Thursday, August 27, 2020

The Awakening †a Feminist Analysis Free Essays

The Awakeningâ is a novel by Kate Chopin, first distributed in 1899 , set in New Orleansâ and the Southern Louisiana coast toward the finish of the nineteenth century. The plot fixates on Edna Pontellier and her battle to accommodate her undeniably strange perspectives on gentility and parenthood with the overall social mentalities of the turn-of-the-century South. It is one of the soonest American books that centers around women’s issues without haughtiness. We will compose a custom article test on The Awakening †a Feminist Analysis or on the other hand any comparable theme just for you Request Now It is additionally generally observed as a milestone work of earlyâ feminism. Kate Chopin’s The Awakeningâ was a strong bit of fiction in now is the right time, and hero Edna Pontellier was a questionable character. She upset numerous nineteenth century desires for ladies and their alleged jobs. One of her most stunning activities was her refusal of her job as a mother and spouse. Kate Chopin shows this dismissal progressively, yet the idea of parenthood is significant topic all through the novel. Edna is battling against the cultural and common structures of parenthood that compel her to be characterized by her title as spouse of Leonce Pontellier and mother of Raoul and Etienne Pontellier, rather than being her own, self-characterized person. Through Chopin’s center around two other female characters, Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna’s alternatives of life ways are displayed. These ladies are the models that the men around Edna balance her with and from whom they acquire their desires for her. Edna, nonetheless, finds both good examples lacking and starts to see that the life of opportunity and uniqueness that she needs conflicts with bothâ societyâ and nature. The certainty of her destiny as a male-characterized animal carries her to a condition of despondency, and she liberates herself the main way she can, through self destruction. All through â€Å"The Awakening,† Kate Chopin shows instances of how ladies ought to and ought not act in the public arena, in their homes, and with their spouses. In Edna Pontellier’s embraced society, ladies are seen progressively important when they acclimate into the mother-lady job. The mother-lady job is another type of men control, since it directs how ladies ought to worship their youngsters, adore their spouses, and respect their disengaged yet second rate positionsâ  As the novel advances, Edna starts to make progressively â€Å"open-looked at choice[s] to challenge dreams and conventions†. All through the novel Edna turns out to be progressively sexual, likewise getting mindful of her sexuality. Her obligation of kinship with Robert appears to be innocuous from the outset, however when he leaves for Mexico Edna accepts she is enamored with him: â€Å"For the first occasion when she perceived once more the side effects of captivation. . . to torment her as it was doing then with the gnawing conviction that she had lost what she had held, that she had been denied what her energetic, recently stirred being demanded† (Chopin 44). Edna has never had any sexual experiences with Robert, yet her feelings are so stirred by her dear companion she is â€Å"infatuated† with him. Until this point, Edna appears to have not understood her affections for Robert. In time she will call these emotions love, however now she is profoundly vexed on the grounds that the man she is â€Å"infatuated† with is leaving. Edna’s feelings have been blended without precedent for quite a while, and she is reluctant to only arrangement with the way that the man who did this is leaving. Edna goes into an untainted sulk, ignoring the familial obligations she recently finished as a matter of course. Edna’s arousing comes in two sections, the sincerely sexual arousing she encounters with Robert and the truly sexual arousing came to with Arobin (Seyersted, Kate Chopin 155). At the point when Robert leaves her the first occasion when, she is disturbed and agonizes, unfit to accept he left so suddenly, and without bidding farewell. Arobin can't oversee Edna’s feelings, as she removes herself from him and limits herself from getting excessively sincerely appended. Through her involvement in Robert, Edna has figured out how to keep her enthusiastic good ways from men, in case she be harmed once more. Edna is unquestionably a more sexual being presently than already in the novel. Before she withdrew at the pinch of her dearest companion, and now she is enjoying a taboo kiss, holding Arobin near drag out the contact. She is likewise increasingly held. Arobin is very on edge to see Edna once more, yet Edna drives him away revealing to him she will see him at her evening gathering, â€Å"not a moment sooner† (Chopin 82). Edna assumes responsibility for the circumstance, pushing Arobin away when he asks to see her once more, having gone to an illuminated condition, gaining from her errors and being a functioning power in her own life. Edna now decides, (for example, moving out of the house) in light of what is directly for her, decisions that will definitely influence her life, doing as such with open eyes and an unmistakable head. Edna is women's activist in nature, yet her women's liberation accompanies a cost, and relatively few individuals are sufficiently able to persevere through social segregating to appreciate individual flexibility. Chopin magnificently delineates Edna’s situation, demonstrating potential results of getting edified outside the setting of a more extensive social development. Before the finish of the novel, Chopin despite everything will not disclose to us whether Edna’s arousing is freeing, or on the off chance that it is lamentable. They contend that Edna Pontellier’s arousing is one of mental lucidity, and her self destruction is a triumphant demonstration. By ending it all Edna is at long last liberating herself from social imperatives and ownership. Her self destruction is a demonstration of freedom, in this manner Edna is a definitive women's activist. The most effective method to refer to The Awakening †a Feminist Analysis, Papers

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Al Capone Essays - Five Points Gang, Bootleggers, The Untouchables

Al Capone Essays - Five Points Gang, Bootleggers, The Untouchables Al Capone Al Capone is America's most popular criminal and the single most prominent image of the breakdown of lawfulness in the United States during the 1920s Prohibition period. Capone had a main job in the criminal operations that loaned Chicago its notoriety for being an uncivilized city. Capone was conceived on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York. Absolved Alphonsus Capone, he experienced childhood in an unpleasant neighborhood and was an individual from two child packs, the Brooklyn Rippers and the Forty Thieves Juniors. In spite of the fact that he was brilliant, Capone quit school in the 6th grade at age fourteen. Between tricks he was an agent in a treats store, a pinboy in a bowling alley, and a shaper in a book bindery. He turned out to be a piece of the infamous Five Points group in Manhattan and worked in hoodlum Frankie Yale's Brooklyn jump, the Harvard Inn, as a bouncer and barkeep. While working at the Inn, Capone got his notorious facial scars and the subsequent epithet Scarface when he offended a supporter and was assaulted by her sibling. In 1918, Capone met an Irish young lady named Mary Mae Coughlin at a party. On December 4, 1918, Mae brought forth their child, Albert Sonny Francis. Capone and Mae wedded that year on December 30. Capone's first capture was on a tumultuous lead charge while he was working for Yale. He likewise killed two men while in New York, early declaration to his ability to murder. As per gangland decorum, nobody confessed to hearing or seeing a thing so Capone was never pursued for the killings. After Capone hospitalized an adversary group part, Yale sent him to Chicago to hold up until things chilled. Capone showed up in Chicago in 1919 and moved his family into a house at 7244 South Prairie Avenue. Capone went to work for Yale's old guide, John Torrio. Torrio saw Capone's latent capacity, his mix of physical quality and insight, and energized his prot g . Before long Capone was helping Torrio deal with his bootlegging business. By mid-1922 Capone positioned as Torrio's number two man and in the end turned into a full accomplice in the cantinas, betting houses,and massage parlors. When Torrio was shot by rival posse individuals and thusly chose to leave Chicago, Capone acquired the outfit and got chief. The outfit's men preferred, trusted, and obeyed Capone, considering him The Big Fellow. He immediately demonstrated that he was far better at association than coordinating and growing the city's bad habit industry somewhere in the range of 1925 and 1930. Capone controlled speakeasies, bookie joints, betting houses, massage parlors, pay of $100,000,000 per year. He even procured a sizable enthusiasm for the biggest cleaning and coloring plant chain in Chicago. Despite the fact that he had been working with Capone, the degenerate Chicago city hall leader William Big Bill Hale Thompson, Jr. concluded that Capone was terrible for his political picture. Thompson recruited another police boss to force Capone to leave Chicago. At the point when Capone searched for another spot to live, he immediately found that he was disliked in a significant part of the nation. He at long last purchased a domain at 93 Palm Island, Florida in 1928. Endeavors on Capone's life were rarely fruitful. He had a broad covert agent organize in Chicago, from paper young men to police officers, with the goal that any plots were immediately found. Capone, then again, was adept at confining and slaughtering his adversaries when they turned out to be excessively amazing. A run of the mill Capone murder comprised of men leasing a condo over the road from the casualty's living arrangement and gunning him down when he ventured outside. The activities were brisk and complete and Capone consistently had a plausible excuse. Capone's most famous slaughtering was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. On February 14, 1929, four Capone men entered a carport at 2122 N. Clark Street. The structure was the principle alcohol central command of peddler George Bugs Moran's North Side group. Since two of Capone's men were dressed as police, the seven men in the carport thought it was a police attack. Accordingly, they dropped their weapons and put their hands against the divider. Utilizing two shotguns and two automatic rifles, the Capone men discharged in excess of 150 slugs into the people in question. Six of the seven murdered were individuals from Moran's pack; the seventh was

