Josephines Influence On The Great Napoleon Essays -

Josephine's Influence On The Great Napoleon A young woman by the name of Josephine Rose-Marie Tascher arrived in France from the tropical island of Martinique in the midst of the greatest political and social up heaving. With her innate grace and charm she secured herself a position of prominence that enabled her to capture the affection of Napoleon Bonaparte an up and coming French artillery officer from Island of Creole (www.geocities.com/Paris/Parc.html). This was the beginning of one of histories most passionate and extraordinary love affairs. Napoleon instantly fell in love with Josephine and they married on March 8, 1776. The marriage of Josephine and the great Napoleon was one of turbulence, yet Josephine had a great impact on his decisions and his rise to power and fame. Josephine was a respectable and likable person with a high social status which aided to Napoleon and his advancements. Emotionally, Napoleon was affected greatly by Josephine both directly and indirectly. Josephine's influence on Napoleon's emotions wa s profound in the way that it affected his decisions and actions. Also, Josephine was a smart and intelligent woman whose opinions were of great value to Napoleon and he often took them into consideration when making extremely important decisions. Socially, Josephine had a great impact on Napoleon's advancements and his success in many areas of life. Early on in the marriage Napoleon discovered how useful Josephine could be to forwarding his position in society and in the military. He often made her his advocate, taking her along when he went to ask an important favour of someone (Erickson 132). She would often speak on his behalf because her remarkable social skills, amiable personality (Cartland 104), and because of her high social status that she obtained from her first husband1. Remarkably, it was Josephine who in the winter of 1795 asked that Napoleon be given command of the Italian army (Erickson 132). Sure enough shortly after her request he obtained command (Erickson 132). It was also Josephine's aristocratic connections, her position as a leader of Directory Society, and her distinguished name that helped to advance Napoleon's social status (Erickson 134). Napoleon once confided to his secretary that, She (Josephine) had beneath my side during my early years when my future was far from assured, she had lent me her aristocratic status to assist my many ambitions, (Erickson 277). For this helped the people of France to see him less as conspicuous foreigner lacking in a distinguished breeding (Erickson 134) and more of someone that they could relate to 2. Josephine often helped her husband in his social duties as Emperor by entertaining military men and ambassadors (Erickson 242). She always remembered people's names and had a gift for making people feel special and welcomed (Erickson 242). Napoleon himself once said I win battles but Josephine wins hearts. (Laing 148). Her natural social skills were a great asset to his rise and popularity. At first it was Josephine's social status that helped Napoleon but later on it was her good spirited nature and her likable personality that helped to create a better image of Napoleon therefore helping him in his advancements. Josephine had a major influence on Napoleon emotionally, directly and indirectly by making him feel secure, providing him with emotional support, and giving him confidence which ultimately had a bearing on his decisions and actions. Sadly before Napoleon had met Josephine he was on the verge of suicide he was lonely and depressed (Laing 128). Fortunately Josephine had transformed life for him, given him meaning to ambition, and crowned his success with pleasure, (Laing 128). Mlle Avrillon, one of Josephine maids, even saw his dependence on her and her swift response to his needs, whenever he suffered the slightest indisposition, when any problem aroused to worry him, she was, so to speak, at his feet, and at such times he could not get along without her, (Erickson 132) This demonstrates how much her emotional support helped Napoleon and how he relied on it to continue his aspirations (Erickson 132). Napoleon was convinced that his good fortune in battle, politics, and all the importa nt areas of life was linked to his finding and falling in love with Josephine. She was his charm

Tartuffe and Adventure Quest Play Analysis Essay Example

Tartuffe and Adventure Quest Play Analysis Essay Example Tartuffe and Adventure Quest Play Analysis Essay Tartuffe and Adventure Quest Play Analysis Essay Essay Topic: The Importance Of Being Earnest Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Tartuffe and Adventure Quest Play Analysis Question One In the turbulent era of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, deus ex machine was used to establish a controversial thesis. For example, one scene in Adventure Quest shows the audience the heroes being rescued from an awful fate by the king’s agent. The play also uses deus ex machine when it concludes. This is seen in the scene where a passing navy officer rescues the savage children. The author applies this device to inform the audience that the children would have been afflicted with a terrible fate if the officer had not intervened at the right moment. Ultimately, the ending changes the role of the humor in the play. Humor in this case is replaced by deus ex machine with the audience being given a relief through a happy conclusion contrary to what they were expecting. Question Two By summarizing a wit tradition in a unique perspective, the play â€Å"The Importance of Being Earnest† does not confine itself to a witty Lord Goring and Lord Darlington. The entire script in this case includes shrewd absurdities and a single voice. This makes it hard to establish characters that are witty deliberately. The often-childish Algy is a wit self-consciously. A contrasting scene comes through Algy’s laconic worker Lane. This contrast brings about the theme of social class in the society. The witty Algy has employed Lane as his manservant and even though Lane has been afforded the privilege of living in the house, their lifestyles are quite different. Question Three ‘The importance of being honest† is an excellent example of a comedy of manners and this is particularly supported by Lady Bracknell’s role and her interview with Jack. Bracknell applies the use of irony to challenge the subversive arm of the system. She fights this system even she is aware that loosing is inevitable. Hence, she uses manners and irony as her weapons in this battle. The dominant class in this society is demonstrated in the interview. This interview reveals social class in this society that ultimately fosters manners. Question Four One monologue with a significant role in the play Tartuffe comes in Act I scene II when Dorian is exceptionally willing to express her sentiments. This scene plays the role of bringing out pace and rhythm. Asides and soliloquies were used frequently. The social and character comedies were based on inventive activity therefore making movement rapid and selective in tempo. The characters in this scene are highly theatric and have clear attitudes. The comic and witty situations have a tendency of rending the characters in this scene humorous and ludicrous event though a serious viewpoint complements the comic facade. Question Five The play â€Å"Tartuffe† uses satire to attack human characteristics and behavior but with a main objective of improving these faults instead of worsening them. In particular, the Tartuffe satirized play mainly shifts its focus on religious hypocrisy. Even though Tartuffe is an obvious antagonist and hypocrite, he also represents the rest of society that preaches religious views but engages in actions contrary to their beliefs and morals. In particular, religious satire in this play comes out through Orgon. On the other hand, the play â€Å"Adventure Quest† bears satire that revolves around a consumerist culture. The society in this play encourages purchase of service and goods in great amounts. Ultimately, this is true since economic order was in full force in the 19th to 20th century.

