Tuesday, December 31, 2019

What Is a Brain Break

A brain break is a short mental break that is taken during regular intervals during classroom instruction. Brain breaks are usually limited to five minutes and work best when they incorporate physical activities. When to Do a Brain Break The best time to do a brain break is before, during, and/or after an activity. The essential purpose for a brain break is to get students refocused and ready to learn again. For example, if you have just finished a mini math lesson on counting, you may ask the students to count the steps it takes them to get back to their seats for a quick transition to the next activity. This will help you with classroom management as well, because students will be so focused on counting their steps, they wont have much time to chit chat during the transition period. For the little ones in kindergarten, you may want to do a brain break after about five to ten minutes into a task when you notice students starting to wiggle around. For older students, plan for breaks about every 20-30 minutes. Brain Break Pick-Me-Ups Whenever you feel your students engagement is lacking, try a few of these pick-me-ups. Have a three-minute dance party. Put students favorite song on the radio and allow students to dance away their jitters.Play Mingle. Set the timer for one-minute intervals that last five minutes. Each time the timer goes off students have to mingle with someone new. The teacher poses five questions on the front board to help get the conversion started.Follow the leader is a student favorite. Change this game up by having students take turns being  the leader.Play a movement song like the YMCA or any other popular dance that all students know. These songs are quick and get students up and moving while releasing energy.Simon says is another classic game that gets students up and moving. Its also a game that you can end after one minute or five minutes.Jumping jacks. Choose a specific number of jumping jacks to get students heart rates up quickly.Skywriting is a great way for young students to practice their spelling or vocabulary words. Just choose a word and have students write it i n the sky. What Do Teachers Have to Say About Brain Breaks? Here is what teachers had to say about using brain breaks in their classroom. I create a special box for students to take turns choosing a brain break activity. Students love to reach their hand in this mystery box to discover what quick activity we will do!Brain breaks do not have to be five minutes or less. In my classroom, I adjust the time based on my students needs. If I see they got all of their energy out in one minute I will redirect them to the lesson. If I notice that they need more than five minutes then I allow that too!Write six brain break activities on a die and have students take turns rolling the die between each task. Or, create a list of activities for each number on a die. Then when students roll, they look on the chart to see which activity they will be doing.In my classroom, we do air band! Students have a blast pretending they are playing different instruments in the air. Its a fun way to get their energy out and we always have a blast doing it. More Ideas Try a few of these 5-minute activities and teacher-tested time fillers.

Monday, December 23, 2019

An Internship At Gucci As A Product Assistant - 1249 Words

3. Terms Of Reference: This report is written by Alex Brits, a Recruitment Consultant at Elite Recruitment Ltd, for Sam Komares, Head of Recruitment at Elite Recruitment Ltd. The objective is to report on the suitability of the candidate for an internship at Gucci as a product assistant. For that, Alex Brits will use the Belbin profile and the CV. In the report, Alex Brits will suggest some recommendations that will help the candidate to improve their weaknesses in order to have the best opportunity to get the internship. The report is due for October the 23rd of 2015. 4. Procedure: I used secondary research about the Kering group. I chose these resources because they are reliable and because i can find many useful information. 5. Findings 5.1 Company Information Gucci is a brand which was founded in 1921 in Florence. Distinguished for its quality and  « savoir-faire  » in fabrication of products such as leather goods, ready-to-wear, watches and jewelry or shoes, it is one of the biggest luxury brands in the world. Today, the brand is also appreciated for its ongoing commitment to responsibly and integrity of all aspects of its business. Gucci was the first acquisition of Kering in the luxury sector. Kering, French company founded in 1963 by Franà §ois Pinault is one of the biggest global leader in the clothing sector and accessories for the Sport and Luxury and also lifestyle markets. This company is a set of 22 brands such as Gucci, BottegaShow MoreRelatedConsumer Lifestyle in Singapore35714 Words   |  143 PagesCare Salons, Spas, Nail and Beauty Parlours ..................................................... 30 Chart 11 Chart 12 Value Sales of Beauty and Personal Care Key Categories 2006-2011 ...... 31 Regional Ranking of Per Capita Sales of Mens Grooming Products 2011 ........................................................................................................... 31 Fashion Habits .................................................................................................................

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Criminal Justice Process Free Essays

