Natural Apex

Summary ‘Natural Apex- Defining a National Energy Policy for the Next Decade’ is a book authored by Bruce E. Fleming; this book is Fleming’s effort to explain and make clear the imminent shortage of energy options in the future, and as the title suggests, goes further to propose the future energy options (Fleming).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Apex- Defining a National Energy Policy for the Next Decade specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In recent years, in the face of global warming and its effects, there have been more debates on the adoption of ‘green’ energy alternatives. In this book Fleming joins this debate. He attempts to offer solution on the global need for alternative energy sources. First, he acknowledges the possibility that in a few years there’s likely to be a â€Å"disruptive shortage of natural resources† (Fleming), which are dwindling at a s peed that the current efforts to secure them may not be possible. He explains the irony that the slow dwindling of natural resources is partly due to the effort by the world to adopt ‘green’ energy alternatives. For instance, with the decline of crude oil the world is considering biofuel as a replacement. But, the world may be reckless in its effort to make that transition as reflected in the call to clear the Amazon forest for the sake of growing crops that could be used as biofuel, when the air pollution resulting from clearing and burning would be worse than if the forest were not touched and people continued to use fossil fuels. It is Fleming’s wish in this book that people would understand and accept that natural resources and energy crisis is a possibility. Second, he explores the energy options with which to effectively respond to such a time when it comes. Finally, he hopes that his arguments in this book will be a good platform on which to â€Å"develop and coordinate a long-term national strategy for energy that bears a global perspective that is inclusive of viable and affordable alternatives† (Fleming). In this effort, Fleming makes a number of arguments. Fleming opens his argument by claiming that, unlike the gone quarter of a century when a country’s economic strength was judged relative to the amount of finished goods that it produced or the services it offered, a time is approaching when a country’s wealth will be judged based on how much access to and control of natural resources it has. Already, Fleming cites, China and India, two of the fastest growing economies which are facing the problem of limited natural resources. But in time, due to an increasingly â€Å"highly interrelated global economy† (Fleming), the problem will eventually come to affect all nations. What Fleming finds challenging in the effort to solve a global energy crisis, as predicted in this book is the present globalization a nd where it is likely to be headed, and the consequent closeness of nations, especially in relation to the magnitude of the crisis. Also, because of it, all nations may need to commit themselves and cooperate among themselves. Unfortunately this global solution is quite complex and might not be a smooth ride. This is especially since, while â€Å"meaningful cooperation† (Fleming) is the only way to fill in the social and economic gap between the rich and not-so-rich nations, such a cooperation is likely to be threatened when self-interest race for the dwindling natural resources starts.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More But Fleming also clarifies that the ‘crisis’ is not likely to be as a result of shortages of natural resources per se, but as a result of an interrupted flow of these resources to the vital developed and developing countries: â€Å"shortage s would cause short-term economic effects on specific nations†¦ (but) serious interruptions in the vital natural resources flow to key emerging and developed nations will in the end start a protracted world-wide economic meltdown† (Fleming). All this is likely to be helped by unsolved complex social, economic and political issues in the world today: political unrest in Africa and the Middle East, recent Central America food riots and, among others, rising hostility on basic commodities in emerging and industrialized nations. As already stated, one of the resources likely to head for the worst low is crude oil. This will be due to rise in cost and low supply. This, Fleming clarifies, will not be as a result of disappearing crude oil, on the contrary, he admits that it is unlikely oil will disappear from the face of the earth. Instead, this will be due to a world-wide decline in production and exploration. He notes that while petroleum can still be found under the oceans an d earth’s crust, those that can easily be extracted, easily reachable, are drying up. Already, Fleming cites production of oil in Russia and Saudi Arabia, the two nations with the world’s biggest fields of oil where production has started to decline. Many other fields are producing less and less. It is possible that in fifty years crude oil will not be the main source of energy for the world’s economy. Having a number of energy alternatives is an assurance for the continued growth and prosperity of the world economy. For these reasons, there is dire need to review the world’s energy options. Fleming laments the fact that even as the world acknowledges the need to seek alternative sources of energy, both as insurance against the imminent reduction of crude oil and as a step towards a more green world economy, the nations are not giving the issue the seriousness that it deserves. A comprehensive energy policy, Fleming proposes, can only be achieved through cooperation between both the government and the private sector. In the second chapter, appropriately titled ‘Powered by Diversity’, Fleming proposes the need to increase energy options as a way to ensure continued power supply. Many industry analysts, based on projected consumption rates in the next 30 years agree that global petroleum reserves will be depleted between the years 2030 and 2040. As such, there’s need for alternative sources of energy, especially renewable energy as long-term steps towards reducing extreme dependence on fast-dying fossil fuel.