A product that is free of controversy

The portable oxygen cylinders are filled with liquefied oxygen. Mostly used for medical purposes or in areas with scarce or no oxygen like under water or at high levels above the ground i.e. aerospace.Medically, oxygen gas is used in the treatment of gas poisoning, pneumonia, used as an anesthetic when mixed with nitrous oxide or administered in deficiency of oxygen (Rees, Dudley, 2006).Liquefied oxygen is pale blue in color, and has a density of 1.141g/cm3. The liquid has a boiling point of -182.96oC and a freezing point of -222.65oC. Its raw material is oxygen which is obtained from natural air by a process know as fractional distillation.   At 20oC the liquid gas has an expansion rate of 860:1 (O'Leary, 2000).Fractional distillation is done in a factory with boilers this makes the laborers to work at very cold environments which are highly flammable. Natural air is made up of different gases which has different evaporation or freezing points. The natural air is first liquefied t o be liquid air which has a mixture of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen with boiling points of (-196oC) and (-183oC) respectively.Liquid air is heated to -183oC which oxygen evaporate, it’s tapped and liquefied again now as Oxygen liquid which is then packed in high pressure cylinders for distribution. Most of the cylinders meet minimum requirements of weighing 5 pounds and under and usually last up to 5 hours or more (Portableoxygen, 2009). The cylinders administer oxygen in pulses through a device know as a conserver which delivers a pulse of oxygen when the user inhales.Ethical considerations of the product are; the liquefied gas is highly explosive and flammable hence it use for industrial purposes. Due to its properties of being highly flammable and explosive some people mix it with powdered charcoal to make explosives which are lethal.The product should be produced the way its being done but its distributions should be controlled and sold only to authorized dealers and users to minimize its use to prepare explosives.ReferencesO'Leary, D. (2000). Oxygen O2: Retrieved on Mar 22, 2009 from http://www.ucc.ie/academic/chem/dolchem/html/elem/elem008.htmlPortableoxygen, (2009). Portable Oxygen: Weights & Durations: Retrieved on Mar 22, 2009 from http://www.portableoxygen.org/weightsand%20durations.htmlRees, P & Dudley, F. (2006). Provision of oxygen at home. British Medical Journal. 317(7163): 935–938.

Commodore Perry’s Journey to Japan

After the conclusion of the War of 1812 and prior to the Civil War, the United States Navy entered into a peacetime role. Initially, this role was to protect commerce trading in both inland and international waterways. However, that role was soon expanded upon with Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry’s journey to Japan. The journey had its immediate impact, including the signing of a comprehensive treaty that established trade relations with Japan and provided protection for sailors and their ships. Perry’s expedition also had the impact of serving as a precursor for the change in what the Navy’s responsibilities encompassed, which even carry on to the present day Navy. Commodore Perry left for Japan with the objectives of opening up Japanese ports to trade and ensuring American presence and protection in East Asia. These terms were outlined in â€Å"detailed instructions from the Secretary of the Navy John P. Kennedy, diplomatic instructions from the State Depart ment, and a letter from President Millard Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan†2 that Perry carried with him on his voyage.From beginning to end Perry’s voyage spanned nine months and was filled with trials and tribulations. The Japanese were initially turned off to the idea of Americans entering their country, and would not even let them step on land. Only twice did Perry and his squadron come ashore in the nine months prior to the signing of the official treaty. Most of the negotiations took place upon various ships in Perry’s control and the meetings were often difficult to coordinate.Based on notes from Perry’s personal journal, these complications often lead to frustration and Perry was constantly considering employing â€Å"whole force† that he was granted to use if he deemed it necessary to achieve his goals. 3 However, this was ultimately unnecessary, and Perry did well to remind himself that his voyage was diplomatic and pacific in nature. The negotiations were an arduous process and Perry even left Japan returning later with twice as many ships, anticipating a struggle. This was unnecessary as the Japanese agreed to Perry’s desires and the â€Å"black ships† saw no combat.With the agreement of the Japanese the Treaty of Kanagawa was drafted and subsequently signed on 31 March 1854. This treaty allowed for a U. S. consul to be created at Shimoda, and allowed access to the ports of Hakodate and Shimoda for the purpose of obtaining â€Å"wood, water, provisions, and coal, and other articles their necessities may require. † The treaty also required that â€Å"whenever ships of the United States are thrown or wrecked on the coast of Japan, the Japanese vessels will assist them, and carry their crews to Shimoda. Thirdly, men staying in Shimoda and Hakodate, or any seamen shipwrecked shall be free and â€Å"shall not be subject to†¦restrictions and confinement. †4Although there was not a formal agreement on trade in these open ports, Perry assumed correctly that with an American presence in port, trade would come naturally. 5 The initial impact of Perry’s expedition and the treaty with Japan gave the United States Navy many new roles and an international presence on the high seas. Japan had been a country focused on isolationism for centuries. This isolationism is mainly connected to the zeal of early missionaries who traveled to Japan.The United States was able to avert this conflict in values by Commodore Perry’s outright statement to the Japanese leadership that the United States government â€Å"does not interfere with the religion of its own people, much less with that of other nations. †6 Several attempts were made to open Japan to American trade, but all had failed. One such failure was that of Commodore James Biddle, which proved to be a complete embarrassment for the United States, as he made several mistakes in his conduct and on top of it a ll needed to be towed out of port by a Japanese ship. The fact that Commodore Perry was successful in his mission changed the status quo in regards to what the United States Navy could and could not do. Perry proved that the United States was capable of having a forward presence in foreign lands and was able to establish international trade in East Asia. The establishment of commercial relations with Japan furthered the Navy’s responsibility in protecting trade. Perry’s exploits also showed that diplomacy was a possible way for the United States to establish influence in other countries.Thirdly, Perry and his â€Å"black ships† were the first sign of American deterrence. The fact that American ships were off the coast of Japan ready to attack an underprepared country made it very difficult for the Japanese to negotiate anything in their favor or make any tactical or strategic decisions to remove the threat of Perry’s force. The roles of the Navy that Comm odore Perry established in the mid-nineteenth century are still prevalent in the present day.The idea of the Navy as a protector of commerce (although established before Perry, he was instrumental in expanding the Navy’s prevalence in ensuring safe trade) continues into the present day. An example of this would be ships stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. This area, specifically around the Strait of Hormuz is crucial to trade in the Middle East. The presence of the United States Navy maintains a safe trading environment between the United States and its allies, and other countries in the region.Commodore Perry also introduced the idea of deterrence, which is crucial in the operations of the Navy in today’s world. One example of American deterrence is the use of submarines, equipped with nuclear war heads and ballistic missiles, which are virtually invisible to our enemies. Perry also proved that diplomacy was a very potent way to establish influence in foreign countrie s and maintain a presence without force. This is also seen in the United States establishment of embassies in foreign countries and the use of diplomats to negotiate with foreign countries.Commodore Perry’s expedition to Japan had a tremendous impact on the United States at the time it occurred, but it also had an everlasting impact on how the Navy operates and what roles and responsibilities it chooses to take on. Notes 1. Walworth, Arthur. Black ships off Japan; the story of Commodore Perry's expedition 242. New York: A. A. Knopf, 1946. 2. Bradford, James C. Quarterdeck and bridge: two centuries of American naval leaders 115. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997. 3. Perry, Matthew Calbraith, and Roger Pineau.The Japan Expedition, 1852-1854; the personal journal of Commodore Matthew C. Perry 157. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1968. 4. Barrows, Edward Morley. The great commodore; the exploits of Matthew Calbraith Perry 365. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill C o, 1935. 5. Anderson, David. â€Å"Perry, Matthew Calbraith. â€Å"American National Biography Online Feb. 2000 (accessed October 2, 2012). 6. Walworth, Arthur. Black ships off Japan. 243. 7. Bradford, James C. Quarterdeck and Bridge. 113. Bibliography Anderson, David. â€Å"Perry, Matthew Calbraith. â€Å"American National Biography Online Feb. 000 (accessed October 2, 2012). Barrows, Edward Morley. The great commodore; the exploits of Matthew Calbraith Perry 365. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co, 1935. Bradford, James C. Quarterdeck and bridge: two centuries of American naval leaders. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997. Perry, Matthew Calbraith, and Roger Pineau. The Japan Expedition, 1852-1854; the personal journal of Commodore Matthew C. Perry 157. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1968. Walworth, Arthur. Black ships off Japan; the story of Commodore Perry's expedition. New York: A. A. Knopf, 1946.

Drug Court Program in NJ Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Drug Court Program in NJ - Term Paper Example The thesis statement which has been used in this paper is that: There is an immediate need to expand the drug court programs and the expansion should be in terms of program structure, underlying ideas, the area of jurisdiction, and manpower. The existing Drug Court Program, though very well structured, has not been very successful. The program started in 1996-97 and by 1999, it got well structured and the number of such courts reached 472 (Franco 2010 p.5). Drug courts started a societal shift toward therapeutic jurisprudence. The focus moved to the person rather than the crime. Frequent personal interactions with the professionals of the drug court team have helped people to recover to some extent. Though the program created more productive people for the society, in creating a healthy society it has not been very successful. In the year 2010-11, the percentage of employed people entering the program is 29%. Upon graduating the number rose to 84% (New Jersey Courts, 2011, p. 24). Now there can be some discrepancies in those numbers. The real scenario can be seen from the health benefits data. Upon entering the program, 15% of the people were considered healthy; but while graduating, only 48% of the people were labeled a s healthy. Though 33% rise is very attractive, the percentage of unhealthy people is quite substantial at 52% (New Jersey Courts, 2011, p.24). This staggering percentage is a clear indicator of the fact that the program, though very rigorous, is not very effective to create people of sound mind and body. It seems like a short time fix which is more evident from the 2009-10 annual report. Here the health benefits increased from 17% to 53% upon graduating (New Jersey Courts, 2010, p.20).

