Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The Digital Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Digital Revolution - Research Paper Example Company websites may employ domestic or global strategies in their e-commerce transactions (Bajaj, Debjani & Kamlesh, 2005). Websites with a domestic e-commerce strategy main seek to serve businesses and customers within the geographical boundaries of a country. In contrast, Bajaj, Debjani & Kamlesh observe that websites with a global focus aim towards promoting transactions between customers and businesses across global and international markets. Firms implementing global e-commerce need to address financial issues, legal issues and market access challenges such as cultural differences and language barriers. There are three main classifications for websites, namely transaction, promotion and content sites (Bajaj, Debjani & Kamlesh, 2005). Transaction sites are websites designed to enhance virtual or online transactions. This is mostly applicable for online business ventures that do not have the traditional brick and mortar model or any other physical presence. This site is more appr opriate for businesses dealing with specialized product categories. Promotional sites are those designed specifically for information and communication purposes with the aim of supplementing marketing activities and strengthening relationships. It is appropriate for companies seeking to develop the global presence and develop new channels of communication. Lastly, content websites are designed to provide customers and prospects with accurate and reliable content to aid in their buying process.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The Effects Of Electronic Waste Management Environmental Sciences Essay

The Effects Of Electronic Waste Management Environmental Sciences Essay Electronic waste known as E-waste is one of the growing and emerging problem in this world. E-waste consists of many components as toxic substances which have adverse affects on human health and environment if not properly handled. Developing countries have several dumping of e-waste that assumes the importance of management. This concise paper provides EPR legislation to reduce the hazards of E-waste, managing the concerning problems, recycling operations and NGOs participation to combat it. It also focuses on the emerging issues and their strategic solutions. Introduction Waste of electrical and electronic material was considered as cost factor in past. Easiest and cheapest way of disposal was selected to put at the nearest distance. At national level the practices of disposal are not allowed in many courtiers. Waste of the municipal solid consists in electronic and electrical equipments. Waste management has been developed for the all institutions involved in the end of life management of electronic management. Waste of electronics and electrical equipments increases the mass of the toxic inputs into local waste streams. If the volume of the E-waste exceeds to that of processed in manufacturing of products from the mining operations, then no matter it will be an ore located on the globe. On the one hands this E-waste is used as raw material to shape new products while on the other hand it has very harmful potential impacts on the ecosystem. An analyst looks the end of life processes as well as the chain values that are sorting, logistics and collecti on strategies. Many strategies were taken in hands for the treatments of this E-waste like incineration and landfill. Previously the reuse, recycling and remanufacturing of the E-waste is strongly recommended to reduce the volume of these E-waste. Recycling is also emphasized that is linked with the improper disposal of materials. The loop of the industrial waste can be closed by recycling of these waste materials as to sustain the economy of that particular industry. In industrialized countries recycling has become a common practice in the end of life processes. Recycling strategies also differ in yielding the standard quality products. Several features are taken into account to recycle the E-waste for useful purposes. An important feature of recycling process is to handle the situations arising during processes as handling of hazards materials, safety and health care of workers, rates of recycling and levels of recycled material. It is observed that a long scale progress of recycl ing of E-waste is achieved in industrialized countries like U.S, Asia and Europe. Extended producer responsibility is a main policy to tackle this kind of issue. EPR plays main role for the producers to incorporate the end of life facets to design new products. It is important to provide the necessary incentives to all those involved in making the regulatory policies. This can be supported by the study of two Norwegian scientists those who revealed the crucial role of regulatory policies. They put the facts of their survey and survey participants answered that main green technological changes occur from the environmental regulations in EU. Fig 1: Showing the main driving forces for green technology changes EPR feasibility has been shown in Asia and Europe. At earlier stages of infancy in last decade E-waste started in Switzerland in 1992 and it became widespread in other countries due to pressure of environmental authorities. Environmental Effects of E-waste E-waste has many toxic substances which are dangerous at high level if not handled properly. Why are these risks and dangers produced? These are the concerning issues and need the attention of analysts and industrialists to minimize the dangers. On the industrialist end the equipments and feasible machinery is not provided to workers at workplace. There are concerns of workers that their analysts do not guide them in proper way to recycle the E-waste and complete the disposal processes. Serious repercussions arise due to proximity to those places where E-waste materials are recycled or burnt. Grey goods have very toxic chemicals as compared to white and brown goods. For example a computer