Strategy Essay Example for Free

Strategy Essay The word strategy is derived from an ancient Greek word that means to guide or to move. For almost 40 years strategic planning is used as a formalized business process. However, majority of organizations still does not know how to do strategic planning effectively. Because of which most strategic plans fails to accomplish what it was developed for and have no effect on organization and its operations. Due to the recent studies and researches made, awareness has been created among large as well as small organizations towards the development of strategy for effectively achieving the objectives. Strategy is developed to formulate, implement and evaluate the decisions, which enables the organization to achieve its objectives. The success of companies such as Yahoo, eBay and Google are the example of pursuing a clear positioning-based or resource-based strategy with conviction and excelled by changing to keep in tune with the demands of shifting markets and flourishing despite of operating in markets previously considered difficult. The success of the above mentioned organizations also emphasized the need to develop a sound strategy in order to survive in the competitive business environment today. Strategy making determines the long term goals and objectives of the organization and adoption of a course of action to efffectively allocate the resources to achieve such goals and objective. In order to make this process of strategic development smooth and effective the commitment from highest organizational hierarchy is required and also the strategic-planning team should be composed of top-level managers who can represent the interests, concerns and opinion of all member of the organization. Failure to obtain senior management involved right from the start may lead to failure to obtain sufficient company resources for accomplishing task. It is strategy that enables a company to reach its maximum potential by adapting with its environment effectively and answers the three basic questions that every organization faces: What to do? For whom to do? How to do? The answer to above three questions are determined by a three phased strategy development process which involves assessment of situation, setting organization’s objectives and planning the details to achieve the objectives. Assessment involves performance of both external and internal situational analysis, self evaluation and competitor analysis at micro-environmental and macro-environmental level. All business decisions taken are based on organizational and personal values, therefore the strategy should be developed after analysing the organizational and personal values. It allows the strategy development team to have a broader view of organization and its functioning and also includes the analysis of organization’s structure and culture, operating philosophy , personal and organizational values and stake holders. This value assessment is also important because if the strategy plan is not based on the functioning of organization and any party in the organization feels that their values have been neglected they will not adopt the strategy and thus the potential benefits will not be obtained. Moreover, at this phase, an indept analysis of organization’s internal strengths and weaknesses alongwith the external opportunities and threats are made, which is also known as swot analysis. Understanding of strengths and weaknesses of organization’s resources allows the development team allocate the resources effectively and effeciently and enables them to strengthen the organizations resource base for future. Within the organization there are many key areas that need to be analyzed and addressed. It includes the identification of existing line of business as well as the unused resources, effectiveness of controls over the operations. The external investigation should be made towards current and future state of affairs of the competitors, suppliers, markets and customers, economic trends and regulatory bodies. Furthermore, analysis of competitors will enable the strategy development team to define the basis on which business will compete. Such competition depends on company’s capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses in market as compared to that of their competitors. According to Michael Porter, a Harvard Business School professor, competition within an industry is driven by five basic factors such as: Threat of new entrants that probably reduces the high profits, Threat of substitute products or services that can reduce the demand of the organizations product significantly, Bargaining power of suppliers can increase the cost of production, Bargaining power of buyers may force the organization to cut down the prices to maintain their market share and Rivalry among existing firms may result in wastage of resources. Porter also indicates that, in response to these five factors, competitive strategy can take one of the three generic forms: Focus, Differentiation and Cost leadership. The reason why strategic plans fail at this stage is failure of strategy development team to understand their customers that what their needs are and the reason why they buy and inadequate marketing research. Another reason for such failure is the inability of strategy development team or management to predict their competitor’s counter strategies such as price wars and fighting brands and actions taken by government in such circumstances [5]. The second phase of the strategy development process involves the setting of goals and objectives for the organization. Goals are the desired future state of organization , which are derived from from the vision and mission statements and are consistent with oranizational culture, ethics and regulatory requirements. Goals are quantifiable and are to be achieved within a specified time period, there should be no confusions regarding the goals and ideally there should be one well defined goal. Objectives are the short term intermediate/secondary goals that are achieved in order to achieve the primary goals. In order to set the objectives effectively objectives are needed to be categorized, prioritized, balanced, limited, quantified and must be challenging and attainable as well. In order to clarify what the management targets are strategy development team will categorize the objectives and targets will be based on the categories made. Some broad categories where an organization wishes to set their business strategy could be: Financial, Operations, Sales and Marketing, Human resource, Community. Financial objective may be set to measure profitability like: gross profit, operating profits or return on investments. Operational objectives might measure efficiency, productivity or cost reductions [7]. Sales and Marketing objectives may be in terms of sales volume, sales growth or market share. Human resource objectives might be the measure of employee benefits, employee satisfaction or employee turnover. Finallly the social or community objective might be the compliance with laws rearding environmental hazards, equal opportunity employment. The order in which managers generally prioritize their objectives is based on the hierarchy of objectives, that is it is the order in which they care about things. It is this behaviour that causes goal conflict between two different departments within an organization [12]. For example sales department want to maximize their profit and the usually achieve their targets by raising prices which is in conflict to the objectives of production department, therefore strategy development team must consider the objectives which are confliccting in nature and involve senior management of all departments in order to minimize goal conflict. There should be balance in setting goals, if more attention is given to particular areas only there will be a problem when communicating goals to people in organization. Those who are not considered in the objectives will be less motivated and for successful achievement of objectives efforts of all the people in organization is required. strategy development team should consider gaining the commitment of employees who might otherwise ask about their benefit. Further more, care is required for not setting to many objectives and quantification. Setting many objective results in wasting time when setting such many objectives and also shifts focus away from high prirority targets, which results in loss of resources. Objectives should be quantified, that is when objectives are accomplished it should be measurable in order to know whether they are successfully accomplished. More importantly, it should be clear to every one that how much effort is required which is measured when targets are achieved [3]. Quantifying objectives depends on the category of the objective, that is Financial, Sales and Marketing objectives are the easiest to quantify. Whereas, quantifying customer satisfaction is not possible in many cases although number of complaints can be counted or total defective products can be measured [14]. Finally, objective should be challenging and, at the same time, attainable. Strategy development team must know the capabilities of employees of the organization and this fact must be considered when objective is given to them. People in organization should understand that accomplishment of the objective requires that it should be done but such objective should be achievable. During this phase strategy plans fails because of over estimation of resource competence that the staff and other resources were unable to handle the new strategy or the required level of managerial skills were not developed. Coordination failure due to inadequate reporting or rigid organization structure is another reason for such failure. Another problem is failure to obtain employee commitment, when strategies are not properly explained to them or new strategy lack incentives given to the customer. The final phase is the implementation of strategic plan after which it is put to work for an organization. The success of the plan is the support of every member of the organization, which is possible due to the involvement of senior management from the beginning of strategy development process [4]. After acceptance, implementation of the strategic plan into daily activities increases the chances that others will do the same. Strategic plan can be implemented by allocating sufficient resources in the form of financial support, support should also be provided by the higher management personnel in the form of provision of company’s resources that are necessary, proper technical and technological support should be given for successful implementation of the developed strategy. Structure of the organization should be in accordance with the strategy that is; either there could be chain of command or cross-functional teams in the organization. Resposibilities should be assigned only to the individuals or groups that are qualified for that particular task or process. Each and every process should be controlled effectively which includes monitoring of results, comparing the results with the organization’s as well as industry standards, effective and efficient use of resources must be evaluated and required adjustments should be made to the processes in order to contol the variances. One tool available for this purpose is making GAP analysis to to identify the methods for closing the performance gap (variations). Such analysis must be done, without making it much complicated, by simply investigating the differences in achieved results and the the desired results. Feasibility of removing the deviations can be made by evaluating the answers of two questions that what is required to be done and what is not required to be done [8]. Thus for implementing such programs, required resources must be acquired, there should be proper process development and training anlog with their testing and documentation. One another way to successfully implement the strategic plan is advertising. The more the employees hear about the plan, its element and success along with the plan, the greater will be the possibility of adopting it as a part of daily work. It became more significant if the benefits offered are measurable [6]. A sound strategy development process should also prepare a contingency plan and the reason for such planning is to make a reactionary plan for unanticipated high impact events† [2]. Contingency plan identifies the indication that calls for the need to reevaluate the applicability and effectiveness of current strategy. In such events high level of monitoring must be and immediate action should be taken. The reason why strategic plans collapse is a definite redirection from the initial plan, primarily because, as the time passes by there is a major change in direction from the one, which was set at the initiation stage. Since the implementation is a key to proper supervision, not tracking the progress of plan and no accountability on non-compliance is another reason for such failure. One other reason of not successfully implementing the plan is failure to manage change, as strategy development team did not do proper planning, as there may be inadequate understanding of internal resistance to change and failure to understand the relationship between processes, technology and organization. Not making the contingency plan is also another reason for the failure to successful achievement of objective because; in case of unforeseen circumstances no body will be able to run the alternative procedures, which would have been available if contingency planning was done. In short strategy is developed to achieve the organization’s objective by formulating and implementing decisions. Strategy determines the long term objectives and goals and also allocates the resources more effectively. Involvement of senior management make process of strategy making more effective and smooth. Strategy making not only considers the three basic questions regarding the operations of organization but also give answer to these question. Strategy development process is a three phased process in which first the assessment of situation is made considering the environmental, internal and external challenges, then setting objectives by keeping in view the assessed circumstances and the requirements and then finally ways in which such objectives can be achieved by implementing the plans made by strategy department.