Three Arms of Authority Controlling the Public Education Systems Case Study

Three Arms of Authority Controlling the Public Education Systems - Case Study Example NCLB is a foundation project that serves as a federal intervention within the various states in America (Kowalski, 2004, P1, L6). This paper provides insight into the operation structure of the NCLB with a specific case study of individual Superintendents within various public education systems. Â  The case study involved between Dr. Stacy and Billy Pratt yielded various responses with effect to the introduction and implementation of the NCLB act. Dr. Stacy Barstow is instrumental in enforcing instructional improvement and engaging staff development. This is a positive approach as stated in the NCLB act where an education superintendent is significant curriculum personnel. Dr. Stacy also engaged positive approaches by supporting the NCLB objectives through positive remarks during a meeting with school heads. According to the case study, Superintendent Billy Pratt refutes the NCLB act, claiming that the law appeared inconsistent and incompetent (Kowalski, 2004, P3, L9). His arguments draw justification from the provided programs of the special education and other bilingual students. His arguments also criticized ignorance by the federal government on matters of local control. Billy Pratt’s justification may serve as an indicator to demand government careful involvemen t in future acts and educational policies. Â  Superintendent Dr. Stacy’s decision to avoid negative remarks towards the NCLB act shows an unrealistic approach to sensitive educational matters. As such, the move triggered differences among other secondary principals and elementary principals. The decision by Dr. Stacy also signifies an unreliable personality trait that would question individual leadership attributes. Billy Pratt decision to publicly criticize NCLB policies shows disrespect to a given law (Kowalski, 2004, P3, L10).

Questions based on readings Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Questions based on readings - Assignment Example Xcolonia is a country that has a comparative advantage in agriculture and textiles (Krugman et al. 55). Machinery production requires complex technology, which Xcolonia does not have. Easy export substitution would, therefore, be the best strategy for Xcolonia, where they export agricultural and textile products, and this will speed up industrialization. This strategy will help Xcolonia to create profits and reduce their debts. It will also trigger the productivity that will result to increased exports and greater efficiency. 2. By unlimited labor supplies the labor, the labor minister means that the labor supply in Xcolonia exceeds the labor demand. Thus is a characteristic of many small developing countries, where there is a labor surplus. However, most of this labor is unskilled and this may inhibit the growth since technical progress necessary for growth requires skilled labor. The Lewis-Ranis Fei model suggests that the economic growth take place if agricultural laborers are transferred to the industrial area, where their productivity would increase (Williamson et al., 44). This design is based on the assumption that the economy of concern is dual with a stagnant agricultural sector and a dynamic industrial sector. Therefore, at the point where marginal productivity equals zero, labor can be transferred to the industrial sector without any loss in agricultural sector. In the first stage of the model, there is disguised unemployment because the labor supply is perfectly elastic, and the marginal prod uctivity of labor is zero. This disguised unemployment is transferred to the industrial sector at the constant institutional wage (Fort and Ricardo, 27). Due to the constant institutional wage, the labor supply curve is horizontal at this stage. However, this does not last forever. This can be shown using diagram 1. 3. Land is a major factor of production, and an important asset for the rural and urban poor. It provides a

