Risk Aversion and Question

Question 3 (5 points) Suppose your dear old Grandfather approaches you for investment advice. He knows of your great training in finance and statistics and gives the following instructions: â€Å"Obviously, I want to maximize my returns, but since my life is now quite boring, I also enjoy a good thrill. My first priority is to pick the security with the highest return. After that, pick me the most volatile investment so I can enjoy the thrills of holding risk. Suppose there are three securities (X, Y, and Z) to choose from next year, the economy will be in an expansion, normal, or recession state with probabilities 0. 0, 0. 20, and 0. 40 respectively. The returns (%) on the securities in these states are as follows: Security X {expansion = +13, normal = +9, recession = +7}; Security Y,{+1 5,+1 5,+2}; Security Z {+17,+10,+2. 5}. Which investment best fits your grandfather's needs? Your Answer Correct. Once you see the calculations, his preferences determine the obvious choice. Securi ty X. An exposure to how your choices depend on your risk preferences. Question 4 (10 points) The more idiosyncratic risk in the return of a security, the larger the risk premium investors will demand.Your Answer True False. 10. 00 Correct. You understand risk-aversion and the implied diversification by investors. 10. 00 / 10. 00 Fundamentals of risk and diversification. Question 5 (10 points) We often want to find investments that perform well when other parts of our portfolio are struggling. When considering stocks to add to the portfolio, those with a correlation closer to zero with our existing portfolio will most effectively help us diversify. Your Answer Correct. You understand relationships and their critical role in diversification. True.Again, understanding relationships and diversification. Question 6 (10 points) As a CEO you wish to maximize the productivity of your workers. You are thinking about providing your employees with smartness so they can be readily available to clients and increase sales. However, you are also concerned that your employees are Just as likely to download APS that will distract them from their work, leading them to play games and update their social networking sites rather than focus on the Job of pleasing clients. To test this you randomly select 6 employees for an experiment.You provide 3 with the new smart phone and the other 3 use their existing technology. The following chart shows their changes in sales. Based on this small sample, what is the correlation between smartened and increase in sales? [Hint: It may help to use the spreadsheet function COERCE to calculate the correlation] (Enter the answer with no more nor less than two decimal places, and leave off the % sign. For example, if your answer is 13. 97% you should enter it as 13. 97 NOT 0. 14 nor 14) {Anthony, Smartened: Yes; change in sales 120; Kirk,Smartened No; Change in Sales 60; Michael, Smartened No; Change in Sales 150; Scarlet. , Smartened Yes; Change i n Sales 130; Pete, Smartened Yes; Change in Sales 40; Angela, Smartened No; Change in Sales 60. } Answer for Question 6 You entered: Your Answer 8. 03 Correct. You know how to calculate/measure relationships. Calculation of correlation; important to finance and Just about anything else. Question 7 (10 points) Investors generally do not like to bear risk. Because of this, the price of an otherwise identical government bond relative to a corporate bond will be Your The same. Lower. Higher. Correct.You will be willing to pay less for something that you dislike relative to the alternative. Total Simple pricing of risk-aversion. Question 8 (1 5 points) Suppose your client is risk-averse but can invest in only one of the three securities, X, Y, or Z, in an uncertain world characterized as follows. Next year the economy will be in an expansion, normal, or recession state with probabilities 0. 40, 0. 40, and 0. 20, respectively. The returns (%) on the three securities in these states are as follows: Security X {expansion = +14, normal = +10, recession = +7}; Security Y {+1 1, 9, +8}; Security Z {+13, +8, +7. }. Which security can you rule out, that is, you will not advise your client to invest in it? Your Answer Inherent 0. 00 Calculate the basic statistics for all three securities and evaluate them based on risk- return trade-offs. Security Z. None of the securities. 0. 00/ 15. 00 This is a real life situation that requires you to think through a bit. Question 9 (15 points) You have Just taken over as a fund manager at a brokerage firm. Your assistant, Thomas, is briefing you on the current portfolio and states â€Å"We have too such of our portfolio in Alpha.We should probably move some of those funds into Gamma so we can achieve better diversification. † Is he right? [Hint: Feel free to use spreadsheet statistical functions. ] Here is the data on all three stocks. Assume, for convenience, that all three securities do not pay dividends. Alpha, Current Price 4 0; Current Weight 80%; Next Year's Price: Expansion 48, Normal 44, Recession 36; Beta, Current Price 27. 50; Current Weight 20%; Next Year's Price: Expansion 27. 50, Normal 26, Recession 25; Gamma, Current Price 15; Current Weight 0%; Next Year's Price: Expansion 16. 0, Normal 19. 50, Recession 12. Your Answer It depends. Yes. 15. 00 Correct. You know how to calculate relationships and to make informed portfolio management decisions. No. 15. 00/ 15. 00 A good question for figuring out portfolio composition given that we are into diversification. Question 10 (1 5 points) Suppose there are two mortgage bankers. Banker 1 has two $1,000,000 mortgages to sell. The borrowers live on opposite sides of the country and face an independent probability of default of 5%, with the banker able to salvage 40% of the Ortega value in case of default.Banker 2 also has two $1,000,000 mortgages to sell, but Banker g's borrowers live on the same street, have the same Job security and income. Put differe ntly, the fates and thus solvency of Banker g's borrowers move in lock step. They have a probability of defaulting of 5%, with the banker able to salvage 40% of the mortgage value in case of default. Both Bankers plan to sell their respective mortgages as a bundle in a mortgage-backed security (MBPS) (I. E. , as a portfolio). Which of the following is correct? Your Answer Banker 1 ‘s MBPS has a higher expected return and more risk.Banker g's MBPS has a higher expected return and more risk. Banker 1 ‘s MBPS has more risk, but the expected returns on both MBPS are the same. Banker Xi's MBPS has a higher expected return and less risk. Banker g's MBPS has more risk, but the expected returns on both MBPS are the same. Correct. You can calculate, and base decisions on, risk-return trade-offs. Banker g's MBPS has a higher expected return and less risk. A topical issue given the current crisis; requires you to both calculate and make decisions based on risk-return trade-offs.

St.Michael

â€Å"St. Michael the Archangel† For my saint, I picked Saint Michael the Archangel. I picked St. Michael because Michael is my middle name. Saint Michael is a name meaning â€Å"He who is like God† in Hebrew. He is said to be placed over all the angels. He is the Patron Saint of soldiers, security guards, and sick people. Saint Michael is one of the seven archangels, him being one of the three mention in the Bible. He is the leader of the army of God during the Lucifer upraising.It is said by Pope Gregory the Great â€Å"Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power. † Saint Michael is one of the principal angels. In Latin, the word â€Å"Angel† means messenger, such as a Jeanne-Nicole Saint-Laurent, who earned her doctorate in religious studies from Brown University in June 2009, has been named assistant professor of religiou s studies at Saint Michael's College, starting this fall semester. Dr. Saint-Laurent was a junior fellow at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library in Washington, D. C. , for the 2008-2009 academic year where she researched and completed her dissertation, titled â€Å"Apostolic Memories: Religious Differentiation and the Construction of Orthodoxy in Syriac Missionary Literature. † A specialist in Early Christianity: Christianity in Late Antiquity and Syriac Studies, Dr. Saint-Laurent will be teaching Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxies and Early Christianity this semester, and probably Christianity, Past and Present next semester.Dr. Saint-Laurent earned her bachelor's degree summa cum laude in religious studies and classics from Gonzaga University of Spokane, Wash. , in 2000. She earned a master's degree in early Christian studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2002 with a thesis titled â€Å"The Vita Tradition of Ephrem the Syrian: a Hagiographical and Theological Analysis. â⠂¬  She was a Fulbright Scholar in Austria in 2002-2003, studying at the Theologische Facultat of Salzburg University on a project titled â€Å"Christianity in Late-Antique Austria: A Social History. † I see myself as starting a new journey that I have always wanted to take-it's been my dream really,† Dr. Saint-Laurent said about coming to a college like Saint Michael's. â€Å"I feel very grateful to be here, especially for the all the nice people. † She said her goal was to teach in a small Catholic college where she could work closely with students on texts from the ancient Christian world, and continue her passion for research.â€Å"I hope to instill in my students appreciation of Eastern Mediterranean Christian cultures and history, a greater knowledge of the early Christian church,† she said. I heard about Saint Michael's from my father, a French Canadian, who grew up in the Northeast, and always spoke of this special little college in Vermont,† she said. Dr. Saint-Laurent has published a coauthored essay, â€Å"Tools of the Trade: Instrumenta Studiorum,† in the book Oxford Handbook of Early Christianity (2008), and a solo-authored essay, â€Å"Early Christianity in Late Antique Austria: Eugippius and Severinus,† in Studia Patristica (2006). She has published a book review in Religious Studies Review, and six reports on conferences in Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies (four reports), E-Gorgias, and Syriac Dialogue.She has presented papers at 18 conferences or scholarly meetings, many for the Patristic Society or Syriac conferences. She has also given numerous talks to community groups, church gatherings and retreats on such topics as Early Christianity, Female Mystics in the Medieval Church, History of Monasticism, Saints throughout the Ages, Martyrs and Monastics, Women in the Early Syriac Church, and more. Dr. Saint-Laurent, a resident of Winooski, has run four marathons and loves running. She is also a cl assical singer and hopes to get involved with a choral group.Saint Michael's College is a distinctive Catholic liberal arts college that provides an education with a social conscience, producing graduates with the intellectual tools they need to lead a successful, purposeful life that will contribute to peace and justice in our world. Founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, Saint Michael's is identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nation's Best 371 Colleges, ranking as 9th among institutions in Quality of Life and 2nd in Town-Gown Relations.It is one of only 270 colleges and universities nationwide, and one of only 20 Catholic colleges, with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter on campus. Saint Michael's has 1,900 undergraduate students, some 250 graduate students and 100 international students. In recent years Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, National Science Foundation and other grants, and its professors have been named Vermont Professor of the Year in four of the last nine years.The college is currently listed as one of the nation's Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2009 U. S. News & World Report rankings. Saint Michael's is located just outside of Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top college towns.  ©2011 Saint Michael's College One Winooski Park, Colchester, Vermont, USA 05439 | 802. 654. 2000 | Privacy Policy Web site Powered by ActiveCampustm Software by Datatel

