Saturday, December 28, 2019

Coleridge And The Exploration Of The Supernatural Essay

Coleridge and The Exploration of The Supernatural Samuel Taylor Coleridge had such an imaginative mind, especially in the late-eighteenth century. I wish I could personally peek inside his mind, but my only option is to read his works in order to develop an insight of his thought process. What attracts to me to Coleridge’s writing is not only the rhyme structure, but the themes that he works with within his poetry. I am particularly fond of the following themes: the supernatural, good and evil, transformation, and influence. In order to explore these themes within Coleridge’s work I have selected two poems to research, the poems are the following: â€Å"Christabel† and â€Å"The Rime of The Ancient Mariner.† The two poems that I have chosen incorporate all the themes I have mentioned. When these themes are used to unify a work it brings about ambiguity and uncertainty to the reader. According to Stoll, superstition and the supernatural were popular themes for Romantic writers. Stoll states the followin g, † . . . As everybody knows, 1798, the date of the publication, was near the high tide of English Romanticism, a period at which the interest in the superstitious and the supernatural-ghosts and other spirits, witchcraft and magic, omens and forebodings-was widely prevalent. . .(222).† These themes leave us wondering if Geraldine is some sort of evil entity. Schwartz states, â€Å"The story is, like a dream of lovely forms, mixed with strange and indescribable terrors. The scene, theShow MoreRelatedEssay about Role of the Imagination for Romantic Poets1672 Words   |  7 Pagesimagination allowed poets to see beyond surface value, to create an external world of existence. It permitted them to see the truth beyond powers of reason and rationality. Samuel Taylor Coleridge in particular was a poet fascinated with the potential and limitless possibilities of the imagination. Coleridge placed considerable emphasis upon the imagination as a focal element within his poetry. He categorised the imagination into two key sectors; the primary imagination and secondary imaginationRead MoreThe French Revolution Of The 18th Century907 Words   |  4 PagesWordsworth and Samuel Coleridge. Accordingly, these poets illustrated the ideals of these revolutionary beliefs to reach the public consciousness of their society through poetic portrayals of the individual achieving greatness or personal understanding through the emotion of nature. As a result, this explication will demonstrate an exploration of romantic techniques to create an interpretation of my poem while examining the elements of Romantic poetry in general based on the works of Coleridge and WordsworthRead MoreThe Ancient Mariner Essay1068 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ancient Marine r Through The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Coleridge has created a masterpiece. This epic reworks the ballad form so that it comes alive and speaks to the Romantic Age, breathing a story as strange and delightful, mystical and wonderful as the mystery of life itself. The raw power of the language, the startling speed at which it hurls you along and the arresting questions of the poem fill your spirit with wonder at the operation of nature and the awesome mystery of evil. Read MoreThe Rime Of The Ancient Mariner878 Words   |  4 PagesThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge and his friend, William Wordsworth, put together a collection of their work called Lyrical Ballads. It contained Coleridge’s famous poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner. This collection is widely recognized as the initiation of the shift towards modern poetry and British Romantic literature. Although the poem’s deliberate use of antiquated lang uage differed from romantic poetry’s use of modern languageRead MoreOld Norse Literary Traditions : Causes And Consequences Of Gothic Literature1547 Words   |  7 Pagesin Old Norse literary traditions crafted by the Gothic peoples of Scandinavia (Monnet)(â€Å"Goth†). Common tropes native to Old Norse literature include the protagonist suffering punishment for failing â€Å"to observe the heroic code†, references to the supernatural including â€Å"soothsayers, ghosts, incantations, gory imagery, and the eagerness of a bloody death†, and using the human body as a medium to explore â€Å"social issues such as aristocratic privilege, as well as traditional institutions such as the church†Read MoreHamlet’s Astounding Success Essay1959 Words   |  8 Pages(24-25).    This play is ranked by many as the very greatest ever written. Cumberland Clark in â€Å"The Supernatural in Hamlet† gives the consensus regarding Hamlet that exists among literary critics of today:    At least six or seven years pass after the writing of Midsummer Night’s Dream before we find Shakespeare engaged on Hamlet, the second of the great plays with an important Supernatural element, and, in the opinion of many, the greatest tragedy ever penned. (99)    There is no moreRead MoreOrientalism : The Romantic Era Of British Literature And Meshes Essay2475 Words   |  10 Pagesoriental fantasy of the east. The romantic period in Britain was recognized as a time of global travel and exploration, accession of colonies all over the world, and development of imperialist ideologies that rationalized the British takeover of distant territories. Many of the poets of the nineteenth century looked to orientalism for inspiration. Oriental tales featured exotic settings, supernatural happenings, extravagant events, characters, behavior, emotion, and speech. Romanticism and OrientalismRead More‚Äà ²for Me, the Story Is Less a Horror‚Ä ¶Than a Larger Than Life Gothic Fairytale‚Äà ´ (Kenneth Brannagh) How Far and in What Ways Do You Agree with This Description of the Text?1960 Words   |  8 Pagesintense language, yet during the novel, many other themes are introduced, especially in confronting the problems within society during the 19th century, such as the position of women, and the problems of the legal system, and so it is through the exploration of these other key themes which, for many readers, makes Frankenstein a tale of so much more than a horror. Although Shelley originally wrote her novel as part of a ‘ghost story’ competition amongst friends, it is more complex and deals with greaterRead MoreRomanticism versus Neoclassicism2775 Words   |  12 Pagesrelates to the outside world. Works ranging from Rousseaus Confessions and Reveries of a Solitary Walker to Wordsworths Prelude, Coleridges  «conversation » poems,  «Dejection »,  «Frost at Midnight »,  «Lime Tree Beauty » are examples of the romantic exploration of the self. Because romantics see the individuals relation to the outside world as the source of morality and wisdom, the importance of nature becomes a prime concern. Unlike urban environments that distort and hinder ones sense of relation toRe ad MoreHow Successfully Do Waltons Letters Introduce the Central Themes and Concerns of the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley?1980 Words   |  8 Pagesrealise where ethical frontiers stand. Both Frankenstein and Walton refuse to live a normal and calm life and decide to go on adventures for knowledge. Neither of them can see reason and they prefer glory and fame to wealth. They pursue science and exploration to benefit mankind, but also for personal glory. A question the readers often ask is whether they have good motifs, or whether their ambitions are driving them crazy. Waltons language reflections on his passion and warm-heartedness. He writes

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Ronald Reagan and Communism - 3036 Words

Ronald Reagan and Communism Introduction Critics remarked that Ronald Reagan tended to perceive things in terms of black and white, and his attitude toward Soviet concerns was no different. The organizing principle of Reagans defense and foreign polices was anti-Communism, and Soviet policy to him pervaded every part of the globe. Each of Reagans predecessors, from 1945 onwards, had been occupied with the possible Soviet threat towards America but Reagan was obsessed with it. Unlike his predecessors, too, he saw no possibility of compromise with the USSR, simply discounting communism as a sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written (Dallek, 129). Interestingly enough, Harpers editor Lewis H. Lapham commented that Reagans anti-Soviet rhetoric may have reflected concerns about his own country. America was suffering from big government, atheism, and relaxed moral standards. America saw in the USSR what it most fears in itself†¦ Americans portray [it] as a monolithic prison, a dull and confined place where nobody is safe and nobody is free. The America of the 1980s portrayed Russia as a land of coarse commissars and exploited peasants where cruel ideologies bent on world domination flourished and produced victims of a repressive and greedy government. How different does this sound to capitalist America of Reaganism? Indeed, Lapham concluded that Americans aim at the targets of their own despotism. (quoted by Scheer, 148-149).Show MoreRelatedThe Legacy of Ronald Reagan1004 Words   |  5 PagesRonald Reagan is to this date the oldest serving president, and the effects of his presidency have affected not only the United State s of America but most of the world as well. The consensus among historians is that Ronald Reagan left a lasting legacy that was a great one in numerous ways. His Reaganomics improved America’s economy greatly, and secured its future economic prosperity. He also fought communism head on and was able to end it in most parts of the world, but more importantly in SovietRead MoreRonald Reagans Positive Influences1149 Words   |  5 Pagesway we lived today for the good or for the bad. One major political influential figure was Ronald Reagan. He has been credited with ending the cold war, which abolished many of the political and military tensions between the Eastern and Western Blocs. He called the former USSR government wicked and demanded for the Berlin Wall, that separated east and West Germany, to be torn down. I believe Ronald Reagan, a former double-termed president of the United States and actor, changed society for the betterRead MoreThe Legacy Of Ronald Wilson Reagan1432 Words   |  6 Pagesovercome a crumbling economy, communism, growing foreign tensions with the middle east, and to wage war on the home front against the use and spread of drugs. To many all around the world , this man would become the savior of America. Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 to Jack and Nelle Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. The Reagan family moved to Dixon in 1920, where Ronald excelled in high school, earning an athletic scholarship to Eureka College. Ronald majored in economics and sociologyRead MoreRonald Reagan Is The Most Influential Man Of The United States1370 Words   |  6 PagesDepression - inflation is at 13.5 percent, unemployment is at 9.5 percent and the federal discount rate is at 14 percent. But after 8 years, Ronald Reagan will turn the country inside out, and make the world a better place to live in. Considered the best president of his century, Ronald Reagan is the most influential man of the 1980’s because he abolished communism by ending the Cold War, developed an extremely effective and successful form of economics, called Reaganomics, and brought a new hope toRead MoreRonald Reag As Government Expands, Liberty Contracts Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesEthan Martin Martin 1 Mrs. Langerot English 4 October 14, 2015 Ronald Wilson Reagan â€Å"As government expands, liberty contracts(Ronald Reagan Quotes). Those who know anything about Modern Politics in the United States know that Ronald Reagan is the poster child and founder of today s Conservatism. Today s Conservatism is at its core a hybrid between the Conservatism of Theodore Roosevelt and that of the Libertarianism of Thomas Jefferson. Libertarians believe that theRead MoreThe Great Communicator : Ronald Reagan1300 Words   |  6 PagesDepression - inflation is at 13.5 percent, unemployment is at 9.5 percent and the federal discount rate is at 14 percent. But after 8 years, Ronald Reagan will turn the country inside out, and make the world a better place to live in. Considered the best president of his century, Ronald Reagan is the most influential man of the 1980’s because he abolished communism by ending the Cold War, developed an extremely effective and successful form of economics, called Reaganomics, and brought a new hope toRead MoreThe Defini tion Of The Word Hero As A Man Admired For His Achievements And Noble Qualities1319 Words   |  6 Pagesdefinition is a perfect portrait former United States president Ronald Reagan. During his presidency, Reagan showed that he was this man through his patriotism, family values and faith in God, achieving economic prosperity and peace and stability during international turmoil. Explaining why he is one of America’s most revered presidents to date. Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 to parents John ‘Jack’ and Nelle Reagan along with older brother Neil in the small Midwest town of TampicoRead MoreThe Reagan Doctrine Of The Cold War1716 Words   |  7 Pagesthe spread of civilization. The West will not contain communism, it will transcend communism. We will not bother to denounce it. We ll dismiss it as a sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written.† (Ronald Reagan, 1981) The Reagan Doctrine was pivotal and made up one of the principal diplomatic policies of the United States executive branches administered during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The Reagan doctrine had a global influence that enabled the pushRead MoreAmericas Savior : The Legacy Of America1269 Words   |  6 PagesAmericans to stand together and overcome a collapsing economy, communism, growing foreign tensions with the middle east, and to conduct war on the home front against the use and spread of drugs. To many all around the world, this man would become the hero that America needs. Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, the son of Jack and Nelle Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. The Reagan family moved to Dixon in 1920, where Ronald excelled in high school. He earned an athletic scholarship to EurekaRead More Ronald Reagan Administration Essay1308 Words   |  6 Pagesadministrations that were not trusted, America elected Ronald Reagan by a landslide margin of victory. At sixty-nine years old, he was the oldest President to be elected. He was born in a small town in Illinois and served two terms as California governor starting in 1966. Reagans track record proved to be very strong and included welfare cuts, decreasing the number of state employees, and halting radical student protesters. Like other GOP members, Reagan came into office promising to limit the power of

