Pacific Lumber Essay Example For Students

Pacific Lumber Essay Pacific Lumber started its long history as an environmentally respectful company, however it has not continued that into this decade. The millions of acres of Redwoods that once densely covered the western land have been taken away for financial reward. Before selling, the company way was sustainability, now it is profitability. Because of the efforts of essentially one man, the business has over-harvested the supposed protected Redwood. It is not a simple answer as to why this has happened, nor is any explanation of environmental destruction. What people want often overrides the needs of the land, creating our society of selfishness and greed. As Hardin points out in his article, people were not always so fast to put the needs of themselves in front of the land. Years ago, people depended on the land for survival, but in a more direct way then today. In The Tragedy of the Commons, it is explained that maximizing for the greatest good is what we are striving for. Maximize the population, maximize growth and maximize growth. Industrialization brought with it the belief that more is better, money is power, and status is how much you own. We do not live with the land and respect it as we should, we live off it, and it dies off us. To create the greatest wealth is what we are striving for as a whole, regardless of the impact to our land. To live with the land would mean less economic growth, less income, fewer cars, fewer mahogany desks and tables, basically, living with less. Pacific Lumber once practiced sustainability with the Redwoods. Before one man allowed greed to get in the way of morality and values. The company only harvested as fast as the trees could grow back. They were in harmony with nature. One tree goes to the mill, one grows so it can be used some time in the future. They did not, as a company, focus on continual growth, expansion or profit. The company focused on its employees and the health and condition of the forest. With the sale of the company, everything the company was respected for was lost. The new way of doing business meant cutting the trees faster and more efficiently to ensure the highest profit. Without regulation, Redwoods are still being cut that should have been protected many years ago. There have been attempts at regulation, but is that the way to stop environmental damage? Hardin points out: Prohibition is easy to legislate; (though not necessarily easy to enforce)? The same is true with the forests, how do we effectively enforce regulations? Politics play too big a role for most of us to know these answers. Lobbying in political venues by lumber and paper companies and financial tradeoffs create turmoil and corruption in trying to stop or even slow down the clearing of forests. A picture was taken of Bill Clinton and Hurwitz together in Houston, raising serious doubts about government and their role with businesss such as Pacific Lumber. Regulation must start with our greatest problem, the population explosion. Without some control over what is an exponentially increasing epidemic, how can we slow the demand for any product, including Redwoods? Taxing is another step, by using the money raised by taxes on Redwood products, the government could invest in saving the forests. Appealing to a manufacturer to make an alternative out of more renewable resources is an immediate short-term change that could save trees other then Redwoods. With government help, an existing or new manufacturer could develop a product close to the properties of Redwood and sell it at a cheaper price. .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a , .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .postImageUrl , .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a , .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a:hover , .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a:visited , .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a:active { border:0!important; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a:active , .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4aba254d1244e7a85fd3e94d470c7e9a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Hamlet's Delay with Revenge EssayStopping the cutting of Redwoods will take more then simple regulation by government, a group that may or may not be ready to extend a hand to the environment. It will take extremists like the girl who is currently in the news because she is protesting by sit-in; sitting in a tree that is. On the NBC News, the young women said, in her own words, doing all she knows how to make a difference and save some of this beautiful forest. The loggers continue to cut all around her, putting her life in danger. The viscous cycle goes on, no matter that a fellow (apparently sane) human being is sitting in a tree in a desperate attempt to stop the cuttin g. The loggers must earn money, to make the company money, to make government money, and the cycle goes on. The Land Ethic, according to Aldo Leopold, includes in the community: soils, waters, land, plants and animals. Today, if a person on the street were asked to define community, he or she would most likely answer: a group of individuals or families residing in an area of a few blocks or miles. Nothing to be said about the land, animals, trees or water that is so obviously a part of a community. We are in the eyes of many, conqueror of the land, therefore