Limited Liability Corporation and Limited Liability Partnership Paper Essay

Limited Liability Corporation and Limited Liability Partnership Paper - Essay Example But, LLPs still impose certain obligations from each of the partner as a way of maintaining standards of accountability. LLPs differ from other general partnerships in one particular aspect, namely, that each partner is only liable to his/her own debts and obligations and are not required to share the burden of their partners’ debts and obligations. In the United States, there are comprehensive legislations that govern the conception and formation of LLPs. This form of partnership is more suitable to companies offering professional services such as law firms, an accountancy firms, etc. As a matter of fact, a few states within the United States allow only certain professional classes to form LLPs. The primary legislative document that deals with partnership firms is the Uniform Partnership Act, which provides detailed guidelines. Further, many states offer liability protection only against select negligence claims, which implies that for, say, contract claims, a partner can be made liable. LLPs are similar to other partnership arrangements in that the profits accrued are divided evenly among all the members of the partnership. This is essentially to facilitate taxation and to avoid double taxation, which can dent an individual member’s profits. Some state legislation adds more conditions for limited liability. For example, â€Å"Many states provide protection only against tort claims and do not extend protection to a partners own negligence or incompetence or to the partners involvement in supervising wrongful conduct. Other states provide broad protection, including protection against contractual claims brought by the partnerships creditors. It further provided, however, that a partner was personally liable to the partnership and copartners for any breach of duty, and also allowed a creditor or other claimant to pierce the limited liability shield of a partner in

