Principles and Practises for International Management Essay

To achieve the new worldwide revenue objectives I will have to convince the senior management to increase the workforce in my department to share my responsibilities, as they are not one person’s cup of tea. I will have to ensure that this workforce consists of serious individuals who are capable of working towards the achievement of a single goal with common mindset. I will have to make sure that local people are hired in the country’s international units, as they would prove to be helpful in making the company adapt to the culture of the foreign countries. Along with them and the few employees in the company who were not born in this country, I will try to identify with the countries in which our company has spread its operations. This can be done by in depth analysis of the countries’ political, sociological, demographic and geographic features. I will also have to be well prepared to communicate effectively across different cultural barriers and languages. I would urge the senior management to master skills to effectively manage cultural diversity in workforce. It has been rightly pointed by Rue and Byars that â€Å"Achieving success in international business demands that a firm’s human resource practices be adapted to country norms. † (1992, p. 130) The company would also have to thoroughly study the international market and design its marketing strategy accordingly. In no way should the company disrespect the local culture in which it is operating. Instead, it should try to blend the local culture with its corporate identity and be always consistent in this. Guidelines for the company staff should be designed in such a way that there is no scope of inconsistency or confusion across borders. The employees should be trained, keeping in mind the trends set by the flourishing multinational companies. They should be encouraged to perform their best. The international business units should be given similar autonomy as the local units, both in crisis situation and at decision-making times. In the words of Leandri â€Å"†¦hold local operations accountable to the corporate office yet give them enough autonomy to make necessary decisions. † (2000, para. 9) By making the company adapt to the demands of international expansion and by developing my own communication skills and potential of working in diverse work environments, it will not be hard to gain the payoffs that international business offers.

Sensitive Facts on Disadvantage Essay for Medical School Samples That Only the Pros Know About

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Human Resources, Strategy And Business Ethic - 1545 Words

Human Resources, Strategy and Business Ethic Page Break Introduction The 21st century workplace environment is established on numerous reforms and transformations in different aspects that constitute the management of human resources. Therefore, the human resource departments in different departments have adopted different approaches to managing their employees. In this regard, most businesses and organizations across the globe have adopted different concepts of strategic human resource management in their operations, particularly, in managing their employees. With this mind, these businesses and organizations consider either best practice or best fit approaches in addressing issues that concerns employees. Speaking from this perspective, this paper will evaluate the ‘best fit/best practices’ approach in relation to strategic HRM. ‘Best practice/best fit’ approach to strategic HRM As mentioned above some human resources analysts argue that the ‘best fit’ approach to strategic HRM is the most appropriate approach to managing employees at the workplace. To support their arguments, they reiterate that in order for an organization to remain strategic with respect to managing its employees, it needs to integrate its HR strategy with the organization’s internal and external environment. For example, in a startup environment, an organization will need employees who are innovative while in a mature environment, the organization’s focus is to deploy HR practices that promoteShow MoreRelatedEthical Issues in Hrm Strategy1200 Words   |  5 PagesEthical Issues in HRM Strategy Richard H. Hill Dr. Grace M. 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Hertz Corporation Free Essays

string(239) " Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller \(344\) 3,676 Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,224 2,421 Net earnings 2,606 1,255 Provision for income taxes 1,382 \(1 \) Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc\." ALTRIA GROUP, INC. (MO) 10-Q Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d) Filed on 07/26/2012 Filed Period 06/30/2012 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. We will write a custom essay sample on Hertz Corporation or any similar topic only for you Order Now 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) y QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012 OR ? TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from o Commission File Number 1-08940 Altria Group, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Virginia 13-3260245 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I. R. S. Employer Identification No. ) 6601 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (804) 274-2200 Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ? No ? Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T ( §232. 05 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ? No ? Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of â€Å"large accelerated filer,† â€Å"accelerated filer† and â€Å"smaller reporting company† in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer ? Accelerated filer ? Non-accelerated filer ? (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ? Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ? No ? At July 16, 2012 , there were 2,032,833,474 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0. 33 1/3 per share. Table of Contents ALTRIA GROUP, INC. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 3 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 5 Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 7 Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 8 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 and the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 9 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 10 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 12 Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 61 Item 4. Controls and Procedures 99 PART II – OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings 100 Item 1A. Risk Factors 100 Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 100 Item 5. Other Information 101 Item 6. Exhibits 102 Signature Signature 103 – 2- Table of Contents PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements. Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) June 30, 2012 December 31, 2011 Assets Consumer products Cash and cash equivalents $ Receivables 1,528 $ 3,270 256 268 Leaf tobacco 799 934 Other raw materials 184 170 Work in process 269 316 Inventories: Finished product 432 Other current assets 1,779 1,207 Deferred income taxes 359 1,684 1,207 468 Property, plant and equipment, at cost 607 5,143 Total current assets 7,131 4,750 2,512 2,131 Goodwill 4,728 2,619 Less accumulated depreciation 2,216 5,174 Other assets 12,098 6,486 Investment in SABMiller 5,174 12,088 Other intangible assets, net 5,509 472 1,257 31,494 33,385 3,012 Total consumer products assets 3,559 Financial services Finance assets, net Other assets 41 Total Assets $ 18 3,053 Total financial services assets 3,577 34,547 $ See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. Continued – 3- 36,962 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued) (in millions of dollars, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) June 30, 2012 December 31, 2011 Liabilities Consumer products Current portion of long-term debt $ Accounts payable 600 $ 600 335 503 Marketing 581 430 Taxes, except income taxes 218 220 Accrued liabilities: Employment costs 110 225 Settlement charges 2,184 3,513 Other 1,217 1,311 Dividends payable 836 7,643 13,089 Long-term debt 841 6,081 Total current liabilities 13,089 Deferred income taxes 5,074 4,751 Accrued pension costs 1,139 1,662 Accrued postretirement health care costs 2,367 2,359 Other liabilities 606 602 28,356 30,106 1,764 Total consumer products liabilities 2,811 Financial services Deferred income taxes Other liabilities 119 3,141 30,239 33,247 33 32 935 Total liabilities 330 1,883 Total financial services liabilities 935 Contingencies (Note 11) Redeemable noncontrolling interest Stockholders’ Equity Common stock, par value $0. 33 1/3 per share (2,805,961,317 shares issued) Additional paid-in capital 5,647 Accumulated other comprehensive losses 5,674 24,334 Earnings reinvested in the business 3,583 (1,674) (1,887) Cost of repurchased stock (773,116,613 shares in 2012 and 761,542,032 shares in 2011) (24,969) (24,625) Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 4,273 3,680 2 3 Noncontrolling interests Total stockholders’ equity 4,275 Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 34,547 See notes to condensed consolidated financi al statements. – 4- 3,683 $ 36,962 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in millions of dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Net revenues $ 2011 12,134 $ 11,563 Cost of sales 3,878 3,825 Excise taxes on products 3,560 3,618 Gross profit 4,696 4,120 1,130 1,272 Marketing, administration and research costs Asset impairment and exit costs 37 3 Amortization of intangibles 10 11 3,519 2,834 Operating income Interest and other debt expense, net 586 Earnings before income taxes 572 (743) Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller (344) 3,676 Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,224 2,421 Net earnings 2,606 1,255 Provision for income taxes 1,382 (1 ) Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. You read "Hertz Corporation" in category "Essay examples" (1) $ ,420 $ 1,381 Basic earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 1. 19 $ 0. 66 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 1. 19 $ 0. 66 $ 0. 82 $ 0. 76 Per share data: Dividends declared See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. – 5- Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Conso lidated Statements of Earnings (in millions of dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 Net revenues $ 2011 6,487 $ 5,920 Cost of sales 2,086 2,030 Excise taxes on products 1,907 1,918 Gross profit 2,494 1,972 596 671 16 1 Marketing, administration and research costs Asset impairment and exit costs Amortization of intangibles 5 Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller 1,295 293 Interest and other debt expense, net 5 1,877 Operating income 294 (223) Earnings before income taxes (155) 1,807 581 Net earnings 712 1,226 Provision for income taxes 1,156 444 Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (1 ) Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. — $ 1,225 $ 444 Basic earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 0. 60 $ 0. 21 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 0. 60 $ 0. 21 0. 41 $ 0. 38 Per share data: Dividends declared See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. – 6- Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Net earnings $ 2,421 2011 $ 1,382 Other comprehensive earnings, ne t of deferred income taxes: Currency translation adjustments — 1 61 64 154 135 Benefit plans: Amounts reclassified to net earnings SABMiller: Ownership share of SABMiller’s other comprehensive earnings before reclassifications to net earnings Amounts reclassified to net earnings (2 ) 5 152 205 2,634 Comprehensive earnings Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 140 213 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes 1,587 (1) Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. – 7- $ 2,633 (1) $ 1,586 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 Net earnings $ 2011 1,226 $ 444 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes: Currency translation adjustments — 1 39 32 (23) 78 (5) 1 Benefit plans: Amounts reclassified to net earnings SABMiller: Ownership share of SABMiller’s other comprehensive (losses) earnings before reclassifications to net earnings Amounts reclassified to net earnings (28) 112 1,237 Comprehensive earnings Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 79 11 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes 556 (1) Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 8- $ 1,236 — $ 556 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 and the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 (in millions of dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited) Attributable to Altria Group, Inc. Common Stock (1) Earnings Reinvested in the Busine ss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses Cost of Repurchased Stock Non-controlling Interests Total Stockholders’ Equity $ 935 Balances, December 31, 2010 Additional Paid-in Capital $ 5,751 $ 23,459 $ $ (23,469) $ $ (1,484) 3 5,195 — — 3,390 — — 1 Other comprehensive losses, net of deferred income tax benefit — — — (403) — — (403) Exercise of stock options and other stock award activity — (77) — — 171 — 94 Cash dividends declared ($1. 