Thursday, October 31, 2019

Response of the artical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response of the artical - Essay Example Instead of protecting the natural resources, the government inappropriately uses such resources. According to Sampath (42), placing a price on nature will safeguard the interests of future generations. Consequently, safeguarding biodiversity is the basis of sustainability. The author is supporting his argument by using the case of England in which the exploitation of natural resources is costing the economy of England. In the second article, the author is campaigning against economic valuation of natural resources within the ecosystem. He is opposed to privatization because he believes that privatization will co modify nature as noted by Juniper (2). Consequently, he is claiming that corporations will take advantage of privatization and this will lead to the destruction of unprotected forests and natural resources. Lack of bioprospecting rules will cost countries like Hawaii since the people will not benefit from the use of its resources in the absence of control measures. I accept the major claims of these articles because most of the claims are factual. For instance, research indicates that the enactment of laws has positive impacts on the conservation of the environment. Consequently, some of the resources in nature cannot be valued as claimed by the author of the article the great imposters. In England, the natural capital committee discovered that some of the resources had infinite values. Moreover, the committee advocated for responsible use of the ecosystem by private companies. This is an indication that people should be responsible in seeking services from the ecosystem. Indeed, the business community has neglected the natural world (Monbiot 1). Carelessness is leading to the environmental crisis. Henceforth, it is our collective responsibility to conserve the environment because we depend on the environment for our

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Actions Speak Louder Than Words Essay Example for Free

Actions Speak Louder Than Words Essay A gossip between a passenger and Software Engineer in Shatabdi Train ..An interesting and a must read! Actions may not actually speak louder than words but they do prove things better. Like the saying, A picture is worth a thousand words. an action shows that someone is genuine. Someone may say that they will help the hungry people of the world, but when they actually get out there and feed them, we believe it. Here is an example: If you say you are going to donate a million dollars to a school then that is all good and well, but if you actually do it (the action) then it will make much more of an impact that just saying it. Basically it means that you have to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Vivek Pradhan was not a happy man.. Even the plush comfort of the air-conditioned compartment of the Shatabdi express could not cool his frayed nerves. He was the Project Manager and still not entitled to air travel. It was not the prestige he sought, he had tried to reason with the admin person, it was the savings in time. As PM, he had so many things to do!! He opened his case and took out the laptop, determined to put the time to some good use. Are you from the software industry sir? the man beside him was staring appreciatively at the laptop. Vivek glanced briefly and mumbled in affirmation, handling the laptop now with exaggerated care and importance as if it were an expensive car. You people have brought so much advancement to the country, Sir. Today everything is getting computerized. Thanks, smiled Vivek, turning around to give the man a look. He always found it difficult to resist appreciation. The man was young and stockily built like a sportsman.. He looked simple and strangely out of place in that little lap of luxury like a small town boy in a prep school. He probably was a railway sportsman making the most of his free traveling pass. You people always amaze me, the man continued, You sit in an office and write something on a computer and it does so many big things outside. Vivek smiled deprecatingly. Naiveness demanded reasoning not anger. It is not as simple as that my friend. It is not just a question of writing a few lines. There is a lot of process that goes behind it. For a moment, he was tempted to explain the entire Software Development Lifecycle but restrained himself to a single statement. It is complex, very complex. It has to be. No wonder you people are so highly paid, came the reply. This was not turning out as Vivek had thought. A hint of belligerence crept into his so far affable, persuasive tone. Everyone just sees the money. No one sees the amount of hard work we have to put in. Indians have such a narrow concept of hard work. Just because we sit in an air-conditioned office, does not mean our brows do not sweat. You exercise the muscle; we exercise the mind and believe me that is no less taxing. He could see, he had the man where he wanted, and it was time to drive home the point. Let me give you an example. Take this train. The entire railway reservation system is computerized. You can book a train ticket between any two stations from any of the hundreds of computerized booking centers across the country. Thousands of transactions accessing a single database, at a time concurrently; data integrity, locking, data security. Do you understand the complexity in designing and coding such a system? The man was awestruck; quite like a child at a planetarium. This was something big and beyond his imagination. You design and code such things? I used to, Vivek paused for effect, but now I am the Project Manager. Oh! sighed the man, as if the storm had passed over, so your life is easy now. This was like the last straw for Vivek. He retorted, Oh come on, does life ever get easy as you go up the ladder. Responsibility only brings more work. Design and coding! That is the easier part. Now I do not do it, but I am responsible for it and believe me, that is far more stressful. My job is to get the work done in time and with the highest quality. To tell you about the pressures, there is the customer at one end, always changing his requirements, the user at the other, wanting something else, and your boss, always expecting you to have finished it yesterday. Vivek paused in his diatribe, his belligerence fading with self-realization. What he had said, was not merely the outburst of a wronged man, it was the truth. And one need not get angry while defending the truth. My friend, he concluded triumphantly, you dont know what it is to be in the Line of Fire. The man sat back in his chair, his eyes closed as if in realization. When he spoke after sometime, it was with a calm certainty that surprised Vivek. I know sir,.. I know what it is to be in the Line of Fire He was staring blankly, as if no passenger, no train existed, just a vast expanse of time. There were 30 of us when we were ordered to capture Point 4875 in the cover of the night. The enemy was firing from the top. There was no knowing where the next bullet was going to come from and for whom. In the morning when we finally hoisted the tri-colour at the top only 4 of us were alive. You are a? I am Subedar Sushant from the 13 JK Rifles on duty at Peak 4875 in Kargil. They tell me I have completed my term and can opt for a soft assignment. But, tell me sir, can one give up duty just because it makes life easier? On the dawn of that capture, one of my colleagues lay injured in the snow, open to enemy fire while we were hiding behind a bunker. It was my job to go and fetch that soldier to safety. But my captain sahib refused me permission and went ahead himself. He said that the first pledge he had taken as a Gentleman Cadet was to put the safety and welfare of the nation foremost followed by the safety and welfare of the men he commanded .his own personal safety came last, always and every time. He was killed as he shielded and brought that injured soldier into the bunker.. Every morning thereafter, as we stood guard, I could see him taking all those bullets, which were actually meant for me . I know sir.I know, what it is to be in the Line of Fire. Vivek looked at him in disbelief not sure of how to respond. Abruptly, he switched off the laptop. It seemed trivial, even insulting to edit a Word document in the presence of a man for whom valour and duty was a daily part of life; valour and sense of duty which he had so far attributed only to epical heroes. The train slowed down as it pulled into the station, and Subedar Sushant picked up his bags to alight. It was nice meeting you sir. Vivek fumbled with the handshake. This hand had climbed mountains, pressed the trigger, and hoisted the tri-colour. Suddenly, as if by impulse, he stood up at attention and his right hand went up in an impromptu salute. It was the least he felt he could do for the country. PS: The incident he narrated during the capture of Peak 4875 is a true-life incident during the Kargil war. Capt. Batra sacrificed his life while trying to save one of the men he commanded, as victory was within sight. For this and various other acts of bravery, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the nations highest military award. Live humbly, there are great people around us, let us learn! BE POLITE EVERYONE U MEET IS FIGHTING A HARD BATTLE!

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Histidine Synthesis: An Overview of Research

