Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Significance and implication of the pursuit of sustainability in the context of global airlines and airports The WritePass Journal

Significance and implication of the pursuit of sustainability in the context of global airlines and airports Introduction Significance and implication of the pursuit of sustainability in the context of global airlines and airports ). This paper explores the significance and implication of the pursuit of sustainability in the context of global airlines and airports. Issues of unconstrained aviation growth versus the call for global constraints of aviation for environmental reasons as well as challenges faced by management in the maintenance of corporate goals involving the sustainable development of aviation operations are evaluated. Towards this goal, the benefits and drawbacks of the pursuit of sustainability from a management perspective are explored evaluating practical environmental activities that now encompass the management of airlines and airports. Finally, this paper assesses the capacity of the aviation industry to achieve dramatic improvements required to enhance environmental performance through innovations in aircraft design and in airline and airport operations. Following is an overview of the industry in light of environmental concerns. Industry overview In the modern global society, air transport has become essential and has significantly changed how people travel, interact with others and do business. Aviation has become a driver of economic, social and cultural development (ICAO, 2012). The democratization of international air travel has led to the reduction in the cost of flying and with real cost falling 60% over the last 40 years (Deloitte, 2013). This has made aviation more accessible to a greater number of people. Alongside this, developments in technologies and designs over the same period have enhanced energy efficiency of aircraft and achieved noise reductions of 70% and 75% respectively (Deloitte, 2013). Such positive developments are nonetheless inadequate in the face of significant growth projections. It is estimated that passengers will reach six billion requiring 50 million flights (ICAO, 2012; Welsh, 2010). This is roughly double the current capacity. Statistics from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the UK’s Stern Report present the following grim picture regarding the environmental impact of the aviation industry. They advance the view that aviation contributes around 6% of greenhouse gases (GHG) further exacerbated by the high altitudes of flights which limits the effectiveness of nature’s carbon ‘scrubbers’- the trees and plants which absorb greenhouse gas (Carbon dioxide) to undo these emissions. Emission of GHG in aviation is estimated to cause as much as 9% of the greenhouse effect (COM, 2012; ICAO, 2012; Deloitte, 2013; Friends of Earth, 2013). Concern over these estimated adverse effects is heightened by expert forecasts of growth in passenger numbers and therefore a doubling of global commercial jet fleet to over 35,000 by 2025. This heightens scepticism about reduction in aviation emissions with analysts forecasting that by 2050, current emission figures could quadruple (Welsh, 2010; Friends of Earth, 2013). In the view of IPCC, industry and stakeholder initiatives are and will not be adequate to achieve true sustainability and in its opinion, uncontrolled growth of the industry should be constrained given the challenges in mitigation of impact (Friends of Earth, 2013; ICAO, 2012; Seabury, 2012). Demand and growth of the aviation industry though important for society and the economy is however a significant contributor to global climate change. Constraint of growth is however not feasible given the growing demand and import of the industry globally. In this regard, a lot needs to be done by industry players and various stakeholders to ensure safety, security and environmental conservation.   Industry players face myriad challenges in the pursuit of sustainability. Dilemma of sustainability in the aviation sector The aviation industry is increasingly portrayed and perceived as a villain in the pursuit of sustainability around the world. This stems from the fact that they are untaxed and are unaffected by any current agreements on emissions (Welsh, 2010). Global initiatives aimed at limiting carbon emissions, and therefore global warming, are centred around the Kyoto agreement negotiated in 1997 and coming into force in 2005. The aviation industry is specifically excluded in this agreement and its negotiations despite it being a major contributor to global warming (COM, 2012; Welsh, 2010). The ‘well-intentioned’ executives and organizations in the industry are often hindered in the green pursuits by the business risk of being the ‘first mover’ in this pursuit (Deloitte, 2013). The deregulation and democratization of the aviation industry has resulted in intense competition among airlines which has led to significant reductions in air fares which have consistently declined over time (ICAO, 2012; Driver, 2006). Living standards and wages have inversely increased overall increasing the number of people accessing air travel (ICAO, 2012; Hill, 2006). This, in addition to substantial taxes by states, as well as fees, charges and surcharges on many international routes often surpass the ticket price impacting net profit margins which are at levels less than 2% on global scheduled airlines and are falling (AAG, 2012; Deloitte, 2013). Additional levies such as ‘green tax’ and climate finance if not applied across the entire industry creates a ‘first mover’ disadvantage which discourages governments and airlines from unilateral action, as well as impeding the pace of established mechanisms for resolution such as the United Nations programs. National and/or regional emissions initiatives impose a competitive disadvantage on the industry tying the hands of airline executives until governments can agree on common and equitable solutions covering the entire industry (ICAO, 2012; Zakhem, et al, 2007). Good intention and regard for the environment is hindered by intense competition and the slim margins characteristic of the industry. There is therefore need for greater concerted effort so as to undo the ‘first mover’ disadvantage which hinders the competitiveness of players that pursue sustainability. Such efforts are considered in the proceeding section. Way forward for sustainable development in the industry What is required is an agreement on intergovernmental and industry-wide global solutions, a top-down regulatory approach, which are however hard to reach and are at best, advisory guidelines. The consequent result would be slow and insignificant given that airlines are governed by nations and/or agencies (Seabury, 2012). In spite of these cumbersome regulations and ‘first mover’ disadvantage, there is genuine desire among executives and across the industry for the pursuit of sustainable development and reduction of environmental impact, particularly the reduction of the industry’s contribution to climate change (ICAO, 2012). The options available for this endeavour, characterized as bottom-up solutions undertaken by industry, fall into three categories: operational, tactical, and strategic initiatives. Bottom-up solutions Operational initiatives Operational approaches involve short-term actions which despite their limitation in overall effect are better than no initiatives at all. In an attempt to enhance its contribution overall, these approaches are well known and openly shared across the industry. They comprise the following steps aimed at reducing fuel consumption: single-engine taxiing; engine shutdowns during delays; better measurement and reduction of weight; distribution and balancing of belly cargo; higher cruising and shorter/steeper approaches; as well as ticket premium options for investment in carbon offset schemes; and tankering-carrying enough fuel for return trip. These initiatives are immediately deployable (Welsh, 2010; AAG, 2012). Other operational initiatives that need planning consist of: better routes and altitudes; better enroute fuel reserve; reduction in airborne holding (stacking); installation of winglets at wing tips to reduce drag; redesign of hubs/schedules for greater efficiency; improved/expanded airfield capacity; low drag paint schemes; as well as improved fuel purchasing and supplies (Welsh, 2010; AAG, 2012). Tactical initiatives These are generally medium term approaches covering 5 to 10 years which have greater impact than operational initiatives though still limited in overall effect. The involve fuel and engine modifications. Aircraft fuel is a controversial component of business mired by complexity and a difficult price-based history. Swings in commodity prices impact airlines’ operating costs running from 15% to as much as 60% of costs (Deloitte, 2013). Quality is also a significant concern with regard to jet fuel as it is directly linked to flight safety. Whole consignments of jet fuel can be rejected on grounds of quality such