Friday, January 24, 2020

A Critical Evaluation of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay -- Jane Ey

A Critical Evaluation of Jane Eyre Although Jane Eyre grows and matures, Margaret McFadden-Gerber views her as a relatively emotionally stable young feminist. Through the duration of the novel, Jane demonstrates her "self-love" that is often an influential emotion leading to drastic and hasty reactions. In the very opening few chapters, Jane takes a stand for herself and presents her bruised ego, pride and maturity. Sara Reed, her aunt, dismisses her place in the family as Jane is physically and emotionally removed from her "family's" activities. Jane grows up distinguishing her personality and voicing her unbiased opinion, but in McFadden-Gerber's opinion, Jane remains the same orphaned female in constant discord with elders and supervisors. Ms. Eyre is a heroine who refuses to blend into the traditional female position of subservience and who stands up for her beliefs. In the beginning, Jane at first de...

Thursday, January 16, 2020

How does Shakespeare create an effective opening to Hamlet? Essay

The key purpose with the opening of any piece of literature is to entice and enthral the reader and obviously Shakespeare having the fame and staggering success that he has had, must be well aware of this. If questions are left in the readers mind once reading the opening to this script or watching the play, they engage the audience as they want these questions answered and believe that as the play unfolds they will be. The attitudes and values of the characters that are introduced in the first act contribute greatly to the sense of suspense the audience feels. Shakespeare begins the play with the entry of two minor characters ‘two Sentinels’. By doing this the audience only get a second hand taste of what the key themes are going to be later on in the play. There is no omniscient feel to this first act, only an air of mystery. The very first line spoken by Barnardo, ‘Who’s there? ‘ even creates this sense of unknowing, and also implies that the Sentinels are on edge for some reason and perhaps even frightened. This question is then repeated by the second sentinel, Francisco, as Horatio and Marcellus answer. Again the ambiguity of the question, ‘has this thing appear’d again tonight? ‘ creates mystery and a feel of foreboding. A ghost then appears and it is absolutely clear that the sentinels are immensely frightened, ‘tremble and look pale’. The Ghost then disappears without speaking, despite Horatio’s efforts, ‘I charge thee speak’. This allows the audience to wonder what this Ghost has come to tell the Sentinels and as the characters discuss the Ghost, both the audience and characters are as bewildered at this entry of this supernatural being. When the ghost reappears it is hopeful that it will speak, however at the exact point it appears it is about to, Shakespeare again dangles the carrot under the audiences nose as a cock crows disrupting the Ghost and causing it to instantaneously disappear. The anonymity of the Ghost appearing in the first act instigates the audience to speculate over the significance of the Ghost and the anonymity of its appearance. Furthermore the appearance of the Ghost allows the audience to realise the importance of Horatio within the play, he is an educated ‘scholar’ who is clearly respected by the sentinels. However at this point it is unclear to the audience the reason for which he will play a key role in the play. Carrying on from this the setting in which this first scene is set also adds to the sense of unknowing and mystery. The scene is set outside the castle of Elsinore on a gun-platform; this suggests to the audience even at this early stage that war or battles will be present later on in the play as castles are built solely for the purposes of protect in conflict. It is also dark and night, this adds to the fear of the sentinels as they cannot see who it is that approaches them. This is clear with the opening line ‘Who’s there? ‘ spoken by Barnardo. Furthermore perhaps the dark night setting is intentional pathetic fallacy by Shakespeare, as the characters and even the audiences’ unknowing towards the Ghost is mirrored by the way in which the characters cannot see clearly and have to ask of who approaches them. This pathetic fallacy is carried on into the ending of the scene, as the cock crows and it becomes morning the sense of fear leaves the sentinels, this is shown with the semantic fields used in their speech, of ‘love’ and ‘life’. Although much is still unknown when this first scene ends many themes are vaguely introduced to the audience. Death is clearly evident with the spontaneous appearances and disappearances of the Ghost. There is a semantic field of death running throughout the dialogue, Shakespeare uses descriptive words like ‘look pale’, and also ‘dead hour’. This adds to the audiences feeling of unease as well as illustrating the characters. Also the old King Hamlet is said to be similar to the Ghost in appearance, this is a way of Shakespeare indirectly introducing the theme of the death of the King, and also as the death is obviously fresh in the mind of the sentinels and Horatio so it seems to be the case that this will be an avid theme within the play. Barnardo states when the Ghost first appears that it is ‘In the same figure as like the King that is dead’. Another key theme that is introduced is war, this is introduced through the setting itself as I have already mentioned, but also through the discussion of the guards and Horatio proceeding the departure of the Ghost. The Ghost was wearing the ‘armour he (the dead King) had on when he th’ ambitious Norway combated’. Suggesting perhaps there is still conflict going on, but Shakespeare is clever as he never explicitly lets the audience know what is going on in this first scene, grabbing their attention and interesting them further in what is commencing in the play. This first scene finishes with Horatio and the