Mega project. Toronto, Canada Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Mega project. Toronto, Canada - Research Paper Example Historically, employment activity is conducted in the area being part of a larger precinct. It is along rail corridors designated as Employment areas in the City of Toronto Official Plan and Zoning By-law No. 438-86. The proponent submitted the application to amend the City of Toronto Official Plan to convert the industrial property in question into a residential property in June 28, 2005. The applicant asked the City Council to amend the former City of Toronto Zoning By-law No. 438-86 in order to convert the industrial property into residential. It argued that it is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement related to employment areas and permission for conversion of lands within the designation as long as a proposal provides a comprehensive review that there is a need for conversion. The proposal argued that the â€Å"existing uses have coexisted with nearby residential uses for decades,† (Lintern, p 7). The proposal was supported in part by residents who attended a community meeting in October 24, 2005. It also proposed that the amendment will contribute to the City’s housing supply. The Office of the Director for Community Planning in Etobicoke York District disagreed and recommended for the refusal of the said proposal. Others who opposed the proposal include local industries Canada Bread, NRI Industries, St. Mary’s Cement, and Topper Linen Supply Limited. The industries mentioned argued about the possible impacts to their operations about the proposed amendment of the property into a residential one. Aside from the proposal’s failure to pass the two tests necessary as part of the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) which should justify that the land will no longer have a role for employment purposes in the long term as well as provide enough ground for the need t convert the area into a residential one. In addition, the following were