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Apex- Defining a National Energy Policy for the Next Decade specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Fleming proposes that the US should adopt an integrative energy policy that involves both non-renewable energy sources, such as nuclear (uranium) energy and fossil fuel (natural gas, coal, oil), and renewable energy sources, such as Hydropower, Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass, Tidal, Wave, Hydrogen and Pumped Storage (Fleming). Further, he checks their advantages and disadvantages based on their effect on the environment. Fleming also explores the ups and downs of biofuel, while he recognizes that biofuel is a crucial source of energy for the US and other industrialized countries, he warns against an â€Å"unchecked biofuel industry growth† (Fleming 3) as this would be a disaster for the global environment. Rise in biofuel production coincides with low food production since biofuel is made from food; Fleming refers to this as ‘Food as Fuel’. The US, for instance, has been producing less wheat since 2005, this is because most farmers have dumped wheat production and moved to corn farming needed for ethanol production. And so while â€Å"demand for food has risen worldwide, except for Argentina, surplus production from the world’s major food producers, alongsi de the US have actually decreased† (Fleming). As a result there’s been a rise in the cost of food and other food products. As it were, there is a rise in the demand for biofuel in the US, as such there’s been an increased diversion of food (edible crops) for use as and in the production of biofuels. Production of ethanol also reduces the amount exportable consumables. As already mentioned, the need for biofuel has reduced the production of wheat. Because producing corn is more profitable to farmers, they are increasingly dumping production of exportable crops. For instance, cotton producers in the US are also moving to corn production. The implication of this is that in the near future, the US is likely to be a cotton importer. According to Fleming, this trend is more disadvantageous that it has its benefits, for instance, more energy is used in producing ethanol from corn than it gives. This ethanol is referred to as ‘energy sink’ (Fleming). In the end, unchecked biofuel production is not only likely to lead to further environmental degradation, but also to extremely increased food shortages. It is in the third Chapter that Fleming gets down to the main focus of his book as implied in the title; here he provides the framework, what he calls the ‘Blueprint’, for ‘his’ proposed energy strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He discusses the objectives of this strategy under seven major initiatives; these initiatives as he discusses them would involve, (1) reducing the US’s consumption of crude oil; (2) increasing the daily amount of light crude oil and other oil from domestic sources into the SPR reserves; (3) the G8 group of industrialized nations setting Food and Biofuel Protocol to ensure a balanced outcome of the need for both; (4) preservation of the world’s major rain forests through direct monetary and food aids to the people in areas prone to indiscriminate deforestations; (5) putting in place an aggressive strategy for diverse energy use in the US; (6) development and implementation of a storage strategy for natural gas to ensure continued power supply in the coming generations; and (7) finally, sufficient fuel reserves in the country to facilitate easy transition to other no-oil based economy (Fleming). Fleming does not fool himself on the ease of achieving these goals, he is pr agmatic enough to admit for instance that the last initiative, although relatively straightforward, will be challenging as it does not only require financial resources alone, or just the political will, but also a healthy cooperation with other nations. These efforts do not overlook the present role of petroleum, which is why Fleming proposes an integrative energy strategy, involving the use of both crude oil and other available non-crude oil power sources. This strategy involves conserving petroleum at these times when the supply of crude oil is dwindling, and also expanding reserves for crude oil to cater for sudden interruptions of supply in the future. As part of a step to invite the private sector and utility companies into the bandwagon in this effort, Fleming encourages the use of renewable energy incentives and tax credits for energy efficiency. This would â€Å"encourage the use of alternative energy† (Fleming). Failing to do this, as well as providing long-term supp ort for state and federal regulations only increases the dependency of the state on non-renewable alternatives, as well as undermining the role of the renewable energy alternatives, and ultimately undermining the national policy on energy. Critical Analysis The issue of dwindling natural resources that Fleming emphasizes on can already be seen in the new scramble for Africa; China, especially, has increased its operations in Africa. This is not just a race for investment opportunities in Africa but also a fight for the share of natural resources in Africa. Besides China, India has also increased its role in Africa; both nations are obviously â€Å"jostling for access to the continent’s oil† (Cheru Obi, 