we are allowed to treat it as we choose.Pacific Lumber in no way considers Redwoods to be part of their community. They can tell us, the outsiders, they only selectively cut around endangered animals and precious streams. If they really cared, they would not be cutting any of the last remaining natural wonders of our community. They seem to care about having a nice community for the employees to enjoy, but what about the animals and their community? We fail to consider living, breathing animals as part of our community. What if we chan ged the name of the Redwoods to Old Growth Humans? Surely, there would be some hesitation to cutting down 300 year-old humans! Why have humans placed themselves at such a high level that not even the very land we live on is important enough to us to love and respect it? We would rather see one human being prosper then an entire forest of great diversity survive. Humans would rather see other humans make a dollar then make an environmental difference. Political leaders would sooner spend billions on defense then millions on the environment. The question remains, why did we evolve into mass-consuming, money hungry, greedy idiots?The answer may be partially a result of our culture, childhood and education. Growing up I was taught by my elders, as I am sure many others were, that the most important thing is this world is to make money, no matter the expense to the environment. When I asked my father in younger years about the lake on the news or the business polluting a river in Maine, he would say: Oh one company or one person wont make a difference, its no big deal. That is precisely the ignorance that has brought this world to an all time high in environmental damage, including the cutting and clearing away of Redwoods. To illustrate the mindset of our community, consider the American Dream. We are taught indirectly that the dream is what we all should strive for in the U.S.- make as much money as possible, have 2 or 3 children and pollute and destroy the environment how you see fit. Watching the news a week ago I learned about the girl in the Redwoods, giving us hope that something will be done as a result of her extreme actions. That hope quickly vanished when Hurwitz was interviewed about the girl and the company in general. When asked about his position on the role of the company and the girl, he replied: We will be careful to appreciate the interests of the girl and others like her, but business must go on and we are doing very well, despite her actions?we will continue to grow and expand, you know, its kind of the American Dream. I could not believe my ears hearing this powerful man saying this childhood thought on national news. It is scary to think how many people believe strongly, in the same manner as the owner of Redwood destruction are us, in the American Dream. Economic growth is what we care most about, second is human well being, and last on the list is the environment. A community or commons is not considered by most to include humans and the land. Humans are controllers of the land, we can do to it whatever we desire, no matter the impact to life other then ours. The only way to change this attitude is to educate starting at a very young age. Along with the basics of math, science and english, environmental classes should be included. The children will go home and tell their parents what they learned about the environment in class, encouraging the adults to change their ways as well. This approach is one of the ways we ca n guard against the clearing of forests, polluting streams, endangering animals and other environmental impacts; and in the process, creating people like Hurwitz.

Uncle Dan Essay Example For Students

Uncle Dan Essay The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children and slavesin the West at the period of this story that is to say, thirty or fortyyears ago. Mark Twain Hartford, 1876 Dealing with the role of magic in HF,Daniel Hoffman claims a subtle emotional complex binds togethersuperstition: slaves: boyhood freedom in Mark Twains mind.1We know howTwain felt about boyhood freedom his nostalgia for it lead him to some of hisfinest writing, and it lends its charm to his most enduring works, TheAdventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. How Twain felttoward slaves is more ambiguous. In his autobiography Twain wrote of UncleDanl, the man on whom the character Jim was based, that hissympathies were wide and warm and that his heart was honestand simple and knew no guile (Autob., 2.) To the time spent on his unclesfarm in Florida, Missouri Twain credited his strong liking for his race andappreciation of certain of its fine qualities (Autob.,3.) To the late-tw entieth-century reader, of course, Twains treatment of blacksis extremely problematic. Jims character presents many difficulties are weto think of Jim as the man who longs for his family even as he valiantly runsaway from them or the fool who gains celebrity among the slaves for a story heinvents and believes? How could Twain allow Jim to assert his human dignity onthe raft, then subject him to a series of gross humiliations at the Phelps farm?Definitive answers to these questions are impossible. However they and the factthat they must remain unresolved affect all conclusions we draw about Twain andhis black characters. In considering superstition, the third part of thistriangular relationship, we are again left with questions about