Technology of MRI Scanners

Technology of MRI Scanners INTRODUCTION Magnetic Instrumentations are the hardware in the system component of MRI that very significant in the production of Magnetic Resonance (MR) images. It act together with the software program such as pulse sequence and image formation program to complete the process including nuclear alignment, Radio Frequency (RF) excitation, spatial encoding and image formation. The example of hardware in MR imaging are magnet, RF source, magnetic field gradient system, computer system, and image processor. MRI INSTRUMENTATION 1. Define gauss, tesla, and electromagnetic spectrum: 1.1 Gauss Gauss (G) is the older unit of flux density or the unit of low magnetic field strength. 1 Gauss can be define as 1 line or flux per cm2 (Willis, 2009). 1.2 Tesla Tesla unit is the preferred SI unit in larger magnetic field and it can be define as the field strength of 1 Weber per m2. 1 Tesla is equal to 10 000 Gauss (Willis, 2009). 1.3 Electromagnetic spectrum Electromagnetic spectrum is a continuum of all electromagnetic waves or energy arrange according to frequency and wavelength. In MRI, radiofrequency (RF) refers to that portion electromagnetic spectrum which can be generated by alternating current fed to an antenna (Hardiman, 2005). 2. Define paramagnetic, Diamagnetic and Super magnetic: 2.1 Paramagnetic Paramagnetic material such as Ferum, Magnesium and Gadolinium have unpaired electron resulting in positive magnetic susceptibility which induced small magnetic momen. Paramagnetic ion induced large fluctuating magnetic field in external magnetic field. Commonly, Gadolinium (Gd) is used as a MR contrast agent (Ballinger, 1998). 2.2 Diamagnetic Diamagnetic materials have paired electrons such as water, wood, glass, and gold which show no net magnetic moment with the absent of magnetic field. Non magnetic material quickly repels the field when placed in magnetic field, resulting in small negative magnetic susceptibility which contribute to the loss of signal in MRI (Ballinger, 1998). 2.3 Super magnetic Superparamagnetic materials such as iron oxide can be used as t2* as it has magnetic susceptibility slightly higher than paramagnetic (low positive) and lower than ferromagnetic material (high positive). It causes large magnetic moment in the presence of external magnetic field but no remnant magnetic moments when the field is zero (Ballinger, 1998). 3. Describe 3 types of magnet and give advantages and disadvantages of each: 3.1 Superconducting magnet Superconducting magnet have high field strength up to 3.0 T in clinical scanner while 9.4 T in research facility. It is also high in field homogeneity over largest volume. As it provide high field strength, it cause high signal to noise ratio and also fast scanning. It gives low power consumption as it always produce a magnetic field and electric current without primary source (Blink, 2004). Superconducting magnet is high in capital cost and cryogenic cost. It also produces acoustic noise, motion artifact and technical complexity as susceptibility effect is increased when imaging moves to higher field strength (Blink, 2004). 3.2 Resistive magnet The resistive magnets commonly have open designs which make it light weight and overcome claustrophobia among the patient. It been shut off when not in used to conserve the power (Blink, 2004). However, it has limited field strength which below than 0.2 T and low overall volume of homogenous field. It needs high power consumption and has large fringe field (Blink, 2004). Water cooling is required because large amount of heat are generated to produce the magnetic field by an electromagnet (Wang, n.d). 3.3 Permanent magnet Permanent magnets have low power consumption and low operating cost. It also cause small fringe field and does not use cryogen (Wang, n.d). Permanent magnets have limited field strength which is below than 0.3T and give no quench possibility. It is quite heavy and may require reinforced flooring to site the system, particularly if the magnet is not located at ground level (Blink, 2004). 4. Discuss field strength in relation to image contrast: In general, image quality is based on contrast resolution and noise which influence by the field strength of magnet. High field strength provides more signal-to-noise ratio than low field strength. It allows fast imaging that reduces patient motion so that better spatial resolution and image contrast (Thomas Magee, 2003). 5. Discuss purpose of gradient in MRI: Mainly, the gradient is used to either dephase or rephase the magnetic moment of nuclei (Guang Cao, n.d). It also used for slice selection, gradient refocusing, gradient echoes, and gradient moment nulling. It also can spatially locating (encoding) signal along the long axis of the anatomy called Frequency Encoding as well as spatially locating (encoding) signal along the short axis of the anatomy called Phase Encoding (ASRT, 2008). 6. Discuss the purpose of cryogen: Cryogen is used in MRI to supercool the electrical conductor in superconductive magnet. It is because a quench cause a rapid loss of static magnetic field in MRI (Blink, 2004). So, the cryogen usually liquid helium and some liquid nitrogen is used to ensure the temperature as low as -269ËÅ ¡c (-452ËÅ ¡c) are achieve (C.L. Dennis, 2009). 7. Discuss the type and purpose of shielding and shimming: In MRI, RF shielding use copper shielding or Faraday cage to reduce the transmission of electric or magnetic fields from one space to another. Meanwhile, magnetic shielding used to reduce the level of RF radiation that enter or leaves the shielded room (Hipskind, 2009). Passive magnetic shielding use a steel plate while active magnetic shielding employ additional solenoid electromagnet to reduce the area affected by the fringe field (ETS.LINDGREN, 2009). Shimming is used to remove small inhomogeneities which present in the magnetic field (Z. Ren, 2009). It uses metal discs or plates in passive shimming to get magnetic field to a particular level of homogeneity and additional solenoid magnet in active shimming to optimize for each patient examination (D. Tomasi, 2009). 8. Discuss construction, use and selection of linear, quadrature, phase array, multichannel, transmits or receive coil and receive coil only: Linear or surface coil consist of single or double loop of copper wire that use to improve SNR when examine the structure near the skin surface such as temporo-mandibular joint, orbit or shoulder (Blink, 2004). Quadrature or circularly polarized coils contain at least two loops of wire which commonly used today that produce √2 more signal than single loop coil (Zhou, n.d). Phased array coils consist of multiple surface coils which have the highest SNR but limited sensitive area (Zhou, n.d). Multichannel or Helmholtz coil have pair of circular coil that widely used in MRI because of its fairly uniform magnetic field (Zhou, n.d). Transmit/receive coil transmit RF then change to a receive mode to receive the MR signal. It allows acquisition of more slices and reduce artifact. It has complex design and decrease uniformity over volume of interest (Spring, 2005). Receive only coil design only receive MR signal using body coil as a transmitter and they include surface and phased array coil. It has simple design which used together with the transmit body coil to provide uniform excitation over the entire volume of interest (Spring, 2005). 9. Explain the principle of magnetism, the specific of MR instrumentation, and hardware required for MR imaging: 9.1 Principle of magnetism Magnetism not just occurs in ferromagnetic substances like iron. In an external magnetic field, magnetization can occur in tissue but it disappears when the field is removes (Michael N.Hoff, n.d). 9.2 Specific of MR instrumentation Ancillary equipment needs an additional instrumentation for scanning such as ECG leads and respiratory bellows as well as the power injector. It also supplies patient monitoring like ECG, pulse oximetry and fiber optic while patient transportation provide a wheelchairs, stretchers, patient table and step stool (ASRT, 2008). 