Government subsidies Essay Example for Free

Government subsidies Essay An agricultural subsidy can be defined as a grant offered to farmers for their products. These subsidies are provided in order to add-on to farmers incomes, to control the costs of agricultural products in the market and to regulate supply of these products. The US government is required by the law to provide farm subsidies and is required to grant about twelve products. Some of the products that the government of US has subsidized include; corn, maize, wheat, barley, cotton, peanuts, milk, sugar among other products. (Robert, 2004) Agricultural subsidies have been in place ever since the early twentieth century. In the 1930s, farmers were very vulnerable to price fluctuations. This vulnerability caused them to strike in order to get the governments attention. A law was passed to protect them through tariffs. This was not very successful because it caused the international market to fear imports from the US. Years later, the government introduced another law that facilitated the control of goods produced by farmers, purchase of excess products and provisions for minimum payment to farmers. These changes that were made in the 1950s are still in place today. Some slight modifications have been made but the basics have been retained. Agricultural subsidies have had a lot of changes over the past decades in the country. In the early twentieth Century, there was a large chunk of the country’s population that engaged and resided in farms. At that time in history, farmers took up a large portion of grants. In the recent years, this has dramatically changed largely due to the fact that the number of farmers has reduced dramatically consequently reducing the amount of funds spent on them. A subsidy normally focuses on a particular product. This entails price considerations in that farmers are granted a certain amount of cash for a specific weight of product. On top of that payment, farmers expect a fixed price for any subsidized crop. So if market prices are lower than what farmers were promised, then the government compensates farmers for this balance. Payments are obtained from taxes meaning that the rest of the country’s population is involved on this matter Part 1: Government subsidies There are scores of subsidies that re currently offered by the government. But they can all be placed under certain groupings. These are what will be examined in detail below; (Robert, 2004) Export subsidies can be described as a settlement between the government and farmers regarding crops or agricultural products that will be exported or sold internationally. It was initiated in order to ensure that farmers have adequate funding when exporting their products. This kind of subsidization can sometimes result in farmers having extra finances. This implies that they can be able to sell their goods in target countries at a price that may be lower than cost of production. Consequently, farmers in those host countries maybe out competed. This has caused developing countries to raise an alarm. The United States has taken its exports to many countries some of which include South American countries. Some of the proponents of this type of subsidy claim that it perpetuates low prices for commodities in developing countries. This means that locals in those importing countries can be able to purchase agricultural goods at low prices. Complaints have been registered about cases of dumping in these countries: Where agricultural dumping is the sale of products at unfairly low prices that exceed their cost of production. This is propagated by availability of extra funds from export subsidies. Conservation payments are also another type of subsidy offered by the US government. The subsidies are normally done in support of the environment and for conservation purposes. The two plans under which this subsidy is implemented are the Conservation Security Program and the Conservation Reserve Program. It normally targets farmers that use environmentally friendly methods for their practices. This program was initiated after it was observed that agricultural activities cause immense pollution to the country’s resources. In the year 2003, the government spent close to two billion dollars on payments related to this scheme. Supporters of this type of subsidy claim that it protects the environment through promotion of environmentally friendly practices. These include issues like growth of nutrient-rich crops like beans rather than those that consume nutrients like corn, use of contour stripping and other methods that eradicate soil erosion.