Twainsfeelings. In Form and Fable in American Fiction, Daniel Hoffman writes thatTwains usual assumption is that white persons of any status higher thantrash like Pap have little knowledge of, and no belief in, superstition 2Superstition is mainly for s laves and boys. It is important to note that withinthe framework of Huck Finn, dissociating a thing from white culture is by nomeans casting it in poor light. In fact when put under the scrutiny of Huckshonest narration, white culture suffers badly. Miss Watson, thoughgood, is harsh and unkind. The King and Duke think nothing oftricking the Wilks girls out of their inheritance; even the Grangerfords, whoare quality, partake in a vicious and deadly feud. The brutalitiesthat Huck witnesses Bucks killing, Boggs murder are committed by whites. We will write a custom essay on Uncle Dan specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Although Pap has superstitions, folk beliefs in the story belong to Huck andJim, the characters we most trust. While incidents like Jim begging mercy fromthe ghost Huck and Nat and the witch pie are clearly intended tomake the reader laugh at the ignorance of the believers, are we not somehow leftin the end with the idea that the zealous followers of superstition are somehowsafer than their Christian counterparts? In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer aboy of German parentage memorizes eight or ten thousand bible verses butgoes mad from the effort. In Huck Finn the Shepherdsons and Grangerfords go tochurch with their guns. On the other side, the slaves come from allaround to see the five cent piece which they and Jim believe was given tohim by the devil. We as readers know that the slaves have been duped by theirown superstition and by Toms mischief, but are we convinced that they are worseoff than the people at the camp meeting who donate a total of $87.75 to thatscoundrel, the King, for his mission in the Indian Ocean?Bibliography1. Daniel G. Hoffman, Jims Magic: Black or White?. AmericanLiterature XXXII March 1960, pp. 47-54. back to text 2. Daniel G. Hoffman, Formand Fable in American Fiction. Oxford University Press. New York, 1965.

Hypothesis or Theory (Tips on Scientific Language) - Get Proofed!

Hypothesis or Theory (Tips on Scientific Language) - Get Proofed! Tips on Scientific Language Science can be a dangerous thing in the wrong hands. According to one song, it can even cause blindness. And as a result, we need to be careful with science and scientific language. (And Thomas Dolby.) Were not sure of Dolbys scientific qualifications, though. (Photo: Arthur Mouratidis/wikipedia) The main problem (for us) is that scientists often use familiar terms in unfamiliar ways. And if you don’t know the scientific use of these words, it’s easy to make an error. So, to help out, we’re taking a closer look at three terms: â€Å"hypothesis,† â€Å"theory,† and â€Å"significant.† Hypothesis (A Testable Idea) In everyday language, we sometimes use â€Å"hypothesis† to refer to an educated guess. This is fairly close to how it’s used in the sciences, but it also has some specific requirements. A hypothesis should be: An attempt to explain something that can be observed Phrased in a way that means we can test it Once a hypothesis has been tested, it can then be accepted or rejected depending on the results. Theory (A Well-Tested Concept) A theory is a proposed explanation of something. But when people say that something is â€Å"just a theory,† they mean that it hasn’t been proven. This is because one sense of â€Å"theory† is â€Å"speculation.† However, in scientific writing, it means the complete opposite of this. A scientific theory is actually something that has been tested repeatedly and that is widely accepted as true. This makes it much stronger than a hypothesis and much, much stronger than pure speculation! This doesn’t mean that a theory can’t be disproved, but you would need to show evidence that it’s untrue or suggest a better theory. A scientific theory is never â€Å"just† a theory. Its just a theory supported by 160 years of research. Significant (Unlikely to Have Happened by Chance) To be â€Å"significant† is usually to be important or noteworthy. The opposite is to be â€Å"insignificant.† In the sciences, though, â€Å"significant† typically refers to statistical significance. The results of a test are statistically significant if we can show that they’re unlikely to be due to chance alone. The opposite of this is â€Å"non-significant,† which means that the results could have been influenced by randomness. In addition, keep in mind that something can be statistically significant without being noteworthy. There’s a statistically significant relationship between breaking eggs and making an omelet, for example, but this isn’t a hugely â€Å"significant† discovery in terms of being interesting or important. Its a scientific breakthrough! Other Scientific Language The terms above are significant (in the everyday sense) because they’re common in many scientific fields. As such, anyone reading or writing about science needs to know how they’re used. However, there are plenty of other examples. If a physicist is discussing a â€Å"flavor of quark,† for instance, they could be talking about either subatomic particles or dairy products. This is why we need to be careful with scientific language. And if you come across a familiar word being used in an unusual way, always double check its scientific meaning.

