Reasons and Objectives free essay sample

As far as my eyes could see everything was divided into white and blue. There was barely any noise and there was an uncomfortable pressure in my ears. I had been on planes many times before but this would be the last time I would get on one. My family and I were leaving our home in Peru and moving to the U.S. permanently. Unbeknownst to me, we would not be allowed to return or enjoy many of the benefits Americans have. But I didn’t care about that then, I was enjoying the flight and the view for one last time. After a couple of week’s search, my parents found an apartment that we could move into. The rent was more that they were comfortable with but they knew the district had a good school so they took it. Ever since I can remember my parents have tried to give me a good education. We will write a custom essay sample on Reasons and Objectives or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In Peru, they made an effort to sign me up to a good school, so it was no surprise that they would try here as well. At the time we moved I couldn’t do much to help their goal, all I could do was try my best at school. But now that’s changed. I keep my parents objectives at heart and try to obtain the best education I can get. Education is the first step towards financial stability. A degree from a respected college or university will allow me to secure this. I hope go obtain a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and get a job in a related field. With this, maybe I can one day pay back my parents for all of their hard work.

The Black Cottage, Sikes And Nancy, And Treasure In The Forest.

The Black Cottage, Sikes And Nancy, And Treasure In The Forest. I have read 'the Black Cottage' written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, 'Sikes and Nancy' written by Charles dickens in 1869 and ' the Treasure in the Forest' written by H.G. Wells in 1895.A feeling of suspense is created the black cottage when the two housebreakers attempt to break into the Black Cottage. The climax in the story is when Bessie finally escapes from the cottage just as Dick and Jerry break the door down.HG Wells Treasure in the Forest creates suspense as the two explorers find the dead body of the Chinese man near the treasure. The climax of the story is when Hooker pricks his thumb on one of the thorns and realizes what Evans has done.Suspense is created in Sikes and Nancy when Sikes kills Nancy the climax is when Sikes accidentally kills himself when he falls off the roof and the rope hangs him by the neck.Sykes's NightjarIn Sikes and Nancy nearly all of the main characters are villains. Nancy is shown to be the good one as she does nothing bad, but she is not necessaril y perfect. Sikes is clearly made out as the villain as he is the one who kills Nancy and he got what he deserved when he dies. Another villain could be seen as Fagin, he is the one who hires a spy to watch Nancy when she goes to see the people but he is also the one who tells Sikes that he may be being over the top about it. Morris bolter is not shown as anyone as he is just doing his job and not taking sides.In the treasure in the forest there is not a hero or heroine. Hooker and Evans are shown as the villains as they killed the Chinese man...

The Future of Trucking While Deaf

The Future of Trucking While Deaf The trucking experts over at CareersInGear.com recently explored the policies and attitudes the hearing trucking world holds towards Deaf or hard of hearing truckers. It’s not as simple as a question of discrimination based on disability- the physical exam all truckers must pass in order to acquire their CDLs involves a â€Å"forced whisper† test and, failing that, an audiometry test, which they can take with or without their hearing aid.This tests  that truckers must be able to:Make a decision based on emergency sounds/sirensHear sounds of improperly operating mechanicsCommunicate with other drivers, lumpers, consigners, customers, or trucking scales operatorsHowever, not all trucking environments require a perfect ability to hear. Accommodations available for current Deaf and hard of hearing drivers include assistive mirrors, enhanced visual turn indicators, and visual signals of horns, sirens, or loud noises that can be adjusted when a driver goes through a constru ction zone or similarly loud environment. Service dogs are also growing in popularity- trained animals can alert drivers to intruders, door bells, knocks, alarms, and phone calls, and signal drivers that other drivers are trying to talk to them.And what often goes unsaid during discussions of Deaf drivers is that all truckers, regardless of their hearing status when they first climbed into their rig, are losing their hearing during their years on the road. Banning Deaf or hard of hearing drivers from behind the wheel entirely means eventually losing entire generations of experienced, capable drivers!In 2013, responding to repeated requests from the National Association for the Deaf, more than 100 hours of interviews with deaf/hearing impaired drivers, and reports that Deaf drivers actually have fewer distractions behind the wheel, the DOT granted hearing waivers to 40 Deaf drivers. In the next year or so, these drivers should be reporting back on their experiences and whether their safety ratings are similar to  those of hearing drivers. The results should be highly informative to up-and-coming drivers with hearing impairment.