has very toxic chemicals like mercury, beryllium, cadmium, PVC and Phosphorous compounds. Central nervous system, Reproductive system and Urinary system are badly affected by the lead absorption in human body. Mercury also affects the CNS, Reproductive system and Urinary system of humans. If it is m ixed in water used for living animals and on transportation of the water into water living animals can become the cause of death of those animals. Cadmium and Poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons affect the human body organs specially kidneys, lungs, skin and bladder respectively. E-waste has caused serious consequences to environment and human health. For example location near to recycling and burnt places of e-waste has many components of e-waste which directly affect the living of that area. When recycling plants are installed near rivers, it is found that river water is contaminated by the e-waste components and water livings are badly harmed by these e-waste materials. Extended Producer Responsibility EPR is a new tool of market and focuses on the background and responsibility of the producer. WEEE recycling regulation after the necessary analysis and evaluation of EPR with new approaches is provided. Question arise that why we need the regulatory action. E-waste is a big challenge in 21st century. Initial study of industrial ecology reveals that cycle economy is the big source to make contribution to sustainable development of economy. The growth in new electronic products needs new large resources and E-waste is increasing the inputs into local stream flows. We address the two basic needs of the closing the material loops and treatment of the hazards materials. These features are addressed by applying the regulatory actions. An analysis of existing economic or market incentives is required in order to come to a conclusion where regulations necessary and where market forces already achieve favorable results (Costanza et al. 1997). As the growth rate of the new products increase we require to recycle the E-waste with the same extent as shown in the figure. Volume of E-waste New Product Fig 2: Showing the proportionality between Volume of E-waste and New E products To answer the issues concerning the new product growth and recycling of E-waste EPR is new technology with better results in marketplace. à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"An environmental protection strategy to reach an environmental objective of a decreased total environmental impact from a product, by making the manufacturer of the product responsible for the entire life-cycle of the product and especially for the take-back, recycling and final disposal of the product.à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚  (Lindquist et al. 1990). EPR is considered as an approach to take the E-waste to industries for the purpose of re-engineering of the material to improve the mechanism of processes and products. Goals of the EPR: Major contribution of EPR is in environment and industrial zone. Hazardous materials are treated appropriately to reflect sound E-waste hazardous components to be disposed to provide the safety and health standards to workers. Closing of material loops is possible by recycling of E-waste which is base on the rate of recycling and material reapplication levels. The environment must meet the reward design including the avoidance of hazardous material and materials to be cycled optimized in general design. In economic goals it is ensured that fair allocation of burdens for the stakeholders and producers must count all the economic areas. Always keep in mind to avoid financial burdens which are not supporting the environmental cause. The EPR must be clear, transparent and feasible in controlling the monitoring of the systems. The EPR policies must be implemented in order to amend the incentives to create the favorable consequences for the system. We have studied the EPR importance to achieve the specified goals. Now we have to evaluate and make analysis of EPR policies. The evaluation process of EPR policies for the achievement of goals is dependent on both qualitative and quantitative analysis. It is observed that environmental effectiveness through the implementation of the regulatory policies does not yield required results until it is not controlled in a viable way. It is estimated that incentives to collect the E-waste and recycling is totally according to the EPR or take the alternative approaches to complete the process like collection and recycling. There are many practical problems which are related to EPR. For example it becomes difficult to allocate actual cost of recovery after a decade. Many products are so comprehensive for their disposal that increases the global market. The product is chan ged in many hands and it becomes difficult to decide that when and where the end of life stage is reached. It is not clear that who is responsible for the collection and recovery of the product when product is exported in other countries. What stands out most is that, even when practical problems are solved, doubts remain about the effectiveness of EPR in its current form because it mainly leads to global low-quality solutions. Alternatively, the application of high-level recovery in many cases reduces the eco-footprint through substitution. (Hischler, 2005). EPR in current form has many impacts on the E-waste flows and it has promoted many low level recycling processes. Therefore high rate of recovery for which a local industry is optimal is set to achieve in less budget. Industries following theses approaches may benefit their owners and countries where they are installed. Governments are the responsible to provide the legal and financial incentives to promote the business. It is now required to present the estimates of the production, recycled and import export. Region/country Production in million tons per year Land filling storage in million tons Recycling in million tons Export in million tons per/year Import in million tons per/year EU-25 7 1.5 3.43 1.9 