Histidine Synthesis: An Overview of Research Histidine Synthesis Kathryn McCallister The study of the biosynthetic pathway leading to synthesis of the amino acid histidine in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes was begun more than 40 years ago and has resulted in the unraveling of many fundamental mechanisms of biology (1). With this it can be assumed that much of the pathway is known or is in the process of becoming known. What is to be discussed is the pathway itself, which has been studied extensively in E. coli and S. typhimurium. While many may not understand why this pathway is important in the body it should not be understated that this is a very important pathway. Histidine is an essential amino acid. Histidine metabolism has been extensively researched and many articles have been published about the numerous effects of having deficient or excessive histidine in the blood. This paper will go over the flow of the pathway in detail from the beginning to the end result, Histidine. Histidine is something that is very important in the human body and this will be rev ealed later in the paper. Now the portion of the pathway to be discussed is the portion in which Histidine is made into Carnosine. Now in order to discuss this portion of the pathway we must first find out how we make Histidine in the first place. This pathway also occurs in prokaryotes which are the main organism in which this pathway has been studied. The disease that we will be focusing on is Carnosinemia. This disease is caused by a deficient amount of histidine in the body. Lastly we will discuss the prevalence of this disease in society and how this could potentially affect the population in the future. The histidine system is an important system in the body. It has also helped with other theories. The histidine system was of the utmost importance in the definition and refinement of the operon theory (1). In order to understand this theory you first must understand what an operon is. An operon contains a group of genes that code for enzymes involved in a metabolic pathway (2). This is very important in the processes of the organism. The operon helps the cell conserve energy. The operon theory was first proposed by the French microbiologist Franà §ois Jacob and Jacques Monod in the early 1960s (2). While this seems irrelevant in fact, it has been calculated that 41 ATP molecules are sacrificed for each histidine molecule made (1). With that kind of energy needed it’s no wonder that the majority of Histidine comes from diet. Histidine is a costly amino acid to produce, so in order for the body to maintain itself it has to be able to take Histidine from the food in which we eat . If enough of this amino acid is not taken in then it could potentially cause problems. Histidine is one of the most important substances in the body only because it can be converted into other things one of which is really important in the body, haemoglobin. Furthermore, it is involved in various metabolic reactions and hence ensures indirectly the oxygen supply to all the organs and tissues (3). Without oxygen the body would eventually begin to shut down. In particular, in the well-known yeast S. cerevisiae, the seven genes responsible for the biosynthesis of histidine are located on six different chromosomes (1). Now this is very different than in Archaebacteria. The his genes in archaebacterial are less well known than in eubacteria; only three his genes have been recognized in just four species, three of them belonging to the genus Methanococcus and one to Halobacterium (1). This is interesting since there are seven genes. The demonstration that hisI and hisE is, in fact, a single gene (now hisI) brought the genes to eight and the steps to 10 (1). Quickly covering these steps is no easy task, but below is an attempt to do so. The first reaction in histidine biosynthesis is the condensation of ATP and 5-phophoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) to form N’-5’-phosphoribosyl-ATP (PRATP) (1). This key reaction is involved in feedback inhibition. The second step in histidine biosynthesis is the condensation of PRATP into PRAMP. From PRAMP the synthesis produces BBMII. The fourth step of the pathway is an internal redox reaction, also known as Amadori rearrangement, involving the isomerization of the aminoaldose 5’-ProFAR to the aminoketose N’-[(5’-phosphoribulosyl)-formimino]-5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleotide (5’-PRFAR or BBMIII) (1). This is then synthesized into imidazole-glycerol-phosphate, also known as IGP. AICAR, which is produced in the reaction catalyzed by the IGP synthase, is recycled into the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway (1). From there it is dehydrated and the resulting enol is ketonized nonenzymatically to imidazole-acetol-phosphate (IAP) (1). The seventh step of this pathway is a reversible one in which IAP is involved. The reaction leads to the production of ÃŽ ±-ketoglutarate and L-histidinol-phosphate (HOL-P) (1). From there it loses the phosphate and becomes L-histidinol (HOL). HOL is oxidized and becomes L-histidinal, which is an unstable portion of the pathway. From there it proceeds to histidine by way of a transferase, or in other words it moves the intermediate to another site on the chain. Nevertheless, the two initial substrates of histidine biosynthesis, PRPP and ATP, play a key role in intermediate and energetic metabolism and link this pathway to the biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines, pyridine nucleotide, folates, and tryptophan (1). Klem and Davisson found that the protein encoded by the hisF gene has an ammoni-dependent activity that is responsible for the conversion of PRFAR to AICAR and IFP, while the product of the hisH gene had no detectable catalytic properties. However, in combination, the two proteins were able to carry out the reaction in the presence of glutamine as a nitrogen donor without releasing any free metabolic intermediate (1). Final identification was generally achieved from DNA and protein sequence comparison with the E. coli counterparts, assuming, as it is widely accepted, the the biosynthetic pathway is fundamentally the same in all organisms (1). This later may be associated with dietary factors, since it is known that histidinuria may be present after a heavy protein meal especially in children; it is also increased during pregnancy and at the beginning of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (9). This is interesting to note because this study was done in 1962 ns was based on a urine analysis of the mentally defective population of Northern Ireland. This study proposed that there were approximately 4,000 people under the care of the Northern Ireland Hospitals Authority during this study. In the 2,081 urines examined there were two cases of very severe generalized aminoaciduria and 36 cases of moderate severity; these latter are of ‘central cluster’ pattern involving glycine, serine, alanine, glutamine and/or glutamic acid, histidine, threonine and sometimes taurine (9). While these numbers may seem insignificant when you take that throughout the whole population who may not know that they have a deficiency, t he numbers translate to 1.8% of the population. It is appreciated that many of the above amino-acidurias may have a metabolic basis quite unrelated to mental retardation, and it is hoped to study these cases in detail (9). This is later confirmed by further testing. The portion of the pathway that will be discussed is from Histidine to Carnosine. This may seem unrelated but Carnosinemia is caused by a lack of Histidine because it is partially made up of Histidine. Without Histidine there can be no Carnosine made. One of the genes that have recently been linked to diabetic nephropathy is Carnosine dipeptidase-1 (6). This is just one of the problems that carnosinemia could potentially cause in the human body. In humans, circulating Carnosine is readily degraded by the highly active serum carnosinase enzyme, which is secreted from the liver into the plasma (6). Without Carnosine this enzyme isn’t able to function properly. Carnosinase is a true dipeptidase and this was discovered in an experiment that was published in 1985. Human tissue carnosinase (EC 3.4.13.3) had optimum activity at pH 9.5 and was a cysteine peptidase, being activated by dithiothreitol and inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (7). While pH may be manipulated in a lab, ou r body adjusts our pH everyday on a cellular level in order to work at maximum capacity at all times. Carnosine could hold the potential to protect type 2 diabetics from some of the complications associated with nerve damage. From these genetic data in human patients, it was hypothesized that L-Carnosine serum levels are associated with the risk for late complications of diabetic disease and that L-Carnosine acts as a protective factor (6). This is interesting to note since most symptoms associated with low amino acid levels involve some sort of nerve problem. The researchers hypothesized that L-Carnosine may be a protective factor when it comes to diabetic patients and their potential nerve problems associated with type 2 diabetes. In the results they found that mice that were supplemented with L-Carnosine had later onset diabetes and was much milder than anticipated. Their conclusion was that hCN1-dependent susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy may at least in part be mediated by altered glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic patients (6). It has been found that Carnosine not only protects against type 2 diabetes but also with LDL and high cholesterol. In an experiment published in 2007 it was found that Carnosine was able to lower LDL without the dangerous accumulation of cholesterol that many drugs on the market cause. The key finding of the current study is that Carnosine and its constituents are effective at equimolar concentrations to the modifying agent, out data suggests that Carnosine and its constituents may serve as effective scavengers of carbonyl compounds and inhibitors of protein glycation in vivo, and as potential therapeutic agents to inhibit diabetes-induced atherosclerosis. (5). That is why Carnosine is so important in the human body. Now managing this disease isn’t as simple as just ingesting more histidine or Carnosine. There is no known cure for carnosinemia. They are still trying to figure out what causes carnosinemia. The signs and symptoms of carnosinemia are: aminoaciduria, cognitive impairment, developmental regress, EEG abnormality, seizures, autosomal recessive inheritance, carnosinuria, generalized myoclonic seizures, and intellectual disability (12). Most of the symptoms as stated have to do with the brain and its functions, and this is very similar to a number of other diseases that have to do with amino acid deficiency. Unfortunately as stated there is no known cure or management for this disease. Unfortunately only about 30 cases have been reported to date so not a lot of people even know that this disease exists. So far, all genetically determined diseases due to primarily to an enzyme deficiency are inherited by recessive or sex-linked mechanisms and this rule is holding so well that there is little reason to search for such a cause in conditions showing dominant inheritance (4). Carnosinemia is an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning that both parents have to be carriers in order for the child to be effected. The commonest approach has been to provide a diet deprived of an offending constituent, the greatest experience having been obtained with the treatment by this means of phenylketonuria and galactosaemia (4). When researched no known treatment could be neither found, nor any experimental treatments for this disease. Not enough people suffer from this disease to make experimentation worthwhile for scientists. Dietary restriction is by no means the only approach to therapy and in disorders of many essential amino-acids may not even be feasible (4). Such is the case for carnosinemia and h istidine deficiency. In conclusion, the study of histidine has spanned more than 40 years and is still very much ongoing. The two main study specimens that have been used to study the Histidine pathway are E. coli and S. typhimurium. The pathway is comprised of 10 steps in which it starts at ATP and ends with Histidine. From there is can be transformed into a number of different compounds including Histamine and Haemoglobin. There are seven genes that make up the Histidine pathway and they are located on six different chromosomes in eukaryotes. Histidine intake is mostly dietary because it is so costly for the body to make it. Which is why Histidinuria is found especially in children and pregnant women. They also found the Histidine deficiency can cause many developmental delays, and was found in a some of the mentally challenged people tested in Northern Ireland. Histidine makes up Carnosine in the human body which is very important for those with diabetes. It has been found that Carnosine may have a pr otective factor for those with type 2 diabetes. It may prevent those with type 2 diabetes from developing a severe case of nephropathy. It was also found to help lower LDL without causing cholesterol buildup like some of the drugs on the market today. This is why Carnosine is so important in the human body. Carnosinemia is a very serious disease and there is no known cure or treatment for it. The symptoms of Carnosinemia range from cognitive impairment to seizures. Unfortunately this disease can’t be fixed with diet, and there are no known medications or treatments for this disease. Carnosinemia is a very serious disease caused by a deficiency of Histidine. References Alifano, P.; Fani, R; Lià ², P.; Lazcano, A.; Bazzicalupo, M.; Carlomagno, M. S.; Bruni, C.B. Histidine Biosynthetic Pathway and Genes: Structure, Regulation, and Evolution. Am. Soc. For Microbiology. 1996, Vol. 60, 44-69. Encyclopedia Britannica. Operon. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/429974/operon (accessed Nov 25, 2014). Amino Acid Studies. L-histidine. http://aminoacidstudies.org/l-histidine/ (accessed Nov 25, 2014). Raine, D. N. Management of Inherited Metabolic Disease. British Medical Journal. 1972, Vol.2, 329-336. Rashid, I.; van Reyk, D. M.; Davies, M. J. Carnosine and its constituents inhibit gylcation of low-density lipoproteins that promotes foam cell formation in vitro. Federation of European Biochemical Societies. 2007, 1067-1070. Sauerhofer, S.; Yuan, G.; Braun, G. S.; Deinzer, M.; Neumaier, M.; Gretz, N.; Floege, J.; Kriz, W.; van der Woude, F.; Moeller, M. J. L-Carnosine, a Substrate of Carnosinase-1, Influences Glucose Metabolism. Diabetes. 2007, Vol. 56, 2425-2432 Lenner, J. F.; Pepper, S. C.; Kucera-Orallo, C. M.; George, R. P. Characterization of human tissue carnosinase. Biochem. J. 1985, 653-660. Everaert, I.; Taes, Y.; De Heer, E.; Baelde, H.; Zutinic, A.; Yard, B.; Sauerhofer, S.; Vanhee, L.; Delanghe, J.; Aldini, G.; Derave, W. Low plasma carnosinase activity promotes carnosinemia after Carnosine ingestion in humans. American Physiological Society. 2012, F1537-F1544. Carson, N. A. J.; Neill, D. W. Metabolic Abnormalities Detected in a Survey of Mentally Backward Individuals in Northern Ireland. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 1962, 505-513. Kanehisa Laboratories. Histidine metabolism-Reference pathway. http://www.genome.jp/kegg-bin/show_pathway?org_name=mapmapno=00340mapscale=show_description=hide (accessed Nov 25, 2014). University of Bristol. Histamine in the body. http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/histamine/jm/body.htm (accessed Nov 25, 2014). National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Carnosinemia. http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/6001/carnosinemia/resources/9 (accessed Nov 30, 2014). Orpha. Prevalence of rare disease: Bibliographic data. Orphanet Series [online] 2014, 8 http://www.orpha.net/orphacom/cahiers/docs/GB/Prevalence_of_rare_diseases_by_alphabetical_list.pdf

