Public Utility of Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)

The Congress enacted Public Utility of Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978 to answer the energy crisis that U. S. was facing (470 U. S. 1075). Section 210 of Title II provides that the act shall promote for the development of alternative energy resources by stopping the practice of electric utilities in purchasing power from non-traditional facilities (470 U. S. 1075).In addition, the act also authorized the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC to implement the act by promulgating rules necessary to encourage cogeneration and small power production (470 U.S. 1075). The function of FERC includes also the setting of rate of electricity (470 U. S. 1075).Moreover, the act required the rates to be just and reasonable and non-discriminatory and shall not exceed the incremental cost of the electric utility of alternative electric energy (470 U. S. 1075). Pursuant to said act, FERC adopted the maximum rate which is the incremental of full- avoided cost and required all utilities to purchase from qualifying facilities (470 U. S. 1075). The state of New York has set minimum rate of six per kilowatt hour.The appellant argued that it cannot pay such amount because its avoided cost fell below that amount (470 U. S. 1075). PROCEDURE: The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court granted the petition because the rate of six cents per kilowatt hour exceeded the federally mandated avoided cost rate (470 U. S. 1075). The respondent here appealed to Court of Appeals and it reversed the decision of the lower court on the ground that the federal law and the statute are complementary and the statute is consistent with the purpose of the act.ISSUE: Can the state require utilities to pay more than the full avoided cost rate for their mandatory purchases? HOLDING: Yes, the state can. REASONING: There is no question as to the rate implemented by the state because the Act authorizes it. The state can freely enact regulations or laws providing rates as long as it achiev es the purpose of the Act. Furthermore, there is no substantial issue than can be debated and so the case is dismissed. DISSENTING: The Act and the state's regulations should be clearly interpreted.The decision of CA is contradictory to the case in Kansas where the court held that the state regulatory commission could not set rates for purchases from cogenerations that were higher than the avoided cost (470 U. S. 1075). Moreover, the state may have jurisdiction to set the rates under PURPA but the extent of their authority shall be settled (470 U. S. 1075). In addition, Justice White found that there are various cases similar to this and the states also have different approaches as to the setting of the rate under the PURPA (470 U.S. 1075). These cases may occur again in the future and in order to avoid it, the issue shall be resolved. Furthermore, the Justice found the issue as important and open for debate (470 U. S. 1075) Works Cited â€Å"Consolidated Edison Company of New York , Inc. v. Public Service Commission of New York, et al (470 U. S. 1075). † 2003. The New York Times. 23 May 2008 . â€Å"How To Brief A Case. † 2006. 4Lawschool. com. 23 May 2008

Hamlets Fatal Flaw Essay

Hamlet’s Fatal Flaw was that he had a hard time carrying out his plans. Many times did Hamlet plan on doing things, yet he did not carry out these plans. Hamlet was not a bad guy, but more of a tragic hero. In the opening scenes of the play, the Ghost of Hamlet’s father reveals the truth about his death to his son. He tells Hamlet to avenge his tragic murder. Hamlet’s response seems like he has quick plans to carry out his fathers wishing, by saying â€Å"Haste me to know’t that I with winds as swift†Ã‚ ¦ May sweep to my revenge.† (p. 29 lines 27-29) Unfortunately, Hamlet’s inability to act on his father’s extortion has him reluctant to kill the King Claudius by the end of that very scene, when he says, â€Å"This time is out of joint, O cursed spite, that I was ever born to set it right.† (p. 35 lines 197-198) Here, Hamlet is already having doubts and wishing that he wasn’t the one that had to carry out the revenge for his father. Obviously Hamlet has real problems when it comes down to dealing with things. As the play goes on, Hamlet still has not done a thing to avenge his father. In act II, scene 2, Hamlet decides that before he can avenge his father’s death, he must make sure that the Ghost was telling the truth. This simply gives Hamlet more excuse to procrastinate. Hamlet makes a plan to have a play in which he will test the kings reaction to. The play would be about a king who is murdered by someone putting poison into his ear. Then the murderer becomes king and is loved by the fallen kings wife. Just as it was for Claudius who killed the king and took his wife. When the play is seem by Claudius, Claudius becomes outraged and ends the play. Hamlet knows now that Cladius is guilty. Even here, hamlet is speaking to his friend Guilderstern and says â€Å"I lack advancement† (p. 81 line 338) when his friend asks what is wrong with him. I think that Hamlet knows his flaw but he won’t act on it. In act III, scene 3, Hamlet is ready to kill the king, but stops himself because the king is praying. Hamlet thinks that because the king is praying that if he killed him now the king would go to heaven. He decides yet again to delay avenging his father’s murder, this time until he can kill the King while he is in a vile condition, such as â€Å"When he is drunk asleep; or in his rage; Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed.† (p. 87 lines 89-90) Later,  Hamlet even proclaims; â€Å"How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge.† (p. 104 lines 33-34) In the end of the play, we see that Hamlet’s inability to act causes his tragic demise. Hamlets failure to revenge his father when he should have, costs him not only his life, but also his mother’s. In the final scene, Hamlet duels with Laertes, who has conspired with the King to kill Hamlet. In the King’s attempt to kill Hamlet, he accidentally poisons the Queen. Laertes delivers the fatal wound to Hamlet with a sword dipped in a deadly poison and it is only with his final life breath that Hamlet finally kills the King. So, Hamlet has finally killed the king, but not by going out and killing the king like he said, but with a poison the king made himself to kill Hamlet. But it would be okay to say that Hamlet avenged his father, and his fathers later wish for the queen to be left to die without Hamlet killing her. Both Hamlet’s and his father’s names are cleared too. Basically, everything is made clear to the people and besides Hamlet’s sad death, everyone who deserved to die or be killed, was killed. Hamlet obviously wouldn’t have made a good king anyways, without the ability to act on your own wishes, you would never rule a kingdom very well.

Applying Ecological Principles for Koala

Ecology has been defined as the branch of science that deals with the biotic and abiotic environment surrounding an organism. It takes into accounts the different types of relationships prevailing between an organism and their immediate surrounding and the environment. The study of ecology emphasizes on the significance of such relationships on sustainability of organism. Various ecological principles are set for maintain an optimum natural environment and ensure the safety of endangered species of Australia. Our current report focuses on a particular animal of Australia, the Koala, which is considered to be one of the threatened species in the country. The report elaborates the ecology of the concerned animal, the relevant ecological issues concerning the species and tries to manifest how ecological principles can be applied in order to create a sustainable environment for conservation of our chosen animal species. The scientific name of the animal is Phascolarctoscinereus. Following is the detailed taxonomic classification of the animal: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Sub-phylum: Vertebrata; Class: Mammalia; Sub-class: Marsupialia; Order: Diprotodontia; Sub-order: Vombatiformes; Family: Phascolarctidae; Genus: Phascolarctos; Species: Cinereus(Iucnredlist.org, 2016). It is classified as Animalia because of its capability of locomotion and its multicellular and heterotrophic characteristics. Presence of Spinal cord classifies it as Chordate and Vertebrate. Koalas produce milk to feed their young ones, hence they are Mammals. Presence of pouches to carry their young ones qualifies them as Marsupials. The arrangement of their teeth on the jaw and fusion of the second and third digits in its back paw puts it in the order Diprotodontia. Koala is the only still existing member of its family Phascolarctidae. Several characteristics like type and number of teeth and digits are considered to classify it into this family. Considering the features of its urogenital tract, spermatozoa, karyotype and serology it is stated to belong to the genus Phascolarctos.Ecology of Koala Koalas are one of the few animal species of Australia that solely depend on the foliage of Eucalyptus for the source of energy and nutrient. However, specific species of eucalyptus are preferred by the animal and accordingly their population is distributed with their preferred tree species.In general Koalas have a sedentary lifestyle and are solitary animals. Most of them live in overlapping home ranges, which aid them in the process of mating. Both males and females start mating at an age of around two to three years and generally give birth each year. Over-browsing of trees has been a sustainability issue in many areas, which has led to undertaking of several actions like habitat protection, fertility suppression and translocation (Mc Lean 2003). Studies have shown that the tree species koalas use for resting are not necessarily the same species they use for feeding purposes and hence studying their feeding patterns are somewhat difficult (Marsh et al 2014).It has been reported that Koala population increased dramatically in the late 1800s and suffered a considerable decline in the late 1900s due to ecological factors. Currently Koalas are found in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia (Melzer et al 2000). In most of the regions the animal has been declared to be Vulnerable by the Australian Government. Koalas were declared to be a threatened species in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) by the Australian Government. Further the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared Koala to be a â€Å"Potentially Vulnerable† species(Savethekoala.com, 2016). Several ecological factors have been identified that have a direct impact on the survival of the animal. Loss of habitat is the most significant of all the issues in this regard. Expansion of human settlement and demands of modern life like roads, factories, agriculture and housing has caused much loss of the wildlife habitats where the animals were already found. Due to increased human population, subsequent increase in cars and dogs has turned to be a serious threat to the animal species. Around 4000 koala deaths have been reported to be caused by cars and domestic dogs each year (Cork et al 2000). It has been reported that Koalas suffer from various diseases such as conjunctivitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection and reproductive tract infection that might lead to infertility. Chlamydia is most prevalent pathogen found to be affecting the species (Waugh et al 2016). Other threats faced by koalas are bushfires and danger from other wild animals. Ecology deals with the interactions and interrelationships at various levels ranging from populations and communities to ecosystems and biospheres. Populations comprise interbreeding groups of animals belonging to the same species and inhabiting in the same habitat. When populations of different species interact, communities are formed. Ecosystems are the abiotic and biotic components of a predefined area that influences all the populations and communities of that region. Biosphere includes all the biological and physical processes that directly or indirectly influence life on Earth. Several ecological principles play an important role in maintaining a harmony between all the components of an ecosystem. Ecological interdependence is a key factor that determines the survival of a species. Despite of dynamic changes in the ecological systems each and every species residing in a particular area are dependent on other animals and plants. This dependence arises mainly from the food chain and for obtaining energy and nutrients. Each component of an ecosystem aims at reaching goals that are beneficial for the whole and any organism that acts against this notion is considered as a disturbing factor for the overall ecological harmony. Human beings play a huge role in altering ecosystems by changing the physical environment of the same and disturbing the residing organism of the particular region. This proves to be detrimental to the human species itself on the long run. It has been already discussed that changes in the habitat is the most concerning ecological issue for koalas, where human play a significant part(Little et al 2007).Loss of habitat can cause longstanding impacts on the intera ction between the biotic components of an ecosystem. Human intervention must be stopped to conserve the Koala habitats. This can be done by forming certain legislations and laws on part of the government and thus restricting human impact on concerned regions. Koalas solely thrive on eucalyptus plants that too on certain species of the plants are preferred by the animal. Loss of habitat may lead to loss of certain species of the plant essential for survival of Koalas. Disruption of the food chain due to such losses is often life threatening for animals species. Even natural disturbances affect the population and species of an ecosystem. Natural disturbances can influence the shape size     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and distribution of ecosystems and subsequently thre animal species residing there. The intensity and frequency of forest fires have shapes ecosystems in several regions of the earth. Composition and structure of habitats need to be studied at a landscape level to get an insight about the impacts of natural disturbances. For terrestrial ecosystems the species and community composition and the patch size distribution are of utmost relevance. Bushfire have caused much harm to Koalas consistently. Certain measures are necessary to prevent such fires and deaths of the vulnerable species. Chlamydial diseases in Koalas continue to be one of the most common diseases occurring in the animal (Timms 2005). The causes of preventable disease caused by Chlamydial infection needs to be identified and preventable measures should be taken to avoid further deaths due to such causes. Koalas of Australia are already considered a vulnerable species. Several ecological factors that influence the habitat and consequently their survival of the species have been addressed. Loss of habitat being the most determining factor for the decline in the animal population in recent years needs immediate attention. The indispensible step that needs to be taken is preventing and/or restricting impact of humans on the habitat of the animal. Certain natural disturbances like diseases and bushfires needs to be studied to figure out preventive measures. The role of the government is crucial in this regard. Laws and guidelines must be set considering the significance of the alarming situation. After formulation of such laws the government must ensure effective implementation of the same in order to reach the desired goals.   Bioweb.uwlax.edu. (2016).Classification. [online] Available at: https://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/mundt_meli/classification.htm [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016]. Cork, S.J., Clark, T.W. and Mazur, N., 2000. Introduction: an interdisciplinary effort for koala conservation.  Conservation Biology,  14(3), pp.606-609. Iucnredlist.org. (2016).Phascolarctoscinereus (Koala). [online] Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/16892/0 [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016]. Little, G., Lau, T.A., Cypher, A., Lin, J., Haber, E.M. and Kandogan, E., 2007, April. Koala: capture, share, automate, personalize business processes on the web. In  Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems  (pp. 943-946). ACM. Marsh, K.J., Moore, B.D., Wallis, I.R. and Foley, W.J., 2014. Continuous monitoring of feeding by koalas highlights diurnal differences in tree preferences.  Wildlife Research,  40(8), pp.639-646. Mc Lean, N., 2003.  Ecology and management of overabundant koala (Phascolarctoscinereus) populations  (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Melbourne). Melzer, A., Carrick, F., Menkhorst, P., Lunney, D. and John, B.S., 2000.Overview, critical assessment, and conservation implications of koala distribution and abundance.  Conservation Biology,  14(3), pp.619-628. Savethekoala.com. (2016).The Koala - Endangered or Not? | Australian Koala Foundation. [online] Available at: https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/koala-endangered-or-not [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016]. Timms, P., 2005. Chlamydial infection and disease in the koala.  Microbiology Australia,  26(2), pp.65-68. Waugh, C., Hanger, J., Timms, P. and Polkinghorne, A., 2016. Koala translocations and Chlamydia: Managing risk in the effort to conserve native species.  Biological Conservation,  197, pp.247-253. With a decade's experience in providing essay help,