58 per share) — — — — (3,266) Repurchases of common stock — — — — — (1,327) Other — — — — Net earnings Balances, December 31, 2011 (3,266) — — (1) 935 5,674 23,583 3 3,683 — — 2,420 — — — 2,420 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes — — — 213 — — 213 Exercise of stock options and other stock award activity — (27) — — 16 — (11) Cash dividends declared ($0. 82 per share) — — — — — (1,669) Repurchases of common stock — — (360) — (360) Balances, June 30, 2012 (1) ( 1,669) — — — — $ 935 $ 5,647 $ 24,334 — $ (1,674) (24,625) (1) Net earnings (1) Other (1,887) (1,327) 3,391 — $ (24,969) (1) $ 2 (1) $ 4,275 Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 exclude $1 million and $2 million, respectively, due to the redeemable noncontrolling interest related to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, which is reported in the mezzanine equity section in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 , respectively. See Note 11. See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. – 9- Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 2011 Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities Net earnings (loss) – Consumer products $ 2,311 – Financial services 110 Net earnings $ 1,962 (580) 2,421 1,382 Depreciation and amortization 113 121 Deferred income tax provision 299 132 (743) (344) (34) (24) (456) — Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows: Consumer products Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller Asset impairment and exit costs, net of cash paid IRS payment related to LILO and SILO transactions Cash effects of changes: Receivables, net 2 Inventories (12) 95 Accrued liabilities and other current assets (94) (251) Income taxes 130 (64) Accounts payable 5 58 Accrued settlement charges 58 (1,329) (1,398) Pension plan contributions (514) (209) Pension provisions and postretirement, net 85 122 Other 90 121 Financial services Deferred income tax benefit (1,270) PMCC leveraged lease charges 7 Decrease to allowance for losses 10) Other liabilities (income taxes) 1,437 Other (529) 490 — 505 (21) See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. Continued – 10- 23 (85) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 479 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued) (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 2011 Cash Provided by (Used In) Investing Activities Consumer products Capital expenditures $ Other (39) $ (3) (40) 1 Financial services Proceeds from finance assets 552 129 510 0 — Net cash provided by investing activities 1,494 Cash Provided by (Used In) Financing Activities Consumer products Long-term debt issued Repurchases of common stock (360) (575) (1,674) Dividends paid on common stock (1,589) Issuances of common stock — 29 Financing fees and debt issuance costs — (23) (133) (155) (2,167) (819) Other Net cash used in financing activities Cash and cash equivalents: Decrease (1,742) Balance at beginning of period (250) 3,270 Balance at end of period $ 1,528 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. – 11 – 2,314 $ 2,064 Table of Contents Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation: Background At June 30, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. ‘s direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. (â€Å"PM USA†), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and certain smokeless products in the United States; John Middleton Co. (â€Å"Middleton†), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA; and UST LLC (â€Å"UST†), which through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries including U. S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (â€Å"USSTC†) and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (â€Å"Ste. Michelle†), is engaged in the manufacture and sale of smokeless products and wine. Philip Morris Capital Corporation (â€Å"PMCC†), another wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. , maintains a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. held an approximate 27. 0% economic and voting interest in SABMiller plc (â€Å"SABMiller†) at June 30, 2012, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Altria Group, Inc. s access to the operating cash flows of its wholly-owned subsidiaries consists of cash received from the payment of dividends and distributions, and the payment of interest on intercompany loans by its subsidiaries. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. receives cash dividends on its interest in SABMiller if and when SABMiller pays such dividends. At June 30, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. ‘s principal w holly-owned subsidiaries were not limited by long-term debt or other agreements in their ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions with respect to their common stock. Share Repurchases In October 2011, Altria Group, Inc. ‘s Board of Directors authorized a $1. 0 billion share repurchase program, which Altria Group, Inc. intends to complete by the end of 2012 . During the six and three months ended June 30, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 11. 9 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $360 million , and $30. 16 average price per share) and 2. 0 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $66 million , and $32. 