Friday, August 21, 2020

Police Corruption Problems

Defilement has been uninformed storage rooms of American policing since it was first settled in the nation. When policing was first initiated conditions were not the best, pay was low, and regard was elusive. These issues combined with the issue of an absence of laws in which bound the police to achieve a particular undertaking a particular way, implied they had enough carefulness to hang themselves by. There shouldn†t be any unexpected that debasement hasn†t evaporated and will in all likelihood never absolutely leave. It is much the same as the maxim â€Å"Absolute power, adulterates absolutely†. It is simply human instinct to need a superior life and get the things you constantly needed. A few people, and police are simply individuals, just can†t oppose the enticement for â€Å"easy money†. Individuals have a method for legitimizing circumstances in their minds, by intuition they are simply dealing with their families and covering there tabs. This is like the activity I by and by have, working in the Asset security division for Sears. I see things I might want to have throughout the day, I realize I could take them and nobody could ever know, yet I don†t. I don†t do it in light of the fact that there is a dread of getting captured or any sort of discipline that way, I don†t do it on account of morals and ethics. I, similar to most of individuals see the chance, while a little level of individuals exploit it. It is the equivalent with policing most police are straightforward and persevering however, there are in every case some â€Å"bad apples† in the pack. On the off chance that you realized an approach to advise on the off chance that somebody would have been straightforward in all that they do, 100% of the time, I figure you would in any event be a very rich person. Debasement must be characterized so as to take a gander at it closer. The word reference meaning of debasement is: 1. Set apart by corruption and corruption; debased. 2. Dishonest; untrustworthy: a degenerate civic chairman. 3 Containing blunders or modifications, as a book: a degenerate interpretation. 4. Age-old. Spoiled; foul. Would consider a cop who acknowledged a free mug of espresso degenerate?. Shouldn't something be said about an official tolerating cash in return for not watching his/her part. What might you think about an agent taking that equivalent mug of espresso, okay trust him/her to be degenerate? I think you need to draw a line on what is degenerate and what you accept isn†t. I think you need to include into your dynamic advances the â€Å"offenders† occupations, position, and job in the network. The end I came to is that it certainly makes a distinction at work, position, and job in the network. I accept if the representative had nothing to do with the spot in which he/she got the espresso, he/she isn't degenerate. He/she simply had a demonstration of generosity pledged on them. As to cop, he/she ought not of acknowledged the espresso since he/she has an obligation to remain fair-minded to the network. In the event that he/she needed to go to a battle later that equivalent day between the individual that gave him the espresso and someone else, and the individual who gave him the espresso was seen as morally justified and the other individual was off base, what might occur? No doubt the individual who was captured (expecting this individual had information that he acknowledged the espresso) would undoubtedly bring that reality up at the preliminary. In the event that this circumstance happened the officer†s uprightness would be being referred to, and the jury/judge would need to ponder about it. Obviously tolerating espresso isn't the fundamental focal point of police defilement, its not illegal, nor will it overwhelmingly affect policing. I do accept the outline places into oversimplified terms the bigger issues which are happening with policing in huge. Everything comes down to â€Å"Do I take it or don†t I take it? † and it is sufficient? Debasement resembles a medication as it were, you start little and simply stir your way up the stepping stool, until you tumble off. I said before that tolerating some espresso isn†t illegal and doesn†t make up the defilement which we face today. I will depict some ongoing defilement cases which have been battled. As distinguished in a report by the Knapp Commission distributed more than two decades prior it was found there are two unique violators. The first are called â€Å"Meat eaters† who liberally abuse their capacity for individual addition. These people go out and look for approaches to get cash and have the bit of leeway. The subsequent kind is known as the â€Å"Grass eaters† these individuals are the ones who simply acknowledge settlements and such when the chance come their direction. Generally, when you know about a defilement case you in all likelihood catch wind of the â€Å"Meat eaters†, in light of the fact that they are the ones which get bolder quicker with each effective addition. So what do we do about it? I said previously if discipline isn†t going to prevent police from getting degenerate, what will? The initial step to tackling this â€Å"disease†, which is gradually consuming open trust, is to recognize the issue. Supervisors on an entire utilize three unique methodologies when neglecting to manage debasement. To begin with, it is essentially overlook the issue like it was never there. This methodology is awful for some reasons. In the event that the police can†t police themselves, somebody should come in and do it for them. Open trust will never be picked up. The subsequent methodology is a â€Å"pollyanna† attitude. This is the place the director finds and finds the debasement, however minimizes its all out effect. This methodology likewise with the primary methodology, will make somebody outside the office take care of the issue. The third is the most deadly methodology for the supervisor to take, one of a â€Å"cover-up†. Like the second, the administrator finds the debasement, however makes plain move to cover it up. Not exclusively did the director â€Å"condone† this conduct, however this will just prompt more debasement and misuse. This presently extended defilement, will in the long run lead to incredible open question. A supervisor can defeat the issues with these methodologies by accepting a sensible stance to this issue. This will permit the impacts of the debasement to be less harming to the organization. The subsequent stage to forestall defilement is to build up a strategy. While nobody plan will be secure it ought to incorporate these three components, enrollment, preparing, and examination. As I recently expressed, you need to concoct a meaning of debasement to be utilized for your arrangements. I propose everything from tolerating some espresso to the further most finish of the range be incorporated. Utilizing this definition prevents individuals and directors from attempting to choose what is over the line and what isn†t. In the event that you attempt to â€Å"draw a line† this can make disarray and numerous individuals could legitimize circumstances as being OK. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) characterizes debasement as acts including the abuse of power by a cop in a way intended to deliver either close to home increase or addition for other people. With a definition like this everybody from the watch official to the Chief knows where they stand. The IACP made the Model for Management Corruption Prevention, in response to the defilement running quick in the divisions. This model covers the three fundamental components which I referenced beforehand enrollment, preparing, and examination. Enlistment is the initial phase in this procedure. It's implied that no organization enlists individuals who they know are degenerate. There are a large number of reasons why offices ought to â€Å"Weed out† terrible volunteers. Cash is at the highest priority on the rundown. All the preparation where the enroll needs to experience cost the citizens a great deal of cash. Numerous organizations have strategies in which they recruit just prepared staff so this expense can be wiped out. Choosing competitors which have just been at work, shows bosses a reputation and therefor gives them more data. The utilization of the polygraph is a helpful device while â€Å"weeding out† up-and-comers.. Preparing gives extraordinary chance to make an enemy of defilement plan work. It does this for a few reasons. First preparing gets the message out with worry to measures. Second, this preparation permits the select to pose inquiries and to explain his questions about what is fitting and what isn†t. Preparing is partitioned into two sections, select and in-administration. The in-administration preparing is a significant instruments in light of the fact that the enlist communicates with a prepared official and permits that enlist to pose inquiries about ordinary occasions. The office should likewise watch the contender for a trial time of around a half year. This projects is known as the Field Training Officer (FTO) period. During this time of FTO the newcomer rides with a prepared official. Most organizations can discharge the select during this period for next to zero reason. The division may likewise choose to send their volunteers to a proper scholarly setting for preparing. This thusly will ideally help the enlist in settling on the correct choice when the inquiry emerges â€Å"Will I take it or won†t I? â€Å". The last phase of this three point preparing is examination. This is the critical components to this entire program, without it everything else loses its capacity to work. On the off chance that the open realizes the office will altogether explore all reports of defilement, it will impart a certainty with the division. The examination stage will no doubt be directed by the divisions inner undertakings unit. The IACP built up a model for offices to use. The main issue to be tended to is staffing. In little offices this could comprise of just a single individual on low maintenance premise. In bigger offices this unit could comprise on numerous officials on a full time premise. On the off chance that you are truly worried about the defilement inside your area of expertise, you ought to consider having an outside office explore affirmed debasement. This will guarantee bias won't happen. When you h

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Mental Illness And Child Development - 881 Words