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Business Economics Revolution Global Market

Question: Discuss about the Business Economics for Revolution Global Market. Answer: Introduction In economics, the fundamental of demand and supply have determined the price of a commodity. In the case of determining the global coal pricing, there is no exemption. In the contemporary global industrial scenario, global consumption of coal has fallen to a record low due to weakening Chinese demand and declining oil and gas prices (Goldenberg, 2016). Meanwhile, the lower crude oil prices have played a significant role in falling coal price in the global market. Due to the cheaper affordability of oil, the demand for coal has been shifted away causing the huge slump in the prices. Invariably, due to sluggish demand, the prices of coal fell by 20 percent in 2015 indicating the worries of the coal exporters (Giraud, 2009). Understandably, the report paper reviews the reason of falling coal prices based on supply and demand concept. Additionally, the impact of such massive slump in the coal prices on the coal importing and exporting economies has been described herein for further discu ssion standpoint. Reason for the fall in the price of Coal It can be seen that the price of coal has fallen due to several reasons that impacts the demand and supply of coal in the global market (Kalkuhl, 2015). The primary factors that have led to the fall of coal prices are discussed herein below: Decline of coal use: With new development of fossil fuels and bio-fuels, the use of coal has declined in several major industries (Barradale, 2010). Large industries have shift to electric furnace for higher productivity and environmental sustainability. Coal is Uneconomic: It has been found by most of the coal miners that coal is uneconomic and it has led them to financial losses in the current years. Hence, the producers restrained supply to increase the price that resulted in a negative fall in the demand. It further reduced the price of coal in the international market (Carter, 2007). Environmental issues: Environmental issues are a primary reason for the fall of demand of coal in the market. It can be seen through analysis that coal creates more pollution as compared to petroleum and liquid gas. The increased concerned among the public regarding environment conservation led to fall in the demand of coal (Corley, 2015). It further led to fall in the price of the commodity. Political crackdowns: Political instability and changes in legislations have been other factors impacting the price of coal in the Australian as well as global market (Goldenberg, 2016). Changes in taxation rate and price floor policy of the government have forcefully brought the price of coal down. A demand and supply analysis of coal is presented to understand the primary reason for the fall in the price of the fossil fuel. It can be seen that the demand for coal has fallen in the international market with an increase in the supply that has gradually decreased the price of the commodity in the global market (Hennessy, 2008). A diagrammatic explanation is presented herein below: Figure: Demand and Supply of Coal Source: (Fensom, 2016) It can be seen from the above figure that the demand falls from D to D and the supply increases from S to S. Hence, the price equilibrium shifts from Po to Pe (Fensom, 2016). Therefore, a fall in the price can be seen due to fall in the demand and rise in the supply of coal. The effect of fall of price on the economies Impact on huge coal importing countries such as India Coal has been identified as one of the scare domestic energy resources for economies such as India. As a result of the falling coal prices, Indian industries will be highly benefitted due to changing economies dynamics. Also, the import volumes of coal have been estimated to rise by 33% in the next couple of years as domestic production of coal has lagged significant demand (Thurber and Morse, 2015). Moreover, the power sector of Indian economy will certainly get a massive boost from the falling coal prices as the power projects of companies such as Tata Power, Essar Power and Adani Power are running on imported coal. Correspondingly, due to the cheaper affordability of imported coal, the input costs for Indian metal and cement manufacturing corporations will reduce, sustaining business profitability (Murray and Granzow, 2008). Meanwhile, falling imported coal prices will improve the operating margins of the power as well as manufacturing industries supporting the economic growth of the country (Odell, 2014). Impact on huge coal exporting countries such as Australia The slump in coal prices can create a sustainable economic crisis in Australia as the economy may suffer huge losses in exports. Since the past two decades or so, the Australian economy has remained within an economic bubble though other global economies have shown sluggish growth rate (Fleming, 2010). Currently, the massive slump in coal prices has created significant economies woes to the Australian exports to China; the number one trading partner of the economy has declined by 4% (Fensom, 2016). The coal prices have dropped to below $70 per metric ton due to sluggish demand and lower crude oil prices. From economic standpoint, falling coal prices have contributed to the decline in the Australian mining gross domestic product by 2% from 9% in 2012 to 7%. Under the current pricing of coal has forced coal miners such as BHP to cut jobs. Therefore, the mining employment has faced significant drop down by 29 percent (Fensom, 2016). Meanwhile, the falling coal prices have created fresh economic troubles for coal exporting nations such as Australia. Impact on countries with huge production as well as huge consumption such as China The current demand and supply structure of coal have forced record decline in production in China in the last 14 years frustrating the mining companies operating in the economy (Schernikau, 2010). Under the circumstantial evidence, the falling demand for coal due to lower crude oil prices and sluggish economic growth of China has forced Chinas coal spending and production to fall indicating the sinking scenario of the global coal market. Being the largest coal producer and consumer of the global economy, the drop down of production and consumption of coal has compelled to slump further in price (Liu, Margaritis and Zhang, 2013). According to the reports of the National Bureau of Statistics, coal production in China has declined by 2.5 percent to 3.87 billion metric ton whereas the consumption is also reduced by 2.9 percent (Yang, 2016). The current scenario of coal market has forced the coal mining corporations to reduce their production as they have faced huge losses due to lack of demand and slump in pricing. Notably, the price of coal has fallen by 50% from its international benchmark price to $62 per metric ton. The effect of fall of price on the business or industry The businesses/industries likely to benefit from the fall of coal price The businesses or industries that need coal in their production process are mainly benefited by the fall of coal price. Some of the primary industries include electricity production businesses, steel producing companies, iron-ore companies, and other energy needing companies (Wickham and Reinhart, 2014). In other words, the companies that have furnace that runs on coal are benefited by the fall in the price of coal (Yang, 2016). This is because the fall in the price of coal will lead to the fall in the production price that helps the companies to increase its profitability. Hence, the industries that require coal in the production process are primarily benefited by the fall in the price of coal. The businesses/industries likely to lose out from the fall of coal price Business and industries that produce coals and deals with coal products are likely to lose out from the fall of the coal price (Ã…Å ¾eker, 2012). The coal producers of Australia such as BMA Mines, Anglo Coal Australia Ltd, BHP Billiton, Hunter Valley Energy Coal, Centennial Coal Company Ltd and many more coal producing companies are facing losses due to the fall in the coal prices (Gaspar and Pereira, 2015). This is because the fall in the price leads to fall in the revenue and the production cost remains the same that makes the coal producing companies incur loss due to the fall in the price of coal. Conclusion The existing slump in the price of coal has created a mixed impact on different economies, to say the least. Understandably, the coal importing economies such as India has been massively benefitted from the falling price of the mineral as the power sector of the economy will get a huge boost due to the event. Conversely, the massive exporters of coal such as Australia have suffered colossal hammering as far as economic standpoint is concerned. The mining industry and export markets in Australia have been adversely impacted due to the falling prices of coal. Most of all, the massive producer and consuming countries such as China has seen biggest decline in the production and consumption in the last 14 years. Apparently, the power sector has been primarily benefitted due to cheaper coal pricing whereas the mining industry of coal has faced the beating. References Barradale, M. (2010).Practitioner Perspectives Matter. Berkeley, CA. Carter, L. (2007). Coal: Invoking "the Rule of Reason" in an Energy-Environment Conflict.Science, 198(4314), pp.276-280. Corley, K. (2015). Coal Price Regulation.Science, 188(4191), pp.886-886. Fensom, A. (2016).Australian coal sector eyes green shoots. [online] World Coal. Available at: https://www.worldcoal.com/special-reports/10062016/Australian-coal-sector-eyes-green-shoots-943/ [Accessed Sep. 2016]. Fleming, G. (2010). Collusion and Price Wars in the Australian Coal Industry during the Late Nineteenth Century.Business History, 42(3), pp.47-70. Gaspar, V. and Pereira, A. (2015). The impact of financial integration and unilateral public transfers on investment and growth in EC capital-importing countries.Journal of Development Economics, 48(1), pp.43-66. Giraud, P. (2009). International coal prices.Natural Resources Forum, 13(4), pp.330-332. Goldenberg, S. (2016).The death of US coal: industry on a steep decline as cheap natural gas rises. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/08/us-coal-industry-decline-natural-gas [Accessed Sep. 2016]. Hennessy, D. (2008). Industry equilibrium under price distribution and cost shifts.Journal of Economics and Business, 50(6), pp.509-523. Kalkuhl, M. (2015). How Strong Do Global Commodity Prices Influence Domestic Food Prices in Developing Countries? A Global Price Transmission and Vulnerability Mapping Analysis.SSRN Electronic Journal. Liu, M., Margaritis, D. and Zhang, Y. (2013). Market-driven coal prices and state-administered electricity prices in China.Energy Economics, 40, pp.167-175. Murray, F. and Granzow, S. (2008). Coal, the Environment, and the Rule of Reason.The Washington Quarterly, 1(2), pp.86-91. Odell, P. (2014).Why carbon fuels will dominate the 21st century's global energy economy. Brentwood, England: Multi-Science Pub. Co. Schernikau, L. (2010).Economics of the international coal trade. Dordrecht: Springer. Ã…Å ¾eker, M. (2012). Importing, Exporting, and Innovation in Developing Countries.Review of International Economics, 20(2), pp.299-314. Thurber, M. and Morse, R. (2015).The global coal market. Wickham, P. and Reinhart, C. (2014). Commodity Prices: Cyclical Weakness or Secular Decline?.IMF Working Papers, 94(7), p.i. Yang, J. (2016).China Oil, Coal Output Decline Signals More Imports to Come - Bloomberg. [online] Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-15/china-s-oil-coal-output-slides-in-sign-of-more-imports-to-come [Accessed Sep. 2016].