guards going to impart their news of the Ghost onto ‘young Hamlet’. This shows a great respect for Hamlet, it also implies that Hamlet is the King as the audience have previously been told that ‘Old King Hamlet’ has died. This is rather ironic as later the audience come to find out that in fact it is young Hamlet’s uncle that is now become King through an unconventional marriage. So putting this into perspective this could imply that some subjects, such as Horatio slightly resent the marriage of the Queen to Hamlets uncle. I conclude that this is an extremely effective opening written by Shakespeare as it constantly engages the audience, and makes the audience feel a need to know more of what the play is about. Intro 1para (this one) on characters DONE 1 para on setting DONE 1 para on themes introduced†¦ war, death, and mentions old king hamlet-suggesting he has only died recently as still fresh in minds. 1 para on lang n dramatic techniques Conc.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Christopher Columbus The Discovery Of New Land - 1041 Words

Christopher Columbus was born in Genova, Italy, in 1451. At a young age, Columbus found himself interested on traveling, and how the Earth was constituted. He had made innumerable voyages. On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set out on a journey from Puerto de Palos, in search of new lands. His crew was composed of three caravels (La Pinta, La Nià ±a, and La Santa Maria), and a crew of 120 men total. On October 12, 1492, thirty three days after he departed on his new journey, Columbus landed on an island. He named the island San Salvador. The island is located on the northeast coasts. That was the first time that Columbus had landed on the New World, the Americas. It has been widely accepted that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. There is undisputable evidence which proves that in fact, the Vikings had first sailed to the Americas. The Vikings were people from the north of Scandinavia, whose origins came from Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. They were known for being well experienced at sea travel and navigation. The era characterized for their high power and influence, was defined as the Viking Age. That era took place between the years 700s and 1100s. During the Viking Age, they had briefly settled in Italy, Russia, Spain, Britain, Ireland, Greenland, Iceland, and most importantly, North America. With help from archeological evidence, it had been proved that the Vikings were not as violent plunderers. In fact, it was quite theShow MoreRelatedThe Discovery Of The New World903 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the discovery of the New World in 1492 many issues and uproars took place. Particularly, Christopher Columbus viewed America as an opportunity for mankind to begin again. While Bartolomeo de las Cases considered the New World a place of abuse for the Native Americans and took the initiative to sav e the Native people. In general, the Europeans felt that the America had benefits and major setbacks of coming to the new lands. The following documents â€Å"The Meaning of America†, â€Å"Utilizing the NativeRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World1178 Words   |  5 Pagesconsidered the land of opportunity because it gives opportunities to immigrants that their country cannot provide them with such as: economic stability and educational resources. America is also known today as the melting pot because so many cultures have mixed together in one country to enjoy the same free lifestyle! The important question that everyone should be asking is, who discovered this extraordinary country that everyone enjoys the luxuries of today? To answer that question, Christopher ColumbusRead MoreChristopher Columbus and His Legacy: Positive vs. Negative Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica will have learned about the famous maritime explorer and navigator, Christopher Columbus. Born i n 1451, Columbus was a Genoese captain commissioned by the king and queen of Spain to find a route to the Indies. However, he sailed the opposite direction of his intended goal by crossing the Atlantic and landing in the Americas, resulting in the discovery of the New World for Spain. Like all major figures in history, Columbus has left behind a legacy that people will always remember him for. The natureRead MoreGetting to Know Christopher Columbus911 Words   |  4 PagesChristopher Columbus, as we now know he accomplished a lot during his life. Although many are disputed and questions have been raised as to why we celebrate Columbus Day. One could find the when, how and where of Christopher Columbus an interesting subject for discourse. After all, we are talking about the man who discovered the land we now call America. We will not even consider the people, the Native Americans who lived here first as discovering America. Maybe it should be taught just a tad differentlyRead MoreC hristopher Columbus And The Columbus1365 Words   |  6 PagesChristopher Columbus Most people think of Christopher Columbus as the person who discovered the Americas. However, Leif Ericson, a Viking, was the first European to see the Americas. â€Å"Christopher Columbus - born Cristoforo Colombo but was called in Spain Cristobal Colon†(Heat-Moon 4) was born to Domenico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa sometime between August 25 and October 31, 1451 in Italy near Genoa (Heat-Moon 4). â€Å"Christopher Columbus had four other siblings; Bartholomew Columbus, BianchinettaRead MoreEssay on Christpher Columbus, an Explorer1166 Words   |  5 PagesIn this essay I am going to talk about one of the most important men in history. He was so important that without him the world would not be what it is now and throughout history his discoveries have inspired others to become fierce adventurers of the sea. Columbus had one of the brightest ideas of the time, he had the idea that he could reach China by sailing west from Europe. This