37 average price per share), respectively. As of June 30, 2012 , Altria Group, Inc. had repurchased a total of 23. million shares of its common stock under this program at an aggregate cost of approximately $688 million , and an average price of $29. 01 per share. The timing of share repurchases under this program depends upon marketplace conditions and other factors, and the program remains subject to the discretion of Altria Group, Inc. ‘s Board of Directors. Basis of Presentation The interim condensed consolidate d financial statements of Altria Group, Inc. are unaudited. It is the opinion of Altria Group, Inc. ‘s management that all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim results presented have been reflected therein. All such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. Net revenues and net earnings for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, which appear in Altria Group, Inc. ‘s Annual Report to Shareholders and which are incorporated by reference into Altria Group, Inc. ‘s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Balance sheet accounts are segregated by two broad types of businesses. Consumer products assets and liabilities are classified as either current or noncurrent, whereas financial services assets and liabilities are unclassified, in accordance with respective industry practices. During the second quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. determined that it had not recorded in its financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2012, its share of non-cash gains from its equity investment in SABMiller, relating to SABMiller’s strategic alliance transactions with Anadolu Efes and Castel that were closed during the first quarter of 2012. Because Altria Group, Inc. did not record these gains, it understated by $342 million, $222 million and $0. 11 earnings from equity investment in SABMiller, net earnings/comprehensive earnings, and diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. , respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Additionally, Altria Group, Inc. understated its investment in SABMiller, long-term liability for deferred income taxes and total stockholders’ equity by $342 million, $120 million and $222 million, respectively, at March 31, 2012. There was no impact on net cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Altria Group, Inc. assessed the materiality of – 12- Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) these understatements in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (â€Å"SEC†) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99 â€Å"Materiality† and determined that the impact was not material to Altria Group, Inc. ‘s financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Accordingly, Altria Group, Inc. has determined that it is appropriate to revise its first quarter 2012 financial statements and has reflected this revision in the financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 reported in future filings will reflect this revision. Altria Group, Inc. ‘s chief operating decision maker has been evaluating the operating results of the former cigarettes and cigars segments as a single smokeable products segment since January 1, 2012. The combination of these two formerly separate segments is related to the restructuring associated with the cost reduction program announced in October 2011 (the â€Å"2011 Cost Reduction Program†). Also, in connection with the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, effective January 1, 2012, Middleton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA, reflecting management’s goal to achieve efficiencies in the management of these businesses. Effective with the first quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. ‘s reportable segments are smokeable products, smokeless products, wine and financial services. For further discussion on the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, see Note 2. Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs. Effective January 1, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. adopted new authoritative guidance that eliminated the option of presenting components of other comprehensive earnings as part of the statement of stockholders’ equity. With the adoption of this guidance, Altria Group, Inc. is reporting other comprehensive earnings in separate statements immediately following the statements of earnings. Note 2. Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration Costs: Pre-tax asset impairment, exit and implementation costs for the six and three months ended June 30, 2012 consisted of the following: For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Asset Impairment and Exit Costs For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 Implementation (Gain) Costs Total Asset Impairment and Exit Costs Implementation Costs Total (in millions) Smokeable products $ 23 $ (12) $ 11 $ 16 $ 9 $ 25 Smokeless products 14 5 19 — — — General corporate — (1) (1 ) — — — Total $ 37 How to cite Hertz Corporation, Essay examples

Billy Elliot Nationalism and Class Structure Essay Example For Students

Billy Elliot Nationalism and Class Structure Essay The year is 1984. Eleven-year-old Billy lives in a poor and white-dominated working class society in the northeastern part of England. He lives together with his father Jack, older brother Tony and his senile grandmother. It is miners strike and the father having major issues supporting the family. Despite that he pays for Billys boxing class. The local ballet class shares the same facilities as the boxing group and one day Billy becomes curious. The ballet teacher challenge Billy to take part of the class and she discovers his talent. Billy avoid telling his father about the ballet class because it will make him upset. It is a movie about a young persons courage to question the rules of society and the bravery to stand out. Billy is born into a working class family where the men since generations been working in the miners. The work as miners has always been a natural part of their macho identity. This identity threatening when major parts of cole mines all over Britain needs to shut down. The society they live in is a man-dominated and the womens is almost non-existed. The ballet class is allowed to use one corner of the boxing studio, like an parenthesis. Britains