Monday, September 30, 2019

How Technology Changes Our Lives Essay

There is no doubt that technology has affected all of our lives. Whether it is positive or negative will be determined by the success of our ability to communicate with those around us. Now days the pace of innovation is increasing every day. It’s always a race to have the newest coolest technology. * The Internet is the fastest-growing tool of communication ever. It took radio broadcasters 38 years to reach an audience of 50 million, television 13 years, and the Internet just 4 years. * The Worldwide Internet Population is estimated at 1.08 billion. In 2000 there were 400 million users, and in 1995 20 million users. * In 2001 more information could be sent over a single cable in a second than in 1997 was sent over the entire Internet in a month. * The cost of transmitting information has fallen dramatically. A trillion bits of information from Boston to Los Angeles from $150,000 in 1970 to 12 cents today. E-mailing a 40-page document from Chile to Kenya costs less than 10 cents, faxing it about $10, sending it by courier $50. * The average total cost of using a local dialup Internet account for 20 hours a month in Africa is about USD 60 a month and USD 22 a month in the US. The average African monthly salary is less than USD 60. * Native English speakers represent 35% of the on line population, although they are less than 10% of the world population. Native Chinese speakers represent the second largest group: 16% of the online population. * In Chile 89% of internet users have had tertiary education, in Sri Lanka 65%, and in China 70%. * Iceland has the highest percentage of internet users (68%); the United States stands at 56%; Malaysia 34%; Jordan 8%; Palestine 4%; Nigeria 0.6%; Tajikistan 0.1% The Gender Divide. Read more:Â  How Has Technology Changed Our Lives * The typical Internet user worldwide is young, male and wealthy – a member of an elite minority. * A gender gap exists in access and usage of information and communication technologies. Women represent 42% of Internet users in the world. 37% in Italy and Germany. * The gap is narrowing in certain countries: Brazil 47%, Thailand 49%, United States and Canada 51 * At the end of the 20th century, 90% of data on Africa was stored in Europe and the United States. * With only 18% of the world population, OECD countries contain nonetheless 79% of the world’s internet users. * The United States, with a population close to the population of the Middle East, has 199 million Internet users while the Middle East has only 16 million. * 34% of internet users are in developing countries. 81% of the world population is in developing countries. * The density of fixed telephone lines and mobile telephone lines is 5 times more in developed countries than in developing countries. PC ownership is 11 times more, and internet usage 8 times more. [developed=western Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan, new Zealand, the US; everyone else in developing] * Of the estimated 5-8 million internet users in Africa, only about 2 million users are outside of North and South Africa. This implies about 1 user for every 250 to 400 people. This compares to the world average of 1 for every 15 people and a North and European average of 1 user for every 2 persons. * Within the Global South, opportunitie s are also unevenly distributed. In the Dominican Republic, 80% of internet users are in the capital. In China, the two cities of Shanghai and Beijing contain as many internet users as the 15 least connected provinces of 600 million people combined. In India, home to a major global hub of innovation, only 0.4% of people use the Internet. * Of the approximately 816 million people in Africa in 2001, it is estimated that: * 1 in 4 have a radio * 1 in 13 have a TV * 1 in 35 have a mobile phone * 1 in 40 have a fixed line phone * 1 in 130 have a PC * 1 in 60 use the Internet Telephones * One third of the world population has never made a telephone call. * While Sub-Saharan Africa contains about 10% of the world’s population, it accounts for only 0.2% of the world’s 1 billion telephone lines. * The cost of renting a telephone connection on the African continent averages about 20 percent of GDP per capita compared to a world average of 9 percent and an average of only 1 percent in high-income countries. * There are under 5 telephones per 100 people in India. * In the world, there are over 1.2 billion fixed telephone lines, 1.3 billion cellular subscribers and 140 billion international telephone traffic minutes each year. Mobile Telephones * As of 2002, mobile subscribers worldwide have outnumbered fixed-line subscribers. The mobile cross-over has taken place across geographic criteria, across socio-demographic criteria such as gender, income, or age, and across economic criteria. * Brazil has the same number of cellular phone subscribers as the whole of Africa combined. Asia, with 450 million subscribers, has twice the number of subscribers as the Americas combined. There are 836.5 million mobile subscribers in OECD countries. * While the United States has 199 million cell phone subscribers, it is not part of the top ten countries with the highest percentage of mobile subscribers. 55% of the US populations are mobile subscribers. * Africa holds only 3% of the world’s mobile subscribers, yet Africa is the first place where mobile subscribers outnumbered fixed-line subscribers. In five years (1997-2002), the number of cell phone subscribers in Africa grew by 1600%. * Nicaragua has more than 3 times more mobile ph one subscribers than fixed land lines (739 thousand compared with 214 thousand). * The number of mobile subscriptions per 100 people in a given country range from 120 in Luxembourg, to .44 in Malaysia, 24 in Jordan, 13 in Palestine, 3 in Nigeria et 0.7 in Tajikistan. Patents * OECD countries, with 14% of the world’s people, accounted for 86% of the patent applications filed in 1998 and 85% of the scientific and technical journal articles published worldwide. * Firms in developed countries currently account for 96% of royalties from patents, or $71 billion a year. The Computing Sector * In the UK, women constitute only about 20% of computer science classes (AGCAS 2003). In the US, the percentage of female computer science bachelors has decreased by 28% between 1983 and 1998 (Gurer and Camp 2002). Similarly in the computer science industry, the average female presence hovers around 20% (DfES 2001, AAUW 2000). * The computing industry exhibits vertical segregation (certain occupations for women, others for men) as well as horizontal segregation (women clustered in lower echelon occupations); in 1991 only 10% of the members of the British Computing Society were women. In 2000 9% of US IT engineers were women. On the other hand, 80% of data entry personnel was female. (Ahuja 2002; Webster 1996; Taggart & O’Gara 2000) EWaste * 220 million tons of old computers and other technological hardware are trashed in the United States each year. * Only 11% of PCs are recycled; the percentage for televisions and mainframes recycled is lower. * The United States generates more e-waste than any other nation . * An estimated 50-80% of e-waste collected in the United States for recycling is exported to areas such as China, India or Pakistan. Unusable equipment is also being donated or sold to developing nations as a way to avoid recycling costs.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

In Focus: Hymoptera

Spiders are perhaps the most popular insects at present, due to the worldwide release of the movie, Spiderman. Most of us have been dreaming of being bitten by an insect and using its capabilities to be of help to society – as super heroes! When I was a child, bees and wasps running around the garden terrified me.Carrying on, fear for these insects sparked interest in me to study them, specifically about how these insects complete the balance of nature. This large group of inects belong to Hymenopetra, consisting of sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants.As such, the group was given the name referring to the membranous wings of the majority of the insects making up the population. The major role played by this group is that of being pollinators for flowering plants; thus, plants would not be able to reproduce without the help of this insects. All organisms have their own way of protecting themselves. Insects accord such self-protection by its horny or leathery cuticle for defense. Mo reover, the dermal glands of various insects are capable of producing chemical substances that can cause itching to other organisms, birds in particular.For many hymenopterans, the poisons produced are from the plants they feed on. In female hymenopterans, their reproductive system has been modified; being capable of producing toxic proteins. Once injected onto its prey this causes paralysis to the nervous system. Stings are also used by hymenopterans for protecting themselves like that of wasps, bees and ants. These insects are also capable of blending to their environment, making it hard for their enemies to find them. The cells have its moving pigment granules, hence allowing the coloration to occur (Agren and Hallberg, 1996; 443)The chemical communication among Hymenopterans is important in predicting their behavior. Among Hymenopterans who are of the social kind, there are several glands producing volatile secretion. The antennae are the most important body structure in perceiv ing signals. Also their body structures can be used to map out the population, insects having the same antenna structure would belong to the same group, performing a particular function (Felicioli, Romani and Bin, 1998; 140). The chemical defenses and poisons produced do not only serve as protection but as a warning as well. Most hymenopterans are of the social kind.The Dufour gland of Pulvergus rufuscens has been proven to vary as well, depending on the position that the insect has in its society. Queens have a hypertrophied gland with extended lumen and a thin epithelium indicating that it is not active in secretion, while the workers have thicker linings for secretory purposes. Hence, these insects have their status in their own society, doing its particular function as a member of its group (Grasso, et. al, 2004; 152). Hymenopterans particularly the ones belonging to superfamily Proctotrupidea are very small but are considered pests for rice, sugar, jute and cotton.The variety o f these hymenopterans are vast, thus the roles they have in nature are also different. There are some species belonging to the same group, acting as pollinators, serving the plants and man while there are those particularly the Proctotrupoidea, who are pests for man (Bin and Vinson, 1986; 132). Pesticides and other chemicals have been used for toxifying these insects. Hymenopterans, particularly the bees are capable of producing substances that are toxic for humans. The honey they obtained from the nectars of different flowers can be toxic and psychoactive for humans.Honey produced from the nectar of Azalea pontica has alkaloids which are very poisonous for humans but not for bees. The Roman soldiers who ate honey during the time of Pompey the Great became delirious and vomited the honey, causing their easy defeat. Moreover, honey from Andromeda flowers has grayanotoxins which can paralyze the limbs and diaphragm, resulting to death (Mclaren and Rotundo, 1985; 74). The chemical subs tances produced from the body of these insects are for self-protection. If stung by its antenna, one undergoes the process of natural body healing.Antidotes and medicines are not precscribed. The chemical produced by Ichneumon eumerus wasp and Maculinea rebeli butterfly in western Europe has resulted in Myrmica schencki ants being used as pawns. The ants are deceived as its accepts the caterpillar into their colony while the wasp uses its own substances to make the caterpillar as ant’s prey. If these chemicals can be synthesized, it can take the place of toxin used as ant traps (Grasso et. al, 2004; 152). Therapeutic gains from the chemical substances derived from these organisms are yet to be proven.Still, their role as pollinators for flowering plants is the major role they play in maintaining the balance of nature. As for the energy relations of these organisms to humans and the environment, biomass energy from plants is being used by this group to permit pollination. Furt her, the energy given off by these insects to plants is used by man as the latter eats the plant. In addition, as these organisms decay, it gives back the energy to the soil which will be of further use for man (Mclaren and Rotundo, 1985; 75). Though insects are one the major populations existing, the claims of man evolving from these creatures seem not plausible.The genetic traces used by some scientists and researches must be further studied. The chemical processes and the internal features of this group must be further examined to give precise results suggesting its importance to man and the environment. References Agren L. , Hallberg E. (1996) Flagellar sensilla of bumble bee males (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus), Apidologie 27, 433–444. Bin F. , Vinson S. B. (1986) Morphology of the antennal sex-gland in male Trissolcus basalis (Woll. ) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid of the green stink bug, Nezara viridula(Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Int. J. Insect Morphol. 15 , 129–138. Felicioli A. , Isidoro N. , Romani R. , Bin F. (1998) Ethological and morphological analysis of behavior in Osmia cornuta Latr. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Insect Soc. Life 2, 137–144. Grasso, D. , Mori,A. , Le Moli, F. , and Johan Billen. (2004). Morpho-functional comparison of the Dufour gland in the female castes of the Amazon ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) . Zoomorphology. 124. (3). 149-153. McLaren, J. , and Rotundo, L. (1985). Biology. D. C. Heath and Company. Lexington, Massachusettes. 67-75.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

