international proportions. On the other hand, despite his rehabilitation as a respected political figure, Sukarto also created a set of issues that continue to plague todays Indonesia. His daughter, Megawati, became Indonesias fifth president. Sources Hanna, Willard A. â€Å"Sukarno.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 17 June 2018.â€Å"Sukarno.†Ã‚  Ohio River - New World Encyclopedia.

Bridge at Remagen in World War II

Bridge at Remagen in World War II The capture of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen occurred on March 7-8, 1945, during the closing stages of World War II  (1939-1945). In early 1945, American forces pressed towards the west bank of the Rhine River during Operation Lumberjack. In response, German forces were ordered to destroy the bridges over the river. As the lead elements of the US 9th Armored Division approached Remagen, they found that the Ludendorff Bridge over the river was still standing. In a sharp fight, American forces succeeded in securing the span. The capture of the bridge gave the Allies a foothold on the eastern bank of the river and opened Germany to invasion. Fast Facts: Bridge at Remagen Conflict: World War II  (1939-1945)Dates: March 7-8, 1945Armies Commanders:AlliesLieutenant General Courtney HodgesMajor General John W. LeonardBrigadier General William M. HogeCombat Command B, 9th Armored DivisionGermansGeneral Edwin Graf von Rothkirch und TrachGeneral Otto HitzfeldLXVII Corps A Surprise Find In March 1945, with the bulge caused by the German Ardennes offensive effectively reduced, the US 1st Army launched Operation Lumberjack. Designed to reach the west bank of the Rhine, US troops quickly advanced on the cities of Cologne, Bonn, and Remagen. Unable to halt the Allied offensive, German troops began falling back as the fortifications in the region were penetrated. Though a withdrawal over the Rhine would have been prudent to allow German forces to regroup, Hitler demanded that every foot of territory be contested and that counterattacks be launched to regain what had been lost. This demand led to confusion along the front which was worsened by a series of changes in command an unit areas of responsibility. Aware that the Rhine posed the last major geographic obstacle to Allied troops as fighting moved east, Hitler ordered the bridges over the river destroyed (Map). On the morning of March 7, lead elements of the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, Combat Command B, US 9th Armored Division reached the heights overlooking the town of Remagen. Looking down at the Rhine, they were stunned to find that the Ludendorff Bridge was still standing. Built during World War I, the railroad bridge remained intact with German forces retreating across its span. Initially, officers in the 27th began calling for artillery to drop the bridge and trap German forces on the west bank. Unable to secure artillery support, the 27th continued to observe the bridge. When word of the bridges status reached Brigadier General William Hoge, commanding Combat Command B, he issued orders for the 27th to advance into Remagen with support from the 14th Tank Battalion. Racing to the River As American troops entered into the town, they found little meaningful resistance as German doctrine called for rear areas to be defended by Volkssturm militia. Moving ahead, they found no major obstacles other than a machine gun nest overlooking the town square.  Quickly eliminating this with fire from M26 Pershing tanks, American forces raced forward as they expected the bridge to be blown by the Germans before it could be captured. These thoughts were reinforced when prisoners indicated that it was scheduled to be demolished at 4:00 PM. Already 3:15 PM, the 27th charged ahead to secure the bridge. As elements of Company A, led by Lieutenant Karl Timmermann, moved onto the bridges approaches, the Germans, led by Captain Willi Bratge, blew a 30-foot crater in the roadway with the goal of slowing the American advance. Reacting swiftly, engineers using tank dozers began filling the hole. Possessing around 500 poorly-trained and equipped men and 500  Volkssturm, Bratge had desired to blow the bridge earlier but had been unable to secure permission. With the Americans approaching, the majority of his  Volkssturm melted away leaving his remaining men largely clustered on the east bank of the river. Ludendorff Bridge and Erpeler Ley tunnel at Erpel (eastern side of the Rhine) – First U.S. Army men and equipment pour across the Remagen Bridge; two knocked out jeeps in foreground. Germany, March 11, 1945.   National Archives and Records Administration Storming the Bridge As Timmerman and his men began pressing forward, Bratge attempted to destroy the bridge. A massive explosion rocked the span, lifting it from its foundations. When the smoke settled, the bridge remained standing, though it had suffered some damage. Though many of the charges had detonated, others had not due to the actions of two Polish conscripts who had tampered with the fuses. As Timmermans men charged onto the span, Lieutenant Hugh Mott and Sergeants Eugene Dorland and John Reynolds climbed under the bridge to begin cutting the wires leading to the remaining German demolition charges. Reaching the bridge towers on the west bank, platoons stormed inside overwhelming the defenders. Having taken these vantage points, they provided covering fire for Timmerman and his men as they fought across the span. The first American to reach the east bank was Sergeant Alexander A. Drabik. As more men arrived, they moved to clear the tunnel and cliffs near the bridges eastern approaches. Securing a perimeter, they were reinforced during the evening. Pushing men and tanks across the Rhine, Hoge was able to secure the bridgehead giving the Allies a foothold on the east bank. The Ludendorff Bridge on March 17, 1945, approximately four hours before its collapse. National Archives and Records Administration Aftermath Dubbed the Miracle of Remagen, the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge opened the way for Allied troops to drive into the heart of Germany. Over 8,000 men crossed the bridge in the first twenty-four hours after its capture as engineers frantically worked to repair the span. Infuriated by its capture, Hitler swiftly ordered the trial and execution of the five officers assigned to its defense and destruction. Only Bratge survived as he had been captured by American forces before he could be arrested. Desperate to destroy the bridge, the Germans conducted air raids, V-2 rocket attacks, and frogman assaults against it. In addition, German forces launched a massive counterattack against the bridgehead with no success. As the Germans were attempting to strike the bridge, the 51st and 291st Engineer Battalions built pontoon and treadway bridges adjacent to the span. On March 17th, the bridge suddenly collapsed killing 28 and wounding 93 American engineers. Though it was lost, a substantial bridgehead had been built up which was supported by the pontoon bridges. The capture of the Ludendorff Bridge, along with Operation Varsity later that month, removed the Rhine as an obstacle to the Allied advance.

