Pakistan Electricity: Solutions and Ongoing Projects

Written by: Afreen Baig http://economicpakistan. wordpress. com/2008/01/05/electricity/ â€Å"History† After the construction of the Hydro-Electric Tarbela Dam and the Mangla Dam, by General Ayub Khan and General Yahya Khan in the 1960’s, our governments failed to conceive and initiate major electricity projects. The inept governments of PML-N and PPP, that still consider themselves vital to democratic dialogue within the provinces, failed to create dialogue within provinces, on the most important issue facing Pakistan’s energy survival – the Kalabagh Dam. Their governments failed to plan for the future growth and energy requirements. Recently the government of PPP has scraped the project altogether. â€Å"Unexpected Economic Boom & Energy Consumption in the last 10 years† Pakistan’s $75 billion economy boomed into a $160 billion economy, with the consumption of gas, electricity and coal increasing YEARLY to an average rate of 7. 8 percent, 5. 1 percent and 8. 8 percent, respectively. The number of electricity consumers grew from 15. 9 million in 2005-06 to 16. 7 million in 2007, showing a growth of about 70 percent over the last 10 years. The major Energy consumption sectors of the country are: Industrial (38. percent), Transport (32. 8 percent), Residential and Commercial (25 percent), Agriculture (2. 5 percent) and others (2. 2 percent). As regards Electricity, the Household sector has been the largest consumer over the last 10 years, on average consuming 44. 8 percent, followed by Industrial sector (29. 4 percent), Agriculture (12. 2 percent), Commercial sector (5. 9 percent), Street lights (10. 6 percent), the officials say. â€Å"Record Sales of Electronic Items† Recently, we got good news from Pakistan Haier. In May, Pakistan Haier made new RECORD air-conditioner, refrigerator monthly output. The sale volume reached all time high, the year-on-year sale increase of Air-conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Micro wave and TV are 136%, 58%, 180%, 210% and 106% respectively. Similarly, many other Electronic Companies have created record sales. â€Å"Projects executed and under Construction† The first unit of 290-megawatt of Ghazi Brotha Hydel Project (GBHP) went into operation in June 2003, and contributed around 50mw of electricity to the national grid. Four more units were added every quarter, and by 2004 the GBHP was contributing 1,450 mw. Nuclear power plant Chashma-2, will soon come on-line, and will add another 300MW to the national grid. Mangla Dam uprising will give another 644 GWh of power. Gomal Zam Dam is under final stage of construction, and upon completion it will produce 17. 4MW In 1999, our installed capacity was merely 15,860 MW. (With Hydel 4826 + Thermal 10,897 + Nuclear 137) In 2005-06, our installed capacity increased to become 20,495 MW. (With Hydel 6499 + Thermal 13,534 + Nuclear 462) â€Å"Concrete steps under the PML-Q Government† President Pervez Musharraf launched the Rs 130 billion (US 2. 6 billion) Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric project aimed at producing 969 MW power. Work on 11 projects with an accumulative power generation capacity of more than 12,000MW would start by 2009. These projects include Bunji (5,400MW), Dasu (4,000MW), Kohala (1,100MW), Spatgah and Palas Valley (1,230MW). Wind and Solar Technology: Pakistan is seeking to explore alternative sources of energy production and use Wind and solar technologies with the aim to produce 9,700 MW wind power by 2030, thereby providing electricity to 7,874 off-grid villages in Sindh and Baluchistan. 25 wind water pumping systems have been installed in Balochistan. Over 140 micro wind turbines of 500 Watts each are operational in Sindh and Balochistan, providing electricity to 691 houses in 18 remote, off-grid villages. Hydel Power: The government is giving top priority to Hydel power with the potential of producing 40,000 MW Power of which only 15 percent had been exploited so far. In 2001, the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan identified 22 sites for launching Hydropower projects to meet the ever-increasing demand for cheap power. It indicated that about 15,074 mw could be generated on the completion of these projects, which would also meet the water irrigation requirements for the growing agriculture sector. Pakistan Sugar Mills: Association (PSMA) has informed the government that sugar mills can produce 2,000MW of electricity in the next five years. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission: (PAEC) has decided to establish an Engineering Design Organization (EDO) for the indigenous development of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country. The PAEC informed authorities that it was planning to add about 1,260MW through Hydel power, 880MW from Alternate energy, 4,860MW from Gas, 900MW from Coal and 160MW from Oil by 2010. The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) is investing in a new 220-megawatt power plant that will help control the power shortages in the city, said. The plant will start generating 192MW by March and the remaining 28MW will start being distributed by December 2008. Thar Coal: The government has decided to develop the Thar coal for power generation on a priority basis to overcome energy crisis following. Out of six various companies that inked MoU with concern authorities to establish coal power projects; two companies have started drilling work in their respective areas. Confirmed estimates that its reserves were equivalent to at least 850 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of gas – about 30 times higher than Pakistan’s proven gas reserves of 28 TCF. By using only 2% of the existing coal reserves, we can generate around 20,000 MW (20 GW) for almost 40 years These estimates were confirmed by separate bankable feasibility studies conducted by Chinese and Russian experts. 85 Billion Tons of coal deposits in Pakistan were second only to 247 Billion Ton reserves in the United States and much higher than 157 and 115 Billion Ton reserves of Russia and China, respectively. Thar coal reserves were equivalent to at least 400 Billion Barrels of oil – equivalent to oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Iran put together. One estimate puts Pakistan’s coal energy at 576 Billion Barr els of oil which is equivalent to the combined oil reserves of the 3 largest producers. The government is planning to set up 5,000-megawatt power generation facilities using coal as fuel within next few years. â€Å"Ongoing Power Projects† The Ongoing Power Projects for which allocations have been made in 2007-08 Budget, are Mangla Dam Raising Project (Rs 20 billion), Mirani Dam (Rs 500 million), Sabakzai Dam (Rs 200 million), Kurram Tangi Dam (Rs 2. 84 billion), Sadpara Multipurpose Dam Rs (900 million), Gomal Zam Dam (Rs 1. 8 billion), the Greater Thal Canal Phase I (Rs 8. 5 billion), the Greater Thal Canal Phase II (Rs 2. billion), construction of 20 small dams in NWFP (Rs 870 million), Bhasha/ Diamer Dam (Rs 500 million), Khan-Khawar hydro project (Rs 1. 3 billion), Dubir Khawar hydro project (Rs 2. 1 billion), transmission arrangements for power dispersal of Ghazi Barotha (Rs 1. 67 billion) and Neelam-Jhelum hydro project (Rs 10 billion). New projects for the next fiscal year include the Sukkur Barrage Rehabilitation and Improvement project (Rs 100 million), Akhori Dam PC I (Rs 200 million), construction of Jaban Hydroelectric Power Station and Jaban Hydroelectric Power Station (Rs 40 million). Upcoming Immediate Projects† Three rental power houses would start generating 1,067 megawatts of electricity by end of year 2008, respectively. Agreements had been signed with China to establish power plants at Nandipur and Chichu ki Malian, and tenders had been issued for two 500MW power plants at Dadu and Faisalabad which would be run by gas and furnace oil. An 800MW power plant would be set up at Guddu. (c) ECONOMIC PAKISTAN and PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF http://economicpakistan. wordpress. com/2008/01/05/electricity/ http://presidentmusharraf. wordpress. com/