Indo-US civilian nuclear deal

Indo-US civilian nuclear deal INDIAS ENERGY SECURITY WITH SPECIALREFERENCE TO INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL â€Å"Consider the past 400 years of history. The world developed a new source of power, steam, and the industrial age came in. India with all her many virtues did not develop that source of power and it became a backward and a slave country. Now, we are on the verge of the atomic age. If we are to remain abreast in the world as a nation which keeps ahead of things, we must develop this atomic energy quite apart from war†¦of course, if we are compelled as a nation to use it for other purposes, no pious sentiments of any one of us can stop the nation from using it that way.† Jawaharlal Nehru, 06 April 1948 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY The energy security encompasses the oil natural gas, fuel and electricity. However in the backdrop of Indo-US civilian nuclear deal we are referring to the electrical energy security generated from nuclear sources. The Indias nuclear reactors are fueled by uranium. Indias uranium is low grade and quantity and is about seven times costlier than whats available in the world market. The Indo US civilian nuclear deal encompasses the transfer of sensitive technology for reprocessing, enrichment of fuel and importing uranium for generation of electricity from nuclear energy. In recent years, if there is one issue that has been on the headlines at regular intervals besides terrorist attacks in different parts of our country, is the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. So much so that it was on the verge of bringing down the worlds largest democracy. Never before in the history of independent India where any subject thought about, deliberated, argued and counter argued by the political, bureaucr atic and the scientific elites. The main advantage of this deal is that the India not only got the assurance from the world to increase its electricity generating capacity but India can continue its nuclear weapon programme unhindered. The deal also gave strategic advantages to US. METHODOLOGY Statement of Problem 2. This paper aims to analyse â€Å"Will India be able to fulfill its power demand by 2030 by generating electricity from nuclear power plants in light of Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.† Hypothesis 3. The extent of Indias strategic interest has expanded and span from the Gulf of Hormuze up to the Malacca Strait. It implies that India is on the threshold of becoming a regional super power, having a large say in the geopolitical affairs in South Asia. This situation has come about as a result of the economic liberalisation in last decade of the twentieth century, causing the economy to grow at appreciable rates of 7-8 % per year. Economic opportunities in India have made the world sit up and take notice, causing a huge influx of investments in all business and industrial sectors. 4. Given the above situation, Indias electrical energy needs are growing by leaps and bounds, and at a very rapid pace. The sources for generation of electricity to support this unprecedented growth are not adequate. Therefore, it is imperative that India must look for alternative sources to generate sufficient electricity not only to cater for future growth but also to bridge the gap between the demand and supply. This will also help India for realisation of her role as a regional power to satisfy her strategic aspirations. Justification of the Study 5. India is concern for energy security in general and electrical energy in particular for its economic development and uplifting the standard of living of its citizen. Indo-us civilian nuclear deal is a step towards to solve Indias energy problem which encompasses the generation of electricity from nuclear energy and transfer of sensitive technology including supply of raw material. But the deal has more strategic and international connotation. If we adopt the perspective of twenty years hence, will India be able to achieve its energy security? Scope 6. The scope of this study would be to look into Indias electric energy requirement by 2030, highlighting the electricity generating capacity and gap between demand and supply. Also to analyze the nuclear power plants generating capacity in a backdrop of Indo-US civilian nuclear deal with its strategic implications for India. The study would also suggest a way ahead for India to achieve total energy security. Other related issues such as electrification, transmission, distribution, billing, electrical energy conservation and regulatory commissions are not considered in this study. Operational Definitions 7. Energy Security.[1] A countrys ability to optimize its energy resource portfolio and supply of energy services for the desired level of services that will sustain economic growth and poverty reduction. It is a broad umbrella covers all type of energy and economic growth. 8. Nuclear Energy and Energy Security.[2] Nuclear Energy is the kinetic energy of the fragments that result from the fissioning or splitting of uranium and plutonium nuclei when they absorb neutrons. The kinetic energy is converted to heat as the fragments are slowed, and this heat is use to convert water into steam which in turn used for rotation of turbine thus producing electricity. This nuclear energy supplements the total energy requirement of our country with an aim to achieve energy security from all the sources including renewable, hydro and coal. Methods of Data Collection 9. The major source of data collection has been through library books, journals, articles from magazine newspaper as well as internet. Organisation of the Dissertation (Chapterisation) 10. The dissertation is organised as under : (a) Chapter I Introduction and Methodology. This chapter introduces the subject ‘Indias energy security with special reference to Indo-us nuclear deal. It also lays down the ‘Statement of Problem providing a justification for the study and defines the scope of dissertation. The chapter also defines security in general and energy security in particular. Energy security encompasses oil, gas and electricity. The focus will be on nuclear power element of electricity/power security. (b) Chapter II Indias Electrical Energy Need and Present Status. This chapter brings out statistical data about the present power status in India from all sources including the contribution of nuclear power plants and predicting economic growth vis-a-vis Indias electrical energy needs by 2030. (c) Chapter III Nuclear Energy Its Myth and Reality. This chapter analysis the nuclear power generating capacity by 2030, technology and raw material requirement and its contribution towards achieving energy security. It also covers advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power over conventional sources of power generation. (d) Chapter IV Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Deal. This chapter covers Indias nuclear history in brief and Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in detail. It also brings out the stance of International atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This chapter also highlights the pros and cons and views of political parties in India. (e) Chapter V Implications of the Deal. This chapter highlights the strategic implications in terms of economic, geopolitical and military of Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. (f) Chapter VI The Way Ahead for Energy Security. Initially India neglected its power requirement and now going for nuclear power. On one hand developed country like Germany is against nuclear power and on other side France in going for it. This chapter covers the analysis of this dichotomy and Indias necessity to go for it. In the end, recommendations for way ahead for India to achieve total energy security. CHAPTER II INDIAS ELECTRICAL ENERGY NEED AND PRESENT STATUS Indias Energy Security Challenge[3] 1. Electricity is one of the most important inputs to support the growing economy. Today, there is the requisite buying power to support the rapid growth of the power sector. At the same time, there are severe resources constrains looming large. The non-availability of power in required amounts could, in fact, severely restrict our developmental aspirations. 2. There is a need to look at nuclear energy associated with processes involving the nucleus of an atom in several million folds higher than the energy associated with processes that involve electron that orbit around the nucleus. The later forms the basis of energy through burning of fossil fuels. Nuclear energy released through fission or fusion of atomic nuclei and solar energy that we receive from the sun are the only two viable basic energy sources capable of meeting our long term energy needs. 3. Electricity Present Status in India?[4] India is a power deficit country with a high base and peak load deficit of around 9.8% and 16.6%, respectively. Currently, though coal-based plants contribute around 58 % of the installed capacity, that alone would not be sufficient to secure and fulfill Indias long-term Energy requirements. A broad estimate suggests that if the countrys coal consumption continues to grow at 5% pa, going ahead we might run out of coal reserves over the next 40-50 years, and even if new coal reserves are discovered and extracted, we might still run out of coal in the next 70-80 years. Installed Capacity > 120 GW. Gross Generation is 620 billion kWh. The current per capita power consumption in India is about 612 KWH per year. While the world average is 2596 KWH. Out of total power available in India, thermal power constitutes 64.6%, hydro power 24.7% and nuclear power 2.9%. The present power status of India is shown in fig 1. The details of nuclear power is s hown in fig 2 Indian Energy Scenarios: 2030 4. Nuclear Power[5] will play a significant role in the long-term energy mix of the country with the government planning to raise its contribution from the current level of 2.9% (4,120 MW) to around 10% (64,000-65,000 MW) of the countrys installed capacity by 2030.[6] 5. Details of Nuclear Power Plants in India.[7] Currently, seventeen nuclear power reactors produce 4,120 MW (2.9% of total installed base). Power station Operator State Type Units Total capacity (MW) Kaiga NPCIL Karnataka PHWR 220 x 3 660 Kakrapar NPCIL Gujarat PHWR 220 x 2 440 Kalpakkam NPCIL Tamil Nadu PHWR 220 x 2 440 Narora NPCIL Uttar Pradesh PHWR 220 x 2 440 Rawatbhata NPCIL Rajasthan PHWR 100 x 1, 200 x 1, 220 x 2 740 Tarapur NPCIL Maharashtra BWR(PHWR) 160 x 2, 540 x 2 1400 Total 17 4120 6. The projects under construction are: Power station Operator State Type Units Total capacity (MW) Kaiga NPCIL Karnataka PHWR 220 x 1 220 Rawatbhata NPCIL Rajasthan PHWR 220 x 2 440 Kudankulam NPCIL Tamil Nadu VVER-1000 1000 x 2 2000 Kalpakkam NPCIL Tamil Nadu PFBR 500 x 1 500 Total 6 3160 7. The planned projects are: Power station Operator State Type Units Total capacity (MW) Kakrapar NPCIL Gujarat PHWR 640 x 2 1280 Rawatbhata NPCIL Rajasthan PHWR 640 x 2 1280 Kudankulam NPCIL Tamil Nadu VVER-1200 1200 x 2 2400 Jaitapur NPCIL Maharastra EPR 1600 x 4 6400 Kaiga NPCIL Karnataka PWR 1000 x 1, 1500 x 1 2500 Bhavini PFBR 470 x 4 1880 NPCIL AHWR 300 300 NTPC PWR 1000 x 2 2000 NPCIL PHWR 640 x 4 2560 Total 10 20600 8. The following projects are firmly proposed. Power station Operator State Type Units Total capacity (MW) Kudankulam NPCIL Tamil Nadu VVER-1200 1200 x 2 2400 Jaitapur NPCIL Maharashtra EPR 1600 x 2 3200 Pati Sonapur Orissa PWR 6000 Kumaharia Haryana PWR 2800 Saurashtra Gujarat PWR Pulivendula NPCIL 51%, AP Genco 49% Andhra Pradesh PWR 2000 x 1 2000 Kovvada Andhra Pradesh PWR Haripur West Bengal PWR Total 15 16400 9. The following projects are proposed and to be confirmed soon. Power station Operator State Type Units Total capacity (MW) Kudankulam NPCIL Tamil Nadu VVER-1200 1200 x 2 2400 Total 2 2400 10. Summary of total nuclear power generation capacity by 2030. Sl No. Project Units Total capacity (MW) 1 Present nuclear power reactors 17 4120 2 Projects under construction 06 3160 3 Planned projects 10 20600 4 Projects firmly proposed 15 16400 5 Proposed and to be confirmed 02 2400 Total 50 46680 11. Department of Atomic Energy. This independent department has all matter related to atomic energy under its purview, and is responsible for designing, commissioning, constructing and operating nuclear power plants. 12. National Electricity Policy.[8] The GOI decided and notified the National Electricity Policy in Feb 2005 (Min of Power, 2005). The policy aims at accelerated development of power sector, providing supply of electricity to all areas and protecting interests of consumers. The policy prescribes development of rural electrification distribution backbone to be completed in next five years, Some of the points on which the policy emphasizes on are:- (a) Nuclear power is an established source of energy to meet the base load demand. Share of nuclear power in the overall capacity profile will need to be increased significantly. (b) Creation of adequate generation capacity with a spinning reserve of a least 5% by 2012 with availability of installed capacity at 85%. (c) Full development of hydro potential. (d) Development of National Grid. (e) Exploitation of non-conventional energy such as small hydro, solar, biomass and wind for additional power generation capacity. 13. Outcome of the Deal. The Indian nuclear power industry is expected to undergo a significant expansion in the coming years thanks in part to the passing of the Indo-US nuclear deal. This agreement will allow India to carry out trade of nuclear fuel and technologies with other countries and significantly enhance its power generation capacity. India is expected to generate an additional 25,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020, bringing total estimated nuclear power generation to 45,000 MW. Following a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in September 2008 which allowed it to commence international nuclear trade, India has signed nuclear deals with several other countries including France, United States, Namibia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan while the framework for similar deals with Canada and United Kingdom are also being prepared. In February 2009, India also signed a $700 million deal with Russia for the supply of 2000 tons nuclear fuel. India now envisages to increase the contribution of nuclear power to overall electricity generation capacity from 4.2% to 9% within 25 years. In 2010, Indias installed nuclear power generation capacity will increase to 6,000 MW. As of 2009, India stands 9th in the world in terms of number of operational nuclear power reactors and is constructing 9 more, including two EPRs being constructed by Frances Areva. Indigenous atomic reactors include TAPS-3, and -4, both of which are 540 MW reactors. Indias $717 million fast breeder reactor project is expected to be operational by 2010. 14. Nuclear Power Growth. India, being a non-signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has been subjected to a defacto nuclear embargo from members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) cartel. This has prevented India from obtaining commercial nuclear fuel, nuclear power plant components and services from the international market, thereby forcing India to develop its own fuel, components and services for nuclear power generation. The NSG embargo has had both negative and positive consequences for Indias Nuclear Industry. On one hand, the NSG regime has constrained India from freely importing nuclear fuel at the volume and cost levels it would like to support the countrys goals of expanding its nuclear power generation capacity to at least 20,000 MW by 2020. Also, by precluding India from taking advantage of the economies of scale and safety innovations of the global nuclear industry, the NSG regime has driven up the capital and operating costs and damaged the achievable safe ty potential of Indian nuclear power plants. On the other hand, the NSG embargo has forced the Indian government and bureaucracy to support and actively fund the development of Indian nuclear technologies and industrial capacities in all key areas required to create and maintain a domestic nuclear industry. This has resulted in the creation of a large pool of nuclear scientists, engineers and technicians that have developed new and unique innovations in the areas of Fast Breeder Reactors, Thermal Breeder Reactors, the Thorium fuel cycle, nuclear fuel reprocessing and Tritium extraction production. Ironically, had the NSG sanctions not been in place, it would have been far more cost effective for India to import foreign nuclear power plants and nuclear fuels than to fund the development of Indian nuclear power generation technology, building of Indias own nuclear reactors, and the development of domestic uranium mining, milling and refining capacity. 15. India has already been using imported enriched uranium and are currently under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, but it has developed various aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle to support its reactors. Development of select technologies has been strongly affected by limited imports. Use of heavy water reactors has been particularly attractive for the nation because it allows Uranium to be burnt with little to no enrichment capabilities. India has also done a great amount of work in the development of a Thorium centered fuel cycle. While Uranium deposits in the nation are limited, there are much greater reserves of Thorium and it could provide hundreds of times the energy with the same mass of fuel. The fact that Thorium can theoretically be utilized in heavy water reactors has tied the development of the two. A prototype reactor that would burn Uranium-Plutonium fuel while irradiating a Thorium blanket is under construction at the Madras/Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station. CHAPTER III NUCLEAR ENERGY ITS MYTH AND REALITY Nuclear Energy in India[9] 1. Nuclear energy is the fourth-largest source of electricity in India after thermal, hydro and renewable sources of electricity. As of 2008, India has 17 nuclear power plants in operation generating 4,120 MW while 6 other are under construction and are expected to generate an additional 3,160 MW. Since early 1990s, Russia has been a major source of nuclear fuel to India. Due to dwindling domestic uranium reserves, electricity generation from nuclear power in India declined by 12.83% from 2006 to 2008. To appreciate the Indo US nuclear deal better, let us understand the basics of generation of nuclear energy. 2. Nuclear Reactor. The basis of nuclear power is the fission process. This is the process of splitting of a fissionable atoms nucleus, releasing energy in the form of heat, which can be converted through steam turbine and a generator into electricity. The only naturally occurring fissionable material is Uranium and said to be fissile because its nucleus has an affinity to a colliding neutron which it absorbs, splits into two smaller particles and emits two or more neutrons and produces vast amounts of energy. This process is called fission chain reaction. The neutrons produced as result of fission reaction in the reactor have excessive energy levels and they move at a great speed. In a nuclear reactor a chain reaction cannot be sustained with fast moving neutrons. So the fast paced neutrons are slowed down by an element called a moderator. The two substances that are used as a moderator in a Uranium reactor are heavy water and graphite. A majority of the nuclear reactors in the worl d use natural uranium as fuel and light water as moderator and hence they are called the Light Water Reactor. These are essentially boiling water reactor (BWR) or Pressurized water reactor (PWR). In a BWR, the cooling water is allowed to boil inside the reactor at a temp of 290 deg and pressure of 70 atmospheres. The steam is then fed directly to the turbines and re-circulated to the reactor. In a PWR the pressure inside the reactor vessel is kept at 150 atmospheres so as to prevent the cooling water from boiling at temperatures up to 350 deg. This water is fed out of the reactor vessel to a steam generator where it passes through thousands of tubes immersed in water at a much lower pressure. The secondary cooling water boils and drives the turbines. The other type of reactors those use heavy water as moderator is called Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). 3. Nuclear Fuel Cycle. Nuclear fuel needs to be processed optimally for use and thereafter disposed off safely. All these activities form part of the nuclear fuel cycle. Indias share of Natural Uranium reserve of the entire globe is 0.8 %. At the same time that of Thorium is over 32% of the worlds reserve. A Uranium Mill is a chemical plant designed to extract uranium from ore. The final product that goes out of from the mill, commonly referred to as yellow cake, contains more than 60% of uranium. 4. Nuclear Waste Reprocessing. The fuel which went into the reactor is removed after anywhere between 18 months to about 3 years. This spent fuel highly radioactive waste. The Uranium which comprises about 96% of the spent fuel can be recycled as fresh fuel elements. It could be used to fuel breeder reactors or can be used to make a nuclear bomb. 5. Uranium Enrichment. Purification and chemical conversion of uranium concentrate to uranium hexafluoride is needed since yellowcake is not directly usable as nuclear reactor fuel. The uranium hexafluoride is used in a natural uranium fuel reactor. The enriched uranium is now sent to a fuel fabrication plant where it is changed into uranium dioxide powder. The powder is pressed into small pellets, which are then put into metal tubes, forming fuel rods. These fuel rods are put together to form a fuel assembly. Advantages and Disadvantages 6. The advantages of electricity produced from nuclear source are as follows :- (a) Cost- Effective Option. A kilogram of uranium can produces a million times more energy as compared to a kilogram of coal or a kilogram of hydrocarbon. One kg uranium can produce as much electricity as 1500 tons of coal. It will not only diversify Indias power generation portfolio but also reduces pressure on railway transportation of coal for the thermal power plants. (b) Environmentally Sustainable. Non-emission of greenhouse gases that have threatened the global climate. The reduction in annual coal consumption ~ 100 Million Tons. Reduction in annual CO2 Emissions > 170 Million Tons. This will help ease global demand for crude oil and natural gas. 7. The disadvantages of nuclear power plants are as follows :- (a) Initial Cost. Conventional nuclear plants are expensive, being perhaps two to three times the cost of comparable coal or gasification plants, with much of this expenditure required to insure the safety of the public. The production process is relatively simple and involves using nuclear heat to create steam that subsequently drives a turbine generator. However, the high cost of the plants (billions of dollars) can introduce potentially high financial risks to owners and investors alike, as history has demonstrated. While the plants are relatively inefficient (~33%), the price of nuclear fuel, as with coal, is a fraction of the cost of natural gas. Nuclear plants operate at full power for technical reasons and avoid the daily routine large load swings of the electrical grid. Fossil plants are normally used for such purposes. Indias Nuclear Energy Programme 8. Indias nuclear resource endowments are modest in terms of uranium, which is the only naturally available material that contains a fissionable component. On other hand thorium endowments are vast. But unlike uranium it is non fissionable. 9. Three-StageProgramme Indias strategies for large scale development of nuclear energy focused towards utilization of thorium and three stages nuclear power program is as given under : (a) The first stage of Indian Nuclear Power employs the PHWRs fuelled by uranium, to produce plutonium. (b) The second stage, Plutonium put in Fast breeder reactor with uranium, with a blanket of thorium, to convert some of the thorium into uranium. (c) In the third stage, Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) would burn Thorium and U 233 as fuel. This is what we finally want to achieve in the years to come. The AHWR test reactor is in final phase of design. 10. Nuclear Energy for Indias Energy Security.[10][11] The CHAPTER IV Indo US Civilian Nuclear Deal Indo-US Relations 1. Historical Perspective. The nuclear energy history started way back in 1950 when US helped India to develop nuclear energy under the atoms for peace program. In 1968 India refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) claiming it was biased. India, Pakistan and Israel never signed NPT and North Korea signed but withdrew later. In 1974 came a turning point when India tested its first nuclear bomb made by the materials from the Canadian reactor. Canada and US stopped selling nuclear fuel to India and US placed severe restrictions on transfer of dual use technologies to India. India was a target of American ideological and geopolitical antagonism. Bilateral relations between the two countries were victims of incompatible obsessions of Indias with Pakistan and Americas with the erstwhile USSR. 2. Post Pokharan II. Indias nuclear blasts of 1998 not only shook the Thar desert, but also rocked the very foundations of the Global Nuclear Order. US administration promptly imposed sanctions and also mobilized other nations in doing so. Indias nuclear policy thus became the single most contentious issue in bilateral relations. The country was treated like pariah, especially by the US and 45 member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) countries and isolated India for more than three decades, refusing nuclear co-operation. Sanctions were heaped on India. Indian nuclear scientists were unwelcome at international seminars in their field. 3. Post 9/11. In 2000, the US has moved to build a strategic partnership with India. The terrorists strike of 11 Sep 01 resulted in convergence of strategic interests of both the sides. India supported American actions whole heartedly and defence cooperation was at new heights. An agreement on Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) was signed in Jan 2004 which included areas such as missile defence, cooperation in civilian nuclear, space programme and high technology trade. The foundation and indeed the underpinning of the nuclear agreement was the signing of a ten year New Framework for Defence Relationship (NFDR) in June 2005 as a prelude to the historic agreement of 18 Jul 05, when India and the US agreed to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear agreement. Landmark Deal 4. On 18 Jul 2005, India and the US sign the landmark Civilian Nuclear Deal in Washington DC and surprise the world. The deal was signed by US President Mr George Bush and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The US dismantle the complex architecture that it had set up to isolate India after 1974 nuclear test and deny it access to civilian nuclear technology. 5. Hyde Act. On 18 Dec 2006, the US congress passed the Henry J Hyde United States-India peaceful atomic energy co-operation act 2006 (PAEC Act 2006) popularly called as ‘Hyde Act, amending the atomic energy act that had prohibited American entities from trading with countries that didnt sign the NPT or had done a nuclear test. India fitted into both categories. The US Senate voted emphatically in favor of 86 to 13. In reality, the Hyde Act is an enabling legi