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 17

Strategic management - Essay Example In this approach, resource allocation plays a major role as implementation of a plan requires wide array of resources. There has been numerous models and frameworks developed by practitioners in context of strategic decision making. This approach cannot be considered as static in nature and the models comprise of feedback to monitor execution. Strategies are designed by organizations in order to obtain valuable and unique position in the market place. Strategic management helps an organization to identify its areas of strengths that can be utilized to obtain desirable goals and objectives. In this particular study, strategic management at Nestle will be thoroughly analyzed. Nestle is a Swiss multinational company belonging to the food and beverage industry. The company has its headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. Nestle can be stated as the largest food company in context of revenue margins. A merger of Anglo-Swiss Milk Company led to the formation of Nestle in 1905. The company has e xpanded its business operations through product diversification strategy. It initially manufactured infant formula products and condensed but later shifted into wide range of products such as bottled water, tea, coffee, breakfast cereals, baby food, dairy products, frozen food, confectionary, snacks, ice-creams and pet foods. On the other hand, the company has even done series of corporate acquisitions so as to sustain its position in the industry. Nutrition can be stated as the core principle in Nestle’s business operations. However in the current scenario more emphasis is given on this factor along with wellness and health. Individual business units and corporate wellness units of Nestle are major driving forces in Good Life, Good Food to end users. The global population has witnessed a tremendous growth and it has summed up to six billion. There have been changes in lifestyle and even living standards have improved in

Education in britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Education in britain - Essay Example ey have a high standard of teaching, and efficient facilities that improve on the quality of teachings conducted by these institutions (Clughen, 2012). On this basis, almost every student who passes through private schooling will qualify for a place in some of the British prestigious institutions. In Britain, it is mandatory for girls and boys to attend full time learning until they reach the ages of 16 years. However, majority of students stay at school after the ages of 16 years for purposes of preparing themselves to attend university education, or for purposes of advancing their careers. In private schools, students usually finish their education when they reach the ages of 18 years, and almost all these students usually qualify to attend a university education at a prestigious university institution (Clughen, 2012). In 1988, Britain introduced a national curriculum whereby all schools that are funded by the state must follow (Smith, 2012). This national curriculum targets students who are of ages 5 to 18 years old. However, it is not mandatory for private school institutions to follow this curriculum. But, these private institutions have to prove that they offer an all round education system, and therefore, they are inspected on a regular basis. At state schools, every year of study has a number, for instance, primary education begins with year 1. Secondary education on the other hand begins with year 7, and majority of students begin their secondary education when they are of ages 11 years. However, in some private schools, children begin their secondary education when they are of age 13 years that is in year 9 of their studies. At the end of the fourth key stage that is in year 11 children usually take a series of examinations referred to as the GCSE. This examination usually comprises of between 8 to 10 subjects, and these subjects include Mathematics, English, Science, Religious studies, etc. At the fifth key stage, students usually take an advanced

