The Development of the Artist in Woolf’s To the Lighthouse...

Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse has been described as a Kà ¼nstlerroman or artist novel. It traces the development of an artist, much like the Bildungsroman traced the development of a child into adulthood (Daughtery 148). The main artist of the novel is Lily Briscoe. As the novel progresses, Lily comes to terms with art and with life. To the Lighthouse is, in many ways, a quest novel (Daughter 148). This is evidenced by the title, which includes the preposition â€Å"to†. Nearly all the characters in the novels have a goal which they are aiming for. For example, in Part I, James Ramsay wants nothing but else but to go on an expedition to the lighthouse. Mr. Ramsay muses about how to reach the letter â€Å"R†. Lily sets sail with her canvas and her†¦show more content†¦When he reaches the lighthouse, he springs onto the rock â€Å"like a young man† (Woolf). He is no longer a boy, but a man with authority. He has successfully navigated his way to manhood. Lily’s progress in her painting is much like James Ramsay’s journey to the lighthouse. Lily Briscoe’s painting is a way for her to express her defiance of the social conventions which men impose on her. Lily lives an unconventional life by her society’s standard. She has no desire to marry. She is serious in her artistic pursuits, and yet the people around her disregard her abilities. Charles Tansley declares that â€Å"women can’t write, women can’t paint† (Woolf). Even Mrs. Ramsay thinks that no one could â€Å"take her painting very seriously† (Woolf). Nonetheless, Lily disregards the opinions of others. She is very independent-minded and very determined. Lily’s painting reflects her personal vision of the world. Lily is determined to paint the world as she sees it (Kelley 66). She will not let the opinions of others interfere with her vision of the world. She sees the jacmanna as â€Å"bright violet† and the w all as â€Å"staring white†, even though it was â€Å"fashionable† to see everything â€Å"pale, elegant, semitransparent† (Woolf). She is â€Å"struggling against terrific odds to maintain her courage; to say: ‘But this is what I see; this is what I see’† (Woolf). In Part III, Lily works in finishing the portrait which she began ten years earlier. However, obstacles lie in her way. Mr. RamsayShow MoreRelatedTo The Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf Essay1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe opening scene of To The Lighthouse between Mr Ramsay and Mrs Ramsay displays the gender division that flows throughout this passage highlighting Woolf’s own perspective on society and sexuality between genders. Woolf supports the belief in a complete change to society resulting in a non – hierarchical society. Woolf felt for this to happen aside from the practical changes, that a radical redefinition of sexuality was also needed. The novel focuses on sexual issues of the twentieth century centralRead MoreStream of Consciousness Novel1102 Words   |  5 PagesThe Development of the ‘Stream-of-Consciousness’ Technique in Modernist English Fiction (with Special Reference to the Contributions of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf) Arpan Adhikary The term ‘stream of consciousness’ as applied in literary criticism to designate a particular mode of prose narrative was first coined by philosopher William James in his book Principles of Psychology (1890) to describe the uninterrupted flow of perceptions, memories and thoughts in active human psyche. As a literaryRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Lighthouse 1625 Words   |  7 Pages Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse follows the progress of the painter, Lily Briscoe, as she aims to create a meaningful space for her artwork in an increasingly critical and subjective environment. Throughout this novel, Lily Briscoe is characterized as an artist who is constantly either painting or thinking about her painting. Lily is very private of her artwork and everything she comes across is anchored back to her painting. Lily’s painting represents a feminine artistic vison. RegardlessRead More Lily’s Artifice and Mr. Ramseys Work in To the Lighthouse Ess ay2849 Words   |  12 PagesA Comparison of Lily’s Artifice and Mr. Ramseys Work in To the Lighthouse  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse,   Mr. Ramsey’s lone philosophical work is contrasted against Lily’s encompassing paintings.   Both Lily’s and Mr. Ramsey’s professions require sacrifices;   Lily gives up the ideal marital life whereas Mr. Ramsey has his wife forfeit her happiness to restore his.   Through his work,   Mr. Ramsey is able to build himself up and look as though he is a strong male figure.  Read MoreAnalysis the Use of Stream of Consciousness in Mrs Dalloway8784 Words   |  36 PagesRequirements for the degree of B.A in English At Hebei Normal University May 8th , 2009 Abstract As one of the representative writers of novels of stream of consciousness, Virginia Woolf has made important contributions to the development of the technique of stream of consciousness by confirming her own original literary views through the design of a unique structure of stream of consciousness in one of her masterpieces—Mrs. Dalloway. Virginia Woolf constantly breaks through theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Harold Pinter s The Room 9709 Words   |  39 Pagestheir expressionistic dramas, such as Strindberg, Ernst Toller, Georg Kaiser, Karel Capek and Eugene O’Neill sought to achieve a psychological or spiritual reality rather than record external events in coherent sequence. Expressionism led to the development of the ‘stream of consciousness’ technique also known as ‘interior monologue’ in novel which records the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters. James Joyce, Virginia Woolf and Dorothy Richardson mastered this techn ique in their novels

Analysis Of Homer s The Odyssey - 1276 Words

Arle chia Nisby Professor Parker World Literature Sept 24,2015 Telemachus: Test of maturity In Homer s heroic poem the Odyssey,Telemachus is an important character because will be the one to become king of Ithaca if his father s Odysseus does not return home. However during this time he is not only protecting his mother from a suitor s hand in marriage,but is forced to mature within a year s time. Telemachus share strong physical characteristics of his father and based of the knowledge of his the people of Ithaca , Odysseus is the best king that they have ever had. Therefore they expect the same from his son Telemachus. Sadly the two did not compare in the beginning of the odyssey, but the story quickly overturned when Telemachus†¦show more content†¦He stated. â€Å" Mother, why begrudge our singer/ entertaining us as he thinks best/ Singers are not responsible;Zeus is/who gives us what he wants to every man on earth./ †¦...Odysseus is not the only man at Troy/who did n t come home. Many other s perished./ you should go back upstairs and take care of your work./Speaking is for men, for all man, but for me / Especially, since I am the master of the house.† In the quote,you could see that his confidence level shift from a timid young man to him taking matters into his own hands. Although this was a brief gesture, it made him gain the confidence to talk to suitors. In addition, that it was short, it was the first of Telemachus speeches that will build his confidence against the suitors in an attempt to get rid of the suitors it before his father returns. Another example of why courage is more effective then maturity is because it is persuasive. Having courage comes with a voice, which is proven through tones and actions of being able to talk in front of large groups of people, along with meaning what you say. Telemachus versus Antinous show maturity does not make you a suitable for a leader. In Telemachus defense, he speaking up for his family , which shows that he is suitable to be a king. A king must protect his people, but knows that the protection of his family comes first . In this passage Telemachus is annoyed by how the suitors have treated his father home while Odysseus is out trying to