Crime and Ethical Standards Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Crime and Ethical Standards - Term Paper Example The individual is only suspected to be under influence of drugs. Therefore, this crime can be argued to be misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance (Braswell et al., 2005).   An individual who illicitly obtains or uses items coded controlled substances is charged with a crime. It is a criminal offense to possess a controlled substance. In my state, the quantity, the nature of the drugs and the circumstances that one is assumed to possess a controlled substance influence the nature of conviction that one receives. The penalty for this crime depends also on the classification of the drug. An individual is charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance in the event that the very individual is found to be in possession of coded substances below a specific limit (Leighton & Riemann, 2001).   Societal factors influence individual’s behaviors. Societies where social values and norms are adhered to the letter experience less social problems because individua ls are discipline. In the paradigm case, Jones’ negative behavior that has put him into troubles can be associated with various societal factors. It can be suggested that Jones is brought up in a society where people commonly engage in drug abuse. The first duty of any government is to ensure safety of its citizens. Social contract theory states that government sets rules governing individuals’ behavior that is wholly accepted by rational citizens. The state exists to enforce these rules and laws for positive social living. It is in Jones’ interests that the law enforcing agencies, police in this case, do not take advantage of their powers and abuse him. This implies that they must adhere to the rules that protect the suspect. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the criminal justice system in place is effective to prosecute suspects of crimes while protecting their rights by providing fair trials and rational punishment. Government’s duty to offer security and safety is in Jones’ interest. The government would require law enforcing agencies and the criminal justice system to pursue critical analysis of the condition of the suspect before making any conclusion (Leighton & Riemann, 2001).   Marconi is a police officer hence has a role to ensure that there is law and order in the society. The law requires law enforcing agencies such as police to pursue their duties diligently for the benefit of the citizens. In this event, Marconi has a number of roles to play. He ought to question the suspect before arresting as a matter of procedure. However, this did not happen. The officer has a duty to proof the nature of the crime committed by Jones in order to guarantee far trial and punishment. Police officers are expected to be subjective in their undertakings to avoid prejudicial mistreatment of the suspect as it happened to Jones (Leighton & Riemann, 2001).   The clearest miscalculation by Officer Marconi is his failure to read the suspect (Ms. Jones) her Miranda Rights. Ms. Jones’ custodial interrogation satisfies her Miranda needs, â€Å"†¦the person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be informed that he [she] has the right to remain silent†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Miranda v Arizona (1966), 384 US 436) and further, anything she says can and will be suppressed by applying â€Å"†¦the product of a rational intellect and free will†

Technological advances that have affected health care delivery in Essay

Technological advances that have affected health care delivery in America - Essay Example A survey that was conducted by r/j Blendon in 2001 indicated that majority of the US population is not satisfied with the healthcare systems in the country. Moreover, they are dissatisfied with the private insurances in the country. The survey is conducted every five years in order to understand the reaction of the American population on issues related to health. One of the major causes of a decrease in public confidence on the health care systems is lack of technological development (Kabene, 2010). On the other hand, some people feel that the recent technology is being used to collect data unethically. This is data that can be used against the patients. The second historical perspective is related to American capitalism. Although the healthcare system is mainly concerned with provision of high quality and affordable care to the members of the public, it is mainly run by a business model which is profit oriented. Technology advancement has enhanced the level of capitalism in the health care system (King, 2003). For instance, through the use of technology, it has become more efficient and faster to provide high-quality services to the people. This has made the healthcare organization to become more profitable. One of the major technological advancement that has affected health care delivery in United States is the evolution of Smartphone. Although Smartphone is not related to health care, it has played a significant role in enabling the doctors to access patient information. In addition, the development of different applications related to health has improved the well being of the people. In an example, a Checkup Experience application which was developed by Masimo Company has enabled people to check their pulse rates. The application comes with a specific device which can be easily placed on the finder and read the oxygen, pulse rate, and perfusion rate of the person. Such

Answer sheet Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Answer sheet - Assignment Example 27). There is a large pool of unemployment in the market. A contributing factor is the low wages. Reich believes that with correct remuneration, better economy and society are not a farfetched idea. Labor is readily available in the market, but the poor wages discourage workers to apply for the job. People are even trading their jobs for a lesser paying job that matches their remuneration (Reich, pg.35). Stop bankers from creating risky huge bets with the money of other people. If they have to, then they should second the bet with a good proportion of their own capital. They should also be hindered from creating cash off their balances through trade derivatives. In addition, put a requirement they receive their remuneration in warrants, or stock that cannot be can be cashed in no less than 3 years. Place precautionary measures in place preventing a bank from being too big for a fail; Combining the casino with the basic utility made bankers richer and subjected us to risks we had not asked for. If separating investment from commercial banking is not adequate in keeping all banks in check. Anti-trust laws are used to break them up. Pluck out the three major interest conflicts: credit-rating agencies, institutional investors, and regional feds. The same companies having their issues rated should not pay the agencies. Those who use their ratings should be the ones paying them. Institutional investors, for example, a mutual and pension funds should not receive investment advice from the banks that gain from their investment. Presidents elected by regional bankers should head the regional feds. The major say should come from non-bankers, and the senate should have to confirm regional presidents (Reich, pg. 38). One lie states that the rich tax cuts tickle down all the way to everyone else, but taxing the rich highly leads to slow job growth and hurts the

Learning style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Learning style - Essay Example Solitary is my best way of learning, where I carry out study on my own. Some prefer studying through social or group discussions among other styles. The reflection matches with mine since I have the unique learning style that I also prefer most, in addition, I also combine other learning styles as mentioned above. Generally, I prefer the use of solitary learning style which involves personal learning that does not involve the help of the other people. Personally, I am very shy to talk in front of other people, therefore, I do not feel comfortable in the other style like social which has to involve many people as well as the group discussions that will do have to contribute. Even though group discussions are good study habits, I do not participate so much when it comes to the group study. I do not speak so much in class, and I like keeping everything to myself, and fail to participate in the group discussion, or class participation like answering questions, demonstrations among others. Being a Non-American, I am afraid of raising my hand in front of other learners even when I know the answer because I feel they might laugh or mock me. Since I do not have the courage to face everyone, I do not contribute so much in class. Even though I do not interact so much with people, but I relate with very social friends. Physically, I enjoy playing with other people. Even though I do not talk too much, I use a lot of vocabulary to write (Erickson, p 12). My current study habit is that reading on my own in a quiet place, by so doing, I realize that I utilize my time well when I am seriously studying alone than when being with others. In fact, I sometimes prefer locking myself alone in the room to avoid external distractions. In my current study, I find it not working well with my learning style since; I realize that I need to combine a number of my learning style in order to achieve my objectives. I would prefer to adopt group