World Trade bombing Essay Example for Free

World Trade bombing Essay The battle against terrorism has been centered on the Middle East where top terrorist group Al Qaeda – perpetrators of the World Trade bombing – has been formed and operated under Osama Bin Laden’s leadership. Evidences such as videotapes of Al Qaeda members being trained in the camps as well as reading scriptures from the Quran have been seen by the public concluding a message that this a group acting in the name of religion, on behalf of Islam and of their God, Allah. Terrorist groups have risen out of different events in history where Muslims consistently suffered under the hands of their western conquerors. One of these events is the declaration of the Israeli state displacing a lot of Muslim Palestinians, thus, resulting into a full blown civil war which still occurs today. The alliance of the powerful United States with the Israeli Jews and the invasion of the said country to Afghanistan (Osama’s home country), and Iraq for oil purposes; urged a call for all Muslims to fight against the United States and its allies. Allah, the God of Islam, is seen as a god that does not tolerate injustice and seen as a leader who is the protector of the oppressed and punish non-believers. Seeing the damages that the war in Israel and in Afghanistan brought to the Muslim, Osama has taken the lead in calling for the Muslim people to uphold Allah’s laws and fight off the injustice deeds of the powerful conquerors. His message boxed the compass: kick out the foreign armies occupying Muslim lands, defend the pure poor from the corrupt rich, upend the high and mighty, inspire youth by one’s own selflessness†¦His effrontery against the odds acted as a powerful magnet. (Randal, 2005, p. 46) By carrying out the trait of Allah as the warrior of the oppressed people, the message of Osama and the success of the bombings in Lebanon strengthen the aim to form terrorist factions in order to spread Islam and abolish all kinds of religions. Martyrdom The goal of fighting off non-Islamic factions has instilled an image of a ruthless oppressor due to the Muslims’ experience under the hands of western groups that has a completely different belief from them. As terrorist groups have been established, members are always being reminded about their purpose through indoctrination. Leaders of the group would often read the scriptures from the Quran, retells the heroic acts of the Islamic wars; and most importantly if they are to prepare for a suicide mission, the leaders reminds them Allah’s will of self-sacrifice and the rewards that awaits them in paradise after death (Bongar, Brown, Beutler, Bongar, Zimbardo, 2007, p. 110). Martyrdom is not a duty to be followed, it is embraced by the members wholeheartedly and waiting for it with anticipation. The act of a suicide attack is a manifestation of the martyrdom. For the Muslim terrorists, achieving martyrdom by means of suicide is a way of cleansing the sins and a form of reward. Mortal life is a life encompassed with sin. From the Christian perspective, people are destined to either go to heaven or to hell depending on the sins that have been committed and repented during his or her mortal life. On the other hand, the Islam teaches that through martyrdom, a sinner can redeem himself or herself from the sins that have been done. Participating in a suicide mission is a method to reach self-purification and to be clean from all the sins which will make an individual worthy of the eternal paradise (Pedahzur, 2005, p. 37). Aside from the promise of self-redemption, martyrdom is also use to pose as a reward not just the after-life paradise with Allah but also for family members of the terrorist. One such reward can include a change in the family’s social status (Pedahzur, p.37) where a terrorist coming from the lowest class will be granted a heroic honor for his or her death thus, earning social acceptance and a higher lifestyle from the accumulated financial or material compensation. The family of a martyr terrorist is given a â€Å"certificate of martyrdom† which they can show to avail of privileges in buying food, clothing, and gaining access to social events (Reuter Ragg-Kirkby, 2004, p. 45). Martyrdom is encompassed by the Islamic belief system of ‘jihad’ where the very word has been defined as ‘struggle’ (Habeck, 2006, p. 4). This definition within the context of martyrdom can be said that by means of suicide, to momentarily struggle the pain of inflicting pain or death to the physical body is the path towards eternal happiness. It is a motivation to conclude someone’s life which serves a purpose for the greater good of the Muslim people and for bringing Islam to the top of political power. The Other Purpose of Suicide Terrorism Aside from the strong ideology provided by religion, terrorist groups opted to perform suicide attacks because of practical reasons. Suicide Terrorism has basically became a trend in the new millennium when it comes to attacking opponents. Bruce Hoffman (who specialized in terrorism research stated that suicide attacks are low cost, effective, and cause public attraction (cited in Purpura, 2007, p. 56). Since most of the terrorist factions came from the poverty-stricken countries, if an organization is not supported by an independent financer, suicide attack is a priority to use. Most of the bombs that are attached to the suicide bomber are custom made out of inexpensive materials and to perform a suicide attack, it takes little training since the bomber mixed anonymously with the ordinary citizens (Nikonov, 2007, p.30). Another important aspect of the reference in using suicide attacks, it is because due to the fact that it cost little money and training but it guarantee media coverage (Purpura, p. 56). To be publicized is an essential part so that the group can relay its message to the enemies and at the same time to gain recognition. Recognition in a sense that, when a group member committed a suicide attack it legitimizes the group. The death of a member contributes to the sense of legitimacy and dramatic community investment in a cause. The message is that there is no going back. Some groups engage in glorification of the act, deliberately hyping a â€Å"culture of martyrdom† lionizing the attacker. This celebrity can be powerfully attractive to potential recruits, and with the suicide often comes greater general attention as well to the motivation for the act. (Linden, 2003, p. 83) Lastly perhaps the most important practical usage of suicide attack is that upon the death of the bomber, it is already a clean break. Just like Hoffman stated that there is no need for an escape plan (Purpura, p. 56) and the information with regards to the terrorist organization is left as a mystery. Impact of Suicide Attack to Society Since most of the suicide attackers are left unknown, some researchers have estimated profile of suicide bomber. This includes recruits which have an age range from 16-23 years old comprised of mostly single male while female attackers only made up of a small number; and normally members come from different social classes, with the educated leading the faction (Bongar, et al. , p. 106). It is a pattern that those who have attained education are the ones who organized the group into trainings and launching terrorist activities. From the preceding discussion, the well-publicized feedback that the suicide terrorism receives entails to induce fear not just to its specific targets but to the whole sector of the community. Unlike the conventional wars of the past, the soldiers are the ones who are assured of being killed but for suicide terrorism, it encapsulates the whole society in danger. The unknown identity of the attackers and the massive casualties it caused make people revel into a never ending insecurity. The trust within the structure of the society disappears as anyone can be the victim and anyone can be the suspect. According to Christopher Reuter and Helena Ragg-Kirkby (2004): Suicide attacks affect us profoundly and powerfully. They remind us that there are people who consider their struggle – whatever the cause – to be more important than their own lives. They annihilate the entire logic of power, since no credible threat can be made against someone who has no desire to survive. (p. 2) This form of terrorism of leaves the society in paralyzed fear with no direction of counter measures to fight against it. It is likened to a battle where one is fully armed however; darkness blinded the vision to properly defeat it. Suicide terrorism does not choose its victims any longer. The main concern refers to how huge it inflicts damage and to convey its power by materializing fear in the form of bloodshed. Perhaps this is the biggest challenge that the modern generation may have encounter, the unknown face of terror is one hard to beat. References Battin, M. P. (2005). Ending Life. New York: Oxford University Press. Bongar, B. M. , Bongar, B. , Brown, L. M. , Beutler, L. E. , Zimbardo, P. G. (2007). Psychology of Terrorism. New York: Oxford University Press.