Mental Illness and Child Development Mental Illness is a prominent occurrence throughout the world and commonly overlooked in the development of children. From psychotic disorders, such as Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder to emotional dysregulation and mood disorders, such as Major Depression and Anxiety children are prone to such occurrences just as adults. Child development is a very broad subject that encompasses an array of environmental and biological factors contributing to the individual child’s growth, which at times can over shadow underlying issues such as mental illness. This paper will encompass information regarding developmental milestones, psychological theories, nature versus nurture theory, and mental illness as they relate to child development. Child Development Child development can be described as the psychological, emotional, and biological changes that occur from birth to the end of adolescence (National Institute of Healthcare, 2016). During child development, the individual develops from dependence to increasing self-sufficiency (National Institute of Healthcare, 2016). Empirical research would suggest that the process of child development is a predictable process that can be measured and influenced by environmental and biological factors (National Institute of Healthcare, 2016). From birth humans experience the world and every aspect of it from temperature, sound, taste, and vision to the feeling of love and affection. While in theShow MoreRelatedBeing the Child of a Parent with a Mental Illness1727 Words   |  7 Pages Being the child of a parent who has a mental illness involves considerable risk to the child’s secure attachment and long-term mental health. Parental mental health concerns place children at a significantly greater risk of lower social, psychological and physical health than children in families not affected by mental illness. (Mayberry et al, 2005). Living with a parent suffering from a mental illness can have huge negative effects for the developing child. It has been proven numerous times thatRead MoreMental Health And Emotional Development868 Words   |  4 PagesMental illnesses of parents pose risks to children in the family. These boys and girls are at greater risk of developing mental illnesses than other children. When both parents are mentally ill, the probability that the child can mentally ill is even greater. The risk is particularly acute when parents suffer from one or more of the following: bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, alcoholism or other drug abuse or depression. The risk may be genetically inherited from parentsRead MoreMental Illness Affects Numerous Individuals In America,1424 Words   |  6 PagesMental illness affects numerous individuals in America, with nearly 43.8 million adults in America living with a serious illness (Mental health facts in America, n.d). Many of these adults suffering with a mental illness also play the role of a mother, father, or caregiver. According to Costea (2011), â€Å"†¦31% of American women and about 17% of men have a 12-month prevalence of at least one psychiatric disorder, and of those 65% are mothers and 52% are fathers†. However, research focuses on the individualsRead MoreThe And 643 Poster Presentation1559 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity of North Carolina - Greensboro Prevention Mental Health Screening is broadly defined by NCBI as â€Å"†¦a two-part process that first identifies risk factors or early phenotypic features (behaviors, bio-markers) whose presence in individuals makes the development of psychological or behavioral problems more likely, and then segments the relevant subset of the population to receive a unique preventive intervention† (NCBI, 2009). Mental illness is also desribed as a term that â€Å"†¦ has been expandedRead MoreMental Health Affects The Cognitive, Emotional, And Social Development Of An Individual961 Words   |  4 Pages Mental health affects the cognitive, emotional, and social development of an individual. These conditions can be short term or can continue for the life span of the person. Mental disorders affect children from different ethnicity, races, and ages. The cause of most mental disorders is not known, but heredity, biology, psychological trauma, and environmental stress are all fact ors (www.webmd.com). Treatment for mental health disorders includes medication and behavior therapy. Early diagnosis andRead MoreMental Illness And Mental Health1460 Words   |  6 Pageshaving mental health problems when actually they should be referred to as having a mental illness. Mental health is â€Å"a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community† (Mental health basics). Mental health is something a normal, healthy functioning human being has when everything in their head is in order. A mental illness is theRead MoreEssay on Mental Retardation in American Society1111 Words   |  5 PagesMental Retardation in American Society Mental retardation is a very serious illness, and most of the American population is ignorant regarding the subject. Approximately 3 percent of people in the U.S. are considered mentally retarded. With a percentage like this, the ignorance on the subject is bizarre. The nation has adopted slang terms such as â€Å"retard†, to insult others. Using this term is a way to call someone stupid. But there is a lot that people do not understand about mental disabilitiesRead More`` Richard Trenton Chase ``833 Words   |  4 Pagessister with physical abuse (Dennison, Victoria, 2009). As a child at age 10 Richard became extremely fascinated with fire and mutilating cats. Later throughout his teenage years he began heavily drinking and smoking. This soon led up to his hectic early adulthood when he was then diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic who suffered from somatic delusions. (Ramsland, Katherine). According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, paranoid schizophrenia, â€Å" is the presence of prominentRead MoreBorderline Personality Disorder ( Bpd )1484 Words   |  6 PagesBorderline Personality Disorder is one of the many serious mental conditions that is challenge to the individual suffering as well as family, friends or co-workers. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is known by impulsive behavior and instability, self-image and personal relationship issues. Individuals suffering from BPD may experience many of these symptoms listed in the DSM-V, â€Å"inappropriate, uncontrollable or vehement anger, chronic boredom or feelings of emptiness, extreme efforts to avoidRead MoreWhy Humans Develop Their Psychological Attributes Based On Genetics ( Nature ) Or Their Environment1085 Words   |  5 Pagesbe an essential factor in the development of human begins and, their mental health conditions along with physical. Some mental health conditions in clude schizophrenia, bipolar, major depression, psychosis, etc. One in five American Adults are most likely to develop a mental health issue (U.S Dep. Of Health Human Services.) especially when there is a family history of the condition, however, even though genetics are important factors in a development of mental illness is not all entirely genetic

Friday, May 15, 2020

Happiness in the Fourth Epistle of Alexander Popes An...

Alexander Popes philosophical poem An Essay on Man, published in 1732-134, may even more precisely be classified, to use a German phrase, as Weltanschauungliche Dichtung (worldviewish poetry). That it is appropriate to understand An Essay on Man as world view in verse, as a work which depicts humanitys relationship to and understanding of a perplexing and amazing world, is indicated in the statement of the poems Design in which the author avows that his goal was to examine Man in the abstract, his Nature and his State. Indeed, Pope sought to fulfill his agenda by describing in each of the works four epistles the nature and state of man with respect (1) to the universe, (2) to man himself as an individual, (3) to society, and†¦show more content†¦v). Likewise Cicero stated that those who achieve [virtue], guiding themselves by magnanimity and uprightness, are always happy (De Finibus V. xxiv. 71). Richard Hooker similarly argued that all men desire a happy life based on the u nencumbered pursuit and exercise of righteousness or virtue. In a theological vein, he wrote, Infinitely happy in himself from all Eternity, God so communicates his goodness as to show no other design in creating Mankind than their happiness (Of Oh Happiness! our beings end and aim! Good, Pleasure, Ease, Content! whateer thy name. The whole of the fourth epistle is a poetic meditation on the relation of humanity and happiness, and it serves as the culmination of An Essay on Man, on which it lies like crown (Tillotson 50).2 In terms of substance, it is an extended argument to the effect that happiness is not tied to any particular condition, state, location or possession, but is singularly related to virtue (Atkins 57), a conception which is fundamentally Stoic in origin. As Mack points out, what the fourth Epistle adds to the argument of the text is a sustained and brilliant Stoic account of the pre-eminence of virtue over externals, partly by way of theodicy, vindicating Providence for the unequal distribution of these goods, [and] partly by way of ethics, showing where true ethical objectives lie (xxxix). This same author elaborates on the Stoic framework of the entire poem, and on its Stoic conception of

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Critical Race Theory Race And Racism Essay - 927 Words