9.3 Hardware required for MR imaging Other than magnet, gradient and radio frequency system, the hardware required for MR imaging is the computer. It controls all the system and has the pulse control unit as well as array processor for fourier transform and 2D and 3D imaging. Computer also stored the data in the hard drive as well as processing and handling it (ASRT, 2008). 10. Explain MRI imaging chain: Diagram1: Schematic diagram of MRI imaging chain (Anonymos, n.d). Mainly, the central computer controls the scanning operation. It specifies the shape of gradient and RF waveform as well as the timing to be used. Then, the information is passes to the waveform generator before the signal is passes to be amplified and sent to the coils. Once NMR signal has been phase, it is sensitively detected and turned to a digital signal by analogue to digital converter. The image is displayed on a monitor after digital signal sent to image processor for Fourier transformation (Anonymos, n.d). The signal before Fourier transformation called raw data is stored to enable the application of corrections in the post processing. Matrix sizes of 2n are usually used to allow the use of fast Fourier transformation (Anonymos, n.d). 11. Describe MRI quality assurance program: The evaluation of all MRI system should be done prior to and following installation. It must be monitor at least annually to ensure proper functioning and high-quality diagnostic images are produced (ASRT, 2008). For the performance evaluation, it should include the tests phase stability, magnetic field homogeneity, calibration of all RF coils, image signal-to-noise ratio and uniformity for all coils, inter-slice RF interference, artifact evaluation, hardcopy and softcopy fidelity, spatial resolution and low contrast object detectability, magnetic field gradient calibration, intensity for all volume coil, film processor quality control, physical and mechanical inspection, and evaluation of MRI safety (Geoffrey D. Clarke, 2002). In quality control program, the physicist/MR scientist should assist annually on the RF calibration and image SNR and uniformity for the head coil, film processor QC, physical and mechanical inspection, magnetic field gradient calibration, and hardcopy and softcopy fidelity. The corrective action is taken if the parameter falls outside control limit (Geoffrey D. Clarke, 2002). The protocol of acceptance testing include the evaluation of the coil and follow-up procedure or written survey report from the physicist/ MR scientist to the physicians and to the responsible professional (ASRT, 2008). CONCLUSION In MRI system, a magnet is required for nuclear alignment, radio frequency source for excitation, magnetic field gradient system for spatial encoding, computer system for image formation process as well as the user interface, and image processor to convert signal into images. This hardware plays important role along the software program like pulse sequence and image formation program to produce the MR images. However, to ensure proper functioning and high-quality diagnostic images produce, the MRI system should be evaluated through Quality Assurance (QA) program because if there are parameter falls outside control limit, immediate corrective action is taken.

oppertunity costs :: essays research papers

In today’s society, economic decisions made involve the concept of scarcity. There are â€Å"opportunity costs† associated with any choice that you make. In order for an economy to produce more of one type of product, it will be forced to sacrifice units of production of another product. The shifting of resources from the production of one good to another involves increasing sacrifices of the first good in order to generate an equal increase of the second good. This is known as the â€Å"law of increasing opportunity costs.† The economic rational for the law of increasing opportunity costs is that economic resources are not completely adaptable to alternative uses. The opportunity cost of producing a product tends to increase as more of it is produced because resources less suitable to its production must be employed.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prices are a measure of opportunity cost because they provide information about the value of one product in relation to another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The shape of the Productions Possibility Frontier, (PPF), illustrates the principle of increasing opportunity costs (Graph 3). As more of one product is produced, increasingly larger amounts of the other product must be given up. In Graph 3, some factors of production are suited for producing both Product A and Product B, but as the production of one of the other brands increases, resources better suited to production of the other must be diverted. Producers of product A are not necessarily efficient producers of product B and just the opposite, so the opportunity cost increases as one moves toward either extreme on the curve of the production possibility frontier. If two products are very similar to one another, the production possibility frontier may be D’Orlando 2 shaped more like a straight line (Graph 2). As an example, let’s say that two brands of wine are produced, Brand A and Brand B. These two brands of wine use the same grapes and the production process is the same. The only thing that is different is the name on the label. The same factors of production can produce either brand equally efficiently. If an increase in production of Brand B goes from 0 to 3 bottles, the production of Brand A must be decreased by 3 bottles. In this case, the two products are almost identical and can be produced equally efficiently using the same resources. The opportunity cost of producing one over the other remain constant between the two extremes

John Carlos Story Essay -- Sports

The â€Å"John Carlos Story† is a book about the struggles of growing up black in America at a time when much of the nation was still segregated. John Carlos was a member of the â€Å"Olympic Project for Human Rights.† After winning the bronze medal, John Carlos and a friend and teammate, Tommy Smith, who won the gold medal, raised their fists in opposition of racial inequality and in unity of civil rights. This book shows examples of sociology in everyday life which can be explained through theories and concepts, which centers mainly on the event surrounding their win at the Olympic Games. A seemingly non-emotional, non-verbal, non-violent protest over racism was met with a great deal of negativity at the Olympic Games. Because of the location of their â€Å"protest† over racial inequality, many people did not agree with what they were doing. It was not considered socially acceptable to let their opinion on the matters of race play a part of the â€Å"opinion-free† Olympic Games. Instantly, the audience at the game did not like their way of letting the people know of their beliefs as the crowd went silent. As John Carlos stated in his book, â€Å"There’s something awful about hearing fifty thousand people go silent, like being in the eye of a hurricane. Then, as the national anthem played in full force, the calm before the storm ended and the ‘boos’ started coming down† (Carlos 121). Smith and Carlos were then able to walk off the field but it just got worse, â€Å"the shock was gone and it was officially getting ugly† (Carlos 121). The audience started to yell at them and called them â€Å"anti-American† (Carlos 121). Because of the social setting, people did not understand the purpose of what they were doing or what it had represented. There was ta... ... period of time (1968) in which there was no race cohesion and blacks were not viewed positively by some Americans. Also, the place was likely not the proper location for such a â€Å"demonstration.† Again, people had different reactions and to some, Carlos and Smith were heroes. This can be considered â€Å"labeling theory† which focuses on â€Å"how people define deviance – what is or is not ‘normal’-which is a core issue† (Ballantine/Roberts 175). In the end, those that thought he was a hero were helpful to John Carlos and with his book, society accepts him for his efforts and if there are individuals that still do not, they are the minority in society. Works Cited Ballantine, Jeanne and Roberts, Keith. Our Social World, Introduction to Sociology. Pine Forge Press, 2011. Carlos, John. The John Carlos Story. (With Dave Zirin). Haymarket Books, Chicago, IL 2011.