Brachiation Project

Postcolonial Indices: Brachia Index Monterey Peninsula College Keywords: Hummer, skeletal Indices, locomotion, arboreal, fabrication, Biped, Quadruped, Percolator Abstract I measured multiple Hummer and radiuses from multiple mammals Including H. S. Sapiens In order to correlate a hypothesis on how they move using their Individual brachia indexes. Generally speaking fabrication is associated with the major alterations in the arm, thorax and hand. The more powerful the arm movements, more robust and â€Å"stronger† the stabilizing musculature must be.Materials and Methods The materials I used included a lightweight field esoteric board, and a pair of spreading calipers. I measured the length of the radius from the Proximal Epiphysis to the Distal Epiphysis and recorded the length in millimeters. I then did the same for the hummers. I then found the fabrication Index by using the equation (R) Radius length / (H) Hummers length X 100 or R/H(OHIO). I did this for the Sea Otter (An hydride ultra), Human (H. S.It Is one of the many Indexes we use to see how the animal moves. For example we can assume that all of the mammals on the list above besides the human and otter, are in some form swinging from trees because of the higher index. We can take the assumptions to another level. If the arms are longer then the legs then we can assume the animal will be a knuckle walking and fist walking. If the legs are longer than the arm then we can assume bipedal. If the legs are longer then the arms then we can assume leaping and arboreal.Discussion I found that there are several types of fabricators. The gibbons and the signings primarily use arm swinging as a way of getting around and are said to be the best kinds of fabricators. Although the fabricator Indexes Imply that humans and chimpanzees are not the best on the charts they are certainly capable, but they do to practice this as their primary source of locomotion. We as humans are the only ones dedicated to only usi ng bipedal does not mean that the other primates are to upright almost human like. Non-human primates use bipedal locomotion when carrying food.One hypothesis for human bipedal is that it evolved as a result of successful survival from carrying food to share with group members. The Chimpanzees forearm is relatively long in comparison to the humans. The major differences between chimpanzees and humans limbs are contrasts in relative proportion. Some anthropologists believe that fabrication could be a premeditation o bipedal. It was astonishing to me that humans brachia index is so similar to an otters but the otter was in no way designed to swing from a tree.It is also baffling to understand that a ring-tailed lemur, highest on the brachia scale, is closer on this index to an otter then too human. But we have the ability to climb and swing if we so desire. So it poses the question as to why the brachia index of the otter says it could swing from trees but the otter has yet to evolve this desire to do so. So what we can conclude from the brachia index is that the environment plays a significant role in evolving the ways in which animals move. Reference Elaine N. Evident, W. C.

Week 4 summary and one discussion question Essay

Week 4 summary and one discussion question - Essay Example Actual authority is where there is a legal relationship with consent and the agent and principal are solely involved. Express and implied authorities are the two heads of actual authority. Express authority is construed by words (if contract written) or by evidence (if oral). Implied authority can be found by looking at actions of agent. Apparent authority is where principal represents to other persons that he has delegated authority to the agent. Theoretically the affirmative action is a way through which equal opportunities to minorities and females is provided . It has been seen that there has been a change in attitude towards hiring of the minority and females, it has still been seen that high positions have still been dominated by the majority, this can be seen by looking at the statistics of CEOs of company, Heads of Defence and Judiciary. In today’s world there is a strong need for further affirmative action to be taken so as to allow equal opportunities to minorities and to females, so as to prosper. Finally pre-employment testing has been allowed to the extent of their relevance to the job. Thus any tests which are found to be discriminatory to persons with disabilities or any other sort have been termed unlawful. Thus it has been said that extreme precaution must be taken if such tests are to be carried out, by looking at scientific validity, relevance to job and respect to right of privacy. The trend of allowing employees to leave the company when they desire has been seen in the professional world. The ethics has been that if such employees are not allowed to leave they will possibly convince others to leave the company as well. However, this is not the only reason for allowing the employee to leave. Other reasons include benefits which accrue might come the company’s way if the employee leaves. The next issue which will now be considered is that of the re-hiring of the employee. It has been said that a

FAMILY BUSINESS CASE STUDY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

FAMILY BUSINESS CASE STUDY - Assignment Example The bottom line of the company is affected due to this limited view whereby the competitive abilities and the quality of human capital suffers (Kothari and Tobwala). Essentially the issue with women as leaders in a male dominated society has a lot to do with the stereotypical roles that they are supposed to confine themselves in. This can lead to females having credibility issues and not being able to effectively lead the company. This can negatively impact the company and even cause failure. It effects multiple levels in the company which includes employees and even clients who do not think a woman can run a stable company. This could affect revenue and make it difficult for the company to survive in such an industry. The current scenario between the two sisters in the company can be a cause of sibling rivalry that can outgrow generations. The conflict is mainly between the two sisters. The eldest one belongs to a creative profession and has little know how about the actual business itself whereas the youngest sibling has been working in the business so far and does have the much needed experience. However, the eldest wishes to take charge of the company after her father from the virtue of her being the eldest. If the eldest is given the major chunk of responsibility, this can cause a great source of resentment for the younger sister since she will feel cheated out of her rightful place. Despite her obvious greater experience, if she is not given the position, she will feel that she has been treated unjustly and she might direct her anger towards the older sibling or refuse to work in the company at all. And the impact doesn’t end there, since the eldest daughter does not know much about t he business, her management and business skills are in questions. She will take a lot of time to adjust to the business and a longer time to run it in an effective manner. Most companies cannot handle this impact or adjustment period and the company might run

Solid Mechanics Assignment Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Solid Mechanics Assignment - Lab Report Example After the model was imported to ALGOR FEA the log was checked to ensure that there were no import errors or missing geometry. Then a fixed boundary condition was applied to the internal surface of the larger cylinder after which a normal force of 500 N was applied to the internal surface of the smaller cylinder. The application of a fixed boundary condition to one area of the model meant that the model was constrained from moving within that axis of rotation or translation. The model could either rotate on the longitudinal axis of the constrained cylinder or it could translate in either three directions (x, y and z). Implementing a fixed boundary condition indicates that the model is unable to move in any direction at all. Generally a fixed boundary condition can be considered analogous to a welded piece that is unable to move but can bend or flex under applied force. Though this may not simulate the actual conditions one on one (where the crank actually rotates though it does not tr anslate at all), but it does provide a satisfactory numerical investigation model. Furthermore the application of a normal force to the other cylinder’s internal surface indicates the application of normal average force when the crank will be in use. This application of force assumes that the pin attached to the smaller cylinder of the crank will be able to transmit the applied force at the pedal completely and uniformly all across the surface of the cylinder and that this force will be normal to the provided surface. However practically this is not going to be possible as the pin will bear some kind of clearance to ensure free rotation and the clearance in turn will mean that the pin will contact the cylinder non-uniformly. Moreover the pin’s contact will produce a normal force at areas with complete contact while they will produce slightly skewed forces where the cylinder only partially contacts the subject surface. This method of applying a force to the model is non ideal yet the approximation is tolerable enough because what will take place inside the cylinder is similar. Any differences in force will not be very significant so using normal force’s application is a viable technique. The model was given a material of Steel 4130 which was present in the software’s library. After this the model was meshed using default settings. After meshing the model was simulated for calculating the developed stress and for the FOS (factor of safety) calculations. The results for the first run are shown below. The mesh was redefined for element size (which was lowered) although the mesh was still based on a 4 point Jacobian approach. The newly meshed model was then simulated in order to see the effects of a changed mesh size on the numerical investigation. The results from the re-meshed run are shown below. The results above clearly indicate that the stress distribution levels and the FOS distribution did not change at all indicating that the pr evious mesh control was providing a mesh independent solution. Therefore for the purpose of this analysis and optimisation the previous mesh controls were re-implemented as a mesh independent solution had been achieved. The results above clearly show that the lowest FOS is very high which indicates a rather overdesigned scenario. The current situation dictates that the FOS ought to be around 3:1 for a viable design. In order to achieve a more suitable FOS the design was optimised for a

Charlotte Beer's CEO Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide Essay - 21

Charlotte Beer's CEO Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Ogilvy Mather (O&M) is one of the worldwide leading adverting agencies. When Beer took over as the new CEO and Chairman, the organization was on the verge of collapsing. Notably, the organization, there was a breakdown in communication channels, and the overall performance of the organization had significantly deteriorated. According to Beer, the efforts to restructure the organization back to its initial position were messy, painful and chaotic. While introducing the change within the management tier, the "Brand Stewardship" faced enormous challenges. Beer stewardship refers to the new agency philosophy that was intended to build brands within the organization. Sadly, the philosophy was poorly understood due to various communication shortcomings. Firstly, when Beer took over there was great excitement and a time to introduce change was ripe. In her first attempt at launching stewardship, she concentrated much on involving customers and investors. While th is could be a strategy to regain back the lost customers and invite new investors to the organization, the need to create a motivated staff should have formed the primary responsibility. In addition, customers had opted out of the organization due to inconsistency and fall in products quality. Matha & Boehm state that the standards of service are proportional to the staff capability and motivation. Certainly, the focus should have been a direct two-way communication with the employees. In addition, Beer greatest undoing was an uncertainty of who to seek help from in charting a new organization discourse. In fact, the press and companies focused on her solo effort in bringing up Beer Stewardship. Lack of teamwork and shared decision-making contributed to the slow development of the change program. In any organizational change strategy, the stakeholders must be involved in needs identification.

What Most Influenced You To apply To George Washington University Essay

What Most Influenced You To apply To George Washington University - Essay Example shington University and the only possible knowledge and information that I have received about the business degree and the alma mater is through some friends and acquaintances. These friends have been studying at the George Washington University and thus their help and assistance is something that I am banking upon in a large manner. More than their advice and facilitation is the input that I have received from the school counselor who has gone out of his way at establishing a touch point between George Washington University and me and hence there do not seem to be any ambiguities related with the George Washington University as such. Their suggestions with regards to the George Washington University have only raised my confidence endlessly and have thus helped me to visualize my own personality within the realms of the university more than anything else. Furthermore I have never visited Washington DC but with the passage of time I have been visiting some states within United States of America which has given me the insight and understanding of the American culture, traditional values and norms. The reason as to why I want to pursue my educational career within USA is because I feel it is a new place that I have not visited as such and more so because USA has so much more to offer, not only to a student but also to a foreigner. It has so many opportunities available within it which only excites me as a student nonetheless. Another reason that can be accredited to the US region is that I have got a lot of friends over there and with them being on my side my educational journey would surely improve and be a blessed one at the same time. Another one of the significant aspects which comes under the US factor is that the George Washington University is a good and reputable institution, one on which I can bank my future upon and think of my life progressing along in a fine manner when I look back down the lane say about 10 years from today. As I would be away from my

Tort issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tort issues - Essay Example The other issue is Joe; John’s father. He becomes concerned and follows the ambulance. He drives at 60 miles per hour instead of 35 mile per hour and as a result gets arrested by the police In the first case, John has a duty to obey the speed limits of 10 miles per hour but he refused because of his own negligence. If at all he could have obeyed the traffic law then he could have not find himself in trouble with either Paul or police officers. John’s negligence to Paul may be charged as follows; Loss of income, impact at 25 mile per hour, general damage, loss of camera, unconsciousness and hospitals bills. In this issue there are two standard cares to be discussed under tort of negligence; the first one is the standard care of a reasonable man and the statute care. If the speed limit applies to a pedal bike then John is guilty. But the use of the word â€Å"unable† is an indication that John did not cause the accident knowingly but unintentionally and he was trying to control the situation. John could argue that, he did not see the speed limit sign because it was covered with tree branches. And therefore, it is the constitutional right for the government to provide, and make visible, speed limit road signs as appropriate. Also in Paul’s case, John can rightfully claim that Paul’s act of crossing the road where it is unmarked for pedestrians’ constitutes negligence in his part. Therefore, it is possible for Paul to lose the case under contributory negligence law. In order to avoid such contradiction, the court developed an exception called last clear chance .This rule allows Paul to recover first even though it was his fault. Investigation is conducted to prove who had the last clear chance and if it is found that John had the last clear chance then the ruling is unjust and confusing. The other tort in this scenario is the conversion of the camera. Henry is

