Essay Video Games in Education - 1629 Words

Video Games in Education Since the Early 70’s video games have been giving a bad name. Parents state that video games rot the minds of children and are influencing them do be violent. These accusations are far from the truth. In my research I found that there are many positive effects of gaming. Some of these effects are increased skills, creativity, general knowledge, and also help those in need. Parents can also take proper precautions and look into a game before buying it to see if it meets the criteria discussed in this paper. Video games challenge the player and expand his ability to react fast with very little lag time. With years of practice the player becomes quicker and more accurate with the movements. Thus hand†¦show more content†¦Video games are and interactive environment with a low cost and absolutely no risk. Games allow the gamer to have an active role in creating to the fullest extent (Video games act as educational tools). Games are worlds in which anything can be done, and the player is exposed to creativity with no limitations. When this creativity is exposed over and over, the creativity becomes stronger. Even very violent games like Grand Theft Auto 3, have educational background to them, this game allows the player to determine what type of person he will become. Gee goes on to say that â€Å"everybody plays that game (Grand Theft Auto 3) differently, they’re getting to explore identities, values, and ideologies.† (Video games act as educational tools). Also historical games such as Medal of Honor and Battlefield 1942, involve players into battles that happened in World War 2. I have learned about many battles while playing these games. I realize after playing, what type of climate the solders endured, what they fought against, and what was need to be done in order to win. These games give an accurate portrait of what the battle may have looked like, including bullets, expulsions, and historically accurate vehicles. Games like these show the students what they are actually learning. Also when the students tend to want to learn more about a particular battle, and remember information easily. Some other video games, such asShow MoreRelatedVideo Games And Its Effects On Education Essay1665 Words   |  7 PagesMs. Booth College Prep English 22 November 2016 Video Games In Education Current education systems are failing to give learning material to students in a way that they understand. Most students don’t care about their education because they think it’s boring and unnecessary. Students feel if the homework or lesson is too hard they won’t give it their best work. We should use video games as a new source of teaching. Students can benefit from video games because it’s a fun interactive way of learningRead MoreVideo Games For Learning Education1973 Words   |  8 PagesVideo Games for Learning in Education Most educators are familiar with the potential benefit of using technology for learning. Some say it will make students smarter, it will be faster and cheaper than the traditional approach to learning. While educators contemplate what technology to use, and how to use it, they usually resort to multimedia computers, projectors and smart boards, often overlooking video games. In retrospect, many educator look at software that support specific subject area contentRead MoreVideo Games And Its Impact On Education Essay2222 Words   |  9 Pagesuse of gaming in education is also increasing. Thus, educational gaming is listed as one of the â€Å"10 Major Technology Trends in Education† (Riedel, 2014). One reason gaming is increasing so rapidly is because â€Å"the very notion of what a game is has broadened to include a variety of experiences† (Jayanth, 2014). Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of Entertainment Software Association which conducts consumer research and analysis said, â€Å"Video games are the future. From education and business, toRead MoreVideo Games Helps Improve Education Essay1361 Words   |  6 Pages Video games has had a long history of being seen as a negative thing. It seems to be out of the question to use them in classrooms and as a teaching tool. This is the wrong way to look at them however. Video games may be one of the best tools for classrooms and helping students learn not only school topics, but even help them with different skills in the classroom and to help them reduce one of student’s biggest issues; stress. All of these things can be done with the use of video games in theRead MoreNo Video Games in Education in Pamela Pauls Book Reading, Writing and Video Games573 Words   |  2 Pagesâ€Å"Reading, Writing and Video Games†, demonstrates that video games should not be part of the education. Paul asserts there is no learning from playing video games and the education should be the same old fashion. Paul observes the technology in classroom could be useful for the students. However, she thinks the children should stick on reading and writing for learning. Finally, Paul prefers to let the children play video games in free time rather than let them play video games for education. Although, PaulRead MoreEssay about No Video Games in P.E.810 Words   |  4 Pagestoday that are obese and play video games. Schools are having a controversy on whether video games should be brought into schools as a replacement for regular physical education activities. Video games should not replace regular physical education activities in schools because they would become uninteresting/repetitive and they would not meet the minimum standards for the recommended daily exercise. Firstly, video games should not be in P.E. becauseRead MoreDungeon And Dragons, Rock N Roll, And Video Games919 Words   |  4 PagesDungeon and Dragons, Rock N’ Roll, and video games, these are three separate activities that when looked at from afar do not seem to have anything to do with each other. However, they in fact do have something fairly big in common. They each have been blamed with being either bad for you or a negative influence. Whether it be Dungeon and Dragons being satanic and making people lose touch with reality, Rock N’ Roll’s cause of juvenile delinquency, or video games leading to violent and antisocial behaviorRead MoreVideo Games Positive And Negative Effects1317 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract In recent years, video games have played an important role in the field of education and in treating psychological patients. Video games are a form of self-indulgence, which often provide unique and engaging environments that train players to think fast and resourcefully. With the right design and mechanics, they can facilitate learning and cognitive thinking in diverse levels .Computer games can be used in children with mental health issues, psychological disorders and in chronic disordersRead MoreVideo Gaming Technology Can Be Beneficial Essay1741 Words   |  7 PagesVideo Gaming Technology can be Beneficial Student’s Name Institutional affiliation Video Gaming As a concerned parent, one would easily feel coaxed to venture into analyzing every aspect of the child s welfare from a day-to-day perspective. There is a common concern over what the kids play around with as well as the impacts created upon the receiver. Similarly, the use of video gaming presents a common challenge as to whether the games are of benefit or not in the educational systemRead MoreDangers Of Video Games880 Words   |  4 Pageslike to play video games. Sometimes, parents have seen their children the violence and aggression. Video Games helpful or dangerous. Video Games have developed dramatically. It has been a controversial discussion of whether video games are helpful or dangerous to a child. Indeed some are of the view that video games are dangerous because it has a negative impact on the health for children, and because they have filled with violent content. However, in my observation, some video games designed to

Domestic Violence And Its Effects - 879 Words

Domestic violence is a violent confrontation between family or household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm. (Berry, 1998) Often when we think of domestic violence, we think of a man hitting women but there are many forms of abuse; emotional, sexual, physical and verbal abuse. Domestic violence acts can be committed by men or women, against children or adults. In our society, we are seeing more instances of domestic violence from professional athletes, to reality shows, and on college campuses. Domestic violence is a complicated problem that has both social and emotional impact. The leading cause of injury for women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four is due to domestic violence.(Acosta, 2013) In the Piedmont area, the domestic violence shelter program helps to provide a temporary, emergency housing for battered women and their children and continuous assistance to help them not return to those situations. Last year, the shelter pr ovided more than 12,000 nights of safety for battered women and their children – an average of 33 women and children each night. (Family Services of Piedmont, n.d.) The domestic violence shelter program provides services that help the women take control of their lives and benefits the citizens of our community. The shelter provides temporary emergency shelter for women and children fleeing abusive situations. The women can come to the shelter by themselves or can be referred by an agency or lawShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Violence On Domestic Violence1380 Words   |  6 Pagesobject to violence, because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent†, quoted by Mahatma Gandhi. Violence is defined as an unjust or unwarranted exertion of power or force to intentionally injure, damage, or destroy something or someone. Amongst the various types of violence, there is one in particular that has been causing an ongoing debate within societies across the world; this certain type of violence is known as domestic violence. Domestic violence, alsoRead MoreThe Effects of Domestic Violence1831 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic Violence What effects does domestic violence have on the victim and their families? Domestic violence has a tremendous effect on people lives. It is a terrible crime and is happening each day. It is said that every 9 seconds a women is assaulted or beaten. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury in women. This crime is very common and happens to people that you may even know. â€Å"Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive and threatening behaviors that may include physical, emotionalRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects971 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender.†(Domestic Violence. U.S.) While signs of physical abuse can be seen if the victim has visible bruises, there are other forms of domestic violence that are often missed or overlooked. Victims often live in fear and sadly many times, they fear the person they love the most. It has been proven that at least three women are killed a day by their significant other due to domestic violence, in mostRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects913 Words   |  4 Pagesbehaviors then you have been in an abusive relationship or if you know someone who is in that type of relationship that person might the abuser or the victim. Domestic Violence is a violent confrontation between family members, a partner (boyfriend- girlfriend, spouses) involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm. Domestic Violence is not always physical like everyone think, it is also emotional, economically and coercion and threats. Many people think that when they are been beatingRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects3294 Words   |  14 PagesExecutive Summary As many people know, domestic violence is a criminal act involving victims and offenders who are related to one another. Domestic Violence includes intimidation and simple, aggravated, and sexual assault. What most people may not be aware of is that domestic violence has become a national dilemma, with a crime of this type occurring every 9 seconds. Family members try to ignore what’s happening and neighbors do not want to get involved. The victim is usually helpless to understandRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects2364 Words   |  10 PagesWhat you imagined was domestic violence. The violent and extremely aggressive behavior displayed in your own home. The very place that should be your sanctuary, is turned into hell. According to the NCADV: Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotionalRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Domestic Abuse1340 Words   |  6 Pagesunderestimated, domestic abuse rips families apart every single day. Domestic violence comes in mainly five different forms, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and economic. This violence ruins families, demoralizes the victims, and the public downplays the household terrorism that goes on every day. Generally thought of as taboo, the public belittles and humorizes domestic abuse as a way to deal with it, that avoidance must come to an end. The five forms of domestic violence are economicRead MoreThe Effects Of Violence On Domestic Violence995 Words   |  4 PagesIn many cases of gender violence there is a physical outburst or unwanted exertion of force. Perhaps the most salient issue which is evident through-out history as a root cause to domestic violence is poverty. Women who are unemployed and become an economic burden to their spouses, who become victims of domestic violence. The individuals in Domestic abuse situations, is battered and abuse by an intimate partner or family member. Domestic violence spreads across social class or race, it can happenRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects1023 Words   |  5 PagesDomestic Violence is an outline of behaviors used to create authority and control over another person through fear and pressure, frequently including the threat or use of violence. There are diverse forms of domestic violence that affect men, women and children. This mistreatment happens in various forms that include physical, emotional and mental. This abuse begins as threats, then they worsen to verbal abuse and then it ends in physical violence. You may think that the physical abuse and injuriesRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects1616 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' Domestic Violence Domestic violence is a subject that is known about, but most often left behind. At times victims of domestic violence are not even aware that they indeed are victims. It is also common that when one does know about domestic violence, most often it is a woman that is the victim. That is not the case; there are other populations that are effected as well. When people are victims of such acts, they are more likely to develop some type of disorder as well as other issues. Although

A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands Free Essays

string(110) " and bound itself to adopt measures which are strategically aimed at achieving sustainable development goals\." A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE MALTESE ISLANDS 2007-2016 Proposed by the National Commission for Sustainable Development 2 A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE MALTESE ISLANDS 2007-2016 National Commission for Sustainable Development 20th December 2006 This proposed Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands was adopted by the National Commission for Sustainable Development on 13 November 2006, in terms of Article 8 (7f) of the Environment Protection Act (Chapter 435 of the Laws of Malta). It is being submitted by the Commission to the Cabinet of Ministers for possible endorsement by the Government of Malta. This document does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Malta. We will write a custom essay sample on A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands or any similar topic only for you Order Now 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Objective and Mandate Sustainability is a Two-way Street Implementing the Strategy Layout Priority Areas 1. INTRODUCTION 1. 1 The Process of Drafting the Strategy 1. 2 The Mandate 1. 3 The Main Benefits of a Sustainable Development Strategy 1. 4 The Criteria Underpinning the Strategy 1. Layout of the Document 2. UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES 2. 1 The Overarching Vision and Goal 2. 2 Sustainability is Multifaceted 2. 3 The Democratic Dimension: Participation is Necessary 2. 4 Social Responsibility and the Ethical Dimension 2. 5 The Political Dimension: Integrative Legislation and Policy 2. 6 The International and Regional Dimensions 3. THE PROPOSED STRATEGY FOR MALTA 3. 1 Managing the Environment and Resources 3. 2 Promoting Sustainable Economic Development 3. 3 Fostering Sustainable Communities 3. 4 Cross-cutting Strategic Issues 3. Cross-cutting Strategic Issues 5 5 6 6 7 7 9 9 9 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 35 47 57 58 4. IMPLEMENTING THE STRAT EGY 4. 1 Institutionalising the Development of the Strategy 4. 2 Identifying Responsibilities and Structures 4. 3 Setting Targets, Monitoring and Evaluation 4. 4 Devising Participatory Schemes 4. 5 Collaboration between the Public and Private Sectors 4. 6 Coordinating and Funding the Strategy 5. THE WAY AHEAD 5. 1 Revising the Strategy 5. 2 Ongoing Consultation 6. THE PRIORITIES APPENDIX 1: PRIORITY STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 63 63 63 65 65 67 68 69 69 69 71 73 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The process of drafting the National Strategy for Sustainable Development was initiated during the 5th meeting of Malta’s National Commission for Sustainable Development (NCSD), held on 9 December 2002, when the Commission appointed a Task Force to oversee the preparation of a National Strategy for Sustainable Development, consisting of an overarching vision and principles, listing the aspirations of Government, civil society and the private sector in this regard, and outlining methods of implementation, taking into account Malta’s capacities and constraints. This decision was taken in line with the functions of the Commission, as listed in Article 8(7) of the Environmental Protection Act (Act XX 2001). The Task Force met soon after it was appointed and set in motion a consultative process to prepare the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. In March 2006, the National Commission for Sustainable Development appointed a second Task Force, in order to update the original draft of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, published in July 2004, by incorporating suggestions put forward by various organisations and individuals that were consulted during 2004 and 2005 and by government ministries, departments and public sector agencies that were onsulted in March 2006. That version was published in April 2006,2 and presented for discussion at a National Conference on Sustainable Development, held on 22 April 2006 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. A third draft of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Isla nds was drawn up to incorporate suggestions put forward during the April 2006 Conference. Following a second round of consultation with government departments and other public sector agencies, a fourth draft (the current document) was prepared by a third Task Force appointed by the Commission for Sustainable Development and presented to the Commission on 13 November 2006. The Commission adopted this document and decided to submit it to the Cabinet of Ministers for possible endorsement by the Government of Malta This proposed Strategy represents the views of the NCSD and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Malta. Objective and Mandate The objective of drawing up a National Strategy for Sustainable Development was first established in the aftermath of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), when the Maltese Government, together with the governments of other nations, committed itself to adopt such a Strategy so as to â€Å"build upon and harmonise the various sectoral, economic, social and environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country† and to â€Å"ensure socially responsible economic development while protecting the resource base and the environment for the benefit of future generations. Governments also agreed that the Strategy should â€Å"be developed through the widest possible participation† and that it should be â€Å"based on a thorough assessment of the current situation and initiatives† (Agenda 21, Chapter 8, paragraph 8. 7). In September 2000, some 150 Heads of State, including Malta, signed the Millennium Declaration and reaffirmed their support for the principles of sustainable development and Agenda 21. They also agreed on the Millennium Development Goals, including the need to â€Å"integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources. (Millennium Development Goal 7). 1 2 See http://home. um. edu. mt/islands/ncsd/analysis_public_consultation. pdf http://home. um. edu. mt/islands/ncsd/draftstrategydocument_2006. pdf 5 This activity at UN level prompted the European Union to prepare its own Strategy for Sustainable Development3 in 2001, which was renewed in June 2006. The EU Strategy contains targets and actions on seven key priority challenges, and outlines guiding principles for sustainable development. The Malta Strategy builds upon and is informed by the Sustainable Development Strategy of the EU. In addition, as a result of its accession to the EU, Malta has embarked on wide-ranging reforms in various sectors, produced national strategic documents in key areas, transposed EU directives in line with the acquis communautaire, upgraded its environmental legislation, and bound itself to adopt measures which are strategically aimed at achieving sustainable development goals. You read "A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands" in category "Essay examples" Malta’s Strategy is also in line with the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development. 4 These commitments, among others, have imposed an obligation and a mandate for Malta to adopt a sustainable development strategy. Malta has, following UNCED, undertaken various actions which can be considered conducive to sustainable development. These were however not couched within an overarching sustainable development strategy. This Strategy is intended to satisfy this need. It is the result of the dedicated work of members of the National Commission for Sustainable Development, particularly those forming part of the task forces appointed by the Commission, and also draws on extensive public consultation. It contains an overarching vision and related principles, reflecting the aspirations of the people as expressed in the consultation process. It sets targets and related performance indicators in line with such aspirations and with national commitments, and outlines methods of implementation taking into account Malta’s capacities and constraints. This proposed Strategy for Sustainable Development reinforces the strategic vision identified in key Malta Government policy documents, including the National Reform Programme and the Draft National Strategic Reference Framework. Sustainability is a Two-way Street In various parts of this document, civil society participation is encouraged. Such participation should not be taken to imply armchair criticism, but involvement in the pursuit of sustainable development goals. While it is the Government’s responsibility to officially formulate, fund and implement the national sustainable development strategy, there is an equal responsibility placed on individuals, constituted bodies and civil society in general to play their part in supporting initiatives that foster sustainable development, as a way of achieving a better quality of life for current and future generations. This may involve changes in the way individuals conduct their life, but social responsibility is central to the concept of sustainable development. Implementing the Strategy The success of this Strategy will lie in its implementation. A prerequisite for successful implementation is an Action Plan relating to the strategic directions, particularly the priority ones. The Action Plan needs to include specific indicators, budget allocations and time frames, thus rendering it amenable to regular monitoring. This Strategy should be undertaken once the priority strategic directions are approved by the Government. 