Tragic Comedy of Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire Essay exa

A Streetcar Named Desire as Tragic Comedy      Ã‚   Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire is considered by many critics to be a â€Å"flawed† masterpiece. This is because William’s work utilizes and wonderfully blends both tragic and comic elements that serve to shroud the true nature of the hero and heroine, thereby not allowing the reader to judge them on solid actuality. Hence, Williams has been compared to writers such as Shakespeare who, in literature, have created a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty in finding a sole â€Å"view or aspect † in their works. Because of the highly tragic elements encountered in Streetcar, many immediately label it a tragedy. Nevertheless, the immense comical circumstances encountered in the play contradict the sole role of tragedy and leave the reader pondering the true nature of the work, the question being whether it is a tragedy with accidental comic incidences or a comedy with weak melodramatic occurrences. It has been said that the â€Å"double mask of tragicomedy reveals the polarity of the human condition†(Adler 47). The contrariety of forces in the work serves to enforce a sense of both reality and drama that are present in everyday human life. The comic elements in the play serve as a form of determined self-preservation just as the tragic elements add to the notion of self-destruction. This is the true nature of a tragicomedy. By juxtaposing two irreconcilable positions, ambiguity is produced in the judgment of the main characters, most notably Stanley Kowalski and Blanche Dubois (Riddell 83). Ambivalence in the play is largely caused by the relationship between Stanley and Blanche. They concurrently produce both appalling and appealing tendencies. Both characters display elements o... ...ilable forces come face to face. The two opposing forces are destined to become locked in a death grip and society will be the loser.    Works Cited Adler, Thomas P.   A Streetcar Named Desire: The Moth and the Lantern.   New York: Twayne, 1990. Baym, Nina et al, eds.   The Norton Anthology of American Literature.   New York: WW Norton & Co., 1995. Falk, Signi.   Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire.   Ed. Jordan Miller.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1971. Riddell, Joseph.   Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire.   Ed. Jordan Miller.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1971. Szeliski, John T. von.   Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire.   Ed. Jordan Miller.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1971. Williams, Tennessee.   The Theatre of Tennessee Williams.   New York: New Directions, 1971.   