The Quintessence of Human Nature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Quintessence of Human Nature - Essay Example Some people deemed that humans are basically evil. Hobbes believed that the state of nature was so horrible, and people in their natural state so degenerate, that any form of government was preferable to it (119). Thus, Hobbes opposed any revolution in any kind, not because he supposes that kings govern by absolute right but because he believed that authoritarian governments were mandatory to keep human beings’ worst impulses under control (119). Hobbes highlighted in his theory that the natural state of humanity is war, by which he means not necessarily armed conflict but a struggle in which each person’s interests are intrinsically opposed to everyone else’s (119). In such a state, Hobbes described human nature as solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short (119). Hobbes stressed that men have no pleasure, but on the contrary, a great deal of misery, in keeping company where there is no power to over-awe them all (121). Likewise, he supposes that every man thinks that his companion should value him at the same degree he sets upon himself, and upon all signs of hatred, or undervaluing, fundamentally endeavors, as far as he dares which amid them have no common power to keep them tranquil and that power though is great enough for men to destroy each other, to extort a superior value from his critics, by harm to others for instance (121). Hobbes also cited the three principal factors of quarrel that the nature of man possesses and these are rivalry, diffidence and the drive for grandeur (121). The sense of rivalry drives men to invade for gain; they also employ the use of violence to make themselves the masters of other men’s persons, wives, children and cattle. On the contrary, the principle of diffidence highlights that men dominate others for their safety; hence, they utilize hostility to defend themselves. Conversely, the drive for grandeur motivates a man to overcome another for reputation; mainly, they use aggression for trifles suc h as a word, a smile, a diverse opinion and any other sign of undervalue, either direct in their persons, or by reflection in their kindred, their friends, their nation, their profession or their name (Hobbes 121). Just like Hobbes, the Chinese philosopher Hsun believes that man’s nature is basically evil (100). Hsun saw Confucian rites as indispensable because they restrained and redirected humanity’s innate disposition towards evil (100). Moreover, he believed that strict discipline could make human beings good despite their natural inclinations. He also argued that human beings must be forced into rectitude by strict laws and harsh penalties for disobedience (100). Man’s nature is evil and the goodness is the result of conscious activity; the nature of man is such that he is born with a fondness for profit and if he indulges this fondness, it will lead man into squabbling and conflict, and all sense of courtesy and humility will vanish (Hsun 100-101). He is b orn with feelings of resentment and abhorrence, and if he indulges these, they will direct him into violence and crime, and all sense of fidelity and good faith will disappear (Hsun 101). Man is born with the desires of the eyes and the ears, with a fondness for beautiful sights and sounds; if he indulges these, they will lead him into license and depravity, and all ritual principles and correct forms

Neuropsychological Impact Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Neuropsychological Impact - Essay Example On the other hand, impulses were sent by waves on unmyelinated fibers. If a single peripheral fiber has been damaged, the myelins sheath gives off a track that is responsible for its regeneration. The myelin sheath does not always attain the perfect regeneration for each fiber. Sometimes, the correct muscles fibers are nowhere to be found so some motor neurons of the peripheral nervous system die. When the myelin layer is damaged, the individual may be prone to a higher level of dysfunctionality. Unmyelinated fibers and myelinated axons of the mammalian central nervous system do not regenerate. The reason for this is that the CNS of mammals in enclosed in the spinal column, which has a lesser deal of trauma rather than the peripheral nervous system. Research shows that optic nerve fibers in postnatal rats can regroup. But its regeneration often depends on two conditions namely: axonal die-back has to be prevented with appropriate neurotrophic factors and neurite growth inhibitory com ponents have to be inactivated. This led the scientists to further understand the regeneration of nerve fibers in mammalian CNS. For invertebrates, propagation of action potentials in unmyelinated axons is sufficient to run fast. To accelerate the speed, the axon should be a little larger. Increasing the speed of action potentials and increasing the diameter of the axon is not possible in vertebrates. Angeli et al.' s (2010) mentions that Squid giant axons spread up to 1 mm in diameter and have a great speed. Mammalian nerves have about 400 fibers in the same cross-sectional area as the squid giant axon. So if every nerve fiber is size of the squid giant axon, every nerve in mammals would be about 2 cm in diameter. Thus a different... This paper stresses that MS affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, in communication with each other. Nerve cells communicate by electrical signals called action potentials on long-fiber axons that are wrapped in an insulating substance called myelin. In MS, the immune system attacks and damages the myelin. In case of loss of myelin, axons can no longer effectively carry signals. Name comes from multiple sclerosis, scarring and in particular in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord, which consists mainly of myelin. Although much is known about the procedures involved in the disease, the cause remains unknown. Theories include genetics or infections. Many environmental risk factors have been found. Almost all of the neurological symptoms may occur with the disease and often progresses to physical and cognitive disabilities. MS takes several forms, with new symptoms occurring either accumulates in discrete attacks or slowly over time. This report makes a conclusion that there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment attempted return of function after an attack, preventing new attacks and prevent disability. MS drugs can have side effects or bad to be tolerated and many patients pursue alternative treatments, despite the lack of support for scientific studies. The prognosis is difficult to predict, depending on the subtype of disease, disease characteristics of each patient; the first symptoms and the degree of disability the person experiences as time advances, the life expectancy of patients 5-10 years younger with respect to the affected population.

A key choice writers Essay Example for Free

A key choice writers Essay A key choice writers make is how they name or refer to characters in their stories. Write about the significance of the choices writers have made in naming or referring to their characters in the three texts you have studies. In the three texts I have studies the writers all name and refer to their characters in different ways. For example in The Road the characters are not given names and in Small Island all the characters are named and referred to in detail. Firstly mc McCarthy doesn’t give his characters names throughout his narrative he only refers to them as, the man, â€Å"papa† and the boy which shows they are father and son and that is all the detail McCarthy reveals. The significance of this is to create the effect that this dystopia they live in could happen to absolutely anyone. McCarthy has also done this to create a statement that names are no longer important since the world has ended and all civilisations have been wiped out. The only important this is surviving. McCarthy mentions the boy was born into the post apocalypse s so maybe the boy hasn’t even been given a name through the fact he doesn’t need one since there is no civilisation and there is a nil chance of survival, therefore there is no one to give your name to. McCarthy could also be revealing that maybe the parents didn’t think it was important in naming the boy because they wouldn’t survive. In Small Island Levy names her characters very stereotypically through their personalities. Queenies christened name is Victoria â€Å"I was christened victoria† like the late queen, but forever been called Queenie, which is what her mother wanted to christen her as but the vicar wouldn’t allow it as it was a common name so he suggested Victoria. Levy chose this name as it reflects Queenies character very well as she is very well mannered and â€Å"posh† like the queen. Gilberts name reveals that he is half white through the fact that Gilbert Joseph is a common white man name. Levy also reveals that his father is white by referring his to as â€Å"light skinned†. Hortense’s name reveals that she is not English however it also reveals that she is wealthy and higher class through the fact that Hortense is a French name which automatically stereotypically reveals Hortense’s character is going to be higher class which she is. Levy also refers to her characters in racist ways by addressing and describing the black characters as â€Å"darkies† and â€Å"niggers† the significance of this is to show when the novel was set â€Å"1948† when being racist was common and most English people were, in which Levy has took advantage of to make her narrative realistic. Finally in Rossetti’s poetry, Rossetti refers to men in different negative ways. For example in Goblin Market Rossetti refers men to a Goblins she has done this to reveal her emotions of men implying that they are all vial and evil. However, the word â€Å"Goblin† could also mean gold which could be implying that all men are rich which is true because in the 19th century it was only men who had money, so she could be implying that men are rare and rich. However, still men in Rossetti’s poems are shown to be negative which is interoperating that wealth isn’t all that good. Rossetti also gives her characters common names such as â€Å"Maude Clare†, â€Å"Laura† and â€Å"Lizzie† the significance of this is to make her poems still mysterious and open for interpretations which she does in all of her poems. Rossetti also refers to her characters through social class and skin tone she does this as it was a main importance in the 19th century. To compare all the writers I have studies both Levy and Rossetti refer and name their characters through social class in some way. However, McCarthy doesn’t mention social class or interpratate it in any way. He has done this because there is no longer any social class unlike in when Small Island and Rossetti’s when it was highly mentioned with the time they are set in. In conclusion in all the texts I have studied the writers all texts I have studied the writers all name their characters in different ways for different significance and to create different effects to their narratives. But also to affect the reader differently for example McCarthy doesn’t give names to his characters to give the narrative lack of information as it could be happen to anyone but also to give the reader no emotional connection to the novel.