3 â€Å"A sustainable Europe for a Better World: A European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development† COM (2001) 264 final. See http://www. planbleu. org/actualite/uk/MediterraneanStrategySustainableDevelopment. html 6 Layout This report is organised in six chapters. Chapter 1 describes how the Strategy was drawn up and the criteria underpinning it. Chapter 2 explains the overarching vision underpinning the Strategy, referring to the various dimensions of sustainable development. Chapter 3, which presents the Strategy, is structured in four se ctions, covering the environmental, economic and social pillars of sustainable development, as well as cross-cutting issues. Chapter 4 deals with the implementation of the Strategy. Chapter 5 presents suggestions for the way forward, with a reminder that the Strategy is an ongoing process requiring periodic revisions. The final chapter lists the priority areas, accompanied by indicators and targets. The focal point of this document is Chapter 3, which, as stated, contains the proposed Strategy, under the following four main headings: (1) managing the environment and resources; (2) promoting sustainable economic development; (3) fostering sustainable communities; and (4) cross-cutting strategic issues. A number of strategic directions are proposed with regard to each heading. These strategic directions are only accompanied by indicators or targets in cases where priority areas are identified, and are intended to serve as guideposts for the attainment of sustainable development goals in the long term. The priority areas, on the other hand, are to be interpreted as an undertaking by Government to attain the targets indicated within the time frames indicated. Priority Areas The document identifies 20 priority areas, which were given major importance during the consultation process and which the NCSD considered as warranting foremost attention for the attainment of sustainable development goals in Malta. These priority areas are accompanied by indicators and targets. They are considered to have a direct positive effect on society as a whole, in that they improve the quality of life of the population, are in line with sustainable development goals and could be used to gauge whether Malta is moving towards or away from sustainability. The priority strategic directions so identified are the following: 1. The Environment Climate Change. Take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through transport policy and an energy policy that seeks to promote environmental protection, competitiveness and security of supplies and, as a result, decouple the rate of growth of GHG emissions from economic growth. Air Quality. Take remedial action to control emissions of air pollutants (ambient levels of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, lead, ozone, heavy metals and nitrogen oxides), and achieve compliance with European standards. Nature and Biodiversity. Halt loss of biodiversity by 2010, and achieve management of protected areas by 2008. Freshwater. Adopt a policy with the aim of ensuring the utilisation of water resources in a manner that is environmentally and economically sustainable, while safeguarding the water needs of the population, and of the agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors, and achieve good quantitative status by 2015. Seawater. Sustain compliance with the Bathing Water Directive and achieve compliance with Barcelona Convention standards. Wastes. Prevent and minimise waste by achieving EU waste-related objectives and targets, reviewing Malta’s Waste Management Strategy by 2007. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 7. Land use. Protect, maintain and improve the urban and rural environment and, through the planning system, protect the open countryside from uses, particularly residences, which can be more appropriately located in urban areas. Transport. Reduce car ownership rates to the EU average by 2014. Attain 1995 bus patronage levels by 2014 (40 million passengers). 8. 9. The Economy Economic Growth. Adopt policy measures so that the growth of GDP per capita in real terms occurs at a rate which will enable the Maltese economy to converge towards the EU average. 10. Employment. Create employment opportunities to generate income and improve the quality of life of the population, taking into consideration environmental and social impacts and adopt policy measures so that the ratio of total employment to the working-age population in Malta converges with the EU average and reaches at least 57 per cent by 2010. 11. Labour productivity. Adopt policy measures to increase average labour productivity at a rate of 1 per cent per annum over the EU average by 2010, while attempting to balance wages, taxation and productivity, in collaboration with the social partners. Society 12. Poverty reduction. Reduce or, at least contain, the current level of 15 per cent of the population at risk of poverty and decrease the ratio of population aged over 65 at risk of poverty from 20 per cent to 15 per cent, by 2010. 13. Labour force participation of women. Adopt policy measures so that the labour force participation rate of women increases to 40. per cent by 2010. 14. Health. Decrease the ratio of overweight/obese population in line with the EU average by 2010 by, amongst other things, enhancing the focus on healthy living and prevention, in order to reduce the need for curative care. 15. Education. Continue to adopt measures to decrease the early school leavers rate to 35 per cent by 2010 Cross Cutting Issues 16. Spatial development plan. By 2010, draw up an integrated spatial development plan to take forward the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, with the participation of major stakeholders. 7. Economic Instruments. By 2008, draw up a strategy to enhance the use of economic instruments, such as charges, taxes, subsidies, deposit refund schemes, and trading schemes to apply the polluter pays principle and to promote sustainable development in Malta. 18. Enforcement. By 2008, put in place an audit of enforcement arrangements to assess the adequacy of the current mechanisms and to promote integration of responsibilities and reduction of overlaps. Implementation 19. Institutional setup. By 2008, put in place a permanent structure, appropriately staffed and funded, to monitor and review the National Strategy for Sustainable Development on an ongoing basis, under the auspices of the National Commission for Sustainable Development, and hold an annual Conference with the participation of major stakeholders to critically evaluate progress relating to the Strategy. 20. Sustainability indicators. By 2008, establish and fund an entity responsible for compiling and evaluating sustainability indicators. This entity should work closely with the National Commission for Sustainable Development and the National Statistics Office. 1. INTRODUCTION 1. 1 The Process of Drafting the Strategy The process of drafting the National Strategy for Sustainable Development was initiated during the 5th meeting of Malta’s National Commission for Sustainable Development (NCSD), held on 9 December 2002, when the Commission appointed a Task Force5 to oversee the preparation of a National Str ategy for Sustainable Development, consisting of an overarching vision and principles, listing the aspirations of government, civil society and the private sector in this regard, and outlining methods of implementation, taking into account Malta’s capacities and constraints. This decision was taken in line with the functions of the Commission, as listed in Article 8(7) of the Environmental Protection Act (Act XX 2001). The Task Force met soon after it was appointed and set in motion a consultative process to prepare the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. In March 2006 the National Commission for Sustainable Development appointed a second Task Force7, to update the original draft of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, published in July 20048 by incorporating suggestions put forward by various organisations and individuals that were consulted during 2004 and 2005 and by government ministries, departments and public sector agencies that were consulted in March 2006. That version was published in April 20069 and was presented for discussion at a National Conference on Sustainable Development, held on 22 April 2006 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. 0 A third draft of a Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands w as drawn up to incorporate suggestions put forward during the April 2006 Conference. Following a second round of consultation with government departments and other public sector agencies, a fourth draft (the current document) was prepared by a third Task Force11 appointed by the Commission for Sustainable Development and was presented to the Commission on 13 November 2006. The Commission adopted this document in terms of Article 8 (7f) of the Environment Protection Act (Chapter 435 of the Laws of Malta) and decided to submit it to the Cabinet of Ministers for possible endorsement by the Government of Malta. 1. 2 The Mandate With the setting up of the National Commission for Sustainable Development in 2002, in terms of the Environment Protection Act (2001), Malta took the first steps to develop a National Strategy for Sustainable Development. The NCSD’s main remit is to advocate national sustainable development across all sectors, to review progress in the achievement of such sustainable development and to build consensus on action needed to achieve further progress. The NCSD is also charged with identifying relevant processes or policies which may undermine sustainable development, and with proposing alternative processes or policies for adoption by the Government. One of the specific The Task Force was composed of Lino Briguglio, as coordinator, Godwin Cassar, Marguerite Camilleri, Victor Axiak and Ray Cachia Zammit 6 See http://home. um. edu. mt/islands/ncsd/analysis_public_consultation. pdf. 7 The second task force was composed of Lino Briguglio, as coordinator, Godwin Cassar, Marguerite Camilleri, Paul Pace, Martin Spiteri and Marisa Scerri. 8 See http://home. um. edu. t/islands/ncsd/draftstrategydocument. pdf 9 http://home. um. edu. mt/islands/ncsd/draftstrategydocument_2006. pdf 10 See http://home. um. edu. mt/islands/ncsd/conference_report_22-04-06. pdf 11 The third task force was composed of Lino Briguglio as coordinator, Godwin Cassar and Marguerite Camilleri. 5 9 tasks of the Commission is â€Å"to prepare a National Strategy for Sustainable Development† (Chapter 435 of the Laws of Malta, Article 8). The objective of drawing up a National Strategy for Sustainable Development was first established in the aftermath of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), when the Maltese Government, together with the governments of other nations, committed itself to adopt such a strategy so as to â€Å"build upon and harmonise the various sectoral, economic, social and environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country† and to â€Å"ensure socially responsible economic development while protecting the resource base and the environment for the benefit of future generations. Governments agreed also that the strategy should â€Å"be developed through the widest possible participation† and that it should be â€Å"based on a thorough assessment of the current situation and initiatives† (Agenda 21, Chapter 8, paragraph 8. 7). In September 2000, some 150 Heads of State, including Malta, signed the Millennium Declaration and reaffirmed their support for the principles of sustainable development and Agenda 21. They also agreed on the Millennium Development Goals, including the need to â€Å"integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources† (Millennium Development Goal 7). 12 This activity at UN level prompted the European Union to prepare its own Strategy for Sustainable Development13 in 2001, which was renewed in June 2006. The EU Strategy contains targets and actions on seven key priority challenges and outlines guiding principles for sustainable development. 