Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Essay Example

Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Essay Example Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Paper Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Paper Essay Topic: Literature Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the greatest generals in the vast, eternal history of Europe. He conquered nations and forged a legendary empire. Napoleon accomplished these amazing feats despite being only five feet, two inches tall. He overcame this obstacle and still built a legendary empire. Both Will McLean and John Proctor triumph despite the obstacles presented by the repressive societies they live in. During the epic works The Lords of Discipline, by Pat Conroy and The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the protagonists, Will McLean and John Proctor, overcome societal repression by exemplifying extreme virtue, courage, and contrasting values of honesty. To be a hero, one must be virtuous and always know how to do the right thing when nobody is looking. Both Will and John have these traits. Will demonstrates his righteousness when he defends Pearce and helps him survive the school year overcoming the severe obstacles set in front of him by his peers. His fellow students are all racist against African Americans, and Pearce must endure the most suffering due to these ideals. The Bear asks Will to come down to his office where he soon offers him a chance to support Pearce, the first African American student to attend the Institute. The Bear tells Will he has been charged the duty of preventing Pearce from dropping out and leaving the school. Will says to Pearce while talking about their plan to communicate, there may be a secret group on campus that does not want you to enjoy the fruits of education at this grand institution. I belong to a group that does. Any questions? What group do you belong to, sir? We are called the nigger-lovers, Pearce. (Conroy 70). Although all of his peers and friends are against African Americans like Pearce, Wills character remains strong. He stands against what he personally believes is wrong and will encourage Pearce to stay and become a ring-wearer. In The Crucible, John Proctor is also virtuous. His time of high merit comes when he confronts Herrick and Cheever and rips the search warrant theyve obtained to search his house because they believe Elizabeth, Johns wife, to be a witch. After Cheever shows John the warrant, Proctor and Cheever have a heated conversation, Proctor: Out with you. Cheever: Proctor, you dare not touch the warrant. Proctor, ripping the warrant: Out with you! (Miller 76). Proctor reveals how he knows what Herrick and Cheever are doing is wrong, and he tries his best to defend his wife and put an end to it. His virtuous nature shines through here. He knows it is unjust to just accuse someone of witchcraft without any significant proof. The entire Salem society believes witchcraft to be true. Proctor, acting as the righteous man he is, knows his wife is not a witch. To be virtuous in the face of adversity is an essential trait for a great hero to have. The hero must be virtuous to see through societal repression and say what they believe. Will McLean illustrates extraordinary courage when it comes to overcoming his peers repressive ideals. One of his major difficulties throughout the book is The Ten, a secret group created within the Institute which preys on students not seen fit to continue their education there. When Will discovers they are a real group after searching through Mr. St Croixs journal, he drives to the barn near the Generals house to investigate. He sees ten of his peers about to ignite a flame that could have potentially burned Pearce. Will throws a, brick [which] exploded into the room, suddenly silent, Pearce, its Will McLean and Ive seen it all. (Conroy 389-390). This act is remarkably bold and daring. Not only does he throw a brick into the room to grab their attention but he also yells out his own name, alerting The Ten to his presence and identity. Will tries to overcome the societal suppressive atmosphere The Ten has set around the school. Nonetheless, this small yet daring act assists Will in conquering his obstacles by letting him be stronger, mentally and physically, then his opponents. John Proctor is also courageous and his audacity aids him in overcoming the McCarthyism and hysteria gripping Salem. When John is surrounded by the entire town after Mary loses his case for him and Elizabeth denies the affair between him and Abigail, he yells out, Proctor: I say-I say-God is dead! (Miller 119). This is an absurd and crazy thing to say in such a society where religion is so powerful and God is essential to everyones everyday lives. Since he said this, he knows he will be convicted of witchcraft and it is extremely brave to say something so scandalous. His true courage is found beneath these simple words. What Proctor means is that his beloved town has fallen to Satan and God is dead because nobody trusts anyone. Courage is an indispensible characteristic to defeat the odds put against them and rise to new heights. Although dishonesty is usually frowned upon, in Wills case, it helps him overcome an unfair trial which would have led to the collective repression of Dante Pignetti. Dante, Wills close friend and roommate, is caught by a member of The Ten stealing gasoline from Wills car. During the examination of the witness, Will, the defense attorney asks, Who paid for the gasoline? Mark asked. I had left my wallet in the barracks. Pig gave me money to pay for the gas, I lied. (Conroy 430). Will does do an inexcusable act-lying after swearing to tell the truth on the Honor Court. Fortunately, he lies to save one of his best friends from being forced out of the school. Dante helps Will overcome obstacle by helping him escape The Ten. By lying, he indirectly overcame his obstacles through another person. In contrast, John Proctor is renowned for his honesty. He is honest to Mr. Putnam, Rebecca, Reverend Parris, and most importantly himself in saying how much he despises Reverend Parris and all that he stands for. Parris: There is a party in this church. I am not blind; there is a faction and a party. Proctor: Against you? Putnam: Against him and all authority! Proctor: Why, then I must find it and join it. (Miller 31). John Proctor is very true to himself and knows how he feels about issues that affect him daily. He is confident in his identity and wants everyone around him to know that as well. Saying this is a bit of a risk since the idea of witchcraft is just beginning in Salem and Proctor openly states that he is against the Reverend of the church in town. Being true and honest to himself allows Proctor to defeat his ignorant peers and become a better man than the rest of them. In conclusion, to conquer obstacles, one must have a few vital traits to help them do so. The protagonist must be virtuous, have tremendous courage, and have honest values supplemented by dishonest values. If Napoleon could forge an empire out of nothing with such a physical disadvantage and obstacle, any hero can do the same with these all important characteristics.