USA 6.6 5.1 0.12 1.4 China 3.2 3.7 1.5 - 2.10 Japan 3.1 0.5 1.84 0.63 - West Africa 0.06 0.44 0.18 054 India 0.35 0.84 0.35 - 0.85 Total 20.31 12.08 5.85 3.76 3.49 Table 1: Global E-waste production, disposal, recycling and import/export estimates in 2005 This data in table tell us about the emerging powers of the world in industrial zone. Many other countries like Canada and South America continent are not included in it. In Europe alone the production is 7 million tons per year. China has made rapid progress in production as it equals its production to Japan. China is the second country in land filling after the USA and E-waste recycling is in largest volume in EU followed by Japan. All of above discussion finds the lack of the awareness of our citizens about E-waste and EPR. The E-waste management depends upon the active role of local or city governments and attitudes of the citizens. Producers, stakeholders and consumers also play role to shape the development. It will be very disappointing to keep the citizens away from the management deeds to take benefits of EPR policy. It hardly required involving the common people in process of recycling of electronic goods. Consumers must be informed about the goods by labeling the consumerà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s requirements for those items. Consumers are educated to use only those products which utilize the modern emerging technologies. For example halogen free, lead free and from the authenticated retailers or manufacturers. Different training programs for the training of the citizen must be arranged to make them aware of the impacts of the E-waste and on their health and possible ways to minimize its haza rdous affects. Due to these training programs our consumers are able to purchase the environmental friendly products and maintain the environmental operational processes of the products via careful disposal. On the hand suppliers provide only those items to manufacturers which are containing the friendly components in materials. Manufacturers can reduce the impacts of their products by making a compatible design products, raw material choices and manufacturing and delivery processes. To get rd of free riders check and balance of system must be ensured. Economic Viability: The EPR policy has given us knowledge to boost up the economy of that particular manufacture ring company by recycling process of E-waste. It can be achieved by direct reuse of the E-waste. The processes of the parts cannibalization and remanufacturing do a lot for the owner of the company. Main advantage of these processes is shown as it recovers more value than just materials. The value of the discarded products is used when the equipments and parts are left mostly in their original forms. The price of the product includes the administrative labor and logistic charges. In this way 90% of the total original cost is recuperated. New labor is cheaper to the costs of the collecting, disassembling cleaning, repainting and controlling of E-waste material. However this remanufacturing process takes less work and yields high level recovery as compared to start new product from scratch. Remanufacturing can be as efficient as virgin production and assembly, if not better. Practice proves that even cheap (à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¡Ã‚ ¬15/piece) and somewhat complicated electrical motors can be refurbished and adapted for 50% of the new price (Comperen, 2006). Parts manufacturing with less work and high value, this condition is more advantageous. If other cost of disassembling is kept low then reuse is very profitable for many companies. Ecological Viability: The high level closed loop recovery is also environmental friendly as we have studied in our discussion. There is clear evidence from the studies mentioned that high-level closed-loop recovery is also more environmentally-friendly then most present practices as energy efficiency improves compared to virgin production (Krikke Zuidwijk, 2008; Hischler 2005). It is seen that process of remanufacturing reduces the much resource consumption. The main advantage of this process is that much of energy is saved that cut the amount of CO2 emissions. It is also observed that remanufacturing of goods requires only 15% energy as compare to manufacture new product from scratch. There are many environmental indicators as water use, land filling and CO2 emissions. As the number of the indicators increases it becomes difficult to handle the data and it creates serious concerns of closed loop supply chain for management and others. In this paper we have discussed the E-waste materials and its hazardous effects on human. The impacts of the regulatory policies on economic and environmental are significant. These both aspects combine together to allow the resultant analysis of the regulatory policies and their developments. This EPR tests the already existing economic incentives in a system. These regulations must amend the structures in a way that favors the main player of that system to achieve the set goals. The recycling process must be in control according to the regulatory policies. Drafting of the regulations ask all the participants to shape it in a style to get maximum benefits from the reuse and avoid the hazardous affects of the toxic materials. It is essential for the EPR that it is defined in a way to establish an effective management framework in that particular region. In this paper we have focused on the possible consequences that may arise due to E-waste materials. What amount of electronic produc ts is produced in many developed countries of the world? It has provided us to find the facts behind the E-waste material. The recycling and reuse of the E-waste is briefly discussed in this paper. EPR makes its lot of contribution in our whole studies. It has given the answers of our basic questions concerning to its impacts on economy and environments. Environmental regulations are the driving force in Europe as estimated in survey conducted to bring the green technology changes.

