Housing Markets in the Financial Crisis of 2008 Essay

Housing Markets in the Financial Crisis of 2008 - Essay Example The origin of the housing market boom The boom in the housing market started growing as the stock bubble grew up in the last decade of the 20th century. In simple terms, the logic governing the growth of the housing bubble was one such that the wealthy were spending the money they had accumulated from the favorable stock markets (Baker, 2008, 73). The stock prices had run up in a manner extraordinary and many people had not anticipated. The wealthy therefore started spending at a rate similar to the rate of wealth accumulation. The increased wealth resulted in an increase in the average consumption and it was noted that the savings rate sourced out of every individual’s disposable income experienced a fall from 5% in 1995 to about 2% in the year 2000. The wealth gained from the favorable stock markets led to massive investments in the housing industry as people strived to buy bigger houses and to make better homes. The supply of housing is, of course, fixed so this therefore m eant that the sudden increase in demand was likely to cause the housing bubble effect (Baker, 2008, 73). This caused a chain of events starting by an increase in demand which automatically resulted in the house prices to rise. As the prices started rising in some of the areas affected there was a unique phenomenon such that the prices started being incorporated into expectations and these made the buyers of houses and homes to start paying more than they would otherwise have done. This had a tendency of making the expectations self fulfilling and more convincing. Research together with the data from the government’s documents pointed to a very slight change in the house prices for over 100 years before the beginning of the house bubble. Even as the price of the houses rose, the rent did not increase in a similar manner but it in fact remained trailing behind in a modest manner a clear indication that the price of the houses was as a result of the housing bubble (Baker, 2008, 74). The instantaneous increase in the price of the houses both for buyers and those renting them started creating a substantial effect on the supply side as a result of the rise in price from around 1995 towards 2000. The house prices rose up to about 25% in the year 2002. This was above the average rate of the three years from 1993 to 1995. This then resulted in to an effect that appeared as an oversupply in the number of rental housing sector for it caused the vacancy rate to rise to about 9% in the year 2002 which was 1.5% increase to that of around 1990 that stood at about 7.5%.

Presidential Scholars Essay Essay Example for Free

Presidential Scholars Essay Essay The creative work the best illustrates the way I see the world and the way I see myself in the world is the Charles Dicken’s novel, Great Expectations. Basically, the novel revolves around a boy named Philip Pirip or â€Å"Pip,† and his many struggles to achieve his goals. Pip’s main goal is to become a wealthy gentleman someday in order to marry the woman of his dreams, Estella, which he accomplished in the novel. However, in order to achieve his goal, Pip had to go overcome a lot of obstacles and face a lot of adversities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the story, it was shown that Pip was a very generous and kind-hearted young man. However, the best and possibly the worst aspect about him is his overly-ambitious attitude. Although Pip’s good-natured personality and pure innocence enabled him to accomplish his dream of becoming a wealthy gentleman, he realized that his position in society is the not the most important aspect about any person. In the end, although he lost his wealth, he was able to marry Estella, and live a happy life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this regard, the novel shows my belief that while anything can be achieved if one works hard for it, it also important to know one’s place in the world and remain humble. In other words, like in the novel, I believe that in this world, it is more important for me to possess moral values and be happy and content with my life than simply be rich. Moreover, the story also shared my belief that it is equally important to not expect too much from anything, which is what Pip failed to do, as you may end up disappointed. More importantly, however, the novel also corresponds with my perception which is to never be too ambitious on anything in this world as it may mislead one’s life. Furthermore, the story also showed how I see myself in the world. Like Pip, I believe that I am also a good natured and kind-hearted person who can achieve anything if I work hard for it. However, I must always remember not to commit the same mistake the Pip did, which is to become overly-ambitious, in order for me to reach my dreams. Presidential Scholars essay: The teacher who has influenced me the most   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In school, the person who made the most impact on my life was my Italian teacher, Mrs. Elliott. Basically, Mrs. Elliott has not only sparked my interest in the Italian language and other languages, but she has taught me and my fellow students the value of investing in knowledge, which she believes would greatly help us in our future careers. She is also a highly competent teacher who always makes sure that we learn new things after each of our classes with her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She has also shared with us a lot of information about the Italian culture and lifestyle, among others. Although she is a bit demanding in her classes, I know that she only wants us to learn and grow. However, what I like best about Mrs. Elliott is her unwavering passion for teaching. She always teaches enthusiastically and eagerly, which is why all the students listen attentively and never get bored in her class.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, she is also a very approachable person outside the classroom. Students would never hesitate to go to her when they have concerns about anything. Whether it’s about school or family, Mrs. Elliott would always be there to guide us and give us advice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, she has also taught us valuable lessons and values in life such as patience, understanding, integrity, honesty, commitment, and dedication, which we would all be able to apply throughout the rest of our lives. She also told us to always remember the lessons we learned so we could pass them on to our future children   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In short, Mrs. Elliot has not only imparted to us the necessary knowledge that we would need as we seek higher education, but she has also taught us valuable lessons that cannot simply be learned in a classroom. No doubt, she is one of the people whom I would never forget and whom I would always honor for the rest of my life

Football stuff :: essays research papers

Stepping Outside Traditional Boundaries In Football, Fast Cars, and Cheerleading: Adolescent Gender Norms, 1978-1989, Suitor and Reavis found that adolescents did not change drastically in their views about gender roles from the late 1970s to the late 1980s. The differences they did find were an increase in girls’ reports of sports involvement as a social advancement tool, and a larger increase in boys’ reports of sports as a way for girls to gain status. They also found that, by the late 1980s, more boys noted high sexual activity, a stereotypically masculine characteristic, as a social advancement tool for girls, while girls did not report any stereotypically feminine activities as a way for boys to gain status. Girls, therefore, were more accepted into masculine arenas, but boys did not stray into feminine arenas. The implications of the study are that boys have remained locked into traditional masculine roles. While girls have advanced socially through entering masculine roles, boys have not advanced soci ally through entering traditionally feminine roles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the late 1970s, the general trend was that adolescents felt that participation in sports was did not increase girls’ status as much as other activities. Suitor and Reavis found that 33.6 of the students who graduated between 1978 and 1982 reported that sports was one way in which girls advanced in status, while 90% said sports was a way boys advanced in status. Physical attractiveness was the number one way in which girls were said to gain prestige. Through the late 1980s, these trends continued. Similarly, rowdy behavior was seen as a masculine advancement tool, but never mentioned as a feminine tool. This brings into question the ways in which kids learn that boys are aggressive and supposed to pursue sports, whereas girls are not. Children learn gender roles early on in life, as their parents reward and punish certain behaviors that are biologically based and promote gender intensification. For example, girls are complimented for having their hair done nicely in ribbons or headbands, while boys are complimented for playing well and being competitive in a soccer game. While boys are biologically more aggressive than girls, this aggression and roughness is enhanced and encouraged through socialization. Nature and nurture are both at work in early gender development, as characteristics that are by nature masculine or feminine are coded with social behaviors and are overly engrained in children’s heads. As children spend more time with peers, they reinforce these rules with each other, by teaching each other and interacting in the roles that have been defined for them.