Strategic Plan for the System – Essay

The System's Mission and Vision Every educational institution should have a mission, which is its specific purpose for existing. The mission of the institution must be stated in the school's catalog and in other publications readily available to the public. The mission must be completely, clearly, and simply stated In terms readily understandable by a prospective student, parents, the public, and other educational Institutions. The mission should be devoted substantially to career-related education and should be reasonable for the program of instruction and facilities of the institution.Each institution should be capable of demonstrating its educational effectiveness through assessment and documentation of student outcomes. This assessment must include evidence that the institution's annual retention and placement rates are in keeping with its mission. The Institution's mission statement should be consistent with educational and employment outcomes of Its students (Argosy. 201 2; Gut hrie & Ackermann. 2009). The corporate staff of the System originally developed the mission for all of the institutions within the System.Over the years the mission has been changed and updated to reflect the operations and culture of the schools. All employees and students have opportunities to express ideas and suggestions for the mission, so it comes a reflection of the way the employees and students, think and feel about the operations of the school. The villas of the System Is quite simple In that It Is: we care about the students, we care about the employees, and we care about the employers who hire the Students.Through this the mission is stated as: The System will demonstrate the we care vision by preparing career-focused, community-minded graduates for the global workforce through applied education. Strategic Planning Through this strategic planning process, the System strives to show that it cares about: student success, employment success, investment success, customer rev ive, communication, compliance, and community engagement. Student success shows that the System is committed to attracting students and delivering relevant, quality educational experiences that engage students and lead them to graduation and career success.Employment success shows that the System is dedicated to creating and maintaining a dynamic environment where performance Is recognized From a business perspective, the System cares and is concerned with investment success and providing a quality education that leads to a strong return on investment while exceeding the expectations of students, employers, employees, ND the surrounding community. This can only be done through engaging in and the management of effective communication and a culture of compliance.Once those items are in place, educational communities can be developed, so that all stakeholders feel as if they have a say and vested interest in the System as a whole. Key Decision Makers There are several key decision mak ers in the system. The founder of the System is the sole member of the Board of Directors that governs each campus. The founder also oversees a management group that manages the day-to-day operations of each campus as well as corporate support operations.The management team consists of the following positions: Campus Directors, six Regional Directors, and corporate directors as follows: Director of Marketing; Director of Research and Development; Director of Human Resources; Director of Government and Community Relations; Director of Information Technology; Director of Operations; Real Estate Development Manager; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Operating Officer, Provost and Vice President of Network Operations. Without the approval of all of the key decision makers, the accreditation process may be hindered and cannot move forward.Available Resources As the System moves towards accreditation, it must keep in mind the basic available resources and how those play a role within the sys tem. Those available resources include: faculty, financial resources, personnel, library information services, information technology, and space allocation and physical location maintenance. Before accreditation can be sought, these items must be examined to determine if they are adequate enough to support and sustain campus accreditation.The faculty within the System is the most important component of operation. It is through casualty in which the System meets the objectives of the mission statement. It is also through faculty, that students are successful. The quality of curricula and delivery is primarily the main focus of faculty. Aside from classroom responsibilities, they are involved in curricular planning and development, book selection, hardware and software selection, and student advising. It is also largely through the faculty that the expectations of students are met.The financial resources of The System are allocated adequately to maintain a high standard of maintenance and support revise, and to allow the school to competitively seek and acquire qualified faculty and staff. Through this, educational needs of students are met while providing excellent customer service. Customer service is one of the reasons students choose to attend college in the System. The System strives to hire high-caliber faculty and support them with experienced management and administrative personnel.The System also seeks to support faculty and staff by having adequate resources for them to do their Jobs, compensating them adequately for their service, and providing them with professional development opportunities in their fields. The goal of library information services is to provide students with the resources, support, and learning environment necessary to successfully complete the courses in knowledge and skills required for their careers. In addition to this, library support services maintains a website so that students are able to access library resources remotely in order allow information to enhance their educational experience.The corporate information technology group plays an integral role in ensuring all computer equipment, hardware and software, as well as on-line connectivity, meets today's demanding technical needs. There is a corporate director of technology who ultimately oversees the purchase of technical equipment and assists the campus with its technical needs. There are also individuals who are hired to work at the information technology helpless which further aids in the support of student and faculty in regards to troubleshooting and general system maintenance.In regards to allocation of space and facilities maintenance, the institution's present locations are large enough to handle both the current student population, as well as allowing for growth. The System employs a contracted facilities person during the day to keep lacrosse and facilities clean and in good condition, as well as an evening facilities employee who prepares the building for daily use. All of the resources above contribute to a comfortable and positive environment where students actively participate in their educational process. All of the above helps the System to fulfill the mission and responsibility to students.Data Availability Data is currently collected from several sources including the campus accountability report, student surveys, graduate surveys, employer surveys, and program advisory committee meeting minutes, annual assessment done by program rear for program effectiveness, course evaluations, and national examinations specific to career areas as applicable. The data is collected and analyzed on a quarterly and/or annual basis, subject to the various assessment tools. The Campus Effectiveness Plan (CAPE) spreadsheet identifies at a glance the data collection schedule.Annually the management team (campus and corporate directors) meets and incorporates the data results and analysis in the overall strategic planning process. The System President reviews the information with the management team during regularly scheduled quarterly planning meetings and in an annual strategic landing session. Together, all involved use the data to recommend changes in the programs, their respective facilities, personnel, and the overall operations of the school to provide the best possible education for students and to ensure achievement of the main objective of placing students in their chosen career fields.The System plans to improve effectiveness by assessing and analyzing the identified data (student surveys, program advisory committee meetings, retention rates, placement rates, employer surveys, graduate surveys, extrinsic site evaluations, student suggestions, and administrative meetings within and among campuses) and determine strengths and continue to build upon them, as well identify areas that need improvement and refinement.This data is evaluated on several levels by the following departments: administration, education, and financial aid/student accounts, as well as each programmatic area, student services, and career services. Each department identifies developmental areas and outcomes, and responses to the outcomes will be integrated and/or administered either departmentally and/or campus wide. Communication is also very critical component of self-assessment and student and employer suggestions and respond accordingly.The campus director discusses the results of the outcomes quarterly with the campus management team, and business review information is discussed monthly. The campus responds to all outcomes that show positive or negative trends. Each program chair reviews the outcome measurements that correspond to specific program plans. The results of these assessments are discussed at program meetings quarterly and program advisory committee meetings, typically annually.The faculty teaching in the program and the advisory committee members contribute ideas for curricular or programmat ic enhancements and changes that relate to aerogram improvement. The campus directors regularly evaluate the plan and share the plan with their campus management team, and with the corporate management team, which includes directors from other campuses and corporate positions. Below is a more specific timeline for the current year in regards to the accreditation process. Key Stakeholders As previously mentioned, the key stakeholders are the students, the faculty, the campus personnel, and the community at large.In respect to accreditation process, data collection takes these key stakeholders in mind, from the surveys administered o how the surveys are administered. Anyone who is considered a key stakeholder is encouraged to participate with respect to how their comments and participation influences decisions made within the System, and ultimately whether or not the accrediting body will grant accreditation or not. Due to this, it is important that the key decision makers provide a p ositive and inviting environment from the beginning so that key stakeholders are willing to participate and give feedback accordingly.Timeline The timeline for obtaining accreditation will be as follows: Spring 2012 Semester will immense the compilation of data from various data sources as previously mentioned to complete the self study process as defined by the accrediting body. During this time, all stakeholders will meet to review and discuss key components of the self-study in an effort to have it completed in a timely manner. Once this has been done, the self-study will be submitted to legal counsel, the Board of Directors, the President, and the Provost for further review.Summer 2012 Semester, the self- study will be submitted to the accrediting body for the application process. The crediting body will have the completed application and self-study for review approximately two months in which the System will continue to compile data and also make any necessary corrections as in dicated. The time frame for providing information is indicated by the accrediting body and should be no longer than three months from when the required information and necessary corrections have been noted and requested in writing.This will then take the process into the Fall 2012 Semester where at that time; the final application will be reviewed by all stakeholders and submitted. From the time of the final application submission to the actual approval or denial of accreditation shall be no more than six months time which will then take the strategic plan time frame into the Winter 2013 Semester. To conclude, from initial data collection and self-study process, the process shall take no less than a year and makers will need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the strategic plan and make adjustments as needed.At the conclusion of the accreditation application process, the key decision maker will have a final review meeting to go over a SOOT analysis so s to improve the process when the System seeks accreditation elsewhere. Conclusion In order for a strategic plan to be effective, the input of all the key players, data analysis and collection, evaluation, and implementation along with other variables including resources and timeline must be in place.These items must not only be in place, but also done with respect to the mission and the vision of the organization in which the strategic plan is going to be implemented (Argosy, 2012; Guthrie & Ackermann, 2009). In effect, the strategic planning process is not self serving nor is t single purposed, but rather the strategic plan keeps in mind the key stakeholders and how what is planned and implemented will impact, people, policies, processes, and procedures.

Alternative to GDP

Topic: â€Å"There is rising criticism of the widespread use of GDP as an indicator of the health of an economy. In fact, some experts are of the opinion that GDP growth is making the society poorer. Critically analyse this opinion in view of the concept of sustainability and also discuss some alternate measures being suggested and their implications to the businesses? † GDP as an economic measure of the economic progress of a country Gross domestic product (GDP) is considered one of the most important factors that determine the economic activity and hence the progress of the development of a country. It is the monetary value of all the final goods and services produced by a country in a specified time. Therefore, it is considered that if the country’s economic production increases, other factors remaining positive, then it positively benefits all the citizens of the country. It is hence used as an indicator for the country’s standard of living[1]. Therefore, greater the GDP, better the health of an economy and hence better the lives of the citizens. Reasons for criticism on the use of GDP as an indicator of economic progress As GDP measures the monetary value of the final goods and services produced, it means that the money spent on the country’s well-being for example, millions spent on manufacturing fancy electronic gadgets, constructing a prison, cutting forests to use wood for production of further goods – are all considered at par while measuring the GDP. There is no emphasis on the quality of the output, the progress of the country in terms of the social state of affairs, human happiness, etc. As these are essential ingredients in determining the health of an economy, the concept of using GDP as a measuring scale of the economic progress of a country if criticised. Disadvantages of GDP GDP is criticised on many aspects – it obscures growing inequality, aids depletion of resources and one of the most prominent criticisms is that it measures expenditure on education at par with expenditure on cigarettes i. e. it does not differentiate whether the spending that aids the GDP percentage is going towards a positive or negative cause. GDP does not measures the economic services that nature provides – for example, prevention of floods and landslides by existence of dense forests – it does not account for health, clean environment, etc. i. e. GDP falls short in taking into account equally important things that exist to make a country liveable by fostering social cohesion, along with just the monetary value of goods and services * GDP takes into account the gove rnment spending, but from where the funding is sourced and where it is utilized is not taken into account. Hence, government borrowing is considered good for a country as far as GDP calculation is concerned * Money transactions that take place unofficially and go unrecorded are not accounted for in the calculation of GDP. Hence it does not help in avoiding taxes or prevention of illegal transactions and spending of such huge amount goes unnoticed * Harmful side effects like, pollution is not accounted for in the GDP. No deductions are made from GDP for their harmful effects but addition to GDP is made by market transactions that aid in removing these harmful effects. Hence the calculation of GDP is not balanced * The GDP takes into account the goods and services produced but not exchanged for money. For example, volunteer work or growing own food and consuming it is not included in the GDP whereas expenditure on buying food from the market is taken into account [2]. Adverse effects of using GDP as a sole measure for economic success As GDP takes into account only some value created in the country and does not take into account several key transactions, GDP often increases at the expense of real growth and progress. The result is that GDP fails miserably as an indicator of economic success on the sustainability scale. The environmental and social aspects are not covered by the GDP. Alternative measures & their business implications There are several alternative indicators of the progress of a country. These measure economic activity, environmental or social activities, well-being or changes in environmental, social or human capital. * Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI): It provides a complete picture of economical and social progress. There are several indicators used to calculate GPI that are broadly classified under three categories – economic, environmental and social. The economic category indicators are similar to gross product measurement. The environment factors measure cost of pollution, cost of change to natural resources, cost of climate change, etc. The social indicator includes the value of education, lost leisure time, cost of crime, etc. This indicator has been adopted by the state of Maryland and is altered to include the impact of income inequality on the economy of the state. This indicator indicated the need to focus on reducing the level of income inequality in order to improve Maryland’s overall economic and social growth. Hence, this indicator has been successfully implemented that includes all the factors of well-being in a society. This leads to modified business practices in order to reduce inequality and improve economic, environmental and social spheres of the state * Human Development Index (HDI): It is used by the UNDP to show how the improvement in economic growth and human development is improving conditions of the human in the various countries. The HDI is defined as process of widening choices available to humans in order to live an educated, long and healthy life and to have access to resources to have a healthy and decent standard of living. It makes use of political freedom, human rights and self-respect to measure the index but as they are difficult to measure, the index uses longevity, knowledgeable and decent standards of livings as indicators in lieu of prosperous and long lives. * Gross National Happiness (GNH): It is frequently used as an alternative measure of progress. It was originally suggested by Bhutan to be used instead of using GDP as an appropriate measure of progress. It measures quality of life or social progress in consistency with Bhutan’s culture and spiritual values rather than focusing more on economic activity. It measures seven types of wellness – economic, environmental, physical, mental, workplace, social and political. Several conferences have also been held on use of GNH and it was primarily used to base the progress of the country on reflections of the country’s Buddhist origins[3](Coztanza, Hart, Posner & Talberth, 2009). Conclusion There are several alternative measures that are suggested to be used to measure the progress and the social well-being of a country. GDP is flawed such that it aids detrimental activities and does not take into account the positive activities of a country. Hence, an alternative that measures not only the market value of final goods and service but which also takes into account the social, economic and environmental factors while calculating the progress of a country is imperative to lead to sustainable development. The current use of GDP leads to more consumption of harmful cigarettes with no emphasis on the environmental degradation from the industrial and business rocesses. Hence, although the economy is progressing in certain spheres of economic activity, it is indeed lagging on sustainable development which requires pollution control, reduced resource usage, better social and income equality. Therefore, alternate measures that take into account all the factors that impact a nation should be developed and the alternative measure that is a composite of all the factors should be used to ensure sustainable develop ment of the economy that reflects progress in daily lives of its citizens. References: 1. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdp.asp 2. http://zorach.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/why-gdp-gross-domestic-product-is-a-poor-measure-of-wealth-and-prosperity/ 3. (Coztanza, Hart, Posner & Talberth, 2009) – http://www.bu.edu/pardee/files/documents/PP-004-GDP.pdf

