Friday, November 29, 2019

Walt Essays - The Walt Disney Company, Walt,

Walt Disney This book is about the life of Walt Disney, an American legend. The Arthur begins the tale with a view of the family before Walt Disney's birth on December 5,1901. In the first few pages after it goes on into describing the child within the man, his humor and his innocent view of the world through child's eyes. The next few chapters go on to describe various jobs he took as a child, the family conflicts within the home and the stern father that commanded obedience. The book touches slightly on how his brothers one by one left home, mainly because of disagreements with the father. It depicts the struggle of a young artist constantly trying to better himself and the fierce determination to succeed. Walt Disney did his best with every job he took but never gave up his dream of becoming a cartoonist. Everything he did was towards a goal one can say he was a self made man with ambition and drive. Through out the chapters it chronologically documents the successes and disappointments of the artist and the businessman. The journey that Walt Disney took in order to succeed was one of many obstacles and personal setbacks.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1914

The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1914 The assassination of an Austrian Archduke was the trigger for World War I, yet things were so nearly different. His death set off a chain reaction, as  mutual defense alliances  mobilized a list of countries, including Russia, Serbia, France, Austria-Hungary, and Germany, to declare war.   An Unpopular Archduke and an Unpopular Day In 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to both the Habsburg throne and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was not a popular man, having married a woman who – while a Countess – was deemed far below his station, and their children had been barred from the succession. Nevertheless, he was the heir and had both interests in the state and state commitments, and in 1913 he was asked to visit newly annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina and inspect their troops. Franz Ferdinand accepted this engagement, as it meant his usually sidelined and insulted wife would officially be with him. Ceremonies were planned for June 28th, 1914 in Sarajevo, the couple’s wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, this was also the anniversary of the First Battle of Kosovo, the struggle in 1389 which Serbia had convinced itself saw Serbian independence crushed by their defeat to the Ottoman Empire. This was a problem, because many in the newly independent Serbia claimed Bosnia-Herzegovina for themselves, and fumed at Austria-Hungary’s recent annexation. Terrorism One man in particular who took particular umbrage at this event was Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb had devoted his life to protecting Serbia, no matter the consequences. Assassinations and other politically charged murders were not out of the question for Princip. Despite being more bookish than charismatic, he managed to enlist the support of a small group of friends, who he convinced to kill Franz Ferdinand and his wife on June 28th. It was to be a suicide mission, so they wouldn’t be around to see the result. Princip claimed to have originated the plot himself but he did not have trouble finding allies for the mission: friends to train. The most important group of allies was the Black Hand, a secret society in the Serb army, who provided Princep and his co-conspirators with pistols, bombs,  and poison. Despite the complexity of the operation, they managed to keep it under wraps.  There were rumors of a vague threat that reached all the way up to the Serbian Prime Minister, but they quickly dismissed.   The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand On Sunday June 28th, 1914, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie traveled in a motorcade through Sarajevo; their car was open topped and there was little security. The would-be assassins positioned themselves at intervals along the route. Initially, one assassin threw a bomb, but it rolled off the convertible roof and exploded against the wheel of a passing car, causing only minor injuries. Another assassin couldn’t get the bomb out of his pocket because of the crowd’s density, a third felt too close to a policeman to try, a fourth had an attack of conscience over Sophie and a fifth ran off. Princip, away from this scene, thought he’d missed his chance. The royal couple continued with their day as normal, but after the display at the Town Hall Franz Ferdinand insisted he visit the mildly injured members of his party in the hospital. However, confusion led to the driver heading to their original destination: a museum. As the vehicles stopped in the road to decide which route to take, Princip found himself next to the car. He drew his pistol and shot the Archduke and his wife at point-blank range. He then tried to shoot himself, but the crowd stopped him. He then took poison, but it was old and simply caused him to vomit; the police then arrested him before he was lynched. Within half an hour, both targets were dead. The Aftermath No one in Austria-Hungary’s government was particularly upset by Franz Ferdinand’s death; indeed, they were more relieved he was not going to cause any more constitutional problems. Across the capitals of Europe, few other people were overly upset, except the Kaiser in Germany, who had tried to cultivate Franz Ferdinand as a friend and ally. As such, the assassination didn’t seem to be a major, world-changing event. But Austria-Hungary had been looking for an excuse to attack Serbia, and this provided them with the cause they needed. Their actions would soon trigger World War I, leading to years of bloody slaughter on a largely static Western Front, and repeated failures by the Austrian army on the Eastern and Italian Fronts. At the end of the war the Austro-Hungarian Empire had collapsed, and Serbia found itself the core of a new Kingdom of the ​Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.    Test your knowledge of the origins of WWI.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Legalization Of Marijuana In America Assignment

Legalization Of Marijuana In America - Assignment Example Lately, discussion and push for legalization of the drug by pro-marijuana activists have intensified to an extent of triggering serious political interests. This has manifested through the recent comment by President Barrack Obama that marijuana is just like cigarette and alcohol with a promise that Federal government will not interfere with marijuana laws established by individual states. Moreover, governors and state legislatures have publicly commented alongside declaring their positions as far the discussion about the legalization of the drug is concerned. Apart from the initial introduction of marijuana in America in 1545 by Spanish, marijuana laws began to exist as early as the 1920s. Michael and Renee (2003) attribute the widespread popularity of marijuana in the 1920s to the prohibitive laws established during the Prohibition Era. The era saw the outlaw of alcoholic drinks and people had to resort to marijuana that came from the widespread hemp plant. The laws restricted the use of recreational marijuana to the jazz musicians who only took the drug when in dance clubs entertaining people. According to Pfeifer (2011), between 1850 and 1942, the government of USA listed marijuana in Pharmacopeia and prescribed for conditions like nausea, labor pains and rheumatism. During the 1850s through to 1930s, marijuana gained popular use as an intoxicant. Another marijuana law called Marijuana Tax Act came into force in 1937. The purpose of the law was to levy the tax of one dollar on all growers, importers, buyers, sellers, veterans, physicians and any person prescribing it, using commercially or possess it. Failure to adhere to the Act and handling o marijuana without tax stamp of the Treasury Department would attract a fine of up to $2000, five-year imprisonment or both (Michael & Renee, 2003).