Why Nuclear Power Is Needed Environmental Sciences Essay

IntroductionThe planetary addition in industrialisation and demand for energy coevals due to the spread outing population and increased trust on electrical tools, equipment and contraptions has placed intensifying degrees of strain on the systems which provide this electricity. In add-on, as developing states easy adapt to the industry-based economic systems of the remainder of the universe, the demand for safe, efficient energy coevals becomes even greater as the tendency spreads around the Earth. This can be clearly demonstrated in South Africa, where electricity demand is besides turning quickly. Harmonizing to Statistics South Africa ( 2010 ) the volume of electricity consumed in April 2010 increased by 6.6 per centum compared with April 2009 and ingestion for the first four months of 2010 by all states increased by 9.4 per centum compared with the first four months of 2009. Furthermore, the US Energy Information Administration ( EIA ) ( 2010a ) predicts that universe cyberspace electricity coevals will increase by 87 per centum, from 18.8 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2007 to 25.0 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2020 and 35.2 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2035. Harmonizing to the EIA ‘s International Energy Outlook 2010 ( IEO 2010a ) the world-wide escalation in energy monetary values from 2003 to 2008, accompanied by concerns about the damaging effects of nursery gas emanations, has led to renewed involvement in options to fossil fuels and peculiarly, atomic power. Therefore, with authorities support and higher fuel monetary values, the chances of large-scale atomic power transition is going progressively favourable. Presently, 48.9 % of power coevals comes from coal, 20.3 % Nuclear, 6.3 % Hydroelectric Conventional, 20.5 % natural gas, 1 % crude oil and 3.7 % assorted other beginnings ( Energy Information Administration 2010b ) . However, the EIA predicts that electricity coevals from atomic power will increase from about 2.6 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2007 to a projected 3.6 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2020 and so to 4.5 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2035 due to atomic power going more economically executable as monetary values for fossil fuels rise. Further grounds for atomic coevals pulling new involvement around the universe include states seeking diverseness of their energy supplies, bettering energy security, and supplying a low-carbon option to fossil fuels. However, with these positive stairss to eventual atomic version much uncertainness can still be found associated with this signifier of power coevals. Some of these issues include works safety, radioactive waste disposal, lifting building costs and investing hazard, and atomic stuff proliferation concerns and they could present great hazards for haltering the enlargement and execution of atomic power in the hereafter. In a study refering the support for atomic power among the populace in 1999, the Sustainable Energy Coalition ( 1999 ) reported that 59.8 % of those surveyed were opposed to the United Stated of America constructing more atomic power workss, 43.3 % voted for the United States to phase out its atomic power workss by 2020 and the most supported type of power works was renewable energy ( dwelling 61.5 % of the ballots ) . However, despite this, recent support for atomic power has been much greater. The IEO 2010 clearly reflects this tendency in that there has been an addition of 9 % in the comparative part of atomic power expected by 2030 from 2009 ‘s IEO. In add-on, harmonizing to a study conducted in 2010 by Jones ( 2010 ) of Gallup, which provides data-driven intelligence based on US and universe polls, 62 % of those US citizens surveyed supported atomic power, with 28 % demoing â€Å" strong favour † of the adaptation. In consideration of the above positions, this study aims to find whether atomic power is a executable option to conventional signifiers of energy coevals, and whether using it for future electricity production will be more efficient and in bend offer greater benefits in the long term, based on cost, energy production ability, safety and waste produced, than trusting on the current beginnings.Hypothesis: It is expected that the use of atomic power over conventional energy beginnings will present great benefits for all human communities and offer a really executable option to these beginnings, through supplying a cheaper, more dependable, more sustainable cleansing agent and safer signifier of electricity coevals.How atomic power plantsFuelA ­The fuel used in atomic power Stationss, Uranium, invariably undergoes self-generated fission at a really slow rate ensuing in the component breathing radiation. Due to the fact that these power station generate energy through the method of indu ced fission, this stuff is highly suited for the undertaking. Uranium is an component normally found on Earth, and to boot, the Uranium-238 ( U-238 ) atom has an highly long half life of 4.5 billion old ages ( Brain and Lambert 2000 ) This therefore means that big measures of the atom are still present in the land. Uranium on Earth comprises 99 per centum U-238 and 0.7 per centum uranium-235 ( U-235 ) ( both happening of course ) , and the staying measure includes the far rarer Uranium-234 which is formed by the decay of U-238. ( Brain and Lambert 2000 ) The ability of U-235 to disintegrate of course consequences in it being a suited fuel for both atomic power workss and atomic bombs. The U-238 besides decays like U-235, by the procedure of alpha radiation. This procedure involves the atom let go ofing an alpha atom, or two neutrons and two protons bound together. In add-on, U-235 besides undergoes self-generated fission in certain instances and furthermore it is besides one of the few substances that can undergo induced fission. Here, a free neutron collides with a U-235 karyon, which later absorbs it, becomes unstable and splits. A ­The chance of this occurring is comparatively high and during atomic energy production, the expulsion of one neutron consequences in extra fission taking topographic point in a concatenation reaction. The karyon which has captured the neutron so splits into two lighter atoms and releases either two or three new neutrons depending on the how the U-235 atom was split. This decay of a individual U-235 consequences in the coevals of about 200 MeV ( million negatron Vs ) , which although non being a significantly great sum entirely, the tremendous measure of atoms in even 1 kg of U, consequence in monolithic energy outputs when compared to other fuel beginnings. ( Brain and Lambert 2000 ) A ­During the procedure, great sums of heat and gamma radiation, composed of high-energy photons, is released. In add-on, the two atom merchandises of fission will let go of beta radiation, high velocity negatrons, and gamma radiation their ain gamma radiation. The energy released is derived from the fact that the merchandises produced weigh much less than the reactants and accordingly, this sum of weight is converted straight to energy harmonizing to the equation, E = mc2. Power Stationss, nevertheless, require enriched U to bring forth power, which contain more U-235, and hence costs will hold to be incurred in guaranting natural stuffs are suited for these Stationss.The power stationThe most indispensable intent of atomic power Stationss is to command the energy released during atomic fission, leting it to heat H2O into steam to, in bend, produce electrical energy. The U fuel beginning is normally found in 2.5-cm-long pellets ( Nuclear Energy Institute 2010 ) , and arranged into long rods, which are collected together in groups called packages. Inside a force per unit area vas, these packages are submerged in H2O which acts as a coolant for the rods. Power will merely be generated once the packages are supercritical. This means that, on norm, more than one of the free neutrons hits another U-235 atom to let go of energy. In add-on, this U is unstable and could easy overheat and run if non controlled. To forestall this, objects called control rods composed of neutron absorbing stuff such as Ag, In and Cd, are inserted into the uranium package with equipment that allow them to be raised or lowered. This mechanism of the rods being raised or lowered provide operators with the ability to command the rate of the atomic reaction. The control rods are raised out of the U when more heat is required, ensuing in less soaking up of neutrons, and lowered to make less heat. In the instance of closing down the reactor during an accident or fuel alteration, the rods are wholly lowered into the uranium package. The U bundle maps as the high-energy heat beginning required to turn the H2O in the steam generator into steam. This steam drives a turbine, which in bend spins a generator to bring forth power. Some atomic power workss include a secondary, intermediate heat money changer through which the reactor steam moves, to change over another measure of H2O to steam, which would so drive the turbine. This system poses important advantages in that the steam ne'er comes into contact with the turbine. Further reactors besides utilize gas ( C dioxide ) or liquid metal ( Na, K ) as coolant fluid which is brought into contact with the reactor nucleus and later these designs allow the reactor to run at higher temperatures more safely. On the exterior of the power station, a concrete line drive is normally found to house the reactor ‘s force per unit area vas and to boot it acts as a radiation shield. However, the line drive itself is found with a larger steel containment vas which contains the reactor nucleus, and besides the equipment used for refueling and care of the reactor. This vas besides acts as a barrier, forestalling escape of any radioactive gases or fluids from the power station. The concluding outer bed is a concrete edifice which protects the steel containment vas. Harmonizing to Brain and Lambert ( 2000 ) this concrete construction is sufficient to protect the reactor against great sums of break including natural catastrophes and terrorist onslaughts. In add-on, these secondary containment constructions besides provide farther support in forestalling the flight of radiation and radioactive steam released during accidents. In the instance of the Chernobyl catastrophe, the deficiency of this secondary containment construction ( as was characteristic of old Russian atomic workss ) , allowed radioactive stuff to get away into the surrounding environment harmonizing to Brain and Lambert ( 2000 ) . This position farther supports the statement for â€Å" hapless atomic power station designs † being the cause of most atomic catastrophes in the past, as will be discussed more extensively under the subject of â€Å" safety † . Linked to this thought is the control room. Here workers can supervise the atomic reactor and during the instance of accidents, if processs are decently followed, immediate action taken can forestall much of the possible jeopardies that could follow. Nuclear installations besides normally feature security margins and forces that managed and modulate the safe handling of sensitive stuffs.CostIn South Africa, coal power has dominated electricity coevals for many decennaries. This is largely because the great copiousnesss of coal in the state, and big graduated table excavation of these militias, have resulted in the procedure going cheaper as all of the systems required are already established. Consequently, South Africa has become the 5th largest coal bring forthing state in the universe, bring forthing 77 % of electricity from coal beginnings in what ESKOM ( 2010 ) refers to as the most cost-efficient and energy efficient manner of bring forthing electricity. Much of the deficiency of support for version of atomic power stems from the big start-up costs involved in constructed of suited atomic power workss. This can be clearly seen in comparing the current costs of atomic and coal Stationss being built. Harmonizing to Content ( 2008 ) a coal station to be built in Wisconsin in the United States of America in 2008 cost $ 1.1 billion, this even after a important addition had already taken topographic point due to lift in stuff costs, from a projected $ 850 million. On the other manus, in the same twelvemonth, harmonizing to Romm ( 2008 ) , Duke Energy, a gas and electricity services company in Ohio, reported that it would be $ 6 billion to $ 8 billion for building of a atomic works in Carolina and in add-on, a $ 14 billion power works was reported by Romm ( 2008 ) to be constructed in Florida by Progress Energy. The costs of the comparative fuel merchandises besides differ well, nevertheless as will be seen, the sums of these fuels required by the several power Stationss and the energy output evidently besides plays a great function in finding the cost efficiency of the procedure. One ton of natural coal in 2010 costs about $ 85.00 ( Flak 2010 ) and harmonizing to the World Nuclear Association ( 2010a ) , one kg of Uranium costs $ 115.00. Both coal and uranium demand to be refined, nevertheless, in order to be suited to be used in power Stationss. The coal is washed with a H2O or chemical bath to take some drosss and at the power works, pulverized to a heavy pulverization before being burned, on the other manus the Uranium needs to undergo transition, enrichment and fuel fiction. Therefore, although the existent cost for fuel as a whole will be somewhat different, comparatively the costs would be similar to those of the natural merchandises. However, although it may look that coal Stationss pose important economic advantages over atomic options, this is really non the instance at all. Harmonizing to European Nuclear Society ( n.d ) 1 kg uranium-235 corresponds to 2.7 million kilograms coal equivalent, intending that in the long term, one time capital costs have been covered, the atomic power Stationss would be far more cost efficient to be run for electricity coevals. Additional, this besides highlights the fact that while additions in fuel monetary values could hold major impacts of coal- and most other fuel intensive power sources- the effects on atomic Stationss would be minimum. This is clearly demonstrated in research by the World Nuclear Association ( 2010a ) presented in figure 1. Obviously, as clip progresses, progresss in atomic power engineerings result in cheaper and more efficient refinement, disposal and building on these Stationss. However, even with the current costs, it is clear that over clip, one time the installation has been established, runing costs will quickly worsen as low cost fuel cost outweighs the operating expenses for installing and building. Similarly, in 2008 research presented by the Brattle Group ( 2008 ) , in the Conneticut Integrated Resource Plan ( summarized in table 2 ) , found that although nightlong capital cost of atomic power Stationss was about dual that of coal options ( 4038 $ /kW compared to 2214 $ /kW ) , the eventual cost of electricity was still somewhat lower ( 8.35 c/kWh to 8.65 c/kWh ) . This research is supported by extra findings from the CEZ Group ( 2008 ) which further establishes the tendency for cheaper long term power coevals by atomic beginnings based on costs of electricity coevals by a new power station in the Czech Republic ( table 3 ) . The grounds from these beginnings clearly suggest that there are important benefits to using or change overing to atomic power. Obviously, developing states particularly will be put off by the big start up costs and the entreaty of merely fall backing to fossil fuel-based electricity coevals due to the low short term costs. In order for states to be more