Running my own Multinational Corporation Research Paper

Running my own Multinational Corporation - Research Paper Example For selling the product in the UK market, the company will enter into arrangements and agreements with the local retailers in the UK, particularly in the major cities. The retailers which will be considered for distribution and sales of the product will include Tesco PLC, Sainsbury’s PLC, Morrison’s PLC, ASDA PLC and other retailers. Keeping in view the fact that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the UK and its supply has shown consistent growth, it can be therefore expected that the consumers in the UK will buy this product. As per the information provided by the World Health Organization, there has been a steady increase in the consumption of Beer during the past 45 years (45 years include years from 1961 to 2006). In addition to this, since the company will enter into arrangements with local retailers and distributors in the UK for the sale of products, there will be no need to hire labor or acquire specific supplies for any other purpose. The company, Oceana Beverages Incorporation, will dispatch its products directly to retailers at specified city destinations. The retailers will then take charge of the good upon delivery and will be responsible for handling and selling the products through their respective retail outlets. As far as the manufacturing of the product is concerned, 100 percent manufacturing will be carried out within the United States at the production facility of Oceana Beverages Incorporation. In addition, packaging for both local and export deliveries will also be done by the packaging unit of the company. In this way, all expenses related to the production of Seven Star Wine will be incurred in US Dollar only. There are numerous factors which may have an impact on the balance of trade between the United States and the United Kingdom. These factors, in relation to the business of Oceana Beverages Incorporation, mainly include the cost of production in the US as compared to UK, costs associated with raw materials and other