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

INFORMATION SOCIETY & INFORMATION ECONOMY Essay - 1

INFORMATION SOCIETY & INFORMATION ECONOMY - Essay Example These channels have been reported to have coverage to 33.3 million to 47.8 million households from year 1997-2002. They are available through cable, satellite and digital platforms. Transnational channels allow companies to have a platform where they can expand their sales and brands internationally (Collison 2002; Chalaby 2003). The study aims to comprehensively review what transnational television is, its benefits, challenges and impact on globalisation, specifically in the United Kingdom. It will also critically analyze transnational television-related literatures available in peer-reviewed journals. Lastly, the study will review convergence theories that will help provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenal widespread of transnational television. The United Kingdom has seen dramatic changes in television since the 1980s, from the increase in demand for televisions to the increase in the number of networks and programmes (OECD 1997). Changes and transformation in media, specifically television, is commonly characterised by the following: emergence of megaglobal companies which resulted from acquisitions and mergers; privatization of media companies; less restriction on foreign ownership; corporate investments on new advancements in technology such as satellite and cable; and transnationalisation of advertisements (Jin 2007). Acquisitions and mergers are commonly demonstrated by large companies who have the means to expand. Instead of forming and constructing their own, they just merge or acquire and use the machinery and technology of smaller companies. Digital Revolution. The Digital revolution started in 1984 when Apple introduced Mac to the world, commonly characterised by the user-friendly graphics and unique page design and layout tool. The focus in terms of information infrastructures has been on broadband satellite systems, one of which is

Monday, November 18, 2019

Organizational change Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Organizational change Management - Essay Example Various individuals in the organization will be involved in the change process and unless they understand the need for that change, their behaviour towards the proposed change will not be favourable. Behaviour change is very imperative for successful change because of the uncertainty that people perceive to come because of that change (Shea & Solomon, 2013, p. 15). The great need for the change in the organization enables the management to envision what they really want. This involves understanding reasons for the change, the structure of the change process and ensures successful implementation of that change (Shea & Solomon, 2013). Involving all the party concerned in the change also contributes greatly to the understanding of the change (Conway & Monks, 2011, p.. 191). Though strategic change may result from the top management, they should consider the middle level employees input to ensure they will not encounter much resistance. This also helps to counter any resistance early enough and make any clarification on time. Conway & Monks (2011) further asserts that for a successful change implementation, a clear outline of the benefits the change will bring must be present. However, many organizations often face opposition to change thus derailing the implementation process. Majority of the individuals defy change because it comes from top management and without proper consultations with them, the management forces them to adopt the change (Conway & Monks, 2011). This is especially so when they perceive that the change will negatively adjust their work status for instance in relation to workload, status change, which may prompt some of them to guard their own interests. According to Bates (2005), various individuals defy change for different reasons. Some may resist change to guard their own self-interest. Others fears the uncertainties that change brings while others lack clarity on the change process and some

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Changes to Religious Views of Marriage