energy efficient and sustainable in the hereafter, nevertheless, it may be indispensable for them to change over to atomic power even though many people are still unsure about the dependability of this beginning of electricity.Energy production and handinessThe comparative energy content of the different fuels used for electricity coevals is highly of import in measuring the efficiency of the fuel as a beginning for long-run dependable power. Coal, which is used for energy coevals in the bulk of power Stationss, is a fossil fuel and hence as it is produced organically over many 1000000s of old ages there is a hazard that overuse coul d finally wash up the universe ‘s militias of coal. This concern is heightened by the fact that coal is has a far lower energy denseness than other fuel beginnings. Harmonizing to Howden ( 2007 ) there are still an estimated 909 billion metric tons of coal militias worldwide, and these will be sufficient to move as beginnings of electricity coevals for at least 155 old ages. However, the environmental impact of this burning, and hence the subsequent release of nursery gases, should non be forgotten- in add-on, the existent necessity of set uping systems to guarantee that the universe is suited to get bying with demands for energy production, one time this period elapses, is besides indispensable. On the other manus, harmonizing to the OCED Nuclear Energy Agency ( 2007 ) , there are still 5,469,000 metric tons of Uranium in the universe as of 2007 and accordingly, in visible radiation of the comparative use of fuel in atomic compared to char power Stationss as stated above, this means that they would be able to provide energy for far longer than presently utilised dodo fuels. The World Nuclear Association ( 2001 ) studies that both uranium and coal are have a 33 % thermic efficiency when used for power coevals, although their energy densenesss differ significantly. A 1 million kilowatt power station is reported to necessitate a supply of about 3.1 million tones of coal each twelvemonth, whereas the atomic option would be 24 tones of U ( as UO2 ) which has been enriched to U-235. However, both these methods still require extended excavation and extraction in order for the fuel to be suited for usage. The comparative heat value given by the assorted fuel beginnings are stated in table 4 below, harmonizing to the values provided by the World Nuclear Association ( 2001 ) . Table 4: Table demoing the comparative heat value given by assorted fuels, World Nuclear Association ( 2001 ) In add-on, the find of atomic merger has offered great possibilities for sustainable atomic energy production in the hereafter. Nuclear merger differs from the normally used fission. In fission the karyon of an atom splits into lighter karyon, frequently bring forthing free neutrons and protons ( in the signifier of gamma beams ) and let go ofing energy. Fusion power involves the coevals of power through blending two light atomic karyon together to organize a heavier karyon and in the procedure let go ofing big sums of energy. Significant benefits of merger have already been found, and harmonizing to Ongena and Van Oost ( n.d ) in the â€Å" Energy for Future Centuries Report † this method poses great advantages over atomic fission including the sustainability of the fuel beginning used and the energy content of this fuel beginning. Harmonizing to the study the procedure normally involves the usage of heavy hydrogen, an isotope of H, as fuel and besides potentially lithium, th e world-wide militias of which are reported to be able to last 3000 old ages. In add-on the study states that Li from sea H2O would last 60 million old ages, and a more complicated merger procedure utilizing merely heavy hydrogen from sea H2O would supply fuel for 150 billion old ages and to boot supply three to four times every bit much energy output.SafetyNuclear power accidents are frequently so extensively covered by the media that doubts refering the safety of these systems have evidently been instilled in public perceptual experience. Consequently, this has in bend resulted in great apprehensiveness refering the building of new atomic workss. Harmonizing to Carbon ( 2003 ) the negative effects sing the use of atomic power to bring forth electricity is greatly misunderstood. He suggests that the current mentality airss big concerns sing that this could forestall farther growing of atomic power, without which it could be really hard to run into the clean-air ends established in the Kyoto protocol that are indispensable for a sustainable hereafter environment. The primary concern amongst most people involves the dependability of the atomic power station itself. Despite popular belief, nevertheless, the safety record of atomic power workss is highly high as will be demonstrated, and the two most well-known atomic catastrophes likely include the power station accidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile Islands. The Three Mile Island atomic catastrophe was caused by a nucleus meltdown of the pressurized H2O reactor. The catastrophe began when the H2O pumps that supplied the steam generators of the works all of a sudden stopped, and because the deficiency of steam was detected by the works ‘s safety system, the turbine powering the generator was instantly shut off. This caused force per unit area to construct in the atomic reactor of the works, and the nucleus well heated up until at least half of it had melted. The works was sing jobs because of a deficiency of coolant that, harmonizing to Lowitz and Black ( 2007 ) , if supplied right and in conformity with the safety processs prescribed, would hold controlled the overheating. Fortunately the catastrophe, nevertheless, resulted in no deceases and merely negligible injury to human wellness and the environment. The mean sum of radiation experienced by people populating within 10 stat mis of the works was reported to be simply eight millirem, approximately equal to a chest X ray ( American Nuclear Society n.d ) The Chernobyl catastrophe, on the other manus, was far more risky. It was caused by a everyday closure at the Chernobyl station which was designed to prove the ability of the works in working at low power. This in bend led to the reactor going unstable as the flow of chilling H2O slowed ; and the state of affairs was worsened as the works was unable to turn itself off due to disability of the automatic shutoff. After an unsuccessful effort by a worker to manually disenable the reactor, a power rush resulted alternatively, which blew the screen home base of the reactor off and showered the country in radioactive stuff and particulate affair. Subsequently, core black lead caught fire and burned for a period of nine yearss, during which huge sums of radiation was released into the ambiance. The effects were far making, even widening into different states, and immediate emptying was necessary. Still, even with the rapid response the firemans and assorted workers on the site suffered utmost radiation effects. The accident destroyed the Chernobyl 4 reactor ( due to the deficiency of a containment construction ) , killed 30 operators and firemen within three months and caused several farther deceases subsequently on ( World Health Organization 2006 ) . Additionally, three people died on site from detonation and Burnss and acute radiation syndrome ( ARS ) was confirmed in 134 people who had been involved with the clean-up on-site, of which 28 finally died within a few hebdomads of the accident. ( World Health Organization 2006 ) Many beginnings, including the Moore ( 2006 ) and Carbon ( 2003 ) , nevertheless province that the specific design of the Chernobyl works and subsequent behavior of forces straight resulted in this catastrophe. Harmonizing to Moore ( 2006 ) the Chernobyl station consisted of an early theoretical account of Soviet reactor which had no containment vas rendering it highly undependable. He states that harmonizing to a U.N. Chernobyl Forum study in 2005, merely 56 deceases could be straight attributed to the accident, which largely included radiation or Burnss suffered while contending the fire. Furthermore, harmonizing to the Associated Press ( 2005 ) the U.N. study provinces that the largest wellness concern posed by the accident was the mental impact rendered from the deficiency of accurate information on the accident ‘s effects. However, to measure the safety of coal as fuel beginning, one would besides necessitate to see the safety of the procedure of mining the natural resources. Moore ( 2006 ) studies that where 5,000 coal-mining deceases occur worldwide every twelvemonth no 1 has died in a radiation-related accident in the history of the U.S. civilian atomic reactor plan. In add-on, because such great measures of coal are required, the procedure of managing and transporting the coal to the power Stationss themselves increases the clip workers are in contact with coal. The all right dust released from these this coal besides poses big wellness hazards. These include emphysema ( the 4th taking cause of decease in the US ) , chronic bronchitis and silicosis- all of which pose important wellness hazards and the possible hazards of which are directed wedged by long term coal exposure ( Swartout-Corbeil 2006 ) The safety of U excavation has besides undergone important betterments due to strict ordinance and control ( Finch 2006 ) and where 100s of uranium mine workers died from radiation exposure resistance in the early old ages of the industry, the job has now been corrected. The safety of atomic power coevals can farther be demonstrated by research conducted by Ball, et al. , ( 2001 ) which compare the occupational accident statistics of US and UK atomic reactors to those of coal-burning power coevals over the last 40 old ages ( table 5 ) . These figures clearly demonstrate that atomic power is a clearly safer agencies of bring forthing electricity, chiefly due to the great sum of excavation and conveyance involved, and hence the associated hazards of these activities, in providing coal to a power station. However, despite this, extra concerns have been established sing the terrorist onslaughts utilizing substances held at atomic reactors, which realistically, could present a great menace to human populations if used as a arm. Nuclear power workss are designed to defy utmost events such as hurricanes, twisters and temblors, but non needfully impacts by big aeroplanes such airliners- or bombs. Harmonizing to the Nuclear Control Institute ( NCI ) ( 2005 ) a direct, high-velocity hit such as that which would be caused by an aeroplane could hold a high possibility of perforating the containment edifice of a power reactor and that, later, this could take to the release of important measures of radiation into the environment- potentially taking to widespread malignant neoplastic disease deceases. However, the Center for Defense Information ( 2003 ) reported that a 1988 trial conducted by Chapin, et al. , ( 1998 ) in which an remote-controlled aeroplane was flown at about 772 kilometers per hours into a 3.5m thick concrete wall, found that upon impact, the plane would be destroyed, whereas the construction would merely pierced by a twosome of inches. This is supported by Moore ( 2006 ) who reports that the six-feet midst reinforced concrete containment vas would protect the interior contents of the reactor from tearing upon hit with a high velocity plane, or similar beginning of perturbation. In add-on, harmonizing to Behrens and Holt ( 2005 ) the protection of atomic power workss from ground-level assaults and calculated terrorist activities, has become a heightened national precedence since September 11 onslaughts. They province that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ( NRC ) has increased its ordinances on atomic reactor security and assorted measures refering atomic reactor security steps and demands were implemented after the 9/11 onslaughts. Other attacks taken include exigency response activities, instruction on containment of radioactive stuffs and extra regulative and legislative proposals. Linked to this is the menace on atomic arms being derived from atomic fuel. This poses the most serious hazard as it is the most hard issue to turn to. However, recent ordinances and security steps promise to battle this menace and, as with most other human development, there will evidently ever be a possibility of powerful engineering being utilized for illegal intents. Yet, it would be highly short sighted for this one issue to be used as a ground for censoring a engineering which would offer populations important advantages over presently utilised procedures. When looking at the hazards associated with other signifiers of electricity, the menaces involved are merely as important. Harmonizing to Carbon ( n.d ) a decease count of every bit much as 15,000 was reported due to dam failure in India in 1979, to boot the Natural Resources Defense Council ( n.d ) has estimated, utilizing surveies conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, that about 64,000 premature deceases consequence in American metropolitan countries due to particulate affair released into the ambiance from the combustion of fossil fuels, ensuing in human deaths of about 100,000 people per twelvemonth for the full state. Of the causes coal-burning power workss were listed as the primary subscribers, ensuing in about tierce of these deceases ( 33,000 per twelvemonth ) due to electricity works discharges. However, since atomic workss emit no particulate affair, the execution of these system could potentially salvage many lives in the hereafter.WasteNuclear waste is the ra dioactive waste that consequences from atomic reactors, and is divided into low, medium, and high-ranking waste by the sum of radiation the waste produces. The chief beginning of atomic waste is the of course happening radioactive stuffs ( NORM ) . In fact, all substances are somewhat radioactive from the decay of of course happening isotopes such as carbon-14, potassium-40, uranium-238 and thorium-232. However, atomic waste formed from NORM are non radioactive in most instances, even though they could bring forth unsafe degrees of radioactive gases. Human-built atomic reactors is the other chief beginning of planetary atomic waste. When an atom undergoes fission, the two pieces of the karyon may besides be radioactive, and take 1000s of old ages to disintegrate ( they are later known as fission merchandises ) . In add-on, other beginnings of atomic waste include the genteelness of new atomic fuel from U ( where already used fuel is reprocessed into new fission stuff ) , neutron activation of stuffs in the reactor ( where neutron radiation induces radiation in other stuffs, when the atomic nuclei gaining control free neutrons and go heavier and enter aroused provinces ) and besides from the remnant depleted U from the enrichment procedure. The atomic fuel package ( groups of rods dwelling of the uranium fuel beginning ) still contains much of the original U after being removed from the reactor, and this U does non fission easy. In add-on, assorted together with the U are transuranic elements every bit good as fission merchandises. Transuranic elemets are unstable elements with atomic Numberss greater than 92 that easy decay radioactively into other elements. They are formed from the neutrons responding with the U. It is finally through the procedure of atomic reprocessing that the mixture is separated through later screening the chemicals inside the used fuel. Due to the big differences in the measures of fuel used in the atomic and coal power Stationss, the waste output after the electricity has been generated is besides significantly different. In a 1000 MWw atomic reactor the about 27 metric tons taken from it each twelvemonth is extremely radioactive and gives off a batch of heat. A big part of this can be reprocessed and finally 97 % of the 27 metric tons is recycled. The staying 3 % , which equates to about 700 kilograms, is potentially risky, high-ranking radioactive waste and later has to be isolated from the environment for a really long clip. However, due to the little measure produced, it is comparatively easy to be controlled and disposed of in most instances. ( World Nuclear Association 2001 ) This involves chiefly three processs: 1. Deep ocean disposal: Here containers made of borosilicate glass, a type of glass made from silicon oxide and B oxide which is accordingly opposition to sudden alterations in temperature ( temperature dazes ) , are filled up with atomic waste. The glass prevents any atomic radiation from leaking out and is to boot enclosed in another water-tight metal container before being dumped into the ocean. If decently manintaned these containers should be leak-proof, despite guess there is a guess that little hints of radiation is still able to get away from these containers. 