Downstream Petroleum Industry

Downstream – From Refinery to Customer The downstream sector encompasses the refining, storage, distribution and marketing of petroleum products: †¢Refining Process: Crude oil is processed and refined into more useful products; †¢Storage: The products from the refining process are stored at depots via pipeline, land (trucks & rail) and sea (barge/vessel). These storage facilities are also called tank farms or terminals †¢Distribution and Marketing: Petroleum products are distributed from storage locations to the end-user directly or through retail outlets The major products produced by a refinery are, Kerosene, Premium Motor Spirit (â€Å"PMS† – Gasoline), Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), Fuel Oils, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Lubricating Oils, Naphtha and Tar Figure 1. – Schematic Representation of the Downstream Business ? The Nigerian Downstream Sector The Federal Government of Nigeria (â€Å"FGN†) participates in the activities of the oil industry (upstream and downstream) as well as actively supervising it due to its strategic importance to the economy. In the downstream industry, FGN regulates and participates through the following agencies / bodies: Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (â€Å"NNPC†) –NNPC has powers and operational interest in refining, petrochemicals, product transportation and marketing. NNPC has nine wholly-owned subsidiaries, two partly owned subsidiaries and nineteen associated companies that manage the upstream and downstream activities. Those relevant to the downstream business are the Pipeline & Products Marketing Company (â€Å"PPMC), Kaduna Refining & Petrochemicals Company Limited (â€Å"KRPC†), Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Limited (â€Å"WRPC†) and Port Harcourt Refining & Petrochemicals Limited. Department of Petroleum Resources (â€Å"DPR†) – DPR is an arm of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and has responsibilities for the following: †¢Issuing of permits and licenses for all activities connected with petroleum exploration, production, refining, storage, marketing, transportation and distribution; Acting as an agency for the enforcement of the provisions of the petroleum Act, NNPC Art or any other enactment. Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) – The PPPRA came to being from a Special Committee that was set up to review Petroleum Products Supply and Distribution (SCRPPSD) drawn from various stakeholders and other interest groups to look in to the problems of the downstream petroleum sector. The functions of PPPA are: †¢To determine the pricing policy of petroleum products; To regulate the supply and distribution of petroleum products †¢To create an information databank through liaison with all relevant agencies to facilitate the making of informed and realistic decisions on pricing policies †¢To moderate volatilities in petroleum products prices, while ensuring reasonable returns to operators †¢To establish parameters and codes of conduct for all operators in the downstream sector. Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) – The PEF fund board was established to equalize the transport cost arising from the distribution of petroleum products to all parts of the country i. . the cost of transporting products from source to point of sales. This is to ensure that petroleum products are made available in all retail outlets at uniform prices in Nigeria, and to avoid shortage of petroleum products. Petrole um Subsidy Fund (PSF) – is a pool of funds budgeted by FGN to stabilise the domestic prices of petroleum products against the volatility in international crude and products prices. CBN is the custodian of the fund, while PPPRA administers it. Claims from / payment into the fund is subjected to duly verified volume of products lifted out of the approved depot and sold in-line with recommended open market prices. ? Marketing Companies The Nigerian downstream industry is comprised of two groups of marketing companies: Major Marketers – The companies in this group include AP Plc, Conoil Plc, Mobil Oil Plc, OANDO Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc and accounted for 71% of total petroleum products sold. They belong to trade association called Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN). Independent Marketers – The Independent marketers, comprises largely indigenous petroleum marketing companies. The FGN introduced the Independent Marketing Scheme in 1978 because of petroleum products shortage of the 1970s and the lack of sufficient investment by major marketing companies in the rural areas. This led to the establishment of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in 1982. Membership is open to every independent marketer duly licensed and authorised to operate by the NNPC or other appropriate organisation in charge of this function. The trade group of these companies is referred to as the independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). Examples of Independent marketers are Zenon Petroleum, Capital Oil & Gas and Ascon Oil & Gas. OANDO Marketing Limited (â€Å"OML†) Oando Marketing Limited one of the companies within the Oando Plc group, is a leading oil and gas marketing company with over 500 retail outlets and a commercial clientele base that cuts across all industry sectors such as manufacturing, construction, oil & gas and telecommunications in Nigeria and the West Africa sub region. OML has been in the business of marketing and supply of petroleum products since 1956. OML markets a wide range of products including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO also known as Diesel), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), Aviation Turbine Kerosene(ATK), Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), Lubricating Oils and Greases, Insecticides, Bitumen, Chemicals, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG, also known as Cooking gas) and Oando insecticide Products and Uses AGO – fuel for some vehicles and marine vessels as well as for powering generators; PMS – fuel for most vehicles; DPK – fuel for cooking stove and used as a solvent to produce specialized products for road construction; ATK – fuel for aircraft; LPFO – fuel for power generation and for heating; Lubricants – lubricating oil for vehicles and equipments; Bitumen – used in the construction industry for paving roads; LPG – used as cooking and heating gas. Departments The departments in OML can be classified under the following: Core – Retail, Commercial, Marketing, Operations & Logistics and Engineering & Terminal. Support – Finance, Corporate Services (HR, HCM, Legal and Procurement & Services), ICA, EHSQ, Service Standards and Corporate & Marketing Communications. ? Retail Business Management and sales of Oando products to customers via sales outlets (over 500) nationwide is the function of the retail department. The sales focus is centred on the Total White Products (PMS, AGO and HHK), while Lubricants, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Insecticide sales provide a diversified revenue source for the team. Structure Sales is managed by Branch Managers located across the country, with each having responsibility over specific territories referred to as branches. Their activities are coordinated by Branch Coordination Managers and the department is led by the Chief Sales Officer – Retail, with overall responsibility for all activities. Retail Outlets †¢Company Owned Service Station (â€Å"COSS†) – The stations under this category are owned by OML and dealers are appointed to operate the stations on OML’s behalf. †¢Third Party Owned – These are outlets owned by third parties, which carry OML’s colour and brand. OML’s main responsibility is to supply these outlets with petroleum products and on their part the owners of the outlets agree to operate in accordance to standards agreed by both parties. There are two types of third party outlets: oGallonage – The stations and equipment under this category are fully owned by the third parties, while OML brands the outlets and supply products to it. oLoan Delivery and Equipment (â€Å"LDE†) – Here, OML provides equipments such as pumps, generators and canopies, as well as branding and supply of products. The retail outlets also serve as business opportunities via Non-Fuel Revenue (NFR) activities (such as Quick Service Restaurants) that maximize the returns on shareholders investments, improve asset utilisation and maximize our medium-long term capital gains. Commercial Department The core function of the commercial department is the sale of products (AGO, PMS, DPK, ATK, LPFO, Lubricants, Bitumen and LPG) to large volume end users hinged on effective relationship management. Sales are usually made in bulk to clients most often on pre-determined trade terms basis. Structure Sales is managed by Branch Managers located across the country, with each having responsibility over specific territories referred to as branches. Their activities are coordinated by Commercial Service Managers, based in the head office in Lagos. The department is led by the Chief Sales Officer, with overall responsibility for the activities above as well as for the below-mentioned specialized units: †¢Marine Unit – sale of petroleum products to (and management of relationship) upstream oil & gas companies as well as their service providers; Aviation Unit – sale of ATK and management of relationship with airlines. Services The commercial department offer a arrange of services in conjunction to the products it markets as it realized that customers want much more than just the products. Examples of such services include: Vendor Managed Inventory (â€Å"VMI†) Scheme – The Oando In-Support scheme (our in-house model of the VMI) is a means of opt imizing customers supply chain, whereby Oando becomes responsible for maintaining the inventory level of petroleum products at its customers’ location. The major benefit of this to the customer is that it can focus on its core function while Oando manages petroleum products inventory. For Oando, the VMI scheme allows it to secure Oando Sea Station – This is a Ship-to-Shore and Shore-to-Ship service station that provides fuels and lubricants for shipping companies, marine logistics companies operating in the Niger-Delta coastline as well as energy services organizations providing support to the upstream exploration and production companies operating in deep water coastal shores of Nigeria. Supply Contract – This service allows customers the opportunity to enjoy a fairly stable price regime at a committed volume over a period of time. It is a modified form of In-support suitable for customers whose operations cannot permit full inventory take over. Marketing The core function of the marketing department is to initiate business deals and provide platforms to enable the sales departments (retail & commercial) effectively achieve their goals and objectives. Structure The department is led by the Head, Marketing with overall responsibility for the following units: Lubricants Unit: The Lubricants unit is responsible for marketing Oando’s lubricants by creating product awareness through marketing promotions and supporting sales drive of lubricants in line with Oando’s goals and objectives. The unit also develops a high calibre technical sales support function while ensuring product quality assurance, cost management and service delivery to customers. A core responsibility of this unit is constantly identifying and initiating new/additional product lines for various target consumer markets. LPG Unit: – The LPG Unit is primarily aimed at sourcing for product, providing support and devising innovative selling methods to the sales team to ensure they meet their volume and margin targets as well as satisfying their customers’ needs. The team also provides the sales team with market intelligence to ensure that they strategically positioned to make sales. The unit, in addition, serves as an interface between the sales team and other support units within the organization i. e. Logistics, CCU, Engineering and EHSQ. Non-Fuel Revenue (NFR) Unit: – The Non-Fuels Revenue (NFR) unit is a strategic initiative developed to complement the shrinking margins on sales of fuel products and tap into the emerging opportunities of Non-fuel business from Retail outlets. Non-fuel offerings in retail outlets can also serve as a customer pull to increase fuel sales. Some NFR offerings include: Quick Service Restaurants (â€Å"QSR†), Automatic Teller Machines, Rent contribution from dormant assets (warehouses and offices), Income from Telecom Mast sites, revamp and increase lube bay rentals & lubes contribution to stations and car wash operation. Bulk Products Unit – The Bulk unit is responsible for developing and executing marketing plans to support the sales team in achieving their objectives in the sales of Bitumen and LPFO. The unit provides useful information about the construction sector of the economy, market trends, competitors’ activities and consumer preferences that helps in taking business decisions. It also provides back-end support for improving the quality of service delivery in our Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) concept. ? Operations & Logistics Department The Operations & Logistics (â€Å"O&L†) department is primarily responsible for product sourcing and distribution to customers. O&L is also responsible for product storage via warehouses and LPG Plants, and Lubricants blending via the Kaduna Lubricants Plant (â€Å"KLP†). Management of products at the terminals is handled by Engineering & Terminals department. Structure The department is structured into four units, each with a head responsible for activities in the unit. Overall departmental responsibility is with the General Manager, Operations & Logistics. Logistics oInbound – supply planning and product receipt; oTrade Procurement & Products – product sourcing; oOutbound – handles product received from NNPC depots; oFleet – Management of relationship with transporters. †¢Customer Care Unit oScheduling – handle delivery request and schedule the trucks; oDispatch – prepare the trucks for trips; oFleet – work with th e transporters; oCall Center – handle inquiries and complaints. †¢Warehouse & LPG Plant oWarehouse – storage locations for Lubricants and Oando Insecticide before final distribution to customers. Lubricants are received at the warehouses from KLP, while with Oando Insecticide (currently being imported), product is received into Apapa for distribution other warehouses. Currently, OML has 14 warehouses across the county. oLPG Filing Plants – storage locations for LPG. Currently OML has 7 plants across the country. †¢Kaduna Lube Plant – consists of two blending plants both located in Kaduna with combined capacity of 55 million litres per annum producing various range of lubricant products for commercial and retail customers. Terminals & Engineering Department The Engineering & Terminals department is responsible for managing infrastructural assets across board inclusive of the operations at storage terminals. Structure There are two main units: †¢Terminals – are storage locations (exclusive of warehouses and LPG Plants) where products are received, stored and eventually distributed. The following are the terminals owned by OML: oApapa Terminal 1; oApapa Terminal 2; oApapa Joint Venture (with Total Nigeria Plc); oOnne Terminal, Port Harcourt; oPort Harcourt Terminal. Each of these locations is headed by a Terminal Manager TM who reports to the Head of Terminals & Engineering. OML also stores product at third party locations such as Lister. Currently, Oando Terminals has capacity for holding various products as follows: oPMS – 80 Million Litres; oAGO – 33 Million Litres; oLPFO – 5. 67 Million Litres; oHHK – 5 Million Litres; oBitumen – 10,000 Metric Tonnes. †¢Engineering – execution of capital projects and maintenance of equipments and facilities. The activities in this unit are grouped as shown below: oProject – oversees capital projects less than N100M oRetail Network Maintenance – oversees maintenance and deployment of retail outlet equipment Retail Facility Maintenance – oversees maintenance of retail outlet infrastructure oTerminal & Depot Maintenance – oversees maintenance of facilities and equipments at terminals and depots Support Departments Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Quality Assurance (â€Å"EHSSQ†) – reduce operational and accident cost, elimi nate down time, ensure total compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements, deliver world class quality products and services to enhance customer satisfaction, while guarantying sustainable development in line with the Oando vision. Internal Control & Audit (â€Å"ICA†) – safeguarding OML’s assets, ensuring operational efficiency, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting. Service Standards – ensures and monitors service standards across various locations. Finance – provide OML with financial support for business and operational planning. OML Finance (head office) is divided into three main units namely: oTreasury; oManagement Information System; Financial Control. Corporate Services – supports OML business via the following services: oLegal – provide OML with cost-effective and efficient legal services support to and manage the inherent risks in OML’s businesses; oProcurement – assist OML in the acquisition of goods and services; oHuman Resource – provide OML with effective people management solutions. Marketing Communications – promote OML’s marketi ng initiatives through strategic product promotion and sales promotion.