as the finding of bacteria in tankers (Welsh, 2010). Though there is some activity in the area of sustainable versions of jet fuel (Bio jet) with isolated pockets of interest, there is yet to be success and may not be in the short term. Faster pace of progress would require greater support from the industry and government. This approach is also challenged by commercial, regulatory and technical hurdles governing fuel specifications (ICAO, 2012; Seabury, 2012). Commercial hurdles include long and expensive laboratory stage processes without demand and/or regulatory support and subsequent lengthy processes of developing production capacity for industrial volumes. Changes in fuel specifications may also require engine modifications which would need to pass the long and expensive design/build/test production cycle dwarfing that of the fuel cycle. In addition to these hurdles, Bio jet is considerably more corrosive than conventional jet fuel and may increase maintenance, repair and overhaul costs (MRO) (Welsh, 2010; ICAO, 2012). Regulatory hurdles comprise the very strict aviation regulators which is appropriate for the industry. Change in specifications of fuel and engines would necessitate a major review of the regulatory framework around the world (ICAO, 2012). Technical hurdles encompass the drawn out periods of uptake of modifications and new specifications with customers (major airlines) typically renewing their fleet about every 15 years. After the extensive research, design, build, test, production cycle, and regulatory approval, this additional period need be factored as well. In addition to these 15 years, major airlines would sell their airplanes into the second hand market which would also last a further 15 years of flight (ICAO, 2012). This makes the adoption of new engine/modifications and fuel technologies may take upwards of three to five decades to achieve a complete shift and transformation. Strategic initiatives Initiatives in this category require new generation technologies to enable pursuit of strategic options towards the reduction of emissions. In addition to the pockets of interest in fuel and engine programs in the short term, there are also other isolated pockets of interest exploring more fundamental technological developments such as how to influence the environmental impact of aviation. This involves a think tank composed of many and varied stakeholders in the industry including airlines and airports, manufacturers, governments, passenger groups, among several other interest groups (ICAO, 2012). There are many new technological propositions that require leaps in technology far greater than the modification examples cited above. They include the integrated-wing silent aircraft with top-mounted engines and a moulded aerodynamic shape. This is a possible major step towards lower or zero aviation emissions which has been the aspiration of the industry in light of environmental concerns and climate change. IATAs proposal is projected to within the next 50 years which is not definitive yet. This is also challenged by a lack in demand and regulatory support (ICAO, 2012; Seabury, 2012). Regulatory support (Top-Down approach) Critical to the development and adoption of emission solutions in the aviation industry is regulatory support including simple models like deadlines for action with consequences for non-compliance such as fines and grounding of fleet. Such actions and approaches help to enhance and to justify focus on sustainability initiatives creating demand for worthwhile ventures like Bio jet as well as engine and design reworks or modifications intended at lower emissions. This approach would also enhance the focus of governments and industry in the support of companies investing in the research/design/build/test/production cycle (ICAO, 2012; Seabury, 2012). From a management perspective, despite the willingness and enthusiasm to ‘go green’ focusing on sustainable development, the pursuit of high impact initiatives is impeded by the myriad hurdles and challenges in design and output of new technologies. There are several advantages that can be derived from the pursuit of sustainability and as well there are drawbacks and dis-benefits that generally impact the entire industry. However, there are substantial gains in bold pursuits individual airlines and players giving credence to the potential in industry sustainability. The following section explores these advantages and dis-benefits employing Alaska Air Group’s environmental protection and efficiency initiatives to highlight these points and to show actions taken in this regard. Alaska Air Group’s practical environmental activities Alaska Air Group is the holding company for two Seattle-based subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air which provide passenger and cargo transportation   across 90 destinations in the United States (USA), Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines flies 117 Boeing 737s to 62 of these destinations while Horizon Air operates a fleet of 48 Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft to 39 destinations (AAG, 2012). The company has been a recipient of recognition and awards on several fronts for outstanding performance including the Worlds top-performing airline in 2010, Airline Technology Leadership Award in 2011, as well as industry service accolades from its customer satisfaction, on-time performance, maintenance training and public and community service. As of 2012, the group has 12,806 employees and an asset base of 5.2 billion dollars. Their carriers serve 25 million passengers a year on 30 million seat miles and carry 114 million cargo pounds accruing cargo revenue of 108 million. The Groups adjusted net income stands at 287.4 million dollars. Even though Air Group flies 3% of domestic airline capacity, it has a daily consumption of a million gallons of jet fuel for its flight operations (AAG, 2012). To the group, sustainability efforts are crucial to reductions in waste and energy costs, as well as innovation, factors which enhance value, competitiveness and overall bottom line. Air Group has a strategic commitment to reduce environmental impact through four core elements: reducing emissions from consumption of fossil fuels; reducing emissions from ground operations such as electricity and heating; reducing consumption of non-sustainable resources; and recycling of inflight and operational wastes (COM, 2012; Werbach, 2009). The Group has admirable fuel-efficiency ratings but it continues to pursue more conservation opportunities such as fleet upgrades and modifications which have led to significant cost savings for the company; removal of unneeded weight; optimal routes, speeds and engine maintenance to ensure performance. Its practical initiatives for enhanced fuel efficiencies consist of: fleet efficiencies and transformation which lowers fuel bills, emissions and costs associated with complexities of a mixed fleet; reduction of weight of carpets and seats; better airspace efficiency through satellite navigation performance systems and streamlined landing approaches (pioneered by Alaska Airlines); use of ground power rather than the aircrafts auxiliary power units to provide heating, cooling and electricity when planes are parked at gates; robust flight planning for optimal fuel loads; as well as a bold pursuit of sustainable fuel alternatives. In November 2011, Alaska airlines launched pioneer multip le commercial flights powered by 20% aviation biofuel blends on more than 75 flights. The biofuel blend reduced GHG emissions by 134 metric tonnes and demonstrated feasibility of biofuels (AAG, 2012; Driver, 2006; Cornelissen and Clarke, 2010). On the ground efficiency front, the company has instituted a switch in ground support equipment from fossil-powered to electric options where feasible. This move is anticipated to eliminate 3000 metric tonnes of CO2 output per year when completed. This is done alongside upgrades of ground facilities such as terminals and offices to enhance energy efficiency, as well as wind and solar projects for alternative power. The company is also pursuing ambitious recycling of inflight waste and ground waste which is standard in its Flight Attendant Manual. This program diverts an estimated 800 tonnes of waste from landfills (AAG, 2012; Welsh, 2010). These audacious initiatives however result in a significant dis-benefit of sustainable development which is the high cost of transformation and uptake of new technologies. This impacts industry players’ financial positions, a challenge exacerbated by the industry’s slim margins which hinder their economic capacity. Alaska Air Group however prides itself in its year-over-year load factors (percentage of seats filled) which has helped improve its efficiency. As of 2012, Alaska Airlines had achieved reductions in carbon emission intensity per revenue passenger mile 7.8% since 2009 and 29.8% since 2004. Its total carbon emissions have decreased 3.2% in 8 years despite a 27% growth in business. Its sustainability initiatives have significantly contributed to the creation of