Steel Toed Stilettos Free Essays

Man is the subject; woman is the object. This is the major premise of the gender binary hierarchy. Man is dominant and the woman submissive, active and passive, rational and emotional, strong and weak. We will write a custom essay sample on Steel Toed Stilettos or any similar topic only for you Order Now Hegemonic masculinity is the ‘maintenance of practices that institutionalize men’s dominance over women’ (Connell, 1997, p. 24). Emphasized femininity is compliance and the overall subordination of women to men (Connell). This will be an analysis of female strippers and those people in their environment, with special concern regarding the objectification of women, and the misleading emphasized femininity ascribed to dancers. Men are the customers thought of when designing a strip club; there are scantily clad women, sports or pornography on television sets, even pool tables and arcade games. He is the subject. The women are objectified, the use of a pseudonym, or stage name, distances the customers, and the dancers, from the strippers’ lives outside the club. However, there are more parties involved than the customer and the dancer. The parties involved extend from the dancers to their agents, the club owners/managers, the municipal government as well as club support staff, photographers, promotional people, and others not discussed here. The agents, rarely female, must find a new club for the woman to work in every week and for this, they receive a fifteen percent commission. Agents have contracts with the dancers as well as the clubs. When and if any dancers complain about dirty working conditions and unfair labour practices, the agents quickly attempt to stop the denouncing. If a dancer wanted to sue a club for breach of contract, for instance, and the agents did not persuade her to stop, the treatment upon her return would be a sign that she was done in the strip clubs. The agent would blackball her from all clubs represented by his agency; in Alberta, ninety-eight percent of the clubs are under contract to one agency effectively ensuring the women’s compliance and increasing the unlikelihood that someone might speak up. In addition to the club and dancer contracts they hold, they advocate breast implants and bleached blonde hair and pole dancing. If women do receive implants, show prices increase and instead of being a dancer, she can be a ‘walker’. Many feature performers simply walk around the stage and do not dance, an opportunity provided for them by their physical attributes. A classmate remarked in a discussion, â€Å"obviously the girls know how to dance, it’s a basic job requirement. † The reality is breast implants can take centre stage and relegate a lack of rhythm to a dark corner backstage. The mainstream and the sex industry reward women who have breast implants. Those dancers with large breasts will receive more money per show than her colleague with the smaller cup size will receive if all other factors are equal. The municipal governments, specifically the City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary, require that all exotic dancers pass a security clearance to control for any drug or prostitution charges also, dancers must pay an annual fee of one hundred fifty dollars for a license. The city has increased their scrutiny in regards to one’s security clearance in the past two years resulting in fewer women able to work in the city and others fearing that their past transgressions exposed to everyone making them ineligible for employment. A near rejection of one Edmonton dancer’s license renewal illustrates the unintended effects of the security clearance; she was required to meet the police vice and discuss a charge on her record. There was a real possibility that she would not pass if she were unable to explain her charges. It was shoplifting, no conviction, just a charge, and occurred seven years prior. Why is it necessary for a stripper to gain security clearance? Are strippers inherently more dangerous? What kinds of threats do naked women pose? Fear of the criminality possessed by these women must not be the reason for these seemingly unnecessary procedures. If it was a predominately male profession, it is highly doubtful that the same processes would be in place. The fee of one hundred fifty dollars is significantly higher than bars or restaurants, but fortunately far below the annual three thousand dollars paid by escorts. Does the city equate strippers and escorts? The singling out of these two professions may suggest an equivocation. Why are retail workers not forced to have a license? One answer is that the government wants a share of the money these women work hard to receive. The documenting of the tips dancers receive and the money escorts receive is not necessarily reliable. These people may not fully declare their income on their taxes and the government is unable to verify the amounts. These licensing fees are in place to regulate the dancers but there is little regulation. This is another instance of the domination attempts on these females. The club owner/manager is male for the vast majority. These men tell the agents what kind of dancers they are seeking. The owner’s preferences can result in the agents offering only certain women work; he may want only Caucasian women, waifs, or pop music blondes. The club owner holds absolutely the power to hire and fire. After first meeting a dancer or after her first show of the week, or at any time during the week, the manager can fire her, sometimes without pay. A woman’s weight, breast size, muscle tone (be it too muscular or not enough), attractiveness, attitude, behaviour, past, are all reasons for dismissal. The fact that a woman could work an entire week, and be expecting a paycheque of eight hundred dollars only to be fired hours before she is to be paid seems unfair, oppressive, exploitive, etc. There is also the possibility that instead of receiving a paycheque, one could receive a bill. The attached hotel may be the only option in the town, deducted from the cheque, as well as telephone calls, bar tabs, restaurant bills, these alone could dramatically reduce a cheque and then there are fines. There are no fine regulations and can vary widely between clubs. Fines are also absolute, there is no appeal process, no possibility that the Stripper Protection Agency will raid the club and arrest the fine-happy manager. If a manager hates a dancer, he could allow her to dance the week only to surprise her with a page of fines for infractions she did not commit. Fines are in place to ensure job effectiveness, productivity and presence; they also lessen payrolls. Sanctions imposed for tardiness are generally one hundred dollars for every minute late for a show, no excuses. Missed shows range from two hundred fifty dollars to five hundred dollars plus the cost of the show. It is wholly within the manager’s power to decide to double a dancer’s fines. For example, during an interview with a dancer named Octavia, she told of when she was late for a show because her suitcase would not open, after a lengthy struggle the manager opened it by ripping the suitcase and then proceeded to fine her three hundred dollars for being late. She told the other dancers what had happened and they were outraged and informed the manager of such. He then doubled her fine because she had a ‘big mouth’ and the other dancers were approaching him and scolding him for fining Octavia. It is a system that favors the club, adversarial to the dancer and easy to identify situations in which women could work a week for nothing, maybe less. Fired without pay and an excessive fine system are only two of the way women are overpowered, another is the unwillingness and the refusal to accept any reason to miss a show. These claims, legitimate or not, are for the vast majority of the time never taken seriously. The managers have ‘seen heard it all before’ and suspect a late night of alcohol and drugs are the cause of this day’s ailment. The male aspects of the strip trade include the agents who have a monopoly on clubs and workers, almost all control over a dancer’s placement, much say in the hiring of a dancer, and the power to ostracize a dancer. Spotlighting the municipal government and it is hard to miss its attempts to exploit working women. The club owners have the power, and exercise it, to fire without pay, fine exorbitant amounts of money over minutes, and refuse to believe any ailments that a woman is suffering from is anything more than a hangover. After that lengthy inspection of the males of the strip club culture, the attention focuses on the females, the dancers. In her article, Feminism, Marxism, Method and the State: An Agenda for Theory, Catharine A. MacKinnon (1982) states, â€Å"Socially, femaleness means femininity, which means attractiveness to men, which means sexual attractiveness, which means sexual availability on male terms†. If femaleness means femininity and dancers are female, if the factors of femininity as met it is true. Dancers are attractive to men, sexually attractive in fact. Interpreting sexual availability as a willing participant in sexual activity is valid; however, women can be available in general and not for a specific person. If this is correct then dancers exude femininity. They seem rather feminine, wearing form-fitting dresses, short skirts, and stiletto heels. Their make-up and hair are amazing emphasizing their attractiveness, and being naked is a sufficient condition for sexually attractive. It is appropriate to consider dancers feminine in relation to MacKinnon’s article. The men think we do it because we love sex so much, we’re sex-driven throbbing mattress kittens. But when we’re on stage we’re all virgins, and then we lock eyes with that one special guy and he might be the one to change all that . . . and then we lock eyes with the next guy and he might be the one to change all that. Men are so stupid. † Octavia’s quote is an example of the have/hold discourse (Hollway, 1984). Wife or mistress, virgin or whore (or sex-driven throbbing mattress kittens) the dichotomy is the same and impossible to achieve. Expected to be the provocative, seductive, pure, inginue and obviously unable to fill the role, the dancer adopts a role not unlike that of a trucker. Rude, crude and crass, these women are tough. They have experienced volumes either in person, a close friend, or another dancer’s recollection. Assertive, aggressive, controlled, rational are usually male-specific traits but dancers are often described as such. A power shift has occurred, any previous conceptions about women’s subservience to men have vanished. On stage, strippers can make men do anything, falling over themselves to throw money to her, reduced to the basest of urges. After having seen one’s oppressor with his pants around his ankles and his clown boxers showing, the power is not as apparent as it had been. If subsequently, the repeat viewing of the oppressor is in compromising, powerless situations, the oppressor ceases to exist, and it is simply another person. In the situation the power shifted to the dancers and the agent, the manager, the city government may exert some power over her; regardless the men at the strip club are waiting for her. Exotic dancers appear to be an ultimately sexual, feminine being. However, it is not always the case; they adopt attitudes perhaps better suited to their trucker or rig-working customers. The misconception that the dancers are waiting for that guy at the club is in light of the fact that many dancers have an utter hatred for males and they despise them while they smile and listen to his stories. The objectification that is present in the strip club may not be the dancers at all it may be the customer who is nothing other than a source for money. The personality traits, usually coded as masculine, embodied by these women, must aid them as they ‘hustle’ to sell table dances, and convince the men to play loonie games. The transference of power, as experienced in the strip club, would be an empowering experience for all women. The possibility of it occurring is not absurd. The emphasized femininity some women adhere to is not going to increase the likelihood of this fundamental shift. However, if any change is to occur, solidarity must first be present. 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Reflective Journal on Communication in Business-Free-Samples

Question: Discuss about the Communication in Business. Answers: Description of the event and experience I think communication is one of the essential components, which decides the position of the individuals. This essentiality places communication in the same alignment with the actions performed by the individuals for their survival. Working for almost 5 months in a Company, I have realized that adherence to the ethical considerations preserves the core values of the organization and enhance its reputational status (Velliaris, Willis and Pierce 2015). In view of these aspects, getting a project on ethical considerations within the workplace is one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had. The reason behind this is the obliteration of humanity in the present age of competition. It gives me pain to highlight the fact the people now-a-days have become selfish they are only concerned about their own benefit (Volkmer 2014). This motive has adversely affected the self-respect of the individuals. Especially in the workplace, this issue is a matter of concern. Usage of harsh words by t he boss generates a revengeful feeling among the employees. Maintenance of consistency in the utilization of slang or harsh words destroys the sanctity of the workplace. Being a witness of such an incident has proved beneficial for me to delve deep into the aspect of business communication for conducting a research project. Herein, the rationale of the report and the heading of the reflective journal match. The commonality lies in the word description. My capability to discover these similarities and differences can be considered as the initiation of a critique within myself (Dos and Demir 2013). One particular day, one employee failed to turn up for work on the allotted time. He needed to come early for submitting a project. When the time for submission came, he was late. This made the boss angry; therefore, he used slang languages and taunted the employee in front of us. This made me sympathetic towards my Colleague. I wondered that instead of scolding and taunting the employee, the boss should have tried to excavate the reason for being late in submitting the project. Highlighting the functionalities of Code of Professional and Ethical conduct for Professional Australia in the introduction of the report, assures me about the preservation of ethics within the workplace. Here also the word description attains commonality as I attempted to adopt a descriptive approach for excavating the factors, which enhance the relationship between the employer and the employees (Ho 2014). Here, I could visualize the assistance that our Company might get if the managers approach the personnel of the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct for Professional Australia. It gives me immense pleasure to point out that both these bodies put hard efforts to transform the plights of the individuals, who have been victims of the unethical practices in the workplace. Herein, lays the appropriateness of the actions safeguarding the dignity and respect of the victims; guarantee of better placement; training and development for improvement of their lives. One of the things that I liked the most is their promise to maintain confidentiality regarding the tragic experience, which the victims had to undergo (Hansen 2014). Interpretation and evaluation of the events Communication occupies vital position among the business issues. Usage of ornamental language while communicating with the personnel creates a good image about me within the minds of the employers and the managers. On the contrary, if I use slang language for communicating with my colleagues, employers and managers, negative impression is created about me (Manen 2016.). Speculation of both these aspects assists me in projecting the fact that ornamental and slang languages are the two communication types. Indulgence of our boss in unethical actions can be perceived from theoretical perspectives for its interpretation. At the first instance, boss and unethical cannot be placed in the same alignment. Rather, sophisticated behavior is expected from a high ranking official such as the boss. In view of his behavior towards my co-employee, I can state that his approach is apt in terms of the employees approach towards the project submission (Domac et al. 2015). This action reflects the negative shade of the boss character. Instead, attempting to excavate the reason for the employees failure in submitting the project on time would have added value to the positive shade of the boss character. Exposure of this type of action would have assisted me to add cognitive theory in addition to the behavioral theory. This is in reference to learning about the issues encountered by the employees in terms of the execution of the business activities. Regarding the behavior of the boss, I can also use the stages of human development as proposed by Freud (Kassens 2014). The behavior of the boss lacks maturity, which cannot be aligned with his age. On the contrary, my colleagues behavior possesses two connotations. In view of the tremendous work pressure that we have, my co-employees over sleeping might be one of the reasons for being late to work. Viewing it from the other perspective, this type of behavior is inappropriate for the workplace, as we have been instructed to adjust within the ambience of pressure. In terms of the second connotation, I can say that it affirms the behavior of the boss (Szenes, Tilakaratna and Maton 2015). As far as my behavior is concerned, I feel helpless in terms of not being able to provide necessary help to him. In view of this inadequacy, our behavior is inappropriate in terms of the workplace requirements. Herein, the propositions of the behavioral theory and cognitive theory get nullified. If I along with my other colleagues had indulged in discussion with our friend during the time that was allotted to us for completing the project, he would not have to face such dire Consequences (Deeley 2014). consoling the friend after this situation is our attempt to restore the stability in our relationship, which was destroyed due to the warning given by the boss regarding not to provide any kind of help to him in his redo in the project. The attempt to preserve and maintain the stability in our relationship attains the attribute of assurance at the point of intervention by the statutory bodies of law. Through this intervention, normalcy was restored in our workplace. Future planning Allocation of research projects makes me feel elated. This is due to my childhood passion regarding developing my Country through the means of research. Therefore, when I got the project on communication in business, I thought of the communication that I practice with my family, friends, relatives and peers (Jackson 2014). I think, this feeling of mine is appropriate in terms of adopting the profession of a critique, who can view the issues taking place in the surroundings from different perspectives. This would broaden my scope and arena of researching the different and diversified subjects. Therefore, beginning the search for the best universities in Australia providing the diploma courses in Research and Development would be a wise step for me in terms of my career establishment. Placing myself in the provided situation makes me feel one with its intensity. In view of this, I can adopt the profession of counseling (Bennett and Lee 2014). Reading about the cases of the indulgence of business personnel in the unethical issues have instilled within me enough patience, although sometimes I was bored with the elongated process of approaching the courts and their investigation of the issues. However, the patience helped me in interpreting and evaluating the events from the point of view of my experience. In view of this, if I adopt the profession of counseling, my clients would achieve better results as I would actively listen to their issues and suggest relevant treatment (Deeley 2014). Apart from this, if I enroll myself in law and judiciary studies, I can become an efficient lawyer, defending the victim from the blows of the opposition party. Mention of this profession would have been appropriate if I had protested against the boss in terms of helping my colleagues in spite of his warnings. As there is no such behavior from my side, therefore, this profession would not prove fruitful in terms of attaining personal and professional development. Continuing with the profession of counseling, viewing the boss as my client enhances my status among my colleagues (Domac et al. 2015). Delving deep into the mindset of the boss would have helped me to excavate out the reason for such behavior. My research on communication in business can act as a secondary source of information for the researchers intending to carry out further research on the aspect of communication. The detailed description of the functions of the professional and ethical code of conduct might help the managers to maintain the order, harmony and decorum of the workplace. Practicing the action of preserving the dignity, respect and individuality of my neighbors would uplift my societal status, qualifying me as an efficient individual (Ho 2014). Upgradation of my character can be considered as an upgradation in the status of my country as a whole. Within this, if I join the spoken English classes, my speaking skills would be polished and refined, which would act as an opportunity for me in terms of giving presentations in front of the foreign clients. Emerging successful in this direction would take me closer to the personal and professional development (Volkmer 2014). References Bennett-Levy, J. and Lee, N.K., 2014. Self-practice and self-reflection in cognitive behaviour therapy training: What factors influence trainees engagement and experience of benefit?.Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy,42(01), pp.48-64. Deeley, S.J., 2014. Summative co-assessment: A deep learning approach to enhancing employability skills and attributes.Active Learning in Higher Education,15(1), pp.39-51. Domac, S., Anderson, L., OReilly, M. and Smith, R., 2015. Assessing interprofessional competence using a prospective reflective portfolio.Journal of interprofessional care,29(3), pp.179-187. Dos, B. and Demir, S., 2013. The analysis of the blogs created in a blended course through the reflective thinking perspective.Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice,13(2), pp.1335-1344. Hansen, K., 2014. Application of traditional and online journaling as pedagogy and means for assessing learning in an entrepreneurial seminar.Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning,32. Ho, J.K.K., 2014. A theoretical review on the professional development to be a scholar practitioner in business management.European Academic Research,1(12), pp.5393-5422. Jackson, J., 2014.Introducing language and intercultural communication. Routledge. Kassens, A.L., 2014. Tweeting your way to improved# Writing,# Reflection, and# Community.The Journal of Economic Education,45(2), pp.101-109. Szenes, E., Tilakaratna, N. and Maton, K., 2015. The knowledge practices of critical thinking. InThe Palgrave handbook of critical thinking in Higher Education(pp. 573-591). Palgrave Macmillan US. van Manen, M. ed., 2016.Writing in the Dark: Phenomenological Studies in Interpretive Inquiry. Routledge. Velliaris, D.M., Willis, C.R. and Pierce, J.M., 2015. International student perceptions of ethics in a business pathway course.New voices in higher education research and scholarship, pp.234-253. Volkmer, I., 2014.The global public sphere: Public communication in the age of reflective interdependence. John Wiley Sons. .