Risk Assessment Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Risk Assessment Plan - Essay Example This paper develops a risk assessment plan for three tasks that relate to hazardous materials management. Risk assessment is the second phase of the risk management process; the other phases are risk identification, management of risk, and risk reporting and monitoring stages (Scholz & Gray, 2000, p. 285). Risk assessment involves a method of examining risk hazards with a motive of avoiding, reducing or better managing them to lessen their impact. Risk assessment is defined as a simple careful examination of what in the workplace or home environment could cause harm to people (Martin, 2006, p. 7). Hazardous situations are ever present with us, from the work place, our homes and even when travelling possible from workplace to home. In reality every situation we are in is a hazardous one, like for example fuelling a vehicle presents a risk of explosion or intoxication by the gas fumes. A simple gardening chore like lawn mowing presents a risk of being hit by flying objects from the lawn mower causing adverse health conditions. The presence of hazardous situations in everyday life motivates the need of a risk assessment plan. This paper develops a risk assessment plan on three tasks which are; fuelling a vehicle, painting the house, and garden lawn mowing. In conclusion risk assessment aims at identifying the possible hazards, their consequences and the effects they can have on a person’s health incase they take place. This paper has summarized the types of hazard that can take place in three different tasks that is fuelling a vehicle, painting a house and lawn mowing. Marrero, T. L. (2007). An intergrative approach to study and promote natural hazards adaptive capacity: A case study of two flood-prone communities in Puerto Rico. The Geographic Journal, 176,

What role did Jews play in the American civil rights movement Essay

What role did Jews play in the American civil rights movement - Essay Example But in the 1960s, with the world watching on the evening news, many Jews traveled from northern cities to southern sites of marches, sit-ins, and rallies to support equal rights for African-Americans and to oppose those who would oppress them. Clearly there were motivating factors that made it beneficial for African Americans to have Jewish people helping them to attain equal rights. Any group who chose to support the civil rights movement would not only lend encouragement and backing, but also credibility and strength in numbers. Stephen J. Whitfield confirms that African Americans and Jews â€Å"have been so entangled that some twentieth-century Jews in the United States would imagine themselves black, and would blur the lines of race and ethnicity that bigotry had hoped to keep distinct† (Whitfield, 2008 , p. 353). However, it was not just an affinity or moral outrage that prompted Jewish people to become involved in the civil rights movement. Any victory for African Americans was a victory for Jews too. As a people, Jews have met with oppression throughout their history. Many felt as if they dwelt in a place somewhere between the dominant ethnicity of white Anglo-Saxon protestant and the most oppressed race in the United States, African American—sort of a gray area between black and white. By helping to obtain civil rights for African Americans, Jews knew that their cause would be swept along in the tide of change. They too would benefit from changes in federal legislation that would rein in some of the blatant injustice. Martin Luther King understood this. During the bus boycott in Montgomery, AL he said, â€Å"Our victory will not be a victory for Montgomery’s Negroes alone. It will be a victory for justice, a victory for fair play, and a victory for democracy.’ After the boycott proved successful, King refused to ‘take this as a victory over the white

Managing Financial Resources and Decisions Assignment - 5

Managing Financial Resources and Decisions - Assignment Example Business entities can get finances from the following sources1)Â  A business can get its funding from the owner of the business where he or she gives out either funds or property as a starting capital to the business.2)Â  Donations and grants: These are funds that are given to the business entity by the friends and well-wisher to assist the business in meeting its financial obligations3)Â  The business can also borrow loans from the bank to fund the operations of the business.4)Â  Sponsored Agreements: some of the research that are conducted in some of the organization are performed using funds from sponsoring agencies that support the research and training and even services through various agreements.5)Â  The business can also get its funding from the family friends.6)Â  Ploughing back of the business profits can also be another source of fund that the business can use to expand its activities. This means that the profits that are realized by the business are re- invested in t he business to expand the business.7)Â  Other sources of finance for the business can also be gifts from friendsImplication of finances to businessesIt is very possible to manage income effectively and efficiently through financial planning. Good management of the incomes will help you and the business to know and understand how much money you will need for tax payments and other monthly expenses and even personal savings.Good financial planning can increase cash flows through careful monitoring the spending patterns and expenses.

The Story of the Flood- the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay Example for Free

The Story of the Flood- the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay You know the city Shurrupak, it stands on the banks of Euphrates? That city grew old and the gods that were in it were old. There was Anu,-lord of the firmament, their father, and warrior Enlil their counsellor, Ninurta the helper, and Ennugi watcher over canals; and with them also was Ea. In those days the world teemed, the people multiplied, the world bellowed like a wild bull, and the great god was aroused by the clamour. Enlil heard the clamour and he said to the gods in council, The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reason of the babel. So the gods agreed to exterminate mankind. Enlil did this, but Ea because of his oath warned me in a dream. He whispered their words to my house of reeds, Reed-house, reedhouse! Wall, O wall, hearken reed-house, wall reflect; O man of Shurrupak, son of Ubara-Tutu; tear down your house and build a boat, abandon possessions and look for life, despise worldly goods and save your soul alive. Tear down your house, I say, and build a boat. These are the measurements of the barque as you shall build her: let hex beam equal her length, let her deck be roofed like the vault that covers the abyss; then take up into the boat the seed of all living creatures.†. . . . . In the first light of dawn all my household gathered round me, the children brought pitch and the men whatever was necessary. On the fifth day I laid the keel and the ribs, then I made fast the planking. The ground-space was one acre, each side of the deck measured one hundred and twenty cubits, making a square. I built six decks below, seven in all, I divided them into nine sections with bulkheads between. I drove in wedges where needed, I saw to the punt poles, and laid in supplies. The carriers brought oil in baskets, I poured pitch into the furnace and asphalt and oil; more oil was consumed in caulking, and more again the master of the boat took into his stores. I slaughtered bullocks for the people and every day I killed sheep. I gave the shipwrights wine to drink as though it were river water, raw wine and red wine and oil and white wine. There was feasting then as -there is at the time of the New Years festival; I myself anointed my head. On the seventh day the boat was complete. . . . . . For six days and six nights the winds blew, torrent and tempest and flood overwhelmed the world, tempest and flood raged together like warring hosts. When the seventh day dawned the storm from the south subsided, the sea grew calm, the, flood was stilled; I looked at the face of the world and there was silence, all mankind was turned to clay. The surface of the sea stretched as flat as a roof-top; I opened a hatch and the light fell on my face. Then I bowed low, I sat down and I wept, the tears streamed down my face, for on every side was the waste of water. I looked for land in vain, but fourteen leagues distant there appeared a mountain, and there the boat grounded; on the mountain of Nisir the boat held fast, she held fast and did not budge . . . . When the seventh day dawned I loosed a dove and let her go. She flew away, but finding no resting-place she returned. Then I loosed a swallow, and she flew away but finding no restingplace she returned. I loosed a raven, she saw that the waters had retreated, she ate, she flew around, she cawed, and she did not come back. . . . .

A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification Essay Example for Free

