Factors Affecting International Energy Policy

Factors Affecting International Energy Policy International Energy Policy Ze Cassule The factors affecting the content of international agreements for the oil and gas industry The Oil and Gas industry has certainly come a long way since the first discovery of oil in Texas. Whilst there are several opinions about what the future holds for the Gas and Oil Industry, there is one very unquestionable detail that will influence not only the Gas and Oil Industry, but the world as well: there have been significant changes worldwide and the demand for energy across the world will of course continue to grow. Population growth and the undisputed craving of currently underdeveloped countries to gain success economically speaking. It is hazy at the moment as to what rate the demand will grow but irrespective of this, the energy demand is already there and will continue. The DECC (Department of Energy Climate Change) governs the licensing system for the UK’s offshore and onshore development and management of the gas and oil reserves. Production licences When the DECC dispenses a production licence to a group of companies or a single company the new licensee is basically given sole rights to drill for, explore for and produce natural gas and oil within an area that has been specified. Production License owners must be confident and certain of these rights they have been granted prior to making any investments that are deemed necessary to essentially develop gas and oil fields worldwide. Within the production licences there is an â€Å"Exclusivity Clause† which prevents companies from building rival wells which would try and use and develop from the same resource. Legislation and regulation The DECC is governed by the UK Government and Parliament and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in the Petroleum Act 1998 to allow for gas and oil exploration. The production licences which are issued include terms and conditions under which the DECC has the power to oversee and regulate companies activities for things such as : Oil and gas drilling Oil and gas field production and development Licence operatorship and transfers The confidentiality and storage of data The DECC is a governing body of sorts and also manages and oversees all offshore environmental regulation and the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines. It seems like the DECC is the be-all and end-all of the oil and gas industry regulations but there are many energy related activities that the DECC doesn’t actually regulate. The subsequent storage of petroleum based spirits fall under the jurisdiction of the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and Local Authorities. Framework of the energy policies In the UK, (Wales and England in particular), when a consent for development application is made for a significant national energy organisation project, there are policy processes which are applicable: The UK Planning Inspectorate firstly receives and then considers the said application under the Planning Act 2008. The Planning Inspectorate then makes their recommendations to UK ministers at the DECC (Department of Energy Climate Change) Finally, the DECC ministers take everything into consideration and make their final decision. Each and every significant national energy organisation project is determined and defined as: Power stations which includes wind farms (both onshore and offshore) with a capacity of generating in excess of 50 megawatts (onshore) and 100 megawatts (offshore) Liquefied natural gas and large gas reception facilities as well as the underground storage of gas as set out in the 2008 Planning Act Electricity power lines which are above the ground at 132 kilovolts or above Gas transporter pipelines and cross country oil and gas pipelines which meet the thresholds and conditions as set out in the 2008 Planning Act The European Commission 2030 policy framework for energy and climate has clear goals and purposes to make the economy and energy system within the European Union much more secure, sustainable and competitive. Whilst the European Union seems to be making a great deal of progress towards meeting its climate and energy targets for 2020, an integrated policy framework for the period up to 2030 has been deemed as an necessity to ensure that regulatory certainty for potential investors and much more co-ordinated approach amongst Member States. The framework presented by the European Commissionin January of this year sought to drive a perpetual development and progress to an economy which is essentially low-carbon. The framework aims to develop a secure and competitive energy system that enables all consumers to purchase affordable energy, increases the EUs security of their energy supplies, lessens our dependence on imported energy and also creates new growth, jobs and opportunities. In March of this year (2014) leaders of the European Union agreed to finalise the framework by October 2014. Their framework has a number of objectives and goals which will of course effect the future of the gas and oil industry. 