Globalization Is A Major Driving Force Commerce Essay

Globalization Is A Major Driving Force Commerce Essay Human interaction is on pace of increasing day by day with the help of new technology. We first were comfortable interacting at local, then at national and now expanding to international level. Its not only interaction but we are expanding our business at international level. Thus the word used Globalization. Globalization is a major driving force for this change the companies in this marketplace are facing. The degree of success of these companies also varies significantly. The question arises, hence, if there is a correlation between the extent of globalization of these companies, and the success they experience in their respective operations. This study has researched this question. The globalization process involves the establishment of economic, political, social, and technological links among countries. Globalization has become todays need of each and every company. Todays small scale industries aim is globalization. In todays changing world the following are the factors that lead to globalization- The Internet The Internet has served to completely eliminate the physical barrier of distance that used to exist in regards to transmission of information. People from anywhere in the world communicates instantly with people anywhere else through the connection provided by the Internet. Governments have very difficult time restricting information within their borders because the Internet doesnt respect or acknowledge international borders. The result is information freely passing throughout the world. Certain governments fear this freedom of information and take steps to prevent it. China, for example, limits this effect by blocking certain websites within its borders. Technology: The most important tool used in todays world is technology. Its role is vital with reference to business continuity. Technology is the vital force in the modern form of business globalization. Technology has revolutionized the global economy and has become critical competitive strategy. It has globalized the world, which drive all the countries to more ethical standards. Globalization has led to new markets and information technology is one of the technologies fostered to the new market in this increasing competitive world. Technology has helped us in overcoming the major hurdles of globalization and international trade such as trade barrier, lack of common ethical standard, transportation cost and delay in information exchange, thereby changing the market place. Technology has enabled the software experts to work collaboratively over the network with companies from around the world. The technological advancement has helped a lot in creation and growth of global market. Multinational Corporations (MNC) can be seen as a central actor in globalization. Markets have become global at a rapid pace, as indicated by several kinds of trade extended to foreign countries. The innovation in host country is often undertaken by MNC based in one country and due to the technological advancement MNC(s) have expanded to other countries by some kinds of FDI also facilitating the movement of research and development. The researchers have analysed that though the technology has globalized the business but economically well developed countries have been more benefited. While technology has created many opportunities for global networks of tasks it is important to look at the friction in the system to understand the limitations. The sources of friction are many and could bring the system to its knees. Companies and countries that want to thrive in this era of globalization will seek to mitigate the abuses, while dealing with the friction. Technology is further divided into the following areas like communication technology, Economic Technology, Transport Technology. Economic Technology: Economic globalization is driven ahead by the ability of international businessmen, bankers and brokers to conduct business in ways that were never possible prior to modern technology. Trades and investments are made instantly with little regard for international borders, time of day or distance via todays technology. In addition, products that used to require shipping, and therefore import and export, such as books, CDs and movies are now digitally distributed, further leading to business globalization. Transport Technology: Improving technology has completely changed the transportation industry in the post-war world. Technology advances lead to transportation that was more readily available, more reliable, faster and more cost efficient. In the latter half of the 20th century, it became in many cases more cost efficient to ship certain products halfway across the world than to manufacture them at home. This plays a very important role in the ongoing globalization trend. Communications Technology: Communications of all kinds, even above and beyond the Internet, is another key component to globalization. Not only has communication throughout the world become possible, it has also become affordable. Long distance phone calls cost much less money, fax machines allowed people to transmit full documents even before email came along and cell phones ensure that everyone anywhere can stay in touch. This allows corporations to extend their reach at small cost across international borders, leading to increased globalization of industry. The Process of Globalization: Globalization involves the creation of linkages or interconnections between nations. It is usually understood as a process in which barriers (physical, political, economic, cultural) separating different regions of the world are reduced or removed, thereby stimulating exchanges in goods, services, money, and people. Removal of these barriers is called liberalization. As these exchanges grow, nations, and the businesses involved, become increasingly integrated and interdependent. Globalization promotes mutual reliance between countries. Globalization can have many advantages for business such as new markets, a wider choice of suppliers for goods and services, lower prices, cheaper locations for investment, and less costly labour. It can also carry dangers because dependence on foreign suppliers and markets leaves businesses vulnerable to events in foreign economies and markets outside their control. Take the examples of Spain and Italy and their dependence on foreign countries for their energy supplies; they illustrate how important the interlinkages brought about by globalization can be, and what can happen when things go wrong. Since the 1980s, natural gas has become increasingly important in Spain as a source of energy. Spain itself produces an insignificant amount of oil and coal. As a result it depends on foreign suppliers for 99% of its natural gas requirements which is growing by 15% per annum. Three quarters of its gas supply comes from three African countries, Algeria, Nigeria, and Libya. These countries are potentially unstable both politically and economically. This leaves Spains power stations and four million Spanish consumers very vulnerable to any instability with their African suppliers (see the International Atomic Energy Authority web site www.iaea.org; and Isbel). Italy is dependent on cross-border supplies of electricity from Switzerland. In 2003 major sections of the Italian economy were brought to a standstill. Let us see the impact of Globalization on in the area of renewable energy and industrial energy efficiency. Globalization of Renewable Energy In recent years, the world has seen a dynamic shift of the energy landscape in terms of consumption, which has drastically increased, and with it, the reliance on energy resources, which are terminal. In this backdrop, the necessity to use the existing resources available in the most efficient manner has gained substantial importance, as has the unavoidable necessity to develop perennial energy resources. There are a large number of companies worldwide active in this area, most of them having started their specialized activities when the topic of energy efficiency and renewability was not as fashionable as it is today. Most of these companies have been small businesses, focused in their region and specific field of operation. In these changing times, these small businesses have grown both in terms of regional coverage of operations, and diversity of portfolio of offerings. In India, and particularly in Maharashtra, there are several such companies in operation. Not only does a conducive business and production atmosphere lead to start-up and thriving activities of the entrepreneurs of these companies but also the availability of renewable energy resources (such as geothermal resources) in Maharashtra lead to the presence of such companies in this state. The presence of industry leads to a market for industrial energy efficiency solutions. The growth has, in most cases, brought along with it not only promising opportunities, but also substantial challenges. The strategic direction of the business, careful selection of portfolio elements to ensure profitability on a sustained basis, ensuring the availability of finance to fuel the growth, recruiting, orientation retraining and retaining qualified staff and operations in previously unknown markets are some of the possible challenges faced. The current trends clearly show that businesses active in this area are rapidly gaining market and investor visibility as the solutions provided by them are eagerly sought after by a wide variety of customers in a global marketplace. Globalization is a major driving force for this change the companies in this marketplace are facing. The degree of success of these companies also varies significantly. The question arises, hence, if there is a correlation between the extent of globalization of these companies, and the success they experience in their respective operations. This study has researched this question. Renewable Energy Industrial Energy Efficiency Renewable energy (RE), as stated by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and bio-fuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources. Energy Efficiency (EE) is the use of lesser amount of energy to produce or provide an unchanged (or higher) level of output. The efforts, mechanisms and technologies used for achieving energy efficiency vary widely, ranging from energy saving lamps and improved thermal insulation in homes and buildings, to highly efficient drives and motors and industrial waste heat recovery for power and heat generation in industry. The term is referred to as Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) in an industrial context. According to the IEA, renewable energy resources and significant opportunities for energy efficiency exist over wide geographical areas, in contrast to other energy sources, which are concentrated in a limited number of countries. Rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and technological diversification of energy sources, would result in significant energy security and economic benefits Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said, in a report by the American Councils on Renewable Energy (ACORE), and for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), to be the twin pillars of sustainable energy policy Globalization Success Globalization has come to be a very widely used term in recent decades in various realms. The most common reference is, though, made in terms of its occurrence and impact in the area of trade and business. Of the many definitions of globalization available in the public domain, the one that identifies it as a generic term for all processes of international integration arising from increasing human connectivity and interchange of worldviews, products, services, capital, ideas, and other aspects of business and culture sums it up appropriately. The significant development in digital communication, especially owing to the advent and rise of the World Wide Web, and in the transportations systems and infrastructure for both humans and goods are major enablers and drivers of globalization, leading to an increased interdependence of economic activities world-wide. Globalization of companies, as this study has attempted to capture and quantify, has several dimensions, including global presence, source of financing and capital, markets of their end products, elements of their value chain from suppliers, to research development and workforce etc. Measuring the extent of the companies globalization using these dimensions has provided an objective basis for making their data and attributes comparable with each other on a uniform scale. Success as a term does not require further elaboration. In the context of this study, though, success has been seen to have several dimensions, including the viability of a commercial enterprise, market share, shareholder value, financial performance, strategic direction and employee satisfaction, to name a few. Globalization: At the start of the 21st century there is one issue that is discussed more than almost any other. That issue is called globalization. Hardly a day goes by without globalization being mentioned by politicians, broadcasters, and newspapers. It has made its way in schools, colleges, and universities too. It can even be heard in discussions among the general public in the street, in shops or at work. It seems almost anything that happens today can be attributed to or blamed upon globalization. We all have probably heard the expression Its a small world. People have been saying it for years but now it is true. Just check out the labels on your clothes almost certainly they have been made in another part of the world. Turn on the computer and the internet will give you access to websites almost anywhere. Look at sport on television and you will see that it has a worldwide audience. So why do we now live in a small world? The answer lies with improved travel and communications which have made links with other people and countries around the world so much quicker and easier. These links have increased at such a rapid rate that we now have a new word to describe it. The word is globalization. But what exactly is globalization? Relatively few people can answer this question. This is not surprising as even the experts cannot agree on what globalization means. Making sense of globalization should be a priority for anyone concerned about the future well being of the human race and our planet. The word globalization is now so widely used that a typical internet search engine will give you over two million results! New world or new word? One of the central debates concerning globalization is the use of the word itself. Many people, including politicians mostly use this word to describe the changing nature of the world around us as we move further into the 21st century. It is used to explain changes in world politics, in the global economy, in trade and industry, in crime and terrorism, in environmental threats and solutions and also social attitudes and behavior. Others take a more critical view of globalization and say that it does not describe or explain a new word at all. To them it is simply a new buzz word for patterns and processes, such as colonization, migration and international trade that have been happening for decades or even centuries. By labeling these as globalization they argue that people are ignoring the past and the lessons it has taught us. Globalization is what we in the Third World have for several centuries called colonization. Martin Khor, Director of Third World network. Malaysia. One can be sure that virtually every one of the 2882 academic papers on globalization written in 1998 include its own definition of globalization as would each of the 589 new books on the subject published in that year. The Globalization Guide 2002. Australian Apec Study Centre. Defining the Indefinable? With so many different views on globalization, defining the term is a very difficult task. However there are some common features of most definitions, which are worth considering at an outset. Interdependency the idea that people around the world are increasingly dependent on one another. What happens in one place has an effect on people elsewhere. Interconnection the idea that we are connected to people and places that were previously distant and unknown. Shrinking of Space The idea that distances are less important. Far off places are now within reach. Speeding up of time the idea that the world is operating at an even faster pace. News, money, ideas, information and people are moving around with increasing speed. Technology the idea that technological developments, such as jet aircraft, telephones, the internet, satellite television, etc make globalization possible. Capital the idea that it is the flow of money and investments around the world that drives the globalization process. Globalization is not new, but the present era has distinctive features. Shrinking space, shrinking time, and disappearing borders are linking peoples lives more deeply, more intensely, more immediately than ever before. United Nations Human Development Report. 1999 Today, every part of the natural and human world is linked to every other. Local decisions have a global impact. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The State Of The Worlds Population 2001 The world we are in: Whether we choose to use the word or not, we live in a world where globalization affects all of us. The clothes we wear, the food we eat, the television we watch, the holidays we take, the cars we travel in, the music we listen to , and the news we follow bring us into closer contact with previously distant people and places. Although many of these encounters may pass unnoticed, anyone living in the worlds more developed countries experience some form of global interaction every day. And in the less developed countries of the world, peoples lives are increasingly shaped by global forces. This means that globalization is a truly worldwide process. It directly affects each one of us and more importantly affected by us itself. New transport, communication, and information technologies intensify competition while allowing firms to spread and manage international operations more efficiently. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report, 2001. A Fast Moving World: Faster, faster, fasterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Speed is a central element of globalization. All around us the world seems to be moving at an ever faster rate. The best example of this is the movement of information. In 2001 more information could be sent over a single cable in a second than was sent over the entire internet in a month in 1997. The speed of international communications and information flow is getting faster by the day. Technological developments, particularly in the computer and telecommunications industry are so rapid that keeping up can be a real problem. Computers bought only a few years ago can seem almost impossibly slow compared to the latest available models. People can now use their mobile phones to access the internet or have news or sports results sent to them as the events happen to them. None of this was possible just a few years ago. Indeed it seems like something from a science fiction movie as little as ten years ago. It is this rapid development that makes globalization possible. But it also raises serious concerns for those who cannot keep up with the pace of change. What happens to those who are left out of the technological revolution? This is an issue of great concern to critics of globalization. Since 1970, the speed of microprocessors has doubled every eighteen months. On the move: Some of the greatest technological developments of the past have been in transportation and this plays a vital role in globalization. From the horse drawn stagecoach to the train, from the car to the jet air craft human beings have constantly managed to shrink space by reducing journey time. Today, jet aircrafts have made international travel easier and more affordable. Business leaders can fly to their factories, partners, or clients in other cities or countries in just a few hours. This has helped production, labour forces, and markets to become increasingly international. The jet aircraft has also caused a boon in travel for personal and leisure purposes. This can be most clearly measured by the growth in international tourism an industry that many consider to be the clearest example of globalization. In 1950 there were just 25 million international arrivals (people arriving in countries all over the world). In 2000 this figure rose to 698 million which further rose to a whooping 1 billion in 2010. Improved methods of transport allow faster movement of goods around the world. For instance Kenyan companies use air freight to fly fresh flowers to Europe every night. This is so efficient that flowers can take as little as 36 hours to get from the fields in Kenya to supermarkets in Europe. Without such improvements it would have been impossible for Kenyan flower farms to compete in the European market, as their goods would have perished using more traditional transport such as ships. This is what we call international trade. Even transport by ship has speeded up, thanks to incredible engineering achievements such as the Suez Canal (connecting the Indian ocean to the Mediterranean, and onwards to the Atlantic), and the Panama Canal (connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans). The Panama Canal avoids the need for shipping to travel around the tip of South America saving a distance of up to 8000 nautical miles. Theses canals reduced journey time drastically and boosted international trade another central element of globalization. The creation of a water passage across Panama was one of the supreme human achievements of all time. The canal is an expression of that old and noble desire to bridge the divide, to bring people together David McCullough, The Path Between The Seas, 1977. The world wide web: The internet is often seen as the ultimate symbol of globalization. It allows us to communicate with people on the other side of the world, to do business with distant companies, and to share experiences with people we may never meet. It brings the world into our schools, homes and offices. Is the internet really as global as we think that it is known as the World Wide Web? Nonetheless it has plenty of users but it is still less than 1 in 6 of the worlds population. Most internet use is concentrated in just a few key regions and countries of the world. Around 80% of internet users live in the more developed regions that are home to just 14% of the worlds population. The vast majority of the worlds people play little or no part in this technological revolution. This has led many to say that the world wide web is more like a series of hubs with the rest of the world simply passed by. In fact this makes the internet highly appropriate as a symbol of globalization because time and again as one notices it is the same places that are included and excluded from other aspects of globalization. The question we have to learn to ask about new technology is not whether it benefits us, but whom does it benefit most? For the electronic revolution has far more to offer the largest enterprises on the planet than it does to you and me. Jerry Mander, President of International Forum on Globalisation Supporters of globalization argue that communications technology will help poorer, less developed countries to catch up with the more developed. South Asia is home to 23 percent of the worlds population, but has just 1 percent of its internet users. It will provide them with new opportunities to sell their produce, attract overseas investors, and perhaps also encourage international tourism. Critics are also concerned that the same technology also makes it easier for already wealthy economies to take advantage of the same opportunities. If this happens then the benefits may only add to the wealth of the already existing and have less developed regions still catching up. Money Matters: Globalization is most often discussed in relation to the growth of international trade. Global trading activities have grown enormously over the past few decades because it has become so much easier to move capital and goods from one country to another. Companies and investors can make decisions and transfer goods from once country to another at the touch of a button. The growth of international trade has been equally impressive, with merchandise (raw materials and manufactured goods) trade increasing twenty fold between 1948 and 2000. Trade in a more deregulated environment lowers the income share of the poor, whereas trade in a more regulated environment raises the share of the poor. Christian E. Weller and Adam Hersh, The Long and Short of it: Global Liberalization Poverty And Inequality Economic Policy Institute. Washington DC, USA, 2002 Technological developments such as the internet and improved methods of transport help make this possible, but there is another important factor. This is known as the opening up of economies to greater trade. This simply opening up means that government removes barriers to international trade, making it easier for foreign companies to invest in and trade with their economies. The idea behind this so called free trade system is to allow companies and individuals to choose more freely where to locate or conduct business. While doing so, they are able to choose lower cost opportunities and maximize their profits. These higher profits can then be reinvested in further projects which in turn will lead to even greater benefits and the cycle moves on. Supporters of globalization believe that by encouraging economies to open up for free trade system it will create more jobs and lead to greater wealth for all. However opponents of free trade system argue that job insecurity and poverty have both increased because of free trade and that it is often the poorest that have been hardest hit. Openness to international market forces and competition is expected to allow developing countries to alter both the pace and the pattern of their participation in international trade to catch up with industrial countries. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Trade and Development Report, 2002. International hotspots a select few: Critics of globalization point out that trade and investment are usually limited to a few international hot spots. This can be easily noticed in the distribution of investments in trade and industry around the world, using a measure FDI. Using FDI, we can see that the critics have a good point. Just three regions, the USA, the European Union, and Japan dominate FDI. Between 2008 and 2010, they account for 85% of outgoing investment and 75% of incoming investment. These figures clearly show that majority of the worlds FDI takes place in these 3 regions. This trend has led to them being called the global triad. Critics argue that as long as the triad continues to dominate international investment, less developed countries will find it very difficult à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to? The geographical structure of FDI has become far more complex in recent years, a further indication of increased interconnectedness within the global economy Peter Dicken, Global Shift: Transforming the World Economy, 1998. Supporters of globalization point out that, although still dominated by the triad, the broader patterns of FDI are changing. FDI in developing countries has increase 12 times since 2000. However this increase is unevenly shared and has benefited only a select few countries. Most notable among these is China. It has been the most favored destination for FDI outside the global triad. The main reason for this is because of its good infrastructure, cheap and plentiful labor supply, and low taxes. In 2001, developing countries accounted for just 27.9% of FDI, of which over a third went to china and Hong kong alone. The countries of middle- east and Africa attract relatively low FDI accounting a meager 1% share in global FDI. Several countries have attempted to attract FDI and boost trade by setting up Special Economic Zones or Free Trade Zones. Today there are over 850 EPZ across several countries employing 27 million people worldwide. An EPZ is an area where in which foreign companies are invited to locate their factories and conduct business. In return for their investment, the host government removes import and export tariffs for several years. The hope is that as companies become established in the EPZ they will choose to make further investments. In 1998 China had 124 EPZS employing an estimated 18 million people more than in any other country. In Sri Lankas EPZs investing companies are allowed to operate tax free for ten years. For the investors, free trade zones are a sort of corporate club Med, where the hotel pays for everything, and the guests live free, and where integration with the local culture and economy is kept to a bare minimum. Naomi Klein, No Logo, 2000. Critics feel that EPZs represent one of the worst sides of globalization. They see them as parasites, taking what they need from the host economy for their own benefit, giving little or nothing in return. The EPZ ends up as an enclave, isolated from the rest of the country. Worse, still investors have no loyalty- they would quickly relocate their business to a competing EPZ if it offered them greater opportunities. In this way investors have been likened to tourists, moving to different resorts as it suits them best. Their ability to shop around for the best deals can even force governments to lower wages or other standards such as health and safety or environmental regulations in order to secure their investment. So why do governments go to such lengths? They hope that by opening their economies, creating EPZs and encouraging FDI, they can share in the wealth and prosperity promised by globalization. But many see this as a false hope, suggesting that following such a path only allow s the rich to become richer and makes the poor still poorer. Whatever the truth is, it is clear that money matters a great deal and that the corporations who control this money have a great power in a globalised world. Corporations The Global Giants: In a globalised world the true rulers are the corporations. But these are not just ordinary corporations. These are enormous business enterprises many with sales that are worth more than the economies of whole countries. In 2001, General Motors sale was higher than the national income of both Denmark and Norway and almost 25 times greater than the national income of Jamaica. On a broader scale the ten largest global corporations had sales of US $ 1198 billion which is more than the combined GDP of sub Saharan Africa and South Asia which together are home to one third of the worlds population. So how have these corporations become so large and wealthy? The key to their success is that they produce and sell their products and services internationally. They are called Trans National Corporations (TNC) or