idea meant that there would be a w estward passage from Spain to west across the ocean to China in a cheap and easyRead MorePositive Impact Of Christopher Columbus Discoveries1249 Words   |  5 PagesPositive Impact of Christopher Columbus’ Discoveries The world is a better place because of Christopher Columbus’ important discoveries in the New World. His explorations resulted in the vast expansion of property for Europe, the exchange of goods and cultures between countries and a change in the worldview of geography. Columbus’s explorations were the catalyst for unprecedented trade known as the Columbian Exchange, which started the exchange of goods and ideas that would last for centuriesRead MoreWho Really Discovered America Essay1225 Words   |  5 Pages Why is it that American culture today attributes its geographic discovery to a man named Christopher Columbus? Could it be that he was the first European to claim this land as part of an Imperialistic expansion or is it merely out of convenience for the history books? It is known that the American continent was populated by 1000 AD which is long before settlements by Viking fisherman and even longer before the arrival of Columbus. In spite of this fact every Octo ber, we as a culture celebrate aRead MoreColumbus vs. de Vaca Essay examples698 Words   |  3 PagesChristopher Columbus and Alvez Nunez Cabeza de Vaca were both explorers for Spain, but under different rulers and different times. The more famous, Christopher Columbus, came before de Vacas time. Columbus sailed a series of four voyages between 1492 and 1504 in search for a route to Asia which led accidentally to his discovery of new land inhabited with Indians. Christopher sailed under the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella for his journey to the Indies, whom he was loyal to by claimingRead MorePositive Impact Of Christopher Columbus s Discoveries1247 Words   |  5 Pages Positive Impact of Christopher Columbus’s Discoveries The world is a better place because of Christopher Columbus’ important discoveries in the New World. His explorations resulted in the vast expansion of property for Europe, the exchange of goods and cultures between countries and a change in the worldview of geography. Columbus’s explorations were the catalyst for unprecedented trade known as the Columbian Exchange, which started the exchange of goods and ideas that would last for centuries

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

ontemporary Thinkers Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aguinas...

Contemporary Thinkers: Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aguinas Question #1 : Please discuss the political organization of the Greek city- states, particularly Athenian democracy at the time of Pericles, Plato, and Aristotle. Also discuss the backgrounds of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and the fate of the Greek city-states historically. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;During the time of Pericles, Plato, and Aristotle, Greece was divided into city-states with a wide variety of constitutions, ranging from Spartas military dictatorship to Athens direct democracy. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Most city-states had about 300,000 people, each divided into one of three classes : citizens, metics, or slaves. The citizens represented a total of†¦show more content†¦After peace was declared, he tightened Athenian control of the empire. â€Å"He crushed major rebellions, imposed democratic government, dispatched colonies of Athenian citizens to strategic areas, and made tribute collection (the main source of Athenian wealth) more efficient. Convinced of the inevitability of war with Sparta and the Peloponnesians, Pericles made an alliance with Corinths enemy, Corcyra , knowing that it could lead to armed hostilities. He refused Spartas demand that he revoke the Megarian decree, which denied Megara access to the harbors of the empire. These actions led to the Peloponnesian War . Pericles, who was relying on the fleet and the empires resources, planned to avoid a pitched battle with the Peloponnesians and to abandon the countryside to them. He fell victim to the plague, however, never to know that the war he initiated would result in the disastrous defeat of Athens. â€Å"(GME â€Å"PERICLES†) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Socrates, was a Greek thinker whose work marked a decisive turning point in the history of philosophy. He invented a method of teaching by asking questions (the Socratic method), pioneered the search for definitions, and turned philosophy away from a study of the way things are toward a consideration of virtue and the health of the human soul. Socrates believed that to do wrong is to damage ones soul, and that this is the worst thing one can do. From this it

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Beginning Of Rock Music - 1088 Words

â€Å"Little† Richard Wayne Penniman, one of the first rock musicians, once said, The blues had an illegitimate baby and we named it rock n roll. Rock and Roll initially began setting its roots around 1950, with a strong connection to audiences who were under an oppressing thumb at the time. If African American music is unique, it is largely due to the foundation of blues, a form of music that emerged in the early 20th century. Establishing the sounds of African American culture, these styles inspired revolutionary genres of the century: jazz, blues, rock, and hip hop. They are well known and appreciated around the world and throughout the U.S. It would be virtually impossible to imagine American music without these corner stones. The beginning of rock music is also the tale of the never-ending social struggles of American history. Blues and jazz, the expressive and meaningful songs of everyday black Americans, are deeply rooted in regret, loss, despair, hope, love, strength, and dreams. While upholding the originality over many decades, the spirit and musical theory