489 lesson #8 part #2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

489 lesson #8 part #2 - Assignment Example A major reason why it is believed one would learn better using this strategy is that it is friendly, especially to people with memory problems. The ability to think about one’s own thinking process gives them an opportunity to retrieve the important information they learnt from memory. Learning using this strategy also facilitates independence from teacher support. This way, one can be in the best position to learn, with, or without the direct help of the teacher (Hartman, 2001, p. 8). I believe that the best learning strategy is one that facilitates a continuous learning process, even where there is minimal support from teachers. Hartman (2001) establishes that there are three basic kinds of awareness that have a correlation with metacognitive learning strategy; the first is knowledge awareness which refers to what a person knows, wants to know or does not know; the second is awareness thinking which requires one to know well the cognitive tasks and what is expected; thirdly, there is the thinking strategy awareness which is different from the second mentioned above. It refers to understanding the approaches that are directed to learning. The results of all these prompts the students to ask the following questions; â€Å"what do I need to know?†, â€Å"what don’t I know?† and â€Å"what do I know?† These kind of reflective questions enable students to be more self-aware thereby helping them connect to the kind of information that they may be learning (Hartman, 2001, p. 16). I have realized that learning on my own may not be very helpful since consulting from teachers is quite crit ical for purposes of

Friday, September 27, 2019

Event Study Statistics Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Event Study - Statistics Project Example With this in mind, an event study is considered the measure of impact of an event on a security value (MacKinlay, 1993). Considering the components of an asset cost, an event study further explores the availability and access of information and the immediacy of impounding such info onto prices. Events are characterised by variables such as short-horizon event studies that consider limited period, habitually hours to weeks and particular to the event at hand. Short-run events yield small returns and facilitate time to focus on information being released. Long-horizon event studies are problematic in that they are sensitive to the modeling assumption of the desired returns. The basic setup for an event study involves the identification of an event and the window, selection of a security, specifying and estimating the reference model characterizing the normal returns (expected returns). However, in order to estimate accurately whether illiquid premiums exist, the characters of liquid premiums must be established first. Thus, in order to test whether illiquid premiums exist, this paper aims at answering the research question, do stocks with higher illiquidity earn higher returns?, by the analysis of two events involving bond buyers? The paper analyzes the factors that affect s ecurity markets and identifies conditions that promote illiquidity premiums. Considering the theory on illiquid discounts, the risk-return model, and empirical study, illiquid discount should increase with increasing trading costs; illiquidity will increase when the market is down, and assets considered less liquid have historically had higher returns (Debondt & Thaler, 1985). Considering the fair market value of a security, a premium that investors will demand only when it can easily be converted into cash is referred as liquidity premium. When the liquid premium is considered too high, then the asset is

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The Greatest Songs of All Times Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Greatest Songs of All Times - Essay Example It is worth appreciating that there are different types of genres that relay varied messages to the music fans. Perhaps one that has been most common since historical times pertains to the classic rock music genre. This has distinct characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of the genres. Just like other genres, the success of each music is highly depended on the manner in which the writer and composer integrate various musical attributes to come up with a classic masterpiece. It is against this background that this paper provides an explicit review of five classical songs in light of the musical techniques that were employed in their creation. At this point, it is worth noting that through rock music, artists are usually able to pass on important messages in the ‘hardest manner’. In addition to the messages contained therein, the lovers of this music are usually attracted to it because of the musical effect that it has on their feelings. This can be only attaine d through the technique employed by the artists. In this respect, instrumentation plays an important role in attaining this goal. It does not only give the music rhythm and melody, but it also gives it harmony. The interplay of all these factors is important in enabling it to have a positive effect on the audience. In its I can’t get any Satisfaction, The Rolling Stone places great emphasis on the music altitude. This is attained through the artists’ use of sneering vocal and primal temper. According to Morse, its rhythm can be compared to ‘avenging strut† (Morse 46). The horns that the artists use play an instrumental role in improving the harmony of the music. The artists use this to make the piece unique and accord it an upper hand in the music industry. Perhaps the most important aspect of this music pertains to the use of technology. Notably, this has been employed in enhancing the altitude that the artists wished to place emphasis on. The use of the g uitar was particularly important in according this piece of art the rock characteristic. In his Like the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the other musicians use the guitar to achieve a rhythm in this song. During the recording, they also employ other instruments such as tambourine and the Bass. Although these are not noticeable from the outset, their importance in adding to and enhancing the feel of the song cannot be understated. In particular, they integrate into the song a couple of flashes that also contribute significantly to the harmony of the song. In his review, Rooksby indicates that Dylan’s voice contributes a great deal to the idyllic melody that the song exhibits (Rooksby 30). In essence, it gives the song a ‘rocky’ attribute that gives it an upper hand against its competitors. Comparatively, the effect of the artists sounds yields better results than that of the instruments. This is because, through the sound, artists are able to inform the audiences a bout their intention and objective. Statistical evidence indicates that a significant percentage of the audiences place great emphasis on the messages that they are relayed as opposed to the instrumentation. For this reason, the artist’s voice is a great asset that is elemental for their success. In his song, Dylan uses a lilting rock sound effect and makes it nasal and less sing-song. Instead, he makes his voice deep and scratchy.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

It's Economics assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

It's Economics - Assignment Example argument is that there will be an increase in the supply of the natural gas, this will lead to a decrease in the price in the long run, hence consumers will benefit. Thus making the gas fueled track cheaper to use (Taylor et al, p 261). From the Long Run Average Cost (LRAC) curve, as the prices of the crude oil drop, the firm will operate at an increasing output enjoying the economies of scale as the factors of production are still not fully utilized. This will continue up to the point indicated by the arrow, the minimum efficient scale (MES) where the Long-term Average Cost will start increasing and the operation at that level will lead to cost increasing faster than the output, hence having diseconomies of scale. The Long Run Average Cost (LRAC) curve for the gas prices will take longer than the one for oil in the economies of scale section as the prices of gas is assumed to drop further from the analysis of Park Company and hence the tractor company will enjoy increased output for a longer time. To maximize profit I will choose to use gas as its Long Run Average Cost LRACs curve stays within the economies of scale section a for long period thus increasing output and maximizing the profit. This is from the fact that the gas prices will drop for a quite longer time. The following information will help to ascertain which of the two theories is true, the world reserves of both the gas and the oil and the political status of the countries which produces them. Some countries may be unfriendly and thus punish the importing country and our company by hoarding the products or increasing the prices. The amount of the world reserves of the both the oil and the gas and which one will supply the demands for long time. The current and the likely future legislation which may favor the use of either of the two products, gas or the oil depending on the effect of on environment. The best strategy for the company is the one that increases the output at the least price

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Torts 10 ind wrk 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Torts 10 ind wrk 1 - Essay Example But changes are made in some state laws to recognize the special bond between the animal and its owner (Randolph, n.d). Normally, the owner of the pet will try to reach a compromise with the vet. In other cases, the owner of the pet stores a complaint with the authorization of the state that issues licenses and supervises veterinarians. The Board takes the necessary measures as revealed through their review and investigation of the case (Randolph, n.d). The owner of the animal may even file a complaint against the veterinarian or veterinary hospital - even though the case may cost expensive and time consuming. These controls on veterinary practices will also help curb the malpractice veterinary possible (Randolph, n.d). The claim of the owner of the animal that has suffered damage and / or injury caused must prove that it occurred during the performance veterinary. Therefore, the jurisprudence of the Courts, in veterinary liability requires that the claimant prove the following requirements: The existence of a causal link between the damage and / or injury suffered and the negligence of the veterinarian (for example, the dog had not died, if the vet would not put a doubled amount of anesthesia necessary). Wet in result of claims can raised the argument that the teeth cleaning procedure was correct but due to negligence of the owner the dog died. The owner did not bring back the dog to me when its condition

Monday, September 23, 2019

Consumer Behaviour and Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Consumer Behaviour and Research - Essay Example The theory presents a model that states the factors stimulating individual, group or corporate purchases, the intervening variables that may influence the purchase decisions, and the likely outcome of such purchase decisions. The factors influencing the purchase decision, according to this theory, is the sensitivity to information, perception bias and the active search for information, which ends-up indicating the favorable purchases to be done, based on the buyer preferences (Howard, 1965 p84). This is a progressive development from the earlier utility and Herbert Simon's satisficing life theories, which based the consumer behavior solely on the needs of the individual, ignoring all the intervening factors that could alter the purchase decision (Loudon, 1988 p 48). Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) This theory was developed in 1975, postulating that the buyer decision is fully influenced by beliefs and attitudes (Foxall, 2005 p16). Thus, the process of buyer behavior is preceded by at titude formation, where the buyer evaluates the alternative products and services that are available to satisfy their needs, while gauging each product and services upon its effectiveness and attractiveness. The theory further advanced, to not only look at the attitudes, but also interrogate the behavior depicted by the buyer throughout the purchase decision and execution process (Engel, Kollat & Blackwell, 1968 p10). This advanced the development of the consumer behavior theories further, from a mere focus on the needs and satisfaction process, to the actual involvement of the buyer, in information evaluation and arriving at informed decisions (Massy, Montgomery, & Morrison 1970 p16). The Theory of Planned Behavior This is a buyer intention and prediction analysis... The researcher of this essay aims to analyze the consumer behavior, that usually depicts the processes by which individuals or groups of people secure, utilize and dispose products or services, in a bid to satisfy their needs. Today, there are various theories that have been put across to explain the consumer behavior. Notably, theories of consumer behavior have been widely developed since 1800 to present day, with subsequent theories improving and expanding the previous ones. The development in the theories of buyer behavior took an upward trend starting 1950, with many researchers keenly engaging in the evaluation of the factors that influences the consumption behavior in individuals. The consumer behavior theories that have been subsequently developed include: Herbert Simon's satisficing life theory, the Theory of Buyer Behavior, Theory of Reasoned Action, The Theory of Planned Behavior. These theories were analyzed in details in this essay. The researcher also described the onlin e buying, that has become a norm for many people, owing to the recent technological developments that allow individuals to purchase products and have them delivered, in the comfort of the houses. While traditionally people used to visit stores and premises to inspect the products on sale, they are currently viewing the products online, while assessing their features and usability from the seller’s website, so that straight-to-the-point description of the products are needed for the implementation of the successful strategy.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Phylum Porifera Essay Example for Free