Legal and Ethical Principles in Physician Assisted Suicide

Legal and Ethical Principles in Physician Assisted Suicide Methodology: Literature review. Introduction What follows is essentially a consideration of the current law on physician assisted suicide (PAS), with an appraisal of the arguments advanced supporting the practices and those condemning them. The compelling reasons for allowing a choice of death to those who seek it are appraised early on, as are the objections commonly found across many jurisdictions. Notably, scrutiny is given to the Oregon experience of the past decade, where it will be seen that many of the worries relating to abuse of the vulnerable have apparently not materialised. The Human Rights arguments submitted in the Pretty cases are analysed, as are the implications consequential with the sporadic smokescreen of double effect. The incompetent and the juvenile patient are regrettably not covered for reasons of not spreading the discussion too thin. Later, discussion is given to the question of where should the law go? If a balance can be found between the necessary respect for life and the proper regard of an individual’s wishes for their own body, perhaps some of the emotion surrounding end of life decisions can be removed in favour of logic and compassion. First, it is prudent to review the facts of the leading case, which is Pretty. The facts of Pretty have been well documented through the extensive media coverage which the cases received. Mrs Pretty suffered from motor neurone disease, which is a degenerative illness causing progressive muscle weakness, leading inevitably to death. Mrs Pretty became paralysed from the neck down and her speech was substantially affected. Her intellect was, however, unimpaired and she communicated her wish to commit suicide so as to avoid the distress of the final stages of the disease. Lord Hope of Craighead said of this that it: â€Å"†¦might be thought to indicate a lack of judgement on her part. But I believe that the decision which she has taken in such extreme circumstances ought not to be criticised†¦ I would accept her assurance that she has reached the decision to end her life of her own free will and that she has not been subject to outside pressure of any kind†[1]. As Mrs Pretty’s condition was such that she could not commit suicide unaided, she wanted her husband to help her. He was willing to give it but sought an assurance from the DPP that he would not be prosecuted under s.2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 for aiding and abetting her suicide. The pressure group Liberty asked the DPP for such this assurance which he declined to grant and thus Mrs Pretty applied for judicial review of that refusal. The Queens Bench Divisional Court upheld the Directors decision on grounds that the Director did not hold the power to grant what was sought. The House of Lords affirmed that analysis; Lord Hobhouse of Woodborough commenting that: â€Å"the undertaking which the appellant requested was not one which the Director as the holder of a statutory office had the authority or power to give and it would have been improper for him to give the undertaking whatever the merits of the appellants solicitors’ arguments†[2]. This conclusion was reached on the basis of the legal framework which applies to the DPP and not on the basis of the Suicide Act. Suicide was once a felony in England, â€Å"that offended against both God and the King’s interest in the life of his citizens†[3]. In modern times society has recognised that the suicidal person should not be condemned as a criminal, but to be regarded with compassion. While the natural instinct is usually to keep living, where a suicidal motive is born of a desire to be freed from incurable or intolerable illness and pain it is not difficult to understand what has brought a person to arrive at that decision. It has been observed that : ‘In the 19th and 20th centuries two very important changes occurred in our society: the development of the liberal attitude, where the individual wants the right to self determination in his life; and the development of medical science, which has made it possible to prolong life considerably. [However], for some patients a consequence of this is that suffering is prolonged and medical science has brought them far beyond the point where they normally would have died’[4]. McCall-Smith has described how personal autonomy is a concept that has been eagerly grasped, and understood to mean that ‘the individual was entitled to make all the relevant choices himself and to reject, if necessary, the vision of others for his personal life’[5]. Clearly, in the present context of individuals wishing assistance to their suicide this features strongly, and there is to be found running through it a general theme asserting the right of the claimant to determine their own fate. Suicide has not been a crime in England for almost fifty years[6], but the Act that brought this about also placed on a statutory footing the offence of aiding and abetting a suicide. Mrs Pretty did not disclose the proposed method by which her husband was to help her die, but instead died of natural causes in 2002. Likely it shall never be known if she was really to be an active participant in the event, or if she wished her husband to perform a mercy killing, for which there is no separate offence and, as euthanasia, would have constituted her murder; her consent being irrelevant to the offence. Irrespective of the merits of the judgment in Pretty, it is notable that the Lord’s foray into the sphere of mercy killing and assisted suicide was a purely academic exercise. Lord Hobhouse pointed out that the DPP did not have the capacity to grant the request that Mrs Pretty sought. Further to this, Brown has explained that: ‘if what a litigant seeks cannot competently be done in terms of primary legislation, it does not matter how compelling an argument is presented in support of the proposition that it should be done. The litigant cannot succeed and consideration beyond that basic question of competence is necessary only in order to avoid a further hearing in the event of the decision on competence being overturned on appeal’[7]. Despite the unorthodox, and it must be noted – hopeless, request that was made in Pretty, the case has immediate relevance to the euthanasia and assisted suicide debate as a whole. Had Mrs Pretty been successful, it is entirely foreseeable that others in a similar situation to her would begin to request that their doctor be permitted to either despatch them personally, or at least assist in the doing so. Pro-choice groups and leading academic writers maintain that, to be ethical, any activity constituting PAS and especially euthanasia must be at the voluntary instigation of the patient[8], and limited as to whom it is available to. The request: ‘must come from one who is either subject to intolerable pain or disability or who is suffering from an illness which is diagnosed as terminal†¦[9] Glover adds that: ‘if assisted suicide is possible, it is always to be preferred to voluntary euthanasia. If we know that a person himself knowingly took a lethal pill, there is by comparison with euthanasia little ambiguity about the nature of his decision’[10]. In saying that, Glover illustrated the vast ethical divide between allowing a person the autonomy to determine their own future by their own actions, and the dubious position of a secondary party taking that action for them. A United States Court of Appeal, although later overturned by the US Supreme Court, nevertheless had a valid point on dignity in its summing up of a 1996 case; â€Å"when patients are no longer able to pursue liberty or happiness and do not wish to pursue life, the states interest in forcing them to remain alive is less compelling†¦. A mentally competent, terminally ill adult, having lived nearly the full measure of his life, has a strong liberty interest in choosing a dignified and humane death rather than being reduced to a child like state of helplessness, diapered, sedated, incompetent†¦ How a person dies not only determines the nature of the final period of his existence, but in many cases, the enduring memories held by those who love him†[11]. Speaking of what is currently legal in every common law jurisdiction, that of the refusal of treatment, McCall-Smith observed how it is not difficult to conceive of a situation in which a person is suffering so much that notes that death would be a welcome release, and ‘may in those circumstances be morally acceptable’[12]. The problem for the pro choice advocate is that there is an ethical gap between what is presently illegal, that of assisting a person to a dignified end, and what can be done which is merely limited to the provision of pain relief or respecting a person’s wishes to refuse treatment, but for some the gap is ethically indefensible: ‘advocates of death with dignity are not fully satisfied with the options currently available to dying patients each option usually entails some period of lingering in a highly deliberated or helpless state and, therefore, offends the dignity these advocates are intent on preserving’[13]. Opponents to the introduction of PAS offer a number of frequently cited issues to support their cause, and primary among these is that assisting a person to die is the very opposite role to that which the physician ought to pursue, and that the Hippocratic Oath states I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, not will I make a suggestion to this effect. To this Weir quickly retorts essentially that a doctor’s duties to the patient are more than merely the job of healing, and where healing cannot be achieved then the relief of suffering is still an important duty, even if ‘for that small minority of patients [this means] help in bringing about death’[14]. A further objection runs along the lines that the doctor-patient relationship would lose the trust it currently enjoys if patients thought their doctor might suggest something more sinister than a curing or caring course of action. Perhaps on this count some factions could be accused of scare-mongering. The vehement opponents of any doctor involvement with death include a significant proportion of religious groups prone to stirring up emotive feelings with words such as ‘killing’, ‘executing’, ‘culling’. With suggestions of death squads visiting hospices to kill people who are no longer an asset to society, it is not hard to imagine they would have people believe a society that permitted euthanasia might eventually degenerate to that seen in the science fiction movie Logan’s Run[15], where people are routinely executed upon reaching a certain age. The only conclusion one can reach is that either people are confused and failing to recognis e the essential voluntary aspect of PAS; or that they are deliberately fuzzing the boundaries to present physician assisted suicide as if it were physician initiated murder. Ethics and Life The sanctity of life is a phrase wielded like a sword by opponents of PAS, as if to justify an impenetrable veto on the practice. This in contrast to respect for life, which is unquestionably something everybody ought to have, but is quite a separate principle and not one in conflict with responsible and regulated PAS. Sanctity of life is a religious value. To this: ‘the British Humanist Association suggested that sanctity of life was not a principle on which legal structures should be based, since it depended on a religious outlook which not everyone shared. They suggested that it is particularly hurtful to require someone who does not believe in God or afterlife to suffer intolerable pain or indignity in deference to a God or afterlife he does not accept’[16]. However, perhaps the most frequently cited reason against the legalisation of PAS[17] is the contention that it’s practice would have a disproportionate impact on the vulnerable[18]. Annas has claimed that such groups would encompass ‘the poor, the elderly, women and minorities’[19], a common theme across the writing on this subject. Lindsay identifies two prerequisites that he claims must apply before the disparate impact argument can carry any weight. ‘First, one must believe that it is proper to deny assisted suicide to those competent persons who truly voluntarily choose it, including persons who are members of vulnerable the groups in question, in order to protect others against being pressured into assisted suicide. Second, one must believe that it somehow makes a difference for the wisdom of legalising assisted suicide whether proportionally more blacks than whites, more women than men, more elderly than young and so on would likely be pressured into choosing assisted suicide’[20]. Lindsay suggests a solution to this quandary: ‘what if we imposed stringent quotas on assisted suicide so that no woman would be eligible for assisted suicide unless and until the proportion of men seeking assisted suicide from that particular hospital/hospice in that year was equivalent to the percentage of women seeking assisted suicide? Similar restrictions could be imposed for other so-called vulnerable groups: blacks, the elderly, the disabled, the poor. Quotas would eliminate any disparate impact and, therefore, appear to provide the solution to those concerned about equalization of risk’[21]. Of course, it would be farcical to seriously consider a quota system, but by poking fun at the argument in this way Lindsay exposes its underlying flaw; that it would be preposterous to permit a practice of PAS that would allow anyone to come under pressure into using it. Lindsey suggests that the disparate impact argument is either a smoke screen for the sanctity-of-life ‘family of arguments against assisted suicide’[22] and Glover is at best sceptical of the concept of abuse of the vulnerable, asking ‘is there any evidence of such pressure in a country where voluntary euthanasia is not illegal?’