of these styles have influenced much of the American music that is produced to this day. The â€Å"blue notes†, a term for notes that are much lower and flatter than usual that are the major factors of the form became prominent in country music, rock and roll and jazz (Merwe, 1989). The simple yet untraditional form of blues became the model for the first rock and roll songs, such as â€Å"Good Rockin’ Tonight†,Show MoreRelatedThe Rock Of Rock And Roll1062 Words   |  5 PagesSince the beginning of time there has always been music in the world. The Native Americans had their tribal music, which was used for healing, ceremoni es, and ancient rituals. Ever since the beginning of the 20th century there has been rock and roll. Rock and roll has changed drastically over the years. In my opinion, it is possibly one of the most important genres there is. 1950s: The Birth of Rock and Roll- This was the decade that rock and roll first emerged. Even though swing music was stillRead MoreMusic Is Always Changing With The Times1749 Words   |  7 PagesConnections to the Past Music is always changing with the times. The more different types of music made, leads to having more genres of music to choose from. This begs the question how do we truly know what type of music we are listening too? With the way music is currently, putting music in the correct genre can prove to be troublesome. Reason being, the ideas of past genres are incorporated into current genres which makes labeling a song with the correct genre difficult. It takes a thorough analysisRead MoreMusic as Art. My Favorite Music Style.1147 Words   |  5 PagesMusic as art. My favorite music style. Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence that are organized in time in a special way. Its common elements are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. In the historical context the development of music is inseparable from the active development of person’s sensory abilities. Course of the auditory development of theRead MoreEssay about The History of Rock1004 Words   |  5 PagesHistory of Rock As one of the most popular music genres, rock music has grown and expanded to incorporate many styles throughout the years. A rock band usually consists of a vocalist, an acoustic drum kit played with a strong beat, usually a back beat, and features electric and acoustic guitars. From its beginnings in the late 1950s and early 1960s until the present day, rock has changed styles seemingly every decade as new bands become popular because of their unique style of music. ThroughoutRead MorePink Floyd s Impact On British Culture1458 Words   |  6 Pages Pink Floyd’s Impact on British Culture Pink Floyd is one of the most known Psychedelic Rock bands to ever exist. They were a game changer within the music business and appeared countless times on British’s top 100 list. Most of their music including the album â€Å"The Dark Side of the Moon† had important political subject to talk about. They were apart of the British Invasion (although the band itself originated from Cambridge London, England). Their name, roles within the band, and even theRead MoreThe Rock Of Pop Rock1199 Words   |  5 PagesDue to pop music s popularity, rock experienced a diminished presence on the top 40 music chart by the end of the decade, though the genre still sold well. In the early 2000s, there was an astounding resurgence of interest in  pop rock. This began in the year 2000 with the success of  Blink-182 s song All the Small Things and  Nine Days s song Absolutely (Story of a Girl), both of which peaked at #6 on the  Billboard  Hot 100. Pop rock is a genre that mixes catchy pop lyrics with rock-based instrumentationRead MoreA Brief History Of Rock And Roll And The Woodstock Music Festival Of 19691382 Words   |  6 PagesA Brief History of Rock and Roll and The Woodstock Music Festival of 1969 Throughout history, major social transformations have taken place that has changed how people perceive themselves and the world around them. With each social reformation, cultural forms and institutions also change as well as their meanings. For Example, the development of recording and electronic communication within United States capitalism spurred the unique coming together of music traditions in twentieth century UnitedRead More Multiculturalism In Music Essay1450 Words   |  6 Pages Visualize in your head a rock band, and a rapper. What kind of clothes are they wearing. What lyric styles are they singing in? And what color are they? Ongoing stereotypes suggest that the rock band is a group of white musicians and the rapper would be black. However, examples from the past and present shows that these stereotypes are untrue. Music is defined as â€Å"The art of organizing tones to produce a coherent sequence of sounds to elicit an aesthetic response in a listener† (Morris, 864). ThisRead MoreEssay about Music throughout Society961 Words   |  4 PagesMusic throughout Society Weve been talking a lot about social rituals. Well, just what exactly is a social ritual? Social rituals are, basically, traditions or customs that a society has followed for many years. For example, in America, most people follow the custom of dating. In Israel, they tend to follow the tradition of arranged marriages. Yet, in some countries, they use courtship. Even though all three of these approaches to finding a mate are different, they all are very similar becauseRead MoreThe Music Of Reggae Music1014 Words   |  5 PagesReggae music is the result of a number of different styles and genre of music being mixed together and interrupted by Jamaicans. Reggae was really created in the late 1960s as a result of music genres such as ska, rock steady, mento, American jazz, rhythm and blues, new Orleans R and B and calypso. Ska and rock steady are very much the foundations for not only Reggae but a number of these other genres too. Ska music originated in the late 1950s and was the pre cursor for rock steady music. Ska music

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Geology of Seattle Free Essays