Modern Marriage: The Ultimate Test

Have the roles of men and women in marriage changed in modern society? There are many theories hoping to answer this controversial question. One theory comes from David Popenoe, a Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University. Popenoe's theory of roles in marriage is that a modern marriage needs to be reestablished to a more traditional way of living, or to â€Å"restore the traditional nuclear family of bread-winning husband and full-time housewife that flourished in the 1950's† (Page 186). Another theory comes from Karen Zittleman (Ph. D), an education author and teacher; who takes her theory of modern marriage and brings it to a younger generation. Zittleman's theory of marriage roles is â€Å"in more ways than one, especially biologically, boys and girls are more similar than different and that gendered stereotypes and expectations have a developmental history that starts with learned notions of femininity and masculinity† (Page 236). Both Popenoe's and Zittleman's t heories are factually effective. Popenoe opens his reading with a firm questioning on the role shift in modern marriage, and he manages to effectively back his claims throughout the essay.Zittleman also opens her reading strongly, jumping right to the point of her thesis and study. Zittleman uses studies conducted by other psychologists, statistics, and many factual statements. Popenoe uses studies conducted by other psychologists and many facts to support his thesis. However, Popenoe's theory on such a controversial topic leaves very little or no room for ambiguity or interpretation while Zittleman leaves her theory open to her readers. Popenoe justifies his theory by first establishing the so-called confusion in today's marital roles.He explains how the right family life of having â€Å" a legally and culturally dominant bread-winning husband and an economically dependent full-time housewife† (Page 186) has drastically changed to â€Å"much confusion over family expectatio ns and marital gender roles† (Page 187). Throughout his study, he explained how there were three major downfalls for the shift in martial roles: broken families, women failing to juggle family and work life, and negative repercussions for men. After noting studies and works done by Bronfenbrenner and Bowlby, Popenoe discusses the biological attributions with the shift of family martial roles.Popenoe explains that â€Å"a stronger case should be presented at this time, one of declining family stability and personal well-being† (Page 193). With this, Popenoe reveals his â€Å"Seven Tenents for Establishing New Marital Norms,† which is a remedy for society's confusion over marital gender-role expectations. Step one in his â€Å"Seven Tenents† explains how both girls and boys should be trained according to their abilities. Step two explains that young people should grow up with the expectation that they will marry once, and they will wait for marriage until th ey are in their late 20's.Step three includes specific ages that are proper for men and women to marry. Step four explains that single men and women should start saving for their married lives. Step five infers that women are encouraged to leave the labor market once children are born. Step six explains that the father should take primary responsibility for the children after time with their mothers. Step seven infers the balancing of domestic and paid work. However, Zittleman would mostly disagree with Popenoe's theory. In Zittleman's study, she first justifies her theory by presenting two studies done by other psychologist on middle school children: â€Å"†¦ iddle school is a critical time for gender identity development† (Page 238). The first set of charts displays the sex and race of the students in 5 public middle schools. Zittleman reveals that â€Å"gender plays a significant role in the lives of middle school students, expanding some options, but more often limi ting the academic and social development of females and males† (Page 241). Zittleman then reveals charts that convey answers that display â€Å"The best thing about being a boy and the best thing about being a girl. † â€Å"Both sexes had more positive things to say about being a boy than being a girl† (Page 241).Zittleman then proceeds to pose the questions, â€Å"What is the worst thing about being a boy and what is the worst thing about being a girl? † For boys, â€Å"they listed fighting, discipline, poor grades, fear of homophobia, and difficulty with friendships and emotions† (Page 241). For girls, â€Å"relational aggression† was the top answer for most, and that included gossip, spreading rumors and the trust in friends. Zittleman jumps to her main point of importance in educating schools about gender equity. Like many theories, there is always room for critique, especially a theory about such a controversial topic.One of the main dow nfalls of Popenoe's essay was the overall structure and organization. For example, Popenoe opens his essay with an introduction that was not well fitted for a reader. Another organizational flaw in Popenoe's essay is the lack of charts. Popenoe brings a lot of studies and facts to his piece, but there were too many studies placed together which could confuse some of his readers. Popenoe says that although decline in population is not an imminent problem, this trend displays the sentiment among many adults that they do not value having a family as a lifestyle that will â€Å"fulfill their major values. In addition to this trend, he correlates the increase in divorces as an indication of a decline in the value of family. He points to the fact that women are increasingly economically independent and therefore able to divorce. He points out that regardless of the fact that this decline is seen in the eyes of feminists as a gain in equality for women, it does not change the fact that it could be seen as the main cause of the breaking up of the nuclear family unit. Popenoe's thesis and argument on the whole appear to be extremely obtuse.It seemed that he came at the issue through a very narrow track of research that did not take into account other societal problems that contribute to divorce and other reasons he cites for the shift in martial roles. Popenoe did a wonderful job when it came to finding facts and studies that proved his theory. Nevertheless, there were too many facts to register which depleted the essay’s effectiveness. Zittleman however faced a few challenges herself in her study of â€Å"Being a Girl and Being a Boy. † Like Popenoe, one of Zittleman's main downfalls in her essay was the organization.Unlike Popenoe, Zittleman opened her essay with a personal study. Zittleman, also took advantage of using charts, but there were an overwhelming amount. Some studies in Zittleman's essay really didn't need to be represented in chart form; a simple written explanation would have been better for the readers. There were a few charts that were sometimes unclear to the readers. At times throughout their essays, both Popenoe and Zittleman became unaware of their audience, which could have explained the distorted views in Popenoe's essay.It can be argued that Zittleman's target audience could be students, but it mostly pertains to the professors and teachers. When it came to Popenoe, his target audience was rather confusing at times; I really couldn't place a proper target audience for his essay. Both Popenoe's and Zittleman's essays try to answer the question of the shift of roles in modern marriage. Though Zittleman uses charts and Popenoe doesn't, the styles in both works are best understood by an audience of pre-educated readers in this topic. After re-reading both studies done by both authors, heir area of study is similar, but the way they approached it was completely different. All in all, both Zittleman and Popenoe d o a great job when it came to supporting their thesis. Zittleman achieved her goal as a writer when it came to appeasing for a wide range of audiences. Popenoe, however, focuses so much on proving his theory with facts that he fails to remember he has a wide variety of readers. Although I personally disagree with Popenoe's theory, he still did a great job in supporting his work factually.