Life and Works Essay -- Essays Papers

Life and Works Who is Leonardo Da Vinci? Leonardo had a keen eye and quick mind that led him to make important scientific discoveries, yet he never published his ideas. He was a gentle vegetarian who loved animals and despised war, yet he worked as a military engineer to invent advanced and deadly weapons. He was one of the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance, yet he left only a handful of completed paintings. It may seem unusual to include Leonardo da Vinci in a list of paleontologists and evolutionary biologists. Leonardo was and is best known as an artist, the creator of such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa, Madonna of the Rocks, and The Last Supper. Yet Leonardo was far more than a great artist: he had one of the best scientific minds of his time. He made painstaking observations and carried out research in fields ranging from architecture and civil engineering to astronomy to anatomy and zoology to geography, geology and paleontology. In the words of his biographer Giorgio Vasari: The most heavenly gifts seem to be showered on certain human beings. Sometimes supernaturally, marvelously, they all congregate in one individual. . . . This was seen and acknowledged by all men in the case of Leonardo da Vinci, who had. . . an indescribable grace in every effortless act and deed. His talent was so rare that he mastered any subject to which he turned his attention. . . . He might have been a scientist if he had not been so versatile. Leonardo's scientif... Life and Works Essay -- Essays Papers Life and Works Who is Leonardo Da Vinci? Leonardo had a keen eye and quick mind that led him to make important scientific discoveries, yet he never published his ideas. He was a gentle vegetarian who loved animals and despised war, yet he worked as a military engineer to invent advanced and deadly weapons. He was one of the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance, yet he left only a handful of completed paintings. It may seem unusual to include Leonardo da Vinci in a list of paleontologists and evolutionary biologists. Leonardo was and is best known as an artist, the creator of such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa, Madonna of the Rocks, and The Last Supper. Yet Leonardo was far more than a great artist: he had one of the best scientific minds of his time. He made painstaking observations and carried out research in fields ranging from architecture and civil engineering to astronomy to anatomy and zoology to geography, geology and paleontology. In the words of his biographer Giorgio Vasari: The most heavenly gifts seem to be showered on certain human beings. Sometimes supernaturally, marvelously, they all congregate in one individual. . . . This was seen and acknowledged by all men in the case of Leonardo da Vinci, who had. . . an indescribable grace in every effortless act and deed. His talent was so rare that he mastered any subject to which he turned his attention. . . . He might have been a scientist if he had not been so versatile. Leonardo's scientif...

Their Eyes Were Watching God Critical Essay

In 1937, Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God writes about an African American woman named Janie Crawford who is in search of her inner self. While maturing, she develops more sexual desires which led to her three marriages. In The Kiss of Memory, Tracy L. Bealer talks about how love can be so many things and can be a struggle for Janie from her three very different marriages. Developing sexual desires made Nanny realize that a new life should be put ahead of Janie. Nanny then forces Janie into her first marriage with a man named Logan Killicks. Nanny chooses Logan because she feels marriage to a rich man will shield Janie from both sexual availability and thankless labor. † (Bealer) But Janie thinks different, while she is with Logan, she doesn’t feel loved or comfortable with him. Always having the responsibility to farm and work, she just felt used. After meeting Joe Starks one day, she finds herself thinking that â€Å"he spoke for change and c hance† (28). She thinks that being with Joe will get her out of her unhealthy marriage with Logan, and so she left.Having the mayor of Eatonville being her husband, she feels as if she is on top of the world. But all that changes over time when he gets abusive verbally and physically which made her feel as if she’s an object rather than a person. This all led to the end of her second marriage. After her two marriages had failed, she met Tea Cake who made her feel special and happy again. He’s supportive and respectful of Janie’s beliefs unlike Killicks and Starks. â€Å"Naw, it ain't alright wid you. If it was you wouldn't be sayin' dat.Have de nerve tuh say whut you mean† (104). He wants to show her how to speak her mind and be happy and not afraid to say what she wants to say. Although she has had some fights with Tea Cake, she finds someone whom she trusts and loves. In the end, â€Å"Tea Cake's rabies-included madness and the fact that Janie sh oots her husband in self-defense† (Bealer) is the end of their relationship. With every action comes a consequence, in this case it was when Janie, when she started developing sexual desires.Because of her kiss with Johnny, she is forced to get married. With her first husband, she found her second, and with her second, she found her true love, Tea Cake. He loved and respected her like no other and allowed her to speak her mind. Killicks and Starks were both too demanding which led to the fall of their marriage. These memories all came from a single kiss as a 15 year old girl. She is taught to be strong throughout her whole life, but she never really found her true self, just a bunch of memories within her.

Cognitive Organizers Essay

Cognitive Organizers are powerful teaching and learning tools. They encourage active learning, demonstrate that knowledge is interconnected, facilitate group work, accommodate individual learning styles and engage students in higher order thinking. They can be used before, during or following instruction. Using cognitive organizers before instruction is an exciting way of introducing lessons and also cues students about the lessons and activities to come after. It also facilitates discussions among the students, as each person is given the opportunity to share their experience or knowledge on the various concepts. Further, cognitive organizers can be used as prereading and prewriting strategies to activate background knowledge or generate interest among the students. Concurrently, when teachers use cognitive organizers, they help students access prior knowledge and previous experiences, hence giving the students a framework of knowledge upon which to build. It may also serve as a motivation for the students as they are involved and interacting in the formation of the cognitive organizer and using their critical thinking skills. Cognitive organizers involve students in predicting relations and also help them make connections between various concepts. Furthermore, when cognitive organizers are use during instruction, students are able to connect better with the information being received. It also clarifies the relationships of ideas and assists many students with remembering the ideas easier. Moreover, students’ comprehension and recall of the concept or subject matter at hand is improved and developed. Additionally, Shalaway (1997), states that cognitive organizers can be used following instruction, as a way of assessment on the concept or area. Students will indeed enjoy this innovative and exciting way of assessment, hence giving way for better grades. Also, after a lesson or unit, a cognitive organizer can help students assimilate and reflect upon the new knowledge gained.

Conjugate the Japanese Verb Kuru (to Come)