The Geology of Seattle Seattle is located in the state of Washington in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is metropolitan and has a population of nearly 3. 5 million. We will write a custom essay sample on The Geology of Seattle or any similar topic only for you Order Now Seattle’s climate changes from wet and cold during the winter months to dry and hot during the summer months. The coast of Seattle is responsible for the growth of its economy, due to the large number of commercial ports. Seattle is in the destructive range of several volcanos within Washington, most prominently, Mt. Rainier. Topography Seattle is surrounded by large bodies of water and mountainous terrain. The city itself lies on top of several hills, which include; Capitol Hill, Second Hill, Denny Hill, Beacon Hill, and Queen Anne Hill. From the center of Seattle you can find shoreline to the north, Bainbridge Island to the north-west, The Puget Sound to the west, Vashon Island to the south-west, Tukwila to the south, Renton to the south-east, Lake Mercer to the East, and Lake Forest Park to the north-east. Past the Puget Sound lie the Olympic Mountains. Seattle owes its specific structure due to glacial scouring and deposition and tectonic activity, subsequently modified by landsliding, stream erosion and deposition, and human activity. Geological hazards Seattle is threatened by several geological hazards, such as earthquakes, flooding, volcanos and landslides and shore erosion. Perhaps one of the most prominent hazards to Seattle is the Massive volcano, MT. Rainier, which lies 54 miles southeast of Seattle. MT. Rainier stands at an elevation of 14,411  feet and is very topographically prominent. Rainier is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanos. The composition of Rainier is very andesitic and upon it eruption could cause a violent explosion. The glacial ice that sits atop the mountain can also cause massive lahars that could cause major damage to Seattle’s infrastructure as well as its economy. Although MT. Rainier displays no signs of imminent eruption, it has gone through several major eruptions in the past 3000 years. These eruptions include the Twin Creek eruptive episode 1,500 years ago, the Fryingpan Creek eruptive period 1000 year ago, the Electron Mudflow 500 years ago, and several small eruption plumes in the 1800’s which caused black smoke to be seen to the early pioneers of the area. It is projected that the potential damage to Seattle and the surrounding area would be catastrophic if MT. Rainer were to erupt. Geoff Clayton, a geologist working for a company called RH2 Engineering, was asked by Seattle Weekly to estimate the damages to the Settle area. By using a computer program, he reached a conclusion that the result of Mt. Rainer spawning lahars would be a devastating natural disaster. Clayton then quoted that,† Before approaching Seattle, a lahar, he says, would have â€Å"wiped out Enumclaw, Kent, Auburn, and most of Renton, if not all of it. Clayton went on to say that if such a massive lahar could potentially cause tsunamis in Lake Washington and the Puget Sound, effectively flooding the port of Seattle. It is needless to say that if Seattle were to lose its commercial ports, the economic consequences would be dire. Another geological hazard that presents itself in Seattle is the risk of Earthquakes. Seattle lies within the ring of fire and is at r isk of experiencing a crippling earthquake. The Seattle area has experienced several significant earthquakes in the past. The most recent notable quake was in February 28, 2001 when a magnitude 6. 8 earthquake ravaged Pioneer Square. The quake caused significant property damage but no fatalities. More powerful earthquakes have occurred farther in the past. On  January 26, 1700 the area was struck with a staggering 9. 0 magnitude quake, and on December 14, 1872 Seattle was struck again with a 7. 3 magnitude quake. A few more semi-powerful quakes occurred between 1940 to the present day, however, fatalities were minimal. To predict the potential loss cause by another 9. earthquake hitting modern day Seattle, FEMA used â€Å"Hazus† (a computer program used by FEMA) and found that such an earthquake would cause billions of dollars of property damage, thousands of deaths and even more injuries to the population. The aftereffects of the earthquake would be equally devastating. The earthquake would trigger tsunamis form the surrounding water bodies, as well as fires and landslides. Effects such as the se would be devastating and would take decades to repair. Seattle has hundreds of miles of waterfront surrounding the city. With such a large amount of water around the city, flooding is a major concern to the residents of Seattle. Although tidal flooding from the Puget Sound and Lake Washington is a concern, the real threat of flooding comes from the system of undeveloped creeks and river that run through the city. These floods most often occur in the fall and winter due to the increased rainfall. Thornton Creek in northwest Seattle and Longfellow Creek in west Seattle are two creeks that are notorious for flooding during the winter months. Thornton Creek has caused major water damage urban areas that border the creek when it has flooded in 1967 and again in 2003. Another flood of importance occurred in 2006 when record rainfall caused flash floods that swept through the city during rush-hour. Although the floods in the Seattle are wide spread and intense, they cause few deaths. Landslides are another geological hazard that is common to the Seattle area. Landslides in Seattle can be caused by any number of factors, either natural or manmade. Landslides occur in areas that exhibit clay-sand contact or any other adverse soil and groundwater conditions. Seattle has a large database containing many of the landslides it has experienced since the 1800’s. Using this data, the city has compiled a list of areas that are the most prone to landslides, the