Finance- Global Stock Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finance- Global Stock Markets - Essay Example The Dow Jones low point was USD10,608 and its high point was USD 11,439 a fluctuation of only USD 831, or slightly less than 1%. The change from the first point (September 20) to the last date charted (November 22) was even lower. The Israeli stock exchange rose from USD 34,361 to USD 35, 348, an increase of USD 987. At the same time the Dow Jones rose from USD 10,608 to USD 11,083.75, an increase of only USD 475.75. This means that if an individual had invested USD 100,000 across the board in each stock exchange at the end of the period their Israeli investment would be worth USD 104,597.90 while their Dow Jones investment would have increased to USD 104, 484.80. Over a period of less than three months this is not an inconsiderable profit, particularly if it were to be increased by a factor of five to make it roughly equivalent to one year (as opposed to ten weeks). On the other hand, it demonstrates a remarkable disconnect between the markets and current events. This was no ordinary period in either the United States or Israel yet, viewed over two months, the stock exchanges slowly, but reasonably steadily, increased in value. In the United States a mid-term election campaign was waged, that included cataclysmic predictions of a Democrat debacle and featured the wild card of the tea partiers. In fact the Dow Jones increased steadily from September until the election: The campaign uncertainty and predictions of disaster for the Presidents party had no negative impact on the stock market. On October 28, 2010, only days before the election New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote, â€Å"future historians will probably look back at the 2010 election as a catastrophe for America, one that condemned the nation to years of political chaos and economic weakness.† His piece concluded with this warning: â€Å"So if the elections go as expected next week, here’s my advice: Be

Moral Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Moral Development - Essay Example Indeed, transparency is very significant in professional and working ethics where it reveals all actions, plans, motives, and data of individuals and organizations to the relevant stakeholders (Learn Well Resources, 2012, p.1). Where stakeholders may include shareholders of certain organizations the directors and management of such organizations should avail all information pertaining to the status of the organizations to enable the shareholders to make necessary decisions on the same. Additionally, transparency is a legal requirement that all organizations should adhere to enable the government make a financial follow up on public organizations. Lawrence Kohlberg is a scholar that concentrated on both psychology and philosophy. He put much emphasis on moral development and proposed a 6-stage theory of moral thinking that advances the Piaget’s theory on moral development. He relevantly interviewed both children and adolescents about moral dilemmas to deduce three levels of mor al development classified in six stages. The three Kohlberg’s levels of moral development include pre-conventional morality, conventional morality, and post-conventional morality levels (Crain, 2010, p.18-20). Level1. Pre-Conventional Morality The first stage of this level is the obedience and punishment orientation stage. According to Kohlberg, this stage is common with young children though adults can also express their reasoning at this stage. Children in this case obey rules in response to consequences of punishment involved. They do not do things because they are right but only obeys what the authorities’ permits. They do not have a societal voice but term morality as an external command from the adults. The second stage of this level is the individualism and exchange stage. At this stage, children value actions in relation to how they satisfy individual interests and not necessarily their morality. They recognize that there are varieties of right things permitted by the authorities with the best option serving one's own interests. Again, they realize that punishment from authorities or adults is just a natural risk that one needs to avoid. As such, their voice is still isolated from that of the society, as they do not identify with members of society (Crain, 2010, p.19-22). Level 2. Conventional Morality This level entails stage three of moral development that is interpersonal relationships. At this level, individuals seek to live up to social expectations and roles. This clearly affects the interpersonal relationship in a society depending on the choices different people make. At this stage, teens see morality as the way people should live and behave as expected by the family and society. They regard morality as having good motives and interpersonal feelings like compassion, kindness, love, and trust. Stage 4 involves maintaining social order. At this stage, individuals tend to consider the entire society while making personal judgments. T hey aim at being responsible, following set rules, and respecting the authorities with an aim of maintaining social order. This stage boils down to one-to one relationship where one considers the others feelings and offers help where they can (Crain, 2010, p.22-27). Level 3. Post conventional Morality This level entails stage five of moral development that involves social contract and individual rights. At this stage, individuals seek to accommodate others different opinions, values, and beliefs. They agree on rational standards to apply in the society. They adopt the common belief where all are entitled to benefit from what they do. Universal Principles is the last stage of moral development according to Kohlberg. He based it on universal ethical principles and abstract reasoning. This stage defines the

This is a group work. The part which I am doing is about HP.com. Look Essay

