Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Strategic Issues in Financial Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Vital Issues in Financial Services - Essay Example There are 13 banks that were engaged with the yearly JD Power and Associates Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction Survey (O'sullivan 2010, pp. 2). Out of these, the Cooperative Bank of England performed exemplarily and developed tops. Nunnery was appraised as the most exceedingly terrible bank in the UK. Moreover, Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Clydesdale and Barclay’s banks were considered as performing worse than average. The National Building Society and RBS were different banks that were considered as being best entertainers. The rating of the banks was done dependent on six particular boundaries. The simplicity of issue goals, accommodation to the client, exchanges, the contribution of items like record openings, account proclamations and the expenses that the bank charged were the six boundaries utilized. The general trust in the financial part is considered to have improved, this notwithstanding the fall of the Northern Rock just as the ongoing credit crunch. The study additio nally expressed that lone a fourth of the respondents would not prescribe their bank to other people and a similar number accepted that the steadiness of the financial area had changed close to nothing. Regardless of the mind-boggling bolster that the area has recovered in the most recent year, a sizeable number of the 3,300 respondents in the review expressed that the expenses charged by their banks were the central point for their retained help. Over the most recent few years, the credit crunch has contrarily influenced the exhibition of the financial area with some universal banks requiring bailout. The breakdown of the sub-prime loaning bubble prompted an aftermath that influenced numerous banks universally. Nonetheless, a few banks dealt with the emergency impressively well, helped by sound procedures. In this conversation, the attention is on the pioneers and slow pokes that rose up out of the board of the monetary emergency. The pioneer in the conversation will be the Coopera tive Bank that was considered as the best bank in the UK by the JD Power and Associates overview. A similar review pit HSBC as performing beneath normal and this will be the slow poke in the ensuing conversation. Once in the past, individuals didn't think about the degree of worldwide mix. Be that as it may, the numerous breakdown of numerous organizations in the worldwide scene introduced an image of what amount incorporated the world truly is. Governments mediated with gigantic bailouts and other money related guidelines that were planned for balancing out the budgetary circumstance. As though to intensify matters, the impacts were additionally stressed by the downturn that followed. It is in this foundation that the best procedures for endurance and development are tried. Both the Cooperative Bank and HSBC worked against this background. What was viewed as the standard needed to change radically so as to ensure business considering the question that the emergency made. The Cooper ative Bank was not saved. It made misfortunes on its hazardous speculations yet the sum it made in misfortunes can't be likened to the sum that private banks like HSBC caused (Cogan 2008, p. 7). The qualities of the bank that caused it to endure less include the way that its clients are likewise its individuals and are the ones that own it. The quality in this rule is that all methodologies must be driven by accord and are not dependent on a solitary partner just like the case with HSBC. There is additionally a corresponding perspective that is as long as possible and furthermore a position that is chance disinclined that permit the bank to be increasingly preservationist as far as the procedure embraced towards retail banking. The Cooperative

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Strength of the Human Spirit Revealed by Ivan Denisovich Essay

Quality of the Human Spirit Revealed in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich  Life can be unfathomably hard now and again; almost everybody experiences a timeframe when conditions become terribly troublesome. Envision being appointed to ten years of endless and enormous hardships, similar to the situation of the hero in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. This book portrays in detail just a single day of Ivan's ten-year sentence in a Russian work camp in the 1950's. During this day, which resembles most others, he is famished, about solidified, exhausted, and rebuffed unjustifiably; be that as it may, as the day unfurls, clearly Ivan will never surrender and never yield. The character of Ivan Denisovich is an image of the human soul and its ceaseless will to endure, even through the harshest of conditions.  Ivan's day starts with reveille at 5:00, as usual (noteworthy in light of the fact that this day is much the same as each other day has been for as far back as eight years). On most mornings after reveille, he leaps up to make some little memories to himself, yet today he isn't feeling admirably and rises gradually. Generally, there are numerous things he could do during this time before the morning move call: clear up, convey something for somebody, bring the boots of the posse chief, accumulate and stack bowls at the chaos corridor, any number of little occupations.  By all accounts, Ivan's activities look honorable and merciful, as though the prosperity of others is his fundamental concern. Be that as it may, as most kind signals, there is a completely extraordinary thought process; for Ivan, it is only another method of getting food(2). He, as the vast majority in a troublesome circumstance, performs favors and undertakings, not out of the decency of his heart, however just out of his desir... ... Max Hayward, in first experience with _One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich _, says the book is a profound quality play where the woodworker Ivan Denisovich Shukhov is Everyman (xv). There are exemptions to the portrayal; Ivan is certifiably not a level character, bereft of profundity and definition, however through these models, clearly a significant part of the time, Ivan Denisovich mirrors the normal human soul and the manner by which it responds to troublesome circumstances. Obviously, the normal human soul doesn't persevere through the hardships introduced in a Soviet work camp, however all hardships are connected in their capacity to wreck their casualties or to reinforce them. For this situation, Ivan is the soul who is fortified, the casualty who will never surrender, and never yield.  List of sources Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. New York: Bantam Books, 1963.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Sabar drums, Rwanda, and the C.I.A

Sabar drums, Rwanda, and the C.I.A I know what youre thinking, Whoa, two posts in two days? How can I be so lucky!? Well thanks, Im flattered. Anyway, thats enough ego stroking for the day, the real reason is because today was so cool, so impressive, so absolutely awesome I couldnt help but blog about it. Since its impossible to rank the events by awesome, Ive ranked them chronologically: 11:00 a.m. EST- Sabar Drumming Class Before you graduate, the Institute not only wants you to be able to use maths to solve all sorts of problems, but to be cultured and knowledgeable about the world you live in. They rank it up there with the Black-Scholes model. (dont know what that is? me either I just googled hard math) To fulfill this, youre required to take classes known as HASS courses. (NOTE: literally everything at MIT is an acronym, or as I like to say L.E.A.M.I.T.I.A.A(did you catch the Fe-y?(triple pun!))) Wow, sorry about that. Back on track, my HASS class this year is 21M.030, or as youd want to tell your grandmother Intro to World Music. The class is taught by Professor Tang, who is an ethnomusicologist. Its a fascinating examination of the relationship between culture and music. Weve been studying the griot people of Senegal lately, and listening to Sabar drum music. Today we got to actually play them: not pictured: the full extent of how cool this was I named my drum Todd (we werent supposed to name them, I just did) Hi Todd! We learned songs in the traditional language of Senegal, such as [translated] I went to Gambia and found a nice car and drove and drove and drove it back to Senegal, and the friendship song [translated] [your name] [your name] well be with you til we die!. Also my personal favorite: [translated] What did you have for dinner? [whatever you ate for dinner]' Unfortunately I had to answer that last one with Easy Mac =( After about an hour and a half I felt pretty confident with my drumming abilities, I think Im ready to start doing some remixes. Ill just call up ye and see what hes up to. What d-d-d-did you have for d-d-d-dinner? EASY MAC! 3 p.m. EST- Career Fair. (Also, the president of Rwanda is there) I think its safe to say that there is a lot of stuff that goes on here. Unfortunately I can only mention in passing that the president of Rwanda was here today as I went to the Career Fair, which was going on at the same time. I didnt want to take too many pictures, lest I be remembered next year as that-one-guy-who-just-took-pictures and be passed over for a job at the C.I.A Whoa, hold up, what? Yea, the C.I.A was there, and I couldnt resist taking a picture of their booth. They taught me how to magnify images like that at the booth. (not really) I dont want to say too much more about it, for reasons I couldnt say because it would be saying too much. Just know that I met the C.I.A, and they gave me a pen that also doubles as an arc welder. (Theyll tell you it doesnt, but I know it does, I just cant figure it out). There are plenty of other cool companies there though, as illustrated by the tons of swag I collected. I find it funny that Facebook handed out breathmints, concerned with out social networking abilities? Theres stuff from Google, AQR, and MDT in there too. And a bunch of other big name companies were there as well, such as Microsoft, Apple, Merck, essentially any major company in what youre interested in doing will be there to represent themselves. If you want a job with any of those companies (or the literally hundreds more that were there) its definitely possible. Pretty cool eh? And thats just Thursday! Tomorrow I have an 18.01 Test and Im sorry what?.oh, you dont want to hear about that? oh. well alright then. Guess math is just cooler to some people than others Hed want to know how my 18.01 test went.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Living Fossil Plants - Ginkgo, Metasequoia, Wollemia