Alas Babylon Critique :: essays research papers

Critique Alas Babylon, by Pat frank, is a story that revolves round the actions of a single idea, survival. This is reflected in his choice of the title in itself. It is a phrase that is repeated several times in the book, and brings a sense of uneasiness each time. These words come from a part of the â€Å"Revelations of St. John, which describes the decadence of Babylon and the evils that surrounded it at the time (Pg.14-15).† The characters in this book, Mark, and Randy Bragg, began using this phrase from a preacher that they used to listen to as kids. â€Å"Randy and Mark never forgot preacher Henry’s thundering, and from it, they borrowed their private synonym for disaster, real or comic, past or future (Pg.15).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is such a great pattern of impending death and destruction that awaits each character, which a city like Babylon is a perfect comparison to their world in which they live in. Babylon was once a city of many achievements and wonders, proving that they were far ahead of their time. This makes one wonder if it is possible that we are on the same path. â€Å"Sometimes Preacher Henry made Babylon sound like Miami, and sometimes like Tampa†¦(Pg.14)†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The phrase in its self could mean that we have at last reached our point of no return, and that there is no way back, it seems like such a solemn and definite statement that there can be no way out, when Mark says to Randy, ‘But if you hear â€Å"Alas Babylon,† you’ll know that’s it,(Pg.16)’ he means it as a last resort for help or great destruction is coming. Mark knows that there is no choice but to prepare for war, and a message that strong can only be expressed by words that significant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There couldn’t have been a better way to describe what the brothers were feeling at the time, two words ‘Alas, Babylon.’ The title was taken from a text that had been read and reread, and had given many interpretations. In the bible, the name Babylon comes with a association of power and strength. Pat Frank wanted to convey that same feeling to the readers, so he used a city that couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. Only few other events in history were as memorable as the fall of Babylon, so this means it has to be notorious.

Freudian Allegory Lord of the Flies Essay

The way a person behaves can be analyzed by psychoanalysis showing that there is a structural model of personality; this model was created by Freud. There are three parts of personality: Id which contains primitive instincts, Superego which contains the conscience and Ego which maintains a balance. The Id is based on the principle of self pleasure and has no regard for the consequence their actions may have on others. The Superego is very moral and in control of what is right and what is wrong. The Ego is based on the principle of reality and is able to have needs and desires but also considers others in their decisions. In the novel, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, these parts of the personality are represented by the three main characters and it shows that the contrast in their personalities and the lack of an authoritative ego leads to the breakdown of civilization. Jack, Ralph, and Piggy all represent this Freudian model and it is the conflict between these behaviors that causes the breakdown. The part of the personality known as the Id is represented primarily by Jack. This part of the personality allows for the basic needs of a person to be met but all actions are very primitive and are not morally correct. Jack is focused on instant gratification and does not seem to be very concerned about long term survival or being rescued. Superego, another part of the personality, is represented by Piggy. This part represents the conscience and the moral part of all human beings. Piggy is usually able to remind some of the boys what is right and what is wrong. The final part of the personality is known as the Ego and is considered to be the balance between the other two boys. Ralph is the representation of the Ego in this novel. This part of the personality understands that being impulsive can inevitably be harmful. Ralph sees the reality of the situation that they are in but is also able to think on a realistic level to try and meet the needs of the boys. Since he is the Ego, he is able to gain control over the boys and he makes his stance known when he says â€Å"We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages† (Golding 46). Like the Ego, Ralph thinks realistically and wants everyone to think before they act so no rash actions occur and their chance of surviving and being rescued is higher. Ralph gains control of the boys on the island in the beginning of the novel, because of this he is made responsible for dealing with their survival and well being. One of the main things that he cares about for their survival is the building of shelters and he makes this clear when he says â€Å"If it rains like when we dropped in we’ll need shelters all right† (52). Ralph would like to swim and hunt but he knows that building a shelter would be more beneficial to their survival. He also says that the fire is the most important thing on the island (80) and doesn’t believe that they can be rescued by luck if they do not keep the fire going . The fire is also a symbol of how the boys were still civilized. As the fire starts to go out, the boys become less civilized and start to become more primitive, like the Id personality type. Ralph begins to lose his power as he and all the other boys start to become more irrational. Even though Ralph is the representation of t he Ego, he allowed the Id personality to take over him, â€Å"The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering† (116), when he attacked Simon. When Ralph begins to lose his control, Jack becomes the leader of they boys. With the Id being in control, there is no authoritative ego and the civilization on the island begins to break down. Jack is only concerned about power and instant gratification; he doesn’t feel anything for other people and feels only a need to hunt and nothing else. He causes constant disorder on the island by tempting the rest of the boys with the lure of meat and hunting while throwing survival and the chance of being rescued aside. His desire for power is overwhelming and he has no accord for Ralph’s authority. When Piggy is killed, Jack says to Ralph â€Å"That’s what you’ll get! I meant that! There isn’t a tribe for you anymore! The conch is gone-† (181). He feels nothing when Piggy is he killed and would do anything for the power he obtains. Once the conch is destroyed and the boys begin to become uncivilized, the Id becomes the prominent personality type. Piggy tries to stand up for the rules that he was taught to believe in and to the Id as the Superego. Piggy sees the conch as order on the island and believes it should be respected, he shows this when he says â€Å"I got the conch†¦You let me speak† (42). When the boys let the fire go out of control, he makes an effort to tell everyone that they were wrong for letting that happen and that they also let one of the little’ uns get away. He constantly challenges the Id and tries to stand up for what he believes to be right. The balance between his ideas and Jack’s also helped to keep the island stable but when Piggy was killed, the Id becomes dominant and the boys begin to lose control. With Ralph being the balance between Jack and Piggy, he is identified as the leader when the boys first arrive on the island but as time passes the boys begin to become more uncivilized. The lack of a real authoritative figure or an adult figure causes the boys to lean more towards the Id. When this happens, the boys begin to follow Jack because he offers instant gratification in the form of hunting and meat. Jack seems to be able to do anything for his power. Jack’s resistance to morals and control lead to Piggy’s death and the destruction of the conch. When Piggy dies, there no longer is a Superego on the island and the balance between them is broken. Ralph is not dominant enough as an Ego to keep the island civilized. This allows Jack and the Id to take control of the boys and the island, and this causes the breakdown of civilization.