Friday, October 25, 2019

History Of The Intel Corporation :: essays research papers

History of The Intel Corporation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Intel Corporation is the largest manufacturer of computer devices in the world. In this research paper I will discuss where, ehrn, and how Intel was founded, the immediate effects that Intel made on the market, their marketing strategies, their competition, and finally, what Intel plans to do in the future.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Intel didn't just start out of thin air, it was created after Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore first founded Fairchild Semiconductor with six other colleagues. Fairchild Semiconductor was going pretty well for about ten years when Bob and Gordon decided to resign because they were tired of not being able to do things the way they wanted to; they proceeded to establish a new integrated cicuits electronics company. Gordon suggested that semiconductor memory looked promising enough to risk starting a new company. Intel was born.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Intel made quite an impact on the industry soon after it was founded. The sales revenues jumped enormously through Intel's International exspansion to many countries including Europe and the Phillipines in the early 70's. From 1969 to 1970 Intel's revenues went up by almost four-million dollars! Today, Intel is one of the biggest companies pulling in billions and billions of dollars each year.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Intel has had many factors over the years that has allowed it to monopolize the computer industry thus resulting in small competition. First of all, Intel is almost 25 years ahead of it's competitors. Therefore, most companies are just starting out and have little or no effect on Intel's sales. Another reason is obviously Intel's reputation. They have built up such a standard of excellence that when someone hears the word Intel they think high- quality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Intel's popularity, reputation, and revenues are a direct result of their marketing strategies. Again, one of the most important factors that has made Intel so sucessful is their reputation that has been built up since they started. The Intel Inside program which was launced in May of 1991 was a promotional campaign that placed the Intel Inside Logo on all computers

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Cape Literature Ia “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare Essay

The 1993 film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing, by Kenneth Branagh, differs in many aspects from the original script written by Shakespeare. Branagh employs brilliant cinematography, manipulating lighting, camera angles to produce a carefree version to the original text. The soundtrack is dazzling and his interpretation breathes life and vitality into this old world play. According to critic Vincent Canby, â€Å"He has taken a Shakespearean romantic comedy, the sort of thing that usually turns to mush on the screen and made a movie that is triumphantly romantic, comic and, most surprising of all, emotionally alive† (May 7th, 1993). Lighting, music and technology enhance the various moods that perpetuate the film and Branagh is thus able to overcome language barriers, which enables the performance to be more understandable for a modern audience. The movie is assumed to be more light-hearted and free flowing than the original text. According to critic Todd McCarthy â€Å"The film is continuously enjoyable from its action-filled opening to the dazzling final shot. † Much Ado about Nothing is a tale of friendship, betrayal and the power of love to conquer all obstacles. It is one of Shakespeare’s comedies and though it has a dark side, staying true to being a comedy, serious issues are treated light heartedly. Branagh moves the setting from Messina to the verdant hills of Tuscany. His choice of setting therefore determines his overall mood for the film. The production begins with the recitation of Balthazar’s song by Beatrice (Emma Thompson). When the scene comes to light the audience is exposed to a striking panoramic shot of the rich rural setting. The shot then pans down to a society picnicking under the Tuscan sun. The society seems relaxed and warm as they loll on the grass listening to Beatrice (Emma Thompson), who is perched in a tree, reciting the song. The pace quickly changes from lethargy to one of excitement, as a messenger brings news of the forthcoming arrival of Don Pedro (Denzel Washington) and his men. Men and women scurry to the villa amid screams and laughter to get ready for the prince. Thoughts of war are abandoned and replaced by thoughts of love. The plot then revolves around two couples, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), and Beatrice and Benedict (Kenneth Branagh). Claudio seeks Don Pedro’s help in wooing Hero. Once successful the prince then turns his attention