A living fossil  is a species that is known from fossils looking just the way it looks today. Among animals, the most famous living fossil is probably the  coelacanth. Here are three living fossils from the plant kingdom. Afterward, we will point out why living fossil is no longer a good term to use. Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba Ginkgoes are a very old line of plants, their earliest representatives being found in rocks of Permian age  some 280 million years old. At times in the geologic past, they have been widespread and abundant, and the dinosaurs surely fed upon them. The fossil species Ginkgo adiantoides, indistinguishable from the modern ginkgo, is found in rocks as old as Early Cretaceous (140 to 100 million years ago), which appears to have been the ginkgos heyday. Fossils of ginkgo species are found throughout the northern hemisphere in rocks dating from Jurassic to Miocene times. They disappear from North America by the Pliocene and vanish from Europe by the Pleistocene. The ginkgo tree is well-known today as a street tree and ornamental tree, but for centuries it appears to have been extinct in the wild. Only cultivated trees survived, in Buddhist monasteries in China, until they were planted across Asia starting about a thousand years ago. Ginkgo Photo GalleryGrowing GinkgoesLandscaping with Ginkgoes Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides The dawn redwood is a conifer that sheds its leaves every year, unlike its cousins the coast redwood and giant sequoia. Fossils of closely related species date from late in the Cretaceous  and occur all over the northern hemisphere. Their most famous locality is probably on Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian Arctic, where stumps and leaves of Metasequoia sit still unmineralized from the warm Eocene Epoch some 45 million years ago. The fossil species Metasequoia glyptostroboides was first described in 1941. Its fossils were known before that, but they were confused with those of the true redwood genus Sequoia and the swamp cypress genus Taxodium for more than a century. M. glyptostroboides was thought to be long extinct. The latest fossils, from Japan, dated from the early Pleistocene (2 million years ago). But a living specimen in China was found a few years later, and now this critically endangered species is thriving in the horticultural trade. Only about 5000 wild trees remain. Recently, Chinese researchers described a single isolated specimen in Hunan province whose leaf cuticle differs from all other dawn redwoods and exactly resembles the fossil species. They suggest that this tree is truly the living fossil and that the other dawn redwoods have evolved from it by mutation. The science, along with much human detail, is presented by Qin Leng in a recent issue of Arnoldia. Qin also reports vigorous conservation efforts in Chinas Metasequoia Valley. Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis The ancient conifers of the southern hemisphere are in the araucaria plant family, named for the Arauco region of Chile where the monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) lives. It has 41 species today (including the Norfolk Island pine, kauri pine and bunya-bunya), all of them scattered among the continental fragments of Gondwana: South America, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Ancient araucarians forested the globe in Jurassic times. In late 1994, a ranger in Australias Wollemi National Park in the Blue Hills found a strange tree in a small, remote canyon. It was found to match fossil leaves going back 120 million years in Australia. Its pollen grains were an exact match to the fossil pollen species ​Dilwynites, found in Antarctica, Australia, and New Zealand in rocks as old as Jurassic. The Wollemi pine is known in three small groves, and all specimens today are as genetically alike as twins. Hard-core gardeners and plant fanciers are very interested in the Wollemi pine, not just for its rarity but because it has beautiful foliage. Look for it at your local progressive arboretum. Why Living Fossil Is a Poor Term The name living fossil is unfortunate in some ways. The dawn redwood and Wollemi pine present the best case for the term: recent fossils that appear identical, not just similar, to a living representative. And the survivors were so few that we may not have enough genetic information to explore their evolutionary history in depth. But most living fossils dont match that story. The plant group of cycads is an example that used to be in the textbooks (and may still be). The typical cycad in yards and gardens is the sago palm, and it had supposedly been unchanged since Paleozoic time. But today there are about 300 species of cycad, and genetic studies show that most are only a few million years old. Besides genetic evidence, most living fossil species differ in small details from todays species: shell ornamentation, numbers of teeth, configuration of bones and joints. Although the line of organisms had a stable body plan that succeeded in a certain habitat and lifeway, its evolution never stopped. The idea that the species became evolutionarily stuck is the main thing wrong about the notion of living fossils. There is a similar term used by paleontologists for fossil types that disappear from the rock record, sometimes for millions of years, and then appear again: Lazarus taxa, named for the man that Jesus raised from the dead. A Lazarus taxon is not literally the same species, found in rocks millions of years apart. Taxon refers to any level of taxonomy, from the species through the genus and family up to the kingdom. The typical Lazarus taxon is a genus—a group of species—so that matches what we now understand about living fossils.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Lone Pair - Chemistry Definition

A lone pair is an electron pair in the outermost shell of an atom that is not shared or bonded to another atom. It is also called a non-bonding pair. One way to identify a lone pair is to draw a Lewis structure. The number of lone pair electrons added to the number of bonding electrons equals the number of valence electrons of an atom. The lone pair concept is important to valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory, as it helps to explain the geometry of molecules. Sources Albright, T. A.; Burdett, J. K.; Whangbo, M.-H. (1985). Orbital Interactions in Chemistry. New York: Wiley. p. 102. ISBN 0471873934.Ansyln, E. V.; Dougherty, D. A. (2006). Modern Physical Organic Chemistry. Sausalito, CA: University Science Books. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-891389-31-3.Kumar, Anmol; Gadre, Shridhar R.; Mohan, Neetha; Suresh, Cherumuttathu H. (2014-01-06). Lone Pairs: An Electrostatic Viewpoint. The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 118 (2): 526–532. doi:10.1021/jp4117003

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Evolution of Engineering Free Essays