Phylum Porifera Essay Which phyla lack organs? What type of symmetry do they have? Phylum Porifera which lacks any symmetry (asymmetry) and phylum Cnidaria which has radial symmetry. List all of the phyla that show cephalization. Phylum Annelida, Phylum Mollusca, Phylum Arthropoda, Phylum Platyhelminthes, Phylum Nematoda, and Phylum Chordata. Do all organisms on the table have 3 germ layers (endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm)? If not, which Phyla have fewer than three germ layers? Not all the organisms have three germ layers. The organisms with less than three germ layers belong to Phylum Porifera which has no true germ layers and phylum Cnidaria which has two germ layers (diploblastic). One phylum has more species than all the others. State the name of this phylum and provide several different examples of species found in this phylum. Phylum Arthropoda. Examples of species in this phylum include Brazilopelma colloratvillosum, Dermacentor variabilis, Limulus polyphemus, Colossendeis megalonyx, Branchinecta gigas, Pyromaia tuberculata, Asterocheres echinicola, Narceus americanus, Scaphiostreptus parilis, and Musca domestica. According to chapter 24, fish do not all have the same skeletal structure. Describe the differences among fish from the most primitive to more advanced types. Fishes greatly differ in their anatomical features especially their skeletal structures. The most primitive group of fishes based on skeletal structure is known as class Agnatha and the fishes in this class are referred to as â€Å"the jawless fishes†.   These have a cartilaginous internal skeleton which means that they have no true bones (Layman, 2003). They also lack true teeth, true jaws, and true vertebrae (Layman, 2003). The other group of fish is referred to as the cartilaginous fishes and they belong to a class of fishes known as Chondrichthyes. Their skeleton is made up of cartilage. Unlike the jawless fishes, fishes in this group have jaws and true teeth which are bony as is seen with sharks (Layman, 2003). The final group of fish is known as the bony fishes and fishes in this group belong to a class known as Osteichthyes. These fish are very advanced and unlike the other two groups, fishes in this group have a skeletal structure that is made of true bones meaning that their skeletal structure is mineralized (Layman, 2003). They have a bony jaw, bony teeth, and bony vertebrae (Layman, 2003). Describe the three types of mammals based on how their young develop? One group of mammals is referred to as placental mammals. The young ones of mammals under this group develop for long inside their mothers. This prolonged development is facilitated by the presence of an allantoic placenta (Go Pets America, 2010). This placenta allows close contact between the vascular systems of both the mother and the growing embryos and this ensures that the embryos are adequately and continually nourished (Go Pets America, 2010). The placenta also allows for removal of waste products from the womb. In addition, the embryos are protected inside their mothers. For example the body temperatures of the mothers are usually constant and this protects the developing young ones from the harsh surroundings. These conditions provide a conducive environment which allows for development of the young ones to a very high degree. The other group of mammals is known as marsupial. The young ones of mammals under this category develop in the womb just like in placental mammals but their period of development is short. The reason for the short development period is due to presence of a yolk placenta whose ability to nourish the fetus is limited (Vaughan Ryan, 2010). After birth, the undeveloped young ones continue their development inside their mothers’ pouches where they cling to the mothers’ nipples with their mouths (Vaughan Ryan, 2010). The young ones get fed on milk through the nipples. The final group of mammals is referred to as monotremes. Mammals in this group reproduce by laying eggs. With these mammals, two eggs are laid each time and the young ones grow inside the eggs for a short while before they are hatched (Vaughan Ryan, 2010). Inside the eggs, the young ones are nourished by use of egg yolk. The hatched young ones are always very immature at birth and they continue to develop by feeding on milk from their mothers. But unlike the other groups of mammals, these mammals lack teats and milk oozes from the mothers’ abdomens and the young ones feed by licking the oozing milk (Vaughan Ryan, 2010).

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Meaning of Life Essay Example for Free

The Meaning of Life Essay â€Å"The Meaning of Life† is an excerpt from Richard Taylor’s book Good and Evil: A New Direction, with this book Mr. Taylor was thought to have adopted a radical subjectivist view of ethics. In this excerpt he explains why existence and life is meaningless and he sheds light into the meaning of life. Throughout his explanations Richard uses an example from an ancient Greek myth. The myth is about Sisyphus a Greek man who offended the gods and was sentenced to roll a large stone up a hill for all of eternity. Richard starts his explanation of the â€Å"Meaningless of Existence† with the toils of Sisyphus. Sisyphus is forced to roll a stone up a hill, when it is near the top the stone will roll back down and he is forced to roll it up again, only to have it fall once more to be rolled up again and again for all of eternity. It is Sisyphus’ punishment that we will focus on. Sisyphus is the picture of a â€Å"meaningless, pointless toil of a meaningless existence that is absolutely never redeemed†(Taylor, Richard). He has lost all purpose in life except to roll a stone; it is a never ending nightmare that he will never awaken from. Taylor gives other examples of meaningless tasks, a relay styles race with a precious gem transported back and forth in a never ending cycle, and a digging hole only to be refilled with the same earth. The points to all this is that all these tasks are pointless and without meaning. The story could be different and Sisyphus can have meaning if he circumstance were different, if Sisyphus rolled stone to the top and all the stone accumulated into a wonderful and enduring temple, he would have some meaning to his labors. If the gods as an after thought made it so that Sisyphus’ only will and desire was to roll stone, then Sisyphus would perhaps take enjoyment in his task. This change in his perception does not change his task at hand; it only changes his perspective. His is still condemned to an eternity of meaningless and pointless labor. Therefore the existence of Sisyphus is meaningless, the labor that he performs leads him nowhere, and everything that he does is in vain. The world would be the same with or without his presence. The next section deals with the meaningless of life, he begins this section by explaining what meaningless and meaningfulness is: â€Å"Meaningless is essentially endless pointless and meaningfulness is therefore the opposite. †(Taylor, Richard) for this section he cites ugly blind worms in a New Zealand cave. These worms have the soul purpose of waiting, feeding, transforming into winged adults only living a day or two, mating, laying eggs and finally dying. This example shows us the meaning of life, an endless cycle that accumulates to nothing, and the â€Å"point of living is evidently nothing but life itself. † (Taylor, Richard) We as humans differ form this only a little. We have goals that we work for; once they are completed we set off after another goal, all this work goes to family and home, only to beget others who will follow in the same foot steps in a cycle. Even though we are stuck in a cycle of endless meaningless toil we look to religion, universal justice, brotherhood or any sort of ever lasting good that we may aim for. The last part of this excerpt is the â€Å"meaning of life† we return to the story of Sisyphus who in this example has completed his beautiful tower and is now faced with eternal boredom, before he was faced with the nightmare of pointless activity now he is faced with the hell of eternal absence and boredom. This leads into his explanation that the meaning to our lives is â€Å"our own wills, our deep interest is what we find ourselves doing†(Taylor, Richard). Even though our existence is short and our toils fade we can hold memories of the past. The point of living is to continue what we are doing because giving up and doing nothing would be no salvation. The resolution to this excerpt is that we live life because our will is to live and build castles for our children so they can build castles for theirs. This question of living has puzzled philosophers for centuries, I have also come across this question, with my reasoning I could not figure it out, for if, great philosophers couldn’t then how could I? Mr. Taylor’s views are interesting and some of what he says does make sense. The myth of Sisyphus is the focal point of Richard Taylor’s reasoning the meaning of life; he explains Sisyphus eternal punishment in detail. Richard also gives other scenarios of Sisyphus’ task, if his labors accumulated into a beautiful tower or if he was some how made to enjoy rolling stones. I agree that in a way all ours lives are like that of Sisyphus’ toil. A cycle of endless toil, we work towards our little goals and glimpse of happiness, which are sure to fade over time. The meaningless of life is explained in the second section; Richard uses two insects to show the meaningless of life, the glow worms and the cicadas. Richard states that there is no meaning to life because it is an endless cycle of pointless and meaningless events. At the moment our goals may seem a great deal of importance in our lives but in the end all our toils are pointless and meaningless in the end. I understand this point in his explanation but I disagree, I think a person can find meaning in every ting they do. It is true that this meaning doesn’t last forever but the pleasure we take from everyday life and experience is well worth it. I don’t believe that everything is meaningless in life just because we all die in the end. I believe that it’s not the end of ones life that is important; it’s the journey that one takes through life. It is the accumulation of everyday happiness that makes our lives worthwhile. There is an old saying that the end of a journey is not important, it is the lessons we learn along the journey that counts. In the last section of the excerpt is the meaning of life, Richards explains that we live life because of our own will. I also agree with this, living life with a purpose and a will is much better compared to living a life of doing nothing and boredom because we know it eventually ends. I have very optimistic views of human life; I believe that everyone’s life has a meaning and a purpose. If a person is dying of cancer and has only a few months left, but a doctor performs an operation and saves him, he will have meaning to live again and he will cherish the rest of his life, sure he will die eventually but presently he will be grateful to live and he will give the doctor a reason to continue what he is doing. In my opinion the reason we live is for experience, we live to learn and experience new things. Like that old saying about the journey and the end, it is the process of the journey that is important. We live life not thinking about our deaths, we live it for the experiences that each day brings.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Qualities of a Good Humanitarian