2. Deep geological entombment: This method uses containers similar to those in deep ocean disposal system but, in this instance, they are buried deep resistance, off from populated countries. Here, the disposal of the waste depends on the construct of natural decay of the radioactive stuff in order to be successful. By burying the stuff the intent is to let it to disintegrate to a safe degree of radiation, which will of course be determined by the half life of that substance. 3. Nuclear waste recycling: This is a new is a new waste disposal method where chemical procedures will be used to divide U, Pu and other fission merchandises into different watercourses utilizing chemical procedures and later allows the merchandises to be re-used or disposed of more easy. These procedures are to a great extent regulated by world-wide authoritiess and should, if conducted decently, non ensue in any possible hazards for the environment or human wellness. Again it can be seen, as with the safety of power Stationss, that atomic power merely becomes a menace if the proper protocols and already established safety processs are non followed right due to human mistake. In a 1,000 MWe coal-burning power station, nevertheless, about 7 million metric tons of C dioxide is produced each twelvemonth, with an extra 200,000 metric tons of sulfur dioxide- both of which are a major beginning of atmospheric pollution. In add-on other waste merchandises are besides produced from the combustion of coal, including every bit much as 200,000 metric tons of fly ash ( which contains assorted toxic metals ) , carcinogens and mutagens ( substances that can do malignant neoplastic disease or lead to familial alterations ) every bit good as natural radioactive substances ( World Nuclear Association 2001 ) . In fact, harmonizing to a study on â€Å" Scientific American † online by Hvistendahl ( 2007 ) the fly ash carries 100 times more radiation into the environing environment than a atomic power works bring forthing the same sum of energy and the estimated radiation doses of people populating near the coal workss investigated were equal to or higher than doses fo r people populating around the atomic installations. A study by the Clean Air Task Force ( 2001 ) has found that all right atom pollution from U.S. power workss consequences in the decease of over 30,000 people each twelvemonth, and about two-thirds ( over 18,000 ) of these deceases could be prevented if sulfur dioxide and N oxide pollution are reduced by at least 75 per centum below 1997 emanation levels- a undertaking greatly likely with the use of atomic power. These changeless waste modus operandis can present important environmental and wellness menaces even great distances from the power station, if action is non instantly taken in cut downing the emanations. A few such effects include acerb rain caused by the release of S dioxide, which could ensue harvest decease and depletion of micro-organisms in dirt as the H2O seeps resistance in add-on to the release of unsafe chemicals which have been stored in substances in the dirt and can respond with the acid. Global heating could besides result- where nursery gases from industries contribute to greater volumes of heat being trapped by the ambiance, altering clime forms and hence besides impacting the migration of disease transporting beings, forestalling harvest growing and ensuing in biodiversity and ecosystem services loss which would be one million millions of Rand to provide manually. Any method of bring forthing electricity would affect at least some kind of waste merchandise. The lone ground why atomic waste causes so much argument is that it is the lone method of energy production where the procedure of waste disposal can is done manually and the costs are met by the power manufacturer themselves- unlike coal workss which merely emit wastes into the air. Harmonizing to the World Nuclear Association ( 2001 ) the atomic power presently prevents an extra 2.4 billion metric tons of C dioxide emanations from being released each twelvemonth.A Safer AlternativeNuclear mergerAs already discussed the construct of atomic merger would besides present great advantages over current methods of power coevals from atomic beginnings. This merger of light atoms into 1s with heavier karyon, which releases big sums of energy was first theorized by Hans A. Bethe of Germany in 1939 ( Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 2010 ) who suggested that much of the Sun and others stars ‘ ener gy semens are derived from the merger of four H karyon, into a individual He karyon. Fusion is hard to accomplish, nevertheless, because of the C barrier. This is a type of energy barrier caused from the force that two karyons need to get the better of so they can acquire near adequate to each other to transport out atomic merger. The job is that the most suited merger fuels normally have the lowest C barriers, and are hence are the least stable. These include isotopes of hydrogen-deuterium ( 2H ) and tritium ( 3H ) . Consequently, scientists today are unable to make and incorporate a merger reaction to utilize as energy, and the creative activity of uncontained reactions would ensue in H bombs, which are highly unsafe to all human life. However one time engineering progresss to a point where containment and use of the energy produced during this procedure is executable, merger could supply huge benefits over current atomic and coal beginnings, these include: 1. Bing an abundant fuel supply, as already discussed- heavy hydrogen can be easy extracted from normal H2O beginnings and is hence available to all states. In add-on, tritium is produced from Li, which can be obtained from many geological sedimentations or in oceans- therefore supplying many extra old ages of usage. These copiousnesss would raise world-wide concerns on fuel exhaustion and depletion. ( Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory 1999 ) 2. No atomic accident risk- in theory, the sums of heavy hydrogen and tritium to be used in reactors are so little that big uncontrolled release of energy should non be possible. However, in the instance of accidents, the plasma blast should be restricted by the containment vas and finally cool down. 3. No air pollution- Like atomic fission, since no dodo fuels are used, there is no emanation of gases or particulate affair from burning of fuel. 4. No high-ranking atomic waste- the procedure of merger produces no fission merchandises and hence do non present managing and disposal jobs. Radioactivity is, nevertheless, produced by neutrons interacting with the reactor construction, but should stuffs be selected carefully selected, the handling and ultimate disposal of activated stuffs should be minimized significantly. 5. No menace of atomic weaponry- it is non possible to utilize the stuffs and byproducts of merger as atomic arms.DrumheadIn consideration of the above consequences, a sum-up of findings have been presented in table 6 below. Table 6: Table demoing the advantages and disadvantages of atomic power, every bit good as justification that support its usage above conventional beginnings Advantages Disadvantages Justification when compared to other energy beginnings Cheap in the long term Large start-up cost Due to the little measures used, atomic fuel costs are much lower than that of coal Stationss Abundant fuel beginning High hazards: atomic accidents such as meltdowns could ensue in long term worldwide impacts Nuclear power Stationss mortality rates are significantly lower than those of coal Stationss and coal excavation Energy content of fuel is high- 1 kg uranium-235 corresponds to 2.7 million kilograms coal equivalent Susceptible to terrorist onslaughts Reactor containment vass should protect against big perturbations New ordinances and Torahs have been established to minimise the hazard. Small measures of waste produced- merely 3 % of the one-year 27 metric tons of waste produced is non reclaimable, coal produces 7 million metric tons of C dioxide and 200,000 metric tons of sulfur dioxide a twelvemonth Hazardous waste: Waste is radioactive and has to be contained and isolated from human populations for every bit long as 10 000 old ages before it is safe once more Correct containment processs should guarantee safety during disposal and handling The extent of public wellness affected by emanations of particulate affair from coal burning is much larger Low emanations of particulate affair and nursery gases Radiation produced could be harmful for environing communities Fly ash from coal emanations contribute merely every bit much radiationDiscussionThe consequences yielded by this survey accurately show the comparative effectivity of atomic power as an energy beginning. As demonstrated in table 2 and table 3 the comparative cost of electricity from atomic power beginnings will be significantly lower than that produced from most other beginnings, despite the building procedure being reasonably capital-intensive. In add-on, change overing to this beginning reduces dependance on fuel monetary values for finding energy costs ( fig 1 ) . Since atomic power utilizations such little measures of fuel, an addition in costs would hold to be sustained for reasonably long periods in order to hold important impacts of the overall costs of electricity coevals. Furthermore, the research by Howden ( 2007 ) and the OCED Nuclear Energy Agency ( 2007 ) suggest important benefits when utilizing atomic power in footings of the sustainability. These beginnings demonstrate that the current militias of U, used in atomic power, would be able to supply dependable energy for far longer than the current coal militias which are expected to be exhausted within the following century. The energy content of U has besides been found to be far greater than that of coal, giving more than 10 000 times the energy in the natural province ( World Nuclear Association 2001 ) . The difference in the comparative measures of fuel required by the different power Stationss is important as good, with far less measures of U being needed to bring forth the same energy ( European Nuclear Society ( n.d ) . Linked to this is the construct of safety. This is possibly the most good covered issue refering atomic power, with many people believing that atomic Stationss pose significantly greater wellness hazards than those of coal Stationss. However, harmonizing to the consequences, this would non look to be true. The causes of many of the most well-known atomic catastrophes have really been attributed, chiefly, to human mistake as good and hapless design of reactors in the yesteryear ( Moore,2006 and Carbon, 2003 ) . In add-on, far greater mortality has been reported in the coal excavation industry and coal-related electricity coevals than in that of atomic power, as supported by research of Ball, et al. , ( 2001 ) presented in table 5. Harmonizing to the consequences, the waste output of atomic power is besides much smaller. Therefore, these wastes can be much easier controlled and disposed of if sufficient ordinances and processs are in topographic point. The methods of atomic waste disposal, in add-on, are besides purely controlled and should be sufficient to forestall environmental devastation or negative human wellness hazards. Although the wastes produced in atomic power coevals are much more unsafe in little sums than the coal emanation equivalent, the significantly greater measures of coal emanations have really resulted in a much larger impact on wellness. In add-on, as research by Hvistendahl ( 2007 ) shows, through the emanation of fly ash, coal firing power Stationss can really ensue in radiation in populations environing the emanation station being equal to that of atomic power Stationss. Furthermore, coal power station besides poses extra hazards due to the content of emanation from burning. These include Carbon Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide which could ensue in acid rain and respiratory jobs and besides contribute significantly to the nursery effect- pin downing more heat in the ambiance and finally taking to planetary heating. Consequences have besides shown that the procedure of atomic merger can offer extra benefits over current atomic power coevals techniques. By offering a greater energy denseness and cut downing the sums of waste yielded in the process- atomic power has the potency for going even more efficient. In add-on, the fuel used in this procedure has besides been found to be more abundant than both coal and U and hence change overing to this medium would offer a much more sustainable beginning of power to the full universe.DecisionIt seems clear from the consequences that atomic power would be a executable option to conventional methods of power coevals. In fact, use of this medium could supply important benefits over current energy beginnings. Nuclear power has been shown to bring forth electricity much more economically and faithfully than assorted other fuels. The big copiousnesss of U, the atomic fuel beginning, and the highly little comparative measures required for bring forthing the same energy as in a coal power station offer great benefits when sing the wellness hazards experienced during big graduated table excavation, managing and conveyance of great volumes of coal. In add-on, consequences have shown that safety of atomic power Stationss is, in fact, much higher than those of coal workss and that if the established processs and ordinances are followed right, atomic power should present no important hazards to human wellness. Furthermore, the methods of atomic waste disposal and the ordinances that govern the procedure are extended. Consequences have shown that conventional energy coevals produces much greater waste than atomic power, although this is non ever as apparent. The use of atomic power has hence become a great necessity as ever-increasing degrees of nursery gases pose intensifying hazards for human wellness in the long term. The frights refering the possible negative impacts from radiation produced during the energy coevals in atomic power workss can besides non substantiated since coal Stationss have been shown to do similar effects. Finally, atomic power has besides shown great potency for future efficiency. The find of atomic merger offers an highly low waste, abundant and extremely energy dense option to conventional beginnings. This means that, as engineering progresss, atomic power will present even greater effectivity and in bend offer greater benefits, in footings of cost, energy production ability, safety and waste produced, than current beginnings of power coevals doing it indispensable to sustainable human endurance in the hereafter.