This is a group work. The part which I am doing is about HP.com. Look at Assignment criteria, and write in the form of 12 sub - Essay Example The company’s global operations have been said to e directed from California’s Palo Alto in the US, which is its headquarters. On the other hand, its US operations have often been directed from special facility within Texas’ unincorporated Harris County near Houston. The Latin American offices to this company are situated within Florida’s unincorporated Miami-Dade County, in Medellin Columbia near Miami (Hennessey and Jeannette, 2004). In Europe, its offices are in Switzerland’s Meyrin close to Geneva. In Asia-Pacific, its offices are located in Singapore. Moreover, it possesses large operations within Plano, Texas, San Diego, Colorado, Fort Collins, California, Roseville, Idaho and Boise. Within the United Kingdom, HP bases itself on a considerably large site within Bracknell, Berkshire with the offices having been located within several locations including a landmark tower office within London’s 88 Wood Street. The company’s websites is created to be accessed by every individual within the globe without any issues, with the delivery services being executed upon order from consumers. Overall Strategy HP’s recent strategic move might be referred to have been out rightly outstanding. Its decision to do away with the hardware systems and lay focus upon enterprise software, appropriately waved the white flag, as well as ceded the dramatically changing personal computing business into Apple when it made public its intentions of jettisoning its customer hardware division together with scrapping its poorly selling mobile product line so as to concentrate on business services (Dorfler & Heuveline, 2007). According to a variety of analysts, HP’s move seems to have been an original idea of an outsourcing powerhouse IBM, having continuously bundled the hardware that it no longer owns to its outsourcing deals. This has been considered HP’s ‘appropriate correction’ within the industry, exiti ng the markets where it could be attaining a hiding and concentrating on the enterprise clients that desire for alternatives to the giant powerhouse, IBM. In case it technically rids itself off the computer business, it might offer the customers who might be wary of outsourcer, thus pushing its own hardware an impression that it is vendor-agnostic (2007). Marketing Strategy The company seems to be taking transformative, bold steps in order to drive the creation of long term value of shareholders through a concentration of fewer fronts, thus improving its capability of executing, investing in innovation and driving a higher margin business mix. However, it is clear that actual transformation within the outsourcing industry calls for more than just shifting the dollars from hardware devices to software devices. Although laying focus on software and other services might not necessarily enhance those sectors in the future, but it enables the company to concentrate on a particular consum er base and fully satisfy their desires within an industry that is less saturated and less competitive; the outsourcing industry (Burkett, 2002). However, the move to outsource its business cannot guarantee that the company would not be faced any competition. In fact, stiff competition might be posed by the Indian based companies like Cognizant, Infosys and may others. In order to fight back, the company possesses a majority stake within Mphasis, the Indian IT service provider and could

Moral Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Moral Development - Essay Example Indeed, transparency is very significant in professional and working ethics where it reveals all actions, plans, motives, and data of individuals and organizations to the relevant stakeholders (Learn Well Resources, 2012, p.1). Where stakeholders may include shareholders of certain organizations the directors and management of such organizations should avail all information pertaining to the status of the organizations to enable the shareholders to make necessary decisions on the same. Additionally, transparency is a legal requirement that all organizations should adhere to enable the government make a financial follow up on public organizations. Lawrence Kohlberg is a scholar that concentrated on both psychology and philosophy. He put much emphasis on moral development and proposed a 6-stage theory of moral thinking that advances the Piaget’s theory on moral development. He relevantly interviewed both children and adolescents about moral dilemmas to deduce three levels of mor al development classified in six stages. The three Kohlberg’s levels of moral development include pre-conventional morality, conventional morality, and post-conventional morality levels (Crain, 2010, p.18-20). Level1. Pre-Conventional Morality The first stage of this level is the obedience and punishment orientation stage. According to Kohlberg, this stage is common with young children though adults can also express their reasoning at this stage. Children in this case obey rules in response to consequences of punishment involved. They do not do things because they are right but only obeys what the authorities’ permits. They do not have a societal voice but term morality as an external command from the adults. The second stage of this level is the individualism and exchange stage. At this stage, children value actions in relation to how they satisfy individual interests and not necessarily their morality. They recognize that there are varieties of right things permitted by the authorities with the best option serving one's own interests. Again, they realize that punishment from authorities or adults is just a natural risk that one needs to avoid. As such, their voice is still isolated from that of the society, as they do not identify with members of society (Crain, 2010, p.19-22). Level 2. Conventional Morality This level entails stage three of moral development that