Oil and Fuel Prices Essay Example for Free

Oil and Fuel Prices Essay Since 1980s, the price of fuel and oil has assumed an upward trend. The price of crude oil per barrel was being sold at 40 dollars. In 2007 it was 92 dollars and in February 2008 the price per barrel hit 103 dollars. The rise in oil and fuel prices has led to the rise in the living standards as most commodities are either directly or indirectly affected by it. Many items that are used in our homes are the products of petroleum and those that are not are affected in that the transport cost go high when the price of oil and fuel go up. Though the price of oil has always been on the increase, the recent soaring of these prices had risen to the levels of concern in America as well as to the rest of the world. In June 2008, the price per barrel in USA cost 142$ a figure that has never been witnessed before in the history of oil prices. Why is it that the price for oil and fuel is always increasing, what are the factors that have led to the rise of these prices? This is what this paper will mainly focus on. There are various factors that are attributed to the rise of oil and fuel prices and one of them is the ever growing economies for Asian countries like China and India. As the economies of these nations grow, they demand more energy than before thus causing the demand for oil to go up. Oil demand in China is growing by eight percent annually since 2002 and this is a double to the rate prior to this period. As nations become developed, more industries are built that demand a lot of energy to run them also many people are able to buy vehicles that consume a lot of oil thereby leading to the rise in the price of oil and fuel. (Williams. J. L. 2007) The other cause of the rise of oil and fuel prices is rate at which oil is supplied by those nations that are responsible. If the demand for oil is higher than the rate at which the oil is being supplied, what results is the rise of oil prices. This is what is known as the market forces that control the price of the product or simply the law of the market. Of late, the amount of the oil that is being produced by OPEC has been on the decline and the causes for this problem are many and complex. Some countries have deliberately decided to cut the amount of oil they produce so as to save their oil wells from being depleted. Those countries that are threatened by oil depletion, the cost of production goes up because when the level at which the oil is found deepens it becomes hard to extract it. This has a domino effect as the burden of meeting this cost is placed on the consumers so; if the production cost is high then the price of oil and fuel goes up. (World Bank, 2000) In as far as that some oil producing countries might be experiencing oil shortage, the theory might not be hundred percent true as it is not the sole cause for the rise in oil prices. There are other factors that have contributed to the rise in these prices. Political turbulence in the Middle East has also contributed to the oil shortage in the world. When US attacked Iraq in a bid to terminate the regime of Sadam Hussein, the rate of oil production was affected because the state was subjected to a state of anarchy. This affected the world’s oil prices immediately. The same was witnessed in West Africa and to be particular in Nigeria where the rebels targeted the oil companies and the pipelines. Also in Venezuela strikes, civil unrest and political turbulence hampered the normal production of oil in 2007. All these factors leads to the low supply of oil globally something that causes the rise of oil and fuel prices. This adds weight to the fact that it is the forces of the market that determines the price of the commodity. The price of oil in the United States of America varies from place to place for example in the West Coast, the price of oil is higher than that of the Gulf Coast regions which enjoys much lower prices. It is believe that the difference depends on whether the infrastructure of that region or country are good and more particularly the pipeline network that makes it possible for oil to be transported easily and fast. The other reason that is put forward is the manipulation of prices by the suppliers for example, California has a big population and this means that the rate of energy consumption is very high. The problem that faces California is that there is no competition among the oil companies as far as oil supply is concerned so, what these companies do is that they manipulate the oil prices to suit them. They cause an induced oil shortage leading to increased prices. (World Bank, 2000) Though reasons such as increase in oil demand, environmental issues, weather changes, depletion of oil reserves and poor price control mechanism especially by OPEC has been blamed for the rise in prices. Political turmoil in the Middle East, in West Africa and in Venezuela and the reduction in oil supply could lead to the hiking of prices, there are still other reasons that could lead to the same for example, in 1972, the price per barrel was three dollars but by 1974, the price had already doubled. The reason for this was not necessarily the political disturbance in the Middle East because the United States decided to support Israel but the reason was that the Arab countries whose majority are the main oil producers, got angry by the US move and decided to cut the amount of oil they produce in the normal circumstances. In response, the Arab nations placed an embargo against the United States and its allies infact they decided to cut the amount of oil they produce by five barrels per day. This move has adverse effects on the oil economy as it led to the oil shortage in the world and in turn the rise of oil prices. Associated press, 27th 2008) Whenever oil and fuel prices go up, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is held responsible by politicians and the media. According to Clough, (2006), OPEC is not in anyway responsible for this as its role is to stabilize the price of oil by making sure there is availability of oil in the market by regulating the de mand and supply. The other problem if it not lack of competition among the oil supplying companies, is the merging of companies. In USA companies joining together for better service provision are allowed but the problem is that these companies become a formidable force that exploits the consumers for in US, there are five mergers which are among the biggest in the world and they control 62 percent of oil in the market. These are companies such as Conoco Phillips, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch-Shell, BP Arco and Chevron Texaco. Because of the part of oil they control in the market, they alter prices the way they want or in other words, they form a cartel that no other person can challenge. This dramatic increase in the control of the top five companies†¦makes it easier for the oil companies to manipulate gasoline supplies and to intentionally withhold supplies in order to drive up prices. †(Clough, RG. 2006, 32) To conclude, the tensions that were experienced in Turkey in 2007 and the destruction of pipelines by the leftists could also be contributory factors to the rise in fuel and oil prices but the cur rent rise in oil and fuel prices is not necessarily as a result of political instability but it is also believed that the growth in Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of many nations leads to high oil demands. This is because, as the economy of a country improves, people are able to buy cars and therefore the demand for oil due to increased transport. The prices of fuel and oil are projected to rise to greater heights if the demand for oil by the developing nations continues in the same trend. Political instability in the Middle East is also leading to this problem and if peace would prevail, then the prices would tremendously come down.

Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Macbeth - Fates Triumph Es

Fate's Triumph in Macbeth       Shakespeare a fatalist in Macbeth? It would seem so, given the observation that the Macbeths capitulated totally to the evil suggestions of the witches. We shall clarify the concept of fate in this drama.    Blanche Coles states in Shakespeare's Four Giants the place of Fate in Macbeth's life:    Then, like a cog slipping naturally into its own notch, his thoughts turn to the Witches and their prophecy, and he concludes that he has defiled his mind for the descendants of Banquo he has murdered the gracious Duncan for them; he has poisoned his own peace of mind and given his immortal soul (eternal jewel) to the devil, the common enemy of man - all this to make the descendants of Banquo kings! Rather than face such an outcome, he challenges Fate to enter the lists with him against Banquo and champion him to the last extremity, even though that extremity be death itself. (57)    Macbeth: "If Chance would have me king, why, Chance may crown me without my stir." A.C. Bradley in Shakespearean Tragedy references Fate in the play to the Witches' prophecies:    The words of the witches are fatal to the hero only because there is in him something which leaps into light at the sound of them; but they are at the same time the witness of forces which never cease to work in the world around him, and, on the instant of his surrender to them, entangle him inextricably in the web of Fate. (320)    In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye stresses the connection between the witches and fate:    The successful ruler is a combination of nature and fortune, de jure and de facto power. He steers his course by the tiller of an immediate past and by... ...uin Books, 1991.    Coles, Blanche. Shakespeare's Four Giants. Rindge, NH: Richard R. Smith Publisher, Inc., 1957.    Coursen, H. R. Macbeth: a Guide to the Play. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1997.    Frye, Northrop. Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1967.    Knights, L.C. "Macbeth." Shakespeare: The Tragedies. A Collectiion of Critical Essays. Alfred Harbage, ed. Englewwod Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964.    Mack, Maynard. Everybody's Shakespeare: Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press, 1993.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. http://chemicool.com/Shakespeare/macbeth/full.html, no lin.    Wilson, H. S. On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1957.