Violence in Modern Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Violence in Modern Thinking - Essay Example The threat of war and the vulnerability of existence as a result of the prevailing violence among the European led to the rising fear and insecurity of defeat. Thus the violence undertaken by the Europeans had the objective of developing state authorities, resources and power in order to combat the opposing forces of violence â€Å"We have learned that the external compulsion exercised on a human being by this upbringing and environment produces a further transformation towards goods in his instinctual life – a further turning from egoism towards altruism† (Freud 300). In order to reach a position of competitive edge over the opposition and the interest of not only saving its own territory but also foster the process of expansion of the European state led to the development of modern thinking. The modern thinking of the Europeans was developed to outsmart the thinking of the opposition in the process of violence. The modern thinking was based in line with the developmen t of advanced weapons and machineries, development of advanced technologies in order to emerge victorious over the forces of opposition. The use of advanced weapons led to the discovery of rifles and machine guns against the swords and knives of the opponents. The use of advanced machineries backed by the advanced technologies reduced the efforts of the society in establishing its dominance and paving the path of expansion of the society. The emergence of new ideas, diplomatic thoughts and solutions to complex situations led to the promotion of political environment. Various sections of the European society started to uproot the forces of oppression and an inclusive development of the society happened in the political scenario. Representatives from all sections of the European society expressed their opinion for an even more political and social development. For the purpose of supporting the underlying causes of war and violence, more number of people of the European society partici pated for the production of equipments and other accessories for war and violence. The increase in the total factor productivity led to the increased contribution of the workforce in Europe that resulted in the increase of production volumes. â€Å"We may, however obtain a deeper insight than this into the change brought about by the war in our former compatriots, and at the same time receive a warning against doing them an injustice† (Frued 302). Thus the increase in the production rates led to the development of the economy of Europe. Thus the economic developments were aimed at supporting the causes of violence and war. The rise in the performance of the economy of Europe led to the rise in living standards of the society. All these factors eventually led to the development of the society and the social conditions in Europe. Thus the ways of violence undertaken by the Europeans led to the promotion of modern thinking and supported the development of politics, economics and the society of Europe. In what ways does violence bring about the end of modernity? The tenets of modernity are based on the attainment of equality, spread of humanity, freedom and independence of the people that leads to peaceful and prosperous growth of regions as sovereign powers. The acts of violence are aimed at conquering the territories of opposition forces by virtue of power and comparative advantage.

Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Discussion - Assignment Example In this context, power exists in three phases i.e. coercive, reward, and legitimate. In the same way power is often realized when somebody in the organization or military setting has knowledge or ability in a given area over the rest of the people. In a way, the other people depend on such knowledge and this creates a sense of power in the person. Similarly, the ownership of valuable information in a given field is normally a direct source of power that is often exercised by many people. In most situations, it is often realized that power emanates from actions that are geared towards the five bases of power. These include reward, coercive, legitimate, and expert and referent power. Actions in these respects are normally very important sources of power and people are often drawn into situations of influence over the rest. In any case, the extent to which somebody exercises their power and influence over the rest is normally the most important parameter in the context of power dynamics. Power can always be used wrongly by certain people if structures are not in place to control such power. In the same way power has always been used effectively by other people create positive

In What Ways Have the Recent Technological And Institutional Essay

In What Ways Have the Recent Technological And Institutional Developments Shaped Public Service Broadcasting In the UK - Essay Example In such a market with a large number of private players (with large funds and new technologies to back them), the PSBs with their obligatory roles as public service broadcasters which disallows them to focus on earning revenues, are finding it increasingly difficult to survive in this fragile economic scenario (Shooshan and Cave, 2000, 71-83). In this context, Singer opined that, â€Å"increased number of TV services means that audiences are getting fragmented. Where once a show on the publicly owned BBC, or its commercial rival ITV, regularly commanded audiences of 20 million, now a good audience is under half this† (Singer, Getting over our public service broadcasting addiction, April 2010). Along with this, the Internet has now emerged as large threat, taking away a large portion of UK audience, whereâ€Å"70% (80% in urban areas) are on the internet; there are movies on your Xbox, and assorted forms of catch-up TV† (Singer, ibid). In the internet, the most popular a renas are the social networking sites (like, Facebook, Twitter., etc.,) that allow open interactions between various users, thus making it necessary that the UK PBS in order to modernise itself must look towards allowing a greater scope for interactions amongst its recipients. In this context, in the 2005 Ofcom review, Richards, Foster and Suter give us a fair idea of the extent of technological invasion, where they state, â€Å"Fifty per cent of households already have digital television, and take-up has been extremely rapid†¦Other digital technology is increasingly competing for viewers’ attention. Ownership of DVD players has exploded – reaching 45% of... This essay stresses that PSB has always been at the core of UK cultural development, and in the Ofcom’s research it has been seen that despite changing consumption patterns, public support for the main objectives of PSB remain unchanged. Thus, it is necessary that Ofcom, while making suitable change to shape the present PSB that would be more suitable to the present context, must keep the traditional institutional values intact within the UK PSBs. It should create a suitable status for the PSB operating in the digital environment, create specific superscriptions for PSB, and allow them to make use of the new technological innovations to fulfil the superscriptions and adjust to the modifications in the present media landscape and modifications in the listening and viewing patterns of the recipients. This paper makes a conclusion that the UK must make provisions in their legislations to formulate specific superscriptions for PSB, which would cover the new mode of communication and technology services, thus allowing PSB to make optimal use of their potential in advocating democracy, social values and wider cultural participation, using the new form interactive media. The government also must allow the PSB media to respond completely in its own way, to the hurdles arising from the networking society, taking part in market competition, while keeping in mind various legal issues that dominate the public/private structure of the electronic world.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 139

Assignment Example In St. John, people hung out their clothes to dry as compared to Calgary where people use washers and dryers in their households (DeWolf , 2007). The use of clear examples and illustrations in the essay into drawing a conclusion about the topic makes it qualify as an inductive essay. According to the essay, the Christopher uses examples in different cities such as Calgary, St. John, Montreal, and St. Michael to demonstrate the significance of clotheslines. Apart from the aesthetic picture brought about by clothes hanging on the lines, there are a vast range of benefits associated with hanging clothes in the lines (DeWolf , 2007). According to La Presse, the sun is eradicates odours and removes stains from clothes in en effective manner as compared to dryers. There is a wide range of advantages of having clothesline apart from being fashionable, and aesthetic outstanding. The presence of clothesline in various regions brings out traditional aspect of hanging clothes in the open. According to research studies, the sun plays an imperative role in the elimination of odours and stains as compared to the use of dryer. Drying of clothes in the sun is sometimes associated with poverty and class. On this perspective, some governments have implemented legislations that ban individuals from hanging clothes in lines. On the contrary, Ontario environment minister has brought up the idea to eliminate clothesline ban in the region. Clotheslines have myriad benefits to people and the environment in general. According to Christopher, clotheslines have a beautiful and romantic outlook to the surrounding. During the author’s visit at different cities, he observed various aesthetic outlook of clothesline. Clotheslines have traditional and more fashionable way of drying clothes in the open sun. On the other hand, the sun has a crucial role in the elimination of bad smell and stains on clothes. There have been myriad legislations

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Personal Statement Example This made me feel completely at par with how I thought life should be for my own self. I have also played solo at the college level in a number of events. Even though I always want to perform at the very best, I get nervous when so many people are watching and their eyes are glued on to you. In essence, this makes a person feel good as well because he wants to give his utmost so that the audience could get enthralled with the music that is being played. The only riposte that I could muster was to play it well and give my best shot so that I could be satisfied with my music and the manner in which I made the people enjoy. The skills that I have learned through have been in the form of my preparation, organizing things and prioritizing other aspects of my daily routine. An example of this is my earnest desire to do something big within the gaining of mastery of guzheng. Since I worked my way through things, I found this to be a pattern which was unique to my personality and hence my skills and abilities adopted the same easily. This brings a sense of pride within my personality because I want to give my best and feel the glory that is coming within my own domains. I would always like to be at the very best because it is something that I am a part of and which I can do at the best of my skills and abilities. I have seen that I have changed a lot during the time that I have performed music for the people. It has made me feel that I am responsible for bringing a sense of excitement and enjoyment within their respective lives. The experience of performing in front of so many people is something that comes very naturally to me even though it gets to me sometimes with tiresome avenues opening up all the same. However, I appreciate how I take up the fields of excitement that people feel within their folds when I am playing music for them. I have seen that my life has changed quite a

Aviation Safety Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Aviation Safety Questions - Essay Example Of course the responsibility lies with the air carrier to safeguard their customers, their employees and provide them proper working environment in every possible way, but it is in their best interest as well so to say, as regards to business point of view, because statistics have shown that an aircraft accidents’ true cost in claims, lost employee time or use, and lost customers is 4 times the actual cost of the accident. For example, US Air estimates that the Pittsburgh accident’s actual cost was 30 to 40 Million dollars. This means that the accidents true cost is somewhere around 140 Million dollars. The FA act charges the FAA with the responsibility for promulgating and enforcing adequate standards and regulations (Alexander & Clarence, 2004). The main focal point of any Air Carrier Safety Program is the Safety Officer. Sometimes those that see the best are those that are not as close to the situation. To ensure safety, an outsider like safety officer is a very practical solution. FSDOs nationwide handle the dual function of safety inspection and advice for airline. Local FSDOs conducts several types of inspections on each airline’s maintenance and operations functions. If a certificate holder fails to comply, section 609 of the FA act specifies that the FAA may reexamine any certificate holder or appliance. Inspectors periodically conduct maintenance base inspections which focus on the record kept by an airline like airworthiness directives compliance, and conduct shop inspections to observe maintenance procedures and carry out ramp inspections to observe the airworthiness of the aircraft. A similar operations base inspection focuses on records concerning the hours of training and check rides given pilots and the rest periods between duty shifts given crews as required by regulations. En route inspections involve inspections of