Policy on Social and Affordable Housing in Ireland

Policy on Social and Affordable Housing in Ireland 1.0 What is Social and Affordable Housing? 1.1 Social Housing: Definition According to the Irish Council for Social Housing (2010), Social Housing can be broadly defined as accommodation provided by a local authority or approved non-profit housing body for persons who are unable to provide accommodation form their own resources. (www.icsh.ie) 1.2 Affordable Housing: Definition As defined by Dublin City Council (2010), Affordable Housing is a scheme whereby new homes are sold at a reduced price to people who cannot afford to buy a property on their own. (www.dublincity.ie) 1.3 History of Social Housing According to Redmond and Norris (2005), the first instances of social and affordable housing can be tracked back to the mid 1800s. During this time, Europe was witnessing widespread concern about housing conditions of the low income population. This unrest led to state subsidized rental housing to the disadvantaged and low income groups. This form of housing is now known as social housing. Social housing in Ireland has traditionally been provided through two means, these are: Local Authorities and Approved Voluntary Housing Associations. 1.3.1 Local Authority Social Housing In Ireland the Housing of the Working Classes Act (1890), was the first such Act to introduce the concept of the provision for social housing by the local authorities. This act introduced little change to the housing situation at the time. It was not until 1919 when a new housing Act was introduced. This Act was The Housing Act 1919. This Act obliged the local authorities to build and to provide subsidies in areas where there was a need for housing. From the time of introduction of this Act, Ireland saw a substantial period of social housing programmes and completions. This period continued well up until the 1950s. In 1966 a new Act was introduced to modernise the countries outdated legal framework in relation to housing. This Act was The 1966 Housing Act. To date Ireland has benefited from the introduction of 330,000 homes provided by local authorities under social housing initiatives. Currently local authorities manage 108,000 homes under the bracket of social housing. 1.3.2 Approved Voluntary Housing Association Social Housing As defined by the Irish Council for Social Housing (2010), Voluntary housing associations are non-profit organisations formed for the purpose of relieving housing need and the provision and management of housing. The largest of the voluntary housing associations in Ireland at present is the Iveagh Trust. The Iveagh Trust was set up in 1890 by Sir Edward Cecil Guinness, Earl of Iveagh. The purpose of this trust was to provide housing and other amenities to the working classes in Dublin. This was one of the first schemes of its kind to provide such assistance. The introduction of The Capital Assistance Scheme (1984) has provided much needed assistance to these housing associations. Due to the assistance provided by this scheme voluntary housing associations have been able to grow and provide effective assistance in the role of providing housing to those unable to provide housing for themselves. During the mid to late 1990s voluntary housing associations struggled to provide housing due to the increasing land and building costs. According to the National Economic and Social Council (2004), during the 1990s voluntary housing associations produced their lowest output of 285 units. At this time the numbers of people in need of housing was rapidly increasing. The Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr Robert Molloy T.D., was then prompted to update and improve the schemes available to the voluntary housing agencies. This allowed them to again function effectively in their role to the communities. In 2003 the voluntary housing sector has a managed stock of over 16,000 dwellings. The National Economic Social Council (2004). The Irish Council for Social Housing has recognised the role that the voluntary housing agencies provide in Ireland and has ensured that they have been included in the following current government policy documents: National Development Plan 2007 2013 and Towards 2016. Icsh (2010). 1.4 History of Affordable Housing Affordable housing is a relatively recent initiative in Ireland with the Housing Act 1992 providing the first policies for affordable housing. This Act facilitated access to full ownership in two or more stages to those who cannot afford ownership by their own means. Under this Act the purchaser must initially purchase 40% of the property. The Affordable Housing Scheme 1999 brought forward proposals by the social partnership to provide additional affordable housing on land that is already in the possession of the State and local authorities. As defined by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2009), the Affordable Housing Scheme 1999 comprises developments built on local authority land and in some cases purchased turnkey developments. It was not until the introduction of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 that affordable housing could be considered an effective form of providing housing to those who cannot afford to buy a property on their own. This Act provided an obligation for developers to transfer up to a maximum of 20% of land, units, sites, an equivalent financial contribution or other land or units off site to the local authority for the use to provide social and affordable housing. According to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2009), in 2007 the provision set out in Part V for affordable housing, accounted for 60% of the country wide provision of affordable housing. Today it is through the three measures above that affordable housing is primarily being provided by the local authorities. Sustaining Progress 2003 2005 introduced the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI). This initiative was responsible for providing 10,000 affordable homes on local authority and State lands. This target has been increased in the current social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to 17,000 affordable homes. In 2005 the Irish Government decided to establish the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP). The role of the AHP was to coordinate the delivery of affordable housing by the local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area. The role of AHP in 2007 was extended in to coordinate affordable housing at a national level. During the period of 2006 2008 the AHP actually provided affordable housing direct to the applicant. The AHP when it was created was to take the responsibility of the sites under the AHI. The AHP used this land to deliver affordable housing through land exchanges. According to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 2009, only two land exchanges have taken place to date through the AHP. REFERENCES: Social Partnership (2006), Towards 2016. Dublin, Social Partnership Agreement, The Stationary Office. Ireland, Planning and Development Act 2000, Part V. Dublin: Stationary Office Buckley, J. (11 May 2009). Water Services and Affordable Housing Delivery Report. Dublin, Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Social Partnership (2003), Sustaining Progress 2003 2005. Dublin, Social Partnership Agreement, The Stationary Office. The Economic Social Council (2004) Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy. Dublin, The National and Economic Council. The Irish Council for Social Housing (2010), Development of the Voluntary Housing Sector [online], available: http://www.icsh.ie/eng/housing_in_ireland/development_of_the_voluntary_housing_sec, [accessed 2 January 2010]. Redmond, D. and Norris, M.(2005)Setting the Scene: Recent transformations in Irish housinginHousing Contemporary Ireland: policy, society and shelter,ed(s)., Dublin,Institute of Public Administration. Irish Council for Social Housing (2010), History of Hosing Policy [online], available: http://www.icsh.ie/eng/housing_in_ireland/government_policy, [accessed 2 January 2010]. 2.0 Government Policy and Legislation 2.1 Introduction According to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2009), the aim of the Irish Housing Policy is to enable every household to have available an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment and as far as possible at the tenure of its choice. The following review provides information on the legislative background of the social and affordable housing in Ireland. It examines the acts, initiatives and reports in relation to social and affordable housing and details the circumstances that gave rise to the implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. It also examines the government policies that affect housing affordability and analyses Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the amendments made in 2002. 2.2 Government Policies that Influence Home Ownership and Prices During the last two decades house prices have been increasing largely due to the demand by the young growing population that were looking to get into the property market. During this period interest rates on property and tax rates on property were particularly suited to home ownership. April 1997 saw the abolishment of the taxation of residential property. After April 1997 stamp duty was the sole tax that one had to pay when dealing with the sale or purchase of a residential property. The Government introduced mortgage interest relief as an incentive to encourage home ownership. Mortgage interest relief is available from the lender to the purchaser, once the owner can prove that the money has been solely applied for the purpose to purchase a property. The reduction in mortgage repayments is catered for by the reduction of tax that the applicant is entitled to. 2.4 Circumstances That Gave Rise to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 The following sections of this dissertation are a review of the contributing factors that gave rise to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The following sections include a review of the Bacon Reports and other important factors. 