The Use of Appetite Suppressants Essays -- Health Diet Weight Loss Ess

The Use of Appetite Suppressants In the past two decades, Americans and most of the Western world have become obsessed with losing weight. Countless diets, weight loss strategies and gimmicks have been and remain on the market and cost Americans billions of dollars every year. The media perpetuates this ideal of thinness and so people continue in desperate attempts to shrink their bodies. People have gone to extreme measures such as stomach stapling, liposuction and starvation diets to try and take off excess weight. Many Americans are willing to do whatever is necessary to look a certain way, no matter what the cost. Sometimes these costs outweigh the benefits of losing weight. Oftentimes, when people diet and lose weight, they end up going off the diet and gaining the weight back. This leads to a perpetual cycle of yo -yo dieting. Nevertheless, the quest for losing weight remains a priority in many people’s lives. One of the options that many people have taken in attempt to lose weight is the ingestion of various appetite suppressants. The logic behind this is that if one takes an appetite suppressant, they wont feel hungry. Without hunger, the person will ingest less food and by ingesting less food, the person will lose weight. The concept is actually quite simple and has been around for many years. Hunger is â€Å"the physiological need of an animal for food (Lasagna, p.132).† Appetite, on the other hand, is â€Å"the psychological motivation for food intake- which is independent of the individual’s nutritional state (Lasagna, p.132).† An appetite suppressant attempts to lessen a person’s psychological motivation for food, even though there might be a need for food intake for nutritional reasons. Phenylpropanolamine, ... ...rs. New York, N.Y. Morgan, J.P. (1986). Phenylpropanolamine: A critical Analysis of Reported Adverse Reactions and Overdosage. Jack. K. Burgess, Inc. Fort Lee, N.J. Fillmore, C. M. et al. (1999). Nutrition and Dietary Supplements, Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am, 10, (3), 673-703. Silverstone, T. (1986). Clinical Use of Appetite Suppressants, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 17, (2-3), 151-167. Wellman, P.J. (1990). A Review of the physiological bases of the anorexic action of phenylpropanolamine, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 14 (3), 339-355. Greenway, F.L. (1992). Clinical Studies with phenylpropanolamine: a metaanalysis, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 55, 203-205. Alger, S. et al. (1993). Effect of Phenylpropanolamine on energy expenditure and weight loss in overweight women, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 57, 120-126.

Turish Visions For Sustainable Renewable Energy Environmental Sciences Essay

Today, the universe is confronting monolithic environmental challenges. Global heating and clime alteration, ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity, dirt eroding, and air and H2O pollution are planetary jobs with wide-ranging impacts on human populations. In add-on to environmental jobs, there are besides serious security issues associated with the large-scale usage of dodo and atomic fuels. Tensions arise from depletion of planetary dodo fuel resources,4 uncertainnesss in energy monetary values and energy availability,5 geopolitical tenseness caused by the concentration of oil and gas resources in a few parts of the universes and the hazard of atomic proliferation endangering planetary security.6 Political force per unit areas environing fossil fuels can take to unrest, government alterations, and even war. These state of affairss can take to extreme societal hardships.7 Therefore, increasing energy security hazards are a turning concern for developed and developing states likewise. Energy security has, hence, returned to the top of the international docket like in the 1970s8 and now is considered one of the most of import challenges to the universe s peace and security. The conventional energy paradigm is clearly incapable of work outing these important political and societal jobs. This state of affairs has called for a paradigm displacement in energy policy. As a affair of fact, a paradigm displacement in the aims of energy policy is presently taking topographic point – towards security of supply and clime change.7 Sustainability is one of the cardinal constructs of the new paradigm. Cost-efficient, sustainable energy policy should take to cut down energy usage before seeking to run into the staying demand by the cleanest means possible. The planetary tendency at the minute is towards the energy schemes built around the undermentioned hierarchy in energy options from the most sustainable to the least sustainable:9 * Energy preservation: improved energy efficiency and rational usage of energy * Increasing usage of renewable beginnings * Exploitation of un-sustainable resources utilizing low-carbon engineerings The displacement to renewable, energy-efficient and low-carbon engineerings driven by energy security and clime alteration concerns is doing progress although at a slower gait than desired. A passage from fossil fuels to a non-carbon-based economic system will more likely occur, over the longer-term.Global Trends in Renewable EnergyRenewable energy, which constitutes one of the three indispensable pillars of the new energy paradigm,10 has become a high precedence among energy policy schemes on a planetary graduated table. In most states, depending on the on-going paradigm alteration, renewable energy policies are germinating rapidly11 Many states are in the procedure of deregulating and reconstituting their electric power industries. The cardinal passage of the universes energy markets has begun. As illustrated in Table 1 and 2, a figure of developed, transitioning states, and developing states have already adopted some type of policy to advance renewable power coevals. The most common existing policy is the feed-in law13 ( feed-in duties ) , which has been enacted in many states and parts in recent old ages. There are many other signifiers of policy support for renewable power coevals, including Renewable Portfolio Standards ( RPS ) policies, direct capital investing subsidies or discounts, revenue enhancement inducements and credits, gross revenues revenue enhancement and value added revenue enhancement ( VAT ) freedoms, direct production payments or revenue enhancement credits ( i.e. , per kWh ) , green certification trading, net metering, direct public investing or funding, and public competitory command for specified measures of power coevals. In at least 66 states worldwide, policy marks for renewable energy have been implemented. Included among these states are all 27 European Union states, 29 U.S. provinces ( and D.C. ) , and 9 Canadian provinces.14 Table 3 demonstrates that most marks are for portions of Electricity production, primary energy,15 and/or concluding energy16 by a specific day of the month. Most marks aim for the 2010-2012 timeframe, although an increasing figure of marks aim for 2020. There is now an EU-wide mark of 20 per centum of concluding energy consumption17 by 2020, and a Chinese mark of 15 per centum of primary energy by 2020. Most states have set high ends for the use of renewable energy by the center of the century, but present twenty-four hours use of renewable beginnings of energy is dominated by developed states such as the United States, Germany, Spain and Denmark, every bit good Brazil and China, the taking developing states. Hydroelectric power is the dominant renewable energy due to its w idespread usage but air current energy and solar power are fast turning signifiers of renewable energy beginnings. The European Union ( EU ) is soon taking planetary action in speed uping the passage to renewable energy and a low-carbon economic system. Harmonizing to the European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, â€Å" we are at the beginning of 3rd industrial revolution – the rapid development of an wholly new energy system. We can anticipate a monolithic displacement towards a carbon-free electricity system, immense force per unit area to cut down energy ingestion and conveyance on the footing of renewable electricity The EU is heading towards the Third Industrial Revolution by doing some binding committednesss. On March 2007, European leaders signed up to a adhering EU-wide mark to beginning 20 % of their energy demands from renewables such as biomass, hydro, air current, and solar power by 2020. On 23 January 2008, the European Commission put frontward differentiated marks for each EU member province, based on their several per capita GDP. As portion of the overall mark, accomplishing at least 10 % of their conveyance fuel ingestion from bio-fuels is a adhering minimal mark for each member province. Under President Obama, the United States is besides increasing its trust on green energy: 25 % of its electricity is to be generated from renewable energy beginnings by 2025. As a effect of these new policies, planetary investing in renewable energy and the installed renewable capacity of the universe has progressively grown over the past decennary, as illustrated in Figures 1-4. 