conservative thought shines through the movie characters standpoints and the way of living. Comments like only gays dance ? give examples of how the conservative thinking characterize contemporary Britain. The author of Contemporary Britain describe Britain as a white-dominated society where the citizen lives close to their neighbors cause of the high level of inhabitants. McCormick, 2007: 48) The movie reflects what McCormick describes well. Views from Billys hometown are showed in the movie several times. We may behold densely build-up homes where the families live close to each other. Billy Elliot is a fictitious story that partly been inspired by real stories and persons. The scriptwriter Lee Hall has used some of his own experiences and memories from his growth in Newcastle during the miners strike in the 80th. The fact that he got inspired from his own experiences gives the story a fair impression. The director Stephen Daldry has succeeded to highlight the contrast of the miners reality and how Billy defies the old fashioned Englands gender perspective in order to pursue his dream. It was once typical for people to be born, to live, to work and to die in the same city, town or village, witch would likely have been where their parents and grandparents before them had lived. ? (McCormick, 2007: 51) The poor working class society as the movie portrait reflects the picture I get of Britain in Contemporary Britain. In the scene where Billy and his father are on their way to the audition at The Royal Ballet school, the father tells Billy he has never traveled farther than to the next village. When Billy asks why he has never been to London, the father replies Well, there is no mines in London. ? He is born into the working societys suburbans, where he shall live and die. Contemporary Britain describes how Britain these days has a complex society system where it is hard to generalize the classes. (McCormick, 2007: 64) On the other hand I believe the movie expresses the differences between classes in society. Mrs. Wilkinson works as a dance teacher in Everington and becomes Billys teacher. She represents the British middle class during that period of time. She lives in a more respectable part of town with her family, while the Elliots lives in a working class neighborhood. It is easy to tell the differences between the two classes. I can tell from their different environments but also from their different conditions in life like for example the economical opportunities. Billy is born into a mine working family and is expected to follow the family tradition. .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 , .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .postImageUrl , .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 , .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5:hover , .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5:visited , .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5:active { border:0!important; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5:active , .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5 .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9e6d676481a5983e9602ef38f9421cc5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Blaxploitation EssayMr. s Wilkinson has on the other hand more opportunities in her life. She smokes, drives her own car and decides her own life â€Å" even though it is not accepted by the society at the time. At this time of period the womens are expected to take care of their duties in the kitchen and nothing else. Mrs. Wilkinson seems to be aware of the differences between her and Billy when speaking of classes, but probably not aware of the limitations that comes with being born into a lower class then herself. The differences between the two are a major theme throughout the entire movie and reflect how life was in England during this time of period. Billy and Mrs. Wilkinsons different classes bring different conditions in their lives. Billy is born into a role hard to change, while Mrs. Wilkinson has the opportunity to decide for herself. The director manages to picture the reality in a convincing way and their both lifestyles are highlighted. Billy Elliot and Contemporary Britain portraits the former Britain in equal way, as well the environment as the conservative society. Bibliography: Billy Elliot movie

Policy Position on Energy Development

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to contrast the policy positions of President Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney on energy development. In the 2012 US presidential campaigns, these leaders have promised to implement various policies in the energy sector if elected as the next president.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Policy Position on Energy Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Following his election in 2008, President Obama focused on developing clean energy. This strategy was meant to reduce the use of oil in the US and to improve the quality of the environment. In 2011, Obama developed a master plan that will enable the US to double its production of renewable energy. According to this master plan, 80% of the country’s electricity will be produced through clean energy sources such as nuclear and natural gas (Jindal, 2012). The president has also offered grants and tax credits to support t he development and use of alternative energy. In early 2012, Obama modified his energy policy by opting to exploit all sources of energy. Romney’s policy, on the other hand, focuses on reforming regulations in the energy sector. Furthermore, he advocates for increased production of energy at the local level. Romney has promised to streamline rules that are used to control pollution in the fossil fuel industry. Unlike Obama, Romney has called for increased production and use of oil and gas. He argues that the fossil fuel industry has the potential of creating more jobs (Murray, 2012). Despite these differences, the two candidates agree that dependence on oil imports should be reduced. Additionally, they agree that the energy sector should be expanded in order to facilitate economic growth. Since energy development is a broad topic, this paper will focus on the candidates’ positions on the