A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification Essay A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification A Final Project Presented to the Faculty of the School of Business In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science in Business Administration By Abstract of Thesis A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification By Problem In response to the raising awareness of damage to the environment, a series of standards for environmental management systems called The ISO 14000 was introduced in 1996. It provides guidelines on the ingredients that an environmental management should necessarily posses and also on the supporting technologies. These standards were not so specific as regards to how it should be done rather it more emphasizes on what should be done. ISO 14000 is an environmental management standards designed to guarantee products and services to cover the minimum environmental impact. The ISO 14000 series takes the international standards system to the field of environmental concerns. ISO 14001 focuses on the development and maintenance of an Environmental Management System, within the ISO 14000 series. The ISO 14000 series is of relatively recent origin, having been instituted in 1991. However, it has emerged as a significant force within a short time. The ISO 14000 series is relevant for the world of business, for governments and regulators, for organizations that work not-for-profit and for entities of all types and sizes, wherever they may be. Its universal nature makes it a unique and dominant system for all people who are concerned with pollution, waste and about the consumption of resources that are limited and which cannot be renewed. ISO 14000 promotes professional conduct. Training people and involving them in key processes lie at the heart of the ISO 14000 system. The rigors of certification serve to develop human resources. It can serve to motivate people at all levels of the hierarchy, and to foster team spirit. The ISO 14000 system is not limited to altruism and to noble intentions. It is worth hard cash. ISO 14001 puts great pressure to bear on achieving productivity improvements that translate to valuable cost savings. Major international corporations enjoy impressive profit growth through the ISO 14000 series. All ISO certifications carry the benefits of independent and international recognition. ISO extension in to the field of environmental concerns through the 14000 series brings desirable pressure on companies that produce hazardous substances and which generate enormous amounts of waste. Customers everywhere have the choice to insist on ISO 14000 certifications. Companies may find themselves excluded from significant market segments if they continue to ignore or to avoid ISO 14000. Some organizations may find themselves out of business if they do not secure ISO 14000 certification. Apple leads a galaxy of the world’s most respected enterprises in using ISO 14001 certification as a cornerstone of competitive strategy. Lithium ion battery technology is an example of innovation that a commitment to environmental conservation can present. Solutions inspired by ISO 14001 can have welcome economic benefits, apart from noble achievements in terms of environmental conservation. Reduction in energy consumption is an outstanding example, since power generation can be both expensive as well as polluting. ISO 14000 calls for abiding commitment on the part of all entities that seek certification. The system consumes major portions of employee time. ISO 14000 becomes a major element of cost, though it does produce handsome returns. The ISO 14000 series follows a highly structured implementation procedure. There is comprehensive documentation widely available that any organization can use to enter the system. Most organizations find it expedient to use consultants to guide them through the process. Independent auditors are inevitable. External auditors must be knowledgeable, experienced and accredited. ISO 14000 has important weaknesses. Loss of proprietary information is the most serious risk. Certified companies may find that their defenses have been compromised in the event of litigation. This arises from the documentation and management reviews that are integral to ISO 14000. ISO 14000 leaves organizations free to choose their own goals, priorities and standards. It therefore lends itself to potential abuse by organizations that may push important social concerns to the background, or to prevaricate about deleterious aspects of environmental degradation. Some organizations may not be able to fund the investments in time and money that ISO 14000 requires. The benefits may therefore evade small enterprises. ISO 14000 documentation needs can also duplicate documentation that other systems and some regulations require. Training and audit infrastructure is inadequate for widespread and global application of ISO 14000. Some organizations, especially in remote regions can find themselves excluded though they may wish to enlist. ISO 14000 confines itself to the environment. It does not consider issues of human wellness. There are many community concerns that ISO 14000 does not address. It is not a guarantee of ethical performance of an organization on all fronts. Business interests may be served best if companies were to use ISO 14000 for internal review, without going in for certification or even registration. It would then be an effective tool of risk management without opening the firm to unwelcome public scrutiny. As stated ISO 14000 can prove to be a significant undertaking that can task the resources of any size organization, if the task is undertaken correctly and managed well the benefits will outweigh the costs in many ways, from financial to organizational image. Method The Historical/Case study method is used in this thesis. The study consists of real life cases gathered from, various sources. These cases are evaluated for relevance as well as content. Cases used will be from varying sizes and types of organizations, public and private as well as local and international. Further research analysis by overview of the statistical research methods, selection of the sample and descriptive statistics is also used in this thesis as a corroborative evidence to substantiate the findings of this thesis. Conclusion This study has shown that ISO 14000 certification can tax the resources of organizations, but in the majority of cases the end result has proven that the benefits of certification exceed the costs. The study of the data presented has demonstrated that, for most organizations, not implementing ISO 14000 can be much more costly than implementation. Recently several universities, including the University of Michigan, suspended contracts with Coca Cola on campuses (Dump Coke at U of M, 2005). While several reasons are given for the suspension of contacts at the campuses including human rights violations, specifically mentioned is â€Å"Environmental Devastation† in India. Perception is key for business in today’s global economy, being able to prove environmental responsibility as stewardship on the organizations behalf can result in the loss or gain of business. Table of Contents Chapter No Headings Page No Chapter 1 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY AND INTRODUCTION 6 Statement of the Problem 7 Purpose of the Study 10 Scope of the Study 11 Rationale of the Study 12 Definition of Terms 12. Overview of the Study 17 Chapter 2 REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE 2. 1 Introduction 21 2. 2 The Sustainability Imperative for Environmental Management 23 2. 3 Image Incentives for Environmental Management 25 2. 4 The Lines of Business 30 2. 5 Implemental aspects 31 2. 6 ISO 14000 and Global Trends 31 2. 7 ISO 14001 and Profits 34 2. 8 ISO 14001 and Seasonal Business 37 2. 9 ISO 14001 and Building Projects 39 2. 10 ISO 14001 and Equator Principles 40 2. 11 SME Experience with ISO 14001 41 2. 12 Summary of Benefits of Environmental Management Systems 44 2. 13 What is it? 46 2. 14 Environmental Labeling and ISO 14000 50 2. 15 ISO 14001 for International Corporations 53 2. 16 ISO 14001 in Mergers and Acquisitions 58 2. 17 Detailing Product Life Cycles 58 2. 18 Specific Benefits That Business Can Expect From ISO 63 2. 19 ISO 9000 AND ISO 14000 65 Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY Approach 66 Data Gathering Method 67 Data Base of Study 68 Validity of Data 68 Originality and Limitation of Data 69 Summary 70 Chapter 4 DATA ANALYSIS 4. 1 BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC 71 4. 2 ELI LILLY 72 4. 3 Beyond Compliance by Baxter and Eli Lilly. 74 4. 3. 1 EPA ‘s 33 / 50 program 74. 4. 3. 2 Responsible Care Compliance 75 4. 3. 3 Green Products 75 4. 3. 4 Environment Audits 76 4. 4 An analysis of Environment compliance by Baxter and Lilly. 76 4. 5 Policy Dynamics 76 4. 6 Baxter International Inc and Environment Compliance 77 4. 6. 1 Baxter’s Environment Performance –At a glance. 78 4. 6. 2 Green House Gas Emission 80 4. 63 Reduction in Emissions in Carbon Di Oxide 81 4. 6. 4 Baxter Historical Performance as reported in 1997 81 4. 6. 5 Baxter’s Environment Program through year 2010 81 4. 6. 6 Baxter’s Cost Savings due to Environmental initiatives 82 4. 6. 7 Environment Performance Data of Baxter 83 4. 6. 8 Baxter’s Cost Reduction Data’s 84 4. 6. 9 The Toxic Release Inventory and the 33/50 Program by Baxter and Lilly. 85 4. 7 Baxter and Lilly ISO 14000 -Response 86 4. 8 Blue Scope Steel and ISO 14000 86 4. 9 ISO 14000 Rockwell Automation, Twinsburg –Ohio 87 4. 10 Plasti Color -Ohio 88 4. 11 Xerox Corporation 88 4. 12 IBM 88 4. 13 Carter Holt Harvey Tissue –New Zealand 89 4. 14 3M Corporation 89 4. 15 Case studies of ISO 14001 Companies 91 4. 16 Coca-Cola 95 4. 17 Research Approach Methodological of Sample Collection 98 4. 18 Methods of Resources 98 4. 19 Description of dependent and Independent variables –Table -1 99 4. 20 Table 2- Entity Type 101 4. 21 Table 3 – Categories of NED 102 4. 22 Table 4-Multiple Regression results for test Of H1 through H 4. 103 Chapter 5 SUMMARY , RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSIONS 105 REFERENCES 118 List of Table and Charts Chapter No Headings Page No Chapter 4 4. 6. 1 Baxter’s Environment Performance –At a glance. 78 4. 6. 2 Green House Gas Emission 80 4. 63 Reduction in Emissions in Carbon Di Oxide 81 4. 6. 6 Baxter’s Cost Savings due to Environmental initiatives 82. 4. 6. 7 Environment Performance Data of Baxter 83 4. 6. 8 Baxter’s Cost Reduction Data’s 84 4. 15 Case studies of ISO 14001 Companies 91 4. 19 Description of dependent and Independent variables –Table -1 99 4. 20 Table 2- Entity Type 101 4. 21 Table 3 – Categories of NED 102 4. 22 Table 4-Multiple Regression results for test Of H1 through H 4. 103 A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification A Case Study Chapter 1 Importance of the study and Introduction Several industries are trying very hard to change their public image as environmentally â€Å"unfriendly†. The oil industry with its need to seek more sources, often in wilderness areas, chemical companies which have in the past legally dumped toxic waste, the timber industries and the automotive industry which continues to produce large gas guzzling SUV’s and trucks are all very sensitive to public perception. Perception is very powerful and a company does not want to be perceived as harmful to the environment or not environmentally friendly. Frequency of industrial accidents and media publicities such as the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) highlighted the environmental consequences of unfettered industrialization . Respecting the public concerns; the United States Congress has made several laws stipulating environmental standards and technologies for manufacturing companies. Only after Rio Summit in 1992, the policy makers seem to have acceded the fact that the governmental coercion alone will not bring any success and right incentives must be provided to the industries. In recent years, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched voluntary beyond –compliance programs such as Green Lights, Project XL and 33/50. The ISO 14000 certification system can be used as a tool to not just say that are concerned about the environment, but to show what you have been doing, are doing and will be doing to improve your performance. In doing so you should be able to add to your bottom line, both direct and indirect. As more and more of these companies will seek and obtain the ISO 14000 certification and they require suppliers to do so as well. This study seeks to contribute to the on-going debate within some sections of industry about the economics of ISO 14001. It is known that large corporations invest in registrations, often under duress from social activists. But is there money to be gained by following the system? Can there be purely business reasons for seeking ISO 14001 certification? Can smaller enterprises participate? These are some of the questions that this study seeks to answer. Statement of the Problem The problem; organizations have a need to show environmental stewardship but what is the cost of doing so and how so they justify the cost to management and/or shareholders. Today companies and organizations face many financial challenges and to survive in the global economy they must be fiscally responsible. There is also a need to be considered environmentally responsible and perceived as such. The ISO 14OOO series specifies beyond –compliance management systems . These standards have been sponsored by the International Organization for Standardization, a Geneva -based non governmental organization . ISO 14000 could be viewed as an industrial code of practice that needs to be certified by external auditors. Currently such certification costs about $ 20000 per facility. The cost has acted as a barrier for many financially weak corporations to have the ISO 14000 Certification for their facilities. Recently several universities, including the University of Michigan and New York University, suspended contracts with Coca Cola on campuses (Dump Coke at U of M, 2005). While several reasons are given for the suspension of contacts at the campuses including human rights violations, specifically mentioned is â€Å"Environmental Devastation† in India. Perception is key for business in today’s global economy, being able to prove environmental responsibility and stewardship on the organizations behalf can result in the loss or gain of business. Most companies still have a choice whether to obtain certification or not and the best illustration for this is Baxter International Inc and Eli Lilly , a U. S based multinational Companies , the details are discussed in the Research Analysis chapter in this thesis. However, more and more must obtain certification to maintain their status in the supply chains of other companies. To ensure suppliers are meeting environmental benchmarks, manufacturers such as General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co, DaimlerChrysler, IBM, Xerox, Honda Corporation, Toyota are requiring suppliers to be ISO 14001 certified. Generating environmentally damaging emissions and waste is often an indication of an un-optimized production process, and manufacturers that implement ISO 14001 requirements can realize improvements in efficiency and profitability and retain their positions in OEM supply chains†. (Susan Gilbert-Miller n. d). It is very likely that both public and private demand for environmental responsibility will continue to fuel the shift towards certification as proof of doing so. In the global economy today an ISO 14000 certification could become as important, to show a companys environmental responsibility, as ISO or QS 9000 is to show a commitment to quality. It may become a prerequisite to doing business with some companies and in more industries as it has in the automotive industry. The direct cost