Second Foundation 22. The Answer that was True

An unlocated room on an unlocated world! And a man whose plan had worked. The First Speaker looked up at the Student, â€Å"Fifty men and women,† he said. â€Å"Fifty martyrs! They knew it meant death or permanent imprisonment and they could not even be oriented to prevent weakening – since orientation might have been detected. Yet they did not weaken. They brought the plan through, because they loved the greater Plan.† â€Å"Might they have been fewer?† asked the Student, doubtfully. The First Speaker slowly shook his head, â€Å"It was the lower limit. Less could not possibly have carried conviction. In fact, pure objectivism would have demanded seventy-five to leave margin for error. Never mind. Have you studied the course of action as worked out by the Speakers' Council fifteen years ago?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker.† â€Å"And compared it with actual developments?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker.† Then, after a pause- â€Å"I was quite amazed, Speaker.† â€Å"I know. There is always amazement. If you knew how many men labored for how many months – years, in fact – to bring about the polish of perfection, you would be less amazed. Now tell me what happened – in words. I want your translation of the mathematics.† â€Å"Yes, Speaker.† The young man marshaled his thoughts. â€Å"Essentially, it was necessary for the men of the First Foundation to be thoroughly convinced that they had located and destroyed the Second Foundation. In that way, there would be reversion to the intended original. To all intents, Terminus would once again know nothing about us; include us in none of their calculations. We are hidden once more, and safe – at the cost of fifty men.† â€Å"And the purpose of the Kalganian war?† â€Å"To show the Foundation that they could beat a physical enemy – to wipe out the damage done to their self-esteem and self-assuredness by the Mule.† â€Å"There you are insufficient in your analysis. Remember, the population of Terminus regarded us with distinct ambivalence. They hated and envied our supposed superiority; yet they relied on us implicitly for protection. If we had been ‘destroyed' before the Kalganian war, it would have meant panic throughout the Foundation. They would then never have had the courage to stand up against Stettin, when he then attacked; and he would have. Only in the full flush of victory could the ‘destruction' have taken place with minimum ill-effects. Even waiting a year, thereafter, might have meant a too-great cooling off spirit for success.† The Student nodded. â€Å"I see. Then the course of history will proceed without deviation in the direction indicated by the Plan.† â€Å"Unless,† pointed out the First Speaker, â€Å"further accidents, unforeseen and individual, occur.† â€Å"And for that,† said the Student, â€Å"we still exist. Except- Except- One facet of the present state of affairs worries me, Speaker. The First Foundation is left with the Mind Static device – a powerful weapon against us. That, at least, is not as it was before.† â€Å"A good point. But they have no one to use it against. It has become a sterile device; just as without the spur of our own menace against them, encephalographic analysis will become a sterile science. Other varieties of knowledge will once again bring more important and immediate returns. So this first generation of mental scientists among the First Foundation will also be the last – and, in a century, Mind Static will be a nearly forgotten item of the past.† â€Å"Well-† The Student was calculating mentally. â€Å"I suppose you're right.† But what I want you most to realize, young man, for the sake of your future in the Council is the consideration given to the tiny intermeshings that were forced into our plan of the last decade and a half simply because we dealt with individuals. There was the manner in which Anthor had to create suspicion against himself in such a way that it would mature at the right time, but that was relatively simple. â€Å"There was the manner in which the atmosphere was so manipulated that to no one on Terminus would it occur, prematurely, that Terminus itself might be the center they were seeking. That knowledge had to be supplied to the young girl, Arcadia, who would be heeded by no one but her own father. She had to be sent to Trantor, thereafter, to make certain that there would be no premature contact with her father. Those two were the two poles of a hyperatomic motor; each being inactive without the other. And the switch had to be thrown – contact had to be made – at just the right moment. I saw to that! â€Å"And the final battle had to be handled properly. The Foundation's fleet had to be soaked in self-confidence, while the fleet of Kalgan made ready to run. I saw to that, also!† Said the Student, â€Å"It seems to me, Speaker, that you†¦ I mean, all of us†¦ were counting on Dr. Darell not suspecting that Arcadia was our tool. According to my check on the calculations, there was something like a thirty percent probability that he would so suspect. What would have happened then?† â€Å"We had taken care of that. What have you been taught about Tamper Plateaus? What are they? Certainly not evidence of the introduction of an emotional bias. That can be done without any chance of possible detection by the most refined conceivable encephalographic analysis. A consequence of Leffert's Theorem, you know. It is the removal, the cutting-out, of previous emotional bias, that shows. It must show. â€Å"And, of course, Anthor made certain that Darell knew all about Tamper Plateaus. â€Å"However- When can an individual be placed under Control without showing it? Where there is no previous emotional bias to remove. In other words, when the individual is a new-born infant with a blank slate of a mind. Arcadia Darell was such an infant here on Trantor fifteen years ago, when the first line was drawn into the structure of the plan. She will never know that she has been Controlled, and will be all the better for it, since her Control involved the development of a precocious and intelligent personality.† The First Speaker laughed shortly, â€Å"In a sense, it is the irony of it all that is most amazing. For four hundred years, so many men have been blinded by Seldon's words ‘the other end of the Galaxy.' They have brought their own peculiar, physical-science thought to the problem, measuring off the other end with protractors and rulers, ending up eventually either at a point in the periphery one hundred eighty degrees around the rim of the Galaxy, or back at the original point. â€Å"Yet our very greatest danger lay in the fact that there was a possible solution based on physical modes of thought. The Galaxy, you know, is not simply a flat ovoid of any sort; nor is the periphery a closed curve. Actually, it is a double spiral, with at least eighty percent of the inhabited planets on the Main Arm. Terminus is the extreme outer end of the spiral arm, and we are at the other – since, what is the opposite end of a spiral? Why, the center. â€Å"But that is trifling. It is an accidental and irrelevant solution. The solution could have been reached immediately, if the questioners had but remembered that Hari Seldon was a social scientist not a physical scientist and adjusted their thought processes accordingly. What could ‘opposite ends' mean to a social scientist? Opposite ends on the map? Of course not. That's the mechanical interpretation only. â€Å"The First Foundation was at the periphery, where the original Empire was weakest, where its civilizing influence was least, where its wealth and culture were most nearly absent. And where is the social opposite end of the Galaxy? Why, at the place where the original Empire was strongest, where its civilizing influence was most, where its wealth and culture were most strongly present. â€Å"Here! At the center! At Trantor, capital of the Empire of Seldon's time. â€Å"And it is so inevitable. Hari Seldon left the Second Foundation behind him to maintain, improve, and extend his work That has been known, or guessed at, for fifty years. But where could that best be done? At Trantor, where Seldon's group had worked, and where the data of decades had been accumulated. And it was the purpose of the Second Foundation to protect the Plan against enemies. That, too, was known! And where was the source of greatest danger to Terminus and the Plan? â€Å"Here! Here at Trantor, where the Empire dying though it was, could, for three centuries, still destroy the Foundation, if it could only have decided to do so. â€Å"Then when Trantor fell and was sacked and utterly destroyed, a short century ago, we were naturally able to protect our headquarters, and, on all the planet, the Imperial Library and the grounds about it remained untouched. This was well-known to the Galaxy, but even that apparently overwhelming hint passed them by. â€Å"It was here at Trantor that Ebling Mis discovered us; and here that we saw to it that he did not survive the discovery. To do so, it was necessary to arrange to have a normal Foundation girl defeat the tremendous mutant powers of the Mule. Surely, such a phenomenon might have attracted suspicion to the planet on which it happened- It was here that we first studied the Mule and planned his ultimate defeat. It was here that Arcadia was born and the train of events begun that led to the great return to the Seldon Plan. â€Å"And all those flaws in our secrecy; those gaping holes; remained unnoticed because Seldon had spoken of ‘the other end' in his way, and they had interpreted it in their way.† The First Speaker had long since stopped speaking to the Student. It was an exposition to himself, really, as he stood before the window, looking up at the incredible blaze of the firmament, at the huge Galaxy that was now safe forever. â€Å"Hari Seldon called Trantor, ‘Star's End,'† he whispered, â€Å"and why not that bit of poetic imagery. All the universe was once guided from this rock; all the apron strings of the stars led here. ‘All roads lead to Trantor,' says the old proverb, ‘and that is where all stars end.' â€Å" Ten months earlier, the First Speaker had viewed those same crowding stars – nowhere as crowded as at the center of that huge cluster of matter Man calls the Galaxy – with misgivings; but now there was a somber satisfaction on the round and ruddy face of Preem Palver – First Speaker. [1] All quotations from the Encyclopedia Galactica here reproduced are taken from the 116th Edition published in 1020 F.E. by the Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Co., Terminus, with permission of the publishers.

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World War Two Sources Questions Essay Example for Free