The Criminal Justice Process Free Essays Abstract This paper describes all the steps taken during the criminal justice process. It explains how important it is to follow due process according to the bill of rights. During this process suspects are put through a series of steps, some within hours of an arrest and some may take days, weeks, and or months. We will write a custom essay sample on The Criminal Justice Process or any similar topic only for you Order Now The criminal justice process is numerous steps taken to process a criminal case beginning with an investigation and arrest. An investigation is done by the police and they must gather enough evidence to identify a suspect in order to make an arrest. In most cases, criminals are not arrested on the scene of a crime, they are apprehended later (Schmalleger, 2011). In cases like this, an arrest warrant is issued by a judge if there is enough probable cause to make an arrest. Probable cause is the legal requirement for an arrest connecting a suspect to a particular crime. Arrest is always done with discretion and is a serious step in the criminal justice process. During an arrest defendants are warned of their Miranda Rights prior to questioning. Police feel they are on safe ground by advising suspects of their rights immediately after arrest; however an arrest without questioning does not require a warning (Wiley Publishing, 2000-2010). Following an arrest, suspects are booked. The booking process is an administrative procedure. It includes pictures being taken, fingerprints, and personal information is recorded such as date of birth, address, weight and height. Details of charges are put on the arrest record. Suspects are advised to sign a form with each right stated. The second step in the criminal justice process is pretrial activities, which can take place within hours of the arrest. In this step a suspect will make their appearance before a magistrate where the judicial officer will tell them of the charges against them and once again is advised of their rights and may be offered bail. If a suspect post a bond on first appearance they may not flee, otherwise the cash deposit or property bond will be ordered to forfeit the posted cash or property (Schmalleger, 2011). Suspects who have serious crimes and are not afforded bail are taken to jail to wait for the next step which is a preliminary hearing. During the first appearance, defendants who can’t afford a lawyer will be appointed one. During the third step, preliminary hearing is a process where enough sufficient evidence must be established and exist against the suspect to continue in the criminal justice process. The defense has a chance to analyze the strength of the prosecution case and may request a plea bargain. This is also where the prosecution has a chance to build a case against the suspect and presents any evidence and may offer a plea bargain. The fourth step in the criminal justice process is indictment by grand jury. This is when the prosecutor has enough probable cause to prosecute a capital offense. During indictment, a defendant or a defendant lawyer does not have a right to be present at grand jury proceedings. Another option a prosecutor may take is filling a charge document called information. This is to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. A defendant and attorney can be present at the information hearing to dispute the charges (Wiley Publishing, 2000-2010). Step five in the criminal justice process is arraignment by a judge. This is when a defendant enters a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest (nolo contendere). An arraignment is conducted in open court and the indictment or information on the charge is read to the defendant. Step six, adjudication. This step points out that every criminal has a right to trial by jury. If there is doubt based on reason the accused is entitled to be acquitted. The standard of evidence for a criminal conviction is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In most jurisdictions, criminal cases never come to trial (Schmalleger, 2011). Some states allow trials for less serious offenses before a judge, called a bench trial. In other cases, a jury is said to be deadlocked, and a judge will declare a mistrial. Step seven is sentencing by a judge. If the accused is found guilty, a judge will impose a form of punishment. Possible sentences include a fine, probations, a period of incarceration in jail or prison or some have a combination of supervision of the community and incarceration. Criminals found guilty, of one or more charges are ordered to serve one sentence after another is completed called a consecutive sentence. Or there sentence may run at the same time, called concurrent sentence (Schmalleger, 2011). In many cases convictions are appealed and filed by attorneys in appellate court and then ruled on appellate judges. If the appellate reverses a case, the case returns to trial court for retrial. The appeal process can be very complex and can involve both federal and state judiciaries. Even if a prosecutor drops the charges, the defendant can still be prosecuted later as long as the statue of limitations for the crime the defendant is being accused of committing hasn’t run out. Appeals are based on the defendants claim that rules of procedure were not follow properly at some earlier stage in the criminal justice process. The last but not least process is corrections. Punishment and or rehabilitation processed by local, state or federal correctional authorities. Once an offender has been sentenced, the corrections stage begins. Most inmates do not serve the complete term and are released before their maximum sentence expires (Wiley Publishing, 2000-2010). Inmates are assigned to confinement facilities and treatment programs. Not all offenders end up in prison. Some are ordered to prison and then have their sentences suspended and a probation term imposed. Offenders who have served a portion of their time may be freed on probation or parole. If conditions of probation or parole are not met, it will be revoked and result in more jail time. In conclusion the criminal justice process is to be conducted with fairness and equality, the due process. This process must recognize the individual rights of criminal defendants facing prosecution by state or federal government. Due process is what guarantees the fifth, sixth and fourteenth amendment. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without the due process of law, and each state is bound and required to respect the due process rights of United States citizens who come under their jurisdictions. There are many more suspects and defendants than inmates. Wiley Publishing, 2000-2010) The Criminal Justice Process Chart References Schmalleger, F. (2011) Criminal justice today: An Introductory text for the 21st century (11th ed. ) Upper Saddle River, NY: Pearson Prentice Hall Cliff Notes (2000-2010) The Process of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on October 19, 2010 from http://www. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/The-Process-of-Criminal Justice. topicArticleId-10065,art icleId-9909. html New Jersey Judiciary (2001) The Criminal Justice Process. Retrieved on October 19, 2010 From http://www. judiciary. state. nj. us/criminal/crproc. htm How to cite The Criminal Justice Process, Essays