Qualities of a Good Humanitarian This autobiography Three Cups Of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin goes through the life experiences of Greg Mortenson in his quest to build schools for disadvantaged children in the desolate parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This essay investigates the qualities that Mortenson possesses that have helped make him a contemporary symbol of humanitarianism. How does Mortensons story show the qualities necessary for a good Humanitarian? To answer this question, this essay makes a thorough analysis of this autobiography by analyzing the things that Mortenson has done and what persuaded him to do them. With that in mind this essay is intended to try and decipher which qualities or traits have guided him thus far, qualities which seem extremely beneficial to his quest. In the essay, each trait has been explored in depth, looking at the ways Mortenson has demonstrated that particular trait and how it helped in the end. This autobiography has been supported by some secondary sources from the internet that include book reviews that have been posted along with interviews that have been conducted with him. Therefore with these sources, I have made generalizations as to what qualities make a good humanitarian. Upon conclusion, I discovered that with the right amount of compassion, desire to succeed and being able to blend into different cultures then one can be a good humanitarian. INTRODUCTION Power is the ability to achieve purpose. Power is the ability to effect change; these were words spoken by the legendary Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King and from these words, one can gather that there is some extraordinary power that any individual can possess, as long as they have the ability to make a difference in the lives of others, it does not matter whether on a large scale or not. Throughout history there have been great men and women who have been known to possess this extraordinary power, such as mother Teresa who dedicated her life to helping the poor but amongst these people is Greg Mortenson, a man who from being a mere nurse has risen above all odds and has become a world renowned humanitarian who has done development work in Central Asia (Pakistan and Afghanistan). Most of his work has been the construction of schools for both the Pakistani and Afghani children but it also extends to giving a helping hand at refugee camps in these areas. To date, Mortenson has built over one hundred and thirty schools and some of them catering to just girls. Greg Mortenson, along with the award winning journalist David Oliver Relin have written an autobiography of Mortensons life Three Cups Of Tea one mans mission to promote peaceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦one school at a time from the time he discovered his true calling through all the ensuing events, sharing in detail how he tackles every obstacle that comes his way. How does Mortensons story show the qualities necessary for a good humanitarian? For most people it has been a mystery as to what qualities must be possessed for an individual to become a humanitarian and exercise charity. I think Mortenson is one of the best people to help illustrate these qualities because he started from nothing but has now become a man to whom even the US Military looks to for advice. How is it that this ordinary man who failed to climb K-2 has achieved so much in life? This topic is significant in that as much as most people might want to help the needy, they may not know where and how to start and the qualities that may help them in their quest. Even universities have started offering courses that help create great humanitarians and aid projects, courses like development work and development theory finance. Just the mere prospect of having these courses offered at universities shows that this is a booming industry and observing people like Greg Mortenson can help a lot of people who are interested in helping others. Other humanitarians like Sir Edmund Hilary have seen this advancement in humanitarian efforts coming, and in his book School House In The Clouds, Hilary spoke of the need for aid projects in the worlds poorest places he says, Slowly and painfully we are seeing worldwide acceptance of the fact that the wealthier and more technologically advanced countries have a responsibility to help undeveloped ones (pg 53). Mortensons philosophy is also that of Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen whose idea is that, You can change a culture by giving its girls the tools to grow up educated so they can help themselves (pg 234). In Mortensons case, these schools were not built overnight; Mortenson encountered problems but he persisted and in the end the results were very rewarding. Mortenson has shown that an ordinary person like himself can make a difference in the world by having the right amount of compassion, determination and the ability to rise above prejudices and work within another culture. COMPASSION The poor do not need our sympathy and pity: the poor need our love and compassion. These were words spoken by the Nobel Peace prize winner, Mother Teresa, one of Mortensons idols. From the beginning, our introduction to Mortenson is of a man who doesnt pity the needy but tries to help them as much as possible. The source of this good-heartedness can be traced back to his parents who were also generous people. Irvin Mortenson (Gregs father) was an army veteran-turned schoolteacher in Tanzania who while there threw every molecule of himself into the great achievement of his life-raising money for and founding Tanzanias first teaching hospital, the Kilimanjaro Christian medical center (36). Also, his mother, Jerene Mortenson, laboured with the same single-mindedness to establish the Moshi International School (36). With such parents, it is no wonder Greg Mortenson turned out the way he did. Mortensons compassion is easily noticeable in the sacrifices he has undertaken for the sake of his family. The Mortensons lived in Africa for most of Gregs childhood and although they had done so much for the Tazanians, when they went back to America they were struggling financially and Greg Mortensons compassion is well illustrated when after graduating from high school, he enrolled himself in the army just so he could bring in some money. To show how rare this trait is Mortenson says: The kids at my school were amazed Id even consider the military. But we were broke (40). Christa, Mortensons sister, was epileptic and for the sole purpose of finding a way to help her, Greg studied neurology (42). Not only that but when they were growing up, Mortenson made sure that no one made fun of Christa. After college, Mortenson wanted to start working as soon as possible but because he wanted to spend time with his sister, he took a year off-not many people could do that which is why when Christa died, Mortenson took it really hard but wanted to honour her memory by climbing K-2, a mountain in central Asia infamous for being one of the toughest to climb in the world (42-43). Another clear depiction of Mortensons compassion is when he offered to quit school when his father was dying of cancer so that he could take care of him in his last days (42). Mortensons compassion can also be seen in the sacrifices he makes for others and his desire to satisfy everyone. This whole idea of building schools started in a village called Korphe where Mortenson was taken after he had been lost on K-2 Mountain and had seen about eighty children trying to teach themselves on the ground without a teacher and had made the promise to build them the school (33). While there, Mortenson distributed all he had to the people of that village and had gone out of his way to help their sick, hence earning his name Dr. Greg (30). On his way to fulfill his promise, the people of other villages were trying to bribe him into opting for their village and not Korphe and the guilt that Mortenson felt knowing that he could not help them frustrated him which is why he ended up promising to one day build the school for them, no matter what it took and this signifies his compassion to the extreme (91). Also, going out of his way to organise teachers and paying salaries along with calling in an eye specialist for the children and elderly of refugee camps that strained to feed, shelter and educate hundreds of thousands of people is an extreme act of compassion that clearly shows his big heart (208). Further, whenever there was a war happening, Mortenson was usually robbed of sleep worrying about those poor people (214). He used to spend nights reading about Pakistani history and trying to learn more and this shows a man whose good-heartedness made him even forget the necessities of life like sleeping. Perhaps the best way he has demonstrated his compassion is by fulfilling most of his promises; he promised to build a school for the Korphe people and he did that and even more, he also built them a womens vocational center fully equipped with sewing machines (193). He also promised to build a school for the people of the villages who were trying to bribe him and he did; not only for them but for many other villages. DETERMINATION It is usually said that a leader has a clear idea of what she or he wants and he would do anything to get it regardless of any obstacles that he may face and likewise, Mortenson was a leader who, in his cause to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, has come across a lot of setbacks that would make most people give up but because he had a lot of determination Mortenson just pushed on and can now be identified as a well respected humanitarian. His determination is easily portrayed in the sacrifices he makes in order to raise the necessary funds for the construction of the schools. These acts include struggling to write many requests to as many potential sponsors as possible so that he could build the first school (47). We learn that, he wrote to every U.S. senator. He haunted the public library, scanning the kind of pop culture magazines he would never otherwise read, in search of sponsors and this just shows his eagerness to succeed ( 49). To save money while he was trying to raise funds for the school, Mortenson decided not to rent an apartment and chose to live in his car and to take showers in the bathrooms of a climbing club that he was a member of ( 49). At night he would be bothered by the police so he had to hunt for parking places where the police would not find him (49). What person in their right mind would do something like that, especially for people he did not have exceptionally strong ties with, unless they were really determined to succeed and even going to the extremes of starving himself (51)? In like manner, while he was in Pakistan with the necessary funds for the school, he lived in an eight-by-eight-foot glassed in cubicle on the hotels roof that seemed more like a garden shed than a guest room (57). Here again the image is of a man who is prepared to endure all the hardships that come his way (57). He could have just used the money he had on him and checked into a proper hotel but no, he had to try and save as much as possible. Before he had left America, Mortenson converted everything else he owned into enough cash to buy his plane ticket(56). What if everything in Pakistan did not work out and when he got back, what would he have? Nothing, but because he knew what he wanted he did it anyway. Mother Teresa once said: We ourselves feel like what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean but the ocean would be less without that drop. Mortenson believed in this saying and strived in every way to make sure that the drop he was adding was at its best hence why he even started reading books on development theory finance so that he could be a better manager and along with this he even flew to Southeast Asia so that he could learn more from other programs that did the same job that he did (234). Only a man who really wanted to make things work would go this far. In the time that Mortenson has been in Central Asia, he has taken great risks, risks that had he been somebody else, he would have left without any delays and these risks include exposing himself to the conflicts that are taking place there. In 1996, Bin Laden (a leader of the Talibans Islam extremist) called for an armed struggle against any Americans, and when this happened Mortenson was still there and ended up being held hostage for some time before he was released; but the terrifying prospect that he kept delaying leaving Asia although he knew how dangerous it was, shows his pure determination along with his love for these people (156). Patience is a prevailing attribute that Mortenson seems to possess and in physics; a spring can be stretched and return to its original place, but there is a limit to that stretching (elasticity limit), and when this point is reached then the spring will never go back to its original position. Greg Mortensons patience is synonymous to this spring and the similarities are easily noticeable because throughout, his patience has been tried at different turns and this patience helps to eloquently demonstrate his determination. The fact that Mortenson only received a single reply from the letters he wrote and all his grant applications had been turned down after waiting over six months; the fact that Mortenson still continued even after this major setback is a clear indication of his determination (52) As with the physics analysis, however, at some point Mortenson almost had a mental breakdown because after struggling for over two years to get a hold of the funds required to build the first school, when he arrives at Korphe to begin the building project, he discovers that before they can begin they have to build a bridge to carry across the necessary building materials. This required him to go back to America to get more money for the construction of the bridge. Looking back at the way he had struggled to get the first twelve thousand dollars, obviously it wasnt going to be easy to get the extra funds. Predictably, he did struggle and this failure led to him almost giving up hope. He was just on the brink of giving up but the words of a fellow mountaineer, Dr. Louis Richardt brought him back: Pull yourself together, Greg. Of course youve hit a few speed bumps but what youre trying to do is much more difficult than climbing K2(106). These words gave him the strength to continue. Thi s pure act showed a lot of determination on his part. Again, Mortensons determination can be seen in the problems he faces and the way he overcomes them. After the formation of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) which was founded by a single sponsor Jean Hoerni who covered all the expenses, Mortensons work in Pakistan advanced extremely, but following the death of the sponsor, the company started having monetary problems. Mortenson refused to hire an assistant because of fear of dipping into CAIs funds (228); he also refused an offer of a salary increase along with refusing to hire office space. All these things show a man who is determined to continue in his cause and was desperate to save as much as possible so that his work can continue. During this time of hardships in the company, Mortenson started to hold seminars where he tried to raise awareness for his work and get funding, but sometimes he faced a sea of empty seats (228) but the fact that he still continued to go to every state in America as planned shows that he had hope that at some point he would get lucky and the message would be out and his determination is enormously conveyed in this way. Now, some rich people wanted to flaunt Mortenson to their peers and look good with the promise that they would fund his company and because Mortenson was desperate, he had no choice but to play along. At some point he even went to Canada with one of them but in the end he got nothing in the form of funds from him. He tried everybody, even the people whose legitimacy he doubted. An old lady who said she had money to give called Mortenson over and he obliged because of his desperation but this woman turned out to be just a lonely old lady who just yearned for company (231). A person who would do all this is indeed determined to get to his destination. ABILITY TO RISE OVER PREJUDICES AND WORK WITHIN ANOTHER CULTURE It has been said that Good intentions and money are great, but it is partnerships and great personal relationships at the grass roots level that gets things done in a third world country and from the onset Mortenson has proved himself to be one of those people who are extremely sociable and form partnerships quickly. Throughout his quest, what Mortenson has been doing the entire time is building his rapport and trying to gain the trust of the natives of the countries he was trying to aid. His individualism and non-affiliation with both big NGOs and the political systems in any country are the factors that may have helped him reach so far as compared to all other development charities that have tried to help these people. Of course there were a number of barriers that hindered his progress and these include the language barriers because at first he had not learned their language; the custom barriers that also hindered his progress because if he went against custom, his work may be cut-off; and lastly the religious beliefs. The education of girls in that part of the world is taboo and people in Pakistan and Afghanistan believe it goes against their religion. According to BBC News, when parents were asked why they didnt pay for their female children to go to school, the parents would say Because its wrong, its irreligious, its improper they should stay at home and prepare for their real lives, their married lives. Mortenson was going against this taboo in every way and this caused a lot of problems for him. I have heard that an infidel has come to poison our Muslim children, boys as well as girls; with his teachings. Allah forbids the education of girls. And I forbid the construction of this school. (152) These were words spoken by one Haji Medhi who, along with his men went to Korphe and were trying to stop Mortensons work. Also, Greg learned that the Sher of Chakpo had declared a fatwa against himà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Pakistan is ruled by civil law, but also by Shariat, which is a system of Islamic law (184) . It wasnt only this once that a fatwa was issued against him but twice. After an issue of a fatwa has been made, the courts have to decide what to do, but luckily on both counts he was not implicated but rather the courts saw his work as a gift to their children. From the onset, we see Mortenson as a man who is able to quickly gain the trust of the people around him. George McCown, a board member of the American Himalayan Foundations once said: Greg is a guy you immediately like and trustà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦watching all those people work with himà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦It was obvious they loved him. He operated as one of them and I wondered how in the hell an American had managed that (122-123). How indeed has he managed that? The answer to that mystery might be that Greg has an eagerness to learn peoples ways, he tries in every way not to offend them and he does not distinguish himself from them but sees them as his equals, he sees everybody as his equal. His eagerness to learn their ways is easily noticeable when during his second visit to Pakistan, he asks the tailor who was putting together his outfit to teach him how to pray (62). What business of his was it how these people prayed? This eagerness to pray is also accentuated when he tries to pray with the religious leader of Korphe (67). For him to even enter the compound where the Korphe religious leader lived was a problem because he did not want to offend him; he understood that he was a non-Muslim (infidel) trying to educate the children of Korphe and he didnt know how the religious leader would take it (67). This trait of not wanting to offend is also signified with the guilt he felt when he had worn their traditional dress inappropriately and was therefore scolded for it (62). Again, unlike big organizations that just throw in millions without requesting anything from the locals, Mortenson required that each village donate land and labour and this is one of the things that might have helped him gain the trust of these people involving them. Mortenson says: Ive driven past dozens of schools in Northern Afghanistan that have been set up by conservation Corps or USAID(United States Agency For International Development), and you see a beautiful school building but no one in it Also, although Mortenson was offered large sums of money by the US Military, he had to refuse because he understood that his credibility in that part of the world depended on not being associated with the American government, especially the military (295). Had the people thought he was associated with them, they would shut him out. The American military never really stopped to ask what the people of Pakistan or Afghanistan wanted but just did what they wanted without consulting with their elders. In an interview for MSNBC(a television network), Mortenson says that following an earthquake in Pakistan in 2005, tens of thousands of tents were sent over and most of them implosive and the people would huddle in them with kerosene lanterns for light and hundreds of tents imploded and hundreds of people died and some were burned. But had anybody asked what they wanted they could have said they could make their own canvas tents if they send over canvas and sewing machines Mortenson on the ot her hand asks what they need and he would rather supply them with that than anything they did not ask for. CONCLUSION When investigating this research question How does Mortensons story show the qualities of a good humanitarian? it is easily discernable that by showing the qualities that Mortenson possessed, this story Three cups of tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin clearly shows that it all begins with the amount of compassion that one possesses. If one does not have a desire to help the needy then they would not succeed because how could one do something they do not really have the desire for? Then comes the degree to which they are willing to bend their will in order to help make that particular act a success. They need to be ready to make a lot of sacrifices along the way, sacrifices that could mean they have to live differently from the way they are used to. Mortensons experiences show that in most cases the journey will not be easy but with the correct amount of determination and eagerness to succeed, eventually you will get there. Usually the people who require most help are the people in remote parts of developing or undeveloped countries and most of the time these people have customs that most outsiders are not familiar with and may even be a whole different ethnic group all together and most of the time aid organizations or humanitarians are going to have to try and learn their ways. Finally, listening to them, incorporating them in the decision-making process is also a wise move because that way, their needs are catered for. There have been great humanitarians like Mortenson who have possessed these qualities: Mother Teresa, Fred Cunny, Per Anger, Dalai Lama many others. By reading autobiographies of such people, these artifacts of our culture can give aspiring humanitarians the necessary qualities for being great humanitarians.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Causes of the Fenian Movement :: Essays Papers