Conjugate the Japanese Verb Kuru (to Come) The word kuru is a very common Japanese word and one of the first that students learn. Kuru, which means to come or to arrive, is an irregular verb. The following charts will help you understand how to conjugate kuru and use it correctly when writing or speaking. Notes on Kuru Conjugations The chart provides conjugations for ​kuru in various tenses and moods. The table begins with the  dictionary form. The basic form of all Japanese verbs ends with -u. This is the form listed in the dictionary and is the informal, present affirmative form of the verb. This form is used among close friends and family in informal situations. This is followed by the  -masu form. The suffix -masu is added to the dictionary form of verbs to make sentences polite, an important consideration in Japanese society. Aside from changing the tone, it has no meaning. This form is used in situations requiring politeness or a degree of formality and is more appropriate for general use. Note also the conjugation for the  -te form, which is an important  Japanese verb  form to know. It does not indicate tense by itself; however, it combines with various verb forms to create other tenses. Additionally, it has many other unique usages, such as speaking in the present progressive, connecting successive verbs, or asking for permission. Conjugating Kuru The table presents the tense or mood first in the left column, with the form noted just below. The transliteration of the Japanese word is listed in bold in the right column with the word written in  Japanese characters  directly below each transliterated word. Kuru (to come) Informal Present(dictionary form) kuruæ  ¥Ã£â€šâ€¹ Formal Present(-masu form) kimasuæ  ¥Ã£  ¾Ã£ â„¢ Informal Past (-ta form) kitaæ  ¥Ã£ Å¸ Formal Past kimashitaæ  ¥Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€"㠁Ÿ Informal Negative(-nai form) konaiæ  ¥Ã£  ªÃ£ â€ž Formal Negative kimasenæ  ¥Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€ºÃ£â€šâ€œ Informal Past Negative konakattaæ  ¥Ã£  ªÃ£ â€¹Ã£  £Ã£ Å¸ Formal Past Negative kimasen deshitaæ  ¥Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€ºÃ£â€šâ€œÃ£  §Ã£ â€"㠁Ÿ -te form kiteæ  ¥Ã£  ¦ Conditional kurebaæ  ¥Ã£â€šÅ'㠁 ° Volitional koyouæ  ¥Ã£â€šË†Ã£ â€  Passive korareruæ  ¥Ã£â€šâ€°Ã£â€šÅ'ã‚‹ Causative kosaseruæ  ¥Ã£ â€¢Ã£ â€ºÃ£â€šâ€¹ Potential korareruæ  ¥Ã£â€šâ€°Ã£â€šÅ'ã‚‹ Imperative(command) koiæ  ¥Ã£ â€ž Kuru Sentence Examples If youre curious about how to use kuru in sentences, it can be helpful to read examples. A  few sample sentences will allow you to peruse how the verb is used in various  contexts. Kare wa kyou gakkou ni konakatta.Ã¥ ½ ¼Ã£  ¯Ã¤ »Å Ã¦â€" ¥Ã¥ ­ ¦Ã¦   ¡Ã£  «Ã¦  ¥Ã£  ªÃ£ â€¹Ã£  £Ã£ Å¸Ã£â‚¬â€š He didn't come to school today. Watashi no uchi ni kite kudasai.ç § Ã£  ®Ã£ â€ Ã£  ¡Ã£  «Ã¦  ¥Ã£  ¦Ã£  Ã£   Ã£ â€¢Ã£ â€žÃ£â‚¬â€š Please come to my house. Kinyoubi ni korareru?金æ›Å"æâ€" ¥Ã£  «Ã¦  ¥Ã£â€šâ€°Ã£â€šÅ'ã‚‹ï ¼Å¸ Can you come on Friday? Special Uses The website  Self Taught Japanese  notes that there are several special uses for  kuru, particularly to specify the direction of an action, as in: OtÃ… sanha arigatÃ…  tte itte kita. (㠁Šçˆ ¶Ã£ â€¢Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£  ¯Ã£â‚¬Å'㠁‚り㠁Å'㠁 ¨Ã£ â€ Ã£â‚¬ Ã£  £Ã£  ¦Ã¨ ¨â‚¬Ã£  £Ã£  ¦Ã£  Ã£ Å¸Ã£â‚¬â€š) My dad said thanks  to me. This sentence also uses  kita, the informal past (-ta form). You can also use the verb in the -te form to indicate the action has been going on for some time up until now, as in: Nihongo o dokugaku de benkyÃ…  shite kimashita. (æâ€" ¥Ã¦Å" ¬Ã¨ ªÅ¾Ã£â€šâ€™Ã§â€¹ ¬Ã¥ ­ ¦Ã£  §Ã¥â€¹â€°Ã¥ ¼ ·Ã£ â€"㠁 ¦) Up until now, I’ve studied Japanese on my own. Self Taught Japanese adds that in this example, it’s difficult to capture the nuance in English, but you can think of the sentence meaning that the speaker or writer has been gathering experience before arriving at the present moment.

Comparing crime myths and facts

Comparing crime myths and facts There is little consensus about the definition of "crime". The media advertises crime by what acts are reacted to by the police and courts whereas a lawyer sees crime as acts that have been defined as crimes by the written law. A myth can be defined as a belief or story that has been associated with an occurrence, so, crime myths are beliefs about crime not supported by appropriate statistics or research. Therefore, crime facts are what criminal acts are actually happening revealed by evidence. Juvenile crime myths are to be used in this essay to compare and contrast crime myths and facts in four discussions by focusing particularly on juvenile crime.This report begins by examining the developments and motivations of myths produced by the media and the government and then secondly contrasting this with the developments and motivations of crime facts produced from various measures to show resemblances in accuracy.Map of violent crimes in 2006 in Chicago community...Next, as a result f rom the above analysis, it will be argued that majority of juvenile crime is non-violent, dispelling the media created myth that all juvenile crime is violent. Lastly, drawing on statistics, it will be proven that juvenile crime is not on the rise regardless of the sudden focus in juvenile crime today by the media. It is concluded that juvenile crime rates are relatively stable and the best way to get a comprehensive outlook on crime is through statistical research rather than succumbing to the medias 'representations' of crime.The first point of discussion is that the media is a huge perpetuator of crime myths and fallacies creating trend stories because sensationalism sells. The media and other contributing factors such as the government select our crime problems for us and focus our attention on social issues (Kappeler, 2003). Newspapers, television, radio and the Internet together...

And The Winner Is… Orange Bubble Power!

And The Winner Is†¦ Orange Bubble Power! And The Winner Is Orange Bubble Power! And The Winner Is Orange Bubble Power! By Daniel Scocco The Short Story Competition 2 has finally come to an end. The voting session last week was pretty interesting, with different stories taking the lead in different days, and in the end Orange Bubble Power won. Congratulations to Violet Toler! Both Violet and Easton Miller, the runner up, will get a free license to the executive edition of the WhiteSmoke writing software, which costs $310. Thanks WhiteSmoke for sponsoring the event as well. Finally, a big thank you to all the readers who supported the competition with their votes and comments. Below you will find the winning story once again. Orange Bubble Power by Violet Toler I love to write. I hate housework. However, some mundane chores just won’t wait. One look at the bathroom sink caused me to grab my trusty Orange Bubble Power Wipes dispenser. Too bad those cute little scrubbing bubbles from the commercial aren’t real. I’d love to let them do the job while I compose the next NY Times best seller. Might as well get it over, I thought, as I hurriedly opened the lid and snatched at the wipe. The tip tore off in my hand. Irritated, I pulled on the stub more forcefully this time. It ripped again. Grabbing the last smidgen that barely peeked through the slit, I yanked hard. Out came the rest of the wipe–unattached from the rest of the roll. The second wipe should have fed through the X-shaped cut in the plastic top. It didn’t. Impatiently I jerked the lid off to feed the darn wipe through from the underside. The orange lid was stiff and unyielding. â€Å"I don’t have time for this!† I grumbled. Accentuating my words with action, I vigorously crammed the wipe out the other side. That’s when my troubles began. One-half inch of my index finger now protruded through the hole with half a wipe. A stream of Orange Bubble Power Wipes drooped between my hand and the open container on the hamper. Try as I might, I couldn’t get free. I tugged and the blasted lid worked like Chinese handcuffs. The harder I pulled, the tighter it stuck. I twisted and turned, but remained trapped. Every movement sucked my fingertip in tighter still. Within minutes, sharp V-shaped points were digging into my flesh cutting off circulation. How humiliating. This situation was far beneath my dignity. After all, I was a professional woman. I couldn’t allow anyone to see me like this, especially Stephen, my proper gentleman husband. I was determined to solve this problem by myself in privacy. God knows I tried. I lathered my finger with soap. I pried. I twisted. I pulled. Nothing helped. Oh, gosh durn, I thought, this hideous contraption is going to eat me alive! Orange Bubble Power indeed! I wondered if my finger was only an appetizer for this plastic vampire. It appeared voracious. Panicked, I swallowed my pride and called for help. My urgent tone brought Stephen down the stairs two at a time. He burst through the bathroom door, out of breath. When I saw his concerned expression, I regretted frightening him. However, as he surveyed the situation, worry fell off his face so fast, I swear I heard it hit the floor. His dignified manner disappeared as his lips twitched, then his whole face rippled as he broke into laughter. This was no mere grin or snicker, but was a total knee-slapping belly laugh. I stood there, annoyed, humiliated, and in pain. He finally regained his composure, held my finger tight, and tried to unscrew the lid, so to speak. His plan went awry. So did my usually mild demeanor as I told him what I thought of his attempt. He poured half a bottle of liquid soap and some cooking oil over my finger. It added goop to the mess, but didn’t penetrate the orange grip of death. Imagining the worst, it dawned on me that my finger could die without blood. For all I knew, I could be facing amputation! Panicked, I ran through the house for my sewing shears. Ten feet of Bubble Power Wipes streamed behind like crepe paper from a Main Street parade. The empty container rolled onto the floor with a thump. With my left hand, I grabbed the scissors and tried to cut myself free. No luck. Stephen took over, but my scissors couldn’t grip the slimy lid. We tried again after rinsing, but the rigid material was unrelenting. So was the pain! Stephen headed for his basement workshop for tin snips leaving me helpless and alone for what seemed an eternity. By this point, I was ready to stoop to just about anything. I seriously considered dialing 911 with my good hand, all the while picturing the Jaws-of-Life rushing to my rescue. Stephen finally returned. I wailed shamelessly as he snipped at the blasted lid. Jagged points bit deeper with every clip. After several distressing snips, he pried the plastic apart and set me free. My poor finger had four pointed indentations that resembled tooth marks and a bloodlessly white tip. Other than that, I had escaped the Orange demon. My hero tried to manage a straight face. â€Å"What on God’s green earth were you trying to do?† â€Å"Believe me,† I pronounced grimly, â€Å"Those Scrubbing Bubbles may look cute on TV, singing their little high-pitched song, but don’t let them fool you. Those sweet grins hide sharp, powerful, orange teeth that are just waiting to attack! Lucky for me, you were here. They would have done their dirty deed, wiped up the mess, and you’d have never known what became of me.† He left the room muttering something about finding a support group for husbands of imaginative writers. Me? I headed for the computer to write this story one-handed. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Math or Maths?The Difference Between "will" and "shall"English Grammar 101: Sentences, Clauses and Phrases

Industrial Unrest in Abu Dhabi Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Industrial Unrest in Abu Dhabi - Case Study Example The fact that the parties involved are willing to come to the table and have a civil discussion is also very encouraging. This is a good indicator that the conflict will soon be put to rest. Willingness to talk and negotiate is the first step to solving any conflict. There is quite a range of weaknesses in the labor environment in the Abu Dhabi as shown by several surveys some of which were sparked by the recent strikes by worker most of who are migrants. One thing that contributes to the weakened working conditions is that there seems to be a breakdown in communication between the employers and employees. Whether deliberate or not it is a major cause of employee unrest (Williams, 2014).The workers seem to think that their employees are insensitive to their plight. There have been massive complaints about low pay and deplorable living conditions. The fact that the strikes caught the companies by surprise points to miscommunication or a total lack of it. Workers claim that their wages have remained the same for a long time despite changes in the working and economic environment which puts them at a disadvantage. They are agitating for an appraisal of their salaries in order to afford to continue working. The low wages can be attributed to the fact that there is availability of cheap labour as if the was scarcity of labour these companies would pay better without the need for strikes. Workers here also complain of poor living condition with a majority claiming to live in cramped spaces. Claims of six or more workers having to share living quarters are not uncommon. This they say they have had enough of hence the decision to strike, illegal as this may be. There are quite a few opportunities for labor sector to thrive but they will call for major changes within the sector if they are to be achieved (International, 2013).  