Important Phrases for English Phone Conversations

Important Phrases for English Phone Conversations Telephoning in English includes learning a number of special phrases, as well as focusing on listening skills. Some of the most important phrases include how to answer the phone, how to ask for others, how to connect, and how to take messages.   Introducing Yourself Here are a few ways to informally introduce yourself on the telephone: This is Ken.Hello, Ken speaking If youd like to reply more formally, use your full name. This is Jennifer Smith speaking.Hello, Jennifer Smith speaking. If you are answering for a business, just state the business name. In this case, its common to ask how you can help: Good morning, Thomson Company. How may I help you?Plumbers Insurance. How can I be of service today? British / American Difference Hello, this is KenBrighton 0987654 The first example response is in American English and the second is in  British English. As you can see there are differences in both forms. The telephone articles include both  British and American English, as well as phrases that are common to both forms. In  American English, we answer the phone stating This is ... In British English, its common to answer the phone by stating the telephone number. The phrase This is ... is used only on the telephone to substitute the phrase My name is ... which is not used to answer the telephone. Asking Who Is on the Telephone Sometimes, youll need to find out who is calling. Ask them politely for this information: Excuse me, who is this?May (Can) I ask who is calling, please? Asking for Someone At other times, youll need to speak to someone else. This is especially true when you telephone a business. Here are some examples: Can I have extension 321? (extensions are internal numbers at a company)Could I speak to...? (Can I - more informal / May I - more formal)Is Jack in? (informal idiom meaning: Is Jack in the office? Connecting Someone If you answer the phone, you might need to connect the caller to someone at your business. Here are some useful phrases: Ill put you through (put through - phrasal verb meaning connect)Can you hold the line? Can you hold on a moment? When Someone Is Not Available These phrases can be used to express that someone is not available  to speak on the telephone. Im afraid ... is not available at the momentThe line is busy... (when the extension requested is being used)Mr. Jackson isnt in... Mr. Jackson is out at the moment... Taking a Message If someone isnt available, you might want to take a message to help the caller.   Could (Can, May) I take a message?Could (Can, May) I tell him who is calling?Would you like to leave a message? Continue practicing your skills by using the  practical exercises  below which include information on leaving messages on the telephone, how to ask  native speakers  to slow down, role plays on the telephone and more. Practice With a Role Play Begin by learning important telephone English with the dialogue below. Here is a short telephone conversation with some of the key phrases: Operator: Hello, Frank and Brothers, How can I help you?Peter: This is Peter Jackson. Can I have extension 3421?Operator: Certainly, hold on a minute, Ill put you through... Frank: Bob Petersons office, Frank speaking.Peter: This is Peter Jackson calling, is Bob in? Frank: Im afraid hes out at the moment. Can I take a message?Peter: Yes, Could you ask him to call me at ... I need to talk to him about the Nuovo line, its urgent. Frank: Could you repeat the number please?Peter: Yes, thats ..., and this is Peter Jackson. Frank: Thank you Mr. Jackson, Ill make sure Bob gets this asap.Peter: Thanks, bye. Frank: Bye. As you can see, the language is rather informal and there are some important differences from face-to-face conversational English.

Macbeth Overview

'Macbeth' Overview Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, tells the story of a Scottish nobleman and his own ambition to become king. The source material is Holinshed’s Chronicle, which compiled a history of England, Scotland and Ireland. First published in its Folio edition in 1623, it is the shortest of Shakespeare’s tragedies. Despite its brevity, it had a rich legacy. Fast Facts: Macbeth Title: MacbethAuthor: William ShakespearePublisher:  Edward Blount and William and Isaac JaggardYear Published: First Edition, Folio, 1623Genre: dramaType of Work: tragedyOriginal Language: EnglishThemes: Ambition, fate, free will, loyalty, appearance vs. realityCharacters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, The Three Witches, Duncan, Banquo, MacduffNotable Adaptations: Orson Welles’ Voodoo Macbeth (1936); Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood (1957);  Roman Polanski’s The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971)Fun Fact: due to superstition, actors avoid addressing Macbeth by its name directly, and use the phrase â€Å"The Scottish Play† instead. Plot Summary Macbeth is a tragedy telling the story of the Scottish nobleman by the same name, consumed by his own ambition to become king and by the consequences of the acts he commits in order to achieve his goal. At the beginning of the play, after a victorious battle, Macbeth and fellow general Banquo meet three witches in a heath, and they deliver prophecies to both of them: Macbeth would become king of Scotland, and Banquo will father a line of kings while not becoming king himself. Encouraged by Lady Macbeth, his ruthless wife, Macbeth plans to kill King Duncan. After his murder, since his heir Malcolm and his brother Donalbain promptly flee to England and Ireland, respectively, Macbeth is crowned king. Consumed by guilt and paranoia, he becomes more and more of a tyrant as the play progresses. First he has Banquo killed, and his ghost visits him during a banquet. After consulting the witches again, who tell him to beware of Macduff and that he won’t be vanquished by anyone â€Å"of woman born,† he tries to have Macduff’s castle seized and everyone inside killed. However, since Macduff had gone to England to join forces with Malcolm, Macbeth only succeeds in having Macduff’s family killed. This prompts Macduff and Malcolm to raise an army aimed at dethroning Macbeth. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth, who initially was more assertive than her husband, has become consumed by guilt to the point of insanity and eventually kills herself. The Scottish generals rally against Macbeth, and Macduff manages to vanquish him- he was not â€Å"of woman born† but â€Å"from his mothers womb untimely ripped.†Ã‚  The play ends with Malcolm being crowned king of Scotland. Major Characters Macbeth. Macbeth is initially presented as a Scottish nobleman and a valiant warrior. However, after listening to the prophecy delivered by the Three Witches in which he is told he would be king, he is overcome by blind ambition, and, strongly encouraged by his wife, he kills the king to usurp the throne.  His thirst for power is counterbalanced by paranoia, which leads to his downfall. Lady Macbeth. Macbeth’s wife, she thinks her husband’s nature is too full of kindness. She is the one who devises the plot for her husband to murder King Duncan, and is initially less fazed by the deed than her husband. However, she eventually unravels too, and commits suicide. The Three Witches. Whether they control fate or are merely its agents, the Three Witches set the tragedy in motion: they deliver Macbeth and his companion Banquo with a prophecy that the former shall be king, and the latter shall generate a line of kings. These prophecies have a great influence on Macbeth, who decides to usurp the throne of Scotland. Banquo. Banquo is another Scottish thane who was with Macbeth when the witches delivered their prophecy. He is told that he will father a line of kings while not becoming king himself. After the king’s murder, Macbeth feels threatened by Banquo and has him murdered by hired assassins. Yet, Banquo returns as a ghost at a banquet, visibly startling Macbeth, who is the only one who can see him.   Macduff. Macduff finds King Duncan’s body after he was murdered and immediately suspects Macbeth. Eventually, he murders Macbeth. King Duncan. The wise and firm king of Scotland at the beginning of the play, he is murdered by Macbeth so he can usurp the throne. He represents moral order in the play, which Macbeth destroys and Macduff restores. Main Themes Ambition. Macbeth’s ambition is devoid of any morality and is the cause of Macbeth’s downfall. After becoming king of Scotland, Macbeth’s ambition turns him into a tyrant, and he has his suspected enemies murdered. Ambition is a trait his wife Lady Macbeth shares, and she, too, succumbs to it.   Loyalty. At he beginning of the play, King Duncan rewards Macbeth with the title â€Å"Thane of Cawdor† because the original Thane of Cawdor was actually a traitor, but Macbeth betrays the king in order to usurp the throne. Macduff, who suspects Macbeth once he sees the king’s corpse, flees to England to join Duncan’s son Malcolm, and together they plan the downfall of Macbeth and restore the moral order.   Fate and free will. The witches do show Macbeth his future and his fate, but Macbeth’s actions are arbitrary and not pre-ordained.   Appearance and reality. â€Å"Fair is foul and foul is fair,† is one of the famous quotes in Macbeth, and appearance and reality intermingle in the play: the witches give out paradoxical prophecies and characters hide their true intentions. For example, Macbeth seems honorable but actually plans to murder King Duncan. Malcolm soon flees Scotland after his father’s murder, which seems suspicious at first, but it’s actually a way for him to protect himself. Literary Style The language used by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth evolves throughout the play.  At first, they’re both characterized by a fluent and energetic style, but, as their ambition gradually overtakes them, their speech becomes fragmented. For instance, while prose in Shakespeares plays is reserved to characters of low social orders, once Lady Macbeth is overcome by madness, she utters her lines in prose too. By contrast, the witches speak in enigmatic riddles interposed with grotesque elements.   About the Author William Shakespeare, who wrote ten tragedies and eighteen comedies, wrote King Lear (1605), Macbeth (1606), and The Tempest during King James’ reign. King James was patron of Shakespeare’s acting company, and Macbeth, by stating that King James descended from the Scottish thane Banquo, is a de facto tribute to Shakespeare’s sovereign.