The cold War and Masculinity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The cold War and Masculinity - Essay Example The Cuban missile crisis had been the most glaring example of a possible nuclear war. While the possibility still remains valid today, the menace appeared more eminent in cold war era. The cold war can actually be compared to a chauvinist conflict, whereupon both nations involved tried to use their supposed technological supremacy as a tool to undermine the influence of other nation. This notion is quite obvious in Stanley Kubrick's movie "Dr Strangelove: or How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb", as well in the text authored by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Joseph Rotblat, "A war-free world". Though the cold war no longer exists but the situation in Iran, Iraq and the role of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has again compelled this world to think of a very different approach towards nuclear deterrence. Mohamed ElBaradei, the eminent scientist who is heading IAEA while giving a lecture at Stanford, called for a new commitment from the peace loving world to go for nu clear disarmament rather than nuclear deterrence. The human urge to use things of mass destruction in satisfying their hatred and paranoia has been the main theme of the movie Dr. Strangelove. Right at the start of the movie,

Gender ideology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gender ideology - Essay Example G. Bissinger are no exception to what is stated above. Traditional masculinity is evident in the story of 1988 Permian â€Å"Mojo† Panthers football season. A superficial role is given to the Pepettes, who are senior high school girls. Hysteria prevails amongst the football fans during the entire season, and each tournament is a do-or-die act for the members of the team. The Odessa community has a social structure that intensely favors the male. The football players are treated like the royal princes. How does the football tournament begin? Bissinger provides a graphic picture of the opening ceremony related to the match. He writes, â€Å" Behind the rows of stools stood the stars of the show, the members of the 1988 Permian Panther high school football team. Dressed in their black game jerseys, they laughed and teased one another like privileged children of royalty. Directly in-front of them, dressed in white jerseys and forming a little protective phalanx, were the Pepettes, a select group of senior girls who made up the school spirit squad. The Pepettes supported all teams, but it was the football team they supported most. The number on the jersey each girl wore corresponded to that of the player she had been assigned for the football season. With that assignment came various time honored responsibilities.†(p.45) The mention of time honored responsibilities, indicates the subservient role of the female gender as per the societal norms. The girls had no part in the football game, and not one among them was directly connected to the game, except that they played the role of cheering the players. This is nothing but a subtle form of exploitation and assertion of superiority of masculinity. The exploitation in another form was also prevalent and the players were entitled to some special entitlement, at the cost of Pepette. Bissinger further writes, â€Å" As a part of the tradition, each Pepette brought some type of sweet for her player every week before

Construction sector of India is an integral part of the economy

Construction sector of India is an integral part of the economy Introduction Construction sector of India is an integral part of the economy and is progressing on account of urbanization, industrialization, economic development and peoples soaring expectations for improved quality of living. Between 2004-05 and 2008-09 average real growth has been an impressive 12.28% year-on-year (y-o-y), which reflects the countrys immense need for continued investment in transport infrastructure, electricity generating capacity and housing, as well as the build-up of industrial capacity (BMI, 2010). Segmentation of Construction Industry The Indian Construction Industry can be divided into residential segment generating 85.8% of the total revenues and the non-residential building segment that generates 14.2% of the industrys value (Data Monitor, May 2009). (APPENDIX 1) Real Estate à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Corporate à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Industrial à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Residential à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Commercial (APPENDIX 2) Infrastructure à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Roads à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Urban infrastructure à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Railways