Causes of the Fenian Movement Irish history is one that is filled with many successes, but heavily out weighted by tragedies and failures of all types. Beginning in the 1840’s, Ireland was faced with many occurrences that lead up to a movement that changed the history of Ireland’s nationalism. â€Å"Beginning with 1847, the potato blight left famine and death on every hand; emigration was excessive and disaffection wide spread yet the British government did little to relieve the deplorable conditions.† (Walker 2) One of the largest events of the time was the Fenian Movement. This movement was led by the people in order to take back what was theirs, their land and rights. While many occurrences might have contributed to the Fenian Movement, which was named after the legendary Gaelic hero, Finn Mac Cumhail (de Nie 215), the four large contributors were The Great Potato Famine; The Young Ireland Uprising; the Civil War; and Britain’s tightening oppression. In 1845, the main crop of the Irish was coming under attack. A blight that slowly killed the potatoes from the inside out, hit the country hard. With the devastation of the dying potatoes, much of the population was found to be in starving situations. Disease that already existed in the country, attacked those left weak by the starvation they were facing, and many died. The disaster of the Famine radicalized a generation of mainly catholic young men of modest social origin, some of whom eventually succeed in assembling an almost open and extremely widespread conspiracy to subvert British rule in Ireland (Gavin 471) This lead to the emigration of many to other countries in order to leave the diseased country. The Famine also caused many Irish to question the control that Britain had over their country. Britain granted no form of help to the devastated Irish population. Since potatoes were Ireland’s top export, the British decided to tax and bill for the potatoes that they never received. They also used religion as a tool to discourage the Irish. English Catholic’s prevalent concern: that Irish nationalism would supersede Catholicism in the hearts and minds of England’s Catholic population, which was predominantly composed of working-class Irish migrants†¦ Most Irish classified their Catholicism with nationalism while English Catholics considered themselves a refined Catholic minority in a vulgar Protestant land (Dye 358).

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Scarlet Letter :: Free Essay Writer

Scarlet Letter For Every Action There is a Reaction: the Affects of Sin in The Scarlet Letter According to Webster ¡Ã‚ ¯s Collegiate Dictionary, sin is defined as an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible. The average person would agree that it is only in human nature to sin. Therefore the severity of such transgressions is diluted with that simple justification. However, the less frequently discussed and oftentimes the more important issue is the effects of a man or woman ¡Ã‚ ¯s sin. Nathaniel Hawthorne ¡Ã‚ ¯s The Scarlet Letter revolves around the single theme of the unforgivable, adulterous sin which affects Hester Prynne, Pearl, and Roger Chillingworth to their very cores. First, because of this unforgivable sin, Hester was forced to live as the social outcast for the rest of her days. Hester makes her first public appearance clad in the scarlet letter when she first emerges out of the cold dark prison. It is described as  ¡Ã‚ °so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom ¡Ã‚ ± (37). Hawthorne continues to say  ¡Ã‚ °It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself ¡Ã‚ ± (37). Since the scarlet letter symbolizes sin, it is the ultimate source of social isolation for her. Hester is in a sphere of her own where her sin affects her livelihood and has completely isolated her from the world. The prison marks the beginning of a new life for Hester; a life filled with coping with consequences. Guilt is a consequence of sin that Hester must endure throughout her life, which also begins to have a profound effect on her life and thinking. Then, Pearl evolved into the very manifestation of Hester ¡Ã‚ ¯s sin. Pearl is not just a passive reminder of Hester ¡Ã‚ ¯s terrible deed; on the contrary, she is active in the role of torturing her mother. From the very beginning she drives to cause Hester to suffer.  ¡Ã‚ °But that first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was--shall we say it?--the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom! ¡Ã‚ ± (66). This small movement of the baby ¡Ã‚ ¯s hand causes immense amounts of pain in Hester. Then, when Pearl is older she  ¡Ã‚ °she amused herself with gathering handfuls of wild-flowers, and flinging them, one by one, at her mother's bosom; dancing, up and down, like a little elf, whenever she hit the scarlet letter ¡Ã‚ ± (67). Hester begins to wonder if Pearl really is a demon ¡Ã‚ ¯s offspring  ¡Ã‚ °through the agency ¡Ã‚ ± of her sin.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Case Study Week

If your international firm were doing business in Asia, is there anything that your company could do to ease the tensions these cultures are experiencing? Be specific. If my company started or planned on doing business in Asia it should be my job to try and fit in with the culture of Asia with respect, not saying that I have to change my whole life to suit them, but for instance if you speak a language it should be my job to learn and speak and adapt, not come o Asia speaking only English and expect everyone to do the same, it isn't fair. . In your opinion, is globalization among the causes of the increasing incidence of divorce, crime, and drug abuse in Asia? Why or why not? Crime and violence is all over the world no matter where you live, but I have to say after reading a little bit of the story and thinking yes it could be a cause, with the ports open to trading and the lines of communication are more advanced like internet, television.You live dress a certain way and all a sudde n you append to get a glance at other girls are dressing, all of a sudden you're talking with someone from America, you start hearing the type of freedom you have to way life is being lived, then the person from Asia get curious, what to try and explore a whole new world, then word get around and everyone wants to go 3. Broadly defined, Asia comprises more than 60 percent of the world's population-? a population that practices Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and numerous other religions.Thus, do you hind it is possible to carry on a valid discussion of â€Å"Asian† values? Why or why not? For me Religion is not a subject that talk about too broad and you'll never win in any debate, everyone has their opinion. All the practices listed above all have a different way of living, like what they eat, drink, how they dress, treat people. So if you don't have much information or knowledge to hold a conversation you'll be up against a big battle. So the best thing to do would be to know about each religion in detail to avoid conflict. Consider the following statement: â€Å"Economic development and capitalism require a certain style of doing business in the twenty- first century. The sooner Asian cultures adapt the better. † Do you agree or disagree? Explain. There are many companies that are trying to learn how to adapt to the Asia culture by doing so you have a better chance of doing business and being successful. There's no rule that says cultures need to adapt they can make changes but they need to stay true to what they believe in and stay true to them.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Potential Impact Study of Renewable Energy Resources on Power Transformer