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Starwars Essay Example For Students

Starwars Essay Star Wars By George Lucas Paperback, November 1998 Star Wars is a science fiction adventure novel. The symbolism and characterization was really excellent in the story. The story gives a great look into the future as it has many different types of things we have not yet invented; blaster rifles, space ships that go the speed of light, fat alien slugs, and beam swords. The plot of the story sucks you into the novel and makes you want to continue reading the novel. The plot of the story mainly reflects on a young boy, Luke Skywalker. Luke was raised on his Uncles moisture farm on the planet Tatooine. He meets up with Obi-Wan Kenobi by following a droid, R2-D2, he had purchased through a small natives of Tatooine known as Jawas. R2-D2 believes he is the property of Obi-Wan and decides to search for its master. Luke is attacked by another group of natives, Tusken Raiders also known as sand people. Obi-Wan comes and saves Luke from the sand people and take him back to his home. Obi-Wan te lls Luke a little about his father. He tells Luke that his father was his apprentice in learning the ways of the Force. Obi-Wan gives Luke his fathers old light saber and Obi-Wan finds something inside R2-D2. It is a message from Princess Leia. She sent the two droids, R2-D2 and C3-PO, to send this message to Obi-Wan. Luke and Obi-Wan head back to Lukes house and find a Sandcrawler, a vehicle the Jawas travel in, destroyed. Luke thinks that some Tusken Raiders did this, but Obi-Wan points out that Imperial Storm Troopers have attacked the Jawas. Luke then finds out that his uncle and aunt are dead. He then decides to train to be a Jedi Knight. They head to a Mos Eisley, a spaceport to search for a pilot to get them to the planet Alderaan. Obi-Wan and Luke meet up with a smuggler named Han Solo and his co-pilot, Chewbacca the Wookie also known as Chewie. They make a deal for Han to take the two humans and the two droids to Alderaan. While preparing the ship Han runs into a crime lord , Jabba the Hutt. Jabba was mad at Han for dropping off his shipments and running with out paying him. Han promises Jabba he will have his money soon and a little more. As they start boarding the ship some Storm Troopers find them and started attacking. They take off in the Millennium Falcon and escape the Imperial forces. While heading for the planet Alderaan, Luke trains in the Millennium Falcon. Obi-Wan suddenly feels something evil through the force. They reach the area where Alderaan is and find that it had been blown up. They see an Imperial TIE Fighter. They follow it to a small moon, but discover it is not a small moon, but a space station, The Death Star that was built by the Empire. They got sucked into the station by a tracker beam and had to hide from the Storm Troopers, who were checking the ship for the crew. Han, Luke, Obi-Wan, Chewie, and the two droids hid in secret compartments Han used to smuggle goods. When some rookie Storm Troopers came aboard they mugged them and took their uniforms to sneak through the Death Star. Obi-Wan headed alone to deactivate the tracker beam from inside the Death Star. Luke, Han, and Chewie went to the prison block to free Princess Leia. They get attacked by Storm Troopers and escape into a garbage chute. There the crushing walls in the garbage chute almost flatten them, but C3-PO and R2-D2 barely save them by shutting down the garbage crushing units. After their escape from the garbage disposal unit they get chased by more Storm Troopers, but this time Luke and Leia get separated from Chewie and Han. They meet back at the Millennium Flacon. There they watch Obi-Wan battle with Darth Vader in a grueling light saber duel. Darth Vader one, but in the same time lost. Han, Luke, Leia, and Chewie escape the Death Star and head for the Rebellion Base on the planet Yavin. There, Han and Chewie get their reward money for saving Princess Leia and leave, but Luke stays to help the Rebels fight against the Empire and its de adly Death Star. The Death Star finds the rebellion base and heads towards it. The Rebels send an attack of X-Wings and Y-Wings to destroy the Death Star. After many attempts to destroy it Luke finally hits it in its only weak spot with the help of Han Solo who felt bad for leaving them with out helping. Luke, Han, and Chewie are rewarded metals for their bravery. The novel symbolizes what George Lucas thinks the future may be like. His imagination was put to great heights to write this novel as he thought of interesting characters to introduce us to; Jabba, Chewie, Greedo, and many others. The novel gives great machinery and space age type weapons; blaster rifle, light saber, land speeder, Death Star, X-Wing, and others. He does this by writing as if we know about all this stuff. Star Wars was a great novel. George Lucas did a very excellent job in writing this novel. He draws you into the novel by introducing you to many different, out of this world weapons and creatures. It was a pleasure in reading this novel and is my all time favorite. People who like science fiction novels or adventure novels should try to read this one. .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .postImageUrl , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:hover , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:visited , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:active { border:0!important; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:active , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Pretty Woman Essay We will write a custom essay on Starwars specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Current Practices Of Separation Science Biology Essay Essay Example

Current Practices Of Separation Science Biology Essay Essay Present reappraisal studies Current Status and techniques in the field of separation Science. The country of separation scientific discipline has shown a dramatic growing in the important applications of different Separation techniques for the analysis of Drugs in different systems. This reappraisal focal point visible radiation on the applications of different separation techniques like multidimensional separation techniques, hyphenated separation techniques like LC-MS, CE-MS and LC-NMR, extremist high force per unit area LC, high temperature LC, high-efficiency and high-throughput separations and electrodriven separation techniques. Keywords Separation techniques, Multidimensional separation techniques, Hyphenated separation techniques, High-efficiency and High-throughput separations, Electrodriven separation techniques. Introduction In modern analytical chemical science, chromatography has become the most widely used separation technique. In the beginning of this century, the first chromatographic experiments were carried out by Tswett, who separated works pigments ( 1 ) . In these experiments, many scientists have made significant parts to theoretical every bit good as practical facets of analytical technique and particularly during the last decennaries, chromatography reached its mature province. This development does non merely root from the turning demand of many scientists for better methods to divide complex mixtures. At present, chromatography is an indispensable analytical tool for the finding of assorted substances in many Fieldss of scientific discipline and industry ( 2 ) . Separation scientific discipline is an built-in portion of about all analytical methods for the finding of organic, organometal and even inorganic species in complex mixtures and matrices ( 3 ) . The separation scientific disciplin es have progressed continuously throughout the old ages but have grown exponentially in the last few decennaries. This is due to progresss on the instrumental side by the makers and besides due to stationary stages in chromatography ( 4 ) . Efficient separation procedures are needed to obtain high class merchandises in the nutrient and pharmaceutical industries, to bring forth high quality H2O and to retrieve or take valuable or toxic metal constituents from industrial wastewaters. The conventional separation methods such as distillment, vaporization, crystallisation, precipitation, extraction, surface assimilation and ion-exchange have late been supplemented by procedures that utilize semi permeable membranes as separation barriers ( 5 ) . The advancement of new, competent techniques to divide different types of substances is a research country of high precedence. Particularly in the field of life scientific disciplines there is a great necessity for resourceful and fast separation methods on both the analytical and preparatory degree in order to work out many complicated jobs in basic every bit good as applied research. The intents of the major classs of separation techniques were reviewed to find the latest developments and future research demands. One of the most promising developments in separation scientific discipline and engineering is the realisation that are comparatively little Numberss of implicit in rules unite the field. Considerable advancement has been made in understanding the mechanisms that control full categories of separation procedures. Continued development of theories of separation based on these implicit in rules and mechanisms will hasten the application of progresss in cardinal Fieldss such as stage equilibrium thermodynamics, coordination chemical science, conveyance procedures, interfacial phenomena, and chemical dynamicss to the betterment of bing separation procedures and the development of new 1s ( 6 ) . Separation techniques Multidimensional separation techniques We will write a custom essay sample on Current Practices Of Separation Science Biology Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Current Practices Of Separation Science Biology Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Current Practices Of Separation Science Biology Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The term multidimensional separation refers to the combined usage of different separation mechanisms to decide constituents in complex mixtures. The possible combinations include separation methods such as simple solvent extraction, the different chromatography mechanisms and cataphoretic techniques. This technique is referred as Coupled Column Chromatography but by and large Heart Cutting is used. In multidimensional chromatography, fractions from a chromatography system are transferred to one or more extra chromatographic separation systems to better declaration and sensitiveness or to diminish analysis clip. In these techniques, a selected part of a chromatogram is transferred to another column that operates harmonizing to a different separation mechanism ( 7 ) . Hyphenated separations ; LC-MS, CE-MS, LC-NMR The fresh analytical techniques must be developed to run into the demand of big graduated table analysis which leads to the word division of multiple techniques like one dimensional and multidimensional liquid chromatography such as mass spectroscopy, capillary electrophoresis-mass spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Chromatography is one of the most powerful separation techniques based on the different physicochemical belongingss of the compounds while mass spectroscopy has the ability to place and to quantify 1000s of proteins from complex samples ( 9 ) . Electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy ( ESI-MS ) is the most popular method for protein designation with its powerful MS/MS ability and easiness of matching with liquid chromatography ( LC ) . The multidimensional LC-MS is divided into different types such as Column exchanging multidimensional LC-MS, Integrated multidimensional LC-MS, Off-line multidimensional LC-MS. Two-dimensional col umn exchanging liquid chromatography, where the two columns are coupled with a exchanging valve was foremost reported in 1978 ( 10 ) . Different manners of HPLC ( reversed stage, ion exchange, size exclusion, affinity, hydrophilic interaction ) have been used for the separation of peptides and other biological samples ( 11-15 ) . Integrated multidimensional LC system was foremost developed by Yates and coworkers ( 16-18 ) . In this system, SCX and RP columns were straight coupled or the packing stuffs were filled in one column. It does non necessitate an interface between the two dimensions which efficaciously eliminated the valves and dead volume normally associated with the column-switching system. This system was coupled with mass spectroscopy for protein designation, and it is called multidimensional