Changes to Religious Views of Marriage Marriage Marriage today is looked at in a very different way to that of past years. Modern day interpretations on marriage and the way it is understood have changed greatly. But being viewed differently does not mean that marriage is valued less. Marriage, traditionally, was seen as essential to bringing up a family and maintaining a home. Recent secular changes in the definition of marriage are not something new for the Catholic Church. For the last hundred years or so the Catholic Church predicted that this would happen and has acted upon the threat it sees to this divine institution by endeavouring to clarify the issues involved by taking steps necessary to strengthen both within the Church and in society at large. Catholics live their marriages in secular society and while they believe that marriage is a Sacrament the fact that changes are and have occurred in civil marriages cannot be ignored. By ignoring these changes our societies social fabric would be even more weakened which could lead to marriage itself not surviving. The central view point of how a Catholic understands marriage is by the realisation that marriage was created by God and man is cannot and should not try to change it. The state did not create marriage and whether governments get involved or not marriage would happen. Before any government came into being marriage existed, all through the centuries and in every culture ancient and modern. The creation of marriage was not just to provide tax or insurance benefits, something that governments and the courts seem to have trouble understanding. God created marriage to bring together a loving couple in a sacred bond which would lead to the conceiving and to the raising of children in a stable family life. A Catholics perspective about marriage starts with the material facets of the matrimonial viewpoint. A marriage is to be faithful, it is to be permanent, and it is to be fruitful. It is for the benefit of the couple involved which is also called the unitive purpose and for the bringing up and education of children. A couple meets, falls in love, and hopefully get married sharing together their lives and bodies in sexual union. The desire for this sexual union is not just for pleasure alone, it is the seal of their love for each other and to open themselves to the possibility of children. Children then unify the couple into one body and family, hopefully. Both individuals as well as society benefits from the Catholic view of marriage. Likewise, Catholics and their families too suffer from the results of divorce, and there have been studies which show that practicing Catholics try hard and make every effort for their marriages to work possibly because they realise that to remarry after a divorce may not be a possibility for them. Also, there is research which shows that a married couple receive the benefit of a good marriage because of their religious commitment. Their faith enables them to cope when difficulties occur as a source of moral guidance in their decision making and in being able to coping with conflict. This Catholic point of view gives stability and constancy. In the society of today where truth is so relative Catholic families and marriages gain guidance and strength from following Catholic teaching. Without truth, we are unprotected and vulnerable and in the society of today there is no wish for truth. A persons freedom, far from being restricted by this fidelity, is secured against every form of subjectivism or relativism and is made a sharer in creative Wisdom (F. C., 11). The basis to understanding Catholic marriage is provided by Scripture. Matthew 19 tells us that Jesus speaks of both marriage and of divorce, saying; Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female2 and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate. Clearly what Jesus is saying here is that marriage is equally exclusive and lasting, guiding us towards the Creation to see Gods purpose from the beginning. Genesis 1:27 says, So God created mankind in his own image he created them; male and female he created them. God created all things therefore he is the author of marriage. Men and women are a part of Gods created order, created by him and for him. Part of that created order is marriage. Marriage was not created merely by mans choosing. Men and women were made by God for each other, God made us sexually different to complement each other, a man is only whole in connection to a woman and female sexuality is only fulfilled in union to the male. God made men and women for relationship with each other. Gaudium et Spes says: man, is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself, and he cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself (G.S., 24). This truth is expressed allegorically in Genesis 2:23, in which Adam says, this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. Mary Healy in her book Men and women are from Eden, a study guide to John Paul IIs Theology of the Body, says, He recognised in Eve unlike the animals an equal, a person like himself whom he could love. That is, he saw someone whom he could give himself completely and who would receive and reciprocate his gift to form a union that would fulfil the very meaning of their existence (Healy, 15). The Churchs revitalisation was reinforced by Vatican II in a dual dynamic of Aggiornamento and Ressourcement, the up-to-dating and returning to earlier sources, traditions, and symbols of the early Church. Vatican IIs desire was enhancement and enrichment of the Churchs faith by communicating Christs Gospel message for the modern age and sought to communicate this by presenting a modern fusion of faith and reason to the world. The concept of personhood was the idea behind this synthesis. In his book The Contemporary World. Christian Marriage: A Historical Study, Haas speaks of the unfortunate tendency since the Council, however, for theologians to write as though there had been a radical break in the life and teachings of the Church which occurred with the Council. Adding, Because Gaudium et Spes uses the more biblical language of covenant rather than contract to speak of marriage does not mean the two are incompatible. Indeed, a covenant is itself a kind of contract. And the preconc iliar magisterium spoke of marriage as covenant as well as contract (Haas, 340). There are two traditional purposes to the theology of Catholic marriage: the first is for the continuance of humankind through the reproduction and reciprocal love of the husband and wife. This first was deemed foremost by the Church from late middle ages up until Vatican II, with the shared love of husband and wife coming second. In Canon 1013 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law states: 1) The primary end of marriage is the procreation and education of children. Its secondary end is mutual help and the allaying of concupiscence. 2) The essential properties of marriage are unity and indissolubility, which acquire a particular fitness in Christian marriage by reason of its sacramental character. Catholic tradition today is once again seeing as of equal importance both the goods and the ends of marriage. This was a huge change and paradigm switch. Canon 1055 of the revised Code of Canon Law 1983 affirms this switch: The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman establish themselves a partnership of their whole life, and which of its own very nature is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and the procreation and upbringing of children, has, between the baptized, been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament (Kainz, 2015). In 1930 Casti Connubii was issued by Pope Pius XI in response to threats on marriage. Interestingly, Haas informs us that, The evils threatening marriage which he mentions in the encyclical sound remarkably contemporary: contraception, abortion, sterilization, adultery, trial marriages, cohabitation, religious mixed marriages, and divorce (Haas, 341-342). Haas also says that these errors come from the modern misinterpretation that marriage is not a divine institution but rather a human institution established by the arbitrary wills of human beings (Haas, 342). In Casti Connubii 5 the doctrine of matrimony is defined as immutable and inviolable, it says: And to begin with that same Encyclical, which is wholly concerned in vindicating the divine institution of matrimony, its sacramental dignity, and its perpetual stability, let it be repeated as an immutable and inviolable fundamental doctrine that matrimony was not instituted or restored by man but by God; not by man were the laws made to strengthen and confirm and elevate it but by God, the Author of nature, and by Christ Our Lord by Whom nature was redeemed, and hence these laws cannot be subject to any human decrees or to any contrary pact even of the spouses themselves. This is the doctrine of Holy Scripture; this is the constant tradition of the Universal Church; this the solemn definition of the sacred Council of Trent, which declares and establishes from the words of Holy Writ itself that God is the Author of the perpetual stability of the marriage bond, its unity and its firmness (C.C. 5). The Council Fathers of Vatican II were debating the texts on marriage and the familyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ there was considerable discussion as to the natuer of the text and the language which would be used in it (Haas, 344). The issue of the hierarchical ordering of the ends of marriage was very much in the background (Haas, 344). Gaudium et Spes was issued in a less technically, philosophical, theological, and juridical vocabulary in teaching about regulating marriage (Haas, 345). Vatican II intentionally declined to classify marriage goods. Instead, Gaudium et Spes declares, without subordinating or reducing one to the other, that love and faithfulness are the two goods of marriage (G.S., 47-48). On the other hand Thomas Aquinas and St Augustine did not do this giving instead the importance of the good that the relationship itself of the spouses in marriage gave to society. The Churchs teaching made genuine progress, Vatican II made the straightforward move from the legalistic idea of marriage as a contract to the more biblical interpretation of marriage as a covenant. This definition conformed more with the modern, individualized and current belief but also looked back to the early fathers teaching of the Patristic and Medieval times and also to scholastics such as Aquinas. Gaudium et Spes expresses what is at the heart of marriage: As a mutual gift of two persons, this intimate union and the good of the children impose total fidelity on the spouses and argue for an unbreakable oneness between them. For as God of old made himself present to his people through a covenant of love and fidelity, so now Saviour of men and the Spouse of the Church comes into the lives of married Christians through the sacrament of Matrimony (G.S., 48). The married couple, especially if they are Christian and their children, this family unit represents the image of the Trinity, of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is mirrored in the family, husband, wife and children, in two ways. The Trinity is reflected in marriage by being a communion of love between equals, commencing with the husband and wife and then spreading to all other family members. Then, as the Trinity is love and lifegiving, so a loving married couple brings forth and cherishes their children. Again, Gaudium et Spes states: Families too will share their spiritual riches generously with other families. Thus, the Christian family, which springs from marriage as a reflection of the loving covenant uniting Christ with the Church, and as a participation in that covenant, will manifest to all men Christs living presence in the world, and the genuine nature of the Church. This the family will do by the mutual love of the spouses, by their generous fruitfulness, their solidarity and faithfulness, and by the loving way in which all members of the family assist one another (G.S., 48). About our modern times, Pope St John Paul II says in Familiaris Consortio that there frequently lies a corruption of the idea and experience of freedom, conceived not as a capacity for realising the truth of Gods plan for marriage and the family, but as an autonomous power of self-affirmation, often against others, for ones own selfish well-being (F.C., 6). This family finds in the plan of God the Creator and Redeemer not only its identity, what it is, but also its mission, what it can be and should do. The role that God calls the family to perform in history derives from what the family is; its role represents the dynamic and existential development of what it is (F.C., 17). We are told by John Paul in Familiaris Consortio that families are to become what you are (F.C., 17). He also tells families that: the family must go back to the beginning of Gods creative act, if it is to attain self-knowledge and self-realization in accordance with the inner truth not only of what it is but also of what it does in historyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the family has the mission to become more and more what it is, that is to say, a community of life and love, in an effort that will find fulfilment, as will everything created and redeemed, in the Kingdom of Godà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. . Hence the family has the mission to guard, reveal and communicate love, and this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in Gods love for humanity and the love of Christ the Lord for the Church His bride. Every particular task of the family is an expressive and concrete actuation of that fundamental mission (F.C., 17). To gain an understanding of what marriage a look at its teleology is necessary. In his book, Haas says, One understands what a thing is by virtue of what it does, by virtue of the end to which it is ordered (Haas, 349). Marriage, as with any given thing, could possibly have other endings which what is needed then is to look at what is sufficient to delineate that ending. In looking at marriage, Haas again says, if one looks at the ends of marriage in terms of child, mutual support, and a remedy for concupiscence, it is not too difficult to identify the one which most adequately explains the institution of marriage (Haas, 349). Many relationship can uphold and deliver shared assistance and care, such as two siblings, whether they are brothers or sisters, two friends sharing accommodation at a university or college, even same-sex partners or any who choose to live together. So, marriage is not essential for care and support. The Catechism states that, By its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds its crowning glory (C.C.C., 1652). And, The fruitfulness of conjugal love extends to the fruits of the moral, spiritual, and supernatural life that parents hand on to their children by education. Parents are the principal and first educators of their children. In this sense the fundamental task of marriage and family is to be at the service of life (C.C.C., 1653). Haas also acquaints us with what Aquinas instructed: The child is the most essential good of marriage, second is faith, and third the sacrament (Haas, 350). In saying this he is not trying to minimise faith and sacrament but merely affirms that what is most essential to marriage among its goods is the child. It most adequately, in the final analysis, explains why people get married and what is unique about the institution of marriage (Haas, 350). People can be very muddled about what marriage is all about. Mostly they think of marriage as the framework for sexual activity to occur. but the Catholic philosophical and theological tradition teaches that sexual activity is hardly an end in itself. It is ordered toward an end beyond itself which is still intrinsic to it and ultimately makes sense of it (Haas, 350). A family can be made up by the variety of people it contains; husband and wife, parents and children, and of various family members. Every family has the task of living faithfully together the life of their family relationships constantly making the effort to cultivate a realistic community of persons. A family cannot live or grow or complete itself as a community of persons without love. Gods grace, given through the marriage sacrament and through baptism makes this self-giving achievable. All family members are called to love one another and to live with one another in that bond of family love. A family should not live closed in on itself, but remains open to community, moved by a sense of justice and concern for others as well as by a consciousness of its responsibilities towards the whole of society (F.C., 64). There is also the obligation on the family to serve life. First this is done by having children, and secondly in educating those children. A married couples love must be always open to having children, they have the responsibility to make sure their children are given a proper education especially in those things that are most important in living a happy and contented life. This is done by their teaching but more importantly by their example. In Redemptor Hominis Pope John Paul says: Man, cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it (R. H., 10). The aim and purpose of marriage is living in a close relationship with others which shares by Gods grace in the Perichoresis of the Trinity whose individuality of persons is upheld in the indwelling of each Person in the Others. In marriage, a couple become a spiritual union of persons by their relationships, by their intimacy and understanding, fully present to and fully known and loved by the other. This couples strong love will build a strong and loving family and a strong and loving community. Closeness, mutual affection and self-giving should be the aim of any family. As God lives in Perichoresis so should we on earth. My conclusion is that we now live in a contraceptive society, sex is now detached from producing children and has become a way of amusing yourself and having fun, it is no longer seen as the reserve of marriage. Today marriage, has lost its importance, its permanence and its exclusivity. Our modern society now accepts same-sex marriage and many other once unthinkable relationships as logical and acceptable additions. In a society that is predominantly pleasure seeking then all forms of living together would seem to be equal and valid. There is not much hope of turning this around until as a society, through our own personal fulfilment, we begin to put to rights what is best for all our citizens. These aims can bring with them conflict but opposition can be overcome. The only way to personal fulfilment is in conforming oneself to Christ. Sex is a God given gift, it lets human beings to take part in the work of creation and in the work of the new creation as a sacrament, our society ne eds to alter and refocus. Fundamentally, marriage is concerned with the producing and the nurturing of children, and this can only happen when the married couple are heterosexual. Having children and bringing them up brings a married couple joy and happiness, they become one and a biological bond is created in working together to create a new life. Same-sex couples cannot achieve this, they may well form an emotional and a spiritual union but it is not possible for them to reach a biological bond. As a couple, they can bring up children, but they cannot produce those children biologically. In trying to change the meaning of marriage, all that will be done is to confuse its meaning. So, it would become, instead of a complementary bond of the joining together of husband and wife to bring forth and raise new life, instead of a complementary bond of the joining together of husband and wife to bring forth and raise new life it a linking of friends which would easily break up once either parties emotional needs are not fulfilled. To change the essential meaning of marriage is a fundamental mistake because marriage is too important to allow changes to take place.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Biodiesel :: Energy, Biomass