Discussion Board 2-2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Discussion Board 2-2 - Essay Example Following state and federal laws as well as professional codes of ethics assist assessors and test-taker in solidifying credibility of their psychological tests and assessments. Cohen, Swerdlik and Sturnam (2013) elucidate that the laws and codes of ethic act as basic standards that assessors and test-takers should rely on to produce inadmissible test and assessment results. Following state and federal laws and professional codes of ethics guides in observing client’s rights, which foster may work to encourage more disclosure about problems faced. Following laws and professional codes of ethics assist assessors and test-takers ensure mental, emotional and physical safety of all parties involved in a given psychological test or assessment. The laws and codes of ethics usually clarify the extents to which assessors may go in interrogating clients (Cohen, Swerdlik & Sturnam, 2013). The limits are usually such that there is maximum observation of client’s independence and safety. Furthermore, following established laws and professional codes of ethics can work out as defence for assessors in case they are to face false incrimination or accusations as regards conducted psychological tests or

Paper for management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paper for management - Essay Example Training junior managers to increase their involvement with junior employees will reduce unwanted behavior among employees. Managers will be on the importance of efficient communication between themselves and employees. Junior managers will also be with the knowledge about mechanisms to detect and solve problems efficiently (Ciavarella, 2003). Getting to the root of the problem is one of the primary concerns, in this case. Training managers on how to accurately detect a problem among employees will be fundamental in solving this problem. Early identification of a problem that workers are facing might protect the problem from escalating into a verbal or an emotional confrontation. Managers will be trained to inform employees clearly on what is of them. A comprehensive job description to new employees will help them know what the manager expects from them. After informing employees on what is of them, performance standards will be implemented to evaluate employee performance. Contrasting performance measures against employee performance will indicate which and where employees are facing problems. Managers will be trained to engage employees properly when coming up with performance standards. Highly engaging employees mainly contributes to reducing conflicts between managers and junior staff (Ciavarella, 2003). Managers will also be on how to maintain effective communication between themselves and their supervisees. Mostly, conflict arises when there is no proper channel of communication between employees and management. Managers will be trained to be tolerant of the diversity of employees from different backgrounds. Employees might be in conflict because of their personal and cultural differences. Training managers on how to handle diversity and be open to individual differences will significantly reduce conflict between employees. Managers