protein designation engineering ( MudPIT ) ( 17 ) . Off-line multidimensional LC-MS is besides convenient to execute selective fractional process to concentrate on a subgroup of pep tides such as phosphopeptides or glycopeptides ( 19-25 ) . An extra advantage of off-line yoke is that different separation columns that are non straight compatible with each other in footings of required dissolvers could be used and allows the re-analysis of gathered fractions ( 8 ) . Ultra-high force per unit area LC High force per unit area liquid chromatography ( HPLC ) is used in analytical chemical science or biochemistry to divide chemical compounds in mixtures for analysis or purification. The addition in the back force per unit area required has lead to a technique called as Ultrahigh-Pressure Liquid Chromatography ( UHPLC ) ( 26 ) . High temperature LC The usage of high temperature and temperature scheduling in Liquid Chromatography ( LC ) is more popular in research labs where high throughput is of import. The nomadic stage viscousness is reduced as separation temperature additions and hence high flow rates can be utilized to accomplish fast separations, without transcending the standard operational force per unit area bounds of the HPLC system. An extra benefit of utilizing high temperature is that the lower nomadic stage viscousness enhances the mass-transfer of the solute between the Mobile and stationary stage, ensuing in better chromatographic public presentation ( 27 ) . High efficiency and high throughput separations The high efficiency and high throughput separation methodological analysiss such as solid stage extraction, micro chip solid stage extraction, capillary cataphoresis. The recent developments in high throughput separation methodological analysiss using nanomaterials such as C nanotubes, gold nanoparticles and magnetic NPs etc. The nanoparticles ( NPs ) exhibit alone physical and chemical belongingss ( 29 ) that have important influence on separation scientific discipline. NPs are used as stationary stages in Gas Chromatography ( GC ) ( 30 ) , high public presentation liquid chromatography ( HPLC ) ( 30,31 ) , capillary electrochromatography ( 32 ) , capillary cataphoresis ( CE ) ( 33 ) , and solid-phase extraction ( SPE ) ( 28 ) . Electro goaded separations The Electrically goaded separation methods including capillary zone cataphoresis ( CZE ) ( 35-37 ) , micellar electrokinetic chromatography ( 38,39 ) and electrochromatography ( 40,41 ) are presently pulling a great trade of attending. Their common feature is that the flow through the separation column is effected by electroosmosis instead than by a force per unit area gradient. Many of the operating parametric quantities ( e.g. , field strength, buffer concentration, column diameter, column length ) affects the separation public presentation of all electrically driven separation techniques. An incorporate instrument for electrically driven separations has been designed. The design facilitates the usage of short columns and high field strengths, so that high declarations and short analysis times can be attained. The sensor cell has the required little volume ( 100 pl ) and allows 2A-10-19 mol of fluorescent dye to be detected. In combination with a short capillary ( 4 centimeter ) , four optical maser dyes could be separated within 35 seconds ( 34 ) . Current Practices of Separation Sciences The chief intent of the reappraisal article is to offer an chance for immature research workers to larn more about the current advancement in the techniques of chromatography and other separations, word division every bit good as sample readying. The Review article is focused on the cardinal and practical facets of the separation and sensing methods, sample readying every bit good as related or hyphenated techniques applied to the analytical, preparatory and industrial intents. The developments in separation scientific discipline have provided the drift for exciting new developments in the biological scientific disciplines ( eg. genomics, proteomics and medical specialty ) , pharmaceutical scientific disciplines ( eg. drug find and word picture ) , environmental scientific disciplines ( eg. ultra-trace residue analysis ) , forensic scientific discipline ( eg. Illicit drugs, DNA fingerprinting, and explosives residues ) and other countries. Chromatography refers to a group of separation techniques that involves a deceleration of molecules with regard to the dissolver forepart that progresses through the stuff. The name literally means colour drawing and was originally used to depict the separation of natural pigments on filter documents by differential deceleration. The same rule is now normally used for protein separation. Column chromatography is the most common physical constellation, in which the stationary stage is packed into a tubing, a column, through which the Mobile stage, the eluent is pumped. The grade to which the molecule adsorbs or interacts with the stationary stage will find how fast it will be carried by the nomadic stage. Chromatographic separation of protein mixtures has become one of the most effectual and widely used agencies of sublimating single proteins ( 42 ) . Traditional analysis of liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy ( LC-MS ) information, typically performed by reexamining chromatograms and the corresponding mass spectra, is both time-consuming and hard. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics has the capableness to place 100s of proteins in a individual experiment, and has become an of import analytical engineering in modern biological and medical research. In a classical liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy ( LC-MS ) experiment, the ensuing peptides are so separated by reversed stage micro- or nano-capillary chromatography. Peptides eluting from the LC column are normally ionized by electrospray and so introduced into the mass spectrometer ( 43,44 ) . Capillary cataphoresis ( CE ) is an set uping separation technique of alternate effectual for a broad spectrum of analysts, runing from little inorganic ions to DNA supermolecules which may be employed to observe both high and low affinity molecular interactions, and separation of both charged and non-charged molecules. This is besides as an efficient and various attack for physicochemical word picture of bioactive molecules and declaration for charged substances such as biomolecules, low molecular weight BASIC or acidic drugs and ions, a powerful and proved engineering applied to drug find testing on a broad assortment of marks such as enzymes, membrane receptor spheres, structural proteins, nucleic acid composites, bioactive peptides, protein-protein interactions and antibodies. This technique besides determine chiral pureness in pharmaceuticals and can be successfully used to back up facets of early drug find and drug development testing, analysis of protein-base pharmaceuticals a nd everyday quality control of marketed pharmaceuticals. Assorted applications of hyphenated capillary cataphoresis techniques include word picture of quantum points and quantum dots-conjugated biological molecules. Immunoaffinity capillary cataphoresis have been reported as a various tool for finding protein biomarkers in inflammatory procedures and for entire Immunoglobulin -E ( IgE ) quantification in serum ( 45 ) . The high declaration potency of capillary cataphoresis makes CE-techniques valuable for separations of metal spikes. The separations of metals with different oxidization provinces or of organo metal compounds are possible with CE ( 46-51 ) . ICP-MS is an element specific multi-element sensor, supplying highly low sensing bounds. Therefore, the combination of CE with ICP-MS promises a powerful tool for metal speciation ( 46-49 ) . The separation scientific disciplines have assumed an progressively important function in bioanalytical chemical science ( 53 ) . Since biological samples are normally complex, separation techniques are necessary in order to insulate the constituents of involvement before their designation and word picture can be attempted. Of the assorted separation techniques, high public presentation liquid chromatography ( HPLC ) and capillary cataphoresis ( CE ) are normally employed ( 54,55 ) . The electrospray ionisation ( ESI ) interface permits the mass spectrometri c analysis of big biomolecule with mass up to several hundred 1000 with significantly lower mass scan scope. Thus it proves to be suited for the yoke with HPLC, CE and Electrochromatography ( 56-66 ) . The success of matching CE separation system to ESI-MS sensing system depends on many factors including the design and runing parametric quantities of the electrospray interface ( 67 ) , the composing and pH of the buffer solution ( 68 ) , the chemical belongingss of the analyte ( 69 ) and composing of the sheath liquid ( 70-73 ) ( 52 ) . Microscale separation techniques including high public presentation capillary liquid chromatography and capillary cataphoresis have a figure of practical advantages over conventional scale analytical separation methods. High public presentation capillary cataphoresis ( HPCE ) is an of import microseparation technique in life scientific disciplines every bit good as biotechnology and environmental research countries. Unlike high public presentation li quid chromatography ( HPLC ) in which separation is due to the divider of solutes between the nomadic stage and stationary stage, separation by CE is based on the difference in charge to mass ratio of the analytes. One of the advantages of ESI-MS and ISP-MS with the finding of biological compounds with high molecular multitudes like peptides, proteins, enzymatic digests, biopolymers which lies in the multiple charging of the analysts that can happen under ESI conditions ( 74 ) . Capillary cataphoresis ( CE ) , besides known as capillary zone cataphoresis ( CZE ) can be used to divide ionic species by their charge and frictional forces. The technique was designed to divide species based on their size to bear down ratio in the bosom of a little capillary filled with an electrolyte. CE offers odd declaration and selectivity leting for separation of analytes with really small physical difference. Capillary zone cataphoresis ( CZE ) is one of the methods employed in analytical chemical science for the separation of mixtures of chemical species by working their different cataphoretic mobilities in aqueous solution ( 75,76 ) . The development of CE methods to divide diverse analytical samples has been turning really quickly over the past decennary ( 78-82 ) and the technique has demonstrated its efficiency in many applications ( 83,84 ) including the finding of antibiotics ( 85-87 ) . Despite of these, CE is non really common for the finding of sulfa drugs. Some re search documents have been published, utilizing chiefly UV ( 88-90 ) or amperometric sensing ( 91 ) , using the CZE manner ( 92-96 ) or MEKC ( 94,97-99 ) in different matrices such as pharmaceutical compounds, biological fluids, or nutrient of animate being beginning ( 77 ) . Quantitative reading of protein and peptide mobilities obtained by capillary zone cataphoresis to this point has been based on generic relationships for their dependance on net charge ( 101 ) . This attack has apparently allowed the net charge ( valency ) of a protein to be determined entirely on the footing of mobility differences stemming from change of the protein charge either by mutant ( 102 ) or by chemical alteration ( 100,103 ) . The employment of CE for the analysis of drugs and pharmaceuticals has been demonstrated in first-class reappraisals ( 105-106 ) . In indirect sensing, an absorbing or fluorescing ion, typically called the investigation, is added to the buffer. The investigation ions are evacuated by analyte ions of the same charge and similar mobilities. Supplanting of the investigation by the analyte produces a lessening in signal ( 107-108 ) . The chief advantage of indirect photometric sensing is that it offers cosmopolitan sensing. There are merely a few studies discoursing the usage of CE with indirect sensing of drugs and pharmaceuticals ( 109 ) . The purpose of the work was to research the potency of indirect UV sensing for finding of vigabatrin, a cationic theoretical account drug with hapless UV absorption factor, in its pharmaceutical dose signifiers ( 104 ) . Capillary Electrochromatography ( CEC ) is a comparatively recent electrokinetic separation technique which involves application of an electric field across a jammed capillary in order to obtain separations which are achieved by the usage of both