Road congestion

The underlying causes of congestion are far more complicated than many traditional interests have historically been willing to admit. The ability of available roadway space-the most traditional method of measuring supply or capacity to meet traffic demand, is just one of a set of several underlying factors that research has found contribute to traffic congestion. Whereas more than half of all children walked or bicycled to school in the 1950s, that number has now fallen below 10 percent as streets have become more dangerous due to traffic. Combined with the loss of school bus service, the resulting trend has been an overwhelming increase in parents driving their children to school, clogging local roadways during critical peak hours. An estimated 20-25 percent of rush hour traffic on local streets and roads is now attributable to the school commute. To make matters worse, not only does the typical suburban development model characterized by low-density cul-de-sacs, wide, high-speed arterials, and massive intersections make traffic management difficult, it also makes it less cost-effective for public transport to serve scattered destinations and makes walking or bicycling both inconvenient and dangerous. Many experts believe that widening motorways and main roads is only a temporary solution at best to the complex problem of traffic congestion. Indeed, research has pointed to a result known as â€Å"induced traffic† that suggests new and wider roads actually create additional traffic, above and beyond what can be attributed to rapid population increases and economic growth. In larger areas, drivers will often abandon carpools and public transport when additional roadway space is made available, thus creating additional trips and more traffic. In the longer term, the promise of more convenient transportation access allows commuters to live further from work, increasing development pressures and thus fuelling even more traffic demand. The lack of affordable and mixed-income housing near employment centres, and the imbalance between jobs and housing, creates the notorious commutes between the countryside and city areas. Also, with many people losing their confidence in public transport due to long delays, strikes and many rail crashes it seems much easier to take the car. It is important to note that the skewed pricing signals given to travellers appear to make road travel, even at the most congested periods of the day, entirely free, while public transport is often perceived as too expensive. Market failure is the inability of an unregulated market to achieve allocative efficiency in certain circumstances and we see a severe re-allocation of resources. There are various reasons why allocative efficiency may not be achieved, one of these is externalities. An externality is said to exist when the production or consumption of a good directly affects businesses or consumers not involved in the buying or selling of it and when those spill over effects are not reflected in market prices. The spill over effects are known as external costs or benefits. When people use their cars other people suffer from exhaust fumes, congestion and noise. These negative externalities make the marginal social benefit of using cars less than the marginal private benefit (i.e. marginal utility). The optimum equilibrium for society would be where the marginal social cost is equal to the marginal social benefit (Q!). However, a free market left to itself will produce where the marginal private cost is equal to the marginal private benefit (Q^). If there are negative externalities in consumption, a private market will therefore tend to over-provide a good. Congestion in urban areas can be seen as a form of market failure because the socially efficient output is not produced. The social optimum amount of vehicles on the road must be exceeded if congestion results. The marginal cost to the consumer is the only cost really considered when a driver makes the decision to use the car. What is not taken into account are the costs to other road users, the cost to society collectively; the social cost or themselves to some extent. The marginal cost to other road users is the added congestion caused by the extra car on the road. The marginal costs to society collectively are the increase in emissions produced by the extra journey made, the follow on effects from this are large, rising asthma levels in the local area, decaying buildings and collapsing roads could be caused because of the high congestion rates. The marginal cost to the individual could be the opportunity cost of the time spent in congestion. If the more space efficient bus made the journey, the traveller would be able to read the newspaper, play on a hand held computer or even do some work, this is not possible if the car is chosen to make the journey. The marginal utility of existing users of the congested roads would decrease with the addition of an extra motorist, an extra 10 or even 100 motorists would lower the marginal utility levels dramatically. But each individual's marginal cost wouldn't be affected, which explains why the marginal cost and marginal social cost diverge. Congestion is not the only cost that occurs from a large number of cars on Britain's roads. We must also consider, road damage costs, accidental externalities and of course environmental costs. Heavy vehicles basically cause Road damaging as the damage to the road pavement increases to the fourth power of the axle load. Accident externalities arise when extra vehicles on the road increase the probability that the other road users will be involved in an accident. Accident probability depends to a large extend on distance, driving time and particularly the other traffic. This is why accident costs will be treated like congestion costs. Environmental damage comes in various forms, such as local: emission of CO, NC, NO2, global: emission of CO2, CFC, water pollution and noise and vibrations. Congestion is inefficient, polluting and dangerous. Removing just 5% of traffic at peak times could substantially reduce or even eliminate rush hour congestion from many cities. One approach that is starting to stoke interest among municipal leaders is road pricing. The theory seems sound enough: introduce a price on bringing cars into congested areas that incite drivers either not to travel unnecessarily or to vary their times of travel or, indeed, to try public transport, walking or cycling. With the right approach, drivers who incur higher prices during rush hour periods would benefit from reduced congestion and travel time, while nonessential travel would take place at less congested and cheaper times. Road pricing has been debated in political circles for many years. The main debate was about the difficulties that would occur in trying to impose a system in order to toll drivers. These problems no longer exist, and advances in electronic devices have made sophisticated road pricing schemes more feasible. The new technology of electronic tolls no longer requires motorists to halt