is interpersonal relationships. At this level, individuals seek to live up to social expectations and roles. This clearly affects the interpersonal relationship in a society depending on the choices different people make. At this stage, teens see morality as the way people should live and behave as expected by the family and society. They regard morality as having good motives and interpersonal feelings like compassion, kindness, love, and trust. Stage 4 involves maintaining social order. At this stage, individuals tend to consider the entire society while making personal judgments. T hey aim at being responsible, following set rules, and respecting the authorities with an aim of maintaining social order. This stage boils down to one-to one relationship where one considers the others feelings and offers help where they can (Crain, 2010, p.22-27). Level 3. Post conventional Morality This level entails stage five of moral development that involves social contract and individual rights. At this stage, individuals seek to accommodate others different opinions, values, and beliefs. They agree on rational standards to apply in the society. They adopt the common belief where all are entitled to benefit from what they do. Universal Principles is the last stage of moral development according to Kohlberg. He based it on universal ethical principles and abstract reasoning. This stage defines the

Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy Essay Example for Free

Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy Essay Hundreds of philosophers existed thousands of years ago. It was a time when the only leisure you could probably do was think, theorize, analyze and discover things. Obviously, two thousand years can change the habit of people and these days, thinking would take a lot of effort. The discovery of new things never stop as people have that urge to continue improves lives. In history and philosophy classes, great thinkers and philosophers were often studied. It is pretty amazing to read their works and come up with such incredible thoughts at that time. Often, they talk about leadership and politics. It was a time when countries are still developed and lands are yet to be discovered so a great leadership was very important. Although we would still analyze and review the philosophers’ works, more often their teachings cannot be applied to the current times. Sometimes change does not only involve technology and advancement, it can also apply to leadership and certain philosophical views. A great factor would involve the changing times. The lifestyle and the culture of the people are much different thousands of years ago. It was a time that women were limited to do domestic chores. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, wrote about what they of women during that time. It was probably a time when the role of women in the society is not defined. Of course, women nowadays are powerful and strong. They have created their mark in the society and gender bias in a lot of major industries is non-existent. That is why a lot of rules and laws cannot be applied to the world today. However, there are still some teachings that can be used up to now. These are the teachings that involve a great perspective in life. Sometimes, an illustrious perspective on life makes a person great. Anyway, the brain is the most powerful organ that is why the mind should take control of one’s lives. Teachings about life are very important that is why some philosophers and great thinkers are idolized and people formed a religion to continue preaching their teachings. One of the members of the long list of philosophers is Boethius. Although not as familiar as Aristotle and Plato, Anicius Manlius Severinus is the real name of this Roman philosopher but he was more famously known as Boethius. Boethius was born from a wealthy and educated family and like any other kids during that time; he studied poetry, mathematics and philosophy. Theodoric, the Gothic King ruling from Italy to Rome, appointed him court minister. Soon, his two sons became court ministers as well. He was a bold and brave man, with thoughts envied by a lot of people. His boldness is what brought him down as he became the object of vengeance of those oppressed. Boethius was known to check in the oppressions of some leaders. He was then accused of treason and was stripped of his dignities. In 524, he was executed in Pavia. While in prison, Boethius immersed himself in writing and there he wrote his greatest work. His masterpiece, The Consolation of Philosophy, talks about random thoughts about nature, justice and evil doings. The Consolation of Philosophy is a work mixed of prose and verse. It is a copy of Boethius conversation with Philosophy during the lonely years of the prisoners’ life. The work was theistic overall but it did not indicate whether the writer was Christian or not. In the Consolation of Philosophy, Philosophy showed Boethius how uncertain earthly fortune is and there is nothing more secure than virtue. Boethius was the last great Roman writer who translated Aristotle’s work. His translations were the sole means of studying Greek philosophy for a long time. His manuals on geometry, music, philosophy, arithmetic and astronomy were used in medieval schools. It may seem that Boethius may be having apparitions in his prison, but these visions came with a great message and a deeper insight. Boethius saw the reason behind his imprisonment and his conversations with Philosophy ended his misery and opened his eyes to better things, better perception. There was more to a great fortune and earthly things. It was probably some of the great things that Philosophy advised him that can still be applied up to the modern times. The first part of the book opens with Boethius having some afternoon thinking and writing when all of a sudden a woman appears in front of her. He described the woman as very beautiful and having a very powerful