174). But this fact also creates a new situation. Fleming acknowledges the fact that, with the imminent times of need that he prophesies, there will be increased need for a more unified world with â€Å"meaningful cooperation† (Fleming) among the nations of the w orld. But he also acknowledges the limitations of such cooperation. First, that finding a global solution, one which requires a certain level of commitment by all nations of the world, is not going to be easy. Not only does it have to cater for the interests of the nations involved, and therein lies the complexity of finding such an all-round solution, but especially in relation to the interplay of other factors such as foreign and diplomatic policies by all these world nations and the threats to the prevailing balance of power. This latter case is what will determine the economic and diplomatic loyalties and alliances between nations during such times. China today reflects both cases quite well since Africa is increasingly looking to the East. China is largely seen by most African leaders as a better business ‘partner’, unlike the hitherto perceived big-brother handling of African nations by the west, led by the US. Of course, it is not exactly true that the relationsh ip of Africa and China is a partnership between ‘equals’, it may just be nothing more than a linguistic play. But still Africa finds the approach by the East more appealing. Already, China as a fast growing economy is assuring itself a piece of African resources should the rough times come. China has already made it obvious that it is not willing to favor a world solution that threatens its economic dreams. This has already been reflected in its stand in the debate on environment and its response to global warming policies, especially on cutting Carbon emissions, for instance the stalling behavior of its officials during the recent Copenhagen Summit in 2008. But the US is also guilty of putting its energy needs first. Fleming himself has mentioned the negative impact that US’s (alongside other food producing nations) search for biofuel has had on the supply and rise in the costs of foods. And it has turned a blind eye on the criticism directed to it for such a mo ve. Also, Fleming points out the possibility that nations are likely to seek new alliances in the face of such deficiencies as another threat of comprehensive global talks and solution-finding. For instance, Russia is also out to create alliances as a way of â€Å"exerting its economic and political power† (Fleming), the first step towards which it made when it seized Georgia’s vital pipelines for natural gas and oil resources during their small 2008 war. All these arguments are relatively valid. Unfortunately, while Fleming seems to wish for a ‘global’ solution, that the US is meant to â€Å"guide and lead in providing solutions to big problems outside its borders† (Fleming) he seems to give up with his claim that such a move is complex (which is true considering, for instance, the behavior of China today), so that afterwards he only argues in favor of what the US can do to protect itself when such a time comes. It is as if he recognizes the likeli ness of China being the most appealing to Africa, so that he proposes to protect US against competition from, say, China and its allies. When he mentions the rest of the world as part of this solution and as beneficiaries of such precautions, one gets the feeling that he is only doing this out of, say, sympathy or as remorse for not including them. The best reflection of this is the fact in all his arguments, there’s no role for the rest of the world to play. It is all to be carried out by the US. Perhaps this is understandable, as his work is on ‘National’ energy policy, however it does not seem realistic that the US will do all this independent of the rest of the world. While he recognizes the might of globalization in the world today, his plan seems to act independent of it. The question that remains for Fleming to answer is; where does the rest of the world fall in this strategy, and what is in it for them? Also, having looked at Fleming’s proposals, i t is time that we assess and evaluate the feasibility of his proposals. The first question that can be asked in this effort is; is it possible for the US to take up other sources of energy besides oil, especially by 2040, the year by which oil is expected to be very low? This question needs to be looked at not based on not just the disadvantages of the energy alternatives that Fleming proposes but also on the present US energy policies. Fleming extends the use of renewable energy incentives to encourage the adoption of this policy by the private sector by â€Å"influencing both their investment in/supply of and consumption/demand of renewable energy alternatives† (Clement), as well as encourage the transition to the new policy that calls for dependence on renewable energy sources. Tax incentives have, in most parts of the world, been successful at â€Å"boosting public policies meant to stimulate the development of markets and industries for renewable energy† (Clement) . Some of these tax incentives includes: investment tax incentives which are tax deductions/credits for a fraction of capital investment or cost of equipment meant for renewable energy systems and projects; production tax incentives meant to extend credits or tax deductions on energy produced by renewable energy systems; tax holidays; value-added tax incentives; property tax reductions and many more (Clement). However, while these incentives have been proven to encourage investments and consumption of renewable energy by the private sector for instance, it is important to find a guideline for ensuring that such efforts are honest and real. For instance, project costs may be inflated for allocation