Biomass can be classified as dry biomass (such as wood) or the wet biomass sources such as organic fraction of domestic waste, agro-industrial wastes, slurries and waste water. Thermal conversion or gasification of the dry biomass generates energy. Figure 3 summarizes an approximate worldwide energy consumption level. Nearly 2 kg billion biomass is burned everyday in developing countries. Especially in India, 90% of primary energy use is accounted for biomass in rural areas (wood-56%; crop residues-16%; dung-21%). Combustion of these sources leads to high concentrations of respirable particulates, gases including CO, SO2, nitrogen oxides and toxic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde [23]. The wet biomass is less suitable for thermal conversion. Biotechnological processes are involved where the reactions are catalysed by microorganisms in an aqueous environment at low temperature and pressure. Aquatic biomass presents an easy adaptability to grow in different conditions and has enhanced CO2 fixation accompanied with a low nitrous oxide release. Some microalgal biomass is considered as a better alternative renewable energy source, either terrestrial or aquatic (Botryococcus braunii) (Fig. 1m). In view of the oil content of many microalgae (Table 2) energy recovery from biomass can be implemented on a large scale readily. The photosynthetic efficiency of aquatic biomass is much higher (6-8%) than that of its terrestrial counterpart (1.8-2.2%) [13]. Further, aquatic biomass presents an easy adaptability to grow in different conditions either in fresh or marine water or in a wide range of pH. This makes the aquatic biomass more adaptive or an enhanced CO2 fixation to afford a high biomass production. The only practicable methods of large scale production of microalgae are tubular photobioreactors [19] and open raceway ponds [20]. Extensive studies have been carried out for the cultivation of different marine microalga using a variety of cultivation systems including open ponds and various types of closed photobioreactors [21, 2 2]. Since already several articles were dealt with large scale production, this paper did not concentrate on these issues. Biomass for power generation has been recognized as an important component of the renewable energy programme in India and this is reflected in the priority attached to it by the MNES. There are niches with substantial potential for the use of biomass for power generation e.g. bagasse cogeneration in sugar mills, decentralized gasifier based diesel cogeneration systems in south India and biomass waste from agricultural operations or agro-industries in concentrated geographical pockets [23]. A biomass power / cogeneration capacity addition of 115 MW in six states was created in the country during the year reaching a cumulative power generation capacity of 727 MW.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Infectious Diseases