Friday, December 6, 2019

Auditing and Assurance Standards

Questions: 1. Would King Queen be liable to EFL? Provide specific case references to support your answer? 2. Would your answer change if EFL had written to King Queen advising you that they intended to make a loan to Impulse and were relying on the 2012 audited financial report to assist them in making their decision? 3. Define actual and perceived independence, and explain the importance of each? 4. For each of the above independent situations list any professional standards and regulatory requirements breached and discuss possible alternative courses of action the auditor should have taken in order to properly discharge their professional responsibilities? Answers: 1. On analysing the mentioned case, it is understood that King and Queen being an auditor of Impulse Pty. Ltd had given an incorrect audit report, hence is liable to EFL for the losses suffered by them. Reason being simple, had the auditors conducted their work with integrity and due diligence, they would have come to know about the debtors and the inventory turnover drop and thus would have mentioned the same in the audit report issued for the period 30 June 2012 basis which the financier had extended loan to them. Unfortunately the auditors gave an unqualified audit report wherein the going concern was questionable at the time of the issue of the report which should have been highlighted. Also the auditors did not conduct the valuation of the assets of Impulse because of which there was incorrect presentation of the asset balances in the balance sheet, thus misleading the various users of the audit report. An auditor is expected to comply with ASA 200 Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Australian Accounting Standards. As per this auditing standard, one of the major areas of accountability for an auditor is to ensure the suitability of the managements usage of the finances while preparing the financial statements (Auditing and Assurance Standard Board. 2009). An auditor should take all the necessary steps to accumulate an insight into the present condition of the auditing client with regards its level of performance and the risks attached with the client presently which may lead to doubts upon the companys future performance and competency. The pronouncements made in the case of Pacific Corporation v Forsyth (1970) 92 WN (NSW) 92 make it evident that an auditor should conduct his professional duty with due care and diligence. Professional scepticism is what is expected out of all professional. As per requirement, the auditor should seek the help of an expert in case he r she is not proficient enough in that area. The kind of vigilance that the auditor should conduct would depend upon the situation and in this scenario it was very clear that Impulse Pty Limited was not performing too well (Glover Prawitt, 2014). Therefore since EFL had financed on the basis of the audit report that King and Queen had given which revealed that the audit client had been performing well even though it was not, the financier has full right to claim losses from the auditor also along with the Company. 2. An audit report is issued for the outsiders of the company, be it the investors or the financiers. Thus in this case the auditor is liable to the financier since he had given an incorrect report. Therefore as per my opinion, the auditor would still be held responsible for the incorrect reporting due to non-compliance of the auditing standards. The auditors failed to conduct their duty ethically and independently. The auditors in spite of being aware of the actual scenario of the Company, yet gave an unqualified report proves the unethical conduct on their part (Colson, 1999). Therefore it can be rightly concluded that the audit was not performed as per the Australian Auditing Standards. Further to this, had EFL asked the auditor about the condition of the Company prior to giving loan to them and even then King and Queen would have kept silent on the same, then in that case also EFL would have full right to hold the auditor responsible. This is basically a case of lack of independence and due diligence on the part of the auditing professionals. 3. Actual Independence: As the term says, actual independence means independence in the real sense. Thus it means freedom from any influence of the external as well as internal auditors who have any major interest from the audit client. Thus while performing the professional duty, independence, integrity and objectivity is maintained. Unbiased and unprejudiced performance is what is perceived out of any auditor. Thus actual independence means real freedom of the actual state of mind. Therefore it concentrates upon the actual state of mind and how an auditor deals with varying scenarios and situations (Benjaminson, Doherty, 2012). The said term has importance in the auditing parlance as it emphasises upon the fact that the audit report is free from any biasness and the opinion is stated without any undue influence from the clients side. If there is no financial gain or such other material interest of the auditor from the auditing client, then actual independence is not defeated. Perceived Independence: Independence that looks like one is defined as perceived independence. There are times when the auditor is in a position to negotiate with the client. But even after being in such a position, if the auditor is able to take independent decisions and calls and state opinion which is true and fair, he is said to have applied perceived independence. Thus in such a situation, there generally exists a relationship between the client and the auditor due to which he or she is expected to perform his task with some deviations. In such a situation, professional judgement plays a vital role. Even though perceived independence does not safeguard the client from all possible risks related to audit, yet it would try to safeguard the auditor from being questioned upon his or her integrity and objectivity (Holland, Lane, 2011). Therefore just as working independently in the actual sense is important, simply pretending to be independent in ones task is equally important. 4. In the current scenario, Bob is said to have violated the provisions of Section 140.1 of the APES 110 Code of Ethics of Professional Accountant simply because during the conduct of audit as an audit assistant of Club Casino, he had come across certain financial information which according to him was best suited for his university assignment, hence used the same after removing all the references so as to maintain confidentiality of data but failed to take due permission from the client. The code specifies that an auditor cannot use the financial data of the client for his personal use until and unless he has obtained prior permission from the particular client (APESB, 2013). Using of any data of a company for the personal gain which would cause any kind of harm to the client should be refrained. The conduct of Bob was in contravention to the AICPAs revised confidentiality rule Sec 7216 even if he had removed all the references which would prove that the information was related to C lub Casino (Blatch, 2015). Rule 301 clearly states that an auditor is not allowed to unveil any classified data of any client without prior permission from the client. Although the said rule does not define any special method of obtaining permission, but Rule 391 makes it specific to obtain permission in writing. Although the data was presented in a manner wherein the identity of the client was hidden, yet the Confidential Client Information