WALES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

WALES - Essay Example According to the BBC report dated 14 Nov 2012, Wales had an employment rate of 8.2% in November 2012 whereas the rate was 7.8% in the case of the whole UK for the same period. Deprivation index: - while analyzing the Wales’ deprivation index 2012, it seems that the country has satisfactory living conditions. Wales as a Tourist Destination According to BBC report dated Sep19, 2012, Wales is a rapidly emerging tourist destination in the United Kingdom with an annual industry turnover of ?3.5 billion. Statistical reports indicate that 8,078,900 people visited National Trust and Welsh Tourist Board destinations in 2002 (Wales Information, n.d.). Tourism industry plays a key role in boosting the economic growth of the Wales. To illustrate, in 2005 the tourism industry supported the economy of Wales by providing more than 100,000 service sector jobs which accounted for the country’s 8% of the workforce (ibid). The major tourist activities in Wales are mountain hiking; visitin g historic places, museums, and galleries; and shopping. Another report indicates that foreign tourists made over 1.1 million trips to Wales in 2006 (Countryside Council for Wales). Mainly, overseas tourists to Wales are from Republic of Ireland, Germany, and the United States. According to statistical information, tourism-related employment in Wales increased from 59,000 in 2000 to 78,000 in 2007 (Cultural tourism, 2012). Cardiff, the capital of the Wales, is the most popular tourist destination in the country. As Alford (2010) reports, the Cardiff tourism sector provides over 26,300 jobs and it had 14.6 million visitors in 2009. In 2004, the three cities, in term of tourists spent the most money, were Cardiff, Conwy, and Gwynedd. Wales offers improved accommodation and leisure amenities to visitors. Successes and Weaknesses While analyzing Wales’ tourism sector, it is clear that the country’s history and distinctive culture, natural environment, and attractive scener y and heritage significantly contribute to its success. The Museum of Welsh Life is the most popular tourist attraction in the country, attracting more than 600,000 tourists annually (Wales vacation packages). In addition, many castles like Caernarfon Castle and Caerphilly Castle attract visitors having historical interests. The varied landscape is another major tourist attraction in Wales. The country has three national parks including the Snowdonia National Park, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Wales is prominent for its extreme sports activities like downhill cycling, surfing, and hang gliding. The Wales Rally GB is organized in the country annually. It has been estimated that nearly 1.8 million US citizens have Welsh ancestral roots (webarchieve.com). Hence, genealogy is major reason why many US citizens visit Wales each year. Well developed infrastructure is another reason making Wales one of the world’s popular tourist destin ations. The country has also developed improved road, rail, and air travel facilities, which are crucial to the success of the tourism industry. Wales’ proximity to all other UK markets contributes to the success of the Wales tourism industry. The country can offer a wide range of leisure activities including walking, mountaineering, and fishing (Sports and leisure activities in Wales). Wales Tourist Board (WTB) is a well established and financially sound entity.

The Health and Wellness Industry is Being Proclaimed as a Revolution Essay

The Health and Wellness Industry is Being Proclaimed as a Revolution in Consumer Demand and Potentially Worth Trillions of Dolla - Essay Example To satisfy the demand and expectations of these health-conscious consumers further, the tourism industry is awash with resorts, spas, and hotels, which offer superior consumer services such as comprehensive spa, bodywork treatments, indoor/outdoor physical activity, delicious and health-conscious cuisine, interactive health, and wellness education programs assisted by world-class professionals. Moreover, the increased demand for a relaxing and freshening environment has prompted many a resort to be established in serene and gentle surroundings with clean and lapping river/swamp waters, breathtaking sceneries, and fresh forest air, all of which combine to create a powerful wellness and health experience for consumers (Bookman & Bookman, 2007). The rising demand for wellness and health products has also implied that resort and hotel managements provide services that empower consumers to change their lifestyles for the better, thus bringing out the best out of their body’s natura l beauty, healing abilities, longevity, and wellbeing (Ginger, 2009). Importantly, products that bring about healing from illnesses and learning skills to consumers have been incorporated in resort and hotel wellness and health programs as their demand continues to increase. This paper explores the impacts that the rising demand of wellness and health products by consumers has on hotel and resort management. The Impacts of Increasing Wellness/Health Demand on Resorts The increasing health and wellness consciousness among consumers is one of the major factors that have set the international industry/trend that is health and wellness tourism (Reisinger, 2009). Most of these health-conscious consumers seek to improve their health and well being as they travel to various destinations and sample various hospitality treats and experiences. They do not only set out to feel better but also to look better, in the process enjoying effects such as slowed aging, reduced discomfort, lower stress levels, and relieved pain. In addition, these health- and wellness-conscious consumers have the privilege of partaking in the consumption of natural supplements such as minerals and vitamins, which further improve their health. With the number of health-conscious consumers on a rapid increase, the number of resorts and hotels joining the health and wellness industry has steadily risen in recent times. However, only a few have managed to cover the entire scope of services and goods currently demanded by wellness and health consumers (Lagace, 2008). That is, some resorts and hotels have not been in a position to offer the range of health and wellness services and goods offered by spas. Nonetheless, a good number of resorts and day spas are now offering a variety of health and wellness services and have added more health and wellness programming options in their services. It is important at this point to distinguish between wellness and health since the two products have quite differe nt meanings and applications. While health tourism refers to the services designed for tourists or clients with medical conditions and requires the experiences of these healing

Analytic Hierarchy Process artical review and comparison Essay

Analytic Hierarchy Process artical review and comparison - Essay Example According to the article, a business process strategy is designed in such a way that success is achieved in the financial sector of the organization, in satisfying the requirements of the customer, in successfully implementing the internal operations of the organization as well as in managing the human resources of the organization. In order to achieve success in these perspectives, there is an essential need for choosing an efficient program that promotes an improvement in the business process. The process of making such a choice is the area where AHP comes into action. Since the context of the business process is liable to change according to the needs of the organization, it is important to choose a method that is reliable in the longer run of the organization. (David, Kendrick & Saaty, 2007) This is where years of experiments done by Tom Saaty come for help in the form of AHP. According to his perspectives, AHP is advantageous in the following ways: AHP is designed in such a way that it allows the management to make high valued strategic decisions and its hierarchical design allows them to develop measuring techniques that determine the differences observed in the strategic alignment. Priorities are assigned not by taking the financial considerations alone, but also including the perspectives of the other stakeholders.

Stigma and discrimination add to the suffering and disability Essay

Stigma and discrimination add to the suffering and disability associated with mental disorders - Essay Example Patients of mental conditions, their friends, families and health care workers such as nurses concur that these patients are exposed to quite high levels of social stigma and discrimination due to their mental ill health (Margaret & Janine, 2011). These discriminations and stigma make it rather difficult for mentally ill people to recover and worsens their pains and suffering.Given the prevalence of mental health conditions in current society, the effects of stigma and discrimination on mental patients can be said to affect a rather large portion of the population That is, these problems extend to and affect mental health patients’ friends, families, colleagues, care providers and the larger society. In the UK, statistics show that about one in four people are likely to experience a mental health problem at some stage in their lives. Globally, there are 450 million people with mental health problems (Patel & Prince, 2012). On a rather positive note, most victims of mental illn esses recover fully to live and manage normal lives, especially when they get appropriate and timely help. The social stigma associated with mental illnesses has been closely associated with the discrimination that mentally ill people face in different aspects of their lives (Corrigan & Kleinlein, 2005). Notably, many of these patients’ pain, suffering and other problems are worsened by the stigma and the resultant discrimination they experience from the public and their families, friends, colleagues and employers (Kitchener & Jorm, 2002).This study seeks to explore the extent to which stigmatization and discrimination add to the suffering and disabilities of the mentally ill. Rationale/Background/Justification From literatures and studies conducted in the field of mental health with reference to stigma and discrimination, it is quite clear that the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill really aggravate their suffering, exacerbate their disabilities and reduce t heir chances of partial or full recovery. In other words, stigma and discrimination not only worsen these patients’ health problems but also impede their receipt of assistance, treatment and recovery (Hilton, 2006). The other effects of mental-health stigma and discrimination are social isolation, poor housing, unemployment and poverty (Burke, 2010). Purpose of the Study 1. Establish the existence and the severity of the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill in society 2. Explore the various causes of the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill in society 3. Explore the extent to which the subject of the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill in society has been researched 4. Propose techniques by which stakeholders such as nurses, families, friends, governments, institutions and NGOs may combine efforts to reduced this stigma and discrimination Research Question Do the stigma and discrimination faced by mental health patients add to the ir suffering and disabilities? Keywords Stigma, mental disorders, discrimination, disabilities, suffering, mental illness, Stereotypes Literature Review The methodology to be used in searching literatures in this research will encompass diverse categories of print and non-print resources that focus on the issues and subjects of mental health, mental illnesses, stigma and discrimination and their effects on mental health patients, their friends, families and caregivers. Other subjects to be focused on will be the extent to which stigma and discrimination affect the recovery of mental health patients and the future prospects for mental health stakeholders with regards to the stigmatization and discrimination that the mentally ill face (Weare, 2000). Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria The accessed and reviewed literatures will have to meet certain rigorous exclusion and