Retirement Essays - Individual Retirement Accounts, Free Essays

Retirement Essays - Individual Retirement Accounts, Free Essays Retirement Retirement Retirement seems to be one of the most often overlooked areas of peoples future plan. Simply because it seems so far away, it is an area that is subject to procrastination. People are expected to live longer now than ever before, this is another reason why young adults and teenagers are not worried about saving for their retirement. The baby boom generation, the seventy seven million people born between 1943 and 1960, face an entirely different retirement plan. As they began to retire, people are starting to think that there will be no money left and this will turn into a crisis. What will happen when seventy-seven million baby boomers begin to want the money they paid in but it is not there? Retirement provisions such as Social Security, IRAs, and 401ks are there to help when you are deciding how to save money. Social Security started a long time ago, in the 1930s, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. He was elected president in November 1932. By March there were over thirteen million people that were unemployed, and almost every bank was closed. Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a sweeping program to being recovery to business and to agriculture and relief to those who were in fear of losing their farms and homes to being unemployed. In 1935, recovery was slowing arriving, but more And more people were turning against Roosevelts New Deal program. This led Roosevelt to a new program of reform, which we know today as social security. It stated heavier taxes on the wealthy, new way of controlling banks and public utilities, and a huge work relief program for those people who were unemployed. Social Security has been around for so long, but now people under the age of sixty-five think it will go bankrupt before they retire, according to a new CNN/TIME poll, and most of them do not think they will be able to save enough on their own. Only thirty-one percent say that the system is currently in a crisis; majority just feels that there are problems but not a crisis. The way you feel about Social Security is based totally on what age you are. People over fifty seem to think the system is fair while others feel it is not. In the Industrial Age, a Defined Benefit pension plan meant that the company guaranteed you, the worker, and a defined amount of money for as long as you lived. This made people feel secure because these plans assured a steady income. IRAs, Individual Retirement Accounts, are a vital part of retiring plans. There are two different types of IRAs, which include Roth and Traditional IRAs. Roth IRAs are said to give Americans another way to save on taxes. A Roth Ira can be withdrawn tax-free, as long as the account has been open at least five years and you are age fifty-nine and a half when you begin withdrawing the proceeds. The contributions can be up to two thousand dollars per person or four thousand per couple. The beauty of a Roth IRA is its simplicity. You can contribute to a Roth IRA even if you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan. You can contribute to a Roth IRA even if you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan. You can make contributions to a Roth IRA at any age as long as you are earning income. Your contributions however, cant exceed your income. Someone who contributes even a little as a teenager can end up with quite a bit of money later on. With a Roth IRA your beneficiaries will not have to pay income tax on it. A Traditional IRA is for taxpayers that are under the age of seventy and a half, who are still working. Some people prefer the traditional IRA because they can get an immediate tax deduction equal to the contribution they put in. The money in a Traditional IRA grows tax-deferred. You have to pay a tax on all your earnings. Distributions of a Traditional IRA are required at the age of seventy and a half or you have to face penalties. There are also penalties on withdrawals before the age of fifty-nine and a half such a ten percent tax

What is academic freedom What is the role of universities in Term Paper

What is academic freedom What is the role of universities in protecting and promoting freedom for faculty and students - Term Paper Example ccordance with the US 1940 statement regarding academic freedom, lecturers ought to be categorically careful to avoid, in their capacity, controversial or contending matters that are unrelated to this practice. These teachers have full freedom to write and talk in the public and put their opinions forward without institutional fears of discipline and censorship (Provenzo, 2010). However, they ought to indicate restraint that they are not all representing their educational institution in any way whatsoever. In addition, academic occupancy protects this kind of freedom through ensuring that all teachers can only be sacked for grave reasons of gross misdemeanours and conduct drawbacks (Walvoord, 2010). This can also apply in the case of incompetence in professional occupancy. Additionally, behaviours that underplay professional respect and those that induce condemnation from the general virtual academic community may be punished. Proponents that side with academic freedom purport that the apparent freedom to enquire by scholars and educational affiliation members is overtly pertinent to the realization of the vision and the general mission of the academy. Additionally, the argue that most academic societies are occasionally targeted for alleged repression due to their apparent capability to control, influence and shape the resultant flow of information in the society (West, 2008). As potential scholars try their best to extend and communicate their notions and purported truths that are apparently non-convenient to most political dispensations and authorities, they may get into risk of repression or vilification, imprisonment and possible loss of jobs. For instance, a North African professor lost his employment after discovering and addressing the fact that his nation’s infant death rate was actually higher than the government’s records (Assefa, 2008). Moreover, the contemporary society scholars have come to form a world affiliation, dubbed academic for the