Framework Essay to Edward Said’s Essay

In any part in the world, there is no place to be but home. Home is a place where we feel safe and take refuge. But how we’ll feel if this is taken away from us? The essay by Edward Said, â€Å"States†, narrates the story of about his country, Palestine, and the struggle of his country men. He also shares the passion for his homeland which we can relate to. â€Å"States† exemplify the experiences and perceptions of how important a home is to a common Palestinian. Our country is a big part of our self. As we are born, we are destined to become a part of it. It became part of our identity. Things that we grew up with meant something to us. We usually treasure things that became part of our lives. Even unconsciously, we take hold of it. Home brings us memories, memories that we want to hold on up to our last breath. It plays a big role to our development, as a child and as a person fully. Home is part of ourselves which became a foundation of who we are today. To be away from home makes us feel empty or incomplete in a sense. This is experienced by people who are exiled from their own homeland. Exiles are treated as aliens and feel shame to one’s pride. Exile is a miserable thing. Nothing can be so embarrassing than to be taken away from home. It saddens a person to feel a stranger to his own country. One is not only deprived of the social rights but as well as the freedom. As described in the essay of Edward Said an exile is referred as â€Å"present absentees† where to their homeland, they are vanished and as for the host country they are viewed as aliens. However, having troubles cannot stop a person from his will. In spite of the intense conflict between the Palestine-Israel, one cannot take away the momentum of an important occasion like wedding. Circumstances like these were illustrated in the text. A person in the middle of crisis stays positive and hopeful. Palestinians, which travel from time to time for because of occupation and safety, became used to these. One’s true happiness is in the state of thinking. He can stay happy despite of his terrible condition. Said also shares his experiences from his youth and what he knew from his country. One sad part also is the stability of the land, suppression from your own land. One is deprived of being free on his own country. Children cannot play outside without parents worrying their safety. To a place where he grew up and know to be his home became an odd place. I believe that home is very important in any living thing. It doesn’t only provide us shelter but is also a part of our personal development. It helps us build our confidence through the feeling of security. A home is like a mother to us which provides us what we need to sustain living. Our nourishment as a child is fed by the things that happen around us. These things shape the character of a person. Home builds a person’s character. Home is the environment which we live in and has an impact on our lives. To take something away from us bring us the feeling of being incomplete. We are already attached to it. Without the home that we used to be, somehow we feel lost. One feels the sense of belongingness on it. A person learns from his surrounding. We must know how to appreciate what we have considering we live in a democratic and secured country. Home is a place that nourished us when we are young. And as we became old, there is nowhere else we would want to go but home.

Research Articles On A Primary Literature - 1049 Words

A Primary Literature consists of original formats such as research articles and manuscripts. They are termed as standard scientific articles. Since primary literature is an original report of study; it includes the research, an abstract, introduction, the materials and methods of the study, the data and results obtained from the collected data, the discussion of the results and finally the article ends with a list of references that were used in the study. A different type of journal article; not very different from a research article is called as a Review Article. So a review article is a report that covers the present state of research in a respective field and it involves citing of proper literature and thus eventually focuses on†¦show more content†¦So peer review is an important mechanism to regulate what data is published and what needs to be published. In the science and medical background the research and the data would not be considered as serious and reliable until the article is validated by peer review. The sole function of peer review process is to retain the defined standards and make sure that the publishing of the research work is genuine, accurate and truthful as possible [3]. (Refer fig. 1) Figure 1. A graphic display of the â€Å"path† a manuscript takes after submission to The IJSPT [3]. The Journal Citation Report (JCR) provides some tools evaluations, rankings and categorizing journals so Impact factor is one such tool that is important to be considered. â€Å"The impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year or period† [4]. As mentioned above general primary article consists of primarily a Title and Authors then an Abstract, which is then followed by the Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion/ Conclusion and ends with References. 1. Abstract briefly describes the research which thus includes a few lines about the research question followed by the methods used and a short description of the results and major