Answer those questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer those questions - Essay Example In addition to it, he identified the 4 moons of the Jupiter and proved to the world that, it is possible for a planet to have moons, which rotate around them. His major astronomical observation was that of ‘Venus’. Galileo developed formulas related to various functioning of the machines and also invented many machines. Galileo fight with â€Å"machines† is referred to that of the fight with the problem of objectivity of science. He laid out model for solving all types of motion (machine).He argued that, â€Å"the problems of floating bodies could be reduced to Archimedean principle†. Galileo faced conflicts with the Roman Catholic Church. It is usually portrayed as the conflict between the science and the religion, but it is not as simple as that, as it was very deep. Copernican science and Aristotelian science became the Church tradition. It was a conflict of these. Galileo presented his scientific views in support of Copernicus as well as his biblical views in a â€Å"letter to the Grand Duchess of Tuscany† (1615). It became the reason of his first Church trial and censure. For the â€Å"Church†, if Aristotle was found to be wrong, Christianity was wrong. When Galileo revealed the idea presented in his book, he was charged with unorthodoxy or heresy. This was due to the published â€Å"Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems†. This was found offensive and unpleasant to the Cardinal-turned-Pope Urban VIII. Therefore, the Pope requested that his ideas and views be presented and published as part of his writing. But, the writing was as a dialogue between three characters, in which the popes ideas was represented by the dumbest character, "Simplicius". Due to this, he was arrested. Q.2. Swift in Voyage to Laputa, says that the behaviour and attitude of the animals depicted was very orderly and â€Å"rational†. It was also quite acute and judicious. Therefore, he tried to conclude that they must be

Stigma and discrimination add to the suffering and disability Essay

Stigma and discrimination add to the suffering and disability associated with mental disorders - Essay Example Patients of mental conditions, their friends, families and health care workers such as nurses concur that these patients are exposed to quite high levels of social stigma and discrimination due to their mental ill health (Margaret & Janine, 2011). These discriminations and stigma make it rather difficult for mentally ill people to recover and worsens their pains and suffering.Given the prevalence of mental health conditions in current society, the effects of stigma and discrimination on mental patients can be said to affect a rather large portion of the population That is, these problems extend to and affect mental health patients’ friends, families, colleagues, care providers and the larger society. In the UK, statistics show that about one in four people are likely to experience a mental health problem at some stage in their lives. Globally, there are 450 million people with mental health problems (Patel & Prince, 2012). On a rather positive note, most victims of mental illn esses recover fully to live and manage normal lives, especially when they get appropriate and timely help. The social stigma associated with mental illnesses has been closely associated with the discrimination that mentally ill people face in different aspects of their lives (Corrigan & Kleinlein, 2005). Notably, many of these patients’ pain, suffering and other problems are worsened by the stigma and the resultant discrimination they experience from the public and their families, friends, colleagues and employers (Kitchener & Jorm, 2002).This study seeks to explore the extent to which stigmatization and discrimination add to the suffering and disabilities of the mentally ill. Rationale/Background/Justification From literatures and studies conducted in the field of mental health with reference to stigma and discrimination, it is quite clear that the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill really aggravate their suffering, exacerbate their disabilities and reduce t heir chances of partial or full recovery. In other words, stigma and discrimination not only worsen these patients’ health problems but also impede their receipt of assistance, treatment and recovery (Hilton, 2006). The other effects of mental-health stigma and discrimination are social isolation, poor housing, unemployment and poverty (Burke, 2010). Purpose of the Study 1. Establish the existence and the severity of the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill in society 2. Explore the various causes of the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill in society 3. Explore the extent to which the subject of the stigma and discrimination faced by the mentally ill in society has been researched 4. Propose techniques by which stakeholders such as nurses, families, friends, governments, institutions and NGOs may combine efforts to reduced this stigma and discrimination Research Question Do the stigma and discrimination faced by mental health patients add to the ir suffering and disabilities? Keywords Stigma, mental disorders, discrimination, disabilities, suffering, mental illness, Stereotypes Literature Review The methodology to be used in searching literatures in this research will encompass diverse categories of print and non-print resources that focus on the issues and subjects of mental health, mental illnesses, stigma and discrimination and their effects on mental health patients, their friends, families and caregivers. Other subjects to be focused on will be the extent to which stigma and discrimination affect the recovery of mental health patients and the future prospects for mental health stakeholders with regards to the stigmatization and discrimination that the mentally ill face (Weare, 2000). Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria The accessed and reviewed literatures will have to meet certain rigorous exclusion and

PPM-PRINCE2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

PPM-PRINCE2 - Essay Example ect Brief Project Name: Date: Release: Draft/Final Author: Owner: Client: Document Number: Purpose: The main purpose of this Project Brief is to provide detailed explanation of the various elements of the implementation of the Customer Relationship Process within Huanghe Technology. Project Definition: Huanghe Technology currently requires a project which can help resolve the issues within the company. Here a Customer Relationship Management project is being proposed to meet the needs of the company. This project aims at integrating three main elements of the business, i.e. the Customer support, Sales Team and Technical Team. Further details of the project are presented below. Project Objectives: The main objectives of the project are as listed below: a) Development of an Enterprise Team to meet the needs of the business clients b) Development of a Core Technical Team to meet the technical needs of both business clients as well as the SOHO customers c) Development of the Core Sales t eam which will deal with the details of sales as well as the financial aspects of all customers d) Development of Customer Service Team to face customers and provide the necessary customer support e) Development of a central database to hold complete records of all the sales made via all the channels. This will include both retail as well as the direct channels. f) Finally, to implement an Information System and to integrate the four function groups, i.e. enterprise team, core sales, core technical team and the customer support teams. Project Scope: The project has a limited scope and it caters to the European markets. The system will be implemented in the Huanghe UK office. Constraints and Assumptions: There are two main assumptions and constraints in this project. Firstly, it is assumed that all the sales information from the retailers can be got and integrated to the information system on a daily basis. Secondly, it is assumed that the company will be willing to invest in the tec hnical development of the information systems. Outline Business Case: Huanghe Technology  has being receiving a number of complaints from the customers relating issues relating to the equipments not working from SOHO customers and also a number of calls being lost between the call centre and the sales teams. Also the SOHO customers have faced lack of technical support from the company. The company is currently being run in three separate parts which are each managed by different people and all act independently as separate units and with different operations culture. The main issue of the business clearly is a lack of integration among the three parts of the business. Here due to the lack of integration, the impact has been on the customers and the service provided to the customers. CRM Systems – Project Initiation Project Name: Date: Release: Draft/Final Author: Owner: Client: Document Number: Purpose: The Project Initiation document provides a clear view of the direction of the project as well as a clear view of the roles of the various individuals in the project. This helps in developing a strong and firm foundation for the proposal before the company can make any further commitments on the project. It also helps provide the users and interested parties with a clear and detailed view of what the project is about and also how the project will be managed.