Chapter One Introduction to Topic CHAPTER I 1. 1Introduction: India is one of the developing countries & at the same times a fastest rising economy in the world. India along with the BRIC countries is considered as the back bone of the world’s economy. This attraction is partially due to the lower cost of manpower and good quality production. India is now the eleventh largest economy in the world, fourth in terms of purchasing power. It is poised to make tremendous economic strides over the coming years, with significant development already in the planning stages. For development of a country, infrastructure plays a vital role. With the opening of the Indian economy in 1990, many multinational / transnational companies were eager to invest in India. India being the second largest population of the world is the largest market for foreign multinationals. For this reason development of the infrastructure was need of the hour for the economy. ENERGY development is the key aspect of infrastructure development & demand of the developing economy. Moreover, fulfilling the energy requirement of ever growing population is herculean task. The infrastructure deficit in India is immense & India is power stressed. The increasing vibrancy and flexibility of the Indian economy is not matched by the power sector. India was heavily relied on Conventional energy resources like thermal energy. The conventional energy development mainly depends on availability of resources like oil, coal, coke etc. Even nuclear power generation depends on availability of uranium & platinum. Conventional energy generation also results in higher carbon emission & pollution. Destroying the wastes from the conventional energy generation is the major task ahead of the country. Renewable energy Resources give the best possible solution for this problem. Renewable energy resources can be defined as the energy resources which can be replenished, as & when they are consumed e. g. solar, wind, small hydro power, biogas etc. Knowing the potential of this form of energy resources, Indian government established a separate ministry for Renewable energy resources in 2006. Perhaps, India is the only country having separate ministry for renewable energy. Since then renewable energy market is an upcoming market in Indian power sector. With boom in the renewable energy market, there is also a rise in demand for related manufacturing equipment industries. Transformer is one of such equipments required in power systems for transmission of power. Our aim in this project is to make a Market Potential Impact Study for transformer for renewable energy markets. 1. 2Research Methodology: The first and a very important step in market research is formulating a research problem. It is the most important stage as if the problem is wrongly defined the subsequent stages will be of no good for the purpose for which the research is being conducted, at the same time the problem must not be defined too broadly or too narrowly. In this Project we are identifying the gap in the organizations portfolio of Transformer Business in India. We have identified that organization has no presence in the low voltage, distribution class transformer markets in India. Looking at the growth rate of Renewable energy markets and governments initiative towards the renewable energy, our main objective is to ascertain its impact on transformer business. Identifying sources of information There are two type of data resources used for the research primary and secondary data sources. Primary research data : Primary research involves getting original data directly about the product and market. Primary research data is data that did not exist before it is designed to answer specific questions of interest to the business. †¢ One to one interaction: Idea generation of the project is drawn from the one to one interaction with the experienced colleagues and trusted associates. †¢ Casual Interviews: Casual interviews are the unstructured interviews. Casual interactions with the seniors, discussions with the vendors are one of the sources of primary data. †¢ Brainstorming: Brainstorming is the casual interaction with experts. Experts are allowed to discuss freely on a particular subject. Their newly generated ideas are registered. There may not be any time duration for such sessions. †¢ Observations: †¢ Existing customer enquiries & their feedbacks: Many times customer enquiries can give us the data we required. The feedbacks from the existing customers are also helpful for idea generation. Secondary research data : Secondary data is the pre- existing data, already available through books, previous researches, organizations, government documents, journals, news papers etc. Trade magazines, Journals: There are various trade magazines in power sector available. IEEMA (Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers Association), Powerline magazines, ITMA (Indian Transformer’s Manufacturing Association) are some of the related associations. These associations are also working on the Renewable Energy Resources. †¢ Newspapers: News paper s are always giving the updates about the new trends, ideas, research going on around the world around. †¢ Internet articles, websites: Internet is the huge pool of data available for secondary research. Various search engines like Google, Yahoo etc. are useful for finding the relevant data. Websites of various Private & government PSU’s are the sources of data. Websites of PGCIL, IEEMA, ITMA, Wind Power Associations, Wind mill solution manufacturer’s, statistical agencies are of immense help. †¢ Books: Books are always the sources of the technical data. †¢ Statistics agencies; The statistical agencies like India Securities ltd. , which are doing their own research in various industries, are the sources of secondary data. †¢ Government resources: Government organizations like PGCIL, SEB’s, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy Resources are the sources of data. †¢ Manufacturing associations: Indian Transformer Manufacturing Association (ITMA), Windmill manufacturing associations are some of the manufacturing associations, which are used as the sources of secondary data. Gathering the existing data & checking its authenticity is an important step in the research design. After the process of data gathering information, the data was tabulated and analyzed through graphs & bar charts as discussed in chapter 4 of this report. . 3Objectives: †¢ To study the current status of renewable energy market within India. Our study will mainly concentrate on Wind Energy & Small Hydro Projects (SHP). †¢ To ascertain the market potential for renewable energy up to 2030 & study the strategic locations of renewable energy generation within India. Find out the trends in Power sector. †¢ To study the specifications & the ca tegories of the transformers required for renewable energy transmission. †¢ Establish the relationship between the volumes of transformer business due to renewable energy market. To study the present organization set-up, this can be utilized for renewable energy transformers. 1. 4Limitations of the study: There are following limitations for the research: †¢ The primary research was limited due to wide spread of consumers. 80% of the transformer business is from the Public utilities, state electricity boards. Most of the sites are in remote places. Hence data collection is time consuming. It is very difficult to get the responses from such wide spread customers in limited time. For this research we mainly concentrated on customer feedbacks & experiences of previous telephonic conversations. †¢ The secondary research is mainly concentrated on the data available through government resources. This is due to the fact that majority of the decision making & forecasting is done at the central government level. As there is increase in Private participation in recent years, there is limited amount of data available for it. 1. 5Conclusion: India is developing with the rapid pace; it implies heavy investments in infrastructure. Energy generation is the key aspect for the infrastructure growth of the country. With the government’s initiative towards clean energy development, Renewable energy sector is booming. Due to Renewable energy development, there is also increase in the private participations in power plants implementations. This scenario is conducive for the demand of the transformers required for small power projects (private as well as public). In this project we will be concentrating on impact potential study of Renewable energy on power transformers. This will be helpful for the organization for initiating the low power, low voltage, distribution transformer’s business in India. We will ascertain its feasibility in the subsequent chapters starting with the organization’s profile. Chapter Two Company Overview CHAPTER II SIEMENS Ltd. 2. 1HISTORY: Siemens was founded in Berlin by Werner von Siemens in 1847. As an extraordinary inventor, engineer and entrepreneur, Werner von Siemens made the world's first pointer telegraph and electric dynamo, inventions that helped put the spin in the industrial revolution. He was the man behind one of the most fascinating success stories of all time – by turning a humble little workshop into one of the world's largest enterprises. As Werner had envisioned, the company he started grew from strength to strength in every field of electrical engineering. From constructing the world's first electric railway to laying the first telegraph line linking Britain and India, Siemens was responsible for building much of the modern world's infrastructure. Siemens is today a technology giant in more than 190 countries, employing some 440,000 people worldwide. Our work in the fields of energy, industry, communications, information, transportation, healthcare, components and lighting has become essential parts of everyday life. While Werner was a tireless inventor during his days, Siemens today remains a relentless innovator. With innovations averaging 18 a day, it seems like the revolution Werner started is still going strong. 2. 2Corporate Overview: Siemens Ltd. in India The Siemens Group in India is a unique player in the field of electrical and electronics engineering. We have the capability to integrate diverse products, systems and services into turnkey solutions across the life- cycle of a project. Innovation is our strength. But it’s not the only one. Our customers also know that they can rely on us to execute quality projects, while delivering value. In all areas of our operation, we provide the complete range of offerings. †¢ In the Energy sector, our expertise ranges from power plants to  turbines. †¢ Industry sector, we build airports, as well as produce contactors. †¢ In Transportation, we deliver complete high-speed trains, right down to safety relays. In Lighting, we illuminate large stadiums and also manufacture small light bulbs. †¢ In Healthcare, we execute complete solutions for hospitals, as also provide â€Å"in- the canal† hearing aids. †¢ And, the thread that connects all our businesses is Information technology. Siemens Ltd is the flagship listed company in India. Siemens in India, which comprises 20 legal entities, is a leading provider of industry and infrastructure solutions with a business volume aggregating about Rs 11,800 crore, as on September 2008. It operates in the core business areas of Industry, Energy and Healthcare. It has nation-wide Sales and Service network, 20 manufacturing plants, a network of around 500 channel partners and employs about 17,200 people. 2. 3BUSINESSES: Organizational Chart Power Transmission & Distribution High Voltage Energy Automation Medium Voltage Transformers Services At Siemens, end-to-end products, systems and solutions for industrial and building automation as well as infrastructure installations are provided. These turnkey solutions cover project management, engineering and software, installation, commissioning, after-sales service, plant maintenance and training. . 4SECTORS †¢ Energy Sector Siemens consolidates its innovative offerings in the Energy sector by combining its full range expertise in the areas of Power Generation (PG) and Power Transmission & Distribution (PTD). Utilizing the most advanced plant diagnostics and systems technologies, Siemens provides comprehensive services for complete power plants and for rotating machines such as gas and steam t urbines, generators and compressors. Power Generation Efficient, reliable, climate-friendly power generation is vital for economic development. With innovative technologies and products, Siemens is pushing the limits of power plant efficiency and helping strike a viable balance between climate protection, supply security and cost-efficiency in power generation. From simple cycle power plants to combined cycle power plants, steam power plants up to integrated gasification combined cycle plants, Siemens ensures the highest levels of efficiency currently possible throughout the entire power generation process. The wide range of offerings include solutions for the automation of power grids and products such as medium voltage switchgear and components. Compressors †¢ Gas Turbines †¢ Generators †¢ Steam Turbines †¢ Combine cycle power plants †¢ Reference cycle power plants †¢ Steam power plants †¢ Fuel cells †¢ Instrumentation & controls †¢ Renewable power plants Power Transmission & Distribution (PTD) Efficient high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) power transmission lines are indispensab le for transporting large amounts of electricity over long distances with minimum loss and thus for transmitting power from renewable energy sources in remote locations to distant consumer centres. This is where the Power Transmission Division (PTD) of Siemens plays an important role as pioneering technology providers, offering greater reliability and efficiency besides contributing to develop sustainable power supplies. PTD offerings span the entire field of high voltage power transmission, including HVDC transmission systems and products and systems for high-voltage switchgear and transformers. †¢ Power Transmission & Distribution Systems †¢ Arrestors †¢ Energy management †¢ Power network communications †¢ Power transmission system †¢ Protection & substation controls Switchgears †¢ TRANSFORMERS †¢ Healthcare Sector By combining the most advanced laboratory diagnostics, imaging systems and healthcare information technology, Siemens Healthcare division enables clinicians to diagnose disease earlier and more accurately, making a decisive contribution to improving the quality of healthcare The Siemens Healthcare Division is one of the large st suppliers of healthcare technology in the world. It offers solutions for the entire supply chain under one roof – from prevention and early detection through diagnosis and on to treatment and aftercare. In addition, Siemens Healthcare is the market leader for innovative hearing devices. Laboratory Diagnostics The Diagnostics Division of Siemens is engaged with the business of generating clinical diagnostic test results using tissue and fluid analysis – a process known as in-vitro diagnostics, besides immune diagnostics and molecular analysis. The Division’s solutions range from point-of-care applications to the automation of large laboratories, producing high quality outcomes that save time, money and lives. Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy †¢ Laboratory Diagnostics †¢ Hearing Instruments †¢ Market Specific Solutions †¢ IT Solutions and Services †¢ Financial Solutions †¢ Information & Communication We provide software solutions across the IT service chain, from consulting and system integration to IT infrastructure management in the areas of telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, public sector, utilities & government. †¢ Communi cation Services †¢ Fixed and mobile services †¢ Information Technology †¢ Telephone & communication Wireless modules †¢ OSRAM India Pvt. Ltd. (Lighting) OSRAM India Pvt. Ltd. (Lighting)Artificial lighting accounts for a significant portion of today’s CO2 emissions. The use of energy-efficient lamps, LEDs and intelligent light management systems would not just help in bringing down the emission levels but also save significant amounts of energy and money. Siemens provides economical, long-life lighting for every application, including incandescent and fluorescent ones for domestic and industrial lighting. Offerings include:General Lighting †¢ Automotive Lighting †¢ Electronics and Controls †¢ Display/Optics †¢ Opto Semiconductors †¢ LED Systems †¢ Luminaires †¢ Mobility (Mob) A pioneer of the railway signaling systems in India, Siemens offers products and solutions in railway signaling and safety systems, traffic control and automation, electrification, traction equipment for locomotives and multiple unit system and mass transit vehicles. The product palette also includes rolling stock and auxiliary inverters for air-conditioned passenger coaches. Fully equipped and backed by trained staff, turnkey projects are undertaken for urban transportation, mass rapid transport projects, traction substations overhead centenary and long distance transmission lines. Portfolio includes: †¢ Railway automation †¢ Rail electrification †¢ Turnkey systems †¢ Metros †¢ Trains and locomotives †¢ Light rail vehicles †¢ Multiple units †¢ Service, maintenance and support for †¢ Building Technologies (BT) Siemens Building Technologies specializes in meeting the growing demand for increased personal safety and more secure public and private infrastructures by electronic security and building automation systems. A market leader in providing solutions for ‘Intelligent Buildings’, the division offers a range of products and services for security, comfort and efficiency in high-end buildings, and covers the entire chain of offerings from engineering to services. Innovative solutions for Intelligent Buildings †¢ Cross-Sector Business Siemens Information Systems Ltd. Siemens provides software solutions across the IT service chain, from consulting and system integration to IT infrastructure management in the areas of telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, public sector, utilities and government †¢ Consumer Products Computers †¢ Cordless Phones and Home Media †¢ Electrical Installation Systems †¢ Hearing Instruments †¢ Home Appliances †¢ Home Security †¢ Home Automation & Asset Management 2. 5Transformer (Product Details) â€Å"Bringing the energy safely to the consumer† A basic requirement applicable to all power transformers. How ever, every single one is unique – designed according to individual factors such as voltage, power, climate, system topography, sound level and many more. Siemens is your partner, who picks up these requirements converting them into convincing solutions with maximum quality. Power transformers that render their service reliably at site. Cost-efficient and safe throughout decades. Whether for infrastructure systems, industry or households – transformers play a key role for a reliable power supply. As a customer, one quite rightly place the highest demands on reliability, cost-effectiveness and operation time. In more than 100 countries and for more than 100 years, transformers from Siemens are synonymous with top quality – as a result of ideas, knowhow and unequalled experience. Many reasons for reliability First of all, there is the fulfillment of the quality claim to which Siemens has committed themselves without compromises. Every factory manufacturing Siemens Transformers puts quality management system into practice. And only those transformers that have successfully passed all the comprehensive tests will then go into practical application. Siemens offers a complete service – from advice and design via manufacture, transport and commissioning up to our Transformer Life Management. The right transformer for your task You need a product that exactly fits your task. Siemens provide the right transformer for every requirement – from compact distribution transformers through to large power transformers with ratings over 1000 MVA. Price Development World-market prices for raw materials and energy are continuously increasing, forcing the manufacturers of high-voltage products and transformers to significant price increases. Thanks to optimized processes and internal cost reduction measures, however, the price adjustment for Siemens products is extremely moderate. Product Range Only a company that offers a complete product range can really cover all of your requirements. Siemens has put this fact into practice. For every required power, every voltage, every cooling method and every operating mode. †¢ Generator step up transformers †¢ System interconnecting transformers †¢ Phase shifters †¢ Shunt reactors †¢ Transformers for HVDC †¢ GEAFOL cast-resin transformers †¢ Oil distribution transformers and voltage regulators †¢ Special-purpose transformers †¢ Line feeding transformers †¢ Traction transformers pic] [pic] Cast-Resin Tansformers Ditribution transformer [pic] [pic] Power TransformersReactors [pic][pic] HVDC TransformerFurnace Transformers 2. 5SIEMENS Transformer Division in India Siemens has newly set-up a state-of-the-art, power transformers design-and-manufacturing facility in Kalwa, near Mumbai. The factory was started in 4th December 2007. The facility is capable of manufacturing high -voltage direct-current and other special application transformers. The transformers manufactured by Siemens in India will be identical to those made in Europe, the United States and elsewhere as the technology for these comes from Nuremberg, Germany. The full technology transfer, including the know-how for design and production techniques, has been transferred through documentation as well as the training of Indian personnel in Siemens plants in Germany and elsewhere. The new plant is designed taking into consideration all the experiences gathered from other Siemens plants, which have been in operation for the past several decades. This makes the plant unique as it applies all the best practices established in other plants – under one roof. The new plant will have 500 employees when it reaches full production capacity. The manpower and production costs account for approximately 15 percent of the sales price in India compared to about 35 percent in developed countries. The new Transformer factory will be able to address the heightened demand for power transmission equipment in the country by designing and manufacturing large transformers of power rating upto 600 MVA and 800 KV voltage class. The factory will also produce special application transformers such as for HVDC and traction furnace applications. This factory is the latest addition to the prestigious league of 17 Transformer factories of Siemens located world-over. One of the unique features of the factory is that the transformers are manufactured in a dust-free and humidity controlled environment to ensure top class dry windings coming out of a vapour phase oven and tested under tough conditions in fully shielded test-lab. 2. 6SIEMENS IN FUTURE: Identifying technologies with major growth potential, recognizing technologicalbreakthroughs, anticipating future customer needs and new business opportunities -Siemens experts are doing all of these things in a systematic process designed to make the company a trendsetter in as many business fields as possible. In an increasingly complex business environment marked by ever-shorter product cycles, the major challenge facing companies is how to organize R&D activities in as focused and success-oriented a manner as possible – while simultaneously making optimum use of available funds. Rigorous focus on growth markets of the future Siemens’ Ten-Point Program was launched at the end of the 1990s to intensify the company’s focus on active portfolio management. To this day, Siemens continues to pursue the strategy defined in the program and achieve its growth targets through organic growth powered by the company’s innovative strengths, as well as through acquisitions, divestments and the formation of startups and joint ventures. In 2005, Siemens launched the Fit4More program to further tailor the strategic development of the company’s portfolio to the growth markets of the future, thus laying the groundwork for sustainable profitable growth. In addition to defining four pillars – Performance and Portfolio, Operational Excellence, People Excellence and Corporate Responsibility – the program identified urbanization and demographic change as key megatrends that would drive its business in the future. The company’s business portfolio has changed considerably in the past few years. For example, Siemens withdrew completely from the components business (now Infineon and Epcos). Large parts of its telecommunications technology business were funneled into the joint venture Nokia Siemens Networks in 2006. At the same time, Siemens strengthened its activities in the energy, industry and healthcare fields though extensive acquisitions. In 2006 alone, the company invested more than â‚ ¬6 billion to acquire companies and holdings. The current Fit4 2010 program embodies a rigorous continuation of this strategy, including further portfolio optimization with a focus on the fields of energy and environment, industry and healthcare. Siemens expects to win new orders of around INR 1 trillion in the next three fiscal years 2010 until 2012, which will be generated by government stimulus programs already announced around the world. Green technologies are expected to account for 40 percent or approximately INR 400 billion of this total, which will significantly increase the share of the company’s revenues from its environmental portfolio in the future. Siemens based this forecast on an initial systematic analysis of the largest stimulus programs. Siemens has continued with its investment plans and focused on strengthening the local manufacturing base. In the last two years, Siemens has added three new factories in Indian energy sector alone. SIEMENS constant focus is to bring world-class and high technology products to India. Chapter Three Theoretical Framework CHAPTER III 3. 1Energy Scenario in India Energy is the prime mover of economic growth and is vital to the sustenance of a modern economy. Future economic growth crucially depends on the long-term availability of energy from sources that are affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly. India ranks sixth in the world in total energy consumption and needs to accelerate the development of the sector to meet its growth aspirations. The country, though rich in coal and abundantly endowed with renewable energy in the form of solar, wind, hydro and bio-energy has very small hydrocarbon reserves (0. % of the world’s reserve). India, like many other developing countries, is a net importer of energy, more than 25 percent of primary energy needs being met through imports mainly in the form of crude oil and natural gas. The rising oil import bill has been the focus of serious concerns due to the pressure it has placed on scarce foreign exchange resources and i s also largely responsible for energy supply shortages. [pic] India has had a negative Energy Balance for decades, which has forced the purchase of energy from outside the country. Based on available energy resources, energy sector can be classified as follows: Few Definitions: 1. Thermal power generation: At a thermal power station in which the electric generators are steam driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. After it passes through the turbine, the steam is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated. The steam can be generated using †¢ Fossil fuels like Coal / ignite †¢ Gas †¢ Diesel or Liquid fuel 2. Hydro-Eectric Power Generation: It is nothing but using the power of water currents to generate electric power. Generally, hydroelectric power is created by directing water flow through a turbine, where the water causes fans to turn, creating the torque needed to drive an electric generator. [pic] 3. Nuclear Power: The energy released from an atom in nuclear reactions or by radioactive decay: esp. the energy released in nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. The radioactive materials like Thorium, uranium are used for energy generation. 4. Wind power It is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as electricity, using wind turbines. Wind power produced about 1. % of worldwide electricity usage;[1][2] and is growing rapidly, having doubled in the three years between 2005 and 2008. 5. Geothermal power (from the Greek roots geo, meaning earth, and thermos, meaning heat) It is power extracted from heat stored in the earth. This geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, and from solar energy absorbed at the surfac e. It has been used for space heating and bathing since ancient roman times, but is now better known for generating electricity. About 10 GW of geothermal electric capacity is installed around the world as of 2007, generating 0. 3% of global electricity demand. 6. Solar power It is the result of converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight can be converted directly into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly with concentrating solar power (CSP), which normally focuses the sun's energy to boil water which is then used to provide power. The largest solar power plants, like the 354 MW SEGS, are concentrating solar thermal plants, but recently multi-megawatt photovoltaic plants have been built. 7. Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work like electricity generation 8. Tidal power, sometimes called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into electricity or other useful forms of power. Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power Following chart shows the Indian energy scenario in 2005 & as on August 2008. It also shows the potential of various energy sectors by 2030. [pic] Installed Capacity, by fuel (as on August 31 2008) |Fuel |Installed Capacity (kW) |Share (%) | |Thermal |92691. 83 |63. 42 | | Coal & ignite |76646. 50 |52. 45 | | Gas |13560. 52 |9. 8 | | Diesel & liquid fuels |2484. 81 |1. 70 | |Hydro |36399. 80 |24. 91 | |Renewable |12932. 74 |8. 85 | | Wind |9041. 00 |6. 9 | | Small Hydro |2211. 00 |1. 51 | | Biomss |649. 00 |0. 44 | | Bagasse |973. 00 |0. 67 | | Waste-to-energy |56. 00 |0. 4 | | Solar |2. 74 |0. 00 | |Nuclear |4120. 00 |2. 82 | |Total |146144. 37 |100. 00 | (Source:CEA, Ministry of New & renewable energy. ) Power line magazine- Sept. 008 Since thermal generation is based on burning coal or oil, increases in CO2 emissions, which damage the environment and affect global warming, accompany this growth. As the graph below shows, it also increases the dependence on imports, which will continue into the future unless the policy changes. [pic] [pic] Estimates of Potential Capacities from Renewable Energy Sources (in MWs) (Source: In dia Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources) [pic] Under this project we will be concentrating on the potential of Renewable Energy Resources-Wind Energy & Small Hydro projects in India. 3. WIND ENERGY: [pic] 3. 2. 1Wind resource potential: The wind power generation in the country is influenced to a great extent by the wind speed and wind power density prevalent at a particular potential location at any given point of time. The wind speed is affected to a large extent by the strong southwesterly monsoons, starting in May-June, and by the weaker northeastern monsoons in the winter months. It has been generally observed that 60-70% of the total wind power generation in the country takes place during June- October when the southwest monsoons are prevalent throughout the country. According to a latest study, locations having an annual mean wind power density greater than 150 watts/ square meter at 30 meter hub height have been found to be suitable for development of wind power projects. 3. 2. 2Advantages of Wind Power: †¢ It is one of the most environment friendly, clean and safe energy resources. †¢ It has the lowest gestation period as compared to conventional energy. †¢ Equipment erection and commissioning involve only a few months. †¢ There is no fuel consumption, hence low operating costs. Maintenance costs are low. †¢ The capital cost is comparable with conventional power plants. For a wind farm, the capital cost ranges between 4. 5 crores to 5. 5 crores, depending on the site and the wind electric generator (WEG) selected for installation. | |Wind |Fossil Fuel | |Availability |Usable as it exists |Have to be procured and made usable through | | |laborious and environmentally damaging | | | |processes | |Limitation on |Inexhaust ible resource |Limited in reserves, expected to be completely| |availability | |exhausted in the coming 60 years | |Transportation |Used where it is available or |Has to be transported from its source site for| | |transported where needed |further processing, exposing the environment | | | |to pollution from accidents | |Environmental |Zero emission |Used in producing electricity, releasing green| |effect of use | |house gasses | |Geo-political |Reduces our reliance on oil, |Over-reliance on oil as a resource has | |implications |safeguarding national security. undermined India’s energy security, e. g. OPEC | | |Allows for self sufficiency. |crises of 1973, Gulf War of 1991 and the Iraq | | |There is no adverse effect on |War of 2003. | | |global environment. The whole | | | |system is pollution free and | | | |environment friendly. | | The pollution saving from a Wind Energy Generation with an average output of 4,000 kWh per year, savings have been estimated as follows: †¢ Sulphur – dioxide (SO2): 2 to 3. 2 tonnes †¢ Nitrogen – oxide (NO) ; 1. 2 to 2. 4 tonnes †¢ Carbon – dioxide (CO2) : 300 to 500 tonnes †¢ Particulates: 150 to 280 kg. 3. 2. 3The essential requirements for a Wind farm: An area where a number of wind electric generators are installed is known as a wind farm. The essential requirements for establishment of a wind farm for optimal exploitation of the wind are the following: †¢ High wind resource at particular site. †¢ Adequate land availability †¢ Suitable terrain and good soil condition †¢ Maintenance access to site †¢ Suitable power grid nearby †¢ Techno-economic selection of specific turbines †¢ Scientifically prepared layout Resource |Potential (MW) |Installed capacity as on 31st March 2007 (MW) | |Wind |45000 |7092 | |S mall hydro |15000 |1975 | |Biomass power / cogeneration |19500 |1184 | |Solar |4-6 kWh/m2/day |2. 74 | | |(20MW/sq. m) | | |Waste-to-Energy |2700 |43 | The sum of these renewable resource potentials, 152,000 MW, is greater than the current total installed energy generating capacity of India. 3. 2. 4Estimated Wind Power Potential in India The wind power potential on a national level, base data collected from 10 states considering only 1% of land availability, is around 46,092 MW. StateGross potential (MW) Andhra Pradesh 9063 Gujarat 7362 Karnataka 7161 Kerala 1026 Madhya Pradesh 4978 Maharashtra 4519 Orissa 1520 Rajasthan 6672 Tamil Nadu 4159 West Bengal 32 TOTAL 46,092 3. 2. 5Manufacturers of Wind Energy Generators (WEGs) |Name |Foreign Collaborator | |Arul Mariamman Textiles Limited |Win World Denmark | |Asian Wind Turbine Pvt. Ltd. |NEG- MICON Denmark | |Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. |Nordex, Denmark | |Das lageway Wind Turbines Ltd. Lagerwey, Netherlands | |Elecon Engineering Company Ltd. |Turbowinds n. v. , Belgium | |Enercon India Ltd. |Enercon GmbH, Germany | |Kirloskar Electric Company Ltd. |Wind Energy Group, UK | |NEPC India Ltd. | | | Poineer Wincon India Ltd. |Wincon, Denmark | |REPL Engineering Ltd. |Bonus Denmark | |Suzlon Energy Ltd. Sudwind Energie Systeme, Germany | |Tackle Wind Energy India (Pvt) Ltd. |Tacke Windenergie GmbH, Germany | |TTG Induatries Ltd. |Husumer, Schiffswerft, Germany | |Vestas RRB |Vestas, Denmark | |Windia Power Ltd. |Nedwind, Netherlands | 3. 2. 6Economics of wind power development †¢ The capital investment general ly incurred towards installation of a 1 MW capacity wind farm is to the tune of Rs. 4. 0 crore. †¢ Nearly 85-87% of the capital investment cost is incurred towards the supply, packaging, handling, loading, transportation, unloading, insurance cover, erection and commissioning of the WEGs. †¢ Another 2-3% of the capital cost is incurred towards construction of the foundation of the tower and other associated civil construction units like the metering and control room, foundation for housing the step up transformer etc. †¢ Nearly 1-2% of the capital cost is incurred towards purchase of land and site development. †¢ The cost of land should be valued to the rates prescribed by the District Level Committee (DLC) of the concerned state. The remaining 8-12% of the capital cost is incurred towards purchase of electrical equipment like the step up transformer, controls, OHT line connection to the nearest available grid and other electrical accessories. †¢ The operati on and maintenance cost per annum (inclusive of the insurance coverage) amounts to approximately Rs. 7. 00 lakh. †¢ The expected generation of power from the WEGs on an annual basis come to the tune of 2. 5 million KWh after accounting for non operational hours of the machines due to annual repair and maintenance, non availability of cut in wind velocity or wind velocity being higher than the cut off wind velocity at a particular site. †¢ The cost of generation of power is in the vicinity of Rs. 3. 5 / KWh. The power buy back rate varies from state to state. If wheeling is permitted then the power buy back rate can be fairly assumed as the commercial rate prevalent in a state. Wind energy generated is connected to the grid as follows: [pic] At the various stages of transmission, transformers are used for stepping-up or stepping down the voltages. [pic] | | |3. 3 Small Hydro Power: | |3. 3. Introduction | |Hydropower is a renewable, non-polluting and environmentally beni gn source of energy. It is perhaps the oldest renewable energy technique | |known to the mankind for mechanical energy conversion as well as electricity generation. | |Hydropower represents use of water resources towards inflation free energy due to absence of fuel cost with mature technology characterized | |by highest prime moving efficiency and spectacular operational flexibility. Out of the total power generation installed capacity of 1,48,265 | |MW (April,2009) in the country, hydro power contributes about 25% i. e. 36,877 MW. |3. 3. 2 Hydro Power Project Classification  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   | |Hydro power projects are generally categorized in two segments i. e. small and large hydro. In India, hydro projects up to 25 MW station | |capacity have been categorized as Small Hydro Power (SHP) projects. While Ministry of Power, Government of India is responsible for large | |hydro projects, the mandate for the subject small hydro power (up to 25 MW) is given to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Small hydro | |power projects are further classified as | |Class |Station Capacity in kW | | | |Micro Hydro | |Up to 100 | | | |Mini Hydro | |101 to 2000 | | | |Small Hydro | |2001 to 25000 | | | |  3. 3. 3 Small Hydro Power Programme | |Small Hydro Power ( SHP) Programme is one of the thrust areas of power generation from renewable in the Ministry of New and Renewable | |Energy. It has been recognized that small hydropower projects can play a critical role in improving the over all energy scenario of the | |country and in particular for remote and inaccessible areas. The Ministry is encouraging development of small hydro projects both in the | |public as well as private sector. Equal attention is being paid to grid-interactive and decentralized projects. | |Aim:  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Ministry’s aim is that the SHP installed capacity should be about 7000 MW by the end of 12th Plan. The focus of the SHP programme| |is to lower the cost of equipment, increase its reliability and set up projects in areas which give the maximum advantage in terms of | |capacity utilisation. | |Potential: An estimated potential of about 15,000 MW of small hydro power projects exists in India. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has | |created a database of potential sites of small hydro and 5,415 potential sites with an aggregate capacity of 14,305. 47 MW for projects up to | |25 MW capacity have been identified. | |  STATE WISE IDENTIFIED SMALL HYDEL SITES AND POTENTIAL | | | |UP TO 25 MW CAPACITY   (as on 31. 3. 2009) | | | | | |S. No | |Name of State | |IDENTIFIED NUMBER | |OF SITES   | |Total Capacity | |(in MW) | | | |1 | |Andhra Pradesh | |489 | |552. 29 | | | |2 | |Arunachal Pradesh | |566 | |1333. 4 | | | |3 | |Assam | |  Ã‚   60 | |213. 84 | | | |4 | |Bihar | |  Ã‚   94 | |213. 75 | | |5 | |Chhatisgarh | |164 | |706. 62 | | | |6 | |Goa | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   9 | |  Ã‚  Ã‚   9. 0 | | | |7 | |Gujarat | |292 | |196. 97 | | | |8 | |Haryana | |  Ã‚   33 | |110. 5 | | | |9 | |Himachal Pradesh | |547 | |2268. 41 | | | |10 | |Jammu & Kashmir | |246 | |1411. 2 | | | |11 | |Jharkhand | |103 | |   208. 95 | | | |12 | |Karnataka | |128 | |   643. 6 | | | |13 | |Kerala | |247 | |   708. 10 | | | |14 | |Madhya Pradesh | |   99 | |   400. 8 | | | |15 | |Maharashtra | |253 | |   762. 58 | | | |16 | |Manipur | |113 | |   109. 0 | | | |17 | |Meghalaya | |102 | |   229. 81 | | | |18 | |Mizoram | |  Ã‚   75 | |  166. 4 | | | |19 | |Nagaland | |   Ã‚   99 | |  196. 98 | | | |20 | |Orissa | |222 | |295. 7 | | | |21 | |Punjab | |234 | |390. 02 | | | |22 | |Rajasthan | |  Ã‚   67 | |  Ã‚   63. 7 | | | |23 | |Sikkim | |  Ã‚   91 | |265. 54 | | | |24 | |Tamil Nadu | |176 | |499. 1 | | | |25 | |Tripura | |  Ã‚   13 | |  Ã‚   46. 86 | | | |26 | |Uttar Pradesh | |220 | |292. 6 | | | |27 | |Uttaranchal | |458 | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1609. 25 | | | |28 | |West Bengal | |203 | |   393. 9 | | | |29 | |A Island | |  Ã‚   12 | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   7. 91 | | | |   | |TOTAL | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   5,415 | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   14,305. 7 | | | |  Identification of new potential sites and strengthening of database for already identified sites is an ongoing process. In this direction, | |the Ministry has been giving financial support to state governments/ agencies for identification of new potential SHP sites & preparation of | |state perspective plan. | |3. 3. 4 Small hydro installed capacity and progress | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The total installed capacity of small hydro power projects (upto 25 MW) as on 31. 03. 009 is 2429. 77 MW from 674 projects and 188 | |projects with aggregate capacity of 483. 23 MW are under construction. | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While in early 90s, most of the SHP projects were set up in the public sector, from last 10 years or so, most of the capacity | |addition is now coming through private sector projects. Beginning of the 21st century saw near commercialization in the small hydro sector. | |Private sector entrepreneurs found attractive business opportunities in small hydro and state governments also felt that the private | |participation may be necessary in tapping the full potential of rivers and canals for power generation. The private sector has been attracted| |by these projects due to their small adoptable capacity matching with their captive requirements or even as affordable investment | |opportunities. In line with Government of India policy, 18 states have announced their policy for inviting private sector to set up SHP | |projects. The Government of India announced the Electricity Act in 2003, Electricity Policy in 2005 and Tariff Policy in 2006 to create a | |conducive atmosphere for investments in the power sector. Small hydropower projects are now governed by these policies and the tariff is | |decided by the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) as per the Tariff Policy. | |During the 10th Plan, Following have been year-wise capacity addition from SHP projects. |Year | |Target | |(in MW) | |Capacity addition during the year | |(in MW) | |Cumulative SHP installed capacity | |(in MW) | | | |2002-03 | |80 | |80. 39 | |1519. 28 | | | |2003-04 | |80 | |84. 04 | |1603. 2 | | | |2004 -05 | |100 | |102. 31 | |1705. 63 | | | |2005-06 | |130 | |120. 80 | |1826. 3