cataphoretic and chromatographic mechanisms. CEC is a loanblend of both HPLC and Capillary Electrophoresis. A assortment of sensors have been employed most normally on-column UV sensing, in-column fluorescence sensing and mass spectroscopy. Current applications of CEC besides include CEC with optical maser induced fluorescence ( CEC-LIF ) and electrospray ionisation MS ( 110,111 ) . Over the last decennary, monoliths or uninterrupted beds have emerged as an option to traditional packed-bed columns for usage in capillary electrochromatography ( CEC ) and micro-high public presentation liquid chromatography ( AÂ µ-HPLC ) . Massive columns can be divided into two classs: silica-based massive columns and stiff organic polymer-based massive colu mns ensuing from the polymerisation of acrylamide, cinnamene, propenoate or methacrylate monomers. In Present reappraisal, the chemical science and most recent applications of these assorted types of monoliths in both CEC and AÂ µ-HPLC are presented ( 112 ) .The reappraisal summarizes applications of CEC for the analysis of proteins and peptides. This intercrossed technique is utile for the analysis of a wide spectrum of proteins and peptides and is a complementary attack to liquid chromatography and capillary cataphoretic analysis. All manners of CEC are described-granular jammed columns, massive stationary stages every bit good as open-tubular CEC. Attention is besides paid to supercharge CEC and the chip-based platform ( 113 ) . The separation of basic solutes at low pH by capillary electrochromatography ( CEC ) has been investigated. The feasibleness of separation of basic solutes by CEC was demonstrated. Influence of operational parametric quantities, solvent composing, pH, temperature on keeping and selectivity of the separation of a mixture of basic, impersonal and acidic drug criterions has been investigated. The ascertained elution behavior has been modeled to account for both chromatographic keeping and differential cataphoretic mobility of the solutes. This theoretical account was verified by experimentation. It is demonstrated in this work that the elution window of solutes in reversed-phase CEC is expanded to run from -1 to a?z ( 114 ) . High-temperature liquid chromatography ( HTLC ) is recognized today as a valuable technique in rearward stage high-performance liquid chromatography ( RP-HPLC ) . Column temperature can play a function in cut downing analysis clip, modifying keeping, commanding sel ectivity, altering efficiency or bettering sensing sensitiveness. The different effects of high temperatures on reversed-phase separations, the practical restrictions due to the instrumentality, the bounds and the chief advantages of HTLC, particularly for the separation of polar and ionised compounds, are reviewed ( 115 ) .The high temperature liquid chromatography ( HTLC ) reveals interesting chromatographic belongingss but it misses some theoretical facets sing the influence of high temperature on thermodynamic and kinetic facets of chromatography. The thermodynamic belongingss were evaluated by utilizing different nomadic stages. The type of nomadic stage was found to play an of import function in the keeping of solutes. The kinetic facet was studied at assorted temperatures runing from ambient temperature to high temperature ( typically from approximately 30 to 200AÂ °C ) by suiting the experimental information with the Knox equation and it was shown that the efficiency is imp roved significantly when the temperature is increased. In this reappraisal, we besides discussed the job of temperature control for thermostating columns which may stand for a important beginning of extremum widening: by taking into history the three chief parametric quantities such as heat transportation, force per unit area bead and set broadening ensuing from the preheating tubing, suited regulations are set up for a wise pick of the column internal diameter ( 116 ) . Temperature alterations, in peculiar elevated temperatures have become a valuable variable which should be considered during method development in liquid chromatography because they can take to a decrease in analysis clip, can offer an alternate selectivity and are claimed to increase column efficiency ( 118-121 ) . Previous surveies have demonstrated the pertinence of high-temperature separations to a scope of pharmaceuticals ( 122 ) , with illustrations such as anodynes ( 123 ) , vitamins ( 124 ) and thalidomide ( 125 ) and compounds of environmental involvement such as the triazine weedkillers ( 117,126 ) . Decision Now a yearss, the separation scientific discipline has a big potency for application in the separation of different components like biomolecules. The capablenesss and alterations in the advancement of separation techniques show their necessity in the different Fieldss. Recognition The writers are grateful to the Director, School of Pharmacy, S.R.T.M.University, Nanded ( MS ) for supplying necessary installations and his co-operation.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Free Essays on Wal-Mart

Table of Contents I. Title Page II. Table of Contents III. Executive Summary IV. Situation Analysis a. Environment b. Industry c. Firm d. Marketing Strategy V. Problems Found in Situation Analysis a. Statement of Primary Problems b. Statement of Secondary Problems VI. Strategic Alternatives for Solving Problems a. Description of Strategic Alternative  · International Expansion b. Description of Strategic Alternative  · xxxxxxx c. Description of Strategic Alternative  · xxxxxxx d. Description of Strategic Alternative  · xxxxxxx VII. Selection of Strategic Alternatives and Implementation a. Statement of Selected Strategy b. Justification for Selection of Strategy c. Description of Implementation of Strategy VIII. Appendices a. Sustainable Competitive Advantage b. Application of:  · Porter’s five forces  · Michael Porter’s â€Å"Diamond of National Advantage.† c. III Executive Summary Sam Walton is the founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. which was established in Rogers, Arkansas 1962 due to the introduction of a new type of retailing concept called discount retailing. At the same time there was also the emergence of two well known competitors K-Mart and Target which only solidified that the American consumer was shifting more towards a different type of a general store. Walton had recognized a growing market for discount retailing and with extensive research in the United States and overseas he developed the concept â€Å"Sell name brand merchandise at low prices† which soon became the model for all Wal-Mart stores to follow. Wal-Mart from in its early stages began to aggressively expand. Sam Walton has had experience in the retailing industry prior the company’s actual creation with his starting point at J.C. Penny’s as a management trainee, and after WWII branched off in the acquisition of a series of Ben Franklin variety stores. Apparent in the makeup of Wal-Mart cultur... Free Essays on Wal-Mart Free Essays on Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Abstract Sam Walton, a leader with an innovative vision, started his own company and made it into the leader in discount retailing that it is today. Through his savvy, and sometimes unusual, business practices, he and his associates led the company forward for thirty years. Today, four years after his death, the company is still growing steadily. Wal-Mart executives continue to rely on many of the traditional goals and philosophies that Sam's legacy left behind, while simultaneously keeping one step ahead of the ever-changing technology and methods of today's fast-paced business environment. The organization has faced, and is still facing, a significant amount of controversy over several different issues; however, none of these have done much more than scrape the exterior of this gigantic operation. The future also looks bright for Wal-Mart, especially if it is able to strike a comfortable balance between increasing its profits and recognizing its social and ethical resp onsibilities. Why is Wal-Mart so Successful? Is it Good Strategy or Good Strategy Implementation? In 1962, when Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas, no one could have ever predicted the enormous success this small-town merchant would have. Sam Walton's talent for discount retailing not only made Wal-Mart the world's largest retailer, but also the world's number one retailer in sales. Indeed, Wal-Mart was named "Retailer of the Decade" by Discount Store News in 1989, and on several occasions has been included in Fortune's list of the "10 most admired corporations." Even with Walton's death (after a two-year battle with bone cancer) in 1992, Wal-Mart's sales continue to grow significantly. The Wal-Mart Philosophy Wal-Mart is successful not only because it makes sound strategic management decisions, but also for its innovative implementation of those strategic decisions. Regarded by many as the entrepreneur of the c... Free Essays on Wal-mart Table of Contents I. Title Page II. Table of Contents III. Executive Summary IV. Situation Analysis a. Environment b. Industry c. Firm d. Marketing Strategy V. Problems Found in Situation Analysis a. Statement of Primary Problems b. Statement of Secondary Problems VI. Strategic Alternatives for Solving Problems a. Description of Strategic Alternative  · International Expansion b. Description of Strategic Alternative  · xxxxxxx c. Description of Strategic Alternative  · xxxxxxx d. Description of Strategic Alternative  · xxxxxxx VII. Selection of Strategic Alternatives and Implementation a. Statement of Selected Strategy b. Justification for Selection of Strategy c. Description of Implementation of Strategy VIII. Appendices a. Sustainable Competitive Advantage b. Application of:  · Porter’s five forces  · Michael Porter’s â€Å"Diamond of National Advantage.† c. III Executive Summary Sam Walton is the founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. which was established in Rogers, Arkansas 1962 due to the introduction of a new type of retailing concept called discount retailing. At the same time there was also the emergence of two well known competitors K-Mart and Target which only solidified that the American consumer was shifting more towards a different type of a general store. Walton had recognized a growing market for discount retailing and with extensive research in the United States and overseas he developed the concept â€Å"Sell name brand merchandise at low prices† which soon became the model for all Wal-Mart stores to follow. Wal-Mart from in its early stages began to aggressively expand. Sam Walton has had experience in the retailing industry prior the company’s actual creation with his starting point at J.C. Penny’s as a management trainee, and after WWII branched off in the acquisition of a series of Ben Franklin variety stores. Apparent in the makeup of Wal-Mart cultur...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Racial Discrimination in Policing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Racial Discrimination in Policing - Case Study Example This project was conducted as a result of research done in the reading and reviewing of a great variety of racially motivated occurrences creating racial tensions and reactions to those tensions. This project focused its concentration upon the eruption of violence and the implications of racially motivated criminal actions. A specific incident which caused tensions to nearly roar occurred in Eltham, Kent when a young, eighteen year old Stephen Lawrence was murdered mere yards from his home by still unidentified white assailants. Perceptions within the public eye were such that racial discrimination was often spoken about by the witnesses, the family of the victim and others involved in the investigation. Though arrests were eventually made, no convictions were ever managed, the case remains open. After some deliberation and thought I chose to study racial discrimination in policing because I felt the consideration of public perception of racial discrimination in policing Eltham, Kent would be the most appropriate use of this information and an in-depth analysis of the processes and procedures in policing would facilitate understanding. Research was conducted to include true to life accounts of the entirety. This was the reason for seeking out governmental inquiries and files that would give accurate and even eye witness testimony of the events that occurred on 22 April 1993 in the brutal death of Stephen Lawrence. The methodology of this project was to develop the viewpoint of the various inquiries and police accounts along with the eyewitness accounts during and after the incident that erupted in the death of Stephen Lawrence more than a decade in the past. The impact of the work performed proves that one's perception of events rarely coincides with another's. There have been two inquiries into the events that transpired and resulted in the death of Stephen Lawrence in Waltham, Kent on 22 April 1993. Neither inquiry resulted in arrest and conviction of those responsible nor would those arrested at the time of the incident have been convicted, instead they were acquitted of the charges against them due to lack of evidence linking them to the crime. The inquiries were held to reveal the inadequacies of policing and the automatic perceptions of race implied or otherwise in the methods utilized while working to discover truth in the midst of mysterious occurrences. The evidence of these incidents would be documented several times in several testaments to the incident, including The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, Report of an Inquiry by Sir William Macpherson of Cluny as advised by Tom Cook, the Right Reverend Dr. John Sentamu, and Dr. Richard Stone in February 1999. A treatise titled Racist Murder and Pressure Group Politics written by Norman Denni s, George Erdos, and Ahmed Al-Shahi from the Institute for the Study of Civil Society in London first published in September 2000. The Black Information Link of London also provided information in regards to Stephen Lawrence and the results of the official inquiries conducted. The annual reports of the metropolitan police in the United Kingdom would have been consulted, utilizing their annual