Financial Highlights of John Lewis Performance Essay

Sales Sales are the activity within a business for the purchases of products and service. This is also the operating revenues that is earned by the company  by selling their products or services. Last year, the business was involved in an accounting scandal, and saw the departure of some senior executives. However the retail giant, which has more than 3,300 stores in the UK, had a better Christmas than expected. The sales over the holiday period were down just 0.3 percent on the year before and up 0.1% if fuel sales are included. Overall, comparable sales for the three months to the beginning of January were down by 2.9%.Tesco’s chief executive, Dave Lewis, said the firm was â€Å"facing the reality of the situation† and was â€Å"seeing the benefits of listening to our customers†. Revenue Revenue are the amount of money that the business receives during a specific period which includes the discounts and deductions that are for returned merchandise Revenue is calculated by multiplying the price at which goods or services are sold by the number of units or amount sold. Tesco’s revenue increased from the years 2010 to 2011 from  £57,502m to  £61,174m. This infers to us that there would be an increase in the corporation’s stockholders’ equity and its assets. The revenues will increase the retained earnings section of stockholders’ equity. The assets that usually increase are cash or accounts receivable. Conversely within the years of 2012 to 2013 the business revenue decreased from  £64,541m to  £63,967. This indicates to us that the business reduced their pricing. However within 2013 and 2014 there was an increase within the revenue figures from  £63,967 to  £64,149. Profit Profit is the money that the business makes after accounting for all the expenses. This is a financial benefit that is realized when the amount of revenue gained from the business activity exceeds the expenses, costs and taxes needed to sustain the activity. Any profit that is gained goes to the business’s owners, who may or may not decide to spend it on the business. Tescos Britain’s biggest retailer Shares fell as much as 17 per cent to their lowest in around 14 years as it said trading profits for the year ending February 2015 would not exceed  £1.4bn. This is  £500m below current market forecasts of  £1.9bn. Debt Debt is the amount of money borrowed by one person from another. Many  corporations and individuals use debt as a method for making large purchases that they could not afford under normal circumstances. A debt arrangement gives the borrowing individual permission to borrow money under the condition that it is to be paid back at a later date, usually with interest. Within Tesco the debt decreased within the years of 2010 to 2013 from  £14.0b to  £13.5b because the business is paying off debts owed regularly which results in a positive cash flow. On the other hand the business debt increased within the years 2013 to 2014 from  £13.5b to  £14.5b. This is for the reason that the business are not paying off the liabilities that are owed. Pension A pension is a type of retirement plan, usually tax exempt, where an employer makes contributions toward a pool of funds set aside for an employee’s future benefit. The funds is then invested on the employee’s behalf, allowing the employee to receive benefits upon retirement. Philip Clarke and Laurie Mcllwee are members of the Tesco PLC pension scheme, which provides a pension up to two-thirds of base salary on retirement, normally at the age 60, dependent on service. Within the organisation each year’s pension earned before 1 June 2012 will be increased up to a maximum 5%. Turnover Turnover is the number of times an asset is replaced during a financial period. This would be the number of shares traded for a period as a percentage of the total shares in a portfolio or of an exchange. As we can see above, on Tesco profit and loss sheet there was an increase in the turnover from the years 2010 to 2011 from  £56910.0m to  £60455.0m. This indicates to us that Tesco has strong sales within this year as the business is re-stocking cash quickly and has a lower risk of becoming stuck with obsolete inventory. On the other hand within the years 2012 and 2013 there was a decrease in figures from  £63916.0m to  £63406.0m. This tells that the business is carrying too much inventory which suggest poor inventory  management and low sales.