Rule limits the ways and means of revealing the clients information and the manner of adhering to the same. Therefore Bob should obtain prior approval from Club Casino mentioning the details about the data that he is using, the details of the university and the person to whom the same would be disclosed along with the purpose of the usage of the data. Section 273 of the Companies Act 2006 specifies that an auditor can perform the duties of a company secretary even if he or she is not qualified as a company secretary but he or she cannot perform dual duties. Therefore in this case Wendy is eligible to perform the duties of a company secretary even though is not qualified. But Wendy has violated the Act as it specifies that the same person who is auditing the books of account of a company, cannot act as a Company Secretary as well at the same time. Simple reason being that it would be in contradiction to the independence of an auditor as a company secretary is considered to be an officer of a company who help the directors of the company perform their work with due diligence and care. Thus if Wendy is to be appointed as the company secretary for a period of six months then he will have to step down from the position of an auditor of Ace Limited for that time period so as to safeguard the independence of an auditor. Independence is the core to successful audit. An auditors duty as a professional is to ensure that he gives the audit report which is true and fair and does contain any kind of biasness. The shareholders should be able to trust upon the same. However in the present scenario there is a violation of the independence of the auditor as Leos father is a factory foreman of Precision Machinery Limited and therefore sending him to conduct the audit of the internal control of the cash payment system would not be acceptable and hence would be in contravention to the auditors independence (Corplaw.ie. 2014). There is a self interest threat attached with the with such an engagement as the father who is connected with the auditor is expected to have financial interest with the client. Therefore Section 290.28 of the APES 110 clearly defines that the client should be well intimated from advance about any such kind of a linkage and relation which may have a material effect on the audit report being issued (APESB, 2013). Thus in this case, Leo can be appointed as the auditor only after intimating the client about the existence of such a relationship and obtaining prior approval from the same before making such an appointment (Fearnley,et.al. 2005). Further to this, even if Leo is appointed after permission from the client, yet the task performed by him should be reviewed by another independent senior auditor from the same firm in order to ensure that there is no prejudices attached to the same. In the present scenario, the auditor had threatened the client of resigning from the services if the previous dues are not cleared. But any professional, should ensure that such a threatening should not be given as there may be a situation wherein the auditee would have agreed to the same and not even paid the dues. Thus, in such a case the auditor should have delayed the audit procedure so that his engagement with the client is not endangered. In this case study, the client is not keen to leave the present auditors Chan and Associates and so offers them new furniture in lieu of the outstanding dues even though the furniture basically covered just half of the audit fees due. If all the partners of the audit firm are in agreement of the said arrangement then it is said to be in line with the Act (aicpa.org, 2014). However if the said arrangement is not in agreement with the other partners then settling the entire fees against half the value of the furniture is contravention to the auditors independence. Therefore an alternate solution would be settling the remaining 50% in cash. The second part to the question talks about the fact that a partner of the firm was offered 25% shareholding in a company which was unrelated to Classic Reproduction Pty. The said act is not in line with the code of ethics defined by the Act and also contradicts the independence of the auditor as well. An auditor can accept gifts from a client only after informing the other partners about such a gift and obtaining permission from them before accepting. In his case since the audit firm agrees to clear the dues in the form of a new furniture, hence the said gift would take the shape of a bribe. To rectify the said stance the auditor should have intimated the other partners in advance and taken there permission before accepting the same (Suseno, 2013). Lastly the auditors should have delayed the audit work but performed the same at the same time. References aicpa.org, (2014), New Ethics Rulings under Rule 102 Integrity and Objectivity and Rule 101- Independence, Available at https://www.aicpa.org/InterestAreas/ProfessionalEthics/Resources/Tools/DownloadableDocuments/Gifts_Basis_Document.pdf (Accessed 26th January 2017) Suseno, N.S., (2013), An empirical analysis of auditor independence and audit fees on audi quality, International Journal of Management and Business Studies, vol.3, no.3, pp. 82-87, Available at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/download.php?id=278598407560124372.pdftype=application/pdfop=1 (Accessed 26th January 2017) Corplaw.ie. (2014). Importance of Auditor Independence . Retrieved from https://www.corplaw.ie/blog/bid/369348/Importance-Of-Auditor-Independence Fearnley, S., Beattie, V., Brandt, R., (2005), Auditor Independence and audit risk: a reconceptualisation, Journal of International Accounting Research , vol. 4, no.1, pp. 39-71, Available at https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/482/1/Audrisk21June_03.pdf (Accessed 26th january 2017) APESB, (2013), Compiled APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, Available at https://www.apesb.org.au/uploads/news/media_release/28112014034818_compiled-apes-110-code-of-ethics-for-professional-accountants-nov-2013.pdf (Accessed 13th December 2016) Auditing and Assurance Standard Board. (2009). Auditing standards ASA 200 Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Retrieved from https://www.auasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/asa_200_27-10-09.pdf Glover, S.M., Prawitt, D.F., (2014), Enhancing Auditor Professional Scepticism : The Professional Scepticism Continuum, American Accounting Association, vol.8, no.2, pp. 1-10, Available at https://aaajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.2308/ciia-50895?code=aaan-site (Accessed 26th January 2017) Colson, R.H., (1999), Professional Responsibilities: Due Care, Available at https://www.questia.com/magazine/1P3-663573281/professional-responsibilities-due-care (Accessed 26th January 2017) Holland, K., Lane, J., (2011), Perceived audit independence and Audit firm fees, Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1935898 (Accessed 26th January 2017) Benjaminson, E. and Doherty, L. (2012). Independence in Fact and in Appearance. Retrieved from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:546244/FULLTEXT01.pdf APESB, (2013), Compiled APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, Available at https://www.apesb.org.au/uploads/news/media_release/28112014034818_compiled-apes-110-code-of-ethics-for-professional-accountants-nov-2013.pdf (Accessed 13th December 2016) Blatch, M.L. (2015). AICPAs Revised Confidentiality Rule , Sec 7216 and the Tax Professional. Retrieved from https://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/2015/feb/tpr-feb15.html