World War Two Sources Questions Essay 1) Source A is a primary source. Its a message sent by Commander Paulus (of Sixth Army) to the Germany Army High Command, on 24th January 1943. We expect to find that the source is genuine and unbiased, considering the message has been sent from one German to another. The message was also not an attempt of propaganda as it was kept top secret between army generals. The information is regarding the surrender of the Sixth Army in Stalingrad in 1943. The German Army was losing considerably and couldnt keep up the strong fighting, as known in 1939 onwards. The source tells us that supplies were gravely low, and command was no longer possible. It is a very adequate explanation of why the German Army had to surrender. One main reason for the defeat of Russia was to do with the strategic positioning of the army. Almost half of the original army going to Stalingrad was redirected to the Caucacus. This caused problems later on. We also know that the Luftwaffe wasnt delivering the required amount of supplies, although Goering had promised. Not nearly half of the ammunition, food and medical supplies were being flown in. The source tells us that the front lines were crumbling. We understand that the German Army had conquered approximately nine tenths of Stalingrad, but still couldnt manage to hold the most important area, the banks of the Volga. Russians were bringing in fresh troops and supplies constantly during the night, and the Luftwaffe wasnt strong enough to eradicate the Russians during the day. The Germans were eventually pushed further back out of the city as the armys numbers dwindled. There could be however, one false interpretation of the source. Paulus asks the High Command if he could have permission to surrender (in order to save lives). This could be interpreted as the reason why they finally surrendered, but in actual fact it wasnt. Hitler had denied the request of Paulus, he expect Paulus to fight till death; every last solider. The final collapse of the Sixth Army was when Stalin and Zhukov decided to finish the Germans off. Two Russian armies went around the city from either side, eventually meeting up in the centre. They had the Germans surrounded. On the 10th of January the Russians opened fire and thousands of Germans were killed, many more taken prisoners. Finally on 31st of January 1943, Soviet troops captured Pauluss headquarters in the basement of the Univermag department store on Red Square. He and his generals and the remaining troops in the city surrendered without a fight. Therefore we can see that the source gives us a very good explanation of the background information as to why the Germans surrendered. However, the actual surrender could be misleading, and we also need to know of the Russians participating role in the whole situation. 2) Source B is a photograph of Stalingrad, entitled The Russians recapture Stalingrad. It is a primary source, however we have to be careful, because photographs can be false. They can be changed in anyway for propaganda purposes. Stalin was well known for this. Photographs are also only an instant in time, and could be misleading in many ways (we dont get to see the whole picture). Because Stalin was renowned for his propaganda methods, it is probably that the picture was taken for such an effect. Stalin wanted to show the people that Russia was strong and powerful. In the picture we can a Russian soldier holding the Soviet flag. Stalin is trying to convey the message that although Germany conquered Western Europe, Russia will never be defeated. It symbolises victory to the nation, and raises the morale after so many people had died. The buildings in the background seem to be quite stable and healthy looking, whereas we know that most of the city was covered in rubble. This was probably to give the message that the Germans didnt actually do that much damage. In the background on the picture, we can see military vehicles. It is also hard to decipher whether or not they are Russian or German vehicles. If they are German, then they were put there to show people that the Russian army is strong and powerful, and have managed to round up the German troops and keep them under control. However, I think it is more probable that they are Russian. They are military and supply vehicles. Just to re-reinforce the fact that they are able to get resources in for their people, and to make a stand. A little like when a flag is put in the centre of a newly conquered territory. To let the other side know it belongs to them. Therefore all in all, I think that the photograph was another method of propaganda, to raise the morale of the civilians. To let them know that Russia will not be conquered. The photograph shows us that. 3) Source C, a letter from an unknown soldier in 1943, is another primary source, again expected to be genuine (because it was sent from one German to another and was not a form of propaganda). The source isnt really useful in telling us why and how the defeat of the Germans came about. It doesnt mention the Russian army, or the lack of supplies and men. However, it does show us what the view of a German soldier is at the time. We can see that many Germans were dying I have seen hundreds fall and die. The Germans felt helpless and deserted. They had the view that Hitler had let them down, failed to keep his promises. The soldier now realises that Hitler had deceived them in many ways. The source can show an historian that the defeat of the German army was terrible and severe in Stalingrad. We can see that the morale had disappeared and were ready for surrendering. Source D, a cartoon by David Low (British newspaper cartoonist), is also a primary source, but a method of propaganda. We can see how the interpretation of the defeat of the German Army was being conveyed to the British public. It is quite important to an historian because it shows the outcome of the war and also Britains role in the war. The British were obviously supporting Russia, as we know that they were sending in troops. But also that the cartoon shows us that Russia was greater than Germany. Russia was really an enemy to Britain, but Germany was more of a threat to Britain (so they took the side of Russia). The cartoon shows us that the German army was small in comparison to the Russians. We can also see that it was the Russian civilians who were fighting. This is depicted by the man with a scythe and hammer in his hands, representing the industrial and agricultural workers. They were strong and brave. I think both sources are just as useful as each other. Source C shows an interpretation of the Germans, and Source D shows the interpretation of the British. But thats all, therefore I think the limitations outweigh the positive values. We dont see why it happened or how. However, there are a limited amount of sources which are able to tell all three qualities, why, how and the effects. We do however, have the valuable explanation of the effects. How people were feeling in 1943. 4) The two interpretations of why the Battle of Stalingrad came to an end, are different because the authors intended different points of view to go to a different class of audience. Source E, a primary German broadcast, is intended for the German public, therefore biased and another method of propaganda. This is contrasted with the selected piece from a Russian textbook, a secondary source, therefore biased towards the Russians. Source E, is explaining to the German public that the war had come to and end, with the German Sixth Army being defeated. That the soldiers were brave and the war was not a waste of time. The German Army had held out for a long time. The broadcast tries to get the view across that the German Army is still strong and the reason for their failure was the encirclement of the army and unfavourable circumstances confronting the forces. The reason why this interpretation is different to Source F is because the media had to send out information to make the public still feel safe, and for them not to lose their morale. They make Germany out to still be strong and that they should re-unite even further. Because it needs to give the public a sense of gain instead of loss, it leaves out the bad parts of the war. That the army wasnt supplied well enough. And that Hitler hadnt let them surrender in order to save thousands of lives. The source therefore is giving a biased view on the battle, favoured more for the German government. This is then compared with Source F, which is also biased, in favouring Russia. The source talks about a Great Patriotic war, making them seem more important than the Germans. Most of the source is correct according to the facts, for example that Hitler refused the surrender of the Sixth Army. However, it is written to interpret the German Army as being incompetent compared to the Russian civilians. However, there are limitations to the source. It says that the battle of Stalingrad was the greatest military and political event of the second world war. We know that it was the first turning point, and helped stopping Japan becoming even more involved than it already was. However, there were many important battles and turning points in the war (for example the U.S.As nuclear attack on Japan), therefore the source is biased favouring the Russians as the most important country at that time in the world. Therefore the reason as to why the two sources differ in many ways is because they were intended for different audiences. The Germans had to raise the morale of the civilians, and Russia wanted to make its people think it had the most important role in the war. Neither of the sources committing truth to the facts. 5) The Nazi defeat at Stalingrad was more important to the Russians than to the Germans. This statement is both true and false. In many ways both countries needed to win for many different reasons. For the Germans as a whole the defeat of Stalingrad was not really a necessary thing. Source G, a British secondary source tells us that maybe the battle wasnt a decisive turning point in the second world war, and that Germany was still strong. The Germans had already taken over the Caucacus, receiving the benefits of Russias main coal supplies. However, it was Hitler who had an urge to take over Stalingrad. It was mainly because the industrial town bore the name of the countries leader and possibly held an important position. It was also quite an important town to Russia, and the defeat of it would give Hitler even more power. We know that it didnt really have much benefit to Germany as a whole, as they ended up taking over most of the town with no beneficial effects occurring. As seen is sources A and C, all that happened was that thousands of men were captured and over a quarter of a million men were killed, in the biggest military blow to Germany during the second world war. However, it would have stood them in good stead for the take over of Russia. Germany failed because there werent enough supplies as the reinforcements couldnt keep up, plus the winter had a great catastrophic effect. If Germany had won, then there may have been different consequences. Russia for sure would have been turned into a superpower, with possibly billions of people under the control of Hitler. Britains hopes of winning the war could possibly be over too. If Russia was out of the war, that would strongly increase Japans power, possibly even conquering the U.S.A. Hitler occupied a huge part of Europe. He had to make sure that he kept everyone happy, especially in Germany where revolts and rebellions could have serious consequences. He had to keep the public morale high, which he had done up to now. However, the defeat of Russia would have raised morale even more. Source E and H confirms this view. Source E tells us of the type of propaganda used, and how it needed to be used to keep the people at peace. Source H a second British secondary source which states that the German people started to have doubts about their Fuehrer. They had been following him blindly, receiving victory after victory and now this, the first crisis. This is also backed up by source C, the letter from a German soldier saying he had been deceived and tricked. For Russia the defeat of the Germans was also quite important. Stalingrad was an important industrial town. It would have also been an important step for Germany to taking over the whole of Russia. The town was also not evacuated, it gave the Red Army an incentive to fight for. Also Stalin needed to keep the hopes of the Russian people of a communist state alive. He needed victory for support. Sources B and F show us how important the public view of Russia is. Source B, was predicted to be a propaganda method, trying to make the Russians look good and patriotic. It helped the Soviet morale grow stronger. Source F, which is written much later not only supports the facts but gives a biased view as well. Even years later they seem to need to make themselves look good. All this propaganda is helped again with source D. It shows the united Russia, of agricultural and industrial workers, working to fight the Germans off their territory. They were strong and patriotic. From this we can see that the take over of Stalingrad was necessary for both sides but for the different factors mentioned. Hitler needed the area for a further attack and then finally the elimination of Britain and the U.S.A in the war. Stalin needed to keep Stalingrad as it was a main industrial area and the morale and support of the people needed to be kept high. It was also quite a crucial turning point in the history of the second world war.