presence. He distinctively described her dress having embroidered the Greek letter Pi at the bottom and on the top hem, Theta. There was a ladder in between the two letters. She was holding books to her right hand and a scepter in the left. She was the Muse of Poetry. Boethius was currently having one of his many melancholy moments. Tears were trickling down Boethius’ eyes when the Muse of Poetry became angry. She was questioning the existence of sluts in Boethius’ place. She says that they only provide him temporary happiness that will not help him in his condition but instead will worsen it. The Muse of Poetry then pushed away the girls and they left in dismay. Boethius was teary-eyed as they left but eventually the Muse will explain why she did such thing (O’Donnell 21). The first part of the book shows how deserted Boethius feelings was in the prison that he tries to enjoy his self from getting temporary happiness. Apparitions or not, the Muse of Poetry shooed away the cause of all these but Boethius couldn’t help but feel terrible of her act he even questioned her authority. This lesson can still be applied to modern times. Often, when people have problems they are pushed to do band-aid solutions that will give them a short term solution to their problem. It is such an emotional thing to do that people do not even think of the long term effect or even the long term solution to their problem. A concrete example would be poverty. It is a sad fact that poor people are often pushed to do the bad thing. When a person is desperate to get food, he often steals. This solution just makes things more complicated as that person ends up ruining his life by spending it in jail. It is one of the many things that emotions take over and the mind stays behind. People often think of short-term solutions to their problems without considering the long-term consequences of these short-term solutions. The next stanza talks about how the Muse of Poetry consoled Boethius grieving soul. It was very well written with descriptions of how miserable Boethius has been. She assured Boethius that everything was going to be okay and that it was a time of healing not grieving. The Muse narrated how he brought up Boethius—being the great man that he is now. And although his situation may seem to be not bright, these too shall pass for the Muse is there to protect him and assure him that his virtues will prevail in this hardship (O’Donnell 24). This stanza was definitely was of the most touching part of the book. Really, this was the consolation of philosophy and one can’t help but feel for Boethius suffering. He was deprived of the life he deserved yet his imprisonment didn’t stop him from writing wonderful works. The second stanza also hints on the probable religion of the Philosopher—Christianity. The Muse somehow reminds me of Mother Mary and how she would protect her son from danger. It also signifies that the philosopher believes in a supernatural being that is more powerful than the earthly soul. Like any other human being, Boethius was going through probably the toughest battle in his life. And every human goes through that. No matter how driven or optimistic we are in our lives, there will always come a point that we want to give up. What the Muse was trying to communicate was that Boethius was born and made greater than his problems. And that does not exempt us. This made be theistic, but God won’t give us a problem that we could not bear. It is just normal that we feel like giving up at times especially when all hope’s lost but all we have to do is to stick to that goal and the universe will conspire to make life better for us. The next stanza talks about how the night ended and the day started with Boethius describing his physician examining him. The physician turned out to be Philosophy and she narrated how she has been with Boethius all along. She narrated how she started with Plato and Socrates and how she has turned out to be what she is now. She explained to Boethius how she has been taking care of him all throughout his life. The next stanza narrates his conversation with Philosophy. She tested him of the things he knew and welcomed him of her questions. The first thing that Philosophy asked him was if believed that life is full of chances. And he bluntly answered that God governs his creations and everything happens for a reason and he will never abandon His creation. The Philosophy then asked him why he was in such grief when he believes that God knows the best for him. By then, the writer was dumbstruck for he did not know the answer. The Philosophy knew something was missing and she was right. Boethius soon confessed that he was overpowered by grief. He knew the answer but he was just miserable to realize that the answer was just right in front of him. Philosophy then declared that the reason of his sickness is his grief and it was he who created all of those (O’Donnell 28). The following lines were so powerful that one cannot help but relate to Boethius’ situation. Pretty sure every one has gone through that pain. It was a feeling of emptiness and pity. It was as if the world has gone against us and everything is so not going our way. At the back of our minds, we know that something great is lurking around. We just have to be patient as good things come to those who wait. It was also just a matter of believing and working for whatever it that we want. It was a matter of realizing that we are in control of our lives—through God’s guidance that is. In general, the teachings of Philosophy can definitely still be applied to modern times. We all go through trials no matter what time or age we may be. It is just a matter of perspective. And although Boethius didn’t have any material thing left for him, it was his virtue that was more important than anything else. And that applies to all of us as well. Work Cited O’Donell, J. Life of Boethius. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania. Pages, 1996.