Friday, October 25, 2019

Essay --

Zac Fertig English Period 5 Odysseus, the protagonist of the Odyssey by Homer fits the outline of an epic hero because he is courageous, quick-witted, and a natural leader. Odysseus isn’t only known for his muscles, also his clever mind. He is one of the great heroes that possesses both brains and brawn. He is also a hero with outstanding skill and bravery. It is no wonder why many teachers refer to Odysseus as a powerful hero. I believe Odysseus is a hero because he is clever, can overcome obstacles, is very brave, a leader but like all great heroes, he has his weaknesses. Some of Odysseus’ most recognizable traits are his bravery and leadership. One thing that shows his bravery was his escape from Polyphemus. He was courageous to stab out Polyphemus’s eyes using a burning pole. Odysseus states: "I took my twelve best fighters and went ahead." This example involving the Cyclops shows that one of Odysseus’ great traits is his leadership. He is not the type of leader that sits on safe land while he sends his men in to fight, but a leader who engages in battle with his men. There are also times when many men are afraid, but Odysseus shows he's in not letting anything get in his way and speaks up when nobody will: "We all felt pressure in our hearts, but I spoke up in reply." He was fearless enough to take risks. Odysseus said: "Friends, have we never been in danger before this? More fearsome, is it now, then when we faced Cyclops?" This quote shows that in time of danger, Odysseus is willing to put his life in jeopardy and not g ive up. Odysseus had the heart of a fighter, he would battle whenever necessary, no matter who his opponent was, in this case the Cyclops. Most epic heroes are aided and guarded by gods wh... ...ugh Calypso wouldn’t let him leave the island so it wasn't his fault. Calypso finally agreed to allow Odysseus to leave the island: â€Å"So then, royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, man of exploits, still eager to leave at once and hurry back to your own home, your beloved native land? Good luck to you, even so. Farewell! But if you only knew, down deep, what pains are fated to fill your cup before you reach that shore, you’d stay right here, preside in our house with me and be immortal. Much as you long to see your wife, the one you pine for all your days†. Those are some of the traits Odysseus possesses that make me think of him as a hero. Odysseus isn’t just strong physically, but strong emotionally as well. Not all heroes are both of those, so Odysseus stands out from other heroes. After reading The Odyssey, I will always remember Odysseus as a great, epic hero.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Characteristics of the Prophet Mohammad Essay

People admire a public figure for his or her characteristics and notable works. That person becomes a role model, and his or her characteristics become a legacy that the next generation will honor and praise. In particular, Prophet Mohammad is a remarkable person for Muslims and for other people as well because of his compassion, grace, politeness, grace, humility and respect for others. At one time, Mohammad was considered as the most influential and spiritual leader in the whole world. He was considered influential because Mohammad promoted his life from a shepherd towards being a prophet because of his spiritual power bested by Allah. Mohammad became the founder of one of the greatest religions. In addition to this, he became one of the greatest political leaders in the world. In the Islamic world, Mohammad is always being looked up to, and Muslims believe that he was the messenger from Allah himself (Hart). The prophet Mohammad possessed characteristics that have set him apart from other great leaders. Mohammad referred to himself as an apostle that Allah sent to the world to â€Å"demonstrate perfection of character, refinement of manners and loftiness of deportment. † Many people say that Mohammad is the embodiment of someone who possessed a gentle and kind-hearted nature (Ghani). He is also noted for being compassionate to those he met throughout his life. This quality of Mohammad was a great force which affected those who believed in him. In fact, they strived to memorize everything that Mohammad said because they loved and respected him. Even until today, many people are familiar with Mohammad’s words. His followers can still remember and recount Mohammad’s words, relics and memoirs. Another characteristic of Mohammad is his being lovable. Some people compared Mohammad to Moses and Jesus, who were also loved and respected by people. Along with being loveable, Mohammad possessed the kind of greatness which inspired fear and awe. Moreover, during his time, no one or nothing could separate the people from their prophet (Shariati). Mohammad was also described as gracious, polite, courteous, simple and humble. He was also sympathetic and sincere and overlooked the faults of other people. When it comes to justice, Mohammad could be severe and resolute, but his being severe was balanced with his generosity. His charming characteristic has attracted many followers, causing them to become devoted to their prophet (Ghani). With regards to this, there was an event which showed how influential he could be. There was a particular tribe in Arabia who was known for having fierce warriors. These were the Bedouin tribesmen, and they were not united. And since their number was small, they could not be matched for the other more powerful and larger armies from other kingdoms. But Mohammad was able to unite them, and they also came to believe in the presence of one true God. After this, they embarked on one of the most notable conquests in history, conquering empires and armies (Hart). Furthermore, Mohammad was said to be respectful and courteous to others. He believed that when someone honors an old man, he respects Allah. Mohammad was courteous even to those who were not pleasing for Allah. Many could also attest to the fact that Mohammad treated all of his people equally. He spent time visiting the poor and the sick and advised other Muslims to do the same. In addition, he was not biased; he invited anyone, regardless of status or race, to share with him his food (Ghani). History also says that Mohammad engaged himself in doing household work. This shows that Mohammad did not look down on the menial work of other people. In fact, there were times when he would sweep the floor and mend his clothes and feed his animals (Ghani). The prophet Mohammad was Muslim’s messenger from Allah. He possessed characteristics which became a model for other people. Being compassionate, loveable, gracious, polite, humble, respectful and his equal treatment for the people became the characteristics that made people follow his words and footsteps.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Exxon Mobil and Environment