Letter From a Birmingham Jail Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Letter From a Birmingham Jail - Essay Example The author actually directed the letter to the members of the clergy and since it was deemed published in totality, the target audience for this particular discourse is the white moderate population, who were deemed indifferent. The white moderate segment of society was noted to have preferred the status quo or retaining order and keeping their stance as observers rather than stir the social condition to attain justice for the blacks. One is firmly convinced that his nonviolent strategies should therefore be directed to the white moderate segment of society through the creation of tension and intervention that would force this segment to move and openly profess that his advocacies are better than just being mere spectators and preserving order. The letter should have been directly addressed to the white moderate segment of the population to entice them to change their indifferent stance and enjoin them to support the elimination of prejudice and discrimination that has long been dire cted to the African Americans. The letter was addressed to fellow clergymen and was written in response to a supposed remark that classified Martin Luther King’s (MLK) activities as allegedly untimely and unwise.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Essay Example for Free

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Essay The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The five Founding Members were later joined by nine other Members: Qatar (1961); Indonesia (1962) – suspended its membership from January 2009; Libya (1962); United Arab Emirates (1967); Algeria (1969); Nigeria (1971); Ecuador (1973) – suspended its membership from December 1992-October 2007; Angola (2007) and Gabon (1975–1994). OPEC had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first five years of its existence. This was moved to Vienna, Austria, on September 1, 1965. OPECs objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry. The 1960s OPEC’s formation by five oil-producing developing countries in Baghdad in September 1960 occurred at a time of transition in the international economic and political landscape, with extensive decolonisation and the birth of many new independent states in the developing world. The international oil market was dominated by the â€Å"Seven Sisters† multinational companies and was largely separate from that of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and other centrally planned economies (CPEs). OPEC developed its collective vision, set up its objectives and established its Secretariat, first in Geneva and then, in 1965, in Vienna. It adopted a ‘Declaratory Statement of Petroleum Policy in Member Countries’ in 1968, which emphasised the inalienable right of all countries to exercise permanent sovereignty over their natural resources in the interest of their national development. Membership grew to ten by 1969. The 1970s OPEC rose to international prominence during this decade, as its Member Countries took control of their domestic petroleum industries and acquired a major say in the pricing of crude oil on world markets. On two occasions, oil prices rose steeply in a volatile market, triggered by the Arab oil embargo in 1973 and the outbreak of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. OPEC broadened its mandate with the first Summit of Heads of State and Government in Algiers in 1975, which addressed the plight of the poorer nations and called for a new era of cooperation in international relations, in the interests of world economic development and stability. This led to the establishment of the OPEC Fund for International Development in 1976. Member Countries embarked on ambitious socio-economic development schemes. Membership grew to 13 by 1975. The 1980s After reaching record levels early in the decade, prices began to weaken, before crashing in 1986, responding to a big oil glut and consumer shift away from this hydrocarbon. OPEC’s share of the smaller oil market fell heavily and its total petroleum revenue dropped below a third of earlier peaks, causing severe economic hardship for many Member Countries. Prices rallied in the final part of the decade, but to around half the levels of the early part, and OPEC’s share of newly growing world output began to recover. This was supported by OPEC introducing a group production ceiling divided among Member Countries and a Reference Basket for pricing, as well as significant progress with OPEC/non-OPEC dialogue and cooperation, seen as essential for market stability and reasonable prices. Environmental issues emerged on the international energy agenda. The 1990s Prices moved less dramatically than in the 1970s and 1980s, and timely OPEC action reduced the market impact of Middle East hostilities in 1990–91. But excessive volatility and general price weakness dominated the decade, and the South-East Asian economic downturn and mild Northern Hemisphere winter of 1998–99 saw prices back at 1986 levels. However, a solid recovery followed in a more integrated oil market, which was adjusting to the post-Soviet world, greater regionalism, globalisation, the communications revolution and other high-tech trends. Breakthroughs in producer-consumer dialogue matched continued advances in OPEC/non-OPEC relations. As the United Nations-sponsored climate change negotiations gathered momentum, after the Earth Summit of 1992, OPEC sought fairness, balance and realism in the treatment of oil supply. One country left OPEC, while another suspended its Membership. The 2000s An innovative OPEC oil price band mechanism helped strengthen and stabilise crude prices in the early years of the decade. But a combination of market forces, speculation and other factors transformed the situation in 2004, pushing up prices and increasing volatility in a well-supplied crude market. Oil was used increasingly as an asset class. Prices soared to record levels in mid-2008, before collapsing in the emerging global financial turmoil and economic recession. OPEC became prominent in supporting the oil sector, as part of global efforts to address the economic crisis. OPEC’s second and third summits in Caracas and Riyadh in 2000 and 2007 established stable energy markets, sustainable development and the environment as three guiding themes, and it adopted a comprehensive long-term strategy in 2005. One country joined OPEC, another reactivated its Membership and a third suspended it. Venezuela and Iran were the first countries to move towards the establishment of OPEC in the 1960s by approaching Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in 1949, suggesting that they exchange views and explore avenues for regular and closer communication among petroleum-producing nations.