Transportation And Communication In Pakistan Economics Essay

Transportation And Communication In Pakistan Economics Essay In Pakistan there are 96 roads of inland freight and 92 of passenger traffic and undoubtedly the backbone of Pakistans economy. Current road network of Pakistan is about 2,60,000 km which caters services to 11 million vehicles of all type and also NHA roads network is around 12,000 km, which is merely 4% of the overall road network but takes 80% of Pakistans commercial traffic. In Pakistan NHA has completed 12 projects of flyovers, bridges, interchanges and road up gradation during the last one year at a cost of Rs. 19.6 billion. At present, 46 development projects having length of 2,985 km are ongoing at a cost Rs. 245 billion in different sections/packages. All the 46 development projects include construction of roads, river Bridger, tunnels, flyovers, interchanges. In Pakistan during the current financial year, NHA has launched/awarded 16 new development projects covering a length of above 500 km inclusive construction of a number of bridges, flyovers and interchanges costing Rs. 70,951 million. NHA is simultaneously constructing 12 Bridges across the rivers. These are; on rivers Chenab 4, on rivers Sutlej 2, on river swan 1 and 5 on river Indus. Heavy rains and floods severely damaged the transport and communication system during last 2 years and preliminary estimates indicate that road approximately 8,385 km and 190 km railway lines were damaged including bridges and allied structures. In Pakistan Telecommunication infrastructure includes damages to cellular sites, exchange centres, equipment, power system and supporting civil works is amounting to $1.9 million. Ministry of Railways has also adopted a Track Access Policy for private sector participation to operate freight and passenger trains on Pakistan infrastructure and they also created a Real Estate Development and Marketing Company as subsidiary of Ministry of Railways. There are six factories including Locomotive Factory Risalpur, Carriage Factory Islamabad, and four concrete Sleeper Factories in Kohat, khanewal, sukkur, are Kotri, are being corporatized for eventual privatization subject to approval of the government. Pakistan cabinet committee of restructuring has approved a restructuring framework for their Railways and also during the last financial year, 16 kms of track was rehabilitated on Pakistan Railways network besides doubling more than 15 kms of track. There are 52 new design passenger coaches were imported from China at a cost of Rs. 4.1 billion. Remaining 150 passengers coaches will be manufactured at Pakistan railways carriage factory Islamabad by June 30, 2013. 22 passengers coaches have been rehabilitated at Pakistan Railway Carriage Factory Islamabad during last year. There is a new dry port was set up at Prem Nagar near Raiwind industrial area, Lahore through public private partnership at a cost of Rs. 494.0 million. International Airlines Corporation of Pakistan earned increased revenue amounting to Rs. 116.02 billion in year 2011 as compared to 107 billion last year. A purchase agreement of 5 Boeings 777 has been signed. In Pakistan two new destinations have been introduced during the year 2011: Karachi Madina and Quetta Zahedan and also there are three new routes were introduced during the year 2011: Peshawar Kaula Lumpur, Sialkot-Riyadh and Sialkot-Dammam. In Pakistan Karachi port trust handled cargo 27.8 million tonnes during the first 9 months current fiscal year. In Pakistan consolidated revenues of PNSC group during July-March 2011-12 were Rs. 6,640 million as compared to Rs. 6772 million last year and also the corporation intends to acquire four vessels through commercial loan/joint venture basis. In Pakistan acquisition of two vessels in process, while two more vessels will be acquired in next financial year. In Pakistan the Total cargo handled on Gawadar port up till now is 4.1 million tones while Gawadar Portearned total revenue since its start of operation amounting to Rs. 53.4 million and also in the Port Qasim Authority handled a cargo volume 19.7 million tones during July-March 2011-12. The volume of cargo importduring July-March 2011-12 stood at 14.7 million tones, and alsoexports handled 4.9 million tones during July-March 2011-12. Pakistan Ministry of Communications has prepared a draft National Transport Policy which coversall modes of transport sectors i.e. (i) Roads, (ii) Railways, (iii) Ports Shipping and this policy also includes the National Transport Corridor Improvement Program(NTCIP). This programme has been launched in the country to revamp the whole transportsector including ports, roads, railway etc. and provides a frame work to developand improve the North South corridor. In Pakistan mobile penetration rose 64.9percent in 2011-12 against 60.4percent in 2010-11 whichshows an improvement of 4.3 percentage points in total teledensity. So due to mobile substitution in pakistan, Fixed Local Loop teledensity has been declining over the yearsand it stands now at 1.93 percent compared to 2.1 percent last year showing a decrease of 0.17%. There is the total mobile subscribers reached 118.3 million by the end of March 2012 as compared to 108.9 million last year in pakistan and subscribers of Local Loop (FLL + WLL) reached at 5.93 million, out of which 3.10 million belong to FLL and 2.83 million belong to WLLin these nation. The broadband