direct economic value benefiting employees and investors with the company achieving record full-year adjusted net income of 287.4 million dollars, leading in profitability in spite of global economic challenges impacting aviation (AAG, 2012; Cornelissen and Clarke, 2010). Conclusion Grim statistics of the impact of aviation on environmental impact and contribution to climate change paint a gloomy picture of the sustainability of the industry’s anticipated growth. IPCC and experts even propose the constraint of the growth of aviation to stem this impact. Nevertheless, there is potential in innovation and technological advancements leading to reduction in emissions and progress is being made to realize these gains. This progress is hindered by ‘first mover’ competitive disadvantage as well as various hurdles to the success of initiatives brought about significantly by the fragmentation in the industry with the lack of a comprehensive and unilateral framework governing progress. This frustrates enthusiasm of executives and the industry and hinders progress to sustainable development. The example of Alaska Air Group, however, clearly demonstrates that aviation can achieve dramatic improvements required to in environmental performance. Innovations in aircraft and fuel designs, as well as airline and airport operations can have significant positive effects for sustainability in the aviation industry in the short and longer term. Sustainable development requires the participation of all stakeholders in the industry for success of initiatives. Stakeholders encompass governments, regulatory and advisory organizations, industry players, employees, interest groups, and customers. References Alaska Air Group, 2012. Sustainability report. Alaska Air Group Cornelissen, J., and J., Clarke, 2010. â€Å"Imagining and Rationalizing Opportunities: Inductive Reasoning, and the Creation and Justification of New Ventures.† In: Academy of Management Review, 35(4): 539-557. Deloitte, 2013. Aviation and Sustainability. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Driver, M., 2006. ‘Beyond the Stalemate of Economics versus Ethics: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Discourse of the Organizational Self.’ In: Journal of Business Ethics, 66: 337–56. Friends of Earth, 2013. Aviation and Global Climate Change. London. Friends of Earth. Hill, C., 2006. International Business: Competing in the Global Economy, (7th Ed.) Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill ICAO, 2012. Global Aviation and Our Sustainable Future: International Civil Aviation Organization Briefing for RIO+20. Montreal. ICAO Sachs, S., E. Ruhli, and I., Kern, 2009. Sustainable Success with Stakeholders. Palgrave Macmillan Seabury, 2012. Sustainable European Aviation: A position paper. Association of European Airlines and Seabury. Viewed on 2nd Jan, 2014 from: www.seaburygroup.com Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, 2012. Progress towards achieving the Kyoto objectives. Werbach, A., 2009. Strategy for sustainability: a business manifesto Adam Werbach. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Press. Welsh, K., 2010. Airline Sustainability Initiatives. Airports Going Green Conference. Chicago, Air Transport Association. Zakhem, A., D., Palmer and M., Stoll, 2007. Stakeholder theory: Essential Readings in Ethical Leadership and Management. Promethus books.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Free Essays on Analysis Of Shiloh

Short Story Analysis In Bobbie Ann Masons, â€Å"Shiloh†, a woman challenged the culture of masculinity. In the story, Norma Jean, is the more dominant character of the household leaving Leroy, her husband, with no distinction. The usual role of the husband being the man of the house was reversed in this story to show the power of women, but in the end it all changes. Why did Mason choose to start the story with a dominant, strong woman that grows weary and weak throughout the story? In the story, Mason use of feminine and masculine characteristics to show dominance over the household is symbolized in many of the characters actions. The story starts with Norma Jean lifting weights to build muscle while Leroy sits and watches. Leroy also enjoys building models and knits because he has nothing else to do with his time. The use of reversing roles is to show that the female is the dominant and respected member of the household because of Leroy’s accident, which disabled him from work. At first, Norma seems as if she is a strong stable individual but as the story progresses, things start to get complicated. Mason uses another female influence in the story. Norma’s mother also plays a more dominant role in the couples life. As the story continues the two women, seem to find their weaknesses and start to doubt themselves. One instance is when Norma is caught smoking by her mom and she lets it get to her. Another thing is how the mother is holding on to the past by wanting the couple to go to Shiloh and have a second honeymoon because she realizes that the marriage is not well. As Morphew said in his critique, â€Å"Because she is so dominated by her mother, Norma Jean skirmishes as much with Mable as with Leroy† (1). In the end of the story, all the signs of Norma’s responsibilities as a wife are disappearing. She shows no sign of love or dominance toward Leroy or her mother any more. Symbolism in the story is used to sho... Free Essays on Analysis Of Shiloh Free Essays on Analysis Of Shiloh Short Story Analysis In Bobbie Ann Masons, â€Å"Shiloh†, a woman challenged the culture of masculinity. In the story, Norma Jean, is the more dominant character of the household leaving Leroy, her husband, with no distinction. The usual role of the husband being the man of the house was reversed in this story to show the power of women, but in the end it all changes. Why did Mason choose to start the story with a dominant, strong woman that grows weary and weak throughout the story? In the story, Mason use of feminine and masculine characteristics to show dominance over the household is symbolized in many of the characters actions. The story starts with Norma Jean lifting weights to build muscle while Leroy sits and watches. Leroy also enjoys building models and knits because he has nothing else to do with his time. The use of reversing roles is to show that the female is the dominant and respected member of the household because of Leroy’s accident, which disabled him from work. At first, Norma seems as if she is a strong stable individual but as the story progresses, things start to get complicated. Mason uses another female influence in the story. Norma’s mother also plays a more dominant role in the couples life. As the story continues the two women, seem to find their weaknesses and start to doubt themselves. One instance is when Norma is caught smoking by her mom and she lets it get to her. Another thing is how the mother is holding on to the past by wanting the couple to go to Shiloh and have a second honeymoon because she realizes that the marriage is not well. As Morphew said in his critique, â€Å"Because she is so dominated by her mother, Norma Jean skirmishes as much with Mable as with Leroy† (1). In the end of the story, all the signs of Norma’s responsibilities as a wife are disappearing. She shows no sign of love or dominance toward Leroy or her mother any more. Symbolism in the story is used to sho...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Mexican revolution of the 1910s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Mexican revolution of the 1910s - Essay Example Though much of The Mexican revolution of the 1910’s speaks about bringing down the President Porfirio Diaz from his power; the main idea behind it was to bring justice to the people who were longing for it and ensure proper distribution of wealth through a fight against the foreign imperialists. Though the youth tried to get into politics and begin a fresh phase of rule that would change lives of people to a better standard, they were not given this opportunity. The imperialism that prevailed in the people with power left people in silence though, they had an opinion to express and a wish to elect their leader. But the youth of Mexico however made it to the throne. They acquired the power after a long struggle from the hands of the imperialists and brought their people what they wanted, freedom. The people living in the borders of the Mexico and the United states have seen the worst phase of this revolution. The Mexican people resisted the control the U.S over these places and fought against them. This revolution saw blood of both the Nations. People even migrated from Mexico borders to keep away from this violence. This image shows a family trying to migrate from Mexico border that had seen violence in many forms. Initially it was the rule of the President Porfirio Diaz which weakened their minds and to add to their misery the imperialism by the U.S people left them to going away to safer places. Many of them migrated to California and some people to Los Angeles hoping the war would end in a few months but it didn’t and actually lasted a for years. "We were running away from the rebellion. . . . We came to the United States to wait out the conclusion of the Revolution. We thought it would be over in a few months."