The only means of recovery is rest and drinking a lot of fluids. Taking cold medications will only help relieve the symptoms. Hepatitis, Viral Hepatitis can either be acute or chronic. That means, it can either be a temporary illness, or it can be a permanent condition Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver ND other tissues.It can be caused by a viral Infection. The onset of hepatitis can also be caused by drug abuse or overexposure to a chemical The treatment for viral hepatitis, acute or chronic, is rest. Influenza Influenza, commonly known as â€Å"the flu,† Is also caused by a virus. Its symptoms are more severe than the common cold Influenza only needs to be treated with bed rest and fluids. Non-linctuses Diseases: Possible Causes Cancer Cancer Is caused by the transforming effect of carcinogens on normal cells.Characterized by the unrestrained growth of abnormal cells on or in tissues of the body. Treatment for cancer usually involves surgery and some form of radiati on therapy or chemotherapy. Coronary Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is the most common circulatory system disease. Damage to the heart is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart resulting from blocked or narrowing coronary arteries. Coronary heart disease usually goes unnoticed until chest pain is felt or a heart attack occurs.Its symptoms can be treated with drugs or surgery. Diabetes, Type I It is a disease of the pancreas in which insulin is not produced in the correct amounts so that glucose (sugar) can be converted into energy or stored as fat. Include excessive thirst and urination. Type I diabetes is mainly treated with regular insulin injections. Diabetes, Type II It is a disease of the pancreas in which insulin is not produced In the correct Type II diabetics are treated with a similar routine of diet and exercise.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Debeers Case Study/Pov

C. Lo April 11, 2013 DeBeers Consolidated Mines Ltd. 1st POV Situation: DeBeers Consolidated Mines Limited (DBCM) occupies a major presence in the diamond industry. Discoveries of diamonds in the late 1800s were pioneered in South Africa, in which DeBeers held a heavy monopoly over. Since then, they have cultivated an impressive track record and leadership position. The Central Selling Organization (CSO) controls and regulates the flow and sale of rough diamonds, and was acquired by DeBeers in the 1930s. Due to a stable economy both locally and internationally, DBCM was the world’s largest producer and distributor of diamonds in late 1998.However, just before the turn of the century, globalization and developments in international markets had affected all industries of business. This enlarged economy attracted and enabled emerging and junior companies to increase mining competition. Demand for this area of commerce became subject to volatility due to market expansion, in addit ion to the fact that continued existence of such a market was solely linked to disposable consumer income. Problem: The problem at hand concerns the degree of control over rough diamonds and the industry.With increasing market placeholder and pressures from emerging competitors and the attention brought to regulating environmental impact of diamond mines, DeBeers needed to secure their place in the industry and do it without losing significant margins of profit or resources. By 1999, DeBeers Consolidated had a notorious name and major domination of the rough diamond market, with over half of the world’s rough diamonds mined by DBCM, several joint ventures with non-competitors, unparalleled knowledge and assets, and control of over 70 percent of all diamond sales worldwide.DeBeers needed to differentiate themselves from new entrants as well as establish a secure route of long-term control over their precious commodity. Cause: As previously mentioned, the turn of the century ex perienced increasing globalization of the marketplace for not only diamonds, but also all other commodities. This had both positive and negative effects on business. Centralizing focus on the aspects that raised concern were the unfamiliar position of vulnerability in a market DeBeers had dominated for years, as well as the demolition of barriers to entry that existed prior to the market expansion.Remarkably, the aging diamond industry actually produced increases in the prices and value associated with diamonds. Clever promotional and marketing campaigns were the major source of both domestic (U. S. ) and international success in the sincerity and symbolism of what a diamond represented – love. Though DeBeers essentially pioneered the entire culture and reputation of the diamond, the legwork was already done for emerging and junior companies trying to get in on the train of success and profit that DeBeers had trekked alone on for nearly a century.Uncertainty of demand with su ch an increase in possible demand location made for rising concern over the control DeBeers had been used to. Alternative Solutions: 1. The first solution is to continue with what they are doing presently. Without suffering significant losses and without any real singular threats in the realm of competition, DeBeers could exist and continue to be the dominating presence in the diamond industry with their extensive track record and what one asset that no company or amount of time could take away from them – their name.The brand of DeBeers has been generated over years through being in business as the industry leader, through upholding the position of premier diamond resourcer both in domestic and international markets, and for coining the creation and reputation of what the diamond represents is infallible. Continuing on this road with their secured allies, assets and realm of control is more than enough to keep their company a household name. 2. The second solution is to simp ly repeat history.In the past, when presented with a threat like that of the discovery of mines in Siberia, DBCM dipped into their comfortable cushion of finances and bought up all inventory from Russia. This way, DeBeers kept relatively complete control over the diamonds, and swiftly eliminated any possibility of an environmental industry threat toward their future profits, resources or market share. To be straightforward, DBCM decided to follow a motto of â€Å"rather than compete, make sure to make threats obsolete. † Along the same lines, DeBeers also has a history of making alliances for their monopolistic enefit. In the event of mining resources in Botswana, Africa, government 15 percent share was made in DeBeers in 1969. The government licenses that DBCM had compiled over time gave them necessary access and authority to set mining firms in a country where mining availability was plentiful, but availability of entry and control like that of what DeBeers had generated, w as not. 3. The third solution is to liquidate those assets or areas of the company where industry benefit was incomparable to the kind of revenue that the retail and raw diamond sectors brought in.For example, we will turn to what the present economies of countries where DeBeers has a hand in the market, and what the future of those economies looks to be. Asia, China specifically, has a stable economy with the potential for continuous growth, and a future of prosperity where the DeBeers marketing campaigns could be highly successful. With a consumer-base that is likely to have the disposable income to spend on commodities like diamonds, it may be wiser to concentrate efforts in Asia.On the other hand, both the present and future state of the euro is volatile. With such a great deal of uncertainty, it may be conducive in the long run to pull out of the European market, or at least in areas of the market where the future of currency is vulnerable to a decline in value. Decision: The b est alternative solution would be the third, to move away from markets where the economic state is either currently or heading towards instability, and to move toward those markets where the state of the economy is growing with promise for future stability.In comparison to the other alternatives, the third is more practical. Because uncertainty and volatility are the very aspects causing concern over the best course of action to be taken, the third solution actually takes action and implements both the opportunity for high risk and high reward. Pulling out of a market is not a move that DeBeers is used to, however, finding themselves in a sinking economy where losses could be more detrimental the longer they try to hold on could cause a major financial upset.Similarly, acquiring inventory or means of control over resources or markets does not necessarily mean the facilitation of revenue. Though giving up market control in one country would mean freeing up space for competitors to ga in control and so forth, profit, DeBeers can focus their energy on generating revenue in growing economies, and making their presence in those financially-stable countries that much stronger.Action Plan: Stakeholders, specifically shareholders who may have been originally attracted to invest in DeBeers due to their massive scope of control over the diamond industry, may not be welcoming to the idea of forfeiting control in some markets, however if they choose to stay on board, a year or two of focused campaigning and profit-generating in countries with growing economies can give them peace of mind. One way of keeping those control-driven shareholders on board with the idea is to share financial forecasts.Breaking the plan down into parts where stakeholders can visually see where costs will be cut, where assets will be allocated, and where revenues will be made could facilitate trust and loyalty to the go with this third alternative solution. Assembling a team to do just this would b e the first step in assuring stakeholders that it would be in their best interest to keep with DeBeers. This team would also be responsible for detailing DBCM’s annual 10K so as to keep financial stakeholders in the know of capital-related progress.Success would be determined by not only profit margins, but visualization of presence in these growing markets. If DeBeers has the ability to build more locations that generate community recognition and acceptance, it will show that planned focus in concentrated areas can be beneficial. References: http://www. businessinsider. com/history-of-de-beers-2011-12? op=1 http://www. bloomberg. com/quote/DBR:SJ http://hbr. org/product/de-beers-and-the-global-diamond-industry/an/905M40-PDF-ENG http://www. studymode. com/subjects/de-beers-consolidated-mines-page1. html http://www. slideshare. net/packetsdontlie/analysis-of-debeers