Book Report: Doing English

WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE Class: VHVH 01 – Group: 4 Name: Le Kim Ha Anh Student ID: 0957010009 Writing Book Reports: DOING ENGLISH – A GUIDE FOR LITERATURE STUDENTS (Robert Eaglestone) Ranked in the list of more than 700 thousands of the world's best-selling books, Doing English is really a good choice that needed for the study of English college students.The author of the book – Robert Eaglestone, a lecturer in English at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Series Editor of Routledge Critical Thinkers – explain why they are studied this book’s aims: â€Å"to orient you, by explaining what you are doing when you are doing English; to equip you, by explaining basic key ideas; to encourage you to bridge the gap between English before and English in higher education† (page 3). Robert clearly defines that reading audience is college students. As a university lecturer, the author directs the reader to study English in attitude towards new lit erary approaches.It is also considered as Robert’s lecture and the whole experience after many years of studying and teaching in English. Readers can find a clear organization in the table content with four parts which are named shortly and forcefully. At the beginning of each part there is always a brief with questions. Questions can also be found at the beginning of many chapters and texts with key words italicized. This helps readers stimulate their thoughts which guide the direction of the text with a central focus by devising a thesis.Readers are asked about the subject that the author’s thesis should answer then. The more the author keeps giving questions and key words even in the introduction, the more he keeps readers’ attention from beginning to end. Moreover, Robert utilizes a reasonable writing style with unbiased and succinct language. Layout of a text includes brief questions, brief introduction, content and summary. Readers will find their expectat ions satisfied in the content that he uses multilevel lists in more detail order: chapters, headings, subheadings and bullets.English is a subject in most education systems of the countries in the world, as well as a science requires meticulous research. Doing English defines the development of English as a subject since the nineteenth century and draws the changes in thinking about English in a neat approach. It is a new free terminology, vocabulary polyphonic and complex syntax that characterize many works of literary theory. It explains abstract ideas in the remaining conditions as well as literary approach really makes confusions.Concepts or definitions given by the author are not merely explained, but they are placed in specific circumstances. For example, when referring to achievements of Leavises (page 15), Robert do not codify the idea, which he summarizes them in list format, and confirms that is the â€Å"traditional method†. Then in the next chapter – Doing English today, the author introduces the concepts of â€Å"traditional Leavis method† and the way they approach in literature (page 21). Robert always has objective perspective on the study of English.He does not equate everything, instead that, he uses his vivid visual to point out the influence of different cultures which also affect each person's ability to interpret. â€Å"Just as you can’t jump higher than your shadow, you can’t escape your location in the world†, said Robert (page 21). This can be approved that he evaluates the â€Å"traditional method† rather than deny it. He reviews ‘literature method’ higher than ‘traditional method’. Critical method is the right way to literature approaches that he offers different methods and specific examples (page 25). The power of words is enormous.Robert has just the right attitude to use English by explaining how he used words in this book: reading and Interpreting. â€Å" This means that ‘reading’ and ‘interpreting’ mean almost the same, and you’ll see I use the words almost as synonyms in this book† (page 20). Also, this might be considered the maximum that the author used his own words to explain the terms that he uses throughout the book, such as taken for granted, text, presupposition, etc. This is also a good way for students to easily take notes and keep abreast of knowledge in the content based on key words.The author also uses illustrations and clear diagrams to help readers easily visualize (page 22, 24). Students who are studying this book will clearly see the relationship between the content and the reader that Robert Eaglestone wants to achieve. The theories given seem to be academic but they are interpreted by the author’s teaching experience. In this book there are many proper names who are Ph. D. , professor from prestigious universities. Robert mentions them with their study of language, e specially in English. Robert had read a lot, studied and made comments, critics on their methods.This proves that he is knowledgeable and highly qualified, and carefully studied English as well. This is a book for students of literature. It intends to provoke them to reconsider the role of literature in their life by the way they read the story and the way in which they are shaped. Chapter 4 in Part 1 – Critical attitude (page 39 – 46) is a good chapter for the literature approaches of students in critical thinking. From the example of enjoying a picture, Robert points out the contrast occurs in thinking about literature.A flat looking at, or needed to have depth depends on how we choose the direction of thinking to literary issues. Robert in turn introduces two concepts of ‘critical attitudes’ which are all sticking to the content of the text. Each attitude is specifically analyzed in terms of concepts and examples. Robert also explains why there are two such patterns. In addition, Robert also clarifies the issue by comparing table to help students easily compare and draw ‘critical attitudes’ for themselves. If you know why you are studying something, the subject becomes easier to understand†, Robert says (page 2). â€Å"Parents have to get all their kids to nursery schools that have no car parking space. So what do people do? They break the rules! Language is the same. It has rules – but it breaks them whenever it needs to†, a comment from an audience about Doing English (on amazon. com). Literature is no exception as it comes from the language. The value of literary art depends on each person's aesthetic level.As for Robert, â€Å"No definitions of ‘literature’ seem to be adequate: literature overflows or escapes from any attempt to categorize it† (page 59). Therefore, getting access to the literature should not be something so rigid that it is confined to the framework whether it has certain rules. In the third part with chapter 6 – Doing Shakespeare, authors use some drafts interweaving the text. This helps Robert insert additional information. This is the knowledge of Shakespeare which helps people understand more about the great British playwright, who has employed English views on his timeless masterpieces. Excellent Doing English: a though-provoking and accessible argument exploring the changing character of English Literature as it has developed outside the school curriculum over the last century† said The English and Media Magazine. In terms of science, book critics appreciate that this book is considered as a scientific research of Robert. To the end of the book’s content, the name of the last part is left with suspension points – English studies †¦ Is it an open-ended part? The author seems to be modest for the next generation to fill in the gap and to add more in this research.

Employee Engagement Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Employee Engagement - Dissertation Example ss the organization. These issues should be addressed early in order to avoid the deterioration of employees-employer relationship in the specific organization. From another point of view, the identification of the reasons of the low response of employees to the specific survey would help managers to identify the measures required for the increase of employee satisfaction – an increase that could lead to the improvement of their performance. 3. What is its relevance to the â€Å"client† organisation? The subject of this study is directly related to the strategic framework of the chosen organization. In fact, it is in the context of this framework/ policies that the quarterly employee engagement survey is developed. From this point of view, the review and the evaluation of the performance of the above survey could help to identify any potential gaps in the implementation of the firm’s strategies. 4. Research Objectives The research objectives implied from the stud y’s research question could be described as follows: a. Which is the role of employee engagement in modern organizations. b. Which are the most common factors/ elements that can influence employee engagement in firms of different industries? c. Which methods are likely to be used by managers in order to measure the level of employee engagement within their organization? d. Which is the value of quarterly employee engagement survey for measuring the level of employee engagement in modern firms? e. Which strategies would be developed by the firm’s managers in order for the response rate of employees to be increased to 95% - from its current rate of 77% - in the next two quarterly surveys? 5. Texts/journal articles which were used to identify the key themes within the academic and practitioner literature related to the research question and objectives. Axelrod, R. (2010) Terms of Engagement: New Ways of Leading and Changing Organizations. Berrett-Koehler Publishers Erez, M., Kleinbeck, U., Thierry, H. (2001) Work motivation in the context of a globalizing economy. Routledge Federman, b. (2009) Employee Engagement: A Roadmap for Creating Profits, Optimizing Performance, and Increasing Loyalty. John Wiley and Sons

Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy - Essay Example Kennedy, and others, were fearful that if Communist ideals were permitted to expand on a more global scale, it would result in catastrophic consequences for Democratic countries. Russia’s Cold War Relationship with the United States Russia (USSR) was one country involved with America on a deep level during the Cold War, In fact the Kennedy doctrine previously described was largely aimed at the Soviet Union. Tensions were extremely between the two countries, and the relationship was not only strained, it was all but over. As such, military threats abounded on every level, yet Kennedy’s belief, as expressed in the containment doctrine, did hold out hope that tensions would be resolved, and a working relationship moving forward be established (Bose, 1998). Naturally, towards the end of the Cold War, that hope was all but crushed as both countries appeared headed towards a certain inevitable war, yet we know that did not happen. In essence, before the Kennedy Doctrine was e stablished, the two countries held staunchly different ideological views that forced the President to establish a stated policy that Communist ideals could not be permitted to spread to the America’s. ... In addition, both countries now allow their citizens to travel to the other, and diplomatic efforts are cordial and respectful. While Russia’s main ally continues to be China, and America’s ally continues to be the United Kingdom, the region is much more stable today than during the Cold War as a result of both countries cooling down and learning to co-exist peacefully with one another. Effects of the Kennedy Doctrine on Global Affairs The restraint shown by Kennedy during the Cold War had an enormous effect on global affairs. Rather than choosing to escalate the tensions being exhibited between the two countries and showing the world America’s resolve and military strength, Kennedy was able to put in place a doctrine that was aimed at peace between two countries who did not see eye to eye on a whole host of issues. The reality is that America and Russia will likely never be ideologically similar, the global community was watching with keen interest to see if dip lomacy could truly win out against two adversaries as strong and these countries. This has served as a model in cases since the Cold War as countries try to avoid war at all cost (Higgins, 1987). In addition, the containment policy served to minimize the spread of Communism throughout the region. In the years following this era, Communist regimes gradually began to fall, as the people of the global community looks towards more democratic ideals. While Communism remains in Cuba, its spread did not go far beyond that geographical region, keeping North America among the most democratic and free areas in the world, even to this day. Conclusion The Cold War was a difficult time for all involved. The Kennedy Doctrine, however,