(Mexicans and Mexican-Americans). However the boundaries between the two nations (Mexico and The U.S) had been a controversy since ages and this has been the issue for the Mexican revolution of the 1910’s as well. Even today the b oundary separation has its conflicts going on. Though attempts were made to pacify people on the boundaries of the Nations, they proved futile with the discrepancies the people had among the ownership of the lands. The period 1910-1920 has seen the worst phase with wars in many places. The Mexicans attacked the Anglos and their stores and railroads. The picture above shows the Mexican troops marching in Juarez, Mexico during the Mexican revolution in the 1910’s. This Mexican revolution of the 1910’s however would leave an impression on anybody who carefully studies and understands the history and the story behind the imperialistic foreigner’s strategy. I, feel that though there have been complaints about the then President of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, and his selfish rule that had concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few, which rendered people of Mexico helpless and other issues pertaining to the rule of their government and confiscating lands from peasa nts, there had always been a bigger issue, the imperialistic foreigners who took away the power of people and controlled their lands. This issue certainly appealed to everybody who knew the history of the Mexican Revolution because the other problems the Mexicans had with their government and the peasants could be solved among them at some point in time and they were categorically domestic issues which needed just the attention of some people of the Nation. But the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Judaism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Judaism - Essay Example Secondly, the Jewish had a substantial meaning in creation embedded in the magnificent work of God as cited in Genesis chapter one, verse one. The Jewish also established a meaning in human existence to determine the human nature concerning freedom and the truth-for-life (279-281). The Jews have a keen interest in history, as it is not a Maya or a circular process of nature but the arena of God’s purposive activity (Smith 283). The Jews view the uniqueness of history as Gods interventions and they are the chosen people. Judaism has substantial meaning and value in molarity, as they believe each social creature ought to have the ability to interact with others (Smith 286). Judaism grounds its values in the importance of meaning injustice. Specifically, they believe that the future of the society depends on the legitimacy of the social order (288). The Jewish have meaning in suffering as a Gods way of underscoring righteousness. In upholding these values and others, Judaism has grown into an active culture adopted by most modern societies and traditions including

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Jewish Culture Essay Example for Free

Jewish Culture Essay The first Jewish custom, Brit Milah also known as circumcision, takes places at the birth of a boy baby. It is carried out on the eighth day after the baby has been born; it is performed by a Mohel, where the baby’s foreskin of the penis is removed. The second Jewish custom is called The Naming Ceremony, which takes place on the first Sabbath that immediately follows the birth of a baby girl. This event takes place inside of a synagogue. On this day either parents or just the father is called for a blessing and a reading to the torah. The third Jewish custom is the Bat/ Bar Mitzvah, this ceremony marks and commemorates the entry of a young Jew into the Jewish adult community. This ceremony has been in practice for the last 450 years. The person concerned in the Mitzvah is required to read the Haftorah which is the portion of the Torah for the week and then give a scholarly comment or speech. Bat Mitzvah is the name of the ceremony for girls, and Bar Mitzvah is the name of the ceremony for boys. Ideal gift would include; Mezuzah cases, Charity boxes, and or Kiddush cups. The fourth Jewish custom is called a Simcha, which is also known as Marriage, and it is performed under a canopy. The fifth Jewish customs is called The Mikovaot this ceremony is a cleansing bath that is a ritual and is one of the longest standing practices in Jewish customs. This ceremony is performed to endow marriages. Orthodox Jewish women are required to dip themselves in this bathe very month after their menstruation before they resume relations of marriage with their husbands. Language: there are various Jewish languages and dialects that developed in the Jewish communities around the world. Hebrew was the daily speech of the Jewish people for centuries, but by the fifth century the closely related Aramaic joined Hebrew as the spoken language in Judea. By the third century Jews of diaspora were speaking Greek and soon afterwards Hebrew was no longer used as a mother tongue. For centuries Jews worldwide spoke the local or dominant languages of the region migrated to, where they would develop distinctive dialectal forms or branching off as independent languages. Among the most widely spoken Jewish languages to develop in the diaspora are; Yiddish and Ladino. Yiddish is the Judeo- German language developed by Ashkenazi Jews who migrated to central Europe. Ladino is also called Judezmo and Muestra Spanyol is the Judeo- Spanish language developed by Sephardic Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula. Religion: the Jewish religion is the monotheistic based on the belief in a single all powerful God. The Jewish doctrine is based on the Ten Commandments as spelt out in the Old Testament. The Hebrew bible had provided the foundations for Christianity. Jesus, Mary and the Apostles were all Jews and the origin of many Christian festivals, psalms and beliefs lay in Judaism. The Jews refused to convert to the new faith of Christianity which is called the New Testament, so they stubbornly maintained their separate religious beliefs and their distinct customs and laws. The Jews also have a Shabbat which takes place on the seventh day of the Jewish week and is the Jewish day for rest. Jew recall the biblical creation account in Genesis in which God creates the Heaven and Earth in six days and rests on the seventh day. Immigration trends: the Jews of Eastern Europe began to emigrate in large numbers from their homelands, beginning in the 1880’s. Between 1881 and 1914 about 2,370,000 Jews fled from poverty and oppression, especially from Trarist Russia notorious for its violent anti- Jewish mobs and pogroms. A great number of these Jews reached the United States and a small minority would establish the first modern Jewish settlements in Palestine. By 1924 the United States had placed strict limits on immigration and the number of Jews admitted was drastically decreased. Other countries soon followed suit and Jews desiring to emigrate or flee from the Nazis found themselves faced with sealed boarders throughout most of the world in the 1930’s. Foods: the Jews have a set of laws about the food they can and cannot eat, these laws are called Kashrut, and a food that is not in accordance with the Jewish law is called Treif. In the Kashrut law, there are prohibitions to consume species (such as pork and most insects), the mixtures of meat and milk, and the commandment to slaughter mammals and birds according to a process known as Shechita. Most of the basic laws of Kashrut are from the Torah’s books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The Torah does not state the reason for most of the Kashurt laws, but for every law that the Kashurt has each one is biblically written in the bible. Some of the Jewish favourite foods include the following; Babka which is a chocolate – filled challah (egg) bread. Bagel is another favourite Jewish food that is boiled and baked yeast bread. Bialy which similar to bagel, filled with onions and other ingredients there is also Brisket it is a raised meat from the chest area of a cow. Challah is another favourite food it is braided egg bread, Charoset is an apple and nut dish generally served at Passover. Cholent/ Chamin are a slow- cooked stew meat, potatoes, beans and barley. Another favourite dish is Chopped liver, Chrain and pickled horseradish. Farfel is small pellet- shaped egg pasta, used in dishes like kugel. Goulash is a meat stew matzaball soup, and last but not least the Jews love to drink Chicken soup on Friday and Saturday nights. Community events: the Jews have their Synagogues where they have their Jewish celebrations. The Jewish community also celebrates Passover, when the Jews celebrate Passover they are not allowed to use any electricity, and they light candles. The Hanukah is the festival of lights; they also celebrate the Rosh Hashanah which is the Jewish New Year.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Biopower of Beauty Essay -- Literary Analysis, Mimi Thi Nguyen