[23]. It is of great significance that in the US State of Oregon, alone in its introduction of a Death with Dignity Act, there has been no rush to take advantage of it. In its first year, 1998, 23 people requested it and of these 15 actually used it[24]. Under the Death with Dignity Act the patient seeking PAS must: Be terminally ill with less than six months to live[25] Not be labouring under depression or other mental illness[26] Make ‘an oral request and a written request, and reiterate the oral request to his or her attending physician no less than fifteen days after making the initial oral request’[27] Convince two physicians that s/he is sincere, acting voluntarily and not on a whim[28] The lead researcher in a study of PAS in Oregon found that educational level and social status bore no effect in determining who sought help in dying, but what did motivate those who chose this route was very different to that the opponents of assisted suicide would have us believe. The two most recurring reasons were concern about loss of autonomy and loss of control over bodily functions. These factors featured most strongly among those patients who had lead an independent life[29]. By the close of 2000, with three years worth of records, the results in Oregon were positive, and that the predicted abuse spectacularly failed to manifest itself was conspicuous. Robinson cites the statistics for 2000 as being that 27 individuals ended their life using PAS and the average use per head of population in that time ‘remained at six to nine per 10,000 deaths†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢[30]. Significantly, a provision in the Oregon legislation[31] criminalising the alteration or forging of a request for PAS, or interfering with a patient’s rescindment of it, appears to have never yet been invoked. Abuse To request that a doctors assist one to die is not normally a decision a person would take lightly, and that there are doctors who would take advantage of any provisions that might be introduced cannot be denied. While Dr Shipman was certainly exceptional in his lust for killing, he is not alone in being suspected to abuse his position and resources. Oregon has been successful, but no system for regulating PAS can be thought of as foolproof, and for some, any risk of abuse at all is adequate reason to reject the entire proposal[32]. However, this is not an attitude that is mirrored in other areas of law. There are an immeasurable number of activities sanctioned by the law that pose very great risks to the participants, a risk that is taken for far less compelling reasons than can be advanced in support of PAS; boxing and smoking being the archetypical paragons. Furthermore, a member of the Sikh religion, whilst wearing a turban, is exempt from being required to wear a crash helmet whilst riding a motorcycle[33], clearly an instance of a huge risk to the individual’s life being outweighed by the need to respect that individual’s beliefs. Arguably, it cannot only be that a second person is involved with assisting a suicide that makes it so offensive to the criminal law. A man’s peer could supply him with all the cigarettes he ever smokes without any worry of legal liability when that man dies of the resultant cancer. Suicide and smoking are both legal activities and the significant variable between the two is time. Assisted suicide usually brings about the death very quickly, whereas it will normally take many years for the smoker to perish. The irony is that PAS would not be desired by anyone facing the choice if it were not a swift exit from the unbearable existence they toil under. Widely acknowledged to be unavoidable, ‘the principle of double effect is a doctrine that distinguishes between the consequences a person intends and those that are unintended but foreseen’[34]. Williams continues that ‘in a medical context it is usually relied on when a doctor foresees that [due to the doctors action] a patient may die, although that is not his intention’[35]. The opinion of the law is stated by Ognall J in Cox, in that: â€Å"if a doctor believes that a certain course is beneficial to his patient, either therapeutically or analgesically, then even though he recognises that that course carries with it a risk to life, he is fully entitled, nonetheless, to pursue it. If in those circumstances the patient dies, nobody could possible suggest that in that situation the doctor was guilty of murder or attempted murder†¦ [but] what can never be lawful is the use of drugs with the primary purpose of hastening the moment of death†[36]. His Honour further added that â€Å"a doctors duty is to alleviate suffering for so long as the patient survives but†¦ he must never kill in order to achieve relief from suffering†[37]. It is immediately apparent that the principle of double effect allows a situation to arise whereby the doctor may directly cause death and yet not suffer any legal liability as a result. Questions of intention naturally follow, and despite the recent clarification that where an event is ‘virtual certain’[38] to occur then the jury are entitled to find that the actor intended it to do so, Ashworth implies that the jury are equally entitled not to find intention[39]. That the jury may have laboured not to find intention, one can speculate in cases such as Adams and Carr[40]. Alternatively, there also exists a unique condition that ‘doctors are not normally presumed to intend all the foreseen consequences of their actions’[41]. Williams notes that ‘there is no evidence that this presumption is applied other than in the medical context†¦ using the principle of double effect is seen to provide a justification for doctors behaviour’[42]. Williams also observes that ‘providing medication to control pain has always been a legitimate and lawful way of fulfilling [the doctors] duty – even if there is a chance of death. [but] it has been accused of being a smoke-screen and a fig-leaf for euthanasia’[43]. Such is the strength of the double effect doctrine that Wells has suggested that had Dr Cox used pain killing medication (instead of potassium chloride, for which there is no known therapeutic property in the dose administered by Dr. Cox) then he ‘would have been found not guilty if the results were the sam e, and regardless of his intent’[44]. It will be recalled that Mrs Pretty was not asking for a doctor to be involved with her death, she was asking for her husband to be granted immunity from prosecution should he assist her to die. This is no small request, and it was accepted by her counsel that, apart from the ECHR rights, she could not succeed. Mrs pretty claimed that the DPP’s decision breached the Human Rights Act 1998 and her argument rested on the provisions of the Convention at Art.3, the right not to suffer degrading and inhuman treatment, Art.2, the right to life and Art.8, the right to physical integrity and privacy. The position of the law in this country had already been tested for its impact on human rights long before Mrs Pretty would even have become ill with motor neurone disease. In 1983 the Commission considered[45] whether s.2 of the Suicide Act 1961 violated either the right to privacy at Art.8 or freedom of expression in Art.10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The outcome of that case was that â€Å"aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring suicide were excluded from the concept of privacy by virtue of their trespass on the public interest of protecting life†[46]. While Mrs Pretty argued that Article 2 of the ECHR, when read with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol 6 guaranteed her a right to choose whether or not to live, Kennedy and Grubb suggest exactly the opposite. For Kennedy and Grubb, it ‘could be argued that to permit assisting suicide (or euthanasia) infringes Article 2 regardless of the patients consent’[47]. In taking this latter stance both the Strasbourg Court and the House of Lords emphasised that the purpose of Article 2 is to protect life. Lord Steyn went further by saying that the Article â€Å"†¦provides a guarantee that no individual ‘shall be deprived of life’ by means of intentional human intervention†[48]. His Lordship did not stop there, but obliterated any doubt that may have remained by stating that â€Å"nothing in the Article or in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights can assist Mrs Pretty’s case on this Article†[49]. The Strasbourg Court made it abundantly clear that the exceptions detailed in Art.2 are exhaustive by saying: ‘its sets out the limited circumstances when deprivation of life may be justified†¦ and the first sentence of Art.2 enjoins the State not only to refrain from the intentional and unlawful taking of life but also to take appropriate steps to safeguard the lives of those within its jurisdiction†¦ This obligation extends beyond a primary duty to secure the right to life by putting in place effective criminal law provisions to deter the commission of offences against the person backed up by law enforcement machinery for the prevention, suppression and sanctioning of breaches of such provisions’[50]. The conclusion is that Art.2, said the Court, ‘cannot, without distortion of language, be interpreted as conferring the diametrically opposite right, namely a right to die’[51]. The claim by Mrs Pretty that the suffering she faced qualified as degrading treatment under Art.3 and that the Government had a positive obligation to take steps to protect her from that suffering was rejected because as has been noted, ‘the suffering of an incurable patient cannot be considered as an inhuman or degrading treatment attributable to the State’[52]. So despite an inspired attempt, this head of claim was regarded as irrelevant by the entire judiciary involved who considered that Art.3 was not engaged at all. Art.8 was the only grounds that the Strasbourg Court was prepared to accept that preventing the applicant from exercising choice to avoid indignity and distress constituted an interference with the right to respect for private life guaranteed under Article 8.1, but it found against Mrs Pretty on Article 8.2 issues. The European Court[53] adopted the position of Lord Hope on Art.8, insomuch as â€Å"the way she passes the closing moments of her life is part of the act of living and she has a right to ask that this too must be respected†[54]. Even with this concession, his Lordship held that this did not imply a positive obligation to allow assisted suicide. Art.9 was also dismissed by both courts because Mrs Pretty’s belief in the notion of assisted suicide ‘did not involve a form of manifestation of a religion or belief through worship, teaching, practice or observance’; thus there was no breach. This opinion echoes the stance of the House of Lords Select Committee of almost a decade previously when they said ‘we gave much thought to Professor Dworkin’s opinion that, for those without religious belief, the individual is best able to decide what manner of death is fitting to the life which has been lived. Ultimately, however, we do not believe that these arguments are sufficient reason to weaken society’s prohibition of intended killing’[55]. Art.14, prohibiting discrimination, was Mrs Pretty’s final line of attack but this too failed – because although suicide is no longer a crime, there is no right to commit it, as Lord Hope was at pains to distinguish[56], and as was an influential factor in the recent failure of Lord Joffee’s Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill. Irrespective of why this is maintained a complete prohibition on PAS, the current law is still an affront to many people, including many doctors. As is demonstrated at regular intervals in the courts, in practice by providing the necessary care required to terminal patients, doctors are routinely crossing into the territory of the criminal law and thereby forced to rely on the legal fiction of double effect[57]. It surely cannot be that the surreptitious circumvention of the criminal law by doctors, or the repeated occurrence of jury-equity is an acceptable long term situation; but neither is the incessant suffering of a patient who simply wishes it to be over, yet is unable to make their own way out without help. Public support for a change in the law is difficult to ascertain and opinion polls should surely not be trusted, for time and again they prove unreliable. In the UK, Mason et al comment that ‘the public can appear confused’[58]. Perhaps the (unfounded?) fear of abuse is what has driven the overwhelming majority of Americans to reject PAS, Oregon excepted. It is unfortunate, and doubtless fatal to any present attempts to implement PAS in the UK, that the Dutch have experienced poor compliance with their own regulations. Mason et al point to the widespread disregard for the legal requirements regarding euthanasia in the Netherlands[59]. They actually suggest that ‘It appears that euthanasia has been practised in many cases without the consent of the patient’[60]. If euthanasia is taking place without strict adherence to the formal regulations then ‘its exercise will inevitably become more trivial until what matters is not the grounds for wanting to die, but the want itself’[61], and suddenly we are into the territory of helping the depressed to die[62]. As noted above, what might have been considered an inconceivable next step is already being taken, where the doctor himself makes the decision and from this point there remains only one further sinister step before we find ourselves, figuratively, knocking on the door of Dr Shipman. There can be no doubt that Pretty does leave any uncertainty. Seven judges of the European Court of Human Rights, five Lords of Appeal and three judges in the Divisional Court all held without hint of dissent that the Convention does not require States to render lawful euthanasia or assisted suicide. It would be quite improper to suggest that Pretty was wrong. The European Court was not there to remedy what Liberty perceived to be a defect in the law but had a responsibility to determine the law as it is. Lord Joffee’s Bill failed, but he is presently trying again in a revised form. McCall-Smith regards this as properly a matter for ‘legislators rather than judges’[63]. However, in the absence of any parliamentary reform then the law will remain as it is, and ‘the doctor faced with a patient in extremis and asking to die will have to resort to the ‘double speak’ of purporting to relieve pain while bringing about death, making sure that the agent bringing about the death is one recognised by other doctors as a pain-reliever’[64].