of large amounts of investment incentives (Madlener Wohlgemuth). Equally, investment tax credits can be beneficial at enticing profitable projects/enterprises or wealthy individuals to enter the market for renewable energy in order to cut their taxes. However, the danger lies in the likel iness that the investors may be out to benefit from the tax shelter rather than making any real electricity production. In addition to this, investment credits are less clear as compared to investment incentives and this may reduce the degree of effectiveness (Madlener Wohlgemuth). Such were the abuses that accompanied the 1980s California wind energy development (Righter, 1996; Wiser et al., 1998). Also, the fact that some small-project investors and developers may lack enough pre-tax income for the full absorption of the tax limits the number of benefits and range of businesses which can access such benefits (Madlener Wohlgemuth). The other forms of incentives also have their own limitations but Fleming has not addressed these likely outcomes. By acknowledging these possibilities is an admission that incentives do not necessarily encourage use of renewable energy. Most importantly, Fleming seems to be of the idea that, unless the US finds solutions now for the likely depletion o f natural resources in the future, it cannot avert conflicts with other competing nations such as Russia and China. But such conflicts are not new, in fact the US’s cold war with Russia, other cold war related conflicts being only an extension of this, is the most famous in world’s history, and is likely to remain so in generations to come. The US’s wrangling with China, fanned by a perceived competition for world domination and China’s perceived attempts to oust the US as the only global superpower, is only just beginning. The former happened at a time of abundance of natural resources. The latter is happening only at the threat of a natural resources crisis. In other words, whether there is a scarcity of resources or not, such conflicts will always be there. True, the scarcity of natural resources will provoke new alliances and conflicts. But that doesn’t mean that conflict is going to be the only way to solve the problem. Just as there have been healthy ways to handle international wrangles, so is there likely to be a solution here. Conclusion In his conclusion, Fleming adopts a rather socio-political stance- like he is being a mouthpiece for the US on its supremacy and the superiority of its culture (mainly capitalism and democracy) over the rest. By claiming that China has only succeeded after adopting capitalism, it feels like he is not just attempting to not just say that China’s post-capitalism economic strategies have failed, but that it is only the US that has the right solutions for the world problems. The one problem with this stand is that it overlooks the fact that other nations practicing capitalism, even much earlier than China, have not been able to achieve the economic capability that China has today. This claim overlooks China’s own unique, even non-capitalist, efforts for economic growth and their resultant successes. While the US still remains the only superpower, it is an on-going debate th at it is slowly losing its grip on the globe. As already discussed above, Africa, for instance, is increasingly looking East and whether these mean that the US is losing its powers is debatable. But still it is a reflection of the fact that nations outside the US are considering other option as alternative partners to their problems other than the US itself. And in talking about the US version of Democracy, Fleming has failed to acknowledge other forms of democracy that have emerged in other parts of the world, which are quite different from the one of the US. By becoming a kind-of political commentary, a deviation from his intended economic focus, Fleming loses readers. He emphasizes the importance of the US government rather than using the conclusion to make a final stressed call for the US to make the energy strategy proposals that he presents. But ultimately, in the rest of the work’s body, Fleming has tackled the issue of dwindling natural resources with great effort and insight. This work is a wakeup call to not just the US, but also for the rest of world to start looking for solutions for any shortages of resources in the future. Because, as Fleming puts it, when the time finally comes, it will be a burden for the whole globalised world. More importantly the need to attain reliable energy options will secure energy need of a world that is rapidly becoming industrialized and which requires more oil to use as energy like never before. This strategy will solve global oil crisis that have been a source of major conflict historically such as the 1970s oil embargo that paralyzed the whole world; more recently we have seen even more wars being waged purely because of scramble for oil as has been the case in Iraq. So exploring alternative energy needs will have wide ramifications for global peace. Works Cited Clement, David. International Tax Incentives for Renewable Energy: Lesson  for Public Policy. 2005. Web. Cheru, Fantu, and Obi, Cyril. The Rise o f China and India in Africa. London: Zed Books. 2010. Print. Fleming, Bruce. Natural Apex- Defining a National Energy Policy for the Next  Decade. 2009. Web. Madlener, Reinhard, and Wohlgemuth, Norbert. Financial Support of Renewable  Energy Systems: Investment Vs operating Cost Subsidies (Proceedings of the Norwegian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) Conference towards an Integrated European Energy Market). 2000. Web. This essay on Natural Apex- Defining a National Energy Policy for the Next Decade was written and submitted by user Bria Odonnell 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.