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions The crux of the framework is the goal to reduce by 40% the domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This goal will guarantee that the European Union is on their economical right track in meeting its objective of reducing emissions by 80% (at least) by 2050. This goal is essentially setting the level of climate aspiration for the year 2030, the European Union are also looking to actively engage in the consultations on a relatively new climate agreement that ought to take effect from 2020. The overall 40% target looks set to be achieved, the sectors covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS) would have to significantly reduce their emissions compared to 2005 by at least 43%. Sectors outside the European Union Emissions Trading System would need to cut their emissions by 30% below the level they were at in 2005. 27% Increase in the share of renewable energy It looks like renewable energy will continue to play a significant role in the energy and climate evolution to secure a sustainable energy system. It has been reported that the Commission has proposed an objective of increasing the renewable energy share to 27% of the European Union’s consumption of energy by 2030. 30% Increase in energy efficiency A proposed 30% targeted increase in energy savings has been suggested by the European Commission after a review of the EED (Energy Efficiency Directive). The target which has been proposed seems to build on the already reached targets and achievements: in the construction industry, new builds use 50% of the energy they did in the 80’s and overall, industry is around 19% less energy intensive than it was nearly 15 years ago. EU emissions trading system reform In order to make the European Union Emissions Trading System more effective and robust in the promotion of a predominantly low-carbon investment at a much smaller cost to consumers. It is believed that the reserve would address both the surplus of allowances for emissions that have built up in recent years and also to greatly improve the resilience of the system in relation to key shocks by essentially adjust automatically the supply of the allowance. Affordable and secure energy The proposition from the Commission has a set of key indicators to assess the progress over time and deliver a basis for action as required. The difference in energy prices with trading partners, the supply variation and the reliance on natural energy sources are just some examples of what progressions will be looked at in more detail. A new governance framework The proposition of the 2030 framework suggests that a new governance framework which will be based upon national strategies for a competitive source of sustainable and secure energy. Energy costs and prices report The Commission which is setting out the framework is supplemented by an energy price and costs report which will assess the key handlers and compare European Union prices with those of the leading trading partners. The 2030 framework will be informed of these findings. In Conclusion Looking ahead; Apparently, and according to the latest energy outlook by ExxonMobil; Oil consumption across the globe is around 230 million Barrels of Oil Equivalent per Day (BOE-D). Gas and Oil supply approximately 60% of the total energy demand with 20% of the remaining demand coming from coal and the remaining 20% coming from hydro, wind, solar and nuclear energy. Predictions by ExxonMobil are that in just six years time, there will be an increase of some 24% for the worldwide demand of energy; with around 80% of this coming from previously underdeveloped. It has been reported that the outlook for gas and oil is that it they will both continue to supply the world energy demand by about 60% by 2020. This essentially means that an additional 30+ million Barrels of Oil Equivalent per Day of both gas and oil will need to be produced to meet these high demands. There are some unique challenges that will need to be met in order for oil and gas producers to achieve these goals and meet the demand for future gas and oil supplies. Access to Critical Resources At the moment, the most unyielding issue in the gas and oil industry appears to be the access to substantial and significant quantities of gas and oil resources. There seems to be a general consensus that there is more than enough oil to meet the demand in the future, however in excess of 80% of the world’s gas and oil resources lie at the mercy of NOC’s (National Oil Company’s) and governments. Politics will, as ever play a huge part in whether the future oil and gas supplies will be readily available when they are needed Cost of Services The increased costs for all services including procurement, drilling, facilities, engineering and construction will play a major part in the future of gas and oil supply and I think that this would be a major factor for all oil companies across the world. Drilling rigs or oil rigs would be a major factor and new rigs look set to become available for both deep water and also onshore areas within the very near future. This obviously doesn’t entirely solve the problem. Professionals who are experienced and have the technical know-how will need to be available to operate the new machinery; this is a major problem in the gas and oil industries as they are very hard to find. New and Innovative Technologies There is going to be an ongoing need for new technology that can help with all aspects of oil and gas production. These new technologies will need to be able to not only find and develop new sources but also be able to actually produce more gas and oil. One of the major influences in the