to older, warring couple of Beatrice and Benedick and plots to gull them into falling in love. However, Don John (Keanu Reeves), the bastard, plots to destroy harmony in the play as he tries to foil the plans of marriage between the younger couple. His victory is fleeting as his evil plans are unearthed by Dogberry and his night watch. All ends well and the production ends in dancing and merriment. From the very beginning Branagh utilizes the advantages that technology has made possible producing a zesty film that is emotionally alive. He employs many techniques to make his production a success the first being the manipulation of different camera angles. As the film begins the audience hears the recital of what was originally Balthazar’s song by Beatrice, the words to the song appearing in white against a black backdrop, to the gentle lilt of a guitar. In this opening scene the screen comes to light with a magnificent panoramic shot of the countryside scenery. This establishes a very light-hearted and airy mood, and thus sets the tone for the production as blithe and jocular. Branagh sets his film at the Villa Vignamaggio in the hills of Tuscany, the bright Tuscan sunshine adds to the nature of the film giving it a jovial feel. The scene ‘pans’ down to men and women, sitting in the grass, occasionally playing with each other’s hair, allowing time to pass in a carefree manner. This slow ‘pan shot’ then quickly changes to a rapid flicking from scene to scene as Don Pedro arrives. The mood that is then highlighted is one of excitement as the camera switches from focusing of the scurry of characters to the villa and the victorious entrance of the prince and his men. As the film progresses Branagh exploits the use of the different camera angles to provide emotional information about the characters involved in the scene which thus allows the audience to form judgments about those said characters. For instance, when Benedick first speaks, the camera angle changes to focus on Beatrice – she scowls. This close-up allows the audience intimate details of the character’s emotional state. Here it hints to a history, a painful one at that, between the two. Even in the shaming scene, Branagh is able to focus on Margaret. In the original text Margaret is completely left out. Shakespeare was not privy to the advances of technology thus he was not able to do as Branagh did, thus Margaret was left out of the original scene. However through her show of guilt Branagh is able to reassure the audience that this will not last a feat Shakespeare achieved through manipulating language and plot structure. Significantly, when the villains tell of the â€Å"betrayal† of Hero the plan is never revealed however, and the camera angle switches to show Hero in her bed alone again reaffirming to the audience the truth something Shakespeare attained through language. Also as Branagh abridges the two gulling scenes, he is able to then superimpose the end of each scene, one over the next to show both characters experiencing the same thing. The cameras focus on their faces highlighting the immense joy they are both experiencing and relaying it onto the audience. Benedict is playing in the fountain and Beatrice is swinging on a swing, love is triumphant over the squabbles and the characters are now content. Another noteworthy technique that Branagh employs is that of character placement. In the opening scene Beatrice is shown perched in a tree, unlike the other women who are sitting, this immediately signifies that she is different. Shakespearean comedies usually have heroines possessing qualities beyond their time. Shakespeare is able to establish Beatrice’s character a witty and independent through her language and interaction with other characters. Through her interaction with the messenger who yields, and her witty repartee with Benedick, Shakespeare produces a character way beyond her time. However, managing simple character placement Branagh is able to visually complement what is set by language and that is an independent, strong character. Even when the soldiers arrive from war, the riding formation is to character role and status: Don Pedro, the prince, is place in the middle to the forefront and he is flanked on both sides, to the left by the ‘villains’ Don John and his henchmen and to the right by the ‘heroes’ Claudio and the others. Also in the shaming scene all the women take Hero’s side with the exception of Benedick who stays to support his love Beatrice, while the men are on the opposite side defending their honor against the ‘unchaste’ Hero. Costuming in this film is quite simple. The characters are dressed in white cotton which evokes a sense of simplicity which matches his vision for the play and complements the setting perfectly however, it does then produce a society that is quite leisurely and not like original society which was overly concerned with outward appearances. In Shakespearean times, dress was very important especially since it shows status and that was one of the most important