of certification can range from a few thousand dollars for a small facility to hundreds of thousands for larger companies and millions for international companies. Presenting the business case for certification will be much easier if the benefits and cost reduction are included as part of the presentation. Purpose of the Study There are a number of excellent consulting services and other resources available at a cost, to help companies through the process of achieving certification. The key is the element of cost. In order to receive funds for consulting services or any other resources, you may have to justify your endeavor financially prior receiving any funding. Even if your company is capable of going through the process without any outside resources there are still direct and indirect costs associated with the process, prior to hiring a certification company to conduct an audit. You will have to buy materials, pull people in full time and part time, audit and update records. Training will be required for employees and management. The purpose is to show that the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining an ISO 14000 certification as part of an Environmental Management System, can be exceeded by the benefits of doing so. The benefits are not just monetary, but also how the company is viewed in the public eye as well, which is increasingly important in today’s global economy. Scope of the Study The majority of the top 100 companies in the United States have already achieved ISO 14000 certification. The same trend exists in the European Union. The research will look at what is driving the movement towards certification. It will also look at what is required to become certified and to maintain that certification. This will be done through case studies of companies that have already achieved certification, how it has affected their companies and in what ways. The main focus being that it makes good business sense, and the justification thereof. The study concentrates on the business and profit reasons for ISO 14000 registrations, with tertiary scans of ethical issues and applicability of not-for-profit organizations. The study includes brief descriptions of all phases of the ISO 14001 process, with outlines of the various sections of the manual that is an integral part of the process. Rationale of the Study While a lot companies have already achieved ISO 14000 certification many more have not. One of the biggest factors in failure to achieve or to get the company to attempt certification, especially in small and medium size companies, is that often the appointed SME (subject matter expert) has little knowledge as to what is required. It is a task that is added to their current â€Å"to do† list and they are not given the proper resources or time to conduct a thorough study as to what needs to be done, the resources it will require and what is most important in some cases, R. O. I. (Return On Investment). This study will help to explain what is required, where to look for information and through case studies show that a positive R. O. I. can be achieved through ISO 14000 certification and the maintenance of the certification. Definition of Terms Climate change: An alteration to measured quantities (e. g. precipitation, temperature, radiation, wind and cloudiness) within the climate system that departs significantly from previous average conditions and is seen to endure, bringing about corresponding changes to ecosystems and socio-economic activity. Associated with greenhouse gas emissions, of which fossil fuel combustion and forest decline are contributors. Code of Federal Regulations: United Stated Code of Regulations, commonly referred to as CFR is a publication established by and Act of Congress. It documents all regulations issued by federal administrative agencies that have â€Å"general applicability and legal effect. † Ecological or Environmental sustainability: This entails maintaining an ecosystem an adjacent ecosystem at the same or higher levels as the ecosystem in question to be able to maintain its productivity, adaptability and capacity for renewal. It requires that forest management respects, and builds on, natural processes. EMAS: Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, In Europe the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) was created and many European countries made implementation of EMAS mandatory for many large manufacturing facilities. EMAS and ISO 14001 are not very different; EMAS has two significant elements more than ISO 14001, namely a baseline environmental assessment and a public environmental performance report. Environmental Aspect: An element of an organizations activities, products or services that can interact with the environment, whether it be in a positive of negative manner. Environmental Impact: Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organizations activities, products or services. Gap Analysis: One of the initial steps in successful implementation of ISO 14000 is gap analysis. The gap analysis looks at a facility’s written programs, policies, and procedures to see how they compare to the requirements of ISO 14000. Once this analysis is complete a guideline will be established to bring them into compliance to prepare for certification Global Warming: The term Global Warming refers to the observation that the atmosphere near the Earths surface is warming, without any implications for the cause or magnitude. This warming is one of many kinds of climate change that the Earth has gone through in the past and will continue to go through in the future. ISO 14000: ISO 14000 is a series of environmental management standards developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for organizations. The ISO 14000 standards provide a guideline or framework for organizations that need to systematize and improve their environmental management efforts. The ISO 14000 standards are not designed to aid the enforcement of environmental laws and do not regulate the environmental activities of organizations. Adherence to these standards is voluntary. The ISO 14001 standard is the most important standard within the ISO 14000 series. ISO 14001 specifies the requirements of an environmental management system (EMS) for small to large organizations. An EMS is a systemic approach to handling environmental issues within an organization. The ISO 14001 standard is based on the Plan-Check-Do-Review-Improve cycle. The Plan cycle deals with the beginning stages of an organization becoming ISO 14001-compliant. The Check cycle deals with checking and correcting errors. The Do cycle is the implementation and operation of the ISO 14001 standard within an organization. The Review cycle is a review of the entire process by the organizations top management. And the Improve cycle is a cycle that never ends as an organization continually finds ways to improve their EMS. The entire process can take several months to several years depending on the size of the organization. If an organization is already ISO 9000-certified, the implementation of ISO 14001 does not take as long. When an organization is compliant, they can either register with a third-party registrar or self-declare their compliance. The ISO 14001 standard is the only ISO 14000 standard that allows an organization to be registered. ISO 9000: ISO 9000 is a series of standards, developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), that define, establish, and maintain an effective quality assurance system for manufacturing and service industries. The ISO 9000 standard is the most widely known and has perhaps had the most impact of the 13,000 standards published by the ISO. It serves many different industries and organizations as a guide to quality products, service, and management. Kyoto Protocol: It is a pact agreed on by governments at a United Nations Conference in Kyoto, Japan 1997 to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries by 5. 2 percent of 1990 levels during the five-year period 2008-2012. Eighty-four countries have signed the pact and 40 of have ratified it, according to U. N. data. Only one country, which has an emissions target, Romania, has ratified to date. LCA: Life-Cycle Assessment is a systematic approach used to manage the environmental impacts of products and service systems, and it is applied at several levels. It tracks the entire life cycle of a product from inception to disposal and looks for environmental impact throughout and how that can be reduced. Lean Manufacturing: Lean Manufacturing is an operational strategy oriented toward achieving the shortest possible cycle time by eliminating waste. It is derived from the Toyota Production System and its key thrust is to increase the value-added work by eliminating waste and reducing incidental work. The technique often decreases the time between a customer order and shipment, and it is designed to radically improve profitability, customer satisfaction, throughput time, and employee morale (Lean Manufacturing, n. d). Overview of the Study The study will consider the attributes of ISO 14000 as an Environmental Management System. In this paper the main focus will be to define the quantitative as well as qualitative benefits for employing an EMS, in our case ISO 14000. While ISO 14000 will be the primary focus, other EMS systems will also be discussed as alternatives and for relative comparisons. The procedures for and the costs of implementation will also be looked at as part of the study. In the process case studies will be studied and discussed through the use of Internet searches, relevant case studies and publications as well as personal experience and interviews with others in the field. This study will attempt to provide methods for justification of perusing certification. It will also try to give an overview of the process for obtaining certification from the planning stage, through implementation, certification as well as the follow up and continuous improvement required to maintain certification. The Ethical Rationale for Environmental Management Standards Concern for the environment is one of the hallmarks of social concerns during our times. Awareness has been growing since the last quarter of the 20th century. It has snowballed in to a major force. There are signs that countries and people will become increasingly demanding of all organizations with which to deal, in this respect. Though the first world is more influenced by concern for the environment, developing economies are also dragged in to the vortex of global opinion, as electronic media and desire for market access drive even poorer people to conform to conservation standards. Pollution, use of hazardous substances, non-degradable waste and consumption of limited natural resources are the four principal corners of environmental concerns. Pollution of air and water are most perceptible for lay people, but the effects of landfills can be equally devastating. Pesticides and organic solvents lead a series of chemicals with both acute and chronic effects. Mesothelioma is an example of a consequence of exposure to a hazardous substance, the fatal implications of which can surface after decades. Organochlorine pesticides persist in nature almost indefinitely. People at large have become very concerned about such residues and threats that surround them. Women and children are especially vulnerable. The awareness among the public regarding pollution and hazardous material is of high now-a-days. There was protest in India during January, 2006 against the French government’s decision to send a decommissioned battleship and military air craft carrier† Clemenceau â€Å"allegedly containing toxic wastes to a ship-breaking yard at Alang on the Coast of Gujarat ,in India. Green peace activists claimed the ship was loaded with hundreds of tones of toxic wastes, including 500 tones of asbestos alone and it was a violation of international Basel convention on trade of hazardous materials. Greenpeace activists claimed that â€Å"Clemenceau† is French property containing hazardous waste on ship and can not allowed to dump this hazardous waste in India . Yielding to the pressure , the French Government finally recalled its decision to scrap the ship in India . The concept of supply chains has spurred thoughts about life cycle analysis. Exhaustive labeling requirements have made people more generally aware that an innocuous finished product may involve the use of hazardous substances. Processed foods are common examples of convenience products that may contain harmful ingredients and sources of infection and contamination. This matter also leads to consideration of packaging materials that have been traditionally taken for granted. Consumers are now aware that products made from paper can involve the destruction of forest cover, while plastic has acquired a notorious image for its persistence. This applies to tin and other metals as well. Mercury and other heavy metals in batteries and electronic products are also causes of concern. Clean water has been in acute shortage in many parts of the third world for some time now, but even developed economies have begun to worry about large-scale use of this precious resource, Ground water contamination and depletion of the ozone layer are other matters that engage much popular attention. Large corporations that generate profits are prime targets for pressures to develop environmental management standards. Companies, whose operations transcend national boundaries, have to be especially careful of their environmental footprints. However, government, social service organizations and small business may all affect the environment in serious and indelible ways. Hence it is possible that environmental management programs may become increasingly universal with the passage of time. It may be concluded that there is a strong ethical foundation for environmental concerns. All organizations regardless of their size, nature and location, will be subject to pressures to monitor their environmental impacts, and to find ways of reducing or even eliminating all harmful implications of their transactions. The ethical rationale has a firm linkage with business reasons for ISO 14000 certifications, as there are societal trends that it soon become a pre-requisite for continuing to be in business. Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature 2. 1 Introduction Business survival in today’s global economy is difficult at best. Today business’ look for advantage in every possible area and lean manufacturing programs like Six Sigma with its belts levels to parallel karate, Kaizen, 5S and many others have become not just popular but an integral part of maintaining and doing business. How does an Environmental Management System fit into the â€Å"Lean Culture† of business? That is the question that will be studied in this paper through the review of related literature, case studies, interviews, technical periodicals and Internet sources. An overview of lean manufacturing concepts will be given with the focus on integrating an E. M. S. into a companies existing lean program or as part of the implementation of a lean program. While other Environmental Management Systems will be referenced, I. S. O 14000 case studies and statistics will be used in this study. In the United States and the rest of the world I. S. O. 14000 is a recognized standard for Environmental Management Systems, much the same as ISO 9000 is for quality systems. The literature reviewed in this paper was selected for relevance to either a single topic, Lean Manufacturing, I. S. O. 14000 or the integration of the EMS into the lean manufacturing system and will be reviewed in that order. By the process of lean manufacturing, Toyota, the world greatest manufacturer, consistently makes the highest quality cars with the fewest defects of any competing manufacturer by using fewer man-hours, less on-hand inventory and half the floor space of its competitors.