What the President of the United States Does

What the President of the United States Does The President of the United States or â€Å"POTUS† functions as the head of the United States federal government. The president directly oversees all agencies of the executive branch of government and is considered the commander-in-chief of all branches of the  United States Armed Forces. The executive powers of the president are enumerated in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The president is indirectly elected by the people through the  electoral college system to a four-year term. The president and vice president are the only two nationally elected offices in the federal government. The president may serve no more than two four year terms. The Twenty-second Amendment prohibits any person from being elected president for a third term and prohibits any person from being elected to the presidency more than once if that person previously had served as president, or acting president, for more than two years of another persons term as president. The primary duty of the president of the United States is to make sure that all U.S. laws are carried out and that the federal government is run effectively. Although the president may not introduce new legislation - thats the duty of Congress - he does wield veto power over all bills that are approved by the legislature. In addition, the president has the weighty role of commander in chief of the armed forces. As the nations chief executive, the president oversees foreign policy, making treaties with foreign nations and appointing ambassadors to other nations and to the United Nations, and  domestic policy, dealing with issues within the United States, and economic. He also appoints members of the Cabinet, as well as Supreme Court justices and federal judges. Day-To-Day Governance The president, with Senate approval, appoints a Cabinet, which oversees specific facets of government. Members of the Cabinet include - but are not limited to - the vice president, the presidential chief of staff, the U.S trade representative, and the heads of all the major federal departments, such as the secretaries of state, defense, the Treasury, and the attorney general, who leads the Justice Department. The president, along with his Cabinet, helps set the tone and policy for the entire executive branch and how the laws of the United States are enforced. Legislative Duties The president is expected to address the full Congress at least once a year to report on the State of the Union. Although the president does not have the power to enact laws, he does work with Congress to introduce new legislation and carries a great deal of power, particularly with members of his own party, to lobby for legislation he favors. If Congress should enact a law that the president opposes, he may veto the legislation before it can become law. Congress may override the presidential veto with a two-thirds majority of those in attendance in both the Senate and House of Representatives at the time the override vote is taken. Foreign Policy The president is authorized to make treaties with foreign nations, pending Senate approval. He also appoints ambassadors to other countries and to the United Nations, though those, too, require Senate confirmation. The president and his administration represent the interests of the United States abroad; as such, he often meets with, entertains and develops a relationship with other heads of state. Commander in Chief of the Military The president serves as commander in chief of the nations armed forces. In addition to his powers over the military, the president has the authority to deploy those forces at his discretion, with congressional approval. He may also ask Congress to declare war on other nations. Salary and Perks Being president is not without its perks. The president earns $400,000 per year and is, traditionally, the highest-paid federal official. He has use of two presidential residences, the White House and Camp David in Maryland; has both an airplane, Air Force One, and helicopter, Marine One, at his disposal; and has a legion of staff members including a personal chef to assist him in both his professional duties and private life. Retirement: Pension and Perks Under the Former Presidents Act of 1958, former Presidents of the United States who were not been removed from office due to impeachment receive several lifetime retirement benefits. Before 1958, former presidents received no pension or other retirement benefits, whatsoever. Today, former presidents are entitled to a pension, staff and office expenses, medical care or health insurance, and Secret Service protection. Briefly, former presidents receive a taxable pension equal to the annual salary of the President’s Cabinet secretaries and heads of other executive branch departments, currently $210,700 per year. The pension begins immediately after a president’s departure from office. Former first ladies may also be paid a lifetime annual pension of $20,000 if they relinquish any other pensions the might be eligible to receive. In addition, former presidents are entitled to- at their option- office space, staff, and communications systems. In some cases, these extra benefits can add up to more than the annual pension payment itself. For example, the federal fiscal year 2018 budget requests for the former presidents include $536,000 for office space for former President Barack Obama and $68,000 for travel for former President George H.W. Bush. Risky Job The job is certainly not without its risks. The president and his family are given round-the-clock protection by the Secret Service. Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to be assassinated; James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy were also assassinated while in office. Andrew Jackson, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan all survived assassination attempts. Presidents continue to receive Secret Service protection after they retire from office. Phaedra Trethan is a freelance writer who also works as a copy editor for the Camden Courier-Post. She formerly worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she wrote about books, religion, sports, music, films, and restaurants. Updated by Robert Longley

ENVI Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ENVI - Assignment Example 3. Ring growth comes with a few challenges when it comes to predicting precipitation in relation to ring growth. When there is a difference it is sometimes a result of misrepresentation of data. Another reason might be attributed to aging. When trees get old their fibers twist and they are unable to hold their fibers. Other factors like CO2 may also influence ring growth in relation to precipitation. 4. Environmentalist will be able to predict world temperatures and provide mitigation measures to be taken in case of adverse effects. It might be also useful in controlling the hydrological cycle. This information can also help in rehabilitating the environment by engaging in afforestation, soil conservation and reduced depletion of natural resources. 5. If environmentalists can be able to project ring growth for the next 400 years it will be useful as the world can be informed about the precipitation trends. In addition to this, it will be easy to manage our forest and water catchment areas. This data can also be used in deciding food security in many countries in the world. This information might also be useful in deciding the sources of fuel energy shifting to safer sources and abandoning carbon