E-Commerce in the Job Placement Industry Research Paper

E-Commerce in the Job Placement Industry - Research Paper Example People waste so much of their time applying for jobs, attempting to be interviewed by going to offices, only to incur expenses they should not have incurred in the first place. American Online writer, O’Donnell, J.T. (2012) reported that the average time it takes the unemployed to find a job is 7 months while most job hunters give up looking for one within 5 months. This project seeks to provide a way for the many who are unemployed in the USA to avoid unnecessary cost of job seeking while increasing their chances of finding the right work, at the right place, according to their qualifications and acceptable options, and within less than 5 months. It involves disclosure of an E-commerce System that does not charge any amount to applicants before he or she lands a job. But it will earn after the job applicant finally gets accepted into an acceptable employment. The problem of unemployment should become a good opportunity for such an E-commerce business to flourish by successful ly finding the right person for the right jobs. Most of the work will entail staying at home, using the computer to voluntarily join the Placement Office which will be called Special Order Services for Job Seekers or SOS JobS. Its purpose is to invite, qualify, communicate, educate, guide, search the right work for each job seeker, have communications with the potential employers, refer those found qualified, and then collect from people who got successfully employed. There is a logical process to succeed in this business. Through diligence, both applicant and employer should be happier as a result of services rendered by the Placement Office for both the employer and the potential applicants. The hypotheses are twofold. First, job placement services online offer mere opportunities with substantial services to know what and where the job openings are, but minimal services to facilitate the job seeker’s effort to successfully get employed within a short period of time, e.g. le ss than 5 months. Second, the entry of SOS JobS, the more thorough job placement services will logically make it easier for employers to find the right person for the right work. And the job seekers facilitated by the management information system of SOS JobS will realize faster employment. Literature Review Minelli, Mark, and Breckon, Donald (2009, p.127) clearly stated that the number of online placement businesses for job seekers has been growing. However, the process of allowing people to find their work has a common standard. The management information system proposed in this paper is very different because of multiple services not offered for free at online job placement businesses and far less commitment on the part of the job placement services online to get the needed work for a person who needs work. Instead, the applicant is told where to apply for job openings. And then the actual next step is just to bid the applicant good luck. O’Deonnell, J.T. (2012) identified five explanations why people in the USA find it hard to be employed within months or unemployment. (1) A candidate for work wants higher pay or presents himself as overqualified. (2) The choice of location wherein that candidate is willing to live disqualifies him. Job openings may be elsewhere. (3) The skills in searching for work may be poor. (4) No network or referrals was laid out to expedite the discovery of that candidate.  

Police Recorded Crime and British Crime Survey Essay

Police Recorded Crime and British Crime Survey - Essay Example Different types of graphs that can be created to view tendencies within the data are pie charts, bar charts and scatter plots. Governmental units utilize graphs a lot to inform the general public information. The police department is a governmental unit that uses statistical graphical applications a lot. This paper analyzes two graphs created by that illustrate the amount of crime that occurred in England and Wales last year to determine the discrepancies in the reported crime between the two graphical illustrations. The two graphs studied in this paper reflected the amount of crime and the type of crimes committed in the England and Wales regions. The two sources that reported the crime and created the two graphical illustrations are the police department and the British Crime Survey. Any observer looking at these two graphs would immediately notice that they portrayed two completely different perceptions of the crimes committed in the area. There are multiple reasons why these two graphs show different perceptions of crimes committed in this area. The first reason for the discrepancy is that the two graphs divided crime in totally different categories. The British Crime Survey divides crime in six categories while the police department divides crimes in eleven different categories. There are only three categories in the British Crime Surveys that match the police crimes categories which are burglary, vehicle theft and other theft. The British Crime Survey does not report crimes such as murders, drug procession, commercial crimes or crimes against children. The British Crime Survey data is a yearly survey performed by this organization among the population in the England Wales Region. The survey is realized utilizing a large pool of participants. The survey is sent to approximately 47,000 households and the response rate of the participants is about 75%. The time period of the data collection of the

Read the chapter 8-9 from this book Indian Art, rev. ed., by Roy Assignment

Read the chapter 8-9 from this book Indian Art, rev. ed., by Roy Craven - Assignment Example According to Jonathan, the Ise shrine played an important role in the architectural structures developed in the Japanese culture after the World War II. The Japanese modernists have been seen to be the original heirs to the cultural legacy that is related to the Ise shrine. Ise which is a model of the architecture of the Japanese brought the Shinto shrine at Ise into limelight during the post war period. Therefore, after the World War II, the Ise as a symbol of religious site and also a symbol based on imperial institution changed to be an aesthetic contemplation object (Gardner et al 534). Photography played a major role in catalyzing the transformation of this site. Yoshio’s photographs that are exceptional gave an insight of shrine complex when viewed from the inside. This brought down the visual and spatial barriers that once existed when the shrines were considered to be regiopolitical aura. As a result, this has changed the nationalistic rhetoric shrill that existed during the World War II to the shrine being becoming a public institution (Gardner et al 534). According to Jonathan’s argument, modernists have embraced the fact that shrines at Ise came into being during the World War II and maintains historical legacy that is complex in nature and is related to the Japanese culture. The history from the shrine has emanated into new cultural practices. The religious practices like Ise being a site for the key purpose of worship of the divine ancestors has since changed to the aesthetic value used architectural

The Pathway to Suicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Pathway to Suicide - Essay Example llenistic era, reflecting a deep pessimism about future and presence of evil and suffering in the near future associated with ultimate divine justice for the sins committed by the mankind. The Apocalyptic revelations goes back to Babylonian and the times of prophets Zachariah, who emphasized divine intervention at the time of trouble and crisis and predicted the arrival of Messiah. These writers demanded strict form of purity and developed their own theology to describe God's power. Apocalyptic writers introduced a different vocabulary into their theology and turned to nature and all its wonders to illustrate God's power (Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2001). The Christ second coming became more demanding in the period of social unrest with rise in many local prophets claiming to the harbingers of new age. Many local prophets have arisen in troubled times predicting a new age, promising their followers utopian dreams, but in reality with their own semi-political goals. For example, the Camisards in the early 19th century in France or the self styles messiah of Monte Amiata South East of Tuscany in late 1860s. The New Religious movements (cults and sects) today have become a worldwide phenomenon, especially after WWII in the West. Majority of these sects manifest he characteristics of prevalent religions, but with complex theories and doctrines diluting the mainstream religion (Zellner, P22, 1998). In 1985 there were 417 sects and 501 cult movements in America alone, raising the figure to 7 million or 3 percent of America total population, while in 1989 the figure rose to 5 percent composing mainly of young people. Since 19th century there have been various Christian cults such as Church of Jesus Christ (1830), Spiritualism in (1848) and Jehovah's Witness (1872) the... Cult members normally join a cult in the time of crisis in a belief that by devoting themselves to the leader they can get freedom from the real world problems. Tragically they put their hopes on a mistaken leader who through his teaching and brainwashing leads his members to death and destruction. The cult practice makes them â€Å"dagger in the hand of leader† that often brings an end to their fate. From the above discussion it is clear that cult members become suicidal due to cults destructive teaching and resort to suicide to achieve the imaginative ideal of the cult for which they are prepared for years. For centuries man have waited for real and imaginary Messiah to deliver peace and happiness and restore order in the chaotic world. The world always had its problems and will have problems; cults will flourish, as long men believe in some external redeemer.