Comparison of Platos The Last Days of Socrates and Hesses Siddhartha

Comparison of Plato's The Last Days of Socrates and Hesse's Siddhartha       The Last Days of Socrates and Siddhartha are sources that reveal information about religious or philosophical ideas in the cultures that they focus on. While vast differences exist between the Greek and Indian values that shape their philosophies, they make similar assumptions as they attempt to make sense of the world. Understanding the dichotomous relationship of the soul and the body is integral to grasping the similarities and differences between the classical Greek and Indian paths because the way in which these concepts are understood defines the very nature of truth.    Socrates, the main character in The Last Days of Socrates, and Siddhartha, the central figure in Siddhartha, are both portrayed as learned men searching for truth. The author of The Last Days of Socrates, Plato, conceived the document as a representation of Socrates' method of inquiry. Although it is a primary source from the period (429-347 B.C.E.), the reader must consider that The Last Days of Socrates is a re-creation of events that may have happened, not a verbatim account. Siddhartha is a secondary source that explains an Indian philosophical journey through the perspective of a twentieth century German author. Thus, one must consider the author's bias towards his subject and remember that the ideas presented are one scholar's interpretation of the legend. By attempting to compare and contrast both sources' approaches to truth, one can make some observations about the way Greek and Indian cultures view truth; keeping in mind that the sources each merely represent one account of the historical events and ideas.    Intrinsic to Siddhartha and Socrates' searche... ...th. By becoming aware of the separation of the soul and the body, the indestructible and immortal nature of the soul, and the impossibility of the soul understanding truth while bound to the body, one can begin to understand how this dichotomy has shaped Indian and ancient Greek philosophy.    Works Cited Baumer, Franz.   Hermann Hesse.   New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1970. Field, G.W.   Hermann Hesse.   Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1970. Hesse, Herman. Siddhartha. Dover Publications, 1998. Plato, The Last Days of Socrates.   Trans. Hugh Tredennick and Harold Tarrant.   London: Penguin, 1993. Welch, Carolyn Roberts.   Cliff's Notes on Hesse's Steppenwolf and Siddhartha. Lincoln: Cliff's Notes Inc., 1973. Ziolkowski, Theodore.   The Novels of Hermann Hesse: A Study in Theme and Structure. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1965.

Celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines Essay

Living in the Philippines where the religion of majority is Catholic, I am used to seeing people participate in almost every occasion relating to religion. Though I am not a Catholic, I admire them when it comes to their dedication and willingness to sacrifice. Among all their religious practices, the Celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene puzzled me most. Millions of barefoot men try to make their way as near to the Black Nazarene as possible in order to glance, touch, and wipe towels on it. These people push, fight, squeeze, and do almost anything just to fulfill their panata. As a result, a number of devotees are injured and killed, but they do not really care much because the devotees believe that the more sacrifice one performs, the higher the reward. This can be attributed to the Filipinos’ inclination to self-punishment and devotion to the images of Suffering Christ. According to the article written by Dr. Chua, the procession should actually inform and attract public to become converts of the faith. But based on what is commonly seen in news during the feast, I don’t think that the said procession is an effective way of encouraging new believers. Actually, there is a better and more peaceful way of celebrating the feast such as by praying the rosary or making a personal prayer. Joining the procession seems to be absurd for some people, even for the Catholics, but we must never judge or despise them. Instead, let us try to understand their motives by â€Å"putting ourselves in their shoes†. In my opinion, this is indeed a very helpful tool in comprehending the actions of other people in any given circumstance, not only in understanding the devotees of Nazarene. I have realized that in any ritual or vow performed, what is important is the heart. Without the right one, all sacrifices and effort will just be put to waste. Showing devotion and love for the Divine being should be manifested not only during the Lenten season or Feast of Nazarene; rather, it must be within oneself daily and naturally.