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Essay Example for Free

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Essay Guillain-Barre’ syndrome is a disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. The exact cause of this syndrome is unknown, but it is however often preceded by an infectious illness such as a respiratory infection or the stomach flu. Luckily Guillain-Barre’ syndrome is uncommon, only affecting 1 or 2 people per 100,000. Guillain-Barre’ syndrome often begins with tingling and weakness starting in your feet and legs and spreading to upper body and arms. In some people however, symptoms begin in the arms or even face. As the disorder progresses, muscle weakness can evolve into paralysis. Signs and symptom may include: * Prickling, â€Å"pins and needle† sensations in fingers, toes or both * Weakness or tingling in legs that spreads to upper body * Unsteady walking or inability to walk * Difficulty in eye movement, facial movement, speaking, chewing or swallowing * Severe low back pain * Difficult in bladder/intestinal control functions * Rapid heart rate * Low or high blood pressure * Difficulty in breathing Most people with this experience their most significant weakness within 4 weeks after symptoms begin. In some cases, signs and symptoms may progress very rapidly, within a few hours. Guillain-Barre can affect all age groups. May be triggered by: most commonly an infection with Campylobacter, a type of bacteria found often in undercooked food, especially poultry. Mycoplasma pneumonia, surgery, Epstein-Barr virus, influenza, Hodgkin’s disease, mono, HIV, and rarely rabies or influenza immunizations. This syndrome affects your nerves and may prompt a domino-like effect in other systems in your body. Some complications may include: breathing difficulties. Residual numbness/tingling, full recovery may be slow often taking a year or longer, however between 20 and 30 % of patients have an incomplete recovery. Cardiovascular problems. Pain. Blood clots. Pressure sores. Guillain-Barre can be difficult to diagnose in it’s early stages. The first step is a careful review of your medical history. Then a spinal tap, and nerve tests. The most common treatment is plasmapheresis- which is also known as plasma exchange. Intravenous immunoglobulin. And as recovery begind physical therapy usually is needed to help regain strength and proper movement.

Comparing Henry David Thoreau And Herman Melvilles Writings :: essays research papers

Comparing Henry David Thoreau and Herman Melville's Writings Henry David Thoreau and Herman Melville focused their writings on how man was affected by nature. They translated their philosophies though both the portrayal of their protagonist and their own self exploration. In Moby Dick, Melville writes about Ahab's physical and metaphysical struggle over the great white whale, Moby Dick, symbolic of man's struggle against the overwhelming forces of nature. Ahab's quest is reported and experienced through the eyes of Ishmael. Melville's use of the third person's biographical standpoint exposes conflicting viewpoints that were both in agreement and disagreement with Ahab's quest, creatively allowing Melville to transcend the story line and expostulate his own philosophies. In contrast, Thoreau, wrote from an autobiographical standpoint revealing his own internal conflicts with mans struggle against nature. In, Walden - A life in the Woods, Thoreau reveals his mental and spiritual beliefs through a personal journey in which he strives to become in tune with n ature, working not to be victorious over these universal forces, but rather to participate in harmony with nature, in tern exposing love and truth. Both authors attempt to analyze all aspects of nature and its relevance to human life. They explore the powers and influences of nature over mankind. However, Melville centers his point of view upon mankind in conflict with nature's forces, while Thoreau believes that if mankind experiences nature, we will envelope ideas which will teach mankind to live harmoniously in our natural environment; in turn, allowing individuals to reach the highest levels of achievement synergistically with nature. In Moby Dick, Herman Melville illustrates man's quest to attain the supreme power of God through the monomaniacal Captain Ahab. Captain Ahab is obsessed with the desire to destroy Moby Dick, his nemesis, which is truly symbolic of man's overwhelming quest to control and conquer nature. Melville depicts Ahab as an evil, egotistical human whose willingness to combat the forces of nature represents man's failure to understand his place in the universe. Melville uses Ishmael to voice his philosophies which portray Ahab as a crazy captain who fails to realize that he's up an unconquerable force. Melville utilizes Ishmael further voice his life philosophies through grossly symbolic statements like, "No, when I go to sea, I go as a simple sailor†¦ I have the satisfaction that all is right; that everybody else is one way or other served in much the same way - either in a physical or metaphysical point of view." (pg. 14 - 15). Through, Ishmael, Melville expresses his longing, for beauty and nature, and a t the same time he contrasts his desires against