Who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth Essay Example

Who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth Paper This report will look into how far the Latin maxim cuis est solum eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos or he who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth still holds true today. Gray and Gray (2009) state that the Latin maxim traces back to medieval times when its meaning held true. However in modern property law, there is evidence to suggest this does not hold true today. In Bernstein of Leigh (Baron) v Skyviews General Ltd1, it was declared that the rights of the owner are limited to a height that is necessary for the owner to use and enjoy his/her land and above that height the owner of the land has no more right than any other ordinary person of the public. Today there are hot air balloons, aircrafts etc which makes it necessary to balance the rights of airspace between fee simple and the public. The Civil Aviation Act 1982, s 76, also reinforces the concept of how the owners airspace is now restricted to a lower level than it once was. We will write a custom essay sample on Who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Section 76 of the act restricts the fee simples right to sue aircraft in trespass or in nuisance providing the aircraft flies over the property at a reasonable height. The restriction imposed by the Civil Aviation Act 1982, s 76, states no action whatsoever shall prevail providing it the aircraft does not affect the fee simples ordinary use or enjoyment of his/her property. However Gray and Gray (2009) show that aerial trespass can result from low flying aircraft2. Hence the flying height of aircraft should abide by The Civil Aviation Act 1982, s 76. This is supported by Justice Douglas3 who stated, the landowner must have exclusive control of the immediate reaches of the enveloping atmosphere or buildings could not be erected, trees could not be planted and even fences could not be run. This part of the airspace is known as the lower stratum. Whereas in contrast Gray (1991) states that the upper stratum which is beyond the lower stratum is open to exploitation by all. However Gray (1991) gives rise to the example of People v. Cook4 where the Supreme Court of California recognised that the owner of the property in the lower stratum is open to invasion of privacy via inspection from those that may be passing the property in the upper stratum. Gray and Gray (2009) emphasise how the importance of visual trespass has become more important today. For example importance of privacy laws, the emerging law of harassment and ECHR Art 8(i) (the right to respect of his private and family life, his home and his correspondence) have made visual trespass a concern within the area of property law. This shows that although property is thought to be divided into layers. Although the lower layer belongs to the fee simple to a region up to where the owner can reasonably use it and enjoy it. This questions the vulnerability of the owners land to those above it. Hence if the fee simples property is vulnerable to those above it. It raises the question can any of it be said to truly be the owners if its privacy can be so easily compromised. However there is a counter-argument which challenges this as it can be seen that the onus lies with the owner to protect those activities on their property that they wish to protect from those external to their property5. Damages may also need to be paid for trespassing whether or not trespass caused actual damage to the owner of the land6. This case showed that sky cranes trespassing over anothers property for the purposes of construction had to pay compensation even though no direct damage to the fee simple was caused. By using the cranes over the fee simples property, it saved the building contractor $500,000. It was ruled that compensation for the fee simple should result where economic advantage is made by the use of property of another. This can in effect be thought of as it being necessary to rent the property by the party requiring use. Although no direct damage is caused by the trespasser, the fee simple does incur a loss and the third party benefits from the fee simples property; whereas the trespasser profits from the property of the fee simple. While the first maxim cuis est solum eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos (he who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth), imposes restrictions, another Latin maxim superficies solo cedit (a building becomes part of the ground or solum) has the effect of granting extended rights, this was illustrated in Rogers (Inspector of Taxes) v. Longsdon7 where an artificial heap of waste was held to have become part of the land once trees and grass started growing on it. Thus a house or other structure which cannot be removed without demolition or destruction is presumed to have been intended to form part of the realty as stated by Lord Lloyd of Berwick8. A top floor of a high rise block of flats would also constitute as being land as would a dry stone wall which inheres in the landscape in such a way as to become part of the land9. The Interpretation Act 1978, Sch 1 provides that land includes buildings and other structure, land covered with water, and any estate, interest, easement, servitude or right in or over land. It is not only actual buildings or parts of buildings but also anything that attaches to them in such a way as to become a fixture. There are two types of items fixtures and chattels; Luther (2004) states their distinction is elusive. When looking at whether an item is a fixture or chattel, it is usual for judges to refer to two tests from Blackburn J in Holland v. Hodgson10. The basic principle here is that if an item is attached to the land it is usually a fixture, whereas chattels do not attach to the land but rest on their own weight. The noteworthy point here is that fixtures that are between the land and the heavens do form part of the owners land but chattels may not belong to the owner and if the property was bought from a previous owner, the previous owner has the right to remove any chattels that are still inside the property he has sold even though they currently sit between the earth and the heavens of the new fee simple who has just bought the property. This shows that not everything between the centre of the earth and the heavens forms part of the owners land. It is also of note that chattels do not form part of the land under the tests which is why it does not form part of the land even though the chattel may be on his property but a chattel could belong to the owner of the land just as it could belong to someone else or the previous owner. Regarding subterranean zones, Gray and Gray (2009) state that English law recognises that the owner has the right to at least some of the land under the soil but the Latin maxims declaration that the owner owns everything to depths as far as the centre of the earth is a little misleading in modern property law. Bradbrook (1987 cited by Gray and Gray (2009) states that the land owners rights are unlikely to reach further than 200 metres beneath the surface of the land. Minerals and other inorganic substances that are found beneath the grounds of the owner belong to him11. However there are exceptions regarding coal12 that is yet to be worked on and petroleum13. They belong to the Coal Authority and the Crown respectively. The subterranean forms part of the owners and therefore it is possible to trespass on the owners land in the subterranean zone i. e. underground as far down as is regarded to be the owners land. Trespass may arise via entry to a cave under the owners land14 or by installing a sewer pipe15 under the owners land without authorisation from the owner of the land. Gray and Gray (2009) illustrated that the owner of the land has no absolute title to the water itself flowing through his land through a channel (i. e. river). The owner has the right to reasonably enjoy16 the flow of the water without diminishing17 the flow of the water or its purity to those further down the channel. The owner has the right to fish in the water flowing through his land as far as he can reach by normal casting or spinning18. The owner also has right to the fish once he kills and catches them and they become his absolute property19. Conclusion The Latin maxim of, he who owns the land owns everything reaching to the heavens and down to the centre of the earth does not hold true in modern property law. This notion was perhaps true when it was first realised dating back to the medieval times. However with the evolution of science and technology, much has become possible with items such as aircraft, hot air balloons and other things that would not be possible to use if all property stretched from the centre of the earth to the heavens; every aeroplane or helicopter would be trespassing. Hence as far as to what extent the concept of how far this Latin maxim is still valid in todays society is concerned. It does not hold true. In general, it is thought that the owners property extends to 200 metres below the surface of the ground and that it is unlikely to be higher than 200 metres above roof level. These measurements are not stipulated but it is a rough estimate as it gives the owner the right of space above and below his land from which he can fully benefit from the use his land and use it reasonably for enjoyment. It was also found that the owner of the land owns the land and the buildings upon it, the associated fixtures, minerals and other inorganic substances are said to be the fee simples, the right to enjoy reasonably any water passing through his land with causing the water any damage and the fish within the water become his absolute property. However it was also found that although chattels may be on the owners land he may not own them which may allow them to be recovered by the owner.