History Cold War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History Cold War - Essay Example In a letter of July 23, 1946, Wallace stressed Truman to work for the achievement of global order based on mutual trust, toleration and faith (Wallace, pp 587-600). Resultantly Truman asked him to resign. Wallace’s letter explains how Truman’s Doctrine of Containment became the foundation of Future American Foreign Policy based on the requirements of Cold War. Andrei Vishinsky conveyed his anger in the same tone in his speech at United Nations on September 18, 1947. Vishinsky was open while declaring that America was grounding for a war against Russia (White, pp121-122). It was under the same scenario that the world saw yet another mishap was imminent. Those who wanted peace around the globe worked for the removal of distrust between United States of America and the Soviet Union. Henry A. Wallace was one of such peace-lovers. He lashed out at the policies of the Truman regime which were helping emerge a cold war. Through his words, Wallace actively criticized Trumanâ₠¬â„¢s cold war mindset. He was aggrieved over the America’s policy of the Soviet Union and spoke against it in open words: â€Å"The flaw in this policy is simply that it will not work† (Wallace, p 592). He believed that both the countries could work together. Wallace wanted conciliation, mutual trust and respect and restraint by Americans towards the Russians. Doing this he foresees the solution of America’s many headaches: â€Å"Many of the problems relating to the countries bordering on Russia could more readily be solved once an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence is established† (Wallace, p597). Andrei Vishinsky, the Chairman of the Soviet delegation to the United Nations General Assembly spoke the same words. He termed the United States of America wholly responsible for creating the atmosphere of cold war: â€Å"A number of newspapers and magazines, mostly Americans cry every day and in every way about a new war† (White, p 121). He deni es America’s hue and cry that Russia was imposing a war on it: â€Å"the Soviet Union is not threatening in any way an attack on any country† (White, p 121). Vishinsky fears that America could even fight against those who presented or tried to present systems of their own other than Capitalism. As Soviet Union had adopted Communism which had more charm for the world than the Capitalism and America could not afford to lose its trust, it decided to fight the Soviet Union as well. Wallace speaks against the preparations of America against an expected war. He opines that America’s such preparations will compel the rest of the world to get atom bomb too and that will mean the destruction of the world for atomic war is the cheapest and easiest as against the traditional wars of the past which were costly and enjoyed more labor. The availability of atom bombs with many nations of the world will result in a fear-ridden society and abnormal psychology of the people aroun d the globe. America will have the possibility of falling victim to such violence because of its wealth. This is a dilemma and some have found the solution by presenting their theory of preventative war against the Soviet Union. They argue that before Soviet Union gets atom bomb, it should be attacked as to thwart the danger before it comes into existence. The only solution Wallace puts forth is the obeying of the Moscow Declaration which tells the nuclear disarmament of the nations and mutual trust. To stick to the idea that everything

Image of Faith in Islam Essay Example for Free

Image of Faith in Islam Essay This paper elucidates the meaning of faith in Islam and the image and branches related to it. The paper is based on the saying by Prophet Mohammad P. B. U. H regarding faith and the branches of faith. The seventy branches mentioned in the saying and the highest and lowest of these branches are discussed in this paper. The highest branch mentioned is to believe and say that there is no God but Allah and the lowest of these branches is to remove a harmful object from the path. Muslims follow this saying in various ways and this is reflected in other sayings from the Prophet and in the Quran. The meaning of faith has been depicted in various verses of the Quran and different sayings of the Holy Prophet P. B. U. H. Muslims follow this saying as an approach to carrying out the day to day functions of life. According to the saying by Prophet Mohammed P. B. U. H â€Å"Faith has over seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of faith† (Muslim, 1971). This meaning of faith for Muslims is very important as it provides them with a code of life. The number sixty or seventy does not mean an exact number of branches it just implies that in Islam the branches of faith are multiple. The highest branch is to say there is only one God frees a human being from worship to all other deities like idols, animals or any other being. This is the foundation of Islam which indicates there is no God but Allah and Muslims worship only one God. It should be noticed that modesty has been given special emphasis in the saying by the Prophet P. B. U.  H; it is mentioned because it provides protection against deeds like theft, adultery, abusive language and other such wrong doings (As-sidq. org, 2006). The Muslims lead their lives based on this very saying as the highest and lowest levels or branches of Islam are mentioned as the belief in one God and the removal of a harmful object from the path, this would mean anything between these branches is the code of life for the Muslims. This is symbolic to Islam as this provides the overall functionality of people who follow Islam. Islam is depicted as a religion of peace and harmony. If we consider the last branch which is the removal of a harmful object from the path signifies the wellbeing of other people who might use the same path at a later time. If this is the lowest branch then the higher branches would have more consideration for the well being of other people and this is the core of Islam. Islam is a religion symbolic of consideration and courtesy for others and all Muslims are regarded as brothers to each other. If all the Muslims have the same consideration for one another then Islam as a society would be an entity where people live to achieve harmony through cooperation and coordination.

Evolution by Natural Selection Essay Example for Free

Evolution by Natural Selection Essay a. Evolution by Natural Selection: This theory is developed by Charles Darwin as one of the parts of his theory of evolution. This theory embodies the thought that species change and evolve over generations and that the mechanisms for the species change along with it. b. Inheritance: This theory, introduced by Gregor Mendel, embodies the principle that traits are passed on from one generation to the next through the genes that carry them. This means that traits are inherited from the parents to the offspring through these hereditary factors. c. Cells: The Cell theory from Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, discussed that all cells come from preexisting cells and that cells are the basic elements for life to exist. d. Biological Classification: Carolus Linnaeus began the classification of different species according to their similarities and differences called nomenclature. e. Bioenergetics: is based on the concept that there is an energy that powers life and that it follows the rules of the energies that exist in the inanimate world. f. Homeostasis: Claude Bernard discovered that organisms function best under a narrow range of conditions and that they maintain internal conditions to maintain stability, which allows them to live in a larger range of environments. g. Ecosystems: This deals with the concept that organisms don’t exist alone but is part of a community of other living organisms that interact with one another. (â€Å"What is Biology? †) In relation to the news today and the theories’ applications in the 21st century, a test connected with the Inheritance theory recently revealed that genetics may determine the extent we are influenced by social drinking clues. The article states that a specific form of the Dopamine D4 receptor gene may make people more sensitive to craving caused by alcohol-related cues from other people. This, the article reports, â€Å"†¦may increase the risk for extensive alcohol use or abuse when spending time with heavy-drinking peers (Association for Psychological Science, 25 July 2010). 2. Scientific Method The website began with the question â€Å"Have you ever noticed if you place a plant near a window, that after a while, the plant grows or leans toward the window? † and was followed by the question â€Å"Have you ever wondered why the plant grows toward the window? † This required a hypothesis formulation in order for there to be a guide on how to arrive on the answer. The hypothesis that I have chosen for the experiment on the website was that â€Å"plants respond to the light which they need to make their food. † After selecting my hypothesis, I chose to â€Å"grow three plants with light to the left and glass to the right and three more with light to the right and glass to the left† and look for the difference in the â€Å"direction the plant is growing/leaning. † The result was that â€Å"The leaves of the plants with the light on the left turned toward the left and the tops of the plants grew toward the left. The leaves of the plants with the light on the right turned toward the right and the tops grew toward the right. † This supported my hypothesis that light was the reason that the plants grew toward the windows where the light was. In the scientific method, the whole process began with observation and questioning the behavior of the plant as it grew toward the window and analyzing the possible variables that may affect this behavior. Considering that I had a basic idea about how plants grow, I made a hypothesis that was likely the case, though there may be some other variables that influence the behavior. These other variables made me think of testing them along with the main reason I had been thinking about. In order to test all the elements involved, I proceeded testing with both the light and the glass. Putting all the variables in not only confirms one or more of the variables, but also eliminates other variables that might not have any weight on the observations made. With the results supporting the hypothesis, and eliminating other non-weight bearing variables (in this case, the glass), then the hypothesis is accepted. The explanation in this case would be that plants respond to the light that enables them to create their own food. From here, it is possible to have other questions that would lead to the repeat in the cycle of the scientific method back to observations and questions. These questions could include how plants would react when the source of light comes from different directions. In my own personal experience, I have applied the scientific method to some of the simplest questions I’ve had the chance to encounter in my life. One such example where I constantly apply it is when making projects whether they are for school or for personal enjoyment, especially when the project requires so many redundant details such as cutting strips of paper or stitching something up or anything else. Although this is not exactly the same in doing scientific experiments, the same principles apply. Since I am always concerned with efficiency in doing things, I always ask myself, what is the shortest way I’ll be able to do this while maintaining a standard of quality? This forms the observation and questioning phase. From past experiences and from certain observations, there are many methods that can be applied and I think of the best ones that might apply to what I am currently working on. These comply with the hypothesis that one of the methods that I have thought of will work, which brings me to the experimentation phase. Here, I test which ones work best on a small scale, checking which ones I finish more quickly and produce the same results despite separate repetitions of the method. Upon seeing the results of my experiments, I finally come to the conclusion that at least one of the methods is efficient and effective in producing mass quantities of material for the project I am working on. Sometimes, this leads to other questions such as whether or not the method can be applied to other materials, or which materials work best with that method. This may then catapult me back to the scientific method from the beginning. References What is Biology?. Retrieved July 27, 2010 from http://course1. winona. edu/mdelong/principles/ Lecture%201%20-%20Introduction. ppt Association for Psychological Science. (July 27, 2010). Genetics may Influence Social Drinking. Medical News Today. Retrieved July 27, 2010 from http://www. medicalnewstoday. com/ articles/195725. php