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Real Estate and Construction Sector in the UAE and the Effects of the Crises on the UAE and the Gulf

Real Estate and Construction Sector in the UAE and the Effects of the Crises on the UAE and the Gulf Introduction The current economic status of UAE economy The global crisis that hit the world adversely affected the economies of developing countries. This is because these countries lacked the ability to withstand the external forces that resulted from the collapse of the major world’s economies from which they depended forcing them to restructure their operating business models.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Real Estate and Construction Sector in the UAE and the Effects of the Crises on the UAE and the Gulf specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As the crisis took hold, the Gulf Corporation council countries’ were adversely affected by the depression which hit the region through the trade and financial channels (Khamis, n d). Among the most hit GCC countries was the United Arab Emirates whose economy has transformed itself from a classical base of fishing and pearling into oil based high income econo my with a high concentration of expatriate labor as the main drivers in the key sectors of the economy (IMF, 2003). The UAE had achieved impressive economic growth over the past years due to its rapid development in the non oil economy making it one of the most diversified economies among the Gulf cooperation Council Counterparts (IMF, 2003). However, the region’s persistent dependency on oil as the key driver in the economy and its widely segmented labor market where nationals still continue to have a strong preference for public sector employment over the private sector rendered the region highly vulnerable to the negative implication of the global economic downturn. Real estate and construction sector in UAE The study covers the actual effects of the crisis to the construction and real estate sector in the region which is among the key sectors in the economy contributing an approximate 16% GDP in UAE (IMF, 2003). The sector which had earlier on achieved remarkable growth r apidly declined with the occurrence of the global financial crisis resulting in depreciating values of property as well as departure of foreign investors from the region. The emirate of Dubai provides a clear evidence of the decline in the real estate industry following the crisis.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Consequently, the country provides us with the appropriate case study through which we will analyze the trend in the construction and real estate sector in the period between 2002 and 2006 where the industry achieved remarkable growth, the period between 2008 and 2009 when the global financial crisis hit the economy and the forecasted growth up to 2012. This analysis will be essential in our formulation of an informed conclusion. Financial crisis facing the region It is worth noting that the rental market had been soaring in Dubai due to the increased demand for residential houses and office space. Lease prices as well as the real estate prices have doubled since 2005 with prices varying between $ 1700 and $ 3500 per square meter according to location (Noack, 2007). Due to drastic rent increases, the government of Dubai implemented a rental cap forcing land lords to keep the rent increases to a maximum of 15% per year in 2006 which was further reduced to 7% in 2007 (Noack, 2007). There appeared to be the stepping stone towards stabilization on the rental and real estate markets which could be attributed to the implementation of the rental cap and the establishment of new housing units in the market (Noack, 2007). During the boom period, the countries in the GCC particularly Qatar and the UAE experienced remarkable increases in banking system credit to the private sector and this led to real average credit growth which increased bank leverage and doubled the ratio of private sector credit to non oil GDP to 122% by the end of 2008 (Khamis, 2010). Excess credit coupled with low interest rates and a vibrant economy facilitated higher demand for real estates and equities consequently increasing prices (Khamis, 2010). In the UAE, speculative investments significantly contributed to marked increases in real estate prices.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Real Estate and Construction Sector in the UAE and the Effects of the Crises on the UAE and the Gulf specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Further, following the stock market decline in 2006, GCC markets posted 22-60% gains in 2007 but this dramatically reduced in 2008 by 29-73% with the intensification of the global crisis (Khamis, 2010). With the global recession occurrence, the real GDP growth in the gulf region was expected to sharply decline from 5.8% in 2008 to 1.1 % in 2009 due to correction in oil prices, reduced overall production as well as tight credit conditions (UN, 2009). Among the G CC economies, the UAE was the most affected by the crises with its real GDP falling from 7.4 % to 0.5% between 2008 and 2009 (UN, 2009). This resulted from severe contraction in domestic demand for real estate prices. Literature review UAE attained a per capita income in terms of GDP amounting to $16700 in 1998 which was relatively higher than the GDP of most developing countries (Al Abed and Helyller, 2001). The three emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah account for the highest percentage of UAE gross domestic product as well as the population. The income differences between the emirates are generated by the variations in natural resource endowment prevalent in the region (Al Abed and Helyller, 2001). The key resource in the region is oil and gas and in 1998, crude oil contributed for 22% of the total UAE gross domestic product. The UAE economy is highly dependent on external sector as reflected by the import export disparities prevalent in the region’s economy. Both exp orts and imports are relatively high and consequently the external sector plays a major role in performance and evolution of the UAE economy (Al Abed and Helyller, 2001). The 2003-2008 oil price booms spurred economic activity in the GCC consequently strengthening all the sectors in the economy with overall growth in the economy averaging to 6.6% per year which was considerably higher than the pre oil price boom period.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Role of construction and real estate sector in UAE economy The construction and real estate sector is one of the key driving forces in the UAE economy. Increasing volumes of local and tourist population in the region as well as the liberalization of the real estate market had significantly contributed to the rapid growth in the sector due to the rapidly increasing demand for property in the region (Noack, 2007). The United Arab Emirates is by far the biggest property market in the Gulf region which facilitated its domination in the construction sector. Abu Dhabi heavily invested in tourism and residential sector with its numerous projects including beach and island development, town houses, and facilities for residents (Noack, 2007). Dubai’s real estate sector was mushrooming with projects worth billions of dollars and projects including infrastructure development were under construction. Continuous population growth and immigration in the region has led to increased demand f or residential houses especially in Dubai. Other emirates are also increasingly investing on the construction sector but on a relatively smaller scale. Effects of the Crisis in the Region The GCC countries have been hit hard by the decline in oil prices and production as well as by liquidity shortages in global financial markets (Khamis, 2010). The impact of the crisis in the GCC manifested itself in plunging stock and real estate markets with the region’s market capitalization falling dramatically by 41% (Khamis, 2010). As the effects of the global market became more apparent, the average correlation of the GCC markets with the global markets became evident in the period between 2007 and 2008 (Khamis, 2010). The region was further affected by decline in the international asset prices with losses estimated by market analysts at between 20-30% in 2008 (Khamis, 2010). Consequently, real estate prices dramatically declined which corrected prices in Dubai which had initially rise n more sharply. A couple of scholars had predicted the impact of global economic downturn across the Gulf Corporation Council. The economic down turn as well as the dramatic plunge in oil prices led to a major blow on the development efforts in the region and shattered dreams of thousands of investors seeking maximum returns in a region that was once a land of opportunity (BM, 2010). The construction and real estate sector was rendered vulnerable to the adverse effects of the crises due to the fact that credit growth in the region substantially contributed to lending in the real estate sector. This lending was funded substantially by bank’s foreign liabilities which rendered the region’s banking system susceptible to credit losses during economic downturn (Khamis, 2010). The international monetary fund predicted that economic growth across the region would slow down in 3.5 % in 2009 from 6.8% in 2008. The United Arab Emirates which accounts for approximately 46% of the GCC construction boom is likely to be adversely affected according to research findings by EFG Hermes (BM, 2010). The findings further revealed that the region is experiencing a ‘real estate crash ‘and the effects of this have not yet been fully addressed. Objectives, Scope and coverage The Extent of the Crisis in UAE and the gulf region The property and the construction sectors have been worst hit in the emirate following the global economic downturn. Although various sectors continue to register considerable growth in the recent past, the construction and real estate sectors evidently achieved negative growth in 2010 (Property Wire, 2010). This failure can be attributed