In â€Å"The Biopower of Beauty: Humanitarian Imperialism and Global Feminism in an Age of Terror,† Mimi Thi Nguyen argues that beauty as a measure of moral character functions to regulate an individual. Nguyen explains that beauty promises to be redemptive and bring an individual from the outside in relation with the world(362). For example, the United States through nongoverenmental orgainizations (NGO’s), have promoted beauty to Afghanistan women because it is a way if liberating them from an uncivilized barbaric society that oppresses them to hide their beauty through the veil. According to Kant, the veil is considered ugly because it hides the body, which is associated with the erotic. Kant claims that beauty made visible is true and good, while the invisible is ugly and erotic (266). Nguyen claims using Kant that beauty is connected to morality because it makes visible what the â€Å"ugly† is trying to hide by providing a pathway in which beauty can impr ove ones life. Nguyen asserts that individuals use beauty as a serious of techniques to produce knowledge and emotions that function to portray the individual with dignity in comparison to the â€Å"ugly†. Thus, the use of beauty as an educational tool that measures their character is an important factor in teaching women to associate themselves with the rest of the world. Nguyen states the programs that NGO’s provide for women who do not have the knowledge to make themselves beautiful, serve as programs of empowerment that are connected to forms of dominance (360). Nguyen claims through beauty, Afghanistan women are suppose to feel a sense of self-worth and agency that was denied to them, while adhering to a set of western ideals of beauty. Nguyen claims this produces individual... ...auty School. From Nguyen, beauty functions in foucauldian terms because the students are made aware about their bodies in relation to the west that forces them to regulate themselves in order to adhere to beauty norms and standards set forth by their instructors. Nguyen contends that the western experts then shape the bodies of the students, who will then shape the bodies of others who also want to be like the west. Since western institutions are in charge of the Kabul Beauty School, the beauty school functions to cultivate women who want to preserve beauty for the sake of their dignity and morality as a tool against the â€Å"ugly† and uncivilized who are not like the west. In conclusion, Nguyen argues that beauty connected to morality justifies the United States intervention within Afghanistan that regulates individuals to accept western culture over their own.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Harmonic Elimination

336 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 22, NO. 1, JANUARY 2007 Modulation-Based Harmonic Elimination Jason R. Wells, Member, IEEE, Xin Geng, Student Member, IEEE, Patrick L. Chapman, Senior Member, IEEE, Philip T. Krein, Fellow, IEEE, and Brett M. Nee, Student Member, IEEE Abstract—A modulation-based method for generating pulse waveforms with selective harmonic elimination is proposed. Harmonic elimination, traditionally digital, is shown to be achievable by comparison of a sine wave with modi? d triangle carrier. The method can be used to calculate easily and quickly the desired waveform without solution of coupled transcendental equations. Index Terms—Pulsewidth modulation (PWM), selective harmonic elimination (SHE). I. INTRODUCTION S ELECTIVE harmonic elimination (SHE) is a long-established method of generating pulsewidth modulation (PWM) with low baseband distortion [1]–[6]. Originally, it was useful mainly for inverters with naturally low switching frequency due to high power level or slow switching devices.Conventional sine-triangle PWM essentially eliminates baseband harmonics for frequency ratios of about 10:1 or greater [7], so it is arguable that SHE is unnecessary. However, recently SHE has received new attention for several reasons. First, digital implementation has become common. Second, it has been shown that there are many solutions to the SHE problem that were previously unknown [8]. Each solution has different frequency content above the baseband, which provides options for ? attening the high-frequency spectrum for noise suppression or optimizing ef? iency. Third, some applications, despite the availability of high-speed switches, have low switching-to-fundamental ratios. One example is high-speed motor drives, useful for reducing mass in applications like electric vehicles [9]. SHE is normally a two-step digital process. First, the switching angles are calculated of? ine, for several depths of modulation, by sol ving many nonlinear equations simultaneously. Second, these angles are stored in a look-up table to be read in real time. Much prior work has focused on the ? st step because of its computational dif? culty. One possibility is to replace the Fourier series formulation with another orthonormal set based on Walsh functions [10]–[12]. The resulting equations are more tractable due to the similarities between the rectangular Walsh function and the desired waveform. Another orthonormal set approach based on block-pulse functions is presented in [13]. In [14]–[20], it is observed that Manuscript received August 2, 2006; revised September 11, 2006.This work was supported by the Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics, the Motorola Center for Communication, the National Science Foundation under Contract NSF 02-24829, the Electric Power Networks Ef? ciency, and the Security (EPNES) Program in cooperation with the Of? ce of Naval Research. Recommended for publ ication by Associate Editor J. Espinoza. J. R. Wells is with P. C. Krause and Associates, Hentschel Center, West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA. X. Geng, P. L. Chapman, P. T. Krein, and B. M.Nee are with the Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA (e-mail: [email  protected] edu). Digital Object Identi? er 10. 1109/TPEL. 2006. 888910 the switching angles obtained traditionally can be represented as regular-sampled PWM where two phase-shifted modulating waves and a â€Å"pulse position modulation† technique achieve near-ideal elimination. Another approximate method is posed by [21] where mirror surplus harmonics are used. This involves solving multilevel elimination by considering reduced harmonic elimination waveforms in each switching level.In [22], a general-harmonic-families elimination concept simpli? es a transcendental system to an algebraic functional problem by zeroing entire harmonic fami lies. Faster and more complete methods have also been researched. In [23], an optimal PWM problem is solved by converting to a single univariate polynomial using Newton identities, Pade approximation theory, and symmetric function properties, which . If a few can be solved with algorithms that scale as O solutions are desired, prediction of initial guess values allows rapid convergence of Newton iteration [24].Genetic algorithms can be used to speed the solution [25], [26]. An approach that guarantees all solutions ? t a narrowly posed SHE problem transforms to a multivariate polynomial system [27]–[30] through trigonometric identities [31] and solves with resultant polynomial theory. Another approach [32]–[34] that obtains all solutions to a narrowly-posed problem uses homotopy and continuation theory. Reference [35] points out the exponentially growing nature of the problem and proposes the â€Å"simulated annealing† method as a way to rapidly design the wavef orm for optimizing distortion and switching loss.Another optimization-based approach is given in [36] and [37], where harmonics are minimized through an objective function to obtain good overall harmonic performance. There have been several multilevel and approximate real-time methods proposed; these are beyond the scope here but discussed brie? y in [38]. This manuscript proposes an alternative real-time SHE method based on modulation. A modi? ed triangle carrier is identi? ed that is compared to an ordinary sine wave. In place of the conventional of? ine solution of switching angles, the process simpli? s to generation and comparison of the carrier and sine modulation, which can be done in minimal time without convergence or precision concerns. The method does not require an initial guess. In contrast to other SHE methods, the method does not restrict the switching frequency to an integer multiple of the fundamental. The underlying idea was proposed in [39] but has been re? ned he re to identify speci? c carrier requirements that exactly eliminate harmonics and improve performance in deeper modulation. The method involves a function of modulation depth that is derived from simulation and curve ? ting. In this respect, it has some similarity to [15] and [16], in which approximate switching angles are calculated and ? tted to simple functions for cases of both low-( 0. 