Author Login Encyclopedia of Earth Search Top of Form [pic][pic] Bottom of Form †¢ Earthportal †¢ Earthnews †¢ Encyclopedia of Earth †¢ Forum EoE Pages o Home o About the EoE o Editorial Board o International Advisory Board o FAQs o EoE for Educators o Contribute to the EoE o Support the EoE o Contact the EoE o Find Us Here o RSS o Reviews o Awards and Honors †¢ [pic] Solutions Journal [pic] Browse the EoE o Titles (A-Z) o Author o Topics o Topic Editor o Content Partners o Content Sources o eBooks o Environmental Classics o Collections †¢ [pic] †¢ [pic] †¢ [pic] Exxon Valdez oil spill Table of Contents | |1 Introduction | |2 Events leading up to the spill | |3 The behavior of the oil | |4 Countermeasures and Mitigation | |4. 1 Control of the oil spill at sea | |4. 2 Shoreline treatment | |5 Economic impacts | |6 How much oil remains? |7 Ecosystem response to the spill | |7. 1 Acute Mortality | |7. 2 Long-term impacts | |7. 3 State of recove ry | |8 Legal responsibility of ExxonMobil | |8. 1 Criminal Settlement | |8. 1. 1 Plea Agreement | |8. 1. Criminal Restitution | |8. 2 Civil Settlement | |9 The response of ExxonMobil | |10 Lessons learned from the spill | |11 Further Reading | | | |[pic] | [pic] Contributing Author: Cutler J.Cleveland (other articles) Content Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (other articles) Article Topics: Pollution and Energy This article has been reviewed and approved by the following Topic Editor: Peter Saundry (other articles) Last Updated: August 26, 2008 [pic] Introduction On March 24, 1989, the tanker Exxon Valdez, en route from Valdez, Alaska to Los Angeles, California, ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The vessel was traveling outside normal shipping lanes in an attempt to avoid ice.Within six hours of the grounding, the Exxon Valdez spilled approximately 10. 9 million gallons of its 53 million gallon cargo of Prudhoe Bay crude oil. Eight of the eleven tanks on board were damaged. The oil would eventually impact over 1,100 miles of non-continuous coastline in Alaska, making the Exxon Valdez the largest oil spill to date in U. S. waters. The response to the Exxon Valdez involved more personnel and equipment over a longer period of time than did any other spill in U. S. history.Logistical problems in providing fuel, meals, berthing, response equipment, waste management and other resources were one of the largest challenges to response management. At the height of the response, more than 11,000 personnel, 1,400 vessels and 85 aircraft were involved in the cleanup. [pic] [pic] The Exxon Valdez aground on Bligh Reef. (Source: NOAA) Shoreline cleanup began in April of 1989 and continued until September of 1989 for the first year of the response. The response effort continued in 990 and 1991 with cleanup in the summer months, and limited shoreline monitoring in the winter months. Fate and effects monitoring by state and Fed eral agencies are ongoing. The images that the world saw on television and descriptions they heard on the radio that spring were of heavily oiled shorelines, dead and dying wildlife, and thousands of workers mobilized to clean beaches. These images reflected what many people felt was a severe environmental insult to a relatively pristine, ecologically important area that was home to many species of wildlife endangered elsewhere.In the weeks and months that followed, the oil spread over a wide area in Prince William Sound and beyond, resulting in an unprecedented response and cleanup—in fact, the largest oil spill cleanup ever mobilized. Many local, state, federal, and private agencies and groups took part in the effort. Even today, scientists continue to study the affected shorelines to understand how an ecosystem like Prince William Sound responds to, and recovers from, an incident like the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Events leading up to the spillThe Exxon Valdez departed from the Trans Alaska Pipeline terminal at 9:12 pm, March 23, 1989. William Murphy, an expert ship's pilot hired to maneuver the 986-foot vessel through the Valdez Narrows, was in control of the wheelhouse. At his side was the captain of the vessel, Joe Hazelwood. Helmsman Harry Claar was steering. After passing through Valdez Narrows, pilot Murphy left the vessel and Captain Hazelwood took over the wheelhouse. The Exxon Valdez encountered icebergs in the shipping lanes and Captain Hazelwood ordered Claar to take the Exxon Valdez out of the shipping lanes to go around the ice.He then handed over control of the wheelhouse to Third Mate Gregory Cousins with precise instructions to turn back into the shipping lanes when the tanker reached a certain point. At that time, Claar was replaced by Helmsman Robert Kagan. For reasons that remain unclear, Cousins and Kagan failed to make the turn back into the shipping lanes and the ship ran aground on Bligh Reef at 12:04 a. m. , March 24, 1989. Capt ain Hazelwood was in his quarters at the time.The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident and determined five probable causes of the grounding: (1) The third mate failed to properly maneuver the vessel, possibly due to fatigue and excessive workload; (2) the master failed to provide a proper navigation watch, possibly due to impairment from alcohol; (3) Exxon Shipping Company failed to supervise the master and provide a rested and sufficient crew for the Exxon Valdez; (4) the U. S. Coast Guard failed to provide an effective vessel traffic system; and (5) effective pilot and escort services were lacking.The behavior of the oil [pic] [pic] The oil slick (blue areas) eventually extended 470 miles southwest from Bligh Reef. The spill area eventually totaled 11,000 square miles. (Source: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council) Prudhoe Bay crude oil has an API gravity of 27. 0, and a pour point of 0 degrees Celcius. The bulk of the oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez was released within 6 hours of the ship's grounding. The general trend of the oil was south and west from the point of origin. For the first few days after the spill, most of the oil was in a large concentrated patch near Bligh Island.On March 26, a storm, which generated winds of over 70 mph in Prince William Sound, weathered much of the oil, changing it into mousse and tarballs, and distributed it over a large area. By March 30, the oil extended 90 miles from the spill site. Ultimately, from Bligh Reef, the spill stretched 470 miles southwest to the village of Chignik on the Alaska Peninsula. Approximately 1,300 miles of shoreline were oiled. 200 miles were heavily or moderately oiled (obvious impact); 1,100 miles were lightly or very lightly oiled (light sheen or occasional tarballs). The spill region contains more than 9,000 miles of shoreline.In addition to the storm of March 26, the spill occurred at a time of year when the spring tidal fluctuations were nearly 18 feet. This t ended to deposit the oil onto shorelines above the normal zone of wave action. The diversity in shoreline types in the affected areas led to varied oiling conditions. In some cases, oil was present on sheer rock faces making access and cleanup difficult, or rocky beaches with grain size anywhere from coarse sand to boulders, where the oil could percolate to a sub-surface level. The spill affected both sheltered and exposed (to high wave/weather action) shorelines.Once oil landed on a shoreline it could be floated off at the next high tide, carried to and deposited in a different location, making the tracking of oil migration and shoreline impact very difficult. This migration ended by mid-summer 1989, and the remaining cleanup dealt with oiled shorelines, rather than oil in the water. Cleanup operations continued during the summer months of 1990 and 1991. By 1990, surface oil, where it existed, had become significantly weathered. Sub-surface oil, on the other hand, was in many cases much less weathered and still in a liquid state. The liquid sub-surface oil could give off a sheen when disturbed.Cleanup in 1991 concentrated on the remaining reduced quantities of surface and sub-surface oil. Countermeasures and Mitigation Control of the oil spill at sea The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company was immediately notified of the incident and sent a tug to the site to assist in stabilizing the vessel. At the time of the incident, the Alyeska spill response barge was out of service being re-outfitted. It arrived on scene by 1500 on 24 March. Alyeska was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the incident; by March 25, Exxon had assumed full responsibility for the spill and cleanup effort. [pic] [pic] The Exxon Valdez surrounded by a containment boom. Source: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council) Deployment of boom around the vessel was complete within 35 hours of the grounding. Exxon conducted successful dispersant test applications on March 25 and 26 and was granted permissio n on March 26 to apply dispersants to the oil slick. Due to the large storm that began the evening of March 26, much of the oil turned into mousse. As dispersants aren't generally able to dissipate oil in the form of mousse, it was no longer practical to use dispersants on floating oil during this response. On the evening of March 25, a test in-situ burn of oil on water was conducted.Approximately 15,000 to 30,000 gallons of oil were collected using 3M Fire Boom towed behind two fishing vessels in a U-shaped configuration, and ignited. The oil burned for a total of 75 minutes and was reduced to approximately 300 gallons of residue that could be collected easily. It was estimated that the efficiency of this test burn was 98 percent or better. Again, continued in-situ burning was not possible because of the change in the oil's state after the storm of March 26. Five dispersant trials took place between March 25 and March 28, but by March 29 the Regional Response Team (RRT) decided tha t dispersants were no longer feasible.Because there was not enough equipment to protect all the shorelines that could be impacted, Federal, state and local agencies collaborated to establish shoreline protection priorities. The agencies decided that fish hatcheries and salmon streams had the highest priority; accordingly, containment booms were deployed to protect these areas. Five fish hatcheries in Prince William Sound and two in the Gulf of Alaska were boomed, with the largest amount of boom deployed at the Sawmill Bay hatchery in Prince William Sound.At the height of containment efforts, it is estimated that a total of 100 miles of boom was deployed. Almost all the types of boom available on the market were used and tested during the spill response. Due to the size of the spill, it was necessary to employ inexperienced workers to deploy and tend booms, and this led to some boom being incorrectly used or handled, and sometimes damaged. Some boom sank because of improper deploymen t, infrequent tending, or leakage and/or inadequacy in the buoyancy system. Other problems included fabric tears in boom due to debris, and tearing at anchorage points from wave action.In some cases, ballast chains were ripped off during boom recovery if the boom was lifted by the chain. One estimate suggests that 50 percent of the damage to larger boom came during boom recovery. For self-inflating booms, it was important to keep the inflation valves above the water during deployment so that the boom did not become filled with water and have to be replaced. Aerial surveillance was used to direct the deployment of booms and skimmers for open water oil recovery. Visual overflight observations as well as ultraviolet/infrared (UV/IR) surveys were used by the USCG and Exxon to track the floating oil.Satellite imagery was also tested as a method to track oil but was not very useful because of the infrequency of satellite passes over Prince William Sound (every 7 to 8 days), cloud cover, a nd lengthy turn around time for results. The primary means of open water oil recovery was with skimmers. In general, most skimmers became less effective once the oil had spread, emulsified and mixed with debris. To save time, it was most practical to keep skimmer offloading equipment and oil storage barges near the skimmers. The most used skimmers during the response were the Marco sorbent lifting-belt skimmers that were supplied by the U.S. Navy. Once oil became viscous, the sorbent part of the skimmer was removed and the conveyor belt alone was sufficient to pull the oil up the ramp. The pump that came with the skimmer had difficulty offloading viscous oil, so that other vacuum equipment was used to unload the collected oil. The Marco skimmers were generally not used close to shore because they draw between three and four feet. In general, the paddle belt and rope mop skimmers were the most useful for recovery of oil from the shoreline. The skimmers were placed on self-propelled b arges with a shallow draft.Sorbents were used to recover oil in cases where mechanical means were less practical. The drawback to sorbents was that they were labor intensive and generated additional solid waste. Sorbent boom was used to collect sheen between primary and secondary layers of offshore boom, and to collect sheen released from the beach during tidal flooding. Pompoms were useful for picking up small amounts of weathered oil. Towing of sorbent boom in a zigzag or circular fashion behind a boat was used to collect oil and was more efficient than towing the boom in a straight line.Sorbent booms made of rolled pads were more effective than booms made of individual particles because these absorbed less water and were stronger, and did not break into many small particles if they came apart. Early on in the response, storage space for recovered oil was in short supply. To combat the storage space problem, water was decanted from skimmers or tanks into a boomed area before offlo ading. As a result, the remaining viscous oil mixture was difficult to offload, the process sometimes taking up to 6 to 8 hours. High-capacity skimmer offloading pumps, in particular grain pumps, were the most useful in