4 The Malta Strategy builds upon and is informed by the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. In addition, as a result of its accession to the EU, Malta has embarked on wide-ranging reforms in various sectors, produced national strategic documents in key areas, transposed EU directives in line with the acquis communautaire, upgraded its environmental legislation, and bound itself to adopt measures which are strategically aimed at achieving sustainable development goals. These commitments, among others, have imposed an obligation on and a mandate for Malta to adopt a National Strategy for Sustainable Development. Malta has, following UNCED, undertaken various actions which can be considered conducive to sustainable development15 but these were not couched within an overarching sustainable development strategy. The Strategy contained in this document is intended to satisfy this need. See http://www. un. rg/millenniumgoals/ â€Å"A sustainable Europe for a Better World: A European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development† COM (2001) 264 final. 14 The seven priorities emerging out of the renewed EU Strategy are: †¢ Climate change and clean energy †¢ Sustainable transport †¢ Public health †¢ Sustainable production and consumption †¢ Conservation and Management of natural resources †¢ Social inclusion, demography and migration †¢ Global poverty and sustainable development challenges. 5 See Report submitted by th e Government of Malta to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002). http://home. um. edu. mt/islands/Malta_WSSD. pdf 13 12 10 1. 3 The Main Benefits of a Sustainable Development Strategy The main advantage of drawing up a National Strategy for Sustainable Development is that such a strategy informs policy-making agents across different sectors. It also provides a framework for a systematic approach within an institutionalised process of consultation and consensus building. The National Strategy for Sustainable Development should serve as a guide in prioritising actions that are undertaken by all members of society to ensure the prudent use and management of resources in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations, thus contributing to a better life for everyone. The Strategy addresses social, economic and environmental concerns in a coherent manner and permits policy makers to assign relative priorities to these three pillars of sustainable development. It affords an opportunity for identifying specific initiatives and for committing authorities towards their implementation within defined time frames. The extensive public consultation exercise that was carried out enriched the process by encouraging participatory schemes, and the exercise was an educational experience in itself for the participants and facilitators. 1. 4 The Criteria Underpinning the Strategy The criteria on which the Strategy was based are similar to those set out by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs16 namely that the Strategy should: †¢ seek to integrate economic, social and environmental considerations; †¢ be inter-sectoral and multilayered; †¢ have a long-run perspective and an ethical dimension with regard to future generations; †¢ be developed on the basis of broad participation and generate a feeling of ownership by stakeholders; †¢ be backed by strong political commitment; †¢ serve to develop capacity and itself generate an enabling environment; †¢ promote the development of monitoring and assessment procedures; †¢ foster an educative process and a sustainable development culture; †¢ be coherent, in that there should be a balance between the funding potential and strategy priorities; and †¢ be anchored in sound technical and economic analysis. 1. 5 Layout of the Document This report is o rganised in six chapters. Chapter 2, which follows this introduction, explains the overarching vision underpinning the Strategy, referring to the various dimensions of sustainable development. Chapter 3, which presents the Strategy, is structured in four sections, covering the environmental, economic and social pillars of sustainable development, as well as cross-cutting issues. Chapter 4 deals with the implementation of the Strategy. Chapter 5 proposes a way forward, with a reminder that the Strategy is an ongoing process requiring periodic revisions. The final chapter lists the priority areas, accompanied by performance indicators and targets. 16 UN DESA (2002). â€Å"Guidance in Preparing National Sustainable Development Strategies,† available at http://www. un. org/esa/sustdev/publications/nsds_guidance. pdf 11 2. UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES 2. 1 The Overarching Vision and Goal The National Strategy for Sustainable Development is primarily aimed at improving the quality of life of all members of society, promoting convergence between the interests of different sectors and layers of society and between the interests of current and future generations. 2. 2 Sustainability is Multifaceted Sustainable development must be based on a multifaceted approach, covering environmental, economic and social concerns, since the quality of life is dependent on these factors considered together and not in isolation from one another. This holistic approach requires a long-term view of development, rather than one based on short term economic gains. It assigns major importance to the integrity of nature and biodiversity, as well as to the eradication of poverty, the removal of social injustice and other factors that work against human welfare of current and future generations. For this reason, economic development must be planned and executed within a framework that respects environmental capacity constraints and conservation priorities. It should be emphasised that sustainable development cannot be compatible with economic stagnation and retardation – the word â€Å"development† itself suggests improvements, including material ones. It is for this reason that, in this document, the need for economic development is given due importance, emphasising the point that sustainable development is not just an environmental issue, but a multidimensional and multifaceted one. However, while it is recognised that sustainable development objectives need to take into account economic realities, it is likewise recognised that to date, in spite of remarkable efforts towards environmental protection, such constraints have often excessively shifted the national priority towards economic requirements. The Strategy drawn up in this document acknowledges this reality. Furthermore it sets as a top national priority the need to improve our quality of life and of the environment, in an effort to safeguard the long-term prospects of economic growth and social wellbeing. 2. 3 The Democratic Dimension: Participation is Necessary Directly or indirectly, all members of society are potentially affected by decisions related to sustainable development. Public participation in decision-making is therefore an essential feature of sustainable development. Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration states that sustainable development issues are best handled with the participation of all citizens concerned, and that these should have the information and opportunity to be able to participate in decision-making processes, including judicial redress. Agenda 21 emphasises the need for enabling the participation of major groups. More recently, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Johannesburg Declaration recognised the importance of a broad-based commitment to public participation in policy-formulation, decisionmaking and implementation at all levels. In this regard, Malta has signed the UNECE Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters and, following accession to the EU, has adopted the EU directives relevant to this convention, namely Directive 2003/4/ and 2003/35. 12 Public participation is important for two principal reasons. First, public participation is a good in its own right, empowering people both individually and collectively and reducing social exclusion and alienation. Second, decisions taken through participatory processes are sounder because they are based on a broader spectrum of knowledge and are easier to implement because they are owned by a wider group of people. 2. 4 Social Responsibility and the Ethical Dimension While it is the Government’s responsibility to officially formulate, fund and implement a national Sustainable Development Strategy, there is an equal responsibility placed on individuals, constituted bodies and civil society in general to play their part in supporting initiatives that foster sustainable development, as a way of achieving a better quality of life for current and future generations. This may involve changes in the way ndividuals conduct their lives, but social responsibility is central to the concept of sustainable development. Sustainability has a strong ethical dimension and can be considered as a value to be upheld. In this regard, the issue of responsibility towards future generations takes centre stage – this aspect of sustainable development was an important component of the most widely used definition of sustainable development, as proposed by the Bruntland Commission in 1987, which states that sustainable development is the improvement in the quality of life of current generations without compromising that of future ones. There are also ethical considerations relating to science and technology, since these have major impacts on sustainability. It is important that scientific and technological developments have the improvement of quality of life as a central aim. Ethics also have an important role in the promotion and sharing of knowledge and in the participation of stakeholders in the process. The association between sustainable development and matters such as information, transparency and participation is also ethically based, as noted above. The keyword with regard to the ethical dimension of sustainable development is â€Å"responsibility† and this pertains to environmental quality, political matters, use of economic resources, education, culture, intergenerational concerns and international affairs. 2. The Political Dimension: Integrative Legislation and Policy The political dimension of sustainable development relates to the need for strong political commitment from all layers of authority, including Government and local authorities. It is therefore important that those in authority recognise the benefits of su stainable development and take steps to promote it. The multifaceted nature of sustainable development requires cooperation and effective linkages between the different government departments and parastatal organisations at national and local level. In this context, the National Commission for Sustainable Development is a useful and important vehicle for co-operation and effective interface, both at the national and local level, between the various Government entities. The political dimension is also relevant because the process of sustainable development requires consensus-building on the ways in which natural and economic resources are to be utilised. Sustainable development is primarily a political process since it is based on constant negotiation 13 between the various individuals and groups that have different interests with regard to the use of resources. The process also involves subsidiarity – a principle associated with the decentralisation of power and the provision of an enabling environment, including material assistance to the decentralised units, in order to achieve sustainable development objectives. In general, sustainable development requires a good legal foundation to ensure protection of the environment, to promote macroeconomic stability, to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable groups and to cater for the interests of future generations. Moreover, achieving the desired results requires an integrated approach. 2. 