Antony and Cleopatra Essay

This scene presents the readers with a brief preface to the universally known love story of Antony, the ‘triple power of this world’, and Cleopatra, his ‘wrangling strumpet’. The scene opens with two Romans, Philo and Demetrius, discussing the incredible power Cleopatra has over Antony and the remarkable change they can perceive in Antony’s character. Through Philo’s opening speech we are told that Antony’s former qualities included those of a strong-minded ruler and a valiant warrior, including physical prowess and military skill. However, the Romans now see him as a changed man who is no longer behaving like a ruler; instead of fulfilling the duties of a leader and returning to Rome, he is being ruled by a â€Å"tawny gypsy†. Thus, before meeting the lovers themselves, we are presented with the Roman attitude towards the relationship; responsibility and allegiance has been abandoned for love. We sense that Antony must be debating in his mind whether to pursue his passion or perform his duty, and those around him are anxiously waiting for him to embrace his role as a leader again and return to his former self. On observing the interaction between the two characters, I found myself accepting Philo’s objections to the relationship and his observations on Antony’s altered state, and studying the evident infatuation that is blinding Antony as he loses his sense of responsibility. Cleopatra is his self-indulgence, and he cannot entirely understand his great sexual passion for her. We know that his overindulgence leads to a loss of reason and control later in the play, and the disregard he expresses in this first scene towards his obligations makes us aware of the great power his passion has. â€Å"Let the Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch/of their love. † His indifference towards the news from Rome again illustrates how he is shirking his duties in Rome when under the spell of the exotic, mysterious eastern monarch. From the first scene, we learn of Cleopatra’s ‘tawny front’, entrapment of a great general and her ‘gypsy lust’. Her entrance is a grand one, accompanied by Antony, ‘her Ladies, the train, with Eunuchs fanning her’. Her authority and command as a ruler are emphasized, and as we then witness in the dialogue between the lovers, her power over Antony mirrors her political power. In this first scene, we see Cleopatra as both dominant and skeptical. ‘If it be love indeed’, she taunts Antony, ‘tell me how much. ‘ Antony, the ‘triple pillar of the world’ is ‘transform’d /Into a strumpet’s fool’ as he prepares to renounce all his power in exchange for Cleopatra. Cleopatra seems to love these assertions of love, as she is wary of the fact that she stands on loose ground, even though she is a seductress of the best abilities. Antony is married to Fulvia, and Cleopatra questions his love for his wife†¦ is it greater than the love he holds for her? We see here that her love for Antony is possessive, yet she too depends on it. Although she dominates Antony in the opening exchanges, her first line ‘If it be love indeed, tell me how much’ points to the ever searching, questing, explorative nature of her personality. She teases, wrangles and resists the definite, whilst playing on Antony’s weak spots, reminding him of his wife and public responsibilities. Thus, I feel the strongest aspect of the relationship that Shakespeare conveys here is highlighted when Antony tells Cleopatra ‘There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch/Without some pleasure now’: all is to be reduced and sacrificed for the sensuous, intense pleasure of the moment – hedonism is to predominate over duty and responsibility.