14 Harmonizing to REN21 Renewables Global Status Report, many indexs of renewable energy have shown dramatic additions in the 2000s. Annual renewable energy investing has reached $ 120 billion in 2008. Global power capacity from new renewable energy beginnings ( excepting big hydro ) expanded to 280 GW in 2008 – a 16 per centum rise from the 240 GW in 2007 and a 75 per centum addition from 160 GW in 2004, as illustrated in Table 1. The top six states were China ( 76 GW ) , The United States ( 40 GW ) , Germany ( 34 GW ) , Spain ( 22 GW ) , India ( 13 GW ) , and Japan ( 8 GW ) . The capacity in developing states grew to 119 GW or 43 per centum of entire with China ( little hydro and air current ) and India ( air current ) taking the addition. A important milepost was reached in 2008 when added power capacity from renewables in both the United States and the European Union exceeded added power capacity from conventional power ( including gas, coal, oil and atomic ) and renewables r epresented more than 50 % of sum added capacity. Harmonizing to European Photovoltaic Industry Association ( EPIA ) , planetary installed solar photovoltaic power grew by 44 per centum in 2009 funded by German subsidies. The planetary solar photovoltaic electricity ( PV ) market counted an extra addition in installed capacity of about 6.4 GW in 2009, making a entire capacity of over 20 GW worldwide. This has been the most of import one-year capacity addition of all time and is peculiarly impressive in visible radiation of the hard fiscal and economical fortunes during the past twelvemonth. Germany was the largest demand market last twelvemonth, adding 3 gigawatts ( GW ) , followed by Italy, Japan and the United States. Germany will probably stay biggest demand market in 2010, ing to the EPIA. In 2010, planetary tive installed PV capacity is expected grow by at least 40 % , while the growing is expected to increase by more than 15 % . Despite strong growing, solar power still provides merely approximately 0.5 per centum of planetary installed electricity capacity. Among new renewables ( renewables excepting big hydropower ) , wind power was the largest add-on to renewable energy capacity. Since 2000, air current power has the highest capacity of all renewables. The Global Wind Energy Council announced that the universe ‘s air current power capacity grew by 31 % in 2009, adding 37.5 gigawatts ( GW ) to convey entire installings up to 157.9 GW. The chief markets driving this important growing continue to be Asia, North America, and Europe, each of which installed more than 10 GW of new air current capacity in 2009. China was the universes largest market in 2009, more than duplicating its air current coevals capacity from 12.1 GW in 2008 to 25.1 GW at the terminal of 2009 with new capacity add-ons of 13 GW. A freshly added capacity of 1,270 MW in India and some smaller add-ons in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan make Asia the biggest regional market for wind energy in 2009, with more than 14 GW of new capacity. The U.S. air current energy market installed about 10 GW in 2009, increasing the state ‘s installed capacity by 39 % and conveying the entire installed grid-connected capacity to 35 GW. Europe, which has traditionally been the universe ‘s largest market for wind energy development, continued to see strong growing, besides transcending outlooks. In 2009, 10.5 GW were installed in Europe, led by Spain ( 2.5GW ) and Germany ( 1.9 GW ) . Italy, France, and the UK all added more than 1 GW of new air current capacity each. 39 % of all new capacity installed in 2009 was wind power, followed by gas ( 26 % ) and solar photovoltaic ( 16 % ) . Europe decommissioned more coal and atomic capacity than it installed in 2009. Take together, renewable energy engineerings account for 61 % of new power bring forthing capacity in 2009. As demonstrated, the air current energy industry has emerged as a major growing sector in a figure of states. Among developing states, China and India are progressively playing a major function in both the fabrication and installing of air current energy. While taking air current turbine makers are based in industrialized states like Denmark, Germany, and Spain, India and China have caught up really rapidly- both through edifice up their ain air current industries and through support for air current energy deployment. Within the last decennary, they managed to come on from holding no air current turbine makers to hosting taking companies capable of fabricating whole air current turbines. It should be emphasized that these states can function as of import illustrations of how leapfrogging19 is possible in footings of industrial development and engineering acceptance in the energy sector.Turkey ‘s Renewable Energy Policies and SchemesTurkey has significant renewable energy potency. Renewables make the second-largest part to domestic energy production and ingestion after coal.20 ( See Fig ure 5 ) 21 However commercial usage of renewable energy in Turkey, excepting large-scale hydropower, has non developed in proportion to its big resource base. Renewable energy usage has been dominated by big hydro and biomass ( largely wood and animate being wastes ) .20 The immense potency of Turkey in renewables like air current, solar, and geothermal has non been used expeditiously until recently22. ( See Table 4 & A ; Table 5 ) 23 Unfortunately, the usage of new renewables ( renewables excepting big hydro ) is hence still highly limited because of low growth.24 Although the absolute value of renewable energy usage grows, its portion of the Total Primary Energy Supply ( TPES ) does non increase since it does n't turn in proportion with energy ingestion as illustrated in Figure 6. So, the portion of fossil fuels continues to increase.24 In the event that Turkey continues prosecuting the same policy, it is more likely that renewable portions will go on diminishing instead than increasing. Just as, entire portion of renewable in TPES has declined depending on, chiefly, diminishing biomass usage ( Table 5 ) 23 and the turning function of natural gas in the system. It has been estimated that the portion of renewable energy will diminish to % 9 of TPES in 2020.20 As illustrated in Figure 7, the portion of installed renewable capacity in entire installed capacity dramatically decreased in the last decade.25 In add-on, Turkeys extremely supply-oriented energy policy dominated, with accent placed on guaranting extra energy supply to run into the turning demand, while the sustainability standards remained a lower precedence. Turkey is presently faced with serious environmental and energy security challenges. As illustrated in Figure 8, the portion of imported fuels continues to increase and more than approximately 70 % of the entire primary energy ingestion in the state is met by imports.25 And as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, entire CO2 emanations are quickly increasing.25 Energy strength remains excessively high in comparing to the other OECD Countries.26 Therefore, environmental and energy security hazards continue to increase in Turkey. Turkey s energy state of affairs is obviously unsustainable and in struggle with the emerging energy paradigm every bit good as with modern-day planetary energy tendencies. Changing these unsustainable forms is one of the chief challenges for Turkey. It is clear that the bing renewable energy potency must be realized in a sensible clip period. It is a measure in the right way that determination shapers in Turkey have already on the docket to use hydro and renewable resources such as air current, and geothermic energy to run into in demand in a sustainable mode. Recently, advancement has been made with respect to renewable energy ordinances. The Electricity Market Law, which was enacted in March 2001, authorized the Energy Market Regulatory Agency ( EMRA ) to take the necessary steps to advance the use of renewable energy resources27. The First Renewable Energy Law No. 5346, entered into force in 200528. The Renewable Energy Law was a cardinal measure for beef uping the state ‘s decentralized renewable energy sector. However, much more still needs to be done. It is an pressing demand to better the state ‘s Renewable Energy Strategy. Turkey is besides seeking to take new stairss for exciting renewable energy usage and investings to speed up the passage to renewable energy. Following the passage of the Renewable Energy Law No. 5346 in May 2005, investor involvement in the renewable energy sector has risen distinctively29 This is particularly the instance in relation to the coevals of electricity through hydro workss and air current farms22. A crisp addition in the figure of license appliers for renewables has occurred. Despite a rise in the Numberss, the involvement in renewable energy undertakings was hindered by the loaners ‘ reluctance because of the uncertainness in the purchase warrants. As a consequence, the authorities introduced an of import series of amendments in 200730 and 200831. The amendment to the jurisprudence in May 2007 secured a changeless purchase monetary value for all types of renewable beginnings. Current inducements to advance renewable energy by The Electricity Market Law with No. 4628 and Renewable Energy Law with No. 5346 are shown in Table 6.32 Following these amendments important advancement has been made. As illustrat ed in Table 7, a sum of 601 renewable undertakings with a capacity of 15500 MW have been licensed by 2009.22 The attempts successfully resulted in significant additions in the air current and geothermic capacity, as illustrated in Figures 11-12. However, as Tables 4 and 7 demonstrate22 solar capacity has non developed and it clearly needs farther publicity. Therefore, a Draft Amendment to the Renewable Energy Law has late been prepared in order to supply farther inducements to the renewable energy sector. This Draft Law will turn to issues such as the finding of different purchase monetary values for the electricity produced from different types of renewable energy, simpler trade mechanism for renewable pool, and extra support in ness electro-mechanical equipment manufactured in Turkey. Harmonizing to this Draft Law, different monetary values changing from Euro Cent 5 /kwh t0 