6 The International and Regional Dimensions Agenda 21 created a new development model, endorsed by the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), aimed at preparing the world for the challenges of the 21st century. It placed the primary, though not exclusive, responsibility on national governments, which were expected to adopt national strategies, plans, policies and processes conducive to sustainable development, in order to secure the well-being of current and future generations. The international commitments of states to promote sustainable development at the regional and international levels emanate from ethical and mutual interest considerations. The ethical obligations stem from the concept of human solidarity. Actions by one state that place a burden on other states or that disregard the plights of other states work against such solidarity. This is one important reason why collaboration is necessary, and should also be an underlying reason for countries, Malta included, which form part of the donor country group within the United Nations to accept international commitments, including those proposed at UNCED and the WSSD, even when such commitments do not produce material gains to the donor countries. Another ethical consideration is that Planet Earth has a limited capacity to deal with negative environmental, economic and social impacts, and collective responsibility in therefore called for. The ‘mutual interest’ consideration is associated with the fact that many sustainable development problems are not confined within the borders of nation-states. Obvious examples are climate change, which has an international dimension, and air and sea pollution, which generally have regional impacts. There are also economic aspects of sustainable development connected with trade and aid, which have clear regional and international mutual interest dimensions. There are many international and regional arrangements for coordination and co-operation including the United Nations, the European Union and the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development, within which Malta operates at the international and regional level. These have developed and promulgated their own sustainable development strategies and plans, and member countries have an obligation to abide by the commitments which they undertake within such organisations. 14 3. THE PROPOSED STRATEGY FOR MALTA This chapter presents the National Strategy for Sustainable Development adopted by Malta, with reference to the environmental, economic and social dimensions. These three pillars of sustainable development are interrelated and action in this regard should be integrated. In this Chapter, the three dimensions are treated separately, in different sections, for the purpose of exposition only. There are a number of cross-cutting issues which cannot easily be categorised under any one dimension, and these are considered separately in the last section of the chapter. A number of strategic directions are proposed with regard to each heading. These strategic directions are intended to serve as guideposts for the attainment of sustainable development goals in the longer term, are only accompanied by indicators or targets in cases where priority areas are identified. The priority areas, on the other hand, are to be interpreted as an undertaking by Government to attain the targets within the time frames indicated. This proposed Strategy for Sustainable Development reinforces the strategic vision identified in key Malta Government policy documents, including the National Reform Programme and the Draft National Strategic Reference Framework. 3. 1 Managing the Environment and Resources 3. 1. 1 The Main Environmental Challenges Malta’s environmental challenges have been systematically assessed in a number of official reports including the State of the Environment Report (1998, 2002 and 2005) and Malta’s National Report to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002). On the basis of these reports and following an extensive consultation process in connection with the drawing up of this Strategy, the following environmental challenges facing Malta were identified: †¢ Air quality and climate change †¢ Energy-efficiency and renewable energy resources †¢ Biodiversity †¢ Freshwater †¢ Wastes †¢ Marine and coastal environment †¢ Land use †¢ Transport †¢ Natural and technological risks †¢ Leisure and the environment 3. 1. 2 Air Quality and Climate Change The quality of Malta’s air should be completely safe for human health and able to support biodiversity. In addition, human activities should have the smallest possible impact on climate and on global life-supporting systems (including the ozone layer). The significant improvement in data availability since 1998 has allowed a thorough quantitative assessment of air quality over the Maltese Islands. Parallel work on determining emissions, the drawing up of a greenhouse gas inventory, as well as observation of transboundary pollution, have provided a detailed identification of sources and their relative importance, providing a sound information base for policy. 15 Electricity generation and transport are the major contributors to air pollution in Malta. In recent years, greenhouse gas emissions have increased due to the increased demand for electrical energy and the growth in private car ownership. This has resulted in atmospheric pollution by particulates, ozone, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds including benzene and lead. A shift to better-quality and lower-sulphur fuels was made in 2004 and leaded petrol was phased out in January 2003. Results from the national air monitoring programme indicate that the two main air pollutants of concern are particulate matter and ozone, while nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide also pose challenges. The main anthropogenic sources of particulate matter are transport and electricity generation, as well as quarrying and construction activities. As a user of ozonedepleting substances (ODSs), Malta also contributes to dispersion in the environment of these substances. The challenge in this area is to attain EU air quality standards while ensuring efficient production and use of energy, as well as a cost effective transport system. Measures designed to encourage energy end-use efficiency, to use renewable sources of energy and to restrict overall vehicle use, including the provision of a high-quality public transport as well as traffic management measures, will be conducive towards this end. Furthermore, support for the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel should be continued. Government has already introduced financial incentives to promote biofuels, through the exemption from excise duty of the biomass content in biodiesel.. The biodiesel produced in Malta originates from waste cooking oil, and waste collection programmes have been established. Targets for the use of biofuels in road transport have also been set. A balance needs to be found between the costs of introducing alternative fuels and the benefits of reduction in use of conventional fuels. Landfills have been a source of air pollution for many years. The rehabilitation of old landfills and the proper engineering of new ones are expected to resolve the negative impacts associated with past operating practices of Malta’s landfills. Mitigation and adaptation issues and the political and economic aspects of climate change need to be properly addressed as these involve significant economic costs and may impact heavily on Malta’s development. Adaptation to rising global surface temperatures and the anticipated consequential rise in sea level need to feature in future development strategies. In particular, future development strategies should consider the impacts of climate change on coastal areas in terms of risks to settlements and human safety, commercial activities and habitats. 16 Promote the adoption of new technologies, including mandating use of catalytic converters, to affect †¢ Take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through an energy policy which seeks to promote †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ environmental protection, competitiveness and security of supplies, and as a result decouple the rate of growth of energy demand from economic growth. Take remedial action to control emissions of air pollutants (ambient levels of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, lead, ozone, heavy metals and nitrogen oxides) and achieve compliance with European standards. Encourage people to make use of public transport or to adopt car-pooling practices in order to reduce vehicle emissions. Introduce smaller buses on certain public transport routes. Require the construction industry to reduce generation of fine dust particles. Continue to monitor landfills for air pollution and take remedial action as required. Continue to monitor transboundary pollution and take remedial action as required. Develop a hazard map for coastal areas prone to erosion and flooding. Take action to reduce Malta’s vulnerability to Climate Change. significant cut-backs in vehicle emissions. Main strategic directions with regard to air quality and climate change: 3. 1. 3 Energy-efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources. Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources (RES) can be economically and environmentally advantageous. RES are not extensively used in Malta, although they may have immediate local application. Solar water heating could offset a substantial proportion of annual generation of electricity, avoiding emissions of CO2. Generation of electricity using photovoltaics (PV) is currently limited to a small number of specialised applications. The use of photovoltaics will, in practice, be determined by economic factors (the cost of panels and associated equipment), the extent to which these systems can be connected to the electricity grid, and the associated feed-in tariff established, including any support measures for renewable electricity. Various incentives and support measures could speed up market penetration. Market forces on their own may not spur the use of RES, and government intervention in the form of subsidies or other incentives is required to encourage investors to develop these sources of energy and to encourage consumers to use them. It is important, however, to ensure that the use of RES does not pose unduly high fiscal burdens. In 2005, the Government of Malta introduced a series of measures to support electricity generation from RES. These include financial incentives in the form of grants on the capital costs of photovoltaic installations and micro-wind generation systems by domestic households. A net metering arrangement and purchase by Enemalta at established tariffs of excess electricity generated from small-scale PV systems have also been introduced. In addition, grants on the capital cost of solar thermal water heaters installed by domestic consumers and other financial incentives related to meter installation charges for new domestic consumers installing such systems have been established. The Government has also published a draft Renewable Energy Policy for Malta, with the three key objectives of promoting RES, improving the quality of life and providing support facilities and services in a holistic manner. Further reductions in CO2 emissions are likely to be attained through the construction of energyefficient buildings and the use of small combined heat and power plants by industry, the introduction of energy-efficient electric motors and drives, the proper dimensioning of airconditioning units and attendant ducting, and further use of energy-saving lamps. Emissions could also be reduced through improvements in electricity generation and use, as discussed in the previous section. Such reductions could also be attained through fuel pricing as part of an energy 17 policy, and through making available alternative sources such as Biodiesel, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The use of energy from animal waste and oil waste is also being studied and reviewed by Government. Efficiency in government electricity usage should be very visible so as to encourage private users to change their own behaviour with regard to electricity usage, as well as to curb light pollution. Such visibility includes more efficient street lighting and luminous devices used in road safety signs. Floodlighting of public buildings could also be reduced late at night. Government departments should adopt energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioning in order to lead by example. Energy-saving pilot projects by the Housing Authority should be encouraged. Main strategic directions with regard to energy-saving and renewable resources †¢ Adopt a national energy policy that seeks to improve efficiency in electricity generation and to promote a secure, competitively priced, and environmentally sound energy supply, †¢ Put in place an integrated approach, supported by a nationwide educational campaign, to promote energy efficiency and conservation by users. Carry out an energy audit of street lighting and propose measures to promote efficiency in lighting †¢ Step up funding for research to improve knowledge on local materials and conditions in building for energy efficiency and in the use of renewable energy sources †¢ Adopt building regulations that would include de sign requirements relating to thermal efficiency. †¢ Direct more development permit applicants to adopt energy efficiency measures. †¢ Promote the introduction and use of renewable energy sources through support mechanisms and other appropriate measures. †¢ Promote energy audits and energy-efficiency improvements in commercial and industrial establishments. Heighten water conservation methods to reduce dependency on reverse osmosis plants. 