Niger Delta Conflict On The Nigerian Economy Politics Essay

Niger Delta Conflict On The Nigerian Economy Politics Essay The objective of this Chapter is to provide a background to the study. This includes the implication of the Niger-Delta (ND) conflict on the Nigerian economy, the genesis of amnesty policy, the objective of the study, research questions, methodology as well as scope and limitations to the study. Background to the Study The centrality of the Niger-Delta Region to Nigerias economy is indisputable. This is because it produces the oil that presently sustained the economy. Unfortunately, however, over the last decades, it has become a centre for violent protests with destructive consequences on the Nigerian economy and socio-political stability as well as the rippled effect across the international. For instance, government statistics have shown that in 2005, Crude oil production has fell from 2.7million barrels per day (mbpd) to 2.4mbpd thereby showing a shortfall of 0.3mbpd in crude oil production. On the revenue side, in the same year, the projected revenue of N1.63trillion was revised downward to N1.4trillion due to shortfall in crude oil production (2006 FGN Budget Speech). Similarly, in 2006 expected revenue into the Federation Account fell by N570 billion due to loss of 600,000bpd (2007 FGN Budget Speech). In 2007, the projected revenue was short to the tune of N796billion due to disruption of cr ude oil production in the Niger-Delta region (2008 FGN Budget Speech). In 2008, crude oil production was projected at around 2.45mbpd but only 2.00mbpd was achieved also due to disruption of production (2009 FGN Budget Speech). In 2009, crude oil revenue projection fell by 17% due to disruption in production as well as fall in crude oil price at the international market (2010 FGN Budget Speech). Another pointer to the gloomy nature of the Nigerian economy was the use of the Excess Revenue Account (ERA) from year 2006 every month, except in some very few cases, to augment the monthly disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account. For instance, over N733.81bn and N795.41bn were withdrawn from the ERA to augment budget expenditure for the three tiers of government in 2007 and 2008 respectively (CBN, Annual Report, 2008). The conflict has been blamed on the nations imbalance political structure; long years of environmental pollution due to oil exploration and extraction activities; infrastructural neglect and demand for larger share of revenue from crude oil sales (Omeje, 2006). But, recognizably, over the decades, government have used carrots and sticks approaches both to coerce and appease the people of the Niger-Delta Region. While the past measures have made some significant impacts in some respects, there are recurring echoes of consternation from the region. Among the past efforts were the creation of the Niger-Delta Development Board (NDDB), Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Derivation Principle (from 1% to 13%) and the establishment of Niger-Delta Ministry in 2008. Fisher-Thompson (2010) writing for the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State observed that the key to Nigerias economic progress is stability in the Niger River Delta, where the bulk of the countrys oil and natural gas is produced and where a smouldering militancy and sabotage of production facilities threaten progress for the regions 30million residents. Thus recognising the enormous potentials of Niger-Delta for the nation at large, the late President YarAdua, for example, said it would be delusional to think that electricity could be generated and transmitted on a sustainable basis in Nigeria if resolution of the Niger-Delta question remains literally or figuratively in the pipelines (Adeniyi, 2010), Similarly, the Technical Committee on the Niger-Delta (TCND, 2008), noted that President YarAdua recognised the strategic importance of the Region as the main source of Nigerias foreign revenue by making the Niger-Delta problem one of the 7-Point prog ramme of the administration. Thus, amnesty was granted to the militants in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria in June 2009, by late President YarAdua to assuage the nagging militancy in the region. There is, however, hardly any study at the moment that have made any constructive attempt to analyse the impact of the amnesty programme on the nations crude oil production as well as revenue flow into the Federation Account except for the dotted newspapers clips and other scattered official documents. Also, as it is with most novel approaches, the amnesty programme has been greeted with lots of scepticism as its likely impact of restoring peace and improved crude oil production and flow of revenue into the Federation Account might not be achieved. Accordingly, as a topical issue in Nigeria, which viability is questioned, it provides the motivation and interest to peruse government documents in order to give a better picture of the situation. Moreso, as a staff of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), an agency of government that is constitutionally charged with the function of monitoring revenue accruals into and disbursement from the Federation Account, added more impetus to the subject of the research. Hence, this research is an attempt to put together official records as well as other sources in order to give a preliminary impact of the amnesty programme on crude oil production and revenue into Federation Account. OBJECTIVES In this research, the quest is not to discuss the amnesty programme or to dwell on the oil debacle in Nigeria, but to relate the amnesty programme to some of the expected benefits, which are specifically interconnected with improved crude oil production and flow of oil revenue into the Federation Account. In other words, the primary aim of this research is to find out whether the acceptance of amnesty by the militants in the Niger-Delta has any significant impact on crude oil production output and flow of oil revenue into the Federation Account. RESEARCH QUESTIONS This research would particularly attempt to answer the following research questions: To what extent has the granting of amnesty as a mechanism to manage resource conflict in the Niger-Delta region contributes to improved crude oil production? What is the effect of the amnesty on the flow of revenue into the Federation Account (Common Pool) from the oil sector? How does the amnesty programme impact on the Nigerias fiscal federalism? METHODOLOGY Jankowicz, (1995) has defined methodology as a systematic and orderly approach taken towards the collection of data so that information can be obtained from those data. This research adopts a qualitative approach, which has been described as a subjective account that one generates by getting inside situations and involving oneself in the everyday flow of life (Gill and Johnson, 2005:89). In Strauss and Corbin (1990:17) Qualitative Research is any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedures or other means of quantification. The objective of using this approach is to be able to draw conclusion from the research question as to whether there was an increase in crude oil production as well as revenue flow into Federation Account as a result of the amnesty granted to the militants. This research uses secondary data collection approach. The data of crude oil production statistics and revenue inflow were sourced from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Federation Account Allocation Committee Files (FAAC) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Despite, their shortcomings, the credibility of data from these institutions is not in doubt because no any other agency can provide such data within and outside Nigeria without referring to them as source. The data collected were evaluated using a simple data inspection technique which is a comparison between actual experience and counterfactual scenarios. This type of technique is comprised of three methods namely; with versus without, before versus after and target versus actual. This method is basically used to analyse the effects of programmes and performance (Douangboupha, 2004). This research adopted the before and after technique because it provide the basis in which comparison is done between crude oil production and revenue flow into Federation Account before and after the amnesty has been granted. The before versus after method is used to compare performance of a new policy with what was before the reform. This approach usually shows what happened and not why it happened. However, this approached is criticised on the fact that it ignores other external factors that can influence it outcome (Douangboupha, 2004). SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH The scope of this research is to examine crude oil and revenue data from January 2009 May 2010. Similarly, the research would not be interested in looking at the amnesty programme in general. Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction The main objective of this Chapter is to critically review literature from variety of perspectives on the causation and management of conflict with links to natural resources induced conflicts. Review of Literature Conflict is a tragedy and impediment to development (Collier and Hoeffler, 2000). Conflict is an interruption of development as no development project will ever take place in a state of conflict. Of course, this has been acknowledged by late President YarAdua that conflict is threatening peace, security, order and good governance and jeopardising the economy of the nation (YarAdua, 2009). Conflict has been defined by Burton (1990) as those behaviours of individuals or groups that go beyond disagreement that cause serious injury to physical, security and future development of individuals, groups and nations. As in Omeje (2006:17), Fisher (2000) defines conflict as uneasy relationship between two or more parties who have, or think they have incompatible goals. These incompatible goals are largely associated with deep-human needs characterised by interest, desires and aspirations. Without doubt, conflicts do not just happened as there are always such factors that lead to conflicts. The causation of conflicts have been theorised in various ways such as in biological disposition, psychology, religion, identity, ethnicity, nationalism, ideology, history and ancients hatred, bad neighbours, manipulative leaders, security dilemma, cultural dysfunction, nature of the State and incompatible world views (Mac Ginty, 2009). Despite these incisive but opposing perspectives, the rentier state theory and resource curse thesis were, indeed, two central frameworks that have provided in-depth analysis on the impact of natural resources to the political, economic and social settings of resource blessed nations. In the rentier theory, it is argued that it is any state reliant not on the surplus production of the domestic population or economy but on externally generated revenues or rents usually derived from the extractive industries such as oil (Omeje, 2006). The rentier theory believed that reliance on economic rents promotes inefficiency and impede socioeconomic development (Mahler, 2010). Proponents of this theory argued that, on the political strand, rents promote authoritarian rule because it encourages network of patronage, pervasive clientelism and selfish policies of distribution. The net effects of these are lack of democratisation and gross societal depoliticisation. Another contention is that the presence of cornucopia of revenues, particularly, coming from oil sector discourages taxation thereby making the political class less accountable to the people and less interested in the promotion of citizen participation in governance. Though rentier theory focus more on the stability of authoritarian rule, rather than violence, there are evidence that rents are used to finance security apparatus by the political class to repress opposition, which in essence amount to violence (Mahler, 2010). As an example, the Nigerian political history has been dominated by both military and political elites that have less sympathy for the promotion of democracy. The evidences of coup and counter-coups that shaped the nations political past are obvious while election rigging and disenfranchisement have so far characterises the democratic dispensation. On the whole, there are submissions that the bulk of the youths in the Niger-Delta were armed by politicians. Okolo (2009) aptly states that the politicians in their unbridled lust for power, arm these youths as private armies against their real and perceived enemies making all sorts of promises to secure their loyalty but immediately their aim is achieved they abandon them forgetti ng that they still hold the arms. The youths unemployed and angry must a matter of necessity employ the guns to some use? The world is today not faced by the Thomas Malthus (1798) assertion that scarcity leads to conflict but by the argument that resource abundance has a link to conflict. The Malthusian argument is based on the idea that natural resources are in fixed supply and as demand of the resources increased, the price also increases, while the resources depleted thus leading to conflict (Mahler, 2010). On the contrary, staple theorist argued that resource abundance leads to the improvement of peoples well-being because natural resources provide the much needed revenues for the provision of goods and services. Unfortunately, resource abundance is now seen as a curse that is associated with all sorts of problems ranging from slow economic growth, corruption and conflicts (Oyefusi, 2007). Economic theorists have contended that over-reliance on single source of revenue makes a nation vulnerable and prone to conflict (Herbst, 2001) because of large rents and exposure to variety of shocks (booms and bursts). For instance, Nigeria has faced several crude oil related shocks and conflicts from 1966 to date often resulting in loss of lives and dislocation of the nations economy. More compounding to Nigeria is that the oil resource is largely located in one geographical region. And, as aptly observed by Ndikumana and Emizet (2005), dependence alone does not motivate conflict but the concentration of the natural resources in one geographical region and their unequal distribution significantly contribute to conflict. Moreso, the topography of the Niger-Delta area seems conducive for militancy activiti es. Olowu (2009) described the Niger-Delta as an intricate network of lagoons, creeks, estuaries, and mangroves swamps, stretching across 1 million square meters. Howsoever, sound is the above proposition; a many countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Norway and host of others were able to demystify the resource-dependency theory by making considerable progress in transforming their respective nations. So, for Collier (2004) the solution is to diversify the sources, which reduces the risk of conflict. Also, the resource-dependency theory has been criticised on the fact that dependency alone on a single natural resource does not lead to armed conflict. As Mac Ginty, (2005:67) argued scarcity and violence are a product of social relations rather than inherent in the relative abundance of a particular good, object or resources. It is further argued that conflict arises from a complex mix of events in the presence of resources the mode of resource exploitation, perception on benefits and identity affiliations. As it has been observed if the stake are high, identity affiliations can mutate, with groups and individuals attaching increasing weight to the purity of their ethnic group and rediscovering (or inventing) their unique history (Mac Ginty, 2005). Added to this, Ross (2003:19) pointed out that any given conflict is brought about by a complex set of events; often poverty, ethnic or