things even in the original script of the play. However Branagh makes simple variations which are quite as successful. For instance Don Pedro and Don John don leather pants; all soldiers wear the same uniform with the exception of color to show their roles. The villains’ pants and jacket collars are black while the heroes don blue pants and blue collared jackets. The prince is the only character seen wearing a gold chain and pendant. With these slight variations in costuming Branagh is able to achieve the same means and stays true to his vision for the play. The soundtrack to the film was brilliant, at the beginning a cadence of guitar complements the languid feeling at the picnic as the mood changes so too does the music. The soundtrack soars to add excitement and hint victory as the Prince arrives. When the scene changes and Don John takes center frame the tune is ominous, the music is threatening and thunder booms as he puts his first plot to work. The soundtrack take on a melancholic tune as Claudio believes that the Prince is wooing Hero for himself. Shakespeare knew the importance of music. It is Balthazar’s song that Branagh employs suitably as the theme song for the film as it comments on the inconsistencies of men who â€Å"are deceivers ever†. Branagh’s use of props not only adds visual insight but comedy as well. In the beginning when the men arrive from war the flag thrusted upwards symbolizes their victory. For the masked ball, the characters wore appropriate masks which related to characteristics of the characters that wore them. Leonato wore a skull which signifies his old age, Borachio had a Cyclops mask which highlights his evil, Beatrice wore a cat mask which symbolizes her cunning nature and sexual prowess, Benedict wore a fool’s mask as he is frequently the joker, Hero had a pure white mask showing her purity, and Claudio had a baby mask symbolizing his youth. Benedict is seen fidgeting with his mask as Beatrice bashes him mercilessly, which shows his deflating ego as he endures the verbal abuse. Benedict has a fold chair as his prop for his soliloquy; he fidgets with the chair to add comedy. Once again this shows that Branagh uses his ability to have props to his advantage to make the movie more appealing to a modern audience. Branagh chose Denzel Washington to portray Don Pedro despite the fact that all Shakespeare’s actors were white. It was a smart thing to do however, because he is instantly recognized, being the Prince, and this blatantly shows the infidelity due to the stark contrast between him and Don John who is played by Keanu Reeves. The actors for Benedick and Beatrice are Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson who were married in real life and their natural chemistry comes out while portraying these characters. Shakespeare uses language to emphasize incompetence. Critics say that Dogberry’s language is lost in the squabble of Michael Keaton’s overacting. While Shakespeare depends on language Keaton is more dependent on his movements and antics to be comedic. According to critics from ‘Cinema For Crazy’ â€Å"Some of the characters are a bit annoying, like the constable played by Michael Keaton, and some of the scenes are overly dramatic, but it is Shakespeare after all and when it comes to playing with words, there’s no one better. Branagh and Thompson are wonderful together, Leonard and Beckinsale embody everything young lovers should be, Washington is powerfully sexy as the lonely leader and even Reeves delivers as the sullen villain. † Branagh makes full use of the lighting and setting, some of the things that Shakespeare was not fortunate enough to have in his time. All of the scenes where love blooms are usually outside in Branagh’s production; the outdoor landscape is very light-hearted and highlights the affectionate nature. The talks of love and courtship take place out in the green, in an airy setting where the mood is tranquil and cheerful. Villainy thrives in dimly lit areas. When the audience is exposed to Don John’s true nature it takes place in the dark sort of dungeon-like place, which is suited for evil. Branagh must also be commended on his use of the outdoors; he takes advantage of his environment by taking his production outside whereas Shakespeare was limited to the stage. Branagh’s use of this also enables his production to be more appealing to the audience and more understanding as most of the playful scenes take place outdoors. The wedding scene takes place outside in a merry environment which is supposed to make the shaming scene lighter. Branagh’s rendition of Much Ado about Nothing is very similar in meaning to that of the original text and deserves a certain level of credit for his precision. Branagh saw to the needs of a modern audience and set his production to their appeal. His use of comedy, lighting, cinematography and costuming each contribute significantly in their own way to the play. Although Branagh made a few mistakes; for example casting Keaton as Dogberry, which was the most negatively critiqued character. The critic James Berardinelli also says that Reeves’ casting has â€Å"missed its mark† and â€Å"modern actors who seem out of place in the period setting†. Branagh chose to base his main focus on the Elizabethans’ preoccupation with loyalty and chastity rather than on their fixation with outward appearances. It can be concluded that Kenneth Branagh’s interpretation of Much Ado about Nothing is without a doubt considerably accurate in terms of its acquiescence with the text. Despite the fact that he does not capture everything in the play, the pieces which he does, enables a clearer understanding of the play for a modern day audience.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Mass Incarceration in the United Kingdom