[citation needed] The founding members are Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Later members include Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Libya, Qatar, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates. In 10–14 September 1960, at the initiative of the Venezuelan Energy and Mines minister Juan Pablo Perez Alfonso and the Saudi Arabian Energy and Mines minister Abdullah al-Tariki, the governments of Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela met in Baghdad to discuss ways to increase the price of the crude oil produced by their respective countries.[citation needed][6][7] Oil exports imports differenceOPEC was founded to unify and coordinate members petroleum policies. Between 1960 and 1975, the organization expanded to include Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), and Nigeria (1971). Ecuador and Gabon were early members of OPEC, but Ecuador withdrew on December 31, 1992[8] because it was unwilling or unable to pay a $2 million membership fee and felt that it needed to produce more oil than it was allowed to under the OPEC quota,[9] although it rejoined in October 2007. Similar concerns prompted Gabon to suspend membership in January 1995.[10] Angola joined on the first day of 2007. Norway and Russia have attended OPEC meetings as observers. Indicating that OPEC is not averse to further expansion, Mohammed Barkindo, OPECs Secretary General, recently asked Sudan to join.[11] Iraq remains a member of OPEC, but Iraqi production has not been a part of any OPEC quota agreements since March 1998. In May 2008, Indonesia announced that it would leave OPEC when its membership expired at the end of that year, having become a net importer of oil and being unable to meet its production quota.[12] A statement released by OPEC on 10 September 2008 confirmed Indonesias withdrawal, noting that it regretfully accepted the wish of Indonesia to suspend its full Membership in the Organization and recorded its hope that the Country would be in a position to rejoin the Organization in the not too distant future. [13] Indonesia is still exporting light, sweet crude oil and importing heavier, more sour crude oil to take advantage of price differentials (import is greater than export). 1973 oil embargo[edit]Main article: 1973 oil crisis In October 1973, OPEC declared an oil embargo in response to the United States and Western Europes support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. The result was a rise in oil prices from $3 per barrel to $12 and the commencement of gas rationing. Other factors in the rise in gasoline prices was the peak of oil production in the United States around 1970 and the devaluation of the U.S. dollar.[14] U.S. gas stations put a limit on the amount of gasoline that could be dispensed, closed on Sundays, and limited the days gasoline could be purchased based on license plates. Even after the embargo concluded, prices continued to rise.[15] The Oil Embargo of 1973 had a lasting effect on the United States. U.S. citizens began purchasing smaller cars that were more fuel efficient.[citation needed] The Federal government got involved first with President Richard Nixon recommending citizens reduce their speed for the sake of conservation, and later Congress issuing a 55 mph limit at the end of 1973. This change decreased consumption[citation needed] as well as crash fatalities[citation needed]. Daylight savings time was extended year round to reduce electrical use in the American home. Nixon also formed the Energy Department as a cabinet office.[citation needed] People were asked to decrease their thermostats to 65 degrees and factories changed their main energy supply to coal. One of the most lasting effects of the 1973 oil embargo was a global economic recession. Unemployment rose to the highest percentage on record while inflation also spiked. Consumer interest in large gas guzzling vehicles fell and production dropped. Although the embargo only lasted a year, during that time oil prices had quadrupled and OPEC nations discovered that their oil could be used as both a political and economic weapon against other nations 1975 hostage incident[edit]Main article: OPEC siege This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2011) On 21 December 1975, Ahmed Zaki Yamani and the other oil ministers of the members of OPEC were taken hostage by a six-person team led by terrorist Carlos the Jackal (which included Gabriele Krocher-Tiedemann and Hans-Joachim Klein), in Vienna, Austria, where the ministers were attending a meeting at the OPEC headquarters. Carlos planned to take over the conference by force and kidnap all eleven oil ministers in attendance and hold them for ransom, with the exception of Ahmed Zaki Yamani and Irans Jamshid Amuzegar, who were to be executed. Carlos led his six-person team past two police officers in the buildings lobby and up to the first floor, where a police officer, an Iraqi plain clothes security guard and a young Libyan economist were shot dead. As Carlos entered the conference room and fired shots in the ceiling, the delegates ducked under the table. The terrorists searched for Ahmed Zaki Yamani and then divided the sixty-three hostages into groups. Delegates of friendly countries were moved toward the door, neutrals were placed in the centre of the room and the enemies were placed along the back wall, next to a stack of explosives. This last group included those from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar and the UAE. Carlos demanded a bus to be provided to take his group and the hostages to the airport, where a DC-9 airplane and crew would be waiting. In the meantime, Carlos briefed Yamani on his plan to eventually fly to Aden, where Yamani and Amuzegar would be killed. The bus was provided the following morning at 6.40 as requested and 42 hostages were boarded and taken to the airport. The group was airborne just after 9.00 and explosives placed under Yamanis seat. The plane first stopped in Algiers, where Carlos left the plane to meet with the Algierian Foreign minister. All 30 non-Arab hostages were released, excluding Amuzegar. The refueled plane left for Tripoli where there was trouble in acquiring another plane as had been planned. Carlos decided to instead return to Algiers and change to a Boeing 707, a plane large enough to fly to Baghdad nonstop. Ten more hostages were released before leaving. With only 10 hostages remaining, the Boeing 707 