subscribers reached 1.9 million at the end of February 2012 in pakistan because of that the revenues of the telecom sector during the 2011-12, standing at Rs. 363 billion compared to the last year 344.2 billion show an increase of 5.4 percent. In the last year 2011, telecom sector invested US$ 495.8 million with cellular mobile sector being the major contributor.and also telecom sector attracted over US$ 79 million Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country which is about 5 percent of the total FDI landed in Pakistan in 2011. In pakistan the Auction of 3G licenses is expected which will bring more FDI in the country. Telecommunication Authority and the State Bank of Pakistan have signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) both the institutions have shown their interest and commitment in stimulating mobile banking services in the country. In pakistan cumulative investment of approximately US $ 2.5 billion in the electronic media industry. Because of cumulative invesment new jobs to more than 200,000 people of diversified skills and qualifications have been provided. In addition, over seven million people have been accommodated through indirect employment. In pakistan with the current growth rate of more than seven percent per annum, it is estimated that the cumulative investment in the electronicmedia industry will reach above $ 3.0 billion by the end of the current financial year. There is also a PBC External Services, broadcast programmes for 08 hrs daily in 11 foreign languagescovering Afghanistan, Iran, China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka in pakistan. The total Central Production Units (CPU) produce music, drama, features, documentaries and programmes for special occasions. CPU has over 2 million minutes recording in itsarchives which are being digitized in the country. In these country the PBC News is putting on air 117 News bulletins daily.it includes National, Regional, External and Local News bulletins besides resume of National Assembly and Senate. These PBC news launched broadcast FATA News, special news bulletins from PBC Hyderabad onrain/ flood situation and ongoing rescue and relief activities in Urdu and Sindhi languages. These countrys Post provides services through a network of 12,035 (1,797 urban and 10,238 rural)post offices across the country. The total money orders of Benazir Income Support Programme amounting to Rs.16,642.0 millionhave been paid within prescribed period of time. There is also 55 Small and Smart Express Centres have been set up in the urban areas. In Pakistan during the period July-March 2011-12 an amount of Rs. 160,266.9 million has been Collected through National Savings Schemes and earned commission amounting to Rs. 801.3 million During this period. Energy In these country of pakistan the primary energy supply during current year is 64.52 million TOE compared to 63.09 million TOE last year thus showing an increase of 2.3 percent. The availability of energy per capita in 2011 remained 0.372 Tone Oil Equivalent TOE compared to 0.371 Tone Oil Equivalent (TOE) in 2010 posting a positive growth rate of 0.16%. In Pakistan the average crude oil production during July-March 2011-12 remained 66,032 barrels per day as against 65997 barrels per day during the corresponding period of last year, showing an increase of 0.05%. In Pakistan the industrial sector had shown positive growth of 24.2% in the consumption of petroleum products during July-March 2011-12 when compared with last year. The Transport sector in this country surprisingly showed a relative small growth of 3.5 percent in the consumption of petroleum products as consumption of petroleum product in transport sector remained 6,832.9 million tones during July-March 2011-12 compared to 6,599.1 million tones during corresponding period last year in Pakistan. The total consumption of petroleum products in the power sector was 8,139 million tons compared to 8,814 million tones last year which hampered the growth in this sector, thus posting negative growth of 5.2 percent in this sector in this country. In the gas sector of Pakistan supply increased by 4.9 percent in July-March 2011-12 as the average production of natural gas was 4236.06 million cubic feet per day during this period while it was 4,050.83 million cubic feet per day in corresponding period last year. In Pakistan the natural gas in the form of CNG posted a positive growth 10.8% during July-March 2011-12. There is a total contribution of Hydel in electricity generation increased to 33.6% in 2010-11 in this country. In Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) remained the main contributor to electricity generation with 48.7% coming from this source. Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Kot Addu Power Company (KAPCO) and the Hub Power Company (HUBCO) have 8.3, 3.6, 6.2 and 9.1%, respectively. In Pakistan the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have contributed almost 25%. Water and Power Development Authority is executing, on priority basis, the projects such as 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum, 1410 MW-Tarbela 4th Extension, 7100 MW-Bunji, 4320 MW-Dasu, 740-MW Munda Dam and most mentionable 4500 MW-Diamer Bhasha Dam projects, to cope with the increasing demand of power in this country. There is almost 96% work on the main dam at Mangla, spillway and allied facilities had been completed and resettlement work is in progress. Likewise 99.7 percent work on Satpara and 72.1% on Gomal Zam dam has been completed. In this country there is one of the beneficiaries of Tetra-partner power import project under the head of Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) electricity trade. In Pakistan the household sector consumed 44% of the total electricity generated followed by industrial (26%), government (12.3%), agriculture (10.4%) and commercial (6.8%) during July-March 2011-12. In Pakistan the major users of coal are the cement sector and brick kilns; about 60% of total coal is consumed by cement while 39 percent is consumed by the brick kiln industry during current year as compared to 62% consumption of coal in cement industry and 37% in brick kiln industry last year. Safety In Pakistan Health situations at household level has registered an improvement, in terms of 66% of population using flush toilets compared to 63% in 2008-09, because of that it creates a good and healthy environment. In this country Benazir Income Support Program launched by the government with the primary objective of providing immediate relief to poor people. Benazir Income Support Program has made remarkable progress by providing much needed relief to over 4 million recipients including Internally Displaced Persons and bomb blast victims all over Pakistan. In this country Rs. 122 billion up to March, 2012 have been disbursed to its beneficiaries. Benazir Income Support Program has an allocation of Rs 50 billion for the financial year 2011-12. Benazir Income Support Program recipients are expected to be increased to 7 million once the on-going processing of data collection during the nation-wide poverty scorecard targeting survey is finished. Benazir Income Support Program has launched a number of programs of society safety including (i) Payment to Recipients, (ii) Graduation Initiatives, (iii) Waseela-e-Haq, (iv) Waseela-e-Rozgar, (v) Waseela-e-Sehat and (vi) Waseela-e-Taleem. This countrys poverty Alleviation Fund is dedicated for micro credit, enterprise growth, community based infrastructure and energy projects, maintenance enhancement and protection, social mobilization, and capacity building. The overall disbursements for core operations during the period of July- December 2012 are Rs. 8,490 million. Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal is making a important contribution in poverty decrease by providing support to destitute, Widows, Orphans, and other needy. Rs. 1777.50 million has been utilized up to Feb. 2012 on many schemes. Zakat funds have been utilized for assistance to the needy, indigent, poor, orphans, widows and handicapped. Up to March, 2012 Rs. 7800.27 million have been spread in bulk amongst the provinces. In this country Peoples Works program (PWP) I II are providing electricity, gas, farm to market roads and other services to the rural poor. PWP-I II incurred expenditures of Rs. 5 billion and Rs 21.30 billion during 2010-11 respectively whereas Rs 2.20 billion expenses have been incurred between July-December 2011-12 on Peoples Works program -I and Rs 2.90 billion expenditures on Peoples Works program -II. In Pakistan Employees Old Age Benefits Institution provided profits to the old age workers through Old Age Pension, Inaccuracy Pension, Stayers Pension and Old Age Grants and Rs. 7961.20 million has been developed during July- March 2011-12. In this country Workers Welfare Fund utilized Rs. 2539 million during July-March 2011-12 for housing services and Marriage Grant, Death Grant and Scholarships etc. for the industrial workers. In Pakistan Government has also taken various micro-finance initiatives in collaboration with all stakeholders to create employment occasions and to eliminate poverty. Environment In Pakistan a number of projects have been funded by the government to deal with growing environmental degradation and also there are number of projects funded by the donors in which the government is a partner. All these projects are being currently implemented to develop overall atmosphere in the country. In Pakistan climate change is a zone that has become progressively important in recent years. In this regard, the National Climate Change Policy 2011 provides a outline for addressing the issues that Pakistan faces or will face in future due to the changing climate. The goal of the National Climate Change Policy is to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed in the economically and socially helpless sectors of the economy and to steer Pakistan towards climate resilient development. In Pakistan Urban air pollution remains one of the most important environmental problems, facing the cities. In Pakistan extensive body of research exhibits that high attentions of suspended particulate matter adversely affect human health; prolong a wide range of respiratory infections and increased the probability of heart diseases. In this country the higher attention of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the air is a major issue. In Pakistan the main sources of suspended particulate matter are vehicular emission, industrial emissions, burning of Solid waste, pollens and natural dust. Motorcycles and rickshaws, due to their two stroke (2-strokes) engines, are the most ineffective in burning fuel and contribute most to productions. In this country the situation of access to drinking water is quite extraordinary. In this country