Evaluate the roles of named players Essay Example for Free

Evaluate the roles of named players Essay Managing future energy needs is certainly a global challenge that requires the cooperation of many named players both on a small and large scale. It has been estimated that global demand for primary energy is set to grow 55% by 2030 and that $22 trillion of new investment is need to meet future energy forecasts. The main player in providing future energy security can be argued to be OPEC as they control the production of over 2/3s of the worlds supply of oil, therefore leading them be price makers in the industry. OPEC is considered to be the most important player in global energy provision, it currently consists of 12 members and was created in 1960 mainly to protect the interests of member countries and to stabilise oil prices for a regular supply to oil consuming countries. However, OPECs obligations have been controversial as they have been accused of holding back on production of oil and gas in order to drive up prices, therefore using the market mechanism of demand and supply to increase profits for member states. Currently it has been proven that collectively, OPEC has stored 900,000 million barrels of crude oil, they own 78% of global resources and have a combined market share of 45% for oil and 18% for gas. This inherently makes them the largest producer of fossil fuels in the world meaning they will have a large if not absolute say in future energy provision and energy security. The responsibility of oil distribution will then fall on OPEC when supply of oil runs low leading to a bidding system for allocation of oil to where demand and price is highest. Another large player involved in providing energy security for the future is multinational oil companies; they are involved in the exploration and extraction of oil as well as transporting and refining the oil to consumers meaning they, as well as OPEC control the prices directly to consumers. Most of the top 20 oil companies in 2005 were state owned with companies such as Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia and PDV in Venezuela, this could be beneficial for domestic industry as they may charge less, stimulating the economy with lower production costs. However, many of the largest oil companies are relatively free of direct political influence and are therefore driven by the market mechanism leading to higher prices, above production costs. An example of a petro chemical company that has a direct impact on us in the UK is Gazprom in Russia. It solely controls one third of the worlds gas reserves and accounts for more than 92% of Russias gas production, but more importantly it provides 25% of the EUs natural gas as we are consistently becoming net importers. The security of the energy provision is open to risk as Europes fear is that Russia will be able to name its price for gas because Europe is predominately dependent on its supply. In addition, the reliability is further doubted since Russia temporarily shut off gas supply to Ukraine in 2006 and therefore the whole of Europe. Fossil fuels are of course a finite resource meaning they will one day deplete to such an extent that it will not be cost effective to extract and refine to sell. This insinuates that it is the combined role of governments and oil producing companies to innovate and invest in new technology to sustain increasing energy demands. International Governments is the last and one of the main players in providing future energy security. Governments have the option of allowing oil companies to further exploit their own environment in order to increase oil production such as the case with the province of Alberto. It is estimated up to 2. 5 trillion barrels of are held within the sedimentary oil-shale more so than in Saudi Arabia. This may relieve pressure for rising energy demand in the US as Canada does in fact have a surplus of primary energy. It will also relieve the US from its dominant reliance on the unreliable Saudi Arabian oil reserves with growing political challenges and the threat of terrorism and piracy. However, environmentalists see the exploitation of oil-shale are sands as a disaster in the making, not only does it already have detrimental environmental scars but with current technology, huge amounts of energy are needed in heating the sands to extract the oil (every 3 barrels of oil produced requires 1 barrel to be burnt). Conversely, Governments may opt to incentives conservation of energy through fuel duties or green taxes and emission trading as it leads to industries investing in cleaner technology. In addition, investment in greener fuels such as renewable and nuclear energy is a way for governments to secure energy provision in the future as it can be sustainable and everlasting. In conclusion, each player has a unique role in providing future energy security either with price stability with OPEC, investment into greener technology with oil companies and correct management and legislation from governments to both the exploitation of their environment and their fiscal system in incentive taxation. All in all it depends on the magnitude of integration of all these ideas brought forward that will secure actual energy provision in the future and allow for a sustained and secure increase in consumption of energy.

The Religious Dimension of Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe Essay

The Religious Dimension of Robinson Crusoe  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Robinson Crusoe’s discovery of the work ethic on the small island goes hand in hand with a spiritual awakening.   Robinson Crusoe is not a very profound religious thinker, although religion is part of his education and transformation.   He claims he reads the Bible, and he is prepared to quote it from time to time.   But he doesn’t puzzle over it or even get involved in the narrative or character attractions of the stories.   The Bible for him appears to be something like a Dale Carnegie handbook of maxims to keep the work on schedule and to stifle any possible complaints or longings for a different situation.   Still, the religious dimension is central to Robinson Crusoe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Robinson Crusoe’s interpretation of his life links the financial success directly and repeatedly with his growth in religious awareness.   This is not an intellectual conversion but, simply put, an awareness that he has, in some ways, received God’s grace and is under His care.   The growing profitability of his efforts is proof of such a spiritual reward.   This awareness fills him with a sense of guilt for his former life and a great desire to be relieved of that guilt.   The desire to be relieved from that feeling of guilt, in fact, is much stronger than Robinson Crusoe’s desire to be delivered from the island. Now I looked back upon my past life with such horror, and my sins appeared so dreadful, that my soul sought nothing of God but deliverance from the load of guilt that bore down all my comfort.   As for my solitary life; it was nothing; I did not so much as pray to be delivered from it or think of it; it was all of no considerations in comparison to this; and I added this part here to ... ... The inhabitants of the New World were there to be ignored, like Friday’s father, used as servants, like Friday, or killed, like the cannibals.   The important part of the Puritan encounter with the New World was what Robinson Crusoe shows us, the spiritual testing of the solitary Protestant spirit, a life-long ordeal in which he achieved success (or the closest thing to a manifestation of success) by stamping his will on the new land, staking out territory as his property through backbreaking toil, without any concessions to anyone or anything, least of all to the land or to its original inhabitants.   That was the Puritan’s calling; that was the reason God has placed us on this earth: to put to our personal uses the material and people available, to ignore what does not fit in with such projects, and to remove quickly and ruthlessly anything that stands in our way.