Why ETFE Is the Miracle Construction Material

ETFE is an abbreviation for Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene, a  translucent polymer sheeting that is used instead of glass and hard plastic in some modern buildings. ETFE is usually installed within a metal framework, where each unit can be lighted and manipulated independently. Light sources can be on either side of the plastic cladding. Compared to glass, ETFE transmits more light, insulates better, and costs 24 to 70 percent less to install. ETFE is only 1/100 the weight of glass, and it has properties that make it more flexible as a construction material and a medium for dynamic illumination. Key Takeaways: ETFE ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) is an industrial-strength construction plastic used for exterior cladding since the 1980s.ETFE is strong and lightweight. It is often applied in layers that are welded together around the edges and held by a metal framework. Because it is safer and more adaptable than glass, non-rip ETFE is often used as a replacement for glass.Commercial uses of ETFE include many sports arenas and entertainment venues. Dynamic lighting of this plastic has been a successful feature of ETFE architecture. Uses of ETFE The SSE Hydro in Scotland, part of the design portfolio of British architect Norman Foster, was completed in 2013 as an entertainment venue. In the daylight, the ETFE cladding may lack excitement but be functional by allowing natural light to the interiors. After dark, however, the building can become a light show, with interior lighting shining out or exterior lights around the frames, creating surface colors that can be changed with the flip of a computer program. For other venues, rows of lights surround the plastic panels. The ETFE cusions on the Allianz Arena in Germany are diamond shaped. Each cushion can be controlled digitally to display red, blue, or white lights — depending on which home team is playing. ETFE Exterior Panels on the Allianz Arena. Lennart Preiss/Getty Images This material has been called a fabric, a film, and a foil. It can be sewn, welded, and glued together. It can be used as a single, one-ply sheet or it can be layered, with multiple sheets. The space between the layers can be pressurized to regulate both insulating values and light transmission. Light can also be regulated for local climates by applying nontransmittable patterns (e.g., dots) during the manufacturing process. With dark dots imprinted on the translucent plastic, light rays are deflected. These application patterns can be used in conjunction with layering — using photo sensors and computer programs, the location of the dots can be strategically moved by controlling the air between layers, by stretching or sagging the material, which positions the dots to block where the sun is shining through. Allianz Arena Dynamic Lighting. Lennart Preiss/Getty Images (cropped) Computer systems can also regulate dynamic lighting effects for ETFE structures. When the exterior of the Allianz Arena is red, FC Bayern Munich is the home team playing in the stadium — their team colors are red and white. When the TSV 1860 Mà ¼nchen soccer team plays, the colors of the stadium change to blue and white — that teams colors. Characteristics of ETFE ETFE is often called a miracle construction material for tensile architecture. ETFE is (1) strong enough to bear 400 times its own weight; (2) thin and lightweight; (3) stretchable to three times its length without loss of elasticity; (4) repaired by welding patches of tape over tears; (5) nonstick with a surface that resists dirt and birds; (6) expected to last as long as 50 years. In addition, ETFE doesnt burn, although it can melt before it self-extinquishes. Because of its strength and ability to transmit UV rays from the sun, ETFE is frequently used in sports venues that desire healthy, natural turf athletic fields. Disadvantages of ETFE Everything about ETFE is not miraculous. For one thing, it is not a natural building material — its plastic, after all. Also, ETFE transmits more sound than glass, and can be too noisy for some places. For a roof subject to raindrops, the workaround is to add another layer of film, thus decreasing the deafening drumbeats of rain but increasing the construction price. ETFE is usually applied in several layers that must be inflated and require steady air pressure. Depending on how the architect has designed it, the look of a building could drastically change if the machines that supply the pressure fail. As a relatively new product, ETFE is used in large commercial ventures — working with ETFE is too complex for small residential projects, for the time being. The Full Life Cycle of Building Materials How is it that a synthetic plastic film has come to be known as the building material of sustainability? When choosing building products, consider the life cycle of the materials. For example, vinyl siding may be recycled after its usefulness, but what energy was used and how was the environment polluted by its original manufacturing process? Concrete recycling is also celebrated in the environmentally friendly construction world, but the manufacturing process is one of the prime contributers to greenhouse