Cargo Vessel Size Classifications

Cargo Vessel Size Classifications Cargo shipping is a low margin business model that requires vessels to be fully loaded in order to sustain profitable operations. When a ship is in the design phase it is almost always structured in a specific classification of naval architecture and built to serve a specific route or purpose. Vessels that are built to pass through specific bottlenecks while carrying the maximum amount of cargo are termed â€Å"-max†. For example, a freighter designed to pass through the Panama Canal are called Panamax. This means that the ship will fit into a minimum bounding box that matches the dimensions of the smallest locks in the canal. A bounding box is measured in three dimensions and includes areas under water and above the ship in addition to maximum length and width. In a maritime specific case, the dimensions of the bounding box have some different but still familiar names. Draft is the measurement from the surface of the water to the bottom. The beam is the width of a vessel at its’ widest point. Length is measured as the overall length of a ship but in some cases, maximum dimensions might consider the length at the waterline which can differ significantly from length overall (LOA) because of the Deadrise of the hull. The final measurement is Air Draft which is the measure of the maximum height above the waterline of any structure on the ship. Other terms you will see are Gross Tonnage (GT) and Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT) and while many perceive this as a measure of weight it is actually described best as a measure of the volume of the vessel’s hull. Weight only factors in when an equivalent weight of water displaced by the hull needs to be expressed. Now let’s get to the definitions. Ship Size Definitions Most of these definitions pertain to cargo vessels but they can be applied to any kind of ship. Military and cruise ships can also be classified under these definitions but the most common usage concerns cargo ships. Aframax- This classification almost always refers to an oil tanker although it is occasionally applied to other bulk commodities. These vessels serve oil producing areas with limited port resources or where man-made canals lead to terminals that load raw petroleum products. The size limitations in this class are few. The main restriction is the beam of a vessel which in this case cannot exceed 32.3 Meters or 106 feet. The tonnage of this type of vessel is approximately 120,000 DWT. Capesize- Here is one of the instances where the naming scheme is different but the concept is the same. A Capesize class of ship is limited by the depth of the Suez Canal which is currently 62 feet or about 19 meters. The soft geology of the region has allowed the canal to be dredged to a greater depth since it was first built and it possible the canal will be dredged again in the future so this classification may change its maximum draft limit. Capesize vessels are large bulk carriers and tankers that get their name from the route they must take to bypass the Suez Canal. This route takes the past the Cape of Good Hope in Africa or Cape Horn off of South America depending on the final destination of the ship. The displacement of these vessels can range from 150,000 to as much as 400,000 DWT. Chinamax- Chinamax is a little bit different since it is determined by the size of port facilities rather than physical obstructions. This term is not only applied to ships but also to port facilities themselves. Ports that can accommodate these very large vessels are referred to as Chinamax compatible. These ports do not necessarily need to be anywhere near China they only need to meet the draft requirements of dry bulk carriers in the 350,000 to 400,000 DWT range while not exceeding 24 meters or 79 feet of draft, 65 meters or 213 feet of beam, and 360 meters 1,180 feet of overall length. Malaccamax- Here is another situation for naval architects where the main restriction is draft of the vessel. The Strait of Malacca has a depth of 25 meters or 82 feet so ships of this class must not exceed this depth at the lowest point of the tidal cycle. Vessels serving this route can gain capacity in the design phase by increasing beam and length at the waterline in order to carry a greater capacity in a limited draft situation. Panamax- This class is the most commonly recognized to most people since it refers to the Panama Canal which is quite famous in its own right. The current size limitations are 294 meters or 965 feet in length, 32 meters or 106 feet of beam, 12 meters or 39.5 feet of draft, and 58 meters or 190 feet of air draft so vessels can fit under the Bridge of the Americas. The canal opened in 1914 and by 1930 there were already plans to enlarge the locks to pass larger vessels. In 2014 a third larger set of locks will begin operations and define a new class of vessels called New Panamax. New Panamax has size limitations of 366 meters or 1200 feet in overall length, 49 meters or about 160 feet of beam, and a draft of 15 meters or 50 feet. The air draft will remain the same under the Bridge of the Americas which is now the main limiting factor for large vessels passing through the canal. Seawaymax- This class of vessels is designed to achieve the maximum size for passage through the Saint Lawrence Seaway inbound or outbound from the Great Lakes system. The locks of the Seaway are the limiting factor and can receive ships no larger than 225.5 meters or 740 feet of overall length, about 24 meters or 78 feet of beam, about 8 meters or 26 feet of draft, and an air draft of 35.5 meters or 116 feet above the water. Larger vessels operate on the lakes but they are unable to reach the sea because of the bottleneck at the locks. Supermax, Handymax- Once again this is a class of ships that is not restricted by a specific set of locks or bridges but instead, it refers to cargo capacity and the ability to use ports. Ports are often designated to be Supermax or Handymax compatible. Supermax as you probably guessed is the largest of the vessels with a size of around 50,000 to 60,000 DWT and can be as long as 200 meters or 656 feet. Handymax vessels are slightly smaller and have a displacement of 40,000 to 50,000 DWT. These ships are usually at least 150 meters or 492 feet. Suezmax- The Suez Canal’s dimensions are the limiting factor for ship size in this case. Since there are no locks along the one hundred plus miles of the canal the only limitations are draft and air draft. The canal has a useful draft of 19 meters or 62 feet and vessels are limited by the height of the Suez Canal Bridge which has a clearance of 68 meters or 223 feet.

HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

HR - Essay Example The company’s structure is clearly shown in the diagram below. The chief executive is at the top of the hierarchy and is in charge of all the operations in the company. Below him in the hierarchy is the management board and the customer and operations executive (British airways Plc.). In the daily operations of the company the chief executive is assisted by the chief financial officer and the leadership team. The members of the leadership include the commercial director, the chief information officer, the director of engineering, director of people and organizational effectiveness, general counsel and director of investments and alliances (British airways Plc.). The company’s SWOT analysis is used to show the company’s strategic positioning in the market and its strengths and weaknesses. The company boasts of having a wide range of strengths making it a market leader in the airline industry in the UK and the global scene. To begin with, the company has a strong brand image that makes it stand out in the market. Secondly, the opensky agreement supports its operations (British airways Plc.). Thirdly, the company has an expansive fleet which translates to a huge customer base. Fourthly, the company has a highly skilled work force that ensures delivery of quality customer service. Finally, the company benefits from economies of scale due to its level of operations and vast market base. On the other hand, the company is faced by various weaknesses including competition in cost as compared to ‘low fare’ airlines (British airways Plc.). Increasing costs of managing operations in various parts of the world, huge debt burdens and unfunded employee post retirement benefits. Other weaknesses include a high number of labor strikes and a powerful labor union. The company can exploit opportunities in various areas. These include emerging markets in Asia Pacific and other parts of the world (British airways Plc.). British Airways faces

Cultural Awareness of Israel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cultural Awareness of Israel - Essay Example Similarly, the culture of Israel is unique in the sense that it is the only country in the world with a majority of Jewish community. Culture, as defined by Anderson and Taylor, is ‘a complex system of meanings and behavior that defines the way of life for a given group or society. It includes beliefs, values, knowledge, art, morals, law, customs, habits, language and dress’ (Anderson and Taylor, pp. 54). 1. Culture is shared: the culture of people living as part of a group is similar with each other to a great extent. The values and belief of the group have been developed through an agreement or principles defined through decades or even centuries; 2. Culture is learned: Culture is not a birth acquired part of a human; but is rather inbred in the person through his parents, guardian, friends and family. A person is taught the way of the society by people around him to such an extent that his thought process is also aligned with the other people in a similar culture; 3. Culture is taken for granted: Since the culture is inbred in a person since his birth, he accepts it as a part of life without questioning the rationality behind the continuance of certain traditions or laws. A person is aware of his cultural differences but most do not usually deviate from their cultural makeup; 4. Culture is composed of symbols: There are always symbols in a society that are unique from other society. A symbol may hold special reverence for one community but may mean nothing for another. The meaning that people give to certain symbols is actually what makes them unique from others. 5. Culture is dynamic: As people migrate from one area to another, they take their cultural belongings with them. Their thoughts, ideas and opinions travel with them and infuse in the thoughts, ideas and opinions of the people they meet. In this manner, cultures continue evolving and are dynamic in nature (Anderson and Taylor, pp. 54-48). Israel, officially names

The British Industrial Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The British Industrial Revolution - Essay Example It is a period of modernisation is various aspects of life including social changes and other economic changes that signify a great stride in the life of the society. Industrial development of any society is closely related to the innovations which help to change the nature of life of the society. It is marked by large-scale development of energy. In this case there is increased use of energy and metallurgy production. Industrialization also comes with philosophical changes in the societies. In this regard the society adopts different attitudes toward the surroundings and most of all a changing perception of the nature and the components of nature. There have been arguments on the methods that are used to measure the level of industrialization of any nation. There are some who use the amount of energy that is being used by a nation to measure the level of advancement while at het same time there are those who use other aspects of civilization like advancement in education and social life in order to gauge the level of industrial. However industrial has been described as a period of general development which cannot be measured using one aspect only. This means that there are various political and social changes in light of the economic development that are taking place. There are some factors that have been identified by key researchers to gauge the level of industrialization. Some of these factors include a favourable political-legal environment for the advancement of commerce and industries, abundance use of natural resources and plentiful supply of low cost labour which is able to suit the demands of the world. Industrial revolution in England England was one of the states which experience industrial revolution as early as 1700s. Between 1760 and 1860, there was a marked period of technological progress which was also reflected in education and increasing capital stock in the market. This helped to transform England from a pre-industrialized nation to a full industrialized nation. There were different chains that were taking place in the society from the agriculture, manufacturing and transportation sectors which helped to shape the socioeconomic life of the people. There was also a profound change in the culture of the people which spread the whole of Europe though the 18th and 19th century. In the 1700s, there was a great replacement of manual labour in Great Britain with one dominated by machines. This stated with the seemly mechanisation of the textile industry which was aimed at making sure that there was efficiency in production. There was the development of the iron-making technology which increase the use and the refinery of coal. There was increased trade between different communities and European counties due to the introduction of canals, improved roads and railways. There was increased capacity of production of textile industry with the invention of the steam power which used coal as the main energy and powered machinery which was used in the textile industry. The development of the metallic machine tools helped to facilitate increased production in the manufacturing industries. From the first revolution to the second industrial revolution, there were eminent changes that were taking place in the society and which helped to set a difference between the England society and the rest of the world.