How were British overseas trade,slavery,war and taxation linked during Essay

How were British overseas trade,slavery,war and taxation linked during the eighteenth century - Essay Example The availability of revenue allowed for Britain to maintain naval dockyards and barracks, pay wages, and supply food and munitions, through Effective action by armies and fleets.2 The interconnectedness of overseas trade, slavery, war, and taxation shall be addressed by this paper. It is important to note however, that British colonialism had an influential role in the linkage among the four factors. Alongside a renewed pressure with the unprecedented demands of war with revolutionary and Napoleonic France between 1793 and 1815 was the fiscal-military state of the eighteenth-century Britain, in which taxation reached 20 percent of the national income of England.3 Taxes were normally between 8 and 10 percent throughout the 18th century. Along with the growing influence of Britain was a desire to protect strategic goods, encourage colonial trade or preserve domestic employment from foreign competition, which became issues of national, security and imperial preference. It was likewise important for Britain to establish its political life and to provide links between civil society and the state, which became the subject of the complex process of brokerage with trade interests.4 However, success in Britain’s point of view did not only mean the availability of and increased flow of revenue, but warfare as well, whereby large amounts were spent in a short period of time which fa r exceeded income. It may be inferred that Britain’s goal to pursue warfare specifically with its long-term rival France and the corresponding pursuit to sustain taxation were towards the attainment of a more heightened objective, which was colonialism.5 Such trail towards colonialism is seen in Britain’s concentration on taxing policies witnessed in the fiscal system becoming more dependent on excise duties, with tariffs and stamp of wealth declining an importance.6 Land tax was considered the most important direct tax in this period, which was

The effects that staging a major sporting event can have on an area Essay Example for Free