Objectives of sustainable development

Objectives of sustainable development Introduction The UK construction industry has undergone an unprecedented change in construction technology. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) have been invented and are increasingly being used. With regard to residential apartment blocks, up to the 1980s greater emphasis was being placed on economy of construction rather than sustainability and lifestyles. Since 1980s, factors such as (i) the speed of construction (ii) sustainability (ii) flexible use of space. The need for rapid construction has led to more use of off-site prefabrication to reduce time spent on site and increase cost-effectiveness. The advancement of construction technology has also benefited from Government policies particularly relating to sustainable development. Perhaps one of the most significant initiatives of the UK Government to encourage sustainable construction was the setting op of the â€Å"Construction Task Force† by the Deputy Prime Minister Mr John Prescott. The task force, which comprised Sir Michael Lathum and Sir John Egan, produced a report ‘Rethinking construction (Egan, 1998). This report became influential in making Government policy. Sir John Egan argued that the use of standardization, prefabrication and innovation would improve the sustainability of the construction industry in the UK. Egan also compared construction to a manufacturing process where improvements are always sustained. The report recommended the use of prefabrication and standardization in building work as a method of achieving value of money, better value for clients and other users. Such an approach is now favoured by most people in the building industry, especially in house building. The use of modern methods of construction allows homes to be built more quickly and efficiently. Modern methods also improve site safety and supplement skilled workmanship where there may be shortages. Nevertheless, modern methods of construction have some disadvantages compared to traditional methods in that construction costs are relatively higher and also some section the public may object to futuristic building designs that go against what they are used to. Developers using MMC may need to be accredited to certain regulating authorities (such as NHBC in the UK) to ensure high quality and durability of their materials. Prefabrication Review-History of MMC Prefabrication was used in UK during periods of high dement, as after the world wars and the slum clearances in 1960s. The technical success of many of these systems was shadowed by social failing of high-rise living. In the 20th century about a million prefabricated houses were build. Most technical problems which were experienced were related to materials and poor workmanship. Prefabricated systems have been used in many public building in UK and other European Countries. The UK parliamentary office of Science and Technology studies showed (MORI poll, 2001) negative attitudes pre-fabrication were result of a big published disaster problem in the 60s. In mid of 1990s interest of UK was significant based system (e.g. roof trusses, steel frames etc) but the complete system of housing development was little, using relatively unskilled labour has been the predominant of UK house building. Off-site Review Government reports suggest that modern methods of construction (MMC) could be part of the solution to improve the quality of housing (Baker 2003). The industry has been slow to develop innovative building technologies, according to Ball and Barrow (1999). Many studies of modern methods of construction have taken the approach of promoting off-site applications without considering all the issues (Roy et al. 2003). The off-site processes help reduce the project construction time. Bakers review 2003 In 2003 the UK Government appointed Sir Martin Baker to review and report on the economic and social impacts of home building. The review examined affordability of homes in the UK. The Government is encouraging modern methods of construction (MMC) and increased supply of homes. One of Bakers highlights (2003) is that it challenges the home building industry to change construction to satisfy housing needs. Planning new levels of housing stock been based on demographic trends (Baker 2004). Benefits of MMC involve the manufacture of homes in factories, which is the faster construction. Evidence-Audits report The Commission for Architecture and Build Environment (CABE) has been investigate for the scope for building more quickly using modern methods of construction (MMC). The objective criteria of the audits, they are open to criticism them also some in house building industry criticized which schemes are determined ‘good or ‘average. In 2005 the modern methods of cost might be higher, it was report and it was possible to: Reduce the construction of houses on-site To build home up to four times with the same amount of on-site labour The performance should be also good as for home build in traditional way. During the twentieth century The new building in the UK (1996) were smaller 13% than the existing stock compared to the European countries houses that were largest that order ones. The size of a new home it was roughly 15.m2, the smallest in the Western Europe and the other European countries tend to be 20 m2 and 30 m2. In the 1981-2001 a particular in new buildings is roughly 20% smaller than the typical pre-1919 home. A combination of social in 1950s, economical and political factors renewed to construct housing system (Boverker,2004). Modern Methods of construction-Embodied carbon The most serious threat to human society that has created itself is climate change. In the 1750s the global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouses gases, carbon dioxide (CO2). The building construction is a substantial contributor of global CO2. Global emissions attributable to energy use in buildings with quarter of total CO2. An important goal for the Government climate police is the reducing of energy and carbon emissions attributed to buildings. In housing construction standard embodied energy is equivalent to a few years of energy; there are some exceptions to low energy buildings. Embodied carbon is important for low energy buildings, because less energy is used in occupation, and additional energy required for the insulation level, energy consumed in the construction materials, transport and installation. However the embodied carbon of low energy house is to contribute a better proportion of lifecycle carbon emissions during the building lifetime than a convention house. Many of the benefits of Modern methods of construction for housing are contentious and unproven. The manufacture suggest of the Government of MMC are: Environment- houses can be more energy efficient, less transport of materials and produce less waste. Social- fewer accidents and less impact during construction. Economic- MMC can be build more quickly. Overview of MMC-Types Modern methods of construction its a term to saw a number of construction methods. In the UK, the methods that being introduced in the building industry significant from so-called construction methods such as brick and block. The MMC was debated in the industry and was no universally agreed definition. The housing corporation that is used for its own purposes in 2003 is a published construction classification system (table 1). Housing corporation construction 1. Off-site manufactured -Volumetric 2. Off-site manufactured -Panelized 3. Off-site manufactured-Hybrid 4. Off-site manufactured -Sub-assemblies and components 5. Non Off-site manufactured construction Other terms of describing the MMC, is the factory building assembled, industrialized construction, innovative systems constructed on-site and pre-fabrication construction. The sectors of the modern methods of construction have five categories used by the housing corporation: off-site manufactured volumetric, three dimensions units produced in the factory, fully fitted out before being transported in the site. The majority of off-site manufactured volumetric construction in the UK to date has been used in housing. Modules may be delivered to site in variety of forms; volumetric off-site brings all the critical activities to the structure to a factory based environment which ensures better quality control. Light steel frame off-site techniques are more used to the traditional construction methods and are used in all sectors of constructions industry. Light steel offers better quality control and reduction in waste. Off-site manufactured-panellised construction is flat panel units build in factory, fully fitted out before being transported to site, panellised systems such as walls, roofs, floors and it consists two types of panels, open panels when assembled forms a skeleton structure and are usually timber or frame and closed panels may include internal lining materials. Off-site manufactured-hybrid is the combination of panellised and volumetric systems, is used to create the skeleton of the structure and volumetric units are used for the bathrooms and the kitchens. The environmental impact of MMC products sector were assessed including timber frame, timber frame with straw bale. A hybrid construction is a panellised system and is good design for economy. There are many manufactured of panellished systems and volumetric. Precast concrete is a construction material where concrete is cast mold which is the cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and lifted into pl ace. Barriers of MMC Some MMC homes builders are less expensive that the traditional methods of construction, increased cost about 7-10%. The reasons of different cost (higher) are difficult to discern because most of projects traditional masonry buildings cost widely. The cost apper high because in the MMC, there are different used of benefits such as better quality of construction, fewer accidents and reflect in project account MMC is the faster construction buildup to 50% and thus reducing labour costs. Capacity is a barrier of increasing the number of houses using MMC. In the two categories difficulties fall: factory capacity to manufacture parts and shortage of skills. Historical overview of sustainable development A great number of civilizations in human history it had been recognized the need of harmony between the society, the environment and the economy. More to the point, sustainable development is a very old idea that focuses, on improving the quality of life without exceeding the environmental supplies of natural resources. Unfortunately despite the predictions, the concept of sustainability gained momentum in 1980s when the problem became extremely obvious (Kenny, M., Meadowcroft, J., (1999). In 1973 was the first time that United Nations discussed about environmental solutions in Stockholm (Langton, C., A., Ding, G., K., C., (2001). Subsequently, the ideas discussed again in the World Conservation Strategy and new strategies were adopted by the governments of fifty countries but with very small practical impact. In 1983 the United Nations created the Worlds Commission in Environment and Development (WCED) and in 1987 they published a report in sustainable development with the name â€Å"Our common future† also known as the Brundtland Report (Langton, C., A., Ding, G., K., C., (2001). According to Langton, C., A., Ding, G., K., C., (2001) this report had critically signaled the rush of thinking for a second time the ways of governing and living as also the need of international coordination and cooperation. In 1992 in Rio Conference was the first time that the worlds leaders discussed about the future of the planet and agreed to set out principles to achieve sustainable development. The major agreement of this meeting was a 900 page program of actions with steps towards sustainable development at international levels. In 1997 the Kyoto climate summit set targets for the industrial countries in order to bring their gas emissions 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. Pioneering ways must be found to ensure that individual behavior and institutional structures will change targets, towards a sustainable future and will understand the consequences of inaction. Sustainable concept To begin with, it can be critically mentioned that the sustainable development should take into consideration the potential impacts on three main sectors, the environmental, the social and the economic; as it has been advised from Munasinghe (1993). Essentially, he advocated that, the natural habitats, the people, and the economy are interrelated and should be managed as a one. Therefore, the environmental approach it can be claimed that is so to protect the biological features, the social concept is to stabilize the cultural system and the economic approach are to maximize the income and preserve the stock of resources (Munasinghe, 1993).Ultimately, it would be imperative to append that some more important concepts in sustainable development are the futurity the equity and the irreversibility. Table 3 provides further details as per those important concepts. Further Important Concepts: Futurity: concern is given not only for the short term horizon, but also for the long term that affect the future generations. Equity: Emphasis is given to the least advantaged in society in order to provide their needs and a fair treatment. Irreversibility: Some types of environmental degradation are not possible to be restored by human ingenuity. Source: Based on Strange, T., Bayley, A., (2008) Objectives of sustainable development Taking into consideration all of the above, hence explicit information that academic definitions are providing; the reviewed literature suggests that numerous previous empirical studies have been conducted based on main advantages supported as a result of the sustainable developments up to date. Economy: Sustainable development is so to promote an economy that improves environmental quality and meet peoples needs. Energy: Reduction of energy use to suitable levels and encouragement of the consumers to spend less energy. Land use: The main concern is to minimize the loss of rural land and to maintain the viability of town centers Forestry: The main issue is the management of forests in a way that sustains their ecological qualities and their productive potentials. Climate change: The key objective is the limitation of gas emissions that contribute to climate change and global warming. Air quality: Key issues: reduction of pollutant emissions in order to improve local air quality and chemical pollution control especially in urban areas. Mineral extraction: The main objective is the minimization of the environmental harm from mineral extraction by the efficient use of materials. Waste materials: Sustainable Waste management can decrease the amount of waste production. The hierarchy of waste management options start with the reduction of waste materials, it then goes to the re-use and finally to disposal. Raw materials The raw materials inputs change depending upon the systems of MMC being factored. Common raw materials including metal, board materials, timber, concrete, class wool insulation. Off-cuts of these materials typically end up as waste within the factory environment. Timber is a raw and recycled material, timber panel products are usually kept separate from the clean timber as they are currently different to recycle. Steel is readily recycled material, due to its value established recycling routes. Also glass wool insulation is potentially recyclable Raw materials are often packaged and it is this packaging that ends up as waste. Packaging wastes have various waste management routes depending on the individual manufacturer. Modern methods of construction are about better product and processes. They aim improve business efficiency, quality environmental performance, sustainability and the predictability. MMC are more broadly based that a particular focus on product MMC should make it possible to build more with the same amount of on-site labor.MMC other than open panel techniques continue to be slightly more expensive than more established techniques but the cost ranges for different techniques overlap substantially, in any particular set of conditions in MMC could be as cost-effective as brick and block or more cost effective. Sustainable development definition One of the most popular definitions for sustainable development was given in Brundtland report (1995): â€Å"Sustainable is the development that meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs† (Kirby, J, OKeefe, P., Timberlake L., 1995). This definition indicates that an activity can be considered sustainable if it doesnt exhaust the natural resources and doesnt have serious impacts to the environment that the future generations will inherit. For instance, if the ozone layer is destroyed, if the green-house gases build up, if the natural resources are exhausted and if water and air are polluted, it is reasonably obvious that this generation dont give the ability to the next one to support their selves. Sustainable development can be considered as: A theoretical framework: a method that will make the world more balanced and holistic. A process: techniques to apply the principles of integration to all decision. A target: methods of fixing the problems Sustainable construction Sustainable construction focuses on the issues of procurement, assembly and Procurement: The processes of procurement introduce the objectives that the contractors must have during the construction. These objectives may include environmental commissioning. It consist matters like site planning, tendering, selection of materials, recycling and waste minimization (Smith, P., F., (2007). standards and reporting requirements. Assembly: The assembly activities are managed by the contractors in order to contribute to the ecological performance. It consist issues as the excavation methods, the reduction of noise, the disposal of wastes and storm-water containment. Commissioning: It gives information of how the design will operate in the future. It should relate performance specifications and maintenance methods. In order the environmental performance of the construction to be improved, the site operatives and the supervisors should have a proper training (Smith, P., F., (2007).