Grades inflation in colleges in the USA Research Paper

Grades inflation in colleges in the USA - Research Paper Example The concept of evaluation promotes retention and promotion of lecturers and professors. In this regard, lecturers are usually compelled to please their students Colleges have also shifted more focus towards enrollment in order to meet their budgets. This has been successfully undertaken by awarding higher grades to students in order to create a positive image among people intending to join colleges This issue has been investigated by various governmental and non-governmental organizations. Harvard University is one of the institutions that have pioneered this investigation. It is learning institution that has been affected by this issue thus its results are more credible The institution has also made a suggestion that entails introduction of a grading policy where a student is graded alongside the average grade of that course. In other addition, facilitating proper marking and awarding of grades among lecturers and professors is also another solution that has been proposed. The first suggestion may not be quite effective owing to the fact that it would not necessarily depict lower level of standards. On the other hand, comparison of a student’s performance may also not be accurate, especially when the rest of the class is wrong Provision of quality education is pertinent in any society that aspires to succeed academically. Grade inflation is a challenge in the current education system majorly due to confusions ascribed to it. It does not only affect colleges in the United States, but also in other parts of the world. Undertaking this research is crucial as it facilitates identification of causes of grade inflation as well as probable solutions The research shall focus of grade inflation in colleges in the United States. It shall explore issues associated with it such as: Causes, effects and solutions that have been suggested by Harvard University to reduce grade

Building Capacity for Marketing Innovation Essay

Building Capacity for Marketing Innovation - Essay Example It is an established phenomenon that marketers should only concentrate on what is expressively demanded by consumers so as to enhance the firm's profitability. However, the marketing concept does not only require the marketers to evaluate and satisfy the expressed demands of individuals but also dig into the needs that are rarely expressed. The capability for marketing innovation depends upon several internal and external attributes of an organisation. In Chinese society, the willingness and capability of firms to innovate in more difficult because of the differences in external economic and social environment as compared to those of market economies. This paper provides an insight into the notion of innovation in the context of marketing concept. It presents a study into the capability building for marketing innovation in the companies. The paper also sheds light on the concept of capability building for marketing innovation in the context of Chinese market. Innovation is a concept highly misconceived in the context of marketing. Innovation is said to be the most crucial responsibility of companies operating in the competitive environment of 21st century. The concept of innovation encompasses the notion of doing something for the first time or introducing a product into the market that is outright new to the firm as well as the consumers. In the context of marketing, it refers to the marketers' ability to envision new ideas, give it a form of strategy, introduce it to the market and make consumers love it. Innovation is strictly important in the age of global competition where firms are continuously striving to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. A firm does not necessarily have to bring about a drastic change in the organization in order to be 'innovative.' According to Weerawardena, "innovativeness refers to a corporate environment that promotes and supports novel ideas, experimentation and creative processes that may lead to ne w products, techniques or technologies." (2003, p. 18) It all lies in the culture of an organization to encourage people to bring new ideas and promote the willingness for innovation. Innovation is something evidently related with the internal and external environment of any firm. A firm in order to be successful and be able to compete in the market needs to adapt with the environment and any changes taking place in the market. Carrying out new ideas successfully in the business either of manufacturing or services concern shows the innovation. One must know about the trends and changes that have come into the market during the period to innovate accordingly as they both go parallel to each other. (Calantone, Cavusgil and. Zhao, 2002). Innovation is about encouraging new ideas that are to be implemented to the business to compete in the market i.e. innovation of product, business structure, services etc. In the context of marketing concept, innovation primarily lies in coming up with offerings that have never been introduced before to consumer markers. It is about an offering which bears the capacity to stimulate the unexpressed demands of consumers. The core concept of marketing is highly misunderstood to be against the notion of innovation. Marketing does not create barriers in the way of innovation;

How active a role did the laity play in the affairs of the Essay

How active a role did the laity play in the affairs of the pre-Reformation parish - Essay Example On the other side of the dramatic plot is the Protestant circle, which included Thomas Cromwell, Archbishop Cranmer, Anne Boleyn and her family. Anne’s outspoken support for protestant reform and her open desire for a break with Rome to legitimize the annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine cast her in the center of a bitter contest between those who traditionally held power and those who craved to wrest it. Had Anne born Henry a son and heir the outcome may have been different; however, the deformed son was premature and stillborn, Anne was convicted of high treason and subsequently executed, and Jane Seymour became the new queen. However, though an effort was made, Henry had not been able to make amends with the French, was excommunicated by Rome, and faced the threat of invasion by the combined might of the new alliance between France and the Holy Roman Empire As a result of Henry’s excommunication, the pope absolved all Catholics from obedience to him. Henry thus faced at home a divided populace with the apparent legitimate right to disobey him, as well as threat from outside British shores. Realizing this, Cromwell moved into action. He formed alliances with the protestant German princes, and promoted Protestantism at home, with apparent force and cruelty, by the dissolution of monasteries and by the issuance of injunctions for regulating individual parish churches.1 The laity, thus caught the crux of a religious and political paradigm shift that was to have profound repercussions on the daily lives of ordinary citizens. This discussion seeks to describe the role of the laity before and on the eve of the Reformation, in order to gain a more enlightened understanding of the implications of the day’s political upheavals in the life of the common man. During the period preceding the Reformation, community life, particularly parish

Building Capacity for Marketing Innovation Essay

Building Capacity for Marketing Innovation - Essay Example It is an established phenomenon that marketers should only concentrate on what is expressively demanded by consumers so as to enhance the firm's profitability. However, the marketing concept does not only require the marketers to evaluate and satisfy the expressed demands of individuals but also dig into the needs that are rarely expressed. The capability for marketing innovation depends upon several internal and external attributes of an organisation. In Chinese society, the willingness and capability of firms to innovate in more difficult because of the differences in external economic and social environment as compared to those of market economies. This paper provides an insight into the notion of innovation in the context of marketing concept. It presents a study into the capability building for marketing innovation in the companies. The paper also sheds light on the concept of capability building for marketing innovation in the context of Chinese market. Innovation is a concept highly misconceived in the context of marketing. Innovation is said to be the most crucial responsibility of companies operating in the competitive environment of 21st century. The concept of innovation encompasses the notion of doing something for the first time or introducing a product into the market that is outright new to the firm as well as the consumers. In the context of marketing, it refers to the marketers' ability to envision new ideas, give it a form of strategy, introduce it to the market and make consumers love it. Innovation is strictly important in the age of global competition where firms are continuously striving to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. A firm does not necessarily have to bring about a drastic change in the organization in order to be 'innovative.' According to Weerawardena, "innovativeness refers to a corporate environment that promotes and supports novel ideas, experimentation and creative processes that may lead to ne w products, techniques or technologies." (2003, p. 18) It all lies in the culture of an organization to encourage people to bring new ideas and promote the willingness for innovation. Innovation is something evidently related with the internal and external environment of any firm. A firm in order to be successful and be able to compete in the market needs to adapt with the environment and any changes taking place in the market. Carrying out new ideas successfully in the business either of manufacturing or services concern shows the innovation. One must know about the trends and changes that have come into the market during the period to innovate accordingly as they both go parallel to each other. (Calantone, Cavusgil and. Zhao, 2002). Innovation is about encouraging new ideas that are to be implemented to the business to compete in the market i.e. innovation of product, business structure, services etc. In the context of marketing concept, innovation primarily lies in coming up with offerings that have never been introduced before to consumer markers. It is about an offering which bears the capacity to stimulate the unexpressed demands of consumers. The core concept of marketing is highly misunderstood to be against the notion of innovation. Marketing does not create barriers in the way of innovation;

Job Hunting in the Health Care Environment Essay

Job Hunting in the Health Care Environment - Essay Example Medical jobs for the health care environment are available in different health care facilities. The jobs have high benefits and a lot of remuneration; therefore, the vacancies are highly competitive. Qualified professions apply for jobs. The health care environments providing these jobs include hospitals, school systems, long-term care facilities and residential based programs. The increase of the number of people opting to study health care programs is because of increase of demand for the health care professions. The jobs give professionals a chance to work in environments from which they gain exposure and career growth (Kramer, 2006). Most individuals look for jobs in this field because of the excellent remuneration prospects. A small number is service minded and have a noble call. Job-hunting these days has been made easy by the high levels of technology. The facility of online job searching makes it easy to find jobs in health care environment instead of wasting time on job list ings and newspapers. There are also recruiting agencies that have job databases therefore those looking for jobs are able to register online, and they are informed as vacancies arise. One is given the right job positions available depending on his or her job description and preferences. Job-hunting requires one to look for a growing or vital organization however, the applicants for online job should be careful to impress the employer, complete all sections of the given application, and should be careful on their typing to avoid errors (Hopkins, 2012).