Euro Cent 18 /kwh w^ ^e applied to the purchase of eleetricity depending on the type of renew. able energy r esource used ( seeTable 8 ) .32 It is considered to be a more realistic attack than the Renewable Energy Law since it contemplates the application of higher and different monetary values depending on the type of renewable energy resources, and therefore, responds better to the demands of the sector. The purpose is chiefly to spread out the use of solar energy for bring forthing electrical energy in Turkey. However, the Last Amendment to the Renewable Energy Law has yet to be implemented. The Draft Amending Law was supposed to go through the National General Assembly on June, 2009. But it was suspended to reconsider purchase monetary values because it would make an excess load on the exchequer. It is still under treatment in the Turkish National General Assembly. Turkey is besides now at the phase of puting marks for renewable energy development. The Higher Board of Planning adopted the â€Å" Electric Energy Market and Supply Security Strategy Paper † 33 in May 2009. In this Strategy Paper, the long term primary mark is â€Å" to guarantee that the portion of renewable resources in electricity coevals is increased up to at least 30 % by 2023. † This scheme papers was published as a general route map to increase the portion of renewable energy in electricity coevals. Within the model of the Strategy Paper, long term attempts will take into consideration the following marks by 2023: * Ensure that available technically and economically hydro- electric potency is to the full utilised, * Increase installed weave energy power to 20,000 MW, * Commission all geothermic potency of 600 MW that is presently considered as suited for electric production, * Generalize the usage of solar energy for bring forthing energy and guarantee maximal use of state potency, * Follow and implement closely technological progresss in the usage of solar energy for electricity coevals, * Amend consequently the Law No. 5346 to promote coevals of electricity utilizing solar energy, * Prepare and bring forth programs that will take into history the possible alterations in use potencies of other renewable energy resources based on technological and legislative developments and in instance of additions, use of such resources, portion of fossil fuels and peculiarly of imported resource, will be reduced consequently. Recently, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources prepared its Strategic Plan covering the period between 2010 and 2014.25 Increasing the portion of renewable energy resources is one of the programs ends to supply energy supply security. Near-term marks are the undermentioned: * The hydro electricity programs of 5,000 MW under building will be completed by 2013. * The air current works installed capacity, which was 802.8 MW as of 2009, will be increased up to 10,000 MW by 2015. * The installed capacity for the geothermal works will be increased from 77.2 MW in 2009 up to 300 MW by 2015. Both of this long term and close term scheme programs are non, on their ain, lawfully adhering. It is, nevertheless, expected that their commissariats will be incorporated into future ordinances and statute law.ConsiderationsAlthough Turkey has important renewable energy resources for electricity production, this potency has non yet been used expeditiously. The legislator in Turkey has taken of import stairss in order to advance the usage of renewable energy resources in the production of electricity and to promote the investings in this market. However, Turkey is doing comparatively slow advancement in the realisation of its purposes of renewable energy. The ground for this is that policies and steps adopted in the state taking to heighten the usage of renewable energy beginnings are chiefly driven by the demands of the EU accession procedure. It seems that Turkey could n't internalise the new energy paradigm specifically plenty, although it has adapted to the EUs ordinances. First of wholly, the paradigm alteration should right be understood and internalized by the Turkish authorities. This would let the authorities to put up a legal and institutional model conducive to this new energy paradigm, draws up the specifications of what the energy system of the hereafter should look like, and formulate policy following the new energy paradigm. Second, the administrative staff should be educated and trained on how to implement and internalise the new energy paradigm, because one of the cardinal facets of this procedure is a conceptual re-invention of how energy ingestion and production is done and how the related establishments operate. Turkey should set about comprehensive attempts to get rid of the failings in its policies and ordinances and how they are implemented. It is a race against the clip as prima states compete with each other in this race towards the Third Industrial Revolution. If Turkey does n't desire to lose out on the Third Industrial Revolution, and if it wants to catch up with taking developing states, such as China and India, which managed to catch up with the developed states, it should instantly speed up the passage procedure to renewable energy. Technological leapfrogging is one of the ways to accomplish this goal.34 From a conventional point of position, developing states passively adopt engineering as standard merchandises, which have been developed in industrial states. However, leapfrogging represents an attractive option for these late industrializing states. The function of technological leapfrogging within a sustainable development context35 is non automatic, since leapfrogging entirely does non vouch or even promote prosperity. However, from a more philosophical position, it has been argued that there is, in fact, no option to leapfrogging for developing countries.36 If these states do non try to update their engineerings, they face exclusion from the planetary mainstream economic tendencies every bit good as continued want and poorness for their people. Turkey should besides non reiterate the energy history of the industrialised countries37. Similarly to the success narratives of the Indian and Chinese air current i ndustries, leapfrogging chances may besides be for Turkey with its huge potency of renewable resources. Decision shapers in Turkey should internalise the construct of leapfrogging as an built-in portion of their renewable energy vision and should seek to implement its many possible applications. However, in order to protect the investing of the state ‘s scarce resources available for advanced engineerings, as is the instance in most underdeveloped states, and to separate between fortunes where leapfrogging may or may non be successful, careful and elaborate analyses should be carried out.Endnotes1. Rajni Bakshi, â€Å" A new energy paradigm, † The Hindu, Online edition of Indias National Newspaper, Dec. 24, 2000. 2. Amulya Kumar N. Reddy, â€Å" Development, Energy and Environment Alternative Paradigms † , retreived from hypertext transfer protocol: //amulya-reddy.org.in 3. P. D. Rakin and R. M. Margolis, â€Å" Global Energy, Sustain ability, and the Conventional Development Paradigm, † Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, Vol. 20, No. 4, ( 1998 ) , pp. 363-383. 4. Hal Turton and Leonardo Barreto, â€Å" Long-run security of energy supply and clime alteration, † Vol. 34. No. 15 ( October, 2006 ) , pp. 2232-2250. 5. Eshita Gupta, â€Å" Oil exposure index of oil-importing states, † Energy Policy, Vol. 36, ( January, 2008 ) , pp. 1195-1211. 6. James P. Dorian, Herman T Franssen and Dale R. Simbeck, â€Å" Global challenges in energy, † Energy Policy, Vol. 34, No. 15 ( October, 2006 ) , pp. 1984-1991. 7. Valeria Costantini, Francesco Gracceva, Anil Markandya and Giorgia Vicini, â€Å" Security of energy supply: Comparing scenarios from a European position, † Energy Policy, Vol. 35, No. 1 ( January, 2007 ) , pp. 210-226. 8. William J. Nuttall and Devon L. Manz M. Totten, â€Å" A New Energy Security Paradigm for the Twenty- First Century, † EPRG Working Paper, retrieved May 1, 2010, from hypertext transfer protocol: //wwweprg.group.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/ll/eprg0731.pdf 9. Energy Policy Statement: 09/03, Institution of Mechanical Engineers retrieved May 2010 from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.imeche.Org/NR/rdonlyres/9C7E8DCD-150C-4ECA-A387-D71DEAAAAFAD/0/Energy HierarchylMechEPolicy.p df 10. Jeremy Rifkin, â€Å" Leading the Way to the Third Industrial Revolution and a New Social Europe in the twenty-first Century, † European TIR Paper, retrieved May, 2010, from hypertext transfer protocol: //wwwfoet.org/packet/ European.pdf. 11. Roland Menges, â€Å" Supporting renewable energy on liberalised markets: green electricity between additionality and consumer sovereignty, † Energy Policy, Vol. 31 ( 2003 ) , pp. 583-596. 12. REN 2! ( Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21th Century ) , â€Å" Renewables Global Status Report 2009 Update, † retrieved May, 2010 from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ren21.net/pdf/RE_GSR_2009_Update.pdf 13. A legal duty on public-service corporations to buy electricity from renewable beginnings. 14. REN 2! ( Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21th Century ) , â€Å" Renewables Global Status Report 2007, † retrieved on May 2010 from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/g2007.asp. 15. Energy that has non been subjected to any transition or transmutation procedure. 16. Form of energy available to the user following the transition from primary energy bearers such as rough oil, natural gas, atomic energy, coal and regenerative energies. 17. Sum of the energy supplied to the concluding user for all energy utilizations. 