list is as follows: Northwest Seattle * Burke-Gilman Trail * Inverness * Laurelhurst * Southwest Magnolia * Southwest Queen Anne * East Queen Anne * Northwest Queen Anne * North Capitol Hill * Lakeview Boulevard * Interlaken * Madrona * Rainier Avenue S. E. * West Beacon Hill (I-5) * West Marginal Way * Alki * Admiral Way * Beach Drive S. W. * 47th Avenue S. W. Seola Beach * Pigeon Point * Cheasty Boulevard S. Here is the corresponding map: The most notable series of landslides in recent history occurred in January of 1997. Over 100 landslides were reported throughout the Seattle area within several days and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. A study showed several factors that contributed to the incident. During the spring of 1997, the Seattle area experienced much more precipitation that usual. A cold spell in the spring caused ice crystals to form and melt in the soil, increasing its porosity. The several day of intense rainfall between late January and early March are what triggered the series subsequent landslides. Geologically economic activities Present day Seattle relies in its ports for economic growth, however, in the 1800’s coal was Seattle’s main export. Coal was discovered in the Seattle area in 1833. The development of the railroads in Washington spurred the growth of the coal market. At the time, locomotives primary fuel was coal, and coal required the use of the railways to be exported. The coal market continued to grow in Seattle. In 1918 Seattle was delivering 4. million tons to California each day. The coal market began to fail when locomotives started switching from coal to petroleum and natural gas. Coal mines began to shut down as the demand for coal diminished until the last active coal mine closed down on November 27, 2006. â€Å"Live-ability of Seattle† At a glance, Seattle seems as good as a place as any to live. However, there a re several factors to consider for anyone looking to take up residence in the Seattle area. To the human perspective, hazardous geological incidents seem too far and few between to see as a threat. If one were to look at all of the geological disasters in the Seattle area on a geological timescale, they would see just how prone to disasters Seattle is. Approximately every five hundred years Seattle experiences a 9. 0 earthquake. Any seismic activity on that scale would also cause tsunamis to devastate the area. Seattle is also under the constant threat of MT. Rainier erupting and spawning a massive lahar that would destroy downtown Seattle. Seasonal floods are a major threat to the residents of the Seattle regardless of the lengths the city has gone to prevent flood damages. All of these geological hazards are especially dangerous due to the fact that Seattle is a large metropolitan area. With all this in mind, I consider Seattle a dangerous place to live. Bibliography * http://www. seattleweekly. com/2005-10-19/news/the-super-flood. php/ * â€Å"Geological Hazards In Seattle† by Donald W. Tubbs and Thomas Dunne * †Landslides In Seattle† by Donald W. Tubbs Prepared in cooperation with United States Geological Survey 1974 * â€Å"Coal In The Puget Sound Region† HistoryLink. org Essay 5158 * http://www. nps. gov/mora/faqs. htm How to cite The Geology of Seattle, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Benefits Of Sustainability Initiatives SABIC Free Solution

Question: Discuss about the Benefits of Sustainability Initiatives SABIC. Answer: Introduction In the recent past, Saudi Arabia experienced economic success. These developments have offered numerous opportunities for the government and investors to establish a healthy and strong ground for incorporating investments and relevant policies thus helps in achieving a sustainable economic growth. Robertson (2014) affirms that sustainable development and strategies have boosted Saudi Arabian economic expansion. Undeniably, the Saudi government has recently established healthy and stiff competitive environment thus making it a global destination for planning and investment. Besides, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has benefited from the international foundation to achieve its output gains through efficient planning (Hertog Luciani, 2012). To show the significance of the regulatory requirements on various sustainability initiatives, the article has opted to focus on SABIC Company that has become a leading organization in the world. In fact, the study surveys the companys sustainability in itiatives and explains some of the achievements this organization has realized through the sustainable initiatives and how it has benefited based on the overall success as determined by Traversa and Idriss (2012). In the modern world, multinational bodies, governments, and other enterprises have used business regulations in drafting their laws and demands regarding people and enterprise as part of their legal enactments. Without a doubt, the source of regulation can be private regulatory bodies or non-governmental organizations granted such powers by the government of the day as highlighted by Jacob (2013). In fact, sustainability has emerged as the best innovations, techniques, and strategies that companies and governments have used to develop their operational performances and how such activities affect the economy. Many people are aware of the various sustainable regulations including ISO Standards that have encouraged stakeholders to recognize their corporate obligations in implementing sustainable schemes. In Saudi Arabia, the government has established the Presidency of Meteorological and Environment (PME) body that is mandated to outline the relevant environmental standards that companies and other organizations must meet to avoid cessation (Alyami, Regzgui, Kwan, 2015). To this effect, many companies and businesses have been compelled to adopt the sustainable policies thus meet the set standards and improve their competitiveness. It has also emerged that many companies that have adopted the