left for Algiers and arrived at 3.40 a.m. After leaving the plane to meet with the Algerians, Carlos talked with his colleagues in the front cabin of the plane and then told Yamani and Amuzegar that they would be released at mid-day. Carlos was then called from the plane a second time and returned after two hours. At this second meeting it is believed that Carlos held a phone conversation with Algerian President Houari Boumedienne who informed Carlos that the oil ministers deaths would result in an attack on the plane. Yamanis biography[citation needed] suggests that the Algerians had used a covert listening device on the front of the aircraft to overhear the earlier conversation between the terrorists, and found that Carlos had in fact still planned to murder the two oil ministers. Boumedienne must also have offered Carlos asylum at this time and possibly financial compensation for failing to complete his assignment. On returning to the plane Carlos stood before Yamani and Amuzegar and expressed his regret at not being able to murder them. He then told the hostages that he and his comrades would leave the plane after which they would all be free. After waiting for the terrorists to leave, Yamani and the other nine hostages followed and were taken to the airport by Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The terrorists were present in the next lounge and Khalid, the Palestinian, asked to speak to Yamani. As his hand reached for his coat, Khalid was surrounded by guards and a gun was found concealed in a holster. Some time after the attack it was revealed by Carlos accomplices that the operation was commanded by Wadi Haddad, a Palestinian terrorist and founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. It was also claimed that the idea and funding came from an Arab president, widely thought to be Muammar al-Gaddafi. In the years following the OPEC raid, Bassam Abu Sharif and Klein claimed that Carlos had received a large sum of money in exchange for the safe release of the Arab hostages and had kept it for his personal use. There is still some uncertainty regarding the amount that changed hands but it is believed to be between US$20 million and US$50 million. The source of the money is also uncertain, but, according to Klein, it was from an Arab president. Carlos later told his lawyers that the money was paid by the Saudis on behalf of the Iranians and was, diverted en route and lost by the Revolution.[17] The 1980s oil gluts OPEC net oil export revenues for 1971 2007.[18]In response to the high oil prices of the 1970s, industrial nations took step to reduce dependence on oil. Utilities switched to using coal, natural gas, or nuclear power while national governments initiated multi-billion dollar research programs to develop alternatives to oil. Demand for oil dropped by five million barrels a day while oil production outside of OPEC rose by fourteen million barrels daily by 1986. During this time, the percentage of oil produced by OPEC fell from 50% to 29%. The result was a six-year price decline that culminated with a 46 percent price drop in 1986. In order to combat falling revenues, Saudi Arabia pushed for production quotas to limit production and boost prices. When other OPEC nations failed to comply, Saudi Arabia slashed production from 10 million barrels daily in 1980 to just one-quarter of that level in 1985. When this proved ineffective, Saudi Arabia reversed course and flooded the market with cheap oil, causing prices to fall to under ten dollars a barrel. The result was that high price production zones in areas such as the North Sea became too expensive. Countries in OPEC that had previously failed to comply to quotas began to limit production in order to shore up prices.[19] Responding to war and low prices[edit]Main articles: 1990 oil price shock and 2000s energy crisis Leading up to the 1990-91 Gulf War, The President of Iraq Saddam Hussein recommended that OPEC should push world oil prices up, helping all OPEC members financially. But the division of OPEC countries occasioned by the Iraq-Iran War and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait marked a low point in the cohesion of OPEC. Once supply disruption fears that accompanied these conflicts dissipated, oil prices began to slide dramatically. After oil prices slumped at around $15 a barrel in the late 1990s, joint diplomacy achieved a slowing down of oil production beginning in 1998. In 2000, Chavez hosted the first summit of OPEC in 25 years. The next year, however, the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States,and the following invasion of Afghanistan, and 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent occupation prompted a sharp rise in oil prices to levels far higher than those targeted by OPEC themselves during the previous period. Indonesia withdrew from OPEC in 2009 to protect its oil supply. On 19 November 2007, global oil prices reacted violently as OPEC members spoke openly about potentially converting their cash reserves to the euro and away from the US dollar.[20] Production disputes[edit]The economic needs of the OPEC member states often affects the internal politics behind OPEC production quotas. Various members have pushed for reductions in production quotas to increase the price of oil and thus their own revenues.[21] These demands conflict with Saudi Arabias stated long-term strategy of being a partner with the worlds economic powers to ensure a steady flow of oil that would support economic expansion.[22] Part of the basis for this policy is the Saudi concern that expensive oil or oil of uncertain supply will drive developed nations to conserve and develop alternative fuels. To this point, former Saudi Oil Minister Sheikh Yamani famously said in 1973: The stone age didnt end because we ran out of stones.[23] One such production dispute occurred on 10 September 2008, when the Saudis reportedly walked out of OPEC negotiating session where the organization voted to reduce production. Although Saudi Arabian OPEC delegates officially endorsed the new quotas, they stated anonymously that they would not observe them. The New York Times quoted one such anonymous OPEC delegate as saying â€Å"Saudi Arabia will meet the market’s demand. We will see what the market requires and we will not leave a customer without oil. The policy has not changed. OPEC aid[edit]OPEC aid dates from well before the 1973/74 oil price explosion. Kuwait has operated a programme since 1961 (through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development). The OPEC fund became a fully fledged permanent international development agency in May 1980.