Friday, November 29, 2019

Death Penalty and Ethics

Table of Contents Introduction Death penalty and Ethics Arguments In Support Of Death Penalty Arguments against Death Penalty My Own Opinion Conclusion Reference List Introduction Philosophy is a very wide discipline with numerous branches and sub disciplines. Some of the sub disciplines include epistemology, which is the study of knowledge for instance its nature, sources and limitation, ethics on the other hand studies morality for instance what is right or wrong or good or evil. Religion is also an essential aspect of philosophy and entails the beliefs that involve the cause, nature and purpose of the universe.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Death Penalty and Ethics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It relates humanity to truths and values. Death penalty can fall well under the ethics and religion branches of philosophy. It is a practice that has been present in many countries around the world alt hough most of them only retain it but do not exercise it. This paper discusses death penalty in relation to ethics emphasizing on what is considered right or wrong based on the arguments supporting and those against it. My own point of view will also be highlighted. Death penalty and Ethics Death penalty is also referred to as capital punishment. It is usually the sternest form of corporal punishment since it entails taking away the lives of the convicted offenders by the law enforcement officers. It entails the compulsory execution of a criminal offender as a form of punishment for committing crimes that are considered to be serious by the law for instance murder and treason although in some instances, it could include adultery, rape and some form of fraud. It is an act that can only be ordered by the state. There are numerous arguments put forth both for and against the aspect of death penalty. The issue of whether or not it is right to undertake capital punishment and the circums tances that should necessitate death penalty has brought about a lot of controversy and debates among various people, the ethical aspect being realized in deciding the moral behind capital punishment especially considering the right to deprive a human being of his or her life. This is the basic dispute over death penalty. The morality behind death penalty is undermined by different views that are brought forward by different theories or schools of thought in the ethical disciplines. For example, the aspect of killing is considered either right or wrong depending on the circumstances although in the overall view, killing is evil and unethical. Killing for defense purposes and for the overall good of the society for instance to avoid more harm to the innocent citizens is in most cases justified but malicious killing considered wrong (Cohen and Wellman, 2005).Advertising Looking for research paper on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Arguments In Support Of Death Penalty There are various factors attributed to general punishment for offenders for example deterrent and defense where the punishment is aimed at preventing the offenders from engaging in crime in the future, retribution where the punishment is considered as what the criminal offenders deserve and restoration where the punishment is aimed at restoring a good relationship between the offenders, the victims and the society at large. The individuals and groups who support capital punishment mainly base their argument on retribution and deterrent and defense at the expense of ignoring restoration since it is not practical once execution is carried out. There are arguments that have been put forth in support for capital punishment. The issue, however, varies from country to country depending on the political grounds or foundation. In the United States for example, a majority of people, adults, seem to support capital punishment although mo st of the youths and non governmental institutions are strongly not for it. The law is retained in most of the American states. However, the issue has gained a lot of support in some countries for example Taiwan and there seems to be very little campaign against its perpetration (White, 2011). Some of the general arguments that are common among the supporters of death penalty include the following. The criminal offenders who have perpetrated criminal activities especially murder have violated the victim’s right to life and, therefore, they should also not be left to enjoy life but rather they should also be killed. This falls under the retribution principle. This is, however, not ethical as two wrongs do not make a right and killing the criminal offender also entails depriving them of their life which is morally wrong. Another argument that supports capital punishment is that death penalty is a way of showing respect to the victims and the rest of the society. This is because it is deemed to enhance the healing process of the victim and also it is viewed as a source of peace of mind for the victims and their relations. The belief and perception that there should be justice is also a basis for the support of capital punishment as people believe that equal justice should be maintained hence life should cost another life thus death for death. The practice of death penalty is also taken as a step towards preventing other innocent individuals that could fall victims in future if other alternative punishments are given to the offenders since they would at one time be integrated with the society.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Death Penalty and Ethics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is viewed as the most effective and appropriate way of ensuring the society is safe from further criminal acts of the particular offender. The supporters also argue that death penalty is also some how advantageous to the criminal offenders as it is not as cruel as other sentences that are usually prolonged hence making them suffer for long periods of time. The fact that it is present in law is also a strong view point for the supporters. Housing a prisoner for his entire life is also considered uneconomical as compared to an execution of the criminal offenders. The supporters also argue that some killing is justified in some instances for example when it is conducted for self defense. This is because some difference is usually attached in the circumstances that led to the killing. When the killing is in defense, the person killed is not innocent as is the case when the murder is perpetrated by a criminal on an innocent individual. The supporters also argue that the killing of criminal offenders is like killing in self defense since the murderer is not innocent hence justifying capital punishment (Banks, 2004). Arguments against Death Penalty There are various factors that the people and groups that oppose the issue of capital punishment base their arguments on. Most nations are against the practice of death penalty, for instance, in western Europe, capital punishment is viewed as old fashioned and an act of the past and hence it receives very little public support in regard to its reinstatement. The general arguments against the perpetration of death penalty include the following. The major argument is that capital punishment entails depriving an individual’s right to life as it involves killing which has never been right as it entails violation of the human right to live. The suffering and pain the criminal offenders face in the event of being sentenced to capital punishment is also too much and considered wrong and unethical as it constitutes a lot of physical and more so emotional anguish which is not right irrespective of what the offenders have committed. The irregularities and discrimination in the sentencing to death penalty is also a cont ributing factor towards the campaign against death penalty as the circumstances that lead to its perpetration differ. For instance, if the criminal offence was committed between people of different races or complete strangers, it is more likely to attract capital punishment as opposed to when the crime is committed to people of the same race or with some form of affiliations with the criminal offender. This aspect brings in some aspects of injustice and unfairness which is wrong and unethical. The issue of death penalty also enhances the chances of police and other law enforcers’ misconduct as they are likely to use some innocent individuals as scapegoats hence face the execution instead of the responsible criminals just because they have some powers and influence in a way.Advertising Looking for research paper on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Statistics have also shown that death penalty is not a solution as the states that advocate and execute it have not shown any significant signs of reduction of violent criminal activities and hence it is more ethical to apply other forms of sentencing other than execution or death penalty as it will eliminate killing which is morally wrong. The practice of death penalty also shows some negative attributes of the society as it emphasizes on killing as a right act in some situations for instance when offended as is the case for the criminal offenders. The aspect of carrying out the execution is also not morally right or ethical to the executors or the individuals involved in carrying out the act as it affects them psychologically and in some instances, it may affect their perception on life issues as they may not value life as they should. Death penalty is not only considered unethical by those opposing it but also uneconomical as the cost incurred in it usually exceeds that of trial and life imprisonment. Other forms of preventing criminal activities other than death penalty are also advocated for example education campaigns as they are more effective in preventing other people from indulging in the same as opposed to where the offenders are killed (Oderberg, 2000). Some of the unique reasons for opposing death penalty include the absolutist view that states capital punishment violates the right to life. The life of a human being should always be preserved unless there is a very good and justifiable reason that dictates otherwise, The risk of killing the innocent is also so high and the problem comes in since the act is not reversible and once a life is lost it is lost forever making capital punishment even more wrong and unethical. The side of the death penalty better defended is that opposing the idea of capital punishment. However, there are more arguments that have been put forth in the support of death penalty although I consider them weak as compared to t hose put forward against death penalty. For instance the argument that killing the criminal offenders as a way of ensuring justice and respect to the victims does not really work because two wrongs will never make a right. The fact that people consider murder an offence should always stand even in case of execution of the criminal offenders as in both cases, killing and taking of human life is unethical and immoral (Thomson, 1999). My Own Opinion My own view in regard to death penalty is that it is unethical since no matter the circumstances or the factors that facilitates the offenders to be involved in the serious crimes especially murder, the fact remains that killing is wrong as it entails violation of the victim’s human right to live whether the person has committed crime or not. The arguments for the capital punishment as explained earlier are also extremely weak and the practice of death penalty is morally wrong. Human life is valuable and even the criminal murderers d eserve to live and their lives should not be deprived since their criminal acts do not make them less valuable. The possibility and high chances of execution of innocent individuals also makes the issues seem very wrong as most people who have undergone execution after some investigations been found innocent. Killing is also negative as we cannot teach that the criminal offenders did some wrongs whereas we also kill them in the name of ensuring justice. Undertaking revenge by killing because the person was also involved in killing is also not justifiable. There should, therefore, be formulation and implementation of laws and sentencing that should replace death penalty as it is not an absolute solution in the minimization of criminal offences especially those that entail murder. This is evident since research shows that those states that use capital punishment as a way for dealing with murder cases have not shown any signs of reduction of the violent crimes as compared to the states that have abolished it since it does not play a significant part in educating or preventing others from indulging in the same offences. Conclusion It is evident the issue of death penalty is associated with a lot of controversy as people differ in regard to whether it is right or wrong. The ethical and religious aspects usually differ with it in most cases as no matter the circumstances, depriving an individual’s right to life is considered evil or wrong. Although most nations retain the death penalty as a punishment for offences deemed to be serious, they do not practice it and there is increasing campaign for the abolition of capital punishment. The issue of death penalty is, however, very controversial as the fundamental values that are used as the basis for the arguments for and against it are the same which entail the search for justice and respect for human life. Those supporting it argue there should be justice and respect for the victims while those that oppose it ar gue justice and respect should be shown to the offenders through provision of other sentences other than being involved in depriving the offenders their lives through death penalty. Reference List Banks, C. (2004). Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice. United Kingdom: SAGE. Cohen, I. A. and Wellman, H.C. (2005). Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics. USA: Wiley-Blackwell. Oderberg, S. D. (2000). Applied Ethics: A Non-Consequentialist Approach. Oxford: WWiley-Blackwell. Thomson, A. (1999).Critical reasoning In Ethics: A Practical Introduction. New York: Routledge. White, D. (2011). Pros Cons of the Death Penalty. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/pros-and-cons-death-penalty-3325230 This research paper on Death Penalty and Ethics was written and submitted by user Braxton Melton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Pablo piccaso essays