The effects that staging a major sporting event can have on an area Essay Abstract This report will analyse the effects that staging a major sporting event can have on an area. It will examine whether events of this size generate inward investment, what different types of investment that occur and evaluate their lasting value. The reasons for the growth of sport as a global industry will also be discussed in terms of their effect on investment levels. After studying a number of major sporting events, both within the UK and from other parts of the world this report concludes that the extent to which events act as a focus for inward investment depends on the nature of the competition and the size of its audience. Introduction The title of this report is: To what extent do major sporting events act as a focus for inward investment? Before I can begin to explore this question there are several terms to define: What constitutes a major sporting event? A major sporting event is a competition involving a large number of competitors from a range of countries, gaining widespread media coverage. What is inward investment? Inward investment implies that, Goods have been brought into existence which will allow a stream of other goods and services to be produced in the future. (Economics, A New Approach by A.G. Anderton) Key Questions/Issues My report will be structured around the key questions shown in the table below. I will make ongoing conclusions as I explore each question in turn, using case studies covering a range of scales and locations, and draw them together when making my final conclusion. Key Question Case Studies used 1) Where does inward investment come from and is it sustainable? Athens 2004, Sport England, Silverstone, previous Olympic games, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama), World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) 2) Increased investment in sporting events has come about due to the growth in the importance of sport which has become a global industry. What has caused this growth? World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) 3) What different types of investment take place? Do they vary from one sporting event to another? World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield), Silverstone, Athens 2004, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) 4) Are there examples of major sporting events that have not acted as a focus for inward investment? Do these events have anything in common that could explain why the inward investment was less? Embassy World Snooker Championships (Sheffield), BUPA Great North Run 1) Where does inward investment come from and is it sustainable? To find out where inward investment comes from I will be using the following case studies: Athens 2004, Sport England, Silverstone. Athens 2004 Athens 2004 balanced budget is 1.962 billion Euros. (see fig. 1 for breakdown). To date Athens 2004 sponsorship revenues have reached approximately 448.1 million Euro in total. This already breaks many previous records as Athens 2004 has covered its projected sponsorship revenues with only 7 out of forty potential Sponsors. Athens 2004 decided to have a limited number of sponsors, and to emphasise quality rather than quantity. (See fig. 2) (www.athens.olympic.org) Sport England Government funding of sport in the UK is done so through an organisation know as Sport England. They are a council who meet regularly to consider applications for funding the development of sports facilities. They make their grants from National Lottery Funds and applicants are usually expected to show evidence that their scheme will benefit the community as a whole. (www.culture.gov.uk/sport) Silverstone Silverstone is hoping that is will be able to gain financial support in this however as a report in December 2000 said; Silverstone would probably need to provide other uses for the local community there is no reason why the track should not have a velodrome or artificial ski slope there might even be the possibility of a watersport facility. BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club) President, Sir Jackie Stewart wants the government to underwrite at least half the sum, believing that it is in the best interests of politicians to support the local motor sport industry so jobs and important F1 teams arent driven out of the country to more attractive destinations. (www.octagonmotorsports.com) The redevelopment of Silverstone will be funded by three parties. Firstly by Octagon, the US marketing group that owns the rights to the British Grand Prix for the next 15 years, Bernie Ecclestones Formula One management, which handles Grand Prix racings commercial affairs, and the BRDC, which owns Silverstone itself. To investigate whether the inward investment is sustainable I will be using the following case studies: Athens 2004, previous Olympic games, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama), World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield). Athens 2003 * The Athens 2004 Olympic Games will leave a legacy to Athens, to Greece and to the world that will remain for generations to come. As Sydney, Atlanta and Barcelona have shown, there are many tangible, long-term benefits to hosting the Olympic Games. For the people of Greece, the legacy of the 2004 Olympic Games will begin with the economic benefits of investing in upgrades to the transportation infrastructure, telecommunications system, and the environment. These investments will benefit Greece for years to come. They include: 65,000 new permanent jobs 120 kilometres of new road 290,000 new trees, 11 million new shrubs A New International Airport An expanded metro system A new, ultra-modern Traffic Management Centre An increase in tourism A $1.3 billion boost in public sector revenues, and 35% improvement of the quality of the environment * In addition, the skills, expertise and training of the workforce in Greece across every sector will be enhanced. The workforce will be called upon to manage large scale complex projects that require integrated planning and detailed coordination. The new skills and expertise will be valuable assets surviving the completion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Renewed civic pride, a massive surge in volunteerism, and the return of the Olympic Games to their ancient birthplace will all shape the Legacy of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games. When the last medal is awarded, and the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games ends, the dynamism and spirit of the Games of 2004 will remain. The city of Athens and the surrounding region will have overhauled and upgraded every major sector of the economy, channeled investment, and re-invigorated public life throughout Greece. (www.athens.olympics.org) In the period leading up to 2004, Greece will receive $40.23 billion USD from the European Union to improve highways and other infrastructure projects. Previous Olympic Games Sydney It was estimated that the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games will add $6.5 billion to the Australian GDP and 100,000 full-time jobs over a 12 year period from 1994-2006. Australia saw an 11% increase in total visitors for 2000. Interestingly, the highest month total (565,000 arrivals) was achieved in December-3 months after the Olympic Games. 1.5 million additional international tourists are expected to visit Australia until 2006 because of the staging of the Olympic Games. This is estimated to generate an additional $2.7 billion in tourism exports. Atlanta The Atlanta Olympic Games added $5.1 billion to the Georgia economy. As a result of the 1996 Atlanta Games, spending from out-of-state visitors injected $2.5 billion into the economy. Barcelona Prior to the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, Barcelona was ranked as the 16th most popular tourist destination in Europe. By 1999, it had risen to third. The Barcelona Games added $16.6 billion to the Spanish economy between 1986 and 1993. From October 1986 (the month Barcelona won the bid) to July 1992, the general rate of unemployment in Barcelona fell from 18.4% to 9.6%-a drop of nearly 50%. New suburban highways and tunnels reduced downtown traffic by 15 percent. World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) * Since the Dynasty Cup, the opening game of the stadium on March 1st 1998, there has been 9 Japanese national team games, including the Kirin Cup and the Confederations Cup. The stadium, as well as being the home ground of the J Leagues team Yokohama F. Marinos, is also the stage of many events each year, such as Kanagawa Yume Kokutai and a 70,000 people Bz Live Concert. Under the stands we can find the Sports Medical Center, the Sports Community Plaza and the Sports Information Center, which are the core of communication for all sports concerned. The objective of the facilities is to achieve international exchange and to provide health and well being. (www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com) World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) * Since the hosting of the World Student Games in 1991, the Don Valley Stadium has continued to be of benefit to the community as a whole. All facilities, including the indoor and outdoor tracks are open for public use 7 days a week at the excellent price of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2.70 for adults and à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2.10 for children. * The stadium annually hosts the North of England Athletics Association Open Championships in January and is also used for various other national athletics competitions and meetings. * The stadium is also home to several athletics clubs; the Hallamshire Harriers, Sheffield AC, Sheffield City Striders, Sheffield University AC and Sheffield Hallam University AC. The stadium regularly hosts Rugby League, American Football and Football games and is home to the Sheffield Eagles Rugby League Club. Conclusions about Key Question 1 * It appears that there are three main sources of investment available to major sporting events. The first and possibly most important of these is sponsorship. Sponsors can be broken down into two distinct categories. There are those sponsors who give money to the event organizers in return for the rights to use the Olympic name and image on their products and in their advertising. For example Coca-Cola is the official non-alcoholic beverage for Athens 2004. The other kind of sponsor is the sponsor who provides a service or function at the sporting event. They will also benefit from increased media coverage. SWATCH are providing all of the timing and scoring equipment for the games. * Major sporting events appear to have major, long-lasting benefits to the host city and the surrounding area long after the event has taken place. These include the provision of world class sporting facilities and venues that can be used by the general public and local sportsmen, the creation of new general public services, such as transport links, and the creation of jobs, both directly as a result of the sporting event and jobs created by the encouragement of new businesses into the area. Having examined the sources of inward investment I will now investigate why this investment is increasing. 2) Increased investment in sporting events has come about due to the growth in importance of sport which has become a global industry. What has caused this growth? * Increased media coverage it is estimated that the final of the World Cup in Yokohama was transmitted live to a worldwide audience of around 2 billion. Sport is now broadcast throughout the world and is one of the main ways in which many fans get access to sporting events, whether through radio, television or the internet. * Sport is an important part of the nations shared experience and values the nations culture. It brings people together either as participants or spectators, building teamwork and community pride. * Participation in sport at an amateur level has increased in recent years. Amateur sport is important to improving quality of life. Sport provides role models for the pursuit of personal excellence. Competitive amateur sport also stimulates broadly based participation in physical activity, leading to better health, higher productivity and a stronger social fabric. This has led to increased interest in professional sport, resulting in higher attendance and increased revenue. * Increasing government intervention in sport at a professional level has also increased its importance. Our elite athletes are supported using lottery funding under the World Class Performance Programme by UK Sport and Sport England. Awards have been made to the governing bodies of over 37 sports, ranging from wheelchair basketball to athletics. This enables our top athletes to improve their performance and win medals in the Olympics and major international competitions. Those athletes at the elite level are also starting to feel the benefits of the United Kingdom Sports Institute. Funded by the lottery, these are centres of excellence where first class facilities and services are available to athletes. This includes sports science, medicine, nutrition and coaching expertise. There are ten centres of excellence in England. Many of the centres have sports-specific roles, for instance most of the elite swimmers use the new facilities at Bath University. Money raised by the National Lottery is also being directed at bringing top events to the UK, such as the World Athletics Championship in 2005. Not only does this give us all the opportunity to watch the best competitors in the world, it is a boost for the country and sports as a whole. (www.culture.gov.uk/sport) Having investigated the reasons for increased inward investment we must now examine how this investment is being used. 3) What different types of inward investment take place? Do they vary from one sporting event to another? To answer this key question I will be using the following case studies: World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield), Silverstone, Athens 2004, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama). * If a sporting event is given the responsibility of hosting a major sporting event and their sporting facilities are not already of the required standard to host that event, then investment is needed to redevelop or create them. World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) Following a successful bid for the World Student Games in 1991, the City of Sheffield undertook a programme to provide world class sports facilities for the City, including an Athletics Stadium with a fully equipped grandstand. The grandstand is in effect a four storey building containing all the support facilities such as changing rooms, as well as an 85 metre indoor track and practice area. (www.sivltd.com/donvalley) Silverstone Over the next 3 years Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix will undergo a $70 million redevelopment, including the improvement of key trackside facilities such as pit garages and competitor accommodation facilities, as well as 1.5 kilometres of new track to improve overtaking opportunities on the circuit. These improvements follow speculation that the British Grand Prix could be moved to Brands Hatch and strong criticism from the Head of Formula One Management, Bernie Ecclestone. (www.grandprix.com) * It is also important that facilities available to spectators at major sporting events are of a high standard, as it is the public, in combination with sponsors that generate most money for the organisers. World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) The Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield has state of the art spectator facilities, including: * 1500 lux floodlights to accommodate a full colour spectrum TV (see fig. 4) * A fully electronic timing and results system with photo finish facilities * A huge electronic scoreboard (see fig. 3) * A fully integrated state of the art public address system * Full catering hospitality facilities as well as food and drink concession points. The Stadiums major focal point is its grandstand which holds 10,000 spectators. 15,000 spectators can also be accommodated on the open terracing making the seating capacity 25,000. (See fig. 4) (www.sivltd.com/donvalley) Silverstone As part of extensive redevelopment of Silverstone, the old club at the entrance to the pit lane was replaced with a new building that offers improved facilities for club members and their guests. The impressive three-storey building houses a restaurant, bar and club accommodation, as well as pit lane and roof terracing viewing areas. Plans have also been recently announced to greatly improve facilities in the general public viewing areas, including directional signage inside the circuit, catering, retail and modern toilet facilities. This follows on from the successful road development and improved traffic management at this years Grand Prix. (www.octagonmotorsports.com) * The potential for tourism generated alongside major sporting competitions means that a lot of money is invested on improving the appearance of an area before hosting the event. Athens 2004 Athens is being transformed into the host city for the 2004 Olympic Games. An extensive programme of interventions for the aesthetic upgrading of the city, along with the creation of Olympic Celebration sites, will enhance the Games experience for visitors and residents alike. An extensive Urban Regeneration Programme is already underway which will include the development and construction of new pedestrian roads, the redesigning of open public areas, the creation of new green areas (see fig. 5), improved street illumination and the removal of illegal advertising boards. (www.athens.olympic.org) World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) The broadcasting of Yokohamas name throughout the world during the 2002 FIFA World Cup will in itself have been excellent publicity for the city. Moreover, hopefully it will have had important effects in the area such as the attraction of movement into Yokohama by foreign businesses. Leading up to the games the city worked to improve the urban infrastructure (parks, roads etc.) and to develop its human resources and networking through programs keyed by citizen volunteer activities. To bolster arrangements a City Sales campaign built around the World Cup, with hospitality arrangements to benefit both visitors and residents was established. (www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com) Conclusions to Key Question 3 * I would suggest that the type of investment and therefore possibly the level of investment required for a sporting event varies depending on the nature of that event. An event such as the Olympics which encompasses a broad range of sports will obviously require a greater level of investment than a single sport event such as the Football World Cup. * I have been able to identify three key areas of investment. Firstly and probably most important is investment in the provision of sports facilities. Without adequate facilities an event will never be successful. Secondary to this is investment in spectator facilities. The paying public are the main source of revenue for any sporting event, so they need to be fully catered for. If they are unhappy with the service they receive, they wont return. Low attendances would probably render the event a financial failure. Normally the projected revenue from ticket sales is incorporated into the event budget (see fig. 1). Lastly but also significant is investment in the surrounding area as a whole. For an event to be successful it is important that the infrastructure is capable of dealing with a large number of people. The image sent out to the rest of the world also has to be considered, as hosting a sporting event puts the area under close media scrutiny. A positive image can encourage new business to the area. Having examined sporting events that have acted as a focus for inward investment and the type of investment that has occurred we now need to see if there are event that have not resulted in investment and the reasons for this. 4) Are there examples of major sport events that have not acted as a focus for inward investment? Do these events have anything in common that could explain why there was less investment? To answer this key question I will use the following case studies: Embassy World Snooker Championships (Sheffield), BUPA Great North Run. Embassy World Snooker Championships (Sheffield) The Embassy World Snooker Championships are held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, every year in April. For 17 days each year, the largest theatre complex outside of London is transformed into what is recognised as snookers No. 1 venue. Organisers move into the theatre 6 days before the beginning of the championship to prepare the arena. The theatre floor is hollow so a series of jacks have to be put under the two tables, which weigh one and a half tonnes each. The stage is carpeted and the Embassy snooker arena is installed complete with press seating, boxes for the BBC commentators and photographers and the TV cameras (see fig. 6). Back stage, the rehearsal room is transformed into an Interview Room. (www.embassysnooker.com) The Studio which is also part of the Sheffield Theatres Complex is transformed into a two table practice area and the TV set for the BBC team and front man. The Crucible holds less than 1,000 spectators and tickets are eagerly snapped up by the sports fanatical followers. Why has there been little inward investment? * The size of the auditorium means that the revenue generated by the event is limited. This means there is less money to re-invest in the event and Sheffield as a whole. * The Crucible theatre is only a temporary sports venue for 17 days out of every year. For the majority of the year it is a normal theatre, staging touring and in-house productions. BUPA Great North Run The BUPA Great North Run is the worlds biggest half marathon, with 47,000 people running from Newcastle city centre to South Shields a festival of fun runners, colours and an estimated 8 million pounds is raised for good causes each year. Since it started in 1981, around half a million people have completed the 13 miles and 192 and a half yards run. The first marathon attracted only 12,000 participants but its popularity has rocketed and now many thousands of applicants are unable to get an entry. There were people from 25 different countries competing in this years event. The Great North Run has attracted many celebrities and well known personalities. Kevin Keegan once ran the Great North Run wearing the red and white stripes of Sunderland and the black and white stripes of Newcastle United. Soccer star Paul Gascoigne once pushed a wheelchair athlete all the way round the Great North Run circuit. Why has there been little investment? * The Great North Run is a charity sporting event. All money generated through the event are donated to charity and not re-invested in the area. * The event is run around the streets of Newcastle so does not require any purpose built facilities which would require investment. Conclusions to Key Question 4 The most common reason for little investment in a sporting event appears to be the lack of need for permanent sporting facilities. Facilities provision is the most costly aspect of a sporting event so where they are not required, investment is significantly less. Another reason for lack of investment, as demonstrated by the Great North Run, is if it is a charity sporting event. These events set out to make as much money for good causes as possible so dont spend money unnecessarily. Small maximum attendances also reduce investment. Money from ticket and merchandise sales is one of the main sources of income, so a small venue will only generate a little money for re-investment. Final Conclusion The initial question that was asked at the beginning of this report was: To what extent do major sporting events act as a focus for inward investment? I examined this issue using four key questions, making ongoing conclusions as I went along. The following conclusion is an accumulation of my findings throughout the report: * I have reached the conclusion that the majority of sporting events do act as a focus for inward investment. Through my research and analysis of a range of different types and scales of sporting events I believe that the extent to which this is true depends on the nature of the event. Large scale events such as an Olympic games will require a much larger investment than a world championship in a specific sport. They will require a wider range of sporting facilities and are likely to attract a broader range of spectators, requiring greater provision of spectator facilities. * I have also concluded that many of these events have lasting benefits not just for the people who benefit directly from the facilities but the general population of the area who receive the financial and social benefits. * Events which do not act as a focus for inward investment are those which do not require permanent facilities, or in the case of the BUPA Great North Run any facilities. The potential audience size can also be a limiting factor as shown by the example of the Embassy World Snooker Championship. As you can see from my conclusion, the question asked in this report is of a complex nature and has no simple answer. I used case studies covering a range of scales and locations in order to make as accurate a judgement as possible. However I could only use a limited number due to the length of time I had to carry out my research and compile this report. To fully investigate the issue I would need to carry out my research on a much larger scale, covering a greater time period and range of events. Bibliography Websites * Athens 2004 www.athens.olympic.org Official site for the Summer Olympics, Athens 2004. Contains information on the preparations being made ahead of the games, the events that will take place during the games, and regularly updated press releases. * Embassy World Snooker Championship www.embassysnooker.com Official site of the major sponsor of world snooker, Embassy tobacco company. Contains information on all the major world snooker events and venues, the latest news from the world of snooker, and its history as a major sport. * Great North Run www.greatnorthrunjustgiving.homestead.com Website containing information on the history of the Great North Run, and how sponsorship can be raised and collected. People wishing to take part have to sign up here. www.onrunning.com Website run by BUPA (The British United Provident Association), a leading UK private medical insurance organisation. Contains the latest information on the Great North Run and other charity races which they sponsor. * Silverstone www.grandprix.com A website dedicated to Formula One. Contains up-to-date news articles as well as circuit, driver and team profiles. www.octagonmotorsports.com Website belonging to Octagon Motor sports, a US marketing group which owns the rights to the British Grand Prix. Contains information on their role within the motor sports industry, press releases, and profile of the circuits which they have connections with (including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Oulton Park). * World Cup 2002 www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com Official site of the FIFA World Cup 2002, containing news articles, competition results, and venue information. * World Student Games, 1991 www.sivltd.com/donvalley Official site for the Don Valley Stadium, owned by Sheffield International Venues Ltd. Contains information on the history of the stadium, its facilities and an up-to-date calendar of events. * Other websites www.culture.gov.uk/sport The DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sports) website. www.sportengland.org Website of Sport England, the largest distributor of lottery and exchequer funding for sport in England. www.uksport.gov.uk Website of UK Sport who co-ordinate overall sports policy, the support of elite sport at the UK level as well as UK-wide programmes such as anti-doping and major events. Books * Economics, A New Approach by A.G. Anderton A contemporary A Level text; fully updated and revised to take account of recent economic developments.