Greeks essays

Greeks essays The Greeks settled around the Greek peninsula and the islands in the Aegean Sea. They also went to areas located in India. Through the International system, city-states are formed sovereign within themselves. With the Greeks, there was a conglomeration of city-states that had external pressures by the Persians. The Persians were trying to overcome the territory of the Ionian Islands, Thrace and Macedon. With the Greek structure, they formed a military alliance to try to block out the pressures of the boarding states. Athens and Sparta were in charge of the alliance. Larger city-states brought a change to polar international system. They were now controlling the smaller city-states by weakening their boundaries and boycotting by Athens on trade. Wars began to break out between the city-states and Greece became a bipolar power. The intensity of the city-states was ranked by their military and commercial power. Since Athens and Sparta were powerful in these areas, they came to Athens because of better trade and they liked the Athenian laws. Sparta, on the other hand, used military force to gain their territory. War became a constant reality between the city-states. The battle between trade and religion seemed the most outstanding. The city-states interacted through the trading of goods and military supplies. The government could use trade to make pressures on other city-states by boycotting. No one could do any free trading without Athens consent. In the religious aspect, every state had their own religious symbol, which led to conflict and violence. Other irrational means of interaction had to be discovered. As a behavior of norms, diplomacy was used as a source of negotiation between city-states, instead of going to war. War caused massive destruction, cost a lot of money, and claimed many lives. The ambassador would send a high, upstanding citizen to form friendship ...

Analytical overview of the newspaper publishing industry in the uk. The WritePass Journal

Analytical overview of the newspaper publishing industry in the uk. Introduction Analytical overview of the newspaper publishing industry in the uk. , there was a 25% drop in the circulation of the daily newspapers in the UK (Smith 2013). Although the rise of the internet has to some extent benefited newspaper publishers through the revenues generated from advertizing on their online publications, the loss suffered by print advertizing has been far greater than the benefits derived from online publications such that it has resulted in an overall negative growth for most of the newspapers (Boczkowski 2005). Also, the value chain of news production, distribution and consumption has been fundamentally affected by the growth of the internet and the ongoing digitization (Leurdijk et al 2012). Whilst most newspapers have launched their own websites and offered blogs and apps for mobile devices, they still have to bear the costs which are significantly high (Leurdijk et al 2012).   Moreover, the huge quantity of information available online has made it increasingly difficult for people to pay for online services. Pay models which have proven to be successful are scarce. The pay-wall model was initially experimented by some of the newspaper publishers but failed as the subscription revenues could not offset the vast loss of advertising revenues that resulted from decline in readership (Leurdijk et al 2012). However, there have been new attempts lately to re-introduce pay-walls for premium content by some of the publishers such as the New York Times, the Hamburger Abendblatt and The Berliner Morgenpost among others (Leurdijk et al 2012).   But still, only a few companies have managed to succeed in developing viable online business models (Miyamoto Whittaker 2005). Perhaps we can say that the newspaper publishing industry is under turmoil due to the penetration of broadband and the rise of new devices for delivering digital content. Consumers are quickly embracing technology and switching to digital media. However, this transition from traditional print media to digital media varies with age (Fenez et al 2010). The younger generation is particularly the most affected. But as noted by Keynote, the impact has also been felt among the older consumers. Of course these changes will tend to benefit the consumers. Such newer forms of decentralized news will liberate readers from partisan news monopolies which have dominated the industry (Currah 2009). Consumers will also benefit from increase in the availability of free news and news consumption that can be tailored to fit own preference (Currah 2009). But at the same time there is a concern regarding the quality of output, in particular, whether the desired output can be sustained by market. It should be noted that, unlike the traditional news organizations, many actors involved in the online content lack the large fixed cost base needed to provide in-depth and varied reporting of news (OECD 2010). In this regard, will vulnerable news genres such as reporting on local government, investigative journalism and reporting on areas not of immediate economic or political interest, survive (Leurdijk et al 2010)? This is an issue that requires further documentation. Current issues and what the future holds Following the recent recession that led to declining business profit, the advertisers budget has today shrunk (Smith 2013). The impact of the recession has been a decline in readership due to high prices of newspapers. Also, the recent phone hacking scandal that implicated tabloid newspapers has undermined trust in journalists and led to a declining demand in major papers (Smith 2013). More recently, the introduction a new generation of eReaders such the iPad, tablet computers and kindles has provided an alternative for accessing information online (Sabagh 2011). With influx of such portable technology, the decline print newspaper is likely to accelerate, adding pressure to the traditional models that have supported many titles (Sabbagh 2011). The impact of these changes has already been felt by a number of local newspapers with 31 titles closing in 2010 (Sabbagh 2011). However, there are those that seem to handle the transition well such as the Financial Times which has seen a growth in digital subscription (Sabbagh 2011). For instance, in 2011, the average print circulation of Financial Times (FT) was 297,227 whereas that of the digital circulation was around 301,471, indicating a 31% increase in digital subscribers (Greenslade 2012). During the same year, the average global audience grew to 2.1m whereas that of the print stayed flat (Greenslade 2012). But while FT has made a successful digital transition, majority of the newspapers have not succeed in developing viable online business models. Given the declining demand, pressure has mounted on newspapers to adopt defence mechanism in order to protect their bottom line (Smith 2011). Publishers have been forced to optimize online advertizing platforms and some others have had to adopt paywalls (Smith 2011). Also, there are those that are opting to expand internationally in efforts to capture a new market in an information-centric society (Smith 2011). The structural challenges facing the newspaper publishing industry have no doubt resulted in a decline in circulation volume and a shift of advertizing to online channels. The growth in information technology is already having an impact on consumption behaviours as reading is losing against listening and watching of news via the Televisions, radios and the internet (ATKearney 2005). The trend is also forecast to continue in the coming future. As pointed out by ATKearney (2005), circulation of newspapers is likely to decline by over 25% in the forthcoming 20 years due to a decline in readership and the growth of digital generation. With newspaper revenue declining, there is a higher possibility of heavy consolidation to occur through company ‘attrition’ and Merger and acquisition activities (ATKearney 2005). The impact of the recent phone hacking scandal is likely to be minimal as popular titles still remain in fair commercial health. Tabloid newspapers such as ‘The People’, ‘The Daily’ and ‘Sunday Mirror’, and ‘Record titles’ in Scotland are still in fair commercial health. However, whilst the Leveson inquiry is expected to have minimal effects on the industry performance, a concern has been raised that the resulting regulation will be unbalanced between print news and that published online (Smith 2011). Conclusion Indeed we have seen that a number of factors have contributed to a decline in newspaper circulation such as recession, new technology (e-readers and smartphones), new internet intermediaries, new business models, and social factors such as increased participation in creation of digital content. These changes have had mixed effects in the industry. On the one extreme, consumers have benefited from availability of free information and consumption of news content which can be tailored to suit their own preferences. Also such newer forms of decentralized news have liberated readers from partisan news monopolies which have dominated the industry. On the other extreme, the traditional print media has been declining and this demise puts at risk an important foundation of democratic societies. Also, there is a concern that the desired quality output may not be sustainable as many actors involved in the online content lack the large fixed cost base needed to provide in-depth and varied reporting of news. Reference Anon, 2013. UK regional newspapers. Magforum ATKearney, 2005. Newspaper endgame: evolution scenarios for the European Newspaper Publishing industry. London Berte, K. and De Bens, E., 2008. ‘Newspapers go for advertising! Challenges and opportunities in a changing media environment’. Journalism Studies, 9(5), 692-703. Boczkowski, P. J., 2005. Digitizing the news: innovation in online newspapers. Cambirdge, Currah, A., 2009. Whats happening to our news: an investigation into the likely impact of the digital revolution on the economics of news publishing in the UK. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Elvestad, E. and Blekesaune, A., 2008. ‘Newspaper readers in Europe: a multilevel study of individual and national differences’. European Journal of Communication, 23(4), 425-447. Fenez, M., Middelweerd, J., Van der Donk, M., 2010. Moving into multiple business models. Pricewaterhousecoopers, Greenslade, R., 2012. How the Financial Times successfully made the digital transition. The Guardian. Hamel, G. and Prahalad, C.K., 1994, Competing for the Future, Boston MA: Harvard Business School Press. Keynote, 2010. Publishing industry: who still reads newspapers? {viewed on 24th April 2013} availablefrom https://www.keynote.co.uk/media-centre/in-the-news/display/publishing-industry%3A-who-still-reads-newspapers%3F/?articleId=426 Leurdijk,A., Slot, M., Niewenhuis, O., 2012. Statistical, ecosystems and competitiveness analysis of the media and content industries: The newspaper publishing industry. Joint Research Centre Massachusetts: MIT Press. Miyamoto, D. and Whittaker, D., 2005. The book publishing industry in Japan and the UK: corporate philosophy/objectives, behaviour and market structure. Working paper No.309, ESRC Centre for Business Research OECD 2010, The evolution of news and the internet. DSTI/ICCP/IE(2009)14/FINAL Office of Fair Trading (OFT), 2008, Newspaper and magazine distribution in the United Kingdom, Crown Publishers Sabbagh, D., 2011. iPads and Kindles force newspapers further away from print. The Guardian Smith, G., 2013. Newspaper publishing in the UK industry market research report now updated by IBISWorld. IBISWorld {viewed on 24th April 2013} available from prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10407604.htm