à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Airport Porters Five Forces Threat of New Entrants Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining Power of Customers Competitive Rivalry within the Industry Threat of Substitutes Bargaining Power of Suppliers Indian construction industry consists of two categories of suppliers, those providing construction materials and those who provide constructional services like electrical installation In India there are many small players in the construction material manufacturing industry, which weakens the supplier power (Data Monitor, May 2009). The subcontractors who provide constructional services are in a weak position due to the existence of many small operators. Overall, supplier power in this industry is moderate. Bargaining Power of Buyers Buyers in this industry are few and large such as government agencies or other major organizations, rather than individuals. The presence of low costs along with the strong price sensitivity of demand strengthens buyer power in the industry. Also the buyers are rarely capable of integrating backwards and take over the practicalities of the project themselves thereby proving that the buyer power in this industry is moderate (IICCI, 2008). Threat to New Entrants The governments recent liberalization of the rules governing foreign companies entering the Indian industry has boosted the entry of new players. Since a very small amount of capital is adequate to enter this industry and the contractors can reduce their costs by renting rather than buying equipment, the labor market is extremely elastic. Overall, the threat of new entrants to the industry is strong. Threat of Substitutes The threat of substitutes in this industry is very weak as it is unlikely that any alternative expenditure would be satisfactory for a buyer even if he has the requisite funds for a new construction project. Even if buyers have the option of renovating an existing structure rather than investing in a new construction, players in the construction and engineering industry remain likely to be involved. Competitive Rivalry within the Industry The atmosphere of a secure growth within the Indian construction industry eases rivalry by creating space for expansion. The low capital cost of market entry translates into low sunk costs reducing the exit barriers. Thus the rivalry is considered to be moderate (Data Monitor, May 2009). Key Players in Construction Industry Larsen Toubro Limited (LT) is one of the largest and most respected technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing companies of India. Jaiprakash Associates Jaiprakash Associates Limited principally provides civil engineering and construction services primarily in India. They earned a revenue of about 65000 US $ in the year 2010. (Business Wire, November 2006) Hindustan Construction Company HCC is one of the leading construction companies of India having built several landmark projects in Indias Hydro Power and water resources sector (Sandeep Sawant, Sept. 2007). Gammon India It is the only Indian Construction Company to have been accredited with ISO 9001 certification for all fields of Civil Engineering Works. Gammon employs expertise who has proved their innovative skills in India and abroad PESTLE Analysis of Construction Industry Source: http://www.whatmakesagoodleader.com/macro-environment-analysis.html Political Factors SEZ Act Special Economic Zone is the new target for real estate investors. As of date there are 105 approved SEZs in India (General Knowledge Today, Feb 2010). Laws governing these zones are more liberal in nature than the centralized laws and enhance a countrys technology growth, infrastructure and economic development. FDI Liberalisation The government of India has permitted a Foreign Direct Investment of 100 % for development of townships in India. India is now 2nd most preferred country for FDI after China. Opening of FDI in construction and allowing developers to raise capital in international markets has led to development of larger projects (Mohit Saraf, July 2009). Impact of REITs The introduction of Real Estate Mutual fund (REMF) and Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) has boosted real estate investments from the small investors aspect. Economic Factors Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth India is witnessing tremendous growth and expansion of construction activities and construction is the largest component of GDP. It has been growing at a rate over 10 % in the past few years when GDP was around 8% (Farook Azam, 2010). (APPENDIX 3) Source: IHS Global Insight Change in Demand Changes in the demand due to factors like changes in disposable income of perspective buyers and inflation may affect the construction industry. With the easy availability of housing loans and tax redemption on loans the demand for houses is increasing and thus construction