Tourism In Saarc Nations Tourism Essay

Tourism In Saarc Nations Tourism Essay South Asia is home to one third of the worlds population. It comprises of one of the most diverse populations and cultures which have worked as potential economic and geographical resources for several countries all over the world. Significant researches found that one of the best brains that run the world on different platforms have their roots from South Asia. SAARC countries are rich in natural resources with unique and astounding geographical locations and ecology (Timothy, Nyaupane, 2009). The top highest mountain peaks of the world exist in the region of South Asia; Mount Everest and K2. One of the worlds best water resources lie in South Asia, having a vast river system mainly originating from the Himalayas. Moreover, some of the richest ocean resources exist in South Asia which include rich mangrove areas such as Sunderbans and coral reefs of Maldives. The biodiversity of South Asia is vast and holds great historic values. The cultural heritage of South Asia dates back thous ands of years and hence it hosts marvels such as Ajanta, Timpu, Taj Mahal, Taxila and many other great wonders (Timothy, Nyaupane, 2009). Factors Resisting the Survival and Growth of Tourism Industry in South Asia SAARC countries have been extracting several riches such as spices, gold, coal, gas and several more gemstones. Because of the availability of rich resources and great manpower, South Asian countries have been a common playground for several colonial powers. Now South Asian countries are independent and host almost all the religions of the world, contributing an increase in the diversity and cultural importance of the region (Alwis, 2009). Regardless of such attractive aspects of South Asia, more than 400 million people live below poverty line and approximately 71 million people are impacted by some sort of violence or similar threats. There are several issues revolving around the region which include health, poverty, child and gender issues (Alwis, 2009). All such issues are unregulated due to the weak control of the government and lack of proper attention to these issues. One of the latest and most talked about issues that revolve around South Asia, is the issue of Terrorisms. Afgh anistan is considered the originating land of Taliban, Pakistan is considered the host for Taliban, India is facing terrorists attack due to conflicts regarding Kashmir and the list goes on. These are few significant factors which have deteriorated the tourism industry of South Asia (Alwis, 2009). Current Conditions of Tourism Industry in South Asia In order to analyze the condition of SAARC nations tourism industry it is important to ponder upon the rates of visitors in this particular region. In the year 2010, the region of South Asia was able to attract only 1.1% of the 898 million visitors from all over the world. This makes a total of only 9.7 million visitors in South Asia which comprises of a total of eight countries. If compared with Europe, this is a very low number of visitors because Europe received 53% of the total visitors from all over the world during the same year (UNWTO, 2011). On the other hand, Asia Pacific region was able to double its tourism industry within seven years as they received 85 million visitors in 2003 and 198 million visitors in 2010. During this period of growth, South Asia was able to grow on a marginal scale that also was not achieved among all countries of South Asia (UNWTO, 2011). Few SAARC countries sparked off its tourism industry such as India and Maldives and hence, they are the potential tourist attractions in the whole of South Asia (Hassan, 2006). Not to forget Nepal, which is considered the gemstone of South Asia, is famous for its beautiful sights and great cultural heritage. Nepal has also increased its tourism industry quite well, however due to their internal political issues; the government has not paid much attention towards the tourism sector of the country (Timothy, Nyaupane, 2009). Other beauties of South Asia include Sri Lanka which is surrounded by exotic beaches and is also one of the most visited countries of the world. Bhutan is known as the Himalayan Kingdom of South Asian nations because it is an adventure attraction and has great cultural heritage adding to the enjoyment of the visitors. Alpine forests and 7000 meters of Himalayan region along with the beautiful architecture of its kingdom have been attracting an abundant amount of vi sitors to Bhutan (Saarc Tourism, 2011). Pakistan has great cultural heritage and historic places. The various tourism attractions of the country range from the ruins of civilizations like Taxila, Mohenjo-Daro, Harrapa, to the kingdoms of Mughals such as the Alamgir Gate, Badshahi Masjid, Faiz Mahal, Animist Kalasha and many more. Natural beauty of Pakistan includes Malam Jabba, Khyber Steam Train Safari, Naran Valley, Swat Valley, Murree, Bhurban, Indus River, and many more stunning areas where people can visit and be amazed by the gorgeous natural structures. Most importantly the Arabian Sea, mainly at the Gwadar Port and Kund Malir are one of the most striking natural beaches in South Asia (Timothy, Nyaupane, 2009). Regardless of such attractions, Pakistan has been losing its tourism industry due to the consistent terrorist activities going on in the North Western part of the country. The attack on Swat valley, capture of Osama bin Laden from Abbottabad and the consistent drone attacks on the North-Western borders of the country and all such events which have discouraged global visitors from coming to Pakistan. The risk of security, rising pollution, health problems, poverty and lack of overall government funding has led to a declined number of tourists in this region and hence the tourism industry has almost collapsed (Hassan, 2006). Plausible Solutions Keeping in mind such beautiful sights of each SAARC country and the potential experience attached to visiting these sights, it is important to consider why tourism rate has been declining and how these declining rates can be reimbursed (Kaur, 2008). The region of South Asia has promoted tourism since decades and only few countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Bhutan have been successful in achieving considerable amount of growth in their tourism industry. In the year 1980, an organization led by the Secretariat in Colombo aimed towards promoting tourism in SAARC countries by developing World Tourism Organization. This initiative, however, failed due to the lack of appropriate support from each SAARC countrys tourism sector (Kaur, 2008). Another attempt was made by the SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) which mainly began from Nepal. A promotional tagline was also designed Magic that is South Asia. This attempt by SCCI hoped to improve the private sector of the SAAR C nations, however productive outcome was not achieved within the same decade (Marg, 2009). SAARC countries have always emphasized on the importance of tourism and have considered it as a major asset for their countries. During several SAARC Summit meetings SAARC leaders have emphasized on accentuating the tourism industry of the region. On the 12th Summit which was held in Islamabad in the year 2004 during which SAARC Leaders exerted extra significance on the mutual support of the SAARC countries to accentuate tourism because it would bring social, economic and cultural dividends. Due to such immense emphasis, the year of 2005 was designated as the South Asia Tourism Year and each country was supposed to celebrate it both individually and jointly. Similar efforts were conducted in the year 2011 along with the review of previous Action Plans in order to improve past mistakes (Marg, 2009). Other plausible solutions have been suggested many times, which include the mutual agreement among all SAAR nations to accumulate certain funds jointly and invest in the tourism sector in areas such as security, pollution control, health care and other promotional activities. Such mutual accumulation of funds will require every countrys involvement and hence certain amount of improvement can be sought in each country even if a country doesnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t attempt to do so. This sort of step can help in areas where government is not concentrating and thus SAARC leaders can assign private organizations to lead the tasks. This is a very long term solution and it would require strict involvement by at least half of the SAARC nations for effective implementation, or else the main idea would fail (Raghavan, 1995). Conclusion There is considerable improvement found in countries like India, which is being marketed as Incredible India along with its wide spread Bollywood industry which is supporting the tourism industry with its pseudo-participation and promoting Indian culture globally (Kumar, 2011). On the other hand Sri Lankan beaches are being used by several companies as an investment for hotels and also movie locations. Another significant improvement is noticeable in Nepal where they are providing discounted packages for travelling places like Kathmandu and similar beautiful areas (Hassan, 2006). Certain amount of improvement is visible in almost all countries of SAARC, but countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh are suffering different issues which are consistently resisting them from promoting their tourism industry. Bangladesh is facing consistent floods and health issues that it is unable to concentrate on its tourism sector. Potential solutions for such countries can be inspired by other countries of SAARC (Alwis, 2009). Pakistan has recently developed its Gwadar Port and beaches, so Pakistan can market these ports in the international market. Furthermore, Pakistan can invest in good promotional techniques like designing a tagline like: Explore Pakistan, similar to that of India: Incredible India. Such promotional techniques would require certain amount of funding which can be generated from the private sector, because at the current stage of the country, the government sector does not seem to be in a condition that they would concentrate on tourism. Eventual ly such efforts could lead towards improvement in Tourism (Alwis, 2009).

Johann Sebastian Bach Essay examples -- music, history, polyphnic tech

Throughout history, there have been many significant composers who have left their mark on the musical world. From Mozart, to Beethoven, to Chopin, to Brahms, each famous composer has had an influence on the music we hear today. However, perhaps one of the most influential of all composers is Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach’s effect on music history can never be over-exaggerated. Bach played a crucial role in influencing many later composers, such as Mozart and Beethoven, as well as many modern musicians, redefined polyphonic music and musical form, and created beautiful works of canonic music that still resonate with listeners today, over 250 years after his death. Born in March of 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a family of musicians. His father, Johann Ambrosius, was the court trumpeter for the Duke of Eisenach and director of the musicians in the town of Eisenach in Thuringia. â€Å"For many years, members of the Bach family throughout Thuringia had held positions such as organists, town instrumentalists, or Cantors, and the family name enjoyed a wide reputation for musical talent.† (www.baroquemusic†¦. bach/html). This would, of course, influence Bach in many ways. At a young age, Bach was taught to play the violin and harpsichord by his father, and was later initiated into the art of playing the organ by his uncle. It was no surprise that young Bach was a willing student and became exceptionally proficient in these instruments. After the death of his parents at age 9, Bach went to live with his brother Johann Christoph, in Ohrdruf, where he spent much of his childhood. While living with Christoph, Bach was given the opportunity to observe the co... ...anied String Works." MTO 17.1: Davis, Stream Segregation and Perceived Syncopation. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015. . 14. "Johann Sebastian Bach." Johann Sebastian Bach. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015. . 15. "So what's so good about Bach then?." the Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015. . 16. "John Eliot Gardiner: Bach's synthesis between his music and the word of God." the Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015. . 17. "Revealed: the violent, thuggish world of the young JS Bach." the Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015. .