3. 1. 4 Freshwater Water in the Maltese Islands remains a scarce and basic resource and is under intense pressure from competing users. While traditional problems associated with the lack of availability of supply have been addressed mainly though significant investment in desalination plants, this has been achieved at a high cost. Furthermore, new challenges emerge as more information becomes available from studies carried out on environmental impacts. It is likely that modern technological progress will chart the way towards highe r levels of efficiency in the use of water resources. The fair allocation of water resources is considered to be a major priority that needs to be addressed throughout the decision-making process. Water demand and supply need to be managed on a geographical basis, especially in areas where second class water requirements take precedence. The integrated management of water resources at water catchment district level is considered to be crucial. Available water resources should be fairly allocated to the different stakeholders while taking into account sectoral requirements in terms of quality and quantity. Such an exercise would require a sound regulatory system and a clear policy, backed by legislation, that sets priorities for water use and lays the foundations for the sustainable management of water resources. In this context, Malta will have to eliminate wasteful practices and move towards the conjunctive use of groundwater with other non-conventional sources such as desalination, treated sewage effluent and stormwater. Stakeholders’ requirements, the relative supply costs and the benefits accrued, as well as the value of the externalities generated by the use of water, need to be carefully assessed. 18 The quality and integrity of groundwater bodies in the Maltese Islands are currently at risk mainly from over-exploitation (including uncontrolled private abstraction of groundwater), leading to increased salinity, and from contamination by excess nitrates (mainly from agriculture) and other pollutants. Information on and awareness of the importance of groundwater and the risks posed to its integrity by over-exploitation and pollution need to be more widely disseminated. The ‘polluter pays principle’, as well as the EU Environmental Liability Directive provisions, need to be more extensively used and enforced. Investment in stormwater management and flood relief are key priorities for the Maltese Islands. The installation of stormwater catchment facilities will allow this source of freshwater to be utilised for a wide variety of purposes, reducing the strain on the current freshwater resources. Furthermore, road and land development have often failed to recognise the importance of maintaining natural aquifer recharge. Legislative changes introduced in 2000 with the establishment of the Malta Resources Authority involved the separation of the regulatory and operational responsibilities previously carried out by the Water Services Corporation. This has led to a clear distinction of regulatory and operational roles between the regulator and the utility agency, thus promoting an improvement in the level of services provided, to the consumers as well as better regulation of the sector. Drinking water quality standards have improved during the past three years as a result of infrastructural improvements which allow a more uniform blending of groundwater with desalinated water throughout the Maltese Islands. Further improvement is foreseen as the Water Services Corporation plans to upgrade its desalination facilities in an endeavour to improve product quality and energy efficiency. The introduction of a better-regulated system for groundwater abstraction, together with enforcement of environmental measures to improve the qualitative standards of groundwater supplies, is also envisaged. In recent years, the Water Services Corporation has also stepped up its water conservation efforts and has reduced losses from the distribution network. Better use of harvested rainwater and treated sewage effluent is envisaged in the coming years, while further measures and incentives to store stormwater run-off in urban/semi-urban areas will be considered. Potable water quality needs to be improved in order to reach EU standards and the present plans of the Water Services Corporation and of the Malta Resources Authority to achieve this aim need to be fully implemented in a sustainable manner. Through EU Structural Funds, measures and projects are underway to improve drinking water quality. At the same time, conservation measures related to water produced through sewage treatment, controlled abstraction of groundwater, the better use of cisterns and wells, and the cleaning of existing dams and building of new ones in strategic locations need to be encouraged through the enforcement of existing legislation, a more effective consumer education programmes and, possibly, economic incentives and disincentives. Measures to store rainwater, including the use of disused quarries, need to be explored. Valley beds need to be cleared from unauthorised interventions in order to allow for the safe collection of water; however, the ecological value of valleys must be recognised in addition to their water transport function, and the haphazard clearing of valleys should be prohibited. As well as supplying potable water for human use, freshwater also sustains a variety of perennial springs and small water bodies which, in turn, support a variety of species. Such freshwater ecosystems are extremely threatened by the combined effects of habitat loss and by the lack of water availability, resulting from anthropogenic activities and recurring episodes of drought. These freshwater habitats need to be very carefully managed and all efforts should be made to safeguard them before they are completely lost. To this end, the importance of such measures will be 19 reflected in the implementation of the Water Catchment Management Plan under the national legislation transposing the Water Framework Directive. Around 14. 3Mm3/year of treated sewage effluent are expected to be available for re-use in Malta and Gozo during the next five years. As a signatory to the Barcelona Convention, Malta is committed to treat all wastewater before discharging at sea, and is thus planning to set up three new sewage treatment plants: one in Gozo and two in Malta. The treatment plant in Gozo and that in the north of Malta are expected to be operational by 2008. Once the projected sewage treatment plants are operational, the country should have significant quantities of second-class water. While not suitable for human consumption, this water may be suitable for other purposes. Other uses should be explored, especially for those sectors and activities with heavy water consumption. In this regard, projects that require large quantities of water to sustain them need to be carefully assessed for their impact on the water supply. Since sewage is increasingly being seen as a water resource, it must also be protected against contamination from hazardous industrial and other effluents. Main strategic directions with regard to freshwater: †¢ Adopt a policy with the aim of ensuring the utilisation of the nation’s water resources in a manner that is environmentally and economically sustainable. †¢ Allow the natural biodiversity of surface water eco-systems to be sustained and to flourish, and achieve good ecological status for inland surface waters by 2015 in line with the Water Framework Directive. †¢ Ensure a reliable and good-quality supply of potable water in accordance with international water quality standards. †¢ Reduce and prevent further pollution of waters with the aim of achieving good status of all water bodies by 2015 in line with the Water Framework Directive. Establish and operate comprehensive monitoring networks for all water bodies in the Maltese Islands in order to reliably assess the achievement of ‘good status’ objectives in these bodies. †¢ Encourage initiatives for the adoption of water efficiency and conservation measures. †¢ Introduce effective catchment management and design roads so as to maximise the channelling of water towards reservoirs. †¢ Improve public awareness on the environmental, social and economic value of water. †¢ Strengthen and enforce regulatory measures with regard to illegal abstraction. †¢ Encourage the recycling of non-potable sources of water for secondary use. †¢ Assess projects that require large quantities of water in order to ascertain that they do not unduly create water supply shortages. Optimise the use of second-class water particularly in those sectors that make heavy use of water. 3. 1. 5 Biodiversity Though small in size, the Maltese Islands and their territorial waters support a variety of habitats and significant biodiversity which are still not adequately recognised as an environmental asset to be protected and sustained. Loss of biodiversity, i. e. the irreversible loss of species and ecosystems, can have very dam aging effects on various aspects of a nation’s development. A number of endemic and sub-endemic species are not only of scientific importance but are also of evolutionary and biogeographical interest, being relics of past Mediterranean flora and fauna. Over the years, not enough commitment has been shown to protect such biodiversity, leading to rapid habitat loss and uncontrolled exploitation of wildlife. This has meant that unique and important habitats such as wetlands, sand dunes and woodlands have disappeared or are on the verge of disappearing. Furthermore, some elements of Malta’s biodiversity have a wider regional and global importance, and as such are protected under international legislation. 