8 p. u. ) and high-modulation depth. It is interesting that the proposed approach connects modulation to a harmonic elimination process. Carrier waveform mod- 0885-8993/$25. 00  © 2007 IEEE IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 22, NO. 1, JANUARY 2007 337 Fig. 1. Direct calculation of the phase modulation function at various modulation depths with ? rst through 109th harmonics controlled.Fig. 2. Direct calculation of the phase modulation function at various modulation depths with ? rst through 177th harmonics controlled. i? cation is common in other PWM work, as in switching frequency ra ndomization intended to reduce high-frequency components. A detailed review is outside the scope, but one discussion is given in [40]. The proposed technique is not a variation of random-frequency carriers. Instead, the carrier waveform is modi? ed in a speci? c and deterministic way to bring about a certain effect. The proposed method is readily implemented in real time.The switching signals themselves can be generated by analog comparison, while the modi? ed carrier is generated with fast digital calculation and digital-to-analog conversion. Hardware demonstration is provided here. An approximate, low-cost implementation based on present-day hardware is given in [41], but further re? nement is needed for precise elimination. II. SIGNAL DEFINITIONS AND SIMULATED RESULTS Consider a quasi-triangular waveform to be used as the carrier signal in a PWM implementation. In principle, the frequency and phase can be modulated.To represent this, consider a triangular carrier function written as (1) where is the base switching frequency, is a phase-mod0, (1) reulation signal, and is a static phase shift. For duces to an ordinary triangle wave based on conventional quadrant de? nitions of the inverse cosine function. The modulating where signal will be represented as is the depth of modulation. The pulsewidth-modulated signal, , is 1 if and 1, otherwise. 2 In [39], a phase modulation function is considered, where is the desired output fundamental fre, but dequency. This was shown to approach SHE at low 0. . To determine a better phase-modulagrades above tion function, the pattern of switching angles that occurs was investigated. Fig. 1 shows the phase modulation values needed for various with harmonics 1–109 conversus angle trolled. Fig. 2 shows the same with harmonics 1–177 controlled. Many other sets of controlled harmonics were tested with similar results. The pattern looks much like a shockwave pattern that can be modeled with the Bessel–Fubini e quation from nonlinear acoustics [42] (2) where is a Bessel function of the ? rst kind. The natural is in? ity in principle, but for calculation purposes number 15 or higher is usually suf? cient, as discussed below. The and have been determined by curve functions ? tting as (3) 1. and (4), shown at the bottom of the page, where 0 Fig. 3 shows a closeup view of a PWM waveform generated as in (2). Nineteen harmonics are with a carrier that uses 0. 95. The waveform is compared controlled with a (high) to one generated with conventional elimination by numerical solution of nonlinear equations. As can be seen, the switching edges match well. Fig. 4 shows a full-period time waveform and a magnitude 11.With spectrum [fast Fourier transform (FFT)] for this switching frequency ratio, the method eliminates harmonics two through ten (even harmonics are zero by symmetry). The 2 and the modulation depth carrier phase shift is set to 1. The spectrum con? rms the desired elimination. is 0. This v alue Fig. 5 shows the same study except with also achieves satisfactory baseband performance, but with a different pulse pattern. The pattern provides slight differences in higher-order harmonics. For example, the 11th and 13th harto . monics vary 2%–3% in magnitude as is varied from (4) 338IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 22, NO. 1, JANUARY 2007 Fig. 3. Conventional harmonic elimination waveform and proposed PWM 0. 95, harmonics controlled through the 19th). waveform (m = Fig. 5. Pulse waveform p, message signal m, and magnitude of pulse waveform 1, and ‘ 0. spectrum for ! =! 11, m = = = Fig. 4. Pulse waveform p, message signal m, and magnitude of pulse waveform spectrum for ! =! 11, m 1, and ‘ =2. = = = In these cases, all baseband harmonics are eliminated. In three-phase systems, triplen harmonics may cancel in the currents automatically if neutral current does not ? w. Therefore it is not always necessary to eliminate them by design in the SHE pro cess. Modulation-based harmonic elimination excluding triplen harmonics is similar in many respects to the case here. However, the phase-modulation functions resemble piecewise polynomials rather than the shockwave form of Figs. 1 and 2. This is discussed in detail in [38]. The speed of calculating these waveforms is dictated by , the number of terms to keep in the series (2), and , the number of discrete points used to approximate the waveforms. A personal computer (1. 86-GHz Intel M Processor with 1. -GB RAM) running MATLAB on Windows XP was used to carry out the calculations. First, a modi? ed triangle wave was ap100 000 points per cycle, the modulation proximated with 1, and a frequency ratio of 19 was used. depth was set to was varied from ? ve to 35. Over this range, the The number quality of solution was acceptable and the average calculation time varied from 0. 327 to 0. 915 s. Next, the same conditions 35 and was varied from 10 000 were used with except to 200 000. The aver age calculation time varied almost linearly from 0. 149 to 1. 78 s with no signi? cant difference in the resulting spectrum.Finally, with held constant at 100 000, the frequency ratio was varied from seven to 51. The average calculation time was consistently near 0. 92 s. This is expected since the number of harmonics eliminated has no scaling effect in (2). However, for larger frequency ratios, larger may be needed for precision. In summary, it is recommended that be set to at least 1,000 the frequency ratio and set to at least 15. In any case, with present-day personal computers the solution can be calculated in less than 1 s (typically) without iteration, divergence, or need for an initial estimate, and reduced versions can be computed in less than 200 ms.Notice that this time interval need not cause trouble with real-time implementations. The carrier only needs to be recomputed with the modulation signal changes. In applications such as uninterruptible supplies, this is infreque nt. In motor-drive applications, a response time of 200 ms to a command change may be acceptable as is. Alternatively, a look-up table can store some of the relevant terms to speed up the process dramatically. Dedicated DSP Please de? ne DSPalgorithms will be much faster than PC computations based on MATLAB. III. EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES To show that the proposed technique satisfactorily eliminates harmonics, the modi? d carrier was programmed into a function generator. The output provided a carrier signal in a conventional sine-triangle process. Three examples are shown below to reveal a range of interesting conditions. Fig. 6 shows the resulting waveforms for a high-depth case 0, and 0. 95. The with nineteen harmonics eliminated, and are shown at frequency ratio is 21:1. The signals the top, followed by the PWM waveform and the FFT spectrum. From the spectrum it can be seen that the desired harmonic-free baseband spectrum is achieved. In the next example, the phase 2.The unexpected r esult was that the spectrum shift is was insensitive to , as shown in comparison to Fig. 7. The desired spectrum occurs despite the difference in carriers. The resulting PWM waveforms at various values of may not offer obvious advantages, but it is noteworthy that they are not the same as conventionally computed SHE waveforms and would not be achievable with conventional SHE solution techniques. As another example, it is shown that the carrier base fre, need not be an odd multiple of . In Fig. 8, the frequency, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 22, NO. 1, JANUARY 2007 339 Fig. . Experimental modulation-based SHE with ! ‘ 0. = =! = 21, m = 0. 95, Fig. 9. Experimental modulation-based SHE with ! ‘ 0. = =! = 13. 5, m = 0. 95, Fig. 7. Experimental modulation-based SHE with ! ‘ =2. = =! = 21, m = 0. 95, Fig. 10. Experimental modulation-based SHE with ! ‘ 0. = =! = 50, m = 0. 95, The last example, shown in Fig. 10, applies to a case where a high number of harmonics is eliminated (50 1 ratio) effectively, which is much higher than typically are reported in the literature. IV. CONCLUSION A method for calculating and implementing SHE switching angles was proposed and demonstrated.The method is based on modulation rather than solution of nonlinear equations or numerical optimization. The approach is based on a modi? ed carrier waveform that can be calculated based on concise functions requiring only depth of modulation as input. It rapidly calculates the desired switching waveforms while avoiding iteration and initial estimates. Calculation time is insensitive to the switching frequency ratio so elimination of many harmonics is straightforward. It is conceivable the technique could be realized with low-cost microcontrollers for real-time implementation.Once the carrier is computed, a conventional carrier-modulator comparison process produces switching instants in real time. REFERENCES [1] F. G. Turnbull, â€Å"Selected harmonic reduc tion in static dc-ac inverters,† IEEE Trans. Commun. Electron. , vol. CE-83, pp. 374–378, Jul. 1964. Fig. 8. Experimental modulation-based SHE with ‘ 0. = ! =! = 20, m = 1. 0, quency ratio is adjusted to be 20:1, with 0, and now 1. 0. The same nineteen harmonics are eliminated, but now the switching frequency is 5% lower. 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Sunday, November 10, 2019