It’s no secret that technology has not only changed life as we know it, but has also changed the face of most every career field known to man.   Nowhere is this evolution more evident than in the field of engineering.   In order to better review the impact that advancements in technology have had on the field of engineering, exploration of past versus present comparison is necessary. We will write a custom essay sample on The Evolution of Engineering or any similar topic only for you Order Now    Upon reviewing the variations between engineering of the past and engineering of present, the dramatic involvement of technology in the field becomes inherently evident. Over the course of the last two decades, the field of engineering has come into its own.   One major component of the ‘new and improved’ field of engineering is the utilization of modern technology.   In fact, engineering itself is considered a frontier of development in modern technology itself.   â€Å"Scientific discovery and advancement affect our lives in two different ways—through new policies and regulations that provide broad national direction and through new products and processes that enhance our lives and communities. Technology and engineering translate scientific knowledge into action.† (USDA 2007) Engineering, in the 1980s, was a field wherein the predominant research and development process surrounded countless instances of trial and error.   Due in part to the fact that all experimentation and designed was based solely on human ability and human ideas, engineering was primarily considered a ‘thinking man’s’ career choice.   For example, in the early 1980s, when mechanical engineers designed motor vehicles, much of their design was dependant on tangible models and hand drawn blueprints.   Today, on the other hand, computer technology allows for the use of computerized 3D models and AutoCAD architecture.   This same fact holds true for not only the vehicle industry, but the building industry, property development, and many more. Upon close examination of the implications of technology on engineering, it is revealed that this phenomenon began far earlier than many believe.   In fact, students at Virginia Tech have been required to own a personal computer since the year 1984.   However, improvements in computer technology have dramatically improved engineering accuracy and performance, have increased efficiency, and have made it possible for a wider variant of individuals to enter the engineering field.   â€Å"In terms of the difficulty level of problems, the computer has helped tremendously. In the pre-computer era, we’d spend a couple of weeks on a serious problem. Now it can be done overnight. In terms of the actual mode of teaching, we present less hand-calculation procedures than in previous times. It’s just not needed.† (EE/CPE VanLandingham 97) A variety of modern technologies have added to the dynamics of the engineering field.   However, it is arguable that computer advancements have affected the field more than any other.   Because much of engineering is design, the use of computers as a design tool is prevalent.   Thanks to the precision and speed offered by the use of certain computer programs during the engineering design process, problems that once seemed impossible are now considered trivial.   â€Å"Students can do design and some calculations that were real tough to do before.   â€Å"We use computers a lot in the lab to take data and analyze data off the equipment. Most research projects take data using computers, and our folks have to know how to write programs and microprocessor code.† (EE/CPE Claus 97) Experts also agree that the integration of computers into the field of engineering have made the job more ‘fun’.   Computers allow engineers to heighten levels of creativity in their work while allowing for less stress in problem solving.   In short, engineers can now focus more heartily on the creative aspects of their project because they spend less time in problem solving. Interestingly though, the speculation surrounding technological and computer advancements in the field of engineering is not all positive.   There are many people who believe that the overt use of computers in the field of engineering provides engineers with a crutch that allows for less thorough problem examination.   It is also argued that engineers become ‘lax’ in analysis because they trust computers to be accurate.   The problem with this fact is that computers are not infallible.   If one data set is entered incorrectly, the entire analysis will be incorrect.   Basically, computers should moreover be used to verify analysis as opposed to actually perform the analysis itself. Many engineering professors and argue that the overuse of computers will promote carelessness in the field.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I see students relying too much on computers, computation programs and symbolic manipulators – which is leading them away from self-discipline.   â€Å"They are using tools and have no way to check them. They come up with an answer on the computer and don’t know enough to challenge their answer. They are using tools and have no way to check them. They come up with an answer on the computer and don’t know enough to challenge their answer. They figure if the computer came up with the answer, it’s got to be right.† (EE/CPE Brown 97) There is also evidence the integration of computer technology in engineering will ‘kill’ programming in the field.   Because of the incredible technology and dynamic computer programs available to engineers as a whole, there is a decreased need for new programming.   Certain computer programs offer engineers ‘ready to use’ packages for problem solving, which eliminates the need for writing code in problem solving.   The question as to whether or not this is a ‘good thing’ is perhaps most prominent in engineering education.   ‘†Technology as the magic bullet for education is being vastly oversold,† cautioned Professor Jim Armstrong. â€Å"We can use the computers for computation and communication, but we must maintain the interpersonal aspect of teaching,†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (EE/CPE 97) The integration of modern technology and the integration of computers in particular, into the field of engineering has changed the face of all engineering disciplines as we know it. It is largely agreed that these advancements have improved the field of engineering in ways never before thought possible.   However, it is pertinent to note that not every implementation or change is considered beneficial. While, for the most part, computers and technology have only improved engineer problem solving and efficiency, it is also argued that these integrations have given birth to the ‘lazy’ engineer.   In fact, there are those who believe that today’s engineer is already considered lax because they now have the computer to do the work for them.   â€Å"Engineers are lazy. Engineers don’t like to work hard and like to come up with ways to make their lives easier† (iPaw 2009) This view creates a paradox for many, because the very definition of innovation is the search for ways to make life more simple. In summation, modern technology and computer advancement has made the field of engineering more exciting for those engaged.   It has also allowed for more a more variant professional base within the field.   However, perhaps the most notable change in the field that comes as a direct reflection of computer advancement is the increase in the speed and efficiency with which engineers solve an assortment of problems.   This increased efficiency allows for a more rapid development of a product or and outcome and also allows for a heightened opportunity to concentrate on creativity and design.   Basically, computers and modern technology make the field of engineering more fun. While it must be acknowledged that not all views surrounding computer advancement and engineering are possible, it is widely accepted that computers have drastically improved every discipline of engineering while also acting as a catalyst behind creative engineering and innovation. From a personal perspective, we have entered the dawn of a new engineering age.   The field of engineering is rapidly becoming as much an art as it is an analytical career field.   This advancement and innovation is solely credited to the integration of modern technology into the engineering disciplines.   In the last five years, computer technology has taken not only engineering, but every career to new and exciting levels.   From the farmer to the fighter pilot, computer technology has changed the dynamic of ‘work’ as we know it, and nowhere is this truth more evident than in the field of engineering. Works Cited â€Å"Catspaw’s Guide to the Inevitably Insane.† Catspaw’s Guide to the Inevitably Insane. 29 Apr. 2009 http://www.insanecats.com/cgi-bin/single.py?month=feb09msg=18. â€Å"Computers and Engineering: Instructional Boon or Crutch?.† Virginia Tech | Electrical and Computer Engineering. 29 Apr. 2009 http://www.ece.vt.edu/ecenews/ar97/boon.html. Govil, Rekha. Recent Advancements in Computer Science and Technology. new york: Allied Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 1999. â€Å"Technology Engineering.† Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). 29 Apr. 2009 http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/technology/technology.cfm. Fundamental Concepts in Computer Science (Advances in Computer Science and Engineering: Texts). London: Imperial College Press, 2009. How to cite The Evolution of Engineering, Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Forest Policy In Malaysia Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Forest Policy In Malaysia Essay, Research Paper Malaysia is among the states in Southeast Asia which has experienced singular economic growing and industrialisation in the past decennary. It is alone in that its success is non a consequence of following any one theoretical account for development. Rather, Malaysia? s authorities identified its ends and sought to make a country-specific theoretical account of development suited to their demands for growing. An illustration of this is the Malayan authorities? s addition in exports of manufactured goods instead than concentrating on natural resource trade goods as suggested by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. ( pg.6, HBS ) Unlike its neighbour Singapore, Malaysia is blessed with an copiousness of natural resources. Although its exports of natural resource trade goods have declined in recent old ages in favour of manufactured goods ( pg. 6, HBS ) , Malaysia? s natural resource industry remains an of import portion of the state? s economic and political docket. Malaysia? s Forest Products Industry It is hard to disregard the fact that 60 % of Malaysia is covered with natural wood and that timber generates more foreign exchange than any other natural resource in Malaysia. The Malayan authorities recognized the economic potency of the forest merchandise industry early in the decennary and proceeded to play a cardinal function in farther developing and advancing this peculiar sector of its economic system through a grants system and the encouragement of downstream industries. The Concession System granted logging rights to private parties in exchange for royalties paid to the Malayan authorities ( pg. 11, HBS ) . Allowing logging grants to private parties besides allowed Malaysia? s authorities to bring forth involvement in the wood merchandises industry while keeping a grade of control over the countries and peculiar usage the lumber could be logged for. This system did non turn out to be really effectual in the custodies of private involvement groups in hunt of increased net incomes. With merely 1,600 employees to police the undeveloped forest countries, the Sarawak Forest Department found it hard to forestall illegal logging ( pg. 12, HBS ) . Protection of domestic markets from foreign competition is a common pattern among industrialising states. In the instance of Malaysia? s wood merchandises industry, the authorities encouraged local production of timber, furniture, and other wood merchandises through the limitation of exporting unrefined logs. This was known as downstream industries. The encouragement of downstream industries was another of import docket for the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, a authorities subdivision for the overseeing of Malaysia? s wood merchandises industry. # 8220 ; The thought that the woods could be used as a springboard for downstream integrating, or? resource based industrialisation? appealed to many Malaysian officials. # 8221 ; ( pg. 13, HBS ) To these functionaries, downstream integrating allowed for the employment of a big per centum of the market labour force every bit good as a lessening in the sum of lumber needed to bring forth occupations and export grosss. ( pg. 13, H BS ) To farther encourage downstream int! egration, the Malayan authorities granted revenue enhancement interruptions, subsidies, and other inducements to domestic makers. The Problem Developing industries which deal with the production of natural resource merchandises are really likely to be placed in the international limelight by pulling unfavorable judgment from environmental groups around the universe. Such is the instance for the Malayan authorities as explained in the Harvard Business School instance survey in which Malaysian premier curate Mahathir bin Mohamad was faced with media examination sing his state? s forest merchandise industry during a visit to the United States. Bing a state that is to a great extent dependent on foreign investing for its economic growing, Malaysia could non afford to merely disregard the unfavorable judgment its state receives from westerners whose investings they are trying to pull into the state. The job lies in differing positions on the side of western conservationists and the Malayan authorities. Western Critics Although Malaysia contains merely 2 # 8211 ; 3 % of the universe? s tropical woods ( pg.3, HBS ) , the biological potencies and environment potencies found in its rain forests are a cause for concern among western conservationists. These environmenta lists are speedy to indicate out that frequently times, the public assistance of the environment is far from the heads of those regulating a freshly industrializing state seeking to capitalise on its ownership of valuable natural resources. Harmonizing to the London Rainforest Movement and the Singaporean and Malaysian British Association, â€Å"the rapid devastation of the Sarawak rain forest means that a enormously rich natural research lab with huge potency for the wellness of world will be destroyed FOR EVER.† ( pg. 3, HBS ) Where an conservationist may see the medical and environmental values of a life wood, the Malayan authorities sees a trade good perfect for foreign exchange and economic growing. The conservationists besides accuse the Malayan authorities of excusing Acts of the Apostless such as forest # 8220 ; mining # 8221 ; ( pg. 3, HBS ) in which the sums of lumber harvested exceed the growing of the staying lumber, and intervention in the rights of autochthonal people populating within the woods. Harmonizing to western critics, the most effectual manner of making alteration in Malaysia? s wood merchandises industry would be to originate a world-wide boycott of Malayan wood merchandises to which the Malayan authorities strongly opposed. The Malayan Government Despite the accusals from western conservationists and critics of development of Malaysia? s rain forests, the state? s authorities insists they have taken important stairss in guaranting the long term saving of the woods through new techniques, research and development, and the constitution of particular commissions and undertaking forces. Harmonizing to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia ( FRIM ) , Malaysia is presently researching options to conventional logging techniques such as chopper logging. The advantage of this method of logging is a decrease in wood perturbation because the demand to build roads is minimized. This system would besides minimise dirt eroding which leads to deluging. The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia ( FRIM ) was established to develop guidelines for forestry direction and biodiversity preservation. The National Forestry Policy 1978 ( revised 1992 ) was established to # 8220 ; preserve and pull off the forest through sustainable direction and keep its of import functions in the national economic system and saving of environmental stableness # 8221 ; ( WWW ) . This papers inside informations specific strategies the Malayan authorities seeks to accomplish in protecting its rain forests. However, western conservationists question the effectivity of such a well intentioned papers without the proper resources to implement them with. Possible Solutions It is hard to follow and implement policies curtailing Malaysia? s usage of its resources because of its importance of prolonging economic growing and development as a freshly industrializing state. From reading the instance survey and researching current information sing Malaysia? s wood policy on the World Wide Web, there is no uncertainty that the Malayan authorities is cognizant of the international concern of its forest merchandises industry. In recent old ages, the Malayan authorities has sought to diversify its industries. The success of Malaysia? s forest preservation policies greatly depends on its ability to win in increasing exports of assorted manufactured goods every bit good as pulling greater foreign investing. In the interim, there are several possibilities the Malayan authorities can research in converting the international community that its attempts in forestry are sincere. In footings of the grant system in the logging industry, one possibility would be to do it more hard for private parties to obtain logging grants by holding the Malayan authorities demand higher royalties in return. The addition in gross can so be redirected to help attempts in patroling the rain forest in order to forestall illegal logging patterns. A first measure for both the Malayan authorities and western conservationists would be to keep a forum to discourse relevant issues of concern with one another instead than relay dissensions and unfavorable judgments through the international media. By keeping a forum affecting both representatives from the Malayan authorities and assorted environmental groups, the international limelight is briefly taken off the accusals which would so let for free treatments towards a solution both sides are satisfied with.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Air Pollution in India Essay Example