transferring viscous oil.The oil remaining on the Exxon Valdez, was completely offloaded by the end of the first week in April 1989. After offloading operations were completed, the tanker was towed to a location 25 miles from Naked Island in Prince William Sound for temporary repairs. Later in the summer of 1989, the vessel was brought to California for further repairs. Shoreline treatment Shoreline assessment was a prerequisite for the implementation of any beach cleanup. Assessment provided geomorphological, biological, archaeological and oiling information that was used for the development of site specific treatment strategies.Cleanup operations were scheduled around specific activities such as seal haulout activity, seal pupping, eagle nesting, fish spawning, fis hing seasons, and other significant events as much as possible. [pic] [pic] Shoreline treatment from the Exxon Valdez spill. (Source: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council) In 1989, hoses spraying seawater were used to flush oil from shorelines. The released oil was then trapped with offshore boom, and removed using skimmers, vacuum trucks (useful for thick layers of oil) and boom (sorbent, snare, pompoms).For hard to reach areas, or locations with weathered oil, heated seawater was used to flush oil from the shoreline. Converted vessels and barges were used for beach washing operations. It would take several days to outfit a conventional barge with the equipment needed to heat and pump the water. Smaller vessels that were used for beach washing early in the spill were re-outfitted for bioremediation later in the response. Along with the large-scale beach washing, manual cleanup, raking and tilling the beaches, oily debris pickup, enhanced bioremediation and spot washing were used to cleanup the oil.In some locations, oil was thick enough to be picked up with shovels and buckets. In addition, mechanical methods were used on a few sites, including the use of bulldozers to relocate or remove the contaminated beach surfaces. Mechanical rock washing machines, which were manufactured for the spill, were not used to clean contaminated rocks and return them to the beach. Oiled storm berm was mechanically relocated in some cases so that these areas, which normally would not receive much wave action, would be more exposed and cleaned by natural processes.If the oiling in the berm was significant or persistent it was tilled to free the oil or washed to optimize the cleaning. Recommendations were made to restrict the movement of berm to the upper third of the beach to ensure its return to the original location. [pic] [pic] Beach washing. (Source: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council) Beach applications of dispersants were tried in several locations. Corexit 7664 was a pplied on Ingot Island, followed by a warm water wash. No significant change in oil cover or the physical state of the oil was observed as a result of the treatment. Some ecological impacts were observed in the treated areas.It appeared that the effects were largely due to the intensive washing more than to the use of Corexit 7664, and were evident in intertidal epibenthic macrobiota. In addition, the dispersant BP1100X was applied to a test area on Knight Island. Toxicology studies indicated that the upper and lower intertidal biota were different from pre-application communities the day after dispersant application, and returned to pre-treatment levels after seven days. In May of 1989, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Exxon conducted bioremediation trials at two test sites on Knight Island in Prince William Sound.On the basis of these tests and other trials later in the summer, Exxon recommended the use of the bioremediation enhancement agents, Inipol (Inipol EA P22—manufactured by Elf Aquitaine of France) and Customblen (Customblen 28-8-0 —manufactured by Sierra Chemicals of California), and subsequently treated over 70 miles of shoreline in Prince William Sound with these agents. Winter monitoring of the effects of bioremediation consisted of surveys of more than 20 beaches in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.These studies determined that oil degradation had been enhanced on the shorelines monitored, but some debate existed over whether bioremediation was solely, or even largely, responsible. Cleanup operations in 1989 ceased by the end of September. All parties involved in the response agreed that continuation of cleanup into the Alaskan winter would jeopardize the safety of cleanup crews. In addition, it was speculated that the winter storms in Alaska could significantly remove oil from shorelines, including sub-surface oil.By the end of the 1989 cleanup, more than 25,000 tons of oiled waste and several hundred thousand barrels of oil/liquid waste were collected and disposed of in landfills. Cleanup in 1990 began in April and ended in September. Surveys in the spring of 1990 showed that oiling conditions had been reduced or changed over the winter. Surface oil in 1990 was significantly weathered but sub-surface oil was relatively fresh in some locations. Cleanup techniques in 1990 focused more on manual methods of treatment such as hand wiping and spot washing as well as bioremediation.Mechanical equipment was used on a few sites. Bioremediation was more extensive in 1990, with 378 of the 587 shoreline segments treated that year receiving bioremediation application. In general, Inipol was applied in cases where surface oiling existed and Customblen slow release pellets were preferred for treating beaches with sub-surface oiling. Generally, beaches were given one to three treatments over several months. Concern over the possible toxicity of Inipol led to recommendations for application of o nly Customblen on some sites.By the spring of 1991, the scope of the cleanup effort was greatly reduced. Manual cleanup, bioremediation, and very limited use of mechanical equipment were employed. Cleanup took place from May of 1991 through July of 1991. An important observation that resulted from the Exxon Valdez oil spill was that natural cleaning processes, on both sheltered and exposed beaches, were in many cases very effective at degrading oil. It took longer for some sections of shoreline to recover from some of the invasive cleaning methods (hot water flushing in particular) than from the oiling itself.Economic impacts The State of Alaska funded a several studies of the short term economic impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. [pic] [pic] Recreational fishing in Alaska. (Source: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council) 1. Recreational Sport Fishing Losses. This loss was estimated based on the impacts of the spill on sport fishing activity. One must consider the impact on the n umber of anglers, the number of sport fishing trips, the areas fished, the species fished for, and the length of these trips.For 1989 the loss was estimated to be between $0 and $580 million dollars; for 1990 the range was $3. 6 million $50. 5 million dollars. 2. Tourism Losses. The spill caused both negative and positive effects. The major negative effects were: 1. Decreased resident and non-resident vacation/pleasure visitor traffic in the spill-affected areas due to lack of available visitor services (accommodations, charter boats, air taxis). 2. Severe labor shortage in the visitor industry throughout the state due to traditional service industry workers seeking high-paying spill clean-up jobs. 3.Fifty-nine percent of businesses in the most affected areas reported spill-related cancellations and 16% reported business was less than expected due to the spill. The principle positive impact was strong spill-related business in some areas and in certain businesses such as hotels, tax is, car/RV rentals and boat charters. 1. Existence value. Economists tried to estimate the damage to so-called non-use or existence value of the Prince William Sound region in the wake of the spill. This is an attempt top measure what cannot be observed in the market: the value to the public of a pristine Prince William Sound.They estimated existence value using contingent valuation, a survey approach designed to create the missing market for public goods by determining what people would be willing to pay (WTP) for specified changes in the quantity or quality of such goods or, more rarely, what they would be willing to accept (WTA) in compensation for well-specified degradations in the provision of these goods. The results suggest an aggrragete loss of $4. 9 to $7. 2 billion dollars. In effect, these amounts reflect the public's willingness to pay to prevent another Exxon Valdez type oil spill given the scenario posed. . Replacement costs of birds and mammals. These costs include th e relocation, replacement and rehabilitation for some of the shorebirds, seabirds and the marine and terrestrial mammals that may have suffered injury or were destroyed in the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The values range from $20,000 to $300,000 dollars per marine mammal (sea otters, whales, seal lions, seals), $125 to $500 dollars per terrestrial animal (bears, river otters, mink, deer), and $170 to $6,000 dollars for seabirds and eagles. How much oil remains?Based on the areas that were studied in the aftermath of the spill, scientists made estimates of the ultimate fate of the oil. A 2001 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study surveyed 96 sites along 8,000 miles of coastline. [pic] [pic] A pit dug on a Prince William Sound beach in 2001 revealing oil in the sediments. (Source: NOAA) The survey distinguished between surface and buried oil. Buried or subsurface oil is of greater concern than surface oil. Subsurface oil can remain dormant for many years before bein g dispersed and is more liquid, still toxic, and may become biologically available.A disturbance event such as burrowing animals or a severe storm reworks the beach and can reintroduce unweathered oil into the water. Results of the summer shoreline survey showed that the oil remaining on the surface of beaches in Prince William Sound is weathered and mostly hardened into an asphalt-like layer. The toxic components of this type of surface oil are not as readily available to biota, although some softer forms do cause sheens in tide pools. The survey indicates a total area of approximately 20 acres of shoreline in Prince William Sound are still contaminated with oil.Oil was found at 58 percent of the 91 sites assessed and is estimated to have the linear equivalent of 5. 8 km of contaminated shoreline. In addition to the estimated area of remaining oiled beach, several other important points were evident: 1. Surface oil was determined to be not a good indicator of subsurface oil. 2. Twe nty subsurface pits were classified as heavily oiled. Oil saturated all of the interstitial spaces and was extremely repugnant. These â€Å"worst case† pits exhibited an oil mixture that resembled oil encountered in 1989 a few weeks after the spill—highly odiferous, lightly weathered, and very fluid. 3.Subsurface oil was also found at a lower tide height than expected (between 0 and 6 feet), in contrast to the surface oil, which was found mostly at the highest levels of the beach. This is significant, because the pits with the most oil were found low in the intertidal zone, closest to the zone of biological production, and indicate that the survey estimates are conservative at best. Ecosystem response to the spill Recovery is a very difficult term to define and measure for a complex ecosystem such as Prince William Sound. If you ask a fisherman from Kodiak Island, a villager from the town of Valdez, an Exxon engineer, or a NOAA iologist, you are likely to receive such different answers that you may wonder if they heard the same question. In particular, disagreements exist between Exxon and government-funded scientists, and unknowns persist, especially in understanding how multiple processes combine to drive observed dynamics. Despite this, there are some things known with a high degree of certainty: oil persisted beyond a decade in surprising amounts and in toxic forms, was sufficiently bioavailable to induce chronic biological exposures, and had long-term impacts at the population level.Three major pathways of long-term impacts emerge: (1) chronic persistence of oil, biological exposures, and population impacts to species closely associated with shallow sediments; (2) delayed population impacts of sublethal doses compromising health, growth, and reproduction; and (3) indirect effects of trophic and interaction cascades, all of which transmit impacts well beyond the acute-phase mortality. Acute Mortality [pic] [pic] Sea birds killed by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. (Source: NOAA) Marine mammals and seabirds are at great risk from floating oil because they have routine contact with the sea surface.Oiling of fur or feathers causes loss of insulating capacity and can lead to death from hypothermia, smothering, drowning, and ingestion of toxic hydrocabons. Scientists estimate mass mortalities of 1000 to 2800 sea otters, 302 harbor seals, and unprecedented numbers of seabird deaths estimated at 250,000 in the days immediately after the oil spill. Mass mortality also occurred among macroalgae and benthic invertebrates on oiled shores from a combination of chemical toxicity, smothering, and physical displacement from the habitat by pressurized wash-water applied after the spill.Long-term impacts The persistent nature of oil in sediments produce chronic, long-term exposure risks from some species. For example, chronic exposures for years after the spill to oil persisting in sedimentary refuges were evident from biomarkers in fish, se a otters, and seaducks intimately associated with sediments for egg laying or foraging. These chronic exposures enhanced mortality for years. Indirect effects can be as important as direct exposure.Cascading indirect effects are delayed in operation because they are mediated through changes in an intermediary. Perhaps the two generally most influential types of indirect interactions are: (1) trophic cascades