How does society shape people’s lives? Essay

The aim of this essay is to explore how society shapes people’s lives. The meaning of the word â€Å"shaping† in this context means to â€Å"influence or affect† (The Open University, 2013, YO32 p 29). This essay will focus on Childhood: Body image and stress related eating disorders, from Block 4, Unit 3 and Psychology: Social influence, happiness and natural and synthetic happiness from Unit 5. Society has shaped us to embrace a rather different body image to that of 100 years ago to the point where being slim is now considered the norm (The Open University, 2013 Unit 3, 3.2). There has been a shift from the plumper body image seen in paintings dating back to the 19th century, to the ultra slim catwalk models of today. As there has been a shift in body image, there has also been a shift in eating habits (The Open University, 2013, Unit 3, 3.2). It is now less likely for families to sit down together and eat the more traditional three meals a day, with young people now more likely to favour energy dense fast food diets (NSHD) (n.d.). The National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) (n.d.) recommends that young people should take regular exercise and have a minimum of 3 thirty minute sessions of exercise per week and drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day. The pressure society places on young people to conform to the ideal body image has led to many adolescents developing stress-related eating disorders (The Open University, 2013, Unit 3, 3.4). There are three main eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and binge eating (The Open University, 2013, Unit 3, 3.6). Disordered eating is a mental illness in which the patient severely restricts their calorie intake. Although girls are mainly affected by anorexia a significant number of boys are also affected (the Open University, 2013). AN is quite different from BN giving sufferers of BN cause to overeat and then purge to make themselves sick, thereby controlling their weight (The Open University, 2013, Unit 3, 3.4). It could be argued that the media’s portrayal of the ideal body shape may lead to young people developing eating disorders. The evidence suggests the Press may be partly to blame, and that society is ignoring a cry for help. Quoted in the Daily Telegraph (Jardine, 2013), Kate Moss said â€Å"nothing tastes as good as skinny feels† – comments like this add fuel to the argument. Worries about physical appearance lead to low self-esteem and a need to control weight, which may lead into a cycle of depression and a further loss of confidence (NIMH) (n.d.). Eating habits have changed significantly in the post war period (Young’s, 2004). Young’s points out that these changes in eating habits and the abundance of food now available, in part due to the role played by supermarkets, fast food outlets and the growth in international travel, could also be having a detrimental effect on body image. The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2004) reports 10% of children are overweight lending support to the argument that body image in the media may influence the young. Eating disorders such as AN and BN are attempts by young people to be in control of the way they look and are portrayed by society , which may influence their happiness. The influence of our social roles within society, whether in our work or home lives, will affect our happiness in our individual roles (The Open University, 2013 p47). Influences on happiness and unhappiness may include factors such as being in employment, strong family support, a good network of friends and a sense of belonging (The Open University, 2013 p48). Being active and keeping one’s mind active is also an important part of being happy and having as many different sources of interest as possible may contribute to this. People who are less active and have fewer contacts may be unhappier than those who don’t (Layard, 2005). How one perceives happiness may vary with the socio-cultural environment in which they were brought up, with people in Western society being generally happier (White, 2006). The influence of happiness on our everyday lives contributes greatly to the way we feel about ourselves. As a species we have evolved a mechanism by which we can make up almost anything. Gilbert