18. A. Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner, â€Å" European Response to energy challenges? Address at the EU Energy and Environment Law and Policy Conf Brussels ( January 22, 2009 ) , retrieved May, 20 10, from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.energypolicyblog.com/2009/02/ 10/european-union-at-the-eve-of-the-thirdindustrial-revolution % E2 % 80 % 9D/ . 19. Technology leapfrogging is a term used to depict the bypassing of technological phases that other states have gone trough. This is the definition used by Edward Steinmueller in the paper titled â€Å" ICTS ‘ and the ; Possibilities for Leapfroging by Developing States, † International Labor Review, Vol.140, No.2 ( 2001 ) , p. 194. 20. International Energy Agency, â€Å" Energy Policies of IEA Countries, Turkey 2005 Review † , 2005. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. iea. org/textbase/npp df/f ree/200 5/turkey200 5.p df 21. F. Cecen, â€Å" Opportunities in Turkish Electricity Market † ( May, 2009 ) retrieved May 1, 2010, from http// World Wide Web. the- Ate. org/events/c09/content/presentations/B2- Cecen- Firat-ICTAS.pdf 22. Burak Dilli, General Overview of Turkish Electricity Sector: Privatization & A ; Renewable Energy, PP Presentation hypertext transfer protocol: //www.the-atc.org/events/c09/content/presentations/B2-Dilli-BudakMinistryOfEnergy.p df 23. â€Å" Mediterranean Energy Perspectives 2008, † Observatoire Mediterraneen de l'Energie ( OME ) , 2008, retrieved April 1, 2010, from htpp//www omeenergie.com/mp-2008- 12- 5-en-335.pdf, pp. 315-378. 24. Zeki Aybar Eris, , â€Å" Great Wind Potential of Turkey, † POWER-GEN Europe 2007, Feria de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, June 26-28, 2007, p. 18-26. 25. The Repudie of Turkey Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Strategy Plan 2010-2014, Ankara, 2010. 26. Erdal Aaˆ?alikoglu, â€Å" Energy Efficiency in Turkey † , TAIEX Workshop 25625 on Demand Side Management in Energy Efficiency, November 22-23, 2007, General Directorate of Electric Power Resources, Survey and Development Administration, Ankara, Turkey, retrieved May, 2010, from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.eie.gov.tr/ duyurular/EV/TAIEX/ taiex_sunular.html. 27. Dirk Gaupp, â€Å" Turkeys New Law on Renewable Energy Sources within the Context of the Accession Negotiations with the EU, † German Law Journal, Vol. 08, No. 04 ( 2007 ) , pp. 413-416. 28. Deger Boden, â€Å" Circuit Makers † , IFLR, International Financial Law reappraisal, ( June 1, 2009 ) . 29. HergAA?ner Bilgen A-zeke, â€Å" Turkey: The New Law on Renewable Energy Resources, † Environmental & A ; Energy, ( April 4, 2007 ) . 30. â€Å" Law on Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources for the Purpose of Generation Electricity, † Official GazetteNo. 24335, dated 10.05.2005 ( Law No. : 5346 ) , Last Amendment: Official Gazette No. 26510, dated 02.05.2007. 31. â€Å" Law on Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources for the Purpose of Generation Electricity, † Official GazetteNo. 24335, dated 10.05.2005 ( Law No. : 5346 ) , Last Amendment: Official Gazette No. 270522, dated 03.12.2008. 32. Energy, Utilities & A ; Mining Sector, â€Å" Renewables Report On the cheery side of the street* Opportunities and challenges in the Turkish renewable energy market Industries, † ( August 2009 ) retrieved May, 2010, from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pwc.com/tr_TR/tr/publications/Assets/Renewables_Report_On_the_sunny_side_of_the_street.pdf. 33. â€Å" Turkeys Electric Energy Market and Supply Security Strategy Paper † with Res. No. 2009/1 1, dated 18.09.2009. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.enerji. gov.tr/yayinlar_rap orlar/ Arz_Guvenligi_Stratej i_Belgesi.p df 34. Hasan Saygm, â€Å" Technological Leapfrogging in Energy in Developing States, † Enerji, Vol. 11, No. 1 ( Ocak, 2006 ) , p. 27. ( in Turkish ) 35. Robert Davison, Doug Vogel, Roger Haris and Noel Jones, â€Å" Technology Leapfrogging in Developing Countries- an Inevitable Luxury, † Vol. 1, No. 5 EJISDC ( 2000 ) , pp. 1-10. 36. W. Edward Steinmueller, â€Å" ICTs and the possibilities for Leapfroging by Developing States, † International Labour Review, Vol. 140, No. 2 ( 2000 ) . 37. Hasan Saygin, â€Å" Zero Emission Technologies for battling Global Heating, † Enerji, Vol. 11 ( Mart, 2006 ) No. 3, p. 25.

Domestic Animal Abuse Essay

Domestic animal abuse is a difficult topic to separate from the agendas of those who would prevent it. The reports are certainly horrible enough on their own: a husband and wife are arrested for shipping 182 animals—mostly collies–in a tractor-trailer truck, a house is found filled with filthy, dying cats, dogs, and birds; hundreds of dogs die annually from being left unattended in the cars during the summer heat. Of course, animals do not need to die en masse for abuse to take place. Every day, family pets are forced to suffer abuse that would be otherwise aimed at human family members, they are tied outside without food and water, or they are simply ignored to death. Combating animal abuse can be difficult, however. In addition to the agendas shaping any efforts against it, no single legal definition exists for what constitutes domestic animal abuse. Because of this lack of a single definition, there can be no single form of prosecution. Yet, the significance of animal abuse goes far beyond that of the obvious cruelty to animals. It can be used as a predictor for people who develop sociopathy and has been connected with the occurrence of domestic abuse in the home. This paper will be used to discuss some of the difficulties that are associated with defining and legislating domestic animal abuse. It will also offer some discussion of the effects of this pervasive problem. Defining Domestic Animal Abuse Despite all of the annual occurrences of domestic animal abuse, there is no single definition for what constitutes such abuse. Animal rights extremist organizations, such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), the Humane Society for the United States (HSUS), and the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) all believe that any use of animals constitute animal abuse. Ultimately, according to these organizations, any â€Å"use† of domestic animals constitutes abuse; even merely keeping a pet in one’s home is an abusive act. Using this reason any animal husbandry, from raising chickens for eggs, to keeping cows for milk, or any participation in the meat or fur industry constitutes abuse. Medical science represents the worst of these abuses, since it â€Å"takes away the rights† of an animal by sacrificing its health or life in favor of preserving human health or lives (Goodwin and Morrison). Legal definitions of domestic animal abuse, or animal cruelty, are much broader than this very narrow stance. Many state laws define animals as being â€Å"vertebrate animals† that are not human beings, although some states also include birds such as parrots or sparrows, as well. Other states do not refer to what defines an animal at all. In addition, some states do not permit fish or shellfish to be included in the discussion. If the laws concerning the definition of â€Å"animal,† â€Å"pet† or â€Å"companion animal† are so variable, then it should come as no surprise that laws defining abuse itself are varied, as well. However, it is common to break cruelty to animals down into two broad categories: passive (acts of omission) and active (acts of commission). Although there are no clearly defined categories for these acts or inactions, there are certain â€Å"patterns of behavior† that occur under the overall umbrella of â€Å"animal cruelty† or abuse (â€Å"Animal Cruelty,† n. d. , par. 1). Passive acts of cruelty are sometimes called â€Å"animal neglect. † These kinds of cruelty usually involve withholding something from the animal, such as food or water. In addition, passive acts might include failure to act if a pet becomes infested with any kind of parasite or if a collar becomes embedded into a pet’s skin due to the growth of the pet (Pet-Abuse. com pars. 4-5). In general, neglect is treated as a minor offense if only one animal, or a small number of animals, is involved. The severity of the crime increases, however, with and increasingly large number of animals involved. Neglect cases may also be divided between unintentional neglect, caused by ignorance, and intentional or â€Å"willful† neglect, caused by knowingly mistreating an animal (Lockwood, 2006, p. 19). Active acts of cruelty include violence against animals, often referred to as â€Å"torture,† â€Å"malicious intent,† or â€Å"non-accidental injury† (â€Å"Animal Cruelty,† n. d. , par. 6). Such abuse is of greater concern than is passive animal abuse. Some forms of violent active animal abuse is associated with other crimes, such as domestic abuse or child abuse. These abuses can also be used as a predictor of other crimes. Both of these observations will be expanded upon in a later section of this paper. Animal hoarding, organized â€Å"sporting† abuse, ritualistic abuse, and the use of animals for sexual gratification are all forms of active animal abuse (Lockwood, 2006, pp. 20-23). All of these forms of animal abuse are serious issues, causing both concern and expense for the community as a whole. Even animal hording, which is sometimes caricatured in movies–perhaps with an elderly female character with a house full of skinny, yowling cats–should be a matter of concern for society. Due to the hidden concerns of this form of abuse somewhat more discussion will be given to this form of abuse than the other three mentioned. Animal hoarding is a familiar to many of us; however, it is not always recognized for the problem that it is. It seems