Report about Vodafone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Report about Vodafone - Essay Example A network service provider is an organisation which is involved in the selling of bandwidth or gives access to its network to facilitate communication. Telecom network in UK plays a vital role in the growth of its economy. It accounts for nearly 75% of the total service revenue in the UK’s communication sector. The revenue from voice service was on the higher side prior to 2009, but started declining thereafter. During the same time the industry witnessed a massive growth in the internet segment. The widened accessibility of rapidly fast broadband network and the changing demand of consumers in the UK market made it possible. There was a huge increase in the number of mobile internet user (Ofcom, 2010, p.279). The players of the industry includes orange and T-mobile, Vodafone, O2, 3 mobile service and others. The name Vodafone appeared from the words voice data-phone and collectively got its name, Vodafone. Vodafone group Plc. is an organisation indulged in the business of providing telecommunication services. The company was headquarters at Berkshire, but recently it has changed its base to London, United Kingdom (BBC, 2009). It has its presence in Europe, Africa, Asia pacific, Middle East and the United States of America. It employs around 70,000 employees around the world. Vodafone has its presence in 30 countries around the world and also holds a mammoth base of 371 million subscribers around the world (Vodafone, n.d.). In this changing environment and rapid technological development has made the customers to demand at the extremes levels. Therefore in order to satisfy its customers the network of Vodafone gets periodically updated with the launch of any technicalities. To cite an example the company has incorporated the 3G technology in its network. It has made possible for the company to provide the subscribers with the access of voice communication as well as data transfer at a rapid rate. The competitors of the company includes 3 mobiles, telenor, airtel, t-mobile, AT & T, orange mobile, pennon, TMN etc. and also other local player belonging to different countries. Mission Statement The company has put forward its mission statement as ‘We will be the communications leader in an increasingly connected world’. The mission symbolizes that the company is optimistic in nature. The company is currently the third largest telecom provider of the world after china mobile and singtel accordin g to the number of customer. Therefore the company clearly portrays that they would like to achieve the elite position in the years to come. The company is also highly focused on developing the products which goes according to the technology as well as which satisfies the need of the customers. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is a tool which is used to do strategic planning and is also used to evaluate the internal strengths & weakness as well as the external opportunities and threats. Therefore it is considered as essential element which matches the company’s capabilities and resources to the environment where it operates along with its competitors (Richter & Pahl, 2009, p.1). The SWOT analysis of Vodafone has been illustrated below:- Internal Strengths International presence Huge Brand value Technically up to date products `Weakness Poor connectivity in some rural areas. Depends on European market External Opportunity Larger geographical access Sound diversification strategy Th reats Tremendously competitive and saturated market. Emergence of low priced

Bankruptcy in the United States Essay Example for Free

Bankruptcy in the United States Essay The paradox set up between the words â€Å"pleasure† and â€Å"burn† shows something unusual about the characterization of the speaker—that maybe he is a paradox himself and is at odds with what is thought of as normal. Who the speaker is has not been revealed yet, so the reader is allowed to form opinions about his character before meeting the fireman. Further into the book, Montag no longer finds a pleasure, and he runs from his job as a fireman. Finally, the feeling of fire as a pleasure returns when he realizes fire can be used for warmth and comfort rather than for destruction. Diction used (burn, eaten, blackened, changed) creates a fearful mood and an ominous tone from the beginning. Chapter 1 Mood â€Å"His lips quivered and the spectacles were dimmed with mist—â€Å"’we may stay here till we die†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ with that word the heat seemed to increase till it became a threatening weight and the lagoon attacked them with a blinding effulgence â€Å" This mood conducts an emotion time to where the boys just came to their senses that they might not make it out of there. Nobody knows they are there so they realized that they have to fight to make their way out. Later on they realized that the have to find or at least try to find others that may still be on the island. A foreshadow of this might be â€Å"we may stay here till we die† because since they are all children from 6-12 they may not make it out of the island Imagery â€Å"The silence was so complete that they could hear the unevenness of piggy’s breathing. The sun slanted in and lay golden over half the platform. The breeze that on the lagoon had chased their tails like kittens wee finding their way across the platform and into the forest. â€Å"‘So we may be here a long time†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This quote shows that after finding more people they all came to realization that would be there a long time because nobody knows where they are. The boys went silent as they realized what was actually happening. This quote emphasized the awkward silence as they all processed through their heads that they all may not either make it or go home. This symbolized imagery because I could really picture the surroundings and feel how quiet it must have been. Theme â€Å"I agree with ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all we’re not savages. We’re English and English are the best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things† This is in first person This part of the chapter identifies that start of them striving to do the right things. They weren’t working together so now they are forming themselves into groups, etc. to hold themselves together. The mood of this is determination because to me it seems that these boys are finally finding out to feel what its like to be on your own so they have to stick together in order to live. Civilization vs Savagery Chapter 3 Tone â€Å"Everyone’s keeps running off. You remember the meeting? How everyone was going to work hard until the shelters were finished? † This passage is showing how they went to fun to serious. Because there are a lot of younger kids in the group it is harder for everyone to concentrate for long amount of times. Causing things to fall apart and now people are getting mad and stressed. This creates a tone of seriousness even though the boys/chiefs are only 12 Chapter 3 Mood â€Å"They looked at each other, baffled, in love and hate. All the warm slat water of the bathing pool and the shouting and splashing and laughing were only just sufficient to bring them together again† This passage shows that all it takes is a little fun to realize that everything is okay. The pass few pages were full of everyone just stressing out and fighting and once they began to let loose and have fun ralph and jack realized that it was okay it brought them together again. The mood is relieved and a feeling of happiness â€Å"There was a ship. Out there, You said you’d keep the fire going and you let it out! † The boys are eager to go home but with the choir out hunting the fire had gone out and the ship had passed them because their signal (fire) burned out. Ralph then became violent and angry and yelled at jack creating a mood of intimidation and anger. HE then released all the stress that had been built up and took it out on the gang.