in which predators reduce abundance of their prey, which in turn releases the prey’s food species from control; and (2) provision of biogenic habitat by organisms that serve as or create important physical structure in the environment. [pic] [pic] A healthy stand of rockweed (Fucus gardneri) growing on a boulder in Prince William Sound. Source: NOAA) Scientists have found that indirect interactions lengthened the recovery process on rocky shorelines for a decade or more. Dramatic initial loss of cover by the most important biogenic habitat provider, the rockweed Fucus gar dneri, triggered a cascade of indirect impacts. Freeing of space on the rocks and the losses of important grazing (limpets and periwinkles) and predatory (whelks) gastropods combined to promote initial blooms of ephemeral green algae in 1989 and 1990 and an opportunistic barnacle, Chthamalus dalli, in 1991.Absence of structural algal canopy led to declines in associated invertebrates and inhibited recovery of Fucus itself, whose recruits avoid desiccation under the protective cover of the adult plants. Those Fucus plants that subsequently settled on tests of Chthamalus dalli became dislodged during storms because of the structural instability of the attachment of this opportunistic barnacle. After apparent recovery of Fucus, previously oiled shores exhibited another mass rockweed mortality in 1994, a cyclic instability probably caused by simultaneous senility of a single-aged stand.The importance of indirect interactions in rocky shore communities is well established, and the genera l sequence of succession on rocky intertidal shores extending over a decade after the Exxon Valdez oil spill closely resembles the dynamics after the Torrey Canyon oil spill in the UK. State of recovery The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council published a study in 2004 to assess the state of the resources injured by the spill. Fifteen years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, it is clear that some fish and wildlife species injured by the spill have not fully recovered.It is less clear, however, what role oil plays in the inability of some populations to bounce back. An ecosystem is dynamic — ever changing — and continues its natural cycles and fluctuations at the same time that it struggles with the impacts of spilled oil. As time passes, separating natural change from oil-spill impacts becomes more and more difficult. The Trustee Council recognizes 30 resources or species as injured by the spill. Depending on their status as of 2002, these have been placed in one of f ive categories: Not RecoveringThese resources are showing little or no clear improvement since spill injuries occurred: Common loon Cormorants (3 species), Harbor seal, Harlequin duck, Pacific herring, Pigeon guillemot Recovery unknown Limited data on life history or extent of injury is available. Current research is either inconclusive or not complete: Cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, Kittlitz’s murrelet, Rockfish Subtidal communities [pic] [pic] Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). (Source: NOAA) Recovered Recovery objectives have been met: Archaeological resources, Bald eagle, Black oystercatcher, Common murre, Pink salmon, River otter, Sockeye salmon RecoveringClams, Wilderness Areas, Intertidal communities, Killer whale (AB pod), Marbled murrelet, Mussels, Sea otter, Sediments Human uses Human services that depend on natural resources were also injured by the spill. These services are each categorized as â€Å"recovering† until the resources they depend on are fully recovered: Commercial fishing, Passive use, Recreation and tourism, Subsistence Prior to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, there was no baseline date available for the abundant number of species existing in Prince William Sound.Because of this lack of data, numbers of oil spill-related casualties and recovery rates have been difficult to determine. Legal responsibility of ExxonMobil The settlement among the State of Alaska, the U. S. government and Exxon was approved by the U. S. District Court on Oct. 9, 1991. It resolved various criminal charges against Exxon as well as civil claims brought by the federal and state governments for recovery of natural resource damages resulting from the oil spill.The settlement was comprised of criminal and civil settlements with Exxon, as well as a civil settlement with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. Criminal Settlement Plea Agreement Exxon was fined $150 million, the largest fine ever imposed for an environmental crime. The court forgave $125 milli on of that fine in recognition of Exxon's cooperation in cleaning up the spill and paying certain private claims. Of the remaining $25 million, $12 million went to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund and $13 million went to the national Victims of Crime Fund.Criminal Restitution As restitution for the injuries caused to the fish, wildlife, and lands of the spill region, Exxon agreed to pay $100 million. This money was divided evenly between the federal and state governments. Civil Settlement Exxon agreed to pay $900 million in ten annual installments. The final payment was received in Sept. 2001. The settlement contains a â€Å"reopener window† between Sept. 1, 2002 and Sept. 1, 2006, during which the state and federal governments may make a claim for up to an additional $100 million.The funds must be used to restore resources that suffered a substantial loss or decline as a result of the oil spill, the injuries to which could not have been known or anticipated by t he six trustees from any information in their possession or reasonably available to any of them at the time of the settlement (Sept. 25, 1991). The response of ExxonMobil [pic] [pic] Exxon logo. ExxonMobil acknowledged that the Exxon Valdez oil spill was a tragic accident that the company deeply regrets. Exxon notes that company took immediate responsibility for the spill, cleaned it up, and voluntarily compensated those who claimed direct damages.ExxonMobil paid $300 million immediately and voluntarily to more than 11,000 Alaskans and businesses affected by the Valdez spill. In addition, the company paid $2. 2 billion on the cleanup of Prince William Sound, staying with the cleanup from 1989 to 1992, when the State of Alaska and the U. S. Coast Guard declared the cleanup complete. And, as noted above, ExxonMobil also has paid $1 billion in settlements with the state and federal governments. That money is being used for environmental studies and conservation programs for Prince Will iam Sound.ExxonMobil hired its own scientists to study the impacts of the spill, and they come to different conclusions than many of the results published by government agencies and peer-reviewed academic journals. Exxon's scientists acknowledge the lingering pockets of oil in the sediments, but they argue that they do not pose a serious risk. It is their position that that there are now no species in Prince William Sound in trouble due to the impact of the 1989 oil spill, and that the data strongly support the position of a fully recovered Prince William Sound ecosystem.Lessons learned from the spill The scientists who monitored the oiled parts of Prince William Sound wanted to study the shoreline’s ecological recovery after an environmental disaster like the Exxon Valdez spill, and then use those lessons to better respond to future oil spills. Right now, their task is still incomplete. However, some of their findings have changed the way they think about cleaning up oil spi lls, and about how ecosystems respond to such disturbances. Following are some examples of what they have learned: 1.Clean-up attempts can be more damaging than the oil itself, with impacts recurring as long as clean-up (including both chemical and physical methods) continues. Because of the pervasiveness of strong biological interactions in rocky intertidal and kelp forest communities, cascades of delayed, indirect impacts (especially of trophic cascades and biogenic habitat loss) expand the scope of injury well beyond the initial direct losses and thereby also delay recoveries. 2.Oil that penetrates deeply into beaches can remain relatively fresh for years and can later come back to the surface and affect nearby animals. In addition, oil degrades at varying rates depending on environment, with subsurface sediments physically protected from disturbance, oxygenation, and photolysis retaining contamination by only partially weathered oil for years. 3. Rocky rubble shores should be of high priority for protection and cleanup because oil tends to penetrate deep and weather very slowly in these habitats, prolonging the harmful effects of the oil when it leaches out. . Oil effects to sea birds and mammals also are substantial (independent of means of insulation) over the long-term through interactions between natural environmental stressors and compromised health of exposed animals, through chronic toxic exposure from ingesting contaminated prey or during foraging around persistent sedimentary pools of oil, and through disruption of vital social functions (caregiving or reproduction) in socially organized species. 5.Long-term exposure of fish embryos to weathered oil at parts per billion (ppb) concentrations has population consequences through indirect effects on growth, deformities, and behavior with long-term consequences on mortality and reproduction. The Exxon Valdez also triggered major improvements in oil spill prevention and response planning. 1. The U. S. C oast Guard now monitors fully-laden tankers via satellite as they pass through Valdez Narrows, cruise by Bligh Island, and exit Prince William Sound at Hinchinbrook Entrance. In 1989, the Coast Guard watched the tankers only through Valdez Narrows and Valdez Arm. . Two escort vessels accompany each tanker while passing through the entire Sound. They not only watch over the tankers, but are capable of assisting them in the event of an emergency, such as a loss of power or loss of rudder control. Fifteen years ago, there was only one escort vessel through Valdez Narrows. 3. Specially trained marine pilots, with considerable experience in Prince William Sound, board tankers from their new pilot station at Bligh Reef and are aboard the ship for 25 miles out of the 70-mile transit through the Sound.Weather criteria for safe navigation are firmly established. 4. Congress enacted legislation requiring that all tankers in Prince William Sound be double-hulled by the year 2015. It is estimat ed that if the Exxon Valdez had had a double-hull structure, the amount of the spill would have been reduced by more than half. There are presently three double-hulled and twelve double-bottomed tankers moving oil through Prince William Sound. Two more Endeavor class tankers are under construction by ConocoPhillips, their expected induction into service is 2004 and 2005. . Contingency planning for oil spills in Prince William Sound must now include a scenario for a spill of 12. 6 million gallons. Drills are held in the Sound each year. 6. The combined ability of skimming systems to remove oil from the water is now 10 times greater than it was in 1989, with equipment in place capable of recovering over 300,000 barrels of oil in 72 hours. 7. Even if oil could have been skimmed up in 1989, there was no place to put the oil-water mix. Today, seven barges are available with a capacity to hold 818,000 barrels of recovered oil. . There are now 40 miles of containment boom in Prince William Sound, seven times the amount available at the time of the Exxon Valdez spill. 9. Dispersants are now stockpiled for use and systems are in place to apply them from helicopters, airplanes, and boats. Further Reading †¢ Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: How Much Oil Remains? †¢ Alaska Oil Spill Commission. 1990. Spill, the wreck of the Exxon Valdez: implications for safe transportation of oil (Final report). Juneau, AK. †¢ National Transportation Safety Board. 1990.Marine Accident Report: Grounding of the U. S. Tankship Exxon Valdez: on Bligh Reef, Prince William Sound, near Valdez, Alaska, March 24, 1989. Washington, D. C. : NTSB. NTSB/MAR-90/04. 255 p. †¢ Peterson, Charles H. , Stanley D. Rice, Jeffrey W. Short, Daniel Esler, James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, David B. Irons. 2003. Long-Term Ecosystem Response to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Science 302: 2082-2086. |Disclaimer: This article is taken wholly from, or contains in formation that was originally published by, the | |National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Topic editors and authors for the Encyclopedia of Earth may have | |edited its content or added new information. The use of information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric | |Administration should not be construed as support for or endorsement by that organization for any new information | |added by EoE personnel, or for any editing of the original content. | Citation Cleveland, Cutler (Contributing Author); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Content source); Peter Saundry (Topic Editor). 2008. Exxon Valdez oil spill. † In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D. C. : Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 17, 2006; Last revised August 26, 2008; Retrieved March 28, 2010]. Editing this Article We invite all scientists, environmental prof essionals and science attentive individuals to help improve this article and the EoE by clicking here EDIT CITE EMAIL PRINT NCSE Boston University M1 Digital UniverseUnless otherwise noted, all text is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Neutrality Policy Supported by the Environmental Information Coalition and the National Council for Science and the Environment. Unless otherwise noted, all text is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license. Please see the Encyclopedia of Earth's website for Terms of Use information. Supported by the Environmental Information Coalition and the National Council for Science and the Environment. [pic][pic]