An Inspector Calls :: English Literature

An Inspector Calls' is based in 1912, before the first and second world war, before the sinking of the Titanic and before women had any rights. An Inspector Calls 'An Inspector Calls' is based in 1912, before the first and second world war, before the sinking of the Titanic and before women had any rights. 'An Inspector Calls' was written in 1945, Britain was enduring the final year of The Second World War and the country was united in one community, together they were fighting for Britain. JB Priestley liked what he saw; people were putting aside their class and background and ignored their prejudices in an attempt to help their country. The only problem was Priestley knew after the war, that Britain may return to its previous state. Therefore Priestley wrote a play, based in Edwardian Britain when class mattered and reputation was everything. Priestley set the play in Brumley, an industrial town where, like most places in Britain, the rich and poor rarely met. The only places the two classes became more integrated were the bars where prostitutes and rich men would meet. But these places were another world, a form of escapism for family men yearning for more excitement, they had double standards and these double standards appear throughout the play. The story is about the Birling family and their involvement with a young woman who tragically committed suicide, each member of the family had their own input to her downward spiral, and it started with Mr Birling. 'A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own..' and it is with that there is knock at the door. Inspector Goole enters the Birling household (and in my opinion acting as Priestley's alter-ego), causing unrest amongst some of them and no affect on others. The mood changes from a happy, celebratory atmosphere to a tense and mysterious one. Maybe this could be shown in a change of lighting, being more intense as apposed to before when the family were rejoicing the fact of their daughter's engagement. When the inspector begins to interrogate Mr Birling he refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva Smith's death, he gives no thought to his actions and this is obvious as he shows relatively little remorse or guilt. However, Mr Birling has an honest approach to life, not ashamed by his refusal to give Eva Smith a raise 'I refused of course,' and seems surprised why anyone would query his actions. Money in this era was a precious thing and all Eva Smith was to Mr Birling was a problem, which must be rid off immediately, especially since it could

All Is Well in the Land of the King

All is Well in Land of â€Å"The Lion King† In the article, All’s Not Well in Land of â€Å"The Lion King,† by Margaret Lazarus, the author over exaggerates an animated classic, investigating as to whether or not the movie is politically correct and morally right. The essay examines and stereotypes the movie, and comes to various misguided conclusions. Lazarus defines the hyenas and the lion, Scar symbolic, and declares that Disney already has gays and blacks ruining the â€Å"natural order. She also draws to the conclusion that Disney manipulates small children’s minds; encouraging them to believe that â€Å"Only those born into privilege can bring about change† (pg. 440) Lazarus is constantly searching for the underlying meaning throughout the movie, and fails to enjoy it. After a complete analysis of the movie she fails to understand the central idea of the movie. She then proceeds to mock the concept of a young heir to the crown to fighting and standing up for what is rightfully and morally his. She maintains that the movie â€Å"The Lion King† is a metaphor for our society, suggesting that the nation only supports the concept that only the strong do survive in the world. So often a carefree animated tale is scrutinized and psychoanalyzed, and the pureness and innocence are stripped away from it. I fully disagree with Lazarus. â€Å"The Lion King,† was a wonderful, original animation that, broke the Disney stereotyped classics, of a hero that saves a beautiful girl in distress. â€Å"The Lion King,† features a story of doing the right thing, learning to fight for what is right, to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. The Lion King,† is an animation, to over analyze in such a fashion as Margaret Lazarus does, is ridiculous and a shame. Lazarus is seeking too much meaning out of this simple tale. The cartoons main purpose is to entertain, not to set all the things wrong in the world right. It is impossible and absurd to suggest that young c hildren’s minds are being corrupted by Disney movies. â€Å"The Lion King† is a cartoon. Children cannot understand the underlying meanings of gays and blacks, they just want to laugh and enjoy themselves.

Howard Schultz and the Starbucks Company

Maln Problem Statement After analyzing all aspects and factors, the main problem statement found for this case study is as follows: â€Å"The rapid and over expansion plan of Starbucks store- owned outlets to capture the maximum market share has lead to many problems† As stated above, Starbucks is facing the problem of fast and over expanding of its outlets as the company tries to gain as much market share and opportunities as possible.This, however has led to many problems such as cannibalization of usiness through clustering and low net Income margin despite achieving record sales and revenues. The problem is further complicated by other problems such as Insistence of the company to store-own outlets outside the North American region and increased number of employees at Starbucks. 3. 0 Focus Expansion Only on under-served Countries and Locations One of the alternative strategies that could help to solve the main problem Is to change the Starbucks policy on outlet openings.In this strategy, Starbucks should identify countries or locations where the company has the least presence and oothold; choosing to open outlets only at these locations while stop outlet openings in areas where the company already has established itselt. For example, Starbucks should look into the China and South Korea market as there are currently only 9 outlets and 1 outlet of Starbucks In those locations, respectively. 3. 2 Allow Another strategy is to allow the franchising of the Starbucks brand to locations outside the North American market.