A Brief Timeline of Black Civil Rights in America Essay -- African-Amer

A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The struggle for equality has been a battle fought for hundreds of years. Documents such as The Declaration of Independence, dating back to 1776, state that all men are created equal, and among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Surely we know that in fact all men were not seen as equal because issues such as slavery and white superiority existed as well as discrimination issues that still exist to some extent today. C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1865, The 13th Amendment was established which abolished slavery, but did not grant blacks equality. D.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Government was still extremely biased when meeting to make Amendments. They were quoted as saying â€Å"We hold this to be a government of white people†¦to benefit white people†¦and no Africans can be a U.S. citizen†¦Ã¢â‚¬  E.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even though slavery was abolished with the 13th Amendment, issues such as Black Codes and the struggles of the Freedmens Bureau were definitely pres...

Fight Club Conformity Analysis Essay

Conformity is a major theme in Fight Club, and there are a number of specific scenes that display the rejection of it and characters falling victim to it, sometimes unbeknownst to them. The Narrator, our main character, is a complex individual. He fits into almost every textbook example of social psychology. He is a complete nutcase. In fact, he is so incredibly insane, that he creates an imaginary friend with whom he transforms himself into a different person, free from the bonds of society, free from conformity, free to change the way he lives. Or does he? The film starts off with the Narrator losing sleep, for what reason we aren’t sure. He then proceeds to tell us how he lived his life. He works a 9 to 5 job in a cubicle with people that dress business casual. He owns a small apartment filled with furniture, appliances, and even dishware that he felt defined him best as a person. His Strinne green striped sofa. Rislampa wire lamps made out of environmentally-friendly unbleached paper. The Hovvetrekke Home Exerbike. He is obsessed with creating a self-image that is socially acceptable to others in his life. The Narrator starts breaking out of this normative mold when he meets Tyler Durden. He even proposes during a montage of his daily routine on the job, â€Å"If you wake up in a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?† Tyler is his fellow conspirator in his personal resistance, his partner in crime. He needed someone else to resist the social norms with, so he took the easy way out, and made one up. After the Narrator’s apartment blows up, he grabs a couple drinks with his new imaginary friend, and then shacks up with him. They start fight nights in the parking lot behind Lou’s tavern. As their group grows larger, they move it to Lou’s basement. The more Tyler and the gang meet at their fight club, the less the Narrator cares about his job and life, and the more anti-conformist he becomes. He strolls into work disheveled and with dried blood on his shirt. He’s missing some teeth. He smokes indoors. He just doesn’t give a shit. At one point our two main characters get on a bus. The Narrator glances up at a Gucci ad and says, â€Å"I felt sorry for guys packed into gyms trying to look like how Calvin Klein or Tommy Hilfiger said they should,† and remarking to Tyler, â€Å"Is that what a man looks like?† to which he responds, â€Å"Self-improvement is masturbation†¦now, self destruction†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This particular scene is very ironic, as the Narrator is shunning something that he actually wants to be—Tyler is a projection of his ideal self. He even reveals this in the hotel room scene where the Narrator â€Å"realizes† that they are the same person: â€Å"All the ways you wish you could be, that’s me. I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.† Therefore, the Narrator is actually conforming by creating a self that is generally more likeable and accepted in society’s eyes. He caves in to normative social influence, and at the same time believes that he has completely rejected it. There is a double meaning to this however, in the one line that starts it off: â€Å"You were looking for a way to change your life. You could not do this on your own.† Tyler was the ally the Narrator needed to break the monotony of his daily routine, to break free from normative social influence. We need just one other person to believe in the cause. There can be a leader, but nothing will happen just because of one person. If you are starting a movement, or a revolution in this case, at least one other person needs to join your cause, and believe in it. That one member needs to privately accept the fact that what you are talking about, what you preach, is the actual truth. And, as more people join a movement, the less risky it is for others to join. â€Å"Fight club. This was mine and Tyler’s gift. Our gift to the world.