Pablo piccaso essays Pablo Picasso - what a name! Living proof that little people can grow to a colossus - Picasso - Full of energy, fun and play - I think he would like this pun, "He was rather short when he was alive and shrunk considerably after he died." We laugh at death in order not to cry. Very funny, yet undeniably serious, Picasso left us to ponder the worlds of comedy and tragedy in his work. A phenomenon, a genius, Picasso, leaving the world thousands upon thousands of original testimonials, recording his human experience: paintings, drawings, etchings, sculpture, design, ceramics, tapestries and prints. His production will exert its influence upon artists for thousands of years to come. Has there ever been another artist more controversial? Can't think of one. Like an atomic bomb, Picasso exploded upon the world - he once said that 'art had more power than an atomic bomb,' and he was right. The after shock of art goes on for a long time - 500 years is nothing for a good work of art - Leonardo da Vinci proved that, and he didn't come close to the production of Picasso. Â   The year 1900 was a turning point in the social history of mankind and Picasso slotted into that period very well. As a young man he was in the right place at the right time - Paris. When you think of all the changes that have taken place over the past one-hundred years, you soon realize what an enormous metamorphous that has taken place in human thinking. Directly or indirectly, Picasso had one of those creative minds responsible for changing the way millions of people think about this world. Â   His work was part of the necessary preparation needed to change our frame of mind, making the transition from Twentieth Century Man to Twenty First Century Man possible. That can't happen without gradual preparation requiring the common mindset between many individuals which eventually effects the whole. We grudgingly know that things change, but few are conscious enough to kno...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Why Are Cosmetics So Attractive to Adolescent Girls Speech or Presentation

Why Are Cosmetics So Attractive to Adolescent Girls - Speech or Presentation Example I feel that my aims and objectives were simple but relevant. Young girls’ self-esteem usually plummets as they reach adolescence because it is the time when they are developing their own identities. The research question opens up to a world of possibilities in terms of topics to discuss in the literature. The literature review provided much information about the topic at hand and more. It is comprehensive enough to cover the history of cosmetics, societal influence on women to look good, the beauty myth propagated by media and other media influences, adolescence and some theories that relate to the building of their self-esteem.   All these come together to explain some possible answers to the research question for this study. The use of questionnaires and focus group discussion will allow me to delve deeper into the issue with actual adolescent girls aged 13 to 17. I will get the opportunity to hear their insights first-hand as they discuss within a group the following questions: - Do you use cosmetics? If yes, which ones? - - How often do you use cosmetics? - Why do you use cosmetics? - How do you feel when you use cosmetics? - Do you use cosmetics with your friends? - How do you think people see you when you use cosmetics? - What do you think you can get out of using cosmetics? Right now, it seems so easy because I am only visualizing it, but I am sure that there will be several challenges along the way such as seeking the necessary permissions to conduct the study or dealing with uncooperative participants. In terms of preparation, I guess I failed to anticipate what I would feel in front of an audience. My stage fright was terrible but it was good that I had a small audience of people I knew. It was also great that they were so supportive. I think it is because they can relate to my situation because each of us had our turn presenting. I need to learn to be more confident in speaking. I know being prepared with my talk is a must, but I should learn to loosen up and be more candid, be open to whatever possibilities that may arise during my presentation.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Explain the nature of social relationships in a traditional Vietnamese Essay

Explain the nature of social relationships in a traditional Vietnamese famliy - Essay Example This is where children are socialised to societal norms and values through intra- and inter-family interactions. The family’s position and role in the social structure provides a point of reference from which a nation’s social system – networks, relationships, and values – can be understood. Whilst modernisation may tend to diminish the family’s role, notably in a nation that is changing fast such as Vietnam, this paper looks at the nature of social relationships in a Vietnamese family to gain a deeper understanding of its key characteristics and provide insights on the consequences of the social and economic changes taking place. Indispensable to this study is a knowledge of the values and influences that helped shape the form of the Vietnamese family through the centuries. Its geography as a nation at the crossroads of Indochina, to the east of India and south of China, has opened it to these two cultures. Its long eastern coastline likewise opened it to a Western wave of Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French colonisation beginning in the 17th century. These conquests and occupations shaped present Vietnamese society into a complex mixture of East and West. The predominant religions in Vietnam are Buddhism from India and Confucianism and Taoism, both from China. Although Confucianism is more a code of behaviour than a religion, its combination with the other two explains to a great extent the evolution and development of the Vietnamese family to its present form. The influence of Catholicism coming from the more recent wave of western explorers has not been substantial, except for the Vietnamese alphabet which a French missionary transformed from Chinese characters to a system that uses the Roman alphabet (Luong, 1989). The significance of this quirk of history is that it keeps the country open to the outside world. Buddhism teaches enlightenment, the quest for perfection, and the value of

Monday, November 18, 2019

Report of a company from the air - freight sector Essay

Report of a company from the air - freight sector - Essay Example This is done to understand how organizations will perform in their near futures and the steps that can be taken in order to improve. Thus, the report suggests that despite the decline in the organization’s revenue due to the fall in their volume, they still have high potential to perform well in the future. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Business environment 4 PEST Analysis 4 Political 4 Economic 5 Social 6 Technology 6 Porter’s Five Forces 6 Rivalry within the industry 7 Bargaining power of the customers 7 Bargaining power of the suppliers 8 Threat of new entrant 8 Threat of Substitute 8 Assessment of DHL 8 Assets of DHL 8 Strengths and Weaknesses 9 Customers Segmentation 10 Conclusion 11 Reference List 12 Introduction Today the performance of an organization is not only dependent on the internal factors within the organization, but also on the external factors that continuously affect the internal operations. In this context, DHL has been considered in this rep ort, on which the analysis will be conducted and recommendations will be made regarding the performance of their business. DHL is a segment of Deutsche Post DHL, a logistic company based in Germany that provides international express mail service. Deutsche Post is the world leading logistic company with major international presence. They are the global market leader in air and sea mail. The organization was originally founded in the year 1969 to distribute documents between Honolulu and San Francisco; however, the organization managed to expand their services throughout the world. Inter-continental and offshore deliveries were the main interest of the organization. The organization served many other countries, not served by any other air-freight organizations, such as, North Korea, Vietnam, China, Iran, Iraq, Eastern Bloc and Soviet Union (Zetes, n.d.). In order to conduct the performance analysis of the organization along with PEST analysis, Porter’s five forces, SWOT analys is as well as segmentation and targeting strategy of the organization, based on which the business performance will be discussed. Business environment PEST Analysis Political Air freight or air cargo is regulated by the policies established in the year 1994 in the Chicago Conference. When the policy was established, the air cargo industry was in its infancy and the agreements were mainly related to the limitation on foreign ownership and airline destination. These regulations were seen to affect the carrier operations such as, restriction towards the ground handling services and diversification of the ancillary functions related to air cargo. These restrictions had limited the ways of conducting business. In order to keep pace with the economic expansion and global trade, both the international and national regulatory frameworks related to air cargo were made more liberal. For instance, in US, the deregulation in air cargo not only liberalised the licensing of the carriers, but also opened domestic routes to encourage full competition. The common aviation area of Europe was decided, which allowed the carriers to operate in European Union. These reforms had considerable impact in the air cargo industry by open up skies, providing them additional trading and access opportunities. However, the liberalisation was taking place at a slower pace for South East Asia. In 2002, Memorandum of