according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics report (PBS) Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey 2010-11, access to drinking water to urban and rural population of Pakistan is 94 and 84%, with an average of 87 % in 2011. In Pakistan hygiene facilities are improving. However, much improvement is needed for rural areas hygiene facilities. According to Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2007-08,the garbage collection facilities to the population is only 14% done through municipalities, 7% through confidentially managed and remaining 79% have no system. In Pakistan according to a report released by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) 2012, 92% people had enlarged access to drinking water by 2010 while this ratio was 85% and 89% in 1990 and 2000 respectively. In Pakistan the MDG aim is to achieve the ratio of 93% by 2015. Moreover, 48% people have been using better sanitation by 2010 while this ratio was 27% and 37% in 1990 and 2000 respectively and also the MDG target for access to sanitation is 90% by 2015. In Pakistan damage and need assessment report jointly prepared by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank regarding overflows 2011, it has been pointed out that in addition to beginning loss of life, movement of millions, and huge losses to the economy, the floods in 2011 have also resulted in environmental harms, heightened environmental health risks and affected forests, swamps and other natural systems. In this country the Environmental damage caused by floods has been estimated at Rs. 2763 million (US $ 31.8 million) and Green reconstruction needs has been estimated at Rs. 2874 million (US $ 33.02 million). Flood Impact Assessment In this nation Simple monsoon rains triggered floods in Southern Pakistan at an extraordinary scale, both in terms of size and strength, swamping all 23 districts of Sindh Province and connecting areas of northern Baluchistan Province. In Pakistan Approximately, 9.6 million people were affected in Sindh and Baluchistan as a result of the floods; 520 people died and more than 1180 people were injured and also according to World Bank and Asian Development Bank report, 27,000 sq. km. area damaged in Sindh province out of the total 27,370 sq. km. There is also the flood caused total or partial damages to an estimated 998,376 housing units in Sindh and Baluchistan so that it causes the overall economy of the country. In Pakistan the highest cause occurred in the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sector, has been estimated at Rs.160 billion because of the flood and also the total damage caused by 2011 floods has been expected amounting to Rs.324.50 billion. In Pakistan the total cost of recovery and re-establishment needs has been estimated at Rs.239 billion.

Turns and Twists in Flannery OConnors A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essa

Turns and Twists in Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find Irony is a useful tool for giving stories unexpected turns and twists. In Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," irony is used as a very effective literary tool; to guide the story in and out of what we think will happen. O'Connor uses irony in this story to contradict statements and situations to expose a truth very much different from what "we" the reader would think to be true. O'Connor use irony in several different forms, situational irony, dramatic irony and verbal irony to make the story unpredictable and interesting to read. In most every aspect of the story from beginning to end there is some type of ironic twist. The title itself is some what ironic, where in a normal society a "good man" would be seen as a man that obeys laws and is kind to fellow humans not as a murderer and an escaped convict like the Misfit. But the grandmother in the story while her family is being taken way to be killed says, using verbal irony, "I know you're a good man ... You're not a bit common (335)." The main character in the story is the grandmother in which O'Connor uses her for almost every ironic situation. In the beginning of the story O'Connor uses the idea that "we" the reader have of what a grandmother would be like to unfold a story that is nothing like what "we" would perceive a grandmother to be like. This type of irony is situational irony; this is used throughout the story and literature. It is the contrast between what happens and what was expected to happen or what would seem appropriate to have happen, or an appropriate way for a character to act versus the way they do act. If a story started out using a character that's a professiona... ... She uses cosmic irony; a type of irony that goes beyond being unfair and is morally tragic, as the main setting for the story, you may not be able to see it right away but the undertone are there. Such irony is often so harsh that it causes people to question God, like the grandmother does near the end of the story, "'That's when you should have started to pray...If you would pray,' the old lady said, `Jesus would help you. (336-337)" The irony in this story reaches such a tragic state that as expected it may suggest to the characters in the story and even the reader that people could just be pawns in the hands of mysterious forces or fate. Works Cited: O'Connor, Flannery "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's. 2003. 1379-1391.