Anne Frank Essays -- essays research papers

Jews have perished because of their beliefs since the beginning of time but never have so many Jews been persecuted worldwide as they were in World War II. Anne Frank’s diary reaches a place within all of our hearts because it reminds us how easily the innocents can suffer. Sometimes we may choose to close our eyes or look the other way when unjustifiable things happen in our society and Anne’s tale reminds us that ignorance, in part, claimed her life. Sadly, her story is but one of many of those who died in the Holocaust and as with other Jews, her fate was determined by the country she lived in, her sex and her age. Jews all over Europe feared for their lives and many were aware that the punishment for their religion depended on the country they were fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to live in. Hitler not only held prejudice against Jews, homosexuals, gypsies and those who harboured any of the above, but also held firm convictions that some countries’ citizens were fit to die, no matter their religion. No one was hit harder by this prejudice as was Poland. Hitler hated all Polish citizens and hated Polish Jews even more. In Warsaw, Jews were confined to a blocked off area which came to be known as the Warsaw Ghetto. Many of these Jews never saw outside the Ghetto again and for those who did it was only en route to a concentration camp or labour prison. Food rations inside the Ghetto were very low and though many outsiders smuggled food in, there was not nearly enough to keep everyone alive. Many died of starvation or died due to illness they had contracted because their bodies had grown so weak. Throughout the war, Sweden remained neutral and many Jews from neighbouring countries were smuggled in. Nazi police soon realized that they had to find ways to prevent this from happening and turned to the animal world. Dogs were trained to detect the scent of humans and soon, all boats leaving for Sweden were searched to detect any Jews that were hiding in basement compartments. Most Jews were discovered before they could escape and this discouraged many more from attempting to do the same. Jews that were apprehended were not treated much differently by the Nazis but the Jews left behind received the brunt of the their anger. Danish Jews in particular were often accused of planning to escape because of their proximity to Sweden. There are stories of countless ... ...opted children. When the war ended, many children did not return to their biological families because they were so young when they were stolen that they didn’t know the truth. Many that could remember were too scared to leave or feared that their parents had already been killed. Children were trained to lie without understanding why and the lies caused them to lose the ability to separate reality from fiction. Children should never have been forced to deal with so much, so quickly. They were robbed of a real childhood when they should have been encouraged to explore their surroundings. The youth, like Anne, who grew up in World War II were tainted by these events and have undergone much more trauma than most of us can even imagine. The Holocaust will forever remain one of the most horrific events in history and it is important to remember that there were many different endings for the many different Jews affected. It should not have mattered where the Jews lived, how old they were or the sex they were, none of them should have been persecuted in the first place. Reflecting on the tragic events of the war, all we can do is make sure that these horrific things never happen again.

Statement of Philosophy and Goals Essay -- Philosophy of Education Tea

Statement of Philosophy and Goals As a child playing school with the neighborhood children, I had always dreamed of becoming a teacher. Since the first day of kindergarten, watching the teacher teach us how to do basic things like counting, writing, and reading is what interested me in teaching. Throughout my elementary and secondary education I became even more interested in the teaching field. I thought that being a teacher would be the best thing in the world because a teacher has an immense amount of knowledge. Now I am in college where I am currently studying to be a secondary mathematics teacher. There are several reasons why I want to become a teacher, but the two most important reasons are to make a difference and to enrich the learning process. Everyone has to have some reason of why he or she decides to pursue his or her particular career choice. I want to become a teacher so that I can make a difference in a young person’s life. My high school calculus teacher, who was also my role model, made a difference in my life. It was her class that made me decide that I wanted to become a secondary mathematics teacher. I had a first hand experience at what it is like being a teacher during my senior year of high school by being my calculus teacher’s teacher assistant. While being her teacher assistant I experienced several things that a teacher does on a daily basis: making copies, grading papers, constructing lesson plans, and teaching/ tutoring students. I hope that when I become a teacher that I will be capable of inspiring a young person, just the same as my high school calculus teacher did for me. Another important reason why I want to become a teacher is that a teacher is constantly learning new things... ...e level I would like to teach is at the high school level. While pursuing my career as a teacher I plan on continuing my education by going on to graduate school. I am currently enrolled in college to learn how to become a teacher. A teacher must learn a variety of teaching methods and how to manage a classroom. There are six philosophies of education, and I agree with certain arguments in each one, but the three that are most important to me are essentialism, progressivism, and behaviorism. The most important of the three is essentialism; the back-to-basics approach which was enforced after the launching of Sputnik. My goals as a teacher are to make a difference and to become a role model. A teacher is continuously learning new things, and I plan on continuing my education. By going to college I am fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming a teacher.

Comparing the Struggle for Freedom in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn an

Struggle for Freedom in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Native Son Throughout history, great authors have served as sentinels for racism and prejudice in American society. The Mark Twain novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a graphic story of 1840s America that depicts the plight of an uneducated black slave named Jim moved many to empathize with African-Americans. Compassion against the evils of slavery soon spread across the country. A war-torn America abolished slavery in 1865. However, Richard Wright’s 1940 novel, Native Son, a compelling story of the life and death of another black man, Bigger Thomas, makes a convincing argument that slavery in America was still very much alive during that period. Civil rights legislation and enforcement would not come until years later. A generation apart, Jim and Bigger embody the evolution of the black man struggling to be free in American society. On Twain’s Mississippi of the 1840’s, slaves are regarded more as property than human— there is no freedom for the black man. Jim is trapped in a society that trumpets racial hatred; for example, Huck’s father said, â€Å"they told me there was a state†¦where they’d let the nigger vote†¦I says I’ll never vote again† (Twain 35). Early in their travels, Jim and Huck mirror the chasm in black and white relations that plagues America at the time. Blinded by prejudice, Huck seems incapable of recognizing that, much like himself, Jim is scared and running from a life of few choices, towards a dream of independence. Instead, he can only see what society allows him to—the blackness of Jim’s skin. He is reluctant to be seen with Jim because he knows â€Å"People would call [him] a low-down Abolitionist and despise [him] for keeping mum† (50). Even afte... ...e and what kind of work he [can] do† (Wright 394). Bigger’s society collectively denies him freedom to better his life with â€Å"restrictions placed upon Negro education,† authorities â€Å"that make it plain in their every act that they mean to keep Bigger Thomas and his kind within rigid limits,† and real estate operators who have â€Å"agreed among themselves to keep Negroes within ghetto-areas of cities† (394). Unlike Jim, Bigger can’t escape his slavery by running to the free north. His slavery is all-encompassing. Jim only sees freedom at face value, so his can be achieved. He can only hope for freedom in its simplest form†¦ release from the physical shackles of slavery. Bigger’s freedom begins where Jim’s leaves off. Works Cited Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Harper & Row, 1885. Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1940.