sustainable requirements have become more appealing and persuasive thus benefit from acceptations in the society. Company Background Saudi Arabia Industries Cooperation (SABIC) is an organization that was founded in 1976 with a vision to transform the natural gas into a valuable petrochemical commodity. Previously, many people damaged the environment and underutilized the natural gas. But with SABIC, this perception was changed as it turned the natural resource into a beneficial petrochemical product that has enhanced the supply of energy thus meeting the needs of the society. Since its inception, SABIC has achieved significant contributions in carbon storage and capture through initiatives (Arab News, 2015). For example, the corporation has used the largest carbon dioxide purification plant because it recognizes the continued concerns regarding climate change. The company has confirmed through its efforts that it is a part of the solution as its products and services reduce CO2 emissions thus meets the customers sustainable goals. The company has also recognized that these effects would never bear fruits without engaging other stakeholders (Hertog Luciani, 2012). To this effect, SABIC has collaborated with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Saudi Aramco in hosting several forums such as the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum where various stakeholders engage on how they can make business sense by adopting operational resource and energy efficiency approach to minimize the operating costs (Arab News, 2015). SABIC has continuously encouraged governmental policies and support that have accelerated technology innovation and development thus allowing stakeholders to share the best practices. In fact, the organization engages the international players to justify its leadership position in the Middle East. It continuously participates in the forums that advocate for sustainability and encourage collaboration (McCullough, 2014). It has also supported efforts and mechanisms that reduce CO2 emission and fits its business model. Given these efforts, it is important to study how the organization has benefited from the sustainable initiatives. Recognition and Awards The American Chemistry Council recently recognized the efforts of SABIC in its innovative plastic business. The company has established extensive world-class programs that have improved energy efficiency. To this effect, the Saudi company earned responsible care energy efficiency (Staff, 2015). The accomplishment confirmed the companys sustainability initiatives thus attracting the honor from the American Chemistry Council. The company has also used a holistic approach to achieving a sustainable performance and help it to reduce environmental impact using transportation network, manufacturing process and infrastructure. SABIC has strengthened its operational excellence thus benefiting its customers nationwide (Staff, 2015). SABIC engages in the manufacture of plastics for different industries including medical services, consumer electronics, and automotive. These products confirmed the company striving to improve the manufacturing process and managing resources efficiently. Benefits of Sustainability Initiative The company was founded on the promise to create value that would allow the country to flourish and grow. SABIC pledged to extend the sustainability initiatives beyond Saudi Arabia. According to Brebbia (2016), the companys financial goal was to generate an economic value for its shareholders. The organization was linked to socio-economic and environmental success. For an organization to meet the economic needs and expectations of stakeholders, it needed to invest in customers, people, and communities. SABIC devoted its resources to environmental and energy improvements for various manufacturing facilities. It focused on helping these companies to build advanced technology center (Wyman, 2014). The investments have made the company more efficient thus reducing the overhead costs. SABIC continue to focus on value creation through innovation as it forms the basis of economic values. The company also believes that developing an efficient manufacturing process to establish sustainable ma rket solutions. SABIC believes that integrating a sustainable criterion is necessary for improving innovation processes at all levels of development. SABIC works closely with stakeholders to align its sustainability strategy with its goals (SABIC, 2014). This has ensured the company has benefited from sustainability initiatives to provide the solutions to facilitate success. The company has embedded sustainability into SABICs strategy to maximize economic benefits thus maximize value in its value chain (Traversa Idriss, 2012). Delivering financial value confirms the companys long-term health of its business beyond the economic capital. The firm believes that the management of social, human, and natural capital. To meet its long-term goal, SABIC has created 2025 strategy that has recognized the interconnectivity between the value it creates for customers and other stakeholders in the society. With these connections, the company has managed to be accountable for its performance by creating a strategy addresses sustainable value for its future. SABIC has expanded its patent portfolio by about 8.7 percent as reported by the company (SABIC, 2014). In fact, it increased its expenditure on research and development by 16 percent as reported by SABIC (2012). Creating value SABIC has incorporated sustainability initiatives into its product development and processes by taking a robust approach thus create economic value. ICSPD and Brebbia (2009) maintain that it invested in the emerging technologies to benefit the economy, society, and the environment. SABIC has managed to deliver operational efficiency and productivity gains. For example, in all the manufacturing assets of SABIC, the firm continues to design and operate for maximum efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. According