to be increasingly common to hear about a raid on a home that contains dozens, if not hundreds, of malnourished and half-wild animals, even if it is only reported as a â€Å"human interest† story or in the late-night television comedian’s monologue. However, according to Patronek, Loar, and Nathanson (2006) animal hoarding: is an important, misunderstood, and under-recognized community problem that affects both human and animal welfare. It is responsible for substantial animal suffering and property damage. Often associated with adult self-neglect, animal hoarding can also place children, elders, and dependent adults at serious risk and can be an economic burden to taxpayers. (p. 1) Although not always recognized as a problem, animal hoarding is relatively easy to identify. It is characterized by four factors: 1) the lack of the minimum physical care needed by the animals, 2) the abuser’s inability to recognize the abuse, 3) the obsession to continue collecting animals even when the number of animals housed exceed the ability to provide ideal living conditions, and 4) the abuser’s denial that the declining conditions exist (Patronek, Loar, & Nathanson, 2006, p. 1). Despite these common factors, however, animal hoarding is not a simple problem to contain. Several different kinds of animal hoarding exist, from the fairly benign â€Å"overwhelmed caregiver† to the person who acquires animals only to exploit them. Because of the variability of situations in which a person might begin hoarding animals, these classifications are fluid and characteristics might overlap. Sporting abuse is, fortunately, not as widespread as it was even 100 years ago. However, although most people think automatically of dog fighting and chicken fighting when animal â€Å"blood sports† are mentioned, others also exist. Despite their cultural acceptance, blood sports such as bullfighting in Spain and pit sports, such as fighting dogs and wild hogs in the Southeastern United States, might still be considered animal abuse. Ritualistic abuse is considered above and beyond the ability to sacrifice animals in the practice of a religion. While religious animal sacrifice is not included in most animal abuse statutes, it is often carefully defined and controlled by the law. Other forms of ritual animal killing is considered abuse and may be an indication that person committing the act has other serious psychological issues at work. This kind of abuse is incites communities to an emotional furor, due to the association that it has with allegedly satanic rituals and other â€Å"hot button† issues. For this reason, this kind of abuse is particularly disruptive to the community. Finally, some people find sexual gratification in congress with animal â€Å"partners,† known as â€Å"bestiality. † In truth, there is no â€Å"partnership† between the human abuser and the animal being abused in such a manner. Animals cannot voluntarily decide to take a human being as a mate or not. Therefore, they must be forced to act against their instinctive drives in order to comply with their human â€Å"partner’s† desires. This act of force is a violation of animal abuse laws in many nations (Lockwood, 2006). However, it should be noted that stimulation of an animal to collect sperm for frozen or cold storage for the purposes of artificial insemination is not considered bestiality. Other Laws Concerning Animal Abuse Not all nations agree on what constitutes animal abuse. While tail docking and ear cropping is currently legal in the United States, it is considered a form of animal mutilation in the United Kingdom. The Animal Welfare Act, signed by Elizabeth II in 2006, extends animal abuse laws to include invertebrates and gives municipalities to include animals in their â€Å"foetal or embryonic form,† should they choose to do so (p. 1). However, they may only do so as long as â€Å"the appropriate national authority is satisfied, on the basis of scientific evidence, that animals of the kind concerned are capable of experiencing pain or suffering† (Animal Welfare Act, 2006, p. 1). This act also clearly defines the terms â€Å"protected animals† and â€Å"unnecessary suffering† for the purposes of the law, as well as the manner by which individuals can be held responsible for that suffering (Animal Welfare Act, 2006, p. 2). It is interesting to note that only domestic animals are defined as â€Å"protected† animals; no matter what the behavior perpetrated upon them, wild animals, by definition, cannot be abused. Germany, like the rest of the European Union, attaches a moral stance to the protection of animals through their laws. This stance is in contrast to that of the United States, which protect animals in terms of property laws. Although the European perspective may appear to be superior to some, both positions have some advantages. Moral stances are not always objective ones; however, objective stances sometimes reduce decisions to a quantifiable decision-making process, which does not always allow for human needs and opinions to enter into the equation. In addition to laws concerning the abuse and husbandry of all domestic animals, the German law also defines limits for those individuals who wish to breed domestic animals. However, with all of these limitations, The German law does not specifically cover the hoarding of animals. The Significance of Animal Abuse Animal abuse is not only significant because it brings harm to sentient beings that humans should have an obligation to protect, it is also significant because of its relationship to other problems that plague society. These issues are not limited to any one race, ethnic group, religion, age, or income level. According to Lockwood (2006) juveniles perpetrate approximately one third of all animal abuse crimes (p. 33). In such cases, animal abuse might be indicative of abuse being perpetrated within the home, either against the juvenile or another family member, or it may indicate mental disease on the part of the juvenile him or herself (Lockwood, 2006). Lockwood identifies 15 major factors in determining the danger that the animal abuser presents to society. This list includes the vulnerability and the number of the animal victims, the severity and the repetition or number of forms of abuse on the victim(s), any threats that the animal abuse might have been meant to reinforce, and the manner of recording, if any, of the abuse (p. 35). Research reported in the Juvenile Justice Bulletin (JJB) (2001) indicates a link between conduct disorder in children and animal abuse. â€Å"Conduct disorder† as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV) is â€Å"a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated† (par. 1). In addition, the child must conform to at least three of 15 other indicators for the disorder. One of these 15 indicators is animal abuse, which may range in intensity from mild teasing to torture and killing beginning at the age of approximately 6. 5 years of age (Juvenile Justice Bulletin, 2001, par. 2). Children with Operational Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder (CD) often go on to become serious offenders as adults. Children with CD often go on to be described as sociopaths later in life, as well. According to the JJB, the differences between children who abuse animals and non-abusive children are significantly different when tracked for adult arrests for violent crimes, property crimes, drug offenses, and public order offenses. The JBB concludes that â€Å"these results make it clear that animal abusers are not only dangerous to their animal victims but also may jeopardize human welfare† (par. 7). This research is backed up by â€Å"Understanding the Links,† a pamphlet put out by the British National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which states that: If a child is cruel to animals this may be an indicator that serious neglect and abuse have been inflicted on the child. While recent research in the UK suggests that animal abuse by children is quite widespread, in a minority of more extreme cases it appears to be associated with abuse of the child, or subsequent abusive behavior by the child. (Understanding the Links, n. d. p. 5). In addition to the issue of conduct disorder, there is a definitive link between animal abuse and other forms of domestic abuse. Animal abuse is at times part of the â€Å"constellation of family violence,† although by no means is it definite that an adult who harms animals will also harm their domestic partners or their children (p. 5). Although this observation is indeed true, it is also true that animal abuse is sometimes used as a form of coercion in abusive relationships. Regardless, it appears that: o Serious animal abuse in a household may indicate the occurrence of other domestic violence o Animal abuse might be done for coercion and intimidation of family members to keep them from leaving or speaking about an abusive domestic situation. o Sexualized or aggressive behavior toward animals on the part of a child may indicate the possibility of later animal abuse when that child matures (Understanding the Links, n. d. , p. 5). Conclusion Animal abuse is a difficult crime to describe and to define. Many different forms of abuse occur under the single umbrella term. Abuse can be passive or active. Passive abuse takes place when people withhold care from animals and can range from simple ignorant (and therefore correctible) acts to malicious neglect. Active abuse, however, does not typically occur out of ignorance. Due to its effects on the human psyche, particularly in terms of young children, animal abuse is not a stand-alone issue. When domestic violence is found in a home, animal abuse is often found as well. When animal abuse occurs, it may also indicate other, serious problems in