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Optimal Extraction Paths of Coal

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

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Athleticism Essay -- Sports, Politics

When I think about the black athlete I experience both pride and discomfort. In America where black people are still politically and economically disenfranchised, it appears that athleticism is the realm where black people excel and dominate. The discomfort comes from the observation that ‘domination’ is only viable when the black male body is harnessed in a way that doesn’t challenge white supremacy in other arenas (Collins, 2005). His body is controlled by contracts of powerful owners, regulated by standardized rules and by-laws from sporting associations and placed in physical spaces where his bodily performance is a spectacle for largely white audiences. There is something historic and normal about the sporting performance that has at once, drawn me in and isolated me. I didn’t quite know why. Ben Carrington’s work Race, Sport and Politics helps me to understand that these boundaries and meanings mark and define ‘the black athlete’ a nd that they can be understood as sites of political struggle. From the onset, I was captivated by his careful and through analysis of various social frameworks in order to utilize sports as a lens to understand the â€Å"intra relationship† between racial discourse, the performance of sport, and the politics in making the ‘black athlete’. In this paper I will explore the various concepts and contentions Carrington discovers as they apply to black males while he tries to formulate a framework to understand the complexity of race and sport and the politics created therein. I will focus on the key concepts essential to creating his theoretical framework specifically, ‘the black athlete’, the ‘white colonial frame’, and the ‘sporting black Atlantic’. The black athlete is a political entity and a global s... ...ind of black humanity. This actor performed feats of brute, physical, endurance, and ‘natural’ prowess which would place him in a category of animalistic sub-humanity. The assumed all body and no mind position of many of the African Diaspora. However within the sanctuary of modern sport, these feats became exceptionally superhuman; a show of raw masculinity and rational dexterity. As a political act, Johnson’s defeat of his white component sent ripples thought the world and attacked the foundation on which the very system that subordinated him was built. Using Carrington’s sense of the sporting black Atlantic. We can fully understand the significance and ramification of this feat. We can come to understand the global implications of this win for black people and see Jackson's â€Å"diasporic politicization† and his rise as an â€Å"anti white supremacist figure (p. 18)†.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Martha Graham Essay

Discuss the influence Martha Graham had on the development of Modern Dance. Make detailed reference to her technique, choreography, and performing. Modern Dance is a style of dance that originated in the early 1920s as a rejection of Classical Ballet; it can be used to show raw emotion, political/social issues, and freedom. Martha Graham (11th May 1894 – April 1st 1991) was an American dancer who had a large impact on Modern Dance. The development of Modern Dance was largely impacted by Martha Graham, particularly by her influence on technique, choreography, and performance. Martha Graham was the first person to develop a technique for Modern Dance; this had a huge a huge influence on the dance’s development. The technique Graham developed was the ‘contract and release’ technique. Contractions in Modern Dance show negativity and vulnerability. The contractions are shown by the body pulling in at the torso and the arms, legs, and head, being pulled toward the torso as if in an attempt to protect it and appear smaller. The release shown in Modern Dance shows positivity and fearlessness. It is shown when the arms and head are held out from the body and the torso is pushed out, this movement appears bigger than the contract movement. Martha Graham attended the ‘Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts’; the style of dance which Ruth St. Denis taught was very oriental based. The Denishawn School was the first dance school for Modern Dance. Attending the Denishawn School was a good start for Graham although she wanted to develop her own ideas and not only learn from others. Attending Denishawn inspired Graham to develop her own technique and helped her to do so; this technique drastically influenced Modern Dance in the years of its development. Graham’s choreography was often inspired by cultural issues and largely featured abstract movement. Martha Graham often used abstract movement in her choreography to show emotions. Abstract movement was a technique which entailed boiling down emotions and movements to the purest and most raw form. She used abstract movement in her work piece ‘Lamentation’(1930). This showed her portraying the feeling of grief; not the act of grieving but the feeling itself without any attachment or already known ideas of acts of grieving. During the 1920s America was dealing with the backslash of The First World War and was beginning to enter into an era of carelessness, parties, bootlegging, and The Great Depression. Classical Dance was becoming an ever-more popular form of entertainment however it was devoid of any real meaning or messages; it was this that brought about the rise of Modern Dance. Martha Graham used Modern Dance as a medium for expressing her views on these social issues and took a lot of inspiration from these issues. One example of a dance based on social or cultural events is Appalachian Spring (1944). Appalachian Spring is a dance based on the celebration of the American pioneers after building a farmhouse, showing that they had successfully settled into America. Conveying ideas about social and cultural issues was a new concept in dance as was abstract movement and these concepts greatly influenced Modern Dance. Martha Graham was original in the way that she would create the performances that she made. Graham was the first in Modern Dance to collaborate with other artists so as to include all art forms in her performances. She collaborated with Louis Horst, Isamu Noguchi, and Aaron Copland while creating her performances. Louis Horst was a music accompanist and would play music while she performed, Isamu Noguchi was a sculptor and would sculpt Graham’s props and sets, and Aaron Copland was a composer and he would compose the music to go with Grahams dances. One of the things Graham did to highlight the differences between Modern Dance and classical dance was that she would choreograph a dance and then music would be written to accompany the dance as opposed to the order which takes place during classical dance where the music has already been written and a dance is choreographed to accompany the music. Because of the ways that Martha Graham produced her performances this influenced Modern Dance through example. Modern Dance’s development has been hugely influenced by Martha Graham. She has influenced dance through her introduction of techniques, her new ways of choreographing dance, and through her ideas for new ways to produce performances.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Responce to Blood Brothers essays