20 Extinction and loss of species has been documented since 1998 by the State of the Environment Reports. In spite of the introduction of substantial legal protection for important habitats during the last 15 years, effective protection has lagged behind. Effective conservation requires the allocation of financial, physical and human resources to enable management, including short- and long-term monitoring. Moreover, in situ and ex situ conservation is urgently required (e. g. propagation, habitat restoration, containment, control or eradication of invasive alien species and reintroduction of indigenous species). In spite of efforts to protect and manage indigenous biodiversity, most threatened species and the majority of endemic species, remain under threat from human-mediated activities (such as overexploitation, illegal capture and killing, land development and introduction of alien species) and from the consequences of such activities such as loss and degradation of habitats, pollution, disruption of food webs, erosion and eutrophication) that lead to undesirable changes in ecosystems. The dwindling areas of garigue, sand dunes and cliff faces are some examples of habitats that are endangered. Due to the state of such habitats, ev en certain recreational activities, such off-roading, camping and abseiling, need to be better regulated. The state of knowledge of local biota is still poor and resources for the implementation and enforcement of existing regulations have still not reached the required levels. The biodiversity monitoring programme is still rudimentary and under-funded. Exploitation, whether illegal or unregulated, of a number of wildlife species and communities is still ongoing (and, in some cases, possibly increasing), mainly through hunting, trapping and fishing. The currently available data on such activities are not sufficient and not sufficiently reliable to permit a thorough assessment of the impact of such exploitation on the local biodiversity. This issue should be addressed as an immediate priority. Land reclamation in sensitive ecological areas should be prohibited and the re-use of abandoned fields encouraged. This needs to be linked to the promotion of land stewardship, establishment of ecological corridors and organic farming. The uncontrolled introduction of alien species into local eco-systems continues to be of serious concern. An increasing number of such species are establishing themselves in the wild, with adverse effects on the local eco-systems. It is widely documented globally that human-mediated activities, namely trade and tourism, facilitate the introduction and transfer of such species into new environments. Once alien species are introduced, either deliberately or accidentally, into the environment, they can establish themselves. In certain cases, alien species start to compete with native species, in which case they become invasive and could become the dominant species. Invasive alien species involve and affect a wide range of social, ecological and economic activities and can also affect public health. To prevent these impacts, a strategy to control existent alien species and to prevent the further introduction of alien invasive species, should be drawn up. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be considered as alien species and the regulation of GMOs should be included in any policy and/or legislation on alien species. Malta’s official policy is that applications to deliberately release or place on the market GMOs are assessed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis and by means of a thorough scientific assessment. Support should be given to research and development to predict and prevent invasive behaviour of alien species and GMOs before they are released into the environment. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety should be ratified and implemented in order to control transboundary movements of GMOs with the aim of providing a comprehensive and holistic approach to the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of natural resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits deriving from the use of genetic resources. 21 In order to comply with the EU nature protection acquis, Malta has designated an extensive network of Special Areas of Conservation, of which 31 are of international importance and which amount to a respectable 12. 5 per cent of the national territory in terms of land area. The total area of protected terrestrial habitat on the Maltese Islands relative to the total surface area compares favourably to the EU average. Additional efforts should now be made so that rare or scientifically important eco-systems not yet protected, as well as representative examples of more widespread habitats such as marine eco-systems, are afforded legal protection. Natural areas which are declared protected need to be monitored and managed in accordance with adopted management plans, the more so since this is also a legal obligation. Management plans have already been adopted for some of the sites, and others are in the pipeline. Monitoring work has been undertaken and policy provisions are being drawn up to ensure that the EU Directives are adhered to. Nonetheless, the process of agreeing on management plans for protected areas will have to be significantly accelerated in order to meet Malta’s national and international obligations. A commendable dev How to cite A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands, Essay examples

Literature Review on Flight Planning Errors Free Sample Paper

Question: Describe about the flight planning errors. Answer: Introduction The term aviation is referred to as the practical art or aspect of the term aeronautics that is related to the development, design, operation, use and production of aircraft especially those which are heavier than the aircraft that is related to air. The term aviation emerged and coined by the former officer of Navy and the writer of France named Gabriel La Landelle in the year of 1873. There exist old legends related to the flight of human that is evident in the Greek story of Icarus. It is also evident through the story of Jamshid that exists in the Persian myth. The recent and the modern era of aviation emerged with the emergence of the untethered flight of human that is lighter than the air. There are several operations that are undertaken through aircraft. The term civil aviation makes the inclusion of the entire flying that is non-military and both the scheduled transport through the air and the general aviation. The top five manufacturers of the civil aircraft transport are the Airbus that is based inside Europe, Boeing that is based inside the United States, Bombardier that is based inside the territory of Canada, Embraer that is based inside Brazil and the United Aircraft Corporation that is based inside the territory of Russia. The term general aviation means and includes the flying that is not scheduled and civil in nature but may be either private or commercial.

Who Was To Blame For The Cold War Essay Example For Students

Who Was To Blame For The Cold War? Essay Who Was To Blame For The Cold War?The blame for the Cold War cannot be placed on one person itdeveloped as a series of chain reactions as a struggle for supremacy. It can beargued that the Cold War was inevitable, and therefore no ones fault, due tothe differences in the capitalist and communist ideologies. It was only theneed for self-preservation that had caused the two countries to sink theirdifferences temporarily during the Second World War. Yet many of the tensionsthat existed in the Cold War can be attributed to Stalins policy of Sovietexpansion. It is necessary, therefore, to examine the role of Stalin as acatalyst to the Cold War. We will write a custom essay on Who Was To Blame For The Cold War? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Stalins foreign policies contributed an enormous amount to the tensionsof the Cold War. His aim, to take advantage of the military situation in post-war Europe to strengthen Russian influence, was perceived to be a threat to theAmericans. Stalin was highly effective in his goal to gain territory, withvictories in Poland, Romania, and Finland. To the western world, this successlooked as if it were the beginning of serious Russian aggressions. The westernview of the time saw Stalin as doing one of two things: either continuing theexpansionist policies of the tsars that preceded him, or worse, spreadingcommunism across the world now that his one-state notion had been fulfilled. It also must be mentioned that Stalin is seen as wanting unchalleged personalpower and a rebuilt Russia strong enough to withstand caplitalistencirclement.1Admittedly, the first view of Stalin, as an imperialist leader, may beskewed. The Russians claim, and have always claimed, that Stalins motives werepurely defensive. Stalins wished to create a buffer zone of Communist statesaround him to protect Soviet Russia from the capitalist West. In this sense,his moves were not aggressive at all they were truly defensive moves toprotect the Soviet system. His suspicions of Western hostility were notunfounded: the British and U.S. intervention in the Russian Civil War (1918-1920) were still fresh in Stalins memory when he took power. Furthermore,Stalin was bitter because he was not informed of U.S. nuclear capabilities untilshortly before the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Compounding tensionswas the fact that Stalins request that Russia be allowed to participate in theoccupation of J apan was denied, even though Russia had declared war on Japan on8th August (the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on 10th August) and had beenresponsible for annexing south Sakhalin as agreed to at Yalta. This failure tobe included in the Western worlds politics created an even deeper rift betweenthe two superpowers. Clashes between Stalin and the West first appear at the Yalta andPotsdam Conferences in February and July 1946, respectively. Though the mood atYalta was more or less cooperative, Stalin agitated matters by demanding thatall German territory east of the Rivers Oder and Neisse be given to Poland (andthus remain under Soviet influence). Both Roosevelt and Churchill refused toagree to these demands. The Soviet Union responded bluntly, saying ..theSoviet Government cannot agree to the existence in Poland of a Governmenthostile to it.2 The atmosphere at the Potsdam Conference was noticeably cooler,with Truman replacing Roosevelt as the representative from the United States. Trumanhad been kept in complete ignorance by Roosevelt about foreign policy,3 which meant that Truman was not aware of the secret assurances of securityRoosevelt had made to Stalin. His policy towards Soviet Russia, then, was muchmore severe than that of Roosevelt. He was quoted as saying We must stand upto the Russian sWe have been too easy with them.4 Both Truman and Churchillwere annoyed because Germany east of the Rivers Oder and Neisse were beingoccupied by Russian troops and were being run by the pro-communist Polishgovernment, who expelled over five million Germans. This went directly againstthe agreements made at Yalta earlier in the year. The west viewed this as anact of aggression on the part of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union respondedwith a statement saying Poland broders with the Soviet Union, what sic cannotbe said of Great Britain or the United States.5From this point, the Cold War truly becomes a chain reaction. In Marchof 1946, Churchill presented his Iron Curtain speech at Fulton, Missouri, inresponse to the spread of communism in eastern Europe. He called for a westernalliance to combat the threat. Stalins response was hostile: rather thantrying to negotiate a peaceful settlement, Stalin continued to tighten his gripon eastern Europe. Communist governments were installed in e very area ofeastern Europe (barring Czechoslovakia) by the end of 1947. These governmentswere implemented by guerrilla tactics: elections were rigged, non-communistmembers of the governments were expelled, with many being arrested or executed,and eventually, Stalin dissolved all non-communist political parties. Stalinbegan to implement a reign of terror using the Russian Army and his secretpolice force. Moreover, Stalin had increased his influence in the Russian zoneof Germany as if it belonged to Russia. He allowed only the communist party anddrained the area of its vital resources. .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c , .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .postImageUrl , .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c , .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c:hover , .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c:visited , .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c:active { border:0!important; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c:active , .