Air Pollution in India Paper Air pollution in India From Wisped, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Traffic congestion on inadequate road infrastructure is a daily reality of Indians urban centers. Slow speeds and idling vehicles produce, per trip, 4 to 8 times more pollutants and consume more carbon footprint fuels, than free flowing traffic. This 2008 image shows traffic congestion in Delhi. Air pollution in India is a serious issue with the major sources being followed and biomass burning, fuel adulteration, vehicle emission and traffic congestion. L India has a low per capita emissions of greenhouse gases but the country as a hole is the third largest after China and the United States. [3] The Air (Prevention and Control Of Pollution) Act was passed in 1981 to regulate air pollution and there have been some measurable improvements. However, the 201 2 Environmental Performance Index ranked India as having the poorest relative air quality out of 132 countries. 4] Contents * 1 Fuel wood and bioma ss burning * 2 Emissions standards 3 Fuel adulteration * 4 Traffic congestion * 5 Greenhouse gas emissions * 6 Recent trends in air quality * 7 Specific issues * 8 References I Fuel wood and biomass burning Cooking fuel in rural India is prepared from a wet mix of dried grass, followed pieces, hay, leaves and mostly cow/livestock dung. This mix is patted down into disc-shaped cakes, dried, and then used as fuel in stoves. When it burns, it produces smoke and numerous indoor air pollutants at concentrations 5 times higher than coal. A rural stove using biomass cakes, followed and trash as cooking fuel. Surveys suggest over 100 million households in India use such stoves (Chula) every day, 2-3 times a day. Clean burning fuels and electricity are unavailable in rural parts and small towns of India because of poor rural sways and limited energy generation infrastructure. Followed and biomass burning is the primary reason for near-permanent haze and smoke observed above rural and urban India, and in satellite pictures of the country. Followed and biomass cakes are used for cooking and general heating needs. These are burnt in cook stoves known as Chula or Chula in some parts of India. These cook stoves are present in over 100 million Indian households, and are used two to three times a day, daily. As of 2009, majority of Indians still use traditional fuels such as dried cow dung, agricultural wastes, and firewood as cooking fuel. L] This form of fuel is inefficient source of energy, its burning releases high levels of smoke, IMP O particulate matter, KNOX, SOX, PARS, polychromatic, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and other air pollutants. 5][6][7][8] Some reports, including one by the World Health Organization, claim 300,000 to 400,000 people die of indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning in India because of biomass burning and use of Chula. [J Burning of biomass and firewood will not stop, unless electricity or clean burning fuel and combustion technologies become reliably available and widely adopted in rural and urban India. India is the worlds largest consumer of followed, agricultural waste and biomass for energy purposes. We will write a custom essay sample on Air Pollution in India specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Air Pollution in India specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Air Pollution in India specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer From the most recent available nationwide study, India used 148. 7 million tones coal replacement worth of followed and biomass annually for domestic energy use. Indians national average annual per capita consumption of fuel wood, agric water and biomass cakes was 206 kilogram coal equivalent. CIO] In 201 0 terms, with Indians population increased to about 1. 2 billion, the country burns over 200 million tones of coal replacement worth of fuel wood and biomass every year to meet its energy need for cooking and there domestic use. The study found that the households consumed around 95 million tones of followed, one-third of which was logs and the rest was twigs. Twigs were mostly consumed in the villages, and logs were more popular in cities of India. [1 1] The overall contribution of followed, including sawdust and wood waste, Was about 46% of the total, the rest being agric waste and biomass dung cakes. Traditional fuel (followed, crop residue and dung cake) dominates domestic energy use in rural India and accounts for about 90% of the total. In urban areas, this traditional fuel constitutes about 4% of the total. [12] Fuel wood, agric waste and biomass cake burning releases over 1 65 million tones of combustion products into Indians indoor and outdoor air every year. To place this volume of emission in context, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States estimates that fire wood smoke contributes over 420,000 tones of fine particles throughout the United States mostly during the winter months. United States consumes about one-tenth of followed consumed by India, and mostly for fireplace and home heating purposes. EPA estimates that residential wood combustion in he USA accounts for 44 percent of total organic matter emissions and 62 percent of the PAP, which are probable human carcinogens and are of great concern to EPA The followed sourced residential wood smoke makes up over 50 percent of the wintertime particle pollution problem in California. [1 3] In 2010, the state of California had about the same number of vehicles as all of India. India burns tenfold more followed every year than the United States, the followed quality in India is different than the dry firewood of the United States, and the Indian stoves in use are less efficient thereby reducing more smoke and air pollutants per kilogram equivalent. India has less land area and less emission air space than the United States. In summary, the impact on indoor and outdoor air pollution by followed and biomass cake burning is far worse in India. A United Nations study[14] finds firewood and biomass Stoves can be made more efficient in India. Animal dung, now used in inefficient stoves, could be used to produce biogas, a cleaner fuel with higher utilization efficiency. In addition, an excellent fertilizer can be produced from the slurry from biogas plants. Switching to gaseous eels would bring the greatest gains in terms of both thermal efficiency and reduction in air pollution, but would require more investment. A combination of technologies may be the best way forward. Between 2001 and 2010, India has made progress in adding electrical power generation capacity, bringing electricity to rural areas, and reforming market to improve availability and distribution of liquefied cleaner burning fuels in urban and rural area. Over the same period, scientific data collection and analysis show improvement in Indians air quality, with some regions witnessing 30 to 65% reduction in Knox, Sox and suspended particulate matter. Even at these lower levels, the emissions are higher than those recommended by the World Health Organization. Continued progress is necessary. Scientific studies conclude biomass combustion in India is the countrys dominant source of carbonaceous aerosols, emitting 0. 25 trigram per year of black carbon into air, 0. 94 trigram per year of organic matter, and 2. 04 trigram per year of small particulates with diameter less than 2. 5 microns. Biomass burning, as domestic fuel in India, accounts for about 3 times as much black carbon air elution as all other sources combined, including vehicles and industrial sources. [15] Emissions standards Other sources of pollution in Indian cities are vehicles and emissions from industry. Until 1992, India protected its automobile industry using license raja. Many two wheel, three wheel and four wheel vehicles lacked catalytic converters. Per vehicle emissions were amongst the highest in the world. The refining of oil and supply of fuel was owned, regulated and run by the government; the fuel quality was lax. In 2005, India adopted emission standard of Brat Stage IV for vehicles, which is equivalent to Euro IV European standards for vehicle emissions. Nevertheless, the old pre-2005 vehicles, and even pre-1992 vehicles are still on Indian streets. Fuel adulteration Rubbish being burnt on a Kola street. Some Indian taxis and auto-rickshaws run on adulterated fuel blends. Adulteration of gasoline and diesel with lower-priced fuels is common in South Asia, including India. [2] Some adulterants increase emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles, worsening urban air pollution. Financial incentives arising from differential taxes are generally the primary cause of fuel adulteration. In India and other developing countries, gasoline carries a much higher tax than diesel, which in turn is taxed more than kerosene meant as a cooking fuel, while some solvents and lubricants carry little or no tax. As fuel prices rise, the public transport driver cuts costs by blending the cheaper hydrocarbon into highly taxed hydrocarbon. The blending may be as much as 20-30 percent. For a low wage driver, the adulteration can yield short term savings that are significant over the month. The consequences to long term air pollution, quality of life and effect on health are simply ignored. Also moored are the reduced life of vehicle engine and higher maintenance costs, particularly if the taxi, auto-rickshaw or truck is being rented for a daily fee. Adulterated fuel increases tailpipe emissions of hydrocarbons (HCI), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (Knox) and particulate matter (PM). Air toxin emissions ? which fall into the category of unregulated emissions ? of primary concern are benzene and polychromatic hydrocarbons (Pass), both well known carcinogens. Kerosene is more difficult to burn than gasoline; its addition results in higher levels of HCI, CO and PM emissions even from totally-equipped cars. The higher sulfur level of kerosene is another issue. The permissible level of fuel sulfur in India, in 2002, was 0. 25 percent by weight as against 0. 10 percent for gasoline. The higher levels of sulfur can deactivate the catalyst. Once the catalyst becomes deactivated, the amount of pollution from the vehicle dramatically increases. Fuel adulteration is essentially an unintended consequence of tax policies and the attempt to control fuel prices, in the name of fairness. Air pollution is the ultimate result. This problem is not unique to India, but prevalent in many developing entries including those outside of south Asia. This problem is largely absent in economies that do not regulate the ability of fuel producers to innovate or price based on market demand. Traffic congestion Traffic congestion is severe in Indians cities and towns. Traffic congestion is caused for several reasons, some of which are: increase in number of vehicles per kilometer of available road, a lack of intra-city divided-lane highways and intra-city expressways networks, lack of inter-city expressways, traffic accidents and chaos from poor enforcement of traffic laws. Traffic congestion reduces average traffic speed. At low speeds, scientific studies reveal, vehicles burn fuel inefficiently and pollute more per trip. For example, a study in the united States found that for the same trip, cars consumed more fuel and polluted more if the traffic was congested, than when traffic flowed freely. At average trip speeds between 20 to 40 kilometers per hour, the cars pollutant emission was twice as much as when the average speed was 55 to 75 kilometers per hour. At average trip speeds between 5 to 20 kilometers per hour, the cars pollutant emissions were 4 to 8 times as much as when the average speed was 55 to 70 kilometers per hour. 6] Fuel efficiencies similarly were much worse with traffic congestion. Traffic gridlock in Delhi and other India cities is extreme. [1 7] The average trip speed on many Indian city roads is less than 20 kilometers per hour; a 10 kilometer trip can take 30 minutes, or more. At such speeds, vehicles in India emit air pollutants 4 to 8 times more than they would with less traf fic congestion; Indian vehicles also consume a lot more carbon footprint fuel per trip, than they would if the traffic congestion was less. In cities like Bangor, around 50% Of children suffer from asthma. CA] Greenhouse gas emissions India was the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2009 at 1. 65 Get per year, after China (6. 9 Get per year) and the United States (5. 2 Get per year). With 17 percent of world population, India contributed some 5 percent of human- sourced carbon dioxide emission; compared to Chinas 24 percent share. On per capita basis, India emitted about 1. Tons of carbon dioxide per person, in comparison to the United States 17 tons per person, and a world average of 5. 3 tons per About 65 percent of Indians carbon dioxide emissions in 2009 was from heating domestic uses and power sector. About percent of Indians emissions were from transportation (cars, trains, two wheelers, airplanes, others). Indians coal-fired, oil-fired and natural gas-fired thermal power plants are inefficient and offer significant potential for CA emission reduction through better technology. Compared to the average emissions from coal-fired, oil-fired and natural gas-fired thermal power plants in European Union (E-27) countries, Indians thermal power plants emit 50 to 120 percent more CA per kHz produced. [3] This is in significant part to inefficient thermal power plants installed in India prior to its economic fertilization in the sass. Between 1990 and 2009, Indians carbon dioxide emissions per GAP purchasing power parity basis have decreased by over 1 0 percent, a trend similar to China. Meanwhile, between 1990 and 2009, Russians carbon dioxide emissions per GAP purchasing power parity basis have increased by 40 percent. India has one of the better records in the world, of an economy that is growing efficiently on CA emissions basis. In other words, over the last 20 years, India has reduced CA emissions with each unit of GAP increase. [3] Per Copenhagen Accord, India aims to further educe emissions intensity of its growing GAP by 20 to 25 percent before 2020, with technology transfer and international cooperation. Nevertheless, it is expected, that like China, Indians absolute carbon dioxide emissions will rise in years ahead, even as International Energy Agencys Annex I countries expect their absolute CA emissions to drop. A significant source of greenhouse gas emissions from India is from black carbon, Knox, methane and other air pollutants. These pollutants are emitted in large quantities in India every day from incomplete and inefficient combustion of biomass (fuel wood, crop waste and cattle dung). A majority of Indian population lacks access to clean burning fuels, and uses biomass combustion as cooking fuel. Indians poorly managed solid wastes, inadequate sewage treatment plants, water pollution and agriculture are other sources of greenhouse gas Annas Luau has proposed that as the aerosol particles rise on the warm, connecting air, they produce more rain over northern India and the Himalayan foothill, which further warms the atmosphere and fuels a heat pump that draws yet more warm air to the region. This phenomenon, Luau believes, changes the timing and intensity of the monsoon, effectively earrings heat from the low-lying lands over the subcontinent to the atmosphere over the Tibetan Plateau, which in turn warms the high-altitude land surface and hastens glacial retreat. His modeling shows that aerosols?particularly black carbon and dust?likely cause as much of the glacial retreat in the region as greenhouse gases via this heat pump effect. [21] Recent trends in air quality Monsoons scrub Indians air, bringing its natural diversity in better view.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Free Essays on Psychology Research Project