International business Policy

International business Policy INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS POLICY Question: Porters note that â€Å"firms, not individual nation , compete in international market†. How does this statement help to explain some of the major challenges facing MNEs? How do the determinants of national competitive advantage help explain how companies can maintain their economic competitiveness? Answer: International business is a exchanging goods and services , conducted between individuals and businesses in multiple countries. Historically, international business activity first took the form of exporting and importing. Exporting is the selling of product ,goods or services supplied from ones own country for use in other countries . Importing is the buying of products ,goods or services made in other countries for use in ones own country. Exporting and importing activities are often divided into two groups. first, trade in goods ,that is, tangible product such as clothing, computers , and raw materials. Second, Trade in services, that is ,intangible products such as banking , travel and accounting activities http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/international-business.html International business activity can also take others forms . * Licensing * Franchising * Management contract * International business Licensing is a contractual arrangement In which a firm in one country licenses the use of its intellectual property for e.g. patents, trademark, brand name , copyrights or trade secrets to a firm in a second country in return for a royalty payment Franchising , a specialized form of licensing ,occurs when a firm in one country authorized a firm in a second country to utilize its operating system s as well as its brand name ,trademarks , and logos in return for a royalty payment. For example , McDonalds corporation franchise its fast food restaurant world wide . A Management contract is an arrangement wherein a firm is one country agrees to operate facilities or provide other management services to a firm in another countries for agreed upon fees. For example hotel industries. International business as any organization that engages in a cross-border commercial transaction with individuals ,private firms or public sector organization A firm is a commercial partnership of two or more person , especially, when unincorporated. Also the name or designation under which a company transacts business. Any business , sole proprietorship, partnership or a corporation The term multinational entrepreneurs is used to identify firms that have extensive involvement in international business. An another definition of multinational corporation is a firm that â€Å"engaged in foreign direct investment an owns and controls value-adding activities in more than one country† MNEs generally coordinate their activities from a central headquarters but may also allow their affiliates or subsidiaries in foreign markets considerable latitude in adjusting their operation to local circumstances. Some MNEs , such as accounting partnership and Lloyds of London, are not true corporation, Some writers distinguish between multinational corporations and multinational enterprises . Further , not for profit organization ,such as the IOC and the International red cross , are not true enterprises ,so the term multinational organization can be used when one wants to refer to both for not for profit-seeking organization. Because of the common use of multinational corpora tion in the business press, however , Multinational enterprises facing a major challenges , Some of them are as under: †¢ Economics and Currency conversion †¢ Legal systems or Types of system †¢ Culture †¢ Availability of resources †¢ Market withdrawal Government policy †¢ Political legal environment and Government Power In a domestic business strategy, a single country at a specified level of Economic development in a focus of the firms entrepreneurial efforts. The entire country is almost always organized as a single economic system and has the same currency. Creating a business for a multicounty are means dealing with differences in level of economic development, currency valuation government regulation and banking, venture capital and marketing system. One of the biggest problems entrepreneurs have is raising capital. The amount of private equity capital investment varies greatly by the area of the world, and the amount available is significantly less elsewhere than the united state. In addition, the countries may use different currencies, forcing at least one party to convert its currency for another. So MNEs face currency exchange problem. The legal systems may vary or even be in compatible. In different countries used there own system of business. Like many such barter system or third party ar rangement have been used to increase the amount of business activity of the former U.S.S.R. and Eastern and central European countries, as well as other countries in various stages of development and transition .The cultures may differ and the resources may vary. Culture is encompasses a wide variety of elements ,including a language, social situation, religions ,political philosophy, economic philosophy education, and manners and customs. The availability of resources ,For example, one country may be rich in natural resources, but poor in skilled labor. Also e.g. U K, U S A , AND CANADA are well developed in technologically than developing countries like Africa , India, Pakistan Still, the basic skills and knowledge needed to be successful are generally similar whether one is doing business domestically or internationally. Tax competition countries and sometimes sub national regions must compete against each other for the establishment of MNEs facilitates, and the subsequent Tax revenue- a tax is a financial charge upon an individual or legal entity by a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law, employment ,and economic activity. To compete, countries and regional political districts sometimes offer Incentives is a any financial or non-financial factor that motivate a particular course of work to MNEs such as tax breaks, pledges of government assistance or glowed infrastructure and labor standards enforcement. Foreign direct Investment Foreign direct investment made for the purpose of actively controlling property ,assets or companies located in host countries, such as factories, building, machinery, land and mines, grow up of foreign direct investment can be used as one of improvement of economic globalization. Map below show net inflow of foreign direct investment as a percentage of gros s domestic product. The big flows of foreign direct investment occurs between the industrialized countries like, western Europe and Japan, North America. But flow to non-industrialized countries are grows up sharply. Market withdrawal-government policy- Multinational enterprises having a significant impact on government policy because of its size, basically through the threat of market withdrawal, for example , in order to reduce healthcare costs, some countries have tried to force pharmaceutical companies to license their patented drugs to local competitors for a very low fee, so automatically lowering the price ,when faced with the threats multinational pharmaceutical firm have simply withdrawn from the market. Political-legal environment- the multiplicity of political and legal environments in the international market creates vastly different business problem, opening some market opportunities for entrepreneurs and eliminating others. for example , U S environmental standards have eliminated the possibility of entrepreneur establishing ventures to imports several models of Europeans cars. It also involves the price fluctuations and significant increases in oil and other energy products in the last few years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_corporation Determinants of nation competitive advantages Michael Porter tried to explain why a nation achieves international success in a particular industry and identified four attributes that promote or impede the creation of competitive advantage: Factor endowments Demand conditions Relating and supporting industries Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry Factor endowments refer to a nations position in factors of production necessary to compete in a given industry. A nations position in factors of production can lead to competitive advantage. These factors can be either basic (natural resources, climate, location) or advanced .(skilled labor, infrastructure, technological know-how) Demand conditions refer to the nature of home demand for the industrys product or service. The nature of home demand for the industrys product or service influences the development of capabilities. Sophisticated and demanding customers pressure firms to be competitive. Relating and supporting industries refer to the presence or absence of supplier industries and related industries that are internationally competitive. The presence supplier industries and related industries that are internationally competitive can spill over and contribute to other industries. Successful industries tend to be grouped in clusters in countries having world class manufacturers of semi-conductor processing equipment can lead to (and be a result of having) a competitive semi-conductor industry Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry refers to the conditions governing how companies are created, organized, and managed, and the nature of domestic rivalry The conditions in the nation governing how companies are created, organized, and managed, and the nature of domestic rivalry impacts firm competitiveness. Different management ideologies affect the development of national competitive advantage Vigorous domestic rivalry creates pressures to innovate, to improve quality, to reduce costs, and to invest in upgrading advanced features Government policy can: affect demand through product standards influence rivalry through regulation and antitrust laws impact the availability of highly educated workers and advanced transportation infrastructure. The four attributes, government policy, and chance work as a reinforcing system, complementing each other and in combination creating the conditions appropriate for competitive advantage

Insomnia Essay -- essays research papers

Insomnia comes in many forms and worries people of all ages, most commonly for just a night or two, but sometimes for weeks, months, and even years. Insomnia has many causes. Insomnia is a symptom, much like fever or stomachache. There three symptoms commonly shown by people who have insomnia: difficulty falling asleep, no problem falling asleep but difficulty staying asleep with many awakenings, and waking up too early. Difficulty sleeping at night may be related with the following daytime symptoms: sleepiness, anxiety, impaired memory, impaired concentration, and irritability.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three basic types of insomnia. The first type is called transient insomnia -- lasting for up to several nights and is usually caused by excitement or stress. Adults may sleep poorly before a key meeting at work or after a quarrel with his or her partner. Many people sleep worse than usual for the first night or two away from home, particularly if they have traveled across many time zones. Nighttime strong physical movements, the flu or other brief illnesses may disrupt sleep temporarily.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second one is situational insomnia. That is two or three weeks of poor sleep and is often developed during ongoing stress at work or at home. Situations such as job delay, divorced, serious illness or death are primary in this type of insomnia. Relief from the situation that provoked disturbed sleep or accommodation to it usually returns a pers...

The Jacksonian Era Essay -- American History, Politics

Three specific ways in which American expansion shaped the Jacksonian period was through the advancement of technology, by way of slavery, and the Indian Removal Act. Jackson used any political and economic means necessary in order to see American frontier regions expand across the nation. Jackson’s Indian Removal policy had some of the most important consequences and paved the way toward American expansion. In the beginning of the Jacksonian era, colonial Americans’ settlements had not yet extended far beyond the Atlantic seaboard, partly because bad roads and primitive technology limited their ability to expand, and because both hostile Indians and British imperial policy discouraged migration beyond Appalachian Mountains. However, all of this changed after Jackson was in office and American expansion was well underway. One of the ways in which American expansion shaped the Jacksonian period was through technology. The economic and political growth as well as American settlement can only be described in detail as a side effect of the advancement in technology. First the rising dominance of trade, commerce, and growth would not have been possible without the development of the first canals and then the railroads. (C-108) For example, Western New York had not yet been settled by white Americans. It was not until the impact of the Erie Canal that things began to change. The Erie Canal was one of the most significant and largest transportation projects of the era. Even before the project was completed, production of wheat began to take off and was shipped to eastern customers. Toll revenues on the canal grew so large that the project became self-financing. The expansion of westward trade turned New York into an urban powerhouse. ... ...The Indian Removal Act was all a part of Jackson’s expansion process, and he would stop at nothing until America made the most of its land. American expansion shaped the Jacksonian period in a number of ways which included the advancement of technology, by way of slavery, and most importantly through the Indian Removal Act. Although, very diverse, these three aspects are similar in that they all made their mark during the Jacksonian period. Technology and new developments had connected this vast expansion of land being acquired. Slavery had helped acquire these lands because of the labor needed for production. And most importantly, the Indian Removal Act had made a clear statement that American’s were taking over what was rightfully theirs. American expansion would not have been possible if not for these three ideas which greatly affected the Jacksonian period.

Life of Rizal Essay

One of the most favourite novels of Rizal was the Count of Monte Cristo which was authored by Alexander Dumas. This novel—which portrays the story of Edmond Dantes– instilled his romantic cravings. Accordingly, the life of Edmond Dantes was a story of hope, vengeance, forgiveness, and mercy. This novel was an excellent example of pure wisdom and love. The theme of its story struck Rizal’s genius mind and unique character. The novel became a favourite reading material of the hero during his teenage years. On the other hand, I can say that this story of Edmond Dantes was truly one of a kind during the times of Alexander Dumas. The story would show us the evil side of human person– selfishness and pride. In fact, the events in the story still exist during these times. One good example is the corruption and injustices happening in our country. To name a few: the case of Ampatuan Massacre which until now is still not resolved and the families of the unfortunate victims still not able to taste justice of the crime; and the unending corruption in the Philippines. Furthermore, we can also relate the theme of the story to each of us. The novel was an epic adventure of a human being’s nature and emotions. I can say that it is natural for us to feel angry to those who had wronged us. When we hold grudge to someone, we are compelled to take revenge in order to satisfy our feelings of anger. In fact, this kind of emotional adventure has already happened to me once then and I learned so much out from that experience. Surely, it had also happened to someone else on this planet and many lives are torn apart just because of the selfishness and pride of some people. However, when we surrender everything we feel to God and feeling all those emotions of anger without trying to change anything that has happened to us– we will soon be enlightened and forgiveness will step our way. When everything is already enough and we feel that many people have been affected just because of that feeling of anger and revenge, we start to forgive those who had wronged us. Accordingly, this is one of the best feelings we experience as humans because in forgiveness you see peace and love. When you forgive a person, it means that you are letting go of that grudge and finds your way to peace and happiness. Indeed, the Lord Jesus taught us to forgive those who had wronged us. Even He Himself died in the cross in order for us to be redeemed from our sins and to experience new life. That’s how huge God’s love for us. Thus, it is fine when we have to undergo feelings of anger towards a  person. It is good to feel it rather than rejecting it because when we start running from the truth that we are angry at the person– and all we just feel is revenge– we start to hurt ourselves and others. Our health will be destroyed so much that our relationships will be in much chaos. Perhaps, this novel nurtured the spirit of Rizal to fight Spanish tyranny. He was consciously aware of the atrocities and maltreatment that some Spanish officials and friars did to his fellowmen. Corruption and injustice were everywhere but most of the Filipinos were not aware of it. The powerful Spanish Friars just used the Catholic Religion in order to cover their corrupt actions. But Rizal knew that there was something wrong and he must act to fight it.