Saluer - to greet, salute - French Verb Conjugation

Saluer - to greet, salute - French Verb Conjugation The  French verb  saluer means to greet or salute  but can also mean  to take ones leave. Find simple conjugations for this regular -er verb in the tables below. Conjugations of Saluer Present Future Imperfect Present participle je salue saluerai saluais saluant tu salues salueras saluais il salue saluera saluait nous saluons saluerons saluions vous saluez saluerez saluiez ils saluent salueront saluaient Pass compos Auxiliary verb avoir Past participle salu Subjunctive Conditional Pass simple Imperfect subjunctive je salue saluerais saluai saluasse tu salues saluerais saluas saluasses il salue saluerait salua salut nous saluions saluerions salumes saluassions vous saluiez salueriez salutes saluassiez ils saluent salueraient salurent saluassent Imperative tu salue nous saluons vous saluez Verb conjugation patternSaluer  is a  regular -ER verb

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Muslim Women Essay Example

Muslim Women Essay Example Muslim Women Essay Muslim Women Essay The Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) is a human right treaty for women. The basic structure of the organization is based upon three principles: equality, non-discrimination and state obligation. This organization has set some rules to eliminate discrimination against women. This organization set some specific rules which the state has to agree with and implement it on their state. POLITICAL REPRESENTATION Fatwas have been issued in some of the Islamic countries barring Muslim Women from participating in elections on the grounds that it will bring them into contact with men. Such Fatwas hardly had any impact on women and the Muslim voters; who promptly ignored them. A fatwa banning Muslim women’s participation in elections (as contestants) has also been issued with the rider that if they still participate in elections, they may do so wearing the veil. MARRIAGE RIGHTS The Muslim civil code has provided the Muslim man with a right to polygamy, though the prophet mentioned the subject only once. Moreover, a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim whereas a man can. Contrary to the general notion of equality, a husband is also granted a partial unilateral right of divorce. He can dissolve his marriage by uttering the word talaq thrice even without stating the reasons and in the absence of his wife who merely needs to be informed. On the other hand, a woman can divorce her husband only if: * An agreement is made before or after the marriage by which she is at liberty to divorce herself from her husband under certain specified conditions which are not opposed to the policies of Islamic Law. Unawareness about his whereabouts for 4 years. * failure to get maintenance for 2 years, * impotency, insanity of the husband, or if he is suffering from some venereal disease, * cruelty and option of puberty i. e. if she was married before the age of 15. RIGHTS OF A MUSLIM WIDOW ON HER HUSBAND’S PROPERTY * The widow has to give full account of all the income and profits of the estate. * She cannot sell or gift her property to anyone. * She can file a suit for the recovery of the mahr –debt. She can satisfy her mahr debt out of the rents and profits of the property. RAPE LAW According to the sunnah, a woman should not be punished for having been coerced into having sex. This attitude towards rape is discussed in the following hadith: During the time of Muhammad punishment was inflicted on the rapist on the solitary evidence of the woman who was raped by him. Wail ibn Hujr reports of an incident when a woman was raped. Later, when some people came by, she identified and accused the man of raping her. They seized him and brought him to Allahs messenger, who said to the woman, Go away, for Allah has forgiven you, but of the man who had raped her, he said, Stone him to death. (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud). According to a  Sunni  hadith, the punishment for committing rape is death, there is no blame attached to the victim. According to  Al-Mawardi, an 11th century specialist in Islamic jurisprudence (sharia), if either the victim or a witness kills the perpetrator of rape during the crime, in order to prevent furthering the violence of the act, the killing is permissible and is exempt from the laws of murder and killing. However right now it is far from uncommon for a woman who raises claims of rape to be not only denied justice, but to be charged as a criminal herself for committing fornication or adultery. DRESS CODE Hijab  is the Quranic requirement that Muslims, both male and female, dress and behave modestly. The most important Quranic verse relating to  hijab  is  sura  , which says, And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not to display their adornment except that which ordinarily appears thereof and to draw their headcovers over their chests and not to display their adornment except to their [maharim] There are regional and sectarian variations of the veil associated with  hijab. Depending upon local views regarding female modesty, they may or may not cover the face or the eyes, or the entire body. These variations include: * Hijab  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A scarf covering the hair. * Chador  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A cloak covering the head and body, but leaving the face uncovered; worn by many women in Iran when outside the home. * Shayla  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A long rectangular scarf, pinned or tucked at the shoulder, leaving the face uncovered; worn by many women in the Persian Gulf region. Khimar  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A long rectangular scarf, covering the head, neck and shoulders, but leaving the face uncovered. * Burka  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Covers the entire head and body, including the eyes; the wearer sees through a cloth mesh eye veil sewn into the burka. * Al-Amira  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A two-piece veil that includes a close-fitting cap and a tube-shaped scarf covering the head and neck, but leaving the face uncovered. * Niqab  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A veil that leaves the eye clear (although it may be worn with an eye veil), and worn with a headscarf. The  hijab, and the veil in particular, have often been viewed by many as a sign of oppression of Muslim women. The wearing of the  hijab  has become controversial in countries where Muslims are a minority, and where majority secular opinions regard the  hijab  as violating womens freedom, especially in Europe amid increasing immigration of Muslims In some countries where Muslims are a minority, there is much less public opposition to the practise, although concerns about it are discussed. Canadian media, for example, have covered controversies where concerns have been raised over the veil being a possible security risk, as in cases where Muslim women have refused to remove their  niqab  or  burkaveil for voter identification at polls. Case study: India SCHEMES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN INDIA * Multi-Sectoral Development Project (MSDP) to rehabilitate Muslim women who are destitute or have been abandoned by their husbands. WEST BENGAL * Leadership development of minority women scheme. KSWWF(karnatka state wakf foundation for women development)-In the scheme Medical relief is provided to Muslim Minorities woman and girls for medical treatment. * Health Relief to Muslim Minorities Women and Girls- karnatka * Training of Muslim Women in Stitching, Embroidery and Knitting * Providing Computer Training to Minorities Muslim Women * Stipend to Muslim Minorities Girls learning Urdu DTP Course * Starting Pre-Primary School for Muslim Children by NGOs EMPLOYMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN INDIA The constitution of India confers equal citizenship rights on all Indians and provides safeguards for minorities. Constitutional safeguards are meant to ensure the full and active participation of all communities including Muslims in the country’s public life. Article 14 of the Constitution grants equality to all citizens without discrimination on grounds of caste, language or religion.. Muslim women have the lowest work participation rate (WPR) among all three categories of work, with a large gap between the WPRs for Muslim women, Hindu or Christian women. Sixty percent of Muslim women are self-employed – the highest percentage among all three religious categories i. e. Hindus, Christians and Muslims. The living conditions are linked with to the employment patterns and working conditions and the worker population rates for Muslim women are lower than for women in other socio-religious category (SRC). Most of the Muslim women are self employed; they prefer to work at home. As compared to other SRCs, Muslims are concentrated more in self-employed activities and their participation in regular jobs, especially in non-agriculture is much less than for others. A significantly higher share of Muslim workers in self-employment can be seen in urban areas as compared to rural are areas and for women who prefer home-based activities. The share of Muslims in regular work, especially in the government, public sector and large private sector is very low. LIVING CONDITIONS OF INDIAN MUSLIM WOMEN Muslim women are suffering from both internal and external oppression. Muslim men practice what they themselves believe is Islamic and oppress their women and refuse to entertain any thought of change. Many educated Muslim women thus start believing there can be no liberation within Islam and seek their freedom through secular laws. Ultimately, the source of their oppression is sought to be located in Islam itself, which is projected as an allegedly patriarchal religion, supposedly hostile to women’s rights and gender-justice. Wearing of Hijab and Burqa is still in practice in India. So, to conclude, Muslim legal traditions in India, for women have developed to an extent, but the society still remains orthodox and conservative. Muslims are still in minority. Various welfare schemes for the development of Muslim Women have been introduced and the country. . Case study: gulf countries In Gulf countries, following is the prevalent tradition: Education Progress on bridging the gender gap in social indicators has been impressive in Gulf Countries, mainly because of heavy public sector investments in education and health sectors, from which women have benefited significantly. Gulf countries has made substantial gains in the education of women. Statistics show that girls are equal to boys in tertiary, secondary and primary level of education in Gulf countries and 60% of all university students in the six states of the Gulf are women. Employment Women in the Gulf countries had been influenced by societys traditions. Their economic participation and their status position are become low and weak in comparisons with their life at the begging of Islam. Nevertheless, Gulf women have played a role in for as long as these societies have existed, through their effective role in the family and in their tribes, and supplementing the family income with a little local trading or through weaving and handicrafts and agricultural work and in some cases fighting beside their men. Nowadays, women in the Gulf are at the forefront of the economic life of their societies, in the labor force, in politics, in civil organizations, and, in that most crucial area of life, in economics. Gulf countries remain a patriarchal society. Saudi Arabia forbids Muslim women even to drive. , Women earlier weren’t allowed to go to mosques because of fears of unchastity caused by interaction between sexes; this condition persisted until the late 1960s. Since then, women have become increasingly involved in the mosque, though men and women generally worship separately. Dress code and covering the full body, specially for the young women is still very strictly to be followed in some of the Gulf countries. The primary aim of women is not to earn money, but to look after her family, therefore, employment is still less in the gulf countries, even after gradual increase over decades. 1 . http://webspace. webring. com/people/gh/husociology1/1/muslimwomen2008. pdf [ 2 ]. pucl. org/from-archives/Gender/muslim-women. htm [ 3 ]. indianexpress. om/news/west-bengal-plans-scheme-to-aid-muslim-women/979145 [ 4 ]. http://articles. timesofindia. indiatimes. com/2013-01-06/lucknow/36173792_1_minority-women-muslim-women-sachar-committee [ 5 ]. http://kswwf. com/schemes-for-muslim-women. html [ 6 ]. unhcr. org/refworld/pdfid/469cbfcc0. pdf [ 7 ]. iimahd. ernet. in/assets/snippets/workingpaperpdf/12051717332012-09-03. pdf , pg-20 [ 8 ]. csss-isla. com [ 9 ]. ummid. com/news/2010/January/03. 01. 2010/socio_cultural_impediments_to_muslim_women. htm