Teenage Mother Case Study

Teenage Mother Case Study Introduction This essay deals with the circumstances and challenges faced by 22 year old Betty, who became pregnant when she was 15, and now lives with Candy, her six year old daughter. Betty has been referred to the social services cell of the local authority for appropriate social work intervention. She has been engaging in bouts of bingeing and has in the recent past been suffering from vomiting, weight loss and amenorrhoea. A brief case overview is provided below, followed by its analysis and its various implications for social work intervention. Case Overview and Analysis Bettys mother left her father and her sisters when they were very young because of problems in dealing consumption of alcohol. The child and her sisters were thereafter sent to a home for children, where they lived for many years. Whilst the children did not have any further contact with their mother, they would occasionally receive visits from their father, who worked in a brewery and also suffered from alcohol related problems. Betty and her sisters spent their childhood in the childrens home, from where they first attended the childrens village school and thereafter went to a comprehensive secondary school near the residence of her father. Betty began to develop truancy tendencies in her early teens and became pregnant from her relationship with an African Caribbean person, when they were both 14. She decided to keep her child who was named Candy, rather than give her up for adoption, and was placed in a foster home situated at a distance from where she had lived for many years. With the childrens home closing down, Bettys sisters, followed by Betty and Candy, came to live with their father. All the children, including Betty and Candy, lived with their father for the next 6 years. Betty first met a social worker when she was 22. She thereafter moved with her daughter to a small flat, which she liked and made efforts to make nice and homely. Whilst shifting to her new home proved to be beneficial for both Betty and candy, the death of her father, which occurred soon after she moved out of his home, traumatised her severely. She suffers from bouts of speaking difficulties, weight loss and vomiting and amenorrhoea. Her social service records reveal that she suffered from speech disorder episodes in her childhood as well. Betty has also spoken to her social worker about her difficult relationship with her daughter Candy. Whilst the child is doing well in school and is liked by people, she behaves very badly with her mother. An investigation of Bettys history reveals that she may well have been neglected during her childhood. Both her father and mother had alcohol related problems. Her mother left home when Betty and her sisters were very young, following which she was placed in a home for children. Child neglect can be defined to be a condition, wherein individuals responsible for taking care of children permit them, either deliberately or because of inattentiveness, (a) to experience suffering that is avoidable, and (b) otherwise fail to provide the environment required for the development of their physical, emotional and mental capabilities. Neglect can be physical, emotional or educational (Butler Gwenda, 2004, p 76). Betty and her sisters were taken in the care of social services when they were young and placed in a childrens home. Whilst their physical needs were met adequately and they were sent first to the village and later to secondary school, it is very possible that they suffered from educat ional and emotional neglect (Grinnell Yvonne, 2008, p 46). They certainly did not have anybody to provide them with emotional or psychological support or to help them with their school work. Educational neglect includes the failure of care takers to acknowledge and correct acts of truancy by children, even as emotional neglect can arise from inattention to the requirement of children for emotional support and sustenance (Ghate Ramella, 2002, p 66). It is evident that conditions in homes for children are unlikely to have emotionally or educationally enriching environments (Ghate Ramella, 2002, p 66). Neglect during childhood can have adverse effects on the physical, social, intellectual and psychological development of young people (Ghate Ramella, 2002, p 68). Studies reveal that neglected children are prone to development of insecure, anxious or disoriented attachments with their care givers (Howe, 2009, p 37). Such lack of security in attachment can lead to hyperactivity, lack of attention and involvement in class and lack of initiative and confidence to work on their own (Howe, 2009, p 37). Child neglect is also associated with greater incidence of substance abuse, delinquent behaviour, and early pregnancy (Howe, 2009, p 37). Betty developed tendencies for truancy, both in her school and in her childrens home, and became pregnant when she was 14 from her relationship with a boy of her age. Teenage pregnancy is widely prevalent in UK, with the country having a highest rate for such pregnancies in all of Europe. Studies reveal that girls from social class V are at greatest risk of becoming teenage mothers. Research evidence also reveals higher incidence of teenage pregnancy in (a) young people in care, (b) young people leaving care, (c) homeless young people, (d) truants and (e) young people involved in crime. Whilst parenthood can certainly be a positive and enriching experience for normal people, it can also bring about many negative consequences for teenage mothers (Duncan, 2007, p 307). Such problems include (a) adverse physical and mental health outcomes, (b) lesser chances of completing education, (c) greater likelihood of living in the households of others, and (d) greater probability of being lone parent (Duncan, 2007, p 307). Teenagers who become parents are known to suffer from greater socio-economic deprivation, low self esteem and greater incidence of sexual abuse (Duncan, 2007, p 307). The children of such parents tend to have lower birth weights, lesser likelihood of being breast fed, greater chances of growing up in lone parent families, and greater probabilities of experiencing poverty, poor quality housing and poor nutrition. Such people also show greater tendencies for smoking and alcohol abuse (Duncan, 2007, p 307). Common problems amongst teenage mothers include depression and anxiety during pregnancy, financial, social and partnership problems and more negative life events (relationship break-ups, parental separation and lack of community and family support). Teenage mothers are more likely to diet or to smoke during pregnancy. The high smoking prevalence amongst people facing social and economic deprivation suggests that smoking may be used as a stress coping mechanism. However, there is a close association between smoking during pregnancy and adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, infant mortality and delays in child development. (DHSSPS, 2004, p 1) Betty, whilst she has lived in a designated childrens home, and has been educated in standard schools, may have suffered from neglect during her childhood and has experienced pregnancy in her early teens. Both these experiences can result in adverse physical, emotional and psychological outcomes. A social work report reveals that she was prone to suffer from speaking difficulties in her childhood, which could well be the outcome of an emotional and mental distress at being separated from her parents. This speech disorder surfaced again when she was 22, very possibly on account of her emotional traumatisation at the death of her father, who had provided her with shelter for 6 years after the closure of her childrens home. Her other ailments namely bingeing, vomiting and amenorrhoea could also be related to her disturbed upbringing and her psychologically disturbed state, which appears to have been aggravated by the death of her father. Methods of Intervention Betty is emotionally and mentally disturbed because of the death of her father and the behaviour of her child, Candy, towards her. Such emotional disturbances appear to have resulted in eating disorders, vomiting and weight loss. Apart from these ailments, Betty is also suffering from amenorrhoea. She needs medical and possibly psychiatric help and should be referred to mental health professionals and the local GP for appropriate support. Bettys basic vulnerability arises from her status as a single parent, her past of a teen mother, her lack of earning capacity and her difficult relationship with her daughter. Such problems could lead to reduction of self esteem, depression and consequent mental and physical ailments. Social work practice in such circumstances should first focus on understanding her case and her background and thereafter formulate appropriate intervention strategies. Social workers must in the first case adopt appropriate anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and person centred approaches in dealing with her case (Nash, et al, 2005, p 23).Thompson, (2001, p 7), advances the theory that anti-discriminatory approaches essentially arise from personal, cultural and social (infrastructural) influences that are experienced by individuals over the course of their lives. These influences affect the socialisation of individuals and result in deeply entrenched attitudes that surface unconsciously and influence their actions and behaviour (Thompson, 2001, p 11). Social workers, many of whom come from affluent and educated backgrounds, are very likely to have developed entrenched discriminatory attitudes towards disadvantaged segments of society and could well approach the problems of service users, from different racial, ethnic, social and income backgrounds, with preconceived notions and attitudes (Butler Gwenda, 2004, p 83). Dominelli (2005, p 41) has also time and again emphasised that discrimination is pervasive in UK society and its social work infrastructure. Modern social work theory and practice also recommends the adoption of person centred approaches towards service users. Service users, it is now widely accepted, should be placed at the centre of the social work process; with due regard given to their need for dignity, independence and self determination (Howe, 2009, p 48). Social workers, whilst dealing with Betty, with her history of living in a childrens home, teenage truancy, and teenage pregnancy, can very likely (a) have preconceived notions about her background, upbringing, education and attitudes, (b) take little cognisance of her helpful nature, her love for her father and her affection for her child, and (c) adopt attitudes of I know best condescension in their assessment and intervention practice. It is thus imperative for the social worker dealing with her case to consciously overcome discriminatory attitudes, adopt a person centred approach, communicate with understanding and empathy and involve Betty in all intervention suggestions. The social worker should in these circumstances engage Betty with open ended questions about her problems and difficulties. Betty should be allowed to express herself as completely as possible without interruption in order to obtain a more complete realisation of her physical, emotional and mental strength (Brachmann, 2010, p 1). She should be asked to explain the ways and means in which she has coped with the various crises in her life and asked to explore and discuss her various strengths and weaknesses (Brachmann, 2010, p 1). Such discussions can well help in alleviating her feelings about the difficulties and hopelessness of her situation, enable her to think about positive lines of action and formulate suitable exit strategies (Grinnell Yvonne, 2008, p 55). Betty should be asked to choose the different reasons for her crises, focus on one issue at a time, and thereafter sequentially explore and analyse the different challenges confronting her. Such a strategy will help her to address the different crisis factors and find effective ways to address the diverse challenges (Adams, et al, 2009, p 107). It would thus be possible for her to individually focus on her physical and emotional difficulties, her problems with bringing up her child, and her financial challenges. The social worker should lead Betty in conversations that emphasise non-directive exploration of the various crisis issues (Adams, et al, 2009, p 107). Encouraging her to open up by asking different types of open-ended questions may help in obtaining revelations or in greater realisation of the various issues, which in turn can help her and the social worker in the making of informed choices (Brachmann, 2010, p 1). The social worker, once she expresses something specific or s omething that she would wish to alter, can become more direct in asking her to implement such changes (Howe, 2009, p 53). Betty is now 22 and has brought up her child for 6 years as a teen parent, doing her best at the same time to help as a non earning member in her fathers family. Whilst Betty can no longer be technically classified as a teen parent, she continues to suffer from the vulnerabilities of such people, who are considered to be among the most vulnerable members of British society. Studies consistently reveal that children born to teenage mothers are more likely to have comparatively worse outcomes in terms of physical and mental health and education. Adolescent births are also related to higher levels of mental health difficulties, violence with partners and social exclusion (Coley Chase-Landsdale, 1998, p 152). Contemporary teenage mothers have lesser likelihoods of competing in the job market. With teenage child bearing being automatically disruptive for secondary education, it is far more difficult for such people to complete their education in the more expensive contemporary day enviro nment (Clemmens, 2003, p 94). The children of teenage parents are thus more likely to be economically deprived and socially excluded. When adolescents become parents, their education is likely to be delayed and even discontinued. Their employment opportunities are lesser, their incomes are likely to be low and they are less likely to develop long lasting relationships. Such people often require welfare support for prolonged periods (Duncan, 2007, p 307). Betty, it is evident, suffers from physical and emotional problems. Adequate medical attention needs to be provided to her physical and mental condition in order to ensure that she recovers from the traumatic experience of her fathers death, is able to overcome her eating disorders and develops a stable, enriching and rewarding relationship with her daughter. The UK governments social work policies and infrastructure for teenage mothers provide for a number of intervention programmes (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 2). Social workers provide case management support by visiting teen mothers and members of their families in their homes. Such visits help in promoting problem solving behaviours, identifying personal difficulties and challenges and in finding ways and means for overcoming them (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 2). They encourage mothers to find jobs and pursue their education further. Case managers also plan and hold meetings with such mothers and their family members, wherein all participants work towards developing appropriate support plans (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 2). Social workers help teen mothers by the development of mutual assistance groups, where such people can receive and give assistance between each other. Young mothers like Betty can also be appropriately educated and trained in developing and managing small businesses (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 2). They are, after the completion of such training makes them ready to run their businesses, assisted to develop and formulate business plans for their projects. The funding for start up costs for such project is provided after project plans are approved by trainers (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 2). Social work programmes also provide education in life skills, which is delivered over 8 weeks in group formats (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 7). Such sessions promote the enhancement of knowledge and skills in various areas associated with parenting, social understanding and behaviour management. Leadership development amongst such mothers is promoted by giving them various responsibilities and roles in different types of group activities like planning of social events and development of committees (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 9). Studies on these various projects reveal that their use leads to increase in the educational achievements of mothers and lessens the chances of repeat pregnancies. It also enhances their sense of well being and reduces utilisation of illegal substances. Studies on these programmes are however yet to reveal their impact upon child outcomes (Asmussen Weizel, 2010, p 9) The various techniques that can be used by the social worker to make Betty open up and focus on her various challenges have already been discussed before in the course of this essay. The social worker should, in line with such techniques, encourage Betty to think and discuss about her specific challenges, namely (a) overcoming her present physical and mental difficulties, (b) establishing a stable and rewarding relationship with her daughter, (c) furthering her education, (d) increasing her earning capacity and (e) leading a more enriching and socially inclusive life. Open ended questions and discussions over different sessions on each of these issues can help Betty in becoming emotionally more positive and in finding appropriate exit strategies for her different challenges (Butler Gwenda, 2004, p 92). The social worker can help her in discussing various alternatives like (a) medical and psychological health, (b) counselling sessions with her daughter, (c) formulation of programmes for completion of education and / or increase of earning capacity and (d) greater inclusion in social and community life. Appropriate intervention plans can be made after obtaining taking Bettys active agreement on specific action plans. Conclusion This essay concerns the social and economic and challenges faced by 22 year old Betty, who became pregnant at 15 and now lives alone with her six year old daughter. Betty has been engaging in bingeing bouts and is suffering from vomiting, weight loss and amenorrhoea. Bettys mother left the family when the children were very young because of alcohol related problems. She and her sisters were sent to a home for children, where they would occasionally receive visits from their father. Betty and her sisters first attended the childrens village school and thereafter went to a comprehensive secondary school. Betty began to develop truant in her early teens and became pregnant from a relationship with a boy when both of them were 14. Deciding to keep her child, Betty, her child, Candy, and her sisters spent the last 6 years with their father, following which she moved out with her child to their own small home. She was severely traumatised by the death of her father and is concerned about the negative attitude of her child towards her. She now suffers from eating and speech disorders, is losing weight and experiences episodes of amenorrhoea. An analysis of Bettys history reveals that she may well have been neglected during her childhood. Childhood neglect can adversely affect the physical, social, intellectual and psychological development of young people. Early parenthood can also bring negative consequences like adverse physical and mental health outcomes, lesser chances of completing education, greater probability of living in the households of others, and more chances of being lone parents. Such people suffer from greater socio-economic deprivation, low self esteem and greater incidence of sexual abuse. Social work practice, in such circumstances, should first focus on understanding her case and thereafter formulate suitable intervention strategies. Social workers must adopt appropriate anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and person centred approaches in dealing with her case. It is imperative for the social worker to deliberately prevail over discriminatory attitudes, adopt a person centred approach, communicate with understanding and empathy and involve Betty in all suggestions. The UK government has a number of social work policies and intervention programmes for young mothers. The social worker should engage Betty with open ended questions about her challenges and difficulties. She should be allowed to express herself freely in order to obtain a fuller understanding of her challenges as well as her physical, emotional and mental strengths. The social worker should discuss different options like (a) her medical and emotional status, (b) engaging in counselling sessions with her daughter, (c) formulation of programmes for completion of her education and / or increase of her earning abilities and (d) ways and means for increasing her inclusion in social and community life. Appropriate intervention plans should be made after obtaining Bettys active agreement on specific intervention programmes.