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Tankless water heaters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Tankless water heaters - Essay Example Adomatis (2010) predicts that new homes buyers â€Å"may be willing to pay for the cost of the energy efficient items in green construction† as a means of reducing energy expenses. Not only can energy efficiency building requirements save money, but energy efficiency can also save homeowners money by heating their homes in the winter and cooling their homes in summer with less power and resources. Energy Star is program jointly operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. The program is designed to help Americans reduce the cost of energy and at the same time protect the environment via the use of â€Å"energy efficient products and practices† (Energy Star, n.d.). Though ENERGY STAR ® program serves as a trusted source of voluntary standards and unbiased information, federal and state policies provide additional sources for consumers and organizations to adopt other energy-efficient products and practices that further reduce gr eenhouse gases (GHGs). The purpose of this memo is to propose a code enforced method for improving appliance efficiency via the mandatory installment of Tankless Water Systems only in the construction of new dwelling houses. ... i. The installation of traditional hot water heaters (reserve tank) systems in the construction of all new homes will be prohibited. b. Natural gas (or propane, with be the primary means of energy used for the tankless water systems. i. In the event natural gas installation is not practicable, electric tankless units with an EF rating of >92 may be used as an alternative. c. Tankless systems can include multiple installations that would then be placed directly near a hot water demand source. However, this must not be installed in any combination with conventional storage tank water heater systems. An example would be a booster heater for augmenting a traditional hot water heater system. d. Solar or other heat exchange technologies that utilize on-demand heating for hot water are also included with this code proposal. Reasons for the Change in Texas Building Code The minimum allowable efficiency for residential water heaters is regulated by federal standards. New amended federal stand ards to take effect on April 16, 2015 are detailed in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) (See Table 1). Federal initiatives have been implemented to further promote green initiatives and are detailed in the Executive Order 13423 and 13221. These Executive Orders, issued in 2009, require federal agencies to acquire energy-efficient products in the acquisition of commercially available, off-the-shelf products for goods and services. If the same practices were applied to the residential sector, further gains to maximize green initiative savings would be more beneficial for the public as a whole. Table 1 Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Water Heaters Source: Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Afghanistan culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Afghanistan culture - Essay Example Even though Muslims constitute the majority of population in Afghanistan, it doesn’t mean that all Afghanis have same customs, traits and beliefs. It should be noted that Afghan Muslims are divided into different groups based on their belongingness in different tribes and ethnic groups. Perhaps Afghan Muslims are the most fundamentalist religious group in the world which is evident from the incidents happened in Afghanistan under Taliban regime. The story of a teenage girl called Ayesha Bibi was caught the attention of the media in recent times because of the atrocities committed to her by the Taliban leaders. Muslims in other parts of the world follow comparatively more civilized life than the Muslims in Afghanistan. This paper analyses Afghan culture from the views of two prominent authors; Thomas Barfield and John Esposito. The living condition of women in Afghanistan is worst in the world. Barfield (2010) pointed out that â€Å"Afghan women cannot attend any public functi ons and they have a strict code of conduct in public places. Moreover, they are banned from getting proper education† (Barfield, p.262). Esposito (2002) also expressed similar opinions about the pathetic life of Afghan women. He has mentioned that while women in most societies have access to education, Afghan women were not able to get education under Taliban regime (Esposito, p.100). Afghan culture treats women as second class citizens. It never allows Afghan women to come out form home take part in social activities as do by the men. In other words, the status of men and women in Afghan culture holds huge differences. Because of the adherences to religion, Afghan Muslims believe that girls must stay home and it is right to men to beat women if they disobey them. The story of a teenage Afghan girl called Bibi Ayesha, aged only 18, is relevant here. â€Å"At the age of 18, Aisha had her nose and ears hacked off by her husband as a punishment for trying to flee the arranged ma rriage, before being dragged to a mountainside to die† (Brave Bibi: The Time cover girl whose nose was cut off by the Taliban takes the New York subway). Stoning of adulteresses and the amputations of the hands and feet of thieves was part of Afghan culture under Taliban regime (Esposito, p.149). Stoning of criminals was an uncivilized punishment in the ancient period. However, it is practiced in Afghanistan even in the twenty first century. It should be noted that men who commit adultery may not get any punishment in Afghanistan whereas women who establish relationship with males other than their husband may get cruel punishments. Afghan Tribes are type of ethnic groups that defines its membership through the unilineal descent from a common ancestor, real or assumed. In Afghanistan, such descent is through male line (Barfield, p.22). It should be noted that a family with no male children has no significance in Afghan culture. In other words, Afghan people like to know their s uccessors in the name of their father rather than that of their mother. Male dominance is visible in every aspect of Afghan culture. Esposito also expressed similar opinions. He has pointed out that â€Å"In Afghanistan, crimes are punished at the discretion of a male Muslim judge or qadi† (Esposito, p.187). In other words, it is impossible to see a woman judge in Afghan courts. Afghan people believe that only the males have the abilities and intelligence to segregate between good and evil. Because of the above perception, only the male candidates are appointed in Afghan courts. Unlike other parts of the world, no groups in Afghanistan make mythical claims of having always been on the same plot of lands since creation. Instead one listens gravely to the stories of how the ancestors of one group conquered the land

Friday, November 15, 2019

Importance of Age Discrimination in Employment Regulations

Importance of Age Discrimination in Employment Regulations Abstract This dissertation discusses the rationale for age discrimination legislation, examining both evidence of age discrimination and incentives for employers to discriminate based on age. Questions concerning the justification for and effectiveness of age discrimination legislation are likely to become progressively more significant in light of a rapidly aging population in the United Kingdom, and an often misunderstood and victimized youth. This dissertation presents a summary, critical review, and synthesis of age discrimination legislation. At the outset, it traces out the background of age discrimination and discusses implementation of the new law. It then reviews the existing research on age discrimination in relation to younger and older workers- research which addresses the rationale of legislation, its effectiveness and criticisms. Finally, it looks for answers from the United States and draws a conclusion. In writing this dissertation it was found that empirical tests and certainly commentary on age discrimination were far less numerous, more varied and sometimes less direct than those relating to race or gender discrimination. Neumark believes that there are two reasons for this: research on age discrimination had and continues to have less urgency, because older groups generally do not suffer the sizable pay differences associated with gender and unemployment rate disparities, and; regression-based empirical methods for gender and race are not thought to affect productivity as with age discrimination.[1] Introduction Discrimination: Treatment and Equality Unfair discrimination takes several forms, some more invidious than others. Fortunately, the Framework Directive forbids both direct and indirect forms of discrimination. Direct discrimination arises, for example, where due to the victim’s gender, age, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation, that individual would not be treated with the same opportunities and benefits as another individual in comparable situations. In other words, direct discrimination is where an individual is treated less favourably on a forbidden ground, such as age, than another person would be treated. Indirect discrimination on the other hand, occurs where a seemingly neutral practice or rule puts individuals of a particular age, for example, at a specific disadvantage compared with other individuals, and where it is not objectively justifiable. On this basis, two central components relating to discrimination emerge: treatment and equality. The treatment component suggests that discrimination is often due to the failure to treat a person as an individual: The point is not always appreciated by those who write about discrimination, perhaps particularly by those writers who lack personal experience of discrimination. To them it is a puzzle that the remedy for discrimination is seen politically as a matter of groups rather than individuals, for in the traditional debates of liberalism, the wrongs of inequality of opportunity, for instance, are wrongs done to individuals and the remedies are equally atomistic. But discrimination has displaced simple injustice in the language of social and political oppression precisely where it transcends the individualism of traditional liberal values and acknowledges that group-related wrongs are in issue †¦ The issues here are often obscured by the valid assertion that discrimination is what it is in virtue of treating someone as a member of a group rather than as an individual. In contrast, in allocative situations the proper thing to do is to allocate by the merit, ability, need, capacity of the individual concerned rather than on the basis of average (or stereotyped) properties of members of that group †¦ In this sense discrimination is the failure to individuate, that is to treat on an individual basis.