The overarching theme of critical race theory is centered on race and racism, however in higher education, critical race scholars recognize that racial identity and this form of oppression (racism) intersects with other subordinated identities (such as gender, class, religion, ability/disability, sexual orientation, etc.) and forms of oppression (sexism, homophobia, ableism, etc.) to influence People of Color’s lived experiences (Bartlett Brayboy, 2005; Brayboy 2005; Kumasi, 2011; Lynn Adams, 2002; Solà ³rzano Yosso, 2001). This means that in higher education, critical race theory challenges the dominate discourse on race and racism as it relates to educational theory, policy and practice (Solà ³rzano, 1998). Solà ³rzano and Yosso (2001) asserted that the aforementioned concepts act as a â€Å"camouflage for the self-interest, power and privilege of dominate groups in U.S. society† (p. 473). This means that even though over sixty years have passed since the Civil Rights Movement and over one hundred years since the Emancipation Proclamation, there are still forms of racism and oppression that are evident in higher education that require further research through the lens of critical race theory. Robert Putnam (2015) said â€Å"Black parents in America remain disproportionately concentrated among the poor and less educated, so black children continue to be handicapped from the start† (p.19). Moreover, Putman also mentions that black children experience less upward mobility andShow MoreRelatedCritical Race Theory Of Race And Racism1458 Words   |  6 PagesCritical theories of race and racism have been used by sociologists to not only describe modern societies, but also address issues of social injustice and achieve an end to racial oppression. Critical race theory is one of the most widely used for this purpose. Its utility rests upon the assumption that race is a social construct and not an inherent biological feature. In place of the concept of inherent race, critical race theory proffers the concept of racialization. The tenet that the conceptRead MoreCritical Race Theory On Racism751 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout history, racism has been an entity embedded in the United States society, and can still be seen in many forms today. In regard to racism being uprooted in the future, it does not seem plausible due to the fact that little progress has been made to reform the societal structures that marginalize people based on their race. Although racism is permanently embedded within the United States, working towards social justice is a necessity because it reassures communities facing marginalizationRead MoreAnalyzing Predictors Of Success For Higher Education Among African American Students986 Words   |  4 PagesHigher Education through a Critical Race Lens and Analyzing Predictors of Graduate School Success among African Americans Theoretical Framework and Proposed Research Study The theoretical framework chosen to guide my research in analyzing predictors of success in higher education among African American students is Critical Race Theory (CRT), with an emphasis in education. Critical Race Theory in Education (CRTE) evolved from CRT, which is derivative of Critical Legal Studies (CLS), a 1970’sRead MoreUrban Planning History Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesThere have been many significant movements throughout urban planning history which have influenced the way that planning theory is shaped and thought. Combined Modernist and Neoliberal planning theories have influenced the erection of a vast amount of planning project that have left an imprint on the way that urban planning is practiced today. In this paper, I will begin by describing the components of modernist and neoliberal planning practices. Then, I will outline a brief history of the projectRead MoreLife Interview Review Essay3177 Words   |  13 Pagessocial of life during pre -civil righ ts movements. She can remember instances of racism where she was served food through the back door, using segregated public bathrooms, and reading old school books that came from white schools. She noted that America has come a long way from the days of Jim Crow. The vindication of Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States is proof of America’s progression in race relations. 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Racism as a component in the Canadian societal context has prevented the realization of truth and justice throughout history. For instance, Donald Marshall Jr. endured a wrongful conviction as a result of racism in the criminal justice system. WhileRead MoreThe Effects Of Race On America Today1429 Words   |  6 PagesThe Affects of Race in America Today By, Alex Peterson Soc 420 Final Racial oppression and racism have been an issue seen throughout the history of the United States. During the 60’s the era of the Civil Rights movement Americans saw advances in racial equality. This seems to have created a notion throughout the United States that racism was not an issue for many years. Yet racism still seems to be engrained in American society, it is just hard to realize when it is happening. Recently racialRead MoreCritical Race Theory And Method : Counter Storytelling843 Words   |  4 Pagesreading, we read the article â€Å"Critical race and LatCrit theory and method: Counter-storytelling† by Daniel G. Solorzano and Tara J. Yosso. Throughout the reading, it emphasizes the racial problem that Chicana and Chicano undergraduate and graduate are facing under the educational system. In order to understand more about their experiences, the authors divided the reading into three different steps. First of all, they defined the meaning of critical race theory. This theory help provide more informationRead MoreThe Role Of Critical Race Theory941 Words   |  4 PagesThe role of Critical Race Theory provides us with the idea of â€Å"racial realism†, the idea that racism, the normalcy of white supremacy is part of the everyday life of an ‘other’, in other words, racial or indigenous minorities in Canada. 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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Logistics Engineering and Systems

Question: Describe about the Logistics Engineering and Systems. Answer: Introduction Definition of the Problem The world we live in is always in risk of getting affected from extreme effects of natural and artificial calamities. Such catastrophic incidents have been taking place since the origin of this planet. With respect to the last decades, it is seen that there has been adverse effects of such calamities resulting to death and injuries to several people. Thus, it is imperative for emergency logistics management to play a pivotal role in the global issue with respect to such incidents. Such serious accidents require relief and rescue operations as well as recovery activities from the part of the logistics systems after the calamity. These adverse effects of natural and artificial disasters needs swift, effective relief functions and such activities become a challenge for them as they need to create a supply structure, distribution network, assessment of disaster, coordination, inventory management etc. This system like any other process also tries to improve its process from time to time to provide service that is more efficient to the affected (Dai, 2014). Objective There always remains a goal for the execution of such activities and so the main objective of this study is to assess the activities during calamity rescue and relief and to recognize the experience for addressing such logistic challenges. The other aim is to create policies that can be gained from the evaluating the current case. Methodology of the Project There have been many research based on the emergency logistics management and the researchers have identified some relevant matters that they have mentioned in their study. This study only concentrates on the emergency logistic activities undertaken after the Haiti earthquake. The study thus includes the transportation, product supply, relief and rescue operations, medical facilities, communications etc. The methodology used for this study is later discussed in this paper. Organization of the Project report The project is done on the Haiti Earthquake 2010, which cost lives of thousands and injuries to millions. The report is prepared by analyzing all the logistic support and data used during that time to rescue and relief the people affected there. Literature Review The literature review provides some discussions related to the modern knowledge on disaster management and relief and includes specific evidence and adds knowledge about the operations related to calamity relief by concentrating on the agencies that react to such incidents. The review finds out the cooperation among the organizations from the start to end of an emergency logistic system. The logistics require a wide range of transport to provide efficient and relevant deliveries from outside to the affected area. It also looks after a process or system, which will provide priority to the relief inputs. The items received from various regions needs to be stored in an inventory so that it can be moved when required. Moving or migrating people from the affected region to safety is also a prime concern for the logistic system. There should always be coordination for the usage of the transport asset to accelerate the relief process (Li,and Sheng, 2013). The logistics needed in the emergency relief are created through a process where the organizations primarily acquire the equipments and stores the supplies in a single place. The firms then distribute the emergency facilities and provide training to the desired personnel. There exists a common agreement to provide aid to the affected victims. A resource inventory is created so that is becomes easier to allocate the commodities during emergency. The logistic teams react differently after a disaster has taken place. It then uses it