American Airlines Case Study Essay

Executive Summary With 1988 operating income of $801 million on a revenue of $8.55 billion, American Airlines, Inc. (American), principal subsidiary of Dallas/Fort Worth-based AMR Corporation, was the largest airline in the United States. At year-end 1988 American operated 468 aircraft on 2,200 flights daily to 151 destinations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, France, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, and West Germany. The objective of American Airlines revenue management effort was to maximize passenger revenues by selling the right seats to the right customers at the right prices. As the decision maker of American Airlines, I recommend introducing Upgraded Computerized Reservation System to replace current SABRE system to keep the company leader of the industry while maximizing profit. Part 2: Issues Identification Immediate Issue Low load factors for Chicago – West Coast Nature: tactic Timing: short term In 1987, in the nonstop markets, American and United competed on the basis of fares, flight schedules, and factors such as quality of service. In the connecting markets, American, United, and Continental also competed on the basis of fares and flight schedules. Once again American and United matched each  other’s fares, while Continental, with its post-Chapter 11 reorganization and low-cost structure, was the low-price provider. So, United had a superior flight schedule, and Continental cheaper fares. As for American, our load factors were down to an unacceptable level. Deep discount for New York – San Juan Nature: tactic Timing: short term New York-San Juan was American’s largest market, measured in revenue passenger miles. The market was fairly evenly divided into three categories. The first category consisted of business passengers; business travel occurred year-round. Leisure passengers made up the second category; leisure travel peaked in the summer. Passengers of Caribbean origin either coming to the United States or returning to the Caribbean to visit friends and relatives constituted the third category. Eastern periodically offered deep discounts to stimulate demand during traditional slow seasons. In September 1988 Eastern introduced a restricted round-trip fare of $198 midweek and $238 weekend. The fare was applicable for travel until December 14, 1988. American had to decide if and how to respond. Systemic Issue Complicity of Yield Management Nature: Strategic Timing: long term American Airlines broadly described the function of yield management as â€Å"selling the right seats to the right customers at the right prices.† At American Airlines, almost everything is automated because the yield-management decision-making process is too large and therefore too complex to be processed manually. Part 3: Environmental & Root Cause Analysis In the past, under regulations, airlines were not allowed to set their ticket prices at will. Rather, all fares had to be approved by the government. Normally, fares were set on a cost plus basis in order to guarantee airlines a minimum return. On the one hand, airlines had no incentive to reduce costs by streaming operations and increasing productivity. Essentially, price discrimination under regulation was based on the assumption of two distinct  and easily separable types of customers: price-insensitive, yet very time-sensitive business travelers, normally flying on expenses, and price sensitive, yet-time-insensitive leisure travelers, typically paying for their own trips. The deregulation of the airline industry has opened up many opportunities to seize market share and revenues. American needs to identify and develop a detailed revenue management and yield management plan to capitalize on this opportunity. Airline deregulation in 1979 led to additional complexity in the practice of yield management. Two major changes took place. First, the number and variety of discount fares increased. Second, airline began offering connecting service, using centrally located airports as hubs, to serve more of the traveling public and provide national service. The resulting airline environment is very complex. The following factors complicated the yield management task: (1) the demand for full- and discount-fare seats on any given flight was uncertain; (2) the demand was variable over time; (3) in certain cases, for example leisure flights, the demand was also â€Å"lumpy†; (4) there was a bewildering multitude of fare types and restrictions; (5) the hub-and-spoke system made some customers in one fare type more attractive than other customers in the same fare type; (6) some customers booked seats but did not show up for their flights. Part 4: Alternatives and Options Below is a detailed breakdown of the alternatives and options for the issues identified above. Option 1: Marketing American Airlines could focus its priorities on marketing in order to realize its full potential from a demand, capacity and yield perspective. Offering last minute vacation packages or more aggressive pricing policies for flights that look increasingly like they will not reach capacity would be another way to help fill vacant spots. Pros: a. To sell deeply discounted seats at the last minute could make additional profit. b. American Airlines could be known to offer fantastic last minute vacations periodically. Cons: a. Focusing solely on marketing in an industry that is undergoing rapid  change could be extremely costly in the long run. b. Marketing would provide short term benefits but concrete improvements by other airlines may leave American behind. c. Another drawback to an aggressive marketing focus is would skew yield management regression models, most notably overbooking. Option 2: Upgrade Computerized Reservation System American Airlines’ â€Å"store front† is the computerized reservations system, SABRE (semi-automated business research environment). All sale and cancellation transactions, whether from American Airlines reservations agents or travel agents, pass through SABRE, updating reservations inventory for all affected flights. Because the yield management decision-making process is so large and complex at American Airlines, effective control of the inventory of seats can be accomplished only with more advanced automated models. Pros: a. Increase the productivity of yield-management specialists and the reduction in work load can allow them to spend more time reviewing only critical flights thus making better revenue decisions. b. Instead of being a price follower, the system could guide the company make better pricing strategies. c. Keep American Airlines leader position in the industry. Cons: a. It takes time and capital investment of new system. b. There is a learning curve for new system and takes time to get used to new system. Part 5: Recommendations Critical to an airline’s operation is the effective use of its reservations inventory. American Airlines currently has the most advanced computerized reservations system – SABRE. To increase the responsiveness and effectiveness of yield-management strategies and to coordinate reservations inventory decision with SABRE, it is recommended that option 2 is applied. Because the yield-management decision-making process is so large and complex at American Airlines, effective control of the inventory of seats can be accomplished only with more advanced automated models. The new model is aiming at handling overbooking control, discount allocation and traffic management. Part 6: Implementation Plan Step 1: Acquire buy-in from stake holders and management. Step 2: Set up target and create budget. Step 3: Establish a team to do the development of new system. Part 7: Monitor and Control Yield management performance is difficult to measure because of the dynamic nature of the marketplace. Decision Technologies developed a reliable and credible method of measuring performance that we believe is unique in the airline industry. In order to gauge the success of implementing this process certain KPIs need to be established to compare against previous system: Load factor Revenue yield per passenger mile Operating expense per available passenger seat mile

Sustainable road policy?