describes a mechanism he defines as an â€Å"experience simulator†, which means we have the ability to imagine a situation before it actually happens (The Open University, 2013 p51). Another term introduced by Gilbert is â€Å"impact bias†, which broadly means that within 6-12 months following an apparently life-changing event,  one will be as happy after the event as before. Gilbert explains â€Å"real happiness is what we get when we get what we want, as opposed to synthetic happiness which is what we get when we don’t get what we really want† (The Open University, 2013 pp50-51). It could be argued that if we play a certain role we can synthesise a greater sense of happiness. The evidence suggests that whatever our role in society is, we have an ability to find the best in every situation. Layard (2005) points out that our societal roles play a major part in perceived happiness. Gilbert (The Open University, 2013) points to scientific data that would seem to confirm Layard’s view that a person’s sense of happiness can be influenced by how we live our lives. Gilbert presents two sets of experimental data as evidence that happiness can be synthesised. These sets of data were from only a small sample size and the results may not be representative of society, so further research should be undertaken. One’s individual sense of happiness, whether synthetic or real, will reflect on how society in general operates. In the author’s opinion, having a happy society can only be good in creating a happier world. Conclusion Society has shaped us to believe that body image is all too important, as we are constantly bombarded with a view of the perceived ideal. Looking good would appear to make us happy, possibly more so during our youth, but there are obviously many other factors that can contribute to happiness. References (All these references have been visited) Jardine, C. (2010) ‘Eating disorders in the young’, The Telegraph, 29 September 2010 [Online]. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ health/ children shealth/8030962/ Eating-disorders-in-the-young.html (Accessed 16 May 2014). Layard, R. (2005) Happiness: Lessons from a New Science, New York, Penguin. National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) (n.d.) [Online]. Available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ health/ publications/ eating-disorders/ index.shtml (Accessed 14 May 2014). National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) (n.d.) [Online]. Available at http://www.nshd.mrc.ac.uk/(Accessed 21 May 2014). The Open University (2013). Block 4, Unit 3, Childhood: society, food and children. 3.6 different eating disorders [Online]. Available at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anorexia-nervosa/Pages/Introduction.aspx (accessed 23 May 2014) The Open University (2013). Block 4, Unit 3, Childhood: society, food and children. 3.2 healthy eating [Online]. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=441400#downloads (accessed 23 May 2014). The Open University, 2013. YO32-13J. Block 4, Unit 3 Childhood: society, food and children. 3.2 healthy eating [Online]. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=441400#downloads (Accessed 30 April 2014). The Open University, 2013. â€Å"Block 4 society, Unit 5†. Psychology, society, selves and happiness, p47. Milton Keynes, The Ope n University. The Open University, 2013. â€Å"Block 4 society, Unit 5†. Psychology: society, selves and happiness, p48. Milton Keynes, The Open University. The Open University, 2013. YO32 People, work and society access module. Assessment guidelines, p29. Milton Keynes, The Open University. White, A. (2006) â€Å"University of Leicester produces the first ever world map of happiness† [Online]. Available at http://www.le.ac.uk/ebulletin-archive/ ebulletin/news/press-releases/2000-2009/2006/07/nparticle.2006-07-28.html (Accessed 24 April 2014). World Health Organisation (WHO) (2004) ‘Fight childhood obesity to help prevent diabetes, says WHO & IDF’, WHO, 11 November 2004 [Online]. Available at http://www.who.int./ mediacentre/ news/ releases/ 2004/ pr81/ en/ (Accessed 20 May 2014). Youngs, I. (2004) ‘My wartime menu’, BBC News Online, 30 June 2004 [Online]. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/ hi/ magazine/ 3847041.stm (Accessed 23 April 2014 ).