Green buildings, global warming and clean energy Essay Example for Free

Green buildings, global warming and clean energy Essay Man’s failure to act today could result in an unsustainable planet characterized by warmer temperatures that may snowball out of control, it would lead to extinction of certain animal species, an increase in sea levels thus causing more natural disasters such as hurricanes or numerous diseases, less water availability in third world countries thus leading to conflicts amongst them and the spread of tropical diseases such as malaria. (Mc Carthy, 2001) Consequently, it is incumbent upon man to establish ways in which he can reduce global warming. This can be achieved by using the right kind of energy i. e. clean energy since this is responsible for emission of greenhouse gases which cause global warming. The paper shall dwell on how man can achieve the latter through green buildings. II. Claim of fact A) The major problem being tackled is that of global warming. Studies have shown that the amount of green house gases found in the atmosphere tend to stay there for a very long time. This means that global w is a harsh reality that may not disappear without human intervention. (Schneider, 2002) 1) Increased diseases and disasters Firstly, the phenomenon of global warming is going to cause warmer climates in the Northern parts of the world such as the United States. Consequently, vectors such as mosquitoes will increase tremendously. This implies that diseases such as malaria may start appearing in such countries. The future generation of Americans has a right to be protected from such a predicament because current occupants did not have to deal with such a problem. One only has to look at how some third world countries are having a difficult time handling this matter in order to understand the seriousness of the issue. Meteorological forecasts have shown that if the earth gets warmer, oceans and other water bodies will keep on rising. This means that the occurrence of hurricanes will be much more than it had been previously imagined. In 2004 and 2005, the country was plagued with very deadly hurricanes that caused tremendous damage to concerned parties. Since there is a possibility of preventing such occurrences, then individuals must carry out their responsibility of ensuring that it is enacted. (Godrej, 2001) One of the worst outcomes of this problem of global warming is extended periods of droughts and prolonged heat waves. A number of countries in the world still depend on natural rain alone to grow their crops and as sources of water. These third world countries currently face the problem of water shortage and the situation could get worse if droughts keep occurring. Such situations could cause a strain among affected communities thus leading to conflicts or war. These developing nations have provided Americans with numerous investment opportunities and any problem that arises in those regions could tremendously affect individuals within the US. (Nordhaus, 1998) 2) Economic consequences If there will be more disasters occurring in the world, then one cannot undermine the economic consequences that the US itself will be grappling with. The hurricanes in New Orleans caused losses amounting to billions of dollars. The country cannot afford more disasters such as these because its economy will begin staggering in ways that had not been anticipated. The loss of lives and property among future generations could ruin their economy and it is therefore negligent for current citizens to merely sit by without doing something about it. In close relation to the latter mentioned scenario is the emergence of tropical diseases. Developing nations spend so much money treating such diseases. Additionally, the lives lost as a result cause huge dents in their economy. The same thing could happen to the United States and other western nations if nothing is done today. (Van Arsdol, 2004) 3) Melting ice caps Lastly, the problem of global warming can and has caused melting of ice caps that could lead to other consequences as shown below; a) Rising sea levels b) Global outbalance c) Endanger plant and animal life d) Snowballing temperatures If global warming continues unabated, then chances are that ice caps will keep melting and the excess water will head to the oceans and seas. Currently, glaciers and permanent snow account for five point seven million cubic miles worth of water. If even some portions of this ice were to melt into water, then seas and oceans could rise by dozens of feet. Since this may occur gradually, then chances are that those low attitude regions will be ruined by this. (Clout, 2008) If ice caps continue melting, then chances are that the ecosystem as we know it today would be thoroughly messed up. This is largely because ice caps emanate from fresh water. If they are redirected into the sea, then the sea would loose its saltiness thus leading to a distortion of gulf currents. What this means is that ocean currents will change temperature conditions within Western Europe and North America. This means that organisms that had become accustomed to those temperatures will no longer survive in such adverse conditions. Melting ice caps will affect animal and plant life owing to the fact that these creatures will have new climatic conditions. Since not all life can change at such a fast pace or in accordance to present circumstances, then chances are that only the most adaptable will remain. This means that so many species may become extinct. Future generations will never get a chance to see such life or benefit from them. Ice cap melting can cause snowballing temperatures because ice caps are important sunlight reflectors in the world today. If they are reduced, then chances are that only the oceans will be able to reflect off sunlight. However, compared to ice caps, oceans are much darker in color yet dark colors tend to do more absorption that reflection. This implies that the earth will keep getting warmer, more ice caps will keep melting and the cycle continues. (Maslin, 2004) B) Demographics of the study The latter study will focus on the United States as the primary geographical region. However, some generalizations applicable to the rest of the world will also be done. In terms of corrective actions, the study will target some of the things that The United States citizenry can enact in order to curb this problem. Consequently, the research will focus on some of the changes that persons from all ages can enact in order to deal with such the problem of global warming. Since the highest numbers of buildings are found in cities, then this research will target Metropolitan areas within the country. III. Claim of value If man does not take action now, then chances are that global arming will exert a heavier impact on him. The situation can spiral out of control and this harms people who may not have caused it in the first place. For instance, persons in the third world produce minor fractions of carbon emission to the atmosphere but will be the first to feel the effects of droughts and other natural disasters. Global warming needs to be taken as a personal responsibility by all members of humanity. It is a known fact that the one of the greatest pollutants within this age is man. He has the ability to make conscious decisions that do not just benefit him alone but his surroundings as well. (Holton et al, 2003) A. Description of my angle 1) It is man’s personal responsibility It would be selfish to live for only today without thinking about how future generations would survive. If this earth’s forefathers had taken up the same attitude, then current generations would not have been alive today. Part of man’s responsibility is to ensure that he makes the earth sustainable for himself and his descendants too. (Lange et al, 2008) The latter view is one held by environmentalists and other individuals interested in preserving the environment. Part of what constitutes morality in man is his concern for his surroundings. If every single individual lived for himself or herself, then the world would be a chaotic place. Additionally, it has been argued that failure to take action today could lead to a great amount of risk. While some parties hold that global warming is not a real concept, the effects that could arise if the phenomenon was not real are still quite positive. The country and indeed the world would have much more to loose if it turns out that global arming is real and nothing was done about it rather than if it turns out that it was not real and something was done about it. 2) It would be costly to the economy In a report released by the UNEP during the year 2001, it had been asserted that not doing anything about global warming could cost the country up to two hundred billion dollars worth of revenue. The consultants who attended the latter conference asserted that this could rise to five hundred or one thousand billion dollars in subsequent years. If man may not be moved by the environmental issues that are affecting him, then perhaps these staggering economic figures could be shakier. 3) Whether it is a natural or man made processes is irrelevant The truth of the matter is that man has the ability to alter a natural process since this natural process is negative. Regardless of the fact that global warming may be a natural or artificial process, a rise in temperature will destabilize the environment. This means that biodiversity will decrease and so will food production. The current rising populations will not be sustained by their food production efforts and this could be very disastrous as it could cause millions of death. The latter scenario can even be compared to a practical occurrence. If one was to find out today that he or she was going to die, then it would not make sense to find out whether that death is due to natural or man made causes. All that really matters is that the person gets some help to prevent the death from occurring. Opponents of global warming may claim that this is nothing but a natural process. However, whether or not it is a natural process does not change the negative effects that it could cause to man. It is therefore essential to understand that such a global system can be altered for the betterment of society. B. Description of counter claims to this value 1) Right wing politicians and industrialists stand point Other groups claim that global warming effects are not as adverse as some people may claim. In fact such attitudes have infiltrated into political decisions within the Country. During the past presidential regime, the United States has been one of the least enthusiastic western countries in terms of its environmental sustainability policies. Some politicians believe that the country ought to dwell on â€Å"more pressing† issues such as the need for energy security. Consequently, such individuals have assented projects that increase carbon emissions in the atmosphere with little regard for the effect that this may have on the earth’s climatic conditions. In the US, industry lobbyists tend to oppose the views held by environmentalists and their actions are usually supported by right wing politicians. Traditionally, left wing politicians tend to be concerned about the overall good of society while right wing leaders tend to concentrate on building a capitalist economy. These perspectives have often led to a locking of horns when it comes to environmental issues such as global warming. (O’Hare, 2005) 2) Lack of â€Å"hard facts† Some skeptics claims that global warming as a phenomenon still leaves so many questions unanswered. They assert that there is a lack of compelling evidence to show that these effects will actually occur. In fact, some maintain that most effects are mere forecasts. In close relation to the latter angle is the fact that some scientists believe that global warming is a way in which the earth can balance off certain excesses. For instance, while temperatures may be going up in other parts of the world as a result of the phenomenon, others in the North East American region will be going down thus showing that the system will balance itself out. Adherents to this theory claim maintain that when an anomaly occurs such as a hurricane, then this will be labeled as a piece of evidence by environmentalists. These opponents further add that global warming enthusiasts tend to disregard contrary occurrences even when this is representative of common weather patterns. For instance, a study conducted along US coast lines some time in 2006 found that greater death rates have been recorded there because of increased population and wealth in these coastal towns and not as a result of greater intensities of the hurricane or as a result of global warming for that matter. Also, some scientists believe that the earth’s rising temperatures could be as result of coming out of the ice age. (Hardy, 2003)In other words, they claim that it is very normal for earth temperatures to increase since this is just a phase. 3) Business men’s stance on the matter A certain crop of individuals are not as enthusiastic as environmentalists when it comes to global warming. These individuals are businessmen whose work entails emission of carbon particles. The latter are required to invest heavily in â€Å"green† strategies that may cost their businesses a lot of revenue. Most of these business men tend to look for ways in which they can circumvent such obligations and one way in which they do this is by claiming that global warming effects are not that prevalent or they do not exists. They therefore posses ulterior motives in holding such a point of view. (Allaby, 2004) IV. Claim of policy A) Methodological plan to solve the problem The problem of global warming can be solved by embracing clean energy through the use of green buildings. Focus is on the United States because the latter country is at the centre of the world economy and its initiatives can serve as an example to other countries of the world that also need to embrace this fact. The latter country needs to pass legislations for designated residential and commercial houses to be green buildings. Statistics on the need for green buildings indicate the following;