When I began this research project I wasn’t sure how much information there would be on Childhood Behavioral Disorders, and I was afraid it would all be the same and I would already know most of it. I was surprised, then, to find a lot of new information on this topic. For my magazine article I chose a U.S. News article entitled â€Å"When Does A Child Need Help?†(11/11/02). It gave me some information on different types and causes of social and behavioral disorders in children, and it had examples of symptoms so one might be able to determine if their child has a disorder. It’s a good beginning for parents seeking a foundation of information, but there are no helpful numbers to call or organizations to contact. One fact that I had learned is that if a child is constantly insistent on doing everything by themselves then it could be possible that child has Oppositional Defiant Disorder. During my Internet search on my topic, I came across a website called â€Å"Understanding and Treating Childhood Behavioral Disorders†. This article provided the reader with eight different disorders, with a definition and/or symptoms. It was easy to understand, and it didn’t confuse me with a lot of â€Å"medical mumbo-jumbo†. One fact I learned from this article was that social phobia is caused by a fear of ridicule. I only knew that people with that disorder did not like to be around other people. This article also tells the reader that their child’s condition may be inherited. That is, one or more of the child’s blood relatives may also have it. When I looked for my peer-reviewed journal it was harder because there were a lot more resources, and the terms were harder to understand. I found one, however, entitled â€Å"Conduct Disorder†(Gale Encyclopedia Of Medicine, 1999). I chose this article because it included how to recognize a conduct disorder, who can diagnose it, and how it can be treated. One thing that this article offered that ... Free Essays on Psychology Research Project Free Essays on Psychology Research Project When I began this research project I wasn’t sure how much information there would be on Childhood Behavioral Disorders, and I was afraid it would all be the same and I would already know most of it. I was surprised, then, to find a lot of new information on this topic. For my magazine article I chose a U.S. News article entitled â€Å"When Does A Child Need Help?†(11/11/02). It gave me some information on different types and causes of social and behavioral disorders in children, and it had examples of symptoms so one might be able to determine if their child has a disorder. It’s a good beginning for parents seeking a foundation of information, but there are no helpful numbers to call or organizations to contact. One fact that I had learned is that if a child is constantly insistent on doing everything by themselves then it could be possible that child has Oppositional Defiant Disorder. During my Internet search on my topic, I came across a website called â€Å"Understanding and Treating Childhood Behavioral Disorders†. This article provided the reader with eight different disorders, with a definition and/or symptoms. It was easy to understand, and it didn’t confuse me with a lot of â€Å"medical mumbo-jumbo†. One fact I learned from this article was that social phobia is caused by a fear of ridicule. I only knew that people with that disorder did not like to be around other people. This article also tells the reader that their child’s condition may be inherited. That is, one or more of the child’s blood relatives may also have it. When I looked for my peer-reviewed journal it was harder because there were a lot more resources, and the terms were harder to understand. I found one, however, entitled â€Å"Conduct Disorder†(Gale Encyclopedia Of Medicine, 1999). I chose this article because it included how to recognize a conduct disorder, who can diagnose it, and how it can be treated. One thing that this article offered that ...

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Case Study Example (Neenan & Dryden, 2006). In many cases patients that require cognitive behavior therapy exhibit traits like self-destructive and repulsive habits, shame, avoidance, harbor unproductive thoughts and entertain blame games. (Willson & Branch, 2006). Stan's case is not isolated as he depicts similar traits. For example, he avoids the people he used to associate with while he was still in employment, he is unwilling to take work he is over qualified for hence has been unemployed for six months. At the same time he feels ashamed of his unemployment status hence avoids going out of the house at all, he drinks during the day rather than look for another job, he feels entitled to provide financially as the firstborn in his family irrespective of his impossible situation. His panic attacks are as a result of the anxiety he feels from the overwhelming responsibility of being a father, a first born and a husband and the fact that he is not able to get himself out of the situation. The source of Stan's problems is in his pattern of thoughts. The way he perceives his situation has led to the outward show of his frustration and depression. For example, he lost his job and hence he thinks that he has failed. Highly likely are thoughts like 'I am no good' or 'I am a failure' and in that case a self-prophecy has been written in his mind. It is from this thought that he now behaves like a failure and has no time to look for a job but drink during the day or avoid going out of the house to hide his failure. Of course, his problem aggravates because he avoids doing the very things that might be helpful in bringing forth a solution. For example he avoids former colleagues and friends and turns down employment because he is 'over' qualified. Stan's panic attacks root from anxiety linked to distorted thoughts and idealistic expectations. Intervention strategies As seen Stan's problems are birthed from own thoughts and this has affected his behavior. Therapy will focus on helping Stan change his way of thinking. His panic attacks will be dealt with by challenging Stan's thoughts and fears. This will entail encouraging Stan to confront his object or subject of fear in this case going out of the house, not providing financially towards his fathers funeral and the new baby, fear of failure and so on. The aim here will be to desensitize these fears by helping Stan realize that he needs to react to situation in reality rather than from his own distorted perception of the situation. First, the therapist will guide Stan in exploring his thoughts and situation the identify thought patterns and link them to behavior. (Neenan & Dryden, 2006). He might be required to document his thoughts, habits, feelings, events in a journal for review during therapy session. This will help the client and the therapist identify unproductive thoughts in Stan and guide him in replacing each of them with productive and positive thoughts. For example, 'if am jobless, I should not go out' can be replaced with 'I need to go out and network with friends so that I get a job' or 'I am a failure because I did not provide financially to my father's funeral yet am the first born' can be replaced

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Supporting Organization Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Supporting Organization Strategies - Essay Example The strategies enhance the organization's competitive advantage in the market place. (Pfeffer, 1998).By implementing these strategies the companies can be sure of maintaining a good status in the market and improving in their business in spite of any odds. It is difficult for any organization to enhance or improve the human resources without the help of any specific strategy. The organizations must employ certain unique strategies that will help in the development as well as growth of the company. Human resource management comprises of various functions like recruiting the employees, maintaining the details pertaining to them and conducting training sessions. The other activities include rating of employee's performance, conducting appraisals and resolving their issues. Pfeffer's strategies have become so popular that even a smaller organization implements it to expand their business. The strategies include employment security, selectivity in recruiting and selection, self-managed teams and decentralization, high compensation, extensive training and skill development. The other strategies are information sharing and reduced status distinctions and barriers. The selectivity in recruiting and selection is important for an organization. If the employees are not selected properly it will lead to severe consequences. This can turn the situation of the organization upside down. If the company is going through a bad phase, the selection of a correct candidate can certainly improve the prevailing situation. Instead if right candidate is not chosen, the situation will get even worse and this will eventually affect the improvement of the organization. The selection of a potential candidate can change the fate of the organization. The capable employees can make a considerable difference on the present scenario of the organization. The selection of a candidate can make or break the way to company's reputation.(Pfeffer, 1998). Human resource department is responsible for the recruitment of the candidates. They have the responsibility of selecting the candidates who possess all the abilities. The selection procedure must be decided by the human resource organization. It must be effective enough to select a candidate with the right attitude and talent. The selection procedure must include different types of Recruitment is not an easy task and the organization must be prepared well in advance. The necessary arrangements must be made to select the candidates. The recruitment panel must consist of people who are well equipped and they must have the capability to select the right candidate. This strategy must be implemented in an organization to improve the company's situation. Selecting a right candidate will improve the profits of the company since the employees will work efficiently. This will also help in the improvement of the quality of the company's products. Dynamic workers will contribute to the betterment of the company and this in turn will reflect in the major work of the organization. The human resource department has to select the candidate according to the position. It depends on the requirements of the organizatio