Keystone pipeline project and ANWR.Advertising Looking for essay on environme ntal studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Keystone Pipeline Project The Keystone pipeline is a transport system through which crude oil will be transported from Canada to various locations in the United States. The oil will be transported through a pipeline that connects the two countries. The transport system will cover approximately 3,461 kilometers. Figure 1 shows the proposed route of the pipeline, whereas figure 2 shows a section of the completed phase. The project was adopted in 2010 by the government of the US and Canada to facilitate economic growth through expansion of the energy sector. Concisely, Canada will benefit by increasing its oil exports to the United States (Jindal, 2012). Additionally, it will be able to use various ports in the US to export its oil to other countries. The United States, on the other hand, will benefit by accessing enough oil to satisfy its growing energy needs. Furthermore, transportin g oil through the pipeline is considered to be relatively safe. The project is also expected to create jobs in both countries. In the United States, the project has temporarily been stopped due to economic, political and environmental concerns. The policy positions of the two presidential candidates on the project are summarized in table 1. Figure 1: Map of the Keystone Pipeline Route Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Policy Position on Energy Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Figure 2: Completed Section of the Pipeline Table 1: Positions on Keystone Pipeline Obama Romney Has opposed the project by suspending its implementation Has strongly supported the implementation of the project Argues that the project has potential environmental impacts such as air and water pollution, as well as, destruction of wildlife and their habitats Argues that the potential environmental impacts can be addressed e ffectively. Thus, the project should not be stopped due to the expected environmental effects Believes that developing alternative energy sources can create more jobs than the Keystone project Believes that the Keystone project is likely to create more jobs than the clean energy sector Believes that the project will increase USA’s dependence on imported oil Believes that the project is necessary since USA’s demand for energy is increasing. Thus, more oil will still be imported even if the project is abandoned Argues that the project is likely to serve the interest of Canada at the expense of the US Argues that the US will be the gainer since it will access reliable supply of oil and create more job opportunities President Obama’s Position President Obama has postponed the implementation of the project due to rising concerns about its potential impacts to the environment. Environmentalists believe that the project is likely to cause air and water polluti on. Additionally, the construction of the pipeline will lead to the destruction of wildlife and their migratory routes. According to the original plan, the pipeline will pass through wetlands such as the Sand-hills in Nebraska. It will also cross important reservoirs such as the Ogallala Aquifer which supplies water to more than two million citizens. Thus, any oil spills will lead to massive water pollution. These fears are exacerbated by the fact that the pipeline will pass through regions which are susceptible to high intensity earthquakes. An oil spill is likely to occur if the pipeline is destroyed by earthquake or seismic activities. The process of mining tar sands will also lead to the destruction of ancient forests. Besides, the process will create large pits which are health hazards.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Empirical studies indicate that using the oil is likely to cause acidic rain which is harmful to both wildlife and the human population. Moreover, acidic rain will affect fisheries if it finds its way into lakes and oceans. Obama and his fellow democrats believe that the project will only serve the interest of Canada. In a nutshell, transporting the oil to the Gulf Coast will lead to its exportation to Asian markets. Consequently, it will not help the United States to improve its fuel independence. Selling the oil in the United States is expected to increase the country’s dependence on fossil fuel. This contradicts Obama’s initial energy policy which focuses on replacing the use of fossil fuels with clean energy. Consequently, Obama believes that alternative programs such as implementing the new automobile mileage standards will be desirable. These programs will not only reduce carbon emission, but will also create more job opportunities in the automobile industry. Acc ording to Obama, a thriving alternative energy sector is likely to create more jobs than the Keystone project. Additionally, developing the clean energy sector is the best way of ensuring reliable energy supply. Fuel price is not expected to reduce after the construction of the pipeline since oil prices are controlled by forces of demand and supply in the global market. In this regard, the project will have little contribution in the process of economic growth and job creation. Engineers in the energy sector have warned that the project can lead to over capacity in the oil industry. After completing the project, most pipelines in the United States are expected to operate at half capacity. Constructing a pipeline that is expected to be underutilized is a sign of resource misallocation. Consequently, the country’s scarce resources should be used for other viable projects rather than the Keystone pipeline system. Romney’s Position Romney acknowledges the fact that the pro ject is likely to cause environmental pollution. However, he argues that the best solution is to find ways of addressing the pollution rather than abandoning the project. In this context, he has promised to streamline regulation in the oil industry in order to promote safe production and use of fossil fuels (WSJ, 2012). The communities which are likely to be affected by the project will be compensated. For instance, land owners will receive compensations for their properties. Thus, the project will not cause losses to the affected communities. According