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u26211247e194874fbe7191746a67941c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: You Belong To Me EssayThe West reacted. It appeared to them that Russias attitude wentagainst all of the promises that Stalin had made at Yalta namely, that Stalinwould permit free elections in the eastern European states. Russia argued thatit needed to maintain a sphere of influence in the area for security reasons: tothis, even Churchill agreed in 1944. Further, Russia argued that the areas hadnever had democratic governments, and that a communist system would allow these backward countries to progress and flourish. Stalins policy of expansionworried the West: in response, the West introduced the Truman Doctrine and theMarshall Plan, both of which sought to arrest the s pread of communism. Stalins aggressive tactics did not end with creating a sphere ofinfluence. Stalin re-established Cominform in September 1947. Cominformrepresented a union of all of the communist states within Europe, includingrepresentatives from the French and Italian communist parties. Even within thiscommunist structure, Stalin had to exert his influence. It was not enough for astate to be merely communist: it had to adopt the Russian-style communism. Furthermore, the states within Cominform were expected to keep trade within theCominform member states, and were discouraged from making any contact with theWestern world. Russia strengthened the ties with the Cominform countriesthrough the Molotov plan, which offered Russian aid to the satellite states, andthe establishment of Comecon, which served to coordinate the economic policiesof the communist states. These actions on the part of Stalin only increased therift between the capitalist and the communist systems, and made futurecompromise and negotiations more difficult. Perhaps the most aggressive move that Stalin made, however, was thetakeover of Czechoslovakia in February 1948. Several key issues arose in thisconflict. First, the U.S. felt alienated when Czechoslovakia rejected MarshallAid, which the U.S. blamed on the influence of the communist party. Second, thePrime Minister of Czechoslovakia was a communist, the President and ForeignMinister were not. Finally, the fact that the communists took power inCzechoslovakia by means of an armed coup sent waves of fear through the westernworld, causing the iron curtain to fall even further. The U.N. had its handstied, because there were free elections (the candidates were all communist)and there was no proof of Russian involvement. While it cannot be proved thatStalin ordered the coup, the signals were clear: Stalin had likely encouragedthe coup, and it was not coincidental that Russian troops in Austria were movedup to the Czech border. Czechoslovakia was the final east-west bridge, and withthe fall o f it, the iron curtain was complete. The final hostile movement of Stalin of importance was the Berlinblockade and airlift. When Russia grew dissatisfied with the economic disparitythat had developed in Berlin, it responded by closing all road, rail and canallinks between West Berlin and West German. The goal was to force western powersfrom West Berlin by reducing it to the starvation point. While the blame for the Cold War cannot be placed on a single man,Stalins expansionist policy was clearly an ever-present catalyst in the war. Certain Truman was not blameless, but the U.S. was not expanding its empire the Soviet Union was. Whether the expansion was for self-preservation, orwhether it was merely imperialistic expansion, is relatively immaterial. WhatStalins actions unarguably did was start a string of chain-reactions within thewestern powers, and therefore, a good deal of the blame must rest with him. BibliographyAronsen, Lawrence Martin Kitchen, The Origins of the Cold War in ComparativePerspective: American, British and Canadian Relations with the Soviet Union1941-1948. London: MacMillan Press, 1988. .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc , .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .postImageUrl , .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc , .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc:hover , .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc:visited , .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc:active { border:0!important; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc:active , .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u66c1af58943a7a6685b7cdfbe8b337dc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Philippine Typhoons EssayDavis, Lynn E. The Cold War Begins: Soviet-American Conflict over EasternEurope. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1974. Dockrill, Michael. The Cold War: 1945-1963. London: MacMillan Education Ltd.,1988. Halle, Louis J. The Cold War as History. London: Chatto Windus, 1971. Jonsson, Christer. Superpower: Comparing American and Soviet Foreign Policy. London: Frances Pinter Publishers, 1984. LaFeber, Walter. America, Russia, and the Cold War 1945-1990, 6th ed.. NewYork: McGraw Hill, Inc., 1991. Maier, Charles S., ed. The Origins of the Cold War and Contemporary Europe. NewYork: New Viewpoints, 1978. McCauley, Martin. The Origins of the Cold War. Essex: Longman Group Ltd., 1983. . Smith, Joseph. The Cold War, 1945-1965. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, Ltd., 1989. History

Neck and kiss Essays

Neck and kiss Essays Neck and kiss Essay Neck and kiss Essay Petrucio talks to Babtista about how Kate has won him over. She hung about my neck and kiss on kiss. Kat is waiting for Petrucio and is kept waiting. Kat feels rejected and feels worse even though she is used to feeling rejected and unimportant and the fact she is angry. This shows how the wooing is working and Kat has allowed herself to ruin her message of being strong against Petrucio and she therefore feels humiliated. 21st Century audiences feel sorry for her and are angry towards Petrucio although a 16th Century audience feel she is getting what she deserves. Its hard to tell whether the fact that if she is humiliated or the fact she loves Petrucio and he has hurt her. The gut feeling is though that she loves him. This is an act of control by Petrucio and the torturing her mentally is a part of the act of taming her. No one will speak to Kat, as she is unopinionated and submissive. Kat is fed up and lonely, she wants to marry and conform as this will mean she has more chance of being accepted in society. Petrucio hits the vicar to show off by being rude. He wants to go immediately. Petrucios very odd behavior is allowed and gets away with it. Although Kat has done nothing wrong her behavior is seen just as bad as his. A 16th Century would have accepted this although a 21st Century would have found this ludicrous and totally unacceptable. Petrucio is allowed to speak his mind and hit people, which she is not. This is another act of Petrucios power. In Act Four Petrucio shows his power again by the treatment of his services. He mistreats the servants as an example to Kat. He shows his power and control by using physical actions. This is because as its a play and it needs audiences reactions. He mentally tortures her and physically now he verbally tortures her to make the taming complete and to make her crack.  In Act four Shakespeare uses animal imagery. Petrucio says, My falcon now is hang and passing employ. A falcon is a predator and wild. If they are well trained it reflects well on their falconer (tamer) this animal imagery of Kat describes her very well and how if she is well trained it reflects well on Petrucio. Petrucio gives trust and loyalty a reward. He looks for the respect and when Kat is good he gives her freedom. He takes things away from her, which she needs to survive. Kat gives a large speech and begs to Grumio for something to eat. She doesnt want to walk out and cant give in. She has strong stamina and inner strength. Kat wants to conform and wants to be like other women. Petrucio doesnt let her do it because he doesnt see her tamed. This is shown when he says, When you are gentle, you shall have one too . Petrucio takes Kat to his mothers house to conform. Petrucio is trying to make her something in time and because of the treatment she has received she gives in. Kat though pretends and plays the game to get her own way. You can tell this by her sarcastic over the top language she uses. Kat is seen as strong as it took long tom tame her, which appeals to the female audience. The big question though is if she is silenced or has she transformed, but for her to be transformed this would be too hard a possibility but there is no real answer. The audience therefore has to make their own mind up. Kat uses hyperbolic language as she has been with Petrucio for a long time and she sounds like him because he uses hyperbolic language. Katerinha also lectures Bianca and the widow saying they should give in to their men. At the end of play Kat gives an exaggerated speech, which is in verse as it is more formal. She states how women need to obey men and women are weak and feeble towards men. She speaks ironically similar to sarcasm. A 21st Century audience thinks she is playing the game and she has learnt to do so, so she can get what she wants. She has been accepted which is more than being independent to her. Also being accepted means she not only gets the basics but luxuries as well. She has lossed her old self and her aggression. She also now uses much better language in her speech. Her controlled speech shows her control over herself and her controlled developed manner.

Discuss the view that the importance of technology for organisations Essay

Discuss the view that the importance of technology for organisations lies not so much in the technology itself as the ability to - Essay Example A distinguished characteristic of these opportunities is the fact that they are temporary that is, the organization that discovers them needs to exploit the technological opportunity swiftly before it gets to the organization’s competitors (Andersen, 2011: p54). They also need to do this because the opportunity could be quickly replaced by a technology that is more advanced. The organization, therefore, must hurry before the opportunity window ends. Research has shown that organizations, which come up with technological discoveries, in most cases, do not have the resources required to exploit them quickly. In this case, the organization is encouraged to collaborate as an efficient means of accessing complementary or additional information that could help speed up the exploitation process. The importance of exploiting these opportunities as fast as possible as opposed to simply being in their possession cannot be overemphasized. The importance of technological opportunities lie s in the ability to exploit it rather than the technology itself. Collaboration in Exploitation of Technological Opportunities Beginning in the mid 70s, the biotechnological industry has seen tremendous growth with increased innovations and new technologies. Several hundred firms with intensive Research and Development programs have entered the industry in the last forty or so years. Pharmaceutical companies have also been highly involved in the pursuit of biotechnological opportunities, for instance, through entering into collaborations on biotechnological advances with the new organizations. These collaborations are meant to exploit the opportunities in biotechnology that were discovered previously by the new biotechnological organizations (Archibugi & Michie, 2012: p34). An interesting feature in the exploitation of these collaborations is that their set up is widely varied in whether these opportunities are utilized at all and at what stage their utilization takes place, if at a ll. The timing of collaboration to exploit the biotechnological opportunity between the discoverer and the pharmaceutical firm is vital. Studies have shown that new biotechnological organizations vary in when they time their collaborations to exploit their opportunities when compared to pharmaceutical firms (Antonelli, 2010: p21). Biotechnological organizations that have rigid research and development programs that apply for patents in their projects or that possess earlier experience in research and development, exploit their opportunities sooner through collaboration. Collaboration is also accelerated by the establishment of industry infrastructure, for instance, national biotechnological centers, as well as increased protection of intellectual property. It was found that the project’s characteristics do not have a profound effect on the collaboration’s timing. While many biotechnological opportunities were initially focused on the phase of discovery, the exploitatio n phase has become more important as new technologies are discovered that replace previous ones (European Commission, 2010: p149). Identification of opportunity is now viewed as only being necessary, but not adequate for the actual technological exploitation. Because most of the start-up biotechnological firms do not have the required capital to exploit these opportunities, it is vital that they collaborate, with larger organizations, to make the most out of the