Free Essays on Earths Fury

On March 28, 1964 the United States saw it’s largest earthquake. It occurred in Alaska, covering an area of about 600,000 square kilometers. This devastating event cost Alaska millions of dollars, and 110 casualties. The massive earthquake caused businesses, schools, and major stores to be out of business, generated a huge tsunami, and created a devouring landslide, which covered a large area. Anchorage suffered the most damage with over thirty blocks of thriving commercial buildings, and businesses being destroyed. Two public schools were completely demolished, and one was severely damaged. One major department store and two housing complexes collapsed as a result of the earthquake. The earthquake cause a total of 311 million dollars in property damage, and only lasted an estimated three minutes. The shock generated a tsunami around the gulf of Alaska. This treacherous tsunami claimed fifteen lives, and caused serious damage. Parts of Hawaii, and Canada also experienced the effect of this huge wave Canada. Its maximum height was sixty- seven meters, it was also recorded on the tide gages of Cuba and Puerto Rico. Effects of this tsunami were felt globally. The people that were lucky enough to escape the major effects of the earthquake, weren’t lucky entirely. When the earthquake occurred it brought a severe landslide with it, causing heavy damage. An area of 140 acres with seventy-five houses on it was completely destroyed. The slide also damaged the water and gas mains, causing even more problem for the people of Alaska. A numerous amount of telephone lines and electrical systems were also destroyed because of the slide. The effects of the earthquake was felt by everyone, not just by the victims, but by the people who’s everyday lives were changed due to harsh geographical conditions. The technology used to predict earth... Free Essays on Earth's Fury Free Essays on Earth's Fury On March 28, 1964 the United States saw it’s largest earthquake. It occurred in Alaska, covering an area of about 600,000 square kilometers. This devastating event cost Alaska millions of dollars, and 110 casualties. The massive earthquake caused businesses, schools, and major stores to be out of business, generated a huge tsunami, and created a devouring landslide, which covered a large area. Anchorage suffered the most damage with over thirty blocks of thriving commercial buildings, and businesses being destroyed. Two public schools were completely demolished, and one was severely damaged. One major department store and two housing complexes collapsed as a result of the earthquake. The earthquake cause a total of 311 million dollars in property damage, and only lasted an estimated three minutes. The shock generated a tsunami around the gulf of Alaska. This treacherous tsunami claimed fifteen lives, and caused serious damage. Parts of Hawaii, and Canada also experienced the effect of this huge wave Canada. Its maximum height was sixty- seven meters, it was also recorded on the tide gages of Cuba and Puerto Rico. Effects of this tsunami were felt globally. The people that were lucky enough to escape the major effects of the earthquake, weren’t lucky entirely. When the earthquake occurred it brought a severe landslide with it, causing heavy damage. An area of 140 acres with seventy-five houses on it was completely destroyed. The slide also damaged the water and gas mains, causing even more problem for the people of Alaska. A numerous amount of telephone lines and electrical systems were also destroyed because of the slide. The effects of the earthquake was felt by everyone, not just by the victims, but by the people who’s everyday lives were changed due to harsh geographical conditions. The technology used to predict earth...

The Approach to the Inmost Cave in the Heros Journey

The Approach to the Inmost Cave in the Hero's Journey This article is part of our series on the heros journey, starting with The Heros Journey Introduction and The Archetypes of the Heros Journey. Approach to the Inmost Cave The hero has adjusted to the special world and goes on to seek its heart, the inmost cave. She passes into an intermediate zone with new threshold guardians and tests. She approaches the place where the object of the quest is hidden and where she will encounter supreme wonder and terror, according to Christopher Voglers The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure. She must use every lesson learned to survive. The hero often has disheartening setbacks while approaching the cave. She is torn apart by challenges, which allow her to put herself back together in a more effective form for the ordeal to come. She discovers she must get into the minds of those who stand in her way, Vogler says. If she can understand or empathize with them, the job of getting past them or absorbing them becomes much easier. The approach encompasses all the final preparations for the ordeal. It brings the hero to the stronghold of the opposition, where she needs to use every lesson she has learned. Dorothy and her friends, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion face a series of obstacles, enter a second special world (Oz) with its own unique guardians and rules, and are given the impossible task of entering the inmost cave, the Wicked Witch’s castle. Dorothy is warned of the supreme danger in this quest and becomes aware that she is challenging a powerful status quo. There is an eerie region around the inmost cave where it is clear that the hero has entered shaman’s territory on the edge of life and death, Vogler writes. Scarecrow is torn apart; Dorothy is flown off to the castle by monkeys, very like a shaman’s dream journey. The approach raises the stakes and rededicates the team to its mission. The urgency and life-or-death quality of the situation are underscored. Toto escapes to lead the friends to Dorothy. Dorothy’s intuition knows she must call on the help of her allies. The reader’s assumptions about the characters are turned upside down as they see each person exhibit surprising new qualities that emerge under the pressure of approach. The villains headquarters are defended with fierceness. Dorothys allies express misgivings, encourage each other, and plan their attack. They get into the skins of the guards, enter the castle, and use force, the Tin Man’s ax, to chop Dorothy out, but theyre soon blocked in all directions.