to the sector’s dependence on demand and supply consequently elongated the recovery period. The world debt crisis has also intensified the negative implications on the real estate sector which plummeted with the diminishing international funding Property sales in the region increased by more tha n half their value since 2008 (Property Wire 2010). A report compiled by the royal institution of Chartered surveyors revealed that there was a substantial increase in the number of distressed assets coming into the UAE market in the third quarter of 2010 and this was further expected to rise in the last quarter of the year (Property Wire 2010). Tom Bunker, an investment sale consultant confirmed this increment in distressed selling citing that this property hit the market below their purchase price and in some cases below the price level at which they were initially sold by the developer. The global economy has started showing signs of revival from its previous down turn (Property digest, 2009). The United Arab Emirate real estate sector has subsequently registered gradual change and according to the Gowealthy Research Team, whereby the demand for off plan properties in the UAE ended with the departure of speculators changing the trend towards preference of ready to move in propert y that are at least half way complete. Dwindling market demand and oversupply of units coupled with distress sales by owners who aim at raising the mortgage requirements have affected the prices of property adversely (Property Digest, 2009). Research by Colliers revealed that home prices in Dubai declined by 40-42% since the fourth quarter of 2008 with sales transactions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi being driven by professional investors rather than speculators. T his helps us to understand the long term impacts of foreign debt as a means of financing local projects. In this region increased foreign debt coupled with global depression has resulted in devaluation of property in Dubai which has consequently affected the region’s economy. The UAE has an ideal location for long term property investment. At present, quality accommodation and work space can be acquired at moderate states with scales heavily tipped in favor of serious investors who negotiate for appreciable bargains (Prop erty Digest, 2009). This creates room for optimism in the UAE real estate market orientation towards long term investment. However, the most important question remains whether the UAE young realty sector is strong and resilient enough to withstand the adverse effects of the forces within the external economies as well as its ability to meet long term investor demands and expectations. To an attempt to achieve this end, the government of Dubai has recently amended Article No. 13 that aims at protecting the stakeholders in the realty sector. The article provides reviewed provisions for cancellation of contracts and also offers property auction licenses to private firms in order to facilitate the auction process. Research question and methodology Our study will focus on a case study of Dubai’s real estate sector and the impact that the global financial crisis has had on the same. This will enable us to evaluate the extent to which the crisis has affected the UAE region since Dub ai is one of the major determinants of overall performance of UAE economy. Effects of the financial crises on the real estate sector in Dubai The crisis has adversely affected the emirate of Dubai which has heavily invested in construction projects as well as establishment of a financial sector. Dr, Eckart Woertz, program manager of economics at the Gulf Research Center observed that Dubai, which was the pioneer in economic development in the UAE has been adversely affected by the crisis due to its over reliance on real estate sector as well as its foreign debt financed growth (BM, 2010). The impact that the economic downturn has had on the Dubai’s construction sector is an obvious indicator of the extent to which the UAE has been affected by the crisis hence our focus on the emirate. Construction projects worth billions of dollars have been rendered worthless with numerous projects being prematurely terminated due to lack of cash inflow (BM, 2010). A report by Proleads resea rch firm uncovered that an approximate 53% of the projects in Dubai had been suspended while only projects worth $698 were still in operation in a sector estimated to be worth US $1.3 trillion (BM, 2010). In addition, job cuts have been widespread in the real estate sector with numerous companies announcing a lot of redundancies while considerable number of expatriates continues to leave the country (BM, 2010). A report by Emirates Business 24/7 claimed that Indian carriers were preparing to accommodate bulk bookings for constructions workers and expatriates leaving the UAE in search of greener pastures. Further, figure released by Dubai’s ministry of interior naturalization and residency highlighted that 54684 residency visas were cancelled in the beginning of 2009 compared to 29418 in January 2008 with the majority being expatriates and private sector workers who had been frustrated by the poor performance in the construction and real estate industry in Dubai (BM, 2010). Th e impact of the global financial crisis further sent shock waves through out other related industries in the region that relied on the construction sector consequently affecting them negatively. For instance, the media companies which depended heavily on the real estate sector for advertising lost significant revenue due to reduction in advertising efforts by the sector (BM, 2010). The architecture and engineering firms as well as facilities management providers were also adversely affected. According to the Property wire (2010), â€Å"The construction and real estate sectors in Dubai have seen a decrease of almost 5% in 2010 and the recovery is some way off according to officials† (p1). Data Analysis: The Case of Dubai The property industry in Dubai registered remarkable growth in years prior the global financial crisis (Anonymous, 2007). The trend of the industry in the period between 2002and 2006 is a clear indicator of the robust growth that the sector had enjoyed in prev ious years. The graph below displays the percentage growth sustained by Dubai’s real estate sector during the period. Source: Zahrat Dubai real estate. rocketriver.com/zahrat/stat.php However, the upward trend rapidly declined with the occurrence of the global financial crisis that affected all the economies in the world. Reports indicated that the residential property prices in Dubai were bound to decline in the subsequent years from the peak levels seen in the third quarter of 2008. The graph below displays the falling real estate prices in specific locations in Dubai during the period of the financial crisis. Source: Dubai Forums 2009. dubaiforums.com/ar/dubai-property-prices-to-fall-70-from-peak-1-34758.htm Despite the numerous challenges facing the real sector as a result of global financial depression, the region is optimistic that the sector will survive the financial crisis. Substantial market corrections have taken place which has led to the restructuring of the bu siness models in operation. In order to achieve the best case scenario industry conditions as shown in the graph, the government of Dubai should seek to support the country’s economy by increasing infrastructural spending, reducing oil and foreign income dependence in the economy and bail out guarantees to financial institutions in order to improve performance of the industry and regain investors’ confidence. ameinfo.com/196124.html Conclusion The financial crisis that hit the global economy adversely affected numerous countries’ economies without exception of the countries in the GCC. The UAE was the most affected among the GCC member countries with its construction and real estate sector rapidly declining as a result. The construction and real estate sector which contributes significantly to overall GDP in the UAE has had severe consequences on the overall economic growth of the region. Evident from the study, the decline in the sector has significantly reduc ed returns to investment which has led to mass exodus of foreign investors from the region’s free zones and disrupted performance in other related industries. The region should therefore seek to rectify the situation by minimizing their dependence on oil and foreign funding in order to reduce the risks of industry collapse in future. Reference List Al Abed, I., Helyller, P. (2001). United Arab Emirates- A New Perspective. London: Trident Press Ltd. Anonymous (2007). Statistical Report on Dubai Real Estate Trends. Retrieved from rocketriver.com/zahrat/stat.php. Business management (2010). How The Bubble Burst. Retrieved from busmanagementme.com/article/How-the-bubble-burst/. Dubai Forums (2009). Dubai Prices to Fall ‘70% from the Peak. Retrieved from dubaiforums.com/ar/dubai-property-prices-to-fall-70-from-peak-1-34758.htm. IMF (2003). United Arab Emirates: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix. Washington, D.C: International Monetary Fund. Khamis, M. (2010). Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the Gulf Corporation Council Countries and the Challenges Ahead. Retrieved from imf.org/external/pubs/ft/dp/2010/dp1001.pdf Noack, S., Betriebswirt, D. (2007). Doing Business in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Berlin: GRIN Verlag. Property Digest (2009). UAE Real Estate Sector on the Road to Recovery. Retrieved from gowealthy.com/gowealthy/wcms/en/home/real-estate/property-digest/april-2009/Vol1-April-2009-1240826069217.html Property Wire (2010). Real Estate Sector Is The Worst Hit In Economic Terms, Officials Admit. Retrieved from propertywire.com/news/middle-east/-dubai-real-estate-hit-201012024736.html United Nations (2009). The Global Economic and Financial Crisis: Regional Impacts, Responses and Solutions. New York: United Nations publications.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Discuss some of the more cosmological traits of early Hebrew religion Essay