The Definition of Natural Experiment in Economics

The Definition of Natural Experiment in Economics A  natural experiment  is an empirical or observational study in which the control and experimental variables of interest are not artificially manipulated by researchers but instead are allowed to be influenced by nature or factors outside of the researchers control. Unlike traditional randomized experiments, natural experiments are not controlled by researchers  but rather observed and analyzed. Natural Experiments Versus Observational Studies So if natural experiments are not controlled but rather observed by researchers, what is there to distinguish them from purely observational studies? The answer is that natural experiments still follow the primary principles of experimental study. Natural experiments are most effective when they mimic as closely as possible the existence of test and control groups of controlled experiments, which is to say that there is a clearly defined exposure to some condition in a clearly defined population and the absence of that exposure in another similar population for comparison. When such groups are present, the processes behind natural experiments are said to resemble randomization even when researchers do not interfere. Under these conditions, observed outcomes of natural experiments can feasibly be credited to the exposure meaning that there is some cause for belief in a causal relationship as opposed to simple correlation. It is this characteristic of natural experiments - the effective comparison that makes a case for the existence of a causal relationship - that distinguishes natural experiments from purely non-experimental observational studies. But that is not to say that natural experiments arent without their critics and validation difficulties. In practice, the circumstances surrounding a natural experiment are often complex and their observations will never unequivocally prove causation. Instead, they provide an important inferential method through which researchers can gather information about a research question upon which data might otherwise not be available. Natural Experiments in Economics In the social sciences, particularly economics, the expensive nature and limitations of traditionally controlled experiments involving human subjects has long been recognized as a limitation for the development and progress of the field. As such, natural experiments provide a rare testing ground for economists and their colleagues. Natural experiments are used when such controlled experimentation would be too difficult, expensive, or unethical as is the case with many human experiments. Opportunities for natural experimentation are of the utmost importance to subjects like epidemiology or the study of health and disease conditions in defined populations in which experimental study would problematic, to say the least. But natural experiments are also used by researchers in the field of economics to study otherwise difficult to test subjects and are often possible when there is some change in law, policy, or practice in a defined space like a nation, jurisdiction, or even social group. Some examples of economics research questions that have been studied through natural experimentation include: The return on investment of higher education in American adultsThe effect of military service on lifetime earning  The effect of public smoking bans on hospital admissions Journal Articles on Natural Experiment: The Economic Consequences of Unwed Motherhood: Using Twin Births as a Natural ExperimentNatural and Quasi-Experiments in EconomicsA Natural Experiment in Jeopardy!

Sensitization on Cultural Diversity Personal Statement

Sensitization on Cultural Diversity - Personal Statement Example From this paper it is clear that the school is the best in assisting individuals attain their goals and objectives while harnessing optimism and diversity to deliver a top-notch education that evolves to meet the needs and demands of the diligences it serves. The diverse backgrounds combined with the energy of New York City supplies a comprehensive studying platform that produces well-rounded leaders. Their unique education integrates rigorous engagement in the classroom with active participation beyond the institution to change mindsets and widen the perspectives of the students.As the report discusses Education, and Human Development as an indispensable factor in advancing my career. Current demographic trends show that different culture and racial interactions are not only growing but also rapidly increasing in concentration in urban areas. A study in the program will provide me with the human relations and analytic skills required to promote affirmative change in the field of pol icy, human services, law, human rights, and education. It will be through confrontation with the most significant social issues in current complex urban domains.  The program will equip me with cross-cultural skills through studying with intellectually gifted and diverse students, of which will enable me to promote the principles of a tolerant and humane society.  It will also equip me with necessary guidelines for producing a documentary that provides others a new point of view on a global case.

Composing american Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Composing american - Essay Example The United States had recently entered into world political theater and literally revolutionized the outcome of WWI. America was no longer a small colonial settlement that once broke away from its European control; it was a nation in its own right that was now as powerful, if not more so, than the traditional Western powers. As a result, the distinct attributes of the nation spilled over into the arts and the American composers of the ‘roaring’ 1920’s ushered in an era that revolutionized the existing pattern to a more modern phase. One of the manifestations of this phenomenon was George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in 1924 which revealed the break away from the traditional composition and demonstrated the influence of a new era. Alternating between the traditional and the Modern, Gershwin introduced himself as a peer amongst the American composers of his time (Oja 646). As a self-proclaimed â€Å"man without traditions,† a statement on which Copland later agreed, Gershwin’s work established a symphonic jazz masterpiece that endures far beyond the mixed perspective of critics of the time (649). The creation of a distinct profile while still connected to Western Europe expansion was a deviation from the norm that was too much for standard critical acclaim (648). Though not entirely negative, the response was one that spawned much debate and elevated Gershwin to a level of prolific discussion, both good and bad, amongst the composing communities of the world. Contrary to what some of the critics thought, Rhapsody in Blue became an instant success and enjoyed a degree of fame that eluded other aspiring modernists. Rhapsody in Blue became so popular that it was performed with the Whiteman’s Orchestra eighty four times in the first year â€Å"and sales of the disc totaled some one million copies.† (Deena Rosenberg, 1991) It was the most opportune time or period when Rhapsody in Blue was

The Controversial Stem Cell Issue Personal Statement

The Controversial Stem Cell Issue - Personal Statement Example There are four kinds of stem cell research that doctors have been focusing their study on. These are stem cells, embryonic stem cells, therapeutic, and non-therapeutic cloning. Embryonic stem cells are the ones that come from a group of cells which are called the inner cell mass and are part of the early embryo called the blastocyst. Once this is removed from the blastocyst, the cells of the inner cell mass are cultured into embryonic stem cells. Thus, it is safe to say that these cells develop a culture that is different from that in the developing embryo (NIH Stem Cell Information Home Page, n.d). On the other hand, therapeutic stem cells are those that can serve as vehicles for effective treatment of certain diseases such as tumors and cancers while non-therapeutic cloning is the duplication of cells that are not done for therapeutic reasons (National Center for Biotechnology Information, n.d). During stem cell research it is definitely not a matter of whether it can do any good, focus should be more on how many pros it has over the cons. Based on the speech that President Bush has given on calling senate to back human cloning ban, there was the stand on taking much benefit of modern medicine without having to crush ethical principles. Speaking of stem cell research which would involve cracking human genetic code for important advances in science to fight diseases such as Cancer, AIDS, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, there arises a big issue where human dignity is always abused. This is because of the fact that stem cell research would require human cloning which is the production of individuals who are genetically identical to another human being, wherein the process would slowly crush ethical principles in protecting human dignity. How? Well, cloning is achieved by putting the genetic material from a donor into a woman’s egg which had its nucleus removed. The result of that is the cloned embryo who is an identic al copy of the donor only. Though some scientists perform this experiment on animals, others have announced to produce cloned children despite the fact that this can lead to terrible abortions and abnormalities (President Bush Calls on Senate to Back Human Cloning Ban, 2002). Though we cannot harbor the fact that stem cell research have great possibilities of being able to cure the longest and most costly treatment of sicknesses, we could say that this probability is still of speculation today. Also, if research and the use of stem cell research gets a lot better and actually gives great results in curing those who are sick, one thing is for sure, which is the fact that in doing so, one would always sacrifice the human dignity of people. This is because of the fact that if more and more people get cured through stem cell cloning, there would definitely be more demand on eggs and egg donors, thus, the exploitation of women’s bodies which is a clear form of damage to human dign ity would thrive. Aside from that, women now would be treated as a commodity while children would be born fitting into certain specifications with no room for imperfections. Thinking about this based on logos, ethos, and pathos point of views, one would clearly see that stem cell research should be banned as it is even clearly stated in medical ethics that no human life should be exploited for

The impact of firm resources and host country specific factors on Dissertation - 1

The impact of firm resources and host country specific factors on international entry mode strategy - Dissertation Example Data Gathering Instrument 62 List of Tables List of Figures Chapter 1: Introduction This study aims to determine the factors that influence the choice of entry modes that U.K firms may explore in their effort to establish a presence in a foreign market. Such factors shall pertain to either firm specific or country specific resources and attributes which exert an influence over the eventual choice of a mode of entry of a multinational firm into the host country. During the third quarter of the twentieth century, globalisation was considered a largely political issue, with implications concerning foreign dominance and power wielded by rich, developed nations over the developing and underdeveloped Third World countries. As a consequence, the globalisation commitment entered into by countries in multilateral agreements was met with slow progress and considerable suspicion by political and civic groups. Businessmen were quick to see the advantages, however, of gaining access to new market s opening up across borders. In deciding upon entering a foreign market, a firm takes on considerable risks, but foresees that there is an opportunity to earn considerable returns as well. It will therefore base its decision on whether or not there is a favourable trade-off between risks and returns – that is, whether the chances of earning returns significantly higher than it would in the local market would exceed the risks that it may be facing. This is the crux of the normative decision theory. On the other hand, behavioural theory suggests that a firm may also consider entry into foreign markets depending on the trade-off between the relative availability of resources in the targeted site compared with the home site, as against the degree of control that may be exercised, which is... The paper tells that in an era of expanding globalization, tastes and preferences of people in different countries and cultures have converged, due to many factors most prominent of which is the increased flow of electronic communications by which people across borders are able to exchange information and socially interact with one another. As a result, the fashion clothing industry has been rapidly expanding across the globe, with the development of brand loyalty and affinity playing a large part in the economic success of certain brands. Fashion clothing companies, in an effort to penetrate new markets and, in some cases, explore new, less costly sources of factors of production, contemplate cross-border expansion. The problem with such a strategy is that there is no one fixed approach to entering another market. Each situation is approached in its own context, because of the unique set of issues relating to each location’s political, economic, social, technical, legal, and environmental circumstances. The particular competencies and resources of the business also work to influence the feasibility of the company’s entry into a foreign market. It is thus possible for a company to select and control the conditions of its entry into other countries, such that it may develop channels of distribution with varying degrees of commitment and exposure. Three companies in particular – Marks & Spencer, Burberry, and Next – have pursued aggressive expansion strategies in foreign markets.