Essay on Current Economic EventsEssay Writing Service

Essay on Current Economic EventsEssay Writing Service Essay on Current Economic Events Essay on Current Economic EventsThe growth of the employment rate and car sales discussed in the Newsweek’s article â€Å"Jobs and Car Sales Expected to Show US Economy Rebounding† may be perceived as a positive trend in the US economy but the situation is not as good as it may seem to be because the spending has grown just by 0.2%. Therefore, the optimistic forecast of the US economic growth driven by the growth of the employment rate and rise of the car manufacturing industry, which is one of the mainstream industries of the US, can fail to bring positive effects on the US economy, if the spending remains at the low level, as it is at the moment. In other words, the growth of the US economy cannot be stable, unless the consumption increases that means the growth of spending. The growth of spending is a very important indicator that proves that the economy has started to recover and starts growing.At the same time, some researchers () stand on the ground that the growt h of spending is an essential condition of the development of the economic growth in the course of the recovery of the economy after the economic recession. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the increase of spending is essential for the economic growth because the US economy is oriented on the consumption. The increase of spending stimulates the increase of business activities to meet the existing demand in the market.At this point, it is possible to refer to the traditional view on the supply and demand economy because the development of economy relies heavily on business activities, which in their turn, relies on the development of the supply and demand balance in the market. The high demand in the market stimulates the production of goods and services and business activities. The rise of business activities creates new jobs. At this point, it is possible to refer to the article â€Å"Jobs and Car Sales Expected to Show US Economy Rebounding†, which shows that the growth of jobs and car manufacturing may be an indicator of the possible growth of the production and, therefore, the growth of the employment rate.However, the article also shows another aspect of the economic development – spending. At this point, it is possible to place emphasis on the fact that the economic development cannot progress, if the spending is stumbling (). On the other hand, proponents of the Keynesian theory point out that the economic development requires the government regulation of key macroeconomic factors, including unemployment, inflation and GDP growth. In such a situation, the economic growth in the US can occur due to the employment growth, regulation of inflation and the growth of GDP. In such a context, the growth of the employment rate along with the growth of the production in the US. Nevertheless, the increase of the production and employment rate still do not lead to the increase of the economic growth. In fact, the increase of employm ent and production does not lead to the effective regulation of the inflation, which depends on spending.Thus, the recent growth of the employment rate in the US to the pre-recession peak and the growth of the car production cannot maintain the stable economic growth in the US, unless the US increases spending.

How the art in london effects london economy Essay

How the art in london effects london economy - Essay Example Needless to say, London art drives the economy of London in its own way. Not only are millions of funds generated in art sales every year, the art market also creates scope for new jobs, media spend and regeneration. Approximately 10,000 people are employed in the over 120 art galleries of London alone. Finally various other industries also benefit in the process. Underlined are more details on the London art market and how it drives the economy of the nation. UK is the world market leader when it comes to auction sales by volume, and demonstrates an approximate 30% in the world market share. With London holding an important position in the UK art market, it is needless to add that its various auctions form the art market of UK. The London art market is strongly driven by its Frieze art fair, collector Charles Saatchi and finally the approximately fifty new galleries that have opened up at East End. Three main auction houses mainly operate the art markets of London. Statistics reveal that put together, $353 million worth of art changes hands in these markets, that too in the off season. Christie's conducted their biggest ever sales in the year 2006 and reported sales of approximately 78%. Sotheby profits heavily too. It indicates that the art market of London functions through many micro markets, which revolve around specific artists or genres. Among these micro markets, those of old Masters, Impressionist and Modern Art have seen the gre atest rise. The post war and contemporary market have also shown a rise of over 45% over 2006. As the financial markets represent the economy of the nation, the art market reflects the willingness of the rich to spend disposable amounts of money on works of art. However along with this market, there are also some pieces of art that have not sold at all. One glaring example is the sale of Basquiats which were reported to sell at the $5 million range in the 1988 time period. As people expected the prices to go up several notches to touch the $10 million mark, many were surprised when the pieces did not sell over the last few years. While some say that this indicates a fall of economy in the London art market, many others state that this issue is just a matter of quality, which was presented through signature elements in the earlier Basquiats, but absent now. So discerning customers are not overspending but are choosing to spend their money on certain micro markets, which are present a nd growing and taking the economy to a new high. Tourism booster Tourism is an important economy generator in London accounting for one tenth of the city's economy. The various art galleries of London serve as a major attraction to tourists and international visitors who come from diverse parts of the world for the various art fairs. These tourists not only enhance the economy by spending on pieces of art in London, they do much more. They provide the much needed boost to local economies through their spending during their stay, which is approximately 2.3 million locally. A study conducted in 2005 by MEW Research at the National Gallery, on their 2004-2005 exhibition on Raphael: From Ubrino to Rome, indicated similar results. The exhibition attracted 47% people from UK and 17% tourists from abroad. Studies also revealed that 47% tourists came specifically for the exhibition.

History ( global civilization ) Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

History ( global civilization ) - Term Paper Example This was the reason for the east and native rebellions for their trade increases. The main reason for the partition of Africa was that in 1882, Britain took it over and in 1890’s it took the biggest share of the east - central Africa, Sudan and Rhodesias. In 1898, there were conflicts with France and Germany. 1n 1900, Europeans led only Ethiopia and Liberia leaving the rest of Africa. The European partitioners thought of Africa as a mirage and cared more about vision rather than reality. In the view of Africans it was unification what Europeans thought as partition. Soon after the partition of Africa, the Europeans started initiating colonization and political units within their societies with diversified history and cultural background. By the end of 19th Century, the Europeans divided the major part of Africa amongst themselves. Finally, the African nationalists took over the artificial units made by Europeans who dominated and exploited Africa (Koponen, pp.

Comparative Essay on Structure Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Comparative on Structure - Essay Example â€Å"Master Harold and the Boys† by Athol Fugard revolves around three characters: Hally (or Master Harold), and his two African servants Sam and Willie. The play begins in a scene where it is raining in the afternoon, when Sam and Willie practice ballroom steps to prepare for an upcoming major competition. Hally, or Master Harold, arrives on the scene. He is back from his school. It would seem that despite Sam’s role as servant, between themselves, Hally and Sam stand more or less as equals, at least intellectually. Willie, on the other hand, who is less sophisticated than Sam, knows his place, and thus, Willie makes it a point to always call Hally as â€Å"Master Harold†. In this first part, we are first introduced to the characters and the setting, as the plot continues, we are gradually introduced to the dilemmas surrounding the lives of the characters. Sam and Hally talk about schoolwork, then proceed to discussing an intellectual topic on â€Å"The Man of Magnitude†. Then the scene turns to flashbacks when the three friends used to live in a boarding house. The timing of using the flashback is appropriate; it shows how structure can be used as an advantage. Hally remembers the time when Sam made a kite for him. Despite the fact that the kite was made from junk materials, Hally holds this memory dearly and feels warm at his reminiscing of the scene. Sam made the kite for him to cheer him up from being down because of his father’s drinking habits. To Hally, the flying of the kite would probably represent hope, which he so much needed in an environment that was centered on abuse, alcoholism, and racism. They then talk about Hally’s 500-word English composition. After this comes the scene that is the climax of feelings, on the ballroom dance floor, which is a â€Å"world without collisions†, that is actual ly a metaphor for life. Unfortunately, after this great climax comes the