The United States Interaction with the International Court of Justice O

The United States Interaction with the International Court of Justice Over Consular Rights: How Our Refusal to Obey Is Impacting Foreign Nationals and American Citizens On January 9, 2003, Mexico initiated proceedings before the International Court of Justice against the United States of America concerning the alleged violations of Articles 5 and 36 of the Vienna Convention; basically, claiming that the United States is not honoring the consular rights of foreign nationals within the United States . While the proceedings of this case continue on, as they will into 2004, it is engaging and instructive to look at the realities of consular notification in the United States. I have chosen to focus on Mexican and American interactions not just because they are the two countries involved in the case before ICJ, but because the countries are so close, and because the issue arises so frequently. According to Mark Warren, director of Human Rights Research, an Ottawa, Canada-based company that monitors international developments regarding the death penalty, â€Å"there are more then 50 Mexican citizens under sentence of death in the US, many of whose cases, in fact, Mexico would argue all of them, involve violations of international law† (personal interview, 10/6/03). Through an examination of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), American interpretation of this treaty, the role of Mexican consulates in America, and the worldwide repercussions of American actions, I hope to broadly discuss this topic and possible solutions. It is further instructive to investigate the United States interactions with the World Court in previous cases, and possible implications of sub-par consular notification with respect to the current, post-9... ...Grand Case (Germany vs. the United States). Press release June 27, 2001: The Hague International Court of Justice. Mexico brings a case against the United States of America and requests the indication of provisional measures. Press release January 10, 2003: The Hague. James, Anne, and Mark Warren. Equal Protection: Consular Assistance and Criminal JusticeProcedures in the USA. Woodbridge: The International Justice Project, 2002. Rubin, James P. United States Department of State Press Statement. 4 November 1998. Warren, Mark. â€Å"Article 36 Update: Consular Rights in America: Issue 21.† Email to Tambi Cork. 6 May 2003. Warren, Mark. Personal Interview. 6 October 2003. World View Commentary. Ed. Doug Cassel. 8 July 2003. Northwestern University School of Law. 10 November 2003