White Collar Crime And Society

White Collar Crime And Society Theres no such thing as white-collar crime. And theres definitely no such thing as black-on-black crime. Crime is crime. Let me explain something to you. I dont care if you have a white collar or a tank top. If you rob me, Im gonna whup your ass. -Mitch Gilliam, Head of State, 2003 Many people dismiss White Collar Crime as a criminal offence, for many reasons they feel they do not fit the category and therefore do not view them as illegal. They are in all respects criminal offences, just like any other offence. Gilliam states that he does not care what your wearing, whether it be a white collar or tank top, you are still a criminal regardless if you are stealing something that is not rightfully yours to take. White Collar Crime has been newly introduced into society within the past one-hundred years. The first major case happened around the mid-1920s, and has continued to escalate from then on1. As society has slowly become more fixated on money, greed begins to overpower civilians views on honesty and hard work. People are now dismissing White Collared Crime as a criminal offence due to difficult issues surrounding it, due to the fact that it is less hazardous to society compared to violent, Blue Collar Crimes. OR As society slowly begins to revolve around money, the honesty of the business world has slowly been degenerating, which in forth has lead to White Collar Crime. The Canadian Government and the Criminal Code of Canada are frequently faced with these types of criminal cases, they continuously either respond to the crime too leniently or too extremely. Due to the unmodified laws, society does not acknowledge White Collar Crime to be a serious criminal offence. SUBTOPIC 1: Area of discussion 1 What are White Collar Crimes Society usually does not acknowledge or underestimates the severity white collar crimes have on the population as a whole. They do not grasp the effect a sum of money can have an individuals life or on a communities economy. Usually these types of offences are non-violent, but that does not mean they do not have a detrimental impact on the people victimised. White Collar crime has been defined by Edwin Sutherland as a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his/her occupation.2 Sutherland also mentions that the dollar loss to specifically white collar crime is greater that the dollar lost from all other types of crime. The American business community lost fifty-billion dollars in 1980 to white collar crime which is almost ten times more than the fiscal value of all forms of street crimes.3 According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); White Collar Crime has continued to cost the country excessive amounts of money. Today in the U nited States, more than three-hundred billion dollars is wasted on white collar crime each year. The FBI defines these types of crimes as, those illegal acts which are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust and which are not dependent upon the application or threat of physical force or violence.4 White collar crimes closely parallel corporate crime, as the opportunities to commit criminal offences of fraud, bribery, insider trading, embezzlement, computer crime, identity theft and forgery are all available and the possibility for success is significantly higher for employees already working within the company. White collar offences typically involve some form of mistrust, and result in momentary gain for the perpetrators. The punishment for white-collar crime is often less severe than for crimes of violence. However, an allegation of fraud, embezzlement, and so on, is often embarrassing and can carry a lasting social stigma enabling/rendering the perpetrator to continue their previous legitimate career. Through their criminal offense they have lost trust in all their clients and their credibility is deemed meaningless within the business world. White collar crimes go largely undetected, as it is very difficult to identify as they are low-profile and it is usually not reported. White Collar Crime is non-violent crimes, usually performed by members of the upper classes. They differentiate from blue-collar crimes because they lack physical violence or threat of violence towards the victim. Blue Collar Crime is any crime committed by an individual typically from a lower social class, as opposed to White Collar Crime which is associated with crimes committed by individuals of a higher social class. People employed in relatively unskilled environments and living in poor, inner-city areas have fewer opportunities to develop compared to those who, work in situations where large financial transactions occur and live in areas where there is relative prosperity. Due to lack of opportunity available which correlates with location, most crimes occur in poor, inner-city areas and are not linked with their occupation. Usually areas of high crime rate are immigrant areas or low income housing areas, where the people are un-educated, unemployed and have nothing to do with their time, thus resorting to crime. Blue collar crime tends to be more obvious and attracts more police attention. Blue Collar Crimes of violence include; murder, non-negligent manslaughter, and rape, while property Blue Collar Crimes include; vandalism, burglary, motor vehicle theft or shoplifting, where physical property is damaged and violent demeanour is often involved.5 In Blue Collar Crime, there tends to be fewer chances to use skill and thus, force and violence is usually used in order to assure the task is completed. Since more people end up getting injured, the victim is more likely to report it to the police. White Collar employees can easily perpetrate criminal behaviours due to their supposed integrity within the business world, thus making themselves less obvious when committing the crime. Blue Collar Crime usually involves repeat offenders with a questionable background, whereas in the business world, it usually involves people who have not previously been involved in criminal history. The identification of the -corporate confidence- victim is reluctant to report -share holder value- crime hard to prove and unproven allegation can be highly damaging to a company. Area of Discussion 2: Types of White-Collar Crime White Collar Crime is a broad term that overlooks many types of non-violent criminal offences; it is associated with acts of dishonesty, manipulation and negligence. It usually involves fraud and illegal financial transactions that occur within a company by unreliable employees. White-collar crime is usually performed by those with particular admittance to information or resources, making their non-violent crime possible. These crimes are usually performed electronically by the computer, but can also be done through paperwork. White-collar crimes normally occur within the superior positions in government and business as leverage is necessary in order to gain access to even commit these crimes. White Collar Crime refers to the category of crime that usually is committed by professionals, the crimes most often recognized as White Collar include: fraud, bankruptcy fraud, bribery, insider trading, embezzlement, computer crime, medical crime, public corruption, environmental crime, pension fund crime, RICO crimes, occupational crime. White Collar Crime has been significantly influenced by the arrival of new technologies, such as the internet and cell phones, which has in turn brought upon more opportunities for crime. It has also changed the manner in which the crimes are committed, their frequency, and has increased the difficulty in order to arrest perpetrators. Fortunately, these technological advances can also be used by law enforcement officials to aid in tracking illegal activities. However, the elimination of this type of crime depends morally on an individuals attitude and relationship of loyalty, friendship, and trust that one human being inflicts upon another human being, instead of the legal provision and work of law enforcement made by the Government or Police. Most White Collar Crimes are committed with the goal to attain a financial gain. The perpetrators issuing these crimes tend to not have a criminal background, but when presented with the opportunity for simple enrichment through some action that appears morally indefinite at the beginning, quickly turns into a crime. White Collar crime is crimes committed by respectable people, during the course of their occupation, and therefore defeats the notion that poverty breads crime. Fraud is the most popular white collar crime out of the list of offences. It is the intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. Fraud is not only a crime, but also a civil law violation. Defrauding people of money or valuables is the most common purpose; it can also include the sale of fraudulent goods, false advertising, filing false insurance claims and false billing. It can be committed through many different outlets such as, mail, phone, and internet. It is difficult to check the identity and legitimacy online, the simplicity for the hackers to divert browsers to dishonest sites and steal credit card details like pin numbers is unbelieveable. Some examples of fraud are; counterfeit, false advertising, forgery, identity theft, securities, and tax evasion. When looking for fraudulent activities they can easily be identified by nine elements being; representation of an existing fact, its materiality, its falsity, the speakers knowledge of its falsit y, the speakers intent that is shall be acted upon by the plaintiff, the plaintiffs ignorance of its falsity, their reliance on the truth of the representation, their right to rely upon it and their damages suffered because of it. Fraud can include the sale of fraudulent goods, false advertising, filing false insurance claims, or false billing Bribery Though often seen as the price of doing business in some countries, the practice of bribery gives unfair advantages to certain individuals and distorts the efficacy of markets Insider trading Like bribery, insider trading gives an unfair advantage to certain individuals who are privy to private information that affects the value of stocks or bonds Embezzlement Embezzlement occurs when someone with access to company or government funds siphons some for their personal use. This crime is a prime example of white collar crime as usually it is only privileged members of society or a company who even have access to company funds to begin with Forgery Forgery is most threatening when considering the sale of counterfeit goods, but is also relevant to the production of false insurance claims Most of these crimes are committed with the goal of financial gain. The people who commit these crimes do not necessarily have a history of crime, but are usually presented with some opportunity for enrichment through some action that appears morally indefinite at the beginning, but quickly transgress into a crime. The initial gain of money presents an unavoidable attraction to those who commit these crimes. Though normally carried out for money, white-collar crime can also be committed as an act of sabotage.http://dw.com.com/redir?tag=rbxira.2.a.10destUrl=http://www.cnet.com/b.gif White-collar crimes come in many different forms, including money laundering; credit card, health care, insurance, securities, and/or telecommunications fraud; intellectual property and computer crimes; and identity theft. POSS PUT IN 3*The major difference between White collar Crime and Blue Collar Crime is that, very rarely white collar criminals occupy prison cells. Although White Collar crimes inflicted the most harm to the United States and Canada, the justice systems still continue to treat them with more lenience and less consistency than street criminals.* Area of Discussion 3: Society does not feel these types of offences are criminal, statistics prove that one in three American households are victims of white-collar crime, yet only 41% actually report it. Out of the vast majority of reports, only a low of 21% has actually made it safely into the hands of a law enforcement or consumer protection agency. This means that approximately less than 8% of white collar crimes have had the opportunity to reach proper authorities according to the National Public Survey on White Collar Crime, conducted by the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), a non-profit, federally funded organization that supports local and state police in their efforts to prevent, investigate and prosecute economic and high-technological crime. According to the National Fraud Center statistics, economic crime cost the nation $5,000,000,000 in 1970, $20,000,000,000 in 1980, and $100,000,000,000 in 1990. As businesses and financial transactions become more and more computer and Internet aut omated, the reality of increased economic crime grows exponentially, fueled by the rapid growth of technology. As of 2010, white collar crimes continue to invade our new, high-tech society faster than we are able to stop it. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2680_130/ai_82012998/ Statistics conclude that one in three Americans fail to report these crimes that are costing the nation hundreds of billions of dollars a year. Reasoning for not reporting the offences can be seen by; not initially considering the offenses toward themselves as being criminal acts, they may have been uncertain about which agency to contact for assistance and guidance, or they may have a lack of faith that the offender would be apprehended. Most times, offenders get off with very little punishment if any at all. White Collared offences tend to usually be pushed under the table and hidden from the public through a variety of opportunities available to hide the evidence of the crime committed. Society and the Canadian Justice System feel White Collar offences are not a priority in the legal system, as their attention is directed to dangerous criminals that are going to harm/injure and kill people. Murderers do seem to be more dangerous in society compared to a few business men stealing company profit, but in fact, manufacturing companies that sells a faulty item or product before the safety check is mandated are just as guilty of manslaughter or injury occurs due to their product fault. The company may be aware of this impurity but are willing to risk the safety and well-being of their costumers to avoid their product being put on recall. At what point do these everyday businessmen become criminals? *Do they fit the criminal attributes? Are they truly criminal or are they just greedy. -talk about personal life, how people would never expect them. Hence the reason why white collar crime is not taken as seriously as it should be -handout of criminal personality (lack of quilt, lier, etc.) Sutherland embraced the Interactionist Theory of Deviance, focusing on how people learn to be criminals. He believes criminal behaviour is learned from interpersonal interaction with others. *Family difficulties or financial debt would increase the chance of them getting involved in fraud. The characteristics of the criminal mind are; Self-Centeredness- greed of wanting more money to themselves, dont care who they hurt in order to achieve it (movie in class, MR. GETKO) Resentment of Authority dont care about anyone above or below them, they want money and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Usually they are of higher authority, which makes it easier for them to steal large sums of money without being caught Search for Power want all the modern technology, new house, new car. Want to rise up in the business so they can make money. They fall into the pressures of crime trying to achieve their goal life; rich and luxurious. Lying will cheat there accomplices, business associates, etc. Feed them lies or promises that they will never keep in order to get money out of them Lack of Guilt with money on their mind and all the perks it gives you, they do not have time to care that what they are doing at achieve all of that is wrong and criminal Poor Ability for Love their love becomes money, they usually loose their family or have multiple wives because they are married to their job. Money and their business position overrides their family. Hence why most marriages fail Excitement- the joy of all the new things the extra money can buy them Bad, but good- although they are lying and cheating (doing bad), they are making money and living the good life (good). The good usually tends to override the bad Non-arrestable Criminality businessmen of superiority, friendly to family friends and neighbours, do not seem like the type to be involved in criminal offences