Bergers Disease: IgA Nephropathy

Bergers Disease: IgA Nephropathy Sarah A. Poorman IgA nephropathy, or Bergers disease, is one of the most prevalent, primary, and chronic glomerular disease and an imperative cause of renal failure (Mayo Clinic, 2017). IgAN is one of the most common renal diseases present in todays world. It can occur at any age, perceiving first evidence of renal disease when people are in their teens to late 30s (Wyatt and Julian, 2013). It is twice more likely to appear in men than women, being the most common amongst Asian and Caucasian populations (Wyatt and Julian, 2013). Early stages of Bergers Disease may not have symptoms. It can be silent for years, sometimes even decades before a single symptom shows. The most common symptom witnessed is hematuria, or bloody urine (NIDDK, 2015). This is a definite sign of a damaged glomeruli. Usually, the tint of urine will become a hue of pink or resemble the color of tea or cola (National Kidney Foundation, 2016). Another common symptom to arise is albuminuria. This is when urine contains an overabundance or albumin. Albumin is a protein, typically found in the blood, which maintains fluid balance throughout the human body (Nephcure, 2016). Blood loses its capacity to absorb fluid from the body once albumin leaks into the urine. Due to the lost blood supply, low blood albumin levels will occur. Too much fluid will let to edema, or swelling, of various body parts. The most common body parts to experience edema are the legs, feet, and ankles, leaving the face and hands to be the least commonly affected (NIDDK, 2015). Foamy urine is a signal of albuminuria. The least common symptoms associated with IgAN are high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels (NIDDK, 2015). Glomerulus is a system of capillaries situated at the beginning of a nephron in the kidney (Wyatt and Julian, 2013). Its focal objective is to assist as the first phase of the filtration process of the blood, which is carried out by the nephron in the creation of urine (Mayo Clinic, 2017). IgA nephropathy, or IgAN, is considered an autoimmune disease that affects the glomeruli of the kidneys. Glomeruli are tiny filtering units where the blood is cleared. As the IgA deposits build up in the glomeruli, it causes the kidneys to leak blood and protein into the urine. Human IgA antibodies have two subclasses, IgA1 and IgA2, while IgA1 constitutes 85% of the total IgA in the circulation, starting in the bone marrow (Wyatt and Julian, 2013). Predominantly, these deposits consist of IgA, but they can also exhibit IgG and IgM antibodies by themselves or combined. As the IgA deposits build up in the glomeruli, it causes the kidneys to leak blood and protein into the urine. IgA in the glomerular deposits are exclusively of the IgA1 subclass and are in the polymeric form (Wyatt and Julian, 2013). IgA1 exhibits galactose deficiency in the O-linked glycans in the hinge region of the heavy chain (Suzuki et al, 2011). Going all the way back to basic chemistry, galactose, or Gal, is a monosaccharide sugar that is composed of the same element as glucose, but has a different arrangement of atoms (Maillard et al, 2015). The Fc receptor will blind the GD-IgA1 to create immune complexes that leads to the complement activation. The transcription of IgG and IgM trigger the pathways of complement activation, containing immune complexes (Maillard et al, 2015). Eventually, over time, the massive discharge of ctyokines, components of the ext racellular matrix, and oxidants that disrupt the function of the glomerular basement membrane will induce apoptosis (the product of TGF-B and IL-6) and glomerular scarring (Maillard et al, 2015). This creates the destruction of the kidneys which leads to the major development of end-stage renal disease. To put it simply, T cell-dependent activation of B Cells is initiated by APCs, which processes the antigen, and creates peptides to present, in MHC 11, to CD4+ T cells. This results in the production of T Helper cells. With the interaction of B and T cells, the expression of CD40L, a protein apart of the TNF (tumor necrosis factor) family, begins. Isotype switching of naà ¯ve B cells towards IgA1 and IgA2 producing plasma cells takes place. The B cells carry the antigens to the surface of the cell by Ig expression. They present this to MHC II, which aids in the recruitment of T cells. With the expression of CD40L and cytokines and signals from APCs will begin the regulation of production for IgA the IgA immunoglobulin will typically bind oneself to an antigen or infection found in the body. This will result in the activation of an immune response, which will find a way to rid the body of the infection. People with IgAN have an augmented blood result of IgA that signifies less galactose than what is considered normal. This galactose-deficient IgA, or GD-IgA1, in the blood, is recognized as foreign by the other antibodies circulating the blood. But, when an individual has IgAN, a flawed arrangement of IgA antibodies attach their selves to another IgA antibody, as an alternative of an infection or antigen, resulting in the creation of immune complexes. These immune complexes turn out to be jammed in the kidneys glomeruli, causing damage to the filters. Inflammation takes place, which causes blood and proteins to leak out of the kidneys and into the urine. Eventually, this will lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and total kidney failure, resulting in death or the dire need of a kidney transplantation. Currently, there is no known cure for IgA nephropathy, with no ultimate way of knowing what path the ailment will take. Once the kidneys are scarred, they cannot be repaired. Therefore, the vital goal of IgA nephropathy treatment is to inhibit or delay the inevitable, end-stage renal disease. Some people experience complete remission and others live normal lives with low-grade blood or protein in their urine. Treatment with numerous of medications can slow the progress of the disease and help manage symptoms such as high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling. Some of the medications that are currently being used to treat IgAN are as follows: 1) Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) which lowers blood pressure and reduces the amount of albumin in the urine. 2) Omega 3 Fatty acids, which aid in the reduction of inflammation throughout the body, in this case the glomeruli, leaving no harmful side effects. 3) Immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids medication (prednisone) will suppress the immune system response, allowing to protect kidney function. However, these can cause serious side effects such as high blood pressure and high blood sugar. 4) Statin therapy are cholesterol lowering medications that are known to help slow the damage to the kidneys. 5) Mycophenolate mofetil, or CellCept, has been successfully used in some pati ents who have had persistent protein in the urine, however, most studies so far have failed to show the benefit for using this medication. There are no sources in the current document.   Ã‚  

Safety in Global Workplace :: essays research papers fc

Introduction Advierta este papel entrarà ¡ en llamas en diez segundos ! If you can read Spanish you might have already dropped this paper. However, if you cannot, let me translate the first line for you. It reads†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Caution, this paper will burst into flames in ten seconds!† Imagine yourself as a foreigner working in a country without being able to speak or read the language. Many foreign workers are too embarrassed or afraid of termination to admit that they do not understand instructions or safety procedures. A recent Census Bureau report indicates the number of United States residents for whom English is a foreign language is nearly 32 million 1. Mexican immigrants make up the largest minority group in our country today and many of these individuals have poor English language skills or none at all. They come to this country for an opportunity to work and make a better life. In order for these employees and their fellow workers to be protected properly, a way must be found to c ommunicate safety information to them. We must familiarize ourselves with the way in which people communicate and learn and adapt our techniques to get the message across most efficiently. A 16 year old Mexican immigrant working for a construction subcontractor from Texas who had been contracted by a framing contractor in Oklahoma, who in turn was working for a general construction contractor in Alabama, fell to his death from a roof at the construction site in Alabama. The Texas based contractor had a safety plan but it was written only in English. The general contractor in Alabama had a safety plan for its employees but it did not make any provision for subcontractors. Evidence indicated that the crew understood little or no English. Evidence gathered during OSHA interviews of the crewmembers, indicated that the crew had no knowledge of the safety plan 2. There were many mistakes made in this scenario and we must be mindful of this type of situation due to the changing composition of the modern workplace. As managers, we will face employees with various cultural and language backgrounds and these employees must be a vital and productive part of the overall scheme. Th e general contractor in this case should have incorporated any subcontracted employees in its safety plan. In so doing, these contingencies are provided for before they occur and may limit the company’s liability.