Red Badge Of Courage :: essays research papers

Henry In Stephen Crane's novel "The Red Badge of Courage", we examine the episodes of war through the eyes of the main character, Henry Fleming. Because the book is rather vague about many details, we don't know how old Henry is, what he looks like, or where he comes from. We do know that Henry is from somewhere in New York and that he was raised by his mother. Although some people argue that throughout the novel Henry matures and becomes a better person, facts from the book show just the opposite. Henry is a conceited , smug young man who sees himself as a martyr and a hero; when in fact he is a coward. Henry begins his journey by signing up for the Union army. While this may seem like a brave step, Henry takes it for the wrong reasons. He is unsure of the Union cause, and without really understanding what he was fighting for, Henry saw visions of himself as a hero. Henry's thoughts of war are rather distorted: He had read signs of marches, sieges, conflicts, and he had longed to see it all. His busy mind had drawn for him large pictures, extravagant in color, lurid with breathless deeds(Crane, 3). This simply shows that Henry had romanticized the was to something of a glorious adventure in his head. Even when his mother tries to give him rational advice, Henry sat disappointed, expecting a speech on heroism and pride. When Henry and his regiment (the 304th New York) finally integrate into camp life, he begins to question himself. His regiment had been static for a long time and Hauptman 2 Henry becomes bored and unhappy. For time he begins to question his bravery and he feels rather insecure. In the regiments first battle, Henry fights well. His admiration for himself reaches a disgusting level: He felt that he was a fine fellow. He saw himself even with those ideals that he had considered far beyond him. He smiled in deep gratification (Crane, 30). In this passage one can see Henry beginning to falsely view himself as a hero. At the beginning of the 304th New York regiment's second battle, Henry notices that two other soldiers are running in fear of the fight. He suddenly becomes rather scared and flees the battle as well. He tries to rationalize his actions to himself by saying: Death about to thrust him between the shoulder blades was far more dreadful than death about

Essay - Bridge Between Worlds in Virginia Woolfs To The Lighthouse :: To The Lighthouse Essays

To the Lighthouse - Bridge Between Worlds Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse illustrates a bridge between the worlds of the Victorian mother and the modern, potentially independent woman. The Victorian woman was to be absorbed, as Mrs. Ramsay is, by the task of being mother and wife. Her reason for existing was to complete the man, rather than to exist in her own right. Mrs. Ramsay certainly sees this role for herself and is disturbed when she feels, momentarily, that she is better than her husband because he needs her support to feel good about himself and the life choices he has made. Yet the end of the Victorian era saw the rise of women's rights and greater freedom for women to excel without men or children. Adrienne Rich, in Of Woman Born, says that To the Lighthouse is about Virginia Woolf's need to understand her own mother and to prove, through the character of Lily Briscoe, that a woman can be "independent of men, as Mrs. Ramsay is not" (Rich, p. 228). The trauma of this transition from Victorian to modern woman is portended by Mrs. Ramsay herself, at the beginning of the story. In the first chapter, as Mrs. Ramsay defends Charles Tansley against the criticisms of her children, she muses on her desire to protect men and the "trustful, childlike, reverential" attitude that her protection inspires in men. "Woe betide the girl. . . who did not feel the worth of it, and all that it implied, to the marrow of her bones!" she exclaims to herself, thinking of the way men respect and admire her. But Woolf shows us that as Mrs. Ramsay admonishes her children for ridiculing Charles Tansley, her daughters "could sport with infidel ideas which they had brewed for themselves of a life different from hers. . . not always taking care of some man or other." The issue of the change from one concept of womanhood to another is not as simple as the newer generation revolting against the older; at the same time that Mrs. Ramsay's daughters hope to be different, they admire and worship their mother for her beauty and power. Prue, the eldest daughter, proudly watches Mrs. Ramsay as she descends the staircase and feels "what an extraordinary stroke of fortune it was for her [Prue], to have her [Mrs.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 17