to Romney, abandoning the project will expose the United States to higher environmental risks. More oil has to be imported in order to meet the growing demand. However, the existing pipelines are facing capacity constraints. Thus, abandoning the project will necessitate transportation of oil through trains and trucks. These alternative transportation methods are likely to cause high pollution through greenhouse gas emissions. Additio nally, transporting oil by road or railway systems is likely to cause more accidents than the pipeline. Transport economists argue that transporting oil through a pipeline costs less than using trains and trucks. Hence, the project will lead to significant cost savings which will promote economic growth. Romney’s support for the project is also based on the premise that Canada is the most reliable supplier of oil to the United States. Oil supplies from Venezuela, Mexico, as well as, Nigeria is expected to reduce in the next decade due to declining production. However, oil production in Canada is expected to increase in the next decade. Consequently, it will be in the interest of the United States to secure oil supply from Canada. This will help in avoiding future oil shocks. Romney and his fellow republicans have dismissed claims that the pipeline will serve the interest of Canada at the expense of the United States. The project is expected to create more construction jobs th an any project in the energy industry (Murray, 2012). Given the current economic decline, the jobs will help thousands of Americans and businesses to fulfill their financial dreams. Romney argues that the oil from Canada will still be exported to Asian markets even if the project is abandoned. Canada has the potential of using alternative routes to export its oil to overseas markets. Thus, constructing the pipeline will enable the US to generate revenue by allowing Canada to export oil through the Gulf Coast. The revenue will be generated through the fees that Canada will pay for the use of USA’s portion of the pipeline and other facilities such as ports. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) ANWR is located in the northern part of Alaska. It is a protected wildlife refuge that supports thousands of plant and animal species. Figure 3 shows part of the refuge. Some of the most common animal species in the refuge include polar bears, lemmings and caribou. The refuge is one of the most important tourist attractions in America. Apart from providing habitats for wildlife, the refuge also holds large amounts of oil deposits. Over two billion barrels of crude oil can be obtained in this region. The presence of oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has generated debate on the future use of the land in which it is located. Some industrialists and political leaders believe that the oil should be drilled in order to meet the country’s energy demands. However, drilling oil in the refuge will lead to destruction of wildlife and environmental pollution. It is against this backdrop that most environmentalists oppose any attempts to drill oil in the region. The positions of President Obama and Romney on ANWR are summarized in table 2. Figure 3: Part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Table 2: Positions on ANWR Barrack Obama Mitt Romney Has opposed oil exploration in ANWR in his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns Has openly supported explora tion and drilling of oil at the ANWR in his presidential campaigns Argues that alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and nuclear should be used to enhance USA’s energy independence Argues that drilling oil in ANWR will help in achieving his ‘no regrets’ energy plans. In a nutshell, it will help in improving America’s energy independence Supports the view that oil exploration in ANWR will lead to destruction of wildlife and cause environmental pollution Acknowledges the fact that oil exploration in ANWR has negative environmental effects. However, he intends to introduce measures such tax incentives on fuel efficient cars in order to protect the ecosystem Supports the implementation of policies that encourage protection of the environment including the ANWR Has promised to eliminate regulations that hamper exploitation of fossil fuel resources including oil exploration in the ANWR Argues that oil reserves at the ANWR are not sufficient for long term supply. Hence, he recommends long term solutions Argues that oil supply from ANWR will supplement other oil and energy sources. Thus, it will help in reducing oil imports Obama’s Position President Obama has always opposed oil exploration at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge due to the following reasons. The president supports the view that drilling oil in the refuge will cause serious environmental problems such as air pollution and destruction of the ecosystem. It is apparent that oil exploration activities in the refuge will cause destruction to wildlife and their habitats. Environmental studies have revealed that oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will cause irreversible damage. This means that rehabilitating the refuge after the depletion of the oil deposits will not be possible. Thus, stopping the exploration is the best way to protect the refuge. According to Obama, oil production in the ANWR has little economic value. The refuge can not produce enough oil to support economic activities in the United States for a long time. Besides, the oil will not have any effects on the international oil prices. Thus, the United States will still experience difficulties in production due to high oil prices. In this regard, drilling oil in the ANWR will not help in solving America’s energy problems. Whereas the economic benefits of the oil are expected to be little, the cost of the exploration is expected to be very high. The government will spend billions of dollars to extract the oil. Additionally, the damage costs resulting from the pollution that will be caused by the exploration are expected to be high. Hence, drilling oil at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be a net loss to the society. Obama has always proposed the use of alternative energy sources instead of drilling oil