Civil War: The Second Revolution Essay

The Civil War is one of the most integral events in American history. It was responsible in shaping the United States to its present political and social structure. It is definitely a war, but can it be considered as the country’s second revolution? Indeed, it is. This essay aims to discuss how and why the Civil War is the second revolution, and whether the Reconstruction was a failure or success of that revolution. A political revolution is distinguished by the significant changes that occur within the societal structure (Andrain 187). To differentiate it from rebellion or coup d’etat, there are three things to consider in a revolution: the goals of the revolution, the means to achieve their goals, and the results or consequences of the revolution (Andrain 187). Most revolutionaries have a similar objective: to alter or modify the present system of society and politics (Andrain 187). A revolution often seeks to replace the old order with a new one that would cater to the interests of the revolutionaries. The Civil War initially arose from the differences between the North and South (Perry 507). The North was the region known for trade and manufacturing, while the South was known for agriculture. Both regions also differed in their stand on tariffs. The North favored tariffs because these gave them an advantage over foreign competition. On the other hand, the South resisted tariffs, as it caused an increase in the prices of the commodities it imported. Unlike the North which can manufacture all their needs, the agricultural South was dependent on imports (Perry 507). However, the primary reason why the Civil War occurred was slavery (Perry 507). The South considered slavery as a necessity. Being an agricultural region, it needed manpower for the plantation and harvest of crops, especially corn (Gallagher 1). That manpower was provided by the slaves. On the other hand, the North called for slavery to be abolished in the entire country (Perry 507). The South was most threatened upon the 1860 victory of Abraham Lincoln in the presidential elections (Perry 507). Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the Republican Party, which was dedicated to the abolition of the slavery (Perry 507). When Lincoln won, the South knew that their interests would be in danger under his administration. Thus, they sought a new order upon which their interests would be protected. A revolution starts with the effort of the revolutionaries to attain government control (Andrain 187). In this case, the Southerners were the revolutionaries, and secession was the means in which the goals of the revolution can be met. The Southern states seceded from the Union governed by Lincoln and formed their own government, the Confederate States of America (Perry 507). The South also installed Jefferson Davis as head of the Confederacy (Perry 507). Lincoln did not want to wage war against the Confederacy; however, he wanted to preserve the Union as well (Perry 507). The Confederacy, on the other hand, wanted to be independent from the Union (Gallagher 5). The revolutionaries fired at Fort Sumter to force the Union to fight, and upon Lincoln’s call for the defense of the Union, the revolution was in full swing (Perry 507). The Civil War was a second revolution because it sought to make changes within American society. The goal of the Southern revolutionaries was to gain independence from the Union to prevent slavery from being abolished. The means in which they started a revolution was through secession. However, the effects of the revolution can be assessed through the discussion of the Reconstruction. The Reconstruction is the period in U. S. history that succeeds the Civil War (Benedict 108). It is the period in which the nation was in the process of rebuilding after the damages caused by the war (Kolchin 1). Because it occurred after the war, it became an appropriate measure as to whether or not the second revolution was successful. The Reconstruction was actually a reflection of the failure of the second revolution. To begin with, the Confederacy failed to gain their independence. In fact, the Reconstruction was the time in which those states which seceded would be readmitted in the Union (Benedict 108). The very states that wanted to be independent from the Union found themselves in a struggle to be readmitted again. Thus, the second revolution was a failure. The revolution occurred because of the conflict over slavery. However, the revolutionaries also did not succeed in preserving it. Even before the war ended, there was already the Emancipation Proclamation, which sought to free the slaves in the Confederate states (Perry 508). By the time the Reconstruction was underway, the abolition of slavery became final with the ratification of the 13th Amendment (Kolchin 1). The amendment proceeded from the Emancipation Proclamation, but its scope was wider as it abolished slavery in the entire United States (Kolchin 1). The Reconstruction period proved to be difficult for the Southern states. There were two kinds of reconstruction: the presidential and the congressional. Lincoln hoped to establish governments in the former Confederate states that were governed by the Union (Benedict 108). The appointed governors would be called to establish a new state government when ten percent of those who voted in the presidential election in 1860 would pledge loyalty to the Union (Benedict 108). Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated and Andrew Johnson took over the Reconstruction (Benedict 109). This is called the presidential reconstruction. Johnson employed an easier approach for the Southern states to be readmitted into the Union, but the Republicans disagreed. As the forerunners of the congressional reconstruction, the Republicans wanted to give the former Confederate states a difficult time into readmission because they almost caused the demise of the Union. In addition, the plan of Johnson did not take into consideration the rights of the African-Americans, which the Republicans strongly prompted (Benedict 109). As a result, the revolutionaries were caught between the struggle to be readmitted into the Union and the difficulties of dealing with a Congress dominated by Republicans. In addition, the former revolutionaries were exposed to a radical reconstruction (Benedict 109). They became victims of the dominance of the Republicans in the South, which eventually led to the increase in taxes and the prevalence of corruption in state governments. The Southerners soon despised the system of racial equality that was furthered during the Reconstruction, and had to resort to means to intimidate the African-Americans. This meant using force through organizations like the Ku Klux Klan (Benedict 109). The Civil War can be considered as a second revolution because it sought to change the old order of society and politics. The Southern revolutionaries wanted to retain slavery, so they seceded from the Union in hopes of achieving this goal. They wanted to be an independent state wherein slavery is allowed to continue. Nonetheless, they failed in their attempt to gain independence; they also failed to preserve the institution of slavery. The Reconstruction was a reflection of this, as the former revolutionaries sought to be readmitted to the Union they seceded from. Moreover, the road to readmission was tedious and filled with conflict, as the former revolutionary states had to struggle with the plans of reconstruction of both the president and Congress. Hence, the second revolution which is the American Civil War is a failure, and the Reconstruction reflected this defeat. Works Cited Andrain, Charles F. â€Å"Revolution. † Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia. 21 vols. New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc., 1992. Benedict, Michael Les. â€Å"Reconstruction. † Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia. 21 vols. New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc. , 1992. Gallagher, Gary. â€Å"American Civil War. † Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 2007. 25 April 2008 . Kolchin, Peter. â€Å"Reconstruction (U. S. history). † Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 2007. 25 April 2008 . Perry, Marvin. A History of the World. Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin, 1989.