Dantes Inferno :: essays research papers

The Divine Comedy was a key element to the development of European literature. By writing the epic style poem in the vernacular, he enabled all people of general literacy (ie, the commoner) with the liberty to read his work of art. This was such a landmark event because scholars of the past had always written in Latin including two of the most influential people in his life, the epic poets Virgil and Homer. Latin was the language of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church therefore no one ever thought Dante’s use of the vernacular was capable of such poetic expression. From a mere literal perspective, The Divine Comedy can then be viewed as a pioneer in the defiance of Catholicism. Through the mere title â€Å"The Divine Comedy†, one can further unearth many significant aspects of the poem. A true comedy refers to two classical modes of composition. The tragedy was the first of these styles where the plot flowed from a high and pleasant beginning to an extremely low and destructive conclusion. The second technique is a classic comedy where the plot elevates from depressing beginning to an elevated and triumphant ending. In canto 1 it describes the 1st part of the journey vividly crossing the mtn. He keeps falling and cant quite make it. When the book ends Dante has surpassed a great deal and had learned a lot from his journey.Dante’s work is not solely dependent on either of the two styles rather it incorporates aspects of both approaches. The plot of The Inferno mirrors a classic comedy for it progresses from the horrors of Hell to the joys of Heaven, nevertheless it is constantly presenting the reader with individual situations of tragedy. EX-alive b4 jesus(virgil,limbo),suicides†¦those who are good, gays. The Divine Comedy is a truly universal work for it deals with the most significant question of humanity, the existence of an afterlife and the consequences of our lives on Earth. His convo w Virgil, Dante asks why we are here. this Dante was so confident in his abilities as a poet that he attempted to answer such questions through the voice of the vernacular.

Communicating Information in Radioheads Music Albums :: Internet Net World Wide Web Media

Radiohead It is an important feature of the ideological system to impose on people the feeling that they really are incompetent to deal with complex and important issues: they'd better leave it to the captain. One device is to develop a star system, an array of figures who are often media creations or creations of the academic propaganda establishment, whose deep insights we are supposed to admire and to whom we must happily and confidently assign the right to control our lives and to control international affairs..." --Noam Chomsky, The Chomsky Reader Pasted on the inside of a Radiohead EP, Chomsky's quote serves as a reminder to the point these musicians are attempting to make: the essence of meaning is largely lost when reality is based on modern modes of information. In other words, the information one takes in is delivered in such an impersonal way, via multi-media, that the self is scattered in the saturation of these various mediums in an attempt to order information, or life. The word impersonal is used in the sense that the delivery has little to do with the meaning. Radiohead's latest release, "OK Computer," is about just that. "Everything spinning out of control," says front man Thom Yorke of Radiohead's latest album. Control is lost in the oversaturation of information, in which the complexity of information is so widespread that in a post-modern society meaning no longer adds up to a total, but instead schizophrenic patches with only relation to itself and not to anything else. It is in this where the fear of depthless ness in our society as a whole is felt. Take the advertising used by MTV for example. It is merely a barrage of extremely quick cuts, in which one can barely make out what each image is. First it may be an eyeball, then a car, them some white space, then a mathematical graph, then a plant, etc. After this the network's name is seen with the airdate of its newest show. Nothing had any relation to the next, or to the network or show, save only the fact that they were pasted next to one another. Post-modern critiquers such as Frederic Jameson would argue that this is a staple of post-modern depthlessness and schizophrenia found in today's society. The fact is, this advertising by MTV is seen as exciting and cutting edge due to the realization that today's society is so numbed down by media that the meaning isn't needed in such an advertisement because the medium sends the message of being "cool. Communicating Information in Radiohead's Music Albums :: Internet Net World Wide Web Media Radiohead It is an important feature of the ideological system to impose on people the feeling that they really are incompetent to deal with complex and important issues: they'd better leave it to the captain. One device is to develop a star system, an array of figures who are often media creations or creations of the academic propaganda establishment, whose deep insights we are supposed to admire and to whom we must happily and confidently assign the right to control our lives and to control international affairs..." --Noam Chomsky, The Chomsky Reader Pasted on the inside of a Radiohead EP, Chomsky's quote serves as a reminder to the point these musicians are attempting to make: the essence of meaning is largely lost when reality is based on modern modes of information. In other words, the information one takes in is delivered in such an impersonal way, via multi-media, that the self is scattered in the saturation of these various mediums in an attempt to order information, or life. The word impersonal is used in the sense that the delivery has little to do with the meaning. Radiohead's latest release, "OK Computer," is about just that. "Everything spinning out of control," says front man Thom Yorke of Radiohead's latest album. Control is lost in the oversaturation of information, in which the complexity of information is so widespread that in a post-modern society meaning no longer adds up to a total, but instead schizophrenic patches with only relation to itself and not to anything else. It is in this where the fear of depthless ness in our society as a whole is felt. Take the advertising used by MTV for example. It is merely a barrage of extremely quick cuts, in which one can barely make out what each image is. First it may be an eyeball, then a car, them some white space, then a mathematical graph, then a plant, etc. After this the network's name is seen with the airdate of its newest show. Nothing had any relation to the next, or to the network or show, save only the fact that they were pasted next to one another. Post-modern critiquers such as Frederic Jameson would argue that this is a staple of post-modern depthlessness and schizophrenia found in today's society. The fact is, this advertising by MTV is seen as exciting and cutting edge due to the realization that today's society is so numbed down by media that the meaning isn't needed in such an advertisement because the medium sends the message of being "cool.

Disney Case Essay

The Walt Disney Company, founded in 1923, has been revolutionary in the American animation industry with the debut of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie to be the very first cartoon ever with synchronized sound. In 1954, the company expanded and developed its very own television program known as The Wonderful World of Disney. Later on in the decade, the company further expanded beyond film and television to open amusement parks featuring characters from their beloved film and television series. Since then the company has further grown, deriving revenue from entertainment assets and consumer products and foods aimed at children. In 2004, The Walt Disney Company found itself in the middle of a maelstrom, specifically regarding nutrition levels of their consumer foods. The company was subject to growing criticism from activists, parents and governments around the world who believed that packaged good manufactures, fast food companies and media outlets that advertised Disney products were contributing to the growing obesity epidemic. Disney Consumer Products (DCP), a division of The Walt Disney Company responsible for product development and marketing of Disney-branded merchandise has seen this controversy as an opportunity to reconsider their entire range of food products. Change is being implemented to transition the Disney brand from a large confectionery collection of foodinto one that offers a balanced nutritional diet. In regarding this issue, it is recommended Disney take an active approach and collaborate with their television channel in reaching out to children and teaching them the importance and advantages of healthy eating. As the Disney Channel garners a lot of views, this avenue will reach a wide amount of viewers and may be a positive influence with children. Another recommendation would be to maximize the leverage of the popularity of Disney characters by associating them with healthy eating. This would be similar to the idea of the Popeye character whose strength mainly comes from spinach. As well, it is also recommended that Disney employ a Healthy Food Campaign aimed at parents to establish credibility with them and the government to demonstrate that Disney is taking an active step to help reduce the obesity epidemic. Issue Statement In 2004, health experts have characterized childhood obesity in the United States as epidemic and Europe as not far behind. The dramatic increases in childhood obesity and growing concern from activists, parents and the government have caused The Walt Disney Company to consider the nutritional value of their food products. DCP managers have realized that the company needs to establish credibility with the U.S. government, parents and nutritionists, however, this is a significant challenge due to the company’s existing licensing deals with various candy and treat manufactures and long-standing role as a toy supplier for McDonald’s who is also under constant attack as a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic. Though nobody expects Disney to solve the problem of childhood obesity single handedly, it is expected from Disney to at least take initiative and use its brand strength to reach children. Situational Analysis SWOT The 4 P’s (Product, Price, Place and Promotion) Product: Disney has a great variety of products divided into 5 categories: main meal, side dish, snacks, drinks, and treats. In each category, there are a number of food products with 15% of all products can be classified as treats with the rest of the 85% falling in the other 4 categories. As well, Disney has placed an emphasis on the quality of the goods under the Disney brand. A conducted research shows that mothers appreciated the fact that the products offered under the Disney brand were of high quality. This emphasis on high quality standards has continually positioned the company as the preferred food distributor. Price: Though the retailers sell the products at the normal market price, there exists an extra cost of royalty charged by the company for the advertising effect. Disney wants to be affordable so measures have been taken to reduce costs. Place: Disney has marketed their products through supermarkets such as Wal-Mart, Albertsons, and Safeway. 3 distribution channels have been used: Licensing, sourcing and Direct-to-retail. These channels bring in large steady streams of revenue without much cost. Promotion: Many promotion strategies have been implemented by DCP such as the sticker promotion on various fruits, which have generated a lot of interest in young children. The 5 C’s (Company, Competitor, Collaborator, Context, Customer) Company – Disney, DCP Potential internal strengths:Potential internal weaknesses: -Corporation brand name has powerfully distinguished itself nationwide as one of the best in the entertainment business -Well-known brand name that has lead to high brand loyalty; synonymous with fun and magic -Disney has held the top spots for the world’s most valuable franchise characters. -DCP is the world’s largest licensor -Children are very well familiar with Disney characters-Licensing with McDonalds and various candy and treat manufacturers -Growing criticism from activists, parents and governments around the world about contribution to the growing obesity epidemic -Does not own their own manufacturing Competitor – Entertainment brands DisneyNickelodeonSesame workshopWarner bros. CharactersMickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, etc. SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, etc. Elmo, Grover & Cookie MonsterHarry Potter, Looney Tunes CollaborationKroger, Safeway, Albertson’s, Wal-MartLicensing partnershipDel Monte FoodsReady Pac NetworkFilm & Television programNickelodeon channelSesame Street public television program —– Conceptâ€Å"Better for You†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Every fruit a kid would want to eat with Nickelodeon character† â€Å"Healthy Habits for Life†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Healthier Snack Alternative† & â€Å"The Original Kid Pleasin’, mom-lovin’ dippity delicious snack!†