The Jones Family, Incorporated

THE JONES FAMILY, INCORPORATED Principles of Corporate Finance 6th Edition Richard A. Brealey and Stewart C. Myers The accompanying table summarizes Johnny's NPV calculation. He assumed Marsha would take 25 100-mile trips per year, saving $200, plus $1. 00 per mile, plus a $40 tip on every trip. Operating costs would be $. 45 per mile. The net savings are $295 per trip and $7375 per year.These savings increase with inflation at an assumed rate of 4% per year. It seems that Marsha's horse transporter was a good buy after all: NPV is positive (+ $14,325). MINICASE SOLUTIONS THE JONES FAMILY'S HORSE TRANSPORTER |Year |0 |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 | |1.Investment (plus ending value in | | | | | | | | | | |year 8) |-35,000 | | | | | | | |+15,000 | |2. Insurancea |-1,200 |-1,200 |-1,200 |-1,200 |-1,200 |-1,200 |-1,200 |-1,200 | | |3.Net savings vs. rented | | | | | | | | | | |transporterb | |+7,375 |+7,375 |+7,375 |+7,375 |+7,375 |+7,375 |+7,375 |+7,375 | | | | | | | | | | | | |4.Cash flow |- 36,200 |+6,175 |+6,175 |+6,175 |+6,175 |+6,175 |+6,175 |+6,175 |+21,175 | |5. Adjusted for 4% inflationc | | | | | | | | | | | |-36,200 |+6,422 |+6,679 |+6,946 |+7,224 |+7,513 |+7,813 |+8,126 |+28,979 | |6.Present valued |-36,200 |+5,892 |+5,622 |+5,364 |+5,118 |+4,883 |+4,658 |+4,445 |+14,543 | NPV = + 14,325 a Paid at start of year. b Savings per 100-mile trip: 200 + 100 (1. 00 – . 45) + 40 = $295. For 25 trips per year, annual savings are 295 x 25 = $7375. Here the savings are entered at end of year (or start of the next year). This understates their value: the Jones family would actually begin to save right away. c Savings increase by 4% per year. Year 8 cash inflows from line 4 are multiplied by (1. 04)8. d Line 5 discounted at 9%.

Ten Things to Know About North Korea

The country of North Korea has been in the news frequently in recent years due to its uneasy relationship with the international community. However, few people know much about North Korea. For example, its full name is The Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea. This article provides facts such as these to give an introduction into the 10 most important things about North Korea in an effort to geographically educate readers on the country. Fast Facts: North Korea Official Name: Democratic Peoples Republic of KoreaCapital: Pyongyang  Population: 25,381,085 (2018)Official Language: KoreanCurrency: North Korean won (KPW)Form of Government: Dictatorship, single-party state  Climate: Temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters  Total Area: 46,540 square miles (120,538 square kilometers)Highest Point: Paektu-san at 9,002 feet (2,744 meters)Lowest Point: Sea of Japan at 0 feet (0 meters) 1. The country of North Korea is located on the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, which extends from the Korea Bay to the Sea of Japan. It is south of China and north of South Korea and occupies roughly 46,540 square miles (120,538 square km), making it slightly smaller than the state of Mississippi. 2. North Korea is separated from South Korea via a ceasefire line that was set along the 38th parallel after the end of the Korean War. It is separated from China by the Yalu River. 3. The terrain in North Korea consists mainly of mountains and hills that are separated by deep, narrow river valleys. The highest peak in North Korea, the volcanic Baekdu Mountain, is found in the northeastern portion of the country at 9,002 feet (2,744 m) above sea level. Coastal plains are also prominent in the western portion of the country, and this area is the main center of agriculture in North Korea. 4. North Koreas climate is temperate, with the majority of its rainfall concentrated in the summer. 5. The population of North Korea as of a July 2018 estimate was 25,381,085, with a median age of 34.2 years. Life expectancy in North Korea is 71 years. 6. The predominant religions in North Korea are Buddhist and Confucian (51%), traditional beliefs like Shamanism are 25%, while Christians make up 4% of the population. The remaining North Koreans consider themselves followers of other religions. In addition, there are government-sponsored religious groups in North Korea. The literacy rate in North Korea is 99%. 7. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang, which is also its largest city. North Korea is a communist state with a single legislative body called the Supreme Peoples Assembly. The country is divided into nine provinces and two municipalities. 8. North Koreas current chief of state is Kim Jong Un, who took office in 2011. He was preceded by his father Kim Jong-Il and grandfather Kim Il-Sung, who has been named North Koreas eternal president. 9. North Korea gained its independence on August 15, 1945, during the Korean liberation from Japan. On September 9, 1948, the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea was established when it became a separate communist country and after the end of the Korean War, North Korea became a closed totalitarian country, focused on self-reliance to limit outside influences. 10. Because North Korea is focused on self-reliance and is closed to outside countries, more than 90% of its economy is controlled by the government and 95% of the goods produced in North Korea are manufactured by state-owned industries. This has caused development and human rights issues to arise in the country. The main crops in North Korea are rice, millet, and other grains, while manufacturing focuses on the production of military weapons, chemicals, and the mining of minerals like coal, iron ore, graphite, and copper. Sources Central Intelligence Agency. CIA - The World Factbook - North Korea.Infoplease.com. Korea, North: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com.United States Department of State. North Korea.