Plath’s Stings †An Analysis :: Stings Essays

Plath’s Stings – An Analysis  Ã‚   â€Å"Stings† is a feminist poem by Sylvia Plath. The last two stanzas are important in understanding Plath’s feeling while writing the poem. In lines fifty-one through sixty the speaker conveys that, although she may have been a drudge before, she will not be one any more. She refuses to submit to society and be a hard working drudge. The speaker believes she is more than that — perhaps even a queen: â€Å"They thought death was worth it, but I have a self to recover, a queen.† The speaker in the poem realizes that she has the potential to be a queen, and she didn't want to give up on that dream. She wanted to get away from her drudge-like surroundings that had once killed her spirit. She would ‘rise above the fray’ and get away from â€Å"the engine that killed her- the mausoleum, the wax house.† The beehive had become more of a prison, and she wants to get away from it very badly. The last two stanzas are important because they are metaphoric for the way women are suppressed and forced to stay at home — doing the cleaning and watching the children. It was considered wrong and out of the norm if a woman wished to get a career for her own. Plath is trying to tell us that women who have become â€Å"drudges† as a result of marriage have more potential than just being house keepers and baby-makers. Other stylistic elements that Plath uses include imagery and symbolism. She is very vivid in describing the way the bee looks in the last two stanzas: †With her lion-red body, her wings of glass.....red scar in the sky, red comet.† The words create a clear picture in of what she must have looks like, escaping the â€Å"mausoleum,† a symbol of the beehive and, therefore, of the speaker's entrapment. It â€Å"killed her,† or rather, killed her spirit.

Heaneys Mid-Term Break, Clarkes Baby Sitting and Jonsons On My First

Heaney's Mid-Term Break, Clarke's Baby Sitting and Jonson's On My First Sonne all deal with unhappy reflections about human loss, isolation distress and the harsh reality of life. The poems concerned in this essay mirror notions of human importance and bonds. Heaney's 'Mid-Term Break', Clarke's 'Baby Sitting' and Jonson's 'On My First Sonne' all deal with unhappy reflections about human loss, isolation distress and the harsh reality of life. All of these poems are written in first person narrative voice, with honest blunt diction, allowing us to understand their pain by the relation some people have with the issues raised in each of the poems. The main themes of the poems are Parental roles, childhood and relationships. The triplet of poems all deal with unhappy reflections about human loss, isolation and distress and are written in the first person narrative which allows us to make their pain seem very real by a creation of Pathos. Thematically, Heaney and Jonson explore the abrupt and painful loss of a family member. Heaney is forced to grow up and endure th...

My Philosophy :: Education Teaching Essays

My Philosophy Education is important because it serves as a foundation for your quality of life. The over all purpose of any education is to teach children the world. It gives you a structure that is always changing as you learn more and more everyday. I want to become a physical education and health teacher because I feel that the education of a healthy lifestyle and active play need to be incorporated into everyone’s lives. I hope to provide students with the knowledge they need to stay healthy and to desire to be that way. What is my philosophy in teaching? Well, I am eclectic and have a few that I fit into. I find mainly that I am a progressivist. I also agree with certain aspects from the philosophical stances idealism, realism, and existentialism. Being a physical education major, I really do not see how I could become a traditional teacher. I do not picture myself taking on much of a democratic role, especially in the gym setting that I would primarily be in. I assume that I will tak e up the role of a facilitating teacher and have student centered activities where we will learn new things together. I plan to give my students the freedom to make their own decisions for the most part, because no one is going to have fun and want to participate much at all if they are not in an enjoyable setting. There will be rules that my students and I will determine together, and these are what will remain for the entire duration of the class as long as they do not take advantage of the rules or myself. In a way, I will give my students the opportunity to lead their class, as long as they do it responsibly and do not get out of hand. I think that my curricular area is important because of the rise of childhood obesity in the United States today. I hope to contribute, in a way, to the decline of obesity in the future. As a teacher I hope to accomplish the impossible, as I am sure that everyone sets out to do in any field. I want students to leave my class feeling like I care about them and that they belong in my class as well. I want to be one of the teachers that the students look up to and feel comfortable and at ease around. My Philosophy :: Education Teaching Essays My Philosophy Education is important because it serves as a foundation for your quality of life. The over all purpose of any education is to teach children the world. It gives you a structure that is always changing as you learn more and more everyday. I want to become a physical education and health teacher because I feel that the education of a healthy lifestyle and active play need to be incorporated into everyone’s lives. I hope to provide students with the knowledge they need to stay healthy and to desire to be that way. What is my philosophy in teaching? Well, I am eclectic and have a few that I fit into. I find mainly that I am a progressivist. I also agree with certain aspects from the philosophical stances idealism, realism, and existentialism. Being a physical education major, I really do not see how I could become a traditional teacher. I do not picture myself taking on much of a democratic role, especially in the gym setting that I would primarily be in. I assume that I will tak e up the role of a facilitating teacher and have student centered activities where we will learn new things together. I plan to give my students the freedom to make their own decisions for the most part, because no one is going to have fun and want to participate much at all if they are not in an enjoyable setting. There will be rules that my students and I will determine together, and these are what will remain for the entire duration of the class as long as they do not take advantage of the rules or myself. In a way, I will give my students the opportunity to lead their class, as long as they do it responsibly and do not get out of hand. I think that my curricular area is important because of the rise of childhood obesity in the United States today. I hope to contribute, in a way, to the decline of obesity in the future. As a teacher I hope to accomplish the impossible, as I am sure that everyone sets out to do in any field. I want students to leave my class feeling like I care about them and that they belong in my class as well. I want to be one of the teachers that the students look up to and feel comfortable and at ease around.