Disempowered Individuals With Learning Disabilities Social Work Essay

Disempowered Individuals With Learning Disabilities Social Work Essay Being in the institution was bad. I got tied up and locked up. I didnt have any clothes of my own, and no privacy. We got beat up at times but that wasnt the worst. The real pain came from being a group. I was never a person. I was part of a group to eat, sleep and everything it was sad. (As cited on Mencap.org) Historically people with learning disabilities have suffered disempowerment by being excluded from mainstream society through segregation in large institutions. ( Wolfensberger, 1972) people were dismpowered by having little control over how they lived their lives. Although the Community Care Act 1990 has resulted in the closure and the resettlement of people with learning disabilities, people are still suffering disempowerment through exclusion by not being able to choose how to live their lives (Ramcharan,et al 1997). Empowerment is: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦concerned with how people may gain collective control over their lives, so as to achieve their interests as a group, and a method by which social workers [and other care providers] seek to enhance the power of people who lack it (Thomas and Pierson 1996, p.134). The Same As You? review is the Scottish Governments strategy for learning disability services in Scotland.   The review sets out the Scottish Governments wider policies of social inclusion, equality and fairness to enable changes to happen for the better in the lives of people with learning disabilities. A key area identified within The Same As You? is Person Centred Planning. Person-centred planning means starting with the individual and putting the supports around them that will enable them to have the life that they want. Person centred planning is a tool that can be used to plan with a person. This can be to help the person think about what is important in their life now and also to think about what what they would like in the future. Planning should include the persons circle of support and involve all the people who are important in the persons life. (Stalker and Campbell, 1998). The idea behind person central planning was to respond to problems of social exclusion, disempowerment and de-evalution. Person centred planning was developed in the 1980s by a small number of people including John O Brian and Michael Smull. As a way of enabling people with learning disabilities to move out segregated institutions and back into the main community. Person-centred planning is designed specifically to empower people, to directly support their social inclusion, and to directly challenge devaluation. By looking at what support is needed to allow the person included and involved in the community. (Magito-Mclaughlin et al., 2002). Person centred approaches offer a different alternative to the traditional model of planning used for service provision. The traditional methods of service provision operated around the individual receiving the service, with health and social care professionals making all the decisions on the type of support the individual received. The traditional model was disempowering to people with learning disabilities as it focused on the persons medical problems, ignoring the qualities of the person as human being. (Sanderson, 2003) Person centered planning places the individual at the center of the decision making process, allowing family members to become involved in the planning as Joynab, Mohammeds mother states: Person-centred planning has given us hope and a vision for a better future for Mohammed. We feel now we can have a say in how and what service support he receives. We no longer believe that only professionals know best for our son. Mohammeds faith and cultural needs are recognised and responded to.(DoH, 2010) Person centred planning looks at the persons qualities and is a way of listening to what is important in the persons life. People can direct their own services and supports, in a personalised way rather than attempting to fit within pre-existing service systems. An area where person planning has helped the person by listening to what they want enabling them to direct their services and support is through training and employment. People with learning disabilities have been marginalised from gaining employement, through the employers lack of understanding about learning disabilities and stereotypical beliefs that they are incapable of working. As a mother states I have a son who has Down syndrome..I go to the supermarkets and ask if they could try my son outà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I explain that he has Down syndrome, then they change the subject and say they will give me an application form.I explain my son cannot write, and they tell me he cannot get an interview without an application form.Is this a way of eliminating the disabled? (Anonymous contribution as cited by Williams,2009) People with learning disabilities benefit from working as it helps them to gain fiancial independence and security, increases their self confidence and skills and allows them to socialise. Todd (2002) demonstrates this in his report planning a new future where an agency worked with a young man with autism whose goal in life was to be an airline pilot, even though this goal was unrealistic. The support worker involved in his person-centered plan, suggested and arranged a visit to Heathrow airport once a week. The idea was to find out what interested the young man about being a pilot, was it the flying, planes or uniform? After visiting the airport for a couple of months it became apparent that the baggage carousels captivated him. The young man was then supported to get a part time job as a baggage handler. (Todd, 2002) enabling the person to become part of the community. In a way that values their human rights, gives them independence and choice. Person centred planning has a particular approach that can be used for different individuals in different situations. The four main tools that can implemented include: McGill Action Planning System (MAPS), this process is a useful tool for gathering information in the early stages of planning, helping to identify the person talents and needs. ELP (Essential Lifestyle Planning) is more commonly used to plan for people who are moving out of instititionalised care. Personal Futures Planning is less service based, tending to be used for building relationships with family, friends and fitting into the wider community. PATHS (Planning Alternative Tomorrows and Hope) is used to develop an action plan for the individual. (Stalker and Campbell, 1998, Sanderson, 2000) People with learning disabilities can have communication problems and should not be disregarded from having person centred planning for that reason. There are various techniques that can be used allow a person with a learning disability to communicate in their ideas for the plan, such as Makaton, talking mats, sign language and picture banks. (Grove, 2005) the plan can be done any format that is accessible to the person such as a written document, a drawing or mind map with images or an oral plan recorded on to a compact disc. Plans are the updated when the person wishes to make a change or when they have achieved their goal. Person centred planning is for eveyone, not just for people who can communicate. As it can engage participants personally by allowing them to hear of deeply felt hopes and dreams and fears, even if the person feels they are silly. As the planning process allows the person to break free from the misconceptions and conventions that can harness their future. Some examples of peoples dreams were a young man wanted a trip to Mexico as part of his vision. Another is taking guitar lessons as a way to achieve his goal of being a country and western singer. An older woman, in her plan, decided to retire. Another is taking art classes and learning to paint watercolours. Starting a business, going to college or university, buying a house, these are all things that are possible through person centered planning. (ne-pdd.org) Person centered planning has helped people achieve empowerment is their choice to form relationships, get married or have children. People with learning disabilities have the same need for love and relationships as do all human beings. However this need is not being met for people with a learning disability. Literature on the subject provides information about sexuality in regards to learning disabilities, however it seems to focus on disability and sexuality from the perspective of it being a problem. (Parritt, 2005.) This negative view of people with learning disabilities and sexuality stems from the historical perspective of learning disabilities, where people with disabilities were placed in institutions and segregated (Potts and Fido,1991) This level of control can still be seen today with professionals and families trying to discourage intimacy and relationships, viewing the person with a disability as vulnerable, seen as the eternal child (McCarthy, 1999) Mrs Susan Hurst and Mr Frank Hurst tell their story of Our Wedding, Our Dream where person centred planning enabled them to get married. Mrs Hurst states, some people felt there wasnt a need for us to get married but we wanted what every one else hadà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Getting married had always been our dreamà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. (csrpcp.net) Mr. and Mrs. Hurst describe how the tools of person centered planning enabled them to identify both their hopes, goals and dreams for the future this enabled them both too make all the decisions in planning for their wedding. Mr and Mrs Hurst explain that they even planned their honeymoon and travelled to their honeymoon destination without the aide of support workers, as person centered planning had enabled them to plan ahead of the difficulties that might occur and how the couple would resolve them when on holiday. Without Person centered planning Mr and Mrs Hurst would never have been able to get married or go on honeymoon. Mr and Mrs Hurst felt that person centered planning helped them to achieve their goals enabling them to feel in control of their lives, allowing them to choose their human right to get married and respect for private and family life. (csrpcp.net) There is legislation that supports the rights of people with learning disabilities to have fulfilling relationships and sex lives if that is their choice. (Article 8) states that every human being has a right to respect for private and family life. The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) gives people the right to access family planning clinics and advice centers. People with learning disabilities should be accepted as people who have the same capacity for loving as others in society.(Lesselliers, 1999) Loneliness and isolation may occur through the lack of opportunity to have loving relationships. Therefore person centred planning can enable people with learning disabilities to be empowered by allowing them to make these decisions and choosing how they want to live their lives. person centred planning improves the person quality of life. Increasing the persons right to empowerment through the right to work where they want, where they would like to live and increasing their social network by letting them choose how they would to socialise. (Whitney-Thomas et al., 1998). Relationships improve for the person at the centre of the planning, as they became more motivated and goal oriented. As the participation process allows friends and family to join in the planning and help the person achieve their goals. Parents also reported that person centred planning had such an impact on their familys lives, that they choose to become involved in training other families in the importance of person centered planning. As person centred planning is designed to focus on one person at a time, it increases the potential to broaden opportunities for people with learning disabilities in gaining the life they choose. As Person centred planning allows the person to choose how, when and where they want support or services delivered rather than the standard one size fits all approach. (OBrien Lovett, 1993). However there are limitations to person centered planning for people with learning disabilities. Insufficient funding and resources can hinder the planning process persons and their opportunity to achieve their goals, leaving people disillusioned with the process. Person centered planning requires trained and well equipped staff who are knowledgeable about inclusion, rights of people with learning disabilities and how to help empower people by directing them. As people can lose trust in centered planning if these values are not upheld. (Kinsella 2000), Person centered planning can take time to achieve targets, it is not suitable for people who require emergency planning where action needs to take place in a few days. The process is not a quick fix (OBrien Lovett, 1993). In conclusion people with learning disabilities have suffered from disempowerment in the past as a result of institutionalised care. However person centered planning has enabled people with disabilities to become empowered by allowing them to make their own choices and be fully supported about how they would like to live their life. By allowing people with learning disabilities to choose their right to employment through what job they would like to work, this in turn empowers them by gaining fiancial independence and increased self confidence, as well as learning skills and getting to meet new people. Person centred planning has allowed people to gain their right to family life and marriage, by allowing people to plan their own wedding and honeymoon giving them independence to start married life. Therefore person centered planning creates positive effects that go beyond effective planning. In that it allows people to be listened to and what is important to them. However this is only effective if what is recorded on the plan is acted on, as people will lose faith in person centered planning if no action comes from their choices.