1. Introduction1.1.Definition and DescriptionTransport is a primary factor in environmental, social and economic development due to its association with aspects of accessibility levels, goods and people’s mobility. An investigation into the development of transport necessitates implementing a regular systematic efficient plan, which will look to improve the whole transportation system for the long term. Sustainable transport is strictly needed to change the quality of life for the better. Consequently, sustainable transport is considered to be founded upon a set of interrelated instructions which aims to improve people’s mobility based on the criteria of safety, social equality, minimum land use, recycling materials and lower impacts on the environment (Marks, 2002).1.2. Versions1.2.1 Green Highway VisionThe Highway Agency (HA) suggested the version 2030 project in 2003. The main objective of this project is to enhance the mobility of goods and people in the UK over t hirty years and to predict, estimate and meet what the mobility needs in the future by considering three scenarios: global economy, sustainable lifestyle, and control and plan. Twelve visions have been proposed from this process, each depending on the aforementioned scenarios with a particular vision behind each one. The Green Highway is one of these visions and indicates to an interactive future with progressed sustainable principles such as: constructing sustainable roads and operating maintenance through using resources efficiently; â€Å"Green† materials application; high use of waste product recycling; and the re-assessing of highway design codes, considering the implications of climate change. In addition to this, noise-impact reduction and keeping biodiversity are taken into account through using eco-environment designs (HA, 2003).1.2.2 Mobility VisionThe second is vision 2050 which was proposed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in 2010. This vi sion imagines the sustainable future in a wider scope and attributes a longer period to make governance and business sustainable. This will be achieved by following a pathway which requires essential changes in lifestyle and policy. This pathway is supported by nine elements that link the present and the sustainable future in 2050. For instance, Mobility vision aims to improve the access provision universally for the insurance of safety and low impact mobility in order to make the best sustainable economy. In this context, to make reductions of the high volume of transportation and the information and communication technologies (ICT) it will use. Vehicle efficiency has improved through using sophisticated new technology and the alternative energy source, such as electricity, resulting in a significant decrease in the adverse impacts on the environment. Moreover, the intelligent transportation system (ITS) provides active enforcement and comprehensive mobility management which leads to safety improvement (WBCSD, 2009).1.2.3 Vision TwoThese visions relate to walking and cycling in the UK in 2030. It aims to introduce cycling and walking as an eco-friendly mode for getting rid of the current negative transportation impacts by considering three sustainable visions. This also looks at the future through the concept of social building, by concentrating on five locations in the UK to imagine these impacts on a typical city. For example, a car-free, public transport oriented future encourages the use of mass transport, walking and cycling, meaning a lower volume of cars which is the main mode currently used. The significant factors that share in this vision are exploitation sophisticated technology for cars design, electric cycles, improving walking path and bicycle lanes, and small electric modes for freightage goods. These will make a city have improved sociability, a high level of safety, reduce pollution and noise due to transport, and generate high accessibility (Tight et al., 2011). 2. Discussion2.1. Addressing Sustainability Dimensions2.1.1 Green Highway VisionUndoubtedly, there are three important dimensions that should be concurrently taken into consideration within implementing any sustainable future transport system: environment, social, and economic (Transport Policy Advisory Services, 2010). The Green Highway vision considered the creation of sustainable environments through reducing noise nuisance, keeping biodiversity, recycling and using resources effectively. However there are other environmental aspects, such as land use and air pollution, which are not presented and impact on health more than noise. The social sustainable is presented in this vision but without clarifying how it will improve the transport sector and reduce its impacts on environment or cause an improvement in the community (Colantonio, 2007). Furthermore, the life quality enhancement results from the social sustainability (Polese and Stren, 2005). Moreover the lifestyle scenario enc ourages local communities to work together to achieve sustainability for life and to enhance life quality through improved technologies and lifestyle dependence that will reduce energy use and reliance on cars. The people’s tendency to choose sustainable areas to work and live is encouraged by taking land use plan into consideration (HA, 2003). Also the concept of road construction and maintenance operations with new advanced technique are viewed without indicating to its economic dimension. As well as these processes of road infrastructure, enhancements will promote the economy through revenues from tolls and taxes (Marks, 2002).2.1.2. Mobility VisionComprehensively depending on the exploitation of advanced technology is the main principle of the mobility vision practicability. The environmental sustainable dimension is favourably addressed in this vision through implementing different measures, such as: reducing environment impacts; road congestion; accidents in terms of (n umber and cost). This will lead to a decrease in greenhouse gases and improving traffic by applying Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). Furthermore, the economic sustainable dimension is directly addressed through a concern with active transport accessibility which can enhance people’s mobility. This also includes goods freightage, inventing new vehicles, efficient alternative fuels, such as biofuels, high-efficient fuel aircraft, providing interactive transport infrastructure and new transportation means. Overall, this vision vastly considers most economic aspects. However, because of the high cost of biofuel production due to its dependence on feedstock, such as sugarcane, ethanol can be better for use in a commercial viability (Kojima and Johnson, 2006). However, new transport costs are considered as an important target in the transport sustainability, but it is not obviously addressed (Schwaab and Thielmann, 2001). The social sustainable dimension is also addressed in this vision: through the provision of equal mobility for all; safer road networks and decreasing accident numbers close to zero (zero vision); cooperation between transportation companies with other relevant agencies; incorporation of the socio-economic environment with â€Å"integration transport system† (ITS) (WBCSD, 2009). However, the usefulness of non-motorised modes, such as cycling and walking, that improve social community and the environment are not mentioned (Tight et al., 2011). The poor class contribution is also not addressed in this vision, which is considered a key element in the social sustainability dimension. The vision addressed the environmental sustainable dimension through the efforts to reduce noise and greenhouse gases. This was achieved through the use of sophisticated transportation technology such as alternative electrical energy vehicles and â€Å"superior aerodynamic† vehicle quality improvement. However, the addressing of biodiversity and land use impacts are neglected. Nevertheless, the manufacture process of electric cars can also impact adversely on the environment due to the fact that the battery is constructed from harmful materials and uses fossil fuels for its power (Anair and Mahmassani, 2012). According to Calle et al. (2012) the use of biofuels can impact negatively on the environment because it increases greenhouse emissions in other ways, such as non-carbon aircraft emissions and the feedstock production process. Furthermore, this could lead to a potential increase in the price of foodstuffs due to this process using a greater amount of land to produce bioje tfuel (Tietenberg, 2000). 2.1.3. Vision Two This vision for walking and cycling concentrated on urban areas. The economic dimension is clearly addressed so that it considers the enhancement of mobility through improving mass transport, increasing freightage transport efficiency, and constructing separate routes for both bicycles and pedestrians. This also includes supporting and encouraging commercial markets to provide pedestrian electronic tools, and electric-powered bikes and vans. Despite the benefit to human’s health and fitness, walking and cycling causes a significant reduction in travel and congestion costs which leads to an increase in productivity by reducing wastage time. Additionally, a massive reduction in road accident costs can be noticed by allocating dedicated routes for pedestrian and bicycles, based on a reduction in conflict points between bicycles, pedestrians and cars; each conflict point is responsible of the occurrence of a crash in any time and, thus, economic improvement (BCBC, 2009). Social sustainability is vastly addressed in this vision. These will be achieved by applying the equality principle, social consolidation enhancement, public health promotion, and providing high social insurance within that future city which is espoused by this vision. However, it provides the typical social environment inclusion of required needs such as a higher socialised, better communicated, polite and cooperative people which is associated with highest safety levels and health quality. This also suggests roads which have lower car use, dedicate more space for children, and supply all required facilities for walking and cycling. In addition to this is the use of advanced technology in traffic systems, such as automatic vehicle speed reduction system (Tight et al., 2011). This vision addresses the environment dimension by making a reduction in air pollution which leads to a reduction in CO2 emission as well as less transportation noise due to low car use and a greater dependence on walking and cycling. This also includes less land use, the use of eco-friendly cars and imposing strong car use restrictions. As well as this, the walking and cycling and other non-motorized modes are defined as environmental modes due to their compatibility with clean air and that they generate no noise pollution (COUNCIL, 2007).2.2. Transport problems Area2.2.1. Developing CountriesAccording to Gwilliam (2003), developing countries differ from developed countries with respect to of transportation. These differences are characterised by faster population growth, fast urban growth, car ownership, traffic congestion, environmental problems, and road accident and security issues. Movement problems added to the lack of road network quality and traffic management make it very d ifficult to compare and examine. The Green Highway and Vision Two for walking and cycling were placed to the UK situation to address the majority of the above-mentioned issues with a high efficiency, although it cannot be applied in the developing countries with the same efficiency. However, the â€Å"holistic approach [to] improving overall transport† has appeared as a global vision and can address the mobility of urban areas in developing countries. In this vision, the cities are categorized to four kinds, for instance, for addressing finance issues it suggests the participating of both private and public sectors.2.2.2 Climate ChangeThe greenhouse emissions which are from transportation sectors are estimated about 24% globally, and it will increase 2.1% annually (Wright and Fulton, 2005). The CO2 emission was separately estimated to be about 22% in 2012 and was recognized as a main cause of climate change (IEA, 2012). However, addressing climate change can be seen in all th ree visions in different approaches, but vision two is the more effective because of its preference of the non-motorised modes such as walking, cycling and using eco-friendly mass transportation modes. The Green Highway vision aims to adopt the highway design code with the impacts of climate change instead of carbon cutting. Furthermore, the Mobility vision tends to reduce future greenhouse gas emission depending on the technology use with the presence of all transport modes.2.2.3. Equity, social impacts and inclusionThe equity is considered to be a significant aspect due to its extensive influence by any transportation planning decision. However, it can be more effectively addressed through vision two, rather than other visions, because it is focused on increasing the concept of social sustainability (BCDC, 2009). Moreover, public transport accessibility, cycling and walking is crucial to make society more active, but in the mobility vision the economic improvement is taken into co nsideration depending on the sophisticated transportation mode technology. In addition to this, the equity improvement can be achieved by providing equal mobility.2.2.4. Resource use, waste and global pollutionResource use is a potential option in vision two through low car use as well as greater dependence on walking and cycling. In turn this makes a significant reduction in the consumption and use of resources, such as car manufacturing or backup materials, and this leads to the reduction of waste resulting from scrap. However, the Green Highway vision addresses this issue through the high efficiency resources consumption and full attention to recycling concept application. Moreover, the Mobility vision encourages aircrafts and vehicles markets to depend on alternative fuel and observe that this may lead to an increase in resource consumption, such as compound materials which are used in the aircraft manufacturing. However, the potential for recycling carbon fibre has been was fo und (Job, 2010). Conversely, other modes need mass use of resources as well as the technological advancement, and ultimately, global pollution is inevitable.2.2.5. BiodiversityThe Green Highway vision concerns the addressing of biodiversity conservation through constructing of wild movement green bridges and tunnels, and water ponds. However, the Mobility vision has an adverse impact on biodiversity due to its dependence on using the largest land area to provide biojetfuel as an alternative future energy (Kojima and Johnson, 2006). Furthermore, biodiversity has not been influenced by the vision two for concentration on improving road network infrastructure in urban areas.2.2.6. Energy SecurityAccording to DECC (2012), the transport sector contributed about 38% of total energy consumption in 2011. The Green Highway vision can impact positively in the reduction of energy consumption to some extent through focusing on road infrastructure improvement and implementing recycling materials interns to reduce energy consumption by implementing recycling and minimizing the road distance. However, in the Mobility vision, the energy security is addressed efficiently by introducing alternative fuels such as biofuel to replace fossil fuel which leads to energy security effectively (Kojima and Johnson, 2006). In the scope of foodstuffs and climate change, decreasing it seems not compatible and the increasing desire and the biofuel’s wide spread will pose a risk to food security and climate change (Field et al., 2008). Additionally, in vision two the focus on walking and cycling as well as lower car use plays a significant role in energy security; moreover, the aircraft and electric bicycle manufacturing require energy.2.2.7. SafetySafety is an issue that is directly related to public life. However, this issue has not been considered in the Green Highway vision. Nevertheless, the safety is addressed in vision two through the use of alternative biofuels which are charac terised by low carbon emission as well as zero vision which address safety through reducing the accidents number to close to zero. Furthermore, safety is addressed more efficiently through the use of technology that reduces vehicle speed automatically and allocates segregated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.2.2.8. Landscape and heritageThe Green Highway vision damages landscape and heritage because of their adversely influence on the transportation infrastructure improvement process (Seiler, 2001). Though, in the Mobility vision the largest land use is to provide the requiring energy and may adversely impact the landscape. However, in vision two, improving the transportation infrastructure is based on the existing reality; therefore it does not impact on the landscape.2.2.9. NoiseThe Green Highway vision addresses noise through the use of noise barriers and a defeatist road surface. However, the Mobility vision addresses noise reduction through the use electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and aircraft with superior aerodynamics deployment. Furthermore, vision two contributes to the reduction of noise through low car use, walking and cycling and using electric modes.2.2.10. Air pollutionThe Green Highway vision addresses air pollution to some degree, but not directly. However, the Mobility vision addresses this issue interactively through low carbon emission from transportation, using electric vehicles, hybrids, eco-friendly ships and aircrafts. In addition to this, it is significantly addressed by vision two through low car use, depending on walking and cycling.2.2.11. Severance and pedestrian issuesThe Green Highway vision does not address severance and pedestrian safety. However, there is full attention given to public safety in the Mobility vision through pollution reduction and low carbon mobility. Moreover, vision two addresses this issue more effectively through improving pedestrian and cyclist’s mobility by allocating separate lanes for their m ovement and low car use.2.3. Feasibility, global transportation issues, barriers2.3.1. Green Highway VisionUndoubtedly, the Green Highway vision introduces an eco-design to be applied to enhance the transportation infrastructure, but it is not active to the high degree of addressing all sustainable dimensions. Good road quality brings more car use which causes environment deterioration. However, the role of advanced technology in the road performance improvement is also not considered in this vision. For example, using connected vehicles which provide the driver with all information about weather, traffic volume, road, and alerting in case the existence of problems as well as electric priority lane that charges moving vehicles automatically (Krick, 2011). In addition to this, a number of Green Highway projects with additional principles to the environmental aspect are applied in some countries such as Sweden and Norway. Consequently, until 2030 the effectiveness of this vision will expire and will not be feasible.2.3.2 Mobility VisionDue to the presence of some features, this vision seems infeasible. However, it relies on incorporating advanced technology in transportation modes which causes a significant reduction in greenhouse emissions and requires a multi-energy source to improve the environment dimension. Moreover, the encouraging travel, car ownership, results in urbanisation, increasing congestion, increasing resource consumption and land take. Furthermore, greater battery energy consumption results in pollution in the stations and reduces the importance of eco-friendly car use. Nevertheless, technology is considered as a barrier in front of relevant authorities to decide on other dimensions (Banister, 2005). However biofuel seems inefficient due to its expected adverse impacts on the security of food and the hydrogen energy cost is estimated to be four times as much as current fuel (ibid, 2005). Albeit, due to dealing with sustainability dimensions lo psidedly as well as developing countries drawbacks in terms of their understanding and point of view towards sustainability concept countries issues, this shows unfeasibility of the vision.2.3.3. Vision TwoThere is an intensive relationship between urban transportation and its impacts on the environment due to it being directly related to life quality. The main target of vision two is life quality improvement through car use avoidance, in contrast to walking and cycling prominent. Currently, the car is a common travel mode, and the average distance travelled in a car has risen by 75% between 1980 and 2008 (DfT, 2009). Accordingly, to achieve a reduction in car use is very difficult and there are a lot of barriers because it relates to the citizens’ freedoms. Therefore it is not easy to accept and to digest such a step and to give-up car ownership. However, the contradiction and non-cooperation between the institutions related to the case and difficulties in legal measures ap plication would be another significant barrier (Banister, 2005). 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