Monday, January 27, 2020

The Four Main Sources Of Islamic Law Religion Essay

The Four Main Sources Of Islamic Law Religion Essay Abstract: This chapter deals with the four main sources of Islamic Law. Its goal is to introduce some of the prevailing concepts of Islamic thought and to analyse the different disciplines and opinions that shape the practice of Islam today. It is known that there are four Muslim schools of thoughts. However, each differs in their interpretations . The primary sources, accepted universally by all Muslims, are the Quran and the Sunnah. It is however, in fields that they are silent that the secondary sources are to be used, thus the Ijma (consensus of opinion of scholars) and the Qiyas(laws derived through analogical deduction -analogy). Introduction: In the eighth century, a difference in legal approach arose amongst Islamic thinkers in two prevailing schools of thought. The traditionalists (ahl al-hadith) relied solely on the Quran and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet as the only valid sources for jurisprudence, emanating from Medina. The non traditional approach (ahl al-ray) relied on the free use of reasoning and opinion in the absence of reliable ahadith, heralded in iraq . The difference in technique is because in Medina, there was an anundance of reliable ahadith that scholars could depend from, since the prophet lived the 1o yrs of his life there. On the other hand, the non traditionalist jurists had to depend on analogy as the sources were not as reliable in Iraq. The jurists had therefore to decide which of the Prophets actions and decisions were religiously binding and which were a mere function of his personal discretion. In general, the traditionalists eventuallt lent legislative significance to much of the Prophets decisions, where as the other school of thoughts tended to distinguish between the various roles that the Prophet played in his life. The sources of Islamic law was thus,Quran, Sunnah , ijma and qiya Throughout history these sources wereused in descendind order by muslim jurists in determining the legality of an issue. If the legality was not based on an explicit command in the quran, then the jurists would turn to the explicit commands in the hadith. Quran is the religious text of Islam. It is believed to be the word of God transmitted through the Prophet Muhammad.  [1]  The Sunnah is considered to be the religious actions, quotations and approvals of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, which was narrated through his Companions and Shia Imams. The Quran and the Sunnah state clearly the course of action that a Muslim should follow. Quran The Arabic word Quran is derived from the root qaraa, which means to read or to recite. Quran is the holy book of Islam. Muslims  believe that the Quran is the final revelation of Allah, that is, the literal word of God, revealed to the Prophet  Muhammad. The Quran was written and preserved during the life of Muhammad, and compiled soon after his death. The Quran consists of  114  surahs  (chapters) with over 6,000  ayat,(verses). However the exact number of ayat is disputed due to different methods of counting. The Quran is the first and most important source of Islamic law. The scripture specifies the moral, philosophical, social, political and  economic  basis on which a society should be constructed. Muslim jurists agree that the Quran in its entirety is not a legal code; rather its purpose is to lay down a way of life which regulates mans relationship with others and God.  The verses of the Quran are categorized into three fields: science of speculative theology, ethical principles and rules of human conduct. The third category is directly concerned with Islamic legal matters which contains about five hundred verses or one thirteenth of it. The task of interpreting the Quran has led to various opinions and judgments. The interpretations of the verses by Muhammads companions for Sunnis and  Imams  for Shias are considered the most authentic, since they knew why, where and on what occasion each verse was revealed. The sharia, foundations of Islamic law, are derived from verses from the Quran. The bulk of Quranic matter consists mainly of broad, general moral directives as to what the aims and aspirations of Muslims should be, the ought of the Islamic religious ethic. The most important external aid used in interpreting the meanings of the Quran is the  Hadith   the collection of Islamic traditions from which the details of early Islamic history are derived. The Shariah, foundatiosn of Islamic law, are derived from verses from the Quran. The Quran consists mainly of broad general moral directives that provide for the aims and objectives of a muslim. Essentially(#) because the directives are so broad, interpretation takes on a significant role, there have been so many different interpretations of the quran, claims widely read and revered Islamic thinker Abdul Aala Maududi that there is hardly to be found any command with an agreed interpretation. Nevertheless, the authenticity of quran has never been questioned by any muslim scholar or institution. Textual Criticism and the Quran Higher biblical criticism revolutionized Judaism and Christianity by calling into question long-held assumptions about the origins of the Bible; some ambitious textual critics are attempting to do the same for the Quran. They claim that parts of the Quran are based on stories of the  Tanakh  (Hebrew Bible), the  New Testament  of the  Christian  Bible, and other non-canonical Christian works; differences of the biblical to the Quranic versions suggest to some scholars that these stories were not taken directly from written texts but seem rather to have been part of the oral traditions of the Arab peninsula at Muhammads time. To Muslims, however, this explanation is topsy-turvy: the non-canonical Jewish and Christian stories are simply further textual corruptions of an otherwise nearly lost divine original reflected in the Quran. These critics also seek to find evidence of text evolution and transcription disputes in early Islam; the results have been meager, but some have expressed hopes that recent discoveries of Quran Graveyards in Yemen will throw more light on the subject. Belief in the Qurans direct, uncorrupted divine origin is fundamental to Islam; this of course entails believing that the Quran has neither errors nor inconsistencies. (This is the book in which there is no doubt, a guide to the believers: Surat  al-Baqarah, verse 2.) However, it is well-known that certain chronologically later verses supersede earlier ones the banning of wine, for instance, was accomplished gradually rather than immediately and certain scholars have argued that some verses which discourage certain practices (for instance,polygamy) without banning them altogether should be understood as part of a similar process, though others argue that this contradicts This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen for you Islam as your religion (5.3). As to the basic message of the Quran, there are three fundamental points, repeated and restated throughout the work. They are as follows: this present physical life is a test; the afterlife is certain; our actions in this present life have consequences in the next. 1.2 Sunnah The Sunnah is the second source of Islamic law. Sunnah is an Arabic word which means Method. It was applied by the Prophet Muhammad as a legal term to represent what he said, did and agreed to. Its authority is derived from the text of the Quran. The Quran says, For you the life of the Prophet is a model of behaviour  (Al-Quran 33:21) Many of books of traditions were compiled by the companions of the Prophet. These were later on incorporated in the great collections of Hadith (i.e. traditions) of Bukhari, Muslim etc. The collectors of the traditions adopted a very scientific system in collection the Traditions. They did not record any tradition except with the chain of narrators. Every tradition gives the names of the last narrator of the tradition from whom he learnt the tradition and so on back to the Prophet or Companion of the Prophet. The Sunnah which is established through reliable narrators is fully dependable as legal element. The sunna of the Prophet generally means tradition and includes the following three categories: sayings of the Prophet; his deeds; and his silent or tacit approval of certain acts which he had knowledge of. The record of the Prophets words and deeds were recorded in narrative ahadith, reports that were transmitted before finally being compiled in authoritative collections decades after the death of the Prophet. Muhammad brought the Quranic teachings ti life through his interpretation and implementation. The Quran and Sunnah are complementary. The meaning of the Quran is general in nature, the Sunnah makes it specific and particular. The Sunnah explains the instructions of the Quran. The Quranic injunction is sometimes implicit, the Sunnah makes it explicit by providing essential ingredients and details. Ijma and Qiyas derive their value or authority from the Quran and the Sunnah. Therefore, they are called dependent sources. 1.3 Ijma The third source of law, Ijma or the consensus of scholars signifies the importance of delegated legislation to the Muslim community. The Muslim society requires such a rule making power to meet the practical problems for the implementation of Islamic Shariah (Islamic Law). Ijma has been technically defined as the consensus of the jurists of a certain period over a religious matter. Ijma is considered a sufficient evidence for action because the Prophet if Islam said, Muslim will never agree on a wrong matter. As such the agreement of the scholars of Islam on any religious matter is a source of law in Islam (Ref: Principles of Islamic Jurispredence by M. Hashim Kamali). Ijma or unanimous agreement Ijma constitutes the unanimous agreement of a group of jurists of a particular age on a specific issue and constitutes the fourth and final source of law in Shafiis methodology. If questions arose about a Quranic interpretation or an issue where no there no guidance from either the Quran or sunna, jurists applied their own reasoning (ijtihad) to come to an interpretation. Through time, one interpretation would be accepted by more and more doctors of law. Looking back in time at the evolved consensus of the scholars, it could be concluded that an ijma of scholars had been reached on this issue. 8 Unfortunately, unanimous agreement rarely happened among intellectual elite and since there were always diverse opinions, one could always find several scholars of the day who concurred on an issue. Also, the definition of ijma and which ijma would be considered valid was a point of contention, because ijma is not simply the consensus of all past jurists. Besides, using the concept of ijma po ses the problem of having to look to the past to solve the problems of the future, and scholars of yesteryear didnt wrestle the same issues that are challenging Muslims today. 1.4 Qiyas or analogy qiyas, is the fourth important source of Islamic law, is reasoning by analogy. In order to apply qiyas to similar cases, the reason or cause of the Islamic rule must be clear. For example, because the Quran clearly explains the reason that consumption of alcohol is prohibited (because it makes the user lose control of his actions), an analogy can be drawn to drugs which induce the same affect. But because the Quran does not specifically state the reason why pork is prohibited, Muslims cannot justify banning another meat product with a similar cholesterol level, etc. The use of analogies greatly varied among scholars; for example, Spains Ibn Hazm (10th century) who was formidable proponent of the Zahiri school, rejected the use of qiyas, whereas Imam Abu Hanifa of the Hanafi school (8th century) applied them extensively. Qiyas or analogy is resorted to in respect of problems about which there is no specific provision in the Quran or the Sunnah of the Prophet. In such issues, the scholars have derived law through analogical deduction on the basis of the provisions of the Quran and the Sunnah on some similar situation. The scholars have developed detailed principles of analogical deductions or Qiyas in the books of Islamic jurisprudence. Qiyas is a kind of Ijtihad. The Prophet has permitted Ijtihad which literally means to exert. Technically it means to exert with a view to form an independent judgement on a legal issue. Ijtihad is the Islamic method of facing the new situations and problems in the light of the general principles of the book of Allah SWT), the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet or the Sunnah. Apart from Qiyas, there are other methods of Ijtihad such as Istihsan (that is the juristic preference from different interpretations) and Masalaha (that is moral consideration). In addition to the above sources, the practices of the Khulafa-e-Rashidun (the first four rulers of Islam), the decisions of the judges and the customs of the people are also considered sources of Islamic law in matters which are not spelled out in the Quran and the Sunnah. Conclusion: However the traditions of the prophet have been questioned for their authenticity. It was also debated as to what extent were the traditions religiously imperative(look for word). The use of analogies was greatly debated. Also there was little unanimous agreement among the Islamic scholars about the inexplicit issues.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Consumption and Mass Media Worksheet Essay