is gaining weight. Fluctuations in Prices of Inputs Many builders tend to stop work when the prices of inputs like cement, iron etc go up and wait till the prices come down. This leads to unnecessary delay in the work and the cost of wasting time would actually be more than the increase in price (Arghadeep Laskar and C. V. R. Murty, 2003). Social Factors Goodwill of the Company Brand name of a builder or the company plays an important role in convincing the buyer to buy the house and be sure of the quality of construction work done. A low credibility or image can lead to poor financial performance. Green Buildings A green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to conventional building (India Today, Vol. 34, Issues 1-8). The estimated market potential for green building was about $ 400 million in 2010 and is increasing continuously. Technological Factors Upgrading of Technology Use of low grade technology in the construction sector leads to low value addition and low productivity apart from sub standard quality of construction and time over runs in projects. Due to lack of technology, construction can suffer in terms of quality and design. Source: managingthedragon.com Ready Mix Concrete The business of ready mix concrete in India is in its infancy. Indian ready mix concrete business uses only 2% of the total cement production. The increasing use of ready mix saves time and allows better quality too. Legal Factors The National Housing Policy NHP (1998) was formulated to address the issue of sustainable development of infrastructure. The Government helps to provide fiscal concession to carry out legal and regulatory reforms and create and enabling environment for the construction industry (P.R. Swarup, Director General, Construction Industry Development Council, India). Environmental Factors Uncertain Calamities Uncertain environmental hazards like earthquakes, floods etc. have a disastrous impact on the construction industry and can delay construction as well. This has been witnessed during the construction of the Metro line in the capital of India, New Delhi where one of the railway lines being constructed collapsed due to heavy rainfall and delayed the total completion time of metro. Structural Drivers of Change Globalization After the policy of globalization being introduced in 1990s, the private companies started being more aware about construction products and there was inflow of construction based knowledge and technology from other countries to ours changing thinking towards the whole construction scenario. Import and export procedures, customs and excise laws and ease in operations of foreign accounts minimized controls on industry and rapid growth took place. Due to simplified single window clearance import export procedures became easier thereby allowing Indian construction Industry to compete in overseas market (Accommodation Times, 2009). Technological Developments A key driver of transformation for the Indian construction industry is technological change. Global telephony, satellite communications and video links are now widely available (Shakantu, 2000). Information and communication technology (ICT) is significantly influencing technological change (CIRIA, DTER, 1999). Simulations of entire construction processes and systems can be developed to determine the optimal approach to achieving desired performance (Shakantu, 2000; Fisher, 1993; Coyle, 1996). Changes in Government Policy The government policies helped in boosting the real estate sector by substantial cutting interest rates and facilitating greater ease in credit. Recent excise duty cuts on cement and steel also reduced the construction costs. These recent government initiatives increased liquidity in the market and brought down the interest rates to a more realistic level. Life Cycle of Construction Industry The Indian construction industry is in its growth stage growing at over 20% over the past 5 years. It has witnessed a revolution, driven by the booming economy, favorable demographics and liberalized foreign direct investment (FDI) regime (World Market Intelligence, March 2010). We can say that the sector has been performing quite well over the past decade. Despite the depressing global scenario, the Indian market was protected from the effects, as the economy as was more robust than its counterparts. The pace of private construction slowed down but remained positive. With the growing capital inflow within India and from abroad the demand for infrastructure is likely to increase. The Indian government has been a major investor in this sector in order to stimulate the development of construction industry to the requisite level required to achieve the next growth target. (K.V.S.S., Narayana Rao, 2009). Although steady progress through the construction industry is not inevitable, the life cycle concept does none the less remind construction companies