The next day was only a partial shift at work for me, but when I saw how busy things were, I suspected I'd have a hard time dragging myself away. Seth wasn't working in the caf? ¦, but I found a note on my desk. He'd apparently already been there earlier. Thetis – Have some errands to run, but I'd like to see you later. I miss you and don't like how we left things. Come on over later when you get the chance. I'll be home all night. Love, Seth I had some things of my own to take care of, and after reading his note, I suddenly wanted them done as soon as possible so that I could go see him. As I was about to leave, Maddie caught a hold of me and covertly led me into the history books. To my astonishment, she pushed down her shirt collar, baring her shoulder. â€Å"Whoa,† I joked. â€Å"Don't you think things are moving kind of fast?† â€Å"Look,† she whispered, pointing at the lacy bra strap that had been revealed. â€Å"It's red.† â€Å"That it is,† I agreed, still a little puzzled. â€Å"It's number one.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"My three adventurous things. I bought a red bra.† I stared in astonishment. â€Å"I thought†¦I thought you said my idea was ridiculous?† She averted her eyes. â€Å"I thought it was†¦but then, well†¦I heard about Seth. What happened to him. You were there, right?† My favorite topic. â€Å"Yeah, I was there.† â€Å"Didn't it freak you out? I mean†¦right there in front of you: life and death.† â€Å"Yeah. Kind of.† Shaking her head, she looked back up at me. â€Å"Hearing what happened to him just kind of shook me up. I told you it wasn't that easy to be adventurous, but suddenly I decided that maybe it was. I just had to take control.† I smiled. â€Å"With a red bra.† She flushed. â€Å"Hey! All your lingerie may be red and edible, but this is the first bra I've ever bought that isn't white or black.† I reined in my humor and gave her a genuinely pleased smile. â€Å"I'm proud of you, Maddie. I really am.† â€Å"Don't patronize me,† she warned. â€Å"I'm not. It looks great. You get matching underwear?† Now she really looked embarrassed. â€Å"A thong.† I repressed the urge to whistle. â€Å"Nice work, soldier.† She wandered off, back to the registers. Moments later, I felt an immortal signature and a touch on my shoulder. Spinning around, I found Tawny's enormous chest practically shoved into my face. I'd heard little from the succubus since I'd called to tell her she had a job at Simon's. Niphon's presence at the poker game had been the only indication that she still hadn't bagged a guy. â€Å"Georgina – † she wailed, lower lip trembling. â€Å"No, no,† I interrupted. I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward my office. â€Å"Not here.† I managed to close the door just before she burst into tears. I groaned. â€Å"Now what's happened?† â€Å"I met a guy last night.† She flounced into my chair, and it was a wonder her breasts didn't hit her in the face. I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms over my own chest in a sort of protective gesture. â€Å"Okay†¦that's not a bad thing.† She swallowed a sob, and it was all I could do not to clean up the mascara smudges on her face. Honestly, how much did that woman wear? â€Å"We had a great time†¦had drinks and talked and all that.† â€Å"That's not a bad thing either.† She shook her head. â€Å"But at the end of the night, he told me he just wanted to be friends.† â€Å"He – wait. You got the friends line from someone you just met?† Tawny nodded. â€Å"What did you say to him? Like†¦did you proposition him?† â€Å"Yeah†¦I asked him if he wanted to meet me in the bathroom and try out this edible mint chocolate warming gel I have.† â€Å"You – what?† Tawny reached into her purse and started to pull out a tube of something. I waved her off. â€Å"No, no. I don't need to see it.† â€Å"What went wrong?† she cried. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I wasn't sure if I should laugh or weep. Tawny was never going to pull this off. Never. â€Å"You might have come on too strong. And honestly†¦that gel thing? That's just weird.† â€Å"I thought guys were into that kind of thing.† â€Å"Some are†¦but, I don't know. What kind of guy is he? What's he do for a living?† â€Å"He's a cashier.† â€Å"Hmm. Okay. That's not too bad.† â€Å"Over at Blessed Images.† â€Å"Over at – you propositioned a guy who works at a religious supply store?† I exclaimed. â€Å"I wanted a good one,† she told me. â€Å"There's no better place.† â€Å"Oh my God. Tawny†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I didn't even know where to start. There were so many nuances to seduction, so many tactics and strategies. She didn't know any of them, and seriously, I didn't even know if she could learn. â€Å"I got you the strip club job†¦why are you trolling religious supply stores? Guys should just be coming up to you after your sets.† Something troubling occurred to me. â€Å"You do still have the job, don't you?† I believed Simon would stick to his word, but one never knew for sure with his type. â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she mumbled. â€Å"But those guys aren't – â€Å" â€Å"For the last time! Forget the good ones. You can't afford to be choosy.† I studied her. She was clearly low on energy again. Frowning, I recalled my date with Liam. â€Å"So†¦Tawny†¦things really didn't work out with Nick the auctioneer?† She took a tissue from the box on my desk and blew her nose loudly. â€Å"Nope. I told you. I called, and he said he wasn't interested.† I was good at reading people, very good. It was, well, what made me a star succubus. And looking into those teary blue eyes, I searched for some sign of deceit. Any sign. I found nothing. So who was lying? Tawny or Liam? And why would either one of them lie? Liam had no reason to – not about Tawny. Tawny, I supposed, could be in league with Niphon. Maybe he wanted to prolong things simply to annoy me. That was a dangerous game for both of them. His animosity couldn't be strong enough to risk pissing off Jerome. And I knew Jerome would be pissed off if he found out Tawny's orientation was being used for ulterior motives. There was also the fact that Tawny's energy had shown no post-sex glamour the day after Liam saw her and Nick together. She hadn't gotten any. That was my only hard evidence in all of this. All of these thoughts flitted through my mind in a heartbeat. If Tawny really was pulling a poker face on me, she'd soon learn that she wasn't the only one who could do it. Keeping my expression exasperated and unsuspecting, I said, â€Å"Tawny†¦I†¦I just don't get this. Any of this.† â€Å"That's it?† she asked. â€Å"You're my mentor, and that's all you've got for me?† â€Å"I got you the job! I don't know what else to do. Maybe we can go out together and†¦God help me†¦do a three-some or something.† I could imagine few things more horrible than that, but these were desperate times. The expression on Tawny's face showed similar sentiments. â€Å"I don't know about that,† she said. â€Å"I don't think I really do that.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"In another century or so, you'll find you do everything.† She blew her nose again. â€Å"Well†¦I want to keep trying on my own before anything like that. Until then†¦do you think†¦do you think you could†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Could what?† â€Å"You know.† â€Å"No, I really don't.† From her, a request could be anything. Tawny gulped. â€Å"The kissing thing again.† â€Å"No! I told you that was a one-time deal.† â€Å"But†¦but†¦I'm so low†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She burst into tears again. And yeah, she was low on energy. Really low. By tomorrow morning, she could be in danger of losing her shape again. Fuck. This wasn't possible. I had to be getting played here, but why and how? Was all this hassle worth it to Niphon, just to keep irritating me? Fuck. â€Å"This is the last time,† I growled. She stopped mid-sob. â€Å"Really?† I sighed. â€Å"Come here.† With a sense of dread, I kissed her again. My discomfort had less to do with the act of kissing her than it did with me realizing I'd just pushed myself into dangerous energy limits. I was the one who'd need a fix before morning now. And if I got an energy fix, it was likely my dream stalker would return†¦. With the influx of life, Tawny was able to shape-shift away her disheveled appearance. â€Å"Thanks, Georgina! You're the best!† She started to hug me, and I jerked away. â€Å"Just go out and get laid, okay?† Doug stuck his head in just then, asking for my help. He didn't seem to have heard my charge to battle, thankfully. His eyes widened when he saw Tawny. I shooed her out, warning her not to forget what we'd talked about. â€Å"Is she single?† he asked, watching her walk away. Her pleather pants were riding up. â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"Very. But she's high maintenance.† After I finished my survey of the bookstore, I went off to take care of assorted errands. When I finally made it to Seth's place, I found him lying lengthwise on his couch, laptop open as usual. He sat up and closed it when I stepped inside. â€Å"Hey, Thetis,† he said. â€Å"Hey,† I said. I sat down beside him, and silence fell as we regarded each other. The air between us wasn't angry, but it wasn't bursting with love either. It was speculative. We were sizing each other up. He reached into the V-neck collar of my sweater, and I flinched. Then, I felt his fingers brush by the chain I'd been wearing his ring on. He pulled the ring out and ran his fingertips over the dolphin. â€Å"Around your neck, huh? What is this, high school?† â€Å"Might as well be,† I said, â€Å"seeing as how we haven't even made it to second base yet.† He smiled and released the ring, moving his fingers up to my cheek. â€Å"Yes, we have.† He sighed. â€Å"We sure do seem to be fighting a lot lately, huh?† â€Å"Yeah.† I settled back into the couch's softness. â€Å"It's not even about sex anymore.† â€Å"I noticed that. It's boring stuff, actually.† â€Å"Boring?† He shrugged. â€Å"You know. Typical relationship stuff. Spending time with each other. Trust. Communication. Love isn't always about grand forces of the universe keeping us apart.† Unless, I thought, you considered the difference in length between a mortal life and an immortal one. I didn't know why Seth's lifespan was bothering me lately. I'd understood the complications on an intellectual level when we'd first started dating, but I hadn't really had such visceral reactions until recently. Him getting shot hadn't helped, I supposed. And speaking of which†¦ â€Å"I never thanked you,† I told him. â€Å"For what?† â€Å"For risking your life for mine.† â€Å"But you can't di – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah. We've already established that, like, a hundred times. And the wisdom – or lack thereof – of your actions aside, it was sweet and brave and†¦and, well, thank you.† Seth moved his hand over mine and squeezed it. â€Å"There's nothing to thank me for.† I stood up. â€Å"Well, now that we've got the sentimental stuff out of the way, let's get down to business. Take off your clothes.† Seth started. â€Å"Wai – what?† â€Å"Well,† I amended, â€Å"except for your boxers.† â€Å"Are we going to second base after all?† â€Å"Just do it.† While he stripped, I gathered some things from his kitchen, as well as from a tote bag I'd brought. When I returned to the living room, he was sitting in the center of the couch in boxers only. They were soft gray flannel. Adorable. I sat down on the floor in front of him, moving a bowl of warm water beside me. After dipping a washcloth into the water, I slowly began rubbing it over his feet. Seth was quiet for several moments. Then: â€Å"You getting Biblical on me? Didn't somebody wash Jesus' feet?† I rewet the cloth and began moving up one of his legs. â€Å"Don't worry,† I told him. â€Å"I don't expect you to turn this water into wine. At least not until I'm done.† I moved the washcloth over Seth's calf. It was leanly muscled, covered in tawny brown hair. â€Å"The foot washing tradition is bigger than the Bible. You find it everywhere, long before New Testament times, in lots of other cultures. Kings. Generals. They all got this treatment.† â€Å"You wash a lot of kings' and generals' feet?† he teased. â€Å"Yeah, actually.† â€Å"Oh. Well. I don't think I'm really in that league.† I smiled and moved on to the other calf. â€Å"Not true. Poets and bards used to have as much prestige as kings. Lots of them got this too.† â€Å"I miss the good old days. Now we're lucky if we get paid.† I washed his thigh, careful to avoid the bandaged wound. â€Å"Yeah, true. But people also don't threaten to behead you if they don't like what you wrote.† â€Å"You obviously haven't read some of my reviews.† â€Å"I only read the good ones.† I finished both legs and dropped the washcloth into the water. I scooted the bowl away. Seth started to get up, but I shooed him back down. â€Å"Nope. Not finished.† I reached for a bottle of massage oil I'd brought and poured some on my hands. It smelled like almonds. â€Å"That was just to get you clean.† With as much deliberation as I'd performed the washing, I massaged the oil into his skin, starting with his feet once again. Washing can be sensual, but rubbing someone with oil is doubly so. Triple, even. The light banter faded between us. Seth simply watched, wonder and arousal on his face as I worked my way up. And as I met his gaze, I saw more than just those feelings. The love in his eyes was so powerful, I needed to look away. Seth had an amazing grasp of the English language, but there were days when that skill was nothing compared to what he told me in his looks. When I finished his legs, I climbed up behind him on the couch and worked on his back and chest too. I'd been giving massages almost as long as I'd been dancing. I knew exactly what to do, knew where all the muscle groups were and how to unkink them. Seth had a lot of stiffness and knots in his back, either from bad laptop posture or stress. Maybe both. At last, the job was complete. Heedless of oil on me or the couch, he leaned back and pulled me to his chest. My cheek rested on his smooth, slick skin, and the scent of almond and Seth enveloped me. â€Å"Ah, Georgina,† he sighed. â€Å"I wish I could return that.† â€Å"I'll just pretend you did.† He sighed again. â€Å"I hate the pretending.† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"I mean it. Really hate it.† The vehemence in his voice startled me. I lifted my head up. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"Yeah†¦I'm just†¦I don't know.† He shook his head. â€Å"Frustrated, I guess.† â€Å"Sexually frustrated?† â€Å"Sure†¦but it's more than that. Do you ever think about us†¦just, you know, doing it maybe once?† â€Å"No,† I said immediately. â€Å"Absolutely not.† â€Å"I'd take the risk.† â€Å"The shooting addled your brain. You've always been the strong one, remember?† â€Å"The shooting's made me think about what life means, that's all.† He sounded just like Maddie. How could such a foolish gesture on his part be inspiring so many people? Was I too jaded? Could I no longer relate to humans? â€Å"And I mean, I can't even reciprocate a simple massage. You perform all the time for me†¦but what do you get? You must be the one who's sexually frustrated. The stuff you do on the side†¦well, that doesn't matter. Sometimes I think Hugh was right. You do suffer more than me.† â€Å"No, I don't. The sex stuff bugs me, but I can handle it.† â€Å"I hope I can,† said Seth. â€Å"When I was in the hospital, I had this weird moment where I started thinking about how I write about all these action-packed things but don't live any of it. O'Neill has dozens of great romances, but me? I can't even have one.† â€Å"It sucks,† I agreed. â€Å"But with the risks†¦well. We know this is how it has to be.† â€Å"What about the rest?† â€Å"Hmm?† Seth shifted slightly so that he could look into my face. â€Å"Do you really think about me dying? Do you worry about me?† â€Å"Sometimes.† â€Å"Am I going to cause you pain in the end?† â€Å"No,† I said breezily. â€Å"Of course not.† He pulled me back to his chest. â€Å"I love you, Georgina. You give me more joy than I ever expected to find in this life. I want to be with you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He ran a hand through my hair, tangling it in his fingers. â€Å"But not if it's going to do more harm than good. I don't want you to hurt. I don't want you to spend the rest of my life worrying about my body and my soul. I don't want you to cry when I'm gone.† A lump formed in my throat, and I thought I might actually start crying then and there. There was something in his voice, a strange and ominous note that scared me for reasons I couldn't entirely explain. I dug my fingers into his skin and pressed myself closer to him. â€Å"No more,† I whispered. â€Å"I don't want to talk about this anymore. It isn't relevant.† Seth tightened his grip on me and didn't respond. We went to bed after that, speaking little. He snuggled against me, resting his head on my chest. I ran my fingers through his hair, taking in his scent and his feel. As he slipped into sleep, I thought about what he'd said about what puts meaning into life. I thought about wanting and needing. And what I needed right then was energy. Tawny'd wiped me out, and there was no way I was going to start shifting back to the body I'd been born with. Still touching Seth's hair, I thought how easy it would be to just lean down and kiss him. Really kiss him. And kiss him and kiss him†¦ Wanting and needing. Regretfully, I slipped out of bed. Seth was a heavy sleeper and simply rolled to his side, never coming close to waking. With a wistful look, I left the condo and used my last bit of energy to put on a different shape. Finding a victim wasn't hard – further reinforcing how absurd the whole Tawny thing was – and in less than two hours, I was back in bed with Seth and recharged. That creepy voice didn't speak to me, for which I was grateful. Sad but sated, I fell asleep. And I dreamed.