Discuss some of the more cosmological traits of early Hebrew religion - Essay Example They also believed in animistic worship, the worship of nature such as trees and other natural objects, eventually becoming anthropomorphic, that is god or gods took the human forms. In later Hebrew religion, Yahweh became a figure that transcends both human and material worlds. It is believed that individual tribes probably worshipped different gods, as there is no evidence of only one God being worshipped during that time. (2) Despite a few Babylonian texts that associate power with Maduk, Hebrew was the first religion to insist that their god was the only universal god. Judaism is known as one of the earliest monotheistic religions. It is believed that the Hebrew monotheism began with the introduction of Yahweh cult according to Exodus during the 1300-1200 BC in the migration to Egypt. It gave a concept of rule of law and also the concept that covenant that the god has a good relationship with the community of people (1) The Jews were also forbidden to idol worship or represent god in any sculpture or form and regarded Yahweh as the creator or god. Earlier Hebrews worshipped other gods but emphasized that Yahweh was the ruler of the universe. Another innovation by the prophets is righteousness where Yahweh became the ‘god of righteousness’ and in the eyes of Yahweh the good were always rewarded and the evil were punished. In this religion, ritual practices became unimportant and the requirem ent of doing right things, punishing evil was a means to produce and build a harmonious society. The monarchy brought about differences in wealth, poverty, subjective power and centralized state. The most cognitive crisis in the Hebrew History was the Exile. The Hebrews were exiled by Babylonians and Romans into wide spread colonies around the world and the scattering is often termed as Diaspora. (2) The most intense revolution in Hebrew religion took place during the migration from Egypt and Moses became the greatest

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Public Sector & Government Budgeting - Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Assignment

Public Sector & Government Budgeting - Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) - Assignment Example oosing projects, and in this instance, the LBRA involvement is vital to resolve the agony of blight and the blighting effect to the community around in the region. The third top factor that have been raised is selecting and giving first priority to those ventures that people are willing and ready to shore up to their accomplishment (Launar & Nollar, 2005). It is obvious that all the shareholders and the members in any company or an institution will always have the desire and the longing to see best improvement, from the effort they put in that company, cooperation or an institution. Therefore, the redevelopment and structuring projects are done in the accurate time. The arrangement, endorsement and planning of these projects are also done within the stipulated time in line with their accomplishment and the desire of the stake holders (Bland 2007). In the capital improvement policy statement, there are issues like appropriate management of resources and funds. Timely accomplishment of projects is also taken with greater weight in the policy. These issues are well addressed in the long beach city of California since most of the projects had been accomplished on time. The preparation of operating budget ought to be separated from the capital budget, to prevent the mismanagement of funds and resources. This may also be done to avoid interfering with each other final records. Finally, the separation may be done so as to have different independent projects that at the end will yield best