at tollbooths. Therefore, it prevents additional congestion. Drivers would be given an electronic number plate, which signals to the recording computer the presence of a vehicle. This would be the most direct way to charge the amount specific to the road and the time of the day. The devise could charge users via bank account or monthly bill. This would also allow a central computer to monitor roads with the greatest amount of use. Also, another method that has been put forward is for drivers to buy a travel card (similar to those on London Transport) and display these on their dashboards when driving in and out of priced roads. However, the political will is often lacking, perhaps because of uncertainty about voter reaction. I believe there are both advantages and disadvantages to the proposed road pricing theory. ADVANTAGES OF ROAD PRICING Road pricing is a good instrument to use to internalise most of the external effects mentioned earlier, especially in the case of congestion costs, it appears to be the optimal method of internalisation because a price mechanism would replace the present queuing mechanism, which is allocatively inefficient. Because road prices would be primarily connected with congestion costs, some distributional and locational effects could arise. Costs of driving in non-urban areas would probably fall whereas urban driving costs would increase so that in the medium run, the quality of the public urban transport system would improve. In the case of pricing highways on the continent, road pricing is a good instrument to overcome the free rider problem of foreign carriers using â€Å"home country† highways. This is especially interesting against the background that current ways of financing highways are very different. It is fair to say that foreign carriers buy their petrol abroad, which is cheaper, and they do not contribute to business in the UK. For that reason actual competition between international carriers is not neutral. With the proposed electronic system, there seems to be 2 benefits. The first of these is the business generated from the insertion of the microchips and the second is the ease of use i.e. simply driving past a scanner. Furthermore, Ken Livingston has stated that he believes traffic will reduce by 15% with the implementation of the system and he says money generated from the implementation of such a scheme will be used not only on the maintenance of our roads but also into investment of our public transport which again reduce the number of cars on the road leading to a better environment for all. A recent survey suggested that 70% of the public would not mind paying fuel tax if it was invested in public transport. The system is already used in Singapore and the immediate reaction was a reduction of 24,700 cars during the peak time and also, traffic speed increased by 22% at this time. And also, in Trondheim in Norway the toll was not introduced in order to make people leave their cars at home but soon, it was noticed that congestion was reduced and political consensus was that some of the money generated could be used for public transport within the city. DISADVANTAGES OF ROAD PRICING The cost of implementing electronic toll system is very high. The UK government estimates that the implementation of the system will cost à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2 bn for only a small area such as London. Plus individual costs for every vehicle of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½40 each, not including additional costs of controlling the system. Also, we are likely to see a lagged response and it would take time to raise revenue. The initial costs are high thus; they would have to pay off in the long run. Ken Livingston, has suggested a charge of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 for entering London, many believe that when we consider, fuel taxes, road tax, and maintenance of a car, à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 to enter London is extortionate. It is important to consider those on lower incomes, who may find it difficult to pay a regular à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 charge. This could lead to the displacement of traffic, in the way that people will try to avoid the tolls and take other routes down side roads- this is likely to cause congestion in quieter streets not to mention accidents because the streets are so narrow. The introduction will be hard and people will object to it. They believe it affects their rights of passage and with an estimated 230 cameras per zone it compared to the big brother phenomenon. Tax on roads may have damaging effects on the economy. Because the cost to firms will be greater and it may also serve to make London a less desirable centre, there will be a reduction in Aggregate Supply. There will be growth in unemployment as firms will not be able to afford workers, this will cause a slowdown in economic growth and could even cause an inflationary threat. In terms of negative environmental externalities, road pricing is (with the exception of noise) probably not the optimal instrument for internalisation. Taxes on fuel or emission fees, for instance, charge vehicle emissions in a more direct way and they are very simple to design. Some believe that there should be different taxes for those people who do not have public transport available to them easily and those who do but choose not to use it. Furthermore it must be mentioned that the effect of road pricing depends to a large extent on the authority that receives the revenues and its way of using the money. Economists would argue that the profits made should be reinvested into the transportation system to generate an efficient outcome rather than cross-subsidising other traffic modes or other state activities. CONCLUSION In conclusion I believe that road pricing is the best instrument to internalise the costs of congestion and road damage. Although the initial costs of installation are high, these costs would probably quickly be exceeded by the efficiency gains of corrected prices. Nevertheless, road pricing cannot perfectly internalise external environmental costs. That is why instruments like â€Å"fuel taxation† or â€Å"emission fees† will still be necessary to design an optimal price mechanism in the transportation sector that sets the correct incentives. I believe pricing could be the trick to remove that 5-10% of traffic that causes congestion in peak periods in our cities. If that means picking up the children on time and being able to drive into city centres to shop, then surely that would be a price worth paying. Finally, what's perhaps most important is a recognition that solving these problems will require strong leadership from a government level in addition to management, planning and eventual implementation at the regional and local levels. Traffic congestion must thus be tackled within a broader context of economic, environmental and social goals and its solutions must be compatible and work in support of solutions for a broader range of issues.