primary process to provide ailment to the victims. It provides maps to the people going to the affected area and provides safety sheets to the employees in order to abide by them. They move in the back up machineries and tools so that it is used when deemed necessary. They even provide food, clothing and medical support to provide the basic amenities to the affected people. A shelter to stay is also allocated as many may have lost their houses in such advers e accidents. A proper communication system is generated so that there remains a contact with the outside world during this crisis period. A proper supply chain exists in the emergency logistic system where the suppliers or donors are the government and other organizations and foundations, followed by the recipients like the NGOs. The transportation facilities are conducted mainly by the army, government or the NGOs and local bodies after which the reliefs are received by the people in need (Nickerson et al.2015). Methodology The methodology applied for this study was created to reach the goals of the research and to answer the questions to the research accordingly. The research question in mind is the lesson learned from the Haiti Earthquake rescue and relief operations and the policies, which can be implemented after assessing this study. The results of this study show the correct operations within an occurrence and that can be used to create theories in different types of research. The theories constructed either are taken from the older ones or have been new theories. The actual study is based on the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. The information collection is concentrated on the rescue and relief operations during the primary stage, and secondary data collection from the reports of the government and the NGOs. The results of this study are based on the secondary information. The evaluation process comprises of a series of focus group discussions, which in the basis of the People First Impact methodology. There were key informant interviews with respect to the stakeholders from the communities of Haiti and International foundations. These international foundations comprised of CARE, project agencies of ECB, INGOs, the government and sector networks like Sphere etc. the relevant information interviews analyzed the huma nitarian response that have gone well and things which havent. The activities, which could have been improved according to the present response and essential recommendations for the humanitarian community (zdamar, and Ertem, 2015). The literature review undertaken was a desk-based study related to the literature reviews made earlier regarding the Haiti earthquake like the statements, reports and strategies, other experiences of disaster and assessment of those literature reviews. The study also explains the method used for the focus group interviews and shows the way in which the data received is in accordance to the OECD-DAC criteria. Limitations There were various factors, which restricted the methodology of this study. The assessment team fumbled to gain relevant data from the agencies and to gain the essential elements for the interviews. Thus, the informant interviews were exclusive of Haitian government, UN, diplomatic community etc. There were some concentrated group discussions where the participants were limited due to a short notice period provided to them. The information received during the discussions was short as the time of debriefing was limited. The survey conducted was generally based on the urban areas and so the information did not provide a global overview of the disaster. Case Study Selection and Justification The case study selection is the crucial part for the assessment of the emergency logistics system as it can reveal a lot of new information and data, which can be useful for the researchers to create new theories about logistic management. The earthquake in Haiti with a magnitude of 7.0 MW, the total infrastructure of the country fell as there was a loss of the communication system, medical and transport facilities and the connection with the outer world got disconnected as the airport and the port got damaged thus postponing the relief work. The response to this calamity was just after the incident when the government and international foundations reached the scene within 36 hours with a coordinated effort from the National Disaster Management, the army, the NGOs like Red Cross and the foreign and national government to evacuate the place and provide relief and rescue operations to the victims. Around 10,000 volunteers were involved in the operation to provide ailment and support to the victims (Beresford, and Pettit, 2013). The international response through UN providing $10 million as emergency fund and other countries providing monetary, supplies and military help to the country also reduced the tension in Haiti. Results and Discussion The results of the study cover the regions of response, evacuation, resettlement, supplies etc. it also analyzes the major problems like the accessing the blocked roads to resume transport, reestablishing the communication system, guaranteeing supply of necessary goods etc. It also reveals the rescue and relief capacity of the country as seen that Haiti having limited number of armed forces had initial problems for rescue operations. The country being an island also faced problem as the airport the ports were destroyed (Gong, Chen, and Hu, 2012). The evacuation and the settlement process needed time as being a small country, and most of it destroyed the victims needed to be taken into temporary shelters and government buildings with the threat of aftershocks as well. The secondary treatment of the disaster comprising of the international and NGO response also took a vital part. Logistics Management With the advent of such a mishap in Haiti, merits and the challenges pertaining to the logistics management has been identified. Merits Swift Response Allocating the needed supplies Requesting to the national and international sector to provide supply Providing troops to the affected regions and providing equipments for rescue Real-time supervision of the situation and evacuating the victims. Effective emergency plans. Restoration of the communication and medical facilities Challenges Lack of communication among the various troops of different countries Unbalance of rescue force in some regions Inadequate national reserve for supplies Uncoordinated international donations Lack in Government coordination Small army force Concentration of population in the affected area Therefore, the logistics management pros and cons have been identified. Recommendation The evaluation of this study recommends that there are some questions regarding logistics, which has not been answered properly and they are: Coordination of demand and supply at the total environment Improving the level of emergency logistics relief supply chain for better result Controlling of the distribution of relief under the emergency situation These are the problems related to the emergency logistics and proper and efficient support over these topics can be useful for the maximization of the emergency logistics level. Conclusion The paper thus aims to innovate efficient regulations and rules so as to mitigate the problems faced by the emergency logistic management. The study of Haiti earthquake was taken to find out the logistics supply chain and system operating in the country and the level of quick response after the incident. The answers procured from the assessment of this study will be useful to generate new and innovative guidelines and policies for emergency logistics system to optimize their work for the near future. Reference List Beresford, A. and Pettit, S., 2013. Humanitarian aid logistics: the Wenchuan and Haiti earthquakes compared. InSupply Chain Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications(pp. 666-687). IGI Global. Caunhye, A.M., Nie, X. and Pokharel, S., 2012. Optimization models in emergency logistics: A literature review.Socio-economic planning sciences,46(1), pp.4-13. Dai, J., 2014, May. Earthquake Disaster Emergency Logistics of Transport Route Optimization Research. InInternational Conference on Logistics Engineering, Management and Computer Science (LEMCS 2014). Atlantis Press. Gong, B., Chen, X. and Hu, C., 2012. Fuzzy entropy clustering approach to evaluate the reliability of emergency logistics system.Energy Procedia,16, pp.278-283. Li, C., Guo, L. and Li, Z., 2014. Design of Decision-Making System of Emergency Logistics Information System Based on Data Mining.JDIM,12(6), pp.383-386. Li, Z. and Sheng, W., 2013. Establishment of Emergency Logistics System for Earthquake Disasters.Logistics Technology,7, p.039. Najafi, M., Eshghi, K. and Dullaert, W., 2013. A multi-objective robust optimization model for logistics planning in the earthquake response phase.Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review,49(1), pp.217-249. Nickerson, J.W., Hatcher-Roberts, J., Adams, O., Attaran, A. and Tugwell, P., 2015. Assessments of health services availability in humanitarian emergencies: a review of assessments in Haiti and Sudan using a health systems approach.Conflict and health,9(1), p.1. zdamar, L. and Ertem, M.A., 2015. Models, solutions and enabling technologies in humanitarian logistics.European Journal of Operational Research,244(1), pp.55-65. Sheller, M., 2013. The islanding effect: post-disaster mobility systems and humanitarian logistics in Haiti.Cultural Geographies,20(2), pp.185-204. Tuzkaya, U.R., Yilmazer, K.B. and Tuzkaya, G., 2015. An Integrated Methodology for the Emergency Logistics Centers Location Selection Problem and its Application for the Turkey Case.Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management,12(1), pp.121-144. Xu, J., Wang, Z., Zhang, M. and Tu, Y., 2016. A new model for a 72-h post-earthquake emergency logistics location-routing problem under a random fuzzy environment.Transportation Letters, pp.1-16.