Global Climate Change and Climate Protection

From September 6 to 10, 1997, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) held a Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign – U.S. workshop in Atlanta, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The City of Atlanta, The Climate Institute, and The Turner Foundation. ICLEI is the international environmental agency for local governments. It believes from concrete experience that local actions can have a global impact. ICLEI was established in 1990 through a partnership of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), and the Center for Innovative Diplomacy. ICLEI's World Secretariat is in Toronto. ICLEI also has offices in Freiburg, Tokyo, Harare, Santiago, and Berkeley. ICLEI's purpose and mission are to: 1) serve as an international clearinghouse on sustainable development and environmental protection policies, programs, and techniques being implemented at the local level by local institutions; 2) initiate joint projects or campaigns among groups of local governments to research and develop new approaches to address pressing environmental and development problems; 3) organize training programs and publish reports and technical manuals on state of the art environmental management practices; and 4) serve as an advocate for local government before national and international governments, agencies, and organizations to increase their understanding and support of local environmental protection and sustainable development activities. By ICLEI's 10th anniversary in the year 2000, ICLEI aims to establish a global system to achieve, measure, and report on tangible improvements in the global environment through the cumulative local performance improvements of ICLEI's member municipalities. ICLEI members include more than 265 local governments of all sizes from around the world from 50 countries, all of whom share a common purpose: to take a leadership role in identifying and implementing innovative environmental management practices at the local level. ICLEI's CCP campaign started in 1990 and consists of about 200 cities from Abu Dhabi to West Hollywood. The cities that sign on to the CCP campaign commit to: 1) estimate their 1990 carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent (CO2e) emissions, 2) develop a CCP plan to reduce their CO2e emissions by 20 percent of their 1990 emissions by the year 2020, 3) demonstrate progress towards reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, and 4) update and implement their plan. Others are becoming involved in the CCP campaign. On September 19, 1997, Ted Turner of Turner Communications announced he would contribute $1,000,000,000 to the United Nations to address the issue of global climate change. On October 6, 1997, President Clinton held a White House Summit on Global Warming to help develop U.S. policy for the planning meetings in Bonn on October 20, 1997, and for the International Meeting on Global Climate Change to be held in Kyoto in December, 1997. Climate change is now recognized as a serious global issue by thousands of environmental professionals, atmospheric scientists, government officials, medical doctors, and health and property insurance companies. Climate change is serious because its adverse human health and physical effects, if unabated, will have vast and undesirable social, economic and political impacts. Ross Gelspan, prize-winning author of The Heat Is On: The High Stakes Battle Over Earth's Threatened Climate (1997. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., New York) was the featured dinner speaker at the CCP workshop. Cause and Effects of Industrialized Climate Change Because of industrialization, the earth's surface and atmosphere is heating up to our peril as a species. The key issues in global climate change are expanding industrialization which burns carbon fuels in power plants and internal combustion vehicle engines to generate greenhouse gases beyond the capacity of the oceans and the biosphere to absorb the excess gases. These excess gases capture heat from the sun and cause global warming, increase air pollution, induce glacial and iceberg melting, sea level rising, unstable and more extreme and long-lived weather conditions, and shifting, prolonging and intensifying floods, droughts, hurricanes and El Nià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½o episodes. These effects lead to increases in respiratory diseases, habitat alterations, destruction of forests and wetlands, agricultural shifts, coastal erosion and flooding, societal dislocations and unrest, and perhaps, the demise of democracy as governments become more authoritarian to combat the emergencies induced by climate change. What lies ahead if the developed world cannot reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and the developing world seeks to industrialize and increase its greenhouse gas emissions? Greenhouse Gases, Their Properties, Sources and Emission Rates The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), halocarbon and related compounds (fluorocarbons CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113; hydrocholorofluorocarbons HCFC-22; hydrofluorocarbons HFCs; perfluorocarbons PFCs; and sulfur hexafluoride SF6), and the criteria pollutants — carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and non-CH4 volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) [U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (EIA). October 1997. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 1996 DOE/EIADOE/EIA-0573 (96). Office of Integrated Analysis and Forecasting, Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia or http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/frntend.html]. CO2 has a carbon equivalency of 0.273, CH4 has a higher carbon equivalency of 5.73, and N2O has an even higher carbon equivalency of 83.2. This means that CH4 has about 21 times the warming effect of CO2 and N2O has about 305 times the warming effect of CO2. SF6 has a very h igh global warming potential (GWP) of 23,900 times the effects of CO2. The currently estimated 1996 U.S. total greenhouse gas emissions are about 1,753 metric tons of carbon or carbon equivalent, or an increase of 8.3 percent over 1990 (EIA 1997). About 98.5 percent of U.S. human-made or anthropogenic CO2 emissions are caused by the combustion of fossil fuels to provide energy; U.S. anthropogenic CH4 emissions are due primarily to production and transportation of coal, natural gas and oil; anaerobic decomposition of municipal waste in landfills and raising livestock. N2O emissions are primarily from agricultural soils associated with fertilizer use, industrial process emissions, and emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Carbon dioxide. CO2 emissions are by far the largest percentage of greenhouse gas. Caused primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels to provide energy from energy plants and internal combustion engines, anthropogenic CO2 emissions are also produced by forest, agricultural, and other fires. At 1,496 metric tons of carbon or carbon equivalent, about 85.3 percent of the currently estimated 1996 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are as CO2, based on GWP, or an increase of 8.8 percent over 1990 (EIA 1997). Methane. CH4 emissions are dwarfed by CO2 emissions (a ratio of 1 ton of CH4 for every 175 tons of CO2). Because the heat-trapping capacity of CH4 is about 21 times that of CO2, the overall effect of CH4 on global climate is significant. There is, however, substantial uncertainty in estimates of emissions from most U.S. CH4 sources, ranging from 25 percent to as high as several hundred percent. CH4 emission trends from each source tend to be more reliable than their overall estimated magnitude. At 177 metric tons of carbon or carbon equivalent, about 10.0 percent of the currently estimated 1996 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are as CH4, based on GWP, or a decrease of 2.2 percent over 1990. Nitrous oxide. Compared to CO2 or CH4, N2O is released in small quantities from anthropogenic sources; however, N2O's 100 – year global warming potential (GWP) of 305 makes it a significant contributor to atmospheric warming. Although there are many known natural and anthropogenic sources, N2O emissions have been difficult to quantify on a global scale because it has been one of the least-studied greenhouse gases. The largest source of anthropogenic N2O emissions is energy use, which includes mobile source combustion from passenger cars, buses, motorcycles, and trucks, and stationary source combustion from residential, industrial, and electric utility energy use. The second-largest source of N2O emissions is agriculture, primarily fertilizer application and a small amount released from the burning of crop residues. However, there is substantial uncertainty and debate regarding the emissions implications of use of N-based fertilizers. Models used for estimation are based on limited sources of experimental data. Another important source of N2O emissions is industrial production of adipic acid and nitric acid. At 38 metric tons of carbon or carbon equivalent, about 2.2 percent of the currently estimated 1996 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are as N2O, based on GWP, or no net change over 1990. Halocarbon and Related Compounds. CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, PFCs and other compounds that act as greenhouse gases are emitted from their use as refrigerants in cooling equipment, as solvents, or as blowing agents, or from fugitive emissions from industrial processes; these halocarbon compounds are being phased out under pollution prevention measures because they damage the stratospheric ozone layer. The best known class of synthetic greenhouse chemicals are the CFCs, particularly CFC-12 (trade name Freon -12). CFCs have many desirable features: they are relatively simple to manufacture, inert, nontoxic, and nonflammable. Because CFCs are chemically stable, they remain in the atmosphere for hundreds or thousands of years. These synthetic molecules absorb reflected infrared radiation at wavelengths that would otherwise be largely unabsorbed, and they are potent greenhouse gases, with a direct radiative forcing effect hundreds or thousands of times greater than that of CO2. Though molecule for molecule, CFCs absorb many hundreds of times more infrared radiation than carbon dioxide, their net warming effect is reduced because of their effect on ozone. Ozone (O3), beneficial in the stratosphere for its ability to absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation, is also a potent greenhouse gas. While the direct effect of CFCs is a warming potential far greater than that of CO2, their indirect effect on ozone reduces their net radiative forcing effects by half. SF6 is used as an insulator for circuit breakers switchgear and other electrical equipment; it also occurs as a fugitive emission from certain semiconductor manufacturing processes. At 42 metric tons of carbon or carbon equivalent, about 2.4 percent of the curr ently estimated 1996 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are as HFCs, PFCs and SF6, based on GWP, or an increase of 68 percent over 1990. Criteria Pollutants. CO, NOx, and NMVOCs are reactive gases, which usually decay quickly in the atmosphere. Most CO emissions result from incomplete oxidation during combustion of fuels used for transportation. NOx emissions are related to air-fuel mixes and combustion temperatures during the burning of fuels evenly split between transportation and stationary sources. NMVOCs are a main component in the chemical and physical atmospheric reactions that form ozone and other photochemical oxidants. About half of the NMVOC emissions come from solvent-related industrial processes and most of the remaining emissions are from combustion of transportation fuels. Climate Protection Strategies The remedial strategies all have unintended consequences. These strategies are 1) greenhouse gas source reduction (Gelspan, 1997; ICLEI, September 1997, web page at http://www.iclei.org); 2) ocean modification to absorb more greenhouse gases (Joos, F., J.L. Sarmiento and U. Siegenthaler. 1991. Estimates of the effect of Southern Ocean iron fertilization on atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Nature, Vol. 349, No. 6312, p. 772-774); and 3) forest, wetland, and agricultural practices to sequester more gaseous CO2 (Hodges, Carl N., T. Lewis Thompson, James L. Riley and Edward P. Glenn. November 1993. Reversing the Flow: Water and Nutrients from the Sea to the Land. Ambio, A Journal of the Human Environment, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Vol. 22, No. 7, p. 483-496). The most likely success strategy is greenhouse gas source reduction. Greenhouse gas source reduction activities include: à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Replace greenhouse gas generating activities such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas burning power plants with non-CO2 emitting power plants like nuclear, solar, wind, wave, hydraulic, and geothermal. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Reduce the amount of paper and other carbon-rich discards that go to landfills, which generate CH4 by source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting and/or mulching of organic discards. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Control industrial plant greenhouse gas emissions. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Prevent and control forest and agricultural fires that generate CO2. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Replace internal combustion vehicle, tools, and power sources with electrical, compressed natural gas , and hydrogen sources. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Recover greenhouse gases, such as from landfills, for reuse and treatment prior to release to the atmosphere. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Improve the greenhouse gas sequestering mechanisms of the vegetative cover by restoring and enhancing landscape trees, forests, wetlands, gardens, and agricultural practices. Do we have a reason to be optimistic? We have reason to be cautiously optimistic about climate protection. Human history is full of examples where we learned from our mistakes, misfortunes, or undesirable trends. The agricultural revolution of the 18th century, the discovery of bacteria in the 19th, and the invention of vaccines in the 20th are some of the examples of what humanity can achieve when challenged with a seemingly unsolvable problem. True, we must overcome several hurdles, the resistance of political and profit-centered structures which have short-term benefits in an economy based on carbon fuels. But these barriers can be overcome in the 21st century through education and promotion, successful cases, and the inherently superior economics of a sustainable and renewable energy and resource based society. We will need political leadership at all levels to make it happen.

Stereotypes and Excuses in Literature and Media Essays

Stereotypes and Excuses in Literature and Media Essays Stereotypes and Excuses in Literature and Media Essay Stereotypes and Excuses in Literature and Media Essay The human mind contains one’s true identity; usually, however, one’s mind can also overlook this. Oftentimes people are swayed by popular images of people and act using those opinions. Society floods humankind with these perspectives so excessively through media that it has become an issue. After reading Night, watching Primetime’s What Would You Do? and The Lunch Date, an important message to be grasped throughout this unit is that stereotypes do not define a person because it diminishes individuality, which gives the oppressor an excuse to treat the oppressed with disrespect. Night, a memoir by Elie Wiesel demonstrates the prejudice against Jews and the immoral actions that are thoughtlessly produced. When Elie arrives at Birkenau, a SS officer â€Å"[looks them] over as if [they] were a pack of leprous dogs hanging onto [their] lives† (Wiesel 47). He then threatens them to â€Å"work or [to] the crematory† (Wiesel 47). The officer disregards that Elie and the other prisoners are men. Knowing the effect of the words he produces, he holds fear over the prisoners heads, oppressing them because of unjust verifications. The stereotyping also displays its ways through Elie’s father when he politely asks a gypsy where the lavatories are. Rather than responding â€Å"the gypsy [looks] him up and down slowly as if he wanted to convince himself that this man addressing him was really a creature of flesh and bone† (Wiesel 48). After examining Elie’s father, the gypsy knocks him off of his feet with a punch. The gypsy simply ignor es the harmless nature of Elie’s father’s question and convinces himself that Elie’s father is a creature like the Germans emphasize. The man uses this as a justification to subject Elie’s father to violence. The series of acts put on the prisoners present the immoral outcome of stereotypes that corrode a person’s identity. The ABC Primetime series, What Would You Do?, epitomizes how people can be

Learn How to Conjugate Quitter (to Leave) in French

Learn How to Conjugate Quitter (to Leave) in French You might think that the verb  quitter  means to quit in French and you would be partially right. This verb can also mean to leave, to go, or to give up. Its a very useful word that covers many situations, so adding it to your French vocabulary is a good idea. The catch is that to use  quitter  in proper French grammar, you need to learn its conjugations. While that may seem scary to some students, this one is relatively easy and well give you the essentials you need. The Basic Conjugations of  Quitter   Among all the French verb conjugations,  quitter  falls into the largest category. These are the  regular -er verbs  and you can apply anything you learned while studying others of this sort to form the conjugations of  quitter. With any conjugation, begin by finding the verbs radical (or stem). For  quitter, that is  quitt-. You will then add the appropriate ending that matches both the subject pronoun and the tense you want to use it in. For example,  I am quitting is  je quitte  and we will leave is  nous quittions. Practice these anytime you see someone leave or quit anything for a few days and theyll be easier to remember. Present Future Imperfect je quitte quitterai quittais tu quittes quitteras quittais il quitte quittera quittait nous quittons quitterons quittions vous quittez quitterez quittiez ils quittent quitteront quittaient The Present Participle of  Quitter As with most regular verbs, the present participle is formed by simply adding -ant to the radical. This results in the word quittant, which may also be used as an adjective or noun in the right context. Quitter  in the Compound Past Tense The passà © composà © is a compound past tense that is frequently used in French. To form it, youll need to conjugate avoir  to the present for the subject before adding the past participle quittà ©. This results in jai quittà © for I left and nous avons quittà © for we left. More Simple Conjugations of  Quitter When someone may or may not leave or quit, you can imply this uncertainty with  the subjunctive.  If, on the other hand, they will only leave or quit if another action occurs, then you will use  the conditional  forms of  quitter. Both  the passà © simple  and  the imperfect subjunctive  are literary tenses, so theyre most often found in written French. While you may not need to use them, you should be able to read them. Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je quitte quitterais quittai quittasse tu quittes quitterais quittas quittasses il quitte quitterait quitta quittt nous quittions quitterions quittmes quittassions vous quittiez quitteriez quitttes quittassiez ils quittent quitteraient quittrent quittassent A very useful verb mood for a word like  quitter,  the French imperative  allows you to say things such as Quit! or Leave! without any formality. Feel free to drop the subject pronoun and simply say, Quittons ! Imperative (tu) quitte (nous) quittons (vous) quittez