religious grievances, and unstable governments The fundamental problem noted in this context is that of the management of the resources. It has been pointed out that it is the nature of the extraction coerce or voluntary, licences distribution patronage or open competition, profit destination public or private pockets that significantly explained whether there is resource curse or not (Mac Ginty, 2005). Similarly, poor management of resources create situations where individuals or group that harbour some grievances will use that as opportunity to argue against plundering of the resources located in their backyard without benefits. This is, somehow, the case in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria where there is demand for fair share of revenue from the resources extracted from the area. The Resource curse thesis presumed misery in the midst of plenty. It is argued that abundance rather than serve as a means for development leads to struggle for the control of the natural resource which often result in armed conflict (Obi, 2008). Indeed, the armed conflict in the Niger-Delta is over the control of crude oil between the State and the local communities caused by poverty and low human development index (Omeje, 2006). On another hand, studies by Sachs and Warner (1997:3) demonstrated that resource-poor economies often vastly outperform resource-rich economies. The point is that nations with abundant natural resources tend to grow slower than economies with fewer resources. In support of the above, Ross (2003) reported that the GDP per capita of countries which mining export was between 6% to 15%, fell by an average rate of 0.7% while those with mining export of about 15% 50%, their GDP per capita fell to 1.1% a year. Similarly, it showed that the GDP per capita of count ries with over 50% of mining exports, dropped by 2.3% per year. Furthermore, Sachs and Warner, (1997) cited historical instances to buttressed this point that in the 17th century despite the overflow of gold and silver from the colonies of Spain, the Netherlands surpassed Spain. This is similar with Japan and Switzerland that cast shadow over resource abundant Russia in the 19th Century while Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong became the star performers of the 20th century despite having fewer resources. Sachs and Warner (1997:4) conceptually situate this economic puzzle within the context of easy riches leads to sloth and the Dutch disease proposition. The Dutch Disease thesis argued that the availability of large rents from a single natural resources often result in the neglect of other productive sectors of the economy (Ross, 1999). In other words, the Dutch disease demonstrates that booms in natural resource sectors usually affect the distribution of employment throughout the economy, as wealth effects pull resources in and out of non-traded sector s (Sachs and Warner, 1997:5). And this is evident in Nigeria where oil revenue continue to grow from 3% in the 1960s to now over 80% of federally collectable revenue while total agricultural export dropped from 60% in the1960s to less than 8% by 2005 (Omeje, 2006). However, contrary to the persuasive argument put forward by Sachs and Warner, (1997), that one surprising features of modern economic growth is that economies abundant in natural resources have tended to grow slower than economies without substantial natural resources, Stijns, (2000:3) argued that it was a misleading result which was short of recommending that developing countries should leave their natural resources undiscovered and/or unexploited. Stijns (2000:4) further contended that natural resources are not significant determinants of economic growth because of the coexistence of positive and negative channels of effect from natural resources to other economic factors. It has been variously argued that natural resources have the potentials of promoting violent conflict through grievance and greed. The grievance theory sees conflict emerging from the long concern over deprivation and injustice (Collier, 2004 and Collier and Sambanis, 2007). Therefore, Communities whose land is being exploited sees themselves as collateral damage and where benefits is not forthcoming, they resort to protest and violence that leads to economic sabotage such as disruptions of production. For instance, the Niger-Delta region has been famous for economic sabotage as a way of protest against environmental degradation and neglect (Omeje, 2006). However, economists like Collier and Hoeffler have argued that greed is more inherent in motivating conflict than grievance or conflicts are far more likely to be caused by economic opportunities than by grievance (Mac Ginty, 2005:79, Tar, 2008). This is because the abundance of natural resource often serves as an incentive in which elites and warlords loot. The greed theory also presupposes that natural resources provide attraction to covetous individuals or groups to rebel in order to take control over revenues from the natural resources. However, critics argued that the expression made economists on the causation of conflict is economic rationalism taken to extreme (Mac Ginty, 2005:71) and pointed out that conflicts cannot be measured only by econometric methodologies or mistook correlation for causation while also subjecting the causes of conflicts only within the national environment without placing external factors such as trade, religion, regional dynamics in arms flow, etc. G enerally, it is argued that the real agents of conflicts are politics and identity while economic factors only appear to change the nature and aim of the conflict at some stage (Mac Ginty, 2005). As further contended, economic factors can enable conflict, but it cannot combust or sparks the conflict without other factors. Closely related to the greed thesis is the frustration and aggression theory, which deals with relative deprivation as a perceived disparity between value expectation and value capabilities (Afinotan and Ojakorotu, 2009). The theory argues that if there is a gap between expectation and attainment caused by lack of capability, tension crept in as a result of unfulfilled aspiration, which leads to frustration that eventually produces violent aggression. It was noted by Afinotan and Ojakorotu, (2009) that men are most inclined to aggression when subjected to unjustified frustration. Indeed, the potentials of violence are define by the gravity of deprivation. As Afinotan and Ojakorotu, (2009) pointed out men who are frustrated have an innate disposition to do violence to its source in proportion to the intensity of their frustration. The Niger-Delta conflict is a perfect demonstration of this theory because people are frustrated by lack of development, etc. However, this theory has been criticised on the ground that aggressive response to frustration may be dependent upon the individuals level of tolerance Afinotan and Ojakorotu, (2009). The separatist theory suggests that natural resources portend the risk of a secessionist conflict because it gives those in the region where the resources is located the incentive to demand for separate State (0yefusi, 2007). Indeed, it is more obvious from the emerging picture and dynamics of the conflict in the Niger-Delta region that the element of greed rather than grievance is more pronounced as various groups and factions emerged making conflicting demands and more often violently clash with each other over the control of areas where pipelines installation passes through (Omeje, 2006, 2008). In another perspective, Bannon and Collier (2003:2) contended that conflict is more likely to occur in a state of low per capita income, low economic growth rate and the structure of the economy. For instance, since the 1970s oil exports generated huge revenues in Nigeria, and yet, per capita income has remain very low in 1975 the per capita from oil was $127 which raised to $351 in 1980 and plummeted to $81 in 1989 but gradually grew to $337 in 2007 and to $391 in 2007 (CBN, Annual Statistical Bulletin, 2008). Though growing population in Nigeria has played a pivotal role in this low per capita, it is hard to conclude that low per capita from oil revenue is not one of the factors that leads to conflict in Nigeria (Mahler, 2010). But Mahler (2010:15) persuasively argued that even though falling oil revenues in the 1980s and the 1990s have contributed to low per capita, it was not only the shrinking abundance of oil but also its interplay with weak resource management performance in the country that caused further socioeconomic problems. These are issues associated with managing environmental problems and resource allocation principles. Therefore, as a solution, Collier (2004:7) suggested that doubling the level of income halve the risk of conflict. A percentage point on growth rate reduces the risk by around a percentage point. Despite the preponderance of econometric and case study analyses, there are still profound opposition that resources alone cannot be the direct link to conflict. This is because other extraneous factors and historical assumptions which are necessary for creating a link between resources and violent conflicts have not been properly contextualized through in-depth empirical studies to create linkages between resources and conflicts (Mahler, 2010). To this end, Mahler, (2010) has provided in a tabular form a matrix of resource and non-resource contextual conditions that will guide debate on the link between conflict and resources: Using the matrix in Table IV, and as has been postulated, the conflict in the Niger-Delta is premise on four contextual factors with oil serving as the main attraction (Omeje, 2006) as well as other external factors. Some commentators have situated the conflict in the Niger-Delta within the hypothesis of historical context arguing that the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 was unconscious of the heterogeneous nature of the nation as it failed to address the concern of the minority groups. Thus, the dominance of majority groups over the minority groups whose environment eventually produces the nations revenue, give rise to agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria (Omeje, 2006). The second ground situates the conflict in the Niger-Delta on the legal framework relating to landownership and extraction policies. Proponents of this thesis argued that the existing legal framework has given more control to the Multinational Oil Companies operating in the country thereby making them less lia ble to the environmental problems associated with exploration and extraction. In other words, the current legal mechanism within Nigeria lacks the impetus of enforcement. In the case of landownership, it is argued that the Land Use Act of 1978, for instance, has given State Government the ownership of land thus depriving individuals and groups from the right to demand for appropriate compensation, a situation which late President YarAdua attempted to reverse (Adeniyi, 2010). The third view positioned the Niger-Delta conflict on the pedestal of dependency in which the incorporation of Nigeria into global economic and political scene that is yet to be understood has disadvantaged Nigeria thereby leading to conflict. The fourth school of thought with Marxist approach sees the conflict in the Niger-Delta as the contradictions of class or groups interest intrinsic to the political economy of Nigeria as well as the character of the state (Omeje, 2006). Indisputably, the above issues are cause largely by institutional arrangement. As noted by Bardhan (2005) institutions either economic or political constitute or form the nucleus in which equitable distribution of resources or powers among divergent groups are made. And where the institution is inefficient, it becomes less credible thus attracting disquiet among the people. Bardhan (2005:27) put it that the history of underdevelopment is littered with cases of formidable institutional impediments. The failure of the institutions gives birth to collective action problem such as dispute over the sharing of the cost of bringing change known as free-rider problem and disputes over the sharing of benefits. All these problems, often, lead to breakdown of coordination among divergent and competing groups. Douglass North in Acemoglu and Robinson (2008:2) define institution as the rules of the game in a society or, more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction. Both economic and political institutions are influence by collective choices. The political institution, for instance, allocates de jure and de facto powers even though the latter sometime uses the instrument of force to meet it objectives. Acemoglu and Robinson (2008:6-7) noted that de facto political power originates from both the ability of the group in question to solve its collective action problem and from the economic resources available to the group which determines their capacity to use force against other groups. They further noted that when a particular group is rich relative to others, this will increase it de facto political power and enable it to push for economic and political institutions favourable to its interests, reproducing the initial disparity. Certainly, the Niger-Delta co nflict is a prime example of this assertion because the militants were capitalising on the location of the crude oil in their geography as a weapon to move for drastic change in the way political power and resource distribution are made. The history of Nigeria has depicted vivid evidences of political and economic asymmetry, which means unequal power and resource distribution and relation between communities within the States and between the State and the Federal Government. It is palpable that despite the creation of more States in the last decades, the cries of marginalisation still pervade the nations political terrain. For instance, State and Federal relationship has been situated on the north/south divide created by the amalgamation of 1914 which created a presume fear that the north with numerical population would continue to dominate the south. Oputa (2000:113), for example, observed that political asymmetry in this case persists because of the fear of domination by the north in the context of party electoral competition for control of political power and, therefore, of the enormous fiscal resources and patronage deriving from it at the federal level. Another issue political asymmetry lies in the balance of po wer where the States have remained dependent on the Federal Government. But it should be noted that Nigerias federalism was unique because the centre created the units unlike in other federations where the units create the centre. Contributing to the conflict debates, the neo-liberalists through the conception that free-market made free men believe that individual freedoms, open markets and rational choice guides human beings away from encouraging conflicts but instead sees development as a ladder out of conflict. This argument was re-enforced by the submission that free trade prevents conflicts and was demonstrated by the post-colonial studies of Krause and Suzuki, which concluded that the probability of conflict under open trade is insignificant (Mac Ginty, 2009). However, this postulation was criticised on the ground that free trade encourages market-induced inequality thereby creating enmity and tension among individuals and communities. Indeed, the Niger-Delta region is the symbol of Nigerias international trade where Multi-national Companies (MNCs) engage in Oil and Gas business, surprisingly, it is the same region that has been inundated by violence. Often, there were clear evidences to suggest the invo lvement of the MNCs in the brewing of the conflicts (Omeje, 2006, 2008). Development is another issue that is said to be behind conflict. This is so because the process of development sometime provide s