gasses. A basic ingredient in concrete is cement, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tells us that the manufacturing of cement is the third largest industrial source of pollution in the world. When thinking of the life cycle of glass production, especially compared to ETFE, consider the energy used to create it and the necessary packaging to transport the product. Amy Wilson is explainer-in-chief for Architen Landrell, one of the worlds leaders in tensile architecture and fabric systems. She tells us that manufacturing ETFE causes little damage to the ozone layer. The raw material associated with ETFE is a class II substance admitted under the Montreal treaty, Wilson writes. Unlike its class I counterparts it causes minimal damage to the ozone layer, as is the case for all materials used in the manufacturing process. Reportedly creating ETFE uses less energy than making glass. Wilson explains: The production of ETFE involves the transformation of the monomer TFE in to the polymer ETFE using polymerisation; no solvents are used in this water based procedure. The material is then extruded to varying thicknesses depending on application; a process which uses minimal energy. Fabrication of the foil involves welding large sheets of the ETFE; this is relatively quick and again a low energy consumer. Because ETFE is also recyclable, the environmental  culpability is not in the polymer, but in the aluminum frames that hold the plastic layers. The aluminium frames do require a high level of energy for production, Wilson writes, but they also have a long life and are readily recycled when they reach their end of life. Examples of ETFE Structures A photo journey of ETFE architecture quickly dispels the notion that this is a simple plastic cladding material you might put over your roof or boat on a rainy day. The Swiss architecture team of Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron created a sculpted look for the Allianz Arena (2005), one of the most beautiful ETFE structures in Mà ¼nchen-Frà ¶ttmaning, Germany. Mangrove Hall (1982) at Royal Burgers Zoo in Arnhem, the Netherlands, is said to be the first application of ETFE cladding. The Water Cube venue (2008) built for the Beijing, China Olympics brought the material to the attention of the world. The biodome Eden Project (2000) in Cornwall, England created a green tinge to the synthetic material. Allianz Arena Designed by Herzog de Meuron, 2005, Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Chan Srithaweeporn/Getty Images (cropped) Because of its flexibility and portability, temporary structures such as the summer Serpentine Gallery Pavilions in London, England have been of late at least partially created with ETFE; the 2015 pavilion in particular looked like a colorful colon. The roofs of modern sports stadia, including the U.S. Bank Stadium (2016) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are often ETFE — they look like panes of glass, but the material is really safe, non-rip plastic. Temporary Summer Pavilion in Londons Hyde Park by Spanish Architects Josà © Selgas and Lucia Scano, 2015. Lionel Derimais/Getty Images (cropped) Plastics, the Industrial Revolution Continues The du Pont family emigrated to America shortly after the French Revolution, bringing with them 19th century skills in making explosives. Using chemistry to develop synthetic products never stopped within the DuPont company, creators of nylon in 1935 and Tyvek in 1966. When Roy Plunkett worked at DuPont in the 1930s, his team accidentally invented PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which became Teflon. ® The company, who considers themselves a pioneer of polymer science with a legacy of innovation, is said to have created ETFE in the 1970s as an insulation coating for the aerospace industry. The tensile architecture of Prizker laureate Frei Otto in the 1960s and 1970s was an inspiration for engineers to come up with the best material to use for what builders and architects call cladding, or the material that we might call exterior siding for our homes. The idea for ETFE as a film cladding came in the 1980s.  Engineer Stefan Lehnert and architect Ben Morris co-founded Vector Foiltec to create and market Texlon ® ETFE, a multi-layered system of ETFE sheets and architectural cladding. They didnt invent the material, but they did invent the process for welding together sheets of ETFE — and giving a building the layered look. Sources Birdair. Types of Tensile Membrane Structures. http://www.birdair.com/tensile-architecture/membraneBirdair. What is ETFE film? http://www.birdair.com/tensile-architecture/membrane/etfeDupont. History. http://www.dupont.com/corporate-functions/our-company/dupont-history.htmlDupont. Plastics, Polymers, and Resins. http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/plastics-polymers-resins.htmlEPA. Cement Manufacturing Enforcement Initiative. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/cement-manufacturing-enforcement-initiativeWilson, Amy. ETFE Foil: A Guide to Design. Architen Landrell, February 11, 2013, http://www.architen.com/articles/etfe-foil-a-guide-to-design/, http://www.architen.com/wp-content/uploads/architen_files/ce4167dc2c21182254245aba4c6e2759.pdf