Forum discussion- reply to Duane on my post Essay

Forum discussion- reply to Duane on my post - Essay Example In my current organization, I think the implementation and development initiatives are effective in that they are properly planned and carefully implemented in order to meet the needs of the employees and the organization as a whole. The human resources management is tasked with identifying the training needs of the employees as well as identifying the gap that exists between their current performance standards and the desired level of performance. The training program is then molded on the basis of this information and is goal oriented. The major strength of the implementation process of the training and development program mentioned above is that it is twofold; it is designed to fulfill the needs and interests of both the employees and the organization. However, the only weakness that can be seen from this program is that it could be subjective at times. The trainers may tend to incorporate their personal views in the training program instead of focusing on the needs of the employe es. In order to improve this, collective decision making should be implemented within the organization. This will help to reflect the needs and interests of all members of the

Ethical, Social and Environmental Standards and Practices of World Essay

Ethical, Social and Environmental Standards and Practices of World Bank - Essay Example The World Bank cordinates with a multiplicity of actors that include government agencies, civil society organization and private sector; thus, high degree of Ethical, Social and Environmental Standards and Practices should be maintained by the World Bank. Social and Environmental Standards and Practices The World Bank has received serious criticism from international and internal level because of the inequality of distributing funds to the need countries. Thus, it has changed its policies as it has persistently been developing new and diverse methods to support socially and environmentally sustainable development by involvement in World Bank projects. There are formulated safeguard policies that are compulsory strategies for every decision, or measure undertaken by the World Bank representatives (Marshall, 2008). The aim of these safeguards is to keep certain social and environmental standards in projects that are managed by the World Bank. Thus, social and environmental soundness is currently a crucial requirement in the project’s valuation of progress, especially for the loan agreement. Although, there is always interference of political and economic activities, the World Bank article of agreement demand that a measure be economically efficient and avoid political considerations. Meanwhile, there is a stronger connection between social and environmental considerations; the World Bank gives the social and environmental rights more weight than the economic development. Manske and Frey (2004) indicate that the environmental standards have to be compiled in every internal or external of World Bank decision and development measures with emphasis on the ecological aspect that act as conditions in a loan agreement. The environmental standards comprise the considerations of labor, health, safety gender and community issues of the developing countries. They contribute to promotion of democracy and human rights because the political awareness and participation i n activities of ecological concern is maintained. Thus, the World Bank has active responsibilities in setting social and environmental standards and promoting exceptional corporate governance. Its key principles are a standard for the financial industry in managing social and environmental issues in projects financing. The organization supports the management of social, environmental of its members, and signed corporate governance approach to promote reasonable governance practices. The approach supports the right and equitable treatment of its members on matters of social and environmental issues. Meanwhile, it supports the disclosure and transparency of the information to its members with a suggestion of the duties of representatives. According to Manske and Frey (2004), the transparency and disclosure of the information provides extra reputation to transparency for the natural resource development among the members. The disclosure of information of dangerous population to its mem bers has helped these members to implement various measures to stop the carbon emulsion into the environment. The organization has managed to introduce flexibility that is vital to customers because it comprises varying capacities and diverse financing products to its members. It enhances effectiveness and strengthens the significance of safeguards in changing its member’

Ethical or Unethical Socially and Environmentally Essay

Ethical or Unethical Socially and Environmentally - Essay Example There are various concerns that have been pointed out to be of social interest while analyzing the ethic observed while producing cocoa. Among these issues is abusive children labor, issues with profit and protection as well as lack of proper ownership structures (Berlan, 2009). In regard to child labor, it has been established that a lot of children suffer trafficking and are taken to serve within the cocoa production farms as well as through the processing plants. In spite of increased efforts by the government to control the issues of forced labor on children, children trafficking as well as abusive practices on children within cocoa farms, the activities prevail and this is termed as unethical (Isern, 2006). This therefore shows that the entire process of producing cocoa can be said to be unethical socially as show through the abusive child labor is propagated. On the other hand, profit protection has also been termed as unethical and has been shown to persist within the cocoa farms. This is propagated by all players, right from the farmers, the middle men as well as the people involved in chain of delivery who all strive to maximize on their profit margins. In the process of targeting the high profits, the production has been characterized by unethical behavior hence the support of the thesis statement. Besides, lack of ‘ownership’ as is the common excuse adopted by all players within cocoa production industry has been used to explain propagation of the social vices like the trafficking of children and the unreasonably high prices. Every culprit interjected reasons that he/she has bought the product from middle men and hence the social concern (Blowfield, 2003). Besides the economic sense that is associated with production of cocoa, players within the system of production have been pointed ought on unethical behavior on farming practices which have contributed to environmental pollution through dumping of chemicals and fertilizers on the ground

Luxury Brand Economy Effect Essay Example for Free

Luxury Brand Economy Effect Essay Monaco is a small country, but well known all over the world. All over the world it is known as a place of luxury. Every year a lot of tourists visit Monaco to have a good vacation visiting casinos, luxury restaurants and off course to do a shopping in a most known, luxury brands. In Monaco you can find a lot of different luxury boutiques for every taste; you can find everything from luxury cars to a luxury clothes and accessories. During the course of Luxury audit services we study a lot about the services in luxury stores. So our goal was to divide into groups and to do an audit of few stores. Our group was a big enough for such a mission, so we were thinking how to do it in a better way. And once we got a good idea. According to the information we received during the seminar with Guillaume Rose, in Monaco there are a lot of Russian millionaires, and they are always â€Å"invited guests† in different places. So we decided to split our group on two smaller groups and to compare the experience received in Gucci store and in Celine which are situated in the heart of Monaco, near the Casino and Hotel de Paris. I will share with you the Russian experience. I asked my friend, she is from Russia, for some help in this mission. Our story was that we family couple came from Russia for my friend’s wedding and as we already bought a new skirt for my wife we need to buy a new bag, which must be one of the last collections. And the second part of our group was native French with two different scenarios in two stores. As we will see next we received a little bit different experiences. Gucci store audit Firstly we decided to audit one of the most famous brands in the world, Gucci. At 12. 00 we entered the store. Before entering the store, we noticed that the showcase was clean, with good lighting, but there were no goods exposed. Entering the store, I noticed that the main glass door was all in hand prints and it was just 12. 00. Going to the store and pretending a married couple, we were arguing about the fact that my wife has already a bunch of bags and for what reason she is looking for one new. Staff in the store noticed us at once and ran to the side waving their heads as a greeting. Only the guard who was near the enter greeted us in a very polite form. We were walking through the shop for 3 minutes and a half and it gives us a good opportunity to study the store. We noticed that the reception area was clean as it is required, but there were not enough light, it gives to the store a much groomed look. And also no music and even no fresh flowers in the store. After 3 minutes and a half we meat a sales person who greeted us and introduced himself as a David. He asked us a few open questions in order to know what we are looking for. After he listened our story he was interesting in our previous experience with Gucci brand. We pretend that we don’t know anything about Gucci. He told us some information about the brand about its uniqueness and heritage. After that David proposed a few bags, he explained the value of that model and brought all the colors for that model. Also he guaranteed that the model will be in a trend for the next few years. What was not really very good it’s a careless handling of the bag and he put them on one big heap. And what impressed me very much is that he even don’t show the inner part of the bag, on my opinion it is very important to know how it is inside the bah which you are going to buy for a big amount of money. As I was pretending a husband who is not really happy to buy a new bag, I asked about the discount, and I get an answer in very polite form that there is no discount at all in Gucci store in Monaco. My pretending wife was asking me to buy the bag she liked and I was strong on my opinion. So a after that dialogue with my wife he proposed to book the bag till the evening for the case if I will change my mind. This was very polite from his side. But he doesn’t accompany us to the door and didn’t offer to giva us a business card and to right down us into the customers database. Totally we spend in the store 26 minutes. So in conclusion I can say that the experience I have received together with my pretending wife was far different from the French experience of my group mates. Celine store audit. The second we decided to audit was the Celine also situated in the heart of Monaco. Our story was the same, we were looking for a bag which will be good to my â€Å"wife’s† new skirt which we have bought for a wedding we are invited here in Monaco. The showcase was very clean with good exposition of some goods. When we entered the store we noticed staff talking together near the cash machine, although all of them greeted us in their store. The area of the class was very clean , there were enough light, giving a good look to the goods represented in the store. After a minute and 20-30 seconds of waiting we meat a vendor, she was Russian so we were able to speak on our native language. It impressed me very much, so I was ready to buy everything in that store. She was asking a lot of open questions, to get more information about our needs and it was great, because after that she proposed a few models which were facing all our needs. She was very listening, so it helps her to understand our needs. She explained everything about the product, how to clean it and how to use it to leave it in a new condition. Of course she valued the model and showed a few others and different colors. She knows the material and the price for that bag without looking anywhere. But what upset me she didn’t spoke about the brand, because we don’t know anything about that brand, except that it is a luxury and expensive brand. As the bag we liked the most she proposed to book it till the next day midday, so that we can think about purchasing it. She remains courtesy even in the case of not buying that bag. She put our names in database and proposed her help for any other matters. She accompanies us to the door and wish a good day for us. We spend in that store 23 minutes and the felling was like we spend there almost an hour, the experience we received in the Celine store was great dispute of some moments. Conclusion As our group was divided for two smaller groups in order to compare different experiences. As Russian group visiting the Gucci store we received almost a great experience. Points to improve, I would recommend to put some products on a showcases, it is needed to clean the entry glass door and if there is such a need to clean it every hour. They need to put more lights in the store, because it was too dark. Some fresh flowers will do only a good role and some soft music will be very great. And of course some training course for the staff. Celine experience was really great and there is nothing to speak about. I wish them to continue in that way. The experience we received during these audits was one of the greatest. We were participating in the process not just as a customer’s but almost as professionals who can notice almost everything in the store. Thanks to Ozzy Monaco for a great course.