that conditions will change over time. ( Johnson, Scholes Whittington, 2008) (APPENDIX 4) In 2013, the Indian construction and engineering industry is forecast to have a value of $55.3 billion, an increase of 44% since 2008. Future Scenarios for Construction Industry Scenario 1 New Equipment, Technology and Materials Involvement of Indian consultants in international projects has led to blend of new materials, equipment and technologies in the construction practices of India. Very soon the growing demand for such advanced equipment will force the builders to manufacture these as well. The government has also taken some remarkable initiatives to ensure that its basic infrastructural structure is more efficient and world-class. Therefore billions were spent on constructing bridges, roads, railway transportation, power infrastructure etc. Construction equipments especially earth moving equipment sector has benefited the most from these developments and is poised to grow at double digit CAGR by FY 2014 (Free Press Release, 2010). It is expected that during 2007-2015, the potential investment for new equipments and materials will be around US$ 750 Billion. Scenario 2 Employment Opportunities India with its high potential untapped market attributes has become a favourite destination for global construction equipments companies. There will be demand for over 24.3 million new dwellings for self-living in urban India alone by 2015 (Housing Skyline of India 2007-08) Considering governments projects lined up for the Eleventh Plan period, the demand for construction is expected to grow by at least 8-9%, and 2.5 million employment opportunities per annum are expected to be generated ( BMI, 2011).Thus those who are looking for opportunities in this sector would be rewarded with accelerated learning and fast progress. Construction Industry has created a need for the full spectrum of employees varying from professionals like civil and mechanical engineers and architects to daily basis wage construction workers and industrial workers such as steel and cement manufacturers to highway toll booth operators. Thus it is advisable to join a leading Indian Construction Company, or a multi-national present in India even from a beginners level as there is large scope for training and rapid upward movement through the ranks for talented individuals. Scenario 3 Changing Indian Economy The changing economy is placing increasing pressure on Indias physical infrastructure, not only from population growth and developing economic activities, but also structural changes in the economy. Indias economy now clearly reflects a steady decline of primary sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing, giving more importance to the non primary sectors such as service and manufacturing industry. But it is predicted that growth in construction spending in the longer term is likely to be enormous, driven by a rising population and a growing middle class. Since 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) is now allowed in construction, it now allows significant inflows of capital to meet growing demand from the increasing middle class. Indias population growth rates remain well above replacement level and the number of people living in urban areas is likely to grow significantly (BMI, 2011). ( APPENDIX 5) Conclusion Though all these scenarios are linked together and their inter relationships can produce long and complex results, growing population is the key driver of success of the construction industry. (Johnson , Scholes Whittington, 2008) According to me the second scenario is the most influencing scenario as it is directly linked to Indias growing population which is an unstable factor growing at a fast rate and directly linked with the success of the construction industry. Bibliography India Netzone, (2008), Nature of Construction Industry, Available at: http://construction.indianetzone.com/1/nature_construction.htm. [Accessed 15 March 11] Indo Italian Chamber of Commerce Industry (2008), Overview of the Construction Industry in India , Opportunities, Available at: http://www.centroesteroveneto.com/pdf/Osservatorio%20Mercati/India/Ricerche%20di%20Mercato/2009/Construction%20Sector.pdf, [Accessed 15 March 11] Info Shine (2008),  Construction Real Estate Available at:  http://info.shine.com/Industry-Information/Construction-and-Real-Estate/855.aspx, [Accessed 15 March 11] Research Markets (2006), Indian Construction Industry: An Analysis., Description, Available at: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?report_id =335655t =dcat _id=,[Accessed 15 March 11] Credit Analysis Research, (2010), Indian Construction Industry, Available at: http://www.careratings.com/content/ResourceCenter/reports/Synopsis_for_Construction_Industry.pdf, [Accessed 15 March 11]. Farook Azam (2010), Institute of Industrial Engineers, The Construction Industry in