1. Respond to all questions with academic paragraphs of at least 50 words. State your point of view and explain it thoroughly. †¢ What is conspicuous consumption? How does conspicuous consumption influence purchasing decisions? Think about a high-priced item that you have bought or would like to buy. To what extent does conspicuous consumption affect your decision? Conspicuous consumption is the feeling of buying unnecessary expensive products and services to show off and impress the wealth of the individual. Conspicuous consumption is a tool used to get people to by name brand items and lavish items to flaunt. Conspicuous consumption influences the purchasing decisions of individuals by creating the idea that high expense items are harder to afford and the majority of people want to buy the high expense items but they cannot afford the item. Once the high expense items are purchased the individual has the power to flaunt the item to others or show off the item to people who do not have the same item or cannot afford the same item. When I purchase an item I do not let conspicuous consumption affect my d ecision to an extent. I like to purchase items that are not as popular by other individuals, particular women. When I buy clothes I like to have unique clothes that other women would not purchase because of the uniqueness. †¢ What is conspicuous leisure? Examples of conspicuous leisure are abundant on television. In what ways are leisure activities informed by social and economic class? Provide an example of a popular leisure activity. What assumptions can you make about the participants of the activity? †¢ Conspicuous leisure is the visible leisure with the intent of displaying social status and wealth of the individual. A prime example of conspicuous leisure is the television show â€Å"The Housewives of Orange County†. These women showcase the expensive items and lavish lives they live. The majority of the women do not work and they are stay at home wives and a few have their own business and make their own money. One example of a leisure activity is when the women and their families go to the Hamptons for the summer time. These individuals own a home or rent a home to spend the summer in the Hamptons. Many of these families fly to the Hamptons in their own private jet. The leisure activity explained above showcases the social and economic class of these individuals. The individuals that partake in the television show are high class citizens. The participants participating in the activity can afford to have own more than one home and these individuals can afford to spend the entire summer time in the Hamptons. These individuals use a private jet to fly to the Hampton destination. People in the high class society individuals can only afford to fly on a private jet. †¢ Define the term globalization. What effect does globalization have on popular culture? Provide an example of how American popular culture has influenced other countries, or how the United States has imported popular culture from other countries. Globalization is defined as extending, sharing, and developing of culture, communications, technology, material items, and food to other or all parts of the world. Popular culture has the power to globalize throughout the entire world. Popular culture is shared among many individuals from different parts of the world. Popular culture allows the sharing of objects and ideas. People can share information or images and people can develop their own ideas based on the shared information or images, such as fashion and clothes. Fashion is a major trend that is not only popular here in the U.S. but overseas too. Many fashion companies like Forever 21 are taking popular fashion pieces and trends from overseas, such as Paris and France and designing these trends for the American people. Forever 21 is taking European style and transcending the style to the American people at a affordable price. More and more designer stores, such as Chanel and Dior are becoming increasingly popular here in the United States. These designers are branching their company here to the U.S. because these designers are seeing how popular fashion has become and the brand name is what the American people want and will pay to have. 2. Choose an advertisement. Analyze the ad for its media message. Answer the following questions based on that ad. †¢ Who created the media message? Why? Kohl’s Department Store created the ad. The company is advertising to their customers to spend money on their products and receive a coupon for spending a certain amount of money. For every $50 dollars spent, customers get a $10 coupon. †¢ Who is the intended audience? What do you know about the intended audience—age, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic background, hobbies, profession? The intended audience is geared to people who buy items in bulk and spends lots of money. This ad is intended to get people to spend as much money as they can because for every $50 dollars spend they will receive a $10 dollar coupon. If a customer spends $153 the customer will get a $30 dollar coupon that can be spent on anything in the store. The advertisement is not intended at any age or race but the ad is intended for women. Kohl’s products and the shopping experience the company focuses on is â€Å"SHE†. â€Å"She† is the working women, housewife that is on the go. â€Å"She† wants to find affordable clothing at a great price and can get in and out of the store without any inconsistencies. The ad does focus on those who can afford the products sold at Kohl’s and who is able to spend the amount advertised to receive a coupon. †¢ What type of lifestyle is presented? Is it realistic? Why or why not? The lifestyle presented is unrealistic. I work for Kohl’s and this type of advertisement is a great career move for the company but an addiction for customers. The Kohl’s cash is a mental defect that toys with customers. Customers go crazy for Kohl’s cash. The majority of customers are spending so much money to get a $10 coupon. People do not realize they have to spend money in order to get a coupon. This is unrealistic because people are spending their money on things they do not need or they are over spending. This is how people become addicted to shopping and addicted to shopping at Kohl’s. I see the same person either everyday or every other day in the store each week. The ad presents a materialistic lifestyle because people are willing to by materialistic items and spend money in order to gain from it. †¢ What is the text, written or in another form, of the message? What do you see and hear: written or spoken words, photos, drawings, logos, design, music, sounds, and so on? The coupon resembles a dollar bill. The coupon is the color green like money and had white writing on the coupon. The coupon has big bold letters stating â€Å"Kohl’s Cash† with the dates below the name of the coupon, which states when the coupon starts and when the coupon ends. †¢ What is the hidden text? What is unstated or implied in the message? The coupon states for every $50 dollars spent the customer will receive a $10 dollar coupon. The text that is hidden in the coupon does not accurately specify that if the customer goes over the $50 dollar limit the coupon will increase by $10 dollars. The unstated message for the coupon includes the tax. The customer must actually spend $53 dollars in order to receive the coupon because the coupon is only redeemable before taxes not after taxe s. †¢ What values are expressed? The coupon expresses high quality vales that Kohl’s gives to their customers. In today’s economy people cannot afford many things the way they used to including clothing. The prices of clothing, has increased and people want to save money. The coupon gives customers the expression of saving and receiving. Customers can receiving a free coupon for spending a certain amount in the store. The customer can apply the coupon to anything in the store. The customer is not limited to certain purchases when using the coupon but Kohl’s is putting their customers first and establishing a YES WE CAN environment for the customers. †¢ What groups of people are empowered in this message? What groups are disempowered? How so? Everyone willing to spend $50 dollars or more are empowered by this message. The message alone gives empowerment to customers because customers are benefiting from their spending. Those who are disempowered are the people who do not spend or do not want to spend the amount required to receive the coupon. Each individual spending the amount feels empowerment because they are able to buy anything in the store to receive the coupon and the individual can buy anything in the store when they can use the coupon. The coupon does not limit to certain items in the store. Those who do not spend the amount requested do not have an advantage where as those who do spend the requested amount will gain an advantage. †¢ What part of the story is not being told? How and where could you get more information about the untold stories? Kohl’s Cash ® will be applied prior to percent-off total purchase discounts. Kohl’s Cash ® Coupon may not be redeemed (1) on purchases of Kohl’s Cares ® cause merchandise or other charitable items; (2) to reduce customer’s Kohl’s Charge or any third party charge account balance; (3) as price adjustments on prior purchases; or (4) to purchase Gift Cards. If merchandise purchased earning a Kohl’s Cash ® Coupon is subsequently returned or price adjusted, the value of the Kohl’s Cash ® Coupon previously earned and/or the amount of the merchandise refund will be reduced to reflect any unearned value. Return value of merchandise purchased with a Kohl’s Cash ® Coupon may be subject to adjustment (Kohl’s.com) †¢ Can these messages affect how you think and feel? Why or why not? Provide examples. Yes these messages can affect how the customer feels. When the coupon is used and a percentage is used together the percentage will change due to the Kohl’s cash. I had a customer that did the math on her own prior to checking out. Once I rung the customer up she noticed that the percentage was less then what she calculated. I had to explain to her that when she used a percentage and the Kohl’s cash the percentage will decrease because of the Kohl’s cash. The customer was very upset and not satisfied. She said â€Å"Kohl’s cash is not useful to spend, because I am being cheated†. The customer was unaware of the information stated in the back. The coupon states what will happen if a percentage and the cash is used together. †¢ Can these messages affect your behavior? Why or why not? Provide examples. The message does affect my behavior because the coupon itself becomes a hassle when trying to explain to customers the rules of the coupons. Some customers accept the terms and they are okay with it once I explain and show them, but I have had customers fight me to the end and be very cruel to me because the customer failed to read the rules of how to spend the coupon. For the most part, the coupon is nice but overall customers do not realize they have to spend money to get a coupon. The coupon is not a reward for being a loyal customer or for having a Kohl’s credit card. The customer has to spend a certain amount in order to receive the coupon but they do not have to spend a certain amount to cash the coupon in. †¢ Can the messages affect the cultural values in society in general? Why or why not? Provide examples.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Okonkwo: a Life Story of a Tragic Hero