[2] Nonetheless, it is the principle of equality which underpins anti-discrimination legislation. Bernard Williams propounds the idea that the central ethical basis of discrimination seems to be that even though human beings may be unequal in their skill, intelligence, strength or virtue, ‘it is their common humanity that constitutes their equality.’[3] All of us share common humanity and are entitled to be considered equally on the grounds of individual merit rather than on the grounds of group stereotypes or suppositions. Nowadays, this is not simply a moral idea but it is also an economic and social necessity.[4] Furthermore, the demands of our modern technologically progressive society for a skilled and working population imply that it is not only unfair but economically damaging to discriminate unduly on the grounds of generalisations and stereotypes. This point was expressed succinctly be Andrew Smith MP, the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportuni ties: To base employment decisions on pre-conceived ideas about age, rather than on skills and abilities, is to waste the talents of a large part of the population. In ten years time, for example, more than a quarter of the workforce will be aged over fifty. This is a huge resource- for businesses and for the country- which could be wasted unless we tackle the way stereotypes based on age wrongly exclude people from jobs and training. It is a resource that we cannot afford to waste.[5] Age Discrimination The Age Discrimination in Employment regulations, taking effect in 2006 will make discrimination on the grounds of employment unlawful. Currently, however, discrimination on the grounds of age is not unlawful in the United Kingdom, insofar as it does not amount to discrimination on other grounds, for example sex discrimination. In Secretary of State v Rutherford, for example, a man, who was aged 67, was dismissed by his employers on redundancy grounds.[6] Any person older than 65 years, in conjunction with Sections 109 and 156 of the Employment Rights Act is not entitled to redundancy payment. In the Employment Tribunal’s opinion, a higher proportion of males worked beyond retirement age than women, therefore, the legislation was seen to be discriminatory against men. Although the judgement was reversed, the case clearly illustrates the relationship between age and sex. Preceding the 1997 general election, the Labour Party was faithful to age discrimination legislation. However, following the General Election, it was decided that a non-statutory route was more favourable. It was thought that ‘on balance, there was no consensus of opinion on legislation and a strong case for legislation was not made during the consultation.’[7] Thus, following a consultation, the Government introduced the Code of Practice on Age Diversity on Employment in 1999, rather than legislation on age discrimination. This tactic was a failure, as the following survey suggests. A survey was conducted in 2000 on the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment. Of 800 companies interviewed in a Department for Education and Employment survey, only 1% introduced a change as a direct result of the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment and just 4% believed that a future change was likely.[8] Two thirds, 68%, of the respondents believed that a future change linked to the Code was unlikely, with a quarter, 27%, uncertain as to whether they will introduce the change or not. The main reason given for no change was the credence that their company practice and policy already meets the guidelines. The survey intended to cover a cross section of randomly selected employers, with results weighted to imitate the profile of companies in Great Britain. When asked directly about the Code, 29% of companies were aware of the Code, with awareness being notably higher in large companies, where 60% were aware of it. Nonetheless, only a quarter, 23%, who knew of the C ode had actually seen a copy of it. In one survey, 86% of all respondents favoured a statutory approach to age discrimination in employment, compared with 13% preferring a voluntary one.[9] Gender and race discrimination have been the principal focus of researchers studying discrimination and are thus by far the most vociferously debated. Nevertheless, a comprehensive analysis and understanding of age discrimination is crucial. The simplest definition of age discrimination, which highlights much of the empirical work on race and gender discrimination, is aversion on the part of employers for hiring from precise subgroups of the population, as in the Becker employer discrimination model.[10] Neumark believes that such ‘discriminatory tastes are most easily interpreted as based on animus.’[11] He also states that discrimination may be based on ‘incorrect stereotypes,’ which cause employers to treat employees differently, for instance due to age; a feature which is isolated from productivity or costs.[12] That said, Neumark recognises differential treatment based on age for reasons other than animus or stereotypes, but warns that interpreting whet her such treatment is discriminatory is notoriously complex.[13] The tension lies in distinguishing between differential treatment based on age and factors that happen to be related to age but are not necessarily driven by age related considerations per se. The Government’s consultation document failed to sufficiently define age discrimination; it simply stated: It is hard to define age discrimination succinctly. The consultation made it clear that there can be both direct and indirect forms of age discrimination in employment. The most obvious forms are where people held strong, stereotypical views about a person’s capabilities to do a job or to be developed because of their age.[14] There is an inherent difficulty with arriving at an acceptable definition because the concept of discrimination implies that there is a discrete group who are being discriminated against, yet, in the context of age discrimination, ‘everyone has some age.’[15] In other words, to define age discrimination in terms of discrimination on the basis of age is unacceptable, because it identifies the discrete group as the entire population. The Government’s consultation document does not define these distinct groups but speaks of discrimination as it affects large numbers of workers. As Sargeant notes, the mistake with this approach is that it fails to recognize solutions which might be age specific, for example, the solutions for discrimination against younger workers might be different to the discrimination against older workers.[16] A comparative analysis of age discrimination in the European Community offers the following definition: Direct discrimination: measures targeted at older workers based solely on grounds of age, and no other factors, such as abilities or health. These measures use specific age limits to exclude older workers from, for example, training and employment schemes, or from applying for jobs †¦ Indirect discrimination: measures which are not directly age-specific, but which have disproportionately negative impact on older workers, compared with other age groups. This hidden discrimination usually has the most widespread negative impact on older workers in employment.[17] However, age discrimination does not take place simply in relation to older workers; it also takes place in relation to younger workers also, as the following discussion will demosatrate. Main Body The New Law The age component of the European Employment Framework Directive is to be implemented by the United Kingdom Government in October 2006. Consultation was resolved in October 2003. The Regulations are intended to afford protection for a number of different categories: people who are working (including agency workers and self employed workers); work applicants; people undertaking for or applying for employment training; people undertaking or applying for further education or higher education courses; members, or applicants for membership, of trade unions or a trade or professional bodies. The protection will apply to both direct and indirect discrimination, including victimisation and harassment. The current state of the transposition of the age discrimination provisions vary from member state to member state. Some member states, including the United Kingdom, have utilised a delay in transposition, taking advantage of the provision outlined in Article 18. The United Kingdom government has taken an approach that includes both detailed consultation and active awareness raising; which is welcome. It is also reviewing wider equality issues and has sought a delay to enable it to embark on this work. For this reason, there is considerable uncertainty over the detail of the age legislation because it is not known how the government will implement Article 6 of the Directive Article 1 Equal Treatment and Employment and Occupation Directive, provides that the purpose is to provide a general framework for combating discrimination in relation to a number of grounds including age.[18] The Directive does, however, cover a number of other areas besides age. The Preamble refers to equal treatment and the right to equality before the law and protection against discrimination, as recognised by the UN and ILO declarations. Article 3 informs that Article 1 will apply in relation to conditions such as access to employment, access to vocational training, employment and working conditions and membership of employers’ or workers’ organisations. Article 4 permits the discretion that a difference of treatment may be justified where there is a ‘genuine and determining occupational requirement, provided that the objective is legitimate and the requirement is proportionate.’ Article 6 refers to justifications in differences of treatment due to age. It follows that differences in treatment may be justified if ‘they are objectively and responsibly justified by a legitimate aim including legitimate employment policy, labour market and vocational treatment.’ Examples of such differences were provided as: where there are special conditions for access to employment and training, including dismissal and remuneration for young people, older workers and persons with caring responsibilities in order to promote their integration into the workforce; fixing minimum conditions of age, professional experience or seniority for access to employment or certain advantages that are linked; fixing a maximum age limit for recruitment which is based either on the training requirements of the post, or the need for a reasonable period before retirement. In order to set in context the problem of age discrimination and therefore the benefits of the new legislation, it is necessary to refer to statistical evidence. One in four people in their fifties and sixties report that they have experienced discrimination in work or when applying for a job[19] and one in five people are discouraged from applying for a job due to ageist recruitment advertisements.[20] In addition, almost a million people over fifty who would like to work are not working.[21] The Government estimates that the economy will benefit by over  £1 billion during the first twenty years with the new age legislation.[22] Similar figures are mirrored in an interview of 150 people, where 78% of older workers, who had been victims of ageism, said that the experience continued to stay with them and ‘scar’ their lives.[23] The same survey revealed that 71% found that ageism effected their mental wellbeing, with one in three believing that it had affected their marr iage. The delay in transposition of the Directive, in terms of the United Kingdom government, was taken in order to enable it to conduct consultation and awareness- raising. In this respect, AGE has called upon the member states to establish an independent body with powers to promote awareness and ensure compliance on age. The Directive does not make such a provision but it is undoubtedly important for employers to receive advice and guidance. The United Kingdom government has created an advisory group on the Directive, from a range of stakeholders and a taskforce on the creation of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. These bodies intend to compliment the government’s Age Positive Campaign, to promote positive attitudes amongst employers. BT has welcomed the new legislation, already instigating a proactive approach to employing older workers: A work environment that actively supports all our employees is central to BT’s culture, and equality of opportunity- regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability or age- is championed throughout the company †¦ Encouraging diversity and developing an inclusive culture is vital to our strategy of creating customer-focused business †¦ Promoting diversity and inclusion is for us a way of establishing a meritocracy within the company and is a means of ensuring that we have the right people in the right jobs. In many ways our commitment to diversity and equal opportunities has gone beyond the business case.