Bowling for Columbine essays

Bowling for Columbine essays Michael Moore has created some of this centurys most provocative films, including Roger documentary commonly associated with these films. Moores most recent film, Bowling for Columbine, won the Best Documentary Oscar at the 2003 Academy Awards. But what exactly is a documentary, and should Moores work be classified in such a genre? Websters Dictionary defines a documentary as a film or TV program presenting the facts about a person or event. Moore does in fact present facts in his film, including interviews with various people, most notably, Charlton Heston. Additionally, he leads us along his journey throughout the country (and Canada) to find out why America is so obsessed with guns. The facts Moore presents certainly do have a liberal spin on them, but that does not mean that his work is not a documentary. Some have argued that documentaries must present an objective opinion about a subject. This is impossible. The Italian Neo-realists tried to create a real cinema in the early 1930s and failed. The reason was simple: The camera always chooses to focus on something within the frame, therefore limiting the viewers options not very realistic. Moore does much of the same. He uses his art as a persuasion. He never admits to presenting an objective view, nor should he be required to. Film, documentary or otherwise, is left to the sole discretion of the artist. Moores work is in fact a documentary because it presents facts of a non-fiction story (not like a non-fiction dramatization, such as Patton). Although it may conceal some facts as well, it is not the obligation of a documentary to present things in an objective manner such...

Ellen Gates Starr Biography

Ellen Gates Starr Biography Ellen Starr was born in Illinois in 1859.  Her father encouraged her in thinking about democracy and social responsibility, and his sister, Ellen’s aunt Eliza Starr, encouraged her to pursue higher education.  There were few women’s colleges, especially in the Midwest; in 1877, Ellen Starr began her studies at Rockford Female Seminary with a curriculum equivalent to that of many men’s colleges. In her first year of study at Rockford Female Seminary, Ellen Starr met and became close friends with Jane Addams.  Ellen Starr left after a year, when her family could no longer afford to pay tuition.  She became a teacher in Mount Morris, Illinois, in 1878, and the following year at a girls’ school in Chicago.  She also read such authors as Charles Dickens and John Ruskin and began shaping her own ideas about labor and other social reforms, and, following her aunt’s lead, about art as well. Jane Addams Her friend, Jane Addams, meanwhile, graduated from Rockford Seminary in 1881, tried to attend a Woman’s Medical College, but left in ill health.  She toured Europe and lived for a while in Baltimore, all the while feeling restless and bored and wanting to apply her education.  She decided to return to Europe for another trip and invited her friend Ellen Starr to go with her. Hull House On that trip, Addams and Starr visited Toynbee Settlement Hall and London’s East End.  Jane had the vision of starting a similar settlement house in America and talked Starr into joining her.  They decided on Chicago, where Starr had been teaching and found an old mansion that had become used for storage, originally owned by the Hull family – thus, Hull House.  They took up residence on September 18, 1889, and began â€Å"settling† in with the neighbors, to experiment with how to best serve the people there, mostly poor and working-class families. Ellen Starr led reading groups and lectures, on the principle that education would help uplift the poor and those who worked at low wages. She taught labor reform ideas, but also literature and art. She organized art exhibits. In 1894, she founded the Chicago Public School Art Society to get art into public school classrooms.  She traveled to London to learn bookbinding, becoming an advocate for the handicrafts as a source of pride and meaning.  She tried to open a book bindery at Hull House, but it was one of the failed experiments. Labor Reform She also became more involved in labor issues in the area, involving immigrants, child labor and safety in the factories and sweatshops in the neighborhood. In 1896, Starr joined the garment workers’ strike in support of the workers. She was a founding member of the Chicago chapter of the Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL) in 1904.  In that organization, she, like many other educated women, worked in solidarity with the often-uneducated women factory workers, supporting their strikes, helping them file complaints, raising funds for food and milk, writing articles and otherwise publicizing their conditions to the wider world. In 1914, in a strike against Henrici Restaurant, Starr was among those arrested for disorderly conduct. She was charged with interfering with a police officer, who claimed she had used violence against him and â€Å"tried to frighten him† by telling him to â€Å"leave them girls be!†Ã‚  She, a frail woman of at best a hundred pounds, did not look to those in court like someone who could frighten a policeman from his duties, and she was acquitted. Socialism After 1916, Starr was less active in such confrontational situations. While Jane Addams generally did not get involved in partisan politics, Starr joined the Socialist Party in 1911 and was a candidate in the 19th ward for the alderman’s seat on the Socialist ticket.  As a woman and a Socialist, she did not expect to win but used her campaign to draw connections between her Christianity and Socialism and to advocate for more fair working conditions and treatment of all.  She was active with the Socialists until 1928. Religious Conversion Addams and Starr disagreed about religion, as Starr moved from her Unitarian roots in a spiritual journey that took her to conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1920. Later Life She withdrew from public view as her health grew poorer.  A spinal abscess led to surgery in 1929, and she was paralyzed after the operation.  Hull House was not equipped or staffed for the level of care that she needed, so she moved to the Convent of the Holy Child in Suffern, New York. She was able to read and paint and maintain a correspondence, remaining at the convent until her death in 1940. Ellen Gates Starr Facts Known for:  co-founder of Chicago’s Hull House, with Jane AddamsOccupation:  settlement house worker, teacher, reformerDates:  March 19, 1859 - 1940Also known as: Ellen StarrReligion: Unitarian, then Roman CatholicOrganizations:  Hull House, Women’s Trade Union LeagueEducation: Rockford Female Seminary Family Mother: Susan Gates ChildsFather: Caleb Allen Starr, farmer, businessman, active in the GrangeAunt: Eliza Allen Starr, art scholar