Finance Week 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Finance Week 2 - Essay Example I am pleased that we can use a financial calculator to help us, but if I am unsure about the variables then it won’t help me much. For interest rates, I was previously unsure about how they are determined and why they can change so quickly. After going through Chapter 6, however, I now feel like I have a good grasp of it. 2. The financial ratio that I find easiest to understand is the single future cash flow ratio because it is very straightforward and there are no added variables. By that I mean that anyone with only a basic understanding of math would be able to comprehend it because the ratio follows a pattern. The hardest financial ratios to understand are those with multiple future cash flows because the answers can be unpredictable if there is a series of unequal amounts. The cash flow timeline helps me a lot because I can visualize each cash flow in terms of where it comes from and how it influences the overall outcome. The most difficult thing is trying to figure out where the investment problems variables fit into the equation. Once I have the right equation, I can usually solve for the unknown variable because then it just becomes a simple case of math. 3. The financial calculator is both useful and challenging for me at the same time. I like it because it helps me to find the correct answer in a short amount of time. If I have figured out all the variables, then I can simply plug the numbers in and the calculator will spit out the answer. The one problem that I have with it is that I sometimes don’t fully understand why it gave me a certain answer. If I was able to work through the problem step-by-step, then I would have a better understanding of it. 4. I would describe the current level of interest rates as moderately high. Although current inflation is relatively low due to the financial crisis, there is still a lot of risk in the marketplace, and this ensures that

Political Economy of Oil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Political Economy of Oil - Essay Example The crises that started with the oil crisis in 1970s extended to Gulf War in the 90s. There are different terrorist threats today that affect oil resources such as oil refineries in Saudi Arabia. The deteriorating law and order situation in Iraq also resulted in fear of disruption of oil supply. There are threats of war with Iran that bring greater fears of volatility in the oil-producing region. These & other such factors have kept oil prices very high and they affect current market scenario. The hope for stability in oil prices is dependent on both political & economic stability. Transportation, heating, power generation, the plastics, pharmaceuticals and synthetic fibre industries are the main ways in which oil is consumed. Demand for oil is greater in the developed nations compared to the developing economies. United States of America solely generates a quarter of world oil demand. Asia comes next with Japan having the highest consumption of oil. In Europe no one country can be considered highest oil consuming country instead the demand is evenly generated by all European nations, The demand for oil diminished considerably in Soviet Union after its collapse.US demand for energy is greater and its dependence on oil producing countries is also increasing. The oil supply is mainly provided by large companies operating in countries with large reserves of oil. Countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Norway and Kuwait are some of the oil rich countries and are main suppliers of oil to the world. Since supply side of equation plays a crucial role in stabilty of oil markets, the countries producing oil have been trying to stabilize the price of crude oil through production policy. However, the interest of world economy does not lie in bringing stability by production manipulation. Since oil is a resource that depletes with time so its value increases with time as well. A country cannot let go of its future worth or value by increasing its production at the current market price. It is not in the economic interests of such oil producing countries to pursue a production policy incompatible with their own economic interests. Countries like Saudi Arabia have been contributing to the world economy in general and other Western and developed economies like Japan in particular by supplying more oil than it should. For instance Saudi Arabia, of the largest oil producers, increased its production of oil after the oil crises of 1979, resulting in a downward crude-oil price trend in world markets. This manipulation by any country or cartel cannot reap economic benefits in the long run. The market factors should be allowed to play their due role instead of manipulation. There is an increasing trend in demand for crude oil because consumption is greater than the supply. Market economy is the best way to allocate resources. The concept of oil peak suggests that once we reach the stage of peak the economy will be greatly affected. Similarly experts say that world oil reserves will also reach its peak in not so distant future resulting in price hikes and economic recession along with geopolitical repercussions. Oil Situation in USA If we consider the oil peak theory according to which there will be a sharp decline in supply because demand is constantly increasing whereas the speed of finding or exploring new oil sources is not matching that then we come to know that the oil