our site – SOCIAL SCIENCE DISSERTATION – CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING Introduction The United Kingdom has recently witnessed an increase in the number of prisoners incarcerated. The first surge occurred during Prime Minister Thatcher’s reign. Running a prison became a business, when the first privately run institution opened in the United Kingdom, in 1992 (Panchamia 2012). The increased need for spaces due to higher rate of imprisonment led to the emergence of the prison-industrial complex, whereby people were incarcerated without a mechanism for reintegrating them back to the society. Prisons became contracted out, and the influence of the government was reduced. As Panchamia (2012) concludes, ten percent of the prisons in the United Kingdom and Wales are currently contracted out. Davis (1998: 3) states: â€Å"while government-run prisons are often in gross violation of international human rights standards, private prisons are even less accountable†. The emergence of these prison-industrial complexes is attributed to the criminological theory, hinged on the conflict theory, arguing that t there is a struggle between different groups (Akers 1979: 527).Crime is perceived as a function of the conflict within any society based on Marxist theory, calmingthat social and economic situations facilitate criminal activities. This paper argues that the emergence of the prison-industrial complex in England and Wales was attributed to mass incarceration, the lack of effective social policy, and early interventions. Mass Incarceration Mass incarceration is characterized by the removal of people from communities and taking them to prisons. (Newburn 2002: 165). Sparks and McNeill (2009) define mass incarceration as restricting the freedom of a group of people, subjecting them to surveillance and regulation, while increasing their dependency. According to a recent publication by Wacquant (2001), the plain aim of prison complexes and mass incarceration is to segregate people. The author goes further, and compares prisons with Ghettos. Focusing in the American context, the article highlights the impact of class segregation on the demographics of prison population. The above argument is powerful, as both prisons and ghettos are considered to be places extremely hard to escape from. The main aim of mass incarceration is to remove the criminal from the neighbourhood to ensure that they are detained. Often this priority means that prisoners are denied rehabilitative facilities (Harnett 2011: 7). As an implication, pris ons become areas for punitive segregation, for the criminals who must be removed from the society. Therefore, most of these prisons are detention centres where people enter a perpetual cycle of incarceration for crimes committed because of their economic need. Davis (1998) states that prisons are not providing adequate solution for crime or social issues. The author goes further, claiming that prisons reflect that racial bias and social injustice of the society. Studying American prison population, the author states that â€Å"the political economy of prisons relies on racialized assumptions of criminality – such as images of black welfare mothers reproducing criminal children – and on racist practices in arrest, conviction, and sentencing patterns† (Davis 1998: 2). The defining features of mass incarceration are that it is characterized by comparatively high number of people in prisons. In Reagan’s United States prosecution patterns and conviction rates increased the proportionate representation of African Americans and Hispanics, as well as those from lower socio-economic statuses (Wacquant 2010, p. 74). This was during the New Deal and Great Society, which contributed a lot towards the increasing trend of mass incarcerations, and the adoption of the prison-industrial complex system that emphasized governance through punitive acts (Downes 2001, p. 62). At the advent of economic reforms introduced by Britain’s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, the rising rate of unemployment hit the working class the most. With the labour market in crisis,urban areas had to bear the burden of the high proportion of lower class and unemployed population. As social issues increased, the government resorted to the creation