Responce to Blood Brothers essays This play is an observation of modern day living and also of the evils of the class system. The main three characters in the play are Eddie, Mickey and Mrs Johnstone. Eddie and Mickey are twins, and Mrs Johnstone is their mother. They are separated at birth and grow up unaware of this. The play is told in a form so that the only person that changes his or her role is the narrator, who changes throughout in order to create the idea that the main characters are somehow cut off from the outside world at that they are unable to escape that. The Narrator follows the plot and is there from the first page to the last, almost like some deadly ethereal spectre, and he represents the devil that he often talks about. He is always a figure in the background, never directly intervening for good nor ill, he only accelerates the sense of impending disaster. The play itself is a musical, and all the music that is in it boils down to one theme tune, this theme is in the piece of music Tell me its not true. And all the other music in the play is based on that one tune. The music itself is quite sad and almost ominous, and it is made clear early on in the play that the ending will not be pleasant. Having seen the ending of the play at the start, and always knowing that Mickey and Eddie are going to die dramatically changes the way we, the audience see the play. We now see that the childish play of Eddie and Mickey the first time they meet is tainted with a sense of foreboding and dread, we also see this in the fairground scene where the narrator utters the lines And whod dare tell, the lambs in spring, What fate the later seasons bring. This really puts unease in our hearts and we know that even in this scene of apparent happiness and joy there is a hidden evil, and that disaster awaits, whatever they do. They are plagued by som ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Legalize divorce Essay Example

Legalize divorce Essay Example Legalize divorce Essay Legalize divorce Essay Technically speaking, divorce by definition nullifies marriage. For me, it defeats the purpose of getting married. In a wider sense, I do not approve of divorce because there is annulment and I believe it is enough if marriage is not working between the couple. Divorce would be the primary hindrance in promoting family values. The problem is women and children are constantly getting abused, so if that is the case, will separation be enough? I believe if we really want to end the problem regarding abuses, we should rather penalize the wrong actions. But most of all, uplifting morals ND values would be the long term key towards this problem. According to my interviewee, divorce nullifies the whole sanctity of marriage. It completely eradicates the peoples values and it makes people vulnerable for the fact that it makes people lax that there will always be a way out of a marriage, by this; divorce is foreseen as a solution to every marriage problem there is present. I believe that the sanctity of marriage should be kept, but what about those people who are in an abusive relationship? Will we let him or her be stuck in a marriage she/he is not happy in? I tryingly believe that marriage makes the world go round. It is the happiness to both couples ( at least for starters). And it completely sacrifices the single lives of both couples. This single life is more often than not missed by both of them, that is why there is a presence of a little bit of resentment. I believe that it has been the case ever since marriage and commitment is invented. Commitment is a big thing and as click © as it may possibly sound, commitment is big responsibility. It does entail having a big responsibility because it makes use of commitment and love with one another.

Monday, November 4, 2019

There is an ongoing debate on the use of capital punishment. Discuss Essay

There is an ongoing debate on the use of capital punishment. Discuss the social, moral and historical aspects of this controversial topic - Essay Example The reason that capital punishment represents the social problem is due to the fact that it is both something that is potentially morally wrong and a reaction to crime that has statistically been proven to be ineffective in reducing criminal activity with regards to the specific crimes that incurred the death penalty. As a function of this two-pronged approach, the following analysis will seek to provide the reader with a more profound understanding with regards to the determinants of morality and efficacy that the death penalty ultimately portends. It is the hope of this author that such an analysis will be useful in seeking to understand some of the sociological changes with respect to the death penalty which had been instituted within the past several decades around the globe. Firstly, activists that oppose the death penalty promote the understanding that the death penalty is merely a form of empty retribution. What is meant by this is the fact that compelling statistics, compiled by a litany of different researchers, indicate that the death penalty is entirely ineffective with regards to deterring capital crime (Worthen et al., 2014). An analysis of states within the United States that employ the death penalty as compared to those that do not, do not exhibit a market differentiation between the overall level and numbers of these crimes committed. On the other hand, activists on the far right of the political spectrum oftentimes promote the belief that the death penalty is morally commanded and should be employed as a means of providing a degree of restitution and closure to the family members who have had others taken from them in such gruesome a manner (Asai & Maki, 2011). Although there is a degree of psychological evidence that closure can be achieved through the application of the death penalty, such a construct does not justify the taking of life; at least in the view of this author

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Research Paper Outline Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Research Paper Outline - Assignment Example Groves (2010) argues that schools that do not have a policy for dressing usually have problems in the sense that students tend to put on all manner of clothing, some of which border on indecency and controversy. Some clothes worn by students to schools conflict the school policies in terms of dressing code and ethical standards. In this regard, means that the school administrators have a hard time trying to ensure that all students dress appropriately while in school. It implies that much of the precious time that would have been used on instructional leadership is spent on attending to and solving dressing issues. According to (Mathison & Ross, 2008).  Some of the clothing-related conflicts arise from difference in socio-economic status of students that determine the brands of clothes that they wear. Allowing school uniforms to be mandated for public school systems will minimize the wear of baggy clothing that can be used to hide weapons.  Additionally, uniforms eliminate the wear of â€Å"gang related colors† which can lead to becoming and unknown target of opportunity.   Baron (2013) gives a classic example of the student who wore baggy clothing unleashing more than ten guns that he had hid in his clothes. In the age of school violence, especially in America, school administrators should not allow baggy clothes and oversized shorts in the school compounds. The boy hid ten kinds of different ammunitions in his oversized shorts and perhaps the trend is even more serious in other schools without the uniform policy. While the supporters of school uniforms agree that schools uniforms significantly reduce incidences of violence and crime in public schools, some parents and students see this policy as an infringement to personal freedom (Alexander & Alexander, 2012).  They argue that the uniform policy where all students must be clad in navy pants or skirts and white shirts is