Friday, November 8, 2019

A Separate Peace Essay essays

A Separate Peace Essay essays In the novel, A Separate Peace written by John Knowles, the protagonist, Gene Forrester goes through the struggle to achieve and maintain a separate peace. Gene's soul becomes a battleground where jealousy, fear, love, and hatred combat for control of his actions. And amidst the turmoil of his adolescence, it is the victory of the dark forces of human nature that make Gene realize that each person is alone with his enemy, that the only significant wars are not made by external causes, but "by something ignorant in the human heart" (193). The novel's conflict arises out of Gene's refusal to recognize his own feelings of jealousy and insecurity as the "real enemy." Instead, his fears are projected onto his closest companion, Phineas, whom Gene suspects of possessing his own feelings of envy and self-loathing. With Finny as the enemy, Gene is put into a world of competition and hatred, where the only crucial elements worth preserving are his own survival and superiority. This act o f self-deception drives Gene to evil thoughts and behavior, destroying any feelings of affection and friendship that he might have once had for Finny. Upon realizing his mistake and discovering that Phineas does not share Gene's envy and hatred, Gene's isolation and self-loathing deepen and he intentionally cripples the one person who wants to be his friend. Phineas becomes a metaphor for the peace that is lost when Gene is too afraid to identify the enemy within himself. The peace and friendship that Gene lost, the peace that is Finny, becomes for Gene so internalized that he no longer perceives Finny as separate from himself, evidenced by his feeling that Finny's funeral is his own. In the novel, Gene Forrester is portrayed as a Dynamic character. A dynamic character is one who has undergone a change, activity, or progress during the course of a story. Usually a dynamic character is willing to change and develop for a better. ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Homosexual marriages essays

Homosexual marriages essays Homosexuals should be allowed to marry because the disallowance of it violates their constitutional rights. Marriage is an institution long recognized by our government under the right to pursue happiness, and denying that right to any couple, regardless of gender, is unconstitutional. This argument, though, is not disputed. In fact, none of the arguments raised in opposition to the allowance of homosexual marriages takes into account the constitutional rights afforded to all humans. The arguments are only in relation to the possible repercussions (real or imagined) of granting these rights. Our nation was built and has always been based on the fundamental principles of freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence and through our Constitution. The opponents of homosexual marriage need to remember what freedom means to America, and understand the significance of setting a precedent that denies that freedom. The Supreme Court has long recognized that the institution of marriage is one of the rights guaranteed to all Americans by our Constitution. In the case of Loving vs. Virginia, the Supreme Court said, The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men (Howard Zinn, 397). In the case of Cleveland Bard of Education vs. LaFleur, the Supreme Court said, This court has long recognized that freedom of personal choice in matters of marriage and family life is one of liberties protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (The Supreme Court Hands Gays a Win). Despite all this, heterosexuals are the only ones allowed to be married at this time. Homosexuals and heterosexual both live under the same constitution and therefore should both be afforded the same rights. Unfortunately, this is not the case. ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Logic and thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Logic and thought - Essay Example Astrologers try to justify their beliefs by claiming that their work is based on science, but science is based on fact while astrology is not. Statistical studies can give support to the claims of astrology, but this is impossible in this case because astrology cannot be measured. 2 line A: Since the middle of the twentieth century, countless scientific studies that have ultimately supported the basic principles of astrology have been conducted. B: Michel Gauquelin, a noted French statistician, spent much of his life using statistical methods to investigate astrology; he established the truth of a number of claims, including the Mars effect, which proved a relationship between the planet Mars and outstanding athletes. †¢ Astrology needs to be taken more seriously as an art and science that can contribute to human well-being. This argument is incorrect because it cannot be proven 100 percent that scientific studies support the views of astrology. The fallacy for this argument is a genetic fallacy. For the French statistician, he cannot prove his theory of the Mars effect because other factors may have influenced the results. Astrology is linked with destiny, personality, human affairs, and natural events.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Restructure Writing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Restructure Writing - Assignment Example †¢Furthermore, governments, foundations, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders continue to work on how to provide cost-effective community-based services to members of the society including the elderly. †¢Human service agency workers are major participants of university-community collaborations; hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate their views of community-based services to the elderly in northwest Ohio. †¢In particular, the study sought to provide an avenue for them to communicate their understanding of university-community agency collaborations, and identify how their agencies can work collaboratively with a university. Diversity imposes different communication needs and common examples are in communication between people who speak different oral languages and communication a deaf person and one who is not deaf. In such situations, ability to speak the other party’s language bridges communication barrier and this discussion identifies benefits of bilingualism. Bilingualism improves interpersonal communication skills. This is even evident in children and identifies its significance in the globalized environment (Byrd, 2012, P21, 2nd Pa, L1-3). Among the deaf, use of both sign language and mouthing are able to adjust to communication needs around them for effective communication (Parasnis, 1996, P. 32, L.7-8). Bilingualism also facilitates cognitive competence among the deaf and this can be inferred to other competence areas, even among other population segments (Nussbaum, Scott & Simms, 2012, P.15, L.1). Benefits of bilingualism are therefore diverse and it should be encouraged among the deaf and other population