to Brebbia (2016), operational efficiency projects show it expected a significant impact on its operating costs and revenues. Besides, the sustainability initiatives had helped it reduce CO2 emissions such as introducing flaring mechanism has enabled SABIC to reduce the emissions by over 48 percent and cut energy intensity by over 7 percent. It anticipated that the economic benefits of this project stand at $100 million annually. The new initiatives have further ensured the company reduces differentiated technologies (Tietenberg Lewis, 2010). For example, it had to respond to the gas feedstock constraints by exploring the development of differentiated and new technologies including Oil to Chemicals (OIC) project (SABIC, 2014). Without a doubt, the project will encompass unique configuration of operational units so that it can generate the highest yield conversion of chemicals from oil. According to Abubakar and Aina (2016), the sustainability initiatives have brought improved material and chemical solutions to its customer segments. Based on 2025 strategy, SABIC has identified priority customer market segments to improve its performance. Hence, the company is striving to improve its sustainability impacts thus create cost savings through the material, resource, and energy efficiency gains (Hasmi, Abdulghaffar, Edinat, 2015). SABIC has improved transportation following the adoption of robust sustainability initiatives by offering different innovative materials that have ensured it meets the safety standards and offers low weight in the transportation sector. Through these processes, SABIC has improved fuel efficiency. For instance, in 2014, the Saudi-based company introduced new and high performing polypropylene copolymer with superior processing qualities. At the same time, the company maintained the best resistance to its mechanical impacts (SABIC, 2012). These inventions have allowed the company to design new vehicle components and help the auto manufacturers to reduce the weight thus maximize resources. For instance, the companys materials have been used to make car seats to accommodate children. The company also has conducted the life-cycle assessment that has justified the reduction in energy consumption and emission of CO2. Supply chain optimization The supply chain team has acknowledged the significance of SABIC in the society as it helps in creating environmental value through the optimization of logistics and networks (SABIC, 2014). This organization has health the global supply chain team to cut the lead time thus boosting its competitiveness in the market. Consequently, these initiatives have made SABIC strengthen its customer services and stakeholder relationship using collaborative operations to achieve shipping, packaging, and delivery of solutions. According to SABIC (2012), SABIC can maximize its supply chain through the Portal Logistics Facility that has facilitated the establishment of considerable value to the firm. The move ensured the company reduced the lead time to the countrys ports. In fact, the organization cut the overflow warehouse requirements at different levels including manufacturing point (Wyman, 2014). The completion of the PLF, the companys Polymers business made successful tests in configuring its l ogistics leading to a cost saving goal that it predicted at 15 percent (SABIC, 2012). To this effect, the customers of SABIC in Asia accessed competitive services. Given the success of its products in Asia, the company intends to extend to Africa that will lead to an annual saving of about $7.3 million. Cost minimization Sustainability initiatives have become one of the most valued strategies to achieve a cost-effective objective. According to ICSPD and Brebbia (2009), companies that have implemented these initiatives have reduced their production costs beyond reproach. Although setting a company or sustainable initiatives are expensive in the short-term, the long-run effects confirm the cost effectiveness. Innovative plastics, polymers, and metals have registered a twelve percent reduction in cost because SABIC has invested in improving sustainability products as reported by SABIC (2014). With reduced production costs, the company gets in the pole position to overcome its competitors that have for several years given it a run for its money. This investment has benefited SABIC by helping it attain the world leader status. Conclusion Sustainability remains an essential and a necessity for the future of human and it further offers numerous benefits for different companies. Based on this article, the sustainability initiatives focus on sustainable product improvements thus defines the companys service, products, and success. The case study that is a leading Saudi Arabias company forms an example of a company that has reported substantial growth and profits by implementing the sustainability initiatives as listed in this article. SABIC is not only a leader in Saudi Arabia but a global player that has made sustainability the core of its business strategy. With this central focus, the company has ensured its customers benefits from innovative products and services and further meets the companys long-term objectives. The sustainability initiatives of SABIC have given it a competitive advantage beyond its competitors because it uses them to provide value for its stakeholders. References Abubakar, I. R. Aina, Y. A. (2016). Achieving sustainable cities in Saudi Arabia: Juggling the competing urbanization challenges. In U.G. Benna S.B. Garba (Eds), Population Growth and Rapid Urbanization in the Developing World (pp. 42-63). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. Alyami, S.H., Regzgui, Y., Kwan, A. (2015). The development of sustainable assessment method for Saudi Arabia built environment: Weighing systems: Sustainability Science, 10(1), 167-178. Arab News. (2015, Nov 5). SABIC initiatives promote sustainability. Corporate News. 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