Four hours with the CSPD Essay

I want to express my gratitude and share my ride-a-long experience. The first thing I had to do was contact the Colorado Springs Stetson Hills Area Command to schedule my ride-along. I read the department’s ride-along program policy and I received instructions on what I had to do to fulfill the necessary program requirements. Once the initial paperwork was done, a few signatures, a waiver and a criminal background check, I was ready to go. On the day of my ride-along while in the waiting room I met another person who was on a ride-along for class credit as well. After newly hour of waiting I finally met my officer. The officer that was chosen to allow me to ride-along was a female officer. Following her introduction we headed out to the Charger. I was giving a walkie-talkie with an earpiece so that I could listen to the communication from the dispatch. We entered the vehicle, buckled up and started on our way. In the cruiser the officer had logged into her laptop to check her files and looked at any updates on her calls. I was informed that my experience would vary just as much as the calls that the officers went out on from day to day. Some of my responsibilities were that I had to be self-sufficient, be able to think ahead, have the ability to know where I was and most importantly enjoy myself. Our first call was about an attempted shoplifting at a Safeway store. I had the opportunity to drive around the neighborhood and see homes were suspected criminal activity was believed to be. We also responded to a runaway from home. The last thing we did was make a traffic stop for an expired license plate registration. The great thing about the day was that I was able to ask her questions about how police procedures work and how they operate. My hope after this experience is that more people will carry themselves in the manner I observed during my ride-along and recognize what an asset and a delight our officers are to our city. I am now a huge fan of law enforcement because all the officers I saw or had contact with were kind, helpful and efficient. They often work alone, in remote areas. What was interesting to me was the amount of conservation the Officer engaged in. It was revealed through the ride-a-long that Officers do much more than enforce laws. An Officers job is much more than writing tickets. They conduct ongoing public relations. What a wonderful experience for me to see officers respond to incidents involving citizens and watch them handle situations in the same way I believe I would. I now have a completely different outlook and understanding of what our men and women in law enforcement must do every day to keep us safe. I was very impressed with the way they all conducted themselves while performing their duties. They were professional and tactful in the way he interacted with the people they had contact with throughout my ride-along. Each person was treated with the same level of respect. Watching the officer perform her duties made me feel completely safe as she showed complete competence. I found this experience to be informative and I saw a side of law enforcement that most of us never see. I recommend that others in our community spend time with our officers, as I did. My ride alone ended up after four hours and it was certainly eye-opening experience. I sympathize so much with the police officers now. Also I think that everyone should go do a ride-along program at least once in their lifetime, it will change the way you think about them. By the time we finished, I didn’t witness any arrests or have the opportunity to blow through any red lights with blaring sirens but I was still impressed. For me it was a pretty fulfilling shift. I got to participate in the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Ride-along program and I got to ride shotgun with one of the Springs’ finest. She even offered to let me stay on until her shift ended if I wanted to. The officer said that this ride-along was a pretty run-of-the-mill shift. Fortunately, there was no major violence during my ride. My hope, after this experience, is that more people will do a ride-along and recognize what an asset and a delight our officers are to our city.

Financial Analysis of Amazon.com Inc.

This root word seeks to analyze the mo dischargeary statements of Amazon. com Inc. for the geezerhood 2005, 2006 and 2007 by interpreting its amplificationability, runniness, supplement and activity dimensions and study the same with effort sportys. This will as well as analyze the familys reaping rates, valuation symmetrys (price) and dividends and will employ naiant and vertical analysis in play as needed. 2. Analysis and Discussion 2. 1 Profitability Return on lawfulness of Amazon. com Inc. shows m some(prenominal) things about the past surgery of the go with in the past louver days.The continued decrease from 2005 done 2007 appears discernible simply the rates are heretofore genuinely high up. . From one hundred forty-five. 93% in 2005, it has hugely decreased to 44. 08% in 2006 and further to 39. 77% in 2007. Such level of availability is silence truly for purposes of determining a confede dimensionns profitability. Compared to constancy reasonable of 24. 9%, the conjunctions roe is still higher(prenominal). go to salute I in the Appendix. The range of 39% to 145% return on equity encourages investors as it would mean that for e precise $100 investment, the investors count returns of about $39 to $145. These rates could be viewed as something unprecedented for a company like Amazon.com Inc.. Its level of ROE is something that moldiness be the envy of many other companies ofttimes(prenominal) as EBay Inc. , Enable Holdings and hail-fellow-well-met Auto Dealers, Inc (Yahoo Finance, 2008). It may be say that return on equity is work out under the radiation pattern where displace profit is divided by the total stockholders equity. When compared to an fairish rate of 1. 5% US prove rate (Housepricecrash, 2008 ) if money was invested in a bank, the companys would seem to cover to a greater extent than twenty fold and it is something actually difficult to find and would therefore fixate it actually attra ctive to investors.The companys return on summations for the long time 2006 through 2008 ranges from 4% to 9% and which appears to be on the face of it lower that its ROE. The same may be observed in relation to the companys net profit marge for last triplet years and has non even exceeded 5% in any period. However, ROE must be superb in declaring the profitability of Amazon as compared to all other profitability ratios. operational boundary line which measures within the range of 3 to 5% for the iii years, represents the margin after(prenominal) deducting cost of sales or go and operating expenses.Things to be added or deducted still are other income(s). The ratios mean that the centering of Amazon. com Inc. is doing well that it must thank its employees participation of employees in delivering rank to customers. The net margins of the company for the trine years are lower than operating profit margin, due to the additional deductions of interest expenses. The pr ofitability ratios such as return to equity, operating profit margin and net profit margin have the might to show diachronic profitability but investors would base as well their decision on estimates of the future.Since conditions change, wise users of financial information may just pee-pee more values to estimated cash take to the woods in the future for valuing their investments in name of dividends to be received from the company. This appears to be prime in the case of Amazon as proved by high debt equity as would be discussed later in relation to its profitability. 2. 2. 2 fluidness Liquidity enables a company to meet its catamenialy maturing obligations. It is measured using the electric current ratio and the vigorous asset ratio.Current ratio computation uses current assets to be divided to current liabilities charm quick assets ratio is virtually the same except that the strain and postpaid expenses are being removed from the current assets to have a new n umerator but the denominator is the same. Quick assets therefore normally implicate cash, marketable securities and accounts receivable and the use of quick asset ratio is truly frequently relevant for one intending to have higher form of measuring liquid state. In such case, one would prefer quick asset ratio over that of the current ratio.As employ now, the current ratios of Amazon. com Inc reflected 1. 39, 1. 33 and 1. 54 for the years 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively while the quick asset ratios for same years are 1. 02, 0. 95 and 1. 19 for the same years respectively. See lay out I in the Appendix. some(prenominal) ratios showed fluctuating trend where decreased was initiative noted and then increase followed after. The companys liquidness may be considered to be still very high since current ratios average more than 1. 3 while quick asset ratio averages about more than 1.0 for the last three years. It current ratio for 2007 is very polish to industry average of 1. 8 while its quick ratio of 1. 02 is not very far from industry average of 1. 6. both its liquidity ratios are better when compared with S&P 500 index. See Exhibit I in the Appendix. The estimable liquidity appears to be a result besides of good profitability of the company as observed earlier in price of very high return on equity. 2. 2. 3 Leverage ratios Financial leverage or solvency refers to the companys capacity to keep it stability over the hanker term.Generally measured by the debt to equity ratio, with the formula of having the total debt of the company divided by its total equity a good financial leverage assures investors that the company is not to just to exist in the defraud term but it must withal have a long deportment to recover long term investments which takes years to produce the needed returns. The debt to equity ratios of Amazon. com Inc. are 4. 42, 9. 12 and 14. 02 for the years 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively. These ratios are merely not as good as indu stry average of 0. 32. See Exhibit I in the Appendix .The ratios are indeed very high since the ratio of more than 4. 0 means that the value the company investments is not matched by what it borrows by about more than 400%. noteworthy Improvement were however recorded from 2005 through 2007. This must be due to its very high profitability. This could mean that the company is expanding headache as noted its net refractory assets reflecting issue rates of 25. 06%, 22. 53% and 67. 91%, the years 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively. See Exhibit I in the Appendix. In other words, expansions are getting financed hugely from operations which is a sigh of a healthy company.Good solvency is a proof of good capital mental synthesis and for Amazon. com Inc. the same could be attainable as shown in the very remarkable progress if its debt to equity ratio which cut more than half that on 2006 in 2007. tending(p) also its very good liquidity as analyzed earlier, the company must be declared to have clean bill of health in financial terms. 2. 2. 4 Efficiency ratios The companys profitability is being supported by its good efficiency ratios. Inventory upsets for three years are very much higher than industry average and such efficiency is indicative of its better surgical procedure than competitors.Even its collection period and receivable turnover are definitely above industry and S&P 500 index. No wonder the massive improvement in leverage ratio for two years is more than justified. 3. Conclusion Amazon. com is growing very remarkably in term of revenues, dogged assets, and net income. The increase in net income of more than 60% in 2007 is not easy to disregard and the fixed assets growth averaging more than 20% for the last three years could save mean an expanding company under a very halcyon condition in the industry.Its profitability ratios, liquidity ratios, leverage ratios and activity ratios are very favorable to the company. Its profitability is sustaining not only its liquidity by keep better is highly leverage financial condition. Although, 2007 liquidity and leverage ratios are not as good as industry averages, the peril that they could be improved soon by companys profitability is very big given its higher than industry average ROE for the last three years. The activity ratios in terms of inventory turnover and receivable turnover in 2007 are higher than industry average which could only support for the companys very high profitability.