2.4.1 Bacon Report 1: An Economic Assessment of Recent House Price Developments During the lead up to the publishing of the first Bacon report, Ireland was experiencing rapid increase in house prices. During this period investors began to flex their muscles in the property market. As a result the first time buyers suffered and began to find it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market. Traditionally first time buyers bought properties towards the lower end of the property ladder. It was these properties that the investors were driven to secure with the aim to rent. The demand for these rental properties was fuelled by the increase in numbers of immigrants entering the country that were not looking to buy properties but to rent properties. This increase in demand for property led to a number of housing agencies to issue warnings that demand for housing would continue to increase and continue to inflate housing prices in the market in Ireland. The first Bacon report proposed interventions by the government to help first time buyers who were at this stage, struggling to get into the inflated property market. The report recommended that the government should strive for a more acceptable rate of house price development and suggested four main areas to focus on for a policy response. These areas are as follows; Achieve better balance between demand and supply in the short term, improve the potential supply of the housing, engage in infrastructure developments and to improve medium and long term planning of the development of the east region. The Bacon report goes on to suggest a rebalancing of existing incentives in favour of the provision of housing at the lower end of the property market. The report highlights that the revenue has overlooked the provision of incentives for providing affordable housing. The report suggests revenue incentives, as a method to increase availability and choice to first time buyers who were struggling to enter the property market. The removal of what was defined as Section 23 incentives for investors and the removal of mortgage interest relief against properties were suggested. A reduction of stamp duty on second hand homes was proposed to increase the scope of available affordable homes in the second hand market. The report suggested a review of residential densities and investment in infrastructure as necessary to help maximise housing supply. The report went on to suggest the idea of introducing an administrative control on housing prices. This idea was later discarded as it was thought that the control of house prices would have the potential to distort the property market. 2.4.2 Government Response to Bacon 1 The government responded to Bacon 1 by decreasing stamp duty rates on second hand houses and also by investing in the improvement of the infrastructure to help realise the potential of development land. The government imposed stamp duty on new houses bought by non owner occupiers. Tax relief for property investors on Section 23 properties was reviewed and the suitability of each property for relief is to be individually assessed subject to the Local Area Plan. Deductibility of interest on borrowings undertaken for investment in property was removed after April 23rd 1998. Action was also taken in the effort to bring down income limits for the shared ownership scheme to a level that was more relevant to the incomes at the time. 2.4.3 Bacon Report 2: The Housing Market, an Economic Review and Assessment The Bacon Report 2 was published after the Government responded to the first Bacon report. This report centres largely on the period directly after the first Bacon Report and observes the impact of the report by assessing the property market during this time. The Report finds that house inflation had slowed since the Governments actions following the first Bacon Report. This slow down was particularly apparent in the market for new housing. Following the first report, the Government removed the deductibility of interest on borrowings for investors while promoting liquidity in the second hand market by changing the structure of the stamp duty system. This Report found that the reduction in interest rates at the time and the easing house price inflation should have made housing more affordable, but in fact affordability remained a serious problem. The Report did warn that a reduction in housing prices may solve the issue of affordability but negative equity would be serious bye-product. The Report made it clear to the Government that they had to centre on filling the void between the price of new houses and the price that was affordable for those who could not afford to buy a new house at the normal asking price. The Report suggested again as it did in the first Bacon Report, that the issue of housing densities should be reviewed, with the possible integration of terraced housing in new developments as a method of providing housing at a lower cost to the developer. The Report did raise the issue of social isolation due to this form of housing. The Bacon Report 2 introduced a concept to develop a scheme for the provision of affordable housing by local authorities and developers. This was the first instance that laid the foundations of the affordable homes scheme. The need to strengthen the existing Planning Acts was highlighted with the objective of modernising the Governments housing policy. The concept of making housing more affordable and improving accessibility to mortgage funding would further increase demand for housing and therefore increase housing prices. As a result the Report suggested to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to invite proposals from agencies within the voluntary sector as how they could be helped to develop and also how their resources could be applied in a more effective manner with the aim of providing extra housing for the sectors of the community most in need. 2.4.4 Government Response to Bacon 2 On the 9th of March 1999 issued a report titled, Action on the Housing Market. This report contained the Governments response to the 2nd Bacon Report. This report contained initiatives which aimed to maximise and expedite housing supply, secure house price stabilisation, address affordability issues and ensure balanced growth of the property market in the future, (Action on the Housing Market, 1999). Their actions included placing temporary sewerage facilities on land in Dublin to enable the early release of 16000 housing sites. Arrangements were made to identify infrastructural constraints in areas of growth which would reduce delay in housing provision. Draft guidelines for new housing densities were published. These included action on increasing the mix of affordable housing in new developments. An affordable housing scheme was launched shortly before the release of the government response. Through this scheme Local Authorities would provide additional new houses on land available to them which would help lower income households to purchase their own homes. It was stated that the Department of the Environment and Local Government would invite proposals from the voluntary housing sector as to how to expand on the voluntary housing programme. 2.4.5 Bacon Report 3: The Housing Market in Ireland: An Economic Evaluation of Trends Prospects The third Bacon Report was released on the 6th of June 2000. The first point of Bacon 3s executive summary stated that the rate of increase in housing prices, since the release of the first Bacon Report in 1998 had slowed down significantly. The strengthening economy at the time was blamed for the increased difficulty in securing stability in the housing market. House price completions had increased in each successive quarter in 1999. The average price of new houses was still beyond the reach of many average workers. The rate of economic growth at the time meant potential demand for additional 8.000 to 10,000 residential units per annum. The requirement for increased supply in Dublin and the Middle East regions was stressed as increasingly important to control house prices due to the predicted increase in demand in that area. 2.4.6 Government Response to Bacon3 The Government released a report detailing measures which it would take to address housing needs and requirements, as outlined in the third Bacon Report. With regard to Social and Affordable housing, the Government stated that they would increase output of local authority housing that would start at 1,000 units per annum between 2001 and 2006. The Government also proposed measures that would aim to facilitate Local Authorities and Voluntary Bodies to acquire sufficient land that they could provide social and affordable housing. 2.5 Demands for Irish Housing According to Norris and Redmond (2005), there have been significant increases in the demand for housing in Ireland during the economic boom, caused by a combination of economic, demographic and social factors. As mentioned in 2.4.1, the Governments taxation policy was favourable to property investors, particularly during the period following the 1986 Urban Renewal Act which initiated Section 23 Tax Relief. The annual housing inflation rate in 1998 was at 22.5%. At the time this rate of inflation showed no signs of slowing down. The First Bacon Report summarised in 2.4.1, estimated high levels of future demand for Irish housing. The Second Bacon Report pointed to rising rents in the private rented sector. Social rented housing output was not increasing and in 1999 the local authority assessment of housing need showed that 39,716 households were registered on local authority waiting lists, this was an increase of 43% on the previous assessment of housing need which was complied in 1996 , Brooke (2006). The first affordable housing scheme was introduced in March 1999. This scheme provided only 40 affordable houses that year. Part V of the Planning and Development Bill 1999 was structured to address these issues. The Minister for the Environment, Mr Noel Dempsey stated that Part V addressed two major issues in the Irish Housing Policy that allowed people to purchase their own homes and also of the provision of social rented housing. According Mr Noel Dempsey (2000), Part V of the Bill, introduces a major new dimension to planning legislation and contains the most radical and probably the most contentious provisions of the Bill. 2.6 Most Notable Legislation in Relation to Irish Housing Provision The following is an account of some of the Legislation that is considered most important in relation to Social and Affordable Housing. 