[24] It has introduced a portfolio of flexible options to support a decade of retirement for its employees and this has seen an increase in its proportion of employees aged over 50 from 13% to 24% in three years.[25] If this is an indication of support by employers about the new legislation, it is to be welcomed.[26] Such rapid and early changes are highly advantageous to employers, since they can gain a comprehensive insight of the laws in advance and are thus more likely to avoid claims of age discrimination and associated costs. Certainly, the United Kingdom, along with other industrialized countries, has a rapidly ageing population. Therefore, age discrimination legislation will become increasingly more important. In 1971, half of the population was aged under 34.1 years,[27] with the median age rising to 38.4 years in 2003.[28] This is owing to declines in both fertility rates and mortality rates, for example, between 1971 and 2003, the number of under-16s fell by 18% while the number of people aged 65 and over rose by 28%.[29] [30] Continued population ageing is inevitable during the first half of this century, since the number of elderly people will rise, as the relatively large numbers of people born after the Second World War and during the 1960s baby boom became older.[31] Indeed, projections suggest that the number of people aged 65 and over will exceed the numbers aged 16 from 2013. [32] Furthermore, the working age population will also fall in size as the baby-boomers move into retirement and since relatively small numbers of people have been born since mid- 1970s.[33] Another report, by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development claimed that if nothing is done soon, standards will fall.[34] This is one demographic argument in favour of the new legislation: there is a need to retain older workers in the workforce, because there will be a reduction in the number of young people entering it. The other demographic argument is to raise the retirement age, so as to stop people becoming an economic burden on a reducing workforce.[35] Never before has age discrimination legislation been so essential! It was reported in Equal Opportunities Review that the Irish Labour Court awarded  £6,000 to a legal secretary, who claimed that she had been discriminated against on the grounds of age.[36] At the time of the hearing, Ireland was the only European country that had protection against age discrimination in its employment legislation. The case represents the first age discrimination case to be decided by a European Court. It therefore presents favourable optimism for enforcing the new legislation.[37] The complainant was employed by a law firm, as a legal secretary for eleven months. The complainant alleged that her dismissal was due to the respondent’s decision to employ a younger person. The dispute was initially based on whether the complainant was a temporary or permanent employee, but she had never been presented with a written contract of employment and the court motioned that, in any case, this was of no value if the reason for her dismissal was based on age. The Court discovered that, prior to the complainant’s dismissal the partners of the firm had decided to redesign the job, which meant being trained to provide a quasi-legal and secretarial service. It emerged that the complainant was not considered for the new job, despite her experience and suitability for the new post. The Court observed that the complainant’s dismissal was arose because the new post had been designed for a younger person and that, the complainant, by reason of her age, did not m eet the prerequisite. It was therefore held that the complainant was discriminated against by reason of her age. The new legislation is welcomed more so when one looks to current policies employed at work on age discrimination. From one report, it emerged that just over half of the employers- 63 out of 122 respondents- had a written policy mentioning age diversity.[38] The remainder of employers did not yet have a policy on age diversity or indeed age discrimination.[39] Where the policies did exist it emerged that age discrimination was just one part of a list of possible grounds of discrimination. An example of such a practice was characteristic of Nottingham Primary Care Trust.[40] Age was included in the equal opportunity policy stating, ‘no employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, age, race, martial status, disability, religion, sexual orientation, sexual assignment, creed, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins.’[41] It also emerged from the report that 30% of organisations in the public sector had an age policy, and public sector organisations formed just 23% of the respondents.[42] Just 27% of the respondents adopted the government’s Code of Practice, despite an increasing number, 63%, being aware of it.[43] Furthermore, it was found that just 56% monitored the age profile of their workforce.[44] However, although legislation is an important start, combating discrimination also needs a broader approach. Indeed, the Directive explicitly calls on the member states to consult with stakeholders when transposing the Directive. In addition to legislation, member states should develop initiatives to inform individual workers and employers about their new rights and responsibilities, and to change employer and social attitudes towards age issues. Without this, the Directive will be less effective, as the House of Lords observed: Few employers operate overtly ageist recruitment and retention policies (except in so far as they use fixed retirement ages). Age discrimination is frequently the unconscious outcome of an employer’s more general human resource management policy and procedure †¦ the eradication of unconscious discrimination will require a fundamental cultural change on the part of employers and workers.[45] Failure to acknowledge the new legislation, coupled with its novel influence, could create ‘an explosion of unnecessary tribunal cases,’ according to the CBI.[46] The Employers Forum on Age claims that employers could be exposed to litigation costs for unfair dismissal and discrimination claims of up to  £193 million in the first year of the legislation alone.[47] A survey of 500 firms revealed that two-thirds of firms observed a rise in dubious employment tribunal claims and that companies feared the problem will escalate with the implementation of the new age legislation. Certainly, John Cridland, the CBI deputy director general, remarked: ‘In the current compensation culture, there’s a risk that people will take advantage of legal clarity.’[48] 44% of companies have little confidence in employment tribunals, believing the system to be ineffective.[49] This, of course, has the knock-on effect of costly charges of discrimination claims being brough t by employees. In order to prevent such costly proceedings, United Kingdom businesses should prepare and protect themselves in advance of the age discrimination legislation, just as BT has done. Combating age discrimination is certainly a new concept for many member states, indeed the United Kingdom. There is evidence that a number of governments and social partners do not yet recognize the reality of age discrimination and perceive it as similar to the other grounds of discrimination.[50] Certainly, one powerful criticism is that the Directive takes a negative and retrospective approach to discrimination, in line with other areas of discrimination protection. It appears that the extensive use of the discretionary power within Article 6 of the Directive, seeks to validate differences on the grounds of age as a legitimate criterion for discrimination.[51] The fact that these exceptions were spelled out in the Directive is interesting. Sargeant believes that it is perhaps indicative of the way that age discrimination should be treated differently from other types of discrimination.[52] Sargeant continues: There appears to be an economic or business imperative that suggests that more harm will be done if discrimination does not take place, rather than an imperative that states that age discrimination is wrong and can only be justified in exceptional circumstances. Effectively, widespread discrimination is to be allowed to continue except those forms which are held not to be for the economic good of the business.[53] The lack of understanding on the issue, is highlighted in the prevalent malpractice among member states, for example, age limits in human resource management.[54] In its report on EU Proposals to Combat Discrimination, the House of Lords Select Committee was highly critical of the draft Framework Directive’s failure to tackle discrimination effectively, particularly in relation to Article 6.[55] In the Committee’s opinion, the draft failed: To achieve the Commission’s goals of providing clear limits and certainty in the field of age discrimination. As drafted, there is a strong possibility that it would do more harm than good, effectively legalising age discrimination throughout the Community. There appears to be no coherent pattern in the list of justifications. Equally, it is unclear what ages will be covered, and what comparisons will apply in judging age discrimination. The draft framework Directive will give no protection to the growing proportion of the population which is over the age of retirement. It appears that the determination to tackle age discrimination is not uniformly strong. It is therefore vital that the Action Programme and similar measures should place particular emphasis on building awareness of the issue. At the same time the government should seek to ensure that any exceptions to the principle of equal treatment irrespective of age are clearly defined and justified. There have been minor improvements in the drafting of the Directive, but the substance of the criticisms remain. A wide latitude is given to the member states about the scope and limits of the legislation and there is a concern about the effectiveness of the right in the sanctions for infringement that are ‘effective, proportionate and dissuasive.’[56] Moreover, dilemmas are resulting from an uneven transposition. As stated previously, some member states have asked for a delay in transposition. Whilst the United Kingdom’s reasons may be justified, this undermines the essence of a Directive. A Directive aims to regularize the legal systems of member states, insofar as possible so that the same material conditions are in force throughout. A Directive is binding on the member states as regards the overall objective to be achieved. A recent case suggests why States need to work closely on these issues. Easyjet and British Air Line Pilot’s Association, have reported a complaint that three member states have banned pilots over the age of 60 from their airspace, due to health and safety grounds, despite there being no correlation with any other countries in the European Union. To emphasise this point further, in some Member States, such as Germany, Portugal, and Luxembourg, there has been little or no progress reported in the transposition process.[57] In other member states, such as France, Italy and Austria, there has been technical compliance with the legislative requirements of the Directive but nothing to promote awareness of age discrimination and engagement of stakeholders.[58] Other member states, such as Ireland and Belgium, have widened the scope of the legislation into the field of goods and services, while others, notably the United Kingdom, have asked for a delay.[59] It seems that the Council has missed the opportunity to adopt a single unified Directive, which is not on miscellaneous grounds.[60] On the other hand, the House of Lords have expressed their anxiety in relation to implementing the new legislation in such a short time frame and that the delay is not long enough: We are concerned that the timescale for the implementation of the legislation on age discrimination will allow employers and workers at most two years to revise their procedures and expectations to conform with the new legislation. This is a very short period given the scale of the cultural shift required, and it may impose a part