† Tyler gave every â€Å"normal† man the keys to himself, the one everybody wants to be. As their fight club grows progressively larger, it raises the question: why are so many others conforming to something that they would normally never take part in? Are they rejecting social norms as well? Or has this fight club in turn become the norm, and therefore members are joining it to fit in? Perhaps it is a case of minority influence, when a few influence the many.  Tyler and the Narrator have held the same viewpoint for a while now, months even, that they do not care about clever art or Swedish furniture, and they are comfortable admitting that they have scars from fighting. With this unwavering view, others start to take notice, and even begin to respect their ideology. They join fight club to become loyal members. After a while, Tyler decides that they have to expand or â€Å"move out of the basement,† and hence creates Project Mayhem. People do not always cave into peer pressure. If that is true, then when do we break? When do we give in and conform? According to Bibb Penis Latanà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s social impact theory, it all depends on three specific factors: strength, how important the group is to you; immediacy, how close the group is to you in space and time; and the number of people in the group. The last factor operates differently than you might think however—the larger a group is, the less each additional person has an influence on others. Ever since starting the first fight club, Norton’s character has garnered such a reputation that he has gained a following. People start showing up on his doorstep, waiting and waiting until they gain permission to enter the house and start â€Å"training.† A sole applicant dressed in all black waits on their porch, by himself, for what appears to be days on end. Tyler comes out a talks smack, beats him with a broom, and talks some more smack. But the app licant isn’t going to give up easy. He wants to be accepted, and is willing to put himself through this rigorous test to become Project Mayhem’s first member. After Tyler lets him in, he shaves his head, with Tyler remarking that he looks like a monkey ready to shot into space. He has mentioned this earlier in the film: â€Å"The first soap was made from the ashes of heroes; like the first monkey shot into space! Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.† As soon as the first member is in, two more show up on the doorstep. It grows and grows and grows until Project Mayhem is no longer a small group, but an army. The Narrator says during this sequence â€Å"Sooner or later, we all became what Tyler wanted us to be.† Which was what? Mindless, obedient robots. And, since the first (and second) rule of Project Mayhem is â€Å"you do not ask questions,† not a single member can question the tasks they are given, and therefore are forced to conform to Tyler’s (or for the sake o f making sense, the Narrator’s) wishes. Like the Milgram experiments  and the My Lai massacre, Tyler’s robots are so obedient, that they won’t hesitate and question their actions or accept personal responsibility—they just do it. Tyler is capitalizing on the fact that they respect him for who he is and what he has done. They believe in Tyler and his decisions (â€Å"In Tyler we trusted†), as he was every member’s ally when they wanted to break out of their social norms and become the man they have always wanted to be. Obviously everybody thought about it. â€Å"People do it every day. People talk to themselves, people see themselves as they’d like to be.† Their basement get-togethers were right in everyone’s face—Tyler just made it visible. It was on the tip of everyone’s tongue; Tyler just gave it a name. Without the ability to question authority, Tyler’s â€Å"space monkeys† start wreaking havoc all across the city. It started out as â€Å"homework assignments,† destroying satellite antennas, magnetizing video rentals, and defacing billboards. Then it was amped up: trashing franchise coffee bars, setting buildings on fire, and blowing up pieces of corporate art. Members of Project Mayhem are comfortable with this, because according to their set of rules, they â€Å"have no names.† This is deindividuation at its finest. With such a large group of people, all in this case anonymous, nobody takes any responsibility for their actions. They even wear ski masks on a couple of their assignments, further deindividualizing them. A study done by Robert Watson in 1973 found that warriors who hid their identities before going into battle—for example, by using face and body paint—were significantly more likely to kill, torture or mutilate captive prisoner s than warriors who did not hide their identities. Thanks in part to their ski masks, one of the members of Project Mayhem dies on their last assignment; his body is brought back to the house. Here conformity is at its most rampant, as members will snap to whatever direction is given in a moments notice. Angel Face (Leto’s character) tells them to bury the body and immediately they start to lift it off the table. The Narrator stops them, shouting that he is a real person, a friend of his, a man with a name. One member instantly takes this information and transforms it to fit within the properties of their group, claiming â€Å"in death, members of Project Mayhem, have a name.† The other space monkeys surrounding the table then immediately start chanting his name, over and over. It is at this point that our main character snaps, and takes off  to find out what kind of monster he created.