Title VII of the Constitution

Title VII of the Constitution Title VII is a chapter in the constitution that prevents employers from discriminating workers based on their religious affiliations. The constitution prevents employers from discriminating employees based on their religious practices and beliefs.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Title VII of the Constitution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The law demands that employers must respect the religious views of employees in the organization. However, the law does not prevent religious organizations from applying strict rules. In the American labor market, religion is one of the contentious issues. Employers find it hard to solve issues related to religion in the organization. Statistics from the EEOC proves that religious conflicts are in the increase in the American labor market. The society is becoming diverse and plural implying that cultural conflicts are inevitable. Religious protection clause under article VII has generated a number of issues in organizations. Some of these debates include the following: What is a reasonable accommodation? What counts as a religious belief that needs to be accommodated? Can employees wear religious garbs or symbols in places of work? Can an employer demand to know the religion of an employee during recruitment? Can employees object to a diversity program or pledge on religious grounds Employers must give realistic accommodation. For instance, the Seventh Day Adventist believers should be allowed to worship God on Saturday. If a company has a residence for employees, employers must provide space that should be used as a worshiping place. It is the role of the employer to ensure that an employee worships God in the organization at the right time and in the right place. In this regard, the management should reschedule work to allow a group of employees to exercise their religious practices. In the organization, article VII requires that the religious b eliefs and practices of employees should be given priority over the interests of the company. In this regard, the organization should not question the credibility of any religious belief.Advertising Looking for research paper on business corporate law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The law aims at covering the beliefs of many employees but not those beliefs belonging to conformist religious groups. In many organizations, the management recognizes the beliefs of Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. Other religious groups are not given an opportunity to exercise their religious right. Therefore, the management must appreciate the religious beliefs of small groups such as cults, and sects. In the workplace, small religious groups are often denied worshiping rights since their practices are believed to defy societal rules. Matters related to religion are sacred, and each should believer should be allowed to exercise a rel igion of his or her choice. In other words, an individual should not be forced to adopt religious practices that are inconsistent with his or her faith. The organization should ensure that employees wear clothes of their choice. Some religions demand that believers must maintain a certain physical outlook and behavior. For instance, a Muslim believer must dress in a way that is consistent with the tenets of the Islamic culture. Women are expected to cover their faces and men are supposed to put on a tarbush. For a company engaging in mining, the employee should be advised to put on safety clothes. However, this should not be mandatory. In the Islamic culture, men are not allowed to shave. The organization must allow an employee to execute his or her duties while observing his or her religious code of dressing. Interfering with the dressing code of an employee might affect his or her duties in the organization. During recruitment, the employer should not ask employees to state their religious denominations. In other words, religious beliefs should not be used to eliminate employees during a recruitment exercise.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Title VII of the Constitution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In some organizations, employers ask recruits whether their religious beliefs would prevent them from working during holidays. This question is unacceptable because Article VII states that an employee has religious rights that should not be compromised in any way. Some employers are tempted to ask employees to state the church they attend. This should be discouraged, and those found engaging in this malpractice should be prosecuted. However, the employer might inform the employee on regular days of work and work shifts. On diversity, an employee should not be forced to accept some cultures that contradict his or her religious beliefs. In the organization, the management might come up with a diversity program aimed at uniting the cultures of various individuals. Cultural diversity is an important aspect in the organization. The management should always ensure that employees respect the culture of fellow employees. However, employees should be taken through a learning process implying that they should not be forced to accept the cultural practices that are not consistent with their religion. For instance, employees are advised to respect the culture of gays and lesbians. The law provides that an individual should not be forced to accommodate a culture that challenges his or her religious practice. For instance, employers tend to force employees to sign a code of conduct requiring them to tolerate homosexuality. Many religious beliefs oppose homosexuality. Therefore, employees must be given a freedom to choose whether to associate with a homosexual or not. In the organization, an employee should not be forced to subscribe to a diversity program. This is because suc h a program might be going against his or her religious values.Advertising Looking for research paper on business corporate law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An employee should be allowed to exercise his religious rights and freedoms without interference from the management. The management does not have the right to stop an employee from practicing a belief related to his or her religion.