Ba Main Transformation Process

Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to discuss the main theories, models, frameworks and issues in the area of operations management, using British Airways as a working model, throughout the report. It was prepares for a coursework assignment as part of a Operations Management Module Academic journals and books from the area of operations management were used to illustrate the main points in the report to give evidence and back up the information provided. Key findings of this report show how quality impacts on the development of the operations strategy in British Airways and how the key elements of design contribute hugely in operations. The importance and role of supply chain was discussed and three quality control methods; Quality Sampling, Total Quality Management and ISO 9000 were evaluated to how they could improve the performance of British Airways. Conclusions were drawn and it was found that operations management, based on the points discussed is a major factor to an organisations success. Contents Page Page Number 1. Introduction4 2. BA’s Main Transformation Process 5 & 6 3. Quality & Operations Strategy 7, 8 & 9 4. Design in Operations 10 4. 1Concept Generation10 2. Concept Screening10 4. 3Preliminary Design 10 & 11 4. 4Evaluation and Improvement11 4. 5Prototyping and final design 11 & 12 5. The Role of Supply Chain 13 1. Quality13 2. Speed14 3. Dependability14 4. Flexibility15 5. Cost15 6. Quality Control Methods16 1. Quality Sampling17 2. Total Quality Management 17 & 18 3. ISO 900018 7. Conclusions19 8. References 20 & 21 1. Introduction This report has been issued by University as part of this Operations Management module, in which a company will be selected and used as a working model throughout the report. The chosen company that will be used in relation to operations management is British Airways (hereafter BA). The various elements of operations management will be researched and applied to BA’s main transformation process. This will be done using academic articles and books in the area of operations management to illustrate the main points. The report will begin with an overview of BA’s main transformation process indicating key inputs and outputs and then investigate how quality might impact upon the development of the operation strategy. Next it will review the key elements of design and how this impacts on the operation. Finally the role of supply chain in BA’s operation will be discussed and three different quality control methods will be evaluated to show how these might improve the performance in operations. Conclusions will be drawn and any overriding management issues identified. . BA’s Main Transformation Process The transformation process is a â€Å"model that describes operations in terms of their input resources, transforming processes and outputs of goods or services† (Slack et al, 2008, Page 8) BA use their aircrafts and staff which allows passengers and freight to travel from one destination to another thus, making this BA’s main transformation process. The operations fu nction of a business is the arrangement of the resources which are allocated to the production and delivery of an organisations goods and services. Three roles that are important for an operations function are the implementer, supporter and driver of the business strategy. In this example the operations functions follows the inputs of the transformation process. BA’s main transformation process inputs are the 238 aircraft in service, 32 million passengers, and 760,000 tonnes of cargo that it carried in 2009/10 along with the pilots and cabin crew. These are the transforming resources which allow the operation to take place and results in the service being provided. This uses the transformed resources which can be split into two types; facilities such as the buildings and equipment, and staff who are all the people involved in the operation in some way. (ba. com) â€Å"The main activities of British Airways Plc and its subsidiary undertakings are the operation of international and domestic scheduled air services for the carriage of passengers, freight and mail and the provision of ancillary services† As BA is one of the worlds largest airlines operating internationally, the transformation process can be complicated with many units or departments interconnecting and contributing to the overall operation. Some of the operations with in BA include British Airways World Cargo carrying freight, mail and courier traffic. (ba. com) They key outputs of BA’s transformation process are the millions of transported passengers to over 300 worldwide destinations and the cargo including dangerous goods and live animals. The outputs are services and therefore intangible. 3. Quality & Operations Strategy Operations strategies plan how the function will achieve future goals which are aligned with the companies overall strategy. This can be done by understanding current capabilities and limitations, exploiting current capabilities in quality and process innovation. The basic role of operations is to implement strategy. â€Å"Operations strategy concerns the pattern of strategic decisions and actions which set the role, objectives and activities of the operation† (Slack et al, 2007, Page 63) Operations are the resources that create products and services. There are four perspectives on operations strategy; top down, market requirements, bottom up and operations resources perspective. BA states â€Å"Meeting the rising expectations of our customers’ remains central to our strategy of transforming British Airways into the world’s leading global premium airline† This includes investment in their staff, aeroplanes and facilities in order to provide a premium quality service to their customers. (ba. com) â€Å"Quality is consistent conformance to customers’ expectations† (Slack et al, 2007, Page 539) Relating this to the above strategy of BA the quality of the service would be the friendly and helpful cabin crew, the flight leaving on time, clean aircraft and baggage arriving at the same time and destination as the passenger. Punctuality ensures other operational processes run smoothly and remains a key factor in whether customers would recommend British airways to other travellers† (ba. com). Therefore if BA produces a quality service to all of its customers, it is likely that they will get more business through recommendation s and giving them an advantage over other airlines. As the quality of service that BA provides is paramount to the customer and can be a deciding factor on repeat business, this will have to be incorporated to the overall operations strategy of the organisation for it to be a success. In BA’s 2009/10 annual report and accounts their strategy and objectives include meeting customer needs and improving margins through new revenue streams. Total Quality Management can have an influential impact on this as quality can reduce costs and increase dependability. â€Å"Lowered total quality expenditures, increased level of quality and reallocation of quality resources to prevention and away from appraisal and defect/failure correction activities† (SAM Advanced Management Journal, 1990, Page 25). This supports the above strategy of BA. TQM enables the developing of strategic thinking due to its inter-disciplinary nature† (Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 2004, Page 264) Overall in respect to BA this means that there has to be quality control in place for the overall strategy to be successful. When developing the operations strategy, taking quality into consideration there may be a higher cost initially, however, referring to the research a bove costs may be reduced overall due to less errors and more emphasis being placed on prevention tactics. 4. Design in Operations There are five stages of service design which will be looked at individually in relation to BA; 4. 1Concept Generation If BA were to introduce a new destination to the existing range that they already offer if they decide to follow the market requirement perspective which is â€Å"what the market position requires operations to do† (Slack et al, 2001, Page 65). A lot of people would have to be involved from management at the top down to the customers. Market research would be a good idea to get ideas and suggestions from the customers for the proposed new estination. â€Å"Operations strategy involves translating marketing requirements into operations decisions† (Slack et al, 2007, Page 63) 2. Concept Screening This stage involves the ides going through feasibility, acceptability and vulnerability evaluation. Questions such as are the resources such as aircrafts and staff available, will it be accepted and what may go wrong with it and will it all be answered and evalua ted. At this stage the ideas will progressively get fewer as each one is evaluated until there is only one possibility left. . Preliminary Design Preliminary design is the identifying of component products and services in the package, which in this case is the new flight destination in BA and the process of this will also be defined at this stage. The components of the new flight destination may be the aircraft, cabin crew, pilot, information leaflets and arrangement of new flight path and times. BA is part of a mass service process type in which there are many customers transactions therefore there is limited contact time and not much room for customisation. For example BA cannot put on a special journey for a single person as there are a range of pre-planned journeys for passengers to choose between. 4. Evaluation and Improvement Design evaluation and improvement is used to see if the preliminary design can be improves and this can be done using various techniques including quality function deployment, value engineering and taguchi methods. Looking at Quality Function Deployment (QFD), which is a technique used to ensure that the eventual design of BA’s service actually meets the needs of the customers. For example the new flight destination would have to be where the customers want to go and figure how this can be achieved. 5. Prototyping and final design The final stage of design is to turn the design into a prototype. For the new flight destination this may be running the flight on a trial basis to get reactions and feedback from the BA customers. Through the design process the five performance objectives; quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost will be considered. For example it can be decided if the quality of service will be the same as a regular flight or if it is going to be increased and marketed as a premium flight. Will the flight be dependable and be on a regular basis and will the cost be in relation to the service as mentioned above and if the customers will be willing to pay more. This would be classed as a product layout within BA which â€Å"involves locating the transforming resources entirely for the convenience of the transformed resources† (Slack et al, 2007, page 193). The transforming resources being the people, for example in BA as they can move through the airport in a predetermined route to enable them to get to the aircraft. 