Saturday, October 19, 2019

EXAM PREPARATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EXAM PREPARATION - Essay Example It is in this context that strategic CSR rewards in financial benefits for the company and in turn creates an additional benefit on the structural development of the society. Evidently enough, based on the effectiveness of CSR, it is also termed as â€Å"Spiritual Capitalism† (McElhaney, 2009). Correspondingly, it can be stated that strategic CSR is linked with the concept of societal marketing, which determines the requirements and interests of the targeted audiences as well as provides satisfaction by enhancing the well being of the society at large. Another important aspect of CSR, in alignment with societal marketing is that it supports the issues related to education and culture to safeguard the organization along with the society. For instance, IBM institute for Business Value conducts its CSR through the implementation of societal marketing by providing consumers assistance by elite services and aims to develop the society by providing proper product and basic education (McElhaney, 2009). These additional attributes will assist the company to meet the present customer needs. Moreover, through these continuous learning processes regarding the CSR will provide future benefits for the company and the society. It is evident from the instances of IBM and Wal-Mart that CSR activities are quite effective to yield the benefits of competitive differentiation and favorable positioning to find potential customers in the emerging market and assist in creating new future revenue streams thereon (McElhaney, 2009). Creating CSR strategies assists the companies in attaining their goals by ensuring correct measures in the right direction and time, which further benefits them in their long term sustainability. In this regard, to provide further satisfaction to the customers and ensure high performance organizations needs to implement sustainable marketing concepts.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Information Systems Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Information Systems - Term Paper Example The company also appears in the Forbes Global 2000 as the fourth largest company in the world, considering further metrics. This is in spite of the company ranking 14th most profitable corporation in the US, also according to the Fortune 500 list. The success of this company comes from its lean management style, as well as the internal controls structures implemented within the organization. GE has in place a number of internal controls that enable it to operate both efficiently, as well as profitably. According to the latest 10 – K report from the company, it is evident that the company meets the rules and regulations criterion of the Internal Control Integrated Framework as established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and the PCAOB. This commission established a number of guidelines to adhere to while undertaking internal control processes and procedures, and as such, General Electric (GE) Corporation has to adhere to these provisions in order to be compliant with Internal Control Integrated Framework set by COSO and PCAOB. Initially, the essence of internal controls is to keep the company on the right course in order to guarantee the achievement of its mission, as well as ensure maximum profitability in operations. Furthermore, internal control systems are equally instrumental because they enable the company to minimize the level of surprises that they may encounter along the way. As such, internal control mechanisms enable the executive team of the company to deal appropriately with the rapidly changing economic field, as well as the growing competitive environments of trade, in addition to shifts in customer priorities and demands. Therefore, the administration of the company is better place to restructure the organization for future growth and development within the modern day dynamic business environment. The company ends up enjoying a significant wide range of benefits through it

QUESTIONS Thoroughly read Chapters 7 through 10 of the Policy Issues Essay

QUESTIONS Thoroughly read Chapters 7 through 10 of the Policy Issues textbook, and then prepare an annotated bibliography for - Essay Example Scientific research and understanding creates practical technological applications which in turn require institutional implementation and management which in turn lead to more technological change as specific implementations are made which in turn leads to more scientific change. Therefore, science and technology policy have to bear in mind that innovation is more complex than a simple model of science and technology leading to innovation. Metcalfe moves on to distinguish between types of policy and innovation, such as academic scientific research versus practical technology, and further notes that despite their dialectical interrelationship, science and technology are different things. Finally, he ties this in with economic policy. Freeman, C. 2002, â€Å"National Systems of Innovation†, Policy Issues for Business, ed. Vivek Suneja, Sage Publications Ltd. Freeman expands on the analysis made by Metcalfe by noting that innovation is inherently dynamically social: No firm innov ates on their own, and technology and science are best done in systems of shared, free inquiry. Networks of governmental, scientific, educational, business and NGO innovators produce innovation over time. Freeman notes that the Friedrich list, a system whereby Germany specifically tied industrial and technological policy in the arena of education, was highly efficacious. He also notes that in Japan, R&D and business are tied together specifically, while in Russia, R&D and enterprise were often quite distinct. However, he does note that the Soviet Union's R&D and scientific research was not bad by any stretch of the imagination: They focused on arenas like mathematics, military innovation and space travel. This indicates that the priorities of national policy have direct and indirect results on atmospheres of innovation and creation. Freeman concludes by arguing a) regional and local factors will remain important in any technology and innovation policy no matter how globalized and in tegrated the world becomes, and b) Britain's experience should lead policy-makers to conclude that while learning by doing and interacting are important, innovations needs to be stressed at a systemic level. Porter, ME. 2002, â€Å"The Competitive Advantage of Nations†, Policy Issues for Business, ed. Vivek Suneja, Sage Publications Ltd. Porter continues in Freeman's vein by analyzing what makes nations competitively advantageous in the global marketplace. Strong investments in science and technology, a skilled workforce, government support and culture are all good elements, unsurprisingly, but Porter argues that in fact challenges can be opportunities. A country facing competitive challenge at home and abroad, difficult and selective customers, and aggressive suppliers will be highly effective if it can survive the challenges and weather the storm. Aside from noting the influence of national playing fields created by national policy, Porter also recommends that firms, even i f they are local or nationally oriented, should adopt a global perspective and strategy, and should move towards trying to sell under their brand name globally and control their business directly even on the global level rather than using middlemen. Porter also notes that, since markets change so rapidly, they are likely to obviate and make advantages obsolete, so companies need to treat even presently relevant advantages as soon likely to be obsolete

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 44

Marketing - Essay Example A retail client of mine wanted to increase the number of shoppers buying the higher value products in their range, and believed a key issue was its packaging. So, the team made several prototype packs and, over course of a couple of days, tried them in a store. They then simply observed how customers interacted with the different versions, and picked a winner that has subsequently driven double-digit sales growth in that category. Different customers have different tastes, thus, a close monitoring of the customers’ buying and/or consumption trends is vital especially where the commodity comes in different versions or tastes so as to determine which version of the commodity is popular among buyers (Business Intelligence, 2005). This helps establish the stature of the product in the market as a result of increased sales once the customer favorite commodity is identified. Even if you are focused on internal clients, direct experience of your offering can bring home to you what its like to be your customer. Only when youve been standing in a retail stores queue with a screaming baby, or perhaps have tried to use your call centre to ask for support, do you get a realistic view of your customers experience. A good business person should some times be able to step into their customer’s shoes as it helps them have a vivid understanding and have value for their customers. In addition, this enables one to help create products and services that are fair to everyone at any given moment so as to keep attracting more customers. Even  Steve Jobs, who eschews most customer research, set up a prototype store when developing  Apples  retail concept. The insights gained from this helped the team develop innovative in-store services such as The Genius Bar. According to Business Intelligence (2005), the current market is growing rapidly which is in line with prototyping; this will help collect sufficient information rapidly about your

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Industrial Espionage at XYZ Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Industrial Espionage at XYZ - Assignment Example That in itself is a felony under this state’s laws and could also fall under embezzlement laws. The administrator discreetly monitored Mr. Roberts’ activities for quite some time before Human Resources decided it was time to make a move. Using Remote Access Software, namely Manage Engine’s OPS manager the administrator was able to ascertain that Mr. Roberts had inserted a USB thumb drive, which was in direct contravention of company policy. With this information, the administrator asked Mr. Roberts to meet with him in his own cubicle. Becoming worried, Roberts then proceeded to delete the information from the USB and denied that there was ever anything on the thumb drive. It was then confiscated and Mr. Roberts was suspended. Following procedures, and thinking that Mr. Roberts did not have the technical knowledge to permanently wipe the drive, the administrator made an image copy of the drive which he named Disk G. He and I have spent several days attempting to r ecreate any data that is contained on the original USB drive, which is still secured in the Company’s vault. ... of them falling into other hands is dangerous, especially since the FBI considers industrial espionage as an act of Cold War, particularly when a foreign country such as China is involved in the act (2012). According to the referenced website, China is one of the biggest culprits in industrial espionage and only seldom recognized copyrights and patents outside their country. With what was found I recommended to the HR and administrator press charges against Mr. Roberts on behalf of their company. The district attorney concurs and assures me the case will be prosecutable, provided the administrator is able to discreetly explain what was on the disc. CASE 2 This case involves a group of students at the university who have been committing terroristic acts upon fellow students at the school. Acting on a tip that the group, considered a cult by campus security, was planning a series of coordinated attacks, security agents consisting of campus police, local police and Federal agents, raide d the hideout of the group, located in a house at a remote off campus location. Along with some papers, which include basic generic information about the students’ courses and do not contain any useful information, there was a floppy disk seized during the raid. The confidential informant assures the investigators that the disk is pay dirt and it contains very useful data on what, when and where the attacks are. Not only that, it is purported to include the names of group members. With that in mind I took the disk, labeled Case 2FDD Image, back to my computer lab to decipher its contents. The first step I undertook, before examining the contents, was to make an image of the disk, which was successful. This is to ensure the integrity of the disk is not compromised so that the subsequent