2.6.1 Housing Act 1966 This Act modernised the legal framework for social housing in Ireland. Is also included the provision for the tenant purchase scheme which allowed local authority tenants to purchase their houses form the local authority. Section 55 of this act relates to a house building programme which each local authority must adhere to in relation to the provision of housing. 2.6.2 Housing Act 1988 This act defined how homelessness would be interpreted in relation to the provision of housing. It allowed the provision of a subsidy to eligible persons against the loans which they had obtained for the purchase or construction of their house. It required local authorities to make an estimation of housing requirements within their functional area both at the present time and over a designated period of time. 2.6.3 Housing Act 1992 This act introduced the Shared Ownership Scheme which allowed a housing authority to grant a shared ownership lease for a term of more than 20 years but not less than 100 years. 2.6.4 The Planning and Development Bill 1999 According to the House of the Oireachtas, the Planning and Development Bill 1999 is to revise and consolidate the law relating to planning and development by repealing and re-enacting with amendments the local government (planning and development) acts, 1963 to 1999; to provide, in the interests of the common good, for proper planning and sustainable development including the provision of housing. 2.6.5 Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 dealt with housing supply and it came into effect on 1 November 2000. The primary objective behind the introduction of Part V was to obtain land for housing purposes, however the legislation also aimed to improve integration between different social groups by introducing social and affordable housing into private housing estates. The legislation has been the subject of controversy since its inception. Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 was resisted by the Construction Industry Federation and the Home Builders Association. These two groups were the primary objectors of the legislation and claimed that Part V would result in a reduction in supply of new private housing, that will increase second hand prices and the buyers of new houses will subsidise the affordable and social housing being expropriated from the industry Norris, M (1999). Part V of the Act did have supporters that described the Act as a landmark step that woul d modernise the planning system in Ireland, improve housing delivery and help reduce undue social segregation in new housing developments. It represents a community and planning gain or return against the windfall profits arising from the development of land Brooke (2006). Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires that housing strategies be drawn up by planning authorities and integrated into their development plans. Each housing strategy should have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of an area and should be concerned with the overall supply of housing within the planning authority. In addition, the Act makes communities needs for social and affordable housing a material planning consideration which must be taken account of in formulating development plan policies, preparing a housing strategy and deciding on planning applications or appeals. The Act places a statutory obligation on planning authorities to ensure that sufficient land is zoned for housing in their development plans to meet the projected housing requirements over the plan period and to ensure that an undue shortage will not arise, The Planning and Development Act (2000 p.1.). Most importantly the Act empowers a local authority to attach a condition on a planning permission on land zoned as residential, a requirement for developers to supply up to 20% of the land for social and affordable housing. This requirement was set down in the act with the objective to create all new residential developments that will have a proportion of social and affordable housing contained in within it. The provision of social and affordable housing under Part V only applied to developments that were over 0.1 Hectares in size and contained more than 5 units. Part V only applied to planning applications for permission on land zoned as residential use. This requirement was considered a major flaw as it allowed developers to avail of a loop hole of which they could use to avoid the social and affordable housing requirements set out in Part V. This was particularly apparent on Co. Leithrim, where the town of Carrick-On-Shannon was the only area in the county where zoning provisions where present. Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 was commenced on the 1st of November 2000. By the 31st of July 2001 all of the local authorities had amended their development plans and had completed new housing strategies that allowed for the new requirements contained in the Act. 2.6.6 The Planning and Development Amendment Act 2002 This Act allowed developers a greater choice with the provision of social and affordable housing. The Act enabled developers to provide land, sites or housing as an alternative to providing social and affordable housing in each development. The alternatives did however have to be contained within the remit of that planning authority. The developer was allowed another alternative to this requirement under the Act, the developer is allowed to pay the local authority a sum of money equivalent in value to the transfer of the land. This amendment of the Planning and Development Act 2000 is considered by many as a weakening or a cop out to the developers. One of the primary aims of the original Act was to counteract social segregation but now this responsibility is effectively left in the hands of the developer. 2.7 Government Intervention in Irish Housing Provision The following are the most important examples of Government interventions in relation to the Irish housing market. 2.7.1 Local Authority House Building Scheme The 1966 Housing Act places an obligation on local authorities to provide housing for those who cannot afford appropriate housing for themselves. Redmond, D. and Norris, M.(2005)state that 300,000 housing units have been provided to date, since the introduction of the Local Authority House Building Scheme. 2.7.2 House Purchase Loan Scheme The House Purchase Loan Scheme was introduced for those who have had an unsuccessful loan application with a building society, bank or any other lending institution to build or to buy a residential property. This scheme gave a person an alternative option as to avail of a local authority loan. To receive this loan the applicant must not exceed an income of  £40,000 as a single income household or  £100,000 as a dual income household and must have been refused a loan by a bank or building society. 2.7.3 Tenant Purchase Scheme The Tenant Purchase Scheme was introduced under Section 90 of the 1966 Housing Act. Section 90 allowed a local authority to sell on a social house to the tenant. The Act also allowed a local authority to sell a vacant house to whomever they deemed suitable, once the prospective purchaser is in need of housing. 2.7.4 1999 Affordable Housing Scheme The affordable housing scheme was introduce in March 1999. Under this scheme a person can purchase a house from a local authority at a reduced rate to the normal market price. The price of the house is subsidised by the Department of the Environment at  £50,000 per house in the Dublin local authorities and all city councils and at  £31800 for all other local authorities. 2.7.5 Affordable Housing Provided Under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 As summarised in detail above in section 2.6.5, Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 empowers a local authority to obtain up to 20% of land zoned for residential use at a reduced rate from a developer to provide social and affordable housing. 2.7.6 Capital Assistance Scheme According to the Department of the Environment (2010), the Capital Assistance Scheme enables voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet housing needs in special areas, such as of people with disabilities, elderly, homelessness, emigrants or small families. 2.7.7 Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme The Capital Loan and Subsidy Schemes enable voluntary bodies with the means to provide rental housing for low income families. 2.8 Conclusion Government policy has led to both a high owner occupier rate of housing in Ireland and also high house prices. The aims of the Irish Housing Policy has been greatly affected by government polices. Housing had become less affordable due to previous incentives which encouraged investment and speculation in the market. It was not until the 1990s when the issue of housing affordability arose. This led to the commission of the Bacon Reports on housing in Ireland. The issue of Social and Affordable housing provision in Ireland became more important during the property boom due to rising prices. This looked to have been on its way to rectification in the Planning and Development Act 2000 which brought about a sense of coordination in housing provision. However the potential of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as a mechanism for ensuring sustainable provision of Social and Affordable Housing without social segregation was greatly depleted with the introduction of the Amendment Act in 2002, which provided too many options for compliance by developers. In the current market downturn, affordable housing in its current guise has arguably lost importance in comparison to social housing due to values of all property falling. Therefore updated legislation in relation to Part V is necessary to rectify the current weakening housing policy. REFERENCES: Norris, M. (1999) Mixed-Tenure Housing Estates: Development, Design, Management and Outcomes. Dublin, The Housing Unit. Dempsey, N. (2000) Planning and Development Bill 2000, second stage, 2nd February, Dà ¡il Éireann, available: http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0513/D.0513.200002020018.html [accessed 23 February 2010]. Brooke, S. (2006) Building for inclusion? : Housing output and part V of the Irish Planning and Development system. Dublin. Focus Ireland. Bacon, P and Mac Cabe, F. (1998) Bacon Report 1: An Economic Assessment of Recent House Price Developments. Dublin, Stationary Office, Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal. Bacon, P and Mac Cabe, F. (1999) Bacon Report 2: The Housing Market an Economic Review and Assessment. Dublin, Stationary Office, Minister fo