Monday, April 13, 2020

Conditions of Behavioural Changes Towards Efficient Energy Use Essay Example

Conditions of Behavioural Changes Towards Efficient Energy Use Paper Conditions of behavioural changes towards efficient energy use – a comparative study between Sweden and the UK Abstract The main objective of this study is to compare how specific conditions in certain countries (in this case, the UK and Sweden) can stimulate or attempt to compel householders to be more energy efficient, or can obstruct this. Each country is deploying different policies in differing contexts in the attempt to reduce carbon emissions. European goals for energy and emission reductions now constitute the main frame for long-term energy policy changes, but national governments develop and implement policy in contrasting ways. Important aspects are: geographical context, degree of liberalisation of electricity and gas industry, energy systems, metering infrastructure, and the nature of electrical load problems. The following conditions are described and compared in this paper: (1) electricity and gas use; (2) role of utilities and other ‘external’ agen ts in residential demand reduction; (3) regulations; (4) quality of feedback on energy use to the householder; (5) customer behaviour. The comparison shows the significance of factors that are sometimes overlooked when considering the potential for demand reduction and load management, and produces some lessons and questions that are widely applicable. Introduction Europeans are gradually becoming familiar with the ‘20/20’ policy goals for a reduction of at least 20 % in greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2020, along with a 20 % increase in the share of renewables in the delivered energy mix (CEC, 2008). In this paper, we concentrate on the GHG reduction goal as it applies to residential buildings, assuming that households are expected to contribute substantial reductions in delivered energy, in addition to adoption of lower-carbon energy supply. Patterns of energy use are associated with many variables such as climate/weather, social norms, income, market conditions, dominant technologies and infrastructure. Therefore the process of working towards these goals will vary considerably between member states of the EU. We will write a custom essay sample on Conditions of Behavioural Changes Towards Efficient Energy Use specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Conditions of Behavioural Changes Towards Efficient Energy Use specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Conditions of Behavioural Changes Towards Efficient Energy Use specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In this paper, we take just two member states, Sweden and the UK, and examine how specific conditions can encourage householders to lower the environmental impact of their energy consumption – or obstruct them. The paper attempts to look at the whole energy system in each country, in order to identify the most significant elements for change and to contribute towards a framework for comparison of energy and climate policies across the EU. Climate change policy and targets Over the past 20 years, the UK has taken a lead internationally in setting ambitious climate targets. The government is committed to reduce GHG emissions by 12.5 % by 2008-2012 (relative to 1990), under the Kyoto agreement. It looks as though this target will be met, but this is largely because of reduced emissions from power stations between 1990 and 2007, when coal was replaced by natural gas. Changes at household level have been far less significant. UK climate policy is now governed by the even more ambitious 2008 Climate Change Act, under which ‘It is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for the year 2050 is at least 80 % lower than the 1990 baseline’. Carbon budgets are to be set by an expert committee for five-year periods, and the budget for the period including the year 2020 must be such that ‘the annual equivalent of the carbon budget for the period is at least 26 % lower than the 1990 baseline’ (UK Government, 2008, pp1, 3). The Act states that carbon budgets should be set with regard to scientific knowledge, technology relevant to climate change, economic, fiscal and social circumstances, and ‘circumstances at European and international level’. They are also required to take into account reportable emissions from international aviation and shipping. The Act represents a serious attempt to legislate for radical cuts in emissions, while leaving the government with escape routes from policies that it may see as unpopular or unachievable. There is evidence from surveys that the public see the government as having a major role to play in mitigating climate change (e.g. CoI, 2007), so clear, consistent and credible policies are going to be important in terms of peoples’ acceptance of the need to make changes. As supply, buildings and appliances become more efficient, additional emissions reductions will rely increasingly on user behaviour and on adoption of low-carbon technologies. In Sweden, the Parliament decided in June 2006, according to a suggestion from the Government, that energy use in residential and tertiary sectors should be lowered by 20 % per heated space unit, until year 2020 (Swedish Parliament, 2006). By year 2050, the energy use in these sectors should be halved (compared to today’s level). By 2020, the dependence on fossil fuels for energy supply in dwellings should be broken, and ways of measuring and achieving this are being debated at present. According to the Kyoto Protocol, Sweden has a commitment not to increase its emissions by more than 4 % (within the EU agreement) but has decided voluntarily to reduce its emissions by 8 %. In the directive for renewable energy published by European Commission Sweden’s target of renewable fuels amounts to 49 % by 2020. The proportion of renewable energy used in Sweden has in fact increased from 33.9 % in 1990 to 43.3 % in 2006, mostly thanks to electricity generation in large scale hydro power plants (Swedish Energy Agency, 2008). The Swedish Government doesn’t intend to take any decisions about decommissioning of nuclear power stations during its present mandate period (2006-2010). Moreover, there is even a very new agreement between the government Alliance parties on replacement of existing 10 reactors in the future. New long term forecasts from the Swedish Energy Agency show that Sweden can export about 25 TWh electricity in year 2030, which means lower GHG emissions in the importing countries. The question is what impact those decisions will have on public perception of the need for demand reduction and on changing of energy behaviour patterns. In summary, the two countries have comparable goals for energy use by 2020, (provided that the number of heated units does not rise substantially in Sweden). But both countries have a long way to go in order to demonstrate how they are going to reach goals and to come to terms with necessary changes. The public see government as having a major role to play in climate change mitigation, so clear leadership and credible ‘maps’ of how to achieve change are going to be important over the next few years. Electricity and gas use Structure of consumption in households The differences in structure of consumption reflect differences in fuel mix, climate/weather and building standards. They are also affected by differences in lifestyle, such as household size and occupancy, appliance ownership and day-to-day usage patterns. The residential sector in Sweden accounts for 32 % of total final energy use, amounting in 2008 to 124 TWh. Electricity is a dominating energy carrier in this sector – about 73 TWh per year. Almost 60 % of this energy is used for space heating and domestic hot water production (see Figure 1). The average annual domestic electricity use amounts to about 6 200 kWh per household in detached houses, and to about 40 kWh per m2 and year in flats (Swedish Energy Agency, 2007). The total statistically corrected energy use in this sector remained relatively stable in Sweden between 1970 and 2000, after which it has started to show a decline, mostly for space heating and domestic hot water supply. This decline was caused by different distribution and conversion losses at the point of use for fuels and other energy carriers as district heating or electricity. Another contributing reason for this reduction in energy use could be the increasing number of heat pumps. Other factors reducing energy use in residential buildings are various energy conservation measures (for example additional thermal insulation or upgrading windows in older buildings). In the UK, the residential sector also accounts for roughly a third of delivered energy, but the distribution of end-uses is different. Approximately 60 % is used for space heating alone (this figure reflects the low energy efficiency of UK homes, in a milder climate), with a further 25 % for water heating (Utley and Shorrock, 2008). Each household consumes approximately 20 MWh of delivered energy per year, compared with roughly 21 MWh for each Swedish household. UK consumption per household is however finally beginning to fall, as shown in Figure 2, with an accompanying decline in overall emissions – a 5 % fall in the domestic sector between 2006 and 2007 (DEFRA, 2008; BERR, 2008a). A rise of 140 % in gas bills over the years 2003-8 and 93 % in electricity bills will have been a major factor (Consumer Focus, 2008). The cost of fuel is a far more significant factor in the size of bills in the UK than in Sweden. Sweden uses a relatively small quantity of energy gases when compared with many other European countries; the distribution network for natural gas in Sweden is being extended. Natural gas is at present distributed to about 30 municipalities meeting about 20 % of their energy demand. On the national level, gas supplies cover almost 2 % of total energy demand. About 0.4 TWh of natural gas was used for space heating and domestic hot water production in detached houses 2007 and the same amount was used for this purpose in apartment buildings (Swedish Energy Agency, 2008). By contrast, around 70 % of delivered energy to housing in the UK is natural gas; 22 % is electricity. Domestic gas consumption in 2006 was approximately 400 TWh – five hundred times higher than in Sweden (BERR, 2008b). In 2006, 91 % of homes had central heating. 87 % of this was gas-fuelled and 6 % electric, with just over half the electric central heating using cheap night-time electricity to charge ‘storage heaters’ which release the heat gradually in the course of the day (Utley and Shorrock 2008, Tables 32 and 21). These differences are reflected in the daily and seasonal load curves for each country. There are still concerns about increased installation of electrical heating in new buildings, particularly in social housing and high-rise dwellings, because of the relatively high emissions (see Figure 3). However, the main single area of growth in electricity demand is consumer electronics – an area where product policy can make a substantial difference but where householders also need to be aware of how their consumption is ‘invisibly’ rising (EST, 2007). There is still some limited scope for reducing the number of homes heated by coal and oil in the UK; beyond that, the prospects for lowering emissions l ie with demand reduction, decarbonising the electricity supply, and using gas more strategically. There is very little district heating, although there is plenty of scope in high-density urban areas. This is a legacy of bad experiences with district heating programmes in the 1960s; and partly due to an individualistic approach to home ownership (70 % of householders own their homes and only 20 % live in social housing). The low energy efficiency of the housing stock, along with the lack of district heating, emerge as specific problems for the UK. There is a lot to be achieved through retrofitting of homes. Major changes are needed in the scale of district heating (urban areas) and micro-CHP or heat pumps (for suburbs and rural areas). The high carbon content of UK electricity, even after the ‘dash to gas’ in the 1990s, increases the urgency of investing in more renewable sources. Only 4 % comes from ‘new’ renewables (see Figure 3). While Sweden is much less reliant on gas for heating than the UK, it needs 0 10 20 30 40 50 Hydro Other renewables Nuclear Gas Oil Coal Other fuels Net imports % Sweden UK 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 kWh Gas Total delivered energy to control electricity demand and maintain low-carbon supply. In both countries, the rise in use of consumer electronics poses a major challenge. Grid infrastructure and operation The UK electricity grid is largely self-contained, with a 2 GW interconnector to France and a smaller one to Ireland. The highest load has been 62 GW (BERR, 2008b). Ageing nuclear and coal plants mean an uncertain future for electricity supply; but replacing either is very controversial. The UK has recently become a net importer of gas, with gas interconnectors with the Netherlands and Norway. Government is keen to avoid over-reliance on imports, but there is little storage capacity, and little incentive for suppliers to invest in it. Reducing demand for both electricity and gas is becoming increasingly important for reasons of security as well as climate. In Sweden, the energy market is liberalised since 1996. Total electricity production capacity amounts to about 32 GW of which 2 GW are secured by contracts with the industry. The highest load demand ever was 27 GW (Nordel, 2008). Electricity transfers between northern and southern parts of Sweden, mostly during very cold winters, can