past has been technology and is one of the major driving forces in the oil and gas industry. Being able to produce and deliver gas and oil in an effective, efficient and safe way whilst still taking into consideration the huge impacts on the environment. Bearing in mind the fierce challenges that the oil and gas industry will continue to face we can still predict that gas and oil companies may need to focus on the resilience of the energy supply chain globally. Safety will always be in the forefront in terms of concerns for gas and oil companies and it is safe to say that accountability and safety will forge relationships between service companies and owners. The gas and oil industries are facing a multilevel challenge in that they have to meet the growing demand for energy whilst reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and continually protect the environment. In order for the gas and oil companies to provide both long and short term solutions they will have to continue to carry on partnering with industry stakeholders and governments in investing and developing cleaner technologies and new energy sources. References/Bibliography

Cognition, Memory and Perception Essay

Forgetting is the inability of a person to retrieve, recall or recognize information that was stored or still stored in long term memory. (McLeod, S. A. 2008). In terms of short term memory, forgetting is caused by interference between past and new information that most modern accounts that holding on to. In some older models, forgetting is explained using a process of passive deterioration of information. Comparing both accounts, interference seems to have a better explanation of forgetting. Secondly in terms of long term memory, forgetting occurs when one fails to remember and unable to reactivated the memory circuit of given information. In general, forgetting seems to happen in between short term and long term memory. It will occur when information is to be encoded or information is not linked to any memory circuit through interference. (â€Å"What is forgetting in psychology? †, 2008). However, nowadays, there are theories of forgetting in cognitive psychology that are still difficult to test by researches, because one may in fact not forget, but have trouble retrieving information from one’s memory storage. For examples, one forgets about an event such as attending a friend’s birthday party just because the individual were only remembering another event that is more important to him such as a wedding dinner. The examples of the theories of forgetting are encoding failure, decay theory, interference theory, retrieval failure, motivated forgetting and repression. The author of this paper will going to critically asses on the psychological theories on why people forget. According to Freud (1901), the father of the psychoanalytic school, believed that one will forget of what threatens them. For example, experiences that express in abusing, horrifying, hurtful, tense and ego-dissatisfying will pushed back to the unconscious. Based on the opinion of writer on this paper, it is not necessarily that one just forgets about what threatens them but also forgets the information that does not seem important to them. This scenario is similar to the theory of encoding failure whereas the particular information in short term memory that did not manage to encode in the long term memory and the information did not enter to the memory. Besides that, encoding failure also can be result of stress. Based on Yerkes-Dodson Law, too much stress results can cause performance to decline, sometimes sharply if cognitive or nervous breakdown is triggered. A downturn can also be caused by excessive attention to a task such that extra factors that are important get missed. Secondly, the decay theory, this theory suggests that memory traces in the brain will fade over time through lack of use and become inaccessible. Decay theory suggest that forgetting is a psychological process and it is an idea that when a memory has a physical or chemical trace of the experience in the brain when it is laid down. This traces will fade as time passes unless it is reinforced through repeated times of use. For example, when a person meets a new friend, the name of the friend is just like a trace to the brain. But when the person did not manage to meet up with that new friend for a few days, the name of the friend will slowly decay and might not recall it after. However, researchers have not shown that decay theory causes forgetting of something that is stored in the long term memory. In addition, based on the author’s opinion, memory such as driving skills, riding bicycle skills and swimming skills would not decay even though after a period of time, not every memory trace will fade over time. Some studies of the hippocampus have shown a pattern of rapid and then gradual decline of neutral pathways by Anderson (1995).Besides that, there are two types of the interference theory that is, proactive interference and retroactive interference. The definition of the proactive interference is when old information interferes with the new information that cause forgetting. Example of proactive interference theory is when a person who learned many formulas in additional mathematics for a year and learned new sets of formulas for modern mathematics for a month and the person will interfere with the knowledge of additional