Protestant Reformation :: Religion History

Protestant Reformation In the 16th century the Protestant Reformation divided the Roman Catholic Church. This reform was led by Martin Luther whose original intentions were to reform the church, but resulted in a split between Protestant and Catholic. Soon the Protestant Church itself divided resulting in two more churches, one Protestant, and the other reformed church. The Reformed Church is better known as Presbyterian, whose conspicuous leader was John Calvin. John Calvin had many beliefs which had been adopted by the Presbyterian Church. His ideas were modified from those in the Catholic Church. Presbyterians do believe in the Trinity as Catholics do but differ from Catholicism when dealing with ideas like original sin, salvation, and the idea of penance. Presbyterians believe that original sin is rooted in faithlessness which brought man to fall. The idea of salvation to Presbyterians is that salvation is reached through the grace of God, rooted in the deep faith of a person. Catholics believe in penance for sins through reconciliation. Presbyterians believe that penance is dealt with directly with God. Ultimately, Presbyterians believe that God’s truth was and is embodied in Jesus Christ, Lord, and Savior. One of Calvin’s beliefs included that of which God is God of state and nation and the state must be guided by his word. This idea is embodied in the idea of civil government. The Presbyterian government was originally formen when John Calvin was in Geneva. In a Presbyterian form of government there are four different officers. There are pastors, teachers, 12 elected elders, and deacons. The elders are seen to be equal to the clergy. Through this government the Presbyterian belief in total life of the community is displayed and put into practice. The Presbyterian definition of a sacrament is an outward sign by which the Lord represents and testifies his good will towards us. A sacrament is a testimony of God’s grace. Presbyterians acknowledge two sacraments. One is Baptism, and the other Eucharist. Baptism is a symbol of cleansing, forgiveness of original sin permanetly, and makes us all share in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It makes us one with God. The sacrament of the Eucharist is a memory of Christ’s death and a confession of faith.

Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega

The first scene that will be analysed is the one where Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega are going to fulfil their duties as gangsters (0:06:45-0:20:12). The scene shows how normal it is for the main characters to have a job as gangsters and kill people on command of their boss. While watching it, the viewer has the impression that the world in the film is absurd, but it is a perfect example of a social satire. The main characters live in a world full of violence, drugs, but they find themselves perfectly suitable in it. Also, the verbal humour has a crucial role here; lots of comical ornaments of the speech, curses, irony and sarcasm create the whole background of this environment. Basing on the benign-violation theory, the whole scene evokes amusement, because characters present quite controversial behaviour. For the purpose of the forthcoming analysis, the scene will be divided into three parts:1) Jules and Vincent's dialogue in the car (0:06:45-0:08:43); 2) The conversation about the foot massage (0:08:43-0:13:46)3) The score of gangsters and debtors (0:13:46-0:20:12). As the first part of the scene begins, Jules and Vincent drive a car and the main focus here is on the dialogue between the characters; they talk mostly about Vincent's journey to Europe. He mentions many cultural differences: the policies of hash bars, the law of policemen, beer in cinemas, or mayonnaise on fries in Holland, how a Quarter-Pounder with cheese is called a Royale with cheese in France. At this point, the viewer has no idea where the main characters are driving or what the purpose of their mission is. It can be only assumed that they are partners and that the circumstances are quite amusing, because they seem serious, but their conversation is completely ridiculous. This contrast is highly intriguing and introduces the viewer to the world full of absurd.

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America and the Populist Movement essays

America and the Populist Movement essays The Populist movement of the late nineteenth century was largely due to the discontentment of rural America. Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats addressed the rural distress sufficiently enough to encourage the farmers of the West and South to join their party. If the strangling grip of the railroads and manufacturers was to be broken, many felt that a new party was necessary. As a result, a convention was held in Omaha, Nebraska in February 1892. Many members of the powerful farmers' alliances were present, and the name "populist" (from the Latin populus, meaning people) stuck after being borrowed from a state political organization in Kansas. The free coinage of silver struck many Populists as a cure-all, due to the agrarian cry for inflation. William Hope Harvey's, Coin's Financial School, and numerous other pamphlets by fiery prophets helped to trumpet the Populist cause. The Populist convention nominated a truly national ticket, with James B. Weaver of Iowa, a former Greenback candidate and Union general, for president and James G. Field of Virginia, a former Confederate general, for vice president. The Populists ran a surprisingly successful campaign in 1892, polling more than one million popular votes and winning several congressional seats. The panic of 1839 and the severe ensuing depression strengthened the Populists' argument, and resulted in many republican and democratic political allies. Of all of the marchers protesting their plight, the most famous marcher was Jacob S. Coxey, who although rallied quite a group, ended up being arrested for walking on the grass in Washington DC. The long-suffering farmers and depression-plagued laborers played a decisive role in the election of 1896. However with the Democratic majority appropriating the populists' main plank, the bulk of them, fearing a hard-money McKinley victory, fused with the Democrats and therefore lost their identity. With the depression of the 1890s s...

Stairs Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stairs Design - Essay Example The National Safety Council reports more than 10,000 stair deaths per year in the entire United States and a much greater number of people get injured because of such accidents. The following paper discusses various aspects of stair safety in terms of its overall design and the designs of its individual elements. A stair is a composition of one or more riser elements in combination with the treads to achieve a desired elevation. A riser can be defined as a vertical distance between two horizontal surfaces of adjacent treads. A tread could be understood as a distance measured horizontally between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads at a right angle to the tread's leading edge. For assuring safety, it becomes imperative to check that uniformity is maintained in these sizes of the riser and treads. Dimensional uniformity in the widths of treads and the heights of riser is one of the most important safety factors in the stair design. On account of the psychometric calculations of the user, a mere difference of a quarter inch between adjacent riser height can cause and accident. The elderly people are more prone to such accidents as compared to the young users. Therefore the stairs that are not dimensionally uniform are significant hazards. Treads t Treads that are less than 9 inches wide result in the greatest number of missteps. Research indicates that riser heights between 6-8 inches and tread widths of 10 to 13 inches are most comfortable and fit most people's preferences. As per specification in building code, a maximum difference of 9.5 mm is permissible between the sizes of the largest and the smallest tread and the greatest riser height shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 of an inch (9.5 mm). In case of the winders, treads should have a minimum depth of 10 inches at a distance of 12 inches from the smaller side. Optimal stair dimensions are 7.2 inch riser heights with either an 11 or 12 inch tread width. Providing a handrail assures greater safety to the stairs even if it is protected from both the sides with walls. The use of handrail prevents the loss of balance while using the stair. The absence of handrail is a major factor in stair accident. The human factors design handbook, 1992 suggests the rail height to be around 34 inches (there are varying data on the specified height where the handrail should be installed), and it should be seen that the rail has an appropriate size and section that could facilitate proper grip. The handrail should be maintained regularly and it should be checked that it is properly anchored to the surface. The handrail should be continuous throughout the entire flight and should not break anywhere in between. At the end, it should terminate in a newel post or should be treated to fix in an adjacent wall but should not be left untreated and open. When anchored against the wall, the rails should have a minimum space of one and a half inches with the wall to provide space for the knuckles during the grip. The stairs that are open from the sides should be installed with guards in combination with the handrail to provide lateral support. The guards should be placed close enough to each other that disallow the passage of a four inches sphere.While proposing an architectural design, stairs with one or two steps should be avoided

The Battle to be Top Dog PetSmart vs. Petco Essay

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