at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Since 2008, the president has promoted the use of ethanol, as well as, liquid coal. The preside nt has been implementing policies that facilitate conservation of the environment such as using energy efficient cars. These measures are expected to help the US to manage the effects of global warming such as climate change. According to Obama, America can only sustain its economic prosperity if it focuses on the use of sustainable energy sources. Thus, his opposition to short term solutions such as drilling oil at the ANWR becomes apparent. Energy economists argue that short term solutions will worsen the country’s energy problem. This argument is based on the premise that short term solutions enable the country to solve its current energy problems. However, they deny the country the opportunity to focus on long term solutions which are commercially viable and sustainable. Romney’s Position Romney’s support for oil exploration in the ANWR is underpinned by his ‘no regret’ policy on energy development. According to Romney, reliable and adequate sup ply of energy can be achieved if all energy sources are exploited. Thus, his energy plan focuses on the development of both renewable and non-renewable energy. Additionally, he argues that dependence on oil imports can be reduced or eliminated by increasing investments in domestic energy production. Importing oil is undesirable since the government has little control over the supply. Besides, Americans can be exploited through high prices if the country continues to depend on imported oil. It is against this backdrop that Romney argues for the oil exploration in the refuge. According to Romney, most states are grappling with unreliable and inadequate oil supply. In the last decade, industrial activities have increased in most states. Additionally, the growth in population has led to an increase in the number of vehicles in the United States. These trends are partly responsible for the limited availability of oil in America. Oil supply from the refuge will, at least, help in meeting the current demand. He also points out that most states, especially, in the northern part of America have been unable to use alternative energy sources such as wind due to legal, political and economic reasons. Hence, it will be in the interest of such states to access oil from domestic sources such as the ANWR. Romney has promised to streamline regulations in the energy sector in order to facilitate oil drilling in the ANWR and any other part of the country. His regulatory reforms include fast-tracking the process of issuing permits to oil companies. This will help in reducing any delays in oil production. He is intending to repeal legislations that hamper oil production in various parts of the country (Murray, 2012). The targeted legislations include the Clean Air Act, as well as, the Clean Water Act. Finally, Romney agrees with environmentalists on the environmental impacts of drilling oil in the ANWR. However, he argues that the exploration should be done in a safe and responsib le manner in order to avoid the expected negative effects (Murray, 2012). According to Romney, protecting the environment should not jeopardize economic development. Hence, the government should focus on drilling oil at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The expected effects on the environment can be addressed through policies that encourage safe production and use of oil. For instance, only accredited companies should be allowed to drill the oil in order to minimize pollution. Conclusion President Obama’s policy on energy development focuses on the production of clean energy. Obama supports the production and use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. His position has been informed by the need to protect the environment from the adverse effects of energy production (Jindal, 2012). Consequently, he has opposed the construction of the Keystone pipeline. He has also opposed oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Romney, on the other hand, focuses on promoting energy independence in the United States. His energy development policy advocates for the exploitation of all energy sources. This strategy will help in increasing access to cheap and reliable energy. Consequently, he supports the construction of the Keystone pipeline and oil exploration in the ANWR. Despite these differences, the two leaders agree that energy production in the US should be increased. Moreover, reliance on imported oil should be reduced. References Baumeister, C., Peersman, G. (2008). Time-Varying Effects of Oil Supply Shocks on the US Economy. Economic Review, 3(4), 56-59. Datta, A., Gautam, B., Saha, H. (2011). Green Energy Sources Selection based on Multi-Creteria Decision Analysis. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 5(2), 271-286. Freund, F., Walmsley, D., Wreesmann, J. (2012). Sustainable Plant Oil Production for Aviation Fuels. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 3(2), 37-42. Jindal, B. 2012. Obama’ s Politicized Energy Policy. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/ Mohanty, M. (2012). New Renewable Enrgy Sources, Green Energy Development and Climate Change. International Journal of Environmental Quality Management, 23(3), 264-274. Murray, R. 2012. Rommey Oulines His Energy Policy. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/ Omar, A. (2012). Clean Energies Development in Built Environment. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 9(1), 45-63. Reza, M., Parvar, J. (2012). US Industry Level Returns and Oil Prices. International Review of Economics and Finance, 22(1), 112-128. Solari, P., Minervini, G. (2004). Exploitation of Renewable Energy Sources and Sustainable Management of Territory. International Journal of Environmental Quality Management, 15(1), 41-47. Wilkerson, C. (2000). Can US Oil Production Survive the 20th Century? Economic Review, 1(1), 51-62. Yanes, J., Grosse, R. (2007). US Oil Import Dependence: Which Way Out? International Journal of Energy Se ctor Management, 1(2), 195-202. This essay on Policy Position on Energy Development was written and submitted by user Paloma Q. to help you with your own studies. 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