5. 0The role of Supply Chain A supply chain can be described as â€Å"A linkage or strand of operations that provides goods and services through to end customers; within a supply network several supply chains will cross through an individual operation† (Slack et al, 2007, page 402) All supply chain management has a common objective to satisfy the end customer and in the case of BA this will be the people travelling on the flight or BA’s World Cargo. As mentioned in the design process the five performance objectives; quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost will have to achieve appropriate levels in the supply chain. These can be looked at individually in relation to BA: 1. Quality For a flight many onboard services are required including the equipment food and drink. By the time the meal reaches the customer on the flight it has gone through many operations in the supply chain. It is important that at each stage there are minimal errors as this multiplies by the time it reaches the customer. Each stage then needs to take responsibility for its own and their supplier’s performance. This can in turn, ensure that the supply chain can achieve a high level of customer satisfaction at the end and therefore increase the chance of returning custom. 2. Speed In relation to BA, speed can mean the time it takes a customer to be served from the time they request the item to when it arrives. For example, receiving a drink in-flight. A fast response may be achieved by ensuring there is enough resources and stock, such as flight attendants and beverages within the supply chain. If there is a large amount of stock then the customers demand will be fulfilled. In order for this to be successful, the products received from further up the supply chain, such as from the manufacturers need to have fast throughput time. Achieving this allows the customer demands to be met if there is stock readily available. 3. Dependability This means that BA has to have to correct stock in the right place at the right time. The airline needs to have the correct number or supplies or more on board at the time of a flight take off to ensure the demands of the customers are met. For example â€Å"If the individual operations in a chain do not deliver as promised on time, there will be a tendency for customers to over order, or order early, in order to provide some kind of insurance against late delivery† (Slack et al, 2007, page 404) A way that BA can control their â€Å"items of low value, fairly consistent usage and short lead time† (Tersine, 1982, page 432) such as beverages is the two bin re-ordering system. This is an effective way of controlling stock levels as it can easily be seen when the re-order point is reached. 4. Flexibility Flexibility is the supply chains ability to manage changes and disturbances. If BA’s stock levels are managed this should allow flexibility so the end customer’s needs are met and done so in a responsive manner. For BA to be flexible all operations in the supply chain must also be flexible. 5. Cost At each operational stage of the supply chain costs are incurred in order to produce the final product or service. A way of reducing costs is through JIT. Just-in-time is a Japanese management philosophy which tries to eliminate waste and always improve productivity. JIT has many roles to play in an organisation as â€Å"Continuous improvement processes are associated with JIT including product quality, process efficiency, information systems and operating value-added activities more effectively while eliminating non-value-added activities† (Wild, 2002, page 61) BA may also incur costs whilst finding the right suppliers or trying to find one supplier of there required costs to cut the cost of their transactions and come to a mutually beneficial agreement for both parties. 6. Quality Control Methods Measures for quality characteristics within BA can include functionality which is how well the service does the job, for example taking people to their required destination safely. Appearance is another which relates to the decor and cleanliness of aircraft, lounges and crew. Reliability, consistency of the flight service and keeping to the allocated times is another characteristic which is important to the service that BA provides. Durability ensures that the service provided is up to date and relevant to the customers needs. Recovery is the ease with which problems can be resolved and contact between airline staff and customers. These characteristics can be measured as variables and attributes. For quality control methods to take place operations must identify how the quality characteristics can be measured and a standard to which it can be checked against. As much of BA’s quality comes down to service it can be difficult to perceive as this has no quantified measure. Quality control uses statistics, process analysis and quality standards, these attempts are to solve the root cause of any quality problems. Quality means â€Å"doing things right, first time, every time† (Slack et al, 2010, Page 505) and in turn this will have a positive effect on revenues costs and customer satisfaction. The techniques of controlling quality that will be looked at in relation to BA are; quality sampling, total quality management and ISO 9000. 1. Quality Sampling This can be done by handing out surveys towards the end of the flight to receive customer feedback. The results can then be used to determine whether or not the quality characteristics mentioned above are up to the correct standards as expected by the customers and what BA wants to achieve. This will not be 100% checking as not every person will take the time to fill this out; however it can give a good indication of BA’s performance. The results of this can then be used to find areas that need to be approved for example the courtesy of the crew or areas that are positive such are the decor and cleanliness of the aircraft. Overall if action is taken this should help to improve the performance of BA. 2. Total Quality Management Total Quality Management, (TQM) means meeting the needs and expectations of customers. This includes all costs associated with quality which are prevention, appraisal, internal and external failure costs. Prevention costs are used to save failures and errors occurring. This can be the training and development of personnel and designing and improving of services and aircrafts to reduce any quality problems. Appraisal costs that could be incurred with BA are the setting of sampling plans as mentioned above and also conducting customer surveys. Internal failure costs, dealt from within the BA may include lost time due to errors. For example if problems occur and a flight is delayed or unable to take off. If a strategy is in place this could prevent this error from happening. Finally external failure costs which are errors going out of the operation to the customer. An example can be an annoyed customer who take up the time of staff at a check in desk. The main aim of TQM is that the processes and products will be continually improved. 3. ISO 9000 Without any quality control methods there is little or no basis to measure and monitor quality performance. Certification to the ISO 9000 standard demonstrates if an organisations quality of service and products are acceptable. This may improve the performance of BA as it gives assurance to customers that the service has to be at a certain standard so therefore there could be an increase of custom. However this could prove costly to train staff and conducing audits. 7. Conclusions The main findings from this report were the effects of quality on the development of the operations strategy and how design also impacts on this within BA. It was shown how quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost form the basis to all the decisions that are made in the area of operations management. It was found that meeting the rising expectations of BA’s customers was paramount and quality control remained central in this. It was suggested that BA could us a survey to receive feedback to work on and improve if appropriate. This could increase the standard of quality of service within the organisation. The five stages of design in operations; concept generation, concept screening, preliminary design, evaluation and improvement and prototyping and final design were identified and evaluated. The role of supply chain was discussed against the five performance objectives; quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost will have to achieve appropriate levels in the supply chain. Quality and its importance were shown how it can improve the performance of BA. In final conclusion it as found that operations management, based on the points discussed is a major factor to an organisations success. 8. References LEONARD, D and MCADAM, R. , 2004. Total quality management in strategy and operations: dynamic grounded models, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management. online]. 15(3). Pp. 254-266. Available from: http://www. emeraldinsight. com/journals. htm? issn=1741-038X&volume=15&issue=3&articleid=851034&show=html www. emeraldinsight. com [Accessed 12th December 2010] www. ba. com [Accessed throughout December 2010] SLACK, N. , CHAMBERS, S. and JOHNSTON, R. , 2007. Operations Management. 5th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited GILMORE, H. L. , 1990. Continuous Incrementa l Improvement: An Operations Strategy for Higher Quality, Lower Costs, and Global Competitiveness. SAM Advanced Management Journal. online]. 55(1). Pp. 21. Available from: http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=10&hid=112&sid=a64d86a6-2b59-4820-89e8-685e3526e9e7%40sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=buh&AN=4601151 [Accessed 13th December 2010] SLACK, N. , CHAMBERS, S. and JOHNSTONE, R. , 2001. Operations Management. 3rd ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited WILD, T. , 2002. Best Practice in Inventory Management. 2nd ed. Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd TERSINE, R J. , 1982. Principles of Inventory and Materials Management. nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Science Publishing Co. , Inc TANNINEN, K. , PUUMALAINEN, K. and SANDSTROM, J. M. , 2010. the power of TQM: analysis of its effects on profitability, productivity and customer satisfaction. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. [online] 21(2) Pp. 171-184. Available from: http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detai l? vid=7&hid=105&sid=15499fbe-0026-4e12-b2c1-b55559c94134%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=buh&AN=47760259 [Accessed 16th December 2010]