My Voice Matters Essay

There’s something marvelous about spoken words that differs from a written speech. Our emphasis, our expressions, every time we express some sort of sound from our thoughts, excreting noise from the depths of our being, that’s our true signature. Since I have such a powerful tool available to myself, I don’t understand why I never fully use it to the advantage. I believe, that since my voices matter, I should make more of an effort to talk to my peers face to face. In my day and age, my generation is known for its dependence to our distraction. I seem to have lost the ability to talk to my peers. Everybody is more confident over barriers, where it is not required to actually reveal one’s face. I yearn to be more interactive and communicative with my peers, but what is it that holds me back? I have all I need in front of me, but my youth is lost in the consolidation of corruption, and the decision is up to me to make the right choice either take the narrow path which leads to accomplishment or the broad path which leads to destruction. Friendship is a prime example of a troubling decision. Having a quantity of friends always bothers me, but finding the quality in people is harder to find. At time it feels as if I’m drowning in a sea of children, each step as I roam as a gadabout to find intimate relationship, but time seems to go and pass through my hand. Experiencing change is adequate to learning a second language or similar to expressive aphasia. Knowing what you want; however, you don’t know how to explain such a thing. I am missing out on the teenage experience of trial and error by taking life on precaution rather than taking risks. Furthermore, it’s not just me wasting my time on desires. I spend so much time on thoughts than pursuing my goals. Everybody is out there with set goals, accomplishing them, everywhere. Why has my voices lost importance? To add on, when I’m simply writing down words out to print, it is impossible to fully express myself. Parts of the words are lost, because one just can’t thoroughly share their emotion through written words. I need to talk to others, face to face. Humans instinctively and subconsciously judge. After I saw my realization I knew in fact I must surmount my barrier on my muteness, casting the burden by the interaction of all that shackles me down from my achievements. I have found my character of a man of compassion, integrity and hope for a brighter future in the world to guide meaning people who has gone through the similar pariah-ism of self-confidence. I was meant for more than that. My voice is important! I’m meant to speak with others, creating a fellowship, a community, with the power of our voice. My voice matters.

Role of Angels

New Testament November 5, 2012 Role of Angels Unlike most books in the Bible, where they are mostly historical, Revelation is a book on prophecy. It is believed that John the Apostle. The word ‘revelation’ means ‘unveiling’, it is the unveiling of an apocalypse. It is the only apocalyptic book in the Bible. In Revelation, Jesus will come again to show his servants what is going to happen. This is similar to the Gospel of John, where Jesus comes to show what his Father has shown him.Angles come from the Greek word from a , meaning angel, or â€Å"knowledge† (â€Å"Angels today: all about angels†) also the term angel† in Aramaic, MALAKHA, means â€Å"messenger†. Angels have the knowledge of God’s word and are messengers to spread his word. Angels are also found in many religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. They are either guardians or messengers from God, â€Å"In some cultures, they are believed to be the mo st powerful type of fairy† (â€Å"Angels today: all about angels†).Is there a hierarchy in Angles? There are some that believe there is. â€Å"Scholars of the Middle Ages believed that angels and archangels were lowest in the order because they were the most involved in the world of men and thus more susceptible to sin. † (â€Å"Angels today: all about angels†). The hierarchy according to Angels today are; first hierarchy seraphim and cherubim. Seraph is mentioned in Isaiah 6:1-7 with six wings, two covered their faces, two covered with feet and two were for flying.Cherubim’s are mentioned in Ezekiel 1:5 as, appearance form that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings, their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf, under their wings they had hands of a man. Second hierarchy includes dominions and powers or authorities, mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 â€Å"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against th e rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms†. The third and final tier of the hierarchy is the angels’ archangels.Angels are known as the messages of God. Archangels come from Greek meaning chief angel. The word Archangel only comes up twice in the New Testament and only once with an angels name, Archangel Michael in Jude 1:9. It’s noted that the word archangel is never plural in the New Testament, but in other books there is other mentions of other archangels; Raphael in the Book of Tobit, Uriel in the second Book of Esdras and Gabriel is believed to be an archangel but has no direct mentions of it. It is the making of four archangels.Angels play an important role in the book of Revelation, being involved with many of God's judgments upon the earth. Revelation starts with the breaking of the seven seals. The first four summon the Four Horsemen, White Horseman to conquer and spread the gospel, Red Horseman represents war to make man slaughter each other, Black Horseman represents famine, and the Pale Horseman represents death (Rev 6:1-8). The fifth seal brought the souls of those who had been slain because of the words of God to the altar (Rev 6:9). The sixth seal caused a great earthquake (Rev 6:12).When the seventh seal was broken, seven angels came down from heaven with seven trumpets representing the seven plagues (Rev 8:2). First trumpet sounded and hail and fire mixed with blood is hurled to the earth. One third of earth is burned up; one third of trees and all green grass is burned up. Second trumpet sounded and a huge, blazing mountain thrown into sea; one third of the sea turned to blood; one third of sea creatures died; one third of ships destroyed. Third trumpet sounded and a blazing star fell on one third of rivers and springs of water, one third of waters turned bitter killing many people.Forth trumpet sounded and one third of sun, moon , and stars are struck, one third of the day was dark and one third of night. Fifth trumpet sounded and a star fallen from the sky is given the key to unlock the abyss. The sun, moon, and stars were darkened by smoke from the abyss as locusts came down upon the earth; these creatures had power to torment those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads for five months. Sixth a release the four angels bound at the river Euphrates; one third of mankind is killed; a two hundred million man army is organized and activated. Rev 8-9). Seventh angel blew his horn starting the battle of Armageddon, then came flashes of lightning, rumbling, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake (Rev 16:16-17). Some of these plagues are very similar to the plagues of Moses. The first trumpet is similar to the eighth plague in Moses, the Lord said ‘Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and Festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land. (Exodus 9:8-9). The second trumpet is like the first plague in Moses, where every stream, canal, reservoir, and even the water in wooden buckets and stone jars were turned to blood (Exodus 7:19). The fourth trumpet is like the ninth plague, and the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out tine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days (Exodus 10:21-22).Finally the locusts coming from abyss and tormenting those without the seal of God, is both like the locusts of the eighth plague, bringing locusts to Egypt in Exodus 10:4 and that without the sign on them from Exodus 9:8. The start of Armageddon could have well before Revelation, but in Revelation 12:7-9, â€Å"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.He was hurled to the earth and his angels with him†. This all-out war in heaven forced Satan down to earth and to be enslaved till the day of Armageddon. â€Å"Satan, being a very intelligent foe, well remembers how he was outgunned in that battle. His angels are no match for Christ (Michael) and heavens angel army, so if they ever meet again he will need serious reinforcements. † (Cross). After Satan was defeated and sent to hell, one could imagine how Satan must have felt and waiting, planning for the day he could come back for one last final battle.After being defeated in heaven he will be looking for a fairer playing field, here on earth. Satan is preparing his army during the blowing of trumpets and the seven plagues. â€Å"The n they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon† (Rev 16:16). The start of the battle of Armageddon starts in Revelation 19, â€Å"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one but he himself knows.He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords†. Who is this guy on the white horse? The White Horseman? He’s not the Ki ngs of kings or the Lord of lords.Is this Jesus himself setting off into a glorious battle, or just another angel or heavenly being. To sum up what the battle of Armageddon is, â€Å"It is simply the final battle between Satan and his armies fighting against Christ and his armies for mastery and ownership of the world, and the final defeat of Satan’s rebellion †¦ and human against human, the 200,000,000 man army created by the kings of the earth and Christ. The outcome is such that sinners are destroyed and all sin is contained, for 1000 years† (Cross). Revelation 21 â€Å"The New Jerusalem† is the only time a New Jerusalem is mentioned. Because the book was written after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A. D. 70† (Price). During Jesus times, his disciples wanted him to bring them a New Jerusalem and bring power back from the Romans. There is a slight reference to the destruction of the temple by the Romans in Revelations. â€Å"I did no t see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is its temple† (Rev 22:22). The best description of this New Jerusalem is, â€Å"made ready as a bride adorned for her husband†¦ the bride, the wife of the Lamb† (Rev 21:2-9).Randall Price pointed out the Jewish tradition that John would have knew well and the metaphor that is used in Revelation 21. â€Å"In John 14:2. The background of the marriage metaphor is the Jewish custom of the bridegroom husband leaving the bride at the betrothal to prepare a new house where they would dwell together once he returned to take away his bride. † (Price). This city is heaven on earth, â€Å"Nothing impure will ever enter, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life† (Rev 21:27).In Revelation 22, there is another angel that shows John the river of the water of life and the tree of life. The river flowed from th e throne of God down the middle of the great city â€Å"New Jerusalem† and the tree of life â€Å"bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations. No longer will there be any curse. † (Rev 22: 2-3). This is the city of God and is protected from all things evil. After John had witnessed this vision he fell down before the angel who showed him, and the angel told him, â€Å"Do not do it!I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and all who keep words of this book. Worship God! † Today we see many influences of angels in the modern world. There are shows like Touched by an Angel and Supernatural and show angels in them. These shows show the interaction of angels with people and the hierarchy of angels. The angels in Revelation are the beginning of Armageddon, come to fight the army of Satan and show the promised land of New Jerusalem. Work Cited â€Å"Angels today: al l about angels†.Web. November 4, 2012. Cross, Jack. The Apocalypse of Jesus; the Angels and the Earth, â€Å"Revelation† 2012. Web. November 4, 2012. Cross, Jack. The Apocalypse of Jesus; the Angels and the Earth, â€Å"Ehe End of the Conflict† 2012. Web. November 4, 2012. Price, Randall. â€Å"The New Jerusalem†. Jerusalem in Prophecy, Harvest House Publishers. 1998. Digital File. November 4, 2012. Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Fully rev. ed. Kenneth L. Barker, gen. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. Print. November 4, 2012.