India , Available at http://www.iienet.org/Details.aspx?id=20432 , [Accessed 15 March 11]. CBS Interactive Business Network (2006), The Indian Construction Industry, Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_Nov_20/ai_n16851629/?tag= content; col1, [Accessed 15 March 11] Law is Greek, (2010), An Overview: Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India, Available at: http://www.lawisgreek.com/an-overview-special-economic-zones-sez-in-india/, [Accessed 15 March 11] Johnson, Scholes Whittington (2008), Industry Life Cycle, Exploring Corporate Strategy, 8th Edition, Pg 68-69 [Accessed 16 March 11] Accommodation Times, (2009),  Globalization of Construction Industry Available at: http://www.accommodationtimes.com/property-rates/globalisation-of-construction-industry/, [Accessed 16 March 11]. World Market Intelligence, (2010) , Future of Construction In India, Available at: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/25943727/The-Future-of-Construction-in-India, [Accessed 16 March 11] Moht Saraf (2009), Real Estate, Indias Real Estate Sector: An Overvie, Available at: http://www.whoswholegal.com/news/features/article/18426/indias-real-estate-sector-overview/ [Accessed 16 March 11] K.V.S.S., Narayana Rao, (2009) Industry Analysis Valuation, Infrastructure INDIA Version 14, Available from: http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao-k-v-s-s/industry-analysis-and-valuation/2utb2lsm2k7a/950, [Accessed 16 March 11] Hindustan Construction Company India (2007), HCC: About HCC, Available at: http://www.hccindia.com/hcc_admin/data_content/pdf_files/HCC_bags_Rs._693_.61_crore_Euro_1_.457_crore_order_from_Delh_.pdf, [Accessed 16 March 11] Arghadeep Laskar and C. V. R. Murty (2005), Challenges before Construction Industry in India, New Materials, Equipments Technologies, Available at: http://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/RP/2004_Challenges_Construction_Industry_Proceedings.pdf, [Accessed 16 March 11] Free Press Release (2010), Indian Earth Moving Equipments Industry to Boom in Near Future Available at: http://www.free-press-release.com/news-indian-earth-moving-equipments-industry-to-boom-in-near-future-1287567300.html, [Accessed 16 March 11] Business Monitor International (2011), Industry Forecast Scenario, Available at: http://www.businessmonitor.com.libproxy.nlb.gov.sg/cgibin/request.pl?SessionID=393511974808887view=articleviewerarticle=446198service=22iso=INmetaid=190, [Accessed 16 March 11] APPENDIX Appendix 1 Source: IHS Global Insight Appendix 2 Source: IHS Global Insight Appendix 3 Source: IHS Global Insight Appendix 4 Indian Construction Industry Value Forecast Source: Data Monitor

Symbols and Symbolism in The Wraith of the Rose :: Wraith of the Rose Essays

Symbolism in The Wraith of the Rose "The Wraith of the Rose" is poem that seems to suggest the dual nature of love and relationships. There is the love and joy that is represented by the natural beauty of the flower, which is accompanied by the bitterness of a love that was lost and the pain that remains. The idea that love sours is not new, but in this poem there is the wraith, which is a ghost, that represents the pain that love can bring. One of the most interesting sections of the poem that goes from line 13 to 23 and starts with "I wish" in groupings of three reflects the desires of a lover looking back on a past relationship and the longing to go back to the happier days of the relationship. This longing is just as evident in the rest of the poem and is solidified with the symbolism of the wraith. The first groupings of "I wish" start with a genuine sentiment by the author to again be in the place where "the chain was still unbroken" and to have " kept that last fond token". This entire group suggests that the author keeps fond memories of the relationship. In the next groupings of "I wish" the author starts to point the finger at the other person in the relationship by using the line "I wish you were not all deceit". This is the first instance where the author expresses anger about the break-up the relationship and does not recall memories with fondness. Although the author does address her own faults by saying, "And I so fickle-hearted", she stills holds contempt for her past lover. I am somewhat surprised that it took this long for the author to place blame on the other person because of the fact that most people and selfish and assume that the reason for a relationship not working is always the fault of the other person, not their own. The third groupings of "I wish" further implicates the other person as the cause for the failure of the relationship and the reason why they are not together now. She writes "I wish you could reclasp the chain" and "I wish- you hadn't drunk champagne". These lines have an honesty about them and ring true to the feelings of a normal person dealing with the loss of a relationship.