mathematics while doing modern mathematics. On the other hand, retroactive interference occurs when new information learned interfere with the old information that stored in the memory. Remembering the names of the new students by a lecturer is an example of retroactive interference where the new students name will nterfere with the names that were previously stored. However, researches pointed out that real life interference might not occur so readily. The retrieval failure theory was proposed by (Tulving & Thomson 1973). This theory is known as a cue dependent forgetting that explains forgetting as inability to retrieve material due to an absence of the right cues. In order that one person to retrieve information from the long-term memory, they must depend on the type of cue or prompt which they use and this theory explained that why sometimes that one who unable to remember the material that is certain in our memory. For example, a person cannot remember doing his homework until him or her saw the workbook on the table. This proves that the workbook provide the right retrieval cue. According to Freud (1901), the retrieval of the repressed memories is possible only under special circumstances using a few psychoanalytic techniques. On the other hand, there is a tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon (TOT) that could help one to retrieve forgotten memories. TOT is an example of how we intentionally search for cues that will prompt the retrieval of a specific memory. For example, a person that forgets their neighbor pet’s name and only remembers the dumbbell which hangs around the neck of the pet. By reading the word dumbbell, TOT assists the person to recall that the neighbor pet’s name was Dumble. Furthermore, the motivated forgetting is a case of retrieval failure referred to Freud, (1901). What it actually meant by motivated forgetting? According to Freud (1901), motivated forgetting is that we are motivated to forget the events or actions that is painful that cannot be solve in the memory by pushing it into the subconscious and actively repressing with it. In other words, these experiences are repressed in the unconscious and unable to retrieve when needed. Besides motivated forgetting causes oneself repression of memory, it is possible that one forgets is based on instructions of others and also known as the intentional forgetting or directed forgetting. Anderson, Baddeley and Eysenck (2009) stated that intentional forgetting also refers to forgetting which is initiated by a conscious goal to forget. McNally, Clancy, and Schacter (2001) also stated that loss of autobiographical memories, especially memories for unpleasant or disturbing events has used to explain the intentional forgetting. However, based on the author’s opinion, motivate forgetting on the memories of pain, unpleasant, and disturbing events are unhealthy to one’s body, physically and mentally. What if the capacity of the subconscious has a limit and it cannot continue to repress any more of the memory of negative events, it will causes an unwanted pressure and stress on the individual emotionally and lead to suicide if it reaches the limit. Last but not least, theory of repression, proposed by the psychologist Sigmund Freud. Freud (1901) stated that the unpleasant memories such as sexual abuse, bullying, torture or any traumatic experience which undergoes the psychological process which automatically and unconsciously prevents emotionally distressing memories from coming into our conscious awareness. In the event or experience in the present such as watching a video, hypnosis or hearing music may triggered the repressed memories back into conscious awareness. However, he stated that, repressed memories cannot deliberately bring back unless it was triggered. The memory researches pointed out that the retrieval memories come back into awareness through suggestion by the patient’s therapist in fact are false memories. In the nutshell, all the theories above that have discussed which are the encoding failure, decay theory, interference theory, retrieval failure, motivated forgetting and repression. Overview of this research, readers can determine that every theories of forgetting have relation between one another and it is all related to the short-term memory and long-term memory. If the short-term memory does not exist, there is no long-term memory. In the author’s point of view, some of the theories that have discussed above are too narrow in scope and did not manage to cover all the factors such as emotion of a person that will lead to forgetting. In the author’s opinion, every psychologist that is doing on the same research should investigate and plan the experiments together so that all the psychologists able to brainstorm on their findings and share their thoughts together in order to improve their theories. Besides that, I believe that, all the human being does not want to repress all those negatives events that had ever happened in their lives into their subconscious mind. This is because after repressing or suppressing those memories into the subconscious mind, it would not provide safety precautions in terms of physically and mentally to everyone. What if one day, one person those who suffer from sexual abuse and torture since childhood and triggered that memory back and do the same thing to others. This will lead to even more people suffers.