Critical Review of Post-Mortem Sperm Retrieval (PMSR)

Critical Review of Post-Mortem Sperm Retrieval (PMSR) Introduction Post-mortem sperm retrieval (PMSR) is a procedure that has given rise numerous legal and ethical concerns, including: consent for procedure, ownership and assignment of sperm as a possession, divergence on the inheritance of the offspring and conflict over the introduction of sperm retrieval in organ donation (Pastuzak, et al., 2013). There is no agreement on the use of PMSR at different levels from institutional to an international level. A report published in 2003 discussed the benefits of implementing guidelines to introduce a framework and therefore simplify concerns with respect to PMSR, which included (Tash, et al., 2003): Consent issues Resource availability Medical contraindications A 1-year time period for careful evaluation of the recipient. Although PMSR is still fairly uncommon, the continuous increase in requests for In-vitro fertilization (IVF) with intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulted in an increased rate of PMSR requests (Kerr, et al., 1997). Sperm retrieval techniques With the advent of ICSI and IVF, numerous sperm retrieval techniques have been developed in order to tackle sperm retrieval from various entry points. The most commonly used techniques involve either an epididymal or testicular procedure by open surgery or percutaneous entry (See Table 1): Table 1: Sperm retrieval techniques Key: MESA – Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration; PESA – Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration; COB Conventional open biopsy; TESA – Testicular sperm aspiration. Micro surgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) An incision in the scrotum is performed to uncover the epididymis. Using a microscope the tunica is incised and a ductule is mobilised. An incision of the ductile then follows exposing the fluid within which is aspirated. Microsutures are then applied, when sufficient fluid is aspirated, to the ductule. In the case that no fluid is observed another ductule is mobilised for aspiration. Microsurgery allows for a precise incision resulting in an aspiration free from any contaminating blood. With this technique a large number of motile sperms can be retrieved and preserved for future use. Also, it allows for preservation of the ductule in the case of further aspirations, if needed. Nevertheless, no evidence is present to affirm that using microsurgery will result in better retrieval in the future. In addition, the technique is very laborious and time-consuming, needing a microscope and an experienced microsurgeon (Siber, et al., 1994; Girardi Schlegel, 1996). Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) By using antiseptic the scrotum is thoroughly cleaned and consequently washed using saline to eliminate any excess antiseptic. In some cases, local anaesthetic is utilised (Gorgy, et al., 1998), then the epididymis head is put between the thumb and forefinger, where it is then punctured, from the scrotal skin, with a needle that is connected to a tuberculin syringe filled with 0.1ml of washing medium. The plunger is then retracted that slowly punctures the ductule. The syringe is then rotated and partially withdrawn staying within the epididymis. Then the suction is released slightly and the syringe withdrawn. Examination of the aspirated sperm is then performed after flushing the fluid into a dish. In the case that motile sperm are not found, the procedure is performed again at a different location. As the location is selected blindly, numerous tries are needed in order to secure good quality sperm. In this case, the procedure is quick, easy, does not need open surgery and easily repeatable. Nevertheless, since the punctured location is random, it cannot be controlled and occasionally ductules can be missed. In some cases, the epididymis can be very small and even covered with fat layers, making retrieval challenging. This can be overcome by using OFNA. Also, there is a higher chance of contacting a blood vessel and therefore contaminate the fluid with blood (Shrivastav, et al., 1994). Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) In this case anaesthetic is needed, afterwards a butterfly needle is poked around the testicular fluid while suction is applied from another syringe. The fluid is then examined for sperm quality. Studies also show that color Doppler ultrasonography can be used to guide the syringe and go around blood vessels (Balenky, et al., 2001). It is quite a simple technique that does not need any special training or equipment. However, there is a risk of puncturing the tunica blood vessels since it is done blindly. Puncturing multiple passages into the tissue may lead to damage and ultimately haemorrhage. Also, sample volume tends to be quite scanty (Craft Tsirigotis, 1995). Conventional open biopsy (COB) An incision is made in order to expose a testis, afterwards an incision is also made to the tunica and a small piece of testicular tissue is sampled. Sutures are then made to the tunica and the incision closed. It is a simple method that can be performed by a general surgeon and yields a significant amount of tissue. However, testicular vessels can be damages since it is an open surgery procedure, that would lead to the possibility of impaired testicular function as these are end-arteries (Schlegel Su, 1997; Manning, et al., 1998). Key ethical issues Ethical issues can be assessed through fairness, choice and wellbeing of the stakeholders, in order to arrive to a plausible conclusion. I managed to identify the following as the stakeholders; deceased husband, family members (wife/partner, parents etc.), unborn child, physician and society. Fairness With regards to fairness the debate is driven by two main issues; firstly, the right of the father to an heir even after death. In such cases, it is suggested that the father conveys consent for artificial insemination prior to his death (Strong, et al., 2000; Orr Siegler, 2002). This would make the decision more ethically justifiable. In cases where this is not available, inferred consent could also be accepted. However, although very little data is present with regards to the postmortem wishes of men, it is assumed that a large faction of men would not want their spermatozoa used after their death (Pastuszak, et al., 2013). Nevertheless, strict regulation should always be implied, to eliminate abuse where possible (Strong, et al., 2000). Choice The issues of society with regards to PMSR centre about a fear of a continual acceptance of non-conventional practices especially in conservative societies which may lead society to become biased and aversely disapprove of such practices. However, this difference in viewpoint can be seen in all controversial debates, where society criticizes individuals of backing such practices for their own goals and desires. Therefore the introduction and implementation of legislation is important to provide a framework which may help society better understand the uses of PMSR. In the case that family members want to perform sperm retrieval from the deceased based on verbal consent from previous conversations, would the physician be obliged to carry out this task? Basing the answer on the physician’s autonomy, the physician is not obliged to enter in a patient-doctor relationship, unless the patient has no other means for medically necessary care, which is not the case. This means that the physician will never be obliged to perform such duties even if sperm retrieval might be ethically justifiable in certain scenarios. This occurs especially if the physician conscientiously opposes sperm retrieval making him free to decline performing such tasks (Strong, et al., 2000). Also, another question arises, in that would the physician be morally obliged to decline performing practices which may cause harm to a future generation? The Human Embryology and Fertilisation Authority (HEFA) obliges physicians providing assisted reproductive technologies to assess t he wellbeing of the unborn child before proceeding (Parliament of the United Kingdom., 2008). Deciding to perform such a procedure utilizing the sperm of the woman’s partner can be a complex situation to tackle especially without consent. Wellbeing The main concerns when PMSR is sought are with regards to the deceased and the unborn child. Postmortem sperm retrieval affects the welfare of the deceased as it alters the values and beliefs of the deceased (Bahadur, 2002; Orr Siegler, 2002). Also, the child would be considered the heir of the deceased, which has several permanent social implications, especially on the deceased’s family, including, possession distribution and also the child’s upbringing. This could in turn be in complete disagreement with the deceased values (Bahadur, 2002). Family members could also find interest in maintaining the family’s lineage, which could also be in direct conflict with the deceased’s wishes. With regards to the unborn child there are issues too as children born through PMSR will have no father, which may result in difficulties during their upbringing (Strong, et al., 2000). Nevertheless, the claim that post mortem insemination can lead to such dejected views is very complex as it tries to compare existence with something that does not exist. Nevertheless, it is still a very difficult task to raise a child without a father, which may lead to additional costs for the mother and the family which in turn may also be stigmatized (Weber, et al., 2009). Policy and regulatory frameworks for PMSR PMSR has now started to gain international recognition, with different countries starting to implement legislation in order to manage its practice and safeguard its use. Several countries have opted to completely abolish its use. In fact Sweden, Germany, Canada and some parts of Australia have legislation that prohibits the use of PMSR (Bahadur, 1996; Webb, 1996). In addition, regions in West Australia have legislation that prohibits post-mortem use of gametes (Webb, 1996). Israel allows the transfer of pre-embryos to the wife within a year from the death of the husband, even if there is no consent. However, upon death of the wife, the embryos would not be used (Benshushan Schenker, 1998). In the U.K., the Human Fertilisation and Embryology ACT of 1990 does not forbid post-mortem sperm retrieval and storage however it does need prior written consent from the male (Parliament of the United Kingdom., 2008). In France on the other hand after a particular case the Centre d’Etude et de Conservation du Sperme Humain (CECOS) has embraced a practice of not allowing postmortem retrieval, a policy which was backed by the French courts (Aziza-Shuster, 1994). Thereafter, in 1994, France passed an act that prohibits post-mortem sperm retrieval (Lansac, 1996). On the other hand other countries like Belgium and the USA permit PMSR, even in the absence of the males consent (Brahams, 1997; Brahams, 1996). Conclusions The advent of new practices to aid infertility cases, will challenge us with ever increasing ethical issues which most probably will only increase in number. This is why informed consent is a major issue that needs evaluation as it forms an essential part of many programmes. However, for consent to be impartial, all the information with regards to such practices must be given together with counselling to enable proper consent to be given. This means that ideally both male and female should give their consent in advance. Cases involving married couples that have prior consent even with first degree relatives, PMSR should be allowed, although it has to be in agreement with a special committee responsible of dealing with such cases. Cases that might deal with consanguinity or incest for example a mother to be inseminated with her son’s spermatozoa should be prohibited both for ethical and genetic reasons. Also, cases where children are already present, and are heirs, should be al so consulted and consent be obtained. Nevertheless, this review is being written in order to address a number of issues important issues that come with PMSR. Since, such practice is still in its infancy and little data is present, it is difficult to reach any definite answers or conclusions, especially since there is little legislation to produce a framework of guidelines and practices. However, this review might help in furthering the discussion especially since ethical opinions will vary depending on cultural and religious values. Also, the issue is not merely medical and relies also on moral ethical and religious values. A debate will allow for common guidelines to be achieved and with time implemented for future practice and improvement on the subject.