be uncertain because of the bottlenecks in the grid connections. Two nuclear reactors (Barsebà ¤ck 1 and 2) were definitely stopped but upgrading of the remaining ten plants means higher electricity production capacity in nuclear plants than ever before. Sweden has also AC power lines to Denmark, Poland, Germany and Finland; discussions on a new commission in Lithuania are in progress. The current plans for wind power production include requirements on local authorities to create opportunities for 10 TWh of wind power production by year 2015. The UK energy market is fully liberalised and ‘unbundled’. Suppliers do not own the pipes and wires through which their product is delivered; instead, they coordinate the transmission, distribution, metering and retail functions. As a result, infrastructure changes such as ‘smart’ metering and adaptation of the networks to accommodate distributed generation can only be introduced after legally complex changes in the market structure. By contrast, in Sweden the strong link between suppliers and distribution networks means that it has proved relatively easy to roll out automated meter reading in preparation for frequent, accurate billing from June 2009. These differences will affect the information on energy reaching customers and their relationship with suppliers. Major changes have occurred in the electricity markets in the Nordic countries, moving away from national or regional monopolies to international markets. Today, electricity users can easily choose their electricity suppliers. All the Nordic countries, except Iceland, can trade on the Nordic electricity exchange, Nord Pool. The price of electricity within this area is determined mostly by hydro power in Sweden and Norway, nuclear power in Sweden and Finland, price levels of fuels and governmental policy and incentives. Increase of the consumer electricity price in recent years was due to increases in energy taxation rather than in generation costs (Swedish Energy Agency, 2008). Electricity pricing (tariffs) Six suppliers account for over 90 % of residential sales of gas and electricity in the UK. There is a large, confusing number of possible variable- and fixed-rate tariffs, which makes it difficult to choose between suppliers. ‘Social tariffs’ are available for those receiving certain state benefits, but many lowincome customers in Great Britain (not Northern Ireland) pay higher-than-average unit rates, because they use prepayment meters and are charged more for these. Roughly 14 % of electricity customers have a prepayment meter, and 11 % of gas customers (Owen and Ward, 2007). Interestingly, the introduction of semi-smart prepayment meters in Northern Ireland for electricity, at no extra cost, has led to an increase in prepayment customers, to over 25 % (Boyd, 2007). When customers do switch suppliers – and the UK has the highest rate of switching in the EU – they almost always do so for reasons of price. Tariffs normally include a standing charge and are then either fixed-rate per unit of consumption, or declining block tariffs: there is normally no incentive to conserve by staying below a ‘threshold’ consumption level (Baker and White, 2008). New tariffs are beginning to give customers some incentive to reduce their usage1 but, given the lack of price regulation, it is not in a utility’s interest to reduce volume sales for all its customers. The ‘coordinator’ role played by the supplier allows for relatively simple bills: customers are normally charged one or two figures for their consumption (for example, 250 units at 13 p/unit plus 114 units at 8 p), to which is added value-added tax at 5 %. Network and ‘environment’ charges are incorporated in the basic charge per unit, as shown in Table 1, but this is rarely explained within the bill. In Sweden, four electric companies are dominating on the market: Vattenfall, Fortum, E.On and Gà ¶teborg Energi. The total electricity price charged to the Swedish customers consists today typically of three parts: electricity fee, network fee and taxes. The only part of the electricity bill that the customers themselves are able to influence is the electricity fee. All customers have the opportunity to switch their electricity supplier or renegotiate their existing contract, and, in this way, get a lower price. The second part of the total electricity price, the network fee, is paid to the network owner in the area. The network owner provides the physical transmission of electricity from the generation plants to the end-user. Customers cannot choose their network provider so the network fee must be reasonable and non-discriminatory. Network tariffs are supervised and published by the Swedish Energy Agency. The third part of the electricity charge is taxes. In Sweden, like in all the other Nordic countries, the consumption of electricity is taxed. Swedish customers have to pay two different types of taxes, an energy tax and a value added tax (VAT). The energy tax for domestic customers depends on the region. Industries pay no taxes at all at user level. The VAT is applied to the total price of electricity, including the energy tax. About 40 % of the total electricity price to a domestic customer is the price of electrical energy, 20 % is the share of the network tariff and taxes account for 40 % (Pyrko, 2006). Domestic users pay different rates of electricity tax, depending on where they live (in the north or the rest of the country). In addition to the various spot taxes on energy, there is value-added tax of 25 %. The standing charge of the grid fee depends on fuse level, starting from 10A or 16A for flats, typically 20A or 25A for villas. In the UK, most homes effectively have a load capacity of 21kW and there is no option for changing this – and no differential pricing according to fuse level. In summary, the energy market is oligopolistic in both countries, with confusing tariffs for customers and a lack of price regulation so that there is little or no incentive for suppliers to move from volume sales to energy services. The higher standing charge paid by customers who move to a higher fuse level acts as some incentive to keep consumption from rising in Sweden. At the same time it can also reduce willingness to save kWh if only a limited part of the cost can be influenced by the customers. In the UK, many tariffs are arranged so that the marginal cost of consumption falls as consumption rises, but the cost of fuel forms a higher proportion of the final cost to the consumer than in Sweden, so a reduction in kWh consumed will make a more substantial difference to the final payment. The Swedish bill is more transparent about components of cost, but also more confusing to the customer. The price of electrical energy forms a lower proportion of the cost to the consumer than in the UK, where the tax is lower. Role of utilities and other ‘external’ agents in residential demand reduction The main single policy instrument for residential energy efficiency in the UK is the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)3 . This makes the energy suppliers into major agents of government climate policy. They spend a fixed amount per customer on efficiency measures or renewable technologies each year, which are accredited with carbon savings, and accounted towards the supplier’s annual target. The measures can be installed in buildings anywhere – not just in the homes of their customers – but the suppliers are required to spend at least 40 % of the money on ‘priority’ (disadvantaged) customers (EST, 2008). They are allowed a limited amount of experimentation with new measures and programmes. CERT and its precursors are widely cited as successful, in that they have led to the deployment of thousands of efficiency measures. Plans are being drawn up for a more ambitious Supplier Obligation, under which suppliers will operate under carbon caps and measurement of consumption (not estimation) will become central to evaluation. In both countries, the question is raised of how much suppliers can be responsible for the behaviour of their customers, especially if they do not have a long-term contract with them. They are required by government to compete over lower energy prices (implicitly encouraging consumption), while at the same time encouraging conservation and promoting social equity. No fee or tax paid by the Swedish customers is destined for energy efficiency measures. However, the customers buying electricity have to pay fees for â€Å"green† certificates intended to be invested in renewable electricity production. The utilities offer also different services helping customers to either save energy, to make their installations more efficient or to switch fuels used for space heating purposes. Other agents in demand reduction (apart from individuals) are local authorities, the construction industry, the education and business sectors, and non-governmental organizations. There is scope for more recognition of the potential of these agents in reducing demand, because they tend to be closer to the public and/or may be trusted more than the utilities, or central government (Parag and Darby, 2008). Regulations Legislation to control residential consumption and emissions EU legislation on energy and climate is common to both countries (for example, minimum standards for appliances, Energy Performance Certificates for housing). However, there are differences in the extent of compliance/implementation of EC rules; there is also the effect of national and local standards and regulations. In Sweden, the electricity certificate system was introduced in 2003 with the objective to increase the amount of renewable sources in electricity production by 17 TWh between year 2002 and 2016. Another administrative policy measure is the Act concerning Energy Declarations for Buildings, based on an EU Directive. Owners of detached houses, apartment buildings and commercial premises are obliged to provide information on the energy demand of the building and other significant parameters of the indoor environment, in an energy declaration. The purpose is to promote efficient energy use and good indoor comfort in buildings. The energy declarations process should be fully implemented at the end of 2008 (Swedish Energy Agency, 2007). There are comparable provisions for Energy Performance Certificates on buildings in the UK. Subsidies/allowances to improve efficiency Fuel poverty in the UK – that is the condition of needing to spend more than 10 % of household income in order to be warm in winter – means that millions of homes need investment to bring them up to an acceptable standard, given the long history of poorly-insulated dwellings. The government funds efficiency improvements for elderly and vulnerable households through the Warm Front, Warm Deal and Warm Homes programmes. There is also the more recent Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP), which gives grants towards the cost of renewable / microgeneration technologies. The Energy Saving Trust manages a network of energy advice centres. which concentrate on getting wealthier homeowners to invest in their properties; various agencies offer additional advice and support to homeowners and tenants, funded by local authorities, energy suppliers and a range of other organisations. There is a continuing shortage of face-to-face advice in the home, with follow up, which is more effective but more expensive than the norm. Experience to date shows that more could be achieved if the Warm Front-type programmes were more flexible in the measure they funded, and if their assistance were to be targeted more on the worst housing; a promising development is the ‘Warm Zones’ programme, in which whole areas are tackled at once. The LCBP has suffered from inadequate and interrupted funding, making it difficult for the fledgling renewables industry to develop (Boardman, 2007). A lot of work on energy efficiency in residential buildings was carried out in Sweden since late 1970s. Special renovation grants called â€Å"ROT† have been available for the building owners. A particular conversion grant, available until 2010, was introduced in Sweden at the beginning of 2006 in order to reduce the use of oil and electricity for heating purposes in residential buildings and certain commercial premises. It is available for conversions to district heating, biofuel-fired heating systems, heat pumps or solar heating. However, grants for conversion away from oil were withdrawn from the beginning of 2007, because all funding had been used up. Until the end of 2008, owners of public premises can apply for grants for conversion and energy efficiency improvement measures. Grants for installation of solar cells for use by public premises have also been available from 2005, and remained available until 2008. The previous tax reduction concession for the installation of biofuel fired heating systems and higher-performance windows in new detached houses have been replaced by a corresponding grant (Swedish Energy Agency, 2007). In general, grants are now more geared towards efficiency improvements in the UK and to improving the lot of the ‘fuel poor’, while in Sweden, after a period of constant improvement of energy efficiency in the building stock and fuel switching from oil to electricity, there is now a trend towards converting heating systems from electricity to other energy sources (district heating, biofuels and heat pumps). Quality of feedback on energy use to the householder Article 13 of the EU-ESD of 2005 obliges governments to improve the state of feedback via metering and billing, but member states vary in the extent to which they are implementing this. The normal state of residential energy feedback in the UK is poor, and so is the state of householders’ knowledge about their consumption (Logica, 2006). Estimated bills are still common, and direct debit (with the customer paying the same sum every month, regardless of actual consumption) is the single most common payment met hod (approximately half of all customers). Prepayment customers have relatively good feedback, but most of these have limited ability to make reductions. The government has begun to prepare the ground for a rollout of smart meters to all households, and define ‘smart meter’ as including some form of customer display. This rollout is unlikely to be complete until 2019, due to the scale of operation and the difficulties posed by a highly-liberalised market. In the meantime, there is debate over the best ways of improving feedback without smart metering, through displays and improved billing. Real-time electricity clip-on consumption displays have become quite popular among householders, but market penetration is still fairly low. The UK Demand Reduction trials of different types of feedback, with and without smart metering, are under way in over 40,000 households. These trials are carried out by four of the major suppliers, but suppliers are also carrying out their own tr ials. Full UKDR results will not be available until 2011, and data from most other trials is confidential, so there is something of an information vacuum at present. In the meantime, some smaller, niche suppliers are offering smart metering with feedback to commercial and industrial customers, and this is just starting to happen for residential customers as well (eg first:utility). In Sweden, monthly readings for electricity bills are compulsory starting from June 2009. Millions of smart meters are at present installed in all residential buildings and the bills have to be based on monthly readings for all the customers. Some of the utilities are carrying out pilot trials with energy use feedback on the Internet or domestic displays: as in Italy, the definition of a smart meter does not necessarily include a customer display. Many trials and studies have been carried out on different ways of feedback to the customers: for example through bills (Hallin et al, 2007), information panels (Bartusch, 2007) and energy use statistics (Ersson and Pyrko, 2009). Energy user behaviour Attitudes towards energy conservation While there is increasing talk of energy conservation in the UK, practice lags some way behind. A report for the Sustainable Development Commission commented on how ‘energy and power are not terms within the natural language of mainstream householders. Gas and electricity operate at the level of the subconscious within the home†¦ Whilst there does seem to be some latent cultural guilt about the notion of waste†¦ there appeared to be virtually no sense of being able to †¦ significantly reduce energy consumption in the household†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Dobbyn and Thomas 2005, p6). There is evidence that average temperatures in homes have risen by around 6 °C since 1970, often from a low base but sometimes to well over 21 °C (Shorrock and Utley, 2003), and it is not usually thought abnormal to leave lights, heating and appliances switched on when they are not in use. Changing user behaviour is increasingly recognised as essential in order to bring emissions down, and the mantra of ‘encourage, enable, engage, exemplify’ has been adopted by government and some NGOs: they aim to put structures and programmes in place to get people acting (SCR 2006). Policymakers are recognising that attitudes may follow behaviour change rather than preceding them: hence the emphasis on action. Energy displays and smart metering are seen as a way of engaging people with their consumption and promoting behavioural change, but displays are adopted on a voluntary basis only in both countries, while trials of different types of feedback continue. There is some sense that Sweden’s good and unlimited energy supply is treated as a â€Å"citizen right†. In both countries, a lot of people just don’t care about energy efficiency but there is a strong difference between generations: seniors are more aware and/or more frugal (Carlsson-Kanyama Lindà ©n, 2002), and between conditions of house ownership: owners are usually more aware than tenants (Pyrko et al, 2002); and they have more options open to them when it comes to acting to improve their environmental impact (Walker and Cass, 2007). Response to price signals in relation to demand response Sharp rises in gas and electricity prices have had some effect on overall consumption in the UK, as discussed above. But ‘demand response’ for better electricity load management is not yet a widely-used concept, partly because supply margins have been generous until recently. Most customers are only familiar with one type of time-of-use pricing: the ‘Economy 7’ tariff for cheap-rate electricity that is available over night, mostly used by those with electric storage heating. A three-rate time-of-day tariff is available in Northern Ireland, and has led to some reductions in peak demand (Boyd, 2008). In Sweden, only one electric utility – Sollentuna Energy in Stockholm area – has a special kind of tariff with load demand fee. This solution probably could lower load demand with about 5 %. However, in a survey carried out in 2006 more than 70 % of the customers wanted to have their old â€Å"flat† tariff back! (Pyrko, 2005). Some studies performed in Sweden 2005-2008 (Lindskoug, 2006) with critical peak pricing have shown that the customers are willing to lower their load demand with about 50 % during some hours if the electricity price was 3 times higher than normally. The Swedish experience with demand response is something for UK to learn from for the future, especially with its increasingly tight supply margins, and with more renewable electricity coming on-stream. Relations between government and householders: mutual expectations Most householders in the UK want government to give a lead on climate change (CoI, 2007) but do not necessarily like it when the government acts, especially when price increases are involved – for example, the protests over transport fuel price rises in 2000. Government has arguably spent too much time and effort ‘individualising’ the issue of energy conservation emphasising personal responsibility and small incremental steps (Hinchliffe, 1996), rather than spending more time on a more strategic approach, eg stronger market transformation/ product policy, better training and regulation for the construction industry, better enforcement of building regulations, and improved feedback to end-users. Citizens, not very trusting of either government or business (Christie and Jarvis, 2001), may be willing to act independently of central government, on their own or as part of voluntary organisations or local initiatives. They recognise that moving to a low-carbon society is more than just a matter of individual responsibility. Generally speaking, citizens in Sweden expect always that â€Å"someone does something†. â⠂¬Å"This is an issue for politicians† is another expression very often heard in Sweden. Decisions should be made for the society’s best. Then people should be informed about the â€Å"right† and â€Å"rational† way to be effectively involved in the process. This means that the society, in overall view, trusts or at least follows, the decisions taken by the government. (Daun, 1989). Relations between customers and utilities In the UK, the relations between customers and utilities tend to be poor (eg SDC, 2008; Devine Wright and Devine Wright, 2005). There is little loyalty to suppliers, and decisions to switch are made almost entirely on grounds of price (Boardman and Palmer, 2003). Although long-term contracts are now possible, they are unusual. It is normal to be able to switch suppliers within 28 days of signing up, so suppliers are unwilling to invest in the energy efficiency of their customers, on an ‘energy services’ model. As utilities h ave to expend a lot of time and money on recruiting customers, they would very much like to cultivate long-term customers. They see improved feedback as a service that they can use to encourage loyalty, and smart meters as a potential gateway into the home, that can allow them to sell other services, eg telecoms, security, home automation. In spite of these drawbacks, government policy is strongly, and increasingly, geared towards using energy suppliers as agents for demand reduction, as they have been the agents for getting efficiency measures into homes through the EEC and now the CERT. There is a fundamental difficulty here, in that supplier profits are not decoupled from volume sales. Suppliers do of course have a relationship with each household, making them an obvious choice as agents for some government climate policy, but until they have an incentive to reduce the number of kWh they sell, it is hard to see why they should be the primary agents. In Sweden, the relations are s ometimes very poor between some bigger companies and their customers. Installation of smart meters has caused some conflicts in the initial stage. Local companies possess much more loyalty; the customers care about â€Å"their† company (Pyrko, 2005). New ideas are also developed to strengthen feedback and improve company’s image and relations with customers. There is an expectation from the Swedish politicians that the energy utilities will take their â€Å"environmental and climate responsibility† and will act as principal agents in improving energy efficiency and encourage energy savings (SOU, 2008). Discussion and conclusions Both countries have comparable goals for energy use reduction by 2020. Many measures are needed to achieve these goals, and our analysis suggests that some of these will need to differ, in line with differences in the national context. A comparison shows that Sweden is less dependent on gas and coal for heating than the UK but very relia nt on electricity for this purpose. Sweden is also more linked into other markets than the UK. Sweden is part of the larger Nordpool, which is in turn joined up with a huge European grid; and it produces low-carbon electricity that will become increasingly valuable as emissions’ trading becomes more important. The energy market is oligopolistic in both countries, with confusing tariffs and very low incentives for suppliers and/or customers to develop or demand energy services. Even if the 11 Swedish bill is more transparent about costs, it is also more confusing to the customer. The price of electrical energy is lower in proportion to the total cost than in the UK, where the tax is much lower. There are several substantial differences in terms of the conditions for behavioural change in relation to residential energy use. The UK still has to do a great deal to catch up with the quality of building in comparison to Sweden, and this is inevitably a slow process involving many a ctors and a great deal of education and training. The low-carbon electricity supply clearly affects Swedish climate policy and may lead to some complacency about the need to reduce demand. In the UK, where electricity is relatively carbon-intensive and where gas increasingly has to be imported, energy security concerns and price rises are having an impact on policy, and on public perceptions of the need to reduce consumption and diversify supply. Ownership and operation of the utility networks have affected progress in metering and billing. It has been impossible to implement smart metering in the UK as yet, because of the fragmented nature of the supply industry (although the decision to install smart gas and electricity meters was made in 2008). Large-scale trials of different modes of feedback are under way in the UK. In Sweden, there is a fullscale smart meter rollout and obligatory monthly readings should start in June 2009. There has not been much progress yet in terms of impr oved energy feedback on the bills or domestic displays in Sweden, although there are some large-scale trials of web-based feedback. Government support for efficiency measures, renewable energy sources, advice and advice programmes is undertaken in both countries, with a mixed record. A major policy question is however: how much should utilities be the agents of government policy on emissions reduction and energy efficiency? If utilities do not have incentives to lower consumption, how effective can they be? How much should other agencies and actors be involved, eg local government? Utilities in both countries are trying to cultivate customer loyalty – and see improved feedback as a way to do this – but they have a difficult task ahead. Swedish citizens are more trusting of their government, they often expect that â€Å"someone does something† and that the decisions are made for the society’s best (Daun, 1989). UK citizens, not very trusting of either gove rnment or business, may be more willing to act independently of central government. However, they recognise that moving to a low-carbon society is more than a matter of individual, isolated behaviour. There is an urgent need to develop technologies and systems in such a way that end-users become more aware of energy and also have the incentives and the tools to manage their usage better. In order to do this, those who supply the technologies and systems also need to have an interest in demand reduction. At present, suppliers in both countries (but perhaps especially in Sweden, with its high reliance on electricity) have more interest in load management than in lower consumption levels. 20 % emission reductions mean substantial changes in patterns of usage, with improvements in both energy efficiency and electricity load management. 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