Hip Hop Music Video Analysis - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 708 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/08/07 Category Music Essay Level High school Tags: Hip Hop Essay Did you like this example? The video that I chose for the Hip Hop video analysis is Make It Nasty by Tyga. This video is extremely explicit when compared to other music videos as it even made me sign into my YoutTube account due to explicit content. This video is about nothing but living a rich and lavish lifestyle surrounded by half naked women in luxury estates. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Hip Hop Music Video Analysis" essay for you Create order This video shows many women half-naked and dancing around artist Tyga, popping champagne bottles, pouring it all over their bodies and exposing their breasts while sexually touching each other. The song has lyrics like yeah bitch make it nasty, tongue down the throat while the other bitch gaggin, got a China bitch, straight from Beijing, pussy so tight, all she do is scream, and I like when my bitches dont wear no clothes,. After watching this hip hop video and listening to the lyrics sang in this track, it isnt difficult to understand the messages and lack of respect that are being communicated about woman. According to the documentary shown in the lecture cast Hip Hop Pt. 2, in order to be liked in the Hip Hop community you must be strong/tough, you gotta to have all the girls, you gotta have money, you gotta be a player or a pimp, you gotta be in control and dominate other men and women, otherwise people may see you as soft or weak and call you a pussy or a chump or a faggot, and nobody wants to be any of those things, so everyone stays inside that box, (Hip Hop Lecture Cast Pt. 2). If artists want to make it in the Hip Hop community, they must follow and try to portray s specific lifestyle that fans associate that type of music with. When an artist fails to prove to the community that he/she isnt about that life, it makes it increasingly difficult to make it big and have a large fanbase. Suge Knight once said that Hip Hop is a mans game, (Hip Hop Lecture Cast Pt. 2). A huge objective in the Hip Hop scene, especially for a male rapper, is to represent himself as more masculine than anyone else. To successfully secure his masculinity to the public, he must always flaunt his money and have plenty of attractive women around him to show that he is indeed the MAC or a wealthy pimp. I think black men have internalized the messages that this culture perpetuates, which is that women are primarily sex objects, and people to be fucked, (Dr. Beverly Guy Sheftall, Spellman College: Hip Hop Lecture Cast Pt. 2). A man in the documentary of the part 2 lecture cast also said that rap artists have taken views of women of color as not radically different from views of 19th century white slave holders. (Hip Hop Lecture Cast Pt. 2) Although the rappers and hip hop artists are the ones who are pushing these messages through their lyrics and music videos, they may not agree with those specific messages. For those young rappers the most important thing for them is to get that record deal, and then they hear from the record companies that there are only certain levels of blackness that theyre gonna let flow through this space, (Hip Hop Lecture Cast Pt. 2). Even though rap artists dont agree with the messages they are portraying in their music, they must follow the orders they are given in order to continue in their fame and fortune. A great example of this is Multi-Platinum Rap Artist, Nelly who is also a successful businessman that loves to give back to the community with he help of his two non-profit organizations that help with literacy and locating bone marrow donors for Leukemia patients. When Nelly wanted to attend Spellman College for a bone marrow drive, the students refused to have him attend due to his mu sic video for song Tip Drill, and the way it portrayed women. Finding out how these rap/hip hop artists only stand by these songs created by record labels because its the only way they can keep their contracts was very big news to me and it has opened my eyes to the way the record labels work in the shadows of their artists.

Traditional Methods Of Managing Behaviors - 1581 Words

Traditional Methods of Managing Behaviors Versus Creative Means As life expectancies increase, the healthcare community as a whole is experiencing an increase in the instance of chronic disease both of the body and of the mind. One of the most challenging instances for any geriatric nurse is the prevalence of dementia and behavioral disorders. According to The British Journal of Nursing, neuropsychiatric and behavioral problems can occur for a number of different reasons such as dementia, delirium, depression, paranoid states, and drug and alcohol intoxication. (Ouldred Bryant, 2008) The challenge of managing these behaviors has been debated and studied ad nauseum. Some of these methods work and some of these methods in everyday†¦show more content†¦(Alzheimer’s Association, 2015) According to Botonis, â€Å"people with Alzheimer’s and dementia often exhibit behaviors that are unpredictable and may be outside the bounds of what others consider â€Å"normal† or socially acceptable.† (Botonis, 2015) This could m ean that without effective intervention, a nurse cold have a patient on her hands that is disturbing other residents who’s anxiety level climb causing them discomfort or behaviors. There is also the problem of other residents of staff members becoming physically injured by a dementia patient who is agitated to the point of physical violence. Intertwined with the need to protect other residents and staff members is the reality that the patient displaying the behaviors has no control over what they are doing or thinking at any given time. These facts alone dictate that every staff member who works with patients who display these types of behaviors must employ realistic and effective means of managing a patient’s behaviors. There are numerous traditional and approved methods of subverting the behaviors of a demented patient. The one that readily comes to mind is medication. In the past, this was the primary way of managing the behaviors of demented patients. Unfortunately, the method was overused and created a very bad