Esha Moore Honors English II- Hyatt May 23, 2012 Things Fall Apart Final Literally Analysis Essay Okonkwo: A Life Story of a Tragic Hero What makes up a hero in today’s society? Young children today imagine a hero with superpowers and a cape, but little do they know heroes come in many different forms. In his novel, Things Fall Apart, the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe illustrates the making of modern hero. Even though Okonkwo does not act like a regular hero, he still has a noble structure, makes mistakes throughout life, and experiences a great downfall.Elijah Wood once said â€Å"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. † Growing up, the Umuofia clan did not consider Okonkwo noble because of his impecunious father, Unoka: â€Å"Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and he owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite substantial amount† (Achebe 5). When Unoka died ten years ag o he has taken no title at all and left Okonkwo in debt. Greatly ashamed of his father, he based many of his beliefs about how life should be lived by doing the exact opposite of his father.Okonkwo’s nobility all begins about twenty years ago, when his clan announces him the best wrestler. This all happened when Amalinze the Cat- seven year champion- who fights Okonkwo; however, Okonkwo throws the Cat and won the match. Meanwhile, a war was going on in Mbaino, so in the nine villages of Umuofia, all the men must be present tomorrow morning. Umuofia needed a young man and a virgin: â€Å"He was a man of action, a man of war† (10). Okonkwo leaves for Mbaino knowing not to suspect upon his arrival. Okonkwo suffers various hamartia or mistakes that he truly regrets.Okonkwo starts out being his town hero; however, his biggest flaw was having uncontrollable anger, which eventually leads to his violent behavior. Okonkwo violent behavior starts before the Week of Peace. He com es home expecting Ojiungo and dinner she usually prepares for him. Okonkwo realizes her lack of absence; he then starts freaking out because she went to her friend’s house to plait her hair. Since she was not at the house, he came back to the hut and waits upon her arrival, which lead to Ojiungo beating.Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess comes to the hut to discuss Okonkwo’s actions and how he could ruin the clan. While getting ready for The Feast of the New Yam, he makes another mistake by shooting at Ekwefi-his second wife- she mocks her husband's poor hunting ability, making a remark about guns that never shoot: â€Å"He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children† (39). Okonkwo tends not to think and he acts impulsively and inconsiderately.Okonkwo tries instilling his personal views on how to live as a man to Nwoye and according to Okonkwo, showing emotions are signs of acting womanly. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves pronounce Ikemefuna should be killed, and the oldest member of the clan informs Okonkwo of this. Okonkwo has an obsessive fear of anything that can be associated with the image of his weak, lazy and gentle father whom he always considered a failure. As an ambitious man who became a successful, respectable warrior of the clan, he wants to take part in the killing of the boy; however, the older clan member forbids him to do so.Forced to march in a procession, Ikemefuna stricken by one of the clan members, when he tries to seek Okonkwo's protection, Okonkwo so as not appear weak performs: â€Å"Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down† (61). His irascible behavior leads to besmirching his reputation. Ikemefuna's death generates a series of events, which lead to Okonkwo's downfall. Okonkwo's son, Nwoye and Ikemefuna have grown close like brothers and even Okonkwo has grown fond of Ikemefuna.While attending Ezeudu’s funeral another disaster befalls him: â€Å"Okonkwo’s gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy’s heart† (124). The death of Ezeudu's son went against the Earth Goddess, so he was forced into exile for seven years to his mother's village. During the time of exile, white missionaries appeared on their bicycles. The Oracle warns the clan about death and destruction in the future. They ask for land to build a church and they are given the Evil Forest, with hope the cursed land will lead to their demise; instead, their church flourishes and gains more and more converts each day.When Okonkwo finds out about Nwoye’s conversion, he beats him so severely. Upset by his father’s action Nwoye runs away and never comes back; he joins the missionaries as a teacher. He sees himself and his fathers’ crowding around their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days, and his children the while prayin g to the white man's god. After seven years he returns to his village, hoping to regain his position of importance, but much has changed with the invasion.Resistance to the white men was agreed upon because of fear of killing their own clansman. While the meeting was taking place, a group of messengers from the white men arrive and orders them to stop: â€Å"In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete. The messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was useless. Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body† (204). From this action, Okonkwo knows that his clan will not go to war. He has lost his respect and authority he once had from his family and his Umuofia clan.He then commits suicide by hanging himself. Okonkwo starts out being his town hero but later sees himself in situations he regrets. Okonkwo’s inflexibility to accept causes his downfall because he became so obsessed with being everything his dad was not. This causes Ok onkwo’s to no longer care whether things were wrong or right. Although Okonkwo demonstrations fear and anger actions much consideration should be taken to make sure his personal flaws in society do not interfere with one’s judgment.Work Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Anchor Books: New York: 1994.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Pigment Definition and Chemistry

A pigment is a substance that appears a certain color because it selectively absorbs wavelength of light. While many materials possess this property, pigments with practical applications are stable at normal temperatures and have a high tinting strength so only a small amount is needed to see the color when its used on objects or mixed with a carrier. Pigments that either fade or else blacken over time or with extended exposure to light are called fugitive pigments. Historic and Prehistoric Pigments The earliest pigments came from natural sources, such as charcoal and ground minerals. Paleolithic and Neolithic cave paintings indicate carbon black, red ochre (iron oxide, Fe2O3), and yellow ochre (hydrated iron oxide, Fe2O3 ·H2O) were known to prehistoric man. Synthetic pigments came into use as early as B.C.E. 2000. White lead was made by mixing lead and vinegar in the presence of carbon dioxide. Egyptian blue (calcium copper silicate) came from glass colored using malachite or another copper ore. As more and more pigments were developed, it became impossible to keep track of their composition. In the 20th century, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed standards for characteristics and testing of pigments. The Colour Index International (CII) is a published standard index that identifies each pigment according to its chemical composition. Over 27,000 pigments are indexed in the CII schema. Dye and Luminescence A pigment is a substance that is either dry or else insoluble in its liquid carrier. A pigment in liquid forms a suspension. In contrast, a dye is either a liquid colorant or else dissolves in a liquid to form a solution. Sometimes a soluble dye may be precipitated into a metal salt pigment. A pigment made from a dye in this manner is called a lake pigment (e.g., aluminum lake, indigo lake). Both pigments and dyes absorb light to appear a certain color. In contrast, luminescence is a process by which a material emits light. examples of luminescence include phosphorescence, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, and bioluminescence. Pigment Definition in the Life Sciences In biology, the term pigment is defined somewhat differently, where a pigment refers to any colored molecule found in a cell, regardless of whether or not it is soluble. So, although hemoglobin, chlorophyll, melanin, and bilirubin (as examples) dont fit the narrow definition of pigment in science, they are biological pigments. In animal and plant cells, structural color also occurs. An example may be seen in butterfly wings or peacock feathers. Pigments are the same color no matter how they are viewed, while structural color depends on the viewing angle. While pigments are colored by selective absorption, structural color results from selective reflection. How Pigments Work Pigments selectively absorb wavelengths of light. When white light strikes a pigment molecule, there are different processes that can lead to absorption. Conjugated systems of double bonds  absorb light in some organic pigments. Inorganic pigments may absorb light by electron transfer. For example, vermilion absorbs light, transferring an electron from the sulfur anion (S2-) to a metal cation (Hg2). The charge-transfer complexes remove most colors of white light, reflecting or scattering back the remainder to appear as a certain color. Pigments absorb or subtract wavelengths and do not add to them like luminescent materials do. The spectrum of the incident light affects the appearance of a pigment. So, for example, a pigment wont appear quite the same color under sunlight as it would under fluorescent lighting because a different range of wavelengths are left to be reflected or scattered. When the color of a pigment is represented, the lab light color used to take the measurement must be stated. Usually this is 6500 K (D65), which corresponds to the color temperature of sunlight. The hue, saturation, and other properties of a pigment depend on other compounds that accompany it in products, such as binders or fillers. For example, if you purchase a color of paint, it will appear different depending on the formulation of the mixture. A pigment will look different depending on whether its final surface is glossy, matte, etc. The toxicity and stability of a pigment are also affected by other chemicals in a pigment suspension. This is of concern for tattoo inks and their carriers, among other applications. Many pigments are highly toxic in their own right (e.g., lead white, chrome green, molybdate orange, antimony white). List of Significant Pigments Pigments may be classified according to whether they are organic or inorganic. Inorganic pigments may or may not be metal-based. Here is a list of some key pigments: Metallic Pigments Cadmium pigments:  cadmium red, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, cadmium green, cadmium sulfoselenideChromium pigments:  chrome yellow, viridian (chrome green)Cobalt pigments:  cobalt blue, cobalt violet, cerulean blue,  aureolin  (cobalt yellow)Copper pigments:  azurite, Egyptian blue, malachite, Paris green, Han purple, Han blue,  verdigris, phthalocyanine green G, phthalocyanine blue BNIron oxide pigments:  red ochre, Venetian red, Prussian blue, sanguine, caput mortuum, oxide redLead pigments:  red lead, lead white,  cremnitz  white, Naples yellow, lead-tin yellowManganese pigment:  manganese violetMercury pigment:  vermillionTitanium pigments:  titanium white, titanium black, titanium yellow, titanium beigeZinc pigments:  zinc white, zinc ferrite Other Inorganic Pigments Carbon pigments:  carbon black, ivory blackClay  earths  (iron oxides)Ultramarine pigments (lapis lazuli):  ultramarine, ultramarine green Organic Pigments Biological pigments:  alizarin, alizarin crimson, gamboge, cochineal red, rose madder, indigo, Indian yellow, Tyrian purpleNon-biological organic pigments:  quinacridone, magenta,  diarylide  yellow, phthalo blue, phthalo green, red 170