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution Evolution is defined as a change in species over time. There are many processes that can occur to drive evolution including Charles Darwins proposed idea of natural selection and the human-created artificial selection and selective breeding. Some processes produce much quicker results than others, but all lead to speciation and contribute to the diversity of life on Earth. One way species change over time is called convergent evolution. Convergent evolution is when two species, that are not related via a recent common ancestor, become more similar. Most of the time, the reason behind convergent evolution occurring is the build-up of adaptations over time to fill a certain niche. When the same or similar niches are available in different geographical locations, different species will most likely fill that niche. As time passes, the adaptations that make the species successful in that niche in that particular environment add up producing similar favorable traits in very different species. Characteristics Species that are linked through convergent evolution oftentimes look very similar. However, they are not closely related on the tree of life. It just so happens that their roles in their respective environments are very similar and require the same adaptations in order to be successful and reproduce. Over time, only those individuals with favorable adaptations for that niche and environment will survive while the others die off. This newly formed species is well suited to its role and can continue to reproduce and create future generations of offspring. Most cases of convergent evolution occur in very different geographic areas on the Earth. However, the overall climate and environment in those areas are very similar, making it a necessity to have different species that can fill the same niche. That leads those different species to acquire adaptations that create a similar appearance and behavior as the other species. In other words, the two different species have converged, or become more similar, in order to fill those niches. Examples One example of convergent evolution is the Australian sugar glider and the North American flying squirrel. Both look very similar with their small rodent-like body structure and thin membrane that connects their forelimbs to their hind limbs that they use to glide through the air. Even though these species look very similar and are sometimes mistaken for each other, they are not closely related on the evolutionary tree of life. Their adaptations evolved because they were necessary for them to survive in their individual, yet very similar, environments. Another example of convergent evolution is the overall body structure of the shark and the dolphin. A shark is a fish and a dolphin is a mammal. However, their body shape and how they move through the ocean is very similar. This is an example of convergent evolution because they are not related very closely via a recent common ancestor, but they live in similar environments and needed to adapt in similar ways in order to survive in those environments. Plants Plants can also undergo convergent evolution to become more similar. Many desert plants have evolved somewhat of a holding chamber for water inside their structures. Even though the deserts of Africa and those in North America have similar climates, the species of flora there are not closely related on the tree of life. Instead, they have evolved thorns for protection and the holding chambers for water to keep them alive through long periods of no rain in the hot climates. Some desert plants also have evolved the ability to store light during the daytime hours but undergo photosynthesis at night to avoid too much water evaporation. These plants on different continents adapted this way independently and are not closely related by a recent common ancestor.

MLK Letter from Birmingham Jail and President Obamas A More Perfect Essay

MLK Letter from Birmingham Jail and President Obamas A More Perfect Union Compare and Contrast - Essay Example Racism has been a problem for the people of America, which has had the Nation’s leaders up in arms trying to advocate for equality across the land. In the past, leaders like Martin Luther King thought fighting for equal rights would bring unity among the people. That was decades ago, and fast forward to today, the United States has its first African American president. The two are both icons of their times (Leeman, 2012). This paper will examine the similarity they share in some of the famous works that saw their fight across international boundaries. Both Martin Luther King and Obama have something in common. It is their fight to eradicate racism against a nation that is considered a super power. The United States has been one of the countries where racism has had a negative impact on the lives of the American people. Stereotyping has made prisons become full of people of minority groups, and this number is on the rise. Martin Luther King’s ‘Letter from Birmingha m Jail’ talks of the many issues that Americans face, and the long road not travelled. Obama faces the same opposition from the same people who were once accustomed to labelling minority groups as barbaric and incompetent (Brinkley, 2010). In Martin Luther King’s letter, he talks of the racism that affected African-Americans in the country. Often, MLK did point fingers at some of the groups involved in the segregation of the people considered the minority. Obama, on the other hand, did not talk to, or about any group of segregated individuals. He decided to go down the diplomatic route with his speech. They both use emotional appeal to attract their audience to their message. This similarity is common in the political arena as political heads are out to talk to a wider audience than just one group of individuals (Brinkley, 2010). The persuasive manner in which they talk to their audience is evident in both leaders. The manner in which Obama appeals to the wider audienc e, however, makes his speech less concise and specific. MLK’s letter, on the other hand, addresses a specific group. The reason this happens is the difference in time. King’s letter came at a time when the nation was battling seriously with the segregation issue, and there were cases where people of minority groups were being killed. In 1963, segregation laws were in effect and proved difficult for any minority group to be heard. Obama was addressing a much more diverse group of people. This is through the evolution of laws and abolition of segregation laws (Leeman, 2012). The other thing that may differ in the two scenarios is the cultural and political ties the two leaders had while delivering their messages. Obama might have had political ambitions. That made his speech much more focused on the diverse America population. King did not have any political ambition; rather, he hoped for the day that the country would allow an African-American leader to lead the nation. It was through such works from Martin Luther King that leaders like Obama have a chance to give speeches. The American public wanted to evolve from the time of segregation through people such as Martin Luther and Jesse Jackson. The two addressed the issue of special interests among people (Brinkley, 2010). Obama, however, labelled the groups involved as corporate leaders who wanted to enjoy the short period of greed. King addressed white supremacist groups, and their quest to eradicate the minority group, specifically African-Americans. Both