Criminal law coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminal law - Coursework Example For instance, the offender may have been stopped by a police officer who arrived before the completion of the criminal act. A complete, but imperfect attempt occurs when the offender carries out all the actions that he had planned out to do, but fails to attain the desired end result. An example here is the attempt to murder a victim, where the offender stabs them with a knife and leaves them to die, but they fail to – after being saved or taken to hospital (Hasnas, 13). The two rationales used in determining or making inferences from an attempt crime include the following: Analyzing the dangerous nature of the acts, and evaluating the dangerousness of the defender. In focusing on the dangerous acts, attention is placed on how close the defendant came, towards the completion of the attempted crime, and this move is aimed at averting the danger that may result from the dangerous ways of the defendant. When the focus is on the dangerous nature of the defendant, attention is plac ed on determining how the defendant has fully developed their criminal intent, and this move is aimed at neutralizing the dangerous conduct. From a legal principle’s perspective, the defendant is considered innocent, until it has been proven that they are guilty of the attempt. The guilty or the innocent status of the defendant is determined by the prosecution team, and not the defendant or the complainant. An example here is the case of a woman who tries to kill the husband with a knife, but the husband escaped the attempt after receiving a cut. In this case, the prosecution must decide whether to charge her for domestic violence or attempted murder, as she cannot be penalized twice for the crime (Fletcher, 149–151). Q 2. Discuss the broken windows theory and provide examples. What has the research shown about the validity of the theory? The broken windows theory is a criminal basis explanation model, which suggests that a society or a part of society which seems lawl ess ends up becoming a breeding ground for lawlessness and crime. The theory builds its arguments on the basis of social cohesion, and has influenced legal practice since the 1980s. The specific claim portrayed by this theory is that – the cases of neighborhoods that look disordered, unfriendly and broken down – tend to nurture the development of crime and delinquent behavior. The theory, further, suggests that a society that lacks a sense of mutual interest and social cohesion will be faced by an increasing level of criminality. The basis of the central theme of the theory is that the prevalence of disharmony and unfriendliness push the members of society into developing thinking habits – of believing that order, fairness and wrong acts do not matter, and that no one cares. The nurture into incivility leads to the development of incivility among the members of the society, causing them to adjust, into fitting into the uncivilized society. As an example, is the case of a stateless society, where conflict resolution models are not present: in such a society, a person who offends another is not punished, therefore the victim is left to decide whether to revenge the offense or not. Another example is the tendency of children brought up in violence filled homes, as they grow up to become violent, because they adjust and develop the tendencies of violent behavior (Gault & Silver, 240-243). Research in verifying the broken windows

Shifting Power to Make a Difference Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Shifting Power to Make a Difference - Essay Example The problems that faces the institutions that handle international aid - whether they may be on the supply side or intermediaries- is how to best utilize the fund such that the intended improvements for the beneficiary are achieved. This has especially been a growing concern because even with the billions of dollars that have been donated and already consumed, much of the inequalities still remain and the gap seems to be growing. That is, the amount spent is not proportional to the benefits and development acquired whether it may be material or personal. As with all issues and problems, a number of perceived solutions especially from scholars have been forwarded to address the inefficiency of handling and utilizing international aid. Robert Chambers and Jethro Pettit are two such scholars with their composition entitled "Shifting Power to Make a Difference". In this essay, the concept of power to control and to decide as confined to the few is the reason blamed for the inadequacy and inappropriateness of handling international aid. For Chambers and Pettit, the orientation of organizations tends to be non-inclusive meaning the donors usually dictate how the aid is going to be used. This become problematic because the donors may take an inappropriate and even a skewed perspective. Even with the best of intentions, it is simply not the same as asking and considering the voice of the beneficiaries what their problems and perceived solutions are and having them take a participatory role and not just a passive role in a matter that will u ltimately be affecting their lives. The effect to the poor of confining decisions and implementations to the donor and intermediary is what Chambers and Pettit would call an "alien hand". The authors recognize that the problem is in the system and not some external factor. With power already confined to those in the upper echelons, the "norms and procedures combined with personal behavior, attitudes and beliefs, serve to reinforce these existing power relations." (p. 137) Chambers and Pettit identify four action domains that should address the problem with the system and personal behavior. They are the following: Understanding and Analyzing Power Within the mechanism involved in international aid lies the basic issue of who gets to decide and who gets to control. To effect change, we must first be aware of the power relations that exist and determine their impact on aid and development. Only thru awareness and understanding of these power relations can we get an idea of how to best acquire and use it. The authors point out that with knowledge of the implications of the power exercised by donor agencies can they realize the importance of sharing power such as encouraging beneficiaries to make a more proactive stance. The attitude of "I give therefore I decide" could be avoided by acknowledging that those who received are the ones ultimately affected and should therefore be given an opportunity to voice out their opinion. Narrowing the gaps between words and actions For Chamber and Pitt, the lingo used in international aid is problematic. As an example, they cite the use of the word "partnership" which "implies collegial equality and mutual reciprocity" but in reality, only those "who control the funding call the shots". What

Criminal law coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminal law - Coursework Example For instance, the offender may have been stopped by a police officer who arrived before the completion of the criminal act. A complete, but imperfect attempt occurs when the offender carries out all the actions that he had planned out to do, but fails to attain the desired end result. An example here is the attempt to murder a victim, where the offender stabs them with a knife and leaves them to die, but they fail to – after being saved or taken to hospital (Hasnas, 13). The two rationales used in determining or making inferences from an attempt crime include the following: Analyzing the dangerous nature of the acts, and evaluating the dangerousness of the defender. In focusing on the dangerous acts, attention is placed on how close the defendant came, towards the completion of the attempted crime, and this move is aimed at averting the danger that may result from the dangerous ways of the defendant. When the focus is on the dangerous nature of the defendant, attention is plac ed on determining how the defendant has fully developed their criminal intent, and this move is aimed at neutralizing the dangerous conduct. From a legal principle’s perspective, the defendant is considered innocent, until it has been proven that they are guilty of the attempt. The guilty or the innocent status of the defendant is determined by the prosecution team, and not the defendant or the complainant. An example here is the case of a woman who tries to kill the husband with a knife, but the husband escaped the attempt after receiving a cut. In this case, the prosecution must decide whether to charge her for domestic violence or attempted murder, as she cannot be penalized twice for the crime (Fletcher, 149–151). Q 2. Discuss the broken windows theory and provide examples. What has the research shown about the validity of the theory? The broken windows theory is a criminal basis explanation model, which suggests that a society or a part of society which seems lawl ess ends up becoming a breeding ground for lawlessness and crime. The theory builds its arguments on the basis of social cohesion, and has influenced legal practice since the 1980s. The specific claim portrayed by this theory is that – the cases of neighborhoods that look disordered, unfriendly and broken down – tend to nurture the development of crime and delinquent behavior. The theory, further, suggests that a society that lacks a sense of mutual interest and social cohesion will be faced by an increasing level of criminality. The basis of the central theme of the theory is that the prevalence of disharmony and unfriendliness push the members of society into developing thinking habits – of believing that order, fairness and wrong acts do not matter, and that no one cares. The nurture into incivility leads to the development of incivility among the members of the society, causing them to adjust, into fitting into the uncivilized society. As an example, is the case of a stateless society, where conflict resolution models are not present: in such a society, a person who offends another is not punished, therefore the victim is left to decide whether to revenge the offense or not. Another example is the tendency of children brought up in violence filled homes, as they grow up to become violent, because they adjust and develop the tendencies of violent behavior (Gault & Silver, 240-243). Research in verifying the broken windows

Dante's Inferno Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Dante's Inferno - Essay Example In his journey, he met three animals – leopard, lion and wolf. At a glance, it just seemed that these animals were plain predators that would cause harm to the narrator. However, these animals are symbols of the forms of sin. The leopard symbolizes sins of self-indulgence or lust. This form of sin is the easiest to commit. Naturally, humans seek pleasure, extravagant and sometimes greedy which are often sins of youth. The sin of bestial violence is represented by the lion. These are sins of adulthood, one of which is pride. The wolf represents malicious sins or the sins of age (Davis 2006). The poem illustrated the different levels of hell which corresponds to a particular sin. Beginning in Canto IV, the first circle is the Limbo where sighs were mostly heard is described as peaceful, yet sad. The souls in this were those people who are good but were not baptized. In the Catholic religion, one has yet to be baptized for the original sin (sin of Adam and Eve) to be forgiven. I am truly torn about this particular punishment because I also believe that if one is not baptized, one is not a part of the Christian world. In this case, since God has three entities – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost- God is Christ and if you are not a Christian, there is no place for you in heaven or in paradise. On the other hand, logic tells me that there are non-Christians who are more deserving than Christians, and in this perspective it is not fair. The second circle is where the lustful are tortured; but the punishment is still considered as mild because lust is closely assoc iated with love and therefore is viewed with compassion. The third circle of hell was smaller, filled with cold and heavy with dirty rain. This circle is surrounded by new suffering with souls unhappily lain in the filthy mud, tormented by the three-headed doglike demon Cerberus. These were the