of a prison-industrial complex, to deal with the people that suffered most (Wehr 2015, p. 6). The newly created prison-industrial complex that emphasized mass incarceration was based on cultural bias and social injustice (Sparks and McNeill, 2009). These institutions symbolised thee society’s thoughts and prejudice, suggesting that the degradation of a person may be a way to solve the social conflict. As a result, the British society started to increasingly rely on criminological theories to support mass incarceration of the lower classes, whereby the prison-industrial complexes become a large enterprise for the state. Democracy, Inclusion and Social Policy It is worth noting that mass incarceration in England and Wales led to the economic and social exclusion of people within the prisons. This segregation and incarceration endangered democracy (Sparks and McNeill, 2009). In line with the conflict criminological theory, mass incarceration of offenders who mostly belong to a particular race or class enhanced the structures of oppression and privilege (Van 2007, p. 189). This occurred when mass incarceration gave undue advantage to one group as opposed to another. Today, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, it is evident that people of colour or lower classes are disproportionally overrepresented within the prison-industrial complex. While the mass prison complex created privilege to higher classes, it created a situation whereby the victims were stigmatized, criminalized, and did not enjoy the privileges of democracy and inclusion. The economic and social drivers of mass incarceration are explained by Downes (2006), who co nfirms that there is an inverse relationship between a state’s spending on welfare and imprisonment rates. Mass incarceration also hindered democracy by preventing means through which people could share ideas or communication (Young 2000, p. 208). An incarcerated person experienced political disempowerment and a lack of influence, power, while he became extremely dependent on the prison complex (Travis 2002, p. 19). Despite several attempts of inclusion, provision for rehabilitation, training, and work opportunities, current social policies have not been successful in reinstating the equal representation of lower classes, and the mass incarceration continues. (Reiman 2004, p. 5). Conclusion The above review of publications and research studies, it is evident that the conflict theory accurately explains the emergence of mass incarceration during the reign of Thatcher in the United Kingdom, and Reagan in the United States. Historically, the upper class, that was more advantaged socially, economically and politically created laws and policies that increasingly criminalized the less powerful, creating a policy of segregation. Increased incarceration within the prison-industrial complex removed people who were not wanted. Apart from enhancing exclusion and stifling democracy, it helped the powerful class to maintain its influence, wealth and position within the society. Bibliography Akers, R.L., 1979. Theory and ideology in Marxist criminology. Criminology, 16(4), pp.527- Davis, A. (1998). Masked racism: Reflections on the prison industrial complex. Color Lines, 1(2), 11-13. Downes, D., 2001. The Macho Penal Economy Mass Incarceration in the United States-A European Perspective. Punishment & Society, 3(1), pp.61-80. Downes, D. (2006). Welfare and punishment – The relationship between welfare spending and imprisonment. Hartnett, S. J. 2011. Challenging the prison-industrial complex: activism, arts, and educational alternatives. Urbana, University of Illinois Press. Newburn, T. 2002. Atlantic crossings: ‘Policy transfer’ and crime control in the USA and Britain. Punishment & Society, 4(2), pp. 165-194. Panchamia, N., 2012. Competition in prisons. Institute for Government, http://www. Instituteforgovernment. org. uk/sites/default/files/publications/Prisons, 2. Reiman, J. H. 2004. The rich get richer and the poor get prison: ideology, class, and criminal justice. Boston, Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Sparks, R. and McNeill, F., 2009. Incarceration, social control and human rights. THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY Project on SocialControl and Human Rights Travis, J. 2002. Invisible Punishment: An Instrument of Social Exclusion (From Invisible Punishment: The Collateral Consequences of Mass Imprisonment, P 15-36, 2002, Marc Mauer and Meda Chesney-Lind, eds.). Van der Linden, H. 2007. Democracy, racism and prisons. Charlottesville, Va, Philosophy Documentation Center. Wacquant, L., 2010. Class, race & hyperincarceration in revanchist America. Daedalus, 139(3), pp.74-90. Wacquant, L., 2001. Deadly symbiosis: When ghetto and prison meet and mesh. Punishment & Society, 3(1), pp.95-133. Wehr, K. 2015. Beyond the prison industrial complex: crime and incarceration in the 21st century. [Place of publication not identified], Routledge. Young, I. M. 2000. Inclusion and Democracy. Oxford, Oxford University Press.