Undertake Investments During Recession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Undertake Investments During Recession - Essay Example Opportunities arise during periods of recession. Many countries experience what is known as ‘liquidity trap’ that develops due to low-interest rates. In reality, near-zero interest rates do not stimulate the economy. At low or near-zero interest rates, firms and consumers should borrow and spend. However, many firms, groups, and individuals focus on either saving or paying debts rather than spending during recession periods. For this reason, near-zero interest rates have less effect on investment and consumption behavior (Bivens 1). As a result, the client should invest during the recession due to the availability of many investment opportunities. Buying assets during recessionary period reduce one’s spending. A potential investor should invest during the recession. The government and individuals sell assets in the recessionary period. For instance, stock prices reduce significantly. Additionally, bonds, real estates, and mutual funds become readily available. Ind ividuals also sell their private businesses at lower prices. For this reason, due to the unfavorable economic environment, investors dump their assets and one can decide to pick them at lower prices. However, investing during the recession requires courage and paying attention to market performance (Bivens 1). The investor should wade through the market by undertaking the mandatory dollar cost averaging plan. The plan ensures that the investor does not spend or pour all capital at once. During the recession, many people lose hope and faith in their government practices. Millions of workers lose jobs while the media spread inaccurate information regarding economic recovery issues. It is paramount for an investor to consider financial education so as to understand the performance of financial markets. Developing and marketing personal brands is another critical area that needs consideration.  

Arguments For And Against Resistance To Change Essay

Arguments For And Against Resistance To Change - Essay Example With evidence of companies failing to change owing to resistance by employees, it is no wonder that organizations invest great time and resources to conduct training and coaching in order to reduce resistance to change. While there are strong arguments that support this view, there are various reasons to prove that managing resistance to change may, in fact, may not be a good idea always. One reason why resistance to change may be productive is that it prevents bad/wrong ideas from being assimilated in the organization. Employee resistance to change allows firms to rethink â€Å"why† they are changing. In other words, it allows leadership to reconsider the business case for change with a critical perspective. If all employees agreed and there was no resistance, clearly management could oversee the ‘downside’ of changing making it unprofitable for the firm in the long run. Furthermore, because resistance to change often comprises of the fear factor (including loss of status, power or even job for employees), it encourages the top management to discover the impact that change would have on the ‘people’. Therefore, resistance to change is essential in the sense that it allows management to develop an open-ended view of change and consider the drawbacks of change. By doing so, managers can then come up with policies and procedures to counter the drawbacks and make change more workable and feasible for employees. Furthermore, the fact that resistance is seen as a â€Å"problem† to change leads management to derive strategies to overcome rather than engage it. Managers may often go at length to reduce the ‘threat’ of resistance and, in doing so, may adopt tactics that may be harmful to the organization. As a result, it is common to find management taking on an overly defensive role in trying to push the change too hard as well as become overly protective of their status in trying to win the argument against disgrun tled employees (Watson, 1982). This occurs because management views resistance to change as a reactive process in which agents possessing power oppose the reactions of other agents (Jermier et al., 1994). This leads them into an evitable trap whereby the management becomes overly concerned with protecting their position and argument rather than listening to what the disgruntled employees have to say. As a result, communication is reduced and the situation evolves into a manager-employee conflict. This stems from the fact that managers may alienate employees who are seen as obstacles rather than resources for change. Consequently, this conflict results in loss of reputation and poor relationships with employees, thereby reducing the morale of employees. Additionally, managing resistance to change often brings with the incorrect assumption that resistance is a one-sided phenomenon. Managers may become overly simplistic to assume that resistance is caused only by the attitudes and beha viors of employees. In fact, many models, such as three dimensional model of change, are based on the inherent assumption that resistance is solely the product of the behavior, emotions and attitudes of the employees (Hayes, 2010). Under this view, managers attempt to see the resistors as irrational and self-centered and consequently, try to block their interference in the change process. Although this true, resistance to change can be attributed partially to the way in which the organization is bringing about change and the behavior of managers in this respect. Therefore, managers who hold this view often ignore the fact that resistance to change is, in fact, feedback and that it must not be blocked or reduced but dealt with